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.

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Mental Health Stepped Care service providers gather at the first meeting to discuss the redesigned model and service offerings. Photo supplied

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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.

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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."

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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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The Burdekin Football Club is set to host their annual Ladies Day on Saturday 17 August and 2024 will showcase the best fashionable florals yet.

Spring Fling; a theme of vibrancy, a theme of florals, and a theme of fun. Subtly drawing from the fashions of 2024’s Met Gala, the Burdekin Football Club will liven up Beach Road’s International Park from 3:30pm with Spring colours and fabulous florals.

The evening will provide a smorgasbord of raffles, lucky door prizes, and of course the infamous player jersey and profile auctions to add both excitement and a touch of competitiveness to the event. Each ticket entails a 6-hour drinks package running from 4pm to 10pm, as well as a complimentary cup on arrival. With the delicious catering of Creative Platters and Fusion Catering also on offer, you’re sure to be dancing the night away with the talents of Tammy Moxon staged later in the night.

Tickets to the event went on sale to the public on Friday 7 June, and can be purchased from the Burdekin Football Club.

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On the evening of Saturday 8 June, Hotel Brandon hosted a celebratory 50-year school reunion for the Burdekin Catholic High School (BCH)’s graduating class of 1974!

A fabulous night was had by all with the cohort recalling the establishment of BCH in 1974 following the amalgamation of the Marist Brothers and St Francis Xavier Convent High School. Many of the attendees travelled far and wide to catch up with one another, with some travelling from Toowoomba, the Gold Coast, Yeppoon, Tin Can Bay, Macky, Townsville, and even New South Wales.

One of the attendees, Rita Quaglita, expressed her joy in reuniting with her old school friends to celebrate such a momentous memorial occasion.

“Catching up with beautiful people that we haven’t seen for 50 years was a golden opportunity for all to welcome back alumni in a nostalgic celebration of such a significant milestone,” expressed Rita.

The evening was led with Angie Wagner sounding the school bell and then joined by Robert Tomarchio to welcome the guests with a commencement speech. Terry Lund and Carmen Dalponte then initiated a remembrance call, and a minute silence for those who had passed.

Teleporting back half a decade, Rita Quaglita and Christine Viero called out the student roll call and toasted to the joyous and memorable occasion, however, the highlight of the evening was the surprise visit of former schoolteacher, Mrs Freshwater. Mrs Freshwater was welcomed by the class with tears and laughter as many reminisced on their time spent with her at BCH.

BCH 1974 school captain, Susan O’Shea held the honourable role of cutting the celebratory cake and the night encompassed various lucky door prizes with many fortunately walking away with a bottle of wine.

The cohort thanks Hotel Brandon, the chef, Kristi, Jess, and all staff for the delicious buffet and service for what was an extraordinary event they’ll remember forever.

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On Friday 7 June, the Burdekin flocked to Alfie’s Bakery to get their hands on a precious round treat for National Doughnut Day!

Deon Crowdy hand-made over 500 delicious doughnuts to satisfy the cravings of hundreds of locals and visitors for one of the biggest events on their calendar.

“It was a huge day, we had lots of support from locals, people from Townsville and other out-of-towners, and we had lots of support from the schools and businesses coming to collect doughnuts to have for smoko, it was very busy,” explained Teresa Crowdy.

Deon was hard at work, crafting his creations from 1am on Friday morning ahead of the bakery’s 5am opening and filled the store with 250 classic and specialty doughnuts. Alfie’s Bakery fully sold out the treats by 8:30am, and Deon was back to whip up another batch just in time for another rush.

“Deon had to turn around and make another 250 doughnuts, and as he makes them by hand, each batch takes about an hour and a half to two hours to make,” explained Teresa.

The community indulged in handmade doughnuts of various flavours including liquorice, cookies and cream, honeycomb, bee sting, vanilla slice, caramel popcorn, Caramilk chocolate, churros, ice cream donuts, lamington, crème brûlée, rocky road and long johns, as well as Nutella and jam-filled doughnuts.

“We had great feedback, it was lovely, and the crème brûlée went fast, so did the honeycomb, Nutella filled, and liquorice, but we sold out of the rocky road doughnuts first!”

The Crowdy family thanks the community immensely for their support and can’t wait to continue serving up tasty treats!

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Billy with his rocky road donut

Lily excited to dig into her donuts

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The recently formed Burdekin Mabo Day Committee hosted celebrations to mark Mabo Day on Monday, June 3.
Mabo Day honours the achievements of Torres Strait Islander Eddie Koiki Mabo and his successful efforts to overturn the legal fiction of terra nullius, or ‘land belonging to no-one’.
The day was celebrated by the local Indigenous community with breakfast, a flag raising ceremony, speeches from First Nations elders and youth, traditional games and a ceremonial dinner and dances.
“We’re acknowledging the footprints that our elders have laid as foundations for us to continue fighting for equal opportunities and rights,” said Burdekin Mabo Day Committee and immediate relative of Mr Mabo, Alingai Omey.
“Grandad Koiki achieved remarkable results.
“What he did set precedence not just here in Australia, but internationally.”

