Yaseen wins at district finals

MALANDA’S public speaking champion

Yaseen Al Kahlout has taken out overall winner at the Lions Youth of the Year District Final held in Townsville on the weekend.

The Lions Youth of the Year quest is a public speaking competition open to students in Grades 11 and 12 and is designed to foster, encourage and develop leadership qualities as well as other citizenship qualities that will benefit them as they enter adulthood.

Yaseen went head to head with students across Far North Queensland for the title of District champion on the weekend, with his speech on stress inspiring the local judges and those in attendance. eas, it was the perfect opportunity to see new products up close.

The Community Award, which is a special award unique to the District Q2 final, was also awarded to Yaseen for having the most outstanding community service and community involvement.

The public speaking winner was Meghan Connolly from St Patrick's College. She was sponsored by the Mackay Host Lions Club.

Yaseen will be heading to Brisbane on 16 April to compete against some of the best public speakers in Queensland.

If he succeeds, he will head to the National Finals in the Gold Coast on 1 May.

“I think people like to see the variety on show, and touch and feel the products, and the Field Days gives them the chance to do that in one spot,” she said.

“Some exhibitors will use the event to launch new products and demonstrate the latest technology - something farmers and graziers would not get to see in reality because they are on their property most of the time.

“Our exhibitors tell us it’s all about making that connection with buyers at the Field Days, and they are still getting sales for up to two years after the event.”

Ms Sturiale said the Field Days also provided farmers and producers a chance to socialise with each other and talk to like-minded people.

“I think it brings people together and they get that opportunity to catch up and talk,” she said.

2023 Rotary FNQ Field Days chair Kevin Davies said the event was so successful and economically beneficial for the region because of the number of people behind the scenes making it happen.

"Field Days is on every two years and for that one week, the economic benefit this brings to the region is enormous as well as allowing locals to see what new technologies are available to industry sectors and grab a bargain from one of the 400 plus exhibitors," he said.

“There’s a level of passion and dedication amongst the committee, and there’s knowledge within the ranks of how to run an event of this size successfully.

“But it could not happen if not for the efforts of around 250 volunteers as well.

“The event provides a big incentive for anyone who wants to volunteer because they can actually earn money to go towards their chosen charity – and that certainly keeps them coming back.”

COMMUNITY housing rent will increase by 6.1 per cent after Mareeba Shire Council completed a review of the fees.

Under State legislation, the council must review rents annually, comparing what tenants of community housing pay with rent paid for private market properties of similar standard and median rent data provided by the Residential Tenancies Authority.

The State Government sets the maximum affordable rent for community housing tenants at

25 per cent of assessable income plus Commonwealth Rent Assistance (CRA).

“Council's responsibility is to establish the market rent which is used to determine whether a tenant pays 25 per cent of their income plus Commonwealth Rent Assistance or market rent, whichever is the lesser,” a council report stated.

“This means that the income generated by the service is capped.”

The 6.1 per cent rise is in line with the increase adopted by council last year.