Home Hill State High School is set to showcase its creativity and teamwork at the Opti-MINDS State Finals in Brisbane on 18–19 October 2025 following an outstanding performance at the Regional Championships in Townsville on 31 August, where the junior team, The Misfits, earned an Honours placing and a coveted Wildcard entry. Opti-MINDS is a nationally recognised competition that challenges students to “Think, Create and Communicate” while solving real-world problems. Home Hill SHS is the only s
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For just a moment on Friday, October 10, Home Hill’s Memorial Hall and its surrounds put on their best Hollywood impression, welcoming more than 200 students with a dazzling red carpet entrance to the annual Harvest Festival Ball. Organised by Home Hill Harvest Festival in conjunction with the staff and P&C Committee of Home Hill State High School, the event brought together students from Years 10 to 12 across the Burdekin district, blending glamour, celebration, and plenty of dance floor energ
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It was a weekend to remember for Home Hill Cricket Club, with both the Second and Third Grade sides producing commanding all-round performances to secure back-to-back wins. In Third Grade, Home Hill’s top order set the tone with a powerful display, piling on 4/223. Captain Alexander Romeo anchored the innings with a composed 51 from 72 deliveries, while Simon Vickers blasted 65 off 47, finding the boundary eight times and clearing it once. Michael Richards added a rapid 37 from just 22 balls, a
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It has been a busy couple of weeks for Home Hill Junior Cricket. At the Nutrien Ag. Solutions Cricket Complex on the weekend of October 4 and 5 juniors from Bowen, Charters Towers, Herbert River and Proserpine travelled to Home Hill to play in the 2025 Queensland Country Bank NQ Country Cup. It was a great success with cricket being played on four fields all weekend. The ages of the players ranged from 8-18 years old. Special guest, Ex Australia, Queensland and Brisbane Heat player Nathan Haurit
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The Burdekin FC Presentation Night will be held on Saturday 25 October at Populin’s Hall. Get your tickets on-line now, or at the Mad House on Tuesday night. Congratulations to Alan Chatfield, a Burdekin FC Life Member, on being recognised with the Service to Football – Platinum Award for his outstanding contribution to the game. Night Soccer The third week of competition with just one forfeit. The nineteen games produced seventy goals, and there were three Sin Bins! Top scorers were RG Custo
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Ayr State High School has taken advantage of The Queensland Government’s Student technology equity partnership (STEP) which will see the state government invest $152 million, over 4 years across the state. This funding enables Ayr State High School provide a one-to-one laptop roll out for its students in Years 7,8 and 9 over the next 4 Years. This week the current Year 7 students became the first recipients to receive their laptops enabling them to access to their own allocated laptop across th
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As families across the Burdekin begin planning for the future, Burdekin Catholic High School (BCHS) is inviting parents and carers to consider a school where students are not just educated, but known, nurtured, and encouraged to flourish. With enrolments open for 2026, BCHS continues its strong tradition of offering a quality Catholic education that supports academic achievement, personal growth, and spiritual development, all in a safe and supportive learning environment. A Community That Car
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At our school, we understand how busy family life can be. Mornings can be rushed, afternoons are full, and balancing work, home and school can be a challenge. That’s why we’re proud to offer a comprehensive support program that lightens the load for families and ensures every child arrives at school ready to learn. Through this program, students receive breakfast, a fruit snack, lunch, and afternoon tea each school day. In addition, all students are provided with their school stationery, a scho
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China is, without question, one of Australia’s most significant trading partners. We export vast amounts of natural resources and agricultural products, and in return, we import vehicles, solar panels, wind turbines, various technological products, and household goods. But is this relationship balanced, and are we becoming too dependent? Recent reports out of the United States have raised serious concerns about the potential for embedded technologies in imported infrastructure from China. Inves
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It all began with a spark of community spirit. In May 1954, locals gathered at the Renown Movie Theatre in Brandon to discuss the possibility of forming a bowls club. From that meeting, the Brandon Bowls Club was born, with Mr. Vic Green elected as the inaugural president. Three blocks of land were purchased from G. Venables, H. Brickhill, and S. Brickhill at £50 each, and on 23 January 1955, the first blades of grass were planted, marking the start of a sporting legacy. T
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In the heart of Home Hill, Mayfield Early Education has built a reputation as a place where children can explore, learn, and grow at their own pace. Formerly Genius Childcare Home Hill, the centre blends thoughtfully designed indoor and outdoor spaces to nurture curiosity, creativity, and social skills, giving every child room to discover what excites them. Centre Manager Hannah Nicholls, a Burdekin local who has been part of the team for three years, says the centre believes in letting curiosi
