No, It's Rally Racers! By Victoria Velton Chris and Tracey Castles have taken to the skies on a 26-day, 10,500-kilometre journey as part of the Royal Flying Doctor Service Outback Air Race 2025. Flying under the banner of Team 15 – Rookies, the pair are navigating their fire engine red A32 Vixxen through some of Australia’s most remote regions in a rally that is less about speed and more about navigation, timing, and precision. Their mission is twofold: to embrace the adventure
Read the full storyThe renowned Thorsborne Trail on Hinchinbrook Island (Munamudanamy) is receiving a significant upgrade, with works currently underway to enhance visitor experience while preserving the island’s unique natural and cultural values. Led by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, the project is being delivered in close collaboration with Bandjin and Girramay Traditional Owners. The aim is to improve infrastructure along the 32-kilometre trail without compromising the remote and pristine characte
Read the full storyAll around the Shire, and Australia, Vietnam Veterans' Day was commemorated in remembrance of the Battle of Long Tan and other Australian operations in the Vietnam War. “Vietnam Veterans Day holds profound importance in Australia's national consciousness. It is not merely a day etched into the calendar, but a moment of collective reflection, a time to pay tribute to those who served to acknowledge the complexity of their experiences and to ensure their sacrifices are never forgotten.” “The sto
Read the full storyThe Lions Club of Ingham is once again proud to present the annual Ingham Sportstar Awards, celebrating the outstanding sporting achievements and contributions of local athletes, teams, and volunteers. Nominations are now open, and the Club is calling on the community to help shine a spotlight on Hinchinbrook’s sporting heroes. The awards recognise achievements from 1st September 2024 through to the nomination closing date, and all nominees must be Hinchinbrook residents or represent a local sp
Read the full storyFran Nason has had a love for creating art since she was a child and held strong aspirations to become an art teacher specialising in painting after completing her schooling.
After moving from Brisbane to Cairns at the age of twenty, Fran decided to explore a new artform, and pursued a course in lead lighting where she learnt the fundamentals of glass cutting.
“I fell in love with the beautiful colours of the stained glass, and over the years, I developed my skills by making many art pieces for family and friends in my spare time,” explained Fran.
In 2000, Fran and her young family moved to Weipa, where she began teaching the unique artform to many local ladies in a space under her home.
“It was a great social gathering for us, and one night my husband overheard us saying, “wouldn’t it be good if we had a kiln to fuse glass”, and to my surprise, he bought me one as a present for our anniversary,” shared Fran.
With her new kiln, Fran taught herself to fuse and slump glass, and following her retirement as an educator to children with special needs three years ago, her family relocated to Forrest Beach where Fran finds plenty of time to practise her glasswork.
A simple hobby, Fran creates glass art for the local Hinchinbrook Markets here and there to continue funding her passion, and earlier this year, she decided to enter a piece in the 46th Hinchinbrook Art Awards where she received the Overall Acquisitive Award for her piece, “Wallaman Falls at Dusk”.
“The beautiful piece of timber which frames the lead light was gifted to me from a friend’s father’s farm on the Tablelands, and it was the shape of this and the want to create artwork that represents Hinchinbrook that inspired me,” Fran added.
Fran’s talents have been displayed and celebrated on multiple occasions, including winning Champion Exhibit earlier this year at the Ingham Show.
“I am forever learning new techniques to improve my artwork and taking on more challenges, and I enjoy seeing the joy people receive from my artwork.”