Will you be my Valentine?

LOOKING for the paw-fect valentines date this year? The Mareeba Animal Refuge is inviting pets and their owners to get their photos taken for a donation to the organisation.

The fundraiser will take place at Pets Domain in Mareeba with any pets welcomed to get pictures taken at their photobooth.

Staff member Felicity Pollard said events such as these helped the refuge to fund activities that rehabilitate and rehome pets and maintain the facility.

“Valentine’s day is a great time for fundraising

Talk to shine light on digging animals

MOST of us have seen various holes in the ground and wondered what animal might have produced the disturbance, but a free talk to be held on Thursday night at the Big Pub at Malanda will provide the answers.

Dr Leonie Valentine is a conservation scientist who loves wildlife and the complex interactions between species and ecosystems.

She manages the Species Conservation team for WWF-Australia and will be presenting the first Tree Kangaroo and Mammal Group talk for 2023 on Thursday night.

Dr Valentine says we commonly encounter bandicoot diggings but there are also many other species who create soil surface disturbance.

“The list of digging mammals is quite long and the results from their work may be quite surprising,” she said.

“From tiny subterranean marsupial moles to the robust hairy-nosed wombats, digging mammals once occurred right across the Australian mainland, and on many islands, too.

“In the last 200 years, most of Australia’s unique digging mammals, including many bandicoots, bettongs and potoroos, have undergone drastic population reductions and range declines due to habitat loss, predation by cats and foxes and altered fire regimes.” as people are always looking for things to do and we have had great success with our photobooth before,” she said.

But recent conservation efforts have been directed at returning some of the Australia’s threatened mammal species to fenced reserves and offshore islands.

Anyone interested in attending are welcome to come along to the Big Pub at Malanda at 7.30pm.

“People can bring their pets in and get a photo either on their device or one of ours for a donation. They can donate however much they want to us.”

All animals must be on a lead or safely hand held to get their photos taken.

The photo booth will be open on Saturday 11 February from 10am to 2pm and Sunday 12 February from 10am to 12pm at Pets Domain on Rankin Street in Mareeba.

PICTURED: Felicity Pollard and a resident puppy Una are ready for Valentine’s Day.

Non-Executive Member Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Board

Contribute to the Torres and Cape community to deliver exceptional healthcare

• Member opportunity for the Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Board

• Part-time statutory appointment commencing approx. July 2023

• Diverse skills and experience required

The Opportunity

The Queensland Government delivers free universal healthcare to five million Queenslanders through Queensland Health. The Queensland Government is investing a record $23.6 billion into healthcare.

The Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Board (HHB) is one of 16 statewide boards and provides governance to the Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service (HHS). The Torres and Cape HHS delivers hospital and healthcare services across Cape York and the Northern Peninsula Area, including 18 islands in the Torres Straits. All 16 HHBs, including the Torres and Cape HHB, are accountable to the Minister for Health and Ambulance Services and must perform their functions in accordance with the Hospital and Health Boards Act 2011

Board members are community leaders and have the ability to contribute to shaping the future of health care in the region for which they are responsible, whilst enhancing the efficient, effective and sustainable delivery of health services.

Applications

The Queensland Government is seeking applications from appropriately experienced community members to fill a vacancy on the Torres and Cape HHB. Community members are being sought from the Torres and Cape region and from throughout the state to be on the board. To be successful in this role, you:

• are ready and able to add value to the Board through your skills, knowledge and experience, including but not limited to any of the following areas of expertise: health management; business management; financial management; human resource management; clinical expertise; legal expertise; primary healthcare; health consumer and community engagement; and persons with skills, knowledge and experience in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and community issues

• are able to analyse, critically assess and drive performance

• have the confidence and connections to strengthen community engagement and collaborative partnerships

• are a leader who thinks strategically, embodies personal integrity, has political astuteness, commercial acumen, resilience and are a team player

• are available to travel to Torres and Cape HHS communities if you are located outside the region. Applications are to be submitted online. For an information pack and instructions on how to submit your application please visit https://edenritchie.com.au/hhb-appointment/

These opportunities are remunerated in accordance with Queensland Government guidelines. We strongly encourage First Nations people, women, people with expertise in multiculturalism, young people, and people with disabilities to apply. A range of probity checks will be undertaken for persons being considered for appointment.

Applications close midnight, Friday 10 February 2023.

Should you wish to receive assistance on submitting your expression of interest, please contact Eden Ritchie Recruitment via Justine Eden on 0412 156 930 or Kim Ritchie on 0412 156 920.

Queensland’s islands and reefs

Cairns to Brisbane

8 nights

Departs 5 November 2023

Aboard Le Lapérouse

Wilderness from Greenland to the East Coast of Canada

Kangerlussuaq to Saint Pierre Island

14 nights

Departs 25 August 2024

Aboard Le Lyrial

Includes flight Paris to Kangerlussuaq plus Transfers & Flight Saint Pierre And Miquelon to Montreal

10 nights

Why travel with

Award-winning Small-Ship Luxury Expeditions & Cruises

Maximum of only 132 staterooms

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Zodiac® & shore excursions with expedition team included*

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French luxury brands on board Hermès, Ladurée, Lenôtre, Charles Heidsieck, Sothys & more

All-Inclusive

All meals & Open Bar* included on board

World Class Dining

Two world-class restaurants to choose from 24-hour Room Service

Complimentary in all staterooms & suites

Stay Connected Complimentary Unlimited Wi-Fi