Cairns Local News October 18 2024 by Cairns Local News

Local News Cairns

Crime busters

EXCLUSIVE: Police to join council staﬀ in City Safe nerve centre

l CAIRNS REGION

| Nick Dalton

POLICE are to work alongside Cairns Regional Council staff in the region’s City Safe CCTV nerve centre to monitor and act faster on crime as it is happening.

The council’s CCTV network currently includes nearly 600 cameras across Cairns. More than half are in public spaces such as streets, parks and community spaces, which are monitored 24 hours.

Queensland Police and the council will operate a trial involving a police officer working in the camera room at peak times when high levels of anti-social behaviour occur, such as late on Friday and Saturday nights.

Mayor Amy Eden said the trial was another proactive measure by the council in tackling crime, on top of the more than $5 million worth of measures already undertaken in community safety, despite it not being a primary responsibility of local government.

“Council’s City Safe camera network is an important tool in the collective mission to keep the Cairns CBD safe,” she said.

“With police officers in the control room, we can respond quickly and effectively to incidents and ensure that our com-

munity feels secure. It’s all about our efforts to create a safer environment for locals, tourists and business owners and staff.

“I am confident that this trial will prove valuable for all involved.

“We will be closely monitoring the feedback from officers and council staff and the results to make any necessary adjustments.

“I thank (district officer) Chief Superintendent Kevin Fitzgibbon and Queensland Police for embarking on this trial with council at our City Safe camera facility, delivering another step forward in our already strong partnership.”

Mr Fitzgibbon said he was confident the trial would further strengthen the working relationship between police and the City Safe camera system.

“The City Safe camera network is an incredibly important and valuable tool police use to keep the Cairns CBD safe,” he said.

“Having police in the control room assisting council staff will provide an additional capacity, allowing us to direct patrols to hotspot areas and respond to active incidents in the CBD.

“Our City Beat and Cairns station police continue to patrol the CBD, to ensure the community not only is safe, but feels safe.”

childhood education for children aged from 6 weeks to Kindergarten.

KEN

a chief executive officer with experience in disaster management and rebuilding from severe floods, has been appointed as the new CEO of Cairns Regional Council. His appointment, which pays about $420,000 a year, was unanimously agreed to by councillors at a special meeting yesterday. Mayor Amy Eden did not take part in the appointment nor was at yesterday’s meeting chaired by deputy mayor Brett Olds.

Interim CEO John Andrejic, a previous council boss, was on the shortlist but Cr Olds said he was confident Mr Gouldthorp was “the best person for the job” as agreed unanimously by councillors.

Cr Olds said the new CEO would “hit the ground running”, starting early next month.

Mr Gouldthorp has been involved in local government for more than 20 years, most recently as the interim CEO at Isaac Regional Council (from August 2023 to June 2024).

CONTINUED PAGE 2

Mayor Amy Eden and Chief Superintendent Kevin Fitzgibbon in the council’s City Safe CCTV control room where a police officer will help monitor trouble during peak times. Picture: Cairns Regional Council

l CAIRNS REGION

| Nick Dalton

Gouldthorp (below),

Nearly 500,000 overseas visitors through airport in 2023-24

Tourists on way back

l AEROGLEN

| Nick Dalton

INTERNATIONAL visitors are returning to the Far North in improving numbers – now at 62 per cent of 2019 (preCOVID) figures.

“International numbers are back to 497,000 with a spend of $905.7 million in the region for the past financial year,” said Tourism Tropical North Queensland chief executive officer Mark Olsen said.

According to Cairns Airport statistics, the rolling 12 months until the end of August showed 612,851 international visitors – up 228,360 or 59.4 per cent on the 12 months to August last year. In the 2018-19 financial year there was a total of 685,980 overseas travellers.

Mr Olsen said Singapore Airlines was the first global carrier to return flights to Cairns and the markets serviced by the airline’s connection to Cairns were showing much stronger signs of recovery.

“The United Kingdom is back to 99 per cent of 2019 volumes with 71,000 visitors, the United States market has returned to 79 per cent with 83,000 visitors and Continental Europe is back to 75 per cent with 119,000,” he said.

Mr Olsen said the strong recovery in those markets followed dedicated campaign activity driven by TTNQ and the airport, in collaboration with Singapore

Airlines and trade partners and supported by funding from the federal government’s international tourism recovery program.

More than 84 per cent of international visitors arriving in Tropical North Queensland this year went on to visit multiple regions across Queensland.

Cairns Airport will close out the year with the highly anticipated return of Cathay Pacific services from December 17, rounding out a series of international milestones including the historic arrival of AirAsia Indonesia, the announcement of the first-ever direct connection to Christchurch with Jetstar and resumption of seasonal China Eastern Airlines flights early in 2024.

Critically, the strong performance of Singapore Airlines’ A350 services means the widebody aircraft is scheduled to continue on the Cairns route, airport chief executive officer Richard Barker said.

“Singapore Airlines’ A350 delivers significant economic opportunities to our region, injecting 23,000 extra seats per year from major international markets as well as an additional almost 2500 tonnes of cargo capacity,” he said.

“Retaining a high-quality, widebody aircraft on this key route will unlock further potential for our tourism and trade industries as we head into 2025.”

Mr Barker said it would be bolstered by the start of Cathay Pacific’s seasonal services.

New council CEO has disaster and rebuild nous

FROM PAGE 1

He has also previously served as CEO at North Sydney, Mackay and Toowoomba councils.

While he was Toowoomba Regional Council CEO, Mr Gouldthorp coordinated local disaster responses during the unprecedented January 2011 floods and subsequently

implemented a $175 million infrastructure flood recovery program, while maintaining the council’s ongoing annual capital works program.

He was also tasked with implementing the Toowoomba Water Infrastructure Plan to secure essential water supply. This included negotiating commer-

cial terms for the acquisition of the Wivenhoe pipeline, saving Toowoomba Regional Council more than $55m.

Cairns Mayor Amy Eden said the council was facing a critical period with a range of significant infrastructure challenges and the imminent cyclone season.

“Mr Gouldthorp has an understanding of the challenges faced by local governments and the delivery of major infrastructure projects, as well as experience in disaster recovery,” she said.

Cr Olds said Mr Andrejic would be paid out his contract which ends on November 30. In the interim, Christine Posgate will serve as acting CEO.

Cr Olds was asked what would happen if Cr Eden did not get along with Mr Gouldthorp and he replied that there would be a six month probation period and any decision not to proceed with the four year contract would be decided by all councillors.

Cairns Airport chief Richard Barker and TTNQ boss Mark Olsen. Picture: Cairns Airport

Young filmmakers reveal their rich talents

l EDGE HILL

THE next generation of Australian filmmakers took centre stage last week at Understory High, showcasing an impressive array of short films created by high school students from across North Queensland.

Held at the Tanks Arts Centre last Friday, Understory High – a youth-focused subsidiary of the Understory Film Festival – featured 30 short films, all directed and produced by students in years 7 to 12.

With 81 entries this year, the event serves as a springboard for budding directors and producers to gain recognition in the broader film community.

Winners in various categories will have their short films considered for the ultimate prize – a chance to be showcased on the big screen alongside other filmmakers’ works at Understory Film Festival on Saturday, November 23 at Munro Martin Parklands.

One winner, Tiago Flores, said the festival win “has given me great hope, motivation and drive to create more films for my future careers and aspirations”.

“It has also given me great joy to have won, and I am very thankful to everyone who has taught, inspired me, and helped me with my processes,” he said. “I hope to create more films and have even greater opportunities in the future as I have goals and dreams of becoming a filmmaker and actor.”

The winners are:

• Essential screen skills best film award – Colour by Georgia Willis

• Essential screen skills people’s choice award – Love by Tiago Flores

• Best year 7-8 narrative –The Light Switch by Charlotte Carter

• Best year 7-8 animation –

Snippets of Life by Kaylee Gubb

• Best year 9-10 narrative

– Shadows in the Stalls by Dinara Harding, Ecca King, Sophie White, Savannah Whitham

• Best year 9-10 non-narrative – Only Up From Here by Zander Kingsford

• Best year 9-10 animation

– Prom Night by Chalese Curnow

• Best year 11-12 narrative

– In The End by Keesha Wason

• Best year 11-12 non-narrative – Love by Tiago Flores

• Best year 11-12 animation

– When You Grow Up by Phoebe Slade

GPs demand meeting

Doctors want to discuss benefits of fluoride with all councillors

l CAIRNS REGION

| Nick Dalton

TWENTY-eight doctors as part of The Cairns GP Group have requested a deputation in front of all Cairns regional councillors to discuss the benefits of fluoride.

They have asked to address councillors at an ordinary meeting “to assist in the understanding of the impact of water fluoridation as a public health measure for the wider Cairns community, its risks and benefits”.

It comes as the results of the council’s Our Cairns 2024 survey found 48 per cent supported fluoridation, 37 per cent opposed it and 15 per cent were neutral or unsure (There were 10,510 responses to the survey).

But Mayor Amy Eden said “it’s evident that there’s no overwhelming community support either for or against the fluoridation of the Cairns water supply”.

“The state government should never have hand-balled responsibility for fluoride to councils back in 2012,” she said.

“Oral health is, and always has been, the responsibility of the state government, not councils.

“It is up to the state government and chief health officer (CHO) – who are best placed to make these kinds of decisions on health – to address this issue on a statewide basis if they believe it’s important to do so.

“The CHO and state government managed the COVID pandemic response, not councils.

The CHO and state manage vaccinations, not councils. It should be the same for fluoride.

“(The) council will be extending an invitation to the CHO to brief (the) council on his position on fluoride, and we are scheduling in requests for deputations from local health professionals who would like to address councillors.

“If health professionals, peak organisations and residents believe there should be fluoride in the Cairns water supply, I encourage them to lobby the state government and local MPs to take back responsibility for it on a statewide basis.”

Australian Dental Association Cairns branch president Dr Brian James said he supported

the move to add fluoride to the water supply as it would greatly improve the dental health of residents.

“As a profession, we’re in favour of it in terms of a public health measure to reduce dental caries in the community,” he said.

Dr James said he was concerned that some patients, who could not afford access to dental care, would not be able to benefit from water fluoridisation.

“I know that any decision on this is going to be contentious but that doesn’t mean it’s not the right decision,” he said.

Cairns general practitioner Dr Nicole Sleeman said that basing a major public health decision on a survey which was answered by

only six per cent of the Far North population, and which was inaccessible to many, showed poor governance and a failed understanding of community consultation.

“There hasn’t been any consultation of the health sector on this. Requests from the Cairns Hospital and Hinterland Health Service, tens of local GPs, and local dental health professionals to engage with the mayor and councillors on the issue of fluoridation, have all been ignored,” she said. “Community consultation, by nature, should engage all parts of the community. For a mayor who campaigned and was elected upon a commitment to community consultation, this process has been, quite simply, appalling.”

