Home Hill Chamber of Commerce held its second Social and Networking Event last Wednesday, March 21, inviting Scripture Union School Chaplain John Mackay to address the business community.
John has 17 years of experience as a school chaplain and currently works at both East Ayr State School and Clare State School.
He said the biggest role of the school chaplain is to care for the students within the schools.
“More than that, we also care for the staff and the families there too, so we’re trying to make the schools a good place for the kids to come,” he said.
John’s role is varied and involves sitting in on classes, assisting students with their work, and playing educational games with them, but one of the most significant initiatives he’s implemented at both schools is ‘breaky club’, offering students fruit, toast and cereal before school.
“Lots of kids end up not being fed properly before they come to school and if the tummy’s not happy then the kids can get restless, so the kids love it,” he said.
John is one of six chaplains who work across nine schools in the Burdekin, and he said he was pleased to be invited to speak to the Home Hill Chamber of Commerce members to share the work of the chaplaincy.
“It’s good to find out the things that are happening in the community and I’d like the business community people to know about chaplaincy because it’s their kids, their grandkids, who we’re trying to love,” he said.
Home Hill Chamber of Commerce Secretary Robert Antoniazzi said he invited John to shed light on the work of chaplaincy in the community.
“I know how much he’s done at the schools, and I wanted to share that information with everybody, because he does make a difference to schools and troubled school kids,” Robert said.
If you are interested in learning more about becoming a chaplain, contact Scripture Union District Manager Brooke Sorbello on 0427 291 540.
Home Hill Chamber of Commerce’s next Social and Networking Event will be held at the Home Hill Community Sports Club on April 17 from 5:30pm, where Tony Goddard of the Ayr Rotary Club has been invited as a guest speaker.

School Chaplain John Mackay and Home Hill Chamber of Commerce Vice President Uli Liessmann

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Rehoming fee: $195

DOB: 1/07/2022

Sex: Male

Breed: DOH

Kid friendly: Yes

Dog Friendly: Untested

Other cats: Yes

Indoors/Outdoors: Indoors

Checkers is relaxed and looking for a relaxing home.

He is super chilled and tolerant, making him perfect if you have children around the house.

Checkers doesn’t just chill in his own world, he is renowned for cuddles and loves attention.

Checkers is desexed, microchipped, up to date on vaccinations and is tick, flea and worm treated.

If you are interested in taking home Checkers, Please fill out an animal inquiry form at: https://www.angelpawsinc.com.au/forms.html.

