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Hello, I attended the Burdekin Theatre on Friday the 16th May to hand out the awards and certificates for all the winning competitors in the Burdekin Eisteddfod. It was so rewarding to see their little faces as they received their awards. Congratulations to all winners and competitors of the event. I was honoured to open and lead the BCA Walk for Domestic Violence on Sunday. What an amazing event. To see everyone standing in solidarity and strength was a very impressive site. We gathered to no
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Many will recall the ABC series The Black Hand, which told the harrowing story of the Mafia in North Queensland. Among the many confronting moments in that program was the tragic story of Jean Morris, a young woman whose life was cut short by domestic violence and whose grave remained unmarked for nearly a century. Earlier this week I had the privilege of attending the unveiling of her headstone. It was a powerful moment of remembrance, justice, and dignity for a woman who was, for so long, forg
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If you’ve ever walked along the main strip of Home Hill, you may have noticed some unique, archival army gear hanging from the ceiling above the walkway. It marks the entrance to Annzack Tradings—a local oddity, institution, and treasure trove of vintage memorabilia, rare collectables, and stories from all over the country and beyond. Step inside and you’ll likely be greeted by Kenneth Hall—or just Ken, as everyone in town calls him. Owner, collector, conversationalist, and accidental shopkeepe
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Heating up ahead of the Sweet Days Hot Nights Festival this weekend, the Home Hill Chamber of Commerce meeting last Wednesday was its usual entertaining mix of guest speakers and lively debate. Erin Brennan from the Home Hill Choral Society gave the audience a heartfelt and engaging insight into the 94-year history of this dynamic community group of players and performers. Attendees were delighted by a PowerPoint presentation featuring photos from performances over the years and outlining the
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Time may be running out for residents to nominate their Local Legends in the lead up to Queensland Day but Member for Burdekin, Dale Last MP, wants to be sure the Burdekin’s legends receive the recognition they deserve. Across the state communities are nominating people that embody the Queensland spirit and those who are awarded legend status will certainly be celebrating Queensland Day in style. “In every community you have people who just get in and get the job done without any fuss,”
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This week’s Good Deed goes to one of our own — Burdekin Life journalist Jacob Casha — who, since moving to town just over a month ago, has proven himself an asset not only to the newspaper but also to the community. Well-known at the Home Hill Bowls Club for his enthusiastic participation in the sport, attending local soccer games, and joining the Tennis working bee, this young man is truly embracing local life. Kate Caswell from Home Hill Tennis took the time to write into the paper to nomina
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Last week at Home Hill State High School, Year 7 and 8 students in the STEAM class took on a hands-on engineering challenge inspired by one of history’s greatest inventors. Tasked with building Da Vinci bridges out of paddle pop sticks—without glue or tape—students quickly learned that patience, persistence, and resilience are crucial ingredients in the creative process. The activity, while frustrating at times due to the fiddly nature of the materials, encouraged students to problem-solve, rev
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Hailing from Townsville, Anne Walsh of Anne Walsh Fine Art travels to Home Hill’s 170 Arts on the Avenue on the first Saturday of each month to host a wonderful Art Class to foster creativity and artistic talent. With a love for coastal seascapes, Anne has a passion for nature and water scenes to evoke feelings of immersion and escapism through each brushstroke and her talents have been commended on several occasions. Anne’s joy of sharing art with others has led her to become a much-loved teac
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Burdekin Rugby Union Canetoads have congratulated a few of their star players, Caitlin Holmes, Brooke Smith, Amanda Brown, Julea Farry, Nathan Steel, Dom Arrate, Tubby Heron, and Jack McIntosh for being selected to represent the Brolgas over two massive days on the green. Over the weekend of the 17th and 18th of May, the crew did an exceptional job both on and off the field, playing with precision whilst displaying high levels of sportsmanship in each game. “The club is incredibly proud of you
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The highly anticipated Clash of Clubs event will return to the Burdekin Shire on the 3rd and 4th of October and locals are being urged to save the date for what promises to be a thrilling weekend of sporting action and community celebration. Hosted by Burdekin Football Club, the event will once again bring together Senior, Masters and Ladies teams for a fierce but friendly competition, with bragging rights on the line across two full days of matches. Back by popular demand is the fan-favourite
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Truck drivers across Australia are receiving vital wellbeing support when and where they need it most thanks to a new, first-of-its-kind mental health campaign from Healthy Heads in Trucks & Sheds, led by actor, comedian and truck enthusiast Shane Jacobson. Launched on National Road Safety Week’s Regional Roads Day last Monday, the 19th of May, the campaign delivers preventative mental health support to truck drivers travelling Australia’s most isolated freight routes using geo-targeted radio m
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An impactful and inspirational fundraising event will grace the four walls of Home Hill’s beautiful Burdekin Memorial Hall this October to raise vital funds for those impacted by cancer across North Queensland. Raelene Grantz will host a wonderful Gala Afternoon Tea on Sunday the 19th of October titled Burdekin Fights Back to stage a selection of guest speakers, exciting entertainment, multi draw raffles, cent sales and of course a delicious buffet to raise funds for the Cancer Council foundati
