A brigade of Papua New Guinean (PNG) AFL Cairns players are blazing a path for future growth across the Pacific Please call us on 1800 070 535 and we’ll help resolve the issue or try again later Any Questions? Please call 1800 070 535 Saturday & Sunday 7:00am – 11:30am (AEST) the Manunda Hawks broke the drought and secured their first victory in 842 days with a commanding 55-88 win over the CTB Bulldogs Two teenage boys have been charged and a third is in custody after a woman was allegedly raped in her own home while her partner was held at knifepoint It is alleged the three boys broke into a Manunda home in Cairns and threatened a man and woman Police allege the teenagers demanded property and then sexually assaulted the woman for between 10 and 15 minutes before fleeing on foot Officers from the Tactical Crime Squad and Dog Squad responded to the incident and arrested two teenagers on McCormack Street at about 4.30am The 15-year-old and 16-year-old boys have both been charged with eleven offences each two counts each of armed robbery and deprivation of liberty one count each of enter dwelling and commit and enter dwelling with intent by break at night whilst armed in company was later arrested following a foot pursuit just after 5.45pm Dramatic footage of his arrest showed police officers tearing after him down a busy highway before pinning him to the ground on a traffic strip The third teenager is yet to be charged but the other two are expected to face Cairns Children's Court on Saturday Detective Inspector Kevin Goan said the alleged incident was 'one of the most abhorrent acts' he had been privy to in his 38 years as a detective 'The impacts of the offending will have a significant impact on two victims and our deepest sympathies go out to those two victims,' Insp Goan said, reports the Courier Mail 'Whilst one male offender has held or detained the male occupant in the house the two others have escorted the female occupant at knifepoint to an outside area where she has been sexually assaulted to have their home invaded by three intruders and for the male to be held at knifepoint while his partner is subject to sexual assaults while her assailants are also armed.' Queensland Premier David Crisafulli described the alleged incident as 'sickening and harrowing.'  Detectives do not believe the parties were known to each other prior to the alleged assault At least two of the teenagers are understood to be assisting officers with their inquiries Investigators believe there are no further persons outstanding but their investigations remain ongoing Major terror attack 'was just HOURS away' before it was foiled by the special forces and police:.. Victim of acid attack 'plotted by his ex-partner who teamed up with a gang' dies in hospital six.. We are trapped in unsellable newbuild homes after a £52m dual carriageway was built on our.. Horror as $4.5M influencer-laden yacht SINKS off Miami.. Pub is forced to pay family £75,000 after wrongly accusing them of 'dine and dash' over £150.. How Meghan's biggest cheerleader brokered Harry's disastrous BBC interview - three months after.. Woman dead and three others including a child injured after car ploughed into pedestrians: Man 'It's a rather giant f*** you.' Royal insider's furious reaction to Meghan's Instagram salvo as.. Woman who was missing for more than 60 years is found 'alive and well' decades after vanishing.. American tourist suffers horrific fate while attempting to capture selfie at Rome's Colosseum The towns being ruined by day-tripper invasions Selfie-loving tourists cause traffic hell and the.. Revealed: The reason behind Fred & Rose West kids' bitter family rift as siblings have 'nothing to.. How can I see the Red Arrows' iconic flypast Map reveals when and where planes will be visible over.. 'raped by personal trainer influencer in her own home after being released' William and Kate honour selfless devotion of Britain's wartime heroes as they lead.. Where 'soft-touch' Britain's asylum seekers are REALLY coming from A former local has flown back to Cairns from South Australia to raise a glass with old drinking buddies and share memories of wild nights at one of the city’s most colourful venues Sharpshooter duo Adam Manser and Luke James have combined for 10 goals as CTB Bulldogs spoil outgoing senior coach Wayne Siekman’s Manunda Hawks farewell CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) Outgoing Manunda football operations manager and senior coach Wayne Siekman will lead the Hawks out for one last time this weekend Any Questions? Please call 1800 070 535. Monday to Friday 7:30am – 6:00pm, Saturday & Sunday 7:00am – 11:30am (AEST) The Morrison Government will partner with the Cairns Cricket Association and Queensland Cricket to redevelop Griffiths Park at Manunda The Morrison Government will invest $1.7 million towards the project with Cairns Cricket Association contributing $100,000 and Queensland Cricket contributing $100,000 Federal Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch said the Griffiths Park redevelopment project would benefit players He said the shovel-ready project would start this year and support local jobs during