Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
Home Hill resident Karin Thorburn returned home last week after a month spent travelling the world, though it was not exactly your typical sightseeing expedition. The 59-year-old local runner, recognised last year as the first Australian to complete 500 marathons, set off for Cyprus in March for the XM Limassol Marathon—the first of 15 she would run over the following 30 days. Her itinerary took her through major European cities, including Paris, before culminating in the world-famous Boston Marathon, where her strong performance all but guarantees qualification for next year’s race.Home Hill’s 59-Year-Old Marathon Record-Breaker Continued from cover Home Hill runner Karin Thorburn has returned to the Burdekin after successfully completing 15 marathons in 30 days across four countries. Thorburn, a veteran runner who was this year named Burdekin Senior Sportsperson of the Year for her marathoning exploits, ran 14 marathons across Europe in preparation for the Boston Marathon, which rounded out the trip. At 59 years old, Thorburn is currently the Australian record holder for the highest number of marathons completed, with her tally now reaching 547. Despite having just competed in the Sugar Rush half-marathon only six days after returning from the United States, she shows no signs of slowing down, describing her intense schedule as a “lifestyle choice.” “It’s for my mental health, it’s for my physical health, it’s for keeping me in the best shape I can be, for a lady that’s my age," Thorburn said. “I’m not a spring chicken, and there are so many people out there saying I’m too old. I just tell them, I’m just getting started.” The gruelling 30-day itinerary began in Limassol, Cyprus, followed by the “12 in 12” event—12 marathons in 12 days—in the UK, and the Paris Marathon, before finally tackling Boston. The feat was as much a mental battle as a physical one, says Thorburn. “The mind is stronger than the legs,” she said. “Sometimes it plays tricks and says, 'You’ve done enough. Why don't you just stay in bed?' But I knew I could do it.” She explained that the massive volume of racing was a strategic training block designed specifically to conquer the Boston Marathon, an event she considers "the pinnacle.” “I love a challenge," Thorburn said. “Running the other 14 marathons, they were all fantastic, but it all led me to one thing, and that’s the Boston Marathon. That’s the greatest race in the world.” Her run in Boston was the third time she had competed in the event, finishing with a 15-minute buffer which she says effectively “guarantees” her entry into the 2027 race once applications open in September. “I can't even describe how you feel,” Thorburn said. “Getting to the start is one thing, but doing it, finishing it, conquering it again—especially at my age—you feel things you never felt before.” Thorburn has lived and breathed distance running since she started taking it seriously 26 years ago. Her passion has since taken her across the globe, completing all six of the Abbott World Marathon Majors—Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York—earning her the prestigious official title of “Six Star Finisher.” Her achievements have garnered much local support, but perhaps none greater than from her residents at Ozcare Home Hill. As well as her work with Ozcare, Thorburn helps organise the Magnetic Marathon Series in Townsville, an event that attracts international competitors while also providing a space for athletes looking to kickstart their running careers. Thorburn sees her local events as a platform for others to “have a go”—a mantra that has fuelled her own career for over two decades. “My events are only small events, but they're a stepping stone and people get to run with me and go, ‘Okay, so this is what you do,’” Thorburn said. “I hope I can inspire other women, including those younger than me, to look at what I do and think: ‘If she can do it, I can have a go.’” CAPTIONS: 1— The gruelling 30-day itinerary began in Limassol, Cyprus, followed by the “12 in 12” event—12 marathons in 12 days—in the UK, and the Paris Marathon, before finally tackling Boston. 2—Thorburn successfully completed all six of the Abbott World Marathon Majors—Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York—earning her the prestigious official title of “Six Star Finisher.” Photos supplied
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My Vibe Homewares has a growing reputation as your go-to store when searching for that unique, contemporary piece. Since opening its doors in Ayr ten months ago, the store has attracted customers from across North Queensland, building a strong local following in the Burdekin. Boasting a wide range of earthy, textural and timeless homewares, My Vibe offers quality linen, luxury towels and exquisite rugs, all selected to deliver quality at affordable prices right here in the Burdekin. At the heart of the store is a carefully curated range that is hand-picked to provide both functionality and practicality. Every piece is selected with durability and classic design in mind, with owner Sue ensuring that long-lasting quality remains a priority in every decision. Sue’s strong eye for design is supported by her regular attendance at the Sydney and Melbourne gift fairs, where she gains access to the latest seasonal designs and colour updates. This, coupled with her innate ability to coordinate the range to suit most design tastes—from subtle, natural tones through to more textured and statement pieces—ensures the store is continually refreshed with new ideas and inspiration brought back to the Burdekin. The result is a thoughtfully balanced collection that caters to a wide variety of interiors and personal styles, while maintaining a consistent focus on quality and affordability. Supporting the store is a friendly and welcoming team who are always ready to assist and offer advice when required, ensuring a relaxed and enjoyable shopping experience. Located on Queen Street, Ayr, My Vibe Homewares is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10am until 4pm daily, offering a local destination for stylish, practical and contemporary homewares in the heart of the Burdekin.
