You’ll be surprised that’s for sure.

It’s been a busy time over the last few weeks. Last week was my birthday, Dad’s been here for a few days saying gudday to the kids and spoiling his favourite son. Greg Williamson had his annual Charity Ball.

Aldi finally opened its doors in Beaconsfield which had what seemed like thousands rocking up just to check out how many ski jackets could be sold in the tropics, and the number of fundraisers lately have raised enough money to put enough fuel in the car for a week, for anyone coming in from the northern beaches. That’s a busy time.

Well, I am here to tell you now, it’s certainly not slowing down any time soon. It’s getting busier.

I’m busy in the 4MK breakfast studio trying to give away nearly $6K in the Secret Sound each day after 7am. Get cracking to win the money.

We’ll be busy tonight at the Mackay Golf Club for the Pro-Am Sponsors night. I’m sure I’ll get some great tips on how to play this fun game of white ball. It’s very similar to the other white ball game I play in hockey. Sure, their balls are smaller, but the idea is the same. Hit the ball, and hope it gets in the hole/goal as quickly as possible.

Next week it just does not stop either. Heaps of fun activities to be involved in. There’s another big NBL1 basketball game in Mackay with our Meteors and Meteorettes on the Friday night. Then on Saturday, it’s all hands-on with the third edition of Legends on the Lawn with Icehouse playing at Harrup Park on the Saturday.

Then on Sunday, I’ll be at the Mackay Harbour with thousands of others getting ready to run their hearts out for the annual BMA Mackay Marina Run. I’ll be running the half-marathon with my son for the first time which will be so cool. We’ve both been training for this run, so I hope we both finish without too much injury, and with a smile.

If you’re part of any of these fun activities enjoy it. Remember to smile.

Don’t forget if you’ve got a function or activity that the community can get involved in, let me know. It could be markets at Sarina, or even a fun run in Marian, or the opening of a new community group around Seaforth, flick me the information.

Remember if you see a tall man with orange shoes running down Sydney Street, he’s not being chased, he’s just trying to breathe. That’s all.

You can join Rob Kidd from 5am weekday mornings on 4MK 1026 AM in Mackay and Proserpine, 91.5FM in Airlie Beach or just ask your smart speaker to play 4MK on iHeartRadio!

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One of the most over-used terms in the news media is, “A parent’s worst nightmare”.
It’s annoying because the situation the reporter is describing is usually not a parent’s worst nightmare but something pretty bad. Bad, yes. Worst nightmare, no.
I won’t disturb readers by giving examples of “worst nightmares”, but you get what I mean.
Some years ago my wife, Sonia, and I went for a weekend break to the Coral Sea Resort in Airlea Beach and left our then-four-year-old daughter with my wife’s parents in South Mackay.
On our first evening away we experienced what news reporters would refer to as a “parent’s worst nightmare”.
We were relaxing in a water-front section of the resort and, around 5.30pm, rang my wife’s parents to check on how they were going with our daughter, Bianca.
My wife rang and I was sitting next to her, only hearing her end of the conversation.
After the initial “Hi mum, how are you etc”, my wife said “How’s Bianca?”
I couldn’t hear her mum’s reply but Sonia said: “You can’t find her?”
We exchanged fairly intense glances and I said “put her on speaker”. I discovered that the challenge in these situations is not to scream at your mother-in-law: “WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU CAN’T FIND HER?!!
We tried to stay calm and asked how long since they had seen her and she said it was about 15 minutes. They had a two-storey house and it would not be unusual for Bianca to be playing downstairs and out of sight for a short time.
The concerning thing was that Sonia’s parents had called out for her and gone looking but there was no sign of her.
Sonia’s mum said her dad was looking for her and we suggested she join him, call out, go past the neighbours etc but we said we will be calling back in exactly 15 minutes and please make sure you are ready for our call.
Several of the worst minutes of my life passed extremely slowly as my wife and I ran through the possible scenarios, all optimistic and none of them contemplating the unthinkable.
In about 10 minutes Sonia’s mum rang and said, “We’ve found her.”
Rarely does your state of mind go from one extreme (anxiety, deepest fears) to another (relief, joy, a celebration of all that is good in the world) in a space of a few seconds.
It turned out that Bianca had wandered next door to see people who had been long-time friends and supporting, friendly neighbours of my wife’s parents.
They offered her a drink and a biscuit and they had a nice little chat while my wife and I were quietly, desperately going out of our minds for about 10 minutes.
The irony, of course, was that the reason Bianca had disappeared for that short period was because her grandparents lived in a friendly neighbourhood where everyone knew and looked out for each other.
Bianca felt welcome and comfortable wandering over to the neighbours’ house and they were delighted to see her and have a chat.
It’s great to live in a suburb you love, with nearby neighbours you know and can rely on. It’s the terrific thing about buying a house, putting down roots, getting to know others in the street and knowing that everyone can identify who belongs and who doesn’t.
There is a natural crime-prevention antennae and a sense of community and safety that makes you feel at home.
The down-side is that when your kids are confident and adventurous and are feeling the neighbourly love, you can find yourself experiencing a “parent’s worst nightmare”.

