The Cairns Post
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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NUMBERS MYSTERY
Mystery surrounds the state government’s approach toward the Cairns Western Arterial Rd despite the project being listed in a schedule of works to be fast-tracked by the LNP. Treasurer David Janetzki’s 2026-27 budget released on Tuesday allocated no...
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HEATED FLAG DEBATE
Cairns Regional Council has sided with a bill that could send flag burners to jail for six months. The move is one critics inside the chamber have labelled as “populist politics.” Councillors were divided on the issue of whether or not to add their...
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NEW PUMP TRACK FUELS BMX DREAMS
A revamped Smithfield bike park is helping young BMX rider Jarvis O’Shannessey finetune his preparations as he gears up to race alongside some of the world’s best next month in Brisbane. The Carvonica State School student will compete at the UCI BMX...
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STOP, GO... REPEAT
More than 30 months after Cyclone Jasper caused unprecedented landslides, frustrated drivers face another year of disruptions with major highway repairs now pushed back to mid-2027. “There’s no immediate end in sight and some of the repairs look like...
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YOUNG LIFE LOST
Police say at least one of the adults involved in a devastating SUV rollover at Stratford was related to a 12year-old boy who tragically died in the crash. The boy was travelling in the stolen car with three others, including a 19-year-old woman and...
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READY TO SERVE
A fresh batch of Indigenous navy recruits are ready to take on the world after marching out of HMAS Cairns this week. The latest graduates of the navy Indigenous Development Program celebrated the end of a 22week journey of growth, grit and...
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DITCHING THE SWIPE
When Ally Brown moved to Cairns three years ago, she found the dating scene “quite difficult”. “I don’t think it’s about the place,” Ally said. “I think it’s sort of happening everywhere with the rise of dating apps and the way society in general is...
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‘LET THE KIDS DOWN’
A farm-based youth justice early intervention program spruiked by the state government in December has been axed months into a four-year contract. MaraWay, which runs Bilwon Farm at Bibhoora on the Tablelands, was awarded a contract to deliver a...
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LUXE TWIST FOR KIDS’ PARTIES
A newly opened boutique studio is shaking up Cairns’ event scene, giving parents the ultimate upgrade for kids’ birthday parties. TK Luxe Studio opened its doors in Manunda last week, and owner Tracey Kingston-Bull has made it clear it’s not a...
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POLICE SHOOTING PROBE BEGINS
The coronial inquest into the death of Mareeba man Aubrey Joel Donahue has begun in Cairns, with a police investigator conceding that no officer other than the shooter reported hearing repeated commands to “drop the knife” before Mr Donahue was fatally...
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YORKEYS CELEBRATES MILESTONE
The 20th Festival of the Knob at Yorkeys this weekend was the largest event yet, with more stalls, more visitors and a return of the coveted “biggest tosser” title. More than 5000 people attended the daylong community festival, which boasted more than...
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RIDE ON!
Far North Queensland’s proximity to the fastest growing economies of Asia means it is poised to capitalise on a decade of growth by leveraging advances in airline technology that will put Cairns at the front of the queue for major destinations,...
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GROWTH GRIDLOCK LOOMS
With 18,500 new homes on the horizon, Cairns’ southside expansion is threatening to outpace critical road networks and swift action is needed.
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JOBS FOR THE FUTURE
Service industries are expected to drive the next phase of Cairns’ economy based on the analysis of more than 40,000 local jobs created in the past 10 years. According to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the largest proportion of these...
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BUSH MATTERS
The largest conversation between the bush and powerbrokers starts today, as News Corp Australia launches its 2026 Bush Summit campaign. Regional Australians can have their say on issues that matter most in a new poll, which will help frame debate at...
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IT’S THE HEAL DEAL
Robotics, artificial intelligence and a Toxicology Centre of Excellence will transform healthcare in the region as part of the Far North’s biggest-ever health investment. The $1bn Cairns Hospital expansion will lift capacity, cut wait times and...
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ANCHORS DROP, MUSIC POPS
A homegrown festival will return to the Cairns Cruising Yacht Squadron for the second year in a row, showcasing a diverse range of local artists on Saturday. Anchor Drop, created by creative organisation Enter Stage Right, will offer music lovers a...
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FLEGLER’S EPIC ORIGIN COMEBACK
Billy Slater could be forced to issue an Origin SOS to Reece Walsh as Queensland fullback Kalyn Ponga faces a nervous wait following his send-off controversy. Ponga became just the seventh player in State of Origin’s 46-year history to be sent off...
