Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
The Burdekin Netball Association held its fundraising evening “Wigs and Wine” on Friday, 29th August, drawing strong community support for a cause that blended entertainment, awareness, and local pride. 160 guests embraced the theme by arriving with wigs already on, filling the venue with colour and character. A glass of champagne on arrival and a hearty dinner set the stage for the evening, which combined light-hearted fun with a meaningful purpose. The main focus of the event was the Ponytai
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Last Saturday, a talented group of Burdekin riders travelled south to Proserpine to compete at the Whitsunday Motorcycle Club Day, joining a field of around 70 competitors. Across five races for most classes, riders collected points toward their overall placings — and Burdekin competitors made their presence felt. One of the standout performers of the meet was Ky Mitchell, who completely dominated both the 125cc and 250cc (13–16 years) classes. Mitchell’s speed, consistency, and control saw him
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For the first time in more than a decade, Home Hill Cricket Association senior teams are returning to compete in the Cricket North Queensland (Townsville) competition. On Sunday 7 September, Home Hill took to the field against Brothers Kenny’s Automotive for the first round of the Second Grade - CNQ comp at John McCulloch Oval, Kirwan. Brothers won the toss and elected to bat first. The Brothers opening partnership amassed 44 runs before Greg Flanagan made the breakthrough with the ball to tak
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Last weekend featured just two Finals games. Thursday night, Division 2 Funkies beat Brothers 4-0, while on Saturday the Ladies lost 1-3 to Brothers. For the Preliminary Finals: the Ladies must beat Rebels Friday 6.30pm, and the Funkies must beat Saints Eagles Souths Thursday 6.30pm to reach their Grand Finals. Division 2 Men The C.A. Contracting Funkies faced Brothers in the elimination final. Brothers started strong, but Burdekin scored first through Chris Achille, before Brothers equalised.
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“We made too many mistakes,” said Burdekin River ladies coach Anita Hagarty after her team went down 24-14 to Western Lions at Brothers on Sunday in the R.L.T.D. Ladies preliminary final in Townsville. Last week, the team beat Brothers by letting the ball do the work, and the strategy delivered a solid win. This week, they tried the same approach. Toni Daisy crossed for a strong opening try, and with Rebecca Pace’s conversion, Burdekin led 6-0. However, the experienced and bigger Lions soon pr
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Thirty players were on hand for a fantastic spring afternoon. Today’s winners were Margaret Chapman, Lloyd Shepherd, and Des Chapman. Unfortunately, Lloyd had to leave at the end of the game, so only Margaret and Des appear in our winners’ photo. The field consisted of four games of triples and a game of pairs. On Rink 3, Judy Elton, Sandra Darwin, and Hugh Montgomery proved too good for Paul Vass, Neville Webb, and Phil Marsden. Rink 4 saw Betty Webb, Bruce McCallum, and Wayne Newton account f
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The Ayr Bowling Club has enjoyed a fantastic week, with members coming together for a series of competitive and social matches. The energy on the greens has been great, as the club continues to foster a strong sense of enthusiasm towards the great game of lawn bowls. With the momentum showing no signs of slowing, members are eagerly anticipating another month of great matches and good times ahead. Wednesday’s Men’s Bowls saw great participation, with two games of pairs and a triples game. The s
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Lyn’s President’s Day saw 42 bowlers hit the greens in a day full of competition, laughs, and community spirit. Players and spectators alike kept the atmosphere lively, and thanks to the effort of members, helpers, and sponsors Danny and Marissa O’Shea Painting, the event ran smoothly from start to finish. On the leaderboard, the top prize went to Kaye Garner, Darelle Pearce, and Rhonda Tawse. Runners-up were Irene Adams, Elaine Young, and Colleen Olsen, while third place went to Wilma Berryman
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At 2025 QMN Manufacturing Burdekin Water Festival Long Lunch The 2025 QMN Manufacturing Burdekin Water Festival Long Lunch dazzled guests with a taste of European summer, but the true highlight was the celebration of this year’s exceptional Senior Ambassadors. Eliza Worlein, Georgia Tomasetig, Julia Cahill, Mia Galbraith, Molly Julyan, and Nicole Cervoni were honoured for their dedication, growth, and friendship throughout the season. In a heartwarming moment, Eliza Worlein was named Runner Up,
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The Burdekin’s own trio of inspirational advocates for men’s mental health, Austin Dewar, Brayden Rawlins and Campbell Johnston, recently travelled down south to Melbourne to attend the infamous 2025 Mo Awards on the evening of Thursday, the 28th of August. Known across the nation as Three Blokes Running, the boys have made several headlines and news bulletins over the past year or so due to their unwavering dedication towards breaking down the stigmas surrounding men’s mental health, pushing t
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Let’s talk about last Saturday’s Water Festival Long Lunch for a sec, because… wow! What an event! I was blown away by the sheer scale of it. Being my first Long Lunch, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect of it, but I was genuinely impressed—huge credit to everyone involved for pulling off such a magnificent evening. You can find a full wrap-up of the event by my colleague Chelsea on pages 18-19. As always, it was wonderful to meet more of you there. I really enjoyed getting to know some of you
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We need homes for every Australian. We need a housing policy that creates environments where everyone can find their own way into the housing market, and stay there. We need an actual housing policy that is more than writing a few cheques or throwing around big numbers with dollar signs. Getting a housing policy right means getting supply right, and for that supply to be in balance with demand. We need housing policy with follow through that helps, not hinders developers and builders to deliver,
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With extremely low rental vacancy rates causing increased cost for tenants, and a lack of supply, Member for Burdekin, Dale Last MP, is confident that a recently announced funding package would provide a range of benefits for the Burdekin. Funded under the state government’s Residential Activation Fund, the $500,000 grant will allow the Burdekin Shire Council to move forward in implementing their Local Housing Action Plan to increase housing supply across the shire. “The Burdekin is not immune
