Council Connections - 9 December 2022

Santa Claus Photo Opportunity, 44th Hinchinbrook Art Awards Exhibition Winners Announced and Christmas Photo Challenge

Congratulations to Hinchinbrook Emergency Service Cadets

Congratulations to our Hinchinbrook Emergency Service Cadets graduating from the class of 2022. 

The graduation and Awards Ceremony took place at the Lucinda Hotel on Monday 3 December 2022 with presentations to all 24 cadets.

Cadets undergo learning in all aspects of emergency services and disaster management and given the qualifications achieved, the residents of Hinchinbrook are in good hands for future assistance as may be required.

A special thank you to the adult leaders and mentors including Mark, Gio, Natalie and many others who unselfishly give up many many hours of their time to train and guide these youngsters in their learning.

Parents thinking of enrolling their children in this very worthwhile learning program in the New Year should contact Mark Regazzoli on 048 113 837.

Santa Claus Photo Opportunity

Council in partnership with Hinchinbrook Blue Light Association will be holding Santa photos at the Hinchinbrook Shire Council Foyer.

Santa's appearance times:

• 10.00am to 12.00pm Thursday 15 December 2022;
• 10.00am to 12.00pm Friday 16 December 2022; and
• 10.00am to 12.00pm Wednesday 21 December 2022.

Families can bring their children along and take their own family photos with Santa for a gold coin donation.

Ambassadors Christmas Party

The 2022 Ambassadors Christmas Party took place on Tuesday 29 November at the Hinchinbrook Hotel.

30 Ambassadors received awards recognising their years of service for assisting the Hinchinbrook Shire Library, TYTO Regional Art Gallery and Hinchinbrook Visitor Information Centre.

Council is extremely grateful for their continued contributions and support over the years.

44th Hinchinbrook Art Awards Exhibition Opening Night Wrap Up

The opening of the 44th Hinchinbrook Art Awards was a smash hit on Friday 2 December 2022.

A record 154 people were in attendance to witness the award presentations on the night celebrating the 120 artworks in the competition.

The winners of the 44th Hinchinbrook Art Awards are as follows:

• Overall Winner - Collective Vision by Carli Kite;
• Local Artist Winner - Untitled #5, from The Scorched Landscape Series by Ann Vardanega;
• Youth Award Winner - Wisdom by Lucy Tento;
• Section 1: Painting (2D) Winner - She Comes by Rose Knight;
• Section 2: Water Colour Winner -  Eastern Spinebill by Zoe Mewing;
• Section 3: Mixed Media Winner - Sista by Ann Bartholomeusz;
• Section 4: Digital Art Winner – A Moment of Mindfulness by Ann Vardanega;
• Section 5: Works on Paper Winner – Pattern Friends by Julie Dowd;
• Section 6: Photography Winner -  Fire Light at Davies Creek by John Benfer;
• Section 7: Ceramics Winner - Poised by Tony DiGiacomo; and
• Section 8: Sculptural Form Winner - Bagu and Jiman (three-piece set) by Philip Denham.

The 44th Hinchinbrook Art Awards will be on display until 4.00pm Sunday 29 January 2023.

Voting for the People's Choice Award will remain open until the close of exhibition.

Photo Challenge

The Christmas in Hinchinbrook Photo Challenge 2022 is here!

Get all of your friends, family, mates, work crew or fur babies together and send us your Christmas themed happy snaps!

Council is looking for Hinchinbrook's most photogenic Christmas Pictures.

To submit your pictures, please private message Hinchinbrook Shire Council's Facebook page by Wednesday 14 December 2022.

We are excited to see the community spreading the Christmas Cheer.

Flying Fox Management Program Update

The last Christmas and New Year period saw sudden influxes of flying foxes that were taking up residence in undesirable locations within the Ingham township.

With the festive season fast approaching, Council wishes to remind residents that morning dispersal activities, including the use of audible deterrents such as bird fright, will remain ongoing between 4.30am and 7.30am each morning to dissuade any flying foxes from attempting to roost in undesirable locations. It is recommended that all pets are secured during the operation times.

The community is urged to contact Council's Biosecurity Team on 4776 4740 to report any such locations or sightings after daily dispersal activities are complete.

Private landholders are reminded that if flying foxes land in your trees, you are permitted to dissuade them from staying by use of non-destructive disturbance techniques including smoke, water sprinklers, visual deterrents such as imitation predators, bright lights and noise from various commercial and improvised products. Please do not attempt to touch a Flying Fox with bare hands.

For further information on what you can and cannot do with Flying foxes, please visit the Department of Environment and Science website at www.des.qld.gov.au.

Should you require any further information or assistance regarding this matter, please contact Council’s Biosecurity Team on 4776 4740.

Hinchinbrook Visitor Information Centre Christmas Hours

Hinchinbrook Visitor Information Centre (HVIC) will be changing their operating hours from Thursday 22 December 2022 to Sunday 22 January 2023.

During this time the HVIC will be opened from 9.00am to 4.00pm.

On Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day the HVIC will be closed.

Normal operating hours will resume on Monday 23 January 2023.

TYTO Self-contained RV Park Closed

Council would like to advise that the TYTO RV Park closed on Wednesday 30 November 2022 and will reopen on Wednesday 1 March 2023, weather permitting.

For further information, please call the Hinchinbrook Visitor Information Centre on 4776 4792.