The Foundation for Rural Regional Renewal (FRRR), and Suncorp Group are inviting local not-for-profit organisations (NFPs) in remote, rural, and regional Queensland communities impacted by Cyclone Jasper and Kirrily to apply for a share of $300,000 in funding to support ongoing resilience building and recovery efforts.

Grants of up to $20,000 are available through the Rebuilding Futures Program, and are available to NFPs providing community-led activities addressing local prevention, preparedness and recovery needs.

The grant’s announcement comes just over six months since Cyclone Jasper cross the Far North coast on 13 December of 2023, leaving widespread destruction in its path. The Burdekin encouraged to apply for the grant, and Nina O’Brien, FRRR’s Disaster Resilience and Recovery Lead, believes it is vital disaster-impacted communities are supported to proactively take action.

“The effects of an extreme weather event do not dissipate when the immediate danger is over,” said Ms O’Brien.

“Recovery needs to evolve over the medium to long term, as locals identify ways of building community resilience and reducing the impact of future disasters on community wellbeing and physical infrastructure.”

Grant applications close at 5pm AEST on 11 July 2024, and more information can be found at Rebuilding Futures | FRRR.

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The Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme (ACVVS) seeks volunteers to provide companionship and friendship to older people who may be socially isolated, lonely, or can't leave their homes. Volunteer opportunities consist of visiting people and residents in local aged care facilities.
They are looking for people from all walks of life who can cultivate friendships with vulnerable people within the community, who are at risk of social isolation. Social isolation can affect people from many backgrounds, and a volunteer visitor can be a fantastic contribution to the solution.
Making a difference in an elderly person’s life can be as simple as spending time together, sharing stories over a cuppa or lunch, sharing hobbies, playing games, watching television or just having a chat. All these activities can have a profound impact on their day, make them feel less alone and provide them with a sense of community.
If you would love to make people’s day and help the Burdekin community through volunteer work, please get in touch with the Burdekin Community Centre:
Monday to Friday 9.00 am - 4.00 pm • Phone 07 4783 3744 • Fax 07 4783 3990 bca@burdekin.qld.gov.au • www.burdekincommunityassociation.org.au

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On Saturday 13 April, Sophie Robertson set off on an international adventure as part of the annual Premier’s Anzac Prize. Sophie was prestigiously awarded the Premier’s Anzac Prize earlier this year and was 1 of 8 Queensland recipients to embark on the two-week-long historic journey.

The award provides an extraordinary opportunity for young Queenslanders to develop a deeper understanding of the Anzac legacy through research, workshops, and visits to respected memorial sites in the United Kingdom, and on the Western Front. Throughout the month of April, Sophie and the other celebrated recipients of the 2024 Premier’s Anzac Prize embarked on the journey of a lifetime undertaking fundraising projects to support returned veterans, learning the history of and commemorating Australian service persons, and participating in a Young Historians Workshop, all whilst touring significant memorial sites in London and the Western Front battlefields in Belgium and France.

The life-changing experience was invaluable to Sophie and will stand as a trip she will never forget.

“The trip was absolutely amazing, I learnt so much and it was great to experience a whole different culture overseas,” explained Sophie.

“It was quite amazing to visit all those World War I sights of significance, and it was definitely an emotional feeling standing there in the cemeteries where there were so many tombstones and it all dawned on me the gravity of World War I and what the ANZACS did for us.”

Sophies travels to the Western Front battlefields was not only a confronting experience but also a highly emotional one as she visited the land on which her Great, Great Uncle Garrett Swanson fought in World War I.

“He has no known grave but I know where he fought, and we went to those battlefields where he lies there in no-mans-land, and I actually stood where he lies, and was directly across from the fields where he still is, and it was so emotional for me because I could provide closure for my family as the first person to visit where he fell,” expressed Sophie.

Prior to Sophie’s travels, she also engaged with Giru State School to share her research and educated the students on the ANZAC spirit as part of her Commemorative Cross Project. Sophie spoke with students in years four to six, and together the students decorated the cross which she then placed at the memorials overseas.

As part of the Premier’s ANZAC Prize, Sophie undertook a Mates for Mates fundraising project where she raised over $1,800 with the help, generosity and support of her school, Ayr State High School, the local community, and her involvement with the Australian Air Force Cadet Squadron.

