Tasman Turtle Picnic Day Shire Success Scores of locals and travellers flocked to TYTO Wetlands as Tasman Turtle returned with craft, food, activities, and family fun. With a rock climbing wall, circus acts, laser tag, pony rides, and a petting zoo, there was something for everyone. Music filled the air, even getting Tasman dancing, and the park buzzed from start to finish. Faces were covered with ice cream and fairy floss, but most importantly big smiles. Deputy Mayor Mary Brown happily remark
Read the full storyTwo respected members of the Hinchinbrook region have been named in the 2025 King’s Birthday Honours, receiving national recognition for their dedication to the community and their service over many years. Patrick Brown, Officer in Charge at the Ingham Ambulance Station, has been awarded the Ambulance Service Medal, one of the highest honours available to an Australian paramedic. With 46 years of experience, most of it in rural and regional Queensland, Mr Brown has long been regarded as a stea
Read the full storyBy Victoria Velton In the quiet coastal town of Taylor’s Beach, Jayden McNeill is solving more than just colorful puzzles; he’s solved his way to global recognition. A Rubik’s Cube champion with international acclaim, McNeill’s story is one of perseverance, precision, and passion. It all started when a seven-year-old Jayden received a Rubik’s Cube for Christmas. Like many, he shelved it after failing to solve it. But years later, inspired by classmates in high school, he revisited the cube and
Read the full storyA Tool For Real-World Readiness When most people hear “LARPing” (Live Action Role-Playing), images of medieval knights and fantasy creatures might spring to mind. But for a growing community in Townsville, LARPing has evolved far beyond weekend cosplay, it’s becoming a valuable tool for real-world training and personal growth. The newly launched Townsville chapter of Swordcraft, Australia’s largest medieval battle and role-playing game, brings enthusiasts together every fortnight. What began as
Read the full storyCouncil is taking advantage of the beautiful weather we’ve been enjoying lately to bring our town back to life with our parks and gardens looking lovely and full of colour.
The Feral Pig Aerial Shoot of our coastal wetlands took place on Monday 2 June and Wednesday 3 June 2025. 86 feral pigs were controlled within our Shire’s sensitive coastal wetlands and national park areas that boundary nearby cane fields. The reason these areas are managed by aerial means is because of terrain that can’t easily be managed by normal control measures. This shoot is carried out biannually in May, June, November and December. The Hinchinbrook Community Feral Pig Management Program also continues to assist all landholders to manage feral pigs across the shire. Anyone requiring assistance is urged to contact Council’s Biosecurity Team on 4776 4088.
This week, the National weed eradication team from South Johnstone are in town assisting with the surveys for our eradication species, Mikania vine. Areas at 3 of our most recently active sites along the Herbert will be focused on.
Council’s Biosecurity team, in partnership with Terrain and local landholders, have commenced control of weed species in mahogany glider habitat south of Helens Hill. This project is funded through the Threatened Species Recovery Action Grant, funded by the Queensland Government’s Department of Environment, Science and Innovation.
Pond Apple control in the lower Herbert will continue from early July. Council Officers choose this time of year to control Pond Apple as it is easier to identify because of the emergence of the brightly coloured flower. Biosecurity Officers will be putting ant traps in Council assets of concern to look for Yellow Crazy Ants. We haven’t found any in the Shire yet, but if anyone is concerned about Yellow Crazy Ants in their area, please let us know so we can check it out.