Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
Every day we are blessed to be in this wonderful community and Sofia Andreou experienced that first hand. Last week, she posted on a popular Facebook community chat site offering to give $50 for free to go to a good home. It all began when she was cleaning her rental property and found a $50 note hidden behind a book, deciding not to keep it but give it away instead. “So I thought, I'm going to actually advertise this because it's $50 I didn't even notice that I had and it's very easy to forg
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Home Hill State High School has claimed victory at the Opti-MINDS 2024 State Championship in Division II Media Communications, an outstanding achievement in the national competition, which has been running for 36 years. This marks the second year Home Hill has competed, having previously won the Townsville regional finals last year and gone on to claim the Division III Media Communications title at the state level. In 2024, Home Hill entered two teams into the Townsville regional finals, and bot
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As the final week of the state election campaign draws to a close Member for Burdekin Dale Last has offered his thanks to residents, community groups and business leaders who he’s worked alongside in his third term. Mr Last said while the support over recent weeks had been humbling what was important was that the Burdekin had a strong voice on issues and projects that mattered to them. “I have said it plenty of times but the Burdekin electorate is a powerhouse for the state’s economy from our
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Prepare for an exhilarating day of competition at the King and Queen of the Hill event on October 26th, 2024! From 6am to 8am participants will gather at Mount Inkerman to tackle the challenging course that winds from the bottom of Inkerman Hill to the picturesque lookout and back down again. This exciting race is designed for runners of all ages, divided into multiple categories, ensuring everyone has a chance to compete for the coveted titles. Participants will test their speed and endurance o
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The Plantation parkrun held its 300th event on 19th October, marking a wonderful morning of fitness and community spirit. A total of 41 participants ran, jogged, or walked the course, including four first timers and six people who recorded new personal bests. The event was made special by the contributions of the Lindley family, who provided Zopper Doppers, and Stephen Hervey, who brought 300 balloons to celebrate the milestone. The morning’s success was made possible by seven dedicated voluntee
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1: This is your final elevator pitch - in 80 words - what makes you the best candidate for the job? 2: If successful, what is the one key project/legacy achievement that you will be remembered for? 3: What role do you think local newspapers play in regional communities? 4: What would you say to someone who has never voted for your party before but is thinking about it?
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Last Wednesday, Ryan Jones delivered an engaging and informative speech at the Home Hill Chamber of Commerce meeting, focusing on the Burdekin Shire Rivers Improvement Trust (BSRIT). Established in 1941, the Trust plays a vital role in managing the Burdekin and Haughton rivers, particularly in the aftermath of significant flooding events. Jones outlined the Trust’s history and evolution, highlighting its formation in response to devastating floods in the 1930s and subsequent improvements aimed a
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Council organised a disaster management meeting in preparation for the upcoming disaster season, with 50 attendees present on the day. The disaster management team presented updates to the community ensuring a comprehensive, multipronged communication strategy. Key speakers included the Executive Officer of the Townsville District Disaster Management Group, part of the Queensland Police Service, and meteorologists from the Bureau of Meteorology. They provided a long-range forecast from November
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Open Minds is proud to announce that Ross Romeo from Far North Queensland has been awarded the esteemed Jeff Cheverton Individual Award at the 28th Queensland Mental Health Week Achievement Awards. This accolade, sponsored by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, recognises individuals who have made an outstanding impact on the lives of people living with mental illness. Ross Romeo, who has been the state coordinator for CORES (Community Owned Response Eliminating Suicid
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Last Wednesday morning the councillors and senior staff cooked breakfast for all Council staff in the theatre forecourt. It was a great chance to get the whole team together for an update from our new CEO Matthew Magin. Matthew explained his vision for Council and also announced who will be filling the two directors' roles. Congratulations and good luck to our directors. It's so good to have local people with great experience filling these senior roles in our Council. This week I have been dow
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I’d like to take a moment to formally welcome our two new homegrown Directors to the team. We welcome Director Infrastructure, Planning, and Environmental Services James Stewart and Director of Corporate and Community Services Kim Olsen. Both are home grown, have a deep connection to our region and are committed to ensuring Council achieves the best outcomes for our community. I am confident that, with their leadership, we will continue to move forward with our shared vision for a thriving Burd
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Queensland graziers are being urged to keep an eye out for pasture dieback and consider management options. Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) principal pasture agronomist Gavin Peck said the condition, which caused premature death of tropical and sub-tropical grasses, spread to new areas last year. “Previously, pasture dieback generally affected high-yielding sown-grass pastures in regions with more than 600mm of average annual rainfall,” Mr Peck said. “However, last summer it sp
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With just days to go until Queensland votes, Canegrowers is calling on political leaders to commit to meaningful reforms that will reduce crippling power prices and remove unfair stamp duties that stifle farmers' ability to manage risk. Canegrowers CEO Dan Galligan said that Queensland’s sugarcane growers are being squeezed by electricity prices that have skyrocketed by 145% since 2007, putting immense pressure on productivity and competitiveness. General price inflation over the same period
