By Rachael Smith

Residents of the Whitsundays will now be able to access free transportation down to Mackay Base Hospital for outpatient medical appointments thanks to the new Whitsunday Patient Transfer Service.

Kicking off earlier this week, the new medical bus has the capacity for eight patients and will operate Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.

Departing Cannonvale at 6am and returning on the same day at 5pm, the bus collects patients from Proserpine Hospital and Bloomsbury BP Service Station before arriving at Mackay Base Hospital around 9am.

Return trips depart Mackay Base Hospital at 2.30pm on the same days, with the identical stops during the trek home.

Passengers are required to have an outpatient appointment at Mackay Base Hospital on these days between 9am and 1pm, and reservations are essential.

The service is made possible by a team of volunteer drivers.

Peter Mitchelson is a retired taxi driver who decided to volunteer as a driver alongside Dave Robinson who was also looking for volunteer work.

“It’s a good way to keep my brain going!” said Dave.

“I really want to help sick people and I am retired now so just wanted to give back.”

Mackay Hospital Foundation General Manager Kristi Algate said she is thrilled to see the service start operating and appreciates everyone’s patience in waiting for it to get up and running.

“The bus had been funded and purchased quite some time ago, but it’s been a massive project during the past year to put arrangements in place before the service could begin,” she said.

“From securing volunteer drivers to organising policies and procedures, liaising with hospitals in Mackay and the Whitsundays, ensuring volunteers are adequately trained drivers and hold First Aid certificates, having all our paperwork in order, it has taken much longer than anticipated to ensure we’ve ticked all the boxes before starting the service.”

Whitsunday Regional Council has co-funded the purchase of the bus, along with Mackay Hospital Foundation while Macrossan and Amiet Charitable Foundation is contributing towards the operational costs.

Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor Julie Hall said the new service will be invaluable for patients needing to travel long distances for medical care.

“Council contributed $20,000 to the Mackay Hospital Foundation several years ago so for it now to be transporting patients from Proserpine and Airlie Beach to Mackay Hospital and the Icon Cancer Centre for medical appointments is a great outcome for our community,” she said.

“I have been a strong advocate for this patient transfer service as no one should have to choose between their health and their ability to access medical care.

“I’d like to thank the Mackay Hospital Foundation for their efforts to work through the red tape of running a community medical bus and Member for Whitsunday, Amanda Camm who has been a strong advocate for the service.”

At this stage, the Whitsunday Patient Transfer Service bus route does not include a Bowen or Collinsville pick-up point, but Whitsunday Regional Council say they are looking into possible options to provide Bowen residents with a free medical bus service as well.

Mayor Hall said she was very aware that there is a need for a similar patient transfer service to operate and service Bowen and Collinsville.

“Our Economic Development team is keen to work with the Federal and State governments, private operators, and community groups to explore options for a community medical bus service for the Bowen/Collinsville region.”

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Volunteer drivers, Peter Mitchelson and Dave Robinson, donate their time to operate the service. Photo credit: Rachael Smith

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A 29-year-old Jubilee Pocket woman has been charged for indecent treatment of a child and being involved in making and distributing child exploitation material.

She is one of seven individuals charged with 44 child sex offences, as part of a police investigation, codenamed Operation Uniform Amigua.

Thanks to arrests, six children under the age of 10 are now safe from further danger.

Also charged was a 27-year-old Aspley man with 17 charges, including grooming a parent or a carer of a child, indecent treatment of a child, and using a carriage service to access child abuse material.

A 44-year-old Hendra woman was charged with multiple drug offences, including supplying and possessing dangerous drugs, and a 26-year-old North Lakes woman was charged with indecent treatment of a child and being involved in making and distributing child exploitation material.

Operation Uniform Amigua was a joint taskforce, utilising officers from the Gateway Child Protection and Investigation Unit (CPIU) and the Whitsunday Criminal Investigation Branch (WIB), who executed six search warrants across Queensland and other jurisdictions from December last year.

Gateway Crime Group Detective Inspector John Mison said the successful operation was largely due to the fantastic collaboration with interstate counterparts.

