The Express Newspaper 12th October 2022

Biboohra welcomes new principal

A NEW principal has been welcomed to the Biboohra State School with plans to grow their small but tight knit Biboohra school family.

Cherene Trimble has been a teacher for the past 10 years, initially juggling her online studies with the demanding duties of motherhood.

She decided to move into teaching to help nurture the next generation of young minds and be closer to her family.

Ms Trimble is excited to step into the role of principal at Biboohra and hopes to grow and expand the school, having more students means better services and spe cialty teachers to help teach the kids.

There is a great focus on engaging the kids in interest-based and creative learn ing, getting the kids excited and making learning fun.

“Biboohra is a lovely small, commu nity school, the vibe here is electric when you walk in – you feel welcomed,” Ms Trimble said.

“Which I have been, welcomed with open arms by students, staff and their families and back in the 80s, my mum was a teacher aide here.

“Lots of my extended family have come to school here so I have a sense of pride in this school and I want to see it grow.”

The school has their own garden where the kids grow produce which is then used in the tuckshop for lunches.

Several walls of the school are also adorned with beautiful murals which previous students had a hand in creating, including a specific one for the late Cole Wyatt, a proud Biboohra State School kid.

Mareeba Shire Councillor Lenore Wy att welcomed Ms Trimble into the roll last week, Cr Wyatt has a strong connection to Biboohra State School as all three of her kids attended.

“I live between Mount Molloy and Bi boohra so I tend to be doing a lot in these communities and of course the three boys were raised out here and all went to Bi boohra,” she said.

“So Biboohra is very close to my heart for those reasons and in 2011 I was the P&C president here and managed to start a few things which I can happily see have grown.

“It is a very welcoming, warm com munity school and something we want to get across – we have to keep numbers up out here to have more teachers and the better services.”

New Biboohra State School principal Cherene Trimble (right) with school captains David Dix and Saraya Mills, being welcomed by Biboohra resident, Cr Lenore Wyatt.

New doctors to fill Mareeba GP gap

BY RHYS THOMAS

MAREEBA locals can breathe a sigh of relief, with two new doctors committing to live and practice in the town to help ease the growing line of patients who desperately need to see a GP.

The Mareeba Medical Clinic has secured two new doctors, one who has already begun practis ing and another on the way hopefully before the end of the year.

Over the past year, Mareeba residents have constantly struggled to get an appointment with a GP, with many forced to go to Cairns or put undo stress on the overloaded hospital system.

When a medical practice in Atherton closed earlier this year after its doctor retired, more pres sure was added to the already strained health sys tem as patients were forced to sit on a waiting list.

A doctor, formerly based in Sydney, has now relocated to Mareeba and has been practising at the Mareeba Medical Clinic for the past three

weeks. Another GP is due to arrive from Egypt before the end of the year.

Mareeba and Communities Family Healthcare, which manages the Mareeba Medical Clinic, is pushing for better healthcare services in the re gion, including recruiting new doctors to the town.

Group chair Ross Cardillo said it was crucial people had access to a doctor in Mareeba but the region was often forgotten about by young doc tors who were more attracted to metropolitan ar eas.

“We are doing everything we can to try and attract more doctors to the region, it is an unfor tunate reality that you cannot get access to a doc tor,” he said.

“Mareeba has had exponential growth in the past few years, agriculture is booming and we have hundreds of new workers in town so the pressure on the health system increases dramati cally at all levels.

“The GPs are supposed to take the strain off the hospitals but unfortunately we do not have enough GPs in our town.”

Mr Cardillo stressed there wasn’t just a short age of doctors, but also a shortage of medical pro fessionals across the board in Far North Queens land in both the public and private sectors.

“It is not just the public health system, it is the private system too and, in all aspects, we are for gotten about in Far North Queensland,” he said.

Having reliable access to a GP in a rural com munity was crucial for the community’s health and more doctors in Mareeba would lead to a stronger health system, making the region more enticing to new residents.

“It is critical to have doctors for the growth and development of our town because people look at health systems when they are looking at moving and retiring,” Mr Cardillo said.

“It is not just our clinic but also Mulungu needs more doctors, Amaroo needs more doctors – the

A ride for compassion

whole idea is to attract more doctors to the region.

“If we get them at the clinic, that’s fantastic, if Amaroo gets them, fantastic, if Mulungu gets them fantastic – it means more doctors in the town see ing more people.”

Mr Cardillo also raised the issue of Mareeba Hospital being the only Level 4 hospital to not have its own dialysis unit, with one present in Atherton and two in Lotus Glen, owned by Queensland Cor rectional Services.

The Mareeba community has been calling for their own dialysis unit since 2007 when the Maree ba community raised $167,000 for the equipment, but the Queensland Government refused to pur chase the machine and asked the shire council to put the funds towards medical transport services.

“Dialysis is very important to Mareeba resi dents, and it is going to become more and more important as people age because it is something that only gets worse, it does not get better,” Mr Cardillo said.

92.3FM secretary/interviewer

Mareeba radio station

locals to ride in a charity bike ride – but they won’t have to hit the road

Local radio station 92.3FM is getting on board to support the Ride for Compassion, a 4,200km charity bike ride from Australia’s west coast to the east coast, by setting up an exercise bike in their studios at the Mareeba Centre where locals can help raise money for the cause.

The Ride for Compassion is currently under way, starting in Western Australia and finishing in Newcastle in one month, with the hope of raising $1 million to go towards feeding children affected by the global food crisis.

To date, nearly $700,000 has been raised for the ride and 159 children have been sponsored since the ride began on 17 September.

Radio station manager Ben Cooney is encour aging locals to come to their studio on 17 October

to help raise money and awareness for the event.

He said businesses and locals could come along on the day and help feed a child for a $50 donation and ride the bike for as long as they can, depend ing on the number of people who participate.

“We are hoping to get people to come and ride throughout the day and talk on the radio station, especially businesses,” he said.

“We are hoping to get 150 people to donate $50 each for food packs – whether we reach that is an other thing because it is a tall ask.

“This is a good cause for people to get behind because we live in Australia, a pretty lucky coun try and there are people around the world who are really suffering.”

The exercise bike ride will start promptly at 8am at the station.

For more information contact the station on 0418 783 841.

Phyllis Pianta and station manager Ben Cooney are asking people to help them support Ride for Compassion this year by riding some kilometres on their exercise bike.

Premier blown away by wind farm

BY ROBYN HOLMES

PREMIER Annastacia Palaszczuk visited the Kaban Green Power Hub last week to celebrate a major milestone for the $373 million wind farm project when it was of ficially connected to Queensland’s new Su perGrid.

But while the State Government was celebrating the wind farm’s progress, those opposed to the creation of the proposed Chambulin wind farm near Ravenshoe are far from happy.

Speaking after the Premier’s visit, Mem ber for Kennedy Bob Katter said he had for mally requested Federal Environment Min ister Tanya Plibersek to not give permits for the 94-turbine project at Chalumbin.

“We have given notice that North Queensland will not tolerate any further vandalism which has been imposed upon us or else there will be serious protests,” Mr Katter said.

Rainforest Reserves Australia president Carolyn Emms said hundreds of people had gathered in Ravenshoe recently to discuss their concerns about the Chambulin project.

“Kaban Wind Farm development is a constant reminder of what is at stake if Cha lumbin goes ahead,” she said.

“Ravenshoe residents have a sense of powerless and grief at seeing these enor mous wind turbines pop up at Kaban, which is causing grief and anxiety.

“There is an enormous community back lash against the fast-track approvals of wind farm developments.”

While the Chambulin project is yet to be approved, the Kaban wind farm is at the

halfway mark, with 16 of the 28 turbines now completed.

Premier Palaszczuk was accompanied on her visit last week by Deputy Premier Ste ven Miles, Minister for Energy and Renewa bles Mick de Brenni and Tablelands Mayor Rod Marti.

The Premier said the 157MW project could now power homes and businesses in the Far North with clean green renewable energy.

“The Kaban Green Power Hub being en ergised via Powerlink’s Tumoulin Switch ing Station means clean energy is being injected into the new Queensland Super Grid,” she said.

“Once complete early next year, it will generate 460,000MW hours of clean en ergy a year, enough to power up to 100,000

homes," she added.

The Premier said the project would play an important role in helping Queensland meeting its new renewable energy target of 70 per cent by 2032.

The project is being developed by global green energy giant Neoen, and publicly owned CleanCo has an agreement to pur chase 100 per cent of the clean energy gen erated.

Neoen managing director Louis de Sam bucy said the business was extremely proud of Kaban’s role as the cornerstone project of Queensland’s first Renewable Energy Zone.

“I’d like to thank the Queensland Gov ernment and CleanCo for their vision and support, and Powerlink for their hard work and commitment in delivering the essential transmission infrastructure,” he said.

Man charged over hitting parked cars in Mareeba street

A 37-year-old Mareeba man has been charged after he allegedly feel asleep at the wheel and crashed into parked cars on Walsh Street earlier this month.

It will be alleged around 2pm on Sunday, 2 Oc tober, the man briefly fell asleep and collided with

a number of parked cars. He allegedly returned a breath test reading of 0.136 per cent BAC.

He was charged with one count each of driving without due care and attention, drink driving and driving without a licence. He is scheduled to ap pear in Mareeba Magistrates Court on 17 October.

A large crowd gathered at Ravenshoe recently to discuss their concerns over the proposed Chambulin wind farm.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Tablelands Mayor Rod Marti celebrated a milestone for the Kaban wind farm last week.

Locals drive road needs to Minister

MINISTER for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey failed to give any hope that the State Government will investigate an alterna tive road corridor to the coast anytime soon when he addressed a Mareeba Chamber of Commerce luncheon last week.

Mr Bailey stuck to the government’s po sition that the Kuranda Range Road would not reach capacity for another 30 years and spruiked the $35 million Intelligent Transport System currently being installed as a major step forward in improving safety by slowing drivers down.

“It’s a lot of fibre, a lot of technology that we’re wiring up on the Kuranda Range Road – it’s new, so I have faith that it’s going to be ef fective – we will see how it operates in the real world and that’ll be next year,” he said.

“I think it will be a big improvement in the reliability to get through on that road – I think that’s the first thing you’ve got to deal with on that road.”

But local truck operator Colin Watson made it clear to the Minister the works would do nothing to make the range road a viable trans port corridor for heavy vehicles.

“So all these signs (digital speed) – it’s a lot of money you’re spending but it’s not going to achieve anything – a new road must be built,” he said.

“As it stands at the moment, we're not legal because it’s physically impossible for trucks of 90m to go down those roads without drop ping an axle group over the centre white line and we’ve got the local police that charge us for that.

“A new road has to be built and a bridge, this has been going on for many years, something has to be done because there are three ranges that trucks can’t legally use – the Palmerston is the only one and that’s a long way around for transport.”

Mr Bailey took the comments on board and advised that the government were also not yet

sure on how to go forward with the Barron River Bridge.

“The question is: Is it time for a new bridge or are there works we can do get another 30, 40 or 50 years out of that bridge?” he said.

“The answer is we don’t know at this point, we are actually doing that work now – what is the best value for taxpayers – whether it’s a new bridge or bolstering the old bridge.”

