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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Upcoming Events

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

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

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

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

Photo credit: Daniel Heggie

‍

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

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

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

“It is a good community effort this year.”

Join for a fun run and support a great cause!

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

‍

Community Fun Run!
Run for fun

‍

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

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

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

‍

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

‍

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

‍

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

‍

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

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

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

‍

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

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

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

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

Also mark your calendars for the following business events:

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

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

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

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

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

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

‍

Excitement is building as the Whitsundays Tourism Awards approach. Mark your calendars for October 19th, when we’ll celebrate the best of our region’s tourism industry at the stunning Daydream Island Resort. If you haven’t grabbed your tickets yet, now’s the time—this is the event where we recognise the hard work and dedication of our local operators and service providers. 

We’re thrilled to announce that Bishopp is joining us as the naming rights sponsor for this year’s awards. As Australia’s leading regional out-of-home advertising company, Bishopp is dedicated to supporting local businesses and communities, making their partnership a perfect fit for the event. 

With the awards just around the corner, we invite everyone to join us in recognising the achievements of our tourism industry. It promises to be an unforgettable evening, so be sure not to miss out! 

In addition to gearing up for the awards, it’s been wonderful to have Adventure Queensland. They are a group of operators dedicated to Adventure Travel and they were in region for a networking night at the Coral Sea Pavilion. This gathering was a fantastic opportunity for local adventure operators to connect with industry peers and explore new opportunities for collaboration. 
 
Contributed by Aimee Cameron, Interim CEO, Tourism Whitsundays  
 

‍

Next Father’s Day imagine your dad living the dream by sipping world-class Shiraz in the Heart of the Barossa Valley at lunch, and by sunset, swimming in the Coral Sea in the Whitsundays, Heart of the Great Barrier Reef.
This idyllic escape is now a reality with the first direct flights between Adelaide and Whitsunday Coast Airport (WCA) taking off earlier this week connecting the two cities in less than three hours and creating 58,000 low-cost seats a year.
Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor Ry Collins said the direct route will operate three times per week and is a game-changer for our region as it opens a direct flight route for the 1.2 million people who live in the Adelaide region.
“New routes like Adelaide are not just about adding more flights to our schedule, they represent a tremendous opportunity to open the Whitsunday region to a whole new market of visitors,” he said.
“With these flights, we’re making it easier than ever for people from across Australia to discover the Whitsundays.
“By increasing our accessibility, we’re broadening our appeal to a wider audience. Whether they’re coming here for the first time or returning to explore even more, these visitors are vital to the continued growth and sustainability of our Whitsunday tourism industry.
This expanded connectivity also reinforces our position as a premier destination and signals to the world that the Whitsundays is open, accessible, and ready to provide unforgettable experiences.”
Mayor Ry Collins also shared his thoughts on the flight in an interview with Whitsunday Life, providing insights into the experience:
“It was really quick, I was surprised how quick it was to come here from Adelaide, it was about 2 and a half hours, great flight, very smooth and good time-frame.”
“It's obviously very exciting to have a new destination coming to our region, and I think there was over 160 people on our flight, it's a good start to what hopefully will be a really good destination for the region.”
Craig Turner, CEO of Whitsunday Coast Airport, said the economic benefits of new routes extend far beyond just tourism.
“For local businesses, this means more visitors walking through your doors, more customers to serve, and more opportunities to thrive.
“We know that when more people come to the Whitsundays, they don’t just visit—they invest in our local economy, creating jobs and supporting our vibrant small business community,” Mr Turner said.
“Any boost in tourism numbers will drive further investment in our infrastructure and services, ensuring that the Whitsundays continues to be a premier destination for both domestic and international visitors.
“By tapping into new markets, we’re diversifying our visitor base, making our economy more resilient to seasonal fluctuations and external factors.” Interim Tourism Whitsundays CEO Aimee Cameron said their members were excited to welcome South Australian visitors keen to make the most of our region’s beautiful warmer weather.
“With a variety of water and land-based activities, excellent dining options, exciting events, diverse accommodation, and experiences to suit families, youth, adventure seekers, and luxury travellers, the Whitsundays truly has something for everyone.”

