Sibby Saitta started his clothing business in Queen Street, Ayr 72 years ago in 1952. It commenced trade as a basic tailoring shop of which there were several in town at that time. Sibby tailored made-to-measure men’s suits, trousers and other basic apparel, all made from scratch. As time passed, ready made clothing and fashions became more readily available, so the shop evolved into a retail outlet selling men’s fashions of the day. Work clothing soon became available from factories in B
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Ingrained in the history of the Burdekin region as one of the largest construction projects to date, the Burdekin Falls Dam holds the prestigious title of existing as the largest dam in Queensland. Situated approximately 100 kilometres south of Charters Towers, the Burdekin Falls Dam was completed in 1987 at a cost totalling $125 million to adequately contain the Burdekin River, a catchment area covering about 7% of the state. The structure can hold a capacity of 1,860,000 mega litres, and his
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2025 marks a wonderful milestone in Clare State School’s history, and over the weekend, almost 500 members of the Burdekin community gathered together to celebrate the school’s 75th anniversary. Despite the unfortunate weather conditions, Clare State School Principal, Troy Patti was beyond pleased with the weekend’s events, noting Saturday evening’s Twilight Feast & Timeless Talks was an occasion to remember. “The weekend was very successful, especially considering the rainfall that we had exp
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You know what they say, every cloud has a silver lining, and just last week Morag Burbidge found that timeless saying to be true. A dear friend of Morag’s had an unfortunate fall which left her both unconscious and with terrible injuries earlier last week, and thanks to the quick thinking of a couple of vigilant locals, Morag’s friend had the help she needed within minutes. “A young lady waved down a young man and asked for him to sit with my friend while she ran across the road to the hospita
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Ivica Murry has mastered the art of intertwining the whimsical world of magic and wonder into her everyday life, and now she hopes to help other members of the community do the same. Recently, Ivica created an online community titled “The Folk Magick Collective” where she plans to share her wealth of knowledge on the niche practice with the wider Burdekin and beyond. “Folk Magick is a practical, tradition-based system of magic passed down through generations within communities, often focusing
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Saturday 12th 0f April 1.00pm to 5,00pm ( Patrol Group B ) Terry Lund, Tramayne Horan, Dylan Carew, Heather Scott, Anita Giddy, Jan Hatherell, Gabriel Hatherell, Toby Wilson, Danny Wilson.’ Sunday 13th 0f April 9.ooam to 1oopm ( Patrol Group E) John Moloney, Anne Moloney, Tony Felesina, Isabella Moloney, Jane Jones, Gavin Jones, Sophia Moloney, Alissia Gibson, Billy Gibson, Shaize Christie, Emma Jones. Sunday 13th 0f April 1.00pm to 5.00pm ( Patrol Group G ) Carl List, Jimmy Hayllor, Jam
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Ayr Bowling Club has enjoyed another vibrant week on the greens, with a fantastic mix of social and championship games bringing members together. With the championship season now in full swing, competition has been fierce but friendly, highlighting the impressive skill and sportsmanship of the club's bowlers. Social games have also been well-attended, creating a welcoming and lively atmosphere that continues to strengthen the club’s sense of community. Club President Anthony Bull praised the po
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Sunday 13 April BBQ Breakfast Sunday 8am The community is invited to attend the Burdekin Aero Club Inc. Monthly BBQ Breakfast at the Ayr Aerodrome from 8am to 11am. Meet the pilots, inspect the aircrafts, and enjoy a morning of socialisation for $10 per person. Call 0429 144 921 for more information. Ayr Aerodrome, Brandon Wednesday 16 April Social and Networking Event Wednesday 5:30pm The community is invited to attend the Home Hill Chamber of Commerce Social and Networki
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Tracey Jane was born and raised in Melbourne, attending grammar school in Brighton before studying a foundation year in Art and Design at Brighton Technical School in 1976. She began a Graphic Design degree at Caulfield Institute of Technology in 1977. That same year, she travelled to England by ship and worked in London as an artist and receptionist for a printing company. Her passion has always been drawing, and she has now been a practising artist for over 40 years. After returning to Austr
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The Cecchin Motors story is by Mattero’s son, Vic who now lives at Phagan’s Bay New South Wales. Cecchin Motors all began in the late 1920’s when Matteo Cecchin, along with his mates- George Populin, Antonio (Tony) Lando, and the father of Willie Dal Santo came to Ayr from the village of Porcia near the city of Pordenone in the region of Friuli-Venezia Italy to cut sugar-cane. In the off season (slack season) from cutting sugar-cane, Matteo used to journey to Port Kembla, New South Wales where h
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Jye Olson, now in his second year as an electrical apprentice, is a prime example of Laser Electrical’s hands-on, community-focused approach to training. He initially joined the team for school-based work experience in Year 10 and returned in his own time, demonstrating strong initiative. By the end of Year 11, Jye had built a solid rapport with the team, earning an apprenticeship offer before completing Year 12—something the company supports for promising candidates. Laser Electrical typicall
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The Burdekin Readers & Writers Association has been officially rekindled following its Annual General Meeting on March 19. It marks a fresh era for the region’s literary community. A new committee was elected, with Kelly Lund appointed as President, Mark T. Rasmussen Vice President, Samantha Minuzzo Secretary, and Yvette Lando Treasurer. Speaking at the meeting, founding member Mickey McKellar, expressed her delight at seeing the association reinvigorated. “Since its inception, I have enjoyed
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A warm welcome from the Burdekin Machinery Preservationists Inc. (BMP). This club provides the community with active social involvement. With a membership of around sixty, many of whom are retired machinery enthusiasts, fifteen or sometimes twenty meet weekly to restore and maintain historical machinery and enjoy a good yarn. The museum and working displays are open and available to the public from 9am-3pm each Monday. During the tourist season (April to September) we are also open on Wednesda
