Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
Police are seeking urgent public assistance to locate a 14-year-old boy reported missing from Home Hill since Tuesday, 24 February. The boy was last seen about 8pm at a Fifth Avenue address and has not been seen or heard from since. Police and family hold concerns for the boy’s welfare due to his young age. The boy is described as First Nations, approximately 160cm tall, with a slim build, brown eyes and brown hair. He was last seen wearing a black singlet, a black hoodie and Raiders-branded shorts. Investigators believe he may be in the Ayr region or travelling towards Townsville. Police are appealing directly to the boy, or to anyone who may have information about his whereabouts, to come forward. Anyone with information is urged to contact Policelink on 131 444 and quote reference number QP2600397256. If the boy is sighted or if anyone is in immediate danger, call Triple Zero (000) immediately.
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Ayr State High School has congratulated its 2026 student leadership team, who have already been carrying out their duties since their induction at last year’s Academic Awards ceremony. The school acknowledged the students’ commitment and leadership, recognising the important role they play in representing their peers and contributing to school life. Leading the 2026 cohort are School Captains Caitlyn Cheyne and Ayden Barnett, supported by School Vice Captains Karina Guglielmi and Charlie Shears. Other leadership positions include Ashlee Colls as Sports Vice Captain, Allegra Tallis as Indigenous Students’ Vice Captain, Sarah as Cultural Vice Captain, and Tiana Cameron as Community Service Vice Captain. The leaders were formally presented to the school community during the 2025 awards night held last October, marking a proud moment for students, staff and families as the team continues its leadership journey throughout the year. CAPTION: Indigenous Students’ Vice Captain Allegra Tallis, Sports Vice Captain Ashlee Colls, School Vice-Captain Karina Guglielmi, School Captain Caitlyn Cheyne, School Captain Ayden Barnett, School Vice-Captain Charlie Shears, Community Service Vice Captain Tiana Cameron and Cultural Vice Captain Sarah. Photo supplied
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For many Burdekin parents, the phrase “stranger danger” brings back memories of warning children not to talk to unfamiliar adults on the walk home from school. Today, those strangers are no longer confined to parks or shopping centres—they can appear instantly on a child’s phone or tablet screen. The eSafety Commissioner has issued a fresh Online Safety Advisory highlighting the risks posed by anonymous “random chat” apps, where users are paired with strangers for live video or text conversations. Platforms such as Omegle, Chatroulette, HOLLA, Monkey and OmeTV are designed for spontaneity and global connection. While Omegle shut down in late 2023, others remain active and accessible in Australia. The advisory warns that for children and young people, these platforms can quickly become gateways to inappropriate content, manipulation and sexual exploitation. Anonymous chat apps allow people to connect instantly, often with minimal registration requirements and limited age verification. Users are randomly paired, live video can expose children to explicit material within seconds, and anonymity enables predators to hide their identity and intentions. Conversations may also be recorded and misused without consent. Omegle became notorious for pairing minors with adults engaging in sexual behaviour. In 2022 alone, the platform reportedly flagged more than 500,000 instances of child sexual abuse material. In a high-profile United States case, an 11-year-old girl was coerced into creating explicit content. Omegle later settled legal action for US$22 million before shutting down. Its founder acknowledged the platform had been misused for “unspeakably heinous crimes”. eSafety said the problem is not new, but is worsening. Children now carry video-enabled devices everywhere, pandemic lockdowns increased unsupervised screen time, and evolving technology—including AI and real-time video—makes harmful interactions harder to moderate. Under the Online Safety Act 2021, eSafety has powers to enforce Basic Online Safety Expectations, require companies to improve moderation systems and order the removal of unlawful content within 24 hours. The regulator recently issued a formal warning to OmeTV’s provider for allegedly failing to meet mandatory requirements under Australian law. Apple and Google have also been notified, as both companies are required to act if apps available in their stores breach Australian legislation. Penalties of up to $49.5 million are available under the Act. eSafety’s guidance to families is practical and direct. Parents and carers are encouraged to use device-level parental controls such as Apple Screen Time or Google Family Link, block high-risk sites, and consider monitoring tools. Just as importantly, they should talk openly with children about online interactions, reinforce rules about sharing personal information, and ensure young people know how to block and report users. The advisory stresses that responsibility should not fall on families alone. Technology companies are being urged to implement stronger age assurance measures, properly resource moderation teams and design platforms with safety at the forefront. For regional communities like the Burdekin, where children are growing up as digitally connected as their city counterparts, online safety begins at home and requires a united effort from parents, schools, industry and regulators alike. CAPTION: The advisory warns that for children and young people, these platforms can quickly become gateways to inappropriate content, manipulation and sexual exploitation. Photo source: iStock
