Many readers would be surprised to know that the Great Barrier Reef Festival has a history dating back over 60 years?

With this year’s Great Barrier Reef Festival now completed, it is interesting to read about the very first such festival which was held to showcase the area and its lifestyle. While the current Barrier Reef Festival is held on the mainland, these early festivals were centred on the islands of the Whitsundays as well as others further afield. Hayman Island, Happy Bay, Lindeman Island, South Molle, Palm Bay and Heron Island were the first islands involved.  Daydream Island and Brampton Island were also participated at some stage. On the 1962 programme, MV “Esmeralda” was listed along with the islands.
The official opening of the festival was marked by the unveiling of a plaque on a cairn at Cid Harbour in remembrance of Captain James Cook naming the Whitsunday Passage. The Minister for Labour, Industry and Tourism often performed the closing ceremony such was its considered importance.

There was much frivolity and fun at these annual events with such activities as sailing races, tug-o’-war, a treasure hunt, an oyster eating competition, ladies throwing oars, men throwing 36lb cannon balls from the sunken Spanish Galleon, a skiing exhibition and race, and a cruiser race. There were also cocktail parties and a fancy dress.
For many, the highlight of the festival was the keenly anticipated judging of the Miss Coral Queen. Each island had its own Coral Queen judging with the finalist announced on the last day which usually took place on a Sunday allowing day guests from the mainland to attend. Along with other great prizes such as a tour to New Zealand on one occasion, the winner was presented with a beautiful crown, set with coral, and made by Mrs Leen Wallace of Coral Art, Dent Island. The first Coral Queen (1958) was from Lindeman.

The festival continued into the 1970s with Proserpine joining in fun in 1963, holding a Carnival Day and Mardi Gras in conjunction with the Great Barrier Reef Festival. The Main Street was ablaze with colour, bunting, coloured lights, decorated shop windows, leis, Muu-muus and beach shirts. Businesses, schools and clubs participated and organised floats for the procession.

Proserpine decided to base its carnival on sporting and interest activities with the golf, bowls, cricket, tennis, rifle, and camera clubs participating. The Pony Club held a gymkhana. There was also an orchid display and boxing matches. Aquatic sports were held at Shingley Beach with Queensland Skiff Champion, Mick Walton, attempting to break his 1960 record in “Mischief”. There was also a Mobile Mock Court, Mardi Gras with clowns, barbecue and musical entertainment and the event culminated with the presentation of Miss Esmeralda Carnival Queen at a ball at the Grand Theatre. The Proserpine Carnival was such an outstanding success that organisers decided that it would be held annually.

(Note: The beautiful Coral Crown, donated by Mrs Thora Nicolson of Lindeman Island, is on display at the Proserpine Museum.)

Story and photos courtesy of Proserpine Historical Society Museum.

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Behind the delighted smiles on children’s faces, the colourful creations that parade the main street, the fireworks and the fairground rides, is an army of dedicated volunteers who make the Great Barrier Reef Festival (GBRF) possible each year.

Many of these volunteers contribute vast amounts of free labour, do much of the heavy lifting and drive the event from within – their efforts often unseen by festivalgoers.

And while the organisers and volunteers were congratulated on the success of the 2024 GBRF which took place over the weekend, a social media post claiming the festival would not continue next year spread like wildfire through the community on Sunday evening.

Despite the post being nothing but a rumour, the Festival committee has since stated that it unearthed a private struggle and has opened up the conversation about the continued feasibility of the event.

Festival Chairwoman, Margie Murphy, stepped forward on Monday afternoon to confirm that although she doesn’t know who started the rumour, she did appreciate the subject needed to be raised.

“I don't know the person who posted on social media that this would be the last Reef Festival, and that statement definitely didn't come from either myself as festival chairwoman or, to my knowledge, from any of my core committee,” she explained.

“That being said, there's at least one point every year where we find ourselves saying: "never again", as I think anyone who's ever organised an event will understand!

“To most people the Reef Festival is a fun weekend but, to us, it's a year-round un-paid job. It takes a massive amount of (mostly) woman-hours to put an event like this together, and these days there are fewer of us than ever to carry that load.”

Margie commented that, before the current organisational structure took over 15 years ago, the festival was operated by a paid organiser.

