Ballina
to Byron Bay Charity Walk
“Volunteers do not
necessarily have the time; they just have the heart.” “You make a living by
what you get. You make a life by what you give.”
The NSW coast is an
unbelievable location with prestige beaches, breathtaking lookouts, fresh
seafood and a mix between the beach lifestyle and relaxed country living. We
headed out early Sunday morning for the 2 hour drive south to Broken Heads NSW.
Only ten minutes south of
Byron Bay, Broken Heads has preserved its unspoilt image to the point that you
would swear you were a million miles from development. At the end of a bush
road through the littoral rainforest, Broken Heads is the next headland south
from the fabled Cape Byron, about 15km away. There's a beach resort and a
caravan and camping park right near the beach, and a walking track over the
headland to a string of isolated beaches. Even how persevered and unspoilt it
is, you don’t what to spend any time here what so ever. Seven Mile Beach Rd is
a dead end with massive unregulated tourist car impact. Emergency vehicles have
been unable to access Seven Mile Beach. The roadside environment is degraded with
pot holes everywhere. Accidents and near
misses are a regular occurrence and the local unemployed environmental hippies
in the local caravan park are quick to rip into you if they see a dog in the
car park. We only were here because Kim volunteered
in the Ballina To Byron Bay Charity Walk. She helped out first at the 3nd finish line, drink
and food station at Broken Heads and then she moved onto the finish line at
Byron Bay.
The Ballina to Byron Bay
Coastal Charity Walk started at Missingham Park in Ballina, following the
coastline north to Lennox Head, Broken Head, Tallows Beach to Cape Byron
Lighthouse finishing at Denning Park in Byron Bay, next to the Surf Life Saving
Club. The spectacular scenery creates an awe inspiring backdrop for the Charity
Walk. Participants can walk or run at any pace however it is a non-competitive
social event. The Charity Walks are a major fundraiser for Westpac Life Saver
Rescue Helicopter. The walks are an all-terrain challenge across sand, bush
track and roads and should not be underestimated by any walker.
Studies have found that when
you stop thinking about your own problems and focus on someone other than
yourself, your stress levels start to decrease and your immune system is
strengthened and your overall sense of life satisfaction increases. This is
because helping someone else interrupts tension-producing patterns and replaces
it with a sense of purpose, positive emotions and high confidence levels. That’s
why Kim loves volunteering, and being around inspiration people participating
in these event.
This was the first time for
this event and she loved everyone and will try to pencil it in for next year.
“Volunteers are the only human beings on the face of the
earth who reflect this nation's compassion, unselfish caring, patience, and
just plain loving one another.”
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