Since November last year Collinsville local, Daniel Honnery, has been on life support at Mackay Base Hospital after a rare illness caused his body to completely shut down.

Daniel has been diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome, a severe and life-threatening neurological disorder where the body’s immune system attacks the nerves.

He is experiencing what’s known as ‘locked-in syndrome’ where he is cognisant but unable to communicate. Over the months he has been able to open his eyes and can talk in a very soft whisper, but he is unable to breathe independently.

Guillain-Barre syndrome can take as long as two years to recover, and survivors often experience long-term side-effects.

This means Daniel has a long road ahead and the support of his family and the community is paramount.

Every day his girlfriend sits by his side and his parents, daughter and sister visit as regularly as possible.

His sister, Shannon Honnery, said “he is getting great care” at Mackay Base Hospital and that “they’re looking after him really well”.

Meanwhile, the community and family are rallying around to help.

There will be a multi draw raffle at the Collinsville Workers Club on Friday 19th July where stubby coolers and bumper stickers will also be for sale.

In addition, the Collinsville Bacon Busters event, which Daniel usually attends every year, is donating all the gate fees to help his recovery.

A GoFundMe Page has also been set up for Daniel and so far, $13,495 has been raised out of a $50,000 target.

On the page, friends speak of Daniel’s incredible personality and how much he is loved by those that know him.

“Daniel is an adventurous soul with a heart of gold, known for his lively and fun-loving nature,” it reads.

“He's the kind of guy who lives and breathes pig hunting on his days off, often with his daughter and mates.

“It’s almost certain that you'll find him getting bogged in some remote bush location, embarking on wild missions, or participating in light-hearted debates over a game of pool to determine whose dog reigns supreme.

“His unique talent lies in bringing people together and his contagious laughter is a constant source of joy wherever he ventures.”

In the run-up to the tragic diagnosis, Daniel had COVID and he thought it was taking him a long time to recover before he felt dramatically worse and was subsequently diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome.

His sister, Shannon, said that prior to COVID you would only hear of one case every 10 years in the country.

“Since COVID came around, they’ve had four just in Mackay,” she expressed.

While there is no proven link, this connection does seem to signify there might be more to the story.

‍

Daniel Honnery and his daughter in happier times. Photo supplied

‍

When local mum, Shell Wardrope, took a stumble on her wet driveway in May this year she didn’t think the innocent fall would change the trajectory of her life forever. The rain had been pouring for some time and she raced outside to call her son in for dinner, tripping forward and landing straight on her knee. Within seconds she could see a large gash form and after examining the wound, her and her husband Ben decided to go to the local hospital where they received stitches for the injury and returned home later that evening.

Heading to sleep that night, the couple thought Shell had a simple injury that would heal gradually over time. This was until the early hours of the morning when she woke up with a throbbing pain in her leg. After inspecting her leg again they could see it was extremely swollen so they drove to the hospital to have it checked out.

This fast thinking could have saved her life.

Within minutes of arriving at the hospital, Shell’s health deteriorated quickly and before long she lost consciousness. Panicked and distraught, Ben was by her side when he was told that she had contracted a soil-borne bacterial infection and only had a 2% chance of survival.

Ben and Shell believe the soil-borne infection was caused by a common algae that can be found almost anywhere. Unfortunately for Shell, the gash on her knee allowed this usually harmless algae to enter her bloodstream. The algae then reacted with the white blood cells and created a flesh-eating bacteria which spread rapidly up her leg.

The medical team at Proserpine Hospital did everything they could to stop the spread of the infection which was progressing further up her leg by the minute. Shell was quickly transferred to Mackay Base Hospital where they determined they would need to remove her limb. This was done in sections, each time they hoped to stop the infection and save as much of her leg as possible.  

Eventually the infection did stop spreading, but by this stage Shell’s leg had been amputated from below the hip.

But she still was alive.

For the next four days, her prognosis remained at 2% and Ben prayed she would pull though, determined that she would continue the life they had created together.

Several days later, when he was at his most desperate Ben took to social media and shared their plight with the community, pleading with everyone to help bring her back.

