Post on 03-Apr-2018
A welcome from the Home Hill Business Community - No. 16—Aug 2016
Festival planning moves
THE Home Hill Rotary Club has recognised the
contribution of one of its own members with the
presentation of one of the organisation’s high-
est honours, a Paul Harris Fellow Award.
The presentation was made at the recent Rota-
ry Club Changeover night, with President Da-
vid Jackson making the award announcement
to a surprised recipient.
Ray McKaig joined the Rotary Club in October
2004 and has been a regular attender at the
club’s community service activities, while also
holding several positions on the club’s Board of
Directors, including that of treasurer for more
than two years.
Named after the founder of Rotary Internation-
al, Paul Harris, the award comes after a dona-
tion by the club of $1000(US) to the Rotary
Foundation, which will help to fund projects
and programs to improve the lives of people
around the world and enhance international
friendship and understanding.
RIGHT—Ray McKaig (left) accepts his award from
Rotary Club President, David Jackson.
HOME HILL NEWS
competing against their across-the-
river rivals, Ayr.
As well, the annual Bride of the
Year Competition will take place on
Saturday evening, October 22, with
a number of local brides vying for
the title.
So far, the Festival Committee has
four candidates nominated - Kim-
berley Bourke representing the Bur-
dekin Netball Association, Kate Neal
who will represent the Home Hill
Rotary Club, Alysse Steele who is
the nominee for the Burdekin Race
Club and Natalie Land who will rep-
resent the Home Hill Lions Club.
More nominations were expected
prior to the commencement of fund-
raising.
Wilmar is the Harvest Festival’s
naming rights sponsor, while other
major sponsors include the
Queensland Country Credit Union
and Southern Cross Austereo.
The committee is also hoping to
gain sponsorship from the Burde-
kin Shire Council.
The 2016 Festival will be officially
launched on Friday, August 5 at
the Bridge Restaurant in Home
Hill.
Festival President, John Woods
said the committee had this year
added an additional prize for their
queen entrants with a participation
award.
“We have also increased the gifts
that each entrant will receive and
we are currently finalising those
gifts,” he advised.
FUNDRAISING for the annual Home
Hill Harvest Festival will commence
from August 1 as planning moves
forward for the popular event.
The Festival will take place from Fri-
day, October 28 through to Saturday,
November 5, with lead-in events in-
cluding the annual Bride of the Year
competition and the Town of Origin
rugby league games.
The crowning of the Harvest Festival
Queens will take place on Friday,
November 4 and the winning queens
will lead the procession on Saturday,
November 5 prior to the night of
Mardi Gras activities.
The lead-in events for the festival
program involve the popular Town of
Origin Rugby League games, featur-
ing teams from the Home Hill Devils
Founder’s honour for local Rotarian
The finer points of Home Hill . . ISN’T it intriguing that cities
around the nation can have
hundreds of millions of dollars
thrown at them by political par-
ties for major developments
while regional areas have to
beg and scrape for every mor-
sal they can gather?
Take the situation in Townsville
where a new sporting stadium
and entertainment centre is
needed to give the city a boost
in tourism, sport and employ-
ment. State and Federal Gov-
ernments came to the party
and promised multi-millions of
dollars towards the project in
the recent federal election and
it seems that it could go ahead
in the future, no matter which
political party is in power at
whichever level of government.
Now compare that situation to
the Burdekin where there is a
strong need for a sporting sta-
dium in Ayr to replace aging
facilities for basketball and oth-
er sports, while there is an
even more desperate need in
Home Hill for a multi-purpose
shelter at the Home Hill High
School, which could also be
used as a place of refuge dur-
ing cyclones, a venue for enter-
tainment and sporting events
and a much-needed education-
al facility for the students of the
school.
The Ayr project has an offer of
a council interest-free loan and
political support over three lev-
els of government, but not
much else to help it on its way.
The Home Hill project gained
welcome financial commit-
ments from the State Govern-
ment and the LNP candidate
for Dawson, George Christen-
sen towards the project to add
to the many hard-earned dol-
lars they have gathered togeth-
er towards getting the shelter.
However, don’t ever expect to
find shelter in a cyclone in what
the current funds will produce
because there would not be
much more that a floor and roof
with the required supports,
based on the totals in the bank at the
present time.
