Choir Boy’s Cooktown Cup win is music to our ears

Horse Racing

Bryan Littlely

Senior Journalist

Last updated: 09/11/2026 - 11:00 (AEST)

Choir Boy takes the win in the Cooktown Cup on Saturday, booking its place in the Queensland Country Cups Challenge final at Doomben on December 5. Picture: Bryan Littlely

Port Douglas pair Graeme Rea and Paul Martinez, among the owners of Choir Boy, celebrate the big win. Picture: Bryan Littlely

Port Douglas is preparing to ride Choir Boy all the way to Queensland Country Cup Challenge status, following an emphatic win in the Cooktown Cup on Saturday in front of dozens of Douglas fans who made the 300km trip to cheer him on.

The win booked the now seven-times country cups champion a berth in the $200,000 final to compete against the best horses from country Queensland at Doomben on December 5 over 1600m.

And a course record at Cooktown over 1760m, breaking his own record set in 2024 but this time carrying 64kg.

Choir Boy’s ownership is led by bookmaker Chris Jorgensen and has a host of Port Douglas faces included, none more stoked than Graeme Rea and Paul Martenez who partied into Saturday night and instantly started making travel plans for the Doomben final.

“I knew from when he started his move with 600m to go that we had it,” Graeme said, despite Choir Boy still in last place at the 400m mark.

“He is just brilliant.”

Paul calls Choir Boy the Winx of Far North Queensland.

Choir Boys Cooktown Cup win comes on the back of victory in the Cairns Cup in August, and takes his winnings to more than $400,000.

Trained by Janel and Ronnie Ryan, Atherton, the 8-year-old gelding has now had 14 wins from 67 starts, and doesn’t look like slowing down, covering the 1760m distance for a race now run for the past 152 years, in a course record - one it set in 2024,

Ridden by Ivo Fry, Choir Boy beat home an impressive field, with Innovates running second for Rodney Miller and Betta Al third for Alwyn Bailey, the top ranked trainer for the day.

