Opinion Piece

Federal Member for Dawson, Andrew Willcox, has said that Prime Minster Anthony Albanese refused to attend the National Farmer Rally outside Parliament House, ignoring farmers who travelled from across Queensland to plead with the Federal Government to stop an “anti-farming agenda”.
 
Mr Willcox said the Prime Minister has once again demonstrated complete contempt towards farmers and rural, regional and remote Australia.
 
“For the Prime Minister to ignore our farmers, many who have spent days on end driving to Canberra from across Queensland, shows that Labor doesn’t care about our agriculture industry,” Mr Willcox said.
 
“Our Prime Minister isn’t interested in helping or even listening to those who produce our nation’s food and fibre.

“Agriculture Minister Julie Collins didn’t attend the rally either, which is incredibly disappointing given she has only just been appointed as Agriculture Minister.

“All our farmers want is a fair go and to continue feeding the country.”
 
Mr Willcox pointed out the National Farmer Rally organisers were calling for sensible changes including scrapping the truckie tax, scrapping new taxes for biosecurity and superannuation, scrapping water buybacks in the Murray-Darling Basin and protecting the Great Artesian Basin, scrapping unnecessary red tape from emissions reporting, known as Scope 3, and scrapping reckless renewables which will rip up prime agricultural land, protecting the 88-day backpacker visa, as well as overturning the decision to ban live sheep exports by sea.
 
“These requests are common sense solutions and without changes, Labor will make farming unviable.

“The National Farmer Rally is the biggest in a generation – it has been more than 40 years since Aussie farmers have had to march on Parliament House because a federal government has made them feel so aggrieved.
 
“The Nationals proudly support those attending the rally. We will always stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our farmers and will continue to fight for farming and the future of regional, rural and remote Australia.”

Federal Member for Dawson, Andrew Willcox (right) joined farmers at the National Farmer Rally in Canberra earlier this month. Photo supplied

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Queenslanders could now be hit with a $6,452 fine or $483 on the spot fine for discarding food, including fish frames, scraps and bait, in a way that may unintentionally attract crocodiles to a public place such as a boat ramp, jetty, pontoon or camping area.
Deliberately disturbing or feeding crocodiles could leave you with an increased on the spot fine ranging from $483 to $2580, with the maximum court-imposed fine increasing from $6452 to $26,615.
The Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef and Minister for Science and Innovation, Leanne Linard stated:
“Feeding crocodiles increases the risk to public safety as the reptiles loiter around public places such as boat ramps, marinas, and tourist locations waiting for a feed.
“Discarded food sources and habituation to humans can lead to changes in animal behaviour and are the main reasons for the removal of problem crocodiles outside active removal zones.
“These new offences and increased fines are designed to reduce the risks associated with deliberately feeding and interacting with estuarine crocodiles.
“People may think feeding crocs or interacting with them is fun or harmless, but experience shows that doing so increases the risk to public safety.”
Remaining within close proximity to a croc can now also land you an on-the-spot fine of $806 or a maximum court-imposed fine of $16,130.
Conservation officers now also have the power to direct people to move away from a crocodile to avoid any potential human-crocodile interactions.
Next time you consider venturing into croc territory, think twice and remember to always stay croc-wise.

Remember to be croc-wise when in croc territory

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In a decisive turn of events, the long-standing and contentious pay dispute between Wilmar Sugar and its employees has finally reached a resolution, paving the way for significant wage increases and bonuses. Growers can now breathe a sigh of relief, as the resolution ensures that the threat of disruptive industrial action will no longer jeopardise their crucial crops.

A majority of Wilmar Sugar and Renewables employees has voted in favour of a new enterprise agreement (EA) offering an upfront $2,500 bonus and 16 per cent in wage rises. Fifty-five per cent of eligible employees who participated in the ballot voted in favour of the company’s three-year offer.

The two-day ballot closed at 3pm today. The majority yes vote means more than 1,320 employees will receive the bonus and a 12 per cent increase in pay by Christmas, with a further 4 per cent increase next December.

A company spokesman said the positive ballot result brings to a close a challenging and long-running negotiation and associated disruptive industrial action.

“We thank everybody who participated in the ballot, particularly those who voted to accept the company offer,” he said.

“It draws a line under a period that impacted not only our business and our people, but the growers and harvesting operators who are so critical to the sugar supply chain.

“The focus now is on getting this year’s crop harvested and producing high-quality sugar for customers in domestic and export markets.”

