The tourism industry’s night of nights brought gold for the BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort team as they scooped up Gold in the Caravan and Holiday Parks category at the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards, held in tropical Darwin.

Eight operators from across Australia were nominated in the Caravan and Holiday Parks category while more than 180 of the country’s premier tourism operators from each state came together across 26 categories.

Owner Greg McKinnon, who attended the gala ceremony with his wife, Kyleen, was visibly proud of the national recognition and of his team.

“Needless to say, to be awarded the best Caravan and Holiday Park in the country for a second consecutive year on a national level is just absolutely incredible,” said Greg.

“It’s such a strong category with outstanding competition and we pass on a huge congratulations to all the winners and finalists.

“We’ll be entering again this year and who knows, we might be able to make it three in a row, but in the meantime, we’ll continue to bring the fun and some exciting new developments to our resort this year, which our guests will really love, and which will continue to enhance their overall experience with us.”

This is the fourth time that BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort has taken home the gold award in this same category at a national level at the Australian Tourism Awards.  

BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort CEO, Phil Casey, praised the efforts of his team and thanked the many holidaymakers who choose the resort as their holiday of choice.

“We have the most loyal and fun-loving guests who choose to stay with us, many who visit us time and time again with their families,” said Phil.

“The commitment shown from our team, both front of house and back of house, to ensure we create wonderful holiday memories for our guests each and every time, is something that can’t be underestimated.

“This award is a testament to their hard work, and of course it also reflects a big thank you to those who stay and share their holidays with us.”

BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort was in good company after claiming gold with Queensland operators winning a total of 14 accolades across the 26 categories, including five gold, seven silver, and two bronze.

The Resort recently celebrated its 30th birthday and after three decades of ongoing reinvestment and development, Australia’s most loved holiday park continues to lead the way as one of the Whitsundays’ most desirable holiday destinations.

This past year, in addition to new cabin inventory, development included construction of the resort’s brand new ‘Bunk House’ dormitory accommodation for schools, as well as a range of accessibility initiatives to complement the resort’s well-utilised Sensory Room, which caters for children on the autism spectrum and their families by offering a special holiday retreat.

BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort offers a relaxed, family friendly environment with an extensive range of quality facilities and services, gorgeous cabins and happy, helpful staff.

Set amongst 10 hectares of beautifully landscaped tropical gardens, the resort caters for a variety of budgets with a wide range of accommodation options from camping and caravanning sites to dorms, studios and through to luxury, three-bedroom condos.

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Greg & Kyleen McKinnon

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This years’ Whitsunday Multicultural Festival is being held in Bowen and organisers are excited to welcome everyone back for another action-packed event this weekend.

The Multicultural Festival is a free event that encourages the community to come together, to celebrate and learn about other cultures within the region.

Cultural groups share their culture and heritage with visitors through storytelling, entertainment, arts and music.

In addition to the arts and music people are encouraged to try the fantastic food on offer.

This is the perfect opportunity to surround yourself with the wonderful Bowen beachside vibe whilst enjoying the live music on offer.

Bowen Tourism and Business manager, Leanne Abernethy, said it was “fantastic that the Whitsunday regional council has chosen Bowen for the multicultural Festival this year”.

“This will be a great celebration of the cultural diversity within our region,” she said.

“We encourage all locals and visitors to head to Bowen Soundshell and enjoy this family event right on the beach side.”

Help make this event even more special by showing your support.

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When: Saturday 23 March

Time: 5pm to 8pm

Where: Bowen Soundshell

Caption: Performers at the 2021 Whitsunday Multicultural Festival. Photo supplied

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A prominent Bowen business advocate has urged all parties involved in the redevelopment of the town's deteriorating jetty to respect the rich history of the structure.

Chairman of the town's Chamber of Commerce, Bruce Hedditch, made the comments following appointments by North Queensland Bulk Ports of a project director and lead design consultant for the multimillion-dollar project.

Nawar Spear will be project director, while global consultancy firm Arup Australia under its own project director Mr Shy Tay will act as lead design consultant.

