The Local Disaster Management Group (LDMG) is monitoring the situation as a tropical low continues to develop off the coast of north Queensland.

Burdekin Shire Council Mayor Lyn McLaughlin, chair of the LDMG, said the LDMG encourages all organisations and residents to be prepared for the potential impact of the severe weather event which could bring strong winds, heavy rain and flooding to the region.  

"I want to assure residents that the LDMG have been monitoring the weather system and this afternoon (Tuesday) moved to lean forward with the tropical low expected to hit the coast on Thursday," Ms McLaughlin said.

"We have learned from previous weather events that preparation is key to minimising the damage and disruption caused by these events.  

“The Home Hill SES, Ayr SES and Giru SES have free sandbags available now and a copy of the Burdekin Emergency Guide is available to download on Council’s website or pick up a copy at Council offices to help you prepare.  

“It is also a timely reminder to review your emergency kit and emergency plan if you haven’t done so recently.  

“To keep informed about the low system's progress and potential impacts, I encourage residents to check the Burdekin Disaster Dashboard regularly and sign up for notifications at disaster.burdekin.qld.gov.au.

“You can phone Council on 4783 9800 or listen to ABC Townsville or Sweet FM 97.1 for further information.”

Meanwhile, Ms McLaughlin is encouraging families to collect any loose items from their loved ones' graves as soon as possible, as a tropical low is expected to bring strong winds and heavy rain to the coast over the coming days.  

"We are taking every precaution to protect our cemeteries from the weather event, but we cannot guarantee the safety of personal items as Council staff are unable to collect and store them," she said.  

"We ask families to please remove any flowers, photos, ornaments or other items."  

Ms McLaughlin said the LDMG will continue to monitor the weather event closely and will provide updates on Council’s social media channels and the Burdekin Disaster Dashboard.

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Elected representatives of the Burdekin Shire Council were welcomed back to Council for their first meeting of 2024 on Tuesday, January 23.

The meeting was also Council’s last official meeting before it enters a caretaker period in February ahead of the local government election to be held on Saturday, March 16.

During the caretaker period, Council will be limited from publishing election material and making major policy decisions, ensuring there are no significant policy decisions made near the end of a council term that bind future elected councils.

To contact Burdekin Shire Council during this time, phone 07 4783 9800 or email enquiries@burdekin.qld.gov.au.

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Councillors Michael Detenon and Kaylee Boccalatte, Deputy Mayor Sue Perry, Mayor Lyn McLaughlin and Councillors John Furnell, John Bonanno and Max Musumeci. Photo credit: Sam Gillespie

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Hi readers

I’m writing this on a hot, sunny Monday afternoon knowing the weather could be very different by the time this newspaper gets into your hands.

Kirrily is the name on everybody’s lips this week, a tropical low at the time of writing that is expected to form into a tropical cyclone and cross the north Queensland coast this week.

Of course, it wasn’t too long ago we were preparing for TC Jasper, with its devastating affects still being felt north of here, and I truly hope TC Kirrily takes it a bit easier.

But, it’s vital to be prepared, so flick to page 7 to scrub up on your cyclone preparedness and pay attention to Bureau of Meteorology and Burdekin Shire Council updates for the latest.

On another note, I believe this is the first edition of Burdekin Life that features yours truly.

Yes, my moustache-garnished mug graces page 2 every week, but I’ve also made it onto page 33 this week after a stellar performance from me and Meryl at Home Hill Bowls Club’s Wednesday night bowls.

I’ve been going along since late last year and often impress myself with my abilities on the green.

It’s a fascinating and tactical game and I’ve found myself almost addicted to the thrill of getting a bowl near the jack.

After numerous close losses, last week was my first win since I’ve started going along and, despite the social atmosphere of social bowls, I must admit I enjoyed the victory.

Thanks to Stephen and Trevor for sharing my win with the community and I’ll see you there next week!

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Local photographer Marni Hine admits her new book, ‘Ignited’, has been 12 years in the making.

Filled with photos taken over Ms Hine’s 12 years of working as a haul out driver, the book was published in late 2023 thanks to the Burdekin Shire Council’s Regional Arts Development Fund and in way of thanks, Ms Hine has donated a copy to the Burdekin Library’s history collection.

