Tasman Turtle Picnic Day Shire Success Scores of locals and travellers flocked to TYTO Wetlands as Tasman Turtle returned with craft, food, activities, and family fun. With a rock climbing wall, circus acts, laser tag, pony rides, and a petting zoo, there was something for everyone. Music filled the air, even getting Tasman dancing, and the park buzzed from start to finish. Faces were covered with ice cream and fairy floss, but most importantly big smiles. Deputy Mayor Mary Brown happily remark
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Two respected members of the Hinchinbrook region have been named in the 2025 King’s Birthday Honours, receiving national recognition for their dedication to the community and their service over many years. Patrick Brown, Officer in Charge at the Ingham Ambulance Station, has been awarded the Ambulance Service Medal, one of the highest honours available to an Australian paramedic. With 46 years of experience, most of it in rural and regional Queensland, Mr Brown has long been regarded as a stea
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By Victoria Velton In the quiet coastal town of Taylor’s Beach, Jayden McNeill is solving more than just colorful puzzles; he’s solved his way to global recognition. A Rubik’s Cube champion with international acclaim, McNeill’s story is one of perseverance, precision, and passion. It all started when a seven-year-old Jayden received a Rubik’s Cube for Christmas. Like many, he shelved it after failing to solve it. But years later, inspired by classmates in high school, he revisited the cube and
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A Tool For Real-World Readiness When most people hear “LARPing” (Live Action Role-Playing), images of medieval knights and fantasy creatures might spring to mind. But for a growing community in Townsville, LARPing has evolved far beyond weekend cosplay, it’s becoming a valuable tool for real-world training and personal growth. The newly launched Townsville chapter of Swordcraft, Australia’s largest medieval battle and role-playing game, brings enthusiasts together every fortnight. What began as
Read the full storyThey say politics hardens you – and in some ways, that's true. But for me, it's never been about the politics. It's about the people. What keeps me going is what's always kept me going – a deep, stubborn love for North Queensland and a refusal to accept second best for the communities that call it home.
Take Hinchinbrook, for example. Whether it's fighting for phone coverage, medical services, roads or flood recovery, we deserve what Brisbane gets and what all Australians deserve – the basics done right, and the backing of government that actually cares.
Late last year, we saw the completion of the Telstra tower at Forrest Beach – something locals had been fighting for – for many years. It was a hard slog, but we got there together. That tower might look like steel and wires to some, but to the people of Forrest Beach, it's safety, connection, and inclusion in the modern world. Thanks must go to Nick Dametto and the community, who fought every step of the way and made it happen.
In Cardwell, we went toe-to-toe with health ministers to ensure the local GP didn't close its doors. When others gave up, we kept going. And thanks to the tireless efforts of people like Julie McKay and Carmen Edmondson – two of the most unrelenting tigers I've ever met – we kept vital healthcare in the region.
When the rains hit in February this year, we stood shoulder-to-shoulder with farmers, small business owners, and the community. After relentless pressure, we secured expanded Category D disaster grants – up to $75,000 – a critical lifeline. But our fight isn't over. Businesses that suffered devastating losses but weren't directly inundated, are still being left out. That's not good enough, and I'll keep pressing until that's fixed.
I've also fought hard to ensure our infrastructure is up to scratch. The Ollera Creek Bridge rebuild didn't just happen – it came after we got the PM and Premier to visit the site and get the works done. And just over two months ago, I secured the final 11kms of bitumen for the Kennedy Development Road inland from Hughenden. It might seem far away to some, but it's a game-changer for the North – offering a vital inland escape route when floods cut us off along the coast.
I know what it takes to get things done. I've got wisdom, mongrel, and patriot to keep fighting – because the North deserves nothing less.
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