Born and bred in the Burdekin, Sweet FM presenter, Carol Betteridge, has been with the station for a decade now. She started her show after leaving a long-term job and has been hosting Wednesday morning country music shows ever since.

“I lived out of town about eight kilometres south of Home Hill. I lived there until I moved to town 35 years ago, where I've been ever since. Even though I’ve travelled the world, including Ireland, the UK, South Africa, New Zealand (five to six times), and I’ve travelled Australia, Home Hill is always home,” Carol announces.

“I left a job that I had been in for a while, and I was looking for something to occupy my time. So when I left the BCA, I saw Merle Scott, the former station manager here at the radio station. She recruited most of us oldies,” Carol laughs.

“Merle got me into country music because that's what she was doing. I could do her show when she wasn't available on a Wednesday but then I was also doing a Friday night show with general everydaymusic but then I got a shift job. So the Friday night went out the door.”

Carol, 60, has never married nor had children, but used to run the shoe and dress shop in Home Hill called Carol B’s before giving that up. While her current auditor role at Invicta sugar mill bears no resemblance whatsoever to her radio station presenting gig, both jobs started around the same time. As with most long term roles, it has its good days and bad days.

“I started the radio station in September of one year, and then I started auditing in July of the year after that. Some days I play songs and I'm sort of going, ‘That didn't do it for me today.’ But other days I just love it. I love those days where you feel the music” she smiles.

Having grown up in the Burdekin all her life, she recalls how vibrant the area used to be, sharing a fondness for one burger shop in particular.

“Back in the day there were so many great shops here. It had everything you could get, everything you could want. Great Lolly shops, cafes, butchers. And then there was Burger Bills. When I was a little kid, Burger Bills was the burger place in Home Hill. I could go in and order for the whole family, and Bill was so impressed because this little girl could come in and tell him the full order. I loved that place,” Carol says smiling.  

While her approach to her radio show involves playing music she feels like listening to on that day, she’s also happy to takes requests from listeners. Carol also encourages others to volunteer at the radio station, emphasising the ease of presenting on radio.

“Consider volunteering because it’s such a rewarding experience. I can assure anyone that presenting on the radio is not as daunting as it might seem. I compare it to talking into a microphone at home and playing music you enjoy. I just love it,” she says excitedly.

Check out Carol’s Country Music Show on Wednesday mornings from 9am to 12pm. If you’re keen to join Carol as a presenter, contact Sweet FM on: (07) 4782-8394 or email: admin@sweetfm.com.au.

Carol Betteridge, a woman who loves country music, being a presenter, and Home Hill. Photo credit: Mark T. Rasmussen

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Founded in 1971 by a group of local Burdekin boaties and fishermen keen to look after each other, as well as visitors to the region, in a time when private vessels doubled as rescue vessels and the radio building was nothing more than a caravan towed to Alva Beach, Volunteer Marine Rescue Burdekin (VMR) has been going strong for over 50 years ever since.

Now a more formal volunteer organisation, VMR has dedicated rescue boats, while operating out of two modern buildings that house their radio facilities, rescue boats, vehicles, and equipment. They’ve come a long way from their early days.

Legends of their first rescue boat, the famed ‘Tonya Leigh’ still echo around the Burdekin today. Stories still describe her exceptional performance and reliability during some of the roughest sea rescues in the region, such was her awe and aura.

54 years of hard work and commitment by a small band of dedicated volunteers, has seen VMR Burdekin go from strength to strength.

However, they will soon be taken in by Marine Rescue Queensland (MRQ). So what does this mean for VMR Burdekin moving forward?

L-R: Long-time members, Ernie Rose, Claude Sutcliffe, VMR President Ian Sutcliffe, and Matt Patane, have been saving lives for decades. Photo: Mark T. Rasmussen

VMR Burdekin – Saving Lives At Sea!

Founded in 1971 by a group of local Burdekin boaties and fishermen keen to look after each other, as well as visitors to the region, in a time when private vessels doubled as rescue vessels and the radio building was nothing more than a caravan towed to Alva Beach, Volunteer Marine Rescue Burdekin (VMR) has been going strong for over 50 years ever since.

