Wilmar Sugar and Renewables 2024 crushing season in the Herbert region has drawn to a close under the shadow of significant challenges that have left some growers grappling with the harsh economic reality of standover cane. Wilmar announced the cessation of operations at Victoria Mill last week, citing a lack of adequate cane supply amid continuing wet weather and forecasted rainfall.
This year’s season has been fraught with setbacks, starting with early industrial action, wet weather, and factory breakdowns that delayed the start of crushing operations. These compounding problems left the region playing catch-up, only to be further hindered by the arrival of the wet season.
Wilmar reported that the decision to end crushing was made following consultations with grower representatives and harvesting contractors, as it became clear that operations were no longer commercially viable. Farmers now face the grim reality of standover cane, which not only impacts this season’s bottom line but also has ripple effects on next year’s harvest.
Harvesting contractors who were cutting were asked to make every effort to get the last bins on the line by 6pm on the 18th of December.
The company’s spokesperson acknowledged the collective effort, stating, “We thank all growers and harvesting operators for your hard work this season and wish you a safe and relaxing Christmas with family and friends.”
According to grower representatives, the difficulties that have characterised the 2024 season and the ongoing challenges predicted for 2025 must be addressed.

Often found nesting along the north-east Queensland coastline, little terns are small seabirds which frequent Hinchinbrook beaches during the summer months each year. Birdlife Australia’s Simon Kennedy hosts regular free workshops to educate attendees on the nature of little terns, and how the community can care for the bird if they come across a nesting area.
“The nesting population of little terns in eastern Australia is about 1,200 from the whole east coast from Tasmania to the Daintree, and one of the important areas is the Hinchinbrook coast,” Simon explained.
Workshop attendees are guided through a little tern monitoring process to support the work of Birdlife Australia and are educated on how to watch the birds within their area from when they’re hatched, to fully grown. As well as accessing the information available on Birdlife Australia’s website, birdlife.org,au, Simon also encourages the community to reach out to the Hinchinbrook Shire Council for advice on how to care for the little terns in the area if they’re unsure.
Although the area previously hosted harsh conditions, the little terns hatched at Lucinda Spit earlier this year have now reached flying age, a milestone achievement Birdlife Australia has certainly celebrated.
“Last year, and the year before, the little terns which nested at Lucinda Spit lost all of their eggs to storm tides, but this year, a couple of young ones have made it to flying age, - they’ve made it, and that’s great, that’s what we’re trying to do.”
Over the past three years, Simon has ran successful workshops from Innisfail to Townsville, with up to 15 attendees each session, and following on from his recent workshop on Friday the 13th December at Forrest Beach’s Mungalla Station, Simon invites those interested to reach out to him via simon.kennedy@birdlife.org.au for more information.
“15 people isn’t many, but the workshops are worthwhile even through the turnout isn’t very big,” added Simon.
“If some of those people are out and keep an eye on the local little terns in their area and report sightings, then that’s great for us.”

The Ingham Coast Guard sprang into action earlier this month to assist two locals stranded near Pelorus Island after their boat encountered engine trouble.

The incident occurred in the early morning when the pair called for help. Ingham Coast Guard's volunteer crew promptly launched their rescue vessel, "JJ," and headed eastward to locate the stranded boat.

Fortunately, conditions were favourable at the time of the rescue, allowing for a smooth operation. The vessel was found inshore of Pelorus Island, where a tow line was secured. The return journey was uneventful, though Coast Guard officials noted that a delay of just two hours would have resulted in significantly rougher seas due to the strengthening Nor’easter winds.

2024 has seen the Ingham Coast Guard called out 31 times, rescuing a total of 91 people.

With the holiday season upon us, the Coast Guard reminds all boaters to prioritise safety and ensure their vessels are well-prepared before heading out on the water.

For emergencies, remember to contact your local Coast Guard for assistance.

Contributed with thanks to Steve Whipps, Commander, QF14 Ingham Coast Guard.

