The annual Burdekin Mixed Touch football carnival saw teams from Airlie Beach, Townsville and Burdekin clash in Ayr last weekend. Local team Nrgize with Michael Littlefield, Tramayne Horan and the Lampton family combining, defeated a very competitive NQ Under 16 girls’ team in the Open A final 5 to 3. Another local team Renegades under the guidance of Brendan Ford and the speedy Brad Johnson were too good in the B final defeating Townsville team The Chokers 5 to 3. The under 16 division saw s
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The Burdekin Roosters Rugby League season ended on a high last Saturday night at Bendigo Bank Park, where a strong home crowd watched the A Grade side defeat Herbert River 24–18. While the Crushers progress to face Western Lions in the RLTD semi-finals, the Roosters will reflect on what might have been. Saturday was also Sponsors Day, with the club acknowledging the generosity of its backers. The players repaid that support in style, delivering a complete performance. Coach Steve Lansley prais
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A tough weekend for the Panthers: two wins, three draws, and one loss from six games. On Saturday in Townsville the Premiers lost 0-1 to Warriors, while the Reserves drew 1-1. On Friday at home, the Ladies beat Warriors 4-0 and Division 1 Men drew 2-2 with Estates. Division 2 Funkies won 2-1 away to Rebels. On Sunday, the Ladies drew 2-2 with Brothers at home. This week the Premiers and Reserves host Estates (Premiers 8.30, Reserves 6.30). On Friday the Division 1 Men, Division 2 Men and Ladies
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Thirty players enjoyed another perfect Burdekin winter’s day on Thursday, with Glen “Bones” Berryman and Paul Vass taking top honours. In singles play, Michael Young defeated Norm Bethell on Rink 2. On Rink 3, Tony Caruso and Tony Eadie overcame Judy Elton and Gary Nosworthy, while Rink 4 saw Margaret Chapman, Dino Poli and Wayne Newton too strong for Harold Rummeny, Elaine Young and Trevor Elton. On Rink 5, Janet Arthur, Mark Swaine and Steve Doig stormed home to defeat Bruce McCallum, Nev We
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AYR BOWLING CLUB WEEK The Ayr Bowling Club is celebrating a great week, with members taking full advantage of the cooler weather conditions to enjoy both competitive and social matches. Enthusiasm has been high across the board, with players showing strong support for one another and a shared love of the game. The club's vibrant community spirit has been on full display, as bowlers turned out in numbers to make the most of ideal playing conditions. With momentum building and friendships thriv
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As the shire’s sporting season draws to a close across multiple clubs, the Burdekin Rugby Union Club (BRUC) have jumped ahead and claimed the date of their 2025 Presentation Night, marking out Saturday the 27th of September. The annual extravaganza, set to be held at the Queens Hotel for the second consecutive year, celebrates the outstanding achievements of the club’s players from the smallest toads on the field to the oldest across one huge evening overflowing with festivities. Prizes are aw
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Marking 59th Anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan At Creek Veterans Retreat On Monday, 18 August, locals, dignitaries and veterans gathered at the Deep Creek Veterans Retreat in Ayr to mark the 59th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan. Commencing at 11 am, the annual parade commemorated the 1966 battle in Vietnam—one of the key engagements involving Australian forces during the Vietnam War—honouring past veterans with a wreath-laying service, the playing of the Last Post and Reveille, and a
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Burdekin Water Festival (BWF) Senior Ambassador representing CORES QLD, Mia Galbraith, has taken it upon herself to run a Self Love Night to raise awareness for the importance of mental health and valuable funds for the invaluable work of CORES QLD. In the lead up to this weekend’s event, Mia has shared several videos and posts online, detailing how important it is to take care of and prioritise your own personal mental health, featuring BWF Committee members as guests on occasion to encourage
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Hi Everyone, It’s great to be back and feeling refreshed after a two-week holiday in Italy with my family. We stayed in a tiny village called Radicondoli, about three hours north of Rome, with a population of just 950! Our days were spent poolside, playing card games, and wandering into the village for fresh bread in the mornings and a glass of wine (or two!) in the evenings. It was my second time in Italy—my first visit was in my early twenties—and I’ve fallen in love with the country all ov
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Burdekin cane farmers will have the opportunity to contribute in person to an inquiry aimed at growing the industry following the announcement of a public hearing in Townsville. Announced in June, Member for Burdekin, Dale Last MP urged local growers to embrace the opportunity and provide much needed input. “When the inquiry was announced, a commitment was given to dig deep into a wide range of issues affecting the industry,” Mr Last said. “A thorough investigation is necessary to ensure
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Special Olympics Queensland is inviting children and adults with an intellectual disability and/or Autism to a fun Come N Try Ten Pin Bowling event at Burdekin Bowl on Saturday, 30 August, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. Everyone in the Burdekin area is welcome to join, including participants who use wheelchairs. Special Olympics is the world’s largest inclusive sporting organisation, offering pathways for athletes and volunteers to develop leadership skills while being fully supported. Children and
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Ren Pedersen OAM’s fight against the deadliest childhood brain cancer edged closer to a breakthrough when his ‘Million Dollar Mission’ received a $13,000 boost from local businesses, organisations, and dignitaries following last week's Burdekin Chamber of Commerce meeting. Pedersen, a Burdekin native now residing in Townsville, returned to the region as a special guest at the Chamber meeting, where he challenged 100 local businesses to donate $1,000 each toward his mission to provide accessible
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This past week has been a moving reminder, we are so blessed to have our way of life and we must remember the sacrifices made to have this freedom. Many of us reading this would not have been born but the reminder must be kept alive. I had the special honour of an invitation to attend events held in Commemorating 80 years since Victory in the Pacific. Listening to the re-enactment of the War is Over Speech brought shivers down my spine. The Joint US/Australian Commemorative Service – 5th USAF Me
