Celebrating an impressive 20 years in business this year, Ellsley Metals has expanded significantly since they first moved into the Industrial Estate over two decades ago.

A second-generation family business, Sabina and Lloyd Ellsley initially took the business over from Lloyd’s parents.

Back then it was a small operation, very different to the large-scale enterprise it is today.

When they took over, Sabina and Lloyd only had one staff member and operated one small truck from one small shed.

Right from the beginning, however, the couple knew they wanted to grow the business and moved into the Ayr Industrial Estate so they could expand as the business evolved.

Back then, the Estate was also in its early stages and Sabina recalls how they had no neighbours when they first moved in, just one shed across the road and vacant blocks all around.

Flash forward 20 years and the industrial estate is now a thriving hub of activity and so too is Ellsley Metal Recycling.

The business now has one high-ab truck, two hook trucks, four prime movers and four excavators.

They also have eight dedicated staff members.

Offering everything from scrap bin service collections to semi-truck and excavator hire, Ellsley Metals look after a range of scrap metal recycling needs.

Largely catering to mines and commercial sites both big and small, Ellsley knows how to make recycling easy with a straightforward service.

Working closely alongside their second business Burdekin Demolition and Construction  Services, Ellsley are able to offer a full demolition service, bolted onto the recycling process so that customers only need to make one phone call to get the whole job done.

For the smaller contractor or individual household, Ellsley also offer a friendly in-yard service.

Simply drive your truck to the site, sort through and weigh up your scrap metal, you can then collect the cash at the window straight away.

Quick, easy and straightforward - scrap metal recycling is always at your fingertips with Ellsley Metals – find them at 41 McCathie Street Ayr or call 4783 1841.

What can you recycle?

• Steel

• Batteries

• Copper

• Brass

• Aluminium

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The friendly team at Ellsley Metals Recycling. Photo credit Sam Gillespie

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Led by a passionate crew of locals for the past three generations, McCathies Furniture Plus is a vibrant store dedicated to bringing the community a range of quality furniture.

“We pride ourselves on good old-fashioned service,” said third generation owner Kari Ravizza.

“If we don’t have what you are looking for, we will do our best to find it for you and being an independent furniture store, we can source different products and have exclusive ranges that you won’t see in the chain stores.”  

McCathies Furniture Plus was first opened in 1974 by Kari’s grandparents, Jack and Milly McCathie, and back then it was known as Ayr Secondhand Dealers.

Jack and Milly were an entrepreneurial pair, starting many successful businesses including Supreme Taxi Service, Macs Milk Bar, Macs Ayr Toyland, McCathies Real Estate, McCathie and Jones Travel Agency, to name a few.

The original furniture store was located where Burdekin Motors is today but when Kari’s parents John and Lyndy McCathie took over the business, they relocated to its current location at 262 Queen Street, Ayr.

While the store primarily sold second hand furniture back then, it also sold new foam mattresses and new furniture, a direction the McCathies wished to pursue, turning the store into an entirely new furniture store in 1998.

Since then, they haven’t looked back and when Kari and her husband Rob Ravizza decided to return to the Burdekin and join the family business in 2013, the third generation started to take the business forward into another new era of growth and success.

“The introduction of our website has kept us extra busy, and we ship Australia-wide!” said Kari.

“Another point of difference for McCathies Furniture Plus is that we sell off the floor – if you see it in store, you can have it straight away, no waiting!  

“We’ll even deliver to you locally for free!”

“If you haven’t been in for a while, it is definitely time you checked us out in-store and on-line.  We’d love to help you with your new furniture and bedding needs.”

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Three Generations:  Left to right – Lyndy McCathie, Kari Ravizza, Rob Ravizza, John McCathie – holding a photo of Milly, Jack McCathie and also Murphy the dog. Photo supplied

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The Feast Day of St. Colman was celebrated with a dinner and fun-filled entertainment on Friday, October 20 at St Colman's Catholic School, Home Hill.

The audience was entertained with Samoan dancers, comedy skits by Home Hill Choral Society – which left the crowd with sore cheeks from laughter, a crowd immersion into a "Pub Choir", trivia and poetry from a local farmer.

Everyone enjoyed their night tremendously.  

Mass on Sunday morning was a combined affair with Samoan and Italian singers and pupils from the school being involved in the celebrations.

