Held To Ransom

By Terry Hennessey

The peace and quiet of the usually sleepy Mount Surprise was well and truly disturbed in the twilight hours of New Year's Eve.

A large group of permanent and temporary young residents, armed with all kinds of noise making devises, held the annual tin kettling.

Not only did they demand protection treats, which they received in abundance, they were also able to make a great deal of noise and no adults told them to be quiet. In short it was a very pleasant happening.

After their extortion they returned to their base to divide the loot. The relieved adult residents retired to the hotel for a most enjoyable and quiet BBQ.

Many thanks to the organiser Cindy and all those who helped.

Atherton Lotto Win

A retired couple from Atherton have had a fantastic start to the new year, after winning a division one share of $968,750.00 in last night’s Gold Lotto $31 Million New Year’s Eve Megadraw. The couple also won $1261.80 in divisional prizes.

The couple explained that they were watching the draw on television and saw their numbers drop from the Lotto machine one by one.

“We’ve been playing the same numbers in Saturday Gold Lotto for over 15 years – they weren’t family birthdays, just random numbers that we chose and have stuck with,” the wife explained.

“So when the numbers appeared on the television screen we immediately recognised them as ours. It was so exciting!

“We’re still a bit shaken this morning. It will probably take some time for the reality to sink in. “What a wonderful start to 2012!”

When asked what they planned to do with their windfall, the couple said they would invest most of the prize money, but leave enough aside to take a holiday.

“We’ve been trying to get away for a break for many months, but something always seems to come up that prevents us from leaving home.
“There won’t be any excuses now – we have something to celebrate!”

The couple purchased their winning 12 game marked entry from Phillips Newsagency in Atherton.

It's Festival Time!

The 4th annual Cairns Blues Festival is excited to announce the first artist line-up for its 2012 event ...>>Read More

Photo Competition

A reminder to all you budding photographers out there who have a photo that could be used for the front cover of the Etheridge Shire Council 2012 Telephone Directory, to please email Kellie.Butler@etheridge.qld.gov.au in .jpg format by 12 Noon on the 20th January. No late entries will be accepted. This could be a picture of landscape, animals, people, an event or anything miscellaneous that portrays the Etheridge Shire.

Maximum 2 entries per person. Bear in mind that the photo must be your own and if there are people in it you must have permission from them for it to be published if it is the winning photo.

I know many of you have some amazing pictures so please send them in.

Voting opens at 5pm on the 20th January and will close at 5pm on the 3rd February.

Visit www.etheridge.qld.gov.au/ web/guest/petition to vote anytime after 5pm January 20th.

Sarbi the Aussie Heroine

Sarbi was trained to detect improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and was deployed to Afghanistan as part of the Australian Army's Operation Slipper. Sarbi was in her second tour of duty in Afghanistan. Sarbi went missing ...>>Read More

Why Is It So?

Do you know why numbers look like they do? Someone, at some point in time, had to create their shapes and meaning. Have a look below and you will know ...>>Read More

Take Control Of Your Debt

Over the last decade the use of credit cards has increased dramatically. The number of people with credit cards rose from 82 million in 1990 to 144 million ...>>Read More

Summer Essentials

Queenslanders are experienced enough to remember the sunscreen and insect repellant, when packing the car for Rthe holidays, but what about a first aid kit? ...>>Read More

Looking for Next Of Kin

The men listed below have been posthumously approved for the award of the Commendation for Gallantry for their service during World War II and to date their award has not been claimed. If you are related to any of these men, or know of someone who may be related, please contact the Directorate of Honours & Awards' telephone enquiry line on 1800111321

PTE Alexander John BELL
GNR Alan William GLOVER
SGT Joseph Kenneth BELL
SIG Howard Frederick HARVEY
PTE Joseph BELL
SGT Caryle Benjamin JONES
GNR Thomas Stephen CUMMING
MAJ Alan MULL
SGT Clifford Edmund DANAHER
Wo2 Matthew Wallace QUITTENTON
PTE Victor Lawrence GALE
GNR Arthur REEVE

Bad Joke Of The Week

The Catholic Dog
Muldoon lived alone in the Irish countryside with only a pet dog for company. One day the dog died ...>>Read More

Sports

All the local sports results and club news.

Historical

PONY SOLDIERS WITH THE AUSTRALIAN LIGHT HORSE IN VIETNAM 1965-66

Neville Modystacks new serial.

Local TV

World News

Entertainment News