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THIS IS COWBOYS’ COUNTRY
Rugby league in the Far North is set for a massive boost after the North Queensland Cowboys locked in a landmark six-figure deal to secure the game’s future in the region. In a win for grassroots footy, the Cowboys have partnered with Far North...
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ROUTES REVEAL
Tradies, apprentices and developers will leave Cairns unless $300m in critical infrastructure is fast-tracked “at great pace” to address the city’s housing crisis, an industry leader warns. But Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie has promised new homes in...
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CARNIVALE ROCKS TOWN
Port Douglas wrapped up a huge weekend with its annual Carnivale celebrations on Sunday, with thousands of people filling the town for three days of live music, food, entertainment and community events. Australian rock legends Dragon closed out the...
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COPS IN TRAGIC CRASH
An internal police probe is under way after a 71-year-old woman was struck and killed by a police 4WD in Cairns North. The Queensland Police Union said the three officers involved activated their emergency lights while rushing to apprehend a wanted...
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FEATHER THE NEST
Cairns’ “Northern Nest” is being readied for a major sporting coup that could deliver millions for the Far North economy and bring some of Australia’s top athletes to Cazalys Stadium from 2028.
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DUMP THE DRIVE
Families are encouraged to ditch the car and walk to school for National Walk Safely to School Day on Friday, May 22. Now in its 27th year and part of National Road Safety Week, the initiative calls on families to build regular walking into children’s...
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A HOT TAKE ON FITNESS
As the temperature drops outside, things are heating up inside Cairns’ newest fitness studios. Two boutique pilates businesses have introduced infrared-heated classes within weeks of each other, bringing one of the country’s fastestgrowing fitness...
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KIDS’ FIESTA GOES WILD
Far North kids were treated to a weekend of immersive learning and fun as the Cairns Children’s Festival returned for another year. The 12 and under event, which took place on Saturday and Sunday at various locations across the city, aims to inspire...
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YEP, IT WAS A WET ONE
New data reveals the 2025-26 wet season was the seventhhighest on record, dumping an average of almost 700mm across Northern Australia. The Bureau of Meteorology has released its wet season summary which showed parts of Cape York copped its highest...
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CIVIC RIFT BOILS OVER
Tensions boiled over at Cairns Regional Council as a routine meeting descended into a series of heated clashes between the Mayor and the organisation’s top boss. Cairns Mayor Amy Eden slapped a “first and final warning” on Division 2 Councillor...
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BEAT THE GRIDLOCK
The federal government has injected an extra $166m into the Cairns Western Arterial Road to overhaul the region’s transport network. In a move that brings the total commonwealth commitment to $382.3 million, the Albanese Government greenlit the...
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STALKED BY BANK APP
A sawmill worker who allegedly used bank transfer descriptions to stalk his ex partner has had his bail application denied in a Cairns court. But his defence lawyer said the messages he sent, along with money, were “misguided”.
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CENTRE OF ATTENTION
Union influence over the $176m Cairns Convention Centre redevelopment will come under the microscope this week as the CFMEU Inquiry descends on Far North Queensland. The Commission of Inquiry into the CFMEU will from Tuesday to Thursday hold public...
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‘DIG OR DIE’
Terrified and trapped inside their car, five space engineers scoping out a rocket launch site in the remote Cape York wilderness had their tyres deflated as they were ambushed by an armed trio, a Cairns court has heard. The group was forced to dig a...
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STAMPING TOWARDS SUCCESS
Cairns West state school year five student Gary’s favourite part of school is going to the library. “I like to see my friends and do science too,” he said. “It’s good to come to school everyday so I can learn.” Gary and his cousin Abraham have...
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TOASTIES TWIST
The Toasted Melt Bar has opened at Rusty’s Markets, offering a unique twist on the classic toasted sandwich. Owner Joseph Pickens ran food truck Burgerlicious for eight years but wanted to try something new. “These opportunities don’t come up very...
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TRAGIC LAST WORDS
The tragic final moments of 85-year-old Degarra resident Ray Dark have been pieced together following a coroner’s investigation into his disappearance during Tropical Cyclone Jasper’s catastrophic floods in December 2023.
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OUR KIDS, OUR FUTURE
Top doctors have warned the future of Australian children is at a critical crossroads and in dire need of worldleading medical research to reverse a situation where an entire generation’s health is now, for the first time, worse than their...
