“I went with Explore for the service, not for the possibility of potentially winning, but I’m very happy.”

It’s not every day that the sale of your property goes under contract and you win a car on the very same day.

Well, that’s what happened to Kimberley Edwards who sold her property with the assistance of Maxine Richardson at Explore Property and won Explore Property’s Win A Car Competition doing so.

The competition was run between December 1, 2022, and February 28, 2023, with entrants having to list their property for sale with Explore Property during that time.

“It was a little bit of a laugh when Maxine mentioned the competition when I said that I was going to list my property because I said that I’d never won anything before,” said Kimberley.

With almost 90 entrants, the odds were looking good, but Kimberley still can’t believe her luck.

“I was astounded,” she said.

“I didn’t believe it.

“I had to ask him several times if I’d actually won or not and then had to get Maxine to call me back to confirm that it wasn’t a prank phone call.”

Kimberley’s property was under contract and went unconditional the same day that she won the car.

She said her experiences with Maxine and Explore Property were amazing, their industry experience and friendly and approachable nature helping them stand out from the rest.

“I didn’t even look at another real estate agent after I met Maxine,” Kimberley said.

“She was probably one of the nicest and most informative people I’ve met.”

Kimberley picked up her brand new MG3 earlier this week in what was a perfect cherry on top of an already positive experience with Explore Property.

“I went with Explore for the service, not for the possibility of potentially winning, but I’m very happy,” she said.

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Kimberley Edwards won a brand new MG3 in Explore Property’s Win A Car Competition

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A new tourism business, showcasing Mackay in a way that it has never been before is making waves not just regionally, but now on a national scale, having won Best New Tourism Business in the country at the Qantas Australia Tourism Awards held in Sydney on Friday night.

Wildcat Mackay is now in its second year of operation, offering guests daily experiences to previously inaccessible Great Barrier Reef islands off the Mackay coast, on a purpose-built vessel, custom-designed from extensive research.

The business was launched in the midst of Covid, making its success even more incredible.

Owners, Julie and Asher Telford are familiar with conquering adversity, having operated Wildcat’s award-winning sister company, Red Cat Adventures in the Whitsundays for the past 10 years.

Despite their achievements with Red Cat Adventures, the couple say that they were surprised to receive gold and deeply humbled to be selected for such a prestigious award.

Julie Telford said for a business launched at the height of the pandemic, Wildcat had not only met but exceeded expectations, virtually against all odds.

“To say the cards were stacked against us would be an understatement, so to be recognised as Australia’s best new tourism business is testament to the innovation and tenacity involved, and proof of our ability to design and develop new tourism experiences that people want,” she said.

“We put everything we had into this – emotionally, physically, financially – but it was a calculated risk that paid off; we promise our customers the experience of a lifetime, and awards like this confirm that’s what we deliver.”

Every element of Wildcat Mackay is conceived from scratch – from the boat design to the tour itself and when Asher Telford scoped out a coastline with a reputation for shallow approaches and steep seas, he quickly discovered there was a reason not many operators had offered day trips.

“But after completing significant data analysis and aerial surveillance we knew we’d found paradise and were determined to showcase it,” he said.

“Working with a team of leading naval architects, we were able to come up with a hull design specifically suited to the waters where we wanted to operate, with features like reverse bows, angled surfaces, easy-access fore and aft electric stairs, and a 360-degree rooftop viewing platform, that are every bit as practical as they are striking.”

Wildcat employ eight staff and departs daily from Mackay Marina.

In under two years, the business has already expanded to include weekend sunset cruises around the Mackay Harbour, as well as offering immersive learning tours, curriculum-linked school excursions, school-age Coxswain training and private charters.

Mackay Isaac Tourism Chief Executive Officer, Al Grundy, said whatever the outcome had been at Saturday’s awards, he sees Wildcat as a winning experience.

“In our eyes Wildcat were already winners as the trips they provide exploring the islands and reefs off the Mackay coast are world-class,” he said.

The support for our region from Asher and Julie Telford is helping to establish Mackay as a jumping-off point to visit the islands of the Great Barrier Reef – so go get ‘em Jules, Ash and the Wildcat team, and thank you.”

What does it take to top Australian Tourism?