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Ian and Justine Baker are two of the Burdekin’s newest residents and when they moved here from Ipswich, they brought with them a rare opportunity for local veterans to experience offroad racing.
Although new to the Burdekin, the Raemus Rover Racing program has been operating in southeast Queensland for over 10 years, a method of adrenaline therapy utilising the highly dynamic genre of racing and combining it with a peer-to-peer counselling and support program.
The program’s origins trace back to 1976 when it first started as a trade training activity using ex-Vietnam war stock out of Puckapunyal, Victoria.
“It was then used as a cross training activity, and they used to compete in the state and national championships,” said Ian.
“It was a good platform at the time to entertain the troops, a lot of them ex-Vietnam, to entertain them while they were basically posted in the middle of nowhere.”
Once the program had served its purpose and the vehicle and team were no longer required, the vehicle went into storage at the Bandiana Army Museum where it remained for 22 years.
“When I was an apprentice at Puckapunyal Workshop, I played with Raemus Rover,” Ian said.
“I’ve gone through a lot of time in service, been deployed multiple times, and the regiment I was in at the time had a permanent, established group rotating through Afghanistan for 11 years straight, and we were starting to really see the effects of continual rotation of deployment and combat.
“My guys needed a distraction, and they came to me and asked about the old Raemus Rover.”
The therapeutic potential of offroad racing became clearer and clearer before Ian, who had been in the Australian Army for 33 years since the age of 15, and Justine, who worked in defence as a public servant for 30 years, built the program into what it is today.
“We found this adrenaline therapy research and that’s the basis of the program,” Ian said.
“We utilise a genre of motorsport that isn’t widely understood; it is the most dynamic and aggressive form of motorsport that looks like you’re going to die, but you’re not.
“It’s extremely safe and it has an enormous amount of suspension.
“At the heightened state of adrenal flow is when people are more likely to open up, accept suggestion and talk about issues, so we purposely put them into a heightened adrenal flow state utilising something that’s sexy to them, race cars, we get them to that point, and we sit down and talk.”
The Raemus Rover Racing program has discharged military counsellors, nurses, trained combat medics, psychologists and padres either on staff or on call, providing a safe and familiar space for other veterans to take part.
“If we weren’t on that tour with you, we know someone who was or we’ve been to the same area and done the same things, so we can automatically build a rapport and we can start to talk about things,” Ian said.
The program involves weekly drop-in sessions, inviting veterans to come in and help work on the vehicles; trackside program days, where veterans and families are able to get in the vehicles and race; as well as racing events, where those looking to further their racing can compete in official offroad racing events.
“It’s all about building that support group that understands and will help them through it, because it’s not going to be a fix, it’s just building up the confidence that they can keep coming back and nobody’s judging them,” said Justine.
“A lot of people, when they leave the military, they don’t realise the transferrable skills they’ve got.”
“We get veterans engaged and valued,” added Ian.
“For a lot of them, the issue is the lack of self-value or self-recognition.
“Once you get out, you don’t know where you fit and you can’t find your tribe.
“By having all of these little avenues of engagement and letting them show what they can do, nine times out of ten, they display how valuable they are within an area that they never would have been exposed to unless they came out.
“I don’t care how broken you are, you can do this.”
The program is sponsored by RSL Queensland and is currently being researched by the Gallipoli Medical Research Foundation, which could lead to the program being grown and adapted further afield.
The team are preparing for their first north Queensland program day at the Burdekin Offroaders track in May.
Ian and Justine are seeking interest from local veterans to get involved in weekly drop-in sessions at their Burdekin workshop.
To find out more, message RSL Raemus Rover Off-Road Racing.

Raemus Rover Racing invites veterans to utilise and develop their skills in offroad racing. Photo credit: Alan McIntosh Sports Photography

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The Great Barrier Reef is amidst its fifth widespread coral bleaching event in just eight years, aerial surveys have revealed.
The surveys, conducted by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), observed over 300 reefs between Cape Melville north of Cooktown to just north of Bundaberg and confirmed the event.
Reef Authority Chief Scientist Dr Roger Beeden said the results of these surveys are consistent with the patterns of heat stress that have built up over summer.
“The results are consistent with what we have seen with above average sea surface temperatures across the Marine Park for an extended period of time,” Dr Beeden said.
“Aerial surveys of the Reef have revealed prevalent shallow water coral bleaching on most surveyed reefs.
“It is important to note, that the heat stress has not been even across the Reef, and the coral bleaching observed is variable.
“Monitoring the health of the Reef is a year-round effort for the Reef Authority, and it’s critical for us to understand what is happening on the Reef so we can target our management actions to protect the Reef and strengthen its resilience.
“Climate change is the greatest threat to the Great Barrier Reef, and coral reefs globally.”
AIMS Senior Research Scientist Dr Neal Cantin said that the aerial surveys provide a visual indication of the extent of bleaching.
However, assessing the severity to coral colonies requires in-water surveys.
“Aerial surveys are a crucial tool for a reef ecosystem as large as the Great Barrier Reef and show that this coral bleaching event is widespread, or what is commonly called a mass coral bleaching event,” Dr Cantin said.
“We now need to combine the spatial coverage captured from the air with in-water surveys to assess the severity of coral bleaching in deeper reef habitats across the different regions of the Marine Park.
“We will continue to conduct in-water observations with our research teams and management partners.”
The Reef Authority will continue to work closely with research and other science partners, Traditional Owners, and the tourism industry to monitor conditions on the Reef.

