Ballina Players Founder, Mrs Joan Williams, has passed away on 22nd February 2025 just shy of her 100th birthday in late March.

Joan started off Ballina Players in 1955 by placing an ad in the local newspaper for interested theatre people..10 people showed up at the local High School and we were on our way.

Through Joan’s diligence, enthusiasm and capacity for work, we grew and grew…doing shows at the local movie theatre in River St, touring shows around the region and entering various regional competitions until in 1984 she and her husband Alan found a home for Ballina Players in our current position in Swift St Ballina.

Our current success as one of the oldest Community Theatre Companies in Australia was due to any number of people along the way, but could not have happened without Joan’s 48 years with the company, acting, directing, and President.

The ABC recently did a program for Joan & Alan’s 80th wedding anniversary…you can watch that here

Vale Joan Williams.