In a unanimous decision by Whitsunday Regional Council, a memorial plaque will be erected in in honour of the four Australian Defence Force personnel lost in a helicopter accident off the coast of Airlie Beach.

A proposal by Councillor John Collins, the memorial plaque will pay respect to Lieutenant Maxwell Nugent, Captain Daniel Lyon, Warrant Officer Class 2 Joseph Laycock and Corporal Alexander Naggs.

These are the names of the four Australian Defence Force personnel who had been taking part in Talisman Sabre 2023 activities on July 28, when their MRH-90 Taipan helicopter experienced unprecedented catastrophic failure and plunged into Whitsunday waters.

“This memorial will mean a lot to the people in our region,” Councillor Collins explained.

“Our region, particularly the townspeople of Bowen, have welcomed the armed services since the inaugural Talisman Sabre in 2005.”

Hoping to use a state government grant, Queensland Remembers Grants Program, which is set to close in October, Councillor Mike Brunker said that regardless of funding, the Council should erect a memorial.

“If we do this, we do it properly, and not rushed to meet a grant deadline,” Councillor Brunker said.

“If the funding is not there, I’m sure we can approach the ADF and other organisations.

“This needs to be done respectfully with a good and proper design.”

The ADF have since permanently grounded the Taipan helicopter, with American made UH-60 Black Hawk brought in instead.

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On July 28, four ADF personnel lost their lives in a helicopter accident. Photo supplied

“Home In Time For Footy”

On October 1, at about 4.15pm, Police allegedly intercepted a Toyota Landcruiser traveling at a spend of 144 kilometres an hour, in a 100 kilometre an hour speed zone.

Police spoke to the alleged driver, a 44-year-old Midge Point man, who allegedly explained that he was overtaking vehicles as he wanted to be home in time to watch the football.

He was issued an infringement notice, loss of eight demerit points and license suspension of six months.

His vehicle was not seized by police.

Sleepy Drunk Driver

A 22-year-old Jubilee Pocket man was issued with a notice to appear in court, following a road incident on September 29, at 11pm.

Police allege that his white Haval station wagon was found by community members stationary in the middle of the road, on Shute Habour Road, with the driver asleep in the driver’s seat.

Police were contacted and attended the scene.

Following a roadside breath test, with a reading on 0.170 per cent, the driver was detained.

He will appear in Proserpine Magistrates Court later this month.

Attempted Break In

On September 27, at about 12.02am, an individual attempted to break into a home on Leet Crescent in Proserpine.

The resident of the home was woken up by a loud noise from the side of their house, followed by their pet dog barking.

An unknown individual was then seen jumping the perimeter fence.

An entry attempt was made through windows and doors at the side of the home, but entry was not gained, and nothing stolen.

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Last Friday, September 29, was National Police Remembrance Day, a day to commemorate and honour the police servicemen and women who have passed away in the line of duty, as well as those who have died outside the line of duty.

The ceremony was particularly sombre, remembering the two south Queensland officers, Constable Matthew Arnold and Constable Rachel McCrow who lost their lives following a shooting incident on a regional property in December last year.

The service also commemorated seven officers across Queensland who passed away outside of their line of duty.

Senior Sergeant Nathan Blain shared the importance of National Remembrance Day.

“I have been a police officer for 27 years now, and this day has always been very close to my heart, and everyone treasures this day. It’s important for us to honour the memory of those colleagues that we have lost over the year, who have made the ultimate sacrifice,” he explained.

“Not everyone is going to be happy all the time with what police do, but we feel that the far majority are very supportive of us, which is really reassuring.

“We saw that in December last year when we had the tragic loss of Constable Matthew Arnold and Constable Rachel McCrow,” Snr Srg Blain said.

“Here in the Whitsundays, we had people bringing us chocolates, letters of condolences, and sympathies, and this means a lot to us.

“We don’t do the job for the thanks, but it’s nice when we do get the recognition of those we have lost.”

The service was officiated by Chaplain Reverend Craig Yeomans and attended Member for Whitsundays Amanda Camm and Whitsunday police officers.