A morning tea followed where all were able to take time to sit and enjoy each other's company.

Contributed by Gloria Vass

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The Burdekin Neighbourhood Centre recently held their Annual General Meeting, a time for members to reflect on achievements and lessons learnt over the past year.

Reports were presented by President Kay Duggan, Treasurer Elvie Dickinson and Centre Coordinator Natalie Saroglia, as well as committee members Bev Garioch, Leonie Harch and Mary Pattinson attending the AGM.

Councillor John Furnell followed on with a presentation of an annual donation to the Burdekin Neighbourhood Centre, on behalf of the Burdekin Shire Council.

The Burdekin Neighbourhood Centre provided $1,781,581 in community value during 2023. This value equated to $7.46 for every $1 of Queensland Government Neighbourhood Centre funding, or $296.93 for each hour the Neighbourhood Centre was in use.

With a vision to re-energise the Centre at Committee Level, the AGM encouraged new memberships and the sharing of professional skills possessed by community members to benefit the wider community.

With a new five-year funding agreement with the Queensland Department of Communities, it will be an exciting time experimenting with different activities to meet the social and wellbeing needs of the community.

With a combined 90 years of service between them – Kay, Elvie, Bev and Marilyn have been champions of the Centre.  Without their involvement, the Centre would not be where it is today.

The long-term effort put in by the four ladies, volunteering their time to make events happen is why the Centre has a strong stability.

Utilising the experiences and skills of people within the committee is vital to the Centre in order to add value, offer sociability and support groups to the Burdekin region.

The Burdekin Neighbourhood Centre will see a new building phase in the coming year, both physically and in terms of the programs available.

The Centre is looking forward to having a number of upgraded extensions, from construction of a new storage area to conversion of the garage to in turn create more office space.

The Neighbourhood Centre has a number of funding submissions and are currently awaiting outcomes to allow them to extend activities at the Centre.

With the Centre operating under a community-minded development focus, it looks forward to seeing what can be achieved by working alongside members of the Burdekin region.

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President Kay Duggan, Vice President Denise Wallace, Treasurer Elvie Dickinson, Cr. John Furnell and Centre Co-Ordinator Natalie Saroglia

Photo supplied

Students from Home Hill State High School were recently given new insight into North Queensland’s key agricultural industries thanks to a new initiative from The Tropical North Queensland Drought Hub (TNQ Drought Hub) in partnership with the AgForce School to Industry Partnership Program.

The AgInspiration program and TNQ Drought Hub partnership aims to shed light on the promising and vast careers in agribusiness and introduce high school students to the various pathways on offer.

TNQ Drought Hub Program Lead Jane Oorschot said the program provided 23 Year 10 and 11 students with the opportunity to engage first-hand with experts in the agricultural field.

“The agricultural industry is continually evolving and changing, and as the saying goes, ‘you don’t know what you don’t know’,” said Dr Oorschot.

“Students had the opportunity to learn about the diverse career opportunities in the agricultural sector whilst gaining insights into the skills and qualifications required in a variety of industries.

“It also really made students aware of the multitude of possibilities within the sector, spanning from production to cutting-edge technology and beyond.”

Day one saw students explore the meat processing industry with a visit to JBS Townsville and learnt more about the job roles within The Port of Townsville, which included a tour of the premises.

The second day featured a behind-the-scenes tour at North Queensland Fresh in Bowen, showcasing the journey of capsicums from farm to consumer, technological advancements, and diverse career options available in produce.

Students also explored Ag-related courses at TAFE Townsville and experienced cutting-edge technology, including Farmbot and VR headsets, before embarking on a visit to Coral Coast Barramundi, where students got to see Barramundi varieties as well as the hatching sheds and outdoor ponds.

Day three featured an insight into prawn farming with Pacific Reef Fisheries where students explored the different areas within the business, from prawn spawning to packing, and learnt about the efficiency improvements brought by their algae farm, Pacific Bio.

The final tour of the program took them to Rocks Farming Company, Queensland’s largest family-owned sugarcane farm, where Students had the chance to tour the 2700-hectare enterprise and see first-hand how it uses technological advancements to improve its operations.

Louise Nicholas, Teacher of Agricultural Science at Home Hill State High School said programs like AgInspiration are the key to fostering the next generation of agricultural innovators.  

