The Express Newspaper 18th May 2022

EXPRESS The

Delivering news across our region WEDNESDAY 18 MAY, 2022

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DEPUTY PM TAKES STRONG STANCE ON RANGE ROAD THE importance of building an alternative road from the Northern Tablelands to the coast was given some serious attention last week when Deputy Prime Minister and Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Barnaby Joyce delivered on his promise to visit Mareeba to talk about the issue.

Mr Joyce met with Mareeba Shire Council Mayor

Angela Toppin and councillors, and proponents for an alternative route including Ken Harley from the Reddicliffe Highway Steering Committee and Brett Duck with the Saddle Mountain Road proposal.

His visit comes after the recent announcement of a $11 million preliminary evaluation and business case study, looking at alternatives to

the Kuranda Range Road to link the Tablelands to Cairns.

He was accompanied by Senator Susan McDonald, incumbent member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch and candidate for Kennedy Bryce Macdonald who all spoke about the importance of a feasible and reliable alternative route to access the coast.  FULL STORY PAGE 3

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24 years of delivering with care

BY RHYS THOMAS AFTER delivering thousands of babies over two decades, Mareeba Hospital midwife Wendy Hilless has been recognised for her outstanding service and passion for her work in and out of the ward, being awarded one of Australia’s midwives of the year.

Wendy first started her midwifery duties in 1998 but was working in the healthcare sector for much longer, being an assistant in nursing at a nursing home in 1989.

This was Wendy’s first experience in healthcare and caring for people, a profession she fell in love with and decided to pursue.

Wendy’s work outside of the maternity ward was also a major factor in her winning the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service Midwife of the Year award.

“I did my midwifery training in Recliffe in Brisbane and then worked in Darwin for 16 years then came here in 2016,” she said.

“It was nothing at all what I wanted to do when I was at school, I went to uni and did an arts degree, finished that and didn’t like it.

“I then worked as an assistant in nursing at a nursing home and thought, ‘I could do this gig’.

“I love caring for people – it was fun and I got a lot of enjoyment out of it.”

Now with over two decades of experience as a midwife, Wendy has helped mothers like Asha Joubert deliver their babies in a safe and comfortable environment.

Asha has delivered her third baby, nineweek-old Nienke, with the help of Wendy who helped deliver her two other children, Christiaan and Daniel.

“Being with Wendy for my third baby, you build up such a relationship and it is such an intimate relationship,” Asha said.

Mareeba Hospital Midwife Wendy Hilless (right) helped deliver Asha Joubert’s first two children and recently she helped deliver her third, nine week old Nienke.

“Wendy was there specifically to support me, which was awesome, especially for this one.

“It was amazing that Wendy was able to say to me ‘it’s a girl’.”

Wendy said there is no better feeling than breaking the news of a baby’s sex to a mother, a moment she wishes she could “capture and bottle”.

“That moment, if you could bottle it and sell it – it is such an amazing experience,” she said.

“We never say ‘oh you have got a girl or you have got a boy’, the baby is normally

put skin to skin with the mums.

“It is then a process of them exploring and finding out the sex of their baby, that is the moment that you wish you could bottle.”

Wendy was integral in getting the Mareeba Hospital to be baby friendly accredited, another key factor in her being awarded the Midwife of the Year Award.

The accreditation was happening on Nienke’s birthday and Wendy was able to be there for the birth, a moment she didn’t want to miss.

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“Obscenely dangerous”

Joyce weighs up alternative options for road to coast

BY RHYS THOMAS DELIVERING on a pre-election promise, Deputy Prime Minister and Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Barnaby Joyce travelled to Mareeba last Thursday to meet with shire councillors and proponents of alternative routes from the northern Tablelands to the coast.

Joined by Senator Susan McDonald, sitting Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch and candidate for Kennedy Bryce Macdonald, Mr Joyce met with council to hear their concerns and examine proposals for an alternative route, speaking to Reddicliffe Highway steering committee member Ken Harley about their proposal and Brett Duck about the Saddle Mountain Road proposal.

Council had previously passed a motion to request Mr Joyce visit the Tablelands to discuss the existing road link from Mareeba to Cairns, its alternatives and other important infrastructure issues in the shire.

During his visit, Mr Joyce also announced $5 million in funding for the Burke Development Road to seal the remining 3km in an 80/20 funding split with the State.

Mr Joyce drove the Kuranda Range Road on his trip to Mareeba and labelled it dangerous, a far cry from Member for Cook Cynthia Lui’s recent comments describing it as “one of the safest roads” she has driven on.

“I see the trucks and they are pretty close to you coming the other direction and the cars are pretty close to

you coming the other direction,” Mr Joyce said.

“If you went off the edge in some of those areas there would not be much left to pick up – it is obscenely dangerous in some areas.

“You have got all the things that are just an absolute recipe for someone to have a serious accident and on the Kuranda Range if you are going to have an accident, you are going to have a serious one.”

Mr Joyce said the recent $1.6 million study commissioned by the State Government which found there was no need for any alternative routes until at least 2050 was “absurd”.

“The Labor Government in Queensland reckon that it is ‘A okay’ until 2050 and that is patently absurd,” Mr Joyce said.

“Today we announced $11 million which I want the State Government to put their hand in their pocket and match, so we can get this study done, look at the alternative routes and work out how we can connect the Atherton Tablelands down to Cairns.”

Mr Entsch has been open in his support for the Reddicliffe Highway proposal believing it is the best alternative to be presented.

Unlike the studies done on the Kuranda Range Road over past years, the $11 million funding announcement is for a business case study and preliminary evaluation, looking at viable alternatives to the failing range road.

“We are looking at a connecting road between the Tablelands through to Cairns to the ports, railways and air-

Reddicliffe Highway Steering Committee representative Ken Harley presenting the Reddicliffe Highway proposal to Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce in Mareeba last week.

port,” Mr Entsch said.

“It was great to have a couple of our alternative proponents here to present to Barnaby, to show that there are practical alternatives out there.

“That is what this money is going to do, this is not about doing another report on the Kuranda Range, it is about looking at alternatives.

“Rather than throwing $210 million to do safety on an existing highway that is never going to meet future needs, it is better that we get a proper,

costed plan and I would love to see that done within the next 12 to 18 months two years at the latest.”

Mr Macdonald has over three decades of experience in the transport industry, trucking across Australia over hundreds of thousands of kilometres.

He stressed the importance of safe and reliable roads to develop and grow Far North Queensland.

“You can see the importance of the Kuranda Range bypass, you can see the importance of the Burke Develop-

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Current predictions for the 2022 election are showing a predominantly Labor win and with the election just days away, Mr Joyce has advised voters to “have a good long yarn with your accountant” before voting this election.

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FEDERAL ELECTION 2022 Truck school will help grow the north LNP candidate for Kennedy Bryce Macdonald will push for a federally-funded truck driver training school in North Queensland to meet growing demand for experienced staff in the freight and logistics sector.

Mr Macdonald made the pledge after meeting with North Queensland freight companies to promote the Coalition's efforts to improve safety, cut costs and enable better communication between industry and government.

“Just in December, the Federal Government announced it would fund truck driving apprenticeships – something the industry has been calling for 30 years,” he said.

“If elected, I'll be pushing for training to be done in the north so our local transport operators can

directly benefit.

“Truck drivers are professionals and there's good money to be made by skilled operators, so I'll be doing anything I can to help people find good-paying, stable transport jobs in Kennedy and across the north.”

Mr Macdonald was joined by Federal Assistant Minister for Road Safety and Freight Transport, Scott Buchholz, for an attimes fiery meeting in Townsville with about 20 of the north's trucking bosses who regularly run loads in the Kennedy electorate to the north and west of the city.

Both Mr Buchholz and Mr Macdonald have a history of driving trucks and discussed how the Federal Government is helping the booming freight industry.

“The Morrison Government is delivering national leadership on road safety as well as continuing to deliver vital road safety initiatives including the $3 billion Road Safety Program, $5.8 billion Roads of Strategic Importance initiative, $7.2 billion Roads to Recovery Program and the $1.3 billion Black Spots Program,” Mr Buchholz said.

“There is also $65.3 million to create and improve heavy vehicle rest areas and $180.1 million to improve safety at level crossings across Australia.”

“The Morrison Government is encouraging more mining in Kennedy, and Townsville is Australia's busiest live-export port, so demand for trucks and drivers will only grow,” said Mr Macdonald.

Sealing of Ootann needs to take priority SEALING Ootann Road should be a top priority if the region wants to “unlock” the Cape cattle industry, according to Katter Australian Party candidate for Leichhardt Rod Jensen.

Mr Jensen said the rapid expansion of the cattle industry in the north was dependent on sealing the road which is owned by the Mareeba Shire Council.

“Although it’s a local council road, it is effectively a part of the national freight network as an enabler of interstate and international exports,” Mr Jensen said.

“It creates an inland alternative to the Bruce Highway con-

necting with the Hann Highway, improves connectivity to air and seaports and southern and Asian markets.”

Mr Jensen said the road is severely pot-holed and prone to flooding which prevents yearround use.

“Truckies tell me to do the 95 kilometres takes them four hours. The road snaps axles and drivers are hesitant to use it at all,” he said.

“Completely sealing the road would allow operators to perhaps run quad-style road trains, so four trailers, bringing down producer and end-user costs and making it possible to ship out

more product from the Cape at a time.

Mr Jensen is calling upon the State and Federal governments to commit to the $60 million it will take to completely seal the road.

“The road has received upgrades here and there, but the drip-feed of fixes is failing to deliver the full economic potential of the road to Cape producers,” he said. “Ootann Road is a key link for road trains and a critical element in expanding agriculture, cattle and supply chains for Cape York Peninsula, Gulf of Carpentaria and Atherton Tablelands.”

Candiates' last plea to voters

BY ROBYN HOLMES

CANDIDATES in the Kennedy electorate have been busy on the campaign trail for the past five weeks, but with only a few days to go before the poll, all say they have put in their best effort to convince voters they would be the right person to represent the region in Canberra.

Voters have six candidates to choose from in the 21 May election, and while most acknowledge it will be a big ask to de-throne incumbent Bob Katter who has held the seat since 1993, they say the electorate is in a mood for change.

While Labor’s candidate Jason Brandon is buoyed by polls showing his Party is heading to a national victory, he has no doubt he is facing a tough job to beat Mr Katter.

“I’m pretty cautious when it comes to polls because what people say they are going to do and what they do when they get into the polling booth can be two different things,” he said.

“I think it is a big ask (to beat Katter) but I have heard from many people across the board in Kennedy that they are up for a change – many say they don’t know why people vote for him,” he said.

“He hasn’t done anything to help his region – why is he so busy talking about putting guns in kids’ hands and the Port of Darwin being sold and not about services like health, education, jobs, aged care and improvements to childcare that will make it more liveable in Kennedy?”

As the father of two young children, Mr Brandon said he wanted to be part of a government that had a plan to “genuinely make a difference in people’s lives”.

LNP’s Bryce Macdonald has also travelled to the corners of the electorate during the campaign, racking up 20,000km during the campaign, and despite the national polls favouring a Labor win, he remains hopeful voters will make the right decision on the day.

“I think the electorate is in a mood for change and when they go to the polls, they need to think very carefully about who is best placed to drive the economy,” he said.

“The LNP is all about nation building and that means driving the economy which supports jobs and the regions.

“Labor has also always been known to decrease defence spending and that is another critical area that the Coalition is very strong in.

“The other thing for voters need to seriously consider is that do they want a State and Federal Labor government at the same time.”

Mr Macdonald said Kennedy was in urgent need of a change in representation.

“We need to bring Kennedy into the 21st century because we have been left behind in relation to roads, digital connectivity and health services and we need to reinvigorate our regional towns,” he said.

Despite going into the election with a 13.3 per cent margin, Mr Katter is not going into Saturday’s poll expecting victory.

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“I have never thought I was going to win any of my campaigns. But I am running because there is a fight still to be won - people cannot afford to live and the cost of living is soaring,” he said.

He said his Party would tackle the issue by advocating for a $200 a fortnight increase to the age pension, paid for with a 5 per cent charge on all imports into the country.

“Families with a single income should also be allowed to income split, pro-rated down for less deserving situations, which would mean a $20,000 return at tax time for workers earning $80,000 to $90,000 a year,” Mr Katter said.

Australia United Party’s Peter Campion said he had found the campaign to be “physically exhausting and very costly but mentally stimulating and quite revealing”.

His stance on climate change and Covid regulations were focal points for his campaign which he explained at two community forums, presenting sea level figures from the Bureau of Meteorology that showed seas were 10cm lower now, and figures from the bureau of statistics that showed “that the people who would normally have died with flu, which conveniently disappeared, died with Covid instead”.

“No excess deaths mean there was no ‘highly contagious and very deadly’ disease which means there was no need for the ALP and LNP to panic, to steal our rights and freedom on the orders of a foreign organisation, and to run up a trillion-dollar debt.,” Mr Campion said.

“Despite those two official government documents proving the lies of politicians, public servants, and corporate spokespeople, some Queenslanders regarded me as a heretic instead of a truth-teller. I found that deeply saddening. Deeply, deeply saddening.”

“Einstein once said the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result – ALP and LNP policies are sending us over an economic cliff and things will go from bad to worse unless we take Einstein’s suggestion and do something different.”

The Greens candidate Jennifer Cox says she recognises that some voters would not agree with her Party’s policies but she urged them to vote for them “if you want to stop corruption and save our democracy”.

“We are in unprecedented times. Not only are we trying to make the largest technological change in human modern history from fossil fuels to renewable energy, but the pandemic has revealed cracks in our society, from the under-funding of the health system to reliance on offshore supply chains, to income inequality and a lack of affordable housing,” she said.

“We have seen the government fail time and again at the basics, but walk around like they have all the answers. Every single issue we have talked about could be helped if we return integrity to the Australian government.”

2022

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Community angst as GP set to close

BY ROBYN HOLMES

AN Atherton medical centre will close at the end of next month, leaving patients worried about how they will find another doctor when no other practices in the town are taking on new patients.

The Atherton Family Medical Centre in Louise Street will close on 30 June as a result of Dr Michael Ruscoe’s decision to retire and the news has sent shock waves through the community as hundreds of patients try to find another doctor.

Patients were advised to try the two other medical centres in Atherton but neither is taking on new patients, with one saying they had received around 200 calls last week from people trying to secure another GP. Advice to callers was to try Malanda or Yungaburra, but only one in Malanda

is taking on new patients, with at least a two-week wait until an appointment is available.

It is understood that doctors in Atherton were to gather at the end of last week to discuss what could be done to alleviate the shortage.

Queensland Health is also “deeply concerned” about the closure, particularly the impact it will have on the hospital.

“Without GPs, patients with nonurgent needs are being funneled towards emergency care, placing unnecessary strain upon our resources which are already under pressure due to the demands of the Covid pandemic,” Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service executive director rural and remote services Tracey Morgan said.

“We will continue to monitor the numbers of people presenting to our

emergency departments for any potential impacts on our resourcing.”

The news of the centre’s closure was posted on Facebook last week by Gayle Samuel, who was desperately trying to find her friend a new doctor.

“I have a few friends that are patients there and I previously rang around for an elderly friend, couldn't get her in anywhere from Atherton, Yungaburra, Malanda, Herberton or Mareeba,” she wrote.

The post triggered a torrent of comments from locals, concerned about the loss of a medical centre when getting an appointment with another doctor was near to impossible.

“More strain on the other facilities and hospital. Come on government, you are failing small country towns,” Bec Howell wrote.

“We moved from Cairns to the Table-

lands 16 years ago and couldn’t get into local doctors so stayed with our doc in Cairns which required a very long drive there and back for appointments. He retired three years ago and we were lucky to get into The Doctor House.

“Unfortunately now it can take 2-3 weeks to get an appointment and my husband’s doctor there left. Ridiculous.”

“Always good to find out important information through social media. The decent thing to do would have been to inform current patients. No one is taking new patients and now a full clinic of patients will have to either go to the hospital or go without,” Janelle HarrimanMoses said.

Many people attribute the doctor shortage across Australia to the Medicare rebate which has failed to keep up with the costs of providing services, while others say the impacts of Covid

CLEALL’S BUTCHERY

Nurses celebrated

Mareeba Hospital nurses were celebrated during International Nurses Day last Thursday.

Back row: Rex Aguas, Roy Woo, Tania Brennan, Bryaanna Upton, Nicky Cek, Sophie Bradley, Kristen Mete and Front Row: Julia Page, Debbie Birkett.

NURSES at the Mareeba Hospital were surprised with cakes and sweets last Thursday as they were celebrated for International Nurses Day. International Nurses Day is observed around the world on 12 May each year and seeks to celebrate and mark the contributions that nurses make to keep their communities safe and healthy.

Nurses have had an increasingly stressful time over the recent years due to Covid so it is important to recognise their past and continuing help during the pandemic.

are to blame which had prevented overseas doctors from coming to Australia.

“Unfortunately the government hasn’t increased the Medicare levy paid to the doctors for more than a decade.

That is why they can’t bulk bill continuously,” Lynette Morris claimed.

“The increase in wages and insurance has increased immensely in this time. Don’t get cross at the GPs, get angry at the government. There are many surgeries across Australia that are closing due to increased costs. Let’s hope we don’t end up like American health care.

“What we really need here as well is a 24-hour medical centre that is bulk billed so we don’t have to sit at the hospital for hours and hours when our kids or us are hurt or sick.”

The Express sent questions to the Atherton Family Medical Centre but they declined to comment.

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Businessman Fiachra Kearney (left) presents the 1481-signature petition to Mareeba Shire CEO Peter Franks.

Mareeba CBD petition presented

BY ROBYN HOLMES A PETITION signed by 1481 people calling for a shared vision for Mareeba’s CBD has been presented to Mareeba Shire Council, with hopes the community can be involved in developing a future plan for the precinct.

Businessman Fiachra Kearney initiated the petition after what he described as “relentless destruction” of trees and the only remaining green space in Byrnes Street by the council last month.

He believes the way forward is for the community, council and the town’s chamber of commerce to develop a future vision for the CBD, including components such as public art, seating and landscaping that would create a more engaging place for locals and visitors.

Mr Kearney has now presented the petition to council chief executive officer Peter Franks and it is understood it will be put before council at its meeting this week.

“I had a very cordial chat with Mareeba Shire CEO Peter Franks who came out to receive the petition. I would like to thank him for doing so,” he said.

“I am proposing that we use the Master Plan for Street Trees as a foundation for the development of a vision for the CBD and build from there.

“The next five-year planning scheme is about

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the start so the timing is perfect to create a concept that can be inside a proper framework and that can be formalised.

“Imagine what the CBD could be if we added artworks, covered parking, wrought iron railings, seating and so on. It just needs imagination.”

Mr Kearney has also met with the chamber of commerce to gain its support for a new CBD plan.

“The main objective is to drive people to town for business and shopping as well as social interaction and make it a positive experience so we need to develop a concept around the principles of urban commerce,” he said.

With proper community engagement that allows “raw ideas” to flow, the document should also deal with the challenges faced by the traditional retail sector as many shoppers head online for purchases.

“We need to consider how do you keep or generate footfall in the town centre because we are facing a real commercial situation in the next decade or two,” Mr Kearney said.

“We need to look at the next 20 years holistically instead of disaggregated decision-making with no concept for the future, but it is critical the process incudes all stakeholders and community viewpoints.”

Mr Franks confirmed that the town planning scheme was due for review in the next couple of years.

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The Express, Wednesday, May 18, 2022 PAGE 5

FEDERAL ELECTION 2022 JASON BRANDON Labor Party What has prompted you to run as a candidate in this election?

People in Kennedy are telling me they are falling further and further behind. The cost of living has skyrocketed, bills have gone up, but wages have flatlined.

I put my hand up because Anthony Albanese has a plan for a better future for our community. A plan that will ease the cost of living by reducing childcare, strengthening Medicare and creating secure well-paid jobs so you can plan for the future.

If elected, what would your top priorities be for the Kennedy electorate?

Affordable and accessible health care is so important to regional Queensland that's why my priority will be to get more GPs to work in the region.

Candidates for Kennedy JENNIFER COX The Greens

JEN SACKLEY Independent

Fixing aged care is also so important to our community.

Older Australians who built this country deserve dignity and respect, and for the workers that provide their care to be paid properly. Under Labor, we will fix the crisis in aged care by putting nurses back into nursing homes.

And only an Albanese Labor Government will make childcare cheaper and more accessible so we can ease cost of living pressures on hard working families in Kennedy.

What has prompted you to run as a candidate in this election?

Being raised with a sense of fairness and equity whilst growing up in regional and remote areas of North Queensland It has become a great concern to myself that the people of a Kennedy have had little choice in many decisions that affect their lives.

The lack of services and the indifference of the sitting politicians, coupled with years of stagnation and no real change in Kennedy, is the driving force for my entering the race.

If elected, what would your top priorities be for the Kennedy electorate?

Our democracy rest on Integrity, and so as an independent I am confident I can take the

many economic and social issues Kennedy is faced with to every level, while not having to tow a party line.

Having spent years at the table with many politicians it is very unsettling that some politicians are capable of acts that are so close to fraud.

The integrity of parliament must be restored and the people’s trust be regained if we are to again operate as a truly democratic society.

How to vote this Saturday THE Federal election will be held this Saturday 21 May with voting across Queensland opening at 8am and closing at 6pm sharp.

Polling booths are located across local schools, churches, community halls and public buildings.

At the ballot box, you will be handed two pieces of paper – one for the House of Representative candidates to represent their

local area, and one for the Senate candidates to represent your state or territory.

For the House of Representative ballot, you need to number every square on the ballot paper.

The larger piece of paper is for the Senate, which consists of 76 members, 12 for each state, and two for each territory. On the Senate ballot paper, you can vote in one

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of two ways. First, you can number at least six boxes above the line, indicating the parties or groups you prefer in the order of your choice.

Or you can vote below the line, meaning you are voting individually for the candidates nominated by each party or group. In this case you must number at least 12 boxes to cast a valid vote.

What has prompted you to run as a candidate in this election?

Our planet is literally cooking. We are in the middle of a housing crisis, a pandemic, an income inequality crisis and I worry about not only my children’s future, but also the future for all of us.

Politicians currently in power only care about their own jobs and their donors.

Lots of people are hurting, but nothing is done to make the system more equitable and fair.

We need to talk about taxing the rich and cleaning up political donations. I’m running for the Greens because Kennedy voters deserve a representative who doesn’t take corporate money.

We CAN have change in this country and give Australian people the things we all deserve, but to do that we need to put Greens in the balance of power to push the next government to do better on climate change and the cost of living.

If elected, what would your top priorities be for the Kennedy electorate?

The Greens have a full suite of costed policies that will help the residents of Kennedy, but the ones that I think

that will help the most are our housing and Medicare policies.

The Greens want to build a million new affordable homes to clear public housing waiting lists, cap rents and make renting more secure.

We also want to bring dental and mental health into Medicare. This will help so many people who are forgoing dental work or psychological help because they simply can’t afford it. The Greens will reinvest the private health rebate back into the public system so we can slash wait times and remove out of pocket costs.

By taxing the billionaires and big corporations we can fund more public housing and expand Medicare, so that everyone has a roof over their head and can get the care they need when they need it.

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PAGE 6 The Express, Wednesday, May 18, 2022

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FEDERAL ELECTION 2022 BOB KATTER Katter Australian Party What has prompted you to run as a candidate in this election?

Increasingly people can’t afford to live in Australia, ever since this new philosophy of Government being a spectator sport.

The free market has skyrocketed the cost of food by 200 per cent, motor cars by 800 per cent, and houses by 600 per cent. In the same period, average weekly earnings and pensions have only gone up 140 per cent.

Pensioners cannot afford to feed themselves, families should be getting more tax incentives, farmers two biggest cost input items are through the roof (fertiliser and freight), and a proper work for the dole program should be implemented. It is unfair to have able bodied people sitting on the couch, while others are out there working hard.

Australians have been left hopelessly unprepared to defend themselves as the Chinese Communist Party moves further into the South Pacific. We need fuel and energy security, a missile fortress wall, and our young people must be trained how to use a rifle.

If elected, what would your top priorities be for the Kennedy electorate?

Legislation to provide sovereign fuel security (sugar cane made ethanol, waste-to-diesel plants, a ban on the export of oil (so we

Candidates for Kennedy PETER CAMPION United Australian Party

Bryce Macdonald LNP

refine it) and Australian-made electric vehicles for metropolitan areas.

Cost of living alleviation, including a $100 a week increase to the age pension (paid for by a 5 per cent charge on all imports which will benefit Australian industry), legalise income splitting for families to reduce income tax, a proper work for the dole program to address workforce shortages, and acreage subdivisions developed by the Fed Government to provide affordable housing. Also, $80,000 increase to regional doctors’ wages to attract more, and enforcement of universal service obligation on telecommunications providers.