“The Burdekin Shire Council has been amazing in its support and this library is a fantastic library,” Ms Hine said.

“There is a lot of history here, you can come to the library and have a look around to find out more about the sugar industry at the library, so I think this book suits that aspect.

“It’s kind of a modern history of the sugar industry.”

Ms Hine presented the book to Burdekin Shire Council Mayor Lyn McLaughlin and Burdekin Library Services Manager Kate Wanchap last Thursday, January 18.

“We’ve got a local history collection and we’ve got all sorts of aspects to it, including some photos and things like that, so this book will make another good contribution,” Ms Wanchap said.

The donated copy will remain in the library’s history collection while Ms Wanchap plans to purchase a second copy to make available for lending to the public.

“It’s always exciting, we love seeing this creativity,” she said.

“Local history, bringing it together and compiling it into a product is pretty important because that’s how people need to consume it.”

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Local photographer Marni Hine, Burdekin Shire Council Mayor Lyn McLaughlin and Burdekin Library Services Manager Kate Wanchap. Photo credit: Sam Gillespie

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The Home Hill – Ayr Lions Club has recently donated much-needed funds to four charities: three within the Burdekin and the other to the Leukaemia Foundation.  

A cheque for $500 was presented to the organiser of the event ‘Swim for a Cure’, Deni Caspanello, in support of the event run at the Home Hill Swimming Pool. The Lions Club cooked and sold the food for this event (breakfast, lunch and dinner) and the proceeds from this, along with the money that the ‘Swim for a Cure’ raised was donated to the Leukaemia Foundation in Townsville.

Acknowledging that the Christmas period would be difficult for many Burdekin families, the club decided at their final meeting for the year to donate to three charities that support families more than ever at this time. The club donated $1,000 to St Vincent de Paul Home Hill. This money will be used to support less fortunate people in Home Hill, either by providing hampers for Christmas or assisting families with hardships when getting children ready for the school year. Similarly, $1,000.00 was donated to the Burdekin Community Association to assist them on carrying out the important work that they do and hopefully take some pressure of struggling families at this time of year.

The Club also donated $500 to the local “Meals on Wheels”. This money was used to provide treats for their clients over the Christmas period.

The money donated to these organisations was raised by The Home Hill - Ayr Lions Club through fundraising events run throughout the Burdekin district. The club is very grateful to the public for the support they give the club over the many months it took to raise these funds.  

Contributed by Nyree Woods

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Deni Caspanello and the Home Hill – Ayr Lions Club Treasurer, Nyree Woods.

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On the evening of Saturday January 20, one lucky Burdekin gentleman became $708,128.64 richer after winning division one in Saturday Night’s Gold Lotto draw.

Woods News & Lucky Casket Agency was 1 of the 7 winning retailers and owner Anita Comas said the excitement has been felt by each and every customer and staff member since the announcement.

“We are absolutely thrilled and excited for him and also for Ayr, in that the first division prize came to our little town,” expressed Anita.

The $5 million division one prize was equally divided by all 7 winners with Woods News & Lucky Casket Agency being one of two winning Queensland retailers. The remaining winning outlets from Saturday’s draw were in New South Wales (2 winners), Victoria (2 winners), and South Australia (1 winner).

The lucky local man purchased a random, computer-generated quick pick to win his jackpot with the following numbers: 35, 37, 11, 22, 27, and 33 with 8 and 1 as the supplementary numbers.

The gentleman visited the East End Centre Sunday morning to share his exciting news and express deep gratitude to Anita and her staff.

“He was so excited, and he celebrated with every customer who came into the shop,” explained Anita.

“It’s a very exciting time.”

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Ellie-May Stevenson, Therese Aplin and Anita Comas. Photo supplied

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The Home Hill Harvest Festival Ephemera will once again be held in 2024 and the Home Hill Chamber of Commerce is inviting all interested artists, schools, organisations, or groups of fellow artists to be involved.

‘Ephemera’ is defined by something that exists or is enjoyed for only a short time, with the competition inviting local artists to create installations to be temporarily erected in Home Hill’s Lloyd Mann Park.

Once installed, Burdekin residents and visitors alike will be able to experience and enjoy the Burdekin’s Ephemera during the Home Hill Harvest Festival later in the year.

