Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
Grower advocacy group, CANEGROWERS, have said that Queensland's sugarcane farming families have spent Christmas counting the cost of yet another delayed harvest. It claims that updated industry analysis has found that poor milling performance throughout the year has caused crushing to continue into the wet season, which could cost growers over one-hundred million dollars in 2024. The analysis by CANEGROWERS has revealed that as of 14 December more than 1.8 million tonnes of cane, worth a stagger
Read more
Sunday 5 January Plantation Park Markets Sunday 8am Celebrate the first Plantation Park Market of 2025 and join Ayr State Primary School for a picture-perfect morning showcasing the talents and hobbies of both local and travelling stallholders with everything from home baked treats to handmade creations on offer! To become a stallholder yourself contact 4790 3333. Plantation Park Wednesday 8 January Walk In Make It School Holiday Activity Wednesday 9:30am Unleash your inner monster and craft u
Read more
The Get Set for Work program, run by Police Citizens Youth Club (PCYC), targets 15-19-year-olds who have dropped out of school and provides them with a Certificate II in skills for work and vocational pathways. The program includes resume and cover letter assistance, first aid, RSA, and white cards, and features guest speakers on topics like budgeting, mental health, workers' rights, road safety, indigenous culture, and drug and alcohol awareness. “Our Get Set for Work program is for youth a
Read more
We are checking in with you all! How are we all going? How did Christmas go for everyone? A relaxing time spent with those that matter, or did it feel more like a dumpster fire? As we reflect on the past year, there comes a moment to release the challenges of 2024. Tonight presents a wonderful opportunity to shift our focus toward planning and setting intentions for the new year. It’s a time for manifestation and envisioning what we want to create in 2025. No matter how your experiences
Read more
The Burdekin libraries in both Ayr and Home Hill, are running tremendous school holiday programs throughout January. Designed to keep the kids entertained, out of the heat, and give parents much needed respite, the program is sure to capture little imaginations and get the creative juices flowing. Information on the School Holiday Program for January 2025: • Walk in Make It Sessions: are open craft sessions where craft materials are provided to explore imaginations. A theme is given for i
Read more
Sweet FM first began broadcasting back on 28th September, 1999. Charlie Scuderi, station manager, has been involved with the radio since its inception in 1999 and has been managing it for the last six years. Their studio is based in the old Home Hill Court House building, on Eighth Avenue, Home Hill. “I was involved just after the formation of the radio station back in 1999, where I stayed for about 18 months. I then got invited back June in 2018 as there had been some issues at the radio stati
Read more
A wave of festive cheer washed over the Burdekin Shire throughout the month of December, and as the eve of Christmas Eve rolled around, Jeffrey Lunn and Leon McCormack hosted another spectacular Christmas lights display for all to enjoy! On both the 23rd and 24th of December, Santa Claus himself journeyed direct from the North Pole to greet plenty of families and pose for a few fantastic photos from sunset and into the night. Santa Claus was advised of a few temporary changes of addresses ah
Read more
The final Honour Board event of 2024, Constable & Taylor Day, was held on Saturday, December the 7th, drawing an impressive 56 participants eager to embrace the tradition at the Ayr Golf Club. Despite the rainy weather earlier in the week, the course was in fantastic condition, thanks to the tireless efforts of our volunteers and greenkeeper with their hard work ensuring a seamless event. Captain Sandra Wight shared a heartfelt moment during the event, reflecting on her visit last year with Dr.
Read more
The Burdekin Touch Association hosted the Grand Finals for the 2024 Mixed Season on the evening of Friday 13 December, showcasing top-quality games across all five grades. In a thrilling conclusion to the season, the A Grade Final delivered one of the most exciting matches in recent years. Can’t Touch This, seeking their first-ever A Grade title, faced off against the experienced Nrgize team. The game was a fast-paced spectacle, with play surging end-to-end. Nrgize displayed their well-rehears
Read more
Marshall Parker is an active and commendable member of the Home Hill Cricket Association, and recently represented his club with pride in North Queensland’s Under 12 B Team in Townsville. At just 10 years old, Marshall plays and trains at both his home club, and the Townsville West Cricket Club with the Parker family travelling to Townsville twice a week to continue building upon Marshall’s techniques and skillset. In following in the footsteps of his dad, Ross Parker, Marshall enjoys a match
Read more
Two celebrated members of the Ayr Rifle Club, David Huckett and Jason Kupke, have etched their names in history as part of the North Queensland team, claiming the title of Australian Champions at the National F-Class Long Range Rifle Teams Competition. Held in Canberra during November of 2024, the event brought together elite shooters from across the nation. The North Queensland team, comprising six shooters, a reserve, Coach Jordan Drew, and Manager and Captain Betta Gianassi, spent the past ye
Read more
As the Christmas and New Year period nears its conclusion at Alva Beach, the Ayr Surf Lifesaving Club reminds everyone to enjoy the school holidays and festivities safely. With increased traffic from bikes and 4-wheelers, the Club urges beachgoers to be mindful and considerate of others. The dedicated patrols have been on duty throughout the holiday season to ensure everyone enjoys a safe time by the water, with members asking the community to work together to keep Alva Beach a fun and safe env
Read moreThursday 19 December Festive Biscuits Decorating School Holiday Activity Thursday 10:30am Craving some tasty treats? The Home Hill Library will also be holding a fabulous Festive Biscuits Decorating session on Thursday, 19 December from 10:30am to 11:30am. Bookings essential https://bit.ly/burdekinlibraryevents. Home Hill Library Thursday 19 December Christmas Confessions Thursday 6pm The community is invited to come and experience the love and mercy of Jesus. St. Colman’s Church, Home Hill
