The Ingham Palliative Care Group received a substantial donation this week thanks to the broader community and one kind local man who selflessly decided to pay it forward.

During the flooding event Halifax local Jason Valastro travelled into Ingham via helicopter every day for work at a local retail store.

This enormous commitment to work did not go unnoticed by the local community with many personally donating money to Jason to help with any additional costs he incurred during this time.

Jason appreciated the kind donations but, instead of putting it in his back pocket, this kind man decided to pass the money forward, donating instead to another worthwhile charity.

Jason has donated the funds, $515.05, to Ingham Palliative Care.

“I believe it's a good cause,” explained Jason.

Juliene Collins accepted the money on behalf of her daughter Tammy. Along with others, the pair actively fundraise for Ingham Palliative Care and ensure every dollar is put towards helping those suffering in the community.

“Thank you, Jason, for your kind donation. It's greatly appreciated and it will be put to very good use to our local Ingham Palliative Care,” she said.

"Just recently, palliative care have bought a bus, the Hurley Bus and my daughter, Tammy, and myself and our little crew have pledged to Palliative Care that we will keep fundraising to keep the Hurley Bus running."

The Hurley Bus has been running since December, and is used to transport frail and palliative pateinets to and from medical appointments. But the bus is not only to be used for medical appointments, it can be used for absolutely anything.

Nick Dametto MP Member for Hinchinbrook said the gesture was a fantastic contribution and that Ingham Palliative Care do a great job in our region.

Simon Hood
Wilmar Manager Grower Marketing

February was a positive month for prices with growers using the rally to tidy up 2024 season Target and GMPRS pricing.

Additionally, with 2025 season prices breaking through $650/t, there has been increased scale up selling from Target price growers. There is, however, still plenty of 2025 pricing to go with only about 25 per cent of Target prices locked in at this point.

The rally has also allowed our 2024 season pools to be forecasting higher returns. We have incrementally locked in prices on the rising market to ensure any potential correction will have less impact on final returns for the 2024 season. Likewise, we have initiated hedging on the #11 sugar contract to put a floor under a portion of the new Managed Pool Plus for the 2025 season.

This initial positioning combined with some sub 62 cent currency is providing a good foundation for that pool return. However, there is still a long way to go for 2025 season pool valuations to be finalised. With the focus on 2025 season and beyond, let’s have a quick review of the current outlook.

Most analysts are currently forecasting a small production surplus (Wilmar 3.5m tonnes) for the 2025-26 season based on a large Brazilian and Indian crop. Brazilian forecasts are starting to be scaled back as continued dry weather through February downgrade yield expectations. On the flip side, Indian forecasts are being maintained as high domestic prices encourage crop expansion and a very good monsoon filled storage and moisture profiles.

Nominations for our 2025 season GMPRS pricing mechanism are now open. This remains a popular choice among Target price growers due the flexibility of being able to price all GEI sugar exposure – excluding the US quota proportion – from mid-May in each season. Typically, growers are cautious about pricing too much of the final proportion early in the season as price risk is replaced with production shortfall risk.

During March we will be holding a series of shed meetings to update growers with the latest analysis from Wilmar on the outlook for 2025 season and beyond. Get in touch with your local Wilmar Grower Marketing consultant to find your closest meeting.

The local community felt the full force of support from around the state when Clubs Queensland presented a cheque for $75K at a special event held at Herbert River Sub Branch RSL last Friday afternoon.

Money had been raised by community clubs across the state and kindly donated to the Hinchinbrook Community Support Centre to help instigate flood recovery and enable local services to get back up and running.

Mayor of Hinchinbrook Shire Council Mayor Ramon Jayo attended the event where good cheer and merriment was shared with the community with the 'Have a beer on us!' initiative hosted by XXXX.

The Hinchinbrook Community Support Centre is a well-known establishment in Ingham and their work has been recognised.

At the ‘Have a Beer on Us’ event at the Herbert River Sub Branch RSL – Ingham the Hinchinbrook Community Support Centre received a donation of $75,000, donated from clubs around Queensland.

The Hinchinbrook Community Support Centre CEO Linda McClelland said she was delighted with the donation.

“It makes my heart lighten at the fact that in the moment of need and when we are faced with this adversity, that the generosity of clubs, who in some instances have suffered themselves, step up and say it's really important that we get services back running to support community,” she said.

“We will be utilising the funds to restore some of our services that have taken a bit of a hit from the flooding, so hopefully we will get back to business as we were before.

“With this generous donation, hopefully we will be able to not only restore our services but rebuild them and make them stronger.”

