As the 2025 Ingham Marka Festival “Music thru the Ages” concludes, the organisers extend their deepest gratitude to everyone who contributed to making this year’s Festival a resounding success. The event brought together the vibrant spirit of the community, showcasing the best of what Ingham has to offer. The Ingham Maraka Festival Committe would like to extend special to those who worked tirelessly behind the scenes. Their commitment and passion made the festival possible. Thanks to their efforts, the Ingham Marka Festival remains a cherished tradition and a highlight of the year. The community looks forward to celebrating together again in the future. See the highlights on pages 3 and 20-21
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Spooky Weekend At Mt. Fox The Mount Fox Community Progress Association hosts its annual weekend Halloween Party on Friday, 31 October and Saturday, 1 November at the Mount Fox Campgrounds. This family-friendly event promises plenty of eerie excitement, with costumes, treats, games, movies, raffles, and spooky surprises planned throughout the day and night. The fun continues on Saturday with market stalls, and the kitchen is open for lunch and dinner, ensuring everyone is well-fed for the festivities. Camping is available for just $10 per car per night, with donkey hot water showers and toilets on site for campers’ convenience. Info Updates: 'Mount Fox Campgrounds' group on Facebook Nightmares In Ingham Families are invited to join the spooky fun on Friday 31 October, starting from 5:30pm, a street-wide Halloween celebration that promises spooky fun for the whole family. The highlight of the night is the walk-through front yard experience at 12 Gardiner Street, a hauntingly fun stop for brave trick-or-treaters! Trick-or-treating will continue along the street until 8:00pm, when residents will no longer be accepting visitors. Water coolers will be placed at several properties, so feel free to refill your bottle or grab a cup of cold water. Please dispose of cups responsibly in the bins provided. For safety reasons, please leave pets at home, with crowds and vehicles around, it’s best to keep our furry friends safe. Info Updates: 'Ingham Halloween 2025' on Facebook Cardwell’s Halloween Drive This year’s community trick-or-treat adventure will take families on a spooky drive through Cardwell and Kennedy, with participating homes and businesses offering sweet surprises along the way. While some stops are scattered across the two towns and best reached by car, several Cardwell’s business district locations are within walking distance, making it easy to enjoy the fun safely on foot. Keep an eye out for Halloween decorations to spot participating sites. Info Updates: Emma Raymond & 'What's the go in Cardwell. NQ?' group on Facebook Before The Events Begin – Important Information: – All children must be accompanied by a responsible adult. – Follow the designated times for trick-or-treating in your area. – Out of respect for residents who do not wish to participate, only approach homes that are clearly participating. Participating houses will have a balloon out the front, Halloween decorations, or someone outside. – Remember to stay hydrated. It can get very hot, and children in costumes can overheat easily. – When walking and crossing roads, exercise extra caution and child supervision. Vehicles will still be on the roads. – Be respectful. Residents are participating out of the kindness of their hearts. Use your manners, be courteous, and enjoy the evening responsibly.
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The February 2025 floods left an undeniable mark on Hinchinbrook Shire, affecting every corner of the community and testing resilience like never before. In response, Hinchinbrook Shire Council is introducing a new category in the 2026 Australia Day Awards — the Flood Hero Recognition — to honour the countless individuals who selflessly stood up to support their neighbours and help rebuild our community. Mayor Ramon Jayo said the overwhelming spirit shown during those difficult days. “These floods impacted us all, and throughout the crisis, ordinary people showed extraordinary kindness and courage,” Mayor Jayo said. “They didn’t seek recognition; they acted out of love and a deep sense of responsibility to their community. “This award is about recognising their quiet heroism and the strength they gave us when we needed it most. “This is the community’s chance to thank those who gave so much without expecting anything in return.” The Flood Hero Recognition category is unique. It’s not about a single winner but about honouring the many hands that held us together. Council invites the community to nominate anyone who inspired them from volunteers to emergency responders to neighbours who simply helped in small but meaningful ways. From celebrating outstanding citizens of all ages, to recognising cultural and sporting achievements, community events, and acts of heroism during the 2025 floods — there’s a category for every kind of contribution. Judges may reassign nominations to ensure they’re recognised in the most fitting category. Nominations across all categories are now open and will close at 5.00pm on Monday 15 December 2025. Visit www.hinchinbrook.qld.gov.au/community-environment/australia-day-celebrations/how-to-nominate/ for more information, visit the Council office at 25 Lannercost Street, Ingham or call 4774 4600. Award recipients will be celebrated at the Australia Day event on 26 January 2026 at the Hinchinbrook Shire Hall.