construction “This project forms part of my comprehensive plan as we begin to recover for the global pandemic,” Mr Entsch said “The upgrades will bring Griffiths Park up to Tier 2 standard which will allow Cairns Cricket Association to then attract state national and international cricket events our city “The completed project will also unite Saints AFC and Cricket in a single facility and female-friendly facility to assist in engaging more participants in both sports what is a cricket ground without a white picket fence and that is exactly what Griffiths Park will be getting.” Cairns Cricket Association president Peter Huey welcomed the Morrison Government’s support and investment to deliver state-of-the-art facilities for the local community He said the redeveloped facilities will include male and female friendly changing facilities a fully equipped catering kitchen and function space “This is truly a red-letter day for our association,” Mr Huey said “I want to thank Warren Entsch for his unwavering support in ensuring this transformative project is delivered for the community “Warren has always been a huge supporter of grassroots sports and once again he has delivered in spades.” Privacy & Disclaimer | Accessibility Three Indigenous siblings who fled violence in the Cape have found peace in Cairns bushland but now they’re being made to move on A Manunda gym has won the title of Far North Queensland’s best gym is this $250,000 Cairns apartment Australia's most honest property listing "War zone bunker" The listing for 201/50 Alfred Street, Manunda good naturedly outlines a few home truths that a buyer won't find in a section 32 the buyer will be treated to "free cultural performances (residents screaming and fighting)" and the two-bedroom property has a "huge balcony with camanding (sic) view over battlefield" The top-floor position of the 85-square-metre home is "strategic" It warns there is "teritorial (sic) marking in the stairwell (urine)" and graffiti in the carpark with council rates of more than $2900 per year and a $460 per week rental asking price "You wouldn't want to live there yourself but the return on investment is good." READ MORE: Victorian beach retreat with an outdoor bathroom listed for $3.1 million- plus where locals can choose from any number of beaches winter and spring is idyllically warm and real estate capital growth in the short term has been extremely strong The Domain June 2023 House Price Report shows the median unit price in the postcode is $190,000 an increase of 19.9 percent over 12 months behind the humour in the listing is a social issue for residents - Manunda is in an area of the state where the volume of crime has grown more than anywhere else in Queensland Police figures released earlier this year show 18,239 offences per 100,000 people in Far North Queensland - a spike of 16.6 per cent READ MORE: The Block couple who quit the show lease $4 million Bryon Bay rental Manunda experienced a jump in its offence rate due to larger number of unlawful entries, assaults and thefts in 2022. Nine has contacted the listing agency Rent Better. Auto news: Tesla misses previous financial forecasts as its profits fall to its lowest since 2020. where we are privileged to live and operate Firefighters have rushed to a row of businesses in Manunda after a “well-involved” blaze broke out this morning Residents of a Far North Queensland street say they made dozens of complaints to the Department of Housing over 16 months before a man was allegedly stabbed to death The owners of the Apex Milk Bar (L-R) Bill O’Rourke and Ricci Whelan love their customers and living and working in the M suburbs SAY the word “Manunda” and prepare for a wave of different reactions from Cairns real estate pundits and punters represents some of the best value for money in the local property market They think it’s been unfairly painted with the notorious Cairns “M Suburbs” brush Detractors say Manunda is a hotbed of crime to be avoided at all costs which is reflected in its median house value of just $350,000 But Headrick St resident Amanda Allan strongly believes the suburb has plenty to offer “The ‘M Suburbs’ reputation has been around for 30 years or more but it’s unwarranted now – every suburb in Cairns has its trouble spots,” the graphic artist said being between Parramatta Park and Edge Hill is great for people who might not be able to afford those suburbs but still want to live centrally “There are many beautiful Queenslanders that can be picked up very cheaply people will see the value and prices will start to change.” But Ms Allan also said her three years at Manunda had not been without problems but shortly after there was quite a big drugs problem,” she said Ms Allan is helping revive the Manunda Neighbourhood Watch group in an effort to maintain order in the area the suburb is within the catchment zones for several local schools the owner of Manunda burger hotspot Apex Milk Bar “At Apex Milk Bar we’re lucky enough to be able to talk to our customers most days of the week and we have the best customers,” he wrote on Facebook “This is a vibrant and diverse community with enormous potential to contribute to