Queenslanders have the opportunity to tell the state’s electricity networks about their energy needs and wants in the 2024 Queensland Household Energy Survey. Energy Queensland CEO Peter Scott said more residential customers are being encouraged to share their insights in the long-running survey which is a joint initiative of Energex, Ergon Energy Network and Powerlink Queensland. “Every customer’s input into the Queensland Household Energy Survey matters and 4,200 households participated las
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Round 1 week 4: National 1 v Bombers at the Queens 9-1 Ants v Cougars at the Anzac 6-4 Crushers v Falcons at the Ayr Hotel 7-3 National II had the bye 10 points Points: Crushers - 34, Nat II - 33, Nat I - 29, Falcons - 20, Ants - 19, Bombers - 13 and Cougars –12 Games for 18/04: Nat I v Crushers at National, Ants v Nat II at Anzac, Cougars v Bombers at Ayr Hotel and Falcons have the bye Contributed by Kerry Davison Caption: Peter Peach (left) and Chandler Taylor (right) played off in the f
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What a great day at the President’s Day on Tuesday, April 9 hosted by the Ladies’ President, Sandra Stitson. It was good to see all the Clubs in the local region represented, especially Gold City from Charters Towers. Winners on the day were: 1st Place - Kaye Garner, Raylene Butler, Heather Rogers and Lynette Riches. 2nd Place - Vicky Hughes, Robyn Whiting, Lorraine McClintock & Mary Poli The club would like to thank sponsors QLD Country Bank. They have been sponsoring this event for sever
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Local Senior and Youth fixtures were mostly at home last weekend. On Friday, the Burdekin Panthers Division 1 was away to Estates and lost 0-5. Then on Saturday at home to Saints Eagles Souths (SES), the Under 23s lost 0-4, the Ladies were unlucky to lose 3-4 but the Premiers did very well to win 3-1. The Ayr Anzac Club Premiers were keen to bounce back after a couple of losses. Injuries and suspensions saw our depth tested with five regular reserve graders having to step up to the Premier lea
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By Chelsea Ravizza The Burdekin Netball Association has been on a celebratory high since bringing home an amazing win from the Queensland Netball’s Senior State Age Netball Championship. The championship was held at the Western Districts Netball Association in Brisbane on the weekend of April 6-9, where the U15 girls were awarded first place in Championship Challenge Division 4. Extending over four days, the girls played 15 games competing alongside 16 other teams from around the state includi
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Last Sunday week Burdekin Roosters A Grade coach Steve Lansley watched his team play one half of decent football before going down to Western Lions 24 - 22. This Sunday, the coach watched on as they improved that switch-on period to 60 minutes before turning off and allowing premiership favourites Souths to take the win 40 - 22. The Roosters looked really good for the first thirty minutes actually leading by 10 nil with two tries before the Redmen came alive to score 10 points themselves through
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The keys to a new flood water rescue boat were handed over to the Burdekin Shire Council last Friday, April 5 for use by the State Emergency Services (SES) Burdekin Unit. The boat was replaced as part of the Flood Boat Replacement Program, funded through the SES Major Equipment Grants, and is the third to be replaced in the region in the last 12 months. The 5.3m Swift Marine Barge has been modified to suit the needs and requirements of local SES volunteers. “They’re a very capable boat and reall
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Hi readers Let me tell you, working on this edition’s feature about the Canefield Ashes has certainly got me keen for a weekend of cricket. The concept of a social, family friendly cricket tournament in which generations of teams come together once a year sounds like a dream come true. I’m expecting a lot of fun to be had on the cricket field but I’m sure a few beers, some roast pork and a bit of live music won’t go astray either. I’ll be alternating between camera and cricket bat in hand, so
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Burdekin native bird carer Matt Killeen has taken to social media to thank members of the public for their role in the rescue of an injured bird. On Thursday, March 28, Matt assisted in the rescue of a Sulphur-crested Cockatoo that had hit a barbed wire fence and sustained “some terrible injuries.” “Members of the public found the bird last night and kept it in a warm, dark, quiet room overnight,” he said. “They contacted me via this page first thing this morning, I picked it up and rushed it to
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Hello again! After concluding my internship with the Burdekin Life Newspaper in early March, I was more than grateful to receive a phone call offering me the opportunity to come back and undertake a cadetship! Throughout my time working alongside Sam and the team, I fell further in love with print journalism and solidified my passion for sharing people’s stories through my work and I am beyond excited to pick up where I left off. As I near the end of my Bachelor of Communications and Journalis
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Stories of few rental properties available and blown out waiting lists for social housing in the Burdekin have caused Member for Burdekin Dale Last to sound alarm bells, fearing consequences will be far reaching across the rural community. While images of people sleeping in tents or lining up for rentals in larger city centres were being seen right across the state, Mr Last feared that smaller rural towns like the Burdekin had slipped through the cracks. Mr Last said for regional areas like the
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Three new faces have joined the Townsville Hospital and Health Board following the appointments of Professor Kunwarjit Sangla, Dr Erin Waters, and Graham Pattel announced by Health Minister Shannon Fentiman last month. Townsville Hospital and Health Board Chair Tony Mooney, was also reappointed for another term and said he was delighted to welcome the new members and the wealth of experience and wisdom they would bring to the table. “I’m delighted that the health service has been able to attract
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Organisations across the Dawson electorate are encouraged to apply for funding under the Play Our Way Program which has been designed to make sports more welcoming for women and girls. The funding program will run over three years and aims to deliver long-term benefits and improvements that address participation barriers faced by women and girls in sports. Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox believes this grant opportunity will make a lasting difference to the communities within Dawson
