The local housing crisis has just been granted a small reprieve following the announcement by the State Government this week that $660,000 has been allocated to Whitsunday Housing Company.

The financial support will contribute to mobile and outreach services, including emergency housing and assisting people with tenancy issues.

“While we deliver more social homes in places like Cannonvale, we’re establishing a dedicated homelessness service in the Whitsundays to give people immediate support,” said Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon.

“Previously, people in the community who needed help had to link in with services based Mackay – no longer will they have to do that.

“Whitsunday Housing Company already does a great job in the community, and this additional funding will expand on the work they and the Department of Housing do to help locals in need.”

Member of Whitsundays, Amanda Camm welcomes the assistance, saying there had been a sharp increase in the number of people across the region requiring emergency housing and crisis support due to increases in cost of living and housing market pressures.

“This announcement really is a win for all our local organisations including the Whitsunday Neighbourhood Centre, Proserpine Community Centre, Whitsunday Counselling and Support, who are on the front-line day in day out and have been seeing an increase in the number of people each day requiring crisis support and having nowhere in the Whitsunday area to refer them to,” Ms Camm said.

Joanna Moynihan, Chief Operating Officer of Whitsunday Housing Company is very excited for the support.

“This is funding that our region was lacking. The earlier allotment of $4.4 million was largely utilised by the Mackay organisation. It’s a long way to travel to Mackay to access these services, so it’s great to be able to have them available here.”

By early December, residents of Airlie Beach, Cannonvale, the Islands and Proserpine can expect to access this support.

Bowen State High School has welcomed their four new student captains, who are each confident and dedicated students prepared and eager to take on the responsibility of Student Leadership in their final year of high school education.

Jack Homewood’s motivation for taking on the role as School Captain is to refresh the school spirit and encourage more peer participation and community spirit.

“I’ve always looked up to the leaders in the past, and I thought it’d be awesome to become a captain. I want to try and bring back the school spirit, like bring back lunchtime sports and bring back community events.”

For Ryland Gaffney, he always knew that student leadership was something he wished to pursue.

“I’ve always done leadership stuff, like sports captain in Primary school, and I was a Year 10 Student Leader, and this year, in Year 11, I was Kennedy Vice Captain. This was also a great opportunity to give back to the school. But my sister went through this year, and I wanted to one-up her, so that was that!”

Alyssa Hardy believes that being a student leader, you are able to make real change.

“When you’re a leader, people actually listen to you, and I want to make a difference, and get more kids involved in school and with what’s going on at school.”

Skye Kennedy’s motivation stems from her belief and passion in the school.

“We want to make a difference, build the school and the students, bring back a good school spirit, where kids want to come to school.”

Bowen State High School Principal Robert Harris is excited with the drive of these students.

“Our 2024 student leadership team bring a diverse range of skills, leadership qualities and interests to achieve great things at Bowen High in 2024. Their collective enthusiasm, willingness to be involved in community events and support for their peers makes them great role models for our school and local community.”

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Jack Homewood, Alyssa Hardy, Skye Kennedy, and Ryland Gaffney. Photo supplied

The $2 million Aquaculture Centre for Excellence at Whitsunday TAFE has been officially opened.

The facility is state-of-the-art and is set to offer a variety of certificate qualifications to support the aquaculture industry, including fish farming, hatchery, and pond management.

Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Furner attended the official opening and said: “It was fantastic to be on site to officially open the TAFE Aquaculture Centre of Excellence in Airlie Beach.”

“This is such an exciting opportunity for young people to launch their careers in aquaculture or for other students to change their careers completely. This state-of-the-art centre will keep us on track to meet our growing workforce needs and will see the industry continue to make a significant and positive contribution to regional development,” Mr Furner MP said.

“I look forward to seeing the region continue to grow thanks to exciting and emerging industries such as aquaculture.”

The Centre has already begun training, with students enrolling in Aquaculture Essentials Program, Aquatic Technologies Skill Set and Certificate II in Aquaculture.

