One of our favourite local real estate agents is celebrating this week with the news that they have once again claimed a sweep of prizes at the Rate My Agents Award.

Taylors Property Specialists took home five top gongs for the regions of Airlie Beach, Cannonvale, Cannon Valley, Strathdickie and Jubilee Pocket.

One of their star Property Specialists, Mel Butcher, was also the recipient of the prestigious Real Estate Agent of the Year Award for Cannonvale.

This is the fifth time in her seven-year career that she has received this award and Mel says she is thrilled to bring it home once again this year.

The fact that the awards are all people’s choice and derived from personal testimonials, makes them even more special to her.

“I love these awards because they’re all the result of people taking the time to write a review,” she said.

“If people make the effort to do that, it shows they really appreciated the effort we made and the overall experience with Taylors.”

Personally reading each of the 143 reviews, Mel said that a common theme with her service was that clients loved her energy, compassion, enthusiasm and the fact that she always went the extra mile.

Beginning in the industry seven years ago, Mel initially went for a property management role but was instantly diverted to a sales position due to her lively personality.

She has since been working directly alongside Taylors Property Specialist Principal Agent, Rob Taylor, who has personally mentored her.

“I’ve been fortunate to always work alongside Rob,” said Mel.

“He’s a good mentor and a good leader, I’ve been very lucky.”

“I would like to thank everyone I work with, all our supporters and the many people we reach that put their trust in us to deliver.”

Taylors Property Specialists opened its doors almost six years ago, with a team of 5 individuals.

It has now expanded to a team of 18 and a large office space that includes a dedicated auction room.

Over the last 12 months, Taylors has sold 195 properties in our region.

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The dynamic team at Taylors Property Specialists. Photo supplied

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Returning for its 12 year, the award-winning Airlie Beach Festival of Music has released its first line-up, announcing a host of iconic names that will grace the main-stage at the big top tent located at the Whitsunday Sailing Club.

Renowned as one of the most picturesque and inspiring festival locations, festivalgoers enjoy a four day event to the back-drop of the stunning Coral Sea.

There are also dozens of break-off live music gigs held at venues right across the town and featuring a range of talented artists – the whole of Airlie Beach comes alive with music!

For over a decade the Airlie Beach Music Festival has been raising the bar for local events in the region, and 2024 will once again be reaching for the stars with the first release of names already tantalising ticket buyers.

Household names such as Sweet, Jebediah, Thirsty Merc, Christine Anu, Pseudo Echo, Ash Grunwald, Bondi Cigars, 19-Twenty, and Avalanche have been announced, with many more expected to follow.  

All the way from the UK and making their debut in North Queensland, Glam Rock legends Sweet will bring their iconic hits like "Fox On The Run" and "Ballroom Blitz" to the tropical paradise, promising an unforgettable performance.

The band are beyond eager to come, saying "We can’t wait to play The Airlie Beach Music Festival, it's going to be the highlight of our Australian Tour!" 
 
Australian favourites Thirsty Merc, unquestionably one of Australia’s finest live acts, having released four critically acclaimed albums and having over 250,000 album sales under their belt and Christine Anu, one of Australia’s most popular recording artists and performers, are also set to captivate audiences with their timeless hits.

Reflecting on her return to the region, Christine Anu expressed her excitement, stating, "The Whitsundays region is such a beautiful part of the country, and I cannot wait to come and play for you all at the Airlie Beach Festival of Music this year!"

Also joining the lineup is Australian New-Wave icons Pseudo Echo, who helped pioneer the 80's down under and still continue to be one of Australia's leading recording and touring acts.  
 
Tourism Whitsundays CEO, Rick Hamilton expressed his enthusiasm for the festival and the draw card it creates for The Whitsundays. 
 
“The Airlie Beach Festival of Music is a fixture in many people’s calendars, a music festival that takes in an entire town and overlooks the magnificent Whitsunday Islands is an easy yes when deciding what festivals to attend,” he said. 
 
