High-visibility, proactive policing has put the squeeze on serious repeat offenders across Queensland and resulted in more than 250 offenders being charged with almost 400 crimes in 20 days. Former Police Officer and Member for Burdekin, Dale Last MP, said Operation Marshall was already delivering results; a fact that highlighted missed opportunities over the last decade that could have resulted in fewer crimes and fewer victims. “Operation Marshall is a $31 Million investment in tackling crim
Read more
This month, the Burdekin Potters are celebrating a monumental feat—50 years of friendship, shaping clay, and nurturing creativity at the heart of the community. On July 26 and 27, they’re opening their doors to honour this rich history and the passion that’s kept the club thriving all these years, inviting everyone to come along and join the festivities. The group first met in 1975, when about 20 enthusiasts gathered at Ayr High School to pursue a shared interest in pottery. “We started out meet
Read more
Ayr, QLD — Community spirit was front and centre on Saturday, July 12, 2025, as the Rotary Club of Ayr commemorated its 70th anniversary with an evening of pride, gratitude, and reflection. Held at the Showgrounds Hall, the event brought together past and present Rotarians, dignitaries, Representatives from Rotary Clubs from Home Hill, Townsville, and Bundaberg, along with friends of the club and community members to honour seven decades of service. The evening’s theme was clear: celebrating th
Read more
Homelessness isn’t just a big-city problem. It’s happening right here in the Burdekin, and Burdekin Catholic High School (BCHS) leaders, together with the Shire Youth Council, are stepping up to help support those most affected. They’re doing so through the inaugural Stand Up, Sleep Out—Youth Against Homelessness event, to be held on Friday, 8 August 2025, during National Homelessness Week. The event will see students and community members sleep rough for a night in solidarity with those withou
Read more
55 Years Strong in Plumbing and Gas For more than half a century, Liessmann & Sons Plumbing and Gas has been a Burdekin mainstay, evolving from a modest one‑truck plumbing operation into a comprehensive, full‑service plumbing and gas provider. Over the years, LP and commercial gases have become a core focus of the operation. What once began with the occasional cylinder now accounts for half the business, with gas services stretching from Giru to Bowen and all areas in between. The company emplo
Read more.jpg)
It’s been a busy start to Term 3 with students returning to classrooms and Council projects progressing across the Shire. This week, I’d like to shine a light on Burdekin Catholic High School leaders alongside the Burdekin Shire Youth Council, who are collecting donations for the upcoming Stand Up Sleep Out – Youth Against Homelessness event on Friday 8 August. This initiative, held during National Homelessness Week, gives people the chance to show solidarity with those facing housing insecurity
Read more
Simon Hood – Wilmar Manager, Grower Marketing Every grower has a different way of handling their GEI sugar price exposure, which affects their final cane price. Some like to keep a close eye on the market, while others prefer a hands-off approach. We offer a range of pricing options so growers can choose what suits their level of interest and their risk appetite. We recommend thinking about sugar pricing as a form of risk management. If you're using Target Pricing, it means selling in small st
Read more
Wilmar Sugar and Renewables is concerned for the safety of its loco crews and members of the public after three track tampering incidents in the space of a week. Burdekin Cane Supply Manager John Tait said members of the public had switched the points on three sections of cane rail line in the Burdekin region in the second week of the school holidays, causing two near hits and a derailment. One of the near hits involved children. It’s not known who was responsible for the other incidents. “We’
Read more
By CANEGROWERS Chair Owen Menkens The Queensland Government’s announcement to extend the 15 per cent rural irrigation price discount for another two years is a long-awaited and welcome move—and I reckon most of the farmers I know would say it’s about time. This is a common-sense decision and one we’ve been calling for loud and clear. It’s great to see the Crisafulli Government listening to what the agriculture sector has been saying and acting on it. For irrigators like us—especially in high-c
Read more
Local builder Aaron Cursio has never been afraid of hard work—or a new challenge. After more than two decades working for himself in the Burdekin, the hands-on tradesman is now branching into something he’s been eyeing for years: supplying and installing hot dipped galvanised structural steel sheds at very competitive pricing. “It’s another opportunity to diversify and grow my business,” Aaron says. “I’ve been doing sheds for a long time, and now we can offer a superior shed at a more competiti
Read more
Home Hill’s The Prawn Shop has become a local seafood sensation—and it all started with four humble prawn rolls. “We opened with just seafood, but to get people through the door, we started the prawn roll,” owner Melissa Wiles says. “On my first day, I made four. By the end of the week, I was making 40 a day.” The prawn roll’s popularity skyrocketed, gaining even wider recognition after featuring on Channel 9’s Today Show. Melissa was contacted through the local council about the opportunity,
Read more
Wednesday's Home Hill Chamber of Commerce meeting was once again full of high spirits, local updates and passionate conversation. The evening kicked off with Burdekin Shire Council Mayor Pierina Dalle Cort providing updates on council affairs, including funds being set aside to address the flying fox issue. She then fielded questions from the audience before handing over to officer Sam Pyke of Home Hill Police, who delivered a local crime update, highlighting the successful seizure of a sizeabl
Read more
Dubbed "Australia's own Bocelli," acclaimed Ingham-born tenor Paul Tabone returns to North Queensland this September with his celebrated show Viva Pavarotti at the Burdekin Theatre. A graduate of the Central Queensland Conservatorium and an alumnus of Italy’s Luciano Pavarotti Foundation, Tabone calls the performance “a celebration of Pavarotti and more,” with “a little bit of opera, a bit of music theatre, and some pop.” Inspired by the famed Pavarotti & Friends concerts, the show revisits the
