The Express Newspaper 26th October 2022

Mareeba’s very own fashionista Gracyn Masterson will be hittingthe 2022 Victoria RacingClub’s Myer Fashionson the Field as the first woman finalist in the Best Suited category at the Melbourne Cup. With the help of SonliaFashion, her vision of a beautiful, bold andromantic Spanish bull-ridersuit was created with justtwo pairs of trousers.

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Gracyn vies for fashion title

BY ELLIE FINK

SHOWCASING a suit inspired by the bold and romantic Span ish dancers at the Mareeba Multicultural Festival, local fashionista Gracyn Masterson will be taking to the fields at the 2022 Victoria Racing Club’s Myer Fashions on the Field finals as the first female Best Suited finalist.

The Mareeba model, alongside Sonlia Fashion designers Liana Hastie and Sonya Alba-Miller, designed the pastel “Spanish bull fighter” suit which took her straight through to the national finals.

Following the current Barbie-core trend, Gracyn’s suit, created by Liana, incorporates pastel baby pinks and blue with pompoms and lace details with a “low-key” pink Spanish inspired beret to top it off.

“The suit is actually made from two pairs of pants. I had pur chased one pair but when it arrived there was two pairs,” Gracyn said.

“I didn’t want that fabric to go to waste so when the opportunity to enter a suit came I asked Liana to help me create the perfect one.

“When I used to go to the Multicultural festival, I would see the Spanish dancers, Liana and Sonya included, and I fell in love with how strong and romantic they were– it was my inspiration for the design.”

Her unique suit was also recently showcased in a photoshoot where she was pampered by local hairdresser Yahni Pole-Rindlis bacher and photographed by Cairns photographer Alex Nuno which gained lots of attention on social media.

For the first time ever, females are allowed to compete in the Best Suited category and males are able to compete in the Best Dressed category with fashion becoming an expression that isn’t attached to man or woman.

When Gracyn heard of this change, she was beyond excited and knew immediately she had to enter her dream suit.

“A lot has changed in 2022 and things are becoming a lot more inclusive,” she said.

“Fashion is not gender-specific and it is for everyone to express whether they are a man, or a woman and I am actually the first woman to become a finalist in this category.”

Fashion has always been a staple in Gracyn’s life, with Sonlia fashion often being her go to since their early days in business.

Growing up on a cattle station in Laura, Gracyn’s favourite time of the year was the races, where she could dress up in soft fabrics and beautiful colours.

With Mareeba being the closest big town to Laura, she found herself coming through the doors of Sonlia Fashion, kick starting

perfect funeral

peace of mind.

her fashion career.

“When I went to Mareeba State High School, I did my work experience with Sonlia Fashion and I made my very first millinery which I won an award for,” Gracyn said.

“I have always felt really supported by the girls (Sonya and Liana) and they have really helped me make something fun and a little bit cheeky.”

Although her suit was a huge highlight in the competition, Gra cyn was also a finalist in the Queensland titles for Best Dressed in a bright pink and tangerine dress (pictured) created by Sonya. The look was completed with a wide brimmed open hat with tangerine veiling created by Liana.

Gracyn will be heading to Melbourne in the coming days to strut the field in her suit and make history as the first female Best Suited finalist. The winner will be announced on 3 November.

Liana Hastie will also be in Melbourne where another one of her designs has made the top 10 in the Emerging Designer finals. A mil linery design inspired by a family heirloom will also be showcased in the finals on Melbourne Cup day in the Millinery competition.

Councillor Update

Mareeba Shire Councillor Lenore Wyatt

I would like to start this month’s Councillor Update by thanking all the staff at Mareeba Shire Council. Councillors engage with community members and make decisions on the future of our Shire, but it is the staff who bring these plans to life.

Mareeba Shire Council is one of the largest employers in the shire with 215 staff members, and this year Council celebrated twelve staff members who have been part of the team for more than twenty years.

They share a combined total of 295 years of service to Council and it is impressive that some staff have served our community for over 40 years.

I am proud of our Council staff, and it is wonderful to receive positive feedback about the work that they do from community members.

One such example, that I am very appreciative of, is the Water and Waste

team’s recycling education initiative that aims to increase understanding of responsible waste management.

Council launched the ‘Recycle Right’ campaign under this initiative, and I am honoured to lead the campaign.

The campaign encourages residents to brush up on their recycling knowledge, discover new tricks to cut down on waste and to reuse items as much as possible.

The campaign will also promote National Recycling Week that is coming up on 7-13 November 2022.

This year PlanetArk reminds Australians that ‘Waste isn’t Waste until it’s Wasted’. Founded in 1996, Recycling Week is a great opportunity to improve your recycling knowledge and to build better recycling habits.

Visit www.msc.qld.gov.au and search “recycling” for factsheets, videos and

more.

I would also like to encourage residents to consider bringing items of good quality, that they no longer use, to the Buy Back Shop.

We all have a responsibility to minimise the amount of waste going to landfill, and your item might be just what someone else is looking for.

The Shop is open to the public every Saturday from 10am to 3pm. Pop in to see what second-hand treasures are on offer or visit Council’s website for more information.

Cr Lenore Wyatt

IMAGE: Alex Nuno.

CADET JOURNALIST

Robyn Holmes

Suspicious fires take toll on farms

FARMERS in Mutchilba were left defend ing their properties from sudden suspicious fires last Wednesday - less than a month since an arson attack wiped out millions of dollars’ worth of farming in Chewko.

A “stay informed” warning was put out by Queensland Fire and Emergency Ser vices (QFES) at 2.47pm for the Mutchilba area as fires continued to destroy bush and farm land between Pin Road and Spring mount Road.

Queensland Police said they are inves tigating the fire, specifically one that broke out at 4pm on Lemonside Road.

“Police are investigating the circum stances around a grass fire that broke out along Pin Road in Mutchilba shortly after 4pm (Wednesday),” a spokesperson said.

“Investigations are yet to find any evi dence to support that the fire was deliber ately lit.”

In the early afternoon, Tabacum farmer Damon Westwood was replanting passion fruit trees alongside his family and work ers when they noticed smoke across the road.

Within less than 20 minutes, the fire

had jumped across the road into his four neighbouring farms, lighting up 10 acres of his own property.

The several fires on his property were strong due to the change in wind and it took up to two hours to contain them. The fire then spread through the hills in the dis tance.

Damion said his avocado crop which was affected by the fire can be revive thanks to the help of the local rural fire bri gades who fought the blaze.

He believes the work the brigade and the community who were quick to come out and help made a huge impact in the future of his and his neighbouring farms.

“We really count ourselves lucky here,” Damon said.

“The volunteers at the rural fire bri gades were very quick with their response and if they weren’t it would have been a lot worse. They make the world of difference, and their local knowledge goes a very long way.”

Anyone with information or dashcam footage from the area on Wednesday after noon is urged to contact police.

Rural property owners warned to lock up after big robbery

A WIDOW has had tens of thou sands of dollars in equipment, vehicles and property stolen right from under her nose in what is being described as the worst robbery on the Tablelands in decades.

Initial reports suggest that around 11.30pm on Friday 14 October, an unknown vehicle was seen driving past Brenda Reddie’s property on Andrick

son Road at Upper Barron.

The vehicle was heading towards the back of the prop erty where an unknown person gained entry to an unsecured car avan and stole a large quantity of money, alcohol and several keys.

The following night at around 11.15pm, a white dual cab ute towing a large dual axel trailer, a blue Landcruiser station wagon also towing a dual axel trailer and

a white sedan were seen driving onto Mrs Reddie’s property.

A zero-turn mower, camper quad bikes, side by sides, and toolboxes were amongst the property stolen in the second hit.

In light of the robbery, a po lice spokesperson has warned other rural property owners to be vigilant and take appropriate measures to secure their farms.

“Police encourage all farmers

and anyone on rural property to report any thefts or suspicious behaviour, to be vigilant in lock ing up their equipment and to en sure they have adequate security measures in place like CCTV cameras and sensor lights,” she said.

Anyone with any information is encouraged to contact police and quote QP2201794676.

Pilot to be remembered

A MEMORIAL service has been organised in Mount Molloy next month to honour the life of Pilot Officer Robert John Granger, who died in an air crash 78 years ago just outside of the small town.

Pilot Officer Granger was flying over Mt Molloy in November 1944 in his Royal Australian Air Force, Boo merang Serial A46-192 when it crash-landed and burned, taking the 23-year-old’s life.

The service, organised by Mareeba history enthusiast Michael Musumeci, will be conducted at the Mount Mol loy Cenotaph Memorial on 5 November at 2pm and will include the unveiling of a dedicated bronzed plaque to honour the late pilot.

ARTHRITIS and mental health are the now most common long-term illnesses of people living in the Mareeba Shire and on the Tablelands, according to the latest statistics from the 2021 Census.

New statistics from the census provide an insight into who we are, what we earn, where we work and other interesting information about the 49,100 people who did the survey in the Tablelands Regional Council (TRC) and the Mareeba Shire Council (MSC) areas.

The median age of people in Mareeba was 43, while TRC has an older population, with the median at 49 years of age. It came as no surprise that agriculture, forestry and fishing was the biggest employer in the region, with 1534 people employed in the sector in MSC and 1472 in TRC.

The number of people suffering from long-term illnesses were very similar across both LGAs, with arthritis topping the list, followed by mental health, asthma, heart disease and diabetes.

The census also asked people to name what ancestry they identified with, which showed the vast majority of people living in both LGAs believe they have a European background.

Another interesting metric to come out of the census was the number of people who said they participated in some level of volunteer work in each LGA, with Mareeba recording 2885 volunteers, while TRC had 4277.

People aged between 45 and 84 years of age made up 67 per cent of vol unteers in MSC, while that number climbed to 72 per cent in TRC.

The census also showed how many people chose to move to the region in the past five years, with Mareeba Shire attracting 3799 people from interstate or from within Queensland, and 627 migrating from overseas.