Now a more formal volunteer organisation, VMR has dedicated rescue boats, while operating out of two modern buildings that house their radio facilities, rescue boats, vehicles, and equipment. They’ve come a long way from their early days.

Legends of their first rescue boat, the famed ‘Tonya Leigh’ still echo around the Burdekin today. Stories still describe her exceptional performance and reliability during some of the roughest sea rescues in the region, such was her awe and aura.

54 years of hard work and commitment by a small band of dedicated volunteers, has seen VMR Burdekin go from strength to strength with some 600 volunteers on their books. However, VMR will soon be taken in by Marine Rescue Queensland (MRQ), a state government sea rescue branch. So, what does this mean for VMR Burdekin moving forward? Even their president, Ian Sutcliffe, is unsure.

“We think we will be renamed, ‘Marine Rescue Queensland Burdekin’, but as yet, we haven’t even been told that. So, it’s all a bit of an unknown to us right now,” Ian declares.

A boilermaker by trade at Inkerman mill, Ian, who has been around the group since his dad was skipper of the rescue boat in the early days, has come a long way when he was just a kid and out fundraising for VMR. Now President, he’s both excited by joining forces with MRQ and sceptical.

Excited, because it will mean a lot of the money issues and responsibility of raising funds, will now rest with MRQ. And sceptical because there has been very little consultation or interaction to discuss what the relationship will look like, and how it will work moving forward.

“As far as I know, MRQ are going to be paying for a lot of the repairs on the boat, and they’re also going to pay for all our running costs. But I'm not too sure whether they'll also cover the repairs on the truck. I hope they do, because trucks cost money as well,” Ian says.

He speculates, however, that with a lot of VMR’s funding being taken care of, this will invariably free up more time for volunteers, noting that it will reduce the need for fundraising.

“Volunteers have to work for a living as volunteering doesn't pay. If the government can pay for a lot of stuff to get done around the place, then it just frees us up a lot more. You'd be surprised just how much is involved. If anyone wants to do a fundraising day or something, they ring me, and then I have to coordinate amongst volunteers and set it up. So having government support is a very good thing,” Ian says with relief.

During rescues, VMR Burdekin coordinates with police and other rescue organisations for missions.

“As far as rescues go, a lot of our jobs are police activated. They're the ones that call in other rescue organisations as to who they deem they want. We also have a duty phone, and that is the first point of contact for VMR Burdekin. Someone will ring and say, ‘Hey look, my husband's overdue. He's out at the reef. Can you go and find him?’ So, we'll organise a crew and head out and find them.”

“Last April, two guys went missing out in the bay. We were the first ones called to go and start looking for them. Water police then contacted Bowen VMR and also Townsville Coast Guard. Between all three organisations, we did eventually find them,” Ian shares.

While the water police are always in charge of a rescue operation, when it comes to specific areas, the police rely strongly on local knowledge, and cede responsibility. For example, if it's in VMR Burdekin’s area, then they’re in charge of that area.

While the group has 600 members, only a fraction (maybe 50) participate and contribute their skills and time on a regular basis. With membership costing only $100 annually, which includes one free tow and offers new members the chance to complete shipboard safety skill set, the real value comes, however, in the form of decades of boating wisdom from their older members, who are all too keen to share their expertise and knowledge. That in itself is priceless!

It’s easy to attend a VMR Burdekin meeting, where you can learn more about them the volunteer opportunities they have, training such as man overboard drills, and fire and motor exercises.

“If we're coming to rescue you, you need to be confident that we know what we're doing,” Ian states.

VMR Burdekin is always looking for new and younger members to join. Members all say, ‘It’s a great, fun place to volunteer,’ and many lifelong friendships are formed. Best of all, you get to save people’s lives.  

“The importance of saving lives at sea and the gratitude expressed by those being rescued is unparalleled. There’s an enormous sense of satisfaction knowing you’ve saved a life and helped a family and a community. When there's no one else around to help them out, they are incredibly grateful.”

“Our role is to save lives at sea, that's our motto,” Ian smiles.

If you’re keen to become a volunteer for the VMR, email: burdekin@marinerescueqld.org.au or call Ian on: 07 4783 1014. They’d love to have you aboard!

