The Zonta Club of Bowen successfully hosted a STEM Workshops for Girls event on August 17th.
These workshops, which focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, featured engaging activities specifically designed for girls in grades 5 to 7.
“It was wonderful to see the 37 girls who attended so attentive, engaged and participating in the activities,” Cath Morgan said.
Facilitator Keziah Furnell from STEM Sisterhood (Townsville) along with her assistants ran a series of hands-on workshops, including Engineering where the girls worked in a team to design and build catapults.
They also enjoyed a Sports Science workshop where they learnt how to make a bionic hand, heart and lung.
Why these workshops? The organisers aim to empower girls by instilling confidence in their ability to succeed and build successful careers in STEM fields. This initiative is especially important given the current underrepresentation of women in STEM careers.
Positive feedback was received regarding the excellent organisation of the day, the girls' enthusiasm for participating in the activities, and questions about when the workshops will be held again.
Keziah posted on Facebook, highlighting how amazing the Bowen group was and expressing excitement about returning to Bowen to engage even more girls in STEM.
The Zonta Club expects to be able to hold more exciting workshops in 2025!
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Zonta providing STEM workshops for young girls in grades 5-7

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Yellow Crazy Ants are a highly invasive species in the Whitsundays. In large numbers, they can disrupt entire ecosystems with their veracious appetites and ability to create 'super colonies' across large areas, leaving heavily infested areas without animals, insects or native ants. Whitsunday Regional Council is tackling this issue through an ongoing baiting program, with treatments completed at Shute Harbour, Mandalay, Funnel Bay, and Woodwark. The baiting process is safe and not considered hazardous to people or animals. For more information, visit the Whitsunday Regional Council website.

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Daisy, a 4-year-old beautiful American Bulldog/Mastiff Cross is looking for her fur-ever home.
The gentle Daisy is vaccinated and pup-to-date with her Heartworm injections. She is not desexed, however, her current owners would be willing to have her desexed if required.
Daisy is a fantastic companion due to her loving nature and is great with children, people in general and other dogs.
If you think you could give Daisy the loving home she very much deserves, please contact Brooke: 0490 530 151 (private rehoming).

Age: 4 years old
Sex: Female
Breed: American Bulldog/Mastiff Cross
Kid friendly: Yes
Other dogs: Yes

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A century ago, people did not have the broad range of home entertainment available to us today. Prior to 1924, there was no radio or television and gramophones and records were quite expensive.

The first mention of a wireless set being used for home entertainment purposes in Proserpine was recorded in the local newspaper on September 20 1924. “The wireless was installed at the residence of Mr Robert Shepherd in Chapman Street.” Mr Robert Shepherd, Chairman of the district at the time, was obviously an early enthusiast having a set installed only weeks after its inception.
 
From August 1 1923 until July 31 1924, official radio broadcasting in Australia had required a listener to pay a licence fee to a chosen broadcaster and to a radio manufacturer to build/provide a set locked to that station only. The high cost of the licence and specially built/modified receivers proved daunting as examination of official records proves. A check of licences issued for that 1923-1924 period shows a total of only 1206 sold in Australia and only 23 of these were in Queensland. However, as soon as the sealed set restricted licences were abolished the sale of open licences skyrocketed to 31000 in Australia within four months.
 
The “Proserpine Guardian” September 20 1924 described the radio as a five-valve receiver of “up-to- date” design and went into great detail about the aerial system installed and the stations available for tuning.
 
“In order to receive the signals, two masts of Oregon pine, each fifty feet high and fixed into two hardwood blocks in the ground were needed. The arch had a spread of one hundred feet and had two wires of twisted copper with one of them connecting to the machine. The set was then ready to receive and on Saturday night at eight o’clock Mr Shepherd could tune in to Broadcasters LTD or Farmers’ LTD of Sydney. The Queensland Government intends to start almost immediately a broadcasting station in Brisbane. Both stations broadcast each evening from 8pm until 10pm. On any evening, without leaving their own homes, owners were able to listen to concerts being held in the principal cities of Australia. Mr Shepherd was also able to pick up signals from San Francisco and New Zealand.” (PG September 20 1924)

In June 1925 the following advertisement appeared in the “Guardian”

WIRELESS AGENCY    
Applications are invited for Sole Agencies for Radio Set Manufacture for Country Towns.
Successful applicants are ensured of every assistance and a handsome return.
Quality of sets is unsurpassed and price competitive.  
Either private individuals or business houses will be considered.
Apply by letter
Strand Radio Company, Strand Building, Queen Street, Brisbane.

