The Burdekin Library celebrated its 40th birthday last week, marking four decades of fostering a love for literature and learning within the community.
The Ayr branch of the library officially opened on March 31, 1984 with the Home Hill branch following a week later, opening on April 7, 1984.
Cake-cutting events were held at each of the branches to commemorate the significant milestone, celebrating 40 years of stories at the Ayr Library on Tuesday April 16 and the Home Hill Library on Wednesday April 17
Burdekin Shire Council welcomed the community to revel in the memories, accomplishments and stories that have defined the library’s rich history.
Former staff and loyal patrons were invited to commemorate the remarkable journey of the Burdekin Library over the past four decades.
The Burdekin Libraries serve as dynamic community hub, devoted to fostering lifelong learning, enhancing literacy and nurturing an affection for reading.
Offering an extensive array of resources, programs and services tailored to individuals of all ages and interests, the libraries provide a welcoming space for all to come together.
For more information or to register your interest, phone the Burdekin Library on 4783 9970 or email library@burdekin.qld.gov.au.

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Library Officer Carli Kovacich and former Library Officer of 27 years Jocelyn Defranciscis

Current and former staff as well as regular patrons gathered at the Home Hill Library last week to celebrate 40 years

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Despite thousands of local residents and business owners putting pen to paper to call for more plain clothes police officers in the Burdekin, Member for Burdekin Dale Last said the Minister has once again left the region with stretched police resources and frustrated residents to fight a surge in youth crime.
More than 3,000 business owners and residents signed the petition for bolstered local police and funding for interim security patrols following soaring crime rates and a community left frustrated by instances of youth crime in the area.
Mr Last said the Minister’s response to the petition was a slap in the face to every victim of crime and front-line police officer in the Burdekin.
“Community safety falls squarely at the feet of this Minister and once again he has demonstrated he’s willing to leave residents and business owners in Ayr and Home Hill to take matters into their own hands,” Mr Last said.
“Over recent months, we’ve seen business owners and residents left to conduct afterhours patrols just to ensure their cars are still in the driveway the next morning and going by the response from the Minister, obviously he considers that acceptable in our small town.
“Not only did the Minister shirk requests for additional security patrols to ensure community safety, he’s ignored calls from within for additional plain clothes officers at Ayr Police Station.”
Mr Last said the Minister’s attempt to side-step the responsibility of providing additional police resources to the Commissioner was a clear sign he wasn’t interested in improving community safety in the Burdekin.
“Queenslanders have seen through the campaign line about increased police numbers in the state and we know that in fact, there were 322 less police officers in Queensland between July 2022 and December last year and that is not good enough,” Mr Last said.
“Despite claiming that allocating resources is a matter for the commissioner, the reality is that the Minister could overrule the commissioner and in fact could have provided the additional plain clothes officers.
“We may not live in a bigger city or regional town, but it doesn’t mean we should be left to feel we need to fend off young offenders on our own because the Minister has ignored calls from within our police and community for more resources.”

Member for Burdekin Dale Last and Steve Wagner. Photo supplied

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At 3:15pm on Monday April 8, Ayr Police intercepted a vehicle on Norham Road, Ayr. The driver, a 52yr old Burdekin man, was issued a Notice to Appear (NTA) for driving with a relevant drug in his saliva, disqualified driving and possessing a drug utensil. He is due to appear in Ayr Magistrates Court on June 24.
At 4:50pm on Tuesday April 16, Ayr Police intercepted a vehicle on Bruce Highway, Inkerman. As a result, a 55yr old Bowen woman was issued a NTA for drink driving, .053.  She is due to appear in the Ayr Magistrates Court on May 27.
At 7:20pm on Thursday April 18, Ayr Police intercepted a vehicle on Airdmillan Road, Ayr. As a result, a 54yr old Burdekin man was issued a NTA for drink driving, .064. He is due to appear in the Ayr Magistrates Court on May 7.
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Snr Sgt Steve Barton
OIC Ayr

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The Lower Burdekin Scout Group attended the regional regatta day at the Loam Island Scout Group in Townsville on Sunday April 14. The weather was very good for the water activities.  Roughly 100 Scouts aged 5 to 15 years and 30 adults attended the day which involved raft making, canoeing, and land activities. The Lower Burdekin Scouts were members of the crew on the winning raft.
Recently, the Lower Burdekin Scouts were practising their fire lighting and fire safety in preparation for a camp on the coming long weekend on Magnetic Island.
If anybody is interested in trying Scouting for free, they can come along to the Lower Burdekin Scout Den on a Thursday night at Eighth St, Home Hill or ring Rikki on 0419104035 for more detail.

