Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
Cane crushed This week Season to date Invicta 105,794 2,739,240 Pioneer 54,121 1,305,725 Kalamia 49,308 1,445,206 Inkerman 54,056 1,625,543 Burdekin 263,279 7,115,714 CCS Invicta 14.12 14.40 Pioneer 14.31 14.35 Kalamia 13.35 13.88 Inkerman 13.67 14.12 Burdekin 13.92 14.22 Weekly variety performance for region Variety % CCS Variety % CCS Q240 52% 14.17 Q208 8% 13.40 KQ228 20% 13.20 Q232 4% 13.39 Q183 13% 14.98 WSRA17 2% 12.13 Comments: The Burdekin mills processed just over 263,000 tonnes of cane
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Wilmar Sugar and Renewables has announced a review of its Cane Analysis Program (CAP), following months of advocacy from Queensland Cane Agriculture and Renewables (QCAR). The decision marks the latest development in an ongoing debate over fibre testing practices at the Victoria and Macknade mills in the Herbert region, which had already drawn sharp reactions from grower groups. QCAR have said that Wilmar has also agreed to review its CAP in the Burdekin and Plane Creek regions. The issue first
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Australia’s investment in agricultural research and development has reached almost $3 billion in 2023-24, the latest ABARES release has shown. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry reported that this long-term commitment will lead to improvements in agricultural productivity, sustainability and modernisation. The private sector accounts for the largest growth in investment in the sector, with a nearly 5 per cent annual growth rate from 2005-06. ABARES Executive Director, Dr Jared
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Shaun Detenon, his wife, Katrina, and their son, Mick, have been running ‘About Town Bait & Tackle’ a highly successful fishing tackle shop, since 2001. They recently moved from Edward Street to their new, larger premises, at 203 Queen Street, Ayr, which now offers double the floor space. Shaun, who originally ran a local service station where he used to sell bait and tackle, moved away from cars and petrol and into being a fully fledged fishing shop back in 2001, working alongside his brother.
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The Burdekin Community Association (BCA) is the worthy recipient of a $20,000 donation from the CommBank Staff Foundation’s 2024 Community Grants program, in its most significant funding year yet. The Ayr organisation received funding from CommBank to help drive positive change and CEO of BCA, Debra Cochran, couldn’t be more delighted. “It was fantastic, first to get nominated and then win. It was quite unbelievable because I thought, oh my gosh, our little place. We were amazed and very grat
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Thursday 28 November Where in the World is Winston? - Author Talk with Renee Hudson Thursday 10am Meet Renee and Winston and learn all about her new book, and how it supports language development! Burdekin Theatre Saturday 30 November Burdekin Christmas Craft Spectacular Saturday 9am Burdekin Uniting Church is proud to bring the beloved Craft Spectacular to the Memorial Hall for the second time this year! Burdekin Memorial Hall, Home Hill Saturday 30 November Burdekin Library’s Big Book Sale
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Margaret Taylor, recipient of the Moderator's Community Service Medal 2023, has dedicated her life to helping others. Nominated by her church minister, Malia Ma’u, Margaret’s contributions to the church and community have been recognised as exceptional. Her work spans various areas of community service, including supporting school chaplains through fundraising and cooking, assisting youth groups at the Uniting Church and Community Church, and home visiting with the Burdekin Community Association
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Arts on The Avenue in Home Hill is embracing the festive spirit, thanks to the creative contributions of members Marge and Fred Morcom. For years, the couple has decorated their home with a stunning array of handmade Christmas decorations, and this year, their work has found a new home with the group. With the help of eight dedicated volunteers, a working bee was held to set up the decorations. Fred crafted all the timber pieces, while Marge created the fabric elements, showcasing their remarkab
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The Burdekin Community Association is calling for the community to come together in support of their 2024 Christmas Appeal to help share the joy of Christmas this festive season. The appeal hopes to provide assistance to locals in need from families experiencing Domestic and Family Violence, to elderly residents experiencing loneliness. Supporting the BCA’s appeal is simple, with the following items greatly accepted: • Bonbons • Festive decorations and tableware • Toiletries includ
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Help us bring the joy of Christmas to the lives of locals this festive season. From families experiencing Domestic and Family Violence, to older persons alone, we are hoping to be able to provide assistance to locals needing a festive lift this holiday season. We would greatly appreciate the following new items: • Bonbons • Festive decorations • Festive tableware • Toiletries including women's hygiene • Christmas books • Sparklers • Long life milk • Tinned fru
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Life is a journey filled with endings and new beginnings. Each stage gives us chances to grow and evolve, and how we deal with change is essential for our emotional health and personal growth. Endings often bring a range of emotions, from sadness to relief. Acknowledging these feelings is essential, allowing us to reflect on our experiences and recognise the lessons learned. Accepting that endings are a normal part of life helps us appreciate what we have achieved while preparing for the future
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Join a transformative Suicide Intervention Training session designed to equip individuals with life-saving skills and knowledge. This free workshop, hosted at PCYC Burdekin, 164 MacMillian Street, Ayr, is tailored to empower community members to recognise and respond to early signs of suicide effectively. Participants will learn to recognise the early warning signs of suicide, support individuals at risk by connecting them to available services and encourage help-seeking behaviours to prevent
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Get into the festive spirit and join the Ayr Presbyterian Church for a magical evening of fun and giving back this Christmas season. The annual Saint Nicholas Day celebration will take place on Friday, 6 December, from 5.30pm to 7pm at the church grounds. This family-friendly event promises a heartwarming mix of activities and festive cheer, and attendees will learn about the story of Saint Nicholas of Myra, the inspiration behind the modern-day Santa Claus. The evening will feature a range of
