Willcox Takes Charge Of Shadow Manufacturing Portfolio

By Amanda Wright

Andrew Willcox, the Federal Member for Dawson, has been appointed Shadow Assistant Minister for Manufacturing and Sovereign Capabilities—an elevation that signals not only a deepening of his political responsibilities but a wider national recognition of regional Australia's role in securing the country’s future.

While the announcement from Nationals leader David Littleproud has been met with warm congratulations, Mr Willcox himself has approached the role with measured enthusiasm and a clear plan to ground national vision in local insight.

“I’m truly honoured to take on this role and welcome the faith placed in me,” Mr Willcox said.

“Manufacturing is a large contributing factor in our Australian economy—starting right here in Dawson, from Paget in Mackay through to Wulguru in the north.”

The new shadow portfolio carries significant weight. It touches on national security, economic resilience, regional employment, and long-term industrial policy. At its heart is the notion of self-reliance—Australia’s ability to design, produce, and sustain essential goods and infrastructure without undue dependence on foreign suppliers.

“There’s never been a more critical time to focus on our sovereign capabilities,” Mr Willcox said.

“From defence to food production, advanced manufacturing to aerospace—we must prioritise Australian-made at every level.”

His appointment coincides with a moment of symbolic national progress. The Dawson electorate will soon host the launch of Australia’s first fully homegrown rocket, produced by Gilmore Space Technologies in Bowen. For Mr Willcox, it’s more than a regional milestone—it’s emblematic of a new frontier.

“This rocket launch is a powerful symbol of what we can achieve when we invest in sovereign capabilities,” he said.

“We already build satellites in Australia. If we can launch them here too, we control the whole process—from the ground to low Earth orbit.”

Mr Willcox’s emphasis on sovereign control is no idle rhetoric. He frames it within broader geopolitical realities: the growing unease around dependence on potentially adversarial nations for critical technologies, including those with embedded cybersecurity risks.

“If we’re relying on overseas rockets to launch our satellites, we’re exposing ourselves to risks—economic and strategic. We need to be able to stand on our own two feet.”

But he's is not leaping straight into a national tour. Instead, he plans to begin his new portfolio where he knows best: On home soil.

“My first priority is to spend time in my own electorate,” he said.

“I want to talk directly to the manufacturers across Dawson, understand what’s holding them back and what policy levers we can pull to help their businesses thrive.”

From the underground mining lighting systems produced in Paget and exported globally, to the concrete-printed housing structures that could help solve the housing crisis, Mr Willcox sees manufacturing not just as a sector, but as a solution. He’s particularly interested in modular construction and offsite fabrication techniques that could fast-track new housing and infrastructure.

“I want to explore all the modern methods, whether that’s printing homes in a warehouse and assembling them like Meccano, or repurposing existing materials to meet the shortage.

"There’s a real opportunity to align manufacturing with social outcomes like housing.”

The breadth of the Dawson electorate provides a microcosm of the national manufacturing landscape. In Bowen, Willcox highlights the intersection of horticulture and industry, while in the Burdekin, a new industrial estate is opening up to support agricultural supply chains and mining equipment fabrication. Townsville is entering the frame with proposals for flatbed train carriage manufacturing and components for sustainable aviation fuel, a sector Mr Willcox says is ripe for expansion.

But it’s the coupling of local know-how and national policy that excites him most.

“I didn’t want to be pigeonholed as the ag guy,” Mr Willcox said.

“I’m proud of my background in farming, and I’ll always advocate for rural Australia, but this role allows me to contribute to something broader. It’s a stepping stone into deeper national service.”

For Mr Willcox, the goal is clear: Boost innovation, create long-term employment, and restore confidence in Australia’s industrial capabilities. That means listening to manufacturers, engaging with emerging sectors, and crafting policy that supports future-facing industries—from defence and agriculture to space and housing.

"If the pandemic taught us anything, it was the critical importance of self-sufficiency—our ability as a nation to produce what we need, when we need it, without relying on fragile global supply chains.

“A nation that can make things for itself is a nation that can grow and shape its own future,” he said.

“And that future starts here.”

Also this week, the Australian Electoral Commission made it official — Andrew Willcox was formally declared re-elected as the Federal Member for Dawson.

