More than 80 students from four different schools participated in the Regional Finals of the Tournament of the Minds competition last Sunday.

Hosted by St Catherine’s Catholic College and held at the Secondary Campus’ Multi-Purpose Hall, the event saw 14 teams take part in the state-wide competition.

Topics included The Arts, STEM, Language Literature, and Social Sciences with each team allocated 10 minutes to present to the judges and perform a spontaneous challenge on the day.

Winners included: STEM - Secondary - Bowen State High School -Team 1 - The Tweety Birds

The Arts - Secondary - St Catherine's College Team 1- Circles in Circles

Language Literature - Secondary - St Catherine's College Team 4- Just Choose Sophie

STEM- Primary - St Mary's Primary School - Team 2 - Mission Possible

Language Literature - Primary - St Mary's Primary School - Team 3-Famous Five

The Arts - Primary - St Mary's Primary School - Team 6 -Kaddies

Social Sciences - Primary - St Mary's Primary School - Team 5- Old and New

All winning teams will attend the State Finals at St Cath’s on September 10, where presentations will be filmed and sent through to the Gold Coast for judging against the other state winners.

The College would like to thank teachers and organisers for their dedication with students in the lead up to and on the day of the event.

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Students of St Cath’s tested their talents at Tournament of the Minds last weekend. Photos supplied

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A series of mature blue gums and rainforest trees are under threat of being cleared and removed, following the Whitsunday Regional Council initiative to approve an existing development plan on the land.

According to the Whitsunday Conservation Council, the removal of these trees would turn a section of Waite Creek, a natural creek, into a lined drain, as well as destroy the habitats of native birds and wildlife.

“This change to the plan, permitted by Whitsunday Regional Council, is an insult to our many community members who over the last 20 years, have been left to rehabilitate several other denuded urban creeks, using grants and volunteer labour to gradually restore the protective lining of vegetation that has been removed in the past,” said Jacquie Sheils, President of the Whitsunday Conservation Council.

“Unfortunately, the clear felling of Waite Creek Cannonvale is only one of the many instances in our community which have already taken place or planned. Residents are kept in the dark until it is too late, and the damage done.”

“We cannot afford to lose anymore green canopy in our urban areas and adjacent residential acreages,” said Ms Sheils.

A council spokesperson said that a small area of vegetation clearing has been required within the Whitsunday Lakes development to address flooding impacts to land in Reef Court from the southern gully.

“After works in a relatively small length of the creek are completed, the area will be revegetated, and the remainder of the southern gully will remain untouched,” the council spokesperson said.

“Council does not take the decision lightly to remove vegetation along waterways and these decisions must be balanced against risks to life and property.”

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A small section of Waite Creek that is at risk of being cleared. Photo supplied

The development of Langford Park in Eton is starting to take shape.

A master plan for the area has been developed based on feedback that was gathered during the community consultation activities in November last year.

Mayor Greg Williamson said council was committed to improving liveability across the whole region.

“These upgrades will ensure Eton residents have a viable option close by for birthday parties, play dates and other social activities,” Mayor Williamson said.

“The work will take place in four stages, which will see the whole precinct upgraded, subject to funding,” he said.

“Stage one works are expected to commence in the 2024-2025 financial year.

“As part of stage one, the existing playground will be replaced with new play equipment, including a roofed shade structure and covered seating for parents. It will also be relocated closer to the park’s oval.

“The new play equipment will cater for a wide range of ages, from toddlers to children aged up to 12 years-old, and the area will be fully fenced.”

Other work being undertaken as part of stage one includes:

• A formalised entry from Hill Street with a 1.5-metre-wide concrete path connecting to the picnic and playground facilities.

• A new picnic shelter with an electric barbecue and picnic setting overlooking the park’s oval.

• Footy goal posts added to the oval.

• A retrofitted lockable gate to the internal road to prevent vehicles cutting through the park (the gate can be opened to allow access when needed by the Pony Club or others using the park).

• Water bubbler and additional shade trees.