Since this has changed, Margie and other local individuals and businesses are contributing their free time, and resources to the point where it costs their businesses money in order to run the festival each year.

This has been compounded by the fact the Festival lost its Queensland government funding for marketing because it had reached the maximum number of years it is allowed to attain this type of funding.

The core festival committee is down to four people who, on top of the festival marketing and social media, do the event planning, permits, contracts, grant applications and reporting, sponsorship agreements, website development, graphics, ordering, entertainment bookings, accounting, fundraising and so much more, all unpaid, while doing their regular jobs.

While the committee appreciates all the contributions, they wanted people to understand how sponsorships do not always equate to cash.

“Even though we're doing our bit for free and receive many in-kind contributions to offset costs, it still takes a lot of money to run a community event” explained Margie.

“It's important for people to realise, that these 'funding streams' don't necessarily equate to cash, or cover many of our costs, even when they do.”

“Our Council contributions are a good example of this. This year Whitsunday Regional Council gave us mostly "in-kind" support - things like putting up our banners, organising extra rubbish collection, and helping with the traffic management we must have in place when we close the main street.

“These are all important things that have a cost associated with them, and that Council is perfectly placed to help with.

“The Council also gave us $5000, but when you consider that doesn't even cover the public liability for the event which is $6000, it puts what we're up against into perspective.

Margie reinforces the fact that she is very grateful for the sponsors, Council departments and local businesses that got behind the event this year, she simply wants to let people know they are struggling, especially as the festival continues to grow.

“So, on that note, will there be a Great Barrier Reef Festival next year?” asks Margie.

“There's no doubt a few things need to change going forward, and there are some conversations we very much need to have, both internally and with our working partners, but for the sake of the community, and everything we've built up over 24 years, I very much hope so.”

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Two men aged, 21 and 72 are in Townsville Hospital fighting for their lives after a devastating multi-vehicle collision on Bruce Highway near Bloomsbury which closed the highway in both directions on Thursday August 1st.
A man in his 20s with life-threatening head and arm injuries, along with a man in his 70s with severe head injuries, were airlifted to Townsville Hospital yesterday. As of noon today, both individuals are stable but still in critical condition.
Queensland Ambulance Services were dispatched around 3pm following a serious collision involving a Toyota LandCruiser driven by a 21-year-old man. The LandCruiser crossed into the opposite lane, crashing into a white Isuzu truck before hitting a white CX-5 driven by a 72-year-old man who was travelling behind the truck. Ambulance services confirmed that several individuals were trapped at the scene.
Two additional patients were assessed at the scene and transferred to Mackay Hospital in stable condition. One was a man in his 40s with an arm injury, and the other was a fourth patient, whose age and gender remain unknown.
Queensland Police Services urge any witnesses or anyone with information to come forward.

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New students and teachers at Cannonvale State School enjoyed a visit from the Zonta Club of the Whitsundays last week and learnt all about the school’s long-term connection with the organisation.
The connection with Cannonvale State School began over 25 years ago during Pam Graham’s tenure as Principal and Annie Lloyd Lewis’s as Vice Principal. Founding member Wendy Downs, along with other dedicated women, helped establish the Zonta Club of the Whitsundays, which has since become a vital part of the Airlie Beach community.

When Pam Graham sadly passed, the local Zonta Club provided the school with a quiet reading area in her honour. After the new buildings were established, the quiet reading area became a corner of the new library with a comfortable chair and a plaque with a Dr Suess poem.

Marlene Reiffel, President of Zonta, mentioned that during their visit to the school, the acknowledgement they got was “top class,” and it was exciting telling the school about their long history:

“The principal was thrilled to hear some of the history and particularly Pam Graham's little library and chair.”

Principal of Cannonvale State School, Nicholas Shirley, wanted to thank Zonta for their involvement:
“Zonta have been involved with our school for quite a long time and it was a true honour to hear their journey with Cannonvale SS.  
“Thank you to the wonderful ladies at Zonta for their ongoing support of both our school and our community.”  
Zonta are always looking for new members, if their story has inspired you, please email Marlene: marlene@cpq.com.au

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Zonta Visiting Cannonvale State School, Photo supplied

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With the biggest professional field competing since the Cairns Ironman Triathlon the 24th running of the Coral Sea Marina Resort Airlie Beach Triathlon Festival proved an outstanding success on the weekend.

