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!

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Interesting Fact:

The ancient Greeks used carrots as a stomach tonic

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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

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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

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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  

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Tourism Whitsunday team, Photo supplied
 

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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.”
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Virly Trotter, Photo credit: Daniel Heggie

Charcuterie board, Photo supplied

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Ryan Wilkinson is back in the Venue Manager role at Jubilee Tavern and has been for two months, and he brings a lot of experience.

Originally a personal trainer, hospitality was a side job for Ryan, but with promotions coming his way Ryan decided to stick to hospitality which he found he was enjoying more.

“I love the people that you meet and work alongside, and also the freedom, the hours are a little bit flexible,” said Ryan.

As venue manager, Ryan’s role is primarily people management, recruiting, POS systems, point of sale and stock.

Ryan is not new to the area and has worked at the Jubilee Tavern before, so he knows it inside and out.

He worked at the venue in 2021 before moving to Brisbane and the Gold Coast but has returned because of the job.

The atmosphere at Jubilee Tavern also drew Ryan back.

“It's a venue that offers so much diversity, it's got your old school locals pub, and a completely transient hospitality restaurant where you'll get all different people from all over the country and all over the world coming in,” said Ryan.

“There's always something happening, the variety of people that will be in this venue at one stage can be quite fast, from your local guy in the public bar to some international family.

“It's quite exciting, it’s sort of like a walk between two different worlds.”

Ryan Wilkinson, Photo credit: Daniel Heggie

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The Proserpine Museum’s 28th Annual Book Bonanza returns in two weeks and is expected to be bigger than ever. The bonanza started in 1996 at St Catherine’s Hall as a fundraiser for the new museum, which opened in 2001. Due to the popularity of the event, and the increase in pre-loved books being donated, the venue was upgraded to the museum's foyer and its longevity extended to over a week.
The generosity of the local public has led to the availability of a diverse range of books and magazines for all ages up for grabs at the book sale. Museum volunteers organise the sorting and pricing in the year leading up to the sale.
The book sale does not just sell books, however, CDs and DVDs, games, puzzles (inclusive of brand-new jigsaw puzzles), bric-a-brac and plants are on sale. All the items are in good condition and reasonably priced. The sale even includes a selection of raffles to participate in.
Shoppers who haven’t seen the museum before will be invited to look around the historical site for $6 for adults and $3 for school-age children or below. All money raised at the event will go towards the future upkeep and extension of the Museum.
Customers are encouraged to bring their own bags and boxes to collect some fantastic reading for the year ahead. For any enquiries around the event please contact: +61 049 453 969, or email phms2@bigpond.com

What: Prosperine Book Bonanza
Where: 198 Main Street, Prosperine
When: 9am to 4pm Saturday 29th June until Saturday July 6th closing at 12 midday.

Array of Books Available at Book Bonanza. Photo supplied

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Entries are now open for the Love Letter to Queensland community writing competition.

The competition is calling individuals to share their heartfelt stories and express their love for the magnificent state.

The state is known for its breathtaking landscapes, vibrant communities and unique culture, and the competition wants to hear your individual experiences, memories and connections to Queensland, in the form of a love letter.

How you construct your love letter is up to you. Whether through larrikin humour, ironic observations, fond treasured memories, or understated admiration and gratitude, all forms of written expression are welcomed.

Entry requirements are as follows:

Write: Compose an entry of up to 300 words expressing your love for Queensland.

Submit: Send your entries via the competitions online form either as text or as an image.

Win: The competition awards a generous shopping voucher and a chance to be featured in an edited collection of Love Letters to Queensland. Prizes will be presented for Adult, Under 18 Years and Under 12 Years categories.

The event is taking place for the first time in 2024 as part of the Whitsundays Writers Festival and is supported by James Cook University’s Roderick Centre for Australian Literature. The centre continues the work of passionate North Queenslander’s Professor Colin Roderick CBE and Margaret Roderick.

Everyone, old or young, is encouraged to participate. Love knows no age and neither does the community writing competition.

Dr Victoria Kuttainen, Director of the Roderick Centre adds to this notion, expressing how “Great writers and writing can emerge anywhere. Queensland and regional Australia are as culturally inspiring and imaginatively fertile as Paris.”

Also supporting Love Letter to Queensland is the Whitsunday Regional Council through their Community Assistance Grant program.

Express your love. Share your story. Celebrate Queensland.
For more details, visit: https://www.whitsundayswriters.com/love-letter-to-queensland/

What: Love Letter for Queensland’s Community Writing Competition
When: Competition submission deadline: 11:59pm, Wednesday 31st  July 2024
Winner announcement: Love Letter to Queensland event 6:30pm-9:00pm Thursday 5th  September at Coral Sea Resort

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This is the third year in a row that Airlie Beach has been awarded Gold in the Top Small Tourism Town category, with a population between 1,500 and 5,000.

The town will now enter the Hall of Fame and will go into contention for the Best Small Tourist Town in Australia at the national awards held later this year.

Over 16,000 people voted in the awards and Queensland’s top holiday destinations were announced from a shortlist of 16 finalists.

Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor, Ry Collins said he was excited that Airlie Beach had now entered the Hall of Fame after their hat-trick of wins.
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“Tourism is one of the three key pillars for our regional economy, and winning gold for three consecutive years is just a reward for the resilience and passion of our tourist operators and the leadership shown of Tourism Whitsundays (TW),” he said.
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“This is a great outcome not only for our resort town of Airlie Beach but also for Bowen winning bronze and also for Collinsville who made the finals for the Top Tiny Tourism Town, highlighting the diverse range of visitors’ experiences our Whitsunday region offers.
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“Council is proud to be the major funding supporter for TW and looks forward to partnering with them to continue promoting our Whitsunday region as one of Australia’s top tourism destinations.”
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Tourism Whitsundays CEO said the award was a huge moment for Airlie Beach.
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“This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire community. We are so proud to be recognised as a top tourism destination, not just for our stunning scenery and vibrant town centre, but also for the action-packed activities that make Airlie Beach so unforgettable” he said.
 
“This award reinforces our commitment to providing our visitors with an exceptional experience and the added success of Bowen and Collinsville helps showcase The Whitsundays region as a must-visit destination with something on offer for everyone.”

Manager of Bowen Tourism and Business, Leanne Abernethy was thrilled that Bowen came home with a bronze award and that Collinsville made the finals.

“Bowen really is the hidden gem at the top of the Whitsundays,” she said.

“To be recognised as the third best Top Tourism Town in Queensland was awesome, and we thank everyone who voted for Bowen as well as everyone who was involved in putting the submission together.

“We were also very excited that Collinsville made the finals this year.

“The team at Bowen Tourism and Business nominated Collinsville in the Tiny Towns category for the first time so we were very pleased to make it to the finals stage.”

Chair of Bowen Tourism and Business, Jenn Honnery said to have three Whitsundays towns in the finals was a magnificent achievement.

“It was great to see the Whitsundays represented across all three categories, showcasing the diversity of experiences on offer in our region,” she said.

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Leanne Abernethy Manager of Bowen Tourism and Business, Nathan Fleming from Ocean Rafting, Rick Hamilton CEO of Tourism Whitsundays, Ry Collins Mayor of Whitsunday Regional Council and Elizabeth Hackett at the awards last week. Photo supplied.

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Hi Everyone,

For those of you who follow this column regularly you will know that I have a healthy fear of public speaking – one that I will once again embrace tomorrow as an invited panellist at a Whitsunday Chamber of Commerce and Industry Event.

I am writing this on Wednesday and, by the time you are reading this, my very public contribution on the subject of ‘Get Free Media for Your Business’ will be complete.

For those of you who missed my moment in the spotlight, here is a snapshot of what I said:

When I was 25 years old, I had a café business near Byron Bay and I wrote to the local newspaper, The Echo, and told them excitedly about my new business.

I was saddened when I heard nothing back, but instead was approached by a sales rep looking to sell me an ad.

At the time I didn’t grasp that I was asking another business to give me a free product, much like if they asked me to shout them lunch at the café.

I couldn’t always give away free lunches could I?

Of course, now I understand this implicitly working for a free newspaper – while we would love to give every business a free shout out, we simply cannot – it wouldn’t be fair to our advertisers, or to ourselves!

There are, however, a few ways we can open the gates a little.

You can do something charitable – we love stories about kindness and will publish your do-goodings where possible.

You can sponsor an event or hold a community gathering – if you have a marketing budget we would appreciate you giving us a slice, but if not we will still get behind you in some way where space allows. If you book an ad, however, we can really maximise your exposure.

Lastly, you could become a member of Whitsunday Chamber of Commerce and Industry or Tourism Whitsundays – each member receives one free editorial in the paper.

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Rach

Quote of the Week: “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it enough” (Albert Einstein)

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Doing good in the community can be as subtle as creating a piece of art which brings a smile to someone’s face and adds a unique flavour to an already beautiful landscape.

Head down to Cannonvale Beach when you get a chance and see if you can spot the heart made out of rocks which sits resplendently upon the flat section of the beach and is exposed at low tide.

As the water climbs the beach at high tide the rocks are submerged and when it recedes again, they are exposed once more.

It appears that the artist, whoever they are, deliberately chose the heaviest rocks they could find to create the giant heart shape that would be durable and resistant to the movements of nature.

Around 20 large rocks have been used in the creation of this majestic piece of art and each weighty piece would have been carried to its new location, placed sturdily on the sand where the intention was for it to remain.

Children play amongst the stones, dogs race around it and people stop to take a look at its calm but strong presence on the beach.

So far, no-one has touched it, fingers crossed it will remain for some time.

Who is the artist? Could they be a young backpacker travelling around Australia and creating a Rock Of Hearts at every beach they can?

If you know them, let us know!

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The Queensland Government 2024/2025 State Budget was released on Tuesday afternoon and it features several allocations that target the cost-of-living crisis with measures that will directly affect the back pocket.

From discounted car registration to cheaper public transport, this pre-election budget is aimed at creating real change, although several measures are conveniently due to expire just after the State Government election which is due to take place in November this year.

