Get ready to celebrate the holiday season at the Burdekin Uniting Church’s Craft Spectacular, a much-anticipated event offering festive cheer and unique, quality crafts! Held at the Burdekin Memorial Hall in Home Hill on Saturday, 30th November from 9am to 2pm, this event will showcase a delightful variety of handmade items and Christmas treasures. The Craft Spectacular features a stunning array of cottage crafts, including patchwork, patterns, fabrics, flowers, cards, beads, woodwork, and beaut
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This festive season, Home Hill Newsagents and Coffee is brimming with Christmas spirit and an exciting range of products to suit all ages and tastes. Shay and Ken Linton, owners of this beloved local store, have put together a delightful selection of holiday essentials to make Christmas shopping easier and more enjoyable for the community. For those on the hunt for gifts for little ones, Home Hill Newsagents and Coffee offers a fantastic selection of kids’ toys that are sure to bring smiles on C
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The Burdekin Shire Council is calling on local food and drink vendors to join the 2024 Community Bank Home Hill and Ayr Christmas Carols, a festive event that brings together the community for an evening of holiday cheer, carols, and delicious treats. This event offers a fantastic opportunity for local businesses to showcase their offerings, while being part of a cherished community tradition. Mayor Pierina Dalle Cort is encouraging vendors to submit their expressions of interest, highlighting
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The Ayr Bowling Club is preparing for its final Fun Friday Night Bowls event of the year, inviting community members to join in an enjoyable evening on 22 November, starting at 6pm. This inclusive event is perfect for all skill levels, whether participants are experienced bowlers or trying the sport for the first time - it’s a great opportunity to gather friends or come solo and meet new people while giving bowls a try. The evening will begin with a sausage sizzle at 6pm, followed by the start
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Saturday 16 November, 1pm to 5pm (Patrol Group A) Chris Wicks, Damien Rickets, Emma Rickets, and Jane Wicks. Sunday 17 November 9am to 1pm (Patrol Group F ) Lisa Furnell, Jen Morgan, John Furnell, Jo Morgan, Lauren Chapman, Isla Chapman, Ryley Satori, Jake Satori, Kat Satori, and Dave Satori. Sunday 17 November 1pm to 5pm (Patrol Group G) Carl List, Jimmy Hayllor, James Kennedy, Shane Morgan, Ross Blakey, Ross Rickards, and Jed Giddy. Contributed with thanks to Hockey Vernon.
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The Brandon Bowls Club had another fantastic week of bowls, with great turnouts and competitive matches across Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. On Wednesday afternoon, the triples match saw Henry Hazel, Vanda Ballao, and Margaret Chapman come out on top, defeating Ann Newton, Bev Garioch, and Helen Collins. In the pairs game, Joy Woods and Darelle Pearce teamed up with Lyn Storrie to beat Sandra Darwen and Lyn Farr. Friday night’s bowls were full of fun and camaraderie with nine bowlers taking p
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Home Hill Junior Cricket saw an impressive turnout last Friday, with dozens of eager young players showcasing their skills at the Nutrien Ag Solutions Cricket Complex. The Challengers continue to make strides in their game, highlighted by standout performances from Henry Cohan, who remained unbeaten on 15, and Corey Pensini, who delivered an exceptional bowling spell, taking 2 wickets for no runs. Levi Trail and Harvey Shannon were recognised for their outstanding contributions and received the
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The Home Hill Golf Club is celebrating a successful year, with standout achievements in the Whitsunday Vets competition. A special congratulations goes to Gary Pappalardo, who earned the title of Golfer of the Year, showcasing skill and consistency throughout the season. Home Hill’s efforts were further highlighted by securing second place in the Club of the Year standings, a testament to the dedication and performance of all players representing the club. Additionally, Home Hill tied for havin
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The Burdekin Netball Association is calling for expressions of interest for coaches, managers, and umpires for the upcoming 2025 Senior State Age Championships. The event will be held from 12 to 15 April at the Ipswich Netball Association and will cover teams for the 15, 16, and 17/18-year-old age groups. This is a fantastic opportunity for individuals passionate about netball and looking to contribute their skills and leadership to support the development of young athletes. Interested candidat
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The Burdekin Roosters, a proud rugby league club in Queensland, are on the lookout for new talent as they prepare for the 2025 season. The club, known for its strong community focus and competitive spirit, invites players of all skill levels who share a passion for rugby league to join their ranks. Committed to nurturing talent and fostering a supportive environment, the Roosters offer an excellent platform for players to develop their skills and enjoy the camaraderie of a dedicated team. Beyon
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The Burdekin Swimming Club has enjoyed an action-packed few weeks, showcasing the incredible talent and dedication of its swimmers. Recently, a team of 11 swimmers represented the club at the Charters Towers Swimming Meet, delivering exceptional performances over the two-day event. The meet saw many of the swimmers achieving personal bests, with standout efforts from Aiden Butler, who recorded personal bests in 8 out of 9 races, including an impressive 11.53-second improvement in his 100m Breast
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The Ayr Golf Club’s annual Searle Family Day Golf event was met with resounding success this year, thanks to the generous sponsorship of club member Debbie Searle and her family. The event featured an exciting Stableford format, which saw participants competing in high spirits under perfect conditions. Securing third place was Shannon Peckham, who achieved her personal best score to date with an impressive 36 points. Wendy Baker claimed second place with a solid 37 points, while Angie Baxter em
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Burdekin Shire Council is lighting up the holidays with a new look and new locations for its iconic community Christmas trees. This year, Ayr’s tree will brighten the area outside the Burdekin Theatre, while Home Hill’s tree will shine at the Comfort Stop. The relocation offers safer, more accessible spaces for families and visitors, just in time for the launch of the Mayor’s Christmas Tree Appeal.