During the ceremony, the Divisional Returning Officer delivered a brief speech outlining the vote count and confirming the result. Mr Willcox was then invited to speak, followed by the unsuccessful candidates in order of their standing.

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Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox, Andrew's wife Raylene, and AEC Divisional Returning Officer Sandra Sparti join AEC staff and volunteers to celebrate the official declaration of the Dawson result, with two volunteers proudly holding an "Awesome Dawson" sign crafted from the thimbles used to count ballots on election day. Photo credit: Amanda Wright

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Mackay’s BMX Girls Pedal Their Way To Podium Success

The Mackay and District BMX Club is beaming with pride after two of its rising stars, Ruby and Lilly, delivered standout performances at Rounds 3 and 4 of the National Series in Lake Macquarie late last month.

Ruby took on a new challenge, double-classing for the first time at a national level – racing in both the 20-inch and Cruiser bike categories. Her debut was nothing short of impressive.

In Round 3, Ruby powered her way into the finals in both classes, finishing 7th in the 20” category and landing a podium finish with 3rd place in the Cruiser. Round 4 brought more drama and determination. After taking a fall in the 20” motos, Ruby showed true resilience by dusting herself off and finishing the day. Her grit was rewarded in the Cruiser class, where she once again took 3rd place on the podium – proving consistency and courage go hand in hand.

Lilly also made her mark, proudly representing not just Mackay, but Australia, as part of the prestigious Mighty 11s Trans-Tasman Challenge – a highly competitive event that pits the best young riders from Australia against their New Zealand counterparts. Racing with passion and pride, Lilly helped lead the Australian team to victory, with both the girls’ and boys’ squads taking out the top spots.

It was a weekend full of adrenaline, heart, and hard-earned success – and Mackay's BMX girls left nothing on the track. Congratulations to Ruby and Lilly on an inspiring weekend of racing and representing their club and region with pride.

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Mackay BMX talents Ruby and Lilly shone at the National Series in Lake Macquarie, with Ruby landing double podiums and Lilly helping Australia win the Mighty 11s Trans-Tasman Challenge. Photo source: Mackay and District BMX Club Inc (Facebook)

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It has been 65 years since the Fokker Friendship “Abel Tasman” crashed off the coast of Mackay, claiming the lives of all 29 passengers.

This tragic event still touches many lives in our region and beyond.

Of the lives lost, four were crew members and nine of the 25 passengers were young boarders from the Rockhampton Grammar School returning home to Mackay for the Queen’s birthday weekend.

The youngest was just nine years old.

Mayor Greg Williamson said what was meant to be a joyful homecoming turned into unimaginable heartbreak for families, friends and the wider community.

“To this day, this crash remains as one of Australia’s worst civil aviation disasters,” Mayor Williamson said.

To mark the 65th anniversary of the tragedy, a commemorative ceremony will be held at the Fokker Friendship Memorial at Illawong Beach on Tuesday, June 10 at 11am.

Mayor Greg Williamson said the remembrance is a deeply important occasion for the community.

“It is important that we come together to remember the lives lost, to support those who still grieve and to ensure that future generations understand the significance of this event in our region’s history,” he said.

“Guests from across the state are attending, including family members and friends of the crew and passengers lost and those who were later involved in the crash.

“A representative from the Rockhampton Grammar Boarding School, where many of the children had been studying, will also attend.”

While the cause of the crash was never definitively determined, the investigation led to a significant advancement in aviation safety.

In the wake of the disaster, Australia became the first country to mandate flight recorders, or "black boxes," on all commercial aircraft—a legacy of safety born from the tragedy.

Long-time Mackay resident and local historian, Col Benson from Mackay RSL Sub Branch, reflected on the outpouring of grief at the time and the broader impact of the tragedy.

“The community needed a place to come together and grieve,” Mr Benson said.

“The bronze Roll of Honour on the memorial stone at Illawong Beach was built by locals at Walkers Foundry on Harbour Road in their lunch breaks,” he said.

“It was completed and the memorial unveiled in just 16 days on June 26, 1960.

“To this day, it remains a place of reflection and remembrance.

“It affected everyone—from the air traffic controller on duty that night, to the search and rescue crews and even the reporters who covered the crash then and in the years that followed.”

Community members are welcome to attend the commemorative service. Further details are available on the Mackay Regional Council Facebook event page.

