The Burdekin Aero Club Inc. invites the community to their Monthly BBQ Breakfast on Sunday, 12th January at the Ayr Aerodrome in Brandon! Held on the second Sunday of each month from 8am to 11am, members and non-members are encouraged to come along for a delicious barbeque breakfast paired with plenty of opportunities for attendees to meet local pilots and get an up-close look at the aircrafts on display. What a great way to start your Sunday!
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Staff at the Ayr Health & Hospital, were duly rewarded on Christmas eve, when long time business supporter, Wilmar, recognised the tireless work of all the staff and delivered 30 pizzas to say thanks. Wilmar, an organisation involved in community outreach, has traditionally provided food for Ayr Hospital staff working over Christmas, with offerings ranging from barbecues to cupcakes. On the 20th of December, 2024, they switched to pizza due to a change in preference, which proved to be a master
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A new year has been hailed as a chance for new opportunities by Member for Burdekin Dale Last with goals to strengthen and support industries and communities within the electorate. Marking his tenth year as Member for Burdekin Mr Last reaffirmed his focus remained on issues that mattered to residents in the Burdekin Electorate. “As the member for Burdekin, my pride for the electorate is as strong as ever and my dedication to working for my electorate is unchanged,” Mr Last said. “That pride a
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The Home Hill Chamber of Commerce invites the community to its monthly Social and Networking Meeting held on the third Wednesday of every month. The next event will be held on Wednesday, the 18th February, from 5:30pm to 7:30pm at the Home Hill Community Sports Club, located at 87 Ninth Avenue, Home Hill. This month, attendees will have the opportunity to hear from a guest speaker from Powerlink, who will provide insights into the CopperString Project, an important infrastructure development. Th
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Delivered by many helping hands, 94 Burdekin households received “Christmas Cheer” support through the Salvation Army this Christmas. The support included gift cards, toys, Christmas and non-perishable foods, household items and fresh produce. The number of households receiving Christmas Cheer this year increased by 25%. With many in the community who are struggling with homelessness and the cost of living, with some living in tents, couch surfing, or have medical/mental health needs for themsel
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Despite the heavy downpour prior to the Ayr Queen Street Festival, spirits weren’t dampened any as local revellers lapped up the night time activities. While the rain persisted throughout the evening, several of the kids (and some adults) used the opportunity to dance in the blocked off street as they welcomed the teeming rainfall. Several of the highlights ranged from a visit by Santa, who was busy walking the streets and having photos taken. He even managed to stay dry as he conducted the Bu
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What a wonderful Christmas 2024 and here we are celebrating a new year, ringing in 2025. Carols in Home Hill Sunday 8th December was well attended, despite the weather and change of venue. It was great to see local recording artist René entertain the crowd along with other talented locals. The evening concluded with Santa arriving with lolly bags greeted by Minty and rounding off with spectacular fireworks. I had the good fortune to experience the End of Season Golf Classic Friday the 13th Dec
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Wow, Christmas and New Year have come and gone in the blink of an eye! For many of us, the festive season is a time for family, laughter, and reflection. Coming from a big family myself, it’s rare that we’re all able to gather in one place, but I was grateful to spend Christmas Day in Townsville with my family members who could make it. It was particularly special to have my mum, who lives with dementia, enjoy a wonderful day surrounded by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. It
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Burdekin Potters Inc. has been a cornerstone of creativity and community spirit in the Burdekin region since its establishment in 1975. With 2025 marking its 50th anniversary, the club has seen tremendous growth in recent years, increasing its membership from just 10 members four years ago to 62 in 2024. From young individuals just starting out to those in their mid-70s, the club embraces potters of all ages, fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment for creativity to flourish. The Burdeki
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The Lower Burdekin Scout Group held a Christmas Raffle for the first time in the last 5-7 years. The Scouts would like to thank “Beaver” who is one of our Adult Helpers for coming up with the fundraising idea and doing all the leg work. This fundraiser will assist us in keeping our membership fees the lowest in our region. We especially would like to thank the following local organisations who supported us by donating vouchers and gifts, which enabled us to create 12 packages of gifts as prizes:
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The Lower Burdekin Landcare Association Incorporated will soon celebrate its 35th anniversary within the region, with the committee’s rich agricultural history dating back to 1990. John Trace held the position of 1990 Burdekin Shire Chairman and decided to establish a Landcare steering committee within the community, issuing an official meeting on the 28th of February. A year later, following on from Councillor Ron Brennan chairing the first public meeting of the committee, April of 1991 saw t
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The Burdekin region is set to cultivate the next generation of agricultural talent with the return of the much-anticipated Burdekin’s Sweetest School competition. This unique event invites local schools to roll up their sleeves and showcase their skills in sugarcane cultivation while fostering a sense of pride and collaboration across the community. The competition, beginning in April, promises an exciting journey for participating schools as they learn the intricacies of sugarcane farming. From
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Grower advocacy group, CANEGROWERS, have said that Queensland's sugarcane farming families have spent Christmas counting the cost of yet another delayed harvest. It claims that updated industry analysis has found that poor milling performance throughout the year has caused crushing to continue into the wet season, which could cost growers over one-hundred million dollars in 2024. The analysis by CANEGROWERS has revealed that as of 14 December more than 1.8 million tonnes of cane, worth a stagger