Mr Spear was appointed by NQBP to lead the project, drawing on previous experience in developing, planning, and delivering large infrastructure programs and major construction projects for federal and state government agencies. He also has extensive experience working with regional communities in Queensland.

Arup Australia will lead the design during phase 1 of the project and leverage its experience in crafting waterfront destinations to lead the community consultation and deliver a finalised concept design.

NQBP CEO Brendan Webb, speaking at the Bowen-Collinsville Enterprise Breakfast Forum in Bowen on Friday February 16, welcomed the appointments as a major step closer to launching community consultation on the wharf’s design.

Mr Hedditch said early advice he had received was that due to decay, much of the original arm of the jetty, built in 1867, could be demolished, while the arm built more recently by NQBP for its tug base would be retained. He said a satisfactory compromise for the town's hopes for the jetty would also play into plans to acquire a Catalina seaplane for a memorial adjacent to the jetty.

"NQBP seems to have gotten a good committee together," Mr Hedditch said, "but we still have a long way to go."

"At least they are wanting to talk to the community."

He conceded that the original leg was "not in a good state."

Mr Hedditch said a large percentage of people who completed a survey of residents regarding its future wanted the entire structure retained.

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Meet Mark Richards

Operations Manager

It has been a whirlwind of 13 years for Mark Richards, acting as Operations Manager of Whitsunday Foodservice with confidence, pride, and tenacity. With a logistics and warehousing portfolio background, Mark transitioned seamlessly into this role, and has not looked back once.

His greatest pride has been watching the gradual evolution of Whitsunday Foodservice, originally operating out of a cold storage warehouse with 25 staff and a fleet of six trucks, when he first started, to now working from a technologically advanced facility, over 60 staff and 11 trucks, with one of the largest employers in the Whitsundays region.

“The key highlight for me was project managing the new facility build in 2018,” Mark explained.

“This facility started with a piece of paper, ruler, and a pencil on my desk and to see it become a reality was an amazing experience. The highlights keep stacking up thanks to the new warehouse as I get to actively pursue and implement new ways to stay ahead of the pack with the latest tech aimed at warehousing and distribution.”

Mark is particularly proud of his ability to visualize a solution to any problem, overcoming hurdles as they appear, including every from mechanical breakdowns, scheduling conflicts, and island resort logistics.

“I find I am able to step back, view my resources as a whole and implement solutions.”

Overseeing a staff of over 40 himself, split across six different departments, Mark ensures that his finger is on the pulse of the business, that each member of his team is confident in their ability and the wider teams efficiency.

In his spare time, Mark can be found with his partner, Sara and their two sons, usually fishing together, playing guitar, and building DIY projects. And he will always be ready to tune into the rugby league game and shout for his team, the Cronulla Sharks.

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Meet Trish Smith

Office and IT Manager

Following love to the Whitsundays 13 years ago was twofold for Trish Smith, moving to be with the love of her life, but also finding a second home within the all-embracing walls of Whitsunday Foodservice. Now, having been married for nearly seven years, and been with Whitsunday Foodservice for 12 years and 10 unforgettable months, Trish has never looked back.

A calm yet passionate person, Trish loves her customer focussed role with the business, feeling a deep sense of purpose and accomplishment each and every day. This fulfilment translates to exceptional customer service and impeccable work ethic.

“When you do what you love,” Trish explained, “Work doesn’t feel like work.”

“Although some days may be more challenging than others, supporting colleagues and helping boost positivity in the workplace promotes a productive team environment.”

In her official role as Office and IT Manager, Trish is often managing a great number of projects and developments. Everything from IT development and support, to managing the EOM finances, reporting, as well as social media creation and management, Trish is kept on her toes.

However, she greatly enjoys the various responsibilities she holds with her role, leaving her with the sense of accomplishment and satisfaction that she is seeking.

When she does step away from the office, Trish can be found spending quality time with her husband, relaxing, often partaking in a Sunday breakfast or lunch date together on a weekend. The pair also love being active, soaking up the Whitsunday sun walking their two dogs, bike-riding, or socialising out and about in Airlie Beach.

