COMMUNITY NEWS

Inside this week

COMMUNITY NEWS 2-10

FACES OF THE BURDEKIN 11-13

SOCIAL SEEN 14-15

EDUCATION 16-17

ON THE LAND 18-19

PUZZLES 20

ENTERTAINMENT 21

TV GUIDE 22-23

DIRECTORY 24

CLASSIFIEDS 25

SPORT 26-28

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Scott Morrison

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Joke of the Week

A man tells his doctor, “Doc, help me. I’m addicted to Twitter!” The doctor replies, “Sorry, I don’t follow you …”

Quote of the Week

Road trip raises funds for Domestic Violence survivors

Mary Pearson, Renata Jochova and DJ from Iron Heart Warriors

Daniel Shirkie

MEMBERS of the recently founded Iron Heart Warriors support group joined forces with the Burdekin Cruisers Car Club, Burdekin Zonta Club and other supporting organisations to raise funds for domestic violence survivors across the weekend.

The first major fundraiser for the Iron Heart Warriors originated from a desire cofounder Renata Jochova had to organise a women’s retreat for survivors.

“I am a two-time survivor of domestic violence and family abuse,” Ms Jochova said.

“I was fortunate enough to do a program about three years ago with the Churches of Christ that gave us some much-needed knowledge.

“It gave me a lot of confidence and inspiration to help other women to get the help they need and support them afterwards with a ladies retreat.”

Renata and co-founder DJ immediately leapt into the fundraising side of things, organising for a donation tin to be placed at the Burdekin Cruisers Car Club Show, as well as a vigil held on May 8th.

“Everything’s happened so quickly; it’s been amazing the amount of support we’ve received,” Ms Jochova said.

“We aim to help women who’ve been in really bad places; to get more resources that can assist them, we provide safety packs as well, there’s a lot of things on the agenda.”

The Cruisers Car Club suggested that the women turn a routine trip to the Heritage Tea Rooms into a fundraiser. The event was held over the weekend, with those in attendance donating to play dice games and win prizes donated by the community.

“We’re very fortunate to have so many local groups and businesses supporting us,” Ms Jochova said.

“It went fantastic. We hadn’t given huge notice and had only just started our Facebook page; we had about 41 entrants into the dice-rolling. There were even people at the tea rooms, there just for lunch, who joined in and bought some raffles.”

The Roll for Awareness and Change, as it was dubbed, drew in over $800 in funds, with the previous donation tins at events making the current total raised $1750.

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COUNCIL BUDGET ANNOUNCES INFRASTRUCTURE FOCUS AND 2.5% GENERAL RATE INCREASE

Burdekin Shire Council Mayor Lyn McLaughlin

Daniel Shirkie

A general rate increase of 2.5 per cent and $13.6 million spent on water infrastructure are just two of the leading budget policies outlined by the Burdekin Shire Council in Tuesday’s budgetary meeting.

In an address accompanying the 2021/22 budget, Burdekin Shire Mayor Lyn McLaughlin said that with residents accustomed to the ‘new normal’ following the COVID-19 pandemic, the council would focus on developing and upgrading infrastructure.

According to the address, they predict the budget to result in a ‘small operating deficit’ of $327,837 despite the rate increase.

“The 2020/21 Budget included no general rate increase and relied on funding from reserves to assist all residents recover from the physical and financial impacts COVID-19 was having on our community,” Mrs McLaughlin said.

“Now we are looking forward with our 2021/22 Budget funding a range of important projects that will continue to improve on the infrastructure, facilities, and lifestyle we enjoy in the Burdekin.”

To that end, the capital program has identified $13.6 million that will be invested in water infrastructure, $7.3 million for roads and drainage, $824,000 for wastewater, and $740,000 for cultural and community spaces.

“Council is committed to ensuring our region’s liquid gold remains as accessible and reliable as possible,” Mrs McLaughlin said.

“Water is the lifeblood of any community, so making sure infrastructure is in place that effectively collects, treats, and distributes it to residents is crucial.”

The spending on the water will include the continuing works regarding the $10 million Ayr - Brandon water upgrade and bypass pipework at the Home Hill water tower and the Mount Kelly water supply rising main replacement.