“I put that text up to the community and it blew up!” he explained.

“Through everyone’s prayer over that night, she dramatically changed.”

Shell had been in a coma for 13 days and had no idea her right leg was no longer there when she woke.

During her time on life support she remembers being plagued by nightmares which included being plunged into a shark tank where her leg was bitten off. Waking up and seeing Ben and their son Ollie was all she could have dreamed of and, despite the adjustment, Shell said she is incredibly grateful.

“They tried to save as much of my leg as they could, but it kept getting higher,” explained Shell.

“They did an amazing job and what they did saved my life, for which I am eternally grateful.”

“It’s weird because I can’t counterbalance, I can’t just sit up and I often get phantom leg pain, that’s one of the hardest things which is strange because my leg is not even there,” she shared.

Ben said Shell is a “remarkable healer”.

“She’s on pretty much no pain medication whatsoever,” he explained.

“We’re pretty spiritual people and believe in holistic medicine and eating lots of natural foods which has been a big part of her healing, and she is feeling unbelievably well.”

Shell left hospital after just seven weeks. The same injury would take another patient an average of three months. This speedy recovery, however, has not worked in her favour. Her swift departure meant that adequate after-care has not yet been organised and they are waiting on NDIS to provide practical assistance. It’s a long road ahead for the family and they are having to consider what shape this new life will take.

At this stage Shell is navigating life on a wheelchair they are leasing but she is hoping to get a prosthetic leg one day, this however, costs over $100K.

The family has launched a GoFundMe page where the community can help towards aftercare necessities and support for the family while Ben is unable to work due to taking care of Shell.

In a few months’ time, they are looking forward to hosting a gathering where they want to meet with the community to say thank you for all the support. In the meantime, they wish to thank everyone who has supported them so far, every gesture has meant so much to them.

‍

Ben, Shell Wardrope and their son Ollie. Photo credit: Rachael Smith

‍

The design agency behind the renovation of Bowen's historic jetty has come up with a novel way to avoid the astronomical cost of removing many of the structure's imposing concrete pilings.

North Queensland Bulk Ports (NQBP) put its renovation plans for the jetty to the acid test last week when it made its pitch to the town's Chamber of Commerce June meeting.

An audience of around 50 attended the chamber's June meeting to see NQBP CEO Brendan Webb unveil two design options, by design bureau Arup, with option one having the existing rock and concrete section of the existing jetty annexed to provide a straight structure with a loop at the walkway end, and option 2 featuring a curved design on a new walkway extending from the end of the existing concrete structure.

The now visitor-unfriendly jetty's future is a matter of deep concern for Bowen, where it has operated since shortly after the town's establishment in the 1860s.

As detailed in a previous issue of Mackay and Whitsunday Life, NQBP embarked on an exhaustive process with Bowen's community and interested parties to reach designs suitable to all interests.  

There had been fears about the potentially excessive cost of removing decrepit concrete pilings and Mr Webb said while they had "well and truly had their service life", they would be retained as they had become "part of the environment". He said their marine life-encrusted state made them perfect for the reef protection emphasis of the project.

First reactions from the meeting were good, and aspects of the designs, such as a mangrove boardwalk to be built in beach vegetation to the right of the entrance of the jetty as in option 2, led Mr Webb to remark that the final design for the project "might well be a combination of the two options".

Mr Webb said the design options for the future Bowen Jetty seek to offer residents and tourists a captivating space to connect with the marine environment and enjoy leisure activities.

He said the deck of the new structure would be raised by in excess of a metre as seawater was already lapping over parts of the existing structure when tides were high. When completed, the renovated structure would retain existing lower walkways to facilitate fishing during low tides. While he said some people may disagree about the reality of climate change, for planning purposes "it's a reality".

The design parameters included the raised deck height, jetty widening (for access by emergency services, for example, and easier access for visitors), highlighting of history and heritage, providing a 100-year design life, environmental considerations, planning, and providing the project within a $50M budget.