Trish also loves heading over to Hamilton Island, or regularly travelling up to Townsville to spend time with her daughter and grand daughter.

Describe your personality in three words:
Compassionate, exuberant, and EXTRA!

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Meet Elisa Teuma

Sales Administration

Looking for an exciting career change that allowed her to develop her skills and experience, Elisa Teuma was eager to join the Whitsunday Foodservice team over six years ago in the Sales Administration department.

With thorough experience in retail sales, Elisa already had significant knowledge which enabled her to take on a more customer account management role which was something new and unique, and a change that Elisa has flourished within.

Her indelible strengths in the role include her incredible adaptability.

“I’m fortunate to have great mentors in our managers, who are all talented at what they do and have helped me continually develop skills, which is important given the nature of our ever-evolving, fast paced industry,” Elisa explained.

Elisa’s most memorable milestone with the business is being able to witness the expansion and growth of the close-knit team. Her own appreciation of the team has only grown, with the birth of her baby last year, and being able to return on a part-time basis to allow her quality time with her budding family.

Outside of the office, Elisa loves spending time with her amazing partner Pat, and their beautiful daughter Stella, exploring the region and creating lasting memories.

Having relocated from Sydney when she was 23 years old, Elisa initially only planned on being in the region for one or two years, but now eight years later, she has never looked back.

“I am well and truly anchored here and completely in love with what the area has to offer, particularly the natural beauty and great people.”

Describe your personality in three words:

Thoughtful, kind and resourceful

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 What began as a light-hearted conversation between some long-term entrepreneurial locals during the Christmas of 1983, has since blossomed into one of the Whitsundays’ most successful and long-standing businesses. Originally the milk depot in Proserpine, this humble and fledgling company has constantly diversified and expanded over the years, its name now synonymous within the foodservice industry. In 2024 Whitsunday Foodservice celebrates 40 years in business, an impressive milestone, steeped in history.

Back in 1983, the milk depot in Proserpine was owned by Arnold and Denise Legg, but following discussions, Alan Murray, along with Dick Dray and his brothers Edward, Geoffrey, and Michael, decided to purchase the business. With the brothers coming from a farming background and Alan having already owned milk runs in Brisbane, the team believed they had the skills and experience to make the business work.

Almost half a century later, and they have definitely proved this the case.

Proserpine Milk Distribution Company began with just a handful of staff - Alan Murray, Noleen McDonald, Fay Milne as bookkeeper and Andrea Ruge. Robyn Murray recalls that, back then delivery vehicles were not air-conditioned, let alone refrigerated. She remembers Rob Blanza delivering supplies to the Airlie Beach area in his Ford 100 and Larry Meygel servicing the Proserpine town centre in a Toyota Dyna. Rusty Crane was a Semi Driver who picked milk up from Mackay three days a week and Proserpine Carrying Co, owned by John Bowman, would oversee island deliveries to Shute Harbour.

Meanwhile, Allison Lucas, who was an up-and-coming junior tennis player, cleaned trucks and worked in the convenient store on a Saturday morning, her mum Peggy, filling in when Allison was playing tournament.

At the time, the convenience store was located at the front of the Milk Depot and had cool rooms out the back. And while operations were expanding in Proserpine, Alan noticed the Airlie Beach area was also growing, in fact it was looking to become as big as Proserpine. Wanting to be at the heart of this growth, Alan began hunting for a suitable piece of land where they could build a large warehouse and several cool rooms. In 1989, they moved to their present site where a brand-new facility had been constructed with steel work by Carlo Raiteri, which included a roof that had a hip in it to incorporate a large ice making machine.

Throughout the 1990’s the business continued to expand and diversify, most significantly with computerised systems replacing paper. In addition, Whitsunday Foodservice supplied ice to the entire region, plus TipTop bread and a parcel delivery service called IPEC. At the same time, the business was constantly looking for more avenues to expand foodservice offerings and, when they managed to gain Countrywide Membership, this new buying power allowed product lines to increase dramatically.

