The Cairns Post
FESTIVAL STAMPEDE
More than 20,000 boots will be on the ground at Mareeba for a blockbuster Savannah in the Round.
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RACING FOR A CURE
Breast cancer survivor Andrea Ambrosio didn’t hesitate when asked to share her journey with the Far North community. Marking Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October she will take centre stage with her personal story at Cannon Park as the Cairns...
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GROWING CONCERN
A passion for plants and running his own business has earned Kamerunga green thumb Ben Vallely a finalist nomination in the Cairns Chamber of Commerce’s 2026 Business Excellence Awards. Mr Vallely’s business Plant Your Place, which hires live tropical...
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LOST IN TRANSLATION
A proposed federal visa lottery could leave Great Barrier Reef operators without vital dive instructors, local tourism chiefs warn. Quicksilver Group managing director Tony Baker said the region relied on qualified overseas instructors and language...
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A FLAMING COOL CUP DAY MIXED
Punters chasing a more comfortable Melbourne Cup day experience will be able to escape the heat at Crystalbrook Flynn’s new all-inclusive event with Three Wolves. The partnership has launched a new premium event for the big race. The hotel is...
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ART EMBRACES THE PARADOX
Three Cairns artists have reimagined a popular art space in a humorous, paradoxical exhibition at the Mulgrave Gallery. TAFE Queensland art teachers Barbara Dover, Julie Poulsen and Jennifer Valmadre turned their professional relationship into a...
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GREEN WASTE PLAN TURNED TO MULCH
Councillors have put Cairns Mayor Amy Eden’s proposal for free green waste through the mulcher at a fiery council meeting. Ms Eden introduced the proposal as a mayoral minute on Wednesday, sparking intense backlash.
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EMBLEM HUNT BEGINS
The week-long Brisbane 2032 emblem guessing game is underway after the first pink and gold piece was recovered from the Great Barrier Reef by two Games champions. The piece – already likened to a fish tail, flame, crocodile tooth, turtle fin or flower...
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YOUNG ARTISTS SHARE CULTURE
An exhibition showcasing the artworks of First Nations teenagers will give young creatives the opportunity to sell their pieces for the first time as well as showcasing their culture through art. UMI Arts is preparing for an exhibition from Friday...
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GIVE US A CHANCE
The Great Australian Dream of home ownership is in tatters, with half of all aspiring buyers giving up, stark new research has found. Millions more are resigned to renting for life, as our housing class divide widens to the real estate haves and...
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OVER THE MOON FOR HARVEST FESTIVAL
A traditional Chinese festival will open to the Cairns public for the first time tonight as part of the city’s 150th anniversary celebrations. The Cairns and District Chinese Association Inc will host the Three Moons Harvest Festival on the Cairns...
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SNAPPY ENDING
Oak Beach residents say the targeted removal of a resident 3m saltwater crocodile by authorities was unexpected and unnecessary. The relocation of the crocodile, known as “Vanessa”, has sparked anger in the small beachside community. Residents say...
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READY TO RATTLE
The Cairns Taipans are gearing up for their first home clash of the 2026-27 NBL season with a squad that has a point to prove this year. With a blend of returning players from last year’s underwhelming campaign, plus a crop of recruits – some with...
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COSTLY ‘MAN CAVE’ SPREE
A Mareeba man broke down in court while being sentenced over a bizarre roadside stealing spree driven by his dream of decking out a “man cave”. Police uncovered a huge stash of public property at Millaa Millaa, including 32 traffic signs, five...
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TRADES ON KNIFE EDGE
The Far North’s $3bn construction industry is facing a shortage of young tradies, with vital trades such as plastering, concreting, and rendering at risk of completely dying out. With an ageing workforce and an ambitious pipeline of building projects,...
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COLLEGE STUDENTS SHINE BRIGHT
Bentley Park College student Carmi Tuanqui was among the graduates turning heads on Wednesday night as the class of 2026 stepped out in glamorous gowns, sharp suits and flashy rides for their senior formal. Students arrived in luxury cars and classic...
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GREEN ENERGY RUMBLE
Residents have launched a petition against a proposed $70m waste management facility over pollution concerns. But the bioplant’s project manager has rubbished claims, saying the proposal was “extremely clean” and would follow strict environmental...
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MILLION DOLLAR CUP MAKES A SPLASH
The $1m Melbourne Cup trophy has spent the past three days journeying across the Far North as part of its global tour, attending several community events across Cairns and the Atherton Tablelands, and even making a special trip to one of the region’s...