Of particular concern to Mr Webb is the user-unfriendly condition of the deck. "There's less ruts on the cape than there are on the jetty," he said. "What we're aiming for is a shaded area where people can meet up."

The renovated jetty would no longer allow for large vessel berthings as is currently facilitated by the NQBP arm of the jetty, which has been removed in both design options. Careful consideration also would be needed for any businesses located on the renovated jetty to avoid upsetting shore-based concerns. A feature of the jetty renovation could be 'pop up' stalls.

Mr Webb said NQBP would have a 50 per cent stake in the project and was liaising with the council for it to take a role too, to produce a facility that would remain in Bowen's hands. "You can't sell it; it's a great project," he said. And he doubted that a potential change of state government later this year would see the project cancelled as it was to be built on mining royalties won by miners who lived in Bowen.

Mr Webb said construction was slated to take place between 2025-2027.

Two million dollars were committed for this year and next for detailed design works.

Chamber chairman Bruce Hedditch said while he had been hopeful the existing structure could be retained, he had to bow to the inevitable and accept that the two design options offered the best compromise.

The Bowen jetty roadshow will continue with the project team to attend the Bowen Show on June 25.

‍

Queensland Police have issued an appeal to the public for assistance in locating Celeste McGain, a 40-year-old woman reported missing since Saturday 1 June from the Whitsundays area.
Celeste McGain was last seen on Paluma Road in Woodwark around 2pm on Saturday 25 May. Since then, there have been no sightings or communications from her.
Concerns for Celeste's well-being is heightened as her disappearance is considered out of character by family and friends. However, it has not been marked as suspicious yet.
Described as Caucasian, approximately 175cm (about 5.74 ft) tall, with brown eyes and curly brown hair, Celeste was last seen wearing a blue skirt and a white shirt.
While she was last seen in Woodwark, Celeste is known to have connections to the northern New South Wales area.
Queensland Police are urging Celeste to make contact or for anyone with information regarding her whereabouts to come forward immediately. Assistance from the public in such cases can often prove crucial in locating missing individuals and ensuring their safety.
If you have information for police, contact Policelink by providing information using the online suspicious activity form 24hrs per day at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting or call 131 444.

Celeste McGain
Photo Supplied

‍

Art Whitsunday has just moved its most recent art exhibit from Mackay to Airlie Beach and it is now showing at The Heart Hotel and Gallery.

Entitled, ‘Life Beneath the Surface’ the exhibit is a collaboration by Art Whitsunday Inc. artists highlighting their personal interpretation of life beneath natural surfaces in the Whitsundays.

Surfaces could be portrayed as rainforest canopy, reef coral ledge, fresh or salt water, cloud, flowering sugar cane, cave roof, sand, ground, or sky.

The warm, wet tropical climate supports prolific life through recurring life cycles in rich ecosystems where plants, creatures, and microorganisms co-exist in light and darkness, often unseen by the naked eye.

Underworlds could be depicted imaginatively, realistically, in stylised or abstract styles.

Artist Sue Baker came up with the ‘Life Beneath the Surface’ theme and said it can mean many things.

“You hope people interpret it not literally, it can mean so many things, it can be people, it can anything,” said Sue.

Belinda Curry added that “It can be emotional state of mind, there are things that lie underneath the surface.”

“When I did mine (art work), it’s about what is lying under the surface, beneath us that we don’t really see.

“We see the surface layer, but we really don’t know what’s underneath.”

President of Art Whitsunday Inc. Glenda Vickers said she likes that the theme is left for interpretation.

“Each artist has interpreted that theme in their own way, some have told a story, others are very realistic and representational of realism but all with the Whitsundays in our heart,” said Glenda

Glenda added, “As a founding member of Art Whitsunday Inc. and as its current President, I am very proud of our recipient’s organisation with its history of nearly 40 years in supporting our Whitsunday regional artists.”

“I extend a very warm welcome to any Whitsunday artists who would like to join our organisation.

“Congratulations to all exhibiting artists.”