L-R: Older members, Ernie Rose, Claude Sutcliffe, VMR President Ian Sutcliffe, and Matt Patane, have been saving lives for decades. Photo: Mark T. Rasmussen

VMR volunteers in front of their insignia. Photo: Mark T. Rasmussen

L-R: Two rescue boats, 54 years of service, countless lives saved. Photo: Mark T. Rasmussen

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You may have noticed some beautifully decorated rocks popping up around the Burdekin shire. These colourful stones are part of the ‘Kindness Rocks Project’, a heartwarming movement where people—along the East Coast and beyond—paint rocks with uplifting messages and vibrant designs to spread positivity.
The project began in 2015, when Megan Murphy of Cape Cod left a rock on a beach with the message "You've got this." Her simple act of kindness sparked a viral trend that quickly spread. Soon, others began painting rocks with words of encouragement, motivational phrases, or just beautiful artwork, and leaving them for strangers to discover.
What started as a small, local gesture has now blossomed into a widespread movement, with painted rocks appearing all over the coast and beyond. People often share stories of finding these little gems, and some even collect them, carrying them far from where they were originally placed.
The Kindness Rocks Project continues to touch lives and remind us that a small, thoughtful gesture can make a big difference.
When you are next on your daily stroll, make sure to keep an eye out for these lovely painted rocks and their heartfelt messages or beautiful artwork, or if you want to spread a bit of kindness create your own rock message and place it in the Burdekin community somewhere where it will be found.

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Some of the rocks found in the region

Kindness rocks

Spreading kindness in the community

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The Federal Government’s $7.2 billion pledge to upgrade the notoriously dangerous Bruce Highway has already hit its first set of potholes.

Federal Finance Minister, Katy Gallagher, contradicted the Prime Minister’s claim that funding will be delivered this year. Instead, the Finance Minister admitted the funding won’t be available until after the forward estimates, leaving the region of Dawson waiting until 2028 for crucial upgrades.

“The Prime Minister and the Finance Minister cannot both be correct. The Dawson community deserves to be told the truth,” Federal Member for Dawson, Andrew Willcox, said.

“Some 43 lives have been lost on the Bruce Highway over the past year, and it feels like the Prime Minister was more focused on buying votes instead of getting to work and fixing the highway.

“It is time for the Prime Minister to come clean and release the full timing schedule for release of the promised Bruce Highway upgrade funds.

“I am also very concerned that one of the worst sections of highway in my electorate was not deemed a priority by the Albanese government. I will continue to fight for our fair share of funding to get the road fixed.” Mr Willcox said.

The Coalition has promised they will match the funding pledge and reinstate the 80:20 funding split with the State Government if elected, when Queenslanders go to the polls by May 2025.

Prime Minister vs Finance Minister on timing of $7.2 billion Bruce Highway funding: Wednesday 8 January 2025 – Finance Minister on ABC 7.30 Report:

Laura Tingle, 7.30 Report: “When was that [Bruce Highway] decision taken and will it actually involve any change in the budget bottom line?”

Finance Minister Katy Gallagher: “Well the costs for that will be reflected in the next budget update as they come into those forward estimate years. Um, so that decision was taken in the normal way through the Cabinet and our own internal processes, um, but it’s...

Tingle: “It’s included in the MYEFO bottom line at the moment?”

Gallagher: “Well the, I think the funding will be come outside of those forward estimates years, um, because it’s a long term project...”

Monday 6 January 2025 – PM interviewed on Radio 4BC:

Reporter: Prime Minister, we know the what, can you tell us the when?

Prime Minister Albanese: Good afternoon. Well, as soon as we can. The funding will be available from this year... we want this to be done as soon as possible, so the funding is available.

Monday 6 January 2025 – Prime Minister’s Press Conference, Gympie (announcing the funding):
Prime Minister: “...We had to get those measures in place and it's that discipline that we showed in those budgets that have allowed us to come to the position in MYEFO, we've provisioned for this.”

“So what is the truth?” asked Mr Willcox.

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Federal MP, Andrew Willcox inspects the Bruce Highway. Photo supplied

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My attention this week turned to Los Angeles, ablaze with severe (out of season) bushfires, with several upscale neighbourhoods turned to nothing but ash, including Pacific Palisades and parts of Malibu.

What’s L.A got to do with the Burdekin? Well, there are more similarities than seem obvious at first glance.

