Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
Local Pre-season training has begun. We have had twenty-four players the last two weeks, a mixture of seasoned senior players and Under16 and Under14 players. Training will continue up until 19 December then start again on 2 January. Thursday nights at International Park from 6pm. All new and returning players are welcome. Only Night Soccer left on the local Calendar. The Group rounds continue until the 3rd December followed by the Semi-finals on 10 December and Grand Finals on Friday 13 Dec
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Despite a rainy start to the weekend, the Home Hill Cricket Association juniors made their way to Bowen on Sunday for two intertown matches in the Blue and Gold Groups. While the weather initially put a halt to Friday’s play at the Nutrien Ag Solutions Cricket Complex, Sunday saw the teams giving it their all on the field. In the Blue Group, Jude Shannon led the way with an impressive 17 not out, hitting some clean boundaries along the way. Kip Nicholas also showcased his batting skills, remain
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The Burdekin Rugby Union Canetoads came together on Sunday 24 November in support of an incredible fundraiser aimed at supporting men’s mental health, reflecting their strong commitment to both community and well-being. The event saw fantastic participation, filled with laughter and meaningful conversations. While the day was all about raising awareness, some of the players may have ended up feeling more "mentally tough" than physically tough, with sore muscles reminding them it might be time
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On Sunday, 24 November, the senior representative team from the Home Hill Cricket Association travelled to Bowen for an exciting 40-over inter-town match. Bowen won the toss and chose to bat first, setting the stage for an engaging contest. Bowen’s opening batsman, Jamarley Daley, provided a strong start, making the highest score of the innings with 61 runs before being dismissed by Alex Stillhard. Lee Watts (51 runs) and Ricky Parslow (26 runs) contributed valuable runs, helping Bowen reach a
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Hi Everyone, Great to see so many people in the community celebrate the end of a successful year – from the Year 12 graduating students through to local businesses embarking on a busy Christmas period – there is certainly a lot going on! A big congratulations to all local students graduating this year. Completing your school career is one of the biggest moments of your life and I am sure we all have our own special memories of the day we walked through the high school gates for the last time.
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Rose Rodighiero is a true gem in the Home Hill community, dedicating her time and energy to ensuring no one feels lonely. She is deeply committed to visiting her clients, sharing her warmth and bringing joy to their lives. Through these regular visits, Rose has formed lasting friendships that enrich both her life and the lives of those she visits. Born in a small town in Sicily, Rose moved to Australia at just eight years old. She attended St Colman’s Catholic School in Home Hill, where she stru
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Three Burdekin tradies have turned their commitment to mental health awareness into an incredible community effort by running 180km each for Movember. Austin Dewar (18), Campbell Johnson (21), and Braden Rawlins (21), who are all local apprentices, initially aimed to raise $540 but have far surpassed their expectations, collecting nearly $7,000 to date. Speaking about the inspiration behind the challenge, Austin Dewar explained: “Basically, my two mates and I are running 180km each for Movember
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Brain cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Australian children, with DIPG (Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma) the most aggressive form, referred to in medical circles as the deadliest cancer known to man. Ren’s Million Dollar Mission was born out of personal tragedy when Ren Pedersen lost his 9-year-old daughter, Amy, to DIPG in 2009. Amy’s legacy lives on, inspiring Ren’s relentless efforts to fund research into this devastating disease. The campaign, which aims to rai
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Marking 10 years of his Christmas Appeal, Member for Burdekin Dale Last is hoping this year may be the Burdekin’s biggest year of giving so far. Across the decade, Mr Last said the appeal had gone on to help numerous Burdekin families at a time of the year that can be incredibly difficult for many in the electorate. “The appeal has run every year since 2015 and has had a huge impact on literally hundreds of families,” Mr Last said. “For some it’s about being able to put food on the table o
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Approaching the three-year anniversary since a monstrous 3.9-meter crocodile was hauled away by Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI) wildlife officers from the bustling Groper Creek jetty and boat ramp area, along with members of the boating and fishing community have become increasingly concerned about recent crocodile sightings, calling for DESI to take immediate action. Rodney Walter, Commodore of the Home Hill Boat Club Inc. Committee submitted a letter to the Burdekin S
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On 10 June, former Burdekin Shire Council Chief Executive Officer Terry Brennan was among over 700 Australians recognised in the 2024 King’s Birthday Honours List. Brennan was recently bestowed with the prestigious Public Service Medal for his dedication and outstanding service to local government in Queensland, marking an extraordinary milestone in his remarkable 45-year career. “It was a wonderful recognition for my service in local government and the work I’ve accomplished across several cou
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The Zonta Club Burdekin Inc will “paint the region orange” for the 16 Days of Activism from 25 November to 10 December 2024, as part of the global Zonta Says No to Gender-Based Violence campaign. This initiative aligns with the United Nations’ observances of the Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Human Rights Day, spotlighting the profound impact of domestic violence. Advocacy Chair Judy Mitchell said the campaign raises awareness about gender-based violence and its societal
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How good was the Harvest Festival? Congratulations most certainly need to be extended to Mark Vass and his committee for yet another incredible display of community spirit. From the Ephemera and Festival launch through to the culmination with the Grand Parade and festivities, everything was spot on. Personally, the highlight for me, apart from catching up with people I haven’t seen in yonks, was Ida Arici’s deliciously decadent Italian sweets. 😊 The Burdekin Machinery Preservationists in Br
