Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
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In the last week of August, Ayr State High School turned purple for its annual Wear It Purple Day, supporting members of the school community who identify as LGBTIQA+ and recognising those who are respectful and supportive allies.
As well as rolling out the purple T-shirts and decor, members of Headspace Townsville and the Burdekin Community Association attended the event to share resources about mental health and wellbeing with students.
Co-founded in 2010 by Katherine Hudson and Scott Williams, Wear It Purple Day was established in response to concerns about bullying, exclusion and a lack of acceptance among young people. This year's theme, Colours of Courage, focused on the bravery involved in creating inclusive and welcoming spaces.
“This event focuses on celebrating diversity, inclusion and raising awareness so that every person who attends Ayr High feels safe, respected and supported, as receiving an education is important to future opportunities,” a school spokesperson said.
Beyond opening up important conversations among students, the annual initiative serves as a reminder that creating an inclusive community is a shared responsibility that begins with courage – a courage to stand up not only for yourself, but for others too.
John Winn has been recognised for 26 years of volunteer executive leadership with the Burdekin State Emergency Service as he steps back from his role as Deputy Local Controller. Photo supplied.
John Winn has been honoured for over two decades of voluntary executive leadership with the Burdekin State Emergency Service (SES) following his decision to step down as Deputy Local Controller.
John was presented with a special Certificate of Appreciation recognising his 26-year tenure in executive roles, which included nine years as Ayr Group Leader alongside terms as Acting Local Controller, Local Controller, and Deputy Local Controller.
Current Local Controller Cheryl Wade said the award was a rare gesture, presented to acknowledge his “above and beyond support as a volunteer”.
“John would jump at a call to serve and protect his community,” she said.
John has spent 38 years with the SES, joining in 1988 after Cyclone Charlie swept through his home community of Alva Beach.
Since then, he has responded to cyclones, floods, and search operations across Queensland, with deployments reaching as far north as Innisfail and as far south as Grantham.
As of November last year, John had logged 11,232 hours of volunteer community service—though he said the actual figure was considerably higher once after-hours calls, maintenance, and administrative work were taken into account.
That commitment is a family legacy. His wife Rosemarie has given 31 years to the SES, while their children Nathan, Brendan, and Megan have all served. Together with extended family, the Winn family’s total contribution to the Burdekin SES stands at 148 years of volunteer service.
John said the motivation behind those decades of service comes down to the reaction on the ground.
“Perhaps the best part of the SES is the ‘thanks’ you see on people’s faces when you and other SES members show up to assist them in what is their darkest hours,” he said.
While stepping down from his executive responsibilities, John will remain with the Burdekin SES Ayr Group as a Senior Field Officer. He encouraged community members to consider getting involved.
“There is always a role for anyone who wants to join,” he said.
“Everyone has something to give.”
Anyone interested in joining can attend a Burdekin SES Monday night meeting at 7pm at 4 McCathie Street, Ayr Industrial Estate.
(L-R) Leaders Ian Zaro, Gerald Henaway, Ollie henaway, and Mary-Anne Haller, in front of the organisation’s Cunningham Street hangout. Photo: Jacob Casha.
It all started with basketball and barbecues.
That was Gerald Henaway’s answer to the youth crime plaguing the Burdekin 40 years ago.
Gerald, a Burdekin local and youth worker at the time, recalled a period that saw nearly three break-and-enters a day. Meanwhile, illegal marijuana operations riddled the Burdekin River, property theft was running rampant, and the Indigenous community’s reputation was paying the price.
He knew something had to change.
“I saw all these indigenous kids getting involved in drugs and committing offences … and I wanted to make a difference,” Gerald said.
“The mayor, Townsville Police and local service providers—we all sat down to address the crime which was real bad at the time, and started with basketball and barbecues.
“We threw money out of our own pockets, and it all just grew out of that.”
Those efforts gave rise to BAYWatch—Burdekin Area Youth Watch—which, four decades later, has grown into an award-winning youth program supporting more than 100 Indigenous and disadvantaged local children.