A clear vision that also involves in-depth research, innovation and development. A focus on the community, accessibilty and a genuine passion towards protecting the environment. We also believe in maintaining our integrity within a business. We stick to our purpose: to make sure everyone who travels with us has the best experience and deliver on it.

It also takes a lot of hard work and dedication from everyone involved. A business is only as strong as the people in it, and winning awards acknowledges their commitment and passion for Wildcat.

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Left to right: Asher and Julie Telford with Operations Manager Dan Gabbert

Wildcat Mackay offers unique experiences in nature

The business has achieved the highest level of ECO accreditation and is a Climate Action Leader

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Nine nursing graduates have embarked on their new careers at Mackay Hospital and Health Service (HHS) as the hospital welcomed their fourth intake, taking the total for 2023 to 84.

The graduates completed a week of training this week before they join their specific departments where they will complete 12 months of hands-on learning.

Registered Midwife Ally Bennett completed her Bachelor of Midwifery in December following a career change, recently relocating from Brisbane.

“The hospital facilities are fantastic, really modern,” Ms Bennett said.

“There’s also a dedicated education and research centre so I think that makes a real difference to how you come in as a graduate.”

Ms Bennett previously worked in human resources, making the decision to become a midwife amidst a global pandemic.

“I really think that women and children are a foundation in our community,” she said.

“In my previous roles I worked in male dominated organisations so I worked to attract and retain women.

“If we can give good antenatal care and give women good experiences when they first start their families, that can be life changing.”

Having completed her study, Ms Bennett looks forward to consolidating her skills, particularly in a clinical setting.

“I’m looking forward to meeting the local population as well,” she said.

“From what I hear, it’s really mixed and diverse and that’s what I really enjoy about midwifery.”

Fellow graduate Latisha Chong started as a Registered Nurse last week, completing her study at the James Cook University Mater Clinical Training Centre in Mackay.

“It’s been a long time coming,” she said.

“Three years of full-time study, having a baby in between, it has felt like a lifetime but definitely excited to be finished and ready to start my new career in healthcare.”

Being a smaller university, Ms Chong said the cohort was smaller than those in bigger cities but tight knit.

“I was able to find a really great support network within my cohort at university,” she said.

“We were able to bounce off each other with ideas and, most importantly, emotional support.”

Ms Chong started her nursing career in the medical ward where she will use and learn a diverse range of skills.

“I really love the complexity of nursing,” she said.

“I love being knowledgeable about the human body and how to treat and manage diseases.

“I really love patient care and working really closely with my patients.”

Mackay HHS Acting Assistant Director of Nursing, Education and Training Paul McAlister said this week’s training was theory-based in a simulated environment, preparing for their year ahead in the workplace.

“When they do go to their workplace, they’re well supported in their early days,” he said.

“They’re responsible and accountable but they’re well supported by the workplace.”

Mr McAlister said the hospital is still working through recruitment challenges.

“It’s a constant challenge and an ongoing process, so certainly at this time of year, we welcome our new graduates and it’s a great opportunity for them to join us,” he said.

“We’re thankful for the cohorts that we’ve been able to achieve and hopefully we can encourage some more recruitment throughout the year.

“It’s a rewarding career.

“It’s a caring vocation and we really instill that in our programs.”

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Nine nursing graduates joined Mackay HHS this week

Mackay HHS Acting Assistant Director of Nursing, Education and Training. Photo credit: Sam Gillespie

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After a week of live broadcasts from schools throughout the region, Star Mackay has announced their School of the Year for 2023.

Scotty and Kaley surprised students at Glenella State School at their Monday morning assembly, crowning the school as the station’s inaugural School of the Year and handing over the $10,000 prize.

The competition was judged on the most votes received, the creativity of responses and the intended use of the prize money, with Glenella State School hoping to spend the money on sound gear and smoke machines for discos.

“We are thrilled that a school like Glenella State could take out the first ever $10,000 Star School of the Year,” said Star’s Scotty and Kaley.

“It was a gruelling judging process but in the end Glenella won out with their creativity on how they wanted to spend the money and the public outpouring for them meant that, while they weren’t the biggest school in our top 5, they did end up with the most votes!”

“Thank you so much to Richglen Maintenance Services for making it all happen.”

Earlier in the month, Glenella State School was forced to close following significant vandalism making parts of the campus unusable and forcing hundreds of students to temporarily relocate their studies to nearby Mackay West State School.