Local shops began to advertise a range of radios, gramophones and records with prices within the reach of most people. The majority of the sets ran on batteries which had to be recharged regularly so it became worthwhile for Messrs Briggs and Mazlin to complete the installation of their up-to-date battery charging plant ready for service. With this, it was possible to charge a battery in one day or overnight. Fees were reasonable with special rates for country people so more and more families were enjoying this scientific magic.

It was the first time people could receive up-to-date news and listen to music and other forms of entertainment in their own home - a wonderful thing for isolated country people.

Story and photo courtesy Proserpine Historical Museum.

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Robert Shepherd was the first person in Proserpine to have a wireless radio installed at his address in Chapman Street

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This week
Season to date
Cane crushed
87,239
632,083
Average bin weight
9.62
9.59
CCS
13.96
13.81
Cane variety performance for region
Variety
%
CCS
Variety
%
CCS
Q208
26.7
14.35
SRA9
6.4
13.93
Q253
16.7
13.89
KQ228
3.8
13.63
Q240
16.2
13.86
SRA13
2.2
13.98
Q183
9.2
13.78
SRA21
2.1
12.75
Comments
Proserpine Mill processed just over 87,000 tonnes for the week. This was above budget and the highest weekly throughput for the year.
Average weekly CCS came in below budget at 13.96 units.
The highest CCS was 16.71 units from a rake of ratoon Q208 from the Lethebrook productivity district.
A scheduled maintenance stop is planned for Tuesday, September 17.
With school holidays about to commence across Queensland, we urge parents and guardians to remind their children about the dangers of playing on or near the cane rail network.
A reminder that our cane trains operate 24/7. Remember to use your train brain and always give way to cane trains. A fully loaded cane train can take up to one kilometre to stop.
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Peter Luke
Cane Supply Manager
Proserpine Region

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World Suicide Prevention Day is on the 10 September every year and earlier this week the Whitsunday Suicide Prevention Network (WSPN) held a memorial service in Proserpine and Bowen.

Almost 20 people came along to the event in Proserpine and WSPN President Matt Stokes said it was wonderful to connect.

“Today is an opportunity for people to come but it can be difficult, especially if it is still raw in their life,” said Matt.

“People have to work through a grieving process to then reach a point where they're happy to talk and be in an open environment like this.”

WSPN hosted several other events for World Suicide Prevention Day, including a memorial service in Bowen on Sunday 8 September, and were pleased to announce that attendees are now creating their own bereavement group.

“They all have so many of the same emotions and feelings, so being able to feel like they're not isolated in their thoughts is a big thing,” said Matt.

“If we can be the catalyst for those groups to form then that's really good.”

WSPN say every day for them is world suicide prevention day, but the actual date is highly important and their year revolves around it.

“What we want to do is to raise awareness of the help that's out there, so the people that really need it are not lost but have a clear go to,” said Matt.

“Instead of feeling like they are hopeless, and they don't know what to do or who to turn to.”

WSPN understand working with other organisations can achieve more traction and on the morning of 10 September they were also present in Bowen where they joined forces with Real Mates Talk hosting a World Suicide Prevention Day Barbecue Breakfast.

“There is a real change in the Whitsundays at the moment, and it’s that there is great collaboration amongst amazing providers. There are so many people that care,” said Matt.

There 65,000 suicide attempts per year in Australia and more than nine people per day pass away due to suicide in Australia.

Matt said suicide prevention is an extremely difficult thing to measure in terms of success of preventing, but likes to believe that every suicide is preventable, but how?

“What we can do is look out for each other, talk to each other, be kind to each other, teach our children how to be kind, and they are just the fundamentals,” said Matt.

If this article has been a trigger for you, remember help is available. Call Lifeline on 131114 or scan the QR code to see how WSPN can help you.

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WSPN President Matt Stokes, Renee Martin, Gill Graham, WSPN Rob Murphy, WSPN Mel Turner, WSPN Di Fleetwood, Proserpine Lions - Sharon Little & Joe Little and Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor Ry Collins. Photo credit: Daniel Heggie

WSPN volunteers and others at the World Suicide Prevention Day in Bowen on Sunday with a special service held at Queens Beach. Photo sourced: Facebook

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The team is back in The Whitsundays after a trip to Brisbane for Experience Queensland—Southeast Asia and India. Organised by Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ) and held at the new Star in Brisbane, it was a fantastic chance to connect with and learn from key trade partners from India, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. The event brought 45 decision-makers together, allowing us to share and educate them on our region and key product. As part of the program, key buyers visited The Whitsundays to experience our region firsthand. 