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Rural Quip, a staple in the Burdekin community for over four decades, has been locally owned and operated since 1981. With deep roots in the region's agricultural landscape, Robert Oar’s experience and passion for farming has fuelled the success of the dynamic business. From their beginnings in engineering to becoming a key player in the industrial and farming supplies sector, Rural Quip has evolved while maintaining its strong community ties. Robert’s background in engineering began as a boile
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Cane crushed This week Season to date Invicta 120,922 2,082,002 Pioneer 41,335 962,369 Kalamia 45,416 1,127,241 Inkerman 56,851 1,252,933 Burdekin 264,524 5,424,545 CCS Invicta 14.34 14.32 Pioneer 14.29 14.30 Kalamia 13.74 13.91 Inkerman 14.20 14.06 Burdekin 14.20 14.17 Weekly variety performance for region Variety % CCS Variety % CCS Q240 53% 14.45 Q183 8% 14.81 KQ228 17% 13.89 Q208 8% 14.30 WSRA17 8% 12.89 Q232 5% 13.09 Comments: The Burdekin mills processed just under 265,000 tonnes of cane f
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Farmers are often considered the backbone of the Australian economy. Yet with long hours, high demands, and tough conditions it’s easy for them to put their health on the backburner. Now, new research from the University of South Australia hopes to provide farmers with a dedicated pain management resource, to help them better manage chronic pain. Currently, there are no farmer-focused chronic pain management resources available to help Australian farmers better manage chronic pain. UniSA P
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By Angelo Licciardello, QCAR Burdekin District Manager The QCAR Burdekin team welcomes all Burdekin Life readers to our first fortnightly column. As a familiarisation exercise, I would like to introduce our expert team at the heart of Queensland Cane Agriculture and Renewables (QCAR) head office at 142 Young Street, Ayr. Melissa Boulter is our Office Manager, Lee-Anne Gelling is our Executive Assistant, and Bernadette Rehbein is our qualified Payroll Officer. This dynamic trio provide a wea
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Simon Hood Wilmar Manager Grower Marketing This week we released our first look at the comparative pool performances for the 2024 season. Our quarterly Pool Performance and Comparative Outcomes report enables growers to compare our results and associated marketing fees with those of our competitor, QSL. The latest report, published this week, is the first analysis to include 2024 season pricing. It must be remembered that it is early in the 2024 season and there is much that can change, but the
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Katya Venter, a talented artist and art teacher from Townsville, has claimed the top prize in prestigious local sculpture competition, Ephemera, as part of the Home Hill Harvest Festival, gaining widespread recognition for her exceptional work. The winning piece, which merges themes of the sugarcane industry and Australian wildlife, reflects Katya’s unique approach to art and her deep connection to the regional environment. Her sculpture, described as both striking and thought-provoking, stood
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On the spooky evening of Thursday 31 October, the ghosts and ghouls of the Burdekin will come alive for one spooktacular night of scares, sweets, and horror at the iconic, Halloween House, opposite the Ayr Golf Course. An outstanding display of lights and decorations will ignite Darwin Street to celebrate the frightful holiday with plenty of fun treats for everyone to enjoy. An almost three weeklong affair, Jeffrey Lunn and Leon McCormack decorate their home from top to bottom, producing amazin
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For the past three years, radio host Ros Row has been captivating audiences with a rich blend of musical genres and heartfelt moments. Drawn to this profession by a deep love for music and an invitation from a friend, Ros recalls lying in bed on Sunday afternoons, immersed in the Top 40 hits. “I love all genres of music,” she shares, embodying the spirit of a true music enthusiast. Among the many artists that inspire Ros, Matchbox Twenty and their charismatic frontman, Rob Thomas, hold a special
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Get your dancing shoes ready for a night of nostalgia at the Burdekin School Fundraiser’s Rock the 70’s Dance Party! On October 25, 2024, the Queens Hotel in Ayr will come alive with the unforgettable sounds of the 70’s, as Attori takes the stage to perform their smash-hit show, filled with classic tunes that defined the era. From standout anthems like "Eagle Rock" to disco favourites such as "Disco Inferno," "Dancing Queen," and "I Will Survive," this event is set to transport you back to the g
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The festive season in Ayr is set to be brighter than ever, with the annual Ayr Christmas Street Party scheduled for Thursday, 19th December. The Burdekin Shire Council is calling on local singers, dancers, and performers to fill the streets with holiday cheer. Local eateries are encouraged to join in, with outdoor seating allowing patrons to enjoy the festive atmosphere. Adding to the excitement, shoppers have the chance to win fantastic prizes in a special draw. When customers spend $30 at part
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Friday 25 October Burdekin School Rock the 70s Dance Party Fundraiser Friday from 7pm Prepare to rock and roll through the greatest hits of the 70s at the Burdekin School’s Rock the 70s Dance Party Fundraiser on Friday 25 October! Set to be held at the Queens Hotel, doors will open from 7pm with the show kicking off at 8pm sharp! Each ticket includes a complimentary beverage on arrival and can be purchased from both the Burdekin Theatre and the Queens Hotel. Queens Hotel Saturday 26 October Hom
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If you have seen media reports, you will be aware that mental health is a very real challenge for us globally, but more importantly for all of us as individuals. Latest data shows around 1 in 4 will experience a significant mental health issue in any 12 month period, and 1 in 2 during their lifetime. The Mental Health Australia – Report to the Nation revealed many things such as: • The 18 – 39, followed by 40 – 59 year age groups had the lowest levels of mental health, but for many, mental h
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