Image: Futura Wilton and Fairhill mine map

Two steelmaking coal mines in the Bowen Basin have been given the green light, bringing with them up to 130 good regional jobs.

Resources Minister Scott Stewart said the approval of Futura Resources’ Fairhill and Wilton projects near Emerald was a big boost for the regional workforce and economy.

“This investment is a strong vote of confidence in the Queensland resources sector and our state’s large deposits of high-quality steelmaking coal,” Mr Stewart said.

“These projects are in the heart of the Bowen Basin and will benefit from the existing infrastructure in place from nearby mines.

“At their peak, these two mines will produce more than three million tonnes per year of steelmaking coal, which will be processed then transported by rail to the Port of Gladstone and exported to key international markets.

The Wilton and Fairhill projects are located adjacent to one another about 50km northeast of Emerald, with coal to be processed using existing infrastructure at the nearby Gregory-Crinum mine.

Construction works are set to begin in early 2023, with coal production expected to begin within six months.

Both mines have an initial 10-year proposed lifespan but could be expanded to more than 20 years with continued exploration.

Futura Resources Chief Executive Officer Ben Dunlop said coal continued to play a big role in Australia’s and the world’s steelmaking and energy mix.

“We see ourselves as a sustainable, low environmental footprint producer utilising nearby existing infrastructure, including coal processing facilities which will be 50 per cent powered by renewable energy by end of 2023, Mr Dunlop said.

Mr Stewart said recent analysis by Queensland Treasury showed steelmaking coal will remain an essential international export commodity for the state until at least 2050.

“Treasury forecasts show Queensland will likely remain the world’s largest seaborne exporter of steelmaking coal for many decades to come,” he said.

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Member for Mackay Julieanne Gilbert and Queensland Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment Cameron Dick showing staff at Moranbah Hospital the plans for the new hospital with construction expected to start early next year

Construction for a new Moranbah Hospital is expected to commence early next year, with the new facility providing improved medical imaging facilities as well as a helipad.

Tenders have opened for the construction of the new Moranbah Hospital, which will deliver better health services in the heart of Queensland’s resources community.

Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment Cameron Dick said the State Government was seeking a construction partner to commence work in the first half of 2023.

“The New Moranbah Hospital will be the bricks and mortar proof of our Government’s commitment to supporting Queensland resources communities,” the Treasurer said.

“The towns of the Bowen Basin deliver for the entire Queensland community through the royalties their mines generate.

“It is only right that those royalties are reinvested in our resources communities.

“With tenders now open, we will start seeing tangible proof of evidence of delivering better health services for the Moranbah community.

“The new Moranbah Hospital will increase the number of emergency department treatment spaces currently available and provide enhanced outpatient, allied health, community health, and community mental health spaces.

“The Moranbah community will benefit from improved medical imaging services including a CT scanner as well as a helipad to reduce reliance on ambulance services and make inter-hospital transfers more efficient.

“By integrating all services within a single building, we’ll also bolster amenities and security for staff and patients through improved patient flow, an airlock entrance, and replicating the existing hospital’s rose garden and family room.”

Subject to tender negotiations, the new Moranbah Hospital will support 102 construction jobs and is scheduled for completion by June 2025.

Isaac Regional Council Mayor Anne Baker said the Queensland Government's tender announcement was a positive commitment to health across the Isaac.

“Council, along with community, have worked hard to advocate for improved access to health services, so we are thrilled with today’s announcement," Mayor Baker said.

“The Moranbah Hospital upgrade will enable the facility to cater for the region well into the future and acting as a regional hub for neighbouring towns.

“The redevelopment will support residents, workers and the heavy industries that operate across the Isaac region with a fit for purpose facility.

"This is going to mean a significant improvement to the emergency department, dedicated mental health care and more specialist services available."

The Treasurer said progress was also being made on other health infrastructure projects in the Bowen Basin.

“A tender process is currently underway for upgrades to the Blackwater Multipurpose Health Service, which will support 68 construction jobs.

“Work is also continuing at pace on the redevelopment of the Emerald Hospital’s emergency department and day surgery, supporting 29 construction jobs.  

