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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On Monday 10 June, over 700 Australians were prestigiously recognised and celebrated under the 2024 King’s Birthday Honours List, and among them was the Burdekin Shire Council Chef Executive Officer Terry Brennan.
His dedicated service to the Burdekin community has been honoured with the Public Service Medal to recognise his dedication, and outstanding service to Local Government in Queensland.
Mr Brennan has led an extraordinary 45-year career devoted to Local Government since 1979 when he began his position as a junior administration officer with Toowoomba City Council. For just under half a decade, Mr Brennan has been serving Local Government with a number of Council’s such as Stanthorpe Shire Council, and Cassowary Coast Regional Council, and as a board member of Queensland Local Government Mutual and Local Government Workcare.
His experience and exceptional governance have applied not only at a Council level but also outside Local Government boundaries, playing a key role in projects as part of both the North Queensland and Far North Queensland Regional Organisations of Councils. Mr Brennan’s involvement with community projects and achievements of implementing innovative improvements to programs and services throughout his career has also been celebrated and recognised in receiving a Public Service Medal.
Since 2016, Mr Brennan has been serving as the Chief Executive Officer for the Burdekin Shire Council, and he has been instrumental in the realisation of a range of high-quality infrastructure projects across the Burdekin Shire including the infamous Burdekin Water Park, and the Ayr / Brandon 10ML Reservoir as well as the associated water supply upgrade.
A career overflowing with many commendable advancements and milestones in various communities that will have a lasting impact, Mr Brennan’s achievements stand as a testament to his continued commitment to exhibiting exemplary service to the communities in which he has served.
As Mr Brennan prepares for his well-deserved retirement this August, the Burdekin Shire Council has expressed their gratitude and congratulations for his time served in the region.
“On behalf of all the staff at Burdekin Shire Council, we would like to congratulate him on this outstanding achievement and contribution to not only the Burdekin community but all the other communities he has served in,” expressed the Burdekin Shire Council.
In breaking news for the community, the celebrated Burdekin Water Festival will return to the region for 2024 on Saturday 7 September.
The theme for this year’s Burdekin Water Festival will be Bring it Back, a nostalgic theme set to capture the hearts of the entire community.
“The theme, Bring it Back, was based on the committee’s discussions of fond memories of the Water Festival, and things that we used to enjoy when we were growing up and visiting the event every year, so we want to bring back those feelings, bring back those memories, and bring back that sentiment,” explained committee member Kari Ravizza.
In honouring Water Festivals of the years gone by, businesses are strongly encouraged to decorate their shop fronts.
The Burdekin Water Festival for 2024 will make its return to Queen Street with spectacular floats expected to ignite the centre of the community, of course following the heartwarming theme of Bing it Back.
In an exciting announcement, the committee is calling for both junior and senior ambassadors from any corner of the region to be part of the historic event.
“Our ambassadors can come from sporting clubs, schools, community groups, businesses, and anyone who would like to put forward an ambassador is strongly encouraged to contact the Water Festival Committee,” said Kari.
With plans and preparations in action, the committee is on the search for sponsors, expressions of interest from food vendors and entertainment to line the main street and contribute to the festival atmosphere the event is famous for.
“We’re definitely excited to go ahead with preparations for the 2024 Water Festival and we’re in the process of gathering and contacting sponsors for support and are strongly calling for store holders, food vendors, and ambassadors to contact the committee,” expressed Eusebio.
The community can expect updates posted on the Burdekin Water Festival’s Facebook page in the coming days, and strongly encourage anyone interested to contact the committee via email at info@burdekinaterfestival.com.
What: The Burdekin Water Festival
When: Saturday 7 September 2024
Where: Queen Street Ayr
More Information: Via email info@burdekinaterfestival.com or the Burdekin Water Festival’s Facebook page.
Treasurer Debbie Szendry, Vice President Frank Nucifora, President Eudebio Aguirre, Secretary Support Colleen Harris and Secretary Bruna Pearson. Photo supplied
The Queensland Government is hosting an information session for its Cyclone Resilience Programs in Ayr this evening, designed to enhance property resilience in cyclone-prone coastal areas.
This information session, aimed at homeowners, bodies corporate, strata managers, and contractors, will detail the Strata Resilience Program and Household Resilience Program.
Both programs are co-funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments and have been developed in collaboration with James Cook University's Cyclone Testing Station to bolster the cyclone resilience of properties in coastal Queensland.
