Hi Everyone,

Fantastic to be back in the region over the past few weeks and I’ve really enjoyed connecting with so many people in the community.

First-up was the Home Hill Chamber of Commerce meeting where our Sales Manager Trish and I came along to chat to local business owners and, of course, support our journalist Mark in his engaging talk about his novel.

Next up, it was the Sweet Days Hot Nights launch evening where we were thrilled to chat with event organisers and express our wishes to become Media Partner for the event. We are very much looking forward to throwing our support behind this and extending our coverage over the coming months.

Lastly, I was up early the next morning (which happened to be my birthday!) to celebrate in style at the Industry Breakfast where it was good to see lots of familiar faces from the night before.

As you will all know, the region is positively bursting with culture and character! There are always exciting events coming up and plenty of reasons for us all to get together.

As an ‘out of towner’ (I reside in the Whitsundays but come to the Burdekin at least once a month), I am always thrilled to be so genuinely welcomed by everyone.

I remember at the Industry Breakfast in September 2023 when we launched the first edition of the paper – it was such an exhilarating morning, and I am glad we are still delivering for your region 18 months on.

It is an absolute honour to be part of the team bringing your weekly news to you and I love working alongside all the local businesses.

A big congrats this week goes to Carla and her team at Raine & Horne Ayr for bringing back some state awards last weekend.

If you are a business with something to celebrate, make sure you give us a call, we’d love to help you get the word out.

Rach

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We’re Two Months Into The Year, What’s Something You’ve Done You’re Happy With Or What Do You Have Coming Up That You’re Looking Forward To?

John: “I’m retired now but I used to work at the old Farry’s supermarket here in Home Hill as a butcher. I've been here 28 years now, I lost my partner about six years ago, I live by myself and so I just relax now. I got a son in town, and a daughter in Newcastle, another in Torquay, Melbourne. But now that I'm retired, I just go to a local here and have a few beers and relax and enjoy myself with a few good friends.”

Katrina T: “Well, there's two things that I'm happy about. While I was not happy about the floods I was still able to work during them with everything that was going on, which was wonderful. And I'm looking forward to going to Canberra in August for a Lipedema conference. It's a condition that one in 10 women can have. It’s where the body can’t break down a particular sort of fat. There’s not really much known about it. This is the eleventh conference and it runs for about two and half a days. I hope to learn a little bit more because I have some clients that have it."

Denny: “I’m looking forward to footy season starting, I guess. I follow Parramatta, which is all right. It causes a bit of fun and banter. I’d also love to take a nice holiday somewhere but I haven’t booked anywhere yet. The kids want to go to New Zealand to the snow, me, I just do what I’m told to do. So New Zealand in winter is the plan I guess. I’ve also been renovating. We put in a pool, I put in a shed. That’s it for me I suppose.”

Kevin: “Townsville! We’ve friends there so we're going there to stay with them for a week. We’ve come from Central Coast, New South Wales. It’s been a nice drive. We’ve taken three weeks to do it after we took a bit of a detour because of the storms early on. We didn't know what the weather was going to do, so we slowed the trip down, then ducked out to Lightning Ridge as we always wanted to go out there. So that’s where we went. I do contract work, so work six months straight then take a few months off. After Townsville, we just turn around and come home again.”

Katrina B: “What am I happy with? I'm happy with the growth that my shop has had. I'm getting things together slowly and just, yeah, building on that, building on making the shop better. I’d like more customers. Something I am looking forward to is a family reunion we’ve got coming up in May. That’s in Cairns so I’ll be shutting the shop for that to attend. The one that I did 10 years ago, we had 150 people! There’s a few of us. This time around though, it won’t be as big as a lot of people couldn’t make it. It’s harder to organise than running a business sometimes trying to get everyone there.”

John White is just looking forward to relaxing more and having some quiet beers.
Katrina Thorn’s happy she could work during the floods and keen to go to a conference.
Denny Webster’s keen for footy season to start and taking a holiday somewhere.
Kevin Grew is on his way up to Townsville to stay with friends for a week.
Katrina Bowen is happy with her shop’s growth while planning for a big family reunion.

Photo credit: Mark T. Rasmussen

CANEGROWERS has written to the Federal Government, urging Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to raise the disaster recovery grant threshold to at least $75,000 for primary producers impacted by the recent flooding in north Queensland.