Infrastructure, including the Bridle Track Tunnel from Cairns to the Tablelands which means a 20-minute commute, and an increase of mining and agriculture in the Cape, Gulf and Tablelands. Finally, water security for farmers in Atherton and Mareeba, through building the North Johnstone Transfer. This maintains recreational activities on Tinaroo Dam.

What has prompted you to run as a candidate in this election?

As I travel across the Kennedy Electorate and compare it with other Federal electorates, it is quite obvious that the Kennedy electorate has been left behind in the last 20 years. There has been poor representation from Kennedy in Canberra. That needs to change. It is my focus to turn up at every opportunity to represent the constituents at the highest level.

In my working career, I have had 30 years’ experience at different levels in the transport industry, represented my community as a Deputy Mayor, represent the Sugar Industry as a farmer and Director of CANEGROWERS, run and own a business.

The Kennedy electorate has lost sight of any future planning for roads, digital connectivity, expansion in the health services and tackling the cost of living.

What Kennedy needs is someone to listen, promote and secure our future plans and work with leaders in our communities.

If elected, what would your top priorities be for the Kennedy electorate?

I have travelled, engaged and listened to the people of Kennedy during my campaign and I have five top priorities for Kennedy if I am elected.

1. Building better roads and highways to ensure that safety is a priority, enabling the agriculture, mining and tourism sector to expand. 2. Better access to quality health care, aged care and education for locals, investing in more local doctors and nurses. 3. Helping with the costs of living pressures that are burdened on us from living in the regions. Investing in the reinsurance pool to reduce premiums and investing in affordable housing.

4. Securing economic recovery by lowering taxes for families and businesses. Supporting agriculture, fisheries, mining and manufacturing industries for their fair share of reinvestment into infrastructure that they require to a secure future.

5. Protecting our lifestyle and environment by investing in our communities and community projects. Building better digital connectivity There is only one way to fight for these elements, and that is to be in Canberra at every opportunity.

What has prompted you to run as a candidate in this election?

As a seasoned climate sceptic, I was monitoring China’s everyday emissions and our “worst ever!” bushfires’ emissions in January 2020. I saw China’s emissions plummet when their first covid lockdown began, before we heard of it here.

However, China’s emissions quickly returned to normal – about when our governments went into tyrant mode.

The emissions said China had shaken covid off by March 2020. All “news” from China is fake news – only raw data speaks truth.

Nonetheless, our state ALP and federal LNP governments toed the WEF/WHO line, kicked our Constitution to the kerb, ignored the Universal Declaration of Human Rights we helped write, and stole our rights, our freedoms, our medical autonomy, and two years of our “old normal”.

I realised that having been banned from eight daily newspapers for writing truth about covid, the only way I could fight for Australia was to stand for election. So, I did.

If elected, what would your top priorities be for the Kennedy electorate?

There is no point whatsoever in promising “x” million for this

or “y” million for that if Australia is broke, in humungous debt, and under globalist control. Without the freedom and autonomy we used to have, we cannot return to our past prosperity.

My first goal, once elected, is to be part of the UAP team that brings the tyrants of the last two years to justice and prevents any possibility of a repeat of the government overreach we’ve all experienced firsthand.

Once that’s done, I’ll be working as part of the UAP team that returns our freedom and our prosperity. Our policies to ensure our rights are unassailable, cut tax, tap our abundant resources, reboot industry, and save Aussies from losing their homes due to spiking interest rates, will benefit regions like Kennedy most of all.

This election isn’t about minor local issues, it’s about saving Australia from tyranny.

Boost your protection and book your COVID-19 booster at australia.gov.au Authorised by the Australian Government, Canberra.

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The Express, Wednesday, May 18, 2022 PAGE 7

THE GREAT WHEELBARROW RACE

MAY 20,21,22

Big boost for communities

2022 TEAMS Angela Willett

We’ve Got the Runs Chaffing the Dream Amaroo Medical CA Architects HMAS Cairns Pink Misfits Ramsay Allied Health Team Costa Chafing the Dream The Rejected Angels Think Wild Runners Wheellie Mad Runners Dad's Army Freshie Flyers Jubilee Jets Tunes Squad Woree Clontarf Academy Nudgee College IndieStructables Rusty wheels The unathletes Legs Miserables Wheelin’ for Willy Wheely Pushy Women

Iconic race returns COMPETITORS in this year’s Great Wheelbarrow Race will make their way out onto the streets of Mareeba this Friday when the popular annual event returns after twoyear hiatus due to the Covid pandemic.

The three-day event attracts competitors from across the region and from as far as Brisbane and, through participating teams, has raised more than $2 million which has gone to various causes, charities and individuals.

Now in its 19th year, the race was originally proposed to inject cash and visitors into small towns like Almaden, Dimbulah, Chillagoe and Mutchilba.

It was also established to honour the amazing trail-blazing feats of early 1800s pioneers who would take wheelbarrows from Mareeba to Chillagoe with supplies, with the stretch now known as “Wheelbarrow Way”.

The 2022 race has attracted 25 teams who will walk and/or run the 140km from Mareeba to Chillagoe, stopping overnight at Dimbulah and Almaden along the way.

The event will kick off on Friday, with participants dressed in all their glory as they parade down Byrnes Street from 9.30am.

Shoppers, businesses and residents are encouraged to line the street and cheer the competitors on.

After the parade, competitors will depart from Vaughan

Bendigo Bank

Street from 10.30am, while the solos, duos and trios will leave from 7am.

Competitors will do 44km on the first day when the reach Dimbulah. There, the town will turn it on with Dimby Dinner Do in the park, giving competitors a chance to unwind, relax and enjoy entertainment and food.

Early on Saturday, teams will line up at the start to do the long stretch to Almaden – around 63km – during which they will encounter the difficult climb through Bismark Pass, known by locals as Top Cat Pass.

Once at Almaden, they can take the boots off, have a shower and enjoy some great food and entertainment courtesy of the Railway Hotel at Almaden before hitting the sack so they will be fresh for the last leg to Chillagoe (33km) on Sunday.

At Chillagoe, teams can relax before the presentations to commence around 12 noon at the Chillagoe Town Hall

by Race committee chair Cr Locky Bensted and Mareeba Shire Mayor Angela Toppin.

Come out and support the 25 teams in this year’s race at the downtown parade. Led by the “Face of the Race” Terry Roos, Cr Bensted and the team from Bendigo Bank, the parade will commence at Beaurepaires and travel down the main street.

2022 GREAT WHEELBARROW RACE MAREEBA TO CHILLAGOE • 140K • MAY 20,21,22

DOWNTOWN PARADE THIS FRIDAY 20TH MAY @ 9.30AM BYRNES STREET, MAREEBA Come along and cheer on the teams

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MAREEBA Shire towns are set to get a muchneeded boost as the Great Wheelbarrow Race travels along the Wheelbarrow Way heading through Mareeba, Dimbulah, Petford, Almaden and Chillagoe injecting the towns with much needed funds.

The race takes place this weekend from Friday to Sunday as teams from across the Queensland spend the weekend racing and raising money for their chosen charities.

Dimbulah’s Junction Hotel manager, Irene Emerson, said Dimbulah is the place to be on Friday night with hundreds of people slated to attend as caravan parks, hotels and everything in between are booked out.

The Junction Hotel even opens its second bar to keep up with the massive influx of patrons that flood through with the race.

“We are fully booked out and the venues know that we are going to be in for a big day,” Ms Emerson said.

“The race generates that community spirit of getting together again and enjoying each other’s company, it brings a bit of money back into the town.

“It is good for the community and you see it in people, they are all happy to get all dressed up and come out for the night and watch the runners come in, they all get quite excited about it.”

The race will pass through Almaden on the second last night as the racers prepare for the last leg of their journey into Chillagoe Almaden will light up over the night and Railway Hotel manager Alyce Clarke is excited to see the town light up for the night.

“It is our biggest weekend that is for sure, it has been a shame it has not run for a few years,” he said. “We have been booked out for months, the first bookings came in two months ago.

“We are prepared and ready to go.”

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The Express, Wednesday, May 18, 2022 PAGE 8

Half a century of volunteering

BY RHYS THOMAS ROB Fuller has spent more than half a century of his life helping others, pursing his lifelong passion for volunteering since he was 15.

Rob is one of thousands of people in the region who volunteer their time to various organisations and this week, they are being recognised through National Volunteer Week.

Born in Ingham in 1950, Rob took on his first volunteering job by becoming a member of Australia’s first ever Leo Club, a Lion’s Club for youths.

During his time in Ingham, Rob held five different committee positions for five separate organisations including the Leo Club, Taylors Beach Progress Association, Hinchinbrook Cordelia Masonic Lodge, Herbert River Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Ingham Tennis Association, which he is a life member of.

Rob opted for a change in scenery and volunteering options in 1998, moving to Tolga with his wife Helen where they immediately started seeking volunteering opportunities to keep themselves busy.

“We like to contribute to the community, we are not ones to sit around,” Rob said.

It did not take long for Rob to become the president of the Atherton Chamber of Commerce, holding the position until 2003.

The Tolga Museum and the Atherton Turf Club were often spots where you could spot Rob donating his time, helping people explore history at the museum or serving behind the bar at the racecourse.

In 2003, Rob was elected to the board of the Atherton International Club and served as treasurer for three years before being offered the position of manager.

Just six years on, Rob had his hand in

Tolga's Rob Fuller has spent his entire life devoted to others, volunteering his time day in and day out.

another volunteering pot, joining the Association of Australia Assistance Dogs (NQ) Inc. based in Mareeba.

Rob was elected president of the Tolga Historical Society in 2010, a position he has remained in for the past decade.

During his time in the top job, the museum has seen many wonderful additions including new displays and expansions to the existing museum space.

For his countless hours of selfless service to these groups and his wider community, Rob has been honoured

with four life memberships including the Tolga Historical Society, Association of Australian Assistance Dogs (NQ) and the Atherton International Club.

Rob was also nominated for Citizen of the Year in the 2021 TRC Australia Day awards.

Rob stressed the importance of volunteers because, unlike other jobs, volunteers do not get paid for the work they do.

He said there was always a chance to thank volunteers for their service

on days other than National Volunteer Week.

“I was always told this when I worked at the post office – even though your staff come in to do a job and get paid, you thank them at the end of the day,” he said.

“It is the same for volunteers, all volunteers work for nothing, no pay.

“So, it is a little bit of a thank you at the end of the day when you are about to go home.

Recognising selfless Australians AUSTRALIA’S largest annual celebration of volunteering is being held this week recognising the millions of Australians who selflessly give up their time every day.

National Volunteer Week is being held from 16 to the 22 May with this year’s theme being ‘better together’, signalling the role volunteering plays in bringing communities together.

Volunteering Australia CEO Mark Pearce said it is important to celebrate the selfless acts of millions of Australians across the country each year.

“This National Volunteer Week, we celebrate the significant contribution made by all of the five million volunteers across Australia,” he said.

“Volunteering brings people together, it builds communities and creates a better society for everyone - together, through volunteering, we are changing communities for the better."

Volunteering Australia is calling on all Australians to ‘wave your appreciation’ and share a photo of themselves waving their hand of thanks to volunteers.

To mark National Volunteer Week, volunteers across Australia will be awarded at separate volunteer award events in each state with Queensland’s taking place this Friday in Brisbane.

Call for tree kangaroo carers

Tree Roo Rescue and Conservation Centre are looking for volunteers to help care for their Lumholtz tree kangaroos currently in rehabilitation and others.

THE call has gone out for volunteers urgently needed to help at the Tree Roo Rescue and Conservation Centre.

Like so many groups in the region, the centre near Malanda, which rescues, cares for and rehabilitates Lumholtz tree kangaroos, heavily relies on volunteers.

All the work done at the centre is under the eye of a leading expert in the species, Dr Karen Combes, who is the only person in the world to have a doctorate on Lumholtz tree kangaroos.

But she needs some helping hands to undertake all the work that needs to be done.

Volunteers will not be playing with the joeys – the rescue is looking for hard-working wildlife lovers to help with husbandry of adult tree kangaroos in care.

Main duties will include cleaning enclosures and feeding, with zookeepers, vets, vet nurses and people with wildlife experience encouraged to apply, however the centre will consider people with no experience at all.

To apply to volunteer, go to www.treeroorescue.org.au and fill out a volunteer application form on or send an email to info@treeroorescue.org.au

Thank you to local midwives IN CELEBRATION of International Day of Midwifes recently, a group of midwifes, mums and bubs hosted a morning tea and a “walk with the midwifes” to thank and raise the profile of local midwifes.

A-Mama (Atherton Midwives and Mothers Alliances) is a group of midwives and mums who come together to support each other and improve local maternity services.

Bringing out their strollers and a banner, the group got together to walk the Main Street in Atherton to help bring awareness to midwives and the important role in the community.

The group was treated to a morning tea as well as gift packages of postpartum items which were also given to women birthing in the Atherton Hospital.

Mid-wife and expecting mother Jennifer Keil said it was fantastic to see mothers and midwives come together and work to creating a better birthing experience for both parties.

“We formed a few years ago as a way to implement the new model of care for midwifery in the Atherton Hospital,” she said.

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“It’s become more potent to me now that I am having a child and it’s a great way to meet with more like-minded mums and midwives in the community.

“We are advocating for improved conditions not only for the mothers birthing, but for the midwives who we want to have a just as comfortable experience.”

DAVE’S COOL AIR Servicing the Tablelands, Cooktown, Mossman, Dimbulah and everywhere in-between!

David Avolio 0409 924 006 The Express, Wednesday, May 18, 2022 PAGE 9

Ladies join forces to sew for refugees A GROUP of ladies from across the Tablelands region have come together to put their sewing skills to the test, sending off their handmade clothes to refugees in the war torn country of Jordan.

After a volunteer trip to Jordan, Lara Gillespie of Tarzali soon learnt the harsh realities of the condition Syrian refugees were in and began searching for ways to help.

After donating many items of clothing to the children and mothers struggling to keep warm, Ms Gillespie found herself collecting scrap fabrics and had the idea to start creating clothing.

Although she doesn’t sew the clothing herself, she has

C A R R I N G T O N H O T E L

found a team of strong sewers that have taken the scrap fabrics and turned them into warm garments for the kids.

“When I did the volunteer trip with the refugees, I saw the terrible conditions they were struggling with, the amazing work and support of the organisation working with them and their incredible gratitude when given some new clothes or warm items for them and their children,” she said.

“So many were women and children who had literally run across borders under gunfire when the war started across the border.

“They came with little to nothing and have had to survive in cold harsh conditions

Refuges stuck in war torn Jordan have been donated handmade clothing by a group of local women to keep them warm and safe.

with limited ability to work without being exploited and I have since sent some more clothes over with other volunteers but then I came into an estate collection of fabric - I thought wouldn’t it be great if this could be made into clothes for refugees.

“I put a call out on Atherton community Facebook page and a small group of wonderful ladies generously volunteered their time to do some wonderful sewing for women and children’s refugees.”

After the call was made online, Kellie Dyer, Pamela Duel, Donna Cotter, Nikki Smith and Eunice Metcalfe came to the rescue, sewing, knitting and crocheting warm clothing for

the refugees.

Running out of the Alliance Church in Jordan, the team of ladies hope to see the fabrics sewn together and on the backs of those suffering to keep them warm in their hardest times.

“It is wonderful to see resources not going to waste, knowing they will go to people who really need and appreciate it,” Ms Gillespie said.

“It has also been wonderful to see the generosity and kindness of these wonderful ladies.”

Although they are also out of the scrap fabrics, Ms Gillespie has put a call out for anyone who can sew with their own materials to join in, especially those who can sew stretch knits.

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THIS weekend, the Tablelands will come alive with competitors participating in the annual Great Wheelbarrow Race.

Competitors will be travelling through the Mareeba, Dimbulah and Chillagoe Police Divisions as they travel along the Wheelbarrow Way. The race stages include Mareeba to Dimbulah (42km), Dimbulah to Almaden (65km) and Almaden to Chillagoe (33km), with a total distance of 140km travelled over three days.

The event involves competitors pushing an empty wheelbarrow along the road from Mareeba to Chillagoe in tribute to the early pioneers who, with limited work and transportation, travelled about the region using a wheelbarrow to carry all their possessions.

As always, our priority is the safety of all road users during the duration of this event.

Sergeant Paul Stanley, Office in Charge of Dimbulah Station, said police would be conducting high visibility patrols throughout the weekend.

“We ask that all road users travelling the race-route over the weekend, be mindful of competitors on the road,” Sergeant Stanley said.

“Drivers need to drive within the road rules and show patience when attempting to overtake teams to avoid any unwanted incidents. Remember if there are double white lines, don’t overtake.

“The event does not exempt participants, drivers of support vehicles and other road users from compliance with the provisions of all transport and other legislation.

“Any person found breaching any rules or regulations will be dealt with and could be given an on the spot fine or face court proceedings,” he added.

Good luck to all involved. We are looking forward to a safe and trouble-free event.

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The Express, Wednesday, May 18, 2022 PAGE 10

FOR EVERYTHING IN CLEANING NO JOB TOO SMALL

BY ELLIE FINK

HEARTLESS thieves have stolen sentimental items from multiple graves, leaving one family in shock and disbelief that their relatives’ final resting place had been defiled.

Whilst visiting their family’s graves over the Mother’s Day weekend, Alexandra Cook and her mother Doreen Cook discovered that the pots and plants they had placed on three graves had been taken and dirt thrown over the area.

Although Alexandra never met her late great grandparents and her uncle, she still took the time to decorate their graves with succulents and other plants which she had grown herself.

When arriving at the Atherton Cemetery on Mother’s Day, Alexandra noticed the plants had gone missing, with nothing but a mess of dirt being left on top of the grave.

“We saw that the plants had gone missing, but what they’d also done was empty the dirt in the pots all over the grave and just took the pots and the actual plant,” Alexandra said.

“I was really upset. I cried a little even because I had made these succulent pots for them so they would have something growing all year round and it was so disrespectful and disgusting that someone had taken them.

“I’m really disappointed in these people – it’s like stealing from the living isn’t enough so they have to steal from the dead? What’s next, are they going to start digging people up to see if they were buried with jewellery to steal?

“Most of those people in the Atherton Cemetery are the people who made Atherton what it is today and they worked extremely hard their whole lives only to have someone with no respect to come and take all that is left for them.”

After contacting the police, the Cooks soon learned their families grave wasn’t the only one targeted after confiding with others at the cemetery at the time.

Fresh flowers from other graves had been torn and thrown across grave sites, crystal glasses had gone missing, and someone had attempted to steal a cross ornament glued onto the grave.

Taking to Facebook, Alexandra and Doreen soon learned that this is a common occurrence in the cemetery, with others telling stories of their deceased loved ones being robbed of their gifts.

“Someone said they’d put things such as solar lights on their loved one’s graves which had been stolen and there were so many stories of people stealing from the dead,” Doreen said.

“These are special things for people to do and to pay their respects to their loved ones after they’ve passed on and someone has come along and ruined it.

DOMESTIC AND COMMERCIAL CLEANING PREMIER RANGE OF CLEANING PRODUCTS Alexandra and Doreen Cook were shocked and disgusted to find their relatives' graves had been disturbed on Mother’s Day.

“It’s honestly just heart wrenching and it’s upsetting to see.”

Police advised the Cooks to look for any evidence the perpetrators could have left behind and recommended installing a trail camera as a way to capture the cuplrits if they were to do it again.

Tablelands Patrol Group Acting Inspector Kyell Palmer said investigations were underway and asked anyone with information to come forward.

“Atherton Police will be increasing patrols of these areas in an effort to prevent these types of offences from being committed,” he said.

After being informed of the incident, Tablelands Regional Council Mayor Rod Mardi expressed his disappointment.

“This situation is disturbing, and we are saddened that people in our community have such little respect or regard for others,” he said.

“Our cemeteries are always open as we feel it is important that people have unlimited access to visit their loved ones. “We don’t have CCTV and believe there is no easy solution to prevent this damage and vandalism from happening. We’re keen to assist the Queensland Police with their investigation in any way we can.”

Since the incident, Alexandra and Doreen have returned to their family’s graves and removed the remaining pot plants to prevent more thefts.

Still angered by the incident, Alexandra hopes more security measures will be taken to monitor who is entering and leaving the vicinity.

If anyone has any information in relation to the theft, please contact CrimeStoppers or Atherton Police on 4091 9800.

New foundation set for launch

BY RHYS THOMAS IN honour of Mareeba’s most venerated and well-respected mental health advocates, Dr Mark Bestmann, a new foundation has been born aiming to improve the mental health of the community.

The Black Cockatoo Foundation has been established by the Mareeba and Communities Family Healthcare, a not-for-profit organisation that has been managing the Mareeba Medical Clinic since May last year.

With a mental health focus, the new foundation will seek to improve the mental health of the community through trainings, seminars, forums and more.

The foundation has already been running mental health and drug awareness programs for the past 12 months.

Mareeba and Communities Family Healthcare chair Ross Cardillo said the foundation would specifically focus on mental health and mental health awareness.

“We want to try and build better mental health in the community through forums, training, seminars and personal experiences that people can work with, so we are all as a community supporting each other,” he said.

The idea for the Black Cockatoo Foundation was born just under a year ago when Mareeba and Communities Family Healthcare took ownership of the Mareeba Medical Clinic.

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“When we established Mareeba and Communities Family Healthcare, it was decided that the not-for-profit company would be an all-encompassing health services facilitator,” Mr Cardillo said.

“One part of it is, we own and run the Mareeba Medical Clinic, and through that we are trying to improve health services, attract doctors to the area, increase allied health and visiting specialists to the area.

“Mental health and mental health awareness is such a big issue in not only our community but in Australia, it has been identified that our residents’ mental health needs are greater in this area.

“In honour of the Dr Bestmann, we set up this organisation to focus specifically on improving the communities and individual’s mental health.”

Margie Bestmann said she and her family were extremely proud to have the foundation named after her late husband.

“I think it’s a wonderful acknowledgement of the contribution that Mark has made to this community as a GP and also as an advocate for mental health and wellbeing,” she said.

The foundation will be officially launched tonight, Wednesday 18 May, at the Mareeba Health and Wellbeing Forum at the Mareeba International Club.

Doors open at 5.30pm for a 6.30pm start with an expert panel of local and national and experts in health and wellbeing.

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A Touch of Country

PAGE 12 The Express, Wednesday, May 18, 2022

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Debutantes ready to shine

BY ELLIE FINK

YOUNG ladies from across the region are picking out beautiful white dresses and practising their waltzing skills as the Debutante Ball season kicks off again for 2022.

The annual tradition has been around for generations, bringing the community together to “welcome” girls into society. Although the meaning of the ball has altered as society has progressed, communities still honour the event as a way for participants to make friends, learn to dance and learn etiquette.

This year, the St Thomas’ event at Mareeba welcomes new coordinator Kaye Peterson who has had 11 years’ experience on the Debutante committee.

“I’ve been a part of the committee the longest, so when (the last coordinator) Mary Steffeuni left for Brisbane, I took on the job,” she said.

“We have about 13 girls lined up already this year, but we postponed the

event in hopes that Covid restrictions would ease and we could have a normal event.

“Luckily, they have eased and now we have our first practices scheduled and we are ready to go.”

This year’s theme for the St Thomas’ ball is “the roaring 20’s”, with Ms Peterson’s experience in decorating inspiring the golden theme, with a promise of “lots of golds, black, white and feathers”.

Girls aged 16 to 18 from the Mareeba area who would like to participate are welcomed with their parents to the first parents meeting on 25 May at 5.30pm at St Thomas’s activities hall.

The first practice will kick off 29 May at 4pm at the St Thomas’ Hall.

St Josephs’ Atherton has already commenced practices for their event, with 15 girls from grades 11 and 12 learning traditional dances twice a week.

Committee member Deana Nasser has been working alongside the couples

to help them complete their deb and believes it is an amazing experience for everyone involved.

“It is a great feeling to be part of this annual event and to see the girls and their partners progress throughout the weeks learning to dance and interact with each other,” she said.

“While the important outcome is that we get good attendance numbers on the night and generate some great fundraising funds for the school, the ultimate outcome is that the Deb Ball gives young people the opportunity to dress up, enjoy themselves and take part in a very special community event.

“Unfortunately, our registrations have closed for this year’s Deb, but we welcome help from volunteers to decorate and set up the hall.”

This year’s theme is the Great Gatsby, with the ball to be staged on 4 June at the Merriland Hall.

Torimba will be hosting its first debutante ball in Ravenshoe since 2015, with local girl Taylah Dalgety coordi-

Last year’s Debutantes dance at the Mareeba ball.

Photo Brendan McRae Photography.

nating the event for 18 June.

With a gold, white and maroon formal theme lined up for the night, the event will welcome students from around Ravenshoe, Millstream and Mt Garnet, with a special invite for those home schooling to join in.