Local Briefs

l SCHOLARSHIP

A SCHOLARSHIP fund that’s provided almost $300,000 to help build regional Queensland’s next-generation tertiary workforce has opened its door to applications for its 10th annual scholarship. The QCoal Foundation Scholarship provides a James Cook University (JCU) student with $10,000 each year for three years to offset the costs of studying. Students studying medicine, dentistry, geology, speech pathology, veterinary science, engineering and other disciplines at JCU have all benefitted from the scholarship over the past decade.

l GARAGE SALE

CAIRNS Men’s Shed, at 186 Irene St, Mooroobool, is holding a huge fundraising garage and car boot sale tomorrow from 7.30am to 1pm. Items for sale include tools, plants and orchids, books, CDs, paints, handcrafted wooden cars and trucks, clothes, turned timber items, bric-a-brac, as well as a sausage sizzle and cold drinks. Car boot sites cost $20. For more information or to book, contact Bruce Bimrose on 0407 889 430.

l $77,000 KENO WIN

THREE long-time friends have won more than $77,000 in Keno at the Edge Hill Cairns Bowls Club. The mates won the Keno classic 8 spot jackpot in game 26 on Sunday, September 29. Their total prize was $77,090.90. The trio, who play Keno together when they catch up a couple of times each month, decided to give their “lucky numbers” another go after a recent win of $9000.

l FREE FISH & CHIPS

FREE fish and chips are on offer at the Yorkeys Knob Boat Club from 10am until 2pm on Saturday, October 26, as part of Ford Australia’s Ford F-150 ‘Catch of the Day Canteen’ tour which also offers a $500 cash prize for the biggest catch of the day.

The Understory High award winners at the Tanks Arts Centre. Picture: Cairns Regional Council

Protecting two key beaches

Vital foreshore plan unveiled for Kurrimine and Cowley coastal communities

l SMITHFIELD

| Nick Dalton

MORE than 400 residents worked with Cassowary Coast Regional Council on a foreshore management plan (FMP) aimed at protecting and enhancing the coastal areas of Kurrimine and Cowley beaches.

Development, planning and environmental portfolio holder

Cr Jeff Baines said the com-

munity’s input influenced the FMP to ensure it met their needs while protecting “these pristine destinations for recreational and commercial use”.

“Kurrimine and Cowley beaches are, not only stunning locations, but also significant for their recreational, commercial, and environmental values,” he said.

“They sit alongside the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics of Queensland World Herit-

age areas, both of which hold deep traditional owner and social importance for the local community.

“This FMP is a non-statutory document that provides guidance for the management of the Kurrimine Beach and Cowley Beach foreshore areas in a manner that promotes the preservation of ecological, cultural, and social values of the area.

“The FMP observes the importance of enabling use of the

foreshore in a sustainable manner in the short to medium term while considering the longerterm impacts of coastal processes outlined in the CCRC coastal hazard adaption strategy”.

Based on stakeholder feedback, council officers developed a comprehensive list of actions to address key community priorities. These include:

• Enhancing recreational opportunities through improved access and infrastructure

Time for a shopping Mission

l MISSION BEACH

MISSION Beach traders have come together to launch a ‘shop local’ campaign to give away $200 a week for spending in the town centre which is undergoing major reconstruction.

The ‘Shop Mission Beach’ campaign encourages Cassowary Coast residents to spend local and support businesses through major construction works.

Division 3 Councillor Trudy Tschui congratulated Mission Beach traders for the initiative, saying business-to-business collaboration and an ethos

of ‘spend local’ throughout the community was key to the revitalisation project’s success.

“Council can create an aesthetically beautiful space through infrastructure and landscaping, however, it’s the community spirit that will truly be key to success in revitalising the Mission Beach town centre,” she said.

“Seeing our businesses through the construction is vital and I encourage everyone in the Cassowary Coast to take the time and spend local at every opportunity.”

To launch the campaign, the council has sponsored a ‘spend and win’ promotion that offers two $100 shopping vouchers

for customers who spend $5 or more in the town centre’s businesses each week.

Joey Baldwin of Joey’s Café said that small businesses were fully open and operating, offering high-quality services and products.

“We deeply appreciate the support from our community as we go through this transformation process,” he said. “The final design aims to create an even more vibrant town centre while preserving the relaxed charm and distinctive character that make Mission Beach unique.”

Stay up to date with ‘Shop Mission Beach’ by visiting https://bit.ly/3NozVJ3

• Strengthening environmental protection to safeguard local wildlife and ecosystems

• Creating sustainable commercial opportunities that reflect local needs while promoting long-term health and cultural connections.

Cr Baines said this approach ensured that community desires were met through thoughtful, sustainable planning and development.

He said the council was com-

mitted to working with local community members as the plan was implemented, ensuring that the voices of residents were heard and considered in the ongoing management of these vital coastal areas. “We encourage all residents to participate in future opportunities as we work together to create a sustainable and vibrant future for our beloved beaches,” he said. For more information visit

https://bit.ly/3zVwo1U

Joey Baldwin of Joey’s Café (left) with Mayor Teresa Millwood and other town traders. Picture: Cassowary Coast Regional Council

Paul dives into retirement

l PORTSMITH

| Isaac Colman

THIRTY years in the dive and tourism industry has come to an end for Pro-Dive Cairns general manager Paul Lim, who’s hanging up his gear to conclude a remarkable career.

Established in 1983, ProDive Cairns became the first dive operator worldwide to achieve 100,000 PADI certifications in 2008, nearing a remarkable 190,000 certifications only 16 years later.

Lured from Perth to the Great Barrier Reef, Mr Lim completed his dive instructor

training with Pro-Dive Cairns in 1993, proceeding to join the company in 1994.

Quicksilver Group managing director Tony Baker said Mr Lim's leadership had been instrumental in Pro-Dive Cairns’ ongoing success.

“We thank Paul for all he has done for the company and the region’s dive and tourism industry and wish him all the best for his next chapter as we begin the difficult task of recruiting his successor.”

Mr Lim said there had been many highlights and achievements over the years, starting with meeting his wife at Pro-Dive Cairns, to numerous industry and

business awards.

“Foremost in my mind is having navigated the business through COVID, pivoting with seasonal minke whale trips and seeing the business emerge and remain strong as a market leader,” he said.

“This is a real credit to the dedication and professionalism of all the staff I have had the privilege to work with, maintaining such high standards.”

“It’s also been great to see professional career pathways grow within the industry.”

With the business in great shape, and his kids grown up, Mr Lim said the timing was right to relocate and move on.

Council News Update

Weather bureau issues ‘severe’ warning

Cyclones to ‘get worse’

l FAR NORTH

| Nick Dalton

MORE severe cyclones are predicted by the Bureau of Meteorology between now and April next year.

BOM is urging communities to get ready and prepare for Australia’s severe weather season.

While severe weather can happen at any time, every year between October and April is Australia’s peak time for:

• tropical cyclones

• severe thunderstorms

• flooding

• heatwaves

• bushfires.

National community information manager Andrea Peace said that the bureau issued regular forecasts and warnings about the likely severity and impacts of severe weather and the impact of severe weather could be reduced by getting ready before it happened.

“Tropical cyclone activity varies from year to year but an average of four tropical cyclones cross Australia’s coast each year,” she said.

“Based on historical patterns alone, a near average number of tropical cyclones in the Australian region could be expected this season, with a higher proportion likely to be more severe.

“Any tropical cyclone can be dangerous, and it only takes one to significantly impact communities. Last year we had eight tropical cyclones across northern Australia waters. Four crossed our coast bringing damaging winds and heavy rainfall leading to flooding.”

Ms Peace said during the warmer months severe thunderstorms were more common, bringing heavy rainfall, damaging winds, large hail and the risk of flooding anywhere in Australia.

“The highest risk for severe thunderstorms is usually along the east coast, including northern New South Wales and southern Queensland. There’s also a significant risk through

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she said.

Ms Peace said flash flooding and riverine flooding were more common during the severe weather season, particularly across northern and eastern parts of the country.

She said Australia also had an increased risk of severe and extreme heatwaves over the warmer months.

“The bureau works closely with fire authorities to monitor weather conditions, issue fire danger ratings and warnings to keep the community informed,” Ms Peace said. “Fire authorities are advising an increased fire risk in the spring months for parts of Queensland, the Northern Territory, western Victoria and south-east South Australia,” she said.

“Severe weather can develop quickly and threaten lives and property. Now is the time to prepare your home and property, review and update your emergency plans and create your emergency kits.”

I’m committed to working hard to ensure the voice of the Hill electorate is heard and our community’s needs are no longer overlooked.

COMMITTED TO SERVICE

I’m a father, a husband, small business owner and former Australian Army officer, who is ready to bring effective change.

UNDERSTANDING LOCAL NEEDS

As a small business owner, I understand the challenges facing local small and family-owned businesses.

LISTENING TO COMMUNITY PRIORITIES

I’ve heard your concerns on local roads, access to healthcare, the impacts of crime and the housing crisis.

I will provide strong representation for the Hill electorate in a new LNP Government, pursuing the right priorities for Queensland.

Pro-Dive Cairns general manager Paul Lim has ended 30 years with the company. Picture: Supplied

inland Western Australia and across the tropical north during the wet season,”

This Holloways Beach home was destroyed last year.

State election2024

Nearly $118m

pledged to Natural Resource Management teams

LNP ticks green boxes

l FRESHWATER

| Nick Dalton

AN LNP government would double funding allocated to Natural Resource Management (NRM) organisations across Queensland, including Terrain NRM in Far North Queensland.

The $117.84 million in statewide funding will support key projects focused on climate adaptation, disaster resilience, biosecurity, halting the decline of Queensland’s threatened species, and supporting Indigenous stewardship.

LNP’s environment spokesman Sam O’Connor said the NRM funding would strengthen the resilience of Far North Queensland’s unique environment.

“Queensland’s Natural Resource Management organisations play a critical role in delivering practical solutions for managing land, soil, water, and biodiversity,” he said.

“The LNP will empower Far North Queensland communities to deliver on-the-ground solutions to local environmental challenges.

“The LNP is committed to investing in conservation and biosecurity, supporting local NRM organisations to deliver real outcomes for regional communities.”

LNP candidate for Barron River Bree James said the commitment was part of the LNP’s ‘Right Plan for Queensland’s Future’.

Healy launches precinct

l PORTSMITH

EARLY works have started on the $360 million Common User Facility at the Cairns Marine Precinct.

It involves a site office plus the construction of large tracks, earthworks and the delivery of machinery on site.

The facility includes a 5000-tonne shiplift, allowing ships of up to 120m in length to be repaired and maintained on three hardstand areas.

A self-propelled modular transporter (SPMT) will be integral to the CUF. The SPMT is a platform heavy hauler with a large array of wheels which are able to be positioned in any direction allowing the manoeuvre of large vessels from the shiplift to the sheds and the three hard stand areas. The CUF is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Labor governments with $360m currently committed.

“The LNP’s funding will support organisations with deep local knowledge and experience, to preserve our precious natural environment in the Far North,” she said. “NRM organisations play a key role in protecting Queensland’s environment, including biodiversity hotspots in our region.

gion’s natural beauty.”

