Northern Rivers P21 new circle inaugurated.
The mandate to expand the Association to the Northern Rivers Group in the locality of Province 21 was signed on 5 November 2025 at Alstonville by the Director and President of Province 21 at the inauguration ceremony and first meeting of the Northern Rivers Group, No 393. The Northern Rivers Group is located at Alstonville, a short distance inland from Ballina on the north coast of NSW. It is about 8 hour drive north from Sydney and about 2 hour drive south from Brisbane and about one hour drive from Gold Coast Tweed area.
The Northern Rivers Group was formed with help from the provincial membership officer, Graham Short, and brothers from the Gold Coast Tweed Circle with the approval of Bishop Greg Homeming. The group comprises of nine brothers which includes joint Brothers Graham Short, who has a daughter living nearby and John Madden and Christopher Gallagher from the Gold Coast Tweed Circle.
The inauguration took place at the Alstonville Plateau Sport Club in the presence of twenty persons including Province 21 Director, Geoff Young, Provincial President, Malcolm McEwen, Provincial Treasurer, Paul Day, Provincial Membership Officer, Graham Short, four visiting brothers from Gold Coast Tweed Heads Circle, Fr Max and brother’s wives.
Apart from enrolling into the group three joint members (Bros. Chris Gallagher and John Madden of Gold Coast Tweed Circle and Graham Short of Harbourside North Circle) three foundation members were enrolled into the group on the night, these were:
President: Stephen Powell
Secretary: John Madden (joint member)
Treasurer: Joseph Burns.
Kurt Challinor and John Barnes will be enrolled at their next meeting.
Brothers from Province 21 conducting the ceremony were Malcolm McEwen, President, Geoff Young, Director, Paul Day, Treasurer, and Graham Short, Membership Officer. Other visiting brothers from Gold Coast Tweed Circle were Paul Bellhouse, Bernard Nolan, Errol Daranjo and Terry Collins. Special guests for the evening included Fr Max Gow PP Alstonville and Wardell, Deacon Dr Anthony Gooley from St Francis Xavier Parish Ballina.
The inauguration was followed by the installation of Officer bearers and a celebratory dinner. During dinner Chris Gallagher thanked the visiting Brothers from Province 21 for their long distance travel, our special clerical guests for their attendance and moved a special thanks to Bro John Madden for all his work in the development of the Northern Rivers Group.
Should any brother be in the vicinity of Ballina/Alstonville, they would be welcomed at the Group’s meeting which normally occurs on the first Wednesday of the month at the Alstonville Plateau Sport Club. Let’s hope that this group grows and soon becomes a circle.
To round out the night, Joe Burns and Terry Collins conducted a mirthful raffle of lucky door prizes.