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Whitsunday RSL Secretary Phil Smailes, Sergeant Stuart Adams, Senior Sergeant Craig Shepherd, Detective Sergeant Luke Scells, Senior Sergeant Nathan Blain, Sergeant Mark Flynn, and Member for Whitsundays Amanda Camm. Photo credit: Bronte Hodge

Whitsunday Police come together to remember and pay respects to fallen comrades. Photo credit: Bronte Hodge

Almost four years after it opened its doors, the free Proserpine RV park has now closed due to Whitsunday Regional Council’s decision not to renew the current lease.

This decision was made largely due to the required $600,000 of upgrades needed to be undertaken on the site.

The development approval conditions stipulated in the new lease required the installation of drainage, lighting, and appropriate carpark seal to the parking area.

As the site is not owned by the Council, ownership of the upgrades would return to the landowner at the end of the lease.

While in service, the Proserpine RV Park had offered free 48-hour overnight RV parking and was located behind St Catherine’s Church, just off the main street.

The regular flow of grey nomads and other passing travellers from the RV site brought increased spend to local shops.

Council, however, decided that $600,000 was too much investment in a site they didn’t own and stated that the plan had always been to invest in their main local tourism asset, Proserpine Dam.

It is hoped that by developing this attraction the overall tourist numbers that utilise services and suppliers in Proserpine will also grow further.

While the majority of Councillors agreed to terminate the lease at last week’s Ordinary Council Meeting, Councillor Michelle Wright felt inclined to continue.

“There was a need in the community for the RV site,” she said.

“This is a restock and overnight stop and I think we can get a grant to do this work.

“We knew what the conditions were then, and knew it wasn’t our land, when we signed on.”

Mayor Hall and Councillors Brunker and Clifford, however, were vocally opposed to continuing the lease.

“I would rather spend the money at our caravan park and put an overnight stop in for free,” said Councillor Clifford.

The Proserpine RV park officially closed on Tuesday this week.

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Proserpine Free RV Park welcomed hundreds of travellers over the past four years. Photo: Queensland.com

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Boathaven Beach Off-Leash Area Permanently Approved

A group of sociable dog-lovers who play and swim with their dogs almost daily down at Boathaven Beach are celebrating this week as Council make the three-month off-leash trial, a permanent fixture.

Dog walkers at Boathaven Beach in Airlie Beach are now able to have their fur-babies off leash between 5.30am and 8.30am daily.

Mayor Julie Hall said the three-month trial ended on July 30 with only one formal complaint being received by Council during the trial period.

“After the successful three-month trial at Boathaven Beach, I’m pleased we can introduce a new dog off-leash area for Airlie Beach dog lovers,” she said.

“While Council is keen on making the region more dog friendly, the onus is on the community to be aware of responsible dog ownership rules and do the right thing.

“Council’s Local Law in relation to the effective control of dog requires that a person must not bring or permit an animal to be brought into a public place unless the animal is under the person’s effective control.

“This is for the safety of all dogs and to ensure the safety of our community and visitors using the same area.

“It’s important for dogs to be under effective owner control at all times, including the designated dog off-leash areas,” Mayor Hall said.

Boathaven Beach is now one of thirteen approved dog off-leash areas:

• Queens Beach, Bowen

• Doughty Creek Mouth, Bowen

• Kings Beach, Bowen

• Denison Park, Bowen

• Shingley Beach, Airlie Beach (Eastern end only)

• Bicentennial Park, Cannonvale

• Cannonvale Beach (Sanded area; Eastern end; (Restricted Times - 5am-8am 5pm-8pm except 8:00am - 9:00am & 2:30pm - 3:30pm school days)

• Gailbraith Park, Cannonvale

• Whisper Bay Boat Ramp, Cannonvale

• Wildlife Park, Jubilee Pocket - enclosure

• Keith Jones Estate Park, Proserpine

• Hydeaway Bay

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Hitting the number one spot in both Netflix Australia and Netflix US, the recent blockbuster filmed right here in the Whitsundays, is already promoting our region to the world with its stunning backdrops and friendly local characters.

Released last week, Love Is In The Air stars Aussie songstress Delta Goodrem and British heart-throb Joshua Sasse and follows the story of a young pilot who strives to save her family business while her love interest does his best to close it.

Fortunately, this rom-com has a happy ending and you’ll have to watch it to find out!

