TOP NEWS

New Art Exhibit Open

The latest art exhibit at TYTO Art Gallery opened on Friday and is open until the end of July. This ‘n’ That by Sue Hollamby brings Sue’s art style to life, she shares a charming collection of heartfelt works that showcase her genuine passion for art and creativity. In the new exhibit expect a lively blend of colour, imagination, and character in this wonderfully eclectic collection. The exhibit’s opening night was an extraordinary success, and attendees said it was wonderful to see art

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The Saga Of Cardwell: 1870 - 1890

First Deaths to Johnstone Division Records show that the first death in Cardwell was on 7th March 1864, and the first burial in the cemetery was that of a six-month-old female child later in 1864. The first European baby born in Cardwell was George Cardwell Peters, on October 9th 1864, and in 1866 the Province of Cardwell was proclaimed. The telegraph line reached Cardwell in December 1869 after five men lost their lives from Jungle Fever during its construction from Townsville. Cardwell’s first

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Kings Of Country Rock Tour Hits Lucinda Hotel

Fans of legendary American country rock are in for a real treat when the Kings of Country Rock Tour hits the Lucinda Hotel on Saturday, 13th September 2025. This two-hour stage spectacular is much more than a tribute show. It captures all the sounds, energy and excitement of two of the biggest bands of the 1970s — the Eagles and Creedence Clearwater Revival. Featuring a cast of internationally respected musicians, the show promises a high-energy, crowd-pleasing experience that will have audienc

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A Special Book Launch In Ingham

From the cane fields of Macknade to bookshelves across Australia, Angelina Mastrippolito’s debut memoir Le Seconde: Inheriting the Unspoken has made an inspiring impact. Her hometown launch, held at TYTO Conference Centre in Ingham, was a moving and memorable event, with more than seventy people gathering to celebrate her success. Friends, family, childhood neighbours and past classmates filled the room to show their support, purchase a signed copy, and hear Angie speak about her journey. The w

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Halifax Resident With Unique Holocaust Story

January 13, 2025

For Halifax resident Barbara Dolby, her life story is a powerful reminder of resilience and survival, rooted in one of history’s darkest chapters. Born in 1946 in the Glyn-Hughes Hospital at Bergen-Belsen, Barbara’s earliest years unfolded in the aftermath of the Holocaust.
The hospital, established by British forces to treat survivors of the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, became Barbara’s first home after her birth. British troops had liberated the camp on 15 April 1945, but the horrors endured by its victims, including Barbara’s parents, left lasting scars.
Barbara’s Romanian father was conscripted to fight for the Germans, while her German-Polish mother was imprisoned in Bergen-Belsen. Barbara recounts the harrowing stories her mother still shares.
“They shaved the people’s heads. They told them they’d got to go for a shower, and they had trap doors underneath the floor. They just fell down, and they killed them,” Barbara said.
“They also gassed them, and then they took them away and burnt them. They could smell the burning bodies.”
In 1948, after suffering from carbon dioxide poisoning, Barbara was discharged from the hospital. When her father returned, the family faced a crossroads: they were given the choice of relocating to either Australia or Brazil. In 1950, they boarded the S.S. Amarapoora and arrived in Newcastle, New South Wales, eventually settling in Brisbane.
Barbara began working at the young age of 14, starting as a machinist in the Valley.
“I started off as a machinist in the Valley when I was 14. That’s what my first job was, and I stayed there until I was married,” she said.
Over the years, Barbara’s career evolved.
“I worked a glass and aluminium trade in Cairns; I used to do door frames and windows for housing. We would have gone to Cairns in 1980, and that was when it was still nice, and then it got too big for us,” she said.
Eventually, Barbara and her family moved to Hinchinbrook, where she continues to reside today.
From her beginnings in a hospital for Holocaust survivors to building a life in Australia, Barbara’s story is one of incredible endurance and determination—a journey that bridges history and hope.

Barbara Dolby with her German birth certificate
S.S. Amarapoora that her family travelled to Australia on
Wehrmacht/Glyn-Hughes Hospital at Bergen-Belsen
Bergen-Belsen concentration camp
Photos supplied

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