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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Jo Sainsbury, owner of Kickass Women, dedicates her time to raising awareness and funds for those affected by domestic violence through her annual charity gala event, Shades of Women, and she’s encouraging the Mackay community to support the initiative through event sponsorship.

Proudly presented by Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal, this year’s event is being held on Sat 27 May at Mantra Mackay and will gather women together to raise awareness about domestic violence and celebrate the strength, resilience, and hope of women from all walks of life.

“Shades of Women is a beacon of hope in the fight against domestic violence. It serves as a powerful reminder that, with the right support and resources, anyone can overcome even the most daunting challenges,” Jo said.

With proceeds going back into Mackay Women’s Services, the event provides an opportunity for businesses and individuals to directly support local women and children affected by domestic violence through sponsorship or attendance.

“There are a number of sponsorship levels available, and each one provides different tangible resources for women seeking to leave volatile situations and provides necessities to begin rebuilding their lives, including Hope Bags and GPS Geo Guard Personal Emergency Devices,” she said.

Jo said that the platinum level sponsorship included a Hope Bag [valued at $500] and gold level donated a Geo Guard device to Mackay Women’s Services for women in need.

The GPS Geo Guard is a revolutionary personal safety device that provides immediate assistance in dangerous situations. With the simple push of a button, users can alert emergency services and a designated network of contacts, ensuring that they receive the prompt help they need. It has the potential to save countless lives and make a significant impact in the fight against domestic violence.

Similarly, Hope Bags are an initiative that provide emergency relief to survivors of domestic violence when they leave an abusive situation. These bags contain essential items such as clothing, toiletries, a phone, groceries gift voucher and other essential necessities, as well as resources for counselling and legal assistance.

Jo said that Hope Bags offered a lifeline to survivors who may be restarting with only the clothes on their backs and that they provided vital support for healing and recovery.

If you’re interested in sponsoring Shades of Women, please email athena@redhotblue.com.au and visit the Kickass Women Facebook page for more info.

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With increasing environmental concerns, many individuals and governments are turning to electric vehicles (EVs) as a cleaner and more sustainable mode of transportation. EVs offer lower operating costs, quieter driving experiences and improved performance, seeing them rapidly gaining popularity as an alternative to traditional cars. It's clear that EVs are poised to play a crucial role in shaping the future of the automotive industry and Volt Car Rentals has become Mackay’s first and only car rental company offering a range of EVs.

Business owner Scott Hession grew up with a passion for cars, saying it runs in his blood.

“I started as an apprentice in 2007,” he said.

“Right out of school, I was eager to start learning and have continued carving my entire career around the automotive industry.”

Scott grew up in Tasmania, leaving the island state in 2011 after visiting family who had recently relocated to Mackay. With two bags and $350 in his account, he moved north and never looked back. Scott and his partner Casey, who are about to celebrate 12 years together, bought Torrisi’s Garage in 2016 where Scott put his expertise to the test. Having since completed certificates and short courses in mechanical, automotive sales and repair, his unique range of knowledge has been gained from hands-on experience throughout his automotive career.

A pair who are always keen for the next thing in automotive, Scott and Casey ordered their first EV, a red Volvo XC40. Eagerly awaiting the new Volvo, they took the opportunity to rent a Tesla Model 3 while on holiday in Cairns in October 2021 to see what it would be like to live with an EV. They were clearly impressed, ordering their second EV for the start of Volt Car Rentals soon after. Having driven their XC40 around the Mackay and Whitsunday regions to test its range, they decided it was time to order more vehicles for their rental fleet, with the Tesla Model 3 arriving in August 2022.

“We offer predominately electric vehicles for customers to rent, ranging from 24 hours to as long as they would like,” said Scott.

“We cover the cost of charging the vehicle at any Chargefox Charging station, unlimited kilometres, premium connectivity for Spotify, Netflix etc, maps are the latest and up to date.

In an industry of innovation, Scott and the team are always up for new challenges.

