The Mackay West Rotary Christmas Fair is set to dazzle the community with an array of festive activities, ensuring that this year’s event is not only for the kids but also a delightful experience for adults!

Scheduled for Friday, 25th October and Saturday, 26th October from 5:30pm at the Mackay Showgrounds, this jam-packed Christmas fair promises a magical evening filled with excitement and holiday cheer.

While children can look forward to thrilling rides such as the Merry-Go-Round, Kids Rollercoaster and Jumping Castles, adults will also have plenty to enjoy. Hibbles Amusements will operate the rides, with individual ride prices ranging from $7 to $10 or a special deal of four rides for $25 (excluding the dodgem cars).

In addition to the rides, attendees can explore attractions like the Ham Wheel, Meat Tray Wheel and Cent Sale, ensuring there is something for everyone to indulge in. Families can browse the Pick of the Shelf, visit the Bottle Stall and even satisfy their sweet tooth at the Sweets Stall. 

The excitement is sure to linger with the breathtaking Andergrove Lakes Fireworks Display at 8:30pm, lighting up the night sky and providing a perfect backdrop for capturing memories.

This event is more than just an evening of entertainment…it’s a chance for families to come together and embrace the Christmas spirit. Local MP Curtin & Co is proud to present this fair, setting the stage for a vibrant community gathering.

Entry to the Mackay Christmas Fair is FREE, making it an accessible event for all. Attendees are encouraged to mark their calendars and join in on the fun, as the fair promises to be a spectacular kick-off to the holiday season for all.

The Mackay West Rotary Christmas Fair invites everyone to come out, share in the joy of the season and create lasting memories with friends and family. Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to celebrate Christmas early!

What: The Mackay West Rotary Christmas Fair
When: Friday, 25th October and Saturday, 26th October from 5:30pm 
Where: Mackay Showgrounds
Tickets: FREE ENTRY

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Glamorous gowns and stunning suits adorned the attendees of the 2024 Whitsundays Tourism Awards which were hosted by Tourism Whitsundays on Daydream Island last weekend.

Local tourism operators were firmly in the spotlight with many businesses taking home awards on the night, some of which were inducted into the Hall of Fame having won their category for three consecutive years.

Special Whitsunday Tourism Awards Feature Pages 16-29.

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Dea Huvonen, Crystal Walton, Rosanagh Gallivan, Aimee Cameron, Laura Knipe, Cait Fleming, Jade Yvonne, Emma Bailes, Tim Booth from Tourism Whitsundays. Photo credit: R Jean Photography

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Hi Everyone,

Wow - What a week! In your hands, you are holding 96-pages of organically sourced, 100% local news delivered for free to you!

The whole team has done an absolutely phenomenal job in creating this paper, in particular the 15-page Whitsundays Tourism Awards Special Feature that showcases 22 local businesses who won awards on Saturday night.

From making phone calls to every Whitsundays Tourism Award recipient asking if they’d like to participate in the feature through to sensational articles written about winners and backed up by numerous celebratory ad designs – it’s been a whole team effort!

Every single member of the team has pulled together and worked especially hard this week – thanks guys!

The office has been operating at a faster pace than usual and while it’s been exhausting, it has also highly exhilarating! Energy levels have been propped up by caffeine and chocolate, and by now possibly a few glasses of celebratory wine!

Another team that works extremely hard here in the region is Tourism Whitsundays. The effort that went into organising the Whitsunday Tourism Awards was incredible, and the event was a great celebration of our vibrant tourism sector.

With 1 in 3 local jobs relying on tourism in the region, the work Tourism Whitsundays do to bring holidaymakers here from both near and far is vital to our economy and it was wonderful to celebrate the whole industry’s achievements on Saturday night.

For the full Whitsundays Tourism Awards Special Feature and to read about the fantastic local operators who won awards over the weekend, please turn to page 15.