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The new CEO emerging out of the partnership between two of Australia’s leading cane organisations has hit the road to meet with growers and members and share vital information about the integration.
Queensland Cane Agriculture and Renewables (QCAR) has joined forces with the Australian Cane Farmers Association (ACFA) in an effort to drive strategic and positive change across the industry.
Stephen Ryan has been appointed CEO of the joint venture and has recently completed a roadshow through the Far North Queensland and Herbert regions to explain the recent integration of the two organisations.
“This roadshow is about telling the members what we’re doing, what we intend to do, why we’ve done what we’ve done, how we can help them and what services we’re offering,” Mr Ryan said.
“Some of the comments and feedback we’ve been getting are very interesting, saying there are opportunities to do things differently which we’re trying to do.
“We’ve put together a regional focus from the Burdekin Head Office with a series of district committees and members to be grassroots driven but also have a presence in Brisbane with the Australian Cane Farmers Office.”
A canefarmer originally from northern New South Wales, Mr Ryan has been based in Brisbane and working for ACFA for 25 years.
With decades of experience liaising with growers from a member-based organisation, he looks forward to continuing this work alongside a powerful, local and centralised unit in QCAR.
“I’m what you might call an old hand in the industry now,” he laughed.
“I’ve been through a lot of scrapes and battles, deregulation and things like that.
“My experience is right across the industry in many different areas like policy, contracts, political negotiations and the local farming side of things.”
Mr Ryan has seen the sugar cane industry evolve over those decades and is focused on dealing with stakeholders as a unified organisation.
“It’s so important not to be fragmented,” he said.
“When you’re dealing with global partners, you have to be able to have the weight and the numbers behind you and you need to have enough people with specialties in different policy areas to be able to bring outcomes for the members.
“Different areas want different things, but I think the common thread is that if there are new processes and new products in the near future, they want to be able to have the ability to invest in that, to share in it and be part of the conversation.”
Mr Ryan will continue to hear from growers and members as the Roadshow continues through the Burdekin, Central Queensland and Southeast Queensland regions in coming months.
The final stages of the election and selection of committees have been completed ahead of the first board meeting to be held in the Burdekin today, Thursday May 16.
Chair Charles Quagliata said the sugarcane industry will see significant benefits from the partnership between QCAR and ACFA as the partnership leverages the collective expertise and resources of both organisations to strengthen the sugarcane industry.
“By joining forces, we are securing a stronger future for the growth of the sugarcane industry across Australia,” he said.
“This marks a pivotal moment for our industry and by combining our strengths, we can better serve our members and drive positive change.”
Mr Ryan concluded by saying the partnership signifies a new chapter for the sugarcane industry.
“We are committed to securing a prosperous future for all stakeholders through collaborative efforts,” he said.
“Together, QCAR and ACFA will spearhead positive change, nurturing industry expansion, and championing innovation, sustainability, and resilience within the sugarcane industry.”
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Stephen Ryan
FNQ meeting in Babinda
FNQ meeting in Innisfail
Photos supplied