“Organisations like Terrain NRM in Far North Queensland have built a wealth of knowledge about the local environment and are well-positioned to take practical action to safeguard our re-

The funding pledge was welcomed by Fiona Barron of Terrain NRM, Zoe Williams of Gulf Savannah NRM and Pip Schroor of Cape York NRM who attended a media conference at the Savina family cane farm at Freshwater, hailed as an example of good environmental practices.

Ms Williams said the funding would help restore Four Mile Scrub in the Gulf which was ravaged by Black Summer bushfires. She said the regrowth included vast swathes of weed incursion.

The funding would enable workers to remove the weeds and restore the ecosystem, Ms Williams said.

Member for Cairns Michael Healy said the Miles Labor government had invested heavily in this sector and Cairns was leading the region for marine and defence maintenance.

“The Cairns Marine Precinct already supports more than 4600 jobs. This project will ultimately deliver a new shiplift for Carins which will be a game-changing for the Cairns maritime industry and the Cairns economy,” he said.

With the State Election coming up on 26 October, you’re likely to see and hear a lot of things–especially on social media.

The ECQ is the expert authority that Queenslanders can trust.

Stop and consider whether the information is factual before you share it.

You can do this by asking yourself “Is it reputable, current, or a scam?”

State Election 26 October

Find

AT the LNP environmental launch on Savina’s cane farm at Freshwater were (from left) LNP’s environment spokesman Sam O’Connor, LNP candidate for Barron River Bree James, Terrain NRM waterways health team leader Fiona Barron, Gulf Savannah NRM chief executive officer Zoe Williams and Cape York NRM chief executive officer Pip Schroor. Picture: Nick Dalton

State election

LNP’s rock groyne promise

l YORKEYS KNOB

THE LNP will restart the rock groyne project at Yorkeys Knob if elected on October 26.

LNP candidate for Barron River Bree James said under Labor, the project had stalled, putting boaties at risk with silt continuing to build up in the Bluewater Marina.

She said it was critical that the project went ahead, to guarantee access to those moored at Yorkeys Knob.

“We know that boat owners are risking damage to their boats, with higher maintenance costs being incurred because of the silt,” Ms James said.

“Boaties are already under the pump with rising marina fees, and now they have to pay extra to maintain their boats because of Labor’s inaction.

“The LNP has been told that the boat ramp is exacerbating the problem, and we are determined to do something to make sure this magnificent area has the blue water access it needs.

“Tourists flock to our beautiful waters, and for those running charter businesses and tours, easy access to the ocean is essential.

“Yorkeys Knob Marina has been quoted $1 million to dredge the area, a task made even more critical by the absence of a protective rock wall, which allows silt to continue accumulating.”

$3.5m ‘goal’ for soccer

Labor commits to new women-friendly building at Endeavour Park

l MANUNDA

| Nick Dalton

SOCCER will be the big winner after a Miles Labor government promised – if re-elected – to fund a new $3.5 million venue at Manunda with an emphasis on growing women’s participation in the sport.

Football Queensland’s proposed facility at Endeavour Park would provide four new women-friendly change rooms, a performance/gym space, accessible toilets, a medical room, a kitchen/canteen, a referee room and covered spaces.

Sport Minister and Member for Cairns Michael Healy said Endeavour Park hosted thousands of football matches every year from community and divisional games to Premier League fixtures.

“On top of the 3000 junior players each week, Endeavour Park in Manunda regularly welcomes hundreds of football families from as far afield as Innisfail, Mareeba and Port Douglas,” he said.

“It also hosts school-based carnivals, competitions and Indigenous football programs.

“Endeavour Park is home to the Football Queensland Academy Program which provides talented young boys and girls access to a high-quality training environment and the elite pathway.

“In the last 12 months the academy has seen an incredible

MAYOR’S CHRISTMAS CHARITY Light up someone’s Christmas

Donate to help supply a food hamper for someone in need this festive season.

To make a donation visit www.cairns.qld.gov.au or scan the QR code

344 per growth, with women’s football up by 209 per cent.

“Football continues to experience unprecedented growth in Cairns and the game is evolving. This new facility with femalefriendly changerooms will support all levels of football in the Cairns region.”

Football Queensland regional manager Sarah Campbell said Endeavour Park was the heartland of football in Cairns and the new venue would cater specifically for female players.

She said the aim was to build women’s participation in football to 50:50. Currently it was a third female and two-thirds male.

Ms Campbell said it was a significant “stretch target” but the organisation was building on themagic of the Matildas and Mary Fowler (who was from Cairns). She said Mary Fowler showed that players from regional players could reach the world stage.

“You can be what you see,” Ms Campbell said.

FQ northern region general manager Craig Ramage said the upgrade of Endeavour Park aligned with FQ’s master plan for the facility and “will deliver incredible benefits to the more than 4100 members of our football community who attend the venue each week and participate in football as Cairns’ most popular sport”.

Football academy players (from left) Ren Cooper, 12, Ella Buie, 14, Nakaiyah Buie, 12, and Football Queensland regional manager Sarah Campbell at Endeavour Park. Picture: Nick Dalton

WITH A

VOICE?

Fight to keep local stories alive

This election, over 60 independent local newspapers across regional queensland will report extensively on grassroots issues, giving locals a voice on the future of our state.

Most government advertising spend goes to big city media and tech giants, who don’t employ local journalists or publish local news.

If you take away the papers, you take away our local stories.

The Victorian Government acted to protect its regional news media by mandating a ‘page per

week’ of government advertising spend in every regional and community newspaper.

Our independent newspapers employ hundreds of local journalists and publish thousands of local stories, and during election periods are often the only media dedicated to reporting on local election issues.

An equitable share of government advertising will help ensure that regional newspapers remain a beacon of truth, connection and resilience. We need to act now for change. Our local stories

State election2024

Lettersto the editor

Innisfail

Cansick, Mooroobool

No. I think we should hear more about independent candidate Shane Cuthbert as he is not getting enough attention by the press.

- Stuart Adams, Facebook

I would have to agree, independent and minor party candidates are just not getting fair media attention. It’s almost as though the election has been pre-decided and the major party candidates have already won.

- Shane Cuthbert, Facebook

I know my first pick, and my last three, but am going to sort out the rest of the rabble this weekend and vote next week.

- Andrew Lee, Facebook

Hard to take any politicians seriously these days. Seems the majority are out for their own interests and lining their own pockets by bludging off

the taxpayer.

- Joanne Mcardle, Facebook

There are some excellent, well-educated, well-informed candidates who do have their electorate and issues pertaining to at the heart of their campaign. They can’t promise the money that the two majors are piecrusting, yet they are given little or no media presence due to political party strength. I would like to see each and every candidate afforded the media attention regardless of their status, independent or party backed.

- Suzy Jane, Facebook LNP driving a religious agenda just like their federal counterparts. Imagine decisions and laws been based on religious beliefs ... unbelievable.

- Bob Brown, Facebook

Dr Stephen Brown, Mount Martha

Adsett, Kanimbla

Peter S. Penfold, Gordonvale

Sean McGinn, Clifton Beach

Cultural delights at Riverfest

l INNISFAIL

OCCASIONALLY, I venture in a southerly direction and return to my old stomping ground of the Cassowary Coast, more specifically Innisfail.

As was the case at last year’s inaugural Innisfail Riverfest, I was privileged to MC the event which provided six hours of entertainment on what turned out to be a beautiful spring day.

As locals will know, the art deco town of Innisfail has a great cultural history with people past and present from many different backgrounds and countries. On display were the influences of the Chinese, Irish, Italian, English, Filipino, Indian and numerous

other backgrounds that have shaped this historic sugar town.

Overall, the array of memories and current tropical lifestyles provided great opportunity to celebrate with a vast selection of colourful food and dance.

There were a range of edible delights, together with entertainment that included a vintage car show, cane train display, mullet throwing competition, aircraft display and fairground rides.

This was coordinated from the large main stage overseeing Innisfail’s Esplanade, which was my workplace for the day.

One bonus of the day was to work alongside Paul ‘Burty’ Burt who helped with the MC work and also

provided a lengthy cooking demonstration at the Feast of the Senses tent. Burty visited last year as part of the Channel 7 team and couldn’t resist coming back this year to get more involved.

Up the other end of this widespread event, Cane Cutter Court was set up for the youngsters with shows like the ‘Punch and Judy’ Show and other small rides.

The local Chinese community kicked off the dancing along the Esplanade, while acts on stage included the East Innisfail School Drumming Group, the Innisfail Community Band, Filipino dancers and well-known local musos, such as Richie Odo and Cassady Connections. This was all oc-

casionally interspersed with a wacky Gazza Challenge to keep the afternoon flowing.

One key event, on stage, was the naming of the Riverfest Queen with Yolanda Jenkins as the final judge’s choice.

Big Pups returned this year as the headline act, playing some original work, plus well-known cover songs.

I was more than impressed with the attendance of this second Riverfest, especially considering Savannah in the Round was happening up the hill, and Bathurst weekend was also a potential distraction for some.

Fortunately, the afternoon and evening were indeed well attended by locals and visitors, with the event culminat-

ing in an absolutely tremendous firework display.

Unlike last year, the whole day remained completely dry, much to the delight of the organisers and the crowds in attendance.

A ‘well done’ must therefore be sent out to the crowds who ventured along the Innisfail Esplanade and to the event committee, Rotary, the sponsors and the many volunteers who put in the hours to guarantee a successful day.

I’m off ‘up north’ yet again, so for now it’s Gazza signing out.

Send your stories to gazza@ cairnslocalnews.com.au

A great turn-out from locals and visitors for this year’s Riverfest. Pictures: Gary ‘Gazza’ McIlroy Innisfail’s Chinese community with a traditional lion dance.

MC’s Gazza and Burty took the stage by storm.

Headline musical act Big Pups.

East Innisfail School drummers performing on the main stage.

Health and Beauty

Physio can ﬁx bad back pain

ing patients to begin the recovery process comfortably.

BACK pain can range from a dull, constant ache to a sudden, sharp pain that makes movement difficult.

Peter van Gaalen of Palm Cove Physio said common causes included muscle or ligament strain, bulging or ruptured discs, arthritis, and skeletal irregularities.

“The sedentary lifestyle of modern times, marked by prolonged sitting and lack of physical activity, further exacerbates back issues,” he said.

“Physiotherapy is a cornerstone of back pain management, offering tailored treatments that address the root causes of pain rather than just masking the symptoms”.

Here’s how physiotherapy can help:

1. Pain relief – Physiotherapists employ various techniques, such as manual therapy, soft tissue mobilisation, and modalities like heat, ice, or ultrasound, to alleviate pain and reduce inflammation. These methods provide immediate relief, allow-

2. Strengthening and stabilisation – Weak or imbalanced muscles often contribute to back pain. Physiotherapy focuses on strengthening the core and back muscles, enhancing stability and support for the spine. This not only alleviates current pain but also prevents future episodes.

3. Postural correction – Poor posture is a leading cause of back pain, especially among those who spend long hours sitting. Physiotherapists assess and correct postural issues through targeted exercises and ergonomic advice, promoting better alignment and reducing strain on the back.

4. Flexibility and nobility – Tight muscles and limited range of motion can exacerbate back pain. Stretching exercises and mobility drills prescribed by physiotherapists help increase flexibility, reduce muscle tension, and improve overall movement patterns.