From the mid 2000’s Whitsunday Foodservice experienced significant growth. At the time they had a team of approximately 12 employees, operating four trucks, stocking around 2000 lines and servicing Airlie Beach, Cannonvale, Shute Harbour, Dingo Beach, Proserpine, Midge Point, and the Whitsunday Islands. By 2022, they were stocking over 4000 lines and had grown to a team of 60 people, with 11 trucks that enabled them to expand the service to Bowen, Collinsville, and the Mackay region. 

“Throughout this time, we continued to innovate and introduce technology wherever we could,” explained Pat Morrissey, General Manager of Whitsunday Foodservice.

“We went from taking orders off an answering machine at ungodly hours to introducing online ordering platforms. We also continued to broaden our product range by giving our customers access to thousands of specialty and imported products.”

By 2015, Whitsunday Foodservice started planning to build a new facility at their current site, expanding further to enable them to operate at a larger scale more efficiently. For the next five years, however, the business would overcome a series of unexpected challenges that hindered but did not prevent this expansion. As they approached the final planning stages, Tropical Cyclone Debbie hit in 2017 damaging the existing structure. Forging ahead, by late 2018 the team started moving into the new warehouse with completion in January 2019.

Unfortunately, just three months after the move, the world came to a halt when the pandemic came along. Changing the nature of both global and local business significantly, Whitsunday Foodservice experienced some dark times, but due to the resilience and determination of the team, managed to pivot and prevail, allowing them to come out stronger the other side.

“We introduced a Warehouse Management system which took us from paper pick slips to voice picking headsets, we introduced scanners, vehicle monitoring software for safety and efficiency and started working on a paperless invoice process called sign on glass,” shared Pat.

“When the borders finally reopened, the Whitsundays, like the rest of Queensland went berserk - the hospitality industry in the Whitsundays went from a standstill to the busiest period we have even seen.”

Celebrating 40 years in business is a result of incredible innovation, dedication and overcoming challenges head-on. From the early days with Alan at the helm to the modern era with Pat managing the business, each member of the team is highly valued and an integral part of the broader company’s success.

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1: The old depot at 40 Chapman Street in Proserpine. L-R: Noleen McDonald, Alan Murray, Fay Milne, Matt Dray and Richard Dray

2: Robyn Murray outside the old depot

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The Celtic Cup was held on St Patrick’s Day this year which was nice for a change and 15 contestants took part in the competition.

In the round of 16 we saw early exits for Reef Peel, Naomi Mitchell, Jodie Collins, Hawkeye Rick, Jayden Lloyd, Josh Fraser and Guy Graham. 

Kevin Brown had a bye into the quarterfinals where he defeated Kam Reason 5/1. Art McMinn beat Gary Robbie 5/2. Jamie Maher secured a 5/1 win over Steve Lloyd and Joe Wilson managed to just edge out Andy Peel in a close 5/4 encounter. 

Joe Wilson was the first to take his place in this year’s final with a 5/1 win over Jamie Maher, and in the other semi-final Kevin Brown earned his place in the final by defeating Art McMinn by a 5/3 scoreline.

The final of this year’s Celtic Cup was an enjoyable game between Joe Wilson and Kevin Brown. Kevin started the game off well by flying out of the gates to take a 2 nil lead, before Joe took the game by the scruff of the neck winning 3 legs on the bounce. Kevin managed another leg but by then Joe was in total control of the match, winning the Celtic Cup by 6 legs to 3.

Thank you to all the players for taking part. The next one-day cup competition is The Genesis Cup, and that will be held on Sunday April the 7th.

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Contributed with thanks to Jamie Maher.

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Image: Joe Wilson with the Celtic Cup on Sunday at the Airlie bowls club. Photo supplied

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On Wednesday, we played a single stableford for a club trophy.  Men's Winner, Nathan Vine 40 points, Benny Bon was runner up on a countback with 39 points.  Ladies' Winner, Susan McInnes 38 points, Runner up Tracey Cousemacker 37 points. 

Pin Shots to Viv Clark, Trish Sellen, Tracey Cousemacker, Hayden Williams, John Courtney, Isaac Fellows, Jumbo Miller. Peter Theodossio claimed the Suntan Snack Bar voucher. OBP’s for Mark Russell, Hayden Williams, Jo Goldup and Jeremy Chrzanowski. Chocolate gobblers to Elona Lynch x 2 and Julie May.