“We are always looking ahead in the future to keep up with the latest technology,” said Scott.

“We try out all of the tech before introducing it into our business to ensure ease of use and the best quality products are available for our customers.”

The family-owned and operated business facilitates a LGBTIQ+ friendly environment and a relaxed, safe and supportive atmosphere for customers and staff. The can-do attitude of Volt Car Rentals is apparent through their dedication to quality service and customer satisfaction.

“We pride ourselves in showing our customers through the vehicle and how everything works and if there are any questions during the rental we can be contacted at any time,” Scott said.

“We offer a true premium experience.”

Find Volt Car Rentals at 39 Macalister St, Mackay, email info@voltcarrentals.com.au or phone 0408 701 644.

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We all know every day should start with a good night and restorative sleep.

For those with snoring and apnea issues that might be getting in the way, CPAP Direct is here to help.

With a new store now open in Mackay, CPAP Direct Mackay are the sleep apnea specialists, specialising in continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy and related products to treat chronic snoring, sleep apnea and other related conditions.

The family owned and independently operated business provides sleep testing, treatment and on- going support for those that suffer from snoring issues (and their partners), to ensure you get the most out of the third of your life you spend in bed.

“We pride ourselves on providing a wide range of cost-effective treatment options, whilst delivering a 5-star patient care experience from sleep diagnostics through to treatment,” said local Store Manager Kiera Smith.

After years of studying and working as a cleaner, Kiera, who is Mackay born and bred, jumped at the opportunity to learn something new, pursuing a career as a sleep technologist.

“Throughout the years I have had the opportunity to work with a few businesses in Mackay and learnt a lot about sleep, diagnosing sleep apnea and CPAP therapy,” she said.

“Last year I was given the opportunity of a lifetime, managing the new CPAP Direct store in Mackay.”

She brings over six years of sleep industry experience to the role as well as reliability, commitment and dedication to helping all patients get the most out of therapy.

“I am honest, polite, respectful and fair to others and will always go above and beyond to help and support my staff, customers and members of the CPAP Direct family,” she said.

CPAP Direct nationally has a unique work culture that values family and community.

As a family-owned business, the company extends its values to its employees, treating them as part of the family.

The team at CPAP Direct is committed to helping customers find the right treatment options that are affordable, effective and include ongoing support.

Outside of her CPAP Direct family, Kiera has been with her partner Matt for 24 years, married for 15, and together they have three beautiful daughters and one handsome grandson.

Kiera’s family is a wide-reaching one, as her and Matt have been foster carers for 13 years, opening their home to many wonderful children throughout that time.

With hobbies such as sewing, crocheting and renovating, Kiera always finds the time to relax outside of work, allowing her to focus on delivering utmost customer care.

Leading from the front, Kiera will always have time for her CPAP Direct customers, with no problem being too big or small.

She is up for a friendly chat, so visit Kiera and the CPAP Direct team at the Big Bear shopping centre at 2 Ungerer St, North Mackay today, call 4863 4767 or visit cpap.com.au

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Prossie High In The ‘Swing Of Things’ For Broadway

Proserpine State High School students will take to the stage in the upcoming Broadway romantic musical ‘Sweet Charity’ in early May.

In the school’s first musical since its highly successful play, ‘We Will Rock You’, in 2021, 100 students will take roles behind, below, and on the stage in what will be an “ambitious production.”

Following the eponymous Charity Hope Valentine, a taxi dancer living in New York City in the swinging sixties, Sweet Charity is brimming with groovy love, counterculture, and gaudy fashion.

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Students Ready To Groove In Upcoming Play

Proserpine State High School students will perform the musical ‘Sweet Charity’ in early May at the school’s Drama Centre.

The musical’s Artistic Director and Proserpine State High School head of Drama, Jenny Napier said the students were ecstatic to be performing Sweet Charity – a celebrated, long-running Broadway musical which premiered in 1966.

“Sweet Charity is about a girl who is looking for love,” Ms Napier said.