“I am hoping that this year’s event lights a new spark for the debutante ball to be held in Ravenshoe and I hope to encourage young people to be involved in this event and or other events like

this,” Taylah said.

“Coordinating any event for the first time is very daunting and stressful but having the support and networks available it eases the pressure a little bit.

“For me it is something I have wanted to do so I am enjoying the challenge.

I hope that everyone involved enjoys their own experiences for what I hope to be a beautiful night and only hope and pray this is something I can, or someone, can run in future years.”

Young Taylah steps up to bring deb back

16 year old Taylor Dalgety has taken the initiative to host the 2022 Torimba Debutante Ball PHOTO: Postle Photography

FOR the first time since 2015, young debutantes from around Ravenshoe, Millstream and Mt Garnet will have the opportunity to shine, all thanks to 16-year-old Torimba Debutante Ball coordinator Taylah Dalgety.

Taylah knew from a young age after hearing stories and seeing photos of her grandmother and cousins draped in beautiful white gowns that she too wanted to be the belle of the ball, even if it meant she organised it herself.

That’s when she set off on her mission to bring the debutante ball back to Ravenshoe, learning very quickly that it wouldn’t be easy, but it would be worth it.

“It started when I said, ‘well mum, I have white dress and no deb ball in Ravenshoe’, so I have taken it upon myself because it has always been something I have wanted to do as a little girl, especially after seeing photos of my nana and cousins make debuts in Ravenshoe,” she said.

After learning that the Ravenshoe State School would not be hosting the event, she took it upon herself.

“I set off with pen and paper and started asking the locals what they thought about me holding it and they all thought it was a fantastic idea,” Taylah said.

So far, a few couples have partici-

pated in practice sessions but Taylah is seeking more attendees who would like to join in on the fun.

Experienced in the art of “old time dancing”, Dick and Tracey Jensen have given up their time to help the teens learn classic dances to perform on the night.

Taylah has also received the wisdom and experience from the Torimba Committee, helping her as she organises her first event.

“I just knew it as something I had to take on if I wanted it participate in such an event,” she said.

“This is my first time organising an

event for the community and I have been very lucky to have the backing of Torimba Committee and extending members of the Ravenshoe community volunteering dance lessons, help and support along the way.”

Now that the “show is on the road”, Taylah hopes the reintroduction of the debutante ball in the Ravenshoe region will encourage the tradition to carry on in the future.

She says events such as these are very important for a community and help get young people involved in local events and starting friendship that last a lifetime.

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The Express, Wednesday, May 18, 2022 PAGE 13

Support helps Angie to reach new goals

Ray Copeland, Glynn Morice and Don Parise from the Men's Shed.

Wind farm benefits community groups A MAJOR electrical system upgrade and an expanded work area has members of the Malanda Men’s Shed clapping their hands after receiving funds to pay for the works from the Mt Emerald Wind Farm.

The Men’s Shed operates out of the old Uniting Church on Mary Street but the building had limited power facilities and space was beginning to be an issue with the group’s successful production of leather goods outgrowing the room available.

The $8,968 grant from the Wind Farm Community Fund has enabled upgrades to safety hardware, switchboards and wall power points as well as the installation of eight suspended workshop power points, and the replacement of the sub board in the community use hall and kitchen area.

Men’s Shed president Glynn Morice said that in addition to the electrical work, the grant would allow the group to clad another area of the church and double the size of the leatherwork area.

“Leatherwork is an extremely rewarding pastime for men, contributing greatly to improvements in wellbeing and mental health and we plan to hold community classes in the near future,” he said.

The group is just one of 16 community organisations that have received a grant for their projects.

Fund committee chairman Tom Braes said it was difficult to select who would receive a grant in the latest round of funds, given that half a million dollars’ worth of applications had been received for the $100,000 on offer.

“The quality and quantity of applications

this round made it very tough for the committee but we are sure that the successful organisations will create great social benefits for the Mount Emerald community with these funds,” he said.

The successful local grant recipients in this round of funding were:  Atherton Herberton Historic Railway  Ravenshoe Pony Club  Mareeba Rugby League Club  Ravenshoe and District Meals on Wheels Horses Helping Humans Atherton Tablelands Inc  Lions Club of Malanda  Ravenshoe RSL Sub Branch  Working Equitation FNQ Inc  Ravenshoe Tennis Club Inc  QLD CWA Mareeba Branch  Malanda Men's Shed  United Tableland Pipe Band  Tinaroo Sailing Club  Dimbulah Tennis Club  Herberton Mining Museum History Association Inc, and  Assistance Dogs North Queensland The Mount Emerald Wind Farm Community Fund, now in its fourth year, has backed almost 100 local community projects that are located within a 50km radius of the turbines so far, and will continue to offer more than $200,000 per year throughout the wind farm’s working life.

Local community organisations can apply for a grant any time, with the next round of applications closing on 31 July. For information, call 1800 280 013 or send your inquiry to communityfund@ratchaustralia.com

ANGIE Kirks cerebral palsy hasn’t stopped her from finding a passion for swimming, with her support worker Sondra being the driving force to help her swim 2km twice a week to keep fit and healthy.

As Sondra leaves Atherton to start fresh down south, Angie’s family thanks her for everything she has done to help Angie’s health.

In the past, Angie’s disability has weighed her down and limited what she does, with her mum Marie noticing her gain weight and her eating habits becoming poor.

Marie began to look at ways to help keep her daughter fit and active, hiring Sondra through NDIS to help motivate and push Angie to exercise.

Spending every Thursday and Friday at the Atherton Aquatic Centre, Angie and Sondra began to swim laps and getting her body moving, with improvements in her health and mood being noticed by Marie.

“Because Angie can’t get herself around as much and because she’s pretty much nonverbal, its hard to get her moving and she tends to drink and eat unhealthy a lot more than others,” Marie said.

“So, I came up with an idea to get her walking through the garden and replacing soft drinks with water – she loves her soft drinks – and then I went ‘let’s go swimming’.”

Marie and Angie Kirk are thanking Sondra for the work she has done to help Angie smash goals and swimming 2km twice a week.

Marie has been a swim coach since 2008 and Angie has grown up knowing the pool.

Wanting to pass her love for swimming down to her daughter, Marie began her search for the perfect support worker to help motivate Angie to get in the pool.

“Sondra enjoys going for a swim and she was ready to take Angie rain, hail or shine so we knew she was the perfect fit,” Marie said.

“It’s turned Angie’s life around and she’s toning up a bit and she is seeing the benefits in eating healthy, even though she is still a big lover of soft drink.

“Sondra has that drive and passion and has been able to get Angie in the pool and swimming those laps.”

Watching Angie grow in strength, confidence and focus

when swimming, Sondra believes Angie has definitely “In the beginning she was trying to find distractions and excuses to get out of it like saying ‘my back hurts’ but with repetition and constant reassurance we were able to reach her goal,” Sondra said.

“Occasionally she will point out things outside the pool as a distraction, but you have her to remind her to get to the end of the pool first – and she does get there.

“I am definitely going to miss her and all my other clients up here.”

To celebrate her achievements and to give Sondra a big farewell, Angie, Sondra, Marie and Angie’s friends got together for a barbeque, one of Angie’s favourite things to do.

Historic heritage building reopened A HISTORIC and heritage listed Cooktown Shire Hall will be reopened after an extensive heritage restoration project at a celebratory event being held this Saturday.

The Cooktown Shire Hall on Helen Street has been listed on the Queensland Heritage Register since 1997 and its doors have remained shut since April 2015.

Due to the damage caused by Tropical Cyclone Ita in 2014, an engineering assessment was carried out and the hall repairs were slated to be in the millions.

To commemorate the reopening of the treasured hall, a community open day is being held this Saturday and will showcase the past, present and future of the hall.

There will be live music and

The historic and heritage listed Cooktown Shire Hall is set to be reopened this Saturday with a special celebratory event.

entertainment, a complementary afternoon tea and dancing for everyone to enjoy.

“Historic and sentimental, the Hall has a very special place in the hearts of our community,” Cook Shire Mayor Peter Scott said.

“It took some time but, inspired by the community sup-

port for the Hall’s restoration, council successfully secured 100 percent of the funds required to preserve the iconic building from Australian and State funding programs.”

The open day will be taking place at the hall on Helen Street and will kick off from 3pm.

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PAGE 14 The Express, Wednesday, May 18, 2022

www.theexpressnewspaper.com.au

Billie turns a century young

Your chance to be heard on Justice act

BY ELLIE FINK FROM entering the world very quickly on the side of the highway in Cobba Corn, New South Wales, Sybil Richardson, or better known as Billie, has certainly had a wild and rewarding 100-year life.

Turning 100 at Carinya Home for the Aged on 7 May, Billie reminisced about the times she had as a youngster, remembering all the great adventures she had camping and fishing with her family of four kids, six grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren and five great great grandchildren.

After marrying her late husband Jack Richardson, she made the big moved to Danbulla where the couple worked on a sawmill before the Tinaroo Dam was constructed.

Billie and Jack soon watched as their sawmill went deep below the waters, forcing them to make the move to Kairi to start their life on the farm, where Billie graded peanuts in Atherton and Tolga for the Peanut Marketing Board.

The cheeky, adventurous and fun loving 100-year-old loved to pass down her knowledge in fishing to the children, with no barramundi safe when she let down her hook and sinker.

Grandson Alan remembers the times Billie would take their family fishing at Lakefield National Park and the fun they would have together.

“She took great pride in showing us some

of her tricks but not all of them. Billie had a secret fishing hole that to this day nobody knows where it is,” he said.

“Over the years she has witnessed many of her grandkids and great grandkids catch their first barra and they loved listening to their ‘Mummar’s’ fishing stories.

“One fishing trip a few years ago, there were four generations of the Richardson family together.”

Billie’s pride and joy though was her 1974 Toyota Landcruiser, which she drove every day with no trouble until she was 94 years old.

The old cruiser would rattle and shake due to its lack of power steering but that didn’t stop her from doing the regular trips for Lakefield to flick a line.

“Billie use to pack up her old Toyota, boat

on top and drive herself up to Lakefield,” Alan said.

“She did this until she was in her late 80s and after that she would travel with her daughter Jan and son-in-law Mal and friends to various Lakefield fishing holes.”

Now residing at Carinya Home for the Aged in Atherton, Billie has found herself in many incredible friendship groups and enjoys getting competitive during bingo.

As well as cooking and crafts organised by the aged care home, Billie loves when Tony the Pony and other animals come along for a visit.

With 100 years of experience behind her, Billie has the following advice for the younger generation: “Be kind to the elderly, take the time to have a chat to them. They may even teach you a thing or two.”

TABLELANDERS have a chance to give their view on what should be changed in the Queensland Justices Act, with the first review underway since the Act started in 1887.

With crime and punishment big issues particularly in the Mareeba area, locals can provide their opinion about what they think as the State Government considers what changes should be made for current criminal procedures in Magistrates Courts.

Mr Michael Shanahan AM, a retired District Court judge, has been appointed as the independent reviewer.

The review will consider options for improving and consolidating existing Magistrates Courts criminal procedure laws; alternative ways the Magistrates Courts could deal with criminal matters; supporting the increased use of technology and electronic processes; how laws can balance the interests of victims and accused persons; and the need to protect and promote human rights.

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Shannon Fentiman, said the review was badly needed and urged locals to have their say.

“The business of courts is completely different to colonial era Queensland when the Justices Act was written,” Minister Fentiman said.

“This is a significant opportunity to contribute to the reshaping of foundational criminal justice system laws.

“You do not need to be a lawyer or a technical expert to make a submission.

“I am asking all interested Queenslanders to contribute. Your feedback is critical to ensuring the development of modern criminal procedures that better match expectations and needs of Magistrates Court users.

“This is a real opportunity to share your views on ways criminal procedure can be improved.”

You can access the consultation paper and information about how to make a submission on the Criminal Procedure Review website (www.justice.qld.gov.au/initiatives/criminal-procedure-review-magistrates-courts).

The closing date for written submissions is 30 June.

Product of Australia

Product of Australia

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The Express, Wednesday, May 18, 2022 PAGE 15

Councillors speak out against climate policy

BY ROBYN HOLMES A STRATEGY aimed at managing the risks around climate change for Tablelands Regional Council has been adopted but not without opposition from two councillors who made it clear they did not support the document.

The Climate Risk Management Strategy outlines various actions over the next five years to minimise the organisational risks of climate change, reduce emissions, and support the transition to a low carbon future.

Councillor Dave Bilney spoke passionately of the need for council to acknowledge and plan for the effects of climate change, especially given the natural environment within the local government area.

“The strategy is a guiding principle so it’s imperative that we get it right and endorsed by council which will give a clear direction and certainty of actions,” he said.

“Our Tablelands region is not just a run-of-the-mill local government – it has internationally significant natural heritage areas within our borders.

“There continues to be a growing expectation that council provides leadership and direction in relation to climate mitigation and adaption.”

Cr Bilney said the strategy would underpin the development or the review of other policies attached to climate mitigation and the adaption responses and actions.

“Whilst this may present some challenges for council, it will also present opportunities for the community, for the environment and for

our economy,” he said.

But Deputy Mayor Kevin Cardew said he believed the strategy was premature and he was concerned that actions outlined in the document had not been costed.

“I’m flabbergasted – I don’t support this at all unlike my colleague – I think it’s a little bit premature,” he said.

“I don’t think anyone really understands the impact of climate change - I certainly don’t think it’s this council’s responsibility to lead the way in climate change even within our local government area.

Our State and Federal leaders can’t get it right – how are we going to get it right?

“If climate does become an issue and it’s identified that it is having an effect in certain areas, then it’s up to our state and federal politicians to make policy to address that and then it flows down to local government.”

He was concerned that actions outlined in the strategy were not costed.

“There’s no indication of dollars – to be honest, no one really knows what the impacts of climate change are so I think we’re putting the cart before the horse in this.

“The allocation of council funds into something that’s not fully understood at this point, and there’s no indications on what those funds will be. We’d be entering into an area of uncertainty and it could backfire on us.”

As Chair of the local disaster management group, Cr Bernie Wilce said he understood the importance of having strategies in place.

“As the elected members of our

community, we have to show that we are listening to one of the largest trending issues that we have impacting us directly at the moment and to what extent that we can play our part,” he said.

“We’ve got to show our community that we have at least a strategy to look at this situation.

“We can’t just sit where we are with things – we have to have contingencies in place and a strategy ready so that we can progress this as so many other local governments around the state.”

Cr Peter Hodge made it clear he was unconvinced that climate change was having any effects.

“If the two learned councillors here (Crs Bilney and Wilce) can prove to me that sea levels have risen in the past 50 years, then I would support it,” Cr Peter Hodge said, which brought a sharp rebuke from Cr Bilney.

“I don’t appreciate that sort of comment – it’s not doing us any favours,” he said.

“To say that we’re being premature (in adopting the strategy), I would say we are well behind.”

Cr Hodge said he would be prepared to “note” the report but did not want to adopt the strategy, citing comments within the strategy that he did not agree with such as the forecast that costs would escalate for a number of council departments would be up for rising costs in the future.

The strategy was eventually adopted, with Crs Cardew and Hodge voting against it.

Two adult cassowaries with two chicks in tow have been seen near The Crater, promoting a call for motorists to be on the lookout.

Picture: JO BARNES.

Cassowaries on the move MOTORISTS travelling the Kennedy highway between Ravenshoe and Atherton are being urged to be on the lookout for two adult cassowaries and two chicks.

A Facebook post warned motorists to slow down to the 50 km/h limit through the Mount Hypipamee (Crater) section especially, and the area of forest between the Longlands Gap (Herberton range/Herberton turn off) and Mount Hypipamee.

The two adult birds are accompanied by two chicks around six months old have been sighted at the Crater crossing the highway near the bridge in recent days.

Additionally, two independent juveniles and two other adult cassowaries are occasionally seen in the Longlands Gap/Herberton range section.

The Department of Environment and Science has placed warning signs on the Crater access road, but not the highway. Motorists are also asked not to stop on the highway to observe these birds as visibility is poor and they should also not be fed.

Cassowary behaviour is unpredict-

able and they can cause serious injuries to people and pets by kicking with their large clawed feet.

The department advises:  Never approach cassowaries.  Never approach chicks – male cassowaries will defend them vigorously.  Never feed cassowaries – it is illegal, dangerous and has caused cassowary deaths in other locations, as birds associate vehicles with food.  Always discard food scraps in closed bins and ensure compost bins have secure lids.  Always slow down when driving in southern cassowary territory, and  Never stop your vehicle to look at the cassowaries on the road.

If you see the birds or see one injured please report the sighting to the DES call 1300 130 372 and follow the prompts.

“These birds have been present at the crater for a number of years, so please observe signage and help us all to protect this iconic species,” a spokesperson said.

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PAGE 16 The Express, Wednesday, May 18, 2022

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Beating heart of tobacco display

BY RHYS THOMAS

A REMARKABLE remnant of Mareeba and Dimbulah’s golden era of tobacco farming is due to be restored and presented as the heart of the tobacco display at the Mareeba Heritage Centre.

The four row tobacco picker was a top-of-the-line machine in the industry and continued to pick tobacco in Dimbulah at Eddie Toffanello’s farm until 2003.

Protected from the elements for nearly two decades, the hulking machine is now set to get a new lease on life as the centrepiece for the heritage centre’s impressive and extensive tobacco display.

The machine has sat dormant for nearly 20 years and was under the threat of being scrapped before the Mareeba and Dimbulah Lions Clubs took on the task of restoring and donating the historical piece to the centre.

Mareeba Lion Dennis McKinley was approached by a woman during one of the club’s regular sausage sizzles outside of Coles, she informed him of the machine laying inoperative at Mr Toffanello’s farm.

“There is a site already approved at the heritage centre out in the centre plot for a tobacco picker - it was only going to be a smaller two rower or something like that, so it is nowhere big enough for this machine,” Mr McKinley said.

“Mareeba could be known as the big tobacco picking machine, we have the Big Banana, the Big Gumboot and all sorts of big things.”

The revolutionary machine enabled farmers to pick four rows of tobacco leaves at a time, workers would sit on the seats below putting leaves into a bag that would simultaneously be lifted to the floor above, they would then be racked

and put on a trailer ready to go straight into the curing barn.

The machines were developed and produced in Dimbulah at Dunigan’s Metal Fabricators and R&G Beghin General Engineering, however the one used at Mr Toffanello’s farm was made under the watchful eye of Brian Dunigan himself.

“It was the first type of machine that had all the bins go up together, unload, and come back down again all by themselves,” Mr Dunigan said.

Every tobacco farmer in the Mareeba and Dimbulah area either had one of these innovative pickers or knew someone who did.

“It was the latest innovation in tobacco harvesting – in the end, every farmer had one,” Mr Toffanello said.

“Efficiency was through the roof, they reduced the cost of labour and efforts and it was just a better system all around.

“I had this machine stored away undercover ever since the industry finished and then one day we took the machine out to create a bit more space and the thing was, what are we going to do with this monstrosity.”

It was then that Mr Toffanello’s wife, Emma, proposed the idea to donate the picker to the Mareeba Heritage Centre.

“We were just going to cut it up and rob bits and pieces off it, sell the tyres, and then it was my wife’s idea to donate it,” Mr Toffanello said.

“Dennis is obviously a member on the Mareeba Heritage Centre Committee so he said, ‘let’s do it’.”

It is estimated that there were less than 50 of the four row pickers made with nearly all being used in the Mareeba and Dimbulah area, while a small number were sent down south.

Mr Toffanello’s picker had some modifications done while it was in service

Drug charges

Mareeba Lions Club member Dennis McKinley, Dimbulah Lions Club member and donator of the tobacco picker Eddie Toffanelo with fabricator Brian Dunigan (centre) in front of the machine.

and its age has begun to show, so both the Mareeba and the Dimbulah Lions Clubs have banded together to restore the picker to its original glory.

The rough total cost of the project including restoring the machine and getting the space at the heritage centre prepared, comes to over $100,000 with grants being pursued to help offset the cost.

“We will be looking in excess of $100,000, 40,000 for the shed, power lights, you will chew up $100,000 easily,” Mr McKinley said.

“That is to get it all display ready for

MILLAA MILLAA MIRACLE MEETINGS

people to look at.

“What we are looking for is any member of the public or businesses that want to come on board as sponsors to help get this thing moving.”

Businesses and residents are being encouraged to donate money and or resources to assist the clubs as they undertake the massive project, a plaque will be installed with the display to thank those who donated.

If you would like to donate, please contact Mr McKinley on 0487 617 589 or Mr Toffanello on 0417 193 213.

A WONDECLA man has been charged over drugs alleged found on his property during a raid by police.

Police executed a search warrant on a Zinglemann Road property in Wondecla late last month and allegedly discovered 26 cannabis plants in two separate gardens on the property.

Police also allege they located nearly 5kg of dried or drying cannabis, in bowls and hanging from drying racks inside the house.

The 56-year-old man is expected to appear in the Atherton Magistrates Court on 31 May to face charges of producing a dangerous drug, possession of a dangerous drug and possessing drug utensils.

Police also executed a search warrant at an address on Moffat Street, Herberton, where they located a 33-year-old woman, a 38-year-old man, a 16-yearold boy and a 15-year-old boy allegedly in possession of cannabis, methamphetamine and drug utensils. They face numerous charges.

A 42-year-old male resident of the address has also been charged with two counts of supplying dangerous drugs and possess dangerous drugs and one count each of possess property suspected of having been acquired for the purpose of committing a drug offence, possess drug utensil and permitting use of place.

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The Express, Wednesday, May 18, 2022 PAGE 17

150 RACE DAY Mareeba Turf Club – 14 May

Alison and Trevor Wilson.

Ladies enjoying a day out at the races.

Kelly Stankovich and Jayarani Salerno.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Chris May, Kendal Paron, Kira Redman, and Valarie Redman.

Frances Petersen

Grace and Italo Armenti.

Jolene, Evelyn, Charlotte, Sharni and Keely.

Wendy Smart, Susan Lamari and Jen Marsh.

Kellie Malliff and Rachel Shred.

By Jill Melody “I’m feeling pleased and proud to send you my photo taken at Bramston Beach. It’s such a blessing to be able to capture the ever changing skies and scenery at such a beautiful spot in the world. No two days will ever be the same and so I feel it to be such a privilege to capture what I can and share it with others.”

Enter at Tablelands and Surrounds Photographjy Group on Facebook

Silvia Russo, Yadranka Keeling and Jacinta Russo.

Outi Toikkanen and Nickey Harvey.

Morgan, Sophie and Cherene Trimble.

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PAGE 18 The Express, Wednesday, May 18, 2022

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Water flows at new dam

A NEW dam has been constructed and officially opened by Etheridge Shire Council, with hopes to increase economic and environmental development in the region.

Charleston Dam, which has been in development since it was proposed in 2007, is located 6km downstream from Forsayth and 31km upstream from Georgetown on the Delany River and has been officially opened by Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce.

Ethridge Shire Mayor Barry Huge is pleased the project is now complete, saying said the dam would become a great community asset.

“Primarily the Charleston Dam is a water supply to service the needs for the communities of Forsayth and Georgetown and secondly, it is a great community asset catering for the recreational requirements centred around boating, swimming, canoeing, and fishing for native species,” he said.

“The economic flow-on benefits from such a project are wide and varied based on the tourism numbers that frequent the area for a seven-month period of the year to destinations that are a draw card to the immediate region.

“The other major factor for people in the shire is it brings security and continuity to a water supply for two communities in the Shire.

“This also enhances the liveability aspect of families coming to the shire through employment opportunities with added recreation activities and sporting events being held on the dam precinct.”

Alongside the opening the dam, Etheridge Shire Council also opened their “Unearthed Ethridge” project – an interactive and virtual reality display that shows the landscapes and history of the shire.

The project, which was opened by Member for Traeger Robbie Katter, is a Works for Queensland project, with the Etheridge Shire Council successfully securing $500,000 to fund the fit-out of the terrestrial building.

Taking huge steps for cancer resarch

Jennifer Rooks (centre) will be walking through some of the most mountainous ranges in Europe to raise money for cancer with the support of Mareeba Leagues Heritage Cafe CEO Lucy Connor, head chef Fred Fronda and manager Mary Copine

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce and Senator Susan McDonald officially opened Charleston Dam in the Ethridge Shire recently, providing many social and economic benefits to the region.

TAKING on a walk over 1000km through the mountainous ranges of Europe, cancer survivor and advocate Jennifer Rooks will be doing it all to give back to cancer research.

Raising half of her goal so far with the Cancer Council, Ms Rooks has teamed up with the Mareeba Heritage Coffee House as well as the Mandala Café, Sprouts Café, Frogs Café, Riley’s Café, Butterfly Café, The Hungry Pug and Rainforestation to do a coffee fundraiser.

