Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
Last weekend the Burdekin Panthers had four games, winning one, drawing one and losing two. On Friday the Division 1 met Wulguru Roosters in Townsville and drew 1-1. On Saturday the Premiers, Under 23s and Women Premiers were all at home to estates. The Premiers won 4-2, the Under 23s lost 0-4 and the Women Premiers lost 1-3. This weekend the Funkies are away to Brothers in Townsville on Friday night and the Premiers and Under 23s are away to Saints eagles Souths on Saturday. The Ladies have a
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A nail-biting finish to the A grade match at Rugby Park last Saturday night saw the Burdekin Roosters go two on end defeating Townsville Norths by 24 – 22. The Bushland Beach club actually lead 12 – 6 at the break with the Roosters making a few mistakes. In the second session, the locals started to put it together with some top tries scored. The skirting of the touch line for 40 metres by winger Nemia Nawave before crossing the score stripe brought the good crowd to its feet. Centre Dudley Dotoi
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This week saw a highlight in the North Queensland Bowling Calendar with both the Ladies and the Men competing in Pennants. The Ladies (2 teams) competing in the Blue Pennants in Townsville had a fantastic 4 days of bowling finishing 5th overall. The team had 4 match wins 8 rinks. The team skipped by Pam Power finished in the top 6 teams for the competition with 5 wins. This was a great result as it was their first pennants in blue division. Well done ladies! The Men competed in the Purple Pennan
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It was a busy weekend for the Brandon Bowls club venturing up to Townsville to compete in the North Queensland Bowls Association Pennants. Brandon fielded one team this year hoping to stay in the Red division. Teams that played in this division came from Maggie Island, South Townsville, Macknade, Cutheringa, Wangaratta, Jubilee and Thuringia. Unfortunately for Brandon things didn’t go to plan winning only 1 of its 7 games. In 2 of the games the result came down to 2/3 shots against some of the b
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Thursday’s sponsor was Ferguson Plumbing where Dino, Ray and visitor Barry took out the day. Monday fitness group is well attended as is Tuesday Trimmers, Wednesday craft group is going strong and Wednesday night barefoot bowls had another 25 players. Thursday morning bingo is a big hit and Thursday afternoon social bowls is always well attended. We are starting to see visitors and the splash of colour from other clubs shirts make for an interesting spectacle. New club shirts have arrived an
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Home Hill Tennis, will be running its first pickleball competition on Sunday 9 June. Teams from Whitsunday, Bowen, Townsville, Cardwell and of course the Burdekin will be playing in either the Competitive or Social categories, all competing for The Cane Country Cup. If you’ve ever wondered ‘What is pickleball?’, here’s your chance to watch players of all ages and skill level, in action. You’ll see power and control, rallies, dinking, volleys, lobs and players having fun. Pickleball is an easy g
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Last week, 25 people ran, jogged and walked the course, of whom six were parkrun tourists (two from Toowoomba and four from Townsville). One runner recorded new Personal Best. The event was made possible by five volunteers: Eddie Jones and Nick, Saraha, Matilda and William Wiseman. Contact Plantation parkrun on Facebook to learn more about volunteering.
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Over the weekend of May 25-26, the Burdekin Cup once again emerged as a beacon of thrilling netball action, drawing in a record number of teams for an unforgettable two-day extravaganza organised by the Burdekin Netball Association. The success of the Burdekin Cup owes much to the steadfast support of the Burdekin Netball family and the generous contributions from local businesses and community members. Their unwavering dedication ensured that this year's tournament exceeded all expectations. At
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Celebrates National Volunteers Week Burdekin Community Association Inc celebrated their 20th National Volunteers Week celebration on Thursday May 23, recognising the vital work of their volunteers and simply saying “thank you”. National Volunteer Week is Australia's largest annual celebration of volunteering, held from May 20 to 26. This special event provides an opportunity to highlight the important role of volunteers in our community and invites people not currently volunteering to give it a
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Less than one year since its inception, Burdekin Life Newspaper is proud to report that it has been recognised with a gold award for the Best Locally Produced Advertising Campaign at the Queensland Country Press Awards which were held in the Sunshine Coast last Friday night. Burdekin Life Journalist, Sam Gillespie, attended the awards and was thrilled to represent the team and the region, securing an award that cemented both the newspaper and the successful launch of the publication into the co
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Hi readers Firstly, I want to thank you for all the messages and comments of congratulations for the awards Burdekin Life and Mackay and Whitsunday Life received at the Queensland Country Press Association Excellence Awards on the weekend. It was a wonderful evening in Mooloolaba and me, Bec and Rachael were very proud to accept the awards. You can read more information on that just over the page on page 3. Next week will be my last week in the Burdekin and brings with it lots of other little ‘l
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A group of Home Hill crafters have been busy crocheting blankets, beanies and scarves to be donated to patients at the Home Hill Hospital. Approximately 20 members from the Friends and Neighbours Craft Group have been working on the projects for most of the year so far, some even starting late last year to have the donations ready for winter. “The idea came many years ago when we were asked if we could do something for the patients,” Friends and Neighbours Craft Group President, Christine Oats