Cairns and beyond.” third parties have written and supplied the content and we are not responsible for it completeness or reliability of the information nor do we accept any liability or responsibility arising in any way from omissions or errors contained in the content We do not recommend sponsored lenders or loan products and we cannot introduce you to sponsored lenders We strongly recommend that you obtain independent advice before you act on the content realestate.com.au is owned and operated by ASX-listed REA Group Ltd (REA:ASX) © REA Group Ltd. By accessing or using our platform, you agree to our Terms of Use. Offers are sought for this newly-listed property at 32 Lavender Street The tired adage ‘don’t buy in the M suburbs in Cairns’ is being smashed as buyers recognise value for money and seek to be closer to Cairns City according to Vanessa Robinson of Belle Property Offers are sought for this four bedroom property at 32 Lavender Street It is being marketed by Vanessa Robinson of Belle Property and she said interest in the newly-listed property was strong all three suburbs have some lovely streets and houses and people avoiding them due to the suburb name is a real shame,” Ms Robinson said The median for a house at Mooroobool is $500,000 with 95 sold over the past 12 months to February 2023 Mooroobool is less than 10 minutes drive to Cairns City The median price has risen only 4.2 per cent over 12 months but a whopping 36.2 per cent in three years Indicative gross rental yield is 4.99 per cent Mooroobool has an adjoining parents retreat or granny flat with an ensuite and kitchenette Ultimate ‘renovator’s delight’ on northern beaches Epitome of luxury at $5.25m villa Ultimate shed on offer at Redlynch acreage property Mooroobool is on a 932sq m battleaxe block set back from the street The median price for a house at Manunda is $445,000 and indicative gross rental yield is a highly attractive 5.59 per cent Manoora is the most affordable of the trio with a median house price of $407,000 Indicative gross rental yield is 5.62 per cent Mooroobool was listed on February 28 and has attracted strong interest the median price of a house in the Cairns local government area is $557,056 Mooroobool has some up-market streets and Ms Robinson said she sold a property at the top of City View for more than $1.6m and it was recently valued at more than $2m “So these suburbs are showing real growth – I sold two homes on Summerhill Dr and the buyer pool was almost all local This three bedroom home at 53-57 Hoare Street Manunda has an updated kitchen and bathroom She is marketing a property at 32 Lavender St and said the phones rang hot in the first 24 hours after it was launched we have several buyers wanting to see it and one coming in from Brisbane,” she said Offers in the mid to high $400,000s are sought for this three bedroom home at 53-57 Hoare Street It is being marketed by Andrew Thornton of Champions In Real Estate “These suburbs offer great value and often larger blocks so basically more bang for buck,” Ms Robinson said “When selling 41 Sunflower St last year I noticed a lot of foot traffic on a Saturday “In the old parts of Manoora you will find some beautiful old Queenslanders as you also do in Manunda – I sold a superb Queenslander last year at 90 Little St it was the highest price achieved in the street ever,” Ms Robinson said This three bedroom home at 64 Reservoir Road “Manoora borders Cairns North and Parramatta Park Andrew Thornton of Champions In Real Estate has a three bedroom home at 53-57 Hoare Street on the market with a mid-$400,00s price range Offers from $450,000 are sought for this three bedroom home at 64 Reservoir Road “Manunda is often overlooked because buyers get told they shouldn’t buy in an ‘M’ suburb,” he said “I was born in Cairns and I have heard that saying since I was little “Manunda is about a five-minute drive to the city and Esplanade close to DFO and great schools,” Mr Thornton said “Buyers are seeing amazing value with larger block sizes it gives you an opportunity to add value with sheds Lisa Hunt of Hunt Realty has a three bedroom home on a 572sq m block at 64 Reservoir Road Manoora on the market with offers from $450,000 sought “The stigma surrounding the ‘M’ suburbs in Cairns has been rapidly changing for many years now,” Ms Hunt said features corrugated iron cladding over two levels “I have observed a significant shift in perceptions about Manoora over the past few years.” She said Manoora had undergone a transformation with the redevelopment of older properties and improved infrastructure “Property values in Manoora are still relatively affordable compared to other parts of Cairns “For investors looking to obtain a property still in the early stages of growth and this can save lives.Dancers perform at 3MPride 2018 Christmas event in Cairns This renovated Queenslander at 27 Chaplain Ave OPEN the classic French doors to enter this elegant Queenslander described as “one big living room” From the layout to the location of this three-bedroom home at 27 Chaplain Ave there is no box unticked when it comes to the lifestyle and liveability this post-war home offers it is a rare