From every cup of coffee sold during a period of time, money will be returned to the Cancer Council to help Ms Rooks reach her goal of $10,000.

In 2014, Ms Rooks took on her first walking fundraiser through Europe after watching many people she loved become effected with cancer.

Trying to find ways to raise money for the Cancer Council, her sister came up with the adventurous and challenging idea.

“It started as a dare from my sister to walk across Ireland and I had never really walked

before I had always used a car,” Ms Rooks said.

“She said it was about 500 km and that she would come with me, so we went and raised money that way and over the last few years, we have been walking together some really long distances. Sometimes we go on our own though.

“This year I am getting myself back into the Swiss Alps and it will go eight and a half weeks and go just over a thousand kilometres.”

Training up for the day, Ms Rooks is getting in her extra steps to ensure she is ready for the day, walking 40km round journeys where she can.

The Mareeba Heritage Coffee House will be helping raise funds through the coffee fundraiser, as well as having a donation jar at the venue.

To donate to Ms Rook’s cause, visit www. doitforcancer.com.au/fundraisers/jenniferrooks/walking-to-rome

A quality Catholic Education for your child at St Thomas’ School, Mareeba

We invite all considering enrolment at St Thomas’ to come along and find out more about our school!

WEDNESDAY 25TH MAY School Tours: 5.00pm - 5.30pm School Information Presentation: 5.30pm - 6.00pm WE DELIVER: • A safe, friendly and welcoming environment • Learning and teaching based on up-to-date educational research • High expectations • Affordable fees • A community of faith • Life long relationships built through our love of learning

We look forward to meeting you!

PREP 2023 ENROLMENTS NOW OPEN Children born 1 July, 2017 to 30 June, 2018 To find out more about St Thomas’ visit: www.stthomasmareeba.qld.edu.au

P: 07 4043 4100 | A: 63 Constance St, Mareeba E: enrolments.mareeba@cns.catholic.edu.au www.theexpressnewspaper.com.au

The Express, Wednesday, May 18, 2022 PAGE 19

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PAGE 20 The Express, Wednesday, May 18, 2022

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98 YEARS STRONG

Tender awarded for road sealing

“Smiles, joy, chuckles and tears”

BY MCHAEL MUSUMECI A COUPLE of weeks ago, long-term “Mareebarite” William Alfred Ross (Bill) Nielson celebrated his 98th birthday at the Mareeba Garden Settlement. A celebration of a rewarding life that brought smiles, joy, chuckles and tears.

Born in Herberton on 28 April 1925, the youngest of four siblings, Bill came from a hard working family and schooled in Evelyn. His father, a timber man, would handle up to 18 horses in a team to haul his laden timber wagon through the Evelyn scrub and grew corn to feed their horses.

From the Tablelands, the family moved to Home Hill, and then to the Glasshouse Mountains, farming the land using draft-horses. After schooling, Bill worked in a garage, and with the world already at war, he joined the Navy at 17, on his birthday in 1942.

Bill’s eldest brother “Jack” joined the Army, and older brother “Ern” joined the Air Force.

Posted to Townsville, Bill trained as a signaller, and posted to the minesweeper/escort ship “Strahan” serving four years.

“Due to the design, it would rock and roll on a wet lawn,” Bill recalled.

Following the end of the War, the ship was assigned to the 21st Minesweeping Flotilla in Hong Kong, performing minesweeping and anti-piracy patrols. On 26 September 1945, an acoustic mine detonated under Strahan's stern while pursuing Chinese pirates.

The ship raised violently out of the water and sailors on board, including Bill, were injured as they were flung around like puppets. Bill was knocked unconscious and suffered short-term memory loss after it.

The ship was towed to Japan where it was repaired.

Bill re-enlisted in the Navy for a second tour and served in the Korean War. While in Hong Kong, Bill got a tattoo on his arm, but a short time later, his arm got badly infected and he almost lost his life as the toxins went through his body.

Bill also lost the sight in his left eye and he was ultimately sent to Brisbane. It is believed that his loss of eyesight was possibly initiated by the infection Bill was duly discharged from the navy on medical grounds.

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Moving to Caboolture and working as a taxi driver, he married his loving wife, Margaret Elizabeth “Betty” Hampton. They then moved to Mirriwinni, with Bill working in the Kruckow’s sawmill, until moving up to Mareeba in the early 50s. Bill worked at Lawson’s Sawmill on the No.1 saw-bench where he remained for many years.

Building their home on Chewko Road, Bill personally selected the logs and cut them to size at work, 35-foot-long, 5x3 inches thick, etc., and got them home.

Over the years, the home was gradually partitioned, upgraded, and added extensions made the home what stands today. Most, if not all, of the furniture and cabinets were made by Bill, and just like his grandfather his skill, self-taught, craftsmanship made the beautiful home for the family.

Betty, his wife, was an enthusiastic tennis player who worked nights at the Mareeba’s Rodeo Drive-in theatre. Bill and Betty had two sons, Ross and Cliff.

Bill finished up at the mill due to its closure in the late 80s and worked for Dave Hastie in his furniture shop. His last job before retirement, was working at Bob Ramsay’s Shell Service Station in Byrnes street.

Upon his retirement Bill lost his wife passing away at the Malanda’s Aged Care.

Bill recalled many things he had done throughout his life - from going to the wonderful dances with his lovely wife, to tripping around in his ute with his cousin, “The Two Inseparable Bills”, over many of the seemingly endless narrow, dirt roads around Australia.

Bill was an avid cultured orchid and daylily grower and had a good collection and variety of both.

In his later years, he did a lot of lapidary work (cutting and polishing stones) and had his own faceting machine on which he would shape stones to make jewellery.

He was always an avid photographer and was never without a camera in easy reach and still has a prolific collection of photos. Bill, like his dad, used to develop his own photos.

On his birthday, Bill reflected on his 98 years and has so many fond memories. He’s seen a lot, done a bit, and has the right to have a chuckle, a laugh and a tear.

Bill joined the Navy on his birthday, when he turned 17, in 1942.

At 98 years “young”, Bill has fond memories of his life, much of which were spent on the Tablelands.

SECTIONS of five gravel roads will be sealed after Tablelands Regional Council awarded a $728,000 tender to BNT Civil Contractors to complete the works.

The project includes the construction and sealing of sections of five existing gravel roads – Hemmings Lane, Upper Barron (260m long); Hough Road, Kairi (100m long extension of existing seal); Mapee Road, Tolga (464m long from end of existing seal to existing floodway); Pinnacle Pocket Road, East Barron (670m long), and Shead Road, Kairi (386m long between Yadjin Road and Cotic Road).

Mapee Road will have a sealed width of 6.5m on an 8m wide pavement while the other four roads will each have a sealed width of 4.5m on a 5.5m wide pavement.

Another tender for the widening and sealing of parts of Brooks Road, Mungalli, was also awarded to BNT Civic Contractors, but the project will be scaled down given that the tender came in $290,000 higher than the $590,000 allocated for the job.

The Express, Wednesday, May 18, 2022 PAGE 21

A NOTE

FROM BOB TO MY FELLOW FAR NORTH QUEENSLANDERS,

THE FIGHTS WE WON

B O B O F

&

S H A N E

T H E

F E W

I N S P E C T D A I R Y S

O N E

L E F T

B O B

V I S I T S

P E T

S H O P

F A N T A S Y I N

T A I L S

M A R E E B A

B O B

B E S I D E

K U R A N D A

T H E

F A I L I N G

R A N G E

R O A D

LOOKING FORWARD The China problem isn't going away. They flexed and cut off our urea, a key ingredient in AdBlue which meant all our trucks and machinery would have come to a stop had we not blown the whistle.

Sovereign fuel security is absolutely critical. We will pass our sovereign fuel security bill and bring Australia to 90% self-sufficient in fuel. It bans the export of oil banned, reprocess metropolitan waste into diesel (pyrolysis) (Germany WW2), all “govt” cars and their component parts in metropolitan cities, shall be electric and made in Australia by majority Australian owned companies, and all busses (already being made in Australia, by Australians), and renewables such as algae, diesel, ethanol and invasive species timber If they embargo our fuel (as was done to other countries in WW1 and WW2), we have realistically three days fuel supplies. The LNP picking a fight with China when we only have 36,000 rifles in the country is unbelievable. In the late 60s when we were at war with Vietnam, we had 1.5 million semi automatic rifles. They tell us they have 20 patrol boats built or being built, each fitted with a machine gun on it (Won't that scare China). $1.5b spent on 20 machine guns which cost about $10k each. We couldn’t defend ourselves from a flock of pigeons. Let alone China. Each of those patrol boats should have been built with 40 missiles on each of them.

We are a country of enormous wealth, worth defending and we shall have every young man standing to defend his country, a missile fortress wall around our island, and we shall kick China and every other foreign country out of essential services. They shall be owned by the Australian people and not some slithering snake superannuation Sydney corporation.

There is a massive mark-up (over 200%) on the price supermarkets charge and the price they give farmers All farmers want is a fair go.

Cost of production has skyrocketed. Farmers are being ripped off and mum and dad shoppers are being ripped off. Greedy corporate fat cats are licking their paws and laughing. The LNP and ALP need to stop pandering to needs of big multinationals and start helping farmers and consumers. We will look to open new markets for our fruit and vegetable growers and graziers so that their produce isn't going to waste. Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia are all on our doorstep and should be prioritised.

The spirit of Australia will prevail.

God bless, Bob

Authorised by Bob Katter, Corner of Owen and Edith Streets, Innisfail PAGE 22 The Express, Wednesday, May 18, 2022

www.theexpressnewspaper.com.au

Wonders Wildlife

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Hello – goodbye: the amazing world of international waders I WONDER how many people have heard about the Cairns bird named Nordy?

This endangered international migratory wader, a Nordmann’s Greenshank, is a rarity anywhere, as the global population is less than 1000, but suddenly a lot of north Queenslanders have got to know Nordy.

Normally, they breed on Sakhalin Island in eastern Russia during the northern hemisphere summer. After breeding, they fly south to coastal areas of SE Asia during our summer. But at Christmas 2020 one Nordmann’s Greenshank was identified on the Cairns Esplanade and so began the saga of Nordy.

Because of its rarity in Australia (this is the first record for eastern Australia and only two other records in far northern WA) many people were keen to see it, and very soon the news spread and people started travelling to Cairns from all over Australia – just to see Nordy!

Right through the summer people enjoyed the sight of Nordy feeding on crabs along the Cairns Esplanade until finally, in April, Nordy departed.

At the end of our wet season, most international migrants head north again to fly an astonishing distance to reach their breeding grounds. Sophisticated and tiny satellite trackers have finally revealed more detail about how and where these birds travel, halfway round the world.

One amazing species is the Bar-tailed Godwit that flies non-stop from Alaska in the USA to New Zealand and Eastern Australia, a distance of 11,000 km completed in eight days! Weighing only 400 grams, this is quite a feat. Godwits can live for 1820 years and make that journey every year.

The tiny Red-necked Stint is only 40 grams and yet each year flies from our tidal areas and other wetlands all the way north to the Siberian tundra to breed, returning here around August.

There are about 35 species of migratory waders who fly each year from the northern hemisphere to Australia, in total about two million birds.

Some species are much more abundant than others and there are another 24 species that are classed as vagrants, that do not normally occur here but occasionally, like the Nordmann’s Greenshank, fly a bit off course and end up in Australia.

Accidental tourists.

Recently, many species have become threatened by developments and habitat loss, both in their breeding areas (due mainly to climate change impacts) and in their stopover locations in the East Asian Flyway where many species stop to feed and build strength for the next leg.

What Kennedy's got

ABOVE: Bar-tailed Godwit in flight at the Cairns Esplanade. BELOW: “Nordy” the Nordmann’s Greenshank that has now spent two remarkable summers on the Cairns Esplanade.

There are also some threats within Australia from disturbance to the feeding birds, and with coastal developments. Australia has a number of agreements with other countries to protect these birds.

But getting back to Nordy, one further development occurred in 2021 when Nordy turned up again on the Cairns Esplanade, for the second year in a row.

A lot of local birders cheered and now wonder whether the bird will return again in late 2022, perhaps with a mate? In April each year, BirdLife Northern Queensland have a Wave the Waders Goodbye activity on the Cairns Esplanade … a bon voyage event to wish the birds a safe flight and a successful breeding season.

There is the strong hope that they may safely return again in the coming August/September. Our migratory waders do occur in many places along the coastline, and some use freshwater habitats on the Tablelands.

Nordy will probably depart for the north in the very near future, if he has not already done so.

There is little doubt many eyes will be searching for this bird in December. Will we have a chance to say hello again?

Crackdown on external cladding OWNERS of buildings in the Mareeba Shire who have not complied with the State Government’s regulations on external cladding will be prosecuted by the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) after the council authorised it to take action.

The State regulations were legislated in 2019 after an horrific fire at the Grenfell Tower apartment building in the United Kingdom, in which 72 people died.

Due to the risks posed by combustible materials in external cladding, owners of particular private buildings were required to undertake an assessment of the material used on external walls of their building in a three-part process.

A State taskforce set up following the tragedy revealed there may be as many as 12,000 buildings across Queensland that would require assessment by the building owner, private certifier or other building professional.

Under the new Safer Buildings Program, owners of private buildings that were identified were required to give three documents – namely, a combustible cladding checklist, a building fire safety risk assessment and a fire engineer statement – to the QBCC by 3

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May last year.

A report to Mareeba Shire Council advised that the QBCC was aware of a number of private buildings within the shire that had failed to comply with their obligations and the QBCC now planned to prosecute them.

In order to do this, the QBCC required council to authorise the prosecution as the prosecution power in Section 265(2) of the Building Act 1975 did not address offences against Part 4A of the regulation.

A spokesperson from the QBCC said buildings owners had had three years to comply with the new rules.

“Building owners were able to apply for extensions of time prior to the final compliance date of 3 May 2021,” he said.

“Under the Building Regulation, the QBCC can apply for a court order requiring owners to provide the required documentation to identify if the building contains combustible cladding.

“All privately owned class 2-9 buildings with building approvals between 1 January 1994 to 1 October 2018, were required to complete the Safer Buildings Program and failure to comply could also result in fines of up to $23,020.95.”

$2,000m Gordonvale to Cairns Hwy, divided, four-lane. $100m Hann Hwy sealed (fruit and veg route) cuts 1500km off round trip to Vic from Tablelands/Tully. $6m Mission Beach breakwater - only safe harbour between Cairns and Townsville.

Feluga intersection rebuild (one death a year).

Cyclone Niran banana farmer support payments. $10,000m Cyclone Reinsurance Pool for Nth Aust. $180m for the Hughenden HIPCo Dam Project (to create 200 owner-operator farms).

Announced closure of Mount Isa's copper & fertiliser reversed.

Funding for Copperstring Transmission line. $1,500m to 2019 North Qld flood recovery. $3m Tully rugby league/sports grandstand built. $28m Ch. Towers weir for irrigation, town supply and hopefully a meatworks.

Mornington, Doomadgee and Yarrabah Market Gardens to combat diabetes and malnutrition.

HECS alleviation to attract doctors to our towns. $7.5m for dredging and sewerage at Cardwell (more to come). $1.2m Innisfail bowls club redevelopment Money allocated in the budget for the return of backpackers $9.7m for the RFDS aeromedical base in Mount Isa

What we're fighting for North Johnstone Transfer (Atherton Tablelands/Mareeba water).

Make money projects', not 'absorb money projects'.

Sovereign Fuel and Electricity Security (1. ethanol and algae, 2. waste-to-diesel plants, 3. ban oil exports (refine in Aust.) and 4. Aust.-made electric cars and buses (n.b. metro and govt. use only).

Missile Fortress wall for Australia.

A rifle for every boy in the high school armoury.

(Cadets/Guerrilla Army/girls too) Cairns-built patrol boats equipped with missiles.

An army battalion in Mount Isa (1,000 men).

Bridle Track Tunnel, Mareeba to Cairns in 19 mins.

Populate 12 Gulf and Mid-West towns through owneroperator, ballot scheme irrigation.

Towns will grow to 25,000.

Acreage housing blocks, so miners can live in the communities they work in, not Brisbane fly-ins.

Ingham's Stone River Weirs (crop diversification).

To every North Qld family, acreage. That acreage = their kingdom.

A restoration of the free society we once had.

LIVE IN THE ELECTORATE? Contact my office. Local call, 1300 301 942 P (07) 4092 1632 | F (07) 4092 6114 141 Byrnes Street, Mareeba PO Box 2206, Mareeba The Express, Wednesday, May 18, 2022 PAGE 23

HOMEsweet HOME Lighten up that dreary room WE all have one – a dark and somewhat dreary room that needs a lift to make it appealing.

Installing more windows or even a skylight would be the ultimate solution, albeit quite an expensive exercise, but there are many things you can do yourself to lighten up a room without breaking the budget.

First cab off the rank should be painting the ceiling of the room white because it can actually make a room feel “taller”. It’s best to choose the brightest white you can find with no hints of cream or ivory.

Rooms that feature a lot of timber can also give off a dark appearance, so if you really want to modernise a room, be brave and paint the woodwork.

Often this is frowned upon, but for homemakers who are sure they never want to see the timber again, it’s a safe bet to lighten a room. Target things like timber ceiling beams (go white) or that feature wall – or even an old timber bookcase can look contemporary with a splash of white paint.

The clever use of well-placed mirrors can also make a huge difference to a room but for the full effect, make sure you place the mirrors opposite windows so they reflect as much light as possible.

If that’s not possible, just put a mirror in the

room – above fireplaces, lounge suites or just on a wall – because they really do give the impression of more room and a lighter space.

Lights and lamps can be a wonderful way of injecting ambiance into a room if used cleverly but be careful not to choose dark lampshades or overly heavy light fixtures and perhaps opt for lights with dimmer switches so you can tone down the brightest light when you want to “soften” the room.

Accessories can really pop some bright colour into your living space, so be bold and choose yellows, reds and blues that will complement the white ceilings and modernise your furnishings.

Window treatments have a big influence on how a room feels, so it may be time to toss out the heavy drapes and opt for lighter material that can be streamlined on either side of the window to allow maximum light into the room.

The other option is treatments such as Roman blinds or similar products than can lift a room into the 21st century.

Last, but not least, are floor treatments – timber flooring can be wonderful in a living room but it can darken the room so protect your floor and lighten it up by using a bright rug, preferably one that has geometric patterns if you want to also modernise the room.

QCWA’s recipe of the month FOR 100 years, the Queensland Country Women’s Association have been collecting and passing on recipes and now, The Express readers are the beneficiaries. This month’s recipe has been provided by the Mareeba QCWA branch. Try it out and enjoy.

CAULIFOWER SOUP INGREDIENTS 1 medium onion, roughly chopped 3 garlic cloves, crushed 2 tsp fresh ginger, grated 2 tsp turmeric, grated or ground 2 tsp curry powder 2 tsp ground cumin 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1 cup evaporated milk, with coconut essence 1½ cups vegetable stock, salt reduced 1 large head cauliflower, cut into florets ¼ tsp black pepper 3 tbsp coriander, roughly chopped

PAGE 24 The Express, Wednesday, May 18, 2022

METHOD Preheat a large saucepan over a medium heat. Add onion, garlic, ginger, s[ices and saute for 1 minute. Add evaporated milk, stock and cauliflower florets. Cook until soft, cool slightly and blend with a hand blender to create a creamy soup.

Garnish with coriander, pepper and serve with toasted wholegrain bread.

Serves 6

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ENTERTAINMENT Pretty pink in honour of Sue

Grace Chapman.

IN honour of the late Sue Poggoli, the Yungaburra Lionesses hosted a “In the Pink” Fashion Show, Wine and Cheese afternoon on Sunday at the Yungaburra Hall.

The afternoon was a huge success and saw a flock of fabulous fashions, as ladies dressed in their Sunday bests to impress the judges. Over a glass of wine, the ladies had the opportunity to catch up with members of the community and make new friendships.

Lorraine Gatti.

Despina Tarca.

Maree Cathro and Rachel Nelson.

For the month of May for your chance to WIN a 2m pizza from Nonna’s OPEN 7 DAYS & NIGHTS | 07 4220 9223 68 SHIELDS STREET, CAIRNS CITY

Janelle Giveen, Tyler Vit, Vanessa Adams, Kirstie Adams and Leesa Poggioli.

*5pm *6pm *7pm *9pm

Gates open and Food Trucks Eddie Skiba ALL FIRED UP 88mph (80's Cover Band)

SAT JUNE 4th

an 80's rock cabaret under the stars

The Rusty Pheasant RV Retreat Rogers Rd, Biboohra

Can a trip back to the 80's and a chat with your 15 year old selfreally solve a mid life crisis?

@nonnaleottashouse | www.nonnaleottashouse.com.au

A T H E R T O N P E R F O R M I N G A R T S Y O U T H T H E A T R E P R E S E N T S

William Shakespeare's

A Midsummer Night's Dream DIRECTED BY SARAH RIBER

Silo Road Theatre, Atherton Sat May 14th 7.30pm Sun May 15th 2.30pm Fri May 20th 7.30pm Sat May 21st 5.30pm

Tickets $15 & $10 from Tableland Books, Vernon St, & Athertonperformingarts. com.au

more info. go to www.boxjellytheatre.com

www.theexpressnewspaper.com.au

The Express, Wednesday, May 18, 2022 PAGE 25

ENTERTAINMENT Biboohra all fired up for rock cabaret A ROCK cabaret that has sold out shows in Brisbane is coming to Biboohra next month, telling the story of the “most epic existential midlife crisis” through 80’s song and dance.

Cairns and Tablelands locals Rachel Terry and Roz Pappalardo took on the challenge to create a powerful and coming of age performance “All Fired Up” The duo will be bringing their

performance to the Rusty Pheasant RV Retreat in Biboohra on June 4, with BYO picnic blankets, chairs, wine and leg warmers.

Ms Terry expressed her excitement to be bringing their cabaret to the banks of the Barron River, welcoming anyone to come along.

“We have been to several events at the Rusty Pheasant in Biboohra and it’s a really beautiful, secluded location,” she said.

“The owners were also just about to launch their RV Retreat so we thought we would partner up with them and present the work.

“We were extremely keen to bring it to FNQ asap and this offer presented itself.”

The performance follows Tammy Tooth, who is taken back in time and faced with her 15-yearold self who helps her rediscover her love and passion of life.

Tammy cranks up the music on her cassette player and is takes in life before it became a little bit difficult and learns from her younger self the power and art of solving life’s problems.

Food Trucks and acoustic set from 5pm with “All Fired Up” at 7pm followed by 80’s cover band 88mph.

To purchase tickets visit www. trybooking.com/BYMLA

80’s rock cabaret “All Fired Up” is coming to Biboohra in June.

Local author releases new rural fiction novel TELLING a story of the outback, friendships and the simple things in life, Atherton author Ghis Gallo has officially released her new rural fiction novel “The JUMP”.

“The JUMP” begins with 17-year-old Jamie, who’s life on a cattle station is nothing short of perfect. She has her best friend Melissa, fishing, a gorge to swim in and the annual cattle muster to look forward to.

After experiencing the traumatic events of the murder of a backpacker, the teens are faced with a series of questioning, lies and secrets.

Ms Gallo says her book will give local readers a “strong sense of place and the intrinsic familiarity” with themes based off North Queensland’s most remote cattle stations.

“The JUMP is set in a landscape and

lifestyle that I know intimately, which from first appearances may seem romantic, but has its own fair share of ‘warts and all’,” she said.

“It is a setting that inspired what I believe is a page turning story full of dramatic twists and turns and an inconvenient truth.

“For characters Melissa and Jamie, their once carefree existence is destroyed simply through being in the wrong place at the wrong time, but it is how they and others respond that keeps readers searching for answers and enthralled to the very end.”

Excited and nervous to get her first book on the market, Ms Gallo To purchase “The JUMP”, visit Tableland Books on Vernon Street Atherton or visit www.goodreads.com/ghisgallo or www.amazon.com/author/ghisgallo

Crystal opens her home for morning tea

Daily Lunch & Dinner Specials!

SENIORS MENU INCLUDING DESSERT: $14.90 REGULAR MENU AVAILABLE!

Balter XPA Beer & Food Promo MONDAY LUNCH AND DINNER Fish ‘n’ Chips & Schooner Balter XPA: $22.50 TUESDAY LUNCH AND DINNER Chicken Parmigiana & Schooner Balter XPA: $24.90 WEDNESDAY LUNCH Double Cheeseburger and Chips & Schooner Balter XPA: $16.90

MONSTER 400g Crumbed Steak Special Every Thursday For

ONLY $16.90 Available Lunch and Dinner.

187 Byrnes St, Mareeba P: 4092 2588 PAGE 26 The Express, Wednesday, May 18, 2022

LOCAL author and mother of four Crystal Leonardi will open up her home next week to host an event to raise funds for the Cancer Council.