Rach

Quote of the Week: “Your adventures take you further than your fears”

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Every day we are blessed to be in this wonderful Whitsunday community and Sofia Andreou experienced that first hand.

Last week, she posted on a popular Facebook community chat site offering to give $50 for free to go to a good home.

It all began when she was cleaning her rental property and found a $50 note hidden behind a book, deciding not to keep it but give it away instead.

“So I thought, I'm going to actually advertise this because it's $50 I didn't even notice that I had and it's very easy to forget when we are prospering, that $50 is really everything to somebody,” she said.

“I thought I might do an experiment and just see if anybody would realise that it was genuine and take me up on it.”

Sofia found the response on the Facebook group overwhelming and beautiful in many ways.

“It opened my eyes to how many people are suffering,” said Sofia.

“Secondly, it made me so grateful for our Whitsunday community, because there was such a large response of other generous people wanting to help as well.

“For example, there were a few people saying in the comments, I need this, or I need this, or I'm struggling with this, or I'm struggling with that. And so many people in the community put their hands up and said, well, I can also help, and I can also help.

“That really brought me to tears.”

Sofia initially advertised the $50 she found and then ended up giving $50 six times over, out of her pocket, because she realised how many people needed it.

She also estimated that her initial post turned into the community giving $3000 worth of donations.

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The $50 Sofia found during her clean, Photo supplied

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The highly anticipated Whitsunday Skyway received a funding pledge this week, promising to propel the $87 million project closer to its goal of being the largest piece of on-land infrastructure in our region.

Amanda Camm MP, Member for Whitsunday, stated that if the LNP are successful in this weekend’s election, they would immediately invest $5 million into the project to get it off the ground and lift the local economy. 
  
The Skyway project will feature a 1km all-weather cable car ride that soars 430m above sea level, offering visitors 360 degree panoramic views of the Whitsunday islands and hinterland. 
    
Amanda Camm said the Whitsunday Skyway will deliver a strong economic impact. 
  
“The Skyway will create 140 new direct jobs on completion, and 591 additional indirect jobs, injecting millions into the local economy,” Ms Camm said. 
  
“It will also deliver major flow-on benefits to other tourism-aligned businesses including accommodation, restaurants, tour operators and more. 
  
“This is catalytic tourism infrastructure that positions Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays as the Heart of the Reef.” 
  
Australian Adventure Tourism Group (AATG) chair Elizabeth Hackett said the project will take Airlie Beach to the next level.  
  
“The Whitsunday Skyway is a sustainable way to showcase the natural beauty of the Whitsunday region, offering visitors land-based adventure activities and spectacular tropical rainforest experiences, including guided tours,” Ms Hackett said. 
  
“Once formal planning and approvals are in place, we expect the construction timeframe to take between 12-18 months. 
  
“The project has strong support from the Whitsunday Regional Council and local tourism operators and will drive economic growth across the region.” 
  
Shadow Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef, Sam O’Connor, said the project will attract both domestic and international tourists to Airlie Beach. 
    
“The LNP is committed to delivering infrastructure that showcases Queensland’s natural assets, by driving the development of more tourism experiences. 

“An LNP Government will ensure this project operates within strict environmental guidelines, applying strong protections through the approval process to safeguard the pristine natural beauty of the Whitsundays region.” 

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Nathan Lehman, Project Director AATG, Sam O’Connor, Shadow Environment Minister, Elizabeth Hackett, AATG Chair, Member for Whitsunday Amanda Camm, Julie Telford, Chair Tourism Whitsundays. Photo supplied

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The whole community is in mourning this week following news that 17-year-old Proserpine State High School student Bree Day tragically passed away after six days in hospital following a road accident at Myrtlevale on the Bruce Highway.

The crash occurred at 3:25pm on Friday 11 October and it is believed Bree was performing a U-turn on the highway when her vehicle collided with a truck.

She was transported to Proserpine Hospital with severe head injuries and was transferred to Townsville Hospital where she succumbed to her injuries and her passing was announced on Thursday 17th October.

