Qld

Murray Stevens, 91, has long had a yearning to feel the sand between his toes and the ocean lap on his feet once more, and on Wednesday this become a reality. Murray was the first person to use an aided beach-walker and Mobi-mat at the  U-Beach Community Beach Day  at Nielson Park.

SwarmFarm Robotics announced it has raised a $12 million AUD Series A ($8.3 million USD) to develop and grow the Integrated Autonomy category in agriculture through the versatile SwarmBot platform and a breakthrough operating system network, SwarmConnect, that enables developers to create an array of innovative applications for users of the autonomous platform ... The team at SwarmFarm defines Integrated Autonomy as a new approach to autonomy on-farm that unlocks the full potential of driverless technology by providing specialty robotics solutions with an open platform to develop on.

A contingent of local residents is in training in preparation for a trek to the Mount Everest Base Camp in Nepal as a fund-raising adventure for Toowoomba-based mental health service Momentum Mental Health ... The self-funded event has attracted 18 starters but there is room for two more people.

Cambooya siblings Kyrna and Tomas Crump represented Queensland in the National Cricket Inclusion Championships. Kyrna is the first female to represent the State in the cricketers with an intellectual disability team and was the female competing in that division. Tom is the youngest to be picked, at the age of 14.

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NIOA Santa Gertrudis Stud at Talgai took home the big prize with Supreme Stud Beef Exhibit of the Allora Show. Leading the bull was Sam Falls from Warwick. Blue Ribbons were also awarded to NIOA for Supreme Bull and Supreme Female.

Allora man Ken was all smiles after being the first patient to receive a diagnostic angiogram at the Toowoomba Hospital earlier this month ... A coronary angiogram uses x-ray imaging and contrast dye to diagnose heart artery blockages.

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Get your calendars out and highlight these dates if you want to immerse yourself in a Sunshine Coast event like no other. Organisers have confirmed that the 2023 Horizon Festival, a 10-day showcase of culture, music, visual art, theatre, dance, comedy and creative workshops, will return in 2023 from August 25 to September 3.

Queensland Police is preparing to launch two new high-tech Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) in the state’s north as part of ongoing trials in assisting frontline officers. The advanced Teledyne FLIR SkyRanger R70, used by militaries across the globe, has joined the QPS fleet and is undergoing testing ahead of its deployment to Townsville and Cairns.

Mayor of the South Burnett, Brett Otto is urging local farmers and landowners to be vigilant when entering into discussions with proponents of renewable energy developments, including wind farms, solar energy sites and transmission lines. The South Burnett region will play a major role in the Queensland Government’s Energy and Jobs Plan and is expecting an influx of renewable energy infrastructure developers.

The Australian Beef industry and cattle herd are well positioned to capitalise on changing global supply dynamics in 2023. This year will be a year of transition and maturity for Australia’s cattle herd, with any increases in numbers now beyond rebuild status, with all key production metrics forecast to improve this year, according to the latest Cattle Industry projections update from Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA).

An amazing figure of $9,675 was raised at the Get Chopped Pub in Greenmount on Australia Day, which hosted the inaugural Sophie’s Gold Fish Race in the memory of Sophie Grace Patch ... Sophie, daughter of Todd and Tamara Patch of East Greenmount, tragically passed away in November 2022 at the young age of 11 months.

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Two days of action this Friday and Saturday at the Allora Show. Read all about what’s planned in our Show Feature inside.

Claire from Allora P-10 State School has set three new swim records in the Pool. At the School’s recent Annual Interhouse Swimming Carnival Claire won the Open 50m Freestyle, Open 50m Backstroke and 50m Butterfly.

Member for Maranoa and Nationals leader David Littleproud is backing calls for Labor to rule out scrapping the Fuel Tax Credit (FTC) scheme. Mr Littleproud said dumping the FTC scheme was another cost of living threat under Labor and would hurt families and businesses.

“Landowners are suffering an avalanche of new projects championed by the State Government owned corporation Powerlink Queensland. Powerlink has over 20 active connection projects attached to renewable energy developments spread from Cairns, Central Queensland right through to the Gold Coast,” Chair of Property Rights Australia (PRA) Rob Atkinson said.

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Valkyrie the Wedgetail Eagle at the Rockhampton Zoo will be receiving a belated Christmas present with a brand-new enclosure being constructed ... “The new enclosure will be built opposite the Kangaroos at the Zoo which will get Valkyrie down with her Australian buddies in the bottom section": Parks, Sport and Public Space Councillor Cherie Rutherford.