The Strata Resilience Program targets bodies corporate in Central and North Queensland, offering grants of up to 75% of improvement costs, capped at $150,000 per body corporate.
The Household Resilience Program assists eligible homeowners in coastal areas of Central and Northern Queensland, providing grants covering 80% of improvement costs, up to $15,000.
Both programs emphasise the importance of upgrading property features like roofs, windows, and doors to withstand severe weather.
The Strata Resilience Program requires prior participation in the North Queensland Strata Title Inspection Program and a minimum 25% co-contribution from applicants.
The Household Resilience Program supports homeowners living in houses built before 1984, within 50 kilometres of the coastline from Bundaberg to the Queensland/Northern Territory border.
Attendees will learn about the application process, eligibility criteria, and types of improvements covered.
The session aims to educate and encourage property stakeholders to enhance their cyclone preparedness, ensuring safer communities.
Details can be found at www.eventbrite.com.
WHAT: Queensland Government Cyclone Resilience Programs information session
WHEN: Today, Thursday, June 13 from 4:30pm - 5:30pm
WHERE: PCYC Burdekin, 164 MacMillan Street, Ayr
COST: Free
After almost a year of campaigning and fundraising, a significant step will be taken in the Burdekin’s journey to honour Jean Morris, a 19-year-old murder victim from 1932, as locals plan to construct a concrete slab for her gravestone on June 17.
The fundraising campaign, led by Henry Petersen and Paula Dawson, recently reached $3,600, marking a pivotal moment in their mission to give Jean a dignified resting place after 93 years in an unmarked grave.
Jean Morris's story is a haunting chapter in Ayr's history.
Arriving in 1932 during the Great Depression, Jean, a sex worker believed to be of Italian descent, sought new opportunities in north Queensland.
Her involvement with the Black Hand crime syndicate and rejection of Vincenzo D’Agostino's advances led to her tragic end, with 43 stab wounds found on her body.
Reviving interest in her story, Mr Petersen, along with Ms Dawson and Amie Griggs of Burdekin Funerals, launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for the gravestone.
Respect Inc, a Queensland-based organisation advocating for sex workers, has also lent its support.
“She was a human being,” Mr Petersen stated.
“No one deserves to be brutally murdered like that.
“She should be remembered.”
The fundraising campaign was launched in July 2023 and key to its success was the innovative ‘Let's Have Cuppa for Jean’ initiative and Mr Petersen's personal commitment, donating 10 cents from every avocado sold.
“This girl is part of history,” Mr Petersen emphasised.
“Even though she was only in Ayr for seven days, she’s still a part of our history.”
The focus now shifts to the construction of the concrete slab, essential for the next phase of the gravestone project.
This effort not only aims to honour Jean Morris but also hopes to change community attitudes towards sex workers, offering a broader reflection on dignity and respect for all.
Mr Petersen has invited the community to attend the construction of the concrete slab at Ayr Cemetery on the morning of Monday, June 17.
To support the cause, donations can be made at Paula's Place Hair Salon on Queen St, Ayr, or via GoFundMe at https://www.gofundme.com/f/stiletto-jean-morris-headstone-fundraiser.
For more information, contact Ms Dawson at 0439 333 494 or Mr Petersen at 0428 887 114.
After almost a year of fundraising, Henry Petersen is inviting the community to attend the laying of a concrete slab to honour Jean Morris
Jean Morris was murdered in Ayr in 1932 at 19 years of age and lays in an unmarked grave at Ayr Cemetery
Photos supplied
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While nineties and naughties fashions are making a resurgence in popular culture, so too are some vintage scamming techniques, says Bendigo Bank. As we approach tax season, the Bank is alerting customers about a trend of scammers targeting customers asking recipients to open an attached HTML file to view important changes or to electronically sign a document.
“At this time of year, pre-tax time purchases are on the increase and email traffic peaks, so for criminals, the conditions are perfect for phishing,” said Head of Customer Protection, Jason Gordon.
“Phishing has been around since the mid-90s, and people have been warned about not opening suspicious attachments for many years. But attackers are continuously reinventing themselves,” Mr Gordon said.
“What’s new about these attacks is that they’re now using things like customisation, impersonation tactics and what are now viewed as uncommon file attachments, like HTML, to bypass spam filters and catch you in a time of peak activity,” he said.
