Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
Friday 14 June saw the Burdekin Christian College painted with vibrant hues and colourful hairstyles as the school celebrated Crazy Colour Day to fundraise for the NRL Cowboys House. The NRL Cowboys House stands as a unique, culturally safe boarding facility for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men and women attending partner schools in Townsville. Over $500 was raised by the student-led group, Z-Club, with all these funds to be donated to the worthwhile cause. The Burdekin Christia
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On Saturday 13 July, the Eimeo Surf Club hosted the North Barrier Branch Annual Awards Dinner to officially culminate the 2023-24 surf lifesaving season and recognise excelling members. Branch employees, committee members, and members of the seven clubs from across the North Barrier including Forest Beach, Arcadian, Townsville – Picnic Bay, Ayr, Eimeo, Mackay and Sarina, gathered to attend the celebratory evening. An annual event, recognition is awarded to members who have excelled across all
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Numerous groups and organisations within the Burdekin region received a celebrated funding boost on Monday 8 July from Pacific Blue’s Haughton Sustainable Community Fund. The twelve recipients were announced at a community event held at the Home Hill Tennis Association where representatives shared their plans for utilising the generous allocation. The Burdekin State Emergency Service (SES) were one of the many groups set to benefit from the funding, along with the Ayr Surf Life Saving Club, B
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As local sugar industry stakeholders came together this week, Member for Burdekin Dale Last has sounded a clear reminder to representatives that the community the industry supports needed to be at the fore of ongoing discussions. Welcoming the announcement that following weeks of ongoing strike action, a mediation offer had been accepted by the milling company and unions, Mr Last said it was time for everyone to play their part in ensuring a successful end to the crushing season for the sake of
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Opinion Piece “The State and Federal Labor Governments must be held to account for their disastrous and mismanaged phaseout of commercial gillnets across Queensland, which is now seeing our local fishos consider walking away permanently,” Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox said. The local MP has said that the ban on commercial gillnets was announced amid pressure from international activist organisations. “It was not backed by any scientific reasoning, and there was no consultation wi
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Over fifty amazing members of the Burdekin community dedicated their time on the morning of Saturday 20 July to support the Zonta Club in assembling 1,000 birthing kits. The Zonta Birthing Kit project was established in 2003 and involves clubs arranging kit assembly days to put together simple, clean birthing kits which are set internationally to help birthing assistants in developing countries. Well over a million birthing kits have been sent overseas to date, with each kit including a sheet
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The Lower Burdekin Celtic Dancing Association held a highly successful Highland Dancing Camp at Alva Beach’s Ayr Lifesavers Hut from 5 to 8 July. Made possible by a generous donation from Regional Advisory Development Funding, 27 Highland Dancers from Mossman, Mackay, Townsville and the Burdekin attended the camp free of charge to engage in numerous sessions and activities. Over the course of the camp, attendees danced away with a Highland Dancing workshop led by visiting teacher and former Bu
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Originally from the Gold Coast and working briefly on a boat on Hamilton Island 35 years ago, Trish moved permanently to Airlie Beach in 1996, establishing herself as a longstanding member of the local community. Looking after the advertising needs of businesses based in the Burdekin and Whitsundays regions, Trish is available each Thursday to chat face to face to any local business in the area and available on the phone every other day of the week. Trish recently worked in administration for a
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As the president of the Burdekin Chamber, I am proud to share one of our most successful initiatives for our members and the community: the Burdekin Gift Cards. This exclusive program for Burdekin Chamber members is a closed-loop system that allows us to activate and deactivate EFTPOS terminals for our gift cards. This unique feature ensures that the funds remain within our local community, supporting our businesses and fostering economic growth. The original concept behind the Burdekin Gift
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It was another lively evening event for Home Hill Chamber of Commerce as they welcomed their latest guest speaker John Clarke at their monthly gathering last week. John Clarke shared his life story and how he went from Africa to the Burdekin. He grew up at Zinyangeni Mission Station and shared what it was like growing up with some of the world’s deadliest snakes, and also his quality of life while living there. Lifestyle in Africa is extremely different to western countries, after thunder an
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Home Hill isn’t different from any other area around the state when it comes to Domestic and Family Violence (DVF). DFV is a serious and complex social problem within all communities, including our own. If you call police to report a DFV incident that is happening now or has occurred, our first priority will be the safety of all parties involved. Police will conduct a holistic, victim-centric and trauma-informed investigation to: • Maximise the safety, protection and wellbeing of people who
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Every community has the potential to meet its residents' needs to foster well-being, growth, and resilience. Access to resources such as healthcare, education, infrastructure, and social services can significantly impact the quality of life for individuals and families. Advocating for these resources requires a collective effort to address gaps, promote equity, and build a supportive environment for everyone to thrive. Understanding a community's specific needs is the first step in advocating f
