Local It was a mixed weekend for the Panthers, with one win, one draw, and three losses across five matches. On Friday night in Townsville, the Division 2 Funkies drew 1–1 with JCU, while back home, the Division 1 Men lost 0–7 to Rebels. The Ladies, however, stormed to an 8–0 win over Saints Eagles South. On Saturday, in Townsville against Estates, both the Premiers and the Reserves went down, 0–3 and 0–10 respectively. This Friday, the Division 1 Men, Division 2 Men, and the Ladies all travel
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One of the Burdekin’s most beloved community events is back—and organisers say this year’s Burdekin Show is shaping up to be bigger, brighter and more jam-packed than ever. “It's a proper family fun day out,” says Brendan Kolb, Vice President of the Burdekin Show Association. “All the entertainment’s free—Timmy the Train, the duck races, the Melville’s Animal Farm, everything in the ring. It’s all included. The only thing people need to pay for is the food and the rides.” Held over a single da
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The heartbreaking reality that nine lives are lost to suicide every day in Australia is one that also touches the Burdekin community. Greater education on mental health awareness and training has provided a better understanding for the community with organisations such as CORES (Community Response to Eliminating Suicide) Queensland that run a number of programs in the Burdekin region The Community Bank Home Hill & Ayr, guided by a passionate local board, continues to champion the wellbeing of
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Kathryn Carlisle’s new book “Feathers and Flame” hits the shelves You might’ve spotted the poem Heart of the Burdekin in last week’s issue—and, like us in the office, found yourself thinking, “Hang on, this is really good.” The excellent news is that there’s much more where it came from. Poet and veteran Kathryn Carlisle has released her debut collection, Feathers and Flame: Poetry of Australian Landscapes and Personal Transformation. An updated version of that poem—now titled Burdekin Snow—f
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Member for Burdekin, Dale Last MP, wants to see an increase in the $4.4B contribution that the sugar industry makes to Queensland’s economy and believes the recently announced parliamentary inquiry may be the key to achieving it. Describing the inquiry as a key part of the Crisafulli government’s target to grow the value of Queensland’s primary production output to $30B by 2030, Mr Last said the inquiry would be broad to ensure the best outcome. “Sugar is Queensland’s number one agricultural e
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Sunday 15 JunePlantation Park MarketsSunday 8amJoin the VVAA for an enjoyable morning overflowing with wonderful market stalls from handmade creations to delicious treats! To become a stallholder yourself contact 4783 6627.Plantation ParkWednesday 18 JuneSocial and Networking EventWednesday 5:30pmThe community is invited to attend the Home Hill Chamber of Commerce Social and Networking Event for an enriching evening of socialisation.Home Hill Community Sports ClubWednesday 25 JuneBurdekin ShowWe
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North Queensland’s F/TR Rifle Team has etched its name into the history books—claiming back-to-back national championships and cementing its place as a rising powerhouse in long-range shooting. And right at the heart of the action were two Ayr locals: Jason Kupke and David Huckett, whose precision and consistency helped steer the team to another dominant victory at the 2025 F Class National Teams Championship, held in Townsville. The F/TR discipline—known for its incredible distances of 700m,
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Last Tuesday's Chamber Check-In meeting at Burdekin Bowl proved to be a tech lesson, mental health check up, and buzzing social event rolled into one thanks to guest speakers Gary Roser of Harvey Norman, Ross Romeo of CORES Queensland, and a decent turn out. Treasurer of the Burdekin Chamber, Kari Ravizza, kicked off proceedings with a brief introduction, before handing over to Romeo, who came equipped with worksheets for everyone present. He then guided attendees through "mental health bingo,"
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This week has definitely been one of the more challenging ones since my arrival—though not necessarily in a bad way. With the new edition of Core Life Magazine just around the corner, things have been heating up behind the scenes here. As it’s my first edition involved, I’m brimming with both excitement and stress, accompanied by a pinch of nervous anticipation. Workload: high. Hours of sleep: low. On the verge of a mental breakdown: maybe. However, as I’ve said many times before—this is wh
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Lido Paganoni’s Lens On Local History The Burdekin’s rich past has been brought into sharper focus thanks to the work of photographer Lido Paganoni, whose striking images of Ayr, Home Hill and Brandon are now part of a treasured digital collection preserved by the Queensland State Library. Born in Ingham, Lido spent many years between Ingham and Ayr before relocating to Brisbane in 1967. Throughout his professional career, he developed a deep passion for photography, using his lens to document
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Plantation Park will come alive with colour, creativity, and community spirit once again on Sunday, the 1st of June for another wonderful Plantation Park Markets from 8am. Held periodically on the first and third Sunday of each month, the Plantation Park Markets have been permanently part of the community’s calendar since January of 2022 following waves of positive feedback from both customers and stallholders. A community run, community supported initiative, the markets continue to grow expone
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The Community’s Tribute to Jean Morris 93 Years in the Making 93 years ago, the Burdekin Shire was the setting of a tragic and violent murder of a young woman which to this day, remains one of the region’s most infamous unsolved mysteries. Anna Philomena Morgan’s death headlined publishments far and wide in 1932, encouraging a plethora of theories as to what led to the 19-year-old’s murder, with many speculating the Italian Australian mafia was to blame. More commonly known as Jean Morris, the
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The 71st Giru Show Returns this September The annual Giru Show will roll into town for one action packed day on Saturday, the 13th of September and with a cane train load of activities on offer, this year’s extravaganza certainly isn’t one to miss! Introduced to the community 72 years ago, the inaugural 1953 Giru Show Committee was led by President Mr Tom Enever, Secretary Mrs W.B. Lewis and Treasurer Mr C. Hungerford, and with the absence of the event in 1958 and 2020, 2025 will host the 71st