Latest News

09/11/2026

Reef health

Temperatures rising as El Nino effects start being felt

06/11/2026

Cairns Airport

New lounge option for Cairns Airport flyers

06/11/2026

UNITS FOR SALE

High demand commercial complex launches in Craiglie

( 3 )	Position Vacant	Name	Business	Suburb	Email	Date
1.	FAMILY SUPPORT WORKER FULL TIME POSITION The Julatten Community Centre is seeking a compassionate, community-minded Family Support Worker to join our team. In this role, you will work directly with parents/carers and children up to age eight years to support early childhood development and family well- being. You are also required to support families across the region to build resilience, improve parenting capacity and create safe, thriving home environments. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: The Family Support Worker will operate the Julatten Community Centre Family Support and deliver activities and programs in the identified catchment that achieve the intended outcomes of the funding category. Activities and programs will include the following: • Provide Early Childhood Education and Care programs, (e.g. school transition programs or adjunct care). • Provide Family Support Programs, (e.g. playgroup, Families as First Teachers, Circle of Security, home visits, music play and therapy, counselling services). • Access to child and maternal health, (e.g. child health screening and checks, advice and advocacy, allied health support such as speech therapy). • Develop collaborative partnerships with other service providers to deliver integrated universal and targeted activities for children and families. REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS: • Qualifications: Certificate III in Community Services (CHC32015) or equivalent or higher is preferred but not essential however, basic level of experience in Community Services is required. Mandatory Child Safety and Child Protection Training. • Screening Checks: Current working with Children Check, (Blue Card), and National Police Certificate. • Licensing: Current Driver’s Licence. • Skills and Attributes: Strong communications skill set, Microsoft, Apple and knowledge of social media platforms, crisis management, empathy and a working knowledge of the FNQ services landscape. Application package available on request. Applications close COB 30th November, 2026	Tan Dickson	Julatten Community Centre	Julatten	[email protected]	09.11.2026 13:21
2.	FINANCE ADMINISTRATOR CASUAL POSITION - APPROX. 2 DAYS PER WEEK The Julatten Community Centre is seeking a Finance Administrator responsible for the day-to- day financial management and administrative operations of the centre where we deliver quality Child Care with a government approved embedded Kindergarten program. We also provide a government funded Family Support Service. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: Duties include maintaining accurate financial records, correct allocation and expenditure of government funding, timely processing of accounts and payroll, preparation and monitoring of budgets and preparation of financial reports for the volunteer Management Committee. The role requires a high level of accuracy, confidentiality, initiative and organisation, together with the ability to work independently and collaboratively with the committee, staff, families and external service providers to support the centre’s ongoing financial sustainability and community services. REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS: • Demonstrated experience in bookkeeping and financial reporting. • Practical experience using MYOB for bookkeeping and financial reporting. • Competence in Microsoft Excel, including spreadsheets, formulas, data organisation and financial reporting. • Strong organisational skills and the ability to work independently in a small organisation. • Demonstrated ability to communicate financial information clearly to people without a financial background. • High standards of integrity, discretion and confidentiality. • Current Working with Children Check, (Blue Card), National Police Certificate, Mandatory Child Safety and Child Protection Training. Application package available on request. Applications close COB 30th November, 2026	Tan Dickson	Julatten Community Centre	Julatten	[email protected]	09.11.2026 13:11
3.	QUALIFIED MECHANIC Join the Team at Mossman Mechanical Position Available - Qualified Mechanic Our Business We're a busy, family-owned workshop with a great reputation for quality workmanship and honest service. We value our staff, provide a supportive team environment, and believe in doing the job right the first time. Our work includes: • Logbook servicing and mechanical repairs • Vehicle Diagnostics • Brake, suspension and clutch repairs • EFS suspension upgrades • Wheel alignments and tyres • Roadworthy, COI and CL inspections What We Offer • Above-award wages based on experience • 38-hour week (Monday–Thursday 7-5) • Opportunity for overtime • Long weekends most weeks • Modern workshop and quality equipment • Friendly family-owned business • Variety of work – 4WDs, passenger vehicles and light trucks We're Looking For Someone Who • Holds a mechanical qualification EG. Light Vehicle Mechanic (or equivalent) • Holds a manual driver's licence • Has strong diagnostic skills • Takes pride in their work • Is reliable and motivated • Works well in a team Successful applicants will be invited to complete a paid trial to ensure we're the right fit for each other. Apply Today - Email your resume to Jamie & Ryan at [email protected]	Jamie McPaul	Mossman Mechanical	Mossman	[email protected]	09.11.2026 12:00

( 3 )

Add LOGO - (Only JPEG, GIF or PNG files, no PDF. For best results image at least 400px wide)

Position Vacant

Name

Business

Suburb

Date

FAMILY SUPPORT WORKER
FULL TIME POSITION

The Julatten Community Centre is seeking a compassionate, community-minded Family
Support Worker to join our team. In this role, you will work directly with parents/carers and
children up to age eight years to support early childhood development and family well-
being. You are also required to support families across the region to build resilience, improve
parenting capacity and create safe, thriving home environments.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Family Support Worker will operate the Julatten Community Centre Family Support and
deliver activities and programs in the identified catchment that achieve the intended
outcomes of the funding category. Activities and programs will include the following:
• Provide Early Childhood Education and Care programs, (e.g. school transition
programs or adjunct care).
• Provide Family Support Programs, (e.g. playgroup, Families as First Teachers, Circle of
Security, home visits, music play and therapy, counselling services).
• Access to child and maternal health, (e.g. child health screening and checks, advice
and advocacy, allied health support such as speech therapy).
• Develop collaborative partnerships with other service providers to deliver integrated
universal and targeted activities for children and families.

REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS:
• Qualifications: Certificate III in Community Services (CHC32015) or equivalent or
higher is preferred but not essential however, basic level of experience in Community
Services is required. Mandatory Child Safety and Child Protection Training.
• Screening Checks: Current working with Children Check, (Blue Card), and National
Police Certificate.
• Licensing: Current Driver’s Licence.
• Skills and Attributes: Strong communications skill set, Microsoft, Apple and knowledge
of social media platforms, crisis management, empathy and a working knowledge of
the FNQ services landscape.