Reddicliffe Highway proponent Ken Harley spoke at length about the critical need for an alternative road corridor to Cairns, and why the region deserved a commitment from the State Government to provide a route that we needed “yesterday” which could support an ever-grow ing agricultural industry.

He urged the government to act now to in vestigate alternate corridors instead of waiting for the development of the new Regional Plan.

“Why can’t we do the studies now so that when the regional plan comes out, they can do the little bit of work to dovetail it and then move forward straight away?”

But Mr Bailey said the numbers just didn’t “stack up” when it came to the need for an al ternate route to Cairns.

“We’ve done the Cairns to Tablelands Study and crunched numbers and what that’s come back with was basically an answer that not eve ryone wanted, the outcome at this point in time, is that the numbers don’t justify it – that might change in 10 years time.”

Chamber of Commerce president Joe Moro said he was grateful the Minister had agreed to come to Mareeba and told Mr Bailey at the lunch that road connectivity remained a criti cal issue for the region, naming the full sealing of Ootann Road, an alternate road to the coast, and an unhitching pad between Kuranda and Mareeba as important projects that needed to be tackled for the area to reach its full potential.

He also raised the importance of the Ma reeba Bypass to remove heavy vehicles from the main street of the town.

Grace’s play wins state award

Fatal crash at Walkamin

POLICE are appealing for any witnesses to a fatal two-vehicle crash in Walkamin at 5.40am last Friday morning

Initial investigations indicate A 23-year-old Walkamin man was driving his Subaru liberty east on Hansen Road and col lided with a Holden Colorado travelling west, he died from his injuries at the scene.

The two occupants of the Holden Colorado were trans ported to hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

Investigators are appealing for any witnesses in the area, es pecially those with any dashcam footage captured along Hansen Road and the surrounding area between 5.15am and 5.45am to come forward.

BY RHYS THOMAS

A YOUNG aspiring playwright has taken one step closer to her dream of writing award winning plays after she was named the Queensland Theatre Young Playwrights’ Award and won an all-expenses paid trip to attend the highly reputed theatre residency week in Brisbane.

Lake Barrine local and grade 12 distance educa tion student Grace Wilson submitted her originally written contemporary play “Goodbye Eli Ander son”, a play which follows the life of someone who is suffering from terminal cancer.

Her inspiration behind writing the play was very personal as she drew from her own past experienc es to help write the script.

“Over the past 12 months since I have started writing I have lost about seven or eight people in my life to cancer really rapidly,” she said.

“In the past I was one of those people who thought cancer would never have any impact on me, I didn’t really give it too much thought.

“But now it has made its impact and I’m seeing how serious it is and how much it can change peo ple’s lives – so that was my inspiration.”

Grace returned with a vengeance this year af ter submitting her first play last year and taking runner-up.

Now taking home the award this year, Grace got the chance to bond and work with other like-mind ed and passionate people in theatre at Queensland Theatre’s theatre residency week in September –one of the largest theatre holiday camps in the state.

She was also given dramaturgy lessons to help develop her work as a playwright in preparation for her public read of her work at the end of the year at Queensland Theatre. Grace’s passion lies with theatre and she hopes to eventually make a career out of playwrighting.

Grace was incredibly pleased to be involved in the residency week and be fully surrounded by peo ple just as passionate about theatre as she is.

“Theatre is not a very strong interest group so coming from the Tablelands where it is more of a side thing and coming into a week-long theatre week was amazing,” she said.

“Everything was theatre, it was just wow, the ideas were flowing the inspiration is there and I am surrounded by people who want to make a career out of this.”

Lake Barrine’s Grace Wilson with Queensland Theatre’s Steve Pirie at the Queensland Theatre residency week after she won the Young Playwrights' Award.

Herberton in full bloom for festival

WITH the jacaranda trees now in full bloom, Herberton turns purple this weekend for the ever-popular Jaca randa Festival.

The annual two-day festival is a celebration of the beautiful jacarandas that grace the town, but also its his torical links with mining. The trees seen around Herberton are said to be the offspring of an original tree which was grown from seed by one of the town’s founders, John Newell.

People dressed in purple, purple beer at the pub and even scones with purple cream will all add to the festi val atmosphere.

Market stalls and food vans will take the place of cars in Grace Street which will be closed from 7am to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday to allow the

street to become the centre of the fes tival.

This year, a special addition to the festival will be the debut of AthertonHerberton Historic Railway’s fully restored 1905 Peckett locomotive and a 1913 wooden carriage at the Herber ton Railway Station.

The Tinlander will be running from the station to the bridge and back again from 10am to 2pm.

The Herberton Mining Museum will again be hosting the rolling tin panning competition which takes place over the two days, with prizes for the biggest and purest tin sample in the senior category, and all junior entrants getting a free lucky dip.

The museum will be open from 9am to 4pm, with guided tours of the

Great Northern Mine on offer at 10am and 3pm on both days.

Classic cars will be on show in John Street on Saturday, while there will be a Herberton Historic Village display in Grace Street.

The Herberton Motorbike “Burn Out” Competition starts on Saturday at 1pm, while the Royal Hotel has live music from 12 noon until late, with the Wild River Mountain Distillery partnering with the hotel to offer spe cial Jacaranda gin and tonics over the weekend.

The films from finalists in the Her berton Pocket Film Festival will take the spotlight on Saturday evening at the Herberton Shire Hall from 7pm. People were asked to submit short films of 3-7 minutes in length, with

Mareeba’s over 50s resort gets a facelift

MAREEBA’S

the best of those entries to be shown.

On Sunday, more fun activities are planned, with the Herberton Mountain Bike ride to the town and a pipe band performing.

A courtesy bus will be operating

from 9am to 4pm on both days for a gold coin donation that will take pa trons to the Wild River Caravan Park, the Herberton Historic Village, the Mining Museum, the Herberton Rail way Station and the town centre.

Resort has undergone a

and taken the name Thyme to fit in with its new owners, national body Serentias.

Savannah was acquired by Serentias earlier in the year and will soon be fully re launched at a launch event on 15 October at 9.45am with a paws on parade fashion show, koala and crocodile photo opportunity and a tour of display homes.

New facilities are also in the pipeline to join the already existing clubhouse, mineral swimming pool and spa, cinema, gym art and craft studio and more.

Serenitas CEO Rob Nichols said Savan nah has been changed to Thyme to fit in with their other lifestyle resorts in areas such as Hervey Bay, Moreton Bay, Evans Head and more.

Mareeba’s Savannah Lifestyle Resort will now be known as Thyme Lifestyle Resort, with a launch event this Saturday.

“We look forward to ushering in a new era of over 50s living in always sunny Ma reeba,” he said.

“Thyme Lifestyle Resort features luxuri

ous resort facilities within a gated communi ty with low maintenance homes on offer that affords you the time and financial freedom to enjoy the best life has to offer.”

See the jacaranda trees in full bloom at this weekend’s Jacaranda Festival in Herberton.

Full steam ahead for rail journey

BY ROBYN HOLMES

A SMALL group of dedicated men and women are quietly working away at creating a major new tourist attraction for the region which promises to elevate visitation in the southern Tablelands and at the same time, preserve an important part of local history.

Atherton-Herberton Historic Railway volun teers are working towards a grand plan to create a first-class tourist and heritage steam train expe rience that, when completed, will allow visitors to take a train from Atherton to a railway siding called Moomin, where a Heritage and Events Centre would be established to showcase the his tory of the men who cut sleepers for the railway, then board another historic train to Herberton.

“The economic benefit of this to the region will be significant – history is a big attractor for domestic tourists,” group president Bob Slater said.

The group have been diligently restoring a 1905 Peckett steam locomotive and a 1913 wood en carriage over the past six years, with commis sioning of the train now complete after volunteers put in more than 90,000 hours to get it back to pristine condition.

What the group has achieved over the past sev en years is testament to their determination, pas sion and commitment to ensure the history of the railway in that area is preserved and celebrated.

To that end, they have transformed their head quarters adjacent to the original Herberton Rail way Station from a small shed on a bare block to a massive workshop which they constructed themselves to house and restore the various loco motives, carriages and other rail vehicles.

“We do it all ourselves – the only person we had to pay to do something was an electrician,” Mr Slater said.

They have also extended the original railway station to provide a new Refreshments Room which will be styled in a 1940s theme – another source of income for the group to help fund the restoration of the rail fleet and upgrades to the in frastructure, like culverts and bridges on the track which was built in the early 1900s.

Mr Slater, who has been with the group for

14 years, is clearly proud of what the small band of volunteers have achieved to date and is deter mined they will make their vision of a unique rail experience a reality.

“Collectively, we have around 42 volunteers but there is a core group of around 20 that come every Tuesday morning to work here,” he said.

That work includes running the café, rolling out all new landscaping around the railway sta tion and its surrounds, restoring the locomotives and carriages and running the train rides.

Mr Slater, who is a retired civil engineer, has plenty of skilled talent around him, including retired boilermakers, welders, carpenters, en gineers, machinists, and landscapers as well as four dedicated women who run the Refreshments Room including making a variety of treats to sell.

Over the next few months, the group will start a critical upgrade to the bridge over Herberton’s Wild River so the newly restored Peckett loco motive and carriage can start regular runs to the town’s historical village.

The village has supported the group’s work by helping to fund the restoration of the carriage, and other businesses also offer in-kind support to the group, as well as prisoners from Lotus Glen who did all the upholstery in the carriage.

And with another 1908 Peckett and a 1910 wooden carriage to restore, they group will need all the help they can get.

Mr Slater says it takes a lot of time to find parts and other gear to restore the locomotives and car riages.

“I search the world for parts – twice a week

I’m on railway sites trying to find parts,” he said.

“The 1905 Peckett worked at Mt Morgan where it worked for most of his life, then onto Mt Isa mines,” Mr Slater said.

“It will probably take four years to restore it because we have learned a few things doing the first one.”

On 20 October, the Atherton-Herberton His toric Railway will host a special celebration in the Refreshment Room to mark 112 years since rail arrived in the town.

The Tinlander will continue to make runs to the historical village on weekends and school holidays until the bridge is upgraded to take the Peckett.

A new website is also being developed for the train rides which will allow people to book online.

Volunteers from the Atherton-Herberton Historic Railway are keen to show off all their work during this week's Jacaranda Festival.

Parks on track for year end

RESIDENTS in Kuranda and Amaroo in Mareeba will be able to enjoy their new playgrounds before the end of the year as progress on Mareeba Shire Council’s three-year Parks and Open Spaces action plan continues.

Tenders for the new playgrounds at Kuranda’s Centenary Park and at Hastie Road, Mareeba have been awarded, with works aiming to commence by November depending on avail ability of the equipment. It is expected the projects will be com pleted in three weeks from commencement.

Works are also progressing to improve the Mareeba Rail Trail from the town to the airport, with the project to be com pleted by the end of the year.

The much-anticipated major upgrade to the Bicentennial Lakes area is also progressing, with tenders received for both the southern and northern sections and $166,200 in funding awarded to the project by the State Government.

