Individuals working within the agricultural industry will soon have the opportunity to up-skill their ag-tech knowledge thanks to a new pilot scheme.

Expressions of interest are currently open to participate in The AgTech Skills Hub Pilot Program which has been under development since early 2022.

The scheme aims to support new ways of attracting, skilling, upskilling, retaining, and growing local workforces through the identification of a broad suite of new and updated skills and workforce programs.

The Aquaculture and Agriculture Tech Skills Hub is jointly funded by the Australian Government (under the Regional Recovery Partnerships program), Greater Whitsunday Alliance (GW3) and Regional Development Australia Greater Whitsundays (RDA GW) and is being delivered in partnership with the Queensland Government, TAFE Queensland and CQUniversity to support existing plans and priorities within the Mackay Isaac Whitsunday region.

RDA GW CEO Robert Cocco said that the implementation of pilot programs will “enable a range of cohorts, particularly in regional locations, to acquire new skills”.

“Our education partners – TAFE Queensland and CQUniversity – are seeking expressions of interest to participate in training, at no cost to participants,” said Mr Cocco.

“The Pilot Program will test the following micro-credentials throughout the course period – based on how participants interact effectively with others at work, work effectively within the industry, and follow work safety fundamentals.”

Applications to confirm participating pilot organisations and participants close on April 26 and the course information, training plan and materials are available from May 8.

The self-paced training course will be complete by May 26 and key findings will be summarised by June 22.

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New Ag-Tech Pilot Program aims to up-skill workforce. Stock image

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Established in the local community for over 18 years and with over 40 years of combined industry experience, you can count on Roy Powell Security to find the best security solution for you.

Roy Powell Security provides advice, installation, and maintenance services for every aspect of security from your home, business and even vehicle.

Their services encompass security alarms, alarm monitoring services, CCTV, intercoms, boom gates, automatic gates, access control and much more, so you’ll rest easy knowing your premises are safe and secure.

“Our solutions can start from a basic home security system to a fully automated and customised solution,” said Roy Powell Security Office Manager Kelli Powell.

“Imagine hitting one button on an app on your phone that turns your alarm system off, your lights on and aircons on, knowing that you can walk in, and your house is ready for you to be at home.”

Roy Powell Security can offer a certified data and fibre solution for your business as well.  

With the industry’s technology ever-evolving, Roy Powell Security strives to stay at the forefront with innovations including thermal cameras, intercom systems, key trackers, GPS trackers, solar camera/boom gates and facial recognition software.

The team at Roy Powell Security can advise you on the security system products to suit your home or business and strives to offer a cost-effective, professional service each time.

Find out which level of security best suits your needs and speak to their consultants today.

Call 07 4952 5334, email reception@roypowellseciruty.com.au or visit the team at 3/52 Margaret Vella Dr, Paget.

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Kelli and Anthony Powell are here to help with your security needs. Photo credit: Alyce Holzy

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As the lush tropical region of North Queensland continues to attract an influx of plant lovers, it’s important to acknowledge the unique challenges and considerations that come with pot and plant care in our area.

Best plants

Tropical gardens are well suited to the far north, with stand out varieties such as palms, gingers, crotons, ferns and cordyline, Strelitzia, Anthurium, Spathiphyllum, and Bougainvillea being happy to be planted all year round. Likewise, native varieties such as Callistemons can be very successful when planted in winter, as they can harden off to the sun before the spring and summer heat.

Size matters

First, finding a pot suitable for your plant is important for the plant to thrive. When choosing a pot, choose a pot that is 1-2 inches larger than the current size if the plant is currently in a 10-inch pot or smaller. If your current pot size is smaller than 10 inches, choose a pot that is 2-3 inches larger in diameter.

Plant Care

One of the most important aspects of plant and pot care in our North Queensland climate is choosing the right container and soil. It’s crucial to select pots that are large enough to accommodate the plant’s root system and provide adequate drainage to prevent waterlogging, as heavy rainfall can quickly saturate soil and drown roots. Additionally, using a high-quality potting mix that is specifically designed for the region can help ensure that plants receive the necessary nutrients to thrive.

Watering

Striking a balance between providing enough moisture for plants to thrive and avoiding overwatering, which can lead to root rot and other issues, is essential in keeping our plants alive. It’s best to remember to pour no more than 1/3 of the container/pot size in water. This allows the soil to dry out slightly between waterings.

