It’s cheers all round at NQ Travel & Cruise, with the Ingham-based agency proudly sharing in the success of its national network, Travellers Choice, which was named Australia’s Most Outstanding Travel Agency Network for the fifth consecutive year at the 2025 National Travel Industry Awards (NTIA).

Owner Kathleen Lynch said the award – presented on 18 October at The Star Brisbane – is the Australian retail travel industry’s highest honour.

“To be recognised and awarded by your industry peers is an incredible honour and one of the highest forms of validation,” says Ms Lynch.

“It’s not every day you get to say your business is part of a multi-award-winning network. This award underscores what Travellers Choice and agencies like ours are all about, which is an unwavering focus on customers and offering the very best in personalised service, expert advice and unbeatable value.

“We’re proud to be part of a national network that champions independent agencies and supports us to deliver outstanding travel experiences to our local community.”

As an independent travel adviser, Ms Lynch takes the time to understand each traveller’s unique needs and preferences. Whether it’s a relaxing island getaway, a luxury river cruise or a once-in-a-lifetime overseas adventure, every detail is handled with professionalism and care.

NQ Travel & Cruise is also an ATIA Accredited Travel Agent, a recognition that represents the highest standard in the Australian travel industry. This accreditation is renewed annually following a detailed assessment of financial stability, workforce practices and operational integrity.

With NQ Travel & Cruise, your holiday plans are in expert hands. Find out more at www.nqntravelandcruise.com.au, visit the office at 73-81 Lannercost Street, Ingham or call 07 4440 3310.

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Ingham Maraka Festival 2025 – “Music Thru The Ages”

As the 2025 Ingham Maraka Festival draws to a close, organisers have extended their deepest gratitude to everyone who contributed to making this year’s celebration a resounding success. The festival brought together the vibrant spirit of the Hinchinbrook community, showcasing the very best of local creativity, talent, and tradition.

Maraka was proud to kick off the Hinchinbrook Festival of Events, with festivities that included the Run Swim Run, Wilmar Sugar Wine and Cheese Night, Careys Group and Ingham Ray White Afternoon Tea, Harvey Norman Ingham Spot the Window competition, Kids Day Out supported by Tropical Vets, McDonald’s Ingham, SpinFX Electrical NQ, and Hinchinbrook Life, and the spectacular Ergon and BK Bartolini Concreting & Earthworks Parade. The grand finale, featuring the NQIB Mardi Gras Stage, Ingham Agencies and Townsville Lime & Gypsum Fireworks, and the QCAR Mardi Gras Bar, was a testament to the incredible creativity and community spirit of the region.

A special thank you goes to the dedicated Maraka committee members, who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to bring the festival to life. Appreciation was also extended to all Queen and Princess entrants, volunteers, emcees, judges, local businesses, photographers, stallholders, performers, and the wider community for their support and enthusiasm.

Warm congratulations were offered to the winners of the 2025 Maraka Queen Quest, proudly sponsored by Rachael Cauchi Optometrists. This year’s Maraka Queen title was awarded to Ainslee DiMaggio, with Trista Kopeshke named as Runner-up. In the 2025 Maraka Princess Quest, sponsored by Windlab, Ashley Swarbrick was crowned Maraka Princess, with Vanessa Wilson receiving Runner-up honours.

Organisers also acknowledged the 2024 Quest winners: Maraka Queen Montana, Runner-up Johanna, and past Maraka Princesses Hazel and Millie for their ongoing support and contributions throughout the year.

A special thanks was shared with Nick Dametto, outgoing Local Member, for his outstanding support and years of service as Emcee, as well as Maddyn White, past Maraka Queen, for her continued involvement. The Maraka family also warmly welcomed Carley Whittington, who has recently returned to Ingham.

Further thanks were extended to Tourism and Events Queensland, the Hinchinbrook Chamber of Commerce, Tourism & Industry, and all who contributed grants, photography, and event coordination, including Ann and Anthony Vardanegh, Sherie Hensler-Adams from Hinchinbrook Life, and Chris and Christine Spencer from the Festival of Events.

