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Dr. Priyanka Rapelli, a general practitioner, has recently joined the medical community of Home Hill, bringing with her a wealth of experience and a deep passion for patient care. Moving from Blacktown NSW, Dr. Rapelli started her new role just a week ago and has already begun to settle in well. "I love serving patients, practising medicine and learning new things," she shared, expressing her fondness for science and continuous learning. Being the first doctor in her family is a dream fulfilled
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Nine local riders recently completed the Townsville to Cairns Bike Ride, joining 160 participants for the 378km journey over three days, with the Burdekin cyclists riding as part of the Eagles team. Mario Romeo, James Jensen, Robbie Mitchell, Brooke Cross, James Kennedy, Andrew Sherrington, Mark Dale, and Chris Mallon started strong on day 1, covering 112km from Townsville to Ingham. The second day, a challenging 173km ride from Ingham to Innisfail, included the Cardwell Range, the old Tully hi
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In celebration of Bullying No Way Week, the Burdekin Shire Youth Council is excited to announce the ‘Community Notes of Kindness’ campaign, running throughout the month of August. The initiative aims to spread positivity and kindness within the Burdekin community, encouraging everyone to participate in simple acts of goodwill. During Bullying No Way Week, from 12-16 August, the Burdekin Shire Youth Council invites all community members to participate in this positive campaign. The steps to part
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The Home Hill Tennis Association was established in 1932 and holds a rich history, standing as one of the most prominent clubs in North Queensland. Annually, the Club hosts the highly successful and very popular Sugar Bowl Event, and encompasses twelve tennis courts, and four pickleball courts. The Club operates to provide opportunities for members of the local community as well as travellers and visitors alike to participate in tennis and racquet sports whilst upholding an important social foc
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Sixteen years ago, Kylie Cornford, the owner of Cinnamon Street Kids, seized the opportunity to buy a boutique children’s store after having kids of her own. This marked the beginning of a venture that has since become a beloved staple in the community. The recent move to a new location was prompted by the need for a fresh start and a request from the neighbouring chemist for more space. "The old shop was getting stale, and the chemist next door wanted more space," Kylie explains. Customer foot
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Spearritt's Jewellers has been a cornerstone of Ayr for over three decades, providing exceptional service and high-quality jewellery to the community. The business was established in 1953 by Joe Spearritt and was later purchased by the current owner Jim and Patricia Nuttall 33 years ago. With a passion for retail and leveraging her husband's retail expertise, the couple has transformed the business, maintaining its reputation for quality and trust. Operating in a small community like Ayr comes
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Compleat Angler and Intersport Ayr, a staple in the community for over 50 years, has recently undergone a significant refurbishment to enhance its offerings and modernise its appearance. The new changes and look only help increase the store's dedication to serving the local fishing community. "We haven't moved, we've just had a refurbishment," explained Brett Eathorne, the store manager. "We've been here for half a century, offering both sporting and fishing the whole time and it's been 15 year
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Gloria Brunner is a dedicated nurse and midwife who has spent her career serving the rural community of Ayr. Born and raised in Ayr, she moved to Townsville to complete her nursing course and gain experience at Townsville Hospital. She then returned to her hometown, where she has worked ever since. "Rural nursing is all she’s known," her daughter Teagan shared, emphasising that Gloria was "born and made to be a rural nurse because it’s just such a diverse profession." Gloria also pursued a deg
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By Ruth Puddefoot Having Diabetes is a monumental task that many people do not even realise. One person who truly understands this feat is Heather Andrews from Ayr. With 60 years of managing diabetes under her belt, Heather has an exceptional grasp of the condition. On the 21st of July, Heather flew to Brisbane where she won a Gold Kellion Victory Medal, for 60 years of managing the chronic disease. Heather’s journey with diabetes began when she was just eight years old, after her mother picke
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The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) is about to embark on its annual farm survey program collecting data from hard-working producers across Australia. The information collected each year is integral in supporting decision-making about the future of Australian agriculture. Executive Director of ABARES Dr Jared Greenville said two surveys will be conducted – the Australian Agricultural and Grazing Industries Survey, and the Australian Dairy Industry S
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In recent years, Australians in rural and regional areas have faced unprecedented challenges that have taken a toll on mental health and well-being. Factors such as inflation, cost-of-living pressures, climate change, and the lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have underscored the importance of mental health support, particularly for farmers and rural communities. Recognising the critical need for support, Zoetis has partnered with Beyond Blue to once again champion mental health initiat
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Applications are now open for the latest round of funding of the Queensland Feral Pest Initiative (QFPI), dedicated to effectively managing feral pigs through innovative and diverse approaches. Round 8b of the QFPI aims to support projects that will revolutionise feral pig control tools and techniques, ensuring a sustainable and effective approach to pest management across Queensland. Applicants are being sought with projects focused on supporting Queensland communities, forming or strengthening
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The voices of 1000 rural women are being sought for a groundbreaking new documentary on Australia’s rural, regional and remote women. Rural Daughters, the feature-length documentary by award-winning CheekyMac Productions, will follow the personal journeys of some of Australia’s most inspiring rural women in their efforts to overcome barriers, effect change and live a successful, purpose-driven life in the regions. In addition to their stories, a nationwide 1000 Rural Women Survey has been deve
