Coral Sea Resort was transformed into a sea of purple and white on Sunday when around 120 people celebrated International Women’s Day with the Zonta Club of the Whitsundays.

The guests were greeted to a glass of sparkles on arrival and enjoyed a three-course meal that set the stage for a sensational afternoon.

At the event the young and talented Scarlet Foti was given recognition for her astonishing work.

At just 17 she has developed a self-guided book for neurodivergent children and has an active involvement in various community services, such as Occupational Therapy Whitsundays and she also teaches for the Music Evolution.

Scarlet was given a scholarship on the day and congratulated by all in attendance.

Dame Carol Kidu also attended the event and donated a handcrafted item from Papua New Guinea which was auctioned off during the afternoon.

Member for Whitsunday, Amanda Camm and Julie Hall, Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor were also in attendance.

The event was full of raffles and auctions, and it served as Zonta’s fundraiser for their many ongoing projects and scholarship.

The Zonta Club of the Whitsunday expresses its gratitude to all donations and sponsors that participated in making the weekend’s event so special and impactful.

Zonta is a group based in the Whitsundays with the mission to raise money for struggling women, whether that would be women in third world countries or local.

The Zonta Club of the Whitsundays hold monthly meetings every third Thursday and everyone is welcome to join.

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Photo credit: Rachael Smith

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Guests had a fantastic time at this years’ International Women’s Day High Tea hosted by The Zonta Club of Bowen on Sunday.

A crowd of 85 attended the event held at Wangaratta Bowls Club in Queens Beach.

Attendees reportedly had a whirl and said the food was amazing.

Numerous guest speakers attended the event, including Associate Professor Carmen Parter who spoke about her family life, work life and her strong belief of standing together united.

Suited to Success representative, Emma Galligan gave a presentation by dressing Zonta employee Nan, in three different outfits with varying accessories to create four different outfits for different scenarios.

Suited to Success provides free styling, clothing, and career support services for people in need throughout Queensland. 

Final guest speaker was Katrina Smith, she is studying Bachelor of Nursing through Central Qld University, while also working at Bowen Hospital and she won the 2024 Bursary Award on the day.

Other awards at the event were the Community Recognition Awards and this year more categories were added.

The Agent of Change award is given to a local lady or ladies who are recognised for their tireless work towards bettering the community.

This years’ winners were, Chris Storrie, Anne Steen, Jenn Honnery, Dee Jastremski, Shelley Tait and Kasie Lane.

Mover of Mountains award is given to the local lady or ladies who have achieved big things for the Bowen community with Christine Coventry and Julies Jurgens winning the award this year.

The Group Greatness is awarded to a local club or group that has proved themselves numerous times to be pillars of the community and this years’ winner was The Bowen Community Op-Shop Volunteer Ladies.

Susanne Gaffney; Sharyn Stoessel; Cheryl Throssell; Carmen Lynch; Heather Johnston; Christine Prosser.

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1: L to R: Chris Storrie; Anne Steen; Jenn Honnery; Dee Jastremski; Shelley Tait; & Kasie Lane with Zonta President Jacintha Nawia

2: Christine Coventry; Julies Jurgens with Zonta President Jacintha Nawia

3: L to R:  Susanne Gaffney; Sharyn Stoessel; Cheryl Throssell; Carmen Lynch; Heather Johnston; Christine Prosser, with Zonta President Jacintha Nawia

4: Associate Professor Carmen Parter  

5: Emma Galligan from Suited to Success

6: 2024 Bursary winner Katrina Smith

All images supplied

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With friendships made over the pool table, Anchor Bar tattoos seen around town and people recommending the ‘retreat from the main-street’ as you board a plane from Brisbane – it is easy to see how this iconic local venue has become both a meaningful and memorable place for many people over the years.

Opening its doors 10 years ago, Anchor Bar came to life when couple Josh Knutson and Leah McMillan saw an ad in the local newspaper and jumped at the opportunity to run their own place.  

The pair had met in Airlie Beach a few years earlier and had known each other from their homeland of New Zealand before this chance reconnection changed the trajectory of their lives.

Leah recalls that Josh had been working in construction and landscaping on the main-street revitalisation project when she called into town for two weeks to take a sailing course.