5. Education and self-management

– Empowering patients with knowledge about their condition and effective self-management strategies is a key component of physiotherapy. Physiotherapists provide guidance on proper body mechanics, lifting techniques, and lifestyle modifications to prevent recurrence of pain.

6. Holistic approach – Physiotherapy adopts a holistic approach, considering the patient’s overall health and lifestyle. This might include nutritional advice, stress management techniques, and recommendations for physical activities that support back health.

“Physiotherapy offers a sustainable, drug-free solution for managing back pain, addressing the underlying causes and promoting long-term health,” Mr van Gaalen said. “By incorporating physiotherapy into your pain management strategy, you can achieve significant relief and improve your quality of life,” he said.

The clinic is at 84-86 Veivers Rd, phone: 0490 434 004.

l PALM COVE

Palm Cove physiotherapist Peter van Gaalen works on a patient. Picture: Supplied

Your Home inside and out

Fridge seals are critical

l CAIRNS REGION

MAINTAINING fridge seals can save householders a lot on power bills.

Seal-A-Fridge managing director Anya Haywood said refrigeration costs accounted for a staggering 8-10 per cent of the average household electricity bill, yet many overlooked a small but powerful solution: proper refrigeration organisation and maintenance.

“One of the simplest and most cost-effective ways to save energy is by ensuring that fridge and freezer seals are intact and functioning properly,” she said.

“Our sole focus since 1988 has been replacing seals. The majority of our work was in homes, but for the last 15 years, commercial work has dominated as consumers have favoured ‘disposable consumption’

“However, this trend is slowly reversing as people become more sustainably focused, driven by decreasing disposable income and realise they can extend their appliance’s life by many years, saving money and the environment.”

Natalie White, founder of Get Sorted Co. and a professional organiser in Perth, WA, has seen

first-hand how organised and well-maintained refrigerators can lead to significant energy savings.

“A recent client, a busy working mom, was frustrated with rummaging through her disorganised freezer and fed up with the food waste from items forgotten at the back of drawers,” she said.

“So I organised her freezer by category – meat/fish, pre-cooked meals, sweets, bakery items, smoothie ingredients, etc – and labelled the drawers so all family members know where things go. This reduces food wastage and eliminates time and stress from dinner prep.”

Top tips for fridge organisation include:

• Using clear containers. You can see inside without opening them, reducing the amount of time the fridge door is open and saving energy Invest in containers with drainage and adjustable vents to keep fruit and vegetables fresher for longer

• Dividers in drawers. Keep categories separated for easy access and less waste.

Lazy susan on the top shelf. Prevent jars from getting lost and forgotten at the back.

Focus is on locals at LTS

l PORTSMITH

LOCAL Trading Supplies (LTS) are taking on the big guns in hardware and roofing.

Locally-owned and operated, LTS owner Scott Carpenter said “we pride ourselves on being Cairns locals”.

“We live local, we know local. LTS are a service-oriented company, and we pride ourselves on superior service, market leading brands and competitive pricing,” he said.

“LTS stock a wide range of hardware supplies with a specialty focus on all roofing requirements.

“At LTS, we now stock the solution to the problem we all face when re-screwing roof sheets into metal battens.

“The use of metal battens has become more common over the last 30 years which has become a genuine issue when replacing a roof or sheeting.”

Mr Carpenter has designed 16-gauge multi-seals, ensuring a true fastening to metal battens, and is the only store in Australia to stock it.

LTS is at 105 Bunda St, Portsmith, phone: 0418 843 096, or their website: https://bit.ly/3Ync3M5

Seal-A-Fridge franchisee Adrian (surname withheld) at work.

TimeOut

Kiddies will love this show

‘Signs

l CAIRNS CBD

Pevan and Sarah to excite audiences at CPAC

l CAIRNS CBD

| Isabella Guzman Gonzalez

CHILDREN’S favourite tiger and human duo Pevan and Sarah are on the road and coming to Cairns for the first time for a show full of musical magic, joy and laughter next Monday at Cairns Performing Arts Centre (CPAC).

All of the bangers from Australia’s grooviest tiger Pevan and his talented sidekick Sarah are coming to the centre for a matinee – not to be missed – on October 21 where children will go on an adventure for their first theatre experience with the fun pair.

“This year the stars aligned and we were able to make Cairns a stop for our tour and we’re very excited to be coming. We’re from Melbourne and can’t wait to have a bit of sunshine,” said one half of Pevan and Sarah, Sarah Keyachas.

“We have a good fanbase in Cairns from schools and the local area so we’re very excited to get there. A lot of our audience will be students from schools out on excursion who watch our videos in the classroom, so when we put up a show we see what’s popular in our platform and put those songs in.

“The show is a day in the life of a primary school and Pevan and Sarah go on an adventure when they get told to put together an assembly performance, but they didn’t know about it so they’re in a bit of a panic and try to solve their problems to find out what they’re putting together for this performance.

“Along the way we feature some of our most popular songs so children can sing along.”

Ms Keyachas said she hoped for this show to be children’s first theatre experience where they get to learn and have fun.

of Life’ for Pink Floyd fanatics

| Isabella Guzman Gonzalez

A VISUALLY stunning and musically complex journey through Pink Floyd in the 80s is coming to the Cairns Performing Arts Centre by the talented tribute band Echoes of Pink Floyd with their Signs of Life tour this October.

In a deep exploration of the ‘A Momentary Lapse of Reason’ album and the subsequent live tour album ‘The Delicate Sound of Thunder’, Echoes of Pink Floyd will pay homage to this concert experience, bringing back those heady years of 1988, with the best songs from the Delicate Sound of Thunder tour lovingly reproduced for fans of all ages and backgrounds on Sunday, October 27

at CPAC. This is the band’s first time in Cairns and the show has already sold out.

“Signs of Life is about celebrating Pink Floyd’s ‘Delicate Sound of Thunder’ live album along with their 1988 Australian tour which was the last time that Pink Floyd visited Australia,” said the band’s frontman Matt Goodluck.

“In this tour we’re playing a lot of the material that Pink Floyd did back in the 80s, which we haven’t really done before, so a lot of those songs come from ‘The Momentary Lapse of Reason’ album and we play the whole album live along with many of the band’s classic hits from the 70s.

“Picking Pink Floyd’s 80s material is very different to what we’ve done before. That’s been quite defining for this tour and it has resonated quite well with

audiences across the country because a lot of people did go and see Pink Floyd live back in 1988 so to them it brings back a lot of memories.

“It’s great to hear what people’s memories are from that time and sharing that with people has been very special.”

Mr Goodluck said they were eager to play some of the deeper cuts of the 1987 album to a sold out crowd in Cairns.

“We’re excited to perform some of the most obscure tracks out of ‘A Momentary Lapse of Reason’ like ‘Yet another movie’, ‘Sorrow’ as well as the intro piece ‘Signs of Life’ which is an atmospheric piece that opens the album,” he said.

“I always love playing the older songs as well which always go down very well with fans, like ‘Another brick in the wall Pt 2’, ‘Wish you were here’, ‘Time’, ‘Money’.”

“We love to get on stage and see hundreds of children and students singing along to every single world, it’s an amazing feeling,” she said.

“This year we finish the show with a song called ‘Better together’, a song about inclusion and diversity, and to hear children singing along about inclusion and how we work better together is the most heartwarming thing.

“We’re teachers but we’re also musicians and we love connecting both, so kids are going to have a really authentic learning experience, but what’s really exciting, is that for many kids this is their first theatre experience where they get to see in person these characters, they’ve seen on screen which is very special.

“We just want kids to enjoy themselves and have the best time singing these songs with the characters they love.”

To buy tickets, visit Ticketlink.

Pevan and Sarah are coming to CPAC for their first concert in Cairns. Picture: Supplied

Six-piece tribute band Echoes of Pink Floyd is coming to CPAC with their Signs of Life tour. Picture: Supplied

Show relives famous entertainer’s 1968 comeback special plus 1970s music

Honouring Elvis the legend

l CAIRNS CBD

| Isabella Guzman Gonzalez

IT’S time to check into the Heartbreak Hotel with the world-class King tribute ‘Elvis – A Legendary Performer’ coming to the Cairns Performing Arts Centre this October where the audience will get to relive Elvis’ 1968 comeback special.

The King is coming back to life with the epic performance of the tribute artist recognised by Elvis Presley Enterprises and Graceland USA and multiple Ultimate Elvis Grand Champion – Mark Anthony – from Adelaide who, accompanied by a small orchestra, will recreate Elvis’ epic 1968 comeback special and his 1970s performances on October 26 at CPAC.

Mr Anthony, who has been touring the world with his Elvis act, said it was exciting to be back in FNQ.

“I’m really looking forward to coming back to Cairns. It’s not our first time, but we haven’t been back for a while and we’re looking forward to the sunshine,” he said.

“This new show Elvis – A Legendary Performer is all about the 1968 comeback special, and we try to cover as much of it in the first half of the show, and we follow the second half with a 70s concept.

“There’ll be four different cos-

tumes throughout the show, and we’ll have 15 people on stage, basically a small orchestra that we bring around the country, to produce this beautiful massive sound to recreate the sound that was made on stage for the special.

“One of my favourite songs is ‘If I could dream’ which closes the first half. I love singing it, but there’s also some beautiful ballads that we perform in the show and I love performing them. Elvis was a real balladeer, he excelled at them, and then songs like ‘American trilogy’ and ‘Suspicious minds’ are always fun.

“The gospel numbers mean a lot to me because they reaffirm my faith in Christ, and I love being able to perform them.”

Mr Anthony said that attendees would get to live an Elvis experience like no other full of some of his greatest hits, the big hair and all the hip thrusts that drove the crowd insane back in the 60s.

“If you’re an Elvis fan and you want to hear a lot of his songs in one night, and have fun – we try to have a lot of fun on stage – while enjoying these classics you should come,” he said.

“For people looking forward to a night of energy, fun and lots of Elvis music, this is the show for you.”

To buy tickets, visit the Ticketlink website.

Celebrating India’s fantastic Diwali or festival of lights

l EDGE HILL

| Isabella Guzman Gonzalez

KNOWN as India’s most important holiday of the year, Diwali is here with its explosion of colour and light and the Cairns Hindu Samaj association is inviting the Cairns community to celebrate it in all its splendour next weekend.

Diwali or festival of lights is an Indian holiday that celebrates the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil and new beginnings and once again the Cairns Hindu Samaj (CHS) association is organising a Diwali Fair at the Edge Hill State High School for a whole afternoon of culture, music, cuisine and lots of light

on Saturday October 26.

After a successful run in 2023 with over 300 attendees, the CHS is bringing back their Diwali Fair with cultural events like a laxmi puja for women only, food stalls from local restaurants, market stalls, a rangoli competition, paper diyas competition for kids, and most importantly fireworks.

“Just like the previous year we have a cultural program running at Edge Hill State High School,” said CHS acting secretary Kearav Patel.

“This year to make it more interesting and involving we’ve added a rangoli competition which is doing designs with colour on the floor. It’s a tradition that women and children do at home in India and it’s a symbol of bringing

prosperity and happiness into the family.