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Bowen’s Big Mango continues to attract travellers from all states as well as overseas and they include families, grey nomads, celebrities and people travelling in unusual vehicles.

An estimated 100,000 people stop by this iconic tourist attraction each year to have a selfie taken next to one of Australia’s favourite “big things”.

This week, the Queensland Variety Bash cars are on their way to Cairns – raising money to help disadvantaged children reach their full potential.

Many of the vehicles travelled from Mackay northwest to Collinsville and then back to the Bruce Highway to make their way north.

Some, however, travelled straight up the Bruce Highway from Mackay and the Simpsons Crew from Bash 1111 Car was one of those who stopped at Bowen’s iconic tourist attraction.

This crew set themselves a fundraising goal of $8.5k and they have already passed that, raising more than $11k to help kids in need.

Manager of Bowen Tourism and Business, Leanne Abernethy said the Big Mango team was excited to welcome the Simpsons Crew as they made their way north.

“We often have unusual vehicles and people dressed up in costume call in for a selfie – and we love it when they come into the Visitor Information Centre next door to chat to the team and enjoy a delicious mango sorbet,” she said.

“It is great to see people raising money for such worthy causes.”

The Queensland Variety Bash 2023 finished in Cairns on Thursday (August 24) and raised more than $1.5 million!

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The Simpsons Crew from the Variety Bash’s Car 1111 called in at the Big Mango this week. Photo supplied

Customer experience, it is one of the most important things all the businesses in our region have in common. We are all working to ensure our customers feel important and appreciated and enjoy doing business or purchasing from us. We know that good customer service reputation and reviews are a major factor in attracting new business and delivering a great service experience will likely influence a return visit or purchase.

The Chamber is keen to start a conversation on the customer service within the Whitsunday business community. What are our individual and collective strengths? How do we train and support our teams to deliver great service? As a business community, what could we do collectively to help elevate and maintain a customer service culture that is the envy of the nation? We welcome your thoughts.

Business Boost Grants are a vital pillar of the Queensland Government’s Big Plan for Small Business strategy and grants of up to $20,000 are available with a total of $2.5M allocated this round. The grants can be used for activities that will provide growth through strategic business planning, implementation of cloud platforms and online management systems. Available from 6th to 12th September at www.business.qld.gov.au/businessboost

Vision for the Whitsundays – The research phase of our Vision for the Whitsundays project is now open. The project aims to articulate an economic vision for the Whitsundays that is informed by its business community. We invite businesses to have their say on what the Whitsundays of the future looks like, current major drivers of change and points of resistance, and what we need to do now to future proof our tomorrow. There are a few ways you can participate and share your view – make a formal submission to the project, complete a short three question survey, or attend a face-to-face or virtual focus group. Visit our website to learn more and have your say. The full report will be released in May 2024.

Our next Chamber event – Chamber on Tap – will be held 5:30pm-7:00pm Thursday 14 September at the Reef Gateway Hotel, Cannonvale. This event will showcase several business support services offered to the region by the Queensland Government Department of Youth Justice, Employment, Small Business and Training such as their Mentoring for Growth program, financial counselling service, wellness coaching, industry workforce advisors, and Back to Work funding. This event is open to all. Visit our website for more information.

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Jan Clifford

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As we emerge from “winter” and embrace the wonderful spring weather, I encourage us all to take particular care as our scaley snake friends awaken from their winter hibernation. They are usually hungry and cranky so please keep your children and your pets safe. The forest is also a source of danger to those who suffer severe allergies so again please take care.

Council has resolved to move to monthly meetings commencing this month in line with most other Queensland Councils. It is the intent to spend more time on looking at the big picture issues rather than the short council meetings we currently have. The meetings will still rotate between Proserpine and Bowen and will be live streamed. The recordings of these meetings will be kept and available for the public to view on Council’s website.

On the 15th of August, Greater Whitsunday Communities held their Greater Whitsunday Housing Summit in Mackay. The summit was attended by the three Local Governments as well as social housing providers, bankers, developers, real estate agents, state government and the mining, tourism and agriculture sectors.