While we were there, our team attended a strategic update from TEQ, joined by Cruise Whitsundays and Ocean Rafting. Senior industry leaders talked about the achievements, challenges, and opportunities in Queensland's tourism and events sector, with a special focus on the lead-up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Key updates were heard from TEQ’s Chair, Grant Hunt A.M., Tourism Minister Michael Healy and TEQ CEO Patricia O'Callaghan.  

Looking forward, we’re planning for Tourism Australia’s G’Day Australia in Perth next month which is a combined training workshop, networking and familiarisation attended by 300 retail outlets, key wholesalers and tour operators from Tourism Australia’s key markets.  

Contributed by Cait Fleming, Industry Development & Trade Manager, Tourism Whitsundays  

Photos supplied

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Jade and Crystal from Tourism Whitsundays enjoyed a spectacular day trip with Iconic Whitsunday Adventures aboard their sleek vessel, Viper. It was Crystal's first encounter with the Whitsundays' iconic sights, and there was a real excitement to share the beauty of these incredible destinations. 
  
One of the tour’s standout features is its ability to visit three of the Whitsundays’ most iconic spots—Hill Inlet, Whitehaven Beach, and the Outer Great Barrier Reef—in a single day. The adventure begins with a thrilling high-speed ride on the Viper. This luxury vessel isn’t just the fastest; it’s designed to minimize travel time while maximizing comfort, so passengers can spend more time enjoying the sights. 
  
The first stop is Hill Inlet, where the crew expertly time the visit to catch the most spectacular tides. Next, Jade and Crystal cruised to Whitehaven Beach, where they relaxed on the soft sands and cooled off in the clear waters. Lunch onboard was a gourmet treat, perfect for refuelling before snorkelling at the Great Barrier Reef. The highlight was hearing the hauntingly beautiful sounds of whales underwater. 
  
A huge shoutout to the exceptional crew from Iconic Whitsunday Adventures for making the day feel so relaxed and unrushed. With plenty of time to savour each destination, this tour is a first-class experience for both first timers and seasoned travellers.
  
 
 
Contributed by Jade Yvonne, Business Development Executive, Tourism Whitsundays

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Photo supplied  
 
 

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Tossing and turning at night? While an occasional sleepless night isn't catastrophic, problems can start when it becomes a regular occurrence.
Around half of the Australian population suffers from sleep problems. Here are some tips on securing a better night sleep:

   1. And breathe...
Stress can significantly impact your sleep quality, therefore it is essential to create a calming environment before bed.
Get rid of any light and turn off your phone and any screens an hour before sleep and engage in relaxing activities such as reading a book or taking a warm bath instead.

   2. Sleep routine
Having a sleep routine, not only helps children and babies to drift off, but adults too. Schedule your bedtime and put in place some relaxing rituals.
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   3.  Try not to look at the clock
Checking the clock anxiously can actually disrupt your sleep. Try to avoid looking at it—hide it if needed—to reduce worry and improve rest.
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   4. Keep fit, get active and avoid unhealthy foods
Eating healthy foods before bed and exercising throughout the day is vital to improving sleep quality. Swap the evening wine for a glass of water.

   5. Avoid having lots of liquids before bed!
A drink before bed can be relaxing, but too much liquid might cause nighttime bathroom trips and disrupt your sleep. To rest better, limit your evening fluid intake.
If sleep problems persist, consult a specialist like Restore Sleep in the Whitsundays for expert help and support.
restoresleep.com.au

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Are you interested in exploring the diverse roles available in the Navy, Army and Air Force? Or are you considering a career in the Australian Defence Force (ADF)?

Next Wednesday in front of the Proserpine Entertainment Centre (PEC) and next Thursday at Whitsunday PCYC, the ADF are hosting a Mobile ADF Careers Centre (MACC) where you can chat with current serving members about job roles, further study opportunities, or flexible part-time commitment.

This is a great opportunity to ask any questions you have about ADF careers and opportunities.

The MACC is a mobile ADF Careers Centre, extending defence career opportunities to regional and remote areas of Australia. Visiting the MACC provides a chance to learn how the Navy, Army or Air Force can offer more than just a job.

Current serving members who understand the Defence application process will be on board to answer any questions your job seekers and students may have.

Learn more about the roles on offer by visiting the ADF Careers website.

