Times

Staying fair despite the challenges of increasing living costs

SARI RUSSO NEE HYYTINEN

IT is a battle taking on the current cost of living issues. Many people look at their outgoings and are currently not paying for extra items they might consider luxury items.

You might have yet to consider spending some of your hard-earned cash on an Australian-made and owned product, necessary items and not a luxuries.

We live in a time where lots of items are being produced overseas instead of locally produced despite knowing that the standards do not exist in the overseas products that Australian producers require to make their products.

Still, many Australians will buy what is cheaper instead of a better-quality item—the more jobs we support overseas, the fewer jobs we will have in Australia.

We should counteract this problem. We think of a product that we love that is wholly Australian-made and owned and put some of our hard-earned cash into buying the product and keeping the product produced in Australia.

WE have a petition in over 100 businesses around the cassowary coast to ask our council (The Cassowary Coast Regional Council) to accept cash again after they went cashless last year.

One of the important things I learnt during my studies in the mental health field is that giving people choices empowers them and improves their wellbeing. Taking choices away from people leaves them in despair, depressed and angry.

As far as I understand it one man, in our council, the CEO, decided to take away people’s choice to how we spend our money!

There was no vote, no choice. His choice!

People are traumatised. After years of tragedy and trauma, from the devastating bushfires down south, immediately followed by the confusion and division covid caused, taking away yet another choice is downright heartless. Our elderly are especially distressed.

Since we started this petition to bring cash back, I’ve notice how incredibly uniting it is, nearly every single one of the people we speak to is on board.

Now, wouldn’t the CEO, want our council, to be a part of something so uniting after all we have been through.

Sharon Haddock

Bingle Bay

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are the personal views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions held by the Wet Tropic Times, its Editor, or staff.

Have an opinion? Send a letter to the editor

Oliveri’s Deli in Innisfail celebrates 40 years and 100 years of trade

Maria Girgenti

THIS year, Oliveri’s Continental Deli, a European-inspired authentic deli in Innisfail’s CBD, is celebrating 40 years in business and 100 years since it began trading.

Len Oliveri’s grandparents, Pietro and Maria Oliveri, had strong ties with Innisfail since 1896, along with Len’s parents John and Mary.

Anita Oliveri (nee Raciti) also has a long connection with Innisfail, as her parents, Antonio and Agata (Tina), first arrived in Tully in the early 1950s.

The Deli began trading in the early 1920s (circa 1923), as a general merchant store, along Fitzgerald Esplanade, Innisfail, under Saraceni & Co.

Len and Anita Oliveri purchased the delicatessen in 1983 from a family who had run the business for the 60 years prior.

During the cane-cutting era, Oliveri’s flourished with the influx of migrants to Innisfail, especially Italians, Greeks and Maltese.

Oliveri’s also sold alcohol, and as wine sales were popular among Italians, it had its own underground cellar where wine was stored in large vats and sold by the gallon.

When Oliveri’s purchased the Deli, it suffered due to the opening of Woolworths in Innisfail.

Six months later, Oliveri’s faced the opening of Coles and experienced a considerable decline in sales for the first three weeks.

Slowly they introduced new products, always trying to keep the local Italians and ethnic community happy, whilst dealing with two major chain stores.

Initially, the gift shop started in the Deli, which has also been trading for 40 years.

In 1986, Cyclone Winifred wreaked havoc on Innisfail, and Oliveri’s suffered significant damage and stock loss.

Customers’ feedback indirectly selects various lines of stocked products.

In 1990, as demand increased,

Oliveri’s started making bread rolls with speciality products for a quick lunch on the run.

In 2002, their 19th year of trading, The Lonely Planet discovered Oliveri’s, which is still recommended as a must-visit destination.

Their original coffee supplier, Bushells Robert Timms, is still used today and known as ‘the best coffee in town’.

In 2006, after Cyclone Larry decimated Innisfail, Oliveri’s, the only business with a generator and Jagad’s Café fed thousands of people for six days whilst the town had no power or water.

After the cyclone, as regular customers who became good friends, Sir Peter Cosgrove and his wife Lynne specifically requested Oliveri’s Deli to cater a luncheon at the Shire Hall in 2014.

On April 29, 2018, Oliveri’s Deli hit international fame when Michael Portillo from Great British Railway Journeys visited Innisfail to film the Art Deco buildings as part of SBS’s Great Australian Railway Journeys TV series.

Malcolm Turnbull, Peter Beattie, John Howard, Anna Bligh and Pauline Hanson are among the dignitaries who have visited the Deli.

