Over 250 people attended the Bowen Neighbourhood Centre’s R U OK? Day where the local organisation spread the message of meaningfully connecting and lending support.

The event on Thursday, September 8, was by far the largest ever held at the centre, with attendance no doubt bolstered by a fantastic array of vintage cars on display proving a popular drawcard.  

Whitsunday Neighbourhood Centre Coordinator, Stephanie Cora said alongside the cars were free giveaways.

“For those who came along there was free coffee and cupcakes, a free sausage sizzle, free raffles, and a lot of free resources and promotional items with details on where to find help if needed,” Ms Cora said.

“The services that attended all promote good mental health within our community and this event provided an opportunity for them to create greater awareness and promotion of the support which they can provide.”

Ms Cora thanked Whitsunday Regional Council for their sponsorship, which she said had made it possible for the centre to host this extremely successful R U Ok day event.  

Organisations that attended on the day included representatives from Whitsunday Counselling and Support and Real Mates Talk, who contributed to the success in raising awareness for mental health issues.

They were flanked by stalls from Feros Care and Ideal Placements – both of which celebrate diverse and unique clients with disabilities.

Backed by the R U OK? harm prevention charity, the event was a major success for the community group, who hope to continue growing awareness and local participation.

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PCYC Bowen’s R.U.B.Y Crew have been stepping up their neighbourhood engagement this year and were lucky enough to be a part of the Don River Dash in their latest community outing.

The R.U.B.Y crew – which has been running for 11 years and stands for Respecting and Uniting Bowen Youth - put together the participant gift bags given out to all the racers at the Community Night held on the Friday before races began.

PCYC Bowen Manager and Police Sergeant Michelle O’Regan said she was extremely proud of the R.U.B.Y Crew for putting together the competitor bags over the months leading up to the event.

“They wanted to show the benefits of our wider region in their own initiative and spoke with Bowen Tourism and Business, as well as other businesses in town about making these bags,” Sergeant O’Regan said.

“They were very excited to promote Bowen businesses to those competitors and teams.”

Sergeant O’Regan said the youngsters – between the ages of 12 and 18 – doorknocked at local businesses, introducing themselves and explaining what they were trying to achieve.

“It’s great confidence building and it became a layered approach for skills and personal development for these young people,” she said.

The visitor bags were supported by multiple businesses across Bowen, including major input from Lowcock Builders.

The Crew attended the Don River Dash Community Night where they helped organisers and were even lucky enough to visit the Patriot Games TV site on Pit Lane, spending some time with the amazing crew.

“It’s excellent to be developing sociably responsible young people who understand the value of being involved in the community,” Sergeant O’Regan said.

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One of the region’s largest race-days is getting set to shoot out from the gates with Bowen Turf Club preparing for the annual Bowen Cup in early October.

The Turf Club, which has been holding regular race meets for over 150 years, is looking forward to adding another major race event to its tally on Saturday, October 8.

In past years, the Bowen Cup has hosted in excess of three thousand attendees, and visitors aplenty are expected to make their way to Ben Bolt Park for this year’s iteration of “The Race That Stops The Whitsundays”.

One of the region’s biggest social events of the year will host five local races, complete with TAB and on-track bookmakers, a licenced bar, food vendors, and everyone’s favourite: Fashion on the Field.

Ladies (and gentlemen) will be out in their Saturday best for a race-day that’s promising to be one of the club’s finest.

Bowen Turf Club President Stephen Daley said the early ticket sales and table lock ins are already promising for this year to be huge.

“We’ve got a good problem to have: figuring out where to stick all the people! It’s going to be an enormous day for the whole district, like it always is,” Mr Daley said.

“The track’s in terrific order, it’s going to be a normal five race card with nominations, and we’ve opted for it to be an over 18 day again because last year was very successful.

Mr Daley said there’ll be quite a few local horses racing on the day, each ridden by jockeys from Mackay and Townsville.

