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

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

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

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

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We’ve all heard of, and most likely caught a fair few Taxi’s in our lifetime, but have you ordered an Uber before?  

The American ride-share service has arrived in the Burdekin region with its debut being shared on Facebook, receiving high praise from the community.

Picking up locals since its introduction on 17 April, Megan Caspaney has begun her Uber driving career, and believes the community will warmly welcome this service.

“I am really excited about bringing this economical but unique transport service to our area and I’m looking forward to picking you up soon,” said Megan.

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Queensland families are feeling the pinch at the supermarket as fresh produce prices soar while farmers struggle to make ends meet. To address this disparity, the Queensland Government says it is taking proactive steps by introducing a farm gate price monitoring scheme led by industry experts. This scheme aims to establish industry pricing standards and monitor trends across the top 20 products through collating and analysing farm financial performance and pricing data.
"As Premier, I shared a story earlier this year of a farmer selling watermelons by the road for $10 each, because he couldn’t afford to sell it for the $4 he was offered by the supermarkets," says Premier Steven Miles, highlighting the need for fair compensation for farmers' hard work.
"Gearing Up Growers is about levelling the playing field," emphasises Rachel Chambers, CEO of Queensland Fruit and Vegetable Growers.
“We know Queensland’s produce holds more value than what is currently being paid and we are going to do all we can to support our growers to achieve a fair return at market.”
Jo Sheppard, CEO of Queensland Farmers’ Federation, stresses the importance of market transparency and fair trading terms.

“Food insecurity in Australia and globally is rising. We cannot sit on our laurels. We must work to support a sustainable future for food and fibre production for the benefit of future generations.”
Premier Miles stated the importance of equipping farmers with the tools and knowledge to advocate for themselves effectively.
"My government will work with industry to capture and analyse the cost of products from the farm gate to plate.”

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Simon Hood
Wilmar Manager Grower Marketing

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As the close of the 2023 pricing season nears, it's an opportune time to reflect on the journey it has been.
Opening in July 2020 with an indicative forward price of $350/t, the trajectory since then has been nothing short of remarkable, with the price steadily climbing to a peak of $950/t towards the end of 2023.
Describing the past 12 months as tumultuous would be an understatement.
At the beginning of 2023 pricing started at $550/t, steadily growing to $840/t, before dropping to $725/t in July. By late October, prices soared and we witnessed the peak of $950/t, only for it to drop once more to around $650/t by the start of 2024. This year we have seen prices fluctuate back up to $810/t, ultimately closing the season at around $675/t.
Comparing the average price of $550/t over the past three years with the $750/t average of the past 12 months, shows the volatility experienced.
Reflecting on Wilmar Sugar and Renewables’ performance in managing pools throughout this period, the primary pool used by growers was the Production Risk Pool, equivalent to QSL’s Harvest Pool. These pools are managed over a seasonal timeframe and prices may not be directly comparable to the average prices achieved by growers pricing on the forward market over a three-year period.
Despite the fluctuations, Wilmar remains dedicated to maximising returns for growers through informed pool pricing decisions. The graph below shows that growers who price under the Wilmar Production Risk Pool are consistently better off over a three-year period, than those who market with QSL’s Harvest Pool. With the 2023 season ending, significant changes to pool prices are unlikely with the expiry of the May #11 contract.
Over the past month, Wilmar’s Grower Marketing team has been bolstered by the addition of two new staff members, and some changes to increase the support for growers across all milling regions. Owen Richards will support Fiona Villis and Meghan Wilson in the Burdekin region with grower pricing. He will also be exploring new avenues to enhance profitability for growers across all regions through new products and services.
Similarly, Angus McKerrow will now split his time between the Plane Creek and Herbert regions to facilitate Wilmar’s growing presence.
In Townsville, Megan Hawke will oversee the administration by providing support to Wilmar’s growers and field team. Megan will work on enhancing grower relationships through updated communications and the development of pricing systems and tools.
Be sure to stay tuned for the upcoming quarterly analysis of pool performance and comparative outcomes. This report is a valuable resource for growers when evaluating their marketing strategies.
Additionally, Wilmar Sugar and Renewables will release an annual 2023 season pricing analysis to combine the results from all products and regions. It will provide a basis for growers to assess their current pricing strategies, and will be a reference point for the Grower Marketing team and how they will assist in GEI sugar pricing decisions, for the 2024 season and beyond.

Wilmar’s Production Risk Pool has outperformed QSL’s Harvest Pool for three consecutive years.

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The National Fall Armyworm Symposium was held at Brisbane’s Ecosciences Precinct on April 17-18, bringing together industry, government, researchers, and funders to tackle the challenges posed by the invasive pest.
"Fall armyworm infestations are now found in every important growing area in Queensland," highlights Minister Mark Furner, stressing the severity of this year's infestations and the critical role of research and extension efforts.
Hort Innovation CEO Brett Fifield emphasises the collaborative approach taken by impacted industries in swiftly supporting growers and focusing on long-term research into combatting Fall Armyworm.
““As soon as fall armyworm arrived on our shores, the impacted industries swiftly leveraged their strong, collaborative relationships to support growers in Northern Australia.
"This symposium highlights the power of industry coming together and partnering on key biosecurity challenges," Fifield adds.
AUSVEG CEO Michael Coote underscores the urgency of the situation, especially as fall armyworm continues to spread to new areas and affect a broader range of crops.
“Fall Armyworm has caused significant damage to sweetcorn crops this year, and as it spreads to new areas, growers around the country are quickly trying to learn and apply best-practice management techniques.
"As a cross-agriculture problem, it’s heartening to see a broad range of industries working together to address the fall armyworm challenge," says Coote.
The symposium, hosted by the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, aims to share learnings, identify research priorities, and develop sustainable solutions for managing Fall Armyworm. With contributions from various industry leaders, researchers, and government agencies, the event provides a valuable platform to address this pressing agricultural challenge and safeguard Australia's farming sector.

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Fall armyworm was initially identified in Australia in the Torres Strait in January 2020 and has since extended its presence across the country. Photo source: Hort Innovation

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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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