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Residents across the Burdekin and Whitsunday Shires, alongside the Molongle Creek Boat Club Inc. (MCBC) and the wider Cape Upstart community are calling on the State Government to honour its 2021 commitment to provide and maintain all-tide access at Molongle Creek. The Molongle Creek access channel is the only marine gateway to Cape Upstart, home to approximately 240 private properties that are accessible by sea only. Despite decades of volunteer investment and a formal handover to the government, thousands of locals are pushing for action, stressing the integral role the channel plays in connecting Cape Upstart with essential services and access to the mainland. Surveys have exhibited 15,000 to 20,000 vessels annually utilise the channel, which includes locals, visitors, fishers and caravan park users. Despite its importance, locals say the channel no longer provides reliable all-tide access, contrary to commitments made during the 2016 state election and formalised during a 2021 handover. “The lack of all-tide access severely restricts people’s access to their properties at Cape Upstart,” highlighted Molongle Creek Boat Club Commodore, Ken Betteridge. Currently, there’s no alternative all-tide public boating access between Townsville and Bowen, making Molongle Creek critical regional infrastructure. A Facility Built by Volunteers The Molongle Creek Boat Club (MCBC) was formed in 1962, with the aim of improving boating access for both members and the wider public. Over the past several decades, the facility has been developed and maintained almost entirely through volunteer labour, private funding and club-owned machinery. Early attempts to maintain access involved reshaping natural channels, with club members using dozers, excavators and, in some cases, explosives to create viable passage through shifting sands. When those efforts failed due to natural sediment movement, the club established the current channel alignment, again through volunteer work. MCBC volunteers have carried out annual maintenance for years using a Komatsu swamp dozer owned by the club, however, increasing environmental restrictions, permit changes and rising costs eventually made self-maintenance untenable. Election Promise and Handover In the lead-up to the 2016 state election, both major parties committed to delivering an all-tide access channel at Molongle Creek. That commitment culminated in a tri-party Deed of Agreement between the State Government, Whitsunday Regional Council and the Molongle Creek Boat Club. As part of the agreement, the club was required to surrender its lease and gift all sea- and land-based assets to the State and Local Government, allowing public funds to be spent on the facility. A formal valuation placed the value of those assets at $2.84 million. In 2021, the Molongle Boating Facility was officially handed over to State Government control, with the expectation government would develop and maintain the all-tide access channel, boat ramps, pontoon and trailer parking in line with other public boating facilities across Queensland. Design Concerns and Infill Issues According to long-standing club members, concerns were raised during the design phase that the chosen alignment would be vulnerable to flooding and sediment infill from Molongle Creek, particularly during wet seasons. Locals advocated for an alternative alignment further east, or the construction of a protective bund wall to shield the channel from flood flows. Those concerns, they say, were ignored. “Molongle Creek Boat Club’s lobbying secured funding for an all-tide channel, however, due to various government departments, the placement of the channel was restricted to where it is now,” Mr Betteridge said. “The choice presented to us was a channel where it is – or was – or no channel at all. We knew it would be problematic, but MCBC had no choice but to accept. There’s been a lot of money spent, and the result is disappointing to say the least.” Within months of the channel’s completion, wet-season flooding filled the channel with sediment, significantly reducing depth. While bed levelling in 2022 and 2023 temporarily improved access, a major wet season in 2024 again rendered the channel largely unusable. No maintenance funding has been allocated since. As a result, access windows have narrowed dramatically. Club members say the channel was once usable on a 1.7-metre tide; now, small vessels require tides of 2.4 metres or higher, eliminating daylight access on many days. “All-tide access?” one local asked. “It’s anything but.” Safety Concerns Escalate The lack of reliable access has raised serious safety concerns, particularly given the demographics of Cape Upstart and peak holiday periods when usage surges. Over the years, residents have been forced to transport injured or ill people by boat to meet ambulances at Molongle Creek, but only when tides allow. When tides are out, emergency helicopters have been relied upon, though they are not always available. “Over the years, there have been quite a few medical incidences where the access to Molongle Creek was tidally available – if no tide, the emergency helicopter was luckily available,” said Mr Betteridge. In one recent incident, two young boys were stung by Irukandji jellyfish at Kingfish Bay, however, fortunately, the tide allowed access back through Molongle Creek, yet locals say the outcome could have been far worse had the tide been out. After Ex-Tropical Cyclone Koji, Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) crews conducting welfare checks were forced to use Wallace’s Creek instead of Molongle due to the channel’s condition, a longer, more exposed and potentially dangerous route. A spokesperson for the State Emergency Service said the agency remained committed to community safety. “The State Emergency Service (SES) is committed to working with the Molongle Creek and Cape Upstart communities to provide essential services to the region and maintaining community safety,” the spokesperson said. “The SES operates within a broader disaster management framework and works closely with partner agencies to deliver safe and effective responses to the community during severe weather events.” Calls for Practical Solutions The Molongle Creek Boat Club maintains that solutions already exist. Chief among them is the construction of a bund or barrier wall, either from rock or geotextile bags filled with dredged sand, a method already proven at the site, where a small geotextile wall has successfully reduced infill for more than 25 years. Club members argue such a barrier would significantly reduce sediment movement, extend the time between dredging cycles and deliver the year-round access originally promised. “There are approximately 240 dwellings at Cape Upstart that use molongle Creek as their main, and only access port – a 365 day all-tide access channel will definitely improve the safety of the whole community,” said Mr Betteridge. “We need a bund wall sooner rather