Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
Described as the most authentic Johnny Cash show around, Aussie husband and wife duo, Mark & Joanne Caligiuri, embody the legend that was Cash and his singer wife, June Carter. But before he was Cash, Mark was King. Originally Mark was performing as Elvis Presley, and singing his popular songs around the country, but at one particular show his world and destiny would change forever. It was at one of these performances that they first came to lay eyes on each other as Joanne explains. “I love m
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An Australian-first initiative to improve fatigue management on farms has heard directly from busy primary producers about how they prioritise rest, safety and productivity. CQUniversity researchers are compiling the practical advice for farmers, with farmers – with input from across dairy, cotton, eggs and grains sectors. Now the project is creating useful guides to highlight causes, impacts and management strategies for fatigue on farms – and launching a new survey to grow understandin
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Biosecurity Queensland is advising of the preliminary identification of varroa mite (Varroa destructor) for the first time in Queensland. Initial samples from a recreational apiary in the Lockyer Valley have returned a positive diagnostic result for Varroa destructor. Further samples from recreational and commercial apiaries have been collected and are currently undergoing testing to confirm the presence of Varroa destructor and also check for other exotic pests and diseases. Department
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The Queensland Government is inspiring young minds with science programs to promote agricultural science as a rewarding, long-term career choice. Thousands of students will explore the role of ‘insects in agriculture’ as they take part in a national school plant science competition. Registrations are now open for the Department of Primary Industries’ 29th annual Hermitage Research Facility Schools Plant Science Competition. This year, students will focus on the world of insects, gaining
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Last Wednesday I chaired the Road Safety meeting. This is where Police, Fire, Ambulance, Wilmar, Main Roads, and Council, get together to discuss local traffic and road issues that have been raised by residents and businesses. The solutions are not always easy, but the discussions are always productive. You can find the minutes of these meetings on the council website. Unfortunately, a lot of our traffic issues stem back to driver error and impatience. One example that has been raised from Quee
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Last week, I had the privilege of attending the World Day of Prayer, a wonderful event that brings people together, regardless of their church or denomination, to share in faith and community. It was heartwarming to see such unity and support across our local churches. Over the weekend, I also attended the Zonta International Women’s Day Brunch, celebrating the exceptional women in our community. It was a fantastic event, highlighting the incredible achievements and contributions of local women
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The Rotary Youth Driver Awareness (RYDA) program, co-run by the Rotary Clubs of Ayr and Home Hill, aims to reduce road crashes among young drivers through road safety education. Conducted annually, the program involves six sessions over a day, covering topics like Drive SOS, Mind Matters, Speed & Stopping, and Road Choices. It targets Year 11 students, who are either on a learner's permit or about to obtain one, to educate them on responsible driving and passenger behaviour. Over the past decad
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The Nutrien Ag Solutions Cricket Complex was abuzz with excited juniors last Friday for our weekly games of cricket. The parents watching the Challenger's game were in the box seat to see an amazing partnership between Corbett and Noah of 52 runs, which included two sixes and three eights. A straight shot over the boundary gives the batter eight runs, which encourages straight hitting in the Challenger game. Bowlers to get wickets were Harvey, Nate, Olivia, Nicholas, Lincoln, Corbett, Noah and C
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This Saturday we held our first competition for the year, with a 3 hole, 6 hole, and a 9 hole competition. We welcomed some new members, Pia, Max and Angus, and along with our regular juniors, we had 16 players take the course. Max was our 3 hole gross winner with 22 shots, and Opie the 3 hole net winner, with a score of 12. Evelyn was our 6 hole gross winner with a score of 47 shots, and Tyler was the net winner, with 13 net. Gabby was our 9 hole gross winner with 49 shots, and Angus was the n
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The Neighbourhood Centre aims to foster a welcoming and supportive environment where community members feel encouraged to engage in open discussions about everyday life. This often includes navigating complex conversations and sharing meaningful experiences to gain valuable insights. These interactions not only enhance our connections but also promote a deep sense of belonging and mutual support within the community. Last week, we provided opportunities for locals to present to other locals in
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Raine & Horne Queensland/Northern Rivers 2025 State Awards took place in Brisbane last weekend and Raine & Horne Ayr brought home a plethora of awards on the night. Principal of Raine & Horne Ayr, Carla Healy, earnt 2nd place for "Top Principal - Number of Sales," 7th place for "Top Principal - GCI," and Gold Status in the "Chairman’s Club". Additionally, her office ranked 4th for "Top Office - Number of Sales" and 3rd for "Top Regional Office - GCI."
