Cairns Local News August 23 2024

Local News Cairns

Youth urged to have say

l CAIRNS REGION

THE young people of Cairns are being urged to have their say on Cairns Regional Council’s priorities through the 2024 Our Cairns Youth Survey.

The survey, which seeks the views of locals aged 14 to 24, is now open via the council’s website and will close at 6pm on Friday, September 20.

Complementing the broader Our Cairns survey, the youth-focused questionnaire hones in on the pressing issues of today, while seeking thoughts on how the city can better support the day-to-day needs of young people and their aspirations for the future.

Survey results will be benchmarked against findings of the inaugural 2020 youth survey and analysed alongside the broader Our Cairns Survey results. Some of the questions include:

• What are your hopes for the future?

• Have you been a victim of crime?

• What would you like to see more of in Cairns?

Subjects include activities and facilities, your future, public transport, safety, the environment and the community.

Cairns Mayor Amy Eden said the youth survey would help the council make decisions in the best interests of the next generation.

CONTINUED PAGE 2

Piccones sell up Philanthropic family bows out of major retail interests

l CAIRNS REGION

| Nick Dalton

THE Piccones have sold their major retail interests in Cairns as the brothers running the operations –John, aged 62, and Peter, 65, – retire.

The two IGA supermarket businesses at Edmonton and Manoora have been bought by the Peries IGA Group while the Star Hotels Group is taking over The Hambledon (‘Hambo’) Hotel.

John Piccone said, while it was “sad” for the family, there was no succession plan.

“The eight grandchildren (aged 24-32 of their late father Lou and mother Elaine and the children of six siblings) have their own successful careers and we are glad they are successful in what they do,” he said.

“It’s time for someone else to continue the businesses. It’s sad to step out of the prime business – we’ve been in retail for a long time.”

The Piccones will retain the freehold of the shopping centre sites and the many tenancies while the freehold of the hotel at Edmonton will be acquired by Star, which has also taken over the Raintrees Tavern. The family will still own My Village Bakehouse at Edmonton.

Mr Piccone said the family was

leaving a legacy for their children with the shopping centre properties.

He said they were pleased that a family-owned and operated company was buying the supermarket businesses.

Mr Piccone said the 260 supermarket staff and 40 at the hotel would be retained while a couple of administration staff at the head office would lose their jobs.

He said Peries would retain their supermarket general manager Trent Haddow to run the two supermarkets as well as the Woree store, also owned by Peries, which has 11 other supermarkets in Queensland.

The supermarket deals are due to be settled next month while the hotel contract would be finalised in mid-October.

Mr Piccone said all three businesses had been successful. Edmonton was the original supermarket and shopping centre started from a general store established by their grandmother in 1956 and taken over by their father Lou.

In 2004 the Piccones bought the Pease St shopping centre of 6.5ha from the Chapman family and built a new supermarket with additional tenancies including medical centres and a pharmacy over the years.

The Piccone brothers got involved in the family business in 1990.

CONTINUED PAGE 2

John Piccone of Piccone’s IGA supermarkets (centre) with Italian Festival vice-president Sam Marino and president Claudio Di Bartolomeo. The Piccones were major sponsors of the festival.

Picture: Maddy Gavin

Suburban church marks a century of Christian teachings

100 years of ministry

l FRESHWATER

| Isaac Colman

FRESHWATER Church is marking 100 years of serving the community.

Established in 1924, Freshwater Church is a member of the Australian Christian Churches organisation, a network of over 1100 Pentecostal churches across Australia.

Seeing exponential growth over the 100 years, the church now owns and operates various mission trips, support programs, as well as the now 41-year-old school Freshwater Christian College.

College teacher Hank DeVries, who has been a church member for 33 years, said he had seen amazing change since he first became part of community, highlighting contributions from him as well as his wife Valerie DeVries.

“We were attending the church when Norman and Kendrie Smallcomb were the pastors in the 1990s,” Mr DeVries said.

“Val ran a choir, but we were mainly involved with the school,” he said.

“When we started at the school there was only one class for each level with about 250 students. The school was very centred upon the Gospel, and every child would learn Bible verses.

“Val and I have so many memories from over the years.

“Some of our favourite highlights have been sharing the Gospel with students and exploring different and adventurous teaching strategies.

“Val has also trained debate teams that have performed at the highest level and helped to run high-standard musicals.

“In the HCIC, I have helped students to produce high-standard timber products, while in other classes producing and running orienteering courses and helping students whose lives have been broken.”

Mr DeVries also said various members of the church community were extremely involved within the school.

“Pastor Smallcomb was very involved in the school, running marching classes like a sergeant major,” he said.

“(Pastor Smallcomb) also organised a community outreach called ‘The Singing Christmas Tree’ at The Pier, with 100 students standing on four levels of an artificial tree reaching the ceiling.

“He asked Val to direct these performances for three nights.

“Students also went to visit and sing to lonely people in aged care facilities.”

“We now have close to 600 students, with academic and sporting achievements increasing more and more over the years.”

Piccones sell supermarkets, hotel Youth urged to reply

FROM PAGE 1

“We’ve grown massively over the years,” Mr Piccone said.

“We’ve been very fortunate, well supported by the locals, the staff have been amazing and the loyalty of customers has been fantastic,” he said.

“We’ve been very fortunate

to have grown as we have.”

Mr Piccone said he had “no problem” selling.

“I feel we have proved what we’ve done and what we have achieved and have given back so much to Cairns and Far North Queensland,” he said.

“It’s been our duty bred into us by our father and mother.”

Mr Piccone said over the past 34 years the family had donated $10 million to the community through their three major businesses.

He said they would not be able to offer the same generosity after the supermarkets sell but they would do what they could in the future.

FROM PAGE 1

“I love to see young people get involved in council’s decision-making,” she said.

“This survey is a chance for our youth to let us know what’s important to them, so we can prioritise activities and programs that, not only support their future, but encourage them to stay in our region.”

The Our Cairns Youth Survey is being backed by the Cairns youth council, which will help drive interest among high school students.

Students and schools can get involved in the Youth Survey by sharing social media posts.

Visit: https://bit.ly/3Mapect

Freshwater community member and Freshwater Christian College Teacher Hank DeVries beside their distinctive wooden cross. Picture: Isaac Colman

Residents asked to get vaccinated urgently

l YARRABAH

AN expanded immunisation clinic has been established at Yarrabah after two residents were admitted to hospital with symptoms of meningococcal and a third person treated for a suspected infection.

After successful contact tracing and prophylactic treatment, Gurriny Yealamucka Health Services, in partnership with the Tropical Public Health Service, have commenced an expanded immunisation clinic to be initially conducted over three-days this week.

Free immunisation shots are available to all Yarrabah community members up to and including 23 years of age, severely immunocompromised people and residents that live in community that are household contacts or contacts of the confirmed cases.

The Gurriny Yealamucka Public Health team has carried out contact tracing on both confirmed cases and administered where appropriate antibiotics and offered an immunisation shot.

The first confirmed case has been released from hospital and is now back in community, the second case remains in Townsville Hospital and is no longer in ICU.

Gurriny Yealamucka’s director medicine Dr Jason King said the service continued to provide access to child and adult immunisation free of charge to the Yarrabah community. Dr

Uni campus contract

Brisbane-based architects to design new CQU building in CBD

l CAIRNS CBD

| Nick Dalton

BRISBANE-based Richard Kirk

Architects have been awarded the design tender for CQUniversity’s new $50 million CBD campus in Cairns.

CQUniversity associate vicepresident Far North Queensland region Jodie Duignan-George said Richard Kirk Architects were a highly respected and experienced firm, especially in the education sector, with notable projects such as JCU’s engineering and innovation place in Townsville.

“Kirk Architects have commenced the design process, including stakeholder engagement sessions and aim to complete

the concept development in the last quarter of this year, with the hope that shovels will be in the ground by early next year,” she said.

Ms Duignan-George said CQU had received the first stage of funding for the design phase of the project from the federal government.

Mr Kirk said his firm was looking forward to delivering the project for the university.

He said it was hoped to lodge a development application with the Cairns Regional Council soon and provide a concept design next month.

Mr Kirk said it was CQU’s largest project to date and it would become another significant education facility for North

and Far North Queensland.

“Kirk have partnered with Cairns architect Andrew Lane (Indig Design) for the project and are looking forward to the collaboration,” he said.

“Kirk designed the recently opened engineering innovation place building in JCU Townsville – so we are excited to be able to continue working in the region.”

Mr Kirk said the challenges of designing a building in the tropics and a cyclone area would be applied to the Cairns structure.

The firm would also be using local consultants.

“CQU will be keen to see building start as soon as possible,” Mr Kirk said.

He said the site – which was the old post office – on the corner of Grafton and Hartley streets

“was an important site for the city of Cairns”.

He said it would fill the gap between the convention centre and one of the main streets of Cairns.

“The university will create a buzz and excitement in that part of the city centre,” Mr Kirk said.

The council said June 30, 2024 deadline was a deadline for CQU to provide confirmation to the council that government funding had been secured to progress the project.

“That requirement has now been met,” he said.

“(The) council and CQU continue to work together to realise the full community benefit of a new Cairns campus and (the) council understands that design is underway for the new facility.”

Local Briefs

l CATHOLIC SUMMIT

THE countdown is on for the 2025 Australian Catholic Education Conference hosted by the National Catholic Education Commission (NCEC) and host diocese, Catholic Education Diocese of Cairns (CEDC). The conference will be held at the newly-refurbished Cairns Convention Centre in Far North Queensland from August 20-22, 2025. This triennial event is expected to attract around 1500 delegates including Catholic educators, leaders, clergy, parents, and others involved in Catholic education.

l

$4M WATER WORKS

MORE than $4 million of water main works are underway to improve supply to areas that have suffered disruptions over the past two years in Cairns. The annual renewal program replaces old or deteriorating pipes that have been subject to three or more breaks in the previous 24 months. Mains for renewal are at Bartle Frere, Bluewater, Bungalow, Edge Hill, Mirriwinni, Packers Camp, Smithfield, Trinity Beach and Westcourt.

l ELECTION JOBS

APPLICATIONS have opened for nearly 15,000 casual election staff roles needed to deliver the state general election on October 26. Temporary workers play a critical part on the front-line during elections, helping millions of Queenslanders to have their say about who they want to represent them in state government. The thousands of casual roles on offer will cover work before, on, or after election day.

Visit https://bit.ly/3AGgf04

l DIRECTOR RESIGNS

AFTER a successful two-year tenure, Cairns Indigenous Art Fair’s artistic director, Francoise Lane, has announced her resignation and will step down on September 6, 2024, marking the beginning of a new chapter in her career.

Marc Harbrow Harbrow Mentoring

Andrea Obeysekere Centacare FNQ

Geoff Heath Heath & Zhang Cairns

Peter Roach of Gurriny Yealamucka Health Services with Jaraymas Myngha and Lanyah, aged 3. Picture: Gurriny Yealamucka

JCU’s engineering and innovation place in Townsville.