A total of $11.2b in reductions to Queenslanders have been outlined in this week’s budget announcement, which is 31% greater than last year.

Additionally, the Government said, “the Budget also sets out a $107.262 billion 4-year capital program to provide health and education services for Queenslanders where they live, transport to get home faster, and to transform our energy system on the path to net zero.”

Budget Breakdown

   • 20 per cent reduction in the registration fee and traffic improvement fee components of motor vehicle registration for all light vehicles for 12 months.

   • Lowering public transport fares to a flat fare of 50 cents across the state’s public transport network for 6 months from 5 August 2024.

   • Increasing the value of FairPlay vouchers from $150 to $200 and number of vouchers available from 50,000 to up to 200,000 at an additional cost of $33.5 million.

   • Providing $15 million for the School and Community Food Relief Program. This initiative will assist children to access food relief from appropriate sources, ranging from subsidised lunches, breakfasts or tuckshop items.

   • Substantial additional support to a wider range of Queenslanders purchasing their first home by increasing eligibility thresholds for first home concession, and first homevacant land concession. It will increase the threshold for first home buyer stamp duty concessions by $200,000 to properties valued under $700,000.

The Budget also continues to deliver the following:

   • Record health funding with growth of 10.6 per cent in 2024–25 to support a range of essential health initiatives.

   • $1.28 billion over 5 years for community safety measures across 5 key pillars of supporting victims, delivering for our frontline, detaining offenders, intervening when people offend, and preventing crime before it occurs.

   • Over $1.274 billion continuing investment in school and early education facilities that consider population growth and shifts, changes in educational needs, and addressing high priority needs for student and staff health and safety.

   • $502 million to deliver the Putting Queensland Kids First Plan supporting children from their earliest years of life and directs resources, services and supports to give every Queensland child and family the best possible opportunities for a great life.

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A drone company dedicated to supplying regional and remote communities with cargo deliveries of up to 55 kilograms is set to trial the devices across the Whitsundays in July and August this year.

The long-range Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) are able to fly up to four hours without recharging - aiming to link regional areas like never before.

The trial has been made possible by a $5.3 million Australian Government grant designated for the exploration of alternative transport systems.

RevAero is the company behind the invention and a spokesperson said they are looking forward to demonstrating how the distribution of goods and services can be achieved at scale.

With these clever devices they hope to be able to bridge the gap created by Australia's vast distances and enhance connectivity for regional communities.

“We aim to provide reliable cargo delivery into remote or infrastructure-limited areas,” said the RevAero spokesperson.

“Our service bridges the gap between established long-mile logistics and remote or regional endpoints that are disadvantaged by inadequate or absent infrastructure.

“This capability is also suitable for urgent response scenarios such as Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Recovery (HADR).”

The upcoming trials in the Whitsunday islands will feature flights around Shute Harbour, Proserpine, Daydream Island, and Hayman Island.

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The drones can carry up to 55kg and travel up to four hours non-stop. Photo supplied

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The Proserpine Entertainment Centre buzzed with excitement and pride as 57 new Australian citizens were welcomed in a heartwarming Citizenship Ceremony held on Tuesday 11 June.

The event marked a significant milestone for the conferees hailing from eight different countries, symbolising the rich diversity and multicultural spirit of the community.

Conferees from Canada, the United Kingdom, South Africa, the Philippines, New Zealand, Taiwan, France and China took the pledge of commitment to Australia, embracing their new identity with joy and gratitude.

The ceremony was attended by dignitaries, family members and friends who gathered to celebrate this momentous occasion.

The event featured inspiring speeches, cultural performances and the official swearing-in ceremony.

The Mayor of Whitsundays, Ry Collins, delivered a heartfelt address, emphasising the importance of unity, diversity and the shared values that bind the community together.

The Citizenship Ceremony included a rousing rendition of the Australian national anthem, followed by a reception where attendees mingled, shared stories and enjoyed refreshments.

For more photographs check out our website mackayandwhitsundaylife.com.

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Daniel Heggie and Lucy Seddon-Brown, Stories In Light Imagery.

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The Bowen River Rodeo saw 3000 people attend over the weekend and the entire event was a huge hit.

The rodeo had 200 competitors and the camp drafting had 220!

Friday night live music entertained rodeo lovers too.

There were lots of activities for the younger kids to enjoy, including the Flag Race, Bounce Pony, Barrell Race, Snakes & Ladders and more.

Bowen River Committee Secretary, Sally Fry said “The Bowen River is now 136 years old and I think that’s quite special.”

“Bowen River Rodeo associated with Buck Off Melanoma and proceeds from the raffle and Calcutta is split between Buck Off Melanoma and CQ Rescue Helicopter.

“Thank you to our wonderful sponsors, without them we wouldn’t be able to hold this wonderful event.

“And thank you to our hard-working committee and volunteers who work so hard over the weekend to make our event such a success.”

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Mayor Ry Collins and his family at the Bowen River Rodeo
The rodeo was a huge success over the weekend
Photos supplied

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