Craig Hosie’s 32-year policing journey has led him across north Queensland, from stints in the Gulf of Carpentaria to the regional metropolitan centres of Townsville and Cairns. He transferred to the Burdekin, where he was born and raised, in 2004 and, nearly two decades later, he’s made the decision to leave his hometown to embrace fresh challenges and new adventures in Mackay.
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While I’m disappointed to be missing the Christmas Carols and all the other exciting events happening in the Burdekin this weekend, I’m excited to be travelling to Brisbane to see probably my favourite band ever. I first discovered The War On Drugs in 2014; I still remember helping Dad in the shed one weekend where I would often hijack his ancient wireless to listen to triple j, the choice radio station at the time. A song called ‘Red Eyes’ came on; with a driving beat, floating synths and an e
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A group of local Burdekin women ‘packed a little joy’ when they made a donation to Hope In A Suitcase Australia last week. The Ayr Branch of the Catholic Women's League collected items throughout the month of October before donating the items to Hope In A Suitcase, a non-profit organisation providing suitcases for children going into foster care or out-of-home care throughout north Queensland. “It was wonderful to meet some of the ladies from the Ayr branch of the Catholic Women's League when th
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A new AVGAS fuel facility has been installed at the Ayr Aerodrome and is now available for 24/7 use. Burdekin Shire Council Mayor Lyn McLaughlin said that the Council was committed to supporting the airport facility and ensuring its commercial viability. “We are delighted to have secured this new fuel installation for users of the Ayr Aerodrome, which will benefit the local aviation community and fly-in visitors,” Ms McLaughlin said. Council was notified in August this year that the former suppl
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A proud Juru man, Rick Dallachy represents his people throughout north Queensland through advocacy, land and sea management and community support. In his role as CEO of Juru Enterprises Ltd, Rick leads the commercial arm of the Juru people, often collaborating with the Native Title board based in Townsville. “Juru is our native people,” Rick said. “We’re a part of the Birri Gubba nation which runs from Townsville halfway out to Charters Towers down to nearly Mackay, taking in all that area.” Ret
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Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox is calling on the Federal Government to step in when it comes to the youth crime endemic in North Queensland, calling the inaction from both federal and state governments disgraceful. Addressing Parliament last week, Mr Willcox made a heartfelt plea to the Labor government to protect the victims of crime, protect our children, and restore their personal safety. “The fact that people in my electorate are thinking twice about taking their kids to the pa
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Two Home Hill State High School students have returned to the region with a clearer vision of what their futures hold after attending the University of Queensland’s (UQ) Young ChangeMakers program.Maliq Ogomeni and Jacob Machin, who both completed year 11 this year, attended the four-day program in Brisbane last week, providing them with an immersive university experience highlighting different study areas and life as a UQ student.
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Local fire fighters are battling poor conditions at the Ayr Fire Station according to member for Burdekin Dale Last MP, who is imploring the Minister for Fire and Emergency Services to say ‘when’ not ‘if’ a new fire station will be built.PFAS chemicals have been uncovered at the Ayr Fire Station and these have been found to be leaching into the ground.
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Back in July 1904, Harry E P MacDonald was editor of the Delta Advocate for a very short time. Upon leaving the district he had the following words to say of living conditions in Ayr. This was printed in various newspapers- Queensland, New South Wales and the Sun from Kalgoorlie Western Australia.
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At 8.15pm on Friday 17 November, Ayr Police were called to a disturbance at a licenced premises in Queen Street, Ayr. As a result, a 63yr old Burdekin man was charged with one count each of common assault, failure to leave licenced premises, disorderly on a licenced premises and commit a public nuisance on a licenced premises. He was released on conditional Police bail to appear in Ayr Magistrates Court on 12 December. He was also issued a Police Banning Notice relating to licenced premises i
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On Friday evening, December 1, Flexi Queensland hosted an event at the Burdekin Aquatic Centre to celebrate International Day of People with Disability, Disability Action Week, and Christmas.International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) is a United Nations observed day held on December 3 each year. In Australia, IDPwD is a joint effort between government, schools, organisations, community groups, businesses, and individuals. The annual Disability Action Week for Queensland commenced on Sat
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Hi everyone to a very special time of year. The Christmas spirit at this time of year is one of excitement on the young children’s faces and expressions of wonderment. It’s a shame we can’t ‘bottle it’ and spread it throughout the year. I’ve had the privilege of attending ‘Ayr Community Kindergarten’, ‘Big Birds Nest Child Care Centre’ and the Library’s ‘First Five’s Messy Play’ Christmas function last week and it certainly gladdens the heart to witness the enthusiasm of the children with an ear
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Did you know that the Burdekin Shire Council continues to work to support the Burdekin as a vibrant visitor destination, offering a mixture of sporting, cultural, natural and leisure based experiences? Located on the Bruce Highway, the Burdekin is fortunate to have many visitors including those travelling in caravans passing through our towns daily. Council has implemented a number of priorities and actions in the 5-year Burdekin Tourism Strategy, which was adopted in 2018. One of the key prio
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Following a successful 2023 Burdekin Show that exceeded expectations, the Ayr Pastoral, Agricultural and Industrial Association held its Annual General Meeting on Monday, December 4. Burdekin Shire Council Deputy Mayor Sue Perry declared all committee positions vacant before electing a new committee, with most members being re-elected into their respective positions. Chris Lyne was elected as President for a fourth term while Vice President Brendan Kolb, Treasurer Serafina Towler and Secretary P
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“The Love of Colours” owner and sole Artist, Amanda Lando has been a business operating in the Burdekin Region for over six years. Amanda has been Commissioned to do numerous local business murals, including The Burdekin Bridge Motel in Home Hill, Tropical City Motor Inn, The Burdekin School and Burdekin Backpackers in Ayr, Jarvisfield State School and Claredale Pastures Café.In addition, many private residences have booked her talents.