The upgrade will provide a naturally shaded parkland with waterway features, playground and pathways adjacent to the Mareeba State High School and the Mareeba Sporting Precinct.

The design work is set to be completed at the end of the year,

with construction around the southern lakes to start at the be ginning of 2023 followed by the northern lakes in the 2023/24 financial year.

Initial discussions have also taken place regarding the up grade to Bill Newman Park at Irvinebank, with a draft proposal being prepared.

Sunset Park, Mareeba, and Roscommon Park, Speewah are the next priorities for replacement of exercise equipment, while the contract for the revitalisation of Anzac Park in Mareeba has been awarded, with construction expected to start later this month.

Mareeba’s new water splash park is also on track, with a contractor engaged, and confirmation that Ergon Energy has agreed to upgrade the power supply to the swimming centre at no cost to the project.

Upgrades to Kuranda’s walking trails are also progressing, with funding received from the State Government to undertake a Walking Network Planning project, which will include com munity engagement that is expected to start in October.

Club helps those in need

PEOPLE facing hardship will benefit from a fundraising event held in Atherton recently by the Tableland Soroptimist Club.

The club has now handed over a total of 20 $50 vouchers for the Atherton IGA and 15 $30 fuel vouchers to the Salvation Army and St Vincent de Paul respectively to assist members in the local com munity facing hardship.

The funds were raised during the year by the Tableland Sorop timist Club through a High Tea held at Hallorans Hill attended by more than 60 women in April, and a garage sale at the Community Hall in Tolga held in August.

Pulse nights a hit with youth

AFTER temporarily shutting its doors, the Mareeba PCYC Pulse Café is back up and running multiple nights a week.

Just recently the café was forced to shut their doors after youth misbehaved at the centre and there was an attempted break-in.

The café also has a history of struggling for volunteers to help operate the centre but just recently, got a grant of $260,000 to fund a full-time position.

Currently the café is open Wednesday through to Saturday how ever the full-time position will apparently allow the café to open seven days a week.

The new funding arrangement is being finalised and PCYC are in the process of recruiting staff, once this is completed PCYC Ma reeba will be offering extended opening hours.

Happy Paddock set for fourth open day

FOR a fourth time, locals will be able to cuddle goats, chick ens, kittens, baby goats and more with the Happy Paddock once again opening its doors at 33 Hunt Road, Peeramon for an open day this Sunday from 9am to 12pm.

Originally the idea of the late Steph Mete, the Happy Paddock has become a local phenomenon with hundreds of people turning up to the first open day.

The Happy Paddock and its animals are not available to the public at other times and can only be enjoyed through these open days or organised group bookings.

Yoga with goats will also be happening again this open day starting at 8am till 9.15am, $20 per persona and bookings are essential, email soulmotionfit ness@hotmail.com to book a spot.

There is an entry fee for the Happy Paddock, $10 for adults,

$5 for children from 4-12 and kids under four get in for free –this cost includes a bag of feed and a percentage of the entry fees will be donated to the dialy sis unit at the Atherton Hospital.

Soroptimist Club events coordinator Josie Raso (left) and treasurer Ann Rocca present the IGA vouchers to Miriam Newton-Gentle of the Salvation Army.

Kids enjoying some time outside at the Arnold Park basketball courts with the Pulse Café after it re-opened recently.

Phoebe Alexander cuddling a donkey at one of the previous Happy Paddock open days.

Mill falls behind energy target

BY RHYS THOMAS

A NEAR $100 million project to produce clean, green energy from sugarcane waste is only operating at 50 per cent capacity but the Tableland Mill is adamant its cogeneration plant will be at full strength in the coming months.

The plant’s woes were brought to light by Tableland Canegrowers president Claude Santucci during a public meeting held in Mareeba recently, organised by Katter’s Australia Party members Bob and Robbie Katter.

Mr Santucci expressed his concerns around the plant not being able to fully re alise its potential due to “government inter vention” and energy company policies.

“The local sugar mill has invested proba bly over $100 million in a cogeneration plant to produce clean, green energy,” he said.

“That project, sadly, is stumbling, mainly because of government intervention and policies in place for the energy companies namely Ergon.

“That plant is nowhere near reaching its full potential and probably won’t for quite a while to come and that’s really sad for us.”

The $86 million plant is supposed to con vert 100 per cent renewable sugarcane fibre, known as bagasse, into green energy and produce enough power to light over 29,000 homes – the entire population of the Table lands.

“When you have a resource like that sit ting almost idle after such a big investment, albeit a foreign company, but they saw a future in Australia and had a commitment to invest and to see that left idle, is almost criminal,” Mr Santucci said.

Mr Santucci thought that Robbie Katter may be able to “intervene with the depart ment to see whether we can alleviate the problems that MSF Sugar is facing in regard to that plant.”

Tableland Mill manager Peter Chohan has clarified that the plant itself is running in top shape at around 98 per cent efficiency but the issue lies with the turbine and gen erator.

Because the current equipment can only handle a certain load and must meet specific statutory requirements set out by the Queens land Government and Energy Queensland, it is currently limited to exporting only 45 per cent of its full capacity into the grid.

“Tableland Mill and the Green Energy Power combined have been operating at 98.2 per cent efficiency this crush which is the highest in the Australian Sugar Industry,” Mr Chohan said.

“New power stations/generators over a certain capacity which supply power into the grid, need to undergo a rigorous commis sioning process to ensure the generator will be a reliable and secure power provider.

“MSF and its consultants are currently working very closely with Energy Queens

land and the Australian Energy Market Op erator to meet the statutory requirements to operate the generator at full capacity on the national grid, anticipated for early Novem ber.”

Robbie Katter believes the cogeneration plant at the Tableland Mill is a viable option for energy production and he would like to see it operating at full capacity.

“The KAP are in a long running battle with the government who seem to confuse announcements and glossy brochures with real action on environment and in the North, we understand real solutions which includes a cogeneration initiative of MSF Sugar Mill,” he said.

Free first aid training on offer for community

FREE first aid and CPR training is being offered to community disaster teams and community members for free by Table lands Regional Council.

Limited places are available for cours

es in Atherton on Thursday 3 November and Ravenshoe on Monday 28 Novem ber.

Expressions of interest can be lodged by going to www.trc.qld.gov.au/first-aid-

training until 5pm on Wednesday 19 Oc tober. Preference will be given to mem bers of community disaster teams and other organisations that provided support during emergencies and disasters.

plant has only been

about 50 per cent of its available energy into the grid.

The Tablelands Sugar Mill

1st

Ravenshoe Childcare’s colourful float.

Ravenshoe Kindy took part in the street parade.

"Super Heroes" walking the street in the parade on Saturday.

Torimba Queen Taylah Dalgety won the grand champion float.

Spotlight shines on trade students

THREE young trades students from the Tablelands were thrust into the spotlight last week when they took out top acco lades at the TAFE Queensland 2022 Cairns Trade Excellence Awards.

The awards involved 62 fi nalists from across the State who were recognised for their dedication to their trade and training.

In front of a crowd of 250 people, 16 trophies were award ed, with Mareeba and Atherton Tablelands residents among the recipients.

Atherton man Nathan Da vis, a block layer at Ball Brick and Block Laying Pty Ltd, was named the Building and Con struction Apprentice of the Year.

Mr Davis is no stranger to accolades, with his Cairns Trade Excellence trophy joining the gold medal he received earlier this year at a regional World Skills block laying competition.

“Initially I was surprised when my name was read out at the winner and after accept ing the award I felt excited and humbled. To win the World Skills medal and then an appren tice award, it’s blown me away,” Mr Davis said.

Leah O’Connor, an appren tice electrician employed by Mareeba Electrical Services, picked up the Female Trade Stu dent of the Year Award.

On the night, Ms O’Connor was praised for being a mentor in the classroom to other ap prentices and for her role as a TAFE Queensland “Women in Trades” ambassador.

Ms O’Connor is part of a TAFE Queensland campaign to encourage more girls to chase their trade dreams as they grow up and to remind women that it's never too late to pursue a career change.

As part of the campaign, Ms O’Connor has shared her train ing journey in a video testimo nial to highlight the benefits of an apprenticeship.

“I enjoy being an appren tice. People think there's stigma around it and that you're always at the bottom,” she said in her video testimonial.

“But you've got to start somewhere and your employer and your teachers are there to build you up. At the end of your training, all of your hard work will be worthwhile.”

Mareeba State High School student Lachlan Costa also received an award at the cer emony, named the Engineering TAFE at School Trade Student of the Year.

TAFE Queensland Director of Trades (north region) Mark Patterson said the 2022 Cairns Trade Excellence Awards was now in its sixth year.

“Our annual awards night is a great opportunity to celebrate the dedication and success of the next generation of local trades people and I’d like to congratu late all of the finalists,” he said.

“More than 1200 apprentices from across the State currently attend the Cairns campus for training and 62 of those students were selected as finalists for the 2022 Cairns Trade Excellence Awards.”

Housing forum

THE region’s housing crisis will be discussed at a forum be ing hosted by the newly-formed Tableland Housing Action Group.

The group has been initiated by a small number of con cerned Tableland locals and was created as a result of the obvious housing difficulties experienced by so many in the region.

The group aims to engage with others to devise paths of action in a community-based approach to easing the Tableland housing crisis.

The forum and film event will be held on Saturday 15 Oc tober in Yungaburra from 3.30pm.

Presenter for the event, Dr Geraldine Mallinson, is a PhD graduate from JCU Cairns where she studied the position of housing in society and the social consequences of homeless ness. Her research confirms the need for urgent action, with the findings forming the basis of Dr Mallinson’s book “Hous ing the Homelessness”.

Anyone wishing more information about the Tablelands Housing Crisis Film and Forum which will be held at 2/20 Ea cham Road, Yungaburra, can contact Alan on 0458 408 488.

Queensland’s

Automotive

Industrial Cooling

Female Trade Student of the Year Leah O'Connor.

Building and Construction Apprentice of the Year Nathan Davis.

Trade Student of the Year Lachlan Costa.

MALANDA

Calf

Mini

Local

14-U18

Travis Koolatah,

Jake Simpson,

Cooper Morley.

Novice Bull Ride

1st Darrel Baillie, 2nd Jake Simpson.

Open Bull Ride

1st Luke Smith, 2nd Leith Malone.

Royal Rehab for an education and information session

the possibilities and the impact of Advanced Technology in rehabilitation, including Royal Rehab’s vision for Cairns.

Who is Royal Rehab?

Royal Rehab is Australia’s premier not-forprofit provider of rehabilitation and disability support services and is home to Australia’s largest Advanced Therapy Centre, under the banner Royal Rehab LifeWorks.

The goal at Royal Rehab LifeWorks is to enhance independence and quality of life of people impacted by disability, illness or injury by providing access to expert clinicians supported by life-changing advanced technology.

Carla

Michelle Raso and Lisa Hanrahan.

Our Council Our Community

ARE YOU READY THIS CYCLONE SEASON?

Get Ready Week

Would you be ready if a flood, storm or cyclone happened in our community? That’s a question every Tablelander needs to ask themselves ahead of disaster season.

