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

‍

Local resident, Moiya Finocchiaro contacted the paper to let us know about two individuals in the community that she feels deserve to be acknowledged for their selfless actions during the floods.

When floodwaters rose around a community of elderly residents in Ingham, two women stepped forward to offer much-needed assistance, providing support that has left a lasting impact on those they helped.

Moiya Finocchiaro, a 79-year-old resident at the Apex Units recalls how Lea Vincenzi and Carina Chesson went out of their way to ensure the safety and well-being of her and her neighbours, many of whom were left isolated and without power during the crisis.

Moiya said that Lea drove through flood waters and announced “Excuse me, is there anything I can do to assist you?”

Moiya said that Carina allowed residents to charge their phones and even watch the news on a tablet.

“It was just something from the outside world, and we could see what other people were suffering too,” explained Moiya.

“We then realised that we were quite happy here - we all assisted each other as much as we could."

Almost four weeks later and Moiya says the residents of the Apex Units are still talking about the selfless acts of the two women helpers.

“I would like to thank them. This is the future of Ingham. Ingham will never die while we have these type of women to carry on and that's the truth of it," expressed Moiya.

“They had their own problems, but they took their time out to come to 22 people that they didn't know.”

This Tuesday, JK’s Deli showed appreciation to the hardworking tradies who kept the Hinchinbrook community running smoothly during to the recent flooding. Plumbers, electricians, builders, concreters, and other tradespeople were treated to a free coffee as a small token of gratitude for their tireless work and dedication.

In addition to the free coffee, tradies were invited to bring in one of their work shirts, which JK’s proudly wore on Tuesday and Wednesday to help promote local businesses. This unique gesture was a way for JK’s to give back and show support for the local trades people who are always there when needed.

The cafe also got some generous donations from people in the community, including Jesse Spina from Spin FX Electrical who donated $100 to help feed the tradies.

The day was a success, with plenty of local tradies stopping by JK’s Deli to enjoy their free coffee and grab a meal. It was a wonderful opportunity to show appreciation for the people who play such a vital role in the community.

With the huge success of tradies day, the cafe also introduced a farmers day where local farmers could get a free coffee.  

The cafe expressed the importance of farmers in North Queensland.

“This industry is the backbone of North Queensland, many coming over on boats at very young ages for a better life in Australia," said their post on Facebook.

After a difficult period of floods for Ingham, it's lovely to see businesses coming together to spread joy throughout the community.

A powerful image from the recent floodwaters in the region captures an act of compassion. Shane, a local resident, was photographed by Frances from Port Douglas Neighbourhood Centre as he bravely rescued a stranded macropod from the deluge and raging waters.

The photo, which highlights the connection between Shane and the grateful animal, speaks volumes about the resilience and kindness of looking out for one another, even animals, during times of crisis. The tender eye contact between the rescuer and his furry, big-footed friend is a deeply moving reminder of the empathy that unites everyone when disaster strikes.

In a time when many were battling the effects of the severe flooding, Shane’s selfless act stands out as a beacon of hope. Thank you to the volunteers like Shane, along with emergency service personnel who continue to work tirelessly to assist those in need, both human and animal alike in the aftermath of the floods.

This moment of kindness was captured and shared as part of the ‘2025 Queensland Gives Photo Challenge’, dedicated by Frances to the Wilderness Society, and serves as a reminder that Queenslanders will always help one another, no matter the challenge. Much gratitude to all those making a difference in the wake of the floods.

Wendy White
We were very lucky actually. The street that we lived in, we were the only house where the water didn't come inside. We lost power for eight days, but we had no phone because we haven’t got landline out where we are, and like everyone else, we just had to get along the best we could.

Michele Black
I lost everything I was renting, and had to hop into the house next door, which was high set, and I lost everything, the whole kit and caboodle. It was at Dickson street off Davidson Street and I'm in a friend's place now, but I’ve got other places to go.

