Tourism Whitsundays is gearing up to host their second of three Member’s Workshops, with the agenda to help businesses to elevate their PR and media skills.  

Facilitated by Verve PR, a prestigious public relations organisation based in Darlinghurst Sydney, the workshop will cover what is newsworthy and how to best promote that using media channels.

The workshop will also outline how to get your story out there and make connections with local media channels, how to work with the media, what they need and what businesses should expect, and tips and tricks for getting the most out of your PR.

Rick Hamilton, CEO of Tourism Whitsundays shares that media coverage is a great tool for business exposure and getting the story of your business out to the wider public.

“Being able to spot a newsworthy story and get it out through the right channels is a valuable skill that will pay off for your business," he explained.

"Verve PR has decades of experience working with all levels and outlets of media, their love and support of The Whitsundays has helped us get stories of The Whitsundays published."

To learn more about this workshop, or to enquire about becoming a member of Tourism Whitsundays, visit tourismwhitsundays.com.au or ring 07 4948 5900.

WHAT: Tourism Whitsundays Media Workshop

WHERE: Whitsunday Green

WHEN: Wednesday, October 18, 10am to 11.30am

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Susan Darwiche and Prue MacSween of Verve PR. Photos supplied

A Glioma Warrior's Story

By Sinead Porter

Nineteen-year-old Ashlee Knight was diagnosed with an optic nerve glioma and intercranial hypotension on 27th July, 2020 that unknowingly would alter the course of her life.

While playing lawn bowls at Mackay City Bowls Club, Ashlee started complaining that she couldn’t see the kitty up at the other end of the green.

Her mother Anna booked her an optometrist appointment, which was just the beginning of her three-and-a-half year battle ahead.

From July 2020, Ashlee’s doctors in Brisbane monitored her glioma every month, until she lost around 80 per cent of her eyesight in her right eye in late February, 2021.

The scan had come back showing the tumour had tripled in size. Ashlee’s doctors had told her the best treatment option was to start her on intravenous chemotherapy immediately. On 11th March, 2021 Ashlee was admitted to Queensland Children’s hospital to get a Porta Cath inserted, and started chemotherapy the very next day.

Chemotherapy for Ashlee included completing twelve cycles over roughly what was an arduous eleven months of treatment.

During this period, Ashlee was on track to completing and graduating from her final days of Year 12, even finishing her English assessment hours after treatment, against her doctors’ advice.

Ashlee went on to graduate with flying colours at the top of her class, even continuing to play lawn bowls for the district, where she was selected for the Queensland Junior Squad.

Ashlee’s Journey

Chemotherapy for Ashlee included completing twelve cycles over roughly what was an arduous eleven months of treatment.

Unfortunately, Ashlee developed an anaphylactic reaction to the drugs, and the chemotherapy ceased at the eleventh cycle in early December of 2021.

While receiving chemotherapy for her optic nerve glioma, a new lesion in the left frontal lobe had formed, which Ashlee’s doctors had been monitoring but it had progressed quite rapidly.

On 27th January, 2022, Ashlee’s doctors did a biopsy which came back as a Stage 3 paediatric-type diffuse high-grade glioma/astrocytoma.

From here, Ashlee was back in Brisbane 2 weeks later, fitted for her radiotherapy mask.

Two weeks later, she began an agonising 33 days (7 weeks) of intense radiation, Monday to Friday, between March and April 2022. Both tumours appeared to be stabilised for approximately 6 months.

Come November 2022, doctors noticed an abnormality in Ashlee’s cerebellum, so again, a new oral chemotherapy regime began along with repeat MRI’s.

In February 2023 the mass measured 16mm in axial diameter, by May it had grown to 22mm.

Ashlee continued oral chemotherapy, with another MRI review in August showing that all three of Ashlee’s tumours had grown from ‘the size of a marble to the size of a mandarin’, also to find out during another appointment in Brisbane that all three of her tumours were growing.

In the meantime, Ashlee was having injections to hopefully preserve her ovaries, as she has always wanted to be a mother. Unfortunately, this was impossible.

Ashlee is now currently on immunotherapy every 2 weeks, and another, stronger oral chemotherapy. This treatment protocol is not a cure, it will only prolong her life for as long as her body sees fit, which was the news that no parent wants to hear.

The Starlight Foundation granted Ashlee a wish, with her and her family travelling to Sydney at the end of October to attend the premiere of the ‘Beauty and the Beast’ musical, along with other family memorable moments over the 5-night stay.

