Cairns Local News June 30 2023

Local News Cairns

Buyers go crazy for Krispy Kremes

Chinese wish list

Cairns Airport in talks about flights for future Lunar New Year festivities

l AEROGLEN

| Nick Dalton

CHINESE New Year services

from Asia are on the radar of Cairns Airport chief operating officer Garry Porter as he flew on the maiden Virgin Australia flight from the Far North to Tokyo on Wednesday.

The inaugural route took off at 1.15pm on Wednesday with all 128 seats full, aiming to bring 30,000 Japanese and other visitors to and from the region this year and building to 100,000 next year.

Mr Porter told Cairns Local News that part of his business trip would involve visiting places such as Korea, Taiwan and China where narrow aisle aircraft could directly reach from Cairns. Virgin will be using such planes as their new Boeing 737-8s on the Japan route in coming weeks.

He said he would be talking to their old partners – airlines such as China Southern, China Eastern and Hainan – “hopefully for Chinese New Year services”.

The flights were axed when COVID struck in early 2020.

Mr Porter said the aim was also to have Singapore Airlines flying to Cairns daily next year but it was still too early for Cathay Pacific to return from Hong Kong, with crew and aircraft capacity an issue.

“They are more challenging

than Singapore, not at 70 per cent, it’s a long road,” he said.

Mr Porter said he would be armed with incentives including the Queensland Government and airports’ jointly funded aviation attraction fund of $200 million

a year and the Federal Government’s $15m to Tourism Tropical North Queensland for marketing.

He said it was hoped the new daily Virgin flights and existing Jetstar services would total 240,000 Japanese visitors a year

from the ‘halcyon days’ of 2008, 2009 and 2010.

Mr Porter said it was expected Virgin would deliver 100,000 passengers annually with the services to Haneda, Tokyo’s premium international airport.

$2m

Gold Lotto winner

l MOSSMAN | Nick Dalton

A MOSSMAN shopper has won a $2 million windfall in last weekend’s Saturday Gold Lotto draw.

The mystery player held one of the 15 division one winning entries in Saturday Gold Lotto draw 4375, drawn Saturday, June 24, and took home $2m.

So far in 2023, there have been six division one winning entries in the Far North Queensland region, who have collectively taken home more than $10.38 million in prize money.

However, how the winner plans to enjoy their prize will forever remain a mystery as they’ve chosen to stay completely anonymous and celebrate in private.

Their winning entry was bought at News Extra Mossman, Shop 5, 35 Front Street, Mossman.

News Extra Mossman assistant manager Tanya Bown said it was a wonderful feeling knowing her team had helped make someone’s dreams come true.

He said Cairns would become Australia’s northern gateway for people to start and end their Australian adventure with Virgin’s good southern connections.

CONTINUED PAGE 3

“It’s very exciting when you see your store’s name come up as one of the winning newsagencies in the weekend’s draw,” she said.

“Our customers have been equally as excited as us when we share the winning news that we’ve sold a division one winning entry.”

J-pop dancers from Melbourne Miao-S performed at the launch of the first Virgin Australia flight from Cairns to Tokyo. Picture: Nick Dalton

Soothing patients

New mental health unit will feature calming room and high-technology

INDIGENOUS art, a Queensland Health-first ‘calming’ room with few distractions and state-of-the-art technology are included in the new $70 million Cairns Hospital’s mental health unit.

The new unit of three storeys, an extra five beds to 53 beds, and an additional 10 beds for the mental health intensive care unit are part of the building which has reached the concrete pour stage.

Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service chief executive Leena Singh said the new facility would provide additional capacity and a better environment to help people in their recovery from mental illness.

“This is an important infrastructure project for the Cairns economy, creating nearly 70 full-time equivalent jobs over the life of the project,” she said.

“I am delighted to announce that our program of works is on schedule, with the new building to be completed and operational in mid-2024.”

The new facility will be fitted with a culturally appropriate design for North Queensland, consisting of a local Indigenous theme which is expected to include paintings and even murals.

“We have looked at including Aboriginal art, even murals based around and in the unit, consisting of local landscapes within our catchment,” said Roichin Meadows, project officer for the capital infrastructure team.

“When we go to choose

those pictures, we talk to our lived experience reps as well, to make sure that it is appropriate, for both the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cohort, but also the majority of our patients.”

There will also be familyfriendly spaces, as well as state-of-the-art technology, including the new sensory modulation room.

“It’s a great challenge to develop a sensory modulation room in a mental health unit, that ticks all of the boxes for safety, infectious control, and other related things that could be a barrier to fitting out a room,” said Ms Meadows.

“We came up with a digital solution, that’s quite easy to use and doesn’t require a lot of resources to set up.”

Mental health clinical director Dr Mike Tervit said the multi-sensory experience had been developed in collaboration with mental health clinicians and project staff and would be evaluated over a two-month period.

“This digital solution aims to provide a more immersive and personalised experience for patients, using interactive visual and soundscapes that can be changed to the individual’s specific needs,” he said.

“The scenes have been devel-

oped with different outcomes in mind, such as soothing, engagement and distracting, along with an interactive module with gesture control.”

Dr Tervit said there were also soothing lights and gentle scents such as jasmine or white tea released into the room.

“There are plans to introduce a day bed, rocking chair, weighted blankets, bubble tubes and other textural elements so most senses are targeted once the project becomes live in the new mental health unit,” he said.

Mental health specialist Fiona Benn said the technology could assist people with dif-

ferent mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia or bipolar.

“People with bipolar disorder especially, their mind is always racing, they’re always busy and they have got to keep doing things,” she said.

“Sometimes bringing them into the low-stimulus area will distract them from outside distractions, and they will become calm and watch the breathing guidance displayed on a screen.

“Currently, we’re not just looking at medical-related things, we’re looking at the whole person holistically, and people are saying they’ve tried certain options before and it’s worked.”

An artist’s impression of the new $70 million mental health unit at Cairns Hospital which will feature soothing lights and gentle scents.

| Isaac Colman

Billion dollar boom

Focus on Tourism Newcastle services take-off

Tourism spending surges as Virgin launches key Japan route

l AEROGLEN

|

Nick Dalton

INTERSTATE visitor spending in the Far North has almost doubled to $2.6 billion since before COVID hit tourism.

Tourism Tropical North Queensland chief executive officer Mark Olsen said according to Tourism Research Australia’s National Visitor Survey figures for the year ending March 2023, interstate expenditure of $2.6bn had almost doubled, jumping 92.6 per cent on the $1.4bn generated in the year ending December 2019 –the last period unaffected by the pandemic.

“Sydneysiders and holidaymakers from regional New South Wales helped to drive the growth with record numbers heading north,” he said.

“Sydney visitors grew by 28.3 per cent from the year ending March 2019 to 249,000 and New South Wales visitors by 33.5 per cent to 384,000.

“The 1.7 million Sydney visitor nights more than doubled the 2019 figures with the average length of stay growing by 0.6 nights to 6.9 nights.

“Total interstate visitors were up 37.1 per cent from 2019 to 983,000 accounting for more than half of the total $4.3bn domestic expenditure.

“The majority of interstate visitors continued to be from Victoria with a 38.7 per cent increase from 2019 to 448,000 and Melbourne visitors increasing by 43.4 per cent to 307,000.”

Mr Olsen said the record figures were on the back

of Tourism Tropical North Queensland’s third consecutive summer campaign to drive domestic visitation beyond winter.

“The higher yielding greater Sydney and Melbourne markets were targeted with an integrated media approach and activity with retail partners including Expedia, Luxury Es-

capes and My Queensland,” he said.

“Public relations activity was also ramped up with $4.5 million in domestic publicity generated in November and December highlighting summer activities.

“Increased interstate air capacity and new routes helped to boost numbers with seasonal

Newcastle traffic in 2022, additional Virgin flights from Adelaide and Perth, and Qantas flights from Perth.

“Total visitors were up 12.6 per cent to 2.5 million and they extended their stay by 0.5 nights to an average of 5.5 nights generating 13.8 million visitor nights with the average spend per visitor up 52.3 per

l AEROGLEN

| Nick Dalton

JETSTAR’S seasonal service between Cairns and Newcastle may go year-round.

The service started last Saturday. It is the third year in a row that Jetstar has operated the service between the two cities, flying from June 24 to October 28 in partnership with Newcastle Airport and Cairns Airport.

The three return flights a week on Monday, Thursday and Saturday will be using an Airbus A320 aircraft, creating more than 4400 seats on the route each month.

Newcastle Airport chief executive officer Dr Peter Cock is hoping for the service to operate 12 months a year.

“Demand for travel in both directions is incredibly strong and with the continued support of our region we hope the Newcastle to Cairns service will extend beyond October 2023 to a yearround service,” he said.

Dr Cock is confident the seasonal direct flights between Newcastle and Cairns will continue to be a success.

Jetstar chief customer officer Alan McIntyre said there were strong bookings in both directions.

cent to $1723. Holidaymakers continued to account for the majority of visitors with 1.5 million people holidaying in the region. “Intrastate visitors grew by just 0.8 per cent from 2019 and for the first time declined from the previous year with a 2 per cent drop to 1.5 million. Brisbane visitors grew by 11.8 per cent to 291,000.

“We’ve seen thousands of bookings already in both directions and many flights are close to fully booked, especially in the first couple of weeks of the fourmonth service,” he said.

Cairns Airport chief executive officer Richard Barker said it was an ideal time for the service to resume as families headed into the mid-year-school holiday period.

New direct flights to Tokyo expected to bring 100,000 visitors

FROM PAGE 1

Velocity Frequent Flyer chief executive and Japan services representative Nick Rohrlach said the launch of the Cairns-Haneda service marked an exciting milestone for Virgin Australia as it continued to grow its international network.

“We know that Cairns has consistently ranked as one

of the most popular tourist destinations among Japanese visitors to Australia and we are thrilled to unlock a new convenient gateway for Japanese travellers to explore all Far North Queensland has to offer, while injecting a welcome boost of tourism into the region,” he said.

“To celebrate this significant milestone, we have

launched a Tokyo airfare sale with return economy fares from as low as $699 until midnight next Tuesday. We expect the fares to sell out quickly so we are encouraging travellers to get in early to make the most of the sale.”

The new route comes as Virgin Australia takes delivery of the first of eight new

Boeing 737-8 fuel-efficient aircraft in Seattle, which is scheduled to touch down on Australian soil this week. The aircraft will enter service in the coming weeks to operate Virgin Australia’s Cairns-Tokyo route, once routine regulatory approvals have been completed.

Tourism Tropical North Queensland chief executive

officer Mark Olsen said five trade campaigns were currently underway in Japan to help rebuild the valuable market, which delivered 112,000 visitors to Cairns per year before the pandemic. “We are excited by the travel opportunity this connection presents for people living all over Japan to see the region’s new hotels, restaurants and sus-

tainable tourism experiences,” he said. “Over the past week we have had 11 TTNQ members in Japan providing workshops to 300 key agents with the support of Tourism and Events Queensland and participated in the Tourism Australia Business Event Seminar earlier this month to help train agents working in that space.”

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Launching the direct Cairns-Toyko Virgin Australia flights were (left) Velocity Frequent Flyer chief executive Nick Rohrlach, Cairns Airport chief operating officer Garry Porter, with cabin crew Sharmey Sharman and Tally Walling-Scott and Melbourne Miao-S J-pop dancers Minhan Huang and Hanyae Xue. Picture: Nick Dalton

Specially-trained dog has given woman confidence and security

Pet key to a good life

l TRINITY PARK

|

Isabella Guzman Gonzalez

A TRINITY Park woman living with severe hearing loss has received a life-changing companion through Hieu, a Lions Hearing Assistance dog that has helped her regain her independence.

Claire Baker, 28, was diagnosed deaf at age four. Her hearing regularly fluctuates from a little sound to complete deafness unexpectedly, making daily life more challenging.

“My mother was the one who decided a hearing dog would be suitable for me and started the process for me back in 2016,” she said.

“I was too unwell at the time and put my application on hold.

“Now that I have my life sorted, beautiful Hieu came along and has changed my life for the better.”

Through the Australian Lions Hearing Dogs Program, Ms Baker was able to receive Hieu, a Tenterfield terrier, for free, and after months of sessions and training, the 18-month-old pup was finally accredited on June 14.

Although it costs the organisation, $40,000 to train and deliver the dogs and support the recipients, it comes to no cost to the applicants thanks to the sponsorship of local Lions clubs,

Home still sought for train club

l MANUNDA

THE Cairns Model Railway Club is holding out hope that a new home can be found for its train sets so the public can still visit, watch and play.

corporate partners, and donations from the public.