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If you’re still scratching your head for something meaningful this Mother’s Day, two local arts groups are offering simple, thoughtful options that keep it close to home—and handmade. At the Burdekin Art Society, a special Mother’s Day art sale will be held on Sunday 3 May 2026 at the Art Shed, 154 MacMillan Street (across from the pool), from 8am to 1pm. A wide selection of paintings will be available, with prices starting from just $20, making it easy to find an affordable, locally made gift. For something a little more tactile, the Burdekin Potters Inc in Plantation Park will be open for anyone looking for a unique, handmade gift. The pottery studio regularly opens on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday mornings, but visitors are also welcome whenever the doors are open or the “OPEN” flag is flying. Gift vouchers are available, and private visits can be arranged by contacting Debbie on 0428 832 355. Both options offer a chance to support local artists while picking up something with a personal touch—far more memorable than a last-minute petrol station bouquet.
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Australia has everything we need right here at home. We have the resources, the technologies, and the people with the talent. Yet our manufacturing sector and sovereign capability have fallen off a cliff; farmers are being left out in the cold; and Australians across the country, particularly in the regions, are being left behind, while we all pay more for everything. Labor’s Net Zero nonsense is crippling our country, while others not hamstrung by arbitrary targets advance at pace. China, India and the United States are not taking their foot off the pedal, while we send our resources overseas on a dime and buy back the finished product at top dollar. Australian manufacturing has been in decline for decades, but in the last four years under Labor the rate at which manufacturers, smelters, refineries and food processors have closed is truly alarming. We are making far less today and relying more and more on others. We need to turn that trend around before the only thing we are producing is a piece of paper handed out to overseas students. At the heart of this rapid decline in manufacturing? Our weaker and more expensive energy grid. To be blunt, rising electricity costs are forcing manufacturers to close and deterring others from starting up. When I speak to manufacturers, the message is the same: “I don’t know how much longer we can keep going like this.” The simple reality is that weather-dependent power cannot sustain a modern industrial economy on its own. Manufacturers cannot operate on intermittent electricity. Farmers cannot rely on an unstable energy system. And renters and lower-income households, who cannot afford rooftop solar or battery storage, are increasingly left paying the hidden costs of maintaining a complex grid built around intermittent supply. Australia once prided itself on energy independence. Now we are replacing dependable Australian energy with a system dependent on imported wind turbines, solar panels and batteries, many manufactured in China. In doing so, we are hollowing out our own industrial base while increasing our reliance on foreign supply chains. I’ll keep saying it. We need a balanced approach, and all technologies must be part of the energy mix. The other part of the energy story is, of course, fuel. No fuel, no transport, no movement of goods. When faced with the recent fuel supply constraints, Energy Minister Chris Bowen said the solution is to buy an electric car. That may suit city commuters, but for many regional Australians travelling long distances and those needing to tow heavy loads, an EV is nothing but an expensive paperweight. Right now, a very bad government is deploying a very bad energy policy that puts international recognition for fairytale emission targets ahead of affordable electricity and fuel security. We need an urgent course correction on our nation’s energy policy. We need an energy mix that supports manufacturers and farmers. We need to be able to better use the resources we have so that we can stand on our two feet. And, we need a government that believes in putting Australians first.