TRC, 5815 people moved to the area from interstate or from within Queensland, while 447 people moved there from overseas.

find more results from the census, go to www.abs.gov.au

ILLNESSES

Super film night helps homeless pets

SUPER-pups from near and far came together last weekend as the Mareeba Animal Refuge teamed up with the Mareeba Drive-In to host a “super awesome” movie fundraising night.

The two businesses joined forces to bring DC Super Pets to the big screen, with refuge volunteers selling tickets for their $100 board, their Christmas raffle and pre-sales on their 2023 calendar during the screening.

The event was a success, with movie-goers kindly donating bags of wet and dry food and raising $136 altogether.

“We approached Ann-Marie (one of the owners of the drive-in) a little while ago to see if there was an opportunity to do some fund raising together and we were waiting for the right moment,” Refuge volunteer and event organiser Sue Jodner said.

“Just as important, was the chance for our volunteers to chat with people about the refuge and the work it does for animals in need.”

Drive-in owners Ann-Marie Donnelly, Jason Donnelly, Josephine Doger de Speville and Craig Torrisi bought along their own pups as well to enjoy the experience.

“(The refuge) does a very important job in our community and we love connecting locals, so when the opportunity came up with an appropriate movie, we thought it would be really nice,” Ann-Marie said.

Grant to benefit contact centre

FAMILIES will no longer need to pay a hefty fee to use the Better Together children’s con tact centre in Atherton after the group was approved for a $2 million grant over the next four years to subsidise its services.

The centre was initially built and operational in October 2021 but was fully funded off the back of Better Together which was pursuing funding at the time through a commonwealth grant.

The grant was approved two weeks ago with the centre due to reopen in January next year ac companied by new services and a majorly reduced co-contribu tion fee which is expected to be around $20.

Better Together CEO John Russell said even if families could not afford the co-contri bution fee they would never be turned away from using the con tact centre.

“This time last year we launched a very successful pilot project that was funded by Bet ter Together but we couldn’t get the fees low enough to help as many families as we hoped,” he said.

“With this funding from the Attorney-General’s Department we can offer a fully funded ser vice with a small co-contribu tion by the client.

“No family will be turned away if they face financial hard ship and can’t contribute.”

The children’s contact centre is the first and only such facility of its kind located on the Table lands, it is a child-focused, safe

space where children and par ents experiencing separation can connect to establish or maintain relationships.

Parents or other family mem bers can also be involved in visitation with children at the centre.

Families engaged with the Family Law Court or who may have parenting agreements in place can also benefit from ac cessing the centre as changeover of care for children between par ents can also be arranged on a regular basis.

The centre will be staffed by professional social workers who are trained in observing family dynamics and ensuring both the child and parent’s care, privacy and security.

Mr Russell said the need for a children’s contact centre was identified some time ago.

“There is a great need for a contact centre on the Table lands,” he said.

Mr Russell emphasised that the confidentiality and privacy of all families will be respected.

“You can rest assured that our staff are trained in maintain ing professional discretion at all times and we have strong organ isational policies and processes in place guarding your privacy.”

To access the centre, parents and care givers can self-refer, bearing in mind that both parties of the family unit must agree to contact the centre. The centre also accepts referrals from the Family Law Court, solicitors and support services.

Drive-In owners Josephine Doger de Speville, Ann-Marie Don nelly and Craig Torrisi with refuge volunteer Sue Jodner (mid dle) and their furry friends enjoyed a great weekend of movies.

Danger of drugs focus of student workshop

MAREEBA and Dimbulah high school students learned about the dangers of Australia’s most used drug, Ice, and the damage it can do to them, their families and their lives through an Australia Anti Ice Campaign (AAIC) workshop.

The AAIC workshop educates students about the highly toxic ingredients used in making Ice, the short and long term physical and mental health effects of usage as well as presenting students with tools and strategies if Ice is ever offered to them or if a friend is using or considering using Ice.

Presenters of the workshop are typically ex-users themselves who have been clean for at least a year and weave their own stories and personal experiences into the workshop.

The core message of the AAIC is “not even once” warning students on even trying the drug once.

Major sponsors Hansen Ford helped kick-start the campaign in 2019 where they committed to sponsor the AAIC Program for five years and have remained committed on that promise.

Shire wins support for youth centres

MAREEBA Shire Council has had a win in the fight against youth crime, with councils across the State support ing two motions put forward at last week’s Local Government Association of Queensland annual conference.

Council put up two motions – that the State Government fund Queens land police to install, maintain and op erate CCTV in communities, and that diversionary facilities by established on remote State-owned properties for wayward youth.

Mareeba Mayor Angela Toppin is understandably thrilled to get the ma jority support of the 77 councils who

attended the conference.

“I am delighted that Mayors across Queensland supported the motion. This evidences that the issue of crime is not isolated to the Mareeba Shire, but communities across the State are suffering the impacts,” she said.

“These facilities should not be seen as places of punishment but rather places where young people, who have often missed out of opportunities be cause of the environment they are in, could develop the necessary skills to succeed in life.”

“I acknowledge that not all young offenders would suit being sent to a re

mote facility for training, and I think hardened criminals who did not want to change should still be incarcerated in detention facilities.”

“As a school principal, I was privi leged to witness situations where a young person starts to go the wrong way, then someone takes an interest in them, and they can turn that around.

“The motion is a first step by our council to try and make a change that will allow these young people a chance to learn skills so that when they are re leased, they can pursue employment and become good members of our community.”

KAP Leader Robbie Katter said the support by the State’s councils was in dicative of the harrowing impact youth crime was having across Queensland communities.

“The ball is now in the Palaszczuk Labor Government’s court – let’s make this happen,” he said.

“If we could have an immediate trial funded, this pilot could be used to refine the program and ensure it is fit for purpose for both the community and the offenders’ sake.”

Member for Hill Shane Knuth was also full of praise for the council’s move.

“The passing of this motion reflects the frustration and desperate need for something further to be done to com bat the increasing rates of juvenile crime,” he said.

Mareeba Shire was also celebrat ing getting its second motion regard ing CCTV across the line, with Mayor Toppin sresssing how important CCTV was in the fight against crime.

“We know that CCTV video moni toring systems systems are needed in the Mareeba CBD and we will con tinue to support the Queensland Police and advocate on their behalf,” she said.

Product of Australia

RIGHT: Mareeba State High School seniors Amy Simana to, Jenna Soncin, Coco Gambino, Neve Godfrey and AAIC workshop presenter Esther Degan showing off their antiice bracelets.

Mareeba High students shine at awards night

SOME of the best academic and sporting students at Mareeba State High School were recognised last week at their 63rd an nual presentation night.

The night kicked off strong with students from each grade receiving awards for their best subjects and their achieve ments in school sporting activities.

Afterwards, bursaries and special awards were awarded to students who had gone above and beyond in their studies and extra-curricular activities.

Although the grade 12 Dux will not be determined until next year, the grade 10 and 11 Dux were awarded. Chloe Mc Nab took out the grade 10 award and Kelli Scott and Jared Latif took home the grade 11 dux.

Making their names known in the school’s sporting scene, Meesha McCurley, Chase Sheppard and Coco Gambino all took out sports person of the year for their efforts on the field.

This year, Neve Godfrey took home the Dimbulah Lions Community Involvement award for her dedication and pas sion when serving her communities in both Mareeba and Dimbulah.

The Ampol Best All Rounder award is one of the high est honours to receive at the Mareeba High presentation with Coco Gambino being a well-deserved recipient.

The 2023 school leadership team was also announced with Cassia James, Jack Fealy, Lachlan Costa and Kelli Scott taking on the roles of school captain.

Tanisha Hastie and Natalia Grogan will be taking on the Indigenous leaders role, Jared Latif and Abby Campman will be stepping up as student council president and vice-presi dent, Talisha Falvo as secretary, Matthew Heggie as treasurer and Jack Cruz taking up the new role as student voice.

All students were commended on their achievements.

MAREEBA SHIRE COUNCIL - COMMUNITY UPDATE

AUSTRALIA DAY AWARD NOMINATIONS OPEN NOW!

Nominations are now open for Mareeba Shire Council's 2023 Australia Day Awards, and all community members are invited to nominate a local individual or group that has made an outstanding contribution to the community.

2022 Citizen of the Year, Norma Moloney (pictured below) encourages residents to nominate their local hero. “I am so proud to have received the award for Citizen of the Year in 2022,” Ms Moloney said. “Volunteers don’t do it for the kudos, but it was a wonderful honour to be recognised.”

Nominations can be submitted online, returned to Council's Customer Service Centres or posted to PO Box 154, Mareeba QLD 4880.

Nominations must be received, or post marked no later than 3pm on Tuesday, 6 December 2022.

A TIME FOR GIVING

The 2022 Mayor’s Christmas Appeal has been launched. Each year, generous community members and organisations make donations which Council then distributes to local families in need with the help of Community Centres across the Shire.

Council would like to encourage residents to get behind the annual cause and donate to the appeal to assist those in need. If you have never donated before, consider making a small donation to the Mayor’s Christmas Appeal for the first time in 2022.

Your donations will be gratefully accepted at Mareeba Shire Council Customer Service Centre’s in Mareeba and Kuranda.

Donations can also be made by cheque and mailed to PO Box 154, Mareeba QLD 4880. Please make the cheque payable to ‘Mayor’s Appeal Gift Fund’. Visit Council’s website and search ‘Mayor’s Christmas Appeal’ for more information.

KEEP INFORMED

For all the latest news and updates, join Council's eNews mailing list, or follow us on Facebook.

Council regularly shares information and updates from across the Shire about important projects and initiatives. We also share information from other sources that may be relevant to the community.

Visit www.msc.qld.gov.au to subscribe to the eNewsletter or visit Facebook and search 'Mareeba Shire Council'.

