Her Excellency the Honourable Dr Jeannette Young AC PSM, Governor of Queensland, recently dropped into council chambers on Saturday, to give her thanks and gratitude to some of the workers and volunteers during the recent Burdekin floods. The Governor and her husband, Professor Graeme Nimmo, congratulated a congregation of SES workers, fireys, volunteers, councillors, and the Mayor, on their great contribution in assisting and ensuring the community remained as safe as possible. Burdekin Shire
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The Burdekin is set to host North Queensland’s best talent showcase, with acclaimed actor and singer Hugh Sheridan, confirmed as the special guest for Fast Track 2025, thanks to the generous support of Major Sponsor, Burdekin Motors. Hugh Sheridan, widely recognised for his outstanding career in both acting and music, will bring a whole new level of talent to the event. As the first-ever actor/singer to be part of Fast Track, Hugh will provide invaluable insights and inspiration to contestants
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An empowering morning of socialisation and sophistication will grace the Masonic Heritage Centre on Sunday the 9th of March, with the Zonta Club Burdekin Inc. International Women’s Day Brunch. Annually, women within the Burdekin Shire look forward to attending Zonta’s International Women’s Day event and as the date for the 2025 event has been held since December of last year, feelings of anticipation and excitement have been shared across the community. In 2024, the Club’s International Women’
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Opportunities for students to extend and challenge themselves in the STEM areas are varied and vast at Ayr State High School. Ayr High’s strong tradition in STEM has been achieved over many decades of staff dedication and desire to give students access to opportunities that city schools take for granted. This year, so far, Sophie Robertson (Yr 12) has just returned from the prestigious 2-week National Youth Science Forum at the Australian National University in Canberra, where she had the opp
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Last week, in a heartwarming gesture of appreciation, the Year 12 students at Burdekin Christian College surprised teachers with a delightful Valentine's Day tribute that brought smiles to everyone’s faces. As teachers worked diligently to finalise class deliveries from the St Valentine's Day stall, they were treated to a beautiful serenade by Jo Mau, filling the air with warmth and melody. Alongside the serenade, the Year 12 students presented flowers to each teacher, adding a personal touch th
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Phew! You have to love a North Qld summer. If it isn’t the aggressive precipitation, it is the persistent heat waves. On behalf of all the team, we hope that community members are keeping safe and looking after each other. A huge thank you to our LDMG members and our emergency services, who have been out and about keeping us as safe as possible in the circumstances. The recent weather has seen repercussions for a lot of individuals and families in the Burdekin region. The Burdekin Neighbourhoo
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The team and I at BCA have been busy helping the community and council with the initial disaster management response and community recovery, due to the recent Monsoonal Trough. Please see information below regarding the Community Recovery Hubs currently open. Community Recovery Hub Burdekin Activated locations: Entire LGA If you are suffering hardship or require emotional support as a result of the North and Far North Tropical Low event, help is available. You may be eligible for financial
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Craig: “I came across about five days ago for a medical appointment from Ayr and bought the motor home, as I use it to recover in after treatment. But of course, I got trapped. I've just been patiently sitting here since waiting to get back across the river. There's so many people that have been caught out. There's a couple parked further up in a caravan that have just driven up from the Sunshine Coast. They've got a house in Ingham that they've lost to the floods up there and they can't get thr
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Monday 24 February Home Hill – Ayr Lions Club Youth of the Year Quest Monday 6:30pm The Home Hill – Ayr Lions Club Annual Youth of the Year Quest will be held on Monday the 24th of February to stage the public speaking talents of students in Year 12! Call John on 0447 561 790 for more information. Crown Hotel, Home Hill Friday 28 February BNC Burdekin Parkinsons Support Group Friday 9:30am The Burdekin Neighbourhood Centre will host a support group for those experiencing Parkinsons in their li
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This week, Ayr Bowling Club members were fortunate to return to the green on Wednesday for bowls games after the recent wet weather, which had kept players off the green. Despite the weather, the club’s spirit remains strong. In game news, nominations for the Men’s Club Championships have now closed for the Fours, A Grade Singles, and B Grade Singles events. The draw is posted on the board in the clubhouse. Nominations for the Country Pennants and Purple Pennants are also displayed on the clubho
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Saturday 22nd Of February: 1 to 5pm ( Patrol Group B ) Terry Lund, Tramayne Horan, Dylan Carew, Heather Scott, Anita Giddy, Jan Hatherell, Gabriel Hatherell, Toby Wilson, Danny Wilson. Sunday 23rd Of February: 9am to 5pm ( All Day Patrol Group E ) John Moloney, Anne Moloney, Tony Felesina, Isa Bella Moloney, Jane Jones, Gavin Jones, Sopia Moloney, Alissia Gibson, Billy Gibson, Shaize Christie, Emma Jones.
