On Tuesday evening around 15 people attended a lively and informative ‘Insurance Explained’ event at The Reef Gateway Hotel in Cannonvale.

Attendees had the chance to listen to and interact with three industry experts from a range of fields - the Australian Financial Complaints Authority, Insurance Council Australia, and the Office of Queensland Small Business Commissioner.

Senior Ombudsman, Chris Liamos from the Australian Financial Complaints Authority gave people an understanding of what the Australian Financial Complaints Authority do, what type of complaints they deal with and how they go about resolving them.

General Manager, Regulatory and Consumer Policy of Insurance Council Australia, Alexandra Hordern, said “Insurance is often a critical precondition to doing business.”

“It is important that all business owners understand the risks facing their business and how to mitigate those to the best of their ability.

“It is also important to have good relationships with insurance brokers and insurers, so that business owners are able to clearly articulate their needs and risk management practices.”

Peter Maddock, Director Assistance for Office of Queensland Small Business Commissioner said that many small businesses rely on insurance claims to be finalised.

“We’re about helping small businesses gain access after disasters,” Peter added.

Peter also offered practical tips to people in attendance about this, he said he understands how to help others from his prior experience.

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Guest speakers Chris Liamos, Alexandra Hordern and Peter Maddock.  Photo credit Daniel Heggie

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The latest Get Set For Work Program drew to a close last month with five out of the nine participants graduating from the 10 week program.

Program Coordinator Scott Lynch said, although this is not the highest number of graduates to date, he is proud of each individual and positive about all their futures.

He added the three that did not graduate left the program early due to personal reasons or they found a job.

Standout graduate was a young man that secured a butcher’s apprenticeship and Scott said “Anytime somebody gets an apprenticeship that’s a huge outcome.”

The next intake, starting on April 15, will be the sixth intake since the program started in November 2022.

There are 12 participants already registered in the next intake.

The Get Set For Work program is dedicated to helping children aged between 15 and 19 who are no longer enrolled in school.

The program aims to nurture their attributes and keeps them accountable to positive long-term goals away from the confinements of school.

“Across the 10 weeks, we put them through a list of comprehensive training, and get them much more employable,” said Scott.

“We help participants build resumes, cover letters, we help them obtain industry entry level certifications, so things like construction white cards and responsible service of alcohol.”

The program operates through the Whitsunday PCYC, and Branch Manager, Billy Li, said he is proud of the program’s diversity.

“Our program exposes them to different kinds of industries, we get hospitality, they go to Cruise Whitsunday, we take them to the islands, the prawn farm or barramundi farm,” said Billy.

The program also helps the disengaged children stay on the right path.

“We have a quite a high chance of them just going down the wrong path as well, you know, by them actually, seeking employment they can redirect their focus on doing something that is very constructive,” he added.

Scott Lynch runs the program alongside Youth Worker, Declan Coull, and they welcome volunteers that enjoy working with young people.

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Get Set To Work Graduates with Declan Coull, Scott Lynch and Billy Li
Photo supplied

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The Whitsunday Regional Council is hosting a Come N Try event in Bowen next weekend and the whole community is invited to come along and have some fun.

The Come N Try event is designed to bring people together, improve overall physical fitness and inspire positive mental health by providing a fun and easy way to try out a new activity with others!

The event encourages all ages to get outdoors and try new activities while having social interactions and exercise.

Manager of Bowen Tourism and Business, Leanne Abernethy, said this would be a great event for families, both visitors and locals alike.

“We appreciate Whitsunday Regional Council hosting events like this in Bowen,” Leanne said.
 
“The program includes a diverse range of activities and all should be lots of fun.”

Test your skills on the giant obstacle course that’s filled with challenges and obstacles for the ultimate adrenaline rush, and then cool down on the Slip N Slide which is perfect for the warm Autumn days.

Or relax on the scenic train ride around the Bowen Foreshore.