It has been more than two weeks since the government announced recovery assistance packages of up to $25,000 for affected growers.  

While growers are grateful for the swift response and the inclusion of replant costs in recovery grants, reports from the ground make it clear that $25,000 is simply not enough to support the worst-affected farming businesses, CANEGROWERS CEO Dan Galligan said.

"Growers appreciate the rapid response from both state and federal governments in announcing assistance following these devastating floods. However, as primary producers assess the damage, it’s evident that $25,000 barely scratches the surface for some of the hardest-hit farming businesses,” Mr Galligan said.

"The reality is the cost of recovery has risen dramatically. Prices for goods and services have soared over recent years, and primary producers are facing these higher costs as they work to rebuild their businesses. The level of support must reflect today’s economic conditions.

"We have written to the Prime Minister, urging the Federal Government to act as, we understand the Queensland Government has requested."

Beyond immediate relief, CANEGROWERS is calling for the following actions to help modernise disaster funding:

Updating the definition of a primary producer to reflect modern farm ownership, including those with off-farm income.

Ensuring grants are sufficient by indexing them to match rising recovery costs.

Improving workforce support to help businesses retain staff during recovery periods.

Establishing a dedicated pool of rural recovery officers embedded within industry groups to expedite recovery efforts.

"These aren’t just feel-good reforms – they are essential for keeping farms, communities, and industries viable after disasters," Mr Galligan said.

“CANEGROWERS, along with our partners at Queensland Farmers’ Federation and other commodity groups, will keep working with the state and federal governments to modernise how we approach disaster recovery.

“But in the meantime, it’s vital the grant threshold is increased. Farmers need this support now so they can get back to growing Australia’s food and fibre.”

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On Act of Kindness Day, Ayr State Primary School was privileged to receive a heartfelt and thoughtful donation from Mrs Penny Ford. With creativity and compassion, Mrs Ford transformed scrap materials into stunning library bags, pencil cases, and bookmarks, providing the students with unique, handcrafted items to enhance their learning experience through reading.

The donation, made from upcycled materials, not only promotes sustainability but also serves as a reminder of the power of giving. Each item tells a story of care and dedication, turning what might have been discarded material into something meaningful and useful.

The arrival of the donated items was perfectly timed with Act of Kindness Day, adding an extra layer of significance to the occasion. Students were thrilled to receive their new library accessories, which will surely spark even more excitement for reading and learning.

School captains Ruby and Sage personally thanked Mrs Ford for her kind donation, presenting her with a handwritten card from the Birburu class Year 4/5/6 as a token of their appreciation.

In a greater act of kindness, Mrs Ford has plans to create more items for the rest of the school.

Words cannot express how thankful the school is for her generosity and the lasting impact her donation will make in the school.

Ayr State Primary School is fortunate to be part of such a caring community, and they extended their deepest thanks to Mrs Penny Ford for her incredible contribution.

This thoughtful gesture will leave a lasting impact, reminding us of the joy that comes from sharing kindness with others.

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Nineteen new apprentices have kicked off their careers with Wilmar Sugar and Renewables. The new recruits are based in the Burdekin region, where Wilmar owns four sugar factories.

The apprenticeships are in the electrical, fitting and turning, boilermaking and diesel fitting trades.

Wilmar Sugar and Renewables Training Superintendent Daniel Shipard said he was pleased to welcome such a high-calibre group of first-year apprentices into the business.

“Wilmar Sugar and Renewables has a long history of developing great tradespeople in our sugar milling regions.

“We’re one of North Queensland’s largest apprenticeship providers, with about 150 apprentices employed across our operations at any one time. Our program is also one of the most successful Australia, with a completion rate of 98 per cent.”

Mr Shipard said this year’s intake included five young women, one of whom had transitioned from a school-based apprenticeship with the company.

“We’ve also signed up five seasonal employees who were keen to get into our apprenticeship program and learn a trade,” he said.

Brooke Smith from the Burdekin was Wilmar’s first school-based apprentice and is now enrolled as an apprentice boilermaker at Pioneer Mill.

She said she was excited to be working full time and developing her trade skills.

“Getting into Wilmar’s apprenticeship program means I’m finally going to get more experience and get more involved in what goes in the workshops. It also means I can really be part of the Wilmar business, instead of just being there one day a week,” she said.

