Cairns Local News June 23 2023

l Aeroglen

Virgin Japan

l Cassowary Coast

l Redlynch

flights

to touch down

Page 3

Community Connect liftout inside

Pages 17-18, 31-32

Greek Festival is back in 2023

- liftout inside

Pages 19-30

SAVE OUR RAILWAY ‘STATION’

NATHAN Andronicus, 16, is one of the youngest and most passionate members of the Cairns Model Railway Club which is searching for a new home after it was given notice by Raintrees shopping centre management. The club has to vacate their premises by the end of next month to make way for the Australian Electoral Commission’s referendum headquarters.

FULL STORY PAGE 4

Picture: Nick Dalton

Cairns mayor refuses to let go of users-pay model to market city

l CAIRNS CBD

| Nick Dalton CAIRNS Mayor Bob Manning is not

bed tax or tourism levy

raise millions of dollars to market the city and the region.

It’s likely to form part of a state election campaign in the lead-up to October 26, 2024 polling day.

In November last year, state Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe ruled out the visitor levy because the government had pledged to introduce no new taxes.

But Cr Manning has reminded the government it would not be a state tax.

He said the Local Government Association of Queensland last year recommended the levy to the government after 85 per cent at the annual conference supported the proposal.

Cr Manning said it would be a levy introduced by the council and all that was needed was a simple legislative change to empower local government to opt-in to charge a visitor levy.

He also reminded the government that ,while it had pledged no new taxes, it had introduced a three-tiered coal royalty system to raise billions of dollars in revenues.

“User-pay levies of this kind are used all around the world. Australia has been slow to follow suit,” Cr Manning said.

“However, it is heartening to see NSW is now considering if a visitor levy is appropriate for them,” he said.

“Now Victoria will look at it and what will happen is we’ll (Queensland) be left behind.”

CONTINUED PAGE 6

COUNCIL BUDGET COVERAGE PAGES 6-7

Hospital turns 100

Health facility nearly didn’t make milestone after attempts to close it

l BABINDA | Nick Dalton

ONE of the Far North’s oldest hospitals – Babinda, which has just turned 100, – wasn’t supposed to reach the milestone.

A former Cairns Hospital board attempted to close the much-loved service more than 30 years ago with patients and treatments to be referred to Innisfail Hospital.

But the community fought back, and people-power reigned supreme.

More than 60 staff, former employees, patients, Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service officials and residents gathered last Friday to mark the 100th birthday with a capsule burial, a birthday cake, speeches and morning tea followed by a 1920s-themed dinner dance celebration at the Babinda RSL Hall on Saturday.

Former director of nursing

Helen May told Cairns Local News that there were moves to close the hospital down during her time from 1981 to 2004.

“They tried to shut us down and move everything to Innisfail, but it didn’t work,” she said.

Ms May said she had to fight tooth and nail to get additional funding and services for the health facility and made some notable achievements including funding for a multi-purpose facility, aged care (10 units), home and community care, meals on wheels, ancillary nursing in the community and day respite care.

Ms May said the hospital was vital for the small community especially when floods regularly cut access north and

south of the town. The hospital is described as a multi-purpose health centre with 11 aged care beds and 11 acute care beds. It has 60 staff, including doctors, nurses, administration and other employees.

Aunty Annie Wonga, who is 83 and lives at the hospital, gave the welcome to country. She was born at Babinda and is the last of the Wonga generation.

Aunty Annie has lived at the

hospital for the last six months and said she liked it because she was “safe and secure”. However, she does remember Indigenous patients being segregated and forced to be treated and sleep on the “draughty verandas”.

“But that doesn’t happen now,” Aunty Wonga said. The longest serving staffer – nurse Colleen Martinod –has been at the hospital for 46 years.

“But I’m aiming for 50 years. I’m not ready to leave,” she said.

“I stayed here because I care about our community. I love my job, I’m not ready to retire.

“All the nurses are like our family and outside work we socialise.”

Ms Martinod said her three daughters were born at the hospital with two also working at the facility in the laundry and administration.

Also at the birthday celebrations was Babinda’s oldest resident, 102-year-old Elsa Sganzerla. She moved with her parents from Italy to the town in 1922 when they became involved in cane farming.

In 1943 she married the late John and together they operated the town’s garage (Babinda Automotive Engineers, now Torque Auto) and had one daughter and two sons.

Former director of nursing Helen May, resident Aunty Annie Wonga and longest serving employee nurse Colleen Martinod. Picture: Nick Dalton

Japan flights on the way

Virgin Australia expects to carry 30,000 passengers a year to Cairns

l AEROGLEN

| Nick Dalton

FORWARD bookings for Virgin Australia’s inaugural flight to Cairns from Japan next week are growing.

The first flight touches down on Wednesday with key entertainment for guests including J-pop dance and karaoke performances, bubble tea, signature origami kits, and other destination-themed visuals.

A Virgin Australia spokeswoman said Australian school holiday periods were showing strength for the route and strong connections with eastern capital cities were also helping.

“There will be a short period of time during which we will operate our Cairns-Haneda (Tokyo) service using our existing Boeing 737-700 aircraft, starting from the inaugural flight on June 28,” she said.

“Activities in Haneda, Tokyo will take place once our (new) 737-8 aircraft enters service on the route.

“We are really excited to see this brand-new aircraft enter the network.”

Cairns Airport chief executive officer Richard Barker said the service was highly significant for Tropical North Queensland.

“When another full-service carrier stopped its direct services to Japan in 2009, Japanese visitation into Cairns decreased

dramatically,” he said. “Data shows us that large numbers of Japanese tourists visit Tropical North Queensland when a full-service carrier, like Virgin Australia, offers direct flights to Tokyo Haneda.

“Virgin Australia is also in partnership with All Nippon Airways (ANA), a trusted global carrier favoured by Japanese travellers.”

Member for Cairns Michael Healy said it would bring more than 30,000 visitors directly to Cairns in the first year alone.

Tourism Tropical North Queensland chief executive officer Mark Olsen said the route was key to growing international travel, particularly because it delivered connectivity through the trusted ANA brand.

“Prior to the pandemic, the

valuable Japanese market delivered 112,000 Japanese into the region a year,” he said.

“In addition to leisure travel, this service will open up the potential for the business events market, as well as trade and investment, thanks to a brand the Japanese know at an airport they know. Our tourism industry is very excited about this connection, as are our Japanese

Local Briefs

l GARAGE SALE

THE Cairns Scope Club is a ladies’ service club that holds regular fundraising to support many organisations and charities. The club has donated thousands of dollars to the local community over the last 46 years. To give back to the community, the club will be holding a garage sale, on Saturday, July 1, at 7 Palm Avenue, Parramatta Park. The garage sale is from 7am until 3pm, and all money raised will be given back to the community.

l SHIPS AHOY

TWO navy ships were decommissioned during a small ceremony at HMAS Cairns last Friday. HMAS Benalla and HMAS Shepparton were retired after a combined 60 years of service in the Royal Australian Navy. They were the final two ships of its kind – the Paluma class – and have been stood down to make way for a new and more advanced survey capability.

l TREASURE SALE

trade partners who sell Cairns as the closest gateway to Australia with just one-hour time difference and summer all year round.”

Virgin Australia chief executive Jayne Hrdlicka said adding over 2000 seats between the iconic destinations every week meant more value and choice for Australians wanting to travel to Japan.”

ST. Margaret’s Anglican Church is hosting a trash, treasure and treats event on July 8 from 9am onwards at Maggie’s Thrift Shop, 5 Collinson St, West Cairns. Collectables and pre-loved items will be sold at reasonable prices. There will also be plants for sale as well as a cake stall. You can also reach the shop via the church at 230 Aumuller St. Only cash will be accepted.

Fiona Ryan and Sienna Vella of Virgin Australia at the Cairns Airport announcement of the Japanese services.

Picture: Supplied

Train club shunted out

l MANUNDA

| Nick Dalton

A MODEL railway club is running out of steam and may be derailed if members cannot find somewhere to store and show their amazing displays.

The Cairns Model Railway Club must leave its donated site at the Raintrees shopping centre so the Australian Electoral Commission (see sidebar story) can set up a base for its referendum polling operations.

Club president John King said the club was urgently seeking another place for their model train layouts.

“This has thrown our club into turmoil because we went through the same exercise about nine months ago with very little success,” he said.

“Fortunately, Raintrees came to the rescue, but our tenure has been cut short there as well.

“The club has a few weeks to find a new home, but we’re hoping to find somewhere permanent.

“Shifting the layouts will be a costly and time-consuming process where the fragile models and scenery can be easily damaged.

“Ideally, the club seeks a partnership with another club that has some spare space, or possibly a tourist-oriented organisation that can combine the club’s assets with their own facilities to help promote tourism.

“The club needs about 150

Railway group urgently needs new ‘station’ for sets

to 200sqm to develop and expand the existing displays and other tems which are currently in storage due to space restrictions at Raintrees.

“The club must vacate the shop by late July, but it will continue to hold tours until the removal activities begin.”

The club fosters all forms of model railroading and model-

making, has five layouts and a growing membership (35), ranging in age from 8 to 80plus years.

The layouts include a spectacular German-built computerised system with four tiers, including a town, a mountain village and tunnels, donated by The Bush Tucker Man Les Hiddins. It is worth an estimat-

ed $80,000. The club layout is the biggest and longest with about 100m of rail track and is work in progress while another smaller one is a replica of the Kuranda railway at Stoney Creek.

“The Raintrees clubrooms have been open to the public, with free guided tours being offered on most afternoons,” Mr

Electoral authority takes over

l MANUNDA

THE Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) is taking over a large chunk of the Raintrees shopping centre to prepare for the Voice referendum later this year.

Part of the 1725sqm area includes a tenancy occupied by the Cairns Model Railway Club as well as most of the southern section of the centre. Also on the move is the adjacent Manunda library area to somewhere else in the centre.

An AEC spokesman said the space would become an ‘outposted centre’ for the referendum.

“We have outposted centres for each event in major centres across Australia. At these premises we collate polling materials there, station surge staff who are organising polling premises and do a level of polling official training there, particularly for our staff running a polling station,” he said.

King said. He said about 50-60 people visited a week but in the right setting that could grow to 200-300.

“Given the right circumstances and location, if the model railway and associated displays can find a permanent home, it will continue to attract people to visit one of the largest collections of models north of Brisbane.”

Cairns Regional Council lifestyle and community director Destry Puia said the library was expected to be relocated to a new space within the centre in January 2024 at the cost of the centre. “During this time, council has committed to ensuring the continuity of library services in the centre,” he said.

Shopping centre manager Sheila Neil would not discuss any leasing arrangements.

Ashlynne Musumeci, 11, at the controls of the club’s showpiece train set and at the rear (from left) Steve Mortimer, John King, Ian MacLeod-Carey and Ken Dixon. Picture: Nick Dalton

Another crazy ants outbreak

l GOLDSBOROUGH

AN infestation of yellow crazy ants has been uncovered in the tranquil Goldsborough Valley near Gordonvale.

Biosecurity Queensland officers made the discovery during a routine yard check and immediately alerted the Wet Tropics Management Authority.

Yellow crazy ants are one of the world’s most invasive species. Their ability to form massive super-colonies and their extremely aggressive nature make them a significant threat to not only the Wet Tropics’ fragile ecosystem but to the community and the region’s economy as a whole.

This formidable foe has been present in the Cairns region since 2001, but thanks to the persistent efforts of the authority, widespread infestations have been contained in recent years.

Authority executive director Scott Buchanan said “this a significant discovery. Had it remained undetected, it would have had the potential to wreak havoc on the World Heritage area.”

Mr Buchanan emphasised that the detection served as a crucial reminder of the importance of ongoing surveillance.

Survey results so far indicate a cluster of infestations in about 85 hectares in the Goldsborough area.

If you think you may have seen yellow crazy ants, please contact the authority on 4241 0525.

Fashion week shines

Inaugural event opens up endless opportunities for local sector

l CAIRNS CBD | Isabella

Guzman Gonzalez

THE organisers of Cairns first Fashion Week have been overwhelmed with its success.

More than 100 local, national and international designers, models and fashionistas gathered at Crystalbrook Flynn on Tuesday night to celebrate the launch of Cairns Fashion Week (CFW) in an evening of elegance and decadence.

From New York to Gordonvale, models, designers, and fashion lovers attended the opening night and discussed all the new opportunities and possibilities the event would open for the local fashion industry.

A symposium on Wednesday, and two resort wear and swimwear showcases on Thursday, were among the main events that included iconic local designers such as Regan O’Neill, Sonlia, Murrii Quu, St. Ballentine, Dada’s Step and more.

With two more events to go –the Neo Showcase Designer and the sold-out Podium Showcase tomorrow at the Tanks Arts Centre – designers and models are raving about the event that aims to bring all eyes to the Far North Queensland’s fashion industry.

“It’s surreal to see so many people supporting Cairns Fashion Week,” said CFW founder

Jade Turnbull. “Having everyone back us, believing in us, and wanting to make CFW a success is amazing,” she said.

“We’re quite close to selling out. Only limited tickets are available for the Neo Showcase at the Tanks on Saturday.”

CFW head director Domi Penalli said CFW was vital for the

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local fashion industry.

“Regionally, we have so much available, we have crocodile farms for brands like Louis Vuitton up here, and yet we don’t have a local fashion design presence, so it’s crucial for events like CFW to happen here not only in Brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne,” she said.

Iconic Cairns designer Dada from Dada’s Step said it was time for Cairns to be recognised nationally as a fashion destination. “It’s time for Cairns to shine, and I fully support it,” she said.

Gordonvale Indigenous model Gillyba Ambrum, who will be modelling at the Podium show-

case, said the event was long overdue for the local fashion industry.

“It’s very exciting to be a part of the showcase, and hopefully, I get to inspire other Indigenous models like myself,” she said. For more information and to buy tickets, visit www.cairnsfashionweek.com

Dada’s Step owner/designer Dada and Johanne Edwards of Mooroobool ham it up at the fashion week launch. Picture: Isabella Guzman Gonzalez

Cairns Regional CouncilBudget 2023-24 Capital works of $165m

No showcase projects but plenty of grassroots water and sewage works

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CAIRNS REGION

| Nick Dalton CAIRNS Regional Council’s budget of $433.5 million will focus on preserving service levels and maintaining and upgrading core infrastructure as part of its $165 million capital works program. The program commits $84.5m to renewal and upgrades of existing assets, with $80m to be invested in new core infrastructure.