Roads will get a similar investment, totalling $6.9 million for upgrades, with $260,000 set aside for additional car parks and internal roads at Plantation Park.

A further $730,000 will be allocated towards waste facilities, with funds earmarked to provide solar security cameras at the Clare transfer station, upgrades to the Cromarty landfill and the remaining $500,000 of the total allocated for environmental protection measures at Kirknie landfill.

HAVE YOUR SAY:

We’d like to hear your opinion on what the Burdekin Shire Council budget means for you. If you have comments, concerns, or something to share, please get in touch with us by sending a letter to the editor at editor@ burdekinlocal.com.au

In Brief

Backpacker death won’t lead to an inquest

A coroner investigation into the death of a 27-yearold Belgian national who experienced fatal organ failure and heatstroke while working on a Burdekin farm in 2017 will not lead to an Inquest. Coroner Nerida Wilson said that while findings show that the death of the young backpacker, named Olivier Max Caramin was ‘preventable,’ an inquest would not assist the investigation further. Car Fire Rita Island

QFES personnel from Ayr fire station were called to a suspicious car fire in Rita Island on Sunday the 20th of June. The car was unattended at the time with its owners unconfirmed.

Phone addiction

A report from Reviews.org has found that Aussies will spend around 17 years of their life on their phone, averaging more than five hours of mobile screen time a day. Of the thousand participants surveyed 46% admitted to feeling addicted to their phone.

Ergon urges operators to ‘look up and live’

Daniel Shirkie

A new mobile app designed to reduce incidents and injuries at high-risk work sites is hoping to help put a stop to accidents on cane farms during the crushing season.

Developed by Ergon Energy, the free app hopes to reduce the incident rate of machinery colliding with power poles and overhead power lines by providing them with an up-to-date map of the 1.7 million poles and 178,000 km of overhead lines that dot the state.

Ergon Energy’s Community Safety Manager Aaron Smith says while people understand power lines are dangerous, they’re not always noticed or taken into account by operators of heavy machinery.

“The Look Up and Live app is a simple, lifesaving tool that will help you determine which control measures are needed to protect you and your mates on site, from safety observers to physical barriers or requesting a planned power outage,” Mr Smith said.

“Before you do anything, you should have a look at the hazards so you can determine your next step.

“Contacting a powerline can be deadly, cause

Ergon Community Safety Manager, Aaron Smith demonstrates the app

serious injuries and damage machinery, we’ve seen pieces of plant and heavy vehicles burnt to the ground.”

The mapping tool, which is designed for ease of use by transport, aviation and construction work crews, is something Ergon are hoping becomes standard in most work crews toolkits.

Plantation Creek Road two-vehicle collision

Marina Trajkovich

TWO men have been hospitalised following a two-vehicle collision off Plantation Creek Road, that left one vehicle trapped under a nearby railway line and its driver lodged behind the wheel.

The collision, between a ute and small truck off Plantation Creek Road in the afternoon of Tuesday the 22nd June of were attended by Queensland Ambulance Service, Queensland Police Service and Queensland Fire and Emergency Services.

Matthew Lamb, senior firefighter and incident controller at the scene says the pair are lucky to be alive.

“The fellow in the truck ended up wedged against the railway line and had his leg trapped between the steering wheel and the gear stick. It probably took us an hour and a half to get him free,” said Mr Lamb.

The truck driver was sent to Ayr Hospital then to Townsville University Hospital with minor injuries. The other man in the ute was also transferred to Ayr Hospital in a stable condition.

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In Brief

Giru QCWA celebrates major milestone

The Giru Queensland Country Women’s Association is set to mark a major milestone in history this weekend, with their 94th anniversary in the calendar. The group will meet for a Devonshire Morning Tea to celebrate the occasion on Saturday, June 26 at 9.30am in the Hall on Carey Street.

Cowboy becomes Maroon debutant

Cowboys enforcer Francis Molo is set to make his State of Origin debut this weekend, slotting in on the interchange for returning prop Josh Papalii as coach Paul Green tries to reel in a squad facing a climbing injury toll and still reeling from a hefty defeat. Warriors star Reece Walsh will become one of the youngest players to make an Origin debut in history as well this Sunday after Kalyn Pong was again ruled out with an injury along with Harry Grant. The match is set to kick-off at 7.50pm at Lang Park in Brisbane. on efforts to prevent cancer. As Cancer Council Queensland CEO Ms Chris McMillan says; “Please register a team or donate to your local Relay For Life - together, we’re an unstoppable force and can stop cancer in its tracks.”

