EXPRESS The
Wednesday, June 8, 2016
Locally owned and proudly independent
Anzac Ball’s inspirational message
THEIR life journeys might have been worlds apart, but Royce Hardman and Margie Bestmann will stop at nothing to raise awareness of mental health. The pair, along with Mr Hardman’s dog Trigger (pictured), were special guests at last Saturday’s Anzac Ball at Mareeba RSL. In a stirring speech, Mr Hardman, an Afghanistan war veteran, spoke openly and honestly to the crowd about his experience and subsequent battle with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder upon returning home. He now travels the country raising awareness of PTSD as part of “Trigger’s Big Trek”. Mrs Bestmann, who lost her husband Dr Mark Bestmann in February, echoed Mr Hardman’s sentiments in her address, urging those experiencing depression and anxiety to speak up and seek help. The night was capped off with a great performance by Townsville’s 1RAR band and charity donations to both Mr Hardman and mental health organisation, the Black Dog Institute.
Appeal for help By Michael Serenc
TABLELANDS farmers have sent an urgent SOS to Far Northerners in a bid to stop a crippling electricity price rise. Canegrowers Tablelands and the Mareeba District Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association fear farmers will not be able to make ends meet if a proposed 12.3 per cent increase on ir-
rigation tariffs is implemented from July 1, as recommended by the Queensland Competition Authority. Canegrowers Tablelands director Rajinder Singh said farmers were at their wits’ end over the price rise, making things even tougher after the entire Mareeba Shire and Tablelands Shire were officially declared drought zones last month. “Electricity makes up 15 per cent of our costs
in a normal year, but in the past year with drought, it’s been up to 20 per cent,” he said. “Any increase makes us vulnerable.” The industry group has joined forces with the Far North Queensland Electricity Users Network (FNQEUN) in a petition to call on the State Government to reduce electricity costs in regional Queensland by five per cent from 2015-16 levels by July 1.
Mr Singh, a third-generation cane farmer with properties at Gordonvale and Arriga, said cane growing costs would rise by 50 cents a tonne if the power price rise was implemented, which would result in overall farm costs increasing anywhere from $5000 to $50,000 depending on the size of the property. CONTINUED Page 3
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