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Home Hill State High School teacher Louise Nicholas has progressed to Finalist of the Queensland AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award, an award to recognise notable female rural leaders who are advocating, empowering, and celebrating for changes in agriculture.
Louise is excited to have progressed to become a Finalist for the award.
“It’s still sinking in,” she explained.
“I was nominated two years ago and didn’t progress to this stage, so it’s all new.
“This time around, my project is further refined and is better matured.”
Her project, ‘Grow Your Own’, is committed to progressing and advocating for students to pursue careers and futures in agriculture and industry.
“There is a lack of trained workforce in industry and agriculture, and to encourage our students to pursue careers in industry, we have partnered with local industry and agricultural businesses and farms to show students what’s on offer,” Louise explained.
“We also work closely with agricultural bodies like Central Queensland University and AgForce, who support us in taking students out on tours of farms, of workplaces and sites.
“Exposure is really what we’re trying to do. To show the students what’s out there, and that farming and a career in agriculture isn’t sitting on a tractor all day anymore.”
Louise aspires to extend the Grow Your Own initiative across Queensland and showcase the diverse industry opportunities that are available for students, while fostering growth and success in their own communities.
“There is so much out there,” Louise said.
“And exposing students to the diverse and various aspect of industry and agriculture is critical.
“It encourages students to enter a career in industry that they may not have known was an option.”
Louise is also a big advocate for the Food and Fibre component of the Australian Curriculum, wishing to encourage further commitment of Queensland schools to deliver the component with confidence.
“Food and Fibre is outlined is the curriculum but not a lot of schools deliver it, because the teachers don’t feel confident in delivering the material.
“I am also advocating for teachers and professionals to upskill.”
Louise will travel to Brisbane on March 11 for the final interview with the AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award panel, with the winners named during the following days.
Each state and territory winner receives a $15,000 grant from Westpac to fund their project, business, or program.
“To win allows me to better propel the initiative and extend it across Queensland, to better agriculture education in schools, and support students pursuing careers in industry and agriculture in their local area.”
Louise Nicholas with her students, supporting students to pursue careers in industry and agriculture. Photos supplied
Simon Hood
Wilmar Manager Grower Marketing
The sugar market remains in no man’s land as the window between the close of the 2023-24 Brazilian crush and the start of the 2024-25 season seems impossibly short. The final production for this season’s output is yet to be determined, but is heading towards a record harvest.
Projections for the 24-25 season are fluid in the analysts’ spreadsheets. The early number of 640+ million mt of cane is being wound back, due to the dry weather in December and January being factored into the yield. February was forecast to be a wetter month, but has not delivered as much moisture as desired. Ranges now in the market cover 600-635 million mt, with Wilmar at the upper end of that scale.
Another important variable is the production mix between ethanol and sugar. This ratio pushed the market to the upside last year with the final coming close to 50:50. There is an obvious incentive to increase this percentage with ethanol parity trading closer to US14c/lb versus the US22c/lb for #11. Reports suggest that mills are rushing to increase crystallisation capacity. However, as we are acutely aware, it takes some planning to design, build, and install mill components so a step change in capacity may be constrained.
There is talk of further investment at the Brazilian docks to ease loading bottlenecks, which global logistics managers will support.
If the dry weather persists, the new season crush might start earlier. This will be bearish in the short-term, as more sugar becomes readily available, but will potentially bode well for constructive pricing later as yield prospects will be cut. Watch this space.
Following a poor and patchy monsoon, the Indian crop has performed better than expected. Nevertheless, India is not expected to be a significant player in global trade for the foreseeable future, with any increase in production siphoned to the ethanol production.
Doubt remains about how quickly the Thai crop will be cut out. The outlook for next year is not for a massive recovery of cane hectares, as competing crops maintain a viable alternative in Thailand. This should support the far-east premium as Australian sugar will remain in strong demand.