than later, and MCBC along with the bulk of the public community know that a bund wall is the only solution to keep the channel open 365 days a year.” Local State Member for Burdekin, Dale Last, said responsibility for the failed delivery rested with the former government. “The former government went to the 2017 election with a commitment to provide all-tide access at Molongle Creek. The unfortunate reality is that they failed to deliver on their promise,” Mr Last said. “I have supported the campaign for all-tide access since the very beginning, largely based on the need to be able to respond to emergencies quickly, rather than waiting for tides. The assurance that I have given, and stand by, is that I will continue to work with stakeholders for a better outcome for all users of Molongle Creek.” He said concerns raised by the boat club during the design phase were ignored. “Promises were made and expectations were built on those promises. Clearly those expectations were not met and, clearly, the promises made were broken.” Mr Last acknowledged ongoing challenges related to permits and environmental approvals but said Maritime Safety Queensland had committed to working with stakeholders on a long-term management strategy. “There are a range of issues affecting the ability to undertake maintenance at Molongle Creek. If the input from the Molongle Creek Boat Club was given the attention it deserved, many of the issues we face today would not exist,” he said. “Despite the challenges, the Club has been given a direct commitment that Maritime Safety Queensland will work closely with them and key stakeholders to develop and implement a long-term management strategy.” Federal Member for Dawson, Andrew Willcox, said the Molongle Creek boating facility was a vital piece of infrastructure for the Cape Upstart community and regional boaters, particularly for emergency access. “The Molongle Creek boating facility is a vital piece of infrastructure for the Cape Upstart community and regional boaters; it is especially significant for safety, as Volunteer Marine Rescue and residents rely on this channel for emergency transport.” Mr Willcox said the channel continued to face natural challenges due to its geographic location. “The Molongle Creek Channel currently faces ongoing challenges due to its geographic location: the flow at the mouth of the creek frequently causes sand to accumulate and choke the channel.” He said responsibility for maintaining the facility had shifted to the State Government during his time as Whitsunday Mayor, and that a permanent engineering solution was needed. “During my time as Whitsunday Mayor, the State Government assumed responsibility for the maintenance of this facility to ensure its continued operation.” “In my assessment, a permanent infrastructure solution is required to address the siltation issues: this would involve installing sheet piling or a rock wall to protect the channel and keep it open
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Cecillia Cason has been honourably selected to attend the Pacific Honors Ensemble Program in November; a prestigious program held in the United States of America.
The program, as hosted by the Young Conservatorium (the pre-tertiary program for Griffith University) and the Western International Band Clinic, is held in Seattle, Washington annually with a small group of highly skilled honor band students selected to attend. Candidates are to audition for a position by performing a piece from a selection of music provided, and although Cecillia’s instrument of choice is not the trumpet, her talents prevailed, and she was prestigiously granted a spot in the 2024 Pacific Honors Ensemble Program.
“I was so very happy and excited about getting in, and when I auditioned, the music was on an instrument I’m not the best at, but I was so excited to hear I was accepted,” expressed Cecillia.
Earlier this year, Griffith University reached out to Cecillia, advising her of the opportunity and encouraging her to apply.
“I couldn’t be prouder of Cecillia, and she hasn’t achieved this by herself, it’s due to the help of everyone around her, including her tutors, which have made everything she has achieved possible, and I’m just so proud,” expressed Cecillia’s mother, Maria Cason.
Cecillia’s musical talents and abilities have garnered much attention over the past couple of years and have led her to accumulate many awards and attendance at various celebrated musical enrichment opportunities. Earlier this year, Cecillia attended the Queensland Band Association’s Youth Band Camp, where she was awarded the Leonie Marshall Scholarship, a significant award in recognition of a student’s passion for their community band association and dedication to musical excellence.
Cecillia is also a celebrated member of the Burdekin Brass Band, performing at regular community events as well as the Concert Band where she is currently attending rehearsals in preparation for Ayr State High School’s upcoming musical at the Burdekin Theatre. Next month, Cecillia will attend the State Honors Ensemble Program in Brisbane where she will continue to build upon her skills surrounded by like-minded peers under the guidance of industry professionals.
Cecillia’s talents and dedication to her musical practice are outstanding, and she certainly has a bright future ahead of her in the instrumental sphere.
On the morning of Thursday 13 June, Ayr State High School hosted the Burdekin Chaplaincy Fundraising Breakfast.
Chaplains from each school in the region came together to celebrate the work these amazing people do for the community and its students, with all funds raised re-directed to support the youth of the Burdekin.
The event ran from 7am and encompassed school staff, principals, business owners, and community members from across the community, along with Mayor Dalle Cort. All attendees have supported the Burdekin’s Chaplains over the years, and the breakfast provided a heartwarming environment where their support was thanked.
Brooke Sorbello, the Scripture Union manager for North Queensland, was deeply touched seeing the community come together in support of the young people of the Burdekin at the Burdekin Chaplaincy Fundraising Breakfast and believes the chance to do so was beyond special.
“It was a chance to get these supporters together to say thank you as well as share stories around how their support is helping the young people of the community,” explained Brooke.