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Contributed by Chris Berkery

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Lower Burdekin Scout Group attended the regional regatta day in Townsville

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The Burdekin Sugar Rush will have the region moving and cheering on Sunday April 28 when it returns for its 22nd year in the region.

The event stands as a spectacle for the entire community to attend, with participants encouraged to run or walk to complete either 5km, 10km or 21km, and onlookers to support by coming along to Anzac Park from 5am.

Once again, the Burdekin Sugar Rush will host the half marathon distance, doubling as the Athletics North Queensland Championship race as well as including various categories suitable for juniors as young as 11 years old to compete in.

Burdekin Road Runners & Walkers President, Patrick Shannon believes this year will be one of Sugar Rush’s best.

“We are expecting a big field of both local runners, and many athletes from right around the North Queensland region,” expressed Patrick.

The half marathon will kick off the spectacular Sunday, with Burdekin Shire Council Mayor Pierina Dalle Court on hand to ‘ready set go’ the event at 6:30am.

“I’m looking forward to the event and am ready to have some fun by participating myself,” expressed Mayor Dalle Court.

The 10km will begin at 7:15am, followed by the 5km at 7:30am, and the Burdekin Road Runners & Walkers have been busily preparing for the day ahead.

“The Rotary Club will be providing runners and supporters with a cooked breakfast and McDonalds pancakes to keep competitors and supporters fed and fueled,” explained Patrick.

Registrations are still open for the 2024 Burdekin Sugar Rush until 1pm Saturday April 27.

Patrick Shannon and the Burdekin Road Runners & Walkers Club invite the whole community to run, walk and support this amazing event, and encourages those interested to contact the club for more information.

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WHAT: Burdekin Sugar Rush
WHEN: Sunday April 28 from 6:00am
WHERE: Anzac Park, Ayr
REGISTER: burdekinroadrunners.com.au

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Burdekin Road Runners & Walkers are hosting the 2024 Burdekin Sugar Rush this Sunday. Photo supplied

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Regional Visitor Information Centres are a hub of local knowledge, making significant economic contribution to tourism by providing information to visitors that encourages them to stay longer, spend more money, experience more attractions and revisit.
The volunteers sharing that local knowledge play a vital role and were recently offered the unique opportunity to network, share knowledge and learn from one another right here in the Burdekin.
Burdekin Shire Council proudly hosted the 2024 North Queensland Regional Visitor Information Centre Volunteers Conference, running at the Burdekin Theatre from Wednesday April 17 to Thursday April 18.
Bringing together 65 dedicated volunteers from across the Burdekin, Townsville, Charters Towers, and Hinchinbrook regions, the conference allowed volunteers to network and explore the diverse experiences and products North Queensland has to offer.
The conference kicked off with a series of presentations from local tourism luminaries such as Fran Rudischhauser from Yongala Dive and Greg Miller from Burdekin Farmstay, followed by a gala dinner at the Burdekin Theatre.
Themed 'Black Snow and Liquid Gold', the evening celebrated the region's status as the Sugarcane Capital of Australia, complete with a performance by Riley Nosworthy and Piper Grogan from Perform Studios and insights from Marni Hine of ProjectRAW.
The second day started in an engaging manner at the Burdekin Aquatic Centre before volunteers set out to explore key local attractions, showcasing the best of what the Burdekin region has to offer.
These attractions included Burdekin Machinery Preservationists, Iron Works Brewery, Burdekin Art Trail, Ayr Nature Display, Ashworths Home Hill, Burdekin Artisans, Home Hill Comfort Stop, Groper Creek Caravan Park, Juru Walk, Stardust Drive-In Theatre and Burdekin Gateway Visitor Information Centre.
The conference was not only a boon for volunteer engagement but also delivered significant economic benefits to the community, with over 45 out-of-town volunteers contributing to the vibrancy of the local accommodation, food and retail sectors.  
Burdekin Shire Council thanked sponsors Paronella Park, Wilmar Sugar and Ayr Backpackers who generously supported the event.

