Minute With The Mayor | May 13 2025

Forrest Beach Surf Life Saving Club – End of Patrol Season
Forrest Beach Surf Life Saving Club has concluded its patrols for the 2024-2025 summer with members now looking forward to a well earned rest as the net comes out for the winter recess. The rest is well deserved as the club unfortunately experienced some extensive periods of severe weather throughout the season, making life a little more difficult, due to conditions including extensive debris in the water. But the club persevered for the assurance of our many beach goers. We are quite fortunate to have so many dedicated people in our district and on behalf of our community, I would like to sincerely thank the club and all members and supporters for the work you do, and the tremendous lifesaving services provided. Well done to you all.

Flying Fox Management
At its General Meeting held 29 May 2025, Council received and noted a report detailing a review of current operations pertaining to its Flying Fox Management Program. The report concludes that Council's early intervention strategies have been effective at maintaining flying fox numbers in and around Ingham as low as possible. The successes achieved to date have only been possible due to the dedication of Council's flying fox management team, rising very early each and every day to check and if required undertake dispersal activity to prevent the opportunity for flying foxes to resettle. I am aware that the general public, like Council, is extremely appreciative of the efforts of the flying fox management team. If you would like to read the report, same can be found on Council's General Meeting Agenda of 29 May 2025.

Battle of the Coral Sea Commemorations
Sunday 4 May 2025, I had the privilege of attending the 83rd anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea commemoration service at Cardwell. The ceremony is in honour of all those brave Australian and US sailors, airmen, soldiers and support crews that fought and died in the Battle of the Coral Sea. The battle was a strategic victory for the allies halting the Japanese advance and preventing the isolation of Australia from our American allies. We thank them for their service to our nation. It was also pleasing to see the organising committee grant the privilege of being involved in memorable parts of the solemn ceremony to our Ingham senior students from both Gilroy Santa Maria and Ingham State High School, reading out official correspondence sent by American diplomats and reciting of the Commemoration Poem. Well done to our students.

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