Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
The Escriva Cup was held on Friday 1 November at International Park. The Cup, played for annually, was won for the second time by Class of 13 who defeated FJV 2-1 in a very close game. The Men’s Cup attracted eighteen teams in six groups of three so that every team played at least two matches. The competition was run on a Night Soccer basis and each match lasted thirty minutes. Winners of each Group and the two best runners up went into the quarter finals. This meant that the finalists played f
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The Ayr Bowling Club has enjoyed another week filled with competitive matches and social events, showcasing the talent and camaraderie of its members. Tuesday Ladies’ Social Bowls kicked off the week with 14 players taking to the green. Notable matches included a win for the team of Karen Shepherd, Linda Guimelli, Beryl Cornford, and Mary Poli, who defeated Meryl Smith, Merle Nixon, Joy Comollatti, and Heather Jorgensen. In another match, Ruth Moore, Karen Page, and Irene Wilson triumphed over I
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Wednesday afternoon saw another excellent turnout for bowls. Bev Garioch, Lyn Farr, and Lyn Storrie triumphed over Ann Newton, Vanda Ballao, and Joy Woods. Members are encouraged to join the fun each Wednesday - please have your names in by 1pm for a 1:30pm start. Friday night’s social bowls drew a fantastic crowd. In the pairs match, Bruce McCallum and Ray Panecassio claimed victory over Margaret McLaughlin and Joe Ypinazar. The triples game went to Ben Mills, Ross McLaughlin, and Jamie Woods,
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Home Hill Bowls Club invites the Burdekin to their Come and Try Day, particularly children and teenagers to find out about a new sport to play injury free. It’s a 9am start and will run until lunchtime. Drinks will be available, bring your hat and flat soled shoes. If not, you can go barefoot. For enquiries, please phone 0428183054.
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The Home Hill Golf Course came alive with friendly competition and laughter during the Golf Ambrose event, a key highlight of the Home Hill Harvest Festival. Participants gathered for a day of teamwork, skill, and light-hearted fun, embracing the event’s spirit by dressing up and celebrating together. One team added extra flair to the day by dressing up as XXXX beer, sporting simple but creative outfits that paid homage to the iconic Queensland brand, drawing laughs and adding a festive vibe to
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The 2024 Queensland Country Bank Home Hill Harvest Festival will ignite the streets of Home Hill with festivities and joy this weekend for one of the most exciting community celebrations of the year - packed with new features and cherished favourites that promise fun for all ages. With a new start time of 3pm families with young children can now enjoy the festivities of the Street Party earlier in the day, with the Grand Parade scheduled for 5pm this Saturday, 9 November. A new addition to this
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Friday 8 November Home Hill Harvest Festival Rotary Gala Ball Friday from 6:30pm Indulge in an evening of regal splendour and community sprit at the official 2024 Home Hill Harvest Festival Rotary Gala Ball! Set to ignite the Burdekin Memorial Hall on the evening of Friday 8 November, the community is invited to attend to honour the 2024 Harvest Festival Queens, and witness the crowning of both the Charity and Personality Queens. The night will see attendees enjoy an elegant seated dinner accomp
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Do you want to play a part in this year’s Grand Parade on Saturday 9 November? The Home Hill Harvest Festival Committee is looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help marshal this exciting event! If you’re available, please join the committee outside Ashworths at 4pm this Saturday and be part of a fantastic community tradition. For more details, email info@hhharvestfestival.com.au or call Carlene after 3pm at 0478 063 808.
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The Burdekin Machinery Preservationists are celebrating four decades of dedication to preserving the region’s rich heritage in vintage machinery on Sunday 10th November. With approximately 65 members, the club spans from Chillagoe to Chinchilla, showcasing a commitment to historical preservation across Queensland. The club opens its doors every Monday from April to November, inviting tourists to explore a unique collection, including tractors from the late 1800s, the Burdekin’s first trains, and
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On Friday, November 8, the Burdekin Memorial Hall will come alive with glamour and community spirit at the highly anticipated Harvest Festival Rotary Gala Ball. This prestigious event offers an evening filled with elegance and generosity, celebrating the dedication and achievements of the seven 2024 Home Hill Harvest Festival Queens. For the past few months, seven young women have represented their organisations with pride, taking on ambassadorial roles to support and uplift the Burdekin communi
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The Ayr Golf Club hosted the final monthly medal event of the year for their junior players over the weekend, with plenty of commendable results scored across the board. The official November 3-hole competition winners were River Vass for Monthly Medal and with Grey Perry celebrated as the Gross Winner. Grey also took out Least putts and Andi Perry took home Longest Putt. The 6-hole competition saw the return of some old players with the Club welcoming back and congratulating Parker Lawson w
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Although the election results have not been officially declared, Dale Last is sitting comfortably with the win having secured 65.8 per cent of the votes at the time of writing, re-instating himself to the role of Member for the Burdekin. In addition, for the first time in more than a decade LNP’s Dale Last will be representing the region while not in opposition following the LNP’s landmark victory and subsequent announcement of David Crisafulli as the Premier for Queensland. Continued on page
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Last week, Brighter Lives, North Queensland’s beloved charity, successfully hosted its annual Giving Day, rallying the local community to raise vital funds for the Townsville Hospital and Health Service. Established in 1989 as the Townsville Hospital Foundation, Brighter Lives has evolved into the official partner charity for the region's health services, now supporting not only the Townsville University Hospital but also 18 public hospitals and two residential aged care facilities. This year’s