The Julatten resident is well known for her book, “Boy of Steel”, which she wrote as a dedication to her young son, Sebastian, who was diagnosed with incurable brain cancer in 2020.

Last weekend, she featured as a guest speaker at a Cairns event in which she shared the stage with fitness queen, television personality, and author, Michelle Bridges, to tell her story in a bid to motivate people to rise above adversity and turn their tragedy into triumph.

Next week, on 2 May, Crystal will host a Biggest Morning Tea as her way of giving back and bringing our community together.

“I am opening my home to anyone who'd like to attend a local high-tea on the morning of Sunday 22 May, in honour of my son's brain cancer journey,” she said.

The event, which will feature sweet treats,

games and fundraising, will kick off at 10am.

Those attending are asked to bring along gold coins to make a donation, with anything over $2 tax-deductible.

“Boy of Steel” is now an official Community Supporter of the Children’s Hospital Foundation, with $5 donated to the foundation from each copy sold. So far, $970 has been raised for sick children.

Crystal is planning to publish two new titles this year including a children’s book aimed at siblings of sick children and dedicated to easing the burden on parents faced with explaining the serious illness to young children.

The other is an interactive handbook aimed at writers wanting to commence a self-publishing project.

For information on the event, go to www. biggestmorningtea.com.au and search for Crystal’s name. Contact her home address by emailing to leonardi.crystal@gmail.com or call her on 0412 779 889. For all other information visit www.crystalleonardi.com

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www.theexpressnewspaper.com.au

ENTERTAINMENT across the region

Young actors shine on stage

YOUNG actors will shine in Atherton Performing Arts production of the evergreen classic of William Shakespeare, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”.

The final two shows of the production will be performed at the Silo Road Theatre on 2021 May. APA president Jacqui Stephens said the Shakespearian comedy was perfect for the troupe to take on, with all of its dramatic talent and youthful exuberance.

“The young people work together superbly in creating the various scenes,” she said.

“Those in the duke and his court scenes are suitably commanding and majestic and those in the fairy scenes with Oberon and Titania are most engaging, creating the sense of love and the ambience of the ethereal.

“There is a lovely contrast with the earthi-

ness and realness of the ‘mechanicals’ who are working towards putting on a play of love for the duke and, of course, the crazy foursome who become totally mixed up in their misconstrued love for each other, add great hilarity to the whole play.

“And despite all of the obstacles to be faced, the story turns out well for everyone in the end!”

Ms Stephens praised director Sarah Riber for her efforts in getting the show ready.

“Sarah has done the set, lighting and costumes simply, yet so evocatively, transporting the audience to a world of fantasy wherein the magical tale of A Midsummer Night’s Dream can unfold,” she said.

Tickets can be purchased at Tableland Books Atherton or online at athertonperformingarts.com.au. All are welcome.

Experience Munro Martin Parklands It’s all about live performances, friends, family and food amongst stunning gardens under a tropical night sky. Bring along your picnic, rug or low set chairs. Food vans and licensed bar available. No BYO alcohol.

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Latest movies hit the big screen THE Majestic Theatre continues to bring all the greatest and latest movies to make your cinema experience spectacular.

The new romance drama everyone is eager for, DOWNTON ABBEY: A NEW ERA, starring Maggie Smith, Tuppence Middleton, Allen Leech and Eva Sams is on screen this weekend.

The blockbuster action adventure fantasy from the Marvel universe DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Elizabeth Olsen, continues for

another super weekend.

The colourful family adventure comedy SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 2 is back one final time by popular demand.

You can find all the session times and information on the Majestic website at www.majestictheatre.com.au DOWNTON ABBEY Follow-up to the 2019 feature film in which the Crawley family and Downton staff received a royal visit from the King and Queen of Great Britain.

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www.theexpressnewspaper.com.au

The Express, Wednesday, May 18, 2022 PAGE 27

ON LAND the

Grants benefit nature refuges NINE nature refuges across the Far North Queensland region will share in close to $145,000 in the latest round of the State Government’s Nature Refuge Landholder Grants program.

Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon said the grants would fund conservation projects including weed and feral animal management, land restoration, flora and fauna surveys, restoring important koala habitat, protecting woodland and rainforest ecosystems, and fire management on properties that had been declared as nature refuges for native animals and flora.

“From the southernmost reaches of our state to Cape York in the far north, Queensland is home to 551 private protected areas – the largest private protected area network by land area in the country,” Minister Scanlon said.

“By dedicating their land as a nature refuge, landholders are helping to protect Queensland’s unique biodiversity.”

Nature refuges that attracted grants are:  Misty Mountain Nature Refuge at Millaa Millaa, $15,995 for weed control and revegetation to strengthen wildlife corridors;  Yourka Reserve Nature Refuge at Innot Hot Springs, $15,631 for a mammal survey and monitoring to improve understanding of their responses to

management methods including fire management, weed and feral animal control;  Dirrans End Nature Refuge at Tarzali (near Malanda), $19,099 for a track upgrade to provide all weather access to enable the surveying of microbat presence and fauna use of remnant vegetation;  Freemans Forest Nature Refuge at Lake Eacham, $17,950 for surveys of fauna and flora biodiversity of replanted wildlife corridors;  Kings Plains – Alkoomie Nature Refuge at Cooktown, $19,897 for weed control, feral pig management, and track repair;  Caloola Nature Refuge at Cooktown, $19,455 for weed and feral animal control;  Maroobi Park Nature Refuge at Lake Barrine, $15,951 for fauna and flora biodiversity surveys to inform future revegetation;  Donaghy's Corridor Nature Refuge at Lake Barrine $15,951 for fauna and flora biodiversity surveys to inform future revegetation; and  South Endeavour Nature Refuge at Cooktown, $20,000 for a fauna survey to compare with previous surveys to gauge the faunal diversity and abundance.

Decades fighting for canegrowers AFTER 39 years as a tenacious and dedicated grower representative, Canegrowers chairman Paul Schembri (pictured) is retiring this month.

Mr Schembri, who first joined a local growers’ committee as a 23-year-old in 1983, has served tirelessly in a range of Canegrowers’ roles while also running a farm in the Mackay region with his brother.

He is one of Australia’s longest serving farm leaders and is well known in the Australian and international sugar industry communities.

Mr Schembri has been Canegrowers chairman since 2013, during which period he also served as chairman of the Australian Cane Growers Council. He is currently vice-president of the World Association of Beet and Cane Growers.

Mr Schembri, who decided not to run for re-election in 2022, said today’s sugar industry was unrecognisable from the one he joined in the 1980s, having evolved through crippling low sugar prices, rapid expansion, deregulation and, in recent years, the drive to meet community and government expectations of environmental responsibility.

“The great opportunity that I had was to start so young,” Mr Schembri said.

“It’s a great privilege to represent

growers on the state, national and international stage.

“The industry has been here for over 150 years – we’re one of the oldest, most mature industries in Australia and we will continue to adapt.

“World sugar prices are currently strong and Australian cane growers are well positioned to demonstrate our environmental credentials as some of the most environmentally sustainable farmers in the world.

“Challenges will come and go but if we stay united and get our voice out there, we will have a bright future.”

Mr Schembri is looking forward to spending more time farming.

“I felt it was a good time for me to retire and a good time for the organisation to reset. Renewal is a great thing,” he said.

A meeting this month will vote on the next chairman of the organisation.

Canegrowers CEO Dan Galligan said Mr Schembri’s passion and dedication to working for growers had made an enormous impact on the industry and the organisation over the past four decades.

“Paul’s impact on the culture of Canegrowers has been profound,” Mr Galligan said.

“He has brought about a sharpened

focus to how we consider and service our members with passion and integrity.

Through his work he has gained respect from growers on the international, national, state and local stage.

“Paul’s positive and collaborative approach has inspired many people. He should be very proud of his contribution and the industry should be very grateful for his service.”

Donation helps rural communities AUSTRALIAN agritech scale-up Farmbot has given a $10,000 donation to Rural Aid, one of Australia’s largest rural charities.

The funds will be used to help Rural Aid provide financial and empathetic assistance to rural communities impacted by natural disasters like this year’s catastrophic floods.

The donation was raised, in part, by Farmbot customers with $50 from each purchase of a Farmbot Remote Water Level Monitor being donated to Rural Aid. Farmbot managing director Andrew Coppin says Rural Aid is best placed to ensure that flood-affected farmers get the support they needed.

“Rural Aid is well known for its mission not to just provide direct financial assistance to farmers, but also for a dedication for improving mental health outcomes in the wake of natural disasters,” he said.

“At Farmbot, we are passionate about supporting the mental health of regional

PAGE 28 The Express, Wednesday, May 18, 2022

Australians and we hope this donation will help Aussie farmers bounce back.

“I also want to thank Farmbot’s customers who contributed to this donation. Every day I am incredibly proud to be part of an agricultural industry that digs in for each other and our customers certainly showed that during this campaign.”

Rural Aid CEO John Warlters said he is pleased to be working with an organisation that shares a commitment to the mental health of rural Australia.

“Farmbot’s contribution to the mental health of our farmers goes beyond this donation.

“We’ve been impressed by its remote monitoring solution which improves the lives of farmers by allowing them to switch off and spend more meaningful time with their families, safe in the knowledge that there are no issues with their water resources.

“As a farmer, this down-time can be absolutely lifechanging and as an industry we should always be looking to technology which can bring us closer to our friends, families and interests outside of farming.

“Having worked closely with farmers for many years, Andrew and the team at Farmbot understand the issues that face our farmers and we are proud to be partnering with them to provide better access to mental health for flood affected farmers.”

Mr Warlters also called on farmers to register with Rural Aid. “We know farmers are proud and many struggle to ask for help,” he said.

“Assistance from Rural Aid can help not just yourselves, but your families and communities.

“Register with us today and we can support you in times of natural disasters through initiatives like financial help, counselling services and water or fodder distribution.”

www.theexpressnewspaper.com.au

ON LAND the

Avocado dumping reflects growers’ situation

BY SALLY TURLEY

A COMBINATION of increased supply, higher input costs, staff shortages and a Covid-impacted tourism sector have combined to produce a new low point for Atherton Tablelands avocado farmers.

The industry hit the headlines last week when local resident Jan De Lai reported seeing trucks dumping tonnes of the super food in the green-waste facility of the Tablelands Regional Council Transfer Station.

Avocado grower and North Queensland Avocadoes director Jim Kochi said last week's disposal of fruit resulted from a lot more damaged fruit than expected passing through a local packing shed.

“Fruit dumping to maintain quality standards is a common industry practice, but it normally happens on-farm.

This time it was just done more publicly,” he said.

“There are 110 avocado growers producing five million trays of fruit each year on the Tablelands and customer expectations of fruit quality have become extremely high.

“The 2021 industry returns were below production costs and proceeds have declined further since then, making the cost of packaging and transporting below premium class avocadoes to market unviable. Farmers have to be careful not to spend more that they can make in their businesses at the moment.”

Howe Farming, the region's largest

Photo of dumped avocados at the Atherton waste transfer station, which went viral last week, has revealed the true situation for growers. horticultural employer and one of the area's largest diversified farming operations, had also been hit hard, according to general manager Kim Mastin who has described the last six months as the “roughest” avocado season their company had ever experienced.

“We have 600 staff on our books, but only 400 are turning up on any given day, leading to staff burn-out on top of staff shortages. Between the crash in product prices and huge increases in input costs such as fertiliser, freight

and herbicides, we haven't broken even during the recent Shepard avocado season,” she said.

“Last year we were getting $26 a tray for our Shepards and that fell to $16 - $17 a tray during the last few months. The Hass prices have opened fairly strongly at $28 a tray, but there are a lot of them and oversupply will bring prices down rapidly.

“The photos being splashed across the media reflect on what we see every day, as we work to provide the blemish-

free product demanded by the public.

“We are packing thousands of trays daily and 10-12 per cent of them are going into the waste pile as anything less than perfect has to be thrown away.”

A lot of the dumped fruit would normally be sent to various centres around Queensland to be processed into guacamole, but depressed levels of demand and increased supply from a growing body of producers had left that market over-subscribed this year.

“In the past we have given our fruit

seconds to farmers to feed to stock, but strict bio-security protocols on farm, combined with Covid-19 restrictions have made that just about impossible at the moment,” Ms Mastin said.

“We have over 160ha of land under avocado trees. It is one of the main crops we grow and we strive to do it really well. At the moment we are having a tough season, but we aren't even thinking about not doing this next year.

“We will roll onto the next season, making sure we do everything right.

We will spray every two weeks, get our fertiliser out on time and keep our staff employed and healthy.

“We expect things to stay tough for a while until the additional fruit is absorbed by increased domestic consumption and a broader network of export markets that we are currently working hard to establish.

“Our consumers are the most important people in our business and we hope they will support local growers by continuing to buy our avocadoes and make them a staple in their daily diets.”

“Eat fresh and add an avo” was Mr Kochi's advice to the public.

“On the upside of the dumping furore, we never could have planned or afforded publicity of this scope for our wounded industry,” he said.

“In a couple of days, I have spoken to journalists from 4BC Brisbane, 2GB Sydney, 3AW Melbourne and the Sunrise television team and received support domestically and from fellow farmers around the world.”

Caitlin takes on state title in the showgirl business

BY ELLIE FINK PROUDLY representing North Queensland in the Ekka Queensland Showgirl State Final, is Mareeba local Caitlin Murray, who’s passion for agriculture has helped her go above and beyond in the competition.

Caitlin has been in the showgirl business for several years now, making her way to Brisbane representing the region as the NQ Showgirl Sub Chamber.

Although Caitlin didn’t particularly come from a “farming family”, being in the Mareeba community and her relationship with an agriculturally driven friend has helped expand her knowledge in agriculture and find her passion in showgirling.

“Growing up in a small community, everyone in some way, shape or form has a connection to farming whether it be your cousins, brothers or grandparents,” she said.

“You don’t have to be a “farm girl” to compete as a showgirl, you just have to have that passion and knowledge for agriculture, and I got all that knowledge from a good friend who is like an uncle to me.

“Uncle Kent and my dad used to do TB testing in cattle 30 years ago and we would fly a plane up throughout the cape and listen to his stories in the industry and that’s when I fell in love with farming in the region.”

After many showgirl competitions across the Mossman to Ayr region, Caitlin was selected to represent her sub chamber at the Ekka.

With 11 other girls from across Queensland also running, Caitlin is busy preparing herself for the big day, feeling a little nervous but excited to see where the competition will take her.

“I'm feeling as everyone would be, a bit nervous, but I'm also excited because it is for the state title and I'm just more excited to meet other women who are just passionate and come from different backgrounds and walks

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Mareeba’s Caitlin Murray will represent the North Queensland region when she competes for the title of Queensland Showgirl at the Brisbane Ekka.

of life,” she said.

“It’s a privilege to wear the sash that represents the NQ Sub Chamber and to advocate for the NQ region and help connect rural and remote communities with passion for this agriculture show and what it provides.”

Caitlin says her biggest supporters so far are the Tablelands community and her parents, giving her utmost gratitude for everyone who has been there for her along the way.

She expressed that without her mum and dad in particularly, she wouldn’t be where she is to today and without her dad’s amateur sewing skills, there would have been a dress catastrophe in one of her recent shows.

“My dad learnt how to sew so that if I ever needed my dresses done up, he’d be there with needle and thread ready to go,” she said.

“My mum always told me to never give up on your dreams or passion as it can lead to something beautiful and unexpected.”

Caitlin will be representing North Queensland at the Brisbane Ekka on 6 to 14 August alongside 11 other showgirls from across the state. If she wins, she will be crowned the overall Queensland Showgirl.

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The Express, Wednesday, May 18, 2022 PAGE 29

LETTERS to theEDITOR Have your say EMAIL: editorial@theexpressnewspaper.com.au

Trust the physics and consider alternate conclusion DAVID Blake claims that I do not understand the way the IPCC works. (The Express 13 April). I think I understand how the IPCC works very well, which is what scares me!

Blake is correct in that the IPCC produce various types of report. In particular, they periodically produce full reports on the state of research on climate. These reports commence as drafts which are reviewed, and evolve, over a period of years.

There can be input from thousands of contributors under the guidance of 12 principle authors. The latest was in early 2022 and as I recall comprised about 1800 pages. However, the IPCC is smart enough to realise that very few “policy makers” are going to tackle 1800 pages so they produce a “Summary Report For Policy Makers” which is a mere 31pages.

In this latest summary report, on the first page, the IPCC claim that It is unequivocal that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, however nowhere in the following pages of data provided to support the “unequivocal” statement is there any unequivocal claim of fact. They are all moderated by “highly likely, very likely” etc.

No one with even the most basic understanding of statistics, logic, or mathematics, could accept that you can draw an unequivocal conclusion from equivocal data. And that is the IPCC problem, the statement in italics above is on the first page of the report and highlighted in bold font to catch the attention of the reader.

Based on their own presentation the statement is clearly unscientific and untrue. It is also deliberately misleading and dishonest. You cannot convince me that the statement is accidental or a mistake by the authors who would be well aware of the significance of such a statement.

It would encourage the reader to walk into the next meeting to decide on the next $10 billion in support for “renewables” with that statement firmly implanted in his head. It strongly reinforces my point that the IPCC is a political organisation not a scientific one.

Blake also considers my argument that increasing carbon dioxide cannot increase the earth’s temperature is an over-simplification. As Blake points out that you do not need to be a scholar in linguistics to read a book, the same applies to basic science. You do not need to invoke Wien’s law or the Law of Thermodynamics to understand the basic principles of heat transfer.

Firstly, heat can only be transferred by conduction, convection, or radiation. For conduction or convection to occur, there has to be some substance in place to conduct or convect. Outside the earth’s atmosphere is a near perfect vacuum so the only way heat can enter or leave the earth is via radiation, as it can transfer through a vacuum.

There is plenty of evidence to show that when the suns radiation is measured at the earth’s surface close to 100 per cent of the frequency of radiation from the sun that can be absorbed by carbon dioxide is absorbed in the atmosphere.

Similarly as measured by satellites above the earth’s atmosphere, there is ample evidence that close to 100 per cent of the radiation emitted by the earth that is absorbable by carbon dioxide is absorbed in the atmosphere by either carbon dioxide or water.

It is therefore unequivocal that increasing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere cannot increase the absorption by carbon dioxide because nearly 100 per cent of all that can be absorbed is absorbed at the current levels of carbon dioxide.

Finally, Blake claims the measured scale of the greenhouse effect consistently leads to the same conclusion. I would argue that that is only because it fits his own beliefs. He is not prepared to consider an alternative conclusion based on the same data.

Bruce Jones INNISFAIL

It’s really simple, just follow the science people I AM confused about some of the stuff that David Blake keeps writing and, like a Chinese water torture, it eventually gets you down.

He obviously has a lot of knowledge about something and uses references to science at every opportunity. To that end I am not impressed at all.

I have seen too often when someone with letters

after their name puts something in writing it is not questioned.

Why do the media when speaking of carbon pollution keep showing water vapour from steam coming from cooling towers? Is it because they don’t know that carbon dioxide is an invisible gas, as is steam, or are they trying to brainwash the next generation of scientists?

Most chimneys today are pretty clean compared to when I ran a boiler and steam engine back in the 1950s. Some attempts have been made to photoshop the vapour from cooling towers to make it look unclean. This has not been too successful as the vapour dissipates at a height of 50 to 100 metres. Seems dishonest to me.

But follow the science.

Why did the BOM have to cut off the temperature records at 1910? Could it be that to leave them go back into the 1890s they would run into the Federation drought, where temperatures were on average five degrees warmer than we have had in the last 20 years.

No, a scientist would never stoop to that sort of trickery.

There was still little or no difference so it was decided the next step was to alter the old figures.

By lowering them it appeared today’s figures were slightly higher. Beauty, nobody complained, so they did it again – and again. This act of direct deceit was referred to as homogenising the figures.

But only a cynic would say they cheated. Never mind, just follow the science.

My dad and his mates remembered that drought really well. It was the first sign of climate change.

The flooding of the northern rivers of New South Wales was always a problem, and the bigger those towns built on the floodplains get, the worse the problem gets.

An aerial view of Brisbane will explain why that city will always have problems. It probably seemed like a good idea at the time. And it comes in handy to have floods there every once in a while to illustrate to those disbelievers that CC is for real.

A good friend of the family rode his pushbike from Victoria to North Queensland back in the 30s to get away from the raging bushfires. You could see the fear in his eyes when he spoke of them. These fires were long before the recent fires which were started by political activists making their case for climate change. Follow the science.

In 1899, cyclone Mahina hit Bathurst Bay, and the tidal surge pushed pearling luggers 12 metres up the hillside, and their remains can be seen there to this day. Over 400 lives were lost. Never learnt about that at school. When it happens again, and it will, it will be proof of climate change. Follow the science.

False reporting of cyclones is just another reason to doubt the science. When cyclone Marcia (Cat. 5) crossed the coast at Yeppoon, the TV cameraman stood in the middle of the road filming the horrific storm that never took the leaves off the trees.

It was supposed to be a Category 3 storm when it passed over Rockhampton. No structural damage, and when questions were asked, the media was told by a BOM spokesman they preferred to err on the side of upper possibilities for safety reasons. The barometric pressure of cyclones is no longer available to the public, as they may make up their own minds on what category it should be called. Follow the science.

Jack Leighton TINAROO WATERS

Co2 free power stations the answer for our future COAL or wind? What would you rather have, the hills, valleys and a lot of our coastline covered with larger and larger wind generating towers?

Or the odd Co2 free base load power station like we have had in the past? Yes, I said Co2 free – it is really a goer if we do the right thing.

It is a scientific possibility, and it produces useful by-products that is completely natural that will make new industries.

It will guarantee jobs in mining, help rural towns prosper, is good for farming, feedlots, feed producers and so much more. Yes, I can hear you shout “rubbish!” but you will be wrong.

These power stations will reduce Co2 in our air and get us to being Co2 balanced – not too much or not too little – very cheaply, and bring

PAGE 30 The Express, Wednesday, May 18, 2022

The Express reserves the right to edit letters

down the price of power.

Wow, now I have your ear!!! How you ask?

Because Co2 is a fantastically useful and valuable gas resource if you know how to use it. For instance, power stations will earn carbon credits and that is a first hey? OK, clean Co2 can be used to grow all manner of things, even food more efficiently in climate-controlled greenhouses or use Co2 for growing algae or seaweed in ponds or giant tanks, for adding to cattle feed or making natural compostable plastics, alginate for icecream, pharmaceuticals, and so much more – it is a bonanza.

This is not a fantasy and I am not a scientist, but anyone with an ounce of common sense will be able to see the implications for the future.

We don’t have to be pushed into covering good farmland with massive windmills and solar panels, and anyway, has anyone worked out quite how to reuse all the materials from all this socalled new technology we are spreading around our planet?

It will take a lot of mega size industrial dumps, once again.

Come on, it is not that hard to do this new scheme and it will pay for itself and it will not produce so much rubbish to get rid of in our future.

Wake up world this is cheaper, better, more effective, and more natural than all the other generation possibilities combined. For the sake of our children in the future.

Grahame West ATHERTON

Please return our guinea fowl so I can stay healthy IT was the wet season in the year 2000. We moved onto acreage at Lakeside Drive on the way to the Tinaroo township and Tinaroo Spillway.

We were busy with gardening when one day after gardening I noticed a number of small ticks on my shoulder. I visited the doctor and was prescribed with some antibiotics.

I thought I would be fine, but I was not aware that the poison had gone into my system. Ten days later I was paralysed.

I was hospitalised for weeks in the Atherton Hospital and then the Cairns Private Hospital and finally the Mareeba Hospital for rehab.

I had treatment by a physiotherapist and had to learn again. The physio suggested perhaps a solution to help reduce the ticks and it was to purchase some guinea fowl and allow them to roam between the neighbours on our side of the road off Tinaroo Falls Road.

A kind neighbour, a retired nurse, purchased some guinea fowl. This was a great idea, the fowl just wandered from property to property pecking and scratching and at nightfall they roost in the tall gum trees.

Recently, it was observed that a car pulled up and stole the chicks and adult birds.

Please, to the people who stole them, they were not wild. They were purchased by our neighbour and for a reason.

Hoping our life can return to normal and we can stay healthy as we are an elderly couple.

A.Takken TINAROO

Money from Rail Trail transfer should be kept here WHERE is the money going for the transfer of part of the Rail Trail to The Tolga Hotel?

The refurbishment and additions to the Tolga Pub are a welcome addition to the growing Tolga community. Unfortunately, the money to be paid by the Tolga hotel to transfer the section of the Rail Trail to the hotel could end up in the State Government Treasury coffers and may not be returned to our community.

For a number of months, the Tablelands Regional Council has been assessing and processing a planning application covering the proposed extension of the Tolga Pub onto the Atherton to Tolga Rail Trail.

