Congratulations to Steve Pilcher from Pilcher’s Mitre 10 Bowen who won the Mackay and Whitsunday Life 2024 NRL Footy Competition.

It was an extremely close contest, with Steve winning by just one point with 132 points and Bruce Spannagle from the Metropole Hotel in Proserpine and Stacey Gerhart from Leader Group in joint second place with 131 points each.

Steve said he has been watching football on and off his whole life and his knowledge of football plus checking weekly stats helped him reach the win.

Additionally, since entering the competition Steve has tried to watch as many matches as possible to understand the teams and see how they were performing.

Since winning Steve said he has already been bragging to his friends that are also in the competition.

Steve considers himself a Bronco’s fan but being in North Queensland he has started to root for the Cowboys too and watches them play at least two times a year in Townsville.

Although the competition is over, Steve is already thinking about the final.

“I think it's going to be a Storm vs Panthers final,” Steve said.

“I think the Panthers will just tip them, their consistency and their structure has been very impressive so far this year.”

For winning the competition Steve receives Two Grand Final Tickets, $1000 cash, a one-page profile in Core Life Magazine (valued at $1895), and a full-page advert in Mackay and Whitsunday Life Newspaper.

Well deserved, congratulations – let’s see if you can back it up next year!

Steve Pilcher winner of our 2024 Footy Tipping Competition. Photo supplied

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4-year-old Theo Large is described as an easy-going and fun-loving kid, who always has a bright smile on his face. Sadly, little Theo’s life changed on the 14th August 2024, when he was diagnosed with Childhood Leukaemia.
Theo was taken to the Proserpine Hospital on 14 August, as it was clear to his parents something wasn't quite right. He was taken by ambulance to Mackay hospital that evening. Theo was then flown to Brisbane by Life Flight on the 15th of August and his treatment began at the Queensland Children’s Hospital in Brisbane on 17th August.
The news has been devastating for Theo’s family. As the middle child of three, Theo's family has been temporarily divided, with Theo and his parents staying in Brisbane while his siblings are with their grandparents in Proserpine.
With the need for the community to rally around them for support, the family, alongside The Hangar Cafe and Bar have organised a community raffle to help them raise much needed funds, to help mitigate the mounting bills for ongoing treatments and travel and living expenses the family are currently enduring.  
Every contribution counts. Whether you make a small donation or purchase a $20 raffle ticket online or from The Hangar Cafe and Bar, you can truly make a difference in this little boy's life. Plus, you’ll have the chance to win amazing prizes, from an acrobatic flight to a thrilling skydive over the stunning Whitsundays.
Family friend and manager at The Hangar Cafe and Bar, Dan Shoebridge, stated that the money raised from the raffle will help relieve the pressure for the family.
“It will help give some stability and normality to them, while their life's been turned upside down,” he shared.
Despite the devastating news, lovely Theo still has a smile on his face, and seems to be remaining positive.
Dan commented on how amazing the Whitsundays community has been in the midst of such turmoil, and in just 24 hours of the fundraiser being live, the community had helped raise over $9000.
“It's so overwhelming, to see the amount of support that everyone rallies together and brings, especially in the trying, tough times we're all experiencing at the moment with financial hardship, it's amazing to see people giving.”
Theo still has a long journey ahead, and with the raffle continuing on until October, you still have plenty of time to enter.
“Any funds that come through are extremely appreciated on behalf of the family.”
Help support Theo’s journey and his family by donating anything you can through this extremely difficult period.
The Whitsundays are thinking of you Theo.
Head to The Hangar Cafe and Bar Facebook page to donate or call the cafe to find out more: 0487 006 929

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Four-year-old Theo battling through with a smile
Help raise funds for Theo and his family

