When Jack Evans came to the Tweed in the mid-1940s to hire out surf-o-planes, little did he know that, almost 70 years later, his name would still be linked to the region.
Next weekend the newly refurbished Jack Evans Boat Harbour, just near where Jack held his famous dolphin shows, sold fish to campers and carried out several daring rescues, will be officially re-opened – well stage one anyway.
Jack’s daughter Toni Cameron, who helped present the Dolphin shows, inspected the refurbishments earlier this week.
She said her father, who died in 2002, had been “chuffed” to have the boat harbour – which was just a back-channel of the Tweed River when he arrived on the Tweed, named after him.
Toni said her father would be very pleased to see the work that had been carried out in recent months to once again make the area a major focal point for the people of Tweed.
“I think it’s just great,” she said as she looked at the new board-walk and facilities around the boat harbour.
“He would have been so pleased.”
Tweed mayor Cr Kevin Skinner this week said the official opening of Jack Evans Boat Harbour and the Council’s Family Fun Day would kick off a week of local government celebrations from Sunday, July 24.
“Our annual Family Fun Day and Council Expo is getting bigger and better every year. This year is very exciting, as we host it at, and officially open, the recently upgraded $8 million Jack Evans Boat Harbour in Tweed Heads,” he said.
“This is a great opportunity to highlight the benefits of the fantastic precinct and show off its abilities to be, not just a great community open space, but a high-calibre events venue as well.
“Having this event in Tweed Heads will also be a first, so we hope to get a great turnout from the Tweed community to come and experience a free day of activities from 10am to 2pm. Enjoy a fun day with the family and learn a bit about Council’s programs and services.”
The refurbishments to the Jack Evans Boat Harbour are also close to Mayor Skinner’s heart, with the keen surf lifesaver once competing with the legendary figure in surf events.
Tweed Shire Council is hosting a range of great events and activities during Local Government Week to showcase some of Council’s day-to-day activities.
All of the events during the week are FREE.
“The name Local Government Week may not mean much to people but it gives us a chance to highlight the important role Council plays in the community. If you have a look around you, you’re most likely looking at something Council related – roads and footpaths, bus shelters, waste, parks, gardens, natural resources, events, infrastructure and facilities, water, sewer. You name it and it’s likely we’re involved.”
In other Local Government Week events, take a behind-the-scene tour at the Tweed River Art Gallery, get your lab coats happening to see the Tweed Laboratory in action or check out the 6.4 million ultra-filtration fibres at the state-of-the-art Bray Park Water Treatment Plant.
Sunday, July 24 – Family Fun Day and official launch of Jack Evans Boat Harbour, Tweed Heads; Monday, July 25 – Tours of the Sustainable Living Centre, Altona Drive, Kingscliff, 10am – noon; Tuesday, July 26 – Community Events Workshop for Tweed event organisers; Wednesday, July 27 – Celebrating Customers – Contact Centres in Murwillumbah and Tweed Heads and guided tours of Bray Park Water Treatment Plant, Bray Park; Thursday, July 28 – Behind-the-scenes tour of Tweed Laboratory and guided tour of the Tweed River Art Gallery;
Friday, July 29 – Opening of the chapel at Tweed Valley Lawn Cemetery, Eviron Road, Eviron.
For a copy of the full program, visit www.tweed.nsw.gov.au/LGWeek.