Cairns Mayor Bob Manning said this year’s capital works program had been framed to ensure the preservation of key services in a challenging economic environment.

“Council faces similar challenges that many businesses are experiencing, such as cost ressures, supply chain issues and resource shortages,” he said.

“As a council, it is important that we do not lose sight of delivering essential services.

“Residents need to be confident that when they turn on the tap in the morning, the water is running, and when they flush the toilet, everything flows as it should.

“The commitment of $82.5m on water and wastewater assets highlights that this budget ensures we meet the needs of the community today and in the future.

“There is a $24m allocation to progress the Cairns water security – stage 1 project, which is critical to our city’s future.

“This project, the largest single infrastructure commitment made by council, secures the city’s immediate drinking water needs by delivering new water capacity like a dam, but at

Eight councillors in favour

l CAIRNS REGION

EIGHT Cairns regional councillors supported the budget, two did not.

Cr Brett Moller (Div. 1) said the budget was not designed to be popular nor “sugar coating” before next year’s election.

He said it was a “challenging budget” to fiscally sustain the council.

Cr Moller said Cr Eden’s objection (see next page) was lacking in substance and was “selfpromotion”.

“There’s a high degree of financial literacy in dealing with a $370m budget … we rely on the management team to provide us with that advice,” he said.

“For those of us who attended the workshops and briefings, we had every opportunity to question the assumptions.

“It’s all very well if you want to vote against the budget, but please, tell us what the alternatives are. What projects do you push out? What service levels do you diminish?”

Cr Kathy Zeiger (Div. 3) said councillors had tried hard to keep rate rises to a minimum.

Cr Terry James (Div. 4) said high inflation, labour and material shortages, increasing costs and the Ukraine war had all lead to the 5.99 per cent rise.

less cost and with a much lighter environmental footprint.

“As well as the significant commitment to water and wastewater improvements, this year’s capital works program invests over $25m on the transport network, $31.6 m community sport and cultural facilities, and $5.7m on footpaths and cycleways to promote active travel.”

Other key projects funded in this year’s program include completion of the next stage of the Northern Beaches Leisure Trail,

continuation of the smart water meters rollout, and redevelopment of Kenrick Park in Gordonvale.

This year, the capital works program allows for:

• $25.1m on roads, bridges, streetlighting, drainage, kerb and channel, shoulder sealing, and bus stops

• $52.9m on improving the water network $29.6m on wastewater network

• $38.9m on community, sport,

and cultural projects.

Cultural facilities – $10.9m

• $7.7m to progress the Cairns Gallery Precinct. The bulk of the works, which have been funded in large by the Federal Government, involve refurbishment of the Old Mulgrave Shire building and detailed design for a future gallery.

• The Cairns Performing Arts Centre will get new LED light upgrade ($831,000).

• About $2m for upgrades to

the Tanks Arts Centre.

Community facilities – $3.5m

• More than $1.8m for the Trinity Beach Community Activity Space, and $1.3m for renewals and upgrades to libraries. The council successfully secured $935,000 from the State Government to help build the Trinity Beach Community Activity Space this financial year.

Public toilet facilities – $1.4m

Sporting facilities – $8.2m

Kenrick Park Page 13

Government refuses to reconsider tourism levy

FROM PAGE 1

“Our numbers show that a small, 2.5 per cent levy per room per night, can generate $16 million annually to be spent attracting more visitors to Cairns,” Cr Manning said.

“Raising the same amount from ratepayers is just not feasible.

“A user-pays visitor levy is a

much fairer way to ensure our tourism industry can thrive, while residents benefit from the flow-on impact to our economy and jobs.

“It’s just common sense that tourism destinations can raise their own funding and have control over how it is spent, rather than relying on state and federal grants that can dramatically

shrink depending on budget priorities. Cr Manning said, while there were tourism levies on the Gold and Sunshine coasts that were paid by businesses, the Cairns proposal was a users-pay system charged to visitors.

“Presently, the onus of funding this ongoing promotion of our region falls on the ratepayer,” he said. I believe that this

burden should be shifted to our visitors through the introduction of a modest levy.

“This would allow council to remove this impost from ratepayers and allow us to redirect that $3.4 million back to the community.”

Mr Hinchliffe has refused to re-consider. “The Queensland Government does not support

introducing a visitor levy, noting the Palaszczuk government’s commitment for no new or increased taxes for the people of Queensland,” he said.

“Regional tourism organisations are encouraged to work with local governments to consider existing mechanisms and innovative solutions to address this issue.”

But, he said, the budget, particularly the $165m capital works spend, would help stimulate and sustain the local economy.

Cr Kristy Vallely (Div. 6) said it had taken “courage” to make the hard decisions to deliver the rate increase of 5.99 per cent.

Cr Max O’Halloran (Div. 7) said it was an “unusual budget with most of it underground and no pretty stuff”. “When you wake up in the morning and turn the tap on, you’ll realise where most of the budget has gone this year,” he said.

Cr Brett Olds (Div. 9 ) said the council had to maintain its service levels, particularly in parks and on roads and visitors noted the high levels of maintenance.

He said Cairns was still the poor cousin to other local governments such as Townsville which received billions of dollars more from the state government.

Construction of a new $1.83 million Trinity Beach Community Active Space will start this financial year.

Eden and Pyne voted against

l CAIRNS REGION

INDEPENDENT councillors

Amy Eden and Rob Pyne voted against the budget for different reasons.

Cr Eden (Div. 5) said it put the burden on hardworking families, while Cr Pyne (Div. 2) said it would slug 58,000 homeowners.

She highlighted that the budget document included plans for a rate rise of 5.3 per cent next year on top of 5.99 per cent this year.

“Our residents deserve better,” Cr Eden said.

She said there was a need for a budget that truly reflected the economic climate and addressed the community’s priorities.

Cr Eden said the management restructure in 2021 had created an imbalance within the organisation, with fewer resources available for frontline staff and services.

She called for a reduction in middle management layers and the preservation of frontline staff and services.

Cr Eden also questioned $4m for upgrades to the council Spence St building, lack of funding priority for vital infrastructure improvements to the long-overdue renewal of the Lake St crossover, and a lack of public toilets in the CBD.

Cr Pyne said he long supported a proposed non-principal place of residence category (non-PPR) rating category for AirBnB and other short term rentals. Such a category would impose a higher rate on these properties.

“I supported this category, however, instead of introducing this, the council budget slugs the 58 per cent of Cairns householders living in a house they own or are paying off,” he said.

“We recently waived developer infrastructure charges in the city to help with the housing crisis, but now we are slugging homeowners. People will spot this double standard a mile off.”

Cr Pyne said it was a time of cost of living pressures when people’s incomes were not keeping up with inflation.

“It hurts those with the least capacity to pay,” he said.

Cairns Regional CouncilBudget 2023-24

Local authority allocates $433.5m in 5.99 per cent increase this year

Rate rise of $201 a year

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CAIRNS REGION

understands the cost-of-living pressures faced in the current environment”.

|

Nick Dalton

THE majority of Cairns Regional Council ratepayers have been slugged with a 5.99 per cent rate, fire levy (to be finalised) and average water use increase of about $3.86 a week or $201 a year in difficult circumstances of inflationary pressures, labour skill shortages, increasing costs and supply chain restrictions.

It is nearly double that of last year (3.1 per cent) and previous increases of about 1.5-1.7 per cent.

However, Mayor Bob Manning said the council was determined to keep the increase below the consumer price index (CPI), currently 7.4 per cent.

The budget was passed on Monday 8-2 with councillors Amy Eden and Rob Pyne voting against.

The $433.5m budget includes $164.8m in capital works, $82.5m on water and wastewater infrastructure and $51m to service and maintain community assets.

The special budget meeting was disrupted at 9.50am when Cr Manning adjourned the meeting after he stopped Cr Eden from speaking out about the rate increase when councillors were permitted to discuss it only in the context of their individual divisions. Budget debate was allowed later in the meeting

This sparked an outcry from the public gallery who yelled: “Let her speak”, and from mayoral candidate John Kelly, who was early warned about disrupting the meeting.

Mr Kelly was later removed from the council chambers by a security guard. The meeting resumed at 10am.

Cr Manning said he “certainly

“This is the most challenging budget in my time at council, which responds to some unique and challenging economic conditions,” he said.

“In considering this year’s budget, we have been mindful of the rising cost of delivering essential services.

“Council continues to face the same inflationary challenges as everyone else, including cost pressures, supply chain issues and skilled labour shortages.

“For example, we have registered a 30 per cent increase in the cost associated with the construction of concrete paths and procurement of stormwater pipes and other associated prefabricated concrete products, price rises of over 40 per cent for top soils and sands and electricity price rises close to 20 per cent.

“We also needed to budget for cost increases in bitumen works of 15 per cent, a 20 per cent cost escalation in fuel and an 8 per cent rise for waste collection services.

“It has been a difficult process to achieve the outcome we are here to vote on today. Many hours were spent deliberating, debating and formulating this budget, and I thank the councillors who did actively engage in this process. Your input has been invaluable.

“Maintaining service standards is a high priority.

“We have looked carefully at our capital works program and considered which projects were absolutely necessary, those that could be deferred, where reduced scope was needed and made the most of funding opportunities to maximise outcomes.”

Biggest spend on water and wastewater upgrades

ABOUT half of Cairns Regional Council’s capital works budget will be spent on water and wastewater.

Water infrastructure totals $53 million with the headline act, Cairns water security –stage 1.

The budget papers outline that $24m had been allocated to progress the project.

“The project will deliver a

new drinking water supply to the Cairns community from the Mulgrave River at Gordonvale, supplementing existing supplies from Copperlode Falls Dam, Behana Creek and council’s smaller rural intakes,” the papers said.

“Council is undertaking a multi-stage procurement approach for the project to optimise design.

“Early contractor involvement with two shortlisted contractors started in April 2023 and will continue throughout the remainder of the year.

“The shortlisted proponents are currently undertaking design development, with the successful proposal to be identified by late 2023.

“Procurement of long lead items and early construction

works will begin in 2024, with construction to be completed in 2026.

“Council has successfully advocated for federal and state governments to provide $107.5 million each to help fund the project.”

In other works:

• $5.7m to continue the rollout of smart water meters

• Wastewater infrastructure –

$29.6m, including:

• $15m on improvements and upgrades to water pump stations, treatment plants and reservoirs

• $664,000 has been made to complete works for the Emergency Water Supply Plan (EWSP) to safeguard Cairns’ water supply in the event of an extreme drought.

The Foundation will work with Queensland Health on the $3.4 million project, which will lessen the need for patients having to travel south for treatment. They will be cared for here at Cairns Hospital Cancer Care hub, close to those who love them.

Cairns Mayor Bob Manning with the budget papers at Spence St. Picture: Isabella Guzman Gonzalez

First Nations’ VIP visits

New ambassador impressed with Indigenous art fair’s international goals

l CAIRNS CBD

| Isabella Guzman

Gonzalez

THE visit of the newly appointed First Nations people ambassador Justin Mohamed to Cairns and the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) headquarters could be the fair’s first step towards their international aspirations.

In his first Australian tour, Mr Mohamed sat down with CIAF’s artistic director Francoise Lane and general manager Darrell Harris to discuss CIAF’s plans for collaboration with First Nations people abroad.

“CIAF is one of those many innovation projects going on in Australia that are not getting enough attention down south,” Mr Mohamed said.

“I’m really impressed with their vision to engage internationally.

“They play an important role for First Nations people because one, we can celebrate and teach, and our artists can showcase their art and tell their stories but the other important part is for non-Aboriginal people and visitors to see the strength of the longest living culture that we have in the world.”

CIAF’s general manager Darrell Harris said the appointment of an ambassador for First Nations and subsequential

meeting with him was an important step in CIAF’s strategic plan.

“It’s great that he has taken the time to come and visit us,” Mr Harris said.

“After the pandemic, CIAF itself is poised to move forward

into international engagement, we have some opportunities this year with international visitation for symposiums and conversations during CIAF,” he said.

“We also highlighted in our 2019 strategic plan an oppor-

tunity to have international engagement in the Pacific and this is an important stepping stone to get us thinking in that direction. We’re also thinking of European engagement.

“The world is a lot closer to us either by air travel or digital

get work experience

l CAIRNS REGION

| Isaac Colman

FORTY-six Freshwater Christian College year 10 students have spent this week undertaking a variety of occupational work experience placements in various local businesses such as Pro-Dive Cairns, Rainforestation, and the Defence Force, including the navy and army.

“I’ve found it great,” said student Andre Van Loggerenberg, who has undergone a placement at Pro-Dive Cairns.

“I really think that it’s a unique experience and a great opportunity,” he said.

“I’m enjoying going out on the boats, and there’s always something new to see.

“To me, work experience isn’t just learning how to do the job, it’s learning how to get used to as well as enjoy the job.

“It’s awesome, and I’m genuinely considering this to be what I do for the rest my life,” said Kokoda Hoult, who was placed at Innovative Automotives, a Portsmith business.

means which is only going to grow the opportunities for partnerships that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can engage with.”

The 14th CIAF is from Thursday, July 13 to Sunday, July 16.

Visit www.ciaf.com.au

Through the entire grade, all 46 students at the college were able to find a placement at a local business, making this year the most successful year in terms of work experience. The author of this story – Isaac Colman – has been undertaking work experience at Cairns Local News this week, including writing stories.

CIAF general manager Darrell Harris, ambassador for First Nations people Justin Mohamed and CIAF artistic director Francoise Lane at CIAF HQ, in the School of the Arts Building. Picture: Isabella Guzman Gonzalez

Lettersto the editor

Children need love and discipline

A CHILD needs many things, most importantly discipline and love, which can only be provided by parents and family.

The problem we have has been caused mostly by government’s interference, in both those areas.

No youth must be approached or reprimanded or the law will accuse the person of unspeakable crimes. There is no line that a youth cannot cross without any serious repercussions.

They can change their sex without parents being involved, ride motorised skateboards with no licence helmet or speed restriction, and many other freedoms, that I would have loved as a boy, but there was the line that was not crossed. Parents need to use those two principles with discipline and love, and ignore ridiculous things coming from politicians who are unaware of all the facts.

I have written to the Premier on several occasions with the following:

• Close all these powerless children’s courts, they are considered a badge of courage and treated with contempt.