Finally, the speculative community is keeping its powder dry. After liquidating a significant net bought position for much of the 2023 season, they are yet to move far away from a small net long balance in the 2024 calendar year. At the end 2023, we witnessed the impact of the head exiting in unison, so it is important to keep a bead on the signals that were used to drive their investment flows.
For more information, contact your local Wilmar Grower Marketing consultant.
This graph charts the Brazilian crop size and the sugar-ethanol mix since 2017-18.
The rural event of the year is fast approaching with Burdekin Boars and Barras taking over Clare this weekend.
Celebrating its 10th anniversary, and with something for everyone, the Burdekin is invited to get behind the rod or the rifle to help fundraising efforts for the Clare State School P&C Committee.
Involving fun for the whole family, the event schedule includes the coveted weigh-in presentations for all pigs, fish and crabs, a well-stocked licensed bar, Rotary food tent, Lillie’s Cubby House, live music by none other than Tammy Moxon, plus face painting and merch stall selling the very best branded clothing and accessories.
With over $7,000 worth of prize money on offer in junior, senior and open categories across all classes, this is set to be a weekend of fun and excitement.
Find out more and get your tickets at burdekin-boars-barras.spiffystores.com.
WHAT: Burdekin Boars and Barras Competition 2024
WHERE: Clare Sports and Recreation Club
WHEN: Saturday March 2 and Sunday March 3
TICKETS: $10 Junior and $20 Senior
In an announcement that further boosts Queensland’s credentials as Australia’s emerging AgTech innovation capital, Brisbane has been named as the home of the AgriFutures evokeAG. global innovation event in 2025.
Connecting the global agrifood innovation community of investors, entrepreneurs, AgTech service providers and agribusiness professionals, evokeAG. provides a digital platform and premier agrifood tech event where farmers share their experiences, startups pitch their potential, scientists showcase their discoveries, global business leaders share their insights and industry experts debate their opinions.
The announcement came after a group of Queensland innovators and industry leaders joined more than 1,800 delegates from across the Asia Pacific attending this year’s event in Perth.
Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Furner said the Queensland Government has helped the state’s agricultural industry grow from $17.2 billion to an estimated $24 billion in value, supporting hundreds of thousands of good jobs for Queenslanders since 2015.
“AgTech is a strong part of the sustainable future of agriculture, solving problems and growing businesses,” Mr Furner said.
“Bringing this event to Queensland reinforces the Queensland Government’s commitment to AgTech and adoption.
“I have no doubt Queensland’s agriculture sector will make the most of this event and ensure next year’s evokeAG. held in Brisbane will be the best yet.”
AgriFutures Managing Director John Harvey said he looks forward to hosting the event in Brisbane.
“evokeAG. began as an opportunity to showcase the incredible agrifood tech innovation happening here in Australia, to hear from the rest of the world and to drive innovation in the Asia-Pacific region,” Mr Harvey said.
Queensland Chief Entrepreneur Julia Spicer added that the state’s agriculture has an innovative culture.
“Our farmers have instinctively turned to innovation to solve some of the big farming challenges in Australia, including dealing with drought, floods, pests, soil quality, remote locations, livestock monitoring, and transport and logistics,” Ms Spicer said.
“This in turn is driving a strong homegrown AgTech sector – technologies and innovations developed for farming in some of the toughest conditions in the world.
“As someone who works closely with many regional communities to drive change and enhance economic opportunities in agriculture, I know that hosting evokeAG. in Brisbane next year is an opportunity to showcase the world-class AgTech that we create and harness across Queensland.”
The event will be held in Brisbane from February 18-19, 2025.
Growers participating in the Burdekin Irrigation project, the Lower Burdekin Smart Irrigation Project and the Major Grants project hosted sugarcane growers from the Mackay-Whitsunday region the Far North and local growers to demonstrate on-farm smart irrigation strategies, tools, technologies, and practices throughout the Burdekin.
The bus tour aimed to increase cross regional relationships and provided an opportunity for growers interested in new advancements in irrigation practices and technology from outside the region to explore on-farm smart irrigation demonstrations.
