The Burdekin Community Garden opened for the 2024 season last Monday morning April 15. This year marks its third year of operation after it was initially established through generous donations from the congregation of the Burdekin Community Church in 2022.
The garden exists to grow fresh produce to share free of charge with the local community through the Burdekin Community Association and local school Chaplains. During the first two years of its existence, the garden has produced a bountiful harvest of corn, carrots, snow peas, tomatoes, lettuce, zucchinis, silverbeet, potatoes, pumpkins, cucumbers, passionfruit, bananas, and pawpaw. Much to the delight of many Pacific Island workers in our district, the garden also produces cassava, taro and aibika (commonly referred to as slippery cabbage).
Growing fresh fruit and vegetables is just the tip of the iceberg when considering the purpose of the garden. Providing a safe place for people to meet, have a cuppa and a chat and just enjoy the outdoors in the company of others is another very important function of the garden.
Over the last two years the garden has hosted Year 6 student groups form the Burdekin Christian College and Ayr State School as well as the graduating class from the Burdekin School. In addition to school students the garden has been a wonderful meeting place for local people from all walks of life.
Everyone is welcome to come to the garden located at the rear of the Burdekin Community Church on International Drive. However, Monday morning from 9 am - 12 noon is the best time to visit. Every Monday morning, excluding Public holidays, garden co-ordinators Karina Lima, and Rhonda and Rodney Williams are present to show people around the garden. They are more than happy to make visitors a free cuppa to share over a chat and some morning tea. Weeding and other garden work is always optional at the community garden.
Should visitors desire a better-quality cuppa and a piece of home-made cake, this is available at Cafe Connect which is held nearby in the church office building at the same time. For a small fee your host, June Shaw, will treat you to a lovely morning tea and conversation in air-conditioned comfort. All the profits from Cafe Connect are donated locally to provide support from victims of domestic violence.
Everyone is welcome to come and share in the comradery of the Burdekin Community Garden and Cafe Connect.
Want more information. Find us on Facebook or contact us at burdekincommunitygarden@gmail.com.
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Contributed by Rodney Williams

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Burdekin Community Garden invites members of the public to the garden on Monday mornings. Photo supplied

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Expressions of interest are now open for projects to go through a new streamlined approvals pathway aimed at unlocking the state’s housing supply.
The Queensland Government is inviting industry to put forward housing projects to be considered as part of the new streamlined approvals process aimed at getting new homes built, faster.
Led by the government’s new State Facilitated Development team, this new process will prioritise fast-tracking developments that align with state priorities, including diverse and affordable housing.
Projects featuring affordable housing, especially for low to moderate income households, will receive top priority.
“We are making it quicker and easier to build more affordable, quality homes faster in the right locations, near services and transport,” said Minister for Housing, Local Government, Planning and Public Works, Meaghan Scanlon
“This new team wants to explore all proposals to deliver housing that meets the diverse needs of Queenslanders.”
Homes for Queenslanders aims to deliver one million more homes by 2046, including 53,500 social homes.
“Strong population growth is expected to continue in Queensland, which when combined with smaller household sizes, means demand for affordable and diverse housing will remain high, well into the future,” said Planning Institute of Australia’s Queensland and Northern Territory State Manager, Nicole Bennetts.
“Good planning is part of the solution to facilitate more well-located affordable and diverse housing, that meet the needs of the community.”
It all comes after the new State Facilitated Development team pathway was cemented this week through the Housing Availability and Affordability (Planning and Other Legislation Amendment) Bill 2023.
To learn more about the SFD assessment process or to submit an expression of interest, visit https://planning.statedevelopment.qld.gov.au/sfd-eoi.
Find out more at www.housing.qld.gov.au/homesforqueenslanders.