Dozens of locals took part in the filming, speaking highly of the support they were given and the friendliness of the production team.

Airlie Beach resident, Richard Evans initially applied to be an extra but was soon given a speaking part as the “elderly man” who starred in the meet-cute-moment when the two love interests meet for the first time.

“Delta was very very nice,” said Richard.

“There was a star power aura about her but at the same time she was humble and helpful.

“Everyone I met was very supportive and patient – I think there is a lot of opportunity for future filming and arts in the Whitsundays.”

Lauriely Taylor filmed for a morning out near Cape Gloucester and said that, although she was only in the movie briefly, she loved being part of the whole production.

“The whole movie really showcased the area beautifully,” said Lauriely.

“Hopefully this really puts us on the map, again.”

Many local landmarks also featured in the movie, from Whitsunday Airport on Shute Harbour Road, which became the on-screen Fullerton Airways through to the beach north of Cape Gloucester which became the remote community where supplies were dropped and emergency evacuations took place.

Stunning aerial footage was also taken around the islands showing the extent of our lush green foliage, juxtaposed with the bright blue sea.

If you haven’t seen it yet, make sure you take a look.

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Fullerton Airways: The beloved airstrip used by Dana to launch and land her plane is none other than our Whitsunday Airport, on Shute Harbour Road

Remote island location: Filmed north of Cape Gloucester, you can see local resident Lauriely Taylor in the blue denim dress

Meet-cute-moment: Shute Harbour Marine Terminal hosted the moment the two love interests met and local resident, Richard Evans stole the show

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It is exciting that our Council will have three Councillors acknowledged for their service to Local Government at the Qld Conference in October.

Over the next three weeks, we will recognise each Councillor starting with Division 3 Councillor John Collins for over a decade of service to his community.

John, or Sarge as he is known to locals, embarked on his journey in politics at the 2012 Qld Local Government elections, easily winning election with over 40 per cent of the vote against four rivals.

He was re-elected convincingly at the 2016 and 2020 local government elections and each term he has increased his majority vote, recording a massive 88 per cent majority at the 2020 election.

Serving as Deputy Mayor several times and armed with a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by his community and the opportunities for future economic growth, Cr John has consistently demonstrated an enthusiastic commitment to community progress.

His impact extends well beyond council chambers. His dedication to the Whitsunday and Proserpine community has delivered countless projects and events that have improved the liveability for his constituents.

With Cr John as a strong advocate, Council completed Stage 1 of the Lake Proserpine Master Plan in 2019 creating a revitalised camping area, including waterside bush camping sites, new public toilets and showers, designated fire pits, upgraded picnic facilities and three new fishing pontoons to improve access for boaties.

Cr John was proud to be the key driver behind continued development of the Lake Proserpine Recreational facilities with on-site caretakers and paid camping introduced in 2021. Lake Proserpine is now another jewel in the crown for the Whitsundays with recent figures showing it boasts an average annual economic injection of $7.95 million to the region.

Other key catalyst projects under John’s watch include the Proserpine Main Street upgrade, the construction of the popular Proserpine Water Park and the $20 million rebuild of the Proserpine Entertainment Centre.

However, his proudest moment during a decade as Councillor was being a part of the Disaster Management team and being Chairperson of its Recovery Team after Cyclone Debbie in early 2017.

It was through this role that Cr John’s care for his community stood out as he spent countless hours advocating for and assisting many locals with their dealings with the major Insurance companies and helping them sort their insurance issues.

Thank you, Councillor John Collins, for a decade of exceptional service.

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With Mayor Julie Hall

Batteries should never be put in your recycling or waste bin. This includes rechargeable batteries and lithium-ion batteries in objects such as laptops, mobile phones, power tools, cameras, and e-vape machines.

Used batteries may still contain residual charge and often produce sparks which can lead to fires in our waste trucks and recycling facilities, putting our waste teams at risk, and potentially causing dangerous gases if waste is burned incorrectly.

To dispose of batteries safety, make sure to always place sticky tape on the terminals before placing in your nearest battery recycling collection point.

Household Battery Recycling Bins are located at all of our Whitsunday Regional Council Customer Service Centres and Libraries. Bins can also be found at the Collinsville and Cannonvale Transfer Stations.