CEO of Clubs Queensland Kelly Egan said he understands the work that they do and knows that the donation will benefit the community.

“We like to think it will make a significant difference to Linda and the team out there, we know what they do,” he said.

“They support in any way, shape or form, as part of this community, 365, days a year.

"The club industry relies on the community to come in its front doors, and we value that. So, this is just our little way of giving back.”

XXXX were also present at the ‘Have a Beer on Us’ event, they contributed to the donation and also kindly covered the bar tab.

“Putting on an event today, putting on beers and drinks, we just hope, through something like that, we can share a cheer across the community. I just think it's the least we can we can do,” said XXXX State Manager Marc Woolnough.

“The spirit that we have seen here with the flood recovery is something that we really appreciate, and we felt strongly enough about it to be here today and contribute in a very small way.”

Two clubs from Townsville also contributed to the donation.

Operations Manager of Brothers Leagues Club Barrett Wherry said it made sense to help the Ingham and Hinchinbrook community.

“The Ingham community is really close to Townsville, and it just makes sense to help out, we have already made a donation to the local rugby league club, and we're just happy to help out the people in the community and help them get back on their feet,” said Barrett Wherry.

General Manager from the Cowboys Leagues Club Clint Williams said after the flooding that hit Townsville in 2019, he understands what the Ingham community have gone through.

“Having gone through the floods in 2019 in Townsville we knew what it was like and we got plenty of support from the community and Ingham is right in our backyard. So we wanted to make sure we could support it as much as possible,” he said.

“Clubs are all about supporting the community, there's a pretty big cheque being presented today, and that's from clubs all over Queensland.

“Whilst Ingham is in our backyard, clubs from the south east corner of Central Queensland, they've also contributed and I think that's what clubs are all about, making sure we're here for our community and supporting them as much as possible.”

I recently had the privilege of attending school leader induction ceremonies at Ingham State School, Our lady of Lourdes and Gilroy Santa Maria College. Following the events of the past few weeks, it was wonderful to see all the smiling and happy students as they were preparing to be inducted as the 2025 School Leaders for their respective schools.

Congratulations to you all on your achievements and I wish you all the best for the year ahead as you enter your final year of primary and secondary schooling. I believe the schools are in good hands.

Late last week we received a briefing from the Department of National Parks and Wildlife concerning the present state of parks in the Hinchinbrook Shire. Unfortunately, roads into the parks have been significantly damaged and substantial earthwork and bridge infrastructure repairs are required. Access to the Jourama Falls day area has been achieved but the access track to the falls remains closed. Council is endeavouring to remediate Wallaman Falls Road as quickly as possible, but vegetation and slippage is problematic at present. The road into Broadwater will require bridge repairs, and at this stage it is not expected that this road will re-open in the near future.

Council has been in discussion with the Insurance Council of Australia and has been informed that home restoration and repair work for homes damaged in the recent flood events is well underway throughout the district. Demolition waste will be shredded to pulp as much as possible to ensure that the remaining life of the Warrens Hill waste facility is not compromised significantly by space wastage. The Insurance Council has informed that for the present, most work is able to be performed whilst residents remain in situ, thus alleviating the need for temporary accommodation requirements. This situation will be monitored as work progresses.

For any residents that may have a need for assistance, please remember that the Recovery Hubs are still in operation at Ingham and Halifax and that much information on the services to assist can be obtained at such locations.

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Pelorus Island, also known as North Palm Island, is a pristine paradise nestled within the Great Palm Island group. Pelorus Island boasts magnificent fringing reefs, making it a haven for snorkelling and diving enthusiasts. You can explore breathtaking underwater views of marine life right off the beach. Soft corals like sea whips and fans coexist with plate and boulder corals. The changing currents ensure that every day brings new marine wonders. In winter, keep an eye out for colourful tropical reef fish, leopard rays, guitar sharks, turtles, and manta rays. The northern part of the island is a hotspot for spotting dolphins and whales between mid-July and early November.  The island is managed by the Hinchinbrook Shire Council, with its fragile environment protected by both state and federal environmental provisions. Permission from Parks Australia is not needed for camping, but there are no facilities or freshwater on the island, so all provisions need to be taken there.

The Herbert River catchment is the largest in the Wet Tropics region and the longest coastal river in North Queensland. The Herbert River Improvement Trust (HRIT) area is on the lower catchment flood plain which experiences regular flooding events due to the significant local rainfall, as well as the impacts of rain in the Upper Herbert catchment which extends approximately 200km north of the Hinchinbrook Shire with an area of over 10,000 km2. The river’s substantial historic shifts and mobility across the lower floodplain present unique management challenges, with legacy wetlands, flood channels and tributaries, and groundwater flows creating a river system unlike any other connected to the Great Barrier Reef lagoon.