And the mission hasn’t budged.
“We just want to see these kids bring real value to the community,” Gerald said.
He said the group is a way to keep children and young adults connected, educated, and active, prying them away from crime.
And if you’ve ever wandered past their Cunningham Street hangout in Ayr, you’d see they keep quite busy.
Led by Gerald, wife Ollie Henaway, daughter Geraldine Henaway, Ian Zaro, and Mary-Anne Haller, the program offers a six-day-a-week after-school program that engages children in everything from touch football and basketball to rugby league, tennis, soccer, hockey and ten-pin bowling.
It’s not just about sport, though.
From learning to drive and obtaining a licence to mowing lawns, fishing trips, camps and church activities, the group prides itself on giving children opportunities to learn practical life skills they might otherwise never have the chance to develop.
But this sustained effort, alongside recent cuts to government support, has made the program increasingly difficult to operate.
After relying on government funding for over 20 years, the organisation was asked to transition its service towards casework with a much smaller group of approximately 15 young people.
But Gerald refused to cull the network of children he was helping, knowing it meant a significant chunk of funding would be lost.
"We didn’t want to change what we were doing,” he said.
Now, the program relies solely on donations to help it cover running costs, including maintaining the three buses that transport kids to and from daily activities.
“I don’t think there’s anyone in Australia that does all these things with this amount of money,” Gerald said.
“I’ve had people and businesses come up to me and say, ‘If you weren’t doing all this, we’d have a lot more problems here.”’
After four decades of tackling youth crime at its grassroots, BAYWatch is asking the Burdekin to help it keep doing what it does best.
“The team is everything. They’re the people at the front of it,” says Peter. Photo: Jacob Casha.
Red Rooster might be a national brand, but for new owner Peter Walsh, the Ayr store is strictly local.
As he rolls out a series of storewide upgrades, the North Queenslander is determined to make that clear.
“The community deserves to have a nice place to come and eat,” Peter said.
“We're working on getting the right people, upgrading our service, and creating that family, community atmosphere.”
The plan is already in motion. With upgraded kitchen equipment and refreshed operational processes, Peter says locals are already seeing quicker service.
Those tweaks are part of a broader makeover for the Queen Street store, featuring fresh paint, general refurbishments and new digital kiosks to make ordering easier. Peter says the changes complement an already extensive menu designed to “cater for almost anyone.”
But according to him, just as important as any meal or upgrade are the people behind the counter.
“The team is everything. They’re the people at the front of it,” he said.
“We’ve got a funny bunch. They're very loyal, they’re very dedicated, and they want to be part of the journey.”
As the team strides forward, Peter says the mission remains what it always has been.
“We want to be part of the community,” he said.
“Previous owners did a lot for charitable organisations, sporting clubs, sponsorships, and the store had a really good community reputation. We want to build all that back.”
With operations expanding, the team is currently on the lookout for new members. To find out more about employment opportunities, pop into the store and hand in a resume.
Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox said taxpayer-backed investment should not compete with farmers for agricultural land. Photo supplied.
The Coalition has pledged to prevent the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) from funding entities that acquire agricultural land to establish tree plantations for carbon offsets.
The proposed legislation would also abolish Labor’s net zero laws and end what the Coalition describes as more than $80 billion in government spending on the transition.
The announcement follows the sale of Tasmania’s 21,745-hectare Rushy Lagoon property to UK investment firm Gresham House. The CEFC is investing $69 million in the project, with about 9000 hectares planned for pine plantations.
Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox said taxpayer-backed investment should not compete with farmers for agricultural land.
“We have farmers across Dawson working incredibly hard to put food on Australian tables, yet Labor is prepared to help foreign investment funds acquire Australian land for carbon projects,” Mr Willcox said.
He questioned whether agricultural industries including Bowen’s mango plantations, sugar and vegetable production could face increasing competition for land.