Minister for Training and Skills Development Di Farmer said the high-quality facilities at the Aquaculture Centre of Excellence are matched with high-quality training and TAFE Queensland will offer a variety of skill sets and qualifications.

“The Good people. Good jobs. Queensland Workforce Strategy 2022-2032 aims to create a skilled workforce ready to seize today’s jobs and embrace new opportunities.

“The Aquaculture Centre of Excellence at Whitsunday is doing just that for this exciting and fast-growing industry.”

“The Aquaculture Centre of Excellence is great news for students and a highly skilled workforce is great news for local employers and for our region,” said Member for Mackay Julieanne Gilbert MP.

“This upgrade is the latest investment in TAFE facilities across the region, and includes the $3.4 million Agriculture Centre of Excellence, a $200,000 collaborative learning centre at the Bowen TAFE campus and a $250,000 collaborative learning centre here at Whitsunday.”

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The official opening of the new Aquaculture Centre for Excellence at Whitsunday TAFE set an exciting precedent for students. Photo supplied

A staggering $12,507 has been raised for Whitsunday Housing Company’s (WHCL) Tiny Homes Project, through the BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort’s annual Camp and sCare charity event.

Seeing over 1,000 children and their families visit the event, and take part in the free entertainment, including park water slides, animal feeding and Halloween themed movies.

WHCL’s Tiny Homes Project Fundraising Coordinator, Sandy Clark, expressed her gratitude to the community for their support.

“Thank you to everyone who has supported the Tiny Homes Project and construction of four tiny homes for homeless women in the Whitsundays through BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort’s Camp and sCare charity event,” she said.

“Over $12,000 is such a generous donation, which comes at a very important time for us, having nearly reached our overall $700,000 target, ultimately bringing us closer to commencing our build and helping vulnerable women in our local community.”

Tanya Cran, Big4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort’s Marketing Manager is proud of the monies raised.

“We always have great support, not only from the local residents and visitors who attend this event, but from our local friends and partners,” Tanya said.

“We must also make a special mention and pass on a big thanks to Woolworths Cannonvale who donated the sausages and bread, BIG W Cannonvale for 1,000 glow sticks and to local operators and businesses, including Ocean Rafting, Cruise Whitsundays, Fishi Fresh Island Seafood and Intuitive Massage, who all supplied raffle prizes.”

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Halloween scares, raising funds to combat homelessness in the region. Photo supplied

Membership – This year the Chamber has substantially revamped its membership model in response to extensive feedback and a desire to better tailor packages to meet individual business needs. The Chamber is far stronger this year than at any other time of recent – we have merged with Proserpine Chamber, we have a new name, a new board, new constitution, new strategic plan and are powering ahead on several fronts.

Whether you are in Tourism, Retail, Services, or trade – if you are in business – you should be a member. The more members, the stronger we are and the better we can represent local businesses. Visit our website to view membership options and renew or join.

Advocacy – Gus Walsgott presented for The Chamber at the Queensland Government's Mackay Isaac Whitsundays Regional Forum welcome dinner on Sunday evening. With key Queensland Cabinet ministers and departmental advisors in attendance as well as local dignitaries, it was an opportunity to highlight the ten-point advocacy plan based on regional business priorities. As acknowledged by Julieanne Gilbert MP, Chambers of Commerce play an important role as a resource and source of expertise across all levels of government. We look forward to working closely with the Regional Forum over the next 2-year cycle to ensure that business concerns are heard.

Vision for the Whitsundays – The focus group phase of our Vision for the Whitsundays project has come to an end. It has been a great exercise engaging the business community in crafting a view of our economic future. The conversations have been rich and diverse, drawing on the perspectives of our young people and community elders, explored possibilities on sustainability and resilience, arts and culture, innovation, and technology to identify drivers of economic growth unique to our region. We will be sharing some preliminary findings by the end of the year. There is still time to have your say by providing a formal submission or completing a quick online survey which must close 1 December.