Read more
At The Australian UFO Festival In Cardwell This August Have you ever gazed up at the night sky and wondered what else might be out there? Or wanted to dive into the fascinating mysteries of UFO sightings, unexplained encounters, and alien life – all while enjoying a weekend of fun, community spirit, and tropical hospitality? Then mark your calendars for Friday 8 to Sunday 10 August, and head to Cardwell for the 2025 Australian UFO Festival. Now in its eleventh year, this unique event celebrates
Read more
At just 22, Caleb Hill has already worked a string of jobs—from macadamia plantations to night-fill shifts at Woolworths—but it’s his current role in electrical sales at Harvey Norman Ayr that he calls “the only job I’ve fully enjoyed.” “I’ve worked in a few different places,” Hill said. “I left school thinking, ‘Oh, I’ll find something to do.’ I worked on a farm, with Ford for a bit, did solar installation, and even night fill at Woolies. But this is genuinely the best thing I’ve done—I’ve act
Read more
Eloise Rayner, a passionate local speech pathologist with a knack for heartfelt songwriting, has just dropped her latest single, There Goes My Heart—a stirring country track inspired by that moment when your emotions take over before your mind can catch up. The song emerges naturally from Eloise’s long-standing love of songwriting and her involvement in a collaborative nationwide songwriting group. “I’ve been songwriting since I was in my teenage years,” Eloise shared. “For the past four years
Read more
Representing the Ayr Golf Club At The 2025 Burdekin Water Festival After playing golf for as long as she can remember, 11-year-old Hunter Oar was over the moon when she was asked to represent the Ayr Golf Club as a 2025 Burdekin Water Festival Junior Ambassador! “I’m really proud to be representing the Ayr Golf Club as a junior ambassador for the 2025 Burdekin Water Festival as I’ve been playing golf since I was little, and I’m excited to help promote junior golf in our community as part of thi
Read more
Representing The Rotary Club of Ayr At The 2025 Burdekin Water Festival Eliza Worlein is no stranger to the spotlight, and after being part of the Burdekin Water Festival as a Junior Ambassador many years ago, accepting the Rotary Club of Ayr’s invitation to represent them as a Senior Ambassador in 2025 was one of the easiest decisions she could have made! “I am representing the Rotary Club of Ayr, an organisation that is well known in the Burdekin community for their generosity and tireless ef
Read more
Friday 25 July Eliza’s Trivia Night 6pm onwards Brush up on your facts and prepare to become the next trivia champion at Eliza Worlein’s Trivia Night! Representing the Rotary Club of Ayr as a Senior Ambassador, Eliza’s event will be held at the Rugby Union Clubhouse at Casalengo Field for an evening of fun and friendly competition. Rugby Union Clubhouse–Casalengo Field Saturday 26 July 50 Years Anniversary Celebration Weekend 10am Market Day & Exhibition to mark 50 years of Pottery in the Burde
Read more
Burdekin Library hosted the launch of Doug Sockhill’s memoir on Saturday. Over thirty attendees enjoyed Doug’s stories and video presentations referencing his memoir, “The Franklin River Springs to Life”. Attendees also learnt the back story of the book, met Doug’s publisher, Belinda Walker, from Just Sparkle Books, and were entertained with stories from Doug’s long-term friend and Burdekin Mayor, Pierina Dalle Cort. Doug spent over 30 years in the Burdekin and has had an adventurous life both h
Read more
A good weekend, for a change. for the Panthers, winning three, drawing one and losing one of the five matches. On Saturday, at home against Rebels, the Premiers won 5-0 as did the Reserves. On Friday, in Townsville the Ladies drew with Warriors 1-1, the Division 1 Men lost 0-1 to JCU Riverway but the Division 2 Men defeated Olympic 4-3. In the Mooney Cup Charity Match, Rainbows defeated Blue Balls 3-0 after leading 2-0 at half time. Jake Lacey scored twice after Mick Lejarraga had opened the sc
Read more
The Burdekin Roosters’ A-grade side delivered a performance that could only be described as “chalk and cheese” compared to last week’s 64–10 loss to Souths. On Saturday, before a large crowd that included many attending the annual Ladies Day, the Roosters turned on the style against strong contenders Brothers, only to go down by two points in the dying seconds. With captain Joel Mason sent off for dissent 16 minutes from full-time, the locals were forced to hang on “like grim death” against an
Read more
Alex and Gary played a singles match on Rink 4 that Alex won on the 26th end. Twenty-eight players turned out for another North Queensland winter afternoon. Today's winners were Steve Doig and Bruce McCallum, who unfortunately had to leave before the photo, so visitor Gary Bibby from Augusta Bowls Club in Perth, WA, was thrilled to step into the winners’ photo. People come from far and wide to play on our hallowed green (pictured). The singles match between Alex Bojack and Gary Nosworthy on Ri
Read more
Burdekin Clay Target Club saw 30 shooters compete on Sunday 13th July. Conditions of a cool breeze made for a very pleasant day for shooting. Thank you to our sponsors for the day, Lui Populin, Glen Rea & BK Constructions. Our next shoot will be on Sunday 10th August. Event 1-20 Target Double Barrel 15m AA Grade 1st Phillip Scalia, Ron Gough, Aaron Lemphers, Lindsay Groat, Michael Zabala 20/20 A Grade 1st Michael Jones, David Stitt, Cornelius Venter 20/20 B Grade 1st Pedro Le Blowitz 19/20, 2nd
Read more
The Burdekin Mixed Touch Football competition is back for another exciting season, with pre-season games now underway at the Wickham Street fields. Eleven teams have nominated so far, including East Ayr, First in Physio, Jigsaw, Nrgize, Petrol Heads, Pink Piggies, Redskins, Renegades, Royal Touch, Slush Puppies, and Touch n Tease. Pre-season games will continue over the next two Wednesdays before the official season kicks off on the 13th of August, which also marks the final day for team nomina
Read more