Bree, who had just celebrated receiving her P-plates, was in her last year of high-school and had only weeks until graduating. She would have been due to celebrate the end of her school career, making her sudden death all the more devastating for her friends, family and broader community.

The driver of the truck, a 52-year-old Burdell man, was not physically injured.

A Queensland Police Service spokeswoman said the Forensic Crash Unit is still investigating the incident.

The Bruce Highway was closed for several hours due to the crash.

This crash comes less than two months after a 22-year-old woman lost her life also on the Bruce Highway.

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Local student Bree Day passed away following a serious road traffic incident. Photo sourced: Facebook

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Over the last few weeks some of our favourite actors from hit TV show Home and Away have been filming in the region proving there is nowhere quite like the Whitsundays for a stunning backdrop and holiday atmosphere.
The cast and crew filmed across several local locations including Bowen, Foxdale, Airlie Beach and Daydream Island for two weeks.
We’ll have to wait for the show’s release to learn more about the cast and crew's activities, however, Location Manager James Doherty revealed that they have engaged local talent for extras and partnered with cherished local businesses for accommodations and filming locations.
Additionally, Home and Away’s Instagram has teased a comeback for Ziggy and Dean, promising to revive their beloved Summer Bay romance.
The episodes, showcasing the spectacular Whitsundays have no set air-date yet, however, are set to appear on the your tv screens in about 6 months' time.
James explained that they chose the Whitsundays due to its very distinct style that is hard to replicate:
“We've been up and down all the East Coast, we went and scouted several areas like Cairns, Townsville, Mackay and Yeppoon, we went to all those places and still came to pick the Whitsundays and its surrounds,” he shared.
“For us it has the best of all the worlds, you have the cane fields, the Great Barrier Reef, and you've got some beautiful local towns that aren't as looked upon favorably as other towns. We have found so much beauty in those towns, and have really enjoyed our time here.”

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Ziggy and Dean. Photo sourced from Channel 7 and 7+

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1: This is your final elevator pitch - in 80 words - what makes you the best candidate for the job?
 
2: If successful, what is the one key project/legacy achievement that you will be remembered for?
 
3: What role do you think local newspapers play in regional communities?
 
4: What would you say to someone who has never voted for your party before but is thinking about it?
 

Julie Hall
One Nation Candidate For Whitsunday

1:

I stand for the people, with common sense, people focused, policy. I don’t represent the party, nor do I have to tow the party line, like LNP and Labor do. The cross bench can bring the balance of power back to the people where it belongs and hold both major parties to account. The choice is simple, do you want a hands-on MP to represent you, or a career politician that represents their party first.

2:
 
Changing legislation that is crippling businesses, taking away our freedoms, and forcing woke ideology into our workplaces and schools. I will support the Katter Party’s Termination of Pregnancy (Life Births) Amendment bill to ensure babies born alive after a failed abortion will receive pain relief and care. I will also seek to change the legislation that allows perfectly healthy babies to be terminated right up to the day before birth. Both LNP and Labor have stated they will not support these changes, I WILL!

3:
 
Local papers are the heart of the community. They keep the community informed and connected and we most certainly do not want to lose them. Whitsunday Life is a great asset to our community. When it comes to elections all news media should be seen to be A-Political, however, you will see across all media platforms it is the Labor and LNP candidates that are always featured, you seldom see the minor parties getting the same coverage, which is not only biased, but unfair.
 
 
4:
 
If you don’t like where things are going, and you’re as concerned as I am about the future for our kids, then you need to vote differently. Under the major parties whether it was LNP or Labor Federally, or Labor in State, our lives have got a lot harder. We should be the luckiest country in the world with the resources that we have, yet we have gone backwards under these major parties. Give us a go, seriously, how much more can we afford to lose?