“We’re looking forward to a big festival this year in celebration of 12 years. It’s a credit to the organising committee that this event has endured all these years.”  
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Tickets for the Airlie Beach Festival of Music are on sale now, starting at only $310 including entry to the Thursday pre-party and Monday post-party in Airlie Beach.

Given the festival's popularity, accommodation is expected to sell out quickly, so attendees are encouraged to book early to avoid disappointment.

For more information or for tickets to the 2024 festival from November 8-10, visit www.airliebeachfestivalofmusic.com.au, and follow @airliebeachfestivalofmusic on Facebook and Instagram. 

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WHAT: Airlie Beach Festival of Music
WHERE: Whitsunday Sailing Club
WHEN: November 8-10
TICKETS: airliebeachfestivalofmusic.com.au

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Airlie Beach Festival of Music main stage is located in the big top tent to the backdrop of the Coral Sea. Photo credit: Bailey Simmons

Expect large crowds and an unforgettable party atmosphere: Photo credit: Cherrie Hughes

Ash Grunwald is among the names announced on the line-ups first release. Photo supplied

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The Rotary Club of Bowen are creating and opening up little libraries as part of their goals for the year.

Current President Helen Woodhouse, who has been President for six years, said one of her goals was to have little libraries all over Bowen.

Little Libraries are small, bird house-looking, honour-based enclosures.

The concept is people take a book and leave a book, some even have donation boxes.

Helen wanted to create them as she believes it is important for children to read books.  

There are currently 4500 registered little libraries in Australia and Helen has decided to make five more in Bowen.

Helen is working alongside fellow Rotarian, Marty Tanzer, who is the creator of the little libraries.

He has already built three and will build two more for a total of five.

This project was a goal that was attainable for the Rotary to complete.

‘It’s something we could do with the small membership numbers,’ said Helen.

Other goals included, increasing their membership by one or two, to be more active and raise the profile of the Rotary and to encourage members to travel to the district conference.

Helen is grateful and eager to share what they have achieved with the community and the Rotary Club of Bowen are awaiting signage to arrive before opening the libraries.

If you would like to join this small and friendly team, please reach out to them on Facebook to find out how you can get involved.

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Little libraries are gaining popularity in Australia
Stock image

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Chaz
Height: 6’4
Age: 15
Position: Centre, Power Forward

Liam
Height: 6’2
Age: 16
Position: Small Forward, Shooting Guard

Two local boys are celebrating a once in a generation sporting achievement, with both junior athletes recently selected to play in their respective Northern Region School Sport (NRSS) Basketball teams.

16-year-old Liam Steen is now playing in the Under 19’s team and his sporting buddy, 15-year-old Chaz Calder is in the Under 16 squad.

Both boys were awarded their place within a week of each other and have since found out how long it has been since a Whitsunday local achieved a similar level when vying against highly-competitive Townsville players.

Beating almost 50 other competitors to secure their position, the two youngsters said they are thrilled to have been accepted and excited about what the future might hold.

The two boys developed a strong friendship on the court when they realised they were both equally talented and skilled at playing basketball.

Liam has been playing basketball for two and a half years, and Chaz, started at the beginning of 2022 when his parents purchased a hoop for their yard.

Since the basketball first touched their hands, they’ve both been playing as much as possible every day since, which is a key reason to their success.

Liam, who also recently played for the Under 23 Mackay Meteors at an intercity tournament in Rockhampton, said he tried out for the NRSS team last year but was unsuccessful and went back this year hoping to get in.

“I was disappointed when I just missed out on last year's trials so thought I had a good chance this year,” he said.
  
Chaz also played well and said he tried to be as confident as he could so that he was noticed by the scouts.

“It was mainly just skill and outplaying the other people that were there,” he said.

Although in different age groups, the boys play together most days, meeting at training sessions and connecting over basketball and then carpooling to trainings together.

Chaz plays in his first NRSS game in Cairns on Wednesday 8 May and Liam’s is on Wednesday 22 May in Townsville.

