Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
Drawing from an outstanding 140-year history of reputable and trusted business operations, Raine & Horne Ayr sits perfectly at 128C Edwards Street and continues to incorporate the professionalism and 1883 values of Tom Raine and Joesph Horne when servicing the bountiful Burdekin district. Carla Healy, Principal and Sales Specialist at Raine & Horne Ayr, will soon be celebrating a decade of real estate expertise, and having recently taken over the business with her husband Keith, she cannot tha
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Simon Hood Wilmar Manager Grower Marketing With the weather gods being kind over the past eight weeks, the Burdekin season is about 85 per cent complete at the time of writing. Our Target price growers have mostly priced their 70 per cent exposure limit, with a few still holding out for higher pricing. Our focus now is updating growers with their delivered GEI exposure, so they can comfortably price the balance of their crop through the Grower Managed Production Risk Scheme pricing mechanism. Th
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The graduation of the Burdekin Christian College’s Year 12 class was an emotional and joyous occasion, filled with love, laughter, and a few tears. This year’s group of graduates held a special place in the hearts of the school community, with Principal Debra Creed expressing the sentiment, "It’s always special, but this year was really something extraordinary." Celebratory features for Burdekin Christian College and Ayr State High School on pages 16-18.
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Ayr State High School's 2024 Academic Awards evening, held at the Burdekin Theatre, was a celebration of student excellence across a variety of disciplines. The event brought together students, families, and staff to acknowledge the outstanding achievements of students from Years 7 to 12. From academics to leadership, citizenship, and sports, the evening highlighted the diverse ways in which students excel within the “Ayr High Family”. The evening was a testament to the hard work and dedication
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Burdekin Artisans invites the community to get festive and creative at their "Button Tree Christmas Workshop" hosted by the talented Billie Lee. This unique, hands-on workshop will take place at 170 Arts on the Avenue in Home Hill, offering a chance for participants to create their own beautiful button Christmas trees. Priced at just $28, the workshop includes all the necessary supplies, so attendees only need to bring their creativity. However, participants are encouraged to bring any special
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The Burdekin Shire Council warmly invites families, friends, and neighbours to an evening of Christmas cheer at the 2024 Bendigo Community Bank Home Hill and Ayr Christmas Carols. Set to light up the Home Hill State High School Oval on Sunday, 8 December, this festive gathering kicks off at 5.30pm and promises something for everyone. Best of all, it’s free to attend! The highlight of the evening will be a headline performance by Burdekin’s very own René LeFeuvre. Known for his soulful performanc
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Currently treating international listeners to his musical talents in Germany, René LeFeuvre will soon headline the 2024 Bendigo Community Bank Home Hill and Ayr Christmas Carols set for Sunday 8 December. From touring across the world to enrolling in acting classes, 2024 has been nothing short of showstopping for René, and he’s looking forward to touching back down in Australia later this month for another outstanding performance on home soil. “I’m grateful to be performing again this year for
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For Gloria Lazzarini, plum puddings are more than just a festive treat—they’re a lifelong passion. Since the age of 17, Gloria has been perfecting her craft, first inspired by a recipe she discovered in The Australian Women’s Weekly. “Italians don’t traditionally eat plum puddings,” Gloria explains, “but I loved the idea and started making the cloth-boiled ones.” Gloria is recently semi-retired from St Francis, St Colmans, and East Ayr State Schools after teaching music and Italian for 60 years.
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Get ready for the festive season at the Max Place Markets on Saturday, November 23rd! Running from 8am to 12.30 pm at 119 Railway Street in Ayr, this Christmas-themed market promises to be a fantastic final event for the year. Whether you're looking for unique Christmas gift ideas or just want to enjoy a relaxed morning with family and friends, the Max Place Markets have something for everyone. Take memorable photos with a special Christmas backdrop, perfect for holiday keepsakes or sharing with
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Saturday 23 November 1.00pm to 5.00pm Patrol Group D: Ben Lawry, Kellie Lawry, Zac dale, Parker Bonato, Richard Dale, Bella Lawry, William Holt, Sharli Archibald, Danica Archibald, Lisa Vivian, Kristy Wassmuth, and Briella Wassmuth. Sunday 24 November 9.00am to 1.00pm Patrol Group B: Terry Lund, Tramayne Horan, Dylan Carew, Heather Scott, Anita Giddy, Jan Hatherell, Gabriel Hatherell, Toby Wilson, and Danny Wilson. Sunday 24 November 1.00pm to 5.00pm Patrol Group E: John Moloney, Anne Molo
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Help us bring the joy of Christmas to the lives of locals this festive season. From families experiencing Domestic and Family Violence, to older persons alone, we are hoping to be able to provide assistance to locals needing a festive lift this holiday season. We would greatly appreciate the following new items: • Bonbons • Festive decorations • Festive tableware • Toiletries including women's hygiene • Christmas books • Sparklers • Long life milk • Tinned fruit
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Apathy, often described as a lack of interest or enthusiasm, can creep into our lives quietly, leaving us disconnected and unmotivated. Whether it's a result of burnout, stress, or the overwhelming pace of everyday life, apathy can hinder personal growth and happiness. However, understanding the roots of this feeling and implementing strategies to overcome it can help us reclaim our motivation. Firstly, it's important to recognise the signs of apathy. These might include disinterest in activiti