Get Ready Queensland Week (Monday 10 –Sunday 16 October) is a great time to prepare for disasters.

The tropical cyclone season starts on Tuesday 1 November and it’s never too early to start making preparations. Head to getready.qld.gov.au for information, advice, resources and more.

Preparation Is Key

You can reduce the impacts of disasters on you, your family and community by being prepared and informed. Follow these four simple steps:

1. Prepare your emergency plan. Take the time to prepare an emergency plan with the entire household. Use the household emergency plan template at getready.qld.gov.au

2. Create or check your emergency kit. You will probably be able to shelter safely at home during a cyclone and you’ll need to rely on items in your emergency kit.

3. Prepare your home This is an important step in surviving and coping with cyclones.

4. Ensure everyone knows how to tune in, log on, listen out and act.

Find out all you need to know about preparing for cyclones at trc.qld.gov.au/get-ready.

Pensioner PreCyclone Clean Up

If you receive an age or disability pension, and are in a kerbside collection area, you can get a free pre-cyclone waste collection. We’ll pick up green waste, iron and general yard debris. White goods, furniture, household rubbish, car bodies and tyres will not be collected, but can be taken to a transfer station (fees may apply). Register at trc.qld.gov.au/cyclone-cleanup or 1300 362 242 before 5pm Friday 21 October. Collections begin on Monday 7 November.

UHF-CB Channel 10

Have you thought about what you might do if landlines, mobiles and internet fail during a disaster? The UHF-CB radio network is an alternative that is accessible without a license. Tune into UHF-CB channel 10.

We have installed three repeaters to enable communication across greater distances:

• Atherton — repeater channel 1

• Mount Garnet — repeater channel 2

• Millaa Millaa — repeater channel 3. Ensure you are familiar with the rules and requirements for using different channels and repeaters.

Pets & Livestock

Your animals are your responsibility and remain so during disasters. Planning ahead will ensure the safety and welfare of your pets and livestock.

Find out how to prepare your animals for disasters, how to care for them during and after disasters, and what you can do to ensure their safety at trc.qld.gov.au/get-ready.

Community Disaster Teams

We have community disaster teams in Herberton, Malanda, Millaa Millaa, Mount Garnet, Ravenshoe, Tinaroo/Kairi and Yungaburra. These groups of passionate locals work with the Local Disaster Coordination Centre before, during and after disasters to ensure a flow of information between the Local Disaster Management Group and community. The level of involvement depends on the skill sets of members. Put your hand up to be a part of this important program by emailing trcd@trc.qld.gov.au

Evacuation

The best place to shelter during a cyclone is in your own home. Make arrangements to stay with family, friends or accommodation providers if you are concerned. Places of refuge and evacuation centres may not be available.

Stay Informed

• Monitor Bureau of Meteorology information at bom.gov.au

• Get up-to-date local information from our Emergency Dashboard dashboard.trc.qld.gov.au

• Like and follow our TRC Facebook and Instagram

• Download a copy of the Hazards Guide from trc.qld.gov.au

• Tune into local radio and tv stations and UHF-CB Channel 10.

• Find out more at trc.qld.gov.au/disaster-management

Youth Theatre: the gateway to stardom

our PEOPLE our PLACE

MAREEBA

THE newest theatre to the fold, Mareeba Youth Theatre has only been around since 2019 and has put on two productions – their breakout produc tion, “Drinking Habits”, and their latest production “Unnecessary Farce”.

The group performs out of the Mareeba Thea tre Group’s hall on Constance Street with some of their younger actors already making their debuts in the adult group.

Overseen by Michael Bryce and Samantha Malcolm, the youth theatre caters to ages 16-25 as a rough guide, however some younger actors have already stepped up when needed and filled impor tant roles.

This age group allows the actors to tackle adult level issues like love, crime, betrayal and decep tion, themes that are not often played out with sub tly in junior-level scripts.

“Having worked with juniors for the preceding five to six years, I had seen many talented young sters come through our group,” Mr Bryce said.

“Some of them faded a bit when they reached senior high, and many disappeared after school was finished for them.

“I had assumed that all this was just life until my daughter reached that age, I realised then, that they were outgrowing the junior program, they didn't want to do ‘kid's stuff’ anymore – they want

ed to sink their teeth into more significant roles.

“It also became apparent to me how difficult it was for these younger adults to get a good part in our group's mainstream productions so I decided to make something in between juniors and seniors, just for them.”

Despite only having two productions under their belt, the Mareeba Youth Theatre has gathered a growing audience of their own who are always eager to attend their shows and left wanting more.

“We have had enormously positive feedback from those who have attended our shows,” Mr Bryce said.

“It has been really pleasing to hear how much people have enjoyed themselves and the positive feedback for our actors has been really good for them.

“Our biggest hurdle is making people aware of the shows and getting them in front of one – once they see one, they are hooked.

“Unfortunately, our seasons are short, they are usually only two weekends because of the pressing demands of busy lives, so we don't have a chance to build our audiences through word of mouth.

“The saddest thing is people asking the week after the show is finished, if it's on again so they can bring friends.”

Mareeba Youth Theatre are planning to have Cluedo as their production for this year however rehearsals have not yet begun and no dates have been set.

by the group with some going onto have careers in theatre and lighting/sound design.

Atherton’s Youth Theatre is the oldest youth thea tre group on the Tablelands, being established in 1985 at the Silo Road Theatre in Atherton with their first performance being “The Wizard of Oz” in 1988.

Running under the Atherton Performing Arts, the youth theatre runs programs throughout the year to provide performance opportunities for all young people.

The theatre tries to maintain a balance be tween their productions – usually two a year – and give children the chance to create and improvise through fun drama games and workshops.

Last year, the theatre put on the “Tales of Ter ror from Nightmare High School” musical as well as a full-length play. They often participate in the FNQ One-Act Play Festival, most recently in 2020, and have produced plays written by their own young members.

Youth theatre coordinator Sarah Riber said many of the actors get the chance to not only have major parts in productions, but even get to write their own productions and have them performed

MALANDA

Malanda’s Youth Theatre was established in 1993 where it ran under the name of Malanda Little The atre and performed pantomimes – a type of musical comedy stage production.

The youth theatre was initially started to pro vide the local youth with an after-school activity that was appropriate to age and ability and, over the years, has developed to further include perfor mances they now run annually – much to the pleas ure of parents and the wider community.

Like their older counterpart, the youth theatre runs out of the famous Malanda Majestic Theatre, regarded to be one of the best locations for produc tions on the Tablelands.

Last year’s big production was the theatre’s take on “Aladdin Jr”, which won the 2022 Tablelands Regional Council Australia Day Junior Cultural Award, while this year’s was the “Silly and Side splitting” Variety Show, which was based on short skits, jokes and funny musical numbers.

Malanda Theatre Company president Amanda Albon said there were many purposes to youth theatre that all worked together towards develop ing young actors, including improving their selfesteem and social skills.

“We always have extremely positive feedback about our productions, from the community, the pa trons, and from those who are involved,” she said.

“We still get positive feedback from produc

“Within youth theatre, our older actors have the opportunity to direct and write for the group,” she said.

“Many of our young people also contribute to Atherton Performing Arts and other organisations through participation in adult theatre productions and technical and backstage support.

“Our 2021 main stage production, “The Diary of Anne Frank”, featured two of our youth actors, Emmy Riber and Tenae Ghelfi, in lead roles, with other youth theatre members working in lighting and stage management.”

The group accepts young school age actors, down to age nine as the actors need to be able to read fluently and have the maturity to work pro ductively and intensively with other young actors.

William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and William Golding’s “Lord of the Flies” were the group’s most recent productions.

However, the most memorable production per formed by the youth ensemble was “The House”, written and directed by youth theatre member Emmy Riber and presented at the FNQ One Act Play Festival where it even gave the adjudicator a spook.

tions we have done many years ago. The local schools also support our performances, bringing their students to watch.

“From parents or the schools bringing their children to see performances, we get many new children joining and commenting on past produc tions and how they always wanted to be involved.”

The youth theatre supports young actors from nine to 17 and is mainly based on maturity as some of the younger actors have trouble coping with the discipline and skills required to portray certain characters.

Past the age of 17, the young burgeoning actors no longer classify as youth and have the chance to move into the Malanda Theatre Company while others have traded the serene rolling hills of Ma landa for the bustling streets of southern cities to further their acting careers.

“Youth theatre definitely prepares them for the bigger productions. We have had some students move to major cities to progress their acting ca reer,” Ms Albon said.

“We also have some students come back and become youth theatre leaders but the biggest win we see is our students in high school becoming great community citizens and school leaders.

“Our students are typically focused, are in volved in their community, and get great grades then progress into tertiary education.”

With the youth theatre’s variety show recently being performed, the group has set their eyes on 2023, aiming to produce a musical but have yet to nominate which one.

Youth theatre gives young actors the chance to grow and bond with like minded people as they develop and hone their craft before moving onto bigger, brighter stages. Journalist by day and thespian by night, RHYS THOMAS, spoke with local youth theatres about how they got started and how their presence has shaped the lives and dreams of young actors across the Tablelands.

Mareeba Youth Theatre performers during their most recent production, Unnecessary Farce

Atherton Performing Arts youth theatre members performing during the In a Grove, Four Japanese Ghost Stories production they performed.

Malanda Youth Theatre thespians Lucien Adams-Hume and Juliette Hurst performing during the groups hit production Aladdin Jr.

Fun and laughter on the big screen

There is more fun, laughter and suspense with these three great movies showing on the Majestic big screen this week end. There’s something for everyone.

The historical comedy drama “Amsterdam” with an all-star cast including Margot Robbie,Taylor Swift, Robert De Niro, Christian Bale, Chris Bale and Rami Malek, continues. It is based on a true event.

The comedy romance “Ticket To Paradise” starring two great actors George Clooney and Julia Roberts, is also on screen for its final week.

“DC League Of Super-Pets” shows on Saturday afternoon for the final time.

You can find all the session times and more information at www.majestictheatre.com.au

Locals open for Australian comedic star

TABLELAND locals will share the stage with one of Aus tralia most popular, up and coming comedians as Luke Kidgell makes his third ap pearance in Cairns for two Guilt Free Comedy shows at the end of October.

Hosted at two separate venues over the two nights – Bulmba-ja Arts Centre on 28 October and Macalister Brewing Company on 30 Oc tober– Kidgell will be joined by local Millaa Millaa talent Georgina Humphries, Maree ba comedian Ty Thomas and a swath of other local Cairns comedians.

Kidgell became an inter net sensation through TikTok where he now garners up to half a million views on a sin gle post.

Returning to Cairns for a third time seemed like the right choice to Kidgell, with the great weather and great people of the far north being a major drawcard.

“Cairns has really good

vibes, I like the weather, I like the people, it is just fun – why wouldn’t you want to go?” Kidgell said.

Kidgell said giving local comedians a platform to ex pand and develop their craft is important as everyone must start somewhere.

“This is how everyone gets better, people did the same for me. I remember opening for people way bigger than me and even when you are starting it is so much fun just doing 10 minutes,” he said.

“It is important to get gigs with a paying audience be cause there is nothing more soul crushing that doing open mics every night for five years – as the man who has done that himself it is pretty grim.

