Residents of the Burdekin will have the opportunity to experience African Drumming and Blissful Sound Immersion when Alex Salvadore of the Rhythm Connection comes to Ayr on the weekend. Mr Salvadore is holding two events at the QCWA Hall in Ayr on Sunday, February 11. “The Introduction to African Drumming workshop will have residents playing rhythms on authentic West African djembes,” he said. “The Bliss Out Sound Immersion Experience is an hour of relaxation while I play instruments from around
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The Ayr Surf Life Saving Club's Annual Beach Golf Day is gearing up to be a cracker of an event. Being held this Saturday February 10, with Tee-off from 1pm, teams of four will enjoy a fun filled day out with their clubs. Teams are invited to come in their best team themed outfits, to help add to the energetic atmosphere of the day. Their Top 100 Club event has also been moved to be aligned with Golf Day. The special event of the draw will take place between 12pm-1.30pm on Saturday 10th, with a
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The Whitsundays Writers Festival is gearing for a grand comeback, with a schedule jampacked full of immersive celebrations of all things literary. On the cards is esteemed 2023 Miles Franklin Literary Award winner, Shankari Chandran, winner of Australia’s premier literary prize for her debut novel, ‘Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens’. Alongside Shankari are several other highly regarded, award-winning Australian authors, who are excited to be in sunny Whitsundays for a weekend of literary prowess.
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Wednesday January 31: winners were Richard Aplin, Vince Beitia & Lew Stidston who defeated John Hall, Happy Horan & Kaos. Saturday February 3: Despite very hot conditions, we had a good turnout for our belated Australia Day Celebration sponsored by Phelan’s Pies. 1st Prize went to Barry Hewson, Sam Caltabiano and Thelma Klopper who defeated Jim Murray/Mick Olsen, George Nixon and Henry Hazle. 2nd Prize went to Happy Horan, Joe Grabbi and Lew Stidston who defeated Katharina Stuckler, Rob Garner a
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12 Bowlers attended for social bowls on Friday with eventual winners Marg McLaughlin, Lloyd Shepherd and Norm Storrie winning on countback. Championship B grade pairs started with Lloyd Shepherd and Peter Lejarraga defeating Gary Norsworthy and Kevin Ferguson 24 /18. Chris Pearce and Simon Griggs were selected for NQ District side trials at Northern Beaches Bowls Club, Mackay over the weekend. More trial matches still to come. Thanks to all those who turned up for the working bee on the weekend.
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A Giru cowboy has returned from Tamworth an open bull riding champion after the Australian Bushmen's Campdraft and Rodeo Association National Finals Rodeo was held in the ‘country music capital’ from January 25-27. Braydon Wellby went into the event placed third in the standings in the YETI Open Bull Ride, qualifying as one of 15 finalists after stellar results throughout 2023. With three opportunities to accumulate points, there were no qualified rides in the first go-round and the second was l
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Burdekin FC is now getting ready for the 2024 season. Pre-season training has already started, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6.30 pm for men and Wednesdays at 6.00 pm for women. The Panthers first match of the season will be away to Estates in the Kappa Qld Cup this Saturday night in Townsville. Leighton Gallagher will be coaching the Premiers again this season. The Juniors have an exciting year of football coming up, with regular matches plus games against out of town opponents. Registrations for
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Winners for the day on Thursday, February 1 on countback was the team of Ray, Gary and Glen pictured with sponsor Des Chapman from Rocky Ponds Produce. 18 players turned up to play so three rinks of triples were contested. Rink 5: Ray, Gary and Glen outlasted Paul, John and Stephen 16 to 11. Rink 6: Bob, Alec and Wayne proved too strong for Phil, Joe and Mike 21 to 15. Rink 7: Warren, Des and Trevor narrowly defeated Judy, Jocelyn and Henry 21 to 18. Thanks again to sponsor Rocky Ponds Prod
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Pre-season training has started for the three men’s team for the Roosters with the Hens to start this week under new coach Anita Hagarty. Newly appointed A Grade coach Daniel Beazley has been in charge of the pre-season work assisted by Reserve Grade Coach Chris Perry and under 20 leaders Paul and Peter Horan. Former Junior Roosters star Terry Connors has returned home after six years away playing in Townsville. Whilst in Townsville, Connors attended Kirwan High where he reached a position in t
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Senior cricket returned to Barry Richards Field for the first time in 2024 last weekend, with Peto’s Marine taking on Guardian Pharmacy on Saturday, February 3. Guardian Pharmacy won the toss and elected to bat, with contributions from Hugh Smith (41 runs from 39 balls), Thomas Cardillo (23 from 27) and Jay Leckenby (21 from 13) setting a total of 7/183 runs from 25 overs. The bowling effort for Peto’s Marine was evenly spread, with Leo Olditch, Jack Oborne, Simon Vickers, Ben Walters, and Shaun
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Local Ergon Energy crews worked tirelessly to reconnect power to thousands of Burdekin customers. Photo credit: Sam Gillespie
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I survived my first cyclone! And I’m grateful to be able to say I got through it without a single issue. Ex-Tropical Cyclone Kirrily hit the Burdekin last Thursday evening, bringing with it strong winds and rain. A lot of people lost power for multiple days which, considering the weather’s quick revert to heatwave conditions, would not have been pleasant, I’m sure. I was prepared for a weekend without any electricity-fuelled entertainment, equipped with candles, books, puzzles and knitting equi
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There’s nothing like a natural disaster to bring a community together and, although ex-Tropical Cyclone Kirrily was considered minor in the end, the Burdekin still turned on its community spirit. Burdekin Life has received many reports of generous and neighbourly deeds, from locals helping each other fill sandbags before the cyclone to helping clean up backyards afterwards. “I did see some tremendous examples of good community people helping their neighbours, helping their friends, helping their