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Warrina Lakes came alive from 2–4 October as families and anglers of all ages gathered for the annual Tilapia Tournament — a much-loved Cassowary Coast tradition that unites the community while protecting the local environment. A record 710 participants took part in this year’s event, reeling in 604 tilapia, an invasive pest fish species that threatens native aquatic habitats. Cassowary Coast Regional Council Mayor Teresa Millwood said removing tilapia from local waterways plays an important role in restoring the health of Warrina Lakes and protecting native species. All fish caught were deep-buried on site to ensure safe disposal. “The Tilapia Tournament shows how local events like this can have a real impact, not just by removing tilapia from our waterways, but by bringing people together to learn, work as a team and care for our rivers and lakes for years to come,” Mayor Millwood said. Mayor Millwood and Councillors Nick Pervan, Renee McLeod and Jeff Baines joined participants throughout the event, encouraging catch efforts and discussing future opportunities for Warrina Lakes. Warrina Lakes is a great open space, and once you have been there you can’t wait to return,” Councillor Pervan said. “Seeing families, including mums, dads, aunties, uncles, and grandparents down there and catching fish shows how much the community and in particular the kids love attending each year,” he said Travelling families from Brisbane, Tully and Mission Beach also joined in, highlighting the event’s regional appeal. Councillor Baines presented 32 prizes across 18 categories, recognising the skills and enthusiasm of the region’s most dedicated young anglers. The tournament’s success was made possible through 32 local sponsors, who contributed over $9,600 in prizes and helped run activities such as face painting and a sausage sizzle. Special thanks were extended to Bek & Joe’s Donuts, Innisfail Mini Rail, and Goodstart Early Learning for helping create a festive, family-friendly atmosphere. As the last fish were measured and buried, one message was clear: that events like the Tilapia Tournament not only bring people together but help safeguard the Cassowary Coast’s natural beauty and biodiversity.
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Simon Hood
Wilmar Manager Grower Marketing
The New Year has heralded an unwelcome change in global sugar price sentiment, initially prompted by the world market getting more comfortable that the first quarter supply of sugar was tight but manageable. This resulted in a gradual deterioration of the ICE #11 March 25 futures premium over the May contract.
The speculative money sensed the path of least resistance was down, so they had been getting increasingly aggressive with their short-selling strategies. This was being met with scale-down trade buying. Then the rumour – and now fact – that the Indian government is issuing export licences for 1 million tonnes of white sugar, broke the market to the downside.
India's choice to issue export licences at this time is puzzling. Wilmar has been revising down sugar estimates for the current harvest due to a poor growing season combined with an increase in crop disease, and an increase in ethanol production. This results in a low domestic stock position of what is an important base energy source for a large proportion of the population.
With this harvest approximately 50 per cent complete, production is running behind schedule, and the increased disease is resulting in poor cane quality. Indian domestic sugar prices have rallied and, at current levels, it appears there is no incentive for sugar to be exported. The notion that the government would subsidise exports is a possibility but there appears little incentive for that to occur.
The wrap-up of the 24 season for Brazil is all but done, with the final sugar production estimated to be just under 40mt. Rain in Brazil has been reasonable over the last couple of months so there is some alleviation from the dry growing season of 24.
The current forecast for Brazil's 25 crop is for a large 42.5m tonnes of sugar production. The increase is based largely on the assumption of a 52 per cent sugar to ethanol mix (24 season was 48 per cent).
So after a long period at the end of last year with minimal market news, the New Year has started with a flurry. How this plays out is yet to be determined. The structure of futures prices is relatively flat so the current consensus of the market is an each-way bet.
Fortunately, the AUD has weakened significantly over the past couple of months, which has dulled the impact of the falling futures market. However, at 62 cents, the AUD is at levels that historically have proven good buying, so it could be vulnerable to a rally on the back of USD weakness linked to the changing mood of Trump.
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