No 80 July 2022 – Home Hill News

TURNING heads in the Groper Creek caravan park recently with their strikingly restored 1972 HQ SS Holden towing their 1958 Wayfarer caravan were Airlie Beach couple, Craig and Ange Clarke.

RESIDENTS of Home Hill have been reminded by the Burdekin Shire Council to be prepared to reduce the likelihood of mosquito breeding around their homes following rainfall. 

A COUNCIL meeting held on June 14, 2022 was a bit wanting in information as reported/printed by the local media—they could try a bit harder.

A WELL-ATTENDED dinner was held by the RSL Sub-Branch, Home Hill at the Crown Hotel with a great meal and very good service. 

A SUGGESTION only—to move the old mail box in Eighth Avenue across from the Post Office. 

ALSO, I am led to believe a possible new gym studio is going to open in the same block. 

REMEMBER the Home Hill laundromat in Eighth Avenue that was operational many years ago and closed because of the constant vandalism? 

COUNCIL work is in progress on the upgrading of the footpath on the western side of Eighth Avenue. 

ON THE SUBJECT of old pictures, Sweet FM has received thousands of photos from the now closed The Advocate and The Observer newspapers.

THE Home Hill Harvest Festival is in the process of building and erecting a new large modern installation in Lloyd Mann Garden to complement the other installations already there. 

PLANS are in place for the Home Hill Racetrack to undergo a full track renovation commencing on Monday, July 11 – immediately after the Burdekin Race Club’s meeting to be held on Saturday, July 9. 

FOUR generations of the Stockdale family celebrated 100 years of memories at Groper Creek on June 12 in The Boat House. 

NOT everyone can brag about catching a 90cm Queenfish directly off the bank at Groper Creek, but that was the case recently for Graeme Falvey. 

RETURNING to Groper Creek recently was nationally acclaimed Australian country music guitarist, songwriter and producer, Nev Molloy, who entertained guests gathered around the regular Friday night campfire. 

APPLICATIONS for a $5000 Business Basics Grant, which will allow new and emerging Home Hill businesses to improve their day-to-day operations, have been open since early in May, 2022. 

THE importance of buying local will again be highlighted throughout the Burdekin Shire, as the Burdekin Rewards Loyalty Program continues to encourage residents to shop locally in 2022.

THE Home Hill Tennis Association will be recording a new first in July, as it hosts a North Queensland Games event as well as a Tennis Seniors Queensland Tournament. 

TWO Home Hill-based organisations have been successful in receiving funding as part of 15 projects, totalling $80,000, to receive support from Pacific Hydro in the 2022 funding period. 

LONG-TIME Home Hill resident, Hilda Frew (89) is constantly knitting—so much so that her latest efforts have resulted in another $200 being donated to the Burdekin School Chaplains Hilda is well known for her support for the ‘Chappies”, regularly assisting another local resident, Margaret Taylor with their street stalls in …

A HISTORY of rugby league played in the Burdekin district from its earliest days is to be launched later this year.

IT HAS recently been brought to my attention that many residents and business owners in Home Hill are experiencing unwanted intrusions into their properties, particularly late at night. 

THE battle to control feral pigeons in Home Hill is what could only be described as uphill. 

AS I write this article, Parliament is about to sit with the 2022/2023 State Budget due to be handed down. 

Invicta and Inkerman mills both commenced crushing on Tuesday, June 14. Crushing was delayed at Kalamia and Pioneer mills due to recent wet weather. 

ROAMING dogs have created havoc for an elderly Home Hill couple, as the animals killed the majority of their poultry housed in several pens in their residential property in Seventeenth Street recently. 

RESIDENTS of Home Hill have a more secure water supply in the town following the official opening in June of the town’s 5ML Reservoir.

THE Home Hill News will transition to a primarily digital publication by the end of this year, with limited numbers of printed copies available each month from February 2023. 

SHOPPERS attempting to access Home Hill’s IGA Supermarket now have to obey the law when entering the property from Eighth Avenue, following the completion of a raised cement median which prevents north-bound vehicles crossing double lines to gain easy access. 

t for helping Home Hill businesses by encouraging the community to shop in Home Hill for their needs, instead of having to travel to Ayr. 

OUR efforts to get a “Cash for Containers” depot in Home Hill seems to have little chance of success, judging by the message given to members of the Chamber of Commerce at their June meeting. 

THERE was a novel situation for Home Hill recently, with a government minister (well an “assistant” minister anyway) actually stopping in the town to carry out official duties. 

IT IS budget time—but there is little to be enthused about for Home Hill residents. 

THE Home Hill Sub-Branch of the RSL has recognised the support of a young Burdekin Catholic High School student, whose efforts in the local community around Anzac Day have resulted in $410 being donated to the Sub-Branch.

BURDEKIN Shire ratepayers face a general rate increase of “only 2.5 per cent”, Mayor Lyn McLaughlin has announced in the 2022/23 Budget brought down this week