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Kelly Greaves didn’t plan to be a property manager. In fact, when she took a three-day-a-week back-up role at Ray White 17 years ago, she was expecting something more laidback and predictable. Three weeks later, the property manager quit, and Kelly was full-time, front and centre, with no real estate experience."The three-day-a-week job that I was supposed to have suddenly turned full throttle," she says.What she did have was experience leading people. Years as a local publican had taught her ho
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Two years ago this week, Burdekin Life Newspaper printed its very first edition. At the time, the Burdekin community had been without a local newspaper for almost three years following the closure of The Burdekin Advocate in 2020.“We received a call from Neil Williams who was part of the local Economic Development Committee,” recounts Editor-in-Chief Rachael Smith.“He said that he had seen a copy of Mackay and Whitsunday Life Newspaper and loved it so much that he asked if we could bring somethi
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The Home Hill Harvest Festival is well underway for 2025, with the festival queens announced and ready to make their mark on this year’s iteration of the much-loved community event.Each year, Harvest Festival Queens are presented with a rare opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the local community. Throughout the course of the festival—generally held from September to November—queens orchestrate and participate in various fundraisers for their chosen clubs, while also attending Harvest Fes
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Ayr Fire & Rescue Station has received a major equipment upgrade with the arrival of a new $1.2 million Type 3 Scania P360 appliance, marking a significant step forward for local firefighting capabilities in the Burdekin. After years of delays, the new fire truck was officially delivered this month as part of the Crisafulli Government’s $134 million investment in the Queensland Fire Department. The vehicle, built by Bell, comes equipped with state-of-the-art technology including a remote
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In every town, whether here, across the country or in a completely foreign land, there are a few elements it just couldn't prosper without. Some of those are more apparent to the naked eye than others: essential resources, a stable economy, safety—sure. But it's the unsung heroes operating behind the curtains that are just as crucial in holding the place together. One of those around this neck of the woods is the Burdekin Community Association. It was as they marked their 50 year anniversary wi
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Just in the past couple of weeks, a string of random acts of kindness have captured the attention of the entire community, with locals taking to social media to share their thanks and gratitude. Without exchanging names or even interacting with one another, several members of the shire have helped others in need, from lifting wheely walkers into cars to paying it forward in the drive through. Earlier this month, the community came together after a concerned local shared the news she had found
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Opinion Piece - Andrew Willcox Right now, any Australian can submit a simple request to access non sensitive information from any Australian government agency. We can ask who a minister or government officials has met, what was discussed, and the reasoning behind government decisions. This is a vital lever for holding the government accountable and right now it doesn’t cost a cent to ask the question. But the Labor government wants to water down these protections,
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Burdekin Water Festival Senior Ambassador Winner Molly Julyan It started as a childhood dream, and now it’s become a crowed reality for 2025 Burdekin Water Festival Senior Ambassador Winner, Molly Julyan, proudly representing Liessmann and Sons. Right from the moment she walked on stage, Molly fell in love with the magic of the annual event, and on Saturday, the 30th of August, Molly was prestigiously crowed as the 2025 Senior Ambassador Winner at the beautiful QMN Manufacturing Burde
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The Burdekin Shire Council has secured funding under the Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure Program (SLRIP) to deliver significant upgrades to the Ayr Industrial Estate road network. The project aims to improve safety and accessibility, provide more efficient access for heavy vehicles, and enhance parking while strengthening long-term infrastructure capacity. Mayor Pierina Dalle Cort said the investment reflects Council’s commitment to supporting local industry and improving the region’s tra
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After building a career across India, the United Kingdom, and the United States, physiotherapist Phelps Kota has arrived in the Burdekin—and he’s here to make a difference. Earlier this month, Kota helped inaugurate Kota's Physiotherapy and Wellness Clinic, aiming to reduce long wait times for physiotherapy in the region and provide care that restores mobility, independence, and hope. The clinic offers services across paediatric , orthopaedic, neurology, related conditions and pre and post oper
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Last week’s Burdekin Chamber of Commerce meeting drew one of its largest crowds in recent memory, as local business owners kick-started their Thursday morning with coffee, conversation and community planning. Proceedings were led by Seb Aguirre of ELA Solutions, who steered discussions towards one of the year’s most anticipated highlights—the Burdekin Christmas Street Party. The agenda sparked plenty of lively debate, particularly around logistics such as preferred dates, potential road closur
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Lives Lived Well is here for the Burdekin, offering practical, non-judgemental therapeutic intervention for people affected by alcohol and other drugs. Our team works across the region, providing free, confidential counselling for adults and young people to help support people to gain the skills to Live Their Lives Well. If you’re worried about your substance use, our clinicians can help you make sense of what’s happening and create a plan that fits your life. We offer one-on-one counselling in
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What a wonderful couple of weeks it has been celebrating our community. At the Giru Show, I was reminded of the incredible dedication that small communities put into their events. The Giru Progress Association continues to achieve great things, and this year’s show was extra special as we paid tribute to Mrs Betty Corradi. For 35 years Betty worked tirelessly for the community she loved, and it was moving to see her family honour her memory with a balloon release. We also marked a signif
