Spiritual food with Jess

AS I was reading, what stood out to me was the verses about the Tongue being wicked and the link between the Tongue and the physical health of our bodies.

I have written in a previous article about 'Taming the Tongue'. The Tongue has the power of death or life. It can build up and encourage but also can tear down and destroy. It can be exaltation, and it can curse.

As I have pressed into this topic more recently, the Lord really got me thinking. That verse wasGracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

Proverbs 16:24 NIV

I realised that the words we speak have the power of life and death. I know, right? It says it. It seems pretty obvious. So Gracious words bring healing to our bones, so I realised wicked words bring death to our bones.

Moving forward this year, I would like everyone to keep track of our words, not only to others but to ourselves and even our thoughts. I challenge you to Speak gracious words, and with every negative word/thought, I encourage you to repent and to see the repercussions/ effects the words have on your physical body and health.

The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the Tongue of the wise brings healing.

Proverbs 12:18 NIV

The Tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it

Three new police officers hit the Innisfail beat

STORY AND PHOTOS BY MARIA GIRGENTI

FRESH from the Brisbane and Townsville Police Academies, three first-year constables received postings to Innisfail Police Station and started general duties last December.

Joshua McGrath, Jesse Motteram and Andrew Marr are the new faces who have taken up placements at Far Northern police stations.

During their six months of intense training at the QPS Academy, recruits covered driver training, firearms, computers, domestic violence, mental health, arrests, drink driving, tasers, traffic crashes, physical skills, and heaps of legislation.

For the next 12 months, these First Year Constables will practice skills learnt at the academy and acquire new skills as they face the challenges of 'real world' policing.

Experienced Field Training Officers, Constables Georgia

Dutton, Zac McAulay, Jenna Cormie, Kieran Duffin and Melissa Patrick, will work alongside the new constables and mentor them in community policing.

The officers will work day and night shifts, rotations, and spend time in specialist sections, such as the Child Protection Investigation Unit, Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB), crime scenes, custody, domestic violence and prosecutions.

Constable Motteram, who was born and raised in Mackay, previously worked in the field of mental health and disability support for 12 years.

He completed ten years in the Army Reserve in Brisbane, which included training in Tully in 2014.

He holds a Certificate III in Fitness and joined the police after encouragement from friends in the service.

After high school, Constable McGrath from Beaudesert joined the Army as an infantry soldier at Brisbane's 6RAR for seven years will eat its fruit.

Proverbs 18:21 NIV

Our words also cause a reaction. Everything spoken can cause a ripple effect leading to the actions of one's self. These actions and decisions can also lead to curses.

Ezekiel tells us that the parents' decisions will bless or curse the generations to come.

"What do you people mean by quoting this proverb about the land of Israel: "'The parents eat sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge'?

Ezekiel 18:2 NIV and did army training in Tully in 2017, followed by a seven-month deployment to Iraq in 2018.

Before we speak, we need to think more about the consequences of our words. The words we use lead to several outcomes, sometimes not always for the better.

I encourage you to be wise, seek wisdom and speak life.

He finished with the Army a year ago and applied for the police service.

Constable Marr, who graduated from the Townsville Academy, was born in Echuca, Victoria.

Before joining the Army, he became a qualified chef and worked at various venues in Victoria.

For seven years, he worked in the ADF as an infantry officer, and during his last posting of three years in Tully, he met his wife, who is a local and settled in the area.

His mother previously worked in Victoria Police, and his love of helping others in the ADF inspired him to join the police service.

After the Army, he volunteered for three years at Innisfail SES, which he found extremely rewarding.

For those considering going into the police force, the three new constables said, 'give it a shot' and gain life experience, whilst they felt confidence, empathy, resilience, and excellent communication skills are important qualities to be a good police officer.'

Australia Day Wrap Up, Cameras added to Hinchinbrook Disaster Dashboard, Is Your Pet Microchipped and Half Yearly Rate Notices

Australia Day Wrap Up

On behalf of Council, we would like to congratulate the 2023 Australia Day Award winners and nominees. Without committed, community minded people like you, our community would be a poorer place. Congratulations also goes to the two residents that we welcomed as Australian Citizens as part of the ceremony on Australia Day. There is no greater privilege than our citizenship.

It is a life long commitment to Australia’s values of freedom, democracy, equality and respect. In addition to the Official Awards and Ceremonies that are hosted each year on Australia Day, this year Council held a Pool Party in partnership with the Hinchinbrook Aquatic Centre and a Beach Party at Forrest Beach in partnership with the Forrest Beach Progress Association and Surf Life Saving Club.

269 residents enjoyed a day of free entry to the Hinchinbrook Aquatic Centre where smiles were on the faces of everyone who cooled down in the pool, the smell of a free sausage sizzle drifting through the air followed by cold drinks to keep hydrated.

Forrest Beach foreshore was a sea of happy faces. Beach goers enjoyed a day cooling off in the water while being entertained with music and activities and spending quality time with family and friends.