There will also be wildlife encounters, arts and crafts activities, a wellbeing workshop, sports workshop and a chill zone, perfect for lawn games, music and a reading corner.

“We encourage people to travel to Bowen for this event, take the opportunity to spend the rest of the day checking out our many other attractions including our beaches, lookouts, historic jetty, bushwalks, Summergarden Cinema, and of course, the Big Mango,” Leanne added.

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WHAT: Come N Try Bowen
WHERE: Bowen Foreshore - Santa Barbara Parade
WHEN: Sunday 21 April, 10am-1pm

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Why Do We Need Sleep?

Sleep is essential and many important bodily functions occur during sleep, including memory consolidation, hormone regulation, information processing, removal of brain waste and maintenance of immune function.

Aside from the obvious of being tired and cranky if you don’t get enough, it can also increase the risk of numerous health conditions.

Most common being, cardiovascular disease, stroke, Atrial Fibrillation (AF), metabolic disorders such as diabetes and mental health issues.

What’s The Solution?

Restore Sleep Clinic in Cannonvale provides a service for people suffering from poor or disordered sleep.

The most common sleep disorders are insomnia and obstructive sleep apnoea, and less common includes parasomnias, narcolepsy and restless leg syndrome.

Nathan Harriott is a Registered Psychologist and he and the team at Restore Sleep Clinic in Cannonvale specialise in diagnosing and treating patients with sleeping issues.

The Sleep Physician and Dentist in the team can also assess, diagnose and offer treatment to people with respiratory and dental issues that have a bi-directional relationship with disordered sleep.

Obstructive Sleep Apnoea

Obstructive Sleep Apnoea is a respiratory sleeping disorder.

Nathan explains it as “The airway closes over, the brain’s supply of oxygen is reduced through reduced oxygen levels in blood, the brain detects this and wakes you up to breathe and restore oxygen levels. This is not like normal breathing though, the person typically gasps for air and this is frequently reported by partners of people with Obstructive Sleep Apnoea.”

If your airway is obstructed more than five times an hour you are diagnosed with Obstructive Sleep Apnoea.

The conditions severity is determined in three categories.

Mild Obstructive Sleep Apnoea is when the airway closes 5-15 times an hour, moderate 15-30 and severe 30 and above.

“If severe it can affect a person’s ability to work, especially if they are in a high-risk occupation or workplace such as a driver, truck drivers, machine operator or miners,” Nathan said.

It can cause significant disruption to both your sleep and your daily life, but with the right care, the symptoms can be dramatically reduced.

How Do We Fix It?

Two types of treatments are available for patients suffering from Obstructive Sleep Apnoea.

The Mandibular Advancement Splint is good for people suffering with mild to moderate Obstructive Sleep Apnoea and it is a good option for dental issues.

Nathan describes it as being like a top and bottom mouthguard device that pushes the lower jaw forward to open up the airway.

It can also be adjusted, so it can gradually be moved forward as the person using it gets used to it.

The other treatment is Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), which is a small machine that comes with a nose mask and blows a gentle stream of air to keep the airway open.

CPAP is a good treatment for patients suffering from moderate to severe Obstructive Sleep Apnoea.

“We do our best to provide a lot of support to people when they first start using one of these devices so they can get the most out of their treatment,” explained Nathan.

“With two treatment options though, we do have the choice if one treatment isn’t tolerated very well.”

Make An Appointment

Nathan jokes that it is mainly partners that refer their loved ones to the clinic after hearing them snore constantly and experiencing disrupted sleep as a result.

He urges that if you hear your partner snoring unusually, not breathing through the night, making bizarre sounds whilst sleeping or struggling for breath, then to encourage them to make an appointment with Restore Sleep Clinic.

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In June the Whitsundays East Coast Roadshow will hold events for travel agents and wholesalers in Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide.

Industry Development and Trade Manager for Tourism Whitsundays, Cait Fleming, said she is excited to participate.

