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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“The time for talking is over! “Immediate, large-scale, effective action is what’s required if we’re to have any hope of halting the march of Red Imported Fire Ants,” CANEGROWERS Chairman Owen Menkens has said. Mr Menkens, who has been touring the Burdekin cane-growing region this week with National Farmers’ Federation President David Jochinke, accused the state and federal governments of failing in their duty to protect Australians from the dangerous invasive species. “Sugarcane growers h
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Did you know you can claim a tax deduction for putting up to $27,500 into your super? That means if you put say $10,000 into your super, you could get a tax refund of up to $4,700 depending on what you earn. Tax deductible contributions into super are taxed at 15% on the way into the fund. You then claim them as a tax deduction in your personal income tax return and if you’re earning between $45,000 and $120,000 than you get a personal tax refund of 34.5%. If you’re earning under $45,000 th
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The Burdekin’s Sweetest School Competition has made its exciting debut in the region, standing as an educational event where schools showcase their student’s skills in growing the best sugarcane. Canegrowers Burdekin (CBL) launched the friendly competition in collaboration with Burdekin Productivity Services (BPS), Sugar Research Australia (SRA), and the Burdekin Shire Council’s Sweet Days Hot Nights Festival to highlight the agricultural talents of students and staff whilst creating a sense of
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Saturday 18 May Burdekin Growers Race Day Saturday, from 11am The Burdekin Growers Race Day is the Burdekin's premier 18+ social event of 2024 with thousands of locals and visitors flocking to the Home Hill Race Club. The event is not only about horse racing but also about fashion. The Fashion's on the Field is a hotly contested event amongst race goers. The day is filled with thousands of dollars worth of prize giveaways and every patron receives a free box of locally grown fruit and vegetables
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The Burdekin Torpedoes hit the pool for the last time this season on ANZAC Day with the club championships being held at the Burdekin Aquatic Centre. It was a celebration of some great swimming over the season and on the day; with Age champions being awarded and some prestigious Club Awards. The pool was pumping with some dance tunes and with Mick McConnachie showing the younger generations some groovin' dance moves on pool deck the stage was set for some fast, fun swimming. Club Records wer
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Round 1 week 7 - 02/05: Nat I v Ants at the National 6-4 Nat II v Crushers at the Ayr 7-3 Falcons v Bombers at the Anzac 10-0 Cougars had the bye 10 points Points: Nat II - 53, Crushers - 50, Nat I & Falcons - 44, Cougars - 38, Ants - 36 and Bombers 15 Games for Thursday 09/05: Start of Round 2 so all home games, Bombers have the bye Photo: Cougars – Ayr Hotel
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Tuesday 30th April saw the Ladies Social Bowls kick off the week. There was a close game of Rinks, winners were Katharina Stuckler, Karen Page, Linda Guimelli & Irene Wilson Def Karen Shepherd, Beryl Cornford, Heather Jorgensen & Betty Schultz. Also on Tuesday, four of our Club members went up to Suburban Bowls Club for the NQDLBA President's Day. On Wednesday, Mixed Social Bowls were held during the day. There were two games of Triples and one game of Rinks. Winners were John Pirrone; Gordon
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Last weekend, the club rugby league scene in the Burdekin took a pause as the Townsville Foley Shield teams ventured to Mackay for North Queensland trials alongside Cairns and Mackay. Among the standout performers were three Burdekin Roosters players, Jeremiah Marutatu, Henry Teuteu, and Chris Gale, who showcased their skills on the field. In an exhilarating display of rugby league prowess, Townsville emerged triumphant in both the men's and women's divisions of the XXXX Foley Shield. The men's
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Local There were no games last week as it was the May Day weekend. This weekend all four Burdekin teams are in action. On Friday night the Division One Funkies are at home to Estates and on Saturday the Premiers, Under 23s and Women are all at home to MA Olympic. Panthers Striker Jay Leckenby has been nominated as Player of the Month for April. Teammate Mattew Kolb was also nominated. Congratulations to both players. Juniors The Juniors also had the weekend off because of the Public Holida
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Thousands of people attended a variety of different Anzac Day events in the region last Thursday. School children learnt the power of history, Veterans remembered their own unique journeys and everyone in the community came together to say thank you to those who gave their lives to defend the freedoms we all enjoy today. From Ayr to Home Hill, Brandon to Giru, communities came together to remember and pay their respects. Afterwards, games of Two-Up were held and festivity commenced. The Anzac Da
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A woman died in a traffic crash at Inkerman on Tuesday this week at around 1.20pm. Two cars collided on the Bruce Highway near Wallace Road, approximately 10km south of Home Hill. The 70-year-old woman from Gumlu, driving the Hyundai I30, was pronounced deceased at the scene. The 61-year-old Ayr woman was injured and transported to Townsville University Hospital by QGAir.
