Renowned for providing unique and incredible experiences to over 800,000 guests this year alone, it is no wonder that Cruise Whitsundays’ truly memorable tours and accommodation offerings claimed two accolades at the Queensland Tourism Awards this year.

Bronze winners in the Unique Accommodation category and the Major Tour and Transport Operators category, Cruise Whitsundays proved once again that they excel across the board.

“Our team was very excited and grateful,” said Cruise Whitsundays’ Sales and Marketing Manager Renee Branton-Brown.

“This year’s win was very emotional, and a lot of heart and soul went into the writing of the submission.  

“We believe that Reefstays are Australia’s most unique accommodation, and this win echoes that sentiment.”

This is not the first year Cruise Whitsundays has brought home awards, in fact they have previously shone at other state awards and even at a national level.

Most recently, they were awarded Gold for Reefstays in the Unique Accommodation category and took home Gold for Major Tourist Attraction for Reefworld in 2022.

“Our Reefstay experiences are unlike any other offering in Australia,” said Renee.

“It literally immerses you into the heart of the Great Barrier Reef.”

Reefsleep offers guests the opportunity to stay in luxury glamping style accommodation on the deck of the Reefworld pontoon located 39 nautical miles out to sea.

Guests can also book an exclusive Reefsuite and stay in Australia’s premium underwater hotel, waking up to a colourful wonderland of coral reef, visible through the floor to ceiling viewing window in the bedroom.

In 2024, Cruise Whitsundays will be celebrating an impressive 20 years of operation and its overall fleet consists of 27 commercial vessels.

There are 11 vessels operating between five departure points, offering 14 different day tours with customisable options and the two bucket-list overnight experiences throughout the Whitsundays.

Cruise Whitsundays also services over 160,000 cruise ship passengers per year.

At the heart of every successful business, however, is the incredible staff that deliver the exceptional products.

“The entire Cruise Whitsundays team deserves our sincere thanks for these awards!” said Renee.

“This includes our operations team and crew, who operate an amazing product and work tirelessly to deliver an exceptional guest experience; our sales and marketing team, who ensure the world knows about our not-to-be-missed offerings and wrote this year's submission; and our leadership team and Journey Beyond, for giving us the tools required to offer such unique products.

“A win for Cruise Whitsundays is a win for the Whitsundays region, and we celebrate with all the other tourism operators who won awards. We are lucky to call the Whitsundays home, and together, our industry works tirelessly to showcase the wonders of the Whitsundays to the world.”

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Sales and Marketing Executive Liza Muller and Group Manager Sales and Marketing, Renee Branton-brown at the Queensland Tourism Awards in Cairns. Photo supplied

Reefstays offer incredible accommodation options 39 nautical miles out to sea. Photos supplied

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Success keeps on coming for Magnums Airlie Beach, as they secured the gold award for 3-3.5 Star Accommodation last Friday night at the 2023 Queensland Tourism Awards.

In the heart of Airlie Beach, Magnums boasts affordable and comfortable accommodation that matches any price point for travellers on a budget.

From self-contained cabins to more budget friendly private rooms, no expense has been spared, with well equipped facilities and creature comforts.

Elizabeth Hackett, Executive chairman of Magnums, accepted the award on Friday night and said, “To be recognised amongst so many great Queensland operators is always a very special feeling for the entire team at Magnums.”

“At Magnums, we don’t stand still!  Every year we are strategic in ensuring we are setting ourselves new benchmarks to meet and exceed our guest’s expectations. We take our Eco journey very seriously and are committed to best practice.”

Being one of the first accommodation providers in Airlie Beach, Magnums is steeped in Whitsundays history, and has seen many a traveller traipse through their tranquil and scenic grounds.

Located centrally in Airlie Beach, Magnums is ideally equipped for travellers to make the most of their stay, visiting the Islands, taking day adventures, and exploring the most of Airlie Beach.

“It is the broader tourism industry in this region that contributes so hugely to our success,” Elizabeth explained.

“The tour operators are undoubtedly the attraction that our guests come to experience. We are so grateful to all of them, many of them also were highly awarded at the recent award ceremony.”

