A fencing contractor was fined $25,000 after a teenage worker suffered serious hand injuries on the job at Camooweal. Glenn Henry Cook, a sole trader operating as a fencing contractor, was sentenced in the Mount Isa Magistrates Court for breaches relating to duty of care under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011. It follows an incident in 2017 when one of his young workers had three fingers badly crushed by a hydraulic post driver.
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Greg Campbell emerged as the sole candidate for Cloncurry Shire Council in the 2020 Local Government Election. Current mayor of Cloncurry Shire, Greg Campbell announced on March 2 he had submitted his paperwork to re-contest as mayor as an independent. He was raised in Cloncurry as a young boy, before relocating for part of his schooling and apprenticeship before returning to the region.Mr Campbell said Cloncurry meant everything to him.
Mount Isa Mayor Joyce McCulloch drew number one on the ballot for the March 28 council elections. Cr McCulloch, who became mayor in 2016 is one of three candidates to fight it out for the mayoral contest this time, leading her entire current council team called Progress Mount Isa. David Fletcher, who ran third in 2016, is back again with his Locals United team of three and he is drawn number two on the ballot paper, which was drawn at the Civic Centre on Wednesday morning.The third candidate and drawn three on the ballot is Danielle Slade for the Mount Isa Community team.
After four years as councillor and then narrowly losing the battle for mayor of Mount Isa in 2016, Kim Coghlan is back again to contest the 2020 local government election on March 28.Ms Coghlan, known to all as "Cogo", was elected in 2012 and successfully ran as an independent councillor this time round.
Structural changes in the mining workforce has been identified as a contributing factor in the big drop of Mount Isa land values in the 2020 annual land valuations released in March. Valuer-General Neil Bray said the valuations reflected land values on 1 October 2019 and showed Mount Isa City had decreased by 44 per cent overall since the last valuation in 2016.
Three Mount Isa women have been recognised for their extraordinary achievements and dedication at the Zonta International Women's Day Awards. Zontian of the Year was awarded to Loretta Gladstone for her increasing hard work and dedication. The Young Woman of Achievement was awarded to Charlotte Coghlan, a year 11 student of Good Shepherd Catholic College. The Woman of Achievement award was presented to Pauline Heremaia, for dedicating her life to helping others.
In mid March large events across Australia were banned after PM Scott Morrison advised against organised non-essential gatherings of more than 500 people. Australians have also been advised to reconsider all international travel due to the spread of COVID-19. The advice doesn't include schools, universities public transport or airports, Mr Morrison said. Queensland's Health Minister and Chief Health Officer refused to say people should avoid mass gatherings as calls for social isolation grow.
RSL Queensland advised all sub branches to cancel ANZAC Day commemorations in the COVID-19 public health emergency. RSL Queensland President Tony Ferris said the advice followed on from the Federal Government's announcement on Friday that public gatherings of more than 500 people should be suspended. "Our older veterans are particularly at risk from this virus, so we believe this is the responsible thing to do to ensure their health and wellbeing," Mr Ferris said.
Boulia Shire cancelled all its events that were scheduled in winter as the ongoing closedown due to COVID-19 continues. A decision taken at the Council meeting on March 16 means the Camel Races, Boulia's biggest event of the year is off. It is a huge blow to a town dependent on winter tourism.
By March 25 all Australia's clubs, pubs and restaurants are now closed due to COVID-19. Churches, casinos, cinemas, gyms, indoor spots venues and entertainment venues must also close, along with the licensed parts of hotels.Restaurants and cafes can still serve takeaway and do home delivery, but sit-down meals are banned. Shops and shopping centres remain open. Funerals are allowed, if the four square metre rule for indoor gatherings is adhered to.
The council elections went ahead despite COVID and initially the Mount Isa mayor race was too close to call with Danielle Slade 190 votes ahead though most of Cr McCulloch's team was elected along with Kim Coghlan.
Very sad news in Mount Isa with the sudden death of the city's most famous monarchist, Barry Byrne. He was 52 years old. Mr Byrne died of a suspected heart attack in Mount Isa on March 23. Though a disability pensioner, Mr Byrne was well known around the city for his regular attendance of council meetings and especially his love of the British monarchy especially Queen Elizabeth II.
By April Police were controlling access points to the Queensland borders in the North West. Anyone with a valid reason to enter the state need to obtain a Queensland Entry Pass. Doomadgee, Mornington Island and Burke Shires have limited travel into their district to essential services and residents.
Mount Isa's new mayor Danielle Slade said her immediate focus would be on helping Mount Isa businesses through the COVID-19 pandemic. Ms Slade was confirmed mayor in April after narrowly defeating incumbent Joyce McCulloch in a drawn out contest that took almost two weeks to settle. Ms Slade said she was lost for words. "I was third on the ballot paper so to know people went looking for me is a real honour, especially when the world is in crisis and we don't like change in a crisis," Ms Slade said. When asked what she put down her victory to, she said she had been asking people the very same question. "The general thing sounds like it was because I wanted to make Isa affordable for everyone and that resonated with ratepayers," she said.
With no cases of COVID in the Outback a new campaign hopes to raise awareness in Western Queensland about the importance of self-isolating and also keeping communities together in the battle against the pandemic. The Western Queensland Primary Health Network responsible for health services across almost a million square kilometres of western Queensland, has launched a campaign entitled "Close the Gate on Coronavirus".
Cloncurry's new council has been sworn in with new councillor Sam Daniels elected new Deputy Mayor. Cr Daniels, brother of former mayor Andrew Daniels, replaces Dane Swalling as deputy though Cr Swalling retains his seat on council having topped the poll. Joining them are returning councillor Vicky Campbell and two other new councillors Nathan Keyes and Janessa Bidgood (whose father Keith Douglas was also a shire councillor). Cloncurry now has five councillors and a mayor for the first time.
It was an Anzac Day dawn like no other in Mount Isa. With all official mass gatherings cancelled due to COVID-19, people were encouraged to stand on their doorstep and "light up the dawn" while listening to or watching the ABC broadcast of the national service in Canberra to which the public was not invited. A handful of people attended the Mount Isa cenotaph while most commemorated at home.
Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