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To increase real estate literacy and enable everyone to be able to make educated, informed decisions about buying, selling, or renting property in Queensland, the Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ) has delivered a new, enlightening video series to empower consumers.
Titled Prop IQ, the educational video series aims to unpick the complexities of real estate and answer the big questions regularly fielded by real estate professionals.
REIQ CEO Antonia Mercorella said Prop IQ aimed to demystify and debunk the process of buying, selling, or renting in Queensland and answer consumers’ burning questions.
“Real estate is essential to all of us, it’s often the topic of conversation at BBQs around the country, and it can be the biggest financial investment people make in their lifetime, and yet, most people have a rudimentary understanding of it,” Ms Mercorella said.
“For those who want to make informed property decisions and to understand their rights and responsibilities when buying, selling, or renting, the REIQ has created a show designed to enlighten and empower them.
“Prop IQ is an entertaining, accessible, and interactive learning experience, allowing viewers to gain valuable insights from industry leaders and be a part of the conversation.
“Each episode hones in on a different aspect of real estate and speaks to the professionals who live and breathe it, allowing us to take a deep dive into their expertise.”
Ms Mercorella said the inaugural episode, streamed live on the REIQ Facebook page last month, tackled navigating the journey to becoming a homeowner.
“We spoke with a couple who travelled a comprehensive roadmap to successfully acquire their dream home and learnt some important lessons along the way,” she said.
“Plus, we looked at available grants and schemes, the role of mortgage brokers and real estate agents in the buying journey, and we discussed how apps can be helpful when it comes to finding the right home.
To check out the first home buyer's episode, visit REIQ.com and click on PropIQ.
The second episode, which covers the rental market, debuted on Tuesday, April 23 and is also available to watch.

To increase real estate literacy and enable everyone to be able to make educated, informed decisions about buying, selling, or renting property in Queensland, the Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ) has delivered a new, enlightening video series to empower consumers.
Titled Prop IQ, the educational video series aims to unpick the complexities of real estate and answer the big questions regularly fielded by real estate professionals.
REIQ CEO Antonia Mercorella said Prop IQ aimed to demystify and debunk the process of buying, selling, or renting in Queensland and answer consumers’ burning questions.
“Real estate is essential to all of us, it’s often the topic of conversation at BBQs around the country, and it can be the biggest financial investment people make in their lifetime, and yet, most people have a rudimentary understanding of it,” Ms Mercorella said.
“For those who want to make informed property decisions and to understand their rights and responsibilities when buying, selling, or renting, the REIQ has created a show designed to enlighten and empower them.
“Prop IQ is an entertaining, accessible, and interactive learning experience, allowing viewers to gain valuable insights from industry leaders and be a part of the conversation.
“Each episode hones in on a different aspect of real estate and speaks to the professionals who live and breathe it, allowing us to take a deep dive into their expertise.”
Ms Mercorella said the inaugural episode, streamed live on the REIQ Facebook page last month, tackled navigating the journey to becoming a homeowner.
“We spoke with a couple who travelled a comprehensive roadmap to successfully acquire their dream home and learnt some important lessons along the way,” she said.
“Plus, we looked at available grants and schemes, the role of mortgage brokers and real estate agents in the buying journey, and we discussed how apps can be helpful when it comes to finding the right home.
To check out the first home buyer's episode, visit REIQ.com and click on PropIQ.
The second episode, which covers the rental market, debuted on Tuesday, April 23 and is also available to watch.

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REIQ CEO Antonia Mercorella
Ms Mercorella presents Prop IQ, a new video series answering real estate's biggest questions

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Two of the Burdekin’s most influential residents have been honoured in a mural commissioned by their son.
The mural depicts Maria and Demetrio Populin, along with popular pooch Mork, in front of Demetrio’s childhood home in Visinale, Italy.
Their son, George Populin, commissioned the artwork in honour of his parents after a fortuitous trip to Italy in search of his family’s history.
“That’s what gave me the incentive to do something,” George said.
“We’re Burdekin people, this was their adopted home, but we gave it a little bit of Fruile influence which has made it even better for us.”
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‍Artist Lavinia Letheby and George Populin in front of a mural completed in honour of George’s parents Maria and Demetrio and his dog Mork. Photo credit: Sam Gillespie