A raft of recent scam reports to the Bank show emails malicious HTML attachments and Bendigo Bank images and branding, similar to other impersonation scams the Bank has previously warned customer about.
When clicked, the HTML file may open a fake bank log in webpage or form, from which the scammer can harvest personal and secure information to access devices remotely, harvest pins and logins, or even to gain trust of the victim.
“Do not click the link or open files in these emails. It’s important to treat any link or attachment you are sent as suspicious,” Mr Gordon said.
“Bendigo Bank will never send you a HTML file. Bendigo Bank will never ask you to login to Internet Banking via a link sent in an email,” he said.
“If you have received a suspicious email, please forward it to phishing@bendigoadelaide.com.au for investigation.”
Mr Gordon’s advice to customers who may have fallen victim to a bank impersonation scam is to visit www.bendigobank.com.au/security immediately to report it and get support.
“Scammers will act quickly to transfer your funds. Bendigo Bank attempts to recover funds lost to scams wherever possible, but it is extremely difficult to recover money that has been transferred to scammers,” Mr Gordon said.
HOW TO STOP SCAMMERS:
• STOP – Don’t give money or personal information to anyone if unsure.
Scammers will offer to help you or ask you to verify who you are. They will pretend to be from organisations you know and trust like Services Australia, police, government, or a fraud service.
• THINK – Ask yourself could the message or call be fake?
Never click a link in a message. Only contact us, businesses or government using contact information from their official website or through their secure apps. If you’re not sure, say no, hang up or delete.
• PROTECT – Act quickly if something feels wrong.
If you notice unusual activity or if a scammer gets your money or information, visit www.bendigobank.com.au/security to report it and get support.
Head of Customer Protection, Jason Gordon. Photo supplied
After a decade, the much-loved Cava Indian Restaurant will close its Queen Street doors on Sunday 23 June. Their closure comes as a surprise to the region, with hundreds of locals taking to Facebook to share their saddened reactions and messages of support.
Jyoti Sharma announced her business’ closure on Tuesday 4 June, explaining the decision was not made lightly, and expressing her immense gratitude to the community, and to the customers who became family since 2014.
Devastating the community, Cava’s closure will leave the Burdekin without a specialty Indian restaurant for residents and travellers to enjoy.
The family will be leaving the Burdekin region towards the end of the month and are planning to move interstate to be closer to relatives in Melbourne.
“The community is very sad about the news, we’ve had lots of people just call up, and send lots of messages, everyone is really sad that we’ll be closing our doors,” explained Cava’s owners.
“Thank you so much for all the support, thank you to the locals and the travellers, and we’ll really miss the community and everyone here but it’s time for us to move on.”
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The RSL Home Hill Sub Branch held its biannual dinner at the Crown Hotel on Thursday, June 6 where President Richard Kelly presented two young achievers with certificates of appreciation.
Sophie Robertson was recognised for her efforts in being awarded the Premier’s Anzac Prize and her fundraising for Australian Defence Force Veterans Charity Mates4Mates, while Ethan Pengelly was recognised for his fundraising efforts for the Sub Branch through selling commemorative merchandise.
“We like to present something to those in the community for what they have done for our club and invite them and their families to our dinner,” Mr Kelly said.
Rocky Hema, Deputy District President for RSL North Queensland and Deputy President for the RSL Thuringowa Sub Branch, was also present to present the pair with medallions for recognition from a district and state level.
“What they’ve done has echoed throughout the districts of North Queensland and also at state level,” Mr Hema said.
“They’ve really set the benchmark for other young, aspiring people in our organisation to do exactly the same.”
Sophie Robertson of Ayr State High School was one of eight recipients of the 2024 Premier’s Anzac Prize, awarded by the Queensland Government, recognising the efforts and dedication of young Queenslanders and aiming to present students with opportunities to gain an in-depth understanding of the ANZAC legacy.
Sophie embarked on a 16-day international adventure touring France, Belgium, and the United Kingdom to explore the ANZAC legacy in April and regaled the dinner attendees with tales of her journey.
She said her interest in military history began when uncovering her family history and discovering an array of relatives who have served.
“I continued investigating and I uncovered all of these amazing stories about what my family members did, and it’s helped piece together a part of who I am which has been so incredibly worthwhile,” Sophie said.
“Especially when I was in the battlefields of Bullecourt where my great-great-uncle Garett Swanson fell, it was so emotional standing there and knowing he lays under those fields and being able to provide that closure for my family as the first one to go overseas and visit where he fell.