“These dogs are such a wonderful thing for people to have access to. It’s such a great project for Lions to be involved in,” said head of the local Lions district Jo Lynes.

“I am so proud of the support that Lions Club of Cairns have contributed to Hieu’s placement as a hearing dog, helping to get Claire and Hieu to this exciting new chapter.”

Ms Baker said services like the Lions Hearing Dogs Program were essential for people living with hearing loss.

“It is extremely crucial for deaf people to have a hearing dog, they are able to let you know of sounds that you can’t hear like a fire alarm, knowing when there is a fire and that he’s able to save my life,” she said.

“Other sounds like someone at the door, phone calls, he helps me to not miss calls or the oven timer, so I won’t burn the house down.

“He has also helped me with my anxiety in public. I’m able to do much more socially.

“I would say to people struggling with hearing loss, contact the Lions Hearing Dogs. Hieu has changed my life and would love to see so more people feel the same way.”

For more information, visit www.lionshearingdogs.com.au

The club must leave its donated site at the Raintrees shopping centre so the Australian Electrical Commission can set up a base for its referendum polling operations later in July.

Despite a public plea for help, club president John King said there had been little response.

“We’ve been dealing with Go Clubs at the council but they have told us they have nothing,” he said.

Mr King said two other shopping centres had been approached but they were not interested in ‘charity leases’.

The club must vacate the shop by late July. It needs about 150 to 200sqm to develop and expand the existing displays and other items which are currently in storage due to space restrictions at Raintrees.

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 estimated $80,000.The club layout is the biggest and longest with about 100m of rail track and is work in progress. If you can help, call Mr King on 0410 042 114.

Claire Baker and her newly-accredited hearing assistance dog, Hieu. Picture: Supplied

Events get council cash boost

l CAIRNS REGION

| Isaac Colman

LOCAL events have been given a financial boost by Cairns Regional Council.

The annual Babinda Harvest Festival gets $25,000. The 59th annual festival is expected to bring more than 5000 locals and tourists together to celebrate and enjoy activities, entertainment, art and culture.

“The Babinda Harvest festival is a wonderful opportunity to bring everyone together to enjoy the community atmosphere” said Cairns Mayor Bob Manning.

At Bill Wakeham Park, there will be a variety of harvest machinery and tools on display, including a tractor pull, farm equipment and even vintage cars. Munro Street will come to life with the Grand Street Parade coming along with market stalls and entertainment.

The Cairns Italian Festival Inc has also received a $25,000 grant for the 2023 event, beginning next month, expanding even more after the festival’s first year’s great success in 2022. The festival was formed to celebrate the rich Italian history throughout the region, and provide an opportunity for the local Italian community to rethink how the Italian story is told in both Cairns and surrounding regions. To read the full list go online at www.cairnslocalnews.com.au

Doughnut heaven

First 7-Eleven in Far North offers fresh Krispy Kremes every day

l CAIRNS NORTH

|

Nick Dalton

LOVERS of Krispy Kreme

doughnuts have been making a beeline to the first 7-Eleven store and service station in Cairns.

The outlet opened at Cairns North on Tuesday and by 10pm – after opening at 6am – half or 5000 doughnuts had been sold.

The 7-Eleven is the first of more to come in the Cairns region following three and soon a fourth in Townsville.

It’s almost two years since the brand announced it was opening a store in Cairns and it has been about 12 months since work started on the site on the corner of Sheridan and Smith streets.

7-Eleven retail area lead north Jeff Yerbury said it was apparent there was demand for Krispy Kremes as well as other products such as slurpies, smoothies, fresh sandwiches and cheaper fuel.

He said the $1 million-plus investment followed the brand taking a foothold in Townsville.

Mr Yerbury said their new format had been introduced to the Cairns store.

He said the site was chosen because of its location on the road from the airport into the CBD, high traffic volumes and it was the first service station on the left. The two street frontages were another reason.

Mr Yerbury said it was a 7-Eleven company-owned outlet with a lease deal with a property developer.

He said it was clear on opening day with the frequency of customers – most buying Krispy Kremes – that there was demand for the brand in Cairns.

Mr Yerbury said 7-Eleven

CAIRNS GREEK FESTIVAL

The annual St John’s Greek Festival is returning Sunday 2nd July 10:30am – 4:30pm.

This is a perfect way to travel to Greece without leaving the Far North! This annual event is a great way to experience traditional Greek culture, music and cuisine.

There will be Grand Raffle Prizes, Market Stalls, Greek Food, Pastries, Sweets, Music and Entertainment. Entry is by gold coin donation. So save the date and enjoy a taste of Greece right here in Cairns.

had made a business assessment that justified yet another service station and convenience store in Cairns and more were to come. He said it would operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with 18 local staff.

The store operates the service station in conjunction with Mobil.

Mr Yerbury said their app also locked in fuel prices for seven days.

“We are continuing to work with landlords and developers to open stores in the right locations to meet the needs of the community,” he said.

Senior store manager Rebecca Inkson put her hand up for the

new Cairns store after starting with the company on the Sunshine Coast more than six years ago and more recently in Townsville.

She said she was surprised by the reaction from customers.“It’s not only my livelihood but my life. I love it, it’s a great company to work for,” Ms Inkson said.

New 7-Eleven Cairns senior store manager Rebecca Inkson with a stack of Krispy Kreme doughnuts. Picture: Cam Laivd

Sport champion swaps ring for new concept in fitness training

Boxer’s gym foray

l CAIRNS CBD

| Nick Dalton FORMER champion boxer ‘Banging’ Benny Kite is jumping from the boxing ring into business.

B Athletic is a new concept for fitness and wellness created by the former Australian, IBF Pan Pacific and ANBF Australasian champion boxer and is due to open its doors at The Pier on July 1.

Mr Kite said he was “pumped ready to share the breadth of knowledge and skills he developed as a top professional athlete with everyday people and aspiring champions alike”.

He said the group training-based centre at The Pier shopping centre would have classes in boxing, weightlifting, conditioning, and stretching/mobility along with a dual zone recovery centre complete with ice baths, infrared saunas, compression recovery suits and more.

Mr Kite said he aimed to help members look at the bigger picture of their health and fitness and achieve overall wellbeing.

“We’re so excited to be opening B Athletic to help people of all fitness levels,” he said.

“We’ll be putting as much emphasis on members’ mobility and recovery in their training, to ensure

People on the edge of seats

PEOPLE will be on the edge of their seat, with a new, free and inclusive chair yoga class which has opened in Edmonton.

they are getting as much out of their performance as possible, not only while they’re at the gym but carrying it through to their everyday life.

“That’s definitely how you work at the professional sports level but it can bring amazing whole of life benefits no matter what level of fitness members are at right now or are aiming to reach.

“The recovery centre will be something quite new for Cairns.

“The centre within the gym is quite large. The space has been designed so that members can move freely within the space from therapy to therapy to meet their needs and make sure they get the most out of their recovery experience.”

B Athletic will offer a choice of all access and recovery access memberships to anyone who wants to be part of what is believed to be Cairns’ only complete fitness and wellness centre.

Mr Kite said free community boxing and fitness bootcamps were held at 7am every Saturday morning inside the Pier Shopping Centre.

“We’ve had a fantastic response from all the participants,” he said.

Anyone interested can find out more on the website, through the free trial portal. While the sessions are free, booking is essential.

Visit: https://bathleticgym.com/

It is part of Cairns Regional Council’s new Active Living program, which offers free exercise and wellbeing classes delivered by qualified trainers. It is aimed at keeping seniors, specifically with chronic health conditions active.

“Chair yoga is a fantastic addition to the Active Living program, which has now grown to 22 fun-filled classes across Cairns each week,” said Cairns Mayor Bob Manning.

“The instructor will put a focus on mindfulness and meditation into each session to keep people feeling calm and relaxed. The council will continue to provide free fitness programs that improve community health and wellbeing.”

More than 18,000 people, including both locals and tourists participate in the free fitness programs, such as beach volleyball, zumba and pilates.

The yoga sessions are every Monday from from 9am-10am at 53 Pyne St, Edmonton. Visit council’s website to download a timetable and get involved at a park near you: https://bit.ly/3pyxSK2

Former boxing champion Benny Kite and wife Channon Kite in their new gym at The Pier shopping centre. Picture: Isabella Guzman Gonzalez

Forum to discuss training

l FAR NORTH

FAR North Queensland students, employers and training providers can have a say on the state’s vocational education and training system at community forums planned for Cairns and Thursday Island next month.

Parliament’s education, employment and training committee chairwoman Kim Richards MP said her committee would use the forums to explore the opportunities and challenges experienced by students, employers and communities in regional, rural and remote areas to get the training they want and need.

“Compared to students in Brisbane, students in regional, rural and remote areas have greater challenges to engaging in skills and training locally,” she said.

“Many have to travel away from home for training and work placements. When students move away from home, they can lose their family support, and there is always the risk they don’t go home to their communities once qualified.

“Students in regional, rural and remote areas are also more likely to find the course they want is only available online, which can be difficult if they live in an area with poor internet connectivity.”

The Cairns community forum is on Monday, July 10 from 5.30pm7.30pm, Tropics Restaurant, S Block, Cairns TAFE. Register online via: https://bit.ly/3NMOSoj

Walking app for dogs

l STRATFORD | Isabella Guzman Gonzalez

WITH the goal of getting Cairns’ pet owners and their dogs walking, a Stratford veterinarian has launched a fullylocally-developed fitness app.

She will be celebrating it with the first FNQ Dog Walkathon starting on July 1 at the Dogs Day Out Festival in Barron Waters Park.

Working in partnership with local independent app developer, Jamie Baker, Dr Charlotte Williamson, a vet with over 20 years of experience, launched WAGSTA a free fitness app available for Android and iOS that tracks weight and provides a calorie burning calculator to get both pups and owners fit.

To celebrate the launch of the app that already counts with over 1000 downloads, the WAGSTA team has organised the FNQ Dog Walkathon throughout the month of July.

“The walkathon goes throughout July and the idea behind it is getting people active regularly,” Dr Williamson said.

“The first day of walkathon coincides with the Dogs Day Out Festival in Caravonica so we’ll be launching there, so we’re encouraging anyone that comes to the event to download the app and track their walk on the day. They will be in the running to win a two-night dog friendly stay at Crystalbrook

Technology aims to get owners and pets exercising

Bailey and 12 different prize providers for the event.

“Every walk you get into the app that month gives you an entry into the prize pool.”

Dr Williamson said WAGSTA had been a project that was years in the making to strengthen the bond between pets and their owners.

“Technology and app de-

velopment is a huge leap from clinical veterinary work, and it has been a challenge. We’ve had quite a few iterations of the app just trying to get the technology right,” she said.

“The app provides both human and dog calorie burn when you’re out walking, and we provide weight tracking for both as well, it’s free and uses

your GPS tracker. “You download the app, and sign up and start walking, then it creates a map of your walk, you can upload photos from your walk, so it creates a walk journal and provides a time and distance tally, and it can track multiple dogs at once.

“I’ve always been interested in the link between human

health and pet health, and what got me excited about creating WAGSTA is focusing on that partnership between dog and owner to get both out and about, which is great for the mental and physical health of both.”

For more information on WAGSTA and the Walkathon, visit www.wagsta.com

Vet and founder of WAGSTA Dr Charlotte Williamson and her dog Maxo. Picture: Isabella Guzman Gonzalez

Rangers in Canadian firefight

l FAR NORTH

TWO Far Northern Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service rangers are joining three other state rangers in the ongoing battle against unprecedented wildfires in Alberta, Canada.

Rangers-in-charge Rob Miller, of Mareeba, and Paul Bufi, of Cairns, will be working beside some of the best fire responders from across Australia as part of an international battle across central-west Alberta.

Environment Minister Leanne Linard said to receive the call to assist with the fight against the disastrous wildfires impacting Canada “is a testament to the skills and experience of Rob and Paul,” as well as three other Queensland rangers.

Mr Bufi said it wasn’t long ago that “we were facing our own bushfire disaster across Queensland like we’d never seen before, so I know how overwhelming it can be”. “I am nervous about going when it’s something we haven’t done before, but in a situation like this when it’s all hands-on deck you’ve just got to put those feelings aside and get the job done,” he said.

Mr Miller said: “We just hope that we can put our fire management knowledge to good use to preserve not just the nearby communities but the environment too.”

The rangers will be in Canada for a month.

