This week, we wanted to share with you something that comes up a lot at the Neighbourhood Centre. We often hear people say – “not that my opinion matters”, “I don’t have anything to offer”, “I am just… xyz”.

One of our core values at the Centre is that EVERYONE has something to offer, EVERYONE has had life experiences that can help others, NO ONE is JUST anything…. You are You – and YOU MATTER.

People often get caught up in the expectations and opinions of others, leaving little space for self-discovery and self-acceptance.

If you are struggling to recognise your self-worth here are some things to think about:

   • Appreciate your unique talents, skills, and experiences. Don't compare yourself to others. Celebrate your achievements, no matter how small.

   • Be kind to yourself. Treat yourself like you would treat a good friend. Accept your flaws and be gentle with yourself. Try not to be too hard on yourself. You deserve kindness and respect, especially from yourself.

   • Set boundaries in your relationships with others. This means knowing when to say "no" and making your own well-being a priority. It's okay to communicate clearly and assertively with others about your boundaries, even if it might feel uncomfortable at first. By doing this, you'll be taking an important step towards building healthy relationships with yourself and others.

   • Take care of yourself.  It helps you to feel good and value yourself. You can do this in different ways, like getting enough sleep, eating healthy foods, exercising, practising mindfulness or meditation, or seeking professional help when needed. By taking care of yourself, you are telling yourself that you are important and you're worth the effort.

   • Positive people around us can greatly impact our self-esteem. It's so important to surround ourselves with supportive individuals who uplift us. This means letting go of toxic relationships and finding like-minded people who share similar values. Creating a positive environment promotes personal growth and well-being.

It inspires us every day to see Burdekin community members recognise their self-worth and then go on to help others do the same. Working together and creating opportunities that we all can benefit from helps our community grow.  

Wishing you all a great week!

The Team
Burdekin Neighbourhood Centre

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Did you know that the Burdekin Shire Council has an Arts and Cultural Strategy 2021-2030 to support the vitality and diversity of arts and culture in the region?

The Arts and Cultural Strategy 2021-2030 strategy is based on contemporary cultural planning principles and is informed by evidence and community values. It aims to promote a cultural vitality that will enrich the liveability and appeal of the Burdekin Shire and is designed to integrate with other Council planning mechanisms and be consistent with overarching community values. 

The strategy consists of five strategic themes: Creative Communities, Cultural Vitality, Animated Places and Spaces, Connectivity and Sustainability and Heritage, Identity and Sense of Place. It outlines a series of actions, outcomes and indicators for each theme, as well as a monitoring and evaluation framework. This plan is for the whole community. It embraces the diversity of the region irrespective of geography, age, ability, gender and cultural or social-economic background. It respects the past, acknowledges the present and looks to the future.

The strategy is supported by the Regional Arts Development Fund, a Queensland Government and Burdekin Shire Council partnership to support local arts and culture in regional Queensland. You can view the strategy online by visiting Burdekin Shire Council’s website burdekin.qld.gov.au.

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Burdekin School Celebrated Harmony Day with social games, allowing students to explore different cultures and create pieces of a group mural. Photos supplied: Burdekin School
Burdekin Community Association Inc. Community Services Officer Aimee Cursio and local resident Allan Lee celebrated Harmony Day 2024 with a market stall on Queen Street. Photo supplied: Burdekin Community Association Inc.
Burdekin Christian College marked Harmony Week, the celebration that recognises diversity and brings together Australians from all different backgrounds. Photo supplied: Burdekin Christian College