Mr Shipard said the first-year apprentices kicked off their trade training with a two-week Safe Start program in December before beginning work at their respective sites.

“Our Safe Start program equips our apprentices to hit the ground running,” Mr Shipard said.

“It’s a comprehensive introduction that gives them important safety and technical skills, as well as the confidence to thrive in their new roles.”

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Jayde Holm and Brooke Smith from the Burdekin region have signed on as first-year boilermaking apprentices with Wilmar Sugar and Renewables. Brooke (right), has transitioned from a school-based apprenticeship with the company.

Wilmar Sugar and Renewables new Burdekin apprentices, back from left, Casey Calligaro (electrical), David Saunders (electrical), Dominik Arrate (fitting and turning), Jaxon Baldwin (diesel fitting) and Lucas Gabiola (fitting and turning). Front from left, Corey Baker (electrical), Jayde Holm (boilermaking), Cooper Raitelli (electrical), Jayden Shelton (electrical), Brooke Smith (boilermaking), Luca Lago (boilermaking) and Jacob Rossato (fitting and turning). Absent are Samantha Christensen (boilermaking), Brad Patti (boilermaking), Daniel Johnson (electrical), William Ghobrial (fitting and turning) and Dominic Forman (diesel fitting).

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Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox believes that residents in the electorate of Dawson have again been let down by the Government when it comes to the Bruce Highway being upgraded.

He states that Queenslanders were promised $7.2 billion in funding by the Prime Minister to fix the notoriously dangerous highway.

However, in evidence to the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport estimates hearings on Monday, department officials confirmed that just $432 million would be spent on the Bruce Highway in the next three years.

“Again the Labor Government have not been upfront with Queenslanders on when workers could get started to fix the highway,” Federal Member for Dawson, Andrew Willcox said.

“Only $30 million out of $7.2 billion will be allocated to the Highway over the next 16 months which is simply not good enough.”

“Tragically 43 lives have been lost on the Bruce Highway last year which has a devastating impact for families.”

“The community have been calling for the road to be fixed with more than 1,000 residents signing my Back Our Bruce petition which has been presented at Parliament.”

“If elected the Coalition has a plan to get Australia back on track and that starts with the restoration of the 80:20 percent funding arrangement for Bruce Highway projects after it was stripped away by Labor.”

In the May Budget, Federal Labor cut $488 million from the Bruce Highway over the Budget forward estimates.

“Now they are “restoring” less at $432 million and expect the people to be grateful and say thank you.”

“I am really concerned the Bruce Highway will be worse off over the next three years.”

“This is just like the broken promise that our energy bills would be reduced by $275 prior to the 2022 election.”

Opinion piece contributed by Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox.

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Federal Member for Dawson, Andrew Willcox is frustrated by delay in Bruce Highway upgrades. Photo: Supplied

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Home Hill-Ayr Lions Club hosted the club’s Youth of the Year Final on Monday 25 February. Four talented students from Home Hill High School submitted applications addressing a range of criteria about their academic results, their school and community involvement, and their aspirations for the future.

On Monday afternoon, the judging panel interviewed them separately. This component is worth 70 marks. That night, at a dinner at the Crown Hotel, the judges, teachers, family members and Lions and their guests were treated to some great public speaking by these four individuals.

Before dinner, each student introduced themselves to the audience, and then it was time for the impromptu speaking. Each student had to speak for a maximum of two minutes to each of the two impromptu topics. What would you say if presented with the topic ‘If you could be a fly on the wall, whose wall would it be?' with no time to prepare.

After dinner, students each had the opportunity to deliver a five minute prepared speech to the audience. The speakers covered a diverse range of topics but all spoke passionately and engaged everyone present with their points of view. The speaking component is worth 30 marks in total.

The judges returned with their verdict. Christiana Bugeja was the winner of the speaking component, while Sam Perina was the overall winner.

Sam will travel to the District Finals in Townsville next month to compete against the winners from the rest of the Lions District, which covers a large part of Queensland from Mackay and all clubs to the north and west.

After district finals, there are State Finals and a National Final. We wish Sam success.

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judges and for entrants. John McVeigh, Philip Scuderi, Sam Perina, Cruz Torkington, Grace Ogomeni, Christiana Bugeja, Michelle McVeigh
Overall winner Sam Perina being presented by Zone Chait Saraha Wiseman.
Club President, Laurie Land, the four entrants,  Sam Perina, Cruz Torkington, Grace Ogomeni and Christiana Bugeja the the Youth of the Year Club coordinator, Tony Gemellaro.
Zone Chair Saraha Wiseman presenting to Christiana Bugeja who won the Public Speaking section.

