2023 RIN Awards Finalists Revealed

The stage is set for a celebration of our region’s industry movers and shakers as the finalists of the 2023 Resource Industry Network (RIN) Awards step into the spotlight.

With keen eyes and careful consideration, the judging panel has unveiled an impressive lineup of 17 finalists spanning seven categories. These awards stand as a testament to the unwavering dedication of the local resources services sector and its intricate supply chain.

The Mackay-Isaac-Whitsunday region proudly houses a dynamic METS hub, and the RIN Awards stand as a grand salute to the outstanding contributions that keep the industry, the community, and the region thriving.

As anticipation mounts, the RIN Awards Gala Dinner, slated for September 1st at the MECC, promises an exceptional evening to honour and applaud the individuals and businesses that make our region soar.

The 2023 RIN Awards finalists in each of the seven categories are:

Safety Foremost Award (sponsored by Diacon Australia)

• Aurizon

• Ausgroup Industrial Services (QLD) Pty Ltd

• QCCS Pty Ltd

Connecting in the Community Award (sponsored by Local Buying Foundation)

• Wisely Group

• Field Mining Services Group

• BOQ Mackay

Manufacturing Excellence Award (sponsored by Queensland Manufacturing Hubs Program)

• Torque Enterprises

• Linked Group

• Field Engineers

Standing Out from the Crowd Award (sponsored by Onsite Training Australia)

• Melissa Egan – BOQ Mackay

• Charlotte Nash-Stewart – Field Engineers

• Joseph ‘Joey’ Lewis – Sojitz Blue

Striving for Diversity Award (sponsored by BHP Mitsubishi Alliance)

• Intelics

Champion Culture Award (sponsored by Field Mining Services Group)

• Wisely Group

• Mackay Sugar

• Vex Engineering

Innovation for Export Award (sponsored by Trade & Investment Qld)

• Village National

The finalists reflect a broad range of initiatives around innovation, manufacturing, diversity, community, culture, safety, and individual excellence.

“As an organisation that represents the resources services and manufacturing sectors, we value the effort it takes to submit nominations and we wish everyone the best of luck on the awards night,” Resource Industry Network general manager Dean Kirkwood said.

RIN has secured media personality, journalist, and broadcaster Tony Squires as the keynote speaker for the gala dinner, with comedian Kat Davidson as emcee.

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Mackay and District National Servicemen’s Association has donated a massive $17,000 to seven local charities.

The National Servicemen Association of Australia (NSAA) Mackay and District Branch was formed in Mackay in 1996, with 40 former National Servicemen in membership, who were a part of the 1951-1959 National Service Scheme and the 1964-1972 National Service Act.

On Tuesday this week, the NSAA Mackay and District donated $17,000 for local charities, with CQ Helicopter Rescue receiving $5,000, while Meals on Wheels Mackay, Ronald McDonald House Centre, Prostrate Cancer Support Group, St Vinnies Men’s Hostel Mackay, Salvation Army Mackay Corps, and Domestic Violence Resources Services Mackay all receiving $2,000 each.

These donations ensure the continued work of these organisations to the support local Mackay and District residents.

To learn more about the NSAA Mackay and District Branch, contact the Branch on priestfam1937@spin.net.au

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The NSAA Mackay and District gifting their donations to seven charities. Photo supplied

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Centenarian and Order of Australia Medal recipient, Allan Quartermaine, has encouraged the community to get behind the 81st annual Legacy Week, happening from August 27 to September 2.

As 2023 commemorates a century of Legacy Australia, the former Legacy Mackay President remains a beacon of unwavering support for Legacy Week, an enduring national initiative established in 1942.

The week-long event galvanizes vital funds to underpin Legacy’s mission: caring for the families of Australia’s dedicated service personnel.

Rooted in a promise forged among diggers during WWI to protect and support one another's families, Legacy and its dedicated volunteers, known as Legatees, have upheld this vow for generations.

A living embodiment that age is merely a number, Mr Quartermaine is a staunch advocate for the cause, rallying the community to contribute to Legacy Week's impact.

Over six decades, he has tirelessly championed Legacy's cause, leaving an indelible mark on roles such as Secretary and Chairman of Legacy Sunshine Coast, Trustee of Legacy Brisbane, and President of Legacy Mackay.

Allan's commitment as the organization's longest-serving Legatee endures, as he lends his insights as a consultant to the present management committee.

Allan's journey of service began early, enlisting in the Royal Australian Navy at a tender age of 17.