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Giving back and re-investing in the community sits at the very heart of the Bendigo Bank ethos, and this is evidenced locally by the incredible donations Community Bank Home Hill and Ayr has made to local community groups over the years.
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For over six decades, Burdekin Funerals has been an integral part of our community's support system, guiding families through one of life's most challenging periods. Owned by Neville and Lori Boyle for the past decade, the business continues to provide a beacon of empathy, understanding, and innovation to the Burdekin region. With a team of four dedicated local staff members alongside Neville and Lori, Burdekin Funerals embodies a commitment to personalised service and community support. Over th
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Birthed from a profound need for personalised care and empowerment, Burdekin Support Coordination helps people to achieve their goals. Tara Harding, the owner-operator, radiates dedication to her community, striving to bridge the gap in support services since the business's inception approximately six months ago. Tara’s journey began when she bought acreage in the Burdekin and moved to the block in April, discovering a lack of support in the region for those on the NDIS. “I decided to offer my e
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St Francis Catholic School’s annual Awards Day was held on Wednesday November 30. It was a chance for the school community to reflect upon the incredible journey that they shared throughout 2023 as well as a time to recognise and honour the outstanding achievements of students throughout the year. From academic achievements to artistic endeavours, athletic triumphs to community service initiatives, St Francis Catholic School students consistently demonstrated their dedication, passion and resili
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As 2023 draws to a close, many reflect on a sugar cane season that was filled with highs and lows, making plans to ensure more prosperous seasons in years to come. A fundamental issue facing the industry has been the timely supply of sugar cane from grower to mill, with Queensland Cane Agriculture & Renewables (QCAR) focussing efforts on restoring the harmonious supply of sugar cane to sugar mills.QCAR CEO Panikos Spyrou said the prosperity of the sugar cane industry relies on a timely supply ch
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Wilmar Sugar and Renewables’ Pioneer Mill brought an end to the 2023 production season in the Burdekin on Sunday morning. Wilmar’s four Burdekin sugar factories processed a total of 8.03 million tonnes of sugarcane this season, manufacturing about 1.18 million tonnes of raw sugar. Group Manager Operations James Wallace said Wilmar’s Kalamia Mill was the first to finish on Friday, November 17. Inkerman Mill crushed out on Wednesday, November 29 followed by Invicta Mill on Thursday, November 30.
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Wilmar staff provided the Burdekin Women in Sugar group with a firsthand look at the sugar manufacturing process when the group attended a private tour of Wilmar’s Invicta Mill recently.The visit was hosted by three women from the Wilmar Sugar and Renewables business: Group Manager Asset Management Systems Sharon La Spina and Invicta Mill process improvement engineers Claire Dowling and Jessica Wilson.
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Named for her beauty, poise and charm, Aphrodite encapsulates being a Greek goddess. Incredibly playful and full of love, Aphrodite is looking for a family that can give her absolutely all the attention she deserves. She loves being cuddled, pet and held. However, Aphrodite is also an independent lady, who does enjoy her own company and can amuse and entertain herself while home alone, with her family at school or work.
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A trial conducted by Wilmar Sugar and Renewables on a 130ha cane farm in the Burdekin region has yielded promising outcomes through its complete automation in irrigation, implemented since the farm's early planting last year on Stockham Road. Agricultural Productivity Manager Peter Larsen said the first-year results showed the volume of water applied was reduced by one-third compared to traditional irrigation methods, and there was a significant reduction in nitrate runoff and losses to groundw
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You’re invited to join the Burdekin Shire Council for a night of festive fun at the annual Community Christmas Carols on Sunday, December 10. This year, the event will be held at the Burdekin Touch Fields in MacMillan Street, opposite the touch clubhouse, from 5:30pm and is a free event for all to attend.
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