By Amanda Wright The 2025 Federal Budget was never just about dollars and cents—it was about the direction Australia takes in the years ahead. Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ latest budget, delivered on 25 March, makes clear where the Albanese government believes that the future lies: in cost-of-living relief, housing, and a transition to a more sustainable economy. But with an election now set for 3 May, it’s impossible to ignore the political stakes. Is this a responsible economic plan or a budget de
Read the full storyWhen disastrous floods swept through the region in February, the town of Ingham found itself in a crisis unlike any it had seen in recent memory with devastating flood waters surpassing the levels they reached in the historic floods of 1967. Amidst the chaos of the floods the local medical practices Hinchinbrook Healthcare and Ingham Family Medical Practice banded together in times of uncertainty and provided a glimmer of light to Ingham residents, demonstrating remarkable resilience and resour
Read the full storyVictoria grew up in Brisbane and went on to pursue a Cert III in Business Administration while also qualifying as a swimming teacher through AustSwim. Their career path led them to roles as a receptionist and swimming instructor, where they worked hard to fund their Diploma of Arts. Later serving as an editor for a medical journal at Queensland University of Technology, Victoria further sharpened their writing and editorial skills. Victoria's family live in Macknade and moving to the reg
Read the full storyA striking symbol of resilience and awareness now stands along the highway in Ingham—its vivid blue branches reaching out as a reminder that no one has to struggle in silence. The Blue Tree Project, a national initiative aimed at breaking the stigma around mental health, found a home in the town in July 2023, thanks to a collaborative community effort. Councillor Donna Marbelli first saw a Blue Tree while driving between Townsville and Ingham and knew the town needed one of its own. The search
Read the full storyBeaumont Tiles, in Ingham has been a cornerstone of the local building and renovation industry, providing expert advice, quality products, and unwavering community support. Owned and operated by Helen and Eric Shoubridge, this family business is more than just a tile and bathroomware supplier, it is a trusted resource for homeowners and builders alike.
The store serves for both residential and commercial customers, providing tiles floors, walls, kitchens, and bathrooms and assisting in designing and creating beautiful bathrooms and laundries with our fixtures and fittings. Beaumonts Exclusive Complete Bathroom Packages make creating beautiful bathrooms a breeze. If you want to visualise perhaps your main floor make-over with our stunning tiles, our BeVisual Live Visualiser is the perfect tool.
Helen emphasises that tiles are more than just a functional, they are in fact amongst the most durable and hardwearing flooring product available. The beauty of these pieces truly bring the WOW factor into a space. New technologies in tile production has seen the development of natural looking stone, marble and wood tiles. They have all the durability of porcelain without the hard work and maintenance and upkeep.
"We are thrilled that our range has everything from the on trend 100x 100 tiles, to subways and even large format beauties that are 1m x 3m," she said.
A significant part of their work involves collaborating with homeowners, contractors, and insurance companies to ensure seamless renovations.
People go into Beaumont Tiles with plans, and they can recommend tiles and bathroomware to work within different price ranges, all whilst finding what the customer had envisioned.
Helen and Eric moved to the district in 2004 to become motel owners and operators, and the experience they have gained since living in the region has allowed them to prepare for future disasters.
They have faced significant flooding and cyclone events whilst living in Ingham, and they quickly learnt the importance of quality materials and expert advice. This understanding led them to join Beaumont Tiles, a company known for its extensive range and reliable supply chain.
“We’ve been through these challenges ourselves,” Helen explained.
“Every flood has taught us something valuable, and that knowledge allows us to guide our customers on how to make the best choices for their homes and businesses.”
The recent floods brought unexpected challenges, with the store’s warehouse experiencing flooding for the first time. Despite taking precautions by storing materials on pallets, some stock was damaged. However, due to Beaumont Tiles being Australia wide with locations throughout the country, they were able to work successfully to fulfil orders.
Helen said that Beaumont Tiles were and continue to be incredibly supportive, assisting in the recovery process, and ensuring that supply remains consistent despite logistical difficulties.
Community support remains at the heart of Helen and Eric’s business philosophy.
“One of the reasons we chose to stay in Ingham was the incredible community spirit,” Helen said.
“When we first moved here, people would come by and ask if we needed help after a flood.”
Helen continues to give thanks for all the support shown to her in the early years by actively volunteering with Life Long Supports and The Abergowrie Long Pocket QCWA.
While Beaumont Tiles does not handle installations directly, Eric and Helen provide customers with names of local businesses and assist customers in working through current building challenges in the area.
As design trends evolve, the store ensures that customers have access to the latest styles and materials.
“Beaumonts designers travel the world and are amongst the best in the country in tile and bathroomware design selections, therefore you’ll see our range always has what’s new alongside the classics everyone loves,” said Helen.
“It’s quite exciting to collaborate with people to make their flooring, bathrooms, kitchens and laundries satisfying.”
Helen and Eric’s commitment to the community, combined with their deep industry knowledge has made Beaumont Tiles in Ingham an invaluable resource for homeowners and businesses alike.