“It is great what Guilt Free Comedy is doing by putting other people on the show, I was very happy to see it.”

Tickets are available on the Guilt Free Comedy Face book page.

Australian come dian Luke Kidgell will be coming to Cairns at the end of October with several local acts set to open.

Mareeba author releases adventure novel

PROLIFIC author Dick Eussen has just re leased his second novel and this time, he is taking readers on a journey of murder and organised crime, all set around the peaceful fishing town of Karumba.

Mr Eussen has been writing articles and books since 1957, penning seven books on subjects he is passionate about – fishing, hunting and travel – and for a variety of fishing and hunting magazines over the years, being published in the UK, Japan and US.

He still contributes articles to several monthly magazines that cover shooting, hunting, fishing and 4WD adventures, but now the Mareeba author is trying his hand at fiction for the second time.

“I wanted to write fiction for a long time and I wrote a couple but I couldn’t get them published, now I’ve found an inde pendent publisher, Greg Barron, who is a very well-known writer of Australiana and he was willing to give me a go,” Mr Eus sen said.

He admits there is no real money writ ing books, and, for him, it’s more about self-satisfaction.

“I’m a frustrated writer, I’m 80 years old – people who are my age are bored, but I never get bored, I go fishing and camping and I enjoy the writing,” he said.

“I never get writer’s block because I write when I feel like it – I leave it for a while then go back to it but it’s probably taken about three years to complete.”

His first novel, “Stone Justice”, was released last year, and now he has just

Mareeba author Dick Eussen has released his second novel.

completed “The Crocodile Coast”, a 260page book that revolves around an organ ised crime gang who take over Karumba, setting off a chain reaction of murder and kidnapping along the wilderness coast of the Gulf of Carpentaria.

“I have gone back to the told style of adventure writing which has been dropped because of political correctness,” he said.

Mr Eussen has drawn on characters he has met during his life and relied on knowl edge he has gathered from the many dif ferent occupations and experiences he has had over the past 80 years.

He would also love to see the book turned into a film and says he will continue to pursue this in the future.

While his latest novel has taken three years to complete, he already has ideas for a third novel which he is keeping close to his chest.

“The Crocodile Coast” is available at Mareeba News Agency or the Under Blue Skies Book Shop, in Byrnes Steet.

Big skies inspire exhibition

A FORMER Melbourne-based artist who moved to the Tablelands four years ago is opening a new exhibition inspired by the land scape and skies of the region.

Rose Knight said when she relocated to Atherton in 2018, she was immediately capti vated by the vast pristine spaces and dramati cally contrasting seasons in the skies.

“Far North Queenslanders are blessed to have so many natural wonders at our door step, so enjoying our glorious big sky country without the crowds during Covid border clo sures has been an incredible and unique ex perience,” she said.

“I am fundamentally a landscape artist, but I will not paint what doesn’t move me within.

“I will not paint a reflection, but rather a footprint of the energy that emanates from such powerful places and which demand to be acknowledged and remembered in the heart.

“It is my quest as an artist to find the per fect language to convey these impressions, and hopefully broaden the empathy for such majestic locations.”

“Big Sky Country” is a 45-piece homage to the Atherton Tablelands region and will be on show at Tanks Arts Centre in Cairns until 6 November.

Rose says the exhibition reflects the “meet ing and sharing of my adopted environment in all its aspects”.

“From the reef, to rainforests, to Tablelands and waterfalls, Savannah bush and red dirt outback with an emphasis on the spectacular skies that are ours alone.,” she said.

“My intent is the hope of inspiring locals and visitors alike to explore this wonderful state further – It makes me want to cross my heart and kiss the sky.”

HAPPY

Now based in Atherton, Rose Knight has a new exhibition called “Big Sky Country” currently showing at Tanks Arts Centre in Cairns.

Spooky Pines ready to carve

QUEENSLAND pineapple growers are urg ing Aussies to swap pumpkins for pineapples this spooky season.

The Spooky Pines custom was intro duced six years ago and has since grown in popularity, carving a pineapple doesn’t leave any waste - you can eat the flesh of the pine straight away, refrigerate it to use in your fa vourite recipe, or freeze it for smoothie.

To help in the tradition, Pure Gold Pine apples has released limited-edition Spooky Pines, available on major supermarket shelves across Australia throughout October.

The special pineapples come with a Spooky Pines tag and a QR code for carving instructions.

General Manager of Tropical Pines An thony Dobson said it was great to see Aus tralians embracing the pineapple carving tradition last year.

“Last year we saw a great take up of Spooky Pines and we’re thrilled that the community is really starting to embrace this new Halloween tradition,” he said.

“Given the farming challenges over the past year - floods, rising fuel prices, a huge increase in fertiliser costs - and now the anticipated third La Nina event - pineapple farmers are going to be particularly chal lenged towards the end of this summer.”

Mr Dobson said extra rainfall usually resulted in smaller pineapples, which meant a reduced price at market, and the fact that pineapples took on average 18 months to harvest gave growers a unique set of chal lenges.

“We hope consumers will keep support ing us and remember to pick up a pineap ple for Halloween and enjoy a sweet treat of fresh pineapple once they have carved it.”

Queensland Pineapple growers are asking people to swap out their pumpkins for pineapples this Halloween.

Grassfed cattle industry enters new era

THE transition to Cattle Australia received an overwhelming majority of support at Cattle Council’s special general meeting, with 91.75 per cent of individual producers and 75 per cent of State farming organisa tions voted in favour of the proposed consti tution to establish Cattle Australia.

Cattle Council president Lloyd Hick said it was a great moment for the grassfed cattle industry.

“Now is the time to unite for the good of all cattle producers,” Mr Hick said.

“Cattle Council will now fully transition to Cattle Australia, marking a new era for the grassfed cattle industry.

“Any producer who pays the grassfed

levy can become a member, vote and run for a position on the board and or vote for directors.

“For the first time, the body represent ing grassfed cattle producers will be driven by and be in the control of grassfed cattle producers.

“We acknowledge some members have concerns about the model. We will continue to listen to them and seek to address those concerns.

“The constitution will be reviewed in two years – this will make sure it is working as best as it possibly can.

“Cattle Australia will be a strong, influ ential, and inclusive voice for producers and

ensure the grassfed cattle industry prospers.

“The constitution will take effect on 4 November 2022 when the Board elections process will get underway.

“For the very first time, any cattle pro ducer who pays the Cattle Transaction Levy can run for office and make positive change for our industry.

“We now turn our attention to the nomi nation and voting process for Cattle Aus tralia’s first Board elections in December this year.

“I ask all cattle producers to get behind Cattle Australia and make it the success our industry needs.”

ON

Spring delivers new generation of warmbloods

BY SALLY TURLEY

SPRING has been busy delivering the results of another year's hard work and planning at Linda McKinnon's Regal Warmblood Stud, near Lake Barrine.

With three new season foals already on the ground and more due throughout October, it is a time of hope and promise.

Using the best bloodlines from Europe and Australia, for the last 20 years, Linda McKin non has been focused on breeding modern sport horses, primarily orientated to supplying dres sage competitors with purpose bred, trainable mounts.

At one week of age, little “Win”, daughter of “Fuerstenball”, the 2022 top Hanoverian stallion for type and 2018 Danish Warm blood Stallion of the Year, has achieved the trifecta of breeding traits Linda was seeking in her imported frozen semen (IFS) selection.

“Win's longer legs, greater elegance and shorter back coupling – she is the improve ment on her dam I was hoping for, plus she has enough spirit to make her quite the little charac ter already,” Linda said.

“Her mother ‘Wendlyn WD’, is a daughter of the much-admired stallion ‘Weltmeyer’.”

Described as a “breeding stallion sensation” and “a monument of a horse”, Hanoverian Ver band breeding director Dr Jochen Wilkens said that altogether, from the point of dressage, Welt meyer was the stallion of his time and embodied the modern dressage horse.

A lot to live up to, but as little Win frolics around the scenic hilltops of Russell Pocket Lodge, her lake-side home, all the pressures of competition are still years away.

Linda has been riding, training and breed ing dressage horses all her life. Growing up in Mudgee, capital of the broad, fertile river valley country in the central west of New South Wales, Linda moved north with her parents at the age of 13 years.

“Mum and Dad bred Hereford beef cattle and grew lucerne on the river flats at Mudgee and we had Australian stock horses on the farm. I learned to ride as soon as I could walk,” she said.

Linda's interest in horses stayed with her and after meeting her husband at 20, they bought their 28-hectare Tableland property and she be gan developing her “Regal Warm Blood Stud” breeding program.

The state-of-the-art breeding facility was built from scratch on “the love of a group of mares with incredible genetics, stunning good looks, superb temperaments and movement to die for”.

“We AI all our mares with imported Hano verian approved semen selected on trainable temperament, excellent movement and sound ness,” Linda said.

Experiencing an increase in popularity in line with the post-World War II growth in rec reational riding, warmbloods are a group of

middle-weight horses, the breed evolving from crosses of the lighter agricultural and carriage horse types, refined with hot blood (Thorough bred/Arabian) influences.

“Our philosophy is to breed for trainability, movement and soundness with stallion selection very carefully considered for each individual mare, so we may not always choose young and fashionable stallions, but rather the one most suited to our goals for the mare,” Linda said.

“We breed between three and seven foals a year, including “Regal Empire”, the rising oneyear-old and only Australian foal by stallion per formance test champion, Emelio Sanchez.

“Our biggest market for horses is in Victo ria, New South Wales and South-East Queens land and I am incredibly fortunate to have new owners that keep in touch about how the horses are going, their competition results and training progress.”

Achievements over the years include many National and State dressage championship ti tles including most recently “Regal Quick as a Flash”, the chestnut gelding by Quarterback (IFS) achieving Queensland Preliminary Cham pion 2022 in combination with his young rider.

An accomplished dressage competitor her self, Linda has trained up to FEI (Federation Equestre Internationale) level and won many championships with horses she has bred.

“The process of breeding, foaling, growing on, training and competing on your own hors es is a long but extremely rewarding journey,” Linda said.

“We have had several ‘Gold Foals’ and some top 10 rated horses in the annual Hanoverian Horse Society national tour. A classifier flown in from Germany travels Australia each February, performance testing the movement and train ability of young mares.

“The appraisal process is an unbiased assess ment, not a competition, which allows me to compare my foals across Australia. It gives me a good gauge and I know that when they score well, my breeding program is on track.

“I have 10 brood mares in the stud at the mo ment, but I am in the process of downsizing and plan to put a few of them back under saddle.

“I don't retain any entire males – all colts are for sale or gelded from 6-12 months of age.

“We run a boutique agistment facility along side the stud operation. Of our 26 paddocks, just over half the property is used for breeding pur poses.

“The rest have been set up as 1-acre pad docks featuring block shelter sheds and im proved pastures where horses receive full care and two hard feeds a day.

“Our premium service gives owners peace of mind, knowing their horses are receiving the best care in excellent facilities, whether the owners are seeking a wet season alternative or need a break themselves,” she added.