“An organised network of child sexual abusers has been dismantled through a series of complex investigative strategies which has resulted in six children being rescued,” Detective Inspector Mison said.

“This extensive investigation relied on assistance from other investigative units within Queensland and throughout the country with the network stretching from Central Queensland to the southern states.

“We will continue to work on identifying these types of networks, rescuing children at risk of this offending and taking action against criminals involved in committing these types of heinous offences.”

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By Rachael Smith

History has been preserved for future generations thanks to the newly restored mural on the wall of the Bowen Hotel.

The mural depicts the two original Denison Hotels of the 1940s and was painted in 1996.

Since then, it had faded significantly but thanks to the Bowen Mural Society and local artist Martin Jegou, new life has been breathed into the painting and its colours are vibrant once again.

It has taken Martin the past four weeks to complete the mural and after 85 hours, he finally took a satisfied step back and knew he’d finished the job.

“I had to copy a lot of it from an old postcard so I could get the colours correct,” said Martin.

“It took a lot of patience as it was very faded and had lost most of its vibrant colour, so it was pretty dull.

“It has been very rewarding bringing it back to life and it has been good to keep the heritage alive.”

The previous mural was painted by brush, but Martin’s technique is spray paint.

“I’ve tried to make it as good as it was, but in my own style,” he explains.

“It’s a different style but I’ve managed to keep the same finish.”

This is not the first mural that Martin has worked on in Bowen, he has personally created murals on the walls of the VMR that depicts the Lighthouse and a history of vessels.

He has also painted a mixture of local birdlife and orchids on the Showground walls and a local view of farmland and produce on the lunch area wall at Queens Beach School.

“Martin has done a fantastic job,” said Heather Skinner, from the Bowen Mural Society, when asked about the Bowen Hotel mural.

“It looks absolutely fabulous.”

There are over 30 murals in Bowen and the town has often been referred to as ‘The Mural Town Of Australia”.

Heather says they have plans to create two new murals – one of the very early churches on the St Vinnie’s wall and a second of Herbert Street in the late 1800s which will be on the wall next to the information centre on Front Beach.

The Bowen Hotel mural restoration was funded by a Regional Arts Development Fund through the Whitsunday Regional Council.

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Local artist Martin Jegou putting the finishing touches on the Bowen Hotel mural earlier this week. Photo supplied.

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This past week, NAIDOC Week celebrations were held across the region, with schools and community centres acknowledging and recognising First Nations cultures, histories, and traditions.

The theme of the 2023 celebration is ‘For Our Elders’, highlighting the importance of generational knowledge and traditions.

The Whitsunday Regional Council held a series of events to mark the occasion, including a morning tea and a special showing of Episode 1 of Black Snow.

In addition, they hosted a Sea of Fish Challenge for families in the region’s libraries, and a Welcome to Whales Community Art display, created with Casey McAvoy and the wider Whitsunday community.

St Catherine’s Catholic College begun their NAIDOC Week celebrations with a special smoking ceremony with Elder Uncle Robert Congoo, with the entire school in attendance.

Students from across the college took part in a range of activities throughout the day, including decorating classroom doors, rock painting, Yorribaya cultural workshops, and art creations.

The college also welcomed elders, families, friends, and distinguished guests to a morning tea as part of the celebrations.

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Photos supplied by St Catherine’s Catholic College

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The latest in a series of Whitsunday Regional Council ‘Community Catch-Ups’ took place at George’s Diner last week and about 35 residents from the Conway Beach and Wilson Beach areas residents attended.

Topics discussed included rebuilding the swimming enclosure at Wilsons Beach, telecommunications issues, Yellow Crazy Ants awareness and rubbish and waste issues for rural areas and illegal dumping.

Mayor Julie Hall said the community catch-ups allowed face to face interaction with the community so that Councillors could engage with residents on Council projects in their area.

“It is also a great opportunity to facilitate a two-way flow of information and hear from the residents about issues affecting their local community,” she said.