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In recognition of her academic achievements and commitment, Sophie Robertson of Ayr State High School is one of eight Queensland recipients of the 2024 Premier’s Anzac Prize, awarded by the Queensland Government. The award recognises the efforts and dedication of young Queenslanders and aims to present students with opportunities to gain an in-depth understanding of the ANZAC legacy. Sophie will embark on a 16-day international adventure touring France, Belgium, and the United Kingdom to explo
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Home Hill residents have called on the state government to fund private security patrols such is their frustration with the spiralling crime rate. Member for Burdekin, Dale Last, met with business owners and residents earlier this week and said the fact that they felt there was no alternative but private security to keep them safe was a direct result of the current state government’s many failures. “People are frustrated and angry due to the actions of a small group of offenders who are running
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Advertising Feature Lyn McLaughlin will run for a final term as Mayor of the Burdekin Shire at the 2024 Local Government Elections on Saturday, March 16. The announcement comes on the first week of candidate nominations opening, with the incumbent looking to see some of her Council’s long-term projects through to completion. “I have been fortunate to be Mayor of the Burdekin Shire for the past eight years and in that time, have seen many significant projects take shape,” Ms McLaughlin said. “T
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Ayr Health Service has welcomed four graduate nurses to its staff in 2024, bolstering the service’s nursing workforce and the region’s healthcare capabilities. Three of the new graduates, Macy Davelstein, Dani McFadyen and Nissa Reid, are local to the Burdekin and had been working at the hospital while completing their degrees while Allanis Melvin recently relocated for her new position. “Historically, Graduate nurses rotated from the Townsville University Hospital and then on completion of thei
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Two children were injured in a motorcycle crash on a private property on Rita Island Road, Jarvisfield last Wednesday, January 24. A Queensland Ambulance Service spokesperson confirmed the incident was reported at 4:17pm that afternoon. “Paramedics treated two males in their pre-teens, one with a head injury and one with arm and leg injuries,” the Spokesperson said. “One patient was transported to Ayr Hospital, and the second was airlifted to Townsville Hospital; both were stable.” A Queensland
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Road Safety – School zones 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
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Several offenders committed a series of break and enters in the early hours of January 23, including ram raids using a stolen vehicle. In the early hours of the January 25, five offenders committed a further series of break and enters and ram raids using other stolen vehicles. These offences occurred in Ayr, Home Hill and Brandon. As of Monday, January 29, three of the five offenders had been dealt with by Ayr Criminal Investigation Branch officers with a total of 43 charges between them.
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Progress on the CopperString 2032 project is rapidly powering ahead, with the Minister for Energy and Clean Economy Jobs announcing Powerlink will recruit Townsville-based apprentices for the first time. An additional 22-strong contingent in Townsville will also support work on the 840km transmission line which will run from outside Ayr to Mount Isa. The announcements for the region come as 35 new apprentices and graduates from across Queensland began their careers with Powerlink earlier in Janu
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In early 2022, nine defibrillators were installed in various bay areas of Cape Upstart National Park and Molongle Creek Caravan Park to provide the isolated area with essential, life-saving equipment. The installation was initiated by the Cape Upstart Community Progress group with the support of the Whitsunday Regional Council, and the Queensland Country Bank’s Good for Good Grants program. All nine defibrillators, with the aid of the Queensland Country Bank’s grant, were purchase from Megan Je
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Caption 1: The Local Disaster Management Group met regularly throughout the event Caption 2: Mackenzie Linton, Ken Linton and Graham Baker preparing for the impending cyclone last week Caption 3: Mark and Ayesha Caption 4: Business in Queen Street, Ayr were sandbagged in preparation for possible flooding Captions 5-7: The cyclone left fallen trees, branches and powerlines in its path Photo credit: Sam Gillespie Caption 8: Ergon crews worked hastily to repair damage to the electricity network. P
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Burdekin Shire Council is pleased to announce the Australia Day Awards and Citizenship Ceremony, which was postponed due to the severe weather event, has been rescheduled for Monday, February 12 at the Burdekin Memorial Hall, commencing at 6:00pm. The Australia Day awards ceremony stands out as a significant event of the year, offering a valuable chance to acknowledge the nominees and award winners. “Council is looking forward to honouring our Australia Day Award recipients, who have shown ex
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Emergency Relief Program BCA provides financial and material assistance for adults experiencing personal, family, relationship and/or financial issues. The service assists adults and children with basic needs in times of financial hardship, through the provision of vouchers, prepaid cards/vouchers, chemist or transport vouchers, payment of third-party accounts, or direct material assistance such as food parcels. Please note that a Centrelink Income Statement is required unless you are affected b
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