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Six organisations will share in $4.38 million in funding from the Queensland Government to support sugarcane growers to implement improved management practices on their farms, boost productivity and improve the quality of water running off the land and flowing to the Great Barrier Reef.
The six organisations are:
   • Sugar Research Australia Limited (Wet Tropics and Burnett Mary regions)
   • Tropical Agricultural Services Pty Ltd (Herbert)
   • Farmacist Pty Ltd (Wet Tropics, Burdekin and Mackay Whitsunday regions)
   • Innisfail District Cane Growers Organisation Limited
   • Resource Consulting Services Pty Ltd (Mackay Whitsunday), and
   • Tully Cane Productivity Services Ltd

The organisations were selected following an open market process that invited agronomic industry experts to develop projects that will help sugarcane growers improve fertiliser use efficiency on their farms.
They will provide expert advice and support to help cane growers improve crop nutrient use through practices like refined fertiliser application rates, addressing soil constraints and farm management planning to save money and reduce the amount of fertiliser being lost to waterways.
The funding is part of a $125.1 million investment by the State Government to support agricultural industries including the cane, grazing, banana, horticulture and grain sectors to improve land condition, reduce losses to waterways and increase their business resilience.
Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef, Leanne Linard said that the state government is committed to protecting the Great Barrier Reef and the thousands of species who call it home.
“We know that poor quality water running off the land and out to the reef is a critical threat, and for many years sugarcane growers have been a key partner in our work to improve water quality, and I thank them for their ongoing support,” Minister Linard said.
“Growers have told us how much they value opportunities to work one-on-one with industry experts to gain valuable insights on how they can improve their productivity and profitability through improved farm management, which in turn benefits the environment through improved water quality flowing to the reef.
“That is why the government is pleased to provide funding for these organisations to work with growers to help them improve crop nutrient use, address soil constraints and enhance farm management planning to improve the quality of water flowing to the Great Barrier Reef.”
Minister Linard also said the government’s $125.1 million Sugarcane Practice Change Program builds on previous investments to focus on a whole-of-industry approach that works directly with farmers to improve land management practices across Reef catchments.
“There is another risk to the Great Barrier Reef – the election of a Crisafulli LNP government later this year. The LNP has no plans and no policies to protect the reef and the species who call it home and the Queenslanders who depend on it for work,” the Minister said.
Resource Consulting Services General Manager, Trevor Crook said, “RCS is teaming up with Farmacist to work with sugarcane producers through a program that places the business owners at the core.
“The program combines holistic management training, one-on-one business coaching and agronomic advice within a supportive learning environment to promote producer-led change in pursuit of their respective vision and goals. 
“Participants will discover and adapt techniques that increase profitability through improvements in the fertiliser efficiency of their farming systems.”

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Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef, Leanne Linard, speaking in Mackay on the importance of reef and island preservation. Photo credit: Amanda Wright

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Simon Hood
Wilmar Manager Grower Marketing

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The ICE#11 sugar contract continues to be weighed down by the growing 24/25 forecast global trade surplus.
The early start to the Brazilian harvest, and clear weather, has resulted in record breaking production numbers being posted in the UNICA half monthly production reports for April. Seasonal cane tonnages are up and so is the ratio of sugar to ethanol production, particularly for this early in the season. This is forcing analysts to revise their sugar production numbers for Brazil.
Additionally, much needed rain in Thailand is improving the outlook for this year’s crop to climb back above 10M tonnes of sugar production. Combined with incremental increases in tonnage for Europe, China and Central America, there is a growing consensus around another surplus year in sugar production.
The speculative money has sensed that the path of least resistance has been down, and has consequently moved to net short position on the market to around 50,000 contracts.
The good news is that global stocks are low and demand remains strong. Even with the significant pullback in prices, the forward market still exhibits a slightly inverted structure in which nearby prices are higher than deferred.
Australian sugar is selling well into our traditional Asian markets and the solid physical premiums paid for the 23-season crop look likely to be repeated into this year’s pricing. While Brazilian ethanol parity is still well below current market levels, the import parity for raw sugar into Chinese refineries is resulting in some fresh business and plenty of price checking.
Following the close of the 24 season pricing nomination date (April 30), the grower’s GEI sugar pricing mix has shifted back to traditional pool pricing mechanisms for price management. After a couple of years of record returns for our Production Risk Pool, this is not a total surprise.
Further, the large volatility of prices over the last 18 months has left some growers who forward price feeling a bit whiplashed. As with all choices, there are trade-offs.
For those in the pools you can never be sure of your final price until well after harvest has been completed, whereas forward pricing gives you certainty and control of your own income.