Snorkelling

the top

Far North personalised charters rated best experience in nation

l PORT DOUGLAS

| Nick Dalton

A 12-person chartered snorkelling tour of the Great Barrier Reef at Port Douglas has taken the crown as Tripadvisor’s top overall experience in Australia for 2023.

ABC Snorkel Charters was also ranked No.2 for top 10 experiences in the South Pacific and No.6 in the world for the snorkelling and water sports category.

Tripadvisor experiences general manager Kate Urquhart said ABC Snorkel Charters had taken out the No. 1 top experience in Australia for the second year running, as well as No.2 spot in the South Pacific.

“Operated by ABC Snorkel Charters, the experience includes a full day out on the Reef, exploring some of the more remote snorkelling spots.

“Travellers who love nature and wildlife will enjoy this snorkelling tour of the outer Great Barrier Reef.

“As well as being with a small group (maximum 12), you’ll get one instructor for every six participants, ensuring personalised service.

“Spend a full day out at some of the more remote snorkelling spots, away from the crowds. Be amazed by the variety of sea life you’ll see.”

ABC Snorkel Charters owner-operator Jay Wink said the recognition placed them among the top one per cent of the eight million experiences listed on Tripadvisor worldwide.

He said the firm was committed as an eco-certified and Great Barrier Marine Park high-standard Reef operator to

exceeding customer expectations.

“By maintaining small tour groups of just 12 passengers, hand-picking a dedicated team, and visiting pristine low-use reefs, ABC Snorkel Charters ensures an intimate, educational, and sustainable experience for every guest, away from

large crowds,” Mr Wink said.

“We are deeply passionate about showcasing the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef and grateful to our outstanding team for consistently delivering extraordinary experiences.

“The commitment to raising awareness and protecting our oceans is inspiring and ef-

fective, as our guiding and interpretive talks occur in small groups of only six guests per one marine biologist.

“With a solid reputation as the leading tourism experience in Australia, ABC Snorkel Charters’ eco-certified reef experiences have earned them global recognition.”

Snorkellers with a giant Maori wrasse on a ABC Snorkel Charters tour.

Picture: ABC Snorkel Charters

Cash back campaign ramps up

l INNISFAIL

MORE than 3000 signatures have been collected and 150 people rallied for Cassowary Coast Regional Council to reverse its cashless payments system.

The rally was held last Sunday in Innisfail’s Anzac Park with people travelling from as far as Cairns and the Tablelands.

Cassowary Coast residents fighting to keep cash alive are quietly confident their local government will reverse a decision to go cashless following a rally on Sunday at Innisfail’s ANZAC Park.

Rally coordinator Tara Garozzo, of the newly-formed Cassowary Coast Action Network, said she hoped to lodge the petition by August and put the decision in the hands of councillors.

“We found out our councillors never got a choice to vote on this, even though a few of them openly disagreed, so we launched a petition and held this rally,” she said.

“We’re just wanting the decision to go back to councillors and for them to decide if cash can be reinstated.”

Among the speakers was Cairns regional division 9 councillor Brett Olds, who after recently assisting his own constituents overturn a cashless decision, reminded residents that Cairns councillors unanimously voted to return cash after “listening to its people.”

First Cairns Fashion Week was ‘a raging success’ for everyone

It’s just the beginning

l CAIRNS

| Isabella Guzman Gonzalez

THE first Cairns Fashion Week (CFW) has been successfully wrapped up with founder Jade Turnbull saying it exceeded expectations.

Three hundred people attended the sold-out Podium Showcase at the Tanks Arts Centre on Saturday last week.

More than 1000 people joined CFW events across the week, which attracted visitors from the Far North, interstate and even overseas for the inaugural venture.

Ms Turnbull said the event had been “a raging success with designers, models and fashion lovers alike”.

“People will take us seriously from now on,” she said.

“CFW gave an opportunity to local designers that they wouldn’t have ordinarily had in the area, this being the biggest fashion event that the region has seen. It’s something that they would’ve had to travel to Sydney or Melbourne or overseas for.

“We feel that CFW exceeded expectations and the feedback has been fantastic. It is everything we dreamed of.”

Kuranda model Audrey Anwyl, who wore Sonlia, Regan O’Neill, Swimbarre, Citizen Reign and other garments, said the event was a platform for local models and designers.

“It sets a precedent in Cairns,” she said. “Events like these allows us to create connections on a professional level, represent our area and for local designers to get the recognition they deserve.”

With a waiting list of designers for the 2024 CFW, Ms Turnbull said the plan was to come back bigger and better.

“During the event there were many designers and models coming to us and saying, ‘What are the dates for next year? We want to be a part of it again’, and it was the same with guests wanting to know what out next theme is going to be,” she said.

“Next year we’re coming back bigger and better. We’re looking at increasing capacity because events like the Podium Showcase were extremely full, so we know we have to go bigger to facilitate more bookings.

“We’ll absolutely be looking to apply for grants to support our 2024 event.”

Some crowd favourite events were the Swimwear and Resortwear Showcase and the closing Podium Showcase where local designers like Regan O’Neill, Murri Quu Couture, St Ballentine, Dada’s Step and Sonlia were the highlights.

“The most exciting thing was looking around the room and seeing everyone buzzing, and seeing our vision come to life was surreal,” Ms Turnbull said.

Model Grace Nawade wearing Justin Tong at the CFW Podium Showcase at the Tanks Arts Centre. Picture: Momento Road Photography

Newspaper role for teen

Cairns Local News hires keen college student

l CAIRNS CBD

| Isaac Colman

WORK experience student

Isaac Colman, who spent last week at Cairns Local News, impressed the newspaper team so much, that he was offered – and accepted – a part-time role.

Editor Nick Dalton said he was astounded how well Master Colman, a year 10 Freshwater Christian College student, grasped journalism, quickly and accurately wrote stories, undertook interviews and was always asking for more things to do.

“I asked him to check out a sailing vessel with tall masts at the wharves and he came back with a story and photo of Greenpeace’s Rainbow Warrior,” he said.

Master Colman said he enjoyed his five days at the newspaper office.

“I really felt comfortable and relaxed throughout the week,” he said.

“I felt like writing for school was different to writing for news. Throughout the week I could just write without any trouble.

“While at school, I’m just given a topic and expected to

meet all the criteria and checkpoints, In the office I just felt so much more comfortable.”

Master Colman wrote many articles over the course of the week, and interviewed people for stories, shadowing reporter Isabella Guzman Gonzalez.

He said his favourite experience was attending an interview with Ms Guzman Gonzalez at the city library’s Viking display.

“Interviewing people was really interesting as well,” Master Colman said.

“I truly found that through simply asking questions you can learn so much about both a topic and person, while also growing as a person yourself.

“It seemed at first like the

Crash rescue team at champs

average Viking story about battle, blood, war and violence, but (author) Megan Formanek really did an amazing job at portraying the more complex side of the Vikings.”

Master Colman was introduced to everything, from writing reports to editing, and even laying it out onto the newspaper format.

“The whole team was so friendly and constructive towards me. I’ve really enjoyed this week, and I’m genuinely considering this to be my future career,” he said.

“I thank Cairns Local News team. I’ve learned so much as well as grown as a person all throughout the week.”

VOICE TO PARLIAMENT community INFORMATION SESSIONs

l WESTCOURT

| Isaac Colman

CAIRNS’ very own Road Crash Rescue team is in Adelaide for the 2023 Australasian Road Rescue Challenge.

From June 29 to July 2, the six emergency services personnel are competing against 23 other teams from all around Australasia.

They will be performing rescues in different scenarios, and judged on the criteria of how effective they were, how well they communicated

and the time that is taken to ultimately perform the rescue.

“We’ve been training extremely hard,” said team leader Shane Given.

“We’ve been training at the fire station, where there are quite good facilities for training,” he said.

“Some of the resources, like tools and equipment, we supply ourselves, but the fire service provides vehicles for us and a venue to train in.”

The previous Cairns team has excelled in the competition and was selected to compete in the

International Road Crash Rescue Challenge three times.

“We’ve got a relatively new team this year,” Mr Given said. "In our past adventures, we were quite competitive, so we always aimed for third place or higher.

“This time around we’ve got two completely new members (Saille Frumenzi and Ethan Schultz). We’ve also got two members who are changing positions on the team.”

“We’ve got an extremely fresh team, so we’re hoping to get at least into the top half.”

Do you have questions about the Voice to Parliament? Would you like to learn more? Come along and hear about the Voice to Parliament and have your questions answered.

All members of the public are welcome. Food and drinks provided.

kuranda cairns

atherton

Saturday 1 July 10:00 am - 12:00 pm, 20 Thongon Street, Kuranda QLD 4881

Sunday 2 July 10:00 am - 12:00 pm, Tablelands Regional Council Coordination Centre, 15 Vernon Street, Atherton QLD 4883

cooktown mossman

Tuesday 4 July 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm, Gungarde Community Centre, 92 Charlotte St, Cooktown QLD 4895

Wednesday 5 July 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm, Mossman Shire Hall, 6 Mill St, Mossman QLD 4873

Monday 10 July 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm, JCU Smithfield, Building A4, Room A004-130, 1/14-88 McGregor Rd, Smithfield QLD 4878

Tuesday 11 July 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm, TYTO Conference and Events Centre, 73-75 Mcilwraith St, Ingham QLD 4850

Wednesday 12 July 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm, Innisfail Shire Hall, 4/70 Rankin St, Innisfail QLD 4860

For further information, please contact the FNQ Voice Team at voicefnq@gmail.com.

Authorised by Geoff Scott, The Uluru Dialogue, Building 22, High St, Kensington NSW 2033

ingham innisfail

Freshwater Christian College student Isaac Colman loved his work experience week at Cairns Local News. Picture: Nick Dalton

Crash team leader Shane Given (left), Saille Frumenzi, Ethan Schultze, Renee Price, Mick Balmer and Gareth Colman. Picture: Shane Given

High-tech storyline

3D Indigenous experience brings rainforest flora and fauna to life

l DAINTREE | Nick Dalton

A SPECIAL 3D hologram attraction that will give visitors an immersive experience of KuKu Yalanji country and culture from the comfort of a new theatre has opened at the Daintree Discovery Centre.

Centre manager Abi Ralph said the unique tourism experience blended immersive technology with firsthand storytelling by a Traditional Owner.

“We believe we are the only tourism attraction in Australia offering this kind of experience,” she said.

“We’ve been working hard to perfect it – and also working hard to keep it under wraps until our opening this month.”

The technology was developed in Queensland by AXIOM Holographics.

Going on country or ‘walkabout’ with KuKu Yalanji man Juan Walker of Walkabout Cultural Adventures provides an insight into the culture and country of these First Nations people.

He said traditionally their estate provided for all their needs – it was a medicine chest, tool shed, hardware store, supermarket and church, all in one.

He introduces in Indigenous language and English, the different animals, mostly noctural, and their significance, from the culinary to the mystical, as hologram versions appear.

Mr Wallker warns of the need to be careful around estuaries

and waterways – cue a large saltwater crocodile that swims by, complete with splashing water sound. Ms Ralph said a former caretaker’s cottage had been repurposed for the new theatre to provide a comfortable setting for the hologram

experience. A fully accessible ramp has also been completed to allow access to what is anticipated to be a popular visitor point.

Daintree Discovery Centre incorporates an interpretive centre and a series of board-

walks and aerial walkways, topped off by a canopy tower. They are designed to give visitors the opportunity to experience the sights, sounds and smells of the rainforest at different strata levels while removing the impact of traffic

Canefarm water saving tool

l FAR NORTH

JAMES Cook University researchers have released an online tool allowing cane farmers to compare various irrigation management options that will cut electricity and water usage and boost profits.

Dr Brian Collins, who is a senior research fellow at JCU’s Agriculture Technology and Adoption Centre, said the Irrigation Rapid Assessment Tool (i-RAT) was designed for cane growers to explore the impact of changes in irrigation management on their paddocks’ productivity and profitability.

“This tool will make it easier for farmers to understand how they can save water and electricity without loss of cane yield under variable climates,” he said.

Dr Collins said the JCU research team developed i-RAT to make it easier for the industry to see how small, medium, and large changes in irrigation management could increase profit, save water, and reduce energy cost.

on the forest itself. The theatre opening includes new interpretive cassowary circuit signs.

The upper boardwalk runs through a natural cassowary corridor where many of this majestic and ancient creature’s favourite fruits are found.

Patriots raise money for Afghan war memorial

l YUNGABURRA

PATRIOTS Australia Military Motorcycle Club members have completed their 10th annual ride to the Afghanistan Avenue of Honour on the Tablelands, raising thousands of dollars towards its upkeep.