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In the Burdekin, nurturing the next generation is more than a goal—it’s a shared commitment. Local organisations like the Ayr Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC) play a vital role in instilling values of responsibility, resilience, and teamwork in young members. Through lifesaving training and beach patrols, the club equips youth with skills that could one day save lives, fostering confidence and a sense of purpose. Events such as the King and Queen of the Hill race further showcase the Burdekin’s ded
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Ruby Sitton will soon embark on an extraordinary new chapter as she prepares to travel to Norway on a twelve-month Rotary Youth Exchange in January of 2025. Currently in her final year of schooling at Burdekin Catholic High School, Ruby will proudly serve as an ambassador for her school, the Rotary Club of Ayr, and the wider Burdekin community during her time spent abroad. With her travels on the horizon, Ruby’s wonderful achievement was recently marked by a special presentation from Andrew Wil
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Lyn McLaughlin has been appointed as a member of the Queensland Reconstruction Board, a move that underscores her dedication to regional Queensland and her extensive experience in infrastructure and disaster recovery. With a remarkable tenure of 22 years as a Councillor and Mayor of Burdekin Shire Council, McLaughlin’s appointment highlights her commitment to advocating for regional voices in statewide discussions. Having previously served on the Queensland Reconstruction Board from 2013 to 201
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Burdekin Shire Council is advising residents and visitors to exercise caution as the annual magpie swooping season is in full swing. This period, typically spanning from July to December, has seen an uptick in magpie activity across the region, raising concern within the community. During the breeding season, magpies can become particularly aggressive in defending their nests, often swooping at humans and pets within a 100-metre radius of their nesting sites. While many magpies are indifferent
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The Burdekin Shire Council has joined forces with Container Exchange to launch a new recycling program aimed at boosting container recycling and cutting down on waste in the region, all while benefiting the local community. Since the Container Refund Scheme's introduction in 2018, Burdekin residents have recycled over 40 million eligible drink containers. However, with millions of recyclable containers still ending up in landfill across Queensland every year, the Council identified the need for
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Sam Ashkar's journey to becoming a firefighter has been a blend of passion, perseverance, coupled with a desire to serve his community. Growing up with an aquatic background, Sam has always been immersed in helping others. “I’ve been dealing with people and helping the community since I was young, and I love that aspect,” he shares. As a lifeguard, he was familiar with rescue operations, but he felt limited in his potential for growth. “Firefighting was something I had always wanted to do since
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Domestic Violence is when one person in a relationship uses violence or abuse to maintain power and control over the other person. It often causes the person being abused to live in fear. Domestic violence can include physical, verbal, sexual, emotional or psychological abuse. It can include behaviors like stalking, isolation or controlling what a person does, who they see or even what they wear. Living with domestic violence can have a profound effect on children and young people. There is ofte
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“Balance is not something you find, it’s something you create” – Jana Kingsford For many, life may never be perfectly balanced. However, we can make things easier by being open to change. As we deal with the challenges of everyday life, prioritising our wellbeing while juggling our responsibilities is one of the most important things we can do. Many individuals are adopting creative solutions to reclaim their time. For some, this means scheduling specific hours for work tasks and fully engagi
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Most of us are familiar with the saying, “you can’t polish a…,” well, you know the rest. This saying recently came to mind when I was speaking with our Water and Wastewater team, who highlighted an issue that’s creating headaches (and blockages) in our sewerage network: wet wipes. While many suppliers market these wipes as “flushable,” our sewerage team assures me that this isn’t the case. Wet wipes are one of the biggest causes of blockages in the system, creating obstacles that disturb the nat
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Last week, I had the privilege of attending the Local Government Association (LGA) Conference. This event provided a unique opportunity to reconnect with colleagues I hadn’t seen in quite some time and form new connections within the local government space. The conference featured a diverse range of speakers and sessions that addressed current challenges and opportunities facing local Councils. Networking was a highlight of the event. Engaging with fellow professionals allowed for the exchange
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Established in 1926, the Ayr Surf Life Saving Club (Ayr SLSC) has long been a cornerstone of the Burdekin community. From September through May, the dedicated volunteers patrol Alva Beach, promoting water safety and lifesaving skills to people of all ages. In addition to their beach patrols, Ayr SLSC actively supports community events like the Burdekin Sugar Rush, Norm Perry Rotary Duck Race, Water Festival, and the Harvest Festival. Kellie Lawry, Junior Activities Coordinator, Registrar, and S
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Celebrating two decades of success, Butterfly Blue in Ayr is a cherished local gem. Founded by Laurice Falco, a dedicated florist with now 45 years of experience, “Butterfly Blue” evolved from her creative passion to making & creating masterpieces with her hands. From dried and silk floral arrangements to unique jewellery, scrapbooking, macrame and original head pieces, you name it Laurice has done it! Laurice always listens to her customers and community needs. “The next step was to open
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