“We’re also doing diyas, which are like candles, and we’re encouraging children and their parents to make them and bring them from home and that’s also a competition.

“Apart from that we’ll have a jumping castle, fairy floss and candy to get the kids involved while the parents enjoy the cultural program, and just like every year we have food stalls from various food vendors across Cairns to bring different flavours from all the corners of India under one roof.

“Not only will there be food vendors, but regular people bringing their food to sell, which is always a hit.

“And like every year we’ll

close with the most important which is the fireworks, this is the biggest symbol of Diwali, and it’s also a big hit with the community.”

Mr Patel said CHS invited all cultures and members of the community to join in the celebration.

“Diwali is the festival of light, and it represents light conquering darkness, so it’s a festival for everyone and everyone is invited, not only Hindus,” he said.

“We encourage people to do early registrations because it helps the volunteers to prepare in advance.”

Tickets are $10 for adult non-members, $5 for children five to 12 non-members and free for members. To purchase tickets, visit www. cairnshindusamaj.org.au

Elvis impersonator Mark Anthony is bringing his new show ‘Elvis – A Legendary Performer’ to CPAC on October 26. Picture: Supplied

The Cairns Hindu Samaj association is inviting the community to join in the Diwali Fair on October 26. Picture: Supplied

TimeOut

It’s back home for city muso

l MANUNDA

| Isabella Guzman

Gonzalez

LOCAL music legend Terry Doyle is launching his 11th album ‘Arcadia’ tomorrow, a bluesy musical journey through the muso’s childhood from Victoria to Far North Queensland alongside a cast of talented musicians.

Cairns’ most beloved blues man is celebrating the launch of his most nostalgic album to date – Arcadia – at the North Cairns Football and Netball Club at Manunda tomorrow (October 19) from 6.30pm with lots of special guests like keyboardist Kirk Steele, son and Melbourne-based band Drunk Mums member Jake Doyle and Fabian Oliver.

“This album is my 11th, and Arcadia is where I grew up, the album’s cover is actually the farmhouse I grew up in,” Mr Doyle said.

“Most of the songs are about my time growing up, my brother and I wrote one called ‘Mother Mother’, and others are ‘Arcadia’, ’27 Coronation St’, which was my nana’s house, and I wrote a song about depression, which most creative people suffer from.

“I’d describe this album as storytelling. I’m a drummer too so I need a good drum beat behind it. My favourite artist is singer-songwriter Paul Kelly and he’s a storyteller so that’s what I wanted to do with this album.

“I love producing and songwriting. I have my own studio, so I knocked this album down pretty quickly and I just do it for the love of music not to get famous.

“Everything of this album I’ve financed, no grants or support, I did the artwork, recorded it in my studios, made the CD cas-

ings, everything and I’m very proud of it.”

It’s bound to be a special night full of stories and great music with a fabulous line-up commemorating Mr Doyle.

Former Australian touring Blues Brother Revival Band guitarist Victor Holder will travel from the Gold Coast especially to perform on the night, keyboard maestro Kirk Steel, who played with both the Graeme Connors Band and the late Slim Dusty, will tickle the ivories on the occasion and Jake Doyle of the Melbourne-based band Drunk Mums returns to play once again with his father.

“I look forward to my son sharing the occasion with me,” Mr Doyle said.

“Many Cairns locals will remember when Jake started out performing with me on stage at the fabled Johno’s Blues Bar.

“Another guest artist will be Fabian Oliver, who played with Goanna’s Shane Howard and cowrote songs with him.

“And to top off this spectacular lineup, we will have a surprise high school band to open the night.”

For more information, contact Terry Doyle on 0418 712 906.

Legendary Cairns musician Terry Doyle. Picture: Supplied

Songbirds to lift the Tanks

l EDGE HILL

| Isabella Guzman Gonzalez

CAIRNS CAIRNS CENTRAL CINEMA

FOLK-COUNTRY power couple Felicity Urquhart and Josh Cunningham are coming to the Tanks Arts Centre with their sophomore album ‘Birdsong’ for an intimate and uplifting show this Sunday.

After a successful debut release in 2021 with ‘The Song Club’, Felicity Urquhart and Josh Cunningham have taken their musical partnership to new heights with ‘Birdsong’, released last year, which earned them several Golden Guitar awards.

Now they’re coming to Cairns for the first time as a duo on Sunday, October 20 at Tank 5.

“We’ve both played Cairns before many times as solo artists but never together,” Ms Urquhart said.

“We’re playing songs from our albums ‘The Song Club’ and ‘Birdsong’ – our most recent album which picked up three Golden Guitar Awards – and we’re also throwing in some songs from our individual catalogues.”

“Birdsong is an album that we started forming during lockdown,” Mr Cunningham said.

“There’s a theme running through it about getting free, conquering the cage and finding your voice, so it feels like a worthy message to write songs about and it has really resonated

with folks for the time that we’ve been playing these songs live.

“We also have our co-producer Matt Fell coming all the way from Tasmania for this gig, so we’re really looking forward to getting up to Cairns and playing it.”

The pair said they were excited to perform all their songs but especially the title track from the new album.

“Birdsong is a really special one from the album, it was inspired by an ancient Chinese proverb, it says – ‘Always keep a green branch in your heart so

a singing bird may come’ – and I think you should always keep your heart open to the possibility of beauty and creativity,” Mr Cunningham said.

“But all of the songs have their own flavour and we can’t wait to bring them to Cairns.

“This is going to be a night out where you come out feeling good, we find that music is so powerful and connecting so we’re looking forward to performing, hearing people’s stories and seeing what happens after the show,” Ms Urquhart said. To buy tickets, visit Ticketlink.

Radical short film festival

l CAIRNS CBD

| Isabella Guzman Gonzalez

PREPARE for an audiovisual dose of adrenaline with the arrival of the 14th Radical Reels Tour coming to Cairns with an outstanding catalogue of seven thrilling mountain sport films from around the globe including one epic entry from Queensland next week.

One for the adventurers and lovers of extreme sports, Canada’s most important mountain film festival, Banff Mountain Film Festival, is once again heading to Cairns for the 14th year with Radical Reels Tour to showcase the best of filmmaking paired with the excitement of mountain sport at the Cairns Performing Arts Centre theatre on Thursday, October 24.

This year Radical Reels has a catalogue of seven films including ‘Ian’ a film by a Queenslander filmmaker Matt Raimondo on Sunshine Coast 72-year-old climber Ian Elliot’s resilience and challenging age stereotypes.

“Out of 25-30 films from the Banff Mountain Film Festival we take the seven more adrenaline-packed films to come to Cairns for the 14th Radical Reels Tour,” said Australian festival director Jemima Robinson.

“Radical Reels are all the high-adrenaline, action packed films from the Banff Film Festi-

val once screened in Canada we take to Australia all around the country and Cairns.

“The shortest film is four minutes and the longest is about 40 minutes. It changes every year according to what the adventurers and filmmakers are doing but what we’re most excited to bring to Cairns this year is a film that has just been finished by a Queensland filmmaker and climber, shot on the Sunshine Coast featuring climber Ian Elliot.

“He got into climbing in his 50s and has been doing it for two decades now and it’s about his journey and love of climbing. It’s a very inspirational film to watch.”

Other films are Chronoception from France, Canada Vertical from Canada, El Gavilan from

the US, and more.

“Ian is definitely a crowd favourite of this year, it’s beautiful and inspirational, it’s not only about what Ian is doing but that a local filmmaker has been chosen from over 300 entries across the globe,” Ms Robinson said.

“What’s great about this festival is it inspires people to get more out of life. You may not go to Kazakhstan and ski remote mountains but we see people be so inspired by the films that they go and try new things.

“Come along, it’s just inspiring to see people do things that they’re passionate about and it may inspire you to go on an adventure.”

To buy tickets for Radical Reels Tour, visit the Ticketlink website.

Country duo Felicity Urquhart and Josh Cunninghma are bringing their second album ‘Birdsong’ to the Tanks this Sunday. Picture: Supplied

‘Ian’ by Queenslander filmmaker Matt Raimondo is being featured at the 14th iteration of Radical Reels Tour in Cairns. Picture: Supplied

WHAT’S

ROTARY BEACH VIBE @ TRINITY BEACH

l SUN OCT 20TH, 2:00PM-8:00PM

Free family fun community event down Vasey Esplanade at Trinity Beach. There will be an optional gold coin donation entry and a major raffle prize to go in the draw to win some amazing goodies.*

Kids activities including a jumping castle, face painting and more.

• 2pm-5pm: support local market stall holders

• 2:30pm: Smithfield SHS Jazz Academy performance

• 3:30pm–8pm: two live band music performances

• 7:45pm: fire show

There’s something for everyone right through until 8pm.

*Raffle prize to be drawn on Dec 31st.

KALEIDOSCOPE @ AUSTRALIA GALLERY

l FRI OCT 18TH, 5:30PM-8:30PM

Samuel Moffat’s artworks embody the essence of a kaleidoscope, showcasing a vibrant and diverse collection. Each piece reflects dynamic creativity and a spectrum of styles, much like the ever-changing patterns in a kaleidoscope. From bold, abstract compositions to intricate, detailed works, Moffat’s art invites viewers to explore a world of color, form, and imagination.

See this exhibition at Australia.Gallery, 86 Lake Street, Cairns. www.galleryaustralia.com.au

HEATH FRANKLIN’S CHOPPER @ CPAC

l SAT OCT 12TH, 9:00AM-2:00PM

Australia’s most wanted comedian is back after three years off, and he’s not here to f**k spiders! That’s right – not even if they’re dressed in a sexy spider nurse outfit. He just hasn’t got the time, and neither do you. Because life happens whether you like it or not. You can tiptoe around it, have a whinge or pretend it’s not there. But like a man wearing bacon pants at a dog park, you’re gonna get bitten on the arse eventually. So either get up and get busy, or tell somebody else who gives a sh*t. ‘Cos we’re not here to...

Book now and join Chopper for the best night out in yonks!

DRAX PROJECT @ TANKS ARTS CENTRE

l FRI OCT 18TH, 6:30PM

With a reputation for delivering high-energy shows that leave audiences electrified Drax Projects are a must-see live act.

Known to Australian audiences off the back of ‘Upside’ Australian album tour in 2024, festival appearances over the last few years, and hit songs “Woke Up Late” (ft. Hailee Steinfeld) and “Catching Feelings” (feat. Six60) – with 7 ARIA platinums between them – Drax Project’s Spring Run will see them play their first-ever shows in Cairns.

Book via Ticketlink.

MUSIC OF THE NIGHT @ CPAC

l TUE OCT 15TH, 5:30PM-7:00PM

Returning by popular demand after 2023’s sellout show. Prepare to be whisked away on an extraordinary musical adventure as Joey Fimmano proudly presents the sensational Music of the Night. This mesmerising stage show is taking Australia by storm, leaving audiences spellbound with the sheer brilliance of Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber’s timeless creations and the world’s greatest musical hits from the West End and Broadway! Tickets via ticketlink.