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AUD Sugar Swap Price: 2024 season
AUD Sugar Swap Price: 2024, 2025 and 2026 seasons

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By Kevin Borg, Chairman, CANEGROWERS Mackay
The crush will start to roll out across the region next week, and things are getting busy across the industry. While final bolts are being tightened in what has hopefully been a very productive mill maintenance season, the community can expect to see machinery start to move around the cane rail and road network.
That can include looking out for anything from cane trains – we all know THAT jingle – to haulout tractors and trucks, to long vehicles moving cane harvesters and requiring pilot escort vehicles.
Depending on the weather, Mackay Sugar will lead out with a staggered start across the three mills, with Farleigh starting on 3 June followed by Racecourse the next day and Marian at full steam by 13 June.
Plane Creek has been delayed to 18 June from the original 11 June, as a result of industrial action in recent weeks. It is to be hoped that the parties can come to an agreement, and that the mill can perform reliably across the season after such a perilously late start.
Sugarcane is an important part of the regional economy and the region’s communities. CANEGROWERS wants to see everyone interacting with the sugar industry to get home safe every day, be it grower families, our harvest crews, mill workers, or members of the community sharing the transport networks with our industry.
Harvest season can be hectic, so we ask the community to be patient with some of our slower moving vehicles. Please don’t do the crazy dash overtake of a haulout tractor at 100km an hour on a back country road. Please don’t try to beat the loco that is approaching a crossing.
Everyone needs to be somewhere, so taking care will help all road and rail users to get where they need to, safely. As the saying goes: “better to be late than never”.
For those working the harvest, we encourage you to be mindful of all the necessary safety factors – being aware of overhead powerlines and making best use of the Ergon “Look up and Live” app; routinely thinking about always maintaining safe loading levels when filling bins, so to mitigate spillage; taking care along the roadways and in the sidings. Given the rain seems to be hanging about, we also remind driver to take great care to ensure that we do not track mud onto roadways, which creates a safety hazard for other road users.
Aside from safety CANEGROWERS Mackay has been working hard on our annual harvest labour campaign, and have just completed two Haulout Driver training courses. We are committed to industry safety and efficiency, and are proud to say that, with funding from the Queensland Government Skilling Queenslanders for Work program, we have trained 19 drivers new to the industry in basic safety and procedures, assisting them with practical experience on farm alongside theory work and Cert II Rural Operations modules. Anyone keen to take up work in the industry are welcomed to take a look at positions vacant or post work wanted on the www.mackaycanegrowers.com.au website Farm Jobs Noticeboard.
Here’s hoping for a successful - and safe - 2024 crush!

Be aware of rail crossings becoming more active
Haulout vehicles will be on the move as the crush rolls out from 28 May.
Pictures: Kirili Lamb

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Amidst the for and against opinions and murmurs of the 'Say No to Digital ID' rally in Mackay, Stephen Andrew, MP for Mirani emerged as the voice of dissent as he spoke on the potential reality of a dystopian future ahead.
With fiery belief, Mr Andrew painted a picture of a world where every move is traced and monitored from the cradle to the grave. The digital ID, he proclaimed, was not just a tool for convenience but a leash on freedom and a chain binding humanity to the whims of unseen forces.
Drawing from what he described as ominous contents of the parliamentary bill, Mr Andrew laid bare the stark reality of what could lie ahead.
The complicated contents of the bill leave one thinking the Digital Id Movement will be introduced for the good of the people, however protestors of the ‘Say No to Digital ID’ debate otherwise.

