Galactic Gathering At The UFO Festival Cardwell was transformed into an intergalactic hotspot from 8 to 10 August 2025 as the Australian UFO Festival returned for its fourth year, attracting visitors from across the country. After a year’s absence in 2024, anticipation had been building for months, and the festival did not disappoint, offering three days packed with cosmic conversation, community fun, and unforgettable experiences. The action began on Friday with free community events
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Tec-NQ House grade 11 boarding student Max has his boots firmly planted in two very different worlds: the rugged, hands‑on life of a central Queensland cattle station, and the bustling day‑to‑day routine of boarding school in Townsville. “I live on a station north of Clermont called Mazeppa,” Max explained. “When I’m not here at school, I live there with my family.” Home for Max is anything but quiet. Mazeppa Station is a working property that runs both cattle and crops, keeping everyone on th
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Whether you’re settling into a new home, revamping your garden, or simply refreshing your living space, the way we shape our surroundings has a powerful impact on how we feel. A well-loved home doesn’t have to be perfect – it just needs to reflect your personality, support your lifestyle, and offer a sense of comfort. In recent years, we’ve seen a growing trend towards practical and sustainable design choices in both homes and gardens. People are making the most of indoor-outdoor flow, bringing
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By Victoria Velton At Palm Creek, it was a bright and fresh morning for our 20 parkrunners, with a gentle breeze making the course all the more enjoyable. Welcoming three newcomers to the Palm Creek track, two from Team Veteran, four PBs were recorded, including the Fastest timer. Down on the foreshore, 22 parkrunners took to the scenic path under cool, clear skies. Joined by a great mix of locals and visitors, no doubt in town for the UFO festival, with six newcomers stepping onto the course f
Read the full storyOn Monday the 3rd of February, Forrest Beach received the worst flooding it had ever seen.
The local emergency group full of volunteers gathered together and went door-knocking to residents to ensure they were safe, had enough food and to see if they were in need of medical supplies.
While door-knocking on Wattle Street, Maria Boeyen and Brett Stapley were safe and sound, but they had major concerns for Maria’s parents, Rita and Peter Boeyen, on Fern Street.
Water had been rising over the weekend, and they refused to leave. On Monday, the water was chest-deep, and they continued to refuse assistance from family.
With this information, the Forrest Beach disaster management group made getting them to safety a number one priority.
Queensland Fire and Rescue and Forrest Beach Surf Life Saving Club waded through the deep waters, and still with professional assistance, Maria’s mother with Alzheimer’s refused to leave.
With this news, the Forrest Beach disaster management group decided that Maria’s parents might accept help in her presence, so Maria attended the scene and stood at the end of the driveway.
With her presence, they evacuated and were taken to Maria and Brett’s place.
Maria said sometimes it’s easier to say yes to strangers than to family members.
“It all happened so quickly, with the disaster management group knocking on the door, Mum and Dad were out within an hour, or hour and a half, even getting in the boat too,” said Maria.
“The volunteers are fantastic, and so soon after I'd been contacted, we were together, straight away.”
After the initial flood water had passed, Brett visited Peter and Rita’s property to assess damage and, most importantly, retrieve a generator that had been safe from flood waters.
“It was in the highest part of the block, so it didn't even get wet. The wheel didn't even go under,” said Brett.
“We now have power, it's limited, but it's power.”
The family are all safe and in good spirits.
Peter is so happy he joked that despite all the effort people went through hopefully power doesn’t come on too soon.
“We’ve managed to keep the fridge cold for beer,” he added.
“It happened that quickly so some of the stuff that we should have taken with us, we didn't.
“But we’ve just come back from there now and it's a bit of a mess, outside and inside, but nothing that bit of hard work and time can’t fix.”
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