Read more
On 11 December, The Home Hill Surgery was thrilled to celebrate a milestone – their 10th anniversary – since the irrepressible and lovable, Dr Tata, has taken over the practice. It has been an incredible journey, and one they couldn’t have done without the local community’s support, who’ve seen the practice go from one doctor, to two, to now six! Quite remarkable when you consider that most regional and rural areas are lucky to have one doctor, and even then that’s usually a locum – a temporary
Read more
Ready to brighten your day and support a great cause? Then head on down to 12 Patricia Road, Ayr, where you can pick your own sunflowers for a donation, with all the money collected going into research for Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH) Australia. Started up by a local man who wanted to remain anonymous, during a brief conversation, he said he was doing it after one of his good friends lost their child to CDH. “Basically, anything I can do that might help save a life, whether it’s money
Read more
So as another year is almost over, last minute Chrissie gifts are checked off, and we step into 2025 (how did we get there so quickly?), from me, Trish, Chelsea and the rest of the Burdekin Life team, we want to thank everyone from the local community, the Burdekin Shire Council, community and support groups, sports teams and clubs, and especially advertisers, for your continued support and commitment to the paper. Without it, the Burdekin Life Newspaper would cease to exist. In my short time h
Read more
Staff at the Ayr Hospital took time to recognise some of their longest serving staff with a special morning tea function on Friday, 13th December, last week. Eight staff across the whole nursing, medical, operational and administration service groups, were presented with certificates and commemorative pins by Burdekin Shire Mayor Pierina Dalle Cort, highlighting their milestone years of service. Notably, clinical nurse, Suzette Marano, who primarily works within the emergency department, was
Read more
It may have been the tenth year of Member for Burdekin Dale Last's Christmas Appeal, but the generosity of Burdekin residents has again left him both humbled and proud to represent such a great community. Hopes of ensuring the tenth year of the Christmas appeal could be the biggest yet have been exceeded with donations of non-perishable food and toys pouring in over recent weeks at the Burdekin Electorate Office. Mr Last said despite costs of living continuing to impact family budgets it was
Read more
Born and raised in India, Joshi Kota, who has worked in the U.S and U.K, where he spent many years studying and practicing, comes with a wealth of experience. Having recently moved to the Burdekin in October, he is now Home Hill Surgery’s new physiotherapist. “I first met Dr. Tata, while I was working in the U.S before he invited me to join him in here in Home Hill,” Joshi says. Joshi has been a physio since 2018, with experience in dealing with musculoskeletal pain management, sports injuries
Read more
For the second year in a row, the Burdekin Christian College and Zonta Club, has organised a Christmas Dress-Up Day and Christmas Pop-Up Treat Shop, in order to raise money for charity. Towards the end of Term 4, BCC staff and their students joined in the Christmas spirit wearing their best Christmas costumes. The Z-Club also held a Christmas Pop-Up Treat Shop with lots of treats and goodies, which were sold on the day to the delicious delight of many. There were also prizes awarded for the
Read more
The Home Hill Chamber of Commerce met for their final time this year, on Wednesday night, 11 December. The Chamber hosted guest speakers: Rachael Smith, the Editor-in-Chief of Core Publishing (and Burdekin Life); Burdekin Life’s new journalist, Mark T. Rasmussen; Home Hill State School principal, Sharon O’Neill and teacher, Louis Nicholas. Mayor Pierina Dalle Cort, councillor, Amanda Hall, and several other prominent guests and members, were also in attendance. Rachael Smith spoke about the be
Read more
Maria, owner of Maria Porter’s Bakehouse Treats, had a passion for cooking ever since she was a young girl when she used to watch her mum bake. Despite not being allowed in her mum’s kitchen, it only ignited Maria’s passion for cooking all the more. “My love for cooking began in my early 20s. I was self-taught, reading cookbooks but also watching my own mother cook in the kitchen,” Maria muses. “I've been cooking for 42 years now, and here at home in Ayr for the last eight since I had spinal su
Read more%20(1).jpg)
As we approach the holiday season, I had the great honour of attending the 10-year celebration of Home Hill Surgery. Congratulations to Dr. Tarta, his wife, and their family for their contributions to the Burdekin community. Their dedication has enriched our region, and we are truly fortunate to have them here. This time of year is a reminder to prepare ourselves and our families as many businesses will close over the holidays. Ensure you’ve filled your medical prescriptions, stocked your pantry
Read more.jpg)
I can't believe I am saying there is only 6 days until Christmas! We hear so often how the years go by faster and faster and I think most people would agree that it feels that way, but there is still the same amount of time in a day, so what has changed? I think most of us are busier than we ever have been and if you want to get ahead in life, it often is the only option. That is one thing about Christmas though, for most people it gives us that chance to slow down and take a minute to catch up
Read more
CANEGROWERS has launched the 2024 Sugarcane Transport Load Restraint Guide, an essential tool created in partnership with the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR). This industry-specific guide aims to enhance road transport safety and streamline compliance for sugarcane growers and transport operators. The new resource addresses a long-standing need for updated and practical advice tailored to the sugarcane industry. It equips operators with the knowledge to ensure safer, more efficient tr
Read more