“With an expected 100 agents and wholesalers attending in each location, this is a great opportunity for Whitsundays accommodation and experience businesses to grow their profile within the travel industry,” she explained.

For the opportunity to join the Roadshow get in touch with Cait at cait.fleming@tourismwhitsundays.com.au

Cait’s role at Tourism Whitsundays is multi-faceted and includes Industry Development.

She is dedicated to ensuring the region continues to build the industry in a sustainable way, so The Whitsundays remains a popular tourism destination many years into the future.

“We have a wealth of marine based experiences and natural assets, that's easy to see, however what isn't as easy to spot is the incredible diversity of land-based experience potential there is in this region,” said Cait.

“My goal is to bring this potential into the light and help any business (starting out or established) who wants to develop a new product or experience on their journey.”

If you are nodding along to this and want to chat, give Cait a call on 0409 038 480.  

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Industry Development and Trade Manager for Tourism Whitsundays, Cait Fleming. Image supplied

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Ideal Placements first opened its doors in 1995 and is dedicated to helping young people, people with disabilities, and people in career transition into long term employment through support and training.

Over the years, Ideal Placements has become innovative at helping their participants find the right roles while facing regional transport availability, homelessness and housing, cost of living, and having a different focus and attitude towards work and study.

They find that many of these barriers need to be addressed first before you can focus on anything else.

One trend they are seeing is school leavers choosing work over study.

Ideal Placements has been spending time working with young people to complete micro credentials, so they get the knowledge and training they need to get them into work.

Another specific program Ideal Placement runs is their 5-week Career Transition Assistance Program for unemployed people aged 45+ years that not only refreshes job ready skills but also reveals the many opportunities out there that they may not have considered or thought they were not capable of.

Ideal Placement’s top tips for businesses of all sizes is to give young people, people with a disability, and those restarting their career a go.

Everyone must start somewhere, and they could be the next leader or long-term employee in your business.

Ideal Placements is located in Cannonvale, Proserpine and Bowen.  

This article series is written in partnership with the Whitsundays Chamber of Commerce and Industry, showcasing the diverse members of the business community.

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Arabella Jordan from Ideal Placements believes everyone deserves to work and contribute to society. Photo supplied

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Expect netballs, sports skirts and fun at the next Proserpine Community Market

On Sunday 28 April the Proserpine Community Market will be supporting the
Whitsunday Netball Club.

Market Coordinator, Tarnia Patton, said she is very excited for the first market of the year.

“It’s always exciting getting everyone’s applications in and seeing the amazing talent that is in our community,” Tarnia said.

“The proceeds of a large raffle are going to the netball club, most of the stall holders provide something to the raffle as a way of advertising for them, and raising funds for the chosen community group.”

Everyone is encouraged to come along, as there is a lot to do for the entire family.

“We will have Mr Poppins balloons there making free balloons for the kids, face painting and glitter tattoos, and hopefully some netball related activities to have fun with as well,” explained Tarnia.

There are currently still some stalls available and Tarnia would love them to be filled by
some creative kids.

“We encourage all who have a creative talent to look into having a stall. Especially
school kids!”

“It’s great way to earn some pocket money, even if it’s combining their creations into
one small stall.”

“We support all at our markets!”

This year, the Proserpine Community Markets have changed location.

The new location is at the Cyclone Shelter at the Proserpine State School and Tarnia is excited to say that the new location is almost all indoors.

WHAT: Proserpine Community Markets
WHERE: Proserpine State School
WHEN: Sunday 28 April

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Helen Matheson

“No, I don’t think so, it’s just things are slow moving here. There are enough services here for me, I’m happy with what’s here as it is.”

Neil Dobbin

“It is quite possible seeing everything that’s going on already, it probably will start moving back towards here. They can’t build forever down there, so it probably will in the future. Because more and more people are moving from down south and all around the place buying up and that type of thing and you can't really stop it because it’s all bloody progress or whatever you want to call it.”

