Saturday 24 May Burdekin Enduro Off-Road Race Saturday 9am Join the Burdekin Off-Roaders Club for their annual home ground off-road race, the Burdekin Enduro. This family friendly event showcases some of Queensland’s, and Australia’s, best off-road race cars as they tear through the dirt to claim podium places. Don’t miss the sprint section on Saturday afternoon where you will be able to see the cars up close and personal. Entry is free, just bring water and something to sit on. Burdekin Offroad
Read more.jpg)
As the Sweet Days Hot Nights Festival draws near, two standout events promise to deliver unforgettable experiences for locals and visitors: the Australian Hand Cane Cutting Championships (AHCCC) and the iconic First Fire. For long-time competitor and local grower Mark Vass, the championships are about more than just sharp knives and speed. “It’s good tradition,” he says. “We have all these flashy machines now that do everything, so it's good to go back and get a taste of how hard it was.” The
Read more
Unlike the weather, event season in the Burdekin is just beginning to warm up, and we were back with another banger this weekend with the Burdekin Growers Race Day. I’ll be honest—coming into it, I just wanted to get in, get the photos, and get out, as I was feeling a bit off the pace for reasons that definitely didn’t involve my antics the night before… But as I approached the gates, seeing thousands of people milling around in full swing, I knew that wasn’t gonna be the case. What an event.
Read more
Plantation Park came alive on Sunday for the 16th annual Norm Perry Memorial Duck Race, drawing a strong crowd for a day of fun, fundraising and floating plastic ducks. Hundreds lined the creek bank to cheer on the rubber competitors, with one lucky duck taking out the $1000 top prize and the coveted 2025 Quack Cup. Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox joined locals in enjoying the festivities, which included food stalls, kids’ activities and live tunes from the Burdekin Brass Band. The c
Read more
From the 7th to the 18th of this month, the local community flocked to the Burdekin theatre to witness the next generation of local talent strut their stuff. In its 41st year, the annual event saw 2600 talented children from all over North Queensland showcase their skills across a range of disciplines and age groups—from poetry and choral performances to classical piano and traditional Highland dance. “We’re very happy with the amount of entries and how it went,” said the secretary of the even
Read more
Burdekin Growers Race Day Delivers Again The Burdekin Growers Race Day lived up to its reputation as the region’s premier 18+ social event on Saturday, May 17, delivering a mix of racing, fashion, and community celebration under perfect autumn skies. Thousands flocked to the track for the annual event, as the vibration of hooves denting the manicured grass course signalled the start of a six-race program showcasing top local talent.
Read more
The Burdekin took centre stage on national television last week as The Today Show brought its live weather broadcast to the region as part of a week-long Townsville North Queensland showcase. On Tuesday, May 14, viewers across the country woke up to the sights and sounds of the Burdekin, with weatherman Tim Davies broadcasting live from the Burdekin Theatre forecourt between 5:30am and 9:00am. Locals turned out in force to be part of the action, with behind-the-scenes fun, community spirit, an
Read more.jpg)
Well, the 2025 crushing season is about to start. I am really hoping we can have a good run this year. Wouldn’t it be nice to have it all crushed before December. At Council, we are still deep in budget discussions. After the work we have done to date, I am pretty confident we will be able to deliver a budget that is not only responsible but also ensures we meet the community's wants and needs. A few new initiatives have been started, led by our Executive Leadership Team and councillors. A new
Read more%20(1).jpg)
Well, it’s not every day we get to showcase our region to a national audience, and I couldn’t be prouder. From our vibrant community spirit to our incredible local produce, the Burdekin truly has something special. How great was it to show the rest of Australia on the TODAY show when the weather team come to town! Adding even more fun to the visit was the Burdekin’s Sweetest School Competition contestants, where local students brought in their homegrown sugarcane and proudly displayed their agr
Read more
Roads, Rucks And Recovery Norm Bethel has lived enough lives for a dozen men. Now in his eighties and calling the Burdekin home, the esteemed New Zealander’s journey has taken him from coaching rugby legends, to long-haul trucking, to miraculously surviving a horror crash that nearly took it all away. Born across the ditch, Norm grew up between New Zealand’s North and South Islands in a country where “rugby is a passion, not a pastime.” He wasn’t just a fan of the game—he shaped it, mentoring y
Read more
The Burdekin Roosters will be back on the playing field this Saturday—and, more importantly, will play their first home game after opening the season with three games on the road. It will be a big day at Rugby Park, with the Juniors also in action. Thirteen junior teams, along with Bowen, will take the field. Games will kick off at 8.30am across four fields, finishing with the A Grade clash on Field One at 6.30pm. The Roosters Old Boys Club will be at the Ayr Anzac Club from midday for a get-
Read more
Member for Burdekin, Dale Last MP, is urging the local agricultural sector to have their say on the future of the sector either in person or at an upcoming information session or online. A key part of the Crisafulli government’s target to increase the state’s primary industries production to $30 Billion by 2030, the consultation process is focussed on ensuring primary industries thrive and prosper. “What we have seen over the past 10 years is immense changes forced upon primary industry but ve
Read more
Bendigo Bank today announced a new partnership with not-for-profit Thriving Communities Australia (TCA) to help the most vulnerable members in our community gain improved access to key financial services. With a focus on improving access to essential services for all Australians, TCA facilitates learning and collaboration among partner organisations with the aim of creating a unified approach to assisting customers experiencing vulnerability. As a partner of TCA, Australia’s most trusted bank w
Read more
If one thing can be said for sure, it’s that the Burdekin Shire loves its annual Ladies Day celebrations! After another stellar year of Ladies Day events in 2024, the Burdekin Roosters, Burdekin Football Club, and Burdekin Rugby Union Canetoads have taken a place on calendars across the community, confirming 2025 will be a year to remember with three wonderful weekends on the horizon! The first club to take a seat at the 2025 table will be the Burdekin Rugby Union Canetoads! Saturday the 12th o
Read more
A woman has died and two others were hospitalised following a head-on collision on the Flinders Highway near Charters Towers last week. Emergency services were called to the scene at Breddan, just west of Macrossan Bridge, shortly after 4pm on May 14, following reports of a two-vehicle crash. Initial investigations suggest a Holden Epica and a Hyundai Kona were travelling in opposite directions when they collided head-on. A woman in her 50s, who was a passenger in the Kona, died at the scene.