Picture: Andrew Rankin

Cyclone insurance advocacy

l CASSOWARY COAST

CHANGES to cyclone reinsurance is top of the agenda for Cassowary Coast Regional Council representatives at this year’s Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) Conference in October.

Mayor Teresa Millwood said the motions include advocating for changes to cyclone reinsurance and addressing insurance affordability for households and small business, as well as securing funding commitments aligned with the Reef 2050 Long Term Sustainability Plan.

“The current reinsurance claims period of just 48 hours is not enough,” she said. “We need the government to support a claims period of a week alongside consideration of a range of other factors to improve the affordability of insurance premiums for households and small businesses.

“We’ll also continue advocating on behalf of the 19 Reef Guardian councils, underscoring a collective commitment to preserving the Great Barrier Reef and its ecological future.”

The council is also advocating for an amendment to the Local Government Act providing for the mayor to give direction to the chief executive officer (CEO) and senior executives.

Other councillors attending the conference are Nick Pervan, Jeff Baines, Ellen Jessop and Renee McLeod.

Uni study hub opens Free venue for many students

l INNISFAIL

| Nick Dalton

LONELINESS, isolation and poor internet connectivity are a thing of the past for CQUniversity student Tara Larsen with the opening of a university study hub in Innisfail.

The Cassowary Coast University Centre (CCUC), an initiative of Vocational Partnerships Group (VPG), opened its doors this week.

Building on the success of the Tablelands University Centre, established by VPG in 2023, the CCUC is a close collaboration between VPG and foundation supporter, Cassowary Coast Regional Council (CCRC).

The CCUC, on the upper level of the Innisfail regional library, features modern facilities, including computers, dual monitors, options for BYO devices, high-speed internet and comprehensive academic and wellbeing support.

The centre is designed to foster academic success with flexible learning and study spaces, catering to both individual and group needs.

Ms Larsen, who is the first student to register, is no stranger to remote study and said she was excited about the opening of the hub.

“I’ve always been passionate about the medical field and dreamt of becoming a doctor, a nurse, or a

paramedic,” she said. “And, recently, I developed a strong interest in diagnostics.

“To pursue this pathway, I completed a university bridging course remotely in 2023, and I’m now studying a Bachelor of Medical Sonography with CQUniversity.

“Studying remotely has definitely had its challenges. It can be pretty lonely and isolating at times, and I also struggle with poor internet access at home.

“Having the CCUC means I will now have the freedom of being able to come here on my own time and have a space to learn with no distractions.

“I’m also really looking forward to being able to study around other people.”

Ms Larsen was instrumental in the 2023 advocacy campaign, alongside VPG and CCRC’s Youth Advisory Committee, to win the study hub.

CCUC centre coordinator Karina Messina said the goal was to offer every student, regardless of their background or postcode, similar levels of support and opportunities as those in major urban areas.

Cassowary Coast Mayor Teresa Millwood said supporting youth was a high priority and the university centre would go a long way towards that Register at https://bit.ly/3yyJoKh

45,000

The first student to register with the Cassowary Coast University Centre, Tara Larsen, alongside CCUC centre coordinator Karina Messina inside the new study hub. Picture: Supplied

Disability expo at The Pier

l

CAIRNS WATERFRONT

THE Cairns Disability Network (CDN)’s 2024 Disability Expo is at the Pier Cairns on Tuesday.

Network president Sheridan Lawton said the expo was dedicated to empowering individuals with a disability, aged, illness or injury and was promoting inclusivity within our community.

“The disability expo is the biggest ever and brings together a diverse range of 137 exhibitors, including service providers, advocacy organisations, healthcare professionals, and technology innovators, all under one roof,” she said. “The latest products and services designed to enhance independence and quality of life for people with disabilities, aged, illness or injury will be displayed.”

Key highlights of the event include:

• Exhibitor booths – Explore a wide range of service providers and products from industry leaders in accessibility, assistive technology, healthcare, and more

• Specialist services – Experts in disability rights, employment, education, and healthcare

• Networking opportunities – Connect with peers, advocates, and professionals in the disability community.

The free event is from 9am5pm on Tuesday, August 27.

New project will provide 150 desperately-needed apartments

$50m housing boost

l MANUNDA

| Nick Dalton

PART of a caravan park and two houses are to make way for a new 150-unit low-cost housing development at Manunda, worth at least $50 million.

Cairns Regional Council last week approved the plan for 45 one-bedroom units and 105 twobedroom units in three separate towers and 160 car parking spaces.

NQ Villas Pty Ltd has been given a material change of use permit for the land at 10-30 Pease Street and 164 and 172 Hoare Street, Manoora.

About 14 cabins off Pease St and two houses in Hoare St would be demolished for the towers.

Sydney-based businessman Tony Breuer said Cairns Villa and Leisure Park – which was currently full – would remain for the time being but would be considered for redevelopment in the future as well.

He said he hoped to start on the project as soon as possible but was seeking funding support from the federal and state governments.

Mr Breuer said there was a lack of rental housing stock in Cairns and this would help fulfil the need.

He said it was very hard to make medium to high residen-

An artist’s impression of the three tower blocks which will contain 150 new apartments at Manunda. Picture: JB Design

tial density housing “stack up” in Cairns because construction costs were much higher than in capital cities.

Mr Breuer said he hoped that some of the people who would be forced to leave when the cabins were demolished would be able to return and live in the new towers.

The park once was a popular holiday destination before the global financial and housing crises, eventually leading to longterm accommodation for lower socioeconomic groups and it subsequently spiralled into a den of squalor, drug use and

high rates of domestic violence.

But the opening of the Cairns West police station across the road in January last year, the availability of support services at the park and new management have successfully turned around the situation.

The development application said “this type of development is desperately needed in Cairns and should be highly supported and encouraged by council”.

“(It) is unlikely to have any significant impacts on the infrastructure, environment or community of the surrounding area,” it said.

Cr Anna Middleton told the council meeting that it was good use of the land while Cr Cathy Zeiger said she hoped the developer would consider a playground for children as well.

Cr Brett Moller said it was a good example of an infill development while Cr Matthew Tickner said it was “exactly what we are after”.

But, he said, it was important that people forced to leave were looked after.

Mayor Amy Eden said in-fill development would be crucial to supporting growth while retaining the character of Cairns.

The city’s biggest celebration of arts and culture starts today!

From family favourites the Grand Parade and Carnival on Collins, to stunning light shows, comedy, dance and exhibitions, the 10-day program has something for everyone.

Check out the full Cairns Festival program at cairnsfest.com.au.

Road closures

Festival Launch

Shields St, Esplanade to Aplin Street, 6pm today to 5am tomorrow.

Grand Parade, Saturday - 5am to 10pm

n Pier Point Rd (part road closure)

n Esplanade, from Spence St to Minnie St

n Minnie St, from Lake St to the Esplanade

n Lake St, from Minnie St to Florence St.

“Infill housing creates these homes in areas that have existing water, sewer and road infrastructure, and close to services such as health and education, reducing the need for large capital investments to provide these essentials. It’s a sustainable approach to addressing the housing shortage, while preserving the unique character of our city.” Mr Breuer said he was grateful to the council for supporting his new housing project. He said he hoped to start next year after working with the state and federal governments for support.

We apologise for any inconvenience.

Input wanted on skate park

l WOREE

SKATERS are being asked what they think of a draft skate park design for Jeff Pezzutti Park at Woree.

A Cairns Regional Council spokeswoman said the council had been working with the community to develop a new kids and youth activity space at the park.

“We are now ready to show the community a draft skate park design based on the previous public consultation and survey results,” she said.

“We want to hear from skaters about the design and look at opportunities to make any changes if needed”.

Visit: https://bit.ly/4cv86cm

Facebook posts include:

• As an actual skater that rides every single day and not just some boomer who just learnt about skating on the Olympics, this design looks great. Lots of people asking for a half pipe even though Redlynch is about to get a half pipe extension upgrade and Esplanade has the iconic massive bowl. Half pipes kill flow and that can’t be afforded when there’s such a limited footprint to work in.

– Jebb Seymour • Love it, but please

remember a lot of skaters are not kids. The oldest skateboard competitor at the Paris Olympics was 51. – Steve Schwartz

• Do the survey people or you could end up with this average looking concept.

– Adrian Broad

• Yeah, not good. Too much space with not a lot of flow at all. Needs more box jumps, hips, spines, even an open end deep drop in bowl like Bondi.

– Lukie Isaacson

• Only thing, there is no separate area. Scooters will be going in every direction. Crash course.

– Hans Jurss

Residents and council fork out thousands on repairs and unsuccessful solutions

Fig tree’s costly nightmare

l FRESHWATER

| Nick Dalton

TWO neighbours, who have suffered damage from fig tree roots at Freshwater, have spoken out after another resident called on Cairns Regional Council to save the tree.

Last week Dr Paul Matthews pleaded with the council to keep the tree, estimated to be 80-years-old, in Le Grande Park

by carefully pruning and managing the fig.

But the council has declared that the tree was beyond saving and will be axed later this month.

Elizabeth Taylor said she had complained many times over the past eight years to the council about the invasive roots of the tree, which CRC had tried to manage, to no avail.

“I am not a lone voice here.

My neighbour, Barb Daniels, who also shares a common rear

boundary with Le Grande Park, has also made numerous complaints to (the) council over the years,” she said.

Ms Taylor said over the past eight years the tree’s roots had resulted in more than $23,000 spent on repairs or irreplacable damage, involving sewage pipes, a new slab to replace uprooted pavers and gates. Roots had ruined a reticulated pest control system, artificial turf and gardens.

“Gardening is a pursuit that we

Severe Weather Community Forum

The Queensland Inspector-General of Emergency Management is hosting a meeting to hear your stories about: Tropical Cyclone Jasper and associated rainfall and flooding: December 2023

By sharing your story, you can help our disaster management sector better protect Queenslanders. Join us: Thursday 29 August 2024, 4.45–8.00pm (registrations at 4.45pm, event starts at 5.00pm) Disaster Coordination Centre, 11 Flying Fish Point Rd, Innisfail Light refreshments provided.

should be able to enjoy without constant intrusion of large and small tree roots,” Ms Taylor said.

“The council did not need ‘an excuse’ to decide to remove the tree,” she said.

“An assessment of the health of the tree by CRC’s head arborist after three very large limbs fell after Cyclone Jasper and a review of all the facts would, in my view, lead anyone who considered all the facts that the tree has to go.”

Ms Taylor said the council had spent tens of thousands of dollars of ratepayer money to put down three root barriers in the park along the rear boundary of her and her neighbour’s house.

“The final root barrier installed in 2023 went down 1m in depth and extended for 80m and still failed to stop the tree roots invading our properties,” she said.

“Sonar equipment, which the council contracted to identify if root intrusion was still occur-

ring under the 1m root barrier (following our continued complaints), showed the tree roots extended to 1.5m below the surface, along the root barrier, in order to continue to invade our properties.

“The cost to ratepayers of trying to control this tree and to continually remove branches and large limbs that fall in a public park, to protect public safety, is not money well spent.”

