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Articles by Isaac Egan
Veteran axeman can't stop chopping
12 January, 2015 5:49PM AEST Eighty-two-year-old competitive axeman Martin Conole this year competed in his 60th consecutive Malanda Show and his appetite for the sport is as sharp as ever. Competing in shows, pub-chops and rodeos all over Australia and New Zealand, Martin loves axes and making a meal out of wood. He even makes all his own axe heads and handles. Martin is the only surviving original member of the North Queensland Axeman Association.
Managing mental health after spinal injury
After a mountain bike accident left him paraplegic, Chris Wighton experienced a deep and dark period of depression, but over time he has developed ways of managing his mental health and created a new life built around his disability. Chris is a Cairns youth worker, musician and adventurer. He became paralysed from the waist down in a mountain bike accident two years ago.
Storm surge: What you need to know
We've all heard about the risk of a storm surge, but what are they and how can we be prepared? Every year north Queensland braces for the risk of tropical cyclones during the wet season. Storm surge can be extremely destructive when more intense cyclones make landfall and account for a high proportion of cyclone-related deaths.
My town: Cardwell
The far north Queensland town of Cardwell, ravaged in 2011 by Cyclone Yasi, has had an amazing turnaround, with unprecedented numbers of tourists visiting the area. 2014 marks 150 years of the town, so we thought we'd ask locals what makes it so special. "I love this place, it is just my second home, because I come from the Philippines, I can't live anywhere else in Australia, I always long to come back to Cardwell, this is a nice place.
Travellers seek freedom to camp differently
Grey nomads, backpackers, touring families - freedom campers come from all of these groups but they are a little different to your typical tourist. So what are freedom campers and why are they not welcome in many communities? Freedom campers are budget concious travellers that seek out spaces to stay for free. James Woodford is the co-owner of a subscription-based website aimed at connecting these travellers with private landholders who are happy to have campers stay at their place.
Cassowary Coast water restrictions remain
Cassowary Coast Regional Council says water restrictions will remain in place despite recent rain. Cardwell, Tully, Mission Beach, Silkwood and Kurrimine have been on level one restrictions since September. Cassowary Coast Regional Council Deputy Mayor Bryce McDonald says heavier falls over a longer period are needed, for restrictions to be lifted.
Volunteers head for the hills
During a cyclone, storm or flood we realise the importance of the State Emergency Service. But what makes them what they are? And how do they train for unpredictable emergencies? A major training exercise is taking place in far north Queensland this weekend to test the skills of the region's SES volunteers. Far north Queensland area controller for the State Emergency Service, Daryl Camp says the exercise will prepare volunteers for the most challenging scenarios.
What are the costs? The social impacts of tourist development
Tourism plays a significant role in the economy of Queensland, accounting for nearly eight per cent of Queensland's gross state product, but does it come at a cost? James Cook University PHD student Elena Konovalov recently completed a study of the social impacts of tourism in three of Queensland's hot spots - Airlie Beach, Bowen and the Atherton Tablelands. Ms Konovalov found that areas with more developed tourism industries had more opportunities for jobs and education.
Game of thorns on the Barrier Reef
Tour boat operators, with the help of a $1.1 million government grant, are at the forefront of the fight to manage the impact of the crown of thorns starfish on the Great Barrier Reef. This gallery explores how they do it. "Now we will focus on areas like Green Island, Michaelmas Cay and all of the really spectacular [dive spots] that we have coming from Cairns. (Supplied: Doug Taylor-Latt) "We go out there and inject crown of thorns that are on the tourism reefs.
Rain collected to better predict cyclones
In a first for cyclone research, volunteers and scientists are collecting rain from cyclones to help map the cyclones of the past and predict what may happen with cyclones in the future. A team of James Cook University researchers collected samples during recent cyclones and found that there is a unique chemical signature in the rainwater of a cyclone.
Cockroaches: The good, the bad and the ugly
Before you bring the boot down on that cockroach, do you know if it's a good one or a bad one? Yes there are good cockroaches, in fact it's a just a few introduced species that give the more than 550 native ones the bad reputation says CSIRO entymologist David Rentz. Rentz has written a guide to the cockroaches of Australia in the hope of educating the public about the beauty and value of the insect.
Coral fails to perform for the spawn
Every year, for a few nights after a November full moon, coral reefs do what comes naturally, but so far this year they have failed to perform. A number of boats carrying hundreds of divers went out on the Great Barrier Reef night after night last week in hope of witnessing the annual coral spawning event. But picking the right night can be tricky and this year it didn't happen when predicted.