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On the morning of 18 December 1942, an American B-24 Liberator Bomber, known as the Texas Terror, crashed into Mount Straloch on Hinchinbrook Island killing all 12 on board.

The men on board were American soldiers who were assisting Australian troops in World War II.

The Texas Terror left Garbutt Field in the morning of 18 December 1942, headed towards Iron Range. On their journey they had engine troubles so they turned around and headed back to Garbutt. Sadly, they ran into a violent storm in the Hinchinbrook region, and crashed into Hinchinbrook Island.

Remembering The Texas Terror

The 31st Battalion Association in Ingham hold a ceremony in honour of the people who lost their lives during the Texas Terror crash every year.

Each year on a date closest to the 18th December the 31st Battalion Association in Ingham hold a ceremony in honour of the Texas Terror.

Felix Reitano, President of the  31st Battalion Association Ingham Branch, said the ceremony is an important time to remember those involved in the crash and a way for the broader Hinchinbrook community to acknowledge the history of the tragedy.

“It is so we can remember those men who were killed on an island close to us, which is the closest major accident we had during the war,” explained Felix.

On Sunday 15 December the ceremony to commemorate the tragedy was held.

Locals Judy and Felix Reitano became more involved in preserving the memories of those who passed away on that fateful day when a son of one of the victims, Carl Silber, visited the region to observe the crash site and see where his father had died.

Initially, loved ones of those who had passed were informed that the crash occurred as part of the Battle of the Coral Sea, so many assumed the wreck was at the bottom of the ocean.

Carl did some research into the crash and discovered that the crash site was on Hinchinbrook Island, something locals had known about for some time, in 1997 he came to North Queensland and climbed to the wreck site.

Judy, Felix and the rest of the association were extremely moved by his story.

“He seemed to be so sad and so wanting to know about his father and what happened there, that we decided to erect a memorial to the Texas Terror,” said Judy.

“We erected the memorial on ANZAC Day in 1999 in the Botanical Gardens, and we invited him to attend.

“He was then situated in Hawaii in the Air Force and he came with the brother of the co-pilot on the plane and together they unveiled the memorial as part of our Anzac Day ceremony.”

The Texas Terror crash site remains on Hinchinbrook Island to this day, and is now regarded as a grave site by authorities.

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Hi Everyone

I hope you have all had a great week.

This week I embraced the Christmas spirit at the Lucinda Carols, the warm weather and blue skies reminded me of Adelaide, where I grew up.

I am approaching my first month here in Hinchinbrook and I am experiencing my first wet season, it is exactly how imagined it . . . wet! We get wet weather down in Adelaide, but nothing could prepare me for this. I do however, enjoy watching the thunderstorms,  especially when the sky lights up in flashes.

This time next week will be Christmas Eve, and the team and I will be enjoying some much-needed time off. I will be in Adelaide with my family, and I hope you all enjoy some time with yours too.

I am looking forward to going back to my home town for the holidays and spending some time catching up with all my friends too.

I am not sure if many of you know this, but I have been travelling up and down the coast since I started this position with Hinchinbrook Life Newspaper.

For almost a year prior to taking on this new position, I have been living in the Whitsundays working for our sister publication Mackay and Whitsunday Life Newspaper.

For the last four weeks, since we started Hinchinbrook Life, I have been travelling between the Whitsundays and Ingham every week, that’s eight hours of driving per week!

In the New Year however, I am pleased to announce that I will be committing to a full-time position here and living locally. I will always be around and ready to attend all of your events and I can’t wait!

Daniel

"Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings." – It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

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Ever year St Peter’s Catholic School students hand-write, and draw Christmas cards for Ingham Meals on Wheels clients.

President of Ingham Meals on Wheels Rita Phillips said the clients really enjoy when the students take time to write these cards.

“It's beautiful and the clients always comment on how the children have taken time to do something for them,” said Rita.

“The clients love that, and the school has been doing it for the last five years at least.”