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A temporary closure of Queensland’s North Coast rail line, which runs the length of Queensland's coastline from Brisbane to Cairns, has begun as Queensland Rail crews gear up for a mega maintenance project. Among the maintenance work includes resleepering works on the rail line between Ayr and Home Hill. Queensland Rail Head of Regional, Scott Cornish said the eight-day closure of the line, from April 9 to 17, would allow for track upgrades at key locations, bolstering the safety and resilience
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On March 21, a shop stealing was reported from a local Queen Street business. Subsequent inquiries led Police to an address at Ayr where a 52yr old Burdekin man was issued a Notice to Appear (NTA) for one count of shop stealing and is due to appear in Ayr Magistrates Court on 7 May. At 10:15pm on Friday March 19, Ayr Police located a vehicle on Queen Street, Ayr. As a result, a 21yr old Burdekin man, was issued a NTA for drink driving, .105. He is due to appear in the Ayr Magistrates Court on Ap
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Rehoming fee: $185 DOB: 1.07.2020 Sex: Male Breed: DSH Kid friendly: Soft hands Dog Friendly: Yes, slow Introduction Other cats: Yes Indoors/Outdoors: Indoors Kingsberry’s name says it all. He is a royal man and has a liking for fine dining and treats. When alone he is nearly always found napping on the top bunk and at night time he brings out the cuddles, everyone knows he loves scratches and head rubs. He is in foster care with his sister Layla, who is also looking for her forever h
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In an attempt to combat youth crime, the Federal Coalition introduced the Crimes and Online Safety Legislation Amendment (Combatting Online Notoriety) Bill 2024 into Parliament last month, seeking to crack down on youth crime by making it illegal to post social media material that glamorises violence and criminal activity. The bill also provides the eSafety Commissioner with specific powers to require such videos and material to be taken down. Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox said it w
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Home to Queensland’s oldest operating drive-in theatre, the Burdekin was one of the few Queensland communities where residents and visitors could still experience the magic of a movie under the stars at the drive-in. That was before the destructive winds of Cyclone Kirrily struck, peeling off the sheeting of the screen at Ayr’s Stardust Drive-In Theatre. The screen has now been completely removed and, with plans to rebuild, Owner Suzzi Jerkic hopes to preserve the experience of the drive-in for
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Townsville’s Reid Park became an agricultural hub last week as Rotary NQ Field Days brought hundreds of exhibitors and visitors together. The Rotary Clubs of Townsville, the Burdekin and surrounding districts proudly hosted the 2024 NQ Field Days from April 4-5, showcasing best practices in all avenues of farming, agribusiness, and all other relevant industries. The profits made from Rotary NQ Field Days will go directly back into the local Townsville, Burdekin and regional communities. Member f
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Did you know that the Burdekin Community Association Inc. (BCA) has delivered the ‘Be Connected Program’ to Seniors over 50 for more than 14 years? Our Volunteer Tutors have provided hundreds of seniors with the essential digital skills to get online safely and with confidence. With so many aspects of life now online, from healthcare and government services to finding a job and staying in touch with loved ones and the technology we use changing very quickly, it’s super important that you get on
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Buddha tells us ‘That the only constant in life is change’. Henry Ford says, ‘If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got’. They are certainly not wrong. Change is one of the big things we are always navigating here at the Neighbourhood Centre. In the last couple of weeks, we have been presented with a possible big change for our operations, and it got us thinking: How do we work through this change, what are our options, and the big one—how do we feel
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Did you know that Burdekin Shire Council actively seeks feedback from the public on various projects and initiatives that affect the local community and the future development of the region? Council has many processes and activities that involve the public in education and sharing of information. While it is not possible or effective to consult with the community on every issue, Burdekin Shire Council engages the community to enhance Council’s decisions and to facilitate well-informed community
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Ayr had three Air Raid Shelters. Home Hill had two. These were known as Surface Air Raid Shelters with a floor above ground, while the Trench Shelter is a covered trench or tunnel below ground. The latter was to be used in Schools and household gardens. World War II was declared on September 1, 1939, and by September and October of that year, authorities were already establishing Air Raid Precautions (ARP), with emphasis on Air Raid Wardens, their duties and construction of Air Raid Shelters i
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In February 2017, eleven people climbed the steep stairs at the Burdekin Library in Ayr. Beginners and experienced writers alike, they dreamed of novels, family histories, memoirs, anthologies and children’s stories. They sought a group of like-minded individuals who would inspire and encourage their creativity. From that meeting, Scratchy Scribblers was formed. Over the next six years, the group changed names and meeting locations multiple times. Members and partnerships came and went, but, thr
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Automated irrigation demonstrations, the Inkerman Mill and the Tassal Prawn Farm in Bowen were all on the agenda when fourteen members of the Proserpine Young Farmers (PYF) group recently toured the Burdekin. The group took the opportunity to share knowledge and compare regional operations and practices with Burdekin growers both young and old. The young farmers got to see and hear about some of the automation technologies being used by a Burdekin grower and also two other systems located on Wi
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