Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
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On 21 June, three members of the Ayr Surf Life Saving Club were lucky enough to attend Bonnie Hancock’s Women in Lifesaving Roadshow. Record breaking athlete, Bonnie Hancock circumnavigated Australia in a 2022 surf ski over a period of 254 days. Now a celebrated speaker and author, Bonnie embarked on a Women in Lifesaving Roadshow, travelling the coast of Queensland running practical training sessions encompassing 1.5hrs of professional Ironwoman coaching. In her motivational speaking session,
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Michael Littlefield will set off to England this July for the 2024 Touch World Cup where he will referee the world’s best touch football players. Michael will stand as one of 200 referees from 20 nations at Nottingham’s week-long tournament with 39 nations set to compete in the World Cup. Engineering Superintendent at Inkerman Mill, Michael has played touch football in the Burdekin since he was a kid and decided to become a referee in Year 12. “I was playing with Burdekin Touch Football, a
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Burdekin Rugby Union Canetoads Sunday Sum Up On Sunday 23 June, the Burdekin Rugby Union held an eventful few games at Casalegno Fields.
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1. Where were you born? Home Hill Hospital 2. Main Occupation? General Farmer 3. QLD or NSW? I bleed maroon 4. Who is the one person you would like to meet? Kevin Cosher 5. Do you make your bed in the morning or get up and go? Get up and go!! 6. Do you play other sports? Gym fitness 7. How many grandkids do you have? Seven 8. What is your pet hate? Playing a bad bowl 9. Favorite car? Isuzu! 10. If you were stranded on a deserted island, what woul
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Mondays 10am – Exercise Group A morning of low impact exercise for all ages and abilities. Tuesdays 9am - Tuesday Trimmers This weekly ‘weight watchers’ group meets at the clubhouse every Tuesday. Wednesdays 9am - Friends and Neighbours Craft Group Arts and crafts are just the beginning on Wednesday mornings, when the Friends and Neighbours Craft Group gathers to work on their current craft projects while catching up with friends over morning tea. 5:30pm – Social Bowls Celebrate hump day with an
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In a remarkable milestone for the Home Hill Bowls Club, Carl Rummeny, the club's first-ever centenarian bowler, continues to compete actively and inspire many within the community. Carl has been participating in competitive bowls for many years, competing with and against his extended family and other players from the district. His dedication to the sport is evident as he consistently demonstrates skill and sportsmanship on the green. Known for his enduring passion and energy, Carl has becom
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On Friday 21 June, the Burdekin Touch Association held the 2024 season Grand Final, with nail-biting games, close calls, and celebratory results scored across the board. Both the A Grade Men’s and Women’s games were the ones to watch, with high intensity and energy carried throughout. The Burdekin Touch Association thanks the community for their loud cheers of support and encouragement throughout the Grand Final, and for taking part in the rivalry for what was a fantastic Friday night of tou
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By Rachael Smith A special event in honour of Kali Totorica, the young local who tragically lost her life following a brave battle with Melanoma, is taking place at Ayr Golf Course next week and the whole community is invited to come along and support this worthy cause. Kali was a passionate advocate for skin cancer awareness and embarked on several fundraising efforts, despite battling the disease herself. It is now her loving family that help continue this legacy in her name. Continued on
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Hi everybody! I’m so excited and grateful to Rachael and the team for the opportunity to continue sharing your stories each week in the Burdekin Life Newspaper. Sam was my no.1 guidance and support over the past 6 months, and in attending events here and there with him in the Burdekin, it was clear how much he was loved and appreciated by each and every person who spoke with him. He’s left huge shoes to fill, and I’ll give it my best shot! As Rachael mentioned last week, I’ve taken on a full-
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Mount Surround-based Environmental Conservation Organisation, Wildlife Surrounds, recently held its Marine Conservation day, inviting students from The University of Texas at Austin to take part in a new experience at Alva as part of their AUIP Study Abroad program. The day covered the impacts of marine debris, sediment, herbicide, and pesticide runoff before students took to the beach to collect rubbish, set up quadrats, sift sand for microplastics, and audit debris. Students also participate
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Angelo Hercules Panayiotou, was famous across the region and beyond as a fun-loving, vibrant man with one of the kindest hearts you’ll ever come across. Known by all as Angie Baby, he had been labelled as a Water Festival Icon and a living legend in every community he touched. A Burdekin treasure, his love for entertainment stemmed from his simple desire to light up anyone’s face with a smile. Each year, the community could expect Angie Baby to put on a show as part of the Burdekin Water Festi
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Member for Burdekin Dale Last has called on the Health Minister to quell fears a CT scanner for the Ayr Hospital will become a political football after Labor failed to commit to the project in the 2024/2025 State Budget. Almost a year since residents rallied to call for a CT scanner at the Ayr Hospital, Mr Last said the thousands of people who put pen to paper deserved better than being used as a political football ahead of the October state election. “My understanding is that providing the Ay
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The Burdekin Men’s Shed is a marvellous organisation that addresses the issues of men’s health such as physical, emotional and social well-being within Burdekin, through community-based projects. The club has been running for an impressive 10 years and has accumulated around 55 members. Men’s Shed has recently received a very exciting and generous grant from Bendigo Bank. The club president, Rob Richie, enthused over the donation commenting on how they were able to get a newer and larger compres