The HRIT was established in 1942 under the River Improvement Trust Act 1940 in response to recurring major flood events. As a statutory body, it operates with public funding to provide vital flood mitigation and river management services, often at no cost or significantly reduced rates. The Hinchinbrook Shire Council remains the primary fund provider, with funding indirectly levied across the community. The Queensland Flood Risk Management Framework recognises the crucial role of River Improvement Trusts in both flood risk management and disaster recovery efforts.

The primary role of the HRIT is to plan, design, finance, undertake and maintain improvement works to benefit the community within its ‘river improvement area’ – the Hinchinbrook Local Government Area. Today, HRITs role has expanded beyond flood response to include preventive and restorative actions, aligning with the State’s emerging focus on climate resilience and coastal hazard adaptation, in coordination with local government and the Local Disaster Management Group (LDMG).

HRIT’s mission is clear; to improve water flow in rivers and tributaries within the Hinchinbrook Shire, correct erosion, and provide effective flood mitigation. Since its inception, the Trust has undertaken river improvement works at over 500 sites, including major flood mitigation projects such as the Ripple and Catherina Creeks’ flood gates, the Foresthome flood channel, and the Halifax Town Levee. Additional projects have focused on streambank repair, stabilisation, and revegetation, from major river systems like the Herbert and Stone Rivers to smaller creeks throughout the region.

The recent flooding event in the Hinchinbrook District has once again highlighted the importance of HRIT’s work. The Trust is currently inspecting and assessing widespread damage to rivers and streams, with plans to secure grant funding from relevant State Government departments, potentially under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

If you have any concerns or questions, please contact the HRIT Secretary via email admin@hrit.com.au. A  list of HRIT members and their contact details is available on the Hinchinbrook Shire Council website.

Recovery will take time, but as a community, we will rebuild. Please take care of yourselves listen to each other and do not suffer in silence.

Wednesday 5 March
Morning Melodies: Billy and Barry in Concert
Wednesday 10:30am
Thomas Armstrong-Robley starring in: Two of the greatest piano men of all time, Billy Joel and Barry Manilow come together in a unique and spectacular celebration of their beloved music & lyrics.
JL Kelly Theatre

Saturday 8 March
Ingham Conroy Hall Markets
Saturday 7:30am
Come one, come all to one of Hinchinbrook’s longest running market events, Conroy Hall Markets! Browse a selection of stalls retailing plants, antiques, clothes, handmade delights, and more!
Conroy Hall

Saturday 15 March
International Soprano Sensation Mirusia in Celebration
Saturday 5pm
International Soprano Sensation MIRUSIA in 40th Birthday Celebration Concert by Andre Rieu's Star Soprano!
JL Kelly Theatre

Sunday 16 March
Ingham Raintree Community Markets
Sunday 7am
A morning of Sunday market fun awaits at Ingham’s Rotary Park with the Ingham Raintree Community Markets!
Rotary Park, Ingham

Saturday 22 March
Ingham Up Town Markets
Saturday 8am
Enjoy a morning browsing the talents of the Hinchinbrook community at the Ingham Up Town Markets from 8am to midday!
Lannercost Street

Saturday 22 March
Baby Welcoming Ceremony
Saturday 9am
Each new baby that has arrived in the community over the past twelve months will receive a Welcoming Certificate, Sapling and a Gift Bag. Parents can plant their sapling to commemorate their new baby and watch as they both grow, providing for the future prosperity of the Hinchinbrook Shire. Enjoy a fun filled morning of yummy food, sensory play, arts and crafts for the whole family.
Hinchinbrook Shire Library

Tuesday 25 March
‘In Good Audience’
Tuesday 6:30pm
The Ingham Theatre Group is excited to present ‘In Good Audience’ at the JL Kelly Theatre in March 2024.
JL Kelly Theatre

Wednesday 26 March
‘In Good Audience’
Wednesday 6:30pm
The Ingham Theatre Group is excited to present ‘In Good Audience’ at the JL Kelly Theatre in March 2024.
JL Kelly Theatre

While many natural tourist spots are closed due to inaccessibility caused by recently flooding, Hinchinbrook Island remains open.

Hinchinbrook Island is a breathtaking haven of unspoiled natural beauty, it offers an unparalleled escape into the wild, boasting rugged mountains, lush rainforests, beautiful waterfalls and secluded beaches.