His responsibilities encompassed perilous minesweeping duties in the Pacific during WW2 before, post-war, his focus pivoted towards community service.

Yet, it's his dedicated work with Legacy that he deems the pinnacle of his contributions.

Legatees and volunteers will be selling badges and other memorabilia at stalls across Caneland Central, Parkside Plaza, Marian, Proserpine and Sarina from August 27 to September 2.

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Centenarian, Order of Australia Medal recipient and former Legacy Mackay President Allan Quartermaine. Photo supplied

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From much-needed community facilities and retail projects to beautiful family homes and seaside abodes, the Master Builders Mackay & Whitsunday 2023 Housing & Construction Awards showed off craftsmanship and stylish detail in construction.

The best of the best in the building and construction industry were celebrated at the Awards held at the Mackay Convention Centre on Saturday, 12 August.

Fergus Builders dominated the Construction Awards, scooping a third of the awards on offer by taking out the Community Accommodation for Specialist Disability, Aged Care and Nursing Homes, Commercial/Industrial Building from $5 million up to $10 million and Commercial fitout up to $5 million categories. Fergus also won two Housing awards to take its grand total to five, winning the Display Home over $550,000 and Best Use of Steel Frame Housing categories.

Michelle Thompson from Porters Glass & Aluminium was awarded the Women in Building title.

Morris Constructions snapped up the prestigious House of the Year Award for the coastal luxury home, The Coral Sea House.

Paynters delivered a landmark project with the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay, winning them the McInnes Wilson Lawyers Project of the Year, as well as the Best Sporting Facility Award.

Dixon Homes took out the Individual Home from $500,000 up to $750,000 for its Sugarfield Residence in Ooralea.

Master Builders Mackay & Whitsunday Regional Manager, Malcolm Hull congratulated the winners across all 28 categories.

“The spirit of achievement, dedication and exceptional quality of workmanship has inspired our 2023 Housing & Construction Awards program – Shining Bright. This year's projects prove our members are truly innovative and dedicated to building the best for the region.

“This year’s field is diverse, from stunning renovations and beautiful new builds to important community facilities like the TAFE Agricultural Centre and Great Barrier Reef Arena – there’s really nothing Master Builders can’t accomplish.

“It doesn't matter whether they've taken an Award home this year or not. Each of our 2023 entrants is a part of the Master Builders family and helps cement why we're so widely trusted and respected," he said.

Major awards

BUSSQ Building Super President's Award – Lowcock Builders for Queens Bay Home (Bowen)

McInnes Wilson Lawyers Project of the Year – Paynters for Great Barrier Reef Arena (Mackay)

House of the Year – Morris Constructions QLD for The Coral Sea House (Airlie Beach)

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With Slew Of Awards

Building the dreams of clients is what has kept Fergus Builders going from strength to strength over their illustrious 40-year history.

Taking pride in designing and delivering high-quality new homes as well as commercial and industrial premises for Mackay and surrounding districts, Fergus Builders’ dedication was recognised at the recent Master Builders Housing & Construction Awards, receiving a massive five awards for the Mackay & Whitsunday regions.

Each accolade clearly highlights Fergus’ diverse capabilities on a wide variety of projects, whether it be display homes, community accommodation or industrial facilities.

A highlight of the evening came from receiving the Display Home over $550,000 award for ‘Palmview’, located in Beaconsfield.

The build was carefully designed to incorporate Accessible Housing requirements and Fergus is proud to showcase the final product.

‘Palmview’ is a homely, generously proportioned and positioned house, with the finishes of the display home proof that Fergus take pride in attention to detail and quality workmanship.

Fergus are frequent contributors to the patchwork of Mackay’s urban expanse, their craftmanship on the South Mackay Community Home project receiving Best Use of Steel Frame Housing and Community Accommodation for Specialist Disability, Aged Care and Nursing Homes awards.

The construction of the home adhered to strict guidelines for disability access that was inspected and approved at design, rough-in and final stages.

A unique challenge then came in the form of the Jaws Facility in Paget, for which Fergus was awarded the Commercial/Industrial Building from $5 million up to $10 million award.

Being over 18 meters from ground level to gutter height, the facility is now one of the highest industrial sheds in Paget.

The height coupled with the proximity of the building to rear and side boundaries meant Fergus Builders had to work closely with the neighbouring premises for access when installing wall sheeting and roof drainage to the factory but, with the support of local suppliers and trades, Fergus Builders were able to deliver this project on time and within the client’s budget.

