Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
Simon Hood, Wilmar Manager Grower Marketing The global sugar market has been holding steady in recent weeks, with supply fundamentals keeping a lid on prices. Brazil is now halfway through its crushing season, and analysts are forecasting production between 39 and 40 million tonnes. With that much sugar expected, commercial traders are confident supply will comfortably meet demand through to the first quarter of next year. This has left speculators largely in control of short-term price movemen
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Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) has recorded its biggest year of planned burns to date, surpassing its annual target by more than 50 per cent. Between the 1st of July 2024 and the 30th of June 2025, QPWS carried out 637 planned burns across 968,884 hectares of Queensland’s public protected estate. The burns aim to reduce the risk and severity of bushfires, protect communities and infrastructure, and promote healthy ecosystems across the state’s parks and forests. The milestone com
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By CANEGROWERS Chairman Owen Menkens Every August, the Ekka gives city and country a chance to meet face to face – and for us in agriculture, that’s a golden opportunity. As farmers, we sometimes feel a bit invisible. We’re out there growing the food and fibre that keep the nation ticking along, supporting regional communities, and driving export industries – yet it can seem like those achievements get taken for granted. So, it’s always a bit humbling to discover, as we did again this year, ju
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Ruralquip has been part of the Burdekin’s industrial backbone for almost 50 years, priding itself on its commitment to serving the region's farming and industrial community with reliability and trust. Now, with a new team of local owners at the helm, that commitment remains unchanged. Robert Oar and wife, Annette, who built the business from a small steel fabrication operation into a full-service retail and industrial supplier, have handed the reins to a consortium of well-known locals Max and
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Families considering high-quality Catholic education options for their children are encouraged to act fast, as positions are available for Year 7 - 12 enrolments in 2026 at Burdekin Catholic High School. Enrolment interviews have commenced in Week 2 of this term, and with demand growing, families are urged to book early to avoid disappointment. Burdekin Catholic High School offers a supportive and dynamic environment for students starting their high school journey. As part of the school's tran
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Joy, laughter and plenty of smiles filled the halls of Chppendale Street’s Regis Aged Care residential home on Sunday, the 10th of August, as the Burdekin Water Festival Junior and Senior Ambassadors delighted residents with a wonderful visit! An annual event, the Burdekin Water Festival’s High Tea continues to warm the hearts of everyone in the community as both Junior and Senior Ambassadors swap stories with some of the oldest members of the shire over a delicious spread of morning tea favour
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On 12 August, the VP-80 crew visited Ayr State School as part of the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Pacific, marking Japan’s surrender in World War II. The crew delivered a special dispatch from the Mayor of Rockhampton to the Mayor of Townsville, thanking soldiers for their service. The visit gave students and staff a hands-on connection to Australia’s military history. The crew brought an impressive collection of vintage military vehicles, carefully restored and appearing as though they h
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Just last week on Friday, the 15th of August, Ayr State High School (ASHS) dominated the scoreboard against each school in the district at the region’s annual 12 to 19 Years BSS Interschool Track & Field (Athletics) Carnival! Taking out the top spot for the second consecutive year, the Ayr High Hawks were commended for representing ASHS with exceptional levels of both pride and spirit, leaving the carnival with an impressive 1455 points spread across all categories. With the event's hosting re
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Zac Anderson’s Football Journey Many young footballers dream of making the game their livelihood—their legacy. Of bursting onto the professional scene as a teenager and never looking back. Of crossing continents, sitting shoulder to shoulder with international stars as the muffled roar of 50,000 fans seeps through the changing room walls. For Zac Anderson, that dream became reality. But before all that, he was just a boy from the Burdekin. Born in Ayr to two school teachers completing their co
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From Birmingham To The Burdekin When John and Linda Gooding left their teaching jobs and comfortable life in Birmingham, England, in the early 1970s, they weren’t entirely sure what they were jumping into. What they did know was this: if an opportunity comes along, you take it—and be prepared to adapt. More than 50 years later, the couple are still proud to call Ayr home. They've raised their children here, watched the town change, and become a beloved part of the community. And while their acc
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This week, we asked a few of you two big questions: 'What’s the best thing that’s ever happened to you?' and 'What’s on your bucket list?', courtesy of a suggestion by Allan Finn. Jimmy James Best thing that's ever happened to you? "The best thing that's ever happened to me is being around my family and spending time with them." Bucket list items? "I really want to go to an NBA game in America." James and Amber Sutherland Best thing that's ever happened to you? James: "When I got to stop mowin
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Thursday, 21st August Home Hill State High School’s Agricultural Precinct Open Day 9:00am - 11:00am Showcase of Home Hill State High School’s cutting-edge Agricultural Precinct, with tours, displays, tastings, and interactive industry experiences for all. Home Hill State High School Agricultural Precinct Friday 22 August Hunter’s Golf Night Drive for show, putt for dough at Ayr Golf Club’s Edwards Street course! Junior Ambassador Hunter Oar invites golfers of all abilities to an exciting night
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The Burdekin Roosters A Grade suffered another injury setback last Sunday, going down 32-22 to Western Lions in Townsville. After dominating Charters Towers in the second half last week, the forwards were expected to perform similarly against the Lions. That didn’t happen. Last week’s player of the match, big forward Braedyn Cotter, went down injured in the first ten minutes and didn’t return. Soon after, recent signing and Fijian first-grader Kalevi Raluli injured a hamstring and was forced of
