As the festive season approaches, bookings at Laffos Bar & Pizzeria are coming in thicker and faster than a Tasmanian snowstorm!

With Christmas right around the corner, the jolly man in red will soon be making his appearance, and there’s no better place to celebrate than at Mackay’s legendary Bar & Pizzeria at Caneland Central.

Laffos, renowned for its famous pizzas and cold drinks by the river, offers the perfect setting for Christmas parties and festive gatherings. The spacious venue, with its charismatic atmosphere, is ideal for sharing ‘laffs’ and creating memorable moments with friends, family and colleagues.

Avoid the holiday rush and secure your spot at the town’s most vibrant dining spot by booking your Christmas party or function now!

Whether you're celebrating with a large group or a small gathering, Laffos ensures a festive celebration filled with good food, great company and a lively atmosphere that will leave everyone with laffable moments to share!

By dining at this exceptional venue, you’re not only enjoying delicious food and drinks, but you’re also supporting a local business that actively gives back to their cherished community.

Visit Laffos for all your seasonal celebrations and make your next dining experience one to remember!

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Looking to kickstart your busy day on a high note? Ocean International offers an unparalleled early morning experience tailored for busy professionals and early risers!

With exceptional breakfast options and inviting dining areas designed for relaxation, it's the perfect spot to savour a revitalising meal before diving into your hectic schedule.

Picture yourself beginning your morning with a delightful selection of breakfast options, from sweet fluffy pancakes to a savory smashed avocado, all paired with expertly crafted coffee.

Nestled by the serene outdoor pool, Ocean International offers a calming escape from the day-to-day hustle and bustle, enhanced by the gentle ocean breeze.

With breakfast open daily from 6am to 11am, the venue features a rotating breaky menu with specials that offer both variety and exceptional value.

Whether you're grabbing a quick coffee or indulging in a relaxed breakfast either solo or with colleagues, Ocean International’s blend of high-quality food, attentive service and picturesque setting makes it a favourite destination for locals and visitors alike.

Elevate your morning routine and experience a breakfast that will put a spring in your step as you start your day on a high note at Ocean International!

Open 7 Days A Week!
Breakfast: 6:00am to 11:00am.
Lunch: 11:30am to 2:30pm.
Dinner: 5:00pm to 8:30pm.
Bar: Open all day!

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As domestic and family violence statistics continue to increase, so does the support from organisations such as Broken Ballerina Inc, who remain persistent in their mission to become a living hope for those most vulnerable in the region.

Local QPS domestic and family violence representative, Tamara Cook spoke on the rising issue and said that community charities such as Broken ballerina are making the changes that are needed to help women and children at risk of domestic violence.

Constable Cook said, “Domestic Violence is no longer a behind closed doors issue, it’s a major social issue but we’ve all got a part to play, and police can no longer do it on our own.

“I encourage every one of us to stand up against domestic violence…we have a role to play in ending domestic violence, whether it’s speaking out when we see something is wrong, supporting victims and survivors or educating others about the signs of abuse.”

Broken Ballerina committee members agreed and emphasised that an influx of women and children within the region are crying out for support, and that “Broken Ballerina is one of the only organisations helping these victims out.”

A spokesperson from the committee said, “We support vulnerable women and children within the region as a small agency and our income is solely just fundraising and donations.

“We don’t get grants or funding from the government so any businesses or agencies that can jump on board and support us is greatly appreciated.”

To shed light on this troubling issue, Broken Ballerinas highly anticipated Annual Charity Ball fundraiser is just around the corner and is set for the 21st of September at the Mackay Turf Club, from 5pm.  

Tickets are $160/person or $1500 for a table of 10 and include a drink on arrival as well as a delicious 2 course alt drop of entrees and mains…plus, surprise desserts, raffles, auctions and an epic night of fun to be had where attendees can dance the night away to the Lady Gaga & Pink Tribute show!

“We want this ball to be a fun night out so bring your friends along and get ready for some great raffle prizes and dance the night away to the live tribute performance from Lady Gaga and P!nk!”

Come and enjoy a fun evening whilst raising crucial funds to help local DV Victims in the region!