• All criminals should be handled in the courts, from the dock with mum and dad on either side of the offender, any fines etc should be paid by the parents.

• Stop blaming the police. They have enough difficulties brought on by the government.

• Sack the youth minister, who is

so silent, even if she is a friend of the Premier.

• I read a report put out by some parliamentary group, and it was just a rehash of a failing of the past. I wonder how much that cost.

• Employ people who know young people. The majority of youngsters are great and no problem to society, so let’s not put them all in the same boat.

• The only people responsible for youth behaviour is the parents. The parents of any youth picked up by the police late at night or in the early hours should be charged with neglect.

I am a normal citizen of Cairns. During my life I have brought up two successful young men, I have been in scouting for about 40 years, served in a closed youth custody centre for five years and was a magistrate for 12 years.

Robert D. Marlborough, Cairns

Lack of carparks at Cairns Hospital

I READ with interest about the problem health-impaired Raymond Gaffney (Cairns Local News), had parking at the hospital, and I can relate to this.

I’ve just turned 93, but luckily I’m fit and healthy.

When I had an early hospital appointment some time ago, and after driving around the block three times to find a parking space, I drove to my daughter at Earlville asking her to drive me to the hospital and go home and, when I’m finished, pick me up.

Vocal Local join our online debate be a

Last week we asked the question: Do you think Cairns Regional Council should get involved with a PNG-Pasifika NRL franchise? Here are some of your comments.

Why should it be based in Cairns when it is a PNG team?

Let it go Bob.

Lizz Johnson, Facebook

A lot of talk but no money from this Cairns council.

Vick Kandiah, Facebook

No.

Taj Barron, Facebook

It’s a matter of convincing PNG of the merits of basing the team in Cairns but it would depend upon whether Cairns can attract the funding to build a proper stadium. It would cost hundreds of millions of dollars. It’s unlikely Australia would pay for one in PNG.

John, Manoora

Parking spaces in Cairns are as rare as hen’s teeth, but this shouldn’t be in the hospital area. There is a lot of grassy land on the Cairns Esplanade that could be converted into parking spaces and it would save the council mowing

I think it would be great for both Australia and PNG. Although it is a lot of money to build a stadium, it’s also buying a closer relationship with PNG.

Isaac, Machans Beach

Although it costs a lot of money, I believe that building a stadium in PNG would be beneficial not just for the NRL league, but for a friendship between Australia and PNG.

James, Mossman

Australia should. It’s a great opportunity to get closer with PNG and establish a bond through rugby league.

Marilyn, Tully

PNG needs to stand on its own feet.

Bob, Westcourt

the grass. But the councillors don’t care, they want to rise revenue, and unless one of them is sick and can’t find parking space at the hospital, nothing will be done.

I have written to the council a

few times about this, but they just ignore you. And, with the huge numbers of people “escaping” from Victoria, the situation will only get worse and not better.

Werner Schmidlin, Yorkeys Knob

Queensland contributes a third of Australia’s emissions

I AM impressed with the large number of volunteers and climate change activists who are committed to saving the environment of Cairns and its regional wonders. From the Great Barrier Reef to the Daintree rainforest, nothing is invulnerable from the impact of climate change.

I picked up a brochure of the Australian Marine Conservation Society, and was struck by the achievement of Queensland in a global ranking: Queenslanders have the third biggest carbon footprint (per capita) in the world.

New free fitness in Edmonton

Council has added two new weekly classes to its Active Living Program, which offers free exercise and wellbeing sessions deliver by qualified instructors.

“Queensland alone contributes a third of Australia’s emissions and is ranked third highest in the world per capita for carbon emissions”. (“Queensland is failing to hit the target to save our Reef”, in “Fight for our

Reef” brochure, AMCS, 2023). Think about that. A tiny population comparatively speaking, yet a massive, destructive presence on “the world stage” as we Aussies like to describe what lies beyond the Qantas flight routes of our big brown land. Evidently, the per capita carbon cost of producing trillions of tonnes of coal and fossil fuels then exporting that dirty cargo to the rest of the globe has a significant bearing on why Queenslanders are guilty of being in the top three of this damning world ranking. What we focus on as

our key, primary industries adds up. If we switched those human killing, air polluting, animal and water devastating activities to ones that were instead beneficial for health and wellbeing - like renewable energy production and exports of green technologies products and services - then we would see Queensland drop down dramatically on that eco offenders’ list.

It is time to reckon up and stop all the harmful misinformation and lying bluster against green technologies and renewables.

There is an established, global consensus on how to solve and essentially stop climate change from getting any worse. That is to reduce net carbon emissionsyou simply can’t deny the body of facts and science anymore or you will be automatically relegated to the lunatic fringe, as you should be.

The majority rules and it is these reasonable nations who are taking action to replace fossil fuel production as rapidly as possible.

Just because we can get high prices on these toxic goods for

Tee off for charity

Sign up for the Mayor’s Charity Golf Day and tee off for a day of fun and fundraising frivolity at the Cairns Golf Club on Friday 7 July.

now doesn’t make it a sustainable industry over the long term. Even the oil producers admit that. We can create new jobs in the new green tech industries. That is inevitable and indisputable.

Dr Tania Peitzker is originally from Cairns and has lived in Europe for over 30 years. She is the creator of the Peitzker Prizes for AI, emerging tech, green tech, climate change and the arts/creative industries.

Picture: © Dr Tania Peitzker, mage created with tryitonai.com 2023

Improvement works

Redlynch Intake Rd, Redlynch: Sewer connection works (for a private development) from 110-124 Redlynch Intake Rd, starting Monday 26 June. Full road closures with detours in place.

Chair Yoga: Mondays from 9am to 10am at Down Park Community Hall, 53 Pyne St, Edmonton.

Xtreme Hip Hop with Gstep: Wednesdays from 5.30pm to 6.30pm, Ravizza Park, Edmonton. For the latest information on classes, including cancellations, follow Cairns Active Living Program on Facebook.

This year’s event will raise funds for the Mayor’s Christmas Cheer Appeal, which provides food hampers for families and elderly residents in need during the festive period.

Registrations are now open for teams of four people to take part in the Ambrose competition.

Participants are encouraged to don attire in the theme of “Christmas in July” with a prize for the best dressed team. For more details or to register call 4044 3477.

Little St, Manoora: Watermain replacement. Temporary lane closures and traffic control as required.

For a full list of works visit Council’s website.

Go

Opt in to receive your rates and water usage notices by email and you could win one of four $250 gift cards.

Switch by 31 August 2023. Terms and conditions apply. Visit www.cairns.qld.gov.au/paperless for details.

Time for some crafty retail therapy

l MOSSMAN

THERE’S been some amazing fundraising going on in the Douglas Shire recently, one example being the Reef Raider’s home match and charity event which helped raise around $10,000 for their skipper Richard Johnston, who was recently diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia. Another great example was the recent ‘Pink In The Tropics’ event which, with the combination of some fine dining and a visit to the Croc Pit for an afternoon of Aussie

Rules Football, also raised all important funds.

At the Reef Raiders game, I bumped into some of the team from the Leukaemia Foundation who were busy at work supporting the cause to one day eradicate this awful disease. Once again, the Mossman district branch of the Leukaemia Foundation is busy at it as they are about to embark on their annual Quilt & Craft Expo. This event has run for the past 16 years with money being raised to help local patients.

Last year it was estimated that a per-

son has a 1 in 154 risk of dying from leukaemia by the age of 85 and breaking the statistics down further, that is 1 in 120 for males and 1 in 217 for females.

If that’s not worrying enough, the number of new cases of leukaemia diagnosed increased from 1645 (948 males and 697 females) in 1982 to 4516 in 2018.

All the more reason why our fundraisers, often volunteers, should be commended for the great work they do raising funds for future research.

This weekend’s Quilt & Craft Expo is being held at the Mossman Sports Centre, near the high school. As expected, there will be a wonderful display of quilts which will no doubt provide an opportunity to have a relaxing browse and the possibility to buy something quite unique. No quilt is made the same and they come from all over the north as far south as Townsville.

While enjoying this crafty retail therapy, there will also be a morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea available.

Opening times are this Saturday and

Sunday, June 24 and 25 from 9am to 4pm. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the event will not be open on Monday as originally advertised.

Locals and visitors to the Douglas Shire are all welcome, so get along, have fun and support a very worthy cause.

I’m off to work on my cross stitch, so for now it’s Gazza signing out.

Send your stories to gazza@cairnslocalnews.com.au

Last year’s team from the Mossman district branch of the Leukaemia Foundation.

Last year’s Craft & Quilt Expo attracted great crowds. A wide range of amazing quilts were on display last year.

on Gordonvale

Book about paratroopers and local women 80 years ago

Tales of love during WWII

l

GORDONVALE

| Isabella Guzman Gonzalez

THE Mulgrave Shire Historical Society will commemorate the 80th anniversary of the arrival of the American 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment in Gordonvale and the brave local women who fell in love with the paratroopers with a book launch this Saturday.

In 1942-43, the American 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment landed in Gordonvale to train for deployment to New Guinea, and although many stories have been told about these men little is known about the women who loved them.

Get knitting for best tea cosy

l GORDONVALE

| Nick Dalton

THE annual tea cosy and photographic competitions are returning to Gordonvale.

The Mulgrave Shire Historical Society will show the winning entries at the Rambler Room next to the Mulgrave Settlers Museum on August 5.

Society member

Sallyanne Powell said there were four categories for the tea cosy competition:

• Knitted tea cosy (minimum of crochet work)

• Crocheted tea cosy

• Tea cosy in any other material (not knitted

or crocheted but still a functional tea cosy)

• Any other medium (let your imagination run wild).

She said dozens of entries were expected from across Queensland and even New South Wales.

The theme for the photographic competition is “the sugar industry” and the photo must be taken within the former Mulgrave Shire from Ellis Beach to Mirriwinni.

The categories are:

• Colour • Black and white.

Both competitions will go on show on August 5 from 8.30am until 2pm.

Entry fee is a gold coin donation and tea, coffee and

biscuits will be available.

Entries for both competitions must be received by July 29.

There will be cash prizes for the competitions as well as a peoples’ choice award prize for each.

“The society is encouraging everyone to have a go and enter,” Mrs Powell said.

Entry forms for both competitions are on the society’s web site: www. mulgravesettlersmuseum. weebly.com, by email: settlersmuseum@bigpond. com or pick up an entry form from the museum during business hours Mon-Sat 10am-2pm.

For any further information call 4056 1810.

On June 24, a ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary of the regiment will take place at the Gordonvale Library from 9am and from 10am The Mulgrave Settlers Museum will host the launch of Parachuting into Love, a book honouring the Gordonvale women who fell in love with the paratroopers, some even leaving their families behind and departing to an unknown America.

A display of memorabilia

from the 503rd regiment will also be available for history buffs to explore.

Parachuting into Love author, Mulgrave Shire Historical Society member and Mulgrave Settlers Museum volunteer Sallyanne Powell found 13 brides in Gordonvale and reconstructed their love stories, some through interviews and testimonies, others through historical recollection.

“It’s a unique part of our history and it must’ve been amazing that suddenly overnight 3500 Americans arrived into town,” she said.

“These were ordinary teenagers and young women living ordinary lives and then World War II changed their life dramatically.

“The ones that did go to America were incredibly brave and so were their families for letting them go.

“I felt very privileged to talk to Edie Anderson and Hilda Baulch, they were both so willing to tell their stories and they remembered so much of what it was like here in ‘42 and ‘43.

“We hear about the horrors of war but there are other sides, there are love stories.”

Ms Powell said she was still on the lookout for more brides.

“I found 13 brides and I believe there are more and I would love to be contacted by anyone who might know one of the women who married into the 503 because I’m keen to research more.”

Parachuting into Love can be bought from the day of the launch at the Mulgrave Settlers Museum or online from the museum’s website.

To provide information on the 503 brides or to find out more, contact Ms Powell at settlersmusseum@bigpond.com or call the museum.

Remembering Private Wilson 80 years on

AN American paratrooper who plunged to his death at Gordonvale 80 years ago will be remembered at a special ceremony this weekend.

Reverend Ian Lindsay of All Saints Anglican Church and the Gordonvale community will be hosting a wreath laying, a book launch and a memorial church service in honour of Private Donald L. Wilson and the Paratrooper Infantry Regiment, 503rd Unit.

Attending will be Cathy

Mechsner, the niece of the paratrooper, her husband Ron, the United States military attaché’ from the US Embassy in Canberra and other invited guests.

Rev. Lindsay said everyone would gather to remember and to honour the life and memory of Pte Donald L Wilson and all members of the 503rd parachute regiment.

Rev. Lindsay said the event followed a letter from Mrs Mechsner in December last year to thank the church for solving

a family mystery after her uncle plunged to his death after his parachutes didn’t open.

The events are:

Saturday, June 24, at 9am wreath laying at Gordonvale Library and at 10am at Mulgrave Settlers Museum, Gordonvale, the book launch of Parachuting into Love - stories of young women who married 503rd paratroopers 1943 - 1946.

Sunday, June 25 at 9am, memorial church service at All Saints Anglican Church.

Sallyanne Powell with some tea pots at the Mulgrave Settlers Museum. Picture: Nick Dalton

Sallyanne Powell with Parachuting into Love book. Picture: Nick Dalton

$4.75m park upgrade starts soon

l GORDONVALE

|

Isaac Colman

STAGE one of Gordonvale’s Kenrick Park is due to start next month following a $4.75 million commitment in Cairns Regional Council’s 2023-24 budget.

According to the budget papers “council will progress works to transform Kenrick Park into a dynamic community space for use by residents in the southern corridor.”

The papers said the council had committed $4.75m this financial year to deliver stage 1 of the project, which will include the construction of a dog park, playground equipment, intermediate bump track, carpark, toilets, pathways, basketball court, shelters, and picnic areas.

Kenrick Park covers 5.7ha in Gordonvale, which has been identified as a key population growth area in the southern part of the Cairns Regional Council area.

The $6m project includes a commitment of $3m in funding from the Queensland Government, which was announced during the sitting of Parliament in Cairns in May. According to the masterplan, the most likely features include the construction of

a basketball court for local players to practice, a dog-off-leash area so that owners can walk their dogs more freely, public toilets, shelter space for sunny days, table and seating areas for gatherings, playground equipment, BMX pump track components, a central path, as well as general landscaping of the terrain.