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A busy weekend of bowls action saw players take to the green in both competitive and social formats, with strong performances across the board and a few surprises thrown in for good measure. On Friday 4th April, thirteen bowlers turned out in humid conditions, with the high level of play a testament to their skill and stamina. Bruce McCallum, Lloyd Shepherd, Sandra Darwen and Cindy Darwen were outplayed by the in-form combination of Gary Pearce, Ken Ferguson, Margaret Chapman and Margaret McLau
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Junior Golf Ayr capped off the school term with a competitive and spirited April Anzac Monthly Medal event, held on a steamy and humid morning that tested the mettle of our rising golf stars. In the 9-hole competition, Oscar Mahoney took out the Gross honours, while Kyle Wilkie claimed the coveted Monthly Medal. Heath Smart delivered the top Gross score in the 6-hole division, with Tyler Smith earning the Monthly Medal. The 3-hole comp saw Opie McKeough take out Gross, while Zade Keating walked
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Local Once again, there was no football in the Burdekin last weekend. The Panthers should have had a Ladies match in Townsville on Friday night against Warriors, but the wet weather postponed it. Except for possible re-arrangement of postponed matches, there are now no more games until the end of April. The Panthers have four home games over the weekend of 25 -26 April. Juniors As it is now the school holidays the Juniors fixtures will resume after Easter on the 3rd May. We hope the kids an
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Although your bathroom may be one of the smallest rooms in your home, the space still deserves as much love as any other! Whether you’re a novice decorator looking for quick fixes or a DIY enthusiast ready to tackle a project, there are plenty of ways to refresh your space without breaking the bank. **Simple Updates for Instant Impact • Swap Out Accessories: One of the easiest ways to give your bathroom a fresh feel is by changing out the little details. Pop in a new candle, handwash dispenser
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Growing your own herbs at home is an easy and rewarding way to elevate your meals while also enhancing your living space. Whether you have a garden, a windowsill, or even a small balcony, there’s always room to grow fresh herbs. Top Tips: **Choose the Right Herbs for a tropical climate The warm, humid environment means herbs that thrive in heat and moisture will do best. Some great options for our region include basil, mint, oregano, lemongrass, and coriander. Herbs like rosemary and thyme, w
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Mental health is a crucial component to a healthy, happy and productive life. For better or for worse we can never escape our own minds and as most readers probably know, the little voice in our heads is constantly speaking to us and sometimes the voice does not say nice things. For this reason it is important to talk about the inner workings of our minds as the little voice is not always right. So it is essential to normalise conversations surrounding mental well- being, share personal experien
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This Friday Burdekin will be fortunate enough to welcome a truly remarkable individual — Sam Childers, also known as "The Machine Gun Preacher." His incredible journey from a troubled youth to a hero who has dedicated his life to rescuing children from war-torn regions is one of both heartache and hope, and now, for the first time, he is bringing his powerful story to our small regional town. Childers, an American former biker and gang member, transformed his life after a deeply spiritual exper
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With all games in the opening round of the senior R L T D transferred to the contingency date in July due to the weather and state of grounds last week, the season will officially get underway this weekend. Only four clubs are fielding the under 20 grade so that will leave four clubs contesting with Brothers, Western Lions, Centrals and Souths. With the exception of Souths who do not have a Ladies team, all clubs will be in the other three grades. This weekend on Saturday Souths will host Wes
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The Burdekin Touch Association recently shone a spotlight on its senior players, celebrating their longstanding commitment to the sport and the vital role they continue to play within the community. Each week, more than 25 men and women aged over 50 take to the field, proving that Touch football is not only a game of speed and skill, but also one that fosters lifelong fitness and friendships. “I started playing Touch in 1981 when I was transferred to Home Hill,” said Bruce Johnson, now 70 year
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Ladies Day Out The Home Hill ladies enjoyed their Saturday afternoon bowls. Home Hill Bowls Club is growing, and the club is seeing a fantastic growth and support from the ladies bowlers with everyone taking the advantage of the sun. Home Hill Open Easter Fours: The Home Hill Bowls & Sports Club will be sponsoring an attractive fours carnival over the Easter Saturday and Sunday, flyers have gone out already to all bowler club. We are hoping to make this an annual event. As we are all now in
Read moreThe Burdekin Touch association celebrated the contribution of senior players to Touch football in the Burdekin recently. With over 25 male and female players over the age of 50 taking the field each week, Touch is proving to be a great sport for fitness and social connection. “I started playing Touch in 1981 when I was transferred to Home Hill,” said Bruce Johnson, now 70 years of age. “It’s a contact sport but not a collision sport so there is maximum speed and skill with minimum injury. Eve
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While many people aspire to reach 100, Jean Neep from Home Hill has well and truly raised the bar, celebrating an incredible 107th birthday surrounded by love, laughter and fond memories. Born in an era of immense change, Jean has witnessed the world transform in extraordinary ways. She married in 1938, just before the outbreak of the Second World War, and embraced the challenges of family life with strength and grace. Together with her husband, she raised three children in Ayr; John, Marilyn a
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