A Pocket Of Pordenone Right Here In Ayr

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George Populin was travelling through Italy with his family and friends in 2018 hoping to uncover the history of his parents, Maria and Demetrio.
During their travels to Visinale, a village in the Province of Pordenone where Demetrio grew up, George miraculously met a family who knew his parents and grandparents and even introduced him to distant relatives.
“They then took us around Pasiano and Pordenone, so we spent a good day with them, and everything just fell into place,” he said.
Meanwhile, back in the Burdekin, George’s construction company, which was originally started by Demetrio, was working on a development on Beach Road, directly next door to the house that his parents built and lived in.
“I had just started the development,” George said.
“This was a miracle, so I had to do something.”
The result is a mural on the wall of the development depicting Maria and Demetrio.
Maria was born in Italy in 1924 and arrived in Australia in 1932 with her sister and mother to live on a farm located at upriver Home Hill with her older brothers.
Demetrio, who was born in 1907, arrived in Cairns from Italy in 1930.
A builder by trade, Demetrio was involved in the construction of the Gordonvale Hotel before relocating to the Burdekin and undertaking the construction of vital infrastructure projects like schools, pools, sewerage treatment plants and water towers.
The pair wed in 1941 and went on to become one of the more influential couples of the region.
“My mother was a communicator because she was young, could speak English well and knew Italian so the immigrants were always coming to see her,” George said.
“She convinced my dad to do things such as build Populins Hall – she felt that the town needed a centre to communicate to people and to give it a heartbeat.”
Sadly, Maria passed away in 1963 at the age of 39, when George was nine, and never got to see the project to completion.
“That hall has Maria written all over it: her feeling and her character is portrayed up there,” George said.
“That is something that I can’t walk away from, I’ve got to protect that, so the least I can do is put her up on that wall.”
With an idea in mind, George engaged Townsville artist Lavinia Letheby of Art By Lavinia to complete the work.
“These types of jobs are the best ones to do because they tell a story, they have a connection to someone and they’re super important, so I make sure they’re honouring the person I’m painting,” Lavinia said.
George said he was overcome with emotion when he first saw the finished product.
“I never in my wildest dreams thought Lavinia was going to capture it that well,” he said.
“It was a personal thing for us, but we were just so taken aback by how personal it’s been to a lot of people which I think tells the story a thousand times.
“I can never forget the influence those two had … they did bring together a community.”
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George Populin and wife Christine in front of the house that George’s parents, Maria and Demetrio, built. Photo credit: Sam Gillespie

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Hi Readers
What an eventful weekend in the beautiful Burdekin!
I spent mine playing cricket and learning about radio presentation practises, so a weekend well spent in my books.
I had a ripper of a time at the Canefield Ashes on Saturday, playing two games for Borders XI (who went on to win the Social Grade grand final on Sunday, congratulations boys!), taking photos and chatting with players, volunteers and organisers.
From all reports, it was an excellent event and a fitting celebration of 20 years.
You’ll find some photos and results from that on pages 18-19.
On Sunday, I attended Sweet FM’s Presenter Training, and I think all attendees will agree with me when I say it was a very interesting and insightful day led by Jason ‘Wolfie’ Wolfgram and well worth attending.
To hear the results of that, you’ll have to tune in to 97.1 Sweet FM and take note of everyone’s presentation skills.
Tune in on Tuesday evenings from 7:00pm to hear my show, the Home Hill Happy Hour.
Others spent the weekend selflessly cleaning up the beach and saving turtles which was a huge effort from all involved!
That story is directly next to this one so make sure to give it a read.
And directly across the page from that is the incredible story of two gentleman who were lost at sea for 22 hours before a huge search effort located them clinging to the upturned hull of their dinghy near Cape Upstart – what a result!
There’s plenty more among the pages of this edition, so I hope you enjoy the read!

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A dedicated group of members representing the Burdekin Blokes and Boats group spearheaded a remarkable community effort to preserve the pristine beauty of Wunjunga Beach over the weekend.
A group of eight walked along 2.5km of beach line filling bags with rubbish before emptying them into a box trailer.
Group member Ben Hovell had recently visited the beach and after seeing the vast amount of rubbish, he mentioned it to the group who couldn’t pass the idea of doing something to help out.
“As a group, we motivate each other,” he said.
“Clean ups like this keep our water ways clean, our protected species healthy and gives us our chance to be able to come back to our beautiful places we have all around the Burdekin region.
“I know I want my children growing up in a place like this and hope we can continue doing this sort of thing in the future to do so.”
Their efforts yielded staggering results, with bags brimming with various forms of refuse, from plastic bottles to discarded camping equipment.
Among the poignant discoveries, however, was a distressed sea turtle, nearly buried in the sand.
“We thought it was already passed until a closer inspection found it still alive, so we dug it out of the sand and carried it back to water’s edge where it swam away on its own accord,” Ben said.
“That made us all feel very glad we could save the day; definitely the highlight of everyone's day.”
Burdekin Blokes and Boats will continue to hold pool competitions and raffles on the first Saturday of every month at Coutts Commercial Tavern with a percentage of proceeds going towards the purchase of fishing equipment to be donated to schools in the region.
Ben said the group also plans to host fishing competitions and more beach clean ups in the future.