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The TAA Fokker F-27 Friendship “Abel Tasman” that crashed off the coast of Mackay on June 10, 1960 in Australia’s worst civil aviation disaster. Image supplied

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It was smiles for miles at BB Print Stadium as 3,500 locals turned out for the Mackay Hospital Foundation’s Family Fun Day, up 500 from last year and bursting with enough joy to power the spinning tea cups.

With four hours of non-stop rides, live music, fairy floss and a star-studded cast of Bluey, Bingo and the Paw Patrol gang, the event had kids bouncing higher than in the jumping castle. Gardian Real Estate staff were the real MVPs—spending the whole day wrangling rides with cheer and energy that defied both gravity and the Queensland sun.

Behind all the thrills was a serious cause: raising money for the Mackay Hospital Foundation, which fills critical funding gaps to support better care for local patients.

From heart-racing rides to heartfelt generosity, it was a day where community spirit took centre stage, and not even the dancing Bluey could outshine it.

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Council is encouraging residents to take advantage of the discount period by registering their pets before June 30.

Registration renewal letters have been issued and should be in the mail for residents who have not opted to receive them electronically by email through eNotices.

Mayor Greg Williamson said this month was the perfect opportunity for residents to get in early and ensure their pet’s registration was up to date.

“A reduction in fees as much as 30 to 50 per cent can be claimed by residents who register their cats and dogs during the discount period,” Mayor Williamson said.

“Registering your pet ensures that if your pet goes missing, we have your most up-to-date contact details so we can return your pet to you as soon as possible,” he said.

“Pet registration fees are also put towards the costs of running council’s Animal Management Centre, which provides care for lost pets until they can be reunited with their owners or adopted.”

To support the discount period and pet registration, council is again running the popular photo competition for residents with registered animals.

“We are encouraging pet owners to share photos of themselves and their pets practising responsible pet ownership,” Mayor Williamson said.

“This could be anything from taking your dog for a walk on a leash, playing in an off-leash dog park or a photo of your pet sporting a collar with a council pet registration tag.

“We will choose one winner each week and they will take home a $100 voucher from a local pet store.”

Photos of you and your pet practising responsible pet ownership can be shared at mackay.qld.gov.au/pet.

If there has been a change to your address or your pet’s status in the last year, update your details with council online at www.mackay.qld.gov.au/onlineserivces, calling 1300 MACKAY (622 529) or by emailing council@mackay.qld.gov.au.

For details on how to register a new pet, visit www.mackay.qld.gov.au/registrationinfo.

To receive future renewal notices by email, sign up for eNotices at mackay.enotices.com.au.

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By Dean Kirkwood, General Manager, Resource Industry Network

Safety leadership was brought into focus at the annual Resource Industry Network’s 2025 Safety Conference held on the 23rd of May at the MECC. Around 200 of the region’s safety leaders came together to hear from world class speakers and to unpack the latest techniques and strategies to help to continue the high standard of safety within their business.

We received fantastic feedback from attendees which showed that the speakers had motivated them to return to their business and lead from the front when it comes to safety.

Internationally renowned speaker Dr David Proven opened the conference by translating the five core High Reliability Organisation (HRO) principles - preoccupation with failure, reluctance to simplify, sensitivity to operations, commitment to resilience, and deference to expertise - into tangible strategies for leaders, safety professionals, and frontline teams. Attendees gained insights into developing the processes, capabilities, and cultural conditions needed to embed these principles in day-to-day operations, with real-world examples from mining organisations working to operationalise high reliability.

David also spoke of the importance of hearing all voices involved in the process and that decisions should not be just made by the ‘HIPPO’ (highest paid person in the organisation).  It was a wonderful way to start the conference and the follow up keynote speakers were just as impressive.  Each keynote speaker navigated the attendees through the very topical subjects of physiological safety and psychosocial safety and how addressing these in your workplace are critical to ensuring a safe environment.

The afternoon schedule offered a diverse range of topics in smaller breakout seasons. These informative and interactive sessions reinforced the messages of the plenary sessions, and set about breaking the topics down further to give attendees practical tools to take back to their workplaces to improve safety performance.

The practical tips that conference delegates learned to be able to implement into their businesses will create a safer and improved working environment for their staff.  In addition, the connections made during networking opportunities throughout the day will allow for collaboration and information sharing which will ultimately lead to a safer region overall.