Fashion on the Field will this year be run by Filby’s Motors, where there’s already been a great deal of interest from local ladies

“We’re looking forward to the whole day. It’s one of the biggest events in Bowen and it’s great for the community, even Airlie Beach and Proserpine support us immensely,” Mr Daley said.

“Last time was a great day out and if we can peak that performance, we’ll be very happy.”

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Are you or someone you know, suffering from suicidal thoughts, struggling to process, or grieving from a loss of a loved one? If so, don’t do it alone, reach out to the free counselling service available right here in Bowen.

Whitsunday Suicide Prevention Network (WSPN) offer free counselling across the Whitsundays with Megan Mattingley who will be the voice you hear as soon as you dial the local number.

Having worked at Relationships Australia for the past 13 years, Megan now has her own business which makes her flexible and available to help.

From immediate assistance over the phone to video consultations and even home visits, there are plenty of avenues for you to receive help.

“Counselling can cost a lot of money for people to access and there’s usually a long wait-list,” said Megan.

“I can look after you sooner rather than later and when I answer the phone, I am equipped to know what to do.”

Helping people manage their expectations of grief and using education to remove the stigma associated with suicide, Megan shows clients how to process their emotions.

From there, she will assist with creating a support plan of self-care strategies by using tangible tools, such as journal writing or going for a walk.

If you are a parent or relative who is worried about a loved one, Megan can also tell you how best to handle the situation and what to say.

If you are worried about a loved one or if this article has raised any issues for you please call one of the following support services.

Whitsunday Suicide Prevention Network 07 4945 2858

Headspace Whitsundays 07 4842 6760

Lifeline 13 11 14

Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467

Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636

Image: Whitsunday Suicide Prevention Network Counsellor Megan Mattingley

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A depiction of Bowen’s past has begun a process of rejuvenation this week, with one of the Australian mural town’s collection of 27 murals being given a much-need touch-up.

The Merinda School Mural on the wall of Le Sorelle The Sisters Coffee House on Richmond Road is being repainted by artist Martin Jegou of Gwada Murals over the month of September.

The previously damaged mural is being touched up by Jegou, a French artist who’s lived in the Whitsundays since 2017.

Jegou, who normally paints large-scale Coral Sea creatures – like his most prominent mural of a Humpback Whale on display on Waterson Way – is putting his artistic talents to work by giving the Bowen mural a new splash of paint.

He began work on the mural on September 7.

Bowen Mural Society Spokesperson Heather Skinner said they were very happy with the work so far and were expecting completion by the end of September.

“The Marinda School Mural had been vandalised previously. Martin [Jegou] has obliterated that damage, but there is still some touching up to do with the parts depicting the school itself,” she said.

“He’s managed to put some of the vibrancy into it that he’s known for, and we’re very happy for that.”

The original mural was painted by Winka Von Fahland, and the retouching process has been funded by Whitsunday Regional Council.

Bowen Mural Society are now fundraising for the retouching of a mural on the wall of the newly refurbished Bowen Hotel. That mural depicts the Denison Hotel.

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One of Bowen’s biggest earthmoving businesses is on the recruitment drive.

Hillery Group, which owns and operates five quarries in Bowen, Collinsville, and Abbot Point, are on the lookout for diesel fitters to join their enormous workforce in the famous mango town.

With 46 years of operation as a generational, family-owned business, Hillery Group are renowned for their family culture – helped by the fact they employ one per cent of the Bowen population.

Kelly McDonald, Director-People, Culture and Business Development at Hillery Group is the resident expert on all things business ethos and said Hillery Group’s reputation for family feel comes from its actual retaining of staff and the staff themselves.

“We have families who have worked for us for many years, from dads down to sons,” Ms McDonald said.

“I think a lot of that comes from our Maintenance and Asset Manager, Daniel Maher. He’s genuinely one of the best leaders I’ve ever worked with. He’s created such a well-knitted and well-run team; all the boys love working here, and we love working with them. We invest in our teams.”