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Volunteers from across north Queensland visited the Burdekin for the 2024 North Queensland Regional Visitor Information Centre Volunteers Conference. Photo supplied

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By Chelsea Ravizza

The nationally and internationally recognised and celebrated professional actor, Anthony Phelan, has returned home to the Burdekin region to live after travelling to purse an outstanding 42 year acting career.

Anthony has led an impressive and highly commended career garnering him numerous prestigious awards and infamous roles in the entertainment industry. Although the Burdekin in the 1970s did not provide a large concentration of acting and theatre opportunities, Anthony discovered his passion through alternative routes and had his first taste of the stage in end of year productions, and later within his role as a school teacher.  

Anthony began his working life as a teacher and made his debut at Home Hill State School in 1977 before he was transferred to Charters Towers Central State School in 1978. He then relocated to Brisbane where he began delving into theatre in education programs, and by working on the curriculum, he found his passion for acting. In 1981, Anthony officially left teaching behind, and began his journey as a professional actor, working with theatre companies like the La Boite Theatre, TN Theatre Company, Queensland Theatre Company in Brisbane, Sydney Theatre Company, Griffin Theatre Company and Belvoir Street Theatre.

“I moved to Sydney to see if I could survive as an actor, and thought if I could survive in Sydney, then I am meant to be in this profession,” explained Anthony.

“Brisbane and Sydney were very important to me and were a very important step of my growth and my exposure as an actor, particularly for learning, but amid all that, there was always this grounding in the Burdekin.

“It has always been home, I was born here and there’s still people here I grew up with.

“I always knew I wanted to come back here to live one day, I just wasn’t sure when that would be,” expressed Anthony.

Anthony’s time spent in Sydney not only garnered him a national standing, but also international recognition as a professional actor.

“Nationally, I have played for every State Theatre company, and internationally I have performed in New York, Washington DC, Vienna, and Amsterdam," expressed Anthony.

“I have also played the Ibsen Festival in Oslo, Norway, in Belvoir Theatre’s critically acclaimed production of 'The Wild Duck’, for which I was awarded a Sydney Theatre Award and Helpmann Award in 2011, for Best Actor in a Supporting Role.

“Apart from this the other great career high for me was walking out on the stage in NYC and I thought to myself, here is the boy from Ayr.”

Anthony has also had many roles in both film and television, and most recently his talents featured in Baz Luhrmann’s biopic, Elvis. He’s played roles in Home & Away, The Kettering Incident, Wellmania, Wanted, to name a few, and for Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, he voiced Lama Su, one of the animated characters.

As well as creating many stage and screen roles, Anthony also works as a voice over actor and has had his voice featured in many productions, advertisements, and films.

“You have to be resilient in this profession to survive, and you must be ready, and able to work in many different ways,” explained Anthony.

In recognition of his extraordinary career, Anthony has been presented and nominated for many other prestigious awards including the Brisbane Theatre Critics Matilda Award, and nominations for numerous AACTA Awards. However, Anthony feels his career highlights lie in the art of learning.

“My greatest moments have been learning through the different stages of my growth as an actor, like any apprentice as there is a great celebration in learning something new,” he said.

“The greatest lesson being a professional actor is, you don’t stop working until you drop.

“That’s where the classic saying comes in, if you love what you do, you’re never really working.

“Often people disregard acting as an Art, an art form which will take all of your life to endeavour to get right.

“You can never perfect it.

“I don’t believe you can say an actor is perfection.

“I don’t believe that there is such a thing as the perfect actor.