Danni Hanns

“I think so yes, because property prices in the rest of the Whitsundays are a lot. So, I think people are coming more towards Proserpine, because housing is a little bit more affordable. And I do know a lot of people, their kids go to school here and everything just seems to be in Proserpine. And so, they’re moving into Proserpine to be closer to the school and to me, I think it’s okay. I don’t know what long term locals would say about it but yeah, I think it’s a good thing.”

Jim Ward

“We've come here, we're from Victoria and we came here a couple of years ago. And it was sort of very quiet and especially when in the COVID time and I reckon it might come on. It’s so close to the Whitsundays you know, so many places you can get to. It’s better than Bowen, in my opinion anyway and a bigger population here only helps.”

Anna Winterborn

“I've seen a few boom and bust areas I'd never say anything about any area being the next boom area because you just don't know what's around the corner. People come up here to live, it doesn't have the facilities that you have when you live in the city or if you live down south. We love it, we like it like this, but people come up here expecting something else and it's not that. This place is still going pretty good, but it would be lovely to see uplift or lift for the whole area for everybody.”

Kim Hilan

“No most of its moved to the beach. All the development has happened at Cannonvale and Airlie Beach. You’ve seen the loss of businesses in Proserpine unless we've got an industry to bring it back. But I remember it being a busy hub with a lot more businesses here.

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With recent murmurings of a “makeover”on Lindeman Island, it is timely to recall some of those pioneers who, in challenging times, forged a life for themselves in the Whitsundays.

By the late 1890s, some semblance of permanent white settlement of the Whitsunday Islands had emerged with those who persisted struggling with something of a hand to mouth existence based on sheep and cattle grazing. One of the most notable of those, but little remembered today, was Abraham Adderton who, with his wife Sarah, were the first settlers on Lindeman Island from 1897 to 1918 - twenty-one years of what must have been a very lonely existence.

Abraham Adderton, aged only 16 years, had migrated from England to Maryborough, Queensland in July 1873. There he took to the sea on timber boats operating out of Maryborough, becoming a Master Mariner and part-owner of the “Mary Peverley”.  In 1888, he married Sarah Alton in Maryborough.

It seems the Addertons initially must have considered settling at Long Island because Sarah Adderton was granted an Occupation Licence over that island in April 1895. However, they did nothing with Long Island and in 1916 Sarah Adderton gave notice that she did not intend to pay the rent for 1917.

At Home Beach, the site of where the Lindeman Island resort was once a flourishing enterprise, the Addertons built a weather-board and iron-roofed dwelling towards the western end. This had living quarters on one side and dining quarters on the other, separated by a central boat shed from which a slipway ran to the water’s edge. Their boat, “Ayesha”, was a converted ship’s lifeboat powered only by sail and, judging by photos of the time, was about seven metres in length. Their main water supply came from a permanent spring which still flows into the sea just to the east of Home Beach.

The Addertons grazed sheep and goats on the island, the “Mackay Mercury” of 19 July 1913 reported that they had 800 goats and 1500 sheep in that year. Their wool clip was baled and picked up by the supply vessels which called regularly at the island - the bales ferried out either in their own boat or ship’s boats.

In 1918, Adderton sold the licence to Lindeman Island to Tom Matthews-Frederick who moved to the island with his wife, Lydia Gray. Tom Matthews-Frederick and his brother, Alex, had managed Proserpine Station until 1917 for their father, Alexander, who had bought it in 1889. Abraham sold his boat to boating identity, Tom Daly. The Addertons departed the scene by leaving from Mackay in the SS “Cooma” on 18 May 1918.  It is not clear where they went after leaving the island but eventually Abraham Adderton moved to Sydney where he died on 29 May 1935 and was buried in the Northern Suburbs cemetery.

Mount Oldfield (sometimes wrongly called Mount Olden), the highest point on Lindeman Island, commemorates the Addertons’ time on the island, that being the maiden name of Abraham’s mother, Eleanor Cecilia Oldfield.  Reports of the time indicate that Abraham delighted in taking visitors to that summit to see the magnificent views and it is evident he originated the name.