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Fusion128 lives up to its name by offering a culinary experience that is truly fusion by both name and nature. This vibrant restaurant brings together a diverse array of flavours from around the globe, seamlessly blending Asian and French influences with the unique taste of Australian bush herbs. Each dish on the menu is a celebration of cultural diversity, yet unified by a common theme: they are all hearty, delicious, and crafted with genuine care.
The chefs at Fusion128 take pride in creating meals that satisfy the soul as much as the stomach. Among the popular favourites are the succulent pork ribs with vegetables, the perfectly cooked sirloin steak with king prawns, the rich and tender duck, and the aromatic Thai chicken curry. Whether you're enjoying these crowd-pleasers or exploring other options, you can be sure that every bite has been thoughtfully prepared.
Despite the sophisticated fusion of flavours, Fusion128 maintains a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The restaurant’s friendly staff and inviting ambience make it the perfect place to enjoy a meal that’s as comforting as it is creative. Whether you’re a local or a visitor, the experience at Fusion128 is bound to leave you feeling satisfied and eager to return for more of their filling, flavourful dishes, all made with love.

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With World Suicide Awareness Day fast approaching, Whitsunday Suicide Prevention Network has been raising awareness with a variety of initiatives right across the region.

From the recent Memorial Service and plaque unveiling held in Airlie Beach last week to the sunflower sale at Stackelroth Farm where over $500 was raised for the cause.

Starting a conversation about suicide awareness is considered the most effective way to normalise such a stigmatised issue and encourage those living with mental health issues to connect with the community.

Whitsunday Suicide Prevention Network volunteer Megan Mattingley and Belinda Williams from Stackelroth Farm sold sunflowers to raise awareness for suicide prevention over the weekend. Photo supplied

Colourful Community Support
For Suicide Prevention Group

Many members of the community called into Stackelroth Farms in Bowen on the weekend to purchase a bunch of bright yellow sunflowers to show their support for suicide prevention.

At initiative of Whitsunday Suicide Prevention Network (WSPN) the event was hosted by volunteer Megan Mattingley and made possible through the kindness of Belinda Williams and Michelle O’Regan from Stackelroth Farms.

A total of $250 worth of sunflowers was donated to WSPN and a further $500 was raised for the community organisation, but Michelle O’Regan said the outcome was worth more than money.

“It was so much more than the donation of money and flowers,” she said.

“Starting a conversation was the most important part of the day for us. It was great to meet so many people and thank you to everyone who volunteered their time.”

There are several other suicide prevention events taking place this week, turn to page 4 to see which one you could attend.

Andrew Willcox Federal Member For Dawson with young WSPN volunteer Jordyn and Belinda Williams from Stackelroth Farm. Photo supplied

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Hi Everyone,

Thank you so much for all the well-wishes and congratulations following my wedding.

I really appreciated the phone calls, text messages and personal encounters that have all made my husband and I feel super special over the last few weeks.

You’ll be pleased to know, it was the most spectacular day and the weather was perfect . .  . thankfully!

A few people have been asking me to share photos so here is one for you!

In other news, it’s the much-anticipated Whitsundays Writers Festival this weekend and if you haven’t got a ticket yet, make sure you check out the website and book into an event.

The Festival is not just for writers; it’s for lovers of books and culture, for thinkers and readers – people who like a heart-warming community event crafted with passion and delivered with heart.

I am on the Whitsundays Writers Festival committee which has spent over a year planning the event - well done to the entire committee and thank you in advance to all the volunteers who will undoubtedly be running around all weekend.

There are so many fantastic speakers attending, including 2023 Miles Franklin Literary Award Winner, Shankari Chandran, international crime writer Garry Disher and award-winning author of The Slap, Christos Tsiolkas.

You’ll be pleased to know my own public speaking venture also continues as I deliver one of my own poems alongside my beautiful mum at the Poetry Karaoke event on Friday night.

Then, on Sunday I will share my story of cancer survival and the book I have written about the journey.

For the full festival itinerary turn to page 23.

There is so much to enjoy at this years’ Whitsundays Writers Festival, if you’ve been thinking about coming for a while, you’ve still got time!