“She has spent her entire life trying to find the one person for her.”

The Broadway show revolves around the life of Charity Hope Valentine, a dancer for hire living in a bustling New York City in the 1960s.

Ms Napier said the show is famed for its Fosse jazz and pushes students on technical fronts in its set design as well as its performances, allowing them to get a taste for the dramatic profession.

“A lot of our students from previous productions have gone on to work in the profession,” Ms Napier said.

“Three of our leads from Oliver are professional actors now and a lot have gone on to technical, sound, and staging. To do big, professional Broadway shows is important for the students. It gives them a great opportunity to show their skills – and to even put those on their CVs.”

Ms Napier said Sweet Charity is complex musically and choreographically for any performer, asking them to be somewhat of a triple threat.

“It is probably beyond normal high-school students,” Ms Napier said.

“But these performers are seasoned actors now, having been in We Will Rock You and some Cannonvale State School performances – we know they have the skill.”

A 28-piece orchestra will accompany the show and is comprised entirely of students who are being mentored by professional musicians.

Sweet Charity leads Xavier Johnson, who plays Oscar – a shy tax accountant - and Allegra Bradley –Charity – said they were extremely excited to be a part of the spectacle.

“I fell in love with musicals when I saw Cannonvale’s Peter Pan at six years old,” Ms Bradley said.

“I knew I had to be a part of them and to be in the lead has been amazing. It is such a great opportunity.”

The show encompasses students from Grades 8 to 12 and runs with a ‘double cast,’ meaning some characters will be played by a new set of actors on alternative nights.

Sweet Charity will run at the Proserpine State High School drama centre from May 3 to 6 with tickets available soon.

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Proserpine State High School students at the first dress rehearsal for their May performance of ‘Sweet Charity’

Proserpine State High School Students will perform a Broadway-style play following the character Charity Hope Valentine, played in half the performances by student Allegra Bradley

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The grieving mother of Luke Gilbert, who was tragically killed in a police shooting in Airlie Beach six months ago, is calling for an independent inquiry to bring the officers who she believes should be “charged with murder” to justice.

Nicola Gilbert believes that investigations so far have centred around Luke and his role in the incident, rather than the officers who she believes used unnecessary force.

“We have to fight to get any information at all and then when we do it’s very one-sided and vague,” she said.

“You cannot have a police force being allowed to get away with the most abhorrent crime in the world, taking the life of another, simply because they wear a uniform.

“It’s too late to save our son, nothing we do will bring him back, but we can try to save other lives from being lost needlessly.”

On October 1 last year, Luke Gilbert, who resided in Townsville, had been visiting the Whitsundays on an unplanned trip to help a mate who had been experiencing car trouble.

Nicola said that Luke was not expecting to travel that day and was still wearing his work uniform which included a small pen knife on his belt which he used as a tool.

He decided to stay in Airlie Beach for the night and was walking to another pub just after midnight when the fateful incident occurred.

Nicola has since been told that when Luke saw two police officers, he covered his pen knife with his hand so that he wouldn’t get stopped.

She believes Luke then passed another two officers while still covering the knife with his hand and, because he was intoxicated, almost bumped into them.

“The officers asked if he was ok and when Luke didn’t respond, they noticed he was covering something,” said Nicola.

“Luke then unclipped the pen knife to show them, only walking slowly towards them.”  

In contrast, a Queensland Police report stated that Luke “allegedly threatened officers advancing on them”.

Nicola said that officers then drew their firearms and pointed them at Luke which “escalated the situation very quickly” and likely caused him to be “terrified and confused”.

She asks why a taser or pepper spray was not used in the first instance, rather than a firearm.

“Luke had been walking slowly, they were backing away quicker than him, he did not launch at or threaten the officers at any point,” she said.

“Luke had his arms down by his side approximately 20 feet from the officers when they opened fire only 18 seconds after they stopped him.

“Luke was shot at five times by both officers, three went into his chest and two hit nearby cars.”

