Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
Lower Burdekin Scouts Take on Sailing and Shooting Adventures Members of the Lower Burdekin Scout Group have been keeping busy with back-to-back outdoor adventures this August. On August 16, four Scouts from the group joined 10 others from Townsville for a sailing day at the Townsville Sailing Club. Under clear skies and a light breeze, participants started with sailing theory before learning to rig their boats. Once on the water, they rotated through different positions, gaining hands-on exper
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Please join us to celebrate 50 years of the Burdekin Community Association Inc. supporting people in the Burdekin. Everyone is welcome - Clients, members past and present, BCA personnel, friends, organisations, other community members. BCA 50th Anniversary Celebration Dinner Please join us for an evening filled with celebration and memories! When: Saturday 13.09.25 Where: Hotel Brandon, 54 Drysdale Street, Brandon Time: Doors open at 6.00pm for a 6.30pm start Cost: $40.00 per person Entertain
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The Burdekin Water Festival’s infamous Grand Parade and Mardi Gras will roll into Queen Street on Saturday the 6th of September, and with a world of preparations underway, one wonderful new addition to the timeless celebration deserves to be highlighted! As generously sponsored by Wilmar Sugar, 1,000 brilliant buckets will be given away for children to safely collect and store their lollies during the specular Street Parade next weekend, and when all the fun is done, the kids can take the bucke
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Rural Aid has launched a powerful new fundraising campaign to secure the future of rural Australia by supporting the next generation of farmers — the children growing up on the land today. These children are not only the future of their family farms, but also the future custodians of Australia’s food supply. Right now, many are facing significant challenges. From natural disasters to financial stress, country kids often grow up surrounded by uncertainty, with the weight of the farm’s future on
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After more than four decades of involvement, Uli Liessmann has officially assumed the role of President of the Home Hill Chamber of Commerce, as announced by the organisation at its most recent meeting last week. Liessmann, returning for his second stint as Chamber president, was sworn in before a small crowd during Wednesday night’s proceedings, taking over from David Cooper, who stepped down after eight years in the role. Liessmann described his election not as a milestone, but as a natural
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Have you ever wanted to try your hand at macrame? Here’s your chance! Natalina Royan of Gnat’s Clever Crafts & Creations will be hosting a magical Macrame Workshop this Sunday, the 31st of August from 1pm through to 3pm to teach and inspire locals to create something wonderful! “Allow me to share my love of macrame,” wrote Natalina on a post shared online. “With my help and guidance, I would love to provide you with some knowledge on how to create your own macrame single hat hanger!” The wor
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Construction has begun on Stage 5 of the Home Hill Be-Active Trail, bringing the town one step closer to a continuous pathway network for residents. This stage will see a two-metre-wide concrete footpath installed along Seventeenth Street, stretching from Seventh Avenue to Eleventh Avenue. Once complete, work will move directly into Stage 6, extending the pathway along Eleventh Avenue from Seventeenth Street. Mayor Pierina Dalle Cort said the trail is a long-term investment in health, wellbein
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Burdekin seniors are invited to celebrate, connect, and access valuable information at the annual Seniors Expo and Luncheon, hosted by the Burdekin Shire Council. The event will take place on Thursday, 30 October, from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm at the Burdekin Memorial Hall. Mayor Pierina Dalle Cort said the Expo is an important way to recognise and support the region’s seniors. “Our seniors play a vital role in shaping the Burdekin community, and this event is a wonderful way to celebrate their co
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Home Hill's beloved Lloyd Mann Gardens, a known tourist hotspot, just became a little brighter and a lot more handy following the erection of a new signpost this month. The locally manufactured signpost, which cost the Home Hill Chamber of Commerce just shy of $2000 to construct and install, boasts five arrowed signs, each pointing in the geographic direction of a different Home Hill point of interest. Home Hill Chamber secretary Rob Antoniazzi said the idea behind the project stemmed from a p
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“I always wanted to be a chef,” recalled Sonya Mase, the driving force behind Home Hill favourite Marzay’s Corner. For her, the kitchen has always been a place to create, experiment, and inspire—but her path into the culinary world, though always a dream, wasn’t exactly linear. Working as a cleaner in South Australia before moving to Queensland with her husband, Tony, cooking had been more of a dream than a serious consideration—a passion simmering on the back burner. It was during her time w
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Most people attend comedy shows for the laughs. Some for the spectacle. But few come expecting to pick up a few handy life hacks. Jimeoin's upcoming 'Pandemonium' show delivers all three. Hitting the Burdekin Theatre on Thursday, 20 November, the Irish-born comedy legend—whose decades-long career has taken him across the globe—promises an evening of unique material blending observational humour, playful pranks, and moments of relatable absurdity. Over more than three decades, Jimeoin has tour
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The Burdekin community will have the opportunity to celebrate a unique cultural connection when the “Basques in Australia” photographic exhibition arrives at the Masonic Hall and Burdekin Theatre from the 28th of September to the 3rd of October. Presented by the Basque Club of North Queensland, the exhibition honours the Basque migrants who came to the Burdekin to work in the sugar industry. Their contributions helped shape Ayr and the wider district, leaving a lasting legacy of hard work, resi
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On Friday, 28th June, 15 debutantes took centre stage at the Home Hill Memorial Hall for the Burdekin Singers’ annual Debutante Ball, this year themed “Enchanted Forest.” The event drew a large crowd of local families, eager to celebrate the young women making their formal debut. Lawrence Polga, President of the Burdekin Singers, said the ball remains an important tradition. “We do it because we believe it's an event that still holds a special place to a lot of teenage girls, and is still a tr