For further information, search for 'Household Battery Recycling Program' on Council's website.

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Five new members have been welcomed into the Tourism Whitsundays Board, breathing new life into an already dynamic group of local tourism professionals.

The newly announced members are Nathan Fleming of Ocean Rafting, Sue Watson owner of Pinnacles Airlie Beach, Phil Browne Director of True Blue Sailing and Nicole Graham owner of Iconic Whitsunday Adventures and one invited member, Carly Povey of Bonza Airlines.

Nathan Fleming is a seasoned tourism professional who is dedicated to promoting the region with a commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction.

He has been a driving force in shaping the industry landscape and says he looks forward to leveraging his skills and experience to further elevate tourism initiatives.

Sue Watson has worked in the travel industry for the past 30 years, 18 years managing resorts and before that, as a travel consultant.

She is looking forward to helping promote the Whitsundays as one of the best tourist destinations and being a “strong voice for the accommodation sector in this region.”

“I am extremely excited and proud to be a part of Tourism Whitsundays,” she said.

Phil Browne has worked in the tourism industry for the past 25 years and he hopes to bring renewed energy and focus to the youth and adventure market, which he considers a vital part of our community.

“I feel enormously thankful and proud to have been nominated onto the board, and I can’t wait to begin working with the other directors and the awesome team within TW,” he said.

The board positions are as follows: Julie Telford as Chair, Tom Young as Deputy Chair, Sue Watson as Treasurer and Crystal Lacey as Secretary.

Nicole Graham has worked in the tourism industry for 28 years and says she enjoys its energy, people, and challenges.

“I am absolutely delighted to have been given the opportunity to join the board,” she said.

“I am eager to contribute my expertise and skills to the team, and I am confident that together, we will achieve great things.”

Chief Executive Officer of Tourism Whitsundays, Rick Hamilton said he is thrilled to have another strong group of individuals representing the board again this year.

"We have another strong Board leading us into the next year, with backgrounds covering island resorts, accommodation, marine operations, legal and airlines,” he said.

“The make up of this year's board puts us in a great position to navigate the peaks and troughs expected over the next 12 months.

“I am looking forward to working closely with this Board and drawing on their considerable knowledge of The Whitsundays.”

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The newly elected board members – Phil Browne, Sue Watson, Nathan Fleming, and Nicole Graham. Photo credit: Bronte Hodge

The Whitsunday Regional Council initiative Whitsunday Healthy Heart Project has attracted 45 businesses from the tourism sector to take part in the project.

The project has welcomed a wide range of tourism businesses, including marine operators, island resorts, accommodations, restaurants and bars, tours, and ceremony providers.

Mayor Julie Hall said the project is providing important tools to tourism-based business to assist in reducing their environmental impacts on our region.

“Low carbon emissions are essential to building resilience in the tourism sector and the project is helping businesses tackle the important first step to measure their carbon footprint,” she said.

“The Whitsunday Healthy Heart Project provides complementary access to the EarthCheck energy and carbon calculator which is based on internationally accepted methodologies.

“Full training is provided on the calculator and business owners are usually surprised at how easy the data entry is.”

Great Barrier Reef Foundation Strategic Initiatives Director Melissa Rodgers said climate change is the greatest threat to our Reef and emissions reduction is an important action we can take to secure its future.

“It’s heartening to see so many local businesses getting on board by working towards a carbon neutral Reef industry in the Whitsundays as part of our Reef Islands Initiative,” Ms Rodgers said.

One of the initiatives aims to support the decarbonization of tourism by providing an innovative and easy-to-use online carbon calculator for businesses to measure their operational emissions from energy, water, and waste.

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New businesses join initiative to decarbonize the Reef, seeing a growth of over 40 tourism business. Photo supplied

In an effort to curve cigarette waste and prevent it from entering local waterways and the Great Barrier Reef, Airlie Beach and Proserpine venues have installed new cigarette bins and signage.

According to the Whitsunday Gross Pollutant Trap Project, the Top One litter item found in the wider Whitsunday region is cigarette butts.

Across Airlie Beach and Proserpine venues, 22 special cigarette bins were installed.

