Five children were stung by suspected jellyfish last Sunday while participating in their weekly Nippers surf lifesaving training at Mackay's Eimeo Beach.

This incident occurred nearly one year after a 14-year-old boy died from a box jellyfish sting at the same beach, serving as a reminder why it is imperative to wear protective clothing while swimming in North Queensland surf during the summer.

The children, all under the age of six, were stung in shallow water on their hands and feet, while their stinger suits provided protection to the rest of their bodies.

The children were reported to have been crying with some screaming, with worried parents running into the water to protect them. One mother was also treated for a sting while rescuing her child.

It’s unclear which species of jellyfish is responsible for the stings, but it’s thought they weren’t caused by box jellyfish or Irukandji. However, due to not knowing initially which species was involved, all precautions were taken with five ambulances turning up on scene to treat the stung patients before transporting them to Mackay Base Hospital.

While the patients all suffered discomfort, no major injuries were reported.

Local lifeguards commented that the incident serves as a reminder of the importance of wearing stinger suits and taking precautions in the water.

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Gladys Smart turned 100 on November 6, 2022.

Mackay Life featured Gladys’ story on December 2, 2022, telling of her celebrations with family and the congratulations she received.

While Gladys received special messages from the Prime Minister, Premier, Governor of Queensland, Governor General and local members, it wasn’t until earlier this year that she received the most anticipated congratulations.

“My wife and I were so pleased to know that you celebrated your one hundredth birthday on 6th November, 2022,” read a letter from King Charles.

“This brings our warmest congratulations and heartfelt good wishes on such a special occasion.”

The letter is then signed by the king and his wife Camilla, alongside a photo of the pair.

“Mum was so excited,” said Gladys’ daughter Beryl Ahern.

“It just completed the celebrations and we’re very happy about that.”

With King Charles acceding to the British throne on September 8, 2022, Gladys’ letter could well be one of the first to be received from the King in the region.

Gladys celebrated her milestone last year at Beryl and son-in-law John’s home in Mackay alongside 105 family and friends.

Gladys’ family has grown from her twins, Bob and Beryl, to now include seven grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren and 23 great, great grandchildren.

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Gladys Smart turned 100 in November last year

Gladys received a letter from King Charles earlier this year, potentially one of the first to be received from the King in the region

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Karl Herman spent his last week getting back to normality, having recently returned from a trip to Malaysia.

It wasn’t your average holiday in the southeast Asian country; Karl was on a base jumping trip, where he jumped off the seventh tallest building in the world, Kuala Lumpur’s KL Tower.

“It’s nice to be scared,” Karl said.

“It’s nice to be living in the moment.

“I guess with base jumping, you’re prepared for the moment, but you also realise if it doesn’t work out, it’s not going to work out, there’s no in between.”

But before Karl left for Malaysia, he undertook what he said was his most nerve-racking challenge.

He’d always wanted to complete a long-distance swim, with his sights set on the Cook Strait, between the north and south islands of New Zealand, ultimately deciding to swim the same distance in the pool.

With a 21km goal, Karl added the extra element of fundraising for a cause that means a lot to him.

“In the last couple of years, I’ve lost a couple of mates to suicide,” he said.

“To be totally honest, I didn’t really understand it.

“I’m the luckiest person I’ve ever met and when I came home from my recent trip from Europe I was feeling pretty down, it was just a natural high to a natural low.

“It gave me a bit more of an understanding of how it is to feel that shit and that low.”

An average of nine people die by suicide a day in Australia, with 75% of those who take their own life being male.

“That’s a pretty good indication that we need to do more,” Karl said.

Karl set his fundraising goal at $2,100, recently raising double for local organisation Real Mates Talk.

“In our local community, they organise talks and are trying to be the first responders to people who do need the help,” Karl said.

“They’re boots on the ground in our local community.”

Preparation started about three months before the swim date, January 23, with an untimely neck injury doing little to get in the way, other than adding a few nerves to the situation.

“I’ve done a lot of things: I’ve done a full iron man, I’ve done base jumping, I’ve done a lot of extreme sports,” he said.

“Normally I’m very calm and collected, but I was more scared of this than anything I’ve ever done, I was shaking.”

With his mate Richard Kieliszek by his side, Karl took on the almighty challenge.

