With the busy Christmas season behind us, many of us are looking to resume interests and social outings. Burdekin Neighbourhood Centre is home to several community groups and activities. Our very popular Crochet Group is happening on a Monday afternoon, along with the Mahjong Players of the Burdekin. Play 2 Learn Playgroup from 54 Reasons has returned on a Thursday morning, we are looking forward to having our local families make use of our playground and facilities. MoveIT Burdekin has st
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Did you know that you can find useful information on how to deal with natural disasters on the Council webpage? The Burdekin is a beautiful region, but we also face some serious challenges during the North Queensland summer, such as cyclones and floods. That's why Council has created a range of resources on disaster management and preparedness to help you minimise the impact of a disaster. You can access the Burdekin Emergency Action Guide, which provides practical advice on what to do before,
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Having played a major role in the infrastructure development in the Burdekin, Bowen and Whitsundays areas over the last 50 years, BQC Quarries has proven its undeniable commitment to quality decade after decade. With all three arms of the business – BQC Quarries, Burdekin Concrete and BQC Sands – celebrating milestones in 2024, Operations Manager Lawrence Fahey reflects on the last half a century with pride in the product and appreciation of loyal customers. BQC Quarries commenced in 1974, initi
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In a groundbreaking initiative, Burdekin Funerals, in partnership with its sister company Townsville Funerals, Cremations & Crematorium, has introduced The Gentle Way, an environmentally conscious alternative to traditional burial and cremation practices. This innovative process not only honours departed loved ones but also contributes significantly to reducing carbon footprints. The Gentle Way has already made a substantial impact, saving between 200 to 270 kilograms of carbon dioxide per proce
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As the school year kicks off, packing a wholesome lunchbox is a fantastic way to ensure that both kids and adults stay fuelled and focused throughout the day. Ditch the monotony of pre-packaged snacks and explore these mouth watering yet healthy lunchbox recipes that will satisfy taste buds while providing essential nutrients. 1. Quinoa Salad Jars: Prepare a batch of quinoa and layer it in portable jars with colourful veggies like cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and capsicum. Add a protein boost wit
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Get ready for the rural event of the year, with Burdekin Boars and Barras back on the calendar for 2024! Speaking to the hobbies and passions of the region, and with something for everyone, get ready to get behind the rod or behind the pistols, and help fundraising efforts for Clare State School. Fun for the whole family, the event schedule includes the coveted weigh-in presentations, for all pigs, fish and crabs, the well-stocked licensed bar, Rotary food tent, Lillie’s cubby house, live music
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Initial inspections of sugar cane paddocks across the Herbert and Burdekin indicate approximately 5% of crop to have experienced damage following ex-Tropical Cyclone Kirrily making landfall last week. Queensland Cane Agriculture & Renewables (QCAR) Chair Charles Quagliata said he and other members of the QCAR team have been active in the field, liaising with growers, members and other agencies to assess the damage. “The bigger cane varieties seem to have laid over as it usually does in windy wea
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In November of last year, the class of 2023 celebrated the conclusion of their high school careers and began the next chapters of their young-adult lives. For Ayr State High School Valedictorian, Chelsea Scalia, this meant celebrating her outstanding 90s ATAR score achievement, and accepting an offer to enroll in a Bachelors of Speech Pathology at James Cook University. With the responsibilities of being Ayr State High School’s School Captain, holding a part-time employment position, and maint
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Wednesday January 24 Afternoon Social Bowls – On a very hot and humid day those who braved the conditions struggled, but managed to get a game in. Winners were Sandra Darwen and Maurice Power who defeated Anthony Bull and Chris Berkery. Saturday January 27 Social Afternoon – Winners were Jim Murray/Mick Olsen, Paul Vass and Pam Power who defeated Lorraine Wolffe, Anthony Bull and Chris Berkery. New date for our postponed Australia Day Bowls sponsored by Phelan’s Pies will be Saturday February 3.
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Get your racquet out, the Ayr Tennis Association is hitting up your calendar with some of the best tennis action in the region. On the cards is the beginning of the Ayr Tennis Social and Competitive Competitions, from this evening, Thursday February 1, at 7pm. Described as ‘extremely social’, Ayr Tennis’ social competition is a great opportunity to get to the court, smash around the ball, enjoy some laughs and share some post-drinks. Taking place every Thursday, everyone is welcome to bat the
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The Burdekin Shire Council and Burdekin Neighbourhood Centre have partnered to bring residents over the age of 55 into a free initiative to encourage movement and exercise. Beginning last week, the ‘Move It Burdekin’ initiative is a 15-week program that offers low impact training, exercises, yoga and chair activities, to suit a range of different fitness levels and improve the physical and mental wellbeing on Burdekin’s residents. The first post-cyclone session was held at Burdekin Neighbourh
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An excellent turn up for Wednesday night bowls on January 24 with 18 players turning up and the nights winners were Sheila and Lloyd. Four games of pairs and Lynn and Judy played a game of singles – it may have been just for bragging rights. Rinks 4 to 7 East/West were used. RINK 4: Amie and Stephen were a bit too strong for Paul and Mick winning 14 to 8. RINK 5: Sheila and Lloyd outlasted Tony and Margaret 13 to 8. Sheila and Lloyd also drew the lucky rink so they got the drinks. RINK 6: A
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More Queensland families will have access to swimming lessons for their young children with a $5 million boost to the Queensland Government’s SwimStart program. SwimStart is designed to improve water safety for children up to the age of four, while helping to ease cost-of-living pressures for eligible families by delivering vouchers valued up to $150 per child for swimming lessons.