“I thank the RSL, the Queensland Department of Education and the Premier’s Anzac Prize for this opportunity because its helping young people like me remember our Anzacs and, moving forward, we will be the ones to carry on this legacy to our younger generations.”
Burdekin Catholic High School student Ethan Pengelly, meanwhile, has been showing his appreciation of the Anzacs by selling merchandise outside his family’s Ayr house for the past four years.
“I’ve always been so appreciative of our Anzacs, so one year I decided I wanted to do something about it,” Ethan said.
“I stood out the front of my house one year with a table and sold rosemary brooches for a dollar and ended up raising over $100 the first year.”
When the RSL Home Hill Sub Branch heard of Ethan’s efforts, they donated more memorabilia for him to sell, with Ethan donating his profits back to the club.
“They’ve looked after me so well, they heard what I’d been doing and they’ve given me a lot of stuff to sell, badges, poppies, a lot of memorabilia, it’s been really good, I thank them a lot,” Ethan said.
“If it wasn’t for those people who went to war, we wouldn’t be standing where we are and having the freedom we have today.
“I feel good because I love to help out as much as I can for those veterans.”
Mr Kelly thanked Sophie and Ethan for their efforts.
“On behalf of the Home Hill RSL, we thank Sophie for what she has done, and I think she’ll do a lot more and go a long way,” Mr Kelly said.
“And we’re quite proud of Ethan for what he’s done for our club, and I hope he keeps it going, and I hope when he gets older, he will continue that type of work for any organisation,” he added.
Burdekin Life journalist Sam Gillespie was also presented with a certificate of appreciation for his involvement in sharing the stories and initiatives of the Sub Branch.
L-R RSL Home Hill Sub Branch President Richard Kelly, Ethan Pengelly, Sophie Robertson and Deputy District President for RSL North Queensland and Deputy President for the RSL Thuringowa Sub Branch Rocky Hema
Emergency Relief Program
BCA provides financial and material assistance for adults experiencing personal, family, relationship and/or financial issues. The service assists adults and children with basic needs in times of financial hardship through the provision of vouchers, prepaid cards/vouchers, chemist or transport vouchers, payment of third-party accounts, or direct material assistance such as food parcels. A Centrelink Income Statement is required unless you are affected by domestic and family violence and not receiving a Centrelink payment.
Waste Not Want Not – Coles SecondBite Program
BCA partners with Coles Ayr and SecondBite to provide people in need with access to nutritious food free of charge. The service is available from the Support Centre, 130 Queen St, Ayr, Monday to Friday from 9am until stock is gone daily.
Burdekin Community Association also very gratefully accept donations of vegetables and non-perishable food for their Community Pantry. The food is given to Burdekin community members in need from their Support Centre at 130 Queen Street Ayr, Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm.
Applications have opened for Australia Post’s 2024 Community Grants program, which funds community-led, local projects across Australia.
Eligible not-for-profit groups can apply for grants of up to $10,000 to support projects which have the primary purpose of improving mental health and wellbeing in local communities.
Last year’s program saw 72 projects awarded funding across the country, totalling over $500,000, with half of the successful applications awarded in rural and remote locations.
“The wide range of organisations and projects that received grants last year demonstrated the need to support projects that help people connect to improve mental health and wellbeing,” said Australia Post General Manager, Community and Stakeholder Engagement, Nicky Tracey.
“Each year there is a great diversity of mental health support projects across our Community Grants applications.
“From groups that keep elderly Australians connected, to supporting workers with mental health first aid training and even surf therapy, we encourage applications from all local communities.
“We know that when we connect, we feel better, which is why projects supported by Australia Post share a common thread and a commitment to improving mental health and wellbeing through the power of connection.
“Since 2013, more than 800 projects have been awarded a Community Grant from Australia Post, and we are proud to continue our support of these often-unsung heroes of our communities.”
Organisations interested in applying are encouraged to review the Community Grant guidelines and apply at https://auspost.com.au/about-us/supporting-communities/grants/community-grants-program.
Eligible community organisations are able to apply until 11.59pm on July 1, 2024.
Successful applicants will be notified in September 2024.
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Welcome to my second newspaper column.
I am very excited about the possibility of there being a Water Festival later in the year. Thank you to the dedicated locals who attended the meetings to help get the festival going. To the dedicated people who put their hands up to be on the committee, thank you. It is great to see so many people wanting the festival to go ahead so, stay turned for an update and fingers crossed we will see a Water Festival.