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SATURDAY 30 AUGUST – SATURDAY 6 SEPTEMBER Burdekin Art Society Art Exhibition Daily from 8am–5pm A staple on the regional arts calendar, the Burdekin Art Society Art Exhibition draws entries from across Queensland and beyond. Held over a full week at the Burdekin Theatre, the exhibition showcases a diverse mix of fine art, offering something for seasoned collectors and curious browsers alike. Its longevity is a testament to its quality and reputation—and a must-see for lovers of creativity in al
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Twenty-one Ayr Juniors competed in this year’s Ayr Junior Open on Sunday, following straight on from the Home Hill Junior Open the day before. With 69 players taking to the course, it was a strong turnout and a successful day all round. Local junior Amaya Mahoney claimed the overall Girls 18-Hole Championship with a score of 82, while Levi Holmes from Proserpine Golf Club took the Boys 18-Hole Championship with 81. Other standout results for Ayr included Micah Kemp, gross winner for 3-Hole Boy
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Over the weekend, 6 members of the Ayr Surf Club joined hundreds of lifesaving members from across the State for the Surf Life Saving Queensland Conference. The weekend consisted of a wide variety of sessions with information and updates ranging from governance and insurances, membership and development, lifesaving and education and Surf sports, and everything in between. Two of the youth members, Bella Lawry and Briella Wassmuth attended the Youth Forum to work with 15–25-year-olds to address
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The roar of engines and the spirit of competition filled the air on Saturday, August 23rd, as the Ayr Motorcycle Club hosted a high-energy race day at the Brandon Sports Reserve. Kicking off at 3:00 PM, the event attracted 80 competitors from across North Queensland, with riders travelling from as far as Sarina, Townsville, and Charters Towers to take part. Spectators were treated to a thrilling afternoon of racing, with events across multiple classes delivering plenty of close battles, skillfu
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On Saturday, the 16th of August, the Burdekin Netball Association (BNA) became a hive of vibrant hues in celebration of their 2025 Burdekin Water Festival Junior Ambassador, Charlotte Sgroi! As part of her journey as a Junior Ambassador, Charlotte held a wonderful fundraising event at her home courts to fundraise for her club and celebrate her selection to represent the Burdekin Netball Association in such a treasured community event. Commencing from 2pm, a wonderful mixed netball competition
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The annual Burdekin Mixed Touch football carnival saw teams from Airlie Beach, Townsville and Burdekin clash in Ayr last weekend. Local team Nrgize with Michael Littlefield, Tramayne Horan and the Lampton family combining, defeated a very competitive NQ Under 16 girls’ team in the Open A final 5 to 3. Another local team Renegades under the guidance of Brendan Ford and the speedy Brad Johnson were too good in the B final defeating Townsville team The Chokers 5 to 3. The under 16 division saw s
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The Burdekin Roosters Rugby League season ended on a high last Saturday night at Bendigo Bank Park, where a strong home crowd watched the A Grade side defeat Herbert River 24–18. While the Crushers progress to face Western Lions in the RLTD semi-finals, the Roosters will reflect on what might have been. Saturday was also Sponsors Day, with the club acknowledging the generosity of its backers. The players repaid that support in style, delivering a complete performance. Coach Steve Lansley prais
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A tough weekend for the Panthers: two wins, three draws, and one loss from six games. On Saturday in Townsville the Premiers lost 0-1 to Warriors, while the Reserves drew 1-1. On Friday at home, the Ladies beat Warriors 4-0 and Division 1 Men drew 2-2 with Estates. Division 2 Funkies won 2-1 away to Rebels. On Sunday, the Ladies drew 2-2 with Brothers at home. This week the Premiers and Reserves host Estates (Premiers 8.30, Reserves 6.30). On Friday the Division 1 Men, Division 2 Men and Ladies
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Thirty players enjoyed another perfect Burdekin winter’s day on Thursday, with Glen “Bones” Berryman and Paul Vass taking top honours. In singles play, Michael Young defeated Norm Bethell on Rink 2. On Rink 3, Tony Caruso and Tony Eadie overcame Judy Elton and Gary Nosworthy, while Rink 4 saw Margaret Chapman, Dino Poli and Wayne Newton too strong for Harold Rummeny, Elaine Young and Trevor Elton. On Rink 5, Janet Arthur, Mark Swaine and Steve Doig stormed home to defeat Bruce McCallum, Nev We
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AYR BOWLING CLUB WEEK The Ayr Bowling Club is celebrating a great week, with members taking full advantage of the cooler weather conditions to enjoy both competitive and social matches. Enthusiasm has been high across the board, with players showing strong support for one another and a shared love of the game. The club's vibrant community spirit has been on full display, as bowlers turned out in numbers to make the most of ideal playing conditions. With momentum building and friendships thriv
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As the shire’s sporting season draws to a close across multiple clubs, the Burdekin Rugby Union Club (BRUC) have jumped ahead and claimed the date of their 2025 Presentation Night, marking out Saturday the 27th of September. The annual extravaganza, set to be held at the Queens Hotel for the second consecutive year, celebrates the outstanding achievements of the club’s players from the smallest toads on the field to the oldest across one huge evening overflowing with festivities. Prizes are aw
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Marking 59th Anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan At Creek Veterans Retreat On Monday, 18 August, locals, dignitaries and veterans gathered at the Deep Creek Veterans Retreat in Ayr to mark the 59th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan. Commencing at 11 am, the annual parade commemorated the 1966 battle in Vietnam—one of the key engagements involving Australian forces during the Vietnam War—honouring past veterans with a wreath-laying service, the playing of the Last Post and Reveille, and a
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