Four rowers from the Mackay Rowing Club have returned from the Queensland State Masters Championship Regatta with medals aplenty and a reinvigorated passion for their sport.

Jane Deguara, Therese Clancy, Richard McGrath and Mick Wohlfhart competed in the Championship held from April 29 to 30 at Wyaralong Dam near Beaudesert.

“We did do really well for a small club,” said Ms Deguara.

Both Ms Deguara and Ms Clancy were unstoppable, winning gold in their singles sculls before teaming up to win doubles gold as well as another gold as part of a composite quad crew with two other competitors from Brisbane, one of which formerly rowed with Mackay Rowing Club for 10 years.

The women then teamed up with Mr McGrath and Mr Wohlfhart for mixed quad bronze, while both pairs of mixed doubles, Ms Deguara with Mr Wohlfhart and Ms Clancy with Mr McGrath, won silver.

“Everyone won medals, but three gold was huge for us to get,” said Ms Deguara.

Ms Deguara started rowing around 13 years ago after her son took up the sport through school.

“He loved it, so we used to be out there all the time,” she said.

“When he was in year 12, I thought, ‘Oh well, I might have a go at it,’ and that’s usually how Masters get into rowing.”

Based on the river at the Balnagowan Bridge, the Mackay Rowing Club is welcoming new members, often holding learn to row sessions for people to have a go.

“We’ve got doctors in our club who say rowing, for older people, particularly, is such a good sport because it’s not heavy on any of the joints; it’s very good for you and very aerobically hard,” said Ms Deguara.

“It’s hard at first, but most people can do it.”

The four rowers now have their sights set on the Australian Masters Rowing Championships in Sydney in June.

“It’s taken a lot of hard training to get to this stage, it’s not an easy sport to compete in, but it’s a lot of fun as well,” said Ms Deguara.

Find Mackay Rowing Club on Facebook for more information.

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L-R Richard McGrath, Therese Clancy, Jane Deguara and Mick Wohlfhart of Mackay Rowing Club

Therese Clancy and Jane Deguara teamed up with Pine Rivers for the first time to win gold in the composite quad crew. Photos supplied

The Reef Catchments Mackay Whitsunday Streambank Stewardship Program is celebrating receiving an additional $2 million from the Reef Assist 2.0 program.

Being one of 11 regional Queensland initiatives the Reef Assist 2.0 program supports and promotes protection of the Great Barrier Reef and water quality improvements.

“This program represents the next iteration of the Reef Assist program for the Mackay Whitsunday and Isaac region. It allows us to expand on a successful relationship with local Landcare organisations and Traditional Owners that focuses on improving water quality for the benefit of the region and our beautiful reef environment,” said Katrina Dent, Reef Catchments CEO.

There are four key areas the Reef Catchments program will target, including sedimentary reduction and stabilisation of streambanks, the employment and training of new project officers into the various conversation and management projects, creating a Healthy Country Plan for Koinjmal Country, and continued promotion of the Mackay Whitsunday and Isaac Traditional Owner Reference Group (TORG).

This second iteration of the Reef Assist program is estimated to create a further 127 jobs across the catchment area of the Great Barrier Reef.

Minister for Environment and the Great Barrier Reef, Honourable Meaghan Scanlon MP, when visiting Padaminka Nature Reserve said, “The Reef Assist program has been incredibly successful and is delivering real environmental and economic benefits across our reef catchments.”

“We are also seeing improvements in the environmental condition and water quality within our reef catchments, increased resilience to future flood events through the revegetation and stabilisation of streambanks, and improvements in soil condition following the removal of weeds.”

The Reef Catchments projects are set to be completed in late 2024.

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Meaghan Scanlon MP with Katrina Dent of Reef Catchments in Padaminka Nature Reserve. Photo Supplied

It’s being hailed as a “once in a generation” sugar price, recently topping $827 /tonne.

This couples with an easing in fertiliser prices, setting the stage for a promising, prosperous 2023 harvest.

During my time as a grower, I have not seen our sugar industry in such a strong position.

Sugar prices have remained strong now for well over a year, but especially the past three months. Recently we saw the July '23 contract close near the 25 cents/pound bringing a very lucrative, $800/tonne IPS sugar. Sounds great on paper, but a little too late for most Australian growers to secure.