“I got my second wind at about 12km and had a lot of people come down and support me during the day, which was awesome, gave me a little bit of motivation, and it was a good day,” he said.

“I highly recommend training a little bit harder than I did for 21km, that’s for sure.”

Next on Karl’s list is a 100km running race, climbing Everest and a full year of travelling the world base jumping.

To donate to Karl’s fundraiser, visit @karl202088 on Instagram and find the GoFundMe link in his bio.

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The making of a great police officer is no easy feat, as it requires perseverance and resilience to overcome adversities and uphold one's personal values. The Mackay Whitsunday District recently welcomed 17 First Year Constables (FYCs) who are embarking on a journey towards a fulfilling career with the Queensland Police Service (QPS).

The FYCs' induction ceremony included insightful speeches from Acting City Patrol Inspector, Jeremy Novosel, and Detective Inspector Emma Novosel, who offered their guidance and imparted words of wisdom. The new recruits also had the opportunity to engage in a conversation with MP Julieanne Gilbert, Member for Mackay, before taking part in media interviews.

The QPS recently inducted 89 new recruits who completed six months of intensive training at the Oxley QPS Academy. During their training, the graduates undertook specialized courses in domestic violence, risk and trauma management, and cultural complexities to prepare them for the challenges they will face as first-year constables. The graduates will now participate in the First Year Constable training program, where they will further develop their skills under the guidance of experienced officers.

Acting Police Minister Mark Furner expressed his congratulations to the graduates, emphasising the significance of soaking up every moment of the experience, learning from others, and immersing oneself in the community.

Commissioner Katarina Carroll welcomed the new recruits to the Queensland Police Service, remarking on the immense responsibility and rewarding nature of being a police officer.

“This is an extremely special occasion for you and your families, one that you will never forget. I'm excited to be able to share this day with you.” she said.

The ceremony marked the first day of the graduates' journey into a noble profession that involves facing many challenges and experiencing hardships. However, it also brings immense satisfaction and lasting relationships with the people they serve. The inductees are now part of a larger blue family that shares a common goal of protecting and serving the community.

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First year Constables photographed with Member for Mackay, Julieanne Gilbert

FYC’s were given some career advice by two Inspectors who have served in Mackay for more than 20 years

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Federal Member for Capricornia, Michelle Landry, has taken up the fight to save the Pioneer Valley from being sacrificed for renewables to Parliament.

Last week, Ms Landry, presented a speech to the House to make Parliament aware of the dire situation farmers and locals of the Pioneer Valley are finding themselves in.

Ms Landry said that the Queensland Premier flew to Mackay and announced last September that they were committing $12 billion to construct the world’s largest hydro scheme. This forms a part of the State Government’s plan to reach their climate target objectives by 2035.

“As part of this scheme, Labor is planning on building three dams in the scenic Pioneer Valley and Eungella region,” Ms Landry said.

“These dams will flood pristine sub-tropical rainforest areas and force farmers and locals off their land.”

Two reservoirs will be located at Eungella in the Burdekin River Catchment, and the third reservoir will be situated in the Pioneer River Catchment at Netherdale with a 60-metre-high wall.

“Not only will there be three dams but due to the lack of energy in the area to operate the hydro plant, solar fields and wind turbines will also be constructed to power the facility.”

Residents reported that they were unaware of plans for this scheme, with no consultation from the State Government prior to the announcement.

Ms Landry said that this lack of communication with locals is atrocious but not surprising.

“As is the case with most announcements from the Labor Government, it came out of nowhere with little to no research and not one resident from the Pioneer Valley consulted.

“How devastating to hear that your home, that many have had for generations, will be acquired by the government and inundated with water. Many of the residents are suffering great mental angst through this announcement.

“Prime agricultural land and pristine wilderness will be destroyed,” Ms Landry said.

79 properties will be flooded and Ms Landry said that businesses in the region will be brought to their knees through loss of tourism.

“Just to defy logic even more, this project is for energy production only,” she said.

“The proposed hydro scheme has not been designed to hold a single drop of water to provide the water security vital to Central Queensland. There will be no water for agriculture, tourism or urban use,” Ms Landry said.

Ms Landry said that Urannah Dam could have been another alternative.

“Urannah Dam will not only be able to be utilised for hydro power, but also for agriculture, tourism, resources and urban use,” Ms Landry said.

