Welcome to the November 2023 edition of the Home Hill News.
You can read or download the whole newsletter (in pdf format) using the link above or read the individual articles below.
Is your picture on the Gateway to Home Hill?
IS YOUR picture among the hundreds that are displayed on the new and unique “Gateway to Home Hill” that is now open for all to see in the Lloyd Mann Gardens in Eighth Avenue?
Songs from Around the World at Society Christmas event
BURDEKIN residents will be able to really add to their Christmas this year as they undertake a journey Around the World in 20 Songs through the talents of the members of the Home Hill Choral Society.
The Society’s productions have been growing in popularity amongst their supporters and this one will…
Festivities reaching a climax
THE annual Home Hill Harvest Festival will rise towards its climax in the early weeks of November, as the wide range of festival functions that commenced in October continue through to more programmed events that will conclude with the Gala Ball on Friday and the Street Party planned for Saturday,…
Put the Ephemera on the “To Do” List
FOR any of our readers who have not been to see the Ephemera entries in Lloyd Mann Gardens, now is the time to put it on the “To Do” List for the rest of this month.
Bringing the Shire together?
WHAT chance is there for the word “Burdekin” to be seen as bringing the Shire together when there seems to be people and organisations in the district who seem to be hell bent on causing friction between different parts of the community?
Cr Ian Macdonald awarded an AM
Cr Ian Macdonald awarded an AM for significant service to the people and Parliament of Australia, to local government, and to the community of Northern Australia.
United Service Station brightens up the Home Hill CBD
IT IS good to see that our town is returning to some semblance of order in the Central Business District with the opening of a new much-needed service station.
The loss of our only BP service station meant that motorists had to drive over the river for the closest refill….
Disappointment over Burdekin TAFE Consultation Workshop
THERE was disappointment all round last week with a political to and fro over the Burdekin TAFE College based in Home Hill and a so-called “Consultation Workshop” that was to “guide a 10-year infrastructure strategy” for the college.
Dale’s Parliament Update November 2023
A POSITIVE response from the Health Minister is great news for Burdekin locals campaigning for a CT Scanner at the Ayr Hospital, but we won’t hear the sound of champagne corks popping . . . yet.
With up to 15 patients a week being transported to Townsville for CT scans…
Dale Says – Home Hill TAFE future questioned
THE future of the Burdekin TAFE is being called into question”, according to the Member for Burdekin, Dale Last MP, after only two local businesses and neither of the district’s Chambers of Commerce were invited to attend a consultation workshop that the State Government said “will guide a 10-year infrastructure…
Dale Says – 2023 Queensland Country Home Hill Harvest Festival events have begun
The festival celebrates the rich agriculture of the region and involves many events, which started in October, with the final and biggest event, the Grand Parade (pictured in 2022) and the Street Party to be held on November 11, 2023.
Events like the Harvest Festival simply don’t happen without volunteers,…
Dale Says – Gambling Community Benefit Fund round 119 is now open
The Gambling Community Benefit Fund (GCBF) is Queensland’s largest one-off community grants program and distributes approximately $60 million each year to not-for-profit community groups.
The GCBF funding helps these groups to provide services, leisure activities and opportunities for Queensland communities.
Dale Says – I’m here to help
IF YOU or someone you know has an issue that you need help with, please remember, my job is to represent you.
I may not always be able to fix the problem, but rest assured, I will always do my best.
For help, please call my office on 1800 817…
Council Enhancing infrastructure in Home Hill
The Burdekin Shire Council’s commitment to strategic investment in new assets, existing asset renewals and upgrades via its Capital Works Program is enhancing infrastructure.
Progress so far include the completion of a number of projects this year, such as the Kirknie Landfill production bore, pump and header tank and emergency generators…
A Time to Remember November 11, 2023
THE Home Hill community will once again remember the end of the Great War, World War I at 10.50 am on Saturday, November 11, 2023, as the RSL Sub-Branch hosts their annual service in front of the Burdekin Memorial Hall in Ninth Avenue.
Nominate now for Shire’s 2024 top citizen
NOMINATIONS are being sought by the Burdekin Shire Council for the 2024 Shire Australia Day Awards.
The awards are presented on Australia Day each year to acknowledge and celebrate the extraordinary contributions and accomplishments of individuals and groups within the Burdekin community.
Excellent standard in 2023 Ephemera display
ORGANISER of the 2023 Ephemera display in the Lloyd Mann Gardens in Home Hill, Uli Liessmann is brimming with delight over the standard of the entries received and the interest being shown by the public as the competition moves towards the announcement of the winner at the Harvest Festival Street…
Home Hill Police Beat November 2023
Acting Sergeant Joel Little, Acting/OIC, Home Hill Police Station would like to encourage everyone to be vigilant when it comes to property security.
