Angelo Licciardello, QCAR Burdekin District Manager

The last two weeks has been a very interrupted period of harvesting and crushing.
The first lot of rain that began on November 20 played the major part to the initial disruption; then with some planned cleaning and stoppages from chokes, the output of factories was greatly reduced.
The rain over the weekend has really highlighted the dramatic affects a late start and a late finish have on a district that so heavily relies on the sugar crop.
Urgent attention to address this in the future must be at the forefront of all our mindsets.
Standover cane is now a real possibility with ratoons unable to be harvested to achieve maximum growth, fallow blocks not getting the attention they require, and the opportunity to plant legume crops rendered almost impossible.
Addressing the resulting reduced incomes that affects families and businesses across the Burdekin district is a worthwhile exercise for us to undertake.
We must get back to a Melbourne Cup finish and celebrate the Home Hill Harvest Festival as it was meant to be!
Week 23
The first week I travelled to the Whitsundays to attend a meet and greet with our Proserpine members.
It is always time well spent engaging with growers in other regions and discussing their concerns and issues as well as their successes. The common themes to emerge at present are growers want to improve their yields, look after their soil, control cane grubs, and of course, the reliability of mills across all regions is a major concern.  
QCAR Connection
   • LBW/ARC linkage water project update
   • GRDC – grains research update
   • JET ZERO – sustainable aviation fuel
   • Farmacist – farm walk, mungbean trials

Upcoming Events
   • BBIFMAC AGM/DAF presentation
   • Sunwater CAC meeting/update
   • Regional water assessment (DRDMW)
Angelo’s Agronomic Tip
Choose the right cover crop for you!!
It’s been proven over many years that legume breaks better balance biology, control root pathogens, biologically fix nitrogen, and improve cane yield and growth.
Topsoil is the farmer’s capital. Sustaining means sustaining the soil resource. Maintaining ground cover in the form of cover crops, mulch or crop residue for as much of the season as possible will help achieve this goal.
Milling Stat
The biggest week of the 2024 season was the week ending September 21 with 395,611 tonnes crushed.
Interestingly in the 2022 season we went over 400,000 tonnes on three occasions.
For more information about QCAR, phone Angelo on 0437 401 837 or email angelo.licciardello@qcar.org.au

QCAR Burdekin District Manager Angelo Licciardello attended a Farmacist trip to Paul Villis’ farm in Ayr where they are trialling spring-grown mung bean crops. Angelo is pictured with QCAR member/growers Ross Parker, Damon Hesp, and Kelsey Hesp

QCAR Burdekin District Manager Angelo Licciardello was impressed to see the winter/spring crop of Kuranda soybean soon ready to harvest on the Brandon farm belonging to QCAR Board Chairman Christian Lago

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Simon Hood
Wilmar Manager Grower Marketing

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As we move into December and the much-anticipated drop off in the Brazilian 2024 crush, the ICE #11 contract continues to trade in shallow downtrend pattern.
The recent UNICA report covering the first half of November crush finally saw the season to date numbers drop below last year’s record cumulative total. The data was roughly in line with expectations and the consensus for total Brazilian sugar out is narrowing into the mid to high 39 million tonne range.
Given the specs’ lack of conviction on pushing the market up or down due to trade resistance on either side, the futures price continues to zig zag sideways. At some point the market will break out of this pattern but we may have to wait a bit longer to get a decisive move.
India has received some focus in the near term with both this year and next in the frame. For the 2024 crush, which is getting under way, the latest Wilmar forecast has been revised down to 26.7M tonnes. This is primarily due to a poor monsoon in 2023 limiting national planting along with recent flooding and disease in Uttar Pradesh.
We remain of the view that India will not be a player in global trade for the immediate future as ethanol production absorbs future sugar juice production. Low sugar stocks this season will build slightly next year thanks to a very good 2024 monsoon, replenishing reservoirs and allowing more widespread planting of cane, which remains a highly viable crop for growers. If the 25/26 crop is as large as expected, India may resume an export campaign in late 2025 to early 2026.
The Thai crop has enjoyed a good growing season and is expected to produce a large crop of 11M tonnes of sugar this year. For the raw sugar market, the expectation is that exports will remain limited as local refining and liquid sugar exports into China absorb the majority of raw sugar consumption.
Overall, the anticipated move higher for sugar futures in the first quarter of next year remains a possibility. The longer-term outlook for the #11 contract looks less encouraging on an anticipated large Indian crop for 25/26 season.