Towns and cities along the coastline
were able to gain cyclone shelters in
the past while schools in the same
areas have the added advantage of
modern covered shelters for various
forms of education activities—and
Ayr was fortunate to gain their cy-
clone shelter through contributions
from state and local governments.
But should Home Hill be the centre of
a forthcoming cyclone, local citizens
are going to be left to fend for them-
selves because for some reason, our
town is not regarded as worth saving
by the higher levels of government.
The people of Home Hill have always
strongly supported projects that ben-
efit our community and that will be
the case into the future—but the full
benefits of a multi-purpose shelter in
the town will only come this way
through much stronger financial con-
tributions from state and federal
treasuries.
PARKING seems to be an ongoing
problem in the central business dis-
trict of Ayr—but shoppers can easily
alleviate any problems with finding
suitable parking spaces by heading
to Home Hill. After all, a parking
problem in Home Hill would be an
excellent one to have, as it would
mean people are supporting the busi-
nesses in the town.
IT IS great to see the large numbers
of visiting grey nomads and back-
packers walking around the central
business district of Home Hill on a
regular basis, with many of them car-
rying shopping bags from Home Hill
businesses.
With the many visitors making use of
the Comfort Stop, the former show-
grounds and Ford Park at the south-
ern entrance to the town, it is certain-
ly adding to our local economy in a
big way—especially with the slow-
down in local spending because of
the recent hold-up in the crushing
from the unwanted and unseasonal
rain.
However, there seems to be one im-
portant item that our visitors are crav-
ing—and they don’t seem to be able to
find it mainly on a Monday.
That is their desire to sit down and
relax with a cup of coffee at a local
business.
Now we know Home Hill now has sev-
eral fine eateries that are serving our
community and many of them have
only been set up since the advent of
the Comfort Stop. Smoko is available
in the town because we were told
once by some grey nomads that they
had “coffee and scones to die for” at
one of our eating establishments.
And while we do not know the actual
trading hours of individual eateries, it
may be advantageous if they were to
get together to stagger their opening
times and respective days off, so the
desires of our travellers for a coffee
and relaxation are met. We do know
our local newsagency did put in a cof-
fee machine to meet those needs for a
coffee break.
IF local businesses are finding it diffi-
cult and costly to get their message
across in encouraging local residents
to shop locally, they have an answer
through advertising in this Chamber of
Commerce publication, the “Home Hill
News”. It seems that some people
seem to believe they have to be a
member of the Chamber to be able to
advertise—but that is not the case,
although the Chamber would welcome
the support of all local businesses by
becoming financial members. Howev-
er, for $50, local businesses can get
their message across in a quarter
page advertisement that is being circu-
lated to a major portion of the town
and surrounding areas, including Ayr.
The only restrictions to advertising is
on businesses from out of town whose
message could be detrimental to a
current member of the chamber.
Any business wanting to get their mes-
sage across should contact the cham-
ber to arrange their advertisement in
future editions—for just $50—or even
less if necessary.
- DAVID JACKSON
THE Home Hill Rotary Club
has commenced its new year
with a new Board of Directors,
following their annual Change-
over Night held at the Malpass
Hotel at the end of June.
The club has started the year
with the same president, with
David Jackson entering his
fourth year in the leadership
position and second in succes-
sion.
However, there were changes
to the new Board of Directors,
which comprises President-
elect Rod Alford, Secretary
Ken Mackney, Treasurer Ray
McKaig, and directors, Mike
Newton and Richard Creek
(community service), Peter
Quinlan and Ray Menkens
(club service), Judith White
(international service) and Alf
Musumeci (vocational service).
The highlight of the evening
was the presentation of a Paul
Harris Fellowship to the club’s
treasurer, Ray McKaig for his
services to the club and the
community over the years he
has been a member.
Presenting his annual report,
Mr Jackson took the opportuni-
ty to thank all club members
for their contribution to the
club’s activities, including un-
dertaking their various roles to
ensure the smooth running of
the club and the monthly club
meetings at the club house,
which has been growing in
popularity amongst the mem-
bers and their partners.
He also noted the contribution
of the club’s Harvest Festival
Queen entrant, Emily Poli and
her family towards the club’s
very successful year.