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Dale Last
LNP Candidate For Burdekin

1:

No matter whether you live in Middlemount, Giru or anywhere in between, for the past ten years I have listened and taken up the fight for issues that matter to constituents and my hope is to continue to do that in the future. In regional areas we have to fight tooth and nail to secure our fair share and that means having a strong voice to advocate for safer roads, better access to health services and more opportunities for our next generation.
 
2:

Knowing that I have been a strong voice for the Burdekin on issues that matter most will be an honour I will carry with me for years to come. Seeing our netball players competing on new courts, knowing that patients with time-critical health issues are going to get the CT they need at the Ayr Hospital and seeing our firefighters able to train at their own station will be achievements I know this community will be able to be proud of.

3:

The importance of regional newspapers has been emphasised in recent years, particularly in areas of rural and regional Queensland that don’t have reliable access to internet or telecommunications. There is no other place to find out what is happening in the community, to read about the achievements of our best and brightest or to find out who won our local sporting matches. As the State Member, local newspapers are imperative in sharing information about community safety or new legislation.
 
4:

Every Queenslander placing their vote over the past couple of weeks and on Saturday will know exactly what is impacting them the most right now, whether it’s costs of living, crime, housing or accessing health services. These issues are not new and The LNP has outlined a plan and commitments to improve our health services, increase housing, address youth crime and ease cost of living. 

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Anne Baker
Labor Candidate For Burdekin

1:

After 17 years successfully putting my heart and soul into representing the Isaac region in local government, the last 12 of those as Mayor of Isaac bringing in over $400M of funding to the region, I understand how the system works and I feel like I can do better for Burdekin. I am ready to stand up for local working families, businesses, agriculture, mining, construction and regional communities. The Burdekin electorate needs a voice that will be heard by State Government.   
 
 
2:
 
I will be remembered for securing $157M in fully committed roads funding as just a candidate, the most funding for roads seen in the last eight years of current representation. I can do so much more if elected, this is just the start.

3:
 
Papers are integral to regional communities and play multiple roles . Newspapers are the glue that connect a community, from news, to birth and engagement notices, real estate, classifieds, social events, sports and more.    
 
4:
 
I would say, please consider voting for me as the person, Anne Baker, as I am the one that will represent you. I have a proven track record and I will work hard for the electorate. 

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Andrew Elborne
One Nation Candidate For Burdekin

1:

There is no better school in the world than travel and life experience, so if you want real solutions to the issues of today you need a new set of eyes and minds on the job and not career politicians that have not been able to fix the issue in the last 10 years without more rights removing legislation.
 
2:

When we fix the money wasting renewable problem we can then concentrate on using the money to fix the local issues, simplifying and removing unnecessary and obtuse legislation that only serves to chain up and hinder the working families of the community - the community safety bill for instance, and its blatant discrimination against farmers and sporting gun owners.
 
3:

The local newspapers play a huge role in regional communities, just as long as they stay a-political and give every party the same respect and time to give their stance on issues. They should be owned by the communities as well and not oversees interests.

4:
 
I would say honestly I am not doing this as a job, I have stood on the side line praying for the government to do the right thing and represent the people, but have come to the realisation that the big parties are now so entrenched with party politics, meaning following overseas influence, that they have forgotten how they got elected and that is by the people, so it’s time someone who is only interested in people politics steps up.

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Amanda Camm
LNP Candidate For Whitsunday

1:

I have worked extremely hard over the last four years listening to the community and advocating for our region.  It is frustrating representing from opposition. However, I proudly stood up for the women of Mackay & Whitsundays during the Obstetrics & Gynaecology and DNA Lab Queensland Health failures. I have continually called out the Government for poor consultation or stalling on projects like Shute Harbour Road or Hamilton Plains. Sometimes it’s resulted in a win with work commencing.
 

2:

I hope my personal legacy as an MP will be one who listens, advocates and delivers for the community. I have been listening and advocating to a government that has refused to listen for the last four years. My first focus will be on delivering projects for our region that have sat idle under this Labor government. The main ones will be Mackay Bucasia Road in the southern part of the electorate and Hamilton Plains in the North and delivering a Shute Bay Boat Ramp.