Aside from running five quarries in the region, Hillery Group are involved in major civil works and landscape supplies which focus on the commercial and domestic markets.

Ms McDonald said a diesel fitter from the region who becomes part of the Hillery Group family will be an integral part of their large-scale operation.

“We have an enormous maintenance shed and we’ve got a fully fitted out warehouse with tens of thousands of parts which will be a base of operations for a lot of field service.  It has some unique features compared with other maintenance departments; there’s its own air conditioning and component rebuild centre – which is a skill area most won’t find with other employers,” she said.

“Everyone starts at the depot and then might head out to a breakdown in provided LVs or service trucks.

“That would be what a normal day would look like. And, although a diesel fitter will be coming in trade qualified, we are always looking to help them advance themselves – that’s one of our big mottos. We want to develop our team and see them excel.

“We want them to work here, come here, and stay here. We’re very focused on the staff and that they’re enjoying themselves, staying healthy and staying motivated.”

To apply, visit https://hillerygroup.com.au/working-with-us/

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Do you remember the feeling you had after being promoted into a leadership role?

For many of us, once the euphoria subsides, the work doesn’t feel as productive (or as much fun) compared to the tasks we used to undertake. We’re easily drawn back into doing the same work as we did before while adding more meetings and admin tasks to our schedules.

Your primary role as a leader is to build your teams.

For new managers this can be especially challenging as your natural instinct is probably to be “liked”.

Next time you are tempted to solve a problem for your team though, stop yourself and turn it in to a learning opportunity instead!

You’re not the team captain, you’re the coach!

Your role is to set clear expectations, communicate who is accountable, and give your team the tools they need to succeed.

When someone comes to you with a problem, ask the right questions.

Firstly, “What do you think the solution is?” Teach your team to problem-solve for themselves. “Have you thought about alternative approaches? What can we sacrifice without detracting from the overall value of the project? Who can you share the problem with to seek a different perspective?”

Think about your future.

You shouldn’t make yourself indispensable to your team, rather the goal should be to build a team so strong you can’t tell who the leaders is.

Image: Judy Porter from Shiift

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Workforce shortages and a lack of affordable accommodation. Two of the most critical issues facing business at the moment. It's a broken record, heard over and over again at all levels of government, and finally there does appear to be some activity at local and state levels.

On the housing front, council is being proactive in discussing and facilitating appropriate accommodation locally. Nothing set in concrete yet, however it does show council is committed to assisting in this space.

On a state level, the Housing Supply Expert Panel has been expanded to address housing supply issues and provide advice and direction to local councils. And this week, the Premier herself is chairing a roundtable discussion which is seen as the first step towards holding a Housing Summit in October to consider housing and cost of living, especially in regional areas.

With regard to workforce shortages, the Whitsunday Coast Chamber is taking a leading role with Gus Walsgott spearheading the local push to establish a Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) for the greater Central Queensland region.

For those unfamiliar, a DAMA is an agreement between the Australian Government (through Home affairs) with a regional authority making it easier to employ overseas workers in the region. Whilst it utilises a couple of existing temporary visas it does provide several substantial advantages specifically a broader range of worker can be specified across a wider range of age groups. And all visa issues under a DAMA offer the opportunity for permanent residency. Watch this space as the project evolves.

The next Chamber event is on Thursday 13th October and will be a morning networking event incorporating the AGM. If you are keen to get involved and help assist and promote small business in the region, contact the chamber for nomination forms and keep an eye out for more details.

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It’s the time when we all get our records and receipts together for the annual trip to the accountant or the dreaded job of completing a tax return ourselves.  If you’re doing your own, your MyGov online account now has a lot of information like Group Certificates and Interest pre-loaded.

When you’re completing this mundane task this year, spare some time to think about how you’d like your tax return to look next year.  Tax returns look backwards at what the situation was for the last financial year whereas Financial Planners look forward at what we want to achieve in the current and future years.  

