The Hinchinbrook Community Support Centre (HCSC) enjoyed a spooky twist on their Seniors Morning Coffee Club this week, celebrating Halloween on 24th October. The morning also included a special birthday celebration for October, with warm wishes to Joan Oldham — happy birthday, Joan! Attendees enjoyed a morning filled with Halloween-themed decorations, a few festive costumes, and plenty of laughter. Fun activities included a Halloween trivia challenge and several rounds of Bingo, making it a fantastic morning shared with wonderful company. The next Coffee Morning will be held on Thursday, 7th November. Anyone interested in joining in can contact Desley at the HUB for more details on (07) 4776 1822.
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Gilroy Santa Maria College marked a remarkable milestone on Wednesday, 30 October 2025, celebrating 75 years of education, faith, and community with a morning of reflection and festivity. Originally planned for last year but postponed due to severe weather, the long-awaited celebration brought together current and former students, staff, clergy, and community members to honour the College’s proud history and enduring legacy. The morning commenced with a liturgy led by Bishop Tim Harris of the Catholic Diocese of Townsville, setting a reverent tone for the occasion. Parish Priest Father John Kunnathumadappallil and Father Sylvester Emetuche from the Catholic Diocese of Townsville joined the ceremony, sharing in the blessings and prayers of the ceremonial mass. Among the many attendees was Bob Mitting, known affectionately as the “Barefoot Gilroy Boy”, who, along with several long-time past students, travelled from near and far to take part in the celebrations. Guests enjoyed guided tours of the College grounds, revisiting familiar spaces and exploring the many changes that have taken place over the decades. Inside the hall, displays of memorabilia, including vintage uniforms, old textbooks, alongside club and class photos, stirred fond memories and conversation, capturing the spirit of 75 years of growth and connection. The event provided an opportunity to celebrate the generations who have shaped Gilroy Santa Maria College into the vibrant learning community it is today, while also looking forward to the College’s future with pride and great optimism.
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The Hinchinbrook Festival of Events is entering week 3 of the event calendar, and the organisers are extremely pleased with the attendance and participation at the many events and celebrations delivered to date. The overwhelming and ongoing support from the local and visitor community has exceeded the organisers' expectations. Data recorded to date from each event indicates the majority of the ticketed events have been sell-outs, with the “free to enter” events exceeding previous attendance numbers. As the calendar continues to roll around, the next major event within the “Hinchinbrook Festival of Events” calendar is the NQIB Country Cups Challenge Qualifier - Hinchinbrook Cup Race Day on the 15th November at the Ingham Race Course! This event promises a full day of horse racing, fashion, and socialising that will not disappoint! Being a family-friendly event, a day of exciting trackside entertainment for the whole family is assured. Gates open at 11:00am on Saturday morning, with five local races. Local and southern bookmakers and Sky Racing are onsite for those who want to have a flutter. Live music and a DJ will entertain the crowd, with a bar and canteen open to keep the revellers fed and thirst-quenched. The spectacular “Fashions on the Field” is always a highly contested event and children’s amusements provide entertainment for the younger audience. This year, there is a new fashion category - “Living the Hinchinbrook Way – 4850” - which will add another interesting aspect to the fashions. So get ready to enjoy a day at the races, Hinchinbrook style! Pre-purchase Adult Entry Tickets ($15 each) and Tables ($60 per table – seats 10) online. With kids 0-14 years being free, and teens 14-17 years only available at the gate on race day. For more information, or to purchase Entry Tickets and/or Tables, visit https://hinchinbrookchamber.com.au/hinchinbrook-cup-race-day-family-event/
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Just like the dashing masked vigilante, Zorro is a handsome, well-dressed young feline with a heart full of promise and the opportunity for a bright future. Zorro may initially seem a bit shy, but give him just thirty minutes, and you'll find yourself enchanted by his gentle nature and sweet demeanour. Once he trusts you, he transforms into a dedicated purr machine, letting you know you've won his heart with his melodic symphony of affection. Zorro will do best in an environment where patience and plenty of love are abundant. His progression from a shy feline to an endearing companion makes him a truly rewarding pet to welcome home. Will you be the one to offer Zorro the loving space to settle and thrive? Please fill in an inquiry form at: https://www.angelpawsinc.com.au/forms.html. Included in adoption fee of $210 DESEXED, MICRO-CHIPPED, up to date VACCINATIONS, FLEA/TICK/INTESTINAL WORM treated. DOB: 1/10/2024 Sex: Male Breed: DSH Colour: Tuxedo Kid friendly: Yes Cat Friendly: Yes Dog Friendly: Untested Indoors/Outdoors: Indoors
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Hinchinbrook MP and Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) Deputy Leader, Nick Dametto, has welcomed the announcement that ‘Bush Sentencing’ will be delivered as Circuit Breaker Sentencing by the Crisafulli Government.
Aligning with KAP policy, the State Government is set to create a court-ordered alternative to youth detention and is now seeking interested organisations to deliver this program.
The Government intends to operate Circuit Breaker Sentencing across two locations in North and South-East Queensland, accommodating up to 60 youth offenders for three to six months. The program’s focus will be on ‘structure, discipline, education, and rehabilitation.’ It is expected to commence in 2026.
Mr Dametto said he had been calling for Bush Sentencing to be implemented in Queensland since 2017, to deal with the scourge of youth crime and to act as a strong deterrent to offending by rehabilitating youth offenders through discipline, hard work and rural training.
“During the 2024 election campaign, the LNP picked up this policy and now seeks to introduce it as Circuit Breaker Sentencing,” Mr Dametto said.
“I am so proud that a policy that we spent years developing with correctional staff, youth workers and First Nations leaders is finally coming to fruition. This alternative sentencing method is designed to put distance between victims and offenders while utilising methods that have been proven to turn young lives around.
“Hard work and a bit of dirt under the fingernails never hurt anybody. If implemented correctly, this incarceration method will teach the value of hard work and responsibility in a bid to turn young offenders away from a life of crime.
“When developing our policy, it was made clear by those who have worked with similar kids that you need at least 12 months to turn their lives around. The first three months are needed to clean them up off the drugs and alcohol while getting their nutrition right. Once you have that sorted, you’ve got an opportunity to teach them something.
“We suggested a minimum of 6 months in our policy and if, after rigorous assessments against a number of criteria, it was determined that these kids were not ready to re-engage back into meaningful work, training or education, they would go on to serve a full 12 months. I hope that the government takes this into consideration before setting in stone how long these youth offenders will spend in this program.
“The revolving door of youth detention that these kids have become accustomed to at Cleveland Detention Centre must stop. Bush sentencing was designed to do that, now it’s up to the Youth Justice Minister to make sure that this policy delivers what Queenslanders have been asking for.
“We know there are many organisations out there who are more than capable of working in conjunction with the State Government to deliver this vital court-ordered sentencing alternative, and I encourage them to lodge their interest before the 9 October 2025 deadline. For more information or to register interest, visit www.youthjustice.qld.gov.au/circuitbreaker
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