TABLELAND MILL CRUSHING STATISTICS

ENDING 2/10/2022

Crop Estimate:

For Week:

Cane Crushed

Crushed:

Date:

MOSSMAN MILL CRUSHING STATISTICS

ENDING 2/10/2022

Linda McKinnon of Regal Warmblood Stud is thrilled with her new season run of females foals as fillies give her the luxury of building another genetic layer into her herd.

LETTERS to the editor

Not happy with hold ups

I WOULD like to be the first person to have a whinge about the traffic and the hold ups on the highway on the Mareeba-Dimbulah Road due to the Savannah in the Round fes tival.

It could have been handled so much bet ter or actually put in proper turning lanes so it wasn’t so confusing and not cause near ac cidents every time you drove past there.

Main Roads and all the organisers of Savannah in the Round should be held ac countable for it.

Unhappy Dimbulah resident

Let us know what you grow

AS a recreational cyclist I have the pleasure of riding past many crops and farmlands of our beautiful Tablelands.

I see many different crops that I have never seen before. These are becoming more numerous, and our farms are looking so neat and beautiful. Trouble is, I don’t always know what the crop is.

Wouldn’t it be nice if I could learn what

those crops are while riding past them?

Remember those little metal signs we would see with plant names on them for passionate gardeners to put in front of their parsley or basil?

I would love to see a sign in front of a crop so we interested community members can learn what we are growing in our area. Doesn’t have to be fancy.

I am 67 years old and I don’t know all the crops. How will our younger generation learn what they look like? How will those tourists that live in cities learn what our crops are?

Perhaps worth considering.

At a one-hotel town in Texas, I was ex pected to pick citrus. I paid for a room. The next day mail which had been redirected, was left in my room and included a buff col oured envelope and in bold print proclaimed “On Her Majesty’s Service”.

Ordering a meal that evening at the bar, I was fussed over by staff and locals, hands on my shoulders, beers plonked down for me and plenty of questions: Had I seen the Queen? Well, from a distance amongst mul titudes.

The women expressed great respect for her Majesty.

VOCAL LOCAL

Jen Fleming ATHERTON

Royal main confusion

THE day a hobo received Royal mail. After being fleeced of funds by a conman, including buying a car that blew up its en gine the next day in Miami, I was forced to find work which meant riding the rails, leap ing onto moving freight trains, and checking towns for casual work.

HISTORY UPDATE

DID YOU KNOW?

1917 Cairns Post tells us: Things on the Tablelands are looking well, the country being thickly grassed and the corn crop a good one. Despite scarcity of labour, the farmers are well satisfied with the situation and outlook.

The extraordinary plague of mice, which did considerable dam age to the young maize, has now disappeared as suddenly as it came. Some things do not change.

1917: We can supply the furniture and furnishings necessary for a five roomed cottage – everything from the sideboard in the dining room to the fry pan in the kitchen – for £50. Let us send you the Complete List of articles.

It will convince you of our ability to save you money. John Hicks & Company Ltd., George and Ann Streets, Brisbane. Still £50 was a lot of money in those days.

1916: A list of enemy firms was published in the Cairns Post and it was stated that the list would re main as long as the war continued and would be added to from time to time. The list is too long to place here at the moment, maybe at a later date.

1915: The first meeting of the Bar ron Shire Council of the year was held on Thursday and it was marked by a disorderly scene and threats of violence. It arose quickly, was of

brief duration, and then matters be came smooth again. All to do with costs.

Barron Shire became Woothaka ta Shire 1919, which later became Mareeba Shire.

Members of the Historical Society of Mareeba are still working hard on getting information down onto data bases.

More willing workers would be most appreciated. So call in and ask how you can be of assistance. You will be greeted with open arms. Contact the secretary via email on sec@mbahistsoc.org.au or phone 4092 3599 (if unanswered, please leave a clearly spoken message and we will get back to you).

We are in the large green build ing between the visitors informa tion centre and Mareeba Art Society building.

We are open Tuesdays and Wednesdays 8am till 3pm and on our Market day 2nd and 5th Sat urday of the month from 7.30 till noon. Come and buy some fresh, home grown produce and goods.

The Society is always seeking new members to help seek out, save, preserve, conserve and protect the Mareeba Shires’ fabulous and important local history.

Remember: once burnt, de stroyed and dumped, this valuable , unique and important history is lost to you and future generation forever.

Next morning, strolling down the street, I did an “Aussie salute” (brushed a fly off an eyebrow) just as the Sheriff was slowly cruising by, window down. He slowly re turned my salute.

Having no green card to work, I packed a bag and at night, silently left the hotel head ing for the bend in the rails and jumped the first train which had a piggyback flat plat form for carrying vehicles.

Tony Blanchfield TOLGA

Nuclear for sure, these windmills destroy our visual heritage and are not very efficient, time is ticking. – Robert Slade

There’s nothing wrong with clean coal. I haven’t heard of any windmills in Queen St. – Ann-Marie Hopa

The damage it will do at Chalumbin to a pristine tropical area is ludicrous, there are so many better places for these, not there! – Christian Tamara Mcdonald

Look towards nuclear. These renewables are a waste of money. I love solar but on existing roofs, wind turbines r an eye sore and don’t produce enough. Other countries laughing at us. – Sharon Gordon

The Planning Code for Wind Farms is a sham: State Planning Code 23 for Wind Farms allows wind farms to be assessed without community consultation and avoidance of assessment under the Nature Conservation Act. State Code 23 can only mitigate or offset potential harm. State Code 23 refers to a “sensitive site” whereby a wind farm cannot be constructed closer than 1.5km. A “sensitive site” is defined as a retirement village or school etc. A protected area or even a World Heritage Site is not defined as a “sensitive site”. – Keep Chalumbin Wild

They are a bloody eyesore which you can't recycle. It is wrecking prime farming land. – Johanna Gaye Oats

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

By Bob Sinclair

Emerald Creek Falls Beautiful quiet spot to relax this was taken at the top of falls extremely slippery rock

take care

Renewables, like all developments, need to be properly sited. No industrial developments should be allowed in high biodiversity areas, let alone areas bordering the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. If Chalumbin is approved it will lead to the destruction of habitat critical to the survival of multiple endangered species. With deforestation a leading cause of climate change, the destruction of 2797 acres of 95 per cent remnant vegetation to make way for so-called green energy defies logic. There is ample cleared and degraded land on the Tablelands and throughout QLD, including many places with better wind resources. This site has been chosen due to the proximity to high voltage transmission lines, and the fact it required negotiations with just two leaseholders, making it highly favourable and profitable to the developer. The developer, FYI is a subsidiary of Korea Zinc, whose stated aim is to use Australian renewables to create green hydrogen for export. Australia is being used as an offset for global corporations to 'clean' their portfolios. Huge subsidies are what is making these developments viable. We need to put Australia first. Sure, use renewable energy but site it in suitable locations. The QLD state code dealing with windfarms is manifestly inadequate and fundamentally flawed, bypassing the environment department and with insufficient safeguards to stop unsuitable developments. This needs to be fixed without delay. There is no doubt a conversation about nuclear needs to start at all levels of government. Personally, I have my concerns with nuclear, but not talking about it is like burying our heads in the sand. We need a rational, informed debate - our environment depends

QUEENSLAND Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk inspected the new Kaban Green Power Hub near Ravenshoe last week and with another wind farm on the horizon at Chalumbin, we asked our readers whether they thought Australia should continue to pursue green energy projects or look to other sources such as nuclear?

Helen Kindt

Mareeba Historical Society

Enter your photos on Facebook at the Tablelands and Surrounds Photography Group page

TAKE a wander down the driveway and you will be greeted with this lovely piece of Lake Barrine paradise.

Hidden behind the privacy of rainforest, this property offers tranquil living on 2.5 acres* in a great area of the Tablelands.

First welcoming you is a covered patio expanding the

full length of the home allow ing you to enjoy the beauti ful trees & gardens that sur round the property.

Stepping off the patio into the home is the carpeted liv ing area which flows effort lessly onto the dining and kitchen, which is constructed of timber with granite bench tops and topped off with a

sizable pantry.

Down the hallway are the three bedrooms, bathroom and laundry.

Two bedrooms house built-ins and the bathroom has great bench space and step-in shower.

The backyard is full of lovely spaces to make your own including garden beds

and veggie patches for the keen gardener. There is a machinery/storage shed with alternate heights to store the trailer, boat or caravan.

Nature lovers will be im pressed with the ultimate pri vacy, the birdlife and wildlife that call this property home. This property really is the full package.

Tropical lifestyle

Contact Exclusive agent Suzey Whitby at Ray White Atherton

on

Space throughout and fantastic views

Ultimate lifestyle grazing

PERCHED on iconic Bones Knob with views towards Atherton, Mt Bartle Frere, Tinaroo Dam and beyond, this 34 acre (13.75ha) prop erty is only three minutes to Tolga. The current owner bought it in 1985, and it is only the second time it has come on the market in the past 70 years.

An ideally shaped block with boundary fencing, rich volcanic soil and predomi nantly brachiaria grass, the property has previously been used for grazing.

The open eucalypt wood

land paddocks and small patch of rainforest makes this a very attractive holding.

The main access is off Griffin Road, and a secondary rear access from (gazetted) Bow cock Road.

The house was built in 1882 and relocated to Bones Knob approx 80 years ago.

Lovingly maintained and im proved over the decades, this home has history, character and charm with gable roofs, timber walls, high ceilings, casement windows and tim ber decks.

It features the follow

ing, Open plan kitchen liv ing and dining with Coon ara slow combustion wood stove, casement windows wrap around two sides of the home capturing the breezes and views to Atherton, Tolga and east to the great divid ing range. There is plenty of storage, gas cooktop and electric wall oven.

Three spacious bed rooms, 2 with aircondition ing and the main with walk in robe and ensuite. All bed rooms have beautiful French doors with decks overlook ing the manicured gardens.

Large north facing verandah at the back of the home en joying a private peaceful set ting overlooking the property and beautiful gardens, study or craft room.

Property infrastructure outside include, 8m x 6m Carport, 23m x 5m 4 bay shed, 2 bays lockable with roller doors, 11m x 8m high clearance with skillion roof, 7m x 4m 3 Bay tractor shed. Bitumen driveway and elec tric gate access, water allo cation from the Bones Knob Water Board with water tank and pump for backup.

The landscaped gardens surrounding the home to gether with the 5 acres of Mabi Forest create a perfect private sanctuary around the home, from every window you will be able to enjoy the extensive array of natives and botanical plants and soak in the fresh Country at

mosphere.

The best way to see this property is by private in spection. Contact DualExclusive Agent Michelle Raso on 0428 116 136 for more information or to book your inspection to day.

