Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
On 20 September, the Burdekin Roosters celebrated the conclusion of their 2024 season with a prestigious Presentation Night at Populins Hall. Many Roosters and Hens from juniors to seasoned players were recognised and congratulated for their efforts both on and off the field over the course of the evening, with many exceptional players highlighted for their commendable talents. Roosters A-grade forwards Henry Teutau and Lachlan Shepherd shared the prestigious Ayr Anzac Memorial Club Best and Fa
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Last week, a charity journey across Australia made its way through the Burdekin, where the local community came together to show their support. This thrilling ride has taken participants on the adventure of a lifetime, all in the name of raising funds for a worthy cause. Mayor Pierina Dalle Cort joined the organisers for a short ride, donning a bike helmet to show her solidarity. Continued on page 3. Mayor Pierina Dalle Cort joined the Scootaville organisers for a ride when they came to the Bur
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Volunteering is like a backstage pass to life—you're helping others, but you also get to experience new things, meet amazing people, and even discover hidden talents you didn’t know you had! It's not just about giving your time; it's about gaining perspective. Whether you're planting trees, mentoring students, or feeding puppies at the shelter, every small action feels like a big adventure. Plus, who doesn’t love the feeling of knowing you’re making the world just a little bit brighter, one kind
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One of the defining qualities of the Burdekin is our unwavering commitment to helping those in need. Whether it’s a community event, a fundraiser, or a charity ride passing through our region, we consistently come together to show our support. We highlight the many ways our residents contribute to worthy causes, reinforcing the fact that the Burdekin’s heart is as big as its landscape. Recently, our community gathered to cheer on participants in a cross-country charity ride. It was a perfect ex
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After months of dedicated preparation, Ayr State High School brought the spirit of the 1970s to life with their spectacular performance of Disco Inferno at the Burdekin Theatre last month. Audiences were transported back to the vibrant and groovy 1970s as the school's talented students delivered a dazzling show filled with colour, music, and energy. Theatre week officially kicked off on Saturday, 17 August, when the set, props, and costumes were moved into the Burdekin Theatre, marking the st
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The Forensic Crash Unit is currently investigating a tragic motorbike crash that occurred in Ayr last Thursday evening, September 12. According to initial reports, the accident took place at approximately 12:30am when a blue Yamaha WR450F motorbike was travelling south along a footpath near the Bruce Highway. Sadly, the rider, a 38-year-old man from Ayr, was pronounced dead at the scene. The passenger, a 34-year-old woman, also from Ayr, sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken t
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Anne Baker, Labor candidate for the seat Burdekin, has 17 years of experience in local government and is bringing her leadership skills to the Burdekin electorate. Having lived in the Bowen electorate for 39 years and in Collinsville for a decade, Baker says she has built a strong connection with the region. "I’m an authentic leader; I’m a people person and will always put people over politics," she said, emphasising her commitment to the community. Baker’s political background includes 12 ye
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As residents struggle under costs of living, damaging and deadly roads and the climbing number of victims of crime, Member for Burdekin and LNP candidate Dale Last is encouraging everyone to ensure their voices are heard this October. Mr Last said ensuring each and every person had the opportunity to have their say on issues affecting them was crucial when it came to advocating for funding and services needed in regional Queensland. “Here in the Burdekin, we are seeing issues like the rising
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A pioneering community-led pipeline project is steadily advancing towards its goal of becoming Australia’s first net-zero water infrastructure project, aligning with both Commonwealth Climate Change legislation and the State Government’s carbon reduction goals. This groundbreaking initiative represents not only a leap forward in sustainability but also in technological innovation. The project’s leaders have successfully secured nearly of the 182-kilometre pipeline alignment, with only a 40-met
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I want to welcome our new CEO, Matthew Magin. Matthew started with us on Monday and has hit the ground running. In March this year, the community voted for change. Hopefully, with Matthew’s help, we can deliver the outcomes the community expects and deserves. This is my first column since the Burdekin Water Festival. I would like to congratulate and thank the newly formed Water Festival Committee for all the hard work that went into it. By all reports, it was a huge success. Hopefully, there w
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It’s been an eventful couple of weeks in the Burdekin! I had the pleasure of meeting with the incredible participants from Scootaville, who were on a charity ride raising funds for Legacy and Homeless Veterans. These dedicated riders journeyed from Chermside to Townsville, stopping overnight at the Ayr Showgrounds. I even hopped on a scooter myself and joined them as they rode into town—it was a fantastic experience, all for a worthy cause. I also had the honour of attending the 70th Anniversary
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Rehoming fee: $450 DOB: 14/09/2023 Sex: female Breed: Staffy x Kid friendly: yes Cat Friendly: no Other dogs: Yes Fences: 5ft Betty is a gorgeous girl who absolutely loves being near her humans whenever she can. She’s a typical puppy with lots of energy to burn. Betty loves playing with other dogs and would love another doggie friend to play with in her forever home. Betty enjoys going on daily walks and adventures. She is going good with training but will need continual training to beco
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The Bowen Seagulls Rugby League, established in 2004, has long been a pillar of the Bowen community, fostering teamwork, fitness, and a sense of belonging. As the largest sporting club in the region, with over 510 registered players and volunteers, the club plays a vital role in shaping the local sporting landscape. Shane Douglas, the Seagulls’ Grants Coordinator, was at the forefront of securing much-needed funds to ensure the club's continued growth and development. Recently, the Seagulls w