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Did you know that Burdekin Community Association Inc (BCA) can help you with Transport Services locally and to and from Townsville? You can access shops, cafes, libraries, attend events or medical appointments, visit family and friends etc. Our bus drivers and Support Workers are very friendly and helpful. Transport services can be provided to people eligible under a government funded program and also if they are not and we have seats available. We have two buses, with wheelchair access as wel
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The Burdekin Neighbourhood Centre (BNC) has been part of the Burdekin Shire community since 1987. Established by a group of community minded women, the centre stands as a celebrated organisation accessible to all residents of the Burdekin. Today, BNC operates as an incorporated community-based organisation and registered charity governed by an enthusiastic committee of 7 volunteers. Over the years the Centre has grown and now welcomes, on average, 8,000 people every year who participate in a w
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Established in 1932, the Home Hill Golf Club stands as a 9-hole course situated in the cane fields just outside of Home Hill. The Club operates with a membership totaling just over 100 dedicated players with golf at the core of the business, and welcoming the occasional wedding, wake or party to the venue. The Home Hill Golf Club additionally holds a wildly successful Ambrose as part of the Home Hill Harvest Festival Program, donating part of the proceeds to the Harvest Festival Committee. E
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The Home Hill Tennis Association was established in 1932 and holds a rich history, standing as one of the most prominent clubs in North Queensland. Annually, the Club hosts the highly successful and very popular Sugar Bowl Event, and encompasses twelve tennis courts, and four pickleball courts. The Club operates to provide opportunities for members of the local community as well as travellers and visitors alike to participate in tennis and racquet sports whilst upholding an important social foc
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11 proud new Aussies made their pledge to Australia in the citizenship ceremony at the Burdekin Shire Council Chambers this week after Council meeting. I would like to congratulate and welcome each of them into our wonderful community. On Tuesday, along with my fellow councillors, I attended a community meeting at the Burdekin Theatre to discuss the future of the sugar industry and what impact the milling companies can have on our livelihoods. The common message coming out of the meeting was the
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Did you know that animal registrations are due on Wednesday 31 July 2024? Residents are required to have all dogs and cats over the age of 3 months registered and microchipped. There are strict conditions on owners who breed dogs, those who have dangerous dogs and restricted dog breeds. Council also offers a subsidised dog and cat desexing program, to assist residents in preventing unwanted or additional animals. Haven't received a registration renewal notice? Phone Burdekin Shire Council Custo
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Many older members of the Burdekin community are facing social isolation, loneliness and feelings of abandonment. They need companionship and someone to spend quality time with. That’s where volunteer visitors come in. Anyone from any background can volunteer to build friendships with vulnerable individuals within the community who are experiencing loneliness and social isolation. Rita Quagliata, Volunteer Service Manager at the Burdekin Community Association, has highlighted the profound benef
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Pests estimated to cost Australia tens of billions over coming decades will now find it much harder to enter the country, thanks to measures announced this week by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. The department is launching AusTreat, a new pre-border biosecurity scheme designed to ensure overseas treatment providers target the right pests with the required treatment. Deputy Secretary of Biosecurity and Compliance Justine Saunders said AusTreat will enable a more efficient
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Last week, Wilmar Sugar and Renewables reported that the unions have joined Wilmar in accepting an offer from the Fair Work Commission to assist in resolving a long-running enterprise agreement dispute. The Electrical Trades Union (ETU), Australian Metal Workers Union (AMWU) and Australian Workers Union (AWU) informed Wilmar this morning that, following consultation with members, they were willing to participate in the Commission process. A Wilmar Sugar and Renewables spokesman said the comp
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In response to the growing crisis within Queensland’s sugarcane industry, Queensland Cane, Agricultural and Renewables (QCAR) held a critical Sugarcane Industry Forum yesterday, Wednesday 24 July, to address the urgent challenges facing the sector. The forum aimed to unite stakeholders to tackle severe issues, including milling preparedness, reliability, and cultural challenges. The event, held at the Burdekin Theatre in Ayr, attracted around 140 participants, highlighting the deep concern and n
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Cane crushed This week Season to date Invicta 100,272 510,925 Pioneer 60,159 226,816 Kalamia 62,760 321,076 Inkerman 77,780 383,207 Burdekin 300,971 1,442,024 CCS Invicta 14.16 13.73 Pioneer 14.06 13.75 Kalamia 13.84 13.53 Inkerman 13.55 13.47 Burdekin 13.92 13.62 Weekly variety performance for region Variety % CCS Variety % CCS Q240 42% 14.03 Q183 7% 13.59 KQ228 32% 14.06 WSRA17 7% 13.53 SRA23 7% 14.22 Q208 4% 13.49
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Star Sign: Virgo Fav Movie: Grease Fav Colour: Yellow Fav Holiday destination: Italy Fav Music: Eagles Fav Quote: Take me how I am or don’t take me at all Having lived in Ayr for almost 62 years, Shane is a seasoned local, and enjoys spending his spare time with his family, especially his Grandson Vinnie. One of six children, Shane, has four sisters and a brother, and there’s never a dull moment in the Butler household. Shane and his wife Rita have been married for 37 years, and
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Steeped in history and carved with the workmanship of generations, BQC Quarries has provided the stone and the sand that has helped sculpt the landscape of our community. Supplying materials for the construction of many local landmarks, from bridges to schools, highways and subdivisions, it is easy to see how this powerhouse local business is still growing after 50 years. Constantly innovating and setting new benchmarks for the region, this forward-thinking enterprise has ensured the Burdekin re
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