Local Lions & Broader Community Help Raise $50,000 For New Car

After more than a year of tireless fundraising, the Wall Family’s dreams came true on June 25 when they received the keys to a brand new, wheelchair-accessible vehicle for six-year-old Ayden Wall. Diagnosed with quadriplegic cerebral palsy, Ayden requires 24-hour care—but thanks to the unwavering love of his mum, Tia, and over $50,000 raised by a generous community (including a $20,000 donation from the Home Hill – Ayr Lions Club), Ayden now has safe, comfortable transport. This heartfelt milestone marks more than just a new vehicle—it’s a powerful reminder of what community spirit can achieve.

Local Family Receive Wheels Of Hope

On Wednesday, the 25th of June, the Wall Family’s world became so much brighter after receiving the keys to a brand new, wheelchair accessible vehicle for little Ayden Wall, following on from over twelve months of fundraising efforts.

Six-year-old Ayden Wall was diagnosed with quadriplegic cerebral palsy after a cranial bleed was discovered at a routine 32-week scan where medical professionals advised now mum of five, Tia Wall, of his unlikely survival. Yet, just over six years on, Ayden continues to defy the odds and will celebrate his seventh birthday next March.

Now in Year One at the Burdekin Special School, Ayden continues to bring joy to everyone in his life, and although he will never walk or talk, and will require 24-hour care for life, the love and support of his family and the wider community have helped him enjoy many of the simple pleasures every child deserves.

Tia’s unwavering devotion to providing Ayden with the best possible quality of life led her to a dead-end street earlier last year, and after exhausting every possible option, she created a Go Fund Me, turning to the community for help to fundraise for a wheelchair accessible vehicle to transport Ayden to and from appointments and outings.

“I don’t know where else to turn now to try to get help - I’m desperate to get any sort of help for this little boy, so here we are,” wrote Tia online.

After countless fundraising efforts, and hundreds of donations and messages of support from the wider community, the Wall Family were left speechless after the local Home Hill – Ayr Lions Club donated an amazing total of $20,000 to get the family over the line, and Ayden into his new set of wheels.

“I have known Tia for a little while, and when this came up, and I saw the wonderful work she was putting in to fundraise for the vehicle, I knew it was a worthy cause for the Lions to support in our community,” shared Home Hill – Ayr Lions Club’s Saraha Wiseman.

“With the wonderful work Tia and the community has done along with the $5,000 donation from our local Home Hill - Ayr Lions Club we were able to secure an additional $15,000 grant from the Australian Lions Foundation and it was amazing to see the look on not only her face, but the kids, when they picked the vehicle up!

“To know that we were able to bring this project to a reality for a family who was in need, is exactly why you often hear – where there’s a need, there’s a Lion.”

Over $50,000 was raised through the efforts of the Wall Family, with Tia sharing the news online a couple of weeks ago of the amazing outcome.

“We can’t thank you all enough for your help and support through all this, and helping make this possible for us,” expressed Tia.

“This will make getting to medical appointments easier, and we can go make memories with our precious little boy – we feel so blessed.”

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Andrew, Anastasia, Azaria, Tia and Ayden with their new set of wheels! (Photo Supplied)

Six-year-old Ayden Wall was diagnosed with quadriplegic cerebral palsy but he continues to defy the odds and will celebrate his seventh birthday next March. Photo supplied

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Queenslanders needing elective surgery are set to benefit from a major funding boost in the 2025‑26 State Budget after the Government announced its allocation of $1.8 billion set to roll out over the next four years.

The centrepiece is $1.27 billion for the Surgery Connect program, projected to deliver 30,000 additional procedures in 2025‑26 alone, including hip and knee replacements and cataract operations. The program has already shown results: in April the statewide wait‑list fell by 2,750 patients, the largest single‑month reduction in a decade, followed by a further drop of 1,495 in May.

Premier David Crisafulli said the funding is part of the Easier Access to Health Services Plan.

“This is more surgeries for more Queenslanders sooner, delivering the health services when they’re needed most,” he said.

