Wednesday January 24 Afternoon Social Bowls – On a very hot and humid day those who braved the conditions struggled, but managed to get a game in. Winners were Sandra Darwen and Maurice Power who defeated Anthony Bull and Chris Berkery. Saturday January 27 Social Afternoon – Winners were Jim Murray/Mick Olsen, Paul Vass and Pam Power who defeated Lorraine Wolffe, Anthony Bull and Chris Berkery. New date for our postponed Australia Day Bowls sponsored by Phelan’s Pies will be Saturday February 3.
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Get your racquet out, the Ayr Tennis Association is hitting up your calendar with some of the best tennis action in the region. On the cards is the beginning of the Ayr Tennis Social and Competitive Competitions, from this evening, Thursday February 1, at 7pm. Described as ‘extremely social’, Ayr Tennis’ social competition is a great opportunity to get to the court, smash around the ball, enjoy some laughs and share some post-drinks. Taking place every Thursday, everyone is welcome to bat the
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The Burdekin Shire Council and Burdekin Neighbourhood Centre have partnered to bring residents over the age of 55 into a free initiative to encourage movement and exercise. Beginning last week, the ‘Move It Burdekin’ initiative is a 15-week program that offers low impact training, exercises, yoga and chair activities, to suit a range of different fitness levels and improve the physical and mental wellbeing on Burdekin’s residents. The first post-cyclone session was held at Burdekin Neighbourh
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An excellent turn up for Wednesday night bowls on January 24 with 18 players turning up and the nights winners were Sheila and Lloyd. Four games of pairs and Lynn and Judy played a game of singles – it may have been just for bragging rights. Rinks 4 to 7 East/West were used. RINK 4: Amie and Stephen were a bit too strong for Paul and Mick winning 14 to 8. RINK 5: Sheila and Lloyd outlasted Tony and Margaret 13 to 8. Sheila and Lloyd also drew the lucky rink so they got the drinks. RINK 6: A
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More Queensland families will have access to swimming lessons for their young children with a $5 million boost to the Queensland Government’s SwimStart program. SwimStart is designed to improve water safety for children up to the age of four, while helping to ease cost-of-living pressures for eligible families by delivering vouchers valued up to $150 per child for swimming lessons.
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The Local Disaster Management Group (LDMG) is monitoring the situation as a tropical low continues to develop off the coast of north Queensland. Burdekin Shire Council Mayor Lyn McLaughlin, chair of the LDMG, said the LDMG encourages all organisations and residents to be prepared for the potential impact of the severe weather event which could bring strong winds, heavy rain and flooding to the region.
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Elected representatives of the Burdekin Shire Council were welcomed back to Council for their first meeting of 2024 on Tuesday, January 23. The meeting was also Council’s last official meeting before it enters a caretaker period in February ahead of the local government election to be held on Saturday, March 16. During the caretaker period, Council will be limited from publishing election material and making major policy decisions, ensuring there are no significant policy decisions made near the
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Hi readers I’m writing this on a hot, sunny Monday afternoon knowing the weather could be very different by the time this newspaper gets into your hands. Kirrily is the name on everybody’s lips this week, a tropical low at the time of writing that is expected to form into a tropical cyclone and cross the north Queensland coast this week. Of course, it wasn’t too long ago we were preparing for TC Jasper, with its devastating affects still being felt north of here, and I truly hope TC Kirrily tak
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Local photographer Marni Hine admits her new book, ‘Ignited’, has been 12 years in the making. Filled with photos taken over Ms Hine’s 12 years of working as a haul out driver, the book was published in late 2023 thanks to the Burdekin Shire Council’s Regional Arts Development Fund and in way of thanks, Ms Hine has donated a copy to the Burdekin Library’s history collection. “The Burdekin Shire Council has been amazing in its support and this library is a fantastic library,” Ms Hine said. “There
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The Home Hill – Ayr Lions Club has recently donated much-needed funds to four charities: three within the Burdekin and the other to the Leukaemia Foundation. A cheque for $500 was presented to the organiser of the event ‘Swim for a Cure’, Deni Caspanello, in support of the event run at the Home Hill Swimming Pool. The Lions Club cooked and sold the food for this event (breakfast, lunch and dinner) and the proceeds from this, along with the money that the ‘Swim for a Cure’ raised was donated to
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On the evening of Saturday January 20, one lucky Burdekin gentleman became $708,128.64 richer after winning division one in Saturday Night’s Gold Lotto draw. Woods News & Lucky Casket Agency was 1 of the 7 winning retailers and owner Anita Comas said the excitement has been felt by each and every customer and staff member since the announcement. “We are absolutely thrilled and excited for him and also for Ayr, in that the first division prize came to our little town,” expressed Anita. The
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The Home Hill Harvest Festival Ephemera will once again be held in 2024 and the Home Hill Chamber of Commerce is inviting all interested artists, schools, organisations, or groups of fellow artists to be involved. ‘Ephemera’ is defined by something that exists or is enjoyed for only a short time, with the competition inviting local artists to create installations to be temporarily erected in Home Hill’s Lloyd Mann Park. Once installed, Burdekin residents and visitors alike will be able to exper
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The impacts of a tropical cyclone are well known amongst most Burdekin locals but Member for Burdekin, Dale Last, wants to ensure complacency doesn’t result in additional damage or injury. While the Burdekin felt the effects of both Cyclones Debbie and Yasi as well as other severe weather events, the last severe tropical cyclone to directly impact the area was Tropical Cyclone Aivu almost 35 years ago. “Being prepared is the biggest step in both minimising damage and ensuring a speedy recovery f