3:

Local newspapers are vital to keeping communities connected. People can find State and National news through other mediums, but they’ll never have the same amount of local content as a local paper. I think everyone felt the loss of local papers when many closed during COVID. It plays an important role in connecting our community, informing, celebrating and communicating what matters.
 
4:

I would ask if they are better off now than they were 10 years ago under this Labor Government? The reality is, that currently in Queensland only the LNP or Labor can win enough seats to form government. Whilst the Labor Government has spent the last 10 not delivering projects on time or on budget and with no consultation or transparency, the LNP has a plan to fix housing, crime, the health system and cost of living issues.

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Every year on January 26 the Whitsunday Regional Council Australia Day Awards celebrate the outstanding achievements and contributions of individuals and organisations across our region.
 
Nominations for the 2025 Whitsunday Regional Council Australia Day Awards are now officially open! These awards are an incredible way for us as a community to recognise the outstanding contributions of individuals and groups who go above and beyond to make the Whitsundays such a special place to live.
 
Each year, these awards honour people from all walks of life—our dedicated volunteers, committed educators, passionate community workers, and even our local sporting heroes.
 
Whether it's someone who has made a difference through a lifetime of service or someone who’s made an impact through a project in the last year, these awards offer the chance to say a heartfelt "thank you" for their efforts.
 
We all know someone in our community who quietly works behind the scenes without expecting recognition. These are the people we want to celebrate—the ones who make a real difference in the lives of others.
 
It could be the coach who devotes countless hours to mentoring young athletes, the volunteer who consistently gives their time to help those in need, or the local business owner who always goes above and beyond to support community causes.
 
By taking the time to nominate someone, you’re not only acknowledging their efforts, but you’re also encouraging them to continue making a positive impact, knowing their work doesn’t go unnoticed.
 
We have several categories available, including Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year, and Senior and Junor Sports, so there’s a way to highlight every type of contribution.
 
If you know someone who deserves to be celebrated for their contributions, I strongly urge you to submit a nomination. It’s easy to do, and nominations are open until Friday, December 6. You can find all the details on the Your Say Whitsunday page on our website or by dropping into one of our Customer Service Centres in Cannonvale, Proserpine, Bowen or Collinsville and filling out a hard copy form.
 
Let’s take this opportunity to shine a light on the people who make the Whitsundays a better, stronger, and more vibrant place for us all. I look forward to seeing many worthy nominations and celebrating with our incredible community on Australia Day 2025.
 
Together, let’s show our appreciation for those who are making a difference, one good deed at a time.
 
Ry Collins
Mayor of Whitsunday Regional Council

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Bareboating – chartering your own yacht – is one of The Whitsundays’ most iconic experiences. With no licence needed and all training provided, bareboating is an incredible way to explore The Whitsundays your way - at your pace and with your loved ones. Take a look at what six days on a bareboat in The Whitsundays could look like. 

Day 1: Airlie Beach to Nara Inlet 
Set sail from Airlie Beach to Nara Inlet, where you can explore ancient Aboriginal rock art and enjoy a peaceful night at anchor. 

Day 2: Whitehaven Beach 
Experience the iconic Whitehaven Beach. Hike to Hill Inlet Lookout for stunning views, and relax on the pristine, white sands. 

Day 3: Hamilton Island Exploration 
Dock at Hamilton Island to explore walking trails, water sports, and wildlife parks. Rent a golf buggy for a fun island tour. This is also a good chance to restock on any supplies. 

Day 4: Snorkelling at Butterfly Bay 
Head to Butterfly Bay, famous for its vibrant coral reefs. Snorkel among colourful fish and relax on deck surrounded by butterflies. 

Day 5: Langford Island and Blue Pearl Bay 
Visit Langford Island for beachcombing and swimming, then sail to Blue Pearl Bay and relax on the beach or dive in and snorkel with the vibrant coral and marine life. 