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Simon Hood
Wilmar Manager Grower Marketing

February was a positive month for prices with growers using the rally to tidy up 2024 season Target and GMPRS pricing.

Additionally, with 2025 season prices breaking through $650/t, there has been increased scale up selling from Target price growers. There is, however, still plenty of 2025 pricing to go with only about 25 per cent of Target prices locked in at this point.

The rally has also allowed our 2024 season pools to be forecasting higher returns. We have incrementally locked in prices on the rising market to ensure any potential correction will have less impact on final returns for the 2024 season. Likewise, we have initiated hedging on the #11 sugar contract to put a floor under a portion of the new Managed Pool Plus for the 2025 season.

This initial positioning combined with some sub 62 cent currency is providing a good foundation for that pool return. However, there is still a long way to go for 2025 season pool valuations to be finalised. With the focus on 2025 season and beyond, let’s have a quick review of the current outlook.

Most analysts are currently forecasting a small production surplus (Wilmar 3.5m tonnes) for the 2025-26 season based on a large Brazilian and Indian crop. Brazilian forecasts are starting to be scaled back as continued dry weather through February downgrade yield expectations. On the flip side, Indian forecasts are being maintained as high domestic prices encourage crop expansion and a very good monsoon filled storage and moisture profiles.

Nominations for our 2025 season GMPRS pricing mechanism are now open. This remains a popular choice among Target price growers due the flexibility of being able to price all GEI sugar exposure – excluding the US quota proportion – from mid-May in each season. Typically, growers are cautious about pricing too much of the final proportion early in the season as price risk is replaced with production shortfall risk.

During March we will be holding a series of shed meetings to update growers with the latest analysis from Wilmar on the outlook for 2025 season and beyond. Get in touch with your local Wilmar Grower Marketing consultant to find your closest meeting.

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Prices rallied in February, providing an opportunity for growers to tidy up 2024 season GMPRS and Target pricing

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Almost $600,000 had been committed to help state schools in the Burdekin turn the tide on poor behaviour according to Member for Burdekin, Dale Last MP.

The funding, which is in addition to existing funding, will allow schools to tailor solutions focussed on tackling poor behaviour and lifting education outcomes.

“This funding is not only about making our schools safer to help improve attendance rates and education standards, it is also about backing our local principals and teachers,” Mr Last said.

“No one knows better when it comes to outcomes for students than the staff of the school they attend, so we are giving those staff the autonomy to tailor the best decisions.”

“Some schools may need additional staff while others may choose to provide existing staff with mentoring, specialist resources or training.  Either way, the focus is on ensuring that students and staff feel safe in the classroom.”

“We know that each child is different when it comes to the best way for them to learn.  The reality is that there is also a wide variety of ways to manage behaviour and that a “one size fits all” model would not achieve the outcomes our teachers and students deserve.”

Mr Last said the investment of $44 Million statewide was proof that the concerns of parents and teachers had been heard and an illustration of the state government’s commitment to future generations.

“This additional funding really is an investment in the future because it is focussed on both short and long-term goals,” he said.  “We all know that what a student achieves at school can have a huge impact on their future so better outcomes today can also mean better outcomes for those students throughout their life.”

“You don’t achieve those outcomes by focussing only on students or only on teachers and that is why addressing an issue that is affecting both teachers and students was a priority for the government.  Students weren’t achieving their full potential and dedicated teachers were walking away from the profession and neither of those results is acceptable.”

“Teaching is a profession that should be celebrated, and our teachers should be leaving at the end of the day feeling respected, not frightened or frustrated.  If we don’t back our teachers, we run the risk of losing the positive impacts that dedicated teachers have on students and that is a terrible outcome for our community.”

“I believe that, by giving local principals autonomy, we are sending a clear signal that this government trusts local staff to make the right decisions to deliver the best results for local students.  We’ve already reduced red tape for teachers and this investment is about addressing their safety concerns so that teachers can do what they excel at; helping our younger generation achieve their full potential.”

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Member for Burdekin, Dale Last MP, believes funding to turn tide on poor behaviour will benefit students and teachers. Photo: Supplied.