There is also a variety of proposed additions, which are likely to be constructed in years to come. These may include additions such as a community centre for recreational use, an events space to host shows, festivals and events, additional landscaping to improve the parklands even more, passive recreational areas, a second children’s playground, additional BMX pump track components, a skate bowl, a multisport court, exercise loop as well as an off-street parking space.

Construction of the park is expected to commence around July 2023, and is expected to end around December 2024. Certain parts of the park will be closed to the public for essential flora clearing and construction.

After the construction is finished around January 2024, landscaping and planting will continue until December 2024.

An artist’s impression of how the new Kenrick Park may look like at Gordonvale. Picture: Cairns Regional Council

Four decades for deli owners

l INNISFAIL

| Nick Dalton

OLIVERI’S iconic deli at Innisfail is marking 40 years of current ownership and 100 years as a business.

Len and Anita Oliveri bought the deli in 1983 when it was known Saraceni & Ca1.

The deli originally began trading in the early 1920s as a general store-deli but became a flourishing business in the cane cutting years with the migration of ethnic people, in particular the Italians, Greeks and Maltese.

The deli also sold alcohol –beer, wine and spirits.

As sales of wine was big among the Italians the deli had its own underground cellar where the wine was stored in large vats and sold by the gallon to the customers.

“When we purchased the deli in 1983 it was depressed due to the opening of a Woolworths’ supermarket in lnnisfail,” said Mrs Oliveri.

“With only six months into our business we were confronted with the opening of a Coles’ supermarket,” she said.

“The first three weeks in particular saw a huge drop in our sales. We stayed in our own li-

l MENA CREEK

| Isabella Guzman Gonzalez

PARONELLA Park owners

Mark and Judy Evans are celebrating 30 years of owning the Cassowary Coast tourist attraction.

Officially opened to the public in 1937, Paronella Park was the vision of Spanish businessman Jose Paronella.

After many natural disasters, the Evans took over in 1993, revamping and modernising the venue into a toprated tourist attraction at Mena Creek.

ttle world learning the trade and slowly introducing new products, trying to keep the local Italians and ethnic community happy at all times and also ha-

ving to compete with two major chain stores. “The chain stores constantly harassed us seeking our products so that they could stock them – and they did.

“At this stage of the game the customers flocked to the supermarkets to buy products that had been selected by our business over the many years of

trading.

“We managed to hold onto a lot of loyal customers and still do so today.

“As time passes by we have

started selling to the sons, daughters and grandchildren of these loyal customers and it is they who have made our business flourish.

“By their ability to make meals ‘just like mamma used to make” and our experience in supplying products and advice to mamma, we know just what they require.

“We have gained the confidence of the next generation.”

Mrs Oliveri said their three main focus points had been:

• Customer service

• Product knowledge

• Quality products.

“Our products are selected indirectly by the customers.

“It is because of their feedback and our listening to their positive or negative comments that we stock various lines,” Mrs Oliveri said.

“Our lunch rolls were commenced in 1990 when the demand started to come for some of our specialty lines to be included in a bread roll so they could be eaten on the run.

“Since then we have developed a trade catering for locals, company representatives travelling along the Queensland coast and tourists.

“We are now regarded as one of the best delis in Queensland and an icon for the township of

Evans family celebrate 30 years at Paronella Park

year milestone of their ownership of Paronella Park alongside friends, family and Jose Paronella’s family last week, where they were awarded with a Good Australian, instituted by Kennedy MP Bob Katter.

Mr Evans said the award meant a lot for the family.

“We’ve felt a sense of achievement,” he said. “We have created a destination and assembled the ingredients for sustainable success.

The Evans celebrated the 30-

“Now that we’ve extended to the caravan park, the Mena Creek Hotel and Mamu Tropical Skywalk, we employ 80 local staff, and we constantly receive feedback from guests who say how passionate our staff are.”

Mr Evans said it was crucial to their business to recognise a traveller from a tourist.

“A tourist, heading from Cairns, for example, might pick out four spots to check

out in one day, and then they’re gone,” Mr Evans said.

“A traveller is on a journey, they’re immersed in the story, they talk to other travellers, and we become a chapter of their own story.

“And then we see those travellers back, but it might be with friends and family next time.”

Mr Evans said he and his wife would like to slowly step back from the park after ensuring the legacy of the business.

“We have a capable team in place to be able to step back,” he said.

“First, we’ve set plans for the following years, including further accommodation for interest groups and small busi-

Spotlight on Cassowary Coast Bali

nesses like photographers and botanical researchers. That’s a key part of it.

“We’re also planting 35,00040,000 trees that can live over 300 years to ensure that future generations can enjoy this legacy.”

Mr Katter said Paronella Park was “the romance and excitement of my youth, but it turned into a heap of rubble beside one of a thousand waterfalls in North Queensland”.

“Mark and Judy could see that a heap of rubble and a waterfall could be turned into one of the key tourist attractions which has made FNQ a national tourist destination of real significance,” he said.

Len and Anita OIiveri in their popular Innisfail deli which they have operated for 40 years. Inset: The exterior of the shop.

Judy Evans, Kennedy MP Bob Katter, Cassowary Coast Mayor Mark Nolan and Mark Evans with the Good Australian award.

Donated dignity bags

l INNISFAIL

INNISFAIL Youth and Family

Care has been boosted with donations of dignity bags for the most vulnerable people in the area.

On her Facebook page, Councillor Trudy Tschi said it was “an absolute blessing”.

The founder of The Handbag project said people went to the organisation seeking support and assistance through emergency relief, crisis housing, support to homeless families, domestic family violence and youth support.

“Often people/families have fled terrible situations and have had to leave everything they had behind, they may be sleeping in their car, a makeshift tent or on the street,” she said.

“The opportunity to provide a woman/family that has fled domestic violence with one of these bags is a step towards empowerment. To feel seen, heard and cared for.

“These bags provide so much more than the basics. Every single bag has thoughtful gifts in them too such as face cream, stationery, a knitted teddy. “Each and every bag has provided a ray of hope, a sign of respect and

Running on golden sands

Lots of beach antics for all age groups and fitness levels

l MISSION BEACH

MACKAY’s BeachRuns at Mission Beach return in July with a distance and category for everyone.

Cassowary Coast Multisport Club president Richard Blanchette said runners could be solo or in teams, with a 20km challenge for teams of up to four people.

“The Cassowary Coast Multisport Club is calling on businesses, clubs, fitness classes, groups of friends and families to form their teams and make this year the biggest yet for the relay challenge,” he said.

“BeachRuns also has a solo half marathon, run along the entire length of palm tree lined Mission Beach, Wongaling Beach and South Mission Beach, as well as a 10km and 5km event and a 1km dash for children.

“The 5km event is open to both runners and walkers. All participants can enjoy a sausage sizzle and, of course, bananas as part of their entry. The post-run event also includes prizes for winners and plenty of random

draws. BeachRuns at Mission Beach is on Sunday, July 23 from 7am.”

The club was founded in

Health, Healing and Harmony

2013 and incorporated as a notfor-profit sporting organisation.

Originally a BUG (Bicycle User Group), it was following a num-

ber of discussions runs and rides with people from across the Cassowary Coast that the club was formed.

For BeachRuns’ registrations and more information visit the Cassowary Coast Multisport Club website at www.ccmclub.org.au

• Suits for SALE or HIRE • Footwear

• Formal Gear OR JUST GOING TO WORK?

• Hi-vis

• Steel Cap & Soft Toe Boots

• Wet Weather Gear We’re

in the current 100$

COMMUNITY CONNECT

One Coast - Cassowary Coast

Council seeks community input

Cardwell’s Bowen Street upgrade design

CASSOWARY Coast Regional Council is seeking community feedback on the draft plan to upgrade a section of Bowen Street, between Liverpool Street and Dalrymple Street, Cardwell.

Cassowary Coast Regional Councillor Barry Barnes said Bowen Street is a key road in Cardwell and Council wanted to ensure that any future upgrades were supported and influenced by the community.

“During my time as Councillor, residents have raised Bowen Street as a priority for the community and I am pleased that a plan is progressing to address the issues raised.

“Community feedback will help

shape the final design. Letters will also be posted to directly impacted properties to encourage local residents to have their say on the proposed design.

“The community can visit Council’s Your Say platform, to view the design and provide feedback online. This can be found by visiting www.yoursay.cassowarycoast.qld.gov.au/bowen-street.”

Councillor Barnes said currently the road experienced drainage issues during the wet season and required regular maintenance. The proposed plan will widen the road, between Liverpool Street and Dalrymple Street to a consistent 7 metres wide, which will improve road user experience.

“Drainage will be improved with the installation of a roadside drain on the western side of the road and associated underground drainage.”

“Driveway accesses to the residences will be sealed to the property boundary, while amenity will be improved with the planting of street trees, landscaped islands and refurbished line marking.”

The community consultation period is now open and will conclude on 23 August 2023.

After receiving input from the community regarding the proposed plan, Council will proceed to secure funding for the construction phase, using the

finalised design. In the draft FY23/24 Council budget*, Council has a proposed budget allocation of $300,000 for preliminary activities, including service relocations. The scope of these works will be aligned to the first major stage of the project between Liverpool and Brasenose Streets.

Council is committed to keeping the community informed during project milestones. Updates will be sent out via email to interested stakeholders throughout the project. To join this mailing list, please visit yoursay.cassowarycoast.qld.gov.au/bowen-street and provide your contact details or call Council on 1300 763 903.

To submit your feedback and view a copy of the draft plans for the Bowen Street upgrades please visit www.yoursay.cassowarycoast.qld.gov.au/bowen-street

One Coast - Cassowary Coast

COUNCIL POOL FACILITIES - WINTER HOURS

COMMUNITY members should be advised that pool locations are currently operating under Winter Hours with some facilities closed during the Winter period from June

Innisfail

to August.

To find the most up to date information regarding each pool location, the community is encouraged to check out each facilities Facebook page.

• Closed for winter, will reopen in August 2023.

• Stay up to date on Facebookfacebook.com/innisfailswimschool

Mission Beach

• Heated lap pool and hydro pool open.

• Stay up to date on Facebookfacebook.com/MissionBeachAquaticCentre

Tully

• Closed for winter, will reopen 1 September 2023.

• Stay up to date on Facebookfacebook.com/TullySwimmingPool

Cardwell

• Closed for winter, will reopen 1 September 2023.

• Stay up to date on Facebookhttps://cutt.ly/mwtnBeIV

For more information visitcassowarycoast.qld.gov.au/sport-and-recreation/swimming-pools

BEACH FURNITURE CLEAN UP COMMENCING IN SOUTH MISSION BEACH

NEXT

THE Cassowary Coast Regional Council is set to commence the next stage of a clean up initiative aimed at addressing the issue of items in our beaches and foreshore areas.

While it is delightful to bring a chair along to the beach and relish the picturesque scenery, we kindly request that you bring it with you, enjoy its use, and responsibly take it back home once you have finished. Cassowary Coast Councillor and Environment portfolio holder Jeff Baines thanked the community who assisted in the first beach clean up being a success.

“The next beach clean up will occur in late June, with Council officers visiting South Mission Beach, from the surf club to the boat ramp, to identify and provide owners a period of 14 days to remove the items in question. Notification will be issued by affixing a notice sticker to the respective items.” Councillor Baines said that for many of us, the beach holds a special place in our hearts, serving as a refuge that can be sought whenever needed.

It represents a small piece of paradise conveniently accessible to us and we all contribute to the preservation of these pristine spaces for the enjoyment of future generations.

For more information on the South Mission Beach furniture clean up program, please visit: yoursay.cassowarycoast.qld.gov.au/beach-clean

We want your feedback on current Council Community Grants!

CASSOWARY Coast Regional Council is undertaking a review of our Community Grants Program to understand the program’s effectiveness, accessibility, and impact. Council has a range of grants available throughout the

year to support community programs, events, arts and culture, youth participation, and more.

To help us understand how we can improve our grants process, we would like to hear about your experience

and your ideas for the Community Grants Program via the online survey: yoursay.cassowarycoast.qld.gov.au/ community-grants-review

This survey will be open until 14 July 2023.

ST JOHN’S GREEK FESTIVAL

Our Organisation

St John’s Community Care is committed to caring for our community by enhancing the independence and quality of life of the frail, elderly and people with disabilities.

Our Services

Our programs, activities and services in aged care, disability care, community services, supported accommodation and early learning are all built around our system of values. Empowering quality of life and enabling independence stands foremost in the hierarchy of what matters most at St John’s Community Care.

Early Learning

Catering to children aged six weeks to school entry age and based in the heart of Redlynch, our world-class daycare facility celebrated 25 years of service in 2020-21. The year capped our centre’s record of excellence in ensuring the children in our

care smile, stay safe, and thrive developmentally through the provision of industryleading opportunities.

Community & Partnerships

Our bonds with the communities we serve and the organisations we work with are key to our success in providing meaningful support to clients in the aged care, disability care and other key priority spaces. We value our relationships with our stakeholders and 2020-21 saw us move from strength to strength while delivering on key initiatives with our key partners.

St John’s Community Care remains forever focused on the values that inspire and drive us.

We will continue to provide individualised support and care for clients and communities in our mission to meaningfully contribute to health outcomes and quality of life.

The annual cultural and food fair is back with even more events and entertainment in 2023

IF you’re looking for a day of Greek-style fun, Redlynch is the place to be.

Every year, the local St John’s Greek Festival brings delicious food, lively music and dancing, and plenty of laughs to Cairns.

There’s something for everyone at the festival, from mouth-watering baklava and sou -

vlaki to exciting plate-smashing demonstrations. And of course, no Greek festival would be complete without bouzouki music and nonstop dancing.

So come on down to Redlynch and join in the fun. Who knows, you might even learn a few steps of the syrtaki by the end.

The annual St John’s Greek Festival at Redlynch

Returning Sunday, July 2 10.30am – 4pm

THE St John’s Greek Orthodox Parish is a not-for-profit organisation that encompasses St John’s Community Care Aged and Disability Services and Redlynch Daycare Centre.

On July 2, 2023, St John’s will be holding their annual Greek Festival at Redlynch as a community event. The event is held in the picturesque gardens with the Byzantine church in the background - you will feel as if you are actually in Greece.