A huge thanks goes to the RIN staff for organising the event, our sponsors, the speakers and the attendees for making this year’s Safety Conference such a fantastic event.  Now it’s onto Resource Industry Networking’s gala event for the year – the 2025 RIN awards which will be held on Friday 22nd August at the MECC.

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Big conversations, bold ideas and a whole lot of heart — the 2025 RIN Safety Conference brought together industry leaders and changemakers for a powerful day of learning, connection and real-world solutions. Here's a glimpse at the people and moments driving safer, stronger workplaces across our region. Photos supplied

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A Time to Act, Not Just Account

As the crisp air of winter descends upon Mackay and June 30 looms large, a familiar rhythm stirs for financially savvy households and enterprises alike. This isn’t just a date. It marks the finale of a fiscal year — a time to reflect, recalibrate, and position ourselves for the financial year ahead. The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) is ready. The question is, are you?

For Our Local Businesses
For the enterprising minds of Mackay, sharpening the books now can reap generous rewards. Chief among them is the enduring appeal of the Instant Asset Write-Off. Eligible small businesses — those with a turnover of less than $10 million — can instantly deduct the cost of assets under $20,000 per asset, provided they are in use by 30 June 2025. It is a timely nudge to upgrade, innovate and reduce taxable income in one go.

It is also essential to ensure that all superannuation guarantee contributions reach employees’ funds before the end of the financial year, not only to stay compliant but also to secure deductions. Prepaying allowable expenses, such as subscriptions or insurance premiums covering less than 12 months, can tip the tax scales in your favour. For those dealing with discretionary trusts, resolving income distributions before 30 June helps avoid the ATO’s less forgiving default tax treatment.

For Our Residents
For individuals, the new financial year brings something refreshingly rare, tax cuts. From 1 July 2024, the 19 per cent bracket shrinks to 16 per cent, while the 32.5 per cent bracket becomes a clean 30 per cent. Expanded thresholds also mean more of your income stays where it belongs: in your pocket.

Beyond these structural wins, personal deductions deserve attention. Working from home may allow you to claim 70 cents per hour under the fixed rate method, or you can itemise actual costs for greater accuracy. Vehicle use, professional development and even uniform laundry costs may be legitimate deductions. And for those thinking long term, contributing to superannuation up to the concessional cap of $30,000 for 2024–25 can be a powerful tax-deductible strategy, provided you lodge a valid notice of intent with your fund.

If COVID taught us anything, it is the value of national self-sufficiency, and that includes financial literacy. Whether you are running a business or managing a household budget, now is the time to gather your records, review your strategies and consult a trusted tax adviser.

Because in the world of tax, timing is not just everything. It is the deductible difference between “good enough” and “well played.”

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Make Your Brand Impossible To Miss

When running a business, it’s easy to do all the right things like delivering a great service, managing your team, and keeping operations running smoothly, while still feeling like your brand is invisible. You’re showing up, but the spotlight lands on your competitors instead. Or worse, your ideal audience notices you but then loses interest. It’s not that your business lacks value, it’s that your brand lacks impact.

We caught up with the director of redhotblue, Mackay’s longest-standing creative agency, who has spent decades helping businesses go from overlooked to unforgettable.

1. What makes a business blend in with its competitors?

In the age of digital technology, business owners are leaning more and more on quick fixes. The problem: you look and sound like everyone else. Understanding your brand personality requires skill. Identifying your audience and what resonates with them takes time and experience, and there’s no elevator to success.

2. Why is a unique product or service not enough to stand out?

Relying solely on your ‘unique’ offering to attract the right audience is naive. Your intended audience needs to connect with your brand and understand why you’re their best choice. If people don’t know about your business, they’ll just choose another option.

3. What mistakes lead to people losing interest in a business?

There are a few reasons that people lose interest:

Firstly, if your messaging and brand voice are inconsistent across platforms. Often business owners rush to get a message into the marketplace and forget to ensure they’re representing their brand values.

Secondly, if a customer’s experience with your brand is disjointed it can feel overwhelming, untrustworthy, and too hard. Love them or hate them, McDonald’s does a great job of providing the same look, feel, and experience regardless of location.