I lived in L.A for 4-5 years between 2012-2016. It’s also where I met my wife, so it holds a special place in my heart. To see it go up in flames is tough, especially as we have friends and family there. My wife was also born in Hollywood, and while not a star, to me and our son, she’s the whole galaxy of stars.

So, what’s L.A have to do with the regional sugar cane town, Home Hill, which feels a million miles from the glitz and glamour of Tinseltown? More than you think.

We were in L.A for three days last year en route to Australia, and this once fantastic city is in serious decline. When I lived there, it was a fab place to be. Big, wide, clean beaches, canyons and roads that remain my fave to this day, along with the stunning Griffith Park, the biggest city park in all of the United States.

However, in recent years, once thriving strip shops are seeing very little business or worse, closed and boarded up. While the (in)famous ‘Skidrow’ – a homeless tent city so big (and getting bigger) – it could easily have its own postcode.

While on a smaller scale, the same things exist here. Shops closed, boarded up, or seeing very little custom. Homeless drifting around, though not in numbers like L.A, but rising.

In talks with locals, Home Hill used to be a thriving country town with five cafes, four butchers, two supermarkets, drapery and clothing shops and more. “A great place to live,” many long-term residents tell me.

A few decades on from its glory days, its grandeur has faded.

Will we see Home Hill rise again? I believe so but it’s going to take grit, ingenuity, and belief.

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Queensland’s waterways are home to one of nature’s most formidable predators: the crocodile. Since gaining protection in 1971, crocodile populations have steadily increased, making these prehistoric creatures a vital part of the ecosystem. However, they also pose risks to residents and visitors, including those in the Burdekin region.

Crocodiles are an iconic part of North Queensland’s identity, but their presence often sparks debate. Sightings along the coast highlight the challenge of balancing coexistence with managing their potential dangers.

Federal Member for Kennedy, Bob Katter MP, has advocated for crocodile culls, citing concerns about rising populations putting human lives at risk. Others emphasise education and responsible behaviour, noting that many attacks result from human actions, such as feeding crocodiles or approaching the water’s edge too closely.

Regardless of one’s stance on crocodile culling, recent statistics show a growing number of crocodile sightings across Queensland.

The Burdekin, known for its vibrant fishing culture and outdoor lifestyle, is not immune to these challenges. A recent report from the Department of Environment, Tourism, Science, and Innovation, highlights the importance of remaining vigilant. While only one sighting was reported in the Burdekin recently, nearby regions like Townsville and Cairns recorded 31 and 43 sightings, just in the past 30 days, according to the crocodile sighting dashboard.

Stay Croc-Safe

The Queensland Government’s "Be Croc-wise" initiative provides important guidelines to reduce the risk of crocodile attacks:

• Stay at least five meters from the water’s edge and use barriers like logs or eskies if needed.
• Dispose of food scraps and bait properly to avoid attracting crocodiles.
• Keep pets on a leash and away from the water.
• Avoid using small watercraft in crocodile-prone areas.
• Swim only at patrolled beaches, where crocodiles are less likely to be present.

To report a sighting, use the QWildlife app, visit the website, or call 1300 130 372. In emergencies, dial 000 or 112. By staying alert and following these guidelines, residents and visitors can contribute to the safe management of crocodile populations.

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This figure initially represents the number of cases (based on sighting reports received) that have been active in the last 30 days or have been declared as problem crocodiles. Image source: Queensland Government, Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation

A saltwater croc cruising the waters. Photo credit: David Clode, (Unsplash)

Crocodiles can present a problem for unsuspecting locals and visitors who aren’t croc-wise. Photo: Supplied

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At 88, Dorothea (or Thea to her friends), has led an amazing life when she moved to the Burdekin in 2012. Originally from Mareeba, 68 kilometres north of Cairns, Thea is the youngest of nine children, when she first discovered her love of travel.

“My father had a tobacco farm just outside Mareeba, where I grew up. We had one teacher in our bush primary school. When I finished school, I went nursing in Atherton for four years and after training, my sister and I moved down to Innisfail. I worked in the hospital for a few months before I got infected with the wander-bug,” Thea confesses.