‍

Belinda Curry, Ross Scanlon, President of Art Whitsunday Incorporated Glenda Vickers, Carolyn Shannon, Sue Baker and Claudia Gray. Photo credit: Daniel Heggie

‍

One of my top priorities as Mayor is ensuring that Council recognise the importance of engaging with our residents in a meaningful and genuine way about decisions which affect our community.
 
A good way for residents to keep up to date with current proposed and current projects is by registering with our Your Say Whitsunday portal.
 
This is Council’s online engagement space, which allows you to have your say on the things which matter to you, at any time of the day or night. All you need to do is visit yoursay.whitsundayrc.qld.gov.au and sign in and make your voice count.
 
By registering our community will get all the latest information and find out how you can be part of decision-making in your town.
 
When you subscribe you will gain access to a range of interactive tools, including surveys, polls, brainstorming tools, map tool, interactive documents, fact sheets, frequently asked questions, Q&As and more!
 
Over the past week our small engagement team have been hosting information stalls in Bowen and Collinsville for live consultations on a range of projects, including:

- Refine our Grays Bay foreshore temporary lighting trial
- Bushfire resilience project and upcoming workshops for property owners
- Dingo Beach Swimming enclosure
- Greening and growing Bowen recycled water roll-out update, and
- Flying fox strategy and Collinsville Roost plan
 
The team are seeking feedback to develop a Collinsville Roost Management Plan and Region-wide Flying Fox Strategy, that informs how we budget, resource and manage Flying fox into the future. Currently, only one urban roost exists in Collinsville, however, several roosts have appeared in urban areas in the past, most recently in Proserpine.
 
There will also be a public meeting with our Flying Fox consultant at the Collinsville Community Centre on Tuesday 2 July, 5:30pm.
 
In good news for our Collinsville community, Council has reached an agreement with the Ted Cunningham Bridge contractor on the final design for rectifications to the bridge and mobilisation to commence works took place this week.
 
The proposed rectifications have been through a peer review process mainly focused on scour protection through the range of flood depths that may be experienced.
 
Works are expected to take 6-8 weeks to complete, weather permitting.

‍

Whitsunday Regional Council has completed the installation of 10 new 26,000 litre steel community water tanks in vulnerable locations throughout the region that are at risk of bushfires.

Mayor Ry Collins said the water tanks, which were installed as part of the Whitsunday Bushfire Resilience Project, are vital Council-owned and managed infrastructure that provide centralised water for Rural Fire Brigades to use for firefighting purposes.

“The Whitsundays has a history of bushfire and just like cyclones, bushfires are a threat to lives, homes, infrastructure and our local economy,” Mayor Collins said.
“Council has been coordinating the project since 2022 to support vulnerable landholders and communities and build bushfire resilience in the region,” he said.
Council is also coordinating a series of free bushfire management and planning workshops to support landowners throughout the region in preparation for the upcoming bushfire season.

“The bushfire workshops provide landowners with the knowledge and skills they need to help protect their properties and community,” Mayor Collins said.

The programs are also supporting the development of free Property Bushfire Plans, coordinated by Council’s Bushfire Officer.

Landholders with approved Property Bushfire Plans may be eligible for financial assistance of up to $2,000 per property or 50 percent to help with firefighting mitigations, such as machinery for fire breaks, water tanks, pumps and hoses.

Mayor Collins said Council worked with Queensland Fire and Emergency Services to identify the high-risk localities.
"By investing in priority firefighting infrastructure, bushfire education for residents and developing community and property bushfire plans in collaboration with landholders, we are demonstrating our commitment to the safety and protection of our community," he said.

The Whitsunday Bushfire Resilience Project is supported by funding from the Commonwealth Government’s Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants Program.

To register interest in bushfire training or developing a property bushfire plan, phone Greg McCarthy in the Whitsunday Regional Council’s Natural Resources Management and Climate unit on 0458 816 751, visit the Whitsunday Bushfire Resilience Project page on Council’s Your Say Whitsunday Online Engagement Portal, email info@whitsundayrc.qld.gov.au, or visit a Council Customer Service Centre.

