Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
Over half a century of creativity underpins the success of the Burdekin Art Society, a celebrated organisation, focused on nurturing local talent and highlighting artistic expression across the Burdekin Shire. 54 years ago, the late Cecilia Spottiswood and a passionate group of artists and community members came together to establish the Burdekin Art Society, which still to this day, continues to bring creativity to life from its mural-covered gallery at 154 Macmillan Street, Ayr. The space do
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A long-serving Burdekin paramedic has been recognised in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours List, receiving one of the highest accolades in the profession, the Ambulance Service Medal (ASM). Peter Heron, Acting Officer In Charge (OIC) at Kirwan Ambulance Station and a proud Juru man, is one of only four Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) officers to receive the honour in 2025. Officer Heron has served with the QAS for nearly 30 years, working in rural and remote communities across Queensland,
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Just ask all the wives When the "Harvesting Season" arrives They'll tell you how hard their man works For no extra perks Off to bed early each night to get a good sleep Before they fall in a heap To wake in the morning before sunrise, to then Do it all over again Whether driving the harvester or pulling the bins The pattern is always the same Cut the cane and fill up the bins Haul em out, drop em off at the siding Come back and do the same When they come home had it, washed up and ready for t
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A group of green-thumbed students from Ayr State High School have been getting hands-on with native plants as part of their Certificate II in Production Horticulture studies. The students recently visited the Lower Burdekin Landcare nursery, where they were guided by experienced volunteers through activities designed to deepen their understanding of local plant species and the vital role native vegetation plays in maintaining healthy ecosystems. From identifying native flora to learning how th
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By Chelsea Ravizza Sarah McDonnell has led an impressive academic career in the pursuit of advocating for women’s health initiatives through magnifying the misunderstood, under-discussed or heavily stigmatised conditions many face, especially in remote communities. After graduating as Ayr State High School’s School Captain in 2020, Sarah went on to peruse a Bachelor of Medicine / Bachelor of Surgery at James Cook University (JCU) in Townsville. In late 2026, Sarah will excitingly celebrate her
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Representing Liessmann and Sons Since she was just eight years old, Molly Julyan dreamt of one day becoming a Burdekin Water Festival Ambassador, and now, at the age of 21, she’s become the girl she used to admire. “Going to the Grand Parades, seeing the floats go by and then afterwards, enjoying all the fun rides are memories that I’ll cherish forever,” reminisced Molly. Hailing from Home Hill, Molly will represent Liessmann’s and Sons, and she could not be more excited and honoured to embark
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The Story Behind CORES Queensland CORES Queensland has been saving lives in the Burdekin for over 16 years. The organisation—run largely by volunteers—offers a wide range of mental health and suicide prevention services, quietly operating as the heartbeat of the community. Though, if you ask CORES Queensland Coordinator Ross Romeo, he’ll tell you it’s the other way around. “The Burdekin community are the backbone of our program,” he says. “They are the reason we’ve survived all these years—we’r
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In 2017, Adam Perakovic came up to the Burdekin for what he thought would be a quick visit to his parents. That short trip turned into a permanent move—one that saw him meet his future wife and business partner, Randall, and build from scratch one of North Queensland’s most successful window covering manufacturers: Blinds2U. “It started off as just me—I was doing small installs on my own with the help of my dad and father-in-law,” says Adam. “Then we expanded, it all started to grow, and now we
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National Recognition For McCathies At 2025 Harcourts HX Conference The Nutrien Harcourts McCathies office represented the Burdekin with pride at this year’s Harcourts HX Conference, beating out more than 230 agencies to be named the Number One Nutrien Harcourts office in Australia. “We’re proud to represent our region at national and international level, and to bring these awards home to our team and community who make it all possible,” said Business Owner John Mottin. Hosted on the Gold Coas
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If you’re a Burdekin local, chances are you’ve heard of Brennan Tyrepower. If you haven’t? Just ask your parents—or grandparents. One of the region’s longstanding businesses—rooted in family, quality, and care—Brennan Tyrepower has been keeping the Burdekin rolling for the better part of 75 years. “It’s a family business—we started out in the early 1950s and moved into tyres in 1969,” says co-owner Erin Brennan, who specialises in sales and administration. “We’ve served the grandchildren of pe
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Although a whole ocean and a continent away, Giovanna’s Cucina in Home Hill brings you right to Italy’s doorstep with its traditional Sicilian flavour—no passport required. What started as a modest entrepreneurial venture out of Giovanna Castorina’s own home in 2022, the business has evolved to offer a whole range of authentic Italian meals—including her famous lasagne—and now with it’s own storefront on the main road. “I started the business at home myself—initially, it was just pasta sauces
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From Where I Sit At 1.20pm on Sunday 8 June, Ayr Police intercepted a vehicle on Bower Street, Ayr. As a result the driver, a 53yr old Whitsunday man, was issued a Notice to Appear (NTA) for driving with a relevant drug in his saliva and possess drug utensil. He is due to appear in Ayr Magistrates Court on 11 August. At 12.30am on Wednesday 11 June, Ayr Police intercepted a vehicle on Beach Road, Ayr. As a result the driver, a 28yr old Burdekin man, was issued a NTA for drink driving, .139 and
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Burdekin Basketball Pushes For More Girls In The Game From competitive fixtures to community programs, the courts are always buzzing at Burdekin Basketball. But now, the association is making a play for change—and it starts with getting more girls on the court. “We’re a community facility, and we want to make sure everyone feels included,” said club president Shane James. “This current push is about getting girls back into sport—giving them opportunities to be active, to build friendships, and
