This year's ANZAC Day saw hundreds turn out to remember the efforts of Australia and New Zealand's great service men and women. Veterans, schools, clubs and businesses poured into the streets to march in grand parades, and packed in close to attend services held across the Hinchinbrook Shire. Beautiful wreaths were lain and the bugles mournful tones echoed across respectful silences as flags were lowered to half mast. A gunfire breakfast, coffee and traditional ANZAC biscuits kept everyone going
Read the full story
Allan Colquhoun grew up in Sydney, but his life has taken him far beyond the city limits. In his youth, he worked with a station owner named Bob, whose property combined dairy and sheep farming with a focus on Jersey bulls and cows. One vivid memory that’s stayed with him is of Bob chasing down a bull meant for butchering on his stock horse —a beast that, to Allan’s amazement, climbed over the holding fence one hoof at a time to escape. Allan spent most of his working life as a coastal travelle
Read the full story
Hinchinbrook Chamber of Commerce, Industry & Tourism held their monthly Coffee Connect last week, being hosted by local business Wild Local. There was a very strong attendance at this event, with Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter and KAP Senate candidate, Robbie Lyon. Rebecca and Dom Zaghini provided a delicious light snacks and gave the audience an overview of their business journey from inception to their current location, the diverse range of products they provide and some insight into t
Read the full story
Over the weekend, the Ingham Kennel Club hosted six rounds of dog shows, featuring judges from across Australia who rotated to ensure fair and balanced competition. Dogs were entered into one of seven group categories, with the Toy Group attracting the largest number of entries. Sunday's shows saw the Italian Greyhound emerge as a standout, making up 20 of the 170 total entries across the weekend. Unique and rarely seen breeds like the Xoloitzcuintli and Briard added excitement to the event, of
Read the full storyby Victoria Velton
Leonardo (Lenny) Toscano, is Ingham's longest serving postal employee. With nearly 40 years of service, he’s seen the post office evolve over the decades, but says its focus has always remained the same by serving the needs of the locals and delivering their messages.
Lenny’s career began around 1985, when he was working for a courier company that delivered mail to the post office, recalling, "That’s how I sort of got my foot in the door, really,” he said. “We used to bring the mail up from Townsville in the back of a ute, it was mostly letters back then.”
In 1988, the post office manager offered him a part-time role inside, which he gladly took to escape working in the weather. He started by delivering telegrams and collecting from public phone boxes.
“Way back in the day, coin-operated phone boxes had a little tin in the bottom. I used to count up the money and pass it on to the Telstra boys.”
Eventually, a postman position became available and Lenny jumped at the opportunity. He stayed in that role until a truck collision put him on light duties. When a staff member retired, Lenny stepped into a retail and counter position as one of five people working behind a long service counter. He eventually worked his way up to become the manager, and over the years also served as a relief postal manager in Mount Isa, Tully, Ayr, Charters Towers, and several Townsville offices, staying within the region.
“I’m a local, so when they didn’t have a manager somewhere, their HR person would ring up at seven or eight o’clock in the morning and say, ‘You’re going to work here.’ Then I’d drive up to Tully and work there for the day.”
He’s seen three major renovations, watching the space evolve into the retail-focused hub locals see today. Loving the history of the place he holds onto memorabilia such as a crockery set featuring the old Ingham Post Office with its historic red roof.
One of his fondest memories is from 1993, when the entire Ingham Post Office got together to join Nobby Young, a postman walking around the entirety of Australia for charity, as Young passed through Ingham, They all walked a leg of the journey alongside him.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
Publishers Indemnity. Any individual or entity that places advertising, supplies copy material, or submits editorial content to Core Life Publishing agrees and undertakes to ensure that all such material:- Does not infringe upon any copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property rights;- Is free from any content that could be considered defamatory, libelous, or slanderous;- Does not infringe upon any rights related to privacy or breach of confidence;- Contains no obscene, indecent, or otherwise unlawful material;- Complies fully with the Trade Practices Act and all other applicable laws, regulations, or statutes.Furthermore, by submitting or placing such material, these individuals or entities agree to indemnify and hold harmless the publisher, Core Publishing and Events Pty Ltd, and/or its agents from and against any and all investigations, claims, demands, liabilities, damages, costs, or judgments arising out of or in connection with the material provided. All material is believed to be accurate at the time of printing and remains the copyright of Core Publishing and Events Pty Ltd.
© 2024 Life Publishing Group Ltd.
