Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
In 1970, Margaret Gudge became one of the founding members of the Home Hill Netball Club, later known as Burdekin Netball. Little did she know that five decades later, her great-granddaughter, Lillea Levitt, would join the club, continuing a remarkable family legacy. Lillea became the first-ever great-grandchild of a former player to sign up with Burdekin Netball in 2020. Back in the 70’s, Margaret and a group of friends formed a team in the newly established, Home Hill Netball Association. They
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Since the Burdekin Men’s Shed Association came to be in 2011, they’ve developed a strong link to the community. Known as a great place for recent or long-time retired men to go and keep up their skills, learn about men’s health issues, build lasting friendships with other blokes, and give back to the community, they’ve long been admired and respected within the region. However, with their membership numbers falling as a result of many older members passing away or moving, there are concerns th
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So, I’m six weeks into this regional role as your local journo, and I’m seeing trends – some good (most great), and one or two that are disconcerting. Nothing outrageous or an “everyone run-for-hills” kind of thing, just little observations I’ve noticed. See, as a perennial traveller and someone who was once called ‘The Thinker’ in high school, such was my lifelike pose I’d strike at any time akin to Auguste Rodin’s famous marble statue, I’m forever watching, observing, studying, and generally
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Leaders from the Lower Burdekin Scout Group, Chris Berkery and Narelle Timm, were presented with a generous $2000 cheque by Kerry Lowing, the Secretary of Bluey’s Thrift Shop, on Sunday 5th Jan 2025, at the Uniting Church in Home Hill. This is the second generous cheque that Bluey’s has presented to the Lower Burdekin Scout Group. The previous donation in 2024 was used to provide scout camps and activities, leadership training for the Youth members, and small First Aid kits for all Scouts, along
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Jo Veneman, a director of North Queensland company Renewable Homes, was recently taken aback by a $1000 bill for her truck to cross the Burdekin Bridge, a key freight route between Ayr and Home Hill on the Bruce Highway. The bridge, which serves both road users and trains, has a unique design that forces full closures when vehicles larger than garbage trucks need to pass. The Burdekin Bridge, managed by Queensland Rail and Transport and Main Roads, frequently experiences closures - up to 10 to
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The Federal Labor Government’s backflip on funding for the Bruce Highway has been welcomed by Member for Burdekin Dale Last, just weeks after flooding cut the national highway. Mr Last said the return of the 80:20 funding arrangement between state and federal governments for the East coast’s deadliest highway was welcome news for many communities in the Burdekin Electorate. “In the time since Labor axed the 80:20 funding arrangement for the Bruce Highway, we have seen more blood shed, familie
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Not even having a dialysis treatment, stopped this Santa from ensuring he was still able to deliver all those gifts over his busiest period ever, Christmas. Even having dialysis during the hectic gift-giving season, didn’t deter Santa (Ross Whiley), who needed to have it leading into the holiday season last December. If anything, it revitalised him, giving this Santa an extra spring in his step so he could guarantee the children got their presents on time, much to the relief of parents the Bur
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Plenty of rainfall was experienced across the Burdekin to ring in the new year, and many locals noticed a sad looking Christmas Tree struggling to cope in the Burdekin Theatre Forecourt. Almost poetic, the photo captured and shared on Wednesday the 1st of January 2025, attracted waves of attention with many members of the community noting it’s a sign to box up the festive season, and welcome in the new year. Although a sore spot for some, other locals were able to make light of the situation
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The Federal Government has announced an additional $7.2 billion investment into the Bruce Highway, marking the single largest funding commitment in the highway’s history. This pledge aims to upgrade Queensland’s critical 1,673 km transport artery to a minimum three-star safety rating, with the Burdekin region poised to benefit from significant improvements. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese highlighted the importance of the highway for connecting Queenslanders, tourists, and freight, stating, “Que
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Despite being a whopping 15,000km from Edinburgh, Scotland, and on the other side of the world in the Southern Hemisphere, a Scottish Hogmanay was celebrated in the Burdekin region with bagpipes, haggis and an Auld Lang Syne. The Lower Burdekin Celtic Dancing Association hosted over 250 people at their biennial Hogmanay Ceilidh on New Years Eve, bringing a Celtic flavour to a good old fashioned family night of fun. In between Gypsy Taps and Pride of Erins, the revellers were treated to the inc
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Schools, businesses, organisations and community groups across the Burdekin region will soon begin gearing up for Clean Up Australia Day, with many calling for locals to get involved in the fantastic initiative. Scheduled for Sunday the 2nd of March, 2025 will mark the 35th anniversary of the vital environmental event, which has been making a positive impact on Australia’s environment, one piece of litter at a time. What began 35 years ago as a simple idea from Ian Kiernan who wanted to clean u
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And so the new year begins. As this is my first Councillor column for 2025, I would like to reflect on the past year – and what a year it has been. Having been overwhelmingly elected by people to represent them in Council, I have tried my best to do so, sometimes garnishing the ire of fellow Councillors and directors. So be it, I fight for what I believe in. It has been a steep learning curve, understanding correct protocol, local laws and Government legislation. It’s not as cut and dried as peo
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I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and New Year, filled with relaxation, joy and time spent with loved ones. It’s great to see our businesses reopening after a well-deserved break and getting back into action. As most of us return to work, it’s a good time to reflect on the year ahead. No doubt many of you set New Year’s resolutions, and perhaps a few have already been broken – we’ve all been there! We are truly blessed that the holiday period was disaster-free, allowing us to enjoy the s