The Home Hill Chamber will be conducting the event this year and is already working on a project to be included in the Ephemera.

Put on your artist cap and be part of this exciting event in September 2024.

The event is open to anyone, only requiring the completion of an entry form and acceptance of the criteria to be part of the Sixth Annual Home Hill Harvest Festival Ephemera 2024.

More information will follow over the next few months with all dates to help artists plan their installations.

For more information, contact Uli Liessmann on 0439 822 064 or Robert Antoniazzi on 0407 637 679.

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Uli Liessmann’s ‘Peace’ won the Judge’s Choice Award at Ephemera 2023

‘It’s a Colourful World’ by Maree McKeough and Lorraine Lynch won the People’s Choice Award

Photo credit: Sam Gillespie

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The impacts of a tropical cyclone are well known amongst most Burdekin locals but Member for Burdekin, Dale Last, wants to ensure complacency doesn’t result in additional damage or injury.

While the Burdekin felt the effects of both Cyclones Debbie and Yasi as well as other severe weather events, the last severe tropical cyclone to directly impact the area was Tropical Cyclone Aivu almost 35 years ago.

“Being prepared is the biggest step in both minimising damage and ensuring a speedy recovery from severe weather events,” Mr Last said.  

“Based on current predictions we will feel the effects of this cyclone either directly or indirectly and now is not the time to be complacent.

“It’s a message that is repeated quite often but the importance of having a cyclone kit cannot be understated.  

“Medications, long-life food, water and important documents need to be stored in a secure place where they can be accessed when needed.

“These types of events place a huge burden on our emergency services, both paid and volunteer, so if people have made the preparations to allow them to be a little self-sufficient, that can make a huge difference.  

“In saying that, it is also vitally important that, if people need help, they seek it sooner rather than later.”

Mr Last urged people to focus on messaging from reputable sources for reliable weather information.

“Social media is a great way to share information but, in situations like these, it is vitally important that you make decisions based on reliable information from groups such as the Local Disaster Management Group (LDMG),” he said.

“The message is be prepared, don’t assume and don’t panic.  

“It’s also important that we check that family and friends are prepared, especially if they are new to the area or may need some assistance due to age or health.

“Our community has faced events like this in the past and, when we have, we band together and look out for each other.  

“I am confident that, whether we are directly or indirectly effected by this event, we will do that again.”

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Buyers of tiny homes and container homes are being urged to be vigilant about the compliance issues that may arise from these alternative housing options.  

Burdekin Shire Council Mayor Lyn McLaughlin said that Council have identified several non-compliant installations that pose risks to health, safety, and environment.

“Some of the common problems are related to plumbing and building standards,” Ms McLaughlin said.

“Issues identified are pipe sizing installed are not complaint, the pipework and fixtures don’t meet Australian Standards, pipework is installed without prior inspections and certificate and non-compliant installation methods.

“Council have also had buildings fail to meet the ‘Deemed-to-satisfy’ requirements of the National Construction Code (NCC) for health and amenity, energy efficiency, weatherproofing, and additional concerns for fire safety and structural adequacy for use in Cyclone regions.

“These are not minor issues.”

Ms McLaughlin confirmed that tiny homes and container homes must meet the requirements of the NCC and the relevant Australian Standards.

“The NCC provides a set of minimum standards that ensure the buildings are safe, healthy, accessible and sustainable,” she said.

“There are different ways to achieve compliance, but they must be verified and certified by qualified professionals.

“Don't be misled by false or incomplete information from suppliers or installers.

“Make sure you understand your obligations and responsibilities as a homeowner.  

“If you have any doubts or questions, contact Council’s Planning and Development team for advice and assistance on 4783 9800.”

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Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox is backing calls for an Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) Inquiry into fruit and vegetable prices to make supermarkets pay their fair share.

“While Coles and Woolworths made record profits of more than $1 billion each last year, the individuals and families living in our electorate of Dawson are struggling with rising grocery costs during a cost-of-living crisis,” Mr Willcox said.

“Over the past 18 months we have seen fuel prices increase, energy prices increase, and now we’re all paying more at the checkout while supermarkets are paying farmers less and it’s not good enough.