Relay for Life ‘more important than ever’

Daniel Shirkie

BURDEKIN Relay for Life Patron Gillian Stanbrook is calling on the wider community to rally and give as much as they can to this year’s event.

Held on Saturday, July 24 this year, the annual event will run from 1pm to 10pm at the Ayr Showgrounds.

A dedicated Relay for Life supporter and former Nurse, Ms Stanbrook has seen firsthand how integral the funding provided by the charitable effort can be in helping those who have been stricken with cancer. “I started volunteering for Cancer Council Queensland in 2003 inspired by the commitment my friend Shirley had made after surviving breast cancer,” Ms Stanbrook said. “I represented the community as Nurse of the year in 2003 and was the secretary in the local branch for years. “As a former nurse I understand how important Cancer Council Queensland’s services are and I believe every dollar raised helps us get closer to a cure, it doesn’t matter whether you raise a few dollars or thousands, every dollar counts.” The event, which is described as ‘for everyone’ no matter their age, fitness level or contribution, provides funding for vital efforts like life saving cancer research, preventative information programs and support services for families battling cancer.

This year’s event, and Mrs Stanbrook’s appointment as 2021 patron, has taken on even more significance after last year’s fundraising efforts were severely restricted by the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. “Supporting Burdekin’s Relay For Life is more important than ever as cancer never stops,” Mrs Stanbrook said. “I couldn’t be more excited to see the community rally together for this year’s event - by registering a team or donating you will be joining the fight against cancer.” This year, the Burdekin Relay for Life Committee are targeting a fund-raising total of $9,000 that will be spent by Cancer Council Queensland

Final call for Mental Health Week funding grants

Marina Trajkovich

Mental health organisations looking to host an event for Queensland Mental Health Week are invited to apply for a Mental Health Week grant, with applications closing on the 30th of June.

Mental Health Week, which runs from the 9th to the 17th of October, is an initiative inviting community members to come together and discuss mental health issues, supporting open conversation about self-care, support options and seeking help if you are struggling.

Queensland Mental Health Commissioner Ivan Frkovic says that QMHW is a great way to encourage mental health awareness in the community, encouraging residents to get involved.

“Having a strong sense of community connection and belonging is a really large part of sustaining our mental health.

“Local government, not-for-profits, companies, community groups and schools may be eligible for grants of up to $3000 to host events and activities during Queensland Mental Health Week.

Mr Frkovic says the Burdekin Shire Council has been active in the past few years, creating wellness events tailored to supporting mental health in the community.

“Queensland Mental Health Week prompts healthy conversations around mental health and mental illness,

Speakers at last year’s Taking Time to Connect event for Queensland Mental Health Week

equips people with the skills to look after their mental health and to identify when people need support. It also helps reduce stigma around topics that are often difficult to talk about.”

CONNECT NOW: To apply for a grant or for more information, head to www.qldmentalhealthweek. org.au. Applications for grants close June 30th.

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Dredging stoush drags on

Problem spot at the Molongle Creek waterway where local boats become grounded

Kenneth Betteridge, Commodore and Joe Linton, Project Officer at the Molongle Creek Boat Ramp

Daniel Shirkie

MEMBERS of the Molongle Boat Club are ‘sick and tired’ of dealing with delays for a badly needed upgrade to the waterway’s access.

Club Project Manager Joe Linton says that the most recent hold-up to the All Tide Access Dredging expected to be completed this year is another blow in a long saga dating back years.

“We’ve been lobbying government’s constantly over the years to provide improved access for the community, Volunteer Marine Rescue and the 200 properties in Cape Upstart,” Mr Linton said.

First promised at the 2017 Queensland State Election, the project has its origins right back around the time of the club’s founding. Mr Linton said that correspondence between the club and the then government discussed similar proposals.

“Even in those early days, there was correspondence with the government explaining the need and necessity of a boat harbour in this area,” Mr Linton said.