Ashlee stated, “I just wanted to have a family holiday, cause I don’t think we’ve had [one] in over 10 years.”

Ashlee has a tenacity unlike any other, with a beaming smile and a go-getter attitude.

She continues to work full-time at Bunnings and playing lawn bowls for both Mackay City Bowls Club and the Queensland Under 25 Squad, despite her doctors advising her to give up on employment and sports.

She then went and compromised with her employer and doctor instead and moved to a different division within the company which everyone was happy with.

Ashlee stated that, “If you make me give up work, who knows what’s ahead of me?

“I would just go downhill really quickly.”

“Like I’ve said in previous times, there’s no point in getting angry or frustrated with it, because you can’t change the result. It is what it is, unfortunately.

“Every day is precious, so take it by the horns and try to make as many memories as we can.”

Anna went on to say, “We just want to try and make the last months, years, whatever amount of time she’s got left, the most memorable.”

“She hasn’t been given a timeframe, and I guess that’s entirely up to her body.

“If she keeps fighting the way she is…

Ashlee cuts her mother off mid-sentence with, “I’ll be here for many, many years.” She giggled.

Ashlee’s dream is to dive into crystal clear water and sleep in an ocean bungalow. Unfortunately, that dream was short-lived as she is not allowed to fly for seventeen hours to the Maldives.

Moving on to plan B, Ashlee and her mother, Anna have booked a cruise booked to Vanuatu during the week of her 20th birthday.

Supporters of Ashlee have wrangled together to create a GoFundMe page to help with expenses leading up to her dream holiday and wherever else Ashlee wants to visit while she is able.

Anna stated, “All my work colleagues have seen Ashlee grow up, and become the person she is today. That’s why they want to help.”

However, Anna also stressed the point, “It’s not about asking for help, our family doesn’t ask for help.

“It’s about getting awareness out there, especially for young people, that can look up to Ashlee to be an inspiration to keep fighting. Don’t ever give up!

“Most times as soon as young people get told this news, it can be downhill from there.

“We’ve climbed 30 mountains, and she’s still come out the other side. She’ll keep fighting until the very end.”

“It’s about reaching out to the community to see how truly amazing she is, if you’ve ever had the privilege to know her, you will know and see that this young lady is

“Strong minded, strong willed and strong to keep fighting. Nothing gets the better of her.

“She’ll never let you down. She’d give you the shirt off her back even if it meant she would freeze, that’s just the type of person she is.”

“To go through what she has been through in the last three and a half years, and to still have a smile on her face every day, it just blows me away.

“I have no idea where she gets her strength and courage from, but if someone can take a page out of her book, they won’t ever look back.

“She’s full of life and she’ll keep being full of life with that beautiful smile of hers.”

Ashlee is a beloved member of the Mackay community, an unstoppable force and a beam of positive light in an ominous situation.

Ashlee’s advice to herself and others facing similar downfalls is to ‘never give up’.

To help Ashlee achieve her dream holiday, find her GoFundMe page at: gofundme.com/f/help-ashlee-achieve-her-dreams

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Cover – Ashlee dressed up for her Year 12 ball

Ashlee in her lawn bowls attire

Ashlee in hospital finishing off her school studies

Ashlee staying positive through chemotherapy (Photo Credit: Anna Knight)

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Group Leader of the State Emergency Service Mackay Regional Unit, JoAnn Clout, has stepped down from her role after ten years of dedicated service.

JoAnn stepped out of the role originally in 2018, however since then she has filled in on an interim basis when other members have come and gone from the position.

She has been a pillar of strength for members of the SES and continues to stay active in the organisation.  

Today, JoAnn spends her time keeping busy with the new recruit program, keen on training volunteers to a high standard in dealing with storm damage for the upcoming season.

Jo Ann commented that, “As a group leader, recruiting has always been one of my priorities.

“If we don’t have adequate members, we can’t have an official response. Same as retention, if we can’t hold on to members, how good is our response going to be when things go pear-shaped?”

“The average lifespan of a volunteer is quite small, between 15-18 months.

“But as a unit, I feel like our programs are so strong and our sense of community is so welcoming that our volunteers tend to stay longer.”

SES Local Controller, Alex McPhee, commends JoAnn for being committed to the Mackay region, offering a positive outlook alongside a can-do attitude, working amongst her colleagues without issue and being dedicated to getting the job done.