School Principal Brett Di Boni said the competition came at a perfect time after what the school has been through.

“This is really great for our school,” he told Scotty and Kaley.

“The silver lining in everything we’ve experienced in the last week is what a great community we’re a part of.

“It’s been great and that’s been further reinforced here.”

Glenella State School was shortlisted alongside four other finalists including St Catherine’s Catholic College, Homebush State School, Seaforth State School and Eimeo Road State School.

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Glenella State School students were in raptures when Scotty and Kaley crashed their assembly to crown them School of the Year. Photos supplied: Star

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Local engineering students are being offered a world of opportunities thanks to the launch of North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation’s (NQBP) 2023 Internship Program.

Applications are now open for the Port of Mackay-based program, which offers a valuable career-building opportunity to a third-year undergraduate student enrolled in a civil engineering degree.

NQBP Acting Chief Executive Officer Belinda Kenny said the successful applicant will work in an organisation that plays a vital role in Queensland’s economy.

“NQBP is one of Australia's largest port authorities by tonnage throughput, with around half of Queensland's trade by tonnage passing through our ports,” Ms Kenny said.

"Ports are crucial, handling around 90 per cent of global trade and the work our people do makes a meaningful contribution.

"Through our ports, we connect regional Queensland to the world and working with us provides the chance to gain invaluable experience on exciting projects that can take you anywhere."

The 2023 program will help one aspiring engineer gain hands-on experience in a port trade environment.

“Our internship program is an opportunity to learn about the complex engineering systems and operations that keep ports running safely and efficiently,” Ms Kenny said.

"The engineering field is highly competitive, and our internship allows you to earn while you learn and have a truly unique experience.

“The program is part of our ongoing commitment to nurturing the next generation of industry professionals and supporting them in achieving their goals.”

The paid internship program will run from June 2023 to March 2024. To apply for the Student Internship Program, please visit the NQBP website or contact hr@nqbp.com.au before 16 April 2023.

NQBP is a Queensland Government-owned corporation responsible for the ports of Mackay, Abbot Point, Hay Point, and Weipa in far north Queensland.

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NQBP Engineer Daniel Harris and Graduate Engineer Khine Htet are encouraging aspiring engineers to build their career at the Port of Mackay

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Meet Kerri, Deb, Cat and Helen - the colourful crew at the heart of a new workforce initiative at Mackay Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drugs Service (MHAODS).

They are four of the seven workers who make up our MHAODS peer workforce – people who know all too well what it means to battle mental health issues or problematic substance use challenges and come through it.

They are now ready to walk alongside others to help them manage those difficult journeys.

Team leader Deb explains the concept she is passionate about.

“Peer workers have lived with mental health or problematic substance use challenges and worked through recovery,” Deb said.

“With that experience and understanding they are able to come alongside others and support them on their recovery journey.

“We’ve all got our different strengths, knowledge, skills and experiences of different issues – and we all come to work bearing our difficult past.

“We are now here to stand beside our clients and support people and ride alongside them.”

Following a 12-month pilot program in 2021-22, the permanent peer workforce team has now been established and is operating out of MHAODS in Nelson Street.  

Peer worker Kerri said their task was to build relationships, rapport and provide support.

“We relate and empathise, let them know their rights,” Kerri said.

“We are connecting on that level, of having a lived experience.

“We want to build their resilience, alleviate stress, find things they relate to and we have knowledge of the mental health system and resources out in the community.

“We work closely with clinical teams, so we’re a link between the two.”

Cat loves the collaborative team environment.

“There’s great collaboration in the team, and the focus is on our clients and their support people,” Cat said.

“We work on mutual respect; we don’t tell people what to do or how to do it.

“Everyone knows why they’re here and the client voice is present in everything.”

It is a role that can be challenging.

Helen is the newest member of the team and will fill the role of a carer peer worker – caring for the carers.

“What this service offers is what I needed when I was supporting someone with mental health challenges,” Helen said.

“The team is so welcoming here and they offer brilliant support.

“We all get supported in here too because I can’t help anybody if I’m not in a good place myself.”

To find out more about our mental health peer workforce team, phone 4968 3893.

For 24/7 mental health support phone 1300 MH CALL (1300 64 22 55).