Rita’s favourite part about Meals on Wheels is helping others in the community, not just by providing and delivering hot meals, but by doing more to ensure client’s health and wellbeing.

“Our drivers and delivery people have a very conscience job in the sense of they know who they deliver to,” she said.

“We always make sure that the wellness of the person is going okay and that's something that some other food providers don't do.

“Drivers get to know their clients, because they are on the same run each time.

“Our drivers can tell if someone is looking a bit down, so they have a quick chat, and if it's still not right, they let our admin people know, and then we ring one of their relatives or whoever's looking after them to go and have a check on them.

The final sitting week of Parliament for 2024 included significant debates and decisions that will.

The Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) moved two disallowance motions aimed at standing up for regional Queensland. The first, opposed the former Government’s gill net fishing bans in the Gulf of Carpentaria, similar to what was done on our East Coast to the detriment of many local commercial fishers in Hinchinbrook. The other motion challenged overzealous lifejacket regulations that impose unnecessary conditions on
boaties. The first motion was voted down by both major parties and the second motion was adjourned to 2025.

The Government’s Queensland Community Safety Bill passed with the support of the KAP. The new laws will amend the Youth Justice Act 1992 to remove the provision of detention as a last resort. It will also mean juvenile offenders could now serve adult sentences for certain offences.

On behalf of Hinchinbrook constituents, I submitted three Questions on Notice. The first was to the Premier, enquiring about the need for a Minister for Men, similar to the current Ministerial portfolio for Women. I also delivered a parliamentary speech on this topic. The remaining two questions were directed at the Health Minster about enhancing public dental services at the Ingham Hospital and revisiting the Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme (PTSS).

Ministerial meetings were another key focus. I met with the Deputy Premier and Environment Minister to discuss projects like Port Hinchinbrook, Dungeness, and the trunk infrastructure required to unlock housing blocks across Hinchinbrook. I also met with the Minister for Transport and Main Roads to brief him on critical road projects in Hinchinbrook including the Woolcock Street/North Shore Boulevard corridor, Gairloch, and Dallachy Road projects.

Although it’s early days, I must say each meeting last week was positive and I look forward to updating everyone on the progression of these projects in the New Year.

Contributed with thanks to Nick Dametto MP Member for Hinchinbrook

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Ingham will soon be treated to another wonderful celebration of Italian culture with the return of the Australian Italian Festival scheduled for Saturday 7 June, and Sunday 8 June 2025!

An annual celebration of all things food and culture, the Australian Italian Festival continues to make headlines across the state, with the atmosphere beautifully complimented by Ingham’s gorgeous TYTO wetlands and parklands.

Since its establishment in 1995, the festival has grown exponentially with the support and dedication of passionate members of the Italian community and the wider Hinchinbrook Shire.

A commendable milestone, the 2025 event will see the Australian Italian Festival celebrate its 30th year, with the committee more than excited to transform the TYTO Parklands into a full-scale piazza hosting around the clock entertainment, competitions, market stalls, and of course, mouthwatering Italian food!

Many locals and travellers alike journey to Ingham to experience the rich culture and culinary talents hosted by the plethora of food vendors stationed across the parklands, offering delicious Italian meals from traditional pizzas to gourmet gnocchi dishes.

A common saying underpinning the festival’s annual success reads “come for the food, and stay for the entertainment”, and when considering the talents the event stages each year, you cannot help but agree.

With artists and musicians including Fortunato, Attori, and Robert Grant featured in 2024’s lineup, attendees also enjoyed performances from the Carina Dancers, a Fire Show produced by the Enigma Crew, and a historical swordplay production by Prima Spada.

With additional free entertainment provided for children, the Australian Italian festival stands as a family friendly event with plenty for all ages to do and see!

The committee made up entirely of volunteers has been busily organising 2025’s event and asks the community to save the date for another spectacular celebration of Italian cultural heritage.