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‘I CRIED’: DANCE TEAM’S HUGE PACIFIC CALL UP
A young Cairns dancer and a choreographer have been head hunted to take part in an international dance showcase highlighting the talents of First Nations performers. Sand and Sea dance company founder Caitlin Sands and dance student Lolarose Lyons...
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Digging Deep
About 35 Trinity Anglican School students braved the rain to plant 400 trees in an hour as part of a school environmental challenge. TAS Head of Experiential Learning Darren Osmond said the school, which promotes revegetation, set the challenge after...
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CHANGES IN LATITUDES, PARTY ATTITUDES
Parrotheads will flock to Cairns this weekend, donning tropical shirts and raising margaritas for a good cause. The Barbary Coasters, led by Nikki Lowmass and Vance Fahey, are expecting at least 200 fans of Jimmy Buffett at the Yorkeys Knob Boating...
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GILLS AND THRILLS
Footage of two keen anglers using high-tech gear to reel in a 2m lemon shark in front of hundreds of onlookers at Rex Smeal Park in Port Douglas on Sunday has gone viral. The crowd cheered the teens on while they wrestled the shark for 45 minutes...
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TROPICAL DIG FOR RICHES
Miners are working to transform the Far North into a critical minerals powerhouse that supplies the high-tech resources the world needs. While tourism has longbeen the bedrock industry of the region, the mining sector is poised to do some of the heavy...
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‘EXPLOSIONS’ IN BUSH HOME BLAZE
Neighbours say they heard loud explosions before flames consumed a reclusive man’s rainforest home south of Cairns. Police later found a body at the scene, believed to be that of John Dunford, 68, who had lived alone at the Deeral property for more...
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CAPS OFF FOR RECORD GRADUATION
The next generation of pilots, engineers, nurses and educators have graduated from Central Queensland University at a special ceremony at the Cairns Convention Centre. Nearly 200 students graduated from multiple faculties on Wednesday including...
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FASHION THAT NEVER GOES OUT OF STYLE
Sustainability and saltwater storytelling underpin Cairns fashion designer Nicole Enoch-Chatfield’s latest collection of one-of-a-kind threads, proving high-end couture can still carry a powerful message. The Yirrganydji and Nughi woman’s timeless...
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JAIL, BUT WHERE?
Three Far North members of the Crisafulli Government are urging their parliamentary colleagues to back new “breach of bail, go to jail” laws for repeat juvenile offenders. “I’ve had enough and I’m sure you’ve had enough,” Mulgrave MP Terry James...
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STAGE SET FOR GUY’S ‘WARM HUG’ TOUR
Celebrating life, love and family is at the heart of Guy Sebastian’s latest album and subsequent tour 100 Times Around the Sun. Speaking to this masthead ahead of his April 24 show at the Cairns Convention Centre, Sebastian admitted this was the first...
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DEATH ROCKS TINY STREET
Shocked neighbours say their street in a “quiet” part of Mareeba has been rattled by the alleged murder of their 54-year-old neighbour. A 34-year-old man has been charged with murder following the woman’s sudden death at the Downs Street home. Police...
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A FERRY BIG BILL TO SWALLOW
Up to $1.8m in damage to the Daintree ferry caused during floods in March is unlikely to be covered under Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements. Douglas Shire Council has estimated the damage would cost ratepayers $1.33m for counter disaster...
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SURGERY STALEMATE
Queensland’s Health Minister has hit back at claims his government has been delaying specialist hospital appointments in a bid to slash the Cairns surgery waitlist.
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DIABETES WARRIOR, 10, BECOMES CITY’S TOP FUNDRAISER
Ten-year-old Kennedy Costa has become the city’s leading fundraiser for Type 1 diabetes research, raising thousands of dollars after being diagnosed with the auto-immune condition three years ago. Team Kennedy raised more than $3000 to help find a...
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Cairns Songkran Festival brings colour, delicious food and unity to Thai New Year activities
A period of blessings and renewal for the Thai community was joyfully shared with all of Cairns at a Songkran Festival celebration marking Thai New Year. Cairns Thai Community Association president Prapasiri Techa said she estimated between 1000 and...
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FAMILYFOCUSED MARKETS
Cairns is getting a new way to shop local with the launch of The Happy Market, a roaming twilight pop-up to support small businesses rather than big corporations. It will pop up once or twice a month, with the first event at the Cairns Jockey Club on...
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