Eight volunteers from Burdekin Blokes and Boats were picking up rubbish on Wunjunga Beach before rescuing a turtle. Photos supplied

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Two fishermen who went missing between Wunjunga Beach and Cape Upstart for up to 22 hours have thanked the community for their search and rescue efforts.
Best mates Iane Schwerin and Brett Zunker left their homes at approximately 2:30pm on Saturday, April 13 to go fishing, something they would normally do together whenever they got the chance.
In Iane’s boat, they launched from Wallace Creek boat ramp and headed past Wunjunga in the direction of Cape Upstart.
Upon first inspection, Iane and Brett decided it was too choppy to head across the Bay so they stayed close to Wunjunga Beach, where it was calmer waters.
After about an hour, the pair decided to make a move towards the Cape, when approximately two miles from their destination, disaster struck.
“We were heading over, and a rogue wave came over the stern of the boat and filled the back of the boat up,” Iane said.
“It just went that quick, the bottom end sunk down and we lost it, all the gear floated out of the boat, and it just overturned.”
The pair of experienced fishermen lost all means of communication but focused on staying headstrong and remained calm.
“We stuck with the vessel, it was floating, and it wasn’t going anywhere,” Iane said.
“We didn’t really go too far from where it capsized.”
Alarm bells were raised later that evening by concerned family members who hadn’t heard from either of them since 3:00pm.
An air, sea and land search commenced at approximately 2:00am Sunday morning involving search coordinators Townsville Water Police, Townsville Coast Guard, Maritime Safety Queensland, VMR Burdekin, SES Burdekin, VMR Bowen, RACQ CQ Rescue and AMSA Australian Maritime Safety Authority, as well as friends, family and community members.
Around 22 hours after they first went missing, the pair were located near Flagstaff Bay clinging to the hull of their overturned boat by Maritime Safety Queensland’s ‘Aquila’.
“The tide was coming in and we made the choice to pull the anchor up and hand paddle with the tide and try to get closer to the Cape,” Iane said.
“We knew if we stayed out again the next night, it was going to be cold and it was going to test us.
“We saw the boat and we didn’t know if they’d see us, but when they finally started coming over, we knew we were good, the relief hit, instant relief.”
The pair were then airlifted from Cape Upstart to Ayr Hospital where they were treated for dehydration and hypothermia.
“We’d just like to thank everyone involved,” Brett said.
“We’re just so grateful for everyone.”
“We’re just glad to be alive,” added Iane.
SES Burdekin Local Controller Warren Francis thanked Townsville Water Police for their coordination of the search.
“Their decisions are extremely critical and, in this case, they were lifesaving,” he said.
“It doesn’t happen without the commitment of all volunteers, it doesn't matter what unit or what colour boat, everyone turned up and worked hard to get a successful result for which the Burdekin community would be extremely grateful.”
Iane and Brett have taken this week to rest and recover and said they’ll be fishing from the shore for the foreseeable future.
“We won’t be going too far,” confirmed Brett.
“22 hours is a long time in the water.”