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In mid-1983, Marie Finn was sitting in the waiting room of Dr Joyce’s surgery for the six-week check of her fifth child, flicking through the latest edition of the Home Hill Observer when she read of the closure of a local kindergarten operated by Mrs Williamson.
“Coming from Cairns and driving there regularly, I had often seen beautiful buildings that provided kindergarten facilities and hoped that Home Hill could one day have the same,” Marie said.
“Perhaps this was the opportunity, so I sprang into action.”
Marie met with then councillor Seb Vecchio over a cup of tea at her kitchen table to discuss the possibility of a C&K Kindergarten in Home Hill, and she said the idea had this support. A week later, almost 30 people attended a public meeting, some in opposition to the proposal, favouring another backyard kindy to replace Mrs Williamson’s. A week after that, a steering committee was appointed to investigate the possibilities and the work involved. Council was contacted about a suitable building, while the committee planned for its first Christmas Carnival with the support of the community, families and organisations.
“Forty local businesses supported the carnival either with goods or ads in the paper,” Marie said.
“It was thrilling, and we knew that our idea would be a resounding success!”
Ann Winter discovered that the CWA flats, originally Iyah State School, were up for sale, that purchase setting in motion the establishment of the Home Hill Community Preschool and Kindergarten Association as it was then known. Furniture was sourced from Mrs Williamson and the Home Hill State School, but challenges ensued when obtaining a phone, electricity, pest control, fire extinguishers, vinyl and carpet flooring, mirrors, toilets and other items and services for the kindy. Parents assisted in painting the building and equipment, pulling out bindis, building a fence and sandpit, all to be ready by the end of January 1984.
“Where would the money come from?” Marie posed.
“Our estimates were that it would cost $5,000 to bring the building and equipment up to meet the high standards required to have affiliation with C&K Queensland.
“The proposal at Council was led by then Chairman, Dr John Trace, and supported by three Home Hill councillors.
“However, the whole only just passed at 5-4.
“Nevertheless, they agreed to allocate $5,000 to be repaid over ten years and dedicated to our expenditure.”
The kindy commenced operation in January 1984 with Miss Sandra Slater as Director and Miss Lorelie Bapty as Assistant. Dr John Trace later performed the official opening of the centre on March 15, 1984, where Sandra and Lorelie were presented with engraved goblets by the committee of management as foundation staff and students were presented with foundation certificates. The centre was given the slogan:
“This centre runs on parent power.”
In its infancy, three people contributed generously to the kindy’s upkeep: Ray Kluver, who mowed and whipper snipped weekly; Jo Weeks, who voluntarily cleaned the kindy all year; and Alan Weight, who assisted with the gardening and kept the bindies at bay. Within a short space of time, it became apparent that the life of the building as a C&K centre was, unfortunately, limited.
“By the middle of the year, thought was given to a new building much sooner than we at first anticipated, and negotiations were entered into with the Burdekin Shire Council,” Marie said.
Three blocks of land were considered, including the block where the kindy stands today. Plans were drawn up by Barrett and Associates and had approval by the C&K Building Committee in Brisbane. The float in the Harvest Festival later that year evoked high interest from the parents with a good turnout to put it together. And, with another Christmas Carnival, the highly successful and tumultuous first year came to an end and the Home Hill Community Kindy was here to stay.

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Foundation Staff
Director: Sandra Slater
Assistant: Lorelie Bapty

Foundation Committee
President: Marie Finn
Vice President: Damien Joyce
Secretary: Mary Hurney
Treasurer: Peter Hogden
Committee Members: Cheryl Goodman, Norelle Weight, Isabel Stubbs, Annette Michelin and Delphine Baker

Foundation Students
Group A: Katrina Piva, Andrew Finn, Carly Bradley, Rowan McDowell, Travis Davenport, Nicole Watson, Ross Elton, Christopher Field, Andrea Mann, Cherie Durso, Jason Torrisi, Peter Bartlett, Danien Michelin, Justin Elton, Rachel Woods and Stacey Harding
Group B: Stewart Baker, David Vass, Daniel Vass, Calum Boland, Janay Lewis, Josh Santacatarina, Isabel Stubbs, Joanne Woods, Alison Woods, Christopher Williams, Michael Hogden, Michael Weeks, Claire Joyce, Roderick Taylor, Ann Grimshaw, Magella Hurney, Danielle Goodman, Scott Heatley, Phil Garner and Nev Norris
Group C: Shea Baker, Justin Young, Andrew Piva, Trudy Eckstein, Amanda Bonanno, Lillian Simeoni, Adrian Chapman, Frank Barbagallo, Peter Rossato and David Todman