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In February 2017, eleven people climbed the steep stairs at the Burdekin Library in Ayr. Beginners and experienced writers alike, they dreamed of novels, family histories, memoirs, anthologies and children’s stories. They sought a group of like-minded individuals who would inspire and encourage their creativity. From that meeting, Scratchy Scribblers was formed. Over the next six years, the group changed names and meeting locations multiple times. Members and partnerships came and went, but, throughout it all, the goal of the group stayed the same.
Burdekin Creative Writers is a welcoming space for writers to share their words, find encouragement and advice, enhance their literary skills, and have fun creating new things with only a pen and their imagination.
Because of this group, members have entered short story competitions and been published in anthologies. They have created newsletters, judged writing competitions, and learned to interview notable people in the community. They have written dozens of stories and poems and challenged themselves to write things they never would’ve created on their own.
In 2023, the group published their own anthology, an assortment of stories and poems from the members of Burdekin Creative Writers and Burdekin Night Writers. Burdekin Life is proud to share some of the work from this anthology.

The Mighty Burdekin
by Anne McCubben
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The Burdekin’s a river and it’s known throughout the State
‘The Mighty Burdekin’ they say (in flood, at any rate);
If it is in a placid mood, the fishing’s rather good,
But as in everything I guess, not all goes as it should: -
There’s awesome power and wonder when you hear the river’s roar
In flood time as its torrent with its banks would seem at war.
The water frothy, yellow, and with debris riding fast
Tears madly to the ocean till its level drops at last.

From two farms off you hear it at its height in times of flood
And if it leaves the riverbed, it spreads abroad its mud.
When times are dry the river drops, sometimes below its sand
Or lies in weedy, murky pools one can’t describe as grand,
Yet water from the Burdekin brings life to sugar cane
And other crops depend on it through irrigation drain.
The riverbed has miles of sand – it’s coarse but there’s a lot.
A paradise for children at each favoured picnic spot.

The Burdekin’s a river with its water, sand and mud.
It’s useful yet there’s damage that it causes when in flood.
The lifeblood of our delta as its waters irrigate
The crops the farmers plant each year, the early and the late.
I’ve always known our river for I’ve lived here all my life,
Saw cane trucks pulled by horses and the cane cut by a knife.
I’ve picnicked in our riverbed, gone swimming to get cool,
Seen boats cross flooding waters and caught fish where there’s a pool.

I saw the cattle wagons lying strewn along its bed –
They’d left the bridge as water rose, became a thing of dread
The truck with bricks though, didn’t roll, just dropped off straight and sank.
The engine of that railway train was safe upon the bank
I’ve sat above its waters flowing underneath my house.
Seen croc’s slide in the water when out boating with my spouse,
Camped on its banks near Sellheim and run races on the sand,
Walked over on the rail-bridge once, before the new bridge spanned

And almost tamed our river – well, enabling us to go
From one side to the other with the water high below.
The Burdekin’s my river and I like to tell my friends
That I am from the Burdekin – I like her curves and bends,
The shadetrees on the riverbanks or in the riverbed,
The water clear or full of silt and almost thick instead.
The Burdekin’s my river though she goes through many moods,
Yet has so many uses as her waters grow our foods.

The Burdekin’s a river sometimes full yet often dry
Her tributaries help her flood or also empty lie.
Belyando water’s very slow in flowing on its way,
The Bowen’s faster, Bogie too, can fill it in a day.
Campaspe, Suttor, Clark and Cape, the Fanning and the Star,
The Broken River waters too – they come from near and far.
They join the mighty Burdekin, when they’ve been filled by rain
It is a giant watershed that all these rivers drain.

Between twin towns Home Hill and Ayr, the river makes its way,
On through the delta to the sea to end in Upstart Bay.
The Burdekin’s a river, that’s deceptive when there’s drought
But there’s might and roaring power when a cyclone’s been about

To find out more about the Burdekin Creative Writers, contact George Venables 0407 105 950.
Writers From the Burdekin Creative Writers and Night Writers Groups will read a selection of their pieces from the Anthology at the Ayr branch of the Burdekin Library on Wednesday, April 10 from 9:30am and the Home Hill branch of the Burdekin Library on Wednesday, June 12 from 10:30am.

