Election day is just around the corner! If you're casting your vote in the Burdekin, there are a few convenient locations open across the region. Voting will take place on Saturday, 3 May, with booths open from 8am to 6pm. Check where you’re voting ahead of time to avoid any last-minute rush. You’ll be able to vote at any of the following locations across the Burdekin: Burdekin Sports Club Hall 142 Wickham St, Ayr QLD 4807 East Ayr State School 43-73 Ross St, Ayr QLD 4807 St Colemans Cathol
Read more
Old Friends At 101, Carl is a living testament to the power of longevity in sport. He continues to bowl alongside his long-time mate, Bob, proving that age is no barrier to staying active. With years of experience on the green at Home Hill Bowls, Carl’s passion for the game, coupled with Bob’s ongoing involvement, shows how sport can remain a rewarding part of life, no matter your age. Mid-Week Bowls Mid-week bowls at Home Hill offer a great opportunity for everyone to enjoy the game in a rel
Read more
A comprehensive plan to tackle bullying in Queensland schools will not only benefit students but is also a key part of reducing classroom assaults according to Member for Burdekin, Dale Last MP. Since being announced, the program has received support from Dolly’s Dream, the charity founded following the tragic impact that an extended period of bullying had on Dolly Everett. “When we spoke about making Queensland safer in the lead up to the election, we committed to a range of programs,” Mr Las
Read more
It’s easy to focus on the faces at the front—the speakers at ceremonies, the runners crossing finish lines, the players scoring goals. But behind every event in the Burdekin last week, there was another group at work: the volunteers. From Anzac Day services to the Sugar Rush fun run, and even weekend sport, dozens of people quietly gave up their time to help things run smoothly. They were setting up chairs before dawn, handing out water bottles in the sun, guiding traffic, collecting rubbish, c
Read more
Many young people in Dawson are looking for opportunities to stay and work locally. What will you do to ensure young people thrive without having to leave the region? Question 2: With housing affordability becoming an increasing issue in regional areas like Dawson, what is your plan? Question 3: What specific policies will you introduce to improve healthcare infrastructure and ensure all residents of Dawson, regardless of location, have equal access to timely and high-quality care? **Andrew
Read more
In the first few months of last year, Demi O’Shea was presented with the wonderful opportunity to represent Campbell’s Jewellery as a Senior Ambassador in 2024’s historic Burdekin Water Festival. A major pathway for self-development, personal growth and community engagement, Demi accepted the nomination and began one of her most memorable and significant experiences she’ll treasure for years to come. “On a personal level the Water Festival allowed me to unlock my full potential as it was an ex
Read more
With an incredible dream and the support of the entire community, Macy Dabelstein will embark on a lifechanging journey to Nepal this October to provide free medical care to thousands of men, women and children in rural communities. Earlier this year, both Macy and her college, Josephine Long, decided to participate in World Youth International’s Nurses in Action initiative – a program enabling nurses and allied health professionals to deliver primary healthcare services to those living in remo
Read more.jpg)
As students return to the classroom this week, the Queensland Police Service (QPS) are urging all road users to take extra care - particularly around school zones - following a devastating Easter holiday period on the state’s roads. Operation X-Ray Easter, which ran from the 4th to the 21st April of, saw QPS officers dedicate over 30,000 hours to enforcement, in a bid to reduce risky behaviour behind the wheel. Across the state, almost 120,000 roadside breath tests and 7,500 roadside drug test
Read more.jpg)
Following the successful launch of our Managed Pool Plus for the 2025 season, we’re pleased to announce that we’re opening nominations earlier for the 2026 season. Nominations for the Managed Pool Plus open on 1 May and close on 30 June 2025. We’ve seen strong interest from growers who have experienced a couple of volatile seasons with unpredictable target pricing and are now seeking to share some of that pricing responsibility with Wilmar. The enhanced Managed Pool Plus aligns grower exposur
Read more
Sugarcane growers and industry stakeholders from across Queensland and beyond have converged on Brisbane earlier this week for Sugar Cubed 2025 – a dynamic, future-focused event set to spark fresh ideas and foster new connections across the cane supply chain. Hosted by CANEGROWERS at the Royal International Convention Centre, Brisbane Show Grounds from 27-29 April, Sugar Cubed brought together growers, manufacturers, researchers, policy makers and innovators for three days of thought-provoking
Read more
The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) is seeking submissions to inform its review of the Australian chicken meat industry and has released an Issues Paper to assist. Submissions can be made via 'Have Your Say' online until 30 May 2025, including via written submissions or through a guided portal. Submissions are open to all interested parties and will not be published. Confidentiality deeds are also available for all submissions. ABARES was commiss
Read more
A few rays of sunshine finally broke through in the Burdekin this week – but earlier visits to the Burdekin Productivity Services (BPS) clean seed plot found it still too damp to open at the time. Manager of Kalagro Alan Parker, BPS Field Officers Kristie Casalegno and Jack Edwards, and Farm Manager David Paine were among those checking conditions ahead of the expected opening earlier this week. QCAR Burdekin District Manager Angelo Licciardello said there were “plenty of tonnes of Q240 and Q1
Read more
This weekend, the Burdekin is the place to be with three exciting sporting events that promise to bring energy, competition, and plenty of fun for all! Lace up your shoes and hit the starting line at the Burdekin Sugar Rush, kick off your tennis skills at the 44th Annual Sugar Bowl, or grab your cricket bat and join the Canefield Ashes carnival for an action-packed two days of T20 cricket. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just looking to have a good time, there’s something for everyone. The Burd