“The engagement of the Home Hill State High School Year 10 and Year 11 students over this three-day tour has provided a unique opportunity to witness local agriculture in action, fostering a deeper appreciation for the complexities, challenges, and innovations within the field,” said Ms Nicholas.  

“This outlook allows students to make informed choices about their future and potentially become the next generation of agricultural leaders, contributing to the sustainability, evolving needs and growth of this crucial industry.”

The AgInspiration program took place in the Burdekin from October 10-12.

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23 Home Hill State High School toured agriculture businesses throughout north Queensland. Photo supplied

Karrie Webb Inspires Young Golfers

The Ayr Golf Club played host to an exceptional weekend of sporting talent during the annual Karrie Webb Junior Masters, a testament to the enduring legacy of one of Australia's golfing icons. With a total of 66 junior golfers taking to the greens, this event showcased not only the emerging talents but also the commitment to nurturing young golfers in the country.

Participants ranged from 18-hole players to those competing in shorter rounds, with families from the local community and avid players traveling from as far as Brisbane, Yeppoon, and Cairns. The diversity of the field highlighted the tournament's significance within the junior golfing community.

Evelyn Webb, Karrie Webb's mother and one of the tournament's organisers, emphasised the event's growing prominence. She reflected on how this annual gathering has evolved over the years, stating, “I think it’s gotten bigger. Helen Oar, myself and the junior committee have run this now for the last three times and it’s just gotten bigger and bigger,” she said.

“With the state accreditation attached to it, it will hopefully grow into the future."

Evelyn highlighted the increased participation of girls in this year's event, aligning with Golf Australia's efforts to bolster women's golf. She underlined the importance of junior golf, emphasising that clubs need to nurture young talent to secure the sport's future.

"Junior golf is what we’re trying to grow across the board because clubs have got to realise that without juniors, their clubs won’t have people playing in 20 years’ time," she added.

“Our girls numbers have increased this year, so we had more this year than we’ve had before.”

The significance of this tournament lies in its attachment to the legendary Karrie Webb, one of Australia's golfing treasures. Karrie, who has achieved astounding success in her golfing career, including 41 victories on the LPGA Tour and seven Major Championships, is celebrated as one of the sport's iconic figures. She was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame at the age of 30, the youngest ever inductee.

Karrie met with some of the Burdekin’s rising golf stars on the Friday afternoon before the tournament to sign autographs and inspire the next generation, much like how Greg Norman inspired her own career from a young age.

Evelyn Webb further commented on the importance of this tournament for Karrie, saying, "It’s the only tournament Karrie has her name attached to in Australia.

“She does a lot for junior golf and women’s golf in particular. For her, it’s special, and she’s been here for the last two years.

“I think that’s how she sees her future, developing junior and golf and women’s golf in particular."

The tournament's winner in the 18-hole boys' category was Patrick Brennan, who displayed exceptional skills and secured the title with a total gross score of 150 shots over two days. The 18-hole girls' category saw Lily McGuiness emerge as the Champion Girl, with a total gross score of 151 shots over 36 holes. Karrie Webb herself was present throughout the weekend, presenting the winners with their well-deserved prizes. As young golfers completed their rounds on Sunday, they shared a special moment with Karrie Webb, gathering for a group photo.

This gathering also included the end-of-year presentations for Golf North Queensland, underlining the tournament's significance in the broader golfing community.

The tournament wouldn’t be a success without the assistance of fantastic sponsors.

Mizuno Golf and TG Spares Ltd sponsored the event, while Burdekin Life Newspaper is thankful for the continued support of Ayr Golf Club’s Junior Sponsors who helped to make this feature possible through advertising, Coral Coast Marine, Oar and Horan Dentists, Swerve Surf & Ski and Coar Engineering.

