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
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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
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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
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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 storyThe wet season rain has once again cut the Bruce Highway at the Seymour and Gairloch crossings, leaving locals stranded, businesses struggling, and supply chains in disarray. This isn’t a one-off event, as many of you would know, it’s a recurring disaster that demands immediate action.
For too long, successive State and Federal Governments have failed to prioritise flood-resilient infrastructure for North Queensland. The Gairloch project, which includes the notorious Seymour crossing, has been stuck in bureaucratic limbo for over a decade, despite having $48 million in funding. Yet, construction hasn’t even started.
So far in 2025, the Bruce Highway has been closed at Seymour for 16 days, and we’re not even at the end of March. Imagine if a major highway in Brisbane or Sydney was shut down for over two weeks. It wouldn’t be tolerated, and neither should this.
Every time our highway is cut, food, fuel, and essential supplies can’t get into the northern areas, and local produce can’t get out. Freight companies are forced onto the costly inland route, driving up prices for businesses and consumers alike. Meanwhile, the tourism industry also suffers as visitors reroute their trips to avoid flood-affected areas.
To add insult to injury, the State and Federal Governments have committed $9 billion to the Bruce Highway, yet not a single cent is dedicated to flood immunity projects. Instead, the money is going towards safety upgrades that do nothing to keep the road open when it matters most.
That’s why I’ve written an open letter to every MP from Hinchinbrook to the tip of Cape York, urging them to stand together and demand:
a) The immediate fast-tracking of the Gairloch (and Seymour) project to ensure no more time is wasted
b) A fair share of the $9 billion Bruce Highway package for flood immunity projects.
Improving food immunity for this section of the Bruce Highway should be everyone’s concern, I look forward to one day seeing construction start on the Gairloch and Seymour sections of the highway.
Contributed with thanks to Nick Dametto MP Member for Hinchinbrook
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