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 story
When 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 story
Victoria 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 story
A 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 storyThrown into the deep end, Lisa Scobie, Forrest Beach Takeaway Owner, did not expect to be running Forrest Beach Disaster Management Group during a disaster.
Lisa contacted Forrest Beach Area Warden Gary Berkley to find out that he was not in the area and unavailable to assist Forrest Beach, so she stepped in to help the local community at a time when she was needed most.
On Sunday 2 February Lisa had taken initiative to door knock Wattle Street, to ensure people's safety for the next 24 hours, and on Monday she contacted Helen Stanton from Forrest Beach Surf Life Saving and she said that’s when things really started happening.
Lisa didn’t know she would be called upon to become the area warden, but she stepped up to the task.
The Forrest Beach Takeaway was set up as the Forrest Beach Disaster Hub and Lisa knew that, with communications were down, the shop would be a good way to centralise things.
With thanks to Jason from Blue Spark Electrical, the takeaway shop was able to regain communications thanks to his Starlink internet modem, and with a generator in place, they had power too.
After the first evening, Lisa said things just fell into place and the whole week ran itself.
“We had identified some key people. Helen Stanton was in charge of our comms. We had our medical people doing necessary checks and referrals and people that we already knew were unwell, and they worked in conjunction with Jo," she explained.
"We had the Surf Life Savers doing the welfare checks in conjunction with the firies. And we went and had a look at the school to make sure we had a helicopter landing zone,” said Lisa.
Lisa and the Disaster Management Group set up a barbecue outside of the takeaway shop, for people in need of hot food. After a few days of this, the strip of shops at Forrest Beach was named the Recovery Hub and the name stuck.
Power was restored for the majority of Forrest Beach on the Friday evening, with some getting power on Saturday afternoon, and after this things slowly got back to normal, Lisa also had her takeaway shop open for normal business on Sunday.
Publishers Indemnity. Any individual or entity that places advertising, supplies copy material, or submits editorial content to Core Life Publishing agrees and undertakes to ensure that all such material:- Does not infringe upon any copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property rights;- Is free from any content that could be considered defamatory, libelous, or slanderous;- Does not infringe upon any rights related to privacy or breach of confidence;- Contains no obscene, indecent, or otherwise unlawful material;- Complies fully with the Trade Practices Act and all other applicable laws, regulations, or statutes.Furthermore, by submitting or placing such material, these individuals or entities agree to indemnify and hold harmless the publisher, Core Publishing and Events Pty Ltd, and/or its agents from and against any and all investigations, claims, demands, liabilities, damages, costs, or judgments arising out of or in connection with the material provided. All material is believed to be accurate at the time of printing and remains the copyright of Core Publishing and Events Pty Ltd.
© 2024 Life Publishing Group Ltd.