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#11 March 25 Futures Contract (USc/lb) – Daily price movement over the last six months.
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Cane crushed
This week
Season to date
Invicta
91,470
2,830,710
Pioneer
43,063
1,348,788
Kalamia
37,250
1,482,456
Inkerman
68,366
1,693,908
Burdekin
240,149
7,355,862
CCS
Invicta
12.74
14.34
Pioneer
13.16
14.31
Kalamia
11.82
13.82
Inkerman
13.37
14.09
Burdekin
12.85
14.18
Weekly variety performance for region
Variety
%
CCS
Variety
%
CCS
Q240
50%
13.29
Q232
7%
12.06
KQ228
23%
12.42
Q183
7%
14.05
Q208
9%
12.82
WSRA17
2%
11.86
Comments:
The Burdekin mills processed just over 240,000 tonnes of cane for the week.
This was below budget as the region was recovering from a wet weather event at the beginning of the week and there was another wet weather event at the end of the week.
Some mechanical issues also contributed to the reduced throughput.
The season-to-date total is now 7.36M tonnes, which represents 90 per cent of the Burdekin region’s crop forecast of 8.20M tonnes.
The average weekly CCS was 12.85, which is well below budget due to the wet weather.
The highest CCS of 16.1 was from a rake of Q240 4R in the Darvenizas (INK) productivity district.
Remember to stay alert, use your train brain and always give way to trains at road crossings.
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John Tait
Cane Supply Manager
Burdekin Region

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Henry Peterson, is better known as the "Mango Man," in Burdekin. He’s been in the mango business for 45 years. When he started back in about 1980-1981, he began by picking mangoes for $1 a bucket before he eventually established his own mango farm.

“When I was in Home Hill, a bloke said, ‘I'll give you $1 a bucket, and then a $1 a tray, to pick that tree’. So I got a ladder, threw it up and went picking. In the end, he gave me $40. I thought, geez, that was easy money, I could make a living out of that. And that's what I did from that day onwards,” Henry says.

While most local residents know him as Mr. Mango, he’s also had other roles over the years, including site manager at Mystic Sands in Far North Queensland. However, he also ran a successful real estate company and a television show.

“I was making a good living in real estate but I walked away from it to come back here. But before I did, I had my own Saturday morning television show called ‘Real Estate today’ because I reckon the real estate people weren't doing a good enough job. So I created a television show. It was a big success, you know,” Henry declares.

He did that for about a year before he came back to the Burdekin in 1990 after selling his house to go start his mango farm, which he ran for 17 years. Now, however, he’s been selling mangoes on the side of the road for the past 10 years.

On any given day he can serve 200 customers, especially when he’s in Proserpine on the Bruce Highway, where it’s non-stop traffic. In Ayr, because he’s on a bypass road just off Queen Street, it’s less traffic but he still manages to sell plenty of mangoes and other produce. And the secret to his success?

“You got to have good fruit! But you also need to have different stuff that you can sell besides just mangoes,” Henry says. “Oh, and shade. You've got to have shade. You don't want to be out in the sun. You’ve got to get good spots where they can drive in off the main road and easily park off to the side, like here in Ayr.”

Currently, he sells mangoes, corn, watermelons, and avocados, where he manages five locations across the wider region with great success, while sometimes causing a sensation.

“I took a young girl with me yesterday to help, and you know what? She caused a tropical heat wave. She said, ‘I'm hot, I'm taking me shirt off,’ and she had one of those sports bra thingies on. She said, ‘Do you think this is too crude?’ I said the customers will tell if it’s too crude or not, but I tell ya, they were like bees to a honeypot. They wouldn't leave. She's beautiful, a real stunning looking girl. I don’t care because she’s really good at the customer level. A bloody great worker,” Henry adds.