“I cannot thank the businesses in the Burdekin enough for their support in helping me reach my fundraising goal and I also did a couple of fundraisers at my local Australian Airforce Cadet Squadron, and also at Ayr High.”

Collectively, the group of passionate young awardees raised over $20,000 which will be directed towards funding support for returned veterans. Moving forward, Sophie is now an alumnus and plans to attend the annual School Service in Brisbane in 2025, held the day before ANZAC day. Her experiences as part of receiving such a prestigious award have been celebrated across the community, and she could not be more grateful.

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Since November last year Collinsville local, Daniel Honnery, has been on life support at Mackay Base Hospital after a rare illness caused his body to completely shut down.

His sister, Shannon Honnery who resides in Home Hill, is currently appealing for support through a GoFundMe page and other donations to help him on his road to recovery.

Daniel has been diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome, a severe and life-threatening neurological disorder where the body’s immune system attacks the nerves.

He is experiencing what’s known as ‘locked-in syndrome’ where he is cognisant but unable to communicate. Over the months he has been able to open his eyes and can talk in a very soft whisper, but he is unable to breathe independently.

Guillain-Barre syndrome can take as long as two years to recover, and survivors often experience long-term side-effects.

This means Daniel has a long road ahead and the support of his family and the community is paramount.

Every day his girlfriend sits by his side and his parents, daughter and sister visit as regularly as possible.

Shannon said “he is getting great care” at Mackay Base Hospital and that “they’re looking after him really well”.

Meanwhile, the community and family are rallying around to help.

There will be a multi draw raffle at the Collinsville Workers Club on Friday 19th July where stubby coolers and bumper stickers will also be for sale.

In addition, the Collinsville Bacon Busters event, which Daniel usually attends every year, is donating all the gate fees to help his recovery.

A GoFundMe Page has also been set up for Daniel and so far, $13,495 has been raised out of a $50,000 target.

On the page, friends speak of Daniel’s incredible personality and how much he is loved by those that know him.

“Daniel is an adventurous soul with a heart of gold, known for his lively and fun-loving nature,” it reads.

“He's the kind of guy who lives and breathes pig hunting on his days off, often with his daughter and mates.

“It’s almost certain that you'll find him getting bogged in some remote bush location, embarking on wild missions, or participating in light-hearted debates over a game of pool to determine whose dog reigns supreme.

“His unique talent lies in bringing people together and his contagious laughter is a constant source of joy wherever he ventures.”

In the run-up to the tragic diagnosis, Daniel had COVID and he thought it was taking him a long time to recover before he felt dramatically worse and was subsequently diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome.

Shannon said that prior to COVID you would only hear of one case every 10 years in the country.

“Since COVID came around, they’ve had four just in Mackay,” she expressed.

While there is no proven link, this connection does seem to signify there might be more to the story.

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Daniel Honnery and his daughter in happier times. Photo supplied

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The Molongle Beach Caravan Park has undergone major improvements to modernise the space under the care of Amanda Wood, and Drew Blakeman, and provides a haven for locals and caravaners to enjoy.

The location, although not centralised to the Burdekin, attracts many locals on a Sunday from 10am to 8pm for their spectacular Sunday Funday events with a selection of lucky attendees walking away with a D n S Quality Meats meat tray.

The Sandbar Café was constructed from a Government Grant given to the Molongle Creek Boat Club, and officially opened Easter of 2023. The establishment has since provided locals, visitors and travellers with delicious meals, and a warm, friendly dining atmosphere from Thursday to Sunday. Serving woodfire pizzas as part of an overflowing menu, The Sandbar Café has received extremely positive feedback from the community since its official opening, however over the past couple of years, Amanda and Drew have received calls from the locals to build a community pool.

“The swimming pool itself was something that Drew and I had been constantly asked about since we started managing the park, because you can’t swim out here, so we started fundraising almost two years ago,” explained Amanda.

Plans are underway for the construction of a concrete community pool which will be built at the front of the café area, and the couple have been busily fundraising over the past 24 months.

“We held a boat raffle last year which raised just over $15,000 and we’ve had a few major donations from local businesses, and we also run meat tray raffles here every week with all the profits going directly towards our swimming pool fundraiser,” said Amanda.

Amongst the couple’s numerous fundraising events, Amanda recalls various occasions where businesses, and locals have shown their generosity sporadically, expressing their gratitude and support to the efforts of the pair.

