Parents and guardians, it's time to dive into the new year with confidence! The Hinchinbrook Aquatic Centre is hosting its Term One Learn-to-Swim Sign-On days this Wednesday, January 15, and Thursday, January 16, from 9:00 am to 11:00 am.

This is a fantastic opportunity for families to discover what the centre's swim school can offer young swimmers. Whether your child is just starting or ready to build on existing skills, the Learn-to-Swim program is designed to foster water safety, skill development, and fun in the pool.

As an added bonus, every swimmer who signs up during the event will enjoy a free swim session—perfect for getting a taste of the program and cooling off from the summer heat.

So, why not make a splash and secure your child's spot in this essential program? Head down to the Hinchinbrook Aquatic Centre and let their experienced team help your child gain confidence in the water.

Learning to swim can save lives, and it’s a low impact exercise with a variety of benefits including:

   • Increasing lung capacity 
   • Improving heart health 
   • Building strength and endurance 
   • Improving flexibility and coordination

Best of all, swimming is fun for all ages!
See you at the pool!

What: Term One – Learn to Swim Sign On
Where: Hinchinbrook Aquatic Centre
When: Wednesday 15 January and Thursday 16 January (9am – 11am)

The club enjoyed a perfect day for social bowls today, with a refreshing breeze, dry conditions, and a strong turnout of 12 players. The afternoon was filled with camaraderie and competitive spirit, as members participated in a mixed social bowls session that was a highlight of the summer season.

Looking ahead, the Early Bird Mixed Pairs competition is scheduled for Sunday, January 19, 2025. Members are encouraged to pair up and register, or simply submit their names to be matched with a partner. Entries close on Friday, January 17 and can be submitted to Joe Mugica, Thomas, or directly at the club.

Another special event on the horizon is the Australia Day celebration on Sunday, January 26, 2025, featuring the G & G Accornero Memorial Day. Starting at 12:45 pm, the day promises to be a wonderful opportunity to honour the Accornero family and celebrate Australian pride. To participate, members are asked to register their names by Friday, January 24, with Joe Mugica, Thomas, or at the club.

The club is looking forward to these upcoming events, promising more afternoons of fun, friendship, and friendly competition.

Contriubted with thanks to Noorla Bowls Club

The Mixed Pairs final at Ingham Bowls Club took place on Sunday the 22nd of December to officially close the book on the 2024 season.

After a hard-fought match, Maria Spano and Frank Pallanza emerged as the celebrated 2024 victors!

A special mention was extended to Janice Johnson and Phill Kite, who played an excellent game, with the final score being a close 23-19.

Players and Club members hung around after the competitions were completed to enjoy an afternoon of socialisation in celebration of their 2024 efforts whilst embracing a bit of festive cheer!

Noorla Bowls Club wrapped up the year with a festive Christmas Party, marking the end of a successful 2024 season. The event was well-attended, with a delicious dinner prepared by Dora and her dedicated kitchen team, which was thoroughly enjoyed by all.
Four life memberships were awarded to Vanda Raiteri, Diane Spina, Nella Mancuso, and Carlo Cavallo, in recognition of their many years of dedicated service to the club. Their contributions were celebrated, and they were warmly acknowledged for their hard work and commitment.

Club President Gary expressed gratitude to everyone for attending and congratulated the day's winners: Andrew Cole, Richard Crossman, and Robert Raiteri, who were drawn from the hat. Special awards for best dressed went to Richard Crossman and Janice Craven.

The Club has already begun planning for 2025 and is eager to welcome members back for another year of action and comradery.

An early morning call on Monday, the 23rd of December 2024 alerted MRQ Lucinda (formerly Ingham Coast Guard) that a local Marine Assist member’s motor had failed while out near Pelorus Island. A concerning situation, the engine had given out in a plume of smoke, and assistance was urgently needed.