This can involve things such as:

• Ensuring you have income protection in place which not only protects you and your family but is fully tax deductible.

• Ensuring you are utilising the generous tax rules on superannuation to your best advantage with strategies like Salary Sacrifice and pensions for those over 60, even if you’re still working.

• Ensuring that you’re making the most of any Salary Packaging opportunities your employer provides, especially if you’re employed in industries like hospitals or aged care facilities which attract significant salary packaging opportunities.

• If you have a home loan as well as an investment loan, ensuring you’re doing the right things to be able to claim more interest as a tax deduction and pay less interest on the home loan for the property you live in.

If you’d like an obligation free review of your situation, to discuss ways to put a smile on your face this time next year with a better tax return, call us for an appointment today.

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Thirty years of island hopping around the Whitsundays - fishing, shelling and camping.

When George Sax came to Australia from Switzerland in 1914, as a classical violinist with a travelling orchestra, his first job was working in a market garden. After that, he cut cane by hand for fifteen years in north Queensland then worked on the railway as a ganger. In 1921, he came to Proserpine and bought a cane farm at Myrtle Creek.

As with many wanderers, George bought a fishing boat and fished all around the reef, making money by selling his catch and also taking out fishing parties. This gave him an intimate knowledge of the islands and he began to collect shells. As his passion for shells grew, he gave up his fishing and settled at Mandalay Point.  

It was here that people were first able to view his shells. George travelled to out of the way places in search of unusual specimens. On some of his trips, he would live for weeks at a time on uninhabited islands, surviving some times without water. George never used a tent, but put the skills taught to him by local aborigines to good use to build a lean-to of sticks and palm leaves.

George was well known to mainland folk as an exceptionally talented musician. A dance was not a dance without George playing his violin. From time to time, he travelled over Queensland with an itinerant band of musicians.

Described by some as an anchorite, George Sax lived for many years at Mandalay. His domain, which was actually owned by the Crown, could be approached only by water. Despite his solitary existence, stories abound of his hospitality extended to callers to his home which was easily recognisable by the blaze of vermillion bougainvillea vine that he had planted beside his hut.

Upon arrival, George would be waiting on the shingle beach, attired in tattered shorts (most likely having been put on at the sign of visitors) ready greet his guests. The billy would be on the boil and they would be regaled with damper moistened with golden syrup. A veritable feast at Mandalay would follow with plates of battered fish, chunks of bush lemon and oyster patties – and on rare occasions a tune on his violin.

George’s diet consisted mainly of seafood, turkey and goats’ meat, so his eyes would light up if he spied a basket of homemade goodies.

Once his guests departed, George would wave politely, then disappear into the bush and no doubt step out of his shorts before he resumed pottering about, beautifying his domain with its shingle paths lined with stones and lumps of coral, and where coconuts, shrubs and plants abounded.  

In 1955, George moved to South Molle Island taking his shell collection with him and setting it up in a building provided by Wally Bauer, the resort owner. At this point in time, it was comprised of 5000 different species and was one of the finest in Australia. Not only did George collect shells, he studied them and could speak authoritatively about them.

Shortly after Cyclone Ada (1970) destroyed South Molle and most of his shell collection, George went to live at Ken McPherson’s property at North Gregory. There he remained, living with no electricity and few creature comforts, until his death on August 15, 1986, aged 93.

Story and photo courtesy Proserpine Historical Museum

Image: George Sax

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A young Whitsunday resident is inspiring other children by creating her own business at 11 years old, using her own pocket money for the start-up and learning how to sell her hand-made products online.

Trinity Murphy, who attends St Catherine’s Catholic College, has been pestering her mum to let her start her own business for years but until now she hasn’t been allowed.

From selling slime to finger knitting, Trinity has pitched many an idea, but it was her colourful loom bands that finally got the tick of approval with mum, Cynitta.

Thinking of the idea when she saw a friend sell loom bands to other friends on the bus, Trinity took the concept one step further by starting an official business called “Handmade by Trinny” and creating her own Etsy account.