Once they’ve competed at this level there is a chance they could be picked for the Queensland School Sports Team, which is what both boys are hoping for.

After school both of them have an idea of their futures.

Liam wants to go into finance or sport and Chaz wants to help people and become a police officer.

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Liam Steen (left) and Chaz Calder (right) - Photo credit: Rachael Smith

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It’s been another busy week for businesses in the region, preparing for the lead up to Easter and the school holidays. Cyclone Megan was the fifth tropical cyclone to impact the country this season, and has left another indelible mark on Far North Queensland as the cyclone season draws to a close.
Recent weather events are a timely reminder about the importance of having up-to-date information to help make decisions about insurance and your business. The Department of Employment, Small Business and Training, and the Whitsundays Chamber of Commerce & Industry, invite you to a free event featuring insurance industry experts.
This event will provide business owners with practical information about insurance, including complaint resolution, to support business resilience planning and disaster recovery. Industry experts from Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA), Insurance Council Australia (ICA) and Office of Queensland Small Business Commissioner will be presenting at the event (QSBC). \
Gain valuable insights into insurance coverage delivered by industry leaders, tailored specifically for small businesses. The event will be held Tuesday 9 April 5.30-7.30pm at the Reef Gateway Hotel and bookings are essential. Head to the events page on the Chamber website for more information.
Whitsunday Chamber of Commerce and Industry would also like to take the time to congratulate all the candidates for the local government elections on their efforts. It is a long and arduous process We look forward to briefing our newly elected representatives on our Ten Point Advocacy Plan, which launched last year. Visit our website to review the plan and consider what your business priorities are right now.
Did you know that you can join the Chamber any time, and your membership is valid for 12-months from the day of joining? Becoming a Chamber member means you join a powerful collective representing the entire Whitsundays business community. Our members enjoy networking opportunities, business skills development, access to resources and expertise, and increased visibility in the business community. We have five membership categories starting from $99 per year to suit a range of needs. We look forward to engaging you in Chamber life and the Whitsundays business community.

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The latest Thriive event hosted by the business culture specialists at Shiift last Thursday night was a huge success and took attendees on a deep dive into the personality traits of introverts and extroverts.

This informative and lively workshop showed how our differences are our strengths by explaining the underlying biology of extroverts and introverts.

While extroverts thrive in a noisier, action-orientated environment, introverts prefer smaller groups, and a calmer, quiet atmosphere.

This explains why some people prefer not to attend parties or seek refuge in a quiet corner, while others are pumped and spinning around the room fueled by the energy.

We are all different, and by learning about the two personality types, attendees were able to get an insight into how the other operates.

They were also given tools and tricks on how to create the most positive relationships with those that are opposite to themselves, bringing out the best in every situation.

While extroverts enjoy speaking and discussing their thoughts and feelings (often a little too much!), introverts prefer inner reflection and the internal world of thoughts to resolve an issue.

Knowing this, it is easy to see how many workplaces can experience conflict or sometimes miss out on the wisdom of an introvert because the extroverts are talking too much.

Within both personality types there are positive traits.

Introverts listen, observe, focus, speak thoughtfully, take in the details and lead side by side.

Meanwhile, extroverts motivate with their energy, communicate, connect, lead out in front, speak up for others, engage and entertain.

At the close of the workshop, attendees were left with one main question to contemplate.

How can you change your communication style and environments now that you understand the difference?

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Caption: Kylie Forgione (extrovert) and Alita De Brincat (introvert) from Shiift. Photo credit: Rachael Smith

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Tourism Whitsundays is a dynamic and forward-thinking company that drives the marketing of our region, promoting local tourism and actively bringing holidaymakers from around Australia and the world, to the Whitsundays. 
 
While we know what they do outside of the region, there is still a lot of dedicated work happening right here in the Whitsundays. 
 
To showcase the local team and share how connected they are to local tourism, we are starting a new monthly segment called ‘Out and About’. 
 
In the feature, Jade Richardson from Tourism Whitsundays will invite you along with her as she takes trips around the region and shares her experiences with you. 
 