Greg Provians
We had 70 centimetres underneath the house, but we have a house that's built for flooding, so it was more of an inconvenience than anything else. We didn't have too much damage, but we did have to move everything to high ground beforehand, like everybody in Ingham does.

Zara Cundell
It affected us a lot. We lost everything. The house is completely destroyed. It's located off Davidson Street, behind the tennis courts but we've been really blessed, we have a great support network, all our friends and family banded together, and they've helped us immensely. So we've been very lucky in that sense.

Frank Boom
We were at Taylors Beach. We got cut off, but we never had to worry about anything else. We never got any water through the house. At the beach you don’t get the water, just cut off. Put it this way, if you like to get out amongst the people, it’s good, but the only place you can go is down the beach to have a look around, which you can do every day.

Karen Ross
It terrified us, but we didn't lose anything of value. We came out of it quite well compared to just about everyone else. We are south of Ingham and we were isolated for about three days, couldn't get out. But again, we were lucky, we had neighbours.

Bradley Kondisenko
I was alright. I live down at Lucinda Beach so it was fine. We got cut off for week and a half and had no supplies. But other than that, we got very lucky being that we live down at the beach front. It was just a nice, pretty much week-long holiday without power connection.

Julie McVilly
We were really lucky actually, we had a generator and we were cut off from town at Forrest Beach. It was pretty chaotic but, with bedding, sheets and towels under the back door. But other than that, yeah, really, really lucky. We look around here and go, Wow.

The mayor for Hinchinbrook Shire, Ramon Jayo has addressed growing concerns regarding access to the Warrens Hill refuse facility, explaining that a combination of environmental and logistical challenges is currently limiting its availability.

The first point the Mayor addressed was that the council is tackling significant environmental issues at the site, particularly with leachate management and balancing waste deposits with water levels. The recent rainfall, totaling over 2000mm in just a few days, has further complicated matters.

In addition to these environmental concerns, the council is prioritising the urgent removal of flood-affected waste from the community. A large-scale effort is underway, with over twenty trucks and an equal number of excavators and loaders working tirelessly to clear the debris.  

The high volume of truck movements means that access for smaller vehicles is currently limited. The Mayor explained that in order to clear waste efficiently, the trucks must not be delayed by conventional vehicles, which would slow down the overall process.

The Mayor urged residents to keep in mind that the bulk of the rubbish in flood-affected areas has yet to be cleared. While some may still have small amounts of debris, the council's priority is to clear larger quantities from those who are still awaiting service.

Mayor Raymon Jayo also reassured the public that a second round of pick-ups for flood-affected goods will take place if necessary.

The Mayor asked for patience and understanding, emphasising the need to consider the wider community and the challenges faced by all.

As recovery works are continuing, I would just like to assure residents that assistance is still available and is only a phone call away.

Flood damaged goods kerbside collection is continuing and it is pleasing to see that our roads and streets have in the main been cleared of most damaged material. Thank you to MAMs and all contractors and personnel involved in achieving such a good result in a very quick time frame. Flood damaged goods kerbside collection is continuing in the wider areas at the moment and if you have any concerns, or think you may have been missed, please contact Council as soon as possible. Regular wheelie bin collection services are now functioning as per normal. If you have lost any wheelie bins, please call Council to arrange a replacement straightaway.

The Community Recovery Hub is continuing to operate out of the TAFE building to assist you with personal and financial matters and the wonderful people from the Department of Communities are continuing to run pop up centres in the smaller communities as needed. The pop ups will shortly be discontinued, but the main hub in Ingham will continue to provide all assistance required. Information on opening hours and locations may be obtained by visiting Council’s website January 2025 Flood Event Information page https://rb.gy/vc0xo6.  Thanks to the wonderful SES personnel, a further Community Outreach activity was carried out through our worst flood affected areas late last week.

