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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The Australian Idol country singing treasure, Trent Richardson, will ignite the Burdekin Showgrounds on Wednesday 26 June.

From growing up on an Emu Park camel farm to having his name up in lights, Trent’s musical talents have been broadcast across the nation as part of the 2024 season of Australian Idol earlier this year.

Since concluding his time on the talent series, Trent has continued singing and working on his talents with bigger and better plans in mind for the future.

“She’s been a wild ride, but it’s definitely where the heart wants to be and I’m just so grateful that I did it and gave it a chance to find out once and for all if I had something,” explained Trent.

“I threw myself in the deep end and the feedback that I got back from the Aussies was great, so I’ll definitely stick with it, and keep doing my hard bit of yacka!”  

When Trent stages his tunes in the region next Wednesday, this won’t be his first Burdekin Show rodeo! In fact, Trent has been an avid showgoer since he was young, accompanying his father in managing the infamous Burdekin Show Camel Rides!

“I’ve been there helping Dad with the camel rides since I was a little fella, and it’s funny that after all these years everyone has found out I can sing, so instead of walking the camels with Dad this year, I’ll be up there singing,” explained Trent.

Trent’s performance will have audiences dancing and singing along, and in an exclusive interview with Burdekin Life newspaper he shared his setlist plans!

“There will be a bit of Luke Combs, Morgan Wallan, and a few big country artists that everyone knows, a few classics too, and a couple of my originals but I won’t give too much away,” explained Trent.

“I’ll go up there, sing a few tunes, and hopefully everyone has a great time, and it’s good to be there getting paid to sing instead of walking camels!”

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Cecillia Cason has been honourably selected to attend the Pacific Honors Ensemble Program in November; a prestigious program held in the United States of America.

The program, as hosted by the Young Conservatorium (the pre-tertiary program for Griffith University) and the Western International Band Clinic, is held in Seattle, Washington annually with a small group of highly skilled honor band students selected to attend. Candidates are to audition for a position by performing a piece from a selection of music provided, and although Cecillia’s instrument of choice is not the trumpet, her talents prevailed, and she was prestigiously granted a spot in the 2024 Pacific Honors Ensemble Program.

“I was so very happy and excited about getting in, and when I auditioned, the music was on an instrument I’m not the best at, but I was so excited to hear I was accepted,” expressed Cecillia.

Earlier this year, Griffith University reached out to Cecillia, advising her of the opportunity and encouraging her to apply.

“I couldn’t be prouder of Cecillia, and she hasn’t achieved this by herself, it’s due to the help of everyone around her, including her tutors, which have made everything she has achieved possible, and I’m just so proud,” expressed Cecillia’s mother, Maria Cason.

Cecillia’s musical talents and abilities have garnered much attention over the past couple of years and have led her to accumulate many awards and attendance at various celebrated musical enrichment opportunities. Earlier this year, Cecillia attended the Queensland Band Association’s Youth Band Camp, where she was awarded the Leonie Marshall Scholarship, a significant award in recognition of a student’s passion for their community band association and dedication to musical excellence.

Cecillia is also a celebrated member of the Burdekin Brass Band, performing at regular community events as well as the Concert Band where she is currently attending rehearsals in preparation for Ayr State High School’s upcoming musical at the Burdekin Theatre. Next month, Cecillia will attend the State Honors Ensemble Program in Brisbane where she will continue to build upon her skills surrounded by like-minded peers under the guidance of industry professionals.

Cecillia’s talents and dedication to her musical practice are outstanding, and she certainly has a bright future ahead of her in the instrumental sphere.

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On the morning of Thursday 13 June, Ayr State High School hosted the Burdekin Chaplaincy Fundraising Breakfast.

Chaplains from each school in the region came together to celebrate the work these amazing people do for the community and its students, with all funds raised re-directed to support the youth of the Burdekin.

The event ran from 7am and encompassed school staff, principals, business owners, and community members from across the community, along with Mayor Dalle Cort. All attendees have supported the Burdekin’s Chaplains over the years, and the breakfast provided a heartwarming environment where their support was thanked.

Brooke Sorbello, the Scripture Union manager for North Queensland, was deeply touched seeing the community come together in support of the young people of the Burdekin at the Burdekin Chaplaincy Fundraising Breakfast and believes the chance to do so was beyond special.