“Farmers are integral to Australia, they provide food and fibre to the entire nation, and as a third-generation farmer myself I know just how difficult it can be on our farming families.

“If something doesn’t happen soon, we run the risk of seeing farmers walking away entirely and food security in Australia plummet.”

In November last year Mr Willcox urged Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Agriculture Minister Murray Watt to launch an investigation into supermarket meat sale prices and the Dawson MP is now putting the pressure on them to expand that investigation to include fruits and vegetables.

“Something must be done, it’s now a matter of urgency,” Mr Willcox emphasised.

“After 100 days from their announcement for a review of the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct, the Prime Minister has only just appointed someone to lead the review and it’s too little too late.

“A review isn’t going to go far enough.

“The ACCC has the expertise and the ability to do something about this issue, and the last thing we need are more politicians who don’t have the intricate understanding of market and pricing policies just sitting around asking questions.

“This is not only impacting family budgets in Dawson it is now starting to impact the health of families living here.

“We’re seeing reports of families bypass the fresh food section in their local supermarkets altogether and instead opt for cheaper, unhealthy pre-packaged meals.

“We are seeing Queenslanders hospitalised for diet deficiencies so severe that they’re leading to diseases such a scurvy and rickets, and if the cost of fruits and vegetables continue to rise this is only going to get worse.

“The Albanese Labor Government must act before it’s too late.

“We need to ensure there is an ACCC Inquiry into supermarket price gouging.

“The families and farmers in our electorate of Dawson deserve an urgent response and I am going to do everything I can to make sure that happens.”

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Clare State School’s newest preppies, Indianna Nash and Mason Allen, are following in both of their father’s footsteps this week as they start at the same school their dads attended years ago.

Daniel Allen, Mason’s father, currently works as a mobile mechanic based in Clare and attended the school from 1987 to 1993.

“Mrs Joan Ford used to be the little kids’ teacher’s aide, she spent all her time in the low building down the far end, and I have lots of memories of preschool and year one,” Mr Allen said.

“From there, Mr Johnson was one of the first male teachers I ever had who sticks with me.

“I think at one point, there was 120-130 of us, most of us were in 20-30 student classes.”

Meanwhile, Indianna’s father, Tylah Nash, started at the school in 1993 and now owns a small farm in the Clare area.

“There was seven of us in grade seven and we were all boys,” he said.

“I think I’m the only one out of that whole grade who’s still in Clare.

“We just did what normal kids do, we played cricket or kicked the ball or hit nuts onto the roof of the teacher’s house with a tennis racquet.

“The biggest highlight was when a tractor was working that paddock behind the school, everyone would be hanging over the fence looking at that.”

Both fathers say their children are excited to start school this year.

“She seems to be finished with her kindy and she’s ready,” said Mr Nash.

“It’ll be nice to see how everything’s changed over the years,” added Mr Allen.

Clare State School Principal Troy Patti said it’s not too uncommon to see multigenerational families come through the small school.

“These guys are second generation, six of our kids are third generation and we’ve had that a number of times before,” he said.

“We love seeing generational families coming through; they’ve got a history here, and they’re part of the fabric of the school.”

Mr Patti said the connection between the school and the community encourages parents to send their children back to the school they attended.

“The school is an integral part of the community, and the community is very important to the school,” he said.

“I’ve been out here for nearly eight years so I’m well aware of a lot of the families in the community.

“We’ve got playgroup starting up again this year ... that also provided a good way for the community to be involved in the school and gives us that connection before they start school.”

Including Indianna and Mason, Clare State School welcomed 14 students for 2024 this week.

“We’ve got a one to four student to adult ratio so there’s no one who misses out,” Mr Patti said.

“We’ve got good numbers in our lower school which is always good for the future.”

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L-R Tylah and Indianna Nash and Mason and Daniel Allen

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Tropical Cyclone Kirrily has formed in the Coral Sea and, according to the Bureau of Meteorology, a “severe impact is likely” between Innisfail and Airlie Beach sometime this week.

The system is expected to become a Category 3 event and its impacts will be felt right across the region.

Burdekin Regional Council urge all its residents to stay updated by using the Burdekin Disaster Dashboard which will keep the community abreast of the most real-time, current information.

