Saturday 18th 0f January: 1.00pm to 5.00pm  ( Patrol Group A ) Chris Wicks, Damien Rickets, Emma Rickets, Jane Wicks.

Sunday 19th 0f January: 9,00am to 1,00pm  ( Patrol Group B ) Terry Lund, Tramayne Horan, Dylan Carew, Heather Scott, Anita Giddy, Jan Hatherell, Gabriel Hatherell, Toby Wilson, Danny Wilson.

Sunday 19th 0f January: 1.00pm to 5.00pm  (Patrol Group D ) Ben Lawry, Kellie Lawry, Zac Dale. Parker Bonato, Richard Dale, Bella Lawry, William Holt, Sharli Archibald, Danica Archibald, Lisa Vivian, Kristy Wassmuth, Briella Wassmuth.

‍

Burdekin Clay Target Club held their monthly shoot on Sunday 12th January. Forty-one shooters braved the extreme heat, and the scores were exceptional in all grades. Congratulations to all the winners on the day, with a big thank you to Max and Julie Nicolaides, of Storage Sheds Ayr, for sponsoring event four.

Our next shoot will be on Sunday 9th February, followed by our ‘Come and Try Day’ on Saturday 22nd February.

Event 1-15 Target Medley 15m
AA Grade 1st Ron Clive, Joe Caruso, Ray Collinson 25/25
A Grade 1st David Stitt, Sylvia Rossato 24/25
B Grade 1st Peter Wade 25/25, 2nd Mick Populin 23/25
C Grade 1st Tim Ewens 23/25, 2nd Rob Ness, Laurie Luke 20/25

Event 2-20 Target Double Barrell 15m
AA Grade 1st Joe Caruso 20/20, 2nd Glen Rea, Ron Clive, Ray Collinson Aaron Lemphers and Wayne Cislowski 19/20
A Grade 1st Joe Sebastiani 20/20, 2nd Colin Ferguson, Brontie Rea, Sylvia Rossato, Greg Maltby 19/20
B Grade 1st Sean Russell 20/20, 2nd John Kinnimonth and Mick Populin 19/20
C Grade 1st Rob Ness 19/20, 2nd Peter Delle Baite, Tim Ewens, Laurie Luke & Lynda Potter 18/20

Event 3-25 Target Pointscore 15m
AA Grade 1st Aaron Lemphers 75/75
A Grade 1st Joe Sebastiani 87/87
B Grade 1st Alf Gangemi 70/75
C Grade 1st Brian Bonanno 64/75

Event 4-25 Target Burdekin Single Barrel Championship
Sponsored by Max & Julie Nicolaides-Storage Sheds Ayr
OPEN 1st Ray Collinson 25/25
AA Grade 1st Ray Collinson 25/25
A Grade 1st Joe Sebastiani 24/25
B Grade 1st Mick Populin 23/25
C Grade 1st Tim Ewens 21/25

Event 5-25 Target Double Barrel Handicap
OPEN 1st Glen Rea 34/35
2nd Rob Mikkelsen 33/35
3rd John Kinnimonth 32/35

‍

Event 3-25 Target Pointscore 15m – Brian Bonanno, Joe Sebastiani, Aaron Lemphers and Alf Gangemi. Photos supplied.

Event 4-25 Target Burdekin Single Barrel Championship (sponsored by Max & Julie Nicolaides Storage & Sheds Ayr) – Raymond Collinson, Joe Sebastiani, Mick Populin and Tim Ewens.

Event 5-25 Target Handicap – Glen Rea, Rob Mikkelsen and John Kinnimonth.