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Group A
Group B
Group C

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In 2024, C&K Home Hill Community Kindergarten proudly commemorates 40 years of childcare excellence. Since inception, the kindy has been committed to providing a dynamic and enriching educational experience for children aged three to five, prioritising play-based learning where every moment is an opportunity for exploration and discovery. Supported by passionate educators, the program instils a love for lifelong learning in each child. With purpose-built facilities and expansive outdoor spaces, the kindy fosters holistic development within a caring community environment.
But the journey isn't just about education—it's about community. C&K Home Hill Community Kindergarten embraces strong ties with the Home Hill community, welcoming parental involvement and participating in various events and initiatives.
As C&K Home Hill Community Kindergarten celebrates 40 years, those involved in its inception reflect on past achievements and look forward to a future filled with boundless opportunities for growth and learning.
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Read on to discover the story.

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In the 40 years since its inception, Home Hill Community Kindy has grown to become an integral part of our small community.
The Centre has educated thousands of local children, providing them with wonderful preparation for the commencement of their formal education. The Centre is a vibrant, welcoming space which allows children to grow and develop into curious, capable and collaborative learners.
Director, Sue Amore, together with Educator Jodie MacDonald and the other staff implement the C&K early childhood curriculum Listening and Learning Together at the Centre. They are passionate about nurturing healthy minds and bodies and celebrating each child’s individual strengths to support their participation in the program and realise their full potential.
The play-based learning is reflective of our Home Hill community, so learning happens in ways that is meaningful to the children. The Kindy recognizes and respect the traditional custodians of Australia and embraces and celebrates the diversity of the children and families in our community.
In 2015, the Kindy made the decision to move away from traditional Kindy days and hours to offer an extended service.  Currently, 44 children attend the Centre over four days, group A on a Monday and Tuesday and Group B on a Wednesday and Thursday.  The hours of 8:15am to 5:15pm are more practical for working families and have ensured the longevity of the Centre.
In 2024, kindergarten has been offered free across Queensland to all families. This initiative will ensure that hopefully no child throughout the state misses out on experiencing the truly wonderful year that kindy is for children.
The current staff and committee of Home Hill Community Kindy are proud to be continuing the legacy of the original founders of the facility in providing a quality education to the children of Home Hill.  With the ongoing support of the Community this will continue for many years to come.

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Meet The Teachers
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Sue Amore

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After coming across the Burdekin on a gap year in the 1980s and loving the warmer weather, director and teacher Sue Amore relocated her family from Victoria to the Burdekin in 1993. It was while in the Burdekin that Sue began studying early childhood, working in local schools throughout 2005 before taking on the role of director and teacher at Home Hill Community Kindy in 2006. Over the years, Sue has liaised with committee and community members, mentored students, and navigated a shift in working hours but said her and her team were “determined to do whatever we needed to do to keep this community-based kindy up and running.”
“Here we still are in 2024 with full numbers and still being supported by our families and our community,” Sue said.

Jodie MacDonald

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Assistant educator Jodie MacDonald has lived in the Burdekin most of her life, growing up in Ayr and Gumlu before moving to Home Hill where she has lived for 24 years. She said she had never considered working with children before having her own, working in administration before having children.  
“I became interested in relief work during the years my own children were attending the kindy and after being on the committee for a few years, began studying my certificate III and then Diploma,” Jodie said.  “I have worked at the kindy for almost 9 years.”

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Jodie and Sue

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For over four decades, Rural Quip has supported the industrial and agricultural sectors of the Burdekin with passion, knowledge and experience. Established in 1982 initially as a steel fabrication business, the company has since undergone a remarkable evolution, transitioning into a comprehensive retail hub catering to the diverse needs of local industries.
Under the leadership of Managing Director Robert Oar, whose extensive experience spans 45 years in agricultural and engineering sectors, Rural Quip has adeptly navigated shifts in market demands. Recognising the necessity to adapt, the company has expanded its offerings beyond fabrication to encompass retail, steel sales, and industrial supplies.
A key aspect of Rural Quip's success lies in its commitment to customisation and customer satisfaction. Equipped with state-of-the-art machinery including steel presses, guillotines, and hole punches, the company ensures that each product meets the unique requirements of its clientele. Furthermore, its affiliation with the national buying group, Australian Industrial Supplies, for over 25 years underscores its dedication to providing competitive pricing without compromising quality.
With a team of approximately 18 experienced staff members, Rural Quip offers expertise across various product areas from cutting and pressing steel in the steel department to the diverse range of goods in the retail section. Moreover, its local delivery service facilitates the transportation of steel to site, enhancing convenience for customers.
Visitors to Rural Quip's premises are often astonished by the extensive stock available, reflective of the company's unwavering commitment to serving the Burdekin community since its inception. As the agricultural heartland of North Queensland, the region's reliance on reliable suppliers like Rural Quip remains paramount, ensuring continued growth and prosperity for years to come.