Her most recent visits included “The Coal Face Experience” in Collinsville, stopping at Pit Pony Tavern for some delicious chilli mango prawns, a tour with a local eco-nature guide from Driftwood Tours, exploring local history and lastly, visiting Frog Beach Café, having an inspiring chat with owner Naomi about her business success.  
 
Make sure to keep an eye on the Tourism Whitsundays Facebook page to stay updated on their next Out and About event. It's a fantastic opportunity to explore and discover all the Whitsundays can offer. 
  
If you're considering joining Tourism Whitsundays, you can look forward to a vibrant network of like-minded individuals, exclusive access to our events and experiences, and the opportunity to contribute to promoting the stunning Whitsundays.  
 
Don't hesitate to reach out to Jade at Jade.richardson@tourismwhitsundays.com.au to start your journey.  
  
 
Photo supplied 

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In the early 1920s, residents decided to build a community hall and recreation centre. Mr G A Jenkins deeded one acre of ground in a convenient corner position bounded by the main Strathdickie road to the west, School Road on the north and the mill tramline to the south. The corner of the road, known as Hall Corner, is now known as the Strathdickie Smithy Corner.

Two acres of scrub land was felled on Alec MacPherson’s property and planted with Badilla cane, all done voluntarily. When the cane was cut, the proceeds went towards the cost of building materials.

The original building had corrugated iron walls and three wide wooden doors each with a set of steps. The windows were slide up sashes. At the eastern end, there was a raised stage about three feet higher than the dance floor. Under the stage were a bench and a small servery door. The ladies made sandwiches, cut up cakes and placed them on trays which could then be passed into the hall at supper time. Tea and coffee were served in glass cups; the water was boiled outside in kerosene tins over an open fire. In the corner of the stage was a cupboard in which equipment such as lights, jugs and the musicians’ stools were stored. Carbide lights were used until 1938 when pressure lamps replaced them and at some time, there were also gaslights. Some preparations were made to wire up for electricity in the sixties but this never happened as the hall was no longer in use.

The dance floor was about 30 feet long and 24 feet wide with forms arranged around the perimeter of the hall. The “oldies” sat up the end near the stage; the younger ladies sat along one side and the younger gentlemen along the other. Some of the older men had a table outside where various card games were played. In 1937, the hall was extended by about fifteen feet by builder, Jack Muller.

Dances were held every two or three weeks to raise funds for the hall or the school. Music was supplied by the likes of Jim Wright and Frank Prussenski on accordion, Jim Deicke with his electric gramophone, Arthur and Robert Peterson on guitar and mandolin, Jack Lewis and the orchestras of the Porter Family, Deambrogio brothers, Smiler Webber and Charlie Lucas and Mrs Milne on the piano. Frank Prussenski rode his bike eight miles from Preston to play his button accordion for one pound. This later increased to two pounds (four dollars).

Patrons arrived by horseback, sulky and trucks. Sometimes Stoneham’s bus would come out from town as few people had cars. The hall was the venue for table tennis, church meetings, boxing matches and at least three weddings were celebrated there. There were two tennis courts at the eastern end of the paddock with a shelter shed for the use of patrons; all built by members of the club.

The only decoration in the hall was a large photograph of the Strathdickie Wanderers Rugby League Club.

During the war years, proceeds from dances went to the Patriotic Fund. Sometimes the money minus expenses was put into a wallet and presented to recruits who had been called up for service. Members of the VDC (Volunteer Defence Corps) gathered at the hall with an assortment of rifles.

When the popularity of country dances faded out in the 60s, the hall fell into disuse. The doors had been left open, windows broken and piano vandalised. In 1970, Cyclone Ada demolished what remained of this little piece of our history.

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Story shared with the Proserpine Historical Museum by the late Bill Dinnie and photo courtesy of PHMS

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Its Easter! And who doesn’t love a Bilby at Easter?
Well, me!

Did you know that a Bilby is a species of Bandicoot?