inner-city property sitting on a large 809sq m block and offering the “outer-suburbs feel” Listed for $539,000 with iicon Portfolio Real Estate’s your Queenslander specialist Ken Higgins the Hamptons-style property has been freshly renovated to feature modern inclusions while retaining elements of its build era “It’s had renovations right through including fresh paint inside and out,” Mr Higgins said “The bathroom and kitchen have been updated They’ve used all quality European appliances and European fittings And that goes through with all the fans and lighting as well – all good-quality finishes.” Manunda has an updated bathroom and kitchen featuring quality European appliances The renovations also include updates to ensure the home meets cyclone safety standards but the most notable update was the inclusion of a new deck at the rear of the property “It gives a lovely view over the backyard and is great for alfresco dining and I find people just mainly live on their decks up here 24/7 “They don’t tend to use their dining rooms much if they don’t have to.” Mr Higgins said the layout of the double-storey house was cleverly designed “It really is built for the tropics with the air flow through the home “You can open it right up and get cross breezes right through Manunda opens right up to feel like “one big living room.” Picture: Red M Photography “There’s French doors at the front of the property which just open the whole house up so that the main living area flows out to the front patio “The owner’s loved the layout – having verandas at the front and the back Enjoying coffee in the front veranda in the morning watching the sun come up and then doing dinner on the back deck with the sunset.” Under the house there is a huge storage area an additional room and space for three cars “It’s a great place for all those things we cannot part with “The previous owners loved living in that neighbourhood because around them was all owner-occupied It’s a really good street and everyone looks after each other The established garden includes a selection of fruit trees with double opening gates on one side for vehicle access which is pretty hard to find these days where someone can move into a house and not need to do anything,” Mr Higgins said Manunda stud principals Luke and Wayne Button and Jake Finlayson The ram was purchased over the phone by the Wadlow family South Australia.Buyers demonstrated an air of confidence in the future of their Merino breeding programs to deliver a successful result at the 18th annual Manunda Poll Merino on-property ram sale at South Tammin last week All articles from our website & appThe digital version of This Week's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other agricultural news sites in your areaContinueThe Button family offered an extensive catalogue of beautifully presented white medium Wheatbelt wool Poll Merino rams reflecting the stud's breeding consistency and continued strong investment in genetics and favourable sheep season at Manunda The sheep were described by several pundits as among the most even team seen at the sale the Buttons weren't immune to the effects of tight seasonal conditions through areas of their client base and they adjusted their numbers accordingly albeit only marginally from last year (20 rams less on offer) However the stud's mainstays along with some new faces with plenty of supporters and industry representatives were on hand and when the sale kicked off buyers went about filling their pre-mating requirements in traditional fashion with one eye looking to the future the Nutrien Livestock team and auctioneer Jarrod Hubbard had found new homes for 215 of the 220 rams offered at auction at a 98 per cent clearance rate were among the volume buyers at the Manunda sale with teams of 15 rams and 11 rams respectively Cunderdin principal Rex Luers and Manunda stud co-principal Luke Button.This year's overall average of $1900 represented a $55 jump from last year's figure of $1845 from bigger numbers of 234 of 240 rams selling under the hammer Stud and nucleus breeders were active on the sale's top rams with prices topping at $12,500 while commercial values ranged from $3800 to $800 giving producers of all budgets the opportunity to fill their requirements with good quality rams right through to the final lot buyers gathered for the opening run of 17 regulation February shorn shed prepared rams and they didn't have to wait long until the sale's top price was recorded with lot two knocked down to Mitchell Crosby bidding via phone on behalf of Nick Wadlow and family The ram was sired by a Haseley-Poll Boonoke 'Bobcat' 180137 ram and displayed current August wool tests of 19.2 micron Manunda purchased Bobcat in half share with Kamballie stud for $70,000 in 2019 Its raw data percentages measured against the average from the top 500 of the total drop of 1500 ram lambs were 127pc bodyweight (BWT) It recorded Australian Sheep Breeding Values (ASBVs) of 5.08 weaning weight (WWT) 14.89 yearling greasy fleece weight (YGFW) -0.81 yearling fibre diameter (YFD) and 149 Merino Production Index (MP+) The upstanding stylish wool ram attracted plenty of interest prior to the