Next Events – We will be hosting our final Pop-Up Chamber for 2023 from 7:30am Wednesday 29 November in Proserpine in conjunction with Fresh Fields News and Hummingbird Refrigeration. Come on down and meet the Chamber team, other business owners, and grab a coffee to start your day. Additionally, we have joined forces with Tourism Whitsundays for the ultimate end of year celebration for the Whitsundays business community, from 6:00pm Thursday 30 November 2023 at the Reef Gateway Hotel, Cannonvale.

The Whitsundays is now richer in its tourism offering thanks to the hard work and dedication of seven representatives from the industry who have recently achieved their Master Reef Guide status.

A big moment for both the individuals and the high standard tourism operators they work for, this Master Reef Guide cohort represents the fifth year of the initiative which sees tourism professionals reach exceptional standards in both knowledge and product delivery.

“This is the seventh cohort and to celebrate our fifth year we decided to go back to where it all began, Lady Elliot Island,” said Master Reef Guide Project Manager, Crystal Lacey.

“Master Reef Guides enhance the education and storytelling for guest experience throughout the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

“The course also provides a platform for not only the Master Reef Guides but the operators to have access to world leading scientists and experts in their field.”

There were 42 applicants for this round and 21 lucky individuals were selected.

There are now 123 Master Reef Guides in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and 35 mentors who share information and knowledge with the guides.

The five-day course on Lady Elliot Island included a strong in-water component and also a collaboration with Professor Sean Ulm who ensured there is a very strong Indigenous Culture knowledgebase within the Master Reef Guide Training.

Staff from the following local businesses were successful in becoming Master Reef Guides: Ocean Rafting, Red Cat Adventures, Explore Group, Summertime, Providence Sailing and Cruise Whitsundays all completed course.

Congratulations to everyone involved.

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Heath Robertson from Ocean Rafting, Grant Lewis from Providence Sailing, Benny Howard from Ocean Rafting/Ocean Safari, Ka Lai Long (Carlos) from Cruise Whitsundays (Reef Safari), Nathalie Hartman from Denison Star Pty Ltd T/A Explore Group, Scotty Bowen from Red Cat Adventures and Brad Shultz from Summertime Whitsundays. Photo supplied.

The Proserpine Sugar Mill saw an influx of retired and former employees last week, with the annual Mill Reunion organised and hosted at the Mill Social Club.

Seeing over 30 former employees gather at the club, the luncheon acts as a reconnection for many of the attendees, a celebration of years’ past, an excuse to come together and share stories.

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Ron Read and his loyal helpers

Sugar Mill ladies came too

Ron Read with the 25-anniversary cake

Mill staff came to the reunion to tell the retirees about recent progress

Some of the older retirees

Younger former employees came too

Mates catching up for a chat at the bar. Photo credit: Pam Pole

On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month

We will remember them …

On August 18 this year, the 50th anniversary of the end of Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War, the nation paused to formally recall and salute the service of the men and women in this campaign.  

Over eleven years in Vietnam, whether volunteers or conscripted, our service personnel “performed magnificently”. In that time, 523 Australians lost their lives and more than 3000 were wounded or injured to some degree, more than 60 000 Australians served there, and an unknown number were to some degree traumatised by their service in Vietnam. Only about 35,000 now remain and, apart from a very few from earlier conflicts, Vietnam veterans are now the doyens of our veterans’ community, venerable and respected. (Sir Peter Cosgrove “The Sunday Mail” August 13, 2023)

So, on this Remembrance Day, it is fitting to acknowledge those from our district who fought in this conflict and to thank them for their service. Young men from Proserpine who served in Vietnam were Peter Roberts, Ian Lade, Barry Parnell, Jeffrey Korn, Les Stevenson and Kevin Bluck.

On May 29, 1965, Peter Roberts, a 20-year-old private in the 1st Battalion 1RAR which comprised of regular soldiers, was on HMAS “Sydney” as it left for Vietnam. He had been in the army for only 19 months. Upon arrival, 1RAR became part of the 173rd Airborne Brigade (American). Peter served in Vietnam from May 27 1965 until June 1 1966 before returning home. After 18 months service in Malaysia as Corporal in 8RAR, he returned to Vietnam as a section commander. When a good mate was killed, Peter was promoted to sergeant which he acknowledges was an added weight to bear. On his second tour of duty, Sergeant Peter Roberts served from November 18 1969 until November 12 1970. Peter was the founding member of the RSL Sub Branch of Airlie Beach and is currently President of Legacy in Proserpine and has worked tirelessly for the organisation for many years.