Here in the Whitsundays, we see a different species of Bandicoot but they are here and
in good numbers. I actually enjoy the little creatures and I have often watched them sneaking about in the night BUT I do not want them in my veggie patch (unless they are made of Chocolate – note to my family).

Bandicoots are lawn grub destroyers, which is fantastic.

Lawn grubs are the larvae of Scarab Beetles, and they munch away at the roots of our lawns and vegetable plants.

You’ll know if they are in your lawn as you’ll have dead patches in sections that spread.

Bandicoots will remove grubs from your lawn and garden beds, however, if you have freshly formed garden beds ready for seeding, they can make a mess of your tidy rows in a single night, which I have experienced many times.  

So, what do you do to protect your garden beds from these nighttime foragers?

Bandicoots are shy creatures and they do not like light, so an automated flood light will often frighten them away.  

This worked for me last season for about three months and then they sussed me out!

Getting braver and braver, until one night they decided my crops were worth the risk.  

So double down, they do not like the smell of chook manure so feed your beds and deter Bandicoots at the same time.

The most effective method of keeping them out, is of course putting up a barrier.

Which brings me back to my old favourite, vegie garden netting.

Not only keeping the Bandicoots out but also other pests such as Grasshoppers and Cabbage White Butterflies, it’s a win, win.

So, over the Easter break, how about you make your own vegie bed covers.

Irrigation Pipe, a few connectors and shade cloth, could see your garden protected this season. If all else fails, come see us at Whitpro and we can show you some ready-made options.

Happy Easter!  

Traditionally, within a couple of weeks of Easter, the heaviest rains cease in the Whitsundays. So, enjoy the last of the wet season, change is in the air. Vegie gardens are about to be seeded throughout the Whitsundays.

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Standing proudly among the pack in a traditionally male-dominated trade, Mel loves the working environment at Master Butchers Whitsunday and always gives her all, representing a strong female force, paving a way for other women in the industry.
This born and bred local is always ensuring customers receive the very best, perfecting her cuts, and curating her craft, in her apprenticeship with Master Butchers Whitsunday.
Having joined the team in 2020, for Melanie, it was no surprise she has found enjoyment in her role, finding pleasure in creating new and wonderful products for customers, loving spending her time cooking, and enjoying the fun relationship she has with the wider Master Butcher team.
“I enjoy cooking and creating new products and have a great team to work,” Mel explained.
Within her apprenticeship, Mel has flourished under the leadership of Alex and Danni and the skilled butchers with Master Butchers Whitsunday.
“I started my apprenticeship with Don and Karen, while wholesale was processed at the shop,” Mel explained.
“Then Alex and Danni stepped in and have been transforming the shop with a bigger range of products.”
Having primarily worked in the seafood industry in Bowen, Mel is eager to expand her skills and techniques.
In her free time, she loves being with her partner and their three children, who are all boys, which means the house is always a hive of activity. When she can, Mel will be out on the water, boating, swimming, or fishing, or she’ll be on the sports field, usually helping her son’s football team, the Under 15 Brahams and acting at the first aid officer.

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It was in Daniel’s blood to become a chef, following in the capable footsteps of his father, who had always loved cooking up a storm in the kitchen.
“My dad was a chef, and I have always loved working with food and making people happy,” Danny explained.
“Food makes people happy and being around happy people gives you such a rush.”
Relocating to Airlie Beach 10 years ago was a surprise decision for Danny and one that completely changed the trajectory of his and his family’s life.
Since his relocation to Airlie Beach, Danny began his career in the kitchen at the Whitsunday Sailing Club, working across the main kitchen and for special functions, including Airlie Beach Race Week, Airlie Beach Festival of Music, numerous weddings, and all sorts of celebrations.
He then moved to Fish D’Vine, cooking for the main restaurant as well as catering big events like White on Whitehaven, the Mayors Ball, and the Whitsunday Tourism Awards.
This experience lends itself to the culinary prowess of Master Butchers Whitsunday. Having joined the team six months ago, Danny is happily using his creative knowledge to launch a new kitchen offering which will see chef-prepared meals using the best quality meats ready for customers to purchase.
In the role, he loves cooking beautiful dishes and specialty meats for customers to buy for their families.
“I love smoking our meats and making pastries. Creating dishes for busy families which have good quality ingredients,” Danny explained.
Danny also enjoys leading a team while being off site at functions and events, and he is excited to witness the next period of growth for Master Butchers Whitsunday.
When he is out of the kitchen, Danny is spending time with his wife, Bec, and their three children, one of which is also a chef. Danny loves fishing, swimming, playing a round of golf and maintaining the family property.