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Karrie Webb Junior Masters Results

3 hole Gross winner Curtis Borellini

3 hole Gross runner up Imogen Ward

3 hole Nett winner Ella Church      

3 hole Nett runner up Ivy Land

6 hole Girl Gross winner Renee Ward

6 hole Girl Gross runner up Harper Ellul

6 hole Girl Nett winner Tegan Saxby

6 hole Girl Nett runner up Evelyn Mahoney

6 hole Boys Gross winner Xavier Church    

6 hole Boys Gross runner up Parker Oar    

6 hole Boys Nett winner Ethan Pengelly    

6 hole Boys Nett runner up Kyle Wilkie

9 hole Girl Gross winner Chloe Pratley

9 hole Girl Nett winner Terrianna Omeli

9 hole Boys Gross winner Hudson Calvert

9 hole Boys Gross runner up Clayton Walsh

9 hole Boys Nett winner Ikie McGrath

9 hole Nett runner up Lleyton Brown

18 hole Girls Gross winner and KWJM Champion Lily McGuiness

18 hole Girls Gross runner up Hayley Jenkins

18 hole Girls Nett winner Sophie Moffat

18 hole Girls Nett winner Gabby Cahill

18 hole Boys Gross winner and KWJM Champion Patrick Brennan

18 hole Boys Gross runner up Dallas Douglas

18 hole Boys Nett winner Jim Breen

18 hole Boys Nett runner up Blake Lovelock

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Evelyn Webb, Karrie Webb and Callan Oar were joined by Burdekin golfing juniors to meet Karrie before the junior masters tournament in her name. Photo credit: Melanie Napier Memories and Photography

I’ve really been getting into birds lately.

I’ve always appreciated animals and nature, my love of birds probably starting back when I’d watch and feed the family chickens as they humorously clucked around the backyard.

I started to enjoy the call if a bird more and get more of a kick out of watching them flit through the sky or shuffle along the grass.

I bought books, uncovered an old pair of binoculars and went on a few birdwatching walks while I lived in Brisbane and all were enjoyable, but the information never really stuck.

I posed this to Matt Killeen when we went birdwatching on Friday to complete his daily count for the Aussie Bird Count, an initiative of Birdlife Australia allowing them to get an idea of the health and quantity of birds all over Australia.

As someone who has only been into birding for less than six months, Matt seemed to have a wealth of knowledge, and gave me a few handy tips.

Firstly, he said rather than studying books, it could be more effective to start with taking a photo of some birds then going home and researching that specific bird.

He also told me a few hotspots around the Burdekin, particularly Horseshoe Lagoon, so I’m looking forward to packing the binoculars and the camera and going on a bit of an expedition sometime soon.

I’ll be sure to share my newfound passion in the Burdekin Birding Facebook group, where local bird lovers post photos, questions and information about local birdlife.

Flick to page 27 for the full story.

I’d also like to once again thank Gracie Hosie for her time and efforts last week as she engaged in some work experience for Burdekin Life.

Gracie’s provided us with an update of what she’s been up to since leaving the Burdekin, so check out page 15 to hear from her!

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The AGM of the Molongle Creek Boat Club Inc saw the end of an era for the Treasurer, Margaret Linton.

Margaret has held the position for a total of 21 years and diligently kept the financial books of the club.

She has witnessed millions of dollars go in and out of the club over this period of active development of the Molongle Creek Boat Ramp facility.

Recently, the culmination of a Federal Government grant of around one million dollars to build a multi-purpose complex, housing a licenced café club rooms and a manager’s residence, has put the icing on the cake for the facility.

Margaret has been one of those who would make sure every single dollar which passes her hands was accounted for and was able to identify to the other committee members where the money went and whether it was well spent.

After 21 years, she is looking forward to retirement from the club but is concerned that there may not be another willing volunteer to take over for the future, she said.

Commodore Ken Betteridge presented her with a bunch of flowers as a small token of the tireless effort she put in.

Ken has asked members to consider taking this position of treasurer of the club to help the club move forward into the future.    

Contributed by Joe Linton

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Molongle Creek Boat Club Commodore Ken Betteridge presented flowers to outgoing Treasurer Margaret Linton after 21 years. Photo supplied

The Burdekin Shire Council’s Capital Works Program is enhancing infrastructure across the Burdekin region, encompassing various completed and ongoing projects, showing an ongoing commitment to strategic investment in new assets, existing asset renewals and upgrades.  

These ongoing initiatives are consistent with the strategic objectives identified in the 2022-2027 Corporate Plan, said Burdekin Shire Council Mayor Lyn McLaughlin, and Council is taking strides and making progress towards the envisioned goals through both new and upgraded infrastructure.  

Ms McLaughlin said Council has completed a number of projects this year including the Kirknie Landfill production bore, pump and header tank, Garrone Road restoration, Jacks Road extension in Brandon, emergency generators at Home Hill and Brandon sewage pump stations, sewage pump upgrades and replacements, water valve and hydrant replacements and the urban resealing works program.