Thorsborne Trail
The Thorsborne Trail is Hinchinbrook Islands main attraction, the 32-kilometre long hike takes adventurers anywhere between three to five days to complete. During the hot summer months 1 January – 28 February the trail is closed. The Thorsborne Trail attracts avid hikers from across the country. On the trail adventures catch glimpse of mangroves, forests, beaches, waterfalls and mountains. The 32-kilometre long trail is not for the average walker either, it is difficult trail and is categorised as a Class 5 hiking experience.

Currently only 40 people are able to walk the Thorsborne Trail at the same time, but upgrades to come will allow 60 people to do the walk. With the limited number allowed to access the trail at one time, it makes it an extremely popular and sought after attraction. But if you don’t fancy a three-to-five-day hike, day trips are also available.

Zoe Falls
Day trips are available to Hinchinbrook Island too, and Zoe Falls is the most recognisable places on Hinchinbrook Island. Spend time at the waterfall and jump into the refreshing waters, or venture a bit further to catch one of the best views on the island. Sit back in one of the rock pools and look out at the view before you.

Mulligan falls
Mulligan Falls is also a popular destination on the island for day trippers, the picturesque waterfall has a deep swimming hole, perfect for a quick dip. However although the pool is safe to swim in, anything further is restricted.

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Zoefalls - Nearby Zoe Falls is this breathtaking view
thorsbornetrail - The Thorsborne Trail is a 32 kilometre long hike that takes you across beaches, forests and waterfalls

Mick’s Bread Kitchen has been feeding the Hinchinbrook community with amazing pastries, coffee, and pies for over 30 years, but how do they make their delicious pies?

Co-owner, Simone Stanta, has some top tips.

1. Pastry—It is important to perfect your pastry for the perfect pie. At Mick’s Bread Kitchen, they use high-quality flour to ensure a strong base. They also use a different pastry on top. For the top of the pie, they use puff pastry with lots of layers to ensure a crispy top.

2. Ingredients—Mick’s Bread Kitchen uses top-quality ingredients. Their beef is lean, and their gravy and stock are well-seasoned. It’s important to keep the filling thick and flavourful so the pie stays together.

3. Filling—Be creative with your filling. Simone said the basics of a good pie are the pastry and good-quality ingredients, but inside the pie, it's up to one's preference. It could be chilli, mushrooms, bacon, cheese, or anything you enjoy.


Did You Know?

Mick’s Bread Kitchen’s Chilli Pie contains home-grown Carolina Reaper chillies. The pies are not for the faint-hearted. Do you dare to try one?

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Following the first graduation of the year, the Queensland Police Service (QPS) has welcomed 55 new officers into communities and Ingham will receive two new officers.

Officer in Charge of Ingham Police Station Senior Sergeant Geoff Bormann said the officers will start this week.

“The first officers will be posted in Ingham for their initial 12 month service, they will undergo their continued training here for 12 months after they're sworn in from academy,” he said.

“Those officers will allow us to continue at 24/7 coverage.

“They are coming in as part of the regular QPS training program where officers are sent out to stations as part of their first year, they'll learn about responding to traffic incidents, property offenses, domestic violence, everything that police doing a general duty as well.”

Commissioner of Police, Steve Gollschewski APM, congratulated the newest officers and acknowledged the significance of their deployment.

“Supporting North Queensland means investing and empowering our newest officers to start their policing careers in the communities they know best,” Commissioner Gollschewski said.

“Many of these new officers will serve in their hometowns, bringing local knowledge, strong community ties, and an understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities in North Queensland.”

The officers will gain real-world experience and first-hand insights into the critical role police play in times of crisis.

The Hinchinbrook Community Support Centre had to find a new spot for their Seniors Morning Coffee Club, but that did not affect spirits at all.

The Seniors Morning Coffee Club was held at Noorla Bowls Club and despite the change in location, spirits remained high as attendees enjoyed a lively morning of Trivia and Bingo.

Guest speakers from Ergon provided valuable insights to the seniors on understanding electricity bills and managing energy costs. Their presentation was well received, and the Hinchinbrook Community Support Centre appreciate their ongoing support for our senior community.

The Hinchinbrook Community Support Centre gave their staff member Shannen a special mention, thanking her for collaborating with Ergon’s Energy Literacy Program.

If you or someone you know needs help understanding electricity bills or learning how to be more energy-efficient, Shannen is available for assistance—call 07 4776 1822.

Seniors may also be eligible for Ergon’s Hardship Grant, which provides up to $700 towards electricity bills and can be accessed every two years. Those experiencing financial difficulties are encouraged to apply.

