Qld

In front of a packed F.E. Logan Hall at Clifton on Saturday night Wattles Warriors captain Ty Gardner joined the list of club ultimate achievers when he was presented with the prestigious Clifton Courier Shield as player of the year for the 2023 season.

For as long as anyone can remember the topic of property prices has always been a major conversation piece around the BBQ or office morning tea, but today the discussion takes on a new level of hysteria, especially if you are renting or buying.

The Queensland Farmers’ Federation (QFF) has welcomed yesterday’s release of the new Queensland Water Strategy by the Queensland Government. The release of the strategy, which marked the commencement of National Water Week 2023, aims to outline how government will deliver a sustainable and more secure water system for Queensland.

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Cambooya teen Jordon Fenton-Anderson has had an amazing season in Futsal and Soccer as a goalkeeper. Jordon has just competed at the National Schools Futsal Championships, where she was honoured to Captain the South West 15s to runners-up for the second year in a row. Due to her standout performance at the championships she has just been named on the Australian 16s Futsal team.

The planned Gardens of the Downs tour for Greenmount and Vale View has been altered due to the lack of rain. The three gardens at Greenmount will no longer be open for viewing, although the garden of Tonia and Paul Grundy at Vale View will still be open ... Ponder life next to the raked dry garden bed or delight in the small waterfall and stream that flows to a scenic pond with water lilies in bloom.

Talented local singer and songwriter Lee ann Weekes has released her first single and it has already brought her some success. Lee ann lives at West Haldon and her first single, Don’t Talk to Strangers is a song she wrote paying tribute to the beauty of her aunt’s unconditional love for her husband (Lee ann’s uncle), who courageously battled the effects of dementia before his passing in 2022.

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The Allora Sports Club President, Kev Harrison reported a fabulous result for 2023 at the club's Annual General Meeting held on Monday evening. At the best attended AGM in almost 10 years, Kev was ecstatic with the performance of all three club activities, namely golf, bowls and social functions.

Labor's superannuation changes are set to disproportionately impact family farms held in self-managed super funds (SMSF) if they exceed new thresholds. Leader of The Nationals, and Federal Member for Maranoa David Littleproud said family farms, particularly where their properties are in a SMSF, would be hit the hardest by Labor's superannuation tax grab.

Situated in the Goomburra Valley The Long Neck Farm has now re-opened. Tanya and Corrie Ross of Long Neck Farm tell us that the renovations are now complete so the welcome mat is out ready for visitors to call in and enjoy the fun attractions and facilities.

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Shitbox Rally Spring 2023 – Port Douglas, Qld to Adelaide, SA via Birdsville. 500 people in teams of two will leave Port Douglas on  Saturday 14th  October 2023  in the morning. Then after 7 days of driving over 3,000kms on dusty, mostly unsealed roads they will cross the finish line in Adelaide, SA on Friday 20th  October…..however, some cars simply won’t make it.

Lockyer Valley Regional Council has welcomed announcement by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on plans for a new desalinisation plant, saying it could free up existing infrastructure and water supplies for industrial and agricultural use and provide water security for our population growth. Lockyer Valley Regional Council Mayor, Cr Tanya Milligan said while the Premier’s announcement wasn’t specifically about water security for the Lockyer Valley and Somerset regions, the overall SEQ water plan put the local project in a favourable light.

Solutions to the nation’s growing energy crisis, which has seen Australian electricity bills rise by up to 20 per cent over the past 12 months, were debated by energy experts, industry leaders and rural and regional representatives in a first-of-its-kind outback energy forum in Mount Isa ... Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) Leader and Traeger MP Robbie Katter’s Mount Isa Nuclear Power Forum saw dozens converge in the industrial city that is surrounded by “legally un-mineable” uranium deposits.  

Queensland’s 2023 sugarcane harvest has finally hit the halfway mark with over 50% of the estimated 30.1 million tonne crop now cut and crushed at the state’s 19 sugar mills ... Tableland district, which kicked off this year’s crush on 21 May, is now on the home stretch, as is Bundaberg, with both districts having crushed more than 75% of their crop.

The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) (Queensland Section) is marking the momentous 80-year anniversary of its Charleville Base this October. Established in 1943, the Charleville Base services a waiting room of more than 622,000 square kilometres, connecting the residents of this significant South-West Queensland region to leading, and often lifesaving, health services ... As part of the 80-year anniversary, the RFDS (Qld) will also celebrate the individual 20-year anniversary of two of its nurses, Joanne Mahony and Diane Dowrick.

It is the author’s belief that Australia is not adequately prepared for upcoming bushfires.   To be frank, we as a society have learnt very little following 2019/20, especially in regards to bushfire mitigation. Communities, firefighters and the ecosystems are highly exposed over the coming El Nino period and a lot of bushfire skills have been lost.   Disaster and insurance costs are going up every year and will continue to go up with current adapted approaches.

The Wallaby Creek Festival 2023, held from September 22 to 24 at Shipton’s Flat Road in Rossville, Tropical North Queensland, proved to be an overwhelming success, marking its 21st anniversary in grand style. Festival Director Jen Midgely expressed her delight, saying, “This year’s Wallaby Creek Festival has been a phenomenal celebration of music, art, and community.

The Queensland Farmers’ Federation (QFF) are pleased to announce the expansion of their free energy saving program, Energy Southern Queensland (EnergySQ), to the Toowoomba and Western Downs regional council areas ... The expansion of the program will now give access to farms in all four regional councils areas supported to develop an Energy and Carbon Action Plan specific to their operation.

Local state Member for Condamine Pat Weir has revealed he will be voting no at the Australian Indigenous Voice referendum. In the past, when asked how he will vote Mr Weir has said he would take time to look at both sides of the debate before making an informed decision. Among his concerns was if the issue warrants amending the Constitution.