Letters – Page 10

An artist’s impression of a proposed skate park at Jeff Pezzutti Park at Woree. Cairns Regional Council is asking potential users for their input. Picture: Cairns Regional Council

New bishop ordained

l CAIRNS CBD

FORMER Melbourne priest Joe Caddy (pictured below) has been ordained as the Bishop of Cairns in a ceremony involving 600 people at St Monica’s Cathedral.

He follows longterm Bishop James Foley, who retired in 2022 after 30 years in the role.

The ordination ceremony on Thursday last week attracted bishops and clergy from around Australia who gathered to pray for Bishop Joe and the success of his mission in Far North Queensland. Archbishop Mark Coleridge of Brisbane was the chief celebrant.

A special feature of the service was the singing of ‘The Magnificat’ composed by Rev Christopher Willcock SJ for the occasion. Bishop Joe’s 88-yearold father, John, sang the solo part. He flew up with Bishop Joe’s mother and family from Melbourne to support his son.

Bishop Joe said he was both humbled and excited by the Pope’s decision to appoint him to the role and by the messages of support he had received.

“My new role here in Far North Queensland brings me to one of the most beautiful parts of God’s creation to do all I can to bring Christ’s message to those who live, visit and holiday here,” he said.

AirAsia touches down

Historic service opens FNQ to many Asian, UK and European ports

| Nick Dalton

TAPPING into the emerging Asian middle class traveller market as well as youth and group travellers from the UK and Europe is the focus of the new AirAsia Bali to Cairns route.

The historic flights into Cairns will operate three times a week, injecting more than 28,000 seats into the Cairns market in the first year.

Tourism Tropical North Queensland chief executive officer Mark Olsen said AirAsia Indonesia would allow the Far North to tap into new markets in Asia.

“The urban Asian middleclass is expanding rapidly and these flights will allow Cairns to tap into new source markets,” he said.

“The route will also be attractive for travellers connecting from Europe and the United Kingdom, particularly the youth and group series markets wanting a stopover in Indonesia.”

Cairns Airport chief executive officer Richard Barker said the inaugural flight was a significant milestone for the wider Tropical North Queensland region.

“AirAsia is one of the world’s most recognisable airline brands and is renowned in the industry as Asia’s first low cost, low fare carrier,” he said. “This new service will offer immense benefits to our region and many key industries, providing seamless, affordable connections to Cairns from Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and domestic Indonesia, which will bolster visitation and business opportunities from these major, populous markets.

“Bali is also a highly popular destination for locals, and we know this new service has been well-received by holidaymakers across Tropical North Queensland.”

AirAsia Indonesia chief executive officer Veranita Yosephine said the airline was connecting millions of Indonesians and many more millions of guests from Asia and beyond via Bali to Tropical North Queensland’s gateway.

“We see great demand, not only for this new direct route. Everyone loves Bali but at the same time we see many opportunities to promote the incredible tourism highlights in the far north of Queensland to our international guests like the Great Barrier Reef – one of the seven wonders of the world and to visit the amazing world-renowned rainforests,” she said.

AirAsia head of indonesia affairs and policy Eddy Soemawilaga (left), Cairns Airport CEO Richard Barker, AirAsia Indonesia CEO Veranita Yosephine, Tourism Minister Michael Healy, Tourism Tropical North Queensland CEO Mark Olsen and Indonesian consul of economic affairs Katherine Wardani. Picture: Cairns Airport

Marine radio courses

l INNISFAIL

WITH the approach of the 202425 spring and summer boating seasons, the safety of boaters comes to the front of mind among the region’s Coast Guard volunteers.

NQ Squadron training projects vice-captain Don Alexander said marine VHF Radio provided the most reliable method of communications between vessels operating in coastal waters and to Coast Guard radio shore bases.

“Some boaters rely on their mobile phone system for offshore communications, however, this has been shown not to be reliable all circumstances,” he said.

“They do not contact other vessels in VHF range, provide weather or navigational warnings nor do they invoke timely responses to breakdown or distress situations.”

He said the cost of the course of $250 was relative to the cost of boats worth thousands of dollars.

Coast Guard, via the QF15 Innisfail flotilla, will be running one-day marine VHF radio licence courses for the boating public on Saturday and Sunday, September 21 and 22. Registrations close September 8. It includes a radio licence, handbook and full training sessions. Register interest by email to: fao.qf15@coastguard.com.au

Bowls clubs merge

New era for traditional outdoor sports and social organisations

l EDGE HILL

| Nick Dalton

EDGE Hill and Cairns bowls clubs have merged, been renamed and joined forces for a strong future for both organisations.

Edge Hill Cairns Bowls Club operations manager Lawrence Green said that the merger was a result of over a year of consultation and collaboration between the two clubs.

“We at Edge Hill Bowls Club were rebranding anyway and when we got into talks with Cairns Bowls Club and the merger came along, it all came together to become what we’ve got today,” he said.

“Cairns Bowls Club has a

really steeped history of over 100 years and wanted to maintain that sense of identity while also looking to the future, which very much aligned with what we had planned for our rebrand.”

Mr Green said the aim of the merger and rebrand was to bring the club into the future while honouring this history.

“Our goal going into this was modernisation and making the club relevant to the demographics of today,” he said.

The last president of Cairns Bowls Club – Tony McAlary –said the remaining 15 members were delighted to join Edge Hill.

“Edge Hill was keen to take us on board and bring us into the fold. We also get to retain our name as part of the renaming and rebranding,” he said.

“We also get to preserve our 115-year history. We are the oldest bowls club in Queensland.

“They have welcomed us with open arms, their vote was unanimous, it’s wonderful.”

The once 200-plus full member bowls club was based in Toogood Rd at Woree.

But its demise was a series of misfortunes, including four serious break-ins causing massive damage, huge rises in insurance premiums, declining trade, and reduced volunteer help, Mr McAlary said.

The merged clubs were announced last weekend at the Edge Hill ‘classic’ bowls tournament which Mr McAlary’s team won with Shane Spina and John Rilley from the former Cairns club with the help of

Edge Hill’s Darren Curry. They were undefeated in five games.

Mr Green said the merged club was dedicated to becoming a hub of activity and community spirit with entertainment and social events scheduled regularly, members and guests could look forward to a lively and engaging calendar.

“We have Sunday sessions with live music, bao buns and oysters on the green, beers and bowls,” he said.

“It’s all about great food and great atmosphere. We also offer venue hire for events from birthdays to weddings to wakes and everything in between.”

Club manager Nick Twining said the club was family-friendly as well as welcoming and inclusive of members and visitors

from all walks of life.

“It’s such an easy-going kind of place and that welcoming atmosphere is what will really keep us moving into the future,” he said.

Mr Twining said it was also a dementia-friendly club, committed to creating an inclusive and accessible environment.

“The club welcomes everyone, fostering a sense of belonging and community support,” he said. The club includes a bistro with modern and classic food prepared onsite by an in-house chef, a range of wines as well as craft beers on tap, including some by local brewery Macallister’s.

Visit the website: https://bit.ly/3SWhFtH

& Smithfield Branches

Kate Kendel

Candice Pedrola

The last Cairns Bowls Club president Tony McAlary (left) with Edge Hill Cairns Bowls Club president Russell Hubbard. Picture: Nick Dalton

Lettersto the editor

WANT TO BE HEARD? send your text to 0473 424 877 or email letters@cairnslocalnews.com.au

Airport should buy land at Machans

Dr Nicole Sleeman, Freshwater Root barrier will prevent damage

Deryck Thompson, Machans Beach

Fig tree needs to be saved at all costs

Geoff Holland, coordinator, CHARM – Community Heritage Action, Register and Monitoring

In the last edition we asked: Do you think the fig tree at Freshwater should be saved? Why or why not? Here are some of your comments.

Save it at all costs. We are losing too many of our beautiful big trees.

- Gail Blake, Facebook

All trees have a used by date. If it’s diseased and not salvageable then drop it and replant with a semi-mature tree.

- Dan Hammersley, Facebook

Of course, save this 65-plus-yearold tree. Two years ago two arborists said that it had to be removed immediately and that was clearly an error of judgement. Protect, maintain, rehabilitate and save this important shade giving tree. Oh, top tip - don’t park under it.

- Moira Stephens, Facebook

As a person that repairs underground pipes, I would remove it and plant four trees in its place but of a variety that doesn’t invade pipe work.

- Phillip Carlon, Facebook

If you have to ask the question about saving the tree you really have no idea how many insects, arachnids, birds, marsupials, other animals and microbes call that tree home. There’s probably more biodiversity in that one tree than if you add up all the human diversity in every major

town and city in Queensland.

- Holloways Machans Cairns Beaches Heartbeat, Facebook

Trees ... the ultimate renewable resource. Lose one, plant one. Pretty simple.

- Crispin Till, Facebook

If it’s not going to fall down on someone’s house, no.

- James William, Facebook

Keep it and lose the plumbing pipes within a 2km radius.

- Chris Mills, Facebook

Shade tree needs to be saved. It would do more to help the reduction of temperatures then any manmade device.

- Edward Czarnecki, Facebook

I went to visit this magnificent tree on the weekend. Does not appear to be encroaching on anyone’s property, looks healthy and safe and should be saved. What is the aborist’s rationale?

- Jane Simpson, Facebook

Definitely save this old tree. Rachel Ritchie, Susan Thomson, Craig Squire, Billy Noumea, Facebook

Williams,

TRANSFORM THE WAY YOU CONNECT, ENGAGE & LEAD A MULTI-GENERATIONAL TEAM. Learn what the generations are looking for as employees and customers, and how they can help increase your brand, attract customers and drive growt

Michelle Pascoe

Catherine

Woree

Council need to do to help the youth of the region?

WITH events locally like the NicNak Shed Fashion Parade and Salsa Sorensen Golf Day, the weekends seemed to have been fun packed across the Douglas Shire recently.

A couple of Saturdays ago, on August 3, students and teachers past and present, together with the general community, gathered to celebrate 25 years of Wonga Beach State School. As regular readers will know, this is not the only school to celebrate an anniversary recently.

For the quarter century celebration, guests enjoyed a market evening and birthday party hosted by the Wonga

Beach State School P&C. Those in attendance enjoyed live music, treats from the cake stall, games organised by students, plus art displays, delicious food, a bar and an opportunity to view items being placed into the time capsule.

Market stall holders sold a variety of goods, including pre-loved clothing, toys, books, jewellery, art and craft items and more. The school ‘garden club’ members had clearly been working hard for the occasion, selling their seedlings and homemade jams.

Although the weather was less than ideal, this didn’t keep the crowds away.

A birthday cake was shared by all, with those involved in great voice

singing ‘happy birthday’ to Wonga school.

Apart from the many reasons to hold this birthday celebration, the event was the perfect opportunity to use items bought through a recent Foundation for Regional Renewal Grant, including marquees, tables, chairs and communal games.

In addition to the items bought for market days, the school now has a community accessible defibrillator and new cold-water bubblers, thanks to the grant.

After the impacts of Cyclone Jasper and subsequent flooding, the evening was a great chance for people to gather together and build on connections after a rough start to 2024.

