BURDEKIN TO BIG-TIME

The Country Girl Who Became a Golf Legend By Jacob Casha Alberta, Canada, 1999. Five strokes off the lead at the du Maurier Classic, a 24-year-old Karrie Webb looked every bit the underdog—but she was used to that. Hole by hole, she clawed her way back, sinking four birdies in her last five holes, each one a rebellion against the script. A declaration that a country girl could not only stand among the world’s best, but best them. And by the end of the 18th, after a deft chip and a clinical putt

Neilson Foundation Donates $250,000 to Ren’s Million Dollar Mission

A decade-long connection has resulted in one of the largest single contributions to date for Ren Pedersen’s Million Dollar Mission, with the Neilson Foundation confirming a $250,000 donation to support research into Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG). Burdekin-born Pedersen first encountered representatives from Kerr Neilson’s investment network roughly ten years ago, when he was invited to speak at a business forum at The Ville. “Around ten years ago, I was asked to address a business for

Burdekin Community Unites Against Gender-Based Violence

16 Days of Activism Event Shines a Light in the Burdekin Theatre Forecourt The Burdekin community came together in solidarity on Tuesday, 25 November 2025 marking the start of the global “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence” campaign. The event, held at the Burdekin Theatre Forecourt in Ayr, saw passionate participation from a range of local organisations, students, and residents, all united under a single aim: to raise awareness and take action to end gender-based violence. The e

History Made As Burdekin Local Undergoes Landmark Surgery

By Jacob Casha It was during her youth that Home Hill-born Marj Manak was told she might not live to see adulthood, after being diagnosed with a serious liver condition as a baby. Fast forward to 2025, and the now 56-year-old mother of two has become the first patient to undergo a successful kidney transplant through the North Queensland Kidney Transplant Service (NQKTS); a milestone for both herself and the region. The transplant follows decades of health challenges for Marj, including

Editor in Chief, Life Publishing Group

Rachael has been with the company for more than 10 years and is dedicated to supporting and nurturing journalists as they begin—and then grow—within their craft. Each week, she selects an Editor’s Pick to celebrate an outstanding locally written story. “

We are part of the regional print-news revival, and our talented journalists are at the heart of this”

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