If you see someone or some-thing that you believe might be suspicious, call Policelink on 131 444 or Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000 to report, even if…
Past Bowling history discovered in Club building
HOME HILL Community Sports Club President, Trevor Elton is discovering a horde of history of the former Home Hill Bowling Club as he digs into the back rooms of the Club building that was the home of bowlers back for the best part of a century.
Bumper crowd for Race Club Derby Day 2023
THREE extra TAB Race Meetings have been planned for the Home Hill Race Track before the end of the year, on top of their usual meetings, as they help the Townsville Turf Club to reduce the amount of usage of their track at Cluden in the City.
After hosting their first…
No takers for race club leadership
THE Burdekin Race Club is still looking for a new President, Secretary and Treasurer to take the club forward into 2024 after only one executive position was filled at their September Annual Meeting.
Club leaders, President Ricky and Secretary/Treasurer Leanne Gudge had indicated that they would be standing down from their…
Swimathon 2023 continues fight against Leukaemia
WHILE Demi Caspanello may not have the worries of personally fighting Leukaemia, after having been cured of the disease for the past three years, she and her mother, Kavette are continuing their efforts to raise funds for the Leukaemia Foundation with their annual 12-hour Relay Swim held at the Home…
Final touches to new Home Hill Bowling Green
THE final touches are being added to the Home Hill Community Sports Club’s new bowling green after a $200,000 project to replace the club’s first synthetic green that had reached its use-by date.
The Club received a grant of $160,000 (plus GST) in June, 2023 in from the Queensland Department of…
Kevin Wood’s long-term service recognised
A long-term Home Hill resident, who has provided over 35 years of service to the Endeavour Foun-dation in the Burdekin, has been recognised by the Foundation for those years of service with the presentation of a Certificate in front of his co-workers.
Kevin Woods (61) was 21, “going on 22”, when…
SES prepares for the 2023 Cyclone Season
THE work of the State Emergency Service (SES) in Home Hill was high-lighted at an Open Day held at the Service’s headquarters in Eleventh Avenue in October, in the lead-up to “Get Ready Burdekin” preparing for the forthcoming cyclone season in the north.
Hosted by the Burdekin Shire Council, the SES…
Burdekin Region Mills Weekly Production Figures ending October 28 2023
Week 19
The Burdekin mills processed just over 355,000 tonnes of cane.
Week 20
The Burdekin mills processed just over 330,000 tonnes of cane.
Week 21
The Burdekin mills processed just over 320,000 tonnes of cane.
Check out the 2023 Home Hill Harvest Festival Ephemera
THE 2023 Home Hill Harvest Festival Ephemera is on again with great new installations.
Go and have a look at it in the Lloyd Mann Gardens and be part of it — and make sure you vote for the public choice on the Harvest Festival web page.
Are you on the finished Gateway to Home Hill?
WHILE in the Lloyd Mann Gardens park, have a look at the finished “Gateway to Home Hill”.
You might see yourself or a family member.
It took 15 months from start to finish and the finished installation is everything I hoped for.
I must thank RADF Queensland, the Burdekin Shire…
Lights to illuminate the tree canopy in Lloyd Mann Gardens
YOU might have seen white marking out pegs throughout Lloyd Mann Gardens.
The Council is installing lights to illuminate the tree canopy.
This is a great upgrade to the park, making a great visual impact to our town.
I also believe Council is going to place new naming signs in the…
Burdekin Shire is ageing fast
I HAVE been told that in the last census, the Burdekin Shire is said to be ageing twice as fast as the rest of Queensland.
Now I don’t know if this is good or bad, or is it just a wonderful place to live.
What makes the Burdekin Tick?
DO YOU want to hear what makes Home Hill and the Burdekin tick?
Come and listen to some great speakers at the Home Hill Chamber of Commerce get-togethers held once a month on the third Wednesday at 5.30pm at the Home Hill Community Sports Club.
The Chamber hosts a variety…
Great Home Hill Cleanup
I MENTIONED in my last article about the latest Home Hill tourist attraction, the very filthy Council footpaths in Eighth Avenue.
I am happy to see that the cleaning of this footpath was done so quickly — there is hope for Home Hill.
Congratulations to Council and the work force,…
The world is picking on Australia
SEE the cartoon above.
This is not a joke but please have a look and make up your own mind.
Should the numbers be wrong, they would certainly be close to the mark.
Australian Coins
BOB Katter—love him or hate him—does come up with some goodies from time to time, the latest being Australian coins and having a foreign monarch stamped on our coin currency.
Well, he’s right.
Cash Must be Preserved
Some day, some bureaucrat in some office will declare that you and I have too much and that the Government needs to control it.
Cash could be restricted as a means of control.
Cash is your money, your freedom, not created by a bank in a bank loan.
On any given day…
Newsletter 95 November 2023
The November 2023 Home Hill News is now available on the website.