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Iane Schwerin and Brett Zunker were rescued from their overturned boat after almost a day lost at sea. Photo supplied

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Tools hang mere metres from Toni Gornall and her family every time they go to bed at night, a stark reminder of the fact that no matter how comfortable they attempt to make it, they are living in a shed.
With three children, Addison, Robert and Jada-Rose aged 12, 10 and 6, sharing a queen-sized camp stretcher and Toni and her husband Ty sleeping on a mattress on the floor, Toni described the situation as less than ideal.
The family have found themselves living in a shed approximately 10 metres from a house owned by Ty’s mother and her partner as they desperately search for more stable and appropriate accommodation.
They previously owned a home in Townsville but, after it underwent structural damage that was too costly to repair, they decided to sell and relocate.
“We needed a fresh start,” Toni said.
“The hustle and bustle of the city was hectic, we’d had enough, so we decided to cut our losses and sell the house for what we could get and move to a quieter location.
“My mother-in-law was already here, and they love their grandbabies, so it gave her the opportunity to spend time with them and do school trips and do all the grandma stuff, so it was the perfect opportunity.”
The family moved to Ayr at the end of February 2023 after Toni put a post on Facebook where she was contacted about a rental but, after a year of living in that house, the owners wanted to sell, forcing the family to start looking again.
“Due to the cost of everything, they needed to sell, so she gave us plenty of notice and in that time, I put out numerous posts on Facebook, applied everywhere from Cairns to Mackay for housing and when I had no luck there, I reached out to the community services,” Toni said.
“We got nothing back.
“Addison and Robert both have neurological disabilities and hubby just went through cancer, so it’s not an ideal situation for the five of us.”
That’s when Ty’s mother and her partner took the family in, setting up the shed at the back of their Ayr block.
“I didn’t care, it could be an old shed out the back of your farm, I didn’t mind, a solid roof over the kids’ head is all I need,” Toni said.
The Gornalls certainly don’t appear to be alone, with Burdekin Community Association (BCA) CEO Debra Cochran confirming her understanding is that there is a 0% vacancy rate for rentals in the Burdekin.
BCA delivers the Crisis Accommodation Program, offering participants case-managed support to find "Safe, Sustainable, Suitable" long-term housing with the aim of preventing participants from returning to homelessness.  
“In our view, a misconception is that we do not have a homeless problem in the Burdekin,” Debra said.
“BCA manage five properties under the Crisis Accommodation Program and there are limited exit points for these people.
“Therefore, our capacity to assist people has limitations.
“As there is no funded service in the Burdekin for this, we try to fill the gaps as much as possible.”
Unless there is a vacancy in one of the Crisis Accommodation Program properties, Debra said the best support BCA can provide is limited to assisting and submitting social housing applications, helping to access online private rental applications, advocating for social housing, and the government rent connect program.  
“In addition, we assist people to find options in other locations and use some funds to purchase tents for those at immediate risk of homelessness,” she said.
Facing rejection and the prospect of sleeping rough, Toni said the process has felt like “a constant kick in the guts”.
“We’d been homeowners for the last nine years, perfect record with paying a mortgage, never a fault and always paid our rent when we started renting,” she said.
“I’m a 33-year-old woman, married with three children and I’m living in my mother-in-law’s shed, it’s a horrible feeling as a mum.
“I was at the point of pure anger.
“I felt completely defeated, I was emotional, my mental health was at its lowest point ever, and I just thought I had to say something and speak up.”
Toni contacted Member for Burdekin Dale Last who said there are currently more than 3,500 people on social housing waiting lists in our region alone.
“My office has been contacted by families who have been forced to consider moving away from the Burdekin or sleep in farm sheds simply because there isn’t the housing available here for them,” Mr Last said.
“The issue of housing is growing right across the state but in rural areas like the Burdekin where we rely on being able to attract and retain people here for employment opportunities, there needs to be accommodation for that employee, and potentially their family, to live in.”
The future looks uncertain for the Gornalls as Dani expands her search for accommodation across the state.
“I never thought in a million years I would be in this position, and it just goes to show everyone is at risk,” she said.
“It doesn’t matter who you are, where you come from, what money you have, things happen.”

Toni Gornall (centre) lives in her mother-in-law’s shed with her two daughters Addison (left), Jada-Rose (right), husband Ty and son Robert (not pictured)