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Caption: The Burdekin Mabo Day Committee, special guests, elders and the Burdekin indigenous community gathered to commemorate Mabo Day earlier this week. Photo credit: Sam Gillespie

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Mabo Day Committee
Shaping The Future Of The Community

Eddie Koiki Mabo was born in 1936 on the Torres Strait Island of Mer (Murray).
He went on to become a staff member at Townsville’s James Cook University before establishing and becoming director of the Black Community School in Townsville.
It was through his association with JCU humanities and education staff that Mr Mabo became interested in Native Title and in who owned the land on which his people lived.
“He took the challenge to prove that terra nullius (land belonging to no-one) did not exist and fought the system and the Crown to get our culture and land recognised,” said Burdekin Mabo Day Committee member and immediate relative of Mr Mabo, Alingai Omey.
Mr Mabo's legal pursuit of these issues resulted in one of the most significant legal cases in Australian history, completely overturning the idea of terra nullius and challenging traditionally held beliefs about how Australia came into being.
The landmark decision of six Australian High Court judges on June 3, 1992 ruled: The Meriam people are entitled as against the whole world to possession, occupation, use and enjoyment of the lands of the Murray Islands [in Torres Strait].
This ruling is celebrated every year on June 3 as Mabo Day, with the Burdekin Mabo Committee forming within the last month to host events to honour and celebrate the Indigenous culture of the region.
“Our initial drive came after sadly hearing that a whole generation of Indigenous kids here in the Burdekin did not know key people who have achieved milestones over the years, they’ve never experienced key events and celebrations,” Ms Omey said.
“Here in the Burdekin and other smaller towns, there are gaps, and I’m hoping to achieve sustainable outcomes in the long run so we can teach children about history, how to move forward in a respectful manner, and include everyone in a more united journey of mutual respect.”
The Burdekin Mabo Committee marked the day, alongside Reconciliation Week (May 27 to June 3) and National Sorry Day (May 26), with a flag raising ceremony, traditional games and feasts, as well as the unveiling of ‘Remembering Mabo’, a collection of Mr Mabo’s personal items displayed at the Burdekin Library.
The Committee also expressed their support for a campaign to establish Mabo Day as a public holiday for all Australians to be celebrated on June 3.
In doing so, Ms Omey hopes to educate and inspire the wider community to carry on the message of culture and community.
“We can’t go back in history, but we can definitely build a greater future, and part of that greater future becomes a level of understanding, acknowledging, educating and fostering a mutual respect within the community,” she said.
“Without having events to commemorate these days, how will people know?
“Our overall aim is looking at engaging stakeholders and hopefully we have more events here, not just to bring people together, but to educate our youth.”

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L-R Burdekin Shire Council Cultural Venues Manager Glenn Arboit, Burdekin Burdekin Shire Council Mayor Pierina Dalle Cort and Alingai Omey of the Burdekin Mabo Day Committee. Photo supplied

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I remember when I was first announced as Burdekin Life’s new and first journalist on the publication’s Facebook page, the post was met with countless comments anticipating my arrival in the beautiful Burdekin.
It was August 2023, I was at a friend’s wedding at the time, and I would read through the comments of support any time I found phone service, getting more and more excited by the opportunity and proudly showing my friends how welcoming my new community would be.
This was an early and extremely accurate insight into the people of the Burdekin.
Since moving here in September last year, everyone has made me feel nothing but welcome: from my neighbours in Home Hill, mayors and councillors past and present, and the volunteers and members of the committees whose meetings I’ve attended to the countless people I’ve interviewed for the newspaper and taken photos of out and about.
This has only increased after announcing my departure from the region, and your kind words and messages of support have honestly meant the world to me and made me feel like an extremely valued part of this community.
I’ve been told quite frequently that I fit into the community quite well, but it helps when the community in question is as welcoming as the Burdekin.
This is the last edition of Burdekin Life that will have my full input, and it’s an edition I’m quite proud of.
I have even been allowed a page on which to reflect and share some of my favourite memories while in the Burdekin, so flick to page 26 if you’re interested.
Enjoy the read and I’m sure I’ll see you all again soon.