A dedicated portal on the Your Say Whitsundays website has been set-up to inform residents about the outcome of previous community catch-ups which have taken place at Mt Coolon, Cape Gloucester, Cannonvale, and Collinsville.

A full report from each event is available on the webpage.

There is also a quick and straightforward ‘ideas post-it tool’ where residents can upload their ideas for discussion prior to the next meeting.  

Upcoming catch-ups include:

Proserpine

WHEN: Wednesday 2 August

TIME: 9am - 11am - Location TBD

Bowen

WHEN: Wednesday 30 August

TIME: 9am - 11am - Location TBD

Scottville, Shute Harbour and Gumlu and Cape Upstart – Dates TBC

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Mayor Julie Hall opens the conversation at George’s Diner in Conway last week. Photo supplied

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The world is opening up for Year 9 Proserpine State High School student Matilda Braney, as she steps into the realm of professional modelling with Sunshine Coast based fashion brand, Belle Le Chic.

In September, Matilda will embark on a month-long international tour with Belle Le Chic, travelling to the likes of Los Angeles, New York, Mykonos, Santorini, Venice, and Milan.

Matilda said that she is so grateful and honoured to be able to follow her passion and start the pathway to fulfilling her dream of becoming an international model.

“Strutting the runways of the Big Apple can innovate and establish your reputation in the industry in the most prestigious fashion event in the world,” she explained.

“It is the ultimate platform to showcase your skills amongst industry insiders, photographers, acclaimed designers, and agents that could potentially open doors to opportunities.”

With Belle Le Chic, Matilda will walk New York and Milan Fashion Week, and be a part of photoshoots on the Greek Islands.

She even has the opportunity to be featured on a Times Square billboard in New York.

Matilda competed with the CQ Rescue Talent Search in Mackay in June, hosted by Brooke Lee Modelling and Deportment School, and was crowned Miss Congeniality for her effort.

Matilda said she hopes that she can be an inspiration for young girls everywhere, especially those from small towns, showing that anyone can fulfill their dreams no matter where you live.

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Year 9 student, Matilda Braney is beginning her dream of professional modelling, hitting international runways in September. Photo supplied

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Students in the Whitsundays have been given easier access to vocational education, with 100 new scholarships for TAFE Queensland.

The TAFE Queensland Scholarship Program is available for any continuing TAFE Queensland first year apprentice or a student commencing study of any Certificate III through to an Advanced Diploma or Bachelor Degree online or in person including the Whitsunday and Bowen TAFE locations.

TAFE Queensland Interim Chief Executive John Tucker said the scholarships help cover the costs of course fees, text books and living expenses, including child care, uniforms, and travel costs.

“We know the power vocational education and training has to change people’s lives and we want to help people fulfill their career potential regardless of their circumstances,” said Mr Tucker.

“First launched in 2015, the TAFE Queensland Scholarship Program has awarded over $2.6 million in scholarships, helping more than 550 Queenslanders pursue their career goals.”

To be eligible for a scholarship, students must be an Australian citizen or a permanent resident, and commence study in Semester One, 2024, or be an existing TAFE Queensland first year apprentice.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are encouraged to apply, with allocated scholarships for First Nations students available.

“There are two types to scholarships available, one being merit scholarships aimed at supporting people who have demonstrated strong levels of achievement to advance their careers.

“The second are access and equity scholarships which are designed to help students who are battling social and financial hardships,” Mr Tucker explained.

Each scholarship is worth $5000 and the applications close on September 29 at midnight.

“Scholarships can be life changing for students.

“Whether you’re leaving school considering a career change, or looking to upskill, all Queenslanders are urged to apply,” he said.  

To apply and more information, visit tafeqld.edu.au/scholarships.

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By Rachael Smith

A series of yellow buoys depicting turtles and dugongs are due to be placed in the seagrass meadow near Pigeon Island, just off Cannonvale Beach, in an effort to encourage motorised boats to “Go Slow For Those Below”.

Since 1998 this fragile seagrass meadow has been monitored and groups such as the Whitsunday Conservation Council and the Whitsunday Seagrass Volunteers have been advocating for its protection.