It is looking good - for the short-to-medium term - for prices to maybe even strengthen further, with a 2 million tonne deficit in world supplies.

There are a few factors in world sugar supply that mean the shortfall is going to be difficult to meet: we are seeing the fundamentals around world sugar supply supporting strengthening of the sugar price, in what seems is referred to as a bullish market.

A strong indicator of further sustained prices is that our competitors have not taken up the high price opportunity and begun expanding their production. These decisions - I believe - are based on world economic and financial difficulties and the instability of the US banking sector.

Many sugar-producing countries are experiencing limiting factors in their supply chain.

At this stage, we have Brazil which has had a good wet season with a crop of around 590 million tonnes of cane. Brazil’s problem lies in their ability to get their sugar through their two main ports. The Brazilian sugar industry competes with other commodities for shipping infrastructure. For this season at least, Brazil is behind the eight-ball competing for the use of port facilities with a larger-than-normal corn and soybean crop.

India has a crop of 33.1 million tonnes of sugar and has not made any announcement about their intentions to export anything beyond the initial 6 million tonnes. This is leaving an air of uncertainty around supplies out of India. India has also, since the world trade organisation’s decision on the dumping of subsidised sugar on the world market, now made a significant move towards ethanol production taking away from excess production for export.

The Thai crop is being revised down around 11 million tonnes because of mills finishing sooner than expected.

Taking all of that as it is, we have our own strong points that should go further towards our own bright future.

After a good wet season, we are now looking at another good crop, with Mackay Sugar's preliminary estimate of 5.57 million tonnes and Plane Creek hoping for 1.5 million tonnes. Our Achilles heel will again be our ability to remove and process the crop in a reasonable timeframe.

The local sugar industry is further buoyed by the potential for the development of value-added products derived from our sugar. As we have heard time and again, the Australian sugar industry has stepped up to the plate, with our sustainability credentials making us very attractive for investment in further development of renewables in aviation fuels and plant-based protein from our sugar production.

The spate of interest in the Mackay sugar industry from Australian and overseas companies in Australian sugar, instigated by a hunger by consumers around the world for sustainable food and fuel, is further driven by our stability in production and in capacity to deliver to market.

To add to that, we are fortunate to have a State Government that is hell-bent on supporting the production of these products and have been very active in speaking with industry and investors as to where our opportunities lie.

We need to be part of any developments to be able to take advantage of them in the future. To not be involved leaves us sitting out on a limb with no chance of progress being made.

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A tightening of world sugar supply is keeping sugar prices high. The stability of Australian production and export capacity makes us well-placed to reap the benefits.  Photo: Contributed

The history of Whitson Dawson is long and impressive, but while the accounting firm looks back on its 140-year history with pride, it also looks forward with excitement and confidence. Started in 1883 by W G Hodges, the firm came into the Whitson family in 1956 when Colin Whitson, well known for his accountancy and secretarial roles in the north Queensland sugar industry, joined the firm. He purchased the practise in 1958, running it until his death in 1964 when his son Neil took over. With the purchase and acquisition of more firms over the years, Whitson Dawson morphed and adapted into the accounting firm renowned throughout Mackay; steeped in local history but forward-thinking in its approach to business.

Now at the helm are Neil’s sons, Andrew and David, who joined in 1995 and 2000 respectively. The directors draw on those 140 years of generational experience, using and applying it to service current and new clients in accounting, tax and business advice. It’s this adaptability that has kept the business at the forefront of the industry for over a century; constantly evolving to the changes in the industry while relying on genuine experience and a dedicated team.

The firm is entrenched in the local community, working with a variety of likeminded businesses and professionals to provide expert advice and services. Working with other advisors including lawyers, financial planners, bankers, real estate agents and valuers, Whitson Dawson sees the importance of surrounding clients with good advisors and maintaining good relationships. The firm believes this is crucial to achieve good outcomes for the clients at each stage of the business life cycle, as accountants are at the nexus of all these events where other advisors overlap.