“In the June Budget, I also locked in the funding for our ten-year $334 million deal between the Queensland Government and the Royal Flying Doctor Service.”

The Moranbah Hospital tender is live on QTenders and closes on 9 December 2022.

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CAPTION: QRC Chief Executive Ian Macfarlane

A new report has confirmed the importance of the resources sector to the Queensland economy, with a record $94.6 billion contributed by coal, gas, and minerals producers in the 2021/22 financial year.

Queensland Resources Council (QRC) Chief Executive Ian Macfarlane said the result was a new record and up an incredible $10 billion or 12 per cent on the previous year.

“This year’s annual Economic Contribution report shows how integral the resources sector is to the Queensland economy, with the figures telling the full story,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“Our total figure of $94.6 billion includes a record $9 billion in resources royalties, with international demand for Queensland commodities, particularly coal and gas, driving record prices and therefore record royalties for the Queensland budget.

“Resources royalties go straight into the state budget to help pay for hospitals, nurses, teachers, police officers and other essential government services.

“On top of this, the resources sector also supports the jobs of almost 451,000 Queenslanders and supports one in every four dollars spent in this state, which is up from one in five last year,” he said.

Mr Macfarlane said the contribution by the resources sector to regional economies and employment has continued to grow for the past five years

“Towns and communities from the state’s north-west down to the south-east corner all benefit from the prosperity of the resources sector and our associated supply chain,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“In the past financial year, resources companies have also spent $27 billion on supporting local business, sporting groups and charities, which brings enormous social and economic benefits to mining communities.

“More than half of that is spent outside the Brisbane region.

“Significantly, coal producers accounted for 69 per cent of the money spent by the resources industry across the state.

“Looking forward, as our trading partners look to Queensland to meet their energy, metals and steelmaking needs, along with a growing critical minerals market, it’s more important than ever to have the right government policy settings in place to maximise this opportunity.

“The QRC continues to call on the Queensland Government to review this tax increase on our industry, and to work with us on a better plan that doesn’t damage the state’s number one export industry.”

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Why didn’t we order all the parts before we started?

Let’s break this down a little more!

Repair facilities are generally governed by insurance and the scope of works that are initially allowed or approved.  This is limited to what is visible at the time of the estimate.

We can of course provide an indication of damage we believe has occurred however this is rarely included in the initial approved scope of work.

That means that vehicles need to be disassembled so as to identify and photograph the internal or non-visible damaged components. Resent for authority and then orders are placed for additional parts while this appears to make the process a bit clunky, it is an important step in making sure that all the damage is considered and covered in the repair process.

The Average Car has roughly 30,000 parts! Add to that over 40 different brands, all with a variety of models released every year.

That is a staggering number of parts to be able to locate and identify.

This is an example of the 2 part breakdowns in total there are 8 of these for this section of the vehicle.

Andrea McCarthy

Owner, McCarthy Panel Works

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Every year, we’re reminded of the incredible Christmas spirit we see spread throughout Mackay for those doing it tough over this period.

Get Real Workwear & Safety is a proud locally owned and operated business committed to supporting the community. As part of that, we know that people are doing it tough and there are ways we can all get on board to help.

Whether you can contribute, or you need a helping hand, there are several organisations actively making a difference for others:

Triple M Mackay - Toy Drive Appeal

Buy a brand-new toy (any age group), leave it unwrapped and drop it to the Triple M studios. Level 3, 123 Victoria Street Mackay, or to the Salvation Army Hall Mackay.

Roshni Indian Restaurant - ‘No One Eats Alone’ Christmas Lunch

No booking required – attend on Christmas Day for a free lunch 11am-1pm with all the trimmings ham, prawns, rolls, salad, and dessert, plus a small gift!

Star 101.9 and Mackay Women’s Services

Christmas Hamper Drive

Drop off ‘Christmas Day Hamper’ themed items including older children’s gifts (13+), along with food, fuel, and gift vouchers. Please contact Julie on 4953 1788 or email julie@mkywc.org.au

The Neighbourhood Hub – Community Christmas Appeal 2022

Asking the Mackay community to assist with the purchase of vouchers and non-perishable food items. Please email christmas@tnhub.org.au for more information.

