s n r i a C
Local News
MARCH 31, 2023 Cairns
100% LOCALLY OWNED & INDEPENDENT
cairnslocalnews.com.au
COV E R I N G C A I R N S , P O R T D O U G L A S & C A S S OWA RY COAS T R E G I O N S Ca ir n s
Sport
Battle for state seat of Cairns heats up
Countdown to Miss Australia pageant finals
AFL needs youngsters to sign up
Page 3
Page 4
Pages 27, 28
Targa is back on roads of FNQ
SWEET ARIA IS FACE OF FUNDRAISER
l FAR NORTH QUEENSLAND THE Far North’s premier motorsport event – Targa Great Barrier Reef – returns to the region in September. The 2022 tarmac rally was cancelled after Motorsport Australia ordered an inquiry into all Targas after another fatality in Targa Tasmania in April last year. After the review and new safety measures were put in place, Targa Australia has revealed the dates of the event in the tropics will be September 1 to 3. Targa has also announced discounted fees in a bid to attract more drivers and vehicles to this year’s event which is expected to cover 1000km throughout the region.
MEET leukaemia warrior Aria Bahnemann of Brinsmead. She is the young ambassador of this year’s Woolworths Easter Fundraising Appeal to raise money for the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation. Read her brave story on Page 4.
Casino’s record profit FULL STORY IN MOTORING - PAGE 21
Annual report: CBD gaming venue’s revenue soars to $18 million surplus l CAIRNS CBD | Nick Dalton THE Reef Casino Trust has made a record profit of nearly $18 million. The trust owns the Wharf St building which
houses the Reef Hotel Casino and the Pullman hotel. It derives most of its income from rent paid by the casino and the hotel, which was also a record $30.5m last year. According to the 2022 annual report published last week, the trust made a net profit of nearly $9m ($7.4m in 2021) and a distributable profit to
unitholders of $17.9m, a 22 per cent increase of $3.3m on 2021. Trust chairman Philip Basha said, despite the impacts of COVID-19, the complex stayed open throughout 2022 and the virus had “a slight dampening impact” in the first half of the year. “Local and domestic patronage was generally
ENROL NOW! LIMITED POSITIONS ARE AVAILABLE High quality education & care for children aged 15 months to kindergarten H Qualified Teachers & Educators H Spacious Learning Classes H Chef Cooked Nutricious Meals EXPLORE PLAY LEARN GROW H Weekly Dance Classes open monday to friday H Weekly Sports Classes H Free Bus Service Upon Request from 7.30am to 6.00pm
120 Swallow Street, Mooroobool Q.4870 | (07) 4032 3588
For more information or to enrol now,scan the QR code!
strong during the year, especially from mid-March 2022 till the end of the year,” he said. “Even though international borders had reopened, there were not many international patrons.” Mr Basha said the trust reported sturdy rental income as the Reef Hotel Casino “traded strongly”. CONTINUED ON PAGE 3