Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
The inclusion of the Ayr Hospital on a list of 11 locations receiving significant medical imaging upgrades signals another major step forward on the delivery of a CT Scanner at the facility, according to Member for Burdekin, Dale Last MP. “It has been a long fight to get to where we are today and I know there will be, literally, thousands of people in the community who will be extremely happy that the project has taken a giant leap forward,” Mr Last said. “Having Premier Crisafulli and the Heal
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Pets Domain Ayr hosted a heartwarming and tail wagging morning last Saturday, the 11th of October for Pets Domain’s Adopt-A-Dog Day! A joint effort between Pets Domain Ayr, Bowen Collinsville Pet Rescue Inc. and Pets Domain Bowen, the day saw plenty of the community’s amazing foster carers and volunteers come together to meet several fun-loving rescue pups searching for their forever homes. Bowen Collinsville Pet Rescue were extremely grateful to the community for showing up to the event and ca
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Just last month, the Graduating Class of 1975 came together to celebrate the 50 years that had passed since leaving the grounds of Home Hill State High School (HHSHS). Over the course of 12 months, Greg McCane and Carmelo Pasquale spearheaded organisational efforts to ensure the reunion would be one to remember, coordinating arrangements down on the gorgeous Gold Coast. HHSHS’ Class of 1975 travelled far and wide to attend the reunion in Southern Queensland to share in three days of laughter, f
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Hi everyone, it’s certainly been a minute since I’ve written one of these! When you read this, I’ll be enjoying the stunning beaches along the coastline of Albania for a little while longer before heading off to country number 34… how insane! It’s certainly been an amazing year, and I’m so grateful that I’ve been able to jump around the world for so long, writing for you all from three different continents while exploring breathtaking cities, villages and towns. It truly has been a dream! I’ve
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Farmers across Outback Queensland are facing yet another major challenge, with swarms of locusts tearing through more than 5.3 million hectares of pastureland, compounding the devastation already caused by this year’s catastrophic floods. Rural Aid is ramping up its response, providing hay deliveries, financial assistance, and mental health support to affected farming families, and standing ready to scale up operations further as the crisis deepens. “This is a one-two punch for many farming fa
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The potential to transform Burdekin sugar into biofuels is lighting up exciting new opportunities for cane growers across North Queensland, following a recent public hearing in Townsville as part of the Queensland Government’s Sugar Bioenergy Inquiry. The inquiry, which is exploring the potential for biofuel and value-added sugar production across the state, has sparked valuable discussions about how diversification could benefit not only Queensland’s sugarcane industry but also the broader agr
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Wilmar Grower Marketing is committed to helping Burdekin growers market with confidence and get more value from every tonne of GEI Sugar. By combining local knowledge with global reach, Wilmar provides a marketing partnership that’s personal, flexible and backed by international trading strength. When you choose Wilmar as your GEI Sugar marketer, you’re supported by a professional local team that understands both cane farming and the global sugar industry. Our Burdekin team members, Fiona Vil
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Friday 17th October Home Hill Tennis Harvest Fest Trivia Night Event 3 Come along to Home Hill Tennis Association from 6 – 9 pm for a fun evening of trivia. Teams of 4 – 6 players, cost $15, includes supper. BYO platter, bar open. For more information contact Kate 0447384441 or email homehilltennis@gmail.com. Sunday 19 October Burdekin Fights Back Sunday 2pm Join the community for a powerful afternoon of fundraising at Memorial Hall, supporting North Queensland Cancer. This gala event features
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The Ayr Bowling Club has celebrated another excellent week on the greens, with members coming together for a mix of club Championship games and engaging social matches. The atmosphere and enthusiasm around the club is fantastic. Men’s Social bowls on Wednesday saw two games of triples and a pairs game played. Winners on the day were Al Hardcastle and Chris Berkery defeating Ron Smythe and Col Essex. Winners on Wednesday night bowls were Evelyn Wiltshere, Rob Jorgensen and Sam Caltabiano. In ga
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A groundbreaking wastewater treatment project in the Burdekin has taken out the Infrastructure Project Innovation Award (Regional) at the Queensland Water Awards. The award was presented to a collaborative team made up of Burdekin Shire Council, Pacific Biotechnologies Group, and James Cook University (JCU) for their innovative Macro-Algal Bioremediation Facility. The project showcases a nature-based solution to wastewater treatment, using macro-algae to clean water sustainably while deliverin
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In a four-week period that has also seen Opals stars Lauren Jackson and Tess Madgen visit the region, the Burdekin’s young basketballers were treated to another special guest on the weekend when Townsville Fire head coach Shannon Seebohm and his S3 Academy team hit the courts for a high-energy skills clinic. Hosted in partnership with Burdekin Basketball, the event saw Seebohm—joined by his wife Jaimee and assistant coach Miles—run a day of hands-on training sessions focused on teamwork, energy
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Mayor Pierina Dalle Cort Over the last few months Council has been identifying areas around Home Hill and across the Shire that could use a little extra care and attention. We all want our towns to look clean, tidy and welcoming not just for visitors, but for the people who live here and take pride in calling the Burdekin home. As part of this work, Council has sent letters to some property owners asking them to tidy their premises. Most people have been really responsive, and it’s a simple bu