Having travelled the world for five years prior, when the couple met, Leah decided to stay and make a life here in Airlie Beach with Josh.

“You travel all around the world, but end up finding another Kiwi from your hometown!” she laughed.

When they first took over the venue it needed a little love as it had previously been a quiet bar that did not serve food and predominantly looked after resort clientele.

With a vision to create something different, but in-fitting with the casual coastal atmosphere of the town, Josh and Leah began to organically develop the offering.

Over the past decade Anchor Bar has evolved to become the popular place it is today.

“It’s our secret hideaway, the ‘retreat from the main street’ and it has its own unique identity, its own cult following,” shared Leah.

“We’ve seen people with Anchor Bar tattoos and had people come in who said they’d been told about us while boarding the plane from Brisbane.

“We are loved by locals but also travellers and holidaymakers who come through town.”

When asked the reason for their success, Leah said it is to do with consistency, especially when it comes to food.

“Putting consistently good food out has been our main goal,” she shared.

“We saw the potential to make this beautiful space into a family-friendly spot for everyone and I think over the years we have achieved that.”

With limited hospitality experience before they opened Anchor Bar, Josh and Leah say it was a whirlwind first few years when they managed the business before buying it in 2014 and then finally purchasing the freehold in 2017.

“It’s such a fun industry to be in and we love it!” Leah said.

“Usually, you pay to go out but we’re getting paid to be out and have fun!

“All this would not have been possible without our fantastic staff, our loyal locals and of course our amazing local suppliers – thank you all so much for making Anchor Bar what it is today.”

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It was three years ago that Rabia opened the doors to Palace Hair and Beauty in Proserpine, after trading in the same location for 15 years as AMAC Hair Design with a long-standing clientele.    

Prior to taking over the salon, Rabia had been running a variety of businesses for almost 20 years in several different countries, which provided a solid foundation in business fundamentals to bring to her new hometown of Prosperine, whilst learning and loving the “Prossy” way of doing things.  

As Rabia grew her customer base, she identified a gap in the market for a proper Barbershop, and after securing the shop next door, proceeded to open the Kingsmen Barbershop with a focus on traditional barbering techniques and modern trends.

The mission of the Palace Hair and Beauty & Kingsmen Barbershop is to provide exceptional hair and grooming services while fostering a sense of community and belonging for clients.

The team understand the importance of looking and feeling great and are dedicated to helping individuals achieve their desired style with personalised consultations and top-notch services.

Understanding the unique style and preferences of their clients is key, given a common challenge is discovering a preferred stylist has moved away or relocated to the mines. Rabia and her team address this challenge by ensuring the entire team are consistently trained in all customer preferences and styles, so if a team member relocates, the rest of the team can continue to take good care of that customer.  

As a business owner, Rabia suggests that it is imperative to look after your staff and customers, communicate effectively to promote good management, seek feedback from clients and staff, and share this feedback with the team to facilitate improvements.

Rabia says “Being a member of the Chamber has enabled me to receive support and advice to broaden my understanding of local market demands.The Chamber of Commerce truly shares their knowledge and leadership, as well as providing member education and engagement, which helps alleviate the day-to-day pressures of running of a small business.”

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Contributed with thanks to Whitsunday Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

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Caption: The dedicated team at Kingsmen Barbershop. Photo supplied

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The Bowen tourism community are celebrating this week with news that one of their own was awarded Gold at the Grey Nomad Awards held over the weekend.

Queens Beach Tourist Village once again received the top gong in the Best Large Caravan Park Category.

This is the third consecutive year the park has received the award which means it has now been inducted into the Hall of Fame for these awards.

Manager of Bowen Tourism and Business, Leanne Abernethy said it was fantastic news that the Queen’s Beach Tourist Village had won Gold in their category again in the Grey Nomads Awards.

“Peter and Jennie and the Team at Queen’s Beach run a fantastic park. They are also great ambassadors for Bowen and the greater Whitsundays region,” Ms Abernethy said.

In addition to this, two other local hot spots were finalists in the awards.

“We were also very pleased that the Big Mango was named a finalist in the Best Attraction category and that Bowen was also a national finalist in the category for the Best Grey Nomad Friendly Town,” she added.