The Hinchinbrook Community Support Centre also gave their thanks to Ingham Palliative Care for providing transport for seniors who needed it.

The next Seniors Morning Coffee Club will be held on March 14 and St Patricks Day will be celebrated, wear your best green colours! To register contact The Hinchinbrook Community Support Centre on 07 4776 1822.

WHAT: Seniors Morning Coffee Club
WHEN: March 14, St Patrick's Day

In the aftermath of the recent flooding in the Hinchinbrook Shire, Hinchinbrook Chamber has been working closely with many government agencies over the past few weeks, in an effort to bring as much support as possible for business owners who have been impacted by this event.

Having already hosted two well attended community information session with Sam Spina, Regional Area Manager FNQ QRIDA, Chamber is now taking individual bookings for business owners who would like to meet and discuss their application with a QRIDA representative.  These appointments are available on Tuesday 4th March, 2025 from 1.00pm to 4.30pm,  please contact Chamber for further information as bookings are already filling quickly.

Tuesday will also see the Small Business Commissioner, Domique Lamb visit the Shire, to meet with the business community and gain a better understanding of the impact this event has had on their operations now and sustainability into the future.  There will be an opportunity for local business owners and managers to meet with Commissioner Domique Lamb at Lee’s Hotel, commencing at 5.00pm on Tuesday 4th March, 2025.

Additional officers from the Department of Small and Family Business will also be in town from Tuesday to Thursday and will be available to speak to any business owners or managers to understand how they can further support the needs of the business community, to assist with recovery and return to full operations.

For those in the business community who seeking some assistance, by way of financial assistance or mental health support, these officers have been on the ground and are visiting the region on a regular basis and are available for individual appointments as required.

Hinchinbrook Chamber has worked tirelessly during and since the flooding began in an effort to inform, update, support and advocate on behalf of the business community of the Shire and will continue this much needed service until it is no longer required.  For any business owner who is requiring assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out via our phone, email or social media contacts.

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In addition to my daily electorate duties, I also serve on the Queensland Parliament’s Education, Arts and Communities Committee. Last week, our committee travelled to Cooktown and Hope Vale for public hearings on the Family Responsibilities Commission.

Our committee is also carrying out a very important inquiry into elder abuse in Queensland. Elder abuse is an issue that too often goes unnoticed, yet it has devastating impacts on some of the most vulnerable members of our community. Defined as a single or repeated act, or failure to act, that causes harm or distress within a relationship of trust, elder abuse can take many forms. It includes physical, sexual, psychological, emotional, and financial abuse, as well as neglect.

The inquiry aims to uncover the true extent of elder abuse in Queensland, including the risk factors that make some older individuals more vulnerable, and the barriers preventing them from accessing help. We are also examining the effectiveness of current laws, policies, and support services, and looking at ways to improve how we respond to this issue.

The Hinchinbrook electorate has the highest aging population per capita compared to anywhere else in Queensland making this topic one that I feel very strongly about. Every Queenslander deserves to age with dignity and respect.

If you or someone you know has concerns about elder abuse, I encourage you to engage with the inquiry and share your experiences. For more information, please feel free to contact the committee secretariat directly by phone (07) 3553 6623, or email eacc@parliament.qld.gov.au. Alternatively, you can visit the Queensland Parliament website.

Contributed with thanks to Nick Dametto MP Member for Hinchinbrook

Hello everyone

This week I have seen the generosity from not only people here in Hinchinbrook but from all over Queensland.

I had the pleasure of attending the Herbert River Sub Branch RSL – Ingham on Friday to see Clubs Queensland donating $75k to the Hinchinbrook Community Support Centre. Clubs from all over Queensland came together to make this donation, and I couldn’t think of a better place for this thoughtful donation to go to.

It seems kindness is everywhere I go lately and community members love sharing their stories with me, which are always an honour to hear.

This past week I was approached by an Apex village resident, so she could say thank you to two ladies that had helped her during the flood.

I was also approached to run a story about a local retail store worker who donated money that was donated to him, paying one kind deed forward to help another.

As you continue reading the paper you will see more kind donations and uplifting stories of hope as we navigate our way out of the last few challenging months.

I would love to hear more about these stories, if you would like to say a thank you to anybody in the paper, please write to me at daniel@lifepublishinggroup.com

This paper is comprised of local stories - if you read through you will notice that almost every article is from this region and usually involves a local person.

So, if you are reading this note and have a story to share, but think perhaps your story may not be exciting enough - then don't! We would love to hear from you!

This paper is built on local stories and no story is too big, or too small to share.

Daniel

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