LIBRARY SCHOOL HOLIDAY PROGRAMS

COUNCIL'S EVENTS CALENDAR

Do you have an event, festival, celebration or important date that you would like the Mareeba Shire community to know about? Make use of our online events calendar. Visit Council’s website to submit your event for review.

MareebaShireCouncil

Norma

Kara

Mareeba High’s Grade 10 DuxChloe McNab and the two Grade 11 Dux, Kelli Scott and Jared Latif.

ABOVE LEFT: This year’s Ampol Best All Rounder award recipient Coco Gambino.

ABOVE RIGHT: The Dimbulah Lions Community Involve ment award recipient Neve Godfrey.

RIGHT: The 2023 Senior leaders (back) Jared Latif, Cassia James, Jack Fealy, Lachlan Costa, Kelli Scott, Jack Cruz, (front) Talisha Falvo, Abby Campman, Tanisha Hastie, Natalia Grogan and Matthew Heggie.

Lifetime of caring for others

AFTER a lifetime of caring for others, Dr Merri lee Frankish has decided to retire and take some time to care for her own body instead of others and pursue passions besides healthcare.

Dr Frankish has been practicing medicine for nearly all her life, with 31 years of her medical career being in Mareeba after first getting a taste for the region in 1990 when she was a trainee doctor under Dr Towne and Dr Bestmann at the Mareeba Medical Clinic.

She opened her own practice sometime later before selling it in 2012, opting to do obstetrics at the Mareeba Hospital, instructing hundreds of student doctors and interns during her time.

It was her passion and aptitude for teaching that got Dr Frankish recognised as one of Aus tralia and New Zealand’s best clinical educators, receiving the highly commended Clinical Edu cator of the Year award in late 2020.

One last batch of students got the chance to learn from the veteran doctor as Dr Frankish fin ished up her last day at the Mareeba Hospital last Thursday.

Dr Frankish stopped doing clinical work last year due to her mental health and moved to instead coordinate training for students and

interns.

“I have been very privileged to work in this career and it has been a real honour, it is a great workplace,” she said.

“My core value has always been service is joy and this job has always allowed me to serve the community because it is all about the Ma reeba community to me.”

Dr Frankish felt it was time to look after her self and ease into the retired life, pursing hob bies such as art, singing and writing – she also has her eye on some community groups and ac tivities she would like to get involved in.

“I have done a lot of art which I started last year because it helped my mental health – I hadn’t done anything like that because all I have ever done is study and work,” she said.

“I have always bush walked and there are lots of community activities in Mareeba that I would like to get involved in but first I am planning to have a few months off.

“I like singing so I will do some of that, writ ing, spending time with my family and I might even be able to cook for my husband occasion ally which never happened because I always worked.”

Dr Merrilee Frankish instructing one of her last students, final year medical student Gorakanage Roshni Anjani Gomes Deranlyagala, in baby resuscitation last Thursday.

Local school goes hybrid

A UNIQUE new way of learning is being intro duced at Jubilee Christian College in Atherton, allowing secondary students to conduct their schooling part-time from home and part-time in the classroom.

The “Hybrid Learning” initiative allows stu dents more flexibility in their learning, removing classroom distractions for key subjects whilst still allowing them to socialise and engage with other students and staff in more practical subjects.

Students who want to be involved in this pro gram will be able to choose which subjects they would prefer to study at home and at school, with principal Dr Chris Radcliffe embracing the idea.

“Research has shown that students who work within a hybrid model are at least as effective as conventional education,” he said.

“In fact, they can often be more effective learners as the hybrid model creates an oppor tunity for flexible design and personalisation of experiences.

“As educators we know that peak learning times differ from student to student. Some learn best in the mornings, some in the evenings, some learn best on the weekend, we also know that many secondary students have part-time jobs”.

For further information regarding the Hybrid School Model, contact Dr Radcliffe by emailing principal@jubileecc.qld.edu.au.

Many stories to tell

PETCHAKUCHA Atherton volume three will be taking off on 4 November, telling local stories in 20 images and 20 seconds each. Volume three will welcome farmer John Gargan, Juergen Fre und, Stella Chiu-Freund, Yungaburra Lions’ John Compton, Melissa Robertson, Tim Trehearn, Tom O’Connor, Alistair Hart, Desley Mosquito, Raven Timmer, Marita Morano, Susie Armytage and Douglas Tait.

The event will be held at the Barron Valley Hotel on 4 November from 7pm with doors opening at 6.30pm. This is a free event, but tables must be booked through Eventbrite by searching “Petch aKucha Atherton Volume 3”.

Excellence rewarded

SOME of the best academic and sporting achiev ers at St Stephen’s Catholic College were recog nised last week for their annual “celebration of excellence” presentation night.

Dozens of students from each grade were rec ognised for their excellence in the classroom, at Tafe and on the sporting field, with many also receiving awards for being the best in their class room subjects.

After each grade was awarded their academic and subject awards, the special awards took place with students and parents on the edge of their seats for the rest of the evening.

This year, Grade 12 school captain Alannah Falvo took out a vast majority of the awards –grade 12 Academic Excellence Award, Subject Awards for Physics, English and Economics, Public Speaking Award, All Rounder Award, Ma reeba and Dimbulah Community Bank Award for Citizenship and Principal’s Medal for Academic Excellence.

Her co-captain Joshua Snell also reeled in sev eral awards, taking home the Grade 12 Academic Award, Subject Awards for Chemistry, Engineer ing, English, Mathematical Methods, Physics and Specialist Maths, Australian Defence Force Future Innovators Award, Rotary All-Rounder Award and Principals Medal for Academic Achievements.

The top sporting champions in the school were recognised, with seniors Nicholas Fogale and Emalina Fogalo and juniors Allegra Sciani and Matt Rantucci taking out the big win.

Young Anne Fermaak was a worthy recipient for the Junior Citizenship award for her kind heart and dedication at school and in the wider commu nity that inspires students and teachers alike. This year’s most honorary award, the Sr Mary Stephen Memorial Award, went to Eloise Bertola. Eloise received this award for her passion, impact with in the community, her amazing problem solving skills and humility – the traits that Sister Mary once had and passed on to others.

St Stepehn’s congratulates all students on their incredible achievements.

LEFT: The top two grade 12 students based on internal results were Alannah Falvo and Joshua Snell pictured next to their school princi pal Ms Kerry Manders.

BELOW: The James Cook University Rising Star award was given to Amherstia Jasmin.

The Sister Mary Stephen Memorial Award recipient for 2022 was Elosie Bertola.

Our Council

Projects & Programs Update

The following projects and programs will commence, continue or be completed in November (weather permitting):

• slashing in Butchers Creek, Carrington, Kairi, Lake Eacham, Millstream, North Johnstone, Peeramon, Rangeview, Ravenshoe, Tolga and Topaz

• boom slashing in Millaa Millaa

• grading in Barrine, Cashmere, Kirrama, Minbun, Moregatta, Peeramon, Tarzali and Yungaburra

• road, culvert and bridge inspections across the region

• widening and sealing of a section of Brooks Road in Mungalli and Shead Road in Kairi

• bitumen road reseal program

• replacement of Duncan Brown bridge in Malanda.

Follow these and other projects and programs at trc.qld.gov.au/projects

Touring Exhibition

Pub Rock — a photographic exhibition from the National Portrait Gallery — celebrates the people, places, scenes and sounds that define 1970s and 1980s Australia. The exhibition is on display at the Tableland Regional Gallery until Saturday 12 November. Free entry.

Free Careers Program

We are offering a free career guidance program for young Tablelanders (15–24 years). Stage 2 is a series of Career Readiness Workshops throughout November in Atherton, Malanda and Ravenshoe. Take part in practical activities, and receive advice and support on resume preparation, job search, interview skills, employability skills development, workplace culture and rights, regional job opportunities and the benefits of networking and volunteering. Find out more and register at trc.qld.gov.au/tablelands-tomorrow

Work With Us

We are looking for a:

• Manager Roads and Projects

• Plant Operator Construction

• Plant Operator Maintenance (Roller). Go to trc.qld.gov.au/careers for more information and to apply.

Radio Club Official Opening

Kairi State School is holding an open day to officially launch its Amateur Radio Club — VK4KSS. Join them at the school at 12noon–4pm on Saturday 29 October. The opening coincides with the radio club’s participation in the CQ Worldwide Radio Contest. The club was formed via a grant administered by TRC with support from the community.

Business Excellence Awards

The Tablelands Business Excellence Awards showcase our region’s outstanding business operators and not-for-profit entities. Nominations are being accepted across seven categories:

• Customer Excellence

• Technology and Innovation Impact

• Visual Stand-out

• Employer of Choice

• Sustainability Contribution

• New and Emerging Business or Service

• Champion Business.

Nominate until midnight Sunday 13 November at trc.qld.gov.au/business-excellence-awards vote for your favourite business from Monday 14 November in the People’s Choice Award category.

The Gala Awards Ceremony is on Saturday 3 December at the Atherton International Club.

Thanks to gold sponsors Costa, Old Mate’s Farm, Aro Industries, NBN Co. and CQ University; silver sponsors Kaban Wind Farm, Smart Biz HG and Smart Training Australia; and our media partner The Express Newspaper.

Community

Next Council Meetings

9am Thursday 27 October

9am Thursday 24 November

Meetings are held in the Coordination Centre, 15 Vernon Street in Atherton. See socials and trc.qld.gov.au/meetings for agendas, minutes, recordings and live stream links.

GALLERY

Customer service centres in Atherton, Herberton, Malanda and Ravenshoe

Need drives plan to expand centre

NEW facilities are being proposed for an existing childcare centre in Mareeba, with the application noting there was a growing need for more child care places in the town, with the current facility often operating at maximum capacity.

Kelly Developments has put forward the pro posal to Mareeba Shire Council to extend the Kids Campus facilities located at 67 Constance Street and 2-6 Hastie Street.