Promoting her colourful wristbands through social media, Trinity was very excited when the first order came in just hours after she shared the link.

She has since made 11 sales in just one night.

“I like it, it’s fun to do!” she said.

“It’s very rewarding getting money for something you like doing.”

Using her own pocket money to buy the loom bands and purchase postage, Trinity now understands the entire retail process from start to finish.

“It’s really cute and I am super proud of her,” said mum Cynitta.

“She’s always trying to think of things to do and this is a great experience for her.”

Trinity is now saving up to buy something special and will also diversify her product range to include scrunchies, finger knitting and key chains soon.

Image:

1: Trinity posting her loom bands to customers

2: The colourful loom bands

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An unprecedented number of flying foxes are currently roosting on trees in Collinsville and these noisy little critters are certainly causing a stir as they return to town after feeding on the melaleucas.

What’s been compared to a ‘big vortex’, the flying fox storm whooshes through the streets, in what sounds like rain coming, but instead the little terrors are defecating everywhere.

In March this year there were 1,500 flying foxes spread out over 10 trees and the Whitsunday Regional Council had been monitoring them, conducting a two-week noise deterrent campaign to discourage them.

This, however, was not meant to be, for the southern migration of the Little Red Flying Foxes saw numbers rise to 8000 in July.

By early September this number had grown significantly to 22,000 spread between 25-30 trees in Pelican Park.

Scott Hardy, Coordinator Natural Resource Management and Climate with the Whitsunday Regional Council, said that “this year was a massive increase and totally unexpected” but wants to assure the community that the situation is temporary.

“They will be gone in the next four weeks,” he said.

“Once they move on, numbers will drop to between 200 and 900.”

In the meantime, Council will continue with measures to minimise the problem.

“We can help with tree trimming and will be prioritising where bats are living on private land or having the most impact,” Scott explained.

Council are also introducing the temporary trial of a 6m tall ‘wavy man’ to try and mitigate impacts of the roost on surrounding residents.

Out of the 30 trees impacted, 19 reach into backyards with an estimated 6,500 bats directly effecting households.

Scott advised locals to continue hosing down any problem areas including sides of houses and children’s play sets.

He did stress that bats are not dangerous or harmful to humans.

“Bats are a bit like us, not every human has the flu, they could carry it but only a very small percentage will have a virus,” he said.

“The bacteria in bat poo is the same as it would be in cats, dogs and any other animals.”

For further information on the issue, government websites offer a wealth of knowledge.

Image: Over 22,000 Flying Foxes are currently roosting in Collinsville

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The main street of Collinsville is set to receive a boost following the announcement at last week’s Council meeting that final plans for its beautification project have been approved and work will commence early next year.

The ‘Choose Collinsville Project’ follows a similar structure as the Bowen and Proserpine iterations which have been widely appreciated by the communities and known to enhance the liveability of the towns.

Collinsville main street will receive new pedestrian signage, street furniture, public bins, landscaping with irrigation, traffic islands and the entire street will be re-sealed.

Councillor Michelle Wright said that following community consultation it was decided to use an historic green colour theme to fit with the town’s pre-existing signage.

“Collinsville is an older town with history being an important part of the community, so this is the colour the people chose,” she said.

“This project will give local businesses a boost and inject a bit of pride in the community, as well as attracting new people to town.”

The entire project was brought about following two community consultations, where locals questioned the plans which stated eight carparking spaces would be lost due to the installation of scenic flower beds.

Councillor Wright decided to walk the streets and ask all the local businesses for their feedback.

Following this, it was decided to off-set the ones that were lost and reconfigure the preliminary design.

“We listened to the people and now we are meeting in the middle,” said Cr Wright.

“I believe this project will bring about the boost we are looking for.”

This project was financed by the Federal Government’s Building Better Regions Fund, who contributed $700,000, with a further $300,000 from Whitsunday Regional Council.

