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By day, he's a skilled cabinet maker, crafting cupboards and installing timber doors. By night, he's ready to jump into action as an auxiliary firefighter. For Brayden Arroita the balance between these two roles is a challenging yet rewarding experience. From a young age, Braydon dreamed of becoming a firefighter: "Ever since I was three, I always wanted to be a firefighter," he recalls. When the opportunity arose, Brayden didn't hesitate to pursue his childhood dream. Now, he juggles his prima
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The Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) is actively recruiting part-time auxiliary firefighters to join their dedicated team in the Burdekin Local Government Area, including stations in Ayr, Giru, and Home Hill. This is an excellent opportunity for residents to contribute to their local community whilst balancing other commitments.
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The CEO of Business Chamber Queensland, Heidi Cooper, highlighted the importance of understanding the unique challenges faced by businesses across the state at a recent meeting during her visit to the Burdekin. "We spend a lot of time listening to the Queensland business community because we want to ensure the business environment is the right one for them," she emphasised. This approach involves engaging with regional and North Queensland businesses to advocate for the best possible outcomes.
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Stephen Tunbridge, one of Burdekin’s local volunteer heroes, has been with Burdekin Community Association Inc for 7 years. During his time with BCA, Stephen has always been prepared to help with whatever is required of him, within the organization and the community. Stephen originally was a business man and owned Shoelites Footware for many years. When his shop closed down, he decided to become a volunteer and give back to the community and wanted to use his time helping others. Stephen has bee
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Welcome to this edition of our newspaper, where we continue to bring you the stories that matter most to our vibrant Burdekin community. As I settle into my new role here in Home Hill, I’m filled with excitement and gratitude for the warm welcome I’ve received from residents, businesses, and community leaders alike. Home Hill is a place where the sense of community is palpable, where people take pride in their town, and where traditions and innovations walk hand in hand. The Burdekin region, wi
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OPINION PIECE Member for Burdekin Dale Last has lashed out at the state government as seafood shop owners and marine businesses in the Burdekin are left as collateral damage in the government’s decision to gut the commercial fishing industry. Mr Last said while the introduction of a heavily restricted commercial gillnet licence symbol NX, should have been an opportunity to allow our commercial fishers to continue to supply our state’s seafood consumers and support flow-on small businesses, its
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Federal Member for Dawson, Andrew Willcox, is no stranger to the Bruce Highway and has launched a campaign, Back Our Bruce, Back Our People. The section of the Bruce Highway that runs through the electorate of Dawson, from Mackay up into Townsville, has been identified as the most dangerous section of the entire highway, with the worst identified as the 100km stretch between Bowen and Home Hill. “As someone who spends a lot of time on the Bruce Highway, travelling to meet with businesses and
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The region is set to experience a significant boost to connectivity with the introduction of direct flights from Whitsunday Coast Airport to Adelaide launching on September 1st. This new route, developed in partnership with major airline Jetstar, is strategically designed to open the region to new markets while providing an affordable and convenient travel option for visitors. The decision to add Adelaide as a direct destination was driven by the airport's goal to expand beyond traditional east
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Every year on August 18th, the Burdekin community comes together to honour the sacrifices and bravery of the soldiers who fought in the Battle of Long Tan. This day, now synonymous with Veterans' Day in the region, has been a significant event for over 30 years. The ceremony, initially held annually in Ayr, has found a more permanent home at Deep Creek Veteran’s Retreat, for the past two decades, welcoming many visiting veterans from out of town. The ceremony begins at 11 am, and members of th
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Tourists are flocking to the Big Mango and Bowen Tourist Information Centre, with the iconic gateway to the town proving to be a popular stopping point where motorists are encouraged to venture into Bowen for the day or even longer. The popularity of the centre has reached new levels this year with record-breaking visitor numbers announced. Bowen Tourism and Business released figures this week confirming they welcomed more visitors than ever before during the 2023/34 financial year. This inc
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After more than a decade working in the power line industry, George Downward took a leap of faith in 2013 by establishing his own vegetation service company. With a background as an operations manager for a nationwide contracting firm, George had the foresight to anticipate changes in the industry. When his former employer transitioned to a subcontractor model, he recognised the potential risks and decided to forge his own path. "We started small, contracting for Ergon Energy and Queensland Ener
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Rehoming fee: $450 DOB: 31/10/2023 Sex: Male Breed: Staffordshire Terrier X Kid friendly: Yes Cat Friendly: Yes Other dogs: Yes Fences: 6 foot Alec is a sweet-natured, gentle young boy with long, lanky legs, and he is ready for adoption. Initially underweight and hungry, he has flourished in foster care, gaining strength and confidence. He loves playing outside with other dogs and enjoys relaxing on the couch. Alec is well-behaved, toilet-trained, sleeps through the night, and is great wi
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Over the weekend Queen Street was treated to a selection of sweet, homemade delights with Senior Water Festival Ambassador for Campbell’s Jewellery, Demi O’Shea’s Cake Stall fundraiser. Over 25 variations of treats were made including rumballs, muffins, Cherry Ripe and Snickers slice, Biscoff loaded cookies, Oreo and Nutella loaded cookies, rocky road, biscotti, a selection of cakes, pumpkin scones, and creations made by Marina Power’s Sweethaus Artisan Sweets. Demi and the staff at Campbell’s