What: Australian Italian Festival
When: Saturday 7 June and Sunday 8 June, 2025
Where: TYTO Parklands, Ingham
More Information: www.australianitalianfestival.com.au

Photo Caption: 2025’s Australian Italian Festival will mark 30 years of celebrations!

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At Council’s main landfill site at Warrens Hill, works are currently underway to remediate one of the solid waste disposal pits known as Cell One.   This pit has recently reached capacity and under Council’s license agreements, this cell is to be capped and made safe to minimise the likelihood of environmental harm.

As landfill cells reach capacity they are to be capped and contoured to minimise surface water impact and mitigate against the regionally high rainfall.   Environmental harm can and does occur when water interacts with buried waste and potentially generate damaging leachate.  This water can come from direct rainfall, runoff or the ground water table impacting the waste.

Generally, the water is prevented from contact with the waste by a combination of impermeable membranes and placement of clay material to isolate the waste.  Further surface profiling is used to minimise and redirect cross land water flow from the Cell.  Where required, pumps are used to maintain the separation of ground water from the waste.

Hinchinbrook Shire Council Mayor Ramon Jayo said capping a landfill is essential for environmental reasons.

“Sealing it means that there is no water penetration, if water were to get in, it rubs with the waste that's buried there, and then it creates the leachate,” he said.

“If that leachate escapes into the environment, it could cause environmental harm.

“Cell one at Warrens Hill Landfill and Resource Recovery Centre has been operating for at least 20 years, and now it has reached its capacity, so under the terms of our license condition, we had to undertake the relevant works.”

The Cell one capping experienced a failure and is currently undergoing remediation works.  The cap failure is the subject of litigation between Council and the designer of the cap.

On Monday 9 December the Hinchinbrook Emergency Service Cadets had their graduation, acknowledging the hard work they have dedicated to the service.

18 Cadets received their end of year graduation certificates marking the completion of the 2024 Program, while one Senior Cadet who is now over 18, graduated the whole program, having been a cadet for the past four years. 

On the night all Cadets graduated the year and some received special awards.

Keldon Fletcher was awarded the Don Prichard memorial Award for the Cadet of Year and Hinchinbrook Shire Council Cadet of Year. Keldon also received the Blue Light - Cadet Volunteer of the Year.

Meanwhile, Keira Erkkila received the Academic Cadet Award. Kingsley Nipper received the cultural support award. Ella Cross graduated from the program having spent 2020 to 2024 with the Hinchinbrook emergency service cadets and is on her way to CQ University next year.

All cadets who attended received recognition for graduating the 2024 Program.

A framed cadet momento was presented to unit coordinator Mark Regazzoli, for his five years in the position.

Hinchinbrook Emergency Service Cadets has been active for five years and coordinator Mark Regazzoli, has been coordinator throughout that time.

Mark said that in order to graduate the cadets must show various attributes.

“We class them on their academic leadership, communication, organisational skills, uniform dress code, conduct and volunteering,” he said.

“Volunteering is a big issue. It's very hard to get good volunteers, so we encourage them to do that.

“Their general conduct during the year, how they perform, how they behave, their respect to leaders and public comes into account as well.

“Every cadet that commits to the program and does the full year of training gets a graduation certificate - to do that they must have attended 95% of the training year.”

Mark is extremely proud of his group and said it was great to see some develop into hard working cadets.
“I have seen some kids here turn up meek, mild and reserved and turn into really open, honest and committed cadets,” added Mark.

Proudly supporting the young minds of the region, the Cardwell RSL has recently awarded high achieving students across select schools within the Hinchinbrook Shire with a warmly welcomed bursary to aid with their transition into secondary education.

Each academic year, the Cardwell RSL kindly asks teachers to present successful and motivated students as notable candidates to receive a bursary to financially support the transition between Year 6 to Year 7.

“We have made this bursary available to three schools we have close connections with, the Cardwell State School, Kennedy State School, and the Murry River Upper State School,” explained Cardwell RSL President Lang Robert.