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A not so good weekend for the Panthers, winning just two and losing four of the six matches played. On Saturday, away to Brothers the Premiers won 4-1 but the Reserves lost 0-9. On Friday, in Townsville the Ladies lost 2-3 to Brothers and the Division 1 Men lost 2-5 to Brothers. The Division 2 Funkies lost 1-6 to Saints Eagles Souths. And on Wednesday evening the Ladies beat Wulguru 9-1 at home, This week the Premiers and Reserves are away to Warriors, the Premiers at 7.30 and the Reserves at 5
Read moreAyr Bowling Club Report This week at the Ayr Bowling Club had a busy week with competition games played all week. Tuesday 12th August saw Ladies Social Bowls giving us 2 triples game. Winners were Isabel Cislowski, Ron Soper and Betty Schultz defeating Jeanette McDonald, Donna Soper and Irene Wilson. Karen Shepherd Merle Nixon and Rayleen Hervey defeated Linda Giumelli, Katharina Stuckler and Dot Cutting. On Wednesday, we saw a great afternoon’s social bowling competition. There were three game
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Home Hill Bowls Club Report Welcome to winter, Burdekin style, to our visitors and new members: Mack Swaine from Maclean NSW, Ray Hollis from Beresfield NSW, Ken Ferguson, Brandon Bowls Club, and new member Rob Dale. Thursday's winners (pictured) were Ken Ferguson, Dino Poli, and Joe Linton. The raffle was won by Norm Bethell. Next week’s prizes will be $15 for 1st, $10 for 2nd, and $5 for 3rd. With 24 players again, we played 4 games of triples. Rink 3: Bob Pickard, Ray Hollis, and Alex Bojac
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In just a week’s time, nine members of the Burdekin Netball Association (BNA) will rock the chop as part of a wonderful fundraising initiative in support of both the Cancer Council Australia and the Ponytail Project! Aimee Gibson, Kristine Patti, Brittany Bohl, Cailin Gosling, Dominique Gorey, Ella Zabel, Jade Bolam, Tayah Gibson and Tayla McKaig have all committed to cut their hair at the Burdekin Netball Association’s Wigs and Wine fundraising event in aid of Home Hill Harvest Festival Entran
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Tec-NQ House grade 11 boarding student Max has his boots firmly planted in two very different worlds: the rugged, hands‑on life of a central Queensland cattle station, and the bustling day‑to‑day routine of boarding school in Townsville. “I live on a station north of Clermont called Mazeppa,” Max explained. “When I’m not here at school, I live there with my family.” Home for Max is anything but quiet. Mazeppa Station is a working property that runs both cattle and crops, keeping everyone on thei
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Saturday morning saw Ayr's beloved CBD fountain turn pink in support of the 'Step Up to Breast Cancer' fundraising endeavours of two local teams. At 9am, a small crowd including Mayor Pierina Dalle Cort watched on as pink-coloured solution was poured into the fountain water, transforming it into a symbol of solidarity. The event—initiated by Zara Frost and Ella Logan of the 'Tata Slides', alongside Kaitlyn Warren, Chloe Rehbien, and Molly Julyan, who operate under the 'Hakuna Ma-Tata' moniker—
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In a time when many services are decreasing in smaller communities, the Burdekin has bucked the trend. The Burdekin MyTime group has been operating for over 20 years. It caters for families with children with special needs and provides regular opportunities for carers to share, encourage, educate and support. Long-term MyTime coordinator, Gwen Marshall, said that the group’s primary aim was for carers to “meet with friends who understand!” “Our group has elected to have around half of the meet
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Last weekend saw the Burdekin FC Women's teams honoured with the annual 'Ladies Day' event—a fantastic event for a fantastic cause, raising thousands of dollars to fund the upcoming season for the women’s sides. Events like these are crucial beyond the financial aspect. For a substantial period in history, sports were largely male-dominated. Events like these help to dismantle that outdated concept. They’re about showing real support for women in the sport—and sport as a whole. It’s about maki
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On Tuesday, 5 August, a relic of Australian motoring history rolled into the Burdekin Woolworths parking lot: Bubsie—a Citroën 5CV that earned its place in the record books as the first car to circumnavigate the entire continent. An almost identical replica, its recent arrival in Ayr was part of a national centenary tribute to one of Australia’s boldest road adventures, offering locals the rare chance to admire the vehicle’s ingenious 1920s design up close. The tribute honours the original 192
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Four in five Australian small businesses experienced a cyber incident in the last year and Burdekin businesses are also falling victim according to Member for Burdekin, Dale Last MP. With costs to deal with cyber incidents increasing to an average of $49,600, Mr Last said a recent state government announcement was both welcomed and timely. “I’m aware of two local small businesses who have been targeted in the last few weeks, so these attacks aren’t something that is confined to the cities or t
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Meet Lachlan Dance Ayr Fire Station has strengthened its ranks with Queensland native Lachlan Dance, who clocked in for his first shift last Monday. The recruitment follows Dance’s completion of the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services intensive 16-week recruit course, which he passed with flying colours. Dance brings a strong background in community service. After nine years with the Australian Defence Force, posted in nearby Townsville, he says serving others is what drives him. “Having a
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Australia is blessed with abundant resources — coal, uranium, sunshine, wind, and water. We should have the world’s cheapest and most reliable power in the world. Instead, electricity bills are soaring, reliability is falling, and households are feeling the squeeze. The gap between what we are paying for power and what we should be paying, keeps growing. Investors are walking away from major wind and hydrogen projects, leaving taxpayers to foot the bill. Even members of the government are quiet
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