The Addertons were a determined couple who amply demonstrated that an existence could be maintained on an island in the Whitsundays and so it would be a pity if their name faded into oblivion.

Story and photos courtesy of Proserpine Historical Museum and “The Whitsunday Islands – An Historical History” by Ray Blackwood.
 
 

Abraham Adderton and his boat Ayesha
The original Adderton residence and woolshed built in 1898

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At least it does in the Whitsundays! Especially if you are a seed.

Seeds want to germinate. They are just waiting patiently for the right soil temperature and moisture content. And with temperatures sneaking under 30 degrees in the Whitsundays, the soil temperature is now perfect to grow almost any vegetable suitable to the tropics. All you need to do is make sure they do NOT dry out. So, if it doesn’t rain, then you need to water.

This is a “morning” ritual. When I say morning, I mean before 9am every day.
Every hour after 9am, the soil is drying out and your freshly planted seeds are deciding whether or not it is worth the energy to burst through their hard cases and venture into life!

If they asses the environment as too dry, they are not germinating! If they germinate and then dry out, they will wilt and give back to the soil, rather than produce for you!
What I mean is…… they will die!

I choose to direct seed, rather than put seeds in trays/pots and transplant once true leaves appear (second set on leaves). This does mean extra care to keep the soil moist.  

How do I achieve this?  

I plant into seed raising mix and my successful germination rate is very high.

With tiny seeds, such as lettuce, carrot, tomatoes, herbs etc I spread them over the prepared garden soil and sprinkle a thin layer of seed raising mix over the top. With larger seeds like pumpkins, cucumbers, beans etc I put a layer three times the depth of the seed on top of my garden mix, then push the seed into that.

Seed raising mix lacks plant food, but your seeds have all the energy they need within their cases to break through the soil and grow their first set of leaves.  

After that, they need food from their environment. Before that they need MOISTURE. And seed raising mix holds moisture which is what every seed needs to begin its journey into producing an abundance of food for you!  

So, take care of these precious new beginnings. Seed raising mix is affordable and can be purchased in small bags. I highly recommend it and its available at Whitpro now.

At the beginning of every growing season, I plant snow pea seeds. If they germinate, I know I am ready to go! Well, one week ago I got started and I was very excited to see that a week in, I have some very well-developed little plants reaching for the sky!

Let’s hope this is a good sign for a strong growing season for 2024!

Have you ever come home with more seeds than you have gardens prepped for?

That’s me every season!  I should know better (I know) but I get excited about all the options available to me and at $3.50 a packet of 20 plus potential plants, it is hard to hold back!  

My solution this year is in tree guards!  Now that’s not the norm I know but I am very excited about my new discovery.

For $35, these specific tree guards make a ready-made garden bed. Raised from the ground, 30cm high, they are perfect vegie growing depth, an instant barrier from other competition plants (including lawns) and are neat and tidy.

They can also be placed anywhere in full sun with the ability to remove without fuss, after the growing season ends.

These clever contraptions are light weight, super easy to construct and I love them! Come and see me at Whitpro if you want to give them a go.  

Grab some seeds to get started while you are here. We have the tree guards, come vegie beds, on display and for sale.

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DID YOU KNOW?

Your vegie seeds can take anywhere between five and 28 days (most 7-14) to germinate depending on the variety and the conditions. So, don’t give up on your watering ritual, some seeds take their time to show their appreciation.