‍

Mayor Ry Collins, Councillor Jan Clifford and CEO of Whitsunday Coast Airport Craig Turner.
Tourism Whitsundays, Mayor Ry collins, CEO of Whitsunday Coast Airport Craig Turner and Turtle Mascot.
Mayor Ry Collins and CEO of Whitsunday Coast Airport Craig Turner leaving the first direct flight from Adelaide

‍

Katelyn Collins has owned the café inside Whitsunday Coast Airport for over 2 years and has seen many achievements during that time, including the airport winning best regional airport, but nothing makes her happier than providing hungry customers with great food and service.

To give customers great food, Taste Whitsundays focus on fast and speedy food but make it extra delicious by focusing on local produce.

“We make all our own salads using as much local ingredients as we can; anywhere that we can use locally sourced products, we do,” said Katelyn.

“We use all local avocados in our nachos, rather than buying pre-packaged preservative filled guacamole.”

In addition to local avocados, at Taste Whitsundays they use local tomatoes, limes, other fruits and vegetables and adapt their menu to suit seasonal products.

“When certain things are in season, we really feature those things,” explained Katelyn.

“In the fruit salads we'll do a special on mangoes and mango ice cream right through mango season.

“We adapt, and because we're hand making, we've got usually three salads on each day and any of the produce that is fresh at that time we really push and use.”

Using fresh produce is just one part of Taste Whitsundays, their service is also top tier, and they have many customers, national and international praising them.

“We’ve got a really good system that is set up to be fast and efficient,” said Katelyn.

“We make food to order, and the number of times people say, ‘Oh, gee, is it going to be 10 minutes for my burger? And I'll say, no, it might be two minutes at the most.’ And they can't believe just how quickly we can get it out to people!

“Passengers waiting for a flight can get stressed because they think things are going to take too long so we use technology to enhance that speed and efficiency.”

When Taste Whitsundays opened its doors they had QR codes on tables, allowing customers to order from the tables instead of going up to order. They have now introduced a self-serve kiosk.

Katelyn expresses that the self-serve machines do not mean customers get a lesser experience at the café.

Instead, introducing the kiosks allows her staff to not be overworked and have more time to take care of customers and offer a better overall service. She also expressed that airports are fast-paced, and the kiosk lets customers make their order in their own time and feel more relaxed.

Moving forward, Taste Whitsundays is excited to introduce more languages to the self-serve kiosks, to be more accessible for Chinese and European customers.

The Taste Whitsunday Team with locally designed travel cups, Julie Burns, Sam Groves, Yvonne Cambell, Awhina Shortcliffe, Desley Camm, Alan Moore, Photo credit: Daniel Heggie

‍

Tucked away from the bustling streets of Airlie Beach, is a hidden gem. Think healthy deli-style sandwiches, Vibrant salads carefully curated by Prickly Pineapple, acai bowls and nutritious sweet treats, Wisdom Cafe has it all.
Be prepared to have your body well and truly nourished with the cafe’s selection of healthy treats made lovingly with fresh ingredients from local suppliers such as Prickly Pineapple and Airlie Health Hub.
Rusty Blazkovic and business partner, Michaela Sopkova, purchased Wisdom Cafe in September 2021 when he bought it from the previous owners. The cafe is situated near the lagoon and close to Beach Book Boutique. When asked why Rusty decided to open a cafe, he explained that it was always his “dream” to open a cafe after being in hospitality his whole life.
Rusty’s favourite dish at the cafe is the “halloumi sandwich”, and he encourages all to come in and try the carefully curated artisan sandwiches.
Another speciality of the cafe is their delicious coffees, where they regularly pop-up as first on google for best coffee in Airlie Beach! Selling organic, single origin coffee, locally roasted in Mackay, Wisdom Cafe has thought of it all, even down to their cute latte art teddy bears, making the whole experience personable.
The cafe is open 6am-2:30pm every single day apart from Wednesdays, and it thoughtfully caters for all dietary requirements, and all sandwich options can be made gluten free if desired.
Pop by and prepare to be inspired by the cafe’s healthy food and drink options.