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This week, we wanted to share with you something that comes up a lot at the Neighbourhood Centre. We often hear people say – “not that my opinion matters”, “I don’t have anything to offer”, “I am just… xyz”.

One of our core values at the Centre is that EVERYONE has something to offer, EVERYONE has had life experiences that can help others, NO ONE is JUST anything…. You are You – and YOU MATTER.

People often get caught up in the expectations and opinions of others, leaving little space for self-discovery and self-acceptance.

If you are struggling to recognise your self-worth here are some things to think about:

   • Appreciate your unique talents, skills, and experiences. Don't compare yourself to others. Celebrate your achievements, no matter how small.

   • Be kind to yourself. Treat yourself like you would treat a good friend. Accept your flaws and be gentle with yourself. Try not to be too hard on yourself. You deserve kindness and respect, especially from yourself.

   • Set boundaries in your relationships with others. This means knowing when to say "no" and making your own well-being a priority. It's okay to communicate clearly and assertively with others about your boundaries, even if it might feel uncomfortable at first. By doing this, you'll be taking an important step towards building healthy relationships with yourself and others.

   • Take care of yourself.  It helps you to feel good and value yourself. You can do this in different ways, like getting enough sleep, eating healthy foods, exercising, practising mindfulness or meditation, or seeking professional help when needed. By taking care of yourself, you are telling yourself that you are important and you're worth the effort.

   • Positive people around us can greatly impact our self-esteem. It's so important to surround ourselves with supportive individuals who uplift us. This means letting go of toxic relationships and finding like-minded people who share similar values. Creating a positive environment promotes personal growth and well-being.

It inspires us every day to see Burdekin community members recognise their self-worth and then go on to help others do the same. Working together and creating opportunities that we all can benefit from helps our community grow.  

Wishing you all a great week!

The Team
Burdekin Neighbourhood Centre

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Did you know that the Burdekin Shire Council has an Arts and Cultural Strategy 2021-2030 to support the vitality and diversity of arts and culture in the region?

The Arts and Cultural Strategy 2021-2030 strategy is based on contemporary cultural planning principles and is informed by evidence and community values. It aims to promote a cultural vitality that will enrich the liveability and appeal of the Burdekin Shire and is designed to integrate with other Council planning mechanisms and be consistent with overarching community values. 

The strategy consists of five strategic themes: Creative Communities, Cultural Vitality, Animated Places and Spaces, Connectivity and Sustainability and Heritage, Identity and Sense of Place. It outlines a series of actions, outcomes and indicators for each theme, as well as a monitoring and evaluation framework. This plan is for the whole community. It embraces the diversity of the region irrespective of geography, age, ability, gender and cultural or social-economic background. It respects the past, acknowledges the present and looks to the future.

The strategy is supported by the Regional Arts Development Fund, a Queensland Government and Burdekin Shire Council partnership to support local arts and culture in regional Queensland. You can view the strategy online by visiting Burdekin Shire Council’s website burdekin.qld.gov.au.

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Burdekin School Celebrated Harmony Day with social games, allowing students to explore different cultures and create pieces of a group mural. Photos supplied: Burdekin School
Burdekin Community Association Inc. Community Services Officer Aimee Cursio and local resident Allan Lee celebrated Harmony Day 2024 with a market stall on Queen Street. Photo supplied: Burdekin Community Association Inc.
Burdekin Christian College marked Harmony Week, the celebration that recognises diversity and brings together Australians from all different backgrounds. Photo supplied: Burdekin Christian College