The event included guest speakers, one of which being Home Hill High School’s Chappy Jennie Dowie, who has been a celebrated chaplain in the Burdekin for over seventeen years. Chappy Jennie shared her experiences as a chaplain, explaining the important role chaplains have in student’s lives, from running programs in the areas of anger and anxiety management to simply being their friend.
"As a School Chaplain, I focus on prevention and support; helping students find a better way to deal with a range of issues from family breakdown, grief, peer pressure, loneliness, risk of disengagement, substance abuse, depression and anxiety - just to name a few,” expressed Chappy Jennie.
“I aim to provide a non-judgmental, accessible, listening ear and a caring presence for not only for our kids in crisis, but also for those who just need a friend.
“So today I want to thank you for your support of School Chaplaincy.
“I want to thank you because if it wasn’t for people like you, we wouldn’t have the opportunities that we have to support young people who often feel unseen, undervalued, misunderstood and powerless to change the life that they have been dealt with.”
Brooke would like to extend her gratitude to Ronda Williams, the Burdekin Chaplaincy Committee Chair, and for all her organisational efforts to fundraise for the chaplains in the community.
“In the chaplaincy structure, we’re given enough funding to support a chaplain for a day and half, whereas most of the Burdekin’s chaplains are in our schools for four, sometimes five days a week based on the community support,” explained Brooke.
“The presence of these chaplains is really powerful, and the continuity, and consistency makes a really big difference in the work that they can do for the students.”
The morning was emotional, powerful and inspirational, and stood as testament to the Burdekin community’s continued commitment to investing in and supporting the wellbeing and future of its youth.
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Creating inviting outdoor living spaces through DIY projects can transform your backyard into a functional and aesthetically pleasing area for relaxation and entertainment.
Here are several creative ideas to inspire your outdoor makeover:
Cozy Outdoor Lounge: Begin with comfortable seating options like DIY pallet sofas or repurposed wooden benches with plush cushions. Add a handmade coffee table using a reclaimed crate or an old trunk topped with a custom-cut piece of glass.
DIY Hammock Corner: Create a cozy retreat with a hammock hung between two trees or posts. Customise it with handmade pillows and a small side table for books or drinks.
DIY Fire Pit: Build a fire pit using bricks or stones arranged in a circle. Line the bottom with gravel for drainage and safety. Enhance the ambiance with string lights hung overhead or solar-powered lanterns for eco-friendly illumination.
Vertical Garden Wall: Utilise a bare fence or wall by creating a vertical garden. Install wooden pallets horizontally and fill them with small potted plants or herbs. This not only adds greenery but also maximises space.
Outdoor Dining Area: Construct a sturdy dining table from reclaimed wood or pallets. Pair it with DIY benches or chairs made from old wooden crates or tree stumps - complete the setting with a handmade table runner, lanterns and outdoor dinnerware.
DIY Pathways and Walkways: Define pathways using materials like gravel, flagstones, or recycled bricks. Create a rustic look by embedding old railway sleepers or wooden planks for a natural, earthy feel.
Repurposed Outdoor Bar: Convert an old kitchen cart or dresser into an outdoor bar by adding shelves for storage and a countertop for serving. Use reclaimed wood or tiles for the bar surface and decorate with potted plants and hanging glassware.
Outdoor Movie Theatre: Hang a white sheet or use a blank wall as a projection screen. Set up seating with floor cushions, bean bags or homemade pallet sofas. Install outdoor speakers and a projector for movie nights under the stars.
Sunday 16 June hosted a celebratory milestone for Gumlu’s Biggest Morning Tea event, with community members flocking to the Molongle Creek Boat Club to attend the 10th anniversary of the fundraising gathering.
2024’s Biggest Morning Tea event raised an amazing total of $2,280 for the Cancer Council Queensland due to the outstanding generosity of the community, and Sunday’s fundraising efforts contributed to an overall decade total exceeding $10,000.
Regina Lequerica has been running and organising Gumlu’s Biggest Morning Tea events since 2014 and was blown away by the generosity of Sunday’s proceedings.
“The day went a lot better than anyone excepted, and we raised double the amount that we usually raise, and it was quite successful, people were very generous,” explained Regina.
After a decade of dedication, Regina looks forward to running the event each year, explaining this year went without a hitch.
“We’ve built up a little team with the four of us who get together to get the event all going, and this year I felt really relaxed planning the event,” said Regina.
Beginning at 9am sharp, over 50 attendees gathered to enjoy nibbles, trivia, an extensive cent sale, and raffles, with a large portion of the crowd being travellers staying at the Molongle Creek Caravan Park.
Along with regular fundraising initiatives, Regina and her team organised money boards, “first in best dressed” cent sales, guess the lollies jars, donation tins, and in a special decade celebration, Katrina Land made personalised T-shirts which were auctioned off to raise additional funds.
The event was highly successful in fundraising for the Cancer Council Queensland, and Regina thanks the community for their amazing support both for the 2024 event, and each event over the past 10 years.
“We’ve found that everyone enjoys what we do, and we’re so thankful for everyone’s support,” thanks Regina.