Private Les Stevenson (1st Australian Reinforcement Unit) enlisted on September 29 1965, choosing not to wait to see if his name would be among those called up. Following enlistment, he completed 3 months training at Kapooka before being posted to the newly formed 7th Battalion RAR based at Puckapunyal. He was deployed on February 5 1967 to the Reinforcement Unit (1ARU) at Nui Dat for special service. On completion of his tour of duty, Les returned to Australia and was discharged on September 28 1967.

A National Service call-up saw friends, Jeff Korn, Ian Lade and Barry Parnell complete basic training at Singleton. Jeff and Ian were transported to Townsville’s 6th Battalion – Ian to Alpha Company and Jeff to Delta Company, the same company that fought the Battle of Long Tan 3 years earlier. Sapper Barry Parnell joined the Royal Australian Engineers in the 1st Field Squadron at a different base. He was the first of the 3 friends to be deployed and served in Vietnam from December 2 1968 to December 10 1969.

In May 1969, Lance Corporal Jeff Korn and Private Ian Lade were shipped to Vietnam on HMAS “Sydney”, a voyage which made the 6th Battalion the first to leave Townsville since WW2. Being that it was also the 13th trip to South Vietnam with troops for HMAS “Sydney”, rumours abounded aboard the “Sydney” that it would sink on that trip. Thankfully it didn’t. Jeff and Ian both served in Vietnam until April 2 1970.

As a soldier in Delta Company 6RAR, Jeff Korn was part of the Long Tan dedication held in 1969 in Vietnam when a cross was erected at the battle site. Upon his return to Australia, he was heavily involved in the RSL and mastermind of the replica of the Long Tan Memorial Cross erected on Bribie Island. The Long Tan Memorial Cross is now the most widely recognised object of Australia’s Vietnam War heritage. On Ian Lade’s return to Proserpine, he held the positions of secretary and treasurer of the RSL Sub Branch for over 30 years and more than 20 years consecutive service as the RSL Club President.

Private Kevin Bluck served in the 3rd Battalion RAR from February 15 1971 until October 13 1971. Maurice Beasley, a Bowenite, was called up at the same time as Jeff, Ian and Barry. He had been working as a sugar chemist at the Proserpine Sugar Mill at that time and travelled with them to Singleton for training. (Temp) Corporal Maurice Beasley was a section commander 8 RAR and served in Vietnam from November 17 1969 to October 1 1970.  

We thank them for their service.

Lest we forget.

(Story courtesy Proserpine Historical Museum. Photo of Long Tan Memorial Cross sourced from Bribie Island Vietnam Veterans’ Association Facebook page).

Bowen Tourism and Business celebrated success and enjoyed a night of networking last week after the Annual General Meeting of the organisation.

More than 50 people gathered at Euro Fusion Café and the North Queensland Cruising Yacht Club in Bowen for the AGM where the same committee was re-elected for another year.

Jenn Honnery is entering her sixth year as chair of the organisation and reported that the past 12 months had been a great year as the team of staff and volunteers had welcomed a record number of visitors, sold a record number of sorbets, and reported record merchandise sales.

She said this meant the organisation was in a strong financial position and had been able to invest more funds onto marketing Bowen as a destination.

She said the Big Mango’s 21st birthday was a major highlight of the year.

Jenn thanked the entire team for their hard work and dedication and thanked the Whitsunday Regional Council and Tourism Whitsundays for their support.