About 100 members from Cairns, Townsville and the Tablelands rode together from the Patriots clubhouse at Holloways Beach via the Kuranda Range and Mareeba to the avenue at Yungaburra.

Cairns chapter president Dave “Robbo” Roberts said they were met by about 50 Friends of the Avenue, caravan park residents and other people.

“I gave a welcome and sergeant-in-arms Ray Rosendale gave the welcome to country,” he said.

“The avenue president Craig Reedman spoke about the history of the avenue, the navy chaplain (Nigel Porter) spoke, seven wreaths were laid, the last post was played by bugler Gary Turner and the padre blessed us all be-

fore we rode back to the clubhouse for drinks and raffles,” he said.

Mr Roberts estimated the club has raised more than $20,000 for the upkeep of the memorial.

He said the Patriots decided 10 years ago to contribute to the maintenance of the area including lighting and mowing costs because it was not funded by governments or councils.

“I think we have raised about $2500 this year,” Mr Roberts said.

“We hold the ride as close

Still Drinking From One Of These?

“i-RAT harnesses the power of computer modelling and combines it with the knowledge and experience of local cane growers and advisors to enable rapid comparisons of thousands of combinations of farm management scenarios, which are not possible to test in the field,” he said. Centre director Professor Yvette Everingham said i-RAT was a tool to connect financiers to canegrowers.

To use i-RAT, create an account on https://i-rat.net by using an email address.

as possible to the date of the original opening (June 22, 2013),” he said.

“We do it to honour their service and sacrifice as it says at the base of the monument.”

The war memorial honours the 39 diggers who have been killed in Afghanistan.

More than 5000 people attended the opening, including then-Defence chief General David Hurley, former prime minister Julia Gillard and former opposition leader Tony Abbott.

The avenue is near the

edge of Lake Tinaroo.

Private Ben Chuck (right), one of three commandos killed in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan in 2010, was from Yungaburra. His family tirelessly campaigned to raise the $300,000 needed to build the memorial, which many people say is a place of healing and closure.

(From left) Che Walker, Teja Walker, Juan Walker, Mili Walker, Louise Walker (Juan’s mum) and Corinne Maloney. Pictures: Supplied

Ray Rosendale and David ‘Robbo’ Roberts of the Patriots Cairns chapter at the avenue of honour.

Lettersto the editor

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

Electric cars lack infrastructure

REGARDING electric vehicles in Queensland.

I understand we have 31 charging stations between the Gold Coast and Cairns/Port Douglas/Mossman area, and west to Toowoomba from Brisbane.

The government is talking about having all electric vehicles by 2030/2035, and all petrol/diesel vehicles off the road by that time.

I understand an electric car takes about four hours to charge to get about 200km.

Considering the thousands of trucks alone that travel up the coast weekly, bringing our necessities for life, if they are all electric vehicles, where are they going to charge, and how long is it going to take them to travel the distance.

What about all the western towns? How are they going to get their supplies?

The rail north of Rockhampton also runs on diesel. When is this track going to be electrified? It will take years to build but I don’t hear any word on it happening anytime soon.

What happens at night when the solar doesn’t work? Where is all the power going to come from to power our houses, keep vehicles on the road, and the trains running?

Could someone please set my mind at rest and tell me what I don’t understand.

If we have no coal-fired power stations, and are relying on wind and solar, where is all the electricity coming from?

Ron Candlish, Redlynch

Mental health is a critical problem

MENTAL health issues are an immense problem facing our community.

About one in five Australians will experience a mental health problem in a given year. That’s five million people. Many of these will be serious cases, that last for years, and have wide reaching effects on those afflicted, their families and the wider community.

The issue is more severe in Far North Queensland than in other parts of Australia. Indigenous people, farmers and Defence Force veterans all experience higher rates of mental health problems. Region-

al and remote areas experience far higher rates then metropolitan areas.

The Productivity Commission last year released a landmark report into mental health where they calculated the annual cost of mental health problems to the Australian economy was $220 billion,

The effectiveness of pharmaceuticals and talk-based therapies are very limited for those who seek and receive treatment, and many (or most) struggle with issues for years or a lifetime. Such therapies ‘work’ for less than half the patients who receive them.

There are recent developments in mental health treatment, however, that have the potential to dramatically increase the quality of life of countless Australians.

Psychedelic assisted psychotherapy is an extremely promising area of mental health treatment that has seen a renaissance in professional interest in the past decade.

Whereas traditional mental health treatments have efficacy rates of below 50 per cent, results from stage 3 trials using psychedelics to assist psychotherapy show efficacy rates of above 80 per cent. This is simply amazing.

The USFDA has registered MDMA and psilocybin as “breakthrough therapies”, fast tracking their research and development. It is predicted that these products will be available for professionals in the USA by early 2023.

Our Therapeutic Goods Administration seems to finally be on board too, as they have at long last reclassified these substances so that from July this year they will able to be prescribed by psychiatrists to treat patients with mental health problems.

The amount of misery that lies just under the surface of our community as a result of mental illness is horrific.

Stigma and taboo of these substances is slowing research and bureaucratic process in Australia. I sincerely hope the taboo is lifting, with the potential for a large degree of the mental health burden lifting from our collective shoulders as a result.

Thomas Herridge, Machans Beach

Leukaemia group’s call for assistance

CONCERNING research from the Leukaemia Foundation reveals the majority (80 per cent) of blood cancer patients needing to relocate for

COUNCIL NEWS

Learn to fix your bike

Rare Earth Foundation and Cairns Regional Council are holding free bike maintenance workshops. Bring your bike for a free tune up or safety check, and learn how to fix your bike.

Workshops are on:

n Saturday 1 July, 12pm to 5pm at Keith Edwick Park, Machans Beach

n Monday 3 July, 12pm to 5pm at the BMX track, Syd Granville Memorial Park, Holloways Beach

n Wednesday 5 July, 12pm to 5pm, at the BMX track, Rainy Mountain Park, Smithfield. Connected on Wheels is part of the Active Lifestyle & Cycling for All Program, which is funded by the Queensland Government and supported by Council.

Vocal Local join our online debate be a

Last week we asked the question: What are your thoughts on the Cairns Regional Council budget and the 5.99% general rate rise? Here are some of your comments.

The council doesn’t need to increase rates. Just start sending a couple of men and a small truck to repair a small hole in a road, instead of hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of equipment and a dozen blokes.

Jim, Holloways Beach

THIS WEEK’S QUESTION

What do you think about Krispy Kremes being available in Cairns at the new 7-Eleven store?

@cairnslocalnews

treatment would be forced to exhaust their savings to fund accommodation close to treatment.

The fundation’s support is crucial for these individuals, providing freeof-charge accommodation centres and support to alleviate some of their financial burden.

With a devastating shortfall in donations, the foundation has launched an urgent appeal in order to continue to provide a place to stay for these patients and their loved ones.

More than 19,000 Australians will experience the pain of a blood cancer diagnosis this year alone – and that number is set to nearly double by 2035.

The foundation is urgently appealing to the generosity of the Australian community and inviting individuals, families, and businesses to lend their support by making a tax-deductible gift in time for the end of the financial year. Please donate online at www.leukaemia.org. au/aria or call 1800 620 420.

Chris Tanti, chief executive officer, Leukaemia Foundation

Chance to meet Billy’s Maroons

Meet coach Billy Slater and the Queensland State of Origin winning team at Barlow Park on Tuesday

4 July

The Maroons will be in Cairns before heading to NSW for Origin Game 3 on 12 July, where they will attempt to secure a 3-0 series win; a feat last achieved by Queensland in 2010.

Gates will open at Barlow Park at 7.30am, with player signings and meet and greets from 8.30am.

This is a free event. No ticket/ registration needed.

Brisbane City Council’s rates went up by 3.45 per cent, the Gold Coast City Council’s by 5.5 per cent, Toowoomba City Council’s by 4 per cent and the Sunshine Coast’s by 5.5 per cent. So how can Cairns Regional Council justify 5.99 per cent?

Ted, Mooroobool

The council must maintain the city, especially the parks and beaches as well as the roads and footpaths. Remember Cairns is a tourist destina-

Voice ‘yes’ case is dishonest

THE ‘yes’ case for the Voice is already proving to be dishonest or at least deceptive.

We are being asked to vote on two separate issues, constitutional recognition and an Indigenous Voice, with one answer.

This is I believe a cynical attempt to have a Voice enshrined on the basis of public empathy toward constitutional recognition of the Indigenous.

The yes campaign is promoting a document called the “voice principles” as an outline of what the Voice will be, including that it will not have veto powers. This document is nothing but a thought bubble and has no relevance to the proposed constitutional amendment which imposes no limits or definitions of any kind and the intended legislation. This is a blatantly deceptive approach.

Bruce Jones, Innisfail

Tee off for charity

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

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 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.

tion, so it must look attractive. There is also the worry of having enough water supply as it grows, and that is not a cheap exercise. There are no real glamour projects this year, it’s more of a grassroots budget.

Susan, Edge Hill

No one likes to cut staff but surely an extra $4.6 million in salaries and wages in this year’s Cairns council budget is excessive. And if the council made a $42.5m budget surplus surely that could have helped to reduce the rates increase.

John, Manoora

$4 million seems to be a lot to spend on the council’s Spence St headquarters? What are they doing?

Lucy, Mt Sheridan

Budget shows council is inept

THE latest budget just highlights how incompetent the Cairns Regional Council is at balancing the books.

One councillor even went so far as to suggest that the Russian invasion of Ukraine was a factor in the excessive rate increase.

The council has not earned any money.

It derives it all from us ratepayers.

Unfortunately, we can’t just ask our employers or Centrelink for an increase in wages/payments.

Other councils down south have managed to bring in their budgets at much lower rate increases.

Maybe some fat needs to be trimmed from the council and some of their unessential spending curtailed, such as toilets in parks that are suddenly needed now when the parks have been open for 26 years.

Ian Wiltshire, White Rock

Improvement works

Kenrick Park, Gordonvale: Full closure of the park for site preparations ahead of redevelopment works.

Leslie St, Mooroobool: Kerb and channel renewal from McCoombe St to Swallow St from Monday 3 July. Half road closures and detours in place.

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

Go paperless to win

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.

Claude never lets the grass grow under his feet

l PORT DOUGLAS

I WAS first made aware of Claude ‘The Mowerman’ Harvey OAM while working on radio along the Cassowary Coast some years ago.

Since then, we have been Facebook friends, so this has allowed me to keep up and be in awe of this man’s achievements by pushing his lawnmower nationwide.

The reason for doing this is to raise awareness of child protection issues and at the same time collect donations.

I was therefore delighted to hear that

Life’s a beach after 64 years

Claude was making his way to Port Douglas after his midwinter trip across Central Queensland.

During my radio interview with Claude, I discovered that this great man has walked approximately 23,000 kilometres over the last 13 years, raising funds for charity Bravehearts. This tenacious character has, thus far, nearly raised an incredible $1.7 million.

This is an amazing achievement for any individual, but add the fact that Claude is now 76 and despite the recent loss of his wife, earlier this year, he has striven on in order to help make a difference in the lives

of child sexual assault victims.

Apart from creating awareness of child sexual assault issues, the ‘Mowerman’ hopes to ultimately raise $2 million. He did admit to me that he probably won’t be able to stop at this amount and is likely to just keep going and going.

Of his many adventures, his favourite was walking over the Sydney Harbour Bridge, to be greeted at the other side by the then Australian Prime Minister.

Claude arrived in Port Douglas last Thursday June 22 and stayed until Sunday. He spent each day in central Port Douglas telling his stories and collecting donations.

l PORT DOUGLAS

WHILE out and about in Port Douglas last week, I bumped into May and Alan McIlroy who were celebrating 64 years of marriage at a popular local restaurant. Originally Londoners, the Port Douglas locals now enjoy life in a more relaxed tropical lifestyle, which clearly helps you keep fit and healthy. The couple were married in West London in June 1959 and are still going strong.

I’d better make sure I don’t forget my next anniversary, so for now it’s Gazza signing out.

Send your stories to gazza@cairnslocalnews.com.au

Claude ‘The Mowerman’ Harvey during his recent visit to Port Douglas.

Claude and his lawn mower with yours truly.

The big wedding day in June 1959, and right, May and Alan McIlroy on their 64th anniversary.

Palm Cove Tourism New group to advance resort town

l PALM COVE

A NEWLY formed group which will organise events at Palm Cove has been launched at the resort village.