“To heal Labor’s Health Crisis we’re delivering easier access to healthcare, reducing ambulance ramping, and providing more life‑changing elective surgeries.”

Health and Ambulance Minister Tim Nicholls added that the government is “continuing to work on stabilising the elective surgery wait‑list. The elective surgery wait‑list is Queenslanders waiting to receive life‑changing surgeries – and we’re delivering them sooner.”

Beyond surgery, the Budget funds a Hospital Rescue Plan that will add more than 2,600 beds, build three new hospitals and expand 10 others. Staffing will also grow, with a commitment to recruit 46,000 health professionals by 2032, including 4,500 in the next year.

Local patients and clinicians are hopeful the extra capacity will reduce waiting times and improve outcomes across the region.

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On the evening of Friday, the 4th of July, over 230 excited guests filled Queen Street’s Populin’s Hall to celebrate the official commencement of the wonderful 2025 Burdekin Water Festival.

The Burdekin Water Festival Community Launch event saw the iconic venue transform into a word-class hub of international delights and wonders, flying guests across oceans to destinations like Italy, Japan, and beyond! Pristine white, fluffy clouds were hung from the ceiling, as were globes and vibrantly coloured paper planes to further contribute to the evening’s magical, travel atmosphere whilst guests enjoyed snapping a picture or two in front of an “Adventure Starts Now” photo wall.

Throughout the night, guests were treated to an array of amazing entertainment like a talented hip hop performance from Rhythm Edge Dance Studio’s Reece Bradford whilst the sounds of the Burdekin Community Chruch’s nine-piece band filled the hall. Celebrated young musician, Cecillia Cason, also graced audiences with her talents by performing her national title winning tenor horn piece for all to enjoy on the grand stage. 2024’s Burdekin Water Festival Winners and Runner Ups, Demi O’Shea, Brielle Astorquia, Cole Pontifex and Stella Borellini were outstanding MC’s throughout the evening, keeping events running smoothly, and audiences entertained.

“The evening was a stunning showcase of the 2025 Burdekin Water Festival vision - Bon Voyage: roam the globe - brought to life in the most vibrant and inspiring way with the uttermost help from our community and outgoing committee,” said Demi.

“Our Ambassadors presented themselves with such exceptional passion and pride for not only the festival itself, but for their supporting organisations and they should feel immensely proud of the way they represented themselves and the spirit of the festival!”

The infamous Fashion Show was a highlight of the evening once again, and although some of the Junior and Senior Ambassadors were a little nervous to strut their stuff, Burdekin Water Festival Ambassador Coordinator, Kari Ravizza, shared that by the third outfit change, each of the 12 Ambassadors were beaming with confidence and pride. Garments from Glen Dell, Swerve Surf & Ski and The Q Street Collective returned to the runway for another year along with the debut of Wild East, with the audience noting how well each of the businesses styled their Ambassadors.

“We were absolutely thrilled with how the evening went,” explained Kari.

As the night continued on and the main event rolled around, attendees were delighted to witness the official presentation of the 2025 Burdekin Water Festival sashes and hear speeches from each of the Ambassadors for the very first time.

“Some started off a little nervously, however, they all shared information about themselves, and spoke highly of their supporting organisations,” added Kari.

“The Burdekin Water Festival Committee are very grateful to George and Christine Populin for their generosity once again in support of the Maria Populin Burdekin Water Festival Community Launch and we wish to thank our amazing sponsors and the entire community for their support, and we look forward to what’s ahead!”

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Beyond excited to dive headfirst into the event’s exciting Ambassador Program, Asha Grasso will proudly represent East Ayr State School (EASS) as a Junior Ambassador in the 2025 Burdekin Water Festival.

“The aspect of the Burdekin Water Festival that excited me the most is getting to meet new people and hopefully gain some new skills and confidence,” explained Asha.

“I’m looking forward to being up on a float as my family have attended lots of Burdekin Water Festivals since I was little and I have always said I wanted to be the one up on a float one day, and now I get to fulfil one of my childhood dreams!”

