WEATHER FORECAST
Cairns: 13-25C max, 5% chance of rain
Port Douglas: 19-24C max, 5% chance of rain
Mareeba: 10-23C max, 5% chance of rain
Innisfail: 13-23C max, 5% rain

TODAY'S TOP STORIES

IRONMAN FEVER GRIPS CAIRNS

Elite athletes from TNQ and around the world are gearing up for Sunday’s Ironman 70.3 and Ironman Asia-Pacific Championship Cairns challenges, and even if you’re not taking part, there’s still plenty to see and do.

The Cairns Sport & Lifestyle Expo, showcasing an array of products and information for the athletically-inclined, will be running today on the Esplanade until 7.30pm, while the Meet the Cairns Airport IRONMAN Cairns Pros event – also on the esplanade – will be held between 11am-noon.

And there’s still time to register for tonight’s Cairns Post Bright Night Run, a 5km fun run raising funds for the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation.

Keen to watch the winners cross the line on Sunday? Click here to book yourself a seat in the COUCH (Committee for Oncology Unit at Cairns Hospital) marquee on the finishing chute.

More to come – including full program and road closure information – on TropicNow today.

ASSAULT IN WOREE: INVESTIGATIONS UNDERWAY

From Cairns Police: An investigation is underway into a robbery incident that occurred at Woree yesterday afternoon.

An 18-year old man was walking his bicycle through a vacant land area between Charlotte Close and Rigg Street with his 16-year-old friend at around 3.15pm when he was set upon by a group of youths and assaulted.

One of the youths then chased his friend toward a nearby shopping complex where a witness observed what was occurring and challenged the unknown youth, who then fled back toward the main group.

The witness then yelled at the group, who were continuing to assault the victim, and they fled on foot with his phone and black BMX bicycle.

The victim sustained a suspected facial fracture and lacerations and was treated at the scene by ambulance officers before being transported to Cairns Hospital for further examination.

The offenders are described as being a group of Indigenous males aged between about 13 and 20.

COOKTOWN FESTIVAL SET TO BE A CRACKER

History, heritage and a hell of a lot of fun: the Cooktown Discovery Festival kicks off today, with an awesome array of events on the agenda.

Tonight’s Maroon Ball will officially open the celebratory weekend, while Saturday’s traditional Warrma – celebration of Aboriginal culture and dance – and corroboree will tell the tale of Cooktown’s original Indigenous inhabitants. The world-famous Cook's Landing Re-enactment gets underway on Sunday from 11am.

For full program and more details, click here.

ATHLETES TO INSPIRE TNQ STUDENTS WITH NEW SCHOOLS VISIT PROGRAM

Primary schools in TNQ are being urged to apply for a program that will see elite athletes sharing their stories on what it takes to be the very best.

An initiative by the Queensland Academy of Sport, QAS4Schools visits will be rolled out in the lead up to the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Minister for Sport Mick de Brenni said the visiting program, open to all schools in Queensland, would give kids the chance to learn firsthand from top athletes that an active and healthy lifestyle is its own reward.

For more information about the QAS4Schools program, click here.