When Luke fell to the ground, Nicola says that the police officers turned him onto his stomach and handcuffed his arms behind his back.

“It was seven minutes before the police attempted to give Luke CPR,” she said.

Luke died a short time after arriving at Proserpine Hospital.

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Luke Gilbert with his mother, Nicola, in happier times. Photo supplied

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On Saturday evening, Chantelle Jensen and her friend Bek Sinclaire were enjoying a picnic down at Cannonvale Beach with Chantelle’s mum when they saw a couple trying to free a stingray which had become trapped in the nearby stinger net.

Eventually, the couple gave up trying to set it free so the girls walked over to see if they could help.

When they arrived the baby sting ray was clearly distressed as it had likely been stuck in the net for hours due to an extremely low tide.

The girls found a couple of sticks which they used to untangle the ray and lever it free.

“We were a bit worried about its barb at first,” said Chantelle.

“We were really cautious about where we were holding him and made sure we knew where the barb was at all times.”

Using her mum’s scarf, Chantelle and Bek were able to move the stingray into a makeshift stretcher with the help of two young girls who came to assist.

They then carried the ray to safety, carefully making the long trek to the shoreline which was over 100 metres away.

Eventually, they got to the water and placed it in the shallows.

“It took some time to move as it was quite stressed,” said Chantelle.

“But it was definitely breathing, I think it just needed a bit of time to chill out as it had been stuck out there for a few hours.”

Chantelle said she was really pleased to help an animal in distress and that she believes everyone should do the same if it is safe to do so.

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Chantelle and Bek with the two young girls, Kaidence and Becky, who came to help

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Hi Everyone,

The Mayor invited me out for a coffee last week and it was great to catch up.

As soon as we sat down, she told me it was just a casual meeting to connect and find out how Council could better assist us with delivering their news to the community.

How refreshing! What a lovely thing to ask.

We spent an hour discussing topics about the local community – everything from bridges to boat ramps, the housing crisis and the tough few years that could lie ahead with rising living costs.

At the Council meeting earlier that week, the Mayor announced she would be declining the standard annual pay rise because she couldn’t, in good heart, accept it while so many others in the community are doing it tough.

This really is putting your money where your mouth is!

And, I think it is selfless acts like this that make Julie Hall stand apart from others and show us all how she is coming good on her promise to be the ‘People’s Mayor’.

Good on you Julie!

Now for a completely separate matter, I would like to apologise to readers about the missing crossword in last week’s paper – I was absolutely amazed how something so small could be such a big part of so many lives!

It certainly proved that it’s not until you leave something out that you realise how popular it is.

We had several phone calls from disappointed readers, one lady in particular who told me that she and 10 of her friends sat down every week and do the crossword together.

I felt terrible that we had deprived them all of that joy.

Sorry everyone - the crossword is back in this week, and we will endeavour to ensure it never gets missed again.

Rach

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Quote of the Week:
“How many cares one loses when one decides not to be something but to be someone” (Coco Chanel)

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A fledgling community is developing at the once highly acclaimed Laguna Quays with residents accepting the challenge to determine their own future within this large rural paradise.

The new movement to reinvigorate the community is being led by Vic Schembri, a retired builder and property developer who owns two Cascade Condominium units and a piece of land at Banguru Creek.

Over the past year, Vic has brought the Laguna Quays community together.

He initiated the formation of the Laguna Quays Progress Association, now an association of hundreds of Laguna Quays’ lot owners.

A successful appeal on an insurance claim for damage caused by 2017 Cyclone Debbie, saw Laguna Quays’ Cascade Condominiums receive a well-deserved settlement.

The Body Corporate used the funds to make repairs and beautify the residential areas.

Roof tiles have been replaced with new Colourbond roofing, timber balustrades have been removed and a weather enduring material sits there instead.

Flood overflows have been redirected and timber mulch has been replaced with stone pebbles.

Taking on the role of Project Manager, Vic has personally overseen contractors and ensured that every cent of the insurance money has been put to good use.

