Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
The jampacked annual Sugar Bowl returned to the court for its 43rd year in the Burdekin as hosted by the Home Hill Tennis Association. One of the hottest events on the North Queensland tennis calendar, the 2024 Sugar Bowl impressed spectators once again with teams travelling from as far afield as Brisbane and Mareeba to compete in the event from the 4 – 6 of May. The event made its debut in 1981 when Lex and Pat Anderson invited captains from areas such as Mackay and Ingham to enter teams in t
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Hi Readers I’m back from holidays and feeling ready to get back into it, however I do return with some bittersweet news. But first, the holiday: I had a wonderful week on Norfolk Island with my family, taking in the layered history, intriguing lifestyle and breathtaking beauty of the incredibly unique place. My favourite moments came when hiking through the national park, swimming in the pristine waters of Emily Bay and exploring the rugged coastline of the small but diverse island. There was a
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The bi-monthly Burdekin Plantation Park Markets are a popular place for locals to find handmade treasures, homemade baked goods, beautiful plants and yummy food, but last Sunday, May 5, marketgoers also had the opportunity to receive a free blood pressure check thanks to Mater Private Hospital Townsville. The team from Mater Private Hospital Townsville set up their market stall in celebration of Heart Week 2024, providing free blood pressure checks, fresh fruit thanks to Lamberts Fresh Produce,
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Brendon Carew, known by the community as Paddy Carew, officially retired from the Burdekin Police Force earlier this week after 40 years of exceptional service. Brendon attended the Brisbane Police Academy following the encouragement of a family member, and after graduation, he moved to the Burdekin where he has served 37 years stationed at the Burdekin Police Station. Brendon looks back on his career as being a long and fantastic journey, and believes the community will be in safe, capable
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Burdekin residents sleeping in tents and farm sheds are being left without the answers they deserve according to Member for Burdekin Dale Last. Over a month ago, Queensland Premier Steven Miles promised crisis accommodation for every homeless person in the state. Mr Last, however, said the fact that his Housing Minister was yet to provide answers on what crisis accommodation was available for use in the Burdekin was a slap in the face to everyone sleeping rough in the region. “Towns like Moranb
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In an act of kindness, a team of compassionate locals are currently raising funds to gift a gravestone to a 93-year-old unmarked grave in the Ayr cemetery. The heroes behind the act have recently reached a significant milestone in their fundraising efforts, achieving Stage 1 of the Jean Morris Gravestone Fundraising target with a total of $2500 raised but are needing ongoing community support to fulfill their goal. This accomplishment is the climax of their dedicated efforts that began in early
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As part of the 2024 Australia Day Award Ceremony, former Burdekin local, Terri Bradon, was honorably presented with a Medal of the Order of Australia. An award of great prestige, the medal stands to recognise outstanding achievement and service, and Terri has been celebrated for her contributions to the arts in regional Queensland. When Terri began her journey in the world of the performing arts, she never contemplated the possibility of being presented an award as prestigious as an Order of A
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With 44 teams competing the 43rd Sugar Bowl was destined to be a great weekend of tennis. The Burdekin turned the weather on which was perfect for tennis with cooler mornings and a slight breeze. The new on court shades donated by Bendigo in Home Hill were appreciated by the players. As usual the results were close with the last round determining the winners. B ladies was won by Cathy Fairburn’s The Odd Bunch with an average of 51.4 games per session followed by Sharon Mc Dermott 48.25 and Sophi
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Sugar Bowl famous defending champions Dallan and Kurtis Gavey have been training to top A Grade once again in their team, the Teabags, and 2023 B Grade champions, Ian Gould’s Golden Aces, competed to defend their title in the A2 Grade for 2024’s event. However, across all divisions, each team was out to take home the legendary Woods Team Spirit Award, named after David Woods, the inaugural captain of the Teaspoons. Matches kicked off from 8am on Saturday and concluded around 2pm Monday afternoo
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Kylie Newman has held a racquet at the Burdekin Sugar Bowl since she was 14 years old, an event she has always admired since being coached by the competition’s founders, Lex and Pat Anderson. With a family love for the sport, Kylie reminisces on watching her parents play in the annual Sugar Bowl event, eagerly waiting on the sidelines until she was old enough to join a team herself. “My whole family plays tennis, and both my parents were in a Sugar Bowl team each year, and I always knew it was
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One of the Burdekin Sugar Bowl’s most celebrated teams, the Teabags, have stood undefeated for over 16 years. Established in 2010, the team consists of 8 – 9 players spread across Queensland, with each member looking forward to their annual catch up in the Burdekin to reminisce on the past 12 months and make new memories. “Our team’s success is credit to Kate Casswell, Steve Sunderland, Lex and Pat Anderson for all they have done, and it’s been great to see the Teabags boys turn from kids to f
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On Saturday 14 April, the Queensland Parliament House hosted a ceremony to swear in the newly appointed members of the YMCA Queensland Youth Parliament, and among them was Burdekin’s very own, Brent Dingle. The YMCA Queensland Youth Parliament (QYP) stands as a highly celebrated and unique opportunity for young people to create real change in Queensland. Open to young people aged 15 – 25 across Queensland, Brent has been eager to join the QYP since he was encouraged by his school principal at