Regina Lequerica, Katrina Land, Summer Gurd from Bowen, Savannah Land, Amy and Susann Pfingst, Thomas Harrington, Ella and Nadine Land
Thomas Harrington, Tony Battiston, Katrina Land, Regina Lequerica, Nadine Land, Susann Pfingst
Congratulations to Tony Battiston, who celebrated his 70th birthday with family and close friends at the Bocce Club on Saturday.
All were encouraged to dress as a movie character, with Tony donning a Jedi costume. He entertained everyone by sharing a few of his favourite riddles and after lunch, a game of bocce was enjoyed by all.
Thank you to everyone who came, he had an awesome weekend, one not to forget.
Tony with nephews: Steven, David and Michael Lequerica
The latest victim of severe staff shortages in the medical industry is the Bowen Herbert Street Family Medical Centre which announced this week that it will close its doors at the end of June.
Over 200 GP clinics in Australia have closed down in the past year, many of them citing the same reason – they simply cannot get enough GPs.
Bowen Herbert Street Family Medical Centre is operated by the Girudala Community Cooperative Society, which is a non-for-profit organisation which predominantly overseas the welfare of Indigenous and South Sea Islander community members.
Since 2010, Girudala has been operating the Medical Centre and they welcome all patients, with more than 2,000 people registered on their books.
When they close their doors on June 30, there will only be two other medical centres in Bowen, servicing a population of over 10,000 people.
Bowen Herbert Street Family Medical Centre was also the last service to offer Bulkbilling to all patients.
The other Bowen GP clinics offer Bulkbilling to pensioners and children under 16, but there was a huge demand to fill the gap for vulnerable people that did not fit that age-bracket.
Bowen Herbert Street Family Medical Centre filled that gap.
The closure of this much-needed medical Centre will put immense pressure not only on the other GP clinics but also Bowen Hospital.
A spokesperson for Bowen Herbert Street Family Medical Centre, Jean Andersen, said they are appealing for help.
“It’s been a really hard decision to close the doors and we’ve been trying to reach out to the government for some kind of support,” she explained.
“We’ve gone through everything we can think of and now we’ve made the decision, our primary focus is to refer our patients onto other health services.
“I’m sure every rural and remote community is crying out for GPs as well; we are asking the government to help us in any way they can – is there any funding to attract doctors here?
“We need a resolution soon and I really hope we can find one.”
For several years, the Bowen Herbert Street Family Medical Centre has been surviving with locum GPs who work at the clinic for short periods.
A few years ago, they had two permanent doctors, but there are now no regular GPs to fill the huge demand and the service simply cannot cope anymore.
“This is a national crisis and governments are failing remote communities like Bowen, who simply cannot afford to pay for doctors,” stated Ms Andersen.
“The closure of Herbert Street will place extreme pressure on health services in the area and we’re calling on local governments, namely local, state and commonwealth to work together with us and with the community to develop a sustainable long-term and viable medical health solution.”
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After six weeks of hard work, artist Glen Gillard is thrilled to have finished the latest of Bowen’s murals and is extremely happy with it.
“It is probably the longest that I have ever spent on a mural,” said Glen.
“I am glad to see the end of it, and I’m happy and think the results are pretty good.
“Everybody's saying how wonderful it is and magnificent, but most of the comments I get is that it’s beautiful and that's what I'm really happy about.”
Glen joked that his favourite part to paint was the end, adding his signature at the end.
Secretary of the Mural Society Heather Skinner, President Josie Tons and Treasurer Marcia Land are over the moon with it and describe it as “Fan-bloody-tastic!”
This mural is of Herbert Street and the Mural Society have plans to extend it, adding additional buildings from Herbert Street on the blank spaces next to the newly finished mural.
This mural would not be possible without Bowen Hire, supplying scaffolding and the Mural Society express a huge thank you to them.
Glen would also like to add that he loves green tree frogs, and he likes to add them into his murals – see if you can spot one!
“This mural here has three Green Tree Frogs which people have to find before they go home,” Glen laughed.
Glen Gillard in front of his finished mural
Treasurer Marcia Land, Secretary Heather Skinner, President Josie Tons and Artist Glen Gillard
Photo credit: Daniel Heggie
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By Amanda Wright
Production at Wilmar Sugar and Renewables’ Inkerman Mill in the Burdekin region, which kicked off the 2024 season on Monday, June 10, was abruptly halted on Wednesday due to industrial action.
The shutdown was prompted by union delegates informing the company of a planned one-hour work stoppage at Inkerman Mill and at least two other sites at midday on Wednesday.
While a one-hour stoppage might not typically force a shutdown, the delegates declined to confirm whether this would be the only stoppage at Inkerman on Wednesday. This lack of certainty left Wilmar Sugar and Renewables with no choice but to halt operations.
Mike McLeod, General Manager of Operations, expressed Wilmar’s concerns.
“A safe shutdown usually takes about 12 hours and must be carried out with care and precision. The uncertainty about stoppages presented both operational and safety concerns, leaving us no option but to shut down the mill.”
