The Hinchinbrook Community Support Centre (HCSC) enjoyed a spooky twist on their Seniors Morning Coffee Club this week, celebrating Halloween on 24th October. The morning also included a special birthday celebration for October, with warm wishes to Joan Oldham — happy birthday, Joan! Attendees enjoyed a morning filled with Halloween-themed decorations, a few festive costumes, and plenty of laughter. Fun activities included a Halloween trivia challenge and several rounds of Bingo, making it a fantastic morning shared with wonderful company. The next Coffee Morning will be held on Thursday, 7th November. Anyone interested in joining in can contact Desley at the HUB for more details on (07) 4776 1822.
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Gilroy Santa Maria College marked a remarkable milestone on Wednesday, 30 October 2025, celebrating 75 years of education, faith, and community with a morning of reflection and festivity. Originally planned for last year but postponed due to severe weather, the long-awaited celebration brought together current and former students, staff, clergy, and community members to honour the College’s proud history and enduring legacy. The morning commenced with a liturgy led by Bishop Tim Harris of the Catholic Diocese of Townsville, setting a reverent tone for the occasion. Parish Priest Father John Kunnathumadappallil and Father Sylvester Emetuche from the Catholic Diocese of Townsville joined the ceremony, sharing in the blessings and prayers of the ceremonial mass. Among the many attendees was Bob Mitting, known affectionately as the “Barefoot Gilroy Boy”, who, along with several long-time past students, travelled from near and far to take part in the celebrations. Guests enjoyed guided tours of the College grounds, revisiting familiar spaces and exploring the many changes that have taken place over the decades. Inside the hall, displays of memorabilia, including vintage uniforms, old textbooks, alongside club and class photos, stirred fond memories and conversation, capturing the spirit of 75 years of growth and connection. The event provided an opportunity to celebrate the generations who have shaped Gilroy Santa Maria College into the vibrant learning community it is today, while also looking forward to the College’s future with pride and great optimism.
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The Hinchinbrook Festival of Events is entering week 3 of the event calendar, and the organisers are extremely pleased with the attendance and participation at the many events and celebrations delivered to date. The overwhelming and ongoing support from the local and visitor community has exceeded the organisers' expectations. Data recorded to date from each event indicates the majority of the ticketed events have been sell-outs, with the “free to enter” events exceeding previous attendance numbers. As the calendar continues to roll around, the next major event within the “Hinchinbrook Festival of Events” calendar is the NQIB Country Cups Challenge Qualifier - Hinchinbrook Cup Race Day on the 15th November at the Ingham Race Course! This event promises a full day of horse racing, fashion, and socialising that will not disappoint! Being a family-friendly event, a day of exciting trackside entertainment for the whole family is assured. Gates open at 11:00am on Saturday morning, with five local races. Local and southern bookmakers and Sky Racing are onsite for those who want to have a flutter. Live music and a DJ will entertain the crowd, with a bar and canteen open to keep the revellers fed and thirst-quenched. The spectacular “Fashions on the Field” is always a highly contested event and children’s amusements provide entertainment for the younger audience. This year, there is a new fashion category - “Living the Hinchinbrook Way – 4850” - which will add another interesting aspect to the fashions. So get ready to enjoy a day at the races, Hinchinbrook style! Pre-purchase Adult Entry Tickets ($15 each) and Tables ($60 per table – seats 10) online. With kids 0-14 years being free, and teens 14-17 years only available at the gate on race day. For more information, or to purchase Entry Tickets and/or Tables, visit https://hinchinbrookchamber.com.au/hinchinbrook-cup-race-day-family-event/
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Just like the dashing masked vigilante, Zorro is a handsome, well-dressed young feline with a heart full of promise and the opportunity for a bright future. Zorro may initially seem a bit shy, but give him just thirty minutes, and you'll find yourself enchanted by his gentle nature and sweet demeanour. Once he trusts you, he transforms into a dedicated purr machine, letting you know you've won his heart with his melodic symphony of affection. Zorro will do best in an environment where patience and plenty of love are abundant. His progression from a shy feline to an endearing companion makes him a truly rewarding pet to welcome home. Will you be the one to offer Zorro the loving space to settle and thrive? Please fill in an inquiry form at: https://www.angelpawsinc.com.au/forms.html. Included in adoption fee of $210 DESEXED, MICRO-CHIPPED, up to date VACCINATIONS, FLEA/TICK/INTESTINAL WORM treated. DOB: 1/10/2024 Sex: Male Breed: DSH Colour: Tuxedo Kid friendly: Yes Cat Friendly: Yes Dog Friendly: Untested Indoors/Outdoors: Indoors
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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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