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Rural Quip Managing Director Robert Oar

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A cohort of women in agriculture attended a three-day leadership forum in Ayr last week designed to develop leadership skills, personal confidence and be empowered to make future focused decisions to drive a positive change in their communities.
The Influential Women Community Leadership Forum, held from March 19 – 21 in the Burdekin Theatre Music Loft, was supported by Tropical North Queensland Drought Hub as part of their commitment to enhancing the skills and capacity of agricultural communities in North Queensland, which invited ten women from a variety of backgrounds and careers to take part.
Forum facilitator Heather Ellis of Blue Wren Connections guided the participants through three days of group and individual activities to learn about different leadership roles, teamwork, adapting to change, understanding personal values, and self-care to achieve work/life balance.
“The first few days are looking at self and personal mastery, what are our goals and where do we want to go, and then the last day we come together to look at different roles in teams and the benefits of getting the most out of your team,” Ms Ellis said.
“What’s important in terms of self-leadership is continually honing our skills and being open to learning and growing.
“When you invest in people, amazing things can happen in businesses, so it has economic benefit down the track.  
“When people have self-confidence, amazing things can happen for the region.”
The ten participants varied in age, background and careers, ranging from agriculture, business, education and nutrition.
“What’s been lovely to see is the cross pollination of knowledge and wisdom sharing,” Ms Ellis said.
“It’s pretty exciting in terms of creating spaces for people, particularly with an agricultural lens, thinking about grower industries, because that’s the heart of the economic development in this region.
“I think we’ll see the women who have participated, grow into the future and do amazing things.”
Shantelle Arratta is an Agronomist at Nutrien Ag Solutions and took part in the forum to develop her leadership skills and networking opportunities.
“Through my career, I’ve had a lot of great mentors, and they’ve donated a lot of their time and skills, and hopefully in doing this and honing in on my own skillsets, I’ll be able to return that favour to the next lot of people coming through agriculture,” Ms Arratta said.
“There are a lot of incredible women and the diversity in the room is incredible.
“I’m already wanting to take what I’ve learnt in the last few days and get out there and use it.”
Ms Arratta said having an opportunity like this hosted in Ayr is “thrilling”.
“We’re often having to travel away to get this kind of expertise,” she said.
“To have them actually come to us, in this small group setting where people have the confidence to speak up, being surrounded by likeminded people, having this here in our own backyard is just wonderful.
“I’m already thinking about who I’m going to be telling about it and recommending it to and, to be honest, I’d probably come back again to let some of the stuff sink in.”
Tropical North Queensland Drought Hub Program Lead and forum organiser, Dr Jane Oorschot, said the event was the second of its kind to be supported by the Drought Hub.
“We piloted this forum last year in the Gulf Savannah region and received extremely positive feedback on how inspired participants felt about contributing to their local communities,” she said.
“This forum is firmly rooted in rural Queensland, reflecting the unique challenges and opportunities faced by rural women.
“By supporting the skills and capacity within the agriculture sector, together we can become more drought and climate resilient and build flourishing, sustainable communities equipped to make future focused decisions.”

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Ten women attended the Influential Women Community Leadership Forum in Ayr last week

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Local graziers attended an informative workshop at Warrawee Station to learn how to achieve optimum reproductive performance for their breeder herds.

This two-day workshop focused on the theory and practical skills of pregnancy testing and foetal ageing in cattle, and how to integrate skills and information to make decisions about livestock efficiency and performance.

Eiren Smith, Dreghorn Station, said pregnancy testing was a valuable management tool to monitor reproductive efficiency and detect problems early in the breeding season.