Stepping into her previous role as Group Leader is Warren Ponmoon, who has been a part of the State Emergency Service Mackay Regional Unit for three years.

Warren is equipped to deal with high-risk activities for the organisation, such as being both a flood boat and chainsaw operator, as well as recently beginning training in a Certificate IV to become a qualified Trainer/Assessor.

In the next twelve months, Warren will become a trainer for the SES, bringing him up to JoAnn’s level and allowing another strong leader for the organisation.

JoAnn went on to say, “The thing that I hear most commonly is: ‘I had no idea SES do all of that.’

“We are the only agency trained to support the other emergency services.

“We assist police with missing people, traffic control, road crash rescue, flood boat rescue, assisting with firies offering welfare services and utilisation of training, the list goes on.”

Mackay SES have a diverse range of people who volunteer, with some as young as sixteen right up to age seventy-six.

Alex McPhee put it simply, “One of the things we promote is that once you walk through the shed doors, you’re an orange person. We’re all orange, we’re here to do a job and that’s it.”

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JoAnn Clout, Alex McPhee, and Sarah Lethbridge (Deputy Local Controller). Photo Credit: State Emergency Service - Mackay Regional Unit

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A primary-school aged entrepreneur has taken to his front yard to sell cups of lemonade to his local community, while raising money for various charities.

Local Bucasia resident, Cooper, sells his own batch of homemade lemonade to local residents, alongside his little sister, Lexi.

Over the weekend, Cooper was out selling from 10:30am until 1:30pm, a hard day’s work for a young man.  

In past events, Cooper has raised money for both his own pocket money, as well as the Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal and $33 for the Starlight Foundation to help kids with cancer.

Cooper has occasionally accompanied his $1 per cup lemonade sales with $2 dragon fruits and 50c freddo frog chocolates. Now that’s value for money!

Bucasia residents can’t get enough, with local commenters on Facebook stating, “Great lemonade, just right!” and “Thank you Cooper, it was delicious!”

It’s great to see Cooper and Lexi making a difference while hustling for their own pocket money.

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Cooper doing the hard yards – chopping up lemons for his next batch

Cooper and Lexi at their stand in Bucasia.

Photos supplied

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Change is the heartbeat of life, and as we embrace it, we often find remarkable stories waiting to be uncovered. This week, I have the pleasure of introducing you to a fresh face in our editorial team, Sinead Porter, whose journey from the red dust of the desert plains in Western Australia to the coal dust of our vibrant Mackay region brings a unique perspective and a treasure trove of stories.

Sinead has experienced an interesting tapestry of heritage. She was born in Ireland and moved to the Mackay region as a toddler, before later moving to Brisbane and then Western Australia, spending her teenage years in a small town near Kalgoorlie, where the vast stretches of red earth and endless horizons are etched into her memories. Now, she has traded the outback for our tropical beaches, and she couldn't be more thrilled to explore the vibrant communities, rich culture, and the untold narratives that our region has to offer. Her deep-seated curiosity and passion for storytelling make her a perfect fit for our team.

With her unique background and fresh insights, Sinead is poised to uncover the tales that may have remained hidden and share them with all of you. Whether it's the latest in local news, human interest stories, or delving into the heart of our community, she's here to keep you informed and engaged. So please feel free to reach out with any community interest stories you would like told.

Also, our heartfelt condolences go out to Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson on the passing of his father last week. Our thoughts are with him and his family during this difficult time.

Amanda

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The process of repurposing involves using a product to serve another purpose. For example, soft plastic bags can be repurposed into sleeping mats.  

Mary Worby is one such woman in Mackay that started making sleeping mats from plastic bags three years ago.  Her journey began four years ago after seeing on Facebook school children in America making sleeping mats for the homeless out of bread bags.  Mary googled a pattern and started using the grey plastic shopping bags.  When recycled plastic bags came into supermarkets, and the grey bags were banned, Mary started using garbage bags.  

In a personal touch, Mary always labels her mats “Made by Worbs”.

Mary collects the soft plastic bags from Op Shops in Mackay then cuts the bags to make ‘plarn’ for crocheting.  ‘Plarn’ is plastic yarn.

It takes Mary around a week to crochet a mat.   With the housing affordability crisis in Mackay, these mats are distributed through the homeless support agencies in town to provide some relief for when other housing options are not available.

