Are they not the most gorgeously beautiful and courageous ladies you have seen? Taking that step out into the Maraka spotlight are our wonderful Queens and Princesses, each putting themselves out there for the chance to claim the crown. You’ll get to meet them at the Wine and Cheese Night, the Afternoon Tea, Kids Big Day Out, and Aquathon, all before Hinchinbrook comes together for the ultimate display of regional pride at the Maraka Festival Mardi Gras Parade and Crowning. Mark your calendars as October runs Maraka royal green, floats and fireworks are just the tip of the festival iceberg!
Read the full storyAre they not the most gorgeously beautiful and courageous ladies you have seen? Taking that step out into the Maraka spotlight are our wonderful Queens and Princesses, each putting themselves out there for the chance to claim the crown. You’ll get to meet them at the Wine and Cheese Night, the Afternoon Tea, Kids Big Day Out, and Aquathon, all before Hinchinbrook comes together for the ultimate display of regional pride at the Maraka Festival Mardi Gras Parade and Crowning. Mark your calendars as October runs Maraka royal green, floats and fireworks are just the tip of the festival iceberg!
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On Saturday 11 October, the Cardwell Coastguard hosted its annual Tropical Plant Expo, drawing plant lovers from near and far. The event featured an impressive range of plants for both display and sale, with many local sellers showcasing exceptional specimens. Visitors enjoyed browsing the stalls, chatting with growers, and picking up new additions for their gardens. Alongside the plants were home-grown fruit and vegetables, a delightful selection of prize-winning homemade jams, and beautiful artworks by Mandy. No Coastguard event would be complete without the classic BBQ, complemented by coffee and cake. It was a wonderful day enjoyed by all who attended.
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TYTO Regional Art Gallery is currently home to two thought-provoking exhibitions, each exploring the world around and beyond, through entirely different lenses. In the main gallery, Flies and Weevils and Cockroaches by Lorraine Lamothe invites visitors to see beauty where they might least expect it. At 75, Lorraine found herself yearning to reconnect with her creativity after a quiet spell. “I thought, well, that’s it, I’ve got to put myself out there again and see what can happen,” she said. When Tyto confirmed her exhibition, she recalls thinking, “You’re not done yet, girl. You’re not done yet.” That moment reignited her passion for creating work that not only excites but also makes people think. Her collection of sculptural insects and woven displays celebrates the misunderstood creatures most people prefer to avoid. “I chose insects that are really disliked,” Lorraine explained. “People need to understand that they’re not all bad. They break down decaying plant material and help the environment. Let’s not be prejudiced about these insects, let’s find joy in them.” Across the way, in the Niche Gallery, artist Ashleigh Jane takes visitors into the realm of myth and legend with Mythical Beasts. Her intricate illustrations breathe new life into creatures drawn from global folklore, from Egyptian hybrids to celestial goddesses. “I’ve always been fascinated by mythology and folklore,” she said. “I wanted to delve a little deeper and rediscover stories that lurk in the darkness, the ones people might not know.” Ashleigh’s exhibition features works from her upcoming second book. Each piece is both a visual story and a modern reimagining of ancient tales. “My favourite story is about Doddle, a rain goddess who milks her heavenly cows to make it rain,” she shared. “But my favourite drawing is the Ikenty, a bird with a cat’s head found in Egyptian hieroglyphs. No one really knows what it was for, but I loved bringing it to life.” Together, these two exhibitions celebrate the power of curiosity, whether it’s found in the smallest of creatures or the myths that have shaped cultures for centuries. Both artists remind us that inspiration can be rediscovered at any stage of life, and that beauty often hides in the unexpected.
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The Bruce Highway is the most important road in our region, it serves as the major north-south freight and commuter corridor, connecting various coastal population centres from Brisbane to Cairns over a total length of 1,673km.
For numerous years, the Bruce Highway has been in dire need of repairs and funding. Last week, the government announced that $9 billion will be funded for the Bruce Highway, $7.2 billion from the federal government and $1.8 billion from state funding.
The Ingham to Innisfail stretch of the Bruce Highway has been identified as a key funding hot spot, and Nick Dametto, MP Member for Hinchinbrook, is thrilled.
“We are all very excited to see not only the Albanese government but the opposition leader, Peter Dutton, make a commitment of $7.2 billion to improvements along the Bruce Highway,” said Mr Dametto.
“We are particularly interested in the section between Ingham and Innisfail. It is probably one of the most treacherous parts of the Bruce Highway with a number of narrow bridges, narrow sections of the highway, and also a number of floodplains.
“To see that money allocated to the Bruce is great.”
Nick Dametto and Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter have petitioned for improvements in the area for some time and are happy that funding will occur.
“Bruce Highway is the lifeblood of Queensland. Nothing goes up and down the coast without it, and this section of the Bruce Highway is particularly prone to flooding, especially in that wet season era,” said Mr Dametto.
“That means during those times where not only can we not get our produce out of North Queensland, but we can't get product into North Queensland.
“It is vitally important to keep the Bruce hallway open as much as possible.
“When it comes to safety improvements, there have been a number of treacherous accidents that have claimed lives and a number of near misses.
“Improving, by not only widening of the Bruce Highway, adding overtaking lanes and also the flood mitigation, will be beneficial to all that live and use the highway on a daily basis, but also those trucking in our transport companies.”
Hinchinbrook Shire Council Mayor Ramon Jayo has identified some areas along the Bruce Highway that he hopes will receive funding.
“The main concern is floodproofing; the section of road through Seymour River and Arnot Creek is also very narrow, and there have been quite a number of traffic accidents there in our jurisdiction,” said Mayor Jayo.
“If once the road does get fixed up for flooding, it will obviously be built to the new current standards and the new current standards do take into account the width of the road for safety purposes.”
Mayor Jayo also said the Bruce Highway is vital to our region's tourism sector.
“A lot of industries travel on that road and a lot of tourism activity. If we don't have good road systems, we don't have good connectivity, then we can't grow our industry, and we can't grow our tourism.
“It all relates back to being able to provide products in a timely and proper manner.
“It is about growing the north and giving us the facilities up here that the south has been using for quite some time.”
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