He said discussions about pregnancy rates, patterns of conception during a mating period, and what that data meant for future planning and management, was helpful.

Eiren also said the course focused on how to optimise pasture use to maximise the kilograms turned off per hectare while maintaining the resource base.

“The productivity of our business is reliant on the number of weaners we can turn off per year and not the number of cows we run,” he explained.

“Running less cows for the same amount of weaners means less input costs, better land condition and better profitability.”

North Queensland Dry Tropics Senior Grazing Field Officer, Chris Poole, said a challenge for the northern beef industry was to find ways to expand output and improve the quality of livestock despite the constraints imposed by a highly variable climate.

“While graziers can’t change rainfall or land type, they can manage coverage of P3 (perennial, palatable, productive) pastures in their country and increase water use efficiency and pasture production,” Chris said.

The workshop was supported by The Herding Change Through Grassroots Recovery project, funded by the partnership between the Australian Government’s Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation. The project aims to strengthen graziers' capacity to increase perennial groundcover at the end of the dry season, and reduce run-off of fine sediment to the Great Barrier Reef lagoon.

Photos supplied

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Presenter Ian Braithwaite is flanked by Dreghorn graziers Eiren and Tegan Smith

Merricourt cattleman Jacob Gallagher and Warrawee grazier Kellie Healing preg-testing a cow

Ian Braithwaite uses a cow's pelvic bone to explain the physiology
Photos supplied

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Just as leaving your doors unlocked poses a risk, neglecting to install and maintain smoke alarms in your home can jeopardise the safety of yourself and your loved ones.

With more Australians dying in residential fires on average than by all natural hazards combined, it’s sparking a renewed call from experts for Australians to protect themselves with a working smoke alarm. Smoke alarms provide a critical early warning to give you and your loved ones time to escape, so testing and maintaining them plays a crucial role in the device’s purpose, saving lives.

While Queensland has the most stringent fire safety laws in the country, the latest data shows just 73% of households tested their smoke alarms last year. While nearly two in three (62%) of those who do not have interconnected smoke alarms installed say they are likely to install them in the next 12 months.

Research from Brooks Australia reveals that the majority of Aussies (90%) don’t test their smoke alarm to the recommended standard – which is once a month.

Furthermore, a stunning one in five (22%) Aussies that have disabled their smoke alarms admit to never having replaced the battery when it ran out.

Cathy Brand, CEO of Brooks Australia, says testing your smoke alarm isn’t a task, it’s a responsibility.

“Smoke alarms are the most effective early warning sign when there is a fire, but if they aren’t tested and maintained properly it can put you, your family and your home at risk. Unfortunately, our research has found that households across Australia don’t regularly test their smoke alarms, placing Aussie families at significant risk,” Brand says.

“We’ve seen in recent months just how important smoke alarms are in saving lives including the escape of a family on the Gold Coast earlier this year.”

The absence of working smoke alarms can increase the possibility of a fatal fire by 60%.

Brand says testing your smoke alarms should be a regular maintenance routine of Australian households.  

“While the recommendation is to test your smoke alarms once a month, cleaning the device to remove any dust, insects or cobwebs every six months can minimise false alarms and help smoke reach the internal sensors easily,” Brand says.

“Testing smoke alarms is a lot simpler than people might expect, just remember 10 - smoke alarms need to be less than 10 years old, take less than 10 seconds to clean and less than 10 seconds to test. That’s why we are encouraging Aussies to set a reminder every month to test your smoke alarm.”

Smoke alarms are a crucial safety feature in every household, but they can only protect you if they are working properly. To ensure that your smoke alarms are always functioning correctly, Brooks Australia recommends performing regular maintenance checks.

Brooks Australia is urging all Australians to check their smoke alarms once a month by joining #TestitTuesday where on a Tuesday during the month, households set a reminder to test their smoke alarms. To find out more about it, head to https://www.brooks.com.au/homesmoke-alarms

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Hi readers

My mug has once again made it into the sport pages of Burdekin Life after the team I play cricket with, Guardian Pharmacy, took out the Home Hill Cricket Association grand final on the weekend.

You’ll find a photo of the team on the back cover and a report on page 29.