Opposition Leader Angus Taylor said food security should take priority over carbon projects.
“Families are already paying too much at the supermarket and the last thing we should be doing is weakening our ability to grow food by turning productive farms into carbon assets,” Mr Taylor said.
“It is extraordinary that taxpayers are being asked to help investment funds outbid farmers for Australian farmland.”
Nationals leader Matt Canavan said the Coalition would repeal Labor’s net zero laws and prevent taxpayer money being used to purchase farms for carbon projects.
Mr Willcox also linked the issue to the proposed expansion of Australia’s biofuels industry, arguing agricultural production would need to be protected to supply feedstocks.
“Labor is now telling us that sugar and other agricultural products can provide the feedstocks for a new Australian bioenergy industry, but you cannot build a biofuels industry without the farmers who grow the feedstock,” he said.
The Coalition said its proposed changes would prevent taxpayer funding from distorting the agricultural land market.
Member for Burdekin Dale Last MP’s annual school captains’ luncheon has opened proactive discussions around shaping the Burdekin’s future.
The luncheon, aimed at providing the chance for school captains to connect with their local State Member and have their say about the strengths and opportunities they see in their local community.
“These round-table events are invaluable in giving our next generation of leaders the chance to identify positive contributions they can make to their school and their community and receive the support to put those ideas into action,” Mr Last said.
“This year there was plenty of discussion around ideas to bring university opportunities to Burdekin students which is particularly prudent at the moment when these students are making big decisions around their future.”
“We know that the majority of the time those looking to undertake a university degree are faced with the decision to leave the Burdekin, however there also needs to be a working relationship between universities and our regional towns that enables students to make informed choices about their future studies. It is why I have worked closely with the Minister for Education as we look to grow this pathway, particularly in the Burdekin.”
Mr Last said the Burdekin should be proud of its student leaders who were not only looking at ways to support current Year 12’s but also those to follow in the coming years.
“I ask these students each year about what legacy they want to leave in their final year of schooling, not just in their school environment but in their wider community and each year their suggestions leave me feeling proud as their state member.
“By securing other universities to come to the Burdekin and share what they have to offer our school leavers, our students are offered better access to more information about study options available to them.”
Contributed by the Office of Member for Burdekin Dale Last MP
Denise said the crash had “destroyed” her $37,000 front fence, while significantly damaging her car, barbecue, and a gazebo that was set to be converted into a cattery. Photos supplied.
Police are investigating a single-vehicle crash that tore through a Brandon front yard late last month.
Police say the driver of a white Nissan Navara lost control at around 2.45am on Friday, 28th of August, ploughing through two palm trees before colliding with the front of a Drysdale Street property.
The male driver reportedly fled the scene on foot with a dog, leaving two Bull Arab puppies inside the vehicle.
“Significant damage was caused to the resident’s fence, property and vehicle,” said Ayr Police Sergeant Daniel Dew.
“Thankfully, no persons or animals were injured.”
Homeowner Denise Hudd said she was readying herself for bed when the vehicle struck her fence, waking neighbours along the street.
“I’m laying in bed and I hear this loud ‘bang!’ Then I look out the window, and there's a car in my fence,” she recalled.
“I've never seen that many people out on the street at 3am.”
Denise said the crash had “destroyed” her $37,000 front fence, while damaging her car, barbecue, and a gazebo that was set to be converted into a cattery.
She said the cattery was intended to support her partner’s charitable work training cats to detect cancers.
“We don’t know what we're gonna do now. We’ve got four cats and two dogs that we can't let outside because there's no front fence,” Denise said.
Sgt. Dew said police have identified a suspect, who is yet to be named, and are considering charges for failing to provide particulars under the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act.
Police are also investigating possible animal cruelty offences and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.
Sgt. Dew said the puppies involved in the crash were handed over to Burdekin Shire Council, which passed them on to Bowen Collinsville Pet Rescue to be desexed, microchipped, and vaccinated.