On Saturday, we played a 4BBB aggregate event for early Easter trophies sponsored by Bowen Mazda. Winners on a countback Grant Poole and Gregg Aplin 71 points, Runners up on a countback Brad Graham and Garry Kukura 71 points, 3rd Place Bonnie Kohlhase and Lisa Raisbeck 71 points.

Pin shots to Grace Nott (OBP), Claire Garrod, Amanda Watego, Lorraine McArthur, Nathan Donaldson, Gregg Aplin, Colin Stewart, Daniel Tomlinson and Carl Van Veen. Frank Broucek won the Car Wash Voucher. Greg Daniel had an OBP. Eagle shots for Gregg Aplin and Daniel Tomlinson. Chocolate gobblers for Lisa Raisbeck and Claire Garrod.  

This weekend’s competition is a split round for the doubles Match Play qualifiers sponsored by Bowen Byte-Wise IT solutions. The men will play on Saturday and ladies on Sunday.

Contributed with thanks to Grace Nott. Photo Supplied

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The third Whitsunday Local Government Candidate Forum was hosted by Bowen Chamber of Commerce on Monday night and held at the Larrikin Hotel in Bowen with an audience of 85 in attendance.

All four Mayoral Candidates, Peter Hood, Richard Evans, Ry Collins and Phil Batty, were present on the evening alongside the Division 6 Councillor Candidates, John Finlay and David Paddon.

Three questions were given from Bowen Chamber of Commerce and then three additional questions taken from the floor.

President of Bowen Chamber of Commerce, Bruce Hedditch, said it was an “informative meeting” and that everyone was happy with how it ran.

“They are all good candidates,” he said.

“They all have an interest in the Whitsundays as a whole and it was good to see people so passionate about our community.

“One critical factor from the Candidates Forum was the public support to save the Bowen Jetty. It was revealed at the meeting that a recent survey conducted by the community resulted in 622 responses with 97.6 per cent opposed to the jetty being removed.

“Additionally, 95.5 per cent of respondents wanted the existing Bowen Jetty repaired and restored.

“The Whitsunday Regional Council in the past have been reluctant to commit to accepting future responsibility with the community and many questions centred on this issue, the Bowen Jetty is a tourist attraction and is no different to parks and gardens, water parks maintained by Council.”

Other questions on the night included broader Harbour Front usage and the industrial development of Bowen.

In addition, the issue was raised that Airlie Beach has seen more private investment along its main entrance way in the past year and people want to know why it is happening in Airlie Beach and not Bowen.

“Bowen needs the same opportunity,” said Mr Hedditch.

Questions from the floor came next and were centred around the income and expenditure of Council, with people worried about the cost of living, rates and charges.

Overall, the Forum was a positive and civilised event which was effectively facilitated by Bruce Hedditch and his team which included, Tony Bale, Allan Bryson, Sharon Williams and Mark Steen.

“We set the rules down from the beginning so there was no criticism,” shared Mr Hedditch.

“One person was asked to leave at the end but everyone else was happy with the meeting.”

Caption: 85 people came along to the Bowen Candidate Forum on Monday night

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Hi Everyone,

As the weather cools down, the local event scene certainly heats up!

This Sunday, I called in at three local events and was reminded once again how vibrant our community is.

Firstly, the International Women’s Day celebrations held by the Zonta Club of the Whitsundays at Coral Sea Resort, then the Whitsunday Chef’s Lunch at Eastwoods and finally the 10-year birthday bash at Anchor Bar.

Also taking place over the weekend was the annual Cut Out Party, Collinsville Sea of Pink and a second International Women’s Day event in Bowen.

To mark this International Women’s Day in the newspaper, we are running a month-long feature where local business women share their story with the community.

If you are keen to share yours, make sure you reach out to our team.

My own journey in business has been an interesting one.

I knew when I was 18 that I wanted to work with magazines and newspapers – I was often planning layouts and feature ideas with my friends (who were not nearly as interested as I was!)

