Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
AYR BOWLING CLUB WEEKLY REPORT The Ayr Bowling Club has celebrated another excellent week on the greens, with members coming together for a mix of club Championship games and engaging social matches. The atmosphere and enthusiasm around the club remains high, as members are gearing up for Country Pennants. With Bowen Bowling Club hosting the event Saturday 6th September 2025. We encourage members and anyone who has an interest in bowls to come and support our men during this event. Our men’s pen
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Home Hill Cricket Association had the honour of hosting the Wanderers QLD Club on Tuesday, 19 August, as part of the Wanderers’ Country Tour through regional Queensland. The Wanderers, a charity-based side, bring their touring team to country towns every few years, with this year’s schedule including matches in Yeppoon, Mackay, Proserpine, Bowen, Home Hill, Clermont and Maryborough. Adding to the occasion was the presence of cricket great Geoff Dymock, the former Australian international fast b
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Home Hill State High School opened its Agricultural Precinct on Thursday, 21 August, offering students, families, local businesses, and the general public an opportunity to explore the new facility for the first time. The day began with a welcome and acknowledgments, followed by student-led guided tours of the greenhouse, the Dig Inn market garden, the Aqua Lab, and the kitchen. Industry groups including Canegrowers, Queensland Agriculture Workforce Network, Sunwater, and Bowen Gumlu Growers A
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What I've had to quickly learn in this town is that there's a story in everything, and everyone, if you're willing to dig deep enough. This industry is much more nuanced than some might imagine— in fact I've come to realise that first hand. During my short time as a freelancer in Sydney, and even as an intern in Pittsburgh, I came to know journalism as an industry that was quite mechanical. It became tedious cycle—news flying in from all directions, sifting through the noise, extracting what m
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Last Monday, the quick thinking and kindness of a local helped save a distressed sea turtle washed ashore at Wunjunga Beach. “Thank you to the lovely animal carers that drove all the way to Townsville with our earth’s valuable sea creature,” wrote Annie Taylor in a post she shared online. Before the animal carers arrived, Annie and other locals worked together to keep the turtle calm and comfortable, gently placing wet towels over its body and keeping its eyes moist. Their efforts ensured the
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Twelve local cyclists proudly represented the Burdekin in the 25th annual Townsville to Cairns Bike Ride, joining 191 riders for the gruelling 371km journey. Riding as part of the Eagles group, the team tackled the three-day event, which raises vital funds for children’s cancer research. The opening leg covered 108km from Townsville to Ingham, followed by a challenging 170km ride from Ingham to Innisfail on Day Two. Riders faced the notorious Cardwell Range before continuing via the old Tully h
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Member for Burdekin, Dale Last MP, has called on local sporting clubs to take advantage of a recently announced fund to assist clubs in recovering from this year’s severe weather event. The Sport and Recreation Recovery Program (SRRG) is jointly funded by the state and federal governments and will provide up to $1 Million for repairs and even upgrades to help mitigate the effects of future events. “When events like those we saw earlier this year happen, the effects are felt across the community
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Ayr State High School continues to excel in STEM education, with students actively engaging in a wide range of opportunities that showcase their skills, creativity, and passion for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Students proudly represented the school in the Australian Mathematics Competition, the ICAS Science Competition, and the International Chemistry Quiz, demonstrating their problem-solving abilities and critical thinking. Four Year 10 students further extended their lea
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Tec-NQ House grade 11 boarding student Caleb has his sights set firmly on the automotive trade, splitting his week between the classroom, paid work, and hands-on experience at the Townsville Audi and Porsche dealership just down the road from Tec-NQ House boarding campus. “I got to work on a timing belt,” said Caleb. “Each day I went to work experience, I walked because it was just up the road.” Time in a prestigious workshop has given him confidence and clarity. “I get to help the workers in
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It’s always rewarding to see projects progressing that will have long-term benefits for our community. Stage 5 of the Home Hill Be-Active Trail is progressing well, with the two-metre-wide concrete footpath currently being constructed along Seventeenth Street between Seventh Avenue and Eleventh Avenue. As someone who has spent plenty of early mornings on the farm watching the “black snow” fall during crushing season, I know how much locals value being outdoors and active in our fresh air. This t
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At a recent Chamber meeting, I heard about Ren Pedersen’s Million Dollar Mission. A deeply personal initiative born from heartbreak, yet driven by hope and action, highlighting the tough realities faced by families, including those in our community. It is impossible not to be moved by the stories of parents who, with hand on heart, share their journey of tragedy, grief and courage. Many of you will know Ren, a former Burdekin local now living in Townsville. Ren’s daughter was just seven years ol
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As part of Road Safety Week, Burdekin Catholic High School welcomed firefighters Ashley Ryder from Ayr Fire Station and Alex Diorietes from Kirwan Fire and Rescue Station for an engaging Road Attitudes and Action Planning (RAAP) presentation last Wednesday. RAAP is a free road safety program delivered by operational firefighters, designed for Year 11 and 12 students across Queensland. With around 20 years of delivering the program in the Burdekin region, the firefighters bring first-hand experi
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Homelessness is often viewed as a “big city” problem, but a group of passionate young leaders from Burdekin Catholic High School set out to challenge that belief – and in doing so, inspired the whole community. The idea for the school’s Stand Up Sleep Out was sparked when Burdekin Shire Mayor Pierina Dalle Cort encouraged school captains to think about why events like the Vinnies CEO Sleepout are held in major cities such as Brisbane, but rarely in regional towns like Ayr. For school captain Dr