sale with the Manunda stud retaining some semen for their own stud use The Wadlow family saw a video of the ram being promoted on Manunda's Facebook page and keen to introduce a new family line to their stud it sparked their interest to make further enquires to Manunda stud principal Wayne Button The Button family donated the proceeds of a sale ram to the Shearing For Liz Pink Day fundraiser Celebrating the $2800 raised for Breast Cancer Research Centre WA Manunda stud with Olive Cole.Mr Crosby said the sire had a strong set of figures in good micron range with bright Regular buyers of top-end Manunda rams CJ & AR Hooper were front and centre of the stylish team leader in lot one and won its services with the sale's $6000 second top price bid The ram was by Manunda 20-579 - by influential industry sire Rhamily Benny - and displayed wool tests of 19.2 micron 5pc EMD and 4.2pc fat while it recorded strong ASBVs in the top 5pc for WWT 7.24 and top 10pc for YWT 11.3 along with 17.1 YGFW Another long-time nucleus sire buyer at the stud West Pingelly and his livestock agent Ashley Lock found a gem well into the sale in lot 60 and paid the $5000 top price for the late March shorn paddock prepared rams white wooled Manunda syndicate bred ram tested 19.2 micron 99.7pc CF with raw data percentages of 116pc BWT 0pc EMD and 1.5pc fat while its ASBVs were 2.83 WWT Mr Schorer has been sourcing sires at Manunda for 11 years for his 200-strong nucleus ewe flock to breed his own flock rams Mr Schorer mated a total of 3000 December shorn ewes at the start of January with 2700 mated back to Merinos and the balance terminal sires Schorer Nominees livestock agent Ashley Lock (left) with the sales $5000 top-priced late March shorn paddock prepared ram.He said his latest Manunda addition to the sire battery caught his eye stood well with a good frame and stylish wool first paying $3500 for a Manunda 20-0579 son before raising the bar to the sale's fourth overall top price of $4600 for a Collinsville 20-0252 son penned in lot 38 0pc EMD and -0.2pc fat and ASBVs of 5.02 WWT Cunderdin producers Davison Farm Enterprises Pty Ltd paid the next highest value of $3800 for a higher indexing 20.4 micron Manunda 19-2775 son in lot 20 which recorded above average raw percentages and top 20pc ASBV for YFD (-1.87) wasn't afraid to bid up on his selections and finished with a team of 11 rams paying a healthy average of $2595 and to a $3750 top price for a heavy cutting Haseley syndicate bred ram in lot eight was another buyer to outlay higher commercial values for numbers totaling eight rams for a strong average of $2775 A string of buyers put together significant teams of rams finished with a team of 15 rams costing from $1000 to $2200 in building teams of 13 rams each paying from $800-$2200 and $1000-$2800 respectively returned for a team of 12 rams bidding to a $2600 top Shackleton and JW & FG Dixon & Son while another double digit account was Jonlorrie Farms The Button family generously donated the proceeds of the ram in lot 121 to the Shearing For Liz Pink Day fundraiser for Breast Cancer Research Centre - WA was knocked down to sale regular Paul Giles The week's top stories curated by our news team Our twice weekly wrap of the latest in rural property sales Our twice weekly wrap of the big news in the red meat sector Industry news from Australia's dairy sector As the Cairns AFL community eagerly awaits the kick-off of the 2024 season the Manunda Hawks have honoured three club stalwarts A major Cairns road has been closed following a crash involving fallen powerlines and injured children Cairns police have set up a crime scene at a west Cairns suburb following the discovery of a woman’s body early this morning The decade is likely to end in bitter disappointment for neighbours and most of the landlords at troubled housing complex Plaza Palms THE gentrification of Cairns’ often maligned M suburbs is in full swing with plenty of homeowners renovating cute cottages and charm-filled Queenslanders in the inner-ring locations Far North newcomers often arrive having being warned to avoid Manunda but take a drive down any of the streets these days and the areas are rewriting their futures Champions in Real Estate principal Michelle Champion said every suburb had “good and bad areas good and bad streets and good and bad houses” “In real estate it’s all about location and M suburbs are generally closer to the CBD and this is something that will never change “Most M suburbs are generally older subdivisions and have larger blocks and wider streets “Some of the most expensive real estate has been sold in the M suburbs “There are some amazing areas that are in M suburbs with city and ocean views.” for buyers looking for something with all those attributes here’s a pick of the best M suburb properties for sale right now Perfectly located back from the road and extremely private this exceptional home is only four years old and offers the charm and character of a Queenslander home without the maintenance Inside there are polished timber floorboards with a modern central kitchen complete with high quality Bosch appliances and a fully-covered outdoor deck This