Christmas can be a stressful time and the wonderful team at Lifeline 13 11 14 and Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 are available for a chat 24/7.

We’d like to take this opportunity to thank our customers and suppliers who supported us in 2022. Wishing everyone a merry, safe, and happy Christmas from the Get Real Workwear & Safety team!

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Image: (From left) Cyirene Ralph, Montana Ramsamy, Jalen Pauling, Leysha Pearson (phone), Lara Pinkard, Klara Close, Megan Sutton (teacher). Front row: Jessalyn Peddel, Tamika Mooney, Shanae Corowa

Following the success of the first intake of students to complete the Budyubari Bidyiri Kebi Stapal (Big Dream Small Steps) program, the Mackay Hospital and Health Service (MHHS) is encouraging current Year 10 students to consider applying for the school-based health traineeships.

MHHS Manager HR Strategy & Engagement Onno Van Es said nine students graduated from the program last month, and all planned to pursue careers in the health sector.

“These students from six different high schools have all completed Certificate lll qualifications in either Health Services Assistance or Allied Health Assistance, and they are all interested in continuing their studies in health care,” Mr Van Es said.

“Some want to be nurses or doctors, and others want to pursue careers in allied health such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy or medical imaging.

“It’s a great result from the first intake of the Big Dream Small Steps program, which aims to increase the number of people in our workforce who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.

“We currently have about 2.3 per cent and we want to increase that to 6 per cent to be in line with the proportion of the wider health service community that identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander.”

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Image: Celebrating 50 years of Croydens. L-R: Glen Croker, Ross Kynaston, Jason Cross, John Croyden, Patricia Croyden, Stefan Tomerini, Don McAlpine, Justin Donovan, Steve Knight, Nathan Fahl and Iain Allison

“We’ve managed to ride the ups and downs – there were some trying times, but also plenty of good times.”

A household name throughout Sarina and beyond for 50 years, JT & PA Croyden Pty Ltd celebrated hauling for half a century and reflected on how their business had evolved through the decades.

Owners John and Patricia Croyden established the “Croydens” business in 1972 with the purchase of their first truck from a local business formerly Crokers Truck Centre, to service the Sarina community with landscaping and quarry supplies.

Before the beach communities around Sarina had water installed, carting water was a big part of the business. People would ring in the middle of the night because someone was having a party and they’d run out of water. They would want Croydens to do a load of water immediately.

That’s how the Croyden name became woven throughout the fabric of the community.

The business quickly established a reputation for customer focus, which was based on a “make it happen” approach, and always being prepared to “have a go”. The result – being able to hold long-standing contracts with some of the region’s biggest players, including more than 45 years with BMA Hay Point Services and some 30 years with Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal.

John and Pat regularly talked with their customers to stay in touch with their requirements.

John’s perspective was that if something was wrong, they would fix it.

“It also helped that we looked after our gear with preventative maintenance, even before that became a ‘thing’,” John said.

“It was also significant at the time that we established a business office and weren’t operating from the driver’s seat of a truck.”

The 24-hour nature of the business meant both John and Pat were on call all hours of the day and night. At night, John and Pat would sleep with the telephone on one side of the bed and the two-way radio on the other. As Pat says, if you’ve got trucks out working, you’ve got to be on call – in case they get bogged, break down, or they’re having trouble finding a delivery point.

Since the heady days of employing more than 80 permanent staff, with a long list of casuals and approximately 150 pieces of equipment, some divisions of the business have been sold off, including quarrying, biodunder, cattle feed transport and water truck contracts with the mines.

Along the way, John and Pat have managed to transition to retirement, however easing the transition has been the steady hand of trusted, long-time employee, Stefan Tomerini.

Croydens General Manager Stefan Tomerini stepped into the role in 2007 to “help steer the transformation of Croydens”.

“John and Pat have supported the local community and been part of developing so many local charities and clubs financially, and it humbles me to manage the Croyden empire,” Mr Tomerini said.

A business turning 50 is an appropriate time to take a helicopter view of past achievements and impact on the community. John may have had the big picture view, but make no mistake – Pat was instrumental in making it happen.

