Last Top Stories: Shannon Eckstein wins Kelloggs Ironman round one

• Shannon Eckstein wins Kelloggs Ironman round one

  

  Sydney. Margie McDonald has worked in regional (Townsville Bulletin), wire services (AAP), Metro papers (Sun-Herald, The Australian) and corporate (Sydney ...

  >> view original



• The Qld island where home loans are banned

  

  Magnetic Island.BANK of Queensland has stopped lending for property on Magnetic Island and other banks are requiring double the deposit compared with suburbs in Townsville.The issue is frustrating real estate agents and people wanting to buy and sell property.While agents say it has not affected the market, property owners believe it could be keeping prices down.“Insurance is a problem, that could be part of the problem,” said one property owner, who did not want to be identified. “Something is ..

  >> view original



• Cash-strapped Clive Palmer has had offers to buy Coolum resort

  

  The axe hangs ominously over his loss-making Townsville nickel refinery, with more than 500 staff, and Mr Palmer blames the Chinese government-owned Citic ...

  >> view original



• USC professor counting the cost of climate inaction

  

  WHAT happens when sea levels rise, extreme weather events increase in severity and the coastal zone where most of the world's population lives become increasingly vulnerable?That's a question that has led to Professor Tim Smith of the University of the Sunshine Coast being appointed to the global Scientific Steering Committee for Future Earth Coasts and prompted a three-year Queensland Government investment in new research.Prof Smith, the director of USC's Sustainability Research Centre, said th..

  >> view original



• Kart competition heats up

  

  GO KARTING: There will be fierce competition at the final round of the Triple Crown karting series on Sunday.Mackay Kart Club promotions officer David Sturgeon said there were about 60 entrants in the series, which was a competition between the Townsville, Whitsunday and Mackay kart clubs.The first round was held in Townsville on November 14. Round two will be held today from 10am at the Whitsunday Kart Club.And the series final will be held in Mackay tomorrow, Mr Sturgeon said.Reader pollHave y..

  >> view original



• Country star touched by Sheldon's journey

  

  IF I've lived and loved too hard I've made good use of my time, I'll make the world a better place with the love I leave behind.Touched bySheldon Gakowski's storyin the Daily Mercury, country music legend Graeme Connors sent him a birthday card like thousands of others, along with a CD."Graeme sent him the CD with a note saying 'sometimes songs say everything you need to hear'," Sheldon's wife Suzanne said. "When the song came on in the car Sheldon just started crying and said 'that's the funera..

  >> view original



• Next eight days crucial for Perth Lynx season

  

  Perth Lynx coach Andy Stewart says this weekend’s double-header in Queensland will kick-start a stretch of games he sees as the young team’s biggest challenge yet.The Lynx will face reigning premiers Townsville Fire at the Townsville RSL Stadium today before flying south to Logan to play the South-East Queensland Stars tomorrow.After a brief stint at home, they will then travel to Victoria next Friday for back-to-back games against the Dandenong Rangers and the Melbourne Boomers.The Lynx have be..

  >> view original



• The NRL matches you must not miss in 2016

  

  The highly anticipated draw for the 2016 NRL season is out and there are some matches and special occasions that are worth not missing.Each club has now received their draw for what is expected to be another blockbuster season, each varying in difficulty depending on how your team fared last year.There will be big winners and losers from the 2016 fixture, which will feature triple headers on Easter Monday and Anzac Day, regular Thursday night football and Johnathan Thurston set to take his premi..

  >> view original



• Ten ways to re-invigorate the A-League

  

  There is a consensus that the A-League has stagnated recently with flat-lining crowds and TV ratings. Here’s 10 possible ideas to re-invigorate the A-League.1. More star power – “Has been” International MarqueesAlessandro Del Piero is a household name in this country. He wasn’t before he arrived. However, once mainstream Australia saw his footballing pedigree, it collectively said “I want to watch this guy”.And it did. At stadiums. On TV. In record numbers. And they bought shirts with hi..

  >> view original



• Sharks ready for Cowboys trial

  

  NRL draw 2016: Cronulla to face premiers North Queensland in round oneHello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.THE Cronulla Sharks will be out for revenge when they return to the scene of their 2015 finals humiliation in the NRL’s toughest round one assignment.Still reeling from the 39-0 flogging that ended their season, the Sharks will return to Townsville to take on North Queensland in a scorching season start against Johnathan Thurston and t..

  >> view original