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Equipped with all-new, state-of-the-art facilities, the brand-new Airlie Beach Fire Station has opened its doors and is ready to serve its community members.
The stunning new space has replaced the older and smaller station that was located in Jubilee Pocket, near PCYC.
With Airlie Beach’s continued population growth, the decision to upgrade and expand the local fire station was in order to better help serve the community, with the old station having been in operation for the past 45 years.
Fourth class firefighter, Jay Steele mentioned how the new station offers modern facilities and a dedicated training room for firefighters.
He also stated that the new location on MacArthur Drive in Cannonvale enables improved response times.
It allows for better coverage of areas like the highway and maintains service to existing areas.
Firefighter Blair Mitchell also spoke about the new facilities and their improvement on response times:
“It means much better response times, we are in the centre of the community now, rather than all the way out in Jubilee Pocket.”
Station Officer, Kevin Tomas, expressed his excitement about the new facilities and how they will improve the firefighters' operations:
“It allows us to respond a bit more towards the highway as well, so we can reach a lot more jobs.”
The move will enable firies to get to the residential areas quicker and more efficiently, in turn, better serving the Airlie Beach community.
Senior fire fighter Blake Broadwood explained how the brand new large and open space, allows for more expansion opportunities within the station itself including it becoming a 24/7 fire station.
“It is capable of harbouring a 24/7 fire station,” he shared.
An official opening ceremony was held last Thursday, and in attendance was firefighters and their families alongside special guests, Amanda Camm MP and Councillor Gary Simpson, although the official operations began on Monday 16 September.
The fire station is also looking for any new potential Auxiliary Firefighters that can help assist at the station. At present the station has 11 Auxiliary firefighters and maximum capacity is 20.
If you are looking at getting in the red truck and being Airlie Beach’s newest firefighter, make sure to enquire at the brand-new station which is actively hiring, or head on down to take a sneak peak of the shiny new facilities in Cannonvale.

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Firies showing off their brand-new station
Blair Mitchell, Jay Steele, Blake Broadwood and Kevin Tomas with the fire truck.
Amanda Camm MP visiting the new facility.

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Member for Whitsunday Amanda Camm MP is calling on Whitsunday residents frustrated with the lack of decent boating infrastructure in our region to have their say and register their support for boat ramp upgrades.

“We have the highest boat ownership per capita in the state and our boating infrastructure is not sufficient to meet demand,” Ms Camm stated.

“And the infrastructure we do have is not only under par but in some cases dangerous.

“Shute Harbour boat ramp is a prime example of a government refusing to undertake proper community consultation on design and leaving our community with an unsafe ramp, not fit for purpose”.

The boat ramp has been a point of contention for boat-owners within the Whitsunday community since it opened in 2021.

The $1.8 million state-owned structure has been called an “engineering disgrace” and becomes submerged at hightide, with many boaties calling it dangerous and not fit for use.

Ms Camm is calling for safer ramps with more all-tide access, more trailable carparks, better lighting and security and for more local consultation on design and planning.

“It’s time the government got serious about our infrastructure. Instead of just patchwork upgrades, it’s time to look at the big picture and look at new infrastructure, like at Shute Bay,” Ms Camm stated.

“For the last four years I have been standing up for our local boaties, but this government has refused to listen.  

“It’s time for locals to have their say on what boating infrastructure improvements they want in our region and call on this government to make a commitment ahead of the election in October”.

Ms Camm invited the community to go to www.betterboatramps.com.au to register their support.

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Member for Whitsunday Amanda Camm MP fights for local boaties
The Shute Harbour boat ramp has been labelled an “engineering disgrace”

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Last week in this newspaper we incorrectly stated that Julie Hall ran against Amanda Camm in the last state election.

Please note, this information was incorrect.

Julie Hall in fact ran for the One Nation Party in the Federal election.

We apologise to Ms Hall and look forward to featuring more about her current election bid as a candidate for the role of Member of the Whitsundays in the upcoming state election due to be held on October 26th.

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Direct flights from Adelaide to the Whitsunday’s started earlier this month, and the flight path has been an instant success.

In just two hours and 20 minutes people from Adelaide can get to the region, whereas previously visitors would have to catch a connecting flight, equalling approximately an eight-hour journey.

CEO of Whitsunday Coast Airport Craig Turner said the new route is making it much easier for people from Adelaide to get here to the Whitsundays and beyond.

“For a long time, it's been so difficult for people from Adelaide to get here,” said Craig.

“It was expensive, inconvenient, and it was a long way to get here, going via Melbourne or Brisbane, whereas now it's cheaper, it's faster, and it's direct.

“1.2 million people from South Australia can now access the Whitsunday coast effectively and conveniently.”

To display this new route, Jetstar the airline supplying the service, and Whitsunday Coast Airport have been advertising everywhere.

Advertisements in this paper, posts on social media, digital billboards in Adelaide and Whitsunday Coast Airports plus on radio are just some ways the route has been advertised.

Whitsunday Coast Airport are thrilled the Adelaide flights are up and running but they won’t stop there.

“We're really happy, we will continue to monitor the flights. We are also active in the market to make sure that these flights are sustainable, and they last,” said Craig.

