About Ballina Marineland
Staff Profiles
For the staff at Ballina Marineland, boating is not a job — it’s a lifestyle!
Their motto is ‘we live it, we love it, we do it’. And indeed they do — included in the staff are people who have been a boat builder and a water ski racing champ, and there’s a couple of mad-keen fishos there too.
Ballina Marineland has been a business synonymous with boating in Ballina since 1982.
Ken and Kim Fitzgibbon bought Ballina Marineland in 2000. For Ken, a boat builder, it was the perfect choice. For Kim, a dental nurse, it was something entirely new, but she’s found the transition to a marine business a pleasure.
Their commitment to their customers is simple: To provide quality products and services with the ultimate in customer service.
Company info
Ken Fitzgibbon, co-owner of Marineland Ballina with wife Kim, once tried his hand at a job that didn’t involve boats — and hated it! That’s understandable for someone who had spent his working life on boats. Ken is a former boat builder, starting out on cray boats at Port Fairy in Victoria. Ken and Kim moved to Ballina in 1984, and Ken successfully turned his hand to building sailing craft, working with Chris Bell at Broadwater Yachts. Ken’s next job was building stereo speakers, but his passion for boats was too strong. In his own words, he suffered ‘boat withdrawal symptoms’. When the opportunity arose to buy Marineland Ballina, Ken and Kim grabbed the opportunity. Needless to say, Ken is glad they did!
Kim Fitzgibbon, the ‘face’ of Ballina Marineland, spent 20 years as a dental nurse and in surgery management. Going from caring for people’s teeth to catering for people’s boating needs has been an easy transition for Kim because she’s doing what she loves best: dealing with people. “I’ve always liked dealing with people and solving their problems,” Kim says. “I like to simplify people’s problems.”
Adrian Melchior is involved in commercial and recreational sales and general retail at Ballina Marineland. Adrian grew up in a fishing and boating family, and he’s as keen on fishing as he is on boats. Adrian is one of the leading contenders in ABT bass and bream tournaments, and he’s just the man help you make the right choice when it comes to choosing the boat that best suits your fishing lifestyle.
Mitchell Bailey is Ballina Marineland’s apprentice mechanic. A very keen fisherman, Mitchell wants to learn all there is to know about the boating industry. When he’s not working on a motor or fishing, Mitchell is honouring his skills by undertaking a TAFE course at WollongbarTechnical College.
Sponsorship
At Ballina Marineland, we like to support the community that supports us.
We are active sponsors of the Ballina Flotilla of the Volunteer Coast Guard, and we also support our local fishing clubs — Ballina Angling Club, Wardell Fishing Club , Cherry Street Fishing Club and Ballina RSL Deep Sea Fishing Club.
Ballina Marineland also recognises the great service provided by our local lifesavers, and we’ve been strong supporters of the Ballina Lighthouse-Lismore Surf Life Saving Club and their jet rescue boat.