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Australian Farm Institute (AFI) has been awarded a $638,000 grant to support international collaboration on sustainable agriculture. The grant will support advocacy towards sustainable agriculture trade standards and guidelines development that recognise Australian conditions are consistent with the Australian Government’s commitment to address climate change and support sustainable production. Focusing on evidence-based sustainable agricultural practices; systems and standards will enhance su
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The Burdekin Community Association Inc. (BCA) delivers a wide range of services for younger people with a disability, or condition that impacts their ability to live safely and independently, and their carers. A few of the great programs offered by our Home Care Service are briefly outlined below. Queensland Community Support Scheme (QCSS) QCSS provides support to people under 65 or under 50 for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, who, with a small amount of help, can maintain or re
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August 8th is Dying to Know Day. It is an annual recognition day for the public health campaign of the same name. The focus for 2024 is on personalising final arrangements and building community. Their mission is to help all Australians feel supported and inspired by their wishes for their final arrangements and help to dismantle the misconception that end-of-life planning must be a solitary endeavour. We are all impacted by death in our lives – it might be for the people we love, or it m
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Happy Thursday. How is August here already? Let’s talk road safety. It’s concerning to see that a lot of our traffic issues are arising from people being in too much of a hurry, not slowing down at intersections and all too familiar device addiction. We are all so busy these days and the volume of traffic is higher than ever. However, taking time to do the little things and remembering the simple stuff won’t take you as long as you think and it’s certainly quicker than stopping to exchange in
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As we approach the upcoming State elections, our focus within the Council remains committed to advocating for the needs of our community and securing essential funding to drive our priorities forward. The upcoming months present a unique opportunity for us to engage with state candidates, ensuring that our local issues are highlighted and addressed. Our advocacy efforts are centred around key Council and community priorities that are critical for the growth and well-being of our community. These
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Thursday 8 August Zonta Club Burdekin Inc – Movie Night Thursday from 6pm The Zonta Club Burdekin Inc invites you to Movie night, “It Ends With Us.” Enjoy good company, a cup of hot soup, bread, dessert, wine and fruit punch prior to the movie. The funds raised at the event will go towards DV projects. More details covering the event and ticket sales are available on Zonta’s Facebook page. Stardust Cinema, Ayr. Saturday 10 August Campbell’s Jewellery Senior Burdekin Water Festival Ambassad
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On Saturday 10 August, Burdekin Water Festival Ambassadors for Bur-Del, Zimyra Monday and Olivia Ferguson, will host Bur-Del’s Annual NAIDOC Fishing Competition and Family Fun Day. The community is warmly invited to attend the Annual NAIDOC Fishing Competition and Family Fun Day at Alva Beach this Saturday, 10 August, from 10am to 5pm where there are $3,000 worth of prizes to be won! Commencing from 12am on Saturday 10 August, those interested in entering are encouraged to collect a registratio
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In an exciting announcement, comedic Australian treasure, Kevin Bloody Wilson, will grace the Burdekin Theatre stage on Wednesday 18 September as part of his international tour. Few international comedians tackle political correctness with the precision and fearlessness of Australia's Kevin Bloody Wilson. While many of his peers tiptoe around sensitive topics, Kev smashes through PC barriers with the subtlety of a charging buffalo. His signature DILLIGAF (Do I Look Like I Give A ****?) attit
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Burdekin Catholic High School (BCHS) Student, Casey Calligaro has prestigiously been presented with the 2024 Deus Caritas Est Award as presented by Townsville Catholic Education. On Wednesday 10 July, BCHS proudly shared the news of their 2024 recipient, congratulating Casey on his celebrated achievement. “Congratulations to Casey on this remarkable achievement,” shared BCHS. The award recognises outstanding service guided by faith and draws inspiration from the encyclical "Deus Caritas Est
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In support of the Burdekin Academy’s Junior Water Festival Ambassadors, Cole and Stella, the Academy are excited to announce their fundraising event, "The Amazing Race!" The event will kick off at 1pm at the Ayr Hotel on Saturday 24 August, with teams set to tackle their first challenge and receive their first clue. This clue will send them on an adventure around the Burdekin area, where they will hunt for clues and complete various challenges! Participants can expect a variety of tasks, incl
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September brings the much-anticipated return of the Whitsundays Writers Festival. The festival offers an exciting opportunity for writers, poets, and book cover designers across Australia. The three-day event will feature a dynamic blend of genres, ranging from crime and memoir to romance and screenwriting, complemented by interactive workshops, panel discussions, and engaging author talks. In a daring and exciting move, the festival launched the Whitsundays Literary Heart Awards earlier this ye
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On Wednesday 24 July, the Burdekin Early Childhood Network presented the highly anticipated Ready, Set, Go expo at Ayr State School. The colourful event stands as a celebrated under 5s expo to showcase the amazing services, organisations, and businesses available in the Burdekin region for families with young children. A vibrantly successful day, 18 stalls were set up across Ayr State School’s oval including childcare centres, primary schools, playgroups, support services, a dance school, and
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