“We had a local family donate $5,000, have received a Sporting and Recreation Grant, and to date from our recycling bins, we have raised over $12,500 from those bottles and cans,” explained Amanda.

The dedication of the Molongle Beach Caravan Park’s managers, Amanda and Drew, in providing a space for their community to enjoy is inspiring and commendable and extends far beyond the park in front of them.

“Once we construct the community pool, we want to start a community fund where any fundraising efforts go towards a family in need and we have already held a fundraising raffle here for a family who lost their home to a house fire which raised over $1,400,” expressed Amanda.

Together with the generosity of the local community, the pair have raised over $80,000 and are in the next stages of organising works to begin on constructing the community pool. Amanda and Drew invite the community to pop down to The Sandbar Café this Sunday for their funday festivities and a bite for tea, and additional information can be found on the Molongle Beach Caravan Park’s Facebook page.

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Al-Anon, a support group for individuals who have been impacted by or have cared for family members, friends or people with addictions has re-established in Burdekin after a 15 year hiatus.  
The original Burdekin support group ran for 30 years before sadly closing its doors due to losing regular participants. However, the driving force behind the revival is Melanie. Melanie returned to Ayr in February, having lived in the Tablelands for four years and was eager to give the group a new lease of life having experienced a similar group while up in Northern Queensland.
Melanie encourages everyone who has parents, partners, friends and children who are living with a drug or alcohol addiction to join the group and share their experiences. The group emphasises that “not everyone trapped by alcohol is an alcoholic”, and the network and carers behind the scenes need just as much support as those suffering with addiction.
While it can be scary and intimidating to reach out to get support, Melanie states that people can expect a real sense of “community, support and fellowship” when joining. She stresses to anyone that feels hesitant about coming, that the group is anonymous, with no last names shared.
Melanie also reinforced the group's motto which is “Whom you see here, what you hear here, when you leave here, let it stay here.”
Having gone through a tough time herself with family, friends and an abusive partner who struggled with alcohol addiction, Melanie is empathetic to those also caring for and being impacted by individuals with addiction. She added to this stating she recovered “quite quickly” after her breakup, because of this group.
Melanie noted that the sessions “focus on the self,” not the outside aspects, and helps individuals understand that they are not alone.
While there are groups for alcoholics and recovering alcoholics, Melanie affirmed that this one is mainly a support group for the family and friends of problem drinkers.
The group has specific literature to help support you in learning more about alcoholism and how it affects families and friends. It also practices a program of recovery adapted from Alcoholics Anonymous.
Alcohol misuse can destroy familial relationships and cause a divide. It can lead alcohol misusers to spend family budgets, start arguments, neglect or ignore children and otherwise impact the people they love’s welfare and happiness.
In 2022 to 2023, one in five Australians (approximately 4.6 million) age 14 and over, were verbally abused, physically abused or put in fear by someone under the influence of alcohol in the past 12 months. These alarming statistics show how unfortunately common it is to be impacted by someone with an alcohol problem.
If Al-anon is something that you would like to join, please come and join Melanie on a Tuesday from 4pm to 5pm at the Burdekin Neighbourhood Centre. Al-Anon also has specific groups for teens affected by someone else’s drinking.
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Website: al-anon.org.au
Phone: 1300 252 666 – to talk to a member in confidence.
Website for adult children struggling with parents with alcohol addictions and dysfunctional families: adultchildren.org

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What:Al-Anon support group for individuals affected by family/friends with addiction