“Just because we've got the flights in, doesn't mean the jobs done.

“There's still more to do to make sure people know where they can fly to or from when they're in the Whitsundays.”

The new flights are great for local tourism and also supplies local residents with another potential route.

“The airport services the whole region, from tourism, visitors, mining, agriculture – everyone in our community!” said Craig.

“The airport is the funnel to drive the economy for the Whitsundays.”

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Skytrans Airline has been operating a flight from Whitsunday Coast Airport to Cairns for over two years and they want more people to know about it.

Why fly south and spend up to six hours in transit, when in just 1 hour and 25 minutes you can get from the Whitsundays to Cairns, and still enjoy that wonderful tropical weather?

Whitsundays to Cairns is over 600 kilometres and a takes several hours to drive, which is a long drive and too long for some.

The direct flight from Whitsundays to Cairns connects people in Cairns and the Whitsundays, allowing people to fly seamlessly between the two, without having an expensive and longer flight connecting from Brisbane.

In Cairns you can experience the iconic Skyrail, Indigenous tours and white-water rafting, or explore the greater area such as Port Douglas or the Daintree.

During Pre- Covid times the Whitsunday Coast Airport visitors would be 45% international.

International customers would arrive via Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, but they did not have international customers arriving from the north.

CEO of Whitsunday Coast Airport Craig Turner said “People can fly now into Cairns and then straight to the Whitsundays directly.”

“It was strategically important because it opened up a northern international entry point for us as a destination,” he explained.

“We are already seeing more and more international tourists coming in on that flight.”

Seeing more and more international visitors coming directly from Cairns is encouraging and is on trend with the State and Federal Government forecast of international visitation reaching its full strength and pre-covid levels at the end of 2025.

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Earlier this month Paige and I attended ‘Love Letter to Queensland’ a heartwarming event at the Coral Sea Resort Hotel as part of the Whitsundays Writers Festival. This special celebration honoured the Queensland writing competition that captured what makes our state truly remarkable. The atmosphere was filled with romance and country pride as we settled in to hear the inspiring words of our speakers. 

The event boasted a diverse lineup of special guests, each contributing their unique perspective. Marco Renai, the 2024 Queenslander of the Year, moved us with his heartfelt poetry. Andrew Wilcox MP and Dr. Chris Sarra CEO of the Office of First Nations Engagement and Innovation shared their insights and wisdom. Elizabeth Hackett and Dr. Melissa Ashley enriched the evening with their literary contributions, while Karen Jacobson's performance added a touch of magic to the event. 

'Love Letter to Queensland' was not just a celebration of writing, but a testament to the deep love and pride we hold for our state. It was an evening that beautifully showcased the vibrant community spirit of Queensland and the incredible talent within it, leaving a lasting impression on all who attended. 

I took many heartfelt moments away with me from this evening, one of which was spoken by Elizabeth Hackett in her own Love Letter to Queensland; Elizabeth wrote, "Love, without a doubt, is the most important thing, love in its romantic form, love in its nurturing form, love born of grief, love born of fulfilling other’s needs, it is the most wonderful of all feelings."  

I find myself constantly inspired by the incredible people within our community and truly appreciate these experiences offered in The Whitsundays. It was a wonderful event; well done to the organisers.  
 
Contributed by Jade Yvonne, Business Development Executive, Tourism Whitsundays

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Many will know that the Proserpine Community Centre does a lot of great things for the community and recently the Centre has been busy cultivating a wonderful garden for everyone to enjoy. Five dedicated volunteers, have come together to transform the space into a beautiful retreat and learning ground for the community.
The project has involved volunteers clearing ground, constructing garden beds and planning and creating a herb garden and garden shed.
Coordinator of the Proserpine Community Centre, Ingrid Ruck, emphasised that the garden will be accessible for everyone, including those with disabilities.
“We're making sure that in between each garden bed there's enough room for a wheelchair and walking frames to go through,” she explained.
The community gardens will be a way for the individuals to learn how to grow produce and help those who may need some fresh food.
“We want to try and show our community and especially our children, that you can actually grow your own fresh and healthy food, if you know how,” Ingrid added.
Alongside the garden, Proserpine Community Centre is looking at hosting guest speakers. The guest speakers will aim to empower community members with valuable skills and knowledge for successful gardening.
The centre has already had various donations from members of the community, such as two garden beds, tools, fruit trees and hoses.
“Donations such as these, are so important to us, not because they help save money, but because it shows people are actually interested in helping us,” Ingrid explained.
While the gardens aren’t quite ready for planting to begin, the centre welcomes community members to come take a look and learn about soil or even about how to set up your own garden.
When you are next in the area, pop by and see the great work being done at the community gardens and the community centre in general.

