Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
Recently, eight of the Burdekin District’s small schools came together for a day of fun, friendship and frivolity with an end of term Fun Day like no other at Clare State School. To celebrate the end of the first semester, students were treated to a myriad of activities to complete and participate in at their leisure. The jumping castle, giant slide and merry-go-round were a huge hit with all ages, even the adults snuck in a few goes! Other activities on the day included: craft activities, a di
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Six decades of rich foundational history, strong values, and success will see Nutrien Harcourts McCathies in Ayr celebrate a momentous, 60th anniversary this year. Founded in 1965 by Jack and Milly McCathie, Nutrien Harcourts McCathies, formally McCathies Real Estate, has seen waves of change, innovation and modernisation, yet continues to operate with the same values set by the pair all those years ago. Jack and Milly were a busy entrepreneurial couple, establishing businesses across the distr
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Saturday 12 July Rags to Runway 07:30 PM - 10:00 PM The Burdekin Rags to Runway event encourages competitors of all ages to revamp new or second-hand clothing items into a wearable runway outfit within a strict budget. Entrants are required to purchase items either from second-hand organisations, local dress salons’ throw out racks or their own closet and to redesign them into a wearable runway worthy item, you'd be proud to wear. St Stephen's Greek Orthodox Hall SATURDAY 12 JULY 97.1 Sweet FM
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The Burdekin Uniting Chruch's Gospel Music Festival is returning to town on the 27th of July, with familiar favourites alongside some promising new musicians set to make this year’s event another memorable one. From 4-7pm, the Burdekin Theatre Forecourt will double as a community celebration space, playing host to an evening of uplifting and family-friendly Gospel music. Returning to the lineup of talent this year is Dan Warlow. Having cultivated a strong local reputation through his catchy tu
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Another perfect winter’s afternoon saw 28 players take to the green on 10 July, with a top temperature of 25 degrees. Today’s winning team was Jo Roser, Wayne Newton, and Jeannie Thompson (pictured), who backed up for a second consecutive win. A singles game was played on Rink 3, though no details were received. On Rink 1, Henry Hazel and Steve Doig blitzed Bruce McCullen and Phil Marsden, 30–8. Rink 2 saw Maureen Marsden and Alex Bojack edge out Judy Elton and Hugh Montgomery in a close one,
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The Ayr Bowling Club is celebrating a great week, with members taking full advantage of the cooler winter weather 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 thriving, members actively engage
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It was compared to going from Old Gold chocolates to boiled lollies — the Burdekin Roosters went from a convincing win last week to a 64–10 thrashing at the hands of unbeaten Souths in Ayr on Sunday. The Roosters were outclassed from the opening whistle, struggling to match Souths’ intensity and committing far too many errors to build any pressure. Poor execution and a lack of urgency cost them dearly, with Souths dominating field position and capitalising on every mistake. Coach Steve Lansley
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The annual Burdekin Roosters Ladies Day will be held this Saturday at Bendigo Bank Park (Rugby Park), running from 4pm until late. Around 200 ladies are expected to enjoy an evening of fun, entertainment, and celebration, beginning with the stunning vocals of Megan Law, who will serenade guests as the afternoon gets underway. Guests will be treated to four hours of complimentary drinks (from 4pm to 8pm) while taking in the all-important A Grade Rugby League match between the Roosters and Towns
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Another difficult weekend for the Panthers, with just one win from five matches. On Saturday at home against MA Olympic, both the Premiers and Reserves lost 0–2. On Friday in Townsville, the Ladies beat Rebels 5–1, while the Division 1 Men were hammered 1–12 by Rebels and the Division 2 Men went down 1–4 to Wulguru. This Saturday is a Big Day. The Premiers and Reserves are at home to Rebels — Reserves kick off at 5.00pm, with the Premiers under lights at 7.00pm. The Mooney Cup will also be play
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The Burdekin Touch Association wrapped up another thrilling season a couple of weeks ago with the men’s and ladies’ open grand finals, showcasing fast-paced competition, athleticism, and community spirit. A large crowd of enthusiastic spectators gathered to witness a display of attacking flair, tactical gameplay and gritty defence across all grades. Seven men’s and two women’s grand finals were contested, providing a high-energy spectacle that capped off the season.