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In mid-1983, Marie Finn was sitting in the waiting room of Dr Joyce’s surgery for the six-week check of her fifth child, flicking through the latest edition of the Home Hill Observer when she read of the closure of a local kindergarten operated by Mrs Williamson.
“Coming from Cairns and driving there regularly, I had often seen beautiful buildings that provided kindergarten facilities and hoped that Home Hill could one day have the same,” Marie said.
“Perhaps this was the opportunity, so I sprang into action.”
Marie met with then councillor Seb Vecchio over a cup of tea at her kitchen table to discuss the possibility of a C&K Kindergarten in Home Hill, and she said the idea had this support. A week later, almost 30 people attended a public meeting, some in opposition to the proposal, favouring another backyard kindy to replace Mrs Williamson’s. A week after that, a steering committee was appointed to investigate the possibilities and the work involved. Council was contacted about a suitable building, while the committee planned for its first Christmas Carnival with the support of the community, families and organisations.
“Forty local businesses supported the carnival either with goods or ads in the paper,” Marie said.
“It was thrilling, and we knew that our idea would be a resounding success!”
Ann Winter discovered that the CWA flats, originally Iyah State School, were up for sale, that purchase setting in motion the establishment of the Home Hill Community Preschool and Kindergarten Association as it was then known. Furniture was sourced from Mrs Williamson and the Home Hill State School, but challenges ensued when obtaining a phone, electricity, pest control, fire extinguishers, vinyl and carpet flooring, mirrors, toilets and other items and services for the kindy. Parents assisted in painting the building and equipment, pulling out bindis, building a fence and sandpit, all to be ready by the end of January 1984.
“Where would the money come from?” Marie posed.
“Our estimates were that it would cost $5,000 to bring the building and equipment up to meet the high standards required to have affiliation with C&K Queensland.
“The proposal at Council was led by then Chairman, Dr John Trace, and supported by three Home Hill councillors.
“However, the whole only just passed at 5-4.
“Nevertheless, they agreed to allocate $5,000 to be repaid over ten years and dedicated to our expenditure.”
The kindy commenced operation in January 1984 with Miss Sandra Slater as Director and Miss Lorelie Bapty as Assistant. Dr John Trace later performed the official opening of the centre on March 15, 1984, where Sandra and Lorelie were presented with engraved goblets by the committee of management as foundation staff and students were presented with foundation certificates. The centre was given the slogan:
“This centre runs on parent power.”
In its infancy, three people contributed generously to the kindy’s upkeep: Ray Kluver, who mowed and whipper snipped weekly; Jo Weeks, who voluntarily cleaned the kindy all year; and Alan Weight, who assisted with the gardening and kept the bindies at bay. Within a short space of time, it became apparent that the life of the building as a C&K centre was, unfortunately, limited.
“By the middle of the year, thought was given to a new building much sooner than we at first anticipated, and negotiations were entered into with the Burdekin Shire Council,” Marie said.
Three blocks of land were considered, including the block where the kindy stands today. Plans were drawn up by Barrett and Associates and had approval by the C&K Building Committee in Brisbane. The float in the Harvest Festival later that year evoked high interest from the parents with a good turnout to put it together. And, with another Christmas Carnival, the highly successful and tumultuous first year came to an end and the Home Hill Community Kindy was here to stay.

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Foundation Staff
Director: Sandra Slater
Assistant: Lorelie Bapty

Foundation Committee
President: Marie Finn
Vice President: Damien Joyce
Secretary: Mary Hurney
Treasurer: Peter Hogden
Committee Members: Cheryl Goodman, Norelle Weight, Isabel Stubbs, Annette Michelin and Delphine Baker

Foundation Students
Group A: Katrina Piva, Andrew Finn, Carly Bradley, Rowan McDowell, Travis Davenport, Nicole Watson, Ross Elton, Christopher Field, Andrea Mann, Cherie Durso, Jason Torrisi, Peter Bartlett, Danien Michelin, Justin Elton, Rachel Woods and Stacey Harding
Group B: Stewart Baker, David Vass, Daniel Vass, Calum Boland, Janay Lewis, Josh Santacatarina, Isabel Stubbs, Joanne Woods, Alison Woods, Christopher Williams, Michael Hogden, Michael Weeks, Claire Joyce, Roderick Taylor, Ann Grimshaw, Magella Hurney, Danielle Goodman, Scott Heatley, Phil Garner and Nev Norris
Group C: Shea Baker, Justin Young, Andrew Piva, Trudy Eckstein, Amanda Bonanno, Lillian Simeoni, Adrian Chapman, Frank Barbagallo, Peter Rossato and David Todman

