Ray Arnott mentors Ballina youth for Clubhouse Program

Acca Dacca’s and Cold Chisel’s tub-thumper Ray Arnott is drumming to a new beat mentoring kids in Ballina. Here’s what’s going on.

Former AC/DC drummer Ray Arnott (right) mentoring kids aged 12 to 17 in the Social Futures Clubhouse Program. Picture: Supplied

North Coast teens have the opportunity to hang with Aussie rock royalty at free creative space workshops in Ballina.

Former drummer for AC/DC, Cold Chisel and Spectrum – Ray Arnott – has been mentoring teens at the Clubhouse program for years.

“It is so important to give back,” Mr Arnott said.

“These young ones are keen to learn and it’s amazing what you know, and what you can pass on.”

Australian rock band Spectrum (March 1984). From left: Ray Arnott, Michael Rudd, Bill Putt and Tony Fossey.

A sessional drummer for Albert Music, Mr Arnott played with Aussie greats like John Farnham, Rick Springfield, John Paul Young, Cold Chisel and AC/DC in the 1970s and ’80s.

Now based in Ballina, he was also a member of Spectrum (1970–1973), which had an Australian No.1 hit with I’ll Be Gone.

“One of the most incredible things about being a mentor is watching young people grow in confidence and believe in themselves,” Mr Arnott said.

“They begin to understand what they themselves can do and can give to their community and to the world.”

The world’s first Clubhouse was set up in Boston in 1993 by two Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) education researchers – now there are more than 120 clubhouses in 19 countries, including Ballina Clubhouse.

“One of the most incredible things about being a mentor is watching young people grow in confidence and believe in themselves,” Mr Arnott said.

Social Futures manages the Ballina and Lismore Clubhouses.

CEO Tony Davies said the mentoring program is a great way to share knowledge and gain hands-on experience working with youth.

“It’s basically a free after-school program where young people have freedom, in a safe, inclusive environment, to explore technology and other crafts, and unleash their creativity, and express themselves,” Mr Davies said.

“We’re proud that we’ve created an environment where young people can get hands-on experience making and creating, and seeing their visions realised as art, or on the screen, or as music or in the garden.”

The Clubhouse Program covers areas such as music, film, robotics, coding, electronics, computer science, creative arts, animation or photography.