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The Foundation for Rural Regional Renewal (FRRR), and Suncorp Group are inviting local not-for-profit organisations (NFPs) in remote, rural, and regional Queensland communities impacted by Cyclone Jasper and Kirrily to apply for a share of $300,000 in funding to support ongoing resilience building and recovery efforts. Grants of up to $20,000 are available through the Rebuilding Futures Program, and are available to NFPs providing community-led activities addressing local prevention, preparedne
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The Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme (ACVVS) seeks volunteers to provide companionship and friendship to older people who may be socially isolated, lonely, or can't leave their homes. Volunteer opportunities consist of visiting people and residents in local aged care facilities. They are looking for people from all walks of life who can cultivate friendships with vulnerable people within the community, who are at risk of social isolation. Social isolation can affect people from many backgrou
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On Saturday 13 April, Sophie Robertson set off on an international adventure as part of the annual Premier’s Anzac Prize. Sophie was prestigiously awarded the Premier’s Anzac Prize earlier this year and was 1 of 8 Queensland recipients to embark on the two-week-long historic journey. The award provides an extraordinary opportunity for young Queenslanders to develop a deeper understanding of the Anzac legacy through research, workshops, and visits to respected memorial sites in the United Kingd
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Since November last year Collinsville local, Daniel Honnery, has been on life support at Mackay Base Hospital after a rare illness caused his body to completely shut down. His sister, Shannon Honnery who resides in Home Hill, is currently appealing for support through a GoFundMe page and other donations to help him on his road to recovery. Daniel has been diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome, a severe and life-threatening neurological disorder where the body’s immune system attacks the nerve
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The Molongle Beach Caravan Park has undergone major improvements to modernise the space under the care of Amanda Wood, and Drew Blakeman, and provides a haven for locals and caravaners to enjoy. The location, although not centralised to the Burdekin, attracts many locals on a Sunday from 10am to 8pm for their spectacular Sunday Funday events with a selection of lucky attendees walking away with a D n S Quality Meats meat tray. The Sandbar Café was constructed from a Government Grant given to
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Al-Anon, a support group for individuals who have been impacted by or have cared for family members, friends or people with addictions has re-established in Burdekin after a 15 year hiatus. The original Burdekin support group ran for 30 years before sadly closing its doors due to losing regular participants. However, the driving force behind the revival is Melanie. Melanie returned to Ayr in February, having lived in the Tablelands for four years and was eager to give the group a new lease of
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While big banks are cutting services in an industry that is facing significant challenges, a local branch in Burdekin is celebrating its institution's success. Queensland Country Bank, a member-owned institution, is bucking industry trends, adding more accolades to its collection, and demonstrating that the customer-focused approach is a clear winner. Queensland Country Bank is a multi-award-winning financial institution. The bank has recently secured wins at the WeMoney 2024 Awards, including
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In about May 1932, Home Hill decided that they wanted a Golf Club instead of visiting the Ayr Golf Club. In September 22 1932, a public meeting was convened in the Central Theatre (8th Avenue where Tudge Haller once had a material and clothing store) in conjunction to forming a Golf Club. Messrs. F Murphy was patron, T A Villiers was President, Vice Presidents were E Peapell and G F Jones, L Lister was Secretary, W F Franberg was Treasurer, and Mr. Rowe was Auditor. A committee was formed with t
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While brainstorming ideas for this week's column, a casual remark sparked a discussion about the assumption that everyone is always in the loop. Our hectic schedules make it rare to be in the office simultaneously. This week, we want to emphasise the value of personal connections. It is important to touch base with each other and reconnect with people you haven’t spoken with in a while, as these connections truly enrich our lives. Losing touch with others can affect our health and wellbeing and
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There has been quite a bit happening around the area since my last column. Some of the events I have been lucky enough to attend are the Burdekin Grower Race Day, Burdekin Netball Association’s Burdekin Cup, Rotary Club’s Norm Perry Memorial Duck Race, East Ayr State School’s under 8s Day, the Burdekin Chaplaincy Fundraising Breakfast, and also made it along to the Burdekin Theatre to see Dreams – The Fleetwood Mac & Stevie Nicks Tribute Show. These types of events don’t happen in small towns li
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Did you know approval is required to set up a street stall or raffle on Council roads, footpaths or other areas? Council has a number of locations, mainly on Queen Street, Ayr and Eighth Avenue, Home Hill, where raffles and street stalls may be held. For information on availability of dates and locations and to receive approval, please contact Council's Customer Service Centre. If approved a copy of your current public liability insurance to the value of $10,000,000 is to be provided to Council.
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The Home Hill Chamber of Commerce has stood proudly in the Burdekin community since the early 1930s. Committed to addressing local issues and fostering community spirit, the chamber boasts a diverse membership of 43, encompassing not only business leaders but also dedicated individuals passionate about the region’s prosperity. The Chamber includes five Executive Committee members who, alongside its members, drive forward initiatives and outreach efforts. Recently, the Home Hill Chamber of Com
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