The site is a turtle basking and feeding area, with over 100 turtles and dugong mothers with their calves known to have resided there for some years.

While the turtles remain in the meadow, however, local charter boat operator Dale Tansely who runs Whisper Cruises, has noticed a sharp decline in the number of dugongs in recent months.

“I have just had the longest time without seeing a dugong,” said Dale.

“It’s usually every 10 days to two weeks that I would see a dugong for a few days in a row, and now they’ve just stopped. And it’s been a good couple of months since I’ve seen one.”

Dale has been keeping a faithful log of all his wildlife sightings for the past two years, counting turtles and dugongs daily.

While turtle sightings remain constant, the dugongs which had also been constant, have now suddenly disappeared.

Dale believes that fast motorised boats and jet skis are one of the reasons they have departed, with the noise disruption too much.

Dale’s vessel is electric and travels at just five kilometres an hour, making a quiet hum in the water.

Every day he witnesses fast vessels speed across the water and has noticed how quickly the marine life disappears when they do.

Jacquie Shiels, President of the Whitsunday Conservation Council and Coordinator of the Whitsunday Volunteer Seagrass Group has been working to raise awareness for this fragile ecosystem for many years.

She is now thrilled to see the installation of the new signage and hopes that, while it is only advisory, it will act as an education tool for boat owners.

“This is a significant seagrass meadow that has been there for a long time,” said Jacquie.

“It’s taken us a long time to persuade the authorities to take action and we would like to thank Maritime Safety Queensland, Marine Parks and the Whitsunday Regional Council for helping.

“The buoys will be placed along the edge of the sea grass meadow where the water starts to get deeper.

“The idea is that they form a line along the edge of the shallow water where the animals feed, like no-anchoring markers that protect the fringing reefs around the islands.”

Dale said that he also hopes the signs will make difference, but that an official speed limit is desperately needed.

“I think most places would be trying to protect the area – it’s got more turtles than I’ve seen anywhere else, and it’s not even got a speed limit,” he said.

“I think it definitely needs a speed limit.”

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Dale Tansley from Whisper Cruises has kept a log of turtles and dugongs for the past two years. Photo credit: Rachael Smith

An example of the signs that will be placed on the edge of the seagrass meadow. Graphic supplied

The fragile seagrass meadow near Pigeon Island where vessels are encouraged to slow down. Image supplied

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By Bronte Hodge

Keeping busy has always been the way for Lawson Camm, hosting both cane and cattle on his property in the hills of Mount Julian.

Now a third-generation farmer, and working alongside two of his four sons on the farm, Lawson has continued to branch into both cattle and cane farming.

“Originally, granddad brought the cattle in,” Lawson explained.

“Back in those days, you used to get an assignment given to you to plant cane, so Granddad got an assignment and started growing cane.”

Since those days, the Camm family farm has evolved, encompassing properties out Collinsville and Moranbah way, as well as the central farm on Mount Julian growing now to about 400 hectares of sugar cane and running 1000 head of cattle.

“The two are interesting,” said Lawson.

“They’re not related but they fluctuate together; the price of sugar goes up when the cattle prices drop and vice versa.”

In particular, Lawson has taken to breeding primarily stock Brahman, with his cattle being sold and travelling across Queensland and the Northern Territory.

“We do a lot of artificial breeding; we buy genetics from all over America and we sell genetics to America as well,” he explained.

Becoming a big producer in Brahman stock breeding was a big move for Lawson.

“It’s taken quite a few years to establish, yes, it's been a big investment over a lot of years.”

Primarily selling out of Charters Towers and Rockhampton, Lawson and some Proserpine local cattle farmers were able to champion a Proserpine local cattle sale, even investing in the upgrade to the Proserpine Showground cattle yard refurbishment.

Lawson is often changing his procedures and practices to align with the demands of the industry.

“For instance, over the last few years, there's been a big demand from producers for horned animals, where we move away from horning.

“And the fastest way for us to do that is to breed animals that don’t have horns.

“We’ve embraced that more than others, so we’re ahead of other producers.”