‍

Bush Fire Training Workshops:

   • Reef Gateway Hotel, Cannonvale – Sunday, 23 June
   • Merinda Rural Fire Brigade – Sunday, 7 July
   • Proserpine SES Shed – Sunday, 4 August

Photos supplied

‍

Students from Bowen State High School Instrumental Music (IM) Program represented their school at the regional finals in Townsville last Monday.

The local school was the only secondary school outside of Townsville to reach the Regional Final of Fanfare and Principal Rob Harris was extremely proud of his students.

“I am immensely proud of every student for their performance tonight they sounded amazing,” said Mr Harris.  

“We look forward to showcasing our concert band in the community over the course of the year.

“Bowen High you should be very proud of these talented students.”

Fanfare is the biennial state-wide festival of bands and orchestras from Queensland state schools.

It showcases the exciting music-making that occurs in school-based ensembles across the state.

The emphasis for Fanfare is on improving the quality of ensembles, promoting the highest possible standard of performance, striving for excellence and encouraging participation.

Principal Rob Harris said Bowen State High School was one of two secondary music ensembles in the North Queensland Region.

Bowen State High School IM program has grown over recent years with a dedicated group of students and staff.

The students practice every Monday afternoon and the support from parents ensure they attend rehearsals and performances is greatly appreciated.

Bowen State High School’s band also played at the Bowen ANZAC Day Service. 

Year 12 students Sajith Kokulan and Alyssa Hardy have been in the IM program since primary school and have continued throughout their secondary schooling.

IM teacher, Mrs Amanda Mattiske said it’s great to see older students setting standard for the younger members.

“It is great to see our senior students being role models for the younger band members,” said Mrs Mattiske.

“Our band members interact positively with each other and support each other when setting up, practicing and performing.”

‍

Bowen SHS concert band performing at the regional fanfare finals in Townsville.

2 Bowen SHS concert band received a Gold award at the Fanfare heats in Proserpine last month.

Photos supplied

‍

The PCYC Respect Program is well under way at Proserpine State High School, being in its sixth week out of a total of 10.

The program was created to support at-school youths who are struggling with discipline, respect and behavioural problems.

PCYC Branch Manager and Respect Program organiser, Sergeant Billy Li went through the Respect Program training 2 years ago, and shortly after, he approached Proserpine State High School and said he would like to work with the young people at the school and help.

Proserpine State High School were enthusiastic about the program and selected the kids to take part.

The Respect Program has now been running at Proserpine State High School for 18 months and is about learning respect and resilience, and about the kids making better decisions in their lives.

A majority of the program is spent in the classroom, but they sometimes do activities like cooking and the kids in the program can already see improvements.

Taj Bacon said he’s learned how to control himself when he’s getting angry.

“When mum's mad at me I just do my breathing, and I relax so I don't get mad at her as well and make the situation worse,” said Taj.

Jaspyr Fox said the breathing has helped him too.

“The breathing helps, you put your hands out and you close your eyes and breathe across your fingers,” said Jaspyr.

“It resets you.”

Billy conducts the program alongside Proserpine State High School’s Behaviour Support Teacher, Chris Laine whose job it is to act as support and organiser, which is essential for the program to work.

“There's quite a bit of organising involved in that and it's not possible for an outside party to be able to do a lot of that,” said Chris.

“I support Billy, have made materials ready for him, support him in the conversations that he's having with the kids.

“I'm the bad cop, he's the good cop, it's my role to do the best to keep the boys in line and listening and not being stupid, which is busy.

“They're seeing the police in this (and Billy’s role) as someone who is supporting and that’s what the police do, they support the community.

“It's really valuable that they can see the police and view the police as someone who is here to support the community.

“I think it's going to be subconscious, but I think it's a really good connection that these guys are going to have.”

Graduates of the PCYC Respect Program are rewarded to a trip to Whitehaven Island on a police boat.