This holistic approach is an example of Whitson Dawson’s proactive attitude towards tax planning, reducing the stress and anxiety of the clients being a major focus of the firm. With a core group of staff dedicated to the business, clients can expect expert advice and continuity of care, no matter the team member. Whitson Dawson prides itself on education, both of the client and the staff members. It’s a place accountants want to work, with opportunities to work with freedom and progress through their careers aplenty. With some team members joining when they left school and progressing within the company to become senior accountants, Whitson Dawson is excited to foster Mackay’s next generation of tax professionals.

The Whitson Dawon team celebrate 140 years in 2023. Photo supplied

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Kacey Peoples

Senior Manager of Whitson Dawson

What drives Kacey Peoples every day is the satisfaction of helping her clients get the best outcome for their finances.

Kacey began with Whitson Dawson 13 years ago, in her second year of university. Since then, she has become an integral figure to Whitson Dawson, overseeing key changes to the business over that time.

“I knew early that accounting was the profession I wanted to pursue,” Kacey said.

“Although there is so much more to accounting than what’s in the books!”

One of the highlights for Kacey has been seeing Whitson Dawson embrace the changes in technology over the years.

“When I first started, it was mainly paper-based systems,” she said.

Kacey has also seen Whitson Dawson adapt to new and changing government policies, which often required changes to the business, including becoming more technology forward, with the introduction of Single Touch Payroll and electronic submission of Employee Superannuation Payments.

In her free time, Kacey practices her yoga and Pilates, and closely follows the Brisbane Broncos in the NRL. She also volunteers with the Marian Markets once a month, and the Pioneer Valley Show annually.

Q: What's the one piece of advice about money that you would give your 18-year-old self?

A: Don’t be afraid to take ‘calculated’ risks.

Q: What's the worst piece of financial advice that is commonly believed?

A: I wouldn’t say it is bad financial advice, but I commonly hear the negative connotations around paying tax. A business paying tax means it is performing well so should be looked at as a positive.

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Willem Weilbach

Senior Accountant with Whitson Dawson

Passion is not something that Willem Weilbach lacks, most definitely not for his work as Senior Accountant with Whitson Dawson.

Willem first realised his love for accounting in Year 10, with his first accounting subject.

“I fell in love with debits and credits and never looked back,” Willem said.

Over his six years with the business, one highlight for Willem has been achieving CPA status in June 2022, however he is often tasked with being the office handyman and tech support.

“More often than not, I use my CPA qualification to rearrange office desks and furniture and fix issues with computers!”

Away from the office, Willem relaxes with his partner, Shay, and their fur baby, Odie, a little foxy with “enough energy to power a nuclear submarine.”

Q: If you only had $1000 what would be the best investment?

A: A good pair of RM Williams boots. I’ve worn multiple boots and they all break within 6 to 12 months. I’ve had these boots for a year, and they still look and feel brand-new, with the proper care.

Q: What's the worst piece of financial advice that is commonly believed?

A: I think the worst piece of financial advice that is commonly believed is to use the equity on your family home to buy a rental property. There are a lot of success stories on the internet, but you never hear about the ones who lost the family home. Although it can work, the family home is still at risk and now you need to service two mortgages. It’s something that would personally keep me up at night!

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Sam Di Francesco

Graduate Accountant with Whitson Dawson

Having always been good with numbers, it is no surprise that Sam Di Francesco moved into the Graduate Accountant position with Whitson Dawson three years ago.

Sam completed his studies at university while employed part time with Whitson Dawson, before moving into the Graduate position.

“I found accounting in high school really interesting, which was compounded by my uni studies and everything I’ve learn about accounting and tax while working here. Something I love about working in tax is that we have the ability to help people basically through the use of a few spreadsheets,” Sam said.

One milestone for Sam is being able to learn on the job, with his part time employment with Whitson Dawson while studying.

“While scary at the time, it was absolutely worth it once I completed my degree.”

In his free time, Sam watches every game of Rugby League – “Up the Broncos!” – while stressing about the NRL. In summer, when he isn’t watching cricket – “Hopefully Australia wins the Ashes this year” – he is playing for the Magpies Cricket Club.

Q: What's the one piece of advice about money that you would give your 18-year-old self?