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Introducing the one and only Tones and I – or as her friends call her, Toni! This beautiful tabby with striking markings and captivating green eyes is ready to find her forever home. Despite facing challenges in her young life, including being a young mum, Toni is a resilient little fighter who’s determined to find the love and security she deserves. Toni is a social and affectionate cat who loves food, attention, and playtime. She’s especially fond of feather wands and will happily engage in a
Read moreEstablished in 2011, the Burdekin Men’s Shed Association (BMSA), is a not-for-profit organisation that has been a haven for men to keep up their skills in retirement, engage with others and learn about men’s health issues, while giving back to the community. The BMSA meets every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 8am-11.30, where they promote various activities that focus on recreation, skill building, and community projects such as making their popular kid’s toy boxes, and tables and
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New and improved agricultural levies legislation will replace the existing framework next year, making the levy system more user friendly for participants and making it easier for them to understand their obligations. More than 50 pieces of legislation governing over 110 levies and charges – across 75 commodities and 18 bodies that receive levies – are being streamlined into five Acts and subordinate legislation. Deputy Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Policy, Matt Lowe, said th
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Sugar cane growers in North Queensland are grappling with the dual challenges of rising electricity costs and restricted access to peak-time energy. According to irrigation specialist, Chris Doblo, of Farmacist Pty Ltd, the solution lies in smarter, more efficient practices. Drawing on his extensive experience, Mr Doblo shares practical strategies for growers to future-proof their operations and adapt to these mounting pressures. One of the most critical steps for growers, Mr Doblo advises, is t
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Burdekin firefighters spent some time at Wilmar Sugar’s Pioneer Mill last month, to do a site familiarisation tour and begin planning a joint emergency exercise drill. The site familiarisation was led by Operations Superintendent, Dean McNamara, and Safety Advisor, Ashley Corradi. During the visit, new members of the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) team were informed about site-specific risks and where fire safety equipment is located on-site. They also met Manager Operations, Mat
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Social media has transformed the way we explore and share the natural world, but it has also had unintended consequences. Studies show that the rise of social media has contributed to habitat disturbances, impacting native species. Popular wildlife spots often experience increased visitor numbers, which can lead to habitat abandonment, changes in usage patterns, reduced breeding success, and altered feeding behaviours. If you’re planning to photograph wildlife and share it online, here are some
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Shay Linton, owner of Home Hill News & Coffee, is set for the back-to-school rush that invariably comes this time of year. With preparations in place, they cater for all the local Burdekin schools by providing book lists and stocking necessary school uniforms and supplies. They anticipate serving many families in the coming weeks, all who are looking for school uniforms and other supplies. Additionally, they offer non-school related book items also. “We've had Christmas, and now we're gearing
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Sid Ruskin, an 83-years young scallywag, has been part of the Burdekin ever since he first moved here 22 years ago. Born in Paddington, Sydney, his family moved from Captain's Flat to Cobar, a copper mining town in western New South Wales. They then moved to Mount Morgan near Rockhampton, before later going to Collinsville. Sid attended school in Collinsville, before receiving a teacher scholarship to Kelvin Grove in Brisbane, becoming a primary school teacher. From there he moved to Townsville
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Sophie Robertson has achieved another commendable milestone in her STEM journey, following her outstanding selection to attend the prestigious National Youth Science Forum this January. The celebrated National Youth Science Forum provides students with a broader understanding of study and career options available in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), across a nine-day session. Sophie will travel to Canberra from the 6th to the 14th of January to live and study on the Aust
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In a new (and hopefully continuing) segment here at Burdekin Life, we’re hitting the streets to meet you and ask the hard hitting questions. Well, not really, they’ll be easy. But we’re keen to hear your voice, and get your thoughts and opinions. This week’s question: What New Year’s resolutions do you have, or are there any revelations you learned from last year that you hope to do better and/or grow from for this year? Barbara: “I'd like to go swimming a lot more than what I have been. I us
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A new artistic talent has emerged in the Burdekin. Jane Baltzars, who hails from the small Welsh town Barry, has called this region home for the past 15 years. She’s now drawing up a storm and garnering praise for her real-life animal depictions. For someone who recently re-picked up the pencils about 18 months ago despite creating art for 45-50 years, the results have been nothing short of outstanding! Specialising in pencil drawing, Jane uses brands like Faber Castell and Caran d'Ache. “I al
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Thursday 9 January Owl Tealight Ceramic Painting School Holiday Activity Thursday 10:30am Children aged 8 years and over are encouraged to unleash their creativity on Thursday 9 January for the Ayr Library’s magical Owl Tealight Ceramic Painting workshop from 10:30am. Bookings essential https://bit.ly/burdekinlibraryevents. Ayr Library Friday 10 January Walk In Make It School Holiday Activity Friday 9:30am Craft a world of holiday fun with the Burdekin Library’s School Holiday Program! Booking
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