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 storyIn a major win for North Queensland farmers recovering from last month’s floods, the federal and Queensland governments have overhauled disaster funding rules to allow growers to use recovery grants to replant and reseed waterlogged crops—unlocking critical support that was previously out of reach.
The significant changes to extraordinary assistance grants under Category C and D of the joint Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) mean farmers can now:
Replant lost or damaged plants with the same or comparable crops
Purchase plants, seed, seedlings, root and/or tube stock and tissue cultures
Purchase chemicals for weed and/or pest control
Purchase establishment fertilizer
Federal Minister for Emergency Management Jenny McAllister said that disaster funding will help farmers replant and rebuild their businesses.
“North Queensland farmers can now access grants of up to $75,000 to help them feedstock, repair damage and now replant," Minister McAllister said.
“We have worked closely with the Queensland Government to ensure North Queensland farmers are supported as they move into recovery.
“This package will give farmers security and confidence to get back on their feet and continue to produce great Australian agricultural products.”
Primary Industries Minister Tony Perrett said for the first-time primary producers can use these grants to get their crops back in the ground and start working towards harvest and recovery.
“Growers asked, we’ve listened, and worked with the Federal Government to make this change so producers can put the assistance toward the best way forward for their operation," Mr Perrett said.
“The Crisafulli Government gets regional and rural Queensland, and we’ve got primary producers’ backs when it comes to working with the Albanese Government on support for producers in times of need.
“I encourage all growers to contact the Queensland Rural Industry Development Authority (QRIDA) for guidance about what this new assistance means for their operations."
Queensland State Recovery Coordinator Andrew Cripps says this is a game changer for growers who’ve lost crops and want to get back to production as soon as possible.
“This has been a structural problem in the disaster recovery framework for primary producers for a long time,” he said.
“I'm delighted we have been able to achieve this reform for impacted farmers and land holders recovering from this flood event,” Mr Cripps said.