Finally, assuming your audience knows what you’re doing. No one is going to understand your brand better than you, but in a sea of visual communication, it’s easy to get lost if you’re not communicating effectively.

4. What’s the best way for a brand to connect with its audience?

To quote Simon Sinek, “People don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it.” Your brand messaging should connect emotionally with your audience because the ‘Why Factor’ resonates with the limbic brain, the part of the brain responsible for emotions.

Essentially, people are more likely to connect with your values and mission than your product or service. That’s why it’s crucial to understand and clearly communicate your business’s purpose. Ask yourself, what story is my brand telling and is it memorable enough to stick with people?

5. What’s the first step a business should take to stand out?

It’s important to remember that standing out isn’t a starting point, it’s the result. We often see businesses creating bold visuals without purpose or connection to their brand. This hollow approach doesn’t provide any reason for a customer to remember you.

Instead, I suggest you involve your team and conduct a think tank. Ask yourself what your brand represents and remember that your brand is more than your logo - it’s about how customers perceive you, how they feel when they think of your brand, and what keeps them coming back for more. Focus on creating one clear message that describes the benefits of your business to your audience, and don’t talk about yourself.

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CQUniversity and the QCCS Mackay Cutters have announced a new partnership focused on developing clear and structured pathways for both university students and emerging rugby league talent looking to build careers in elite sport.

This partnership is set to bolster the pathway from Hostplus Cup and BMD competitions to the NRL and NRLW, providing our region's budding talents with a clear pathway to the elite level.

The Mackay Cutters are a recognised feeder club to the North Queensland Cowboys, and through this partnership, CQUniversity students will gain unique access to a professional sporting environment aligned with NRL standards, providing a valuable stepping stone into high-performance roles.

As part of Queensland Rugby League’s broader development framework, the Cutters provide students with direct exposure to the talent, technologies and performance standards that exist at the top levels of the game.

Mackay Cutters CEO, Dave Roberts, said the partnership is about building sustainable career pathways in our region.

“This partnership aligns with our commitment to develop pathways in elite sport, not only for players, but for the next generation of professionals working behind the scenes.

"We’re proud to offer an environment where students can gain meaningful, real-world experience that could take them from Mackay to the NRL,” he said.

The partnership is already delivering results, with a CQUniversity student recently commencing an internship within the Club’s strength and conditioning department, working alongside the Head of Performance to support athlete monitoring, testing, and training delivery. The hands-on experience provides insights into the daily demands of professional rugby league and has been identified as a blueprint for future placements with the Club.

CQUniversity Director of Sport Strategy, Professor Fabio Serpiello, said the collaboration reflects the University’s commitment to providing industry-aligned learning experiences for students.

“Our students in courses such as Exercise and Sports Science, Allied Health, Physiotherapy and Psychology will relish the opportunity to work with the professional team at the Mackay Cutters, and players on pathways to the NRL and NRLW,” he said.

“From grassroots events to global champions, CQUniversity has a long history of nurturing regional sport, and this kind of partnership – based on our new SPORT Strategy to grow sport from participation to high performance – is the perfect way to share our expertise and world-class research facilities with regional Queenslanders.”

The partnership also supports players within the Cutters system, providing them with access to further education and professional development opportunities through CQUniversity. This dual focus ensures athletes are supported not only in their sporting goals but in preparing for life off-field beyond the game.

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L-R: Mackay Cutters Head of Performance, Lee Paterson; CQUniversity Director of Sport Strategy, Professor Fabio Serpiello; CQUniversity Educational Team Lead – Fitness, Ashlee Battersby; Mackay Cutters Chairman of the Board, Steven Dowden. Photo supplied

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Last week, our publishing team had the privilege of attending the 2025 Queensland Country Press Association (QCPA) Conference and Media Excellence Awards — an annual gathering that brings together the heart of regional journalism from across the state. Held in Brisbane, the event reminded us that while the digital age may be reshaping how news is consumed, the need for trusted, community-driven storytelling has never been greater.

That message rang loud and clear in the opening remarks from Queensland Minister for Primary Industries Tony Perrett, who made one of the most significant announcements of the day: 75 per cent of the State Government’s print media budget will now be allocated to regional newspapers. In doing so, he acknowledged what many of us have long known — that regional publications are “absolutely vital” and remain the lifeblood of their communities. He spoke of the resurgence of independent newspaper publishers in Queensland and the essential role they play in keeping local voices heard.