Despite the early hour, the Coast Guard team rallied, with a series of phone calls ensuring a crew was assembled. Missing their breakfasts, the volunteers had the rescue vessel, Snow Stafford, on the water by 8am!

The disabled boat was located to the north-east of Pelorus Island, and a tow line was quickly attached for a safe return to Dungeness.

2024 saw MRQ Lucinda respond to 32 calls and rescue 93 people, further displaying their unwavering dedication to keeping locals and visitors safe on the water.

Contributed with thanks to Steve Whipps, Commander Qf14, MRQ Lucinda.

Looking for a fun and active way to spend your school holidays? The Ingham Tennis Association is offering free court hire day or night until Monday, the 27th of January 2025! Whether you're an early riser or prefer to play under the stars, courts 1 to 12 are available from 6am until 11pm!

Booking is simple! To access the courts, you’ll use a PIN code with a smart igloohome padlock on the gate adjacent to Court 6, facing Cooper Street. Your unique, one-time PIN code will be provided once you complete your booking, and if you’re playing in the evening, you’ll also receive an 8-digit PIN to operate the lighting controller, located near the power box by Court 3. Detailed instructions are available on-site for easy use.

Visit play.tennis.com.au/inghamtennisassociationinc for more details on the club and the court hire process to make your booking!

Once your account is set up, simply input your code at the electronic lock on the gates, located near Davidson Street, for access, and remember, if you need help at any time, feel free to reach out to Steve at 0488 763 270.

In addition to the free court hire, there will be two open days in January where the public can come and enjoy tennis with no charge. It’s the perfect opportunity for kids to try out the sport, with rackets available at the club if needed across both open days scheduled for Monday the 13th of January, and Saturday the 18th of January.

So, why not get the family together, get active, and enjoy the courts over the school holidays? Don't miss out on this great opportunity!

Contributed with thanks to Geoff Caso.

The Forrest Beach Surf Life Saving Club wrapped up a fantastic year last December, celebrating the first part of the 2024/25 season with a fun-filled morning that included a visit from Santa!

A heartfelt thank you was extended to Santa and his helpers, Mariam and Nalini, for making the day even more memorable and the club also expressed their appreciation to all volunteers, coaches, age managers, water safety crew, kitchen helpers, and families who contributed to making the event such a success - the support from everyone throughout the year was deeply appreciated.

The Forrest Beach SLSC looks forward to continuing the season this January and reminds all beachgoers to always swim between the red and yellow flags for safety.

Thomas Casey, known by his students as Tom, has been a celebrated tennis coach for just over eight years, training children aged three to 17 years with the skills and techniques required to enjoy and excel in the sport.
With a world of experience behind him, Tom first picked up a racquet when he was 10, and hasn’t left the court since, pursuing various academic qualifications to educate fellow tennis lovers on the sport’s ins and outs.
“I love coaching, it’s the most rewarding aspect of tennis for me,” shared Tom.
“Tennis is your own sport where you can focus on your own development, and I have one student who has travelled to a lot of tournaments who has shown a lot of improvement.”
Having already completed a Junior Development Coaching Qualification, Tom is currently pursuing education studies to become a certified teacher with the intention of coaching more students in the coming months.
“I will be coaching in Ingham in 2025, and adding an extra day of Thursdays, in addition to Saturday, and I currently coach 20 students a week, and hope to double that next year,” Tom added.
Tom invites students to have a swing at the sport and reach out to him on 0413 199 702 to learn more about upcoming new year free trial offers and join a fantastic and supportive tennis community at the Ingham Tennis Association.

The Ingham Bowls Club ladies hosted a unique and enjoyable day of bowling on Sunday 8th December, introducing a special format where all players switched positions every five ends. This creative twist provided a fun challenge for participants and added a refreshing spin to the day’s games.

To cap off the event, players indulged in a delicious high tea, a fitting reward after an afternoon on the greens. President Frank expressed his gratitude to the ladies for their generous donation to the Men’s Club, a gesture warmly appreciated by all.