Fear and worry circulate the movement as some believe it will own all personal history such as births, marriages, medical history, education and behavioral activity as well as SIM card registration.

Alongside this, some proclaim that it is being implemented by design worldwide, inspired by the UN and the WEF and will be overseen by private sector overseas companies.

Concerns also rise, regarding a person who refuses to grant digital permission, with a potential consequence to be shut out of the economy as well as society by being locked out or denied access, a similar consequence seen in the COVID-19 debacle.

Others note the undeniable issues of power outages, storms and crashes nearby, which could lead to a surge of individuals facing difficulties accessing their personal information when it's most needed.

In his impassioned speech, Mr Andrew drew parallels to the coercion witnessed during the Covid vaccination drive, where choice was replaced with ultimatums and consent became a mere compulsion.
Further concerns indicate that there will soon be no ability to stand up for personal beliefs let alone basic rights.
Anti-digital ID activists are warning others about the social credit system and how the population is yet to be “in a digital prison from which we can never escape.”
As Mr Andrew rallied the crowd, he underlined the importance of pushing back against the invasion of our independence and rights. He encourages his fellow Australians to stand tall and reclaim what is rightfully theirs: freedom.
In his final plea, Mr Andrew laid bare the truth, that total control is not seized by the government but willingly surrendered by the people. It was a sobering reminder that the fight for freedom is not just a battle of words but a struggle for the soul of a nation.

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Images from the No Digital ID rally held in Mackay

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Mackay Sugar is preparing to commence its 2024 crushing season from Tuesday 28 May and this brings an important reminder for local residents to stay cane-train aware.
“It’s been a busy maintenance period and we’re excited to be making our final preparations for the upcoming crushing season,” said Carl Morton, General Manager Operations.
“As with every year, the start of crush means our locomotives start moving more frequently around our cane rail network.
“This makes it a timely reminder for everyone to stay cane train aware and be alert when travelling throughout the region,” said Mr Morton.
“Whilst our locos are active all year, they operate 24/7 during the crushing season. This means it is particularly important for people in our community to be cane train aware – we want everyone to get home safely,” explained Mr Morton.
Mackay Sugar’s cane train operations include 37 locomotives that cover more than 850km of railway track spanning from Wagoora in the north to Munbura in the south and as far west as Finch Hatton.
In addition to improving its locos, cane bins and rail infrastructure as part of the scheduled maintenance program, production at Mackay Sugar is set to benefit from yet another year of significant investment across several major capital improvement projects, with more than $34 Million spent on new and improved mill infrastructure over the past 12 months alone.
Mackay Sugar CEO Jannik Olejas said, “Nordzucker Group continues to see significant value in our business and the sugar cane industry and has confirmed its commitment to increase the levels of ongoing investment in the years ahead.
“On the back of a thorough asset analysis, we have identified several plant and process opportunities that we are excited to deliver. Many of these will see us bring in new technology and set us up for positive performance benefits in the years ahead,” Mr Olejas explained.

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There wasn’t a shovel in sight when Year 10 students from Pioneer and Mackay State High Schools set about digging up the benefits of studying science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) in senior school and the potential career pathways available in the resources sector.  
 
Year 10 students at both schools participated in a STEM Unearthed workshop recently which explored how further studies in subjects like geology, chemistry and engineering can lead to meaningful careers as geologists, metallurgists, mining engineers and more. 
 
The workshop was delivered by the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA) – the education arm of the Queensland Resources Council, with the support of BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA). 
 
Linda Murry, General Manager of BMA’s Hay Point Coal Terminal said many of the students were interested in pursuing STEM studies in Years 11 and 12, with the idea of ultimately joining the resources sector. 
 
“We are keen to encourage and support the next generation of professionals entering the resources workforce,” she said.
 
 “It was great for our team members to have the opportunity to engage with students about the benefits of joining our exciting sector, which offers a rewarding career, competitive salaries and a great work-life balance.”
 