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The Burdekin’s very own Sweet Days Hot Nights Festival is up for a People’s Choice Award at the 2025 NQ Tourism and Events Awards, and locals are being urged to get behind the festival and vote. As the region’s only entry in the Festival and Events: Destination category, every vote counts in helping bring the award home. Voting is open to the public, with the highest vote-getter in each category winning. Voting closes 26 October, and those who participate go in the draw to win a $500 Holiday Vo
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For one elegant evening, Home Hill’s Burdekin Memorial Hall will sparkle with glamour and community spirit as guests gather for the Rotary Gala Ball, part of this year’s Harvest Festival. The event promises live music, dancing, and a festive atmosphere, celebrating the people who make the community shine. The Gala Ball will honour the Harvest Festival Queen, as well as the Charity Queen and Personality Queen, recognising their contributions to the local community. Attendees can enjoy a formal s
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Derby Day Returns to the Burdekin The Burdekin Race Club will host its annual Derby Day on Saturday, 1 November, as part of the Home Hill Harvest Festival celebrations. The event is a longstanding highlight of the Burdekin calendar, combining country racing with a traditional black-and-white fashion theme. Attendees can enjoy a full program of races throughout the afternoon, with plenty of opportunities to soak up the social atmosphere and take in the stylish race-day attire. The event attracts
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On Wednesday, 8 October, the Burdekin Men's Shed Association hosted it's annual Mental Health Week event, with this year's "Cuppa, Chat and Chew" welcoming attendees from across the Burdekin to connect and discuss mental health. The day began with a morning tea at 9 am, followed by a keynote address from Holly Apps of the Burdekin Community Association, during which she shared personal insights and anecdotes from her own mental health journey, engaging the audience throughout. Guests were also
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A definite game-changer for the Burdekin Potters has been a successful grant from the Gambling Community Benefit Fund (GCBF) to acquire a new Tetlow front-loading electric kiln. Memberships of the club have grown to over 60 in the past five years and the addition of a second kiln will greatly increase the turn-around time with the firing of pottery pieces. There have been constant, back-to-back firings at the Burdekin Potters! Pottery pieces first need to be bisque fired. Then glaze (colour) i
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By Owen Menkens, CANEGROWERS Chairman Every time I drive through cane country, I’m reminded that those green paddocks grow more than sugar. They grow energy, jobs and opportunity. The potential has been staring us in the face for years – the question is whether we’re finally ready grab it. The Federal Government’s recently announced $1.1 billion Cleaner Fuels Program shows there’s an appetite for change. That kind of investment sends a clear message that Australia is serious about renewable fu
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Ayr State High School’s budding entrepreneurs had the chance to put their business skills into action last week, hosting a lively market day as part of their Year 8 Economics and Business unit. Fifteen groups of students set up stalls across the school, selling a range of creative products while putting classroom theory into practice. The event not only showcased innovation and teamwork but also taught students valuable lessons in markups, pricing, and profit. By the end of the day, the stalls
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Manager When Leanne Marriott left England in 2009, she thought she was embarking on a single-year adventure. Travelling through Asia and into Australia quickly changed those plans, and now, 16 years later, she's very much a local. By 2012 she had settled in the Burdekin, where her background in disability services in England naturally led her to Flexi Queensland. Leanne was particularly drawn to Flexi’s long-standing reputation for person-centred care, a reputation she has strived to
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House Leader Michaela Mye has called the Burdekin home for 15 years, quickly becoming an integral part of the community through local sport and family life. She plays touch football and netball, activities that have helped her connect with many locals. Family is at the heart of her life, with her daughter, fiancé, and two dogs keeping her busy and grounded. She was led to Flexi Queensland by her passion for supporting people with disabilities to live independently and achieve their goals.
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Lifestyle Facilitator Eighteen-year-old Lacy Horan has spent her entire life in Ayr, growing up surrounded by the close-knit community of the Burdekin. Lacy was drawn to Flexi Queensland by the opportunity to work flexibly while making a tangible difference in the lives of community members. As a lifestyle facilitator, her role covers a wide range of responsibilities, from assisting with personal care and supporting service users in the community to fostering independence in everyday task
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Flexi Queensland officially celebrated 30 years of service to the Burdekin community on July 18, marking three decades of support for people with disability across the region. The milestone event also honoured Maryann Petersen, a founding Board Member and long-time community advocate. Maryann is well known for her work at The Job Shop in Ayr, a family-operated business providing First Aid training, supplies, and support across Townsville, Burdekin, and Charters Towers for more than 21 yea
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