Day 6: Head back to Airlie Beach 
If this is the final day of your great adventure, make extra time to take in the sunrise over the water for the last time (for now). It's now time to make your way back to Airlie Beach and start planning your next bareboating trip. 

Contributed by Tourism Whitsundays  

Explore the Whitsundays with all your loved ones by bareboating, Photo supplied

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Accountants often educate their clients on their break-even threshold. Break-even points are relevant to all businesses – no matter their size.

So, why is your break-even point so important?
 
How can you decide on what price to sell your products, or services at, prepare a forecasting budget or write a business plan, if you do not know how many ‘widgets’ you need to sell to cover your costs and make money? This is your break-even point.
 
You may have a high turnover but still run at a loss, because your product or service is not priced high enough to make a profit. To make a profit, you need to understand the level of turnover you need to cover your operating expenses and make money.
 
You should aim to undertake regular financial health checks with your accountant, so you know your critical break-even point, ensure your business remains viable, make sure costs are realistic, and that you understand the turnover required to make a profit.
 
Benchmarking tools are also useful to measure key business metrics and practices and compare them to similar industry standards. Your accountant can then identify areas where improvements can be made and opportunities for growth explored.
 
Do you know what your break-even point is?

Contributed with thanks to Accountancy Plus Whitsunday Services

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During Queensland Mental Health Week (5-13 October), the Chamber hosted an event featuring the region’s Business Wellness Coach Kristy Wilson.

The Queensland Government has established a network of wellness coaches to provide free one-on-one support to small and rural businesses to address the impacts of health and wellbeing. The coaches have a background in business, combined with qualifications in social work or psychology.

Kristy believes the most common health issues business owners face are:

   • Relationship issues predominately between couples working together, but also between business partners, or partners not involved in the business. The common cause is not creating strong relationship boundaries and time prioritisation and management, with impacts felt at work, home, and personal productivity.  

   • Stress presenting as fatigue, headaches, irritability, overwhelm, and depression due to business financial issues, lack of skilled staff or their availability, managing staff, drowning in administration, and dealing with client situations.  

   • Anxiety is a persistent and excessive worry that doesn't go away even in the absence of stress. Symptoms include trouble concentrating or making decisions, irritability, heart palpitations, sleep disturbance, or feeling panicked and not being about to explain why.

“We all react to stress in different ways. Taking the time to recognise any changes in yourself is very important not only for your wellbeing, but also your staff and your businesses success,” said Kristy.

Kristy’s top tips to business owners:

   1. Seek professional help when you need it, be it financial or personal related. It’s always best to get on top of your challenges before they get on top of you.
   2. Look after yourself, stress and burnout can present itself in a number of ways and if not managed effectively it might force you out of your business for a period of time or slow you up.
   3. Manage your finances. Business finances and wellness are connected. Know your numbers, keep overheads low, and regularly review cash flow.

Contributed with thanks to Whitsunday Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Business Wellness Coach Kristy Wilson. Photo supplied

We have been so fortunate to have been involved in Women’s Leadership programs for over five years, bringing groups of like-minded women together to build confidence, authenticity, resilience, emotional wellbeing and self-leadership.
 
It has been humbling to see groups of strangers lean in, share narratives and experiences that have shaped who they are today. Tackling self-awareness themes such as ‘Imposter Syndrome’, ‘Negative self-talk’, ‘The Confidence Gap’, and ‘The Comparison Trap’ these all-female groups have dug into some limiting self-beliefs and learned to overlay these with new neural pathways leading to more positive outcomes.
 