A potential owner has already been vetted, with a ‘meet and greet’ scheduled this Sunday to rehome one of the puppies.
Sgt. Dew said two other dogs—believed to have been involved in the crash—were located by residents in separate areas of Brandon later that day.
It remains unknown whether either was the dog taken from the scene by the driver.
Anyone with information, dashcam footage or CCTV footage is urged to contact Ayr Police Station, PoliceLink on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers.
Starting school is an exciting milestone, and giving children a strong and positive start can make a lasting difference to their confidence, learning and future success.
At Osborne State School, we believe a successful transition begins well before the first day of Prep. Attending playgroup, visiting the school and joining in school activities such as open days, movie nights, school dances and other community events are wonderful ways for children to become familiar with the school environment. These opportunities allow children to meet staff and other students, explore the school grounds and begin to feel that they belong.
Every child is different, and some children—and parents—may need a little more time to feel comfortable. Families are always welcome to arrange additional visits, ask questions and talk with staff about any concerns they may have before their child starts school.
Starting strong also means learning strong. When choosing a school, it is important to consider how the school approaches teaching and learning, particularly literacy in the early years. Developing strong foundations in reading, writing, phonics and oral language gives children the skills they need to access learning across all areas of the curriculum as they progress through school.
At Osborne State School, we have a strong focus on explicit and direct instruction. Learning is purposeful, structured and intentional, ensuring children are explicitly taught the knowledge and skills they need to succeed.
Being a small school also gives our students the best of both worlds. Children have time to learn through play, creativity and hands-on experiences, while our small class environment provides high levels of staff support and opportunities for targeted teaching. Our staff know each child—their strengths, interests and individual learning needs.
Choosing a school is about more than choosing where your child will spend their first year. It is about choosing the foundations on which their future learning will be built.
At Osborne State School, we believe every child deserves the opportunity to start strong, learn strong and build the foundations for future success.
Contributed by Osborne State School
After one year serving the Burdekin region, Zarraffa’s Coffee is proud to call Ayr home, bringing its signature coffee, fresh food and strong commitment to community to the heart of the Burdekin.
For the proudly Australian-owned and operated coffee brand, its presence in Ayr represents more than simply another location. It reflects Zarraffa’s ongoing commitment to regional communities and its passion for providing locals, workers and visitors with convenient access to the quality coffee, food and friendly service the brand is known for.
Located at 125 Edward Street, the Ayr store has been designed with convenience and accessibility at its core, catering to local customers as well as commuters and travellers passing through the region. The drive thru offers a quick and easy way for customers to pick up their favourite coffee and food on the go, whether they are heading to work, doing the school run, travelling through town or simply starting their day.
For those who prefer to take a little more time, the store also features a walk-up window and outdoor seating area, creating a welcoming space where customers can sit back, enjoy their coffee and connect with friends, family or the local community.
Customers can enjoy Zarraffa’s renowned range of signature coffee drinks, including familiar favourites alongside a selection of specialty beverages. The menu also features a variety of food options, including breakfast items, savoury and sweet snacks and the freshly baked in-store range, providing convenient options to enjoy alongside a favourite brew.
For Zarraffa’s, being part of a regional community means more than simply serving coffee. The brand has a strong focus on community connection and supporting the areas in which its stores operate. The Ayr team is proud to continue building relationships with local customers, businesses, community groups and organisations and to be a familiar part of everyday life in the Burdekin.
The Ayr store is also part of Zarraffa’s broader commitment to expanding its footprint across Australia and making its signature coffee experience accessible to more Australians, including those living in regional and rural communities.
Zarraffa’s Coffee Ayr continues to be a convenient local destination for coffee lovers, offering a drive thru, walk-up window, outdoor seating, extensive coffee menu and fresh food range, while remaining focused on being an active and connected part of the Ayr community.
Zarraffa’s Coffee Ayr is located at 125 Edward Street, Ayr, QLD 4807.
