“I am honoured to have been endorsed once again as the LNP Candidate for the seat of Dawson.
It's a privilege to be entrusted by the local party members, with a unanimous vote of confidence, and I am ready to work hard and fight even harder for the betterment of our region and our country.”

“I understand my role is to represent the good people of Dawson in Canberra, and I am determined to fight for our fair share of funding and services.”

“The upcoming federal election is the most important one yet, where Australians will have the opportunity to elect a new and strong government, a Coalition government who will get Australia back on track.”

“No matter where you live in the electorate, if it’s in the southern part of Townsville, in the Northern Beaches of Mackay or some of the beautiful communities in between, I am committed to being a representative of the entire electorate of Dawson, and growing a stronger future for all.”

“I am not prepared to settle. Being the Federal Member is an important position to hold and if I am given the honour of continuing in this role, I will give my all to the community I call home.”

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Federal MP, Andrew Willcox re-endorsed by LNP. Photos supplied.
Federal MP, Andrew Willcox – your man for Dawson and The Burdekin

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The new school year offers many opportunities for growth and learning, it can also present many uncertainties. From children's mental health and wellbeing, to bullying and navigating difficult social situations, going back to school can be stressful for parents and children alike as anxiety mixes with excitement.
The Triple P (Positive Parenting Program) has put together six strategic points to help children and their guardians navigate negative social challenges such as isolation and bullying. When left unchecked the ripple effect is devastating, leading to long-term health issues. Carol Markie-Dadds, a Triple P Director lists these points as a way “To help kids cope, parents and carers play a vital role in helping their children develop resilience and the skills to deal with bullying and unhealthy friendships this school year.”
These strategies are listed as followed: Reinforce resilience and self-esteem, Have regular check-ins with your child, Learn to recognise the signs of bullying, Be a role model for empathy and social skills, Role-play or consider scenarios to teach healthy boundaries, and finally Reach out to the school if you have any concerns.
If your child is experiencing social challenges, it’s important for guardians to remember they are not alone in helping their children navigate them. There are resources available to help families navigate bullying-related issues, such as your school, therapists and counsellors, and Kids Helpline. Let your children know they are valued and loved, and help them when they really need it.

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What are they? Where have they come from? How did they get here? A strange device was discovered along the Alva Beach shoreline by Gavan Lamb last Wednesday, the 22nd of January and the community was left puzzled as to how an echo sounder satellite buoy made its way to the Burdekin.

“I often walk the beach which is where I found this buoy plastic thing,” explained Gavan.

“I dragged it home and pulled it apart and the batteries were corroded so it’s been floating around for a while, so it’s kind of nice to have that rubbish disposed of and not on the beach.”

Gavan discovered the M3i echo sounder satellite buoy was manufactured by Marine Instruments for commercial use to detect and attract fish for foreign fisheries in the South Pacific.

Gavan’s Alva Beach discovery was not a one off. Instead, he has seen echo sounder satellite buoys on multiple occasions both at Alva and Wunjunga Beach and conservationists are becoming increasingly concerned with the number of buoys washing up on Aussie shores.

The Tangaroa Blue Foundation actively works to prevent and remove marine debris from both oceans and beaches across the nation through the use of the Australian Marine Debris Initiative. Beachgoers and boaters who come across echo sounder satellite buoys are able to donate the devices to the foundation to aid in future data analysis and clean up projects. More information on the foundation can be found online at tangaroablue.org.

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Gavan shared a photo of his discovery online
Curious, Gavan opened the buoy to discover plenty of tech inside

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Hi Kids (and Big kids),
Terrylicious, Burdekin Life’s canetoad back again to announce the winners. Well, well, well, seems we had some eagle-eyed little (and big) detectives last week. Maybe I didn’t hide myself well enough? But I was glad to be found seen waving my little Aussie flag ahead in support of Australia Day, especially as no one found me last month.
Winners
Well done to the dynamic duo of Evie (8) & Jai (6) Giardina, who spotted me ahead of everyone else, including adults. This brother-sister sibling act were the first and the fastest, immediately reaching out to my minders to report they found me within one minute! What great little wildlife finders you two make. Thank you!
Both born here and going to East Ayr State School, they get the paper every week, and their fave part – looking at all the people in photos. Now you both get to look at your own photo in the paper. Congrats Evie & Jai!
Until next time, enjoy your Australia Day long weekend everyone. I’ll see you in a couple of weeks. For now, I’ve got some insects to munch on as I prepare to fatten myself up so I can sit and relax this long weekend.
Ribbet! Ribbet! Burp.
Terry

Dynamic duo, Evie & Jai Giardina, were the fastest to find me.