“The thing is, between Bowen and Townsville, there isn’t a single All Tide facility in that area, none. From the Haughton, all the way through, the whole lot.”

For nearly 60 years, the club has been making improvements to the area on its own dime for a significant stretch of that time, including limited earthworks around the shore since the 80s.

“Then in 2000 or roundabouts, we were granted permission and the permits to do those works, and we’ve kept doing that until about three or four years ago,” Mr Linton said.

While the club could convince both the government and opposition to commit $5 million towards a redevelopment of the facility, the slow progress has been frustrating for the club.

“If you go down and have a look at the trailers that are there, mid-week, there’s twenty or so, that’s all people who are sitting over at Cape Upstart,” Mr Linton said.

“The tides aren’t good enough, so access out of the place is completely terrible.”

“When they all agreed to it, we were thrilled, but that was five years ago now.”

Over the past year, works have begun, with the first stage of the project completed by the Department of Transport and Main Roads.

But that leg of the project only involves constructing a soil disposal area nearby, and members of the boat club haven’t noticed.

“For the people that use this facility, that’s out of sight, out of mind, there’s been no activity here where it’s needed,” Mr Linton said.

Despite the delays, Mr Linton remains confident that the department is committed to meeting its goals but is concerned that any wasted time could result in disastrous consequences.

“We can choose to go to our properties on the cape based on tides, maybe sometimes it’s inconvenient, but that’s not a problem,” Mr Linton said.

“But you can’t choose when you have a heart attack, or you stand on a stonefish. It’s Murphy’s Law.

“That’s the major component of it, but the part that the community is sick and tired of is this delaying effect; they’ve committed; get on with it.”

According to the Department of Transport and Road’s Maritime Safety Queensland General Manager Angus Mitchell, environment approvals concerning the proposed next phase of works are in the ‘final stage’.

“MSQ is in the final stages of obtaining all the required State and Commonwealth environmental approvals, which includes likely financial offset payments for impacts to marine habitat,” Mr Mitchell said. “Tenders closed for the capital dredging works on 21 May, and MSQ is evaluating the applications.”

At the present rate, the department expects a successful tender to be awarded next month, with works to begin the following month.

“Onsite dredging works are expected to start in late August subject to weather, dredge and pipeline availability and approval of the dredging environmental management plans by both the State and Commonwealth agencies,” Mr Mitchell said. “Completion of the dredging is expected to be completed late 2021 this year.”

OUR ECONOMY IS ON TRACK TO COME BACK

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To build upon the progress we’ve made, the next steps in the plan provide more support for individuals, families and businesses to help secure the economy and create more jobs.

JOB CREATION IS ON TRACK

Over the next 10 years, many more local jobs will be created and secured through investment in roads, rail and community infrastructure. More homes will be built in more communities thanks to HomeBuilder and the New Home Guarantee. More training will be available through JobTrainer. There’ll be new apprenticeships, traineeships and more places in higher education. And there’ll be more opportunities for families to access work with more affordable childcare.

SMALL BUSINESSES ARE ON TRACK

We’re supporting hard hit industries such as aviation, tourism and international education. And continuing tax incentives, such as the Instant Asset Write-off, to encourage businesses to invest, to grow and to create more jobs. We’re improving employment services so that employers and job seekers are more easily matched. And our $1.2 billion investment in digital infrastructure, skills, and incentives means that more businesses in communities right across Australia can be part of the thriving digital economy.

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Nikki Beetham, Cathy Johnson, Keeley Johnson, Renee Mackenzie, Bernie Travers

Back row Wade Medill, Katherine Price, Tamara Medill, Jodi Milton Front Row - Ben Mathieson, Tristan Price Team “Beeline” including Sara Pemberton, Nikki Beetham, Simone Roy and Katrina Benyon

Sport Fishing ladies day raises funds for Golden Octopus Foundation charity

Daniel Shirkie

A ladies sport fishing day held in Townsville has provided plenty of cracking catches for eager fisherwomen, but also a helping hand closer to home.

The 2021 Ladies Fishing Day, held on Saturday, June 19, raised $5319 for the Golden Octopus Foundation, an Ayr based charity that helps alleviate the burden on families dealing with childhood cancer.

Golden Octopus President Cathy Johnson said she was incredibly grateful to the 66 female anglers who competed to be the best of the 15 teams that stuck their hand up to be a part of the day.

