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 storyIn January of 2014, the lives of the Williams and Fettell family were turned upside down when thirty-four-year-old mother of two, Lauri Fettell was diagnosed with breast cancer. In navigating the news of her daughter’s diagnosis, Sandra Williams discovered a way in which she could not only help her daughter, but also support so many others experiencing breast cancer, and channelled her daughter’s strength to establish The Simple Gift of a Bag.
Lauri underwent a mastectomy, and whilst in hospital recovering from the surgery, Sandra noticed the unpracticality and uncomfortableness her daughter’s drainage bag caused, and with that, she began planning for something better. Although experiencing the unthinkable, both Sandra and Lauri focused on providing other breast cancer survivors with compassion and strived to provide women across Australia with the opportunity to access the bags.
“Even while undergoing chemotherapy, my daughter Lauri would lie in bed, and ring around to try find hospitals within Australia that would like our bags as each bag gives that little bit of dignity and kindness for a person during an overwhelming time in their life and Lauri knows this as she’s lived through it, and knows exactly how the patient feels,” added Sandra.
“Our page grew bigger and so did the volunteers – the generosity of people never ceased to amaze us, and we have around sixty women who have been sewing bags, with more offering to help every day,” Sandra added.
The pair’s initiative has continued to gain traction, and today, with women sewing across Australia, ‘The Simple Gift of a Bag’ posts drainage bag covers to over eighty-eight hospitals and specialist rooms throughout the country for patients to use freely during their post operation recovery. To date, just over 30,500 bags have been handmade and donated as part of ‘The Simple Gift of a Bag’[, with both Lauri and Sandra beyond grateful for the support of the Hinchinbrook community and beyond.
“We love our connection to the Hinchinbrook community, and the businesses in Ingham, Halifax and Lucinda suburbs are so generous with gift vouchers, and prizes that we use each year for our Winter Fundraiser Raffle – it’s a very important part of our yearly fundraising campaign.”
Sandra invites anyone who may be interested in volunteering their time in support of The Simple Gift of a Bag to email sly.sis@bigpond.com.
Lauri Fettell today with her beautiful family.
John Flynn Private Hospital staff with some of the amazing bags donated by The Simple Gift of a Bag.
Fundraising for a fantastic cause, Sandra is often blown away with the community’s support.
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