Members of the local cane growing community along with QCAR representatives. Photo credit: Melanie Napier Photography
McLeod acknowledged the impact on local growers,
“We feel for the growers who had harvested cane and those expecting to harvest in the morning. We have 6,000 tonnes of burnt cane in the Inkerman yard now, and we are told there is another 7,000 tonnes in the paddock,” Mr McLeod said.
“We had planned to be crushing at Inkerman until at least 7:30 Wednesday morning, but without certainty, we are better to stop than risk damage or injury and possibly have the mill out of commission for an extended period,” he added.
The industrial action has sparked significant concern among growers and the local community, who are feeling the brunt of the disruption. Charles Quagliata, QCAR Chair, emphasised the dire consequences.
“It’s the growers and the community who are hurting the most with this industrial action. The growers are being held for ransom and used as collateral in this dispute.”
Christian Lago, QCAR Burdekin District Committee Chairman, highlighted the immediate impact on growers, saying, “The thousands of tonnes of burnt cane in paddocks, rail bins, and on sidings without the prospect of crushing at this time is disastrous for the sugar industry as a whole.
“This shutdown was premature and hurts the growers more than anyone else.”
QCAR also said that at this stage, there has been no indication from Wilmar on whether the growers will be compensated for the loss of sugar concentration in the cane while it sits stagnant.
Stephen Ryan, CEO of QCAR, outlined the broader implications for the industry.
“Our members are directly impacted by the current industrial action, which is causing impaired cash flows across all stakeholders. The local economy is already feeling the pinch, and the Burdekin community will continue to suffer if an agreement isn't reached swiftly.”
Panikos Spyrou, QCAR's Executive Director, expressed concerns about the sustainability of the industry.
“There is a legitimate fear of a repeat of the dark and disastrous 2010 season, where industrial action prevented a timely start during fine weather, leading to a season of supply collapse when untimely wet weather set in.
“For every week lost in perfect weather, the season could be dragged out for an additional month towards the end, potentially meaning cane could stay in fields unharvested.
“The ongoing dispute is unacceptable, and the community is being held to ransom.”
The union action comes within hours of all three unions requesting a resumption of negotiations on a new enterprise agreement. This request follows the recent rejection by a majority of company employees of the company’s latest offer, which included a 14.25 per cent increase over 3.5 years, a $1,500 sign-on bonus, and 50 permanent positions for seasonal and term contract workers.
At the time of print, Wilmar was working to resume crushing cane as soon as possible at its Inkerman Mill in the Burdekin on Wednesday afternoon, and to begin production on Thursday at Invicta and Kalamia mills, despite the threat of continuing industrial action.
The company will make application to the Fair Work Commission for an urgent hearing of its argument for orders to immediately suspend protected action to allow the annual crush to proceed while enterprise agreement (EA) negotiations continue. To date the company has not exercised its right under the Fair Work Act to lock out workers participating in protected industrial action.
Mr McLeod, said that the company welcomed, and shared, the views expressed by union officials that everything possible should be done to avoid harming the interests of cane growers and the community during negotiation of an enterprise agreement.
“We need to get that cane through the mill as soon as we can,” he said.
Production has begun at Wilmar Sugar and Renewables’ Inkerman Mill in the Burdekin region with the first cane for the 2024 season tipping at 9:28am on Monday 10 June.
Invicta Mill and Kalamia Mill will see production also begin this week with the remaining five other Wilmar mills to start up the week beginning Monday 17 June.
The beginning of what will be an extremely busy season for the Burdekin has been successful with General Manager Operations, Mike McLeod describing the kickoff as off to a good start, thanking the hard work of all employees.
“Today was a great achievement from the whole team,” Mr McLeod explained.
“I want to thank all of our people who worked tirelessly over the past week, and in particular, over the weekend to finalize preparations for start-up.”
A busting time for the region, many Wilmar employees will be scheduled to work well above regular hours, with shift workers hard at work into the night across various sectors.
“We lit up the boilers yesterday afternoon and tipped the first bin just before 9:30am as planned and we look forward to producing the first raw sugar of the season tomorrow (Tuesday 11 June).”
This beginning comes at an active time for Wilmar with the Sarina Distillery resuming their efficient production of bioethanol on Thursday 30 May, following their annual month-long maintenance closure.
Mike McLeod also stated Sugar and Renewables employees covered by the enterprise agreement were set to vote on the company’s EA offer earlier this week, with the vote scheduled for Tuesday at the latest.
Mr McLeod assure Wilmar has been closely monitoring factory operations and start dates, following notifications of further work stoppages and bans planned from Wednesday 12 June.
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Hi everyone,
On his way travelling down the Queensland coast, our recently departed journalist, Sam Gillespie, called into the Whitsundays with his mum, dad and ‘Uncle Chook’ to attend a little farewell afternoon that the team held in his honour.
Sam has been an incredible contributor to Burdekin Life Newspaper and I couldn’t think of anyone with a bigger heart and a love for regional communities that could have guided this newspaper through its first eight months.
He has set a precedent for what we can all expect, and carved a quality that we will all aspire to continue – thank you, Sam!
Of course, Sam was backed by our incredible award-winning team in Mackay and the Whitsundays.