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The Volunteer Marine Rescue Burdekin team did a double rescue on the weekend within the space of 12 hours.
The first call was from a vessel that sent a triple zero call and had run aground on the beach in front of Plantation Creek. VMR sent a crew out in their RIB (rigid inflatable boat), but unfortunately, they got caught in the tide, so they had to wait for the tide to go out to be able to rescue them.  
The rescue helicopter found the two guys and left them with enough food and water until VMR was able to rescue them. They then safely towed them back to Plantation Creek.  
The second rescue was only a few hours after the first rescue was completed, when there an emergency activation call came in. A call came from town to the water police, that a vessel had broken down and was drifting out to sea.  
The rescue helicopter had a lot of trouble getting out there on account of the rain and heavy thunderstorms in the area. VMR got there first and saw that the people were okay. However, they were unable to get to the shoreline due to the low tide.  
The rescue helicopter was eventually able to get out there to the area with the help of VMR guiding them to the spot before the men were rescued as the poor weather conditions only worsened.  
It was a very successful weekend for Volunteer Marine Rescue Burdekin. In the space of approximately 12 hours, two rescues were conducted within the same vicinity. The outcome of both rescues was good, with all individuals rescued and safe and healthy.  
President Ian Sutcliffe said, “VMR was glad to help ensure the men got back home safely to their families over the Australia Day long weekend, in what was a busy but successful day for our team.
“And remember, if you run into trouble out on the water, don’t hesitate to call 000 and VMR on: 07 4783 1014. Your very life may depend on it!”

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Happy New Year to you all and I hope this finds everyone getting back into it for another year. School is back (thank goodness say some parents) and business will return to some normality.
The weekend saw us celebrate Australia Day and with that, my fellow councillors and I attended the Australia Day Awards Ceremony. Once again, we were privileged to see and hear what some of our residents have contributed to our community. We have sport stars that have represented us at state and international levels. We celebrated volunteers who have given their time for over 30 and 40 plus years to help clubs and help promote our wonderful Burdekin. We celebrated the events that took place in 2024 and with that the people who organise and run them so efficiently, maintaining the Burdekin’s reputation for putting on events of the highest calibre. The ceremony also saw us welcome five (5) of our residents becoming Australian citizens, in what is always a special occasion.
I would like to congratulate all the nominees for their achievements and their commitment to giving their time to making our community a better place. The stories of what these nominees, young and not so young have done and what they have achieved is truly inspiring. Thank you once again to you all for your contributions and thank you to the people who took time to nominate and give recognition to these people who are truly selfless and truly make our home, the Mighty and Bountiful Burdekin that it is.
Thank you.

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To all who became Australian citizens on Sunday, congratulations on choosing Australia as your home. Whatever the reasons that brought you to our beautiful country, I hope you feel proud to call it your own.
I was reminded of the stories my grandparents shared about their journey to Australia and the hardships they faced along the way. Having travelled extensively myself, I felt deeply grateful that they chose this wonderful nation as our home. I am, and always will be, proud to be an Aussie.
The 2025 Australia Day Awards provided a wonderful opportunity to recognise and celebrate the incredible people who make the Burdekin such a vibrant community.
We are truly fortunate to have passionate individuals and groups dedicated to improving our region and enhancing the lives of those around them.
It was both a privilege and an honour to be part of the celebrations as Mayor of Burdekin Shire Council. As someone born and raised in this community, I deeply appreciate the hard work, commitment, and care each nominee showed towards their chosen sport, cultural endeavour, club, and the wider community.
Congratulations again to all our award nominees and recipients.
Should you wish to reach out, don’t hesitate to contact me directly by phone on 0447 150 582, or feel free to send an email to mayor@burdekin.qld.gov.au.

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The Burdekin Community Association Inc is seeking Expressions of Interest from people interested in participating in a Healing Waves Mental Health Peer Support Group.  Please refer to the following information and let us know if you are interested.
 
HEALING WAVES
MENTAL HEALTH PEER SUPPORT GROUP
 
A friendly, warm and safe space to share experiences and support one another through the journey of mental health.
 
HEALING WAVES provides a safe space where group members can provide support and insight to one another through the sharing of their lived experience.
 
Group members will also learn about and discuss topics such as self-care, mindfulness, stress management and more.
 
** Now taking expressions of interest for attendance for 2025 **
 
For more information and to register for your place in this group, please call the Burdekin Centre for Rural Health on 07 4783 2711 or visit 12A Chippendale St, Ayr.