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Group A
Group B
Group C

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In 2024, C&K Home Hill Community Kindergarten proudly commemorates 40 years of childcare excellence. Since inception, the kindy has been committed to providing a dynamic and enriching educational experience for children aged three to five, prioritising play-based learning where every moment is an opportunity for exploration and discovery. Supported by passionate educators, the program instils a love for lifelong learning in each child. With purpose-built facilities and expansive outdoor spaces, the kindy fosters holistic development within a caring community environment.
But the journey isn't just about education—it's about community. C&K Home Hill Community Kindergarten embraces strong ties with the Home Hill community, welcoming parental involvement and participating in various events and initiatives.
As C&K Home Hill Community Kindergarten celebrates 40 years, those involved in its inception reflect on past achievements and look forward to a future filled with boundless opportunities for growth and learning.
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Read on to discover the story.

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In the 40 years since its inception, Home Hill Community Kindy has grown to become an integral part of our small community.
The Centre has educated thousands of local children, providing them with wonderful preparation for the commencement of their formal education. The Centre is a vibrant, welcoming space which allows children to grow and develop into curious, capable and collaborative learners.
Director, Sue Amore, together with Educator Jodie MacDonald and the other staff implement the C&K early childhood curriculum Listening and Learning Together at the Centre. They are passionate about nurturing healthy minds and bodies and celebrating each child’s individual strengths to support their participation in the program and realise their full potential.
The play-based learning is reflective of our Home Hill community, so learning happens in ways that is meaningful to the children. The Kindy recognizes and respect the traditional custodians of Australia and embraces and celebrates the diversity of the children and families in our community.
In 2015, the Kindy made the decision to move away from traditional Kindy days and hours to offer an extended service.  Currently, 44 children attend the Centre over four days, group A on a Monday and Tuesday and Group B on a Wednesday and Thursday.  The hours of 8:15am to 5:15pm are more practical for working families and have ensured the longevity of the Centre.
In 2024, kindergarten has been offered free across Queensland to all families. This initiative will ensure that hopefully no child throughout the state misses out on experiencing the truly wonderful year that kindy is for children.
The current staff and committee of Home Hill Community Kindy are proud to be continuing the legacy of the original founders of the facility in providing a quality education to the children of Home Hill.  With the ongoing support of the Community this will continue for many years to come.

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Meet The Teachers
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Sue Amore

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After coming across the Burdekin on a gap year in the 1980s and loving the warmer weather, director and teacher Sue Amore relocated her family from Victoria to the Burdekin in 1993. It was while in the Burdekin that Sue began studying early childhood, working in local schools throughout 2005 before taking on the role of director and teacher at Home Hill Community Kindy in 2006. Over the years, Sue has liaised with committee and community members, mentored students, and navigated a shift in working hours but said her and her team were “determined to do whatever we needed to do to keep this community-based kindy up and running.”
“Here we still are in 2024 with full numbers and still being supported by our families and our community,” Sue said.

Jodie MacDonald

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Assistant educator Jodie MacDonald has lived in the Burdekin most of her life, growing up in Ayr and Gumlu before moving to Home Hill where she has lived for 24 years. She said she had never considered working with children before having her own, working in administration before having children.  
“I became interested in relief work during the years my own children were attending the kindy and after being on the committee for a few years, began studying my certificate III and then Diploma,” Jodie said.  “I have worked at the kindy for almost 9 years.”

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Jodie and Sue

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For over four decades, Rural Quip has supported the industrial and agricultural sectors of the Burdekin with passion, knowledge and experience. Established in 1982 initially as a steel fabrication business, the company has since undergone a remarkable evolution, transitioning into a comprehensive retail hub catering to the diverse needs of local industries.
Under the leadership of Managing Director Robert Oar, whose extensive experience spans 45 years in agricultural and engineering sectors, Rural Quip has adeptly navigated shifts in market demands. Recognising the necessity to adapt, the company has expanded its offerings beyond fabrication to encompass retail, steel sales, and industrial supplies.
A key aspect of Rural Quip's success lies in its commitment to customisation and customer satisfaction. Equipped with state-of-the-art machinery including steel presses, guillotines, and hole punches, the company ensures that each product meets the unique requirements of its clientele. Furthermore, its affiliation with the national buying group, Australian Industrial Supplies, for over 25 years underscores its dedication to providing competitive pricing without compromising quality.
With a team of approximately 18 experienced staff members, Rural Quip offers expertise across various product areas from cutting and pressing steel in the steel department to the diverse range of goods in the retail section. Moreover, its local delivery service facilitates the transportation of steel to site, enhancing convenience for customers.
Visitors to Rural Quip's premises are often astonished by the extensive stock available, reflective of the company's unwavering commitment to serving the Burdekin community since its inception. As the agricultural heartland of North Queensland, the region's reliance on reliable suppliers like Rural Quip remains paramount, ensuring continued growth and prosperity for years to come.