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Elizabeth Hackett, Executive chairman of Magnums, picked up the award last Friday. Photo supplied

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Adding another notch to their success belt is none other than Pinnacles, Airlie Beach.

Taking home the first place accolade for self-contained accommodation at the 2023 Queensland Tourism Awards, Pinnacles stands as a testament to luxury accommodation.

With 29 stylish apartments, catering for families, couples, and groups Pinnacles offers a range of one, two and three bedrooms, perfect for any size group.

Each apartment either includes a luxurious balcony jacuzzi or a beautiful internal spa with unbelievable views, that are sure to take your breath away.

A true gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and the Whitsunday Islands, Pinnacles ensures a romantic and sensuous experience for every guest.

And the assistance doesn’t stop there, with Pinnacles onsite tour desk able to offer and organise the very best experiences and adventures within the Whitsundays.

Being only a short walk to the main thorough-fair of Airlie Beach, Pinnacles offers convenience and comfort. Pop down to the weekly markets, enjoy a lazy coffee at a local cafe, before returning to your private space for a midday rest or indulge in a home-made meal.

And why would you want to leave the lavish grounds, when Pinnacles have guests covered with a beautiful 20 metre wet edge swimming pool, an exquisite sauna, and a well-stocked gym, to be sure your exercise regime is not too badly hindered while on holiday.

Ultimately, just relax, stay and unwind at Pinnacles, Airlie Beach.

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The Pinnacles Resort team, Therese Moran, Brent Jones, Susan Watson, and Lee Irvin. Photo supplied

A neighbourhood dispute highlighted the overarching issue of urban greenery this week when a local couple witnessed the last remaining tree in the property adjacent to theirs culled to provide the new property owner with more space.

Mandy Coles and her husband Iyas Shaheen have resided in their Waterson Way address for 15 years and during that time they believed that the mango tree in question was located on a Council watercourse that ran between the two properties.

This was thrown into question several weeks ago when they were informed that the owner of the neighbouring property believed the tree was on his land and would be cutting it down.

The couple were furious because, not only does the tree produce delicious fruit each season, it was also the last remaining barricade that offered their property any privacy from the nearby road.

Councillor Jan Clifford attended the scene along with Mark Callaghan, Manager Parks and Gardens for Whitsunday Regional Council.

During the meeting it was decided that Council would pay for an independent survey to be conducted, the outcome of which confirmed the tree was indeed on the neighbour’s land.

As a result, the mango tree was cut down earlier this week.

This represents the sixth tree cut down on one property and, although the owner must re-plant within the next 12 months, it has permanently altered the urban canopy of the surrounding area.

Meanwhile, another concerned resident from Cannonvale wrote into the paper this week describing his uproar about several mature trees that were cut down to make room for the new Fire Station.

Works commenced this week at the site of the new station on the corner of Macartha Drive and Shute Harbour Road.

A resident of Banksia Court, a road that also borders the site, observed that several mature trees had been cut down, displacing countless roosting birds.

“We were completely dismayed that authorisation has been given to chop down these roosting trees,” he commented.

“I spied a gang of some 50 confused Sulphur Cockatoos circulating the now vacant block. They were wondering where their roosting tree had gone. I have lived here for a decade and the Cockies have roosted in these trees nightly for that time.”

These two separate incidents highlight the growing conversation surrounding the importance of preserving local trees.

Do you have a tree story to share? If so, send an email to rachael@mackayandwhitsundaylife.com.

Councillor Jan Clifford attends the Waterson Way property to speak with owner Mandy Coles. Photo credit: Rachael Smith

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With The Tiny Homes Project

The Tiny Homes Project has rounded out 2023 with a fantastic rock n’ roll Christmas celebration, raising a massive figure of $15,050 on the day, bringing the overall project total to a mammoth $681,601.

This means the group are on-track to deliver four ‘tiny homes’ to homeless women over 55 in the Whitsundays by mid-2024.

“We completely filled up the Sailing Club dining room,” Sandy Clark, Fundraising Coordinator for Tiny Homes Project, explained.