In her free time, Asha can be found playing soccer in either the fullback or winger positions, however more recently Asha has picked up a new hobby under the guidance of her aunty.

“I love learning how to do different hairstyles, and my aunty is a hairdresser, and she has encouraged my learning by offering to enrol me into her online hairdressing course!”

Asha holds a strong love for her EASS community, and she’s eager to embark on this journey with the support of her school behind her.

“The Burdekin Water Festival is an opportunity for the community to come together to celebrate our abundance of water, and raise money for our local organisations and charities,” Asha shared.

“It means so much to be able to represent East Ayr as it’s such a great school, with wonderful community spirit, so when the opportunity came up to nominate, I jumped at it!”

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Representing Burdekin Christian College

Giulia Sarri has felt nothing but gratitude and pride since she was selected to represent her school, Burdekin Christian College (BCC), as a Junior Ambassador in the 2025 Burdekin Water Festival.

A senior within BCC’s primary school, Giulia serves as a role model to younger students, leading prep duties on occasion. When she’s not serving her school community, she’s connecting with those who she loves the most.

“Family is very important to me,” shared Giulia.

“I love playing checkers with my mum, fishing with my dad, walking my dog with my sister, painting with my nanny, hanging out with my nonna, and watching magic shows with my nonno.”

Although Giulia’s journey as a Junior Water Festival Ambassador may just be beginning, she has watched the procession from the footpath for many years and has always had a deep love for the celebration.

“I have attended the Burdekin Water Festival for as long as I can remember, and the effort put into the floats each year always amazes me,” Giulia explained.

With several events scheduled to commence over the next few months, Giulia feels there’s plenty to be excited about, and she cannot wait to see what amazing floats debut in Queen Street this September.

“I’m hoping that by participating in the Burdekin Water Festival I will gain more confidence, improve my public speaking and try new things,” she added.

“The Mardi Gras definitely excites me the most, and as a Junior Ambassador, I am looking forward to attending all of my fellow Ambassador’s events and building friendships!”

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The Burdekin region homes a plethora of beautiful old buildings which inspired the work of photographer, Lido Paganoni, who used his talents to capture many nostalgic photographs that have been recently digitalised by the Queensland State Library.

Lido, born in Ingham in 1934 to Italian migrant parents, spent his childhood in both Ingham and Ayr. He later earned a PhD in industrial chemistry from Brisbane. With a diverse range of interests, Lido was passionate about velodrome and road racing, achieving some success in the sport, as well as geology and photography. He returned to North Queensland to work as an industrial chemist with Pioneer. Alongside his professional career, Lido also ran a photography shop in Ingham during the 1950s. Unfortunately, much of his photographic work and equipment were destroyed in the mid-1960s floods which eventually led Lido and his family to move to Brisbane in 1967. Lido’s photographs are undated, however its likely most of his photos were taken prior to 1967.

Although Queen Street looks a little different now, Lido’s photograph of the Tropix Cinema as captured in the 1950s, transports locals back in time, with many reminiscing on the memories they shared with the historic building. What are your fondest memories of Queen Street in the 50s?

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The Tropix Cinema as it once stood in Queen Street (Photo Credit: Lido Paganoni)

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Flu and COVID-19 case numbers continue to climb across Queensland, with health authorities urging residents to practise good hygiene and get vaccinated to help curb the spread of respiratory illnesses.

In the last week of June alone, over 2,800 flu cases were recorded — the highest weekly number this year. Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Heidi Carroll said hospital admissions remain high, with nearly 300 beds occupied daily by flu and COVID-19 patients.

“Around half of all flu hospitalisations and 65 per cent of COVID hospitalisations are among people aged 65 and over,” Dr Carroll said.

She noted that more than 90 per cent of hospitalised patients are not up to date with their vaccinations.

“Vaccination is especially important for anyone aged 65 years or older and people at higher risk of severe COVID-19. I encourage people to discuss their COVID vaccine and booster options with their vaccine provider,” she said.