‍

Delicately crafted artisan coffee’s
Fantastic range of Healthy foods and drinks available

‍

The Don River Dash is on this weekend in Bowen.

Participants from all over the country are flocking into Bowen for the event and it is a bucket list item for some.

The multi-terrain off-road event is an endurance event, and most people participate with the core goal to finish and have fun.

This amazing event is a sight to see, and spectators can witness the action at two spectator arenas.

Spectator 1 arena is at Pat McDonnell Earthmoving on Telegraph Road. Spectator 2 area is at WAGS Gladstone Park Road.

Event Secretary Wanita Sparr says there are other spots along the river for spectators too.

“If you happen to know property owners, or you know the local back roads you can definitely view the course or the racetrack and all the action,” she said.

“There's plenty of jumps, plenty of natural terrain that the bikes and cars have to navigate their way through. It's cool to see.

“It's very Mad Max meets the Whitsundays.”

As the Event Secretary Wanita is looking forward to the race, not just for the action, but also for bringing the community together too.

“It's not just about racing, it's about the community, and it's about my region,” she said.

“What better place to have a beautiful weekend enjoying the adrenaline of off-road racing and motorbikes as well as enjoying the Whitsundays.

“It's an event for the whole community.”

WHAT: Don River Dash
WHEN: This weekend

Don River Dash is this weekend in Bowen, don’t miss out on the annual off-road action. Photos supplied

‍

The well-respected owner of Bowen’s Summergarden Cinema, Ben De Luca, has confirmed this week that the rumours of a down-turn at his venue have been massively exaggerated and “taken out of all proportion”.

This follows a social media post over the weekend that speculated the Proserpine Entertainment Centre (PEC), which has also been operating as a cinema for the past few years, was negatively impacting business for the Bowen based cinema.

Ben confirmed this week, however, that while Summergarden has experienced a “little drop” due to the PEC, there is definitely no real concern, in fact the business is quite stable.

Ben has been running the cinema for the past 62 years and prior to this he worked there as a staff member.

During his long tenure, he has seen several Hollywood stars come through the cinema and was a central part of the first screening of the blockbuster, Australia.

A cornerstone of the local community, Summergarden is a tourist destination in its own right and a popular spot for everyone to experience the latest box office hits from the comfort of a classic old cinema, packed with charm and charisma, just like its owner.

Ben encourages everyone to come along to the cinema over the school holidays, he appreciates the support and loves seeing friendly faces.

‍

By Ruth Puddefoot

‍
Last Saturday, volunteers gathered to mark a significant milestone: Eco Barge’s 500th clean-up trip. The landmark journey began at Airlie Beach and headed to Mackerel Bay, where the team worked to remove ocean debris and make a positive impact on the marine environment.
When the volunteers arrived at the bay, they were stunned to see the tides had deposited an overwhelming amount of trash. Debris was sadly scattered across the area.
However, after about an hour of solid collection, and the volunteers working tirelessly, no stone was left unturned, the bay had transformed into an entirely different place.
Since July 2009, Eco Barge has removed 253,426kg litter from the Whitsunday region through their ever-important barge trips, and the organisation reaching 500 trips, is only part of the story of the wonderful work they do.
Alongside its debris removal program, Eco Barge also hosts a clean streets and creeks program, responds and cares for sick and injured marine turtles and recycles the marine debris collected and transforms it into reusable products.
This fantastic organisation also undertakes education and awareness activities within the community concerning the issue of marine debris, the importance of thoughtful waste disposal and what should be done in the event of a sick or injured marine turtle.
On their way back from a successful clean-up, the volunteers were treated to a heartwarming thank-you from a mother whale and her baby. The pair lingered near the boat for up to ten minutes, adding a beautiful touch to the day’s efforts, and the Founder of Eco Barge Libby Edge enthused that it was the “Best weekend ever!”
Programs like Eco-Barge can’t run without the support of their volunteers, if you want to make a difference and help support the environment and marine life in the Whitsundays head over to Eco Barge’s website:
https://ecobargecleanseas.org.au/
Congratulations on 500 trips Eco Barge, and well done to all the volunteers who help out each trip!