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Bendigo Bank is warning the community about remote access scams in which fraudsters gain access to individuals’ computers or devices under false pretences, often resulting in significant financial losses.

Australia-wide, more than $15 million was reported lost from 8,975 remote access scam reports in 2023, according to Scamwatch.

“Scammers will use every trick in the book with the aim of gaining access to your phone or computer,” said Head of Customer Fraud and Scam Protection, Jason Gordon.

“Once access is granted, scammers may install malicious software, steal sensitive information, or initiate unauthorised transactions, leaving victims and their bank accounts vulnerable,” he said.

‘If you did not originate the call and you’re being asked for information or to enable remote access, hang up!”

Almost half of all remote access scams reported to Scamwatch in 2023 were by phone, but these scams can also be via text, social media or email. Scammers establish trust by claiming to work for your bank, a utility company, delivery service, telecommunication services (such as NBN), or a government agency.

“Criminals are getting adept at carefully constructing often complex communications that convincingly mirror those of the brand they are impersonating,” Mr Gordon said.

“A recent scam case reported to the Bank detailed an account of a scammer claiming to be from a company the customer was familiar with. To legitimise the call and their alleged credentials, the scammer had created an authentic-looking LinkedIn profile and directed the victim to it in a successful effort to gain trust.”

“This kind of trickery, combined with other tactics like spoofing – when phone calls appear to come from legitimate numbers and SMS messages appear in the same conversation thread as genuine communications – make it extremely difficult for people to detect genuine communications.”

Bendigo Bank is committed to educating customers and the wider community to be especially wary of calls, text, emails about online banking in which there is a request to:

   • download programs or software that allow screen sharing to be enabled
   • reset your password after a recent series of scam attacks
   • purchase a new modem to fix your internet connection
   • update your account or device with new security features, or
   • provide personal details to verify your account activity.

“The Bank will never ask for your details, or to transfer money, download software or login via a link sent through email or SMS. Bendigo Bank has removed links from all our SMS messages, so customers who receive an SMS that includes a link should treat that as suspicious.” 

Mr Gordon’s advice to customers who may have fallen victim to a bank impersonation scam is to visit www.bendigobank.com.au/security immediately to report it and get support. 

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We wanted to start this week’s column off by wishing all the best to the kids of the district as they embark on a new school year and congratulating all the parents and caregivers for surviving the summer holidays!

Is there anyone else out there pondering the swift passage of January? We had envisioned a leisurely transition into 2025. However, it seems that plan has been swept aside, and now we find ourselves racing into February, slightly frazzled, yet we remain ever ready to greet you with a warm smile at the Centre.

This week, we had an opportunity to speak on ABC Radio about volunteering. Volunteering is a remarkable endeavour that brings countless benefits, not only to those who dedicate their time and skills but also to the organisations and clubs they support.

Did you know that the vast majority of activities that the Centre offers to our Burdekin community are facilitated by amazing local volunteers? Our social inclusion and support programming would not be possible without them. Empowering community members to share their talents and knowledge is at the core of our mission, and it makes for a great day to see the positive impact we can create together!

The Burdekin Neighbourhood Centre is also run by a volunteer management committee. Currently, we are actively seeking enthusiastic individuals to join our team, particularly in the roles of secretary and vice-treasurer. If you possess a community-minded spirit and are comfortable navigating the digital landscape, we would love to hear from you.

We encourage those community members who are willing to think independently, strategically, and ethically to consider joining our governance committee. We need strong advocates to champion the needs of both the centre and our vibrant community. Your unique perspectives and individual life experiences are invaluable and play a crucial role in ensuring our services remain relevant and impactful.

The Burdekin Neighbourhood Centre is known for its positive and friendly attitude to both people and services. We pride ourselves on being community builders rather than just service providers, fostering a true sense of belonging. We believe in collaborating with people, not merely working for them, and we are genuinely excited about the wonderful accomplishments that can emerge when we unite with our Burdekin community.

If you are thinking that volunteering might be for you, don’t hesitate to come into the Centre and have a chat with us.