Volunteers at the North Wall, Mackay Harbour when doing the “Clean Up Mackay Region” event on 20th August collected a sleeping mat that was in an abandoned rough sleeper’s dwelling found in the beach reserve.

Bessie Hayes, Assistant State Lead, Share the Dignity, was one of the volunteers at the clean-up event and was intrigued with the construction of the mat.  The re-purposing of what otherwise would have ended up in landfill, or worse, in our beautiful oceans sparked Bessie onto finding out more about these mats.

Being intrigued with this re-use of plastic bags, Bessie joined the “Plarn Project” at the Dudley Denny City Library where the public is welcomed to come and contribute to making a sleeping mat.  The Plarn Project is free and aims to bring some comfort to our rough sleepers.  No experience is necessary and all crocheters are welcome.  

Bruce Thompson, Resource Recovery Education Officer at the Mackay Regional Council salvaged the mat from the clean-up.  “Despite the fact it was crocheted from plastic bags, it was still in good condition and re-usable,” he said.

“So after washing the mat down and letting it air, the mat was returned to Robyn Billings in our office.  Robyn is a ‘plarner’ who volunteers with Orange Sky.”

With the mat in hand, Robyn tracked down its maker, aka “Worbs” to let her know that the mats were being used for the purpose intended.  In discussing the mat find, Mary commented that she hadn’t used that style of name tag for over two years!

The great news is that the mat was made in 2021 so two years later, it’s still okay to be used and is now back in circulation giving another Mackay rough sleeper some comfort and protection from the cold damp ground.

The mat is part of the story Bruce tells, namely that even though plastic has the capacity to be an environmental menace, it can also be a resource if used correctly.  

Bruce uses the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, ‘What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered.'

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Mary Worbly with her 2021 mat that was salvaged in a 2023 clean-up event

Bessie Hayes went from mat finder to mat maker at the Dudley Denny City Library

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A Mackay man’s after-work visit to the local bowls club has become an unforgettable moment after picking up a $54,000 win in a recent Keno draw.

The Queensland resident held a Keno Classic 6 Spot winning entry in draw 659, drawn Saturday 30 September 2023, and took home $54,000.

“I feel great!” he exclaimed when an official from Keno called to confirm the life-enhancing win.

“What an amazing way to finish off a long workday.

“I just knocked off, went to the bowls club for a feed, and then suddenly, I’m $54,000 richer!

“I play regularly but I’ve never won something like this!

“When I saw all my numbers on the screen, I couldn’t believe it.

“It’s unreal.”

While the winning man had no immediate plans for his prize, he said he would be sharing it with his family.

His winning Keno Classic 6 Spot entry was purchased at Mackay Northern Beaches Bowls Club.

The Mackay Northern Beaches Bowls Club said they were ecstatic to have sold a winning entry to a regular visitor and wished him all the best with his future plans.

In FY23, Keno players across the eastern states of mainland Australia celebrated more than 95.42 million wins collectively worth more than $1.34 billion.

During this time, Keno crowned 20 millionaires and multi-millionaires who collectively took home more than $46 million.  Eight of these major winners were Queenslanders, including a Rockhampton man who walked away with a $6.1 million prize.

Queenslanders enjoyed more than 26.8 million Keno wins totalling more than $427.15 million at pubs and clubs across the state in FY23.

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The rare New Guinea Tongue Orchid, taking host in the Ken Burgess Orchid House, is getting ready to flower, with botanic lovers waiting patiently.

This Orchid is the Orchid’s House’s most infamous plant, and is a member of the Bulbophyllum fletcherianum, but is better known as ‘Stinky’, due to the eye-watering stench that accompanies its flower.

The flowers of the orchid resemble rotting flesh both in look and smell, but serve the important role of attracting flies, who believe they are laying their eggs in actual rotting flesh.

The flowering of the orchid is short lived, so flower lovers must be quick to pay the Ken Burgess Orchid House a visit!

Ken Burgess Orchid House, Queens Park, open Sundays, 10am to 2pm and Monday to Friday, 10am to 11am and 2 to 3pm.

Closed Saturdays and public holidays

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A 73-year-old Kuttabul man has died following a tragic road accident in Mia Mia Forest, on Sunday October 2.

Police reported that at about 6am, the man was travelling north on Pinnacle Station Road, towing a caravan, when he stopped his vehicle to clear an obstruction on the road, at Captain’s Crossing.