The Burdekin Emergency Action Guide is also available for download and it is full of detailed information about how to prepare for a cyclone.

The Burdekin has nine Local Area Wardens appointed and these individuals are a point of contact in each community.

For more information about the Local Area Warden Program or to contact your Warden, phone Burdekin Shire Council on 4783 9800.

Important Websites:

   • disaster.burdekin.qld.gov.au

   • burdekin.qld.gov.au

   • BurdekinDisasterInformation

   • bom.gov.au

A History Of Cyclones

Cyclone Debbie

Category 4, crossed between Bowen and Airlie Beach in March 2017, causing major damage to the Whitsunday region. As the cyclone made landfall, extensive flooding occurred South of the cyclone from Mackay in Queensland through to Northern New South Wales.

Cyclone Dylan

Category 2, crossed between Bowen and Proserpine at the end of January 2014. Dylan quickly weakened to below cyclone status after moving over land.
A beachside resort on Great Keppel Island sustained severe damage to many structures after the beach gave way and washed several buildings into the sea. Inundation which was a result of unusually high tides resulted in damage to homes in Townsville and Mackay.

Cyclone Anthony

Category 2, crossed near Bowen in January 2011.

Cyclone Yasi

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Despite growing up in the Burdekin, Marni Hine admits she knew little about the sugar cane industry.

“Unless you’re in a family or in that industry, then it’s very mysterious,” she said.

“After talking to a lot of farmers and finding out more about the inner workings of the industry, I found it to be very interesting.”

Years later, Ms Hine immersed herself in the industry that once bewildered her, gathering stories and photographs that would ultimately become her ‘Project Raw’ exhibition and ‘Ignited’ publication, due for a reprint next month.

Ms Hine left the Burdekin to attend boarding school before relocating overseas where she worked as a fashion photographer in New York.

Upon returning home, she became a haul out driver, initially planning on working in the sugar cane industry for one year but returning season after season for 12.

“I knew that the sugar industry was the biggest industry here and I didn’t know about it so part of it was out of curiosity,” she said.

“It’s got its own beauty.”

Ms Hine found herself combining her passion for photography with her newfound fascination with the industry, taking photos with her phone while out in the paddocks.

Always with projects in mind, she received the Burdekin Shire Council’s Regional Arts Development Fund in 2022, which motivated her to take her camera into the field and capture the moments and the stories of cane growers and contractors.

Thanks to the grant, Ms Hine displayed these photos in an exhibition called Project Raw which was hosted at the Burdekin Theatre in May 2023 in collaboration with Sweet Days, Hot Nights Festival.

Ms Hine also released a book capturing the heated and beautiful moments of cane fires titled ‘Ignited’, an interim project while she works on her major book project, ‘Raw’.

“The burns are very interesting to people who come through here and it’s hard to see them up close,” she said.

“I’ve been able to get in on fire tractors because it’s part of a contractor’s job to be at some burns.

“That way, you get to go up the breaks and you see the dynamic of it, and you learn how the burns are orchestrated by the farmers.

“Thankfully I had people who were very patient with me putting a camera in front of their faces.”

100 copies of ‘Ignited’ were printed in late 2023 and rapidly sold out.

Ms Hine will have more copies available to purchase in February from Home Hill News and Coffee and Little Leaves Nursery, Brandon.

Visit Project Raw on Facebook for more information.

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Photographer and Author Marni Hine and Burdekin Shire Council Mayor Lyn McLaughlin hold a copy of Ms Hines’ ‘Ignited’. Photo credit: Sam Gillespie

