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
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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
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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
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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 storyThe story of Paul Tabone is a tale of passion, discovery, and the timeless allure of opera. From the sun-kissed streets of Ingham to the grand, historic theatres of Italy, Paul’s journey into the world of classical music was forged not just in notes and scales but in the rich, centuries-old traditions of Italian opera.
Paul Tabone has been interested in music for as long as he can remember. He has been playing the piano since he was nine.
Despite being in the school choir, he didn’t know he could sing until his piano teacher asked him to sing one day.
“I didn't know I could sing until later on in life, I was about 14 or 15, but it was only because Mrs. Phillips (Paul’s piano teacher) asked me to sing one day,” said Paul.
“She heard me sing, and it was only then that we discovered that it was possible.
“Then I got very interested in that concept because I'd already, for many years, been infatuated with classical music, like that of Pavarotti and Mario Lanza.
After school, Paul completed his studies at CQ University’s Conservatorium of Music with a Bachelor of Musical Theatre, and he excelled straight out of university.
Paul was in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s $12 million dollar opera ‘Love Never Dies’, but following this Paul moved to Italy to study opera and invest in himself as a classical singer.
“I owe everything to going to Italy and learning a proper technique, which I think is something that young singers here in Australia lack because, the tradition of opera is a very old tradition in Italy, and it's very difficult to find teachers here in Australia who actually teach a proper method of singing,” explained Paul.
“The technique is called the Melocchi, and it's not a technique that you can find here in Australia, because there's only four remaining practitioners of that technique, and they're all in Europe.
“It was extremely eye-opening for me, and it was wonderful.”
Paul is looking forward to an exciting 2025, including a show right here in the Hinchinbrook Region.
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