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I attended the Industry Breakfast on 26th February with my fellow Councillors. It was a very interesting breakfast. Mick Theobold from Rio Tinto came along and gave a very interesting talk about the Pongamia Farms project.

Rio Tinto are developing seed farms in Australia as part of a new biofuels project. They have partnered with Midway Limited to oversee the planting and management of the Pongamia seed farms in the Townsville and Burdekin areas.

I also attended the launch of the Sweet Days Hot Nights Festival at the Burdekin Theatre. The festival will take place over two days from Friday 30 May to Saturday 31 May, including the Burdekin Cultural Fair featuring the First Fire. It will be a great event not to be missed.

Also Rates are due on or before Monday 10th March. Please contact Council’s Customer Service Centre on 4783 9800, if you did not receive your notice and need to obtain a copy. If you are experiencing difficulties paying your Rate Notice and need to organise a payment plan please contact the lovely staff at Customer Service for assistance in helping you set this up.

I would also like to mention Sweet FM will be celebrating their 25 year reunion. They have lots of celebrations happening. On the 5th April from 8am to 1pm they are having an open day at 97.1 Sweet FM, 134-136 Eighth Avenue Home Hill. There will be tours of the facility, interviews with past and present presenters, and market stalls. From 6pm until late they will be having a Reunion Dinner at the Masonic Hall, 120 MacMillan Street Ayr. Tickets will be $50 per person should you wish to attend.

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Emergency Relief Program

BCA provides financial and material assistance for adults experiencing personal, family, relationship and/or financial issues.

The Service assists adults and children with basic needs in times of financial hardship, through the provision of:

• Food parcels
• Toiletries
• Vouchers (food, clothes, chemist, transport)
• Prepaid cards
• Payment of third-party accounts
  Please note that a Centrelink Income Statement is required unless you are affected by domestic and family violence and not receiving a Centrelink payment.
  
  Services are delivered from the BCA Support Centre, 130 Queen St, Ayr.  Ph 4783 3744. Email bca@bcaburdekin.org.au
  Operating hours: 9am to 4pm, Monday to Friday.
  
  Burdekin Community Pantry
  
  We are requesting donations for our Community Pantry. The items most needed are:
• Fruit
• Vegetables
• Non-perishable food (e.g. canned vegetables or fruit, canned spaghetti or baked beans, long life milk, tea/coffee/sugar, pasta)
• Sanity items
• Toiletries
  If possible, please deliver your donation to the Support Centre, 130 Queen St, Ayr.  Your help is very much appreciated.
  
  Services are delivered from the BCA Support Centre, 130 Queen St, Ayr.  Ph 4783 3744. Email bca@bcaburdekin.org.au
  Operating hours: 9.00am to 4.00pm, Monday to Friday.
  
  MyndKind Program
  
  BCA’s MyndKind Program provides Psychological Therapies – counselling sessions for adults and children. Free service for people who hold a health care card, pension card or concession card. Private sessions available on a fee for service basis.

Journey Coordinator – support for community members and provision of more timely mental health care and coordinated support.

Front Door service – information and support regarding mental health, alcohol and other drugs, social support services

MyndKind services are delivered from the BCA Burdekin Centre for Rural Health, 12a Chippendale St, Ayr. Ph 4783 2711. Email bca@bcaburdekin.org.au
Operating hours: 9am to 4.30pm, Monday to Saturday.

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The Burdekin Shire Council hosted its first Industry Breakfast for 2025 on Wednesday 26 February at the Burdekin Theatre. With a receptive and large crowd who all turned up for the 7am start, they got to hear some great talks all while having a warm cooked breakfast.

Providing local businesses with key insights into emerging opportunities and developments in the region, the breakfast brought together industry leaders and business representatives for a morning of networking and knowledge-sharing.

Mick Theobold, Project Lead at Midway Ltd, gave a fascinating talk about their Pongamia Farms project where they’re working alongside Rio Tinto to help develop the seed farms in Australia, which is part of a new biofuels project. This project holds significant potential for regional economic growth and environmental sustainability.

Emma Peters was next to the lectern, bringing her energy and humour to keep those in attendance entertained. As Head of Engagement at Local Buy, she provided insights into how local businesses can become suppliers through Local Buy’s procurement framework.