Community Service Director,
Fred Morcom reported on the
club’s service to the communi-
ty which resulted in donations
totalling almost $12,000 to the
community and to international
and youth services.
He also noted the efforts that went into
various events, including a trivia night
and a progressive dinner, the festival
Ball and Mardi Gras activities and a
bowls night.
He also noted the co-operation that
existed between the Rotary and Lions
Clubs in the town while participating in
joint fundraising activities. That resulted
in a donation being made to the Home
Hill Community Kindergarten from the
proceeds to upgrade their “mud kitch-
en”.
That joint service also resulted in a po-
table Oxygen Generator being present-
ed to a Home Hill resident to help im-
prove his lifestyle and allow him to go
out with his family.
Queen entrant, Emily Poli had also
made a donation of $2500 to the
Golden Octopus Foundation from her
festival fundraising activities.
Reports were also provided by the
club’s International and Vocational
Service Directors on their areas of
service to the community and to the
Rotary Foundation.
The Home Hill Rotary Club meets
every Tuesday at the Malpass Hotel
with meetings commencing at
6.30pm.
The club would welcome any mem-
bers of the community who would like
to be involved in fundraising activities
as well as the fellowship events that
include the families of members.
Anyone interested should contact any
member of the club.
The new Home Hill Rotary Club Board of Directors comprises (from left) Alf Musumeci, Richard
Creek, Ray McKaig, Ken Mackney, David Jackson, Mike Newton, Rod Alford and Ray Menkens.
Absent were Judith White and Peter Quinlan.
Rotary starts year with new Board of Directors
THE Home Hill Lions Club wel-
comed their District Governor, Brian
Hewitt to their recent Changeover
Night, where retiring president, Sam
Harris handed over the reins of of-
fice to his successor, John Donald.
The Changeover of officers, which
took place at the Crown Hotel in
Home Hill, resulted in the new exec-
utive team being installed into their
respective positions by long-serving
club member, Trevor Davies.
That leadership team comprises
President John Donald, Secretary
Nyree Woods, Treasurer Tom Pick-
ersgill, Membership Chairman Sam
Harris, Second Vice President Lau-
rie Land and Past President Sam
Harris.
District Governor Brian Hewitt ad-
dressed the Home Hill members on
Lions Club projects and activities
that are being undertaken through-
out the district.
Saturday, 20th August, 2016— 9am to 12pm
HiWay Motors, Eighth Avenue, Home Hill
Gold coin donation per vehicle
All proceeds to Home Hill Rotary Club
The Home Hill Lions Club changeover Night resulted in retiring president, Sam Harris (left)
handing over the position to his successor, John Donald (centre). Official guest at the hando-
ver was District Governor, Brian Hewitt of Townsville.
District Governor meets Lions leaders
Boat ramp desires surveyed IF FISHING enthusiasts in the Home Hill communi-
ty would like their favourite boat ramps on the
south side of the Burdekin Shire upgraded, now is
the time to let the Burdekin Shire Council know
about their specific desires.
The council has called for urgent community input
on the region’s boat ramps to help guide the
Shire’s priority works list.
Mayor Lyn McLaughlin said the Department of
Transport and Main Roads would meet with the
Council next month to discuss upgrade or mainte-
nance priorities at the shire boat ramps over the
coming five years. “The State Government is re-
sponsible for the actual ramps, and council is re-
sponsible for associated car parking, lighting and
the maintenance of the access roads,” she said.
“The Department of Transport and Main Roads
has engaged a consultant to conduct a state-wide
study of recreational boating facilities and to gauge
the future demand for these facilities.
Cr McLaughlin said it was important recreational
boat users took the time to fill in the survey as it
would help council build a list of priorities they can
then supply to the consultant. “We have placed a
survey on council’s website and our social media
sites,” she said. Council’s survey
(www.surveymonkey.com/r/BSCboatramps) will be
open until August at www.burdekin.qld.gov.au or
BurdekinSC on Facebook, Twitter and Google+.
Classified Advertisements
The Home Hill Chamber of Commerce
acknowledges and appreciates the support of
Wilmar Sugar’s Inkerman Mill with the printing
of the Home Hill News.