When:Every Tuesday from 4pm to 5pm

Where:Burdekin Neighbourhood Centre, 40 Chippendale St, Ayr QLD 4807

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Alcoholics Anonymous Group

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While big banks are cutting services in an industry that is facing significant challenges, a local branch in Burdekin is celebrating its institution's success. Queensland Country Bank, a member-owned institution, is bucking industry trends, adding more accolades to its collection, and demonstrating that the customer-focused approach is a clear winner.
Queensland Country Bank is a multi-award-winning financial institution. The bank has recently secured wins at the WeMoney 2024 Awards, including Customer Owned Bank of the Year, Best Flexibility – Home Loans, Best Rewards Credit Card and Lender of the Year (Customer Owned Bank) – Car Loans.
These awards have bolstered their existing product and service recognition from Canstar, Mozo, and RateCity. Burdekin Area Manager, Debbie Szendrey, reinforces how the ongoing awards from numerous independent bodies in recent years affirm the success of their member-first model.
“In the face of widespread branch closures in regional Queensland, our ability to reinvest profits directly back into the communities we serve instead of paying dividends to shareholders is what sets us apart.” Said Ms. Szendrey.
“In light of the regional banking inquiry and as concerns over cost-of-living escalate, maintaining the trust and reliability of our members has never been more important.”
People are becoming more cautious about their banking choices and Ms. Szendrey congratulates Queensland Country Bank for meeting the growing and evolving needs of the Burdekin community.
“As banking preferences evolve, so do we,” she added. “Our focus on enhancing our online banking services is a direct response to Member feedback and the growing demand for digital banking solutions.”
Despite the more recent surge in online banking, Ms. Szendrey noted that personal interaction remains invaluable, especially in a small regional community like Burdekin.
The busy, bustling queues of Queensland Country Bank are what sets it apart from the empty buildings of other banks in the country and provides a real sense of community, with many locals gathering there to receive their financial support.
“We understand the importance of offering face-to-face services in a close-knit community like the Burdekin, where our members value having the option to visit the branch for that in-person contact,” she added.
Ms Szendrey emphasised how the bank is committed to ensuring the members have access to the financial solutions and support, whether online or in person.
Queensland Country Bank’s people-first approach also extends to its employees, with the bank even earning the ‘Great Place to Work’ certification a second consecutive year.
“The essence of being a member-owned bank is to put people ahead of profits and this extends to our employees who not only live and breathe such values but are also integral members of the Burdekin community,” Ms Szendrey added. She continues by adding that “In this ever-changing financial climate, we’re looking forward to continuing to support the Burdekin community for many years to come.”

Caption: Left to right: Chris Toumazou (Loans Specialist), Debbie Szendrey (Area Manager), Zoe Blakoe (Loans Officer) and Clarke Grogan (Assistant Manager). Photo supplied.

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While brainstorming ideas for this week's column, a casual remark sparked a discussion about the assumption that everyone is always in the loop. Our hectic schedules make it rare to be in the office simultaneously.

This week, we want to emphasise the value of personal connections. It is important to touch base with each other and reconnect with people you haven’t spoken with in a while, as these connections truly enrich our lives. Losing touch with others can affect our health and wellbeing and make us feel isolated, lonely and worthless.

How often have you thought, “I haven’t heard from … for a long time,” and then just gone about your business? We are all guilty of this. Next time you have that thought or speak those words, make the time to reconnect, as it may be the highlight of the other person’s day. When we make someone happy, it also makes us happy and improves our well-being.

When we experience these thoughts, it's a sign that our lives may be out of balance. It's important to pay attention to this feeling and make time to reconnect and restore harmony. As social and emotional beings, we naturally seek to build interpersonal connections. Our well-being thrives when we are surrounded by others. When these connections weaken, it can impede our ability to learn and understand, as our social and emotional bonds drive these capabilities.

So next time someone pops into your thoughts, pick up the phone and make time to catch up. It may well be the start of a wonderful journey of discovery for you both.

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Until next time,

Contributed with thanks to The Team at Burdekin Neighbourhood Centre

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There has been quite a bit happening around the area since my last column. Some of the events I have been lucky enough to attend are the Burdekin Grower Race Day, Burdekin Netball Association’s Burdekin Cup, Rotary Club’s Norm Perry Memorial Duck Race, East Ayr State School’s under 8s Day, the Burdekin Chaplaincy Fundraising Breakfast, and also made it along to the Burdekin Theatre to see Dreams – The Fleetwood Mac & Stevie Nicks Tribute Show. These types of events don’t happen in small towns like ours without the dedication, hard work and generosity of volunteers. We have been very lucky to have a community that is willing to give back. Hopefully this will continue into the future.
Fingers crossed, at the time this is printed, for the whole communities’ sake, the four Burdekin sugar mills are up and running. Let’s pray for a safe crushing free from unnecessary disruption.
A bit of salt to finish the column.
The day before the 1st Men’s State of Origin, Councillor Furnell pointed out that his team, the cockroaches, were one up. Obviously, he must have been talking about the NSW ladies winning game one of their series. Unfortunately for John, his cockroaches are now down two to one after QLD’s men and ladies' sides both getting wins. The next 2 games are home games also. Off to Townsville for the ladies and Melbourne (that’s in QLD) for the Men. QUEENSLANDER!