Read more
A group of teenage boys were recently recognised on the Burdekin Community Hub on Facebook for their respectful and considerate behaviour while visiting a local water park two weekends ago. Despite clearly being excited to enjoy the slides, the boys demonstrated an admirable level of kindness towards the younger children at the park. As the younger ones queued for their turn, the teens graciously allowed them to go ahead, ensuring the little ones could enjoy the slides without feeling rushed. T
Read more
Hi Everyone! Hope you all had a fantastic Easter break :) With my first week in the Burdekin in the books, I can positively say: I love this place already! You all have made it so easy for me to settle in and find my feet in my new role as your local voice. I’ve really enjoyed learning and writing about some of your stories this week. After just a couple days on the job, one thing is already unequivocally clear: you guys LOVE your local events—and I’m all for it! It’s refreshing to see a comm
Read more
The ANZAC spirit is alive and well across our region, with attendance at dawn services, marches, and other commemorative events surging in recent years. This ANZAC Day is expected to see even greater numbers, as our community once again comes together to honour those who have served. Long before I became the Federal Member for Dawson, and my time as Mayor of the Whitsunday Regional Council, my family and I have always made it a priority to honour the sacrifices of our brave servicemen and women
Read more
The Home Hill Chamber of Commerce held its monthly meeting at 5:30pm on Wednesday, 16 April. Guest speakers included Police Officer in Charge Sam Pyke, Labor candidate for Dawson, Neil Wallace and Burdekin Life Newspaper Sales Manager Trish Jandt. Officer Pyke provided an update on local policing matters, identifying that sdaly domestic violence as the most prevalent crime in the Burdekin Shire. He also addressed questions from attendees about the operations and priorities of the local police f
Read more
Member for Burdekin, Dale Last MP, is encouraging local chambers of commerce and industry representative groups to apply for funding to improve skills and service delivery in the region. The Local Skills Solution program is aimed at leveraging ‘on the ground’ knowledge to identify gaps in currently available training and to fill those gaps with suitable training subsidised by the Queensland government. “This a great opportunity for the retail sector and key industries to access subsidised face
Read more
This week we bring you more information about the historic Marshal Tractor that among other artifacts has been lovingly restored by the multi skilled artisans at the Burdekin Machinery Preservationists (BMP). This historic Marshall Colonial Tractor Model C2 was purchased by John Drysdale and brought to Pioneer Sugar Mill in 1914. Unfortunately, the machine did not live up to expectations and lacked power – “it wouldn’t pull the skin off a rice pudding”. So, the tractor was parked in Delta Iron
Read more
The sound of swinging knives and the scent of scorched cane will return to Australia’s Sugar Cane Capital on Saturday, 31 May, as the Australian Hand Cane Cutting Championships take centre stage at this year’s Sweet Days, Hot Nights Festival. The competition—a true test of strength, technique and endurance—will see men and women from across the region and beyond battle it out in the paddock, vying for thousands in prize money and the coveted title of AHCCC Champion. Held from 11am to 5pm, with
Read more
On Friday, April 25, the Burdekin community will come together to pay their respects to Australia’s past and present Service People, with local ANZAC services and parades to take place across the region. In Home Hill, the Dawn Service will kick the day off, commencing at 5:25am at the Burdekin Memorial Hall, followed by the laying of wreaths, the sounding of the Last Post, and a minute's silence at the Home Hill Cemetery Cenotaph. Attendees will then return to the Burdekin Memorial Hall for th
Read more
It has been a busy time of year to say the least. I hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable Easter break. From all reports the crabbing was good, and the weather has turned nice, hopefully signalling the end of that humidity and rain. I recently attended the 75th Anniversary Roll Call at the Clare State School. It was great concept that saw each decade of attendees called up for a class photo and I found it an amazing display of some generational families that have been to the school. Well done
Read more
As we approach ANZAC Day, we pause to remember the sacrifices made by the men and women who have served - and continue to serve - our country. Their bravery, dedication, and resilience have shaped the freedoms we enjoy today, and it is our responsibility to ensure their legacy is never forgotten. Sadly, as we reflect on the lessons of history, we are reminded that war and conflict still exist across the world. ANZAC Day is not just about remembering the past - it is also about acknowledging the
Read more
One of the state’s longest standing drive-in theatres lives right here within the Burdekin region, and soon enough, after many, many long months, the Stardust Drive-In Cinema will be back to creating long lasting open-aired memories for Queenslanders. “It’s time, with the amazing new screen the Drive-In will come alive soon, and as we finish off the final details, we are preparing an opening for you, our Drive-In community, to experience,” shared Stardust Drive-In Cinema Manager, Suzzi Jerkic.
Read more
March and April have been busy months for the Lower Burdekin Scouts. The Scouts started March with swimming nights, followed by a visit to the Burdekin Men’s Shed. Other activities were: · A cooking night · Fire Lighting night · A night erecting tents in preparation for a camp to Magnetic Island. · Knot tying night · Harvey Norman BBQ stall · Easter Raffle stalls The cooking night involved making damper and creating handmade pasta with a tomato and mince sauce. The Easter Raffle involve
Read more