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Burdekin’s Cane Fire Debate Rekindled for 2025 Crushing Season With the 2025 crushing season now ablaze, a local debate as old as time has reignited across the community once again, raising the question, “why burn it?”. The Burdekin Shire proudly exists as one of the last regions across the country where sugarcane burning is still practiced before harvest, with the bright amber hues of controlled cane fires scattered throughout the area typically from June to December each year. As quoted by
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A group of talented Ayr State High School students recently showcased their musical abilities at the prestigious State Honours Ensemble Program (SHEP) held in Townsville a couple of weeks ago. The program, hosted by the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, brings together some of North Queensland’s most dedicated young musicians for an enriching experience of intensive rehearsals, professional masterclasses, and a culminating public concert performance. Students are selected for SHEP
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Last week, Ayr State School warmly welcomed some of the region’s real-life heroes for a special afternoon dedicated to thanking those who keep the community safe. The event brought together local police officers, ambulance officers, and a Burdekin Shire Council Ranger, giving students a hands-on opportunity to learn more about the vital roles these first responders play. From exploring emergency vehicles to participating in interactive demonstrations—including a spirited race-off against the p
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A school leader, student council member, and now a 2025 Burdekin Water Festival Junior Ambassador; Jorja Vasta will proudly represent Burdekin Junior Rugby League over the next four months. After admiring the Burdekin Water Festival Grand Parade from the footpath for many years, Jorja has been eagerly waiting for her turn as a Junior Ambassador to come, and now that it’s become a reality, she’s beyond excited to create community connections, and expand her friendship circle. “I have grown up w
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We are excited to announce BCA’s new Accredited Exercise Physiology (AEP) Program, that will commence on the 1st of July 2025. The program has been specifically designed to help individuals of all ages. Sessions will be delivered from our fully equipped and friendly Burdekin Community Rehabilitation Centre located at 12A Chippendale Street, Ayr. Our Accredited Exercise Physiologists (AEPs) supervise all AEP Program participants and provide best practice exercise prescription to ensure that eve
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At 1.35pm on Friday 23 May, Police from Ayr Highway patrol intercepted a vehicle on Chippendale Street, Ayr. As a result the driver, a 27yr old Burdekin woman, was issued a Notice to Appear (NTA) for driving with a relevant drug in her saliva and is due to appear in Ayr Magistrates Court on 28 July. At 2.40pm on Tuesday 27 May, Police from Ayr Highway patrol intercepted a vehicle on Queen Street, Ayr. As a result the driver, a 54yr old Burdekin man, was issued a NTA for driving with a relevant
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You might’ve noticed that Dal Santo’s Deli was a little busier and a lot louder than usual last Thursday. That was thanks to the Burdekin Breast Cancer Awareness Group’s sold out Biggest Morning Tea event. Attendees flooded the space from 10am, with 60+ people gathering in true Burdekin fashion to show their support for breast cancer research and those affected by the disease. Among attendees was Mayor Pierina Dalle Cort, who officially opened the event before handing over to councillor and ev
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Local organisations and schools from all across the Burdekin region were announced as the beneficiaries of a generous grant from Melbourne-based energy powerhouse Pacific Blue at last weekends Sweet Days Hot Nights festival. Community Investment Coordinator for Pacific Blue Jackie Stojanoski attended the event, handing out a number of checks aimed at aiding operations of different organisations in the area as part of the company’s Haughton Sustainable Communities Fund. The Haughton Sustainable
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Where there’s a will, there’s a way—and although the way isn’t so clear-cut for three-year-old brain cancer patient Elenna Savorgnan, her parents Maria, Marty, and brother Reuben are playing their part in forging one. After recently launching a GoFundMe campaign, the Home Hill-based family have managed to garner a sizeable $13,210 at the time of writing, with contributions from 158 generous donors helping them edge closer to their $50,000 target. The money raised will aid the family’s efforts
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At the heart of the Burdekin in far north Queensland is a land of rich, dark soil, with the Burdekin River Delta and an underground aquifer delivering abundant water that remains unspoiled. A land where much heavier crops of sugar cane are grown, by multi-generational farmers and their families who live on the land without complaint in a cyclone zone. From bores, the water travels channels tilled across fertile laser-levelled fields that the farmer made. As the green cane shoots are coaxed to g
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Three Burdekin locals have done the region proud at the 2025 National Touch Football Championships in Coffs Harbour, representing at the highest level in both playing and officiating roles. Veteran player Ian Kerr suited up for Brisbane in the Over 65s division and helped steer his team to an undefeated run in the round robin stage. In a tense grand final clash against the Sydney Scorpions, Kerr and co. held their nerve to clinch a 3–2 victory and take home the national title. His efforts didn’
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It was a red-letter day for Burdekin rugby league on Saturday in Ayr, with the Roosters defeating Charters Towers across all three grades. A Grade made it three straight wins with a convincing 38–18 victory, backing up recent triumphs over Western Lions and Centrals. Despite a sluggish start and conceding the first try and conversion to trail 6–0, the Roosters didn’t take long to hit back. Front-rower Tate Brombal strolled through the Miners' defence to score beside the posts, and from there, c
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