Special Thanks To Our Sponsors

Diamond Sponsors
Hinchinbrook Shire Council
Windlab Pty Ltd
Wilmar Sugar
Triple M

Platinum Sponsors
NQIB
QCAR – Qld Cane Agricultural and Renewables
Rachel Cauchi Optometrists
SpinFX Electrical NQ

Gold Sponsors
BK Bartolini Concreting & Earthworks
Ergon Energy
Carey Group
Ray White Ingham

Silver Sponsors
Guido’s Panel & Paint
Ingham Agencies
Townsville Lime & Gypsum
Tropical Vet Services

Major In-Kind Sponsors
McDonald’s Ingham
Harvey Norman Ingham
Hinchinbrook Life
House of Harvey

Thank you all for making the Ingham Maraka Festival a cherished tradition and a highlight of the Hinchinbrook calendar. The community looks forward to celebrating together again in the future.

The Conns Of Conn Creek

By Dr. Bianka Vidonja Balanzategui

Many have crossed Conn Creek on the way to Cardwell without giving much thought for whom the creek is named.

William George Conn was a Scottish immigrant who arrived on the lower Herbert in 1870, aged 51. He was a pioneer of the Clarence River, NSW, and afterwards took up Dillelah station near Warrego, western Queensland. Conn Waterhole west of Winton is named for him. He was described as ‘a brave and clever bushman and explorer’.

His second wife, Elizabeth Burrows, accompanied him to the Herbert when she was 31 years of age. They established a garden growing fruit, sweet potatoes and maize on the south bank of the Herbert, directly opposite Macknade Plantation on the north bank, where William did fencing work.

They carved a track from the south bank, across a group of sand islands — identified in a survey map of 1871 as the Elizabeth Group — to the north side. This track came to be called Conn’s Crossing. Once a new trafficable bridle path was cut from the Crossing to Cardwell in 1872, the previous track over the Seaview Range became obsolete.

In 1873, they moved to an isolated selection 22.5 kilometres south of Cardwell that they named the Hermitage. They named the nearby creek, which was an access point between mainland and Hinchinbrook Island for the Indigenous people, Williams Brook (later Conn Creek). The Government paid William a small salary to keep the track open to traffic. Again, they established gardens, producing fresh produce for the Cardwell market, and offered refreshments to travellers.

Elizabeth was a hard worker. Planter Arthur Neame observed the Conn’s building a hut with William on the ground and Elizabeth on the roof putting on the thatch! By the end of 1873, their selection was well-established.

Neame and his fellow planters thought that the Conns were very foolish to settle where they had, with no other white settlers nearby. So concerned were they that William Bairstow Ingham invited William to come and work on his Ings plantation, but Conn refused.

There had been few violent confrontations between settlers and the Indigenous people on the lower Herbert, and Conn was of the opinion that if he treated them kindly, they would not interfere with him. So trusting was he that he traded vegetables for fish with those who paddled their canoes up Conn Creek to their property. However, misunderstandings began when vegetables were taken without the offer of an exchange of goods.

When his potatoes were getting close to being ready for harvest, William contacted Robert Johnstone and his Native Police detachment, who usually did boat patrols of the area. William made it clear that he did not want Johnstone to ‘molest’ the Aboriginals. Johnstone was so concerned for the Conn's welfare that he made a special patrol on horseback, where he found Elizabeth had taken ill. As she was too sick to travel with him on horseback, he promised to return the next day in a boat to take her to Gairloch, where there were ladies who could provide nursing care.

Unfortunately, due to bad weather and tidal conditions, Johnstone did not reach the Conn’s farm until sunrise on the morning of 7 April, in which time the Conns had been massacred. At the time of their deaths, Elizabeth was dressed and ready to leave with the boat patrol and had been preparing breakfast, while William was wheeling manure to his garden. There are numerous conjectures as to why they were massacred, but given their formerly amicable relations with the visiting Aboriginal people, there clearly had been a misunderstanding.

A group of Aboriginal people was located nearby with incriminating items in their camp. Retribution was immediate and merciless. Neame believed that the actual perpetrators got away, and those killed, including women and children, had nothing to do with the massacre.

The Conns were buried near their cottage, and a tree marked with the date and their names. It is said that the markers of their graves only disappeared in recent times when work on the adjacent government railway line was carried out.

As the 2025 Ingham Marka Festival “Music thru the Ages” concludes, the organisers extend their deepest gratitude to everyone who contributed to making this year’s Festival a resounding success. The event brought together the vibrant spirit of the community, showcasing the best of what Ingham has to offer.

The Ingham Maraka Festival Committe would like to extend special to those who worked tirelessly behind the scenes. Their commitment and passion made the festival possible. Thanks to their efforts, the Ingham Marka Festival remains a cherished tradition and a highlight of the year. The community looks forward to celebrating together again in the future. See the highlights in the social pics tab on our website!

