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After two weeks of rain and cancelled coaching sessions, the sun finally came out to let our Juniors out on the golf course this Saturday morning. Many thanks to Darryl for coming down to coach our young golfers, with everyone’s swing being recorded for analysis and future work. Darryl will be down again in a forthright and then monthly, working on different aspects of the game each time. This Saturday we will be holding the February Monthly Medal, with a 3, 6 and 9 hole competition being held,
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The Burdekin Roosters will have their first hit out of the season when they host the Mackay Magpies at Rugby Park this Saturday. Two grades will be played: A grade and Reserve grade with the reserves scheduled to start at 3:30pm. The two clubs play a trial match each year on a rotating basis. The Roosters will be out to silence the birds from Mackay after they were the victors last year. Rooster coach Daniel Beazley said his team could be a little underdone after recent rain had severely curtail
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Two Rockhampton based teams have taken the trophies and cash south at the completion of another Whitsunday Civil Bowen Summer Tens carnival last Saturday. Played at Denison Park in Bowen on two fields, the Annual Carnival attracted 14 mens and six ladies teams. Matches were played over two ten-minute halves with each team playing three games in their pool. Semi-finals and finals were played to find the winners of the cash and trophies. The teams from Rockhampton, Darlz Warriors, proved to be too
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Last weekend saw the successful return of the Burdekin Boars & Barras Competition, hosted by the Clare State School P&C, with hundreds of people showing up for the weigh in on Sunday, March 3. There was something for everyone at the event including facepainting, kids’ corner run by Lillies Cubby House, a bar, delicious food, and live music by Tammy Moxon. The Crab races and auction kept everyone entertained with a total of $1100 prize money up for grabs for the winner, while the Yeti toss pr
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Hi readers I can’t believe footy is back. It doesn’t feel like that long ago that I was taking to page two to lament over the Broncos’ heartbreaking loss in last year’s NRL grand final – and while I’ve learnt to deal with it, that wound is one that will never heal – but I’m excited to see what 2024 has instore for my mighty Broncos. While I acknowledge that the Pre-Season Challenge means little in the scheme of the competition, a win is a win and I’ve been impressed with the early signs from the
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A Community Engagement Session was recently hosted by Burdekin Shire Council, providing residents with the opportunity to raise concerns and share ideas on the management of flying foxes in the Shire. Council has secured the services of Queensland based environmental consultancy company Ecosure Environmental Consulting to assist in developing a long-term flying fox roost management plan after funding was secured earlier this year. Burdekin Shire Council CEO Terry Brennan said the overarching obj
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In honour of Shrove Tuesday, also known as Pancake Day and the first day of Lent in the Christian calendar, Ayr’s Alfies Bakery sold large pancakes with a scoop of ice cream and maple syrup last Tuesday, February 13, donating a portion of the sales to the local Catholic Women’s League (CWL). Members and friends of the Burdekin Catholic Parish gathered at the bakery to devour their delicious pancakes on Shrove Tuesday while others called in to the shop and purchased pancakes to take home or to th
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At about 1.05am on 11 February, Ayr Police were called to a licenced premises in Ayr CBD as a result of a disturbance between a number of persons. As a result, a 24yr old man, a 20yr old man and a 17yr old male youth were all issued infringement notices regarding their behaviour and also served a Police Banning Notice. At about 12.55am on 18 February, Ayr Police were called to a disturbance at a licenced premises in Ayr CBD. As a result, a 26yr old Sarina man was issued with a public nuisance in
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The Burdekin community’s response in a call to establish CT scanner services at the Ayr Hospital saw thousands sign a petition and a shire-wide campaign last year, as many came forward with their own stories of how the after-hours inaccessibility of a CT scanner had seen them or their loved ones transferred to Townsville. Six months on from the launch of the petition, Member for Burdekin Dale Last has called for assurances the project has not fallen on deaf ears. “With the calendar now reachin
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A team of researchers at Deakin University recently partnered with local media and natural hazards experts to deliver the Burdekin Aware and Prepared Community Forum. The forum, held on Saturday, February 24 at Burdekin PCYC, saw community members come together to share their experiences of living through natural disasters and how information was communicated by different organisations. The project’s lead researcher, Dr Gabi Mocatta, said the team was grateful for the support of the Burdekin com
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When reflecting on her role as President of the St Vincent de Paul Home Hill Conference, Kaylene Rinella admitted that the work of the conference can fly under the radar. Providing assistance to the whole of the Burdekin in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, Kaylene and her team of passionate volunteers provide a hand up, not a handout, and rely on dedicated community support to do this. “We’re just trying to help people survive, really, help people get through,” Kaylene said. “We’re seeing s
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Question Of The Week: Please share with us one personal experience during your campaign trail so far that has really reinforced the reason you are running. Pierina Dalle Cort Mayoral Candidate Another day, another frustrated rate payer. There is a lack of urgency and efficiency in addressing issues. Surveyors, planners, and their clients are frustrated with the system. I keep hearing it is just too hard to do business with Burdekin Shire Council. Ratepayers have
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At just 42 years old, Laurence Pavone was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour. This set him on a path to give back, make a difference and leave a lasting legacy for his young family in the form of a charity called Laurie’s Love. In 2019, 10 months on from his diagnosis, Laurence sadly passed away, but Laurie’s Love forged ahead in his absence, continuing his legacy of love, compassion and community spirit. The much-loved local charity is due to host its biggest event yet next weekend, the Lau