Liessmann & Sons
Hardware merchants
Plumbers and Drainers
Blocked drains — Gas Fitters
Phone 4782 1612
1 Fourth Street, Home Hill
Email: liessmann@bigpond.com
Second chance for safer number plates THE Home Hill Rotary Club is to give motorists another
chance to take action to prevent number plates being
stolen for use in criminal activities, with a second date
being set for their “Turning the Screws on Crime” pro-
ject.
Following the first attempt at the project undertaken in
July, where 50 motorists took advantage of the oppor-
tunity to have the non-reversible screws installed on
their number plates, the Rotary Club has decided to
carry out the project again on Saturday, August 20 from
9am to 12 noon.
On this occasion, there will be a change of venue, with
the project to be undertaken on the driveway of HiWay
Motors in Eighth Avenue, Home Hill, which will provide
easier access for motorists wishing to participate.
Rotary Club President, David Jackson said that while
they were grateful for the support they received from the
Home Hill High School in allowing the use of their sports
oval for the first event, holding the project at HiWay Mo-
tors would provide Bruce Highway access to the site for
motorists.
“With increasing reports of number plates being stolen off
motor vehicles to be used in drive-offs from service sta-
tions and other criminal activities, hopefully, more motor-
ists will be able to take advantage of the offer to install
the non-reversible screws on their vehicles,” he said.
For a gold coin donation, vehicle owners can go to Hi-
Way Motors in Home Hill on Saturday, August 20, be-
tween 9am and 12 noon and have the screws on their
cars changed.
All proceeds from the project will go towards the commu-
nity service work of the Home Hill Rotary Club.
ONE of the guests at the
Home Hill Rotary Club’s re-
cent annual changeover night
was a former exchange stu-
dent, Robbie Dick from the
United States. Mr Dick was
the first Rotary International
exchange student ever hosted
by the Home Hill Club and he
spent 12 months in the town
in 1981-82 with four local fam-
ilies, as well as attending the
Home Hill High School. Dur-
ing his recent stay in the
town, Mr Dick renewed ac-
quaintances with his former
host parents, including Rose-
mary and Ray Menkens, who
is the longest serving member
of the Home Hill Rotary Club.
Former exchange student
on return trip to Home Hill
Former exchange student, Robbie
Dick (centre) with host parents,
Rosemary and Ray Menkens.
I offer you an alternative for all those little jobs around the
house. I am a handyman with over 30 years experience, com-
mencing from when I built our second home. I have experience
building and fitting flat pack cupboards. I built the rocketship
cubbyhouse (pictured). They were tough customers demanding
exacting requirements, but were quite satisfied with the finished
product. I am skilled at hanging
doors, changing locks, repairing
holes in walls and minor painting
jobs. I have also built raised gar-
den beds in my garden. I have
installed roller and track style
blinds and various styles of curtain
rods and I can repair screens and
change fluorescent tubes and light
bulbs.
SENIOR students of the Home Hill
State Primary School hosted their
counterparts from the Ayr State Pri-
mary School and the Burdekin
School for a variety of NAIDOC
Week activities in July.
Home Hill Primary School principal,
Judith White told the visiting students
and teachers that NAIDOC (National
Aborigines and Islanders Day Ob-
servance Committee) Week, which is
held in the first full week of July, is a
time to celebrate Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander history, culture
and achievements.
She said it was an opportunity to
recognise the contributions that In-
digenous Australians make to our
country and our society.
Mrs White said the celebrations
worked to the theme of “Songlines:
the living narrative of our nation”,
with Songlines being the intricate
maps of land, sea and country.
“They are a part of the dreamtime
and are told through songs, dance,
stories and art, while telling the
creation of stories in the dreamtime
and their connection to our country.
“They have been passed down for
thousands of years and are central
to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander cultural practices.”
Mrs White said NAIDOC is a very
special time of the year and all
Australian were encouraged to
participate in the celebrations and
activities that take place across the
nation during NAIDOC week.
She welcomed all the students and
invited them to stay and enjoy the
celebrations, which included tradi-
tional dancing and singing, bead
making and a talk by members of
Gudjuda and the Reef Guardians.
However, the highlight of the day
was a traditional sampling of food
from a Kup Murri, with the students
enjoying a meal of roast meat and
vegetables cooked in the ground
over hot stones.
Teams of students visited the various activities
throughout the morning as they learnt more of
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture.
Schools combine for NAIDOC Week
Gerald and Ollie Henaway entertain students from
the three schools with traditional music and songs.