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On Saturday 16 November, lifesavers from across the North Barrier Branch attended the Annual Surf Rescue Championships at the Ayr Surf Club. Surf Rescue Champs is a specialised carnival that focuses on events that test your 'life saving' skills. Competitors in the Champion Lifesaver event will compete in a Rescue Tube race, board, surf swim and beach sprint, as well as completing a theory test paper, a live patient assessment and a Resuscitation component. The day also hosts a First Aid competi
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The Ayr Bowling Club kept the competition lively throughout the week despite the warmer weather. On Tuesday, the ladies’ social games enjoyed a refreshing breeze. Ruth Moore, Sandra Stidston, and Pam Power triumphed over Karen Shepherd, Karen Page, and Mary Poli, while Ron Soper and Heather Jorgensen secured a win against Donna Soper and Irene Wilson. Thursday, 14 November, saw no competition games for the ladies, but only three more games remain in their season, which wraps up at the end of th
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The Brandon Bowls Club had an eventful week filled with excitement and community spirit. The festivities began on Friday, 15 November, with the club’s final Trophy Bowls evening for 2025, sponsored by Bennett Mechanical Exhaust & 4x4. A special thanks goes out to Josh Samuel for his generous support. The event saw an impressive turnout of 62 bowlers who enjoyed a warm evening of competitive play. The standout winners of the night were Sandra Darwin, Henry Hazel, Margaret Chapman, and Gary Pearc
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Local Pre-season training for the 2025 season has started for Burdekin Panthers. Thursday evenings at International Park 6pm to 7pm for Men and Youths. Only Night Soccer left on the local Calendar. The Group rounds continue until 3 December followed by the Semi-finals on 10 December and Grand Finals on Friday 13 December. Night Soccer Delta Cleaners Night Soccer’s Week 11 for some reason had six forfeits but made up for it with three Sin Bins. The sixteen games produced 50 goals. Top scorer
Read moreTwenty players braved the warm afternoon to enjoy a great day of bowls at Home Hill Bowls Club. Fortunately, a refreshing breeze kept conditions pleasant for all. The winners of the day were Phil, Dino, and Hugh (pictured), who claimed victory on Rink 2 over Mick Murison, Alex, and Jeff. Rink 3 featured a nail-biting match that came down to the end, with Margaret, Stephen D, and Terry edging out Bob, Joe, and Henry by just one point. On Rink 4, Yogi and Glen proved too strong for Paul and Tre
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The Ayr Golf Club celebrated its Junior Golf break-up on Sunday with an impressive turnout. Each junior brought along a parent or friend to join in a fun, two-person ambrose competition over 6 holes. The morning was filled with laughter and friendly competition, followed by a well-deserved lunch back at the clubhouse, where participants also enjoyed a lively 'wobbly' putter contest. The day concluded with the end-of-year presentations, acknowledging the juniors' hard work and achievements throu
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Round 5 of the Home Hill Senior Cricket competition featured an impressive display by Alliance Pharmacy as they secured a strong victory over the Rookies. Winning the toss, Alliance Pharmacy elected to bat first and laid a formidable foundation with openers Lee Watts and Mark Coventry leading the charge. Coventry showcased his batting prowess, retiring not out with a quick 51 runs from 41 balls, while Watts followed closely behind, retiring on an equally commendable 50 runs from 52 balls. The p
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The cricket match continued with an impressive display of orange flames as their backdrop. Photo supplied
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The Home Hill Harvest Festival’s Gala Ball was a night of elegance, celebration, and community pride. Guests enjoyed a delicious dinner and danced the night away, honouring the remarkable young women competing as Festival Queens. Each of the seven contestants showcased their unique personalities through interviews and group performances, giving the audience insight into their dedication to the community.
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The Home Hill Harvest Festival’s Gala Ball concluded with the crowning of two queens. Marnie Skipper from Home Hill Community Kindy was named Personality Queen, celebrated for her charisma and community spirit, while Madison Mainwaring-Samwell from Burdekin Netball earned the title of Charity Queen for her exceptional fundraising efforts, raising an epic $29,375.49. Reflecting on the event, Carlene Muilwyk shared, “The Rotary Club put on an exceptional event, giving our queens and their partner
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A bright yellow Rotary Duck from Ayr has made an unexpected appearance in Canberra, delighting locals with its journey to the nation’s capital. The cheerful duck, a symbol of the annual Norm Perry Memorial Duck Race, was recently brought to Canberra by Andrew Willcox, the Member for Dawson. The Rotary Club of Ayr, led by John, arranged for the duck to be sent to Willcox's Canberra office. The playful mascot quickly found its way to the pond outside Parliament House, making a splash in its new e
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Renee Hudson has recently celebrated the official publishment of her first children's book titled, Where in the World is Winston, an adorable story following the travels of an adventurous sausage dog! Originally from Home Hill, Renee graduated from Home Hill High School and moved to Townsville to peruse her studies in speech pathology, a field she feels deeply passionate about. In 2014, Renee graduated from James Cook University with a Bachelor of Speech Pathology, and then commenced a position
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Attending the Harvest Festival for the first time was a memorable experience that truly showcased the spirit of our community. This cherished annual celebration not only brought our town together but also highlighted the talent, traditions, and tastes that make this festival a standout event. Wandering through the festival, I couldn’t resist stopping for the famous honey puffs—warm, golden treats that lived up to their legendary reputation. The lively buzz of the crowd added to the festive atmos
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