‍

‍

In 1970, Margaret Gudge became one of the founding members of the Home Hill Netball Club, later known as Burdekin Netball. Little did she know that five decades later, her great-granddaughter, Lillea Levitt, would join the club, continuing a remarkable family legacy. Lillea became the first-ever great-grandchild of a former player to sign up with Burdekin Netball in 2020.
Back in the 70’s, Margaret and a group of friends formed a team in the newly established, Home Hill Netball Association. They named their team the ‘Bandits’ and set about creating their uniforms. With no professional designers, they bought fabric and used sewing machines to craft their dark green and black tunics.
Margaret played in various teams and represented Home Hill’s Green and Gold at numerous tournaments across Queensland, even travelling to Tasmania for games. Her commitment to the sport set the foundation for the club's long history.
Fast forward to 2020, Lillea, at just six years old, joined Burdekin Netball, proudly wearing the same green and gold colours as her great-grandmother. As the club continues to thrive, this beautiful connection between generations is a testament to the enduring spirit of community and the love for netball.
The Burdekin Netball Association is eagerly preparing for the 2025 season and is excited about the upcoming upgrades to their clubhouse and courts. These improvements will ensure that their facilities continue to support both current players and future generations for many years to come.
To start your own legacy, the Silverlinks squad are hosting team trials at the Burdekin Netball Courts beginning on Monday, 27th of January. All positions are open for the Premier League, Division One and 18’s League teams for this year's upcoming Townsville competitions.
The Burdekin Netball Association's Annual General Meeting, will be held at 10am, Friday 9 February, at the Burdekin Netball Association courts. All positions are vacant. Members and interested parties are encouraged to attend. For further information, please contact burdekinnetball@gmail.com
‍

Contributed with thanks by Kelli Loizou.

Margaret Gudge and her granddaughter, Lillea Levitt. Photo: Supplied

‍

Get ready to roll into a fun-filled Australia Day celebration at the Ayr Bowling Club! On Sunday, the 26th January 26 the Ayr Blowing Club invites the community to come together for a social bowls event that’s all about enjoying the Aussie spirit. Dress in your best Aussie outfits and get ready for a day of friendly competition and plenty of Aussie prizes.

What: Australia Day Social Bowls
When: Sunday 26 January from 12:30pm
Where: Ayr Bowling Club
More Information: Call (07) 4783 1336

‍

Burdekin FC Inc. is on the lookout for female players eager to join their teams for the 2024 season! The club is recruiting for both the FQPL Northern Women and the U23 Northern Women teams with preseason training to kick off in early January.

The club invites interested players to contact them for more information via email at burdekinfc@hotmail.com or send a message through the club’s Facebook page.

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a passionate team! Stay tuned for further details.

‍

Are you searching for a new, energy-filled sport for the whole family to enjoy? Pickleball has been making waves in the US, earning the title as the fastest growing sport in the country!

The Home Hill Tennis Association provides the community with the chance to have a swing at the fantastic tennis, cross badminton, cross ping pong sport at their courts located at 43 – 75 First Street, Home Hill.

The Association hosts Pickleball Saturdays each week from 8am to 9am as well as free come and try sessions throughout the year. Whether you’re a beginner or have played before, this is a fantastic opportunity to start a new year hobby, improve your skills, or just enjoy a friendly game!

Call the Association on 0487 890 201 for more information!

‍

Give Pickleball a swing this January!

‍

With the festivities and new year holidays wrapping up, the Burdekin Roosters are looking forward to getting back on the field, announcing seniors will commence preseason training from Tuesday the 14th January.

The Club is eyeing big things in the new year, debuting a new motto, “Roosters Thrive in ‘25” across their socials last December, following on from an action packed 2024 season.

A call out for nominations of club roles will also be announced in early January, with the community encouraged to keep an eye on the Burdekin Roosters page for updates.

‍

The Ayr Surf Club held it's final Junior Club Championships on Saturday 14th December, bringing their general nipper season to a close for 2024. The event showcased the junior surf sports skills where all members including the Green Caps (U6s and U7s), are able to compete in a variety of events, from wades, surf races, boards, and iron person in the water and flags, sprints and 1km beach run on the sand.  The nippers compete in both their individual age group and a junior or senior category to determine age champions, Open Iron person Champions and Junior and Senior Champions. The nippers will be presented with their awards in the New Year at presentations with the Senior members. Members were also treated to a special visit from the big man in red later on in the afternoon with Santa delivering the nippers a water themed gift which culminated in a massive water fight to cool off after a big afternoon of competition.