He believes that the work done at Cascade Condominiums will now have a trickle-on effect and could breathe new life into other areas.

“All you need is for one house to be built here and it will encourage others,” he explains.

Driving around Laguna Quays today, you can see promise and potential starting to return; the gardens are trimmed, the blocks of units look smart, and the laneways are maintained.

Currently, there are three main residential areas at Laguna Quays, each with its own body corporates; 80 units at Cascade Apartments, 38 at the neighbouring Hillside Apartments and 15 large Club Villas.

There are also 250 privately owned plots of land which represent prime real estate opportunities for discerning investors to be part of a community on the cusp of flourishing once again.

These are located within seven precincts and many of these have now agreed to clear their building blocks and restore services making way for owners to build.

Vic hopes that by continuing to reinvigorate the area, this could in turn increase house prices and stimulate demand.

Located just 20 minutes from Whitsunday Coast Airport, Laguna Quays was the vision of Japanese businessman and avid scuba diver, Shinichi Sawada, who opened a luxury resort there in 1992.

He invested $250 million into Laguna Quays and, upon opening, it was considered a jewel of Queensland’s luxury tourism crown – it boasted an 84-berth marina, an 18-hole International-standard golf course and a 15-hectare, pump-filtered, seafront lagoon, complete with islands and a five star "beach club".

Unfortunately, the business went into receivership in 1995 and was bought by Melbourne developer, David Marriner a year later.

Despite efforts to rejuvenate the resort, it went into receivership again and was bought by its current owner, Chinese company Fullshare Holdings Group, in 2012.

Since then, any further development has stalled and the promise of significant development never eventuated.

“We’ve been waiting a long time for the Chinese developers to invest in this place - and it hasn’t happened yet!” said Vic.

“So, I said ‘well hang on, let’s do it ourselves, let’s turn it into a thriving residential community’ - all it takes is to make a start and the rest will follow!”

The residents that own property on the site have now grown to establish a strong and connected community.

The tranquillity of a bushland setting with an abundance of native animals and bird life makes Laguna Quays, a true paradise.

Despite the odds, Vic’s passion and dedication, and that of the Progress Association’s owners, are already paying off - there is a real sense of community at Laguna Quays.

“It’s a great place to live,” said Vic, who will begin building his five-bedroom dream house on-site at Banguru Creek later in the year.

“All the people who live here love the place and I just wanted to let the community know about the positive change we are seeing – hopefully they will come down and have a look for themselves!”

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Residents take revitalisation efforts into their own hands, with Vic Schembri at the helm. Photo credit: Rachael Smith

Some of the plots of land available to build upon are located on the beautiful scenic lake

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Further delays in mediation have prompted Save Our Foreshore (SOF) to vow that they will “go all the way to the Supreme Court” in their fight with Port of Airlie and the Whitsunday Regional Council.

SOF are challenging the decision to approve a 47-metre high-rise hotel at Port of Airlie when the town plan caps all development in that zone at 18 metres.

Since the Council decision to approve the development last year, SOF has taken the matter to the Planning and Environment Court where they have been fighting a legal battle ever since.

It is estimated that their legal fees will cost over $150,000 and SOF say they are grateful for all public donations.

“We can’t thank our supporters enough,” said Suzette Pelt, President of SOF.

“Every donation, small and large, adds up to being able to fund nearly 12 months of legal action to date and ongoing.”

Last Friday SOF appeared in a court-directed mediation session with Port of Airlie/Meridien and Council.

“The message we took was that the maximum height is 18 metres and the town plan must stand,” said Suzette.

“And that’s what we will continue to take, all the way to the Supreme Court if needed.”

“We are committed to representing the community and public interest in this shameful development proposal that not only conflicts massively with the town plan but also puts our iconic Whitsunday and Airlie Beach low-rise, village character at risk.”

Developers are planning to construct a luxury five-star hotel complex and large conference centre on the site and they believe that the height level is necessary to attract a prestigious hotel brand name.