A: Save your money whenever you can but spending a little for yourself isn’t the worst thing in the world.

Q: What's the worst piece of financial advice that is commonly believed?

A: Cryptocurrency will instantly make you rich. While people have made a considerable amount of money off it, its volatile nature has caused people to lose everything they have.

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The Sarina Beach Progress Association are holding their Giant Garage sales again this year.

The Giant Garage Sales will be held in Sarina Beach and Campwin Beach on Sunday May 28 from 7am.

All the householders wishing to have a Garage Sale at their home are asked to register with $10 at the Sarina Beach Store / Servo up until the day before the event.

A sausage sizzle will take place at the Sarina Beach Store from 7am.

Maps of all the homes taking part are available at the Store / Servo on the day only.

All proceeds from the registration and the sausage sizzle will be donated to a charity to be decided later.

Last year’s money raised from the event, in which over 50 homes took part, was donated to the Air Sea Rescue Mackay .

Our amazing sponsor again for this event is the owners of the store Sharon and  Greg.

The Sarina Beach Progress Association are an important group helping to raise not only money for our community but awareness for what needs to be done in our area.

It is not an easy  job for our hard working volunteers, who are in the firing line with Council trying to better our facilities and projects that they work on to make this area what it is today; just have a look at the new shelters and BBQ facilities on the Beach Front Park.

So take a break and drive down to one of the best beaches in our area, stay for lunch at our Palms restaurant and takeaway shop/servo, great food and the most welcoming staff around.

Contributed by Fran Lloyd

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This year’s theme for National Volunteer Week is ‘The Change Makers’ – and that rings true for the very special people who drive positive change throughout the greater Sarina district.

Most successful not-for-profit and community organisations rely upon the time and enthusiasm of volunteers to stay effective. The selfless act of donating time impacts not only the organisation they volunteer for, but also their wider community.

Volunteers in Sarina and the surrounding areas are at the heart of community groups that help you or someone you know, each day.

Although we appreciate their efforts year-round, the upcoming National Volunteer Week (15-21 May) provides a chance for us all to say thank you for the countless efforts our locals make toward worthy causes.

Something else that is vital in supporting these volunteer groups is funding. Community Bank Sarina Bendigo Bank’s banking model is unique, in that up to 80% of local profits are contributed to community organisations, assisting volunteers to keep doing what can often be life-changing work.

Some of the groups that Community Bank Sarina has supported recently are:

• Sarina District School Chaplaincy Committee

• Sarina Surf Life Saving Club

• QCWA (Queensland Country Women’s Association) Sarina

• Koumala Progress Association

• Sarina Netball

• Breakaway Horse Riders Club

• Kidney Support Network (KSN)

• Mackay Community Visitors Association (MCVA)

• Mackay Animal Rescue Society (MARS)

• Meals on Wheels

• Men’s Shed Sarina

• Sarina Show Society

• P & Cs for St. Anne’s Catholic Primary School, Alligator Creek State School, Finch Hatton State School, Eungella State School

• Bakers Creek AFC

• Sarina Kennel Club

Community Bank Sarina recognises the work of volunteers in these groups and others in the region, and thanks them for playing a pivotal role in our community. Since opening in 2005, we have supported our greater community – including contributing $3.4 million across a range of community projects and initiatives. Thank you to our volunteers for making Sarina and district an even better place to live!

If you would like to support another crucial volunteer organisation – and have fun doing it – register today for the Cruisin’ the Coast Sarina Beach Fun Run. Happening on May 21, this event is a major fundraiser for Sarina Surf Life Saving Club (SSLC), which provides a vital volunteer service to keep us safe in the water. This event is suitable for all ages with multiple distances, like a 1km walk/run for kids, the 3km, 5km, 10km walk/runs, or the 21.5km half marathon. Find out more at www.sarinafunrun.com.au.

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Mackay’s newest acupuncturist grew up in a Chinese medicine household, following in his father’s footsteps by pursuing acupuncture.

“Whenever my brother or I would get sick, it was always herbs and natural medicine first,” said Bob Wong of Art of Acupuncture.

“My father and grandfather were practitioners so I would always help out at my father’s clinic when I was studying as well.”