“Someone might be exactly right for a role, the timbre of their voice, the right look, the right age, but no one is perfect, nothing is perfect, as we know, and the same applies to acting.”

Residing in the region, Anthony has had the opportunity to indulge in the talents of the Burdekin, where he has been blown away by fantastic local productions and performances.

“I am really impressed with local talent, and it’s quite extraordinary the differences between now compared to when I was growing up, because really, the talent has always been here, there just hasn’t been as many opportunities, and guidance, as there is now,” explained Anthony.

Anthony will continue working professionally whilst living back in the Burdekin. He will travel to Sydney in the coming weeks to perform in a production of 'Death Of A Salesman' by Arthur Miller at the Theatre Royal alongside Anthony LaPaglia, and directed by Neil Armfield.

Anthony knew he would always return to the region and is content to be surrounded by his very loving and supportive family, and of course the special friends he has known for most of his life.

“It’s just a draw that has always been there, and this is now home.”

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Professional actor is happy to back in his hometown. Photo credit: Sam Gillespie

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Rehoming fee: $195

DOB: 1/07/2022

Sex: Female

Breed: Domestic shorthair

Kid friendly: Yes

Dog Friendly: No

Other cats: Yes

Indoors/Outdoors: Indoors

Callie is a beautiful mumma cat. She arrived at Angel Paws Rescue heavily pregnant and with injuries after being attacked by a dog. Luckily, she did not sustain critical injuries in her delicate condition.

During her first day in care and she gave birth to seven beautiful kittens.

Callie is super sweet and loves to climb up onto her human and to be cuddled like a baby. She loves her pats so much she will even dribble.

Callie can be a bit shy on first meeting, but it doesn’t take long for her to warm up and become very affectionate and become a part of your wonderful family.

Callie is available for adoption desexed, microchipped, up to date on vaccines and is flea, tick and worm treated.

If you’re interested in meeting the gorgeous Callie please complete an animal enquiry form at https://www.angelpawsinc.com.au/forms.html

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Health experts are urging North Queenslanders to get ahead of the ‘flu season and book their annual vaccination as soon as possible.
Commonly known as the ‘flu’, influenza is a contagious respiratory illness which can spread quickly through the community.
Ayr Hospital Director of Nursing Tracey Gabiola said people should also be aware of other contagious respiratory viruses like COVID-19 and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), which are present in the community.
“You can catch influenza at any time of the year but there are usually more cases during cooler months between May and October,” she said.
“It is not the same as a cough or a cold and the virus can lead to complications like pneumonia - especially for vulnerable demographics.
“Sometimes serious cases of influenza can be deadly.”
Ms Gabiola said immunisation is one of the best ways to protect yourself and your whole family from respiratory viruses.
“Everyone aged six months and older can and should get a ‘flu vaccine this year,” she confirmed.
“The latest Influenza vaccine, which covers the four strains circulating in 2024, is quick and available now through most primary health providers including GPs and pharmacies.
“There are special stronger vaccines for people over 65 years.”
With other contagious respiratory viruses like COVID-19 and RSV present in the community, Ms Gabiola said vaccination remains the best way to protect against serious illness, especially for vulnerable people and those aged over 65 who should continue to remain up to date with booster vaccinations at least every year.
“RSV is particularly dangerous for infants in their first year and is the top cause of hospital admissions for babies,” she said.
“For the first time, all newborns in Queensland will be offered a free Respiratory Syncytial Virus immunisation before they leave hospital.
“Precautions like hand washing, staying home if sick, and not coughing on other people will also reduce the spread of respiratory viruses.”
Higher-risk groups include young children, people aged 65 years and over, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with certain medical conditions and pregnant women.
All Queenslanders aged six months and over can receive a free influenza vaccination until September 30, 2024.