Besides causing heatwaves, Henry also has a unique practice of giving away "bonus" mangoes to customers. Because of this generosity, he’s popular with locals. He’s also a big advocate for people growing their own crops to sell.

“If you plant it right, you could grow 4000 cobs of corn. You make $1 a cob, that's $4000. There's your house rates paid for. There's no government restriction stopping you from selling your own produce.”

Henry’s mangoes tend to be the cheapest in region, only bring cash as he doesn’t do credit cards. You can normally find Henry in Ayr, on Thursdays and Sundays, where he does bulk packs of mangoes that contain about 20 to 25 mangoes, for $12.

“I got to be at least 150 to 200% cheaper than a supermarket. I’m a lot cheaper than Woolworths where you'll be lucky to get one mango for $2.50,” he says.

Despite his age (73), Henry plans to continue for two more years before handing over his business to his workers to then retire.

“I think I'm the oldest mango seller in Australia. But I reckon two more years will pull me up.”

And what will Henry do after he does retire? “I’ll just relax,” he smiles.

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Henry ‘Mango Man’ Peterson. Photo credit: Mark T. Rasmussen

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Up to $32.6 million over 4 years will be invested in the future of Australia’s sugarcane industry with research and development projects set to increase the productivity, profitability and sustainability of the Australian sugarcane industry.
Sugar Research Australia (SRA) and the Queensland Government’s Department of Primary Industries (DPI) are investing in a diverse portfolio of novel and strategic research activities. The new projects will target improved efficiency, competitiveness, sustainability and innovation for Australian sugarcane growers, milling companies, and regional communities.
Funding will be allocated as follows:
• $6 million to create transformational breeding technologies to develop high yielding and disease resistant varieties, and explore the potential for energy cane
• $12.1 million to overcome agronomic production constraints, optimise crop management, and improve the industry’s sustainability credentials to maintain market access for Australian sugar
• $6.8 million to develop sustainable management approaches for pests, weeds and pathogens and biosecurity preparedness
• $5.5 million to optimise operations for enhanced milling efficiency and develop opportunities to diversify revenue streams in the bioeconomy
• $2.2 million to increase adoption of available technologies that increase productivity, profitability and sustainability for sugarcane growers, millers, and regional communities.
SRA and DPI will make the transformational investment following the conclusion of SRA’s 10th Anniversary Research Fund Call, a bursary established in November 2023 to commemorate 10 years since the organisation’s formation.
SRA CEO Mick Bartlett said the rigorous multi-step approval process for applicants ensured that projects with the strongest potential to deliver real change and positive industry-wide outcomes were successful.
“The calibre of submissions was exemplary and represents the strong scientific standing we have in the sugar industry, particularly within SRA,” Mr Bartlett said.
“Each of these projects has the potential to deliver positive change, and whole-of-industry research outcomes capable of being adopted on farm and within the milling sector.”
The successful projects cover a broad spectrum of key industry challenges, from agronomy and farming systems, to crop protection, variety development, growing and milling.
Minister for Primary Industries Tony Perrett said the Queensland Government has a long history of supporting research, development and extension (RD&E) activities within the sugarcane industry driving improvements in productivity and profitability.
“We know RD&E is critical to help industry gain improvements in production, leading to longer term prosperity. This helps farmers and also helps local communities,” Minister Perrett said.
“Supporting our key agricultural industries, together with industry partners like SRA, helps our farmers solve critical problems and lets them get on with the job of producing the world’s best food and fibre.
“These projects will help gain a greater understanding of industry problems, apply and adopt advanced technology, and test and implement cutting-edge farming practices to create a stronger, sustainable industry.
“The Crisafulli Government values this important relationship with SRA in supporting one of Queensland’s traditional primary industries and a key pillar in our state’s economy.”
The projects are a mix of new research, as well as extensions to existing projects that can now be further developed.

SRA’s new CEO Mick Bartlett

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Burdekin residents and businesses looking to save energy and money will have an opportunity to consult the experts from Ergon Energy Retail face-to-face next week.

The Ergon Retail team will have a stand outside Home Hill News & Coffee from 8am-12pm on Tuesday 10 December.

Ergon Retail Operations Manager Ryan Lloyd said the team would be sharing practical tips tailored to each customer’s unique situation.  