new construction by award-winning master builders MiHaven is an architecturally-designed freehold with a sophisticated edge A light-filled open plan layout suits the contemporary executive-style residence which comes with polished concrete floors superior appointments and high quality appliances this home sits high above the city and is immaculately maintained with an open-plan design bathed in natural sunlight Also comes with a renovated kitchen and a tropical in-ground pool with waterfall This beautifully restored three bedroom home It is for sale via expressions of interest A grand old dame of a home has survived surrounding development to stand as a testament to the past and now it could be yours The lovingly restored three-bedroom home on a huge 1206sq m block is on the market for only the third time since it was built in the 1940s Manunda is for sale via expressions of interest with Karl Latham of Twomey Schriber but I could see the potential,” Mr Latham said time and attention has been spent restoring this amazing property.” What $3000 a night will get you in Port Douglas Fierce bidding for home at prestige Cairns address Treehouse for rent at $1900 a week He said it was built by Albert Ruttiman of Ravenshoe who had an interest in timber and used silky oak black bean and other hardwood rainforest timbers throughout the house “The house was a real head turner in those days and many locals remember it well,” Mr Latham said Mr Latham said it was originally a block of about an acre and had a swimming pool and tennis court from the stucco exterior finish to the original plaster cornice and ornate ceilings rewired and restored to hang above the dining room table It is surrounded by immaculate gardens with mature trees “When I originally sold the home the black bean hardwood floors had been hidden and protected for decades under shag pile carpet,” Mr Latham said There is custom-made leaf pattern security screening on both verandas Underneath the home is enclosed and ripe with potential The kitchen has stone bench tops and a 900mm gas cooker After sitting empty for five years tenants will soon move into a former Manunda police barracks But questions have been raised about wasted government-held assets amid a Cairns housing crisis An ambulance has been involved in a two-vehicle crash at a busy Cairns intersection while on its way to an emergency all Manunda coach Marc Harbrow could do was offer his players a challenge Manunda Hawks could become a more potent threat as the perennial AFL Cairns Women’s contenders take a more tactical focus under the guidance of a new coach THE Manunda Hawks have adopted stepped out support a Cairns Lifeline initiative after losing one of their own to suicide in 2010. Don't miss out on the headlines from News. Followed categories will be added to My News. THE Manunda Hawks have adopted the Cairns Lifeline out of the Shadows Walk as an annual day of recognition of suicide awareness since losing one of their own in 2010. Club patron Gath Finegan and his wife Anne have been raising awareness for suicide prevention since their son Josh took his own life at the age of 20 in 2010. “He played from juniors right through to seniors as an integral part of the club,” he said. “I followed him through since he started playing under-10s.” Mr Finegan said he wanted to see the language change around youth suicide. “The name of this march is ‘Out of the Shadows’ and that’s what we want to start seeing,” he said. “There’s a good strong promotion of family values in the club, and there are more and more guys coming out to the walk every year.” Members of the Far North Queensland Suicide Prevention Taskforce, the Declan Crouch Fund, members from RUOK and the Pacific Community were among the groups that took part in the walk. Lifeline general manager Sam Klintworth said they receive over 11,000 calls a month across Australia on their 13 11 14 crisis line. “One of the purposes of the Out Of The Shadows Walk is to acknowledge the rippling effect suicide has on the community and we have encouraged people who have been touched by suicide to wear a red heart to the event to see they are not alone,” he said. According to Lifeline, suicide claims the lives of over 3000 Australians a year. Cairns police reported 60 confirmed suicide deaths last year, compared to 50 the year before. Labor’s Matt Smith is all but certain to claim victory in seat of Leichhardt with the former Cairns Taipans basketball playerset to defy the bookies. LIVE RESULTS Residents across the Far North will cast their votes to decide who will represent the seats of Kennedy in the 2025 Federal election. Follow live results, here. at the 13th annual Manunda on-property Poll Merino ram sale at Tammin last week were Luke Button (left) Martindale Pty Ltd livestock manager and Mitchell Crosby Landmark Breeding.THE Button family notched up a colossal result at its 13th annual on-property ram sale at Tammin on Monday to celebrate the stud’s 50th anniversary of Poll Merino breeding All articles from our website & appThe digital version of This Week's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other agricultural news sites in your areaContinueA