CANEGROWERS Chairman Owen Menkens has urged Queensland’s sugarcane industry to pull together, following the resolution of the long-running pay dispute between Wilmar Sugar and three unions representing mill workers.
 
Workers at the company’s nine Queensland sugar mills voted over the past 48 hours to accept a new Enterprise Agreement put forward by Wilmar Sugar and Renewables last week.


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 “It’s great to have this issue finally resolved in a way that is acceptable to both the workers and the mill,” Mr Menkens said. 
 
“It has dragged on for far too long, has delayed cane crushing across half of the industry, and caused great anxiety to growers and harvesting contractors, so to see an agreement finally in place is a tremendous relief.
 
“Now it’s time to put it behind us, and for the entire industry to come together, support our mill workers and our contractors, and put our shoulders to the wheel so we can make the 2024 season a success.
 
“Let’s crush it between now and December.”

As of today, Wilmar’s eight factories have processed about 6.3M tonnes of sugarcane, representing about 40 per cent of the estimated crop.

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Last week schools across the region marked R U OK Day with various activities taking place to keep all that attended entertained.

From painting rocks to writing notes Ayr State High School and Burdekin Christian College, started conversations that could potentially save lives.

R U OK Day encourages people to have conversations with others, and aims to inspire everyone to connect with people around them, start a conversation and ask “Are you okay?”

It’s important to check in with people you know but equally as important to spark conversation with strangers, you may even save someone’s life.

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Ayr State High School setting up donuts in an ‘R U OK’ arrangement
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Ayr State High School Students writing notes
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Students of Ayr State High School

‍Burdekin Christian College students decorating rocks as part of R U OK day
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Girls from Burdekin Christian College showing off their rocks
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Burdekin Christian College boys in yellow to show their support for R U OK day

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Photos supplied

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The Burdekin Community Association Inc. (BCA) Home Care Service delivers a wide range of services for seniors and their carers.
 
Home Care Packages Program (HCP)
The HCP Program provides support to older people with complex care needs to live independently in their own home. We can offer services to eligible seniors on a Level 1, 2, 3 or 4 package. Services include in-home support services, transport, home maintenance/repairs/modifications, access to allied health services and other care related services relating to the client’s health, safety and wellbeing.
 
Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP)
The CHSP is an entry level home help program to assist older people who can mostly, but not completely, live and cope on their own and don’t yet need high levels of support at home. Services include domestic assistance, social support (friendly visits/shopping/outings), personal care (showering/bathing/medication monitoring), respite care (support for the carer), transport and home maintenance (lawn mowing/whipper snipping/rubbish removal).
 
Please contact the Home Care Service Team to discuss services or obtain information on Ph 4783 3744, The Support Centre, 130 Queen St.

bca@bcaburdekin.org.au, www.burdekincommunityassociation.org.au
 
 
Contributed with thanks to: 
Debra Cochran
Chief Executive Officer
Burdekin Community Association Inc (BCA)

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We've reached the middle of September, and before we know it, 2024 will be over. We can dwell on our coulda, shoulda, and wouldas with self-blame and guilt, or we can take a step back, be kind to ourselves, and refocus our efforts.

We're choosing the latter and aiming to get back on track with our hope to help build a compassionate community here in the Burdekin.

The key word here is "community."

While our BNC Team is considered 'workers,' we are also community members in our own right.

Compassionate Communities are not made up of services and their workers - they are made up of community members coming together to support each other and figure out what would benefit everyone when it comes to death, dying, and grief.

We want to hear from people who have ideas, thoughts, energy, and questions about anything related to death, dying, and grief. Your input is invaluable.

We know there are many people in our community who are helping others in this area. What do you see are the gaps?  What can we be doing better as a community?

We have all experienced death and grief in our lives – each one of us can contribute to the conversations. Our shared experiences can help us understand and support each other better.  