Airlie Beach has not had a significant hotel development in many years and the counter-argument on the subject is that the town needs this sort of development in order to compete with places like Hamilton Island.

At the moment Airlie Beach has a maximum function room capacity of 110 people, whereas Hamilton Island can cater for up to 700.

Therefore, by increasing our mainland function room offering, Airlie Beach could attract an entirely new form of corporate client.

The question is, however, with the local airport already bringing in over 500,000 passengers per year – does Airlie Beach need to entice a new demographic when it is already popular in its own right?

SOF certainly believe this is the case, asserting that it is the “village feel” that attracts people to the town and stating this would be destroyed if a high-rise hotel is built at Port of Airlie.

“People live and invest in the Whitsundays because of its unique lifestyle and character,” said Suzette.

“There is no issue with aspirational plans to develop five-star hotel accommodation but in the right place, in the right style and according to the town plan is not too much to expect.  

“There are massive flaws in this proposal.”

Suzette stated that the court case may cost ratepayers between $250,000 and $350,000 and pointed out that the Meridien group behind the development is in receivership.

‘We can’t understand why the council would be backing a company already in receivership,” she said.

Whitsunday Regional Council were asked to comment and stated that “as the matter is currently before the Environmental and Planning Court, Council is unable to comment”.

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Demonstrators protest at the site of the approved 47-metre high rise development last year

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A local not-for-profit will host a Morning Tea for Dementia fundraiser at the end of March to support families and residents of Proserpine Nursing Home.

The Quota Club of Whitsunday Inc. invites the community to Father Tom Gard Centre, St Catherine’s School on Sunday, March 26, to raise monies for resources and equipment at the local nursing home and for Dementia Australia research.

The local branch of the International Quota organisation is comprised of volunteers seeking to make an impact in the community, with this morning tea fundraiser’s focus being the progressive neurodegenerative condition of dementia.

Quota Club of Whitsundays Morning Tea event coordinator Jacqui Barrett said almost everyone has “their connection and story that goes with the mention of dementia.”

“I find it difficult to engage in conversation with people who have just heard a family member is at the beginning of this journey as I remember not quite believing this decline would happen to my mum,” Ms Barrett said.

“We need to find a cure so this can stop happening to our mums and dads, aunts and uncles, brothers and sisters.”

The morning tea will feature local musicians the Momma’s and Poppa’s and Dazey Chain; local school children performing a dance routine; and Susan Blyth, General Manager of Proserpine Nursing Home, as the event’s guest speaker.

As well, three lucky door prizes, games and competitions, meat tray raffles and a rolling Cent Sale throughout the morning with over $2000 in prizes contributed by local businesses will provide entertainment for the day.

Tickets are available to purchase for $20 at Café One 3 in Airlie Beach and CE Smith Accountants in Proserpine.

WHAT: Morning Tea for Dementia

WHEN: 10 am on Sunday, March 26

WHERE: Tom Gard Centre, St Catherine’s School

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One of Mayor Julie Hall’s most prominent election promises was to increase the connection between Council and the community, and this is a vision she is now delivering upon in a series of community face-to-face catch-ups.

The first event of this type took place at Dingo Beach and it proved to be a huge success with over 50 interested locals attending to share their views and open discussion.

Subjects on the day included raising awareness of Yellow Crazy Ants, managing 4WD impacts on coastal habitats and turtles, and the Dingo Beach bollard project.

The next catch-up will take place at Cannonvale TAFE at the end of the month and everyone in the community is invited to come along.

Ahead of time, residents are encouraged to help build an interesting and relevant agenda by sharing ideas for discussion via Council’s Online Engagement Portal Yoursay - https://bit.ly/Communitycatch-ups.

Mayor Hall said she is a huge advocate of face-to-face engagement with residents in the Whitsunday region.

“The vision of the Community Catch-ups are to provide an informal setting to discuss topics important to the local community,” she said.