“It was a chance to get these supporters together to say thank you as well as share stories around how their support is helping the young people of the community,” explained Brooke.

The event included guest speakers, one of which being Home Hill High School’s Chappy Jennie Dowie, who has been a celebrated chaplain in the Burdekin for over seventeen years. Chappy Jennie shared her experiences as a chaplain, explaining the important role chaplains have in student’s lives, from running programs in the areas of anger and anxiety management to simply being their friend.

"As a School Chaplain, I focus on prevention and support; helping students find a better way to deal with a range of issues from family breakdown, grief, peer pressure, loneliness, risk of disengagement, substance abuse, depression and anxiety - just to name a few,” expressed Chappy Jennie.

“I aim to provide a non-judgmental, accessible, listening ear and a caring presence for not only for our kids in crisis, but also for those who just need a friend.

“So today I want to thank you for your support of School Chaplaincy.

“I want to thank you because if it wasn’t for people like you, we wouldn’t have the opportunities that we have to support young people who often feel unseen, undervalued, misunderstood and powerless to change the life that they have been dealt with.”

Brooke would like to extend her gratitude to Ronda Williams, the Burdekin Chaplaincy Committee Chair, and for all her organisational efforts to fundraise for the chaplains in the community.

“In the chaplaincy structure, we’re given enough funding to support a chaplain for a day and half, whereas most of the Burdekin’s chaplains are in our schools for four, sometimes five days a week based on the community support,” explained Brooke.

“The presence of these chaplains is really powerful, and the continuity, and consistency makes a really big difference in the work that they can do for the students.”

The morning was emotional, powerful and inspirational, and stood as testament to the Burdekin community’s continued commitment to investing in and supporting the wellbeing and future of its youth.

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Creating inviting outdoor living spaces through DIY projects can transform your backyard into a functional and aesthetically pleasing area for relaxation and entertainment.

Here are several creative ideas to inspire your outdoor makeover:

Cozy Outdoor Lounge: Begin with comfortable seating options like DIY pallet sofas or repurposed wooden benches with plush cushions. Add a handmade coffee table using a reclaimed crate or an old trunk topped with a custom-cut piece of glass.

DIY Hammock Corner: Create a cozy retreat with a hammock hung between two trees or posts. Customise it with handmade pillows and a small side table for books or drinks.

DIY Fire Pit: Build a fire pit using bricks or stones arranged in a circle. Line the bottom with gravel for drainage and safety. Enhance the ambiance with string lights hung overhead or solar-powered lanterns for eco-friendly illumination.

Vertical Garden Wall: Utilise a bare fence or wall by creating a vertical garden. Install wooden pallets horizontally and fill them with small potted plants or herbs. This not only adds greenery but also maximises space.

Outdoor Dining Area: Construct a sturdy dining table from reclaimed wood or pallets. Pair it with DIY benches or chairs made from old wooden crates or tree stumps - complete the setting with a handmade table runner, lanterns and outdoor dinnerware.

DIY Pathways and Walkways: Define pathways using materials like gravel, flagstones, or recycled bricks. Create a rustic look by embedding old railway sleepers or wooden planks for a natural, earthy feel.

Repurposed Outdoor Bar: Convert an old kitchen cart or dresser into an outdoor bar by adding shelves for storage and a countertop for serving. Use reclaimed wood or tiles for the bar surface and decorate with potted plants and hanging glassware.

Outdoor Movie Theatre: Hang a white sheet or use a blank wall as a projection screen. Set up seating with floor cushions, bean bags or homemade pallet sofas. Install outdoor speakers and a projector for movie nights under the stars.

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Sunday 16 June hosted a celebratory milestone for Gumlu’s Biggest Morning Tea event, with community members flocking to the Molongle Creek Boat Club to attend the 10th anniversary of the fundraising gathering.

2024’s Biggest Morning Tea event raised an amazing total of $2,280 for the Cancer Council Queensland due to the outstanding generosity of the community, and Sunday’s fundraising efforts contributed to an overall decade total exceeding $10,000.

Regina Lequerica has been running and organising Gumlu’s Biggest Morning Tea events since 2014 and was blown away by the generosity of Sunday’s proceedings.

“The day went a lot better than anyone excepted, and we raised double the amount that we usually raise, and it was quite successful, people were very generous,” explained Regina.