Entry is by gold coin donation and the festival is from 10.30am till 4pm. It’s a great family event and an opportunity to embrace the Greek and other cultures in our region.

People attending enjoy a variety of delicious Greek food and lip-smacking sweets, Greek music and join in the dancing. Watch Greek women cook honey puffs in front of you.

The Greek Festival is the perfect place to get your Greek food fix. With stalls selling all of your favourite dishes, you’ll be in food heaven.

We have lots of activities on the day: Zorba lessons, plate smashing, cooking session, honey puff eating and olive spitting competitions, belly dancing, a multicultural entertainment program, church tours and a variety of children’s activities.

This year the special guests are chef Phillip Vakos, a 2010 Masterchef competitor, who will be giving cooking demonstrations, and the Cretan Dance Group from Brisbane included in our entertainment program.

The festival celebrates and showcases the flavours of Greek food, culture and embraces the wider communities.

The money raised from the festival’s multi-raffle goes towards resources needed for families and clients of St John’s.

It’s the perfect way to travel to Greece without leaving Cairns.

όλοι είναι καλεζμενη (Everyone is invited).

Many a lamb souvlaki will be consumed when the sounds, sights and tastes of Greece come to Redlynch for the annual St John’s Greek Festival.

ST JOHN’S GREEK FESTIVAL

2023 GREEK FESTIVAL PROGRAM

WIN Thank you to our sponsors

BUY A RAFFLE TICKET TO GO INTO THE DRAW

We have a HUGE list of prizes available this year, including the grand prize of a $1000 package from King of Knives! All funds raised from the raffle goes towards resources needed for families and clients of St John’s.

• King of Knives: Package ($1000)

• Sunlover Cruises: Fitzroy Island family pass ($239)

• Bunnings: BBQ Offset Smoker with side fire box ($198)

• Skyrail: Skyrail Experience for 2 ($177)

• Big Cat Green Island Reef Cruises: Island transfer & Snorkel ($183)

• Paronella Park: Family pass ($162)

• Mamu Topical Skywalk: Family Day Pass (Value $90)

• Rainforestation Nature Park: 1 adult & 1 child (130)

• Dundees Waterfront & Aquarium Restaurant: 2 Vouchers ($50 each)

• Fallon Hair Studio: Voucher ($80)

• Coles Smithfield: Voucher ($80)

• Brother Fuller Sports: 2 gift cards ($50 each)

• Hartley’s Crocodile Adventure: Voucher ($35)

• Cazalys: Voucher ($30)

• Splash: Fish & Chips Voucher

• Reef Casino: Flinders Bar & Grill ($40)

• Jade Chinese Restaurant: Vouchers (4 x $50)

• Hammertime Wooden Serving Tray: Handmade

Commercial, Estate and Conveyancing Law

Special guest chef and restaurateur Philip Vakos

CHEF and restaurateur Philip Vakos is our special guest and will be presenting cooking demonstrations.

The MasterChef contestant has made many media appearances since the TV reality series, hosting food segments on shows such as Tasmania’s SEA FM radio, and often appearing on Everyday Gourmet on Channel 10 as well as Farm to Fork with Andy Allen, a current Masterchef judge.

His charismatic nature and confidence in front of an audience has also opened doors to product endorsement opportunities such as: Chris Dips, Craft Athens Lager & Matador BBQ.

Growing up with two Cretan grandmothers meant Philip was surrounded by food and often in the kitchen learning avidly.

After his stint on Masterchef, Philip moved to Melbourne to follow his food dream, and most recently opened Bahari | The Hellenic Palate.

We welcome Philip to the St John’s Greek Festival 2023.

Cretan dance troupe

THE Queensland Cretan Dancing group has been around since the Cretan Association was formed in 1974.

The group regularly performs traditional Greek dancing from the island of Crete at various Greek festivals and multicultural events in and around Brisbane and marches alongside the Hellenic RSL annually during Anzac Day commemorations.

Today the Cretan Dancing

group has about 25 performers of various ages. From toddlers to adults in their 40s, even the current association president, Anthony Katsanevas, still performs with his three sons, aged 10, 12 and 14.

Cretan dancing is a vibrant and lively form of traditional Greek dancing, characterised by energetic movements rhythmic footwork and expressive improvisations. Tra -

ditional Cretan dancing represents the rich heritage and cultural identity of the Cretan people.

It is a form of expression that has been passed down through generations, carrying the stories, traditions and history of the island. Furthermore, it embodies the spirit of celebration and joy, serving as a reminder of the resilience and strength of the human spirit.

The tradition lives on

THIS annual event celebrates the vibrant Greek culture that has been such an important part of Australia for many years.

Some of the earliest Greek migrants to Australia arrived in the late 1800s, finding work as canecutters or in mines. Over the next century, more than 350,000 Greeks would come to Australia.

Today, their descendants are proud to carry on the progressive, independent attitude of their ancestors. The Greek Festival is a celebration of this spirit and commitment to community.

The Parish provides weekly language and fortnightly dance lessons maintaining the cultural identity, faith, traditions and customs.

By embracing our culture we continue to keep alive our ancestors values and beliefs.

All proceeds raised at the festival goes towards supporting the vital services that St John’s provides to the local community. So come along and have a great time while helping to make a difference.

ST JOHN’S GREEK FESTIVAL

Where: Cnr Kamerunga and Fairweather roads, Redlynch

When: 10.30am to 4pm, next Sunday, July 02

How much: Entry via gold coin donation

More details: Visit stjohnscommunitycare.org or PH: (07) 4039 9700

The annual Greek festival has traditional food, dancing and plenty of activites for the kids.

World-class daycare in the heart of Redlynch

REDLYNCH Daycare Centre is a not-for-profit organisation that caters for children from six weeks to school entry age.

The centre first opened in 1996 as an activity of the Greek Orthodox Diocese of Australia, to offer childcare services to the families of Redlynch and surrounding communities.

We pride ourselves on our friendly educators with genuine warmth and commitment to children in our care.

Our centre provides a safe and secure environment as an extension of each child’s family setting. We aim to ensure that your child feels happy, safe and secure in our environment.

We believe in an open-door policy that encourages families to spend time at our centre.

Parents and family members are welcome to visit our centre and your child’s class to observe them through the day, play with the children, read stories, join group time or spend time participating in activities with

the children. We also hold events throughout the year and attend local initiatives that celebrate the families and individuals in our community.

Our aim is to offer a comprehensive childcare service that goes above and beyond standard care.

We provide morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and a late snack to all children. All meals are nutritious, and prepared fresh on premises each day by our wonderful chef, allowing for most special dietary requirements.

If your child uses nappies, we provide quality disposable nappies and wipes throughout each day of care. This is included in your child’s fees. Once your child is toilet trained and no longer requires the use of centre nappies, your fees will be altered accordingly.

We also offer a great range of activities throughout the year including intergenerational events and sessions with aged care. Along with being fun, intergenerational activities are advantageous to kids and seniors lives as well as a society as a whole.

World-class Daycare in the heart of Redlynch

Redlynch Daycare Centre is a not-for-profit organisation that caters for children from 6 weeks to school entry age. The Centre first opened in 1996 as an activity of the Greek Orthodox Diocese of Australia to offer childcare services to the families of Redlynch and surrounding communities.

We pride ourselves on our friendly educators with genuine warmth and commitment to children in our care. Our Centre provides a safe and secure environment as an extension of each child’s family setting. We aim to ensure that your child feels happy, safe and secure in our environment.

Staff

at Redlynch Daycare

Centre have a genuine warmth and commitment to creating an environment which is an extension of each child’s family setting.

Growing alongside our close community

FOUNDED in 1994, the not-for-profit organisation provides a range of services to people living in the Far North, including aged care, disability support and respite care.

St John’s Community Care provides tailored community services that empower quality of life and independence. This overarching goal sees us providing a wide range of community services to individual clients from different walks of life, from the elderly to those living with a disability. Personal care, social support and in-home assistance are just a few of the ways we’ve been proud to help over the last year.

Today, St John’s employs over 300 staff and volunteers and provides services to over 6000 clients each year.

As awareness has grown, our Home Assist Services continue to be in strong demand, such that in 2020/21, we have been able to provide 22,100

hours of household maintenance and repairs for those jobs that do not require a qualified tradesperson. Some of these repairs related to increasing safety and mobility, and thus contributed directly to assisting clients to remain independent.

Our continued work providing Home Care Packages to empower seniors to continue living independently saw us deliver 120,000 hours of specialised, tailored solutions to our wide-ranging clientele. Courtesy of Commonwealth Government funding, we have been able to provide this service. We are continually refining our offering, as reflected in high levels of client satisfaction, and recognition of our ability to work across cultures and languages.

The organisation has come a long way in 22 years, but its mission remains the same – to improve the quality of life for those in need in our community.

St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Parish Cairns is dedicated to spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ as the one, Holy and Catholic and Apostolic Church

THE CHURCH SHALL SEEK TO FULFILL ITS MISSION BY:

• Embracing the Spiritual Life of the Orthodox Church through regular prayer, worship and frequent participation in the sacraments.

• Supporting the Church through stewardship of time and talent and sacrificial giving.

• Providing a welcoming, caring, loving environment.

• Having its members exemplify Orthodox Christian character and morals.

• Supporting ministries that facilitate the overall mission of the Church.

• Exemplifying commitment to community service and charitable outreach.

• Creating an environment which encourages members to grow in their faith.

May God Bless you and give you strength!

His Eminence Archbishop Makarios

What disability care services and programs do we offer?

IN Australia, there are more than four million people living with a disability.

This can include people with an intellectual, physical, sensory, cognitive, neurological, or psychiatric disability. We believe that every Australian has the right to live a full and accomplished life, which is why we choose to work with these vulnerable groups in our community.

St John’s Community Care is committed to delivering a range of services to the community, including disability care services. Our team of specialist disability carers are passionate about the work they do, and love supporting fellow Australians to lead fulfilling lives. Disability care requires specialty knowledge, and not only does our team have this expertise, but they also have the desire to create positive change.

Everything we do aims to enhance and enrich the lives of others. Some of our key disability care services include a young lifestyle care facility, in-home lifestyle support, learning and life skills development, transport, and social respite. We’re proud to offer care that is responsive, inclusive and flexible.

Types of disability care

No two individuals are the same, which means no two types of care should be the same either. St John’s Disability Care respects the right for people with a disability to choose who they live with and where they live, meaning we can provide comprehensive support in one of our 24-hour care housing accommodations, in supported independent living accommodation, or in your own home of choice.

If you are researching types of care, it’s important that you con-

sider every option and weigh up what may be the best solution for you. Chat with loved ones and professionals to understand how care services can positively impact your life. The team at St John’s Community Care are always available to discuss what particular programs, services and facilities may be suited to you.

How we operate with the NDIS

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) aims to provide support to eligible people with intellectual, physical, sensory, cognitive and psychosocial disability. As Australia’s first national scheme for people with a disability, its core function is to provide funding directly to individuals.

As a provider for both the NDIS and other disability services, St John’s Disability Care is committed to delivering outstanding care to those requiring support in our community. Our organisation is dedicated to a mantra of staying connected with customers and ensuring they are able to access greater choice, control and freedom in their lives.

Why is quality care important for people living with a disability?

A disability support worker can provide both practical care and support for people living with disabilities. Quality care services are important to assist everyone to live a life with choice, control and freedom. Support and care services can be empowering, enriching and life-changing.

If you would like to learn more about St John’s Community Care and discuss options suited to your needs, you can contact our team today. We have experienced community services volunteers who would love to assist you on your journey.

For more information visit stjohnscommunitycare.org or phone (07) 4039 9700.

The benefits of staying mentally and physically active as we age

Ageing individuals can face a number of challenges. Changes to our physical health as our body ages, vulnerability to social isolation, and impacts on mental health, are just a few of the common difficulties faced as we age.

Staying mentally and physically active is important for delaying the onset or reducing the severity of health conditions for elderly persons. There are many ways to engage the mind and body.

Physical activity is essential for maintaining good overall health. Many physiotherapists and trainers would agree that, for ageing persons, light exercise (that isn’t rigorous on joints) is the best form of physical activity. This could include swimming, yoga, walking or stretching.

These types of activities help to keep muscles strong, maintain coordination skills and sustain cardiovascular fitness. Exercise can also reduce the likelihood of some diseases and health conditions. Some exercise can be done at home, but it can be safer and more effective if done with supervision in a controlled environment.

If you are looking for programs that promote physical activity for the elderly, you can reach out to a local community care services provider who may be able to point you in the right direction. Alternatively, a local gymnasium may offer classes that are specific to ageing individuals.

Interestingly, being physically active can also contribute to good mental health. Engaging in regular exercise has been proven to increase wellbeing and reduce the likelihood of developing mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety. There are many ways to stay mentally active and engage the brain. In fact, everyone’s brain is engaged throughout their everyday as they go about routine tasks. Ageing persons may benefit from additional mental activities to stimulate their brain throughout the week, such as completing a puzzle, reading a book, or playing a

game. It is also extremely beneficial and important for elderly persons to maintain a social life. This is an important part of keeping the brain active. Taking care of mental health in these ways can support a better memory and delay the symptoms of some conditions which affect the mind, such as dementia.

Thankfully, activities that engage our mental and physical health tend to also encourage a positive social lifestyle. For example, to stay physically active someone may join a regular walking group –which would subsequently encourage socialisation while undertaking activities with the walking group.

The importance of socialisation for ageing individuals cannot be denied. Particularly throughout the pandemic while restrictions and lockdowns have been common, it has been especially difficult for ageing individuals to stay social. Getting online and having regular phone calls has been vital throughout this challenging period.

It is important to look out for one another and always reach out to ageing individuals who may be struggling. Community care services through a provider such as St John’s Community Care are an important part of caring for our ageing community, but everyone has a part to play in encouraging both mental and physical wellness in the elderly.

For more information visit stjohnscommunitycare.org or phone

One Coast - Cassowary Coast

HEART OF AUSTRALIA PROVIDES SPECIALIST MEDICAL SERVICES TO REGIONAL QUEENSLAND

HEART of Australia provides specialist healthcare and diagnostic testing clinics to Queensland’s regional and remote communities, and most recently, was in Innisfail during the weekend of 17-18 June 2023.

During the recent visit to Innisfail, Cassowary Coast Regional Council team members, Councillors, community members and Member for Hill Mr Shane Knuth were able to take a guided tour of one of the bespoke Heart Trucks that are fitted to a very high clinical standard to enable a full suite of specialist diagnostic services to be delivered.