On the cane side of the farm, Lawson is able to produce 30,000 tonnes of cane a season, however his passion lies on the production of cattle.

He is also on the Board of Directors, acting as Junior Vice President for the Australian Brahman Breeders’ Association, which has him communicating with members and collecting data analytics of his cattle for the breeder’s pedigree handbook.

Lawson is joined by his wife, Sophie, who owns and operates the children boutique store Cherrie Baby in Proserpine as well as helps on the property, and their five children.

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Lawson Camm does not look away from a challenge, taking on both cane and cattle farming at his Mount Julian property. Photo credit: Bronte Hodge

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Food retailers in the Whitsundays are invited to become Plastic Free Champions thanks to a free state government funded program which offers practical advice on how to become plastic free.

Eligible businesses will receive personalised assistance in reaching goals to eliminate plastic from their work premises.

Boomerang Alliance are the facilitating company, and they promise to offer free and impartial advice that will also be cost effective.

“We know our stuff, we know the local suppliers and products,” said a spokesperson.

“With our help, you won't end up paying more for cleverly marketed plastic.

“We can help you become compliant with the Queensland plastics ban and reduce costs and waste.”

Eligible food retailers include cafes, restaurants, caterers, mobile vendors, bars, bakeries, juice bars etc.

Participants will be given great benefits such as promotional opportunities and free resources.

Upon completion of the program, businesses can become a Plastic Free Champion and receive a Champion sign to proudly display at the premises.

Those that are already plastic free can become certified straight away.

Head to plasticfreeplaces.org for more information.

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Food retailers receive free advice on becoming plastic free. Photo: stock image

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Bowen’s Big Mango and Bowen Tourism and Business have celebrated another set of massive milestones, with close to 48 thousand visitors welcomed through the Bowen Information Centre.

Exactly 47,812 people stepped foot into the Bowen Information Centre and Information Booth in the previous financial year, with the previous highest record being from two years ago, with only 42,945 people.

This increase of 11 per cent comes off the back of the Big Mango’s 21st birthday which saw national coverage.

Chair of Bowen Tourism and Business, Jenn Honnery said this result was fantastic and meant that the organisation had not only reached pre-covid levels but had fully recovered and continued to grow since the pandemic.

“Our presence online, on TV, radio, and in print regionally and nationally has been strong in the past two years and we are now reaping the benefits,” she said.

The Bowen Information Centre also broke their record for more visitors in one day, on June 28, with 512 people greeted, breaking the September 2022 record of 439 visitors.

Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor Julie Hall said Bowen has always been a destination that captures the hearts of travellers from around the globe.

“The record visitor numbers at the Visitor Information Centre are not simply a reflection of our region’s natural wonders, but a testament to the exceptional efforts of the team at the centre and their tireless work and innovative ideas,” Mayor Hall said.

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Bowen Visitor Information Centre hits another milestone, days before end of financial year. Photo supplied

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Council handed down our 2023-24 budget on June 30 and a 2 per cent increase for owner occupiers is a lower rate rise than what could have been.

Like everyone else, Council is feeling the increased costs of living.

Our research expects about 7.5 % inflation for this year, so the good news is that Council is absorbing most of the hikes, rather than passing the full amount onto ratepayers.

There are other increases in water, sewage, and rubbish as we move towards full cost pricing of these services on a user pays model, so remember, the less you waste, the less you pay.

It should also save people from paying rates for expensive services they don’t specifically benefit from.

Rubbish, recycling, and landfill remediation remains a big cost item and I have joined the regional waste committee and continue to put in extra work on finding solutions that can save us all money.

I have read hundreds of pages of reports and policy, including from previous years to help me better understand my first $200 million budget.

Amongst that I saw that last year residents in their own homes had a higher rate rise than other residential properties, so I was happy to endorse the decision of all Councillors to approve a lower rise for them in 2023-24.

The capital works papers outline over $15 million dollars for Cannonvale and Paluma Road, not including another $2 mill for the sewage plant. I think this sets us up for major improvements in services and infrastructure in the coming years.