complete clearance of an increased catalogue of 300 Poll Merino rams to gross more than $500,000 has raised the bar early for one of the sales of the season with two-tooth ram sales getting underway last week To meet growing demand for the Manunda brand and ensure buyers of all budgets were catered for the Manunda team lifted its sale team by 30 rams this year Several new buyers joined Manunda’s extensive loyal following and competed strongly through to the final lot to post an average $1846 under the control of Landmark and local Landmark agent Livestock and Land Last year’s sale returned a total clearance of 270 Poll Merino rams to average $1471 The stronger average was boosted from significantly increased stud and commercial buying support at the top-end of the catalogue with the opening run of 17 regulation March-shorn prepared rams averaging more than $4000 with four rams eclipsing the $5000 price tag and reaching a top price of $8250 The depth of breeding and quality ran through the line-up of April-shorn rams and while they sold strongly to $4500 many rams were knocked down from $700 to $1000 to give all buyers the opportunity to fill their joining requirements with quality genetics The sound seasonal recovery through the stud’s client base buoyant sheep meat and wool values and an extensive catalogue of well bred and grown rams provided the positive platform the sale’s success was built on But it also reflected the Button family’s continued heavy investment in leading Poll Merino genetics throughout the country as part of their committed service to their clients Manunda stud principal Wayne Button said it was an exciting day for everyone involved at Manunda “It’s great to see confidence in the Merino industry and we are very fortunate to have clients willing to invest in it,” Mr Button said “The support from our loyal clients makes it all worthwhile for us and it’s great to see some new faces attending the sale to look at our sheep “Pleasing to see the results of the AI and ET programs from genetics we have invested in the last few years flow through to the ram sale offering and appear to be well received by our clients “We were extremely pleased with the way the sale was handled by the Landmark network and a couple of young auctioneers in Michael Altus and James Culleton doing a great job.” Several WA studs and nucleus breeders sourced new Manunda sires at the sale Leading the way with the $8250 top bid for lot two was consistent buyer Martindale Pty Ltd 99.7 per cent comfort factor (CF) and 116pc greasy fleece weight (GFW) 122pc bodyweight (BW) and +4 eye muscle depth (EMD) recorded against the average of the top 500 ram lambs from the total drop of 1500 ram lambs Martindale Pty Ltd general manager Peter Hewlett said the ram would be used in their nucleus flock Mr Button said the big bodied ET-bred ram was out of one of Manunda’s best ewes and its long white staple suited higher rainfall conditions was one bid shy of top price with his $8000 purchase of the ram in lot six The ram was by Old Ashrose Will 445 purchased by Manunda for $45,000 in 2016 and displayed tests of 21.5 micron Mr Edmonds said the ram would complement a couple of half-brothers he AI-bred by Will 445 and were in use at Rhamily well-structured ram with a beautiful head and gutsy paid $7000 for a ram from a syndicate joining of ‘Jacko’ sons Mr Westlake said while it was the first Manunda sire he had purchased the Manunda breeding didn’t go unnoticed during his time as chairman of the Merino section sub-committee at the IGA Perth Royal Show “I noticed the Button family’s consistency in quality with their breeding over the 12 years helping at the show,” Mr Westlake said “The ram has bright white good crimping wool with a correct body and muzzle.” Other studs to purchase new sires included the Belhus stud with two rams paying $2900 and to $5250 for another Will 445 son displaying tests of 20 micron also collected two rams for $2000 and $3250 West Pingelly producers NK & PM Schorer paid the $4500 top price for an April shorn ram The team leader by Jacko tested 19.7 micron But the day belonged to the long list of commercial producers who are mostly long-time supporters and return to Manunda every year to replenish their sire batteries with plenty of numbers While a Landmark Breeding account steered by Mitchell Crosby yielded 20 rams from $700 to $3000 Shackleton grazier KL Tippett & Co took volume honours with 16 rams paying from $600 to $3250 for their selections Another consistent volume buyer R & K Day returned to collect 13 rams costing from $800 to $2000 while MM & HE Granich stocked up with 12 rams paying from $800 and to a $3250 top twice There are too many buyers who tallied decent ram numbers and paid solid values along the way to mention in this report But other double digit ram accounts included 11 rams to regular supporters HM Rolinson & Co $800-$2750 and 10 rams to JW & FG Dixon & Son Design tenders have opened for a revamped neighbourhood centre in Manunda set to open early next year This is probably not the page you’re looking for The Crocs have over come a slow start to run out 58 point winners over the Manunda Hawks