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Did you know approval is required to set up a street stall or raffle on Council roads, footpaths or other areas?
Council has a number of locations, mainly on Queen Street, Ayr and Eighth Avenue, Home Hill, where raffles and street stalls may be held.
For information on availability of dates and locations and to receive approval, please contact Council's Customer Service Centre.
If approved a copy of your current public liability insurance to the value of $10,000,000 is to be provided to Council.
When approving the request, consideration will be made of adjacent businesses for example a stall selling cakes may not be approved near a bakery. 
If you're looking to set up a street stall in the Burdekin, there's a straightforward process to follow. Street stalls, perfect for fundraising or promoting community events, require a permit from the Burdekin Shire Council. Here’s how it works:
   • Application Form: Complete the street stall application form available on the Council's website.
   • Submission: Submit the form at least ten days prior to the proposed date.
   • Approval: The Council reviews the application, ensuring compliance with local regulations.
   • Permit Issuance: Once approved, you’ll receive a permit detailing the conditions for your stall.
Street stalls are a great way to engage with the community and promote your cause. By following the proper steps, you ensure a smooth and successful event.
For detailed guidelines and to access the application form, visit Council's Street Stalls webpage.
If you would like to get in touch with me, please feel free to phone me on 0447 150 582 or email mayor@burdekin.qld.gov.au.

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The Home Hill Chamber of Commerce has stood proudly in the Burdekin community since the early 1930s. Committed to addressing local issues and fostering community spirit, the chamber boasts a diverse membership of 43, encompassing not only business leaders but also dedicated individuals passionate about the region’s prosperity.

The Chamber includes five Executive Committee members who, alongside its members, drive forward initiatives and outreach efforts.

Recently, the Home Hill Chamber of Commerce was honoured to receive a Bendigo Bank Community Grant amounting to $1,000, a testament to the organisation’s shared vision with Bendigo Bank in supporting local endeavours. This grant will directly fund the upcoming Ephemera Art Competition, alleviating financial strain and enabling the chamber to expand its reach within the community.

“We run the Ephemera Art Competition as part of the Home Hill Harvest Festival, and it was very exciting to receive the grant as it will lighten the load for the Festival Committee,” explained Home Hill Chamber of Commerce Secretary, Robert Antoniazzi.

The involvement of local schools in past editions has not only enriched the event but also inspired young artists to explore their talents further.

“The grants are a wonderful initiative and mean that events involving local schools can continue,” said Mr. Antoniazzi.

“Students realise that there is something for them to give their artistic side an opportunity to develop and encourage them to continue their work.”

Beyond financial services, the Bendigo Bank’s commitment to community grants empowers organisations like the Home Hill Chamber of Commerce to cultivate local talent, foster community bonds, and drive positive change. The chamber expresses immense gratitude towards Bendigo Bank for their continued support and look forward to further collaborations.

The Home Hill Chamber of Commerce extends a warm invitation to Bendigo Bank board members to attend the chamber’s social events within the community, and see first-hand the work of the dedicated team. Both the Bendigo Bank board members and members of the local community are invited to attend the chamber’s meetings held every third Wednesday at the Home Hill Community Sports Club, Ninth Avenue, Home Hill at 5:30pm.

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Inkerman Lime and Gypsum stands as a celebrated business which has been operating in the region since 1932. In 2006, couple Joe and Rosetta Tama took ownership of Inkerman Lime and Gypsum, which has since become a family business with their son, Robert Tama now the manager, following in his parents’ footsteps.

“My father has always been interested in investing in projects that he believed had great potential,” explained Robert.

“When he saw the possibilities and benefits of Inkerman Lime and Gypsum in improving soil quality using natural-based products, he recognised the opportunity to help not only farming land but also soils in general in the district and surrounding areas.”

Robert began working alongside his father in 2018, whilst continuing to manage his family’s farm. A couple of years later, Robert assumed full control of Inkerman Lime and Gypsum, and continues to balance both the business and the farm.

“One of the best highlights over the years has been the opportunity to communicate with customers and build friendships, and interacting with customers who have years of experience and local knowledge has been a great way to learn and provide assistance,” expressed Robert.

