Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
Did you know that you can access a wealth of resources, information and advice about water usage on Council’s website? Whether you want to save money on your water bills, reduce your environmental impact, or simply learn more about this vital resource, you can find helpful tips and tools on the Smart Water Advice webpage. Council has partnered with The Water Conservancy and other local governments to create this online hub of water efficiency information. You can discover how to use water wise
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Magnetic Island is a north Queensland gem well worth exploring thanks to its stunning landscapes, diverse wildlife and captivating activities. Resting off the coast of Townsville, a haven for adventurers, nature enthusiasts and those simply looking to relax on the beach awaits. Whether you're planning a day trip or a multi-day stay, read on to discover some of the top things to do on Magnetic Island. Take A Hike Take advantage of Magnetic Island's scenic landscapes by exploring its diverse hiki
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By Owen Menkens, CANEGROWERS Chairman Happy New Year! I hope readers had a peaceful and relaxing break over the Christmas period and are feeling motivated for all those New Year’s resolutions as we head into 2024. It’s shaping up to be a big year on the agricultural advocacy front, with local government elections looming in March and the state election just 41 weeks away. At CANEGROWERS, we remain committed, as we have been for almost one hundred years, to advocating the best outcomes for growe
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The extent to which temporary workers from the Pacific Islands and Timor-Leste are supporting essential agricultural and food processing industries has been highlighted by new analysis from the Australia Institute, adding weight to calls for much needed improvements to working conditions for temporary visa holders participating in the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme. The analysis finds that PALM workers are equivalent to 10% of the agricultural workforce usually resident in Austr
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The Burdekin agriculture community gathered to experience the future of farming recently as Sugar Research Australia (SRA) hosted a demonstration of Robotti, a Danish developed autonomous farm vehicle. The Robboti has been imported by Bundaberg company Farm Concepts and is designed for precision operations such as seeding, weeding and spraying, as displayed by Farm Concepts Director Braden Hellmuth and SRA District Manager Terry Granshaw in a cane field at the SRA’s Burdekin Station, Brandon yes
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Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox is backing calls for an Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) Inquiry into fruit and vegetable prices to make supermarkets pay their fair share. “While Coles and Woolworths made record profits of more than $1 billion each last year, the individuals and families living in our electorate of Dawson are struggling with rising grocery costs during a cost-of-living crisis,” Mr Willcox said. “Over the past 18 months we have seen fuel prices incre
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Home-grown Bowen locals Wendy Bickhoff and her family have been the friendly faces behind Corals City 2 Country since 2009. Retailing high quality western wear, fashion, school clothing and saddlery, Wendy’s description of what her business entails brought a smile to our faces. “We always say, we sell everything from your hat to your hanky,” said Wendy. With two kids, a dog and a horse, Wendy and her husband are forever busy, working up to six days a week in the Whitsundays and seven when tra
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Last week, Burdekin Life reported on local business McCathies Furniture Plus celebrating 50 years in 2024. To reflect this tremendous golden anniversary, Kari and her team warmly invite you to join them at McCathies Furniture Plus on the evening of Thursday, February 8 to enjoy bubbles, memories, and Cheers to 50 Years – this event is not happening today, January 18 as reported last week. Every customer from Thursday, February 8 to Thursday, February 15 will get $50 in McCathies Money to spend i
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Approaching its 16th year of business in the bustling Burdekin region, Dominiques Flowers and Funk has adapted and transformed to suit the ever-changing business landscape whilst keeping true to owner, Jenny’s strong family values. When the business began in 2008, Dominiques Flowers and Funk stood as a florist and accessory store, with a touch of event styling introduced in later years. In 2020, COVID-19 acted as a catalyst for change among each business in the Burdekin region, and for Jenny,
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As the calendar resets and the New Year unfolds, it presents an opportune moment for introspection, growth, and personal transformation. The concept of unlocking your best self isn't merely a cliché; it's a journey toward building resilience, fostering self-discovery, and embracing reinvention. Resilience, the cornerstone of this journey, embodies the ability to bounce back from adversity, navigate life's challenges, and emerge stronger. It's not about avoiding difficulties but about facing them
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Five days of dancing has wrapped up at the Burdekin Theatre as the Verve Dance Festival took over the Burdekin from Thursday, January 11 to Monday, January 15. The competition gives local competitors another opportunity to showcase their talents while bringing people from across north, central, and west Queensland to the Burdekin. Competitors aged 20 years and under performed in over 100 sections across the weekend. Read on to find a selection of results. SECTION: 001 4 years and under Tiny To
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Dedicate a day to exploring the diverse history of the Burdekin. From farming triumphs to the hidden stories of WWII shelters, each place unfolds a unique tale. Follow along on this one day history tour, courtesy of Visit Burdekin, North Queensland on Facebook: • Starting in the small town of Brandon, you will find the Brandon Heritage Precinct, home to the Burdekin Machinery Preservationists. Inside you will find a display of old farm machinery including the restored 1910 Marshall C Class T