It was only my fourth game of the season, but I started to find my radar with the ball in these last few games and I was happy to be a part of the win.

Congratulations to my teammates on the win, to the other two teams on a terrific season of cricket and to the administrators and volunteers of Home Hill Cricket Association – it’s been a pleasure to write these reports all season and I look forward to experiencing my first Canefield Ashes in a few weeks!

You’ll also see my name mentioned across the page on page 28 it Stephen’s Home Hill Bowls Report, so it would be remiss of me not to mention my stellar bowls form at the moment.

I seem to be finding the jack consistently enough and, along with some other talented bowlers and teammates, have had a few wins in the last few weeks.

Most importantly, I’m loving my sport at the moment and enjoy getting out, meeting new people and having a crack.

Lastly, I must congratulate the talented performers who took the stage on Saturday for the NQ Fast Track Talent Showcase.

The level of talent on that stage absolutely blew me away – you can find results and photos on page 19.

I hope you enjoy the read this week!

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It is likely that Ayr travel agent Pierina Dalle Cort will be declared the next mayor of the Burdekin Shire Council after Burdekin residents hit the polls for the local government election on Saturday, March 16.

At the time of writing, 84.85 per cent of the 12,248 enrolled electors’ votes for mayor had been counted, with 52.92 per cent of those going to Ms Dalle Cort and 47.08 per cent going the way of incumbent mayor Lyn McLaughlin.

Although close, Ms Dalle Cort is expected to be declared the next mayor by the end of the week and said she received a phone call of congratulations from Ms McLaughlin on Saturday evening.

“It was tight to start with and I didn’t expect to get a call from Lyn,” Pierina said.

“I’m excited, the phone hasn’t stopped ringing and, basically, I can’t wait to get in there and start work with the new Burdekin team.”

Ms Dalle Cort served as a councillor on the Burdekin Shire Council for 12 years before being voted out in 2016.

She then unsuccessfully ran for mayor in the 2020 local government election, saying Covid-19 restrictions affected the reach of her campaign.

“I’ve always been interested in council, I’ve been in business for 42 years, been the president of the Chamber of Commerce, I’ve always been involved,” she said.

“I’ve got a very supportive partner who said he’ll support me through this, so I needed to do it, and if I didn’t do it, I would’ve lived with regrets, and they always say don’t live with regrets.”

Ms Dalle Cort said she is eager to improve communication between council and community.

“We need to work together to go through some of the problems that have been facing our community for some time and what’s been holding up our process,” she said.

“I’m there to listen.

“Me and the team (of councillors) have been selected by the Burdekin and we want to hear your message and want to listen to you.”

At the time of writing, 84.79 per cent of the 12,248 enrolled electors’ votes for councillor had been counted, with Amanda Hall, Michael Detenon, Max Musumeci, John Furnell, Fina Vasta and Callan Oar likely to fill the six seats on the Burdekin Shire Council.

In the ten days of early voting leading up to election day, 7,502 residents casted their in-person vote at the Burdekin Sports Club Hall.

Meanwhile, 567 postal votes were issued throughout the shire 365 of those being returned and 337 accepted.

10,190 formal votes for mayor had been accepted at the time of writing while 202 informal votes were received.

Ms McLaughlin had been contacted for comment.

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Caption: Pierina Dalle Cort is likely to be declared the next mayor of the Burdekin Shire Council

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Students and Staff gathered at Home Hill State High School in the heat to help reduce the impact of rubbish to better their school and community on Sunday March 3.

The school thanked all staff and students involved in Clean Up Australia Day including Jack Srisoongneon, Cheynne Worland, Ava Protstat, Zoe Bonanno, Grace Ogomeni, Maliq Ogomeni, Rowen Petersen, Saxon Petersen, Eli Ogomeni, Lucy Young, Louise Hayne, Bridget Zimmerlie, Daniel Hayne, Cruz Torkington, Sean Phayre-Leung, Sharni Smerdon, Faryn Poli, Saelym Poli, Ashlyn Poli, Adam Young and Talin Poli.

Staff involved were Bruce Gall, Lisa Todeschino and Julie Young.