“In a stride towards improved connectivity and safety, the Barratta Road reconstruction project has recently been completed,” she added.

“The final bitumen seal was applied on Tuesday 26 September enhancing the road’s overall safety, connectivity and drainage.

“The road is now fully reopened to traffic, ensuring a smoother and more secure travel experience for the residents and visitors.

“The new street seat, bin and planter combinations in the Home Hill CBD not only beautify the region but also support local businesses through the manufacture of the new furniture locally.

“The construction of the Burdekin Be-Active Trail in Home Hill is progressing well, aligning with our vision of promoting active living within our community.

“This trail will encourage residents to lead healthier lives by providing safe pedestrian pathways.

“We urge motorists to exercise caution and follow signage, ensuring the safety of all during the works.

“The Ayr Industrial Estate expansion is progressing well with the fill soil being transported from the Macro Algae Facility where the soil was used for pre-loading.

“The strategic reuse not only minimises costs but also ensures flood immunity for the new subdivision at the Ayr Industrial Estate.”

The Burdekin Shire Council thanked the community for its continued support and patience during these vital projects, saying these initiatives are pivotal to the growth and prosperity of the region, creating safer, more attractive spaces for residents and visitors.

Burdekin Shire Council continues the Capital Works Program to enhance infrastructure in the region.

For more information on Burdekin Shire Council’s Capital Projects phone Council’s Customer Service Centre on 4783 9800 or visit burdekin.qld.gov.au.

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Birds eye view of the Ayr Industrial Estate showing the fill soil which was transported from the Macro Algae Facility

Uli Liessmann has been busy organising the Home Hill Harvest Festival Ephemera while creating his own entries, but another project that goes hand in hand with the Ephemera installations has come into fruition – one that has been over a decade in the making.

Visitors to Lloyd Mann Park will be familiar with the Stonehenge-inspired structure created by local artist Scotty Apelt.

The structure, titled ‘The Gateway to Home Hill’, has now been covered with over 1,300 photos collected from around the town, an effort of Uli and other locals that has taken 15 months to complete.

The photos have been collected from a number of sources, including longtime locals who have shared their photos and memories with Uli.

“There’s a lot of pictures I wanted to get in, but I just couldn’t because of the quality,” Uli said.

“Some of these would date back to the early 1900s, if not older.”

The photos have been printed onto “the best vinyl money can buy,” and is hoped to be in place for at least 10 years.

“I’m extremely pleased with it, I really am,” Uli said.

“I really hope people use it as a photo backdrop for their photos.

“People might walk in and spend hours looking at it, and I really hope they do.

Longtime local and former boatbuilder Barry Dale spent his Thursday afternoon at ‘the Gateway to Home Hill’ exploring the photos and going down memory lane.

“I think it’s fantastic; it’s unbelievable,” Barry said.

“I didn’t think they could do this sort of stuff, it’s fantastic.

“You can go back and you can see the people who used to be old when you were young, it’s lovely.”

‘The Gateway to Home Hill’ joins three other permanent installations at Lloyd Mann Park, ‘That is the Question’, ‘Open to New Ideas’ and ‘The Point Is…’ all by Uli.

Home Hill Harvest Festival’s Ephemera installations are currently in place at the park and will be until the end of the festival.

Find out more about the Ephemera on pages 24-26.

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Uli Liessmann stands in front of ‘the Gateway to Home Hill’ while Barry Dale peruses the photos. Photo credit: Sam Gillespie

The Queensland and Australian Government’s decision to ban commercial gillnet fishing was met with an onslaught of industry outcry as Federal Member for Dawson, Andrew Willcox, called for an inquiry into the decision alongside Senator Susan McDonald and Senator Jonathon Duniam.

The motion, which was put forward in the Senate on Tuesday last week, would have allowed the industry and the fishers whose licences are at stake to have their say after the decision was made without any prior consultation.

“My Parliamentary colleagues and I put the motion forward last week to hold a Senate Inquiry and disappointingly, the Labor government and the Greens voted no,” Mr Willcox said.

“This decision has silenced the 90 or so licenced fishermen and women in North Queensland whose jobs will be on the chopping block come December this year and refuses to let them make their case.