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Fast Facts: Rehoming Fee: $425 DOB: 1/1/2022 Sex: Female Breed: Cattle Dog Cross Shepherd Kid Friendly: Yes, Older Children Cat Friendly: Untested Other Dogs: Yes, Slow Introduction Fences: 6 Foot This spirited and youthful pup, named Lara, is bursting with energy and is incredibly excited to meet her forever family. With an affectionate and friendly nature, Lara just loves people and thrives with any sort of human interaction, making her an excellent addition to an active and busy household,
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Inclement weather brought a premature end to the Watts Shield intertown cricket competition in Bowen over the weekend where two teams featuring players from the Burdekin were vying for the 2024 B Grade title. Teams from the Burdekin, Bowen, Proserpine and further afield competed in the two-day tournament, which was scheduled to take place from Saturday, January 13 to Sunday, January 14. Horny Bulls A got their weekend off to a flying start in their first game, scoring 4/231 thanks to unbeaten ha
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Queensland Cricket hosted the Burdekin's first Girls-Only Wet'n'Wild Cricket School Holiday Program last Friday, January 12, providing girls aged five to 12 with the perfect opportunity to learn about cricket in a fun environment. Held at Burdekin Aquatic Centre, the program invited 16 participants to take part in activities and games including classic catches in the pool, hitting water balloons with cricket bats and red light, green light. “This encourages girls to come down and play because we
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The ML Partners Burdekin Sprint meet was hosted at the Burdekin Aquatic Centre on Saturday January 13 and saw 167 swimmers from 15 clubs across North Queensland participating in the event, including teams from as far as Mackay and Charters Towers. The event was well supported by local sponsors who made it possible to put on a seamless showing and showcased some amazing swimmers and some very exciting Dash for Cash swims at the end of the evening. The Burdekin Torpedoes had a team of 17 swimmer
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The Golden Anniversary of McCathies Furniture Plus marks half a century of providing high quality service to the Burdekin region and beyond, with third generation owners, Rob and Kari Ravizza, and their team delivering wonderful pieces of furniture all along the East Coast. In 1974, Kari’s grandparents, Jack and Milly McCathie established the Ayr Secondhand Dealers. Well-known names in the Burdekin region, the pair had introduced many successful businesses to the town including the Supreme Tax
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In 1932, a 19-year-old woman named Jean Morris, widely believed to not be her real name, was brutally murdered in a house she was renting on Queen Street, Ayr. Jean was buried in an unmarked grave at the Ayr cemetery and, over 90 years later, local man Henry Petersen and his friend Paula Dawson are spearheading a fundraising campaign to ensure Jean’s story is remembered forever. “This girl is part of history,” Mr Petersen said. “She died a tragic death. “Even though she was only in Ayr for seve
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Hi readers While I didn’t mention “reading more” as a new year’s resolution in last week’s ‘Sit Down With Sam’, this is one that goes unsaid as at the end of every year, I find myself unsatisfied with the amount of books I read and failing to reach my ‘Goodreads Reading Challenge’ goals. These goals are arbitrary, of course, and I’m not going to beat myself up too much for not reaching them, but reading is one thing I’ve looked to do more of every year since I got back into it in lockdown so you
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The Burdekin Unit of the State Emergency Service (SES) has been engaged for 21 jobs since December 1, with one of the more significant callouts coming before New Year’s Eve. During the two-day search for Elliot Spinaze, who worked at the Kalamia Hotel, the Hotel delivered food and drinks for lunch on Sunday, December 31 to keep the search workers and volunteers satiated. “We’re very grateful, the Kalamia Hotel brought down some well-received food and refreshments for lunch on the Sunday,” said B
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After an intensive local search effort, the body of Elliot Spinaze, a 22-year-old Ayr man who had been missing since the morning of Saturday, December 30, 2023, was found on Sunday, December 31. Mr Spinaze was last seen on Graham Street around 3:00am on December 30 before leaving in a grey Hyundai. The vehicle was located near the Burdekin Bridge later that morning with Police initiating a search of the river involving State Emergency Services (SES) and Mackay’s RACQ CQ Rescue helicopter. Burdek
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Burdekin Shire Council’s Citizen Ceremony will go ahead as part of the Australia Day celebrations on Friday, January 26 despite initial reports, Mayor Lyn McLaughlin has confirmed. Ms McLaughlin said she was surprised to read that Burdekin Shire had been named as one of 80 Councils across Australia not holding its Australia Day Citizenship Ceremony on January 26, saying this information is not correct. “Councillors and relevant Council staff finalised discussion and confirmed planning and logi
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When Allan Petersen began researching for his military history book ‘Home Hill Remembers’, he didn’t realise the number of gravesites in the Home Hill Cemetery that weren’t formally recognised as war service gravesites. This discovery led the Home Hill RSL Sub Branch on a five year journey to honour these servicepeople which came to an end with the installation of plaques and a Dedication Ceremony in August last year. “In all, 56 graves had no recognition as a war serviceman’s grave,” Mr Peters
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