This announcement also aligns with key findings from a Deakin University report on media innovation, which found that “securing the future of quality and reliable news and information platforms in non-metropolitan areas is in the national interest.”

As a proud independent publishing group based right here in Mackay and the Whitsundays, we couldn’t agree more. Our newspapers, Mackay and Whitsunday Life, Burdekin Life and Hinchinbrook Life, along with our lifestyle magazines Core Life and Tripping, are built on the idea that strong regional journalism strengthens communities. For the third year running, Mackay Life brought home gold, a testament not just to consistency, but to the kind of storytelling that continues to resonate deeply with our readers and peers across the state. It was humbling to have that work recognised across three award categories: a gold for Marketing Campaign of the Year in Mackay Life, a silver for Best ROP Feature in Burdekin Life, and a bronze for Young Journalist of the Year, awarded to our own Victoria Velton, who began with us in the Whitsundays and is now based in the Hinchinbrook.

One of the standout moments of the conference came from Olympic gold medallist Steven Bradbury. Best known as the man who crossed the finish line after a dramatic pile-up in the 2002 Winter Olympics, Bradbury’s story is often summed up in one word: lucky. But as he candidly shared, that luck was hard-earned. He spoke of training five hours a day, six days a week for over a decade. Of recovering from a broken neck. Of losing four litres of blood after a racing accident. His message? “The harder you work, the luckier you get.” A motto we’re proud to echo.

We also enjoyed a dose of humour from the awards MC, the brilliant Des Dowling, a former journalist turned comedian who knew exactly how to balance wit with insight.

We might be a small team, but like all good Aussie success stories, we’re punching well above our weight, and we’re only just getting started.

Amanda

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Trish Jandt, Crissy Bottrell, Hannah McNamara, Amanda Wright, award sponsor representative, Rachael Smith, Ruth Puddefoot and Daniel Heggie at the 2025 QCPA Media Excellence Awards in Brisbane. Photo credit: Samantha Wantling

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Networking and learning were the themes of the morning at the fourth annual Manufacturers Breakfast held at the Resources Centre of Excellence (RCOE) at the start of June.

The event offered an opportunity for local manufacturers to come together in a relaxed environment to share ideas and network over breakfast.

Manager of the Queensland Manufacturing Hub in Mackay Deb Allan provided an overview of activities undertaken by Hub staff over the past 12 months and what local manufacturers can look forward to over the coming year.

Dean Kirkwood from the Resource Industry Network discussed the launch of the Manufacturers Workforce Attraction toolkit, Teagan Dowling from The BCW presented on the benefits of increased workforce diversity and Jarrah Steen, from GW3, talked through the opportunities presented through decarbonisation, and highlighted the 7 sectors identified in the METS Revenue Diversification Strategy for growth in the Greater Whitsunday region.

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A strong turnout of local manufacturers and industry leaders gathered at the fourth annual Manufacturers Breakfast, held at the Resources Centre of Excellence. Photos supplied

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The Mackay Regional Council has officially triggered the by-election process to fill the vacant councillor position left by the resignation of Cr George Christensen, following a special meeting held on Wednesday, June 4.

The meeting, convened at 8.30am in the Sir Albert Abbott Administration Building, was called specifically to address the vacancy, which came into effect at 5.00pm on Friday, May 30. Councillors gathered to determine how the position—now legally required to be filled within two months—will be managed in accordance with the Local Government Act 2009.

Mayor Greg Williamson confirmed that under the Act, a by-election must be held because the vacancy occurred during the mid-term period of Council’s electoral cycle. This window is defined as beginning on the first anniversary and ending the day before the third anniversary of the last quadrennial election.

Rather than opting for a traditional polling day, councillors voted in favour of recommending a postal ballot as the preferred method for the by-election. This recommendation will now be sent to the Minister for Local Government, who must approve the process and formally request the Electoral Commission Queensland (ECQ) to administer the election.

Mayor Williamson said a postal ballot presented the most practical and economical solution.

“It’s the cheapest way for Mackay Regional Council to hold a by-election, particularly after recent state and federal elections, which have likely caused a bit of voter fatigue,” he said.