Mackay State High School Acting Principal, Matt Reeves, said the workshop was particularly valuable for students who were deciding on their subject selection for Year 11. 
 
“Talking to industry professionals about their career journey provides the students with a unique picture of potential careers they will not get anywhere else. 
 
I hope this workshop has ignited their interest in continuing STEM studies and ultimately a professional role in resources,” said Mr Reeves. 
 
Katrina-Lee Jones, QRC Director for Diversity, Skills and Education, said the STEM Unearthed workshop was popular with the students and industry. 
 
“One of the QMEA's goals is to highlight the great career opportunities available to students and create a pipeline of new talent for the resources workforce,” said Ms Jones. 
 

Year 10 students from Pioneer and Mackay State High Schools participated in the STEM Unearthed workshop

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By Hannah McNamara

A solemn ceremony was held last Saturday as locals from all walks of life gathered in compassion to acknowledge the lives of those lost to domestic and family violence.

As the sun set, 40 Pink Crosses were displayed on Eimeo beach to symbolise the 37 women murdered so far this year, along with the other three, in honour of the guest speakers loved ones who were tragically murdered in previous years.

Among the crowd stood guest speaker Vicki Blackburn, mother of Shandee Blackburn, who has been fighting for her daughter’s murder case since 2013. Ms Blackburn spoke on her own childhood upbringing along with the traumatic incident of losing her beloved daughter Shandee to a violent attack that is still yet to be solved.

Josiah Benedito-Taotafa, a resilient young man spoke on the loss of his sister, commenting on her infectious, loving personality that was horrifically cut short due to an attack from her ex-partner. The young man tells his sisters story, as a reminder to look out for our loved ones if you suspect that they are involved in a toxic relationship. He ended his speech on the lyrics of ‘Keep Ya Head Up’ by Tupac, referencing the importance of respecting women and putting an end to hurting “our women”.

As the candle ignited, tears rolled down the cheeks of many and those who spoke of their experiences on the night, found solace in knowing they weren’t alone.

The number of deaths on the rise in regards to this societal issue has been confronting to say the least, but with the help of services like Broken Ballerina Inc and the support of the local community, it’s important to remember that there is hope in times of darkness.

The aim is to lessen the number of deaths to 0 but until then, organisations such as Broken Ballerina Inc and Queensland Police Services require your help to combat this issue.

Speak out against domestic and family violence and report to police immediately if you suspect that you or your loved one are in danger.

To continue their mission, Broken Ballerina is in need of community funding to help survivors of domestic violence find safety and support. Visit their Facebook page or donate via www.brokenballerina-inc.com.au

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40 pink crosses were spread across the beach in commemoration of the lives lost to domestic violence this year. Photo Credit: Adam Sane

Vicki Blackburn, mother of Shandee Blackburn

Josiah Benedito-Taotafa bravely shared his sister's story in hopes of raising awareness against the signs of domestic violence.

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The recent unveiling of the BEE MINDFUL mural marks the progression of Stage 4 within the comprehensive "Bee Corner" initiative, a nine-stage program spearheaded by the MKY City Heart Collective.

The program aims to extend connectivity throughout the community, linking directly to Wood St parkland. This was made possible through the generous support of grants, local business sponsorships, and the dedicated efforts of a resilient team of volunteers who fundraised for a year to make this masterpiece a reality.

In honour of World Bee Day in the month of May, locals gathered to view the highly anticipated reveal of the Bee Mindful Mural last Saturday, at 7th Lane on Wood Street.
Attendees explored the fabulous bee-themed mural, adorned with crochet bees and honeycombs crafted by Marian T, along with family fun workshops led by Let the Children Play and Bee Creativezzz.
The face behind the mural features Jess Bush, a model and actress known for her many roles in Australia's Top Model and StarTrek series as well as her profound ability to hand craft sustainable bee-themed jewellery - which originally inspired artist Scott Nagy to include her in the mural, creating a fully immersive 'BEE' project.
Artists Scott Nagy and Krimsone placed intricate details to signify meaningful and mindful components, including only a few bees in the mural, with a scenic but almost bare landscape correlating to the Pioneer Valley along with the floral food basket and the fragility of the ecosystem, given bees are critical pollinators and producers.
Event Co-ordinators of the BEE MINDFUL MURAL PROJECT, Bonnie McCarthy and Tammy Laval, shared their insights on the project, reflecting on the importance of bees in relation to National Bee Day and how we as humans are impacting their existence and the environment.