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Rural Quip Managing Director Robert Oar

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A cohort of women in agriculture attended a three-day leadership forum in Ayr last week designed to develop leadership skills, personal confidence and be empowered to make future focused decisions to drive a positive change in their communities.
The Influential Women Community Leadership Forum, held from March 19 – 21 in the Burdekin Theatre Music Loft, was supported by Tropical North Queensland Drought Hub as part of their commitment to enhancing the skills and capacity of agricultural communities in North Queensland, which invited ten women from a variety of backgrounds and careers to take part.
Forum facilitator Heather Ellis of Blue Wren Connections guided the participants through three days of group and individual activities to learn about different leadership roles, teamwork, adapting to change, understanding personal values, and self-care to achieve work/life balance.
“The first few days are looking at self and personal mastery, what are our goals and where do we want to go, and then the last day we come together to look at different roles in teams and the benefits of getting the most out of your team,” Ms Ellis said.
“What’s important in terms of self-leadership is continually honing our skills and being open to learning and growing.
“When you invest in people, amazing things can happen in businesses, so it has economic benefit down the track.  
“When people have self-confidence, amazing things can happen for the region.”
The ten participants varied in age, background and careers, ranging from agriculture, business, education and nutrition.
“What’s been lovely to see is the cross pollination of knowledge and wisdom sharing,” Ms Ellis said.
“It’s pretty exciting in terms of creating spaces for people, particularly with an agricultural lens, thinking about grower industries, because that’s the heart of the economic development in this region.
“I think we’ll see the women who have participated, grow into the future and do amazing things.”
Shantelle Arratta is an Agronomist at Nutrien Ag Solutions and took part in the forum to develop her leadership skills and networking opportunities.
“Through my career, I’ve had a lot of great mentors, and they’ve donated a lot of their time and skills, and hopefully in doing this and honing in on my own skillsets, I’ll be able to return that favour to the next lot of people coming through agriculture,” Ms Arratta said.
“There are a lot of incredible women and the diversity in the room is incredible.
“I’m already wanting to take what I’ve learnt in the last few days and get out there and use it.”
Ms Arratta said having an opportunity like this hosted in Ayr is “thrilling”.
“We’re often having to travel away to get this kind of expertise,” she said.
“To have them actually come to us, in this small group setting where people have the confidence to speak up, being surrounded by likeminded people, having this here in our own backyard is just wonderful.
“I’m already thinking about who I’m going to be telling about it and recommending it to and, to be honest, I’d probably come back again to let some of the stuff sink in.”
Tropical North Queensland Drought Hub Program Lead and forum organiser, Dr Jane Oorschot, said the event was the second of its kind to be supported by the Drought Hub.
“We piloted this forum last year in the Gulf Savannah region and received extremely positive feedback on how inspired participants felt about contributing to their local communities,” she said.
“This forum is firmly rooted in rural Queensland, reflecting the unique challenges and opportunities faced by rural women.
“By supporting the skills and capacity within the agriculture sector, together we can become more drought and climate resilient and build flourishing, sustainable communities equipped to make future focused decisions.”

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Ten women attended the Influential Women Community Leadership Forum in Ayr last week

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Local graziers attended an informative workshop at Warrawee Station to learn how to achieve optimum reproductive performance for their breeder herds.

This two-day workshop focused on the theory and practical skills of pregnancy testing and foetal ageing in cattle, and how to integrate skills and information to make decisions about livestock efficiency and performance.