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In a significant move for the Burdekin community, the Burdekin Neighbourhood Centre has launched a program focused on demystifying death, dying, and grief. Spearheaded by Debbie Durso from Palliative Care Queensland, this initiative brings together 15 community members, carers, and those from a dementia support group to learn about the critical documents and preparations needed for end-of-life care. This gathering reflects a shift in perspective—bringing death back into the community as a topic
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Hello everyone, and happy November! Christmas is just around the corner, and I hope everyone has been enjoying the sprinkle of festivities as we get closer and closer to December! The photos from the Halloween House last week look awesome! Jeff and Leon did an amazing job, and I know everyone will be on the edge of their seats to see the debut of the pair’s fantastic, award-winning Christmas display in a few weeks. I am so excited to share that I have officially completed my university studies
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A ministerial portfolio reflecting some of the Burdekin’s largest industries is a fitting tribute to the powerhouse electorate and the workers at the coal-face according to Member for Burdekin Dale Last. Mr Last was formally sworn in last week as Minister for Natural Resources and Mines, Minister for Manufacturing and Minister for Regional and Rural Development ahead of the first sitting of the new Queensland Parliament at the end of the month. “I was incredibly humbled to be returned as the M
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The Home Hill - Ayr Lions Club recently celebrated a milestone as Nyree Woods was awarded a service recognition for her ten years of dedicated commitment on Monday 28 October. A beloved teacher at Ayr State High School, and valued community member, Nyree was presented with a chevron pin and service award, a symbol of her continuous contribution to the Lions organisation over the past decade. Since joining nearly eleven years ago, Nyree has held a range of leadership roles within the club, inclu
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Recently returning to the Burdekin after eight years as CEO of Balonne Shire Council, Matthew Magin brings with him a strong commitment to community and economic growth. His experience leading Balonne—a remote, agriculture-driven region on the NSW border with major crops including cotton, grains, and livestock—has equipped him with a practical, resourceful approach to challenges faced by rural communities. This journey back to North Queensland, where Magin’s roots lie, is fuelled by his passion
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As we are only a few days away from the Home Hill Harvest Festival, I was looking into the history of the festival and it is incredible to see it continue on now in its 62nd year. The Parade and street party is the main event, but the festival has been running for weeks now with several side events occurring such as the Ephemera, Students Ball, Town of Origin, King and Queen of the hill, Derby Day, Golf Ambrose, Pet Show and the Harvest festival ball. The work that goes into all these events rea
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On Friday, I had the pleasure of spending the day in Home Hill, meeting with local businesses and community members to gather valuable insights on how we can improve our CBD’s. Hearing directly from the people who live and work in our communities is essential in shaping a vibrant and welcoming town centre that meets the needs of our community. From enhancing public spaces to supporting local business growth, there are many ideas on the table, and we want to ensure everyone has the chance to prov
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Selectability, a community-based non-profit, has joined forces with the Blue Tree Project to promote mental wellbeing and encourage open conversations on mental health within the community. Inspired by the project’s mission to spread mental health awareness, Selectability was initially approached by Stardust Drive-In, whose team suggested collaborating. Embracing the opportunity, Selectability eagerly agreed, recognising the potential impact of the project in reaching diverse community members
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Do you ever wish you could get hands-on help with things you're not sure how to do? While online resources like Google and YouTube are helpful, nothing compares to learning from real people in a community setting. It creates a sense of belonging and accomplishment that enriches our lives. In our recent discussions with the tradies working at the Neighbourhood Centre, we explored the topic of life skills—how they’re learned, who can share knowledge, and what skills our community could learn toge
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Radio host Tony Goddard, who began his broadcasting journey on September 5, 2001, has long captivated audiences with his eclectic mix of music and informative content. Initially drawn to radio through his work in policing, Tony launched his career with a segment called "On the Beat," which combined music with valuable police information on topics like property protection, traffic laws, and personal safety. This unique blend resonated with listeners, setting the stage for his future as a popular
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Cane crushed This week Season to date Invicta 129,375 2,355,824 Pioneer 71,423 1,113,926 Kalamia 52,900 1,249,109 Inkerman 75,428 1,403,329 Burdekin 329,125 6,122,187 CCS Invicta 14.86 14.36 Pioneer 14.79 14.34 Kalamia 13.76 13.89 Inkerman 14.54 14.10 Burdekin 14.59 14.20 Weekly variety performance for region Variety % CCS Variety % CCS Q240 57% 14.82 Q208 9% 14.67 Q183 11% 15.68 WSRA17 5% 13.76 KQ228 9% 13.82 Q232 5% 13.94 Comments: The Burdekin mills processed just under 330,000 tonnes of cane
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By Angelo Licciardello, QCAR Burdekin District Manager
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