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The shutdown of existing 3G networks across Australia is fast approaching and Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox is urging customers to be prepared so they don’t get caught out.
Telstra is due to switch off its 3G network on June 30 with Optus expected to switch off the network in September.
“For those in our community who are still using devices that rely solely on the 3G network, it is really important to contact your telecommunications provider to make sure you have upgraded devices that can continue operating,” Mr Willcox said.
“There are concerns that this switch will leave some customers without any way to contact triple zero in emergencies, but we could see even more impacts in rural and regional areas.
“Products such as boosting equipment, ag tech devices, and even EFTPOS machines could be affected once the 3G networks are switched off.
“If anyone is worried about their devices network connectivity they should contact their telecommunications provider, or alternatively Telstra customers can text ‘3’ to 3498 and should receive a reply advising if there is any action they need to take.”
It is estimated that there are still over 100,000 customers on the Telstra network who are still using old 3G devices, and there are over one million older 4G and 5G phones that are configured to use the 3G networks for Triple Zero calls.
“I encourage anyone who is concerned about the 3G networks being switched off or needs help to find out if they will be affected to contact my office directly on Andrew.Willcox.MP@aph.gov.au.”

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At 9:30am on Wednesday April 10, at the Ayr Branch of the Burdekin Library, six Burdekin writers got ready to share their words with the public. After a brief introduction and Welcome to Country, the writers presented poems and stories. From tales of troubled teens, to glowing babies, from the torments of green frogs to a Bigfoot in need of a little help, from Antarctica to Alva beach, the stories took us far from the Burdekin and our lives, and then brought us right back home.
The Burdekin Creative Writers Anthology is available to read in the local history section, or there is one copy available to borrow from the Ayr branch of the Burdekin Library. In the future there will be a copy available at the Home Hill Branch.
Both the Burdekin Creative Writers and Night Writers groups would like to thank the Burdekin Library for hosting this event, and we look forward to the planned Showcase at the Home Hill Branch on Wednesday July 12 at 10:30am.
Contributed by Tracy Liotis

Back row L-R: Frank White, Tracy Liotis, Megan Hippler and George Venables. Front row L-R: Anne McCubben, Margaret Giffard and Joanna

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Rehoming fee: $545

DOB: 28/12/2023

Sex: Female

Breed: Bullmastiff x Australian Cattle dog

Kid friendly: Yes

Cat Friendly: Yes

Other dogs: Yes

Fences: 6ft

Lolly is a beautiful girl looking for her forever home. She loves to fetch the ball, play and give lots of cuddles. Lolly is great with kids and other dogs, big and small.

Lolly is going to a big girl and she will benefit from lots of walks and playtime. But she also has the potential to be a couch potato if given the chance .

Lolly is available for adoption desexed, micro-chipped, up to date vaccinations, flea/tick/intestinal worm treated and on heartworm preventative.

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

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There are often typical circumstances which occur prior to a home being unlawfully entered. An offender will usually act on easy or tempting opportunities, especially when it is evident no one is home or the risk of being caught is low.
What you can do:
   • Ensure doors are always locked with a key, even when you are home.
   • Ensure that all external doors, including your garage, of your home are solid and fitted with quality deadlocks.
   • Consider fitting security screen doors, designed and installed to Australian Standards.
   • Install a door viewer that allows you to see the person before you open the door.
   • Fit secure locks to your windows which meet Australian Standards and never leave the keys in the window lock.
   • Ensure security grills and shutters are properly installed and allow an exit in case of an emergency.
   • Consider installing an intruder alarm system and security camera system that covers all external doors, windows and garage. Ensure the system is installed to Australian Standards for domestic applications.
   • Always ensure car keys and house keys, together with mobile phones, handbags and wallets, are stored out of sight and not on the kitchen table or bench.
   • Ensure trees and shrubs are trimmed to allow visibility to your property and your house number is clearly visible.
   • Lock away items of value such as bikes, lawn mowers and garden implements such as ladders. Always keep your garage or shed door closed and locked with a key.
   • Consider installing perimeter security lighting including sensor lights.
   • Have an emergency evacuation plan and review it regularly.
   • Don’t keep car keys or cash in cars.
Queensland Police encourage you to conduct regular audits of your home security. Check out the following:
   • Security doors in good working order with triple locks and finger guards installed.
   • Main doors are solid and patio bolts installed on sliding doors.
   • Windows have key operated locks.
   • Home is well-lit with sensor lighting installed to deter intruders from entering the home.
   • Keep an up to date inventory list recording serial numbers, makes, models and descriptions of your property.
   • Wheelie bins secured in a location which prevents an intruder using them to climb into your home.
   • Valuable items outside the home secured in a garage or shed.
Don’t let yourself become a victim of crime – Lock it or Lose it.
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Snr Sgt Steve Barton
OIC AYR

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Bowen Orbital Space Port was officially opened at the start of the month, with dignitaries gathered to mark this significant moment in space industry history.