It wasn’t always Bob’s dream to practise acupuncture. Originally, he wanted to travel China to study martial arts. It was his father who urged him to follow the family profession, so they came to a compromise.

“I would try studying Chinese medicine for three months with his teacher in China and then the rest of the time I would go train martial arts,” he said.

“After three months studying at the Chinese medicine hospital I ended up falling in love with it and decided that acupuncture would be my career.

“I saw firsthand the amazing results it could produce and loved how it provided a natural option rather than just drugs or surgery for everything.”

Completing his Bachelor’s in medicine in China, with a specialisation in acupuncture, Bob was able to see how both traditional and conventional medicine were utilised in Asia’s hospital systems. He moved to Australia in 2013, spending most of the time since then in Brisbane. Getting sick of the rat race, he and his family decided to try something different. After a road trip through Mackay last year, they decided it would be a good fit and they went for it. He, his wife, his eight-year-old son and six-year-old daughter love the outdoors, going for hikes and exploring their new surroundings. Still passionate about martial arts, Bob practices Brazilian iiu jitsu at Mackay MMA and helps out with the kids classes in his free time.  

Art of Acupuncture started in Brisbane in 2013, recently relocating to Pioneer Medical Centre in North Mackay. Offering a variety of services such as acupuncture, cupping, and herbal medicine, Bob and the team are dedicated to understanding the needs of their patients, explaining how their treatments work and getting the best results.

“We see a lot of chronic pain, neuralgia and uncommon disorders in our clinic,” Bob said.

“I love how we’re able to help people who have almost given up all hope.

“Many of these patients often times have tried everything in terms of conventional medicine and don’t really know what else to do.”

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There are many small, not-for-profit organisations in the Mackay region that contribute to council’s vision “To become the best region for liveability and livelihood”.

One of those organisations is the Mackay Area Fish Stocking Association, better known as MAFSA.

MAFSA is an association of volunteers dedicated to improving freshwater recreational fishing in the Mackay area, by doing the following: replenishing the Pioneer River fisheries degraded by weir obstructions; stocking Eungella, Kinchant and Teemburra dams; ensuring access for recreational anglers; protecting, preserving, enhancing, promoting, and educating on the value of Mackay’s freshwater fisheries and consulting and liaising with all levels of government and their departments.

Since 1994, MAFSA has created magnificent fisheries in three of our local dams at Kinchant, Teemburra and Eungella, and these attract anglers from across Australia and around the world to experience what our region has to offer.

There has been exceptional growth in the popularity of freshwater fishing since MAFSA assumed responsibility for turning these waterways into world-class fisheries.

Their latest major project has involved the restoration of barramundi stocks in Teemburra Dam following the recent flood event in January, which saw large numbers of fish escape over the dam wall.

The fourth stocking will release approximately 20,000 – 24,000 fingerlings, which takes their stocking total for Teemburra to about 100,000 fingerlings.

This is a massive boost to rebuild this outstanding barra fishing location and is the result of the community’s effort and fundraising.

MAFSA has just hosted the 18th INDT World Sooty Championship at Eungella Dam, with a record participation of 108 anglers, including 27 juniors, in 65 boats.

The tournament was an outstanding success and attracted a nationally known fishing celebrity in Mark Berg.

He will televise an episode highlighting this tournament and other Mackay Region fishing attractions in the coming months.

This is an outstanding example of the dedication and hard work of the MAFSA volunteers and supporters that contribute so greatly to the liveability of the Mackay region.

If you’d like to join MAFSA, or contribute to the stocking of our local dams, get in touch with them at mackayareafishstockingassoc@gmail.com.

Cr Belinda Hassan

Mackay Regional Council

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A counsellor with over 25 years’ experience, Robyn Geiger understands what it is like to feel the burden of life’s challenges sitting heavily on your shoulders, and she is here to help you release the shackles that hold them in place.

Operating a clinic in the heart of Mackay City, Robyn’s practice, Phoenix Counselling Services is located at 1/68 Sydney Street.

Down to earth, non-clinical, relaxed, and friendly, Phoenix Counselling covers the full realm of services which include the following:

• Is your child getting bullied at school? Robyn offers children and youth counselling.