“The proposed extensions will help to facilitate an increase in capacity to meet the growing com munity need with the current facility often at 100 per cent and wait lists for certain times and age groups,” the application stated.

“The proposed project would involve demol ishing all but one of the existing buildings and structures currently located on Lot 2 (Constance Street site) and furthermore construct an entirely new childcare centre.

“This new childcare centre will cater for 109 kids and 30 staff.

“No improvements have been proposed for ex

isting buildings/structures located on Lot 10 (Hast ie Street site) which currently has approval to cater for 44 kindy and 50 out of school care children.”

The proposed new childcare centre will primar ily cater for children ranging from newborns to pre-kindy and will be a one-storey structure and provide for separate areas within the centre dedi cated to separate age groups including one area for babies, two pre-kindy areas, and three toddler areas.

Some of the designated areas will also include their own toilet facilities, as well as shared prepa ration and store rooms. Additionally, the design includes a kitchen, laundry, meeting rooms/offices, as well as areas that can be used as creative spaces and/or multipurpose uses.

“It is intended that the additional areas incorpo rated into the final design will be used by visiting medical practitioners or specialist and allied health services to complement the overall education and wellbeing services provided,” the development ap plication stated.

New OIC for Kuranda police

KURANDA Police Station has a new officer-incharge.

Sergeant Matt Harling started his career with the police in Rockhampton and has served in many rural locations including Biloela, Texas, Gin Gin, Mount Morgan and now, Kuranda.

Sgt Harling said he had a passion for work ing in small towns and enjoyed the many chal lenges and benefits that came from working with a small team in close-knit communities.

“I am enjoying Kuranda and can see the lo cal community is very passionate about local issues,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to serving in Kuranda and hope together we can move forward and

continue to be a great community.”

Kuranda police would like to remind the community that they provide a 24-hour policing response.

“Local police understand that having your property damaged, entered or stolen is stressful and costly, so our frontline officers are working hard to investigate all reported police matters,” Sgt Harling said.

“When you report your matter via Policelink, we receive notification via our communications officers and if we are not in the station, we can still respond promptly. If you are unsure if you require Police, call Policelink and they can con tact Kuranda Police to advise.”

Cassowary awareness

CASSOWARY awareness in Kuranda has been boosted by three newly painted cassowary statues which are being placed at Kuranda Heritage Market, Terra Nova Gallery and Skyrail Kuranda terminal.

The Kuranda Cassowary Trail officially opened during the Kuranda Spring Festival recent ly and has already attracted the interests of locals and tourists.

“The launch was very suc cessful, many people were there and took photos and admire all three painted cassowary stat ues,” trail founder Jurg Jutzi said.

“Thanks to the Regional Arts Development Fund grant, we could kick off the Cassowary Art Trail.”

Atherton Multicultural Celebration

Founder Jurg Jutzi, George Riley, Kuranda Conservation Community Nursery president Dianne Daniels, Mayor Angela Toppin, Community Nursery secretary Jax Bergersen, Rebecca Koller, Connie Rovina, and MP Craig Crawford with the cassowary statues (Photo: Steven Nowakowski).

ENTERTAINMENT

Cup function to benefit foundation

THE Black Cockatoo Foundation is hav ing its first fundraiser event in the form of a special Melbourne Cup Charity Luncheon, hosted by the Gateway Hotel in Mareeba.

For a $70 ticket, a three-course meal will be provided on Melbourne Cup Day, 1 November, with sparkling wine on ar rival, a lucky door prize and a raffle.

Fashions of the field will also be host ed alongside sweeps, live music and a silent auction with proceeds going to wards the foundation.

While the Black Cockatoo Founda tion has received donations since es tablishing from local community groups such as Mareeba Rotary and Mareeba Lions, the luncheon is it’s first ever fun draising event.

Black Cockatoo Foundation CEO Louise Livingstone said the Gateway Hotel is the first group who have come forward and offered to host a fundrais ing event.

“This is very exciting for the founda tion to have so much community sup

port and there will be members of the foundation there on the day,” she said.

Founded in memory of Dr Mark Best mann, one of the main focuses of the Black Cockatoo Foundation is about mental health and wellbeing.

The foundation is looking to estab lish a network of community champions using some of the money raised at the luncheon and through donations.

To book tickets, call the Gateway on 4092 1032 – payment will be taken on the day at the door.

Success for first pocket film festival

LIFE on the Tablelands was the theme of entries for the inaugural Herberton Pocket Film Festival, held during the town’s annual Jacaranda Festival.

A large crowd gathered in the Herberton Shire Hall to witness the first pocket film competition, with the building transformed into a complete movie theatre for the event, thanks to the Cairns cinema group, End Credits.

Festival committee member Peter Whalley-Thompson says pocket films are short stories, shot on a smart phone, expressing whatever the creator wants to say.

Tablelands Regional Council, through its Regional Arts Development Fund, gave a grant to hold workshops on film-making and editing techniques, so that people with no background in film could still enter and succeed.

“Entries spanned the full spectrum of the community. We had stories of how people found themselves starting new businesses and new lives up here on the Tablelands,” he said. “We had a murder mystery drama set in the old Herberton Railway Station. We saw the story of one young boy’s dreams to join the world soccer league and the sacri fices he has made to get to Europe and be seen.

“We even saw the virtual sing along video that commu

nity choir BellaCapella made during the Covid lockdown when they couldn’t be together in a hall.”

With a full screen, full stereo sound and a high-end pro jector, entrants to the festival saw their work up in lights, and a crowd of around 100 people enjoyed a full night’s entertainment.

Major sponsor of the prizes, Karl Schuch from the 5 Star supermarket in Herberton, said they were very happy to be involved. The film festival may now become an annual event.

Cruise on in

ATHERTON’S Men’s Shed will be opening its gates back up on 4 November to vintage, classic and restored cars, bikes and trucks for one of their icon ic “Cruise In” events.

The event is popular with car and bike enthu siasts, but there’s fun for the whole family, with hot food and drinks for sale, and plenty of wonderful machines on display.

Gates open on Railway Lane, Atherton at 5.30pm and close at 8pm and eve ryone is welcome to at tend.

For more informa tion email atherton@ mensshed.com.au or call 0403 560 440.

Theatre group to bring Mamma Mia to life

THE Malanda Theatre Company has been hard at work over the past few months preparing to bring “Mamma Mia” to the Tablelands in a never-before-seen way, starting in November.

A cast of more than 50 members, aged between 10 and 80 years of age, has been assembled to bring the popular play to life, with rehearsals held three times a week.

The show is directed by Gill Harrington with well-known and familiar Malanda Theatre Company faces in lead roles alongside some fresh ones.

Under the leadership of musical director Michelle Toshach, a 40-person chorus is supporting the lead actors to perform 23 ABBA greats in a four-part harmony.

The production will have dancing, drama, glitter, spectacu lar lighting and of course, flippers and to top it off, the sing ing will be supported by a six-person band and a brand-new sound system.

A trademark of Malanda Theatre productions, the enthu siasm, talent and dedication on stage is matched behind the scenes with a production team of 50 volunteers.

They are constructing a set that will transport audiences to a Greek taverna for the night, preparing props and stage features, perfecting the sound and lighting and making sure everything runs smoothly backstage.

To do this iconic musical justice, a team of nine ladies are working feverishly to complete hundreds of costumes.

The company has set nine dates for the musical which will be performed on 18-20,25-27 November and 2-4 December.

Tickets for the nine high-energy performances are already on sale via www.malandatheatre.org, Tableland Books Ather ton and Bendigo Bank Malanda.

Friday - Monday from 12.00 noon

Thursday - Monday from 5.30pm

“Sophie” showing her ring off as the Malanda Theatre Com pany prepares to bring “Mamma Mia” to the Tablelands.

Bucking bulls to give a good show

QUEENSLAND’S toughest cowboys will take on some of the hardest bucking bulls in the country in the final of the Great Northern Bullriding Series on 5 No vember at Atherton’s Mungalli Creek Dairy Stadium.

For the second year in a row, Atherton will have the pleasure of hosting the final round of the series as they raise money for the Make A Wish foundation, with the proceeds from the final going towards the cause.

There will also be an auction on the night, with vol unteers making rounds asking for donations as well as when manning the gates as thousands flock to the stadium for the finals.

The series final is set to be an adrenaline-filled de cider as a hair’s breadth separates the top three bull riders.

Professional Rockhampton rider Lane Mellers leads the ladder followed closely by local Wyatt Mil gate in second and Mount Molloy rider and open deb utante Jayden Brittan in third.

Great Northern Bull Riding Series spokesperson Peter Brown said it would all come down to Satur day’s final round.

“This is the race for the title, the top two bull riders have only a seven-point separation and in bull riding, that is nothing – the title could be won or lost on the night,” he said.

“This kind of a final you don’t see every weekend in this part of the world, it will be a not-to-miss event for a great cause.”

While the riders may be some of the best in the cir cuit, they will be going up against some of the tough est, quickest and rankest bucking bulls including the infamous Pandemonium and Slide Out – no cowboy has survived eight seconds on either bull’s backs.

Tickets for the final are still on sale and can be bought on the TryBooking website by searching “Great Northern Bullriding Series Finals Atherton”.

The gates open at 5pm with the first bull set to come out of the gate at 7pm.

Display of motor excellence

THE region’s best old, new and vintage cars and bikes will all be on display at the Tablelands Car and Bike Show due to be hosted at the Malanda Showgrounds this Saturday.

Starting at 9am and ending at 2pm, the show will bring together bikes and cars of all shapes and sizes, with several categories’ people can sign up for including best hot rod, best Japanese car, best 4WD and best bikes across British, European, American and Japanese makes. There will also be an overall winner for best car of the show and best bike.

People can register their vehicles at the gate on the day for $5, entry to the show is $5 with children under 12 able to enter for free.