Magnums Venue Manager Rebecca Cook said they were more than happy to be on board with the initiative.

“A lot of our customers at Magnums are visitors to the region, who are drawn here by the beauty of our local area and of course the Great Barrier Reef, so we want to look after it in any way we can,” said Ms Cook.

“We did have smaller bins in place before, but with these larger bins, I can see already that these are making a difference in keeping the area clean.”

The cigarette bins are also in partnership with Tangaroa Blue Foundation, supporting the wider ‘Ditch the Flick’ campaign.

Tangaroa Blue Foundation CEO Heidi Tait said that with the success of cigarette butt bins in other locations along the Great Barrier Reef through the ReefClean project, she was excited to now see them also rolled out here in the Whitsunday Region.

“The cigarette butt bins installed here and the ‘Ditch the Flick’ campaign is an excellent example of this, as it aims to educate people about cigarette butt litter and encourages smokers to bin their cigarette butts.

“By combining education and convenient, practical solutions, campaigns like this can help tackle the issue of marine debris and really make a difference.”

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By Paul Gellatly

Police gave an address on state-of-the-art crime prevention for business and residents at the September monthly meeting of  Bowen Chamber of Commerce.

Sgt Nigel Dalton, backed by Sgt Stephen Smith, both from Mackay District Crime Prevention Unit, and Sgt Michelle O'Regan of Bowen Police, addressed about 20 people at Bowen's Larrikin Hotel.

Chamber president Bruce Hedditch, who welcomed the police delegation, noted that "crime seems to be getting worse; unless we have the right advice, it is a very difficult problem to reduce."

Sgt Dalton said crime anxiety was being fanned by social and other media, making the problem seem constant and unrelenting. "The media can make you feel unsafe even in your own community," he said.

Sgt Dalton said Australia was still the 27th safest country in the world to live in and he urged people not to become caught up in crime anxiety, even if the country had slipped in the crime ratings.

He said domestic violence against women was one of the most dangerous crime scenarios to be faced, although men were by no means free from the risk of assault.

He also said police had for some years now embarked on an "assault-free zone" campaign for schools, pubs, hospitals, schoolies and other events, with effectiveness.

"There is not enough time in the day to handle reports at the counter anymore," said Sgt Dalton.

"We don't want to have a police officer sitting in an office rather than being on the beat."

"Try not to be fearful of this process," Sgt Dalton said.

He said the Facebook page was constantly monitored. "We are doing as much as we can to stay in touch."

Sgt Dalton also added that the use of cameras for evidence gathering was gaining momentum.

He talked about the Community Camera Alliance that was created in 2014 after some high-profile murders of women, and which drew on the new boom in popularity of CCTV cameras.

"We are appealing to anyone here tonight who have CCTV in their homes to get their cameras registered with us," he said.

Having linked cameras that could track crime suspects "was a turning point" for police, he said.

While there were community concerns about the community-wide use of these cameras, these could be addressed by proper siting so CCTV did not violate the privacy of neighbours, Sgt Smith said.

Sgt Dalton had a word of advice for those who preferred to take control of a potentially violent situation by themselves: "Don't".

"You can physically defend yourself but the law does not allow you to carry offensive weapons," he said.

Sgt O'Regan said that from every 50,000 young offenders in the state, probably less than 60 were a "crime core" who created crime "hot spots'.

Sgt Dalton said the myPolice Mackay/Whitsunday website mapped these hot spots and could alleviate anxiety about crime.

He said crime should be considered as a triangle with the sides being labelled crime, target, and opportunity, and anyone intent on not becoming a victim should be aware that "if you can remove one of the sides of the triangle, you can break the crime cycle".

The police message emphasises core personal safety strategies dealing with confrontation, situational safety strategies and safety in the home; online; out and about, on public transport; in the car; for children; seniors; the workplace; the social scene; and in helping others.

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Sgt Nigel Dalton from Mackay District Crime Prevention Unit, Sgt Michelle O'Regan of Bowen Police and Sgt Stephen Smith from Mackay District Crime Prevention Unit. Photo credit: Paul Gellatly

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With WhitPro and Josh

Water is at the heart of our daily lives and a good water supply is of paramount importance here in tropical Queensland, especially as we move into dry months of October and November.