“It’s great because there wasn’t much happening during the COVID lockdown, so for people to come back thinking about other people to raise money for, it’s great,” Ms Johnson said.

“Triple M put our name forward to be the beneficiary of the Townsville Fishing Club’s Ladies Day event and so we’re really grateful to them as well.”

A mammoth number of pelagic fish were caught, weighed and tagged by the competitors, with an 8.1 kilo spanish mackerel being snagged by ‘The Chapel’s Renee Guazzo.

The championship team onboard ‘Our Job Site’ tagged two black marlin and three spanish mackerel, while the runners up on ‘Bee Haven’ tagged and released two black marlin.

Jodi Milton and Kat Price, both from the winning team took out the championship angler and runner-up angler prizes.

“Some of those ladies who were in that fishing club and were competing, they came and told us that they had friends who had been affected in Mt Isa or Charters Towers,” Ms Johnson said.

“It’s good to hear from people and talk with them so that they then know that the money’s going back to local families and it’s really excellent to see people helping us out.”

Ms Johnson said over the last twelve months, considerable money had been spent by the Golden Octopus Foundation, founded by her daughter and singer Keeley, in furthering their goals.

“At the moment, in the last twelve months, we’ve spent $30,000 helping thirty different families out, anyone we hear about who has childhood cancer, we help them out with money or Keeley goes and sings at a fundraiser to raise money for them,” Ms Johnson said.

“She did one recently in Charters Towers helping a girl out there where they raised $17,500 for that girl.”

The group have already set lofty goals for the upcoming year.

“We clean houses, we mow yards, we do a lot of little things in the background for families that people don’t realise, but our big thing is that we want to get childhood cancer nurses right across Australia.”

A condemned grandstand is causing all sorts of headaches for the Home Hill State High School P&C, with the organisation rallying around a fundraiser and hoping to see a new seating area built.

The grandstand sits on the high school’s sporting grounds and, used previously for several sporting events and community-wide events like Christmas Carols and the annual Town of Origin games played during the Harvest festival, is currently cordoned off.

P&C President Christine Loizou says the organisation reached out to the Education Department and the Queensland State Government for advice on how to proceed and were told that removing the dilapidated seating alone would cost $18,000.

“It’s quite an old piece of equipment, and it’s full of rust, so it was deemed unfit for use by students or any patrons,” Ms Loizou said.

“We’re really keen to have it removed and replaced, but we’re faced with this question of having to fundraise the money to do that.”

While the P&C have since approached the department about using a School Subsidy Scheme grant to help fund the removal, a quarter of the overall funds would still have to be raised by the P&C before the project is even considered.

“That’s also just to remove it,” Mrs Loizou said.

“There wouldn’t be a replacement included in that, after a year of COVID, who has those kinds of funds? We’re doing everything we can as a school community to fundraise, but it’s a big task.”

Students and other groups from the school’s history have already begun their fundraising efforts intending to contribute, and those who donate $250 or $500 will even have their names carved into the new grandstand’s seat of donors when erected.

“We’re a passionate school and community, and I do know that when we need things, the community does come together and help out; we have past students and past teachers who’ve shown up willing to help,” Mrs Loizou said.

“Everyone’s finding it tough at the moment to donate funds, and it’s very difficult right now.”

In place of the P&C’s usual annual fete, they’ll instead be hosting a State of Origin 3 community event at the school, with funds raised going towards the grandstand project.

In addition, direct donations over $2 to the Grandstand Fund are taxdeductible, with those who donate over $250 having

their name included on the grandstand during construction. Fundraiser for new grandstand But Mrs Loizou is hoping calling for community support that the community will contribute whatever they can when they can. “Ten dollars can go a long way, we’re not asking Daniel Shirkie for hundreds, it’d be great, especially from some of the larger businesses, if they could help us out, that’d be fantastic, but something as little as ten dollars for a donation can really go a long way,” Mrs Loizou said.

CONNECT NOW:

To get in touch with organisers or arrange to donate, you can phone 4790 5666 or e-mail admin@ homehillshs.eq.edu.au.