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Sunday 5 January Plantation Park Markets Sunday 8am Celebrate the first Plantation Park Market of 2025 and join Ayr State Primary School for a picture-perfect morning showcasing the talents and hobbies of both local and travelling stallholders with everything from home baked treats to handmade creations on offer! To become a stallholder yourself contact 4790 3333. Plantation Park Wednesday 8 January Walk In Make It School Holiday Activity Wednesday 9:30am Unleash your inner monster and craft u
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The Get Set for Work program, run by Police Citizens Youth Club (PCYC), targets 15-19-year-olds who have dropped out of school and provides them with a Certificate II in skills for work and vocational pathways. The program includes resume and cover letter assistance, first aid, RSA, and white cards, and features guest speakers on topics like budgeting, mental health, workers' rights, road safety, indigenous culture, and drug and alcohol awareness. “Our Get Set for Work program is for youth a
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We are checking in with you all! How are we all going? How did Christmas go for everyone? A relaxing time spent with those that matter, or did it feel more like a dumpster fire? As we reflect on the past year, there comes a moment to release the challenges of 2024. Tonight presents a wonderful opportunity to shift our focus toward planning and setting intentions for the new year. It’s a time for manifestation and envisioning what we want to create in 2025. No matter how your experiences
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The Burdekin libraries in both Ayr and Home Hill, are running tremendous school holiday programs throughout January. Designed to keep the kids entertained, out of the heat, and give parents much needed respite, the program is sure to capture little imaginations and get the creative juices flowing. Information on the School Holiday Program for January 2025: • Walk in Make It Sessions: are open craft sessions where craft materials are provided to explore imaginations. A theme is given for i
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Sweet FM first began broadcasting back on 28th September, 1999. Charlie Scuderi, station manager, has been involved with the radio since its inception in 1999 and has been managing it for the last six years. Their studio is based in the old Home Hill Court House building, on Eighth Avenue, Home Hill. “I was involved just after the formation of the radio station back in 1999, where I stayed for about 18 months. I then got invited back June in 2018 as there had been some issues at the radio stati
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A wave of festive cheer washed over the Burdekin Shire throughout the month of December, and as the eve of Christmas Eve rolled around, Jeffrey Lunn and Leon McCormack hosted another spectacular Christmas lights display for all to enjoy! On both the 23rd and 24th of December, Santa Claus himself journeyed direct from the North Pole to greet plenty of families and pose for a few fantastic photos from sunset and into the night. Santa Claus was advised of a few temporary changes of addresses ah
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The final Honour Board event of 2024, Constable & Taylor Day, was held on Saturday, December the 7th, drawing an impressive 56 participants eager to embrace the tradition at the Ayr Golf Club. Despite the rainy weather earlier in the week, the course was in fantastic condition, thanks to the tireless efforts of our volunteers and greenkeeper with their hard work ensuring a seamless event. Captain Sandra Wight shared a heartfelt moment during the event, reflecting on her visit last year with Dr.
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The Burdekin Touch Association hosted the Grand Finals for the 2024 Mixed Season on the evening of Friday 13 December, showcasing top-quality games across all five grades. In a thrilling conclusion to the season, the A Grade Final delivered one of the most exciting matches in recent years. Can’t Touch This, seeking their first-ever A Grade title, faced off against the experienced Nrgize team. The game was a fast-paced spectacle, with play surging end-to-end. Nrgize displayed their well-rehears
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Marshall Parker is an active and commendable member of the Home Hill Cricket Association, and recently represented his club with pride in North Queensland’s Under 12 B Team in Townsville. At just 10 years old, Marshall plays and trains at both his home club, and the Townsville West Cricket Club with the Parker family travelling to Townsville twice a week to continue building upon Marshall’s techniques and skillset. In following in the footsteps of his dad, Ross Parker, Marshall enjoys a match
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Two celebrated members of the Ayr Rifle Club, David Huckett and Jason Kupke, have etched their names in history as part of the North Queensland team, claiming the title of Australian Champions at the National F-Class Long Range Rifle Teams Competition. Held in Canberra during November of 2024, the event brought together elite shooters from across the nation. The North Queensland team, comprising six shooters, a reserve, Coach Jordan Drew, and Manager and Captain Betta Gianassi, spent the past ye
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As the Christmas and New Year period nears its conclusion at Alva Beach, the Ayr Surf Lifesaving Club reminds everyone to enjoy the school holidays and festivities safely. With increased traffic from bikes and 4-wheelers, the Club urges beachgoers to be mindful and considerate of others. The dedicated patrols have been on duty throughout the holiday season to ensure everyone enjoys a safe time by the water, with members asking the community to work together to keep Alva Beach a fun and safe env
Read moreThursday 19 December Festive Biscuits Decorating School Holiday Activity Thursday 10:30am Craving some tasty treats? The Home Hill Library will also be holding a fabulous Festive Biscuits Decorating session on Thursday, 19 December from 10:30am to 11:30am. Bookings essential https://bit.ly/burdekinlibraryevents. Home Hill Library Thursday 19 December Christmas Confessions Thursday 6pm The community is invited to come and experience the love and mercy of Jesus. St. Colman’s Church, Home Hill
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