I was asked to give out a special thank you to Johnny, Shireen and Lee for their beautiful music played throughout the evening, Kennards Hire for their donation of lighting, the team of volunteers and, most importantly, everyone for showing up.

Additionally, the P&C would like to thank the former Mossman Basketball Association for their recent generous donation which will support the purchase of new items for students.

The P&C’s goals for 2024 have included a community market day, a healthy eating initiative and tuck-shop update.

In fact, thus far, their tuck-shop program has proven to be very popular and successful and they look forward

to the upgrades happening in the September school holidays.

Their first market day turned out to be fabulous despite the rain. The school also runs a daily breakfast club to set students up for learning and play with a full belly. If you are interested in volunteering to help out for an hour a week, please contact Reanna on 0497 824 163 or email wongapandc@gmail. com to find out how you can help.

I’m off to be tempted by yet another piece of birthday cake, so for now it’s Gazza signing out.

Send your stories to gazza@ cairnslocalnews.com.au

Some of the many guests on the day.

Tim, Naomi and Zac (surnames withheld) firing up the barbecue. Pictures: Supplied

Having fun with the popular toilet paper game.

Market stalls were a feature of the celebrations, with locals selling pre-loved clothing, toys, books, jewellery, art and craft items and more.

Battle stations set up for all to enjoy.

l WONGA BEACH

Spotlight on Palm Cove

Culinary delights at seaside

l PALM COVE

PALM Cove is renowned for its great food and culinary experiences, from the tastes of Greece to the delights of Ireland and all that’s in between.

Palm Cove offers a great variety of food with many experiences. O’Donnells Palm Cove, not only offers great food, but also great entertainment.

Their extensive menu has something for everyone. Located on the beachfront on Williams Esplanade, it is a great place to sit relax and watch the day pass.

Elgreko Taverna, with its new owners James Hendry and Lisa Grant, has taken this experience to another level. Their mouth-watering menu is sure to have you coming back again and again.

Enjoy a night filled with a relaxed atmosphere, great traditional Greek food and the sound of a bouzouki at a place that makes you feel like you’re somewhere in Santorini.

Vivo Palm Cove has daily beachfront dining and offers stunning views of the Coral

Sea, incorporating outdoor seating as well as veranda seating in a classic Queensland colonial-style building. It is a dining must-experience when in Palm Cove.

Miguel’s Palm Cove offers a diverse range of international wines and beers and an extensive list of classic and contemporary cocktails.

In the kitchen, the chef produces an ever-changing menu of traditional and modern tapas to be shared and enjoyed with friends.

At The Reef House Palm Cove, unwind and savour the tastes of North Queensland’s fresh produce accompanied by a wonderful array of Australian and imported wines that will complement any choice and discerning palette.

From IL Forno pizzeria enjoy delicious thin crust pizzas at home with their extensive takeaway menu, or eat in to enjoy the relaxed ambience of palm-lined shores and gently crashing waves against a mountainous backdrop.

So discover our diverse and interesting choices of places to eat and drink in Palm Cove. Dining with sophistication is what they do best.

Miguel’s specialises in a tapas menu.

Elgreko’s staff enjoy serving their Greek cuisine.

O’Donnells is a typical Irish pub with a beautiful Coral Sea outlook.

Il Forno has Italian pizzas galore.

Spotlight on Palm Cove

Tourism Palm Cove takes off

l PALM COVE

A RECENT Tourism Palm Cove’s networking night involved more than 60 people representing a diverse range of businesses in Palm Cove and Tropical North Queensland.

TPC president Matthew Cork said it was a considerable increase on previous networking events, which traditionally attracted only 10 people.

“Over the years, Tourism Palm Cove has encountered fluctuations in membership, dwindling to just 28 members by November 2023,” he said.

“However, over the past 10 months, the organisation has undergone a transformation, augmenting its membership to 50 and continuing to flourish.

“The recent networking event reflected a discernible enthusiasm in the community, signifying a renewed vigour within the volunteer association.”

Mr Cork said at the networking event at the Cairns Surf Club, Palm Cove, Barron River MP Craig Crawford talked about suggestions for Double Island, along with updates on ongoing studies to enhance accessibility at the Palm Cove jetty.

He said Tourism Minister Mi-

chael Healy told the gathering that tourism was important to Palm Cove and the government was committed to completing the Wangetti Trail while trail project manager Mark Moore provided insights into the trail’s ambitious construction, including the challenges posed by Tropical Cyclone Jasper and the substantial removal of debris during construction.

“Palm Cove’s tourism industry is making remarkable strides, bolstered by its active participation in trade shows, a substantial $150,000 Google AdWords campaign, strategic partnerships with diverse media outlets, and unwavering dedication to highlighting Palm Cove as the prime attraction in Cairns,” Mr Cork said.

“Remarkably, the achievements are spearheaded by a dedicated group of volunteers who generously devote their time and expertise, all while juggling their professional careers,” he said.

“It’s worth noting that these individuals operate without external funding and rely solely on the support of their members to sustain their initiatives. There seems to be no slowing down this tourism association.”

Tourism Palm Cove would like to express their gratitude to everyone who joined us for the networking evening on the 14th of August. The positive feedback we received was truly heartwarming, and I would like to extend a special thank you to the sponsors for their invaluable support.

New Tourism Port Douglas and Daintree executive officer Emma Tunnock with Tourism Palm Cove president Matthew Cork. Picture: Coli Pett/Modvideos

Spotlight on Southside

Little town readies for event that captures the community’s imagination

Harvest festival turns 60

l BABINDA

THE Babinda Harvest Festival is back for its 60th year, with celebrations spanning a week from August 31.

To kick off the fun, early bird tickets are available throughout August, providing locals and visitors the opportunity to secure their attendance at a reduced price. The festival includes a round-up of activities, entertainment, and community engagement that captures the heart and spirit of Babinda.

Babinda Harvest Festival committee president Carly Francis said festivalgoers could look forward to a weekend filled with live music, the ‘Grand Street Parade’, farm machinery displays, delicious food stalls, and familyfriendly activities.

Ms Francis has been a part of the executive committee for the past five years and has been heavily involved in the renowned Princess Quest during this time as well.

“This is my first year as president and it’s great to be planning and making the decisions that will make this year’s festival so special,” she said.

Ms Francis, who moved to Babinda community 11 years ago, takes great pride in being a part of the annual harvest festival celebrations.

“The Babinda community and the support everyone has for each other is really special,” she said.

“It’s great to see everyone come together and celebrate our little town.”

She said this year’s line-up of events was set to be exciting, with the return of the beloved giant lolly drop sure to excite kids, and with the ‘Princess Quest’ set to feature some returning faces.

“The Princess Quest to find the Harvest Festival Queen is always really exciting, and we’ve got a number of past queens returning this year as part of our 60th celebrations,” Ms Francis said.

“Joan Arnold (née Dickson), the first ever queen crowned in 1962, will be in attendance, which is very special for all involved.”

Committee vice-president Tanya Davey said it had been great to be a part of building the festival up to what it is today and “I can’t wait to see it all come together with 60 years of history behind it”.

In addition to the first harvest festival queen returning, long-time festival patron Angle Mustafa remains involved in the festivities. Mr Mustafa assisted in coordinating the Babinda Sugar Harvest Festival in 1962 and continues to attend committee meetings, providing guidance and support.

“We are so grateful to all our wonderful sponsors, without whom the festival would not be possible,” Ms Davey said.

“Bring your family along and come and join in as we celebrate 60 wonderful years,” she said. “Don’t miss out on the early bird tickets, available until the end of August.”

For more information and to buy tickets, visit https://bit.ly/3AtxwtD

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2023 princess entrant and reigning queen Caitlin Kruckow is looking forward to this year’s event from August 31. Picture: Supplied

TimeOut

Toasting our tropical Utopia

62nd Cairns Festival to wow audiences

l CAIRNS CBD

| Isabella Guzman Gonzalez

THE annual celebration of the region’s tropical paradise starts today when the 62nd Cairns Festival takes over the city with live music, captivating exhibits and immersive experiences for the whole family.

With a program larger than life and a selection of free and ticketed events, this year’s festival will cater to the tastes of everyone and celebrate the vibrant arts and cultural scene of the city and its residents from today, culminating with Carnival on Collins on Father’s Day (September 1).

The party kicks off today with ‘A Cultural Rising’ featuring headline act Christine Anu on stage on the Court House Gallery front lawn, followed by a packed opening weekend in-

Flickerfest returns to Far North

l EDGE HILL

AUSTRALIA’S most renowned short film festival

– Flickerfest – is coming to Cairns this September to showcase the Best of Australian Shorts and highlights from the Short Laugh Comedy programme.

On Friday, September 6 and Saturday, September 7, the Cairns Botanical Gardens will be hosting Flickerfest

and its remarkable catalogue of short films, all fresh from their premieres in competition at Flickerfest Bondi, giving Cairns Flickerfest audiences a window into the hottest contemporary shorts from at home and across the world today.

Short film aficionados will get to enjoy nine short films per night, including two FNQ films in ‘Djalbuyan Nahra’ – meaning little sister in the Dyirbal language – from First

Nations filmmaker Jahvis Loveday and ‘Just Beneath the Surface’ set in the Torres Strait and made in collaboration with TSI writer/director and artist Jimmy John Thaiday.

“We tried to curate a very uplifting program this year, so there’s lot of heartfelt, inspiring and creative shorts,” said Flickerfest director Bronwyn Kidd.

“This year we had 3400 entries so we had many to choose

from and for Cairns we’ve put together a highlights program, including award winners and favourites over two nights,” she said.

“Friday night will be our ‘Best of Australian Shorts’. There’s some big names in there like Michael Caton, Bruce Spence, Michala Banas, so there’s a lot of big acting names supporting our emerging talent.”

Visit: https://bit.ly/3XcdVac

cluding the much-loved Grand Parade and seven-hours of live music and family fun.

The best way to start the weekend is with the beloved festival staple, the ‘Grand Parade’ which will take place tomorrow and is expected to attract 25,000 people along the Esplanade.

“The Grand Parade is the biggest community-driven event of the Cairns Festival and has been in every iteration of Cairns Festival since 1962,” said Cairns Mayor Amy Eden.

“There are approximately 60 floats from community groups, businesses, sporting clubs and schools ready to turn the Esplanade into a feast of colour and activity.

“There’s so many great events and activities to enjoy.

It’s a festival that truly celebrates our tropical lifestyle and is a chance for families to spend precious time together, and an

opportunity to strengthen the bonds of our community.”

There will be plenty of interactive experiences for the whole family, including Reef Lights, back for its third instalment, The Bubble Station producing 12,000 bubbles per minute, HEXADECA, an interactive music-making playground and Bloom by Bonemap, an outdoor projection that transforms in response to the audience.

Live music will also be a highlight of the weekend, headline acts Christine Anu, Z-Star and homegrown talent Eves Karydas, free live music hubs with the Esplanade main stage and festival stage at the Court House Gallery and ticketed performances including alt-rock luminaries Jebediah and Magic Dirt, The Tropical Soul Party featuring The Bamboos plus DJ Emma Peel.