“We went down to Wagga Wagga, worked in the hospital there before going fruit picking. We ended up hitchhiking around Tasmania, before I came back to the mainland to work at the Heidelberg Military Hospital, in Melbourne,” she exclaims.

While working in Melbourne, she went to a party at a friend's place, where she met her future husband. They remained married for 60 years before he passed away nine years ago.

“We lived in Melbourne for about six months but my husband always wanted to go north because he'd been born in Bendigo, Victoria, and hated the cold. We rode in big semis all the way up to Brisbane, before we caught the train from there to Cairns, where he got work.”

Looking for better jobs, they moved around a lot before having kids, which still didn’t stop them. Thea had eight, but lost two. Her children are scattered across various locations, including Cairns, Gladstone, the Darling Downs, Bundaberg, and America.

“I quit nursing when I started having children. With kids, I had enough patients,” Thea laughs. “We went down to St George, NSW, then back up to Mackay before going over to Darwin. As a family we moved around frequently, always looking for better opportunities,” she explains.

Once the kids were old enough and left the coop, Thea and Jim didn’t slow down, instead continuing their adventures, this time by boat and bus!

“After he took an early retirement, we bought a 40-foot yacht and went sailing for 10 years up and down the coast. We had a mooring in Cairns, and we’d say, ‘Where's the cyclone going to be this year?’ That’s when we’d decide where to go. After that, I had to have a hip replacement because it's a bit awkward getting around a boat on crutches.”

“We sold the boat, came to shore in Bowen, lived on a mango farm, then got a bus. We did it up and travelled all over Australia. We went to every state, including Tassie. We were doing that right up until Jim was too sick to travel,” Thea reflects.

She’s now been in Home Hill and the Burdekin since 2012, where she’s content.

“It was a strange town when I first came here, because if you weren't three or four generations Burdekinites, they sort of looked at you a bit weird. But it's lovely now. It's been tidied up and still has got great potential,” she enthuses.

With a life lived and well-travelled, Thea remains active by reading, doing puzzles, and attending church with friends.

“I read, and do a lot puzzles now that I don’t travel much. I know the paper’s free but if you take that puzzle out of your newspaper, I won’t buy your newspaper,” Dorothea jokes.

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Thea McQualter (88), endless wanderluster and puzzler. Photo: Mark T. Rasmussen

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Member for Burdekin, Dale Last MP, is calling on small businesses in the Burdekin to make their voices heard as the state government embarks on a project designed to unlock the growth potential of the vital sector.

Reducing red tape and providing an improved dispute resolution service, are key elements of the Crisafulli’s government’s aim to ensure small business spends more time providing service to customers rather than servicing government.

“In the Burdekin district 97.3% of local businesses are small businesses,” Mr Last said. 

“By supporting small and family business, we not only support existing jobs and creating new ones, but also driving innovation.

“The Premier has made it clear that feedback from small and family business will form the basis of how we reduce red tape.  I think the fact that businesses will identify the improvement, means we tackle the actual challenges rather than government claiming to have all the answers.”

Mr Last said that the Small Business Commissioner’s commitment to delivering on the government’s election commitments meant small and family businesses had an even stronger team supporting them.

“The Small Business Commissioner has a vital role in supporting small and family business both in helping them to grow and when they need assistance. Commissioner Lamb has an enviable track record when it comes to the retail sector, so her support of the government’s initiatives means we are on the right track,” he said.

“As a government, one of our goals is to get out of people’s way and one of the best ways to do that is to reduce unnecessary red tape. We took a comprehensive plan for small and family business to the election, and we are delivering on that plan.

“In communities like the Burdekin, the people behind small and family businesses are more than employers and business owners. Ridding them of unnecessary red tape, means they can spend more time with their families and supporting community or sporting groups, so it’s a win-win for the entire community.”

Mr Last said it was important to recognise that reducing red tape was only one of the government’s commitments when it came to supporting small and family business.

“This is the first step, but we recognise that we need to make it easier for small business to work with government when it comes to the delivery of goods and services. Initiatives like our commitment to paying small businesses faster and reducing the size of contracts to allow more small business to work with government has the potential to supercharge the sector, and that is great news for the Burdekin.”