“The bursaries are awarded to appropriate students the teachers feel are worthy recipients, not necessarily because of academics, but specifically the children who try.”

Noticing the upfront expenses the shift from primary school to high school enrolment presents, members of the Cardwell RSL felt empowered to make a change in the lives of local families and support promising young students. Annually, the Cardwell RSL gifts $2,000 across the three schools as part of their celebrated bursary program, a wonderful initiative made possible by both the surrounding community and the club’s dedicated volunteers.

“The volunteers at the Cardwell RSL who work tirelessly, raised over $1,800, and we have donated this back into the Cardwell district and community,” added Lang.

“We’re just pleased to be able to help these kids out.”

Over the past few weeks Lang and members of the Cardwell RSL have been in attendance of Cardwell State School, Kennedy State School, and the Murry River Upper State School’s end of year assemblies to award students with the bursaries, with many members of the community strongly thanking the club for their support.

“Thank you to the Cardwell RSL for the difference you continue to make in our small community and thank you for your unwavering commitment to helping others,” shared the Cardwell State School.

I am deeply privileged to have been elected as Councillor for a second term by the residents of Hinchinbrook Shire.

It is an honour to continue serving this vibrant community, and I am excited to work closely with all of you over the next four years.

As the Community and Cultural Services Advisory Portfolio Councillor, I look forward to continuing my work with various initiatives and committees, including Art and Culture, “First 5 Forever” program, North Queensland Sports Foundation "Move It" program, Human Social Recovery Sub-Group as Chairperson, Regional Arts Development Fund panel member, Community Activity Grants panel member, Youth Development Advisory Committee, Australia Day Advisory Group, and Taylors Beach Progress Association, just to name a few.

Liveability in our district remains a key focus together, we think it, work it, achieve it.

I am particularly excited about expanding our efforts in fostering a strong sense of community and belonging. Council will continue to promote arts and culture, as these are vital components of a vibrant society that celebrates diversity and creativity. Additionally, I am committed to enhancing our youth development programs, ensuring that the next generation has the tools and opportunities they need to succeed.

Council will also maintain our focus on health and wellbeing initiatives like the "Move It" program, encouraging everyone to stay active and engaged. In the aftermath of recent challenges, our work with the Human Social Recovery Sub-Group will be crucial in ensuring that all community members feel supported and resilient.

Our district's liveability is not just about infrastructure and services, it’s about creating an environment where people feel connected, valued, and empowered to contribute to the community’s growth. I believe that by working together, we can address the challenges we face and turn them into opportunities for innovation and progress.

I’m very excited to be able to submit a column in this newspaper on a rotation with other Councillors, sharing community highlights.

I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas! May your holiday season be filled with joy, love, and special moments with family and friends. I look forward to an amazing 2025 ahead.

Macknade Mill is the oldest continuously operating sugar mill in Australia.
Located on the banks of the Herbert River near Halifax, Macknade commenced crushing in August 1873. 
The Macknade plantation and mill were established by brothers Frank and Arthur Neame, from Kent in England. The Neame brothers sold the sugar venture to Melbourne-based merchants in September 1882 but then reacquired the mill in early 1886. In 1896 the mill was purchased by the Colonial Sugar Company Ltd (CSR) for £6,500. Today, the single milling train factory crushes about 1.4 million tonnes of cane to produce about 125,000 tonnes of raw sugar.

