Cobber is once again calling on Australia’s toughest, stock-chasing, hard-running working dogs to battle it out for the title of the hardest working dog, with nominations now open for the milestone tenth edition of the Cobber Challenge. The annual competition showcases the best working dogs in the country, paying tribute to the four-legged legends behind Australia’s billion-dollar agriculture industry. Over the last decade, Cobber Challenge competitors have collectively run enough distance to l
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A couple of weeks ago, the Burdekin Touch Association (BTA) took time out to recognise a special group of people on and off the field - its players and officials who are past or present members of local emergency services. “The contribution made to the Burdekin community by SES, Lifesavers, Police, Fire & Rescue, Paramedics and Marine Rescue members often goes unnoticed,” said BTA President, Michael Littlefield. “We wanted to thank our Touch Football members who make our community a safe
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Born and raised in Ayr, Kristy Grabs knows the value of community—and she brings that local warmth to every interaction in her role as floor manager at Harvey Norman Ayr. With four years at the store under her belt—one in computers, and the last three in electrical—Kristy’s retail career stretches far beyond Harvey Norman. She spent 15 years at Overflow, where she worked her way up into a management position, and helped open Silly Solly’s before joining the Harvey team. “I love interacting wit
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Tucked just off Queen Street lies Carmichael Ford—a powerhouse of automotive knowledge and expertise. And while the building may have changed location, customers still receive the same experience, loyalty and service that has always lived inside. At the helm of this close-knit team is Jenna Heidke, Branch Manager and spare parts interpreter—a title that, she laughs, “means you’ve got to be a bit of a detective!” Jenna joined the company in 2002 as an apprentice parts interpreter in Bowen. It wa
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Neighbourhood Centre Week is a nationwide initiative held annually in May to celebrate the vital role and impact of local Neighbourhood and Community Centres. This year, the theme for Queensland is ‘The heart of our community’. From the 12th to 18th May, Neighbourhood Centres celebrated in various ways, from community meals to community murals. The week united communities across Queensland by connecting people in a statewide celebration while saying thank you and encouraging Queenslanders to cel
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Home Hill Pickleball numbers continue to rise. Over the weekend, club members headed up to Townsville to participate in a Queensland Pickleball Tournament. While the opposition were consistent and quick at the net, all the players did some learning and had a great time. Debbie Tait came home with a silver medal in the mixed doubles and Hannah Casswell a silver in the open ladies’ doubles. The club is looking forward to hosting the Cane Country Cup, a mixed doubles team event on Sunday 8th June.
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Johnny Cash Tribute Show Gears Up The most authentic Johnny Cash show is about to hit the Burdekin for the first time ever this Saturday, May 24, with the crew entering the final phase of their preparations before lighting up the Burdekin Theatre. “It is quite the production, so getting together and rehearsing and going through what we're going to do is really important,” says Joanne Caligiuri, who stars as June Carter alongside her husband Mark, playing the Man in Black. The Caligiuris, along
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It’s been a big week at the Ayr Bowling Club, with two major highlights bringing excitement and energy to our local greens. Thanks to a generous grant from the Community Gaming Benefit Fund, brand-new lighting was installed on the club’s green on Tuesday. The upgrade was made possible with the support of Ergon Energy and expertly carried out by the team at Coral Coast Electrical. These lights are set to enhance the club’s popular Wednesday Night Social Bowls and Friday Fun Nights, providing a b
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Trophy Night – Sponsored by Cignal The club was buzzing with energy and camaraderie at Trophy Night, sponsored by Cignal. Bowlers and spectators alike enjoyed a fantastic evening of fun and competition. Winners: Peter Micklan, Rhonda Martin, and Joe Yipnazar Second Place: Ken Ferguson, Deon McIntosh, and Heather Jorgensen Bradman's Prize: Braedyn, Clinton, Aiden, and Rhianna Mark your calendars – the next Trophy Night is set for June 13.
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Local Not a great weekend for the seniors — one draw, three losses, and one win by forfeit. All five teams are expected to be in action this weekend. On Friday night at International Park, the Division 1 Men lost 0-2 to MA Olympic, while the Division 2 Men won by forfeit. The Ladies were away to Brothers, going down 0-4. On Sunday, the Premiers and Reserves travelled to MA Olympic, with the Premiers losing 1-2 and the Reserves drawing 0-0. This Friday, the Division 1 Men and the Ladies are bo
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Saturday 24 May Burdekin Enduro Off-Road Race Saturday 9am Join the Burdekin Off-Roaders Club for their annual home ground off-road race, the Burdekin Enduro. This family friendly event showcases some of Queensland’s, and Australia’s, best off-road race cars as they tear through the dirt to claim podium places. Don’t miss the sprint section on Saturday afternoon where you will be able to see the cars up close and personal. Entry is free, just bring water and something to sit on. Burdekin Offroad
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As the Sweet Days Hot Nights Festival draws near, two standout events promise to deliver unforgettable experiences for locals and visitors: the Australian Hand Cane Cutting Championships (AHCCC) and the iconic First Fire. For long-time competitor and local grower Mark Vass, the championships are about more than just sharp knives and speed. “It’s good tradition,” he says. “We have all these flashy machines now that do everything, so it's good to go back and get a taste of how hard it was.” The
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Unlike the weather, event season in the Burdekin is just beginning to warm up, and we were back with another banger this weekend with the Burdekin Growers Race Day. I’ll be honest—coming into it, I just wanted to get in, get the photos, and get out, as I was feeling a bit off the pace for reasons that definitely didn’t involve my antics the night before… But as I approached the gates, seeing thousands of people milling around in full swing, I knew that wasn’t gonna be the case. What an event.