The three demonstration sites contained a variety of smart irrigation technologies including gravity fed surface drip, high press subsurface drip, automated overhead sprinkles, automated furrow irrigation systems and a myriad of sensing equipment to collect data from each trial site.
Improved irrigation practices supported by the Burdekin Irrigation Project have resulted in an increase in productivity, providing a path to a more sustainable farming enterprise.
Three Burdekin growers who hosted the demonstration sites highlighted the challenges associated with farming in their specific locations and shared the robust process they undertook to address crop demands.
They noted that automation has been the enabler for improved efficiency, but without the practice change there would have been little benefit.
“The bus tour provided an excellent opportunity for growers across districts to see first-hand demonstrations of different irrigation practices side by side with replicated treatments,” explained Terry Granshaw, SRA.
“Whether its sugarcane or any of our legumes that are grown across the district, we want to be making sure we apply the right amount of water to the crop at the right time.
“The demonstration sites compare grower current practices with a changed practice, based off data collected from sensors and current weather conditions.
This information is collected via automation and used in conjunction with IrrigWeb (a crop model used for scheduling and record keeping) Feedback from the growers who attended on the day were very positive and I hope that future cross region interaction becomes the normal within our industry,” he said.
With support from Reef Catchments and Sugar Research Australia, growers from the Mackay-Whitsunday region will join their peers to workshop how learnings from the Burdekin tour can best be integrated with local grounded experience in the region.
To learn more about Water Quality management in the Burdekin region, visit NQ Dry Tropics’ website at www.nqdrytropics.com.au.
The integrated Engagement and Capacity Building project is funded through the Queensland Governments Reef Water Quality Program and delivered by the Department of Agriculture and Fishers (DAF).
The Burdekin Irrigation Project is funded by the partnership between the Australian Government’s Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation with collaboration between Sugar Research Australia, Farmacist, AgriTech Solutions, Burdekin Productivity Services, Burdekin Bowen Integrated Floodplain Management Advisory Committee, James Cook University, the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and NQ Dry Tropics.
The Lyon’s Grassland Striped Skink had not been observed since 1981 and is known only from a single locality that is heavily grazed by cattle.
That is until the rare lizard was found last year for the first time in over 40 years living in north-east Queensland.
In early 2023, scientists from Queensland Museum and James Cook University were tasked with the challenge of finding the elusive Lyon’s Grassland Striped Skink.
The surveys were part of research by the Resilient Landscapes Hub of the Australian Government’s National Environmental Science Program that is looking for highly threatened reptiles across Queensland.
Dr Andrew Amey from Queensland Museum Network, who led the expedition, said the goal was to find three species of skink which have very small distributions confined to the Mount Surprise area, around 500 kilometres northeast of Ayr.
“These lizards are all hard to find and seldom seen,” Dr Amey said.
“Two are part of a large group of skinks in the genus Lerista, which are only found in Australia and have adapted to sandy soils by reducing their limbs to essentially swim through the soil.
“It shows that parts of Australia such as grasslands and open woodland that are grazed by cattle can still host important biodiversity.
“It was an exciting moment to find all three skinks, but to find the Lyon’s Grassland Striped Skink was an amazing discovery.”
The other two skinks were the Limbless Fine-lined Slider, which is found in the Undara Volcanic National Park, and the Mount Surprise Slider, which was only known from one paddock.
The purpose of the survey was to find if the species still existed and if scientists could find new populations elsewhere.
The small distribution of the skinks makes them vulnerable to damaging events such as bushfires, drought, invasive weeds, and disease.
The Lyon’s Grassland Striped Skink was recently listed as Critically Endangered by the Queensland and Australian Governments in recognition of this.
Dr Amey said animals like these skinks have an important role to play in our ecosystems.
“We need to know if these skinks have healthy populations or if they are declining,” he said.
“We can’t take effective action to protect them if we don’t know where they occur and what threats are impacting them.
“The only way to get this information is go and look for them.”