Held in perfect weather conditions for racing and with record fields of over 200 competitors, the Olympic Distance Triathlon was won by Charlie Quin (1.52.33) in the men’s division and Richelle Hill (2.01.56) in the women’s division.
 
Richelle Hill, 2012 Olympian Radka Kahlefeldt, and Cairns Ironman winner Hannah Berry staged a titanic duel on the swim and bike with all leaving for the final 10km run leg together, but it was 22 year-old Hill who had the fresher legs to surge away and defeat Kahlefeldt by over 90 seconds with Berry another 2 minutes back in third place.
 
In an equally hotly contested men’s event Charlie Quin had the perfect hit out before representing his country on the international stage at the ITU Long Course World Championship in Townsville in a few weeks’ time, beating Steven McKenna by 90 seconds with Matt Burton filling the final podium spot.
 
Whitsunday Triathlon Club President and Race Director Michael Kimpton said the weekend produced some amazing top class triathlon action with record numbers in the junior event on Saturday and also the Sprint, Enticer and Olympic Distance events on Sunday.
 
“What an incredible weekend of racing in the Heart of the Great Barrier Reef and my heartfelt thanks to all our visiting athletes, local competitors, and everyone who made this event a record-breaking success,” Michael Kimpton said.
 
“We saw an outstanding turnout, with huge fields in all our triathlon and swim events, a true testament to the growing popularity and spirit of our triathlon community.
 
“Our swim Ambassador, Olympic legend Susie O’Neill and race MC and the Voice of Triathlon, Pete Murray both did amazing jobs and raised the profile of our event onto the state and national stage.
  
“The Coral Sea Marina Resort Airlie Beach Triathlon is growing as a race like no other and a true celebration of our vibrant community spirit and the stunning natural beauty of the Whitsundays.
 
“Together, we are building an event that will continue to grow and a weekend of swimming, riding and running that we can all be proud of.”

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Susie O’Neill and Michael Kimpton
Open water swim participants after their warmup
Mayor Ry Collins waiting on the finish line
Airlie Beach Triathlon athletes starting their race in the water
Start of Airlie Beach Triathlon

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Photo credit: Daniel Heggie and Morgane Roggeman

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On Thursday night a multi-agency search and rescue operation successfully saved three local men who were out fishing when their 6.9-metre vessel began sinking near Block Reef, reportedly about 70 nautical miles offshore.
The men were rescued after a mayday call was received at 10:15pm. Water Police, Volunteer Marine Rescue Association Queensland (VMRAQ), and a civilian boat were all involved in the rescue operation.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) also received an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) activation at the same time with the same coordinates and dispatched the Cairns-based Challenger rescue aircraft along with two rescue helicopters
The Queensland water police, assumed coordination of the surface assets, which included the police vessel the ‘Damien Leeding.’
The helicopter dropped a life raft to the individuals at around 12:30am. The police vessel was about 45 minutes off at that time. The boat sank at the time of the life raft being dropped, and the men had to swim and climb into the life raft.
They then stayed in the life raft for around 45 minutes until the police vessel was able to deploy its tender to collect them.
After collection, Senior Constable Damien Watts, stated that the men were “cold, they were very hungry, they were given some warm drinks so it was probably one of the best tasting cups of instant coffee they’ve ever had.”
“No injuries, I think they were very grateful to be saved,” Damien added.
“A great effort from all agencies involved, it was a timely deployment.”
Incidents like this serve as a crucial reminder of the importance of registering your EPIRB, ensuring your vessel is seaworthy, verifying that radios are functioning, and confirming that all safety equipment is onboard.

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Over 100 people attended the unveiling of headstones for un-marked soldiers at Proserpine’s Old Cemetery last Saturday 27th July.

Organiser of the event Lyn Burke said that Whitsunday Old Iron Restorers Car Club put flags and timber crosses up on the unrecognised soldiers’ gravesites every year.

This year, however, the community rallied together to give the soldiers proper headstones.

The Whitsunday Old Iron Restorers Car Club raised over $5000 for molds, concreting, and plaques and now the soldiers have the headstones they deserve.

Lyn said that it’s a relief to finally give the soldiers their headstones.