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Another week, another milestone—my first Core Life deadline. Core Life, if you're not aware, is a bi-monthly business and lifestyle magazine, also published by Life Publishing Group—the same team behind this very newspaper. For almost 15 years, it’s been fondly known as the local business networking and lifestyle publication. One of my favourite parts of writing for the magazine—and, frankly, in general—is having the chance to spotlight the truly remarkable achievements of locally based indivi
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As chilly mornings return to Home Hill, 92-year-old Hilda Frew is doing more than just staying warm — she’s giving back. Each winter, Hilda sets up a humble table in the heart of town, offering her handmade “Cosy Bed Socks” to passers-by for just $5 a pair. But it’s not about the money — every cent goes directly to support School Chaplaincy Programs at local high schools. Knitted while she enjoys her favourite TV shows, Hilda’s colourful socks are as warm in spirit as they are in wool. So far
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Local Lions & Broader Community Help Raise $50,000 For New Car
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Queenslanders needing elective surgery are set to benefit from a major funding boost in the 2025‑26 State Budget after the Government announced its allocation of $1.8 billion set to roll out over the next four years. The centrepiece is $1.27 billion for the Surgery Connect program, projected to deliver 30,000 additional procedures in 2025‑26 alone, including hip and knee replacements and cataract operations. The program has already shown results: in April the statewide wait‑list fell by 2,750 p
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On the evening of Friday, the 4th of July, over 230 excited guests filled Queen Street’s Populin’s Hall to celebrate the official commencement of the wonderful 2025 Burdekin Water Festival. The Burdekin Water Festival Community Launch event saw the iconic venue transform into a word-class hub of international delights and wonders, flying guests across oceans to destinations like Italy, Japan, and beyond! Pristine white, fluffy clouds were hung from the ceiling, as were globes and vibrantly colo
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Beyond excited to dive headfirst into the event’s exciting Ambassador Program, Asha Grasso will proudly represent East Ayr State School (EASS) as a Junior Ambassador in the 2025 Burdekin Water Festival. “The aspect of the Burdekin Water Festival that excited me the most is getting to meet new people and hopefully gain some new skills and confidence,” explained Asha. “I’m looking forward to being up on a float as my family have attended lots of Burdekin Water Festivals since I was little and I
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Representing Burdekin Christian College Giulia Sarri has felt nothing but gratitude and pride since she was selected to represent her school, Burdekin Christian College (BCC), as a Junior Ambassador in the 2025 Burdekin Water Festival. A senior within BCC’s primary school, Giulia serves as a role model to younger students, leading prep duties on occasion. When she’s not serving her school community, she’s connecting with those who she loves the most. “Family is very important to me,” shared Gi
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The Burdekin region homes a plethora of beautiful old buildings which inspired the work of photographer, Lido Paganoni, who used his talents to capture many nostalgic photographs that have been recently digitalised by the Queensland State Library. Lido, born in Ingham in 1934 to Italian migrant parents, spent his childhood in both Ingham and Ayr. He later earned a PhD in industrial chemistry from Brisbane. With a diverse range of interests, Lido was passionate about velodrome and road racing, a
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Flu and COVID-19 case numbers continue to climb across Queensland, with health authorities urging residents to practise good hygiene and get vaccinated to help curb the spread of respiratory illnesses. In the last week of June alone, over 2,800 flu cases were recorded — the highest weekly number this year. Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Heidi Carroll said hospital admissions remain high, with nearly 300 beds occupied daily by flu and COVID-19 patients. “Around half of all flu hospitalisati
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We are excited to announce BCA’s new ‘’Active and Social Seniors Group’’ that commenced on the 1st of July 2025. Eligible Seniors can participate in Individual Rehabilitation and Group Exercise sessions, delivered by our team of Accredited Exercise Physiologists, Exercise Scientists and Fitness Instructors, in our fully equipped and friendly Burdekin Community Rehabilitation Centre at 12A Chippendale Street, Ayr. The Group is partially funded by the Older People’s Action Program (OPAP) and a f
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Loved Ones Remember Missing Senior Sergeant Mick Isles Two weeks ago, Senior Sergeant Michael “Mick” Isles would have celebrated his 74th birthday. Instead of gathering to celebrate the life of a beloved husband, father, and community leader, those who knew and loved him were left with memories and questions that still linger 16 years after his mysterious disappearance. On Wednesday, the 26th of June, family and friends quietly marked what should have been a joyful occasion — Mick’s 74th birth
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By Jacob Casha Ren Pedersen never planned to be involved in medicine. He never went to medical school. He never paid too much attention in science class. But when he tragically lost his nine-year-old daughter Amy to Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) in 2009, he dove head-first into the medical world—not as a doctor, but as a father with a promise to keep. "I promised my daughter that I would cure this,” says Ren. “I just happened to pick the toughest fight in all of medicine.” DIPG—al
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Bon Voyage – Roam the Globe! What a fitting theme to launch this year’s Burdekin Water Festival. It was heartening to see such an enthusiastic group of Junior and Senior Ambassadors putting themselves forward and embracing the spirit of the Festival. Their dedication along with the incredible support from their families and organisers sets the scene for another vibrant and memorable celebration for our community. Congratulations to the Water Festival Committee for their efforts in kicking off th
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The Burdekin Water Festival was officially launched on Friday 4 July, with wonderful support from both Junior and Senior Ambassadors. It was fantastic to see their families proudly cheering them on and showing their support. Congratulations to the Committee for their outstanding efforts in delivering such a well-organised and successful event. Half yearly rates notices will be issued in August 2025. Please make sure your postal address is up to date. You can visit www.burdekin.qld.gov.au to comp
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Queensland’s frontline disaster network reached an important milestone this week, celebrating the first anniversary of the State Emergency Service (SES) and Marine Rescue Queensland (MRQ) operating under the banner of the Queensland Police Service (QPS). The SES formally transferred to QPS on the 3rd of June, with MRQ launched one month later. The realignment created the state’s first integrated marine rescue model and strengthened existing partnerships across emergency agencies. Acting Police
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