Visit: https://bit.ly/3WRoHkB

A still from the film ‘Djalbuyan Nahra’ which will be featured in Flickerfest Cairns. Picture: Supplied

Mandy Croucher, Wes Evans and Kadee Wallwork from Paramour Theatre will be taking part in the Grand Parade tomorrow. Picture: Supplied

Celebrating migrants’ contributions to Far North’s way of life

Culture in the spotlight

l MANOORA

| Isabella Guzman Gonzalez

AIMING to celebrate the cultural diversity and contributions of migrants and refugees, Centacare FNQ is hosting a Multicultural Extravaganza and the city’s inaugural Human Library next week.

August is Queensland’s Multicultural Month and Centacare FNQ wants to celebrate it big with the community and shine the spotlight on Cairns’ migrants and their contributions to diversity, society and economy with two free events open to the public on Wednesday, August 28 and Thursday, August 29.

The Multicultural Extravaganza on August 28 at the Elevation Church on 83 Pease St will welcome 90 humanitarian entrants from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar and Afghanistan with an exciting line-up of music and dance, cultural workshops and a delicious array of global tastes and flavours.

“Our Multicultural Extravaganza will firstly be a welcome to Australia for the new arrivals who have come on mainly humanitarian visas,” said Centacare FNQ’s multicultural services manager Andrea Obeysekere.

“It’s a wonderful event to showcase the multicultural fabric of our community in Cairns. We’ll have some of our established communities who have settled here over the years with musical and dance performances and food from various backgrounds and cutting a cake to celebrate their settlement in Australia,” she said. Additionally, the event will hold a graduation ceremony

recognising the efforts of 20 Skilling Queenslanders for Work trainees who have completed Centacare FNQ’s innovative and award-winning UpCyclinc program and moved into employment.

Then, on Thursday, August 29 (5pm and 7pm) and Saturday, August 31 (2 pm and 4pm), Centacare FNQ will

present its first Human Library events at the organisation’s Cairns Central hub. This inventive event is an opportunity to enjoy interesting migrant stories: human beings serve as “open books”, sharing stories and engaging in conversations with guests.

Human books include Ambika Gautam, Javier Suarez,

Fabien Rwigema and Madiha Jamil.

“This is a chance to meet real humans who have migrated to our region, all from different backgrounds – migrant and refugee – and learn more about their experiences,” Ms Obeysekere said. “All events are free so come and celebrate and learn with us.”

Indian festival left participants craving more

l CAIRNS ESPLANADE

| Isabella Guzman Gonzalez

CAIRNS was left craving for one more taste of India after the roaring success of the first Cairns Indian Festival at Fogarty Park last weekend when over 6000 people gathered to celebrate Indian culture.

The organisers of the festival – Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO Cairns) – are still overwhelmed by the success of the inaugural Cairns Indian Festival last weekend (August 17) with people queuing before the event started,

over 6000 people going through Fogarty Park, and food vendors selling out of their food.

“We had approximately 6000 to 7000 people on Saturday, which is way more than we anticipated. We were expecting 3000 to 4000 people,” said festival president Subash Chetry.

“The event was supposed to go until 9pm but the band was playing until 9.45pm and most food vendors ran out of food.

“We had lots of dignitaries attending like Cairns Mayor Amy Eden, candidate for LNP Bree James, David Crisafulli and Yolonde Entsch, councillor Cathy Zeiger and more.

“Westerners were dressed in Indian attire, everyone looked beautiful. There were people who came from Townsville and even Brisbane just to be at the event.

“Our sponsors were very happy and committed to extending their support for the festival to next year.

“The winner for the raffle tickets was a local man named Mark Peace, he was very emotional and said this was the first time he’d be going to India and was taking his partner.

“This was a great start to the festival, and we can see it becoming very big ...”

Two wheels focus of movies

l CAIRNS CBD

| Isabella Guzman Gonzalez

A CELEBRATION of cycling in all its shapes and forms, the 10th Big Bike Film Night, is coming to Bulmba-ja Arts Centre on Monday for a night of carefully selected short films for two-wheel devotees.

With a compilation of 10 mesmerising films from New Zealand, Australia, and Scotland, Big Bike Film Night attendees at Bulmba-ja Arts Centre on Monday, August 26 from 6.30pm will be treated to some of the most visually stunning and inspiring short films about cycling.

Tickets cost $27.50 for adults and $18 for under-17s and $14 for under-12s.

Founder and curator Brett Cotter said this was an exciting year for the event.

“The Big Bike Film Night is a film festival that celebrates cycling in all its shapes and forms. So I look for films that go beyond two wheels and three wheels and have incredible stories of people that we can connect to,” he said.

“Each year I set out with just one goal – to bring together the best cycling short films from around the world for our audiences. This collection is awe-inspiring and celebrates the fun, the adventure and inspiration that bikes enable.”

This year will introduce visually stunning films like ‘Double Everest’ which follows boundary pushing rider Ben Hildred in his attempt to complete a cycling double ‘Everest’ – a practice where riders choose any hill and complete repeats of it in a single ride until they climb 8848m – the equivalent height of Mt Everest – and many more that will get people falling in love with cycling.

“This year we have 10 films in the collection showcasing the diversity of cycling,” Mr Cotter said.

“The film that kicks the night off is one of the most visually commanding films you’ll ever get the pleasure of seeing. It covers a rider and his journey from Guatemala to Peru, and the landscape is just mesmerising. It’s a captivating film to start the night off.”

To buy tickets, visit https://bit.ly/3SUFfXG

Performers at last year’s Multicultural Extravanganza at Manoora. Picture: Supplied

LNP candidate Bree James, Cairns Mayor Amy Eden, GOPIO members

Anita Handa, Centacare FNQ’s Andrea Obeysekere and Ira Safira Rungkat in traditional Indian saris at the Cairns Indian Festival. Picture: Facebook

TimeOut Keeping faith

Tribute show to two legendary singers

l CAIRNS CBD

| Isabella Guzman Gonzalez

R&B and pop powerhouses are uniting for a vocal performance for the ages with ‘Keep the Faith’ a greatest hits show with the best of Whitney Houston and George Michael at The Reef Hotel Casino next weekend.

Prepare your vocal cords for a high-note extravaganza on August 30 and 31 at BAR36 and experience the massive talent of Melbourne’s diva Sarah Capodicosa – better known as Sarah C – and Australia’s Got Talent chart sensation Greg Gould who will take you on a journey through the music and the memories of icons Whitney Houston and George Michael.

Strap yourself in as two amazing vocalists power through all the hits including ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody’, ‘Careless Whisper’, ‘I Will Always Love You’, ‘Freedom’, ‘How Will I Know’, ‘Father Figure’ and ‘I Knew You Were Waiting’.

“The whole premise of this show and the whole reason we do this show is because Greg and I are best friends and we just came together to do something together where we can have fun and tour the world,” Ms Capodicosa said.

“‘Keep the Faith’ is a show in a concert format with a live band and we perform the songs in our own way, we pay homage and pay tribute but it’s our take on the artist.

“This will be our first time together in Cairns and we’re very excited, you can expect all the greatest hits the power ballads, but also the up-tempo fun numbers.

“It’s a very entertaining show, dynamic and I always describe it as – high notes, sequins and sass.

“We will have some duets, some solo moments where it’s just Greg doing hits from George Michael and then me doing Whitney hits and then we

come together to share some of those moments. Ms Capodicosa said these shows were ones not to miss for fans of 80s and 90s music, ballads, R&B and pop.

“These shows are about having a great night out,” she said,

“It’s about reliving these incredible hits by these incredible artists. Whether you’re a fan of Whitney Houston or George Michael, it’s going to be a fantastic night.

“You’re going to have two amazing vocalists singing the greatest songs of all time with a killer band, so you’ll have a great night out.”

Entry to the shows is free. For more information visit BAR36’s Facebook page.

8-15 Seepptemmbber r Innisfail

Tuesday 10th Sept

Art Deco Guided History Walk 10am Shire Hall $20.00

www.trybooking.com/CKXOE or just turn up

Vintage Purse Workshop

10am-2pm $30.00 0429 368 998

www.trybooking.com/CSREY

Mamu Tropical Skywalk open every day

www.paronellapark.rezdy.com/ Brothers Leagues Club Bistro dinner & trivia 4061 7199

Wednesday 11th Sept

Shire Hall Tour 10.00am FREE entry

Historical Cemetery Walk 6pm $5.00 BYO torch

Thursday 12th Sept

Paronella Park open 7days 9am-7.30pm www.paronellapark.com

Art Deco Guided History Walk Shire Hall 10.00am $20.00

www.trybooking.com/CKXOE or just turn up

Picnic Parasol Workshop

10am-2pm $30.00 0429 368 998

www.trybooking.com/CSRBF

Art Deco Trivia 8 per team

Innisfail RSL Club $2.00pp 7pm

Dress to impress! Book a team 4061 1601

Friday 13th Sept

Shire Hall Tour 10.00am

FREE entry Meet in foyer

History

Self-guided Town Walk FREE app download or booklet from Shire Hall or Museum

Flappers & Dappers Ball Shire

Hall $40.00 Dress to impress!

7.30pm Tables of 8

trybooking.com/CSOKN

0409 442 246

Saturday 14th Sept

Jazz on Edith 9.30-11.30am

Edith Street Innisfail Doggy Deco Brunch Famishes Café. Dress to impress!

Edith St 9.30-11.30am Pet registrations preferred: 0408 652 115

Great Gatsby Picnic Jack Fossey Park 2.30-5.30pm BYO chair, rug, picnic (no BYO alcohol please) Entertainment & refreshments all afternoon

Dress to impress!

Art Deco Paint & Sip Workshop 2-5pm 0437 362 332

Art Deco Cruise 5.30pm $40.00 Dress to impress! www.snappingtours.com

Al Capone’s Gangsters & Gals Italian Night Brothers Leagues Club 40617199 Dress to impress!

15th Sept Vintage Market Shire Hall

9am-2pm Refreshments & entertainment all day

coin entry

bookings: 0439 817 100 Sapore Di Italia Jazz Cafe Rankin St Innisfail 7.30am-2pm Mini-Rail Fun Day Warrina Lakes 10am-2pm fun for kids MORE INFO: www.innisfailhistory.com.au /about-6 @tropicalartdeco

Sarah Capodicosa and Greg Gould. Picture: Supplied

It’s deadly serious

‘Ghosts of Gordonvale’ tour

l GORDONVALE

| Isabella Guzman Gonzelez WALK among the graves of some of Gordonvale’s settlers and pioneers and witness their stories with the Mulgrave Shire Historical Society’s – ‘Ghosts of Gordonvale’– this Sunday.

In an interactive exploration of the sugarcane town’s history, ‘Ghosts of Gordonvale’ will give history buffs their fill with the introduction of six of Gordonvale’s first residents buried in the Gordonvale Cemetery, their journey and a peek into life in the late 1800s through reenactments and props at the Gordonvale Cemetery on Sunday, August 25 from 2.45pm.