Fergus’ versatility was again showcased through receiving the award for Commercial fit out up to $5 million.

The timeline of the project was critical to allow the client sufficient time to move out of their current premises and into the new office space by a fixed date.

Throughout the project, Fergus Builders were able to facilitate several design and material changes that allowed the project to be completed on time and offer cost savings to the client without taking away from the design intent of the project.

Fergus Builders has been part of the prestigious Master Builders Awards since 2008 and prove their versatility and dedication year on year.

Celebrating 40 years in 2023, Fergus Builders continually proves itself as a leader in providing buildings of high quality, innovative design, and superb value.

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Fergus Builders 2023 Mackay & Whitsunday Housing & Construction Awards

Display Home over $550,000 – Fergus Builders for Palmview (Mackay)

Best Use of Steel Frame Housing – Fergus Builders for South Mackay Community Home (Mackay)

Community Accommodation for Specialist Disability, Aged Care and Nursing Homes – Fergus Builders for South Mackay Community Home (Mackay)

Commercial/Industrial Building from $5 million up to $10 million – Fergus Builders for Jaws Industrial Facility (Paget)

Commercial fit out up to $5 million – Fergus Builders for Mackay Office Fit Out (Mackay)

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Fergus Builders received five awards at the recent Master Builders Mackay & Whitsunday Housing & Construction Awards

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Mackay Regional Council's free native plant program gives ratepayers the opportunity to add a native touch to their gardens with the ability to receive up to four free plants of their choice per year.

For those in a rural locality, it’s a good opportunity to get top value locally native plants for your creeklines and windbreak areas.

Simply come along to the Mackay Natural Environment Centre at 6 Swayne Street, North Mackay and bring your rate notice and a bag/box to take your plants home.

Open days:

Friday, August 25, 9am to 3pm

Saturday, August 26, 9am to 12pm

Extra plants can be purchased for $3 each (eftpos only) by ratepayers and non-ratepayers.

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2023 is already a year dotted with highlights for the Porters Group, as the local family-owned hardware business celebrates 140 years, and Michelle Thompson has just added to the rich tapestry of family history.

A member of the Porter family, Michelle is the Commercial Estimator in the Glass and Aluminium Division, and recently received the Women in Building Award at the Master Builders Mackay & Whitsunday Housing & Construction Awards.

“It’s a really nice honour to be recognised,” Michelle said.

“There are so many women coming through in this industry.

“It’s encouraging to see women in construction across various roles, so it’s really nice to be acknowledged for the part that I’m playing.”

Michelle’s role involves quoting new jobs and following them through the manufacturing stage all the way to installation.

With a willingness to grow and learn within the business, she has earnt the respect of her customers, colleagues, and industry professionals through a focus on building relationships and following things through to ensure positive outcomes.

Michelle’s role comes with variety, collaboration, and innovation, and she loves what she does.

“We can work on anything from day care centres to schools to retail, so no two jobs are the same,” Michelle said.

“Some are smaller, some are bigger, and we work with various different builders locally and from out of town.

“I don’t do my job on my own, I’ve got a really great team that I work with so that makes it easier to do my job.”

Find out more about the Porters Group at www.porterscando.com.au.

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Michelle Thompson received the Women in Building Award at the Master Builders Mackay & Whitsunday Housing & Construction Awards. Photo supplied

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Dixon Homes is very proud to receive the 2023 Master Builders Mackay & Whitsunday Housing & Construction Award for Best Individual Home from $500,000 up to $750,000. This award and our many other awards in previous years (including Best Display Home, Best Renovation, and other individual home category awards) is testimony to Dixon Homes’ ability to be versatile, on trend and accommodating.

Our team worked tirelessly with our client to design and create this truly beautiful custom designed home, focusing primarily on storage and space for a young family whose desire was to build their forever home. Particular attention was concentrated on materials and products that would have an everlasting appeal and durability. Most importantly, the home was designed to suit our Queensland climate, with the southward facing alfresco which opens up entirely through corner stacking doors to the internal living/kitchen/dining area. The high raked ceilings with fixed windows on the higher points allow plenty of natural light into the living space. Large openings to the bedroom wing of the home and to the media room add to the spacious outcome. There is definitely no shortage of storage throughout the home with large walk-in robes to the children’s bedrooms and massive his & hers robes for the master. The walk-in linen is a bonus along with storage both in media and the children’s retreat. The kitchen and butler’s pantry are what most women dream of with functionality, open to the living area, plenty of light and the centrepiece of the home. A perfect combination of Polytec Woodmatt finish, laminate and stone that are complimented by matt black trimmings.