“If you’re running a farm or business, we can have a chat about tariff options and how you can use My Account’s Energy Analysis tools to your advantage.

“If you’re running a household, we can check what is driving your energy use and share our summer hacks to help you stay cool and save over the hotter months.

“While we have fantastic teams providing advice over the phone at our Customer Service Centres in Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton and Maryborough, there’s nothing like catching up in person, so we encourage anyone who is interested to come along,” Ryan said.    

For people who can’t make it to the 10 December event, there is a wealth of information on Ergon Energy Retail’s website, including their summer hacks to help customers reduce their energy use and cut their power bills:  

   1. Aim for a cool 25 degrees on your aircons – every degree cooler can add 10% to a/c energy use.
 
   2. Use fans instead of aircons when it’s not too hot. $1 pays for approximately 50 hours of ceiling fan use, compared to two hours of aircon.

   3. If you have a pool, install an energy-efficient pump and connect it to an economy tariff.  

   4. If you’re heading off on holidays, unplug your appliances, including any spare fridges that have been emptied.

   5. Using the cold cycle on your washing machine can reduce appliance energy use by 90%.

   6. Register for or log in to Ergon Energy Retail’s My Account to manage your energy costs and usage.

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Mark your calendars for an extraordinary event as the Burdekin Race Club celebrates its 100th anniversary of Home Hill racing on Saturday, 7 December. The milestone stands testament to a rich history of community, tradition, and thrilling race-day action with locals invited to revel in the once-in-a-lifetime celebration this weekend!
Established in 1924, the Burdekin Race Club has stood as a cornerstone within the community, holding five annual race events annually including the Burdekin Growers Race Day, an event attracting hundreds of locals and travellers to the region each May.
The centennial celebration promises an unforgettable day for race enthusiasts and families alike. Guests will enjoy five local races, a vibrant atmosphere with a fully stocked bar and canteen, exciting giveaways, and the ceremonial cutting of a special centenary cake. Adding to the festive spirit, children can indulge in free treats, further ensuring fun for all ages.
Entry is completely free, making this historic day accessible to the entire community, and for those who want a reserved spot to soak in the celebrations, table bookings are available by contacting Leanne at 0438 742 850.

What: Burdekin Race Club 100 Years Celebration.
When: Saturday 7 December from 11:30am.
Where: Burdekin Race Club, Home Hill.
More Information: Call Leanne on 0438 742 850.

The Burdekin Race Club will celebrate their 100 year anniversary on Saturday.

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Darren Kleehammer, who’s been in the Burdekin since 2001, is a well-known local around town after he transitioned from offshore rigging to focus his efforts on providing top-quality maintenance, repairs, and renovations, and he’s never been happier.

“I do house maintenance, interiors and exteriors, and that can vary between painting, tiling, fences, windows, flooring, small concreting jobs... anything to do with the house or maintenance. For example, today, I've got six doors to put on, so I can do mostly everything,” Darren smiles.

He is fully booked until January, relying solely on word-of-mouth for his referrals.

“I'm pretty well booked out till end of January, and that’s all via word of mouth. It’s taken me seven years to get a good name, I'm not going to lose it by saying I can do something that I can’t. If I can't do it, I'll let you know,” he states.

Although he used to do handiwork for real estate companies, these days Darren prefers direct client relationships where he ensures high-quality work and is always available to fix any issues.

“You've got to do a 110% job. I always tell the customer, if you're not happy or anything goes wrong, ring me. Doesn't matter what time, I'll come back and fix it,” he declares.

Darren offers flexible pricing, adjusting his rates based on clients' financial situations, sometimes even working for free.

“If you're a pensioner and struggling, sometimes I do a job for nothing because I just feel that that's what I should do,” Darren adds.

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Darren Kleehammer, Burdekin’s handiest man. Photo credit: Mark T. Rasmussen

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Jim Nuttall, owner of Nuttall’s Garden Centre, has been in the nursery business for 20 years, following a 50-year business legacy started by his father, who ran the local hardware business.

“I love business, I love figures, and I've got an accounting degree, but I started with my father, James Raff Nuttall, back in 1968,” Jim says.

