Latest news with #ExchangeHotel
ABC News
16-07-2025
- ABC News
Cape York man committed to stand trial for murder of Indigenous woman 12 years ago
A former Queensland quarry worker has been committed to stand trial for the alleged murder of an Indigenous woman more than a decade ago. Warning: This article contains details said in court of threats and violence that some readers may find distressing. A 23-year-old Kowanyama woman, known for cultural reasons as Ms Bernard, was last seen at a pub in the Cape York town of Coen on February 10, 2013. Ms Bernard allegedly left the bar with Thomas Maxwell Byrnes, 63, with the intention of going to a quarry where he worked at Archer River, 68 kilometres north of Coen. Ms Bernard's family reported her missing a few days later, which prompted a search of surrounding bushland, home to several disused mine shafts, but her body has never been found. Mr Byrnes was charged with Ms Bernard's murder in January last year and has remained in custody since. He has faced several committal hearings in the Cairns Magistrates Court since May, where several witnesses have been cross-examined. In one instance, the former manager of the Exchange Hotel in Coen, Dean Lloyd, said Mr Byrnes was a regular patron at the bar. Mr Lloyd told the court he recalled having a conversation with Mr Byrnes and another customer where they discussed the disappearance of Ms Bernard. He said it appeared to him that Mr Byrnes was intoxicated. "He then said, 'I took [Ms Bernard] from the pub and we were meant to go home,' something along those lines, and 'You know what happened next,'" he said. Mr Lloyd said he "froze" and responded by saying that he did not know what happened next. He said Mr Byrnes took a while to respond. "He looked at me and [the other patron] and said, 'Youse f**king say anything, youse'll be put beside her and never found." A regular visitor to the Coen Exchange Hotel, Jacqueline May Greenhalgh, told another hearing that she spoke with other regulars like Mr Byrnes. She said words in a conversation with a group of people following Ms Bernard's disappearance were "etched" in her mind. Ms Greenhalgh said Mr Byrnes made unexpected comments that Ms Bernard's body would not be found by authorities. In a hearing on Tuesday, Coen resident Neville Shepherd told the court he had a conversation with Mr Byrnes in 2017 or 2018 when he said Ms Bernard had bitten him on the penis. In the same conversation, Mr Shepherd said Mr Byrnes also said he'd "roughed her up". Mr Byrnes's lawyer, James Sheridan, questioned Mr Shepherd's recollection of the conversation, noting Mr Shepherd had a hearing impairment. Mr Sheridan asked Mr Shepherd if Mr Byrnes might have said, "She was a bit rough." Mr Shepherd said that was possible. He said Mr Byrnes also told him that Ms Bernard "took off" and he did not ask him what that meant. Magistrate Scott Luxton committed Mr Byrnes to stand trial in the Cairns Supreme Court at a date to be set. Mr Byrnes did not enter a plea and remains in custody.
Perth Now
08-07-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
Shire of Murray wins prestigious local government award
The Shire of Murray has been recognised for its redevelopment of the Exchange Hotel in Pinjarra. It won the regional growth category at the 2025 National Awards for Local Government in Canberra last month. Shire president Douglas McLarty said it was wonderful for the shire to receive such recognition. 'We think big, we have bold ideas, and our people deliver exceptional outcomes because of it,' he said. Shire of Murray president Douglas McLarty and CEO Dean Unsworth. Credit: Supplied 'The Exchange Hotel Pinjarra is just one example and it's a delight to have this recognised on the national stage.' The highly anticipated redevelopment of the Exchange Hotel was a decade-long project which welcomed its first customers in September last year. 'Since reopening, the hotel has operated at full capacity, become one of Pinjarra CBD's largest employers and provided increasingly diverse job opportunities,' Mr McLarty said. 'Local businesses benefit from this surge in activity, with the hotel contributing directly and indirectly to economic growth.' The Exchange Hotel Pinjarra project was co-funded by the shire, the hotel's operators and the Australian Government's Building Better Regions Fund.
Perth Now
27-05-2025
- General
- Perth Now
Awards for service to railway, hospital
Two people with nearly a century of volunteering combined were among more than 150 people celebrated by the Shire of Murray for Volunteer Week. Nominees were awarded certificates of recognition for reaching five, 10, 20, 30 and 40-year milestones, and awards for outstanding contributions were presented at the May 20 function at the Exchange Hotel. Don Butler and Brian Henderson each received milestone awards for 40 years each of support for the Hotham Valley Railway. Rae Endersby received an outstanding contribution award for her 35 years of service at the Murray District Hospital. She has helped fundraise for patient items and equipment. Your local paper, whenever you want it. Shire president Douglas McLarty said the event was a small way the shire could thank volunteers in the community. 'We are incredibly fortunate to have so many volunteers who give their time and energy to Murray. Their contributions play a vital role in supporting and connecting our community,' he said. 'These longstanding volunteers, along with many others within our community, work tirelessly behind the scenes solely for the betterment of our community and for that we are immensely grateful.'
West Australian
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Wild stories as Kalgoorlie-Boulder skimpy help propel Tiffy Texas' comedy career
Wild stories collected from her time as a skimpy in Kalgoorlie-Boulder has helped propel Tiffy Texas' comedy career to Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The former stripper and slowly retiring skimpy has found herself quickly picking up extra comedy gigs since taking off at Perth and Adelaide Fringe. With the majority of her content stemming from her work in the region, Tiffy is planning a special comedy show in Kalgoorlie-Boulder in July ahead of her London and Edinburgh trip in August. 'Most of my material is all the stories from on the job, just the craziest things I've been tipped for or made money doing,' she said. 'The thing about this job is that things can come across farfetched, but it's actually 100 per cent accurate — especially out here in Kalgoorlie. 'That's why I haven't completely given it up yet, I'm still stretching out the retirement that little bit only because the material is just too golden.' Tiffy started out as a stripper in Perth before becoming a manager and house mum at a strip club, which eventually led her to skimpy work with Gold Class Girls. Kalgoorlie-Boulder quickly became one of her favourite places not only to work, but also to live. And while she technically still lives in Adelaide, she spends more of her time here than anywhere else. Pushing 40, Tiffy decided to slowly start stepping away from skimpying, and instead focused on skimpy DJ-ing — working once a month at the Exchange Hotel — event emceeing, and now comedy. 'I'm having such a great time just doing all different kinds of things,' she said. 'Sometimes I'll get booked for all of it, I'll emcee and do comedy and then skimpy DJ at the end. 'This is what I love about skimpying, it can open so many doors for you. 'A lot of people see it as a means to an end, but it can give you so many opportunities and for me it really pushed me into new areas which I really love.' Tiffy's comedy show will take place at the Grand Hotel on July 5 with Perth comedians Bruno Oliveira and Ian Burke.