Swimming with whales
Have you ever seen a whale up close, in the flesh? North Queensland is about to begin the dwarf minke whale season, which brings researchers and tourists together in awe of the mysterious creatures. Mike Ball Dive Expeditions' operations manager Craig Stephens is involved in research on the species, which aims to find out why they visit the north and where exactly they come from. He says minke whales start arriving as early as April.
An anonymous gesture
This week a complete stranger called into the ABC and left an envelope with $500 in it... it was simply marked "Flynn Rigby". It was a donation for the plight of Flynn Rigby, an 11-year-old boy from Trinity Beach, who until two years ago could not speak. Flynn was diagnosed with autism after suffering brain damage as a result of premature birth. His parents Jenni and Fraser Rigby spent years raising money to take him to China when he was nine years old for stem cell treatment.
A wish comes true on the deep blue
Going fishing - it is what 16-year-old Lachie Farrell loves best. But the wheelchair-bound teenager has not been able go fishing for several years after losing the use of his right arm in a motorcycle accident in 2012, then being diagnosed last year with leukaemia. That was until last weekend, when the kindness and generosity of a North Queensland fishing club put the biggest grin back on the face of the quietly spoken teen.
Debate rages over best practice for treating jellyfish stings
If you get stung by a jellyfish is vinegar still the first response? The St John Ambulance Service Queensland says it is. Their statement follows research done earlier this year at James Cook University suggesting using vinegar on stings could cause more venom to enter the body. But St John's wants more research done before any official changes are made on treatment. Spokesman Darryl Rice says there is not enough research to advise against the use of vinegar on jellyfish stings.
Volunteers wanted for unique Daintree experience
Far north Queensland researchers are calling for volunteers to go on a holiday with a difference and be part of botanical surveys in the Daintree Rainforest. Conservation Volunteers, CSIRO and James Cook University are conducting research in the Daintree World Heritage Rainforest, but with limited funds, they are looking for volunteers to get involved.
New season of game of thorns dawns
Scuba divers have begun targeting a number of reefs off far north Queensland, which are thought to be key locations to managing the spread of the crown of thorns starfish. The move follows a University of Queensland study that found six reefs off Cairns and Port Douglas could be 'seeding areas' for the pest. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority's Jessica Hoey says these seeding areas are ideally positioned in the reef network to feed other reefs with crown of thorns starfish.
Unique species critical to reef health
A global study published today suggests specialised species are critical to reef health, prompting calls for a new approach to Great Barrier Reef management. Professor David Bellwood from the ARC Centre of Excellence and Coral Reef Studies says the total number of marine species on a reef is not an indication of its health. "We always assumed that if you have got lots of biodiversity, the system is going to be stable and it is going to be able to withstand changes," he said.
Coalition considers second access road in to Cairns
The Coalition has pledged nearly seven billion dollars over ten years to upgrade the Bruce Highway if it wins office. While campaigning in Cairns this week, the Shadow Transport Minister Warren Truss said the Coalition was open to the idea of building a second access road in to Cairns. "We need to do some more work on that because it's really a bit unsatisfactory that a city of this size has only one major access to really the rest of the country," he said.
World Cat Day: The cats of the tropics
August 8 is World Cat Day and they may not all be viral sensations, but we are celebrating the cats of the tropics. Here are your cats. "That is the two of them being very lazy; they sleep from about nine am to four pm everyday. I think they were planning how to get me away so they could go back to sleep.
Can media violence desensitise you?
Is violent media affecting you or your children? Do graphic video games, music lyrics or news affect how you perceive or react to violence? Dr Wayne Warburton, deputy director of the children and families research centre at Macquarie University, has sought answers to both of these questions.
Call for broader research into alcohol related violence
A James Cook University researcher is calling on the State Government to improve the availability of data around drunken violence. The Government is due to announce a package of reforms on alcohol related violence in March. Dr Boris Pointing worked on a study last year on assaults around Cairns licensed premises, which used data from police, venues, the hospital emergency department and CCTV network.
JCU researchers reinforce concrete with plastic
Researchers at James Cook University have successfully replaced steel reinforcing in concrete with recycled plastic in a bid to reduce the environmental impact of concrete production. James Cook University's Dr Rabin Tuladhar led a team of JCU researchers who, in collaboration with industry partners, found that small plastic fibres are an effective replacement for steel reinforcement in concrete.
Far north Queensland TAFE graduates begin new chapter
More than 300 people this week witnessed diploma students of Tropical North Queensland TAFE graduating from a myriad of courses from children's services to justice studies. Students were relieved to have finished their studies ranging from one year to four years, but also excited about a new stage in their lives or a complete change of career. Cory Morris just completed a diploma of nursing as part of a career change from working outdoors.