What: Mobile ADF Careers Centre - Proserpine
When: 10:00 - 4:00pm, Wednesday 18th & Thursday 19th September
Where: Main Street, in front of Proserpine Entertainment Centre

What: Mobile ADF Careers Centre – Airlie Beach
When: 5:00 - 6:30pm, Wednesday 18th September
Where: Whitsunday PCYC

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There are moments in life when words fail, when the reality of what people endure is so shocking that it stops you in your tracks. One of those moments came for me while watching heart-wrenching videos shared at the Touch of Teal Soiree. A wife recounted the final hours of her husband’s life—denied pain medication as he lay dying because of concerns over addiction. Let that sink in. A man in his final moments, suffering beyond words, and his comfort was compromised in the name of addiction prevention. It’s almost too outrageous to believe, but it happened right here, in our community.
This man, who deserved peace, who deserved dignity, was failed. And it’s not an isolated case. The lack of proper palliative care in Mackay is leaving families shattered, forced to watch their loved ones pass in unbearable pain. As Trudy Crowley Foundation ambassador Earl Neilsen pointed out, a local radio DJ’s dogs received more humane treatment in their final hours than some of the cancer patients in our region. That comparison, while brutal, speaks volumes. It is unacceptable.
I won’t lie, watching these videos broke me. Keeping it together was a challenge. The grief, the helplessness, the unimaginable suffering these families have faced—how can we, as a society, allow this to continue? Over the coming weeks, we’ll be sharing these stories with you. They are raw, emotional, and, yes, incredibly difficult to hear. But they are important. These stories need to be told if we are to change the future of palliative care in this region, just as Trudy Crowley intended.
In this edition, we share the celebratory moments of this year’s Touch of Teal Soiree on pages 6-7.
No one should face the end of their life in pain.
No family should have to witness their loved one suffering because the care they need isn’t available.
It’s time for a change, and it’s time we demand better.
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Amanda

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Barbra and her husband Don Hargreaves from Carlisle Gardens in Mackay, had parked their car and headed into Andergrove Woolworths to quickly grab some groceries when a gentleman was coming out with what Barbra describes as “the most beautiful dog.”

When they approached the entrance, Barba greeted the man and complimented the dog of Dutch breed on how beautiful it was and the gentleman said “thank you” before noticing that Don was blind and using a mobility cane. The gentleman then moved closer to Don so that he could pat the dog and while he was doing that, he handed Barbra a bunch of flowers and said, “You have a beautiful smile and here are some flowers for a beautiful lady.”

“He handed me a lovely bouquet of flowers and it made my day, it did,” Barbra said.

Barbra is in her late 70’s and Donald is in his early 80’s. Barbra says the kind gentleman was around their age.

Still in shock by the generous act, Barbra and Don are beyond grateful for the encounter and she said “he was a lovely chap and he had a lovely smiley face.

“I’m just so overwhelmed and it’s such a lovely gesture that I’m still admiring the flowers now, I have them sitting up here on the bench.”

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The bouquet of flowers that were kindly gifted to Barbra from a kind stranger at Andergrove supermarket. Photo supplied

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People Seen Fleeing Into Cane Fields From Car Fire
Police are appealing for assistance following a suspicious car fire in Glenella on Saturday, September 7.
Just before 8am, emergency services were called to Glendaragh Road following reports a white Ford Focus was on fire.
Upon police arrival, three people were seen running from the scene into surrounding cane fields.
The fire was extinguished, however, the vehicle sustained significant damage.
Investigations into the registration of the vehicle are ongoing.
Police are appealing to anyone with information, or relevant dashcam or CCTV vision, to come forward. Reference number QP2401539271.

Stolen Vehicle Halts Coal Transportation
A Sarina resident was woken by the sound of their dog barking at around 2:15 am on September 10, followed by the noise of a car being driven away quickly from their Cemetery Road home. Upon investigation, it was discovered that a silver 2012 Nissan Patrol, registration 402 KX6, had been stolen from the front footpath of the property.
The stolen vehicle was located later that morning, abandoned across a railway track on the Bruce Highway near Koumala. The Nissan sustained damage to the undercarriage and tyres.
As a result of the vehicle's positioning, the Central Queensland Coal Network was temporarily shut down after the car was found on the rail line near Yukan, south of Sarina. Authorities are seeking information about the circumstances surrounding the theft and abandonment of the vehicle.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the police, referencing case number QP2401554883.