Opening hours: 5am to 8pm Monday to Sunday, and 6am to 6pm on Public Holidays. For more information about Zarraffa’s Coffee visit www.zarraffas.com
Contributed by Zarraffa’s Coffee
CANEGROWERS Chairman Owen Menkens said the statewide numbers meant little to growers dealing with the reality on individual farms. Photo supplied by CANEGROWERS.
Queensland’s sugarcane crush is closing in on the halfway mark, with over 13 million tonnes of an estimated 27.4-million-tonne crop through the rollers—but that headline figure hides a season of extremes.
In the Burdekin, growers are already well beyond the midpoint. Elsewhere, rain and mill stoppages have cost weeks, while poor bin delivery is holding up harvesting crews – even in districts where mills are running better than they have in years.
CANEGROWERS Chairman Owen Menkens said the statewide numbers meant little to growers dealing with the reality on individual farms.
“The average doesn’t mean much when you’re the grower sitting at 20% and watching the weeks tick by,” Mr Menkens said.
“The Burdekin was more than 64% through its crop by the end of August. A week earlier, Rocky Point was still below 20% and Innisfail was at around 25%. That’s how uneven this season has been.
“In the north, rain has been the main problem. District reports show South Johnstone has lost more than 350 hours to wet weather this season and Tully more than 500. Those hours add up to weeks of lost harvesting time.”
In parts of central and southern Queensland, drier conditions have kept harvesters moving, but lower yields and reduced cane availability have pushed crop estimates down.
In Plane Creek around 200,000 tonnes have been slashed off the estimate, while the Burdekin estimate has fallen from 7.92 million tonnes to 7.2 million tonnes.
Mr Menkens said growers in some districts were also seeing better mill performance than they had experienced in recent years.
“Credit where it’s due—some mills are running better, and growers notice that,” he said.
“But in some of those same districts, harvesting crews are still being held up because empty bins aren’t getting back to them quickly enough.
“Once a crew runs out of bins, everything stops. It doesn’t matter how well the mill is running if there’s nowhere to put the cane.”
CCS has been a bright spot across much of the industry, but Mr Menkens said it could only do so much.
“Good CCS helps, but it can’t replace tonnes that aren’t there,” he said.
“Crushing will continue through November across much of the industry and into December in some districts.
“From here, every available crushing hour matters. Growers need the mills running and the bins getting back to the paddock while the weather allows it.”
Contributed by CANEGROWERS
The past week has seen a number of important developments across the Burdekin, along with another outstanding community event.
Firstly, I would like to address recent commentary regarding the Home Hill Boat Club. It is important that information shared with the community is accurate and reflects the current situation. The present Home Hill Boat Club Committee has indicated its intention to step down, however an Annual General Meeting will be held in the coming weeks. Until that process has been completed, no formal decisions have been made regarding the future direction of the club. I encourage everyone to wait for the outcome of the AGM and support the volunteers who have contributed their time and effort to the club over many years.
On a more positive note, congratulations to the Burdekin Water Festival Committee, participants, sponsors and volunteers for delivering another spectacular weekend of celebrations. The street procession was one of the largest seen in many years and was a wonderful display of community spirit. Events such as the Burdekin Water Festival continue to showcase the pride we have in our region and would not be possible without the dedication of countless volunteers working behind the scenes.
Council is continuing its investment in community facilities, with refurbishment works at the Home Hill Pool scheduled from 23 September to 4 December. The temporary closure has been planned to coincide with the reopening of the Burdekin Aquatic Centre in Ayr, which is expected to occur in mid-September. While I understand this may cause some inconvenience for some residents, these improvements have been planned for a long time and will ensure the facility remains safe, modern and enjoyable for years to come. As I often say, no pain, no gain. I am confident the community will appreciate the finished result.
In Home Hill, Council is partnering with the Home Hill RSL to deliver upgrades at Memorial Park and the Home Hill Cenotaph and War Memorial. Funding through the Queensland Government's Honouring Our Veterans Program will support the installation of new garden beds, Indian Mast trees and rosemary plantings, along with electrical upgrades. These improvements will enhance the memorial precinct while ensuring it remains a fitting place of remembrance for future generations.