If this is something you have an interest in, please come along to:

WHAT: Compassionate Community Session
WHERE: Burdekin Neighbourhood Centre, 40 Chippendale Street, Ayr
WHEN: Thursday, 26th September, 5.30pm

Until next time,
The Team
Burdekin Neighbourhood Centre

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I have always enjoyed reading and last week I came by a book, just released this year “The Little Wartime Library” by Kate Thompson.  It tells of the Wartime Library at Bethnal Green in East London during World War 11.  The library had been bombed in the London Blitz in 1940 and the librarians moved the library to the underground railway for safety and to be a service to the people (over five thousand them) that bedded down for the night in safety of the underground.  The Children’s Library was a great success to the children who lived there for five years of their lives.  This bought back many memories for me when the Home Hill School of Arts Library ran a free children’s library from 1950 to the 1960’s.  Miss Myrtle Keller (later Mrs Beck) opened the library every Saturday morning from 10.00 am to 11.30 am in the main hall of the Memorial School of Arts.
The Home Hill Library began in Home Hill in 1923 in a building opposite the Police Station.  It consisted of a room for books and a reading room.  Membership was by subscription only. When the Memorial School of Arts was opened in 1927 the library shifted to the new building. The library rooms were at the front of the Memorial  School of Arts with a  passage way dividing them and steps led upwards into the function room. The library opened every Wednesday and Saturday night from 7.00pm to 9.00pm from the 1940’s on.  I joined the adult library in the 1960’s.
When the children’s library began, the books were kept in two long wall cupboards on each side of the function room up above the seating accommodation and the dance floor. Miss Myrtle Keller, an accountant,  was the secretary for the library and she ran the library at night as well the children’s library on the Saturday.  She laid the books out on the chairs below the cupboards where we chose our books and had them marked off on our library card file.
In December 1949, Mr Cavanagh, (Head Teacher at Iona), addressed the School of Arts Committee asking the Committee to make arrangements for a Children’s library to be established. Before the meeting closed, £10.5/- had been donated.  In April 1950, Local support had raised £70, and together with a Government subsidy, there was sufficient money to purchase books and I suspect that the cupboards could have been built also.
The Grand opening of the Children’s Library took place on Saturday afternoon, 21st July 1950.  Mr H G McLeod, Deputy Ayr Shire Council,  declared the library open. A children’s committee was established to assist in running the affairs of the children’s library. By August 1950, Mr Cavanagh advised there were 91 children who had books out on loan.  Reference books were also available.  The very young readers could not take books out but could read books at the tables and chairs provided.  Two of the older readers would assist in recording the incoming books and the outgoing books on the Saturday.   Another £20 of books were on order.  £20 or $40 worth of books does not seem much by today’s  prices of books, but in the 1950’s, that would have purchased quite a few books.
In December 1950, the Children’s Library was closed down because of a severe outbreak of poli. The Chairman of the committee, Mr Tom Jackson, Secretary Miss Myrtle  Keller, and Mr Cavanagh did not reopen the library till after 15th February 1951.  By June 1951 a total of 114 books had been purchased for the adult and children’s libraries. There were 4000 books in the libraries.   Mr D  Cavanagh was profusely thanked for instigating a free Children’s Library for the district.  In 1953 members of the CWA were assisting the children’s library on Saturday morning.
In my time at this library, Miss M Keller was running the library on a Saturday morning.  Some of the books that were available for reading were Enid Blyton’s Famous Five and Secret Sevens.  I remember a few of us girls formed our own Secret Seven Club.  I cannot remember much more of this club to say how long it lasted but it was fun. Reading matter consisted of Black Beauty, The Billabong Books, Seven Little Australians, the Ann of Green Gables series and the Pollyanna books.  The Boys would have read Treasure Island, Cowboy and Westerns, and maybe Moby Dick and the Biggle Books which were flying adventure books. Robinson Crusoe, Swiss Family, Robinson, and Norman Lindsay’s “The Magic Pudding” were also among them, as well as the Scarlet Pimpernel rescuing people from the French Revolution.
Today The Home Hill Library works under the banner of the Burdekin Shire and during school holidays there are activities for our young people.  If anyone has a story to tell about the Children’s Library in Home Hill or Ayr, we would enjoy hearing from you.
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Contributed with thanks to Glenis Cislowski

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On Thursday, 12th September, the Lower Burdekin Scout Group hosted its Annual Reporting Night, a highlight of the scouting calendar. The event was a significant occasion, not only for reviewing the past year's achievements but also for planning the future.

A key moment of the evening was the presentation of a generous $2000 donation by Margaret and Greg from Bluey’s Thrift Shop. The donation, warmly received by the Group’s youth members and Chris, the Group Leader, will be instrumental in purchasing new equipment and supporting a range of adventurous activities for the Scouts. This contribution is a testament to the community's support and the positive impact of local partnerships.

The Annual Reporting Night also provided a platform for announcing the new committee to families and friends, offering transparency and fostering community engagement. The evening included a review of the audited accounts and a discussion on fundraising opportunities, ensuring that all attendees were informed and involved in the Group's financial health and future plans.