Read more
Grab a snag and support a worthy cause this Saturday, the 31st of May, as Flexi Queensland fires up a community sausage sizzle outside Home Timber and Hardware, Ayr from 8:30am. Sausages will be served hot and tasty for just $3 each, with all proceeds going towards supporting Flexi Queensland’s vital services. 2025 marks 30 years of Flexi Queensland delivering a range of services to help individuals live independently, connect with their community, and achieve personal goals through tailored su
Read more
Home Hill Cricket Club’s current and former juniors, Xavier Cross and Nate Elphinstone, proudly represented Queensland in the Century Cricket State of Origin Under-13 Series held in Brisbane over the April school holidays. The series brought together junior players from five regional teams: Victoria Metro, Victoria Country, New South Wales, Queensland, and the Allies – a combined side featuring players from Tasmania, South Australia, and Western Australia. Despite the first day being rained out
Read more
Prepare for bubbles, beakers, and brainy fun because Maidavale State School will soon ignite young minds with their annual Under 8’s Day! Set to take place on Thursday, the 29th of May from 9am to 11am at the school grounds on 233 Maidavale Road, this year’s theme “Unleashing Scientific Thinking Through Play,” promises to deliver a morning packed with hands-on science activities, exciting experiments, and discovery-driven fun tailored to children under eight years of age. The event will featur
Read more
Local kids got hands-on with nature during another fun-filled Junior Landcare event hosted by the Burdekin Landcare Association Inc. Participants rolled up their sleeves and embraced the challenge of building their very own native bee and insect houses, attracting future visits from pollinators like bees, ladybugs, and other beneficial bugs. The creativity and effort on display were impressive, with every young participant proudly taking home a handmade habitat to support local biodiversity. A
Read more
Nominate community champions in celebration of Queensland Day
Read more
Traffic flow along the Bruce Highway was severely impacted on Saturday, the 17th of May, following a single-vehicle traffic crash at Barratta Creek, near Jerona Road. A Queensland Police Service spokesperson confirmed emergency services were called to the West Barratta Creek Bridge at approximately 1:15pm, after reports that a bronze Landcruiser Defender, towing a trailer with a white Nissan Patrol, had crashed. The vehicle was travelling southbound when the incident occurred, causing signific
Read more
Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter has lashed out at Labor’s proposed superannuation tax, warning it will “rip the guts out of middle Australia” and devastate the farming and small business sectors. The policy, which proposes taxing unrealised capital gains in superannuation accounts, has drawn heavy criticism from financial and agricultural groups who say it targets everyday Australians rather than the wealthy elite. “Unrealised capital gains” refer to increases in an asset’s value that ha
Read more
Wilmar Sugar and Renewables has launched a new monthly Values Recognition Program—and Burdekin-based employees were front and centre in the inaugural round of winners. Four of the six staff recognised in the first intake are from the Burdekin region, showcasing the strength of local leadership, innovation and teamwork across Kalamia, Pioneer, Invicta and Inkerman mills. The newly established program is designed to celebrate employees who consistently demonstrate Wilmar’s core values of integri
Read more
The State Government has taken the first step in planning for Queensland’s future timber supply, with the inaugural Timber Supply Chain Ministerial Roundtable bringing together growers, processors, and industry leaders to help shape a long-term timber action plan. With growing demand for home construction and infrastructure across the state, particularly in regional areas, the Queensland Future Timber Plan (QFTP) aims to ensure we have a strong, sustainable supply of local timber to meet the ta
Read more.jpg)
The Bowen Pipeline Project is edging closer to becoming a reality, with state approval expected in 2025 and construction forecast to begin within the next 12 months. Bowen Pipeline Company spokesperson Sean Brown recently confirmed the project remains on schedule, with the public advertising phase of its Ministerial Infrastructure Designation (MID) application underway since the 4th of April. The application, lodged in December of 2024 and confirmed in March earlier this year, is progressing th
Read more