A potentially life-threatening situation unfolded at the mouth of the Burdekin River on the afternoon of Tuesday, 2 December when a woman and five very young children were stranded on a sandbar during a rapidly rising high tide. Water Police, who initially responded to the call, described the situation as extremely dangerous, with the tide swiftly reaching 3.3 metres. The task was passed to the Rita Island SES, who were on scene within minutes to help complete the rescue after self recovery eff
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An Ayr cleaner has been fined after using a client’s bank card to make nearly $1,000 in online purchases. The court heard the woman, who was working in a client’s home, accessed a debit card and used it to place a $974.30 order through Big W. Police described the fraud as “not sophisticated,” noting the purchases were billed to her own business and included her personal phone number, making detection almost certain. A police spokesperson said that when items from the order were later found dur
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Five people and a dog were rescued from a sinking vessel off the Cape Bowling Green area early on Thursday morning, 4 December. Around 6.30am, Queensland Government Air (QGAir) Rescue 521 was tasked to investigate a beacon activation reported off the coast near Ayr. Upon arrival, the crew located a seven-metre vessel partially submerged and its occupants in the water. The rescued included two 45-year-old women, a 28-year-old woman, a 50-year-old man, a 41-year-old man, and a blue heeler puppy.
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In its first iteration earlier this year, the Burdekin Neighbourhood Centre's Community Cuppa, then called the End Loneliness Morning Tea, saw just one person show up. A name change, word of mouth, and a couple of months later, the organisation last week played host to a full house of over 50 attendees, all bonding over the simplicity of friendly, lighthearted conversation. From 10am on Thursday, 4 December, the BNC invited members from the Burdekin community, as well as visitors from Townsvill
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It was around 2am last Saturday when I was tossing and turning in that half-asleep, half-awake trance where dreams are so vivid that they virtually feel real. Anywho... My dream was abruptly cut short by what seemed to be a real-life nightmare. Tap... tap on my front glass door. My immediate verbal response was something I probably can't repeat in a community paper. I sprung up. "Did a demon claw just tap on my window?" "Was Wolf Creek set in the Burdekin?" This is the part of living alon
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Local Training for Men and Colts for the 2026 season has started. Thursday nights at 6.15. Small sided games for the next three weeks. Be There! Night Soccer The tenth week of competition and another low scoring night. There were four forfeits, and the sixteen games produced fifty nine goals. And there were two Sin Bins. Top scorers were Jaime’s Boys, UDS, Short Staffed and Body Tune all with five goals. There were just three dawn games and four games won by the odd goal. In Men’s Competiti
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Councillor Amanda Hall This is my last Councillor Column for 2025 and next year will be my third year representing the people of the Burdekin. I’d like to think I have handled your queries and issues promptly, to the best of my ability and have at least provided you with a semblance of confidence and satisfaction. Unfortunately, things aren’t always black and white and you’re often that sole vote. Major concerns such as drainage and roads need to be considered within budgetary constraints and ot
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Mayor Pierina Dalle Cort What a week it’s been - Christmas parties, school graduations, and plenty of delicious food! I think I’ll need a few extra morning walks to work off the festive treats… I am sure I’m not the only one in that boat! I had the pleasure of meeting the Pirrone Brothers last week and discovered their latest creation - a Zucchini Flower Vodka brew. What an incredible example of Burdekin innovation and vision. I am certain their Nonno would be proud. On a more serious note, I
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It’s been a bustling and memorable week at the Ayr Bowling Club, highlighted by vibrant social bowls, well-earned award presentations, and the club’s Annual General Meeting. With the Ladies concluding their 2025 bowling season with a wonderful Xmas Lunch on Tuesday, there was no Ladies Bowling. Wednesday Bowling saw two games of triples. Game 1 Stano, Lachlan Grantz and Anthony Bull defeated Sheila, Joe Grabbi and Ron Soper. In Game 2, John Pirrone, Lloyd Shepherd and Maurice Power. Wednesday
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The Ayr Surf Life Saving Club hosted the annual North Barrier Branch Surf Rescue Championships on Saturday 6th December with a small but strong turn out. At Surf Rescue Champs competitors test their true lifesaving knowledge in Champion Lifesaver event, performing patient assessment and CPR, completing a theory paper and physical skills including a tube race, surf and board race and sprint. Members also competed in the First Aid Competition where they work in a pair to assess and treat a simulat
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The Burdekin Theatre foyer became permanently enshrined in the memories of 10 Burdekin residents on Tuesday, 9 December, as the place where they were officially celebrated as naturalised citizens of Australia. At 10:20am, Burdekin Shire Council Mayor Pierina Dalle Cort, alongside councillors and families, came together to celebrate the new Australian citizens, each from various backgrounds such as Europe, Africa, and Asia. New citizen Liezel Klopper, along with her two children, Andre Henri an
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Residents visiting Alva Beach and Coutts Park over the weekend were met with frustration after public conveniences at both sites were deliberately vandalised. The damage, coming just weeks before the holiday season, has left local families and visitors without access to key facilities. Mayor Pierina Dalle Cort said the incidents were “a senseless act of stupidity and deeply disrespectful to our community.” She noted the personal and financial impact on locals. “Council invests significant resou