Hiya Hinchinbrookshire!

What a journey the Maraka festival has been. I would like to thank my sponsors who supported me, and my friends and family who stood by me. Ingham Agencies and Hinchinbrook Chamber of Industry and Tourism for their financial support and advice, Hinchinbrook Life for their encouragement, Rupp Plumbing and Hardware for their manpower and dedication, Sola the Salon for their love and amazing hair skills, and finally Ingham Lions Club for their persistance in asking me to participate and being my origional sponsors, I enjoyed every Maraka event (especially the parade) and it would not have been possible without you, thank you all!

Special mention and much love to Tennille, Brian, Julie, Kimberley, Steven, Maria, and Chance. All of you stepped up to help me when I was in the tightest spots and were always prepared with a word of kindness to calm my nerves. I couldn't ask for better 'Yes Men'. You all were there for me, lending a hand, a glue gun, a can of hairspray and a gentle comb, or a last-minute ute - your joy on this journey with me was everything. Thank you all so much.

Though I come away crown-less, I think I gained so much more than I could have hoped for. I may not have the roots here that the other beautiful entrants have, but Maraka has definitely helped plant the seed. Thank you, Hinchinbrook, for welcoming me to this community in such a way that let me step out of my comfort zone and do something I never would have thought myself doing.

With the Hinchinbrook Life newspapers' 1st birthday just around the corner, I hope everyone will continue to support myself and Sherie, your local on-the-ground Team Hinchinbrook, and all the others behind the scenes. With my first big festival under my belt, I can't wait to see what the region has to offer in our second year together. I'm ready to try my best to capture every moment and preserve this journey in print with you all.

Victoria

Fun Fact: On a work trip to Tully a few months ago to drop off our CORE and Tripping Magazines, I visited a boutique called Mamma Mia and I loved their style immediately. So later on, I went back and got my Maraka outfits and a few accessories from them. They were so helpful with finding sizes and fashion-fitting my ideas, thank you ladies!

Your dental health and comfort are our top priorities. We understand that trips to the dentist can be unpleasant for some people so we focus on each of our patients’ needs, accommodating them as best we can while providing the highest quality treatment.

At My Family Dental, we utilise industry-proven practices and advanced technology to give our patients the care they need and the best possible results.

We accept all Health Funds and offer payment plan options as well

Combined Rotary Clubs of Townsville, Ingham and Ayr are doing it again!

BUSINESSES from across Queensland are already making plans to be part of the 2026 Rotary NQ Field Day on 29-30 May 2026.

With a change of venue to the Townsville Show Grounds and more suitable dates than the previous event, the 2026 Rotary NQ Field Day is gearing up to be a cracker event.

With a few new faces on the 2026 Committee, combined with some seasoned committee members, these volunteers are working with exhibitors and stakeholders to ensure that the 2026 Rotary NQ Field Day will be a successful event showcasing the best of North Queensland. One on the calendar not to miss.

All proceeds from this event are farmed back into the communities of Townsville, Ingham and Ayr.

We are happy to announce that Ian Gough from Gough Plastics and Justin Minuti from TRACPOWER have shown their support to the community, once again, by partnering with Rotary for this event.

The Battle Family from Nortrans have thrown their support behind the event as well, coming on board as a major sponsor.

From the latest in farming technology to time-honoured traditions, the 2026 Rotary NQ Field Day will be about sharing knowledge, strengthening connections, and honouring the hardworking hands that shape our fields and our future.

There will be a broader range of exhibitors, including but not limited to technology, lifestyle interests, machinery for the farm and the everyday household.

Other exhibitors at the event will include government agencies, health services, financial services, community support organisations, job training and secondary and tertiary education providers from across North Queensland.

Interested exhibitors can secure their site on the website nqfieldday.com.au

Online ticket purchases will once again be available, and there will be regular prize draws for those who have pre-purchased tickets. Mark it on your calendar; book your exhibitor's site and/or pre-purchase your tickets and follow our updates on Facebook.

“Let’s Dig In, Gear Up and Grow Together.”

Following the devastating February 2025 flood event, the Hinchinbrook Community Support Centre (HCSC) continues to play a vital role in helping the community rebuild, with funding support through both State and Federal Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

When the Herbert River broke its banks, the Ingham district experienced extensive flooding that damaged hundreds of homes, destroyed local infrastructure, and displaced families across the region. The event left lasting impacts on housing, livelihoods, and community wellbeing.