Palm Cove Tourism hosted a network meeting at Peppers Beach Resort last Monday where newly formed Advance Palm Cove president David Goodinson (right) gave a breakdown about the group’s role in Palm Cove. He said the Advance Palm Cove’s mantra was to help build the town into a vibrant village with lots of activities and events for locals and tourists and to spread a continuous positive vibe.

Mr Goodinson said Advance Palm Cove started a FaceBook page four weeks ago with six members and now had over 600 and growing.

“We conducted a clean the beach up day on Sunday, June 11, a week before the Ironman event to make the beach look pristine, with over 35 local volunteers participating. The community spirit was overwhelming,” he said.

Mr Goodinson and events coordinator Gary O’Reilly and their team are currently visiting all accommodation houses, restaurants and cafes to invite them to take part in a Christmas in July event

on Friday, July 7 (Christmas Eve), Saturday, July 8 (Christmas Day) and Sunday, July 9 (Boxing Day).

“Some restaurants are putting up decorations, with carols in the background and Christmas lunch or dinner,” Mr Goodinson said.

“Santa will be coming around also over the weekend giving out gifts and presents to children and families,” he said.

Tourism Palm Cove president Garry Kerr and Mr Goodinson are keen for both organisations to work together and continue to keep Palm Cove as the jewel in the crown in Far North Queensland.

“So over the coming school holidays come down and enjoy our pristine beaches, day spas and restaurants, at your serene and sophisticated beachside village Palm Cove,” Mr Goodinson said. A

new group – Advance Palm Cove – will host a series of events to liven up Palm Cove.

TimeOut

Talented writer on board

l CAIRNS

EXPERIENCED journalist Gail

Great cast and humour in Rondo’s classic show

l EDGE

HILL

| Gail Sedorkin

COMBINE a star-studded cast with an acclaimed director, stunning costumes and wicked humour and you have The Importance of Being Earnest opening at the Rondo Theatre tonight.

The best known work of world-famous playwright, Oscar Wilde, this timeless comedy also combines Victorian period manners with ‘tongue in cheek’ dialogue.

Cairns Little Theatre director Kevin Shorey said the play captured and told the story of young love with all its trials and tribulations of the time, as well as a glimpse into Oscar Wilde’s wicked

humour. “It’s a collection of fascinating characters including overbearing matriarchs, all-knowing butlers, romanceminded young ladies and fun-loving young scoundrels, with even a governess and local clergy added to the mix,” he said.

“It all guarantees a glimpse into the somewhat ridiculous world of the aristocracy of yesteryear, and will delight audiences.

“Dressed in stunning, originally designed and handcrafted costumes, this frivolous mayhem with wonderfully witty dialogue provides an evening of total pleasure,” he said.

Set in the aristocratic world of elaborate gowns, top hats and canes, this

Victorian comedy will introduce you to Jack and Algernon, two young men who have invented alter egos to escape their everyday lives. Trying to win the love of two young women, they inevitably find themselves tied in tales of deception and duplicity.

Kevin Shorey is justifiably proud of the Earnest cast including Barry McGinley in the role of the play’s protagonist, Jack Worthing.

“Falling in love with a Cairns lass, Barry’s forsaken his career as a trained Shakespearean actor and is anticipating gracing the boards of the Rondo. What it’s going to be like compared to his last role in Downton Abbey is anybody’s guess, but the cast and crew all hope

he’s going to be around for a long time to come.

“Kurtis Lowden, playing the secondary hero Algernon to perfection in the same production, progressed from performing on the Rondo stage under the guidance of Maggie Sheppard, to appearing in Neighbours and forming his own Victorian Theatre Company.”

Coupled with qualified professional fellow actors like Heather Baker, Cath Willacy and Alice Bosanquet, they transport us all back seamlessly into the early 1900s with wonderful clothes and manners and a touch of naughtiness.

Being staged fully in the round for theatre at its best, don’t miss the nine performances at the Rondo.

Sedorkin has joined the Cairns Local News (CLN) team to primarily cover entertainment.

The proud Cairns local worked for ABC Radio and as a print journalist covering sport and features, and was editor and writer of a monthly travel magazine and fishing and boating magazine.

Heading south to teach journalism, for almost 10 years she enjoyed the coffee, food and culture of Melbourne, but is happy to call Cairns home again.

Local concerts, theatres, galleries and gigs are all on her radar now, although she is looking forward to her second P!nk concert in Melbourne early next year.

CLN editor Nick Dalton said the team was delighted to welcome Ms Sedorkin to the team and looked forward to her contrubitions to ensure the newsspaper and website remained truly local.

“Being a local, Gail has her ear to the ground and will be a great fit for our storytelling,” he said.

Kurtis Lowden (Algernon) and Alice Bosanquet (Cecily). Picture: Paul Barton

Journalist Gail Sedorkin.

Kier Shorey (Rev. Chasuble) and Debbie Dean (Miss Prism). Picture: Paul Barton

TimeOut

Fantastic rock ‘n roll face to face

l CAIRNS CBD

| Gail Sedorkin

IF you’re a fan of Rocket Man and Piano Man you can’t miss the tribute concert coming to Reef Hotel Casino in July Elton & Billy: Face To Face.

It’s hard to believe that it’s been 25 years since Billy Joel and Elton John toured Australia for the first time in tandem on their Face To Face tour.

It’s only fitting that 25 years on, Australia’s premier Elton John performer, Greg Andrew, and Australia’s No. 1 Billy Joel performer, Anthony Mara, come face to face to deliver Elton & Billy: Face To Face to celebrate and recreate the iconic tour.

Sir Elton John and Billy Joel have collectively amassed global sales edging on more than half a billion albums and both are titled with being in the top 10 selling music artists of all time.

Since the advent of their careers, they have both had successful and enduring touring resumes, but in 1994 began one of the world’s most successful and longest running tour partnerships in pop music history.

Elton John toured extensively with Billy Joel on a series of Face to Face global tours over the space of 20 years, including for the first and only time in Australia in March 1998 where they performed to sold-out stadiums in Perth, Brisbane, Syd-

ney, Adelaide and Melbourne.

Reef Hotel Casino entertainment manager Bruce Stewart said in this special two-hour concert production, Mr Andrew and Mr Mara would each perform a set of classics to the artist they each paid tribute to, as well as performing several duets.

“They’ll also recreate the

special moments fans came to experience of the duo’s famous ’98 world tour,” he said.

“This is one incredible show you don’t want to miss, backed by a masterful band of musicians and packed with hit after hit including ‘Bennie And The Jets’, ‘Philadelphia Freedom’, ‘Rocket Man’, ‘I’m Still Stand-

ing’, ‘Just The Way You Are’, ‘My Life’, ‘Uptown Girl’, ‘It’s Still Rock and Roll To Me’, ‘Piano Man’ and many more.

“No one quite embodies the charm, the versatility, the dynamic charisma, and be able to recreate the flamboyant stage show of Sir Elton John, quite like Greg Andrew.

In 2017, Mr Andrew was hand-picked with a personal invitation as the only global Elton John tribute, to perform on the world’s biggest tribute music festival stage in the UK, Tribfest.

Adelaide-based, Mr Mara has been touring his Billy Joel Show since 2017, playing to capacity

theatres and concert halls across the country’s metro and regional towns. He, along with his sixpiece band of seasoned musicians, has gained a reputation as one of the greatest Billy Joel tributes in the world.

Live and free only at BAR36, July 14 and 15 from 9pm with special early show July 16 at 5pm.

Greg Andrew and Anthony Mara come face to face to deliver Elton & Billy at BAR36 at the Reef Hotel Casino in July. Picture: Supplied

International artists announced for Savannah

l MAREEBA

INTERNATIONAL acts will join the stacked, Australian rock filled line-up on stage at this year’s Savannah in the Round music festival after an American country music singer and Canadian band were listed as the latest additions.

This year’s Savannah in the Round music festival on October 6-8 already contained an all-star line-up of Australian musicians including rock legend Jimmy Barnes, Kasey Chambers, Daryl Braithwaite and more.

Joining them onstage from across the world will be American country star Alexandra Kay, who will officially make her Australian performance debut at Savannah, and award winning Canadian true-grit country band, The Dungarees.

Alexandra is most notably known for her renditions of popular Dolly Parton songs and her own songs have been streamed millions of times.

“The thought that I’m finally making my way to Australia is wild to me – it’s a place most small-town girls like me can only dream of visiting,” she said.

“Playing at Savannah in the Round feels like the start of an exciting new chapter in my touring career.

“I get the opportunity to sing my songs to an audience that has constantly supported me by streaming my music over the last few years and

I am so excited to hear them sing these songs back to me for the very first time.

“I’m coming with open arms,

ready to experience everything Australia has to offer, I am so pumped for my first show in the land down under.”

The Dungarees are already a staple in the Canadian music scene, with two Canadian Country Music Award nominations and three Western Canadian Music Awards under their belt.

“We simply can’t wait to come back to Australia, it has been far too long,” James Murdoch of The Dungarees said.

“Australian Country music fans are the best in the world and we have Savannah in the Round circled in big bright marker on our calendar – performing in Australia always feels like home.”

Joining these two heavy hitting country music stars in the recent announcement Far North Queensland’s very own singer-songwriter Bobby Maguire, country duo Zac & George, Melbourne-based troubadour Tim Woodz and local Cairns act Eddie Skiba.

In addition to Savannah in the Round’s expansive music offerings, festivalgoers will also be able to experience a plethora of camping, glamping and on-site festival delights ranging from a wide range of bespoke food and drink offerings to

local artisanal arts and culture.

Savannah in the Round also proudly features Indigenous visual art, music and dance displays, a market village full of local produce and products, and an onsite paddock to plate experience showcasing the freshest local ingredients.

This year’s festival is expected to bring in over 12,000 visitors to the region and bolster the local economy. Member for Cairns and Assistant Tourism Minister Michael Healy said last year’s festival generated millions for the region’s visitor economy.

“This is a special event in a magic location for visitors to experience quality entertainment while enjoying the Tropical North’s world-famous hospitality and awe-inspiring landscapes,” he said.

“Savannah in the Round is a treasured highlight of our It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar with last year’s instalment generating $4.5 million for the region’s visitor economy.

“It’s another great example of destination events backing good Queensland jobs and the Tropical North’s tourism and hospitality operators.”

Tickets for this year’s Savannah in the Round festival are on sale and can be purchased from www.savannahintheround.com.au

Special tribute to seafarers

l EDGE HILL

| Gail Sedorkin

A VISUAL feast of First Nations artworks, cultural exchange and storytelling, Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) highlights two satellite exhibitions in July – Lugger Bort and Past, Present, Future.

Curated by Nerelle Nicol, Lugger Bort at Tanks Arts Centre is dedicated to the seafaring lives of Aboriginal, Torres Strait and South Sea Islanders who lived aboard pearl luggers to work the pearling, bechede-mer and trochus industries from the 1840s to the mid-1900s. It was a treacherous existence.

Jeffrey (Jeff) Bob and George Mosby from the central Torres Strait Islands both started work in the pearling and trochus industries as teenagers aboard lugger vessels, of which there were around 100, during the late fifties and sixties.

Mr Bob was a diver’s lifeline who operated from a tender and signalled to the divers using a rope for around

10 years. Mr Mosby on the other hand started work as a cook on his father’s vessel at the age of 15 before becoming a deckhand and engineer.

Ms Nicol said CIAF’s Lugger Bort exhibition provided insight into the magnitude of the pearling, beche-de-mer and trochus industry’s operations and the perilous conditions under which these intrepid seafarers faced the watery abyss.

“This timeless zone fed fears and apprehension into the minds of naive teenagers, as recalled by some of the few remaining elders with firsthand knowledge of working in this industry,” she said.

“Lugger Bort verifies the valuable economic contributions these seafarers made to Far North Queensland. It provides glimpses of the roles they played in helping to shape the character of the region, revealing achievement hereto unrecognised.”

Lugger Bort is now installed and open at Tanks Arts Centre until July 23 from 9am to 4.30pm on week-

days and 10am to 2pm at weekends.

The second exhibition, Past, Present, Future at Court House Gallery, is a celebration of the vibrant southeast Queensland creative arts community that came out of the Contemporary Australian Indigenous Art (CAIA) program at the Queensland College of Art (QCA), Griffith University.

Past, Present, Future focusses on the Indigenous community of artists, lecturers, and mentors that have developed around the CAIA program and is integral to CAIA’s success.

The exhibition aims to highlight this extraordinary community and the excellence developed in their practices, leadership, and cultural understandings.

Past, Present, Future exhibition is now installed and open at Court House Gallery in Abbott Street, Cairns until July 16 from 10am to 4pm on Tuesdays to Saturdays. Both exhibitions are free for visitors to enjoy and will be officially opened during CIAF.