Alpine Grigio Lappato Tiles were the durable choice of flooring in the entry and living areas with a cosier choice of carpet for the bedrooms and media. Allowing more light and maintaining the on trend look, this house welcomes you with a fully glazed aluminium front entry door.

Although a franchise, Dixon Homes are and have been a family owned and managed construction company in Mackay since 2003. We are proudly debt fee and are quality assured with ISO.9001:2015 management systems for home design and construction.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank Master Builders Queensland, the judges and all the Dixon Homes staff, subcontractors, and suppliers for helping us to achieve this award.

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Sugarfield Residence

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Oncology nurse and clinical trials coordinator Carli Shaw has cared for hundreds of people in our community during their cancer journeys.

She understands the physical toll the disease takes on not only patients but their families.

What she didn’t understand and wanted to know more about was the impact of what is commonly called ‘brain fog’ or ‘chemo brain’ so she has spent the past four years researching this hidden affliction.

“I’d see all the patients with ‘chemo fog’ and be hearing things like ‘I tell my kids the same things 15 times and now they don’t listen to me’,” Carli said.

“I posed the research question ‘How does cancer-related cognitive impairment after chemotherapy impact daily life?’”

Carli was recently recognised for her efforts, with her paper taking out a top award at the 25th Cancer Nurses Society of Australia (CNSA) Annual Congress in Adelaide in June.

Her research involved interviews with participants from across Australia.

“Cancer patients are trying to figure out who they are, after this shock,” Carli said.

“As a normal individual before cancer, you know who you are.

“Then cancer comes in and you’ve instantly got this brand-new identity that knows nothing.”

While forgetfulness was one of the effects of brain fog, it was just one part of the story.

“Participants have said that they're now the child and their kids are the parents,” Carli said.

“They’re spoken down to because they’re forgetting or getting mixed up with appointments and things.

“Nearly everybody described needing to change their profession or change roles within their profession because they think they couldn’t cope with the cognitive load going back to work.

“And because it's an invisible symptom, they felt the need to justify it or wondering whether they're making it up.

“And it's not something we can do a test on and say yes, this is what it is.”

Though there’s no consensus on what causes ‘brain fog’ Carli said that seeking to recognise and understand the issue was beneficial.

“I thought it was going to be really easy to answer,” Carli said.

“Although this is known, it’s a new area of study and I think it’s the formalisation of what is happening for patients.

“Every participant thanked me for being able to share their story. Quite a few said it had been really cathartic.

“I found it really challenging to hear some of these stories.”

The next step for Carli is to complete her doctorate on the subject and produce a 100,000-word thesis.

“Essentially it will be a case of now here’s the problem, how do we fix it?” Carli said.

Carli was also nominated for a People’s Choice award at the recent Mackay HHS staff recognition event.

Contributed by Mackay Hospital and Health Service.

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Carli Shaw has been recognised for standout chemotherapy research

Carli has completed hundreds of interviews with cancer patients, to tackle ‘chemo brain’. Photos supplied

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Pioneer Valley’s longest-established educational institution Eton State School celebrated its 140th anniversary in style last weekend, demonstrating that while it may be small in size, it’s big in heart and heritage.

A large gathering of 250 including former pupils from bygone eras and their families flocked to the historic landmark to mark the school’s important milestone.

Visitors basked in the brilliant winter’s sunshine as they took a trip down memory lane – enjoying a school tour, time capsule, performances from current pupils, a fascinating memorabilia room display, cake cutting and delicious afternoon tea and dinner.

Cake cutting featured members of the Burgess and Sutton families who can boast five generations at the school.

Samuel Levi Edward Sutton – known as Ted – was a pupil in the original Eton State School class followed by Edward Thomas ‘Eddie’ Sutton; Leslie Robert ‘Bob’ Sutton; Emily Jane Lette; Sienna Jane Lette and Maggie Jade Lette.

The Burgess family features Madeline Butt (nee Larson), Iris Frease, Margaret Burgess, Nathan Burgess, Justin Burgess, Heath Burgess, Owen Burgess and Rylen Burgess.

Eton State School opened on August 20 back in 1883 with an enrolment of fifty students.

Through the years, the school has remained on the same site.

The school stands as part of a family orientated community with strong beliefs in the role and purpose of education that the school has provided to many students over the years.

It is evident that the community holds the school in high regard with generation after generation of families attending for an education rich in old school values and academic results.

Currently the school has 24 pupils.