Road and drainage improvements are also continuing across the region. In Home Hill, drainage upgrade works will commence along the boundary of the Home Hill Race Club on First Street. During construction, access to the Bruce Highway from Ford Park will be closed, with a cul-de-sac arrangement in place for the duration of the works.
In Brandon, crews will undertake reconstruction of failed sections of roadway on Drysdale Street near the primary school, as well as at the intersection of Bannister and Spiller Streets. These works are being funded under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements and will help improve road conditions and resilience for the community.
As always, thank you to our residents for your continued patience and support while these important projects are completed.
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.
I recently attended the official opening of the South Ayr Water Filtration Plant alongside the Mayor and my fellow councillors. The event provided an opportunity for invited guests to tour the facility and learn more about its important rolein delivering safe, reliable, high-quality drinking water to households and businesses across the region. This Queensland Government-funded $54.88 million investment will improve water quality, resolve longstanding discolourationissues, and help secure a safe, reliable water supply for the Burdekin into the future.
It was wonderful to see so many families and community members attending the Water Festival on Saturday. The strong participation in the parade, along with the fantastic range of market and food stalls, helped create a vibrant and enjoyable atmosphere for families. The entertainment was also of an exceptional standard.
Congratulations to all the volunteers involved, and especially the committee, for their hard work in organizing such a successful event. It was a fantastic day for the community and a job well done by everyone involved.
I am often asked why I ran for Council. I wanted to help make a difference and address issues that I believed needed attention in our community.
Since being elected, I've learned that real change takes time. Rome wasn't built in a day, and lasting improvements require commitment and cooperation.
At Council, we are here for our community. We listen, advocate, and work hard to deliver positive outcomes for the people we represent. I'm proud to be part of that journey.
If you require any assistance or would like to discuss a local issue, please feel free to contact me on 0419 654 096.
A new $54.88 million filtration plant has been completed at South Ayr, promising more reliable and higher-quality drinking water for Ayr, Brandon and Alva. Photos: Jacob Casha
A $50 million-plus upgrade to the Burdekin’s drinking water supply, unveiled last Thursday, has become the latest development of a years-long shift away from contaminated water sources.
The $54.88 million South Ayr Filtration Plant—funded by the Queensland Government—will deliver clean drinking water to thousands of households across Ayr, Brandon, and Alva.
The opening marked the completion of Stage 1 of the plant project, actioned following the discovery of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) contamination detected in the town’s primary Nelsons Lagoon borefield in 2018.
Speaking at its official opening on 3rd September, Mayor Pierina Dalle Cort called the facility "one of the most significant” water infrastructure projects recently undertaken in the Burdekin.
“[This plant] strengthens our water security, improves drinking water quality and ensures our communities continue to have access to safe, reliable water,” she said.
“Water is one of our most valuable resources, and this facility will play a vital role in delivering safe, treated drinking water to our community for many years to come."
The new facility will use a multi-stage filtration process to remove iron and manganese from the South Ayr borefield.
It builds on previous upgrades to the South Ayr water network, including the construction of a 10 megalitre reservoir and the installation of new production bores.
Member for Burdekin Dale Last and Minister for Local Government and Water Ann Leahy joined councillors and locals in unveiling the facility, the former calling it a "real difference-maker."
“Our local communities of Ayr, Brandon and Alva deserve access to clean, safe and reliable drinking water, and this new filtration plant will make a real difference to the quality of our supply,” Mr Last said.
“This is a major investment in the Burdekin’s future and I’m proud to see Government delivering the essential infrastructure our community has been calling for.”
The opening ceremony also saw engineering consultants GHD and head contractor Tallai Project Group recognised for their contributions, followed by a tour of the facility.
Back: (L-R) Senior Ambassador runner-up Ella Pirrone, Senior Ambassador winner Blaize Palmer.