Elder George Mosby with exhibition curator Nerelle Nicol and Elder Jeffrey Bob, previewing the newly installed CIAF Lugger Bort exhibition at Tanks Arts Centre. Picture: Supplied

American country music singer Alexandra Kay has been announced as one of the international artists set to perform at Savannah in the Round this year.

Picture: Supplied

Moby Dick story with quirky twist

l CAIRNS

| Gail Sedorkin

IT’S based on the timeless story of the whale Moby Dick – but not as you would remember it.

Taking the world by storm, Dead Puppet Society’s Ishmael is a ground-breaking reimagining of Herman Melville’s classic 1851 novel, Moby Dick, written as a futuristic space saga.

Written and directed by David Morton, the production combines live action and filmmaking, puppetry, visual theatre and an original music score by indie pop musician Bec Sandridge.

Visual theatre masterminds Dead Puppet Society is bringing this epic space saga Ishmael to Cairns Performing Arts Centre on Friday, July 7 as part of its 2023 Queensland Regional Tour.

The production tells the story of a young climate refugee named Ishmael, who is given the chance to build a new life if she can survive a voyage to the outer solar system aboard the MV

Pequod under the command of the obsessive Captain Ahab. Ishmael features three acclaimed actors: Ellen Bailey as Ishmael, Barbara Lowing as Captain Ahab, and Karl Richmond as Queequeg, an AI droid who has escaped from a laboratory.

The decision to recast Ishmael and Captain Ahab as females brought the story into the new millennium, Mr Morton said.

“They are both incredibly strong characters who embark on a literal journey of self-discovery, one with challenges and adventures that transcend gender,” he said.

Dead Puppet Society’s executive producer Nicholas Paine said the company was delighted to return to bring Ishmael to audiences in regional Queensland.

“Following huge success with the return of The Wider Earth and Holding Achilles at Brisbane and Sydney Festivals, we are also returning Ishmael to prepare it for international touring,” he said.

“Ishmael is a unique and visually compelling theatre experience hailed by critics as a new kind of storytelling.

“David Morton has crafted a production that plays out like a film on stage, weaving in miniature sets, puppetry, and a trio of live performers.”

Adding a new layer of emotion and depth to the production is the original score by indie pop musician Bec Sandridge.

“Sandridge’s haunting melodies and poignant lyrics reflect the themes of redemption, determination, and the triumph of the human spirit that are central to the play,” Mr Paine said.

“Her unique style blends electronic and acoustic elements, creating a soundscape that is both otherworldly and deeply emotional.”

The production was commissioned by Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Dead Puppet Society, and Brisbane Festival in association with Screen Queensland. Tickets on sale through Ticketlink –Ticketlink.com.au or 1300 855 835

Live it up at Music in Park

l CAIRNS

SPINIFEX Gum, an Australianmade collaboration of voice, sound, movement, and change, will headline Cairns Indigenous Art Fair’s (CIAF) ‘Music in the Park – Live it Up’ in July.

CIAF’s Artistic Director Francoise Lane said Spinifex integrated the powerful and ethereal harmonies of Marilya and featured Felix Riebl from Cat Empire with acclaimed Indigenous vocalist Emma Donovan (from Emma Donovan and rhythm combo, The Putbacks).

“Spinifex Gum promises Cairns a truly special and uplifting performance within the atmospheric surrounds of Munro Martin Parklands,” she said.

“Comprising young Indigenous female choristers from Far North Queensland, Marilya is led by Lyn Williams with choreography by Deborah Brown.”

Ms Lane said Cairns was in for a treat with what is destined to be a truly uplifting and thoughtprovoking night of music for the

whole family. “The under the stars, parkland setting will provide the perfect backdrop for this special and truly First Nations blend of music that we have been so lucky to secure,” she said.

“I am particularly excited to share the talent of our region’s own female voices from Marliya whose sound really is something special in its purity and power,” Ms Lane said.

Also featured in the musical line up are Cairns’ much-loved

Simone Stacey and Naomi Wenitong, pairing up for the return of Shakaya along with Palm Islander Normey Jay and Hopevale musician Uncle Harold Bowen.

Music in the Park – Live it Up! is a new event for CIAF 2023. With gates open at 5pm, the show starts from 6.30pm on Saturday, July 15 at Munro Martin Parklands.

Tickets are on sale now from Ticketlink: https://bit.ly/3NTfZPO

Spinifex Gum in action. Picture: Supplied

Dress rehearsal of the Dead Puppet Society’s epic space saga, Ishmael, at Cairns Performing Arts Centre, Friday, July 7. Picture: Dean Hanson

OUT ON THE LAWN THE COURT HOUSE GALLERY

l FRI JUNE 30, 6:00PM-9:00PM

Out On the Lawn at Court House Gallery is fresh, fun, free, and smack bang in the centre of town! Merging local talent with some of the best and most diverse out-of-town talent we have, gather your friends and loved ones to settle in for a night of musical magic.

From 6pm: Tausala Rea

From 7pm: Water Streets

From 8pm: Zennith

For more info see the Cairns Regional Council website.

WINTER SCHOOL HOLIDAYS CAIRNS MUSEUM

l FRI JUNE 30 - SAT JULY 8

Experience the ultimate winter holiday fun! Discover the art of optical illusions, unleash your creativity with treasure crafting, celebrate NAIDOC Week, and more exciting activities await you. Book early for our workshops or drop in for awesome self-guided activities, all in air-conditioned comfort.

For more session details including admission prices visit the Cairns Museum website.

JUSTIN WELLINGTON BAR36 AT THE CASINO

l FRI JUNE 30 – SAT JULY 1, 9PM

It’s time to party ‘tropicana’ style with Mr Iko Iko himself Justin Wellington! When you go to a Justin Wellington show, you know you are 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. 2 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. Great to party to!

MUSIC CLASSICS CAIRNS BANDS

l SAT JULY 1, 3:00PM-5:00PM

Come and join us for a fabulous and entertaining afternoon of fun brass band music. We keep the music alive with music you all love and know as ‘Music Classics’.

Where: 18 Charles St, North Cairns

Time: 3.00pm to 5.00pm

Tickets: Available at the door

Admission: Adults $10.00 / School Children Free

FRIDAY

KIDS ADVENTURE CARNIVAL SKYPARK

l SAT JULY 1, 11:00AM-2:00PM

Step right up for an adrenaline-filled day of fun and adventure at the Cairns Kids Adventure Carnival! Discounted kids’ giant swings and bungy jumps, face painting, food, jumping castle, wildlife encounters with Roaming Wild, horizontal bungy challenge with prizes.

Entry: $20 Per Family or Free with a booked activity *USE DISCOUNT CODE: Carnival2023 TO PRE-BOOK YOUR ACTIVITIES ONLINE*

2023 JCU Cairns Eisteddfod – CPAC Theatre, 8:30am

Fraser Yuill Scott – Dunwoody’s Hotel, 4:00pm

EOFY Chill Out – German Club Cairns, 5:00pm

Lost Boy, Troy Davidson- Barron River Hotel, 6:00pm Out on the Lawn – Court House Gallery, 6:00pm

Carinda Christie – Mission Beach Blues Bar and Café, 6:30pm

Hot Ice – Cazaly’s Cairns, 6:30pm

Infinity Duo – Atherton International Club, 6:30pm

Russell Harris – Edge Hill Memorial Bowls Club, 6:30pm

Katie Richards – Trinity Beach Sports Club, 7:30pm

Vivien Aisi – Surf Club Palm Cove, 8:00pm

Janna Mercedes – Rattle n Hum Cairns, 8:00pm

Justin Wellington – Bar36 Reef Hotel Casino, 9:00pm

Wild Willy – The Jack, 9:00pm

SATURDAY

Katie Richards – Ellis Beach Bar & Grill, 2:00pm

The Blue Healers – Strait on the Beach, 3:00pm

Denim Blues – Mission Beach Blues Bar and Café, 6:00pm

Infinity Duo – Cazaly’s Cairns, 6:15pm

Cassady Connections – Tuskers, 6:30pm

Keith Eales – Roo Bar & Grill, 7:00pm

Carinda Christie – Brothers Leagues Club Innisfail, 7:30pm

Tropic Thunder – Red Beret, 8:00pm

Justin Wellington - Bar36 Reef Hotel Casino, 9:00pm

FNQ DOGS DAY OUT FESTIVAL BARRON WATERS

l SAT JULY 1, 9:00AM-1:30PM

Get ready Cairns! FNQ Dogs Day Out Festival is back, bigger and better in 2023! The program includes performances and talk, exhibits on responsible dog and pet ownership and adoption, as well as agility demonstrations, training demonstrations and more. Whether you have a fur baby, are considering it, or just simply love all creatures great and small, this fabulous family event is for you! Where: Barron Waters-Burrawungal Park

SUNDAY

Blue Reed – Mandala Café, 10:00am

Denim Blues – Barron Falls Hotel, 1:00pm

Bug Pups – James Cook Uni Bar, 1:00pm

Lady Valiant – Ellis Beach Bar & Grill, 1:00pm

Paul Stevenson – Red Beret, 1:00pm

DjGlennW – Dundee’s at the Cairns Aquarium, 2:00pm

Sunday Sesh – German Club Cairns, 2:00pm

Josh Kenwright – Dunwoody’s Hotel, 2:00pm

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

Victoria Boxall – Yorkeys Knob Boating Club, 3:30pm Groove Therapy – Bar36 Reef Hotel Casino, 7:30pm

Take a minute... Puzzles for you

Weekly Horoscopes

Home improvement projects will go well if you delegate work to all your family members. You can accomplish a great deal. You may want to sign up for courses that will encourage you to have more confidence in yourself. Your ideas will be well received.

Your mate needs extra attention and is feeling rather insecure when you’re not in sight. Your support and concern will help. You can make a difference if you take a position of leadership. This is not the best time to take a risk, to gamble or spend more than you can afford.

CROSSWORD

Don’t let friends convince you that you should contribute to something you don’t believe in. Be aware of any deception on the part of those you deal with. Opportunities will come through behind the scenes activities. Don’t let friends convince you that you should contribute to something you don’t believe in.

Your ability to visualize will help you convince others of the possibilities. Empty promises are evident and deception probable. Offers of joint ventures are likely. Use your charm, but don’t be phony.

Romance can surface if you get into some of those fitness programs you’ve been putting off. You may have difficulties with someone close to you. Don’t agree to make any of those cosmetic alterations you’ve been considering. Moves will be hectic but favourable in the end.

Get involved in competitive sports. Friends will appreciate your attention and playful nature. Make sure you concentrate if operating machinery or vehicles. Your ideas will be well received. Keep the promises you’ve made, or you can expect to be in the doghouse.

ACROSS

Be sure to spend time helping children with projects that are too difficult for them to accomplish alone. Get the red tape and the unwanted paperwork out of the way. Deception is likely. Avoid lovers who already have a relationship, even if it is a bad one.

Uncertainties are still prevailing. Travel will promote romantic connections. It might be time to pick up the slack and do your share. You may attract attention if you get out socially.

Any difficulties with peers could be unnerving. You should visit a friend or relative who hasn’t been well. Look into making changes to your personal papers and don’t neglect those bills that have been piling up. Helping children may be rewarding and challenging.

8. resident in an employer’s house (4,2)

9. a tree or shrub of warm climates, with large, fragrant white or yellow flowers (8)

10. an attempt to trick or deceive someone (3-2,3)

11. expressing wild excitement (6)

12. an Australian parrot with a crest (8)

13. not often; seldom (6)

14. a member of the English gentry ranking below a knight (7)

has a sharp edge for cutting wood, stone, etc (6)

26. with periodic cessation : intermittently (2,3,3)

27. a surface water sport in which an individual is pulled behind a boat (5,3)

28. not having any sexual nature or intention (6)

DOWN

1. excessively fond of drinking alcohol (8)

2. to expose the falseness or hollowness of an idea or belief (6)

3. a type of printer that propels droplets of ink directly onto the medium (3-3)

4. a type of soft sheepskin boot (3,4)

5. a situation that is not clear or where the rules are not known (4,4)

6. relating to worldly as opposed to spiritual affairs; secular (8)

7. in a direct line of descent or ancestry (6)

15. to make looser or take apart something (8)

16. having or showing no pity or compassion for others (8)

18. an advantage or profit gained from something (8)

Try spending the day catching up on responsibilities. Exercise your talents and present your ideas to groups you think you can contribute to. Your creative input will be appreciated by your boss. You can gain approval, get kudos, and ask for help if you put a little heart into your request.