“This inquiry would have finally given these individuals a voice and the opportunity to have their concerns heard before their lives were changed forever and for no good reason, but Labor and the Greens have taken away any opportunity for this to happen.

Mr Willcox has met with many north Queensland fishers and said the decision to remove their licences is “ridiculous”.

“These hard-working men and women don’t fish anywhere near the Great Barrier Reef, and for some communities here in North Queensland, they rely on these businesses,” he said.

“It’s not only the fishers themselves, but the chandlery shops, ice makers, outboard services and sales businesses, fish mongers, local fish and chip shops, and the Australian public who are going to be impacted.

“They may think they have silenced the fishermen and women who will be affected by this decision, but they haven’t silenced me, and I will continue to fight for the people of Dawson.”

To have your say, head to haveyoursay.agriculture.gov.au/fisheries-policy-reviews.

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Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox. Photo credit: Sam Gillespie

A joyride through Sandfly Creek Reserve has landed an adventurous driving enthusiast in a "sticky situation." This environmental escapade, which left extensive damage in its wake, led to the issuance of Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs).

Senior Conservation Officer Craig Dunk said a member of the public provided information to the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) about a four-wheel-drive that became bogged in the reserve.

“As part of our investigation, we went to Sandfly Creek Reserve and obtained drone footage of the area,” Mr Dunk said.

“The driver has deliberately driven through the wetland, which is a sensitive environment, and gotten bogged to the axles.

“They have then contacted a towing company for assistance, and our investigation found the company sent two retrieval vehicles into the reserve.”

Mr Dunk added that in trying to find a point to set their winches, the towing company has caused further environmental harm to the wetland.

“They were able to retrieve the four-wheel-drive, and we thank the member of the public for providing us with information,” he said.

“That information allowed us to contact the driver of the vehicle and the towing company, and both admitted to entering the reserve unlawfully.

“When we reviewed the drone footage we were dismayed because the extensive environmental damage looks like scars and could take years to recover.”

Mr Dunk said rangers routinely conducted patrols of reserves under their control and use covert cameras and drones for compliance purposes and members of the community provide another set of eyes.

“Members of the community generally love and respect natural areas and will report any illegal or suspicious activity,” he said.

“We issued the driver of the four-wheel-drive and the towing company with a $1,437 fine, and we make no apologies for that―such areas should not be treated like a four-wheel-drive playground.”

Mr Dunk said that towing companies also need to check with QPWS before they attempt to retrieve any vehicles from its lands, as they may require permits for off-road retrievals.

“Rangers and the Queensland Police Service also intercepted a man leaving Bowling Green Bay National Park in an unregistered side by side vehicle,” he added.

“The man used the national park to access a fishing spot and was issued with a $287 PIN for driving an unregistered vehicle and a $287 PIN for driving off road in the national park.”

Anyone with information about unlawful access to our protected areas, or people causing environmental damage, can report it by calling 1300 130 372.

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Photo credit: Department of Environment and Science

Under the watchful eye of Member for Burdekin, Dale Last MP, the promise of new facilities at Home Hill State High School has been carefully monitored and it has now become apparent that the deadline has not been met.

Mr Last asserts that greenhouses and a shed that were promised to the school were expected to be complete by the second half of 2023, however, the time frame has lapsed and so too have the promises.

“You would think that, in an area like ours, providing the resources to educate students for the ag and horticulture industries would be a priority,” Mr Last said.  

“The reality is the project is three years behind schedule and the Minister’s most recent commitment to the project hasn’t been honoured.”

“In October last year, parents of students at the school raised the issue and I took it straight to the Minister.  

“Minister Grace’s response was that it would be ‘ready for use in the second half of 2023’ but that obviously is not going to happen.”

“The parents, students and school staff deserve answers, not more delays.”

The Burdekin economy is largely dependent on a skilled agricultural workforce with 20 per cent of the population working within the sector.

There are over 1000 sugar and produce growers in the region, with an annual output of $2.1 billion.

With these figures in mind, it is easy to see how essential facilities, like those promised to Home Hill State High, are integral to both students and the future of the broader community.

Mr Last said resources for schools were one of his highest priorities given the need to equip students for future careers, the benefit for the community and the already high workload for teachers and staff.

“Facilities like these are essential for our schools because they mean we have students who graduate with skills they can use locally that also make an impact on the community through primary industries,” he said.  