Front (L-R): Junior Ambassador winner Edith Innes, Junior Ambassador runner-up Lillea Levitt.
Photo: Shay Kratzmann.
The Burdekin Water Festival Ambassador Program culminated in a Long Lunch last Saturday, with a cohort of young ambassadors—including two history-makers—farewelled in front of more than 230 guests.
Fifteen Burdekin Water Festival Ambassadors have taken their final bow, bringing months of fundraising and community events to a close at last Saturday’s QMN Manufacturing Long Lunch.
The annual event, which serves as the culmination of the Ambassador Program, brought more than 230 guests to Populins Hall for the Picnic at Populins-themed celebration, where Blaize Palmer and Edith Innes were crowned Senior and Junior Ambassador winners respectively.
Emcees Bronwyn Nucifora and Jasmine Delle Baite led proceedings, putting the Junior Ambassadors through a Q&A that saw both impress and entertain the crowd with their answers.
The Senior Ambassadors then reflected on their time in the program, highlighting the camaraderie they developed and the support they received from the community.
The occasion was particularly significant for this year’s cohort, with the Junior and Senior Ambassadors coming together at a single event for the first time.
Blaize Palmer and Zylon Dallecort also became the first male Senior Ambassadors in the program’s 68-year history.
Blaize then went one step further, becoming the first male Senior Ambassador to claim first place. Representing Burdekin Motors, Blaize was recognised for his successful touch footy fundraiser, which raised more than $1,000 for Uganda-focused charity 100% Hope Inc.
Senior Ambassador counterparts Olivia Pavone and Ella Pirrone rounded out the cohort, with Pirrone named runner-up following her successful dog-walking fundraiser last month.
In the Junior division, Edith Innes claimed top honours from a cohort of 11, with Lillea Levitt named runner-up.
The night also saw raffle winner Kari Ravizza walk away with a $5,000 ring generously donated by gold sponsor Campbell’s Jewellery.
Guests then took to the dance floor, with Sneaky Beats capping off the night’s entertainment.
The Long Lunch now sets the stage for the Water Festival’s finale this weekend, with the Mardi Gras and Street Parade to take over Ayr’s main road on Saturday.
Paedophiles will be forced to prove they deserve bail while mechanisms aimed at safeguarding children and vulnerable people will be brought under a single entity in a Queensland-first initiative welcomed by Member for Burdekin Dale Last.
Proposed legislation introduced into parliament last week would see the establishment of the Queensland Protection Commission from February 1st 2027, consolidating the Reportable Conduct Scheme, Working with Children Check (Blue Card) Scheme and Disability Worker Screening Scheme.
Mr Last said the commission would better protect children and removed the information silos between each of the schemes to strengthen oversight and improve information sharing.
“As parents we rely on having a robust system to protect our children in a range of environments and that starts with having all the information to be able to proactively identify any risks of harm. By integrating that information sharing under the commission, we lay the foundations for a new intelligence hub and strengthen the safeguards around children and vulnerable people,” Mr Last said.
“This is about fulfilling our responsibility to protect children in our community and restoring confidence in the systems designed to protect children by increasing the penalties for those that don’t comply with information requests or knowingly provide false information to regulator.”
“Daniel’s Law emphasised the need to give parents the comfort and the ability to know who is in their community and this bill now continues that delivery with the ability to now ensure all the information is available to authorities to identify any potential risks to our children.”
Mr Last said by forcing serious repeat offenders and paedophiles to prove they deserve bail was reflective of community’s expectations of the justice system as the Crisafulli Government delivers the most significant bail reforms in the state’s history.
“I have long said bail is a privilege not a right and this legislation addresses that community expectation in our justice system where an offender is held accountable for their actions from the day they are charged,” Mr Last said.
“By changing the narrative and the belief that an offenders’ access to bail is above community safety, we send a clear message that in Queensland if you are granted the privilege of bail and you chose to offend again, you can expect to go to jail.”
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