His vehicle has then rolled forward, hitting the man, and causing his death.

Police said he was alone at the time and was later discovered by a passer-by at about 7.30am.

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Mackay Hospital Foundation Giving Day 2023

“We shouldn’t be disadvantaged because of where we live so let’s make our hospitals the best they can be, providing the absolute best possible care for our family and friends.”

Mark your calendars for a heartwarming occasion on Thursday, October 12th, as the Mackay Hospital Foundation gears up for its third annual Giving Day.

This cherished event stands tall as one of the organisation's grandest fundraising endeavours, with the dedicated team at the Mackay Hospital Foundation anticipating another year of resounding success.

Prior to the day, Matched Donors and pre-secured funds are sourced before starting the 12-hour fundraising event from 8am through until 8pm.

Mackay Hospital Foundation General Manager, Kristi Algate said, “We liken it to a telethon and we’re so very fortunate to have a team of enthusiastic volunteers from Gardian Group who start the day by sourcing donations.

“We also have teams throughout the hospitals who contact friends, family and colleagues and encourage them to donate throughout the day, with much of the contributions being returned to the hospital department who raises significant funds. For instance, if ICU (Intensive Care Unit) raises $7,000 then that money is utilised to purchase equipment for their department.”

The Foundation’s Giving Day ambassador this year is Dylan Holmes, who at the age of 42 years, with no previous symptoms, collapsed at work on the afternoon of 6th February this year. Dylan had suffered a cardiac arrest and thanks to having a defibrillator in his workplace and quick acting colleagues and ambos, he was brought to Mackay Base Hospital and thankfully, Dylan is alive today to tell his tale.

From the time of his cardiac arrest until he arrived at hospital, Dylan was shocked nine times. He was also the first person at Mackay Base Hospital to be fitted with a subcutaneous defibrillator, and because he was able to have his procedure in Mackay, his family was by his side.

Dylan’s situation could happen to any one of us, or our friends, colleagues and family.

While some decisions are still pending, current pre-secured Matched Donors this year include Anglo American and Isaac Regional Council with added support from CFMEU, Mackay Base Hospital Auxiliary, Pembroke Olive Downs, Abbot Point Terminal and Sons of the Southern Cross Motorcycle Club.

Funds contributed by Anglo American, Isaac Regional Council, Pembroke Olive Downs and CFMEU will be directed to hospitals in the Isaac Region and funds raised by Abbot Point Terminal will benefit Bowen Hospital.

Mackay Base Hospital Auxiliary’s contribution will complete the upgrade of the Mortuary Garden at Mackay Base Hospital.

Matched Donors contribute a minimum of $10,000 each and when donations are received on the day, these are matched by the money which has been pre-secured by our Matched Donors.

So, how it works is, a $50 donation from John Doe will become $100, thanks to money donated by Matched Donors.

Other donors who have pledged funds prior to the day and will be announcing their commitment on Giving Day are: Mackay West Rotary Club, M & P Services and the Austral Hotel.

Donations can be made online at www.charidy/mhf at any time, and on Giving Day donations can be made at Mt Pleasant Centre between 10am and 1pm, or call into the Mackay Base Hospital Gift Shop.

Star 101.9 will have a presence at Mt Pleasant Centre, while Hit FM will be broadcasting from Gardian Group in Victoria Street.

Ms Algate is asking our community to be generous in their support for our local hospitals on Giving Day, Thursday 12th October.

She added, “We shouldn’t be disadvantaged because of where we live so let’s make our hospitals the best they can be, providing the absolute best possible care for our family and friends.”

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Dylan Holmes with his son Jett

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A new pet owner said she feels like she’s ”struck gold” after adopting a senior dog from council’s Animal Management Centre.

Megan Gray said the kelpie-cross, August, was the perfect fit for her home.

“I feel like I’ve struck gold — he is such a well-behaved, intelligent, beautiful boy!” Ms Gray said.

“A big thank you to the wonderful team at council’s Animal Management Centre for making the adoption possible,” she said.

“Now he is in a safe loving home.”

Leslie Sleeman also adopted a senior Jack Russell-cross named Barney last month.

“When you adopt an older dog, you know they are past the silly puppy stages — they fit in easily,” Ms Sleeman said.

“He’s a beautiful little dog,” she said.

“He’s my second dog from the Animal Management Centre and both have had wonderful little personalities, I just love him."