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An online portal has been launched by the Queensland Police Service (QPS) giving unique access to the latest information on active stolen vehicles across the state for the first time, allowing the public to play a crucial role in assisting police in tracking down car thieves.The initiative aims to both inform the public and allow for the timely reporting of location information which can assist police in efficiently and safely locating stolen vehicles to protect the community, return property to its owner and hold perpetrators to account.The online portal lists de-identified information for vehicles reported as stolen, including the make, model, colour, registration number and suburb from which it was stolen, with information updated daily.A search function is also available which allows the public to search for a registration, to confirm if a suspicious vehicle is stolen.Regional Operations and Youth Crime Deputy Commissioner Shane Chelepy said the new feature was designed to empower the community to partner with police and assist with investigations.“Information from the public plays a crucial part in investigations, and this gives the community greater tools to tell police the active movements of stolen vehicles and the actions of those behind the wheel,” Deputy Commissioner Chelepy said.“If you see a suspicious vehicle, members of the community can utilise this webpage, provide information to police and allow officers to take action.”Member for Burdekin Dale Last said more than 20,000 cars were stolen in Queensland last year and given the portal is a part of Police strategy, he thinks it’s worth a try.
“I know from my time as a Police Office that information from the public is invaluable in addressing crime and I hope that the portal will provide additional information that results in our community being safer and offenders being held to account,” Mr Last said.“As I have said since youth crime first started to escalate, the government needs to ensure that Police are adequately resourced to apprehend offenders and hold them to account.
“Especially in smaller communities like ours, a lack of Police staff and resources can have a disastrous effect on community safety.“I have previously called for an increase in Police numbers here in the Burdekin.
“I would encourage everyone to report incidents to Police not only to ensure we have the resources we need but also to assist our local Police in making our communities safer for everyone.”The community is reminded that if a number plate on the vehicle is false or stolen, it may not appear on the stolen vehicle list.If a vehicle or its occupants is behaving dangerously and putting members of the public at imminent risk, always call Triple Zero (000).If the vehicle or its occupants appear suspicious, but the details of the vehicle are not listed on the webpage, police still encourage information to be reported via Policelink on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.The active stolen vehicle list can be accessed on the QPS website.

Vehicle Security

From time to time, vehicles are unlawfully entered with belongings stolen and sometimes vehicles are stolen.
Some easy steps will help avoid being a victim of these types of offences:

   • Lock your car;

   • Do not leave the key in the ignition;

   • Do not leave valuables in the car.

Thieves don’t care whether you think you should have to lock up, they will just take advantage of any lax security.Prevention and vigilance around your home and property can reduce these opportunistic thefts.  In most cases, locking your vehicles, homes and sheds & securing your belongings appropriately will reduce these thefts.If you see someone acting suspiciously AT ANY TIME, ring Ayr Police Station on 4790 3555 or after hours ring 131 444, unless life threatening, then ring 000.Crime prevention is a community effort.  Police regularly need public assistance and information to help solve criminal offences.  This information can be anonymous to crime stoppers.  If you have any such information, pls contact Crime Stoppers or Ayr Police.Don’t let yourself become a victim of crime – Lock it or Lose itIf you have any information about crime or illicit drugs, phone crime stoppers on 1800 333 000.  The more detailed the information you give, the better it will be for all concerned.Remember to secure your property – “lock it or lose it”.You wouldn’t leave a dish containing thousands of dollars sitting on your bench or sitting out in the open, so why do this with your car keysCar keys – treat them like cash

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Two Burdekin attractions have been recognised amongst Australia’s shining stars who cater best to mature age visitors as the Grey Nomads Awards announced their finalists last week.

Groper Creek Caravan Park and Sweet Days, Hot Nights Festival were both nominated in their respective categories, Best Grey Nomad Small Caravan Park and Best Grey Nomad Festival or Event.

The team at Groper Creek Caravan Park said they were honoured to be named alongside Sweet Days, Hot Nights Festival to represent the Burdekin on the national stage.

“Thank you to the Grey Nomad Awards for shining a light on tourism experiences for our mature-age travellers and another big thank you to the grey nomads who repeatedly make their pilgrimage to Groper Creek Caravan Park,” their comment read.

The Grey Nomad Awards aim to shine a light on regional and remote Australia, providing opportunities for communities and tourism operators across the country to gain the recognition, promotion, skills and insights to help them flourish.

While doing this, the awards support positive aging through soft adventure and social inclusion.

The Awards see 14 categories, including two new ones, that recognise government, private and not-for-profit organisations that welcome mature age travellers within Australia​, making their lives healthier, happier and safer.

State and national winners will be revealed at a gala dinner as part of the Art of Attraction Tourism Summit on the Sunshine Coast, from March 6-8.

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Groper Creek Caravan Park

Sweet Days, Hot Nights Festival

Photos supplied

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