Townsville Bulletin’s biggest stories of February 2024

From the discovery of a mysterious brown powder that hospitalised several students to a heated election standoff caught on camera, February brought no shortage of drama to Townsville. Here are the stories that defined February 2024.

Some of the Townsville Bulletin front pages from the month of February.

From the discovery of a mysterious brown powder that hospitalised several students to a heated election standoff caught on camera, February brought no shortage of drama to Townsville. Here’s a look at the top stories that defined the month.

February 1 – Behind the crime scene tape

For the last 20 years, seasoned forensics expert Sergeant Lesley Walker has found herself working at the scene of some of North Queensland’s most notorious and horrific crime scenes. With a science degree already in her arsenal, Sergeant Walker made her entrance into the police service back in the year 2000. It didn’t take long for her to discover her true calling as an operational science officer. But, make no mistake, this is no job for the faint-hearted. Sergeant Walker routinely finds herself thrust into the heart of darkness, confronting crimes that would send shivers down the spines of most.

FULL STORY.

Sergeant Lesley Walker, at the Mundingburra Police Station, has dedicated the last two decades to the pursuit of forensic service excellence for victims of crime and their families. Picture: Evan Morgan

February 3 – O’Callaghan pulls out of mayorship race

Townsville’s mayoralty has become a two-horse race — so far — with Councillor Fran O’Callaghan announcing late Friday she was pulling out due to ill health. Troy Thompson is the only contender to officially come forward and challenge Mayor Jenny Hill for the top job. The almost-One Nation Thuringowa candidate put his hand up to run as an independent in the local government elections to be held March 16. Councillor Fran O’Callaghan had also intended to run for mayor, but has stepped aside citing health reasons.

FULL STORY.

Fran O'Callaghan stepped out of the race for mayor in February, leaving Troy Thompson and Jenny Hill in the race for the seat.

February 6 – Ville cleared of illegal junket charge

Queensland hospitality billionaire Chris Morris says he’s considering defamation action against Channel 9 after a lengthy court win over allegations high-stakes gamblers were flown into his North Queensland casino illegally. Three Casino Control Act charges filed against Morris Group subsidiary The Ville Resort-Casino were dropped in the Townsville Magistrates Court when the prosecution offered no evidence. The dropped prosecution purported Breakwater Island Ltd flew in high rollers in defiance of Queensland’s gambling regulations, with the charges filed after a 60 Minutes report in 2022.

FULL STORY.

Morris Group founder and Executive Chairman Chris Morris. Picture: Evan Morgan

February 7- Family’s plea for closure

The grieving family of a Townsville teenager whose body was found in a park nine months ago are appealing for help to solve the mystery of how he died. The death of Kane Moore, 18, is still unexplained months after his sister Mikaela found him lying in the grass at Rupertswood Park on April 22, 2023. Mikaela drove out to the park in search of her younger brother around 6.30am after he went to a party at the park the night before and never came home. “He wasn’t answering his phone – I just had a bad feeling,” Mikaela said.

FULL STORY.

Sera-Jane Moore, with Mikaela Moore (left), is still desperately searching for answers following the mysterious death of her 18-year-old son, Kane Moore

February 8 – Powder mystery

Seven students were hospitalised after ingesting a “brown powder” at William Ross State High School. The school was also plunged into lockdown in a separate incident after reports a person with a weapon was nearby. The school’s principal, Peter Stumer wanted to “reassure” parents that the school treated the “safety and welfare” of all its students as the highest priority. “We will work with the authorities as this incident is reviewed, and where appropriate, consequences will be applied in line with our Student Code of Conduct,” Mr Stumer said.

FULL STORY.

Police and Paramedics responded to an incident at William Ross High School on February 7th 2024. Picture: Shae Beplate.

February 10 – $30m floating bar moves ahead

A floating bar and restaurant will be the new waterfront centrepiece of Townsville’s Flinders St Wharves as part of an ambitious new development planned to begin construction later this year. The new Marine Tourism Hub development will feature booking offices, commercial marina berths and Float, a function area, restaurant and bar venue that will be the first of its kind in North Queensland.

FULL STORY.

A render of the proposed waterfront development of Float on Flinders Street.

February 14 – Send them out bush

Premier Steven Miles revealed the government plans to propose relocating juvenile First Nation offenders to regional communities after input from the Katters, Elders and community leaders. Mr Miles revealed that it had taken parts of KAP’s proposed relocation-sentencing “on-board” as part of its potentially revamped on-country program. Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto remained wary saying: “We want to ensure these kids are sent there for a prescribed period … to give those victims of crime, those in the midst of the living-with-crime crisis, some reprieve.”

FULL STORY

February 16 -‘If you hear banjoes, run’

A paramedic who claims she was locked in a house at night with a rotting corpse in a scene straight out of a B-grade horror movie, and was later told “if you hear banjoes, run” in a reference to the film, Deliverance, is suing for negligence. Naomi O’Callaghan’s description of her experience at a farm near Giru, south of Townsville, is contained in her $1.3m claim seeking damages from the state government, filed in the Supreme Court in Townsville on Monday. The 43-year-old claims she was called to a “rundown” house 10km north of Giru at

February 11pm on May 29, 2011, to an 80-year-old dead man.

FULL STORY.

February 20 – New name for Maggie jewel

A push by the Queensland Government to rename Magnetic Island’s iconic national park to an Indigenous name has been slammed as a ‘meaningless gesture’ by angry residents. The Department of Environment, Science and Innovation is proposing to change the name of Magnetic Island National Park to Yunbenun in a nod to traditional owners. Yunbenun — pronounced Yuhn-beh-nin — is the preferred name for the island by the Wulgurukaba, or the canoe people. The proposed renaming relates to the national park only, not the name of the island itself. However many residents fear it’s only a matter of time before that changes too.

FULL STORY.

February 21 – Mangrove madness

An Alligator Creek man who bought a bush block so he could go fishing and crabbing during his retirement is now living a legal ‘nightmare’ after he pushed a 2.3km dirt track through critically protected mangroves. Frank Reginald Jones, 74, had purchased the land in 2019 with his sons and a grandson and owned a 25 per cent share in the block positioned right at the mouths of Alligator Ck and Crocodile Ck – a highly prized fishing area just 30 minutes’ drive from Townsville CBD. The block is surrounded by Bowling Green National Park, is in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area and is a Cleveland Bay fish habitat area level A.

FULL STORY.

A before and after of some of the national park land he cleared for a 2.3km dirt track through critically protected mangroves.

February 23 – Doorknock blow-up

Councillor Liam Mooney has come under fire after he lost his temper at a ratepayer who refused to take his election material in an explosive argument that was captured on CCTV. Mr Mooney said he was disappointed in his behaviour, saying: “Absolutely, in response to what happened. I do apologise.” During the exchange in the video, Mr Mooney appears to take offence when the resident refuses to accept a flyer. “Why is that? What did I do to you sir?” he asked. The man told the councillor to “get off my property”, before turning on his blower. Mr Mooney’s response is drowned out by the blower, but the property owner takes immediate offence. “You told me I’m a f---wit on my own property, you piece of s---, f--- off.”

FULL STORY.

Originally published as Townsville Bulletin’s biggest stories of February 2024