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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Labor candidate for Hinchinbrook, Maurie Soars, has called the northern beaches of Townsville home for more than three decades, having made the move from Brisbane 35 years ago, a decision he describes as “one of the best” of his life.
Beginning at Saunders Beach before settling in Bushland Beach, Mr Soars is proud to be “the only candidate in this race who lives in the electorate of Hinchinbrook.”
Over the years, he and his family have shared their home with many pets, and now have just “one old cat, who rules the house.”
A motor mechanic by trade, Mr Soars later transitioned into sales and management, where he found his stride turning around underperforming businesses.
His reputation, however, is most firmly rooted in public life. Best known as a long-serving Townsville City Councillor, he spent more than a decade “delivering for North Queensland and trying to make this region a better place.”
If elected, Mr Soars said his first priority will be simple: to ensure “the people of Hinchinbrook get their fair share.” He lists accessible healthcare, affordable housing, resilient infrastructure, and attracting and retaining professionals as key needs, warning that “three years of doing nothing under an LNP Government will only send us backwards, and that’s a risk we can’t afford.”
Within his first year, Mr Soars plans to champion the Dungeness Dredging and Rock Wall Project, as well as complete the long-awaited fix for Port Hinchinbrook that began under Labor. He also wants to see “clear timelines and dollar figures for proposed Bruce Highway upgrades,” pressing for greater investment into northern beaches road networks and repairs to Mount Spec Road.
When asked what the region is currently lacking, Mr Soars is direct: business diversification. While acknowledging the strength of Hinchinbrook’s agricultural foundations, he believes the region has far more potential.
“I know we have a strong agriculture sector, but there is more we could be doing to add depth other areas such as tourism and accommodation variants to support,” he said.
“If elected, I will be pushing the Crisafulli Government to ensure Hinchinbrook gets its fair share.”
Beyond politics, Mr Soars has spent decades helping shape the local sporting scene, from founding yacht races and AFL Masters teams, to supporting clubs through growth, recovery, and community events. Deeply involved across Townsville and Hinchinbrook sport, he has held numerous leadership roles and received national recognition, including induction into both the Queensland and National AFL Masters Halls of Fame.
A dedicated resident who lives, works, and holidays in the region, Mr Soars says his commitment is simple: to deliver for the community he proudly calls home.
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