Men from the Gudjuda Reference Group who prepared the Kup Murri food were
(from left) Joe Tallis, Elwyn Smallwood, Richard Devow (back) and Beau Lampton.
South Sea Islander dancers demonstrate their traditional dances to students from
the three local schools including Home Hill School captains in the background.
Burdekin Sugar Mills
Production Figures Week 6 and 7, ending July 23, 2016
Cane crushed Week six Season to date
Invicta 102,297 434,345
Pioneer 56,807 229,871
Kalamia 55,414 241,932
Inkerman 60,872 249,816
Burdekin 275,390 1,155,965
CCS
Invicta 12.84 12.46
Pioneer 12.64 12.40
Kalamia 12.4 12.20
Inkerman 12.52 12.14
Burdekin 12.64 12.32
Comments (week six):
The first million tonnes crushed milestone was
achieved on Tuesday, July 12. The Burdekin’s official
crop estimate is 8.3 million tonnes. However, paddocks
cut to date have yielded an average of 102 per cent of
the original estimate.
Crushing ceased at all mills on Friday morning follow-
ing the onset of showers on Thursday evening. At the
end of last week, 17 days had been lost to wet weather
for the season, compared to the 5.5 days forecast in
crush budgets. All eyes are on the skies and the
weather forecasts hoping for a good run of fine weather
to allow the season to progress. Current feedback from
suppliers is that we are likely to see little cane available
before the first week of August
Comments (Week seven)—There was no cane
crushed last week due to the wet weather, which did
not clear until Tuesday. It is hoped some harvesting
may be possible in the next week.
Wilmar is continuing to carry out maintenance on its
track and bin fleet during the interruption. Motorists are
reminded not to be complacent when approaching level
crossings, as trains may still be moving on the network.
Steve Postma ,
Cane Supply Manager, Burdekin Region
I AM finally back from leave and relieving at Townsville
and I am looking forward to getting back into the swing of
things here at Home Hill.
While working away at differing locations, I still look for-
ward to getting back to Home Hill where we still have the
luxury of being a small country town with good genuine
people who still respect one another and lack the selfish-
ness of larger centres.
Although we are kept busy with the undesirable element,
fortunately they only take up a small percentage of the
Divisional population. Personally I think they love the at-
tention they get from Police and therefore choose to com-
mit crime just to see our happy faces.
I can tell you that S/Constable Langford is away working
in the Townsville Police Communications Centre as part
of his career development and this will be for an extended
period of time. He seems to be enjoying the change and I
wish him all the best up there.
On behalf of myself, and my staff – Jason Robertson and
Andrew McDowell - we would like to thank you for the
efforts you put in to secure your houses and vehicles.
Although there are times where we occasionally find a car
unlocked in the street and at times come across a house
where the doors are unlocked, the effort you have taken
is reflected in the reduced statistics relating to house bur-
glaries and next to no car theft from within the Home Hill
Division over the past 12 months.
There are three areas of concern in which I wish to briefly
touch on. They are -
1. Domestic Violence: This scourge on our community
continues to show its ugly face time and time again. The
cowardly act of assaulting your partner, damaging proper-
ty, controlling behaviour and intimidatory behaviour still
continues in our society and is reflected in increased ap-
plications for Protection Orders and contravention of ex-
isting orders. I have instigated the policy here at Home
Hill Station that if you contravene an existing order, you
WILL go to the watchhouse in Townsville and be held
overnight to appear before the Magistrates Court the next
day. Hopefully this will act as a deterrent as the ‘walk of
shame’ back from Townsville is a long one.
2. Trail bikes and Quads: This continues to be an issue,
as just in the last two weeks, we have had one bike
seized, two evade police offences and two juveniles
charged for offences that do not need to take place. This
is unacceptable and we will continue to take action
against those who choose to continue these offences.
Again, you will lose your bike or quad and you will face
some serious fines in court. Just think about it, as the al-
ternative is a lot more painful and expensive.
