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Local News
AUGUST 18, 2023
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l Cairns region
l Time Out
l Sport
Lest we forget Vietnam Veterans Day
Stunning new Indigenous festival
Grandad, 98, is Pyramid race ‘winner’
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Tricks of the trade
Highway overpass opens up l GORDONVALE | Nick Dalton
How plastering company is beating skill shortages l PORT DOUGLAS | Isabella Guzman Gonzalez AN award-winning plastering firm is showing the big boys how it’s done to combat skill shortages. Port Douglas-based company Mark Fletcher Solid Plaster and Texture Coatings is thriving despite the difficulty of getting qualified staff thanks to their employeecentred approach, focusing the workforce on refugees, rehabilitated prisoners, school leavers, and women. With 17 years in business, and dozens of prolific projects across North Queensland, Mark Fletcher’s plastering firm has built a reputation of excellence in their craft and as an employer that provides op-
portunities to marginalised groups like refugees and rehabilitated prisoners. There are 17 staff in Cairns and Townsville, including seven refugees (most been in prison for political reasons). Their efforts have earned them the support of the federal and state governments, Queensland Training and Centacare. Taking the Tropical North Queensland Training Awards (QTA) employer of the year award in July and with employees like Htoo Khaing winning equity VET student of the year, the company keeps growing and business manager Ursula Donnellan, who is also nominated for vocational student of the year, says it’s all because of their unique team. CONTINUED PAGE 3
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Mark Fletcher Solid Plaster and Texture Coatings tradie Htoo Khaing was winner of the equity student of the year at the Tropical North Queensland Training Awards. Picture: Supplied
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A CRITICAL piece of Far North Queensland’s biggest and most complex road and rail infrastructure project – the Menmuny Overpass – has been officially commissioned, marking the final step towards the completion of the $535 million project. The structure spans 141m and opens to motorists today, providing safe access to the highway – north, south, east and west, including Yarrabah. Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Catherine King said “not only will this 10.5km of highway be upgraded and duplicated, but through this jointly funded project we are delivering new and upgraded intersections, new local roads, cycleways, drainage, an impressive overpass and pedestrian crossings”. Senator for Queensland Nita Green said it was the Far North’s largest road and rail infrastructure project, “and its completion will be a massive boost to the community and the estimated 20,000 motorists who travel this section of the Bruce Highway every day”. “This is the busiest two-lane section of the Bruce Highway between Cairns and Brisbane, these upgrades are necessary and I look forward to seeing them complete,” she said. CONTINUED PAGE 4