In response, HCSC engaged Kim Petersen in a Disaster Recovery role to assist residents affected by the floods. Kim provides information/advice/referral, case management and psychological first aid support for individuals and families affected by the event and navigating Structural Assistance Grants — government-funded support designed to help repair and restore flood-damaged homes.

Kim’s position will remain in place until January 2026, ensuring continued assistance for residents still working through the recovery and rebuilding process.

Also included in the Disaster Recovery team are Peter Buckland, Community Recovery Officer for the North and Far North Tropical Low (January 2025), who supports local organisations and community recovery initiatives, and Libby Carney, a Community Recovery Worker assisting clients between Ingham and the Cassowary Coast with Structural Assistance Grants and rebuilding support.

Progress So Far
Since the floods, significant progress has been made across the Hinchinbrook region:

· HCSC has coordinated with local and state agencies to connect residents to financial and practical recovery supports, including housing assistance and structural repair funding.

· Local volunteers and community groups have worked tirelessly on clean-up and restoration efforts, removing debris and helping affected households get back on their feet.

· Community outreach and recovery sessions have helped residents understand grant eligibility, navigate insurance processes, and access mental health and wellbeing services.

· Infrastructure repairs continue, with priority given to essential community facilities and flood-affected roads.

Ongoing Need for Support
While much has been achieved, recovery in the Herbert region is far from over. Many residents are still dealing with the long-term impacts of flood damage, housing shortages, and financial strain. Access to support through HCSC Disaster Recovery program ensures that no one is left behind during this slow but steady process of rebuilding. Community members are encouraged to contact HCSC for help to connect with a Disaster Recovery Officer or for education to prepare for the upcoming wet season.

As we head into the summer and festive season, we must remain vigilant and be prepared for what Mother Nature can throw at us. Early in October was Get Ready Queensland Week. You may have seen our Disaster Management Officer, Michelle Watts, set up in front of the Council Office promoting preparedness.

On the back of this, there has been a series of Community Shed Meetings announced across the district for residents to gain information on how to prepare their household, ask questions, and speak directly with Council representatives and Councillors.

• Halifax: 29 October 2025, 5:00pm at Community Hall, Argaet Street.
• Bambaroo: 5 November 2025, 5:00pm at Bambaroo Rural Fire Station.
• Abergowrie: 13 November 2025, 5:00pm at Abergowrie State School, 5 Venables Rd.
• Mount Fox: 19 November 2025, 3:00pm at Mount Fox Campground.
• Forrest Beach: 26 November 2025, 5:00pm at Forrest Beach Surf Lifesaving Club.
• Trebonne: 3 December 2025, 5:00pm at Leo Park, Trebonne.
• Taylors Beach: 8 December 2025, 2:30pm at Progress Park.
• Macknade: 8 December 2025, 5:00pm at Macknade Community Sporting Club.
• Ingham (Midday): 11 December 2025, 12:00pm at Hinchinbrook Shire Hall.
• Ingham (Evening): 11 December 2025, 5:00pm at Hinchinbrook Shire Hall.

These are free community sessions to offer practical information to help you prepare for the wet season.

To quote words from Council press release: "Living in Hinchinbrook means living with the reality of severe weather — cyclones, floods, and intense storms are all part of our way of life. But being prepared can make all the difference when disaster strikes. Are you ready? Do you have enough emergency and medical supplies to last 7–10 days? What will you do if the power goes out? What if we’re cut off from supplies for days? Getting yourself and your household ready for disaster season is your responsibility. Don’t wait for the storm — act now!" Until next time, take care, stay safe, and let's prepare by heading to https://disaster.hinchinbrook.qld.gov.au/  — just in case.

REBUILDING OUR ROADS AND COMMUNITIES THANKS TO DRFA SUPPORT

It’s been a big year for recovery across our region. Hinchinbrook Shire Council crews and contractors have been working flat out to repair damage and get things back on track — with major support from the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

So far, more than $5.4 million has gone into emergency response efforts. That includes clearing debris, reopening roads, stabilising damaged infrastructure, and getting supplies to affected communities. These works helped restore access and safety quickly when it mattered most.

Now we’re deep into the long-haul phase by rebuilding over 215 kilometres of damaged roads across the Shire.

That’s hundreds of individual sites being repaired to reconnect residents, farmers, and businesses.

