A cornerstone within the Burdekin community, the Home Hill – Ayr Lions Club’s extraordinary generosity, fundraising efforts and commitment to supporting the shire’s future generations underpins the success of many local organisations, individuals and events. Over the past twelve months, the Home Hill – Ayr Lions Club made valued donations to the Home Hill State High School’s Optic Minds Competition, Zonta Club Burdekin Inc., Movember Australia, the Burdekin Shire Youth Council’s Fast Track Tal
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Australia Day Award nominees will be celebrated in Ayr and Home Hill on Sunday 26 January, marking another year that brings the community together, recognising those who have made a lasting impact in the Burdekin. “It’s great to be nominated for our 2024 Canefield Ashes. It was actually the 20th anniversary of the Canefield Ashes, so it feels really good to be nominated for a milestone event in our cricket club's history, Tiffany Olditch states, nominated for The Community Event of the Year.
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The Molongle Creek Boat Club has recently invested over $16,000 in surveillance cameras to enhance security around the trailer parking area, new clubhouse, and licensed café. These cameras are in place to ensure the safety of both club members and the public. The club reminds everyone that any inappropriate behaviour will be recorded and “you will be seen." Additionally, members and visitors are urged to check that their trailers are properly secured when parked. There have been incidents where
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As communities across the electorate prepare to celebrate the extraordinary effort of everyday community members during Australia Day ceremonies, Member for Burdekin Dale Last has offered his appreciation to those who take the time to make their communities a better place to live, work and play. Mr Last said with the heart of Australia beating firmly in regional and rural areas including the Burdekin, Australia Day was an opportunity to recognise our strength, diversity and generosity as Austra
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Looking for a way to make a real difference in your community in 2025? Join the Burdekin State Emergency Service (SES) and help Queensland communities before, during, and after emergencies. With over 5,000 volunteers across the state, the SES plays a crucial role in disaster response, and we need individuals like you to step up and support our efforts. As an SES volunteer, you’ll respond to various emergencies, including storms, floods, cyclones, rescues, road/rail/air incidents, landslides, an
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On Saturday, January 11th, the Alva Beach community was stunned to hear a wave of sirens after the Queensland Police Service, Queensland Fire Department, and Queensland Ambulance Service were called to a single-vehicle traffic crash. At approximately 3pm, a Subaru XV crashed into a tree on Torilla Street. The driver, a woman in her 70s, was then transported to the Ayr Hospital for treatment. A Queensland Police Service spokesperson has stated there have been no significant updates to the
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At 2.45am on Saturday the14th of December, Ayr Police intercepted a vehicle on Queen Street, Ayr. As a result, an 18-year-old Townsville man was issued a Notice to Appear (NTA) for drink driving, .188 and is due to appear in Ayr Magistrates Court on 13 January. At 6.50pm on the 2nd of January, a traffic crash occurred on Munro Street, Ayr, when a motorcycle collided with a parked car. As a result, the driver, a 44-year-old Burdekin man, was issued an NTA for driving whilst under the influen
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The grand and iconic establishment that is the Home Hill Post Office, recently celebrated 100 years on the 3rd of November, and while a party was not thrown, she was, however, recently bought in July of 2024 by new owners keen to keep her tradition going. Holding a prominent corner position in the heart of town, nestled on the main street at 58 Eighth Avenue, she is a true testament of character, strength, beauty, and time. Originally low-set, she was raised in 1947 to avoid flood levels, wh
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The Burdekin Shire’s Visitor Information Centres in Ayr and Home Hill, have closed the books on a successful 2024, welcoming more than 11,000 visitors to the region over 360 days of operation. The centres saw their busiest month in August, with Ayr hosting over 900 visitors and Home Hill welcoming over 800 through the doors, highlighting the Burdekin as a popular stop for tourists. Mayor Pierina Dalle Cort said the Burdekin Tourism Volunteers play a vital role as ambassadors for the Burdekin.