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Ayr Hospital Director of Nursing Tracey Gabiola

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Wilmar Sugar and Renewables has delivered the first of four new $2 million locomotives to its home base.
Alma is now at Inkerman Mill in the Burdekin region where it will haul cane bins this production season, due to start in June.
A second new locomotive, Kirknie, will arrive at Inkerman Mill in June.
The other two, Leichhardt and Hinchinbrook, are heading to the Herbert region.
The four new locos are modelled on the Brisbane, which Wilmar designed and built from the ground up, and launched last year.
Burdekin Cane Supply Manager John Tait said the Alma was an exciting new addition to Inkerman’s fleet and would have a positive impact on reliability.
“Inkerman Mill has an ageing fleet and although our current locos do maintain reliability, Alma will be pivotal in improving the fleet’s overall cane-hauling capacity,” Mr Tait said.
Senior Project Engineer Chris Weight has managed the final phase of the new builds.
“The works program has included four new locos and two brake wagons, worth about $9M in total,” Mr Weight said.
“It was a big undertaking to complete all of the new builds in a single maintenance season, and I’m really proud of the teams who have worked so hard to deliver this package of work.”
Alma has the honour of being the first locomotive to feature the new Wilmar Sugar and Renewables logo.
The new builds are part of a much larger program to upgrade the extensive loco fleet across Wilmar Sugar and Renewables’ four milling regions.
Wilmar Sugar and Renewables owns and operates 74 locos and more than 1,600km of cane rail network across the Herbert, Burdekin, Proserpine, and Sarina regions.

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Senior Project Engineer Chris Weight with the new 26-tonne locomotive, Alma
An inside view of the new Alma
Two cranes were used to lift Alma off the transport, by its front and back toe-ball, to lower it on to the railway line
Photos supplied

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I would like to express my sincere thanks for your vote at the recent local Government elections.  The polling results clearly indicated that so many of you showed faith in my ability to represent you in council effectively.  As a new councillor, I will do my utmost to honour that faith and I am excited to be working with the new team for the betterment of our entire Shire.
I would also like to thank the outgoing Mayor and councillors for their contribution during their time with council and the many worthwhile projects they have delivered.  
Recently I had the pleasure of attending the Home Hill Chamber of Commerce meeting where Tony Goddard gave a presentation on Ayr Rotary.  All service clubs are an integral part of our community, continually giving back, so please consider joining one of these wonderful organisations.  I also attended the Burdekin show committee’s recent meeting.  Such a big event falls on the shoulders of a very capable few who are busily planning this year’s show.   It once again, promises to be as big and exciting as ever.  
A tourism gem in Brandon is the Burdekin Heritage Precinct.  Councillors John Furnell, Fina Vasta and I met with 20 of the volunteers from Burdekin, Hinchinbrook, Charters Towers, and Townsville who were in town for the 2024 Visitor Information Centre Volunteers Conference for a tour of the facility.  In short, this place is incredible!  It is home to a 1910 Marshall C Class Tractor which is the only one of its class left in the world.  Tours can be taken through the complex on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays between 9am and 3pm.  Do yourself a favour and go check it out.

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The recent incident of a boating accident made the team at the Neighbourhood Centre think about the power of communities coming together. Family, friends, strangers, and people from different areas and backgrounds joined forces to search for the missing men, showing the strength of community connection. The emergency volunteers came from different places, but their shared connection brought them together for a common cause. It was an amazing outcome, showcasing the power of people when they come together.

This week, the Neighbourhood Centre team has been working on our Strategic Plan and reviewing our mission statement and vision for the Centre. We reflected on how communities can come together and help each other when presented with challenges.

Challenges take on different meanings for different people, and what may seem like an inconvenience for some may be an insurmountable task for others. However, sharing these challenges with others can open up doors to finding solutions. At the Centre, we support community members in discovering solutions to their challenges, and we hope that this encourages community members to share what they have discovered with others they encounter along the way.

Engaging in casual conversations is an excellent way to exchange information and energy without getting too personal, deep, or involved. It's important to remember that no one can solve other people's problems for them, but by sharing our experiences and solutions with others, we can create a ripple effect of positive change.

We think this quote by an anonymous author beautifully sums up the impact of a community coming together to support each other: “You think you’re just a drop in the ocean – but look at the ripple effect one drop can make!’

Until next week.