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Dale Last on Queen Street in Ayr. Photo supplied

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Detectives from the Crime and Intelligence Homicide Investigation Unit and Ayr Criminal Investigation Branch are continuing to investigate the death of a 56-year-old Down syndrome man, Isaac Oar, in Ayr in August 2023.

Around 9.18pm on Thursday,10th of  August, 2023, emergency services were called to an Alice Street residence after Isaac, also known as Ikey, was located unresponsive.
He was pronounced deceased at the scene. Due to the circumstances, police commenced a suspicious death investigation, and a crime scene was established.

Investigations into the death of Isaac, who has Down syndrome and was non-verbal, have been complex, with detectives conducting extensive and thorough inquiries into his health, care and treatment throughout his life.

Extensive investigations and forensic medical examinations were conducted, including a thorough postmortem, which revealed Isaac was experiencing serious malnourishment weighing just 29kg at the time of his death.

Detective Inspector Jason Shepherd from the Townsville District Crime Services wanted to assure the public that this is a complex and ongoing criminal investigation.

“We will continue to investigate all aspects of Isaac Oar’s family dynamics, health, care and treatment in the weeks, months and years leading up to his death,” Detective Inspector Shepherd said.

“Detectives are not satisfied that this investigation is complete and will continue to investigate all circumstances surrounding the death of Issac.

“I urge anyone who had contact with Issac or his family over in the months leading to his death to contact police. Any piece of information, no matter how small, can have a significant impact on our investigation.”

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Queensland has experienced its deadliest year on the roads in 15 years, with 302 lives lost in 2024. This marks a tragic 25-person increase over 2023 and a 33-person rise compared to the five-year average. The state’s worst road toll since 2009 has prompted calls for drivers to be more vigilant, especially as the summer holiday period brings increased traffic.

Minister for Transport and Main Roads, The Honourable Brent Mickelberg, emphasised the need for caution.

“At this time of year, we know people typically spend more time on the road than usual,” Mr Mickelberg said.

“There is still no excuse to speed, lose focus, not wear a seat belt properly, or drive when you’re affected by drugs or alcohol – it’s just not worth the risk.”

The major contributing factors to road fatalities remain the Fatal Five: speeding, fatigue, distraction (including mobile phone use), incorrect seatbelt use, and drink and drug driving. Speeding continues to rise as a key factor, particularly among motorcyclists, who made up 77 of the fatalities, a 25.5% increase from the five-year average.

Young drivers aged 16 to 24, who make up 13% of the state’s licence holders, were involved in almost 30% of fatal crashes, while senior drivers accounted for 98 deaths, a 32% increase from previous years.

Regional Queensland, particularly the Southern region and North Coast, saw the highest number of fatalities, with more than 60% of the state’s fatal crashes occurring outside urban areas.

Minister Mickelberg also highlighted ongoing efforts to improve road safety, including advocating for increased federal funding to upgrade the Bruce Highway.

To access more information on road safety, visit https://streetsmarts.initiatives.qld.gov.au/.

