The Burdekin Chamber held its second event of 2024 on the morning of Tuesday, March 19 at Home Hill News and Coffee, inviting guest speaker nbn Local North Queensland Community Ambassador Carly Crompton to address the members. Ms Crompton provided an update regarding the Regional Connectivity Program, saying Fibre to the Premise will be available to eligible homes and businesses by the end of 2025 in Ayr, Home Hill and Brandon, replacing the copper telephone lines with fibre. “Having completed t
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Burdekin Life readers may remember Home Hill State High School teacher, Louise Nicholas, who was nobly nominated for the Queensland AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award. Her efforts were recognised for her ‘Grow Your Own’ initiative as she advocated for agricultural changes and empowered young students to engaged in the industry. Louise highlights the importance of encouraging students to pursue a career in agriculture as she showcases the diverse industry opportunities that are available to stude
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Wet A Line For Justin Anglers from across the region took to the waterways of the Burdekin for the Burdekin Communications Justin Scott Fishing Classic. Held from March 15-16, the annual fishing tournament was established in 2020 in honour of Burdekin local Justin Scott who passed away in 2019 after a boat crash. The event was established as an opportunity for Justin’s friends, family, those who searched for him and the wider community to come together and celebrate his life. This year’s event w
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Over 50 talented performers took to the stage at the 2024 NQ Fast Track Talent Showcase, some travelling from as far as Sydney and Melbourne. Performers competed in heats throughout the day on Saturday, March 16 to narrow down the finalists to perform in front of special guest judges Taylor Henderson and Ethan Beckton. The one-of-a-kind event exclusive to Queensland delivered a diverse lineup of North Queensland’s finest talent showcasing their skills in singing, dancing, music, comedy and more.
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Social Bowls Tuesday March 12 Winners were Deslie Olsen, Betty Schultz and Heather Jorgensen defeating Merle Nixon, Beryl Cornford and Sandra Stidston. Pam Power and Katarina Stuckler defeated Karen Page and Dot Cutting. Competition Thursday March 14 Open Rinks Winners were Merle Nixon, Karen Page, Thelma Klopper and Sandra Stidston defeating Katharina Stuckler, Elaine Young, Heather Jorgensen and Mary Poli. Ruth Moore, Isabel Cislowski, Joy Comollatti and Irene Wilson defeated Deslie Olsen, Tri
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Friday March 15 saw the 2nd round of Trophy Bowls sponsored by Mio Farming with another great turnout of 56 bowlers. Once again thanks goes to the ladies in the kitchen preparing another good smoko. Thanks also goes to our master chef Len Fenney for cooking the sausage sizzle. Winners of the evening were L Yanis, Ray Panecassio and Tony Battaglia. 2nd Place to Raymond Tortorica, Jayson Farry, Lloyd Shepherd and Brett Wilshere. Winners of the losers were Peter Lejarraga, M Previtera and R James
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Wednesday night Barefoot bowls at Home Hill saw Paul and Judy defeat Nev and Ron 13 to 8 on Rink 4. Rink 5: Yogi, Lol and Sam defeated Tony, Merle and Joe 15 to 10. Rink 6: Betty, Margaret and Torrie defeated Tasha, Carol and Trevor 17 to 9. Rink 7: Conner, Gladys and Alex defeated Conner, Mark and Mick 17 to 8. On Thursday, 20 players turned up at Rummeny Green on a very warm day. The days winners were Jimmy Murray, Joe Linton and Wayne Newton. Rinks 3 to 6 east to west were used again due
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A close season of competitive cricket came down to Saturday afternoon as Home Hill Cricket Association hosted its grand final between Guardian Pharmacy and Peto’s Marine. Ladder leaders Guardian, who defeated Crowned Mongrels the previous week to secure their spot in the final, won the toss and elected to bowl while second placed Peto’s were coming off a bye. The early wicket of Peto’s opener Brad Parravicini to Thomas Cardillo got the bowling side off to a great start before fellow opener Simon
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Local Burdekin FC Prems have been playing well for this early part of the season and confidence was high to travel to Warriors and get a winning result. Despite having players missing through injuries and circumstances the team was able to focus and maintain their composure to play a high quality, high tempo game. The first goal came from a corner late in the first half and was a just reward for continued pressure from good attacks down both sides of the field. The second half started brightly,
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There were blue skies finally last Friday at the Nutrien Ag Solutions Cricket Complex which allowed the Challenger Blasters and Junior Hardball cricket games to go ahead. The Challengers began with the whole group participating in some fun drills of running between wickets set up on the grass, then bowling the correct line and length in the nets. They were then split into two groups to play games of ‘Pairs Cricket’ on the fields. The Junior Hardball game had a mixture of low scores in the battin
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The glory days of surf sport will return at the Surf Life Saving Queensland Youth State Championships being held at Burleigh from March 21-24. This event will be action-packed with thousands of the next generation of surf sport superstars battling each other on the surf and sand in their quest for state glory. More than 1,600 surf lifesaving youth sports competitors from all across Queensland, including six from the Ayr Surf Club, will compete in beach sprints, flags, board rescue, surf rescue,
Read moreBurdekin Roosters coach Steve Lansley was impressed after his team beat Townsville Brothers in an A Grade trial at Airlie Beach last Saturday night. “Brothers sent down a pretty strong side with only a couple of players missing and were confident of taking the match,” Lansley said. In the end, the Roosters came away with a two-point victory 28-26 after conceding a try late in the match when one man down with Dom Augostis in the bin. The Roosters crossed for five tries with Dylan Doak converting