After a decade of dedication, Regina looks forward to running the event each year, explaining this year went without a hitch.

“We’ve built up a little team with the four of us who get together to get the event all going, and this year I felt really relaxed planning the event,” said Regina.

Beginning at 9am sharp, over 50 attendees gathered to enjoy nibbles, trivia, an extensive cent sale, and raffles, with a large portion of the crowd being travellers staying at the Molongle Creek Caravan Park.

Along with regular fundraising initiatives, Regina and her team organised money boards, “first in best dressed” cent sales, guess the lollies jars, donation tins, and in a special decade celebration, Katrina Land made personalised T-shirts which were auctioned off to raise additional funds.

The event was highly successful in fundraising for the Cancer Council Queensland, and Regina thanks the community for their amazing support both for the 2024 event, and each event over the past 10 years.

“We’ve found that everyone enjoys what we do, and we’re so thankful for everyone’s support,” thanks Regina.

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Regina Lequerica, Katrina Land, Summer Gurd from Bowen, Savannah Land, Amy and Susann Pfingst, Thomas Harrington, Ella and Nadine Land

Thomas Harrington, Tony Battiston, Katrina Land, Regina Lequerica, Nadine Land, Susann Pfingst

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Congratulations to Tony Battiston, who celebrated his 70th birthday with family and close friends at the Bocce Club on Saturday. 
All were encouraged to dress as a movie character, with Tony donning a Jedi costume. He entertained everyone by sharing a few of his favourite riddles and after lunch, a game of bocce was enjoyed by all. 
Thank you to everyone who came, he had an awesome weekend, one not to forget.

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Tony with nephews:  Steven, David and Michael Lequerica

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The latest victim of severe staff shortages in the medical industry is the Bowen Herbert Street Family Medical Centre which announced this week that it will close its doors at the end of June.

Over 200 GP clinics in Australia have closed down in the past year, many of them citing the same reason – they simply cannot get enough GPs.

Bowen Herbert Street Family Medical Centre is operated by the Girudala Community Cooperative Society, which is a non-for-profit organisation which predominantly overseas the welfare of Indigenous and South Sea Islander community members.

Since 2010, Girudala has been operating the Medical Centre and they welcome all patients, with more than 2,000 people registered on their books.

When they close their doors on June 30, there will only be two other medical centres in Bowen, servicing a population of over 10,000 people.

Bowen Herbert Street Family Medical Centre was also the last service to offer Bulkbilling to all patients.

The other Bowen GP clinics offer Bulkbilling to pensioners and children under 16, but there was a huge demand to fill the gap for vulnerable people that did not fit that age-bracket.

Bowen Herbert Street Family Medical Centre filled that gap.

The closure of this much-needed medical Centre will put immense pressure not only on the other GP clinics but also Bowen Hospital.

A spokesperson for Bowen Herbert Street Family Medical Centre, Jean Andersen, said they are appealing for help.

“It’s been a really hard decision to close the doors and we’ve been trying to reach out to the government for some kind of support,” she explained.

“We’ve gone through everything we can think of and now we’ve made the decision, our primary focus is to refer our patients onto other health services.

“I’m sure every rural and remote community is crying out for GPs as well; we are asking the government to help us in any way they can – is there any funding to attract doctors here?
“We need a resolution soon and I really hope we can find one.”

For several years, the Bowen Herbert Street Family Medical Centre has been surviving with locum GPs who work at the clinic for short periods.

A few years ago, they had two permanent doctors, but there are now no regular GPs to fill the huge demand and the service simply cannot cope anymore.

“This is a national crisis and governments are failing remote communities like Bowen, who simply cannot afford to pay for doctors,” stated Ms Andersen.

“The closure of Herbert Street will place extreme pressure on health services in the area and we’re calling on local governments, namely local, state and commonwealth to work together with us and with the community to develop a sustainable long-term and viable medical health solution.”

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After six weeks of hard work, artist Glen Gillard is thrilled to have finished the latest of Bowen’s murals and is extremely happy with it.

“It is probably the longest that I have ever spent on a mural,” said Glen.

“I am glad to see the end of it, and I’m happy and think the results are pretty good.

“Everybody's saying how wonderful it is and magnificent, but most of the comments I get is that it’s beautiful and that's what I'm really happy about.”