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With much talk in the media about upgrading the Bruce Highway, the motorists of today would have much more to complain about if the conditions of the past are anything to go by. Enjoy this historic account shared by local Burdekinite, Glenis Cislowski, and written by William Langford Penny back in 1931.
William Penny was 25 when he and his friend, Raymond Becker (22), departed from Sydney in a Singer Junior 8 h.p. motor car, on Monday 2 February 1931, headed for Townsville.
Nicknamed Rastus, the Singer was overloaded with six large suitcases including auto tent, stretchers and camping equipment. They took the New England Tableland route to reach Brisbane on 17 February, covering 970 miles on 27 gallons of Shell spirit, averaging 36 mpg. Up until then, the road was good to Brisbane and the journey easy.
However, the roads were bad from Brisbane, where they went to Rockhampton via Esk, Nanango, Kingaroy, Goomeri, and Gympie, before arriving at Maryborough, on Monday 2 March. William and Raymond left for Childers Wednesday 11 March. The trip from Childers to Rockhampton took 16 days owing to rainy weather and flooded creeks.
Passing through Bundaberg, Gin Gin, and Gladstone, they didn’t reach Rockhampton until Friday 27 March. They left Rockhampton on Good Friday, 3 April headed for Townsville.  
After getting bogged in St Lawrence, they reached Ilbilbie at dusk under heavy rain showers to find the track slippery. With no accommodation and feeling hungry, they pressed onto Koumala, only to crash into a concealed boggy washaway. The two men camped on soaked stretchers under the stars and endeavoured to sleep with mosquitoes for company.  
The Patterson family, who were travelling in a Ford and returning to Rockhampton, gave them breakfast and loaded them with cheese, cakes, guavas and lemons, before helping them out of the bog. Their Singer car arrived in Mackay Easter Sunday, 5 April.  
The intrepid travellers left Mackay, Easter Monday for Bowen. The car had no brakes, and because it had small wheel tracks, was very hard to navigate on the track. After Bloomsbury, the difficulty of crossing the flooded O’Connell, Andromache, and Thompson Rivers, became a problem where once again they got bogged and needed two draught horses to pull them out.  
They camped the night in a shed at the homestead of a gentleman residing on the river bank.  Smouldering cow manure helped to keep the mosquitoes at bay. William and Raymond stayed at Proserpine and left for Bowen, Wednesday 8 April at 2pm.
They arrived at Home Hill about 7.00pm that night. They spent about a few hours in Ayr before making an uneventful run to Townsville, arriving at 5.00pm, Thursday 9 April.
They would then make the long, arduous return trip all the way back to Sydney. By the time they were done, their 1930 British Model Singer Junior, an 8 horsepower vehicle, had covered 12,000 miles, on the original retread tyres with no punctures, averaging 50 miles per gallon.
Upon being met by Shell Company representatives, the pair described the Bruce as deplorable on account of it being wet season, with William advising anyone, ‘To think twice before undertaking the trip, and on no account use the road during rain or soon after rain.’
Next time you’re on the Bruce Highway, spare a thought for the men and women who travelled it frequently back in the day, taking days, weeks and sometimes months, to reach their destinations, getting bogged, or finding it completely impassable.

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Cane toads are everywhere in Queensland, especially in the Burdekin, and with the breeding season upon us action needs to be taken to remove them. The Watergum Cane Toad Challenge is back again for this year’s Great Cane Toad Bust event with over 50,000 toads removed last year. They hope to match that number and even surpass it this season with your help.
Cane toads are prolific breeders producing up to 30,000 eggs at a time and can live up to 10 years. Being toxic in all stages of their life cycle, when ingested the toads’ skin and poison glands can kill many native animals. They also have a voracious appetite that will devour anything as they are extremely resourceful omnivores, easily destroying ecosystems.
The Great Toad Bust aims to put a stop to their spread, and one day remove them from Australia. You can register your efforts now and join the thousands trying to protect their own communities from this invasion.
The Watergum Cane Toad Challenge website has many helpful tips on how to trap and humanly euthanize the toads, and you can see how others are doing with the seasons total tally updating live.
Studies show control efforts like specialised traps, can remove up to 47% of cane toads from localised populations, which includes in the Burdekin region. If you want to help your local wildlife thrive again or to just keep your own farm’s dam clear from these pests, sign up today for the challenge and receive a free info pack and ID guide at Watergums website: watergum.org/greatcanetoadbust. Happy toad busting Burdekin!

Cane Toads are a big problem in Queensland and the Burdekin.

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Australia Day celebrations in Ayr and Home Hill on January 26th each year bring the community together to recognise those who have made a lasting impact.
The Burdekin Shire Council Australia Day Awards are an opportunity to celebrate local residents who have demonstrated exceptional community spirit and significant achievements across various fields.
"Australia Day is a time to reflect on what it means to be Australian, and part of that is acknowledging the incredible contributions of those who work tirelessly to enhance the lives of others in our community," said Mayor Dalle Cort.
Nominations for the awards is now closed, but the award categories include:
Citizen of the Year Award
This award recognises outstanding achievement and leadership in the local community, including selfless commitment, dedication, and involvement in activities that promote the welfare and wellbeing of the community throughout 2024. Nominees must be 25 years or older on January 26, 2025.
Young Citizen of the Year Award (Under 25)
Recognises young individuals for outstanding achievements and leadership in the community, along with demonstrated commitment and involvement in activities benefiting the community during 2024.
Lifetime Service Award
Awarded to those who have made a significant contribution in a voluntary capacity, with a minimum of 20 years of voluntary service.
Volunteer of the Year Award
Acknowledges significant contributions in a voluntary capacity during the 2024 calendar year.
Community Event of the Year Award
For the most outstanding community event staged by a regional person or group during 2024.
Senior Sports Award
Recognises significant achievements and contributions in non-professional sport during 2024.
Junior Sports Award
Recognises achievements and contributions in non-professional sport by a young person during 2024.
Senior Cultural Award
Awarded for significant achievement and contributions in the arts, or involvement with an organisation that fosters the development of arts, culture, and entertainment throughout 2024.
Junior Cultural Award
Recognises achievement and contribution in the arts by a young person or their involvement in an arts or cultural organisation during 2024.
Environment Award
Acknowledges outstanding achievement and contributions in environmental initiatives during 2024.
These awards offer an important opportunity to honour those who make a difference in the community and offer locals to come together to celebrate Australia Day.