Home Hill State High School thanked everyone involved and said thanks to Tony and the Crown Hotel for the discounted pizza and garlic breads.

Since it’s beginnings over thirty years ago, over twenty million Australians have stepped up and donated their time to improve the environment for Clean Up Australia Day.

The cause’s focus is as much on preventing rubbish entering the environment as it is on removing what has already accumulated.

Clean Up Australia Day is on the first March of every year and everybody is encouraged to participate to help reduce waste in Australia and your community.  

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Caption: Home Hill State High School students participated in Clean Up Australia Day earlier in the month. Photo supplied

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High school students from four Burdekin schools have been equipped with potentially lifesaving tools following the delivery of Road Safety Education Limited’s RYDA (Rotary Youth Driver Awareness) workshop last Friday, March 15.

The program included a full day workshop of six 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, delivered at the Burdekin TAFE Campus.

RYDA Coordinator for the Burdekin Tony Goddard said the program lays the foundation for safe road use throughout their lives and challenges students to think about the role they play in road safety.

“It gives people an awareness of what can go wrong when driving a motor vehicle for the first time,” he said.

“That’s why we’re targeting drivers that are either about to get their Learner’s or are on their Learner’s or maybe they’ve already progressed onto their Provisional license.

“I think there’s been a dramatic decrease in the number of road crashes on our roads … so we hope the program’s working and the message is getting across.”

The program was coordinated by local Rotary clubs, with up to 12 volunteers from Ayr and Home Hill Rotary Clubs assisting on the day.

Sessions were delivered by driving instructors, teachers, police officers, Rotary volunteers and crash victims, with a particularly impactful session coming from guest speakers Lorna and Raymond Abde.

Raymond was left with a brain injury and years of intensive rehabilitation after an incident on May 15, 1998, just nine days shy of his 18th birthday.

Since then, he and his mother, Lorna, have advocated for road safety at events across north Queensland.

“Raymond was a similar age to the students when he had his accident and you can see that the students connect with that while also getting a better understanding of what can happen as a result of road accidents,” said Member for Burdekin Dale Last, who was a police officer based in Charters Towers at the time of the incident and was one of the first on the scene.

“The RYDA Program encourages young people to take a more responsible attitude and Raymond’s story definitely helps in sharing that message.”

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Caption: Guest speakers Lorna and Raymond Abde with RYDA Coordinator Tony Goddard

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Opinion Piece

In a bid to reach a supercharged carbon emissions target, the Federal Government has just announced a proposed Family Car and Ute Tax, which is said to cause extra financial strain for families as well as complications within the automotive industry.

Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox met with several car dealerships within the Dawson electorate this week and said that a major concern is spreading throughout the industry.

“We know this policy is going to have consequences, and those include higher vehicle prices, both new and old, decreased market choice, as well as the very real possibility that consumers will become disincentivised to upgrade their vehicle,” Mr Willcox said.

“These dealerships contribute to the local economy in an enormous way.

“Not only do they employ hundreds of people in the regions, but they give back to the community by supporting multiple charities and sporting clubs.

“During a Labor created cost-of-living crisis, families and individuals in our electorate of Dawson are already hurting and struggling to make ends meet.

“We know that the cost of Australia’s most popular SUVs and Utes will rise by up to $25,000 and in some cases that could push the price up so much they will incur the luxury car tax on top of that, but vehicles as small as a Toyota Corolla will increase in price as well.

“Electric vehicle mechanics are also already in short supply.

“Less than half of all advertised EV technician jobs were filled last year, so even if an individual or family can afford to upgrade their vehicle under this scheme, how are they going to get it serviced?

“We need a sustainable approach to lowering our emissions and this ill-advised policy is not the answer.

“The Coalition believes in a common-sense approach to protecting our environment, but we cannot stand for anything that is going to make it harder for families to manage their budgets, especially during a cost-of-living crisis.”

To have your say and stop Labor’s Family Car and Ute Tax visit www.familycar.tax to sign the petition.

Alternatively, if you have any concerns about the proposed changes, please contact my office at Andrew.Willcox.MP@aph.gov.au.

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Caption: Andrew Willcox MP addresses the potential issues that will affect both the community and automotive industries

Photo Supplied

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