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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On a typical night out, Jayme Wilson was enjoying dinner with her friend and children just as a police car pulled up nearby on the side of the restaurant.

As Jayme’s son Jack eyed off the police car, much to their surprise the kind officer noticed the young boys’ interest and called out, inviting him to meet a very special companion…his police dog.

In excitement and awe, Jack leaped at the opportunity to meet the dog on duty alongside friendly police officer, Paul.

During this encounter, Jack got the chance to discover the significant responsibilities that a police dog carries out in the police force as Paul took the time to educate young Jack and allow him to engage with the paw-patrolling pup!

Reflecting on the experience, Jayme expressed her gratitude towards the police officer Paul for his positive encouragement and willingness to teach her son about the police dog, embedding a positive impact on Jack.

“The officer was so gentle and encouraging to my son during the whole experience.

“This was such a positive experience for my son.

“Paul went the extra mile tonight for Jack and it really made his night,” she said.

“Thank you to Paul, the policeman.”

Caption: Kind police officer Paul, introduces young Jack to his police dog and teaches him all about the special duties of a paw-patrolling pup

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In a tragic incident that unfolded on Saturday, March 9, Ryan Craig, a 40-year-old resident of North Eton, lost his life in a boating accident at Kinchant Dam near Mackay. Mr Craig's heroic act of attempting to save his nine-year-old daughter from drowning during the incident has garnered widespread tributes from the community.

The sequence of events began when Mr Craig and his daughter went overboard from their boat sometime after 11 am, prompting an immediate search and rescue operation. Despite extensive efforts from volunteers, search and rescue personnel, and assistance from a passing jet skier who aided in the rescue of Mr Craig's daughter, Mr Craig's body was recovered from the dam after more than 48 hours of search efforts.

The circumstances leading to the accident, including the cause of the boat's breakdown, remain under investigation. Adverse weather conditions have been cited as a contributing factor, possibly resulting in the sinking of the vessel. Police said the boat was recovered from the dam just after 12pm on Sunday, March 10th.

Mr Craig's family was present at the time of the incident and was safely escorted to the dam's shore. His daughter, who was rescued from the water, was taken to Mackay Base Hospital as a precautionary measure.

In response to the tragedy, the recreational use of Kinchant Dam was temporarily suspended over the weekend to facilitate the search and rescue efforts. Multiple agencies, including the police, fire, ambulance, RACQ CQ Rescue helicopter service, SES, and VMR Mackay, collaborated in the operation.

The loss of Mr Craig has deeply affected the community, with an outpouring of grief and support expressed across social media platforms. Friends and acquaintances fondly remember Mr. Craig, affectionately known as RYNO6, for his positive impact and selfless actions.

As authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, the community mourns the loss of Ryan Craig and extends heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones.

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Caption: RACQ CQ Rescue was part of the emergency response in searching for Ryan Craig at Kinchant Dam. Photo supplied: RACQ CQ Rescue

Ryan and Sheena Craig

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Last week, the first Honours and Awards Ceremony for the Mackay Whitsunday Police District were held at the Ocean International Resort in South Mackay.

Acting Assistant Commissioner Graeme Paine and Acting Superintendent Emma Novosel were both on hand to present all awards.

Individual officers from across the district were selected to receive acknowledgements including National Police Service Medal, National Medal and Clasps, QLD Police Service Medal and Clasps, National Emergency Medal - linked to TC Debbie 2017, District Officers Certificate and Assistant Commissioner's Certificate.

In addition, residents and members from Neighbourhood Watch groups received Neighbourhood Watch Certificates reflecting their years of service.

The police service extended its thanks to the families of officers who live through the ups and downs and continue to show their support every day.

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Our beautiful blue water river is now more accessible than ever with the opening of the Pioneer River Floating Pontoon.

The pontoon can be accessed via a gangway from the Brisbane Street fishing pier, next to the Bluewater Quay.

Mackay Regional Council’s Director Planning, Growth and Sustainability, Aletta Nugent, said the pontoon was an exciting part of council’s Mackay Waterfront Riverside Revitalisation project.

“It’s fantastic to have this project reach fruition, thanks to an amazing joint effort by our council project team and contractor SMC Marine,” Ms Nugent said.

“The pontoon will open the river up to recreational and commercial watercraft users, allowing access to load and unload for a day of recreation,” she said.

The pontoon is designed for boating and non-motorised watercraft access, with commercial use by permit only.

Ms Nugent said while anglers could use the pontoon, watercraft would have priority use at all times.

“The Brisbane Street fishing pier, next to the pontoon, is obviously designed for keen fisher people, with artificial reefs sunk immediately in front of it,” Ms Nugent said.