Currently, Oliveri’s employs 13 staff, renowned for their extensive product knowledge and friendly customer service.

Delma Hampson is their longestserving staff member, employed since 1990, Maria (2007), Norma (2009), Violetta (2018) and Heidi.

The Deli’s three focus areas are customer service, product knowledge and quality products.

Providing customers with products that cannot be found in other stores makes their business unique.

Exercise Diamond Strike,

Exercise Diamond Strike

7th Brigade will be conducting military training in Ingham and the road between Ingham, Mount Fox and Herveys Range Development Road.

Exercise Diamond Strike will commence on Saturday 24 June to Tuesday 27 June 2023.

During this time, training will occur during the day and night.

Residents are advised not to be alarmed if they hear and see military vehicles, helicopters and aircraft, as well as military personnel carrying weapons and using blank ammunition.

The Australian Defence Force will work closely with Council and will continue to update the community on activities that occur during this time. Should you wish to contact the Australian Defence Force, please phone 1300 333 362.

Port of Lucinda Foreshore Clean-Up Works - No Public Access

The Port of Townsville has contracted Keita Services to undertake foreshore clean-up works at the Port of Lucinda, with completion anticipated by Friday 16 June 2023.

The clean-up will see unlawfully abandoned and dumped building debris removed from the rock wall zone.

There will be no public access to the foreshore, unsealed roadways, or informal parking areas during this time.

The public jetty will remain open and motorists are requested to find alternative parking in allocated spaces on Bruce Parade/Dungeness Road during the works period.

Should you require further information, please contact the Port of Townsville on 4781 1500.

Dog Registration Renewals

Please take the time to update your details with Council to ensure you receive the right renewal notice with the right fee.

Let us know if:

• Your contact details have changed;

• If your pet has been desexed; or

• If you no longer have your pet.

You can update your details by visiting Council's Main Office, or by visiting Council's website https://bit.ly/3CjK8ko.

Household Resilience Program Phase Three Extended

The Household Resilience Program has been extended by a further $20 million for Phase Three.

The Household Resilience Program provides funding to help eligible home owners in coastal parts of Queensland improve the resilience of their homes against cyclones. To find out more about the Household Resilience Program, including eligibility criteria, visit www.qld.gov.au/strongerhomes.

Suicide Intervention Training

Hinchinbrook Community Support Centre is hosting a one day suicide intervention course to provide residents with the confidence to recoginise and assess a person who may be at risk of self harm or suicide.

Date: Wednesday 21 June 2023 or Tuesday 8 August 2023

Works Notice

Time: 9.00am to 3.00pm

Where: 71 Townsville Road Ingham

Cost: Free

Morning tea will be provided, please bring a packed lunch.

To register your interest please contact Hinchinbrook Community Support Centre on 4776 1822 or email communitysupport@hcsc.org.au.

Football Queensland Winter Holiday Clinic - Ingham

Have fun and make friends at the winter holiday clinics for boys and girls aged 4 to 14 years old.

Date: Thursday 29 June to Friday 30 June 2023

Time: 9.00am to 12.00pm

Where: Sportsman Parade Ingham

Register now at https://bit.ly/43tuzCU.

Ingham FC Ladies Day

Come and support the Ingham boys take on Burdekin, while enjoying drinks and nibblies at the Ingham FC Ladies Day.

Date: Saturday 24 June 2023

Time: Gates open at 2.00pm for a 3.00pm start

Council wishes to advise that construction works have commenced on Hamleigh Road Ingham and Capellaris Road Blackrock. Ongoing works will occur between 6.00am and 5.00pm with a number of traffic conditions in place during these times.

Council would like to thank you for your cooperation during this necessary phase of works. For further information on current roadworks, please visit Council’s website, Roadworks page or contact Council on 4776 4671.

Cost: $55 per ticket

Please note, tickets cannot be purchased on the day. For further information please contact Chloe Day and Sarah Fascetti on 0499 983 591.

Nominations Now Open for Australian of the Year Awards 2024

Australian of the Year Awards provide all Australians with the opportunity to recognise someone who demonstrates our great Australian spirit. Nominations for the 2024 Australian of the Year Awards close Monday 31 July 2023. It only takes one nomination to elevate a recipient’s voice, help them access more support or give them the recognition they deserve.

The four categories open for nominations are:

• Australian of the Year;

• Senior Australian of the Year (those aged 65 years or over);

• Young Australian of the Year (ages 16 to 30); and

• Australia's Local Hero. Nominate today at https://bit.ly/3ClXEnE.