By Victoria Velton On Friday, 7 November, community members came together for a morning of hands-on environmental action. Volunteers planted native tree saplings that, once grown, will help shade out invasive parra grass and restore valuable habitat for the wetlands’ feathered and furry locals. Participants gathered beside two ute-loads of native trees. Some drilled holes into the clay-like soil, others prepared the saplings, and everyone planted as many trees as they could in the heat, each contributing to a greener future. The event highlighted the importance of community collaboration in tackling invasive species and supporting local biodiversity. It was a day not only about planting trees but also about nurturing long-term environmental stewardship in the region. The planting site adjoined another successfully revegetated area that had been established in a previous project, continuing the creation of a vital wildlife corridor through the TYTO Wetlands.
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Gilroy Santa Maria College marked a remarkable milestone on Wednesday, 30 October 2025, celebrating 75 years of education, faith, and community with a morning of reflection and festivity. Originally planned for last year but postponed due to severe weather, the long-awaited celebration brought together current and former students, staff, clergy, and community members to honour the College’s proud history and enduring legacy. The morning commenced with a liturgy led by Bishop Tim Harris of the Catholic Diocese of Townsville, setting a reverent tone for the occasion. Parish Priest Father John Kunnathumadappallil and Father Sylvester Emetuche from the Catholic Diocese of Townsville joined the ceremony, sharing in the blessings and prayers of the ceremonial mass. Among the many attendees was Bob Mitting, known affectionately as the “Barefoot Gilroy Boy”, who, along with several long-time past students, travelled from near and far to take part in the celebrations. Guests enjoyed guided tours of the College grounds, revisiting familiar spaces and exploring the many changes that have taken place over the decades. Inside the hall, displays of memorabilia, including vintage uniforms, old textbooks, alongside club and class photos, stirred fond memories and conversation, capturing the spirit of 75 years of growth and connection. The event provided an opportunity to celebrate the generations who have shaped Gilroy Santa Maria College into the vibrant learning community it is today, while also looking forward to the College’s future with pride and great optimism.
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The Hinchinbrook Festival of Events is entering week 3 of the event calendar, and the organisers are extremely pleased with the attendance and participation at the many events and celebrations delivered to date. The overwhelming and ongoing support from the local and visitor community has exceeded the organisers' expectations. Data recorded to date from each event indicates the majority of the ticketed events have been sell-outs, with the “free to enter” events exceeding previous attendance numbers. As the calendar continues to roll around, the next major event within the “Hinchinbrook Festival of Events” calendar is the NQIB Country Cups Challenge Qualifier - Hinchinbrook Cup Race Day on the 15th November at the Ingham Race Course! This event promises a full day of horse racing, fashion, and socialising that will not disappoint! Being a family-friendly event, a day of exciting trackside entertainment for the whole family is assured. Gates open at 11:00am on Saturday morning, with five local races. Local and southern bookmakers and Sky Racing are onsite for those who want to have a flutter. Live music and a DJ will entertain the crowd, with a bar and canteen open to keep the revellers fed and thirst-quenched. The spectacular “Fashions on the Field” is always a highly contested event and children’s amusements provide entertainment for the younger audience. This year, there is a new fashion category - “Living the Hinchinbrook Way – 4850” - which will add another interesting aspect to the fashions. So get ready to enjoy a day at the races, Hinchinbrook style! Pre-purchase Adult Entry Tickets ($15 each) and Tables ($60 per table – seats 10) online. With kids 0-14 years being free, and teens 14-17 years only available at the gate on race day. For more information, or to purchase Entry Tickets and/or Tables, visit https://hinchinbrookchamber.com.au/hinchinbrook-cup-race-day-family-event/
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If you’re a lover of all things extraterrestrial, the weekend extending from the 8th to the 10th of August has most likely been bolded, outlined, highlighted and set aside for a few months now in anticipation of the infamous Cardwell UFO Festival!
2024 heartbreakingly did not stage the beloved event, however following on from December’s confirmation 2025’s weekend of intergalactic mayhem will go ahead, waves of excitement have continued to build across the community and into the stratosphere.
Over the course of three celestial days in early August, crafts of locals from far and wide will land in Cardwell to experience a plethora of intergalactic attractions and events including a cosmically mind-boggling C-Files Forum!
In years gone by, the C-Files Forum for the Unexplained has hosted international guest speakers covering topics including personal stories of alien encounters, conspiracy theories, alien communications, modern research, mysterious phenomena and more over the entire weekend to a captive audience filled with inquisitive minds.
In early January, the Cardwell UFO Festival Committee asked the public to list the extraterrestrial topics they would love to discuss ahead of 2025’s event and the results were nothing short of interdimensional.
Interferences from those in positions of power within the United States political sphere seem to fuel a galaxy of conspiracies along with the advancements of drones, and figures like Dolores Cannon and Tracey Taylor have also been asked to take the microphone. With a solidified line up yet to be announced, enthusiasts are invited to comment which topics they would like to hear discussed on the Cardwell UFO Festival’s social media pages.
Cardwell as a township has been marked an intergalactic hot spot and has been recognised across the nation following years of unexplainable sightings and alien activity. Publishments dating back to the 1960s detailing close encounters, crop circles, and the notorious “Cardwell Lights” have landed Cardwell on the map and into the history books, making the seaside community an ideal host for the unique celestial celebration.
With specific details and the festival’s full program yet to be announced, all eyes are on www.cardwellufofestival.com.au and the event’s social media pages, with enthusiasts holding out until the only UFO Festival in Australia makes its triumphant return.
What: Cardwell UFO Festival
When: 8th to the 10th of August
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