Founded in 2014 by Dr Rolf Gomes, Heart of Australia services are aimed at complementing and working with public and private health services and operate with the same referral and care pathways as specialist services operating within the “bricks and mortar” environment.

Dr Rolf Gomes said Heart of Australia wants to reduce the health inequities that impact those living outside of metropolitan areas. By bringing these services to the doorsteps of our rural and remote communities, Heart of Australia is improving accessibility to specialist healthcare, enabling earlier detection and treatment of chronic and acute diseases.

By offering a service that provides scheduled visits to regions such as the Cassowary Coast, community members utilising this service will have ongoing, face-to-face contact with the specialist.

Cassowary Coast Regional Council Mayor Mark Nolan said this is of great benefit to members of our community who are

unable to travel two to three hours to seek specialist health services and who may not have a support person or carer able to travel and attend appointments with them.

“With lengthening wait times for both GP and specialist medical services having impacts on all sectors of our community, it is through Council’s support of innovative service providers such as Heart of Australia that we can contribute to improving health outcomes for our community,” said Mayor Nolan.

The Heart of Australia services do not receive recurrent government funding and therefore have a range of corporate and government and not for profit supporters and partners.

“Council is very pleased to be able to support Heart of Australia to offer regular services to community members from Council locations in Tully and Innisfail and we look forward to a long relationship with Heart Australia.

“Health and wellbeing are a high priority of our community as articulated through the outcomes of the 2022 Community Scorecard,” said Mayor Nolan.

Member for Hill Mr Shane Knuth said the service will provide additional options for our community Media contact 0417 721 754 | comms@ccrc.qld.gov.au members to attend to and will fill a gap in what is currently provided.

“The depth of specialist services offered to our rural and regional communities through Heart of Australia is of great importance and certainly shouldn’t be seen as competing with

our hospital and health services but adding another layer of accessibility for our community”, said Mr Knuth.

Heart of Australia is also aiming to minimise their carbon footprint, with its vehicles having solar power.

Cassowary Coast Regional Council acknowledges and is deeply appreciative of the work of all of the healthcare professionals who work tirelessly to deliver health and wellbeing services to our community.

For further information about Heart of Australia community members are encouraged to talk with their GP and visit the website www.heartofaustralia.com.au.

Left to Right - Prof Karam Kostner, Mayor Mark Nolan, Cr Renee McLeod, Shane Knuth MP, Cr Jeff Baines

TimeOut

Trivial play for the serious

l EDGE HILL

IT may look as though a late Victorian matron sits amidst her family in this portrait sitting, but don’t let looks fool you.

In The Importance of Being Earnest, directed by Kevin Shorey, it’s actually Cath Willacy (as Lady Bracknell) proving, once again, what a commanding actress she is as she sets the standard of appropriate behaviour for all around her, while at the same time, letting slip that at one stage in her earlier years: “I had nothing, but I didn’t let that get in the way.”

Mr Shorey said unaware of the

machinations of the men in the life of her daughter, Gwendolen, she turned out to be the catalyst in the denouement of this clever, light-hearted comedy of manners created by the famous playwright, Oscar Wilde.

“Set in the late Victorian period, the costumes, furniture, set decoration and behaviour captures the elegant style and feigned rigidity of the period, against which the beautiful young people attempt to win the affections of their chosen partners,” he said.

“All this occurs under the all-knowing household butlers, namely Lane (Josh Holt)

in London and Merriman (Paul Hynes) in the manor in Shropshire.

“They, along with the audiences of this classic comedy at the Rondo, have an outright laugh at the expense of their ‘so called’ betters. Surely the whole point behind Wilde’s insightful view and comment on the society of the time,” Mr Shorey said.

The comedy will play at the Rondo, Greenslopes St, from Friday, June 30 to Saturday, July 15, with a matinee on Sunday, July 9 at 1pm.

For session times and tickets, see the Rondo's website: therondo.com.au/book or call 0415 822 333.

Offer to pay fees of artists to attend special exchange

l CAIRNS REGION

| Nick Dalton

THE registration fees of Cairns artists and producers wanting to attend the 2023 Australia Performing Arts Exchange (APAX) in the city for the first time will be covered by Cairns Regional Council.

Coinciding with the 2023 Cairns Festival, 400 presenters, producers and performers will

come together from all over the country to profile their work, buy shows, meet, talk and collaborate.

There will be showcases of new work, workshops, full performances and a nightly hangout at the festival headquarters – Court House Gallery.

Cairns Mayor Bob Manning said the council wanted to make sure that artists and producers from the Cairns region made

the most of this opportunity.

“We want to welcome the rest of Australia to the city and show them just how much talent there is in this region,” he said.

The council is calling out for expressions of interest from artists and producers to have their registration fees covered as APAX delegates.

Training and mentorship will also be provided leading up to the event to ensure that all par-

ticipants are ready make new connections. This opportunity is for professional performing artists living, working, and presenting work in the Cairns region who:

• Want to take their work to Australia and the world

• Are looking for collaborative partners

• Want to meet artists, producers and presenters from around Australia.

“APAX presents Cairns-

based artists with a unique opportunity and we want people from all backgrounds to apply for this fantastic opportunity,” Cr Manning said.

“APAX is the most important marketplace for the performing arts in the country.

“Council is proud to partner with PAC Australia, the national peak body for performing arts centres, to present the 2023 program.

“It will provide the artists of

Cairns an opportunity to profile their work to a national audience, as well as our extraordinary and unique performing arts spaces, like Tanks Arts Centre, the Court House Gallery, Cairns Performing Arts Centre and Munro Martin Parklands.”

Applications are open until June 26 with applicants notified of outcomes by July 3, 2023. Apply here via Council’s website: https://bit.ly/3NEatAh

Cast members of The Importance of Being Earnest: Heather Baker (Gwendolen), Barry McGinley (Jack), Cath Willacy (Lady Bracknell), Kurtis Lowden (Algernon), and Alice Bosanquet (Cecily). Picture: Supplied

You can take your hat off to Mr Iko Iko at BAR36

l CAIRNS CBD

| Nick Dalton

THE Reef Hotel Casino will party ‘tropicana’ style with Mr Iko Iko – Justin Wellington next weekend.

Casino entertainment manager Bruce Stewart said when people went to a Justin Wellington show, they knew they were going to dance to “a full, fun, rich repertoire of party tunes”.

“This, adjoined with full sight and sound BAR36 production, you are guaranteed a fantastic night out,” he said.

Mr Stewart said there would be two nights of Justin live, entwining his Papua New Guinea roots of island music with a blend of pop, reggae, R&B,

dancehall and uplifting happy music.

“Justin and his music has recently broken through with a chart topper, his version of ‘Iko Iko’ as ‘Iko Iko (My Bestie),” he said.

“First presenting on TikTok, the hit song was quickly picked up on commercial radio and placed on high rotation, nationally.

“I was really surprised when I found out that the recent incarnation of Iko Iko was actually Justin. I thought it was international.

“Now Justin is touring all over Australia, New Zealand, PNG and Asia, so to book him in for a weekend wasn’t easy to achieve.”

Mr Stewart said the Papua

New Guinean-born singer had emerged at the very forefront of the music scene throughout the islands and beyond.

“His charm and charisma have captured the hearts and minds of scores of adoring fans, and his beloved songs have become household favourites time and time again,” he said.

“His music is, of course, heavily stemmed from his diverse musical influences, but it is also undoubtedly a result of his life experiences in his home nation Papua New Guinea, and from many years of living, travelling, and performing abroad in North America, the South Pacific and South-East Asia.

“After the staggering success of Justin’s debut album ‘Much Love’ (2005), which produced

the dance floor favourite ‘I Wanna Give You Some Lovin’, and the Pacific-wide anthem ‘Much Love’, his follow-up album ‘JW’ (2008) was no less impressive adding to his repertoire the sentimental ballad favourite ‘In Love With U’ and the silky smooth, dancehall laced ‘Fire’ –both multi-national No.1 smash hits.

“The expectations were high for Justin to come back strongly and reproduce the magic that he captured on his first two albums, the follow up album, ‘Reign of Morobe’, critics labelled as a ‘musical masterpiece’.”

Justin Wellington will be performing with special guests Kaweyova and Coconut Kiss live and free on June 30 and July 1, BAR36 at the Reef Hotel Casino

Author unearths stories of little town

l EINASLEIGH

| Ellie Fink

TABLELANDS author and lover of preserving history Colleen Taylor will be releasing her latest book next month, telling the stories of over 50 elderly people in the Ethridge Shire.

Coming from a strong line of cattle farmers in the Mareeba, Ethridge and Hinchinbrook regions, Ms Taylor’s love from history has been with her since she was a young girl.

After hearing the stories of many older people, she was shocked to learn barely any of them had recorded their trail blazing stories and began writing Unearthing Einasleigh and District’s Bygone Days.

“I was just talking to all these oldies, and no one had recorded all their history,” she said.

“I approached the Ethridge Shire Council and was lucky enough to get a community grant and that helped me with a few things when putting together the book.”

Interviewing several members of the community, Ms Taylor was able to get an in-depth perspective of what life was like in the Etheridge shire and put it into words.

Unearthing Einasleigh and District’s Bygone Days is available to pre-order from Ms Taylor Colleen directly by calling 0474 035 111 or emailing elanglade117@gmail.com

The book will also be officially launched in Georgetown under the “history tree” by Mayor Barry Hughes on July 27.

Mr Iko Iko (Justin Wellington) returns to the Reef Hotel Casino to entertain people for free on June 30 and July 1. Picture: Supplied

Colleen Taylor will be releasing her book Unearthing Einasleigh and District’s Bygone Days next month.

Understand ‘our culture’

Four-track EP ‘Binal’ highlights heritage and traditions of Indigenous peoples

l KURANDA

| Isabella Guzman Gonzalez

FNQ reggae band Koahlition has joined forces with Djawarray, aka Uncle Bertie Riley from the legendary Kuranda band Gudju Gudju, to release an EP, Binal, which calls people to ‘understand’ Indigenous heritage and embrace cultural wisdom.

The four-track collaborative EP, Binal, which takes its name after the Western Yalandji term ‘understand’, was released in May and is already making waves in Kuranda.

The partnership aims to bring ancestral First Nations songlines to the forefront.

On May 26, the Kuranda Amphitheatre Understage witnessed the first live performance of Binal with Djawarray getting on stage with his nephews who are part of the emerging local band Cloud 9 and the Mayi Wunba Dance Troupe for a night to never forget where people packed the dance floor.

Djawarray said working on

Binal had been a very inspiring experience for his artistic vision.

“Working with Koahlition has been a privilege,” he said.

“Binal is all about understanding. Binal means understand. From my father’s side we come from the Western Yalandji nation from Mossman to Daintree, and that’s where Binal comes from.

“It’s been a great experience working with Koahlition, it has given more time to move around and make new songs.

“I’ve also worked with Nash Snider on the artwork and he’s a great artist so it’s a pleasure to have his art on the CD cover.”

The conscious roots and reggae infused EP calls for a deeper understanding of culture, acknowledgement of land and respect for heritage.

“I’d like for people to listen to it and share it with other people and to acknowledge the meaning of the song which is understand,” Djawarray said.

“The word understand is a great word, we all need to understand each other in many ways. I’d like for people to

treasure the song because it’s coming from the oldest cultures in Australia. “Binal, it’s really about my identity because my mum is a Djabuguy lady, that’s Kuranda, and my dad is Western Yalanji, so we’ve got a western and eastern side, so it brings a lot of meaning to where I’m from and who I am.

Binal is now available on Spotify, Apple Music and Youtube. For more information visit Djawarray’s Facebook page.

Djawarray (Uncle Bertie Riley).

Extra days for Italian festival

l FAR NORTH

| Isabella Guzman Gonzalez

AFTER a highly successful inaugural run, the Cairns Italian Festival returns this July with a 17-day Italian extravaganza.

Expanding to a 17-day program from July 21 to August 6 across FNQ venues, the second Cairns Italian Festival promises to be bigger and more delicious than ever with all the events you loved from last year and many more in an enormous celebration of Italy in the tropics.

Cairns Italian Festival president Steve Cordenos said guests could expect an Italian party like no other.

“Last year, we had over 25,000 people across all events and the Roman Exhibition and 12,000 throughout the day on our Festa,” Mr Cordenos said.

“The Cairns Italian Festival is the biggest cultural event in Far North Queensland. We will hold 10 different events across 17 days.

“The Festa Day on July 29 will be enormous this year, still at Fogarty Park but in a bigger area and double the amount of food stalls.

“We’ll have live entertainment starting at 10am and finishing at midnight. We will hold fireworks the night before on Friday at the Esplanade.

“We’ve got four diverse nights at different restaurants representing Amalfi Coast,

Southern Italy, Central Italy and Nothern Italy paired with exceptional wines.

“The Gala Ball will encompass the Hall of Fame Awards, it’ll be a huge night, and then we’ll finish off in Mareeba with the Moriconi Bomben Soccer Cup and the salami and sausage festa on August 5 and

6,” Mr Cordenos said. He said confidence was high thanks to the unwavering community support.

“Possibilities are enormous,” he said.

“The only thing stopping us from making this festival bigger and bigger is manpower because there’s only so much

awaits with a lavish Italian antipasto, bu et lunch, and desserts. With Attori setting the rhythm, let's be "pazzi per la pasta" together! For competition details, please check on our website.

work we can put in. But we’ve got great ideas, and we’ll make it bigger and better.”

This year’s festival will also commemorate the stories of Italian immigrants in the tropics further with a 110-page book available to buy on La Festa.

“Last year, we marketed a foundation book which includes

the stories of all Italian immigrants.

“Families have the stories of their grandparents and greatgrandparents in it,” Mr Cordenos said.

“Half of the book is dedicated to the inaugural Cairns Italian Festival, and it’s got how it started and every event that we

hosted last year. The book goes into production this week, and will be available for sale at La Festa and also online, it’s called La Storia, the faces of Italian immigrants.”

For more information and to buy tickets to The Cairns Italian Festival, visit www.cairnsitalianfestival.com.au

Cairns Italian Festival committee members Gina and Lui Codotto, (top right) guests at the 2022 Cairns Italian Festival’s La Festa and (above) committee at the Masquerade Ball.