There were some robust and enlightening conversations and presentations during the day. These are being collated into a report and position paper that we can use to lobby the State and Federal Governments for funding. However, everyone agreed that there is a critical shortage of housing across the wider region and that worker and affordable rentals must be addressed as a matter of extreme urgency.

Ergon are undertaking important works that started on Monday the 28th of August until the 16th of September which will affect the Central Lagoon Carpark which will limit the parking available.

Council is preparing to undertake works on the next stage of the Airlie Beach Boardwalk, which will result in the closure of the Boardwalk between the VMR Boat Ramp and Shingley Drive for around 13 weeks, from 11 September to early December. The works will expand the boardwalk by approximately 1m and see the old boards replaced with a composite fibre material.

A detour will be put in place behind Mirage Whitsundays Apartments, via Altmann Avenue and Shingley Drive. I can’t wait to see the finished product and get back out and about enjoying our wonderful foreshore area.

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Waste or unwanted motor oil should not be put into recycling or rubbish bins as it is unable to be correctly processed or treated this way. Furthermore, waste oil that spills into collection trucks can ignite fires when in contact with hot surfaces, for example with the exhaust of the truck.

Instead, residents can dispose of up to 20L of waste oil for free at Council landfills as well as at the Cannonvale, Collinsville and Mount Coolon Transfer Stations.

Use a clean metal or appropriate plastic container with a tightly sealed lid to collect your oil before taking it to be recycled. Appropriate plastic containers must be made of polyethylene (e.g. the original motor oil container) and not an empty milk bottle for example.

Waste oil can then be refined through the correct systems into new oil, processed into fuel oils, or used as raw materials for the petroleum industry. By recycling our waste oil efficiently, we greatly reduce the hazardous effects it could have on our delicate environment.

For more information, visit the Waste and Recycling section of our website: www.whitsundayrc.qld.gov.au

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With Laura Knipe, from Tourism Whitsundays

The Whitsundays is home to some of the greatest tourism products in Australia, but how do you make your business stand out in this sea of excellence?

Whether you’re a small or well-established business, these marketing tips will put you on the path to generating outstanding marketing.

Content: Get the attention your business deserves with a combination of jaw-dropping visuals and user-generated content.

Work with local content creators to create scroll-stopping videos and images or encourage your guests to capture, post, and tag content of your product.

Sharing the real, unedited experience is an equally powerful way to showcase your strengths.

Data: Where you can, collect information from your guests, such as their age, state, occupation, and travel group status (singles, couples, families, etc.) to target your advertisements.

Log into ‘Meta Blueprint’ to learn how to target your social media activity to your most active markets.

Differentiation: Figure out what makes you and your business unique and shout it from the rooftops.

Answer the question: ‘How are you different from your competitors?’ and make sure the answers are clear in your marketing communications.

Lastly, regional tourism organisations provide marketing support to all levels of businesses. Members of Tourism Whitsundays can be included in domestic and international marketing campaigns to receive coverage across a wide range of channels.

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Peninsula Airlie Beach Brings Home National Award

For the second year in a row Peninsula Airlie Beach has received national recognition as Residential Manager of the Year – Short Term Accommodation runners-up at the ARAMA awards held down in Brisbane last month.

This latest accolade adds to their already weighty trophy cabinet, having taken out top gong for the same award last year followed by an Excellence In Customer Service Award at the at the Whitsunday Tourism Awards 2022.

This inspiring list of achievements is especially impressive considering Managers Paul and Fran Tuddenham have only been in the industry for two years.

Originally from Robina, on the Gold Coast, the couple worked in Banking and Management for over 20 years before starting a Mortgage Broking Business which they also operated for 20 years.

When they came to Airlie Beach on holiday, they took a tour of Peninsula and fell in love with the area and its stunning sea views.

Taking the career change in their stride, the couple took on the management rights of the complex and have never looked back.

Two years on and not only have they won several awards, but they have also substantially grown the business in that time.

“We have 42 units, 26 of which are in the rental pool,” explained Paul.