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The Whitsundays Writers Festival continues to add to its list of highly acclaimed authors who are ready to discuss some of the most current topics at the event which is due to take place in September this year.
Famed Queensland author Nick Earls and award-winning historian and author Professor Joy Damousi AM are the new additions to the line-up announced earlier this week.
They join the list of nine speakers, including Shankari Chandran, Garry Disher, Sally Hepworth, Christos Tsiolkas, Anne Buist, Graeme Simsion, Karina Kilmore, Melissa Ashley, and Jack Roney who have already been announced for this year’s program.  
Joy Damousi is one of Australia’s most distinguished historians and is the Australian Catholic University’s Dean of Arts.
Festival President Karen Jacobsen expresses her excitement.
"This Festival will be a thrilling event for readers, writers, and thinkers. We’re excited for Joy’s participation, particularly in a conversation on artificial intelligence (AI) and creative writing – to learn more about the impact of Open AI and to debate if the writer and storytelling will ever be replaced by AI.”
Furthermore, the Festival is proud to announce prolific Queensland author Nick Earls.
Nick Earls is the author of 28 books for adults, teenagers, and children including bestselling novels such as Zigzag Street, Bachelor Kisses and Perfect Skin. His writing has won awards in Australia, the UK, and US. Five of his novels have been adapted for theatre and two, 48 Shades of Brown and Perfect Skin, have become feature films. His most recent works are the novel Empires and the novella series Wisdom Tree.
“Nick is a Queensland author with an important body of work from his decades long career, and we cannot wait to feature his writing in this year’s program,” said Karen.
“We eagerly await his insights gained from his own author journey and PhD research into 21st century novella writing and publishing.
"Joy and Nick’s contribution will add a rich dimension to our Festival program, as we elevate the role of the arts and creative expression.
“Attendees will love this engaging programming about how we come to see and understand ourselves and the world around us," Karen remarked. 
Details about the Festival’s local author line up and ticketing will be released late April.
To subscribe for updates and special offers, please visit: whitsundayswriters.com
The Whitsundays Writers Festival is a premier literary event dedicated to fostering creativity, dialogue, and appreciation for the written word. Bringing together acclaimed authors, aspiring writers, and avid readers, the Festival celebrates the diverse tapestry of storytelling while showcasing the natural beauty of the Whitsundays region.
The Festival, spanning three days from Friday, September 6, to Sunday, September 8, 2024, will also feature the prestigious Whitsundays Literary Heart Awards. The Heart Awards provide well-deserved recognition and financial rewards to talented writers for best unpublished manuscript, short story, poetry, and book design.

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WHAT: Whitsunday Writers Festival
WHEN: 6-8 September
SUBSCRIBE: whitsundayswriters.com

Award-winning historian and author Professor Joy Damousi. Photo supplied
Famed Queensland author Nick Earls. Photo supplied

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By Hannah McNamara

Highly respected and treasured police officer, Sergeant Nigel Dalton bids farewell after departing from his role as District Crime Prevention Coordinator.

Mr Dalton has maintained the role of district crime prevention coordinator since 2006 and has left a remarkable imprint on the community over the years. Most known for his educational school talks and local engagement, Mr Dalton is extremely passionate about community safety and will continue his legacy throughout the region, despite no longer wearing the uniform.

“I want to make somebody’s life the best possible life they can have and if I can influence that, even just a little bit, that’s really important,” he said.

Community hero, Sergeant Nigel Dalton steps down from his role as district crime prevention coordinator. Photo Credit: Hannah McNamara

Reflecting On Sergeant Dalton's Impact

While most join the police force to make the world a better place, Sergeant Nigel Dalton funnily admits that he took the job just over forty years ago so he could continue intense training for his life-long passion of swimming whilst policing on the side.

“We did competitions throughout the whole UK and managed to get to the European championships for police in Vienna, so I had a lovely time just doing what I enjoyed and fitting policing around my swimming,” he chuckles.

“Swimming has been a part of my life for years.”

He had a good family upbringing and said there was nothing in the world to complain about, but soon realised the brutal reality of working within the realm of crime.

“When I joined the police, I thought ‘wow there’s a different side of the world which I hadn’t seen’, I was totally naïve.”