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Calling all Burdekin businesses! It's time to revive the festival spirit and showcase your creativity by participating in the Burdekin Water Festival's window decorating competition. Thanks to the generous sponsorship of Bob Gould Fabrications, you have the chance to win while adding a splash of colour and joy to our community. This year’s competition encourages local businesses to adorn their windows with vibrant and eye-catching displays that reflect the essence of the Burdekin Water Festiv
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Did you know that it is Loneliness Awareness Week from the 5th to 11th of August? To help combat loneliness and encourage friendships, our team has implemented the “Letterbox Project”. The project is a national pen pal program using beautiful handwritten letters to provide support and connection to people all over Australia. The company BCA has partnered with has assured us that they will screen all letters to ensure complete safety. Participants are asked to complete a Personal Bio form
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In our fast-paced lives, time seems to rush by, and before we know it, Christmas is just around the corner. As we become increasingly busy, we often overlook the important task of taking care of ourselves. When we extend support to someone going through tough times, we tend to prioritise their needs over our own. However, this approach can be detrimental to both parties, especially if we are struggling ourselves. To provide effective support, it's essential for us to be in a good state of menta
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It is crazy to think that we are half-way through August already and are about to say goodbye to winter and enter into spring. Unfortunately, the weather has not been very kind to our farmers over the weekend. A few mm to settle the dust probably would have been ok, although some areas have received over 100mm and after an already late start to the crushing it will only slow things down. However, there is nothing we can do about the weather so I just hope we see sunny warm days moving forward a
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On the 18th of August each year, we come together as a community to commemorate Vietnam Veterans Day, a day of reflection and respect. This day marks the anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan, one of the most significant battles fought by Australian troops during the Vietnam War. Our local service will be held on Sunday, at the serene Deep Creek Retreat, located on Ayr Delbeg Road at 11am. This location, leased by the Vietnam Veterans Association, provides a fitting backdrop for us to honour the
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Clare State School is gearing up for its 75th Anniversary Celebrations, scheduled for 28 and 29 March 2025. Excitement is building as the school plans a series of events to commemorate this significant milestone. The celebrations will kick off on Friday, 28 March, with the school open for self-guided tours from midday to 4pm. In the evening, there will be a Meet and Greet at the Clare Sports and Recreation Club, providing an opportunity for past students, staff, and community members to reconne
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The Reef Guardian Council program, launched in 2007, is a voluntary partnership designed to address key threats to the Great Barrier Reef. This initiative, involving 19 local governments across a vast area of 300,000 square kilometres, plays a crucial role in safeguarding the reef, which was heritage-listed in 1981. The program targets significant challenges such as water runoff, illegal fishing, climate change, and coral bleaching, all of which pose ongoing risks to the reef's delicate ecosyste
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CANEGROWERS has welcomed the end of industrial action at Tully Sugar Mill, saying it’s an example of what can be achieved when employers and unions negotiate in good faith and are prepared to compromise. Over the weekend, Tully Sugar Limited announced that mill workers had voted in favour of a pay deal tabled by the mill following recent conciliation talks with unions in Townsville. “This is a good outcome for the local industry,” CANEGROWERS Chairman Owen Menkens said. “It shows that a syst
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Burdekin region mills Week 9, ending 10 August 2024 Cane crushed This week Season to date Invicta 145,089 947,701 Pioneer 70,238 426,444 Kalamia 76,043 540,157 Inkerman 86,423 625,836 Burdekin 377,792 2,540,138 CCS Invicta 14.55 14.06 Pioneer 14.69 14.14 Kalamia 14.24 13.80 Inkerman 14.78 13.83 Burdekin 14.57 13.96 Weekly variety performance for region Variety % CCS Variety % CCS Q240 54% 14.54 SRA23 7% 14.46 KQ228 20% 14.58 WSRA17 5% 13.86 Q183 8% 15.05 Q208 4% 15.06 Comments: The Burdekin mill
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Troubling figures released earlier this week show many illnesses among rural, regional and remote Australians could have been prevented or treated better with accessible primary care, thus avoiding the need for hospitalisation. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), many parts of rural Australia have higher rates of potentially preventable hospitalisations, highlighting the need for early interventions and ongoing care, particularly for non-communicable diseases. U
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As the first quarter of the 2024 crush season unfolds, Wilmar Sugar and Renewables is reporting a substantial 4.14 million tonnes of cane processed across its eight mills. Despite widespread rainfall halting harvesting and crushing across all regions, the Burdekin stands out with notable progress and performance. In the Burdekin, the season has been marked by a CCS (Commercial Cane Sugar) of 14.57 this week, with a total of 2.55 million tonnes processed, representing 30 per cent of the total Bur
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Ayr State High School is set to transport audiences back to the dazzling 1970s with their upcoming production, ‘Disco Inferno’. This vibrant musical reimagines the classic tale of Faust in a whirlwind of flared trousers, platform shoes, and glitter, complete with an explosion of hit songs and high-energy dance routines. The talented students of Ayr State High School will bring the stage to life with their dynamic performances, ensuring a night of fun, nostalgia, and spectacle. Audiences can cat
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