“When we came here, we had 12 apartments and have since grown to now manage 23 of them which is amazing!”

Paul says that the location itself makes his job and growing the business easy as Peninsula is perfectly positioned just a short 1.5-kilometre walk from Airlie Beach and has stunning views of the Coral Sea.

“You can see sea turtles off the balconies in the afternoon and all units have balconies that look out onto the Coral Sea or Coral Sea Marina,” he said.

“We love living here and we love our job – it sounds a bit cliché, but we just love building the business up, building relationships with tourism operators and we are getting a lot of repeat business.

“We find that people just love the more personal accommodation and business is really good.”

One significant change that Peninsula has adopted recently is that the units are no longer available to party-guests, with bucks and hen nights strictly prohibited.

This has created an environment where people are assured of a relaxing, quiet holiday escape where they can enjoy the serenity of the location without external noise.

Paul and Fran have also been nominated for the upcoming 2023 Whitsunday Tourism Awards which are due to be held at the Proserpine Entertainment Centre in October.

They are hoping to take home another accolade, but if they don’t, Paul says living in such a beautiful location is reward enough.

“We love Airlie Beach, so many people haven’t even been here yet, but they should definitely come, and we will make sure we look after them.”

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Paul and Fran Tuddenham, Managers of Peninsula Airlie Beach. Photo supplied

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Aspiring nurses of Bowen have been given the green light, with TAFE Bowen now offering the Diploma of Nursing in the Bowen Health Hub.

Replicating a real-life hospital environmental, nursing students at the Bowen Health Hub will be able to get hands-on training for the duration of the 18-month course which is set to start on September 25.

“In Bowen, the Diploma of Nursing will be delivered online with some face-to-face training,” explained Melanie Clarke, Community and Health Faculty Manager for TAFE Queensland in Far North and North Queensland.

“During the course, students will participate in several week-long residential training blocks to gain practical, hands-on skills.

“On campus, students will train in the purpose-built Bowen Health Hub using industry standard equipment and tools.

“To ensure they are work-ready when they graduate, students will also complete a minimum of 400 hours of vocational placement in a health care facility or hospital,” Mrs Clarke said.

The Diploma of Nursing will be offered as a Fee-Free course, meaning eligible students will receive the training for free.

“We know that for some people the cost of training can be a barrier to pursuing their career goals, so Fee-Free TAFE is a great opportunity for locals seeking training,” she said.

Mrs Clarke said Diploma of Nursing graduates can choose to pathway to university.

“Our graduates are highly sought after and can enter the workforce when they finish their course or use their diploma training to pursue further studies such as a Bachelor of Nursing at university,” she said.

To enrol in the Diploma of Nursing at the TAFE Queensland Bowen campus, visit tafeqld.edu.au or call 1300 308 233 today.

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In A Symphony Of Talent

Mackay Eisteddfod 2023

After nine days and 37 sessions of performance across the MECC and Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music, the first leg of the Mackay Eisteddfod has wrapped up.

The Eisteddfod will continue with drama and dance categories from October 1 to 14.

Read on to find a selection of results on page 20 and visit Mackay Eisteddfod Results on Facebook for full results.

Best Of The Best Shine At Mackay Eisteddfod

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For a full list of award winners, visit Mackay Eisteddfod Results on Facebook.