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Between Alligator Creek and Ayr Three offenders were arrested on 28 August after Polair tracked a stolen Toyota RAV4 travelling at speeds of up to 180 km/h between Alligator Creek and Ayr, dangerously approaching oncoming traffic along the Bruce Highway. The vehicle was abandoned in Methodist Lane, Ayr, prompting a brief foot pursuit. Local officers, assisted by the Townsville Tactical Crime Squad and Polair, successfully located and arrested all three occupants. The driver, an 18-year-old mal
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Wednesday, 27 August marked National Meals on Wheels Day, a day for communities across Australia to recognise the dedication, care, and connection the organisation provides. The Lower Burdekin Meals on Wheels has been serving the community for over 50 years. To honour their steady commitment to the region, an intimate morning tea was held at their headquarters on MacMillan Street, with a cake and some coffee to celebrate the occasion. Guests were given a tour of the kitchen, witnessing firstha
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A Decade of Riding the Wave in the Burdekin It’s been ten years since Kylie and Clint McNee chose to chase possibility over certainty. A hairdresser and a spray contractor at the time, the Burdekin couple took a leap into the unknown when they opened Swerve Surf & Ski—a surf, streetwear and lifestyle store aiming to bring a fresh perspective to local fashion and water sports gear. But without experience or connections in the retail industry, they were fighting an uphill battle before the doors
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Burdekin Shire Council is supporting the establishment of a Country Universities Centre (CUC) in the Burdekin through its involvement in the newly formed CUC Burdekin Management Committee. The CUC model provides regional students with access to high-quality learning facilities, technology, and academic support while studying tertiary or vocational education remotely. With more than a dozen centres already operating across Australia, the CUC network is helping bridge the gap between metropolita
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Burdekin Shire Council officers were recently invited to join members of the Annan, Endeavour and Normanby Producer Group from Cape York at the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Research Station in Ayr for a valuable knowledge-sharing session on feral animal control. The session featured a presentation by Council’s Manager Environmental and Health Services, Paul Day, who outlined practical strategies and approaches to managing feral animals, along with additional insights from Northern Tra
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If you haven’t caught up on the news, I’m very pleased to share that Council has been successful in securing funding through Round 1 of the Queensland Government’s Residential Activation Fund. This funding will allow us to develop detailed design plans, so we are “construction ready” when future funding opportunities arise. A key feature of the plan is a new road connection from Craig Street through to Chippendale Street. This will create another vital route in and out of town, easing pressure o
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Spring has officially arrived, bringing with it the re-opening of the Burdekin Aquatic Centre and the Clare pools. The cool and dry days are great for our cane season but also for our road crews to undertake reconstruction work currently happening right across the shire. Please be patient and observe the speed limits around any roadworks to help keep both our workers and yourself safe. This weekend also marks the return of the Burdekin Water Festival. The committee has been working hard to deliv
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Global Traders Roadshow Returns We know how important it is for growers to have clear, timely information about what’s driving the sugar market. That’s why I’m pleased to advise that our annual Global Traders Roadshow is returning to North Queensland, running from 22 to 25 September. The roadshow gives local cane growers the opportunity to hear directly from Peter Bingham, Wilmar’s London-based Senior Sugar Trader, alongside Bevan Patterson, our Australian Risk Manager. Together, they’ll share
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AgTech Showcase To Boost $30 Billion Vision Tickets for the second Gatton AgTech Showcase, on Wednesday 15 and Thursday 16 October 2025, are now available to book online. The showcase will provide an opportunity for growers to see new global AgTech in action and talk to AgTech manufacturers about how these technologies can help their businesses be more productive and profitable. Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Director Vegetables, Supply Chains and Market Access, Ian Layden, said the aw
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Ergon Energy Network is urging gardeners to carefully consider what they plant near powerlines and other electrical assets, with fast-growing species like bamboo causing thousands of power outages and posing serious safety risks. Ergon Energy Network Area Manager Rick Madden said planting the wrong trees or plants too close to powerlines can lead to dangerous situations, including fallen powerlines, emergency power outages and electric shocks. “Bamboo is one of the worst offenders because it g
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Committee Probes Sugarcane’s Energy Future Queensland’s sugarcane industry, long a backbone of regional economies, may hold the key to powering the state’s renewable future. A parliamentary inquiry has been launched to investigate how the by-products of cane farming could be transformed into electricity, fuel and bio-based products, reducing waste while creating new revenue streams for growers and millers. The Primary Industries and Resources Committee is leading the investigation, with a serie
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Home Hill State High School’s Student Council rolled up their sleeves on Sunday, August 24, hosting a community car wash that combined hard work with plenty of fun. With music playing, students spent the morning washing and drying cars, raising more than $400 for future council projects, with the final total still to be confirmed. The event drew strong community support, with families, staff and locals turning out not only to have their cars cleaned, but also to purchase fresh cucumbers grown i
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