Mark 10th Birdlife Art Awards More than 280 people gathered to celebrate Hinchinbrook Shire Council’s 10th Birdlife Art Awards at the TYTO Regional Art Gallery on Friday night, 1 August 2025. This milestone event continues to honour the rich birdlife of the Hinchinbrook region through the eyes of talented artists from across Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria. It features an impressive 106 entries across various mediums, including drawing, painting, photography, sculpture, and m
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Sporting and recreation clubs across North and Far North Queensland impacted by early 2025’s severe flooding can now apply for a share in a $30 million funding package to help repair and rebuild their facilities. The Sport and Recreation Recovery Program (SRRG) — a joint initiative by the Albanese and Crisafulli Governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) — offers up to $1 million per facility for eligible not-for-profit sport and racing clubs, as well as local cou
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Locally loved artist, Katie Louise, has graced the region once again, painting a beautiful mural on the wall of the infamous Frosty Mango building located 40km South of Ingham along the mighty Bruce Highway. Hailing from Townsville, Katie’s paint brushes have coloured many surfaces across North Queensland where she has artistically captured the unique qualities of several communities including the Atherton Tablelands, Charters Towers, and now Cardwell. Katie’s recent piece within the shi
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Former players, supporters, and families reunited in Ingham over the weekend of 18–19 July 2025 to celebrate the 55-year-long legacy of the Wallaman Rugby League Club, with attendees travelling from across Western Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and all corners of Queensland. Though no longer active, the Wallaman club holds a proud place in local sporting history. Formed in 1970 under challenging circumstances, the club faced early struggles just getting a team on the field. With determina
Read the full storyOn 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.
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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