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A lifetime of knowledge, years of hand-crafted expertise and perfectly precise industry skills are at the heart the technique and experience Anthony “Whytey” Whyte brings to his role every day at Master Butchers Whitsunday.
It all started when Whytey was welcomed into a butcher shop as a 15-year-old, in the role of wash-up boy. From here, he transitioned into an apprenticeship before honing his skills over the years and becoming the strong and capable butcher who now stands front and centre at the Master Butchers Whitsunday workshop.
With 37 years of experience and trade skills under his belt, Whytey’s acquisition into the Master Butchers team was a welcome move.
Originally from Melbourne, Whytey came to Airlie Beach for a one month holiday back in 2013, and he has never left.
Now with Master Butchers Whitsunday for over seven years, Whytey looks back over his time with pride, having been a witness to the business’ expansion, of the growth and development of the business’ retail shop and the development of the business name.
Outside the shop, Whytey enjoys skydiving, watching footy, playing golf, and drinking beer. He enjoys spending time with his family, his adult son and daughter, and his four grandchildren, with three girls and one boy.

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In the heart of Cannonvale, Master Butchers Whitsundays’ first storefront sits proudly as the flagship of a business that has expanded and diversified over the years, growing from just four staff to now over 40 dedicated team members across four locations. It boasts several beautifully stocked display cabinets offering a range of cuts and tantalising mealtime choices, a Himalayan salt dry-aging coolroom, freezers packed with tender treats and shelves sparkling with an array of rubs and salts dedicated to maximising your dinner experience.

It's hard to believe that 15 years ago, the store was on the verge of closing down, until Don Cameron and Karen Rix purchased the business and infused it with both passion and expertise. Their dedication and ability to deliver high quality produce and creative meal options has given Master Butchers Whitsunday an almost cult-like following among discerning foodies across the region. In fact, their quality meats are so sought after, they opened a second store, MBW On The Barbie at the Whitsunday Shopping Centre, then a third store, MBW at Marian and also a Wholesale Centre which supplies the majority of local restaurants.

Two years ago, Karen and Don welcomed Alex Wordsworth and his partner Danielle Carr into the business, officially handing over the reins to them as managers and part owners of Master Butchers Whitsunday. Karen and Don still retain a majority percentage in the store at this point but that will change each year. While remaining proud owners of the other three businesses the couple are excited to see a new generation lead the way as part of their overall succession plan. This plan ensures Whitsunday residents will always receive the same friendly service and quality meats from their local butcher.

Originally from Tasmania, Don became a butcher by pursuing an apprenticeship when he finished school at age 16. By the age of 23, he had purchased the store and become a business owner in his own right. Meanwhile, Karen worked in retail sales and the finance industry, before moving into the foodservice sector which gave her vital experience for her future ventures with Don.

The couple met in 2007 when they operated neighbouring businesses and soon after, following a holiday to the Whitsundays, they decide to relocate to Queensland.

Don first met Alex in Tasmania when he worked as an apprentice at one of Dons shops, and since then has become a father-figure and mentor to the young man. As a result, the pair have a similar work ethic, standard of service and eye for a good cut of meat. Several years after Don and Karen left Tasmania, Alex relocated north to join them at the shop. After a few years he decided to take a break from the industry and accepted a General Managers role at Banjos Bar and Bistro, which is where he met the love of his life, Danielle.