Her presentation highlighted opportunities for businesses to engage with government contracts and expand their market reach.

Last to speak was Charlie Scuderi, Station Manager of Sweet FM, who discussed how businesses can advertise and support the station with Sweet FM playing a vital role in keeping the community informed.

With plenty of food and drinks (hot or cold), and insights, the morning once again proved popular.

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CANEGROWERS has written to the Federal Government, urging Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to raise the disaster recovery grant threshold to at least $75,000 for primary producers impacted by the recent flooding in north Queensland.

It has been more than two weeks since the government announced recovery assistance packages of up to $25,000 for affected growers.

While growers are grateful for the swift response and the inclusion of replant costs in recovery grants, reports from the ground make it clear that $25,000 is simply not enough to support the worst-affected farming businesses, CANEGROWERS CEO Dan Galligan said.

"Growers appreciate the rapid response from both state and federal governments in announcing assistance following these devastating floods. However, as primary producers assess the damage, it’s evident that $25,000 barely scratches the surface for some of the hardest-hit farming businesses,” Mr Galligan said.

"The reality is the cost of recovery has risen dramatically. Prices for goods and services have soared over recent years, and primary producers are facing these higher costs as they work to rebuild their businesses. The level of support must reflect today’s economic conditions.

"We have written to the Prime Minister, urging the Federal Government to act as, we understand the Queensland Government has requested."

Beyond immediate relief, CANEGROWERS is calling for the following actions to help modernise disaster funding:

Updating the definition of a primary producer to reflect modern farm ownership, including those with off-farm income.

Ensuring grants are sufficient by indexing them to match rising recovery costs.

Improving workforce support to help businesses retain staff during recovery periods.

Establishing a dedicated pool of rural recovery officers embedded within industry groups to expedite recovery efforts.

"These aren’t just feel-good reforms – they are essential for keeping farms, communities, and industries viable after disasters," Mr Galligan said.

“CANEGROWERS, along with our partners at Queensland Farmers’ Federation and other commodity groups, will keep working with the state and federal governments to modernise how we approach disaster recovery.

“But in the meantime, it’s vital the grant threshold is increased. Farmers need this support now so they can get back to growing Australia’s food and fibre."

Photos supplied: CANEGROWERS

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Recently a beautiful and rare china tea set, which depicts the Ayr Council Chambers and the Ayr Post Office, made its way to a local radio station. The station is calling on any Burdekin historians or those who might be familiar with the family that donated them, to come forward and help solve a mystery.

“They were sent to Pat Lawson via Victor Cecchin. The Cecchin's had a service station back in the day before they sold it to Romeo motors. After that, I believe it was demolished to become Woolworths,” says Station Manager, Charlie Scuderi.

“These people now live in Sydney, and sent these pieces back up here because this is where they belong. The family doesn't have any emotional connection to them, and that's all we know.”

The fine tea set has now returned “home” to the Burdekin, but it has come with no clues, no answers. Sweet FM is hoping someone in the community can provide more information or context about the tea set as to their history.

“We're looking for somebody who might know the story behind them, such as where they came out, when they came from, and why.”

“Was it an anniversary for a 50 year celebration? Was it something the family had commissioned? If you know please help us,” Charlie pleads.

Two pieces depict the council chambers, the rest depict Ayr post office.

If you can solve the mystery behind this decorative commemorative china tea set, get in touch with Sweet FM on: (07) 4782-8394 or email: admin@sweetfm.com.au.

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The beautiful fine china tea set. Can you solve the mystery? Photo: Mark T. Rasmussen

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Thankfully, Cyclone Alfred has slowly moved on from the Burdekin, though it continues to tease the Queensland coast. While we’ve had significant rainfall, it’s amazing how quickly life has returned to normal. In true Burdekin fashion, our farmers are already back to watering their crops - just another example of the adaptability of our community.This week, we also celebrate International Women’s Day, a time to reflect on the incredible contributions of women throughout history and the ongoing journey toward equality.Did you know that Australian women gained the right to vote in the Federal elections in 1902? This made Australia the second nation in the world to grant women this fundamental right. 123 years later, we’ve made incredible progress.This week let’s celebrate the achievements of the women in our lives and continue to support a future where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.Should you wish to reach out, don’t hesitate to contact me directly by phone on 0447 150 582, or feel free to send an email to mayor@burdekin.qld.gov.au.