“I believe that no matter how old we get, there is always something new to learn, and interacting with others allows us to gain new knowledge over time.”

Robert manages the business with a focus on delivering exceptional customer service and finds great fulfilment in witnessing the long-term results of improving their customer’s soil quality and yield.

Moving forward in his management position, Robert envisions Inkerman Lime and Gypsum entering a new era of growth and innovation over the next decade and believes the upcoming changes will honour their continued dedication towards enhancing soil health and maximising crop yields for their customers.

“We plan to upgrade our equipment, introduce innovative product blends, provide comprehensive staff training and will collaborate with local agronomists and our growers to elevate and upgrade our services further,” explained Robert.

“We invite everyone to join us on this journey towards better soil health and increased productivity.”

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The scheduled return for the Burdekin Water Festival has been celebrated across the region, with the festival set to ignite Queen Street on Saturday 7 September with the nostalgic theme, Bring it Back.

The theme, Bring it Back was decided at the Burdekin Water Festival Committee’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on Monday 10 June where a group of dedicated members of the community put plans into motion for the 2024 event.

Drawing from Water Festivals of the past, the theme, Bring it Back aims to take locals on a trip down memory lane, and the committee encourages all businesses to decorate their shop fronts to capture their most treasured memories of the annual festival. In discussions with the Water Festival Committee, common memories amongst the group included extravagant floats and costumes, Angie Baby, candy being thrown from the floats, various local organisation’s mascots participating in the parade, Queen Street festivities, delicious food stalls, and awesome entertainment throughout the day and into the night.

The committee has begun calling for your support to ensure this much-loved event returns with a bang, and needs organisations, sporting clubs, dance and performance schools, community groups, businesses, primary, high schools and kindergartens, and ultimately everyone in the community to become involved in some way.

“We have a short time frame to get this underway, and we need as much support as we can, financially, and with volunteers, so if you can help in any way, please contact us,” expressed the Burdekin Water Festival Committee’s Media Advisor, Kari Ravizza.

Both junior and senior ambassadors from any organisation, businesses, groups and / or schools in the region are also strongly encouraged to come forward.

On the evening of last Monday’s AGM, the Burdekin Water Festival Executive Committee was announced, receiving extremely positive feedback from the community, acknowledge the event will be in safe hands. The esteemed president, Eusebio Aguirre will be joined by Vice President Frank Nucifora, Treasurer Debbie Szendry, Secretary Bruna Pearson, and Secretary Support, Colleen Harris.

With updates and calls for support being published on the Burdekin Water Festival’s Facebook page, Wednesday 12 June saw the committee excitingly secure Queensland Country Credit Union as one of their major sponsors.

The committee expresses its gratitude to the region for their support of their efforts to date and looks forward to organising an extraordinary comeback event for the much-loved Burdekin Water Festival.

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A visit to the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) has given a group of Burdekin cattle producers an opportunity to learn more about the science behind water quality research.

It was organised by natural resource management group NQ Dry Tropics, working with Burdekin graziers on changed grazing practices to manage riparian zones and maintain end-of-dry season groundcover to improve water quality and farm production.

NQ Dry Tropics Paddock to Reef project officer Jade Fraser said the tour of the facilities was an opportunity to provide graziers with additional knowledge about how improved farming practices could benefit the Great Barrier Reef lagoon.

“We’re trying to merge best-practice science with best-practice land management and come up with solutions that work for landholders, the government, and the Great Barrier Reef,” Jade said.

“If farmers are to be part of the water quality solution, they need access and communication lines to government, policymakers and scientists to help come up with solutions that complement their farm enterprise.

“Graziers had an opportunity to share how practices they’re putting in place are reducing their environmental footprint while also improving the viability of their farms, and scientists were able to talk about the research they’re doing and why it mattered.

“Scientists explained the implementation of the Paddock to Reef (P2R) Integrated Monitoring, Modelling and Reporting program in the Burdekin region, and how results provided evidence of links between land management activities, water quality and reef health.

“Monitoring is used to measure the on-ground change in land management practices and water quality at the paddock scale. This feeds into catchment models that track progress towards water quality targets through the Great Barrier Reef Report Card.”

Burdekin grazier Glen Duncombe said he found the visit informative.