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MHAODS peer workforce Kerri, Deb, Cat and Helen. Photo supplied: Mackay Hospital and Health Services

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Recent underwater video monitoring surveys show Fish Habitat Reef Modules in the Pioneer River are now thriving.

An amazing 22 fish species have been recorded using the new Habitat Reefs which were deployed in 2021 by Mackay Regional Council.

All up, 45 Habitat Reef Modules were deployed at the base of three easily accessible fishing platforms on Bridge Road, Brisbane Street and Carlyle Street.

Matt Moore, Fisheries Ecologist with Catchment Solutions said recording 22 species on these reefs was a fantastic result and represented substantial increase compared to pre-deployment surveys.

“Monitoring results demonstrate the reef design and project have been a huge success, both in terms of increasing populations of iconic recreational fishing species at the sites, like barramundi, mangrove jack and fingermark, and providing habitat for juvenile fish species,” Mr Moore said.

Mr Moore said the most encouraging results had been the high numbers of juvenile fish species utilising the reef modules as nursery habitats.

“Fish typically have millions of eggs and larvae, but most of these are eaten by predators,” he said.

“A great way to increase fish populations is to provide nursery habitats for these baby fish, allowing them to shelter from predators.”

Busy fish nurseries also get a big thumbs up from recreational fishers. John Bennet from Mackay Recreational Fishing Association (MRFA) said they fully supported sensible and practical ways to improve fisheries management.

“It’s fantastic to turn desert landscapes into productive fisheries by protecting juvenile fish. If there is no habitat, then there are no juvenile fish.”

Some of the more iconic fish species spotted during the video surveys include barramundi, golden snapper (fingermark), mangrove jack, barred grunter, estuary cod and trevally.

Catches of large barramundi and barred grunter from the fishing platforms have also been reported by young and old fishers alike.

In addition to the recreational fishing species, the reef modules also provide habitats for fish species that feed on algae, such as rabbitfish, red scats, mullet and small-bodied wrasse.

Mr Moore said that these ecosystem engineers are vital for maintaining healthy habitats in Great Barrier Reef waters, as they feed on fast-growing algae, which often outcompetes slower-growing corals and molluscs.

Chair of council’s Recreational Fishing Advisory Committee Cr Belinda Hassan said it was amazing to see the results of the video surveys.

“Seeing just how much these innovative concrete structures have transformed into healthy marine ecosystems in a relatively short time is really exciting,” Cr Hassan said.

“Council is really pleased to see the platforms being used by so many anglers, as well as local Mackay schools for outdoor curricular activities.”

The innovative Habitat Reef Modules were designed by Catchment Solutions to provide complex vertical relief structures for a wide range of fish species and encrusting marine organisms.

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Underwater video monitoring of Fish Habitat Reef Modules in the Pioneer River. Image: Catchment Solutions

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Local growers, harvesters and industry stakeholders gathered last Friday night for the 2023 Mackay Sugar Productivity Awards.

More than 300 people attended the event at Mackay Turf Club to help recognise the key achievements and exceptional performance from the 2022 crushing season, across productivity areas such as crop yield, efficiency, innovation and sustainability.  

The annual Productivity Awards highlight the importance of sugar cane farming on the local economy as well as the hard work, dedication and innovation of local growers in the sugar industry across eight categories, with the following people being named the 2023 winners:

• Brett Minchianski – Brown & Hurley Harvesting Group Award >40,000t

• Anthony Agius – RDO Equipment Harvesting Group Award <40,000t

• Andrew Vassallo – Canegrowers Sustainable Management Practices Award

• Ross Windsor – AgForce Research Excellence Awards

• Albert Deboni – Farmacist Innovation and Technology Award

• Paul Schembri Junior – NQ Farmshed Promising Contributor Award

• Maryann Nielsen – Mackay Sugar Lifetime Achievement Award

As well as the winners of the Highest Tonnes of Sugar per Hectare award:

• Steve Russell (Farleigh region)

• Adrian Zarb (Marian region)

• Shane Mau (Racecourse region)

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The importance of the more than 270,000 stock-herding dogs across rural Australia to the country’s farmers and property owners cannot be underestimated – and Clermont musterer Frank Finger knows it.

The winner of ABC's Muster Dog program has been training working dogs for over 20 years on his property in the Isaac and is now using his platform to share his tips with farmers across Australia.

