The Burdekin Community Association Inc is seeking Expressions of Interest from people interested in participating in a Healing Waves Mental Health Peer Support Group. Please refer to the following information and let us know if you are interested. HEALING WAVES MENTAL HEALTH PEER SUPPORT GROUP A friendly, warm and safe space to share experiences and support one another through the journey of mental health. HEALING WAVES provides a safe space where group members can provide support and ins
Read more
Bendigo Bank is warning the community about remote access scams in which fraudsters gain access to individuals’ computers or devices under false pretences, often resulting in significant financial losses. Australia-wide, more than $15 million was reported lost from 8,975 remote access scam reports in 2023, according to Scamwatch. “Scammers will use every trick in the book with the aim of gaining access to your phone or computer,” said Head of Customer Fraud and Scam Protection, Jason Gordon.
Read more
We wanted to start this week’s column off by wishing all the best to the kids of the district as they embark on a new school year and congratulating all the parents and caregivers for surviving the summer holidays! Is there anyone else out there pondering the swift passage of January? We had envisioned a leisurely transition into 2025. However, it seems that plan has been swept aside, and now we find ourselves racing into February, slightly frazzled, yet we remain ever ready to greet you with
Read more.jpg)
Welcome to 2025. Hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I’m sure everyone is refreshed after the break and are ready to embrace 2025. I looked forward to attending the Australia Day Awards on Sunday 26 January 2025, at the Burdekin Theatre. The Burdekin is full of so many fantastic people, groups, sporting clubs, and community events, and it was rewarding to see them recognised at the 2025 Australia Day Awards. The Burdekin Shire Council Australia Day Awards recognised me
Read more
The Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR)’s In a Good Place (IAGP) program is inviting applications for grants up to $20,000 for community-driven projects that strengthen the mental, social and/or emotional health and well-being of people living in remote, rural and regional places, particularly in farming communities. This round, the IAGP program has $290,000 to support initiatives or activities that prevent or respond to mental well-being concerns. Priorities include increasing me
Read more
Members of the NQ Dry Tropics Traditional Owner Management Group (TOMG) took part in a recent workshop, focused on improving the quality of water flowing from the Burdekin catchments to the Great Barrier Reef. Delivered by NQ Dry Tropics in partnership with Senior Scientist at C2O Consulting, Jane Waterhouse, the workshop provided an opportunity for group members to contribute their knowledge and priorities to the development of a new Burdekin Regional Water Quality Strategy, funded through the
Read more
Simon Hood Wilmar Manager Grower Marketing The New Year has heralded an unwelcome change in global sugar price sentiment, initially prompted by the world market getting more comfortable that the first quarter supply of sugar was tight but manageable. This resulted in a gradual deterioration of the ICE #11 March 25 futures premium over the May contract. The speculative money sensed the path of least resistance was down, so they had been getting increasingly aggressive with their short-sellin
Read more
International stage director and producer, Neil Gooding, recently came to town where he got to look in on proceedings of his smash hit musical, Back To The 80s. Written over 20 years ago, it’s been a trip back in time for this Burdekin native, who now calls New York home. “I was born and grew up in Ayr and went to Ayr High School. During my time here, we did lots of shows at the Burdekin Theatre with the Burdekin Singers. Then at the end of year,12, I went to Brisbane to study law and commerce
Read more.JPG)
When Home Hill was founded in 1911 on the southern banks of the Burdekin River, it was difficult for settlers of Home Hill to do business, as that required the Services of the Court of Petty Sessions who were based in Ayr. With its unpredictable floods, crossing the river was a hit-and-miss affair. In August 1923, approval was granted for a Court of Petty Sessions in Home Hill, with the Department purchasing Mr P. M. Jensen’s ‘Boot Palace’ building on the corner of 8th Avenue and 9th Street in
Read more
Vixen, a beautiful 15-month-old dog, has been patiently waiting for her forever home for over 400 days. This energetic and loving girl, weighing in at 25kgs, is ready to fill your life with joy and excitement. With her tall and agile frame, Vixen is the perfect companion for an active household that can match her spirited enthusiasm for toys, long walks, and playful activities. A social dog, Vixen thrives on human interaction and loves to explore her surroundings. After burning off some energy
Read more
Thursday 30 January Ayr Friendship Club Wood Burning Thursday 10am Come along for a FREE creative and enjoyable morning with friends! 158 Queen Street, Ayr Friday 31 January Burdekin Singers & Theatre Company’s Back to the 80’s Friday 7:30pm From the era that brought the world the Rubik’s Cube, Max Headroom, and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comes the “totally awesome” musical, Back to the 80’s! The Burdekin Singers & Theatre Company’s production of Back to the 80’s will be staged across t
Read more
Burdekin Water Festival: “We won the Community Event of the Year Achievement Award, for the Burdekin Water Festival – ‘Bring It Back.’ We're very honoured to get it, considering they were going to shut it down, but it’s been a team effort for all of us. We've got quite a big committee, and they're all dedicated. The festival came together in only 13 weeks, so it was an actual achievement to get it off the ground and bring it back. So yeah, it's a real privilege to win.” Nicole Cervoni: “This ye
Read more