I then took a massive life detour, studying Geography at university and then travelling around the world.

When I settled in Australia, I desperately wanted my own business so two friends and I bought an ailing café and, within a year, had transformed it into one of the busiest in town.

Several years later I moved to Airlie Beach and it was here that my true purpose realigned with my life once more.

I saw an ad in the local newspaper looking for a Sales Rep and decided to apply.

I was overjoyed when they offered me the job.

Excited for my first opportunity to work with print media, I excelled at sales, but desperately wanted to get into writing.

A job opportunity that incorporated sales and writing came up at Core Life Magazine, so I decided to make the move.

For almost nine years now I have been with Core Publishing, working my way up from Sales Manager to Managing Editor.

During this time, we have expanded significantly and now produce one bi-monthly magazine and three weekly newspapers.

I always hoped my life would take me here.

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Rach

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Quote of the Week: “If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life” (Mark Anthony)

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A local lady’s heart was filled last week by a random act of kindness that came just at the right time and lifted her sprits when she needed it most.

Earlier that week she had received a call from family who reside in Western Australia informing her that a serious car accident could have claimed the life of a family member.

Thankfully, the family member was helped by some wonderful people, but the whole family were left shattered for a few days at the possibility they could have lost him.

Whilst at Bunnings later that week, getting batteries for a smoke detector, the lady’s card was declined.

Fortunately, the wonderful gentleman behind her offered to pay for the purchase, which was gratefully accepted.

Numbers were exchanged and the local lady assured the kind gentleman that she would pay him back.

“I got his details so I could repay him, which he declined, so I have passed it on in the form of a donation to one of my favourite charities,” she shared.

“At a point in my life where I was feeling fragile, his kindness shone a light on how we can look after each other and how a simple kind act can mean so much.”

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Delighted diners eagerly devoured a delicious lunch prepared by former Master Chef contestant, Callum Hann, on Sunday afternoon, at a special Whitsunday Chef’s Lunch hosted by local Asian fusion restaurant, Eastwoods.

The event was orchestrated by Whitsunday Coast Airport as part of an initiative to promote the upcoming direct flights to Adelaide in September.

“Callum has a massive network and is very high profile in Adelaide,” said Director of Commercial Businesses for Whitsunday Regional Council, Craig Turner.

“He came here eight years ago and commented how much our local food offering has improved since then.

“It’s been wonderful to see Callum use his celebrity to promote the region and to work with local produce.”

Mr Turner said that he is excited to see the Whitsundays become increasingly known as a “foodie destination”.

“From May through to October our region produces so much of our domestic produce, and often we do not celebrate it enough – it’s nice to see people get excited and with flights soon coming from Adelaide, we get to enjoy South Australian produce and they get the same in reverse.”

Owners of Eastwoods, Jack and Kirsty Mason, said they were thrilled to host Callum at their restaurant and enjoyed the “seamless collaboration” between them.

“It was incredible!” said Jack.

“Callum and I come from very different backgrounds, but we collaborated on the menu and we are happy with the final product, it all went really well.

Kirsty added they are “grateful for the experience”.

“We look forward to continuing to work with our amazing local produce and creating amazing food to promote our region.”

After the Whitsunday Chef’s Lunch, Callum headed to Flagstaff Hill in Bowen where he cooked with locally caught tiger prawns and created a Bowen Mango Salad.

He also ventured out on Cruise Whitsundays for a day trip to Whitehaven with his family.

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1: Callum Hann (centre) with owner of Eastwoods, Jack Mason (right), and the team of chefs who worked on the day. Photo credit: Rachael Smith

2: Eastwoods owner Kirsty Mason (backrow centre) with her dedicated service team. Photo credit: Rachael Smith

3: Director of Commercial Businesses for Whitsunday Regional Council, Craig Turner welcomes diners to the event. Photo credit: Rachael Smith

4: Callum Hann addresses the crowd. Photo credit: Rachael Smith

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Whitsunday Regional Council Local Government Elections will be held this Saturday,16 March.

Polling booths are open from 8am - 6pm on election day.