Caption: Lyon's grassland skink. Photo credit: Conrad Hoskin
By Chelsea Ravizza
January 2024 saw a new mammoth monthly record set for the Containers for Change Scheme across Queensland, with 175,805,461 containers returned for a refund and recycling. This outstanding total surpasses the previous record set in January of 2023 of 157,525,681, and Rachael Coleman of NQ Green Solutions continues to be blown away by the Burdekin’s recycling efforts.
NQ Green Solutions recycled 1,133,972 containers in January, and the depot shows no sign of slowing. Recycling almost 350,000 more containers in January of 2024 than January of 2023, Rachael believes this increase can be owed to various factors.
“A number of factors have contributed to our surge in number for January in the Burdekin like the expansion of our Container Collect Service to include areas such as Giru and Ravenswood, our online booking app, sponsorship, large community involvement, and awareness about the scheme and what if offers,” explained Rachael.
The Queensland Government’s Containers for Change Scheme was introduced in November of 2018, and has since received more than 7.75 billion containers, and refunded more than $775 million to Queenslanders.
Rachael and her team have seen many new customers come through their deport in response to the cost-of-living crisis, and Container Exchange CEO, Natalie Roach, believes the Containers for Change Scheme exists as a widely beneficial tool to combat this struggle.
“At a time when many are facing cost of living pressures, Containers for Change has returned more than $780 million to Queenslander’s’ back pockets,” explained Ms Roach.
“Containers for Change has also supported more than 935 jobs across Queensland, with many of these in regional areas, benefitting the local economy.”
The scheme’s expansion to include glass wine and spirit bottles from the beginning of November in 2023 is believed to be one of the main contributing factors to the record-breaking figures.
“We have had an overwhelming response to the addition of glass wine, and spirit bottles to the Container refund Scheme since its introduction, but January saw massive growth across all container variants,” expressed Rachael.
“Since we opened our doors, we have recycled and saved over 37 million containers from landfill, and I couldn’t be prouder of the Burdekin and their participation in the entire scheme, as every week the numbers just blow me away.”
Caption: Charley Ruskin and Caitlin McDonnell of NQ Green Solutions. Photo supplied
Next month, high school students from four Burdekin schools will attend a potentially lifesaving education program professionally developed and delivered by trained local mentors.
Road Safety Education Limited’s (RSE) RYDA workshop is a whole of school program which includes a full day workshop of practical, interactive and powerful sessions about road safety for students at Burdekin Catholic High School, Home Hill State High School, Burdekin Christian College and Burdekin Educational Engagement Program.
The program lays the foundation for safe road use throughout their lives and challenges students to think about the role they play road safety.
RSE CEO & Managing Director Terry Birss said the organisation applauds schools for committing to the educational experience for their students.
“Educating young people and equipping them with the tools they need to make good choices on the road is essential to saving lives,” he said.
“It is not enough to teach a young person the skill of controlling and manoeuvring a vehicle.
“We must balance this with the skill of critical thinking and an appreciation for safety on the road.”
The workshop is supported by a range of resources for students and teachers to use including an online digital revision course, pre-workshop classwork and follow-up modules on a range of road safety topics which schools can build into their curriculum.
To date, over 775,000 students have completed the RYDA program throughout Australia and New Zealand.
The program focuses on teaching young drivers the cognitive skills required to manage distractions, an understanding and acceptance of the rules of the road and the laws of physics.
It helps students to plan their journey and gives them strategies to avoid risk and the resilience and motivation to implement those strategies.
RYDA also teaches passengers how to contribute positively to the car’s environment and speak up if they’re uncomfortable and to use the road with social responsibility.
RYDA QLD Senior Program Coordinator Hannah Olsen said the support of local Rotary Clubs means the program can be run in all communities by local road safety and education professionals, including police.
“Youth Road Trauma is a community problem that needs a whole of community response,” she said.
“Our local rotary club and RSE are in a unique position to bring together all the essential elements to provide an effective and highly successful road safety education program for young people.”
Drivers are at their highest risk of being involved in a crash during their first year of driving unsupervised.
Young Australians continue to be over-represented in road trauma statistics with 17-25-year-olds making up 10% of the population but representing 22% of all driver and passenger fatalities.