“He actually invented the ‘return spray system’ for cane farmers, and created the cattle spray, ‘Ready Rect’ and got a grant for a mobile spray, which was widely popular back in the day.”

“We already had the land here at 52 Soper Street, and I got the expertise of Peter McLean, who knew all about plants - he came on board as my manager, so that gave me the confidence to go ahead with the nursery - that was 20 years ago,” he says.

Jim emphasises the importance of service and plant care, noting that his daughters significantly contribute to the nursery's success with their marketing skills and plant care expertise.

“The oldest daughter does all the care and maintenance of the plants, the second daughter does all the marketing, and my wife also works here as well sometimes, so it's a family run business,” he says.

While it’s located only an hour's drive from Bunnings in Townsville, the garden centre benefits from Jim's long-standing presence in the community, with plenty of customers seeking his advice and great customer service.

“You've got to be competitive and you've got to give good service,” Jim says.

“That's what we pride ourselves on, it's all about service, and looking after the plants.”

Jim and his wife are involved in community activities, with Jim being the treasurer of the Burdekin Singers for 23 years. Though he no longer performs as a “space filler” when they are short on men, his wife, Pat, still directs the musicals in town, noting that they have always been community-minded, with Jim also helping to get funding for the basketball stadium many years ago.

During December, Nuttall’s Garden Centre is running a “Brilliant Bon Bon" giveaway, where customers who spend $50 or more win a free prize!

Jim has no desire to retire, enjoying being his own boss and running the business, particularly the social aspects of work as he gets to meet new people daily. He much prefers that to sitting at home twiddling his “green” thumbs.

“I'll keep going as long as I can,” Jim says.

Jim and his customers are celebrating the milestone with a party this Saturday, 7 December, at 6pm, at Nuttall’s Garden Centre on 52 Soper Street, Ayr. Call Jim on 0407 832 463 to attend.

Jim Nuttall. Photo credit: Mark T. Rasmussen

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In light of the extraordinary, community driven initiative of honouring 1932 Ayr murder victim, Jean Morris nearing completion, many locals are fascinated with the story behind the historical Queen Street event, particularly Henry Petersen and Paula Dawson.

Both Henry and Paula set out to honour the young woman who until recently, resided in a 93-year-old unmarked grave in the Ayr cemetery.

Anna Philomena Morgan, born in 1913, lived a life shrouded in mystery and tragedy. In her early years, Philomena’s upbringing was fragmented due to absent and unreliable parental figures, and over her nineteen years of life, she was known by many names including Philomena Franki, Anna Morgan, Ann Manganetti, and Decimah. Drifting between identities and living situations, Philomena left her childhood home in 1930 and moved to Darlinghurst where many unconfirmed rumours surrounding her profession began to circulate.

In the 1930s, a mysterious murder case surfaced involving the so called, “Pyjama Girl”, a woman found tragically murdered in peculiar clothing. Sparking speculation, photographs and witness descriptions of the “Pyjama Girl” resembled closely Philomena, and Philomena’s mother, Jeanette Routledge, had petitioned for her missing daughter’s estate in a small claims court - unintentionally igniting theories that Philomena herself might have been the “Pyjama Girl”. Dr. Benbow, a forensic expert, initially supported this theory before it was ultimately set aside by authorities, however, the mystery lingered, with Philomena neither definitively linked nor excluded as the “Pyjama Girl”.

Another tragic murder case headlined in 1932, where a woman named Jean Morris was found in Queen Street, Ayr in her nightdress with a weapon still in hand. Jean, whose real name was unknown, was found to be connected to Philomena across police theories, and it is believed she was involved with a secret Italian crime syndicate operating in North Queensland. Police suggested Philomena had taken on the identity of Jean Morris, however the “Ayr Tragedy” as printed by the punishments of the time, only deepened the mystery around Philomena.

Despite the tangled narrative of “who done it” spread across decades of media coverage, both murders still remain unsolved, and the body of Jean Morris was buried unmarked in the Ayr cemetery, unclaimed by family.

Almost a century later, many theories continue to circulate including Jean’s suspected associations to members of the Black Hand, an Italian-Australian mafia group allegedly connected to a string of murders throughout the 1920s and 1930s.