I promise you will receive a warm welcome and have a rewarding experience.

Hope to see you there!

Rach

Quote Of The Week: “Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage” Anais Nin

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Even here in the Whitsundays with its diverse wildlife, it’s not every day a wild echidna comes crawling across your driveway, but for local Ruby Honey Gorlick, that is exactly what happened.

When Ruby arrived home last week, she saw the echidna crawling across her driveway and initially approached it because she was curious. When she got closer, however, she noticed it had ticks embedded into its skin.

“I noticed it had lots of ticks on it, which I know can hurt them and potentially kill them,” explained Ruby.

“So, I ran back to my car, grabbed my makeup bag, got my eyebrow tweezers and removed the ticks!”

Ruby has prior experience with removing ticks from animals as she has removed ticks from her dogs in the past.

Backed by this knowledge and coming from a family that often stop to help injured animals on the roadside, Ruby’s first instinct was to carefully remove the ticks and help the animal that was in distress.

Ruby says she loves animals and would help any creature if it was experiencing a life-threatening situation. She added that it is important to help animals because they can’t always do it themselves and need assistance.

Ruby counted six ticks on the echidna and after carefully removing all of them left the echidna continued on its way in good health.

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The team at Tourism Whitsundays are elated this week, not only with the announcement of their new CEO, but also with Council increasing its annual funding from $750K to $1M this year.

The CEO position at Tourism Whitsundays has been efficiently overseen by interim CEO Aimee Cameron for the past few months following the surprise resignation of Rick Hamilton earlier this year.

The team is now excited to announce that highly experienced tourism leader, Tim Booth, has accepted the role and is due to start in November.

Tim will be moving to The Whitsundays from New South Wales in the coming weeks to lead the organisation's efforts in destination marketing, increasing visitation, enhancing visitor expenditure, and extending the length of stay in the region.

Tim joins Tourism Whitsundays with over 17 years of experience in tourism management and a remarkable track record of achievements.

He is the current CEO of Mudgee Region Tourism, which has won multiple State and National Tourism Awards during his tenure.

For the three years prior to being in Mudgee, Tim's efforts helped the Eurobodalla region emerge stronger following devastating bushfires.

Tim shared his excitement for the role and his commitment to the community.

“I am honoured to take on the role of CEO at Tourism Whitsundays and to work with such a passionate and dedicated team,” he said.

“My vision is to drive sustainable growth, enhance visitor engagement, and strengthen our relationships with partners and stakeholders.”

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The newly announced CEO of Tourism Whitsundays, Tim Booth. Photo supplied

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There was a great turnout at Whitsunday Suicide Prevention Network’s (WSPN) ‘Shine The Light’ event which took place at Fairy Tree Park on the Airlie Beach Foreshore last week.

WSPN has illuminated the two iconic fig trees on the Foreshore, hoping to raise awareness for World Suicide Prevention Day, to start conversations and encourage anyone affected by mental health stuggles to speak up and reach out for assistance.

As trees around Australia are being painted blue to raise awareness for mental health, here in Airlie Beach WSPN has placed two solar panelled lights shining blue light onto the fig trees. WSPN hope to have similar projects in Proserpine, Bowen and Collinsville as soon as possible.

WSPN President Matt Stokes said the lights illuminated onto the fig trees raise much-needed awareness.

“People need to know they're not alone - we all at some point go through it and those thoughts in our head that swirl usually get bigger when we are not talking to someone,” said Matt.

To help locals take a moment to sit and gather their thoughts, WSPN has repurposed the bench seat near the fig trees to create a place of contemplation. A plaque with the inspiring phrase – “We all have the power to light up the darkness and spread love and hope to those who require it” – has been placed near the location. It is hoped this space will become a safe and quiet place to think and also connect.

“You can scan the QR code on the plaque and a whole bunch of resources come up for that person, depending on what they're facing at that time,” said Matt.

“So, if you don't know where to go, we want everyone to know that this is the spot where you can make a link, and if you need to meet someone, it's a good safe place to do it.”

WSPN’s mission is to end the stigma about mental health and Matt says the worst thing to do is to say nothing.