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Rural landholders across the Burdekin Shire are now eligible to apply for grants of up to $10,000 to assist with clean-up and reinstatement costs following the North and Far North Tropical Low disaster event that occurred earlier this year between the 29th of January and the 28th of February. The Rural Landholder Recovery Grant Scheme has been activated to support primary producers whose properties and livelihoods were impacted by this declared natural disaster. Funded by the Australian and Que
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Simon Hood, Wilmar Manager Grower Marketing North Queensland has seen a nice drop in temperatures this past fortnight, which is a welcome change to our growers who are still busy out in the field preparing for the start of the 2025 season. Our team has also been active on the ground, meeting with growers to finalise their pricing and provide updates on what’s happening in the market. For those participating in the Managed Pool Plus for the 2025 season, you would have recently received an update
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Queensland’s 2025 sugarcane crush is officially underway, with harvesters firing up across the Tablelands district this morning. It marks the start of a new season that growers hope will bring better fortunes after a tough run last year. Around 28.5 million tonnes of cane are expected to be cut and crushed across 13 districts, from Rocky Point in the south right up to Mossman in the far north. The crop is down slightly from last year, with recent widespread flooding across north Queensland cau
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Cobber is once again calling on Australia’s toughest, stock-chasing, hard-running working dogs to battle it out for the title of the hardest working dog, with nominations now open for the milestone tenth edition of the Cobber Challenge. The annual competition showcases the best working dogs in the country, paying tribute to the four-legged legends behind Australia’s billion-dollar agriculture industry. Over the last decade, Cobber Challenge competitors have collectively run enough distance to l
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A couple of weeks ago, the Burdekin Touch Association (BTA) took time out to recognise a special group of people on and off the field - its players and officials who are past or present members of local emergency services. “The contribution made to the Burdekin community by SES, Lifesavers, Police, Fire & Rescue, Paramedics and Marine Rescue members often goes unnoticed,” said BTA President, Michael Littlefield. “We wanted to thank our Touch Football members who make our community a safe
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Born and raised in Ayr, Kristy Grabs knows the value of community—and she brings that local warmth to every interaction in her role as floor manager at Harvey Norman Ayr. With four years at the store under her belt—one in computers, and the last three in electrical—Kristy’s retail career stretches far beyond Harvey Norman. She spent 15 years at Overflow, where she worked her way up into a management position, and helped open Silly Solly’s before joining the Harvey team. “I love interacting wit
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Tucked just off Queen Street lies Carmichael Ford—a powerhouse of automotive knowledge and expertise. And while the building may have changed location, customers still receive the same experience, loyalty and service that has always lived inside. At the helm of this close-knit team is Jenna Heidke, Branch Manager and spare parts interpreter—a title that, she laughs, “means you’ve got to be a bit of a detective!” Jenna joined the company in 2002 as an apprentice parts interpreter in Bowen. It wa
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Neighbourhood Centre Week is a nationwide initiative held annually in May to celebrate the vital role and impact of local Neighbourhood and Community Centres. This year, the theme for Queensland is ‘The heart of our community’. From the 12th to 18th May, Neighbourhood Centres celebrated in various ways, from community meals to community murals. The week united communities across Queensland by connecting people in a statewide celebration while saying thank you and encouraging Queenslanders to cel
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Home Hill Pickleball numbers continue to rise. Over the weekend, club members headed up to Townsville to participate in a Queensland Pickleball Tournament. While the opposition were consistent and quick at the net, all the players did some learning and had a great time. Debbie Tait came home with a silver medal in the mixed doubles and Hannah Casswell a silver in the open ladies’ doubles. The club is looking forward to hosting the Cane Country Cup, a mixed doubles team event on Sunday 8th June.
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Johnny Cash Tribute Show Gears Up The most authentic Johnny Cash show is about to hit the Burdekin for the first time ever this Saturday, May 24, with the crew entering the final phase of their preparations before lighting up the Burdekin Theatre. “It is quite the production, so getting together and rehearsing and going through what we're going to do is really important,” says Joanne Caligiuri, who stars as June Carter alongside her husband Mark, playing the Man in Black. The Caligiuris, along
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It’s been a big week at the Ayr Bowling Club, with two major highlights bringing excitement and energy to our local greens. Thanks to a generous grant from the Community Gaming Benefit Fund, brand-new lighting was installed on the club’s green on Tuesday. The upgrade was made possible with the support of Ergon Energy and expertly carried out by the team at Coral Coast Electrical. These lights are set to enhance the club’s popular Wednesday Night Social Bowls and Friday Fun Nights, providing a b
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Trophy Night – Sponsored by Cignal The club was buzzing with energy and camaraderie at Trophy Night, sponsored by Cignal. Bowlers and spectators alike enjoyed a fantastic evening of fun and competition. Winners: Peter Micklan, Rhonda Martin, and Joe Yipnazar Second Place: Ken Ferguson, Deon McIntosh, and Heather Jorgensen Bradman's Prize: Braedyn, Clinton, Aiden, and Rhianna Mark your calendars – the next Trophy Night is set for June 13.
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Local Not a great weekend for the seniors — one draw, three losses, and one win by forfeit. All five teams are expected to be in action this weekend. On Friday night at International Park, the Division 1 Men lost 0-2 to MA Olympic, while the Division 2 Men won by forfeit. The Ladies were away to Brothers, going down 0-4. On Sunday, the Premiers and Reserves travelled to MA Olympic, with the Premiers losing 1-2 and the Reserves drawing 0-0. This Friday, the Division 1 Men and the Ladies are bo
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