I attended the Burdekin Theatre on Friday night and saw the Dreams – The Fleetwood Mac & Stevie Nicks Tribute Show. What an amazing show. It was a full house, and it is great to see so many people in the community attend such a great show. Hats off to the Theatre staff and management for having the production in Ayr for the locals to attend. It was a great night out. There is a lot of great shows coming up so check out the selection on the event list on the Burdekin Theatre website.
Today is the day for the Biggest Morning Tea which is being organised by the Burdekin Neighbourhood Centre. I will be attending the morning tea event which is being held at The Catholic Parish Hall Edward Street Ayr feel free to drop in for a cuppa it commences at 10am until 12pm It is a great morning to help raise funds to support those impacted by cancer. If you would like to donate to this worthy cause, please feel free to drop into the Burdekin Neighbourhood Centre on 40 Chippendale Street Ayr. All donations greatly appreciated.
The Centre does great things for the community with only a hand full of staff and volunteers. Anytime you need hope or support of any kind please feel free to approach the friendly staff for help. They have a variety of services and information brochures available.
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Did you know Burdekin Shire Council offers community message boards to help promote local events and important information.
As part of the Burdekin Shire Council's commitment to supporting a broad range of community events, advertising on the Community Event Board can be utilised by community and not-for-profit groups conducting events in the Burdekin Shire.
Your organistion will need to complete the Community Event Sign Application Form found on Council’s website and return it to the Community Development team.
Applications for the use of display space on the Community Events Sign will be accepted on an ongoing basis.
There are two types of boards available:
Community Events Sign: Located in Plantation Park, Ayr, this sign is for community and non-profit events. Groups can apply to display their event details, with Burdekin Shire Council handling installation and storage.
Permanent Electronic Message Boards: Located in Home Hill and Giru, these boards display a range of messages, including emergency information, council notices, and community event promotions.
To post a message, you can submit an application to Council, ensuring your event or notice reaches a broad audience. This service is a great way to stay connected and informed about what's happening in your area. To view more information you can visit Council’s website and head to the ‘Community Message Boards’ page.
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.
Burdekin Community Association (BCA) has been announced by Northern Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN) as one of 17 providers that will deliver the redesigned Mental Health Stepped Care service model in North Queensland from July 1, 2024.
As defined by the Department of Health and Aged Care, stepped care is an evidence-based, staged approach to delivering primary mental health care that supports individuals with care tailored to meet their needs.
Stepped care recognises there is a spectrum of needs, and therefore there needs to be a spectrum of services.
Following a review of the North Queensland Mental Health Stepped Care services in 2022, NQPHN partnered with service users, service providers, and GPs to undertake a community consultation and codesign process to update the current stepped care model and improve access, integration, and transitions of care.
The redesigned model includes service offerings, funded by NQPHN, that will ensure community members across the greater Cairns, Townsville, and Mackay regions, including rural areas, have more timely access to mental health care and coordinated support when they need it most.
NQPHN Chief Executive Officer Sean Rooney said the redesigned model would provide more cohesive, person-centred, culturally safe support from when a person first asks for help and throughout their time of accessing the range of services available.
“We recognise that mental health is one of the biggest health issues facing our community,” Mr Rooney said.
“These redesigned service offerings represent a significant change in NQPHN’s Mental Health Stepped Care model.
“We acknowledge that there is much to do to implement these important service changes and our teams are proactively working with current stepped care service providers to ensure a smooth transition of services.”
Mr Rooney said the existing stepped care model would remain in place until 30 June 2024.
“Providers can continue to make referrals until that time, and current and new service users will also be able to access services until then,” he said.
“Service users will continue to be supported during the transition to ensure they receive continuity of care.
“Further information about the new services will be provided in due course, however, it’s important for people to know that from 1 July, the Connect to Wellbeing intake and assessment service will transition to the existing Head to Health Phone Service.
“Referrals sent to Connect to Wellbeing after this date will be redirected to the Head to Health Phone Service during the transition.”
Following consultation and codesign, NQPHN undertook a two-stage tender process to identify service providers to deliver the redesigned model and service offerings.
Contact BCA on 07 4783 3744 for more information.