The Rail Trail is owned by the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) and subleased to the Tablelands Regional Council (TRC).

At some time last year, both the TMR and TRC agreed to transfer their respective interests in the Rail Trail to the Tolga Pub.

Unfortunately, the details of this agreement have never been made public so we are unsure of the complete commercial arrangements.

The critical issue is the value of the land being transferred to the Tolga Hotel.

At this stage it has not been valued by the Department of Resources however based on small vacant residential lots in Atherton currently selling for approximately $150,000 and the land being sold being approximately the size of two residential house lots the cost of the land will be significant.

As the land is suitable for commercial development and such land is in limited supply in Tolga, it is possibly not unreasonable to expect the land will have a valuation close to $500,000.

The Tolga Hotel must pay for this land either by outright purchase or alternatively in the form of a lease. We understand the purchase price will be full valuation.

Alternatively, the lease will be based on commercial rates of return which we assume may be around 6 per cent which amounts to lease payments of $30,000 per year.

From our discussions and correspondence with the relevant Ministers in the State Government, we can confirm that at this stage the Tablelands Regional Council has not completed its required surrender of the land.

More importantly, it does not have any commercial arrangements or agreements in place with the State Government to ensure that the money being generated from the transfer of the Rail Trail to the Tolga Pub is returned to the Tablelands community.

If you are concerned to ensure monies received from the disposal or transfer of part of the Rail Trail is returned to our community please join us in asking the Tablelands Regional Council and the State Government one simple question. Where is our money?

The Following Concerned Citizens – Rex Hutchison, Ray Francis, Rex Gregory, Tony Fleming, Denise Vrenegoor, Jen Fleming, Kerry Heers, Sheila Tait, Patrisha Degnian, Steve Degnian, Sue Pattison, Richard Chapman, Paul Lillingstone, Lindsey Cullington, Christine Chapman, Kathy Kilpatrick, Steve Kilpatrick, Jeanette Jacob and John Jacob

Blame game confuses State issues with Federal ones AS another election looms, the blame game of government responsibilities seems to become more amplified in the tit-for-tat for political points.

Firstly, the rights of the crown, yes Queen Elizabeth 11, are vested in the States, not the Federal Government which means all the land and resources including water, minerals, oil, the soil under your house and vegetation belongs to the State Government.

It was only during the Second World War that income tax rights were handed to the Federal Government to fund our contribution.

The main roles of the Federal Government are defence, border security, trade, immigration, aged care and welfare, whilst the State is responsible for health, roads, emergency services, education, police and general regulations that govern mining and all land use.

So why is it that when there is a natural disaster, particularly a bushfire or flood, it’s the fault of the Federal Government?

If someone wishes to clear a fire break or use some of the floodwater that devastated the SouthEast, they would require permits from the State Government not the Feds.

Local Governments are basically an arm of the State Government that manage some of the State roads under a trusteeship, urban water supplies, waste and town planning and whatever else the State doesn’t wish to dirty its hands with.

Even with the huge financial windfall of GST, so graciously given by the Federal Government, the States continue to rely on Federal money for infrastructure projects while their own coffers fund a bloated public service.

Maybe the time is coming when we need to seriously consider abolishing State Governments and give Local Governments constitutional recognition and a percentage of GST so we can properly fund our roads, hospitals and police.

Alan Pedersen KARMA WATERS STATION

www.theexpressnewspaper.com.au

PROPERTY

houses l land l units l investments l acreage l farms l rentals

Can you see yourself living in Amaroo Estate?

AMAROO Estate is a residential housing estate established in 2006 by a local family passionate in creating a secure and attractive environment focused on community, the beautification of the area and Mareeba Shire.

Our family friendly Amaroo Estate is continuing to grow with further stages planned for the future and provides close proximity to Amaroo Medical, Pharmacy, QML Pathology and is only 55 minutes to Cairns providing convenient access to Cairns domestic and international airports.

Our newest development Stage 12 Karobean Drive and Wandara Court is anticipated to be completed by mid-year 2022 featuring 25 exclusive lots with affordable value, town water, underground power, sewerage, wide sealed roads and a footpath from Dural Close to Karobean Drive connecting our Amaroo community together.

Amaroo Estate is the Place to Live in Mareeba with proven progression for the future.

Pop into the Amaroo Land Centre located in the Amaroo Village beside QML Pathology for more information or call Ryley on 0409 321 000 to keep up to date on what’s happening next at Amaroo Estate. Follow us on our socials or check out our website www.amarooestate.com.au for all updates regarding our upcoming stages.

www.theexpressnewspaper.com.au

The Express, Wednesday, May 18, 2022 PAGE 31

PROPERTY

houses l land l units l investments l acreage l farms l rentals

Home on pristine acreage SMALL acreage on the outskirts of Atherton, what a rarity! A property of this location is hardly seen on the market and now is your chance to secure.

Situated towards the front of the block is the 5 bedroom brick home. This diamond in the rough offers heaps of potential for the new owner to take advantage of a solid home in a great location.

Open plan living and dining greets you as you enter and features a wood burning fireplace for those cooler nights. The kitchen is wellappointed and offers plenty of storage and bench space.

An abundance of room for the whole family with 5 bedrooms, 2 with built-ins, plus

the main has 2-way access to the spacious bathroom.

The outdoor patio features a nice outlook across the property and views to the ranges.

Set on approx. 5 acres, this property has heaps of space to expand and the established trees allow for plenty of privacy.

This property is being sold via Expressions of Interest therefore a price cannot be Address: Price: Agent: Contact:

PAGE 32 The Express, Wednesday, May 18, 2022

given. All offers must be submitted, in in writing, by the date & time of closure. CLOSURE: 10AM, Friday 27th May 2022. EOI forms can be secured by contacting the agent or our office.

Contact Exclusive agent Suzey Whitby at Ray White Atherton today on 0438 090 306 for more information.

Visit www.raywhiteruralatherton.com.au/L18380274

ATHERTON Expressions of Interest EXCLUSIVE to Suzey Whitby Ray White Atherton 0438 090 306

www.theexpressnewspaper.com.au

PROPERTY

houses l land l units l investments l acreage l farms l rentals

A home of warmth and character

FILLED with personality, this 1920’s classic has been beautifully updated presenting a crisp bright interior with abundant modern day living and comfort.

Features Include; • 3 generous sized bedrooms all with built in robes, 2 bedrooms have direct access to the front veranda • Office/multipurpose space • Open plan living with a cosy fireplace • Commercial style kitchen with a walk-in pantry and large gas stove • Beautiful high ceilings, tongue n groove walls and polished timber floors throughout • Main bathroom/laundry with a claw bathtub, toilet, separate shower, laundry tub, and linen cupboard.

• Full length veranda’s front and back – enjoy beautiful views & cool breezes!

• 2nd toilet & hand basin on the back veranda • Under house lockable storage space with a sink • 1 bay carport attached to the side of home • Large lockable powered shed with a storage room • Gazebo - Perfect place to sit and enjoy your private garden • Well-maintained irrigated gardens • Fully fenced 1,012m2 allotment with vehicle side Address: Price: Agent: Contact:

access to the shed The current owner has taken great pride in preserving and enhancing the classic beauty of this home and has created something incredibly special for the new owner to enjoy.

Ideally located within walking distance to Herberton Town Centre.

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

19 Broadway, HERBERTON $450,000 EXCLUSIVE to Raquel Cunzolo Sommerset Realty 0408 983 879

Rainforest oasis

IF you like nature, privacy and being close to water for family activities this 1,200sqm block is for you.

In an ideal location, tucked away in the rainforest and walking distance to the wellknown and beautiful Lake Eacham, this block is ideal for people with a love of the outdoors.

So much privacy and yet

only 10 minutes from Yungaburra and Malanda, it’s the best of both worlds.

With a building pad already cleared of trees and ready to build on. There is a 658m2 Exclusive Use Area of Common Property allocated in the "Epilja" Community management statement.

Power, water and existing driveway access, this prop-

www.theexpressnewspaper.com.au

erty won't be available for long. Established trees, with an abundance of wildlife, provide privacy from surroundAddress: Price: Agent: Contact:

ing roads.

Call Elders agent Jeanette Suffield on 0407 745 748.

Lakes Drive, LAKE EACHAM Offers Over $250,000 Jeanette Suffield Elders Real Estate Malanda 0407 745 748

The Express, Wednesday, May 18, 2022 PAGE 33

PROPERTY

houses l land l units l investments l acreage l farms l rentals

Tablelands acreage with nothing but the best THIS unique acreage property of 10 acres has amazing views overlooking the green hills surrounding the Atherton tablelands and is just 10 Minutes from Atherton CBD. The residence has an immaculate 4 bedroom plus office home that has been cleverly designed with the Tablelands weather and lifestyle in mind, and is surrounded by manicured lawns and gardens.

This solid home offers a well designed entertainers kitchen with red cedar timber and stone bench tops, has multiple open plan living areas giving easy access to dining, living, pool area with wood-burning fireplace.

There are four generous bedrooms plus separate office, main bathroom having separate shower and spa, laundry with built-ins and spacious master bedroom

with a very generous builtin robe and direct access to pool area.

This home also features a second tiled outdoor area to take in the tablelands rural views and sheds won't disappoint with two fully enclosed high clearance sheds with plenty of workshop space with one having shower and w/c.

To compliment your tranquil country living there are very well manicured vegetable and herb gardens.

Property features : • Quality built home featuring solid block rendered internal walls • Multiple open plan living areas with fire place and cork tiles throughout • Quality kitchen with red cedar and stone bench tops • Four bedrooms all with built-ins plus a Separate office

Home on acreage

• Master bedroom with ensuite, spa and direct access to the pool • Fully tiled out door patios • Laundry with built-ins • Very generous tiled lockup garage • Domestic and livestock bore water connected along with 2 X rain water tanks • 12m X 9m shed with power, water, shower and w/c • 18 X 10m shed with power connected and workshop area • Cattle yards, loading ramp with the property being fenced into 3 separate paddocks • Very well stablished pastures • Fully sealed driveway • Tropical gardens with established vegi gardens and chook pen.

• Creek access

To discover the benefits of this truly immaculate acreage property for yourself, contact Marketing Agent Rino Gava at Atherton Realty on 0427 779 086.

Ref 989775

This lovely home on 2.18 ha is new to the market

Address: 9695 Kennedy Hway, UPPER BARRON Price: $1,600,000 Agent: Rino Gava Atherton Realty Contact: 0427 779 086

THREE bedrooms, main with ensuite, is a home to inspect. From the time you walk through the front door you know you are in a home that has been well look after and a family is living here.

The open plan design makes it nice and cosy, from the kitchen to the dining area, which flows to the living area. There is a wood fire heater in the living are for those winter nights.

The three bedrooms are separated from the living area by a hallway. The bedrooms have lovely views towards the mountains.

There is plantation shutters in all bedrooms and on the outside are dynamic shutters. The main bedroom has an ensuite with a large bath tube which has a pretty nice view to the mountains and built-in wardrobe.

The living area flows out to the welcoming sunroom Address: Price: Agent: Contact:

PAGE 34 The Express, Wednesday, May 18, 2022

which opens to a relaxing undercover deck, which overlooks the beautiful gardens.

A few steps down from the deck is a large workshop or man cave and an undercover area which would make a nice BBQ area. A large 7m x 6m fully enclosed colour bond with power and lights in the back yard.

Water is supplied by a spring fed creek on the boundary, which is pumped up to a tank, just by turning on the switch at the house.

There are many birds and animals, eg. tree kangaroos which come to visit. This home is a must to inspect, as I cannot list it all. RR1828.

For more information, or to book your private inspection call Janelle on 4096 5446 @ Tablelands.com & Malanda Real Estate.

TARZALI $590,000 NEG Janelle Tablelands.com & Malanda Real Estate 4096 5446

www.theexpressnewspaper.com.au

PROPERTY

houses l land l units l investments l acreage l farms l rentals

Family home on large block in Mareeba SEARCHING for a low maintenance family home?

Then welcome to 86 Kenneally Road, Mareeba. With a convenient location only minutes from the CBD, this home boasts four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a layout designed for open plan family living and a generous backyard.

The open plan kitchen/dining area - featuring a generous breakfast bar - opens out onto a tiled back patio overlooking the fenced rear yard.

The air-conditioned family room is located off the kitchen area and is big enough for all the family to enjoy.

All four bedrooms are well sized (3 have built-in robes and air conditioning). The

master bedroom features his/ her mirrored built-in robes and an en-suite bathroom.

The family bathroom has a combined shower and tub, and separate toilet and is convenient to the laundry and linen cupboard.

Some additional notable features of the property include tiled flooring, tinted windows, ceiling fans, security screens and blinds throughout as well as a 5kW solar power system.

This home sits elevated on a 1,000m2 allotment with a fenced rear yard providing plenty of privacy.

• 4 well-sized bedrooms, 3 with built-in robes, 2 bathrooms • Master has his/her mir-

rored built-in and ensuite • Central kitchen with breakfast bar • Large open plan dining area and separate lounge room •Split-system air-conditioning in the living, lounge and 3 bedrooms • Tiled floors, ceiling fans, tinted windows, security screens throughout • Tiled rear patio with ceiling fan • 5kW Solar power system • Double lockable garage • 1,000m2 allotment with fenced rear yard • Convenient location, close to Mareeba CBD Properties like this don't

stay on the market very long, so contact our exclusive Agent Vince Costas on 0419 926 691 for more information or to arrange a private inspection.

Address: Price: Agent: Contact:

86 Kenneally Road, MAREEBA $440,000 EXCLUSIVE to Vince Costas Central Realty Mareeba 0419 926 691

The hard work is done – house and shed in prime location AN all round immaculate property, you will reap the rewards of the owners hard work.

Featuring a huge 7m x 9m shed with 2 x (3m) high clearance roller doors and a mezzanine floor, power connected and insulation.

Complimenting the shed and spacious block is a 4 bedroom family home located on a quiet street of Atherton, less than 2kms from the Main Street.

2 bedrooms have built in cupboards and fans, the master bedroom has an ensuite and walk in robe.

The open plan living, dining and kitchen with island bench and pantry and there is the added bonus of a second living area.

Sliding doors invite you outside to a tiled and private patio. Rainwater tanks have been installed and supply straight to the kitchen (capacity 3,000L), and there is a 6.6KW solar system. Security screens are installed throughout with a tiled floorplan to ensure low maintenance living.

The main bathroom features a shower & bath and a separate laundry.

www.theexpressnewspaper.com.au

For car accommodation, there is a double bay remote garage.

Positioning of the house has left an abundance of side access which means you’ve got the room for all the caravans, trailers, boats, and toys! Chokos, lemons, paw paw, peach, nectarine and pomegranate are already Address: Price: Agent: Contact:

planted, with manicured lawn and gardens to complete the picture.

An inspection is a must For more information or a private inspection please contact Exclusive Agent Kaydee Chatfield At Main St Real Estate Atherton – 0417 468 941.

18 Quadrio Street, ATHERTON $549,000 EXCLUSIVE to Kaydee Chatfield Main Street Real Estate 0417 468 941

Find out what your property is worth in today’s market?

Our local market is going strong and buyer demand is still very high. Are you ready to SELL? Call TODAY for your obligation free Comprehensive Property Report.

4092 2232

159 BYRNES STREET, MAREEBA QLD 4880 Visit our website at www.crmareeba.com

The Express, Wednesday, May 18, 2022 PAGE 35

PROPERTY

houses l land l units l investments l acreage l farms l rentals

A world of your own within Atherton

Classic home with a modern twist

TUCKED away at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac, this property offers more than you would expect. The original cottage was relocated here approximately 15 years ago and has since been transformed.

From the front a typical Queenslander welcomes you with a set of steps and front porch. The polished timber floors flow throughout the home and give the feeling of warmth. At the front of the house are two bedrooms one has direct access to the porch, the other opens into a home office, complete with built in desks and storage unit which make it ideal for those who want a dedicated workspace in the home.

The main bathroom has been recently renovated and features both stand alone tub and walk in shower as well linen cupboard and heated towel rail. Opposite is the master bedroom which boasts a modern walk-in wardrobe and an ensuite but holds its character with high

ceilings and tongue & groove walls.

At the end of the corridor the home opens into a large space comprising of living, dining and kitchen. Not only is there a feature wall of iron sheeting to give a great sense of style but look up to see a deep blue Colourbond ceiling which marks a key point of difference.

The home also showcases air-conditioning as well as a slow combustion fireplace so no matter what the weather outside you will always be prepared. Gas cooktop and ample storage make for a practical kitchen and plenty of windows allow natural light to filter through.

The rear door opens on to an extra wide veranda which wraps around the back and Address: Price: Agent: Contact:

PAGE 36 The Express, Wednesday, May 18, 2022

side of the home. This space is fully enclosed so that you can enjoy year-round and take in the views of the surrounding farmland. Its ideal for those who enjoy outdoor living and entertaining. Step down from the deck straight on to an additional entertaining area and make the most of the spacious back yard.

At the rear of the property is a large shed with double roller door and a pedestrian access. The shed is powered and extra high making it a work mans paradise or even a great place to store your additional vehicles or boats.

For more information on this stunning property call exclusive agent Alex Payne today on 0409 328 153.

17 Elizabeth Street, TOLGA Offers in the $500,000’s EXCLUSIVE to Alex Payne LJ HOOKER Atherton 0409 328 153

FIRST National Atherton is proud to present to market 13 Paine Street Atherton.

This block construction home features an open plan living space inviting families to spend quality time together; or share the outdoor patio and explore the heavily treed backyard.

Hidden behind the fruit trees is a magnificent colourbond shed featuring a mezzanine floor.

Features include: * 4 spacious bedrooms with built ins * Open plan living and kitchen space * Block construction

* Internal laundry * Large carport and entertaining area * Established gardens and loads of fruit trees * Colourbond powered shed with mezzanine, approx 8x10m, insulated This property is situated across the road from a public park with playground and is only a short walk Address: Price: Agent: Contact:

from state schools.

The home is tenanted to please allow a minimum of 24 hours notice to inspect.

Some items represented in the photos will contain tenants possessions.

Contact exclusive agent Zach Reid on 0427 683 023 for further details or a private inspection.

13 Paine Street, ATHERTON $450,000 EXCLUSIVE to Zac Reid First National Real Estate Atherton 0427 683 023

www.theexpressnewspaper.com.au

PROPERTY

houses l land l units l investments l acreage l farms l rentals

A stunning haven of privacy and seclusion dence with spotted gum polished timber floors & 2 bay carport • Stunning wet edge pool incorporating a deck & contemporary entertainment area with kitchenette • Stylish kitchen with Essa Stone tops, multiple drawers, walk-in pantry, 900mm electric oven & 900mm gas cooktop, dishwasher, plumbed in fridge space & breakfast bar • 20m x 5m rear timber deck with outdoor fans, 6 automated blinds & magnificent views for miles • Views of the surrounding bushland garden from every room in the house • Master bedroom with access to the deck & stunning brand new ensuite • All bedrooms with built-in robes plus hallway with builtin storage cupboard • Huge main bathroom fully tiled to the ceiling with separate plunge bath • Office with access to the living area & deck • 5kw solar power system

OPEN HOME THIS SATURDAY

THIS homes prominent location at the top of Red Hill ensures it receives not only stunning, uninterrupted views of the surrounding bushland,

but also exceptional breezes and ultimate privacy.

It’s the perfect combination of contemporary urban living & country lifestyle with

the added benefit of being only a short 40 minutes drive from Cairns or 10 minutes to Mareeba.

Features include:

• 5.26 acres (2.13ha) with Kennedy Highway frontage • Fully air-conditioned, 3 bedroom + office, 2 bathroom, masonry block resi-

Address: Price: Agent: Contact:

The centre of attention

• 3000L poly rainwater tank at the rear of the house plumbed to the kitchen • Bore plus 10,000L poly tank with float • 2 x 25,000L poly tanks + pressure pump at Creek • 10m x 14m shed with concrete floor & 3 phase power • Front paddock fenced with 5 strand barb wire & water tub with tap • Purpose built dog kennel and herb garden area • Tranquil bushland gardens with multiple stepped walkways & secluded sit down areas Make a lifestyle change to the privacy, serenity and stunning scenery this property offers. open for inspection this Saturday from 10.00am to 11.00am.

For further information or to arrange a private inspection please contact exclusive agent Joe Torrisi on 0417 700 468.

3702 Kennedy Highway, MAREEBA Offers in the $900,000’s EXCLUSIVE to Joe Torrisi Joe Torrisi Real Estate 0417 700 468

M A R E E B A

SOLD

MORE S G LISTINED! WANT

For local knowledge, dedicated service and exceptional results give Joe a call!

JOETORRISI.COM.AU JOE TORRISI 0417 700 468

BEAUTIFULLY renovated, this three-bedroom cottage boasts a fantastic modern kitchen with open plan living, a second tiled living area, a new bathroom, a fabulous outdoor deck, and a great location close to shopping.

All dressed up and ready to show off, this home has been carefully remodelled to suit modern life whilst retaining the lovely timber floors and shaped doorways that were crafted in a different era.

Fully fenced, the large block allows for the gardener to plant little or lots, the boat or camper to be parked safely and the kids to play whilst you sit back on the deck and relax.

Address: Price: Agent: Contact:

www.theexpressnewspaper.com.au

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

ATHERTON $380,000 Trisha Jackson Professionals Atherton 0419 183 145

The Express, Wednesday, May 18, 2022 PAGE 37

EXPRESSO

Wednesday 18th

Max 28o Min 21o Tide Times 0432 1.27 1003 2.20 1624 0.57 2328 2.97

Thursday 19th

Max 26o Min 21o Tide Times 0543 1.42 1104 1.96 1716 0.76

Friday 20th

Max 27o Min 18o

Tide Times 0041 2.86 0801 1.43 1233 1.79 1826 0.97

take a break...

Saturday 21st

Sunday 22nd

Max 27o Min 17o

Max 26o Min 17o

Tide Times 0329 2.84 1029 1.13 1554 1.95 2130 1.14

Tide Times 0211 2.82 0929 1.29 1428 1.79 2002 1.11

Monday 23rd

Max 27o Min 17o

Tide Times 0432 2.86 1111 0.98 1701 2.15 2244 1.11

Tuesday 24th

Max 27o Min 16o

Tide Times 0526 2.87 1148 0.84 1758 2.36 2342 1.09

WORD SEARCH CROSSWORD Angle Aperture Balance Broken Bulb Burst Camera Candid Depth Digital Exposure Field Flash Focus Hyperfocal ISO Speed

SUDOKU

Kodak Landscape Lens Light Macro Noise Optical Pixel Portrait Quality Reflex Resolution Saturation Shutter Viewfinder Zoom

Enter digits from 1 to 9 into the blank spaces. Every row must contain one of each digit. So must every column, as must every 3x3 square.

15. Cause; bring about.

17. Express severe disapproval of (someone or something), especially in a formal statement.

20. Make (someone) annoyed or a little angry.

21. Go down below the surface of something, especially of a liquid; become submerged.

22. Go back on a promise, undertaking, or contract.

23.

Any of the lengths of wood fixed side by side to make a barrel, bucket, or other container.

DOWN

ACROSS 7. A thin layer, plate, or scale of sedimentary rock, organic tissue, or other material.

8. A strong, coarse unbleached cloth made from hemp, flax, or a similar yarn, used to make items such as sails and tents and as a surface for oil painting.

9. Freely transfer the possession of (something) to (someone).

10. A thick, smooth drink of fresh fruit pureed with milk, yogurt, or ice cream.

11. A solitary burrowing rodent with a short tail and large cheek pouches for carrying food, native to Europe and North Asia, often kept as pets.

13. A tall, narrow building, either free-standing or forming part of a building such as a church or castle.

1. An ancient flour or meal made of cereal grains, nuts, or starchy roots.

2. An assistant to an important person.

3. A biennial plant with white flowers and aromatic leaves which are either crinkly or flat; used as a culinary herb and for garnishing food.

4. A person whose profession is acting on the stage, in films, or on television.

5. Excessively flattering or ingratiating; oily.

6. Relating to or found in the sea.

12. An example of something regarded as typical of its class or group.

14. One of several drawings making up a cartoon strip.

16. A person who obtains money of a specified kind or level in return for labour or services.

18. A keeper of a park, forest, or area of countryside.

19. Allow or enable to escape from confinement; set free.

21. Maintain height in the air without flapping wings or using engine power.

Weekly Horoscopes



Aries

March 21 to April 20 Themes for the Week Priorities, Budgeting, Stay Still, and Have a Positive Mindset.

Prioritise spending time with loved ones, everyone is busy.

Start your week with a financial plan. New projects are favoured but there will be expenditure.

Puzzle solutions



Cancer

June 22 to July 22 Themes for the Week Feel Relaxed, Growth, Positive Attitude, Healthy Body and Mind.

