Kelly’s gang heads north to support water-logged locals

Brisbane may be about to go head-to- head with Cyclone Alfred, but Clubs Queensland boss Kelly Egan has not forgotten our weather afflicted compatriots in the north.

Heavy rain causes flooding near Home Hill

Brisbane may be about to go head-to- head with Cyclone Alfred, but let’s not forget our weather afflicted compatriots in the north.

Clubs Queensland chief executive Kelly Egan headed north last week to help distribute a $75,000 donation and an offer of drinks and a bite to eat for flood-weary Ingham locals, all courtesy of community clubs.

Egan’s long career in rugby league included a stint as the North Queensland Cowboys’ assistant coach and general manager of football.

So it was like coming home when he turned up at the Herbert River RSL to hand over a cheque to the Hinchinbrook Community Support Centre to assist with the damage from recent floods. The money was donated by community clubs from across the state.

“These severe weather events are not new for North Queenslanders but that doesn’t mean anyone is immune to their devastating effects,” says Egan.

Clubs Queensland CEO Kelly Egan.

“It is just heartening to know that when the chips are down, community clubs will rally around one another to help them get back on their feet.”

The donation follows last year’s Clubs Queensland’s Operation ClubsCare initiative when $260,000 was raised by community clubs for those impacted by the torrential rain and severe storms from Far North Queensland to the Gold Coast.

Herbert River RSL Manager Kerryn Brock says Friday afternoon’s free community event provided the community with a chance to take a breath and relax.

Coast bound

Queensland Country Bank appears to be defying the trend of branch closures across the finance sector with a new bricks and mortar outlet set to open in Maroochydore in April.

That follows the member-owned bank’s purchase last year of a prime commercial property in Brisbane to complement its Townsville headquarters and Queensland branches.

Queensland Country Bank chief executive Aaron Newman says that while many banks are closing their doors, particularly in regional areas, the bank is continuing to prioritise the regions and communities. “The Sunshine Coast is one of the fastest growing regions in Queensland,” Newman says.

Queensland Country Bank CEO Aaron Newman.

With total assets of $3.6bn and 28 branches around the state, the bank has come a long way from its foundation in Mt Isa in the early 1970s.

Then known as the Isa Mine Employee’s Credit Union it served the employees of Mount Isa Mines (MIM) and their related companies.

The bank has increased its exposure in the past year taking on the sponsorship of the Brisbane Heat in a multi-season deal.

While Queensland Country Bank’s typical customer is a mum and dad working in regional Queensland, Newman told your diarist last year he wanted to expand the lender’s business banking operation that typically attracts higher margins.

Timber talk

Good to see Trump’s threatened global trade is not impacting Queensland’s timber exports to China. Volumes of containerised log exports saw a significant increase during the financial year to the end of January. That was largely driven by demand from China following Beijing’s decision in May 2023 to lift a ban on Australian timber imports.

Over the past seven months, volumes have reached almost 10,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), reflecting an 88 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2024.

Around two-thirds of the total volume year-to-date have been exported to China, with South Korea the second largest export market.

Originally published as Kelly’s gang heads north to support water-logged locals