Once the formalities were completed, attendees enjoyed a relaxed session of tea and conversation, providing a chance to catch up and share stories. The informal setting allowed for a pleasant end to a productive and celebratory evening.

The Lower Burdekin Scout Group extends its heartfelt thanks to everyone who attended and supported the night.

“Your presence and contributions make a significant difference, helping to ensure a vibrant and successful future for our Scouts.”

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Margaret Thorne from Bluey’s Thrift Shop presenting the cheque to youth members. Photo supplied

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The Educational Trailer at the Burdekin Water Festival was a tremendous success, drawing in over 100 visitors who participated in the interactive displays, games, and the thrilling virtual reef experience. The hands-on activities offered a fun and engaging way for locals to learn about environmental management and pest control, leaving a lasting impression on attendees.

Following the festival, the trailer made another appearance at Plantation Park on Sunday, 15 September 2024, alongside three other council-funded initiatives. The event ran from 8:00am to 12:00pm, with live demonstrations showcasing innovative solutions to environmental challenges. Visitors were treated to an array of interactive displays, highlighting sustainable practices and how the Burdekin community can contribute to better environmental outcomes.

Mayor Pierina Dalle Cort expressed her delight at the strong turnout and public interest.

"It was wonderful to see so many people engaging with these important issues," she said.

“The trailer’s interactive demonstrations really emphasised how critical it is for all of us to take responsibility for managing our environment."

The event proved to be a fantastic educational experience for families and individuals alike.

Many attendees left feeling more informed and inspired to take action in their own lives to promote environmental sustainability. The blend of fun activities with practical knowledge made it a memorable day for everyone involved.

For those who still have questions or would like more information, the Council’s Environmental Department remains available at (07) 4783 9800.

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The educational trailer. Photo supplied

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With warmer weather on the horizon, the Burdekin Aquatic Centre is excited to announce the return of Aqua Aerobics, starting on Saturday, 28 September. Classes will also be offered at Home Hill at 9:30am on Tuesday mornings, beginning 1 October.

Instructor Vicky will lead the sessions, and the cost is $12, which includes gate entry. All fitness levels are welcome, so come along for a fun and active workout!

“Come on down for some fitness and fun – see you there!” shared the Burdekin Aquatic Centre.

Contributed with thanks to the Burdekin Aquatic Centre.

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Locals of all fitness levels are invited to come along to the Burdekin Aquatic Centre’s Aqua Aerobics!

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This past week, I was involved in a car crash that could have ended far worse than it did and although it has taken me a full week to fully process what happened, I am so grateful for everyone who has taken the time to check I’m ok.

Thankfully, I’m on the mend, but the road to recovery has been made smoother by the overwhelming support from our incredible community.

I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Kari Ravizza, whose quick actions and kind words helped more than she can know. Kari was there by my side shortly after the accident and for that I am truly grateful.

Charlie from Sweet FM and John Furnell also deserve a special mention for their support during this time. And a big thank you to Mayor Pierina Dalle Cort for her thoughtful gestures and continued encouragement.

Your kindness has reinforced just how strong and caring our Burdekin community is. It’s moments like these that remind me of the unity and compassion we share.

You’ll be pleased to know that I was able to get back on the road thanks to a hire car, so it is business as usual (although a little more cautious) and I am building my confidence on the roads once again.

In lighter news, I’m excited to highlight the Burdekin Water Festival. This year’s festivities were as vibrant and engaging as ever, celebrating our region’s spirit and heritage.

Be sure to join in the fun and make the most of the festival’s activities!

Once again, thank you all for your support. It’s a privilege to be part of such a wonderful community.

Miah

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Funding renovations for aging health infrastructure so it “will last generations” is at the top of the list for Labor candidate Anne Baker who is vying for the position of Member for Burdekin in the upcoming State Election, due to be held at the end of October.

According to Ms Baker, the Labor Government is investing over $1 billion to deliver world-class health facilities in Queensland’s rural and remote communities through the Building Rural and Remote Health Program.

More than 20 key projects will be delivered through this program to enhance or replace aging infrastructure, and to ensure facilities meet the needs of both the community and staff.

One of these planned project sites is the Home Hill Health Service.

Johnstaff and Architectus Conrad Gargett have been respectively awarded the Project Management and Principal Consultant contracts and work will now begin on detailed scoping and options for replacement and upgrade projects.