‍

Lukas Trevaskis and Steven Dickinson cooking eggs for their brunch

Casey Klaassen with his smoothie

Behaviour Support Teacher at Proserpine State High School Chris Laine, PCYC Student Wellbeing Officer at Proserpine State High School Renee Quilty, PCYC Branch Manager and Respect Program organiser Sergeant Billy Li and Respect Program students

Photo credit: Daniel Heggie

‍

‍

Burnups Furniture Court started up in 1950 and has been a generational family business ever since, serving the needs of the community by bringing quality furnishings to the region.

First opened as a ‘hole in the wall’ shop on Bowen’s … street, it expanded to a much larger showroom on Powell Street that John, Lillian and the Burnup children also lived on top of.

Eventually John’s son Clive took over the business, and again expanded it with the addition of warehousing. Clive saw the industry change greatly over the years with the development of Aussie made, imported and technological advancements.

Clive opened a second shop in Proserpine, and third in Airlie Beach, eventually combining the two business into one large store in its current location in the year 2000.

During this time, they also incorporated the Beds R Us store into the store.

They have now welcomed their daughter Issy into the business.

Burnup’s current Cannonvale store was built before the shopping centre, “Many people at the time thought it was insane to build in the middle of the cane paddock, but then the shopping centre built around us” said Issy Burnup.

Having studied interior design at university, Issy is well equipped with knowledge about modern trends and styles. She is proud to bring her qualifications and skills to the family business and looks forward to continuing the legacy.

Issy uses her design qualifications to assist commercial clients through their Burnups Design Division. Assisting with the planning, conceptualisation and installation of projects, Issy is able to work with her clients timelines and individual needs.

To ensure their retail customers get the best quality furniture, the Burnups team personally visits factories across Australia and Asia. “It's a family affair, we'll go over, we'll all have a say to try and get a good mix,” said Issy.

“We always try our best to cater to different people, because around here there is a strong coastal influence, but then we've also got our more rural areas – so we try and cater for a wide range of styles.”

Unlike most furniture stores, Burnups Furniture Court will order lots of stock, so customers do not have to wait for their new furniture to arrive.

Clive Burnup said “We tend to back ourselves, we'll buy a whole container full of furniture and then we'll put it in our warehouse.”

“We will have one on the floor with backup stock in Airlie Beach and Bowen warehouses. We can generally supply most things quickly which our customers love!”

Clive Burnup is also proud to say that they have been appointed by Lazboy to be a specialist Gallery store in both their Airlie Beach and Bowen locations. With a dedicated showroom and exclusive products, the Burnup’s team aim to provide a wide offering and quality range of Lazboy products.

With the family having been based in the region for 3 generations, they have seen the area develop exponentially to what it is today and are proud to have supported the community through sponsorship of sporting teams, the Proserpine Show Ball, and many other community events.

“At Burnup’s we are a hands-on family team and we treat our team as family; with some staff members such as our Bowen manager, Dale Bidgood, having been with us for over 25 years,” said Clive.

“We have supported the area for over 74 years, and as such are both pleased and thankful that the community has supported us back.”

‍

Issy Burnup, Jennifer Burnup and Clive Burnup, Photo credit: Daniel Heggie

‍

As gardeners we’ve been a bit spoilt up till now!

I’ve barely touched the garden hose. With all the rain we have had, I’ve rarely needed to water, But at last, the Whitsundays picturesque winter weather has arrived, the sun is out and the rain has all but disappeared with the forecast for the next week being sun, sun and more sun.

I love this time of year, not only because of the invigorating feeling experienced as the first of the sun’s rays warm my shivering body (who does 10 degrees! and to think I used to live in Victoria another lifetime ago!) but also because everything edible I plant, flourishes.

With less rain and plenty of sunshine, it’s time to get that morning (before 9am) watering ritual into full swing.

Remember your vegetable plants get their water from their roots not their leaves.

Ensure you are watering enough to get below the surface 15cm of soil at least three times a week, to encourage deep root growth (especially for root vegetables like carrots) and to avoid the plant foliage as much as possible, especially the big leaved varieties such as zucchini and cucumber.

Why? Because Powdery Mildew is a real problem that will spread quickly and reduce your yield significantly. It’s a fungus. It’s that white powdery look on the leaves.
By watering in the morning and allowing the sun to dry the leaves thoroughly during the day, you are reducing the potential for it to develop, and you don’t want this fungus!
Not only can it affect your crop, but it may also result in you pulling it all out and starting again.