“This was the first time we had nominated for these awards so to be named finalists in both categories was very pleasing.”

The Grey Nomad Awards shines a light on the best places for older travellers to stay and play around the country.

The Awards are judged by tourism leaders from across the country who offer valuable insights and detailed feedback to each entrant, ensuring nominees have practical tips to improve their tourism offering for the future benefit of their business, their community and visitors.

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Caption: Queens Beach Tourist Village once again received the top gong in the Best Large Caravan Park Category. Photo supplied

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Tourism representatives from across the region are heading to Darwin this weekend for the much-anticipated 2023 Australian Tourism Awards which is due to be held this evening.

Still on a high from winning the trifecta at the 2022 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards which were held in Sydney last year, there is a general atmosphere of excitement surrounding the event once again.

Rick Hamilton, CEO of Tourism Whitsundays, says he is thrilled to attend the event again this year.

“This event is the pinnacle of awards in our industry and The Whitsundays is well represented this year,” he shared.

“The businesses who are in the running tonight entered and won gold at the 38th Annual Queensland Tourism Awards in November 2023, along with the gold winners from the other states.

“Securing gold in 26 per cent of the state award categories, The Whitsundays claimed seven gold, two silver, five bronze, and one highly commended award, marking another significant achievement for the region.

“We’re all wishing the best of luck to Ocean Rafting, BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort, Pinnacles, Airlie Beach, Magnums Accommodation Airlie Beach and Whitsunday Coast Airport.”

Caption: Whitsunday representatives attending the 2022 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards in Sydney last year. Photo supplied

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With a reputation for amazing food that is simple yet cooked to perfection and packed with flavour, it is easy to how Anchor Bar is booked out almost every night.

From the beginning Josh and Leah knew their point of difference would be consistently good food that kept people coming back whether it be a few times a week or a few times a year.

“You know the chicken wings are going to be the same whether you come back every few months or once a year,” explained Leah.

“People love that, and we believe it’s a big draw card which keep the coming back.”

Another drawcard is the flexibility and diversity of food styles – whether you are having a romantic dinner for two, a lively group of friends, or even want to hire the venue out privately for a 100 people – Anchor Bar will do their best to accommodate.

Their popular food platters make it easy for people to share and enjoy a selection of almost every dish on the menu.

And for larger parties, Anchor Bar offer a buffet-style setting where guests can serve themselves and enjoy a social, comfortable atmosphere.

The Chef’s Special Board is also a popular choice, offering additional menu options that have been lovingly created and are a little different.

The Specials Board is where the in-house chefs are able to use their knowledge of cuisine to bring inspiration from seasons and local produce to the plate.

And of course, at the foundation of the menu is the incredible local meats and seafoods that are sourced from nearby quality suppliers.

“We love working with local suppliers and with Fishi and Master Butchers, we know the quality, and it’s a privilege to use their produce in our dishes.”

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As soon as you walk into Anchor Bar you are instantly struck by the most majestic sea views that open out before you like a picture-perfect postcard right before your eyes.

Renowned for being the ‘retreat from the street’, Anchor Bar is tucked away, a few minutes’ walk up the hill from the main street of Airlie Beach, at the Terraces Resort.

Prior to becoming Anchor Bar, the venue was known as Terraces and very much a part of the resort complex.

It was a proud moment for Josh and Leah when Anchor Bar became famous in its own right, known as the ‘secret gem’ with the stunning views that you ‘simply must visit while you’re in town’.

The view is made even more spectacular by the scenic swimming-pool that sits at the centre.

Guests who are dining at Anchor Bar are welcome to sign-in and will receive a fob key that allows them full use of the swimming-pool.

This means that a lunch-time catch-up can easily lead into an afternoon session by the pool and locals only need to walk up the hill to feel like they are having a holiday in their own town.

All seating at Anchor Bar is styled around the view and every table has stunning vistas out to the Coral Sea.

In the winter months guests can watch whales as they breach in the baby, often with their calves in tow.

Frequently, cruise ships can also been seen from this serene aspect atop the hill.

With a casual beach atmosphere and the feeling you are on a permanent holiday, Anchor Bar transports you to a time where your cares are distant memories and your pleasure receptors are on fire.