• Is your teenager going through a hard time? Reach out to Robyn and see how some friendly guidance can help.

• Is your relationship struggling? Discover effective communication techniques with Robyn.

• Does your workplace have an Employee Assistance Program? Robyn is accredited to provide counselling to staff whether the issue is work-based or personal.

• Are you a carer who needs support? Robyn offers NDIS carer counselling services to help those who help others.

• Do you want faith-based support? Robyn is a qualified Christian Counsellor who people of faith can relate to pray alongside.

Using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Robyn is highly skilled to help individuals through most of life’s challenges.

“A good councillor has to be a good listener,” said Robyn.

“They then need to be able to provide ways for people to come towards a possible solution.

“People should not be embarrassed or worried about reaching out – counselling really helps to put things into perspective.”

Phoenix Counselling is also approved for the following health care funds:

• Westfund

• Police Health Fund

• Emergency Services Health Fund

• Phoenix Health Fund

• St Luke’s Health Fund

• GMHBA

• CUA

• Teachers Union Health Fund

Please note, Robyn is a counsellor and therefore does not prescribe medication, she will refer onto a psychologist on GP for more severe issues.

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Robyn Geiger from Phoenix Counselling Services. Photo supplied

If your answer is your own body weight, we are now friends. In saying that, if your answer was what is pasta, then you’re dead to me.

Tomorrow is all for you if you love pasta and everything Italian because the Jayco Mackay Italian Street Party happening on Wood and Victoria Streets is on from 3, so you know it’s going to be great.

Just think all the best food, wines, sweets, dancing, music, competitions, rides, classic Italian cars and of course the people. We have got some of the world’s best Italians all living in our region, and tomorrow they are all making their way to the Mackay City Centre for a massive party.

Just think as this is happening, the following week all the action will be at Legends on the Lawn at Great Barrier Reef Arena. Over 6000 people went last year, so next week should be another bumper day of music and fun.

I’m super keen to catch up with Paul Kelly again and the legend in Bernard Fanning on this current tour, so if you haven’t already grabbed your tickets, you might just want to do it today.

Today is also a special day because my Dad is flying in at the Mackay airport and he’s excited to be here to see not only me for my 55th birthday on Wednesday, but also so he can see his grandkids around town.

I’m sure you know it, when you travel interstate for a holiday there’s part of you that wants to relax, but there’s also a part of you that wants to visit all your family and friends. But there just isn’t enough time. I’m sure he’ll be busy. I might even bring him to my hockey game at 1:45 tomorrow. I’m sure he’ll get a laugh.

Oh, and of course Happy Mother’s Day to all the Mums this Sunday. We know it should be this day 365 days a year, but let’s spoil our Mum’s like there’s no tomorrow. It’s now 2 years since I lost my Mum, but I know I will be toasting her on Sunday with a tear in my eye.

You can join Rob Kidd from 5am weekday mornings on 4MK 1026 AM in Mackay and Proserpine, 91.5FM in Airlie Beach or just ask your smart speaker to play 4MK on iHeartRadio!

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Hi Everyone,

I’m not going to lie . . . it’s been a pretty crazy week!

But it has also been very rewarding, and I just love the buzz of working with a team who are as dedicated and passionate as I am about making each issue of the newspaper the best it can possibly be.

This week we’ve had some huge features (check out the stunning nine-page Airlie Beach Hotel 55 Year Birthday feature on pages 14-22), we’ve also had the Federal Budget announcement (see page 6) and, just an hour before going to print, we witnessed some revelations from the morning’s Council meeting that were too juicy to omit! (see page 3).

Covering the best local news in the timeliest way possible puts a fair bit of pressure on the team and as I write this, I can hear our design squad clicking away at pages, working as efficiently as possible to meet the deadline.

Some weeks are easier than others, but this one has definitely challenged us!

It’s times like this I’m really glad we have a solid team and excited that our new journalist, Bronte, seems to be happy working in the thick of the action!

This huge newspaper week also comes off the back of Core Life Magazine, our sister publication, which went to print last Friday.

It will be hitting the stands on Monday so make sure you grab your copy.