Entry costs $5 per person (cash preferred) and attendees are required to bring their own seating and water if needed.

Mulgrave Shire Historical Society’s publicity officer Julie Amadio said this was the chance to take a deep dive into the history of Gordonvale and its early residents.

“This is the seventh edition of our ‘Ghosts of Gordonvale’ presentation, this is an event that was started seven years ago to gather information on people at the cemetery they could find information on,” she said.

“The presentation will be on Sunday

at 2.45pm for a 3pm start. Attendees will walk to the back of the cemetery with their own chairs and seat themselves, and there’ll be six ghost presenters, each in turn introducing the story of each person in period costumes.

“We chose six people buried in the Gordonvale cemetery which we could find any information on and who also had descendants in the area.

“We have Catherine Cheatley, who was a midwife in Gordonvale in the late 1800s. We’ve got Ivy Zappala, who was an artist, she actually painted a mural inside the Mulgrave Settlers Museum. We also have Norman Douglas Campbell, who was involved in the tragic accident in the Mulgrave Mill in 1900, George Moss who was a settler, an Aboriginal person Topsy Thomason who was taken on board by the Thomason family who had a cane farm east of Gordonvale. She came from the Chillagoe area, and Matthew Muir who was an engineer.”

There’s capacity for 150 people and Ms Amadio is hoping the community rounds up to learn more about the history of their town. In case of rain the presentation will be held at the Gordonvale High School hall at 85 Sheppards St, Gordonvale. For more information, visit the Mulgrave Shire Historical Society’s Facebook page.

Enjoy art deco festival

l INNISFAIL

INNISFAIL’S art deco architecture and the town’s history will be on display with shire hall tours, town walks and cemetery walk part of the Tropical Art Deco Festival set to begin this September.

As part of this year’s festival the Innisfail and District Historical Society is bringing back some crowd favourites with three shire hall tours, two art deco history guided town walks and the historical cemetery walk for an all-round experience into Innisfail’s art deco history.

The festival will go from Sunday, September 8 until Sunday, September 15 with dozens of free and ticketed events to choose from.

“We’re thrilled to be able to bring Innisfail’s art deco history alive for locals and visitors,” said Innisfail and District Historical Society president Trish Ernst.

“The tours are an added attraction for our town which showcases our distinctive, art deco architecture combined with fascinating stories of the town’s people and events of the past,” she said.

The history walk takes an hour.

For a full program and to buy tickets, visit https://bit.ly/3MdY6cD

Alison Parsons will act as Matthew Paterson Muir in the ‘Ghosts of Gordonvale’ tour on Sunday afternoon in the town’s cemetery. Picture: Supplied

WHAT’S

CAIRNS FESTIVAL @ VARIOUS LOCATIONS

l FRI AUG 23TH - SUN SEP 1, 5:30PM

Cairns Festival is an annual 10-day celebration of art, culture and the beauty of living in Tropical North Queensland. Each August, Cairns Festival proudly hosts a kaleidoscope of culture, arts, music, comedy, visual arts, and family events celebrating the beauty and rich cultural heritage of living where the sun and sand meet the city.

Grand Parade - Cairns Esplanade, 5:30pm

Reef Lights - Cairns Esplanade & Eastern Events Lawn, 6:30pm

Fireworks Spectacular - Cairns Esplanade, 7:30pm

Visit the Cairns Festival website for more details!

EXPO @ THE PIER CAIRNS

l TUE AUG 27TH, 9:00AM-5:00PM

Free event, hosted by Cairns Disability Network (CDN).

Consult experts from the disability & aged community, and network with your expo family.

• Advocacy and supports for people living with disability, injury or health conditions

• Employment, study and lifestyle options

• Assistive technology and equipment

• NDIS and Non-NDIS Services.

MOUNTAIN BIKING @ CAIRNS NORTH

l SUN AUG 25TH, 8:00AM-11:OOAM

This is a Cairns MTB Club social event and requires registration on their event page. No on the day registrations, sorry.

It’s a great opportunity to mingle with people and families if you are looking to find like minded riding buddies. There will be 2 courses for you to choose from and you can do both. The more advanced fitness lap gives you a ticket in an extra prize draw. Each child who does a lap of the family/ flatter loop gets a ticket in the lolly draws.

Location: Cairns Mountain Bike Park, 4 Greenslopes St, Cairns North Cost: $20 per adult and $5 per child. For more information see their facebook page.

DINNER THEATRE @ SHANGRI-LA HOTEL

l SAT AUG 24TH, 6:00PM

Indulge in a delectable dinner hosted by Shangri-La at the Marina, Cairns, while the cast from Faulty Towers - The Dining Experience ensures nonstop laughter in a uniquely transformed corner of Cairns, briefly becoming the iconic Fawlty Towers’ dining room.

Inclusions are: 3-course plated dinner, welcome drink and beverage package, roaming live-theatre and entertainment throughout the night.

For more information, please contact events.slmc@shangri-la.com or call 07 4052 7724. Terms and conditions apply.

EXPO @ AUST ARMOUR & ARTILLERY MUSEUM

l FRI AUG 23RD - SUN AUG 25, 9:00AM

Join the action on the ground at the annual AusArmourfest at the Australian Armour and Artillery Museum! AusArmourfest features over a dozen historic vehicles driving on the museum grounds with the opportunity for visitors to purchase tickets to ride in them and experience combat conditions.

Venue: 2 Skyrail Drive Smithfield Cairns Queensland Australia

Tickets: Child entry from $20 | Adult Entry from $35

Visit the Australian Armour and Artillery Museum website for more details.

ILLUSTRATED TALK @ STRATFORD LIBRARY

l SUN AUG 25TH, 1:30PM-5:00PM

If you are regarded as ‘elitist’ or, conversely, if you are a secret hoarder of garden gnomes, this lecture will offer some insights into the politically incorrect world of Culture, Fine Art, and Taste.

Lynne Gibson is a freelance lecturer in History of Art, and in Drawing, Painting and Printmaking. She has worked at universities, conducted lectures, courses and guided tours for art galleries and museums, and she is a professional artist specializing in oil painting and etching.

Cost: $25 for visitor (includes afternoon tea).

For more information visit ArtsNational website.

GIG Guide

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

FRIDAY 23RD

Calypso Club DJ Matt Caseli, 4:00pm

Dunwoody’s Eddie Skiba, 4:00pm

Narrow Tracks Distilling Blue Reed, 4:00pm

Boardwalk Social John Buttigieg, 4:30pm

Salt House Mattyboi, 5:00pm

Brothers Leagues Club Peter Kinch, 5:30pm

Ellis Beach Bar & Grill Stuie Harcourt, 5:30pm

Pachamama DJ Rod, 6:00pm

TANKS The Bamboos + DJ Emma Peel, 6:00pm The Benson SAX MAN Troy Stevens, 6:00pm Trinity Beach Sports Club Andrea & Leon, 6:00pm Cazalys Fingerprint, 6:30pm Elixir Music House Salt & Steel + JC & the Tree, 7:00pm TANKS Al Boulton Band, 7:00pm Hambledon Hotel Mississippi Shakedown, 7:30pm The Pier Bar DJ Jackz, 7:30pm Whiskey & Wine DJ Diego, 7:30pm

Rattle’N’Hum Palm Cove Janna Mercedes, 8:00pm Salt House DJ Moose, 8:00pm The Pier Bar Flavour, 8:00pm

BAR36 Big Noise + DJBEasy, 8:30pm

Rattle’N’Hum Cairns The Dannies, 8:30pm

P.J.O’Brien’s Cairns GTA, 9:30pm

P.J.O’Brien’s Cairns DJ Nakji, 10:00pm

SATURDAY 24TH

Yorkeys Knob Boating Club Grey Area, 3:00pm Boardwalk Social Cinnamon Sun, 4:30pm Ellis Beach Bar & Grill Julian James, 5:00pm Salt House Shannon Hunter, 5:00pm Paper Crane Amber Farnan, 5:30pm Cape Gloucester Resort Barbary Coasters, 5:45pm Cazalys INFINITY DUO, 6:15pm Yorkeys Knob Boating Club Silver Fox Jazz Band, 6:30pm Brothers Leagues Club Kim Settle, 7:00pm Trinity Beach Tavern The LOST BOY Troy Davidson, 7:00pm The Pier Bar DJ Moose, 7:30pm Whiskey & Wine DJ Andy, 7:30pm

Rattle’N’Hum Palm Cove WAW, 8:00pm Salt House DJ Matt Caseli, 8:00pm The Pier Bar Flavour, 8:00pm

BAR36 Big Noise + DJBEasy, 8:30pm

Rattle’N’Hum Cairns Kaweyova, 8:30pm Rocco DJ JC, 8:30pm

P.J.O’Brien’s Cairns GTA, 9:30pm

P.J.O’Brien’s Cairns DJ Syntax, 10:00pm

SUNDAY 25TH

Ellis Beach Bar & Grill JC & The Tree, 1:00pm

Boardwalk Social Mattyboi, 2:00pm

Dunwoody’s The Vibes, 2:00pm Calypso Club DJ Luke, 3:00pm

Rattle’N’Hum Palm Cove DNA, 3:00pm Yorkeys Knob Boating Club The Blues Healers, 3:00pm O’Sheas The LOST BOY Troy Davidson 4:00pm The Pier Bar DJ Jackz, 4:30pm

Salt House Cinnamon Sun, 5:00pm The Pier Bar GTA, 5:00pm

Whiskey & Wine DJ JC, 5:00pm BAR36 Sunbird, 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

Weekly Horoscopes

CROSSWORD

Difficulties

Hassles with close friends or family will put a damper on your day and result in isolation and loneliness. Loans will be attainable and legal matters easily taken care of. Use your quick wit to win points with friends. You can expect to face opposition on the

Unexpected bills may set you back. Lovers will be demanding. You are best to sign your partner up for activities that will be tiring. You may want to take extra special care of your luggage if you are traveling this week. You could receive recognition for a job well done.

Residential moves should be considered carefully. Deception is evident around you. You may be angry if someone tries to take credit for something you did. Secret enemies may be holding a grudge that you’re not even aware of.

Partnerships may be plentiful. You may have a rather hectic day due to events that children are involved in. You are best to do something energetic with friends instead. Set aside any decisions regarding your personal life this week.

Control those desires to cast your fate to the wind. Travel should be on your agenda. You can meet potential new mates if you socialize with friends. Remain calm and you’ll shine. Passion should be your goal.

You may find it difficult to communicate. This is a great day to beautify your living quarters or to entertain at home. You may want to take a look at your direction in life. Think about your priorities.

Don’t let your partner put you down. Take a long look at your present direction and consider your professional options. You will have a great day if you just say what you feel. Get back to basics and reevaluate what is important in life.

You can make a huge difference to children if you are able to put yourself in their shoes. You’ll be angry if those you live with aren’t pulling their weight. Be precise in your communications to avoid any misunderstandings and arguments. Don’t press your luck with your loved ones.