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Buyers of tiny homes and container homes are being urged to be vigilant about the compliance issues that may arise from these alternative housing options. Burdekin Shire Council Mayor Lyn McLaughlin said that Council have identified several non-compliant installations that pose risks to health, safety, and environment. “Some of the common problems are related to plumbing and building standards,” Ms McLaughlin said. “Issues identified are pipe sizing installed are not complaint, the pipework an
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Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox is backing calls for an Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) Inquiry into fruit and vegetable prices to make supermarkets pay their fair share. “While Coles and Woolworths made record profits of more than $1 billion each last year, the individuals and families living in our electorate of Dawson are struggling with rising grocery costs during a cost-of-living crisis,” Mr Willcox said. “Over the past 18 months we have seen fuel prices incre
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Clare State School’s newest preppies, Indianna Nash and Mason Allen, are following in both of their father’s footsteps this week as they start at the same school their dads attended years ago. Daniel Allen, Mason’s father, currently works as a mobile mechanic based in Clare and attended the school from 1987 to 1993. “Mrs Joan Ford used to be the little kids’ teacher’s aide, she spent all her time in the low building down the far end, and I have lots of memories of preschool and year one,” Mr All
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Tropical Cyclone Kirrily has formed in the Coral Sea and, according to the Bureau of Meteorology, a “severe impact is likely” between Innisfail and Airlie Beach sometime this week. The system is expected to become a Category 3 event and its impacts will be felt right across the region. Burdekin Regional Council urge all its residents to stay updated by using the Burdekin Disaster Dashboard which will keep the community abreast of the most real-time, current information. The Burdekin Emergenc
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Despite growing up in the Burdekin, Marni Hine admits she knew little about the sugar cane industry. “Unless you’re in a family or in that industry, then it’s very mysterious,” she said. “After talking to a lot of farmers and finding out more about the inner workings of the industry, I found it to be very interesting.” Years later, Ms Hine immersed herself in the industry that once bewildered her, gathering stories and photographs that would ultimately become her ‘Project Raw’ exhibition and ‘I
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An online portal has been launched by the Queensland Police Service (QPS) giving unique access to the latest information on active stolen vehicles across the state for the first time, allowing the public to play a crucial role in assisting police in tracking down car thieves. The initiative aims to both inform the public and allow for the timely reporting of location information which can assist police in efficiently and safely locating stolen vehicles to protect the community, return property t
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Two Burdekin attractions have been recognised amongst Australia’s shining stars who cater best to mature age visitors as the Grey Nomads Awards announced their finalists last week. Groper Creek Caravan Park and Sweet Days, Hot Nights Festival were both nominated in their respective categories, Best Grey Nomad Small Caravan Park and Best Grey Nomad Festival or Event. The team at Groper Creek Caravan Park said they were honoured to be named alongside Sweet Days, Hot Nights Festival to represent th
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Fast Facts: Rehoming Fee: $195 DOB: 1/04/2022 Sex: Male Breed: Domestic Short Hair Kid Friendly: Yes Dog Friendly: Untested Other Cats: Yes Indoor/Outdoor: Indoor This silky, velvet furred beauty is Scooter, who is unafraid to show and share his affections with anyone and everyone. Scooter’s charisma and his talkative nature leaves no stone unturned, and he is excited to be searching for his loving forever home. Loving a good chat, Scooter also absolutely adores cuddling and snuggling with pe
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Did you know that Burdekin Community Association Inc (BCA) can help you with Transport Services locally and to and from Townsville? You can access shops, cafes, libraries, attend events or medical appointments, visit family and friends etc. Our bus drivers and Support Workers are very friendly and helpful. Transport services can be provided to people eligible under a government funded program and also if they are not and we have seats available. We have two buses, with wheelchair access as wel
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Community Development is many things to many people. However, the Burdekin Neighbourhood Centre embodies a system of bringing people together to encourage conversations that lead to actions and solutions determined by the community, not organisations and services. Our team loves to be involved with projects facilitated or actively supported by the Centre, designed with rather than for community members to benefit the whole community or a certain group. So, what could such projects look l
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Cr Column Councillor Max Musumeci Happy New Year to everyone! The year is off to a great start. The holidays are behind us, the kids are back in school, and the mowers and slashers are working tirelessly. We've been blessed with fantastic weather – a mix of rain, sun, and heat. As you read this, I’m wondering how the present tropical low off Queensland coast will impact us, cyclone? Flooding? I hope the dam experiences a spill, and the river enjoys a much-needed flow. Understanding the signific
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As the Council enters the caretaker period starting Monday 29 January 2024, this marks the final Mayor's Did you Know for this term. However, the column will continue with Council news. The Burdekin Shire has a rich history, starting as the Ayr Division on 16 January 1888, carved out of Subdivision 3 of the Thuringowa Division. It evolved into the Shire of Ayr on 31 March 1903 under the Local Authorities Act 1902 and after persistent efforts, it was renamed the Shire of Burdekin on 12 June 1982
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