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Burdekin Netball Association (BNA) has secured the sponsorship of Bowen Pipeline Company (BPC) with a cheque being handed over on Thursday, May 30.
BPC is the company behind the proposed Bowen Pipeline Project to connect Bowen with the Burdekin River, and BPC Director Sean Brown said the majority of the project’s 41 investors come from the Burdekin and Bowen shires.
“This project is about leaving a legacy so that children and families can stay in these two regions,” Mr Brown said.
“We feel the Burdekin is a wonderful place for kids to grow up and supporting the local netball club is a really positive thing for us to do to benefit the community.”
BPC has also sponsored Bowen Netball Club and Aboriginal Saltwater Arts Community and plans to increase sponsorship in the future should the project gain the necessary ministerial approvals.
“Our goal is to increase our annual sponsorship, but everything is subject to us obtaining our ministerial endorsement hopefully in the next month or two,” Mr Brown said.
BNA Sponsorship Coordinator Glenys Brotto thanked Mr Brown and BPC for its sponsorship.
“BNA are very appreciative of BPC’s support of our association, and we wish them all the best in their project,” she said.

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BNA member Chloe Steel, BNA Sponsorship Coordinator Glenys Brotto, BPC Director Sean Brown, Burdekin Shire Council Mayor Pierina Dalle Cort, Bowen Gumlu Growers Association President Carl Walker, BNA Selector Shalon Gibson and BNA member Maggie Chandler

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Earlier this week, on Tuesday, June 4, Wilmar Sugar and Renewables advised more than 1,200 waged employees that anyone participating in industrial action from yesterday, Wednesday, June 5 will be locked out until further notice.
Workers have been told that if they are locked out, they will not be paid until the lockout is lifted.
A company spokesman said the decision to lock out was not taken lightly.
“We respect employee rights to union membership and their right to take lawful industrial action,” he said.
“However, the company also has the right under the Fair Work Act to respond to prolonged industrial action to protect its interests.”
The lockout will not affect workers who are not participating in industrial action, or who have been participating in action but wish to attend work and carry out their full duties without imposing any bans or participating in any industrial action from Wednesday.
Members of the Australian Workers’ Union (AWU), Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union and Electrical Trades Union have been imposing work bans and rolling stoppages at the company’s nine factories since mid-May in support of demands for an 18% pay rise, which was recently reduced from 22%.
The Wilmar spokesman said industrial action has delayed completion of essential maintenance and preparatory work at the factories ahead of the 2024 sugar season and has forced the company to push back start of production by more than a week.
“We have willingly engaged with bargaining agents for the employees and encouraged negotiation, even asking the Fair Work Commission to assist,” he said.
“We have made a number of offers to try to reach a fair and reasonable outcome that we can sustain over time.
“However, unions have chosen the industrial action path over negotiation.”
Unions notified intention to continue rolling stoppages and bans, including overtime bans, for at least another week forcing further delay and impact on growers, contractors and others in the community.  
Wilmar has requested a ballot of employees covered by enterprise agreement to be held on June 10 and 11 to vote on the most recent offer of a 14.25% increase over three-and-a-half years, as well as a $1,500 sign-on bonus and a $20 a week allowance for electrical workers using their licence.
AWU Northern District Secretary Jim Wilson called the lockout a “disgraceful” attempt to prevent workers from standing up for themselves and their communities, saying these efforts will ultimately be unsuccessful.
“This is a multinational corporation trying to bully and intimidate North Queenslanders to stop us asking for our fair share,” Mr Wilson said.
“These are intimidation tactics of the highest order.”
“Workers won’t take this lying down, and growers won’t accept Wilmar further delaying the crush by locking skilled workers out of their workplaces.
“Workers will continue to take action, we will vote down the newest bad agreement and Wilmar will be back to square one.”

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Wilmar Sugar and Renewables warned its workers that anyone participating in industrial action will be locked out until further notice. Photo supplied

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Opinion piece

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A lack of crisis accommodation units and more than 80 very high-level social housing applications has painted a stark picture of the Burdekin’s housing crisis, according to Member for Burdekin Dale Last.
After waiting longer than expected for the Minister to answer a question on notice regarding crisis accommodation in Ayr and Home Hill, new figures have also revealed 82 very high need applications were waiting an average of two years for social housing in the Burdekin.
“As we have seen firsthand in the Burdekin, a lack of private rentals coupled with only a fraction of those urgently seeking social housing actually being provided a home, has resulted in calls for crisis accommodation to soar and the responsibility for that falls squarely on this state government,” Mr Last said.
“In the space of 12 months to June 2022, just 12 allocations were made to social housing properties in the Burdekin equating to a mere fraction of those ‘very high need’ applicants actually being provided with social housing.
“In the meantime, those who miss out are left to seek an alternative roof over their head or even perhaps turn to the five crisis accommodation units in the Burdekin.”
Mr Last said with social housing numbers left to go backwards across the state under the Labor government and waitlists soaring, those most vulnerable in the Burdekin deserved action on crisis accommodation and not another broken promise.
“Recently we heard the Premier promise crisis accommodation for every homeless person in this state, yet clearly what we are actually seeing unfold is increased calls for accommodation and the homelessness services left with no other choice but to issue tents,” Mr Last said.
“The LNP have already called for more to be done by this state Labor government to unlock more land for housing and encourage investment in regions and that applies to regional towns like Ayr and Home Hill.”
“This district cannot afford for Labor to sit on its hands while applicants wait another two years for social housing and more and more people, left with no choice but to seek crisis accommodation, are offered tents because there is simply no where for them to go.”