Brett Forrester is just one of many workers who’ve contributed to the ongoing beautification of the station

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cathedral.qld.edu.au Daniel Shirkie

THE workers who make up Burdekin’s Waste Management team bring a whole new meaning to the term ‘recycling’.

Workers across the Ayr, Home Hill, Clare and Giru transfer stations and the Kirknie Landfill have been turning unwanted items over to new owners via a secondhand store and an array of new visual features, including garden displays and toy arrangements.

Gate attendant Brett Forrester, who’s just one of many staff across the Burdekin’s transfer stations who’s played a hand in seeing the various projects run smoothly, says the new features may have started from humble origins but have provided plenty of positives.

“Rod McNamara, he started it all off; he was collecting the Tonka trucks and things for a while. Rod’s retired now, but he still brings in trees and stuff for the garden feature and makes it all possible,” Mr Forrester said.

“At the end of the day, you do want your workplace to look nice, and when you have it looking nice like this, a majority of the people coming through want to keep it looking nice. They’re quite happy to sweep up anything they bring to drop off.”

Along with his co-workers on the ground, Bradley McIntosh, Adrian Lennox, David Burt, Peter Driver, Andrew Toms, Stephen Jones, Kahle Crossland, Kylie Levitt and Wayne Baker, Mr Forrester has been contributing to the features and helping run the secondhand shop at Ayr’s transfer station for some time now.

Aside from providing the depot with flair, he says the installations and the shop help out a lot in what he calls the ‘constant education’ of people who come to the transfer station but are unaware of the rules.

“I’ve had people come in here, and somebody had dumped a whole lot of trash on his mate’s property, and it was all things that they could have brought here to dispose of for free,” Mr Forrester said.

“What we’d like people to learn more is the fact that if people don’t recycle properly, it is going to cost you later on in your rates. People just think that a dump is a dump, but that landfill will fill up. It’s not thought of as a cost, but it comes through in your rates.”

Waste services coordinator Mitul Desai says that the more welcoming and inviting the tip is, the more people come and the easier it becomes to avoid any confusion.

“When they come in and see everything’s very well presented, they come here more often,” Mr Desai said.

“They get more knowledge when they come out to the tip.

“A lot of people don’t realise that some elements are completely free, and they’ll dispose of it illegally and not realise they could have done it here for free.”

Mr Forrester, who, along with his colleagues at the gatehouse, is the first point of contact for many people who bring in items that end up in either the features or the secondhand shop, says it’s always a surprise what some people will end up bringing in.

“A lady brought all these gnomes and garden ornaments, and they were her mother’s who’d passed on, she didn’t want to keep them, and her husband didn’t want them around, so she brought them here, and I said, well, we’ll make use of them,” Mr Forrester said.

“It’s a nice way to keep those sorts of things in use and around.

While Mr Forrester laughs that no one will ever retire from what is made in the secondhand shop, it does provide ‘another way of recycling’ in his words.

“One of the old fellas that came in today said he’s got some lamps in the back of the car, he had two lamps still in their boxes, I said they’ll be lovely, someone will really enjoy these,” Mr Forrester said.

“Instead of that stuff being thrown out, it goes to the shop, and someone buys it for a few dollars.

“It’s just recycling, it’s another way of recycling at the end of the day, and it’s good to do it.”

Brett Forrester and Mitul Desai at the station’s secondhand shop

Concerns over fish stocks provoke community backlash

Maria Vouyioukas says a close on mackerel fisheries could have dire implications.

Daniel Shirkie

CLAIMS surrounding diminishing fish stocks of spanish mackerel have been met with disbelief by commercial and recreational fishers, and may force at least one Burdekin fish and chip shop to shut its doors.

A preliminary report discussed by the East Coast Spanish Mackerel Working Group in their inaugural meeting in May concluded that only 17% of spanish mackerel had gone un-fished, placing the species firmly below the 20% cut-off point that would see fisheries closed.

The findings have drawn particular concern from representatives of the commercial fishing industry, as the average tonnes per year fished along the east coast since 2004 have remained well below the Fisheries own commercial targets during that time period.

Total harvest numbers also remain well below the total allowable commercial catch for the species.

Although recreational fishing of spanish mackerel has increased, the working group’s estimation of 170 tonnes would still leave the species well below the limits.