In total, 755 residences were surveyed, with 375 residents completing the survey with the SES volunteers and 374 residents not home.  However, Community Recovery Information Sheets and support service numbers were left with in mailboxes for the resident’s attention for when they return home. If you were not home at this time and if you require further information or assistance, you may ring Council on 4776 4600 or even contact the SES direct on 132 500.

Funding to assist sporting and community organisations in continuing clean-up operations has also been made available above the Grant funding recently advised and Council has written directly to all organisations registered with Council requesting details of possible assistance required. Please let Council know prior to 28 February 2025 so that relevant arrangements can be made.

Reports received indicate that all electricity, Telstra and NBN facilities have been restored and working as normal. If that is not the case and you continue to experience difficulty, then we need to know so that we can look into the issue with the relevant providers and get the problem fixed for you.

The Rural Fire Service and SES remain willing and able to assist in house clean ups if required. You can arrange an appointment by contacting SES direct on 132 500.

I reiterate that assistance in various forms to help you recover from this event remains available and that many amazing people from many different State and Federal Agencies are still about and ready to activate if required. This assistance, in most cases, is only a phone call away.

Contributed with thanks to Mayor Ramon Jayo.

‍

Thrown into the deep end, Lisa Scobie, Forrest Beach Takeaway Owner, did not expect to be running Forrest Beach Disaster Management Group during a disaster.

Lisa contacted Forrest Beach Area Warden Gary Berkley to find out that he was not in the area and unavailable to assist Forrest Beach, so she stepped in to help the local community at a time when she was needed most.

On Sunday 2 February Lisa had taken initiative to door knock Wattle Street, to ensure people's safety for the next 24 hours, and on Monday she contacted Helen Stanton from Forrest Beach Surf Life Saving and she said that’s when things really started happening.

Lisa didn’t know she would be called upon to become the area warden, but she stepped up to the task.

The Forrest Beach Takeaway was set up as the Forrest Beach Disaster Hub and Lisa knew that, with communications were down, the shop would be a good way to centralise things.

With thanks to Jason from Blue Spark Electrical, the takeaway shop was able to regain communications thanks to his Starlink internet modem, and with a generator in place, they had power too.

After the first evening, Lisa said things just fell into place and the whole week ran itself.

“We had identified some key people. Helen Stanton was in charge of our comms. We had our medical people doing necessary checks and referrals and people that we already knew were unwell, and they worked in conjunction with Jo," she explained.

"We had the Surf Life Savers doing the welfare checks in conjunction with the firies. And we went and had a look at the school to make sure we had a helicopter landing zone,” said Lisa.

Lisa and the Disaster Management Group set up a barbecue outside of the takeaway shop, for people in need of hot food. After a few days of this, the strip of shops at Forrest Beach was named the Recovery Hub and the name stuck.

Power was restored for the majority of Forrest Beach on the Friday evening, with some getting power on Saturday afternoon, and after this things slowly got back to normal, Lisa also had her takeaway shop open for normal business on Sunday.

Recent high tides and heavy rains have washed large logs and other debris into the offshore waters of the Hinchinbrook Shire region, creating a significant hazard for fishers and boaters. Strong currents have carried these obstacles into commonly used waterways, increasing the risk of collisions, particularly for those travelling at high speeds or in low-light conditions.

Coast guards are warning anyone heading offshore before daylight to exercise extreme caution, as floating debris can be difficult to detect in the dark. A collision with a log or other submerged object could cause significant damage to vessels, potentially injuring occupants or even throwing them overboard. In severe cases, this could result in life-threatening situations, especially if safety precautions are not in place.

To reduce the risk, boaters are advised to slow down in low-visibility conditions, maintain a proper lookout, and ensure all safety equipment—such as life jackets, emergency lights, and communication devices—is in good working order. Mariners should also consider carrying additional safety gear, such as flares and emergency beacons, in case of unexpected incidents.

Local marine authorities are urging boaters to report large debris sightings so potential hazards can be monitored and, where possible, removed to prevent further danger.

With unpredictable weather patterns persisting, mariners are reminded that preparation and vigilance are key to staying safe on the water.

