Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
Superannuation is one of Australia’s most important vehicles for building a comfortable retirement. Yet many of us only start paying attention to our super balances later in life. I encourage everyone to check in on your fund and think seriously about what your retirement nest egg might look like. So why is super hitting the news and why am I raising it? The Albanese Labor government is planning a super heist and wants to change the goal posts on retirement savings. They are proposing to doubl
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On Saturday, 31st May, the Australian Hand Cane Cutting Championships swung into action under perfect weather and buzzing crowds. From seasoned veterans to fresh faces, competitors showed off their skill and speed—and a bit of friendly rivalry—across a range of divisions sponsored by some of the region’s top local businesses. The day saw fierce competition and plenty of impressive performances across all categories, culminating in the final showdown—the Australian Hand Cane Cutting Championship
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Gumlu held its 11th AUSTRALIA’S BIGGEST MORNING TEA at the Molongle Beach Caravan Park shelter by the seaside on Sunday 8th June, on a magnificent north Qld winter’s morning, enjoying the filtering in of the warm sunshine. The total raised was $1363 with a crowd of 50 people. Many travelled from Bowen and the Burdekin regions to enjoy the annual gathering. We always try to invite guest speakers from CCQ or people whose personal lives have been affected by cancer. This year we had the privilege
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Dear Community Members, We hope this article finds you well – it has been a minute since we have contributed an article to the paper! As we all know, food security is a pressing issue that affects us on multiple levels—families, individuals, and our community as a whole. Ensuring that everyone has consistent access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food is crucial for our health, well-being, and personal growth. Together, we can brainstorm innovative strategies to enhance food security for ev
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The Home Hill Choral Society delivered an afternoon of laughs, music and heartfelt community spirit during their Winter Concert last Sunday at The Vault. The event featured a unique blend of performances, with young talent from the recent Eisteddfod taking centre stage alongside the Society’s trademark comic skits and choral songs. Children performed songs, poetry, and Highland dancing—much to the delight of an audience of around 55 people, plus proud parents and guests. In between the childre
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By Jacob Casha The American Theatre Wing’s renowned Tony Awards—held annually in New York City—celebrated its 78th edition on Monday morning AEST, recognising excellence in Broadway theatre with that characteristic Broadway grandeur. And amidst the whirlwind of flashy dresses and ostentatious, fake-pocketed suits was the proud, grounded presence of Burdekin-born-and-raised Neil Gooding—whose works were recognised with four Tonys and a further six nominations at the event. His projects Operatio
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It was as I plunked myself down beneath the awning, catching my breath after being given the runaround in a Cane Country Cup match on the weekend that, just above the sound of my own wheezing, I heard my good friend, Linda Gooding, chatting to someone about how her son, Neil, was in the running for a "Tony Award" in New York City. Naturally curious, I asked Linda and her Husband John about it, and came to find that it’s basically the Oscars of live Broadway theatre! For further clarity, think:
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Sunday 15 June Plantation Park Markets Sunday 8am Join 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 Park Wednesday 18 June Social and Networking Event Wednesday 5:30pm The 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 Club Wednesday 25 June Bu
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By Simon Hood, Wilmar Manager Grower Marketing It’s great to see the 2025 production season off to an early start, with crushing under way in the Burdekin and Plane Creek regions, and the Herbert commencing this week. The weather continues to cooperate, and we hope that remains the case so all regions can get sugar into the sheds. The #11 sugar contract continues to trend lower, with little change in the global surplus production forecast. The recent UNICA report for the first half of May 2025
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CANEGROWERS has welcomed the renewed momentum in Australia-EU free trade negotiations, urging both sides to work towards a deal that delivers meaningful outcomes for Australian agriculture. “We’re pleased to see talks are getting back on track,” CANEGROWERS CEO Dan Galligan said. “But success will depend on whether an agreement provides commercially realistic access for agricultural sectors like sugar.” Negotiations stalled in late 2023 after proposed market access for key commodities – includ
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It’s been a big week in cane country. Harvesters are up and running in the Tableland and Bundaberg districts, marking the start of the 2025 crush. For growers, there’s nothing quite like seeing the first cane bins filling up – it signals a new season, a fresh start, and hope for better days after a challenging run last year. Across the rest of Queensland, farms are almost ready. Growers are fine-tuning gear, checking fields, and waiting for their local mills to fire up. No matter where you ar
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The competition that combines artistic fun with serious safety messages is now open to all Queensland primary school children from Prep to Year 6. Twelve different pieces of artwork from Queensland primary students will be chosen to feature in the calendar, with a different safety theme for each month. Deputy Premier, Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning and Minister for Industrial Relations Jarrod Bleijie said the competition is about creative young minds promoting the
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FROM WHERE I SIT At midnight on 26 April, Ayr Police intercepted a vehicle on MacMillan Street, Ayr. The driver, a 26yr old Burdekin woman, was issued a Notice to Appear (NTA) for drink driving, .146 and is due to appear in Ayr Magistrates Court on 19 May. At about 12.40am on Friday 2 May, a single vehicle traffic crash occurred on Bruce Highway, McDesme. As a result of investigations, Ayr Police located a 30yr old Townsville man nearby. He was later issued with a NTA for drink driving, .086 a