Although the normal nipper season has come to an end, there is still plenty happening at the Ayr Surf Club. The junior members who were selected in the North Barrier Branch 2025 Youth State Team are still training in the lead up to State Titles in March on the Gold Coast. Junior members, under 12s and under 13s, from across the entire branch will head to Alva during the January School holidays to attend Camp Alva, a development and leadership camp, and the Annual Beach Golf Day has been booked in for Saturday 8th of February, so get your teams together and prepare for another fun filled day!

Contributed with thanks to Kellie Lawry.

‍

U11-U14 Senior Flags event
Eva Rickards, Alexandra Moloney and Isabella Flower
Penelope Donald, Quinn Pontifex, Mackenzie Sartori and Eliza Hayllor
Ryan Irvine, Angus Wicks and Hoyt Pontifex
Ross, Eva and Audrey Rickards with Santa
John, Alexandra and Anne Moloney with Santa

‍

Saturday the 11th of January, 1pm to 5pm: Patrol Group B - Terry Lund, Tramayne Horan, Dylan Carew, Heather Scott, Anita Giddy, Jan and Gabriel Hatherell, and Toby and Danny Wilson.

Sunday the 12th of January, 9am to 5pm:  All Day Patrol Group F - Lisa and John Furnell, Jen and Jo Morgan, Lauren and Isla Chapman, and Ryley, Jake, Kat and Dave Sartori.

Contributed with thanks to Hockey Vernon.

‍

The 2024 Hancock Prospecting Queensland Swimming Championships took place in Brisbane at the Chandler Aquatic Centre, and the Burdekin Swimming Club had a representative attend the Championships in December.

Bringing together Queensland's best, including Olympian’s, Shayna Jack and Mollie O'Callaghan, as well as top competitors in Queensland, and also, from around the world, The Burdekin Torpedoes had Millie Lyne, and coaches, Kim and Mick McConnachie, represent them and the Burdekin region for the week-long event.

Millie had a jam-packed week kicking off with the regional relays on the Saturday, where she represented North QLD Swimming in both Freestyle and Medley relays. Then came her individual races, where she did a personal best time in each race she competed in, which included 50m Freestyle, Backstroke, Butterfly, Breaststroke, and 100m Breaststroke.

Millie was able to make the final in 100m Breaststroke in the 14yo girls where she came 6th in the state. The week ended on a high when Millie made the 50m Breaststroke final, placing 3rd in the state and bringing home a bronze medal for the Burdekin Torpedoes.

The Burdekin Torpedoes and Millie were extremely grateful to have such dedicated coaches in Kim and Mick McConnachie, who take the time to travel to these events and give their all to the swimmers to achieve these great results. 

The Burdekin Torpedoes will now be looking forward to their annual Swimming meet on January 18th – the 2025 NQIB Burdekin sprint held at the Burdekin Aquatic Centre – where Clubs from around the North QLD region converge for a fun filled afternoon of fast swimming.

‍

Burdekin Torpedo swimmer, Millie Lyne, with her bronze medal. Photo: Supplied
Coaches, Kim and Mick McConnachie, embracing Burdekin Torpedo swimmer, Millie Lyne, with her bronze medal and finalist awards. Photo: Supplied
Millie Lyne, in full flight on her way to bronze. Photo: Supplied

‍

The Ayr Surf Club Junior Championships on December 14th marked the end of an action-packed 2024 season, with Nippers competing in surf races, board events, and beach sprints. Looking ahead, the club’s juniors are gearing up for an exciting 2025.

Selected members are training for the North Barrier Branch 2025 Youth State Team, with State Titles set for March on the Gold Coast. Additionally, under 12s and 13s will attend Camp Alva in January, focusing on leadership and development.

The club is also preparing for the Annual Beach Golf Day on February 8th, promising a fun-filled day to kick off the new year. The Ayr Surf Club is ready for another year of growth, competition, and community!

‍

Penelope Donald, Quinn Pontifex, Mackenzie Sartori and Eliza Hayllor. Photo supplied

‍

The Burdekin Touch Association hosted the Grand Finals for the 2024 Mixed Season on the evening of Friday 13 December, showcasing top-quality games across all five grades.