“If anyone does choose to fish off the pontoon, it’s important that they wind in and clear the way for any approaching boats immediately,” she said.

“Our Mackay City and Waterfront team are working with the community and local businesses to roll out placemaking and activation activities across the city centre and waterfront.”

This project is jointly funded by the Australian Government and Mackay Regional Council.

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By Kevin Borg, Chairman, CANEGROWERS Mackay

CANEGROWERS Mackay has been attacked on social media in recent weeks by a council candidate, who asserted that CANEGROWERS Mackay had collaborated with a Mayoral candidate to agitate on the rates issue.  

CANEGROWERS Mackay had extended an open invitation via social media to any Mayoral and council candidates to meet with the Board. The Board and District Manager have met with all who have requested such a meeting.

CANEGROWERS Mackay has not assisted, funded or endorsed any candidate in the upcoming local election.  

Rates and other rural issues have been a discussion point with all visiting candidates.

As a grassroots organisation, CANEGROWERS Mackay continues to advocate for ALL members in need. We will work with the new council on issues affecting our members, whether that is an issue of individual or collective concern. 

CANEGROWERS is unapologetic that it has spoken up for members who have had increases of up to 300 per cent in valuations, and who have had consequent substantial rate rises - into the thousands.

CANEGROWERS Mackay leadership went to council, meeting with the CEO, Mayor and Deputy Mayor as new valuations came in, in the first half of 2023.  

Council decreased the rate from 0.0278 to 0.0225, although it did not communicate this result to CANEGROWERS. That rate is still comparable to the rate paid by Paget mining service and engineering firms - many of which are major multi-national corporations. 

The CANEGROWERS Mackay leadership went to the media in September, following the release of rates notices, when it became clear that some growers – family businesses - were facing massive rates increases. 

The organisation’s decision to speak out came in response to member requests for advocacy, and predates any council electioneering. 

While it is positive that 60 per cent of growers have had a small decrease in rates, with the decrease in cents-in-the-dollar rate for the Cane farming land category, it remains a fact that growers on properties closer to the city and along the river – in areas like Richmond, Pleystowe, Habana, and valley areas that is being sought by lifestyle block landowners have suffered substantial Land Valuation increases. These areas are also typically quality agricultural land. While Council is not responsible for State Land Valuations, it does have the liberty to structure its rating system as it wishes, and can mitigate the impact of land valuations. 

Council rates and charges are a significant expense for our members and CANEGROWERS will continue to advocate on behalf of our members to keep all costs, including council charges, at reasonable levels. 

At the State level, CANEGROWERS has worked with the Qld Farmers Federation to raise the impacts of rates on farmers. Together we have advocated for the existing State guidelines for equity and fairness in rating practices to become mandatory and we have invested in 5 years of analysis to benchmark the rating practices of relevant councils across the State.  CANEGROWERS also meets regularly with the State Valuer General in an effort to ensure the valuation process is informed by the best possible data and knowledge.   

CANEGROWERS Mackay considers it vital that land under cane is retained and that productivity continues to flourish. This is vital for the viability of the industry into the future. It is a considered responsibility to speak up when there are issues - such as high rates costs – which challenge that.  It matters for our members, it matters for the sugar industry supply chain, and it matters for the regional economy. Sugar is a keystone sector, and its base is the 1200+ cane-growing businesses. 

Locally, over 5000 jobs rely on the sugar industry, and it is worth over $900M in the regional economy. Mackay Regional Council draws some $14.4 M in rates from the cane growing sector. 

It is indeed unfortunate that the banding system for rural properties that councillors sought to introduce in 2018 did not succeed, and succumbed to internal council conflict and disunity. CANEGROWERS Mackay is on the public record supporting the plan to band rural rates (Daily Mercury, 28/6/18) but ultimately it was a matter for the council of the day to determine.

It has also been distasteful to see the name of deceased CANEGROWERS Mackay CEO Kerry Latter derogated in the context of a chapter that is now history, for the sake of a cheap political rant.  There were no deals made by this organisation, there were no “missed” meetings, as suggested by the councillor in question.

We look forward to working with the incoming Mackay Regional Council, and we will maintain the fight for our members interests. 

We encourage members – and the regional community - to vote this local election according to their own conscience, priorities and concerns and how each candidate meets those criteria. 

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Photo credit: Kirili Lamb

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As the vibrant hues of summer slowly fade into the golden shades of autumn, gardeners across Australia have a prime opportunity to embrace the changing seasons and engage in the art of autumn planting. Contrary to popular belief, autumn is not just a time for garden maintenance but also a perfect window for sowing seeds and transplanting seedlings. With its mild temperatures and ample rainfall in many regions, autumn sets an ideal stage for nurturing a variety of flowers and produce, ensuring a colourful and bountiful garden in the months to come.

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