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Despite heavy rain and flooding earlier in the week, the local community rallied together on Friday evening for the much-awaited Trophy Bowls Night, sponsored by Peter Marine Home Hill. With a late-afternoon storm followed by stifling heat and humidity, 46 players gathered for an exciting night of competition. Special thanks to Raymond Peterson for his generous support and to the dedicated ladies in the kitchen who once again delivered exceptional catering. The BBQ team kept spirits high with si
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A week of rain and a late Friday afternoon storm couldn’t stop Home Hill Cricket Club’s generation next as East Ayr State School came to the rescue on Friday afternoon. Twelve Cricket Blast Challengers (aged 7-11) swapped the grass for the concrete of the school hall for an impromptu game that unleashed plenty of pent-up energy and some impressive skills. With each batting pair enjoying two overs at the crease, Tait Parker and Oliver Wicks got the Heat off to a flier, blasting 21 runs between
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Two Burdekin Roosters made significant contributions to the Townsville Blackhawks’ impressive performance in their match against the Central Queensland Capras in Yeppoon on Saturday. Originally scheduled to be played in Townsville, the games were relocated due to poor field conditions at Jack Manski Oval, with matches across both the under-19 boys and girls and under-17 boys and girls age groups. Despite not having proper field training for nearly three weeks, the Blackhawks delivered a commenda
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The recent floods from the Burdekin River have caused significant disruptions at the Ayr Golf Course, with water lapping up to the edges of the men’s tee on holes 3 and 16. From the 16th green, golfers are witnessing the rising waters flooding over the fairways of 3, 4, and 16. Additionally, the 13th tee has been impacted by the water flowing down 14, while it stretches across the 9th fairway as well. This is a familiar sight for the locals, as when the Burdekin River floods over Plantation Cree
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Night tennis fixtures are back in action, and it was great to finally hit the courts after the recent rain. A warm welcome to all our new and returning players! In match results, Wilmar secured a 37-28 victory over Pacific Blue. With no three-set winners, the competition was tight across the board. Top scorers were Josh and Ian with 11 games each, closely followed by Tim and Aidan G with 10 games. Meanwhile, in a nail-biter, Burdekin Shire Council edged out Bendigo 38-35. Andrew was the only thr
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Despite a week of rain and a Friday afternoon storm, Home Hill Cricket Club's next generation kept playing thanks to East Ayr State School's help. The Cricket Blast Challengers (ages 7-11) moved indoors, where they played a lively game in the school hall. The Heat, led by Tait Parker and Oliver Wicks, scored 71 runs, with Nate Ryder and Corbett Cross taking key wickets. The Stars, with strong batting from Everly Nicholas and Nicholas Marrinan, came close but fell short by just 7 runs. Home Hill
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Recent heavy and persistent rains over the last 1-2 weeks, culminated in floods which forced several road closures and disrupted the Burdekin community. Areas impacted most included Giru, Rita Island, and Plantation Park in Ayr. Roads, schools, hospitals, businesses, and transport were all affected. Not since the flood of 2019 has Plantation Park and the Bruce Highway, been completely covered with water. As a result, the Burdekin Shire Council in consultation with police and emergency services
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So, all that unrelenting rain for what felt like two weeks straight, finally caught up with us all and brought flooding to the region. While on the smaller side in comparison to up north, it still inconvenienced many, with almost no-one immune from road closures that separated towns from one another, disrupted transport routes, interrupted schools and businesses, and forced patients from Ayr hospital to be moved by train. In fact, we almost didn’t make it home across the bridge ourselves on Sat
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Amid the floods and widespread road closures, truck drivers have become some of the most frequent victims of lengthy traffic jams. Seeing the toll this took on drivers, Betina Wilks decided to step in. Every morning, she placed a box of snacks as a small gesture to support those stuck in long queues. Not stopping there, she reached out to the local community on Facebook, asking for any donations of items to add to the box. Teaming up with her neighbour, Christina Mosby-Na'awi, Betina went a step
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The people of Dawson are no strangers to natural disasters, having endured cyclones, fires and floods, but they are also extremely resilient, coming together in the face of adversity. At the first opportunity when flooding subsided, I jumped in the 4WD and headed north, visiting towns in the Burdekin region including Gumlu, Home Hill, Ayr and Giru, then onto south Townsville at Cungulla and Nome. Some areas were lucky to only have little to no flood water on their property, but some homes an
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While the effects of weather are hard to predict, the willingness of the community to assist others is something that, according to Member for Burdekin Dale Last, can be relied upon. Mr Last said emergency services, volunteers, businesses, and individuals had gone ‘above and beyond’ to help locals and visitors to the community as they prepared for and dealt with the effects of the weather event. “Across the Burdekin district, and beyond, there are everyday people who deserve our thanks,” M
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OPINION PIECE Australia’s regional industries are the engine of this country. From sugarcane to prawns, mining, beef and tourism, they keep the lights on and the economy ticking. Where I come from, these industries don’t just generate profits. They sustain families, communities, and our way of life. But as a new report from the Page Research Centre, A complex, costly web: The regulatory burden on Australia’s regional businesses highlights, every single one of them is up against it. Overregulat
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Flood-affected primary producers, small businesses and not-for-profits in seven North Queensland areas can now apply for concessional loans to support recovery. The loans have been activated for the local government areas (LGAs) including the Burdekin, and are provided through the joint Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA). Disaster Assistance Loans of up to $250,000, and Essential Working Capital Loans up to $100,000, are available to eligible operators. Disaster
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The Ayr Anzac Memorial Club is inviting local sporting clubs, businesses, charities, not-for-profit organisations, and individuals, to apply for their sponsorships. For the 2025/2026 financial year the Ayr ANZAC Memorial Club would like any of the above who require money in any way, shape or form, to make submissions to the club outlining their requirements. A popular program, it’s not uncommon for the club to receive anywhere between 50-100 applications in any given year. Elmarie van der Schyff
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