The other committee members are Chloe Bauer (Bird’s Fish Bar), Natalie Lydom (Palm View Apartments), Michelle O’Regan (Stackelroth Farms and Bowen PCYC), Leah Darwen (Adits), Karen Morton (Morton Insurance Services) Peter Greer (Queens Beach Tourist Village), Ash-Leigh Martin (Marto’s Mangoes) and Rick Hamilton (Tourism Whitsundays invited representative).

The Whitsunday Regional Council representative is Cr Michelle Wright.

Manager Leanne Abernethy paid tribute to the entire team, including the 18 volunteers, and said she was proud to lead the organisation.

“I love working for Bowen Tourism and Business, I love the team and I love that we are part of the greater Whitsunday region,” she said.

Event and Community Sponsorship Officer with Whitsunday Regional Council

This week we meet our energetic Eveready bunny Hayley Borg who is Whitsunday Regional Council’s Events and Community Sponsorship Officer.

Prior to relocating to Airlie Beach and starting her role with Council in 2021, Hayley was the Visitor Services and Events Coordinator at the Early Start Discovery Space (ESDS) within the University of Wollongong. The ESDS is Australia’s first children’s museum and attracts more than 120,000 visitors per year.

Hayley was involved in many varieties of events throughout her 8 years in Wollongong running many events like Speaker Series talks with Academics, Alumni, Student Open Days, VIP visitors to the University (including The Governor General and Federal Members of Parliament), Destination Wollongong networking events and many community and family events showcasing the University campus and ESDS.

This experience has stood her in good stead for her current role with Council where she is responsible for coordinating internal and external events and sponsorship requests from the Whitsunday community.

Currently Hayley is coordinating the Whitsunday region’s upcoming Christmas, New Years Eve and Australia Day community events and also focusing on the Mayor’s Festive Food Appeal. This is something Council are proud to be involved with as the cost of living and housing crisis is very challenging for many families.

Hayley said seeing the enjoyment on people’s faces when they can spend quality time together at community events is what motivates her to strive to do the best in her role.

“The Whitsundays is a beautiful place to live, and our community really takes pride in our region,” she said.

“The highlight for me this year was helping organise the Mayor’s Charity Ball at the Shute Harbour Marine Terminal for almost 300 guests.

“The Charity Ball returned in 2023 after a three-year break due to the Covid-19 pandemic and a record amount was raised and donated to chosen regional charities, RACQ CQ Rescue and the Whitsunday Housing Company Limited,” Hayley said.

“We have a great team in Community Services with many of my experienced colleagues going above and beyond, often at short notice, to organise community events. “

A qualified personal trainer Hayley loves spending time outdoors with her family and dog Daisy. Otherwise, you’ll find her at F45 Airlie Beach nearly every day of the week!

With Mayor Julie Hall

The increased temperatures of our warmer months bring with them a surge in rodent numbers and activity throughout the region.

The Whitsundays is home to around five native and non-native rodent species. Whilst rodents are part of our natural environment, issues can arise when their population numbers increase above normal levels.

All rodents pose a public health risk as they are capable of transmitting diseases to humans, such as Salmonellosis and Leptospirosis. They do this by contaminating food with fur, droppings, and urine, resulting in food spoilage and poisoning. Rodents can also spread fleas or ticks which can harm pets and humans and can also damage electrical wiring around your home, leading to hefty electrical bills and even house fires!

To protect your home from rodents there are several steps you can take, including: removing water sources, maintaining vegetation around your property, removing green waste and litter from your property, sealing, and covering holes or gaps in exterior walls, engaging a pest control service at least once a year and making sure all drains are covered with a plug or grate.

For more information or to discuss a particular rodent situation, please contact Council's Environmental heath team on 1300 972 753.

As we get closer to Christmas it is important to remember those in the community that are struggling financially this year and are unable to celebrate the festive season in the way that they would wish.

Tourism Whitsundays and Whitsunday Chamber of Commerce and Industry are acknowledging this struggle and taking the initiative to contribute to the solution by holding a silent charity auction.

They have approached 15 of their most valued members who have kindly donated a range of incredible experiences that will now be auctioned off via the online charity auction.