Porters Mitre 10 is having 25% off Plants and Pots this Thursday 27th to Sunday 30th of April at participating stores; Mackay City, Marian, and Sarina.

T&Cs apply, please visit in-store for more information.

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Pesto is a classic Italian sauce made with fresh basil, garlic, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese and olive oil. Making pesto at home is easy, and using basil from your garden can make it even more enjoyable. Here's how you can make pesto from basil in your garden.

1. Gather your ingredients: You will need 2 cups of fresh basil leaves, 2 cloves of garlic, 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese, 1/3 cup of pine nuts, 1/2 cup of olive oil and a pinch of salt and pepper.

2. Toast the pine nuts: Heat a small pan over medium heat and add the pine nuts. Toast them for 2-3 minutes or until they turn golden brown. Be careful not to burn them.

3. Blend the ingredients: Add the basil, garlic, parmesan cheese, and toasted pine nuts to a food processor or blender. Pulse the mixture a few times until it's roughly chopped.

4. Add the olive oil: With the food processor running, slowly drizzle in the olive oil until the mixture is smooth and creamy.

5. Season to taste: Add a pinch of salt and pepper and blend briefly to combine.

6. Store the pesto: Transfer the pesto to a jar or airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to a week. You can also freeze it in ice cube trays for future use.

Use your pesto to dress pasta, spread on bread or as a dip for vegetables. You can also experiment with different variations by adding other herbs, like parsley or cilantro, or swapping the pine nuts for walnuts or almonds. Have fun and enjoy the process!

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Did you know that council may declare a dog dangerous if it has acted in a way that caused fear to a person or another animal?

Straying dogs and dog attacks are very stressful for all involved and make up the majority of reported incidents.

Effective dog management is a lot easier than damage control after an incident has taken place.

The following can influence behaviour:

• Health – If a dog is in physical or mental discomfort it may cause them to display unwanted behaviour.

• Owner influence and energy – Our dogs can react to certain situations based on how the owner is feeling, if an owner is feeling scared, the dog may feel uncertain about that situation also.

• Nutrition – Dog’s need good quality food and clean water every day. Sometimes a change in diet can automatically fix some behaviours.

• Basic obedience training – It can be much easier to work on more complex issues with a foundation of basic obedience.

• Types and duration of exercise – Search for information specific to dog breed, this will be helpful to understand the recommended exercise needs. A pug can’t do as much exercise as a kelpie for example.

• Rest – If a dog is getting enough exercise and still can’t seem to switch off, it could be because their environment is filled with stimulation. Swap the objects that create excitement, and replace them with calming activities that involve licking, sniffing and chewing.

Life with a dog should be stress free and value adding!

Contributed by Carrie Bain, who has a Diploma in Canine Health & Nutrition and an Advanced Diploma in Canine Behaviour from the British College of Canine Studies

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Check out the Photo Gallery here:

A canister containing aluminium phosphide pellets was found washed up in Airlie Beach after recent wild weather along parts of the Queensland coast last week.

The canisters have been washing up on beaches across the entire east coast of Australia since 2012, having been located as far north as Thursday Island and as far south as Tasmania - most coming ashore in Queensland.

A similar canister washed up on the Airlie Beach Foreshore in 2013 before being removed by Queensland Fire and Rescue Service.

The canisters are believed to have been used as industrial fumigation for pest control onboard grain ships and have either fallen overboard or been discarded carelessly before washing up on shore.

The exact origin of the canister is unknown, as is the quantity of canisters that are drifting in the ocean currently. The silver canisters are found about once a year on beaches.

The contents are phosphide pellets, a stable substance when dry and sealed in the container, but when introduced to moisture, produces phosphine gas – a highly toxic and highly flammable fume.

The toxic gas is flammable and colourless and can be incredibly dangerous and potentially fatal for anyone exposed to it – even the friction of opening the container could cause it to ignite.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services spokesperson said that if a person were to locate one of these silver canisters or any similar type of container, “leave the canister where it is and do not attempt to move it.”

“Call Triple Zero (000) immediately and report the item so our specially trained Hazchem officers can respond,” they said.