Council highlighted three key advantages of using a postal ballot: reduced costs, increased accessibility for voters, and the convenience of participating without attending polling booths in person. The ECQ has previously advised that postal ballots offer savings when compared to full in-person voting infrastructure.

However, the mayor acknowledged that choosing this method may delay the completion of the process slightly beyond the standard two-month timeframe. Even so, Council was assured this would not invalidate the by-election, and it remained committed to ensuring a fair and timely process.

The cost of the by-election has been estimated at $700,000, with Council flagging the need for a budget amendment during the first quarterly review of the 2025/2026 financial year. The by-election costs were not included in the original draft budget, which is set to be adopted later this month.

Once the Minister receives the recommendation from Council, the ECQ will begin the process of scheduling the by-election. A confirmed date is expected to be announced within the next week, with the vote likely to take place in the coming months.

Council will continue to update the community as more information becomes available regarding nominations, voting procedures and timelines.

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Cr George Christensen was sworn in to Mackay Regional Council in 2024—less than 18 months before his unexpected resignation in May 2025

Councillors gathered in the Mackay Chambers on June 4 for a special meeting to set the wheels in motion for a by-election following Cr Christensen’s resignation

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The highlight for most visitors to the Great Barrier Reef is their encounter with the myriads of coral reef fish…every size, shape, and colour. Very inquisitive and often right in your face.

Unfortunately, the opportunity for that experience is changing. A study has found concerning new evidence of long-term declines in coral reef fish around highly visited inshore islands of the Great Barrier Reef.

Scientists surveyed reefs at 100 sites around the Palm Islands, Magnetic Island, Whitsunday Islands, and Keppel Islands over a 14-year period, revealing fish communities are struggling to cope with increasingly frequent disturbances including coral bleaching, floods, and cyclones.

The study is part of a reef monitoring program now led by James Cook University around popular inshore islands, which are important for recreational fishing, tourism, and local communities.

“The fringing reefs around inshore islands suffer from intense human pressure due to their proximity to the coast,” explained Dr Daniela Ceccarelli, the lead author in the study.

“Reefs further from the coast have generally shown fish to be quite stable in the face of environmental disturbances, but it’s a different story for the inshore fish communities.”

“These inshore fish habitats have endured greater cumulative and intense local-scale pressures, with too little time to recover between stress events.”

The study found fish populations across these islands dropped by 33%-72%, and the numbers of fish species fell by 41%-75%, depending on the location.

These are substantial and concerning declines in fish abundance and diversity at the surveyed sites.

In the Whitsunday Islands, Cyclone Debbie in 2017 caused a steep drop in fish abundance.

“Cyclone Debbie’s intense impact on coral cover and physical damage to reef structures reduced available habitat, especially for coral-dependent species,” said Dr Maya Srinivasan, a coral reef ecologist at JCU and co-author of the study. ‘This loss has made it challenging for fish populations to maintain stability in these areas.”

“Marine Park zones where fishing is banned improved the picture to some degree, providing a buffer for the species that are usually targeted by fishers.”

“However, we found that No-Take Marine Reserves are unlikely to mitigate the impacts of an increasingly chaotic climate for all fish species in the long term,” she said.

Coral reefs have always been considered as the “canary in the coal mine”, an early indicator of climate change impacts. This latest research adds to the mounting evidence that without global action on reducing emissions, protected areas and fisheries management alone are not sufficient to safeguard coral reef fish.

Contributed with thanks to Whitsunday Conservation Council.

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Memories of time spent on Dent Island as recorded by Reg Hatch in his book “Dent Island 1959” – an extract.

Reg was 20 years of age and a qualified painter when he left Brisbane in 1959 to “see what was over the hill.”  On what was only his second plane trip, he arrived in Mackay and then, with two other passengers, flew to Lindeman Island on his first small-plane trip. After three weeks on Lindeman, Reg boarded the “Hossack H” bound for Dent Island.

On Dent Island, the lighthouse is now an automatically operated light but, in 1959, when Reg Hatch worked there, there were two lighthouse keepers and their families.   Reg observed, “The lighthouse itself wasn’t very high. It was about 30 feet and painted white with a red top. Near the lighthouse was a new split level timber weatherboard house in which the head lighthouse keeper and his family lived.” On the same level to the north, a second new house was being constructed for the other keeper and his family and it was this house that Reg was there to paint.