No-one knows this more, than the friendly team at WhitPro, the Garden Maintenance and Landscaping Specialists who deal with water for a living.

Whether supplying or installing a range of efficient irrigation systems, keeping your landscaped gardens well-watered and maintained, or refilling your water tanks, these guys know how to work and manage water.

Offering one of the largest water delivery trucks in the region, WhitPro can deliver up to 15,000 litres of water to easy access properties or 10,000 litres to any property.

Always on-hand to help, WhitPro regularly receives calls when a water tank is out of juice and always do their best to deliver water as soon as possible, to get you household running normally again.

Resident truck driver and machine operator, Josh Randell, says he loves getting a water supply operating again.

“Sometimes we get a call out from people who didn’t realise they’d let the water run out,” he said.

“The kids are getting home from school and they’re desperate – we’re often able to get over there within a couple of hours and get their water flowing again.

“It’s a good feeling and people are always really appreciative.”

Josh is originally from Adelaide and moved to the region with his partner this year.

He has a lot of experience driving trucks and spent some time driving triple road trains through the dessert for three months at a time.

Prior to this he spent 16 years making wine in McLaren Vale in South Australia.

He started in the cellar at just 17 and progressed to overseeing every stage of production from grapes through to fermenting and filtering.

Now using his skills to assist with a different kind of hydrating liquid, Josh loves delivering water and working with other important truck jobs here in the Whitsundays.

The diversity of his everyday duties always keeps him motivated – whether he is driving trucks to pick up rock from the quarry or out in the community building a retainer wall with the bob cat – he always enjoys a challenge.

If you see Josh out and about, make sure you say hi.

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For the past seven days, thousands of holidays makers have been unable to travel with local marine tourism operator, Cruise Whitsundays, who have had to cancel all experiential tours due to a staff strike.

While the company hoped to resolve the issue following four separate proposals lodged with the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA), sadly the union announced a second week of strikes would commence early next week.

The striking workforce were legally bound to return to duties this Thursday and Cruise Whitsundays say this will enable them to operate as normal for up to four days, allowing a small reprieve so that many passengers with a booking will likely be able to go on their planned tour.

Cruise Whitsundays Stays Afloat While 50 Staff Are On Strike

With over 50 staff on strike, Cruise Whitsundays is in the midst of one of their most challenging periods in operation, the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) is rallying support from a marine workforce which is demanding a 30 per cent increase in wages.

General Manager of Cruise Whitsundays, Adam Hosie, said the high percentage of this pay rise is simply untenable for the business and that, if granted, would likely mean they would have to shut the doors on all operations within a year.

The first strike began on Friday September 15 when up to 30 marine workers formed a picket line at the entrance to the Cruise Whitsundays Terminal.

It then continued the following Wednesday when the first seven-day strike began, a total 50 staff striking, resulting in the cancellation of all ‘experiential tours’ to Whitehaven Beach and the Great Barrier Reef.

“We have prioritised our critical island transfer services to try and reduce the impact on the other businesses in the Whitsundays that rely on these services for staff transport,” said Mr Hosie.

“Unfortunately, we have had no choice but to cancel products, impacting thousands of guests.

“This has potential impacts on the Whitsundays as a tourism destination as a whole, with a large number of visitors not being able to experience the destination as they expected.”

Desperate for a swift and fair resolution, Cruise Whitsundays have approached the MUA lawyers with a fourth proposal, but to date every proposal has been rejected with little feedback from the MUA.

Meanwhile, a representative from the MUA Jason Miners, asserted there had been “no correspondence” from Cruise Whitsundays, but saying they would be open to a new offer.

“If they come back with a new offer, we will likely pause the action, but if it’s the same offer we will likely continue to strike.

“Our members are still angry, and they wish to pursue their claim, but we are willing to meet them halfway.

“Unless they are around the table changing their position then why should we change ours?”

Strike Reaches Boiling Point

Cruise Whitsundays and the MUA met on Wednesday morning, however the previous day (prior to the agreed scheduled meeting and prior to providing any feedback from the latest proposal) the MUA announced that a further strike would commence on Monday.