Frank said farmers are “well aware that a well-trained dog provides benefits to a farm well beyond its sale price”, which is why he’s always preferred training dogs from puppyhood.

“[You must] start small in all facets of a dog’s training,” he said.

“The initial training is all about showing them what to do until their instincts come out.”

From birth, Frank said it is essential to nurture working dog pups through their early weeks and work with them at nine weeks in short bursts of training.

“As small and cute as they are, it’s important to bond with them,” Frank said. “But not too much until they are working.”

“If too much bonding occurs before they’re working, they can become accustomed to it and come to expect it too much later on.”

Frank said to “think small” when training a small pup: incorporate small livestock such as goats or even ducks, train in short periods, and don’t overwhelm the little nippers.

“Training time and size of livestock can increase over time as the dogs grow,” he said.

“Once the dog is nine months of age, we increase the cattle size and the number of them in the yard.”

Frank said notes that one often overlooked aspect of training working dogs is that a dog's line of sight extends no higher than a trainer's knee when nearby - this is especially true for pups.

“Remembering the dogs’ eye level when training them is important,” said Frank.

“This is why we use a plastic garden rake to act as an extension of our arm and ensure we’re in their line of sight. The rake is also used as an indicator to get the dogs to stay next to the trainer and not move in front.”

And most importantly, Frank said that simple commands are the key to success.

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CANEGROWERS is calling on the owners and operators of Queensland’s bulk sugar terminals to put aside their differences and come together to find a long-term solution to the operation of these strategically significant industry assets.

Representatives from Sugar Terminals Limited (STL) and Queensland Sugar Limited (QSL) fronted grower-leaders at the CANEGROWERS Policy Council meeting in Brisbane this week, to explain why terminal operations have suddenly become one of the most contentious issues facing the industry.

Queensland’s sugarcane farmers funded two-thirds of the construction costs of six purpose-built bulk sugar terminals between Cairns and Bundaberg in 1950s and 60s.

For decades these terminals have been operated safely and successfully by QSL as a not-for-profit enterprise, handling around 4 million tonnes of sugar exports annually.

However, despite having no hands-on experience in the operation of sugar terminals, in January STL, the owner of the assets, announced its intention to wind up the commercial agreement with QSL and insource terminal operations.

CANEGROWERS Chairman Owen Menkens said growers are concerned the decision poses unnecessary risks to Australia’s international reputation as a reliable supplier of high quality, sustainably produced sugar.

“These terminals are a huge asset to the industry,” Mr Menkens said. “They give us a significant competitive advantage in the world market and their efficient, effective and safe operation as a service to the industry is paramount.

“Growers were the major investors in these facilities, so, we’re not about to sit quietly back and see that legacy risked in any way because these organisations are unable to agree what’s actually in the best interests of the industry,” Mr Menkens said.

Both parties need to come together and resolve their operational issues in an orderly way.  The grower-led CANEGROWERS Policy Council affirmed that growers want to be assured that:

● terminals will be operated without increased costs while ensuring efficiency and reliability

● there is a forward operating strategy and business plan in place for the terminals

● terminal operations will always prioritise sugar access

● pricing and access arrangements will continue to be on an equitable basis for all customers

“The bottom line is these terminals have operated very well under QSL,” Mr Menkens said.

“And the fact that QSL is an industry-owned, not for profit organisation has given growers confidence that these assets are being managed in the best interests of the industry.

“It is now up to STL to demonstrate to growers that they can do a similar or better job, possibly at lower cost. But we have yet to be convinced of that.

“If there is a better operating model then surely STL and QSL as two organisations that should be thinking in the best interests of the industry should resolve the situation in a professional manner.

“CANEGROWERS will continue to fight to ensure this issue is resolved in an acceptable way as soon as possible.”

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CANEGROWERS Chairman Owen Menkens

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It happened for me just a week or two ago with my cricket team in here in Mackay, Pinnacle, when we won the 3rd grade competition. The night before, there was a huge crowd in the stand for the Party in the Park and the 1st Grade Final, and just a few less for us the next day at Great Barrier Reef Arena. Well, let’s be honest, there was five, five people in the stand, and two of those were kids who wanted to go home.

It was a cracker of a game with Pinnacle Vs Souths, and we won with only 3 balls spare and no wickets left. For the non-cricket people, that means it was very close and we nearly lost.

