The State Emergency Service (SES) played a crucial role in the flood recovery across Hinchinbrook, leading rescue and evacuation efforts in Ingham, Halifax, and Lucinda. Working with Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES), they helped residents in submerged homes, managed storm damage, and supported vulnerable individuals with food and medical aid. SES used aerial resources, including Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems, to assess damage. Area Controller John Forde praised the swift reco
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Following the devastating flooding that hit the Hinchinbrook Shire, the Hinchinbrook Shire Council are now in the recovery stage of a natural disaster. Deputy Mayor Mary Brown is chair of the recovery group and she said that there are four subgroups - Human and Social, Economic Development, Infrastructure and Environment. “We've been working in the background for quite some time and that's how we established the community recovery here locally,” explained Deputy Mayor Mary Brown. “We have a p
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One of the state’s most infamous celebrations of Italian culture will grace the Hinchinbrook Shire once again when the Australian Italian Festival returns on the 7th and 8th of June 2025. Over the decades, the festival has attracted waves of support and interest across the nation and beyond, and a particular State Library of Queensland interview conducted in 2013 further cemented the festival’s deserving place in the state’s history. 2013 President of the Australian Italian Festival Commi
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The Australia Day Pool Party at the Hinchinbrook Aquatic Centre on Sunday 26 January 2025, was a fantastic community celebration, bringing together families and friends for a day filled with fun, laughter, and Aussie spirit! A True Blue Aussie Celebration The festivities kicked off at 9.30am with a lamington style cake-cutting, setting the tone for a day of enjoyment. By 10am, DJ Wayne Newton was spinning all the Aussie classics, keeping the energy high and the good vibes flowing until 3pm—cre
Read the full storyHello Hinchinbrook,
How nice is it to see some blue skies? Watching the community start to reconnect, people start to move around town and the overwhelming support people are giving each other has been incredibly heart-warming to witness.
At the end of last week, I went on my own journey of reconnection. Before accepting the position here, I used to live in the Whitsundays and worked for our sister publication Whitsunday Life Newspaper. While I was there, my grandparents (who live in the UK) booked tickets to visit me . . . in the Whitsundays.
Obviously, this would not usually be a problem, in fact I was looking forward to the scenic drive down the coast. But with recent flooding events impacting the whole coast, I had a difficult decision to make.
Knowing that the road between Ayr and Home Hill was closed to all traffic, other than semi-trailers – if I started the journey south – would I actually make it to the Whitsundays?
The previous week I had been worried about Ollera Creek Bridge, and when it opened, I was thrilled. When the Burdekin flooded at Plantation Creek, it was yet another setback for me!
On Wednesday afternoon, however, I learned that trucks were ferrying cars across the river so I made the decision to leave as soon as I could. I rushed to Ayr, arriving at 6pm, just as they closed the crossing for the night! I was too late! But fortunate to get a hotel room locally.
Up early the next morning, I was down at the crossing at 6.30am to begin searching for a truck to take me across Plantation Creek. Almost four hours later and $300 poorer, I made it across the floodwaters.
Later that morning I had made it to the Whitsundays and, I am pleased to report, I spent a wonderful weekend with my family and I miss them all already.
Tomorrow I will return to the region, and I am looking forward to being back on the ground continuing to bring you full coverage of the flood recovery.
Daniel
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