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Wigs & Wine Fundraiser Sees The Burdekin Netball Association Rally Behind Cancer Council With the tables set, and the scissors handy, nine members of the Burdekin Netball Association (BNA) will #RockTheChop this Friday, the 29th of August at the club’s Wigs & Wine fundraising party! The Ponytail Project fundraising event supports the vital work of the Cancer Council Australia and encourages people across the nation to #RockTheChop and donate their hair to create wigs for those diagnosed with ca
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The Kalamia Hotel extends a warm invitation to the wider community to attend a heartwarming Garden of Hope event this Saturday, the 30th of August to support and fundraise for life-changing cancer research. Set to commence from 3pm in the venue’s Beer Garden area, the afternoon promises to entertain attendees with the wonderful musical talents of Alexa and keep the fun and good vibes flowing well into the evening with a delicious selection of food included with each ticket purchase. The theme o
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Lower Burdekin Scouts Take on Sailing and Shooting Adventures Members of the Lower Burdekin Scout Group have been keeping busy with back-to-back outdoor adventures this August. On August 16, four Scouts from the group joined 10 others from Townsville for a sailing day at the Townsville Sailing Club. Under clear skies and a light breeze, participants started with sailing theory before learning to rig their boats. Once on the water, they rotated through different positions, gaining hands-on exper
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Please join us to celebrate 50 years of the Burdekin Community Association Inc. supporting people in the Burdekin. Everyone is welcome - Clients, members past and present, BCA personnel, friends, organisations, other community members. BCA 50th Anniversary Celebration Dinner Please join us for an evening filled with celebration and memories! When: Saturday 13.09.25 Where: Hotel Brandon, 54 Drysdale Street, Brandon Time: Doors open at 6.00pm for a 6.30pm start Cost: $40.00 per person Entertain
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The Burdekin Water Festival’s infamous Grand Parade and Mardi Gras will roll into Queen Street on Saturday the 6th of September, and with a world of preparations underway, one wonderful new addition to the timeless celebration deserves to be highlighted! As generously sponsored by Wilmar Sugar, 1,000 brilliant buckets will be given away for children to safely collect and store their lollies during the specular Street Parade next weekend, and when all the fun is done, the kids can take the bucke
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Rural Aid has launched a powerful new fundraising campaign to secure the future of rural Australia by supporting the next generation of farmers — the children growing up on the land today. These children are not only the future of their family farms, but also the future custodians of Australia’s food supply. Right now, many are facing significant challenges. From natural disasters to financial stress, country kids often grow up surrounded by uncertainty, with the weight of the farm’s future on
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After more than four decades of involvement, Uli Liessmann has officially assumed the role of President of the Home Hill Chamber of Commerce, as announced by the organisation at its most recent meeting last week. Liessmann, returning for his second stint as Chamber president, was sworn in before a small crowd during Wednesday night’s proceedings, taking over from David Cooper, who stepped down after eight years in the role. Liessmann described his election not as a milestone, but as a natural
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Have you ever wanted to try your hand at macrame? Here’s your chance! Natalina Royan of Gnat’s Clever Crafts & Creations will be hosting a magical Macrame Workshop this Sunday, the 31st of August from 1pm through to 3pm to teach and inspire locals to create something wonderful! “Allow me to share my love of macrame,” wrote Natalina on a post shared online. “With my help and guidance, I would love to provide you with some knowledge on how to create your own macrame single hat hanger!” The wor
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Construction has begun on Stage 5 of the Home Hill Be-Active Trail, bringing the town one step closer to a continuous pathway network for residents. This stage will see a two-metre-wide concrete footpath installed along Seventeenth Street, stretching from Seventh Avenue to Eleventh Avenue. Once complete, work will move directly into Stage 6, extending the pathway along Eleventh Avenue from Seventeenth Street. Mayor Pierina Dalle Cort said the trail is a long-term investment in health, wellbein
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Burdekin seniors are invited to celebrate, connect, and access valuable information at the annual Seniors Expo and Luncheon, hosted by the Burdekin Shire Council. The event will take place on Thursday, 30 October, from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm at the Burdekin Memorial Hall. Mayor Pierina Dalle Cort said the Expo is an important way to recognise and support the region’s seniors. “Our seniors play a vital role in shaping the Burdekin community, and this event is a wonderful way to celebrate their co
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Home Hill's beloved Lloyd Mann Gardens, a known tourist hotspot, just became a little brighter and a lot more handy following the erection of a new signpost this month. The locally manufactured signpost, which cost the Home Hill Chamber of Commerce just shy of $2000 to construct and install, boasts five arrowed signs, each pointing in the geographic direction of a different Home Hill point of interest. Home Hill Chamber secretary Rob Antoniazzi said the idea behind the project stemmed from a p
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“I always wanted to be a chef,” recalled Sonya Mase, the driving force behind Home Hill favourite Marzay’s Corner. For her, the kitchen has always been a place to create, experiment, and inspire—but her path into the culinary world, though always a dream, wasn’t exactly linear. Working as a cleaner in South Australia before moving to Queensland with her husband, Tony, cooking had been more of a dream than a serious consideration—a passion simmering on the back burner. It was during her time w
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