Application package available on request.
Applications close COB
30th November, 2026

Tan Dickson

Julatten Community Centre

Julatten

[email protected]

09.11.2026 13:21

FINANCE ADMINISTRATOR
CASUAL POSITION - APPROX. 2 DAYS PER WEEK

The Julatten Community Centre is seeking a Finance Administrator responsible for the day-to-
day financial management and administrative operations of the centre where we deliver
quality Child Care with a government approved embedded Kindergarten program. We also
provide a government funded Family Support Service.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Duties include maintaining accurate financial records, correct allocation and expenditure of
government funding, timely processing of accounts and payroll, preparation and monitoring
of budgets and preparation of financial reports for the volunteer Management Committee.
The role requires a high level of accuracy, confidentiality, initiative and organisation, together
with the ability to work independently and collaboratively with the committee, staff, families
and external service providers to support the centre’s ongoing financial sustainability and
community services.

REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS:
• Demonstrated experience in bookkeeping and financial reporting.
• Practical experience using MYOB for bookkeeping and financial reporting.
• Competence in Microsoft Excel, including spreadsheets, formulas, data organisation
and financial reporting.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to work independently in a small
organisation.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate financial information clearly to people without a
financial background.
• High standards of integrity, discretion and confidentiality.
• Current Working with Children Check, (Blue Card), National Police Certificate,
Mandatory Child Safety and Child Protection Training.

Application package available on request.
Applications close COB
30th November, 2026

Tan Dickson

Julatten Community Centre

Julatten

[email protected]

09.11.2026 13:11

QUALIFIED MECHANIC

Join the Team at Mossman Mechanical
Position Available - Qualified Mechanic

Our Business
We're a busy, family-owned workshop with a great reputation for quality workmanship and honest service. We value our staff, provide a supportive team environment, and believe in doing the job right the first time.

Our work includes:
• Logbook servicing and mechanical repairs
• Vehicle Diagnostics
• Brake, suspension and clutch repairs
• EFS suspension upgrades
• Wheel alignments and tyres
• Roadworthy, COI and CL inspections

What We Offer
• Above-award wages based on experience
• 38-hour week (Monday–Thursday 7-5)
• Opportunity for overtime
• Long weekends most weeks
• Modern workshop and quality equipment
• Friendly family-owned business
• Variety of work – 4WDs, passenger vehicles and light trucks

We're Looking For Someone Who
• Holds a mechanical qualification EG. Light Vehicle Mechanic (or equivalent)
• Holds a manual driver's licence
• Has strong diagnostic skills
• Takes pride in their work
• Is reliable and motivated
• Works well in a team

Successful applicants will be invited to complete a paid trial to ensure we're the right fit for each other.
Apply Today - Email your resume to Jamie & Ryan at [email protected]

Jamie McPaul

Mossman Mechanical

Mossman

[email protected]

09.11.2026 12:00

( 3 )	Date	Start time	End time	Event name	Event description	Location	Cost	Website link	Event contact phone	Event contact email	Category (Maximum of 4 categories)	Terms and conditions	Name	Email	Phone
1.	Saturday 28 November 2026 Nov 28 2026-11-28T00:00:00+10:00	4:30pm		GAZZAMATAZ 70s, 80s, and 90s music , FREE EVENT !		The YACHTY - Port Douglas Yacht Club - 1 spinnaker cl - Port Douglas	FREE	pdyc.org	0740994386	[email protected]	Arts & Culture, Community Event, Family Event, Free Event, Live Entertainment		John Pooley	[email protected]	0740994386
2.	Tuesday 17 November 2026 Nov 17 2026-11-17T00:00:00+10:00	0900	1330	Open Farm Day. From paddock to product. Lower Daintree	Walk the ground. A morning at the ClimateForce Research Station to share our working land systems in the soil. Natives and exotics side by side. Introduction to the land at 9.15 am: land-mapping tool insights, organic agroforestry, silvopasture, and native harvest systems. Open-source knowledge and insight. Across the Daintree ferry. Free. No booking. Bring the family.	96 Cape Kimberley Rd, Kimberley QLD 4873	Free	https://theclimateforce.org/	0493424269	[email protected]	Community Event, Family Event, Free Event, Workshop or Training	Everyone who manages or cares about land in Douglas Shire is welcome. We ask that all attendees treat each other, the speakers and the venue with respect. People will hold different views on what the land should grow next, and the night works best when those views are shared and heard. Children are welcome and remain the responsibility of their parents or guardians. At the Open Farm Day, please stay with the group, wear closed shoes and follow the directions of farm staff. Photographs may be taken for community use; let us know on the day if you would rather not be included.	barnaby swan	[email protected]	0427284458
3.	Thursday 12 November 2026 Nov 12 2026-11-12T00:00:00+10:00	3:30	8:30	Common Ground: Future Land Use	What grows after cane? Local land managers discuss together what is working and what is not. ClimateForce will be sharing four land systems trialled in the Lower Daintree: Cropping, Agroforestry, Silvopasture and Native Regeneration. Open discussions around future exports, managing risk, shared labour and capacity. Regenerative agriculture documentary at 6.45 pm. Free. No booking. Bring the family.	Mossman Community Hall, 8 Mill Street, Mossman	Free	https://theclimateforce.org https://land-ip.com/on-the-ground	0493424269	[email protected]	Community Event, Family Event, Free Event, Workshop or Training	We ask that all attendees treat each other, the speakers and the venue with respect. People will hold different views on what the land should grow next, and the night works best when those views are shared and heard. Children are welcome and remain the responsibility of their parents or guardians.	[email protected]	[email protected]	0427284458