The couple now have a beautiful three-and-a-half-year-old son together. Danielle is originally from Camden, NSW, but moved to the Whitsundays as a teenager and attended Proserpine State High School. With the opportunity to take a gap year between studies, Danielle landed a job at Banjos Bar and Grill where she met Alex. Discussions of owning a business together had always been on the cards so when Don and Karen offered them the opportunity to purchase Master Butchers Whitsunday, they jumped at the idea.

Alex’s passion for butchering and his managerial experience have him at the helm of the business. Meanwhile Danielle has spent the last few years learning the inner workings of the business from the accounts, marketing and administration plus completing her certificate in Meat Processing. With their years of working in customer service together, they create a happy and positive vibe at the store, one where customers always feel welcome and appreciated.

“We wouldn’t be able to do any of this and grow the business the way we are, if it wasn’t for our incredible team of dedicated staff and our amazing customer base,” said Danielle.

“We all work together, and if we don’t have something at our store, we will ring Karen at MBW On The Barbie to see if they have it there.

“It’s about making sure the community gets what they want at one of our locations and that is something that we’ve all stood for and will continue to uphold.”

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2009

Rescued a small butchery from closure and began Master Butchers Whitsunday with a single shopfront and just a couple of staff.

2011-2014

Expanded to take over the shopfront along the side of the building and added a cool room to the open shopfront. In 2015, they expanded further to the corner of the building and added a freezer space.

2014

Master Butcher Whitsunday wins Best Sausage In Australia for their Casalinga variety. Don and Karen headed down to Australian Meat Industry Council Awards in 2015 and came back with the national prize. That same year the couple opened MBW On The Barbie at Whitsunday Shopping Centre in Cannonvale.

2015

Master Butcher Whitsunday comes home with three State wins, first place meant they were in the top 7 in Australia in their category.

2016

Opened the Himalayan Salt Dry-Aged Cool Room by taking over another corner of the building. This cool room added a different dynamic to the offering.

2018

Karen and Don win Retail Outstanding Achiever of the Year at the Australian Meat Industry Council Awards. In May 2018, the business expanded further, opening Master Butchers Marian in May of this year.

2020

Master Butchers Wholesale was opened this year and overcame the challenges of the COVID 19 pandemic to become the thriving business it is today, supplying many local restaurants with quality meat.

2021

Alex and Danni become part-owners of Master Butcher Whitsunday in July, the young couple taking over daily operations and working alongside Don and Karen to maximise business opportunities in the area.

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Don and Karen collecting their award for Best Continental Sausage in Australia in 2015

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Melbourne born singer songwriter, Phoebe Jacobs, intertwines modern soul coupled with melodic pop, giving audiences an experience like no other as she takes to the stage of KC’s Bar and Grill this Easter Monday!

Phoebe was first recognised for her vocal talent in the early stages of life after her family discovered her harmonic voice at a very young age whilst belting out Christmas carols. Coming from a very musical household, her mother and brother would often harmonise with her and impressively, she began writing her own songs at just seven years old and learnt the guitar by age thirteen, leading her passion to an array of open-door possibilities in the musical world.

After moving to the Whitsundays mid last year, Phoebe said she loves the lifestyle of the region’s tight-knit community, laid back living, great venues and cracking live tunes every night of the week!

Her independently released debut album ‘Eye Of The Storm’ is a soul/blues romp recorded with Damien Charles (the Red Eyes/Goyte) and she has collaborated with some of the world’s finest, including Moju, Hiatus Kaiyote, Tex Perkins, Ani DiFranco Triple J unearthed winner JK47, along with many other powerhouse artists.
on soul anthem 'Hope.'
Her live performances are captivating and unpredictable, involving elements of theatre and fire and she is an absolute delight to be around! She loves crowd interaction, having chats over the mic as well as getting people up and dancing as she performs her own take on classics, R&B hits and soul grooves. Don’t miss your chance to see Phoebe Jacobs LIVE this coming Monday!

WHAT: Phoebe Jacobs
WHERE: KC’s Bar and Grill
WHEN: Monday, April 1

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