Since moving into crime prevention in 2006, Mr Dalton has developed many presentations and projects for young children through to students in grade 12. He has educated and influenced a multitude of young minds in the community, with a wide array of crucial topics such as cyber safety, bullying, domestic and family violence as well as bicycle and road safety.

“The two major projects that I’ve developed is Choices, which teaches grade 12’s about their last year of school and schoolies to avoid common problems that young people seem to easily fall into.

“The other one is Safety Circus, which is like the younger brother of Choices, teaching young children how to be safe when riding their bicycle and who to report to when something’s not going well, and the third topic of Safety Circus is how to be a good bystander for a victim of bullying.”

Mr Dalton has influenced roughly six thousand students just in schools alone in the Mackay District community.

From a personal point of view, Nigel pinpoints the challenges of being in the police force, like not bringing the job back home after seeing or hearing about things that he describes as “pretty nasty.”

“You need to offload those things at some point otherwise it weighs down your shoulders for too long and that’s something that you learn to do over time,” Mr Dalton said.

“I think another one of the challenges is constantly trying to find a solution to domestic and family violence, as well as general violence in the community.”

Mr Dalton signifies the importance of implementing a police presence in early childhood centres and schools to educate the youth and pave a foundation that influences them positively with a familiar approach.

“One thing that I say to children is, I want you to run to me so I can help, but if you run away from me, we’ll catch up with you some other time and we will have to deal with it then.

“So, I tell them, run to me and not away from me.

“I also add that I can’t run fast these days anyway, and they laugh at that,” he humorously added.

“I want to make somebody’s life the best possible life they can have and if I can influence that, even just a little bit, that’s really important.

“The kindies and preppies are quite interested in the police car and lights as well,” he said.

Touching on the highlights of his career, Mr Dalton finds joy in reuniting with young people who were once troubled and hearing their success stories.

“I’ve seen lots of youngsters who were close to falling off the edge.

“I got to know them, we do a few activities and then we might not see them for a couple of years, but they come up to me at an event and they give me a big hug as they tell me they’re playing sport now or they’ve got a job at the mines etc.

“I just think that is great, that’s the best feeling.”

Mr Dalton says after he departs from policing, he will be working in the community somewhere that focuses on ensuring people get the best out of Mackay. He has no interest in travelling around Australia whatsoever and says dragging around a caravan is “just not my thing,” however, he is looking forward to spending time with his beautiful family…and most likely continuing his profound passion of swimming.

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Top cop took home the win for Citizen of The Year at Mackay Regional Council’s Australia Day Awards in 2023

Sergeant Nigel Dalton won a bronze award – in the Customer Focus category for the Queensland Police Service 2018 Awards for Excellence. Image sourced from Queensland Police News

Award-winning duo Sergeant Nigel Dalton and Gerri Kissner with Amanda Camm, leading the charge in keeping the community safe (2023). Image Supplied

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As we welcome the new era of local government leadership with the re-election of Mayor Greg Williamson and the formation of the new Mackay Regional Council, I’m excited about the possibilities that lie ahead for our community. With a blend of fresh enthusiasm from newly elected councillors and the experience of those who have served before, we have a unique opportunity to shape the future of Mackay together.
This diverse council, representing a wide range of views and backgrounds, promises to bring a fresh perspective to the table. I’m eager to see how these diverse views will be harnessed to address the needs and aspirations of our community, from addressing the homelessness crisis to investing in the liveability of our region.
As we embark on this journey, I want to hear from you, our readers. What issues are most important to you? What community projects would you like to see prioritised by the new council? Your input is invaluable in guiding the direction of our city and ensuring that the voices of all residents are heard.
Whether it's advocating for improved infrastructure, fostering economic development, or enhancing our cultural and recreational offerings, your ideas and feedback matter. Together, we can work towards building a stronger, more vibrant Mackay for generations to come. Write to us about the issues that matter most to you, and let us know what community projects are on your wish list.
Your input could help shape the agenda of our new council and make a difference in our community.
To find out who your new councillors are, and to hear from your Mayor, turn to pages 3 and 7.