JUJU MOON @ MISSION ARTS

l SAT OCT 19TH, 5:00PM-9:00PM

In conjunction with Mission Beach Community Arts this all-original live music event showcases the newest and most memorable JuJu Moon music written, recorded and produced in Mission Beach. Join us for a night of celebration for ‘Reap’ – the newest album release from JuJu Moon. Groove away with JuJu Moon and their 8-piece festival band supported by the beautiful tones of singer/songwriter Ingrid Piper. Delicious Mexican themed food from Wachu Eati. Doors open at 5pm at Marcs Park next to Mission Arts. Adults $25, kids 13-18 yrs old $10, 12yrs and under are free. Book at https://www.trybooking.com/CVEPX

GIG Guide

*Please check with the Venues regarding any cancellations or entry requirements.

FRIDAY 18TH

Calypso Club DJ Saf, 4:00pm

Dunwoody’s Shannae Sclippa, 4:00pm

Lunico SAX MAN - Troy Stevens, 4:30pm

Boardwalk Social Nicole Nighthawk, 4:30pm

Muddy’s Cafe Raine Dance, 5:00pm

Salt House Groove Therapy, 5:00pm

Surf Club Palm Cove Lexi & Waha, 5:00pm

Ellis Beach Bar & Grill Icaro, 5:30pm

Pachamama DJ Setel, 6:00pm

The Benson Drew Boy, 6:00pm

The Crown Hotel Janna Mercedes, 6:00pm

Trinity Beach Sports Club Zdenek, 6:00pm Cazalys Carrizma, 6:30pm

TANKS DRAX PROJECT, 6:30pm

Brothers Leagues Club Cairns Sole2Soul, 7:00pm

O’Donnells Big British Voices - Rowly Duo, 7:00pm

The Pier Bar DJ Jackz, 7:30pm

Whiskey & Wine DJ JC, 7:30pm

Rattle’N’Hum Palm Cove Bourban Gorillas, 8:00pm

Salt House DJ Matt Caseli, 8:00pm

The Pier Bar The Vibez, 8:00pm

Rattle’N’Hum Cairns Big Noise, 8:30pm

BAR36 The Wait, 9:00pm

P.J.O’Brien’s Flavour, 9:30pm

P.J.O’Brien’s DJ Nakji, 10:00pm

SATURDAY 19TH

Boardwalk Social Pauly P, 1:00pm

Surf Club Palm Cove Nicole Nighthawk, 12:00pm

CPAC Music of the Night, 2:00pm

Yorkeys Knob Boating Club Barbary Coasters, 3:00pm

Ellis Beach Bar & Grill Pauly P, 4:00pm

Whiskey & Wine SAX MAN - Troy Stevens, 4:00pm

The Pier Bar DJ Moose, 4:30pm

Mission Arts JuJu Moon, 5:00pm

Salt House Mattyboi, 5:00pm

Paper Crane Amber Farnan, 5:30pm

PK’s Jungle Bar The Vibes, 6:00pm Brothers Leagues Club Cairns Bad Boys of Uke, 6:30pm Cazalys Hot Ice, 6:30pm Yorkeys Knob Boating Club Silver Fox Jazz Band, 6:30pm TANKS BRITISH INDIA, 7:00pm Tigers Den Terry Doyle, 7:00pm

Rattle’N’Hum Palm Cove Janna Mercedes, 8:00pm Red Beret No More No Less, 8:00pm Salt House DJ Moose, 8:00pm The Pier Bar Kaweyova, 8:00pm Rattle’N’Hum Cairns Big Noise, 8:30pm Rocco DJ Andy, 8:30pm BAR36 FUNHOUSE, 9:00pm Gilligan’s RNB Superclub - Sabio + MC Mike Champion, 9:00pm

P.J.O’Brien’s Flavour, 9:30pm

P.J.O’Brien’s DJ Syntax, 10:00pm

SUNDAY 20TH

Dundees DJ Glenn W, 11:30pm Ellis Beach Bar & Grill Stuie Harcourt, 1:00pm Boardwalk Social Tessa Devine, 2:00pm Calypso Club DJ Markus Mark, 2:00pm Dunwoody’s Amber McIntosh, 2:00pm

Rattle’N’Hum Palm Cove Kaweyova, 3:00pm Yorkeys Knob Boating Club 3’s a Crowd Duo, 3:00pm The Pier Bar DJ Zaccu, 4:30pm Calypso Club DJ Luke X Mike Rivett, 5:00pm Salt House Anais Campbell, 5:00pm Whiskey & Wine DJ Andy, 5:00pm The Pier Bar Flavour, 5:00pm

TANKS Felicity Urquhart & Josh Cunningham, 6:15pm

BAR36 COCONUT KISS, 7:30pm

Gilligan’s The Vibez, 7:30pm

Are you a venue or an artist that wants to be listed in the Gig Guide? Complete the form on www.cairnslocalnews.com.au/gig-guide to submit your gig each week to be listed in Friday’s paper.

Take a minute... Puzzles for you

Solutions

This week, embrace new opportunities that push you outside your comfort zone. A fresh perspective could lead to exciting ventures in both your career and personal life. Take the initiative, but remember that patience is key; success often comes from perseverance.

Weekly Horoscopes

Trust your intuition as you navigate personal and professional matters. You may feel more sensitive to others’ emotions, so practising empathy is crucial. Pay attention to your dreams and feelings; they can provide valuable insights to guide your decisions.

Relationships are in the spotlight. Spend quality time with friends and loved ones to strengthen your bonds. Engage in heartto-heart conversations; your diplomatic nature can help resolve misunderstandings. Remember to balance giving and receiving support.

Reﬂect on your ambitions and longterm goals this week. It’s a good time to assess your current path and make adjustments. Focus on practical steps that align with your aspirations, but remember to take breaks to recharge and maintain your well-being.

Focus on nurturing your well-being. It’s a great time for self-care, whether that’s spending time in nature or indulging in hobbies. Creating a calming environment at home will help you recharge and gain insights into your emotional landscape.

CROSSWORD

Communication will be vital this week. Engage in meaningful conversations that spark new ideas. Collaboration can lead to breakthroughs, so embrace teamwork. Being open to different perspectives will enhance your connections with others.

Your creative energy is on the rise. Explore artistic pursuits or lead a project that allows self-expression. Whether through painting or writing, let your imagination ﬂow. Sharing your work with others can inspire and deepen your connections.

Use this week to declutter your space and mind. Organising your environment can increase clarity and productivity. Letting go of what no longer serves you will make room for new ideas and opportunities, so focus on streamlining your routine.

Dive into your passions this week. Whether through a hobby or study, immerse yourself fully and explore without hesitation. Your thirst for knowledge will lead to valuable insights. Sharing your interests can deepen connections with others.

Embrace innovation and change. Your unique perspective will help you approach challenges in new ways. Don’t hesitate to think outside the box; your ideas may lead to exciting developments. Collaborating with like-minded individuals can amplify your creativity.

Adventure awaits! Consider planning a spontaneous outing or short trip to shake up your routine. Exploring new places will ignite your sense of wonder and inspire creativity. Reﬂect on your personal goals, as new experiences may shift your perspective.

ACROSS

9. a historic city in Japan known for its temples and cherry blossoms (5)

10. pleasing in appearance or style (9)

11. to stimulate a reaction (7)

12. the intrinsic nature of something (7)

13. a place where views on an issue can be exchanged or discussed (5)

15. a type of sandwhich (3)

16. to glide over snow on skis (3)

17. the essential point of a matter (3)

19. a treatment to relieve or heal a disorder or improve well-being, (7)

20. an act against religious laws (3)

23. Santa’s helper (3)

24. a particular shade of a color (3)

25. a stand used when painting (5)

27. a state of mental strain (7)

29. the feel of a surface (7)

32. a city in Pennsylvania known for its vibrant arts scene and historical signiﬁcance (9)

33. burning or on ﬁre (5)

DOWN

1. to pass over something in a sequence (4)

2. the characteristic of visual perception described through colours etc. (6)

3. a performance done by one person (4)

4. to look steadily (4)

5. a collection or gathering of things or people (10)

6. as a result (4)

7. substitutes for actors or performers (5-3)

8. a condition that causes inﬂamed, itchy, and red skin (6)

13. enjoyment (3)

14. a recurring theme in a work of art (5)

15. a surname often associated with notable ﬁgures (10)

16. a distinctive manner or design in which something is done (5)

18. a large-scale international exhibition held every two years (8)

21. zero (3)

22. an established procedure (6)

26. a room where an artist works (6)

28. atoms or molecules that have gained or lost one or more electrons (4)

29. the character of a sound or voice (4)

30. electromagnetic radiation used in medical imaging (1-3)

31. smooth, level, or equal (4)

HIA honours Koru Building Contractors with 2025 house of year for Ombra

‘Shady’ home wins top gong

l WHITFIELD

| Nick Dalton

KORU Building Contractors have taken out house of the year again for Ombra at Whitfield, this time at the Housing Industry Association (HIA) Cairns awards after taking out the same title with Master Builders.

The judges said: “Nestled on a quiet block the outstanding custom-built home is a masterful blend of contemporary design and serenity where the outside world fades away as you enter”.

“Featuring bold elements such as curved concrete walls, a round pool, and high ceilings, enhancing the sense of openness,” they said.

“Every aspect, from its innovative materials to its seamless indoor-outdoor connection, reflects a commitment to quality and workmanship.

“The judges were impressed by the attention to detail and the difficulty in the build”.

Koru said they were thrilled with the award.

“Tony (Newman) and Bronte (Skaines) are incredibly grateful to the Koru team and to the very special team of trades and suppliers who were dedicated to achieving the highest standard of craftmanship,” they said.

“Building Ombra was an opportunity for Koru to push boundaries and work with new materials and products not often used in Far North Queensland.

“We are forever grateful to those that embraced this opportunity to test their skills, grow their abilities and share their knowledge and innovation with us.

“The inspiration for Ombra (meaning ‘shadow’ or ‘shade’) was around our desire to create a sanctuary and a home that would not

only look and feel strong but would also have a stillness and quietness about it.

“We wanted Ombra to make you exhale when you walked through the door and to be a home where you felt the world slow down.

“Ombra had to feel cool but warm in spirit and have elements of light and shade to reflect the movement of the shadows cast by the trees throughout the day.”

HIA North Queensland executive director Peter Fry said this year’s awards were “a celebration of the remarkable creativity and achievements of our HIA members who showcased an exceptional array of homes, kitchens and bathrooms that redefine modern living and raise the bar for architectural excellence,” he said.

HIA apprentice of the year was Mattias Bomford-Wind from Smith and Sons Cairns. For all the awards visit www.cairnslocalnews.com.au

Ombra at Byrnes Close, Whitfield, is house of the year once again. Picture: Supplied

Chance to get behind the wheel of luxury supercar

l DRIVING TOUR

| Nick Dalton

FOUR of the world’s most coveted supercars will arrive at The Reef House Adults Retreat in 2025 to give guests an exclusive driving experience on the iconic Great Barrier Reef Drive in Tropical North Queensland. Retreat director Malcolm Bean said The Reef House partnership with Prancing Horse

Luxury Driving Experience would be held from May 15 to June 7 with special two and three-night packages at TripAdvisor’s No1 luxury hotel in Australia and the South Pacific.

