At the Ingham Sugar City Rodeo From the moment the gates opened, the air buzzed with the sound of hooves, cheering crowds, and the anticipation of more than 25 rodeo events. Tiny riders on ponies, fearless juniors, seasoned stock professionals, and the ever-popular charity bull ride had the crowd on their feet. With daring competitors and non-stop entertainment, this year’s rodeo once again proved why it is one of the most exciting events on the northern calendar. Cowboys and cowgirls
Read the full storyErgon Energy Network is urging gardeners to carefully consider what they plant near powerlines and other electrical assets, with fast-growing species like bamboo causing thousands of power outages and posing serious safety risks. Ergon Energy Network Area Manager Rick Madden said planting the wrong trees or plants too close to powerlines can lead to dangerous situations, including fallen powerlines, emergency power outages and electric shocks. “Bamboo is one of the worst offenders because it g
Read the full storyForrest Beach has always been a place where community and coastline meet, and now it has a new chapter in its real estate story. After more than 40 years of dedicated service, Mary Venables has retired, passing the torch of Venables Real Estate to Richard and Lisa, who have proudly launched Forrest Beach Real Estate. The change marks the end of an era, but also a fresh beginning for the township and its real estate landscape. Mary’s journey in the industry is nothing short of remarkable. Arrivi
Read the full storyWalter W. Mason’s Book Launch in Ingham Ingham welcomed local author Walter W. Mason for the launch of his two highly anticipated books, Little Girl Beautiful and The Blue Bus, and the event was nothing short of a triumph. The community gathered in high spirits, catching up with Mason, sharing stories, and celebrating a lifetime of connection to the region. By the end of the launch, every copy of The Blue Bus had sold out, and Mason was down to his last box of Little Girl Beautiful. Those who mi
Read the full storyGood Morning Hinchinbrook,
I hope you’ve had a wonderful Easter holiday with family and friends – I know I certainly did! I brought my mum and son to town, and they had a great time hanging out at the playparks, eating at local cafes, and swimming in the pool at our accommodation.
This was my first time back in Ingham since the floods. Although I felt connected to the event through our newspaper coverage, local relationships, and, of course, helping manage the welfare of our local staff, this was the first time I had actually ‘hit the ground’ myself.
It was heartwarming to see things reasonably back to normal, and I’m sure it has taken an incredible effort from everyone to get to this point. As many of you will know, our newspaper was only 10 weeks old when the floods hit, and we certainly felt the full impact on our small publication. I want to say a huge thank you to the Council for supporting the newspaper throughout the event, and to the incredible local businesses that continued to advertise with us, despite the hardships they were undoubtedly facing.
Without these partnerships, we wouldn’t be able to produce this lovely local paper, so please show your support by reading their ads, shopping at their businesses, and supporting them, as they are supporting our community.
While I was in town, I met with Deputy Mayor Mary Brown, who emphasised that the most important message right now is to reassure the rest of Queensland that the region is open for business. With that in mind, we’ll be launching some promotional articles across all four of our papers in the coming weeks, aiming to attract more visitors to shop local and explore the area.
Additionally, our talented Sales Account Manager, Sherie Hensler-Adams, is excited to launch our glossy travel publication in the region this month. Printing 15,000 copies every eight weeks, Tripping Magazine has been running for over 10 years and is available for free at tourist hotspots from Mackay to the Whitsundays, Burdekin, Townsville, and now... Hinchinbrook.
If you’d like more information about how you can be part of a brand-new dedicated Hinchinbrook section of Tripping Magazine, please reach out directly to Sherie – her contact number is listed next to this column.
Rach
Quote of the Week: “A winner is a dreamer who never gives up.” (Nelson Mandela)