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A dangerous canister containing phosphide pellets – a potentially fatal and flammable substance when exposed to moisture – was found in Airlie Beach last week

An out of court settling has been reached following a five-year legal battle with the widow of a Chinese commercial airline pilot who drowned at the Airlie Beach Lagoon with his five-year-old son in October 2018.

Yuanwei Zhang, his son Chenxi and wife Jie Tan were visiting the Whitsundays on a cruise ship when they went ashore for the day and tragedy struck.

It is understood the pair were swimming at the lagoon while Jie Tan went to the nearby shops and it is possible that Mr Zhang suffered a medical episode while in deep water and was unable to save himself or their son.

It had been a busy day at the lagoon and many people were baffled that no-one noticed the pair quietly slip below the water.

It was six minutes before Mr Zhang’s submerged body was found and a further seven minutes before the young boy’s body was brought to the surface.

Following the tragedy, Jie Tan launched a $4.5 million legal case, suing the lifeguard company Ellmill Entreprises and Whitsunday Regional Council who own the facility.

She alleged that risk assessments of the facility had not been made regularly and that the lifeguards were negligent on that day.

Shortly after the incident a lifeguard tower was placed at the site and it is believed that the lifeguard company was also replaced.

The matter has now been settled out of court but there is no information available to indicate the agreed amount.

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The family together a few days before the tragedy. Photo supplied

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Hi Everyone,

Last weekend we bought a dog.

This is my first time as a pet owner and jeez this week has been an interesting learning curve!

From puddles of pee and piles of poo all over the lounge room floor to chasing him around trying to catch my pyjamas that were swiftly stolen and then lodged in his mouth – it has already been an adventure with this mischievous little pup.

His name is Finn, and he is an eight-week old Border Collie – he is warm, friendly and independent – which are all qualities that I admire so I think he will fit right in.

This week also represented some new beginnings at the newspaper.

We welcomed our new Cadet Journalist Bronte – you can read her story on page 12 this week - and we also bid farewell to our journalist Declan.

Declan has chosen to progress his career and start his own ‘new beginning’ by moving to Tasmania to work on a daily newspaper.

He has been with us for over two years and will be sorely missed by all of us in the team.

His quiet wit in the office, his deep compassion for telling people’s stories, his highly skilled photography and his incredibly perceptive movie reviews will be part of his legacy and we wish him all the luck in his future endeavours.

Our new recruit, Bronte, joins us from Armidale and has been brave enough to move by herself to a town she has never even visited before.

Bronte brings with her a passion for journalism, a dream of adventure and a hope of an exciting new life in the Whitsundays.

I hope everyone will make her feel welcome.

Rach

Quote of the Week: “And suddenly you know: It’s time to start something new and trust in the magic of beginnings”  (Meister Eckhart)

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An enthusiastic group of Collinsville residents have been acknowledged for their incredible fundraising efforts by being named a Mater Foundation Community Hero. 

This privilege is given to not only the community groups who raise the most, but also those who embody the community spirit, enthusiasm and support the mission of the broader project.

In February this year, the first Collinsville Sea of Pink event took place – 62 people participated in a five-kilometre walk or run for charity, with all proceeds going towards breast cancer research.

Organiser Alice Randell said that she was inspired to create an event that brought the community together and celebrated women on International Women’s Day.

“From very small things, big things grow!” said Alice.

The event was a huge success and was followed by a community breakfast with raffles and a guessing game.

“By the end everyone was asking what date it would be next year!” said Alice.

In addition to the run, several other community events raised further funds.

The ‘Pay per Rep’ challenge at Alice’s workplace was one of the most popular.

A group of visiting athletes were conducting a training session at the Collinsville Open Cut Mine that day and Alice said that over $1,000 was donated within 10 minutes of the event because everyone was eager to see how much they could do.

Incredibly, 14 volunteers managed to do 470 squats, 515 star jumps and 662 push ups!

The fundraising effort continued with Collinsville Youth Coalition selling pink lemonade slushies and one community member even handcrafted quilted products to auction off.

In total, across all fundraising avenues a total of $9,216 was raised and the event was ranked 16th in the top 20 of its kind in Australia.

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The Collinsville Sea of Pink participants. Photo supplied

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Bowen State High School graduate and Whitsunday Brahmans junior player Shaniah Power has signed a two-year deal to join the inaugural North Queensland Toyota Cowboys NRLW side.