“I have lobbied for Urannah Dam for Years.

“When in Government the Coalition committed $483 million to the Urannah Dam project which will transform the north and provide water security for the nearby towns and dozens of resource projects,” she added.

Ms Landry stated that Central and Northern Queensland need a reliable action plan for future water storage, farm irrigation and hydro pumped clean energy.

“The groundwork is done on the Urannah Dam project. It ticks every box and most importantly, it will not cause the emotional upheaval to our valued local community of the Pioneer Valley,” Ms Landry said.

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Federal Member for Capricornia, Michelle Landry, has spoken to concerned locals regarding the Pioneer Valley Hydro Scheme and has taken their fight to Parliament

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The Queensland Government announced it will invest $20.75 million in the next three years to help farmers reduce harmful run-off, improve productivity and protect the Great Barrier Reef, in a statement made last week.

The multi-million-dollar injection into the agricultural industry will enable the continuation of the Grazing Resilience and Sustainable Solutions (GRASS) program and the agricultural industry’s Best Management Practice (BMP).

In addition to the GRASS program, the State Government had finalised funding arrangements until 2026 for the continuation of the SmartCane BMP, Hort360 GBR BMP, and Banana BMP initiatives.

Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef and Minister for Science and Youth Affairs, the Honourable Meaghan Scanlon said, “Farmers will continue to play a critical role in helping to protect our Great Barrier Reef.

“These programs are aimed at helping our agriculture industry improve land condition, enhance production and, ultimately, reduce pollutants in reef catchments.”

CANEGROWERS welcomed the Queensland Government’s continuing support of the industry’s best management practice program, Smartcane BMP.

“The announcement of continued funding for Smartcane BMP is a validation of the fantastic results that growers in this program have achieved over the past four years,” CANEGROWERS Chairman Owen Menkens said.

“Growers right across the industry have embraced the program which validates changes that are providing positive environmental outcomes, while also improving their business’ bottom line.”

Forty per cent of Queensland’s cane-growing area is now independently accredited as operating at best practice. And interest continues to grow, with more growers signing up for the program each month.

“While 40 per cent might be the official number, when you take into account the number of growers who are implementing best practice on their farms but have not sought accreditation, the actual figure would be much higher,” Mr Menkens said.

In just the past few years, more than 500 growers have used Smartcane BMP to document changes to their farming practices. These changes have addressed disease management, weed control, nutrient management, soil health, tillage, fallow cropping, and/or irrigation scheduling.

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L-R Paul Schembri and Michael Deguara. Michael was the first in Australia to receive SmartCane BMP accreditation

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Queensland Police have charged a 37-year-old North Rockhampton man following investigations into the death of a 69-year-old Finch Hatton woman on July 4, 2022.

Police will allege that the man struck the woman with a vehicle he was attempting to steal on a Boulder Street, Finch Hatton property at around 6:00pm.

Emergency services arrived on scene a short time later, with the woman being declared deceased after sustaining critical injuries.

Investigations into the incident have led to the 37-year-old North Rockhampton man being charged with enter premises and commit, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death.

He is due to appear in Mackay Magistrates Court on March 8.

Mackay Criminal Investigation Branch Officer in Charge Detective Senior Sergeant Chris Eaton praised the efforts of investigators and officers who had worked on the seven-month investigation.

Another arrest was made last week when a 32-year-old Glasshouse Mountains man was charged following an alleged armed robbery in East Mackay on February 14.

Around 3:30pm, the 29-year-old attended an appointment at Victoria Park State School, parking her car in the vicinity of 14 Goldsmith Street.

“A female adult victim was parking her car in the street and was approached by a male person,” said Mackay Detective Inspector Emma Novosel.

“He approached her and opened the driver’s door and demanded that she exit the vehicle.

“The female victim resisted slightly, at which time the male person presented a knife.

“She exited her vehicle and the male person got in the car and drove away.

“Fortunately, the victim wasn’t injured during this incident and a number of bystanders quickly came to her aid.”

Police located the man in the allegedly stolen vehicle, the woman’s 2019 blue Ford Endura station wagon, in Cunnamulla on February 18, where he was taken into custody.