This edition of Core is our first Health, Fitness and Beauty feature and it has been wonderful meeting so many local health professionals who share tips, tricks, motivations and inspiring life stories.

We hope you enjoy everything you read this week, and if you’ve only got time to read two things – make sure it’s this paper and Core Magazine!

Rach

Quote: “If you want something done, ask a busy person” (Benjamin Franklin)

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Almost two weeks ago now, Abbey Coquillon posted onto the Whitsunday Chat Facebook page, sharing how she has been in the area for nearly a year and a half and has yet to make a solid foundation of friendships and relationships outside of work.

Once posting this, she was inundated with comments from like-minded women who are eager to make friendships with locals and travellers in the area.

This encouraged Abbey to establish the Social Ladies Whitsundays Facebook group.

“So many of us are wanting to venture out and make new and long-lasting friendships,” Abbey’s introductory post says.

“This can be a page we can just ask if anyone is free and wants to catch up! A great way to find similar interest and like-minded individuals.”

Since the group’s inception on May 3, it has seen a growth of over 600 people joining.

Many members are singing the praises of Abbey’s bravery.

“Thank you, Abbey, for creating this page – love that you were brave enough to do so,” says one member in her introduction post.

“This is a fantastic idea. I have been in Airlie a long time, two adult children and partner but my circle is small,” says another.

Most of the posts in the group are invitations to other members for hikes, coffee afternoon, or drinks at a local pub or club.

There are also members connecting to go to the gym together, an open Pilates workshop, and an event set up to attend the Mayor’s Ball in July.

The group is visible on Facebook, so just search ‘Social Ladies Whitsundays’ to join.

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Leaked Documents, Council Debates And Boardroom Applause

Building height regulations for proposed development in Airlie Beach were once again the source of boardroom debate on Wednesday with tensions flaring at the Whitsunday Regional Council Ordinary meeting.

Councillor John Collins made accusations that documents had been leaked to media before they were discussed within Council Chambers.

Mayor Julie Hall completely denied allegations stating that a photo used in an online article was from another event and not relevant to current discussions.

“I had nothing to do with that article,” she said.

A spokesperson from Save Our Foreshore (SOF), the action group that attended the Council meeting, said that they also knew nothing about leaked information and that the article was largely based on old information.

While the tension in the boardroom generated some distraction, it was soon down to business with the real reason for discussion brought to the table under the support of a large public gallery.

Mayor Julie Hall proposed the motion that the current wording, which included ‘maximum’ when referring to height restrictions, remain in the 2017 Whitsunday Planning Scheme.

This document, which contains the new Airlie Beach Local Plan, had been updated and, according to SOF, vital information that was controlling the height level of development in Airlie Beach was missing.

SOF believe that by reinstating the word ‘maximum’, it sets a precedent for those restrictions to remain.

It was also proposed that the character description relating to low rise buildings and a village feel remain included in the scheme.

The motion was carried 5:2 and the items remain included.

A lively public gallery applauded at the decision, many campaigners thrilled by the small but important win.

Although the details may seem minor, the action group believe their inclusion represents a vital piece of the puzzle for managing future developments and height restrictions.

“We are very pleased with the result at the Council meeting today,” said President of SOF Suzette Pelt.

“And really pleased with how the Councillors voted, it was also wonderful to see a full gallery and multiple applause.”

This event is timely, as the contentious Port of Airlie court case is scheduled to appear in the Planning and Environment Court later this month.

The case will see SOF take Whitsunday Regional Council to court over its decision to approve a high-rise development at Port of Airlie, a move that would see height restrictions increase from the recommended 18 metres to 47.7 metres for that development.

While the need for continued growth and development is a priority to all, so too is the way in which our region manages that growth and retains its “winning formular” which many tourists flock to the region for.

The one-day court hearing will take place in Brisbane’s Planning and Environment Court on May 15.

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The 2023/24 Federal Budget was released on Tuesday evening with the intention of easing the cost of living for all Australians high on the agenda and evident in the detail.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ Budget also delivers a $4 billion surplus with higher commodities, low unemployment and wage growth factors leading to this projection.

If achieved, it will be the first budget surplus in 15 years.