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Member for Dawson and Shadow Assistant Minister for Manufacturing and Sovereign Capability, Mr Andrew Willcox MP, said farmers across Dawson have had an enormous win after Labor retreated on its poorly conceived, reckless, and cruel plan to tax unrealised gains on farms held in self-managed super funds (SMSFs). Mr Willcox said Labor had been embarrassingly forced to give in after The Coalition and industry groups campaigned strongly against the plan, and the government faced a backlash from far
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For Burdekin Christian College (BCC) student Jessica Holmes, 2026 promises a year unlike any other. Accepted into a 12-month internship with 100% Hope Uganda, Jess will immerse herself in a new culture, assist with primary school teaching, and run interest clubs before and after school—a rare opportunity for a high school graduate to teach, serve, and experience life on a global scale. Jess first learned about the internship when 100% Hope Uganda visited BCC. When the organisation’s manager ann
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Another warm spring afternoon set the scene on Rummeny Green as 18 players took to the rinks for a lively session of triples. On Rink 5, Warren “Yogi” Bunn, Dino Poli, and Steve Doig were in top form, comfortably defeating Margaret Chapman, Bruce McCallum, and Gary Nosworthy. Rink 6 saw Paul Vass, Alex Bojack, and Mick McClosky secure a strong win against Terry Feakes, Ron Smith, and Hugh Montgomery. Meanwhile, on Rink 7, Elaine Young, Michael Young, and Glen Bones Berryman produced a solid per
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Home Hill State High School is set to showcase its creativity and teamwork at the Opti-MINDS State Finals in Brisbane on 18–19 October 2025 following an outstanding performance at the Regional Championships in Townsville on 31 August, where the junior team, The Misfits, earned an Honours placing and a coveted Wildcard entry. Opti-MINDS is a nationally recognised competition that challenges students to “Think, Create and Communicate” while solving real-world problems. Home Hill SHS is the only s
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For just a moment on Friday, October 10, Home Hill’s Memorial Hall and its surrounds put on their best Hollywood impression, welcoming more than 200 students with a dazzling red carpet entrance to the annual Harvest Festival Ball. Organised by Home Hill Harvest Festival in conjunction with the staff and P&C Committee of Home Hill State High School, the event brought together students from Years 10 to 12 across the Burdekin district, blending glamour, celebration, and plenty of dance floor energ
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It was a weekend to remember for Home Hill Cricket Club, with both the Second and Third Grade sides producing commanding all-round performances to secure back-to-back wins. In Third Grade, Home Hill’s top order set the tone with a powerful display, piling on 4/223. Captain Alexander Romeo anchored the innings with a composed 51 from 72 deliveries, while Simon Vickers blasted 65 off 47, finding the boundary eight times and clearing it once. Michael Richards added a rapid 37 from just 22 balls, a
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It has been a busy couple of weeks for Home Hill Junior Cricket. At the Nutrien Ag. Solutions Cricket Complex on the weekend of October 4 and 5 juniors from Bowen, Charters Towers, Herbert River and Proserpine travelled to Home Hill to play in the 2025 Queensland Country Bank NQ Country Cup. It was a great success with cricket being played on four fields all weekend. The ages of the players ranged from 8-18 years old. Special guest, Ex Australia, Queensland and Brisbane Heat player Nathan Haurit
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The Burdekin FC Presentation Night will be held on Saturday 25 October at Populin’s Hall. Get your tickets on-line now, or at the Mad House on Tuesday night. Congratulations to Alan Chatfield, a Burdekin FC Life Member, on being recognised with the Service to Football – Platinum Award for his outstanding contribution to the game. Night Soccer The third week of competition with just one forfeit. The nineteen games produced seventy goals, and there were three Sin Bins! Top scorers were RG Custo
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Ayr State High School has taken advantage of The Queensland Government’s Student technology equity partnership (STEP) which will see the state government invest $152 million, over 4 years across the state. This funding enables Ayr State High School provide a one-to-one laptop roll out for its students in Years 7,8 and 9 over the next 4 Years. This week the current Year 7 students became the first recipients to receive their laptops enabling them to access to their own allocated laptop across th
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As families across the Burdekin begin planning for the future, Burdekin Catholic High School (BCHS) is inviting parents and carers to consider a school where students are not just educated, but known, nurtured, and encouraged to flourish. With enrolments open for 2026, BCHS continues its strong tradition of offering a quality Catholic education that supports academic achievement, personal growth, and spiritual development, all in a safe and supportive learning environment. A Community That Car
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At our school, we understand how busy family life can be. Mornings can be rushed, afternoons are full, and balancing work, home and school can be a challenge. That’s why we’re proud to offer a comprehensive support program that lightens the load for families and ensures every child arrives at school ready to learn. Through this program, students receive breakfast, a fruit snack, lunch, and afternoon tea each school day. In addition, all students are provided with their school stationery, a scho
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China is, without question, one of Australia’s most significant trading partners. We export vast amounts of natural resources and agricultural products, and in return, we import vehicles, solar panels, wind turbines, various technological products, and household goods. But is this relationship balanced, and are we becoming too dependent? Recent reports out of the United States have raised serious concerns about the potential for embedded technologies in imported infrastructure from China. Inves
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