“One of them has been waiting 102 years for this and this is the crowning,” Lyn said.

“They all had military funerals and that’s where it ended, today we fixed that and now they have headstones like they should.”

Lyn expressed that she was emotional and also proud of her work.

“I can’t wait to send details to the War Memorial, especially about the one who's been here 102 years,” she said.

Proserpine RSL President Jason Rateri welcomed the service and said “Some of these graves have remained unmarked and the guys have lied here for over 100 years without any marker for their place of rest, it's a pretty sad indictment.”

“But I'm pleased to say that today that's been rectified,” he said.

Special guest Colonel Boniface Aruma enthusiastically praised the individuals involved in this special event.

“As you know, in the military, everything we do is team orientated. It's never about one person, he can't achieve the task set forth if you operate as an individual,” he said.

“I really don't have much to say this morning, apart from acknowledging those individuals that have gone behind the scenes to invest quality time and quality effort to realise this morning's occasion.

“Without your selfless effort behind the scenes, we would not be sitting here this morning to witness this very significant occasion to represent again those that have gone beyond us to lay down the sacrifice.”

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Whitsunday Old Iron Restorers Car Club raised $5000 for the new headstones
Jason Rateri, Colonel Boniface Aruma, Mayor Ry Collins, event organisers Lyn Burke and Lloyd Fox
New headstone unveiled

Photo credit: Daniel Heggie

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August is shaping up to be a great month of activity and opportunities with the Whitsundays Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Pop Up Chamber, 8 August
Start your day right, 9am-11am Thursday 8 August at Porters Mitre 10 Whitsunday, Cannonvale.
Join the Chamber and Porters Mitre 10 teams for a free BBQ brekkie and raffle prizes.
This is a free event for all, an informal gathering of business owners. Simply drop by, make new connections, and get up-to-date on Chamber developments and have your say.

Vision for the Whitsundays, 15 August
Mark your diaries for 7:30am-9am Thursday 15 August at Filby’s Motors, 62 Main Street, Proserpine. In this special event, Mayor Ry Collins and Chamber President Allan Milostic will explore future economic and business possibilities for our region.

The Chamber will present key insights from their Vision for the Whitsundays research and advocacy project.

The event will also include a presentation of the graduates from 2023 Certificate IV in Entrepreneurship program – an initiative sponsored by TAFE Queensland, the Council, and Chamber.

Bites & Insights webinar series
The Chamber’s latest initiative is Bites & Insights, a dynamic free webinar series designed exclusively for Chamber members by members. Bites & Insights webinars are 45-minute online sessions, featuring educational content ranging from the latest industry developments to practical tips and case studies.

Nominations open for the Whitsunday Business Awards
Nominate your favourite local business, or even your own, by Wednesday 14 August in the 2024 Whitsundays Business Awards.
Visit the Chamber’s website or contact them direct for more information: www.whitsundaycoastchamber.com.au

Contributed with thanks to the Whitsunday Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

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Pack your bags, and prepare for take-off because from Sunday 1 September, the Whitsunday Coast Airport will offer a selection of brand-new Jetstar flights directly to Adelaide.

Confirmed earlier this year, the flights will take off on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday each week, with the introduction set to significantly boost local tourism in both the Whitsundays and Adelaide.

In celebration of the February announcement, a one-way sale saw fares available from $99 earlier this year, and Jetstar’s Executive Manager, Jenn Armor explained Jetstar’s excitement in offering the new route to customers.

“For the first time ever from 1 September 2024, flying between these two destinations will take just under three hours, continuing Jetstar’s mission to make travel more accessible with great low fares,” said Jenn.

Craig Turner, Director of Commercial Businesses for Whitsunday regional Council that owns Whitsunday Coast Airport, believes Jetstar’s new flight paths will open the region up to a brand-new market of travellers, and this debut has been a long time coming.

“The importance of developing new destinations is critical to the growth of the Whitsundays,” said Craig.

“We’ve relied on Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne traditionally for our interstate visitors but to be able to get Adelaide, South Australia with 1.3million people on three flights a week to the Whitsundays, conveniently, cost effectively and direct is significant.

“This will be an enormous boost for the region for tourism, mining and agriculture and it really is a strategically important route that has taken a long time to achieve, and we’re very excited for the first of September start and Jetstar has told us the load factors are very strong.”