Council is providing assistance with priority roads that connects our agricultural industry, tourism routes and communities that carry higher traffic volumes. We have scheduled other areas that require gravel re-sheeting works where needed. The majority of DRFA works will be delivered by contractors.

It’s a huge job, and while rain and debris have caused some delays, most of the unsealed road work is expected to wrap up by mid-December 2025, weather-dependent.

We’re also tackling sealed roads and landslips. Roads like Mount Fox and Old Wharf are being repaired, and over 65 landslip sites on Mount Fox Road and Wallaman Falls Road are being planned for remediation. These projects are designed to improve safety and resilience before the wet season hits, but these are big projects and will take some time before all the landslips are repaired.

On top of that, the Community Relief Fund is helping local clubs bounce back. Groups have been provided support.

All up, the recovery program is estimated at $34 million — a massive investment in our region’s future. It’s a lot of work, a lot of money, and a lot of progress.

Nearly 200 tonnes of rubbish was picked up from cane farms and roadside reserves in September, thanks to the funding support for flood waste removal.

These works are jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) and administered through the Queensland Reconstruction Authority.

I want to acknowledge the dedication of our crews on the ground and our contractors for their commitment. We’re not just recovering — we’re rebuilding stronger.

Halifax’s main street is lined with mango trees that have been standing since the 1880s. Locals call it Mango Avenue, and for good reason — these fruiting giants were planted by early settlers as natural shade in the North Queensland heat.

The row, now heritage-listed, became more than a streetscape — it was a social hub where the town’s Italian community gathered for news, gossip, and a cool breeze under the canopy. One tree was affectionately dubbed the “Tree of Knowledge,” a meeting place long before Facebook and coffee shops.

There’s something magical about strolling beneath those trees today — their gnarled roots whispering stories of sugar-mill workers, love letters, and Saturday-night dances. In Halifax, even the trees have tales to tell.

Hinchinbrook’s By-Election Battle Begins

The race for Hinchinbrook is heating up following the resignation of local MP Nick Dametto, setting the stage for one of the region’s most intriguing by-elections in years.

Katter’s Australian Party is backing Mark Molachino, the former Townsville Deputy Mayor whose surprise switch from Labor has stirred plenty of interest — and raised eyebrows — across North Queensland’s political circles.

The LNP’s Wayde Chiesa, a long-time local and former Regional Development Australia CEO, is running a campaign focused on tackling crime, driving flood recovery, and boosting support for the agriculture sector — issues that have long dominated conversations in the Hinchinbrook electorate.

One Nation’s Lisa Buchtmann, a Cardwell small business owner and former Army truck driver, is entering the race with a grassroots message centred on youth crime, tourism, and housing affordability — three issues she says are at the heart of everyday life in the region.

Labor, meanwhile, has confirmed it will field a candidate, though details of who that will be, and what their campaign will focus on, remain under wraps for now.

To give voters a clearer sense of where each contender stands, we reached out to all declared candidates with a few key questions:

What are your top priorities for Hinchinbrook?

How will you tackle the region’s biggest challenges, from crime to housing and jobs?

And what makes you the right person to represent this diverse electorate?

So far, only the LNP has responded, with other parties yet to outline their full campaign plans. As the by-election draws closer, locals will be watching closely to see which messages, and which candidates, truly resonate with them.

Please tell us a bit about yourself:

I’m proud to be Ingham-born and bred — growing up on our family farm and spending weekends at Forrest Beach and playing footy.  After finishing school, I moved to Townsville to study at university, but Ingham has always been home.

Tell us a bit about your professional background, including your previous career, skills, and education?

Over the years, I’ve worked across many industries — from small and family businesses to regional development — including as CEO of Regional Development Australia Townsville and North West Queensland, and as Director of Regional Development and Investment at Townsville Enterprise.

I’ve also run my own business and spent 17 years calling Cowboys games with the Triple M Cowboys Call Team, which has been an incredible way to stay connected to the community right across North Queensland.

If elected, what would your priorities be during your first 100 days in office?

This by-election is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to elect someone who can sit alongside David Crisafulli, around the table where decisions are made. For too long Hinchinbrook has been on the sidelines from Government but I want to change that.

What is one major project or initiative you would seek to drive forward within your first year?

I’m fighting for a sensible plan to deal with youth crime. The LNP’s Adult Crime, Adult Time laws are starting to hold youth criminals accountable but there’s a long way to go to fix a decade of Labor’s weak laws.