Glen joked that his favourite part to paint was the end, adding his signature at the end.

Secretary of the Mural Society Heather Skinner, President Josie Tons and Treasurer Marcia Land are over the moon with it and describe it as “Fan-bloody-tastic!”

This mural is of Herbert Street and the Mural Society have plans to extend it, adding additional buildings from Herbert Street on the blank spaces next to the newly finished mural.

This mural would not be possible without Bowen Hire, supplying scaffolding and the Mural Society express a huge thank you to them.

Glen would also like to add that he loves green tree frogs, and he likes to add them into his murals – see if you can spot one!

“This mural here has three Green Tree Frogs which people have to find before they go home,” Glen laughed.

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Glen Gillard in front of his finished mural
Treasurer Marcia Land, Secretary Heather Skinner, President Josie Tons and Artist Glen Gillard

Photo credit: Daniel Heggie

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By Amanda Wright

Production at Wilmar Sugar and Renewables’ Inkerman Mill in the Burdekin region, which kicked off the 2024 season on Monday, June 10, was abruptly halted on Wednesday due to industrial action.

The shutdown was prompted by union delegates informing the company of a planned one-hour work stoppage at Inkerman Mill and at least two other sites at midday on Wednesday.

While a one-hour stoppage might not typically force a shutdown, the delegates declined to confirm whether this would be the only stoppage at Inkerman on Wednesday. This lack of certainty left Wilmar Sugar and Renewables with no choice but to halt operations.

Mike McLeod, General Manager of Operations, expressed Wilmar’s concerns.
“A safe shutdown usually takes about 12 hours and must be carried out with care and precision. The uncertainty about stoppages presented both operational and safety concerns, leaving us no option but to shut down the mill.”

Members of the local cane growing community along with QCAR representatives. Photo credit: Melanie Napier Photography
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Industrial Action Forces Inkerman Mill Shutdown

McLeod acknowledged the impact on local growers,

“We feel for the growers who had harvested cane and those expecting to harvest in the morning. We have 6,000 tonnes of burnt cane in the Inkerman yard now, and we are told there is another 7,000 tonnes in the paddock,” Mr McLeod said.

“We had planned to be crushing at Inkerman until at least 7:30 Wednesday morning, but without certainty, we are better to stop than risk damage or injury and possibly have the mill out of commission for an extended period,” he added.

The industrial action has sparked significant concern among growers and the local community, who are feeling the brunt of the disruption. Charles Quagliata, QCAR Chair, emphasised the dire consequences.

“It’s the growers and the community who are hurting the most with this industrial action. The growers are being held for ransom and used as collateral in this dispute.”

Christian Lago, QCAR Burdekin District Committee Chairman, highlighted the immediate impact on growers, saying, “The thousands of tonnes of burnt cane in paddocks, rail bins, and on sidings without the prospect of crushing at this time is disastrous for the sugar industry as a whole.

“This shutdown was premature and hurts the growers more than anyone else.”

QCAR also said that at this stage, there has been no indication from Wilmar on whether the growers will be compensated for the loss of sugar concentration in the cane while it sits stagnant.

Stephen Ryan, CEO of QCAR, outlined the broader implications for the industry.

“Our members are directly impacted by the current industrial action, which is causing impaired cash flows across all stakeholders. The local economy is already feeling the pinch, and the Burdekin community will continue to suffer if an agreement isn't reached swiftly.”

Panikos Spyrou, QCAR's Executive Director, expressed concerns about the sustainability of the industry.

“There is a legitimate fear of a repeat of the dark and disastrous 2010 season, where industrial action prevented a timely start during fine weather, leading to a season of supply collapse when untimely wet weather set in.

“For every week lost in perfect weather, the season could be dragged out for an additional month towards the end, potentially meaning cane could stay in fields unharvested.

“The ongoing dispute is unacceptable, and the community is being held to ransom.”

The union action comes within hours of all three unions requesting a resumption of negotiations on a new enterprise agreement. This request follows the recent rejection by a majority of company employees of the company’s latest offer, which included a 14.25 per cent increase over 3.5 years, a $1,500 sign-on bonus, and 50 permanent positions for seasonal and term contract workers.

At the time of print, Wilmar was working to resume crushing cane as soon as possible at its Inkerman Mill in the Burdekin on Wednesday afternoon, and to begin production on Thursday at Invicta and Kalamia mills, despite the threat of continuing industrial action.