Opportunities to upgrade your living standards will come through your lover or through joint financial investments. Enlist coworkers in order to get the job done on time. It will be important that you have your priorities straight. Listen and formulate your course of action. You will be indecisive.

Be careful not to come on too strongly. Secret affairs may be brought out in the open. You need to enjoy the company of those who enjoy the same pastimes. Your home environment may be hectic, which could result in emotional upset if you aren’t well organized.

ACROSS

7. flower with large, fragrant blooms, symbolizing wealth and honour (5)

8. pertaining to the earthly realm, as opposed to the celestial (9)

10. evergreen shrub with aromatic leaves and white or pink flowers (6)

11. aromatic herb used in absinthe (8)

12. fragrant herb often used in perfumes and sachets (8)

13. labourer bound to the land and owned by a lord (4)

15. plant with large, broad leaves and bur-like seed heads, often used in herbal medicine (7)

17. small root growing off a main root (7)

20. to be adjacent to (4)

22. aromatic herb used in cooking and medicine, with needle-like leaves (8)

25. plant with spiky leaves, used as a decoration in architecture (8)

26. type of bird often found in game hunting or to complain about something (6)

27. aquatic plant with floating leaves and flowers, found in ponds (5,4)

28. tree or shrub with round edible nuts and catkins (5)

DOWN

1. genus of flowering plants, commonly known as vetches (9)

2. arranged with the ends touching (3-2-3)

3. aromatic plant used in herbal medicine and known for its bitter taste (7)

4. dining or activities conducted outdoors (8)

5. solution to a question or problem (6)

6. plant with yellow flowers often used for making brooms (5)

9. tall, slender plant found in wetlands (4)

14. device used to clear frost from vehicle windows (9)

16. plant known to trap insects (5-3)

18. relating to time (8)

19. framework or support structure often used in construction or as a table base (7)

21. informal term for a sausage or a popular song (6)

23. aromatic herb used in cooking or a term for a wise person (4)

24. vast body of saltwater covering most of the Earth’s surface (5)

Vacancy rates ease slightly

REIQ still concerned that rental market remains tight across Queensland

l SPECIAL REPORT

| Nick Dalton

VACANCY rates have edged up slightly across Queensland, according to the Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ), but the peak body warns that the broader outlook remains concerning.

Of the 50 local government areas and sub regions covered in the REIQ’s Residential Vacancy Rate Report for the June 2024 Quarter, half (25 areas) had a lift in vacancies, 12 were unchanged and 13 tightened further compared to the previous quarter.

As promising as the quarter-toquarter results sound, REIQ chief executive Antonia Mercorella warned that the vast majority (47) of areas had vacancy rates classified as ‘tight’, with only two ‘healthy’ and one ‘weak’.

“A healthy vacancy rate is one that sits between 2.6 per cent to 3.5 per cent and that’s virtually unheard of at the moment in Queensland,” she said.

“In our state’s capital city, just 1.2 per cent of properties were available and remained advertised for rent for more than three weeks over the

quarter – and this places it above average.

“We are not painting a picture of good health in our state when it comes to balancing rental demand with supply, and we know competition is particularly intensified at the highly sought after, more affordable end of the market.

“Tight vacancy rates indicate that there’s not enough rental properties coming up for rent, possibly due to tightly held leases, which are being renewed at the end of the agreement, rather than being returned to the market.

“In tight markets that have a severe shortage of properties, if an advertised rental property isn’t moving relatively quickly, it suggests that there could be a mismatch between what it offers and the needs of those looking for a place to live.

“It’s important to talk to your property manager about why your property may be sitting vacant for longer and that may mean making improvements or meeting the market.”

The two healthy vacancy rates this quarter were reported in Noosa (2.6 per cent) and Mount Isa (2.7 per cent),

while Redland’s Bay islands just tipped over into a weak rating at 3.7 per cent. At the extremely tight end of the scale, nine areas in regional Queensland demonstrated just how dire the search for a rental property has become, with rates of 0.5 per cent or lower in: Cook zero, Goondiwindi 0.1 per cent, Charters Towers 0.2 per cent, Tablelands 0.2 per cent, Banana 0.3 per cent, Maranoa 0.3 per cent, Southern Downs 0.4 per cent, Maryborough 0.5 per cent and Central Highlands 0.5 per cent.

An additional 19 areas posted a considerably tight result between 0.6 per cent-0.9 per cent including: Redcliffe 0.6 per cent, Cairns 0.6 per cent, Mackay 0.6 per cent, Toowoomba 0.6 per cent, Mareeba 0.6 per cent, South Burnett 0.6 per cent, Mainland 0.7 per cent, Bundaberg 0.7 per cent, Moreton Bay 0.8 per cent, Fraser Coast 0.8 per cent, Rockhampton 0.8 per cent, Burdekin 0.8 per cent, Outer Brisbane 0.9 per cent, Ipswich 0.9 per cent, Caboolture 0.9 per cent, Pine Rivers 0.9 per cent, Caloundra Coast 0.9 per cent, Hervey Bay 0.9 per cent and Townsville 0.9 per cent.

Renters are struggling to find suitable accommodation. Picture: iStock

Powerful wagon combines supercar performance with practical family features

Ballistic BMW M5

l NEW CAR LAUNCH

| Nick Dalton

THE first BMW M5 wagon in 15 years returns to Australia early next year. The new offering marks the third time BMW M has offered a ‘Touring’ variant of the legendary M5 but the first time it has featured an electrified powertrain.

Its arrival in Australia follows this year’s introduction of another rapid Touring variant that also wears an M badge – the fully electric, 442kW i5 M60 xDrive Touring – and last year’s launch of the critically acclaimed M3 Touring.

The all-new M5 Touring will be the third BMW M model in the current line-up to feature the M HYBRID system following deployment in its sedan sibling and the BMW XM.

The M HYBRID system aboard the M5, derived from the BMW M Hybrid World Endurance Championship (WEC) racecar, delivers thundering power and torque figures of 535kW and 1000Nm.

The 4.4-litre M TwinPower Turbo V8 develops 430kW and 750Nm while also being capable of spinning

to 7200rpm. The maximum output of the electric motor – integrated in the transmission – is 145kW with nominal torque of 280Nm, though a pre-gearing stage enables effective torque at the transmission input to be increased to 450Nm.

BMW says the new M5 Touring can accelerate from rest to 100km/h in 3.6 seconds, while Australiandelivered models will achieve a top speed of 305km/h due to the offering of M Driver’s Package as standard equipment.

“The sports exhaust system of the new BMW M5 Touring integrates electrically controlled, continuously adjustable flaps to provide a sonorous note that is channelled through four tailpipes, each measuring 100mm in diameter,” a BMW Australia spokesman said. “A distinctive styling package accompanies the power delivery and engaging performance of the new BMW M5 Touring. It includes muscular wheel arch and side skirt extensions, a sculptural front apron and aerodynamically shaped M rear spoiler in a high-gloss black finish.”

The M5 Touring is priced from $263,900 plus on-roads.

The BMW M5 Touring offers supercar performance with wagon practicality. Picture: BMW Australia

Snazzing up Mazda CX-30

Terracotta suede interior combines with black alloy wheels and exterior trim

l NEW MODEL

| Nick Dalton

MAZDA’S award-winning CX30 has been updated for 2024.

Headlining the latest changes is the Touring LE model grade.

The new grade builds on the standard Touring G20 frontwheel-drive specification and debuts a unique terracotta Maztex and suede interior, with matching terracotta stitching extending to the armrest and centre console, door cards and dashboard.

It combines with black alloy wheels, a black grille, signature wing and mirror caps.

The comprehensively equipped ‘Vision Pack’ is also included as standard, featuring a 360-degree view monitor, a 10.25in Mazda Connect widescreen colour display, Cruising and Traffic Support (CTS), Driver Monitoring and Front Cross Traffic Alert (FCTA).

Rounding out the CX-30 Touring LE specification is the addition of Mazda Connected Services – which also joins rest of the CX-30 range – making it the second model in Mazda Australia’s lineup to receive the new features, following their debut on the Mazda MX-5.

The suite of services link up seamlessly with the recently

released MyMazda app to give the driver remote access to a vehicle locator, geofencing capability, a flashing lights feature, curfew notifications, remote locking, vehicle health and status reports and stolen vehicle tracking assistance.

An SOS button is also fitted to the roof panel of the CX-30 and is activated in the event of an emergency.

Elsewhere in the CX-30 range, USB-C connectivity replaces USB-A for charging and audio ports in the front row from Pure models upwards, while Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and wireless charging functionality join from the Evolve model grade.

The nine-strong palette of paint finishes is unchanged, with four premium colours – soul red crystal, machine grey metallic, polymetal grey metallic and zircon sand metallic. Standard colours comprise snowflake white pearl mica, deep crystal blue mica, ceramic metallic, jet black mica and platinum quartz metallic.

Pricing for the Mazda CX30 Touring LE with Vision Pack starts around $43,000 drive-away with premium paint adding an extra $595.

The 2024 Mazda CX30 range goes on-sale in September.

Mazda is rolling out Touring LE editions of the CX-30 with a unique terracotta interior (inset). Pictures: Mazda Australia

Cairns Local

Funeral Recorded to USB

WANTED TO BUY

Vinyl records - paying $$$ for albums any genre and size. Turn your old records into cash today!

Phone 0474195679 Music Collector - I come to you

PERSONALS

Lady 75 years seeks health conscious friend.

Write to: PO Box 290, Earlville, 4870

AL-ANON FAMILY GROUPS

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 to 7pm

• Edmonton: Thursdays, 12pm to 1pm

• Kuranda: Mondays, 11am to 12 noon

For further information, Call 1300 25 2666 or www.al-anon.org.au

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.

INVITATION FOR TENDERS ESC2024-024

REPLACEMENT OF SECURITY FENCING AT MT SURPRISE AND EINASLEIGH AIRSTRIP

Etheridge Shire Council invites tenders from suitably qualified tenderers for replacement of security fencings in Mount Surprise and Einasleigh Air Strips.

It is a requirement of this project that any persons contracted to undertake the building work be accredited under the Work Health and Safety Accreditation Scheme, established by the Building and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity) Act 2016, at the time of entering into the contract for the building work and maintains accreditation while the building work is being carried out.

Tender documentation (including map) may be obtained from Council website.

Tenders must be emailed to: tender@etheridge.qld.gov.au

By 3.00pm on 30th August, 2024

Council reserves the right to invite all tenderers to change their tenders to take account of a change in the tender specification.

All queries with reference to the Tender must be emailed to Tender@etheridge.qld.gov.au.