Last Saturday’s event proved a resounding success – thanks to the tireless work behind the scenes of a highly efficient organising committee led by School Principal Noel Reynolds, P & C president Shane Cook, treasurer Ellen Cook, Claire Cook, Emily Lette, Kate Mann, Kay Thornton, Ronda Williamson, Margaret Burgess, Joan Ruffell, Ann Lutz and Tamara Cole.

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Photo credit: Chris Karas

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This sounds like a cliché, but I reckon Father’s Day is every day. I love having kids and being a dad.

Sure, at times they give me the “you know whats”, I wish they would stay away from screens more, and actually listen better … or at all.

Being a dad gives you the excuse of being able to make funny noises and blame it on pets and other people. You can pull a jumper over your head and tell the kids they can’t see you – other dumb stuff like that, just to make your little people laugh.

Moving towards teen years as we currently are, is providing challenges though, the access to online games, purchasing a Nintendo, and YouTube channels have taken over our lives. Switch them off for a few hours and the kids go crazy, but when you tell them 18 months ago you had no Nintendo or laptop, and you managed to find something to do, they seem to forget those days.

And parents, just wondering, is anyone else not a huge fan of pretty much all school work and homework being computer based?

It’s so easy for the kids to have another tab open, that when you walk away, for another window to be opened up, and instead of doing their English homework they’re actually watching Mr Beast give away hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Whatever you do for Father’s Day, whether it’s breakfast in bed, a BBQ, fishing in the boat or just mowing the lawn so you get time to yourself, make sure you enjoy it.

Scotty

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Catch the Star breakfast show - Scotty and Rach with Kaley - from 5am, Daytimes with Johnny, Will & Woody from 5pm and the Kyle and Jackie-o Hour of Power from 7pm every weekday!

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Revitalising Waterways Through Community Action

The Sarina community has banded together to support revitalisation and regeneration of two beloved beaches, as part of protection for the Great Barrier Reef plan.

Off the back of 10 community-led prompts detailed by the Mackay Whitsunday Isaac Reef Community Action Plan (CAP), the Sarina Landcare Catchment Management Association (SLCMA) has held a coastal rehabilitation project, calling for volunteers and locals to help out.

Working to revitalise and rejuvenate the Sarina Coast, the event saw improvement of ground conditions and prompted resilience at Carmila and Grasstree beaches.

SLCMA Coordinator Saskia von Fahland said it was great to see the CAP process come to fruition and lead to meaningful activities being undertaken in the catchment.

“Our local CAP project was a great opportunity to undertake a range of on-ground activities at local beaches and engage with the local community to raise awareness of the importance of having a healthy, resilient coastal zone, as the interface to the marine environment,” Ms von Fahland said.

Alongside volunteers and local residents, SLCMA planted 300 trees, removed an excess of 90 kilograms of invasive plants, and discovered and removed 55 kilograms of marine debris.

The Mackay Whitsunday Isaac Reef Community Action Plan was developed by Reef Catchments, to empower communities to come together and conserve and protect the Great Barrier Reef.

The top main priorities of the plan are climate change, litter and waste, revegetation, and water quality.

Of the 10 strategies outlined in the plan, only two of the strategies have evolved to on-ground projects.

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Grasstree Beach community beach clean-up. Photo credit: Sarina Landcare Catchment Management Association

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Those readers under a certain age will not have heard of a movie called Cool Hand Luke. Some of you might not have heard of its lead actor, Paul Newman, which is a shame because the film and the actor are worth seeing.

For those not in the know, Paul Newman was a superstar and fine actor who looked a bit like me except he had more hair, piercing blue eyes, a chiselled chin, a slim athletic build, a smile that women would swoon over and a natural charm and charisma that meant women wanted him, and men wanted to be him.

Cool Hand Luke was set in a Florida prison that was a statement in brutality and punishment and the key theme was the defiance of Luke, played by Newman.

There are several excellent scenes; I watched the film on TV as a teenager and I quite enjoyed the car washing scene involving the prison governor’s daughter.

And there is a scene where the prison governor hits and prepares to punish rebellious Luke.

In the scene he says: “What we’ve got here is failure to communicate.”

The line became part of the lexicon of the 1970s and 1980s and if there was a mix-up over something someone might say, “what we’ve got here is failure to communicate.”

In real estate, communication is everything, but it comes in many forms. How I communicate with clients is largely determined by what they prefer.