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Burdekin residents can now access a range of mental wellbeing and suicide prevention services under one roof, as not-for-profit charity, selectability, today officially opens the doors to a new Mental Health Hub. The new facility, located in the previously disused Caledonian Hall, is proudly funded by the Queensland Government’s Community Infrastructure Investment Partnership Program. selectability Chief Executive Officer Debra Burden said the Mental Health Hub provided a central location for t
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The Burdekin Community Association Inc. (BCA) Home Care Service delivers a wide range of services for seniors and their carers. Home Care Packages Program (HCP) The HCP Program provides support to older people with complex care needs to live independently in their own home. We can offer services to eligible seniors on a Level 1, 2, 3 or 4 package. Services include in-home support services, transport, home maintenance/repairs/modifications, access to allied health services and other care related
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You don’t know what you don’t know. Makes sense, right? But where do you go when you need to know something? Ever thought about popping into the Neighbourhood Centre to ask? We aim to be helpful to anyone who comes into the Centre with an issue. It takes a lot of courage to walk into somewhere new. When you walk through our door, there is no judgement, no shame. Just friendly faces, a listening ear and a safe space to take a moment to find your direction. And whilst we may not show it – trust
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Did you know that the Burdekin Shire has over 200 kilometres of beaches within its boundaries? That's more than the distance from Ayr to Airlie Beach. The Burdekin Shire is home to some of the most pristine and diverse coastal environments in Queensland, with sandy shores, rocky headlands, mangroves and access to coral reefs. Whether you're looking for a relaxing getaway, a fishing adventure or a wildlife encounter, you'll find it in the Burdekin Shire. Here are some of the best beaches to expl
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Home Hill State High School teacher Louise Nicholas has progressed to Finalist of the Queensland AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award, an award to recognise notable female rural leaders who are advocating, empowering, and celebrating for changes in agriculture. Louise is excited to have progressed to become a Finalist for the award. “It’s still sinking in,” she explained. “I was nominated two years ago and didn’t progress to this stage, so it’s all new. “This time around, my project is further re
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Simon Hood Wilmar Manager Grower Marketing The sugar market remains in no man’s land as the window between the close of the 2023-24 Brazilian crush and the start of the 2024-25 season seems impossibly short. The final production for this season’s output is yet to be determined, but is heading towards a record harvest. Projections for the 24-25 season are fluid in the analysts’ spreadsheets. The early number of 640+ million mt of cane is being wound back, due to the dry weather in December and Ja
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The rural event of the year is fast approaching with Burdekin Boars and Barras taking over Clare this weekend. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, and with something for everyone, the Burdekin is invited to get behind the rod or the rifle to help fundraising efforts for the Clare State School P&C Committee. Involving fun for the whole family, the event schedule includes the coveted weigh-in presentations for all pigs, fish and crabs, a well-stocked licensed bar, Rotary food tent, Lillie’s Cubby H
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In an announcement that further boosts Queensland’s credentials as Australia’s emerging AgTech innovation capital, Brisbane has been named as the home of the AgriFutures evokeAG. global innovation event in 2025. Connecting the global agrifood innovation community of investors, entrepreneurs, AgTech service providers and agribusiness professionals, evokeAG. provides a digital platform and premier agrifood tech event where farmers share their experiences, startups pitch their potential, scientists
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Growers participating in the Burdekin Irrigation project, the Lower Burdekin Smart Irrigation Project and the Major Grants project hosted sugarcane growers from the Mackay-Whitsunday region the Far North and local growers to demonstrate on-farm smart irrigation strategies, tools, technologies, and practices throughout the Burdekin. The bus tour aimed to increase cross regional relationships and provided an opportunity for growers interested in new advancements in irrigation practices and techno
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The Lyon’s Grassland Striped Skink had not been observed since 1981 and is known only from a single locality that is heavily grazed by cattle. That is until the rare lizard was found last year for the first time in over 40 years living in north-east Queensland. In early 2023, scientists from Queensland Museum and James Cook University were tasked with the challenge of finding the elusive Lyon’s Grassland Striped Skink. The surveys were part of research by the Resilient Landscapes Hub of the Aust
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By Chelsea Ravizza January 2024 saw a new mammoth monthly record set for the Containers for Change Scheme across Queensland, with 175,805,461 containers returned for a refund and recycling. This outstanding total surpasses the previous record set in January of 2023 of 157,525,681, and Rachael Coleman of NQ Green Solutions continues to be blown away by the Burdekin’s recycling efforts. NQ Green Solutions recycled 1,133,972 containers in January, and the depot shows no sign of slowing. Recycling
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Next month, high school students from four Burdekin schools will attend a potentially lifesaving education program professionally developed and delivered by trained local mentors. Road Safety Education Limited’s (RSE) RYDA workshop is a whole of school program which includes a full day workshop of practical, interactive and powerful sessions about road safety for students at Burdekin Catholic High School, Home Hill State High School, Burdekin Christian College and Burdekin Educational Engagement
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