3. Failing to Give Way to Emergency Vehicles: I have
spoken to my QAS and QFES counterparts and they all
share the same sentiments as I – When you see an
emergency vehicle approaching from the rear, slow
down, pull to the side of the roadway to allow them to
pass. The advantage we (emergency Services) obtain by
your courteous action could be the difference between
life and death, catching those persons unlawfully in
your house or extinguishing that fire before it takes
hold. We now have a camera set up in our police vehi-
cle and we may start taking enforcement action against
those that do not give way to emergency vehicles. Can
you afford the $731 fine for a private car or $1828 fine
for a heavy vehicle? I know I can’t. Give way – it’s sim-
ple and may stop you from receiving a ticket in the
mail.
Stay safe,
Sgt Brett Smith
OIC Home Hill
POLICE BEAT —OIC is back in town
Places to see, things to do in the Home Hill district The Burdekin Uniting Church Craft Fair—to be held at the Burdekin Memorial Hall in Home Hill from 9am to 3pm on Saturday, August 13, 2016. Craft of all shapes, sizes and types will be on display to the pubic. Home Hill Harvest Festival—A week of entertainment for all ages from Friday, October 28 through to Saturday, November 5, with the crowning of the Festival Queens at the Festival Ball on Friday night, November 4 and the Procession and Mardi Gras on Saturday evening, November 5. Lead-in events include the Town of Origin Rugby League matches between Home Hill and Ayr on Sunday, October 9 and the annual Bride of the Year competition on Saturday, October 22. The Big Canecutters—Visit the former Home Hill Showgrounds (at the southern end of town across the railway line) to see the representation of the former canecutters that cut the Burdekin district’s sugar cane crop before the advent of mechanical cane harvesting. Old Time Dancing at the St Helen’s Anglican Church Hall, Tenth Avenue, Home Hill every Saturday evening; Mount Inkerman—approximately 12km south of Home Hill, near the township of Inkerman. Access to the top is via a narrow road, which is not suitable for caravans Charlie’s Hill World War II site, about seven kilometres south of Home Hill – former radar station during the second world war—Old igloos and gun emplacement still in place; Pioneer Avenue Plaques – learn about the history of many of the pioneers of Home Hill and the Burdekin District by reading the plaques situated along the western side of the ti-trees in Home Hill’s main street Burdekin River and the Burdekin bridge - part of the Bruce Highway plus Home Hill Lions Club Diorama at southern end of bridge; Groper Creek—one of the many creeks in the Burdekin Delta allowing access to the numerous fishing areas throughout the Burdekin district—very popular with southern visitors who return each year to enjoy our climate over several months; Beachmount/Wunjunga—Visitors can move off the Bruce Highway south of Home Hill to spend time at the community’s beaches—Beachmount and the community of Wunjunga. Travel east off the highway south of Inkerman across gravel roads until meeting the sea in the vicinity of Funny Dunny Park where tourists can enjoy a stay in pleasant surroundings. Home Hill Swimming Pool (Eleventh Avenue) is open throughout the winter months. For the sports man and woman - Join in the friendly atmosphere at the Home Hill Golf Course (4782 1632—amongst the canefields on Iona Road) and on the Home Hill Bowling Green (4782 1185—in Ninth Avenue). Your comments on our town, and the services that are offered, would be appreciated. Email them to — ddjacko@bigpond.com or to —
secretary@homehillchamber.com .
TWO Home Hill-based organisations were amongst five local community groups, who were recognised by the Ayr
and District Orchid Society recently for the assistance provided in their own individual ways towards the success of
the recent 51st Tropical Queensland Orchid Council Conference. The conference, held on June 3, 4 and 5, 2016,
attracted large crowds throughout the duration of the event, as visitors from throughout Queensland and interstate
joined with local orchid enthusiasts in participating in conference sessions and inspecting the large number or orchids
that were on display. The Home Hill Chamber of Commerce was recognised for the publicity provided through the
“Home Hill News” for the event, while local Community Radio Station, 97.1 Sweet FM also contributed towards the
success of the event through their own advertising of the conference. Pictured at the handover of ‘thank you’ cheques
to the organisations were (from left) Orchid Society officers, Jane Muscari (treasurer), Violet Kachel (secretary), Sha-
ron Kenny (president) and recipients, Lyn Collins (Home Hill Chamber of Commerce), Kate Ferguson (Millaroo State
School), Jackie Kiloh (PCYC), Robert Lesca (Burdekin Community Association) and Cheryl Platt (Sweet FM).
Orchid Society recognises community assistance