What to do if your plants have powdery mildew?  
Experienced gardeners will offer a variety of natural solutions.  
The most common ones:

   • Vinegar in the water to change the pH level, that’s sure to upset the fungus
   • Avoid fertilising and feeding the fungus
   • Add baking powder and liquid soap to the water (you’ll need to catch it in its early stages) 1Part milk to 2 parts water (again early development stage)
   • And here is one a little left of field that I used this year, mouth wash! I thought I would try it and guess what? It worked!
   • Please note, that any badly effected leaves are best cut off and removed from the area before spraying.

July is really the last month of the growing season when you can seed just about any tropical vegetable, so take advantage of the freedom to plant a multitude of the vegies that you love so that you reap the rewards in the coming months.  Don’t miss this season, plant your seeds now and over the coming four weeks, so that you can continue growing vegetables well into the year.

My vegetable for the week: Let’s talk Carrots!
I love nothing more than to tug on the green carrot tops in anticipation of what might pop up! How big or small, narrow or fat, long of short, success or re assess!
Nothing compares to the taste of a carrot freshly picked from the earth.
Sweet, crunchie and you just know it is so good for you.

Now add that there are so many varieties of carrots!
Try varieties such as:

   • Royal Chantenay – short and fat
   • Purple Dragon – Purple outside and orange inside and full of flavour
   • Carrot Thumbelina – short and round

Let’s talk Amsterdam Carrots, an heirloom variety - these ones grow between 12 – 15cms long. I like them because they are nearly coreless, and they are fairly resistant to cracking and splitting.

They take around 65-80 days to mature but you can pick them at early development and treat them as you would a baby carrot. Sweet flavour, good colour and high in Vitamin A.  

DID YOU KNOW:

   • Carotenemia is a condition that leads to yellow-orange hue of the skin.
This can be caused by eating too many carrots! Unless you live off carrots I think you are pretty safe however. If you think you look a little orange, reduce intake! Easy fix.

   • Carrots are 85% water

   • Cooked carrots are more nutritious than raw carrots. By boiling carrots you increase the amount of Beta-Cerotene which is converted into Vitamin A in the body. Vitamin A is great for bone health and yes, eye sight! Your teeth however benefit greatly from gnawing raw carrots, acting like a toothbrush on plaque. 

   • Carrot seeds are so tiny that you can fit 2000 of them o a single teaspoon!

‍

Interesting Fact:

The ancient Greeks used carrots as a stomach tonic

‍

The Channel 7 Weekender crew will be in Bowen and Collinsville next week filming for an episode previewing next month.
 
The presenter will be former professional cricketer Lee Carseldine who is known for his larrikin style sense of humour on the show.
 
The region has been featured on the show in the past and Lee presented a segment a few years ago when he walked to the lighthouse.
 
Manager of Bowen Tourism and Business, Leanne Abernethy said everyone was looking forward to hosting the crew and showcasing what Bowen and Collinsville has to offer.
 
“We are very passionate about our beaches, lookouts, bushwalks and country hospitality in Bowen and we believe Collinsville really is the heart of the Whitsundays outback,” she said.
 
Chair of Bowen Tourism and Business, Jenn Honnery said the organisation was proud to sponsor an entire 30-minute episode of the show.
 
“Publicity like this benefits the entire region and we are looking forward to hosting the crew and seeing the program when it goes to air, which is expected to be late July.
 
“Thank you to Channel 7 and the team at Bowen Tourism and Business for making this happen.”
 
Weekender is aired on Channel 7 each Sunday at 5.30pm.
 
 
Former professional cricketer Lee Carseldine will be in Bowen next week, Photo supplied

‍

Just over 35 local business owners started their morning at the June Chamber Connect event held in Cannonvale last week.
 
The main event was the discussion panel on the theme of ‘getting free media for your business’.
 
