With countless cars making the drive out to see the infamous Christmas lights at Paul Cavallaro’s house, this lively and extravagant display has become a Hinchinbrook family tradition during the merry season, dating back 21 years. Paul and his mother Mary began creating a lights display for Paul’s nephew and discovered that they enjoyed it so much they continued expanding their collection and, as the years went by, their reputation grew. Continued on page 3 Paul Cavallaro and his mother Mar
Read the full storyWith unpredictable weather attempting to dampen the festive spirit of the region, the Hinchinbrook Chamber of Commerce and Markets at the Mosaic organisers assured the second 2024 Late Night Shopping event would go ahead, rain, hail or shine! On Thursday 19th December, a wonderful turnout filled Mercer Lane and surrounding precincts, with stalls retailing handmade delights, delicious treats, beautiful plants, fantastic florals, and more for all to enjoy. Shoppers flooded the streets, supporting
Read the full storyIngham will soon be treated to another wonderful celebration of Italian culture with the return of the Australian Italian Festival scheduled for Saturday 7 June, and Sunday 8 June 2025! An annual celebration of all things food and culture, the Australian Italian Festival continues to make headlines across the state, with the atmosphere beautifully complimented by Ingham’s gorgeous TYTO wetlands and parklands. Since its establishment in 1995, the festival has grown exponentially with the suppor
Read the full storyOn Monday 9 December the Hinchinbrook Emergency Service Cadets had their graduation, acknowledging the hard work they have dedicated to the service. 18 Cadets received their end of year graduation certificates marking the completion of the 2024 Program, while one Senior Cadet who is now over 18, graduated the whole program, having been a cadet for the past four years. On the night all Cadets graduated the year and some received special awards. Keldon Fletcher was awarded the Don Prichard mem
Read the full storyWilmar Sugar and Renewables 2024 crushing season in the Herbert region has drawn to a close under the shadow of significant challenges that have left some growers grappling with the harsh economic reality of standover cane. Wilmar announced the cessation of operations at Victoria Mill last week, citing a lack of adequate cane supply amid continuing wet weather and forecasted rainfall.
This year’s season has been fraught with setbacks, starting with early industrial action, wet weather, and factory breakdowns that delayed the start of crushing operations. These compounding problems left the region playing catch-up, only to be further hindered by the arrival of the wet season.
Wilmar reported that the decision to end crushing was made following consultations with grower representatives and harvesting contractors, as it became clear that operations were no longer commercially viable. Farmers now face the grim reality of standover cane, which not only impacts this season’s bottom line but also has ripple effects on next year’s harvest.
Harvesting contractors who were cutting were asked to make every effort to get the last bins on the line by 6pm on the 18th of December.
The company’s spokesperson acknowledged the collective effort, stating, “We thank all growers and harvesting operators for your hard work this season and wish you a safe and relaxing Christmas with family and friends.”
According to grower representatives, the difficulties that have characterised the 2024 season and the ongoing challenges predicted for 2025 must be addressed.