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Qualified mechanic and diesel fitter, Raymond Reynolds, has been in and around cars and engines for decades. If there’s something wrong with your car, he’s the go-to guy in the Burdekin to get you back on the road in a jiffy.

Prior to taking over at Burdekin Automotive, Ray spent three successful years in Innisfail. He only came up to Ayr after he found out that former owner, Robert Timms, had passed away in July last year.

“The most recent owner, Robert Timms, shifted over from West Toyota to be here, and he had it going quite well. He was due to sign a new lease the week he sadly passed away.

“Since we've taken over ownership in late October, we've also added hire cars as well, that because they’re older vehicles, they're budgeted to price. Primarily though, we do mechanical servicing, mechanical repairs, auto electrical repairs, and mobile auto electrical services. That’s our main business,” Raymond says.

While they have the car rental hire ticking over quite nicely, their main focus is, and always will be, automotive repairs.

“At Burdekin Automotive we do servicing, repairs, brakes, shock absorbers, battery replacement, and wheel alignments. But come March, we will also be selling brand new tyres. It’ll be a one-stop-shop for all your automotive needs,” Ray adds.

For the past 20 years, Ray has been his own boss where he’s seen and done a lot in his time. Originally from Brisbane, Raymond spent time in Papua New Guinea, where he was the manager for Lae Port services, which is the second largest Port in PNG. He’s also done a stint in Afghanistan.

“Basically, I was teaching armoury and mechanical repairs in Afghanistan back in 2014. But then I came back to Australia, where I worked the cane season. From there, I went up to Cairns airport, doing electric hydraulics and all their ground equipment before I started my own business in Innisfail, as a mobile auto electrician,” Raymond smiles.

“It’s been the best thing I ever did,” he declares.

“From the turnover of vehicles we get, to the attitude of customers here, they don't mess around. They know what they want. They pay without any hassles, and away they go, happy and very satisfied with our work.”

Open Monday to Friday from 8am in the morning till about 6-7pm, and 8am-2pm on Saturdays, and on-call Sundays (if a customer is desperate), Burdekin Automotive has fast built a great reputation among its many customers. Raymond attributes it to two key factors.

“We have good staff, and we have great customers who know what they want and appreciate our advice and expertise.

“Soon, I’ll have two more boys coming in to help – one that’s a Toyota specialist, the other an auto electrician.”

With customer satisfaction at an all time high and business booming, be sure to get on down to Burdekin Automotive for any car issues. Raymond and his boys will take great care of you and your car’s needs – guaranteed!

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Raymond Reynolds, the man to see for your car. Photo: Mark T. Rasmussen

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Well, the silly season is over. Happy New Year to all. 
I am not sure if the crushing will be finished by the time this prints which is very sad. So much money that families in this community miss out on. Left in the paddock due to a few different contributing factors, but one main contributor, and it wasn’t the rain. 
We are going into our second calendar year for this term of council. February means we start working on the budget again. I would like to hope that during budget, the cost-of-living pressures should be in the minds of every councillor and officer at all times. I know it will certainly be in mine. We still need to deliver the best service we can for our community, but not if it means a family is forced to reduce their grocery bill to afford rates. 
I am hoping that now we are getting more comfortable with each other and in our roles, we can knuckle down and work as a team for our community.

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