Editor in Chief of Mackay and Whitsunday Life Rachael Smith, Deb Friend of Whitsunday News, Paul O’Connor from Star FM, 4MK and Kix Mackay, and Tegan Philpott formally the Chief of Staff with ABC Tropical North and currently with CQ Rescue, were on the panel.
 
Deb Friend of Whitsunday News started the conversation on the purpose and structure of a great media release. Her top tips were to know what you want to and craft it into a story of around 300-400 words with a catching heading and key messages.
 
In radio, Paul O’Connor quoted a 2015 survey that found that the average adult human attention span has decreased over time from 12 seconds to 8 seconds. The challenge in radio is to develop that eight second statement that will stimulate the attitude of listeners on a topic that is more about your audience and the community.
 
Rachael Smith of Mackay and Whitsunday Life discussed the importance of understanding the business model of a free newspaper. Free newspapers rely on advertising, so they have strict measures around who receives editorial space. Advertisers receive priority but free newspapers will consider stories that are community-orientated.
 
To bring it all together Tegan Philpott spoke about factors of a story that resonate in the region, people need to feel connected to a story. Her advice was to craft stories that can quickly connect to your audience, that have a community angle, and can help you further engage in the community.
 
 
Tegan Philpott, Rachael Smith, Chamber President Allan Milostic, Paul O’Connor and Deb Friend, Photo credit: Daniel Heggie

‍

You've probably all heard the fantastic news by now – Airlie Beach has been named Queensland's Top Small Tourist Town for a record-breaking third year in a row at the 2024 Queensland Top Tourist Town Awards.

We're so proud of our stunning scenery, our lively town centre, and of course, the amazing experiences we have on offer.

Big congrats also to Bowen for taking home the bronze medal in the Top Tourism Town category and Collinsville for reaching the Top Tiny Tourism Town finals. 

It was fantastic to share the excitement live on-air when Star 101.9 came up from Mackay to Fat Frog last week.  

As a team we spent a brilliant day out at Hayman Intercontinental Resort for our FY25 Strategy Day.

We discussed marketing, PR, membership, industry development and trade and are looking forward to an aligned and productive year ahead.

We were also lucky enough to have a tour of the resort which really is something very special.  

The good news doesn't stop there.

The Tourism Whitsundays team has been busy spreading the word about our beautiful part of the world.

This week they've been on the road for the Whitsundays East Coast Roadshow, visiting Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney, Gold Coast and Brisbane.

They've been holding events morning and night, giving travel agents and operators the chance to connect with 18 Whitsunday businesses and showcase all the incredible experiences our region has to offer.  
 
Contributed by Rick Hamilton, CEO, Tourism Whitsundays  

‍

Tourism Whitsunday team, Photo supplied
 

‍

Originally from Indonesia Virly Trotter has moved around the world and now brings her passion for cooking to Airlie Beach.
At Whisper Restaurant & Gin Bar, Virly is the newly appointed Pastry Chef and also provides charcuterie and grazing boards for events and functions.
Virly believes that her charcuterie boards are fast becoming a feature in many functions at Whisper Restaurant.
“I love to use my creativity when I am sculpting flowers and patterns with different elements on the grazing table. I like to think of it as an art form, making beautiful creations with food,” said Virly.
“I love being in the kitchen, I believe that if you love what you do and you love cooking, it will shine through the dishes you serve. This is something I learned as a young girl when I cooked with my grandma - food always brings family and friends together.
“I'm so happy when I can see customers enjoying my food, it makes me feel proud and a little more confident in what I am creating.”
Virly loves working with Wuisan - the new Head Chef. “His Asian fusion dishes - like our Beef Rendang Burger, is very unique and unexpected,” she expressed.
“It’s exciting we are now open for dinner on Saturdays and Sundays, so now everyone can come and enjoy our beautiful restaurant, with so many interesting options.
“If you love sweets and love to eat something different, come and enjoy our delicious desserts like our ‘Coco Wish’ Chiffon cake made with Pandan flavours and coconut custard.”
‍

Virly Trotter, Photo credit: Daniel Heggie

Charcuterie board, Photo supplied

‍