“We wanted to tell the story of our CBD bees, by muralising the bee's plight through this mural installation,” Bonnie emphasised.

Tammy added that “If we all made conscious efforts to improve how and what we use in our gardens, we are all making a difference in ensuring the longevity of these pollinators.”

The team extends a heartfelt thank you for the sponsors, grants list, Camilleri Family owners of Penney's Arcade and all involved in the magnificent masterpiece.

With multiple future plans in mind, the team are on the lookout for volunteers who would like to get involved. Visit MKY City Heart Collective for further information.

Caption: The highly anticipated BEE MINDFUL mural was officially unveiled last Saturday in honour of World Bee Day. Photo credit: MCHC Team

Caption: The talented artists behind the masterpiece: Scott Nagy and Krimsone

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To celebrate Botanic Gardens Day, Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens is hosting a special community event to celebrate all things botanic.
The Botanic Gardens Open Day will be held on Saturday, May 25, from 8am to noon on the Tropical Sun Lawn.
This family-friendly event promises to be a delightful time for all ages.
Council's Libraries team will be on hand to entertain the kids with a range of fun activities, including the First 5 Forever van, craft activities, a baby space and a giant Jenga game.
There will also be scavenger hunts and you can complete Birdlife Mackay’s bird spotting checklist to go into the draw to win a copy of the Field Guide to the Birds of Australia book.
Plant enthusiasts are in for a treat with orchid, daisy and plant sales, guided walks, botanic art demonstrations and a range of botanic-themed community displays.
The Garden Friends will be in attendance and will be sharing information on our region’s vulnerable plants and the famous Bungee Jumping Caterpillars.
The Botanic Gardens Café will be open, and you can make a booking by calling 0401 677 164.
The Visitor Information Centre will also be open for assistance and will have a range of botanical books, earrings, cards and artworks available for purchase.
For more information visit mackayregionalbotanicgardens.com.au.
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Did you know?
Botanic Gardens Day is an annual celebration first initiated by Botanic Gardens Australia and New Zealand (BGANZ) nine years ago. It is an annual day of celebration to highlight the role of plants in our lives and the important work botanic gardens and arboreta undertake every day to conserve them for future generations.
This year’s theme is ‘More than a garden – protecting our plants and landscapes.’ The theme reflects the fact that botanic gardens and arboreta are not only nice places to visit, but they also conduct ecological research, safeguard plant diversity through living collections and seed banks and educate and empower communities in environmental sustainability.

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The Botanic Gardens Open Day will be held on Saturday, May 25, from 8am to noon on the Tropical Sun Lawn

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A mother and her calf are officially the first two humpback whales to have been spotted in the Whitsundays, marking the beginning of the season, the first as a formally declared Whale Heritage Site.

The early sighting was claimed by a group of seafaring locals who were out filming near North Mackerel Bay on the North-eastern end of Hook Island on Tuesday this week.

A mother and calf Humpback whale were the first of the majestic mammals to be spotted in Whitsunday waters this season. Photo credit: Phil Gordon from Riptide Creative

The Whales Have Arrived!

A filming expedition on Hayman Island’s brand-new day boat, Osprey, was made even more significant with the group being the first to spot a mother and calf Humpback whale playing in the cool Whitsunday waters.

Asher Telford, the General Manager of SeaLink and former owner of Red Cat Adventures, led the maiden voyage on Osprey.

“It certainly got everyone revved up!” he expressed.

“It’s almost a month early and we were very surprised.”

Asher speculated their early arrival could be due to the cooler than usual start to the winter months.

“Everyone on board was really excited to check it out,” he shared.

“And it’s always a buzz to be the first to spot the whales at the beginning of the season.”