The Team
Burdekin Neighbourhood Centre

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Did you know that reporting local issues can be as easy as taking a photo and submitting it to ‘Snap, Send, Solve’?
This user-friendly platform is designed to streamline the reporting process, allowing you to select from a list of common issues, add a brief description and location, and submit your report in 30 seconds or less.
To report a local concern to Council, you have two convenient options: you can either download the 'Snap, Send, Solve' app for free or visit the website https://www.snapsendsolve.com/report/queensland. From there, you can fill out a simple online form and attach a photo of the issue.
Whether it's a pothole, a malfunctioning streetlight, or graffiti, you won't need to waste time figuring out who to contact. Plus, you'll receive updates on the status of your report and track how it's being resolved.

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Free coffee was on offer last week as Burdekin Chamber hosted its April Chamber Connect event in Plantation Park on Tuesday, April 16.
The Chamber are offering free coffee to its Chamber Connect attendees in a bid to drive attendance.
The trial is the latest of a number of initiatives aimed at boosting attendance and membership.
The Chamber is also offering free membership for businesses, not-for-profits and individuals who are elected to the executive committee.
Following a rebrand from Ayr Chamber of Commerce, Burdekin Chamber is excitedly launching their new website to align with the initiatives.
“The benefit of the website is it will have a map of our members as well as if they accept our gift cards,” said Burdekin Chamber President Leigh Kefford.
Burdekin Chamber’s trading name was changed after a motion was carried unanimously at last year’s AGM.
“It shows us as the chamber for the Burdekin,” Mr Kefford said.
“Giru and Brandon don’t have a chamber at the moment, so we want to support the businesses in those areas as well.”
The Burdekin Chamber’s next Chamber Connect event will take place on Tuesday, May 21 from 7:00am at Intersport Ayr where guest speaker Brett of Intersport will address attendees.
The following Thursday, May 23, the Chamber will host a Marketing Mingle: Networking & Marketing Night at the Kalamia Hotel from 6:00pm where guest speaker, JCU Lecturer and Boost Marketing Business Owner Natasha Butler will address attendees – drinks and food provided.

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Burdekin Chamber held a Chamber Connect event in Plantation Park last week

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The Home Hill Chamber of Commerce held its monthly Social and Networking Event last Wednesday, April 17, inviting Tony Goddard of the Rotary Club of Ayr to address the Chamber members.
Mr Goddard spoke to the Chamber about his involvement with the Rotary Club of Ayr and the club’s activities throughout the region.
He joined Rotary in 1994 after being asked to join by Norm Perry and Ross Lewis.
“My reason for joining Rotary was to do something extra or special for the community and the opportunity to give back and build better relationships within the community,” he said.
Mr Goddard said he is currently the second longest serving member of the Rotary Club of Ayr behind Frank Nucifora and has occupied most positions on the committee except Treasurer.
The club meets every Thursday at the Ayr Anzac Memorial Club from 6:30pm and currently has 20-25 members.
“Our club in Ayr was started in 1955,” Mr Goddard said.
“The Ayr club, when I joined, was an all-male club and it wasn’t until the early 2000s that we had our first female member.
“Our membership is reasonable stable, and our members come from varying backgrounds.
“Membership is free of religion and politics.”
Mr Goddard spoke about the club’s major initiatives and fundraisers including the Rotary Youth Driver Awareness (RYDA) program, the Norm Perry Memorial Duck Race, the annual phone book, community raffle and exchange programs.
He also spoke about major donations in the last 12 months made to local schools, hospitals, organisations and events.
The evening also involved a donation made from Home Hill Chamber of Commerce to Jenny Dowie, the chaplain at Home Hill State High School – flick back to page 3 to learn more.
The Chamber has invited Member for Burdekin Dale Last to be the guest speaker at the next Social and Networking Event which will be held on Wednesday, May 15 from 5:30pm at the Home Hill Community Sports Club.

Home Hill Chamber of Commerce Secretary Robert Antoniazzi, Vice President Uli Liessmann, Tony Goddard of the Rotary Club of Ayr and Treasurer John Clarke

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