In the communique, the working group determined that fishing rules around the species would need to be reviewed.

“Given the low biomass estimate, the working group agreed that the management arrangements and fishing rules for all sectors would need to be reviewed to inform management interventions and a rebuilding strategy for this stock,” the document read.

The communique also noted that management changes were likely to be ‘substantial’ in effect.

If a review determines that mackerel fisheries must be closed or reduced, it could have serious knock-on effects, according to one local fish and chip shop owner.

Maria Vouyioukas, who runs Five Ways Fish Bar alongside her partner George, says the business and it’s 43 year history could be cut short if new restrictions are put in place.

“Mackerel is my staple, it’s the only fish I’ve really used for the 43 years, up until now I’ve been able to get my supply, but the fisherman have been disintegrating, I’ve still got one person left of the three I started with who can still supply me, but once the rules change that’s not going to be happening,” Mrs Vouyioukas said.

“I won’t do farmed fish, I’ve got no idea what we’ll have to do, I’ve never had any other fish… I don’t know.”

Mrs Vouyioukas said while the industry had gone through a lot of changes and stresses in recent years, she’d planned to remain in the business for at least a few more years before considering selling it, but any further restrictions would likely mean an immediate exit.

ATO OFFERS TAX RELIEF IN WAKE OF COVID

THE Australian Taxation Office has announced a raft of measures designed to make tax time easier for individuals struggling in the wake of COVID-19 and natural disasters.

Assistant Commissioner Tim Loh made the announcement on Monday, June 21, urging taxpayers to make use of the resources on offer to ensure they’re not caught out come tax time.

“Whether you’ve received JobKeeper, JobSeeker, COVID support or disaster assistance payments, accessed your super early, or had your records damaged, destroyed or lost, the ATO is here to give you the tools you need to get it right this tax time,” Mr Loh said.

Government payments such as JobKeeper will be automatically included in the recipient’s income statement. “If you’ve received JobKeeper payments from your employer, you don’t need to do anything different. We will automatically include this information from your income statement in your online tax return for you,” Mr Loh said.

JobSeeker payments will be automatically included at the Government Payments and Allowances question, but will have to be included manually if the information is not yet present when the recipient lodges their return. Other payments, such as one-off stand-down payments, will also be included automatically.

CONNECT NOW: Go to ato.gov.au/disasters

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On track to a better future

Pfizer vaccination wait to continue

Daniel Shirkie

VACCINATIONS for people between the ages of 40 and 60 are beginning to roll out under the government’s new COVID-19 vaccination guidelines, but patients in the Burdekin will have to wait a little longer.

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation shifted their policy on usage of the Astrazeneca vaccine, limiting it to 60s and over and expanding the age range of patients who are recommended to receive the Pfizer vaccination during the previous week.

The recommendation comes after limited cases of blood clotting were found amongst patients over 50-years-old who had received the AstraZeneca vaccination.

While bigger facilities in Townsville have already secured dosages of the Pfizer vaccination in order to begin supplying the treatment to people in the below 60 age bracket, Ayr Medical Group Practice Manager Lyn Cecil says there’ll be a wait before Pfizer is available in the Burdekin.

“We don’t have any doses at the moment, and to my knowledge, there’s none available to GPs yet,” Ms Cecil said.

“We’ve been told that we’re about three weeks away from our first batches coming through, but we can’t give a definite date until it’s here in the practice.”

Patients will have to exercise patience and caution, with the date not set in stone until the dosages actually arrive, and even then, will only be provided in limited numbers. ‘

“Initially, the talk was July, then it became October and now we’re hearing that it will probably commence in July, but there’s no specific dates available to be given,” Ms Cecil said.

“AstraZeneca is now 60 and above, anything below that is Pfizer, so 18 to 59.”

“People in those age groups will have to either wait until it becomes available locally or they can jump on the websites and find out where they can apply for an appointment in the bigger centres like Townsville.”

While specific allowances are made for those over 60 who cannot receive the AstraZeneca vaccination, opportunities won’t be available for anyone else.

“To the best of my knowledge, anyone over the age of 60 will have to have the Astrazeneca, unless they have the specific contra-indications for the vaccination,” Ms Cecil said.