Vikings all the rage at library

Special display aimed at Scandinavian fanatics

l

CAIRNS CBD

| Isabella Guzman Gonzalez

AIMING to create a community of Viking age enthusiasts in the Far North, Kanimbla resident and novelist Megan Formanek has launched a display of Viking age artifacts at the Cairns Library in celebration of her second book, No One’s Viking.

After selling over 800 copies of the second book on her Viking Trading Lands saga, released in February, Ms Formanek partnered up with the Cairns city library to exhibit a display of Viking age replicas representative of the women of the time throughout the month of June.

“Part of why I created the display is for people to see how women lived in the Viking age,” she said.

“I’m seeking to portray a more complex side to the Viking age from the perspective of women.

“In this case, my main character Astrid is a wool merchant, so for example, these spinning tools are something that every woman in the Viking age would

have because they were expected to weave clothes for her whole family.

“I made the garment based on calculations of typical Viking costumes, and I acquired the replica items, the necklaces that are replicas of archaeological finds and the leather pouch and spinning tools from Sweden.”

Ms Formanek said the Viking age was an uncommon topic in the region but one that people crave more and more.

“In February, I launched my book No One’s Viking here at the Cairns library, and I had a great turnout,” she said.

“It made me realise how many people were interested in my work and the Viking age, and I wanted to create a display alongside the librarians that offered people interested in it to come down in their own time.”

Ms Formanek encouraged the Cairns and Far North community to engage with Viking age history through her books.

“I wondered about women in the Viking age, and it seems that other people wonder about it as well,” she said.

“When I launched the book in late February, many people were here, from teens to 90-year-olds.

“I would love to find more enthusiasts of the Viking age, and I hope, facilitated by the library, to launch my books here and with each book making different garments and displays.

“If you’re interested in the Viking age, you can sign up for my newsletter and join my mailing list.”

For more information on the Viking age, to purchase the Viking Trading Lands books or join Ms Formanek’s newsletter, visit www.meganformanek.com

Kanimbla author Megan Formanek with her display of Viking age artifacts at the Cairns city library. Picture: Supplied

The No One’s Viking book cover.

50 TREASURES REVISED CAIRNS MUSEUM

l SAT JUN 24 – SAT OCT 28

CAFFIEND

l SAT JUN 24, 8:00AM-8:00PM

PAST,

l THU JUN 22 – SAT JUL 15

MAMMA MIA CAIRNS BOTANIC GARDENS

l SAT JUN 24, 7:00PM-10:00PM

l SAT JUN 24, 8:00AM-4:00PM

l FRI JUN 23, 8:00PM-10:30PM

FRIDAY

2023 JCU Cairns Eisteddfod, CPAC, 8:30am

Barbary Coasters, Cairns Cruising Yacht Squadron, 4:00pm

Carinda Christie, Dunwoodys Hotel, 4:00pm

Whisky Boat, O’Donnell’s Irish Bar and Grill Palm Cove, 6:00pm

Wind and Wood, Mayhem at Machans, 6:00pm

Denim Blues, Mission Beach Blues Bar & Café, 6:00pm

Kick Start, Cazaly’s Cairns, 6:30pm

Infinity Duo, Innisfail RSL, 7:00pm

Lexi and Al, Trinity Beach Sports Club, 7:30pm

Mississippi Shakedown, The Hambledon Hotel, 7:30pm

Coterie, Tanks Arts Centre, 7:30pm

Dr Elephant, Surf Club Palm Cove, 8:00pm

Kaweyova Duo, Rattle N Hum Palm Cove, 8:00pm

Audioscam, Elixir Music House, 8:00pm

Big Noise, Rattle n Hum Cairns, 8:30pm

Eddie Skiba, Bar36 Reef Hotel Casino, 9:00pm

Katankak, Tank4 UpLate, 10:00pm

SATURDAY

Bad Boys of Uke, Yungaburra Hotel, 7:00pm Janna Mercedes, The Beach House @ Trinity, 3:00pm No More No Less, Yorkeys Knob Boating Club, 3:00pm 2023 JCU Cairns Eisteddfod, CPAC, 8:30am Rowly, Ellis Beach Bar & Grill, 2:00pm Christina Ukulele, The Vine Room, 6:00pm

Big Pups, Seisia Fishing Club, 6:0pm

Big Jim, Cazaly’s Cairns, 6:15pm Barbary Coasters, Centrals Trinity Sporting Club, 6:30pm

Infinity Duo, Brothers Leagues Club Cairns, 7:00pm Frenzal Rhomb, Tanks Arts Centre, 7:30pm

Stan Stone, Surf Club Palm Cove, 8:00pm

Hot Ice, Bar36 Reef Hotel Casino, 9:00pm Katankak, Elixir Music House, 7:00pm

SUNDAY

2023 JCU Cairns Eisteddfod, CPAC, 8:30am

Wind and Wood, Barron Falls Hotel, 1:00pm

Frazer Scott, Red Beret Hotel, 1:00pm

Infinity Duo, Cairns RSL, 1:00pm

Cinnamon Sun, Ellis Beach Bar & Grill, 1:00pm

Sunday Sesh, German Club Cairns, 2:00pm

DjGlennW, Dundees at the Aquarium, 2:00pm

Bad Boys of Uke, Beach Almond Palm Cove, 2:30pm

Sax Man, Edge Hill Memorial Bowls Club, 2:30pm

Barbary Coasters, Yorkeys Knob Boating Club, 3:00pm

Shannon Hunter, Sauce Brewing Co, 3:30pm

Moondog Blues, Elixir Music House, 4:00pm

Big Pups, Loyalty Beach Campground, 5:00pm

Dave Cooke, Bar36 Reef Hotel Casino, 7:30pm

Take a minute... Puzzles for you

WORD SEARCH

Weekly Horoscopes

Insincere gestures of friendliness are likely to occur. You need to reevaluate your situation. Partnerships will be successful. You can ask for favours or run your ideas by those who will be able to support your objectives.

Cultural activities open your eyes to new ways of doing things. Romance can surface if you get into some of those fitness programs you’ve been putting off. Read some books on self-awareness. You have more energy than the rest of the people you live with anyway.

CROSSWORD

Your pilgrimage may end up being fruitless. You are best to sit back and think it through, rather than add to the ranting and raving. Rewards, gifts, or money from investments or taxes can be expected. Do something constructive outside.

to

There could be disappointment regarding investments. Try to be fair in your dealings with acquaintances. Your colourful conversation may attract new mates. Include the whole family or those you love.

You will gain a lot if you listen. Your ability to deal with others will help you in getting the support you need. You may be in an extremely passionate mood this week. Business or pleasure trips will be knowledgeable as well as highly successful.

Help with your aspirations is likely, and profits could follow. Your irritability will lead to family squabbles. A passionate party for two might be just the remedy. Your changing attitudes may be causing concern for your partner.

Too many opportunities and too many changes going on. You may find that female colleagues will be more help than you anticipated. Be careful; you may say something you’ll regret later. You should get out and meet new people this week.

You don’t need to pay out to have fun. Resist secret affairs that could be detrimental to your reputation. Opportunities will unfold; however, you must be willing to pay the price. Mingle with those who can help you get ahead.

Minor accidents are likely if you take risks. Loved ones may be annoyed if they feel restricted. You can make a serious attempt at quitting those bad habits that you’ve picked up over the years. Opportunities for travel must be carefully considered.

eaten at Christmas (9,4)

8. an uncomfortable sensation on the skin that causes a desire to scratch (4)

9. used to refer to very heavy rain (10)

10. to make or become three times as large (6)

11. to make hard; harden, like rock (8)

12. a call to prove or justify something (9)

North Dakota (8)

21. to stroke or caress lovingly (6)

23. producing diarrhea, or a purging (10)

24. a simple plant that grows in or near water and does not have ordinary leaves or roots (4)

25. not influenced by strong emotion, and so able to be rational and impartial (13)

DOWN

1. a buildup of mucus, usually in the back of the throat (7)

2. a course of treatment for drug or alcohol dependence (5)

3. informal phrase to express one’s defiance (2,5)

4. nausea and vomiting that can occur at any time of the day during pregnancy (7,8)

5. firmly fixed, supported, or balanced; not shaking or moving (6)

6. a toxic gas mixture remaining after an explosion of firedamp in mine (9)

7. in a state of extreme happiness (7)

13. buildings or places that are easily recognised (9)

15. an idea or concept converted into a concrete thing (7)

Resist the temptation to gamble.

Risks will not be profitable. Instant romance could be yours if you go out with friends. Property purchases should be on your mind. Be sure to take care of the needs of youngsters.

You may find that your anger stems from lending or borrowing money. Romantic relationships could be under pressure. Opportunities to upgrade your living standards will come through your lover or through joint financial investments. Shopping could cost more than you bargained for.

Sudden changes could result in estrangements. Get domestic chores out of the way early. Take time to catch up on overdue correspondence. You can purchase items that will enhance your appearance.

14. a person who composed and recited epic or heroic poems (4)

15. a letter of an ancient Germanic alphabet (4)

16. the group of seven bright stars in Ursa Major (3,6)

20. the capital city of the US state of

17. existing in fact whether with lawful authority or not (2,5)

18. a short poem, especially a pastoral dialogue (7)

19. the Huindu god who created the world and everything in the world (6)

22. a southern African antelope (5)

Motoring

Rev-head fun at drag strip

l MOTOR RACING

| Ellie Fink REV-heads from across the country will be heading to Springmount Raceway this weekend for three days of drags, burnouts, and drifting at the annual Northern Nats.

Attracting hundreds of car enthusiasts from all walks of life for the seventh time, the Northern Nats is a “celebration of horsepower” with over $30,000 worth of prizes up for grabs across all categories.

For Springmount Raceway manager Michael Gonzalez, having such a vast variety of magazine-worthy cars is what makes the event so unique compared to others across the country.

“There are not many times you can walk in, sit on the hill next to the burnouts, and watch the cali-

bre of cars out there on the strip – you would only ever see these types of cars in magazines or these days on the internet,” he said.

“It is an opportunity for the local community to see this firsthand, up close and personal, instead of on social media, and talk to the owners of those cars and make conversations.”

For those looking to compete, Mr Gonzalez said he was still searching for people to put their hand up and test their cars on the strip or show them off at the show and shine car display.

Whether a new GT Mustang fresh off the showroom floor or an old SLR 5000 Torana coming back into its heyday, every car is welcome to be showcased and raced over the weekend.

This year, there is a demand for burnout guys with a $10,000 upfront prize for the popular event, attracting people from as

far as the ACT and Western Australia up to the Tablelands.

“We are looking for your topend burnout guys, and we want to get locals out there who may have just built their car in the backyard to come out and try it,” Mr Gonzalez said.

“It may not be the fanciest of cars, but some of these guys have like 10 or 20 mates out there su-

pporting them, and that is what brings in a great crowd and gives people something to look forward to.”

Engines will start revving on Friday from 8am and will continue into Saturday and Sunday. Day passes and camping passes are available at the gate. To view the whole program, go to the Northern Nats’ Facebook page.

Springmount Raceway manager Michael Gonzalez is ready for a weekend of rev-head fun this weekend for Northern Nats with a Ford Falcon ute. Below is a Valiant Pacer on the strip.

holiday fun

CAZALYS FAMILY BINGO

Tuesday 4th July, 10-11.30am

Cazalys Family Bingo is back again for the school holidays!

Kid-friendly bingo games with heaps of cool prizes to be won! Cairns Show tickets, Lego sets, movie vouchers, board games, arts & crafts and more!

Bring your own colouring-in pencils, textas or crayons or we’ll have bingo dobbers for sale on the day.

Gold coin donation on entry with funds going to a local charity.

*Children must be accompanied by an adult as this is not a supervised event.*Bookings essential.

Book online at the link below or use the QR code: https://bit.ly/FamilyBingoJuly23

Please make a separate booking with the restaurant if you wish to stay for lunch after Family Bingo by visiting our booking page: https://cazalys.com.au/barassis-restaurant/ or give us a call on: 4054 1464

Historic state pub on market

l BABINDA

THE iconic Babinda State Hotel is for sale for $3.6 million.

The 3564sqm, two title property is in the middle of the main street of Babinda and was built about 1916.

It was the only hotel at the time constructed and operated by the Queensland Government to counter the effects of the Sugar Works Act of 1911, which prohibited the sale of intoxicating liquor in cane farming areas.

It opened in 1917 but was later sold by the new Country Party government in 1929.

The property was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on February 22, 2002.

There are two titles included in the sale, one with the state hotel building and 1884sqm block of land, and the other with a three-bedroom house and 1679sqm block of land with two street access.

There is a council carpark on the western side of the building for extra off-street parking.

“The magnificent timber, two-storey hotel buildings, includes a restaurant, cafe, function rooms, a main bar with

a deck overlooking the main street, accommodation wings and staff quarters, with wrap around timber verandas,” says Babinda Real Estate’s website.

“The multi-revenue business is being offered for sale with a motivated vendor and is a rare opportunity to secure this iconic valuable property.”

Property highlights

Downstairs: fully licenced bar, bottle shop, restaurant, café, pool tables, Keno counter, projector, cold rooms/fridges, offices, commercial kitchen, dining room, function room, timber deck, six hotel rooms, multiple bathrooms and toilets, gaming room with seven machines, under-floor cellar.

Upstairs: accommodation wings with 10 separate rooms, ensuites and bathrooms, fourbedroom main residence with kitchen and bathroom, multiple bathrooms and ensuites, timber verandas overlooking the township, solar panel system.

Second title: three-bedroom house, 1679sqm block of land, two-street access.

Contact Segrid Hudson at Babinda Real Estate on 0428 154 472.

The exterior of the Babinda State Hotel (top), the ornate staircase inside the hotel (above, left) and the main bar (above, right).

PRIVACY POLICY

Local News Cairns

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

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

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

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

Classifieds Deadlines 4pm Wednesday Local News Cairns every week of publication

Local News Cairns

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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.