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LIGHT IN THE DARK
There was hardly a dry eye in the house at COUCH Cancer Hub’s Starry Starry Night – Two Decades of Light fundraiser on the weekend. Clients, supporters and COUCH partners gathered at Paper Crane by Crystalbrook on Saturday night to celebrate 20 years...
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MIRACLE FIGHT
They build them tough in Kowanyama. After being thrown from a bull and knocked out, 22-year-old Cape York cowboy William Banjo Jr had a serious fight on his hands – a devastating head injury. The young rider was competing at the town rodeo when he was...
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CITY STAKES DEFENCE CLAIM
Cairns could emerge as a “readymade” northern defence hub if vessels from Townsville and new specialised watercraft are based here. Advance Cairns CEO Jennifer Spilsbury says the region’s maritime sector and planned Common User Facility at the Cairns...
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AXE LOOMS OVER VISAS
Tourism, hospitality and farming leaders have sounded the alarm over any move to cut working holiday maker visas, warning the region’s workforce and economy would take a major hit. Concerns have grown amid reports the federal government is considering...
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BREWING UP A BIG LAUNCH
Adrian Portelli has used the launch of his latest business venture to deliver a blunt message to jobseekers: if you’re a “deadbeat” or “on drugs”, don’t bother applying. The billionaire is expanding his Australian empire with a new members-only petrol...
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THE REAL KNOCKOUTS
A young Machans Beach boxing gym has claimed gold and silver at Australia’s largest amateur tournament, competing against more than 900 fighters from six nations. Evolve Boxing and Fitness fighters Montana Morris, Amosa Leaupepe and Cohan Lockett...
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HISTORY SEALED
Cairns Brothers have completed the greatest fiveyear run in FNQ and Cairns District Rugby League history, sealing an unprecedented fifth straight A grade premiership in emphatic style. After building their dynasty on hard-fought grand final wins since...
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QLD KEEPS ITS CROWN
Premier David Crisafulli is on track to meet his famous election commitment to reduce victim numbers in Queensland, but the state has retained its crime capital crown three years in a row. Australian Bureau of Statistics data reveals there were 12,000...
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NURSES UNDER DAILY THREAT
Nurses working at Atherton Hospital are facing daily violent episodes from high-needs patients, the union says. Nurses Professional Association of Queensland president Kara Thomas said the Tablelands facility did not have the capacity to care for high...
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FULL THROTTLE INTO WEEKEND
It could be time to wave goodbye to damp weather and go full throttle into the weekend. Far North residents tired of damp days can expect clearer skies and higher temperatures later in the week, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. Forecasters...
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SAFETY WOES
A shaken business owner has called for stronger security at a city shopping centre, as 60 per cent of respondents to an online poll tell us they do not feel safe visiting Far North retail complexes.
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HIGHWAY GUN HEIST
A judge has slammed a young mum’s lack of remorse after she helped rob two German backpackers who were held at gunpoint by her co-offender south of Cairns.
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TROPIC POWER
Cairns has welcomed its first new naval vessels in 26 years as Australia moves to build a “larger, more capable and lethal” navy for its northern approaches. Evolved Cape class patrol boats HMAS Cape Spencer and HMAS Cape Hawke were commissioned in a...
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STUDENTS ROCK THE CHOP
A crop of Cairns year 12 students proved a simple haircut can change lives by donating their ponytails and raising nearly $32,000. The 29 Trinity Anglican School students traded their long hair for short crops to raise funds for cancer research and...
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CITY TURNS IT ON
The Cairns Festival is returning bigger, brighter and louder than ever this Friday. Boasting 59 events across 10 jam-packed days, the region’s premiere celebration runs through to Sunday, September 6. Best of all for local families feeling the...
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ROT, MOULD AND 12 TO A HOME
An 84-year-old former serviceman says he is losing sleep because the roof in his Yarrabah home has been leaking for more than four years. “Sometimes, it leaks right over my bed ... sometimes I don’t sleep,” Bryce Barlow said. A housing emergency in...
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GLAMOUR AT THE RACES
Cannon Park was transformed into an entertainment hub as racegoers filled the venue for the opening event of the Ladbrokes Cairns Super Carnival. The carnival is a cornerstone of the Far North Queensland social calendar, filled with three days of...
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$40M LUXE SPA PLAN
Bold plans have been lodged for a massive $40m luxury retreat on the Atherton Tablelands featuring 100 accommodation units, a high-end restaurant and a dedicated wellness spa. The wellness oasis is slated for the site of former Nick’s Restaurant, at...