‍
The volunteers proud of their collection!
Before the clean-up
After the clean-up
Volunteers celebrating 500 trips with Eco Barge
Back at Airlie Beach after a fantastic clean-up
‍

‍

‍

Saddlery is one of the world’s oldest handicrafts. In bygone days, when ploughing the fields and transport were dependent on the horse, saddlers were an integral part of daily life. Despite the need for saddlers diminishing with time, cattle mustering, the popularity of pony clubs and racing has ensured that the master saddler still have an important role worldwide.

In Proserpine, thoughts of the saddlery trade awaken memories of Mr R.W. (Bob) Eckel.  Born at Blackall in 1908, Bob was raised in western Queensland and in his youth worked as a shearer. While working at Mitchell, he suffered a leg injury in a football game and developed gangrene. In the days of no penicillin or antibiotics and after numerous operations, the leg had to be amputated. Bob was only 22 and there were no rehabilitation services available.  He was paid 5/- per week until he gained employment. After his accident, his first jobs were looking after pumps on a cattle station and dairying, but he had to relinquish these due to difficulty trying to hold a bucket of milk as well as managing crutches.

Bob learnt the saddlery trade at Home Hill and his father had already taught him shoe-repairing.  Armed with his own equipment, he arrived in Proserpine in 1937 taking over the premises vacated by saddler, Bob Locke.  

In 1942, Bob married Melba Price of Bowen. In 1943, the family moved to Alpha for a short time before returning to Proserpine where Bob re-established his saddlery business, initially in one of Arthur Dobbins’s Main Street shops with the family living above. Then in 1953, he shifted to Dobbins Lane when Arthur Dobbins built new shops there, tailored to the needs of his special tenants Bob and shoemaker, Paddy Fitzgerald, Bob’s lifelong friend.

In 1946, Bob completed an upholstery course paid for by the sale of his utility. He learnt canvas work, particularly for boats and awnings, and vinyl seating for cars and chairs.  

Bob often came home with holes in his fingers where the awl had stuck while padding saddles with horsehair had to be pushed evenly and tightly into every corner.  Only the simplest of stitching was done by machine and for this Bob used an old Singer sewing machine purchased from local tailor, Mr Tom Byers. There were not many saddlers of Bob’s calibre in this area and repaired goods were often posted to properties such as Jochheim’s “Hillrise” and other outlying stations.  

But more than just a master saddler …

Bob was a great inspiration to other handicapped people.  He owned a fixed-wheel bicycle which enabled him to ride carrying his crutch and he was a familiar figure travelling to and from work.

Although he could not participate in sports, Bob took a great interest in local clubs.  He loved horse racing and helped start up horse racing at Breadalbane Station.  He was secretary of the Turf Club and a member of the newly formed Rodeo Committee.  He was a member of the A.P. and I. Show Association, Proserpine Rotary Club and a Scout Leader. He officiated at boxing matches, helped teach youngsters to box and was a timekeeper at football.    

For 30 years, until his retirement in 1974, Bob Eckel’s shop was a popular place for folks to drop in for a yarn as they watched him work.  He died in 1976 but the image of Bob, apron on, stitching away, sitting in his shop with its familiar and welcoming smell of leather, will remain as a legacy of a skilled craftsman.

Story and photo courtesy Proserpine Historical Museum.

‍