It is a legal requirement to give three days’ notice prior to a strike and the MUA released a statement to its members on Wednesday morning apologising for their “f**k up” in not reissuing the strike notice earlier so that the strikers are protected.

This lack of foresight, however, gave Cruise Whitsundays a small reprieve, with workers legally responsible to return to work on Wednesday at 7pm.

Despite Cruise Whitsundays’ frustration at the actions of the MUA, they remain sympathetic to all their staff and want to work towards regaining a positive working environment for all employees.

“We pride ourselves on being a great employer, so it’s devastating that the current situation has unfolded in this way,” said Mr Hosie.

“We run a fantastic business that is focused on fun ¬– for both our guests and our staff.  

“It’s disappointing to find that some of our employees feel undervalued and moving forward, we will continue to work with all of our staff to create a positive work environment.”

“We respect our staff’s right to take action, but at the same time, we will be disappointed if further strike action occurs as our proposed offer would see our staff earn 4.8% - 44.4% above award rates depending on experience, skill and tenure.”

When asked about how much the strike has cost the business, Mr Hosie said he was more focussed on the cost and reputation to the broader Whitsunday tourism industry, their suppliers, as well as the Cruise Whitsundays staff who are not striking.

His concern is also on the impact the strike has had on the holiday plans of thousands of tourists.

“This action has a significant impact on the services we are able to offer, which then impacts workers on the islands and holidaymakers visiting the region, not to mention the staff who are not participating in the union action,” he said.

When the MUA were asked about how they felt letting thousands of holiday makers down, they did not take any responsibility.

“No – it’s Cruise who should feel guilty!” said Mr Miners.

And, when asked whether they thought it fair that workers were at the pub in their campaign t-shirts, allegedly drinking heavily, while holiday makers were missing out on their experiences, he said:

“Whatever these workers do while off work is up to them, it’s better than them being down there [at the Cruise Whitsundays terminal] being abused.”

One of the key reasons the MUA have been protesting about fair pay is their assertion that Cruise Whitsundays marine workers are receiving 30 per cent less than SeaLink crew who are operating a very similar tour.

Cruise Whitsundays explains that this is due to the two businesses operating under different awards.

“Cruise Whitsundays EA (as most other Marine operators in the region) is underpinned by the Marine Tourism and Charter Vessel Award 2020,” said Mr Hosie.

“Whilst resort connections form part of our business, our core business is Marine Tourism, showcasing the beautiful Whitsundays and creating amazing experiences for our guests.  

With more discussions expected to take place this week, Mr Miners said that “we are willing to sustain this up until Christmas if we have to”.

Meanwhile, Cruise Whitsundays simply wants to apply the reasonable pay increases set out in the proposed EA and return to showing holidaymakers the beauty of the Whitsundays.

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Cruise Whitsundays General Manager Adam Hosie outside the terminal at Port of Airlie. Photo credit: Rachael Smith

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Hi Everyone,

It’s been a huge week here at the paper as, not only have we been busy producing the newspaper you are holding, but we have also been working on the first edition of our new sister publication, Burdekin Life Newspaper.

Over the past few weeks, we have welcomed three new staff members and moved our Mackay journalist to Home Hill where he has become our ‘man on the ground’.

As I am writing this on Wednesday afternoon, our entire team are about to head up to the Burdekin to attend a special Burdekin Council Industry Breakfast which is due to take place on Thursday morning.

We have been told by the Council that the entire event is sold out, with almost 100 people attending, which is very exciting news for us.

This event also represents a milestone moment for me, as it will be the first time in my adult life that I have stood up in front of a room full of people to give a speech.

And to be quite honest – I am terrified!

Throughout my professional career I have quietly avoided any opportunities to speak to an audience, but I have decided it is time to meet my fears head-on.

Apparently, a fear of public speaking and a fear of death both sit at the top of the table when it comes to what most people are scared of, and I can understand why!

For the past few weeks, I have been practicing my speech and, thanks to two dear friends and a patient partner, I have a lot of support in my pocket which I am grateful for.

By the time you read this on Thursday evening or Friday morning, my speech will be complete – but right now I am full of nervous excitement and a sense of responsibility – I hope I get it right!

Rach

Quote of the Week: “Feel the fear and do it anyway!” (Susan Jeffers)

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