“For influenza, nearly 3,000 people have been hospitalised this year with almost all of these hospitalisations (92 per cent) being among people who were not vaccinated.”

Children are also vulnerable, with nearly 450 hospitalised for flu so far in 2025.

“Children are more likely to catch and spread influenza contributing to transmission in the community, but also young children are vulnerable to serious illness from the flu,” Dr Carroll said.

Queenslanders are encouraged to wash hands, cover coughs, stay home when sick, and stay up to date with flu, COVID-19, and RSV vaccinations.

For more details, visit www.health.qld.gov.au.

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We are excited to announce BCA’s new ‘’Active and Social Seniors Group’’ that commenced on the 1st of July 2025.

Eligible Seniors can participate in Individual Rehabilitation and Group Exercise sessions, delivered by our team of Accredited Exercise Physiologists, Exercise Scientists and Fitness Instructors, in our fully equipped and friendly Burdekin Community Rehabilitation Centre at 12A Chippendale Street, Ayr.

The Group is partially funded by the Older People’s Action Program (OPAP) and a fee of $7.50, payable by clients, will apply for each session.  Seniors aged 60 and over and First Nations Australians aged 55 and over are eligible for OPAP.

Our Accredited Exercise Physiologists (AEPs) supervise all AEP Program participants and provide best practice exercise prescription to ensure that everyone performs exercises that are safe and appropriate for their goals and health conditions.  Sessions are delivered face to face in Centre.

Our AEPs specialise in helping people to:
Manage a chronic disease or injury
Post-surgery rehabilitation support
Recover from a cardiac or cancer event
Improve strength and mobility
Reduce cholesterol
Manage/improve arthritis and joint pain
Maintain or reduce body weight

To sign up and secure your spot in the new ‘Active and Social Seniors Group’, please contact our Burdekin Centre for Rural Health team as soon as possible.

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Loved Ones Remember Missing Senior Sergeant Mick Isles

Two weeks ago, Senior Sergeant Michael “Mick” Isles would have celebrated his 74th birthday.

Instead of gathering to celebrate the life of a beloved husband, father, and community leader, those who knew and loved him were left with memories and questions that still linger 16 years after his mysterious disappearance.

On Wednesday, the 26th of June, family and friends quietly marked what should have been a joyful occasion — Mick’s 74th birthday. It was another bittersweet reminder of his absence, and of the case that remains unsolved since he was last seen in Ayr on Wednesday, the 23rd of September, 2009.

Fondly remembered as a kind, honest and humble man, Mick was a pillar of the Burdekin community and a highly respected Queensland Police officer. Known for his commitment to "old style" values and a deep sense of integrity, he dedicated over 35 years to the force, often taking the time to guide and support troubled youth.

He was also a devoted husband to Fiona, and a loving father to three children — a family he adored and protected with the same quiet determination that marked his career. To many, he was not just a police officer, but a friend, a mentor, and a man who always made time for those in need.

Mick was last seen leaving his Graham Street home at approximately 7:30am on the 23rd of September, 2009. He was driving a 2009 silver Toyota Aurion sedan — an unmarked police vehicle — bearing Queensland registration 060KVD. The car was later located roughly 80 kilometres from Ayr, hidden in bushland off an unsealed road on the way to Ravenswood.

Despite extensive searches and investigations, no trace of Mick has ever been found.

His disappearance has left a lasting hole in the hearts of his family and the wider community. Each milestone — like what would have been his 74th birthday — only serves to heighten the pain and the mystery of what really happened that day in 2009.

Those who knew Mick continue to seek closure and answers. As the 16th anniversary approaches later this year, they are again calling on anyone with information to come forward.

If you know anything that could help, please contact Crime Stoppers anonymously on 1800 333 000.

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Senior Sergeant Michael “Mick” Isles disappeared from the region without a trace on the 23rd of September, 2009 (Photo Supplied)

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By Jacob Casha

Ren Pedersen never planned to be involved in medicine. He never went to medical school. He never paid too much attention in science class.