Try to bend but by no means should you give in completely. You can avoid hassles by sticking to your work and refusing to get involved in gossip or idle chatter. You haven’t been watching your spending habits and you may have been neglecting your duties. Don’t second guess yourself, just go to it.

You can form new partnerships, but don’t move too quickly; things may not be as they appear. You can make the most headway with some overtime. Chances are you could get stuck with a colleague’s job. Entertain in your home and make aesthetic enhancements that will please housemates.

17. a small Australian marsupial that is like a kangaroo (7)

20. to obtain a financial advantage or benefit (6)

22. to disturb the cohesion or organization of (8)

25. a tool with a long metal blade that

19. very stupid (7)

21. to heat something again, especially cooked food (6)

23. to look somewhere carefully in order to find something (6)

24. an expression of dismay, concern, worry or disapproval (2,4)

Motoring

Raceway provides dose of adrenaline-fuelled action

l DRAG RACING

| Isabella

Guzman Gonzalez

CAR enthusiasts across the Far North got their dose of drag racing, burnouts and drifting at the seventh edition of the Northern Nats.

More than 1000 people from across Australia tookover the Springmount Raceway last weekend.

With an entertaining program across the three days (June 23-25), the Northern Nats attracted over 1300 visi-

tors and 350 competitors across the region and interstate looking for an adrenaline fuelled experience.

Locals were the stars of the races with Kuranda’s young drifter Shyma Lelli winning the junior dragster category, while Lyn Di Mauro took the win for street and Mareeba’s Cameron De Lai took super street.

“We’re very happy with the event, we shifted the date from May to June because it was clashing with many events and it was a great success with good numbers coming through the door,” said Springmount

Raceway’s operation manager Michael Gonzalez. “We’re well positioned locally but I was amazed to see people from Brisbane, Sydney, Perth and Northern Territory, that’s a long way to come. It’s mindboggling.”

Mr Gonzalez said the highlight of the event was the crowd’s excitement for the cars and support for the drivers.

“I think the most exciting is seeing the crowd’s response to a car that they’ve read about in magazines and they thought they would never get a chance to be up close to it. Next minute

it’s in front of them,” he said.

“And a lot of these drivers are larger than life, which is fantastic, and to me that’s the highlight, how people react to these big cars and big personalities.”

Some of the crowd favourites for the weekend were the burnouts, where audiences got introduced to unexpectedly modified cars, and for car enthusiasts looking for a slower pace, the car exhibition was the place to go.

“People love their big burnouts, the big cars with big names and these guys travel all

over Australia in large competitions and it’s a big draw card for the crowd,” Mr Gonzalez said.

“Drag racing was another big one, the chance to see a GT Falcon or a Torana like their dad used to drive creates a huge interaction with the audiences, it’s quite special.

“We held a big car show that went really well this year, if they didn’t want to compete, they could put their car in the car show and it was a relaxed component for the weekend.”

Some of the winners were:

• Competition: Anthony

Mangano

• Super comp: Talia Ah Hoy

• Bikes: Melissa Taylor

• Best Presented: Lee Povey

• Roll racing winners: Justine Langford (bike), Lee Povey (car)

• Go to whoa winners: Wayne Neilson (bike), Matt Smith (car)

• Biggest mile per hour for Northern Nats: Lee Povey

• Car of show: Refined.

• Best Tipin: Lynchy

• Powerskid: Or What

Top Female: Bugalugz. Access the full list of winners on the Cairns Local News website

A HSV GTS burns it up at Springmount Raceway during last weekend’s 2023 Northern Nats. Pictures: Ellie Fink

Cairns local Adam Closset with his Holden 1987 VL Calais Director.

Local drag strip legend Brian Shorey with his Holden VH Commodore.

BMW’s service care program

A NEW program is allowing BMW to contact owners if something urgently needs to be fixed on their vehicle.

Proactive Care is automatic and acts without the driver having to take any action.

If a warning message appears on the instrument display, support is available. Vehicle sensors detect any functional irregularities early and transmits the data directly – in real time – to BMW for analysis and processing.

BMW Group Australia customer support general manager Brett Hocking said depending on the urgency, BMW Service experts would get in touch with the driver via the My BMW app, send a follow up message for display on the instrument display, or provide an update via email. If the matter is urgent the owner or driver is phoned immediately

He said if a problem could be solved remotely with a Remote Software Update (RSU), the system would complete the necessary action so the journey can be safely completed.

“BMW provides the driver with immediate support during the process and can also provision an appointment with the preferred BMW Service Partner where necessary,” Mr Hocking said.

“This can include the transmission of data for early workshop preparation and parts ordering so that repairs can be carried out more efficiently.

“Proactive Care is included as standard for all owners who have an active BMW ConnectedDrive contract and with the appropriate functions enabled in the vehicle.

The program also caters to all powertrain offerings, including the latest

electrified models, whose service requirements differ from their conventionally-powered stablemates. Proactive Care recognises this distinction and ensures that the unique needs of electrified models are met with appro-

priate expertise. “The launch of Proactive Care significantly advances our aftersales commitment to enhance the experience we provide to our customers – using real-time data and proactive, multi-platform communication,”

Mr Hocking said.“With Proactive Care, we take existing offerings such as Condition Based Servicing, which revolutionised traditional service intervals, and elevates them to a new level.

“Through this program, we go be-

yond information delivery and take a proactive approach to provide drivers with critical information about the operational aspects of their vehicle and possibly even correct an issue remotely before they are even aware of it.”

A BMW technician plugs in a diagnostic machine to a customer’s car to see if any problems have arisen. Picture: Supplied

Real Estate Tycoon buys country pub

Chris Morris snaps up hospitality venue for $1.2m, and gives it a tidy makeover

l JULATTEN

| Nick Dalton

TOURISM mogul Chris Morris has snapped up the Julatten pub, which re-opened for business yesterday.

The businessman, who owns The Ville Resort-Casino in Townsville and Nautilus Helicopters in Cairns, said he often drove past the closed down hotel when he travelled between Port Douglas, his nearby Kuramar cattle farm and Mt Mulligan cattle station.

Mr Morris said when it went to auction in November last year he was the only bidder and paid $1.2 million.

“It was an absolute steal. It sits on 1.5ha and has sensational views of the mountains,” he said.

Mr Morris said he invested another $400,000 renovating the pub and upgrading equipment and beers from his breweries in Melbourne and the Margaret River were on tap. He said he chose to call the

venue the Julatten Hotel because that was where it was located. It was previously the Highlander Tavern which clo-

sed when COVID struck.

Mr Morris said about 15 staff would be employed and a manager would be appointed

from one of his pubs in Melbourne.

He said he hoped to add further accommodation to the

property. The pub was acquired by Mr Morris’ CLG, the hospitality arm of Morris Group that operates a number of

tourism and hospitality venues across northern Queensland including Orpheus Island Lodge, Daintree River Ecolodge and Mount Mulligan Lodge.

Mr Morris said it would become a popular spot for locals and tourists to unwind with a new menu of popular classics including pizzas, burgers and steaks.

“Dishes include the whole tiger prawn bucket, the signature Julatten beef burger, the Nashville chicken burger and classic chicken parmi,” he said.

“Working with a range of local suppliers, other menu highlights include Barramundi Gardens spring rolls, Port Douglas Smokehouse antipasti and grilled local barramundi fillets.”

On the drinks front, guests will be able to refresh themselves with a huge range of tap beers from CBCo while happy hour returns Wednesday to Friday from 4-5pm with $5 CBCo pots and $6 house wine and spirits. There will be live music at weekends.

Chris Morris (left) has bought the Julatten Hotel for $1.2 million and has spent $400,000 on renovations.

PRIVACY POLICY

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Friday June 30th

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

A slim build lady, with blonde hair & blue eyes. She loves the land and the country lifestyle. Enjoys swimming, gardening, cooking, beach walks & a good conversation. CALL NOW FOR MORE DETAILS. SENIORS WELCOME. NO COMPUTER REQUIRED. 1800 261 848 or 0488 200 554 ENTERTAINMENT

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

FNQ Markets

Saturday July 1st

Atherton: Our Saviour Lutheran Church, 6:00-12:00

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

Gordonvale Cottage Markets: Norman Park, 07:00-12:00

Koah: Koah Hall, Koah Rd, 09:00-13:00

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

Sunday July 2nd

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 Markets: Opposite Hideaways, 07:00-12:00

Palm Cove: Williams Esplanade, 08:00-14:00

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

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

Tolga: Morrow Park Racecourse, 07:00-12.00

NQ winter carnival is off and racing

l HORSE RACING

THE countdown for the Cairns Amateurs has started with the return of the Northern Queensland Winter Racing Carnival next week, making its way up to Cairns this August to close the festival with a bang.

The time for racing enthusiasts and fashion lovers is approaching as the winter carnival will make its awaited arrival in Cairns on Saturday, August 19, with the $75,000 Newmarket Handicap on the

card before the penultimate carnival meeting at Ladbrokes Cannon Park with the $150,000 Red Beret Hotel Cairns Cup (2100m) and Magic Millions Daintree Guineas (1500m) on Saturday, August 26.

The long-awaited carnival will see its culmination with the iconic Cairns Amateurs and the Cairns Amateur Sprint on Saturday, September 9, with $225,000 in prize money up for grabs.

Racing Queensland op-

Sport Results

GORDONVALE BOWLS

Thursday winners: C Jarred & M Greenwood; R/up: S Benedetti & Morris. Raffle Winner: J Jackson. Saturday 2nd division pennant Gordonvale def Marlin Coast. Sunday TFNQDBA 8-aside morning game: Gordonvale def West Cairns. Afternoon: Weipa def Gordonvale.

WEST CAIRNS TPI

MEMORIAL BOWLS

Fourteen players at West Cairns Bowls club last Monday with the team led by Terry Ryan and supported by Dot Kensdale, Mick Ford and Shirley McCallum awarded as the winners.

BROTHERS EDMONTON

Ladies Section: consistency

singles Glennis Buttigieg def

Daphne Begg.

Monday June 26th pennants:

Div 1 12-a-side: Brothers Edmonton def Edge Hill; Div 2 8-a-side: Brothers Edmonton def Innisfail.

Men’s Section: Wednesday June 21st overall winner: Joe Jackson, Morris Pedrola, Rob Morris; R/up: Kev Richardson, Jeff Mason, Denis Jacoora; 3rd: Max Harker, Ron Taggart, Mick Colmer.

Saturday June 24th winners: Maureen Girardi, Mark Capper, Allen Begg. Pennants div 3 Brothers Edmonton def Stratford.

Div 2 Cairns def Brothers Edmonton.

Sunday June 25th: 8-a-side game 1: Weipa def Brothers Edmonton. Game 2: Brothers Edmonton def West Cairns.

erations executive general manager Adam Wallish said he looked forward to North Queensland taking centre stage after a successful run down south.

“With five incredible cup races staged across Rockhampton, Mackay, Townsville and Cairns, the winter carnival showcases everything that is great about racing in the Sunshine State,” he said.

“This carnival continues to attract quality fields, and we are pleased to deliver prize

MOSSMAN MEN’S BOWLS

Saturday June 24: 38 bowlers for Jackpot Bowls: Steve Foller, Richard Anderson, Bill Allison def Bernie Wolland, Warren McCoist Nev Tesch, 2019; John Fleming, Frank Rigor, Joe Girgenti def Charlie Toohey, Ray Prain, Tony Brlyack, 1912; Eric Smith, Derek Franklin, Alistair Douglas def Sas, Mick Plummer, Bernie Savage, 2213; Graham Huthinson, Jason Pearce def Steve Cue, George Wilmot, 31-21; David White, Peter Worley def Col Widdows, Ron North, 28-10.

Club championship triples: Terry Richards, Michael Sims, Jock Constantine def Billy Smith, Troy Churchill, Kiwi, 31-7; and the winners for the day, Peter Fairchild, Adrian Stockel, Peter McGrory def Geoff Sims, Bob Carroll, John Arnold, 38-13.

Club Championship A Grade Singles: Mick Frese def Gerrard

to Cairns

money increases to each of the Guineas races in 2023, which will now run for $75,000 – up from $50,000.

“With the likes of Chinny Boom and Namazu in recent times, the central and northern regions of the state continue to produce a number of promising gallopers.

“We look forward to another incredibly successful Northern Queensland Winter Racing Carnival and wish all the involved the best of luck.”