With the themes of 60s Christmas, outfits consisted of classic rocker, with hints of red and the best tinsel.

“We had such fabulous outfits, and everyone embraced the rock n’ roll theme!”

The event included a live auction and silent auction, with the hot ticket items of a pink guitar signed by the 2018 Airlie Beach Festival of Music stars, a voucher to Eastwoods Dining and Bar, and a fantastic Stevie Nicks artwork.

While this event was the last for 2023, Sandy and the Tiny Homes Team are excited to regroup in the new year and continue their efforts.

“We plan to continue. We’ll kick off with the four tiny homes, but we’ll be ongoing. This need isn’t going away, and it isn’t just a Whitsundays issue, but a national issue.”

With only a short $18,399 left to reach their overall target of $700,000 the Tiny Homes Team are welcoming any and all donations to their cause.

To donate or learn more, feel free to follow the QR Code.

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The perfect Christmas celebration: Fiona Donnellan from the Tiny Home Project, Joanne Moynihan CEO of Whitsunday Housing, Mayor Julie Hall and Sandy Clark from the Tiny Homes Project. Photo credit: Rachael Smith

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Visitors and locals travelling through Strathdickie are being greeted by Santa’s train, imaginatively constructed using haybales, tinsel, a plywood caboose, and decorated with presents for children.

A bit of a local legend, this Strathdickie farmer regularly constructs haybale structures to celebrate the holidays, with many locals also remembering the Easter Bunny from a few years ago.

For many families, it has become a yearly tradition to stop by and grab a family photo with the imaginative creations.

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Santa comes to town! Photos supplied

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Bendigo Community Bank Cannonvale-Proserpine rewarded the Whitsunday community at their annual general meeting and community event last Wednesday, November 15.

In total, $1000 was gifted to three local organisations, which will aid the community.

Whitsunday United FC were awarded the major prize for the evening, with $500 given to the community sporting club.

“Thank you on behalf of the Club for hosting tonight’s event and for involving local clubs and organisations, it’s a great initiative. Our prize will be put towards our new goal nets,” said Club representative Allan Milostic.

Rotary Club of Airlie Beach were awarded $300, which will go towards a local student.

“We are co-sponsoring a year 11 Proserpine State High School student to attend the National Youth Science Forum in Brisbane in January. Tonight’s $300 prize will form part of our contribution to her travels,” thanked Merewyn Wright from Rotary Club of Airlie Beach.

The last prize of $200 was awarded to the Whitsunday Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

“What a wonderful event, thank you Bendigo Community Bank! The Chamber will put the prize towards one of its local business education events next year, with a focus on financial management and banking in regional businesses,” said Chamber Board member Melinda Louise Hutchings.

“At Bendigo Bank, our customers and the community always win. Our success is based on our profit-with-a-purpose model which sees around 50% of the profits generated by our independently owned and operated Cannonvale-Proserpine branch invested back into the community” said Community Bank Cannonvale-Proserpine Chairman Mark Henry.

“Over the past seven years we have invested just over $178,600 into local schools, social programs, sporting groups, arts and culture events, conservation initiatives, and community prizes.”

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(L-R) Community Bank Chairman Mark Henry, Community Bank Board Director Cait Fleming, Whitsunday United Football Club representative Allan Milostic, Community Bank Board Treasurer Krys Halsey, and Branch Manager Chantelle Cendrillion. Photo supplied

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Hi Everyone,

Earlier this week my six-year-old son asked me why people on the news always talk about “murders and dying”.

When you think about it, the fact that our news is often monopolised by death and tragedy, makes for quite a sad reflection on life.

And to think that this is what young kids are experiencing about world around them – it is no wonder that we have a generation of extremists – either emotional and worried about life or the opposite, taking crazy risks in order to feel alive.

While of course we all share immense empathy for people who have experienced tragedy, whether that be the sudden death of a loved one or the shock illness of a life cut short, do we really need to relive each trauma in the news we digest?

This is a subject we often battle with when putting the paper together each week.

We want to report the news, we must include the significant events that happen (such as a car accident), but we also want our readers to have a positive experience and feel uplifted by the content.