Mental Health Stepped Care service providers gather at the first meeting to discuss the redesigned model and service offerings. Photo supplied
Celebrating its 27th birthday in the Burdekin region, Optique Eyes stands as a business operating with a centralised focus on serving the community with “exceptional eye care and exquisite eyewear”.
Established in 1997 by Helene Holmes, the Queen Street optometrist has withstood the changing tides of business for almost three decades. Helene established Optique Eyes after moving to the Burdekin to purchase an existing practice to seize an entrepreneurial opportunity. In 2018, the business relocated, and has since transformed the space into the elevated business we see today sitting pretty at number 150 on the ever-bustling Queen Street.
Over the years, Helene and her staff have prided themselves immensely on their dedication to providing their patients with the highest levels of customer service to support them with their eyecare needs. Whilst doing so, Optique Eyes holds an extensive collection of ranges to ensure all their patients see well and are forever stylish, and in keeping that promise, the business is currently running a spectacular sunglass sale!
Extending far beyond optics, the business has held prominent roles in the community, from sponsoring sporting teams to sponsoring the Helene Holmes Optique Eyes Award for Excellence as awarded to a graduate student at the Burdekin Christian College.
The team are extremely experienced, and Helene herself has worked alongside eye specialists in Townsville to elevate her skillset to provide the best possible outcome for her patients’ visual needs. Helene and her experienced team invite you to visit their store, and look forward to seeing you soon.
Groundbreaking automation for a soil-scanning process developed at the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries’ Central Queensland Smart Cropping Centre could be vital to the future of successful broadacre cropping planning.
Electro-magnetic survey scanning has long been used to identify variability in soils, including assessment of salinity, water and clay content.
The process has usually involved a scanning sled being dragged behind an all-terrain vehicle.
However, in a possible world-first, the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries team at the Smart Cropping Centre has developed an automated scanning process.
The innovation has the potential to save hundreds of hours on-farm, freeing farmers, staff and resources for other tasks.
The system they have developed brought together SwarmRobot Sunny and an ElectroMagnetic (EM) 38 Survey Unit and analysis service provided by Data Farming, two of Queensland’s stand-out AgTech and Innovation companies.
"The impact of this innovation for farmers to better manage drought conditions and overall farm agronomy is huge," Queensland Smart Cropping Centre senior innovation broker Alicia Dunbar said.
"We can see this becoming a standard add-on to autonomous robots such as SwarmBots that are continually building hyper-accurate soil and moisture maps in real time.
"These units offer a non-invasive, efficient and precise means of assessing and monitoring soil properties and we’re excited to work with industry to make this a widespread tool for producers.
"The technology supports our research and production systems including soil salinity assessment, soil texture and structure analysis, soil moisture content, mapping soil depth and guiding our soil sampling efforts.
"The Smart Cropping Centre in Emerald is producing real-world results, propelling our research capabilities to better manage the uncertainties of the future in broadacre cropping that will help our famers to be more productive and more profitable."
Griffith University’s Dr Yunying Fang has successfully progressed with a research proposal regarding the Soil CRC’s Round 24-1.
The Soil CRC (CRC for High Performance Soil) works to connect scientists with farmers to uncover practical solutions for Australia’s underperforming soil. The organization aims to enable farmers to increase their overall productivity and profitability levels through providing them with knowledge and tools to improve the performance of their soils.
The success of Dr Fang of Griffith University’s Australian Rivers Institute will have her leading a new project titled Glasshouse and field evaluation of organic-based nitrogen fertilizers for crop production and soil health, with over $800,000 in funding on a 2-and-a-half-year timeline.
“The outcomes of this project will be organic-based slow-release urea fertilisers, recommendations of usage and placement in farming systems, which will help co-deliver agronomic and economic benefits and ecological sustainability in farming systems," Dr Fang said.
Joining Dr Fang’s research team will be Burdekin Productivity Services (BPS), the Burdekin based organisation working with growers to address productivity, profitability and sustainability in sugar cane systems. Along with BPS, Charles Sturt University, Birchip Cropping Group (BCG), and Central West farming Systems will also hold roles in the project’s research and development.
Urea fertilisers work to improve the nutritional composition of sugarcane silage and trials have been undertaken in Brazil to compare the fermentative characteristics of the addition of protected or conventional urea to sugarcane silage to evaluate its nutritional value.
Dr Fang has been celebrated for the success of her research proposal and the overall benefits her project will offer to farmers to help them in meeting the nutritional needs of their sugar cane crop.
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