We need more police with better early intervention and rehabilitation that works – as well as CCTV in known trouble spots.  I’ll also fight for tougher bail laws for youth criminals, which I believe our State needs.

In your view, what is currently missing in the Hinchinbrook region, and how would you propose to address it?

The traffic on the Northern Beaches keeps getting worse and I’ll also be fighting to get these busy local roads flowing again. Under-investment for the past decade has left us behind the eight ball and it will only get worse unless we get Government delivering. We need someone who can listen first, work hard and get results around the table where decisions are made.

Through my career I’ve championed our local industries including agriculture, tourism and manufacturing. My priorities will be to fix Port Hinchinbrook, improve marine infrastructure, improve flood resilience and getting better roads.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time or to relax outside of work?

Community has always played a big part in my life. I’ve volunteered with the Forrest Beach and Arcadian Surf Life Saving Clubs, served as Treasurer of the Rotary Club of Townsville, and helped organise the Townsville Triathlon Festival — all opportunities that have taught me the importance of teamwork, giving back, and supporting others.

Family means everything to me. My two kids, Lucy and Tommy, love spending time with their Nanna and Nonno here in Ingham — especially visiting the family farm and catching up with their cousins. Those connections and simple family moments are what keep me grounded and remind me why our region is such a great place to raise a family.

Wayde Chiesa, LNP for Hinchinbrook

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A Lifetime Of A Mauritian Canefarmer's Legacy

Born on 22 October 1922 in Mauritius, Oscar Joseph Henri Regnaud has lived a life defined by courage, hard work, and an enduring sense of community. The eldest son of Noel Henri Regnaud and Marie Oscar Marth Bouchet, Henri was the second of seven children. His father worked as a chief engineer at Bell Ombre Sugar Estate, and his mother often took him to visit his grandmother in town, where he lived for much of his childhood. Henri’s early years were shaped by the rhythms of island life, British colonial influence, and the strict routines of Catholic schooling at College du Saint Esprit, where he was taught by the Christian Brothers.

After finishing school, Henri followed in his father’s footsteps, completing an apprenticeship with him for a year, before joining the army as a gunner during the Second World War, serving from 1942 to 1945. Like many young men of his generation, he longed for new horizons and greater opportunities. Against his father’s wishes, Henri left Mauritius in 1947 aboard La Estancia with five friends, carrying just seven pounds in his pocket. The journey took him through Java, Sumatra, and Singapore before reaching Bowen, Queensland.

Henri’s early days in Australia were far from easy. He worked wherever he could, including loading grain bags in Brisbane, before heading north to Ingham. There, fate led him to Mr Girgenti, a local cane farmer near Victoria Mill, who offered Henri and his friends their first job cutting cane. Ill-prepared for the gruelling work and the tropical heat, they wore their formal shoes from Mauritius, which soon proved no match for the sugar fields.

"He said, 'Boys, you can't wear your shoes because your shoes are squashing the eyes.' I didn't even know what sandshoes were," Henri spoke on working on his first canecutting job.

Despite the challenges, Henri built a life in North Queensland, finding friendship among Australian and Italian locals and embracing his new home. In 1955, he married Muriel, and together they raised four children—a family that would become the foundation of his Australian legacy.

Now, more than 75 years after arriving in Australia, Henri remains a proud member of the Ingham community. His 103rd birthday celebration brought together 40 family members, friends, and neighbours to honour a man whose life has spanned continents and generations. After a morning service at St Patrick's Church surrounded by family, his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Henri reflected on his long life and the love that continues to surround him.

“Now, in my old age, they have time for me. So I must have done something right along the way.”

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The North Queensland Sportstar Awards in Townsville were a night to remember, celebrating dedication, achievement, and community spirit across the region.

Local sporting stalwart Lenny Chiesa was honoured with the Alan Alfred Ticehurst Memorial Service to Sport Award, recognising his remarkable contribution to surf lifesaving and rugby league. One of seven exceptional finalists, Lenny’s accolade marks more than 50 years of commitment to sport in North Queensland. His passion and unwavering dedication have made a lasting impact on countless athletes and volunteers across the community.

Also representing the region with pride was the Under 19 Beach Relay Team—Evandah, Jared, Mike, and Raiwri—who were named finalists for Team Sportstar of the Year. Their recognition among an impressive field of nominees reflects their skill, teamwork, and sportsmanship, both on and off the beach.

Congratulations to Lenny, the U19 team, and all finalists for their outstanding achievements and contributions to North Queensland sport.