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The Local Disaster Management Group (LDMG) is monitoring the situation as a tropical low continues to develop off the coast of north Queensland. Burdekin Shire Council Mayor Lyn McLaughlin, chair of the LDMG, said the LDMG encourages all organisations and residents to be prepared for the potential impact of the severe weather event which could bring strong winds, heavy rain and flooding to the region.
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Elected representatives of the Burdekin Shire Council were welcomed back to Council for their first meeting of 2024 on Tuesday, January 23. The meeting was also Council’s last official meeting before it enters a caretaker period in February ahead of the local government election to be held on Saturday, March 16. During the caretaker period, Council will be limited from publishing election material and making major policy decisions, ensuring there are no significant policy decisions made near the
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Hi readers I’m writing this on a hot, sunny Monday afternoon knowing the weather could be very different by the time this newspaper gets into your hands. Kirrily is the name on everybody’s lips this week, a tropical low at the time of writing that is expected to form into a tropical cyclone and cross the north Queensland coast this week. Of course, it wasn’t too long ago we were preparing for TC Jasper, with its devastating affects still being felt north of here, and I truly hope TC Kirrily tak
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Local photographer Marni Hine admits her new book, ‘Ignited’, has been 12 years in the making. Filled with photos taken over Ms Hine’s 12 years of working as a haul out driver, the book was published in late 2023 thanks to the Burdekin Shire Council’s Regional Arts Development Fund and in way of thanks, Ms Hine has donated a copy to the Burdekin Library’s history collection. “The Burdekin Shire Council has been amazing in its support and this library is a fantastic library,” Ms Hine said. “There
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The Home Hill – Ayr Lions Club has recently donated much-needed funds to four charities: three within the Burdekin and the other to the Leukaemia Foundation. A cheque for $500 was presented to the organiser of the event ‘Swim for a Cure’, Deni Caspanello, in support of the event run at the Home Hill Swimming Pool. The Lions Club cooked and sold the food for this event (breakfast, lunch and dinner) and the proceeds from this, along with the money that the ‘Swim for a Cure’ raised was donated to
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On the evening of Saturday January 20, one lucky Burdekin gentleman became $708,128.64 richer after winning division one in Saturday Night’s Gold Lotto draw. Woods News & Lucky Casket Agency was 1 of the 7 winning retailers and owner Anita Comas said the excitement has been felt by each and every customer and staff member since the announcement. “We are absolutely thrilled and excited for him and also for Ayr, in that the first division prize came to our little town,” expressed Anita. The
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The Home Hill Harvest Festival Ephemera will once again be held in 2024 and the Home Hill Chamber of Commerce is inviting all interested artists, schools, organisations, or groups of fellow artists to be involved. ‘Ephemera’ is defined by something that exists or is enjoyed for only a short time, with the competition inviting local artists to create installations to be temporarily erected in Home Hill’s Lloyd Mann Park. Once installed, Burdekin residents and visitors alike will be able to exper
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The impacts of a tropical cyclone are well known amongst most Burdekin locals but Member for Burdekin, Dale Last, wants to ensure complacency doesn’t result in additional damage or injury. While the Burdekin felt the effects of both Cyclones Debbie and Yasi as well as other severe weather events, the last severe tropical cyclone to directly impact the area was Tropical Cyclone Aivu almost 35 years ago. “Being prepared is the biggest step in both minimising damage and ensuring a speedy recovery f
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Buyers of tiny homes and container homes are being urged to be vigilant about the compliance issues that may arise from these alternative housing options. Burdekin Shire Council Mayor Lyn McLaughlin said that Council have identified several non-compliant installations that pose risks to health, safety, and environment. “Some of the common problems are related to plumbing and building standards,” Ms McLaughlin said. “Issues identified are pipe sizing installed are not complaint, the pipework an
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Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox is backing calls for an Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) Inquiry into fruit and vegetable prices to make supermarkets pay their fair share. “While Coles and Woolworths made record profits of more than $1 billion each last year, the individuals and families living in our electorate of Dawson are struggling with rising grocery costs during a cost-of-living crisis,” Mr Willcox said. “Over the past 18 months we have seen fuel prices incre
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Clare State School’s newest preppies, Indianna Nash and Mason Allen, are following in both of their father’s footsteps this week as they start at the same school their dads attended years ago. Daniel Allen, Mason’s father, currently works as a mobile mechanic based in Clare and attended the school from 1987 to 1993. “Mrs Joan Ford used to be the little kids’ teacher’s aide, she spent all her time in the low building down the far end, and I have lots of memories of preschool and year one,” Mr All
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Tropical Cyclone Kirrily has formed in the Coral Sea and, according to the Bureau of Meteorology, a “severe impact is likely” between Innisfail and Airlie Beach sometime this week. The system is expected to become a Category 3 event and its impacts will be felt right across the region. Burdekin Regional Council urge all its residents to stay updated by using the Burdekin Disaster Dashboard which will keep the community abreast of the most real-time, current information. The Burdekin Emergenc
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