“Teachers are doing their best but, because they don’t have the resources they need, it means extra work for them and outcomes for students that aren’t as beneficial as they could be.”

“In government terms this isn’t a huge project but the benefits that it will provide for students at Home Hill High are huge.  All we are asking for is for the Minister to honour her commitment and for students in our area to get their fair share.”

“You can’t make promises and not keep them, especially promises about our kids future.”

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Home Hill High students enjoy agricultural lessons and would really benefit from new facilities. Photo supplied

By Gracie Hosie

Over the months of 2023, Burdekin has witnessed some of its local youth truly shine, and Darcy Miller is one of them.

On the night of August 24, Darcy was awarded Service Apprentice of the Year at the annual John Deere Technician Awards in Brisbane.

This achievement is nothing short of spectacular, in fact, a public statement by John Deere stated the service apprentice of the year is one of their “most competitive categories”.

More than 100 nominations were received across all categories within Australia.

In July, Darcy was chosen to represent Queensland and Northern Territory as a finalist in his category, making him one of six finalists across Australia and New Zealand for service apprentice of the year.

From a young age, Darcy knew what he was destined for: “I’ve loved tractors since I was a kid and regularly volunteered for work experience at Honeycombes before starting a school-based apprenticeship which led to full-time work,” he said.

Darcy thanks his grandfather for sharing his love for machinery with him from a young age, which led him to progress from working on mowers to cane harvesters and tractors.

As Darcy progresses towards the end of his apprenticeship, he feels a great sense of gratitude for his passions being rewarded.

“Receiving an award like this reassures me that my efforts and level of work is of a great standard…as well as reassuring that this is an industry for me,” he said.

The Burdekin region is extremely proud of Darcy’s achievements and to have him a part of not only our community but our local agricultural industry confirms that the future of our community is bright.

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Mark Barrett with Darcy Miller and Steve Wright being awarded service apprentice of the year. Photo supplied

When Ross Romeo lost a close friend to suicide in 2005, he went searching for answers, ultimately leading him to his role with Community Response to Eliminating Suicide (CORES).

“At the time, you just go into survival mode, do what you can and get through as best you can and later on, when things settled down, the questions started coming along so I went looking for some answers,” Mr Romeo said.

CORES is a community-based program relying on volunteers to educate members of the community on how to intervene when they encounter a person they believe may be suicidal.

Originating in regional Tasmania, the program held its first training session in the Burdekin in 2008 thanks to Peter Shadforth.

“I went along and found it quite easy to understand and practical,” Mr Romeo said.

“While it didn’t change what had happened, it definitely helped me understand it better.”

A cane farmer of over 30 years, Mr Romeo trained to become a facilitator which led him to his role as Queensland Coordinator and Counsellor.

He now leads the program that provides suicide prevention training and free counselling to the Burdekin and surrounding regions.

“We give people some basic skills to know what to look out for and, more importantly, what to say, what to do and where to go for help,” Mr Romeo said.

“The rural communities are open to it and want to take ownership, so the training gives them some skills to help them recognise that they can’t fix anything for anyone - in the end change has got to come from the individual - our job as a friend or community member is to create the environment for that and help people unlock the tools.”

Up until two years ago, the program was reliant on fundraising and community donations, for which Mr Romeo thanked the Burdekin community.

“While the money raised here stays here, it has helped lift our profile which then gets people wanting more information from different communities and that’s how we’ve been able to spread,” he said.

“What was started here in the Burdekin has reached a long way, so people don’t know what good they’ve done not just for this community but a lot of other communities.”

Being a community-led organisation, CORES relies on volunteers to facilitate its training sessions.

“The volunteers are everything to us,” Mr Romeo said.

“I really admire them; they give up their time simply because they want to give something back and stand in a room and talk to people about such a heavy subject.

“It’s a big job, but we’ve got a lot of terrific facilitators here in the Burdekin and other communities.”

CORES will be holding a training session in the Burdekin before the end of the year.

To learn more, visit cores.org.au/queensland or email coresqld@kentishrc.com.au.

If this story raises any issues, please visit your regular GP, call Lifeline on 13 11 14, contact CORES on 0427 455 313 or, in a crisis, present to an emergency department.

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CORES Queensland Coordinator Ross Romeo