( 3 )

Date

Start time

End time

Event name

Event description

Location

Cost

Website link

Event contact phone

Event contact email

Category (Maximum of 4 categories)

Terms and conditions

Name

Phone

Saturday 28 November 2026

2026-11-28T00:00:00+10:00

4:30pm

GAZZAMATAZ 70s, 80s, and 90s music , FREE EVENT !

The YACHTY - Port Douglas Yacht Club - 1 spinnaker cl - Port Douglas

FREE

pdyc.org

0740994386

[email protected]

Arts & Culture, Community Event, Family Event, Free Event, Live Entertainment

John Pooley

[email protected]

0740994386

Tuesday 17 November 2026

2026-11-17T00:00:00+10:00

0900

1330

Open Farm Day. From paddock to product. Lower Daintree

Walk the ground. A morning at the ClimateForce Research Station to share our working land systems in the soil. Natives and exotics side by side. Introduction to the land at 9.15 am: land-mapping tool insights, organic agroforestry, silvopasture, and native harvest systems. Open-source knowledge and insight. Across the Daintree ferry. Free. No booking. Bring the family.

96 Cape Kimberley Rd, Kimberley QLD 4873

Free

https://theclimateforce.org/

0493424269

[email protected]

Community Event, Family Event, Free Event, Workshop or Training

Everyone who manages or cares about land in Douglas Shire is welcome. We ask that all attendees treat each other, the speakers and the venue with respect. People will hold different views on what the land should grow next, and the night works best when those views are shared and heard. Children are welcome and remain the responsibility of their parents or guardians. At the Open Farm Day, please stay with the group, wear closed shoes and follow the directions of farm staff. Photographs may be taken for community use; let us know on the day if you would rather not be included.

barnaby swan

[email protected]

0427284458

Thursday 12 November 2026

2026-11-12T00:00:00+10:00

3:30

8:30

Common Ground: Future Land Use

What grows after cane? Local land managers discuss together what is working and what is not. ClimateForce will be sharing four land systems trialled in the Lower Daintree: Cropping, Agroforestry, Silvopasture and Native Regeneration. Open discussions around future exports, managing risk, shared labour and capacity. Regenerative agriculture documentary at 6.45 pm. Free. No booking. Bring the family.

Mossman Community Hall, 8 Mill Street, Mossman

Free

https://theclimateforce.org https://land-ip.com/on-the-ground

0493424269

[email protected]

Community Event, Family Event, Free Event, Workshop or Training

We ask that all attendees treat each other, the speakers and the venue with respect. People will hold different views on what the land should grow next, and the night works best when those views are shared and heard. Children are welcome and remain the responsibility of their parents or guardians.

[email protected]

0427284458

Support Newsport

Choir Boy’s Cooktown Cup win is music to our ears

Horse Racing

Bryan Littlely

Senior Journalist

Latest News

Reef health

Temperatures rising as El Nino effects start being felt

Cairns Airport

New lounge option for Cairns Airport flyers

UNITS FOR SALE

High demand commercial complex launches in Craiglie

POSITIONS VACANT

BUSINESS & TOURISM NEWS

People's choice

Daintree resort, Gorge walk, the most popular for many Aussie travellers

Heatwave Festival

Heatwave Festival to return on back of a big low season spend

more business

PUBLIC NOTICES

PROPERTY OF THE DAY

more properties