From the comments I receive concerning Council’s waste management practices, it appears that a great portion of the public is not aware of the current legislative arrangements in place, arrangements that Councils are obliged to follow and implement.
All Councils in Queensland are responsible for waste and must comply with the Queensland Waste Management and Resource Recovery Strategy. The strategy, adopted by the Queensland State Government in 2019, provides the framework for Queensland to become a zero-waste society, where waste is avoided, reused and recycled in keeping with the former State Government’s target of zero waste to landfill by 2050.
The strategy is designed to encourage more recycling and re-use of waste rather than simply dumping at landfill. Recyclable material is free to dispose of if properly sorted, whilst waste to landfill is at a cost to you – a cost that will continue to rise as a deterrent in support of changing the community’s attitude towards more recycling and re-use.
Under pinning the strategy is a Waste Levy, that all Councils must pay the State Government for waste disposed to landfill. There is no levy on recyclable material. The levy is currently $94 per tonne.
Fortunately, at this point in time the full cost of waste disposal is yet to be felt by domestic households, as the State, whilst imposing the levy, also refunds an amount attributable to the domestic component of waste. In essence, Council pays the State the levy amount, and the State then reimburses Council for the domestic component. Last financial year, Council paid the state $602,370 in levies and received $333,289 back in rebates.
There is no indication at present as to how long the State will continue to fund the rebate before rate payers have to absorb the full cost of waste disposal.
To lessen the waste levy payments, waste to landfill must be minimised. This means the community must be encouraged to recycle. Many in the community are already doing so, but sadly the majority are not.
Hinchinbrook’s recycling recovery rate stands well below the State average of 179kg, at 72kg, and this therefore necessitates a stricter form of user pay. Community members doing the right thing by recycling should not be penalised by increased community charges through general rates to offset the actions of people that do not recycle.
Council has had to review past initiatives such as the Rural Bulk Disposal Program as same does not encourage people to recycle, and the practice cannot be individually scrutinised in keeping with the intent of the strategy.
The underlying principle is that recyclable material is free to dispose of if properly sorted, whilst waste disposed direct to landfill will cost more and more. You can minimise the cost to yourself and the community by maximising the amount of waste you recycle.
For more information, please visit Council’s website at
www.hinchinbrook.qld.gov.au/water-waste-and-roads/waste-and-recycling.

As planting and spraying operations increase across Queensland this summer, all chemical users are reminded of their responsibility to minimise spray drift and protect surrounding areas.

Key tips for responsible spraying include checking weather conditions, using appropriate equipment, keeping detailed spray application records and communicating with neighbours about nearby crops that may be at risk.

DPI and Cotton Australia are partnering to promote best practices, including reading chemical labels carefully to ensure products reach their intended targets.

They also encourage sprayers to connect with neighbours to identify susceptible crops and coordinate activities.

Michael Reid, General Manager of Plant Biosecurity and Product Integrity at the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) emphasised the importance of timing and monitoring conditions.

“The best time to spray is during light, steady breezes and moderate temperatures.

“Avoid spraying on windy days or during thermal inversions.

“If conditions aren’t suitable, postponing is often the safest choice,” Mr. Reid said.

Michael Murray, General Manager of Cotton Australia, highlighted the importance of monitoring inversion conditions using the Weather and Networked Data (WAND) towers, particularly for growers in Southern and Central Queensland.

“Inversion conditions, which increase spray drift risks, are common during summer evenings and nights.

“We urge growers to check the WAND site at www.wand.com.au, which is accessible on mobile devices,” Mr. Murray said.

Factors such as weather, droplet size, boom height, travel speed, and application method all influence the likelihood of spray drift.

To comply with the Chemical Usage (Agricultural & Veterinary) Control Regulation 1988, users must also measure and record weather conditions at the application site.

For more information about using agricultural chemicals safely and effectively in Queensland, including record-keeping requirements, contact the DPI on 13 25 23.

Tips for spraying correctly
   • Keep your knowledge of application methods up to date. Attend equipment manufacturer or product manufacturer field days when these are organised in your area.
   • Read the agricultural chemical product label and follow the instructions accurately. Many products have specific spray drift management instructions dealing with optimal weather conditions and spray equipment.
   • If you don't understand a label instruction, ask someone who does before commencing the application. Product labels provide contact details of the manufacturer who can provide reliable technical advice to assist you if necessary.
   • If you're not sure about what you're doing, consider engaging a professional contractor.

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