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Proserpine Community Centre Gardens are beginning to take shape. Photo supplied

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It’s been another busy time for businesses in the region, with a number of regional events wrapping up and school holidays upon us.
While business owners are constantly dealing in 'the now', we also need to keep an eye on 'the future'. 
With the Queensland State Election on our doorstep, the Chamber will soon issue our State Election Statement that reflects the critical priorities our members want to see addressed.
We have invited Chamber members to share their view, and provide impact examples, on issues ranging from urgent road infrastructure, business red tape and regulation, business insurance and affordability, regional housing, utility (water, electricity, energy, and digital) costs and reliability, securing regional involvement in the 2032 Olympics, and increasing Whitsunday and north Queensland representation in state government decision making.
The Chamber will be undertaking advocacy work with all candidates and allied stakeholder groups to represent the priority needs of the region’s business community. 
We will be hosting a members-only Meet the State Election Candidates event to discuss business community priorities. We encourage other regional special interest groups to hold their own forums with candidates so to provide our community with priorities to meet candidates and discuss priorities.

Contributed with thanks to Whitsunday Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Alan Milostic.

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Whitsunday Regional Libraries is now part of the North Queensland Network for BorrowBox, giving our library patrons access to an even larger collection of eAudiobook and eBook titles! Whether you're into the latest bestsellers, classic literature, or informative non-fiction, there's something for everyone. Library membership is free, and with just your library card, you can start exploring this vast digital library from the comfort of your home. Download the Whitsunday Regional Libraries app or visit libraries.whitsundayrc.qld.gov.au to find out more!

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As we approach another disaster season, I want to emphasise how critical Council’s Local Disaster Management Group preparations are to ensuring the safety of our community.
 
Council takes disaster management very seriously, and our small but dedicated Disaster Management Team has been working hard behind the scenes undertaking rigorous training exercises and simulations to ensure we are ready to respond swiftly and effectively in the event of a cyclone, flood, or other natural disaster.
 
As Chair of the Local Disaster Management Group (LDMG), I recently joined Council’s Local Disaster Coordinator Adam Hagy, and our Disaster Management Coordinator Sandra Black on a Queensland Police Service led high-stakes disaster management exercise, "Exercise Tempestas," on Hamilton Island.
 
The focus was on preparing our Whitsunday islands for the unpredictable wrath of severe cyclones and deadly storm surges during the summer months.
 
The exercise aimed to refine evacuation strategies, tighten communication channels, and identify those crucial moments when evacuation becomes not just an option, but a necessity.
 
In a true show of unity, key stakeholders from across district and state levels came together for the exercise. Representatives from Daydream, Hayman, and Hamilton Islands joined forces with heavyweights like the Queensland Police Service, Queensland Fire Department, and Maritime Safety Queensland.
 
This collaborative effort also saw critical input from the Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland Ambulance Service, Queensland Health, the Queensland Reconstruction Authority, and the Inspector-General of Emergency Management.
 
Together, they tackled real-world challenges head-on, fine-tuning their responses and solidifying communication networks to ensure no gap is left unchecked when disaster strikes.
 
Adding to the preparation, the Disaster Management Team conducted a vital pre-exercise visit to Daydream and Hayman Islands the day before. This annual check-in included reviewing contact lists, assessing disaster response protocols, and making any necessary updates to safeguard the islands ahead of the fast-approaching storm season.
 
As we gear up for storm season, the Whitsunday Disaster Management Group continues to engage with the community to build resilience and awareness.
 
Mark your calendars for Council’s Cyclone Saturday in Airlie Beach and Cyclone Sunday in Bowen on October 26th and 27th - just in time to prepare for the storm season, beginning November 1st.
 
Our community’s strength lies in preparedness, and with exercises like these, we’re one step closer to weathering whatever nature throws our way.
 
I encourage all residents to take the time to review their own emergency plans, ensure your homes are cyclone-ready, and stay informed about the resources Council has to offer.
 
Our Disaster Management Team works tirelessly to be ready, and together, as a community, we can face whatever challenges the season brings with resilience and unity.
 
Stay safe, stay prepared.

Contributed with thanks to Mayor Ry Collins.