Here is how the budget will impact your hip pocket:

Cost Of Living

• You could be eligible to receive a $500 energy rebate

• Aged care workers will receive a 15% pay rise

• An extra $9 billion for additional childcare subsidies

• Sole parent payments extended until children turn 14

• $40 per fortnight increase JobSeeker, Youth Allowance, Austudy

• Rent assistance increased by 15% to an extra $31 per fortnight

• Family and friends can purchase homes together with 5% deposit

• From 2026 employers will need to pay Superannuation at the same time as the pay wages

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Health And Education

• Cheaper prescriptions for people living with chronic illnesses

• Heart health assessments now on Medicare rebate

• $32 million to upgrade school infrastructure

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Energy And Environment

• $1 billion to provide low-cost loans for solar panels and double-glazing windows

• $302 million to help farmers move towards low emission future

• $200 million for disaster prevention such as seawalls, drainage measures etc

• $2 billion for a new Hydrogen Headstart program and zero emissions future

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What The Budget Means For Our Region

It’s still early days and there is much to dissect within the detail of the Federal Budget for 2023/24 and how it will impact our region.

Federal Member for Dawson, Andrew Willcox, says he is “pretty disappointed in the budget as a whole as” he believes that more should have been allocated to the Whitsundays given that our region is one of the biggest food producers in the country.

Willcox asserts that the $4.2 billion surplus “is largely on the back of an increase in commodity prices”.

“We’ve got cattle, our beef industry’s been performing well, there’s more export dollars coming in there, and of course coal,” he said.

“In our particular area, we’re the biggest sugar cane growing area, 80% of that’s exported, so there’s export dollars coming in there.

“We’ve produced a lot of this extra income that’s gone towards the surplus and yet all our infrastructure that’s been in the budget has been scrapped.”

The one element of the Budget that Willcox is happy for is the increase healthcare assistance where he says he is “pleased our most vulnerable are being looked after”.

However, he is disappointed that there is no funding for the Bruce Highway, the Whitsunday Volunteer Marine Building or various water projects like the Urannah Dam.

“The North Queensland Water Infrastructure Authority’s being scrapped, so that was $9.5 million and that was going to oversee projects like Urannah Dam, the Burdekin to Bowen pipeline, the raising of Burdekin Falls Dam,” he said.

“Australia’s a dry continent, we should be building dams, catching water and using our water for tourism opportunities, for urban use, for mining, for agriculture.”

• Truckies will soon have to pay an additional 6% tax to use the roads which could have significant impacts on our region with supplies for everything from farms to grocery stores relying on road transport. We can expect grocery prices to reflect this additional cost.

• No local hydro-electric projects have been included in the budget which means Urannah Dam, the Burdekin to Bowen pipeline and the raising of Burdekin Falls Dam will be put on the backburner.

• The Whitsunday VMR will not receive its $420,000 upgrade to their headquarters and operational centre

• There is no mention of any funding for the Bruce Highway

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Groups from around the community commemorated Domestic Family Violence Awareness Month last week by holding candle lighting ceremonies in Bowen and Airlie Beach.

Currently in Australia, at least one woman is killed by her partner every week, and the annual Bowen DVAG holds a candle lighting vigil to commemorate those victims and their families, who have lost their lives in the past 12 months.

The Bowen Domestic Violence Action Group (DVAG) hosted the Bowen iteration and said that  the ceremony acts a reminder about the prevalence of domestic violence, and provides insight on what to look for, where to find help and ways to heal.

Usually an evening event, the 2023 Bowen ceremony took place mid-morning, illuminating healing and healthy relationships.

The DVAG is open for all members of the community. The group holds meetings fortnightly on Mondays, from 9am till 10.30am, at the Bowen Neighbourhood Centre.

The Airlie Beach event was held with Member for Whitsunday Amanda Camm MP and Federal Member of Bonney Sam O’Connor in attendance.

The DVAG continues to fight domestic violence, promoting that everyone has a role to play to support local communities and have a responsibility for their own words and actions.

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Member for Whitsunday Amanda Camm MP, Broken Ballerina founder Jules Thompson and members of the community at the vigil.

Whitsunday Counselling and Support Ayla Wright with Mayor Julie Hall. Photos Supplied