He has been charged with one count each of enter premises, robbery (armed), fraud (dishonest application of property of another) and unlawful use of a motor vehicle and appeared in Cunnamulla Magistrates Court on Monday, February 20.

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Mackay Detective Inspector Emma Novosel. Photo credit: Sam Gillespie

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Heartworm is a serious and preventable disease that affects pets, particularly dogs and cats, across Queensland. It is transmitted through mosquito bites and can be difficult to treat once contracted. As a pet owner in Mackay, it is essential to take precautions to protect your furry friend from this potentially life-threatening disease.

Over the past six months, the RSPCA Queensland has treated more than 30 dogs for heartworm.

According to Dr. Anne Chester, the RSPCA Queensland's veterinarian with 27 years of experience, heartworm is more challenging to treat than other worms, and treatment can be expensive. This disease can take months to rectify, making it critical for pet owners to take preventative measures.

Heartworm is prevalent in areas where mosquitoes are present, and pets are at risk regardless of their location.

Symptoms of heartworm are challenging to detect without a veterinary test, making it essential to take preventative measures. Common signs of heart failure include coughing, breathlessness, exercise intolerance, and abdominal bloating. Unfortunately, by the time these symptoms become evident, the disease may have progressed to a severe stage, making treatment more difficult.

The best way to protect your pet from heartworm is through prevention. Dr. Chester stresses the importance of using effective preventatives and taking preventative measures. A recent research paper has shown a high prevalence of heartworm in dogs in Queensland, with some areas reporting rates as high as 31.8%. This emphasises the need for pet owners to take preventative measures.

Every dog entering the RSPCA facilities in Queensland is tested for heartworm, and treatment is provided accordingly. Many patients require lengthy treatment and foster care while they recover. If you would like to help foster an RSPCA animal, you can apply online today.

As a pet owner in Mackay, it is your responsibility to protect your furry friend from the risks associated with heartworm. Take preventative measures, use effective preventatives, and keep an eye out for any signs of heart failure. By doing so, you can ensure that your pet is healthy, happy, and heartworm-free.

RSPCA’s tips to prevent heartworm:

● Use a heartworm preventative for your dogs and cats. There are monthly treatments like Comfortis Plus, spot-on treatments, or ask your vet about annual heartworm prevention injections for dogs.

● Keep your cat indoors.

● Don’t let stagnant water sit around your property, it’s a breeding zone for mosquitoes. Empty and replace water frequently - bird baths, water troughs and any containers.

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Win Big With Mackay Council's eNotice Competition!

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Are you a fan of winning big?

Then you'll want to know about Mackay Regional Council's latest competition!

By promoting the use of eNotices, the council is reducing paper waste and increasing community engagement. And the best part? You could win a Porters voucher by participating.

Mayor Greg Williamson said there were massive benefits for residents who sign up for eNotices.

“One of the great things about the online portal is it is always open, so you can view or pay current and historical notices any time online,” Mayor Williamson said.

“There’s also the benefit of immediate delivery of notices when they are issued, so there’s no delay in the mail. There’s also easy access to a range of online payment options and it reduces our environmental footprint,” he said.

“The online portal also has a lot of other things you can do online besides making a payment, including sending a general request, enquiring on your rates, doing an animal search, submitting building, plumbing or operational works applications and more.”

As an incentive to go paper-free with council notices, $1500 in Porters Mitre 10 gift cards are up for grabs as part of the campaign.

Porters Group CEO, Hayden Cargill, said they were excited to come on board as a sponsor of the promotion.

“We are thrilled to support council’s initiative to shift towards eNotices as this is an excellent step towards sustainability and reducing our environmental impact,” Mr Cargill said.

“Porters is passionate about supporting our community and the continuous growth across the Mackay and Whitsundays region,” he said.

Council’s eNotices competition opened last Friday, February 17, and will close midnight Sunday, March 19.

To register, residents need to go to the council website, click the link “Rates and metered water notices”, click the "sign up" tab and enter their email address and unique reference number.

The unique reference number can be found on the last rates/water notice, which was mailed out on February 13.

For more details about the competition and a link to register for eNotices can be found at mackay.qld.gov.au/enotices.

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Porters Mitre 10 CEO, Hayden Cargill and Mayor Greg Williamson

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Last year’s announcement of a $12 billion pumped hydro scheme proposed to be built in the Pioneer Valley by the Queensland Government was met with much local opposition, with hundreds gathering at Bluewater Quay on Saturday to rally against the scheme.

