EXPRESS The
Wednesday, November 2, 2016
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Remembering Private Ben
PRIVATE Benjamin Adam Chuck was the perfect soldier. Loyal to his mates, battle hardened and motivated to be the best. But here, on the banks of the Einasleigh River (pictured), you see a different side to the Yungaburra man as he stares wistfully into the distance. More than six years after Pvt Chuck tragically lost his life in Afghanistan, US-based artist Jason Swain has made it his personal mission to paint every one of Australia’s 41 fallen servicemen in a touching tribute to their families. FULL STORY – PAGE 4 PAINTING: JASON SWAIN
$10m road deal By Michael Serenc
A SPAT between the Federal and State Governments over road funding appears over after more than $10 million was announced to seal parts of two critical roads in the region. Federal Infrastructure minister Darren Chester announced last Tuesday $5.97 million to seal parts of the Burke Developmental Rd (BDR) from Chillagoe to Almaden, and $4.76 million to seal Ootann Rd between Almaden and Gunawarra along the Kennedy Highway.
The move follows a front page story by The Express two weeks ago, which revealed a blame game had started over funding an unsealed 14km stretch of the BDR between Chillagoe and Almaden. Each road is split into two funding packages, the BDR being sealed in two stages worth $4.31 million and $1.66 million, while Ootann Rd will be sealed in stages costing $660,000 and $4.1 million. The funding announcement forms part of a wider $56 million package for Queensland roads under the Federal Government’s $100 million Northern Australia Beef Roads Program (BRP).
Mareeba Deputy Mayor Alan Pedersen was delighted by the announcement, crediting a strong lobbying effort by council, media and mining companies for the funding breakthrough. “It’s overdue. It’s good to see the Feds come to the party because it’s obvious the State didn’t have the money to do it,” he said. “It’s joint lobbying from a lot of quarters that’s managed to get the attention of the Federal Government and get some money spent in northern Australia.”
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