Mayor Greg Williamson said adopting a senior pet is a great alternative.

“Owning a pet is always a big responsibility, however adopting a senior pet can give companionship without the training younger animals require,” Mayor Williamson said.

“If you are planning to give a pet a home, please carefully consider if they will be the right fit for your lifestyle,” he said.

For more information on pet adoption visit mackay.qld.gov.au/poundpets

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Kelpie-cross, August, happy with his new owner

Leslie Sleeman and Local Laws team member, Samuel Norman, with jack russell-cross, Barney

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This year marks National Police Remembrance Day’s 35-year anniversary since its commencement in 1989, pausing to honour 150 officers whose lives have been lost in the line of duty.

National Police Remembrance Day (NPRD), observed every year on September 29, is a sombre reminder of the bravery and commitment of our police officers, who protect and serve the people of Queensland.

In the past 12 months, two Queensland Police Service officers, constables Matthew Arnold and Rachel McCrow, tragically lost their lives.

In an interview with Commissioner Katarina Carroll, she reflects on this year’s National Police Remembrance Day.

The Commissioner states, “The NPRD is undeniably the most important date on our police calendar, to pause, reflect, and remember those who have fallen and who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their community.

“Throughout the year, we always have a poster that really reflects that day and our fallen officers and these adorn the walls and police headquarters.

“When an officer has fallen in our organisation, they will forever be remembered.”

There are a range of key activities across the state to remember fallen officers on the night prior to NPRD.

Remembrance vigils take place, as well as a march followed by a service for the fallen ones.

Commissioner Katarina Carroll’s hope is for the general public to pause and remember those that have fallen, and know that Queensland Police are genuinely here for the community.

To show their support, the community can attend local vigils and receive a remembrance ribbon by visiting a police station.

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A march for fallen heroes on National Police Remembrance Day (Photo Credit: myPolice Mackay Whitsunday)

A proactive plan to ensure our coastal communities are as prepared as possible for the impacts of climate change and coastal hazards is one step closer.

The Mackay Coast – Our Future, Coastal Hazard Adaptation Study improves council’s understanding of coastal hazards.

It also provides a plan to manage the impact on our communities, environment, cultural values and built assets.

The draft study was endorsed for public consultation at last week’s ordinary meeting of council.

Mayor Greg Williamson said the study would help inform the community about coastal hazards and inform future decision making with regards to our coastal areas.

“It will guide land use planning and investment in infrastructure, ensuring that the values of our coastal areas and the contribution they make to the community’s way of life are protected,” Mayor Williamson said.

“It is important we have a shared understanding and focus when responding to coastal hazards, given the importance of these areas to our way of life,” he said.

Director Development Services Aletta Nugent said now the community would now have another opportunity to provide their feedback.

“Public consultation was a vital component in the creation of this document and allowed council to find out what individual coastal communities’ preferences were when it came to coastal hazard adaptation and mitigation options,” Ms Nugent said.

Residents can read the draft study and provide feedback online by visiting connectingmackay.com.au/future-coast

A hard-copy draft study is available in all council libraries and customer service centres.

Council will also be hosting five regional drop-in sessions where residents can talk to council staff, look at flood maps and learn more about the draft study and coastal hazards that may impact their locality.

For more details on these sessions, head to connectingmackay.com.au

About the study

The Mackay Coast – Our Future, Coastal Hazard Adaptation Study has been undertaken by consultants Alluvium, as part of the QCoast2100 program, which is funded by the State Government and administered in partnership with the Local Government Association of Queensland. The study aims to mitigate the risk of increasing coastal hazards.

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Rain and strong winds put a dampener on Daly Bay Illuminate in July.

However, rather than abandon the iconic event, the Mackay Festivals team worked hard to secure the various drawcard installations for a new date in October.

This amazing family-friendly event is back, with the first night illuminating Queens Park last night.

The park has come alive with giant interactive dogs, exotic UV florals, neon sea creatures and so much more until Sunday, October 8.

Better still, entry to this all-ages, illuminated wonderland is completely free.

It will run from 6pm to 9pm each night.

Mayor Greg Williamson congratulated the MECC and Mackay Festivals team on delivering the event in its intended format after the postponement.

“Daly Bay Illuminate has traditionally been the most attended event of the Mackay Festival of Arts calendar – it’s huge and there are so many moving parts, including massive installations brought in from around the country,” Mayor Williamson said.