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A morning held in celebration of some of the region’s most important and inspirational people will grace Ayr State High School’s BBQ Area this June and the entire community has been warmly invited to attend. The Burdekin Local Chaplaincy Committee will hold an informal Chaplaincy Fundraising Breakfast to honour, recognise and commend the work of our local school chaplains whilst raising valuable funds to support the youth of our community. School chaplains play an integral role in supporting t
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A group of six enthusiastic Year 9 students from Home Hill State High School recently represented their school with pride at the Y Lead Altitude Day Young Leaders’ Symposium in Townsville, taking part in a fantastic day dedicated to growth, inspiration and leadership. Held on the 23rd of May at Brothers Leagues Club, the event brought together students from across North Queensland, including representatives from The Cathedral School, Pimlico, Town High, Kirwan, and Bowen to help shape the next
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Burdekin Catholic High School’s Open Rugby League team has made a powerful impression in their inaugural year competing in the prestigious Townsville Blackhawks Schoolboys Shield, North Queensland’s elite secondary schools rugby league competition. The BCHS Bears entered the competition with high hopes and quickly proved they belonged among the region's best. Their campaign began with a commanding 20–8 win over All Souls St Gabriels School, showcasing grit, skill, and impressive teamwork. “The
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They say two is better than one—and in the case of the Burdekin Roosters winning games, that’s absolutely true. Last week, the A Grade side notched their first win of the season by defeating the Western Lions. Then, on Sunday, they backed it up with a solid victory over Centrals. The Reserves also broke through for their first win of the season, defeating Centrals as well. A Grade started slowly against the Tigers, who scored early to take the lead. But the locals fought back, with Terrence Mo
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SKY Renewables’ push to sign up Burdekin growers to sell tops and trash for extra cash has been extended to June 30, with growers having until the end of financial year to make a call on enriching their revenue streams. Since a well-attended town hall on 7 May, growers representing close to 1,000,000 tons of the Burdekin cane crop have signed on with SKY Renewables to turbocharge the transformational Project Lion proposal. SKY Renewables CEO Simon Yim says he is thrilled with the uptake from B
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It’s been another big week at the Ayr Bowling Club. The highlight was our men travelling to Bowen for the North Queensland Purple Pennants. Our team went into the final day of play with four match wins—equal top with Bowen—putting them in a strong position. Ayr faced Bowen first up, who went on to win the Purple Pennants, and unfortunately we couldn’t secure the win. In our last game against Giru, we notched another match win, bringing our total to five for the weekend and placing Ayr second o
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A smaller group of juniors took to the course this week—perhaps deterred by the cooler morning or earlier tee time—but that didn’t stop a close and competitive round across both the 6-hole and 9-hole events. A big thank you to Menkens Farms for generously sponsoring the morning, with Drummond Golf gift vouchers up for grabs. In the 9-hole competition, Amaya claimed the gross win with a score of 41. Kyle took out the nett honours with a score of 40, just edging out Riley by one shot and Heath b
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This year, Brandon Bowls Club’s Red Pennants team hit the Bruce Highway for a tough three-day competition across seven rounds at Suburban and South Townsville Bowls Clubs. Facing off against some of the region’s powerhouse clubs, 12 Brandon bowlers gave it their all in what remains one of the district’s most fiercely contested events. Results – Suburban Bowls Club Round 1: Brandon def. Cutheringa Round 2: Brandon lost to Macknade Round 3: Brandon lost to Suburban Round 4: Brandon lost to Thur
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Helene Holmes Optique Eyes is proud to celebrate 28 years of providing exceptional eye care and exquisite eyewear to the Burdekin community. Known for their commitment to the highest levels of customer service, Helene Holmes Optique Eyes has become a trusted name in the region, offering both expert vision care and a wide selection of stylish eyewear. Helene and her dedicated staff work tirelessly to ensure that every patient receives personalized attention, catering to individual eye care needs
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There’s a bit of a shuffle happening at Julie’s Pharmacy—not behind the counter, but on the shelves. Long-time owner and local pharmacist Julie Hollingsworth is holding a massive clearance sale, with discounts across a wide range of giftware and body products. Much of it is marked down by 50% or more, with some items up to 70% off. The focus is on clearing space, but the atmosphere remains the same: welcoming, familiar, and rooted in community. Julie has been running the pharmacy for 24 years,
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The Feast of the Three Saints in Silkwood has become known for its generosity, donating the proceeds of their annual feasts to organisations across North Queensland each year. This year, the committee chose to support CORES Queensland, a community-based suicide prevention organisation based in the Burdekin. CORES provides vital services including training, self-care workshops, school presentations, and free counselling—all aimed at saving lives and supporting mental wellbeing across the region
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Masaki Golding is a key part of the Harvey Norman Burdekin sales team and an expert in his field. He’s the go-to guy for everything tech-related in the store, from helping staff get their heads around new gadgets to jumping in wherever the team needs an extra hand. Masaki’s relationship with technology runs deep, though it wasn’t always that way. Born in Japan but growing up mostly in Bowen, his love affair with computers developed gradually. “When growing up, I actually was not around tech at
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