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This past week, I had the privilege of attending the graduation ceremonies for our Year 12 students. It’s a significant milestone, marking the end of their school journey and the beginning of an exciting new chapter. To all the graduates, I wish you the very best as you step into this next stage of life, full of opportunities and new experiences. Over the weekend, I had the opportunity to volunteer at McDonalds for McHappy Day, a wonderful event that raises funds for Ronald McDonald House Charit
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Ross Tapiolas, owner of My Pets Rural, is dedicated to providing quality and variety that sets his business apart. As a member of the AIRR Tucker independent buying group, My Pets Rural offers a wide selection of pet and livestock supplies at competitive prices. “Being part of a large buying group allows us to purchase at better prices, which means these savings can be passed on to our customers,” Ross explains. With a main warehouse in Brisbane, they run weekly deliveries to ensure fresh and
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For 20 years, Donna Dabelstein has brought uplifting messages, music, and conversation to her listeners on the local radio station. She and two others began their radio journey in 2005 when Merle Scott, then in charge of the station, invited them to join. "We were sitting in the same church pew, and before we knew it, we were in training, learning to switch CDs instead of streaming music online. Whether the Good Lord intended it, I don’t know, but we’ve been doing it ever since,” Donna reflects
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At AGLANTIS, we believe that innovation in agriculture should make life easier and more affordable for farmers. Our automated irrigation system was developed with one main goal: to provide a practical, cost-effective solution for water management that genuinely supports farmers’ needs. This system was shaped through listening to local farmers in the Burdekin region. Their insights helped us design a tool that’s both efficient and easy to adopt. This isn’t just another high-tech solution; it’s a
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Cane crushed This week Season to date Invicta 140,548 2,633,446 Pioneer 72,135 1,251,605 Kalamia 69,560 1,395,898 Inkerman 83,005 1,571,486 Burdekin 365,247 6,852,435 CCS Invicta 14.77 14.41 Pioneer 14.24 14.35 Kalamia 13.75 13.90 Inkerman 14.33 14.14 Burdekin 14.37 14.23 Weekly variety performance for region Variety % CCS Variety % CCS Q240 53% 14.69 Q208 6% 15.54 KQ228 19% 13.54 Q232 6% 13.60 Q183 11% 14.05 WSRA17 4% 13.47 Comments: The Burdekin mills processed just over 365,000 tonnes of cane
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Marking National Agriculture Day last week (November 15), Queensland’s Minister for Primary Industries Tony Perrett reiterated the Crisafulli Government’s commitment to supercharging the state’s agricultural industry. With a bold target to boost farm gate output to $30 billion by 2030, the LNP say that Queensland is poised to become a national leader in food and fibre production. The Crisafulli Government has also said it will strengthen Queensland’s biosecurity frontline, with a $50 million bo
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By Angelo Licciardello, QCAR Burdekin District Manager Well, there is more to sugarcane farming than I thought! Weeks 21 & 22 Crush: The last two weeks QCAR has been involved in discussions with many industry bodies to continue to develop relations and partnerships which can influence our success as a region/district to be the leaders in sugarcane production. I recently turned my focus to water systems in the Burdekin, so many thanks to Evan Shannon of Farmacist, NQ Dry Tropics and Sunwa
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Home Hill State High School marked National Agriculture Day on 18 November with a vibrant celebration highlighting the region’s rich agricultural heritage and sustainable farming practices. Students, teachers, and community leaders came together to showcase the vital role agriculture plays in the Burdekin region and beyond. National Agriculture Day, typically celebrated on 15 November, was delayed slightly to accommodate school schedules but retained its focus on recognising the people and ind
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Drawing from an outstanding 140-year history of reputable and trusted business operations, Raine & Horne Ayr sits perfectly at 128C Edwards Street and continues to incorporate the professionalism and 1883 values of Tom Raine and Joesph Horne when servicing the bountiful Burdekin district. Carla Healy, Principal and Sales Specialist at Raine & Horne Ayr, will soon be celebrating a decade of real estate expertise, and having recently taken over the business with her husband Keith, she cannot tha
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Simon Hood Wilmar Manager Grower Marketing With the weather gods being kind over the past eight weeks, the Burdekin season is about 85 per cent complete at the time of writing. Our Target price growers have mostly priced their 70 per cent exposure limit, with a few still holding out for higher pricing. Our focus now is updating growers with their delivered GEI exposure, so they can comfortably price the balance of their crop through the Grower Managed Production Risk Scheme pricing mechanism. Th
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The graduation of the Burdekin Christian College’s Year 12 class was an emotional and joyous occasion, filled with love, laughter, and a few tears. This year’s group of graduates held a special place in the hearts of the school community, with Principal Debra Creed expressing the sentiment, "It’s always special, but this year was really something extraordinary." Celebratory features for Burdekin Christian College and Ayr State High School on pages 16-18.
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Ayr State High School's 2024 Academic Awards evening, held at the Burdekin Theatre, was a celebration of student excellence across a variety of disciplines. The event brought together students, families, and staff to acknowledge the outstanding achievements of students from Years 7 to 12. From academics to leadership, citizenship, and sports, the evening highlighted the diverse ways in which students excel within the “Ayr High Family”. The evening was a testament to the hard work and dedication
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