“It was good to hear how scientists carry out monitoring to show impacts of environmental changes on marine ecosystems, and what corals can tell us about the occurrence and intensity of freshwater flood and cyclone events on the reef,” Glen said.

“Water quality going into the reef is, if not getting better, at least stabilising, and hopefully that’s got a bit to do with what we’re doing at home. If we’re all doing our bit, collectively it helps.

“We’re keeping cattle out of the rivers which means we don’t have the cattle pads into the river to cause erosion.

“We’re also improving groundcover and diversity of pastures, and that’s definitely making a difference in reducing run-off during the wet season.

“Hopefully that’ll make a difference to water quality in the long term.”

Grazier Jo Murphy said the visit highlighted the multitude and complexity of human and natural factors impacting the health of coastal waters.

“I live at the top of the Burdekin catchment and the country on our eastern side flows into the Burdekin, so it was interesting to hear about the sediment analysis,” Jo said.

“The data shows that if there’s a great rainfall event or big cyclone, or multiple cyclones in a season, the reef is going to get affected.

“It highlighted that those who manage large areas of agricultural land, need to do their best to control erosion and improve groundcover because it’s better for the country, the environment, grazing animals and livelihoods.

“This is also the case for other industries, coastal developments, and other disturbances. Improving water quality is a complicated and complex undertaking, and many graziers are committed to adopting practices to help with that.”
The Paddock to Reef program provides the framework for evaluating and reporting progress towards Reef 2050 water quality targets through the Great Barrier Reef Report Card.  The program is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland governments.

The AIMS visit was part of NQ Dry Tropics’ Herding Change Through Grassroots Recovery project funded by the partnership between the Australian Government’s Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.

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Zoe O’Neill, left, with Laureen and Glen Duncombe. Photos supplied

Mandy Flintham inspects coral core samples at the AIMS Coral Core Archive Facility
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A tour of the National Sea Simulator, the world’s most advanced aquarium facility, provided an opportunity for cattle producers to learn more about the science behind water quality research
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Graziers Glen Duncombe, Eric Le Feuvre and Jo Murphy inspected SeaSim’s large seawater tanks

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Graziers Lauren Duncombe, left, and Jo Murphy

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The last of Wilmar Sugar and Renewables’ four Burdekin mills were on track to start crushing earlier this week, on Tuesday.
General Manager Operations Mike McLeod said he expected the first bin to be tipped at Pioneer Mill near Brandon just after lunchtime on Tuesday, and the first raw sugar to be produced by Wednesday.
This means half of Wilmar’s mills will be in full swing by Wednesday, making sugar, molasses and renewable energy.
Inkerman Mill in Home Hill was first to begin the crushing season for the Wilmar group on Monday, 10 June. Despite an unexpected shutdown because of industrial action, Inkerman has already crushed 66,000 tonnes of cane and produced about 8,100 tonnes of sugar.
Kalamia and Invicta mills started crushing on Thursday, 13 June – a week later than originally planned because of industrial action.
Mr McLeod said Wilmar’s other four mills – Victoria and Macknade near Ingham, Proserpine on the Whitsunday coast, and Plane Creek south of Mackay – are all expected to be in production early next week.
The Sarina Distillery has been operating since 1 June, producing bioethanol for fuel and industrial products.
Mr McLeod said crews had worked hard to maintain throughput at the sugar mills that are operating, so growers could continue harvesting while fine weather prevailed.
“Everyone in the industry has an eye on the weather at this time every year, so we can’t afford to lose any time,” he said.
“Our people have worked hard to recover from the earlier stoppages and delays and, with everything going our way, everyone will have a good season.”
Wilmar’s eight mills are expected to process 15.59 million tonnes of sugarcane this year, to produce more than 2 million tonnes of raw sugar.
Representatives from Wilmar and union bargaining agents will meet for another round of bargaining for a new Enterprise Agreement on Thursday (20 June).
The parties will report back to the Fair Work Commission on Friday (21 June).

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Wilmar’s Invicta Mill kicked off last on 13 June. This week, Pioneer Mill got underway, meaning half of Wilmar’s factories are now in production, despite hold-ups from industrial action
Manager Operations Harrison Slogrove on the first day of production at Invicta Mill, on 13 June
Pioneer Mill Operations Manager Matt Norton on the first day of production

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