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Direct flights to Adelaide will be running three times a week from September 1. Photos supplied

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Are you ready to make good things happen in our community?
Bendigo Community Bank Cannonvale-Proserpine is seeking expressions of interest to join our Board.
“Like many of the organisations and clubs we sponsor, the Board of the locally owned and operated Bendigo Community Bank are also volunteers,” said Community Bank Cannonvale-Proserpine Chairman Mark Henry.
“We acknowledge and value the passion and commitment volunteers make to any organisation. There are so many opportunities available to get involved, to find a meaningful role and make a difference. Joining our Board might be one of those rewarding, unique opportunities.” said Mark.
The Bendigo Community Bank ‘profit-with-a-purpose’ model is unique which sees a percentage of the profits generated by the Bank branch invested back into the community.
The establishment of the Branch was backed by local shareholders who saw the value of the Community Bank model and raised $800,000 locally to establish a branch in the Whitsundays.
“We thank our shareholders for backing the Whitsundays community and providing an essential banking service to our customers, and all the passionate local Directors past and present for their hard work and dedication,” said Mark.
Are you looking for a role to:
   • influence strategy and determine how we invest in our community through our sponsorships?
   • make a positive impact in our local community?
   • advance your director, board experience, or leadership capabilities; or simply give your time and expertise?
If so, the Community Bank Cannonvale-Proserpine Board invites you to consider nominating.
We are looking to reinforce our Board’s strengths and diversity by adding new members who bring different perspectives and skills on strategy, finance, community engagement, and marketing.
The locally owned and operated Branch opened its doors 5 June 2012 and is one of 322 community banks across Australia.
For a confidential conversation about Board member role, responsibilities, and expectations please contact the Chair of the Board, Mark Henry, on chair@whitsundaycel.com.au by Monday 30 September 2024.

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Treasurer Krys Halsey, Chair, Mark Henry, Secretary Cait Fleming and member Ross Hughes. Photo supplied

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In 2022, RACQ CQ Rescue was called upon 638 times for various emergency situations, logging 1,147 flying hours, with the longest mission covering 936 km. Notably, 42% of these missions were in the Whitsunday region. This year, they've been chosen as one of the charities for the Mayor's Charity Ball along side the Whitsunday Suicide Prevention Network. Get behind this vital service by buying tickets or becoming a sponsor for the event! To buy tickets head to https://bit.ly/MayorsCharityBall or to find our more about sponsorship visit  https://bit.ly/MayorsBall2024

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The month of August is celebration time in our Whitsundays as the focus switches from the outback fun of the Bowen River Rodeo to our seaside town of Airlie Beach for the Great Barrier Reef Festival and Airlie Beach Race Week.

Council is proud to provide sponsorship for both events as these annual celebrations not only showcase the natural beauty of our region, but also highlight the incredible community spirit that makes the Whitsundays such a special place to live and visit.

The Reef Festival is an annual homage to the Great Barrier Reef, one of the world's most extraordinary natural wonders.

This year’s festival promises a spectacular line-up of events, from the colourful street parades to the awe-inspiring fireworks over the Coral Sea. It's a time when our community comes together to revel in the beauty of our marine environment and promote its preservation.

Locals and visitors can look forward to enjoying live music, captivating art installations, and a variety of workshops aimed at fostering a deeper appreciation for our unique ecosystem.

The festival is a true reflection of Airlie Beach’s spirit, combining entertainment with education, and showing our commitment to sustainable tourism.

Hot on the heels of the Reef Festival, we have Airlie Beach Race Week. This iconic event draws competitors and spectators from around the globe, transforming our beautiful waters into a thrilling maritime theatre.

Race Week isn’t just about the races; it’s also about the camaraderie and community that form around this event with shore-side activities and vibrant social gatherings.

Both events provide a boost to local businesses, showcasing our Whitsunday hospitality and the unique experiences we offer to visitors.

The dedication of volunteers, sponsors, and organisers make these events possible, and it is their passion which ensures the continued success of both.

Let’s come together in August to enjoy, celebrate, and promote our beautiful region.

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Students from Bowen State High School are involved in two projects this semester with a focus on learning more about Aquaculture and Agriculture.