Until next time,
The Team at Burdekin Neighbourhood Centre

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Welcome to 2025.
Hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I’m sure everyone is refreshed after the break and are ready to embrace 2025.
I looked forward to attending the Australia Day Awards on Sunday 26 January 2025, at the Burdekin Theatre. The Burdekin is full of so many fantastic people, groups, sporting clubs, and community events, and it was rewarding to see them recognised at the 2025 Australia Day Awards. The Burdekin Shire Council Australia Day Awards recognised members of our community who made an outstanding contribution through their exceptional achievements. There were several categories in the awards, ranging from Citizen of the Year to the Environment Award.
Just a reminder that from July 2024 Rates notices were changed from Yearly to Half Yearly. With the first sent out in August 2024 and the second notice to be sent out in February. The rates paid by property owners are vital in providing a wide range of services that enhance the quality of life in our community. These services include mandatory waste management, water and sewerage services, and the maintenance of our parks, beaches and trails.
Ratepayers can continue to prepay rates prior to the due date or can enter in a payment plan to pay weekly, fortnightly or monthly to get ahead of next year’s rates.

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The Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR)’s In a Good Place (IAGP) program is inviting applications for grants up to $20,000 for community-driven projects that strengthen the mental, social and/or emotional health and well-being of people living in remote, rural and regional places, particularly in farming communities.

This round, the IAGP program has $290,000 to support initiatives or activities that prevent or respond to mental well-being concerns.

Priorities include increasing mental health education and understanding to reduce stigma, supporting people to build connections and reduce social isolation, and encouraging, supporting and enabling people to seek help for their mental health.

Thanks to FRRR’s donor partners, community groups and not-for-profit organisations (NFPs) can apply for grants through two streams of funding:

1. Community wellbeing: for projects that focus on strengthening the general mental health and wellbeing of people in remote, rural and regional communities.

2. Farmers and farming communities: for projects specifically supporting the mental health and well-being of farmers and the communities they live in.

Jill Karena, Head of Granting at FRRR, said that while Australia’s farming communities are incredibly vibrant and resilient, even the strongest person needs help from time to time.

“There is a legacy of silence and perceived stigma around speaking up and seeking support for mental health issues. Thankfully, in rural communities, this narrative is shifting,” Ms Karena said.

“Together with our funding partners, we are supporting local groups to be part of that momentum and continue to challenge and positively shift perceptions about mental health in their remote, rural and regional communities.

“We want to fund initiatives that foster open and honest discussions around mental health, support the social and emotional well-being of vulnerable community members, and encourage farmers and other community members concerned with their mental health to seek support.

“We look forward to reading the project ideas put forward by community groups and not-for-profits across the country and to be inspired by their positive, proactive and community-focussed mental health initiatives,” Ms Karena said.

Groups seeking support must first lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI), which is due 14 February.

Final applications from those shortlisted are due by the 11th of March.

Learn more at: https://frrr.org.au/funding/place/in-a-good-place/

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Members of the NQ Dry Tropics Traditional Owner Management Group (TOMG) took part in a recent workshop, focused on improving the quality of water flowing from the Burdekin catchments to the Great Barrier Reef.

Delivered by NQ Dry Tropics in partnership with Senior Scientist at C2O Consulting, Jane Waterhouse, the workshop provided an opportunity for group members to contribute their knowledge and priorities to the development of a new Burdekin Regional Water Quality Strategy, funded through the Australian Government’s Reef Trust.

This workshop is the first step in an engagement process that will involve farmers, Traditional Owners, scientists, industry and government.

The Strategy will bring together regional goals, priorities and actions to improve reef water quality, and provide clear information to support investment and prioritise interventions to address land-based impacts, such as fine sediment, pesticides and dissolved inorganic nitrogen.

TOMG Chair and Gugu Badhun man, Richard Hoolihan, said the workshop provided an important opportunity to capture Indigenous perspectives on water systems.

He said group members wanted the Strategy to include actions that would translate into jobs on the ground for First Nations people.

“We would like to see the Strategy recommend building the capacity of Traditional Owner groups to deliver the kinds of activities that will improve water quality, such as water sampling, water testing and other fieldwork to inform these scientific processes," Richard said.

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Members of the NQ Dry Tropics Traditional Owner Management Group (TOMG) gather at a workshop to contribute their insights to the Burdekin Regional Water Quality Strategy, aimed at improving water quality flowing from the Burdekin catchments to the Great Barrier Reef. Photo source: NQ Dry Tropics

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Simon Hood
Wilmar Manager Grower Marketing

The New Year has heralded an unwelcome change in global sugar price sentiment, initially prompted by the world market getting more comfortable that the first quarter supply of sugar was tight but manageable. This resulted in a gradual deterioration of the ICE #11 March 25 futures premium over the May contract.

The speculative money sensed the path of least resistance was down, so they had been getting increasingly aggressive with their short-selling strategies. This was being met with scale-down trade buying. Then the rumour – and now fact – that the Indian government is issuing export licences for 1 million tonnes of white sugar, broke the market to the downside.