Now normally with 3rd grade, we play on the “outer grounds” at Harrup Park, at Mirani High, at Magpies and a few other grounds, so for us to get a game at Great Barrier Reef Arena was pretty cool.

The win was great, the celebrations were good and went well into the night, and morning for some in my team, but there was another highlight for me.

My 12-year-old son loves his cricket. He takes a bat and ball to all my games so he can smash it around the spare grounds at Harrup Park. Our final on the Sunday was the final game of cricket for the 22-23 season in Mackay, and now GBRA gets tweaked into an AFL set up, so the pristine cricket pitch that was used for 1st and 3rd grade finals had done its job for the year.

With no official cricket left, my boy and I went out to the middle and played some father son cricket together. A cricket ground that gets used for WBBL, international matches (Australia Vs India women’s), Sheffield Shield … and me and my son. It was a pretty cool thing to do after out grand final win on that beautiful ground, perfect lawn and centre wicket.

Scotty

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Rescue Crew Kept On Their Toes

RACQ CQ Rescue experienced another busy weekend last weekend, airlifting a man from Sarina after a drug overdose on Saturday and a woman from Cockermouth Island with a dislocated knee on Sunday.

The Mackay-based helicopter has completed five missions since Friday.

Early Saturday morning, Queensland Health tasked the service to transport a patient from Bowen to hospital in Mackay.

Later the same day, RACQ CQ Rescue was tasked again by Queensland Health to fly 30km south to land near the showgrounds at Sarina to airlift a critically ill patient.

A 27-year-old North Mackay man who suffered a drug overdose and was initially taken to Sarina Hospital, required emergency treatment by paramedics and the flight doctor before being flown to Mackay Base Hospital in a serious condition about 6pm.

Later Saturday night, a patient from Collinsville hospital was transported by helicopter to Mackay after suffering pelvic and spinal injuries after rolling a ute.

On Sunday morning, the Mackay-based helicopter was tasked to Cockermouth Island, about 50km north-east of Mackay.

A woman on board a tourist vessel visiting the island was paddleboarding in the lagoon when she seriously dislocated her knee.

RACQ CQ Rescue was tasked by Queensland Health about 11:30am and the helicopter landed on the island’s beach so the medical team, including a doctor and Critical Care Paramedic, could treat the woman and deliver pain relief.

She was then airlifted for further treatment at Mackay Base Hospital.

It was an early start for the crew again on Monday morning after being tasked at 3:00am by Queensland Health to transfer a hospital patient from Clermont to Mackay in a four-hour mission.

RACQ CQ Rescue has already completed 141 missions so far this year.

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The RACQ CQ Rescue helicopter transported patients from Sarina and Cockermouth Island over the weekend. Images supplied.

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It always makes me laugh when I see two dogs walking on a footpath, unaccompanied by a human, alongside a suburban street.

They move along on a good trot, with a sense of purpose, as though they know exactly what they’re doing and where they’re going.

I saw a couple of dogs the other day walking briskly along the footpath alongside Paradise St in South Mackay.

One dog was slightly ahead of the other one, leading the way, and that’s usually the case in these dual-dog escapades.

The one in front is the leader and shows the way with a confident stride, looking straight ahead undistracted by cars, humans, those other dogs pathetically barking from behind their fenced suburban prisons and ignoring anything that could divert them from their mission. Whatever that is.

The dog that is following the leader does so with blind allegiance, confident that the boss knows exactly what he or she is doing and where they’re going.

The mission is, of course, a sham and a futile exercise that will achieve nothing and possibly end up in disaster.

The whole image reminds me of what can be a very unfortunate real estate experience … that is if you’re the seller and the agent doesn’t really know what they’re doing.

I’ve got to stress there are plenty of good agents out there but there are some who are not and if you manage to land one of them, well, it’s you and the agent making your way along Paradise St with the agent up ahead pretending he or she knows what they’re doing.

That’s you following along, initially believing the agent is all over it but after a while realising there’s no real direction, no serious engagement with buyers and that the whole exercise seems to be going nowhere.

It seemed so promising at the start. The agent was cheaper that the others. Commission was lower, marketing was a bargain compared to the expense of a premiere listing on realestate.com.au that some agents were suggesting along with a social media strategy and professional photos.