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Burdekin’s own Karl Moschella was named a finalist for the highly regarded 2024 John Deere Agricultural Service Technician of the Year Award. The experienced harvester specialist, who works at Honeycombes Sales and Service in Ayr, was one of only six finalists across Australia to compete for the coveted title, that was announced at the John Deere Gala Awards on September 5th. Karl’s journey with Honeycombes Sales and Service began in 2002 when he joined the team as an apprentice. Over the years
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Applications are now open for 10 more Regional University Study Hubs to be established around Australia, giving more students from rural and regional areas access to tertiary education. MP Andrew Willcox is throwing his support behind the program which has already supported over 12,000 students in 46 locations across Australia since its establishment. “Living in rural, regional, and remote areas can create significant barriers of entry for students looking to study at a tertiary level, but thi
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Opinion Piece Federal Member for Dawson, Andrew Willcox, has said that Prime Minster Anthony Albanese refused to attend the National Farmer Rally outside Parliament House, ignoring farmers who travelled from across Queensland to plead with the Federal Government to stop an “anti-farming agenda”. Mr Willcox said the Prime Minister has once again demonstrated complete contempt towards farmers and rural, regional and remote Australia. “For the Prime Minister to ignore our farmers, many who hav
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Queenslanders could now be hit with a $6,452 fine or $483 on the spot fine for discarding food, including fish frames, scraps and bait, in a way that may unintentionally attract crocodiles to a public place such as a boat ramp, jetty, pontoon or camping area. Deliberately disturbing or feeding crocodiles could leave you with an increased on the spot fine ranging from $483 to $2580, with the maximum court-imposed fine increasing from $6452 to $26,615. The Minister for the Environment and the Grea
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In a decisive turn of events, the long-standing and contentious pay dispute between Wilmar Sugar and its employees has finally reached a resolution, paving the way for significant wage increases and bonuses. Growers can now breathe a sigh of relief, as the resolution ensures that the threat of disruptive industrial action will no longer jeopardise their crucial crops. A majority of Wilmar Sugar and Renewables employees has voted in favour of a new enterprise agreement (EA) offering an upfront $
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Last week schools across the region marked R U OK Day with various activities taking place to keep all that attended entertained. From painting rocks to writing notes Ayr State High School and Burdekin Christian College, started conversations that could potentially save lives. R U OK Day encourages people to have conversations with others, and aims to inspire everyone to connect with people around them, start a conversation and ask “Are you okay?” It’s important to check in with people you k
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School kids have put their pens down for the end of term three and are enjoying the two-week holidays. While this may be a positive for the kids, many groans can be heard from hardworking parents who now have to find a plethora of activities for their young ones to enjoy. To help ease the burden, Burdekin Library is holding a diverse array of events to ensure the little ones stay entertained. From creating mermaid necklaces, to coding and robotics, the library has got something for every child.
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The Burdekin Community Association Inc. (BCA) Home Care Service delivers a wide range of services for seniors and their carers. Home Care Packages Program (HCP) The HCP Program provides support to older people with complex care needs to live independently in their own home. We can offer services to eligible seniors on a Level 1, 2, 3 or 4 package. Services include in-home support services, transport, home maintenance/repairs/modifications, access to allied health services and other care relate
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We've reached the middle of September, and before we know it, 2024 will be over. We can dwell on our coulda, shoulda, and wouldas with self-blame and guilt, or we can take a step back, be kind to ourselves, and refocus our efforts. We're choosing the latter and aiming to get back on track with our hope to help build a compassionate community here in the Burdekin. The key word here is "community." While our BNC Team is considered 'workers,' we are also community members in our own right. C
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I have always enjoyed reading and last week I came by a book, just released this year “The Little Wartime Library” by Kate Thompson. It tells of the Wartime Library at Bethnal Green in East London during World War 11. The library had been bombed in the London Blitz in 1940 and the librarians moved the library to the underground railway for safety and to be a service to the people (over five thousand them) that bedded down for the night in safety of the underground. The Children’s Library was
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On Thursday, 12th September, the Lower Burdekin Scout Group hosted its Annual Reporting Night, a highlight of the scouting calendar. The event was a significant occasion, not only for reviewing the past year's achievements but also for planning the future. A key moment of the evening was the presentation of a generous $2000 donation by Margaret and Greg from Bluey’s Thrift Shop. The donation, warmly received by the Group’s youth members and Chris, the Group Leader, will be instrumental in purch
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The Educational Trailer at the Burdekin Water Festival was a tremendous success, drawing in over 100 visitors who participated in the interactive displays, games, and the thrilling virtual reef experience. The hands-on activities offered a fun and engaging way for locals to learn about environmental management and pest control, leaving a lasting impression on attendees. Following the festival, the trailer made another appearance at Plantation Park on Sunday, 15 September 2024, alongside three o
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