The beautifications are part of a series of initiatives which have recently improved the liveability of Collinsville – the waterpark was completed earlier this year and Cr Wright says that she hopes the Pump Track will be next on the list.

Image: Collinsville main street will receive a $1 million facelift

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Our region is being viewed by millions of people all round the world thanks to Hollywood movie, Ticket to Paradise, which hit the cinema screens last week.

Filmed in three of the Whitsunday’s best locations, the movie professes to be based in Bali, but those familiar with our region will note the unmistakeable turquoise ocean and local resorts which have been dressed up to look like an Indonesian holiday destination.

Despite fooling audiences around the world about its location, the hype about the Whitsundays is sure to reach distant shores with promotional information noting it was filmed locally.

The movie follows the story of Academy Award winners George Clooney and Julia Roberts as they reunite on the big screen as exes who find themselves on a shared mission to stop their lovestruck daughter from making the same mistake they once made.

Travelling to Bali to ‘stop’ the wedding, a hilarious series of events takes place to the backdrop of a tropical island paradise and the sweet surprise of second chances.

Featuring several of Hamilton Island’s signature landmarks, the movie includes footage of qualia’s luxurious Beach House, the bar at the Long Pavilion and the stunning Spa qualia.

A pre-wedding party scene and an impromptu soccer match was also set at Hamilton Island’s Catseye Beach, while One Tree Hill formed the backdrop for unexpected romance.

The biggest set redesign, however, was Palm Bay Resort which transforms into a Balinese family compound complete with a floating seaweed farm.

The 23 beachfront villas and pinch-me perfect views over the Whitsunday Passage were a central part of the feature film.

Also making the list for low-key escapades closer to the mainland, is the little-known Haslewood Island opposite Whitehaven Beach and Chalkies Beach and Katie’s Cove.

This cove is the scene where the main characters reunite with their daughter, Lily, in Indonesia, and is the backdrop of a first aid scene after David’s (Clooney) encounter with an overly friendly marine creature.

This is not the first time a Hollywood movie has been filmed here in the Whitsundays – ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales’ and ‘Fools Gold’ were both shot in Whitsunday waters.

Image: Julia Roberts and George Clooney in Ticket to Paradise

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Two of the Whitsundays young leaders were rewarded with a prestigious youth award at the end of an almost two-year journey late last month.

Proserpine State High School students Rachel Hutchinson and Jasmine Voigt received their Duke Of Edinburgh Bronze Awards having completed the requirements of the international programme.

Police Sergeant Billy Li presented the students, who are also members of the Whitsunday PCYC’s Youth Group, Wild Ones, with their certificates.

The Award is a leading structured youth development program, empowering young Australians aged 14-24 to explore their full potential and find their purpose, passion and place in the world, regardless of their location or circumstance. The Award is a fully inclusive program and has no social, political, or religious affiliations.

To achieve an Award, each young person must learn a skill, improve their physical wellbeing, volunteer in their community and experience a team adventure in a new environment.

For Rachel and Jasmine’s adventurous journey, the students travelled to Charters Towers where they learned about the town’s history, while their community service was fulfilled through participation in charity events, sausage sizzles, and Clean Up Australia Day.

Both students had previously completed the Bridge Awards, and The Duke Of Edinburgh awards were the next step on their journey to attaining high-level youth awards.

“It’s such a great thing to have on your resume which is why I wanted to take part,” Rachel Hutchinson said.

“It feels great to be two years down the road now and to finally be receiving these certificates.”

There are three levels of the Duke Of Edinburgh Awards: Bronze, Silver, and Gold – each of which is progressively more challenging.

Rachel Hutchinson said she was eager to pursue her Silver level accreditation in the future.

Police Sergeant Li said he was delighted for his Youth Group members to have achieved this goal.

“They’ve grown up so much in that time, and it’s certainly not an easy thing to achieve. It requires commitment and persistence, which makes us very proud,” he said.

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