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Sunday 14 December BBQ Breakfast Sunday 8am The community is invited to attend the Burdekin Aero Club Inc. Monthly BBQ Breakfast at the Ayr Aerodrome from 8am to 11am. Meet the pilots, inspect the aircrafts, and enjoy a morning of socialisation for $10 per person. Call 0429 144 921 for more information. Ayr Aerodrome, Brandon Sunday 14 December Movie Night Sunday 6pm Join the community for a screening of The Grinch at Giru Pool. Gold coin donation. Snacks and drinks available for purchase. Giru
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Monday 1st December marked a milestone event for the Burdekin district, as primary school swimmers from across the region gathered to compete in the 60th Annual Webber Shield Swimming Carnival. One of the longest-running inter-school sporting traditions in the district, the carnival showcased outstanding talent, sportsmanship and school pride. Nine schools took to the pool this year: St Francis, East Ayr State School, Home Hill State School, Giru State School, Brandon State School, St Colman’s,
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Orientation Days Give Future Hawks a Flying Start December 5, 2025 Ayr State High School recently welcomed 75 Year 6 students from across the Burdekin for two days of Orientation. The students, soon-to-be Year 7s, spent the days getting familiar with their new school, meeting teachers, and discovering who their classmates will be in 2026. Supported by senior student “buddies,” the future Hawks explored classrooms, learned about school routines, and participated in activities designed to build c
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Northern Queensland Legacy have once again hosted a series of heartwarming Christmas Lunches across several shires to bring the community together and ensure veterans’ families are supported this festive season. Annually, the Christmas Lunches provide a chance for widows and children of veterans to reconnect and celebrate the festive season with others who understand their unique circumstances. The Northern Queensland Legacy's Burdekin Christmas Party was held on Friday, the 5th of December at
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After the loss of someone they loved dearly, five friends decided to come together to make a difference in the lives of those struggling with mental health illnesses by raising valuable funds and awareness throughout the month of October and beyond. Chloe Rehbein, Caitlin Danziger, Lilly Scutt, Kaitlyn Warren, and Thomas Rehbein’s world were rocked when someone very close to each of them tragically passed away earlier this year. After such a success raising funds for Breast Cancer Research in
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The Burdekin is set to benefit from an increase in frontline police numbers, with the Crisafulli Government welcoming 118 new constables into the Queensland Police Service (QPS). The fresh recruits — part of a major statewide push to restore safety and strengthen regional policing — will soon be deployed across Queensland, including right here in Ayr. The new officers form part of a broader investment in rebuilding the police frontline, bringing the total number of new constables sworn in under
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The Bruce Highway – the lifeline that connects Ayr, Home Hill and the broader Burdekin region to the rest of Queensland – has been the focus of major safety planning over the past 12 months, with the Bruce Highway Advisory Council (BHAC) wrapping up its final meeting of the year. Re-established by the Government, the Council brings together representatives from industry, government and regional communities to guide investment in Queensland’s most critical road corridor. Since reconvening, the g
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The Burdekin is set to benefit from a major environmental investment, with the Government committing more than $10 million to tackle weeds, feral animals and wildfire threats across North Queensland. As part of the $117.8 million Natural Resource Management Expansion Program, NQ Dry Tropics will lead three local projects aimed at restoring land condition, protecting wetlands, and safeguarding vulnerable coastal ecosystems — with much of the work centred in the Lower Burdekin. The program inclu
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As rural communities wrapped up another year of planting, harvesting and hard work on the land, World Soil Day on 5 December offered an important reminder of the quiet powerhouse beneath our feet — the soil that sustains farms, families and entire regions. Often taken for granted, soil underpins Australia’s agricultural output, contributing around $90 billion to the national economy each year. It’s also one of the most complex living ecosystems on Earth, home to more than a quarter of the plane
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Ben & Kelsey to host their final End of Harvest Golf Classic, celebrating years of community & charity support
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Three Blokes Running’s (TBR) Campbell Johnston, Brayden Rawlins and Austin Dewar have once again closed out another stellar November spent fundraising for the Movember Foundation for the second consecutive year. Across the past month, the trio set themselves the mission of flipping a deck of cards and completing several mystery challenges like swimming laps in the pool and pushing themselves to the limits in the gym all in the interest of raising funds and awareness for men’s mental health. Ca
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Australia is home to more than 700,000 native plant species, many of which can also be enjoyed as food. Known as bush foods, these plants have long been used by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people for nutrition, medicine, and cultural practices. Here are five edible natives that are both tasty and great for your garden. Macadamia Nuts (Macadamia spp.) Native to the rainforests of northern New South Wales and southern Queensland, macadamia nuts are loved for their sweet, buttery flavour
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As the Burdekin Shire begins to gear up for another disaster season, residents may once again face the familiar sight of fallen trees, broken branches, and damaged green spaces. Living on the coast, local residents understand cyclones are an annual challenge, with recent storms such as Jasper, Kirrily, and Tiffany serving as reminders, while major events like Cyclone Yasi have taught important lessons about how our landscapes cope. One key question emerges: are some trees better equipped to sur
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