Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
Local Last weekend was a much better weekend for the Burdekin Panthers as they won three and drew one out of the four games played. The Division One Funkies drew 3-3 away to Estates Navy on Friday night in Townsville. The other three teams were all at home to Saints Eagles Souths on Saturday. The Premiers won 4-0, the Under 23s won 1-0 and the Ladies won 2-1. This week the Panthers have five games with the Division 1 Funkies playing twice. On Tuesday night they are at home to Brothers and the
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The highly anticipated Delta Cleaners Night Soccer is set to kick off on Tuesday, 3 September, at International Park. This Six-a-Side competition is open to both Men's and Women's teams, with all players required to be over the age of fifteen. Nomination forms are available at Delta Cleaners, InterSport, and Sportfirst, and must be returned by Friday, 23 August. Celebrating its 46th season, Night Soccer began in Home Hill in 1979 with the goal of helping the Burdekin Football Club, then known a
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The Burdekin Roosters' A grade and ladies’ teams are on a bye this week, but the Reserve team is gearing up for an important match in Bowen on Friday night. The Reserve grade competition is heating up, with Souths clinching the minor premiership. The race for second, third, and fourth place is wide open. Currently, Souths lead with 28 points, followed by Bowen and Centrals with 22 points each, and Burdekin close behind with 21 points. This Friday night's clash between Bowen and Burdekin is piv
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The Ayr Surf Lifesaving Club proudly acknowledged the outstanding performance of its 10 members who competed at the Secondary School Surf League in Townsville. These young athletes demonstrated exceptional skill and determination throughout the competition, showcasing the club's dedication to excellence. Special congratulations go to Milla and Parker, who were named age champions for the day. The Ayr Surf Lifesaving Club looks forward to more such accomplishments in the future and continues t
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The Ayr Bowling Club extends a huge congratulations to the Ladies’ Premier Cup Team - Beryl Cornford, Heather Jorgenson, Desley Olsen, Irene Willson, and Pam Power. The team performed sensationally, securing fourth place in a field of 12 teams from around the district, with Ayr achieving 7 wins, +23, and 116 ends! In social bowls on Wednesday 31 July, three games of triples and one game of pairs were played, with J. Papale and B. Shepherd celebrated as the victorious winners. Another highlight
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Sunday afternoon at the Brandon Bowls Club saw players battling challenging wind conditions. Despite the difficulties, Norm Storrie, Geoff Taylor, and Peter Henderson triumphed, defeating Henry Hazel, Gary Nosworthy, and Ray Panacassio! In second place, Ben Mills, Doug Kiehne, and Doug Robins outplayed Jim Murray, Vince Beitia, and Alan Garioch. Ken Ferguson, Helen Collins, and Kevin Collins secured third place by overcoming Mick McClosky, Hugh Montgomery, and Leo Kenny. Friday night's celebra
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32 players participated on another perfect winter afternoon. Thursday's winners were Steve (Giru), Sandra, and Mick McClosky. The day was sponsored by Oar and Horan. Rink Results: • Rink 2: Judy & Gordon narrowly defeated Ron and Henry 20-18. • Rink 3: Kim, Tony & John, in another close game, won over Mick, Terry, and Trevor 20-19. • Rink 4: Ron, Bruce, and Gary accounted for Des, Bob, and Joe 19-10. • Rink 5: Steve, Sandra, and Mick McClosky won another close game over Tony C, J
Read moreCrushers v Bombers at the Queens 7-3 Cougars v Nat I at the Ayr 10-0 Nat II v Falcons at the National 6-4 Ants had the bye 10 points Points: Nat II - 155, Crushers – 143, Falcons - 131, Nat I -118, Cougars - 104, Ants - 101, and Bombers 48 Games for Thursday 08/08/24: Nat I v Ants at National, Falcons v Bombers at Anzac, Crushers v Nat II at Ayr and Cougars have the bye This week is our last games before the final rounds begin, good luck. Contributed with thanks to Kerry Davison.