India's choice to issue export licences at this time is puzzling. Wilmar has been revising down sugar estimates for the current harvest due to a poor growing season combined with an increase in crop disease, and an increase in ethanol production. This results in a low domestic stock position of what is an important base energy source for a large proportion of the population.

With this harvest approximately 50 per cent complete, production is running behind schedule, and the increased disease is resulting in poor cane quality. Indian domestic sugar prices have rallied and, at current levels, it appears there is no incentive for sugar to be exported. The notion that the government would subsidise exports is a possibility but there appears little incentive for that to occur.

The wrap-up of the 24 season for Brazil is all but done, with the final sugar production estimated to be just under 40mt. Rain in Brazil has been reasonable over the last couple of months so there is some alleviation from the dry growing season of 24.

The current forecast for Brazil's 25 crop is for a large 42.5m tonnes of sugar production. The increase is based largely on the assumption of a 52 per cent sugar to ethanol mix (24 season was 48 per cent).

So after a long period at the end of last year with minimal market news, the New Year has started with a flurry. How this plays out is yet to be determined. The structure of futures prices is relatively flat so the current consensus of the market is an each-way bet.

Fortunately, the AUD has weakened significantly over the past couple of months, which has dulled the impact of the falling futures market. However, at 62 cents, the AUD is at levels that historically have proven good buying, so it could be vulnerable to a rally on the back of USD weakness linked to the changing mood of Trump.

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International stage director and producer, Neil Gooding, recently came to town where he got to look in on proceedings of his smash hit musical, Back To The 80s. Written over 20 years ago, it’s been a trip back in time for this Burdekin native, who now calls New York home.

“I was born and grew up in Ayr and went to Ayr High School. During my time here, we did lots of shows at the Burdekin Theatre with the Burdekin Singers. Then at the end of year,12, I went to Brisbane to study law and commerce at university… and yeah, I never used those degrees,” Neil laughs.

“However, I was doing lots of performing at the time. So when I got my commerce degree, I moved to Sydney at the age of 20 and thought I was going to act. Then over the years I discovered that I loved directing and producing more,” he says.

After leaving Brisbane, Neil lived in Sydney for a number of years, where he worked for a big stage show company. It was here Neil cut his teeth working on many of their shows before the bright lights of New York beckoned.

“I was in Sydney for a number of years where I worked for Jacobsen, who were a big company at the time. I was directing and producing a lot of shows for them. But then I moved to New York in 2019, where I now mostly produce and have global shows that now top around the world.”

For a boy from the Burdekin to end up on the biggest stage of all, Broadway, may feel like a big leap for most. To think it all came about on the back of a simple idea Neil had when he wrote the stage play for then unknown show, Back To The 80s.

“I had this idea for a show that’s basically an amalgamation of every 1980s teen movie and TV shows like The Wonder Years. Shows I grew up watching. I didn't have to do much research because I knew all the stuff, they always had the same characters. All I needed to do is put those characters into a storyline. All the great music was already there. There's not that many shows where you get to sing Footloose or We Are The World, but that’s what keeps it ticking,” Neil smiles.

And tick along it does. Back To The 80s, has now been performed by 1000s of schools and amateur companies around the world since. So what does Neil attribute its success to?

“I think obviously the music and the fact that the ‘80s were far enough away, everybody could look back on them fondly. When I first started writing it, I don't think the 80s had had their resurgence, but I knew it was coming. It happened with the 60s, it happened with the 70s. After an era is done it becomes cool and retro again every 10 to 15 years afterward and that’s what happened. I just got the timing right,” Neil chuckles.

While it seems the 80s are now immortalised, for Neil, it’s full steam ahead. He has upcoming projects, including a production of Shirley Valentine in Melbourne, and roles as a producer on Broadway and the West End.

If he could sum up his experiences and share his wisdom for the kids of the Burdekin with dreams of their own, what would he say?

“You need to love what you do. As I’ve hopped into bigger and bigger ponds, you realise that it's not as different as you would think. When you grow up in the Burdekin, Brisbane seems a long way away, then Sydney, then New York. But it's not that different.”

“Coming back here I remember why I love doing it. Sometimes it's easy to forget. It's about having the fun,” Neil concludes.

To book tickets for Back To The 80s, contact Burdekin Theatre on: (07) 4783 9880 or visit their website at: https://www.burdekintheatre.com

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Neil Gooding, outside where it all began. Photo credit: Mark T. Rasmussen

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