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TRACK RECORD
With the Far North’s premier racing season just around the corner, Cairns Central has launched a retrospective exhibition showcasing winning trackside looks from local fashionistas. The installation serves as the official lead-up to the second annual...
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LIFT THE SPIRITS
Telstra claims phone coverage for 99.7 per cent of the Australian population. It’s time to once again call out this myth. The Telstra map lies. Almost blanket coverage is a fallacy if, like most people, you like to use your phone to make or receive a...
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12-HOUR WORKOUT FOR GIRLS
A Cairns father will take on a gruelling 12-hour gymathon to raise funds for the special care nursery that cared for his premature identical twin daughters. Isabel and Medi Holsgrove will be celebrating their first birthday soon, but it wasn’t that...
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HISTORIC WATERING HOLE’S FRESH LOOK
A century-old pub on Cairns’ southside has reopened after renovations. The Grafton Hotel, located on the Bruce Highway at Edmonton, now has a refreshed bistro, upgraded live-sport areas, public bar, a renovated beer garden and a new children’s...
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CORAL COMEBACK
The Great Barrier Reef has defied the odds with a coral comeback. Fresh figures from marine scientists reveal coral cover from Cape York to Proserpine increased after late monsoon rains spared the icon from bleaching.
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FIXER UPPER: RESORT UP FOR GRABS
A shuttered beachside resort is back on the market three years after closing for a $10 million renovation that did not go ahead. Kewarra Beach Resort, which has 286 metres of beach frontage, is in a rundown state. Aside from six villas, the former...
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ART THAT POPS!
Colourful inflatable characters will light up a popular art gallery as the city gears up to celebrate the annual Cairns festival. The Cairns Art Gallery Court House Building will host Craig & Karl: Double Vision, an inflatable art exhibition created...
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FISH TALE QUIZZED
A Sydney painter who spent years living illegally in Australia has been denied bail after 10 undocumented boat arrivals were discovered crammed into his remote hotel room.
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ROOS’ ROAD TO GLORY
Kangaroos’ path to FNQ Rugby League women’s redemption is complete after a resounding 40-4 victory over the Ivanhoe Maidens in Saturday night’s grand final. The Roos had a massive run for their money in the first half as the Maidens served up a strong...
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VITALIA’S LEGACY LIVES ON
A restaurateur has kept his late wife’s legacy alive while bringing a slice of authentic Italian cuisine to Cairns in a newly imported pizza truck. Owner of Vitalia’s Antonio Lo Conte has launched his new, three-wheeled pizza truck, Vitalia’s Pizza on...
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ONLINE PREDATOR WALKS
A student support worker at a Cape York boarding house used Snapchat to lure a 12year-old girl he did not know from her bedroom in the middle of the night in a case described as “the community’s worst nightmare”. Michael Alexander TownsonJacob, 29, of...
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PICK YOUR POKE
After a successful venture in Port Douglas, Pokea Tropical Poke Bowls has set up a new spot right in the heart of Cairns. Owners Emanuele Capelli, Giorgio Simonetti and Vincenzo Di Cogno opened six months ago after seeing a gap in the market. Wanting...
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A YARN SAVES LIVES
A young Cairns woman who received a life-changing kidney transplant last year is sharing her story to encourage Far North Queenslanders – and especially First Nations people – to get talking about organ donation. Tahnee Boyd, 35, was in renal failure...
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STARS’ REEF CITY CLASH
Cricket royalty and footy legends will take the field for an Australian-first blockbuster clash in Cairns later this year. Barron River MP Bree James will today announce the state government has locked in Gold Clash – a high-octane T20 cricket...
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BORDER BREACH SPARKS ACTION
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has conceded his department needs “to improve” during a visit to the Far North. His comments come a month after a boat carrying 10 alleged asylum seekers made it onshore. Mr Burke visited Horn Island, Thursday Island,...
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$8K ‘SLAP IN THE FACE’
Douglas Shire’s 10,000 ratepayers might have to fork out up to $8000 each if a natural disaster on the scale of Cyclone Jasper hits again as the federal government moves ahead with slashing its contribution to Disaster Recovery Funding...
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FOOTPOWER’S VITAL STEP UP FOR REHAB UNIT
Cairns Hospital’s subacute ward is one step closer to receiving an ultrasound machine thanks to a local fundraising walk, which raised more than $47,000 last week. The Arrow Experience: Wangetti Edition brought more than 140 walkers together on Sunday...