The highly anticipated Canefield Ashes cricket carnival is set to return to the Home Hill Cricket Club the weekend of Saturday the 26th of April. Held annually in memory of Eugene Pagotto, this two-day invitational T20 event promises an action-packed weekend for cricket enthusiasts and the wider community. With 40 teams competing across A, B, C, and social grades, the carnival offers something for everyone, from seasoned players to those just keen for a bit of fun. Beyond the boundary ropes, th
Read more.JPG)
Unfortunately, on Sunday the Ayr Bowling Club’s highly anticipated Australia Day Bowls event was cancelled due to inclement weather conditions. While members are disappointed that they did not celebrate Australia Day together on the green, the safety of its members remains their top priority. Please rest assured, a new date will be selected soon, and the Ayr Bowling Club will keep everyone informed. In the meantime, the Club is excited to announce that Wednesday Night Social Mixed Bowls started
Read more
Home Hill Tennis is set to host its Annual Club Open Day on Sunday 2nd February from 5.30–7.30pm, to coincide with the success of this year’s Australian Open. There was much to cheer about with local tennis star, Adam Walton, playing in the main draw of the singles and doubles. Adam is ranked inside the top 100 in the World. His family and friends were there to cheer him on and couldn’t have been prouder. Adam had a win in the first round of the doubles 6-2, 7-6 but was defeated by a very exper
Read more
The sweet pea flower is known to symbolise loyalty and friendship – qualities that perfectly describe this loving girl! Sweet Pea is a cuddly, affectionate cat who adores spending time with her human companions and gets along well with other pets. She’s been a devoted mother to her kittens, and now it’s her turn to be pampered and loved in a forever home. Ready to meet Sweet Pea? Submit an inquiry form at www.angelpawsinc.com.au/forms.html and discover if this beautiful girl is the perfect add
Read more
Get ready for an exciting year of track and field action across North Queensland in 2025! From February to October, athletes of all ages and abilities will have the chance to compete in a variety of exciting meets. Here’s your ultimate guide to the upcoming events: February: • North Star Summer Series Meet 1 – 1 February, Townsville (State Permit Meet) March: • North Star Summer Series Meet 2 – 1 March, Townsville (State Permit Meet) May: • Mackay Track & Field Carnival – 3 – 4 M
Read more
On Friday, the 17th of January, despite some of the hottest and most humid conditions this year, 16 dedicated bowlers braved the elements for a thrilling night of social bowls. The game must go on, and it did - thanks to a fun draw of difference organised by Gary "Mr Bowls" Pearce, which led to some interesting pairings. On Rink 3, the father-son duo of Chris Jnr Pearce and Gary Pearce faced off against Hans Baas and his son-in-law Simon Griggs. Despite the heat, the Pearce family combination d
Read more
Saturday the 1st of February, 1pm to 5pm (Super Sub Patrol): Joshua Furnell, and Barry and Brooke Cross. Sunday the 2nd of February (All Day Patrol Group B): Terry Lund, Tramayne Horan, Dylan Carew, Heather Scott, Anita Giddy, Jan and Gabriel Hatherell, and Toby and Danny Wilson. Contributed with thanks to Hockey Vernon.
Read more
Lace up your running shoes! The 2025 Burdekin Sugar Rush is set for Sunday, the 27th of April, promising an exhilarating day of fitness and fun for participants of all abilities. Hosted by the Burdekin Road Runners and Walkers Club, this signature event is the Burdekin’s only formal running race and features the prestigious Athletics North Queensland Championship half marathon. Runners and walkers can choose from the 21km half marathon, 10km, or 5km events, catering to competitive athletes and
Read more
Prepare to lace up your football boots because the Burdekin Touch Football open men’s and women’s season is almost here, and it’s time to get your team ready to play! The fun began with the pre-season competition on Wednesday, the 29th of January, and will run for three weeks. Teams will play two 20-minute games each Wednesday, with Week 4 ending in an exciting Grand Final! The top teams from the men’s and women’s divisions will compete for some sweet prizes - $150 off the winning team's season
Read more
Jye Olsen has entered the spotlight, made headlines and wowed spectators over the past few years, leading an impressive rugby league career with the Burdekin Roosters. With a lifetime of experience, Jye first played on the field when he was just seven years old and reminisces fondly on his successful introduction to the sport. “I was lucky enough to play in a very good junior team which went undefeated for many years,” explained Jye. “It was with this team that we won the Paul Bowman Carnival
Read more.JPG)
It’s official! The Burdekin Shire Council’s 2025 Australia Day Awards nominees have been announced, and there are some excited and very nervous candidates among them. When nominations closed on the 4th of December 2024, a total of 25 surprised recipients were nominated. But they’ll have to sit patiently until Australia Day to find out whether they’ve won. Until then, they’re left to wait, some chewing their fingernails. However, for most, it's business as usual, and they take their nominatio
Read more
100! It’s a big number any way you slice it or break it down. 100 years is not just 10 decades, but approximately 36,525 days, where there are 76 common years and typically 24 leap years. That’s almost a full month of extra days! So why am I discussing 100 years this week? Well, I was recently told about the Home Hill Post Office, which quietly, silently, celebrated 100 years (3 November, 2024) in her own hushed, inauspicious way with barely a mention or celebration held to acknowledge it anywh
Read more.JPG)
Got a desire to paint the town red? Or white? Perhaps blue? Maybe purple, green and pink stripes, with yellow and orange polka dots? Then Home Hill is looking for budding artists young and old to get along to Lloyd Mann Park and refresh the current panels. Anyone is welcome to attend, day or night, and create their own little bit of creative magic, all in the name of public art. The only request, no graffiti or obscenities. Other than that, the five panels that abut up against the fence by the
Read more