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Famous for hosting epic milestone birthday parties, but also adept at providing a beautiful backdrop for any occasion, Anchor Bar is the perfect location for almost any event.

With large share platters that can either be served to the table or displayed in a buffet style format, your guests will be excited about both the party and the food when you host at Anchor Bar.

Josh and Leah both love the fact that Anchor Bar has been a part of many key moments in people’s lives – from weddings to christenings, to staff parties and everything in between.

They have watched babies grow-up and they have witnessed moments of love and friendship which make their jobs feel even more special.

Entertain Me

Known as one of the must-see live music venues in town, Anchor Bar delivers some of the best live music from its scenic stage at the heart of the venue.

Weekends come alive with song, whether it be acoustic guitarists playing blissful tunes or Airlie Beach Festival of Music performances that attract the bigger crowds for the party atmosphere when the event takes place in November each year.

A big supporter of live music and of local musicians, Josh and Leah invest in keeping local entertainment alive and kicking while delivering authentic and enriching experiences for their patrons.

A Cocktail In Paradise

Sea, sun and a swimming-pool create a holiday atmosphere, but nothing completes the picture more than a tropical cocktail to add a bit of flair and pizzazz to the experience.

Anchor Bar specialises in fruity, tropical cocktails and the stunning original timber bar is adept at pumping them out with the quick and efficient bar staff working to create the drink of your dreams.

While there is no specific Happy Hour, Josh and Leah aim to keep the prices low all day long.

“We always have a $5 beer and a $12 cocktail on the board,” said Leah.

BEST COCKTAIL: The Spicy Margarita

On The Menu

From freshly shucked oysters to chicken wings, poolside burgers to share platters, the Anchor Bar kitchen celebrates all food, cooked well and packed with flavour.

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Why not spend some quality time with your girlfriends and help raise money for breast cancer awareness and research?

Sure to be a Saturday afternoon well spent, this Breast Cancer Fundraiser, hosted by Espresso and Bloom, with catering by Whisper Gin Bar and Restaurant, has an all star cast.

Tickets are only $75 and include canapes, a welcome glass of bubbles, auction paddle and a lucky door prize.

Don’t miss the exclusive spread of auction items, donated from businesses in the region, especially for the event. Some of these include businesses such as Coral Sea Resort, Cruise Whitsundays, The Belvedere, GLO Aesthetics, Whitsunday Green and Principle Movements, plus so much more!

And with Whisper Gin Bar offering to keep the party going with their courtesy bus straight to KC’s Bar and Grill’s front step, you can hit the town, knowing you’ve helped the Breast Cancer Foundation.

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WHAT: Espresso and Bloom Breast Cancer Fundraiser
WHERE: Whisper Gin Bar
WHEN: Saturday, March 23, from 2pm to 6pm
TICKETS: www.espressoandbloom.com.au

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I am so excited! “It’s Autumn”.

Autumn in the Whitsundays means temperatures drop into the high twenties instead of low thirties, the humidity drops, rainfall decreases (so ready for that!) and Veggie Gardens get started. What isn’t there to love about Autumn in the Whitsundays?

March is still a transition month, so not quite time to get planting every imaginable tropical kitchen garden food, that’s the April celebration. March is all about preparation in my vegetable garden.

Vegetables are hungry feeders, so your soil preparation is essential for good, strong, healthy growth throughout your entire growing season. With the best months to start planting out your vegetable garden in the Whitsundays being April and May, soil preparation starts now.

Right now. Today!

Adding aged compost and manure to your garden beds now will improve your veggie growing success tenfold. Dig it into your soil and then cover it with mulch (my go to is cut sugar cane mulch) to keep weeds at bay, regulate soil temperature and keep in moisture (yes I know, it’s hard to believe but before long that will be an issue).

You’ll want to leave this to sit for a good two to three weeks before you start planting.

COMPOST OPTIONS

In a perfect world you would make your own compost. However, in a time poor world this is not something everyone prioritises. Whitpro has numerous bagged compost options you can improve your soil with, it’s a very important part of your vegie growing process, so get started today and reap the rewards in the coming months.