Please note that by law, it is compulsory for eligible Australian citizens, aged 18 or older, to vote at Queensland elections.

If you don’t vote, you may be fined.

The penalty for failing to vote in an election in Queensland is one penalty unit, valued at $154.80 from 1 July 2023.

Find your closest polling booth location.

GREATER AIRLIE BEACH AREA

PCYC Whitsunday

2849 Shute Harbour Road

Airlie Beach

Whitsunday Christian College

26 Paluma Road

Cannonvale

PROSERPINE

Father Tom Gard Hall, St Catherine’s Catholic College

90 Renwick Road

Proserpine

BOWEN

Queens Beach State School

39 Tracey Street

Queens Beach 4805

COLLINSVILLE

Collinsville Community Centre

11 Conway Street

Collinsville 4804

HAMILTON ISLAND

Hamilton Island Resort

Resort Dr

Hamilton Island

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Eight new Auxiliary Fire Fighters completed four days of intensive Road Crash Rescue Training, conducted by Queensland Fire and Rescue Emergency Services, last week.

The eight new Auxiliary Fire Fighters gathered at Proserpine Fire Station, and travelled from as far afield as Mackay and Moranbah to complete the necessary training.

“This intensive four-day course gives the new Auxiliary Fire Fighters the necessary skills and knowledge to then become very important members of their fire station crews,” explained one of the course Trainers and Proserpine Fire Station Auxiliary Lieutenant, Brian Little.

“And to assist the fire crews in rescuing the public when that all too familiar crash happens in their area.”

Mr Little was joined by two other experienced facilitators, Casey Johnston and Brad Turner, with the training consisting of both theory and practical training, with the trainees performing rescues on multiple crash simulated scenarios, including head on, roll over on roof, and on side plus persons trapped under vehicle.

“All trainees performed to a high standard and their new acquired skills will be a valuable asset to their fire station and community,” Mr Little explained.

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1. The eight new Auxiliary Fire Fighters with the course facilitators

2-3 The new Fire Fighters conducting simulated road crash exercises. Photos supplied

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Two Australian literary powerhouses have been announced to feature in the all-star cast at the Whitsundays Writers Festival which is set to take place in September.

The two highly acclaimed authors are Anne Buist and Graeme Simsion who are renowned and admired writers who have both published acclaimed novels.

Graeme Simsion, celebrated for his bestselling novel The Rosie Project and Professor Anne Buist, eminent psychiatrist and prolific author, will grace the Festival with their presence to discuss their latest collaborative work, The Glass House – a story of mental health from a practitioner’s perspective, as it follows a trainee psychiatrist as she learns on the job.

Anne, Chair of Women's Mental Health at the University of Melbourne, brings her decades of clinical and research expertise to the forefront in The Glass House. With a diverse literary background spanning the Natalie King crime fiction series to psychological thrillers, Anne’s contribution to our Festival is highly anticipated.

Meanwhile, Graeme’s literary prowess shines through with The Rosie Project, a comedic masterpiece that has captured the hearts of millions worldwide and is now set for a Hollywood adaptation starring Henry Cavill.

With over five million copies sold in forty languages, Graeme’s debut novel has dominated the literary scene, spending a remarkable 65 weeks on the New York Times Bestseller List.

Karen Jacobsen, President of the Whitsundays Writers Festival, expressed her excitement at having these two literary luminaries join the event.

"To have two celebrated authors joining our stellar line-up is a terrific coup," Jacobsen remarked.

"We promised Australia’s leading writers, and we are blessed with Anne and Graeme’s involvement to reveal insights about their latest release.”

"As we announce our authors, we will soon share news about the Festival’s tickets and how to purchase," Karen noted.

"My advice is to jump on our website and subscribe to receive Festival news so you don’t miss out!’

Set against the stunning backdrop of the Whitsundays, this event promises to be a cultural highlight, featuring an array of distinguished authors including Miles Franklin winner Shankari Chandran, award-winning crime writer Garry Disher, international best-selling author Sally Hepworth, and renowned author and screenwriter Christos Tsiolkas.

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Authors Anne Buist and Graeme Simsion. Photos supplied

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