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Plantation Park came alive on Sunday for the 16th annual Norm Perry Memorial Duck Race, drawing a strong crowd for a day of fun, fundraising and floating plastic ducks. Hundreds lined the creek bank to cheer on the rubber competitors, with one lucky duck taking out the $1000 top prize and the coveted 2025 Quack Cup. Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox joined locals in enjoying the festivities, which included food stalls, kids’ activities and live tunes from the Burdekin Brass Band. The c
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From the 7th to the 18th of this month, the local community flocked to the Burdekin theatre to witness the next generation of local talent strut their stuff. In its 41st year, the annual event saw 2600 talented children from all over North Queensland showcase their skills across a range of disciplines and age groups—from poetry and choral performances to classical piano and traditional Highland dance. “We’re very happy with the amount of entries and how it went,” said the secretary of the even
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Burdekin Growers Race Day Delivers Again The Burdekin Growers Race Day lived up to its reputation as the region’s premier 18+ social event on Saturday, May 17, delivering a mix of racing, fashion, and community celebration under perfect autumn skies. Thousands flocked to the track for the annual event, as the vibration of hooves denting the manicured grass course signalled the start of a six-race program showcasing top local talent.
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The Burdekin took centre stage on national television last week as The Today Show brought its live weather broadcast to the region as part of a week-long Townsville North Queensland showcase. On Tuesday, May 14, viewers across the country woke up to the sights and sounds of the Burdekin, with weatherman Tim Davies broadcasting live from the Burdekin Theatre forecourt between 5:30am and 9:00am. Locals turned out in force to be part of the action, with behind-the-scenes fun, community spirit, an
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Well, the 2025 crushing season is about to start. I am really hoping we can have a good run this year. Wouldn’t it be nice to have it all crushed before December. At Council, we are still deep in budget discussions. After the work we have done to date, I am pretty confident we will be able to deliver a budget that is not only responsible but also ensures we meet the community's wants and needs. A few new initiatives have been started, led by our Executive Leadership Team and councillors. A new
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Well, it’s not every day we get to showcase our region to a national audience, and I couldn’t be prouder. From our vibrant community spirit to our incredible local produce, the Burdekin truly has something special. How great was it to show the rest of Australia on the TODAY show when the weather team come to town! Adding even more fun to the visit was the Burdekin’s Sweetest School Competition contestants, where local students brought in their homegrown sugarcane and proudly displayed their agr
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Roads, Rucks And Recovery Norm Bethel has lived enough lives for a dozen men. Now in his eighties and calling the Burdekin home, the esteemed New Zealander’s journey has taken him from coaching rugby legends, to long-haul trucking, to miraculously surviving a horror crash that nearly took it all away. Born across the ditch, Norm grew up between New Zealand’s North and South Islands in a country where “rugby is a passion, not a pastime.” He wasn’t just a fan of the game—he shaped it, mentoring y
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The Burdekin Roosters will be back on the playing field this Saturday—and, more importantly, will play their first home game after opening the season with three games on the road. It will be a big day at Rugby Park, with the Juniors also in action. Thirteen junior teams, along with Bowen, will take the field. Games will kick off at 8.30am across four fields, finishing with the A Grade clash on Field One at 6.30pm. The Roosters Old Boys Club will be at the Ayr Anzac Club from midday for a get-
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Member for Burdekin, Dale Last MP, is urging the local agricultural sector to have their say on the future of the sector either in person or at an upcoming information session or online. A key part of the Crisafulli government’s target to increase the state’s primary industries production to $30 Billion by 2030, the consultation process is focussed on ensuring primary industries thrive and prosper. “What we have seen over the past 10 years is immense changes forced upon primary industry but ve
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Bendigo Bank today announced a new partnership with not-for-profit Thriving Communities Australia (TCA) to help the most vulnerable members in our community gain improved access to key financial services. With a focus on improving access to essential services for all Australians, TCA facilitates learning and collaboration among partner organisations with the aim of creating a unified approach to assisting customers experiencing vulnerability. As a partner of TCA, Australia’s most trusted bank w
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If one thing can be said for sure, it’s that the Burdekin Shire loves its annual Ladies Day celebrations! After another stellar year of Ladies Day events in 2024, the Burdekin Roosters, Burdekin Football Club, and Burdekin Rugby Union Canetoads have taken a place on calendars across the community, confirming 2025 will be a year to remember with three wonderful weekends on the horizon! The first club to take a seat at the 2025 table will be the Burdekin Rugby Union Canetoads! Saturday the 12th o
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A woman has died and two others were hospitalised following a head-on collision on the Flinders Highway near Charters Towers last week. Emergency services were called to the scene at Breddan, just west of Macrossan Bridge, shortly after 4pm on May 14, following reports of a two-vehicle crash. Initial investigations suggest a Holden Epica and a Hyundai Kona were travelling in opposite directions when they collided head-on. A woman in her 50s, who was a passenger in the Kona, died at the scene.
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