“These catch-ups provide Councillors the opportunity to better connect with our smaller communities, build relationships, share information, and gather feedback on local issues.

“Face-to-face catch-ups allow us to facilitate a two-way flow of information, updating residents on Council projects relevant to them and listen to issues affecting the local community.”

After each event Council will provide participants with a detailed report of the discussion, key outcomes, and future actions from the meeting via email.

All catch-up reports will be posted on the Online Engagement Portal Catch-ups project page for interested residents that were unable to attend.

Other upcoming catch-up locations for 2023 include Collinsville, Mt Coolon, Conway and Wilson Beach, Proserpine, Bowen, Scottsville, Shute Harbour and Gumlu and Cape Upstart.

Dates and locations for the next three months of catch-ups will be announced soon.

WHAT: Community Catch-Up With Council

WHEN: Wednesday, March 29 from 9am-11am

WHERE: Cannonvale TAFE

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Mayor Hall engages with the Dingo Beach community at the first in a series of Council catch-ups. Photo supplied

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The superyacht community and Coral Sea Marina are joining forces to help communities in Fiji and Vanuatu that are recovering from two recent cyclones which have caused a significant impact.

Hearing of their hardships the yachting community decided to utilise their vessels to transport useful items to the worst-hit areas at the end of this month.

What started as one superyacht soon increased to four and the crew are ready to transport any donations where needed.

Coral Sea Marina has been working with the local community and so far, they have been overwhelmed by the positive response of many.

Local junior sporting clubs have donated boots, balls and shirts, and many others in the community have contributed bags of clothes.

They are now hoping for other essential items such as nails, tarpaulins, hand tools, large cooking pots, laundry soap for cold water hand washing, female hygiene products, plastic bins with lids and first aid items.

Donations can be received at the Coral Sea Marina Office located above the Garden Bar Bistro.

All items must be clean and in good working order.

The deadline for all donations is March 31.

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Whitsunday Regional Councillor Mike Brunker was fined $500 at last Wednesday’s ordinary meeting for the “misuse of Council resources” during the previous Mayoral Election.

Mr Brunker was found to have breached Council Policy by listing his Council email address on his mayoral candidacy Facebook page during the by-election of July – August 2022, equating to an “unauthorised use of Council resources”.

Councillor Brunker sincerely apologised for the actions that were brought to Council, “unbelievable as they are”.

“People would come up to me and say, what have you done? I’d say, I expect to do five years in Etna Creek [Referencing the Capricornia Correctional Centre on Etna Creek Road] for what I’ve done,” Mr Brunker said.

“I tell them I had a Facebook page titled Mayoral Candidate and I had a Council email address on that Facebook page and they start laughing.

“They say, are you joking? I should have done something about it [the email address], and for that I’m very apologetic. But this accusation, although technically right, is absolutely laughable.”

Mr Brunker said he was “embarrassed for the failed mayoral candidate who has lodged this complaint.”

“To think that the only thing you can do through the whole Mayoral race is look around and sling some mud on someone,” he said.

“To think this is Watergate and you’re going to bring down the entire Council and the State Government.

“I hope the next time something as simplistic as this comes up, that we don’t spend ten-thousand dollars on such an investigation.”

Mr Brunker was referring to the initial complaint launched by then mayoral candidate Phillip Batty, who said he was “neither embarrassed nor ashamed”, having lodged the issue against each of the three Councillors running for the position and had simply hoped to “level the playing field” and follow legislation.

Mr Batty said discussions began in July 2022 when he emailed previous Whitsunday Regional Council CEO Rod Ferguson about the issue, hoping Council would raise it with the Councillors – which they did.

Mr Ferguson then deferred the complaint to the Office of the Independent Assessor (OIA).

“I did not make a complaint at the outset,” Mr Batty said.

“[Council] advised Councillor Brunker on two occasions in writing in July 2022 of his obligations under the act [to not utilise Local Government assets during an election]. Whitsunday Regional Council elected to have the complaint heard by the OIA.”