But when he tragically lost his nine-year-old daughter Amy to Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) in 2009, he dove head-first into the medical world—not as a doctor, but as a father with a promise to keep.

"I promised my daughter that I would cure this,” says Ren.

“I just happened to pick the toughest fight in all of medicine.”

DIPG—also known as the deadliest childhood cancer—is an aggressive brain tumour that forms in the brainstem, affecting vital functions like breathing, movement, and heart rate. Most children diagnosed with DIPG survive only months.

No effective treatment exists. In fact, up until Amy’s death 16 years ago, no research into a cure for DIPG had ever been undertaken in Australia.

But where most saw an insurmountable challenge, Ren chose to fight tooth and nail for a cure that could save thousands.

A crane operator by trade and a Burdekin boy at heart, Ren grew up surrounded by small-town values—honesty, hard work, and doing what needed to be done. After losing Amy, those same values fuelled his leap into a world he never imagined stepping into. “I approached this with a blue-collar, crane driver’s mentality,” he says.

With an absence of fundamental DIPG research, it was up to him to get the ball rolling.

“We were really starting from scratch,” says Ren.

“They said, ‘We can’t do any research without autopsy samples.

“So the first thing I did was, with my contacts, I delicately approached the parents, and we consented to getting the children’s tumours debulked when the kids passed away.

“And so, for the first time ever in Australia, scientists had actual tumour samples to analyse.”

Thanks largely to Pedersen’s groundwork, Australia’s first DIPG tumour bank was created in 2011 at the Children’s Cancer Institute, under the leadership of Associate Professor David Ziegler.

Since then, the path has been all but linear, but made entirely possible thanks to Ren’s undying determination.

“I would literally go to the institutions and challenge the leading professors there,” says Ren.

“If the doctors said, ‘we can't do this or this’, I’d say, ‘well, what do you need to get this done?’”

Fast-forward to today, and Australian researchers have led the charge in DIPG research, with recent breakthroughs demonstrating that an accessible cure may be just over the horizon.

Despite promising updates, Ren knows the journey is far from complete.

“The next step is making sure these discoveries actually reach the kids who need them.”

His fundraising endeavour, ‘Ren’s Million Dollar Mission’, was born from this understanding. The charity aims to raise $1 million to support vital DIPG research at the Children’s Cancer Institute, focusing on apoptosis-targeting treatments and tumour microenvironment studies to develop new therapies.

“Once we get this million dollars up, we hope to gain momentum across Australia… and get this drug delivered into the mouths of these children, because helping parents save their children is what this is all about.”

Unfortunately, Ren couldn’t quite save Amy, but the OAM recipient says the journey for a cure has kept him connected to her, helping to fill the devastating void she left behind a decade and a half ago.

“This is like my child now,” says Ren.

“(I’ve watched) it grow and mature. We’ve nursed the baby up till it's about to walk, and now it's walking. We've just got to get the treatments that we've discovered to the bedside and watch the child blossom.”

And that’s the mission. Ren’s mission. Not an obligation, but a decision—to not only uphold his promise to Amy, but to ensure that children with DIPG can grow up to decide their own destiny, too.

You can play your part here: https://www.ccia.org.au/event/rens-million-dollar-mission/home

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Unfortunately, Ren couldn’t quite save Amy, but the OAM recipient says the journey for a cure has kept him connected
to her. Photo source: Facebook