Power scored “the biggest try in the history of women’s rugby league in North Queensland,” crossing the line last-minute in the grand final victory for the Gold Stars last season -- and now she’s ensured her part in the next major milestone for the female game in her home region.

Power said that as soon as the Cowboys knew they would be joining the NRLW, she’s been in their thoughts.

“We’ve been talking about it for a very long time,” Power said.

“But the moment I actually put pen to paper with my favourite club was a dream come true, it was quite surreal.”

The 26-year-old second rower has featured for the Warriors, Titans and Roosters across three NRLW seasons, scoring six tries in 13 games, she’s no stranger to this level footy.

Bowen-born, she began playing her junior rugby league for the Whitsunday Brahmans and has been part of the Cowboys Women’s Academy since its inception in 2019.

“I didn’t think it was possible I would ever sign for the Cowboys,” she said.

“I never even thought it was a possibility three years ago to play professional women’s rugby when I got picked up for the Warriors.

“For girls in the regions, I think my signing gives them hope that they can achieve that goal if they work hard enough for it. But they have to work hard; you have to make bigger sacrifices than someone living down in Brisbane.”

For Cowboys NRLW Head Coach Ben Jeffries, Power was a perfect choice with her resume, which includes representing Queensland at State of Origin level in 2020 and 2021 and the Indigenous All Stars on four occasions.

“Shaniah has very good football instincts, possesses good footwork and can find space consistently,” Jeffries said.

“Her form this season has been outstanding. As it stands after four rounds of the BMD QRLW competition, Shaniah leads the points tally for the Steph Hancock BMD Premiership Player of the Year.

“Shaniah loves being amongst the community in promoting the game and as a North Queenslander, she will be a pivotal player within the leadership group who sets the standards for our inaugural season.”

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Bowen-born rugby star Shaniah Power has signed for the inaugural North Queensland Toyota Cowboys NRLW side

Whitsunday Regional Councillors have delayed their decision on major amendments to the planning scheme, citing the need for “more time” to look over a whopping 999-page document.

The Whitsunday Planning Scheme Major Amendment was brought before Council after a public consultation period where 1331 submissions were made from locals.

A large portion of submissions made direct reference to Airlie Beach’s amenity and its building heights - a topic of fervid local discussion with Airlie Beach action group, Save our Foreshore Inc., began court proceedings against Whitsunday Council on Tuesday, April 18.

Council officers expected the amendments would be endorsed and move to the next stage in the adoption process - submitting the documents to the Minister of the Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning, Stephen Miles.

Despite urgings from Council’s Director of Planning and Development, Neil McGaffin, most Councillors voted to table the document.

Mayor Julie Hall said there was need for further consideration of the amendments, and said she felt uncomfortable passing anything without having a firm grasp of it, especially something with such a sweeping nature.

“I need time to look through documents like this and wrap my head around them,” Mayor Hall said.

A full public gallery attended the ordinary meeting when the decision was made, with Airlie Beach resident and Save our Foreshore member Faye Chapman presenting a question to council on one of the amendments more “startling” points.

“The words ‘maximum building heights’ is causing confusion to the general reader, as building heights stipulated in the Planning Scheme are only the Code or Council accepted assessable heights,” the amendment states.

“Under the Planning Act an applicant may apply for a greater building height. Delete ‘maximum’ and put in note to help general understanding.”

Ms Chapman asked Councillors “What is so confusing to the ‘general reader’ about the term ‘maximum’?”

“Maximum means just that: maximum,” she said.

“There's only one reason to remove these words and we all know what that means – high-rises.”

The Major Amendments are due to be voted on again at a later council meeting.

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An inquest into the death of Luke Gilbert, who was tragically killed in a police shooting in October 2022, is due to be held in Cairns in August.

Luke was shot in the chest three times just after midnight on October 1 last year following an altercation with two police officers.

Police allege CCTV evidence shows Luke approaching the officers with a pocketknife, refusing to retreat when asked, and then shouts at officers, “f***ing shoot me then you f***ots”.

It is alleged that a total of five shots were made, two hit nearby cars and three hit Luke directly.

Afterwards, he was searched, and it was over seven minutes before resuscitation attempts began.