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I and quite a few other readers of the ‘Burdekin Life’ newspaper are readily counting the “to do” list that Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox and his State counterpart for Burdekin State Opposition Minister Dale Last are adding to with every weekly newspaper.
Each major political party, when in Government, has the opportunity to implement their plans for Australians that they had proposed to implement when elected, while those in opposition and the minor parties are able to argue that their own plans are better but are not considered.
Queensland state polling suggests in the up-coming State election that the Labor State Government may lose its position in Government. Then and only then will both Dale, and in some cases Andrew, have the opportunity to right the suggested wrongs of the ALP. However, even in Government, there is no guarantee that Andrew and Dale’s list of wrongs will be corrected. Readers will have to wait and see!
The LNP’s heart isn’t always as big as the ALP’s.
Hopefully Australians will be the ultimate winners.
Yours faithfully,  
T. P. Chandler

A Response From Member For Burdekin, Dale Last
Mr Chandler’s claims that the current government has a big heart simply must be questioned.
I doubt big-hearted is how you’d describe a government that stands by while we have residents living in their car or in a shed with their young family and yet more struggling to pay their power bill.
But, thanks to the government that Mr Chandler describes as having a bigger heart, more heartache is to come.
Along with their mates from the Greens and the KAP, it is this government that lets drug dealers walk away basically scot-free not once or twice, but 3 times before being sent to a diversion service.
Like Mr Chandler, my hope is for a better community. If achieving that by speaking up for the people of the Burdekin means the size of my heart is questioned, then so be it.
Yours sincerely,
Dale Last MP, Member for Burdekin

Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox was also offered the opportunity to respond and politely declined.
If you have any thoughts to share with the editor, please contact editorial@burdekinlife.com with ‘Letter to the Editor’ in the subject line.
Letters to the editor will be printed at the publisher’s discretion.

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Burdekin Mabo Day Committee, in partnership with the Burdekin Library, presents the ‘Remembering Mabo’ display of significant items from the life of Eddie Koiki Mabo.
The display was launched on Tuesday, May 28 with light refreshments taking place on Thursday, May 30.
The display can be found at Burdekin Library’s Ayr branch, as can books and resources providing background information on Eddie Koiki Mabo and the significance of Mabo Day.

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Burdekin Shire Council Cultural Venues Manager Glenn Arboit (left) and Burdekin Burdekin Shire Council Mayor Pierina Dalle Cort with representatives from the Burdekin Mabo Day Committee
Ms Dalle Cort with Indigenous employees of Burdekin Shire Council
Adlyne Green with Ms Dalle Cort
The ‘Remembering Mabo’ display features Eddie Koiki Mabo’s personal items donated by local relatives
Photos supplied

Mabo Day is marked annually on June 3 and commemorates Mer Island man Eddie Koiki Mabo and his successful efforts to overturn the legal fiction of terra nullius, or ‘land belonging to no-one’. Photo credit: Bethyl Mabo, AIATSIS Collection

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One of the Burdekin’s local boys, Luca Lawry, travelled as part of the Northern School Boys team to Toowoomba to participate in the 2024 Inaugural 10-12 years Boys Netball School State Championships. 

For the first time ever, boys from 10 regions across Queensland converged to take the courts for four days from May 23 to 26, to select a State Team which will later travel to the National Championships in Melbourne. 

With a massive push for boys' netball nationwide, in the lead up to a possible Men's Netball World Cup in Sydney in 2027 to coincide with the Women's Championships, and the possible inclusion of Men's Netball in the 2032 Olympics in Brisbane, it was amazing to see such a great following of the sport.

The Northern Boys represented our region proudly and showed pure heart and grit in all of their games against some very stiff competition and big boys. They played Peninsula, Capricornia, Wide Bay, Sunny Coast, Met North, Met East, Met West, South Coast and Darling Downs. They achieved a nail-biting win against Capricornia and had some really close games against some of the toughest teams in the competition being up in several games, but unfortunately unable to hold on for the wins.

For anyone interested in joining Netball, contact The Burdekin Netball Association for more information. 

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Contributed by Kellie Lawry

Luca Lawry represented North Queensland at the Inaugural 10-12 years Boys Netball School State Championships

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