Amanda

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“A huge thank you to Jackie Zimmerle and the man in the RED SHED for restoring some faith in humanity with your kindness towards my parents.”

During the recent voting madness, Jackie accidently backed her vehicle into an elderly couple’s new car. Rightfully, she took responsibility by leaving a note with her contact details and explaining the tough situation she was in. This act of honesty set the tone for what was yet to become a heart-warming display of compassion.

Despite the circumstances, the elderly owners of the car she had hit happened to be very understanding people. Upon hearing Jackie's apology and learning about her situation with her young kids, the elderly couple decided to take matters into their own hands and commence the car repairs themselves without any financial contributions from Jackie. They sought assistance from a local panel beater and automotive shop with additional help from the touch-up guys at the Red Shed in Ooralea/Paget.

After Jackie heard that the couple fixed the car without seeking financial aid from her, the couple soon received a touching letter and gift from Jackie, expressing gratitude for their understanding and assistance in this challenging time.

The couple's daughter took to Facebook to highlight the ripple effect of demonstrating compassion within the community.

The post read, “Kindness goes along way and returns in many different ways.

“We all need to be more like these people.

“Spread genuine kindness understanding, peace and love.”

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The elderly couple with their gift card and lotto ticket, kindly given by Jackie. Image sourced from Mackay Noticeboard (Facebook)

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By Amanda Wright

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The Mackay region anticipates a new era in local governance as the Electoral Commission of Queensland declares the formation of the Mackay Regional Council. Ten councillors, a mix of incumbents and fresh faces, are set to lead the region over the next four years.
The newly elected council comprises a diverse group of representatives, including four members from Jacko's team, four independents (with one newcomer and three re-elected), and two from Greg Williamson's team. Among Williamson’s team is former Deputy Mayor Karen May, alongside newcomer Ash-Lee Johnson, marking a total of six new councillors joining the council.
In a closely watched election, re-elected councillor Belinda Hassan secured the highest percentage of votes, demonstrating strong community support. However, former councillor Michelle Green narrowly missed out on retaining her seat by a mere 59 votes.
One of the standout performers in the election was George Christensen, former Federal Member for Dawson, who campaigned on a "no woke" platform alongside his father. Christensen secured over four per cent of the vote, emphasising the community's desire for change.
“I am deeply honored and humbled to find myself officially elected as one of your Mackay Regional Councillors,” Mr Christensen said.
“But this isn’t merely an election won; it’s a mandate against business as usual, against continual rising rates, against the community being ignored, against poor service delivery (particularly in our rural areas), and against the creeping imposition of ideologies that do not serve our community's core values,” he said.
Joining Christensen is newcomer Namarca Corowa, a member of the Mackay First team, who garnered significant support with his focus on indigenous perspectives and historical awareness. Nathenea MacRae, Heath Paton, and returning independents Martin Bella and Alison Jones complete the lineup of elected councillors alongside popular new independent candidate, Peter Sheedy.
In light of her re-election, Councillor Alison Jones expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve the community once more, highlighting the council's diverse representation and the importance of fostering positive relationships for the region's betterment.
“I’m excited to be part of one of the most diversely represented councils I have ever seen, from the business and agricultural community, our younger generation and cultural representatives I’m looking forward to assisting our new councillors bringing them up to speed and fostering healthy positive relationships in council for the betterment of our community,” Mrs Jones said.
Notably, the first ten candidates on the ballot received a stronger percentage of votes than the last ten, raising questions about voter behaviour under compulsory voting.
With the formation of the new council, Mackay residents can anticipate a period of transition and transformation as their elected representatives embark on their mandate to shape the future of the region.
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Your Elected Councillors: Ash-Lee Johnson, Nathenea MacRae, Namarca Corowa, Peter Sheedy, Belinda Hassan, George Christensen, Alison Jones, Heath Paton, Martin Bella, Karen May.

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