His parents, Nicola and Darren Gilbert who reside in Western Australia, have since been petitioning for the police officers to be charged with their son’s murder.

They have now received over 16,000 signatures on a petition asking for an inquest into his death.

The Gilbert’s claim that Luke had been wearing his work uniform and that the knife was part of tool kit.

They also allege that unnecessary force was used that night.

“18 seconds was the whole interaction and they shot at my son five times,” said Nicola Gilbert.

“Luke would never have thought they would actually shoot him – had they got the taser, baton or pepper spray out he would have known they would have definitely used them and dropped the knife.”

A pre-inquest was held on Tuesday this week and evidence is now being gathered ahead of the inquest in August.

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Luke’s family have received 16,000 signatures on a petition for a police inquest into his death. Photo supplied

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The Puma Service Station in Cannonvale closed its doors suddenly last week with staff saying they were given very little notice before they were left unemployed.

“Yes, they closed us forever, the lease wasn’t renewed,” said a staff member named Anthea.

“Gonna miss all my amazing staff and customers, we got a month’s notice which was a huge shock as I had just employed two new staff a week before and they gave up good jobs to come work at Puma.”

In 2020, American company, Chevron, purchased Puma which had previously been one of Australia’s largest independent fuel retail chains.

It operated a network of about 360 retail fuel, 222 shops and dozens of cafes and truck stops.

For the past three years, Chevron have been gradually rebranding all its assets to Caltex.

Ampol, which had been using the name Caltex, has also been gradually returning its outlets to the Ampol brand, since American company Chevron withdrew its licence to use the Caltex name in Australia.

No information is yet available about the fate of the Cannonvale service station, but if it follows the national trend, it will eventually be re-opened as a Caltex.

Meanwhile, many local customers are disappointed that their favourite servo has closed its doors.

They took to Facebook to express their disappointment stating that it had “the best hot box and the friendliest service I had ever seen around.”

Another said the service station had “the best mince burgers and savoury mince jaffles ever” and they were “the only place in Cannonvale to make fresh sandwiches.”

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The Puma Servo closed down, giving staff only a month’s notice. Photo credit: Bec Douthwaite

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Councillors Stand Against Saturation Of Short-Term Accommodation

Whitsunday Regional Councillors have deferred a decision on a short-term accommodation (STA) application in a move to take a stand on further exacerbation of the region’s housing crisis.

The proposal for the Cannonvale property hoped to turn the two-story house with three bedrooms into short-term accommodation managed by local business, Whitsunday Holiday Rentals.

Disregarding town planner’s recommendations, Council defeated the motion to approve the property 2/5, tabling the matter for a later meeting to provide reasons for refusal and using it as an opportunity to discuss their growing concerns with short term accommodation.

Councillor Jan Clifford was first of the Councillors to proclaim that she could not support more holiday homes in the region.

“There are currently 500 short-term accommodations operating within the Airlie Beach-Cannonvale area, and enough is enough,” she said.

“I believe there are 14 to 15 rentals available for the average person. How many of the 500 plus properties are actually lawful?”

Whitsunday Mayor Julie Hall agreed but was concerned that denying short term accommodation, such as the Cannonvale one, could lead to legal troubles for Council.

“It is an issue that we’re losing a lot of accommodation to these short-term accommodations but, if we are to knock this back, it will go into the Environmental and Development Court,” she said.

The situation could be described as ‘damned if you do and damned if you don’t’: If Councillors permit more STAs, there will be fewer rental homes on the market during a housing crisis. If they don’t, the denied STA owners could have grounds for legal action, costing ratepayers up to $100 thousand.

The change of use was eventually denied on the grounds it would be in a medium density residential area and would not be compatible with the prevailing residential character.

Councillor Clay Baumann said every development must be assessed individually.

“If it does go to court, which is not for certain, it would be heard anew. If we sit here, allowing bad decisions to go forward, we’ll end up in a worse position,” he said.

“I agree that we need more holiday accommodation but what we really need are suburbs and houses for people to live in.”

Council’s Director of Planning and Development, Neil McGaffin said justifying these arguments would be difficult if the matter did become litigious.

“I understand what everyone is getting at and certainly we’re moving towards a situation where we need to carefully look at the saturation of short-term accommodation in the area,” Mr McGaffin said.

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