The power behind Mau
Music is a huge part of many cultures, but what takes an artist from their community to the world stage? Torres Strait hip hop artist Mau Power describes growing up in the Straits, his upbringing in music and where his inspiration comes from. Mau Power is a hip hop artist who goes against the rap music stereotype. He doesn't rap about guns and violence, but about the issues of his people and his generation.
Far north queensland lake remains closed as search continues for missing man
Lake Eacham on the Atherton Tablelands remains closed to the public as the search for a missing man approaches its fourth week. 56-year-old Maurice Shutter, also known as Maurice Packham, was last seen in an inflatable boat on Lake Eacham on Sunday November 23 and is believed to have drowned. Police say the search for Mr Shutter will continue until all avenues have been exhausted. Inspector Rolf Straatemeier says police are committed to helping provide closure for his family.
What your steak says about you
It turns out that your local butcher may know more about you than you think, just by the type of steak you buy. A Meat and Livestock Australia survey of more than 1,000 people has divided the nation's steak eaters into one of seven categories. If you are partial to a skirt steak, you are considered discerning, cultured and imaginative. If you prefer scotch fillet, you are likely to be independent and meticulous.
Yarrabah use role models to tackle attendance
The Yarrabah State School Principal says truancy levels are unacceptable in the far north Queensland community and he is hoping a new initiative will raise average attendance by 25 per cent. Police, the Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council and the Yarrabah Sea Hawks rugby league team are launching new measures to tackle truancy. Principal Simon Cotton says a police-led breakfast program on Fridays and a uniform library are among the new measures aimed at getting children to school.
Richard Dinnen takes his brand to Broome
For 12 years Richard Dinnen entertained, enthralled and inspired far north Queenslanders with the most finely crafted radio. Now he is off to Broome to join the ABC Kimberley team, but his time here will not be forgotten. Somewhat symbolically I (one of the newest recruits to ABC Far North) interviewed one of the far north's most experienced and accomplished broadcasters just moments before he went on air for his last Drive program in FNQ.
Cairns students build something to last
The students of Cairns State High School have come together to create an original song and music video celebrating the region's Indigenous history. The Song Nation project gives Indigenous students in regional communities the opportunity to tell their stories during a three-day intensive course. Cairns State High School students have just released their song and music video created for the project and are keen to share it with the region.
New study links dredging to coral diseases
A new report says dredging doubles the likelihood that coral reefs will become diseased. The James Cook University study was conducted off the northern coast of Western Australia where a dredging project was winding down. Joe Pollock, a PHD candidate from the Centre of Excellence of Coral Reef Studies at JCU, says a disease group known as white syndromes is significantly more prevalent in sites that have spent more time under dredge spoil plooms.
Training athlete's brains with virtual reality
Forget gym work and field training, today's professional athletes are using virtual reality to train their brains. The new technique called 'three-dimensional perceptual cognitive training' uses virtual reality headsets to simulate 3D objects flying past the user. Each object has a number on it and the user tries to remember those numbers as they fly past.
How St Mary's church came to be by the sea
One of the most iconic buildings in Port Douglas is the little church by the sea, but it wasn't always in its current location. Torn apart by cyclones, left to rot, almost demolished and cut in half to transport, this is the story of how St Mary's on the hill became St Mary's by the sea. Volunteers raised $10,000 to uproot the church and transport it down the hill to a new site, but powerlines were in the way and it would have used all the money they had raised to lift them.
Finishing the line: Connecting Cairns and Townsville by rail
Today, Cairns is well connected to the world, but there was a time when the only transport to and from Cairns was by boat. We look back at the day the final piece of the railway between Townsville and Cairns was opened, and the beginning of a new era for north Queensland. Mr Broughton says the markings on the first train to cross mark the start and end dates of the construction.
North Queensland connectivity wars
Townsville has won the battle of north Queensland connectivity, being described by NBN Co as "the most NBN ready place in Australia." Angus Kidman, editor of Life Hacker Australia, says Townsville's National Broadband Network status has made it an even more desirable place to be. "There is more chance of getting a connection there, so when you combine that with the fact that Townsville is a nice place to live, it is a very logical place to be on the top of that list," he said.
Babinda in pictures: Now and then
Ever wondered about the history of your town, but never been able to find anything online? Well a resident of the small far north Queensland town of Babinda has taken his town's history into his own hands, creating an online image archive in the form of a Facebook page. (Pictured: Babinda's National Bank of Australia in 1932 and today.) Babinda newsagent Rodney Edwards found himself collecting historical pictures of his town and decided they needed to be shared.