Prizes include a Reef Sleep with Cruise Whitsundays, a Hamilton Island Holiday at Reef View Hotel, and a stay at Palm Bay Resort on Long Island.

Members of the community are encouraged to jump online and snap up a bargain, with all proceeds donated to Whitsunday Neighbourhood Centre’s Adopt A Family Appeal.

“We love giving back to the local community,” said Rick Hamilton, CEO of Tourism Whitsundays.

“We always want to do what we can for the community, it is where we live and where we work, and everyone deserves to have a happy Christmas.”

The silent auction is running until November 28, when the bidding period will be finalised, and the highest bidder will be awarded the prize.

“Thank you to all our members who contributed a prize, the silent auction is a wonderful opportunity to give back and think of others this festive season,” said Rick.

“We have already raised almost $3,000, but there still some amazing deals to scoop up – so follow this QR code and place a bid!”

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A Cruise Whitsundays’ Reef Sleep is one of 15 incredible prizes up for grabs. Photo supplied

Alcohol And Drug Information Sessions

Become informed and equipped to best engage with family members and loved ones who are facing alcohol and drugs substance use issues.

Be educated on how to set healthy boundaries and how to keep them, how to navigate alcohol and drug rehabilitation treatment facilities, and how to best support a family member or loved one through the process.

Facilitated by Breakthrough for Families QLD, the session will share why people use alcohol and drugs and help identify behaviours associated with relapse and substance use.

WHAT: Community Information Sessions on Alcohol and Drugs

WHERE: Endeavour Room, Whitsunday Neighbourhood Centre

WHEN: Tuesday November 28, from 10.30am

REGISTER: Please contact Family Support Facilitator, Barb Hill, via barbarah@drugarm.com.au, or 0448 255 487

Backing A New Generation Of Skippers

As owner of three of the Mackay-Whitsunday region’s top tourism businesses, Asher Telford is used to innovating through challenges, his latest leading him to initiate a unique solution for industry-wide staff shortages, while also creating career pathways for local youth.

Last Friday, October 29, a total of 31 Grade 11 and 12 students from 10 schools between Calen and Sarina, completed their last practical session in a year-long specially tailored ‘Coxswain’ course, aboard Mr Telford’s state-of-the-art vessel and nationally acclaimed tourism product, ‘Wildcat Mackay’.

Officially part of the Queensland Government’s Vocational Education and Training in Schools (VETiS) program, enabling students to gain nationally recognised qualifications while still at school, the course has also been delivered in partnership with the Whitsunday Maritime Training Centre (WMTC).

Across the year’s four school terms, WMTC trainers have travelled from Airlie Beach to Mackay each week, to deliver classroom training in venues provided by the Resources Centre for Excellence, Volunteer Marine Rescue Mackay and North Queensland Bulk Ports.

Additionally, for two days each term, and in many cases across weekends and school holidays throughout the year, students have been privileged to access valuable practical training and work experience aboard both Wildcat Mackay and other working vessels in the Airlie Beach-based Red Cat Adventures fleet.

Sailing Toward Success
Local Students Complete Coxswain Course

With achieving the required sea-time for a Coxswain licence often proving the stumbling block for students who have otherwise successfully completed classroom components, Mr Telford said he hoped this approach would deliver real results.

“I wanted to see these students trained in real life situations on real working boats, not just in a classroom setting and then dropped into the industry,” he said.

“I also wanted to show our region’s young people that the maritime industry is up there with the mines as a satisfying career path; this is a profession where Australians are very highly regarded worldwide, so they’re effectively opening up opportunities to travel the world by gaining a global skillset.”

WMTC Training Coordinator, Deb Duggan, said students had completed a number of quite difficult subjects, particularly for those new to boats, including coastal navigation, seamanship and vessel handling, collision regulations, legislation, and engineering, as well as separate ‘Shipboard Safety’ training, where they learned to launch life rafts, light emergency flares, fight fires, and practise in-water survival skills.  

“The students have had a fantastic, sometimes challenging year, and it has been awesome to watch them grow and gain confidence on the water,” she said.