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On Wednesday, 17 July, the Ayr Golf Club celebrated Queensland Country Bank Day, coinciding with the State of Origin Game 3. While the Maroons couldn't clinch the victory, the day was still a success, with the ladies donning their maroon gear and enjoying a fantastic day on the course. Debbie Szendrey from Queensland Country Bank joined in the festivities and enjoyed the beautiful weather, with her sister, Janet Trezise, stepping in to present the awards. Congratulations to the top performers:
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On Wednesday, 31 July, the Ayr Golf Club hosted the annual Jan Pilcher Day, attracting a strong field of 23 ladies despite some having played four solid days of golf prior at the outstanding 2024 Handicap Pennant competition. The weather was pleasant with a bit of wind, but it didn't deter the golfers from achieving impressive scores. This year, Jan Pilcher's daughter, Celeste, along with her children Radley and Jazlyn, travelled from Townsville to present the winners. Celeste reminisced about
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The Ayr Golf Club hosted their July monthly medal competition on the morning of Saturday 3 August, with 13 juniors participating in either a 3, 6, or 9 holes competition. The Nett winner of each competition was celebrated and awarded the July Monthly Medal. River Vass emerged as the 3-hole monthly medal winner with an impressive Nett score of 4, indicating a move up to six holes is imminent. Logan McKeough secured the 6-hole medal with a Nett score of 23. Lyla Land, in her first 9-hole competit
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The Burdekin Rugby Union Canetoads had a fantastic weekend, securing victories across first, second, and third grades. The excitement was palpable as the teams clinched their wins in some nail-biting matches. Congratulations to all the players for their outstanding performance! Scores: First Grade: 38 - 31 against North Ward Second Grade: 28 - 7 against North Ward Third Grade: 27 - 7 against Brothers Unfortunately, the Pink Toads had to forfeit due to injuries and illnesses, however, they are
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Lorenza Onella Registered Nurse Registered nurse Lorenza Onella has been a committed presence in Home Hill since 2020, with plans to stay until retirement. Her nursing journey was driven by a natural curiosity and comfort around medical professionals from a young age. “I wasn’t scared of any doctors or dentists. I was curious who they are,” she recalls. Originally from the Philippines, Lorenza holds a Bachelor of Commercial Science. Inspired by her sister, who has lived in Australia since t
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Home Hill Surgery is dedicated to reinvigorating regional health care by both broadening the services offered at the clinic and also bringing new highly skilled doctors to the Burdekin. The latest recruit is Dr Mounika Cherabudla who joined the practice last month and brings with her a range of specialties including women’s health and chronic diseases. “I am very blessed to be part of the Burdekin community,” said Dr Cherabudla. “Prevention is better than cure and that’s the beauty of a GP Pr
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Hello! My name is Miah, and I am your new on-the-ground journalist living and working right here in the Burdekin! I am thrilled to embark on this exciting journey in the world of journalism. My passion for storytelling has been a driving force in my life for as long as I can remember. My love for journalism began at a young age, with my first article being published in the Cairns Post when I was just 12 years old. That experience ignited a spark in me and solidified my desire to pursue a ca
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Senior Burdekin Water Festival Ambassador for Campbell’s Jewellery, Demi O’Shea, will host a decadent Cake Stall on Saturday 10 August from 9am. A nostalgic and classic fundraising activity, the Cake Stall will be run outside Campbell’s Jewellery selling a variety of homemade treats along with raffle tickets for the Burdekin Water Festival’s Diamond Ring Raffle valued at $5000 as donated by Campbell’s Jewellery. With the celebrated theme of the 2024 Burdekin Water Festival being “Bring it Ba
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Opinion Piece Ayr firefighters will be left to put up with a substandard fire station at the epicentre of a town’s toxic chemical contamination under Labor, Member for Burdekin Dale Last has revealed this week. Mr Last said the commissioner’s response to questions during Estimates proceedings around replacing the Ayr Fire and Rescue Station was a slap in the face to firefighters who have been left exposed to carcinogenic compounds and unable to undertake essential training for years. “The PF
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The Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) is actively recruiting part-time auxiliary firefighters to join their dedicated team in the Burdekin Local Government Area, including stations in Ayr, Giru, and Home Hill. This is an excellent opportunity for residents to contribute to their local community whilst balancing other commitments. QFES is an all-inclusive emergency service agency devoted to ensuring the safety of all individuals and property across Queensland. It comprises of the Fi
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By Miah Lampard The Vernon’s have a deep history with the Townsville to Magnetic Island Swim, with three generations of competitors within their family. The Vernon family legacy begins with Hockey Vernon in the early 1960’s, his son then competed in 2011, and, most recently his grandson in July this year. Hockey Vernon, at just 18 years of age, became the youngest competitor to attempt the swim in 1964 since the race’s commencement in 1954. He trained at the Ayr swimming pool under the guida
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Burdekin Shire Council is proud to announce the launch of its new cemetery management program OpusXenta in an innovative step towards evolving community access and operational proficiency. The leading-edge program promises to transform how cemetery records are managed and services are provided in the community. Mayor Pierina Dalle Cort outlined the numerous benefits that OpusXenta will bring to both council staff and local residents. “This upgrade facilitates long-term planning and extends t
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As Home Hill prepares to celebrate the 100th anniversary of its Anglican church, it’s a moment to reflect on a century of faith, community, and resilience. Founded in the early 1910s, Home Hill initially faced water scarcity, unlike its neighbouring Ayr. This challenge led to the formation of an irrigation board and the establishment of a powerhouse near the post office, laying the foundation for irrigation and agricultural prosperity. Farms were allocated through ballots, and wells were ins
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Pack your bags, and prepare for take-off because from Sunday 1 September, the Whitsunday Coast Airport will offer a selection of brand-new Jetstar flights directly to Adelaide. Confirmed earlier this year, the flights will take off on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday each week, with the introduction set to significantly boost local tourism in both the Whitsundays and Adelaide. In celebration of the February announcement, a one-way sale saw fares available from $99 earlier this year, and Jetstar’
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BCA provides financial and material assistance for adults experiencing personal, family, relationship and/or financial issues. The service assists adults and children with basic needs in times of financial hardship, through the provision of: • Food parcels • Toiletries • Vouchers (food, clothes, chemist, transport) • prepaid cards • payment of third-party accounts Please note that a Centrelink Income Statement is required unless you are affected by domestic and family vio
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I would like to talk about one of the Burdekin’s local not for profit organisations, the Zonta Club Burdekin Inc, that is actively working on a number of local community projects. In the coming months, Zonta, in partnership with the Red Rose Foundation, Burdekin Shire Council and the Men’s Shed, will place a number of Red Benches in prominent locations in Ayr and Home Hill. Keep an eye out for them - you won’t miss them!! The presence of a Red Bench in a public location aims to raise awareness
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Did you know that tenders are now open for an exciting opportunity to secure prime industrial land? Stage 1 of the Ayr Industrial Estate Expansion features 19 lots available for tender, offering a fantastic chance for businesses and investors to secure valuable industrial land. Most of these lots are generously sized around 2000m², offering plenty of space to build your dream industrial property or expand your business. The flexible configurations mean that buyers have the option to tender for m
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