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

Friday June 23rd

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

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

Kuranda Rainforest Markets: 7 Therwine St, 09:30-15:00

Rusty’s Markets: Grafton St, Cairns, 05:00-18:00

Saturday June 24th

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

Lady

Sunday June 25th

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

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

Kuranda Rainforest Markets: 7 Therwine St, 09:30-15:00

Mossman: St David’s Church, 07:00-13:00

Rusty’s Markets: Grafton St, Cairns, 05:00-18:00

Tully: Lions Park, 08:00-12:00

Yungaburra: Bruce Jones Park, Main St, 07:30-12:30

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

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

Kuranda Rainforest Markets: 7 Therwine St, 09:30-15:00

Mission Beach: Ulysses Park, Mission Beach, 07:30-12:00

Port Douglas: by St Mary’s Church, 07:30-14:00

Rusty’s Markets: Grafton St, Cairns, 05:00-18:00

Tanks: Tanks Arts Centre, 46 Collins St, Edge Hill, 09:00-14:00

Tumoulin:

Fighters bring home gold

Four competitors do Cairns proud at Townsville cup with firsts and seconds

l JIU-JITSUI

| Isabella Guzman Gonzalez

CAIRNS Fight House Gym athletes have returned home from Townsville and Ipswich tournaments carrying gold, some of them in their first-ever fight.

Cairns is breeding some of the best jiu-jitsu fighters in North Queensland, with four Fight House Gym athletes taking three golds, two silvers and one bronze and best team award at the QBJJC Townsville Cup 2023 on May 21.

Another student, Curtly HopHodgetts, 30, returned with double gold from the QBJJC Ipswich Open on Sunday, June 4.

Fight House coach Troy Manning said he was proud of the results since they didn’t get to compete often.

“We don’t have that many competitions in Cairns. We’re lucky if we get a couple a year in Townsville,” he said.

“Four of my students – Brendon Pacheco, 35, Suz Hannah 38, Jack Hockey, 27 and Julie Garreau, 24 – competed in Townsville, and they all won in their categories. We even won best team, although it was only four of us.”

Mr Pacheco won gold in a heavier category than usual.

“Brendon has been training with me for two years, and he’s won gold a fair few times,” Mr Manning said.

“He was going to compete in the under-73kg category, but there were no competitors in that category, so he was moved

up in weight to the under-79kg and won all his fights by submission.”

Ms Hannah and Ms Garreau competed in the under-61kg and Absolute categories and won silver, bronze, and double gold, respectively.

“For Julie, this was her first fight, she started training approximately four months ago and has done some MMA in the past, and she won,” Mr Manning said.

“Suz has been training for about two years. My girls fought each other in the finals, and Julie took the fight. They both won their fights by submission.

“They both fought in Absolute division. Suz was disqualified, but she still got silver in that division, and Julie won the Absolute and even beat a girl 15kgs or so heavier.”

First-timer Mr Hockey won his first fight at the tournament.

“This was also Jack’s first tournament, it was his very first fight, so he was a bit nervous. The other guy was very strong, but he still dominated by points,” Mr Manning said.

He said he hoped news of his high-quality students attracted more people into the sport.

“I’m very proud of my students and hope to get many more in the future,” Mr Manning said.

“A bigger club means we can go to bigger competitions, so I hope this helps us grow.

“I’d like to start running my own competitions in the future.”

To join, visit the Fight House Cairns Facebook page.

Sport Results

MOSSMAN MEN’S BOWLS

Thursday 15 June: 22 Bowlers for Social Bowls. A great night of bowls and congratulations to Brett Philpott to win the $50 meat tray.

Saturday 17 June: 40 bowlers for Jackpot Bowls. Mick Plummer, Geoff Sims, Tony Brlyack d David White, Derek Franklin, Bob Carroll 20-17; Sas, Michael Sims, Graham Hutchinson d Charlie Toohey, Gary Watts, Jim Geddes 27-21; Col Widdows, Daryl Hoskin, Nev Fletcher d Eric Smith, Bill Smith, Bernie Savage 20-13; Col Johnson, Peter Worley, Gary Horne d Bruce Lester, Jock Constantine, Alistair Douglas 25-16; Gerrard Beech, Peter McGrory, Jason Pearce d Peter Busch, Wayne Parkes, Joe Girgenti 26-17; John Fleming, Bill Allison d Ranald Edwards, John Arnold 35-17; and the winners for the day, George Wilmot, Nev Tesch, Warren McCoist d Terry Richards, Chris Payne, Col Maxted 35-9.

Sunday 18 June. In the Club Championships, in the Handicap Singles Bruce Lester (-5) d Sas (-2) 25-11 and Ranald Edwards (-6) d Bernie Wolland (-6) 25-14, and in the A Grade Singles Semi-Final, Gerrard Beech d David Blain 25-17.

MOSSMAN LADIES’ BOWLS

15th June. Social winners were Margaret Cooper, Chris-

tine Rowbury and Raelene Rigior. R. Ups were Jan White and Anita McCoist. Championship Fours. Rd 1. Leonie Sims, Joan Day, Pam Widdows and Trish Arnold def Greta Burke, Honey C, Carole Maxted and Robin Petrus. For more information contact Carole Maxted: caroles44bb@odo.com.au or 0400954537. 11th June. Sunday Mixed Social Bowls. Winners were Mike Sims, Barbara Watts and Carole Maxted. R. Ups were Col Maxted, Lulu Robinson and Gary Watts. Contact the Mossman Memorial Bowls Club for more information. 40981434

Saturday morning scroungers winner: J McLaine; R/up: A Lim.

Club championships: Men’s

A grade singles: S Pitt def E

Blythe 25-15; C Flanagan def

B Findlay 25-9; D Grummitt def G McFarlane 27-18. Ladies

A grade singles: L Mikic def J Ward 25-17; L Roberts def B

Andreatta 25-24; J Whitehead def J Smith 25-9.

EDGE HILL BOWLS CLUB

Ladies Bowls: Social bowls for Thursday 15th June 2023 winners were Joyce Ault and Trish DeRon.

R/U: Yvonne Bolton and Margaret Wardrop.

Club Championship Triples had Karina Homer, Tania Sprengel and Margaret Wardrop defeat.

Gai Barrett, Jill Alexander-

Sachse and Irene Crampton 2712.

Club Pairs had Lou Pomroy and Jeannie Wild defeat Jill Alexander-Sachse and Irene Crampton 19-16.

Men’s Championship Bowls: Club Pairs had Simon Vardy and Russell Hubbard defeat Wayne Hewitt and Matt Norrie 23-21.

Men’s Pennants: Saturday 17th June Pennant Game 5 saw Div. 1 Edge Hill team play home and lose 66-70 against Innisfail. Div. 2 Edge Hill played home against Cairns and lost 29-40. Div. 3 Edge Hill team played away to Stratford and lost the game 32-48.

Mixed Social Bowls: Tuesday 13th June 2023 Bowls winners were Bob Poynter and Bruce Moseley. R/U: Yvonne (Geelong visitor) and Trish DeRon.

Tuesday Night winners were Jen Elder and Peter Whitehead. R/U: Elaine Whitehead and George Taylor Wednesday 14th June 2023 winners were Kim Mitchell, Cornelia Smith and Dutchy. R/U: Ron Pearce, Graham and Peter.

GORDONVALE BOWLS

Wednesday Social Bowls at 1pm Thursday Club Selected 3 Bowl Pairs Names by1230 for 1pm start Results last week Thursday winners Rossi S Benedetti B Walters Raffle T Mould

Saturday Gordonvale had a win in Division 2 Pennant well done.

WEST CAIRNS LADIES

Wednesday 14th A Grade Singles—Pauline def Gabbi.

Wednesday 21st next round of A Grade Singles is Liz v Gabbi social bowls as usual if you wish a game give Liz a call on 0400626765 names in by 10.45am game starts at 11.30am or call into club at 11.00am. Good Bowling to All.

WEST CAIRNS MEN

Tuesday 13th to come in 1st

T.Moulds, J.Carr, N.Mallyon 2nd B.Butt, R.Lamb, B.Berger jackpot not won. Thirsty Thursday best players Jacko, Edna, Lee Williams. Friday night scroungers, winner Mal Taylor R/up Pauline Bent. Division 2 pennants Marlin Coast def West Cairns Sunday 18th to come in 1st Richo, R.Radinga, Mal Taylor—2nd D.Nicholls, Greg Stanley, S.Smith jackpot not won.

BROTHERS EDMONTON

Sunday June 18th Brothers

Edmonton Ladies Bowls Club held their Annual Ladies Classic tournament, attended by 64 players from all areas of the district as far as Ravenshoe. Results as per Bowls notes please find attached photos of 1st,2nd, & 3rd placings IMG. 3977 1st with Sponsor Graham Cann of Can Concrete Pty. Limited. IMG: 2nd IMG: 3rd placings with Madam President Denise Quinn.

WEST CAIRNS TPI MEMORIAL BOWLS

Thirteen players including some we have not seen for a while played social mixed lawn bowls at West Cairns Bowls

Club last Monday. Winners decided at the end of the day were Pieta Pawlin and Dave Nicholls.

Next week we commence at 1.30pm after cards are called at 1.15pm and finish at 4.30pm when the winning team is announced. It is important that our selector is aware of those playing before 12.00pm on Monday which can be done by phoning 0409624623 before then. Any other information required can be obtained from that source. The green is carpet covered and is covered from the weather. A substantial afternoon tea is included in the green fee. All registered players will be made most welcome.

MARLIN COAST BOWLS

Tuesday afternoon Men’s triples: First- Dennis, Gerry, Second- Bob Tymms, Giles

Tuesday night bowls: Spider: Shooee, Sisca, Rod,George, Michael, David, Sandy

Wednesday mixed bowls: First-B Clarkson, N Hooker, Second: L Kenshole, A Jacobs, P Taggert

Thursday Mixed triples: First: R Blake, G Reynolds, N Robson, Second: J Russell, G Midson, B O’Connor

Saturday Morning Scroungers: Winner: Rick, Runner up.

Club Championships:

Men’s A Grade Singles: S Pitt def D Grummitt 25-9, N Robson def C Flanagan 25-22, J Walford def D Spicer 25-2, B O’Connor def S Porter 25-11.

Ladies A Grade Singles: L Mikic def Y Best 26-6, L Roberts def J Whitehead 25-24.

Cairns Fight House team Moreira (from left) Brandon Pacheco, coach Troy Manning, Suz Hannah, Jack Hockey and Julie Garreau.

Edmonton Ladies Classic winners Cathy Barry, Pauline Kriesel, Joy Dennis, Liz Plowman of Mareeba Bowls Club with sponsor Graham Cann.

Winners streak ahead of second place-getters in Cairns event last Sunday

Records tumble at Ironman

l

IRONMAN

| Isaac Colman

BRADEN Currie and Kylie Simpson both took gold at the Cairns Airport Ironman AsiaPacific Championship last weekend, making history in the process.

Both athletes finished at least 10 minutes before anyone else, with Currie also beating the previous best time set by Max Neumann in 2022.

Currie ended up finishing in 7 hours, 50 minutes and 11 seconds, 10 minutes and 49 seconds in front of Steve McKenna, who crossed the finish line in 8 hours and 1 minute.

“I don’t think anything ever goes to plan when it comes to racing so it’s best not to have any plans really,” said Currie.

“It went as smooth as it probably could, a good solid swim, lead out of the water which just meant I could do a little bit and set myself up a little bit more on the bike.

“We worked well together and didn’t let Mike get away and rip the legs to pieces so managed to keep him in control which meant I came onto the run feeling pretty fresh.

“The run probably went better than planned, a 2:40

here I’d be pretty happy with so to go like 2:38 was pretty great.”

Currie is all about improvisation, and that definitely paid off this weekend, beating the previous best time as well as finishing 10 minutes before anyone else.

“Absolutely stoked, it was really tough, the wind was really strong on the way home, probably stronger than I’ve ever had it before so I actually thought our pace was going to be off record pace by quite some way but no, I think I was just consistent all day, so it came together.”

Currie had trained so hard that he hadn’t even realised how well he had trained his body, and was able to stay consistent throughout the race, and ultimately, come out on top. Currie shined this weekend through his hard work and dedication, making his home country New Zealand, watching both from home and in the crowd, proud of his achievement.

“I’ve got a great connection with Cairns these days, huge crowd support out there, must be thousands of people on that course so it’s an incredible atmosphere and it’s always good to do it for the Kiwis,

to race over here in Australia and race well, it’s great,”

Kylie Simpson took the gold medal for the women’s division, finishing almost 18 minutes before anyone else, and taking her second win in the last three years, making it even more impressive after finishing in first place at Ironman Australia in May.

Simpson crossed the finish line in 8 hours, 40 minutes and 53 seconds, almost 18 minutes ahead of Radkha Kahlefeldt, who finished in 8:58:49.

Simpson was in seventh position by the end of the 3.8km swim along Palm Cove, more than 12 minutes behind first place. After she gained momentum on the bike, she overtook almost everyone in front of her, only being behind Sarah Crowley, who eventually finished in fourth place.

“I just got on the bike and just put my head down and got into a rhythm, and just took as much time out of the girls as I could,” she said.

“I knew I was chipping into them. I didn’t know that I was on course for the record so that’s a little bonus.”

When Simpson got off the bike into the running leg, she powered ahead of everybody.

It’s deja vu for Edge Hill Tigers this weekend

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IT’S a bit of déjà vu for Edge Hill Tigers this weekend as they host NPL powerhouses the Gold Coast Knights on Sunday afternoon at Tiger Park.

Two years ago, the Edge Hillbased side made their historic run into the Australia Cup round of 32 and hosted the Gold Coast side at Barlow Park in front of just under 2000 fans.

On that night, unfortunately, it was not meant to be as the Tigers held on for 84 minutes before the Knights scored two late goals to win 2-0 and advance through the round of 16.

Two years later, the majority of that the Tigers squad, including keeper Kevin Ward, strikers

Crios O’Hare and Joshua Taylor, midfielders Jesse Casson and Oscar Rodreguez and defenders Ari Isman and Ryan Murray are all back and looking for redemption this time around and to make things even more special they get to host the Knights at home at Tiger Park.

The Tigers are in red hot form once again in the league and lead the FQ Far North QPL by 13 points, O’Hare is the once again leading the golden boot race and the side has only conceded six goals so far this season, while the Knights also head north in ominous form leading the FQ NPL by two points , only having lost one game so far in 2023.

The match is at 2pm this Sunday afternoon at Tiger Park.

Kylie Simpson crossing the finish line after powering ahead in the running leg, almost 18 minutes before anyone else. Picture: Korupt Vision

The award-winning Edge Hill Tigers are playing the Gold Coast Knights this Sunday at Edge Hill.