MANURE OPTIONS

Poultry manure is my go-to, but you don’t want to burn your new seedlings, so be careful if you have your own chooks and you are transferring it into your garden. Make sure it has been aged and use this sparingly. Alternatively, if you don’t have chooks then Whitpro has bagged manure ready to go straight into your garden beds. Worm castings are another bagged option and being new to Whitpro supplies, it will be something I’ll be playing with this season.

TOP TIP

Just starting on your veggie growing adventure, want to involve the children or wanting to expand your veggie growing space?

How about investing in landscape rings, they are easy to put in place and then simply fill with soil, they are raised, they look good, and you can simply remove them once the growing season is done if you have other future plans for the space. Whitpro has different sizes available, I’ve added five to my growing space this year. Watch this space.

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St Paul’s Anglican Church in Proserpine is holding their annual Cent Sale which is due to take place this Saturday.

This year the event will be held at a different venue, with the Proserpine Show Pavilion becoming the site of the Cent Sale.

Doors are set to open at 11.30am for a 12.30pm start.  

Admission of $5 includes Lucky Door prize and a Devonshire tea. 

Raffles and lots of wonderful prizes to be won.

All money raised goes to the maintenance of this heritage listed Church.

WHAT: Cent Sale

WHERE: Proserpine Show Pavilion

WHEN: Saturday 16 March from 11.30am

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By Amanda Wright

Amidst the flurry of campaign posters and eager constituents, three distinct figures emerge, each carrying a story as colourful as a Shoal Point sunset, each vying to be our region’s next Mayor.

First in the lineup is Greg Williamson, a name familiar to many, not just for his tenure as Mayor but for his roots deeply embedded in Mackay's community. Yet, few know of his formative years spent amidst the disciplined ranks of the Air Force cadets. It was there, under the wing of military mentors, that Williamson learned the values of leadership, discipline, and service—lessons that would shape his approach to public office and civic duty.

Opposing Williamson is Laurence Bonaventura, a man whose Italian heritage infuses every aspect of his being, from his fiery passion for community to his unwavering commitment to family. But beyond the allure of his ancestry lies a lesser-known tale—a tale of adrenaline-fueled escapades tearing through rugged rally tracks. Bonaventura's time behind the wheel wasn't just about speed and skill; it was a testament to his resilience, his daring spirit, and his unyielding pursuit of excellence—a spirit he now brings to the forefront of his political campaign.

And of course there's Steve Jackson, a towering figure whose presence on the rugby league field once struck fear into the hearts of opponents. But beyond the roar of the crowds and the thunder of tackles lies a man of depth and determination. Jackson's journey from the rugby pitch to the political arena speaks volumes about his character—a character forged in the crucible of competition, teamwork, extensive small business ownership and unwavering commitment to his community.

As these three candidates stand poised on the brink of history, Mackay braces itself for a showdown unlike any other. With each contender bringing a unique blend of experience, heritage, and passion to the table, the stage is set for a mayoral race that promises to captivate hearts, minds, and ballot boxes alike.

Mackay Mayoral Showdown

Steve Jackson

Northern Beaches road issues – what can council do to ease the congestion?

It's a tough situation because it's a state road and the state needs to fix the problem. I spent four years in Canberra and as we know Canberra is roundabout city. That roundabout in Richmond where the golf course is, it's a tough intersection. You need the same amount of cars coming out of the Northern Beaches as there are going back in for the traffic to flow, otherwise the cars that slide around Golf Links Road stop that flow of traffic coming from Bunnings. Maybe the quick fix in that situation is a set of lights, on timers, that have the through traffic going through more frequently than the cross traffic does. We can talk overpasses and bridges, maybe a bridge from Blacks Beach to Slade Point, but the quick solution would be traffic lights at that intersection.

Pioneer / Burdekin Pumped Hydro - tell us how you feel about this project.

We haven’t hidden the fact that our team oppose the hydro dam. We know we need renewable energy, maybe in another place. I would hate to see a 65m wall bust, there would be no Mackay left. I love that pristine valley. As a young man I used to go to the Chalet to watch the World Hangliding Championships. A Skyrail like they have in Cairns, to drop of the mountain bikers and then take people to the Chalet for lunch, I’d much prefer that to build tourism than the hydro project. We need tourism for growth. We need to ignite pride and empower growth.

Activating the Pioneer River - what does this mean for the CBD?