“We all choose to say nothing and pretend it doesn't happen, whereas we all need to be encouraged to speak and talk to people,” said Matt

“If you are someone who's struggling to put your hand up and talk that's the thing we are trying to get broken down.

“Mental health is not exclusive to any age, demographic or person. You might be at the lowest of the low or the highest of the high, we're all very much exposed to mental health problems.”

Upcoming Events

Bowen Memorial Service
WHEN: Sunday 8 September at 8.30am
WHERE: Kelva Espresso & Health Food Bar – 33 Murroona Street
WHAT: An opportunity to reflect with a walk along the beach followed by casting of sunflowers, live music, stories of lived experiences and a message of hope,

World Suicide Prevention Day BBQ Breakfast
WHEN: Tuesday 10 September – 7am-10.30am
WHERE: Bowen Town Square Herbert Street
WHAT: Tea, coffee and conversations

World Suicide Prevention Day Memorial Service
WHEN: Tuesday 10th September
WHERE: Proserpine at Pioneer Park from 3pm
WHAT: Free sausage sizzle, food and conversations. Memorial Flower Ceremony at 5pm.

WSPN Committee - Matt Stokes, Mel Turner, Di Fleetwood and Rob Murphy
WSPN Committee and Councillor Clay Bauman and Mayor Ry Collins
Scan this QR code for help via WSPN website

Photo credit: Daniel Heggie

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Protecting children is a shared responsibility, and organisers Whitsunday Counselling & Support Inc. is dedicated to raising awareness about this crucial issue through their upcoming Community Colour Run.
This year's activities will include a colour fun run, bubble blowing, face painting, sausage sizzle, raffles & prizes, arts & crafts, games, races and a fantastic live music performance from Josiah.
Intensive Family Support Case Manager, Niamh Mulvihill, says she is excited for another year of the Fun Run, and says she looks forward to having Josiah come and play at the event:
“I suppose feedback from us for last year that we got from people that attended, is that the musician was a really big hit,” she said.
“I think having like a musician there keeps people interacting for the day, and it's a nice, chill opportunity for families to sit down. So, I'm looking forward to that, just to seeing kids, families and communities together.”
While the event is guaranteed to be a day of fun, organisers have also arranged for headspace, PCYC, and other support organisations to have stalls at the event to provide much-needed information and to raise awareness on the important topic of child protection.
The event takes place at Coral Sea Marina Gardens, where children will run around in an oval being splashed with paint until the paint runs out. Last year, comically the children took revenge throwing paint right back at the adults.
In an exciting twist, this year’s event will also have a foam cannon, due to feedback from last year stating that the paint actually becomes more luminous and sticks better with water.  
The paint used at the event is Holi colour powder, a non-toxic biodegradable paint that is safe to use in the Coral Sea Marina Gardens.
Everyone is welcome to join the free event! Simply show up and register at Coral Sea Marina when you arrive.
The event is proudly sponsored by ARS Whitsundays, Paddy Shenanigans, Zonta, Shirt-front Solutions, All Whitsunday Electrical, Queensland Child Protection Week and Coral Sea Marina.

“We're very grateful this year to have loads of workplaces involved in sponsoring events,” Niamh added.

“It means we are able to get more free activities for the kids to join on the day.

“It is a good community effort this year.”

Join for a fun run and support a great cause!

What: Colour Run for Child Protection
Where: Coral Sea Marina Gardens
When: 9am on Saturday 7th September.
Registrations: FREE EVENT, just show up!