Independent assessors PFK Integrity, contracted by the local Council, then substantiated the claims that Councillor Brunker’s Council email address appeared on his Facebook page titled ‘Michael Brunker – Mayoral Candidate for Whitsundays’ during the election campaign.

The findings from the independent assessors – which cost $11,500 to ratepayers - were presented for decision to Whitsunday Regional Councillors at the Wednesday, March 8, Ordinary Council Meeting.

Whitsunday Mayor Julie Hall said, although the misconduct was administrative in nature, it was still a breaking of the Local Government Act.

“Unfortunately, it is the rules,” Mayor Hall said.

“The Local Government Act, whether we agree with it or not, that is the legislation and the Act. If we go against it, are we setting a precedent to say we will not abide by legislation and the act?

“Councillor Brunker is one of our longest serving members of Council and therefore I feel that he possibly should have known better. He was also warned.”

Councillor Clay Bauman agreed: “We’re here to cross the t-s and dot the i-s according to legislation. I’m not happy with the expense but I’m happy with the report on the investigation.”

Councillors, aside from Michelle Wright and John Collins – with Councillor Collins calling the entire misconduct claim “Bulls**t” - agreed to fine Mr Brunker $500 and that he attends training related to his misconduct.

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The women of Bowen were celebrated at the local Zonta Club’s International Women’s Day celebrations last week, with over 100 guests attending a lively and entertaining evening held at the Grand View Hotel.

The President of the Zonta Club of Bowen, Hortense Ingram, said it was a fantastic evening that concentrated on women in business, specifically in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields.

“It was a really inspirational evening, and it was great to see a lot of young people attending,” she said.

Abbott Point sponsored 20 tickets which were given to school students and girl guides.

Guest speakers on the evening were three young achievers who shared their stories and Mayor Julie Hall sent a personal video message.

The keynote speaker was Keziah Furnell, a 20-year-old university student, Ninja Warrior and owner and founder of STEM Sisterhood.

Keziah is in her third year of a double degree studying Bachelor of Electrical Engineering (Honours)/ Bachelor of Information Technology at James Cook University.

In 2022 she was the recipient of the Phillip Leong Bursary which enabled her to start her business, STEM Sisterhood, which aims to help reduce gender inequality in STEM fields through the provision of female-centric workshops.

She is also the second-ranked female Ninja Warrior in Australia and will head to compete in the World Titles in America in July.

Doctor Arania Sivasubramaniam also spoke at the event.

She is a local girl who recently returned to Bowen and now works as a GP at the Queens Beach Medical Centre and the Bowen Hospital.

She has a strong passion for women’s health, with a hope to provide these services to rural communities and developing nations.

Bowen local Shannon Willcox spoke on the evening as well.

Shannon was awarded a Zonta Club of Bowen bursary and went on to complete a degree in Business, majoring in Marketing in Townsville.

She now works as a Property Sales Agent who specialises in supporting families on their property journey.

During the festivities, eight local women were recognised for their contribution to the community.

These included Angela Stevens who is a District Girl Guide leader and Newsagent Manager, Gayle O’Keefe who is a Teacher’s Aide at Queens Beach School,  Angela Arbury who is the first female tugboat deckhand in Cairns and Bowen, Horticulturalist Sue Heisswolf and Kate Mee from Abbot Point.

Project Manager of Hillery Group Melissa Simpson was also recognised, along with Stephanie Cora from Bowen Community Centre and Verni Sivasubramaniam who works as an Agricultural Scientist for the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.

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International Women’s Day speakers: Shannon Wilcox, Keziah Furrnell and Arania Sivasubramaniam

Left to right: Jacinta Bezgovsek (Zonta Vice President), Stephanie Cora, Kate Mee, Angela Arbury, Melissa Simpson, Sue Heisswolf, Verni Sivasubramaniam, Angela Stevens, Hortense Ingram (Zonta President), Gayle O’Keefe. Photos supplied

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