You might need to rethink a situation in a realistic way. Your hard work will pay off, be sure you give your mind and body a much needed break.

Avocado Brownies

INGREDIENTS

• 2 medium, ripe avocados skin and pit removed (halve the avocado and scoop out with a spoon) 1/2 cup pure maple syrup 1/4 cup raw sugar 2 large eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 cup self raising flour 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa 1/2 teaspoon salt or pinch of sea salt 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips

MAKE the most of our local produce with this delicious recipe

METHOD

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and set aside a lightly greased 8 x 8 baking dish.

2. Using a stand mixer, add the avocado, maple syrup, and sugar. Blend well.

3. Then add the eggs and vanilla extract. Mix well so that all of the ingredients are blended together.

4. Gently add in the flour, baking powder, salt, and cocoa and mix well.

5. Stir in the chocolate chips using a spoon or spatula.

Spread the batter into the pan evenly.

6. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until done.

7. Test the middle of the batter with a knife or toothpick, if it comes out clean it’s ready.

Remove from heat and let cool before cutting into squares.

Enjoy!

PAGE 38 The Express, Wednesday, May 18, 2022

Libra

Sept 24 to Oct 23 Themes for the Week Calmer Love Life and Career, Drive Cautiously.

This week might start on an unsure, irritable note. As the week progresses things will settle.

It’s a time for fun and feeling supported. Take particular care driving on the weekend.



Capricorn

Dec 22 to Jan 20 Themes for the Week Exciting Week, Controlled Budget, Favourable For Creatives.

Spend sensibly this week, expenses are likely to blow out. Exciting progress will be made, but avoid over confidence.

Aim for sensitive, gentle communication.

Taurus

Gemini



April 21 to May 21 Themes for the Week Financial Progress, Good Opportunities for Career and Health.

Feel the calmness in relationships. Thoughtfulness will be appreciated and have lasting positive impact. Financial progress looks good, keep the balance.

May 22 to June 21 Themes for the Week Romance, Monetary Success in Career, Learning, Lousy Weather.

Feel the creativity this week.

Communication and innovation could play a crucial role at work.

Unplanned travel could harm your health.

Leo

Virgo

July 23 to Aug 22 Themes of the week Old Friendships, Family harmony, Financial Challenges, Creativity.

Children may face many obstacles, and will need support and guidance to traverse difficult situations. A great week to connect with old friends.

Scorpio

Oct 24 to Nov 22 Themes For The Week Smart Decisions, Positive Progress, Hard Work, Stable Home.

Indicators of good health and income this week. Don’t jump the gun, get the facts first. Things are not always what they seem on the surface, dig a little deeper to the truth.

Sagittarius

Nov 23 to Dec Themes For The Week Personal Commitment, Cautious Finances, Promising Endeavour.

Your sense of humour will draw people to you. Your skills will be tested navigating difficulties. Your energy might wane later in the week, but your family will keep you afloat.

Strategize your financial plan.

Pisces

Aquarius

Jan 21 to Feb 19

Aug 23 to Sept 23 Themes For The Week Good Times for Love, Business Growth, Be Focused.

Possibilities for your career are many. Enjoy some down time.

Any study might be disrupted and cause irritation. Though your energy levels should be high.

Themes For The Week Every Cent Counts, Creative Juice Flowing, Practice Positivity.

Your efforts and sincerity could determine your success. Small steps, you’ll see the growth before you know it. Save any extra budget for the rainy days coming.

Feb 20 to March 20 Themes for the Week On Your Toes, Avoid Disputes, Ego Clashes, Prioritise Time.

Heavy workload incoming, prioritise your time accordingly. Make the most of chances to spend time with your loved ones this week.

From little things, big things grow – invest wisely.



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DIRECTORY

S S E R EXP

admin@theexpressnewspaper.com.au

Authorised Fujitsu Service Agent

P: 4092 3019 M: 0409 648 403 F: 4092 1629

www.donhall.com.au

r For all you rior xte interior & e g! cleanin

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Come and see Daniel and the team at B&C Cabinets for all your cabinetry needs!

CHILDCARE

P: 4092 2671 • E: enquiries@bccabinets.com.au • QBCC 1209087

info@mareebakidscampus.com.au www.mareebakidscampus.com.au 3 CENTRES IN MAREEBA: Constance, Dunlop & Hastie Streets EARLY LEARNING • KINDERGARTEN OUTSIDE SCHOOL & VACATION CARE

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WORKSHOP CLEANING PRODUCTS

“GOTTA CALL COXENS”

LOCALLY OWNED

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SEE OUR WEBSITE FOR DETAILS AND DOWNLOAD ONE OF OUR CATALOGUES AT WWW.COXEN.COM.AU Phone 07 4051 9355 | email cleaningsupplies@coxen.com.au | Our showroom is situated on Jubilee St, Cairns City, 50 Metres from Cairns Central

WE PROVIDE A FREE DELIVERY SERVICE SEE OUR WEBSITE FOR DETAILS AND DOWNLOAD ONE OF OUR CATALOGUES AT WWW.COXEN.COM.AU Phone 07 4051 9355 | email cleaningsupplies@coxen.com.au | Our showroom is situated on Jubilee Street, Cairns City, 50 Metres from Cairns Central

MAREEBA DENTURE SERVICE • Full and Partial Dentures • Relines and Repairs • Mouthguards Private Health Fund Rebates Apply Veteran Affairs Provider

Paul Johnstone

DENTAL TECHNICIAN DENTAL PROSTHETIST Registration No. 931417

4 Warren Street, Mareeba Q.4880 PH/FAX: 4092 2464 • MOB: 0402 809 556 • Email: choppers@qld.chariot.net.au

ELECTRICAL

All

SAFETY STORAGE SHOWERS & EYEWASHES

CAIRNS BUSINESS EST. 1983

Jay Vermeer 0400 803 334 | sales@barrierblinds.com.au | www.barrierblinds.com.au

ed! rante y Gua ll u F Work

38 Years, we must be doing it right!

CUSTOM MADE SPILL KITS

Phone DAVID AVOLIO on 0409 924 006

GREAT QUALITY, AUSTRALIAN MADE BLINDS • Motorisation & Automation • Shutters • Aluminium Shutters • Roller Shutters • All Internal Blinds • All External Awnings

QBCC: 1109288

COXEN CLEANING SUPPLIES

CLEANING MACHINERY SALES & SERVICE

ABN: 61 788 170 092 LIC. NO: L012565 ARTIC LIC: AU21630 QBSA: 1220582

AIR-CONDITIONER

• Bond Cleans • Mould & Mildew Treatments • Pressure Cleaning, Roofs & Exteriors • Gutter Cleaning • Contract Cleaning

Phone: David or Julie 0428 993 205 | Email: tablelandcleaning@outlook.com

CLEANING SUPPLIES

Call Ross Malfitana Mobile: 0429 898 657

FULLY INSURED LOCAL FAMILY BUSINESS

DEMOLITIONS

R & C AIRCONDITIONING & REFRIGERATION

BUILDING

s e c i v r e S g n i Clean

ABN 80 179 825 363 QBSA 59712 ARC License AU24014 Electrical License No: 78958

• Airconditioning Installations • Cold Rooms • Fridge Seals • Gasing • Servicing and Maintenance • Authorised Artic Licence

Kat Child

TABLELAND

CLEANING

Shop 4, 276 Byrnes St, Mareeba PO Box 1034, Mareeba Q.4880

DENTAL

AIR CONDITIONING

4092 3464

O’Brien Electrical Mareeba (07) 4092 4146

Shed 3, 9 Wallace Drive, Mareeba | mareeba@electrical.obrien.com.au LIC. 55472 | ARC. AU31673

obrien.com.au/electrical/mareeba

Lic. No. 77513

ELECTRICAL SOLAR & BATTERIES AIR CONDITIONING

PHONE: 0408 764 850

DO YOU NEED A RELIABLE ELECTRICIAN? Do you need a RELIABLE Electrician who shows up on time, CLEANS up after himself, and completes your work CHEERFULLY, without charging the earth? Call TODAY!  Farms  Sheds  Shops  Houses  Maintenance  Renovations  Installations  New Homes  Repairs

Call DANIEL 0433 158 941

Lic No 69788

smartelec@y7mail.com

• Ravenshoe • Herberton • Millaa Millaa • Tarzali • Topaz • Malanda • Yungaburra • Atherton • Tolga • Walkamin • Mareeba

The Express, Wednesday, May 18, 2022 PAGE 39

DIRECTORY

S S E R EXP

admin@theexpressnewspaper.com.au

LICENCED ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR LICENCED CCTV INSTALLERS

SOLAR:

• OFF GRID • ON GRID • HYBRID MOBILE COVERAGE SOLUTIONS

Electrical Licence: 86387 Security Licence: 4162579

MAINTENANCE

ELECTRICAL

4092 3464

FLOORING

QBCC No. 1275266

PAINTER

M. HARTLEY PTY LTD TRADING AS

124 Mason Street, Mareeba  (07) 4092 2433

• Polished Concrete • Dust Controlled Grinding • Ceramic, Vinyl, Carpet Removal • Supply & Installation of Vinyls • Vinyl Planks & Carpets • Commercial & Domestic

Phone Darrin 0428 917 539 Email: daz.northernfloors@gmail.com Northern Floors Pty Ltd

• Hardware • Plumbing • Flat Pack Kitchens • Paint • Nursery • Giftware • Jaycar • Building Materials • White Goods

19 Wormboo Street raven@iig.com.au

IRRIGATION DESIGN AND SUPPLY

50 BYRNES STREET, MAREEBA • PHONE 4092 7788

IT

BURRATRONICS

PLUMBING

IRRIGATION

4097 6208 • Pumps Sales & Repairs • Filtration • Water Treatment • Water Tanks & Troughs • Pool Treatments • Solar Pumping Systems • Reinke Centre Pivot and Lateral Move Irrigators

BELL HARTLEY & CO. PAINTING CONTRACTORS

P: 4092 1176 M: 0418 184 147 E: markterri70@bigpond.com

PROFESSIONAL DOG BOARDING • On the Tablelands at Kuranda • Dedicated Staff • Great Facilities • Highest Quality Diet • Lots of Play Time in Big Yards • Long or Short Stays 131 Boyles Road, Kuranda | Phone: 40938239 www.kurandapetresort.com.au Email: graham@kurandapetresort.com.au

 RURAL  DOMESTIC  COMMERCIAL  ROOFING  PLUMBING  DRAINAGE

SALES, SERVICE & REPAIRS IN-STORE AND ON-SITE

www.burratronics.com.au Certain work defined as “building work” in the QBCC legislation may only be undertaken by licensed contractors, or if undertaken by unlicensed contractors, only to the value of $3,300.

However, work falling outside that definition may be performed by unlicensed contractors and is not subject to any value limit.

To check whether a Contractor holds a QBCC Licence visit: www.qbcc.qld.gov.au Or call the QBCC on 1300 272 272

PAGE 40 The Express, Wednesday, May 18, 2022

QBCC 1115490

Max & Jodie Turner

Shop 3, 203-215 Byrnes St, Mareeba P: 4092 7038

• Laptops, Tablets & Towers • Phone & Tablet Repairs • Custom Systems • Networking Solutions

PO BOX 1414, MAREEBA

100% Locally Owned & Operated!  DOMESTIC W: www.maximumpestman.com MAREEBA OFFICE:  COMMERCIAL P: 4092 1999 1 Vaughan Street OFFICE:  TERMITES M: 0418 150 759 ATHERTON 30 Main Street Pre-Construction | Pre-Purchase Inspections

PET RESORT

HARDWARE

LOCALLY OWNED & OPERATED

RAVENSHOE HARDWARE

NO OBLIGATION FREE QUOTES!

MAXIMUM PEST MANAGEMENT PEST

ENGINEERING

LOCALLY All types of ork OWNED AND welding, lathe w OPERATED and milling.

• For all yard, home and office maintenance • Furniture restoration and repair • Welding and metalwork • Quality and guaranteed workmanship • Competitive rates with pensioner and VA discounts available

Leith Lewis 0409 343 699 | Email: leithlewis@bigpond.com

284 Byrnes St, Mareeba | 4092 1659 | sales@outbacksolar.net.au | www.outbacksolarandoutdoors.com.au

GENERAL ENGINEERING

Kat Child

4098 2774

TROY & JULIE BELL | 0419 746 006 belairplumbing@bigpond.com

Treatment Plant Servicing Septic Tank Pumping QBCC Lic. No. 79358

For all your PLUMBING, DRAINAGE and GASFITTING requirements throughout FAR NORTH QUEENSLAND Rural enquiries welcome!

www.theexpressnewspaper.com.au

DIRECTORY

S S E R EXP

4092 3464

admin@theexpressnewspaper.com.au

Kat Child

PLUMBING

For ONLY $40 per week this spot could be yours!

Call Kat today on 4092 3464 or email admin@theexpressnewspaper.com.au

POOL

“WE OFFER A COMPLETE ON SITE POOL SERVICE” POOL MAINTENANCE & POOL SHOP

LICENSED POOL SAFET Y INSPECTOR

P: 4092 1443 or 0413 013 297

Specialising in the local area, no job too big or too small... let us take care of your every move.

YARRABAH SERVICE TWICE WEEKLY

P Taxi&TrucksM- Tail-Lifters Carriers 4035 2034  Express Couriers Email: admin@pmcarriers.com 247 Hartley Street, Portsmith

CASH OR ACCOUNT CUSTOMERS WELCOME

Excellent Rates - Free Quotes!

Excellence Through Perseverance and Diligence Wally Amory - Mareeba Depot Manager

ry, Farm Machine rs, ile a Tr Ute Trays, el, Structural Ste . re o m d n Rims a

T QUALIT Y PAIN PROTECTION GUARANTEED

124 Mason Street, Mareeba  (07) 4092 2433

TREELOPPING

Phone: 0421 839 353 | mrboperations@exodas.com.au

SANDBLASTING & PAINTING

QBCC No. 1275266

CAIRNS • MOSSMAN • TABLELANDS DAILY

 Freight Distribution  Warehouse Storage

Jorge 4091 2601 or 0451 971 708 tablelandfurnitureremovals@gmail.com www.tablelandfurnitureremovals.com.au

SAND BLASTING & PAINTING

REMOVALISTS

71 BYRNES ST, MAREEBA

ALL POOL SUPPLIES INCLUDING FREE WATER TESTING & EXPERT ADVICE

TRANSPORT

price includes an online listing on www.theexpressbusiness. com.au

PROFESSIONAL TREE SERVICE SERVICING NORTH QUEENSLAND P: 4095 4595 | E: aataylorstreelopping@outlook.com

TABLELANDS TREELOPPING • Treelopping • Bobcat Hire • Wood Chipping • Pensioner Discounts • Stump Grinding • Fully Insured

FREE QUOTES!

Call Jon Lambert | P: 4091 5008 | M: 0407 575 916 SLASHING/ MULCHING

• Slashing and Mulching • Orchard / Tree Trimming • Earthworks • Machinery Haulage • Accident Towing / Tilt Tray Hire CONTACT DETAILS: Blake Daniel 0439 988 227 Email: atsamfnq@hotmail.com

TOWN PLANNING

As a local born and bred, I am invested in the success of the community and how it is developed. Enquire today for a free consultation.

• Pre-purchase property search reports / due diligence - Understand your future or current property rights • Specialise in Development Approvals • Reconfiguring a Lot / Subdivisions • Material Change of Use

P: 0411 344 110 | E: ramon@uitownplan.com.au | W: www.uitownplan.com.au www.theexpressnewspaper.com.au

• Tree Removal • Wood Chipping • Stump Grinding • Firewood Lukas Portelli 0427 189 227 tablelandstreeworks@gmail.com

• TREE MAINTENANCE & REMOVAL • HEDGE TRIMMING & SHAPING • GREEN WASTE REMOVAL & WOODCHIPPING 0428 711 278 mareebatrees@gmail.com 118 Constance St, Mareeba Q.4880

The Express, Wednesday, May 18, 2022 PAGE 41

CLASSIFIEDS

S S E R EXP

4092 3464

admin@theexpressnewspaper.com.au

Kat Child

Classified Deadline: 4pm every Friday FuNeral NotiCe

ChurCh NotiCe PRESBYTERIANS meet in Mareeba for worship each Sunday 10am, QCWA Hall, Wilkes Street (behind Meals on Wheels) ALL WELCOME!

iN MeMoriaM

MCLENSON, Doreen

Passed away peacefully, aged 74, on the 13th of May, 2022.

Beloved Wife of Jim, and missed by her grieving family.

Relatives and friends of Doreen are respectfully invited to attend her funeral which is appointed to move from St Joseph’s Catholic Church, Mabel Street, Atherton, THURSDAY 19th May, 2022 after a Requiem Mass commencing at 11:00am for interment in the Atherton cemetery.

Guilfoyle Funeral Services Chapels, Crematorium & Memorial Gardens

Viliana Giagnori

Atherton: 4091 2147 Mareeba: 4092 1013 Local Family Owned & “Entrusted for over 70 years”

06/05/34 ~ 18/05/12 “You left us beautiful memories, Your love is still our guide.

And though we cannot see you, You’re always at our side.”

www.guilfoylefunerals.com.au

LAND WANTED

1-5 acres between Channel Road and Mareeba.

PHONE: 0488 005 796

THE FAMILY OF

James Hughes Would like to sincerely thank the following people: Rad Care Staff, Blue Care Staff, Mareeba Hospital, Doctors, Nurses & Domestic Staff, Amaroo Medical Dr Cheryl & Akill, Mareeba QAS & Mareeba Fire, Dr Lim and Australian Hearing.

We would also like to thank all friends and family for attending Jim’s service.

Jim’s funeral was very fitting.

Thank you to Guilfoyle Funerals and Mrs Deborah Boardman, The Bagpipers Alison, Robert and Mick.

John from Rapidspin Video, the family in the UK and interstate were so grateful for the live streaming. Atherton International Club for a lovely wake.

Please accept this as our personal thanks to everyone involved, you made a sad occasion memorable.

R.F.D.S Near & Far Auxiliary Mothers Day Raffle 1: Penny Shaw, Malanda 2: Trish Tarrant, Townsville Thank you for your support!

ButCher MOBILE farm butcher.

Ph John Hales 0409 638 882.

BILL Black Mobile Butcher. Hang up to 7 days. 0408 922 812.

LOCAL Mobile Farm Butcher - will travel. Ph Bryan 0407 691 752.

SELL it today. Call us on 4092 3464.

FuNeral

WANTED TO BUY

10 - 50 ACRES IN MAREEBA AREA Suitable for growing veggies, cleared / lifestyle land preferred.

Phone: 0411 717 860 LAND wanted 2-5 Acres between Channel Road and Mareeba.

PH: 0488 005 796..

BUYING PNG & ABORIGINAL COLLECTABLES SWORDS, SHIELDS BOOMERANGS, DRUMS STONE AXES & CLUBS SPEAR THROWERS ETC. 0421 830 923

Funeral Celebrant

Work WaNted

Working with variable speed / frequency drives, electric motors and control systems.

This dynamic role offers lots of variety while also making it possible to become an expert in the field.

Ideally you would be an experienced electrician and looking to specialise in this busy and rewarding field.

Car, Laptop and Phone Provided.

FOR SALE! COX Rejuvenated Ride On Mowers FROM $1000

SHIPPING CONTAINERS

Sales, Hire & Transport.

Self-Pack Removals Australia Wide.

MODIFICATIONS

P: 4091 7242 www.sticklizard.com.au

FREE Rainforest Trees Ready To Plant!

Phone: 4095 4578

PAGE 42 The Express, Wednesday, May 18, 2022

SMALL ENGINE MECHANIC

Casali’s is focused on the future and we’re looking for a new Small Engine Mechanic.

Are the following values important to you?

• Prosperous • Staff • Customers • Integrity • Innovative Are you committed to providing outstanding service with straight up solutions?

Do you have a Small Engine Mechanic qualification, at least 2 years relevant work experience and a manual licence?

If this resonates with you, please send an email to: bernice@casalis.com.au Telling us what our values mean to you, details of your qualifications and the answer to this question: What is the difference between a 2 stroke & 4 stroke engine?

Hours are Monday - Friday 38 Hours/Week.

Above award wages apply with salary starting at $53,900/pa. Successful applications can negotiate salary during interview process.

Applications close 24th May, 2022.

WANTED TO BUY COX Ride On Mowers Needing Repairs 7-7 CASH!

CALL AL 0428 194 505

SEASONAL CASUAL DRIVERS

Qube Logistics have seasonal casual driving roles available for the upcoming North Queensland Sugar Season running from May/June to November/December, 2022.

Positions available in the following locations.

For more details contact: Mareeba/Arriga - HC/MC Ty Bensilum 0438 183 345 Townsville - MC James Naughton 0404 276 225 or Townsville@qube.com.au

WANTED Weight grading machine for fruit Phone 4098 9130

WANTED TO BUY

LANDCRUISER 100

Factory turbo wagon GXL, 2003 to 2006 in VGC, full service history, 5 speed auto, 1-2 owner vehicle, under 250,000 klms, private cash buyer.

MoWiNg/ hoMe MaiNteNaNCe

CHEF

Contact Terry 0437 732 228

FOR sale 3 x 6 Month old Red Poley Draughtmaster Bulls $1600 each.

JOHN 0437 726 630

Car reMoval FREE CAR REMOVAL Tilt Tray Service.

Anywhere on the Tablelands.

0473 178 905

Skybury Coffee No weekend work or split shifts, you will be working as part of a great team showcasing Skybury Coffee and papaya.

Requirements: • Proven experience as a chef • Confident in customer service (if required) • The ability to work in a team and alone • Great communication skills • Good time management skills • High standards of cleaning and maintaining kitchen equipment

For sale

DEBBIE BOARDMAN Final farewells with respect.

Phone 0410 328 357

SALES PERSON / TECHNICIAN

For further details call us on 0419 022 932 Or Email: office@drivesolutions.com.au

WaNted

Forever in our hearts.

Rita, Tina and families.

With thaNks

PositioN vaCaNt

For reNt COUNTRY HOUSE FOR RENT

SERVICED OFFICES FOR RENT

2 bedrooms, 1 study, 1 bathroom, carports, 25 minutes drive from Mareeba, small yard, near river, no pets.

1 Jack Street, Atherton P: 0414 700 081

$250 / Week Text / Call: 0476 117 764

ADVERTISING works. email admin@ theexpressnewspaper. com.au

MAINTANTANCE AND WORKSHOP ASSISTANT As part of a dynamic, fast past energetic team you would be required to have the following attributes: • Good time management skills • Mechanical experience - tractors and machinery • General maintenance skills • The ability to work in a team and alone

Applications or request for further information: jobs@skybury.com.au Applications close on Wednesday 1st June, 2022.

GOT a position vacant you need to fill? Email Kat at admin@theexpressnewspaper.com.au.

www.theexpressnewspaper.com.au

CLASSIFIEDS Public noTice

LIVE ONLINE AUCTION

WEDNESDAY 1 JUNE - 9AM START

CATERING WITH CLASS IS HOSTING

On Instructions from Mr Tony Jonsson and Mike McCann of Grant Thornton as Liquidators of BPB Mareeba Pty Ltd (In Liquidation) Formerly T/As Homefab Steel Truss & Frame

STEEL TRUSS AND FRAME MANUFACTURING BUSINESS ASSETS

AUSTRALIA’S BIGGEST MORNING TEA

PLANT: 2019 FRAMECAD F450iT 1.6mm Gauge Roll-Forming Machine & Decoiler, 2019 FRAMECAD FB150i Dual Profile Roof/Ceiling Batten Roll-Forming Machine & Decoiler, Toyota 02-FD30 & 72-8FD25 Forklifts, Fork Slippers, Jib Crane, Pallet Hook & Man Cage, Metal Working Tools incl. DMP 100T Press, Geka Hydracrop 55/S, Holemaker Pro 35 & Jancy Magnetic Base Drills, Drill Press, Makita LC1230 Cold Metal Saw, Kemppi X3 & Cigweld 350 MIG Welders, Esab CutSkil 45 Plasma Cutter, Far Riveters, Puma 3PH Compressor, Air Hose Reels,

MAREEBA BOWLS CLUB THURSDAY 26TH MAY 9.30am – 12.30pm

240V, 18V & Air Tools incl. Makita, Dewalt, Hilti & Ryobi, Steel Racks, Setout Stand Frames, Lifting Equipment, Benches, Trolleys, ladders, Site Boxes, Adjustable Jack Stands, Steel Racks. NEW STOCK: incl. 23+ Truecore Steel Slit Coils, Galvanised RHS Lengths, C&Z Section Purlins, Channel, Angle, Flat, Rod, Iron Sheeting, Flange Bolt Kits, Steel Screws, PVC Pipe & Fittings. OFFICE EQUIPMENT: incl. Furniture, Epson EB695Wi HD Projector,

BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL!