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The Burdekin Community Association Inc. (BCA) Home Care Service delivers a wide range of services for seniors and their carers. Home Care Packages Program (HCP) The HCP Program provides support to older people with complex care needs to live independently in their own home. We can offer services to eligible seniors on a Level 1, 2, 3 or 4 package. Services include in-home support services, transport, home maintenance/repairs/modifications, access to allied health services and other care relat
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At the Neighbourhood Centre, we love bringing people together to share interests and build community connections. Recently, we received a question about whether there are any Bridge Clubs in the Burdekin area. As far as we know, there aren't any local groups, but we thought it would be a great idea to see if there's interest in starting one! The question was posed by Sylvia, who has been visiting the Burdekin for 17 years. She recently moved here from Northern NSW to be closer to her family. In
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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’m looking 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, it will be rewarding to see they will be recognised at the 2025 Australia Day Awards. The Burdekin Shire Council Australia Day Awards wi
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Last week, I had the opportunity to get a bird's-eye view of our region, thanks to the River Trust. Flying over the area provided a fresh perspective on the beauty and complexity of our local landscape. I even spotted some large crocs sunning themselves along the riverbanks - a true reminder of the rich biodiversity we’re fortunate to have in the Burdekin. It was an incredible experience, and I’d like to extend my thanks to the River Trust for making it possible. On another note, I was saddened
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Eyecare Plus optometrist and owner, Shannon Peckham, believes great eye health starts with a routine check up. Doing so can often detect potential eye health issues early on such as glaucoma, macular changes or on rare occasions ocular melanomas, and will help protect your eyes now so you can have your best chance at good eyesight for years to come. With twenty years of experience as an optometrist, Shannon’s seen and taken care of many people’s eyes across Australia and now calls the Burdekin
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John Cattell, a 71-year-old who originally hails from Glen Innes, in New South Wales, has been living in Home Hill for about four to five years after being homeless in Townsville. After he was placed in a housing unit courtesy of his daughter, John’s been happy to be here ever since. “I was homeless in Townsville for about three or four years before my daughter helped put me into a housing unit here in Home Hill, through Housing Services. It’s been both great and a big relief,” John says. Alth
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Australian sugar cane farmers will soon trade one tropical paradise for another as they explore first-hand the implications of Brazil being ranked number one and two in the world for sugarcane and ethanol production. Queensland sugarcane farmer Paul Atkinson is embarking on the 10-day tour for a second time because he is interested in how Brazil’s harvest and mills operate. “Brazil is our main competition,” Mr Atkinson said, adding its use of sugar to produce ethanol affected world sugar pr
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The open road became a classroom for early-career extension officers as they embarked on a two-week, cross-industry bus trip as part of the Agricultural Extension Work Placement Program (AEWPP). Hosted by the Queensland Farmers’ Federation (QFF), this unique journey was more than a road trip—it was an opportunity for trainees to deepen their understanding of Queensland’s diverse agricultural landscape, showcase their work, and build valuable connections across the sector. The AEWPP places train
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A new venture, Oxitec Australia, is taking on two of the deadliest virus-carrying mosquitos in the Pacific region—Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus —to fight the spread of diseases like dengue, Zika, and yellow fever, which claim hundreds of thousands of lives globally each year. Oxitec Australia is a collaboration between CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, and UK-based Oxitec Ltd, the leading developer of biological solutions to control pests. The new venture leverages Oxitec's p
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The Ayr Bowling Club continues to thrive as a hub of activity even during our hot summer days, with members enjoying social bowls throughout the week to keep their skills honed. Wednesday’s games saw some tightly contested matches, with bowlers showcasing their skills on the green. While the competition was fierce, Cisco, Lloyd Shepherd and Wayne Coonan were the winners on the day. On Saturday, 18 members came together for a lively afternoon of social bowls under the cover. It was a warm after
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With an update to the Burdekin Show committee and some positional changes, President Christopher Lyne, is confident that this year’s show will be the biggest and best yet. “We've got one new member, Stacey Koir, who joined the committee this year, while we've had a few changes. Meghan Wilson has gone from committee member to Vice President, and Brendan Kolb stepped down from Vice President to committee member,” Chris announces. “We're seeing fresh ideas come to the show, and every year we add
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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
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Thalie: “Well, I have a lot of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander friends, so we don't celebrate Australia Day, but we gather and we tell stories. And in fact, probably my husband and I are probably going to be at home by ourselves that day. But we aim to share stories that reflect their heritage and values and stories of where we're from, and stories of connection, and stories of what's important to us, as all of us are Australians. We view the day as a time for connection, reflection, and h
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Lawrence Polgar, President of the Burdekin Singers and Theatre Company – who first went on stage in 1992 in Oliver – discusses the return of the show ‘Back To The 80s’ which first appeared here in the Burdekin, 20 years ago. “It’s exciting as it’s been 20 years since we first saw ‘Back To The 80s’ on stage here in the Burdekin. Some members even performed in the original show 20 years ago! The cast includes both senior and junior members from Townsville and the Burdekin area, many of whom ha
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Born and bred in the Burdekin, Sweet FM presenter, Carol Betteridge, has been with the station for a decade now. She started her show after leaving a long-term job and has been hosting Wednesday morning country music shows ever since. “I lived out of town about eight kilometres south of Home Hill. I lived there until I moved to town 35 years ago, where I've been ever since. Even though I’ve travelled the world, including Ireland, the UK, South Africa, New Zealand (five to six times), and I’ve
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The Burdekin Basketball U18 Boys team recently concluded their 2024/2025 representative season with an impressive performance at the State Championships on the Gold Coast. The team gave the southern clubs a tough challenge, showcasing exceptional skills and determination against bigger, more experienced opponents. As the season wraps up, the team bids farewell to six top-age players who are ending their representative careers. These athletes have been vital members of the team, with some having
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