Address: 238 Griffin Road, TOLGA

Price: Offers Over $1.2M

Agent: DUAL EXCLUSIVE to Michelle Raso Elders Real Estate Malanda

0428 116 136

for

bespoke

ous

unique

stylish 3 bedroom plus

plan design with

well thought out layout

to

throughout.

on a sizeable

(just

kitchen with generous bench space, pantry & stainless steel appliances including a gas cooktop & dishwasher

• Servery window/ bar area adjacent to the kitchen servicing the rear patio

• Main bathroom with Japanese style shower & tub

• 3rd toilet & laundry off the rear patio

• Multiple tv points throughout

• 2 separate lock up ga rages with their own drive ways

low maintenance allotment with a selection of irrigated fruit trees & stunning views of the surrounding Country side

• Quiet acreage location, only 3 minutes from Ama roo Medical centre & future shops & only 7 minutes to town centre

This unique property has so much to offer. Inspec tion is highly recommended – open for inspection this Saturday from 10.00am to 11.00am.

air-conditioned

stunning

living areas

tiles in

carpeted

Beautiful timber bi-fold entry doors & Sandstone

on

• 6m x 6m colourbond shed with 3 roller door ac cess & mezzanine + some internal lining

• Solar hot water system

• Fully fenced 4,278m2

front

Tiled front patio & rear patio with shade blinds with views overlooking the acre age

• Master bedroom with built-in robe & ensuite

• Sizeable U-shaped

NORMALLY we are expect ed to choose, to weigh up the pros and cons.

Town or rural? No need to choose as this property of fers 8,000sqm of level land in Tolga, a climatic sweet spot for most of the year, encouraging a life lived out doors.

There is a comfortable one bedroom home on the property with an easy ac cess shower and a lock-up garage, conveniently locat ed just 180 metres from the

Primary School. The land is zoned resi dential and offers astute buyers a rare opportunity to secure a redevelopment site in a central position.

For further information or to arrange a private inspection please call ex clusive agent Joe Torrisi on 0417 700 468.

For more information, call Trisha Jackson at Profes sionals Atherton. Phone 4091 3955 or 0419 1833 145 anytime. To view more photos, visit athertonreal estate.com.au

Peaceful and tranquil setting

SET against a backdrop of green rolling hills, this stun ning acreage property is country living at its best. A place to escape to your own exclusive piece of paradise that is private and secluded, but still within close proxim ity to basic amenities.

Features Include;

• Solid masonry block home

• 4 bedrooms, 2 bed rooms with built in robes

• Open plan living with cork flooring and a cosy fire place

• Tasmanian Oak timber kitchen with electric appli ances, rangehood & break fast bar

• Tiled bathroom with a plunge bath, separate show er recess & vanity

Internal laundry

Ceiling fans, security screens, and plenty of stor age space throughout home

2 outdoor entertainment areas

2 bay carport (can fit 4 cars) and a 2 bay remote control garage

5 bay powered shed with a shower & toilet

Water supply: Easement to permanent spring creek

Concrete water tank

Fully fenced 1.9 acre property

• School bus run to Millaa Millaa State School, Malan da State School & Malanda High School.

Well established and maintained gardens

No neighbours in sight –

your outdoor living in privacy

Stunning Mountain & Rural Views

Ideally located approx. 5 minutes from Millaa Millaa Town Centre, 25 minutes from Malanda, 40 minutes from Atherton and 40 min

utes from Innisfail.

For further information or to arrange an inspection, call exclusive marketing agent Raquel at Sommer set Realty on 0408 983 879.

DID SOMEONE SAY DUPLEX?

Dual residence on 4.7 acres plus water

you are looking for a solid,

will

to number 2 Fenwick Street, Mareeba!

Situated on a super low maintenance 716m2 allot ment, this duplex (2 units) has been built with conveni ence and low maintenance in mind. Constructed of mason ry block internal and external walls it will be a solid invest ment for your future.

Located only a few min utes from the Mareeba CBD, with Mareeba State High School just around the corner and the Mareeba Tennis Club and Borzi Park just across the road, your tenants will have the convenience of be ing close to everything.

The two units are almost identical, with a few defining features that set them apart from each other.

Each Unit Features:

• 3 Bedrooms, 1 Bath

room, separate toilet, internal laundry

• Good kitchen with plenty of cupboard space

• Open plan living, dining & kitchen serviced by split system air-conditioner

• Front patio & 1 single carport

• Dividing privacy fence between units at the rear

• Garden shed, concrete path around the unit

• Low maintenance, con crete block construction, se curity screens on all windows & doors

• Currently tenanted at $300 per week

The only differences be tween them are:

• Unit 2 has a fully fenced back yard.

• Unit 1 has a single gar den shed and unit 2 has a double-size garden shed

• Unit 1 has an additional air-conditioner in the master bedroom

• Unit 1 has built-in ward robes in all rooms, unit 2 has built-in wardrobes in two rooms

• Unit 1 has carpet to bed rooms, Unit 2 has vinyl floor ing to bedrooms

This Duplex will not last long in this market, so don't miss out of this great oppor tunity to own a great invest ment.

Give exclusive Agent Remo Esposito a call on 0401 969 473 for more information.

THINKING ABOUT SELLING YOUR

Unique Malanda acreage

YOUR privacy is assured with this Jon Nott master-built 3 bedroom home which also includes a separate fully selfcontained studio/granny flat. The studio provides great ac commodation as a homestay, guest quarters or dual family living.

Perfect for the extended Family or your very own B & B this unique property is situated on a gently sloping 2.5 acres that is only a fiveminute drive to the heart of Malanda and very short drive

to the lakes and Tinaroo dam. This fantastic lifestyle prop erty really is unique with no neighbours encroaching your privacy. The home is placed at the elevated end of the property to take advantage of the amazing rural views.

Boasting some amazing infrastructure including:

• Modern 3 bedroom, 1 bathroom Jon Nott built home

• Unique design including Mortise and Tenon beam with raked ceilings

• Polished timber floors

throughout

• Stained glass front en trance bi-fold doors

• Practical timber Chef's kitchen with gas cooktop and electric fan forced oven

• Open plan living, dining and lounge room with en closed fireplace

• Entertaining timber ve randa overlooking the prop erty and taking in the views

• Two of the bedrooms in cluding master have direct ac cess to veranda

• Two way bathroom with

separate bath, shower and walk-through robe in the mas ter bedroom.

• 4 Car accommodation • Built-in workshop area underneath house

• Quality Bore with two rain water tanks

• House is hard wired for generator

Studio/granny flat features:

• Kitchenette and bath room

• Vinyl floor coverings through-out

• Full length veranda

• Separate 2 car accom modation with laundry

• Enclosed Storage area

Acreage with a uniquely built pole home like this is scarce so don't miss your chance to own a piece of paradise on the Atherton Ta

blelands.

To arrange your private in spection Contact Exclusive marketing agent Rino Gava on 0427 779 086 to appre ciate the splendour of this property.

Address: 44 Glaspy Road, MALANDA

Price: $695,000

Agent: EXCLUSIVE to Rino Gava Raine & Horne Atherton

0427 779 086

Ready to build with stunning Atherton Tablelands views

mountain and landscape

of the Atherton Ta blelands with town

as underground

town water

more information, con tact Michelle at LJ Hooker Atherton

appendix autonomy bitter blonde censorship chase coincide constellation crown dairy dangerous density deport

diplomat disco extension fight final finished forget glacier guide horseshoe hypnotize ignorance insight

laundry lunch magnetic magnitude matrix ministry momentum motorcycle nightmare patrol permanent position possibility

progress reach relationship representative rough sentence shiver smash smell smooth spill split stamp

strict stroll suburb sugar suitcase suntan total touch version virgin virtue write

take a break...

20. a strong, hard magnetic silvery-grey metal, (4)

22. surpass or overtake another to move into a leading or dominant position (8) 25. having control and influence over people and events (8)

26. a magical or medicinal potion (6) 27. militiamen who volunteered to be ready for service at a minute’s notice (9) 28. an evil spirit or phantom (5)

Down

1. a person appointed to administer or manage the accounts of a society, company, local authority, or other body (9)

2. a shop that sells souvenirs and small items suitable to be given as presents (4,4)

3. play (a ball or card) wrongly, badly, or in contravention of the rules (7)

4. characterized by friendliness and absence of discord (8)

5. walk in a leisurely way (6)

recalling

to

drum or bugle

their quarters

or chest

a feeling or state of intense excitement and happiness (8)

a large wrapped or bound bundle of paper, hay, or cotton (4) 15. a town or city with a harbour for seagoing ships (7) 17. existing or holding a specified position in fact but not necessarily by legal right (2,5)

Weekly

Aries

6. a person competing for the same objective in the same field of activity (5) 9. a loud outburst of laughter (4) 14. of a very poor quality; extremely bad or unpleasant (9)

16. when you do not have to pay anything to use something (4-4)

18. sudden and great fear (8)

19. a blank page at the beginning or end of a book (7)

21. A macaque monkey native of southern and southeastern Asia (6) 23. an old word meaning ‘in bed’ (4) 24. the quality of being justifiable by

Scorpio

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

could

THE LATE Alma Lillian Langtree

Carmody)

Terry, Frances, Greg and Pam Langtree

the Mareeba

Cheryl Harntschfeger

Amaroo Medical Centre Mareeba,

MONTGOMERY, Eileen Holly (Holly)

Late of Atherton. Passed away peacefully on the 1st of October, 2022. Aged 95 years.

Loved Mother and Mother-in-Law of Michael & Leanne, Mary Ann & Cecil (Dec.), Bernadette & Ronald, John & Robyn, and loving Grandmother and Great Grandmother to their children and grandchildren.

Relatives and friends of Holly are respectfully invited to attend her funeral service which is appointed to move from St Joseph’s Church, Mabel Street, Atherton after a requiem mass commencing at 2pm on Wednesday 19th October, 2022 for interment in the Atherton Cemetery.

The service will be available to view through the following link: https://livestream.com/ rapidspin/hollymontgomery.

Guilfoyle Funeral Services

and

of Alma who attended her funeral service on Monday 10th October 2022.

special thanks to Alma’s good friend

McKenna who conducted her funeral service and Alma’s cousin Kay for all her care and assistance given. Please accept this as our personal thanks.

Deborah Neomi Fanna

Deborah’s Family, Doug, Barbara and Shane Fanna.

Would like to express their gratitude for the condolences, cards and flowers received.

Chapels, Crematorium & Memorial Gardens Atherton: 4091 2147 Mareeba: 4092 1013 Local Family Owned & “Entrusted for over 70 years” www.guilfoylefunerals.com.au

HOHNBERG, Norman Walter

Late of Atherton. Passed away peacefully on the 1st of October, 2022. Aged 91 years.

Loved Husband of Ann. Father and Father-inLaw of Tricia & Brad, Debora (Dec.), Christine & David, Dale and Joanne, Brendon & Helen & their families.

In keeping with Norman’s wishes, a private cremation will be held.

Forever in our hearts, we know you’ll be playing music in the stars.

Guilfoyle Funeral Services

Chapels, Crematorium & Memorial Gardens

Atherton: 4091 2147 Mareeba: 4092 1013

Local Family Owned & “Entrusted for over 70 years” www.guilfoylefunerals.com.au

ACCOMMODATION

Mareeba Golf

CATTLE FOR SALE

Brahman/ Draughtmaster

Small herd, very quiet, Ravenshoe. P: 0407 163 238

NOTICE OF AGM

DEBBIE

Edward James Fraser

13/10/50 - 11/10/15

Sadly missed along life’s way, Quietly remembered every day. No longer in our lives to share, But in our hearts you’re always there. “Cherished Forever”

your loving Family.