The rally was organised by action group NO Hydro Save Netherdale/Eungella/Mt Dalrymple who enlisted the assistance of Worldwide Rally for Freedom Mackay in hosting the rally.

“We’re trying to educate people on what pumped hydro actually is and what that visually will look like up in the upper Pioneer Valley, as well as the impact that will have on the Mackay region,” said event organiser and action group founder Leila Verban.

“Also, displacing families in a housing crisis and the impact on the Eungella National Park, so there’s many avenues that we’re trying to show that it’s not the right location.”

High-profile political figures were also in attendance including One Nation Senator Malcolm Roberts, Nationals Senator Matt Canavan and former Member for Dawson George Christensen.

“This is a thought bubble to get green votes in inner Brisbane, that’s all it is,” said Mr Roberts.

“I believe that this will never go ahead.”

The controversial figures left a bad taste in the mouths of some, however, as they branched off onto other topics.

“We did have some negative feedback from people who, politically, don’t support One Nation and Matt Canavan,” Ms Verban said.

“We feel good that we’ve got a bit of support, but I did feel a bit disheartened that they were putting some of their political agendas in because (the rally) was about the dam.”

The action group will hold a meeting with traditional landowners in March and will then look to organise another rally.

“Many of us don’t believe pumped hydro is even the solution to the renewable energy problem,” Ms Verban said.

“But, if that’s the way that they adamantly go, we also think that there’s potentially a better location.”

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The first No Hydro Rally was held at Bluewater Quay on the weekend. Photo supplied

Senators Malcolm Roberts and Matt Canavan spoke at the rally, dividing attendees. Photo credit: Ciaron Paterson

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They say the grass isn’t always greener, but for Mackay couple Denis Cusack and In Sun Park it is, after an impulse purchase that ended in a slice of paradise at Harbour Beach.

The pair purchased a property in East Point’s Dunes Harbour Beach, after seeing the lifestyle it offered, only three months after purchasing an existing home in Mackay.

The couple always dreamt of living by the sea and being within close proximity to the city but couldn’t find the perfect place and settled on a home by the lake in Mackay. When Denis, a security officer, was quoting a job at East Point, he was blown away by the homes and land sizes at Dunes Harbour Beach, but most of all, by the beachside living on offer and short drive to the CBD.

“I never thought that after three months of purchasing a home, I would be on the lookout, let alone build one – but as soon as I drove through the Urbex development after being contracted there for a job, I couldn’t stop thinking about it,” Denis said.

Soon after, the pair snapped up a 491m2 allotment at Dunes Harbour Beach, Urbex’s $250M seaside development in East Point, originally as an investment property. Whilst living at their newly purchased lakeside home in Mackay, the pair found themselves walking their dog along Harbour Beach nearly every afternoon and came to the conclusion they wanted the laidback lifestyle of living by the water, yet close to the city for work and flipped their investment idea into their dream home.

“The location, lifestyle and allotment sizes ultimately sealed the deal, being by the beach, 10 minutes to the city and land size big enough for a lap pool – who could say no.

“After purchasing the lot, we found ourselves at East Point most weekends, checking out our lot, taking our dog down to the beach and we could not look past the idea that we would be making this someone else’s dream, when it could be ours. So we made the decision to build a two storey home with a lap pool and call it our own.”

The couple purchased a beachside lot within Sol Precinct at Dunes Harbour Beach, with plans to move into a spacious four bedroom home by June 2023, featuring a media room, and lap pool with views of the islands and ocean.

“We are thrilled to be building our own home as we are now expecting a new addition to the family come March 2023, so it really is the perfect time to be settling at Harbour Beach.”

Urbex Realty General Manager Craig Covacich is pleased with the attraction to this unique lifestyle offering with over 60% of land releases to date now sold. Located 7km from Mackay’s CBD, Dunes Harbour Beach boasts beachfront access with spacious homesites blended within areas of native bushland. Over 30 per cent of the community is committed to open space, conservation and parkland to ensure Dunes remains a pristine destination.

