This year's ANZAC Day saw hundreds turn out to remember the efforts of Australia and New Zealand's great service men and women. Veterans, schools, clubs and businesses poured into the streets to march in grand parades, and packed in close to attend services held across the Hinchinbrook Shire. Beautiful wreaths were lain and the bugles mournful tones echoed across respectful silences as flags were lowered to half mast. A gunfire breakfast, coffee and traditional ANZAC biscuits kept everyone going
Read the full storyAllan Colquhoun grew up in Sydney, but his life has taken him far beyond the city limits. In his youth, he worked with a station owner named Bob, whose property combined dairy and sheep farming with a focus on Jersey bulls and cows. One vivid memory that’s stayed with him is of Bob chasing down a bull meant for butchering on his stock horse —a beast that, to Allan’s amazement, climbed over the holding fence one hoof at a time to escape. Allan spent most of his working life as a coastal travelle
Read the full storyHinchinbrook Chamber of Commerce, Industry & Tourism held their monthly Coffee Connect last week, being hosted by local business Wild Local. There was a very strong attendance at this event, with Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter and KAP Senate candidate, Robbie Lyon. Rebecca and Dom Zaghini provided a delicious light snacks and gave the audience an overview of their business journey from inception to their current location, the diverse range of products they provide and some insight into t
Read the full storyOver the weekend, the Ingham Kennel Club hosted six rounds of dog shows, featuring judges from across Australia who rotated to ensure fair and balanced competition. Dogs were entered into one of seven group categories, with the Toy Group attracting the largest number of entries. Sunday's shows saw the Italian Greyhound emerge as a standout, making up 20 of the 170 total entries across the weekend. Unique and rarely seen breeds like the Xoloitzcuintli and Briard added excitement to the event, of
Read the full storyHinchinbrook’s smallest and rarest tern, the Little Tern, has made its seasonal return to Lucinda to raise its young, with the birds expected to stay until late January.
With only around 1,200 of these tiny terns breeding along the entire eastern seaboard, the discovery of ten nests on Lucinda Spit has captured the attention of several local and regional groups, including Birdlife Australia, Hinchinbrook Shire Council, Mungalla Rangers, and the Queensland Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation. In response, a temporary fence has been erected around the nests, which will remain in place for about three to four weeks to protect the fragile young.
These delicate birds, weighing only about an eighth of a seagull’s weight, are nesting on the sand and among spinifex plants near the water's edge. Their eggs are cleverly camouflaged in the sand, shells, and coral rubble - an effective natural defence against predators. However, this camouflage also makes it easy for vehicles, dogs, or even walkers to accidentally crush the eggs and chicks.
Lucinda's Little Terns faced a setback last year, losing all their nests to high tides during Christmas 2022 and to Cyclone Jasper in December. However, this year, hope is high as two chicks, born in late November, have already reached the flying age and can be seen on the water's edge, under the watchful care of their parents and other adult terns.
Contributed with thanks to Wetland and Coastal Birds Coordinator for Birdlife Australia, Simon Kennedy.