Over 50 years ago, Henry learnt of Jean Morris’ story in the Melbourne Truth Newspaper, a story he said, stayed with him. Today, with the help and support of his friend, Paula, the pair have fundraised over $4,500 to establish a headstone for Jean’s grave, with additional funds set to be donated to support families of murdered women, and women who have escaped a domestic violence situation.

Donations towards the Jean Morris Burdekin Community Fundraiser can be made at Paula’s Place Hair Salon on Queen Street, Ayr or online via the “Stiletto Jean Morris Headstone Fundraiser” Go Fund Me page at https://www.gofundme.com/f/stiletto-jean-morris-headstone-fundraiser.

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The location where Jean Morris was found at 10am on 2 October 1932.
Jean Morris was tragically murdered at 19-years-old.

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Over the weekend, Queen Street hosted an outstanding turnout with well over 100 runners rallying behind Austin Dewar, Brayden Rawlins and Campbell Johnston in support of the boys’ incredible, Three Blokes Running challenge to raise awareness and funds for men’s mental health.
Raising an estimated $2,000, Sunday’s event stood as a moving showcase of community spirit highlighting the generosity of both individuals and local businesses. With donations and messages of support flooding in daily, the boys have become beacons of inspiration, raising over $10,000 to fund hundreds of men’s health projects across the world as part of Movember.
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Campbell, Brayden and Austin raised over $10K for men’s health thanks to their Three Blokes Running charity campaign. Photo supplied

The Burdekin Community Unites
For Three Blokes Running

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Queen Street came alive on Sunday 24 November with well over 100 locals in attendance of the outstanding Three Blokes Running Fun Run event to support and celebrate the incredible efforts of Austin Dewar, Brayden Rawlins, and Campbell Johnston.
Austin, Brayden, and Campbell have committed to running a massive 180km each throughout the month of November to raise both funds and awareness for the health, and wellbeing of all fathers, sons, and brothers within the Burdekin community and beyond.
Attracting attention across the state, the boys set out to share the message “it ain’t weak to speak” to encourage men to speak up and seek help if they’re struggling with mental health challenges – a message that has been amplified with each donation, and act of support shown over the past few weeks.
“When we’re just around town, people we’ve never met before come up to us and say how they’ve seen us in the news, and the support has been massive – it’s pretty cool and everyone has been super supportive as you can imagine being a small community.”
In just 28 days, Austin, Brayden and Campbell have raised over $10,200, incredibly surpassing their initial goal of $540 set at the beginning of the month.
“We never expected this to be honest, and from a goal of $540 that reached over $1,000 in the first 24 hours – we all just looked at each other and thought this could go a lot bigger, and it has - $10,000 is just phenomenal,” shared Austin.
A spectacular showcase of community spirit, Sunday invited the Burdekin to become part of the Three Blokes Running challenge which welcomed over 100 runners, and even more spectators to enjoy an afternoon of comradery and support, raising an additional $2,000 that is yet to be added to the current astounding total.
“Everyone was keen to be there, keen to run, and it was just so awesome that everyone was there to support us,” shared Austin.
With a current total greater than $10,000, the boys’ online fundraising page, https://movember.com/t/three-blokes-running, continues to receive hundreds of additional donations each day.
With the month coming to a close, Austin, Brayden and Campbell could not be more grateful to the community for their support and hopes to go out with a bang as they cross the finish line on Saturday.
“In an ideal world, we wouldn’t have to do any of this, and we wouldn’t have to run any kilometres, but we’re just doing what we can, and we’re so grateful for everyone’s support, and us boys are so stoked that we’re making a difference.”

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The whole community rallied arounf to support the Three Blokes Running at a special event on Queens Street over the weekend. Photo credit: with thanks to David Jackson
The Three Bloke Running with some of their friends at the event on Sunday. Photo supplied

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G’day, I’m Mark T. Rasmussen and I’ve just arrived in town having accepted the exciting position of journalist for Burdekin Life Newspaper. Some of you may have seen me on Wednesday morning at the Industry Breakfast (a fantastic event), where I enjoyed getting to know a few people in the community.