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As many of you know, Sam is on holiday for a couple of weeks so in his absence you will see some of our other team members out and about in the region. Many of you will be familiar with our Sales Team, Jake Greenfield and Ruby Gorlick, and many of you will have seen our 6-foot red-headed cadet journalist Daniel Heggie taking photos at the Anzac Day events last week. Daniel is our newest recruit and he brings to the table an impressive background of knowledge and experience, with not only a deg
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A local family is feeling the love this week, with their local school gathering together to support young Lily Arroita who is living with Turner Syndrome. This is a rare condition that only affects females and is caused when one of the X chromosomes is missing or partially missing. Lily was diagnosed in November 2022, which Lily’s mother said was quite late. “Lily was considered quite old to be diagnosed,” she said. “Usually, it can be picked up at birth, but as girls get to puberty age, it
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Local businessowners were once again offered the invaluable opportunity to network with fellow peers and professionals as Burdekin Shire Council’s hosted its Industry Breakfast on Wednesday, May 1, a key event to launch Queensland Small Business Month (QSBM). Serving as a platform for skill development and gaining insights into the support structures that bolster Burdekin’s business and agricultural communities, the Industry Breakfast featured guest speakers Dominique Lamb, the Queensland Small
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Burdekin Shire Council last week announced a new initiative in a bid to manage the flying fox population in Memorial Park, Home Hill ahead of the Anzac Day commemorations. On Wednesday April 24, from 5:30am to 7:00am, Council trialled a non-invasive dispersal method that has shown to be effective in other communities. The approach involves the use of a small, portable smoke machine that emits a safe, non-toxic, non-irritant and water-based smoke, ensuring no harm to people, pets, or wildlife
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On-site activities have ramped up on Burdekin Falls Dam as the Queensland Government works to raise the dam by two metres and improve its resilience against extreme weather. 22 jobs will be supported by these on-site activities over the coming months, with the majority from North Queensland, while the project will create more than 350 jobs during construction. Minister for Water Glenn Butcher said Queensland’s largest dam is about to get even bigger. “With the project set to create 350 jobs duri
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The Burdekin Netball Association (BNA) has hit a winning streak after their success in securing a Bendigo Bank Community Grant. Sheree McKaig, the Grants Officer for BNA, expressed her enthusiasm for the $36,000 grant, highlighting its significance in advancing the association's initiatives. Established in 1970, BNA has been a pivotal fixture in the Burdekin community, providing sporting opportunities for over five decades. With a robust membership base spanning juniors to seniors, the associa
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A new CT scanner, addressing housing and cutting power prices are among the priorities Member for Burdekin Dale Last will be looking for in the upcoming final state budget before October’s state election. The 2024/2025 state budget will be handed down in less than two months and with plenty of opportunities and investment needed right across the electorate, Mr Last said it was only fair that the Burdekin received its share of the funding pie. “The diversity of the Burdekin Electorate means that
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With school recommenced for this term, just a timely reminder for parents who drop their children off at local schools. Drop off zones are exactly that, pull up and drop off your children then leave. If you intend on walking your child into school, park elsewhere. We don’t want to cause any traffic congestion during an already busy time of the day. Don’t stop in the lane of travel waiting for vehicles that are parked, picking up children, to leave that space, as this back up and congests traff
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