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Burdekin Clay Target Club had a very successful 2 Day Shoot on Saturday March 9 and Sunday March 10. 73 shooters attended, travelling from Atherton, Silkwood, Townsville, Bowen, Mackay, Sarina and Charter Towers to compete over the weekend. The weather wasn’t looking the best leading up to the weekend but at least the heavy rain held off for us, with only scattered showers at times. The cloud cover and wind made conditions very challenging with visibility tough while the targets danced a jig but
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Hi Readers I finally got back out onto the cricket field on Saturday for the first time this year and only the third time this season. As is often the case, I’ve found my form at the pointy end of the season, taking a catch and a wicket and, most importantly, I didn’t bowl any wides. My team got the win on Saturday and have made it into the grand final this weekend, so hopefully I can continue this form and help the boys to a victory. Flick to page 47 for a recap of last week’s game and come on
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The Burdekin Men’s Shed was invited to volunteer their time to operate the barbeque at a recent event and have been presented with a donation in recognition of their efforts. AGnVET Rural Ayr hosted its annual grower barbeque, an event to say thank you to its customers, last Wednesday, March 6, where volunteers from the Burdekin Men’s Shed manned the barbeque and fed the 180 attendees. A different local not-for-profit organisation is invited each year to operate the barbeque, and this year the B
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A recent roadshow through north Queensland invited growers to hear from Rabobank’s experts on what the organisation believes the future holds for the sugarcane industry. Pia Piggott is an Associate Analyst in the research division of Rabobank, RaboResearch, who presented to growers in Ayr on Thursday, March 7 at the Burdekin Theatre. Based in Sydney, Pia’s role includes public speaking at events, recording RaboResearch podcasts and publishing various reports, generating widespread media coverage
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Thousands of Burdekin residents have called for their local police to be bolstered and funding for security patrols in an overwhelming response to a petition supported by Member for Burdekin Dale Last. More than 3,000 business owners and residents fed up with soaring youth crime in the Burdekin put pen to paper over recent weeks with Mr Last now assuring the community that this was not the end of the action. “This community has sent a clear message to this state Labor government that the current
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The Burdekin’s Sweet Days Hot Nights Festival has been named as one of the best Festivals or Events in the country after receiving Silver at the Grey Nomad Awards. Hosted in Home Hill from May 26-27, 2023, the biennial festival showcases and celebrates the rich agricultural lifestyle of the Burdekin, with highlights including the first cane fire of the season and the Australian Hand Cane Cutting Championships. Burdekin Shire Council Chief Executive Officer Terry Brennan said being awarded and re
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A GoFundMe has been started after a Burdekin family lost their Home Hill home to fire last week. Jimmy McGrath and Tan-gina Campman, along with their three children, returned from a shopping trip on the afternoon of Friday, March 8 to find their Hurney Road home engulfed in flames. Fire crews were unable to contain the blaze before the house was destroyed. A friend of the family, Angie Williams, started the fundraiser to raise funds for the family. “All funds raised will be put towards things l
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Opinion piece Burdekin Shire Council Mayor Lyn McLaughlin has hit back at claims that Council is denying landholders entry to their properties, and defended Council staff involved in the activities following recent media surrounding the Giru properties. Ms McLaughlin condemned advertisements published by the complainant likening Council’s Chambers to the Kremlin and officers labelled as ‘untouchables.’ “When we are in a period of time where many residents in our own community are impacted by war
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Queenslanders will go to the polls this Saturday, March 16 for the 2024 local government elections. In the Burdekin, two people are vying for the position of Mayor of Burdekin Shire Council, while 13 people are campaigning for six seats on the council. On Saturday, you will be asked to place the number 1 next to the mayoral candidate you’d like to vote. You will then be asked to place the numbers 1 to 6 next to the councillor candidates you’d like to vote for – the order of these numbers has no
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The search to locate a 42-year-old man missing from Home Hill since Sunday, December 10, 2023, is ongoing as police are continuing to appeal to the public for assistance. Phillip Malayta was last seen driving a green Toyota Avalon sedan near a sugar cane property near Rita Island Road, Jarvisfield, on the morning of December 10. The vehicle was recovered by police along Richard Street, Ayr that afternoon. SES volunteers and Queensland Fire and Emergency Services RPAS drone pilots joined the Town
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Police have charged three people in relation to an alleged Nissan Patrol which was stolen from a residence in Canberra Street, Ayr during the night of Saturday March 9, 2024. This vehicle was located in Townsville and was subject to a tyre deflation device deployment near the Willows Shopping Centre in Kirwan As a result, an 18yr old Townsville man was charged with unlawful use of a motor vehicle, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and unlicenced driving as well as other property offences
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