The company will make application to the Fair Work Commission for an urgent hearing of its argument for orders to immediately suspend protected action to allow the annual crush to proceed while enterprise agreement (EA) negotiations continue. To date the company has not exercised its right under the Fair Work Act to lock out workers participating in protected industrial action.

Mr McLeod, said that the company welcomed, and shared, the views expressed by union officials that everything possible should be done to avoid harming the interests of cane growers and the community during negotiation of an enterprise agreement.

“We need to get that cane through the mill as soon as we can,” he said.

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Production has begun at Wilmar Sugar and Renewables’ Inkerman Mill in the Burdekin region with the first cane for the 2024 season tipping at 9:28am on Monday 10 June.

Invicta Mill and Kalamia Mill will see production also begin this week with the remaining five other Wilmar mills to start up the week beginning Monday 17 June.

The beginning of what will be an extremely busy season for the Burdekin has been successful with General Manager Operations, Mike McLeod describing the kickoff as off to a good start, thanking the hard work of all employees.

“Today was a great achievement from the whole team,” Mr McLeod explained.

“I want to thank all of our people who worked tirelessly over the past week, and in particular, over the weekend to finalize preparations for start-up.”

A busting time for the region, many Wilmar employees will be scheduled to work well above regular hours, with shift workers hard at work into the night across various sectors.

“We lit up the boilers yesterday afternoon and tipped the first bin just before 9:30am as planned and we look forward to producing the first raw sugar of the season tomorrow (Tuesday 11 June).”

This beginning comes at an active time for Wilmar with the Sarina Distillery resuming their efficient production of bioethanol on Thursday 30 May, following their annual month-long maintenance closure.

Mike McLeod also stated Sugar and Renewables employees covered by the enterprise agreement were set to vote on the company’s EA offer earlier this week, with the vote scheduled for Tuesday at the latest.

Mr McLeod assure Wilmar has been closely monitoring factory operations and start dates, following notifications of further work stoppages and bans planned from Wednesday 12 June.

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Hi everyone,

On his way travelling down the Queensland coast, our recently departed journalist, Sam Gillespie, called into the Whitsundays with his mum, dad and ‘Uncle Chook’ to attend a little farewell afternoon that the team held in his honour.

Sam has been an incredible contributor to Burdekin Life Newspaper and I couldn’t think of anyone with a bigger heart and a love for regional communities that could have guided this newspaper through its first eight months.

He has set a precedent for what we can all expect, and carved a quality that we will all aspire to continue – thank you, Sam!

Of course, Sam was backed by our incredible award-winning team in Mackay and the Whitsundays.

As many of you will know our sister publication, Mackay and Whitsunday Life Newspaper recently won ‘Best Free Newspaper in QLD’ and we have always overseen this newspaper with the same dedication.

And while Sam will be notably absent from the region at the moment, I can assure you we will soon be hiring another journalist who will live and work in the Burdekin.

In the interim, a member of the Whitsunday-based team will be coming to the Burdekin each week for one or two days – in fact I am coming this Friday – please feel free to give me a call if you would like to catch up!

Burdekin Local, Chelsea Ravizza, has also accepted a full-time position with us while she is on a study break from finishing her journalism degree in Brisbane.

While Chelsea resides in Brisbane, she grew up in the Burdekin and has been writing for the newspaper for the last six months.

She is a wonderful addition to the team and, while we continue looking for the right person to be on the ground in the community, she has kindly offered to work the extra hours.

Thanks for your understanding while we go through this period of transition folks, I am sure you can understand that it is very important that we find exactly the right person to be ‘the new Sam!’

In the meantime, please enjoy your local newspaper knowing that it is produced with same heart it always has been.

Rachael Smith
Editor In Chief

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Chelsea: “I’m beyond excited to continue sharing the stories of the Burdekin in my new role. Sam has left huge shoes to fill, and I’m extremely grateful to Rachael and the team for this opportunity!”

Your Burdekin Life Team: Ruby Gorlick Sales and Social Media Representative, Crissy Bottrell Office and Production Manager, Rachael Smith Editor In Chief, Lara Moss Junior Graphic Designer and Daniel Heggie Cadet Journalist standing with Sam and his mum and dad. Photo credit: Uncle Chook

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