Stay alert, navigate cautiously, and watch out for debris in the area.

‍

Monday last week marked Random Acts of Kindness Day, a time to celebrate generosity and compassion. One heartfelt gesture in Ingham this week has reminded us all of the power of kindness during difficult times.

While visiting the flood-affected region, Carey Group People and Culture Lead, Kristian, made a generous personal donation that had a ripple effect of goodwill. His contribution touched Marina, the owner of the Majestic Café, who used the funds to provide breakfast for approximately 50 State Emergency Service (SES) workers.

Marina was deeply moved by Kristian’s support, expressing her gratitude for his generosity during a time when the Ingham community is still recovering from recent floods. With emergency workers tirelessly helping locals rebuild, the simple gesture of a warm meal was a meaningful way to show appreciation for their dedication.

The impact of Random Acts of Kindness Day extends far beyond just one moment. Acts like Kristian’s serve as a reminder that even small gestures can make a big difference, particularly for those facing hardship. In challenging times, kindness can foster connection, hope, and resilience within communities.

As the people of Ingham continue to recovery, little acts of kindness like these can help make life a little easier.

‍

Hello Everyone,

Welcome to the 13th issue of Hinchinbrook Life Newspaper – lucky 13!

What a few weeks it’s been! The biggest flood in a generation to hit the region and what a blessing to have a weekly paper back in circulation to help you all stay connected.

A huge thank you to our journalist Daniel Heggie for navigating his first North Queensland weather event while still grasping the reins of a brand-new newspaper.

From assisting with rescue efforts to being the ‘on-the-ground connector’ for all communications - Daniel has done a fantastic job.

A huge thank you also goes to your local Sales Manager, Sherie Hensler-Adams, who was out snapping photos, helping businesses and being a wonderful representative for the newspaper during such a tough time.

Also, thank you to our young distributors Harley and Julian who, along with Sherie, have been braving the weather and the roads to ensure the paper is delivered.

It was a moment of immense pride for the whole newspaper team when we finally went to print with the special Flood Edition a few weeks ago. We were so grateful that the roads opened and we could get the paper through from Townsville and into your hands.

To deliver this paper was incredibly meaningful to all of us, and we were determined to do you proud – the paper we produced is a moment in history which we had the honour of documenting for you.

In fact, information and coverage of the floods will be shared with you for many weeks, months, possibly years to come – I don’t think we’ll run out of stories for a very long time!

Back in 2017 I was caught in the middle of Cyclone Debbie when it hit Airlie Beach. I was seven months pregnant at the time and we had no running water for a week, no power for two weeks.

Despite not living in the Hinchinbrook, I can completely relate to much of what you guys have been through over the last few weeks. I have also spent a lot of time in the region, meeting business owners and community members, and my heart bleeds for you all.

I wish you all the best in your recovery and as your local newspaper, we are here to help in any way we can – whether that be by sharing your stories or supporting your businesses.

Sherie has created a special Flood Relief package where local businesses can receive massively discounted rates to help you spread your message and drive your business forward.

I’d like to finish this note by thanking our current advertisers. At just 10 weeks old this brand-new newspaper was, like all of you, hit with a ‘once in a generation’ flood event. There was a period of time when we didn’t know how we would recover. But thanks to all our loyal advertisers for sticking with us in the toughest of time, we came through.

Without your support we would not be here, thank you.

Readers: Please take the time to read all the advertising in this newspaper – these are all the businesses that make your free weekly paper possible – please go and support them like they are supporting you.

Spend your money at their shop, book their services, eat at their restaurants, recommend them to your friends – it is by doing this that you can help ensure the continuation of this newspaper for years to come.

Rach
Editor-In-Chief
Life Publishing Group

Quote of the Week “Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying ‘I will try again tomorrow’” (Mary Anne Radmacher)

‍

Most of Wilmar Sugar and Renewables 500 Herbert employees are now back at work, after two weeks of disruption from the major flood event.