“Getting behind the wheel of a Ferrari 296 GTB, Lamborghini Huracan EVO, McLaren GT or Aston Martin Vantage F1 Edition will be limited to just five couples per day with multiple drive swaps on the 250km scenic journey from Palm Cove

to the Daintree and back via Mount Molloy,” he said.

“The driving experience includes private instruction and discreet support via a two-way radio with the dedicated lead vehicle, morning tea and lunch before returning to The Reef House for dinner on the restaurant deck overlooking the Coral Sea.

“Guests can indulge in more than 28 complimentary ‘signature inclusions’ valued at

$2356 which are individually curated by Escape Planning Specialists for rest, relaxation and rejuvenation.

“Start your day with beachside yoga, explore the art of cocktail making or deepen your appreciation for fine wine at a class in the cellar.

“During the day The Reef House’s dedicated pool butler is on hand to cater to your every whim offering refreshing cool towels at 11am and sorbet

at 3pm, then at sunset you can enjoy punch and canapes before a dining experience under the stars.”

The Aston two-night package starts at $1888 per couple and includes daily breakfast, a bottle of sparkling wine on arrival, a degustation dinner for two with matched wines and the 28 signature inclusions.

The Ferrari three-night package starts at $2814 per couple and includes daily breakfast,

a bottle of sparkling wine on arrival, a degustation dinner for two with matched wines, a Reef House signature seafood platter served in the room and the 28 signature inclusions. The packages are available exclusively for Reef House guests when booking the luxury drive experience from Prancing Horse which costs $4990.

For more information: https://bit.ly/3NnXP7y

The Ferrari 296 GTB is one of four supercars that can be driven through The Reef House exclusive driving experience.

Pictures: Supplied

The cockpit of the 330km/h, $570,000 Ferrari 296 GTB.

New BT-50 revealed today

Popular Mazda ute upgraded inside and out with bold grille and sleek headlights

l MODEL LAUNCH

| Nick Dalton

MAZDA will reveal its refreshed BT-50 pick-up range at 11am today.

The brand’s second best-selling model in Australia benefits from a major new update for 2025, with a comprehensive redesign inside and out, as well as significant enhancements to the ‘human machine interface’ (HMI), associated safety and assistance systems and additional functionality.

The world premiere for the 2025 Mazda BT-50 will take place on Friday, October 18 at 11am.

Isuzu recently updated its D-Max, which the BT-50 is related to.

Mazda has released only a single teaser image, but it reveals new CX-5-inspired headlights and what appears to be an unchanged bonnet. There appears to be no chrome.

The image shows either the blacked-out SP version or that Mazda is axing the shiny bits apart from the huge badge.

Most versions of the current BT-50 feature chrome trim underlining the headlights and grille.

There will be a revised front bumper, based on the updated D-Max, and new wheel designs, tail lights, and a revised tailgate are expected.

Mazda hasn’t confirmed local launch timing but it is believed the new BT-50 will be in Australia early in the new year.

The updated D-Max was unveiled in Thailand in October 2023, and went on sale in Australia in May 2024.

In addition to exterior tweaks, the updated D-Max received a 7-in digital instrument cluster screen. Its 8in and 9in infotainment touchscreens gained wireless Android Auto (in addition to the existing wireless Apple CarPlay), with new volume and tuning dials underneath.

Other changes included a new ‘rough terrain mode’ – an electronic off-road traction control aid – as well as a new-generation stereo camera for the driver assist systems and active rear cross-traffic assist.

A teaser image of the new Mazda BT-50 shows a large logo at the front and CX-5-like headlights. Above right: The current model.

Cairns Local Classifieds

AL-ANON FAMILY GROUPS

PRIVACY POLICY

ARE YOU HiRiNG?

Let people know by advertising in Cairns Local News Call Amelie on 4031 7678 to place your ad!

Lady 76 years seeks health-conscious friend. Write to: PO Box 290, Earlville, 4870

Wish your friendsa

Cairns Local News Happy Birthday! in

Help and hope for families and friends of alcoholics. If someone in your family has a drinking problem, you can often see what it is doing to them, but can you see what it is doing to you?

Al-Anon can help you.

Meetings held weekly at:

Cairns City: Tuesday nights, 6pm-7pm Edmonton: Thursdays, 12pm-1pm

• Kuranda: Mondays, 11am-12pm For further information, Call 1300 25 2666 or www.al-anon.org.au

RIGHTS IN ACTION (RIA) ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2024

Date: 15 November 2024 5.45 pm for 6 pm start

Main venue: Community Information Centre Townsville, 280 Flinders St, Townsville City QLD 4810

Satellite venue: for Cairns-based RIA financial members

RIA CNS Boardroom, 2/192 Mulgrave Rd, Westcourt QLD 4870

IAW RIA constitution: nominations for the RIA Board of Management (BOM) require paid, financial and BOM-approved membership; and close by 31 October 2024. RIA Townsville Ph: (07) 4725 2505

RIA Townsville email: info-tsv@rightsinaction.org.au

RIA Cairns Ph: (07) 4031 7377 RIA Cairns email: info@rightsinaction.org.au

PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT

Make a submission from 30 September to 15 December 2024

Multiple Dwelling (10 villas); and Reconfiguring a Lot (1 x Management Lot, 1 x Balance Lot, 10 x Community Title Scheme Lots, Common Property and 3 x Access Easements)

Where: 50-54 Canopy’s Edge Boulevard, Smithfield Qld 4878

On: Lot SP315906

Approval sought: Development Permits for a Material Change of Use; and Reconfiguring a Lot

Application online reference: 12685 / 2024

You may obtain a copy of the application and make a submission to:

Cairns Regional Council PO Box 359, Cairns Qld 4870 submissions@cairns.qld.gov.au 1300 69 22 47 www.cairns.qld.gov.au

Public notification requirements are in accordance with the Planning Act 2016

HAVE you got something to sell? Call Amelie at Cairns Local News on 4031 7678 or email admin@cairnslocalnews.com.au

Classie deadline is 4pm every Wednesday.

Publishers Terms and Conditions

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Advertising Conditions

Any advertisement accepted for publication in Cairns Local News is subject to the rules applicable to advertising laws laid down by the Media Council of Australia. All advertising is subject to the publisher’s approval and at its discretion can refuse to accept any advertisement it believes the message portrayed within the advertisement might infringe the rights of an individual or may not comply with all the laws and regulations of the States and Territories. The publisher does not accept any responsibility or liability in relation to any loss due to the failure of an advertisement to appear according to instructions.

The placing or positioning of an advertisement within the requested classiﬁcation is at the discretion of Cairns Local News, except where agreed upon by the publisher. The monetary level of advertising is based upon the frequency used within the period of the order. The term may vary from three months to one year. The word “Advertisement” will be used on advertising copy which in the opinion of the publisher resembles editorial. The terms set out above are subject to change without notiﬁcation at the discretion of the publisher.

Advertisement Prooﬁng

The proofing of advertisements cannot be guaranteed unless advertising copy content is received at Cairns Local News by 4pm TUESDAY prior to publication. The final proofing deadline is 5pm Wednesday prior to publication, any revisions requested after 5pm Wednesday are not guaranteed. If a booking is confirmed, final proof approval is not required by Cairns Local News.

Advertising Code Clearance

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HOW DO I CANCEL AN ADVERTISEMENT?

Cairns

Local News

Cairns Local News collects personal information to assist us in providing goods and services which you have requested to process competition entries, giveaways and to improve our products and services to you. We may be in touch by phone, mail, fax or internet to inform you of any services and promotions which may be of interest.

If you would prefer us not to do so, please write to us at:

Cairns Local News, Suite F03, The Conservatory, 12-14 Lake St, Cairns, Qld 4870

Access to your personal information can be obtained by calling (07) 4031 7678.

Friday October 18th

Cairns Night Markets: 54-60 Abbott St, 16:30-23:00

Kuranda Heritage Markets: Rob Veivers Dr, 10:00-15:30

Kuranda Rainforest Markets: 13 Therwine St, 10:00-15:00

Rusty’s Markets: Grafton St, Cairns, 05:00-16:00

Place an ad in Cairns Local News to wish them all the best!

Should you need to cancel an advertisement campaign, please advise in writing 7 days prior to publication. Should you need to cancel an existing advertisement, please call the ofﬁce on 4031 7678 before the weekly deadline:

Display Ads: 5:00pm Tuesdays Classiﬁeds: 4:00pm Wednesdays

Another method of cancellation is by emailing: admin@cairnslocalnews.com.au

Saturday October 19th

Cairns Night Markets: 54-60 Abbott St, 16:30-23:00

Clifton Beach Markets: Clifton Beach Shopping Centre, 09:00-14:00

Innisfail Lioness Markets: ANZAC Memorial Park, 07:00-12:00

Kuranda Heritage Markets: Rob Veivers Dr, 10:00-15:30

Kuranda Rainforest Markets: 13 Therwine St, 10:00-15:00

Malanda Markets: Malanda Showgorunds, 07:30-12:30

Mossman Markets: 13 Foxton Ave, 07:00-12:00

Rusty’s Markets: Grafton St, Cairns, 05:00-16:00

Sunday October 20th

Cairns Night Markets: 54-60 Abbott St, 16:30-23:00

Kuranda Heritage Markets: Rob Veivers Dr, 10:00-15:30

Kuranda Rainforest Markets: 13 Therwine St, 10:00-15:00

Mission Beach Markets: Ulysses Park, 07:00-12:00

Port Douglas Markets: Wharf St, 08:00-13:30

Rusty’s Markets: Grafton St, Cairns, 05:00-15:00

The Pier Markets: The Pier Shopping Mall, 09:00-14:00

Wondecla Markets: Wondecla Showgrounds, 08:00-12:00

Sport Women’s game gets

Northern Pride to enter 2025 BMD Premiership showcasing female participation

l

RUGBY LEAGUE

| Isabella Guzman Gonzalez

THE women’s game is taking to new heights in the 2025 season with Northern Pride’s announcement of new coach Colin Wilkie and the entry to the 2025 BMD Premiership, a prestigious competition showcasing the best in women’s rugby league.

An exciting 2025 season is in the making for the Northern Pride women’s team with two major announcements – a new coach and an entry into the 2025 BMD Premiership – which the club expects to grow the women’s game and develop pathways for female athletes in the Far North.

Former North Queensland Cowboys and Melbourne Storm player Colin Wilkie will be the head coach of the premiership team, and the club is hoping that his years of experience and leadership can take the team to BMD Premiership glory.

“We started looking at this about three years ago,” said Pride’s chief executive Garreth Smith.

“We’ve had some challenges that we had to jump through before we could make it happen, so it’s been tough, but good to get it where it needs to be so that we can put a team in next year and start providing pathways which is our responsibility.

“Colin is from the region, which is important to us. He’s very familiar with

the female players and the game. Likewise he’s got experience in the NRL systems himself. He’s been a seasonal head coach in Tully, so he’s quite connected with the game and particularly with Northern Pride through his A-grade coach and our head coaches, so we’re excited to have him on board.