A.G.M.

Positions Vacant

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

• FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY

SAFETY OFFICER

Casual Position (Flexible Hours)

We are currently seeking a Workplace

Safety

of

be

work

Exciting

WE ARE CURRENTLY RECRUITING:

•

• Operations

Visit: www.careers.missionaustralia.com.au

COMMENCING 2023

• Senior Mathematics Teacher (Full-Time)

• Senior English Teacher (Full-Time/Part-Time)

• Curriculum Writer - Prep (Full-Time)

Jubilee Christian College provides high quality P-12 education programs to students On-campus in Atherton and across Queensland, via Distance Education.

Staff at JCC are caring and dedicated people who value relationships, insist on high standards and are supportive of the Aims and Ethos of a Christian School.

To find out more about these exciting opportunities visit: www.jubileecc.qld.edu.au/working-with-jubilee

Please forward all applications to: principal@jubileecc.qld.edu.au

Applications are to include a covering letter, a current CV, with 2 referees.

Jubilee Christian College is an equal opportunity employer and a Child Safe organisation.

WANT to place a Public Notice? Email admin@ theexpressnewspaper. com.au for a quote.

GOT a position vacant you need to fill? Email your friendly locally owned Newspaper: admin@ theexpressnewspaper. com.au

Did you know...

SPORT

Atherton golf ladies clinch finals

THE Atherton Golf Club ladies have been crowned champions after the final round of the 2022 Far North Queensland Women’s Golf inter-club competition, narrowly beating out Half Moon Bay to clinch the title.

With the final being played in Mossman, Atherton had a tough game ahead of them with Half Moon Bay rising to the oc casion and winning the last day.

However, Atherton remained in their leading position and ended up taking home the tro phy with two points to spare.

PICTURED: FNQ women’s golf president Niki Bruce present ing Atherton Golf Club ladies captain Shelley Broadley with their trophy.

Car rally ready for take off

ORGANISERS of the Tour de Cassowary clas sic car rally are hoping for a good turnout to the event which starts at King Reef Resort, Kurrimine Beach on Saturday 22 October.

Open to classic vehicles 30 years of age or older, the rally also accepts vehicles of less than 30 years of age if the vehicle type was released prior to 1992.

Competitors are asked to be at King Reef Re sort at around 8.30am for registration. All the de tails of the rally will be presented at the drivers and navigators briefing prior to the start at 10am.

The awards and trophy presentations will be presented after the Concours d’ Elegance which

commences at around 3.30 pm after the cars re turn.

With most competitors usually staying at Kur rimine Beach on the Saturday night of the rally, organisers say those who wish to participate should book accommodation now.

The best time for the public to attend would be Saturday morning prior to the start or during the Concourse d’ Elegance after 3.30pm on Saturday.

Further information and entry forms can be obtained by emailing to dkhalloran2@bigpond. com (Ph 0418 635 604) or Allan Blair. blairam@ bigpond.net.au (Ph 0467 195 905).

• PROVE YOUR PEOPLE MANAGEMENT AND TIME MANAGEMENT SKILLS

The Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer will provide efficient, effective administrative and time-management support to the Chief Executive Officer, Mayor and Councillors that contribute to the efficiency and effectiveness of Etheridge Shire Council’s Corporate Governance Department.

Etheridge Shire Council is located within the heart of the Gulf Savannah Region with its eastern boundary being only 250km’s from Cairns. The main township within the Etheridge Shire is Georgetown which is approximately 400km’s from Cairns and 400km’s from the Gulf of Carpentaria. The shire has three other township’s being, Mt Surprise, Einasleigh, Forsayth. Mining, Tourism, Beef Cattle and Agriculture are the predominant industries which are the driving factor behind the shire’s economy.

The Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer role is to deliver sound administrative support in a prompt and efficient manner, whilst maintaining a high level of confidentiality.

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the successful applicant will work autonomously to ensure a high standard of administrative and project support.

Applications including a covering letter outlining how you (the applicant) can meet the position requirements, resume and 2 current references can be posted, delivered to the Administration Office, faxed or emailed to:

Position Vacant – Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer

The Chief Executive Officer

Etheridge Shire Council

PO Box 12

GEORGETOWN QLD 4871

Fax: 07 4062 1285

Email: info@etheridge.qld.gov.au

Further information can

Applications

Reeling in wins

IT was fishing mayhem on the waters of Lake Tinaroo over the weekend as the Zerek Barra Series held the first two rounds of their com petition.

Locals and visitors alike flocked to the Ta blelands in two-man teams to compete in the start of the series.

First place went to Mackay local team Anita Barra/Hummingbird, landing 10 out of the 10 barra they hooked for 149.55Kg and even catching the longest barra at a whopping 118cm.

Brisbane based team Wiilson Fishing took second with eight from 10 barra at a total weight of 114.25kg.

Casting Mayhem took out third place with 71.63kg of fish from six barra.

There were 75 barra caught across the two sessions by the 18 participating teams with 32 of those measuring over one metre.

The competition now moves to Teemburra Dam near Mackay in November for the third round of the series before continuing to other great fishing spots across Queensland.

Yungaburra local Joe Williams from team Fishing Monthly with a 113cm barra weighing in at 19kg.

Splendid day of racing at Atherton

AN overcast day did little to dampen the spirits of avid race fans over the weekend as locals flocked to the Atherton Turf Club for a day of racing.

The Feed n Saddle Shed Benchmark 65 Handi cap 1000m, the first race of the day, had a delayed start with trainer Sharlee Hoffman given a warning due to her horse Starfilly’s reluctance to proceed to the barriers.

Despite starting awkwardly, Starfilly managed to steady and cross the line first, followed by Janel Ryan’s Masared ridden by Shane Pawsey and Siz zling Sun, ridden and trained by Ngarie Nelson.

In the second race, Peanut Company of Austral ia – A Bega Company Maiden Plate 1200m it was Artiebe trained by Alex Malliff and jockeyed by Rachael Shred that crossed the line first, followed by Eye of Ra trained by Alwyn Bailey and ridden by Kyle Hocking then Talk Crazy trained by Trevor Rowe and ridden by Masayuki Abe.

For the Tonkin Steel QTIS Benchmark 60 Hand icap 1200m, Bonython trained by Sharlee Hoffman and ridden by Masayuki Abe took out first place, followed closely by Macipenko trained by Athol Ryan, Jockeyed by Kerry Rockett and then Alex Malliff’s Antique Lace ridden by Rachel Shred.

Junior Albert helps kickstart Mareeba’s junior basketball

NEARLY 50 kids laced up their basketball shoes last week as they participated in a spe cial junior’s day run by the Mareeba Basket ball Association and NBL manager Junior Albert showing the kids some skills.

Albert attended to provide coaching and share his vast knowledge with the next gen eration of basketball players.

He has experience in the Olympics, mul tiple world cups, managed several teams in Australia and even a brief stint with the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA.

Young up and coming basketballers got the chance to learn directly from Albert and put their names down to play in the upcom ing local basketball season.

Albert is hoping to be available again this week at training and he has strongly encour aged kids to attend next week to get the op portunity to learn from him while he is in the area and not away on duties with national or international teams.

From next Wednesday primary school kids over the age of 10 will play from 3.30-

4.15pm with high school kids training from 4.15pm until 5pm.

The men’s competition also kicked off last Wednesday night and currently com prises of four teams which will play each Wednesday

The under 10's took the court for the first time on Monday night followed by the ladies Anyone interested in playing basketball in Mareeba is encouraged to attend next week at the nominated times or by emailing secretarymbi2@gmail.com

Koheeto trained by Scott Cooper, ridden by Kyle Hocking came first in the Great Northern Bull Riding Class B Handicap 1400m, with Denise’s Pride, trained by Alwyn Bailey ridden by Nor Yadi coming in second, Millaa Miss trained by Mark Dale and ridden by Scott Gittos came third.

In the main race of the day, the Flynn Civil Open Handicap 1400m it was Our Chiquilla trained by Scott Cooper and ridden by Shane Pawsey who crossed the line first followed by Narda Shar trained by Sharlee Hoffman and jockeyed by Pietro Romeo, third went to Whitterick trained by Janel Ryan ridden by Rachel Shred.

Twin sisters Pippa and Frankie Trout dressed up for the day.

Grace Connor, Jen Marsh, Susan Lamari and Wendy Smart looking glamorous at the race day. Flynn Poggoili.

Race two winner Artiebe and jockey Rachel Shred.

Presentations recognise stand-out gladiators

THE Mareeba Gladiators

off

latest season last Saturday night

tions,

annual

Hosted at the Mareeba Leagues Club, the Gladiators reflected on the season gone by and took time to recognise some of their outstanding players.

Gladiators A grade rising star Hubert Elu was named Gladiator of the Year as well as best and fairest and players player.

Caleb Dally continued his fine form throughout the year and was the recipient of the best forward award for A grade.

Most improved went to Bryan Wyborn and Jaylan Williams re ceived the best back award while club stalwart and veteran player Rob Pedersen was named clubman of the year.

The Tablelands Ladies team were not forgotten on the night with many of their players receiving awards.

Mayleen Opperman was named best back, Lexeen Mathieson was chosen as best and fairest, players player went to Alyson Slyney and best forward went to Grace Oui.

There were two most improved awards this year, shared between Leiana Tekii and Nazareth Doolah.

Atherton goes down fighting

ATHERTON’S A grade put up a tough fight against CFN premiers Mulgrave over the weekend in their first one day game of the season but unfortunately could not seal the deal, being bowled out 53 runs short.

After travelling down the hill to play at Walker Road, Atherton won the toss and decided to have first crack and sent Mulgrave in to bat.

The bowling attack started off slow with the Mul grave line-up slowly whittling down the Atherton bowlers, all top five batsman made it into the double figures.

A standout performer was Mulgrave’s Justin Reid who smashed an unbeaten 73 off 84 with seven fours and one maximum before being caught and bowled by Atherton captain Tom Boorman.

After the top order fell Atherton managed to pick up some cheap wickets in the middle order however Mulgrave managed to last their full 45 overs and ended on 7/211.

Atherton opener Chris Adams attempted to set the tone but struggled with wickets falling all around him, he managed to get 20 runs before being bowled.

The rest of Atherton top order did little to bother the scorers until Pete Scerensini took to the crease at number five, joined by Mathew Hopkins and stead ied the ship.

Scerensini went on to make a half century be fore finally getting out on 58, the rest of the order followed close behind and after some tail wagging, Atherton managed 158 runs before being bowled out in the 44th over, giving Mulgrave the win and an ex tra bonus point.

Atherton will again travel down the hill to face off against Barron at Crathern Park on Saturday.

Pam Cater of Claude Cater Mensland presents Hubert Elu with his Gladiator of the Year award on Saturday night.

Ladies best back Mayleen Opperman, best and fairest Lexeen Mathieson, players player Alyson Slyney and most improved Leiana Tekii.

A grade Best forward Caleb Dally with A grade best and fairest and players player Hubert Elu.

2022 clubman of the year Rob Pedersen.