As many of you will know our sister publication, Mackay and Whitsunday Life Newspaper recently won ‘Best Free Newspaper in QLD’ and we have always overseen this newspaper with the same dedication.
And while Sam will be notably absent from the region at the moment, I can assure you we will soon be hiring another journalist who will live and work in the Burdekin.
In the interim, a member of the Whitsunday-based team will be coming to the Burdekin each week for one or two days – in fact I am coming this Friday – please feel free to give me a call if you would like to catch up!
Burdekin Local, Chelsea Ravizza, has also accepted a full-time position with us while she is on a study break from finishing her journalism degree in Brisbane.
While Chelsea resides in Brisbane, she grew up in the Burdekin and has been writing for the newspaper for the last six months.
She is a wonderful addition to the team and, while we continue looking for the right person to be on the ground in the community, she has kindly offered to work the extra hours.
Thanks for your understanding while we go through this period of transition folks, I am sure you can understand that it is very important that we find exactly the right person to be ‘the new Sam!’
In the meantime, please enjoy your local newspaper knowing that it is produced with same heart it always has been.
Rachael Smith
Editor In Chief
Chelsea: “I’m beyond excited to continue sharing the stories of the Burdekin in my new role. Sam has left huge shoes to fill, and I’m extremely grateful to Rachael and the team for this opportunity!”
Your Burdekin Life Team: Ruby Gorlick Sales and Social Media Representative, Crissy Bottrell Office and Production Manager, Rachael Smith Editor In Chief, Lara Moss Junior Graphic Designer and Daniel Heggie Cadet Journalist standing with Sam and his mum and dad. Photo credit: Uncle Chook
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Within the early hours of Thursday 6 June, the motorists of the Burdekin region experienced lengthy delays and major travelling inconveniences following a truck fire on the Burdekin Bridge.
Five emergency service crews responded to calls just after 5am to find a B Double Semi Trailer Truck fully engulfed in flames. The vehicle was transporting pallets of alcohol travelling North along the Bruce Highway when a mechanical failure occurred, and the truck’s tyres burst.
A Queensland Police Service spokesperson has advised that the driver, a 50-year-old Moranbah man, was pulled from the vehicle without any injuries.
Several hours following the incident, many motorists were continuing to experience heavy delays with single lane traffic control extending throughout the day. Traffic continued to cause chaos past the Home Hill Racecourse, through back roads and side streets, with travellers making desperate efforts to make their way both to and from work. Numerous businesses remained closed until midday, waiting for staff members to navigate their way through the heavy traffic congestion.
Hundreds of locals took to Facebook to communicate their first-hand accounts of the events. Several commenters explained their frustration at waiting in traffic ques for over two hours, and their annoyance with highway traffic coming to a complete halt.
Many commentors expressed their fears for the region if the Burdekin Bridge ever experiences a permanent closure, calling for the construction of a secondary bridge.
“Might be time for the local government to get some funds to build a second bridge - 2 lanes North, and 2 lanes South,” said one Facebook commentor.
“Imagine the chaos if the bridge has to close – still find it bizarre that they haven’t built a new bridge to cope with today’s traffic – it’s a choke on North Queensland,” said another.
The Queensland Government has been called out by Member for Burdekin and Shadow Minister for Rural & Regional Affairs Dale Last after increased funding for the Bruce Highway was announced from 2027-28, saying it has “given up when it comes to improving roads in regional Queensland”.
The state government announced it will increase its annual Bruce Highway funding commitment to $250 million per annum from 2027-28 onwards, but Mr Last said this will see safety upgrades on the roads that their constituents use every day delayed by at least three years.
“Again, Labor is publishing a lot of plans and making a lot of noise but not actually doing anything,” Mr Last said.
“If you look at the ‘Safer Roads Sooner’ program, for example, they talk about a forgiving roadside to reduce injuries if a collision occurs.
“Meanwhile, on large sections of the Bruce Highway, you can’t even pull off the road safely due to trees and rocks; let alone on lesser used roads.”
The state government also released the 15-year Vision and Action Plans for the Bruce Highway and the Safer Bruce 2030 Action Plan, endorsed by the Bruce Highway Trust Advisory Council, and finalised following the Australian Government’s Infrastructure Review in 2023.
“Safety is always our most important priority and I’m pleased to be working with key transport advocates to improve safety on the Bruce,” said Transport and Main Roads Minister Bart Mellish.
“The release of the 15-year Vision and Action Plans for the Bruce Highway and the Safer Bruce 2030 Action Plan marks a key milestone for the Bruce Highway.
“We now have a plan for the future of the Bruce Highway which extends beyond the Bruce Highway Upgrade Program commitments.”
Mr Last said regional Queenslanders are screaming for action sooner.
“You really have to ask what it will take to see something done about these roads that are nothing more than goat tracks,” he said.
“Regional Queensland, through resources and agriculture, contribute billions to the state government’s coffers each year but what do we get for it?
“All we get from Labor is broken promises and misleading statements while we are forced to travel with our families on unsafe roads.”
The State Budget was announced on Tuesday afternoon, unveiling measures to directly relieve the cost-of-living crisis and help people with everyday expenses.