There are a number of exciting new projects in the pipeline for Cannonvale which we are hopeful of confirming in coming months and will potentially see Division 2 receive more than four times better funding allocation than in last year’s budget.

The Whitsunday Policy on rates says they are based on equity and benefit.

I think there is more we can do towards this going forward and I hope to be stating my case again for the 24/25 budget.

With our new Chief Executive Officer running the business of Council this financial year, I expect to see a better return on investment for ratepayers, better operational outcomes and while change in Local Government sometimes feels like trying to turn the Titanic, I think that analogy shows just how important it is to have the whole region on a safe and steady course to success.

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Acts of vandalism across Council assets such as parks and playground equipment, amenities blocks, public tables and barbeques, open space irrigation systems and graffiti to buildings has a cost of over $90K a year to Council! They also take our Officers and Maintenance crews away from their daily tasks, therefore increasing wait times on other community projects and requests.

If these acts of vandalism and deliberate destruction were to cease, this ratepayer money could be put to much better use such as funding community grants or assisting young sportspeople to achieve their goals.

If you witness an act of vandalism in our community, please report it directly to Council via email:info@whitsundayrc.qld.gov.au or by phone on 1300 972 753. Alternatively, please contact Crime Stoppers online or by phoning 1800 333 000.

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If you register your dog or cat before the end of this month a special discount is available, and all residents of the Whitsundays are urged to take advantage of this offer to ensure the safety of your pet.

Mayor Julie Hall said that registrations for pet owners are due now with the discount period ending July 31 2023.

“Registering your dog or cat is part of being a responsible pet owner,” she said.

“It gives our Local Law Officers the very best chance of finding and returning your dog or cat should it become lost or wander from its yard.

“I would also like to remind residents that only two dogs or two cats are allowed per property, unless a multiple dog or cat permit has been approved.

“It’s also timely to remind residents about their responsibility as a pet owner with dogs at large and barking being the two most common complaints.

“Residents are encouraged to look at ways they can make behavioural changes with their pets and minimise barking and other adverse behaviours.”

Be aware that unregistered animals may result in an infringement, so make sure to visit Council’s Customer Service Centre to find out how you can register your pet.

Register your pet here: https://bit.ly/3HZK2kg.

Council encourages the following to ensure the best care for your pet:

• Exercise and play with your dog or cat regularly.

• Desex your dog or cat.

• Microchip and register your dog or cat from 3 months old.

• Keep your dog and cat safely enclosed on your property when not walking them.

• Advise Council if there is a change of address or ownership.

• Clean up after your pet, both at home and in public places.

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Register your pet before July 31. Photo: stock image

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Promoting our region to a national and international market is something that Tourism Whitsundays do successfully every day, but here on the ground they are equally as busy.

Last week, CEO of Tourism Whitsundays Rick Hamilton, made a trip to Bowen and while he was there, took the time to hang out and meet with other tourism operators.

“Having the opportunity to combine meetings with experiencing our region is one of the best parts of my role at Tourism Whitsundays,” he explained.

“As CEO, I work closely with my team, members, and community to market The Whitsundays and support the development of the tourism industry to ensure the longevity of tourism in The Whitsundays.”

While attending a meeting between advocates for the Bowen Marina and Council, Rick was able to gain further insights into the challenges facing the marina precinct and has promised Tourism Whitsundays will assist with the solution where they can.

“This is a long road, and a vision shared by all stakeholders, businesses, council, and Tourism Whitsundays, will ensure we’re all working toward the same outcome,” he said.

After the meeting, Rick took the opportunity to head down to the marina and pick up some fresh fish for dinner.

“On the hunt for some locally grown produce to accompany my fish, I headed out to Stackelroth Farms, where both Michelle and Belinda were at the farm shop,” he said.

“Michelle showed me the beehive in the wall of the farm shop and explained how their farm works in with others in the region.

“The day showed me how much progress we can achieve as a region when we all work together for the benefit of the whole region.”

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CEO of Tourism Whitsundays Rick Hamilton and Cait Fleming from Tourism Whitsundays with Belinda Williams from Stackelroth Farms. Photo supplied

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