Eiren Smith, Dreghorn Station, said pregnancy testing was a valuable management tool to monitor reproductive efficiency and detect problems early in the breeding season.

He said discussions about pregnancy rates, patterns of conception during a mating period, and what that data meant for future planning and management, was helpful.

Eiren also said the course focused on how to optimise pasture use to maximise the kilograms turned off per hectare while maintaining the resource base.

“The productivity of our business is reliant on the number of weaners we can turn off per year and not the number of cows we run,” he explained.

“Running less cows for the same amount of weaners means less input costs, better land condition and better profitability.”

North Queensland Dry Tropics Senior Grazing Field Officer, Chris Poole, said a challenge for the northern beef industry was to find ways to expand output and improve the quality of livestock despite the constraints imposed by a highly variable climate.

“While graziers can’t change rainfall or land type, they can manage coverage of P3 (perennial, palatable, productive) pastures in their country and increase water use efficiency and pasture production,” Chris said.

The workshop was supported by The Herding Change Through Grassroots Recovery project, funded by the partnership between the Australian Government’s Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation. The project aims to strengthen graziers' capacity to increase perennial groundcover at the end of the dry season, and reduce run-off of fine sediment to the Great Barrier Reef lagoon.

Photos supplied

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Presenter Ian Braithwaite is flanked by Dreghorn graziers Eiren and Tegan Smith

Merricourt cattleman Jacob Gallagher and Warrawee grazier Kellie Healing preg-testing a cow

Ian Braithwaite uses a cow's pelvic bone to explain the physiology
Photos supplied

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Just as leaving your doors unlocked poses a risk, neglecting to install and maintain smoke alarms in your home can jeopardise the safety of yourself and your loved ones.

With more Australians dying in residential fires on average than by all natural hazards combined, it’s sparking a renewed call from experts for Australians to protect themselves with a working smoke alarm. Smoke alarms provide a critical early warning to give you and your loved ones time to escape, so testing and maintaining them plays a crucial role in the device’s purpose, saving lives.

While Queensland has the most stringent fire safety laws in the country, the latest data shows just 73% of households tested their smoke alarms last year. While nearly two in three (62%) of those who do not have interconnected smoke alarms installed say they are likely to install them in the next 12 months.

Research from Brooks Australia reveals that the majority of Aussies (90%) don’t test their smoke alarm to the recommended standard – which is once a month.

Furthermore, a stunning one in five (22%) Aussies that have disabled their smoke alarms admit to never having replaced the battery when it ran out.

Cathy Brand, CEO of Brooks Australia, says testing your smoke alarm isn’t a task, it’s a responsibility.

“Smoke alarms are the most effective early warning sign when there is a fire, but if they aren’t tested and maintained properly it can put you, your family and your home at risk. Unfortunately, our research has found that households across Australia don’t regularly test their smoke alarms, placing Aussie families at significant risk,” Brand says.

“We’ve seen in recent months just how important smoke alarms are in saving lives including the escape of a family on the Gold Coast earlier this year.”

The absence of working smoke alarms can increase the possibility of a fatal fire by 60%.

Brand says testing your smoke alarms should be a regular maintenance routine of Australian households.  

“While the recommendation is to test your smoke alarms once a month, cleaning the device to remove any dust, insects or cobwebs every six months can minimise false alarms and help smoke reach the internal sensors easily,” Brand says.

“Testing smoke alarms is a lot simpler than people might expect, just remember 10 - smoke alarms need to be less than 10 years old, take less than 10 seconds to clean and less than 10 seconds to test. That’s why we are encouraging Aussies to set a reminder every month to test your smoke alarm.”

Smoke alarms are a crucial safety feature in every household, but they can only protect you if they are working properly. To ensure that your smoke alarms are always functioning correctly, Brooks Australia recommends performing regular maintenance checks.

Brooks Australia is urging all Australians to check their smoke alarms once a month by joining #TestitTuesday where on a Tuesday during the month, households set a reminder to test their smoke alarms. To find out more about it, head to https://www.brooks.com.au/homesmoke-alarms

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