I think a lot of mainstream media have fallen into the trap of sensationalising tragedy and creating ‘click-bait’ content that turns a personal tragedy into a drama for vultures to feed upon.

This makes me feel sad as it is creating a culture that receives a bigger kick when hearing shocking news than it does when hearing a positive story of triumph.

Well, that’s what mainstream media tells us “sells” anyway.

But, back to what we do here at your local paper – we endeavour to fill our pages with positive news about people living great lives.

When there is a local tragedy, however, we always do our best to report on it with sensitivity and dignity.

We will make it personal, talk to the family if possible and include details that celebrate life rather than dramatise death.

When I asked my son what we should talk about in the news he said he wasn’t sure because it was like a devil was on one shoulder and an angel on the other.

Very perceptive, I couldn’t agree more!

Rach

Quote of the Week:
“News is the first draft of history” (Ben Bradlee)

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With Andrew Willcox, Federal Member For Dawson

Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox is calling for an investigation into supermarket meat sale prices from Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Agriculture Minister Murray Watt.

Mr Willcox said Treasurer Chalmers and Minister Watt must urgently direct the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to hold a price inquiry.

“According to Meat and Livestock Australia, some sheep and lamb categories have fallen by up to 70 per cent in the saleyards in the last 12 months,” Mr Willcox said.

“Lamb prices have drastically reduced and cattle prices have fallen by about 60 per cent. Yet families at the supermarkets in Dawson have barely noticed a difference in prices.”

Dawson supermarkets are charging an average of $28 per kilo for rump steak, $24 per kilo for beef rump roast and $15 for a kilo of lean beef mince while a farmer’s payment for cattle (eastern young cattle indicator) has fallen from $10.21 per kilo to just $3.65 per kilo over the past 12 months.

Mr Willcox said a competition taskforce recently established by the Australian Government to conduct a review of competition policy settings over a two-year period failed to provide the urgent response that families and farmers required.

“This is impacting family budgets in Dawson right now,” he said.

“It needs an urgent response because families and farmers can’t afford to wait potentially two years for answers.”

Mr Willcox said unlike a review, the ACCC would also have greater power to act.

 “Many families are struggling to afford their grocery bill each week so it’s important the government acts swiftly to ensure there’s transparency in meat prices.”

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Get Set For Work Program Success

The last we heard from Zaine van Poelgeest, one of the four Term 3 graduates of the PCYC Whitsundays Get Set For Work Program, he was looking to start his career at sea, hoping to secure employment at one of the major marine operators.

And this week, his dreams have come to fruition, as he begins his induction with Cruise Whitsundays.

Under the tutelage of Get Set For Work program coordinator, Scott Lynch, Zaine has flourished.

Get Set For Work is a 10 week program to equip youth with necessary skills and certificates to secure employment, for 14 to 19 year old’s who have left full-time education.

Zaine came to the program keeping his “cards to his chest,” describes Scott.

“There’s a lot more to Zaine than he puts across,” he explained.

“He’s got a great poker face and keeps all his winning cards hidden until he’s ready to show them.”

Zaine initially completed a week of work experience with Cruise Whitsundays, through the program.

“We put him through his shipboard safety skill set and got him this work experience with Cruise Whitsundays. And in his appraisal, Cruise Whitsundays couldn’t have said anything better about him! Zaine told us that he was encouraged to apply for a few positions they had available,” Scott explained.

“We helped him with his cover letter, and we were just waiting to hear back, but look at him now!”

Zaine is now eager to get started with Cruise Whitsundays.

“School just wasn’t for me, and with the program, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, but I enjoyed the work experience so much,” Zaine explained.

His official title is Cruise Attendant, which will have him across all aspects of the business.

According to Elise Forbes, Human Resource Advisor for Cruise Whitsundays, Zaine’s work experience appraisal was amazing.

“He was very punctual, enthusiastic and keen to learn,” she explained.

“He has already been positively received by the crew, so we’re excited to have him on board.”

To learn more about Get Set For Work, contact PCYC Whitsundays, (07) 4948 1144 or whitsunday@pcyc.org.au

Get Set for Work is one of eight programs that make up the Queensland Government’s Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative.