In a thrilling conclusion to the season, the A Grade Final delivered one of the most exciting matches in recent years. Can’t Touch This, seeking their first-ever A Grade title, faced off against the experienced Nrgize team.

The game was a fast-paced spectacle, with play surging end-to-end. Nrgize displayed their well-rehearsed moves, while Can’t Touch This countered with an organised yet free-flowing style. At full time, the score was locked at 5-all, sending the match into a nerve-wracking drop-off.

In the decisive moments, it was the speed and agility of Jye Olsen, named Player of the Final, that sealed the victory for Can’t Touch This, securing their maiden A Grade Championship.

The match capped off a remarkable season, reflecting the hard work and dedication of both players and officials of the Burdekin Touch Association.

Looking ahead, the 2025 Open Touch Season is set to kick off in January, promising more exciting action for players and fans alike.

Contributed with thanks to Amity Cornford.

‍

Marshall Parker is an active and commendable member of the Home Hill Cricket Association, and recently represented his club with pride in North Queensland’s Under 12 B Team in Townsville.
At just 10 years old, Marshall plays and trains at both his home club, and the Townsville West Cricket Club with the Parker family travelling to Townsville twice a week to continue building upon Marshall’s techniques and skillset.
In following in the footsteps of his dad, Ross Parker, Marshall enjoys a match of father-son cricket here and there and loves the socialisation aspect of the sport above all else.
“Cricket is fun, and you can play with your friends,” shared Marshall.
With just over three years of experience in the sport, Marshall’s training routine sees him spend plenty of time both in the nets and out in the field. Marshall’s selection to be part of the North Queensland’s Under 12 B Team was an exciting milestone in his cricket career, with becoming the team’s Vice Captain a celebrated cherry on top achievement!
Playing alongside his friends, Marshall felt nothing but excitement for the weeklong competition held in December, with the Home Hill Cricket Association cheering him on from across the river!

‍

Two celebrated members of the Ayr Rifle Club, David Huckett and Jason Kupke, have etched their names in history as part of the North Queensland team, claiming the title of Australian Champions at the National F-Class Long Range Rifle Teams Competition. Held in Canberra during November of 2024, the event brought together elite shooters from across the nation.
The North Queensland team, comprising six shooters, a reserve, Coach Jordan Drew, and Manager and Captain Betta Gianassi, spent the past year training at ranges in Mackay, Townsville, and the Atherton Tablelands. These sessions helped the team refine their skills and adapt to varying conditions in preparation for the intense competition.
The championship, held over two days, tested competitors with distances of 700, 800, and 900 metres. The bullseye at these ranges measured just 25.5cm in diameter, demanding exceptional precision.
Challenging weather conditions at the Canberra range, including shifting wind directions and speeds, added to the difficulty. Despite this, the North Queensland team excelled, finishing the first day of competition in the lead and maintaining their dominance on day two. Their combined scores secured a decisive victory, marking the first time an FTR rifle team from North Queensland has won a national title.
A historic achievement, both Dave and Jason’s highly skilled talents and attention to precision combined with the dedication of their fellow teammates were essential to North Queensland’s success.

‍

Back: Michael Keelan, Karl Voderwinkler, Jim Roughan, Jason Kupke, Paul Little, and David Huckett. Front: Betta Gianassi, Jordan Drew, and Robert Engwirda. Photo supplied.
Back: Paul Little, Karl Voderwinkler, Jason Kupke, Robert Engwirda, David Huckett, and Michael Keelan. Front: Jordan Drew, Jim Roughan, and Betta Gianassi. Photo supplied.
David Huckett and Jason Kupke. Photo supplied.

‍

As the Christmas and New Year period nears its conclusion at Alva Beach, the Ayr Surf Lifesaving Club reminds everyone to enjoy the school holidays and festivities safely. With increased traffic from bikes and 4-wheelers, the Club urges beachgoers to be mindful and considerate of others.

The dedicated patrols have been on duty throughout the holiday season to ensure everyone enjoys a safe time by the water, with members asking the community to work together to keep Alva Beach a fun and safe environment for all. Stay aware, be sensible, and have a wonderful holiday season!

‍