From discounted car registration to cheaper public transport, the pre-election budget is aimed at creating real change, although several measures are conveniently due to expire just after the State Government election set to take place later this year.
Overall, a total of $11.2b in reductions to Queenslanders were outlined in this week’s budget announcement, which is 31% greater than last year.
Member For Burdekin, Dale Last MP, says he is disappointed with the budget, mainly because the appeal from residents for a CT scanner at Ayr Hospital has been ignored.
“As someone in Brisbane waits to catch a 50-cent train, someone in Ayr will be waiting hours to be transported to Townsville just for a CT scan,” he said.
“Today’s budget could have been an opportunity for this government to demonstrate that it had listened when hundreds of residents in Ayr put pen to paper to call for a CT scanner at their hospital but, instead, we didn’t see a cent.”
Mr Last added that despite a number of glossy re-announcements in the State Budget for parts of the Burdekin electorate, it was clear that major projects this community had advocated for had been ignored.
“Make no mistake, today’s budget was for the next four months, not the next four years and beyond.”
“We expect our front line services to be able to be afforded every training opportunity possible so that they are as prepared as they can be in times of emergency yet that won’t be the case in Ayr with no funding commitment towards a new fire station.”
“The Treasurer was quick to mention cost of living measures throughout the budget but ultimately those measures mean little in this electorate when you can’t find a home to live in because social housing waitlists have blown out and there is no crisis accommodation available.”
Budget Breakdown
• 20 per cent reduction in car rego for 12 months.
• Flat fare of 50 cents across the state’s public transport network for 6 months.
• Increasing the value of FairPlay vouchers from $150 to $200.
• $15 million for the School and Community Food Relief Program.
• Increase the threshold for first home buyer stamp duty concessions by $200,000 to properties valued under $700,000.
The young blue heeler from Brisbane who has taken the world by storm is now the face of the state as the latest major tourism marketing campaign from Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ) kicked off earlier this month.
Building on the global phenomenon of children’s television show Bluey, Queensland will be pitched as ‘Bluey’s world, for real life’, encouraging visitors from around the world to come and live the Bluey lifestyle in Queensland.
Tourism industry representatives gathered at locations right around the state on Monday, June 3, playing a mega game of Keepy Uppy, inspired by one of Bluey’s favourite games where a balloon must be kept in the air as long as possible.
The game was played right throughout north Queensland including the Burdekin, Magnetic Island, Charters Towers, Hinchinbrook, Billabong Sanctuary, Hidden Valley Cabins, Townsville City and Queensland Country Bank Stadium thanks to the involvement of Townsville Enterprise.
Townsville Enterprise Director of Visitor Economy and Marketing Lisa Woolfe emphasised the importance of this campaign
“Townsville Enterprise is proud to be partnering with Tourism and Events Queensland to see the Townsville North Queensland region included in this major global tourism campaign,” said Ms Woolfe.
“In our region, we have so much on offer for families to explore, from the Great Barrier Reef to the rainforest our islands and of course the outback.
“Bluey has become a global sensation so leveraging the world’s love for the Heeler family is an exciting way to put Queensland and Townsville North Queensland at the top of the holiday list for families across the globe.”
The event joined others around the state to form a mega game, while the Australian Book of Records declared a world record was set across multiple locations.
Keepy Uppy, a game made popular by children’s television show Bluey, was played right across north Queensland earlier this month as part of Tourism and Events Queensland’s latest major tourism marketing campaign. Photos supplied: Townsville Enterprise
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A big thank you to the Burdekin region for being so RV friendly and supportive. Travelling Australia for three years we have seen many places and your region stands out as a shining beacon of welcoming civility.
We love your many camping options and have sampled a few.
Plantation Creek Boat Ramp free camp near Ayr was a peaceful spot, and the mud crabs caught were very much enjoyed.
Giru free camp is another great spot, the nearby Giru International Hotel always gets our custom for a night out and a great meal.
Brandon van park behind the hotel is a great budget option, with the friendly and welcoming staff ensuring we had a great night by putting on the Matilda’s football game for us to enjoy on the big screen.
Home Hill free camp is always terrific with hot showers, toilets and camp kitchen, and a water refill almost all a traveler needs.
We enjoyed a two night stay at Burdekin Cascades Caravan Park, it’s so handy and central to shops and nearby services.
A great camping option for ex and serving Defence and Emergency services personnel is Deep Creek Retreat near Clare. We’ve stayed here twice; the serenity and stars are spectacular.
Free and easily accessed dump points in Ayr and Home Hill, and convenient laundromats in both Ayr and Home Hill help make travelling life so much easier.
And having all these services and places means we can stop and spend. Fuel, repairs, groceries, grog and bakeries are always on our lists of must haves and again we had so many great options.
Coffee from the Home Hill Newsagency Café is a great morning starter and the scones and coffee from Alfie Bakery in Ayr made a great lunch one day whilst we waited for our laundry to be done at the Delta Laundry.
Keep doing what you are doing, the travelling public knows a great region when they see one.
Contributed by Rosemary and Martin in ‘Tilly Too’
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