With final approvals and permits pending, Gilmour Space Technologies are closer than ever to an official launch date which will see this Queensland-based company become the first in Australia to launch a spacecraft.

Bowen is now one of only three dedicated launch sites globally, chosen for its precise location, 20 degrees south of the equator, ideal for quick efficient transport to space.

It’s been an incredible ride for the Gilmour brothers, James and Adam who have, over the last 10 years, propelled their grassroots Gold Coast based company into the largest space tech company in Australia, now valued at $605 million.

“It is a matter of great satisfaction that within a relatively short space of time, starting out with less than a dozen people, we have now become the largest tech company in the country with 194 employees,” said James Gilmour.

“We are on the eve of making Australian history at the Bowen Orbital Space Port!”

Gilmour Space Technologies constructed its 23 metre long, 35 tonnes rocket named Eris in the Gold Coast and it has since been brought up to Bowen where it is being assembled.

From April 29, the Bowen site will be ready for the launch, pending final permits and last-minute testing.

The next significant milestone will be when the rocket is turned into a vertical position which is a symbolically exciting moment for the team.

“We have for so long asked people to imagine what it will look like, now they will actually be able to see it which will bring home the significance and importance if what we’re actually trying to do here,” said James Gilmour.

It is expected that Eris will be launched into low-orbit within the next two months, its ‘payload’ a GS satellite which will fast track enhanced technology road maps.

Gilmour Space Technologies is working with the Australian Defence Force and Space Machines Australia as investors of the initial launch.

Considered to be the Fed-Ex of space transport, the rocket is designed to transport items into space and while it is only a one-way trip for Eris, there is already a second rocket in construction called 002 which is expected to be completed in six to nine months.

Our Federal Member for Dawson, Andrew Willcox MP, has been a huge supporter of this project since he first worked with the Gilmour brothers in the planning stages when he was Mayor of the Whitsunday Regional Council.

Since then, he has stayed connected and been a great advocate, eagerly awaiting the big day when Bowen will become the site of the first rocket launch in the country.

“This is good for my electorate and great for Australia!” said Mr Willcox.

“I’ve been down to their head office and witnessed their tech first-hand – it’s incredible! They’ve invented a propulsion system which is world leading and now there is a whole industry being created here that offers technical, higher paid jobs, which is a real boost for the community.”

Investing in both the community and the Whitsunday way of life, James Gilmour is in the process of moving to Bowen and looks forward to continuing to build his team in the region.

“At the moment we have between eight and 10 employees based locally and we are looking to increase that by the end of the year,” he explained.

“We are focussed on the intention to work with the community and want local businesses to grow with us. So far, we have injected $10 million into the community and have worked with many local manufacturers. We’ve also developed supply chains and have ongoing operations within the region.”

Another central part of the Gilmour brothers’ ethos is connecting the country with the sky and since the company’s inception they have worked closely with the local Juru Traditional Landowners.

“The site has its foundation on the land of the Juru people and acknowledging this has been fundamentally important since day one,” said Mr Gilmour.

“We don’t want to be remembered for our words but for our deeds.”

With the launch set to take place within the coming months, community members will be able to witness the moment firsthand from several local vantage points in Bowen.

These include Flagstaff Hill, Queens Beach and Greys Bay.

“Safety is a top priority during a launch campaign,” explained Mr Gilmour.

“We’re going to have safety zones in place during the launch and public information will soon be available on our website with viewing locations and safety guides.”

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Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor-elect Ry Collins, James and Adam Gilmour Directors of Gilmour Space Technologies, Deputy Premier Cameron Dick and Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox MP. Photo supplied

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By Chelsea Ravizza

Thursday, April 4 saw the 35-year anniversary of cyclone Aivu crossing the North Queensland coast, leaving a devasting trail of destruction in Townsville, the Burdekin, and Bowen.

The 1989 severe, late-season tropical cyclone hit the Burdekin coastline, making landfall in Home Hill around 10:30am on April 4, causing over $150 million in damages, and tragically claiming three lives.