The teams will engage with local communities and Hospital and Health Services to deliver scopes and designs in due course.

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Hello, I have been busy since my last column
I attended the Burdekin Brass Band concert on the 4th August with Councillor Callan Oar, what a enjoyable afternoon.  They had the whole theatre singing along and toe tapping to all of the great tunes from the old to the modern.  What a great job they did. Well done.
The Zonta Club had their 30th Birthday celebrations at the RSL, there were past and present ladies from the club. A lovely night was had by all reminiscing from the beginning of the club  to the present day and it was all included in a video which was playing on the TV. After a lovely meal the 30th birthday cake was cut and women discussed all of the great times they have had together.
All councillors received an invitation to the Burdekin Vietnam Veterans Anniversary Day on Sunday 18th August at Deep Creek retreat for Anniversary for the Battle of Long Tan which is a significant part of the Vietnam War. They had a Parade and service to mark this occasion and I was happy I attended. What a privilege it was to attend this amazing day and visiting the Retreat was such a great experience. The guys were real larrikins and made the Mayor, Councillor Amanda Hall and myself feel very welcome.
Over the last weekend the Mayor, Councillor Hall and I attended the Australian Local Government Women’s Association Conference in Brisbane.  As I am new to local Government it was inspiring to spend 2 days listening to inspirational speakers from Mayors Councillors, Admin Legal and Media, also meeting and learning from some of the other new Councillors and Mayors. I now represent our Region as the Zone 1 representative on the newly elected Executive Committee for the Australian Local Government Women’s Association Qld Branch.
I’d like to extend an invitation to the community to join us for Remembrance Day on Friday 27 September at 10:00am. The service, held at the Burdekin Community Church, will honour and remember officers who have fallen in the line of duty.

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Member for Burdekin Dale Last has applauded the Burdekin and Bowen communities after a weekend of successful events in the regions.
Thousands gathered to watch the colours and fun of the street parade as the Burdekin’s Water Festival successfully returned to Ayr’s main street. The community support was echoed in Bowen where racers and riders from across the nation competed in the renowned Don River Dash at Bowen.
Mr Last said the success of both Bowen and Burdekin events at the weekend was a credit to the hardworking committees for both events and the communities that support them.
“Community events like these only happen when there is a dedicated band of volunteers working hard behind the scenes so both committees deserve to be applauded for their efforts,” Mr Last said.
“The determination of the Burdekin community to ensure the Water Festival brought all the best of our festival memories back to life once again.”
Mr Last said supporting community events right across the electorate was imperative in ensuring they were able to continue well into the future.
“Each year we see Burdekin residents turn out in the thousands to support community events which have become staples to the shire’s annual calendar and it shows just how important these events are to this community.”
“As the Member for Burdekin I am incredibly proud to see events like these showcase our region, I’ll continue to do whatever I can to support our local events and community groups who are the fabric of our towns.”
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Member for Burdekin Dale Last with Burdekin Water Festival Senior Ambassador Demi O’Shea last weekend. Photo supplied

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As Mayor, I believe it is a priority to keep our community safe, particularly on our roads.
Recently, we’ve seen an increase in traffic around the Giddy Road intersection at 5-Ways, and there’s growing concern about the potential for accidents with many already occurred.

Google Maps may be partly responsible, directing motorists to use this route as a shortcut. This has led to a sharp rise in traffic at an intersection that wasn’t designed for such high volumes, increasing the likelihood of accidents.

I am urging residents to be cautious when approaching this intersection.

I would like the community support to bombard Google Maps to remove the right turn off the Bruce highway at Sandy Corner (12 Five Ways Road Brandon), which currently directs traffic to the Giddy Road intersection. This change would ensure traffic is properly directed to continue on the main highway through Brandon, where it belongs.
Here’s how:
   1. Open Google Maps on your desktop computer.
   2. Enter the starting point and destination - 12 Five Ways Road Brandon, QLD 4808 to Mcdesme, Queensland 4807.
   3. In the left panel, click on the route you want to report an issue with.
   4. In plain text at the bottom right of the map in small print, click Send product feedback.
   5. Next to the wrong step, click the Flag 
   6. Select the type of problem, then click Submit.
The more reports Google receives, the quicker they can investigate and make the necessary adjustments. Let’s continue working together to keep our roads safe.
If you would like to get in touch with me, please feel free to phone me on 0447 150 582 or email mayor@burdekin.qld.gov.au.

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