“This is a great segue for our women, a great opportunity to bring home those who are playing away from the region and a great opportunity for them to see what the pathway is to the highest level.”

Mr Wilkie said he was ready for the BMD challenge.

“I’m immensely proud and it’s a huge honour and privilege to be a part of the Kenfrost Homes Northern Pride,” he said.

“These opportunities weren’t around when I was coming through as a junior. I was one of those players who had to move away to chase my dreams, so it’s an exciting opportunity for the women.

“We got that tightness here, the girls know each other from carnivals and other events, or have played together at the highest level, so it’s a pretty tight group, I’ve had a discussion with them and they’re all just very excited.

“It’s a privilege to be part of this momentous occasion for the club, and I’m looking forward to working with the players, staff and community to make our inaugural season a success.”

Sport Results

BROTHERS EDMONTON

BOWLS

Wednesday, October 9th

overall winners: R Jorgensen, M Beachero, G Frizzo. Game 1 winners: A Del Favero, J Populin, R Pamphilon. Game 2 winners: G Atkinson, R Morris, J Jackson.

Monday, October 7th cham-

pionship singles: D Hester def G Buttigieg. Thursday, October 10th social bowls winners: M Girardi, M Daffy, J Baird, L Backhouse; R/U: A Crittenden, L Catalano, S Bates, G Buttigieg. Championship Singles: S Rowe def R Fraser. Saturday, October 12th: Osbourne

Construction Mixed Classic winners: D Hester, E Rick, A Hansen, J Rick; R/U: J Baird, J Mason, J Alexander, D Jacoora. 3rd: Y Best, L Catalano, M Catalano, M Paris.

WEST CAIRNS BOWLS CLUB

Tuesday, October 8th afternoon winners: D Daffy, J Blain, B Power; R/U: J Mills, R Radigna, L Mills. Thursday, October 10th thirsty Thursday winners: M Ford, D Evans, Brownie.

Friday, October 11th scroungers winner: G Rowley; R/U: S Braggar. Sunday, October 12th winners: R Solo-Hamilton, D Lowe, D Keogh; R/U: N Kehrer, R Radigna, M Taylor. Club championships. B-grade pairs: B Berger, Yakka def R Apps, S Carolan. L Vernon, G Stanley def D Hooper, J Cole. Final mixed pairs: D Evans, G Fallon def V Molloy, M Hetherton.

MOSSMAN BOWLS CLUB

Saturday, October 12th win-

ners: Peter Busch, Richard Pitt +27; R/U: Richard Anderson, Warren McCoist, Nev Tesch +23. Sas, Derek Franklin, John Arnold +17. John Cochrane, Bill Allison +12. Bernie Wolland, Mark Fetherston, Jock Constantine +2.

MARLIN COAST BOWLS CLUB

Tuesday, October 8th winners: Jack, Helen, Laurie; R/U: Peter, Warren. Tuesday afternoon men’s triples winners:

D Parnell, G Smith, E Blythe; R/U: Bob, Michael A, Geoff. Tuesday night bowls winners: Sisca, Barry, Dennis, Ian, Keith, Hans. Thursday, October 10th mixed self-selected triples winners: John, Alan, Brian; R/U: Joan, Trish, Valerie. Saturday, October 12th scroungers winner: A Tymms; R/U: Betty. Club championships mixed Pairs: T & T McAlary def SJ Pitt, L McCarthy, 23-20. D & J Russell def B & G Andreatta, 20-15.

Northern Pride CEO Garreth Smith, board member Kym McPhee-Smith and new BMD Premiership coach Colin Wilkie. Picture: Isabella Guzman Gonzalez

Victorians win at 20th year of Cairns International Pro Tour tournament

Tennis comp beyond belief

l TENNIS

| Isabella Guzman Gonzalez

THE 20th year of the Cairns International Pro Tour has officially ended after two thrilling weeks of tennis at the Cairns International Tennis Centre with Destanee Aiva and Omar Jasika emerging victorious on the last weekend of finals.

The stands were full at the weekend to witness last year’s champion and top seed Omar Jasika (Melbourne) take the second week of the championship against Victorian player Marc Polmans in a gripping contest that ended 6-3, 6-4 making him champion of the Cairns Pro Tour two years in a row.

The women’s singles final was just as exciting where Destanee Aiava from Melbourne proved to be too strong for finalist Maddison Inglis from Perth, taking the win with a 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 nail-biting final.

The match, lasting almost three hours, saw Ms Aiava deliver heavy forehands and backhands to claim the title.

After the match Ms Aiava said she was excited to end the tournament victorious.

“It felt like a good reward for a long week, as well as playing doubles,” she said.

“I think a lot of my matches were quite tough, but I was happy with my performance throughout the entire week, and I think I competed well.

“I enjoyed playing in Far North

Queensland, every time I’ve come to Cairns I’ve always done well. It’s also nice to see friends and play in this tournament.”

Presenting the trophies to the women’s and men’s singles champions was Edge Hill Tennis Club and the Cairns International Tennis Centre president Tom Horn, accompanied by Tennis Queensland board member and Edge Hill Tennis Club treasurer Paul Horn.

Queensland players fell short in the two weeks of tennis in Cairns, and didn’t make it into the spotlight in this year’s tournament with the exception of Lizette Cabrera from Townsville, who finished as runner-up on week one.

World’s number one junior Emerson Jones from the Gold Coast came close to finals on both weeks but, despite being the top seed, she was defeated by Australia’s number 9 Destanee Aiava, ending the championship dream for Queensland players.

Tournament director Jason Simmons said it had been a great year for the Cairns International Pro Tour.

“Week 2 of the Cairns International Pro Tour has exceeded all expectations, with incredible matches and a wonderful atmosphere throughout the event,” he said.

“We’re grateful to the players, the fans, and the local community for making this event so special.”

Over the two weeks the champions were awarded a combined prize of $US100,000 and also competed for improving world rankings.

Netball academy draws more players in great season

l NETBALL

| Isabella Guzman Gonzalez

THE Kenfrost Homes Marlin Coast Netball Academy has wrapped up an extremely successful season with their festival of netball which attracted over 100 players, umpires and coaches and kickstarted the recruitment of the 2025 Marlins team.

Young girls – ages 13-16 – from the Cairns, Innisfail, Tablelands and Tully association alongside a special guest team from Singapore spent their

weekend at the Cairns Colonial Club for the Marlin Coast Netball Academy festival in preparation for the recruitment of the 2025 Marlins team.

With the presence of coaches and umpires like Vicki Wilson and Amanda Stagg, the players went through a series of matches, strength conditioning and team-boniding exercises to be nominated for the Marlins squad which will be selected on November 30.

“At the festival we had 65 players, and we had coaches and umpires, so we had about 120 people stay at the Cairns Colo-

nial Club overnight,” said academy president Heather McLaren.

“We had presenters Vicki Wilson former diamond, high performance coach Amanda Stagg,

Mark Henning, who’s an internationally acclaimed umpire and strength and conditioning coach. The girls were put on rotations of 60 minutes, four hours in total,

working with each presenter and then we went into match play.

“All the girls were able to meet and play the other girls from all the associations and the invitational team from Singapore which had 10 girls.

“From the festival there was a squad of 30 girls nominated and we’ll bring them back in November to select the academy teams to go away and represent Marlin Coast in 2025.”

Ms McLaren said it had been a very successful year and it was also evident during the festival.

“Our numbers increased about 20-25 per cent from last year, we

had 130 girls in the academy this year,” she said.

“This year we had to separate the 11 and 12-year-olds from the older girls, so we could offer equal coaching because we had so many.

“We can see that the skill level is getting better each year. This year the girls went to Singapore, and they were on a great level, they won the competition.

“It’s been a very rewarding year. We don’t know yet where we’ll be going in 2025 but we’ll focus on selecting the squad on November 30 and that’s the wrap up for the Marlins in 2024.”

Vicki Wilson (left) and Marc Henning (right) with the most valuable players from the Marlin Coast Netball Academy. Picture: Supplied

Australia’s number 9 tennis player Destanee Aiava has won the women’s Cairns International Pro Tour championship in its second week. Inset top: Cairns International Pro Tour week two champion Destanee Aiava and finalist Maddison Inglis. Inset bottom: Top seed and 2023 Cairns International Pro Tour champion Omar Jasika and and finalist Marc Polmans. Pictures: Supplied

Cairns Local News October 18 2024

Local News Cairns

Crime busters

EXCLUSIVE: Police to join council staﬀ in City Safe nerve centre

l CAIRNS REGION

Nearly 500,000 overseas visitors through airport in 2023-24

Tourists on way back

New council CEO has disaster and rebuild nous

Young filmmakers reveal their rich talents

GPs demand meeting

Doctors want to discuss benefits of fluoride with all councillors

l CAIRNS REGION

Local Briefs

l SCHOLARSHIP

l GARAGE SALE

l $77,000 KENO WIN

l FREE FISH & CHIPS

Protecting two key beaches

Vital foreshore plan unveiled for Kurrimine and Cowley coastal communities

Time for a shopping Mission

l MISSION BEACH

Paul dives into retirement

l PORTSMITH

Council News Update

Weather bureau issues ‘severe’ warning

Cyclones to ‘get worse’

l FAR NORTH

COMMITTED TO SERVICE

UNDERSTANDING LOCAL NEEDS

LISTENING TO COMMUNITY PRIORITIES

State election2024

Nearly $118m

pledged to Natural Resource Management teams

LNP ticks green boxes

l FRESHWATER

Healy launches precinct

l PORTSMITH

State election

LNP’s rock groyne promise

l YORKEYS KNOB

$3.5m ‘goal’ for soccer

Labor commits to new women-friendly building at Endeavour Park

MAYOR’S CHRISTMAS CHARITY Light up someone’s Christmas

WITH A

VOICE?

Fight to keep local stories alive

State election2024

More queries than answers

Chamber/TTNQ forum gives candidates chance to present their policies to voters

Lettersto the editor

Cultural delights at Riverfest

Health and Beauty

Physio can ﬁx bad back pain

Your Home inside and out

Fridge seals are critical

l CAIRNS REGION

Focus is on locals at LTS

l PORTSMITH

TimeOut

Kiddies will love this show

Pevan and Sarah to excite audiences at CPAC

of Life’ for Pink Floyd fanatics

Show relives famous entertainer’s 1968 comeback special plus 1970s music

Honouring Elvis the legend

l CAIRNS CBD

Celebrating India’s fantastic Diwali or festival of lights

TimeOut

It’s back home for city muso

l MANUNDA

Songbirds to lift the Tanks

l EDGE HILL

CAIRNS CAIRNS CENTRAL CINEMA

Radical short film festival

WHAT’S

ROTARY BEACH VIBE @ TRINITY BEACH

KALEIDOSCOPE @ AUSTRALIA GALLERY

HEATH FRANKLIN’S CHOPPER @ CPAC

DRAX PROJECT @ TANKS ARTS CENTRE

MUSIC OF THE NIGHT @ CPAC

GIG Guide