Phil Gordon from Riptide Creative was filming on the day and excited to generate some impressive footage of the illusive mammals in their natural habitat.

“We first saw the baby as it did a full breach out of the water,” he explained.

“Then we waited until it surfaced again and that’s when we got the photos.”

From June to September each year thousands of Humpback whales travel from the icy temperatures of the Antarctic and come to the warmer waters of the Whitsundays to give birth and nurture their calves during the first few months of their lives.

The Whitsundays tour operators, Traditional Owners and broader community are known for respecting and encouraging the global best practice in the preservation of these protected creatures along with other cetaceans.

There are several citizen science programs operating and a dedicated group called Whales of the Whitsundays (WOW) which all help to provide a safe environment for the migrating mammals.

It is thanks to the efforts of WOW that the Whitsundays was officially named a Whale Heritage Site by the World Cetacean Alliance in March this year.

The Whitsundays is only the second such site to be designated in Australia and the first to be designated inside the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and the only site in the world to be in a UNESCO World Heritage Area.

The certification puts the region on the map with Hervey Bay, the only other designated site in Australia.

Following the early sighting this week, it is expected that more Humpback whales will be arriving any time now.

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The first two Humpback Whales made a surprise visit during the maiden voyage of Osprey. Photo credit: Riptide Creative

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Hi Everyone,

As we approach the 200th issue of this fabulous newspaper, we would like to say a huge thank you to you all for taking the time to flick through the pages, read our stories and engage with our advertisers each week.

Over the past four years, thanks to all of you and the dedicated work of our incredible team, we have created a fantastic print media platform that is keeping local story-telling alive.

We have been privileged to experience significant growth during this time and we really appreciate your support in getting to where we are today.

Some of the highlights have included watching our online presence grow – we now have 22,000 unique viewers per month – each choosing to read their weekly news on our website.

This is in addition to the 15,000 printed copies that are distributed around the region each week.

Last year represented another huge milestone moment for the business when we were honoured to be invited by the Burdekin community to launch a new newspaper in the region.

We have now been printing a weekly newspaper for the Burdekin since September and we are pleased to report it is running successfully as well.

Another major highlight was winning four state awards at the Queensland Country Press Awards last year – this included one gold, a silver and two bronze awards - spanning various categories from editorial campaigns to advertising features, and of course the infamous ‘Jenny and Steve’ ad.

This weekend marks a year since we received those awards and a small contingent of the team will be heading down again this weekend – wish us luck!

Regardless of whether we win, however, I feel like we have won already!

Serving the community with local news each week, being privileged to preserve the ongoing history of our beautiful region and meeting so many amazing people along the way – this is our reward.

Each morning I wake and think how lucky I am to do this job and work with this team of awesome people in a community I love.

Rach

Quote of the Week: “If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life” (Mark Anthony)

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A young Whitsunday resident has chopped off her lovely long locks for charity, raising an impressive $2,100 along the way.

Seven-year-old Maya Murphy decided to donate her hair to help sick kids following a conversation with her mum, Shannon, who had heard of Variety Children’s Charity, Hair With A Heart.

The initiative encourages people with long hair to “take the chop and change lives”, stating that “your lovely locks will be turned into wigs for people who’ve lost their hair from cancer, alopecia or other medical conditions”.

After a little consideration, Maya announced that she would like to do it and, with the help of her family, set up a charity page through the organisation, asking people to sponsor her ‘Big Chop’.

It wasn’t long before Maya watched the money roll in and the initial target of $750 was smashed almost straight away when they hit $1000 within the first 24 hours.

By the time she took the chop, Maya had raised an incredible $2,100.

A total of 20 centimetres of Maya’s hair was cut off and it has now been sent off so that a wig can be made from it.

Maya said she enjoys having short hair and was pleased her long hair was going to help sick kids.

“I just wanted to help them,” she said.

Shannon added that the whole family were very impressed with Maya’s giving nature.

“We are super proud of her!” she said.

“She’s that kind of kid that has a good heart always.”

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Young Maya rocking her new short hair and holding her long plaits which she will donate to sick kids. Photo supplied

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