Hinchinbrook’s Kylee Frankee has been awarded the Exceptional Tradeswoman, Technician, and Operator Award at the 2025 BMA Mitsubishi Alliance Queensland Resources Council (QRC) and Women in Mining and Resources Queensland (WIMARQ) Awards. With 16 years of experience as an Electrical and Instrument Technician, Kylee has earned a reputation for her expertise, leadership, and dedication to supporting apprentices and advocating for mental health in the workplace. A passionate mentor, she also champi
Read the full storyIf your child was born after March 2024, the Hinchinbrook Shire Council warmly invites your family to attend the 2025 Baby Welcoming Ceremony at the Hinchinbrook Shire Library. At this special event, your little one will be officially welcomed as a member of the Hinchinbrook community by the Mayor. Each family will receive a gift bag, a personalised certificate, and a commemorative sapling to symbolise the setting down of new roots and the special new bud added to your family tree. Parents and
Read the full storyThis year, Ingham Post Office is celebrating 90 years of service and keeping regional Queensland connected. Built in 1935, the post office has become one of the region’s most prominent community hubs and was added to the Australian Commonwealth Heritage List in 2012. Over the decades, it has connected generations of locals through letters, telegrams, phone calls, and now digital services. The region’s postal history dates back to 1871, when services began with a steamer mail run from Cardwell a
Read the full storyDawn Service - Ingham 4:15am the DAWN PARADE will assemble at Mafeking Tree, opposite the Police Station. At the service conclusion all those attending are invited to the RSL Club for breakfast. RSL Remembrance Ceremony - Ingham 6:00am a ceremony will be conducted at the Ingham War Cemetery by the Herbert River Sub-branch of the Returned Service League of Australia. Commemoration Ceremony - Forrest Beach 7:00am a commemoration ceremony will be conducted at the Forrest Beach Memorial. Parade a
Read the full storyThe new owners of Halifax Hotel are loving their new life in the Hinchinbrook Region.
In August 2024 Luke Penning and Joe Mikuletic opened their doors to the Halifax community, and were thrilled when more than 200 people came along to welcome to them.
Between the two of them, Luke has the hospitality experience. He has been in the industry for almost 20 years, starting as a barista, and then worked in nightclubs, RSL, clubs, pubs and hotels.
By comparison, Joe has been selling forklifts for the past 27 years and, deciding to go for a career change has now been working in the hospitality industry for 15 weeks, saying he’s loving it so far.
“We're living the dream,” said Joe.
“When I was 18, drinking at the pub I always wanted to buy a pub and 30 something years later, we have.
“What I like about it is the small town, everybody knows everybody. Everybody looks after each other. Everybody respects each other.
“The community is tight knit and so welcoming as well, once you are here you feel like a local and are treated like a local too.
“The way they have welcomed us has been very humbling.”
Meanwhile, Luke said employing local is very important to them.
“We employ local first,” he explained.
“We have an extra seven positions now and they've all gone to locals.”
Since taking over, Luke and Joe have been busy with renovation works too, giving the place a new paint job and spruiking it up so there is a new light and airy feel that the community say they love.
In the future, the pair hope to add a beer garden extension, outdoor entertainment areas, an external wood fired pizzeria, an outdoor bar, and even a kids playground.