“I am really proud of what they’ve achieved and look forward to seeing them turn their new-found knowledge into meaningful careers.”

Sarina State High School Deputy Principal, Matt Allen, said the initiative had given participating students “the opportunity and experience of a lifetime”.

“Honestly, I can’t think of anywhere else that would engage multiple agencies so effectively to provide school students such a leg up into this industry with these real-life training opportunities,” he said.

Mr Telford said none of this would have been possible without the support of the Queensland Government’s Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning, and access to the VETiS program, through which students were subsidised for the theory and practical assessment components of the course.

“When I came up with this idea staff levels were critical – not just for us, but across the region,” he explained.

“At the same time, we were facing a housing crisis, so even if skippers applied for our jobs, they were typically from out-of-town and couldn’t find accommodation.

“Meanwhile we had local school students asking for work experience; my thoughts were: ‘well the local kids are here, they’re already embedded in the community, all they need is the training and opportunities to work in their own slice of paradise’.

“The housing crisis wasn’t going to be fixed in one year, but maybe in that time we could address the crew crisis instead, and there was a government body out there who could help.”

Tourism Mackay Chief Executive Officer, Al Grundy, commended all involved in the initiative saying each had played a part in future-proofing the local marine and tourism industries.

“It is wonderful to see these local students given an opportunity to enter such an exciting industry – congratulations to everyone involved,” Mr Grundy said.

For more information, visit www.wildcatmackay.com.au  

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Onboard Mackay’s ‘Wildcat’, Al Grundy - Mackay Isaac Tourism, Asher Telford, Richard Roberts and Sam Bloor - Wildcat Mackay, Deb Duggan - Whitsunday Marine Training Centre with students -  Max Klosterman, Ryan Meads, Blake Pullen, Baley Allen, Cooper Stuckey, Isabelle Halliwell, Samual Docherty, Daniel Harris, Corbin Schultz, Nikolas Lampe, Caleb Robertson, Jackson Payne, Sam Patroni, Sam Gutsell, Haydee Brice, Jasmina Zec, Chloe Hogan, Dakota Cooper-Rose, Nathan Stephens, Owen Norton, CJ Henry, Nicolas Cheesman, Jaezel Querro, Lee Rennie, Ky Barker

Students learning to light flares

Asher Telford, Caleb Robertson and Isabelle Halliwell

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RACQ CQ Rescue assisted Queensland Police with a search for a missing light aircraft near Finch Hatton last weekend on Saturday, 28th October.

Mackay Police reported that just before 9am, police were contacted by a local community member alerting officers to the crash.

The helicopter crew were tasked about 10.15am after a small aircraft with two people on board, believed to be travelling from Townsville, failed to arrive at its destination at Palmyra. The aircraft was last seen on flight radar about 70km west of Mackay.

The chopper crew were provided with these radar coordinates by the tasking agency and flew directly to the mountain location about 5km north of Netherdale. The crew on board, including pilot, aircrewman, Critical Care Paramedic and doctor, immediately spotted small plumes of smoke rising from a small burnt out clearing on the northern side of the mountain.

As the helicopter flew overhead at about 200 feet, the crew spotted wreckage and a smouldering site of about 100 metres below.

The helicopter made multiple passes over the mountainous terrain before being requested to land on a property nearby to meet with Queensland Police.

A police officer was then flown over the crash site before the helicopter was stood down and returned to base about 1pm.

The crash location was described as inaccessible and in very difficult, mountainous terrain with a thick forest canopy overhead.

A 73-year-old man and a 75-year-old woman are believed to have been on board the aircraft and are not expected to have survived the crash. The couple reported to be from Walkerston have two sons and grandchildren.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has been notified of the crash and will conduct a transport safety investigation.

The Forensic Crash Unit will investigate the crash on behalf of the State Coroner.

Retrieval of the wreckage and investigations are ongoing.

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Vision from a RACQ CQ Rescue helicopter as it located the smouldering site of a small aircraft which had crashed into a mountain near Netherdale. Image taken from video footage provided by RACQ CQ Rescue

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