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The men of the Burdekin Men’s Shed have shared their appreciation after receiving funding as part of the 2023-24 Volunteer Grants. The organisation directed the grant towards the purchase of a new mower which President Rob Ritchie said was an immense help. “Our mower gets used fairly regularly down here; our groundsman uses it every week and he does a fantastic job on the grounds,” Mr Ritchie said. The new mower, purchased from Honeycombes and handed over last Friday, May 24, will replace a mowe
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Across the Burdekin region, a lack of suitable transport services has left many elderly residents feeling isolated and struggling to access essential appointments and social activities. The issue has become particularly pressing for those without family nearby or the ability to drive themselves. June Bartlett, who cares for her husband aged in his 80s, highlighted the difficulties faced when transport is limited. “When he became very ill and unable to do much, that’s when we really started to
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Future funding for the Mobile Black Spot Program has been abolished as per the Federal Government’s recent budget with no ongoing funding to be provided for other key regional communications infrastructure programs. Federal Member for Dawson, Andrew Willcox, said the axing of the Mobile Black Spot in 2026/27 is a major blow for regional communities, with zero dollars allocated for 2027/28. “For the people of Dawson, there are whole communities that do not have access to mobile connectivity, an
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Opinion Piece As the clock winds down to the rescheduled commencement of the 2024 sugar cane crushing season, Member for Burdekin Dale Last has called for assurances that the Burdekin won’t be held to ransom during pay disputes. Mr Last said the community deserved to know that the multinational milling company was fulfilling its commitment to the district it operates in. “With forecasts of a bumper crop, it is vital the crushing gets underway on schedule," Mr Last said. "My message to Wilmar Su
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A new program hosted by PCYC Burdekin is inviting those aged 55 and above to get active. Healthy Active Bodies is a group fitness program tailored for mature adults aged 55 plus. The program is based on progressive resistance training and incorporates aerobic exercise, balance and flexibility classes. The classes are circuit based, allowing each participant to exercise at an intensity which is suitable to their needs. “It’s very important, as we age, to keep as fit and healthy as we can,” sai
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At 6.30pm on Saturday 11 May, Police from Ayr Highway Patrol intercepted a vehicle on MacMillan Street, Ayr. As a result, a 25yr old Burdekin man was issued a NTA for drink driving, .053. He was due to appear in the Ayr Magistrates Court on 27 May. At 1.00am on Sunday 12 May, Ayr Police intercepted a vehicle on Beach Road, Ayr. As a result, a 23yr old Burdekin woman was issued a NTA for drink driving, .155 and for unlicenced driving. She is due to appear in the Ayr Magistrates Court on 10 Jun
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A man has died in a quad bike accident on a rural property in the Burdekin. A Queensland Police Service (QPS) spokesperson confirmed the man in his 30s was located deceased on a private property on Jack Road, Colevale, north of Brandon, on Monday, May 27. QPS were engaged around 12:45pm on Monday afternoon. “Police will prepare a report for the coroner,” the spokesperson said. “The Forensic Crash Unit will assist in preparing that report.”
Read moreBurdekin Community Association Inc celebrated their 20th National Volunteers Week celebration on Thursday May 23, recognising the vital work of their volunteers and simply saying “thank you”. National Volunteer Week is Australia's largest annual celebration of volunteering, held from May 20 to 26. This special event provides an opportunity to highlight the important role of volunteers in our community and invites people not currently volunteering to give it a go. The volunteer event was centere
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It's common for many of us to plan for our physical assets after we're gone, but we often overlook our digital footprint. While some have prepared a list of online accounts and passwords for their loved ones, it's crucial to consider the broader impact of our digital presence. Should we vanish from the online world completely, or could our social media accounts serve as a platform for our friends and family to navigate their grief? These are important questions worth discussing. Nowadays, many
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Welcome to my first Councillor Column of the new term of Council. Welcome to our new Mayor and three new Councillors. It’s been a busy start and I’m sure an eye-opening experience for my new colleagues. We recently had very well attended ANZAC Day ceremonies. I reflected on my forebears who served this country and those left behind to keep the wheels of society turning so we enjoy the freedoms of today. Their sacrifice gave me the privilege of living in this great nation and afforded me the oppo
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Did you know you can download the prospectus online for the Ayr Industrial Estate expansion project? This is an exciting opportunity for businesses and investors looking to be part of the region’s growth and development. The Ayr Industrial Estate expansion is a strategic initiative aimed at fostering economic development and creating new job opportunities in the Burdekin region. With ample land and resources available, this expansion aims to enhance the industrial capabilities of our community a
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Burdekin Chamber Secretary Laurinda George, Guest Speaker Natasha Butler, President Leigh Kefford, Executive Member Marisa Zanella and Vice President Linda Butler Rob and Kari and Ravizza and Alissa Muir John Furnell and Laurinda and John George Onni Joma and Nowetha Sand Holly Alford and Kahlee Lennox Marisa Zanella, Marisa O’Shea and Susan Holznagel
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On Monday, May 27, the Home Hill & Ayr Community Banks hosted their annual Community Grants Presentation Night, gathering the community to highlight the bank’s dedication to supporting local initiatives and celebrate significant milestones in their journey. This year, 39 organisations received a total of $369,557 in grants, supporting areas like Youth Services, Sporting Facilities, Mental Health and Wellbeing, Community and Cultural Facilities, Environment, and Employment, on top of an additiona
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