The latest art exhibit at TYTO Art Gallery opened on Friday and it is only open for a few more days. This ‘n’ That by Sue Hollamby brings Sue’s art style to life, she shares a charming collection of heartfelt works that showcase her genuine passion for art and creativity. In the new exhibit expect a lively blend of colour, imagination, and character in this wonderfully eclectic collection. The exhibit’s opening night was an extraordinary success, and attendees said it was wonderful to see art
Read the full storyTwo 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
Read the full storyBy 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
Read the full storyA 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 storySugar cane remains Hinchinbrook’s main industry and a vital source of income for many locals. Economists estimate that every dollar generated locally from sugar is circulated around six times. In places like Ingham this means the local hairdresser, butcher, and dress store benefit on every stick of sugar cane produced and milled in the Herbert.
The Crisafulli Government recently announced that the Primary Industries and Resources Committee will conduct a Parliamentary Inquiry into the sugar cane industry. The Inquiry will explore value-adding opportunities and seek to overcome regulatory barriers currently holding growers back.
I firmly believe we should be doing more with our raw sugar product. While sugar is Queensland’s top agricultural export, it has far more potential than just being a food product. Multiple sources of income can come from a stick of sugar cane, but there is very little incentive for growers to become excited about this with the way farmers are currently paid for their crop and a lack of off take for some of these products.
Back in 2022, I introduced the KAP's Liquid Fuel Supply (Minimum Biobased Petrol Content) Amendment Bill 2022 which aimed to address issues that existed with the operation of Queensland’s bio-based petrol mandate, which despite in operation since 2017, has failed to drive a biofuels market. The Bill wasn’t supported by the government or the opposition at the time.
The sugar industry has already invested heavily in planning for biofuels production. Projects like the North Queensland Bio Energy Project in Hinchinbrook, the Pentland Bioenergy Project, and Burdekin’s Auscane Energy have all been proposed but gained no traction under the previous Labor Government.
The opportunity to turn cane into energy that powers everything from homes, cars and planes could mean more jobs in our regional towns, add value to our existing mills, and, most importantly, provide greater energy independence for Queensland.
The Committee is expected to hand down an interim issues paper within six months, and a final report is due to be tabled within a year. I look forward to following and contributing to the Inquiry to ensure Hinchinbrook has a strong voice at the table.