We’ve turned our back on the Pioneer River forever, yet it’s the gem to the crown. It’s one of only two blue water rivers in Queensland. Wouldn’t it be incredible to see something similar to Brisbane’s Eat Street there. Perhaps close River Street to traffic and have boutique restaurants and shops lining the river. I think we’ve missed the boat. We used to have raft races down the Pioneer. I’d love to see more activity like jet skis. Look at the Strand and Yeppoon, let’s use those areas as examples. In 20 years time, why not a water park on the Pioneer River?

Can rates lower without a significant cut to services?

We’ve been told that we’re irresponsible and it’s impossible to lower rates. I understand the cost of everything going up every year, I’ve been in business for 26 years. We need to run council like a business. We need to tighten belts. I teach 14-year-old kids in my chicken shop, that if they save me 1 cent, they save me $1,000. It’s not about the money. It’s about the thought process to save that money. So what kind of wastage is there in the day-to-day workings of council? I would get a very good accountant to do an independent internal audit to understand the day-to-day spending. We don’t want to cut services, we need services. I think we need to look at alternative income streams for council other than rates.

What do you hope to achieve in the next term of council if you're elected as Mayor?

Firstly we need to work out what the ongoing debt is. My strength is being a leader of a team. I’ve coached rugby league, and while some will argue sport has nothing to do with business, it does. The foundations of success are the same principle. If something’s not working you need to look at the top. It’s no secret there’s a fractured council there at the moment, we need to fix that and work together at the top. When we collectively vote on something, we all need to work together.

Why should we vote for you?

While my foundation is rugby league, I add strings to my bow every day. Whatever I’ve loved I’ve been good at. Give me enough time, I’ll be good at the job of Mayor. I’ll keep building relationships and knocking on doors. I won’t stop. I’m in a great position in life, I have a beautiful family who support me. I’m part of a team, Jacko’s Team Mackay First that backs me all the way. I want to pull the weight of Mackay forward. I love Mackay with a passion and I don’t want to leave a legacy of failure. I want people to say, that bloke that was Mayor, he did a good job.

Greg Williamson

Northern Beaches road issues – what can council do to ease the congestion?

TMR have said from their traffic surveys that the numbers don’t meet the requirements for duplication of the Mackay Bucasia Road, which is no joy for those living in the Northern Beaches. My view has been to signalise that intersection where the roundabout is at Habana Road and Golf Links Road. It’s about taking realistic steps that aren’t hugely expensive to deliver an outcome for the people using that road on a daily basis. We’re also investing in the Northern Beaches and Stage one of the Northern Beaches Community Hub has started. That will be the community centre and play areas. Stage two will see a library and then stage three will be an aquatic centre and possibly a day hospital, so we’re looking at ways of taking traffic off the road by having more facilities in the Northern Beaches itself.

Pioneer / Burdekin Pumped Hydro - tell us how you feel about this project.

In terms of the future for Queensland energy, we have to admit that hydro schemes and all the other schemes of green energy production need to be looked at. There's no doubt that this is the right project, it's just in the wrong location. We do not want this at the top end of our Pioneer Valley. You have to ask yourself the question, the report that was meant to go before Parliament in July, why was it put off until after the election? Either they’re not ready or there’s some stuff in that report that they don’t want people to hear before the election. Then there’s the cost, an estimated 12 billion, but it’s more likely going to be 30 billion. People are saying that’s too much money.

Activating the Pioneer River - what does this mean for the CBD?

There are only two blue water rivers on the eastern seaboard of Australia, I believe, and we've got one of them. And it's a beautiful river. Now, it’s the first time in a long time where people can see the river from River Street and not just old warehouses. We’ve put a nod to the heritage by using some of the old warehouse timber in what we’ve built along the riverfront for families to enjoy. The pontoon has been talked about for 20 years and that’s just been installed. Our long-term plan is to have community interaction right along the river from Paxton’s to the boat ramp. If you think of the Strand in Townsville, that’s the long-term vision right down to Billington Esplanade, but that will take time.

What is a common question voters have been asking during pre-poll?