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Community Fun Run!
Run for fun

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Tangaroa Blue Foundation, in partnership with Clean Up Australia, is excited to announce the launch of ReefClean’s Great Barrier Reef Clean-up 2024, the biggest community-driven marine debris clean-up of the year.
With The Whitsundays bordering the Great Barrier Reef, the event provides the opportunity for communities to come together and do their bit to clean-up their favourite sections of the reef before wet season begins.
Heidi Tait, Tangaroa Blue Foundation CEO, has said the event also “plays a crucial role in gathering essential data on marine debris levels throughout the Reef's catchment area."
The Great Barrier Reef Clean-up 2024 launches on World Clean-Up Day, September 20th and runs for 6 weeks until October 31st.
Whether you’re a beach clean-up pro or it’s your first time - everyone is invited to help protect the Great Barrier Reef from marine debris.
From our creeks and rivers to beaches, offshore islands, and sand cays, this event has something for everyone.
In previous years, more than 3000 volunteers have participated in the ReefClean Great Barrier Reef Clean-up across 200 events. This year will be supercharged as Tangaroa Blue Foundation joins forces with Clean Up Australia, which ran the Great Northern Clean-up event before 2024.
Participants can register for this free event online and gain access to clean-up kits, resources and promotional materials.
You can find out more about the Great Barrier Reef Clean-up 2024 and register a clean-up at www.reefclean.org.

Fast Facts:
● Marine debris is human-produced litter in the marine environment that can injure or kill marine and coastal wildlife, damage habitats, and threaten human health.
● ReefClean has engaged 13,310 volunteers to help clean-up 127.5 tonnes of marine debris from the GBR region since 2019, equivalent to five humpback whales!
● Tangaroa Blue’s Australian Marine Debris Initiative Database has been recording marine debris data since 2004 and is used to develop evidence-based marine debris source reduction plans.

What: Great Barrier Reef Clean-Up
When: September 20th – October 31st 2024
Where: Find your favourite spot on the reef to clean

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Volunteers from the Coral Sea Marina Clean Up Australia Day. Photo credit: Whitsunday Life Newspaper

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The Mayor's Charity Ball is a fundraising event with all proceeds supporting BMA CQ Rescue and the Whitsunday Suicide Prevention Network. The event is funded entirely through ticket sales and generous sponsorships. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all our sponsors and look forward to raising as many funds as possible for these two important charities on the night. If you'd like to get behind these great causes visit the Proserpine Entertainment Centre website for more information or to buy tickets!

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At last week’s monthly Council meeting in Proserpine two significant motions were adopted that highlight that my Council is proactively addressing the current housing pressures in the Whitsunday region.

The first was the adoption of the new Local Housing Action Plan (LHAP) which was developed by Council in partnership with the Local Government Association of Queensland with funding from the Queensland Government.

The LHAP outlines 28 practical and tangible actions that will assist Council to address housing barriers and shortfalls.

The plan is not intended to be a static document but will remain live and be monitored and reviewed as we develop our actions.

We want to work with the State and Federal Governments, the housing sector, and our residents to increase the number of homes available and make sure that we are getting our fair share of the investments being made in this space.

Obviously, the housing crisis is not something that is going to be solved overnight and in many ways the role that we can play at the lowest tier of government is very limited.

However, advocacy is something I can do and with the upcoming State and Federal elections there will be real commitments from both tiers of government to invest in housing and it is my job to make sure that the Whitsunday region is part of that conversation.

Key to the delivery of housing supply is ensuring we can get ahead of the important service infrastructure that is required to support our demand and as a regional Council we can’t achieve that without State and Federal support.

The second decision Council adopted was to make an amendment to the Planning Scheme in relation to the appropriateness of short-term accommodation in our dormitory suburbs, specifically within the Low-Density Zoned localities.

The primary intent is to restrict Short Term accommodation dwellings in our low-density zoned areas while identifying specific exceptions for traditional tourist beach areas recognising their unique role in attracting visitors and supporting our local economy.

The aim is to protect the residential amenity of our residents and to provide investors with a clear indication of where short-term accommodations dwellings are accepted uses.

Once we have undertaken our State Government review of the proposed changes, the community will have the opportunity to comment, and we will be engaging more directly with the inclusion locations where we have considered it is appropriate for Short Term accommodation to occur.

Our Whitsundays is a fast-growing region and Council is playing its role by bringing all levels of government together with the housing sector, developers, and investors to secure local outcomes.