“That’s where we’re going to run into some difficulties, because people are going to want the Pfizer and they won’t be eligible, that’ll be an interesting challenge for general practice to deal with.”

Despite the challenges present in the altered roll-out, Ms Cecil says she’s optimistic that once the dosages are in hand, things will progress quickly.

“Hopefully, it’ll be up and running fairly quickly once the vaccine is here, we do plan to expand some services and things so we are able to get it out to our community,” Ms Cecil said.

“There won’t be any bookings for the Pfizer vaccination until we have the doses at the practice, so people shouldn’t try until we make an official announcement.”

Old friends reunite

Deb Hoskin

MY Mother, Lina Johnson (nee Agius), migrated to Australia with her family from Malta in 1949.

My Grandfather Joe Agius worked on building the irrigation channels in Clare. The family lived in calico tents to begin with, in the camp, which was set up for all the workers, around 70-80 men lived in the camp close to the banks of the Burdekin River. My Grandfather had travelled to Australia 6 months prior to my grandmother and the three children, so that he could become settled and established in employment.

When my grandmother arrived, she took on the job as the cook for all the workers at the camp and when not preparing meals for them she also did their laundry. My Mother was 15 at that time and as she had finished her schooling prior to coming out to Australia, she also assisted my grandmother with the cooking and laundry. However, when she turned 16, she made the decision that she needed to earn her own income and independence, so she decided to move into Ayr. She accepted a job at the Queens Hotel working as a housekeeper and in the bistro. She also at that time lived in the rooms at the Queens. It was only on a fortnightly basis that Mum could afford to catch the bus back to Clare to visit her family and most of her income went towards supporting the family.

It was during her employment there that she met another employee, Esmay Reichman (nee Sexton). Mum and Esmay became best friends. After a short period, Esmay offered Mum the opportunity to stay with her parents and family at the Sexton’s home instead of residing at the Queens Hotel so that Mum had a sense of family and support. Esmay had a large family made up of three sisters, Phyllis, Nellie and Joyce and a brother Norm, all of whom Mum became very fond of. Although it was a large family, they welcomed Mum with open arms and hearts. Over the following years Mum worked in nearly every hotel in Ayr either preparing and cleaning rooms or working in the dining areas. She eventually secured a job at the Ayr hospital working on the domestic staff serving meals to the nursing staff and later the patients.

Mum and Esmay used to go to the local dances at every opportunity they had, bike riding together, the Ayr swimming pool and attended the Ayr show when it was in town. They both loved to dress up and always looked their best. They shared a wonderful friendship.

They eventually met their respective husbands and my mother moved to Northern NSW to live in 1956. She never forgot Esmay nor the friendship they shared, and the kindness extended to her from the Sexton family. She also said her life living at the hotel would have been very lonely if it had not been for the offer extended by the Sexton family for her to become part of their family.

Recently I took both my parents back to Ayr for a visit to see family. While I was there, I contacted Esmay’s family and arranged for a get together so Mum and Esmay could see one another again.

Lina and Esmay at their recent reunion

My mother is now aged 87 and Esme is 86. Once they got together after 70 years, they just picked up where they had left off and spent the next four hours chatting just like old times and catching up - a sign of a genuine and real friendship. It was a wonderful experience and one that I will always remember and cherish.

Mum and Esmay at the Ayr Show in 1953

THIS STORY WAS WRITTEN AND SUBMITTED BY A BURDEKIN LOCAL NEWS READER. HAVE A STORY TO SHARE? EMAIL EDITOR@BURDEKINLOCAL.COM.AU

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Reef protection regulations

IMPORTANT INFORMATION for graziers and farmers in the Burdekin

You might need a permit to start or expand commercial cropping and horticulture activities on five hectares or more of land that has not been cropped in three out of the last 10 years. This is in addition to: ∙ Graziers and sugarcane growers keeping records and following minimum practice agricultural standards. ∙ From 1 December 2021, sugarcane growers will also need to prepare a farm nitrogen and phosphorus budget. ∙ Banana growers keeping records. ∙ Advisers keeping records of tailored advice provided to producers that must be in line with the standards.

Find out more

For further information or to order an information pack: visit www.qld.gov.au/ReefRegulations | phone 13 QGOV (13 74 68) | email officeofthegbr@des.qld.gov.au