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Mayor Ry Collins and the Council Disaster Management Team prepare for cyclone season. Photo supplied

The Disaster Management Team worked with the local islands and emergency services on disaster management exercise, "Exercise Tempestas”.
Photo supplied

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Our work life is an ever-changing landscape – we’re either changing workplaces or the team in our workplace is constantly changing. This means we are constantly required to work alongside people who are vastly different to ourselves.
 
The workplace is full of introverts, extroverts, gossipers, micro-managers, complainers, high-performers, pessimists and ‘almost geniuses’. For many, this is a nightmare; for some, this can be - and is - highly entertaining. What’s required is awareness, some level of emotional intelligence, and the capacity to self-assess our own work-style.
 
Us humans differ on many different levels, namely:

   • Personality traits
   • Strengths
   • Belief concepts
   • Expectations
   • Life experiences
   • Priorities
   • Core Values
 
When differences are vast it can result in workplace irritations, frustrations, and conflict. Understanding we are all hard-wired differently helps us realise that our colleagues may not be irritating us with intent – they may just be doing things the only way they know. This tends to help us de-escalate our emotions once we start to realise that our irritations may be our own doing through our own subjective viewpoint.
 
So how do we all get along? Be smart enough to remain curious…….
 
Key questions to ask yourself:

   1. What can they do that I can’t?
   2. How can my role benefit from these differences?
 
Choose not to focus on the negatives. As the philosophers say, “what you look for you will always find”. People will always irritate us as we can never all be the same. Choose to remain interested, curious, and entertained even! If you are wanting to work with people just like yourself, you will find that team has many weaknesses and gaps. Namely, there will be no-one to do the tasks you don’t like, and no-one to offer different perspectives on critical thinking.
 
Need more? Register for our upcoming ‘Difficult Personalities in the Workplace’ workshop to learn more about yourself & those around you.

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This week, we’ve been so excited to welcome Emma Bailes to the Tourism Whitsundays team! Joining us from Visit Victoria, Emma brings with her a wealth of knowledge in tourism, branding, design, and marketing. In her new role as Marketing Coordinator, Emma will be involved in all things graphic design and branding whilst supporting our wider marketing efforts. 

Last month, our team headed to Brisbane for Experience Queensland — Southeast Asia and India. It was a fantastic opportunity to connect with key trade partners from India, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia, allowing us to share insights and strengthen relationships that will benefit our tourism sector. 

Looking ahead, we’re excited for the Whitsundays Tourism Awards next month at Daydream Island Resort. It promises to be an unforgettable evening as we celebrate the incredible achievements within our tourism industry. Trust us, you won’t want to miss this highlight of the year! 

And lastly, QTIC Tourism Week is just around the corner from November 13 to 15 at the new Star Brisbane in Queen’s Wharf. This annual event brings together around 1,000 delegates for the Destination IQ and DestinationQ Forums, along with the Queensland Tourism Awards Gala Ceremony. It’s a wonderful chance to celebrate the successes we’ve achieved together in the industry.  

Contributed by Aimee Cameron, Interim CEO, Tourism Whitsundays  

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Interim CEO Tourism Whitsundays Aimee Cameron, Photo supplied

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This week's "Pet of the Week" takes a poignant turn as we introduce Charlie, a 4-year-old German Shepherd. Sadly, Charlie's journey has taken a sad and unexpected twist after his owner, unable to find him a new home, reportedly dumped him with a backpacker named Manuel.
Manuel stepped in to help after seeing an advertisement from Charlie's owner, who needed someone to care for the dog briefly. Eager to make a difference, Manuel offered to look after Charlie during this challenging time.
Having taken in the handsome dog over the weekend, the owner did not come back to collect him on the Sunday as arranged and is not responding to any attempts by Manuel or Animal Rescue Whitsunday to make contact.
Christina from Animal Rescue Whitsunday is devastated by the news, especially as she cannot take Charlie in herself due to him not being good with other dogs.
Charlie is neutered, fully vaccinated, and currently on heartworm and tick prevention.
This charming boy is not only good-looking but also well-behaved with both adults and children.
While he can be protective of his loved ones and property, his loyalty and devotion make him the perfect companion.
Charlie has since been adopted, and Animal Rescue Whitsunday is thrilled he has found his forever home.
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Sex: Male
Breed: German Shepherd
Age: 4 years old
Kid friendly: yes
Cat Friendly: no
Other dogs: no

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