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Image: Lara and Mike Russell with their sons Arlo and Flynn enjoy a stroll through Woodlands District Park

The tender for civil works for the eagerly anticipated Woodlands District Park project has been awarded to local contractor, Vassallo Constructions, with works commencing this month.

Mayor Greg Williamson said the project was all about improving liveability for residents.

“Woodlands District Park will be a place where residents can enjoy time as a family and take in the beauty of the natural environment, regardless of their age or ability,” Mayor Williamson said.

“Providing we have good weather, we’re hoping to start civil works next month,” he said.

“This work will include drainage improvements and the installation of a new path network and lighting.

“Council has also committed to bringing the construction of the all-abilities playground and multi-purpose active track forward into stage one, and this work is due to commence next year.”

The civil works and drainage improvements are expected to start in December and will be completed by late May 2023, weather permitting.

Construction of the inclusive playground, new public amenities and the other recreational facilities will commence in 2023 once the civil works are complete.

The existing playground in Broomdykes Drive Park will remain operational while construction is underway.

To stay informed about work happening as part of stage one and to learn more about future stages of this project, visit connectingmackay.com.au/woodlands and subscribe to project update emails.

Stage one of Woodlands District Park upgrades will include:

• a new all-abilities playground

• a multipurpose active track (Woodlands Track), which will be suitable for all ages

• new barbecue and picnic facilities

• public amenities, including an accessible adult change facility for the disabled community

• improvements to the park’s entries

• additional paths, including the start of a new north-south connection through to Caledonian Drive and the extension of the existing cross-park (east-west) link

• drainage and landscaping improvements, including the reshaping and replanting of the unsightly open swale drain to naturalise the water course.

This project is proudly funded by the Queensland Government’s Works for Queensland Program in association with Mackay Regional Council.

The total cost of stage one is $5.9 million, with the State Government contributing $2 million towards the project.

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At least 25 trees have been damaged at Ball Bay in a shocking act of vegetation vandalism.

The incident involved the complete removal of some of the trees at Buoro Street and extensive trimming of others.

Mayor Greg Williamson said council would be implementing the actions of its vegetation vandalism policy to their full effect.

“These trees protect our foreshore and provide residents’ properties with protection from severe weather events,” he said.

“We are currently in storm season, so it is disgusting that some residents continue to prioritise their views of the beach over the safety of the foreshore.

“As a result, council will be replanting trees at this location at a density of three trees for every one that was damaged. In total, we will be replanting up to 75 new trees.

“We will also be installing a large vegetation vandalism billboard at this location.”

Mayor Williamson said that there was not enough evidence available to prove the identity of the person responsible for this act of vegetation vandalism.

“If anyone has any information or evidence on who may have damaged the trees at Ball Bay, please contact council,” he said.

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Image: Presenter Tim Marshall, (National Association for Sustainable Agriculture Australia). Tim is a leader in organic agriculture and certification in Australia for 45 years and a significant contributor to organic standards and certification in worldwide forums. Photos supplied

Carlos Bueno, (Reef Catchments Senior Project Officer – Conservation and Communities) and Kym Kruse, (Co-Founding Director RegenAGE). Kym is a sought-after farming consultant and educator, with over 20 years of regenerative agriculture experience.

Kym Kruse and Katrina Dent (Reef Catchments CEO)

More than 70 landholders attended the 11th Annual Healthy Soils Symposium conference last week in Mackay, wanting to learn more about how to create vibrant healthy soils for increased productivity and sustainability.

The conference is part of a three-day event which included two field days where local farms showcased regenerative farming practices and sustainable land management.

The Soils Symposium is managed by Reef Catchments with funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.

Reef Catchments’ Regional Agriculture Landcare Facilitator, Gillian Barbat said this year’s turnout was a testament to the excellent guest speakers featured at the conference, and the landholders who were willing to welcome others to their properties to see hands-on examples of regenerative agriculture.

“As we move into our second decade of the Symposium, it’s great to see the desire to improve soil health and caring for country continue to grow,” she said.

“The Soil Symposium is all about networking and sharing ideas, offering delegates many opportunities to question and brainstorm solutions to challenges they may be facing in their own soil health journey.”