IP Phone System, TV, Desktop and Laptop Computers, Servers, IT Equipment and Security Camera System.

Note: An 11% Buyers Premium will be added to the knockdown price of each lot sold. This is a GST Inclusive Sale.

All lots are Sold In Situ VIEWING TUESDAY 31 MAY AT 9AM-4PM AT 58 CHEWKO ROAD MAREEBA QLD 4880 PLEASE NOTE: NO AUCTION DAY SITE ACCESS, LIVE ON LINE ONLY Visit our Website to Create Your Account for Online Bidding & Subscribe for our Flyer & Catalogue - www.quaidauctioneers.com.au

AU C T I O N E E R S & VA LU E R S

401 Sheridan Street, Cairns North - Phone 4051 3300

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Proposed Development

MEDICAL PRACTICE CLOSURE Dear Patients The Atherton Family Medical Centre will be closed permanently from the 30th June, 2022 due to Dr Ruscoe’s retirement.

For enquires regarding your medical records please call 4091 1444

Come along and enjoy a delicious High Tea. Lots of games and raffles so bring your $$$ and help us to raise much needed funds for the Cancer Council.

Book via our Facebook Page: Catering With Class Or Phone 0417 073 145

Make a submission from: 18 May to 10 June, 2022

Where: 49-57 Loder Street, Atherton

$40

Application Ref: MCU22/0006 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

CPR, First Aid, Advanced Resuscitation, Child care first aid, Pool lifeguard, Pain management & LVR RTO 45723

www.firstaidtrainingcairns.com.au

PER WEEK!

Approval Sought: Development Permit

Smithfield, Port Douglas, Malanda

Call 0412 046 588

Try it today!

GET AN ADVERTISEMENT AND ONLINE LISTING FOR ONLY

Material Change of Use – Offices (in addition to existing “Place of Worship”)

First Aid Courses Bookings can be made through our website

The Express has introduced cutting edge technology with the Ad Auris Media Player. You can now listen to each article with a simple click.

NEED some help wording your ad? Call The Express today and Kat can help you get your message across! 4092 3464 or email admin@ theexpressnewspaper. com.au

On: Lot 312 on SP300434

Training

Do you have difficulty reading from your Phone, Tablet, Laptop or Desktop Computer?

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

A new place to find all of our great Local Businesses!

We have a new brand new Online Directory to support our great Local Businesses that works hand in hand with our existing Business Directory. The Express newspaper is locally operated and proudly independent.

We provide comprehensive coverage of news and events across our region, and are passionate advocates for the local stories of each town in our region, and cover the issues affecting us all. In addition we also play an important role in promoting local businesses and organisations. The Express Directory in conjunction with our existing print Business Directory will further help connect our local residents with our great local businesses ensuring we reach as many potential clients as possible whether they search for trades and services online or in print.

Take out an advertisement in the Business Directory your business will automatically get an online listing on The Express Directory all for a total cost of only $40 per week.

Contact Natasha Burton today on 4092 3464 Or email: admin@theexpressnewspaper.com.au for more information.

Visit our new website: www.theexpressdirectory.com.au and join us in Supporting Local Business.

SPORT Impressive turnout for local motor racing

Owen Rankine.

TABLELAND Competition Car Club, would like to thank the great crowd of spectators that supported their motor racing event, at Tepon Raceway, Wondecla.

The 20 drivers provided plenty of action over the 26 race event program. The dedicated band of club members will continue to work hard to offer a safe venue, where local, grassroots racers can have fun and entertain.

Don’t miss the next race day at Tepon Raceway, on 19 June.

Sean Giuliany.

Bohdi Reegan.

RACE RESULTS:C Grade: 1st Luke Cummings; 2nd Daniel Weller; 3rd Edward Smith.

B Grade: 1st Geoff Schulz; 2nd Corey Martin; 3rd Mitchell White. A Grade: 1st Andrew McCreath; 2nd Owen Jonsson; 3rd David Shade.

Mitchell White.

Brandon Wyatt.

www.theexpressnewspaper.com.au

Owen Jonsson.

Sam Jennings.

The Express, Wednesday, May 18, 2022 PAGE 43

SPORT Big win for Mareeba pool with new coach and heating THE Mareeba Pool is entering a new phase of life under new management with the recent appointment of a head swimming coach and a long-awaited heated pool set on the horizon.

Keelwater took over the lease for the Mareeba, Dimbulah and Kuranda pools in August of 2021 after beating out long time lessees Cotters Aquatic.

The new operators are now making waves with Lynette Koina taking up the position of head coach for the Mareeba Wildcats, she is set to start in May. Lessee Jason Salecich said Lynette will bring a wealth of coaching and life experience to the blocks at Mareeba.

“For me, swimming is a passion and something we want to promote to as many people as possible,” he said.

“Lynette shares that passion so making the decision to engage her to guide and develop our swimming program at Mareeba was an easy decision.”

Lynette has been working in small regional areas across Queensland including Weipa.

Her original mentor coach was Herbie Howard, current coach of Central Swimming Cairns and Paralympic champion Grant (Scooter) Patterson.

Lynette is thrilled to take on the top job at the Mareeba pool and will be working hard to make swimming an all-year-round sport in Mareeba.

“Jason and Donna got involved on the Tablelands to develop the sport up here and give more kids the opportunity to be the best swimmers they can be,” she said.

“I am so excited to be a part of it, and I hope,

Lynette Koina has taken on the top job of head coach at the Mareeba Pool.

in time, we will create something very special and beneficial for the town.

“The Mareeba Wildcats are a great club and I am also very excited to work with the committee on growing the sport and the success of the club.

“Jason and myself will work closely with council and the club to ensure we also seek grants to continue to improve the facility which will have benefits for all pool users.”

Heating is also set to be installed with Mareeba Shire Council securing a $165,000 from the Active Gameday Projects Fund.

Mr Salecich said getting heating installed in the Mareeba pool will allow swimmers to enjoy the waters, all year round.

“Having a heated facility is vital to ensure we have a year-round swimming program,” he said.

“Mareeba has much lower ambient temperatures at night and without heaters and some good covers it is impossible to establish such a program nor allow recreational and fitness swimmers to swim year-round.

“The true value of having a heated pool, the exercise benefits for the community and users like schools will be amazing.

“This is the first step in allowing swimming to be a year round sport for kids in Mareeba and that is what I am excited about.”

The project is aimed to be completed by the end of 2022 however this is dependent of when council receives the deed and availability of suppliers.

New PA system for Gladiators RUGBY League fans will have no trouble hearing all the action at Davies Park with a brandnew PA system set to be installed and ready for use before the end of June.

The Mareeba Gladiators successfully applied for the Bendigo Bank Community Fund to purchase a new $11,000 PA system for the grounds.

Unlike the current system, the newly installed one will also have speakers inside the top bar and a speaker is set to be installed on the corner of the canteen facing the junior fields.

Mareeba Gladiators president John Arcidi-

Towns present combined new women’s league team

acono said the existing system was in dire need of replacing.

“Having a sound system inside as well as outside is fantastic, we also will hopefully be servicing the junior league field so that everybody is able to hear what is going on and what the scores are,” he said.

“It feels great to upgrade - the existing system is as probably as old as I am.

“It will give better sounds all around, much better for the spectators and players.”

The new system will also be widely accessible for other users of the ground.

Mareeba and Atherton have joined hands to put forward a combined ladies rugby league team in the upcoming season.

BY RHYS THOMAS A FIERCE Tableland town rivalry has been pushed aside for the betterment of rugby league as the Mareeba Gladiators and Atherton Roosters join hands to put forward a combined ladies team in this years Far North Queensland Rugby League competition.

The team of around 30 ladies contains a mix of players from both Atherton and Mareeba who have joined hands to play in the upcoming rugby league season, their first game being played this weekend.

While the Roosters were able to compete and field a side last season, injuries plagued them and by the time they made it to the end of the season, they had three of their original players.

Roosters manager and player for the combined team Kylie Willson said they needed a bigger team of ladies to compete effectively.

“Last year we did have good numbers but we found injuries were massive so at the end of the season we were down to about three of our original ladies,” she said.

“We learnt from last year that we need a big

First run of the year for Lacy Bra

The first games of the annual Lacy Bra Cup were held earlier this month on Mother’s Day.

MAREEBA’S Firth Park played host to the first social games of the Lacy Bra Cup on Mother’s Day with women from across the Tablelands packing out the park.

This Lacy Bra Cup season introduces two new teams travelling from Mt Garnet to play, the Mount Garnet Eagles and Mt Garnet Hawkes.

Both of these new teams got the chance to stretch their legs as they played against two resident Mareeba teams, Maiden Overs and Cricket Chicks.

In game one, Maiden Overs defeated the Mt Garnet Hawks by 28 runs after posting 124, opening pair Karri and Janelle put on a dominating partnership of 55 runs.

Game two saw the Mt Garnet Eagles redeem their sister team, beating Cricket Chicks in a nail-

Volunteers Sought - Interested persons please visit:

crimestoppersqld.com.au/volunteer

PAGE 44 The Express, Wednesday, May 18, 2022

number of women to progress forward, we had good registration at the start of the year but we have had to wait a bit of a long time before starting the season.”

The ladies started their pre-season training and preparations in January however they are due to play their first game this Saturday night against Edmonton Storm in Atherton.

While playing in Mareeba the team will field Gladiators jerseys and while playing in Atherton they will wear Atherton jerseys, when playing away, the jerseys will alternate.

Mareeba Gladiators president John Arcidiacono said getting women on the field playing footy was more important than town rivalry.

“Both towns were down on numbers, but we wanted to push for a women’s comp so there was a discussion and we decided that we would combine and make a Tablelands team,” he said.

“You have to put the rivalry aside for the sake of rugby league, both Mareeba and Atherton want their women’s competition to grow.

“We can see this as a way forward of doing that.”

Come and try day at pony club

biting finish.

The scores were tight with just two overs to go and Cricket Chicks needed 11 runs to take the win, keeping in mind that each lost wicket means -5 runs.

Patty Brown kept the Cricket Chicks tied up, finishing her over with 1/-2, the Cricket Chicks managed to catch up and secure the remaining 11 runs, however another wicket in Madelyn’s last over secured the win for Garnet.

If you would like to sign up and play for The Lacy Bra Cup contact organiser Trish Spry on 0466 809 987 or at Trish.Spry@qldcricket.com. au No experience is required, equipment is provided and games are played every Sunday at Firth Park until 5 June.

LOVERS of all things horses and equestrian have the opportunity to come and try out horse back riding on Sunday 22 May with the Atherton and District Pony Club.

Registrations begin at 8:30am for a start at 9am on Equestrian Drive, Tolga.

For all enquiries please email adpclub22@gmail.com

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SPORT

Buck along to the Biboohra Bull Ride

BY SALLY TURLEY THE bulls are prepped, the grounds are immaculate and the drinks are chilling at Simmo's arena, so wipe the mould off your boots and hat, find your favourite jeans and head on out to Hume Road on 28 May for the Biboohra Bull Ride.

Join some of Queensland's big names in rodeo as Glen and Robyn Simmonds and their team of supporters work to raise money for their charity partner, the Indie Rose Foundation, to ease the burden on FNQ families, whose children need to travel for specialist medical treatment.

Mareeba cowboy Kurt Shephard, who was on track to become the nation's Professional Bull Riders Australian champion last December, will be swinging gates for fellow competitors in the rough stock arena.

One of the nation's most consistent riders, 27-year-old Mr Shephard was sitting at number 1 in the PBR race when he suffered a neck injury in February, sidelining him from the competition for the last three months.

Such was his domination of the dirt in arena's across the country, he still holds Australia's number 3 ranking and he is “biting at the bit” to get back on the bulls and re-launch his career on home soil at the Monster Energy PBR Cairns Invitational on 16 July.

With Kurt out of action, internationally ranked athletes, Lachlan Richardson from Gresford, New South Wales and Luke Smith from Tully are primed and ready to step into the breach.

Fresh from competing in the PBR State of Origin III competition at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on 21 May, Richardson and Smith are currently sitting at 69th and 106th respectively in world PBR rankings.

More than half way to achieving seven figure earnings from his sport, and with five 90 point rides, 32 event wins and a victory at PBR's Tamworth 2021 State of Origin II under his belt, Richardson said he was keen for a rematch with Simmo's unridden star, “High Hopes”.

He has been unceremoniously dumped in the past by the fiery 650kg black Brahman sire, who has catapulted cowboys for five years straight from Ingham to Weipa, and knows an eight-second berth on the bovine athlete would add a touch of legend to his record.

With his star still well and truly on the rise, 24-year-old Michael Smith, who bucked second to Richardson at Tamworth is currently sitting inside Australia's top 10 performers, in 9th place in the Australian PBR standings and will also want an eight when they pull that gate at Biboohra.

Recent event winners from Chillagoe will also be in the mix. Luke Smith, who took out the Open Bull Ride there, Leith Malone, who won

Cassia James will be representing FNQ this week at the Peninsula Basketball Championships in Toowoomba.

Cowboys from across the country, will have “High Hopes” of staying aboard this scary sire who remains unridden during his fiveyear career.

the Novice and winner on the Mini bulls, and Josh Snell will all be upping the ante for the competition.

“It has been a great start to the Northern rodeo season with very high noms at Einasleigh, Mt Garnet, Chillagoe and Ingham Sugar City and we are already seeing our Junior Bull Riding schools paying dividends.

Several of our clinic attendee's names have been showing up on judge's sheets around the region this season,” Robyn Simmonds said.

Crowd favourites from Borgheros Mini Buckers from Proserpine – Jett Star, Alcatraz, Turbo and Chicken Joe – will be onsite giving the 8-U11 and 11-U14 cowboys plenty of bang for their buck. The little bulls are pulling their own star appeal with a great following around the north.

Simmo’s bucking bulls will headline their act with the Spaniard, High Hopes and Off the Chain, just to name a few and Colin Fry will be bringing some of his top performing CF7 sires, such as Living on Dreams, Blood in the Water and Gangsters Retreat all the way from Greenvale.

While the competitors battle it out for the $5000 Open Bull Ride purse, DJ Nate will be rocking the beat, the food vans will be cooking up a storm and the cold drinks will flowing at the bar.

The gates will be open at 3.30pm and the afternoon will kick off with the U11 Steer Ride at 5pm, with stock supplied by Tableland Bikes and Power Equipment. The majority of events will be under lights culminat-

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ing in the Open Bull Ride later that evening.

“We weren't prepared for the crowds when 2000 revellers turned up for our extremely popular, ‘Slam'n for Sam’ bull ride in 2018,” Ms Simmonds said.

“But we have learned from that and we are ready to go this time.

“We are affiliated with the ABCRA and have dual affiliation with the CRCA of central Queensland. We have support from over 50 sponsors from across Far North Qld, including our major sponsor, Hendle's Sandblasting, and platinum sponsors Bendigo Bank, Fahlstrom Scaffolding, Tonkin Steel, Northern Concrete and A Touch of Country.”

More than 70 volunteers have put

their hands up to help out, including supporters of the Indie Rose Foundation, who will be working behind the bar. Online ticket sales have been very strong, but there will also be tickets at the gate.

“We would like to send a shout out to the Indie Rose wheelbarrow team, ‘The Indestructables’, who will be competing in The Great Wheelbarrow Race on Friday and a thank you to Bendigo Bank for sponsorship of our Protection Athletes,” Ms Simmonds said.

“We are looking forward to a terrific night of family entertainment.”

For any queries related to competing, attending or sponsorship, call Robyn Simmonds on 0428 979 175.

Robyn Simmonds and Ted Simpson from the Biboohra Bull Ride with major sponsor and owner of Hendle's Sandblasting, John Hendle, and Carmen Williams representing the Indie Rose Foundation.

Cassia off to represent state in basketball YOUNG basketballer Cassia James will be representing the Far North Queensland this weekend after being selected to compete in the Peninsula Basketball Championships in Toowoomba.

Training with Mulgrave Coastal Basketball Association alongside some of the most experienced players in the Far North, Cassia believes she is ready to take on her competition.

Starting her basketball career in her backyard court at Mount Molloy since she was a kid, Cassia’s love for basketball has pushed her to aim high and keep her head in the game.

“I started when I was 12 and that’s when I started getting into rep teams and then into junior advanced training squad, where we were going to do a tour to the USA,” she said.

“I’ve been training with my team a lot in Smithfield and then when I get home in Mount Molloy I train in the back yard on our little court.”

Leading up to the championships, Cassia felt a mixture of nerves and excitement as this is her first time competing at this level with girls older than her.

Regardless, she is prepared and ready to face some of the biggest basketball teams in the state.

“It’s a bit nerve-wracking because all the girls on the team have done this before and I am the only newbie and only one from the Tablelands, but I am catching up with the terminology and other difficult things,” she said.

“It’s going to be hard and it’s going to be worth it.”

Atherton Tablelands & Mareeba 96.7FM Amrun 94.1FM • Aurukun 107.7FM Coen102.7FM • Cooktown 96.9FM Doomadgee 105.3FM Kowanyama 107.7FM Lakeland 100.5FM Lockhart River 107.7FM Mapoon 101.3FM Mornington Island 107.7FM Pormpuraaw 106.1FM Napranum/Weipa 94.5FM Normanton 98.5FM • NPA 91.9FM Woorabinda 99.7FM Wujal Wujal 107.7FM Yarrabah 92.9FM

The Express, Wednesday, May 18, 2022 PAGE 45

SPORT Northern Nats ready to roar

BY RHYS THOMAS

MOTORHEADS are gearing up for the region’s premier celebration of motor excellence as Northern Nats 6 is set to smoke out Springmount Raceway this weekend.

The Northern Nats is one of the far north’s most well attended and wellknown racing events with something available for everyone to enjoy no matter your poison.

From burnouts to drag races to the newly introduced car show and cruise, the three-day celebration of vehicular performance will attract thousands of spectators over the weekend.

General manager of Springmount Raceway Michael Gonzalez said Northern Nats has developed into its own form of festival over the years with competitors from across Queensland set to attend.

“Over the three days we always look at around 8000 people onwards – since Covid, people are desperate to get out to these events, Mt Garnet Rodeo was a prime example,” he said.

“You come up onto the Tablelands in Mareeba and you are in a spot where you can do the lot for three days, whereas many other events are spread over certain districts – this is in one area, come in the gate, park the car, and enjoy it.

“The equivalent of this event would be Summer Nats and you have to travel to Canberra, for some guys this is 20 minutes down the road.”

Drag racing, power skids, burnouts, car shows and cruises can all be enjoyed at this year’s event with a special surprise in store.

Gates will open at midday this Thursday as competitors slowly start to line up ready to burn through their fuel for the weekend’s events.

Springmount Raceway general manager Michael Gonzalez will be driving his genuine XY GT Ford Flacon in this year’s cruise in event at Northern Nats.

Mr Gonzalez said camping at Northern Nats has grown to be its own “entity” at the event as people come and set up for the weekend.

“Camping is massive at this event because it is all at this one venue, camping has just grown to its own little entity,” he said.

“We will three to four hundred

on one side and another three to four hundred on the other side.

“Last year I drove around at night just to see the campsites and they were like villages.”

Mareeba and the surrounding townships are set to benefit from the event, caravan parks are being booked out and cafes filled with trav-

ellers enjoying the areas treats in between racing.

“Most of our competitors are from here so they inject money back into the mechanical shops, the performance shops, the fuel places, the tire places,” Mr Gonzalez said.

“A lot of the spectators will come up and some won’t camp, some will

go to caravan parks.

“They will also drive back into Mareeba during the day and inject money back into Mareeba which is crucial to me.”

The three-day event kicks off this Friday and runs through to Sunday, as gates open to welcome thousands of keen motor enthusiasts.

Eagles soar to victory ATHERTON soccer fans were treated last Friday night as the Atherton Eagles hosted three rounds of soccer at the Atherton International Club.

The U12s faced off against Mareeba and went down 4-0, newcomer Ashtyn gave his all-in goal, but Mareeba proved to be the better team on the night.

After their opponent forfeited, the U14s decided to put on a show for the spectators and go head-to-head with their teammates with a friendly match-up.

The U15/16s side won against Edge Hill 6-1 with some big improvements from players pushing the team over the line.

Mason, Cooper, Kayde, Loshandra and Jacob all followed teammate Nathaniel’s urgency on the ball and were rewarded with successful shots on goal.

The Eagles will play at home once again for the following games due to be played this Saturday 21 May.

2 LOCATIONS IN ATHERTON 54 Main Street Phone: 4091 1006

Shop 14, Atherton Square, Cook Street Phone: 4091 3919 Battle of the Bush Mareeba qualifier winner Hit Snooze which was ridden by Jacey Morrison.

PHOTO BY PETER ROY PHOTOGRAPHY.

Hit Snooze wins Battle of the Bush qualifier FINE JEWELLERY, WATCHES & GIFTWARE! ALL JEWELLERY, WATCH & CLOCK REPAIRS PAGE 46 The Express, Wednesday, May 18, 2022

IT was all action at the Mareeba Turf Club on Saturday as the club hosted their first ever 150 Race Day and a Battle of the Bush Qualifying heat.

In a five-race card, attendees were treated with some fantastic races including race three, the main event, a qualifying heat for the Battle of the Bush.

Horses compete across Queensland during the

Battle of the Bush qualifying heats as they fight for a spot in the final at Eagle Farm in June.

The 1123m open plate race gathered horses from across Queensland to compete for a total prize pool of $25,000. Hit Snooze, ridden by Jacey Morrison, won with Danni’s Ruler ridden by Stephen Wilson chasing in close behind in a 1.75 margin.

www.theexpressnewspaper.com.au

SPORT Roosters reach top after win

THE Atherton Roosters have put in an almost flawless first half performance to down Kangaroos 40-18 in their FNQ Rugby League round six match played at Atherton’s Mungalli Creek Dairy Stadium on Saturday night.

Atherton’s win gives them a share of top spot on the first grade points ladder with Cairns Brothers on 10 points.

They head the count ahead of Mossman 8, Ivanhoes 8, Kangaroos 8, Innisfail 8, Tully 6, Suburbs 4, Yarrabah 4, Mareeba 2, Edmonton 2.

On Saturday, the Roosters ran in five first half tries to lead Kangaroos 28-6 at the break.

Kangaroos did give themselves a glimmer of hope in a comeback after crossing for two tries following the restart which cut the gap to 28-18.

Fullback Ty Grogan and winger Tom Cuda both went over for their second match tries in the final ten minutes to give the Roosters a comfortable win. Grogan finished the night with a total of 20 match points from two tries and six goals.

Kangaroos won the reserve grade over the Roosters 20-6 after leading 6-0 at halftime. In the under 18 match, the young Roosters ran over Kangaroos 32-22 and stay undefeated in 2022 while also now holding number one spot on the points table.

Premiership action continues this Saturday at Atherton with the Roosters hosting Edmonton Storm.

First game, first win for Bulls ladies

Roosters Brett Power meets the Kangaroos defence on Saturday night.

Gladiators falter against Brothers

THE Mareeba Gladiators have suffered a crushing defeat at the hands Cairns Brothers, going down 56-20 in their Saturday night game at Davies Park.

Brothers opened the score early and continued to cross the line for a total of 10 tries and by the time the Gladiators came out to play in the second half, the damage was already done.

In comparison, the Gladiators managed to score just four times with two successful conversion attempts while Brothers slotted eight of their 10 conversions.

Gladiators coach Chris Sheppard said the game was taken out of the Gladiators hands early and

THE Mareeba Bulls premier ladies travelled down to Stratford on Friday night to face off against the Stratford Dolphins, winning their first game of the season 1-0.

Bulls captain Nicole Ghensi scored the only goal midway through the second half as the teams fought hard to stay in the contest.

The Bulls managed to hold onto their one goal lead and successfully tie the Dolphins down to emerge winners at fulltime.

Premier Ladies coach Marcello Savaglio was happy with the outcome of the team’s first game however there is still work that needs to be done.

“It was a tight tussle, both teams had good opportunities to score,” he said.

“The Dolphins had better chances in the first half but we improved our performance as the game went on.

“Being the first game of the season there was some rust but we will be looking to improve for next week’s game.”

The ladies will have a bye next weekend as the premier men’s face off against Edge Hill United at Tiger Park in Cairns.

the team could not catch up.

“We came out of the blocks pretty slow and let in some tries late in the first half that put the game out of reach,” he said. “The second half was much better and we played some good footy.

“There were good performances from Bryan Whyborn, Hubie Elu and I couldn’t be happier with the work of both Rob Pedersen and Keripo Gutchen-Gela to keep a pretty injury ravaged group together.”

The Gladiators will now travel down to the Smithfield Sporting Complex on Sunday to face off against Ivanhoes at 3pm.

Come and support !

2 2 0 2 in s r o t a G e h t

VS

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The Express, Wednesday, May 18, 2022 PAGE 47

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