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Bon Voyage – Roam the Globe! What a fitting theme to launch this year’s Burdekin Water Festival. It was heartening to see such an enthusiastic group of Junior and Senior Ambassadors putting themselves forward and embracing the spirit of the Festival. Their dedication along with the incredible support from their families and organisers sets the scene for another vibrant and memorable celebration for our community. Congratulations to the Water Festival Committee for their efforts in kicking off the season in style.As school holidays come to an end, I’m sure many parents, and perhaps a few students, are counting down to the return of routine. We were even treated to a brief cold snap which was just enough to remind us that winter does visit the Burdekin (if only fleetingly!).In recent weeks, I was honoured to be appointed to Regional Development Australia Townsville and North West Queensland Committee. This role brings an important opportunity to collaborate with leaders across the region, and I do not take that responsibility lightly. I believe strongly that every appointment must serve the interests of our community, and I will continue to advocate to ensure the Burdekin is not overlooked.Too often, we see our metropolitan counterparts struggle to grasp the realities and contributions of rural communities like ours. It is essential that we have strong representation and a clear voice at the table.As I’ve said before, working together is how we get things done. When we join forces, we speak louder and achieve more for our communities whether that’s better infrastructure, more jobs, or a stronger future.Should you wish to reach out, don’t hesitate to contact me directly by phone at 0447 150 582, or feel free to send an email to mayor@burdekin.qld.gov.au.

The Burdekin Water Festival was officially launched on Friday 4 July, with wonderful support from both Junior and Senior Ambassadors. It was fantastic to see their families proudly cheering them on and showing their support. Congratulations to the Committee for their outstanding efforts in delivering such a well-organised and successful event.Half yearly rates notices will be issued in August 2025. Please make sure your postal address is up to date. You can visit  www.burdekin.qld.gov.au to complete a request for change of postal form or contact the Burdekin Shire Councils Customer Service centre on 4783 9800. If you would like to receive your rate notice by email just visit the Councils website and all the information you need is on their site.The Burdekin Shire Council supports the Community Grants Program and the next round is now open. The Community Grants Program supports Not-for-profit Organisations funding and in-kind support for organisations, community groups and sporting clubs in strengthening our region through projects that promote well-being, cultural enrichment and community engagements.  Applications are now open and close on Monday 14 July 2025. For details and how to apply please visit www.burdekin.qld.gov.au/community-grants-program.

Queensland’s frontline disaster network reached an important milestone this week, celebrating the first anniversary of the State Emergency Service (SES) and Marine Rescue Queensland (MRQ) operating under the banner of the Queensland Police Service (QPS).

The SES formally transferred to QPS on the 3rd of June, with MRQ launched one month later. The realignment created the state’s first integrated marine rescue model and strengthened existing partnerships across emergency agencies.

Acting Police Commissioner Shane Chelepy APM said the results speak for themselves.

“I’ve witnessed first hand the strength of collaboration between our agencies, and how it has transformed our approach to disaster management,” Acting Commissioner Chelepy said.

“Over the past year, the SES, MRQ and QPS have worked side by side to support communities through major weather events, including widespread flooding across the north and west, and the impact of Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

“I’m proud of the difference our crews have made in the lives of Queenslanders who were deeply affected by these disasters.

“As we look ahead, I’m committed to continuing this close partnership with our emergency services as we strengthen our collective response in times of crisis.”

Throughout the year, SES volunteers answered thousands of calls for help, from evacuations and roof repairs to clearing fallen trees.

“Our volunteers made a significant difference in many communities, when we responded to the multiple disasters this year,” SES Chief Officer Dr Mark Armstrong CSC said.

“One year on from transition, the SES stands ready to support Queenslanders in times of need.”

For MRQ, the anniversary coincides with the first birthdays of its inaugural units in Mackay and Gladstone.

“From our first two units in Central Queensland, we’ve grown to 14 units … with more units scheduled to transition across before the end of 2025,” MRQ Chief Officer Tony Wulff said.

“We anticipate MRQ will ultimately grow to around 2,700 Queensland volunteers operating across 47 units, undertaking 4,000 activations across the state every year.”

Queenslanders are reminded to dial Triple Zero (000) for life‑threatening emergencies, call SES on 132 500 for storm or flood assistance, and stay informed via the Bureau of Meteorology’s warning summaries.

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Simon Hood, Wilmar Manager Grower Marketing

Brazil remains front and centre in global sugar market movements. The latest UNICA report for the first half of June shows sugar production continuing to outpace ethanol. While sugar output dipped slightly in the fortnight, it still accounted for 51.5% of cane crushed, nudging the year-to-date figure to 50.5%—up from 48.3% in the previous season. However, cane quality remains a concern.