Cairns Festival: Chalk the walk
The Cairns Esplanade has been flooded with colour this week as artists and performers take over on far north Queensland for the Cairns Festival. World renowned Australian chalk artist Jenny McCracken is in Cairns to cover the streets with art for the first week of the festival. Ms McCracken has been colouring pavement since 1989 and in 2012 she became the first Australian to win the "Olympics of Street Painting" - Italy's Incontro Nazionale Dei Madonnari.
Dancer, model, actor, author and accountant: A dream life
She has worked as a Bollywood dancer and actor, as a model in Singapore and China; she works as a Cairns accountant for her day job and on the side she's working on a book on dream interpretation. Uzebekistan-born Nailya Beh says her first big break was when she was picked to work in the Indian film industry. "I was offered to dance in Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore, for Bollywood, Collywood, Mollywood and Sollywood movies," she said.
The dawn of Anzac Day in Cairns
It wasn't the spectacular sunrise we often get at the dawn service on the Cairns Esplanade, but the low light and constant rain didn't dissuade more than 1,000 people attending. Cairns Brass Bugler Andrew Eather (pictured) didn't miss a note. He says he has performed at the Cairns Esplanade dawn service for nearly ten years. "I have heard some terrible buglers in my time and it is nice to be able to get out and do it fairly well," he said.
'King of the Coral Sea' by Jim Cadman
'You must be able to measure it, to manage it': Richard Rains explains why he believes the new 'Farmecco' financial planning app will become a powerfu
The grave history of Cairns
Pioneer Cemetery in Cairns is one of Australia's oldest graveyards and local historians want more people to appreciate its charm. "Doctor Edward Co was a very prominent doctor here in the very early days of Cairns, he researched tropical diseases and in particular malaria, he was known as a very caring person," she said.
Cairns concert brings the big names for G20
The international spotlight will be on Cairns when the G20 comes to far north Queensland, but while high level financial negotiations take place, the artists of the region will be taking advantage of the media attention to show off their talents. Creative director of the G20 cultural celebrations, Athol Young, hopes to pack Fogarty Park to capacity for a free concert ahead of the meeting.
Video: Daniel Ho performs Amis Rondo on ukulele
Amis Rondo is from Ho's Grammy-nominated album On A Gentle Island Breeze. To see all the colour from local festivals, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter. Check out the gallery from the Cairns Ukulele Festival.
Graduation marks new beginning for Indigenous recruits
This week the Navy's first group of Indigenous recruits have graduated from the Defence Indigenous Development Program. Twenty-three recruits from all over Australia started the program 12 months ago and all 23 graduated. Recruit Alan Anderson was awarded recruit of the intake and says it was a result of hard work, focus and discipline. He says the program has changed his life and given him a foot in the door of the Navy.
Councillor warns of Far North TB outbreak
A Torres Strait councillor says a major outbreak of tuberculosis in the greater population of Far North Queensland is a matter of time. Queensland Health stated that the threat of a tuberculosis outbreak was minimal, but this week the council governing Saibai and Bougu islands has closed off the border to Papua New Guinea. Torres Strait Island Regional Council Mayor Fred Gela says he had no choice but to close off the Australian border to Papua New Guinea for fear an outbreak.
Water to aid Mongolia
Cairns based organisation MongoliAid wants 400 schools across the country to raise $500 each to help build wells in Mongolia's Gobi desert region. The organisation's Barry Jiggins says it is all about getting fresh water into the country's schools. "I have been going to Mongolia for the better part of 10 years now and on many occasions I have visited villages and seen schools that really struggle with clean water," he said.
A year in Far North Queensland, photographed by you
Far North Queensland is known for its striking images and over the past year our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram feeds have become a colourful, diverse and inspiring representation of the many faces of the region. These are your pictures. The dreamy Upolu Cay is part of a national park 24km straight out from Yorkeys Knob. (Supplied: Sarah Williams) Campers set up their home away from home with the view to themselves overlooking Lake Tinaroo.
Young possums get frisky knowing life is short
North Queensland male brushtail possums need to live fast and mate early because they are likely to die young, according to a new study published this week. The study, led by researchers from the University of Western Sydney's Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, looked at the behaviour of common brushtail possums from a population in north Queensland. The researchers found that while looking for female mates, young male brushtail possums are falling prey to carpet pythons at high rates.
70 turbines for over 70,000 homes
A far north Queensland MP says the $400 million wind farm proposal for the Tablelands could play a significant role in meeting the region's future power needs. RATCH Australia is seeking approval for up to 70 turbines, at least 130 metres high at Mount Emerald on the Atherton Tablelands. The company estimates that when fully operational it could generate enough power to supply 75,000 homes. The Member for Cook, David Kempton, says he supports the project.
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