“Hats off to the team for bringing everything together for a second time and ensuring our community can still enjoy this event,” he said.

“It’s an amazing drawcard experience that is the perfect night out for families – they can stroll through the installations, take some fantastic photographs and relax on a picnic rug after grabbing a bite to eat from one of the food vendors onsite.”

Mayor Williamson said this year’s massive drawcard installation was the Lost Dogs’ Disco by ENESS.

“This is an immersive installation of 16 dogs, some up to 5.5m tall,” he said.

“There are four distinct characters, inspired by three dog breeds – poodles, bull terriers and dachshunds – that are curled-up, standing and even touching noses,” he said.

“As visitors journey through the colourful pack, the dogs’ coats light up, their eyes blink and they greet passers-by with happy grunts to celebrate each new person’s arrival.

“This an amazing installation that will be a huge hit with families and will act as a centrepiece for this tremendous event.”

Festivals and Events Coordinator Sarah Porter said another highlight of Daly Bay Illuminate would be Oasis by Indirect Object.

“Oasis is a glowing display of organic-shaped artworks that are crafted from consumer waste,” Ms Porter said.

“Each artwork has been handcrafted in extreme detail, with more than 100 PET bottles creating each flower,” she said.

“Neon Marine Park by Carla O’Brian is also beautiful and will make a big splash with the kids.

“It features a cluster of colourful sea creatures found in Australian waters and will make for some great photos.”

Ms Porter said a dedicated team of local artists had spearheaded the construction of an assortment of artwork that will be displayed in three large and unique community installations.

She said one installation represented the view of a bee and was filled completely with UV-enhanced florals and buzzing bees.

“Lalune Croker, Tracey Johnson, Cheb Jeffery, Lisa Roebig Holmes and Wanda Bennett delivered workshops in and around the Mackay region during the months of June and July.

“In total, 300 community members and school students of all ages and abilities participated in the workshops to ensure local residents had the opportunity to create works to be part of the displays,” she said.

“The talented MECC lighting team will bring the community installations and the natural landscapes of Queens Park to life with expertly installed lighting arrays.”

Daly Bay Illuminate is an alcohol-free event and the Festivals team recommends bringing some mosquito spray and a picnic blanket if you decide to dine out for the evening.

Entry to the event will be via the corner of East Gordon Street and Goldsmith Street and on Goldsmith Street.

For more information and updates, follow Mackay Festivals on Facebook.

This event has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, and the Arts Festivals Australia Program.

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Lost Dogs Disco by ENESS is an immersive installation of 16 dogs, some up to 5.5m tall that will be a standout at Daly Bay Illuminate. (Photo: Diana Snape photography)

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Do you have enough supplies to last you three days in the case of a disaster?

Mackay Regional Council has joined forces with Woolworths to make it easier for Mackay region residents to organise their disaster supply kit.

Across the region’s eight Woolworths stores, each supermarket will have two dedicated aisle ends at the back of the store stocked with key items for household disaster kits.

Mackay Deputy Mayor Karen May said council had provided banners with tear-off shopping lists outside of Woolworths stores, for customers to take into the store with them.

“These shopping lists have been specially designed to list most of the key items that a household would need in an emergency,” Cr May said.

“We know that our region is vulnerable to some of the worst disasters, such as cyclones, floods and bush fires,” she said.

“It is essential that everyone has at least three full days of supplies, including water, non-refrigerated food items, medicines and toiletries.

“We recommend that an emergency kit is kept in a safe dry place at all times as we head into disaster season.”

Woolworths Mackay region Group Manager Petina Sarnadsky said inside the stores shoppers would find handy aisle signage that would highlight items from the list.

“Our Mackay team is here for their community and many locals will already be familiar with the role we play in disaster recovery to ensure households can restock their pantries with essentials,” Ms Sarnadsky said.

“While we’ll always work to get our stores open as soon as possible after a disaster, road closures and flood waters can mean some residents simply aren’t able to get to us, and that’s why we want to help them build up a supply of essentials that they can rely on,” she said.

The banners and shopping lists will be outside Woolworths stores around Mackay until November 15.

Visit the Disaster Dashboard at disaster.mackay.qld.gov.au for more information on how to Get Ready.

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Woolworths Mackay Region Group Manager Petina Sarnadsky and Mackay Regional Council Deputy Mayor Karen May launch the disaster kit shopping lists at Andergrove Woolworths

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