For nominations or inquiries, call 4776 2117 or 0487 240 397. Happy bowling!

The Herbert River Crushers Rugby League Football Club have kickstarted pre-season for the 2025 season.

Ex-President Joe Pennisi said he is looking forward to the new season, and looking forward to more people getting out to training.

“This time of year is more to get people back in the rhythm of playing footy, and get back into the swing of things,” said Joe.

“It’s good to get a couple of sessions in before Christmas, at the end of our last session before Christmas we will have a barbecue, and then we start up again 14th of January.”

The Crushers had a challenging 2024 season and the team were disappointed not to make the semi-finals.

Joe wants to ensure the Crushers have a successful 2025 season and said that cannot be done without commitment.

“Hopefully we can fulfill our poor team commitment, for our A-Grade, Reserve Grade, Under 20’s and Women,” said Joe.

“Being a small town, that’s what we struggle with, every year we do seem to get there but we are still disappointed about the semi-finals.”

2025 marks the 30th year for the Crushers in the Townsville and District Rugby League Competition and they are aiming to do well in their 30th year.

Pre-season will continue every Thursday, if weather allows, at 5.30pm. The last training will be on 19 December with a barbecue following.

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The Noorla Bowls Club held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) yesterday, drawing a strong turnout from its members. With the meeting concluded, the new committee for the upcoming year was announced:

   • Patron: Johnny Leonardi
   • President: G. Accornero
   • Assistant President: R. Rose
   • Secretary: P. Menegon
   • Vice Secretary: C. Mugica
   • Treasurer: J. Girgenti
   • Games Directors: Men – J. Mugica; Ladies – S. Pizzi
   • Greens Director: N. Craven
   • Men’s Selectors: G. Accornero, T. Garate, K. Wegert
   • Ladies’ Selectors: G. Bison, R. Rose, C. Hewitt
   • Provedores: Men – G. Rose; Ladies – C. Hewitt
   • NQ Delegates: G. Accornero, S. Pizzi
   • Publicity Officer: G. Bison

The club also celebrated the conclusion of its Jackpot Pairs competition, which saw 12 teams face off under the North Queensland heat. The day’s winners were Ronnie Williams and Michael May, while the jackpot prize was claimed by Rink 5’s R. Rose, G. Rose, A. Carr, and T. Garate.

Despite the hot conditions, the event was a great success, with players enjoying the games and camaraderie. Congratulations to all the participants and the new committee members, and here’s to another fantastic year at Noorla Bowls Club!

The Ingham Tennis Association celebrated the end of the year in style with its final group lesson, delivering a fun-filled day of games, prizes, and festive cheer.

Juniors were awarded prizes for their achievements throughout the year, while Christmas gifts of Nike sweatbands and tennis balls were handed out as a token of appreciation. After an energetic morning on the courts, a delicious lunch was served, much to the delight of the young players.

To beat the heat, the club hall’s air conditioning was turned on, providing a cool space for everyone to relax. The juniors, however, showed no signs of slowing down, transitioning seamlessly from tennis to lively games of ping pong in the hall.

The association extended warm Christmas and New Year wishes to all players and their families, encouraging everyone to return for more tennis action in 2025.

Mark your calendars for the Open Days happening in January on Monday the 13th and Saturday the 18th. Stay tuned for more details in the new year, and don’t miss out on the chance to kickstart another fantastic season of tennis in Ingham.

Contributed with thanks to Geoff Caso.

A young local boxing champion who narrowly missed out on gold in the Australian Title Final came hold with silver and is vying for gold in the next bout.

Spencer Riys is a 15-year-old boxer who fought hard for the title in his recent fight which led to a controversial result.

Spencer’s coach Dean Poppi said it was an amazing fight, and despite the result Spencer should be proud of his efforts.

“I thought Spencer got it and so did a lot of other people. It was a very controversial decision,” said Dean.

“They gave the other guy the decision but a lot of people thought that Spencer won the fight.”