Wellbeing

ship

Great movies to thrill

TWO very different, but entertaining, films will be on the big screen at the Majestic Theatre this weekend.

The highly anticipated comedy drama “Mrs Harris Goes To Paris”, starring acclaimed actor Lesley Man ville as Mrs Harris, is a feel-good movie is based on the well known novel.

If you want some great action, don’t miss popular actor Dwayne Johnson in the lead role in “DC Universe Black Adam”.

This action-packed adventure sci-fi fantasy should appeal to all ages.

For all session times and information, go to www. majestictheatre.com.au

Protection clown running from a bull during last year Great Northern Bullriding Series in Atherton. Photo by Peter Roy Photography.

Morning tea organising committee Helen Graham, Tracey Jenkins, Tanslee Curcio, Karen Waite, Sylvia Boakes, Denise Brackley, Beth Auer and Margaret Plant.

Millie Minchin and Joan Robinson caught up at the morning tea.

Sue Hudson, Terry Edmondson and Gill Attewell enjoyed the day’s events.

Agforce updates northern graziers

BY SALLY TURLEY

GRAZIERS from Mt Garnet, Mt Surprise, Kidston, Charters Towers, Forsayth and Croydon converged on Mt Surprise and Croydon recently to attend Agforce work shops focused on land tenure and native ti tle, understanding the steps in the land valu ation and freeholding conversion process.

Townsville-based Agforce policy officer Nikki Hoffman has been working on issues such as land tenure, Native Title, cultural heritage and the stock route network.

“Approximately only seven per cent of Queensland is under perpetual lease which extinguishes Native Title, while 49 per cent is term lease,” she said.

“Converting term lease to freehold, to gain greater security and reduce risk to ex cessive rent increases is usually a difficult, cumbersome and expensive process.

“It can cost around $20,000 to host the first meeting with Native Title holders just to start the conversation and even if claim ants will engage in discussions, there is no simple, direct path. Producers can spend up wards of $1 million with no results.

“With 36 per cent of Queensland under determined claims, 25 per cent subject to current claims and 861 registered Indige nous Land Use Agreements, this is a signifi cant issue and we have established a work ing group to try and understand the issues and develop a solution.”

Outside of the native title process, over six million hectares has been returned to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups and the free legal representation that has been available to pastoralists for State na tive title claims for the last 20 years has re cently been revoked.

Proposed amendments to Queensland’s Cultural Heritage Act may soon give gov ernment a greater capacity to monitor and enforce compliance.

“If adopted, these changes will cause un due delays, uncertainty and inefficiencies to land users without demonstrable benefits to any of the stakeholders,” Ms Hoffman said.

“Even owners of freehold properties may soon need clearance to install dams or carry out other property improvements.”

She said Agforce was, however, sup portive of the State Government’s proposed changes to the management of Queensland’s 2.6 million hectares of stock routes, reserves and pastoral lease corridors in a bid to re

duce red tape and complexity, while remain ing responsive to change.

Cattle producer and former valuer with the Department of Natural Resources, John Moore, now works with Agforce helping graziers understand and object to the valu ation process they are subject to.

“Increasingly, valuations are being done by mass appraisal, placing the onus more and more on landholders to check those as sessments against their own knowledge of their properties,” Mr Moore said.

“I realised noone was helping produc ers with this, so I went back to the land and have been providing a member advice and representation service for the last six years.

“Starting with comparing your property value to others in the area, there are a lot of

bargaining points for getting a fairer prop erty assessment, including access, weed and pest infestations, soil types and the proper ty’s carrying capacity.

“Bitumen roads for example are only a positive if your property is close to one, not on one, as they create other issues such as increased risk of weed invasion, poaching, fires and rubbish from careless road users.

“If your property is affected by rubbervine, grader grass or woody weeds, the area needs to be mapped and its impact costed out for presentation at your objection meet ing. Rubber vine affects your prime grazing land and attracts pigs, which reduces your carrying capacity and costs money to fix. For best results, highlighted problems need to be backed by figures.”

Giles and Sam Atkinson of “Gunnawarra” Station, outside Mt Garnet discussed industry issues with Michael Furber of “Soda Springs” Station, Forsayth at the Mt Surprise workshop.

NEQ’s Kate Malouf mingled with workshop participants, John Turley of “Wandovale” Station, Charters Towers and Amanda Dixon of “Bagstowe” Station, Kidston.

Agforce Policy Officer, Townsville-based Nikki Hoffman, chats with Mt Surprise graziers, Tom and Christine Saunders of “Whitewater” Station.

ON LANDthe Win/win formula developed by local business

BY SALLY TURLEY

A FAMILY-built Malanda timber business be lieves it has developed the ideal ecological bal ance between commerce and conservation.

Working out of the old Rankine Brothers saw mill near Lake Eacham, Will Russell-Smith and Bess Murphy, of Topaz Sustainable Timbers, are one of the few commercial operators specialising in natural timber slabs.

“We supply a lot of timber to wholesalers, cabinetmakers, joineries and local DIY custom ers. What I love about working with timber is that every piece is unique and many pieces have a spe cial history that makes them a conversation piece for their owners,” Will said.

“Increasingly, we are finding people want tim ber pieces, recycled or repaired. By using epoxy resin, we can stabilise and reconstruct imperfect or damaged slabs that might once have been thrown out, turning their faults into features.”

He said a lot of the company’s clients were young couples building their first family home, who were seeking to create a special centre-piece that would last long enough to become a family heirloom for their children.

“Every few months we open our warehouse to the public for a sale day. We have a huge range of slabs and dimensional timbers and also other goods such as spoons, breadboards, necklaces and more. We run these sales by appointment only so we can spend quality time with clients,” Will said.

Like the Rankine family, who first bought into the industry in 1962, the Russell-Smith’s love of timber is generational.

Though from the Northern Territory, Will’s parents’ fascination with the Tablelands and its rainforests inspired them to buy a cleared, Topaz ex-dairy farm 28 years ago and convert it back to its natural state.

The 122-hectare property, adjacent to Wooro nooran National Park, has been planted complete ly back to native rainforest cabinet timbers which Will says are designed to be harvested in small sections over a 650-year circular rotation.

“As each group of trees is harvested, their re placements will be planted back into the canopy opening, creating a completely self-sustaining life cycle, minimising habitat destruction and allow ing the plantation to function as a rich forest habi tat,” Will said.

“High quality rainforest trees take an average of 35 years to reach a minimum critical harvest di ameter of 500-1500mm and we aim to grow more trees than we will ever get around to harvesting, leaving us in a credit balance with the environ

ment. It is our objective to help boost the market for local North Queensland timbers.

“I may be a bit biased, but I believe we have so many beautiful species here, much nicer than what they have down south.”

The company works with more than 60 spe cies of trees, from the iconic Queensland Maple, Northern Silky Oak and Red Cedars to Camphor Laurel, Mango, Cadaghi and Bunya Pine and other beauties like Black Wattle, Sassafras, Satin Sycamore and Queensland Walnut.

“We do not, however, harvest any old growth trees, for, while timber is the item we sell, the product of our business is something far greater,” Will said.

“We have entered into a voluntary Nature Refuge conservation agreement and as the for est grows, more and more animals and birds have come to visit, including five cassowaries we now see on a regular basis.”

Growing up in Darwin, Will initially spent time on the Tablelands with his parents during holidays and again during university holidays when he was completing his degree in economics in Wollongong.

His attachment to the area continued to grow until he moved here eight years ago.

While a percentage of timber used in the busi ness is from their own plantation, the majority of their supply is salvaged from within a 100km ra dius of their base.

“We collect native or exotic trees from people’s back yards or properties that have been blown down in cyclones or storms or are being removed for building or development purposes by the own ers. We also work in with arborists, removing their off-cuts at no cost,” Will said.

“Using our mobile milling equipment, we can travel to where people are building and process trees that need to be cleared on-site, allowing the timber to become a feature of the new home, re ducing waste and sometimes cost for the owners.

“We were able to salvage around a dozen trees that were cut down in Atherton recently for the ex tension of the hospital there, resulting in a couple of semi-trailer loads of timber we can now give new life as part of another project.

“Our planet has finite resources and we need to take a holistic approach and develop sounder business models to cope with the world’s popula tion growth.

“Timber is a fantastic and truly renewable product if grown and harvested in a sustainable manner,” Will added.

Percentage Crushed: 72.70%

CCS For Week: 14.44

CCS Average To Date:

MOSSMAN MILL

CRUSHING STATISTICS

WEEK ENDING 16/10/2022

2022 Crop Estimate: 762,696 Tonnes

Total For Week: 36,980 Tonnes

Total Cane Crushed To Date: 482,480

CCS For Week: 12.76

CCS Average To Date:

Using a combination of plantation timber and salvaging local resources, Will Russell-Smith of Topaz Sustainable Timbers hopes to preserve and promote one of the region’s most precious resources.

LETTERS to the

Elderly need more help

THE public needs more steps and railings in Byrnes Street so we can park our cars and mount the footpath safely. The elderly would be appreciative.

Recently, I was trying to do the above and fell and cut my leg on the bricks.

Pam Strelnikoff MAREEBA

Sally’s stories applauded

I WOULD like to congratulate Sally Turley on her top articles and photography which, for me, are the highlights of The Express.

Sally is an outstanding journalist.

Her articles are brilliantly written and showcase the wide variety of agriculture which the Tablelands has to offer.

Brigitte Daley

MILLAA MILLAA

We can’t stop warming trend

THE news told us last week that our elec tricity prices will rise by 35 per cent next year.

Despite all the money that has been spent on renewables, it proves that the cost of rely ing on them for cheaper power is completely wrong.

If this increase occurs, it will devastate our economy and, in particular, our hospital ity industry which has had a terrific hiding from State Governments in getting over the Covid hysteria.

It will also destroy any hope we had to resurrect our manufacturing industries.

We need someone with the guts and de termination to take over all the coal-fired power stations and keep them going until they can be retired economically.