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Debbie Shanahan Property Manager Debbie brings a wealth of diverse experience to her role here at Raine & Horne, where she excels as a dedicated and highly skilled Property Manager. Her rich and varied background includes time spent as a Veterinary Nurse, Swim Coach, Teacher's Aide, and in the Childcare industry. These roles have equipped her with strong interpersonal skills, a deep sense of responsibility, and an ability to adapt to different challenges. Debbie’s multifaceted experience enabl
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From March 2 there was great flooding in North Queensland, and once again the Burdekin River flooded. Monday, March 4, the Burdekin River was 11ft 6¨ over the railway bridge which was said to be 16 feet high. The Lower Burdekin including Ayr, Giru and Home Hill, were isolated by road and rail to the North, South, and West. To prove that the Lower Burdekin could be supplied by a sea route from Townsville, two representatives of the Telegraph paper – a reporter and a photographer – joined a party
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FROM WHERE I SIT At 12.05am on Saturday 15 February, Ayr Police intercepted a vehicle on Bruce Highway, McDesme. The driver, a 36yr old Sunshine Coast man was issued a NTA for driving with a relevant drug in his saliva, possessing a dangerous drug and possessing a drug utensil. He is due to appear in Ayr Magistrates Court on 7 April. At 1.40am on Saturday 15 February, Ayr Police were called to a disturbance in Edwards Street, Ayr. It was established a person had been punched and knocked unconsc
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Did you feel the earth move on the 1st of March? A magnitude 4.4 earthquake shook homes in Townsville on Saturday night, causing a stir across the region. While the earthquake’s epicenter was located in Townsville, its impact reverberated along the entire Queensland coast, affecting residents in several cities. Geoscience Australia took to social media to alert locals about the seismic event, which struck at 9:31 PM. According to the agency, the earthquake was detected approximately 17 kilomet
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There was no sign of rain when the junior cricketers took to the Nutrien Ag Solutions fields last Friday for their second game this year. The scoring in the Challengers was close with the partnerships of Noah and Nate, and Everly and Anna producing 14 runs apiece. They were closely followed by Nahijah and Lincoln, and Corbett and Claire on 13 each. The wickets were shared around with Lincoln, Everly, Aria, Harvey and Claire, taking one each, while Noah did one better with two. Aria and Corbett
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A special shout out to Carla Healy principal of Raine and Horne. Home Hill Open Easter Fours: The Home Hill Bowls & Sports Club is set to host an exciting Fours Carnival over Easter Saturday and Sunday, with sponsorship ensuring an attractive event for all participants. Flyers have already been distributed to all bowling clubs, and organisers are hopeful this will become an annual fixture on the calendar. With the summer heat in full force, bowlers are reminded to prepare accordingly for t
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Local The 2025 fixture season kicked off last weekend when three Burdekin Panthers teams were in action. On Friday night the Ladies were way to Brothers and then on Saturday, the Premiers and Reserves were at home to MA Olympic. It was not the best start to the season with the Ladies losing 1-3 and the Reserves going down 1-4 but the Premiers did well to draw 1-1. After last week’s Kappa Cup loss to Estates the Ayr Anzac Club Premiers were hoping to get the season off to a good start against l
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Hi Everyone, Fantastic to be back in the region over the past few weeks and I’ve really enjoyed connecting with so many people in the community. First-up was the Home Hill Chamber of Commerce meeting where our Sales Manager Trish and I came along to chat to local business owners and, of course, support our journalist Mark in his engaging talk about his novel. Next up, it was the Sweet Days Hot Nights launch evening where we were thrilled to chat with event organisers and express our wishes to
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We’re Two Months Into The Year, What’s Something You’ve Done You’re Happy With Or What Do You Have Coming Up That You’re Looking Forward To? John: “I’m retired now but I used to work at the old Farry’s supermarket here in Home Hill as a butcher. I've been here 28 years now, I lost my partner about six years ago, I live by myself and so I just relax now. I got a son in town, and a daughter in Newcastle, another in Torquay, Melbourne. But now that I'm retired, I just go to a local here and have a
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CANEGROWERS has written to the Federal Government, urging Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to raise the disaster recovery grant threshold to at least $75,000 for primary producers impacted by the recent flooding in north Queensland. It has been more than two weeks since the government announced recovery assistance packages of up to $25,000 for affected growers. While growers are grateful for the swift response and the inclusion of replant costs in recovery grants, reports from the ground m
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On Act of Kindness Day, Ayr State Primary School was privileged to receive a heartfelt and thoughtful donation from Mrs Penny Ford. With creativity and compassion, Mrs Ford transformed scrap materials into stunning library bags, pencil cases, and bookmarks, providing the students with unique, handcrafted items to enhance their learning experience through reading. The donation, made from upcycled materials, not only promotes sustainability but also serves as a reminder of the power of giving. Ea
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Nineteen new apprentices have kicked off their careers with Wilmar Sugar and Renewables. The new recruits are based in the Burdekin region, where Wilmar owns four sugar factories. The apprenticeships are in the electrical, fitting and turning, boilermaking and diesel fitting trades. Wilmar Sugar and Renewables Training Superintendent Daniel Shipard said he was pleased to welcome such a high-calibre group of first-year apprentices into the business. “Wilmar Sugar and Renewables has a long hist
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Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox believes that residents in the electorate of Dawson have again been let down by the Government when it comes to the Bruce Highway being upgraded. He states that Queenslanders were promised $7.2 billion in funding by the Prime Minister to fix the notoriously dangerous highway. However, in evidence to the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport estimates hearings on Monday, department officials confirmed that just $432 million would be spent on th
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Home Hill-Ayr Lions Club hosted the club’s Youth of the Year Final on Monday 25 February. Four talented students from Home Hill High School submitted applications addressing a range of criteria about their academic results, their school and community involvement, and their aspirations for the future. On Monday afternoon, the judging panel interviewed them separately. This component is worth 70 marks. That night, at a dinner at the Crown Hotel, the judges, teachers, family members and Lions and
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