With extensive grazing, sugar cane production and forestry industries in the Mackay-Whitsunday-Isaac region, events such as the Healthy Soils Symposium share experience, knowledge and management practices to help reduce the impact of these activities on our natural environment.

Read more about projects delivered by our Sustainable Agriculture team on our website at www.reefcatchments.com.au.

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Quentin is a technology solutions architect based at the Central Queensland Smart Cropping Centre in Emerald. The Centre recently hosted an AgTech forum. Photo credit: Queensland Agriculture

Growers and agri-technology representatives gathered in Emerald last week as part of AgTech Month to collectively brainstorm new and clever ways to address cropping challenges with technology solutions.

Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner said Emerald’s new Central Queensland Smart Cropping Centre is the perfect forum for this meeting of the minds.

“The Smart Cropping Centre is rapidly developing into a hothouse for robotics, sensor networks, drones and other tech which supports farming systems in an environment of increasing climate variability,” Mr Furner said.

“Just recently, the Smart Cropping Centre has begun using robots and drones on the site to field test their capabilities.

“This week’s co-design workshop will flesh out the challenges the local agricultural industry faces and what they believe would make a difference to their business and industry.

“The information gathered will ensure the centre continues to shape its work in a direction that is meaningful and supportive of local producers.

“The role of the Smart Cropping Centre is to develop solutions that assist producers in maximising their efficiency, so collaboration is key.

“This kind of innovation points the way to the future of agriculture and the thousands of good jobs that rely on this industry.

Mr Furner said Central Queensland is an important agricultural production region, contributing significantly to Queensland’s $23 billion agricultural industry.

“As part of the 2021 State Budget, the Queensland Government invested $5.85 million to develop the Central Queensland Smart Cropping Centre as an innovation flagship that brings together RD&E in farming systems, agronomy, crop innovation and plant protection with the latest innovations in AgTech and data sciences to deliver a world-class research hub for Queensland’s cropping sector,” he said.

“It will boost local and national industry confidence to invest in new technologies and growing systems to achieve growth in productivity, expand exports and ensure future food security.”

The centre is part of the Queensland Smart Farms initiative which is developing a network of farms and facilities dedicated to advancing Australia’s agriculture and food industries through AgTech innovation–AgTech in action.

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As everyone is winding down for Christmas, I’m officially signing off for the year and heading onto maternity leave.

It’s such a bittersweet time, as I will certainly miss being on air and working with the awesome crew at Star 101.9, however I’m also very excited to welcome my boy into the world and take a little time to focus on just family.

Christmas will certainly be looking a little different in my house this year, we will be swapping the booze for a baby bottle!  

I do want to wish everyone a safe and happy Christmas and New Year period. Good luck to everyone tackling Mount P and Canelands these next few weeks and enjoy this time with family and friends.

However, don’t get too comfortable without me, I’ll be back from mat leave singing (terribly) on your drive to work/school before you know it!

Also don’t forget if you are looking for something to do this weekend, Carols in the Gardens is on at the Botanic Gardens Amphitheatre this Saturday night. It’s a great family night out and the perfect way to get into the Chrissy spirit.

I promise not to sing a cover of Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want For Christmas is You’ on the night.

Merry Christmas everyone,

Rach

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That’s a common question from people considering putting their property on the market.

The truth is that in Mackay there is probably not a bad time to sell and I find that pretty much any time of the year is a good time.

The only issue around this time of year is that everything closes down over the Christmas-New Year period.

The way the dates fall this year, Saturday the 17th of December will be the last open house day for most agents. While solicitors, banks and brokers will mostly keep operating the following week, things will wind up on Friday the 23rd of December.

In terms of access to solicitors, building and pest inspectors, banks etc, it will be very difficult to get anything done between the 23rd of December and the 3rd of January.

There will be some people who will list their properties for sale between now and Christmas and history tells us that there can be some good results at this time of year.

For other people, the period between now and Christmas will be about getting ready to sell in the New Year.

A terrific approach can be to get listing documents signed, photos done and write-up completed before the holidays so that sellers are ready to go in early January.