The ATR is hovering below 12%, prompting analysts to downgrade forecasts. Year-to-date, sugar production is trailing 15% behind last season, with a lack of yield data from Brazil—now about 30% into its harvest—keeping markets guessing.

Closer to home, local interest in the 2026 Managed Pool Plus continues to build. A strong response from both returning and new growers led to an extension of the nomination window through to the end of July, allowing more time for growers to finalise their nomination.

Amid softer global prices, growers are finding value in shared-risk pricing models. The Managed Pool Plus for 2025, for example, has a price forecast on June 30 at $45 per tonne above the 2025 season Target Price. While this will fluctuate with the market, it underlines the potential benefits of diversifying pricing strategies.

Another product we have introduced to growers is assistance with input costs, particularly fertiliser. Our grower survey indicated inflation of costs was a major concern. By leveraging the buying power of the Wilmar Farms business, we link growers into a secure supply of fertiliser with price certainty for the next couple of months. With Urea and Potash prices remaining volatile, this is proving popular with growers who are marketing their GEI with us. If you're interested to see what kind of savings you could receive, please reach out to the team.

In the regions, the annual show season has been in full swing, with our team on the ground sponsoring cane-growing competitions and presenting awards—further strengthening ties with our growers and the local communities.

Operationally, the mills have made a solid start to the season. Provided weather conditions hold, we remain on track to meet the forecast harvest timelines.

The 2028 season officially opened on 1 July, alongside increased forward pricing exposure limits for the 2026 and 2027 seasons. With sugar prices currently in a contango structure (future prices higher than current), it may be timely for growers to consider setting foundation pricing orders for 2028.

Finally, our Global Trader roadshow with Peter Bingham has unfortunately been rescheduled to September due to changing commitments. With any luck, the market will have found more solid ground by then.

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The Queensland Government has announced a significant shift in fire ant eradication efforts, confirming that treatments will now be carried out year-round — including through the cooler months — to better protect the state’s biosecurity and agriculture sectors.

For the first time, eradication treatments are being conducted during winter, following promising scientific trials by the National Fire Ant Eradication Program. The research confirmed that fire ants continue to forage and consume bait even in lower temperatures, allowing for more consistent control across the year.

Treatment efforts are currently focused in the western parts of the biosecurity zone, including the Lockyer Valley, Somerset and Scenic Rim regions, with plans to extend eastwards as the season progresses. However, the broader strategy is aimed at strengthening biosecurity outcomes across all of Queensland, not just the southeast corner.

Queensland Minister for Primary Industries Tony Perrett said the decision to move to year-round treatment marks a critical turning point in the state’s approach to fire ant control.

“We are strengthening Queensland’s biosecurity by putting the latest science into practice and extending treatment to all seasons,” Minister Perrett said.

“This is about safeguarding not just local communities, but Queensland’s agricultural industry and environment more broadly.”

Fire ants are considered one of the world’s worst invasive species, posing risks to human health, livestock, native wildlife and infrastructure. Left unchecked, they have the potential to cause widespread environmental and economic damage.

The expanded program also responds to a series of independent reviews in recent years that called for stronger, more sustained efforts to contain the pest.

“The goal is clear: we want to eradicate fire ants from Queensland by 2032, and this move gives us our best chance yet,” Mr Perrett said.

“By using science-backed strategies and investing in long-term biosecurity, we can give our farmers, regional communities and the wider public the protection they deserve.”

The Queensland Government has committed to working closely with the National Fire Ant Eradication Program, local councils and industry partners to ensure the treatments are effectively rolled out.

Residents and landholders are also reminded of their role in early detection and are encouraged to report suspected fire ant nests to authorities, as community involvement remains a vital component of the eradication effort.

The shift to all-season treatment represents a renewed focus on proactive and targeted biosecurity — with the aim of ensuring Queensland’s natural environment, industries and communities remain protected well into the future.

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