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Nestled amidst the serene beauty of the Whitsundays region, an intimate new music festival promises an unforgettable experience for country music enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. The inaugural Barra & Boots Music Festival is coming to the shores of Lake Proserpine on Saturday, June 15, and is sure to capture the hearts of attendees for years to come. Drawing from the rich tapestry of Australian country music, the festival boasts a lineup that will enchant audiences all afternoon. With esta
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Early bird tickets for the revitalised Whitsundays Writers Festival are going on sale this week and organisers are expecting them to be snapped-up quickly with some of the most popular ticketed events capped at 100 seats. Attracting an enticing range of highly-acclaimed authors, this years’ event will welcome big names such as Shankari Chandran, Garry Disher, Sally Hepworth, Kirsty Manning, Christos Tsiolkas, Anne Buist, Graeme Simsion, Karina Kilmore, Melissa Ashley, Jack Roney, Joy Damousi, a
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You’re Invited DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS Candlelight Vigil followed by exhibition of Artwork "Through her eyes” Where - Burdekin Community Association 130 Queen Street Ayr When - Wednesday 15th May 6pm-7:30pm RSVP Essential Ph 47833744 rebecca.grogan@bcaburdekin.org.au
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Over the long weekend the Lower Burdekin Scout Group joined other Scout groups for a long weekend of fun activities on Magnetic Island. The Scouts travelled by ferry on Friday evening and had transport waiting for them which they took to their camp at Rover Hut at Florence Bay. After setting up tents, dinner and a safety briefing the Scouts got some sleep preparing for an early and busy next day. After watching sunrise Scout Leader Chris Berkery said the rest of the day was filled with activi
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The Lower Burdekin Scout Group went above and beyond to get into the ANZAC spirit this year. Three Scouts slept over in the Den on Wednesday night, the night before ANZAC day and to get in the ANZAC spirit they cooked ANZAC biscuits on an open fire. The three Scouts, Brianna, Caitlyn and Austin prepared and baked the biscuits. Some were successful but some were burnt and hard, but nonetheless, the Scouts ate the good ones for supper! Scout Leader Chris Berkery said next time they may have
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With this being my first Councillor Column, I would like to take the opportunity to thank those who showed faith in me to represent the views of the community in council. The election has given us a new council with a mix of experience and new blood. It excites me to see what we can achieve. As most know, local government is complex. Figuring out where a councillor can make positive change is the challenge. Once the new councillors all find their feet, I am sure we will do just that. We have now
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Have you ever wondered how you can stay informed about what's happening in your local Council? Burdekin Shire Council holds meetings every second and fourth Tuesday of each month, and the best part is, they're open to the public. This means you have a fantastic opportunity to stay informed within your community. But that's not all – you can also conveniently access meeting agendas and minutes right from the comfort of your own home through Council's website. This ensures that you're always in t
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Rehoming fee: $450 DOB: 1/10/2022 Sex: Female Breed: Bullarab x Kid friendly: Yes Cat Friendly: Untested Other dogs: Yes Fences: 6ft Mabel is looking for a very special home, one full of love, patience, understanding and dedication to help this girl reach her full potential. Sadly, Mabel arrived at Angel Paws from a very abusive place and because of this she takes a bit of time to trust humans. However, once she does, she will give you all the love that she has. It's taken time for Mabel to
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If you are just starting on your plant growing journey or you just don’t have space for a backyard veggie garden, then herbs in a pot are a great way to start growing. Herbs such as Rosemary and Sage that originated from the Mediterranean regions, enjoy tough growing conditions. Rosemary is a well-known accompaniment for lamb and sage for chicken and peas. These herbs like to dry out between watering and don’t like being over fed (fertilised) as they are used to growing in poor, stony soil. So
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In the bustling heart of Queensland's sugar industry, a significant agreement unfolded on April 30, 2024, between QCAR and Mackay Sugar. This milestone marks a pivotal moment for sugarcane growers statewide, as QCAR continues to strengthen its relationships and extend its reach beyond the Burdekin’s borders, staying true to its mission of providing Queensland-wide representation. As part of this ongoing mission, QCAR has been diligently fostering partnerships and agreements across the state, e
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The Burdekin Woodcrafts Association Incorporated, in Ayr, have recently been awarded a grant of $9,450 as part of a shared Australia-wide $1.4 million grant for rural areas, from the Foundation for Rural Regional Renewal (FRRR). This funding will be utilised to establish an additional storage area for the wood crafters. The initiative aims to enhance the group's capacity to support community projects and minimise environmental waste by facilitating the purchase and outfitting of a storage faci
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Excitement is building as expressions of interest (EOI) to showcase Queensland’s AgTech innovation ecosystem, alongside international agrifood tech and innovation event AgriFutures evokeAG 2025, open in less than a month. AgriFutures evokeAG. 2025 was officially launched last week on April 18, with entrepreneurs, key agricultural stakeholder groups and senior Queensland and Local Government figures coming together to back the event. AgriFutures evokeAG., to be held in Brisbane on February 18-19
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Introducing Kevin Swanson, who is the newly appointed Dealer Principal of Burdekin Motor Group, starting in his new position just eight weeks ago. Kevin’s career spans nearly 38 years and he has recently moved to the area, drawn by the warmer climate of the Burdekin-Townsville region. A country-boy at heart, Kevin was born and raised in a country town of just 3800 people. He left when he was 22 and moved to the big smoke of Melbourne Victoria, where he started his career in the automotive bus
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