The release of homesites within the Sol Precinct are sized from 300m2 to a spacious 646m2 priced from $180,000 to $375,000. Featuring beachfront and beachside homesites, terrace options, and close integration to the upcoming tourism, dining and retail hub, the Seashore Release and Sol Precinct Release are titled and ready to build on. Interested buyers are urged to enquire within.

For more information please visit: https://dunesharbourbeach.com.au.

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Mackay couple Denis Cusack and In Sun Park

Dunes Harbour Beach boasts beachfront access

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Debbie and Mark Ahern have turned a lifelong love of fishing into one of Mackay’s most popular and successful seafood empires, and now the business is on the market.

Debbie’s Seafood, located at Slade Point, has not only won national awards and industry recognition, but also the dedicated custom of the Mackay community based on decades of quality product and customer service.

The couple bought their first business in Dysart in their early 20s, growing their portfolio over the years until Mark’s love of fishing drove him to become a commercial fisherman.

“He’s a good consistent worker,” said Debbie.

“Whether it was blowing 50 knots, calm or whatever, he would fish every day.”

Once Mark had finished his training and bought his own boat, he, Debbie and their daughter Natalie would go out fishing together, often for multiple days at a time, sleeping on islands and beaches.

“It was great,” said Debbie.

“I wouldn’t have changed anything.

“I loved the adventure and loved the chase of fishing, the hunt.

“They were harder times; you caught it, you processed it, you sold it, so it was long days, and it was seven days a week, but we did it happily.”

The business continued to grow into the iconic seafood powerhouse Mackay knows and loves, Natalie and her husband Craig joining the team.

Craig said the secret to the success is attention to detail and customer service.

“We are a large business but it’s still a family business and a lot of the customers are our family,” he said.

It’s a reputation they look to protect and preserve in the sale of the business.

“It’s got to be for the greater good of all,” said Debbie.

“We want to sell, but we want the people who buy it to do very well, we want the staff to do very well.

“We’re not going to walk away and cut ties.”

The business has had plenty of highlights over the years, including providing seafood for Elton John’s touring entourage in 2017, My Kitchen Rules and other high profile guests to Mackay, as well as recently being named the Australian Seafood Business of the Year.

It’s taken a lot of hard work and while Debbie, Mark, Natalie and Craig are all looking forward to a change, they will always be attached to Debbie’s Seafood.

“It’s going to be a very sad day,” said Debbie.

“It’s going to be the end of an era,” added Natalie.

“It’s a massive life event that’s coming to an end.”

Looking forward, Natalie and Craig have recently purchased a property in Gargett where they hope to establish a bed and breakfast, paddock to plate experience, while Debbie and Mark will continue to fish and hope to travel the world.

“We’re just looking forward to smelling the roses,” said Debbie.

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Daughter and mother Natalie Fitzgerald and Debbie Ahern are sad but excited about selling Debbie’s Seafood. Photo credit: Sam Gillespie

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We’ve been talking about adding a new pet to the family for some time and recently my wife and kids went to the RSPCA out off Harbour Road to look at dogs, just browsing they said.

A phone call that afternoon to me from the RSPCA, and 4 days later there I was signing the paper for our brand-new cat.

You have read correctly. They went looking for a puppy, and we got a kitten.

When my wife called when I was over at a friend’s place, I could tell they’d seen something they like. It started with “she’s very small and cute, she’s grey and her name is Gypsy”. All good so far. Then the surprise was obviously that Gypsy was not who I thought she was. The kids were keen, and she’d be ready for adoption in a few days.

A few days later, there I am signing over the papers. My first meeting with Gypsy was actually in the car park, I’d parked down the road a bit, drove back into the car park after loading kitten gear in the car and the lady from the shelter was walking towards me with the cat carrier. The cat looking at me thinking ‘who are you’, me looking at the cat thinking, ‘so this is you’.

Without time to get home and then go back to get the kids to school, Gypsy the dog cat and I sat out the front of school together. I decided to open the cat cage so we could meet and within 5 minutes she was sitting on my lap having a snuggle. Well played kids.

They chose very well, we’ve got a 3-month-old kitty who’s tearing around the house, attacking legs, sitting on laps, found her spot on the couch already and has just moved in without a problem. She’s awesome.

Final note, if your family is going to the RSPCA for “a look”, there’s no turning back, you’re getting a pet, and it might not be the type you think you’re going to look at. Also, save a pet if you can, they do a great job at the shelter.