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Burdekin Communications Opens Doors of New Location After more than 60 years serving the Burdekin, Burdekin Communications has relocated once again in Ayr, turning a new page for the family-run business while returning focus to the core services that have long made it a community mainstay. Now trading from a newly refurbished storefront at 123 Edwards Street, Burdekin Communications had the space ready and completed most of the move in less than a week. “We moved the bulk of everything in just
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Simon Hood, Wilmar Manager Grower Marketing A final reminder to growers regarding the Global Traders Roadshow featuring Wilmar’s Senior Sugar Trader Peter Bingham. Peter is currently in India attending the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) convention, which means he will bring the very latest insights into Indian crop developments and ethanol policy for the year ahead. With India’s production forecast rising sharply this season, the country’s decisions around exports and ethanol could play a
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Water and fertiliser are two of the biggest costs – and opportunities – for cane growers in the Burdekin, and new insights are highlighting how the two are closely linked. According to Farmacist agronomists, irrigation scheduling can play a decisive role in whether nitrogen fertiliser is effectively used by the crop or lost through run-off, leaching or denitrification. With sugarcane heavily reliant on nitrogen for growth, ensuring the nutrient remains in the root zone is vital. Poorly timed i
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Artificial intelligence is set to play an increasingly important role in shaping the future of agriculture, and an upcoming Sugar Research Australia (SRA) webinar will explore just how transformative that potential could be. The free online event, AI-guided breeding to develop future crops, will be held on Friday, 10 October at 2pm (AEST), bringing together leading voices in the field to discuss the opportunities of applying AI to plant breeding. Guest presenter Professor Lee Hickey from the U
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By Owen Menkens, Chairman, CANEGROWERS Sugarcane has always been part of Queensland’s story. From the sunlit paddocks along our coastline the sweet scent of a mill in full crush, it’s hard to imagine our state without it. But there’s a side to the industry that many people don’t see – how far our growers have come in making cane a world leader in sustainability. This month we reached a milestone worth celebrating. Farms accredited through our Smartcane BMP program have now earned a rare triple
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As CANEGROWERS prepares to celebrate its centenary in 2026, the organisation is inviting the community to help build a unique photo collection that captures 100 years of cane country history. Locals are encouraged to dig out their treasured sugarcane snapshots — from family moments on the farm to milestones in the industry — and share them on Facebook or by emailing info@canegrowers.com.au. The collection will form part of a centenary showcase honouring the people and stories behind the sugarc
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BCA’s 50 Years Supporting the Burdekin Community When the Burdekin Community Association was founded five decades ago, it wasn’t born from a grand plan. It stemmed from concern—concern from everyday people who saw a gap in care for those leaving the hospital with nowhere to turn and the need for a community information centre. Following a year of community consultation, Father John Payne and a committee of local citizens, with the support of the Ayr Shire Chairman and Shire Clerk, laid th
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Majella Meehan Imagine, the BCA has been assisting our community for 50 years! What a milestone. Of course, we could not have been with you for this long if it had not been for all of those supporters who have gone before us. A special thanks to the Life Members and the Honorary Member, some of whom are no longer with us… Bill Hodson – Life member; Joan Heatley OAM – Life member; Joan Kennedy – Life member; Roy Dickinson OAM – Life member; and Brenda-Anne Parfitt (formerly Norman) –
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Debra Cochran My name is Debra Cochran and I’ve been with the Burdekin Community Association Inc (BCA) for almost 25 years. I’ve been the CEO for 15 years and managed the Home Care Service prior to this. Before moving to Ayr with my husband and commencing with BCA, I worked in senior management in various industries including coal mining, human resources, recruitment and banking. I’m rewarded by helping others and improving the Burdekin community which is why I jumped at the chance to wor
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with Rebecca Grogan Since 1987, the Housing and Community Support Service at the BCA has been providing vital assistance to individuals and families facing vulnerability across the region. Managed by Rebecca Grogan, the service combines practical support with opportunities for connection, learning, and empowerment, addressing both immediate needs and long-term wellbeing. The service provides a Specialist Homelessness Program, which includes five Crisis Accommodation Program (CAP) properti
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with Diana Churches For older and vulnerable adults in the Burdekin region, the BCA Home Care Service has provided practical support that helps people remain in their own homes for longer since 1977. Managed by Diana Churches, the service offers in-home care, community participation, and transport both locally and to Townsville for eligible clients. Services are available through the Home Care Packages Program, Commonwealth Home Support Program, National Disability Insurance Scheme, Queens
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with Rita Quagliata For nearly 50 years, the BCA’s Volunteer Service has been connecting people with opportunities to make a difference across the region. Managed by Rita Quagliata, the service recruits, trains, and supports volunteers from diverse backgrounds—including retirees, jobseekers, new arrivals, and students—helping them find meaningful roles that strengthen both the community and their own wellbeing. Volunteers contribute across a wide spectrum of programs, with the Aged Care V
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