Industrial cleaning cloth

• Ready to use, competitively priced

• 1kg, 1.5kg and 10kg blocks

• Individual or wholesale quantities

• Mixed cotton, coloured & white t-shirts

• Ideal use across heavy engineering, mechanical, mining, aviation, painting, printing and automotive industries 1800 112 112 endeavour.com.au/business-solutions

or

of any

INDEMNIFY the publisher, it’s Directors, employees and their agents against all demands, claims, costs, expenses, proceedings and damages wholly or partially arising directly or indirectly in relation with the publication of the material without limiting the generality, indemnify all associated in relation to libel, defamation, infringement of copyright, slender of title, infringement of trademarks or publication titles, breach of trade practices or fair trading legislation, unfair competition, violation of privacy, confidential information, royalty rights, licenses or other property rights and thus WARRANT that all material complies with relevant laws and that its publication will not give rise to claims or liabilities to the publisher, directors, employees and agents, and without limiting the generality that nothing is in breach of the Trade Practices Act 1974 or the Copyright Act 1968, the Fair Trading Act 1987 or the Consumer Protection, Defamation and Sale of Goods Legislation of the States and Territories or infringes the right of any person.

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

Friday August 23rd

Delivers to Port Douglas, Mossman, Kuranda, Cairns, Edmonton, Gordonvale, Babinda, Innisfail, Tully, Cardwell, and many more inbetween!

Pick up your FREE copy today!

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 Rulings by the Trade Practices Commission require that all advertisements relating to alcoholic beverages, therapeutic goods, weight loss/slimming clinics and products or programmes must carry an APB Clearance Number. All advertisements that do not carry the APB Number first must be submitted for clearance and the issue of an APB number for inclusion in the advertisement directed to: Australian Publishers Bureau, Suite 2/1, 741 Pacific Highway, Gordon NSW 2072, Phone (02) 9499 3412.

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

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

FNQ Markets

Saturday August 24th

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

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

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

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

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

Village in the Valley: Lions Park, 08:00-12:00

Yungaburra Markets: Bruce Jones Market Grounds, 07:30-12:30

GOT a position vacant you need to fill? Call Amelie at Cairns Local News on 4031 7678 or email admin@cairnslocalnews.com.au. Classie deadline is 4pm every Wednesday.

Sunday August 25th

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

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

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

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

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

Tumoulin Country Markets: Tumoulin Railway Station, 08:00-12:00

Thousands of revellers expected to pack racecourse

Magic of Cairns Cup

l HORSE RACING

CLEAR skies and sunshine generated a good crowd for the opening weekend of Cairns Jockey Club’s Red Beret Hotel Cairns Cup Carnival.

Preparations are underway to ensure tomorrow’s cup day hits all the high notes to close the 2024 carnival in style.

Cairns Jockey Club general manager Cameron Riches said 3000 racegoers converged on Cannon Park last weekend, with a further 4000 to 5000 anticipated through the gate this Saturday.

“Looking ahead to Saturday, we have four carnival venues already sold out, with the remaining two events – Silks by Canadian Club and Gordons Pink Gin Garden Party – with limited tickets up for grabs,” he said.

“Once again, there is transport service to and from Cannon Park, with an after-party for those who would like to wait a while,” Mr Riches said.

Cairns Jockey Club will warm up the track ahead of Saturday’s finale with a sportsman luncheon and calcutta today.

The lunch features:

• Australian racing identity, Damien Oliver, an icon of Australian horse racing and a hall of famer with 129 group 1 wins

• Robert Thompson, the record-breaking jockey with 4447 career victories, including six at the Cairns Cup

• Josh Dugan, a stalwart of the NRL with 215 games, 12 State of Origin appearances for NSW and multiple test matches

• James Segeyaro is renowned for his dynamic play in 155 NRL games and for representing Papua New Guinea in six test matches.

Saturday’s Red Beret Cairns

Cup Carnival will feature another eight-race program with a share of $430,000 in prize money.

Mr Riches said the Cairns Cup’s capacity field of 14 contenders had already recorded 23 nominations, making it one of the strongest in the cup’s history.

He said there was strong representation from oncourse Cairns trainers, with nominations from trainers Trevor Rowe, Alywn Bailey, and Stephen Massingham, as well as Townsville Cup winner and Mackay Cup runner-up Warp Speed.

Red Beret Cairns Cup Carnival 2024 Ambassador, Fashions-on-the-Field judge and racing expert Dannielle Atkinson will frock up to preview this Saturday’s fixture to the media. “In my role as ambassador, I was lucky enough to judge Myer Style Stakes’ Fashions-on-the-Field on the

Sport Results

MARLIN COAST BOWLS

Tuesday, August 13. Tuesday morning bowls. Winners: Neil, Betty, Barb. R/U: Robyn, Olga, Laurie W. Tuesday

afternoon Men’s triples. Winners: Steve, John, Bill. R/U: Steve, Terry, Frank. Tuesday night bowls. Winners: David, Ian S, Mick, Judy, Jim,

weekend (Newmarket Ladies’ Day) and present the winner of the Cairns Newmarket,” she said.

“I love combining two of my passions into one and have thoroughly enjoyed working with the Cairns Jockey Club to find ways to expand and bring more interest to their race days.

No doubt adding to this weekend’s excitement will be cheering on her father, Mark Atkinson’s nomination in the cup – Vivenzo.

In 2024, the Myer Cairns Style Stakes have been themed to inspire an even higher standard of entries, with last weekend’s springtime theme hitting high floral notes with fashion contenders and judges alike.

This weekend’s theme, A Vintage Affair, breaks away from the springtime theme with a more whimsical note to end the fashion competition of the two-day carnival. Another

Shooee, Ian, Paul. Wednesday, August 14th. Wednesday mixed bowls. Triples. Winners: Rick, G & W Watkins, Val R, Sue W, Evie H. Pairs. Winners: Phon, Glenda Andersen, Jenny Johns, Christine Scott. Thursday, August 15th. Thursday Mixed self-selected triples.

Coaching advice

l NETBALL

| Isabella Guzman Gonzalez

YOUNG netballers will get the chance to meet and learn from three of the Sunshine Coast Lightning players as they head up north to Cairns for a day of clinics on Sunday, August 25.

five hotly contested categories will be up for grabs for a share in approximately $15,000 in prizes.

Tomorrow competition includes stylish lady of the day, classic lady of the day, stylish gentleman of the day, couple of the day, and the millinery award.

A free bus service operates to and from Lake Street, Cairns CBD, making getting to and from the track more accessible than ever.

The last race will be followed by an after-party, with entertainment by Careless.

Up to 100 horses will compete today, thanks to the involvement of 40 individual trainers and approximately 30 jockeys.

In 2023 about 8000 racegoers attended the carnival with this year set to equal attendance.als in the hospitality/function areas.

For more information visit: https://bit.ly/3WOP9LW

Winners: R Blake, SJ Pitt, N Robson. R/U: Shane B, Chad, Jason Gillman. Scroungers. Winner: no winners. R/U: no winners.

Club Championships. Men’s Triples. S Bettess, J Gillman, Ben Smith def. G Smith, Bob Smith, D Gibson 21-19. B Wright, E Blythe,

As part of their Suncorp regional tour, the Sunshine Coast Lightning team is touring regional Queensland to engage with young athletes and clubs, teach new skills and encourage them to follow a career in netball.

Goal attack and shooter Reilley Batcheldor, centre Ava Black and wing defence Maddie Hinchliffe are the three Lightning players that will be coming to Cairns to inspire kids from ages five to 17 at the Cairns Netball Association.

The clinics include two sessions, a 9am to 10.30am for ages five to 10 and a 10.45am to 12.15pm for 11 to 17-year-olds. Cost is $30 per person.

Shooter Reilley Batcheldor said the regional tours were always a highlight for the team.

“The regional tours are so important for us as the

N Robson def. C Hughes, K Burley, R Gillman 31-13.

BROTHERS EDMONTON BOWLS

Wednesday, August 14.

Overall Winners: T. Mitchell, J. Carr, G. Blades. Game

1. Winners: R. Jorgenson, M. O’Halloran, G. Frizzo. Game

only regional team in the Suncorp Super Netball league that we get out to those regional areas in Queensland and give back to those communities,” she said.

“The three of us are coming up to share our knowledge and skills, give the boys and girls a great netball experience and hopefully they’ll have fun along the way.

“A lot of these girls and boys regionally don’t get the same opportunities that the city kids do, so we want to ensure that kids in regional areas have equal opportunities. I love seeing the faces of the kids light up when they see us, it’s very heartwarming.

“Since Ava, Maddie and myself are from different areas of the court I think it’ll be great for the kids to tap into my shooting, from Ava her dexterity in the mid court and from Ava her defence.

“We’re happy to answer any questions if they have any, it’s a real one on one experience.”

Ms Batcheldor said she wanted kids to take away from the clinics that there are opportunities for regional athletes like them to break into professional netball.

2. Winners: K. Richardson, R. Pamphelon, J. Populin. Thursday, August 15th. Winners: R. Langtree, K. Paki, L. Hoskins. R/U: C. Taylor, R. Fraser, K. O’Halloran. Saturday, August 17th. Winners: D. Cairns, R. Fraser, R. Moody. R/U: S. Finocchiaro, K. Paki, S. Rowe.

SMARTPHONE & TABLET SOLUTIONS

Cairns Cup ambassadors Dannielle Atkinson (left), Brett Cahill and Tina Cahill. Picture: Supplied

Sunshine Coast Lightning’s Reilley Batcheldor will be coaching Cairns netballers on Sunday. Picture: supplied

Huge weekend for AFLW

Round 18: Tigers versus Hawks, Cutters take on Bulldogs, Crocs meet Saints

has serious finals ramifications and permutations.

Race for the minor and major premierships

With Cairns City Lions having the bye, the Tigers

keep the pressure on for the race for the minor premiership with a win against the reigning premier Hawks.

By having a better percentage than the ladder leaders, two wins will be enough as long as Lions lose their final game of the season.

It will not be easy, as the reigning premier Hawks look to prime their title defence over the next two weeks.

The Hawks have the best preparation for finals in their final two games, playing second place Tigers this week before hosting the Lions next week.

While they are nestled into third place, and guaranteed a home elimination final, results in the next two weeks will be a great indicator for how all three teams are looking heading into finals.

Would two wins against

the teams above them on the ladder make the Hawks the prohibitive favourites?

Race for fourth South Cairns Cutters (fourth) and Centrals Trinity Beach Bulldogs (fifth) are separated by a measly 21 points on the for and against ladder.

They play the Saints and the Crocs, both away, as they look to secure big wins.

For the Dogs, it is simply a must win since they have the bye next weekend and will be hoping that Norths can win by a significant margin in the final Battle of the Compass.

For the Cutters, they will be looking to win both games, with their destiny in their own hands.

Disrupting the race for fourth

Both the Crocs and the Saints will have something to say about the finals race this weekend before facing off next weekend.

The Crocs, in their first year in the comp, will be looking for a major scalp to cap off a successful year for the team and the club. Winless Saints will be rank outsiders against the Cutters but have frustrated teams throughout season 2024 with their ferocious and desperate defence.

With Cutters needing to win big, could this added pressure be an opening for the Saints?

Tatiana Finlan of the Cutters (above left) and Rhania Hewitt (below) from the Bulldogs will both be hoping for wins in their respective games tomorrow as they both battle for the last remaining spot in the finals. Pictures: RAWI/AFL

Racegoers are hoping to see a thrilling finish at tomorrow’s Cairns Cup like last year’s win by The Driller ridden by Adam Sewell. Picture: Supplied