General Manager Operations Mike McLeod visited Wilmar’s Victoria and Macknade mills last week to check on employees and get a firsthand briefing on the flood damage. He also met with workers at Wilmar’s Herbert Centralised Workshop in Lannercost Street.

Mr McLeod’s visit took place a day after the bulk of Wilmar’s Herbert workforce was finally able to return to work, following two weeks of localised flooding and road closures.

“It was really good to be able to get up to Ingham, visit all of our sites and check on our people,” Mr McLeod said.

“Last Monday (17 February) was the first day that all of our employees were able to get to work. Prior to that, only a small portion of the workforce was able to travel to their work sites.”

Mr McLeod said crews had now finished the bulk of the clean-up and were working on planned maintenance activities. Major contractors were also back at the sites progressing capital projects.

He said that, in the background, the business was continuing to assess damage and develop repair plans.

“Due to the significant amount of time lost from the flood, we’re re-evaluating our maintenance plan to ensure we complete critical work ahead of the start of crushing in June.”

“Our absolute priority is on getting the maintenance program back on track and being ready for the 2025 season.”

Mr McLeod paid tribute to the Herbert team’s ability to bounce back and get on with the flood recovery work, even though some had been directly impacted by the disaster.

He also thanked the many teams across Wilmar’s broader business for supporting the Herbert flood recovery efforts.

Over 100 people attended Andy’s Roadhouse on the weekend for a barbecue, live music and good vibes.

People sat back, enjoyed live music and catching up with friends in a social setting, a much-needed light-hearted social occasion after devastating flooding swept through the region.

In attendance was Federal Member for Kennedy, Bob Katter, who said it was great to catch up with many of his mates.

‍

Andy Barra, owner of Andy’s Roadhouse said he decided to run a special Flood Recovery Concert to say thank you to everyone in the region for their hard work and to lift spirits following the challenging event.

He thanked businesses for their donations to keep Andys Roadhouse afloat during the flooding and also Tropic Distributors for sponsoring the Flood Recovery Concert.

“Today, the major sponsor is tropic distributors. They donated all the bread, all the sausages, all the onions, they donated the lot! Plus, they also donated $5,000 of fuel,” said Andy.

“This is to say thank you to the people of Ingham and district, Townsville, and we thought we'd put something back into it, and that's why we've got the bands playing free, everything is free. There's no charges for the band or anything.”

Marketing and Sales Manager of Tropic Petroleum Andrew Peters said the event was all about giving people a good time.

“It's about getting the people out of their homes. People look out their front yard and they’ve got all their furniture and everything there, so we try and give them a different outlook, where they don't have to spend money to go somewhere,” he said.

“It's just to try and create a little bit of positivity, we can't rebuild anybody's house, but at least we can give them a good experience for a couple of hours.”

Member for Kennedy Bob Katter MP said he was thrilled to show his support at the Flood Recovery Concert and said it was wonderful to see people in good spirits.

As recovery efforts from the recent major weather event continue, selectability is working through the impacts to operations and supporting our hardest hit regions as they continue to deliver services to vulnerable regional Queenslanders, despite not having a physical premises to base themselves.

As one of our most affected regions, the Ingham team, led by regional coordinator Julie Ross, has continued to provide support to their consumers, looking for innovative ways to stay connected amidst adversity.

“I am incredibly proud of the entire team and community for coming together during this event,” said Julie.

As an essential service, selectability employees have been providing phone support to consumers where possible both during the event and after.

“We have seen strong displays of community and dedication during this time, including a generous donation from the local Coles,” Julie said.

“With their support, we were able to prepare and hand out close to 50 food bags for consumers once roads were clear enough to drive on.

“The community was without these services for a long period of time, so we wanted to ensure those they had enough until they had access.

“From milk, bread and pasta, to hygiene items and cakes, consumers were very excited to receive supplies!”

Contributed with thanks to selectability

‍