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 storyAllan 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 storyHinchinbrook 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 storyOver 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 storyAs I write this Councillor Column, it is the 15th of February 2025. The sun has finally come out, giving us a break in this disastrous February 2025 flood event with the recovery efforts in full swing. The devastation that Mother Nature has dealt has affected every individual, and the loss of life of two of our own residents is particularly heartbreaking. Our businesses, non-for-profit organisations and agricultural sectors have been ravaged in our Shire and it is saddening to see. However, as we have witnessed in previous times of natural disasters, we will regroup, rebuild better and move forward as a community.
Your elected councillors have been delegated to form the Hinchinbrook Local Recovery Group, with Deputy Mayor Mary Brown as the chair of the of the Master Recovery Group and Cr Pat Lynch as the deputy chair. Under the Master Recovery Group, there will be four subgroups that will report to the Master Recovery Group. These are the Human-Social Recovery Sub Group chaired by Cr Donna Marbelli; the Environmental Recovery Sub Group chaired by Cr Kate Milton; the Infrastructure Recovery Sub Group chaired by Cr Andrew Carr; and the Economic Recovery Sub Group chaired by me, Cr Mark Spina.
Based on previous recovery plans, we will focus on a locally led approach involving individuals, families, community groups, businesses and agricultural sectors along side all levels of government to identify and match our recovery efforts to the needs of the community. To achieve this, Hinchinbrook Shire Council will facilitate a locally led approach that prioritises the impacted community to manage and actively participate in their own recovery while considering the values, culture, and needs of all those affected by the disaster. It is important to recognise that the greater community may identify different recovery pathways and that we must remain flexible to meet the changing recovery needs of those affected by this disaster.
Please keep up to date with Disaster Recovery Grants that are available by visiting www.qld.gov.au/ community/disasters-emergencies and above all take care of yourselves and your neighbours during this difficult time, be kind and try to remain positive.