You’ll likely see me around town in the coming days, weeks and months, but first I’d like to introduce myself.

I am an award-winning author born by the sea, cultivated in the city, formed via the world. Previously a professional journalist for The Herald Sun; Lonely Planet; Get Lost Travel magazine; and entertainment publication, Buzz Magazine, as well as the Media Officer for the CFMEU in Sydney, and Digital Content Producer at Visit Victoria in Melbourne.

I also write evocative, thought provoking subject matter for my adult fiction novels and screenplays, and fun, captivating, thoughtful books for children. An avid adventurer, I’ve travelled to 60+ countries across six continents, living in eight major cities around the world.

After 12 years overseas, where I pursued my screenwriting dreams in Hollywood, then a four-year stint in Toronto, followed by three years in Mexico, Australia eventually beckoned me home.

I recently moved to the Burdekin area after living in a remote Mexican seaside-jungle village – which had no roads, no cars, and no police – with my beautiful and brilliant, author wife, and youngest son. I found it an idyllic piece of paradise to read, write, and love, and escape life when the world went mad.

With my professional writing background and life experiences, I bring knowledge, wisdom, and a zeal for all things creative and local, having grown up in a similar place in Victoria.

I look forward to meeting you all soon, and if you see me about, please be sure you to say gidday!

Cheers & thanks,
Mark

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Carol Maltby, originally from Brisbane, made Ayr her home in 2001. Despite having lived in the town for over two decades, Carol humbly refers to herself as a “newcomer.”  
Seeking companionship, Carol reached out to the Burdekin Community Association (BCA) a few years ago. A Community Support Officer (CSO) connected her with Rita Quagliata, BCA’s Volunteer Service Manager, who promptly arranged for a volunteer match.  
Enter Joyce Rodgers, affectionately known as Jo. Born in Laidley, near Brisbane, Jo spent 33 years in Adelaide before settling in Ayr in 2017. In April 2018, she joined BCA as a volunteer, driven by her passion for helping others. Her caring and gentle nature made her a perfect match for Carol.  
Over the past three years, Carol and Jo have forged a sister-like bond. Their friendship blossomed through shared moments and mutual support. Carol describes Jo as a “lovely friend” who is not only great company but also a compassionate listener.  
“We whinge about our problems to each other,” they laugh, “and it’s good to have someone who truly listens.”  
Jo’s commitment extends beyond her bond with Carol. She visits four other individuals, bringing joy and comfort to each of them. Her dedication has made a world of difference in their lives, with all eagerly anticipating her visits.  
The story of Carol and Jo is a beautiful reminder of how genuine connections can transform lives. Through volunteering, Jo has not only enriched others' lives but also found a lifelong friend in Carol.

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Carol Maltby and Joyce Rogers at the Burdekin Community Association. Photo Supplied

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Graeme Jarrett, a 74-year-old veteran car enthusiast, has spent 15 years researching a rare 1902 French-made car he owns. This car’s history brings him to the Burdekin region as he hunts for clues to establish the car’s identity.

“The English bought them here. They were the biggest buyers. All the early cars here in Australia were French mostly, and so they were a highly regarded product,” Graeme declares.

The car was produced between 1900 and 1910, during the French "window of glory" in the motoring world, and the company sold cars and parts to various manufacturers. Graeme is convinced the car is from 1902 but needs to establish it, which is a difficult task given it had five previous owners.

Through his detective work, and with help from historians and locals, he’s narrowed it down to the Burdekin region, where he believes the car started its journey. The car, one of about 10 surviving from its era, was likely assembled by French manufacturer, Prunel.

“Prunel, made these cars from 1900 to about 1910, during a time where the French auto industry was the biggest and best manufacturer of motor cars in the world,” Graeme says.

If it is from 1902 as Graeme believes, then the car is worth $150,000. The car's value is significantly higher if it is from 1902, as it can participate in the London to Brighton rally, which is a prestigious event for early vintage cars.

He has collected necessary parts and scours Trove, a digitised newspaper archive to search historical newspapers for clues but has struggled to find specific information to identify the exact manufacturer. While visiting the Burdekin, it’s his hope to uncover the car's history and name, which would legitimise its provenance within the car community.