Assault, Theft And Nuisance
A 36-year-old man who resides in East Mackay has been arrested and charged with multiple offences following an alleged incident at a shopping complex on Bridge Road in West Mackay on September 7.
It's alleged that the man has entered a business at the shopping complex and stolen items from inside.
It's further alleged that the man has walked out of the business and then poured orange juice over another person before pushing them to the ground.
It's further alleged that the man has then flipped over a table which was set up for charity sales, he has then left the area on foot.
It's alleged that patrolling officers found the man walking nearby and he was arrested.
The 36-year-old man has been charged with the serious assault of a person over 60, stealing and committing a public nuisance.

Fisherman Tries To Hook Cell Phone
At approximately 8:20 am on September 7, a person walking through the intersection of Gordon Street and Wood Street in Mackay was the victim of an alleged theft. According to reports, a man walking nearby lunged at the victim, snatching a mobile phone from their shirt pocket before attempting to flee the scene.
The victim briefly chased after the man, who then threw the stolen phone into a nearby gutter, causing it to break and become inoperable.
The suspect is described as a Caucasian male, aged between 40 and 50, approximately six feet tall, with stubble. He was wearing a fishing hat, shorts, and a t-shirt at the time of the incident.
Police are encouraging anyone with information related to this matter to come forward. Please reference police report number QP2401540454.

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Opinion Piece

Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox says the zero emissions ideology of the Labor, Greens and Teals has local business like Blue River Ice at boiling point because of power price hikes.

“When power bills skyrocket from $10,000 per month to $25,000 per month – I am not a mathematician, but I sure know you can’t pass this onto consumers and businesses can’t absorb this hike,” Mr Willcox said.

Owner of Blue River Ice, Francis Vigliante does not know what the future will hold.

“How are any businesses expected to cover that I’m not sure,” he said.

“We have increased prices but that only goes a certain way to covering all other costs that have gone up.

“We feel we are being forced to sell our business to large ice companies who are able to contract lower prices from power suppliers based on overall demand.”

Mr Willcox added, “All I keep seeing from this Government is personal attacks on the leader, but it’s about time they start producing some answers and a plan for our businesses.

“Due to the Labor created cost of living crisis our country is facing, this Government is not giving Australians hope.”

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Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox met with Owner of Blue River Ice, Francis Vigliante last week to discuss the issues that local businesses are currently facing. Photo credit: Hannah McNamara

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Federal Member for Dawson, Andrew Willcox, is demanding immediate action from the state and federal governments to fix the Bruce Highway as safety concerns pile up.

“According to RACQ data, head-on crashes account for 50 per cent of fatalities on the Bruce Highway, and motorists are five times more likely to be injured or killed while travelling the Bruce than they are if they were travelling from Sydney to Melbourne,” Mr Willcox said.

“It is deeply concerning that these statistics are being ignored by the state government who are in charge of fixing and maintaining our roads.

“This is a matter of life and death, and the Prime Minister needs to be held accountable. The original funding model must be reinstated back to the 80:20 contribution split, and works to the highway need to start immediately.

“As someone who travels between Mackay and Townsville regularly, I have seen firsthand what tragedies can occur and how devastating they are, which is why I launched my petition to Back Our Bruce, Back Our People.”

Mr Willcox said in the month since this petition was launched, he has received 1,000 signatures and has heard from members of the community who have witnessed horrific accidents and fatalities.

“That’s 1,000 signatures, 1,000 stories, and 1,000 more reasons to fix our Bruce Highway,” he said.

“Just last week we saw the horrible explosion which shut the road for three days. This cut off supplies, it cut life off to towns and again, another life of loss, that just should not have happened.

“It feels like every day just about, there is an accident on the Bruce, but they are avoidable.”

Chair of the Road Accident Action Group, Rod Erwin, confirmed that AusRAP crash data shows upgrades and the dual carriageways on the Hume and Pacific almost eliminated head on crashes.

Mr Erwin is passionate about reducing fatigue related incidents and crashes in the Bowen Basin area and said that RAAG is focusing on the need to build a formal truck stop facility to give our essential services somewhere to rest as they drive on the worst highway in our state, and they deserve somewhere safe to rest with clean facilities.  

“The lives of the people who live, work, and travel throughout the electorate and through this section of the Bruce Highway are just as important as those living in capital cities, and we deserve to be able to confidently travel on our roads and arrive at our destination, or home to our families, safely,” Mr Willcox said.

To sign the petition, visit www.andrewwillcox.com.au/back-our-bruce

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Federal Member for Dawson, Andrew Willcox, met with members of the Road Accident Action Group to hear their concerns on the condition of local roads. Photo supplied

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