Now when you look at that crappy advertising write-up you see it doesn’t in any way convey the desirable attributes of your property and make any connection with potential buyers,  you note the lack of offers, the  poor attendance at open homes, the fact other agents at the agency aren’t bringing buyers to the table.

You see the opportunity is gone. You realise there is only one chance to make a first impression. You know you’re not going to get the best price the market will pay. You now understand that all agents are not the same.

I imagine there are cheap mechanics, cheap painters, cheap plumbers, cheap accountants and probably cheap surgeons. I don’t use any of them because they’re cheap for a reason. And it’s not a good reason.

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I recently had the privilege of spending time in the company of a remarkable young woman, Kayleigh Brewster, of Australian Street Aid Project, a registered charity based here in Mackay.

Her genuine care and compassion for the 40 to 60 homeless that visit her and her volunteer staff at Chances Café daily ensures they are provided with two meals per day in a safe and secure environment. Chances Café is the closest thing to a home environment they have, where they can have a sense of belonging, companionship, and acceptance with no judgement.

When I asked Kayleigh her ‘Why’, her response was “It gives me a sense of purpose and I have a genuine passion for making a difference to peoples lives”. “There’s always a story behind every person that comes here and quite often they come from a place of trauma, and you don’t fix trauma by giving up on them”.

Her charity will benefit from funds raised at the Mayors Charity Ball in May and will hopefully allow her to employ a part-time registered nurse to administer basic first aid for those that need it.

Her ultimate goal is to convert the second-hand shop based at 1/7 Victoria Street into a Drop in Lounge, a “Place To Be”, fitted out with comfy sofas, bean bags, TV, computers and charge facility for phones. Basics we take for granted yet will do so much for the mental and physical welfare of our homeless.

Unfortunately, homelessness is on the rise and Kayleigh is seeing more people having to utilise their services. There are not enough shelter beds in our region and people are forced to squat, rough sleep and sleep in vehicles.

This charity receives no government funding, but YOU can help make a big difference.  Become a Charity Champion by visiting www.austreetaid.org where you can donate as little as $8 (or more) per week and help improve the lives of our homeless.

They may not have a big fancy space, or a lot of funding, but they have big compassionate hearts.  Donate today!

Cr Pauline Townsend

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Regional infrastructure, renewable energy and workforce attraction were in focus as the members of the Mackay Isaac Whitsunday Regional Community Forum gathered in Mackay on Monday, chaired by Member for Mackay Julieanne Gilbert.

“It is fantastic to gather for the first Mackay Isaac Whitsunday Regional Community Forum of the year, and to continue the important work to create a brighter future by discussing priorities for the region,” Ms Gilbert said.

“I thank the Forum members for their amazing support and advice.”

Forum members visited key projects in the region, including the Queensland University of Technology – Mackay Renewable Biocommodities Pilot Plant which is engaged in pioneering research converting biomass into biofuels, green chemicals and other bioproducts.

The Minister for Police and Corrective Services and Minister for Fire and Emergency Services Mark Ryan and the Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef and Minister for Science and Youth Affairs Meaghan Scanlon were also in attendance.

Since 2015, the state government has invested approximately $1.5 billion in the region to create about 1 gigawatt of large-scale renewable energy, supporting approximately 1,400 construction jobs.

More than $7 billion of additional clean energy infrastructure investment is forecast for the region by 2040.

The vast cane fields and mountain range surrounding Mackay will be a source of innovations in biofuels while playing home to the largest pumped hydro energy storage scheme in the world.

“The Queensland Government has set aside $273.5 million to support exploration of the Pioneer-Burdekin and Borumba Pumped Hydro Energy Storage projects,” said Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef and Minister for Science and Youth Affairs Meaghan Scanlon.

“Community engagement and environmental and cultural considerations are central to this work, which is why the Forum is so important to this region.”

The Pioneer-Burdekin Pumped Hydro scheme was announced in September last year as part of the government’s Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan.

“The Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan is helping to power this region,” said Minister for Police and Corrective Services and Minister for Fire and Emergency Services Mark Ryan.

“The Plan will support workforce transition and galvanise the recruitment of workers from across Australia.”

This was the first meeting of the Forum members in 2023, with three more Regional Community Forums scheduled throughout the year.

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Member for Mackay Julieanne Gilbert chaired the Mackay Isaac Whitsunday Regional Community Forum earlier this week where renewable energy was a top priority. Photo supplied

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