That early January period can be good because the intrusion and delays over the holiday period are behind us and it is all systems go.

Buyers are motivated at that time of year … not many people want to go looking at properties in mid-January unless they are serious about buying.

A lot of those buyers are looking at that time of year because they want to have a property under contract before the end of January so they can make plans around where they will be living in the year ahead.

They know where the kids will be going to school and they have got certainty around access to work, shops and community/sporting activities.

For me, the idea is that I start getting things ready over the next couple of weeks for properties I will be putting on the market and selling in January.

If photos, write-ups, documentation etc. are done when I go on my Christmas break I know that I can come back in early January, hit the button and be ready to go.

It’s an exciting time in January because everyone’s had a break and we’re full of energy and ready to embrace the market and the world in a new year.

This is my last column for the year. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Looking forward to a continuation of Mackay positivity in 2023.

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It’s December and Christmas is only three weeks away. My year has flown by and as I write this I wonder where 2022 has gone.

Mackay has had a good year; we have opened our new state-of-the-art Animal Management Centre; we are also well advanced with works on the Seaforth Esplanade project and the Riverside Link upgrade in the PDA. Preparation works are also happening with the Northern Beaches Community Hub and the mountain bike tracks in the Pioneer Valley.

I would like to thank all our staff and contractors for their dedication to their work at council, especially the Parks and Gardens crews for putting in the hard yards to get on top of our grass issues early in the year.

And while it’s great to reflect on what we have achieved this year, now is the time to find our Christmas spirit. Now is the time to consider family, friends and those less fortunate than ourselves as we prepare for Christmas.

We all know the story of Mary and Joseph struggling to find somewhere to stay in Bethlehem. Unfortunately, this same scenario is happening in our region every day as more people come to Mackay for work and cannot find accommodation. If you know someone in that position, think about inviting them to your place for Christmas lunch so they don’t have to eat theirs on a park bench.    

Spare a thought for our cane farmers and all those who rely on them for survival, as they will have to work through the Christmas period this year in an attempt to harvest the crop.

So, where will you find your Christmas Spirit? For me, it will be found in spending time with family and friends and watching the faces on the little ones as they open presents. It will be found in saying thank you to Vinnie’s volunteers and hundreds like them in other groups as they celebrate this year’s achievements at Christmas gatherings.

And you are all invited to find your Christmas spirit with me at Habana Carols Under the Stars on December 17 at 7pm. We will be celebrating our 30th carols by sharing the true Christmas spirit of giving without expecting something in return at our totally free family event.

Please stay safe,

Cr Laurence Bonaventura  

Mackay Regional Council

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Hi Everyone,

How are you feeling about Christmas?

Excited? Frazzled? Happy? Overwhelmed?

Christmas is certainly a magical time of year but for many of us it can also involve racing around trying to squeeze in as many things as possible – drinks with friends, shopping for presents, hanging up the decorations – it seems every spare moment is full of fun and festivity.

But this can also be exhausting, and a little overwhelming.

Is anyone else feeling this too?

I am reading a book at the moment called Idiots by Laura Clery.

She is an American mum and comedienne who regularly posts hilarious online videos of her life as a mum.

She is real, candid and I love the way she does not pretend to have it all together.

Last night I read a chapter that reminded me about something I learnt many years ago, but as with many things, had gotten lost along the busy road of life.

The art of Gratitude.

In her book, Laura tells us how she lists all the things she is grateful for every day – whether that be her family, her health, or even the breath in her lungs!

From that state of gratitude, she then manifests what she wants in her life.

Now I know this sounds a bit fantastical, but stars like Oprah Winfrey, Lady Ga Ga and Will Smith all swear by similar strategies.

Back in my twenties I was obsessed with them too – reading every book I could find on the subject.

As with many things, I thought I would live my life with this ‘enlightened’ mindset forever, but I guess we all need to re-learn and remind ourselves every decade or so.

With this in mind, I have started to practice gratitude again.

Listing things I am grateful for each day can seem a little silly and pointless at first – but I dare you to give it go – I have, and it feels great!

Rach

Quote of the week: “Some people grumble that roses have thorns. I am grateful that thorns have roses” (Alphose Karr)

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