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Elise Forbes, Human Resources Advisor of Cruise Whitsundays, Zaine van Poelgeest, Scott Lynch, Get Set For Work program coordinator, and Sergeant Billy Li, PCYC Youth Club Manager. Photo credit: Bronte Hodge

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The Whitsundays is set to welcome the maiden voyage of a brand-new adults-only cruise ship which is due to arrive in local waters next Friday, December 1.

Resilient Lady, Virgin Voyages’ third ship, debuted in Europe earlier this year and is making its way over to Australia, stopping first in Darwin, Carins and Airlie Beach before docking in Port Melbourne for the summer cruising season.

It will be given a special acknowledgement next week with a smoking ceremony and a welcome to country followed by a plaque exchange between the captain on the ship and Mayor Julie Hall at the Cruise Whitsundays terminal.  

On-hand as usual, the dedicated volunteer Cruise Ship Ambassadors will be ready to greet each of the 2,762 who decide to disembark and explore Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays.

Resilient Lady is a five-star cruise ship experience, and its adults-only policy is proving very popular.

Founded in 2021 the Virgin Voyages ships are different to any we've see in The Whitsundays before.

Virgin Voyages is currently the Cruise Critics Cruisers’ Choice for 2023 and Conde Nast Traveller’s Best New Cruises in the World in 2022.

Inspired by a superyacht design, the vessel brings glamour to the high seas with spaces designed by world-renowned architects and designers, including Tom Dixon and Concerte Amsterdam.

A total of 31 cruise ships have called into the Whitsundays between August and December this year.

There are also 103 ships scheduled for next year.

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Resilient Lady will arrive in Whitsunday waters next Friday. Photo: supplied

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To Trial Pedestrian Crossings

Traffic and pedestrian flow in Airlie Beach Main Street will experience a change from December 1, with the Whitsunday Regional Council beginning a six-month trial of pedestrian crossings along Airlie Beach Main Street.

The trials will see four pedestrian crossings across Airlie Beach Main Street.

There will be one in front of NAB Bank, a second at the Magnums crossing, a third on the Esplanade  and a fourth in front of Airlie Beach Hotel.

Planter boxes will be erected at the former crossing points, in order to mitigate confusion, prevent people crossing where they don’t have priority and balance traffic.

Speed bumps will also be placed at the entrance of Airlie Beach Main Street at the north end, as well as a left turn only exit out of central car park, beside the lagoon.

Mayor Julie Hall said Council is developing an overarching Airlie Beach Masterplan and this six-month pedestrian crossing trial will capture key information that will help inform an ultimate streetscaping solution for the Main Street.

“During the six-month trial Council will be capturing direct formal and informal feedback from all users to help identify what works and what doesn’t work so we can utilise this information for future considerations for the Airlie Beach Masterplan to be developed in 2024.

Mayor Hall said that Council’s focus was on planning for the future and this trial aligns with ongoing efforts to enhance Airlie Beach's streetscape infrastructure and safety measures.

“We want to develop a solution that creates a pedestrian-friendly town for all ages and abilities, supports local businesses and our community and encourages safer speeds for drivers in the Main Street precinct.”

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Pedestrian crossings to be trialled in Airlie Beach. Photo supplied

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Ahead Of Gillnet Ban

A package between Commonwealth and Queensland Government has been announced to support commercial fishers, ahead of further fishing industry sanctions.

Worth $186 million, the package includes compensation measures such as buy backs, reskilling and financial advice, in an effort to ease the impact of the phasing out of gillnet fishing in the Great Barrier Reef Area by 2027.

A total of $125 million has been committed to phasing out gillnets, rezoning the Great Sandy Marine Park and increasing protection from gillnet impacts in the Gulf of Carpentaria.

This portion also includes around $90 million to financially support eligible fishers and related business in the transition, $1.5 million to reskill, $2.25 million to support employees, $15 million to construct a new strategy, $4.5 million to develop and trial sustainable alternatives, $2.95 million for the creation and sustaining suitable regional jobs, and $1.5 million to ensure hammerhead sharks are a no-take species for commercial fishers.

