By Victoria Velton On Friday, 7 November, community members came together for a morning of hands-on environmental action. Volunteers planted native tree saplings that, once grown, will help shade out invasive parra grass and restore valuable habitat for the wetlands’ feathered and furry locals. Participants gathered beside two ute-loads of native trees. Some drilled holes into the clay-like soil, others prepared the saplings, and everyone planted as many trees as they could in the heat, each contributing to a greener future. The event highlighted the importance of community collaboration in tackling invasive species and supporting local biodiversity. It was a day not only about planting trees but also about nurturing long-term environmental stewardship in the region. The planting site adjoined another successfully revegetated area that had been established in a previous project, continuing the creation of a vital wildlife corridor through the TYTO Wetlands.
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Gilroy Santa Maria College marked a remarkable milestone on Wednesday, 30 October 2025, celebrating 75 years of education, faith, and community with a morning of reflection and festivity. Originally planned for last year but postponed due to severe weather, the long-awaited celebration brought together current and former students, staff, clergy, and community members to honour the College’s proud history and enduring legacy. The morning commenced with a liturgy led by Bishop Tim Harris of the Catholic Diocese of Townsville, setting a reverent tone for the occasion. Parish Priest Father John Kunnathumadappallil and Father Sylvester Emetuche from the Catholic Diocese of Townsville joined the ceremony, sharing in the blessings and prayers of the ceremonial mass. Among the many attendees was Bob Mitting, known affectionately as the “Barefoot Gilroy Boy”, who, along with several long-time past students, travelled from near and far to take part in the celebrations. Guests enjoyed guided tours of the College grounds, revisiting familiar spaces and exploring the many changes that have taken place over the decades. Inside the hall, displays of memorabilia, including vintage uniforms, old textbooks, alongside club and class photos, stirred fond memories and conversation, capturing the spirit of 75 years of growth and connection. The event provided an opportunity to celebrate the generations who have shaped Gilroy Santa Maria College into the vibrant learning community it is today, while also looking forward to the College’s future with pride and great optimism.
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The Hinchinbrook Festival of Events is entering week 3 of the event calendar, and the organisers are extremely pleased with the attendance and participation at the many events and celebrations delivered to date. The overwhelming and ongoing support from the local and visitor community has exceeded the organisers' expectations. Data recorded to date from each event indicates the majority of the ticketed events have been sell-outs, with the “free to enter” events exceeding previous attendance numbers. As the calendar continues to roll around, the next major event within the “Hinchinbrook Festival of Events” calendar is the NQIB Country Cups Challenge Qualifier - Hinchinbrook Cup Race Day on the 15th November at the Ingham Race Course! This event promises a full day of horse racing, fashion, and socialising that will not disappoint! Being a family-friendly event, a day of exciting trackside entertainment for the whole family is assured. Gates open at 11:00am on Saturday morning, with five local races. Local and southern bookmakers and Sky Racing are onsite for those who want to have a flutter. Live music and a DJ will entertain the crowd, with a bar and canteen open to keep the revellers fed and thirst-quenched. The spectacular “Fashions on the Field” is always a highly contested event and children’s amusements provide entertainment for the younger audience. This year, there is a new fashion category - “Living the Hinchinbrook Way – 4850” - which will add another interesting aspect to the fashions. So get ready to enjoy a day at the races, Hinchinbrook style! Pre-purchase Adult Entry Tickets ($15 each) and Tables ($60 per table – seats 10) online. With kids 0-14 years being free, and teens 14-17 years only available at the gate on race day. For more information, or to purchase Entry Tickets and/or Tables, visit https://hinchinbrookchamber.com.au/hinchinbrook-cup-race-day-family-event/
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Luke Sleep will stand as One Nation’s candidate for Hinchinbrook and if elected, he’s confirmed he’ll prioritise affordable housing opportunities, reducing escalating crime rates, as well as upgrading local roads and infrastructures.
“Housing affordability is an important issue for me, for Hinchinbrook and for the entire state of Queensland. The major parties have been hopeless on this issue, favouring mass immigration that only limits housing availability for Australians while also driving up rents. One Nation’s the only party with a strong plan to slash immigration and improve housing availability and affordability,” Mr Sleep said.
“I’m also keen to get funding to better flood-proof our local roads and fix up the notorious Bruce Highway. Hinchinbrook gets a lot of rainfall, and this means some of our roads get flooded on a regular basis. With a bit of work and support, we can upgrade these roads and keep Hinchinbrook moving.”
Hailing from Townsville, Mr Sleep has been working as a heavy machinery operator in the mining industry over the past five years, and he plans to ensure the industry has the right settings to continue to yield valuable contributions statewide.
“It’s the largest industry in Queensland, valued at more than $60 billion and supporting more than half a million jobs,” he said.
“It’s absolutely critical we do what we can to enable this industry to thrive while ensuring Queenslanders get fair value in exchange for the exploitation of their resources. We need to strike the right balance with royalties, so we don’t drive miners offshore or interstate.”
A North Queensland local himself, Mr Sleep deeply understands how the community’s concerns on the area’s escalating crime rate have increased, and he plans to support real legislative change within the justice system once elected.
“Policies that make my community safer will also be a priority for me. The Crisafulli Government made a lot of promises to reduce the escalating crime in regional Queensland, but we’re not seeing any difference here in Hinchinbrook,” said Mr Sleep.
I’m backing One Nation’s policy for tougher penalties, a community panel to review court decisions that subsequently result in an offender committing crimes while on bail and integrating proven intervention and redirection programs for at-risk young people in the justice system.”
Luke Sleep and the One Nation party have confirmed they are committed to delivering stronger, safer and more sustainable outcomes for the people of the Hinchinbrook Shire, ensuring local voices and local needs remain at the forefront of all decision making across the state.
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