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SCHOOL DAZZLES
A Catholic college has taken a bold creative risk, staging the sophisticated jazz-age scandal of Chicago: Teen Edition to celebrate 25 years of performing arts. St Andrew’s Catholic College brought the 1920s scandal that follows Roxie Hart, who with...
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WHY WAS HE LET OUT?
An investigation will examine how an innocent bystander was shot during a suburban takedown involving a man who allegedly wielded knives and chased police in Mount Sheridan on Saturday night. The Queensland Police Union has questioned why health...
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SKYLINE’S NEW CANOPY
A grand plan to build a 14-storey holiday and residential tower that reflects a “rainforest within the city” near the Cairns Performing Arts Centre has been unveiled. Planning documents reveal a proposed 50m tower featuring “extraordinary views” and a...
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RIVER KING’S LAST VOYAGE
The Far North has said a final goodbye to one of its greatest characters. Bruce Belcher, the legendary river guide who spent nearly four decades charming tourists and calling the Daintree’s iconic crocodiles by name, has died aged 76. On Sunday, a...
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FNQ COLD SNAP ENDS
It’s time to pack away the winter woollies as warmer temperatures return across the Far North. The Bureau of Meteorology has confirmed an unusually cold snap is over, with Cairns temperatures set to return to 26C-27C by week’s end. Meteorologist...
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TEEN’S TROPIC TWIRL
A young ballet dancer’s career has taken off in leaps and bounds after he won a scholarship to a prestigious dance school in Western Australia. Teenage ballet dancer Cayden Connors impressed judges at the recent the Cairns District and Eisteddfod in a...
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WHAT A RIDE!
Unable to compete for the first time due to declining health, Cairns Show legend Majorie Perks has still taken home a grand champion sash and a lasting legacy The Cairns Show association honoured the decades-long Gypsy Cob champion with a sash and a...
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SHOWTIME FRENZY FIRES UP
The Cairns Show is in full swing, with locals and tourists making the most of the food, competitions, carnival rides and showbags ahead of the event’s final day. This year marks the show’s 121st anniversary, with the first two days showcasing the most...
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COUNCIL RESCUE CALLOUT
Concerns about local confidence and investment affected by “dysfunction” within the Cairns Regional Council has prompted the Opposition Leader to call on the state government to step in.
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IT’S SHOW TIME
The Cairns Show will kick off its 121st anniversary celebration on Wednesday, with more than 74,000 visitors expected to enjoy an extensive range of entertainment over the three days. This year’s show will again feature a mix of agriculture...
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NEW CITY VISION
A $970,000, federally funded master planning process will begin next month to rejuvenate the 26-ha Cairns Showgrounds site and transform the underutilised space into a premier events precinct. Mayor Amy Eden has released AI-generated concepts to spark...
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ON THE RUN AT THE CAIRNS MARATHON
Thousands of runners have descended on the Far North to take part in the annual Cairns Marathon. More than 4400 athletes took part in the event which included full marathon, halfmarathon, team relays and family-friendly events, with Japanese runner...
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ON THE CIAF CATWALK
Fashion has become a powerful act of selfdetermination as the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair unveils First Nations collections exploring healing, culture and Country. This year’s opening night at The Mill in Stratford on Thursday, July 9, presented 22...
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SUNCORP SHOCK
Controversial referee Ashley Klein came back to haunt Queensland after the Maroons fell victim to a Suncorp Stadium stitch-up on Wednesday night. The State of Origin shield is heading south of the Tweed after NSW claimed a third straight win at The...
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BURPEE WORLD RECORD ATTEMPT
A Cairns athlete has set his sights on the Guinness Book of World Records while raising funds for the homeless in an intense eight-day burpee challenge. Endurance athlete Norman Eigl has attempted to break the world record for the longest burpee broad...
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CAIRNS ‘MET GALA MEETS FASHION WEEK’
Cairns hair salon Tokunai Hair staged its latest Because Fashion runway event on Saturday, featuring avant-garde hairstyles and up-to-the-minute fashions on nine models. The annual event, held in Westcourt, aimed to give Cairns creatives and models an...
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UMI ARTS SHARING STORIES
From the reef to the rainforest and everything in between, 15 First Nations artists will showcase their culture at UMI Arts’ Freshwater Saltwater exhibition. The annual members’ exhibition will return on Friday to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres...
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ST MONICA’S SENIORS STEP OUT
St Monica’s College students celebrated their final year of school at Pullman Reef Hotel Casino last Friday. From classic cars to hot rods, seniors stepped out in style for an evening of glitz and glamour. It comes as high schools across the Far...
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