We should stop wasting money on re newables and build dams for hydro genera tion and nuclear for a long-term solution for this problem.

Electricity is the centre of high standard of living and our families should not have to suffer by making it too expensive, especially when we have other alternatives.

Our scientists have told us that no matter what we do we will have no effect on global warming.

Winston Churchill was a famous world leader and he warned us about our future. He said: “The whole world, including the United States, and including all that we have known and cared for, will sink into the abyss of a new dark age, made more sinister and perhaps more protracted by the lights of per verted science.”

In 1888, scientists declared that the little ice age weas ended and that the world was now entering a warning phase and that the world was going to warm up. The mighty Sun controls our climate and man’s efforts to control it will be ultimately futile.

P.W. English MALANDA

Suggestion was ignored

THE letter from Jen Fleming (12/10/22) about signs that tell you what crops are growing caught my attention as I had ex actly the same thoughts.

I took it a little further and emailed the Minister for Tourism, amongst other things, but all I got was a reply from a secretary

stating that signs were the responsibility of local council and the roads authority.

The point I was trying to make was as a tourist attraction – it would be something of a first, another for Queensland? It has not been done anywhere else except for a small trial in the USA and one in Canada, so I was very surprised that it was ignored and not even an offer to forward it to others.

Colin Bull MALANDA

Premier leading us astray

from 1.35pm. Why?

Well, asynchronous inverter-based elec tricity must be diluted into the output of the synchronous coal and hydro generators to keep the output frequency stable, and it’s easier to turn off a wind farm than a solar farm.

Premier Palaszczuk, in her profound technical ignorance, is proudly rushing to destroy our electricity grid. Now, what hap pens when the grid goes down and can’t be restarted? Town water can’t be filtered and distributed. Sewage can’t be pumped. Fuel and groceries can’t be bought. Phones can’t be charged. Hospitals can’t run.

After about four days without food and water people will become very desperate. Gangs will form to steal supplies stored by those who thought ahead. Complete societal collapse becomes imminent. That’s where the arrogant, ignorant, green-left, globalist ideology of Premier Palaszczuk is taking us.

Now, what are the odds of Chinese inva sion at that point, with troops wearing blue UN “peacekeepers’” helmets? Hmm?

Peter Campion TOLGA

Rescue pleads for support

I OWN and operate Animal Rescue Table lands Inc, a self-funded registered not-forprofit and have been operating it since July 2012.

No one in Mareeba knows how to use roundabouts or indicators. – Mathew Schulze

People not looking when pulling out on the main street, and crossing both lanes for either car parking or to use the center park as a turn around point and cutting other drives off. Please drives take the time to look around before moving your vehicle, their is other drivers and pedestrians around. – Joeline Burnett

People need to check their lights, there are so many people with 1 head light or 1 tail light. Please get it fixed. – Sally Jones

There’s been some doozies this week.– Heidi Buchgraber

Overtaking in road works. Happens between Walkamin and Tolga all the time. – Kerrie Small

THE late great British historian, Robert Conquest CMG OBE FBA FRSL, famous ly said, “Everyone is conservative about what he knows best.” And this, “Premier blown away by wind farm”, (The Express, 12/10/22), is how we can be certain that Pre mier Palaszczuk and her advisors know very little about grid-scale electricity generation.

Electricity is a service that we expect to be available on demand. When we come home after dark, we flip the light switch ex pecting electricity at that moment - not to have to wait until the sun is high enough to put solar panels into productive mode.

We can’t store electricity in a dam like water, as federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen claimed we could a few months ago. Storage options such as batteries or pumped hydro are ex pensive. They make electricity dearer, not cheaper.

Premier Palaszczuk has again repeated the old, oft-debunked furphy, “Once com plete early next year (Kaban windfarm) will generate … enough to power up to 100,000 homes.” In fact, when electricity is properly viewed as a service instead of a product, it will power no homes when the weather is calm. Sometimes wind farms produce no power at all even when there’s plenty of wind. Take Mt Emerald on October 12, when The Express published this story. There was plenty of wind all day, but in the middle of the day – when there was heaps of solar – Mt Emerald was throttled back, probably on AEMO’s orders.

Mt Emerald was turned off nine times be tween 10.05am and 4.10pm. It was off for 40 minutes from 12.10pm and for 55 minutes

This is not the pound in Hickling St – I am in Biboohra and I rescue abused, neglected, abandoned and owner-surren dered dogs, pups, cats, and kittens, and get them desexed, vaccinated, microchipped, wormed, flea and tick treated, and find for ever families.

I also rehabilitate the rescues who need help. I am a no kill rescue. All rescues stay in care until they are adopted. I run solely with foster carers in family environments which carers help on a voluntary basis.

I also have a secondhand shop, The Sec onds Shop, next to Ampol servo in Mareeba. Everything is 100 per cent donated and we help the less fortunate families in our com munity by selling items at a very low price.

We also help the elderly around their homes and take their rubbish to the dump, assist with boarding their pets while in hos pital at a largely discounted rate. We also help domestic violence victims and their pets stay together by boarding their pets at a heavily discounted rate until they get back on their feet.

We offer the Last Litter program where the owner surrenders the whole litter, we desex the mum for free and return her to the owner. We do receive any government or council funding to help us financially and the number of animals and families we assist is taking its toll on us financially.

We need help with financial assistance to help us continue saving animals who don’t have a voice and also to continue helping the elderly and domestic violence victims.

If you can find it in your heart to help us, we would be forever grateful. My contact number is 0487 430 443.

Sandy Brown MAREEBA

Erratic driving, speeding up then slowing down for no reason, I find are a far greater occurrence than tailgating. I’ve lost count of how many times while driving to Atherton recently I’ve been behind vehicles in 100k zones constantly fluctuating between 60- 90 and everywhere in between. Dangerous driving is a huge contributor to accidents, both in itself, and with the frustration it causes, potentially leading to other drivers taking risks to overtake these drivers. Focus is always on speed - this aspect seems to be overlooked. – Matt Lachlan

People sitting on 80 in a 100 zone - in good driving conditions - and refusing to allow others, who wish to travel at or near the speed limit to pass are a massive problem... no right to complain about tailgating if you’re not travelling at the speed limit... Get out of the way and let others go... – John Klye

PHOTO OF THE

By Andie Roessler

there

so many

unique

captured these using my Samsung s10.”

–

A reader thinks Premier Palaszczuk is leading us down the wrong path.

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Situated in a quiet and fam ily friendly neighbourhood. A council sports field is conveni ently located just 250 metres away.

Young tradies and DIY en thusiasts muscle up and give

Address:

yourself a kick start into home ownership.

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

Historic paradise in Tolga

FILLED to the brim with history and warmth this beautiful prop erty captures a moment in time where people took pride in their homes and the current owner has lovingly kept the history in tack for the next generation to enjoy.

Each area of the home has been carefully curated to show case its historic charm & features; from the high ceiling to the timber details.

Entering the home off the rear deck through lovely French doors you are greeted with the living & dining areas which ex pand down the center of the home showcasing cascading ceil ings, intricate timber details & a fireplace.

The kitchen extends almost one side of the home with plen ty of storage and large window cutouts create serveries on either side of the benchtops allowing conversation to flow. The 'L' shaped sleep-out is situated at the front of the home con necting the living and kitchen.

Three bedrooms plus study, each of them include access to timber decks. The master includes a generous sized ensuite, heaps of storage & access to its own private deck.

Set on 13.75 ha (approx. 34 acres) the property is sepa rated by Spring Creek which has access to the back paddocks, mostly cleared and perfect for running some cattle or adjist for some extra income. Additional access is utilised at the top boundary.

For more information contact Dual-Exclusive agency, Ray White Atherton. Call Morgan Brennan or Suzey Whitby on 0407 730 450 or 0438 090 306. www.raywhiteruralatherton. com.au/L20585761

VERSATILE LIFESTYLE

1

Inspiring views, creeks, pasture and more

schools, shops, cafes and more this property makes a great location for those seeking some space and pri vacy while remaining close to amenities.

agent

on 0409

Address:

Agent:

Russell Road,

CREEK Price: $995,000

LJ

Atherton Contact: 0409

Did someone say duplex?

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 cor ner and the Mareeba Ten nis Club and Borzi Park just across the road, your tenants will have the convenience of being 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.

Address: 2 Fenwick Street, MAREEBA Price: $550,000

Agent: EXCLUSIVE to Remo Esposito Central Realty Mareeba Contact: 0401 969 473

Private mountain view acreage with creek

MOUNTAIN view has always been considered the premier location for those wishing to live on acreage around Ather ton. With excellent access to schools and all facilities, you can live the rural lifestyle without compromising on the benefits of living in town.

Located in the prestig ious area of Mountainview, this 3-bedroom home is set amidst private established gardens just 2 minutes from town.

Just over an acre of land surrounds this home which features open plan living plus 2 office areas and the added bonus of a perma nent creek. The home is well proportioned with easy care tiles throughout with two bed rooms having built-in storage robes and to accommodate

outdoor entertainment there are two full-length verandas.

Property features include:

• Open plan living with casual living area

• Kitchen with island bench

• Master bedroom with built-in and a/c

• Two separate office/craft areas

• Bathroom laundry combo

• Front and back full-length verandas

• Tandem carport

• 2 Bay Shed with lean-to and power connected

• Fully fenced

Located at the end of a cul-de-sac

The gardens and estab lished fruit trees surrounding this property create shade and privacy with the added bonus of the creek. From a busy family to a couple seek ing some space, this property offers so much so handy to town that it is sure to please.

For your immediate in spection contact Marketing Agent Rino Gava on 0427 779 086.

Address: 13 Panoramic Drive, ATHERTON

Price: Offers Over $498,000

Agent: EXCLUSIVE to Rino Gava Raine & Horne Atherton Contact: 0427 779 086

THIS 134.9 acre farm is lo cated in between Atherton and Yungaburra, well known for its fertile soils and reliable seasons. The property has approximately 1km of front age to the Barron River.