Thursday, August 10

SESSION 1 - MECC THEATRE

S1 - Choral Singing for Schools Year 1 and Under

GOLD Mackay West State School

BRONZE Mackay North State School

S2 - Choral Singing for Schools Year 2 and Under

GOLD Victoria Park State School

GOLD Whitsunday Anglican School – Whitsunday Piccolos

BRONZE Emmanuel Catholic Primary School

BRONZE Mackay North State School

S4 - Choral Singing for Schools Year 4 and Under

GOLD Whitsunday Anglican School – Whitsunday Mezzo Coro

GOLD Emmanuel Catholic Primary School

SILVER Mackay West State School Choir

SILVER Eimeo Road State School Choir

SILVER Fitzgerald SS

SESSION 2 - MECC THEATRE

S5A - Choral Singing for Schools Year 6 and Under

GOLD Fitzgerald SS

SILVER Whitsunday Anglican School – Whitsunday Cantare

SILVER Emmanuel Catholic Primary School

BRONZE St John’s Catholic Primary School Choir

S6 - Choral Singing for Primary Schools Open

SILVER Emmanuel Catholic Primary School

SILVER Bucasia State School

BRONZE St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School

SESSION 3 - MECC THEATRE

S35 - Modern Solo 13 Years

1st Madelyn Shepherd

2nd Harry Hayes

3rd Maria Attard

S36 - Modern Solo 14 Years

1st Matilda Turner

2nd Sanvi Rana

3rd Senara Wasalthilaka

S37 - Modern Solo 15 Years

1st Elise Doherty

2nd Billie Little

3rd Sophie Reilly

S38 - Modern Solo 16 Years

1st Lexis Tapp

2nd Cohen Goodson

3rd Lily Wardrop

S14 - Folk Singing Group for Secondary Schools

1st Mackay North State High School

2nd St Patrick’s College Folk Choir

S12 - Choral Singing for Secondary Schools Hymn and Folk

1st St Patrick’s College Choir

2nd Whitsunday Anglican School Snr Vocal Ensemble

3rd Catherine McAuley College Mackay

SESSION 4 - MECC THEATRE

S11 - Choral Singing for Secondary Schools Open

1st Catherine McAuley College

2nd St Patrick’s College

3rd Mackay North State High School

S15 - Jazz/Modern Vocal Group for Secondary Schools

1st Mackay North State High School

2nd St Patrick’s College

3rd Catherine McAuley College

S20 - Open Chorus

1st With One Voice Mackay

S21 - Folk Singing Group Open

1st Grace Notes

2nd Dance Express

S22 - Jazz / Modern Group Open

1st Dance Express

2nd With One Voice Mackay

3rd Grace Notes

S39 - Modern Solo 17 to 25 Years

1st Isabella Davison

2nd Dana Falzon

3rd Meg McDonald

Friday, August 11

SESSION 5 - MECC THEATRE

S7 - Choral Singing for Primary Schools Enrolment 150 or less

BRONZE Chelona State School

S8 - Choral Singing for Primary Schools 151 to 300

GOLD Alligator Creek State School

GOLD Carlisle Adventist College Yr 3/4

SILVER Carlisle Adventist College Yr 1/2

BRONZE Carlisle Adventist College Yr 5/6

S3 - Choral Singing for Schools Year 3 and Under

GOLD St Brendan’s Mackay

GOLD Victoria Park State School

SILVER Fitzgerald State School

SILVER Proserpine State School

BRONZE Bucasia State School

BRONZE St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School

SESSION 6 - MECC THEATRE

S5B - Choral Singing for Schools Year 6 and Under

GOLD Mackay North State School

GOLD St Brendan’s Mackay

SILVER Proserpine State School

BRONZE Slade Point State School

BRONZE Marian State School

S10 - Folk Singing Group for Primary Schools  

GOLD Fitzgerald State School

GOLD Whitsunday Anglican School – Whitsunday Litra Mae

GOLD Proserpine State School

SILVER Marian State School

SESSION 7 - MECC THEATRE

S48 - Solo from any Musical, Operetta or Rock Opera 11 Years

1st Henry Miller

2nd Harriet Wheaton

3rd Kalli Lincoln