HarvestEd is an online program facilitated by the Queensland Virtual STEM Academy and the University of Melbourne and is designed for students in Years 8 to 9 in North Queensland to build their knowledge of innovations in agriculture, to promote sustainability and to utilise the design thinking framework to understand local issues and generate possible solutions.

Four, Year 9 students from Bowen State High School have commenced the program with a 1-hour virtual lesson each Thursday.

HarvestEd QLD also includes a mid-point face-face workshop where facilitators will visit the school to meet participating students and to engage in activities to identify local agricultural challenges. The final phase of the program is a Marketplace Day at James Cook University in Townsville. Students will meet industry partners for networking, meet peers and other stakeholders, deliver project pitches to industry partners and embark on a tour of James Cook University campus to learn more about future careers and opportunities in higher education.

Bowen State High School is also partnering with the Aquaculture Centre of Excellence at Whitsunday TAFE to deliver the Certificate II in Aquaculture to Year 10 students. The aim of the program is to engage students in a certificate course with the possibility of securing employment in the aquaculture industry at the completion of the course.

Whitsunday TAFE offered an Aquaculture day earlier in the year for interested students of Bowen State High School and the students thoroughly enjoyed the hands-on practical activities during the day and learning about the skills and techniques required in the industry.

By combining a Certificate II with their Year 10 studies, students are able to complete their school studies with a qualification. Students are enjoying the flexible learning arrangements which sees them combining two days at TAFE and 3 days at school, rather than 5 days a week in the classroom. Students are completing their certificate course at the Whitsunday TAFE campus, as well as in the school’s newly refurbed Aquaculture centre.

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Year 9 students, Sarah, Ella, Jacob and Olivia have enjoyed the start of the program and the opportunity to interact with other students and teachers virtually. Photo supplied

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Are you a lover of live theatre and music?

Proserpine State High School’s Seagrass Theatre and Music Company present their ‘Musical Theatre Night’ on Saturday 17th of August.

The annual event allows students from Years 7-12 to showcase their singing and dancing talents on stage performing family-friendly classics from musicals such as, ‘Hairspray’ and ‘Grease’ to name a few.

You may recognise some of the familiar faces on stage from the student-run company’s productions of ‘Sweet Charity’ (2023) and ‘Joseph and The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat’ earlier this year.
Rehearsals have been held before and after school and some lunchtimes in order to perfect dance routines and singing numbers.

Dominik James Johnson is producer for this season of Seagrass Theatre and she is thrilled with her fellow students enthusiasm in the production.

“Everybody has really engaged themselves to ensure this season of Seagrass turns out to be an amazing show,” she said.

“Having the opportunity to work with such committed and talented people has been nothing but a pleasure.

“It's incredibly inspiring to watch the devotion of my peers, and the shared passion for theatre being so celebrated and encouraged by both our school and our community.”

Held in the school’s purpose-built Performing Arts Centre, doors will open at 6pm with the show starting at 7pm sharp.

Food and drinks will be available for purchase also from the kiosk.

Tickets can be purchased at the door for $15 per adult or $10 per child or concession card holder.

For more information, please call Proserpine State High School Administration Office on 4945 0111.

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Proserpine State High School Senior Dance Troupe students preparing for their performance of "Too Darn Hot", Photo supplied

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The Coral Sea Marina Resort Airlie Beach Triathlon Festival kickstarted last Saturday and a record number of 96 children took part in the Junior Triathlon.

Organisers Val and Michael Kimpton were thrilled with the event and the overall turnout.

“It was magnificent, tiring but a magnificent sight,” Val said.

A young boy named Attila was gifted the Encouragement Of The Year Award for his incredible efforts.

This award was the perpetual trophy in memory of Stirling Edwards-Bland, a keen local sports kid who tragically lost his life in a road accident some years ago.

A random draw was also held on the day and two lucky children were gifted with a brand-new bike.

There were no awards for the fastest times, the children were simply tasked with doing their best and all children that took part in the triathlon received a medal and a well-deserved bag of lollies.

Congratulations to all who participated in the challenging event.

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8 – 11 age group in the Junior Triathlon
11 – 15 age category in the Junior Triathlon
Big smiles from the boys after finishing their Triathlon
Celebrating the win!
The girls happy after their big event

Photo credit: Daniel Heggie

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