One thing voters have been confused about is that with the mayoral vote it’s optional preferential, so you don’t need to put 1,2 and 3. You can just put 1 for the person you want as Mayor if you like. There’s also been some talk about divisions, and that’s a state government decision. So our council would need to take a vote on whether we think divisions would benefit our community and then pass that to the state government for approval. But it’s still not clear to me that rural people would benefit from divisions. The bulk of the people who live in the 42 communities in the Mackay region live in the urban areas. Divisions might be easier at election time but I don’t think the region benefits.

What do you hope to achieve in the next term of council if you're elected as Mayor?

We’ve got a lot on the go and that’s why I’m seeking another term. We’ve just opened stage one of the mountain bike trails which have been highly endorsed by those who have ridden them so far. Once you add that adventure trail from Eungella to Finch Hatton, it will be a world-beating area. We’ve got the waterfront which we’ve discussed, once we get on with that we can move down towards Billington Esplanade. There’s the momentum with the Northern Beaches Community Hub, it’s about attracting money to progress with those stages, plus the Mirani Heritage Precinct which will be a great addition to the valley. And the Sarina CBD beautification. There’s a lot going on.

Why should we vote for you?

I think I've proven over the last eight years as Mayor that my heart's in Makay. The record will show that our economic responsibility has been right there. For eight years, the average rate increase has been 1.6%. So, despite what some say, our rates are not the dearest in Queensland. When I came to Council in 2016, we were the dearest rating Council in Queensland. We're about middle of the pack right now. We started off with $173 million in debt. By the end of this June, we'll have $40 million in debt. So, we've carved a huge $130 million of our debt balance. I want to keep doing the job that I'm doing because I know that we've got things to deliver.

Laurence Bonaventura

Northern Beaches road issues – what can council do to ease the congestion?

The first point is to continue to lobby state government for improvements. Duplication is probably a long way off. There could be improvements around some of those access points onto Mackay Bucasia Road and some of the roundabouts. Option two, there are two parallel routes, one down Dawson Boulevard, which could be connected, and the other one is at Norwood Parade through Kerrisdale.  The issue with both of them is one comes out at Golf Links Road, one comes out at Mackay Habana Road. Therefore, you could push the congestion back onto Makay Bucasia Road and actually make no improvement to our traffic times at all. I really think we need to look at in our new planning scheme, ensuring that we have ample commercial land allocated in the Northern Beaches, because we need people to be able to live and work and play in the area without driving into town.

Pioneer / Burdekin Pumped Hydro - tell us how you feel about this project.

I think council needs to be in there now working with those residents that are going to be directly affected should the area around Netherdale inundate and the two dams at the top of Eungella happen, because they're the ones directly impacted and I do fear for their mental health. To lose 40 or 50 families out of that area will not only impact Netherdale but the surrounding area as well. What we need to do is look at talking with the people from Queensland Hydro and see if there's an alternative for those people who want to stay in the valley to achieve that. I think we need to be doing that now, because if Queensland Hydro decides to go ahead, we could be too late to put all that other planning into place and be ready to assist them in that transition.

Activating the Pioneer River - what does this mean for the CBD?

There are some very big plans to activate the Pioneer River and go right out to Town Beach. It's something we've got to do in stages and I believe what we have done thus far is ample to create a real interest in the region. What’s been done at the River Wharfs is great but it hasn’t really achieved that self-activation of families taking their fish and chips creating crowds of people on the riverfront. So we need to stop and take a look at what needs to be done. I think we take a look at the area between the bridge and St Patrick’s church. I know the Mackay and District Italian Association is keen on developing that area, something small that could activate quite easily, like a wood-fired pizza oven for pizza nights with music. In terms of bringing life into the CBD, let’s talk to developers and build the existing building up, to include a few levels of accommodation up the top, commercial offices on the second floor and boutique stores on the ground. That will bring a community back into town where they will want to live, grab a coffee, go to the bakery, grab their produce, all in the CBD. And then walk to the river for pizza night.

Can rates lower without a significant cut to services?

I know people talk about reducing rates and there are council candidates out there preaching that they're going to lower rates. That's a fallacy. It's just not possible to do that. Having spent time on council and understanding the system, it is not possible when you've got cost of living going up at a very rapid rate. The costs that we'd have to cut out on what's getting done as a council every day would be horrendous. There'd have to be so many services that would have to close, there'd be so many employees that we'd have to put off because we just couldn't afford to do anywhere near what we're doing at the moment. Operational costs are one of those high expense items that we have as a council and it is just not possible to cut them.