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The Burdekin sub-branch of Vietnam Veterans has been busy expanding the Deep Creek Veteran Retreat with a new barbecue area to create an even more welcoming space for veterans and their families. Ten members recently gathered for a working bee at the retreat, putting in hours of effort to bring the vision of a third barbecue area closer to completion. Don Bailey, a key organiser, shared that the team focused on extending the roof area and caring for some freshly planted trees, ensuring the area
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At 2.20 am on Saturday 2 November, Ayr Police intercepted a vehicle on Edwards Street. As a result, a 34-year-old Burdekin man was issued a Notice to Appear (NTA) for drink driving, .153 and is due to appear in Ayr Magistrates Court on 25 November. At 11.35pm on Saturday 2 November, Ayr Police intercepted a vehicle on MacMillan Street, Ayr. The driver, a 27-year-old Townsville woman, was issued a NTA for drink driving, .101 and will appear in Ayr Magistrates Court on 11 November. At 7.10pm on
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The Burdekin Theatre’s Friends of the Theatre volunteer group has been guiding patrons to their seats since the theatre was established in the 80s and hold a celebrated role in providing the community with access to live entertainment. Comprised of approximately twenty dedicated and enthusiastic members, the Friends of the Theatre not only provide the venue with a friendly ushering service, but also contribute to delivering a warm atmosphere for the community to enjoy through a range of fantasti
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Established over a century ago, the Delta Tropical Theatre, also known as the Olympia Theatre, opened its Queen Street doors on Friday, 23 September 1910. The beloved Burdekin establishment homed waves of live entertainment from exquisite balls and dancing performances to meetings, and even skating, before introducing the screening of silent movies in 1912. Built alongside the Delta Hotel, the Delta Tropical Theatre was constructed and designed by David Edwards, and Fred Smith in May of 1910 to
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Woohoo! The summer school holidays will officially commence from 3pm on Friday 13 December with the 2025 school year to kick off on Monday 27 January. In order to ensure the next six weeks are nothing short of enjoyable, we have compiled a fantastic list of wonderful, educational, engaging and entertaining activities for both you and your children to enjoy in and around the Burdekin community to make this school holiday period one for the history books! Fun Activities At The Library Starting of
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Continuing on with this month’s focus on emergency education and training, members of the Lower Burdekin Scout Group were treated to the amazing opportunity of visiting the Ayr Ambulance Complex on Thursday 14 November. The Scouts were guided through the role of first responders, with Victor of the Queensland Ambulance Service, sharing a few stories to provide the Scouts with a further insight into what its like to be an ambulance officer. Victor then guided the Scouts through lifesaving First
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On Tuesday, 19 November, the Ayr Golf Club came together to celebrate the life and legacy of one of its most cherished members, Rusty Reguson, at the annual Honour Board event. As the year draws to a close, the golfing community took a moment to remember Rusty, a man whose contributions and presence left an indelible mark on the club. Rusty's Day was not just about golf; it was about honouring a life well-lived. The day featured three exciting competitions: a male winner, a female winner, and a
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The Burdekin Wildcats U12 Boys Representative basketball campaign kicked off in June, with the team travelling to Cairns, Mackay, and Townsville to compete in the North Queensland Junior Basketball Carnival (NQJBC). The boys played 12 games across three carnivals, securing an impressive 10 wins out of 12. Their only losses were narrowly by just 2 and 4 points, earning them the gold medal and setting the stage for an exciting journey ahead. Next, the team travelled to Toowoomba for the State Bas
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The 2024 Laser Electrical Golf Classic saw an outstanding turnout of 82 players, all of whom gathered at the Ayr Golf Club for an exciting Greensomes paired event. This year, the event was proudly sponsored by Bonato Laser Electrical, marking a significant partnership for the tournament. Continued on 29. Laser Electrical Golf Classic 2024 a Resounding Success Continued from page page The success of the Laser Electrical Golf Classic 2024 was largely due to the efforts of Janet, whose meticul
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The Plantation parkrun #305 took place on Saturday, 23 November 2024, with a fantastic turnout of participants. The top finishers were Robert Tama, who crossed the line first in a time of 21:40, followed by Viven Govender with a time of 26:08. Drew Bursey secured third place in 27:26, just ahead of Kimberly Backman, who finished in 27:29. John Byers rounded out the top five with a time of 30:43. Plantation parkrun is a free, fun, and friendly weekly 5km community event that takes place every Sa
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The Burdekin Rugby Union Canetoads shared a huge congratulations to their very own Nathan Steel, Andrew Symth, Leonard Heron, Joshua Davies, and Robert Cantarella for their well-deserved selection in the TRDU Men’s Team of the Year! The outstanding achievement reflects their hard work, skill, and dedication to the sport, and the Burdekin Canetoads are proud to see these players recognised at this prestigious level. Contributed with thanks to the Burdekin Rugby Union Canetoads.
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The recent rainfall may have dampened plans for Fun Friday Night, but the Ayr Bowling Club are pleased to announce that the event has been postponed to this Friday, 29 November, starting at 6pm. The club invites community members to come out and enjoy a fun evening of bowling - whether you're an experienced bowler or trying it for the first time, this event is perfect for players of all levels. It’s a fantastic opportunity to bring friends or join in solo and meet new people. The evening kicks
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