35 years on from the tragic event, the Burdekin still remembers the heartache and the destruction Aivu inflicted on the region. Areas of the Burdekin were left with no electricity, communications, or water for just over a week, and many homes were stripped of their walls, verandahs, roofs, and fences.

Jenny Powell was working her shift at the Home Hill Hospital the day cyclone Aivu made landfall, an event she remembers as extremely unpredictable, and nothing short of daunting.

“We didn’t know how the building would hold up, and we knew we couldn’t leave our patients in their rooms because of the large sliding windows,” explained Jenny.

“Most of them could not walk, so we were wheeling them around on beds and wheelchairs to Outpatient procedure rooms.”

Barely managing under the circumstances, Jenny recalls the worst moments came after the power was lost, and the generators failed.

“We had one of our elderly ladies say to me, ‘sister, I’ve got a hurricane lamp down at home if you want to get it,’ and I was a bit stressed, but I said, ‘you think I’m walking outside in this weather just to get a hurricane lamp?!’”

Locals described witnessing trees falling as if they were matchsticks, and roofs flying like sheets of paper as the sky filled with debris moving at the speed of light, and as the eye finally arrived, the Home Hill Hospital was immediately inundated with casualties.

“Our gutters were hanging off the courtyard buildings, and we were so worried they’d become flying missiles that we hadn’t even been thinking about all the casualties about to come in,” recalls Jenny.

“One man had even fallen off a roof, and he had to be transported to Townsville, it was quite a time.”

As well as the devastation, locals reminisce on the community rallying together, with the aid of the Australian Army forces and the SES to lift spirts through neighborhood barbeques and candle lit card games amidst the cleanup.

Cyclone Aivu still stands as one of the region’s largest, and most devastating natural disasters, with locals reminiscing on the unforgettable loss and heartache each anniversary. Even 35 years on from the tragedy, many locals look back on the event and say they cannot believe it was that long ago.

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A sea of yellow will soon be streaming down Plantation Creek as the 2024 Norm Perry Memorial Duck Race approaches.
The annual fundraising event held by the Rotary Club of Ayr will return to Plantation Park on Sunday, May 19 where the community will gather to watch hundreds of ducks race to the finish line.
There are thousands of dollars on the line for the owners of the winning ducks, but the event is all held for a good cause, being one of the club’s top fundraisers every year.
This year, funds raised will go towards Burdekin Combined Chaplaincy (BCC) and Burdekin Community Association (BCA).
“Fundraising is critical for us because times are pretty tough and we have organisations, especially like BCC and BCA, that need as much support as they can get, so we try and spread ourselves as much as possible,” said Rotary Volunteer and Event Organiser John McVeigh.
“For the size of our club, we match any club in Townsville with what we do, and we try as much as possible to put the money back into our community.”
But first, the Rotary Club of Ayr are inviting the community to purchase their lucky ducks and be in it to win it.
Purchasing a duck will ensure that you’re in the running for the thousands of dollars’ worth of prizes up for grabs on the day, with the owner of the first duck to cross the finish line to be rewarded with $1,000 cash, $750 up for grabs for the second, $500 for the third, $300 for the fourth and $200 for the fifth duck across the line.
“We have a crane empty this crate full of ducks into the water and, because it’s not a straightforward creek with nice clean banks, there’s weed and whatever, so what the ducks do is totally random,” said John.
There are five $50 lucky duck draw prizes available as well as prizes for the best decorated duck and the best duck outfit worn on the day.
Ducks are on sale for $50 each and if punters buy three ducks, they’ll get a fourth duck for free.
Raffle tickets are also on sale for $5 each to go into the running for a firepit built by Rotary member Mike Blakey.
The race day will also feature entertainment from the Burdekin Brass Band as well as a colouring in competition, novelty races and presentations.
Ducks are available for purchase from today, Thursday, April 18 from Ayr Rotary members, Burdekin Cleaners and Laundry and market and street stalls across the Burdekin.
To find out more, visit Rotary Club of Ayr on Facebook or contact John McVeigh on 0409 321 418.

Rotarian Narelle Hibberd and Norm Perry, who was known as the most prolific duck salesman of the club and the Duck Race is now named after

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