What started as a sparkling night of fairy lights and celebration has now made a lasting impact for communities across Mackay and the Whitsundays. Life Publishing Group’s Enchanted Garden event raised $56,000 last year, with funds now supporting seven local charities making a real difference every day. The funds are going to the Trudy Crowley Foundation, My Hospital Foundation, Orange Sky, Bowen and Collinsville Pet Rescue, Mackay Pet Rescue Inc, Fauna Rescue Whitsundays and the Townsville Spinal Unit. Representatives from Life Publishing recently visited Mackay-based recipients, personally delivering $8,000 to each charity and seeing firsthand how the donations will help. Funding will support upgrades such as the mental health inpatient courtyard at My Hospital Foundation, keep Orange Sky’s vital mobile laundry and shower services running, and provide essential food, healthcare, and rehabilitation for rescued animals at Mackay Pet Rescue Inc. Community generosity from the event continues to ripple across the region, turning a night of glamour into tangible help, hope, and opportunity for those who need it most! Read more on page 5… Cover pic - Mackay Pet Rescue Inc Secretary and Foster Carer Beverley Joy with Foster Carer Allison Lakelin and Life Publishing Sales Account Manager Jessica Clark. Photo credit: Hannah McNamara Continued from cover… Fairy Lights To Frontline Impact Seven Local Charities To Benefit From Community Generosity What began as a glittering evening beneath fairy lights and stars has come full circle, transforming celebration into tangible community impact across Mackay and the Whitsundays. Life Publishing Group’s Enchanted Garden event, held at Elementa on October 25 last year, raised an extraordinary $56,000k, with funds now flowing directly into the hands of seven charities delivering frontline support where it is needed most. The beneficiaries include the Trudy Crowley Foundation, My Hospital Foundation (formerly known as Mackay Hospital Foundation), Orange Sky, Bowen and Collinsville Pet Rescue, Mackay Pet Rescue Inc, Fauna Rescue Whitsundays and the Townsville Spinal Unit. Last week, representatives from Life Publishing Group personally visited Mackay-based recipients, delivering $8,000 directly to three local organisations and gaining insight into how the funding will translate into real outcomes on the ground. At My Hospital Foundation, Managing Executive Officer Ashleen O’Neil said the contribution would support the redevelopment of the mental health inpatient courtyard, a space in need of revitalisation. “We’d just like to say a huge thank you to all who contributed…these donations will make a huge difference,” Ms O’Neil said. “We really appreciate all the support from our community, and if anybody would like to come on board as a sponsor we would greatly encourage it.” For Orange Sky, the donation will help keep vital services operating across the region. “I couldn’t believe it when I was told about this donation. It’s amazing — absolutely amazing,” representative Judith Fisher said. “We’re constantly maintaining the machines, such as detergents, maintenance, electricity… it all adds up. “A huge, huge thank you, because without donations like this, we couldn’t operate in 55 locations around Australia. There are locations that simply wouldn’t be available without donations. “We’re here for anyone who needs our services — even if it’s just for a chat. We’re always available, and we’d love to see you come down.” At Mackay Pet Rescue Inc, volunteers shared the confronting reality of increasing numbers of abandoned animals, particularly cats, entering their care. Funding from the Enchanted Garden will go toward essential items including food, veterinary treatment and rehabilitation, giving vulnerable animals a second chance at finding safe, loving homes. While guests enjoyed gourmet tapas, premium beverages and world-class entertainment on the night of the event, the deeper purpose quietly took root. Every ticket purchased fuelled practical support, from mobile laundry and shower services, to hospital equipment and patient care initiatives, to rescue and rehoming efforts for animals who otherwise may not have survived. The glamour of one unforgettable evening has now been converted into something far more enduring: hope, healing and help for communities across our region. "At Life Publishing Group we are here to serve the community in every way we can. For almost 15 years this has been through our free publications, both magazines and newspapers, and we hope they have brought joy to many," said Life Publishing Group Editor in Chief Rachael Smith. "Raising this money for these seven worthwhile charities represents a significant moment for us, a moment where we use the platform we have built over the years to give back to those who need it most. It has been an incredible few weeks with our team delivering cheques to the different charities and the gratitude from all the recipients has been wonderful to witness. “A huge thank you to all the local businesses and individuals who donated on the night and to everyone in our team who contributed to the success of our first charity event."
Alexander Gall and Sina Cheung are about to embark on the journey of a lifetime. Aboard their boat, they plan to visit 12 different countries, establishing coconut cultural centres in each country with a focus of educating and spreading passion for coconut farming. ‘We want to find out if coconut culture is still alive in villages and islands around the world”, said Alex. The ambitious project will see the pair sail around the world to foster coconut culture and teach people how to best make use of the plant. At the core of this endeavour is a wealth of inspiration from years of firsthand experience with coconuts and the influence of history. The inspiration came first from Thor Heyerdahl, a Norwegian explorer whose wooden raft is currently located at the Museum of Sydney. The adventurer famously sailed through Peru to French Polynesia in 101 days. “I said well, if that’s going to work on a wooden raft, then it might work on a bamboo catamaran as well.” Over the course of their journey, the pair plan to build a great bamboo catamaran. “We want to make a sustainable living headquarter out of bamboo. We’re going to find some of the biggest bamboos in the world and build a catamaran of up to 33 metres. We want to make a good first impression when we arrive at villages,” Alex explained. “We don’t want them to see us as a white catamaran with a champagne bottle, but rather a bamboo boat full of coconuts”. Alex’s passion for coconuts began 15 years ago in Airlie Beach, when he opened a coconut bar as a backpacker. “I was 21 at the time. I had just finished the army and was climbing coconut trees every day,” he said. “My friend and I ended up at Rusty’s Markets in Cairns running a coconut bar for free years, selling around 800 coconuts a day. With that, I received a lot of education about coconuts. My head was full of coconuts after three years”. Part of the project will see Alex and Sina will film a documentary to record the experience. “I studied film and documentary in Los Angeles to prepare for this project,” Alex noted. “We’re going to be connected to Starlink. We will have live updates on social media. The documentary will consist of 13 episodes and will start in Australia”. Beginning in Australia, the couple will start in the Torres Strait Islands to gauge the coconut culture. From there they plan to sail across the Philippines, Bali, Thailand, India, Zanzibar, the Caribbean Islands, Panama, Hawaii and Papua New Guinea. Speaking to Sina, she reiterated the emphasis on being self-sustainable, relying on nature over human resources. “We want to learn how to be self-sustainable and live on boat. We’re not paying rent; we rely on what we have in nature. We’ll look for leaves that we can eat, vegetables we can grow, fish we can catch”, she said. The couple will likely leave Australia around April directly from the Whitsundays. “Come join us on this journey and help villagers create this coconut culture centre,” said Alex. “Support them, go there, ask for the coconut boy. Ask for the grandma who’s going to cook you something with the coconut. Instead of asking for coca cola in the fridge, ask for the coconut”. Captions Alex and Sina preparing for their grand journey Photo Credit: Suzanna McLoughlin
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