A range of factors have been linked to the higher rate of injuries and deaths caused by young drivers including driver inexperience, risky driving behaviours such as speeding, driving while fatigued, driving without a seatbelt and driving smaller and/or older vehicles with fewer safety features.
The risk of crashing diminishes with experience plus the development of decision-making skills so they can recognise risky situations and make safer choices.
The RYDA workshops teach all of these skills and are aimed specifically at people of senior high school age.
The program will run on Friday March 15 at the TAFE Queensland Burdekin Campus.
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Scouting has been part of the Home Hill community since 1928. On Monday 12 February 12, as part of our community involvement, members of the Lower Burdekin Scout Group attended the Burdekin Council Australia Day event at the Home Hill Memorial Hall. This was a great night seeing and hearing about so many inspirational people in our community.
We also took the opportunity to share the opportunity for youth 5 to 15 years of age (adults too) to come along for four weeks for free to Try Scouting on a Thursday night at our Hall in Twelfth Ave, Home Hill.
This term along with our Thursday night programs our members will attend:
• 3 Community events
• 2 Camps/Sleepover
• 5 Adventurous Activity days
Contributed by Chris Berkery
Caption: Home Hill Scouts attended the recent Australia Day Awards Ceremony in Home Hill. Photo supplied
Ayr Surf Lifesaving Club is inviting the community to the beach for a Family Fun Day happening Saturday, March 2 from 3:00pm to 6:00pm.
The day will offer fun for the whole family, including a dunk tank, face painting and slip and slide.
Snacks will be available including popcorn, slushies and fairy floss as well as other food and drinks – BYO is not permitted.
The 2024 Family Fun Day is free to enter and will take place at the Ayr Surf Club, Sandown Street, Alva.
Following the Family Fun Day will be a Sock Disco from 6:00pm to 9:00pm.
The cost of the Sock Disco is $10 to enter and includes a sausage sizzle and drink.
WHAT: Ayr Surf Lifesaving Club’s Family Fun Day
WHEN: Saturday, March 2 from 3:00pm to 6:00pm
WHERE: Ayr Surf Club, Sandown Street, Alva
COST: Free entry (Sock Disco $10 entry)
Rehoming Fee: $195
DOB: 1/1/2023
Sex: Male
Breed: Domestic Short Hair
Kid Friendly: Yes
Dog Friendly: Untested
Other Cats: Yes
Indoors/Outdoors: Indoors
This playful little tabby is on a quest to find his furever home! Dubbed Harry Potter, he is affectionate and loving, sure to keep his humans spellbound with his stellar personality.
He can magically make your worries (and a whole bowl of food) disappear!
Harry isn’t a fan of Quidditch, but he flies around at top speed chasing his toys.
The Sorting Hat has decided that Harry is definitely a lap cat, who adores being with his human friends.
Harry is available for adoption, is desexed and microchipped, and up to date on his vaccinations. Harry has also been flea, tick and worm treated.
To schedule a meet and greet, complete and submit an animal enquiry form: https://www.angelpawsinc.com.au/forms.html
Caption: Talika Pegoraro
Friday, February 23 saw Burdekin Catholic Shire Council (BCHS) lift in rivalry with the Interhouse Swimming Carnival. After a fantastic Spirit Week, the three houses were set to bring their best to the pool. The day was filled with highly competitive races, with BCHS showcasing many great swimmers. Importantly, there was also high participation from our non-competitive races to ensure maximum points were gained towards acquiring the House Trophy.
It was great to see the fantastic spirit of each of the houses led by their incredible House Leaders. The house chants were most likely heard all around Ayr. The staff at BCHS were well supported by officials from the Burdekin Torpedos. Announcements of the winners and age champions will be at the end of the Commissioning Liturgy on Wednesday morning.
Contributed by Burdekin Catholic High School
Caption: BCHS’s interhouse rivalry returned at the school’s swimming carnival last week. Photos supplied
The first of Burdekin Christian College’s pre-carnival spirit activities was dodgeball, a very popular activity with many students participating.
Mighty Mathew took out the first event of spirit week.
Caption: Photos supplied: Jarvisfield State School
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