Area: 54.62ha (134.9acres)

Water: This property has an allocation of Approx. 70megs of irrigation ground water and 80megs Barron River allocation.

Irrigation: 1 x T&L centre pivot, water supply from the bore, watering the top pad dock and 4 hydrants suit able for a travelling irrigator pumped from the Barron

River, watering the bottom paddock.

Sheds: The property has 2 near new large machinery sheds and 1 workshop/stor age shed. Shed 1: 12m x 30m 5 bay shed, 2 bays enclosed and lockable with 2 roller doors and a cement floor. Shed 2: 15m x 32m Hay stor age/machinery shed. Shed 3: 12m x 15m shed, 1 roller door, cement floor, mezza nine floor, storeroom, power connected, shower & toilet.

Houses: House + Sepa rate Granny Flat. House 1: 4 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, open plan living, large kitchen, rum pus room/garage, laundry,

patio & solar power. Granny Flat: 2 bedrooms, 1 bath room, open plan living, large kitchen, laundry, storeroom, an enclosed entertainment patio/garage & solar power.

Crop: The property is op erating as a vegetable/mixed cropping farm, currently un der 26ha of Rhodes grass and 19ha of corn. Suitable land to grow nearly all differ

ent crops and trees.

Location: The property is located approximately 10km from Atherton Town Centre & approximately 5km from Yungaburra.

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

Mixed farming opportunity

Connie Watts, Rachel Grandcourt and Debbie Savage enjoyed the festival.

Geoff Onus

Vocal harmony group Secret Men’s Peter Firth.

Martin Enock won the emerging songwriter category. Ingrid Piper.

Kristina Haren and Liliana Williamson. Max from band Ungus Ungus Ungus.

Dan Geiger.

John Buttigieg.

Belly dancer Wendy Clark.

Bel and Zeah Moore.

Tony Pearse.

Gabby Treasure from local band Froggy Le Blanc. Imogine Gallaway in the Street Lantern Parade.

Scott McInnes and Cam Leitch.

Giant puppet Janggaburra.

Hello Tut Tut band members took part in the street parade.

Presbyterians meet in Mareeba for Worship each Sunday 10am, QCWA Hall, Wilkes Street (behind Meals on Wheels). All welcome!

Sunday 30 October: Reformation Sunday

“Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” (Matthew 8:36)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Happy 80th Birthday Jim, Jimmy, James HOUSLEY

For the 28th of October.

Cheers to a great 80 years!

From your loving family, Jean, Russell, James, Janet and grandkids.

The Late Holly Montgomery

Michael, Mary Ann, Bernadette, John and their families sincerely thank the staff of Carinya Home for the Aged and Drs McLellan and Stark of Alice Street Medical Centre for their care of our late mother.

Thanks also to all those who attended Holly’s funeral, sent flowers, or sent messages of condolence.

A special thanks to Fr. Matthew who conducted the funeral and to Maxine McFarlane who played and sang at the funeral. Please accept this as our personal thanks.

FUNERAL NOTICE

ROSE, Ivan

Late of Mareeba. Passed away peacefully on the 18th of October, 2022 at the Mareeba Hospital.

Aged 92 years.

Beloved Husband of Grace. Loving Father and Father-in-Law of David & Cathie, Helen & Ian.

Cherished Grandfather of Louise, Jennifer, Liz, Pat, Maddie, Mitchell and Alex. Great Grandfather of Jasper, Emilia, Zara, Darcy and Rishi.

Relatives and Friends of Ivan are respectfully invited to attend his funeral service which is to be held at Mareeba Memorial Chapel, 45 Constance Street, Mareeba on Friday 28th October, 2022 commencing at 11:00am.

The family would like to thank the Doctors and staff at Mareeba Hospital for their care of Ivan.

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

ROSE, Ivan

Late of Mareeba. Passed away peacefully on the 18th of October, 2022 at the Mareeba Hospital.

Aged 92 years.

Beloved Husband of Grace. Loving Father and Father-in-Law of David & Cathie, Helen & Ian.

Cherished Grandfather of Louise, Jennifer, Liz, Pat, Maddie, Mitchell and Alex. Great Grandfather of Jasper, Emilia, Zara, Darcy and Rishi.

Relatives and Friends of Ivan are respectfully invited to attend his funeral service which is to be held at Mareeba Memorial Chapel, 45 Constance Street, Mareeba on Friday 28th October, 2022 commencing at 11:00am.

The family would like to thank the Doctors and staff at Mareeba Hospital for their care of Ivan.

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

Charles James Conron

Passed tragically on 7th October, 2022 in a vehicle accident.

The family of Charles would like to extend this invitation to his friends to attend a Memorial Service at the Atherton RSL on Thursday 27th October at 2 pm

PERSONAL

COUNTRY LADY AT HEART LOOKING FOR HER SOULMATE

New to the area, widow of 6 years, 50 years old, open to any age, slim build, blue-eyed blonde, very happy natured, fun loving, honest, nurturing and caring, very affectionate and romantic.

Looking for a man to share all these qualities with.

Genuine replies only please.

Jacqueline - 0435 046 054

GARAGE SALE

BULL

AGE, VERY FERTILE, HEALTHY, QUITE. $3,300 NEG. PH JIM 0408953423

Toyota Landcruiser GXL

diesel, 204k, never

and

April ‘23.

EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

• Experienced Bookkeeper

• Trainee Bookkeeper

• Experienced Accountant

• Trainee Accountant

We are looking to expand our team and are seek ing expressions of interest from individuals look ing for a rewarding role within an accounting firm. We offer competitive remuneration, based on your role, skills and experience. We offer on the job training and support, flexible working hours and job stability all within a friendly, supportive team environment.

If you are interested in helping individuals and businesses manage their finances and are inter ested in opportunities to build your accounting or bookkeeping career, we’d love to hear from you. Please apply in writing to: ao@duesburys.com.au Or contact our Office Manager on 4092 1677

An exciting opportunity exists to join the Community Programs Team as a Community Support Worker

The application package which details the role and eligibilty criteria is available at: www.mccinc.org.au/paid-positions/ Indigenous applicants are strongly encouraged to apply.

Skills based pay scale, SCHADS 3.1 Annual Salary $62,000 approx.

POSITION VACANT

STORE PERSON

AGRICULTURAL / HARDWARE MALANDA RURAL SUPPLIES

The

E

for

NOTICE OF AGM

Eacham Community Help Organisation Inc.

10:00am Saturday 5th of November 2022 13-15 Eacham Place, Malanda

Members, Clients, Staff & Friends invited to attend. Please note for voting rights, members must be financial as at 28th of October, 2022.

Financial members are welcome to submit nominations for Management and Ordinary Member positions on the Committee by 4pm Friday 28th of October 2022.

For more information, Proxy Forms and Committee Nomination Forms: Phone the office on 4096 6634 or Email: secretary@echomalanda.org.au

ECHO INC is jointly funded by the Australian Federal and State Governments. E. C. Hackett, Secretary

An Official Opening of the Neighbourhood House will follow at 12:00 noon

Entertainment, activities, fundraising stalls, raffles & more!

Refreshments provided.

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

For Northern Gulf Resource Management Group Ltd t/a Gulf Savannah NRM

9:00AM, THURSDAY

24TH

Proposed Development

Make a submission from: 26th October, 2022 to 18th November, 2022

Material Change of Use –Winery

Where: 255 Marks Lane, Atherton On: Lot 25 on SP119116

Approval Sought: Development Permit Application Ref: MCU22/0025

You may obtain a copy of the application and make a submission to:

Tablelands Regional Council PO Box 573, ATHERTON QLD 4883 info@trc.qld.gov.au 1300 362 242 www.trc.qld.gov.au

Public notification requirements are in accordance with the Planning Act 2016.

SSAA Mareeba Branch Inc.

A.G.M. Saturday 5th November @ 10am Mareeba Pistol Club, Roiko Rd, Mareeba

xpress o take a break...

This week, a little magic can happen. Take some risks, maybe with a love or a friendship, strike up a conversation with a stranger. You’ll be surprised what you learn from cance encounters. You might be working on a project later in the week that takes you for a stroll down memory lane.

This week, there could be a little sensory overload. You could be feeling like your love story is straight out of a movie. Later in the week chores and errands will fill your schedule, make sure you take time to spalsh in puddles, sing loudly to your favourite tunes and dance with your loved ones.

This week, you’re focused on helping others. Friendships, your health and community, maybe a walk for charity. Doing something fun that also helps others. Later in the week remember the grass in greener where you water it. Social media often only shows the patch where the sprinkler has been.

This week, you’re getting involved in other people’s lives. You might have to help someone finish something, they might be further behind than you realised, don’t pull your hair out. Compassion and teamwork will get the job done. Remember that you procrastinate too.

This week, you’re getting things under control. Paperwork and communications might need some attention. Does your inbox need a cull? Later in the week you might find some extraordinary circumstances that cause you to spend big. Treat yo’self,, but make sure it’s worth it.

This week, you’re using your superpower, which is listening. There’s a focus on money and relationships. A deep discussion about finances, spending habits could lead to renewed focus on goals and maybe even free up some budget for some indulgence.

This week, you’re coming out of the shadows and into the light. You might be feeling like a hermit crab but you’ve got invites galore, it could leave you feeling torn. Try to get the best of both worlds and balance the excursions with some solitude. Later in the week, don’t be afraid to speak up.

This week, you’re ready to take more chances. Risk taking, adventure and saying yes to things outside of your comfort zone are in the stars. Later in the week you might find your vivid dreams and restless sleep have caught up with you. It might be time to have a sick day and a good nap.

This week, get ready for a breakthrough. You might find social media leads someone from your past towards you. It’s a great time to connect. Later in the week, take your time navigating especially in new surroundings or you might find yourself getting turned around.