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It was a successful trip to Bowen last Saturday for two Burdekin sides competing in the latest round of the RLTD, with both the Reserves and Women’s teams claiming solid wins. The A Grade Roosters had the weekend off with a bye. The Reserves defeated Bowen 32–18, while the Women’s side dominated their opposition 54–0. The Reserves came up against a large and determined Bowen outfit on their annual Ladies Day, which saw 260 women celebrate with a Country and Western theme. With a couple of pla
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The Brandon/Home Hill Purple Pennants team travelled to Bowen and Wangaratta over the weekend to compete in the Pennants competition, facing off against five opposing teams. The team came away with a solid performance, recording two rink wins, one draw, and one match win. Beyond the results, the weekend was highlighted by friendly competition, reunions with familiar faces, and the formation of new friendships across clubs. Friday Night Bowls Draws Strong Turnout There was a great atmosphere a
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What an exciting time to live in the Burdekin with the official opening of the world first – (yes, WORLD FIRST, right here in the Burdekin!) Macroalgae Bioremediation Facility by the Honourable Ann Leahy MP, Minister for Local Government and Water and Minister for Fire, Disaster Recovery and Volunteers on Friday 20 June 2025. The state-of-the-art facility leads the way in algae-based environmental research and is sustainable and environmentally friendly. Congratulations must be extended to the
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Last week I was proud to join Minister for Local Government and Water, the Hon. Ann Leahy MP, to officially open the Ayr–Brandon Macroalgae Bioremediation Facility. This event marks a significant milestone in Queensland’s journey towards cleaner, greener technology and we are extremely proud to open this facility right here in the Burdekin. The opening event brought together over 70 attendees with representatives from all levels of government and industry to celebrate the facility’s contribution
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Local Another mixed weekend for the Panthers, winning one, drawing one, and losing three of five matches. On Friday night in Townsville, the Division 2 Funkies drew 0–0 with Brothers, and also in Townsville the Division 1 Men lost 1–4 to Ingham, but the Ladies defeated Saints Eagles South 5–0. On Saturday, in Townsville against Brothers, the Premiers lost 0–2 and the Reserves lost 2–3. This Saturday, the Premiers and Reserves are away to Warriors, the Premiers at 3.30pm and the Reserves at 1
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A visit to the Burdekin by the Minister for Health and Ambulance Services is a clear sign of improvements in store for health services in the Burdekin according to Member for Burdekin, Dale Last MP. Mr Last said the Minister being able to hear directly from the Burdekin’s frontline health workers would ensure that upgrades addressed challenges and opportunities identified at a local level rather than local staff being dictated to. “I often speak about Queenslanders deserving access to world cl
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The Burdekin Shire Council officially unveiled its cutting-edge Macroalgae Bioremediation Facility in Ayr on Friday 20 June, 2025, with the Honourable Ann Leahy MP, Minister for Local Government and Water and Minister for Fire, Disaster Recovery and Volunteers, leading the momentous occasion. “This facility is a great example of regional Queensland taking the lead and embracing emerging technology,” said Leahy. The facility—which cost around $8.3 million—was jointly funded by the Queensland Go
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The Burdekin Show Committee Thanks You The Burdekin Show returned this year livelier than ever, drawing a great crowd that showed just how much the community loves this event. The day was packed with entertainment and fun, proving once again why it’s such a highlight on the local calendar. Burdekin Show Committee President Chris Lyne said that the committee are eternally grateful for not only the work of volunteers and helpers, but also the support shown by the community at the 2025 event. "We
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For the first time ever, a team from Burdekin’s own Football Queensland Academy hub will take part in the state’s Junior Cup—a major milestone for the region’s growing football program. The team of Under-12 boys will join hundreds of players from across Queensland for the Football Queensland Academy Carnival, which kicks off on the Sunshine Coast this week. The carnival features separate formats for different age groups: Under-12s and older compete in the Junior Cup, while Under-9s to 11s play
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Ashley and Anna Chatfield are the new husband-and-wife team behind Burdekin Demolition & Construction Services—but they’re no strangers to the business. The couple officially took over operations this month, following a smooth transition from the previous owner. Ashley had already been managing the business for four years, making the step into ownership a natural one. “I was managing the business alongside Llyod,” Ashley said. “Then he told me he was getting out of it, and it just felt like a
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The Burdekin Race Club is preparing for a special race day at the Home Hill Racecourse this Saturday, featuring a seven-race card and a heartfelt cause. This year’s event is dedicated as “Elenna’s Day,” a fundraiser supporting three-year-old Elenna Savorgnan, a local girl battling brain cancer. The seven-race program offers a bigger-than-usual lineup, with prize money of $10,000 per race. Alongside the racing, the day will feature family-friendly activities including snow cones, face painting,
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For 11 years, Dee & Vee’s Takeaway has been a beloved fixture in Home Hill’s food scene, serving up a classic menu with a generous side of family spirit and community connection. Owned and operated by Debbie Stevenson and Veronica Melvin, the takeaway shop was proudly built from scratch. “There was nothing here in Home Hill 11 years ago,” Veronica recalls. “People questioned why we’d start a takeaway here, but we were determined. If anything, that motivated us more.” That dogged determination,
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