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The Burdekin Brass Band didn’t disappoint on Sunday with their annual concert combined with the Thuringowa Brass Band. It was a very enjoyable afternoon with entertainment from the Home Hill Choral Society who never disappoint. It was chaired by Ricky Romeo who always has the audience captivated. It would be nice to see the event supported by residents of the Burdekin as it is an annual event. I attended the Vietnam Veterans Day Service at Deep Creek Retreat. It is always an honour to attend thi
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Did you know that the Burdekin Community Association Inc. (BCA) has delivered the ‘Be Connected Program’ to Seniors over 50 for more than 14 years? Our Volunteer Tutors have provided hundreds of seniors with the essential digital skills to get online safely and with confidence. With so many aspects of life now online, from healthcare and government services to finding a job and staying in touch with loved ones and the technology we use changing very quickly, it’s super important that you get on
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A Home Hill woman has been charged over an alleged million-dollar fraud spanning six years. Ayr CIB officers allege the 65-year-old, while employed as a bookkeeper, defrauded an Ayr business of more than $1 million between 2018 and mid-2024. She has been released on bail and is due to appear in Ayr Magistrates Court on October 20. In separate incidents, a 40-year-old Jerona man was charged with mid-range drink driving after being intercepted in Ayr on August 9. He will face court on August 25.
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Seven years ago, Eusebio “Seb” Aguirre told his wife, Laura, that he was starting a “little hobby cleaning business.” It began with a vacuum in the back of their Mazda CX9, a few bond cleans, and the promise that Laura wouldn’t have to get involved. Fast forward to today and not only is Laura well and truly involved, but that “hobby” has grown into ELA Professional Solutions, a trusted local name across the Burdekin for commercial cleaning, retail supplies, water distribution, and now, pool car
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Simon Hood, Wilmar Manager Grower Marketing The global sugar market has been holding steady in recent weeks, with supply fundamentals keeping a lid on prices. Brazil is now halfway through its crushing season, and analysts are forecasting production between 39 and 40 million tonnes. With that much sugar expected, commercial traders are confident supply will comfortably meet demand through to the first quarter of next year. This has left speculators largely in control of short-term price movemen
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Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) has recorded its biggest year of planned burns to date, surpassing its annual target by more than 50 per cent. Between the 1st of July 2024 and the 30th of June 2025, QPWS carried out 637 planned burns across 968,884 hectares of Queensland’s public protected estate. The burns aim to reduce the risk and severity of bushfires, protect communities and infrastructure, and promote healthy ecosystems across the state’s parks and forests. The milestone com
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By CANEGROWERS Chairman Owen Menkens Every August, the Ekka gives city and country a chance to meet face to face – and for us in agriculture, that’s a golden opportunity. As farmers, we sometimes feel a bit invisible. We’re out there growing the food and fibre that keep the nation ticking along, supporting regional communities, and driving export industries – yet it can seem like those achievements get taken for granted. So, it’s always a bit humbling to discover, as we did again this year, ju
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Ruralquip has been part of the Burdekin’s industrial backbone for almost 50 years, priding itself on its commitment to serving the region's farming and industrial community with reliability and trust. Now, with a new team of local owners at the helm, that commitment remains unchanged. Robert Oar and wife, Annette, who built the business from a small steel fabrication operation into a full-service retail and industrial supplier, have handed the reins to a consortium of well-known locals Max and
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Families considering high-quality Catholic education options for their children are encouraged to act fast, as positions are available for Year 7 - 12 enrolments in 2026 at Burdekin Catholic High School. Enrolment interviews have commenced in Week 2 of this term, and with demand growing, families are urged to book early to avoid disappointment. Burdekin Catholic High School offers a supportive and dynamic environment for students starting their high school journey. As part of the school's tran
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Joy, laughter and plenty of smiles filled the halls of Chppendale Street’s Regis Aged Care residential home on Sunday, the 10th of August, as the Burdekin Water Festival Junior and Senior Ambassadors delighted residents with a wonderful visit! An annual event, the Burdekin Water Festival’s High Tea continues to warm the hearts of everyone in the community as both Junior and Senior Ambassadors swap stories with some of the oldest members of the shire over a delicious spread of morning tea favour
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On 12 August, the VP-80 crew visited Ayr State School as part of the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Pacific, marking Japan’s surrender in World War II. The crew delivered a special dispatch from the Mayor of Rockhampton to the Mayor of Townsville, thanking soldiers for their service. The visit gave students and staff a hands-on connection to Australia’s military history. The crew brought an impressive collection of vintage military vehicles, carefully restored and appearing as though they h
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Just last week on Friday, the 15th of August, Ayr State High School (ASHS) dominated the scoreboard against each school in the district at the region’s annual 12 to 19 Years BSS Interschool Track & Field (Athletics) Carnival! Taking out the top spot for the second consecutive year, the Ayr High Hawks were commended for representing ASHS with exceptional levels of both pride and spirit, leaving the carnival with an impressive 1455 points spread across all categories. With the event's hosting re
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