Scotty

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What do you do when someone asks to use the toilet during an open house?

If the person is asking on behalf of their small child who is bursting to go, you can’t really say no and let the poor kid wet themselves.

That request is not unusual on a busy Saturday as buyers rush from house to house and I’ve never had any dramas … when it’s been a child.

But what if it’s an adult? Well, that depends on a few things. The owners are allowing you, the agent,  to hold an open house to allow potential buyers to come and have a look at the property. They have not agreed for their home to be used as a public toilet.

You would like to think the grown-ups can plan ahead and not cut things so fine that there is an urgent need for the toilet at the open house. However, nature can call at inopportune moments.

There was one memorable occasion when the scenario played out during an open house on a busy Saturday morning.

Fortunately the sellers had moved out so it didn’t feel like the sort of invasion of a private, personal space, that it would have had the sellers still lived at the property.

The request came right at the start of the open house. There were only a couple of people there and I thought “this’ll be over and done with before the rest of the buyers arrive”. Wrong.

“Do you mind if I use the toilet?” the woman asked.

“Oh, ah yeah … sure. People will be arriving shortly but yes that should be fine,” I said a little nervously.

The toilet was in the bathroom, rather than in its own separate room, so the bathroom was off-limits until the woman had finished.

One group arrived, then a second group and then a third. It was becoming a very busy open house. A fourth group.

I looked at the bathroom door. Still closed. This was not going to be a brief interlude.

I had to try to greet people at the front door while warning others off the bathroom.

“Sorry, someone is using the bathroom at the moment.”

“Oh, really?”

Five minutes passed, then seven. I discreetly knocked: “Is everything okay?” I asked.

“Yes, thanks.”

Buyers were becoming impatient: “I really need to see the bathroom. What’s it like? Is it renovated? Has it got a separate shower?”

All reasonable questions. After 10 minutes of rushing between the front door and the bathroom door I heard a flush. Thank God for that.

Unfortunately things didn’t get any better after that. After waiting so long I knew we weren’t talking about Number Ones. And my suspicions were confirmed beyond doubt when the door opened and the woman stepped out.

Even the buyers who were most-curious about the bathroom decided they no longer cared that much. As they were leaving, I arranged some private inspections for the next day and, happily, sold the property then.

The bathroom incident was never discussed. And the small bottle of air freshener I bought later that day resides permanently in the glove box of my car. Just in case.

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I’m the first to admit “Women only” programs make me feel a bit icky and I am conscious of not swinging the pendulum too far to over-correct the historical disadvantages of women towards the exclusion of men from participation. However, the statistics still point alarmingly towards the underrepresentation of women in key decision-making roles across almost all industries in the Australian workforce. While women make up half of the employees in the 2020-21 WGEA dataset (51%), women comprise only:

● 19.4% of CEOs

● 32.5% of key management positions

● 33% of board members

● 18% of board chairs.

Women can and do face different challenges to their male co-workers. Furthermore, today’s leaders face challenges their predecessors never had, not least a complex global marketplace with ongoing economic, political, and environmental uncertainty and an alpha and millennial generation that demands a new style of leadership.

The Regional Development Australia - Greater Whitsunday branch, recognised these challenges but also the regional benefits of cultivating a network of resilient, visionary leaders. The Local Buying Foundation funded a 6-month Women In Leadership pilot program that linked 25 mentees with mentors who have significant leadership experience, coupled with a face-to-face program aimed to develop self-awareness, leadership skills and confidence in the participants.

It's important for women who aspire to progress into leadership roles to have role models to inspire them. I was privileged to be selected for the pilot program and it’s been a profound opportunity to develop my skills, strengthen my network and learn from my generous and experienced mentor, Robert Cocco (CEO RDA-GW).

The pilot program is a huge success with many of the mentees/mentors voluntarily continuing their mentorship.

There is undeniable value in having a mentor, or being a mentor, and I encourage you to seek out a role model whether that be within your organisation, a mentoring program such as the Mackay Regional Council-Resource Industry Network ‘Mackay Mentoring Network’ or an associate whom you admire.

Self and professional development are so important. When you regularly develop yourself, you become better equipped to take control of your life and create a future that you desire.  

Cr Michelle Green

Mackay Regional Council

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Robert Cocco and Cr Michelle Green

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