Although Prunel is no longer an active car manufacturer, its contribution to the early French automotive industry is significant. The company’s history and legacy are preserved through its exhibits in museums and archives, providing a glimpse into the development of the French car industry in the early 20th century. It’s Graeme’s wish to help bring another to the world.

“I'm 74 now, and I've been interested in veteran cars since I was a teenager. If I knew exactly what it was, it would make life a lot easier,” Graeme says.

Graeme is hoping to find anyone who might have a photograph or information about the car or its previous owners. He plans to stay in the area for a week to research in the hopes to discover the car’s origins so that he can proudly publish his findings, but also reach a wider audience who share his love and enthusiasm of motoring history.

If you know of anyone that had a car like those in the photos, or a family that may have driven one back in the day within the greater Burdekin region, Graeme would love to hear from you. Any information would greatly assist Graeme achieve his dream of establishing its identity and solve the mystery.

Phone Graeme on 0455 041 994.

Graeme Jarrett, a 74-year-old veteran car enthusiast, has come to theBurdekin to find answers about a rare car

An old picture depicting what the Prunel would have looked likein the early 1900s

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A warm, and friendly Garvey smile has welcomed locals and travelers alike to the Groper Creek Caravan Park for a little over five years, and although Jeanette Garvey isn’t saying goodbye to the community, she’s made the decision to step out of the management role, and leap into retirement.

In October of 2019, Jeanette and her husband Danny took up the role of Managers of the Groper Creek Caravan Park within the Home Hill Boat Club as soon as the position crossed their radar. After relocating back to the region in 2009, the pair purchased their Groper Creek home in 2010, and immediately fell in love with the laid-back nature of the small, friendly community, through becoming valued and active members of the Home Hill Boat Club. Almost two years ago, Jeanette’s husband, Danny suddenly passed away, leaving Jeanette to continue as Manager on her own until she welcomed her new business partner, fellow community member, and friend, Wendy Coplick, into the fold. Now running and operating the park together, Jeanette and Wendy have worked closely together since 2019 and have established a functional workplace agreement with one another.

“Wendy and I have an agreement – she doesn’t go near my computer, and I don’t touch her mower!” explained Jeanette.

Together, with the unwavering support of Wendy’s husband Dave, Jeanette’s son Dallan, dear family and friends and the Home Hill Boat Club, the pair have raised the standards and reputation of the Groper Creek Caravan Park far beyond the expectations of both locals and travellers.

“Wendy and I both feel confident that we will be leaving Groper Creek Caravan Park in an improved state, and we are always receiving high praises from visitors that the park has never looked so good, the office has never run so professionally, the amenities have never been so clean, and that the managers are so friendly- our WikiCamps reviews have been outstanding!” shared Jeanette.

“We’ve certainly proven those knockers wrong - who would have thought two chicks could have run a caravan park so successfully?”

Jeanette and Wendy can testify its undoubtably true that no day managing a caravan park is the same, however with the sporadic burst of a water pipe aside, the pair both reflect fondly on annual State of Origin rivalries, daily antics and shenanigans, and the long-term friendships they have made with people from across the country.

“We built the park up, gaining Australia wide recognition, named Finalist in the National Grey Nomads Awards’ Small Caravan Park category for three years, and have put Groper Creek well and truly on the tourism map.

We're also extremely proud that we were able to fundraise and see the completion of "Our Front Yard Shelter" in honour of Danny, which we opened earlier this year.”

Once Jeanette welcomes retirement, she plans to remain an active member of the Groper Creek community, and both herself and Wendy are very much looking forward to days filled with sleep ins, walks on the jetty, casting a line, and spending time with family and friends.

“I’ll miss engaging with the varied travellers who role into Groper Creek from across the nation and abroad, everyone always has a story to tell, and people love discovering Groper Creek off the beaten track, initially booking in for a couple of days, then staying for a couple of months.

But then again, I’m not going anywhere – I’ll still be living at Groper Creek, and will just have more time to hear their stories.”

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Wendy Coplick and Jeanette Garvey are excited to soon leap into retirement.

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