Often someone’s age is the key determinant. It is stating the bleeding obvious that people in their 20s and early 30s generally prefer texting. Other clients are happy with the occasional text but prefer important conversations to be verbal, which is what I like.

I have an older client who doesn’t have a mobile phone so the only way I can contact him is on his landline. He lives in a fairly big house and his hearing isn’t fantastic so sometimes he doesn’t hear the phone. I used to leave a message on his answering machine but he doesn’t know how to retrieve the messages … or, perhaps he just doesn’t want to bother with it.

So now, when he doesn’t answer the phone I set aside a bit of time later in the day and drop around and see him. He lives near me so if he isn’t home when I swing by I go back later in the day when I am home.

It means that we plan the upcoming sale of his house face to face. We chat about other things as well but the time is spent productively moving things forward.

When the property goes on the market I will no doubt be dropping around to discuss feedback from buyers and any offers we get. We’ll be doing it face to face.

In a world where everything has been changed by technology it is crucial that an agent works out what the client wants and that what we have is never a failure to communicate.

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OPINION PIECE

Did you know that Pine islet Lighthouse, located at the Mackay Marina, was the last kerosene illuminated lighthouse in Australia?

The lighthouse was previously situated on Pine Islet in the Percy Group of islands, south-east of Mackay. The tower structure and keepers’ quarters were prefabricated in Brisbane before being shipped to the island in October 1884. Iron cladding for the lighthouse was brought from Britain.

The lighthouse apparatus is a second-order Chance Brothers lantern and dioptric lens rotating on a chariot wheel pedestal. The structure is one of the eight Queensland iron clad prefabricated hardwood towers of the late nineteenth century. The original lamp was an oil wick burner.

In 1923 the light source was converted from oil wick to an incandescent kerosene vapour burner. This kerosene burner was upgraded in 1934, with the installation of a refurbished unit from North Reef. After 104 years of service, the lighthouse was replaced by a fully automatic solar-powered light in 1985, before being dismantled and put into storage in 1986.

In 1989, after much lobbying, the lighthouse and apparatus were loaned to the Pine Islet Lighthouse Preservation Society for reconstruction, mainly by volunteers. Reconstruction started on 18th August 1989, and the lighthouse was restored to fully functional status in late 1995, making it the last operational kerosene light in the world. It was formally opened on 20th January 1996. While the lighthouse is not currently in operating condition, plans are underway to again restore the light to allow its operation.

We are a small but dedicated group of volunteers working diligently to undertake repairs and maintenance on the lighthouse. We have recently had a Conservation Management Plan prepared by heritage consultants, with funding generously provided by North Queensland Bulk Ports. This document will guide future work, in addition to a 3D scan, to be completed by Key Solutions Group.

If you’d like to get involved, or you have a story related to the lighthouse, we’d love to hear from you. You can find us on Facebook – Pine Islet Lighthouse Mackay – or get in touch with me on 0412 421 451, or email cr.belinda.hassan@mackay.qld.gov.au.

Cr Belinda Hassan

Mackay Regional Council

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Pine Islet Lighthouse at the Mackay Marina. Photo credit: Kendyle Bryan

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Hi Everyone,

My mum is a bit of a conspiracy theorist. She was enthralled by the recent investigative book on the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines doomed 370 flight and regaled me with the theory that different governments knew about a package onboard and shot down the plane.

She is also a bit of a COVID sceptic and says that, if it was up to her, she would never agree to having a vaccine in her life. Despite this, she dutifully heads to the doctors each year for a flu jab and a COVID booster.

I like listening to her theories but am more a believer in the power of good than I am in corruption so prefer to be open to the debate until the facts prove otherwise.

Despite being happy to sit on the fence with these sorts of issues, I am a staunch advocate for the right to express our views openly and unapologetically, without the fear of discrimination.

And this is one of the reasons I love living in Australia – we are a young country with a fierce spirit and a largely accepting disposition.

Believing this, I was a little surprised when information about the ‘Forest of the Fallen’ (read on page 6) silent protest was removed from one of our local community chat pages within an hour of it being posted.

The protest showed photos of people who are believed to have died or been injured following a COVID vaccination.

Whether or not this information is 100 per cent accurate, I believe it still deserves a place in our narrative and the people behind such movements have a right to be heard.

While the government are able to promote the merit of vaccinations surely pro-choice groups such as the ones holding this protest ought to be given an open platform as well.

Rach

Quote of the Week: “Upon waking in the morning, consider the privilege it is to be alive, to have the ability to think, to experience joy and to feel love” (Marcus Aurelius)

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