Launching next week from

Beech, 25-12. Sunday June 25th

club championship fours: John Cochrane, Ranald Edwards, David Blain, Nev Fletcher def Charlie Toohey, Steve Cue, Sas, David White (Sub for Steve Hudson), 19-13. B grade singles: Gerrard Beech def Peter Fairchild, 25-9.

EDGE HILL BOWLS

Ladies Bowls: Thursday June 22nd winners: Carol Berry, Gai Barrett and Margaret Wardrop; R/up: Mary SantAngelo and Jill Alexander-Sachse.

Club Pairs Semi Final: Lou Pomroy and Jeannie Wild def Joyce Ault and Trish DeRon, 29-13.

Club Championship Fours Final: Pat Elliott, Lorraine King, Tania Sprengel and Margaret Wardrop def Karina Homer, Joyce Ault, Jill AlexanderSachse and Irene Crampton, 30-7.

Ladies Pennants Monday

Pride game

l RUGBY LEAGUE

Rockhampton on July 7, the carnival will slowly make its way up to Cairns, stopping at Mackay on July 14 and continuing north to Townsville on August 6, culminating in Cairns on August 19 and closing with the crowd favourite Cairns Amateurs in September.

In the nine weeks of thrilling racing, over $3.5 million in prize money and bonuses will be in dispute. For more information, visit www.racingqueensland.com.au

June 26: Edmonton def Edge Hill, 63-52. D Begg def T McAlary, 18-19; D Quinn def J Alexander, 14-23; and J Rick def I Crampton, 20-21.

Men’s championship bowls B singles: Peter Ryan def Mick Kowalczyk, 25-15.

Tuesday June 20 Mixed Social Bowls: winners: Helen Aumuller, Meredith Kennon and Valerie Still; R/up: Yvonne Bolton, Ian Stafford and Bruce Moseley.

Tuesday night winners: George Taylor and Peter Whitehead.

Saturday June 24 men’s pennants game 6: Div 2 Edge Hill vs West Cairns, draw 39 all. Div 3 Edge Hill def Marlin Coast, 42-39.

MOSSMAN LADIES’

BOWLS

June 22nd winners: Jan White, Greta Kessler and Carole Maxted; R/Ups: Annettee

NORTHERN Pride v Brisbane Tigers Indigenous Round and Skytrans Cup, Saturday, July 1 at Barlow Park.

• Noon: Gates open

• 1pm: Womens Semi-Finals: Seahawks v Ivanhoes

• 2.25pm: U7s league tag U8s game 3pm: Hastings Deering Colts round 11

• 4.35pm U8s game

• 5.20pm: Welcome to Country

• 5.30pm: Skytrans Cup, Hostplus Cup round 16.

Black, Margaret Cooper and Anita McCoist. Champion of champion 4’s round 1 winners: Leonie Sims, Joan Day, Pam Widdows and Trish Arnold.

MARLIN COAST BOWLS

Tuesday afternoon men’s triples winners:-Andy, Ossie, Dave; R/up: Bob W, Jim, Kevin. Wednesday mixed bowls: pairs: B Gillan, J Curtayne, R Lee, V Still.

Triples: D Paxman, L Kenshole, B Howieson, J Brown, L Hamilton, B Andreatta. Thursday mixed triples winners: Paul S, Rhys, Bill, Crackers: R/up: Nigel, Danny Glenda. Saturday morning scroungers winner: D Paxman; R/up: C Flanagan.

Club Championships: Men’s A grade singles: J Walford def B O’Connor, 25-18; N Robson def S Pitt, 25-24.

Ladies A grade singles final: L Mikic def L Roberts, 26-12.

Marlin Coast netballers stand out in NSW titles

l NETBALL

|

Isabella Guzman Gonzalez

COMPETING for the first time as a team, the under-17 Kenfrost Homes Marlins took all the applause and respect after snatching fourth place at the NSW state championships in Newcastle from June 10-12.

The Marlins, who competed in the under-17, division 4, took fourth place and held the highest goal average in the competition.

Marlin Coast Netball president Heather McLaren said coaches were very excited with the results.

“The coaches have praised the girls for the great effort they put in over the three days,” she said.

“The team performed very well, considering they had never played together as a team.

“All the players worked hard with home programs and skill sessions, which had put them in good stead for the competition on the weekend.”

Despite having to get used to much colder weather and a completely different playing style, the Marlins quickly adapted to the unfamiliar conditions.

“Players took time to adjust to what they knew best, and about game three, they hit their straps and by the end of day one, they had won five games and lost one,” Ms McLaren said.

“On Sunday (day two), they won all the games, but we knew all the challenging games were coming on Monday, which was a bit daunting.

“After 12 games, players were starting to feel fatigued, but to their credit, they were still able to win three of their last five games.”

Ms McLaren said the Marlins were gearing up for a busy rest

of the year. “These were 10 girls representing 70 that make part of the academy. We can’t forget about them,” she said.

“In August, Vicki Wilson will come up again and run a clinic for the girls. We’ll also be running what we call a ‘Shooting for the Stars’ program for our girls, working on a separate clinic and taking them further.

“On October 8 and 9, we will have our netball festival where the girls will come together for their last clinic, and we will sign up the players who want to be a part of the 2024 academy.”

Ms McLaren congratulated the Marlins on their fantastic effort and resilience in the NSW state championships.

“They will be recognised in our netball festival.

“We want to show the younger girls who are 1213 that these are their role models. This is what you can achieve,” she said.

Cape athletes take the glory

l

JUNIOR AFL

| Isabella Guzman Gonzalez

A JUNIOR’S AFL team from across the Cape has returned victorious from the Australian Football State School Championships in the Sunshine Coast last week, taking the title of best junior footballer in the state.

The Crusaders made up of 22 under-12 athletes from across the Cape and the Torres Strait took the three-day AFL carnival by storm, taking the best junior footballers in the state award and leader Samuel Nakata BinJuda being selected as an emergency player for the Queensland State ALF under-12 Schools boys team.

AFL Cape York participation programs coordinator Jake O’Halloran said the team’s effort had been outstanding.

“For the team to go from not knowing each other at the start of the tournament to being the best of mates by the end is something that you love to see,” he said.

Crusaders coach Matt Mellahn said the team improved throughout the event.

“A lot of these young people don’t have access to regular structured competitions, let

alone full-sized AFL fields, so to see them take the game the way they did is really good to see,” he said.

Samuel Nakata-Binjuda (Waibene/Thursday Island) captained the side, with Lebron Bosen (Weipa), Karmanhii DouglasJosiah (Kowanyama), Yarrin Bosen (Weipa) and Maria Gorogo (Badhu/Badu Island) rounding out the five-person leadership group.

After doing a great job as the Crusaders captain, Nakata-Binjuda got listed as an emergency player for the Queensland State AFL under-12 boys team. The teen will attend the National School Sports Australian Football Championships in August.

“It is rare for a player from our Crusaders team to be selected to represent Queensland in this age group, so to have Sam listed as a shadow is amazing. He was a strong leader both on and off the field and his footballing ability definitely impressed the crowd,” AFL Cape York development coordinator Kieran Sciberras said.

The synergy and hard work the leaders and the rest of the Crusaders brought to the game earned them the King/Coker Shield for outstanding team spirit and sportsmanship.

Kowanyama’s Karmanhii Douglas-Josiah took home the most valuable player award, while Quade Bowen from Hopevale and Yarrin Bosen from Weipa won the Coaches’ Award and Crusader Medallist.

Mr O’Halloran said the team’s

energy had won over the competition and the audience.

“The Crusaders were favourites amongst the fans, and the support that the team received throughout the carnival was really appreciated by our young people.”

Back row (from left) Jessica Reedman, Bronte Gross, Asha Lynch-Simmons, Isabella Teasdale, Charlotte Boevink, Lauren Miekle. Front row (from left) Amelia Sciani, Jasmine Jeffries, Darna Zeigler, Cecily Okena.

Samuel Nakata Bin-Juda has been chosen as a shadow player for the Queensland State AFL under-12 boys team for his performance with the Crusaders.

Crusaders leaders (from left) Lebron Bosen, Samuel Nakata Bin-Juda, Karmanhii Douglas-Josiah, Yarrin Bosen and Maria Gorogo.

Most valuable player Karmanhii Douglas-Josiah, Crusader medallist Yarrin Bosen and winner of the Coache’s Award Quade Bowen.

Hawks AFLW’s pre-season camp

l AFLW

| Nick Dalton

THE powerful Hawthorn AFLW team is coming to Cairns for a key pre-season camp next month.

AFL Cairns, AFL Queensland and Hawthorn Football Club have struck the deal for the club to head north in two weeks.

It will be a homecoming for AFLW premiership-winning forward Greta Bodey, who started playing initially in Cairns.

AFL Cairns general manager Craig Lees said the high profile visit would grow the code in the Far North.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Hawthorn Football Club as we embark on this transformative journey together,” he said.

“This camp will have a lasting impact, benefitting not only our current players, clubs, and coaches, but also contributing to the continuous growth of women’s footy in Cairns for years to come,” Mr Lees said.

Hawthorn acting chief executive officer Ash Klein said he was delighted to promote the game in the community.

“Hawthorn is excited to engage with AFL Queensland, AFL Cairns and the Cairns community this AFLW pre-season,” he said.

“We look forward to growing our game in this region and engaging with the next generation of AFLW stars as we embark on our second season in the competition.”

Hawthorn is one of the most successful clubs in the AFL, having won 13 premierships in the past 50 years,

and recently completing its first season in the AFLW competition.

Hosting this regional camp in Cairns presents a significant opportunity for the local community to get engaged with elite professional sport, especially for women and girls.

Hawthorn has also demonstrated a commitment to connecting with community through schools and football clubs while demonstrating high performance excellence.

This will not only leave a legacy for football in the region but will further

demonstrate the region’s capabilities.

A key component of the pre-season camp is preparation for the upcoming season in a high-performance training environment.

Cazalys Stadium facilities and partner venues in the Cairns region offer an on-field and off-field training environment that adequately allows for a dedicated pre-season program. This includes football training, classroom and meeting spaces, gymnasium and rehabilitation facilities.

Building participation of women

Famous cup to shine

l HORSE RACING

| Nick Dalton

THE $600,000 18-carat Lexus Melbourne Cup trophy will make special appearances at the Cairns Amateurs sapphire jubilee carnival in September.

Carnival president David Goodman said he was looking forward to welcoming the ‘people’s cup’ to the Far North as part of this year’s tour.

“Cairns Amateurs have hosted the Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour in the past and the iconic trophy has always proved a hit with racegoers,” he said.

“Its blend of history and golden allure is a beautiful addition to our carnival’s list of

attractions. “This is a rare opportunity to hold and be photographed with a magical and iconic piece of Australia’s sporting success,” Mr Goodman said.

Cairns will also be part of the Lexus Melbourne Cup tour national sweep which will involve 24 rural and regional cup tour destinations across Australia allocated a barrier for the 2023 Lexus Melbourne Cup.

If Cairns draws the barrier of the Lexus Melbourne Cup winning horse, the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation will receive $50,000.

From Thursday, September 7 to Saturday, September 9, the Amateurs Carnival marks 65 years with its four-day sap-

phire jubilee program of fun, fashion, and racing events that include the fashion high tea, the president’s cocktail party, the sapphire gala ball, and two days of racing at Cannon Park.

Mr Goodman said the committee had worked hard to integrate new and existing event infrastructure at Cannon Park to deliver a more intimate and atmospheric racegoer experience.

The Melbourne Cup trophy will be at all key events.

This year’s tour started on June 10 in Tokyo. For further information, visit https://bit.ly/42Yadk4

Also visit:

www.cairnsamateurs.org.au

and girls in football in Cairns is also a key focus for AFL Cairns, AFL Queensland and Hawthorn with the three organisations be hosting a school gala day at Cazalys Stadium on Friday, July 14, with school-aged girls engaged in the sport of football.

The girls will be introduced to elite athletes in a fun environment, establishing a pathway into organised girls’ competitions in the Cairns region.

There will also be a coach education session with Hawthorn coaches

and a high performance coaching program with nominated people over the course of the weekend.

Bodey was linked with Cairns Saints while on placement in 2019 before suiting up for UQ in the AFLQ Women’s competition.

A year later, she was picked up by Brisbane Lions, where she played 42 AFLW games over seven seasons, which included the 2021 premiership. An All-Australian member in 2022, Bodey joined the the Hawks for the 2023 season.

June Shepherd (left) and Kymberlee Cockrem with the Lexus Melbourne Cup. Picture: Supplied

Hawks AFLW player Emily Bates, coach Bec Goddard and player Greta Bodey. Picture: Supplied