“Spencer put an eight count on his opponent in the third round. An eight count is when the referee stops the fight counts and gives the other guy eight seconds to recover. It’s not a knockout, but it is to recover from being stunned.

“Spencer did really well in the first round, I thought he was pretty dominant. The second round was very close. The other guy came back, but then I told Spencer he had let the second round get too close. So, I said, you have got to take charge of the third round. And he did.”

Spencer has been boxing for less than two years and to be fighting in the Australian Title Final is a huge achievement.

Dean expects that following the result of this year, Spencer will be eyeing up the Gold in next year’s Australian Title.

Dean also said Spencer’s effort and dedication is fantastic.

“The kid backed himself, he went out, got his sponsors, and he did what he did, and worked for it,” said Dean.

“I'd like to give a thanks to him and his parents for putting it all together and the community, for really getting behind us.”

Photos supplied

The Hitch-n-Ride Horse Sports Club hosted an incredible event last week that brought riders of all ages together to compete, celebrate, and showcase their equestrian skills. With generous sponsorships and an impressive array of awards, the day was a roaring success, honouring participants across various age groups and disciplines.

Special thanks go to Lorna & Peter Lino for sponsoring the Led-In Medallions and Nutrien Ag Solutions Ingham for donating honeybee bags. Gear bags for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place were skilfully crafted by Sam Sellick, adding a personal touch to the event.

Age Group Results
Under 10
   • 1st: Lotti Duffy
   • 2nd: Mia Carr

10 - Under 13
   • 1st: Ruby Shaw
   • 2nd: Casey Celotto
   • 3rd: Benson Duffy

13–Under 15
   • 1st: Layne Biasi
   • 2nd: Krystal Taylor
   • 3rd: Annabell Butterworth

Junior Novice
   • 1st: Stevie Biasi
   • 2nd: Chloe Celotto
   • 3rd: Alexis Catasti

15–Under 18
   • 1st: Lilly Shaw

Opens
   • 1st: Ian Turner
   • 2nd: Sam Sellick
   • 3rd: Hayley Quartero

Special Awards
Horsemanship Buckles
   • U10: Chloe Celotto
   • U18: Ruby Shaw

Most Improved Saddle Pads recipients: Alexis Catasti, Elena Botto, Mia Carr, Casey Celotto, Krystal Taylor, and Charlene Taylor.

Encouragement Awards recipients: Archer Carr, and Benson Duffy.

The Hitch-n-Ride Horse Sports Club extends heartfelt gratitude to all sponsors, participants, and supporters who made the event a success. Congratulations to all winners for their exceptional performances and sportsmanship!

Contributed with thanks to the Hitch-n-Ride Horse Sports Club.

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The Ingham Tennis Association has been bustling with activity, particularly with its junior squad training program. Catering to children aged 3 to 17 years, this program focuses on helping young players stay active, improve coordination, and develop their tennis skills. Led by local coach Tom, the squad offers a fun and engaging environment where juniors can enjoy games and refine their techniques.

As the year winds down, only one Saturday remains for squad training. However, tennis enthusiasts can look forward to two open days scheduled in January. Keep an eye out for further announcements about these exciting events.

The Association has also opened its courts to the entire community, allowing for online bookings both day and night. Families are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to enjoy some quality time on the courts during the holiday season. To book a court, visit play.tennis.com.au. Once booked, a code will be provided to access the courts via a secure lock system.

In addition to tennis, the club welcomes the community to give Pickleball a swing - one of the fastest-growing sports enjoyed by all ages. For those keen to give it a try, contact Gordon at 0409 092 058 for more information.

If you have a young tennis player on your hands, the Ingham Tennis Association also accepts $200 Fair Play Vouchers, making it easier for kids to pick up a racket and get involved in the fun!

The Ingham Tennis Association invites the community to pop down for a match and make the most of the facilities this holiday season.

Contributed with thanks to Geoff Casanovas.