Reg remarked, “The light keepers didn’t seem too be big on gardening.  There wasn’t any soil, only rocks.  The few trees on the island were stunted. Steps ran down from the lighthouse to the old houses. The only place where it was level was where the houses were perched and it seemed to me if you had one leg shorter than the other, you would be suited to the light keeper’s job.”

Reg also noted there were 200 steps from the lighthouse to the beach.  Lloyd Williams was the head lighthouse keeper. His wife taught their youngest child on the island, whilst the older children attended boarding school. The second keeper, also Reg by name, was English.  He explained to Reg Hatch the method of working the light “six hours on, six hours off, right through the night.”

The workers’ camp was three miles from the lighthouse as that was the only place where water was available.

Living quarters for the workers was a shed which had apparently been erected earlier on by the O’Hara family who had a cattle lease on Dent Island at that time.

Reg said that the primitive conditions the men worked under at Dent Island caused them contact the union organiser in Mackay, asking him to travel to the island to investigate the situation. But the two McDonald brothers (who owned the business engaged on the Dent Island project) had gotten wind of the visit and met the organiser incognito in Mackay and accompanied him on the journey to the island. They plied him with as much alcohol as he could drink so that upon arrival, he was totally incoherent and had to return to Mackay to recover. More men were then employed from Mackay to hurry the job along.

After completion of the work on Dent Island, Reg again worked for a short time on Lindeman Island before moving on. He concluded, “These are my memories of Dent Island as a young painter in 1959.  Little did I realise then that I would later become a lighthouse keeper, serving at various stations along the Queensland coast - Sandy Cape on Fraser Island; then Cape Cleveland outside of Townsville; Booby Island and Goode Island in the Torres Strait and then in 1970, I was made Head Lighthouse Keeper at Cape Moreton. I took over from Lloyd Williams when he retired, eleven years after I had first met him on Dent Island in 1959.”

Postscript: The Dent Island Lighthouse, the first in the area, was erected in 1879. Automation was effected in 1983 and the lighthouse was demanned in 1987.

One of the graves in the accompanying photo is that of three-year-old Caroline Bliss, daughter of the then lighthouse keeper. She was buried on 3rd April 1885.  The occupants of the other two graves are unknown.

Story courtesy Proserpine Historical Museum and Reg Hatch. Photo courtesy Proserpine Historical Museum.

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In a powerful celebration of empathy, leadership, and community spirit, the B Kinder Foundation hosted its very first B Kinder High School Summit on 29 May 2025. Held at Proserpine State High School, the event brought together student leaders from Bowen State High School, Whitsunday Christian College, and St Catherine’s Catholic College.

Far from a typical school event, the summit was designed to inspire students to become agents of change within their schools and communities. Through a series of hands-on activities and guided reflections, students were asked a simple but profound question: “How can I make it better?” The answers that followed were thoughtful, courageous, and full of heart.

Facilitated by Jessi from Illuminate Education Australia, who flew in from Tasmania for the occasion, the summit marked a major milestone for the B Kinder foundation. Over the past seven years, this grassroots movement has evolved into a nationwide initiative, with its B Kinder school program now supporting student leaders across Australia. The program encourages students to roll out five kindness initiatives over the school year and participate in workshops and summits that promote compassionate leadership.

The following day, on 30 May, the Primary School Summit welcomed younger leaders from Whitsunday Christian College, Proserpine State School, and St Catherine’s Catholic College. Both events hosted around 80 students each.

These summits were more than just a day out and were a spark for lasting change. Students left energised, inspired, and ready to carry the message of kindness back into their schools and communities.

As the b kinder foundation continues to grow, events like these are embedding kindness into the heart of education.

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Children at the primary summit on Friday

Children at the High School summit held on Thursday

b kinder foundation representative Mel Turner, Proserpine State High School Captains Callum Henry and Mia Vloedmans, Bowen State High School Captains An Nguyen and Brooke Jameson, Whitsunday Christian College School Captains Cody Love and Charlotte Adams, Director of Schools & Curriculum from illuminate Education Australia Jessi Mostogl.
Front: St Catherine's Catholic College students Isabella O'Sullivan and Domingo del Solar.

Frida the schools therapy dog helping out at the B Kinder event

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