Why should we vote for you?

To wait four years is too late. We need to do it now. We need to really start looking at change because to wait another four years and to run on a constant, the current system we're running I think is very dangerous. To jump into something unknown with another team is also very dangerous because they have no background in how the Council runs. I bring the background, I bring the understanding and I certainly bring the honesty and the willingness to work with anyone that's elected to Council. I certainly would like to encourage people to give me their vote and let me have a go. 

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Caption: Mackay Life Editor Amanda Wright sat down with Laurence Bonaventura, Greg Williamson and Steve Jackson to ask the mayoral candidates a final set of questions before hte local elections on March 16. Photo credit: Hannah McNamara

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Imagine our community as a stage, set for a performance unlike any other. As the curtains draw back on the upcoming local elections, the spotlight falls on three individuals poised to take centre stage in shaping our collective future.

On page 30, David Fisher, our friend from Gardian, shares his candid perspective on the candidates. He humorously admits his dilemma of remaining neutral due to his friendships with all three contenders. It's a sentiment many of us can relate to! I, too, find myself in awe of the dedication displayed by these individuals as they step into the arena of public service, which is often quite a thankless position. For an in-depth look at the mayoral candidates, flip to pages 4-5.

Also, back to page 30, you'll find Rob Kidd's touching tribute to Jai Patrick Degue, a young soul taken too soon by a sudden cardiac event. He was honoured to have been asked to officiate Jai’s service and leaves us with the reminder to live life today, not tomorrow.

That sentiment is echoed by the tragedy covered on page 7, where a local husband and father-of-four lost his life during a boating accident on Kinchant Dam.

The reminder to live life to its fullest has struck a personal chord this week, with the passing of one of my husband’s best friends last weekend. As you read this, I will be in New Zealand attending his funeral. He worked hard all of his life, built a successful car audio business in Christchurch but had many adventures he had still planned to take this year with his family. Despite back-to-back chemotherapy to hit his cancer hard, he lost his battle faster than anyone had anticipated.

Cherish life, it’s the most precious commodity we have.

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Amanda

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As the demand for commercial real estate investment continues to surge, the team at Gardian Real Estate, hosted a commercial insight night where guests were given the opportunity to learn the ins and outs of growing interest and investment demands in commercial real estate.

Monday night’s event at Ocean International presented an invaluable platform to explore current market trends and potential benefits of investment as professional keynote speakers embedded in the industry informed and educated both individuals and businesses involved in the commercial domain.

Starting out as a real estate agency, Gardian has branched their company to an all-in-one hub, consisting of Gardian Finance and Mortgage Choice, Insurance, Financial Planning, Residential Sales, Property Management and Commercial Sales, giving clients a range of services to suit all their needs.

Legal professionals, solicitors and accountants who play pivotal roles in the commercial real estate landscape also attended on the night, sharing a wide array of knowledge on legal considerations as well as potential obstacles in commercial real estate transactions.

Specially up from Brisbane for the event, Former Queensland Premier Campbell Newman, was a special guest speaker on the night. As one of Queensland's most successful property experts, he shared his insights on the advantages of investing in the Mackay region, offering general product advice and commentary for those looking at individual or wholesale investing.

Mr Newman is a commercial property investor who has identified opportunities in Mackay and has significant investments within the Gardian commercial sector. He now owns his own company, Arcana Capital and is a proud commercial property investor to five commercial properties wide-spread over the Mackay region.

Mr Newman said, “It’s great to be here this evening, I do love Mackay.

“Out of anywhere in Australia, we’ve got more property here than anywhere else. We’ve got three industrial properties in Paget, a medical centre on Nebo Road and we also just recently bought a large retail asset in Mount Pleasant.”

Throughout the evening he discussed current marketing trends, the economy and how certain factors impact commercial real estate as well as the process of purchasing a commercial property based on his experience and expertise in the industry.

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Caption: Mark Kelly, Commercial Sales and Leasing Agent

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Caption: (Left to right) Ben Kerrisk, Chris Bonanno and Campbell Newman

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Caption: David Fisher and Luke Podosky

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