So, what have we learned through these sessions:

   • Creating psychologically safe environments is imperative for women to share limiting self-beliefs
   • These environments ensure no judgements, no consequences, just empathy, understanding and shared experiences
   • How quickly women can feel supported when they let their walls down
   • By sharing narratives we start to ‘normalise’ our experiences and feel less isolated
   • Women are truly resilient!
   • It takes a support network to help us identify and explore our potential
   • How quickly women can turn a challenging past experience into a belly-laugh within the company of other women
   • Women who like to challenge (rather than champion) women do not thrive in these environments
 
Our finales for our women’s groups in both Mackay and Airlie Beach are drawing near and we would love for all women to join us for these panel events. The topics are: Mackay “The F!#k it 40s & 50s – the joy of not giving a f!#k”; Airlie – “Women vs Women: Challenging vs Championing”. We have some great speakers, head to our website for more details.

Contributed with thanks to Shiift.

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Four time returning finalist in the Whitsunday Tourism Awards, Accom Whitsunday has been recognised for their excellence with a bronze and two silver awards over the past few years and secured a Finalist accolade this year.

Property manager, Liv Compton, attended the award evening on Saturday along with four other team members to celebrate Accom Whitsunday’s achievements and acknowledge the hard work they dedicate to the business each week.

“We all get caught up in the busyness of work, but it’s important to take the time to be acknowledged and celebrate as a team, and we’re already planning our submission for 2025,” shared Liv.

A holiday rentals department of PRD Whitsundays, Accom Whitsunday is currently working to continue building a strong sense of brand awareness across the region.

“We’re a unified team, sharing the same office, which gives us a unique advantage by having so many knowledgeable and experienced people around to allow us to collaborate and share ideas, fostering a great team culture.”

“Accom Whitsunday stands out because of the wide variety of holiday homes and apartments we offer, catering to everyone, from luxury beachfront holiday homes and centrally located Airlie Beach apartments to pet-friendly options and affordable beach houses at Dingo Beach - we cover all preferences.”

“We also provide complete property management services, including guaranteed income for investors, website representation, advertising, cleaning, maintenance, bookkeeping, and guest management.”

Continuing to evolve to offer new services to the region, Accom Whitsunday shared a warm thank you to the team at PRD Whitsunday for their hard work, stating their dedication is invaluable to their success as a business.

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Thrilled to be finalists at the Tourism Whitsunday Awards! Huge thanks to our incredible team and supporters. Here's to an exciting 2025

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Airlie Beach Tourism, was awarded the ‘Most Outstanding Whitsunday Booking Service,’ at the Tourism Whitsunday Awards over the weekend.
Established in 1988, Airlie Beach Tourism (ABT) is Airlie Beach's longest-running tour agency. Formerly known as Airlie Beach Tourist Information Centre (ABTIC) until 2013, they rebranded as Airlie Beach Tourism. Proudly locally owned and operated, they have been serving the community for over three decades.
Airlie Beach Tourism has a strong track record of recognition, having previously garnered several prestigious awards. These include Gold for Visitor Information Services in 2018, Winner for Visitor Information Services in 2019, and Silver for Specialized Tourism Services in 2019.
Store Manager Nathan Fleming expressed his pride in the entire team—Teena, Sue, Narelle, Emma, and Clem—who were all present at the awards ceremony:
“Winning this award made us incredibly proud, as we’re just a few of the many faces those welcome holidaymakers, visitors, cruise ship guests, and locals alike.”
With a team of five, three of whom have over 30 years of local experience, ABT offers personalized itineraries that showcase the region. Their modern office features brochures and digital screens highlighting options. A user-friendly website and active social media make communication and booking easy, emphasizing the area's beauty and attractions.
Nathan also explained how he is grateful for the community in Airlie Beach:
“We’d like to thank the entire region for giving us the opportunity to showcase award-winning experiences and stunning landscapes. Without them, our business wouldn’t exist.”
“A big congratulations to all the finalists and winners! If you're thinking about entering, go for it – it’s a great opportunity to showcase your hard work and passion.”

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Airlie Beach Tourism celebrates a proud moment after winning the 2024 Whitsundays Tourism Award for Most Outstanding Whitsundays Booking Service.

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