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At Bendigo Community Bank Cannonvale-Proserpine our customers and our community always win.
We offer face-to-face full banking service, under the leadership of Branch Manager Amanda Anderson, with lenders and bankers, and open 9:30am-4pm Monday to Friday.
Business Banking expertise
We also offer Business Banking expertise. Luke Sheppard, Senior Business Relationship Manager for North Central Queensland and Cairns is available to discuss a range of business banking services such as business lending, business property purchases and construction, equipment finance, overdrafts, investments and refinancing.  
While many other financial institutions increasingly require their business customers to conduct their business online or through a call centre with no specific manager or point of contact, Luke enjoys meeting our customers face-to-face at the Cannonvale-Proserpine Branch or on-site when applicable.
He travels to Cannonvale and Airlie Beach on a very regular basis.
Home Loan health check
Throughout the Whitsundays, homeowners are saving money with a free Bendigo Bank home loan health check.  
Whether its refinancing, investing in new property, or lowering your loan repayments, let the team at Bendigo Community Bank Cannonvale-Proserpine give your home loan a full check up to make sure it’s still right for you and your needs.
A home loan health check looks at your rate, term, repayments, and equity, giving your loan a full check-up to make sure it’s still right for you. If you are a new or existing customers, find your better home loan at Bendigo Bank – the better big bank!
Contact the Branch to book your home loan health check appointment today at Whitsunday Plaza Cannonvale, call (07) 4948 3599, or email cannonvale&proserpinemailbox@bendigoadelaide.com.au
New Branch hours coming
We also wish to advise customers that effective Monday 30 September 2024 the Branch will close every day for lunch 1pm-2pm. You can still call and email the Branch during this time.  
Are you ready to make good things happen in our community?
Did you know that we are independently owned and operated, committed to supporting the Whitsundays?
The Bendigo Community Bank ‘profit-with-a-purpose’ model is unique which sees a percentage of the profits generated by the Bank branch invested back into the community. Over the past seven years we have invested just over $201,500 into local Whitsunday schools, social programs, sporting groups, arts and culture events, conservation initiatives, and community prizes.
If you would like to make a positive impact in our community and influence strategy, we are currently seeking expressions of interest to join our Board.  
We are looking to reinforce our Board’s strengths and diversity by adding new members who bring different perspectives and skills on strategy, finance, community engagement, and marketing.

For a confidential conversation about Board member role, responsibilities, and expectations contact the Board Chair, Mark Henry, on chair@whitsundaycel.com.au by Monday 30 September 2024.
Feel good about who you bank with.

Bendigo Community Bank Cannonvale-Proserpine Branch Manager Amanda Anderson with the rest of the team. Photo supplied

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Here’s a look at what’s coming up at the Whitsundays Chamber of Commerce and Industry for September.

With the Queensland State Election looming and a Federal Election next year, the Chamber will be engaging its members to confirm business priorities for its election agenda. Through this work, the Chamber will also be strengthening its relationship with Business Chamber Queensland and other stakeholder groups to help amplify the needs of regional Queensland businesses.

With a number of new industrial relations changes in play, the Chamber’s inaugural Bites & Insights Webinar will be held 12pm Wednesday 25 September on changes to causal employment.

Mark Lipkin from The Airlie Group will discuss the new definition of casual employment and what the changes mean to local businesses. The webinar series is open to Chamber and Tourism Whitsundays members, and you can register via their website.

Also mark your calendars for the following business events:

Meet the Queensland State Election Candidates
The event invites candidates for the Queensland State Election to address the Whitsunday business community. This event is exclusively for members of the Chamber, Tourism Whitsundays, and their Association Partners.

When: 6:30pm-8:30pm Thursday 3 October 2024
Where: Whitsunday Sailing Club, Airlie Beach

Mental Health Check Up for Your Business
Coinciding with Queensland Mental Health Week, this event will showcase the programs and resources available to business owners to support mental health and wellbeing, and explore tips to identify and better manage stress, burnout, depression, diet and physical health.

When: 7:30am-9:00am Friday 11 October 2024
This event is open to all, and venue to be advised.

Whitsunday Jobs Fair
This inaugural event will bring together job seekers and businesses from across the Whitsundays, offering a unique platform for recruitment, networking, and career development.

When: 1:00pm-3:30pm Monday 14 October
Where: Proserpine State High School

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