Burdekin Chamber Secretary Laurinda George, Guest Speaker Natasha Butler, President Leigh Kefford, Executive Member Marisa Zanella and Vice President Linda Butler
Rob and Kari and Ravizza and Alissa Muir
John Furnell and Laurinda and John George
Onni Joma and Nowetha Sand
Holly Alford and Kahlee Lennox
Marisa Zanella, Marisa O’Shea and Susan Holznagel

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Winning team ‘Just Us’
Runners Up and Best Dressed team ‘Whatever Works’
Burdekin Netball Association volunteers

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The barramundi fishing competition of the year is back, with the organisers Whitsunday Game Fish Club excited to take to the lake.

Based at Camp Kanga, the weekend starts with a briefing and registration at Camp Kanga on Friday March 22, from 7pm, for those wishing to get in on the action.

Nomination for the Barra Bash is free and prizes will be presented at the conclusion of the weekend, from 1pm, with photo on a brag mat, including the date, of the longest Barra.  Anglers can fish the lake, any time after the Briefing from a boat or the lake shoreline until noon on Sunday, 24 March. 

As well as chasing monster Barra, there will be a social tennis ball games of cricket on Saturday afternoon and tales told around the campfire with a marsh mellow or two at night.

For more details and accommodation bookings at Camp Kanga, call Bob Spees on 0417 115 855 to be part of this fun weekend.

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WHAT: Barra Bash
WHERE: Lake Proserpine
WHEN: Friday to Sunday, March 22 to 24

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Carmela Bonanno, formerly of Home Hill, celebrated her 100th birthday on February 14 at the residential aged care home in Brisbane where she now lives.

Carmela (nee Quattrocchi) emigrated to Australia from Zafferana-Etnea, Sicily, by boat in August 1950, aged 26. She settled in Townsville, working in a café owned by her sister and brother-in-law. Not long after she arrived, a friend introduced her to Giuseppe (Joe) Bonanno, who was living and farming in Home Hill. Joe hailed from the same village in Sicily as Carmela, although he had left there as a baby when his family moved to Australia in the early 1920s. Carmela and Joe were married in August 1952, and they lived on the farm and then in Home Hill until Joe’s death in 1993, aged 69. Carmela continued to live in Home Hill for another nearly 20 years, until she relocated to Brisbane in 2011 to be closer to her two sons, Alfio and Sam.

Carmela celebrated her 100th birthday with Alfio and Sam and their partners, and all her six nephews and nieces, and their partners, from Melbourne and Brisbane. There were two other special guests at the festivities: the brother and sister with whom Carmela shared a cabin (along with their mother) on the boat from Sicily to Australia in 1950. Aged eight and four then, they are 82 and 78 now. It was quite a gathering!

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Contributed by Sam Bonnano

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Caption: Carmela Bonanno on her 100th birthday with her sons Alfio (right) and Sam (left)

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Caption 1: Citizen of the Year John Wood (centre) was gifted a framed photograph of the Burdekin Bridge, pictured with Australia Day Ambassador Karen Jacobsen (left) and Burdekin Shire Council Mayor Lyn McLaughlin (right)

Caption 2: Young Citizen of the Year Eddie Jones

Caption 3: Young Citizen of the Year Achievement Award and Junior Cultural Award Winner Emily Holmes

Caption 4: Senior Cultural Award Winner Irene Richards

Caption 5: Young Citizen of the Year Achievement Award Winner Martina Bojack

Caption 6: Stephanie Tudehope on behalf of Millaroo Social Club

Caption 7: Volunteer Award recipients Eric Barbagallo (on behalf of Charlie Barbagallo), Leanne Gudge, Robin Blundell and Shirley Chard

Caption 8: New Australian Citizens Mohammadhashem Samiraninazhad, Xiaoxia Li, Karen Sullivan and Judith Wilson

Photos supplied: Burdekin Shire Council

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Caption 1: L-R Jye, Rob and Kari Ravizza, George Gamia, Adam Smith, Lyndy and John McCathie and Shay Kratzmann

Caption 2: Rob, Jye and Kari Ravizza and Lyndy and John McCathie

Caption 3: George Gamia, Shay Kratzmann and Adam Smith

Caption 4: Brad Jones, Rob Ravizza, Kavette Caspanello and Deni Caspanello

Caption 5: Nakita, Amber, Paula and Alysha

Caption 6: Neil Jensen and Joe Aguirre

Caption 7: Rob and Lena Antoniazzi and Kari Ravizza

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Staff, customers, suppliers, friends and family joined Eileen and Jenny for a 30th birthday celebration at Burdekin Growers Services last Friday, February 9

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Caption 1: Molongle Beach Caravan Park Managers Amanda and Drew

Caption 2: David Flower of Airlie Beach serenaded the crowd

Caption 3: Carisa, Micah, and Mark

Caption 4: Angie Wagner and Tom Castorina

Caption 5: John and Laurinda

Caption 6: Rick King and Bulldog

Caption 7: Kerry and Luie Pensini

Caption 8: Paul and Jack Lowis

Caption 9: Kira, Peter, and Chase Larsen

Caption 10: Jean Woodford, Ann Stewart, and Lesley Bonanno

Caption 11: Gary Petersen, Shannon Peckett and Robert Ness

Caption 12: Dealia Walsh and Christine Hinds

Caption 13: Lisa Parison and Jaxon Ferguson

Caption 14: Robert Rey and Merv Mansfield

Caption 15: Tye Tappin and Paul Hicks

Caption 16: Georgia, Donna, and Stephanie Greco

Caption 17: Denise Bonanno and Angie Wagner

Caption 18: Alf, Tony, Paul, Daniel, and Liam

Caption 19: Amelia Brix, Kaylee Garner and Liam Brix

Caption 20: Frances, Claudia, Rachael, and Angelo

Caption 21: John, Lyn, Tanya, and Kevin

Caption 22: Steve Wagner holding a petition against youth crime which was signed by over 100 attendees

Caption 23: Gumlu teachers Susann Pfingst and Kylie Levitt

Caption 24: Amanda Wood and Pauline Bannerman

Caption 25: The boat raffle was drawn and announced by Sweet FM presenters Charlie Scuderi and Carol Betteridge

Photo credit: Sam Gillespie

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Caption 1: The Local Disaster Management Group met regularly throughout the event

Caption 2: Mackenzie Linton, Ken Linton and Graham Baker preparing for the impending cyclone last week

Caption 3: Mark and Ayesha

Caption 4: Business in Queen Street, Ayr were sandbagged in preparation for possible flooding

Captions 5-7: The cyclone left fallen trees, branches and powerlines in its path

Photo credit: Sam Gillespie

Caption 8: Ergon crews worked hastily to repair damage to the electricity network. Photo supplied

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