The food and drinks served by Forrest Beach Progress Association and the Forrest Beach Surf Life Saving Club catered to everyone's needs. It was a day enjoyed by everyone.

To view the images taken on the day, please visit Council's website, Photo Gallery page under Community and Environment.

Cameras added to Hinchinbrook

Disaster Dashboard

Thank you to the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads for making more flood cameras available to residents via Council's Hinchinbrook Disaster Dashboard and on Queensland Traffic's website.

The following locations are currently feeding regular still images to the Dashboard:

• Bruce Highway at Helens Hill Road (one image);

• Bruce Highway at Pombel Road (one image);

• Bruce Highway at Haughtys Road (one image);

• Bruce Highway at Gairloch (one image);

• Anabranch Bridge (four images);

• Bruce Highway at Seymour River (one image);

• Bruce Highway at Arnot Creek (one image);

• Abergowrie Bridge (two images); and

• Dalrymple Creek (two images).

Residents are encouraged to familiarise themselves with our latest addition to the Hinchinbrook Disaster Dashboard before the wet season is upon us.

To access the Disaster Dashboard and flood camera images, please visit disaster.hinchinbrook.qld.gov.au, click on the Map Layer ‘Flood Cameras’ and choose which camera you would like to view.

PCYC Emergency Services Cadets Hinchinbrook Unit Take Up New Base in Halifax

Monday 30 January 2023 saw the PCYC Emergency Services Cadets (ESC) Hinchinbrook Unit take up new residence within the Halifax State School complex.

Special guests from Education Queensland, Emergency Services and PCYC ESC Program Coordinator attended the event.

It is fantastic to see that the PCYC Cadets continue to expand.

Thank you to the Cadets, parents and guardians for your continued support within the Shire.

A thank you also goes to the Department of Education for facilitating access to the new premises.

A Fresh Start on your Waste Journey

With the festive season behind us and the new year well under way, here are six small ways we can step up in 2023 and make a big impact both locally in the Hinchinbrook Shire and globally.

1. Go paperless – switch your bills and bank statements to an electronic version to save on paper waste and the resources needed to deliver mail;

2. Cut food waste – on average, Australian households throw out more than $2,000 worth of food a year, which once landfilled produces huge amounts of the greenhouse gas, methane; Bring your lunch to work to save money and packaging, do more batch cooking and freeze food, and put your fruit bowl in the fridge.

Apart from bananas and whole pineapples your fruit will stay fresher for longer;

3. Buy less stuff! – overconsumption is costing us the Earth, not just in money, but the resources needed to make all the things we buy and the environmental costs of their eventual disposal. This year why not swap things for experiences and make memories instead of waste;

4. Decluttering and donating –round up the things your family no longer need and save them from landfill by having a garage sale at home, donating useable items to local charities or dropping items to Council’s Tip Shop, currently located at the Halifax Resource Recovery Centre;

5. Start composting – organic material makes up close to half of what we throw away in our wheelie bins each week, and as mentioned earlier produces methane, a gas 30 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Composting is easy and fun, and you don’t need a big back yard. There are benchtop or undersink units that are clean and odourless; and

6. Recycle right – use your kerbside bins the right way by reducing contamination in your yellow bin and save valuable resources by not throwing recyclables in your red bin. If you are unsure of what goes where, refer to the waste section on Council’s website or download the #DontWasteHinchinbrook

App to your Smartphone.

Whilst it is easy to feel that what we

Regional Arts Development Fund Public Applications Round Two 2022-2023

Do you or someone you know have a project idea that could contribute to Arts and Culture in the Hinchinbrook Shire?

Applications for funding through Council's Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF) Program are open for Round Two from Monday 30 January 2023 until 5.00pm Friday 24 February 2023.

RADF provides funding to successful applicants for up to 70% of the total project cost.

To download an application form and to find out more visit Council's website, Grants and Funding page or contact the TYTO Regional Art Gallery.

The Regional Arts Development Fund is a partnership between the Queensland Government and Council to support local arts and culture in regional Queensland.

do as individuals does not matter, with just a few minor changes, we can collectively make a big difference this year (and beyond) when it comes to our waste and recycling journey.

Is Your Pet Microchipped?

Council wishes to remind the community that it is a requirement under Queensland Legislation to have all dogs and cats microchipped with current and relevant information.

If you have already microchipped your pet, please ensure that the details are up to date.

Not only is it necessary, it also assists Council in returning your beloved pet quickly if they have escaped your yard, and potentially avoid any fees.

It goes without saying, there are penalties for intentionally not microchipping your cat or dog. For further information, please visit Council's website, Microchipping page under Community and Environment or contact your local vet.

Half Yearly Rate Notices

Half Yearly Rate Notices will be issued soon.

Make the switch today and register to receive your rate notices electronically.

Simply visit Council’s website, Rates Fees and Charges page or scan the QR Code to complete the online registration form.

4776 4600 council@hinchinbrook.qld.gov.au HinchinbrookShireCouncil