This week, you are envisioning what you want. You might weave a little magic with a vision board, send a clear message to the universe with what you want. Later in the week, you might find wires get crossed when making plans, double check details and if all else fails, go to the beach.

This week, things have become much clearer. You could find yourself looking into a scholarship or funding for education. Later in the week you might come across a finance guru online. Take a day or two to think about it,the glamour & shininess might start to dull after you’ve really thought it through.

Bulls celebrate 2022 success

AFTER a successful season, the Mareeba United Football Club hosted their annual presentations, with some of the best players recognised for their efforts.

This year’s best junior bulls were Christian Mukadi, Meeshia Curley, Steven Cater and Braith De Faveri for their great sportsmanship, efforts in training and performance of the field.

Known for his skills on the field, Josh Lepo rati was a well deserving recipient of the Premier League Goalkeeper of the Year award.

This year’s premier men’s coach Kane Alder ton and women’s Marcello Savaglio took home

the coach of the year awards for pushing both teams above and beyond this season.

This year’s season was all about girl power with premier ladies Ayshia Brischetto, Samantha Madrid, Katia Spena and Nicole Ghensi taking home some well deserved wins.

This year’s players of the year were awarded to Sarah Clark and Liam Pozzebon, who carried their teams throughout some of the hardest matches of the year.

Prior to presentations, the men’s team also had a friendly “singles vs married” match, with singles taking home the win 3 to 2.

RIGHT: Ladies and Mens Player of the Year, Sarah Clark and Liam Pozzebon with MUFC president Mario Ghensi (cen tre).

BELOW: Junior Players of the year, Christian Mukadi, Meeshia Curley, Steven Cater and Braith De Faveri.

BELOW RIGHT: Premier Ladies award winners, Ayshia Bris chetto, Samantha Madrid, Katia Spena and Nicole Ghensi.

Rising Stars, Esther Cousley and Jarad Latif.

Tanya Ali and Sandro Soncin.

Adrian Madrid, Nicholas Tallarico, Ben Stabile and John Ghensi.

Josh Leporati (Premier league Goalkeeper of the year), Marcello Savalgio (Premier league ladies coach of the year), Kane Alder ton (premier league Coach of the year) and Alex Srhoj, Manager Far North and Gulf Queensland Football.

Eagles search for help to compile history

THE Atherton Eagles are appealing to any and all previous players, coaches, officials and supporters to help them piece together the history of the club to be officially documented and passed down.

Records show the Atherton Eagles could be ap proaching their 50th anniversary but the current committee is unsure as there has never been an of ficial documentation of the club’s founding or his tory.

They are appealing to members of the commu nity who may currently have or have had ties to the club in years past to come forward with any memo ries, photos, documents – anything that has to do with the history of the football club.

Atherton Eagles president Angelo Veschetti the current committee wants to compile the history and leave it as a legacy for the committee that follows.

“The club does not have a history that is known

to the current committee and we think the club has been around for 50 years or thereabouts,” he said.

“A bunch of us had played juniors on the Table lands, for example I used to play as a Mareeba jun ior and we used to play in Atherton but they weren’t called the Eagles, we think they were called the Co bras back then.

“We are trying to figure out what the history of the club is so as a committee we can leave that as the legacy for those that come after.”

Some families have already come forward and given quite a lot of information already about the club’s history but Mr Veschetti is welcoming any additional information, documents, photos and more, to help commemorate the club’s birth.

If you have any information or memorabilia to give the Eagles please call Mr Veschetti on 4091 4877 and talk to him or Libby Massaso.

Book to revive the ‘hay days’

A GROUP of past players, coaches and support ers of the Millaa Millaa Senior Rugby League have joined forces to create a book of memories and highlights since the team was established in 1924.

The idea to create the book came about in 2002 during a reunion, with the group wanting to preserve the memories of their players and supporters in their “hay days” before they all passed away.

What once was one of the greatest rugby leagues teams in the Eacham League competi tion, they hope that anyone who was involved with the team and remembers their great pur suits would donate their time and memorabilia to be a part of the book.

This includes old programs, photographs, stories and memorable moments, jerseys,

socks, player submissions, a venue to host the book launch in 2023 and any donations to help get the book printed.

Players who were involved in the Raven shoe, Mount Garnet, Upper Tablelands teams who became a part of the Millaa Millaa senior league are encouraged to write of experiences in the club and provide photographs.

The book will be written and put together by Martin Grandelis, who wrote the Atherton Roosters history book.

Any donations can be made via bank transfer to BSB: 633 000, Account Number: 193378445.

If you have any images, memorabilia or stories about the Millaa Millaa Senior Rugby League team or for more information, contact John Roots on 4096 6301.

The Atherton Eagles are appealing to the community to help them compile the club’s history.

The Millaa Millaa Senior Rugby League team in 1961.

PHOTO: Arch Fraley.

Success at states propels riders to nationals

RIDERS from the Atherton BMX Club will be packing their bags and travelling down to Launceston to compete in the Auscycling BMX National Championships after the club’s recent success at the state titles.

The state titles attracted more than 800 entries from all corners of Queensland at the end of September, including 37 riders from the Atherton BMX Club, five of which will continue on to compete at nationals

The two-day state event saw riders meet fierce com petition and experience the thrills and spills the sport is renowned for first-hand.

With only three motos to make qualifiers, the pursuit of a prestigious “state plate” proved challenging but it was all smiles from Natalie Eakin, Chloe Eakin, Krys tal Gauci, Sharon Kootoofa, Andrew Moses and Helen Gauci who added sought after podium placings to their 2022 BMX accolades.

Mother-daughter duo Natalie and Chloe Eakin brought home an impressive first and second in their age classes, respectively while another set of mother-daughter riders, Helen and Krystal Gauci, both seized 3rd in their classes – Krystal also brought home a second in the cruiser class.

A total of 14 state plates came home with the Atherton riders.

With the state competition done for 2022, most local riders will be taking a well-earned break from champion ship competitions but local siblings Cayden and Krystal Gauci, together with Natalie Eakin and children Chloe and Aidan have one more major event to attend - the Aus cycling BMX National Championships.

The five riders head south in late November, this time to the apple isle and the city of Launceston where they will come head-to-head with the best BMX riders from across the country.

Junior goats finish off series

THE Mareeba “Pump’n’Peddle” Jun ior Mountain Goats series has finished up with a bang, with young mountain bikers versing their parents in one final friendly competition.

The series is designed for kids who want to get into mountain biking and is based around having fun, keeping fit and increasing participation in sports.

The final competition for the series took place at Davies Creek mountain bike trails one and seven, with 14 teams of kids and their parents racing for over two hours against each other with team Off Camber 2 coming out on top.

Young Taylor Stevenson and her father Rob raced the entire lap with a time of 1 hour 54.24 seconds.

Taylor said she had an amazing time learning how to ride and was over whelmed by the support of everyone

else involved.

“It was such a good race series, and all the competitors were supportive of each other. It’s pretty cool (to be the winner) and it has helped me believe in myself and want to do more racing,” she said.

“I crashed in one race and another couple of races kids came off their bikes.

“In the last race, no one needed help, and I didn’t crash, so I could pace myself and on the last lap of the race and I still had a lot of energy to bring it home strong.”

Although the series is over, the team have plans to do it all again next July. Organisers from the Mareeba Mountain Goats Rudi, Megan, Steve and Travis were all commended for their hard work organising the competitions.

Atherton BMX riders who attended the 2022 Auscycling Queensland BMX State Titles.

Young Taylor Stevenson smashing the final race for the Mareeba “Pump’n’Peddle” Junior Mountain Goats series.

Speedway to sign off on season

THE Mareeba Speedway is gearing up for their last meet of the season with a huge num ber of nominations set to make the season fi nale a big affair.

The Super Street Sedan class has attracted over 20 nominations to contest the Central Tyre Service Aussie Top Gun Shootout with cars coming from all over North Queensland, the competition is sure to be fierce.

The “Big Things with Wings” – the pow erful V8 Sprintcars – will contest the muchanticipated NQ Agricultural Services “King of Kerribee” and the new North Queensland Champion Brian Walsh will be hoping to add to his trophy cabinet.

Mareeba Speedway president Scott Davis is hoping the local community can come out and support their local racers over the week end.

“This meeting will be a great way to finish off the season and our family night of enter tainment will also include prizes for Hallow een Best Costumes for the younger ones,” Mr Davis said.

“Of course, this will lead into our huge 50 Year Celebrations dinner at the track the fol lowing Saturday – it truly is an exciting couple of weeks for our club.”

Mareeba Speedway is on Springs Road Mareeba, the gates will open to the public at 3pm with racing set to start from 5pm.

Mareeba meets their match

MAREEBA second grade met their match last weekend against town rivals Atherton after they faced each other for the first time in the 40 over competition with Atherton winning by three wickets.

The hosts won the toss and chose to bat first against a dangerous Atherton bowling attack which quickly struck, taking down both Ma reeba’s openers for just six runs between them.

Brandon Green once again proved his mettle as he stood in at number three joined by return ing Cricket Far North U21 representative Ben Jones.

Green made his presence known and hun kered down for over an hour and a half, making 35 off 77 balls to help push Mareeba to a decent total.

Mareeba captain and key batsman Brendan Payne got out cheaply and things looked all over for Mareeba before young gun Will Han lon came to the crease and made 26 off 45.

The home side ended up on 106 all out in the 37th over.

Atherton got off to a shaky start in their run chase as they lost one of their openers for a duck before Greg Misener came in at three and hit a quick 28 off 22.

The rest of the order did their jobs making odd scores here and there before Amy Hunter hit the winning runs to give Atherton the win and two bonus points.

Mareeba will now face off against Norths this Sunday at Griffith Park 1 while Atherton second grade plays Mulgrave at Walker Road.

PICTURED: V8 sprintcar driver Wes Jenkins.