The remaining $60 million has been committed to discover more independent data validation and further reduce bycatch in high-risk fisheries.

The transition period begins December 31, 2023, to adopt these new agreements.

Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Furner said that “these are landmark investments that demonstrate the Palaszczuk Government’s commitment to a sustainable fishing industry supporting good jobs well into the future.”

“This package gives the certainty that our commercial fishing industry needs to plan and be able to ensure the ongoing supply of Queensland seafood that has built a global reputation,” Mr Furner said.

However, local fisherman Trevor Draper is frustrated.

“We got this text about some paperwork, and it said we would receive it shortly, whatever that means.”

For Trevor, he says he is “beyond reskilling”.

“The entire thing won’t help at all. We do this work because we like it, and it makes ends meet. We’re not in it for the money. And it will be very difficult, to get some fisherman to do something else, something they don’t like doing.

“And how will money handling and financial advice help, when we don’t have jobs?”

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Ahead of their Christmas pop-up shop for low-income families, the Whitsunday Neighbourhood Centre is inviting kind-heated community members to contribute brand-new un-wrapped gifts as part of their annual toy drive.

Those interested are asked to simply register on Whitsunday Neighbourhood Centre’s Facebook page before December 10, purchase the gifts and bring them into the centre.

Then, on December 15, the pop-up toy shop will be opened to low-income families so they can each select a present for their children to enjoy opening at Christmas.

Whitsunday Neighbourhood Centre Chief Operations Officer, Rebecca Woods, says this is a great opportunity for people who had previously liked purchasing gifts for their Adopt a Family campaign.

“We started doing gift cards for Adopt a Family a few years ago,” she explained.

“So, this Toy Drive is a great for people who like buying gifts instead.

“We wanted to open it up to the community because we understand that the community recognise the cost-of-living crisis and want to contribute.”

The pop-up Christmas shop is open to eligible families only and they must satisfy specific criteria in order to qualify.

The eligibility is also related to geography and only residents in the Greater Airlie Beach Area qualify.

If you wish to register, please contact the centre.

For those wanting to contribute a gift, register on Facebook or if you would prefer to offer a gift card to a family in need then please register for the Adopt a Family campaign instead.

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Donate a brand-new un-wrapped gift for a family in need this Christmas. Photo supplied

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Uniting a passion for yoga with a love for location, local Yoga Teacher Norma Strang is opening the doors to a series of new yoga classes with stunning views across Coral Sea Marina.

Located at the Lookout Lounge above the bustling marina village, Yoga + 5 is a place where you can step away from the busy world below and connect with yourself, discovering inner-peace and life balance along the way.

A yoga teacher for the past 20 years, Norma has operated four yoga studios around the country, most recently in Byron Bay before moving to the Whitsundays 18 months ago.

With a wealth of experience that spans many aspects of health and healing, Norma is a qualified health coach who also runs retreats and detox programs.

She now brings this spectrum of devotion into her yoga practice, showing participants a deeper more meaningful form of yoga that is often not found in more modern practices.

“Yoga is about connection with yourself, with God and with the Spirit,” said Norma.

Beginning her classes with therapeutic postures, Norma shows her students how to get more oxygen moving around their bodies through different asanas.

While different positions are explored, she explains the merits of each one, whether that be for detoxing the kidneys or working on the thyroid which is excellent for weight loss.

Norma then moves onto the Five Tibetan Rites, a practice that is over 2,500 years old but rarely used these days.

“It works on the Chakra system,” explains Norma.

“They call it the fountain of youth because it works through the endocrine system which is the energetic system of the body and helps with aging.”

The class then finishes with a deep meditation to re-energise.

A strong believer that yoga is for everybody, Norma says that “you are never too old, it’s never too late and you’re never too sick to start from scratch”.

She hopes that everyone feels welcome in her class and assures each attendee that an individual approach will be taken where intuition is used to best serve each participant.

If you are looking for a relaxed, connective experience in a stunning location with a highly skilled teacher, then take a free trial class with Norma.

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