S49 - Solo from any Musical, Operetta or Rock Opera 12 Years

1st Kiara Knowles

2nd Emily Chandler

3rd Georgina Baira

S50 - Solo from any Musical, Operetta or Rock Opera 13 Years

1st Emily Franettovich

2nd Madelyn Shepherd

3rd Callyn Grady

S51 - Solo from any Musical, Operetta or Rock Opera 14 Years

1st Sanvi Rana

2nd Lacey Dahl

3rd Gabriella Ruggeri

S52 - Solo from any Musical, Operetta or Rock Opera 15 Years

1st Elise Doherty

2nd Hannah Stevenson

3rd Billie Little

SESSION 8 - MECC THEATRE

S53 - Solo from any Musical, Operetta or Rock Opera 16 Years

1st Lily Wardrop

2nd Lexis Tapp

3rd Cohen Goodson

S54 - Solo from any Musical, Operetta or Rock Opera 17 to 25 Years

1st Meg McDonald

2nd Cara Pace

3rd Nicole Pillhofer

S40 - Modern Solo Open

1st Brandi Illguth

2nd Sharon Thompson

3rd Nicole Pillhofer

Saturday, August 12

SESSION 10 - MECC THEATRE

323A Premier Irish Jig 15 Years and Under

1st Olivia Knight

2nd Harper Mason

3rd Annika Wallace

323B Premier Irish Jig 16 Years and Over

1st Chloe Barnham

2nd Tullia McDonald

3rd Tamlyn Evans

300 Primary Pas De Basques

1st Amber Rowe

2nd Briar-Rose O’Donnell

3rd Henry Rowe

303A Beginners Highland Fling 10 Years and Under

1st Anna O'Riely

2nd Amelia Shipston

303B Beginners Highland Fling 11 Years and Over

1st Caitlin Yore

308 Novice Highland Fling All Ages

1st Gabrielle Reading

2nd Laycee Mason

3rd Marley Brown

313 Intermediate Highland Laddie All Ages

1st Xeaicha Hutchinson

2nd Trinity Lowe

301 Primary Pas De Basques and High Cuts

1st Amber Rose

2nd Briar-Rose O’Donnell

3rd Henry Rowe

315 Intermediate Barracks Johnnie All Ages

1st Layla Brown

2nd Xeaicha Hutchinson

304A Beginners Sword Dance 10 Years and Under

1st Amelia Shipston

2nd Anna O’Riely

3rd Lauren Norgate

304B Beginners Sword Dance 11 Years and Over

1st Zoe Ferguson

2nd Caitlin Yore

309 Novice Sword Dance All Ages

1st Laycee Mason

2nd Gabrielle Reading

3rd Chloe Schatkowski

314 Intermediate Seann Triubhas All Ages

1st Lilly-Louise Foslund

2nd Layla Brown

3rd Trinity Lowe

322A Premier Sailors' Hornpipe 15 Years and Under

1st Olivia Knight

2nd Harper Mason

3rd Lily Williamson

322B Premier Sailors' Hornpipe 16 Years and Over

1st Brooke Elliott

2nd Chloe Barnham

3rd Isabella Yore

302 Primary Highland Fling

1st Briar-Rose O’Donnell

2nd Amber Rose

305A Beginners Seann Triubhas 10 Years and Under

1st Amelia Shipston

2nd Lauren Norgate

3rd Anna O’Riely

305B Beginners Seann Triubhas 11 Years and Over

1st Caitlin Yore

2nd Zoe Ferguson

3rd Sophia Benton

310 Novice Seann Triubhas All Ages

1st Laycee Mason

2nd Scarlett O’Donnell

3rd Marley Brown

316 Intermediate Sailors' Hornpipe All Ages

1st Xeaicha Hutchinson

2nd Trinity Lowe

3rd Layla Brown

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Choral and Vocal Major Award Winners Back Row L-R Billy Anderson, Nicole Pillhofer, Madelyn Shepherd, Meg McDonald, Lily Wardrop, Sanvi Rani, Brandi Illguth, D’Arne Sleeman (Adjudicator), Front Row L-R Jeanie Elliott, Hope Gage-Riri, Lacey Cheyne. Photo supplied: Mackay Eisteddfod Association Inc

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More than 150 stakeholders in attendance at the Greater Whitsunday Housing Summit last week were presented with a comprehensive schedule of information outlining the multifaceted housing crisis confronting the Greater Whitsunday region.

The aim of the Summit was to seek to develop solutions to the Mackay, Isaac, and Whitsunday regions’ housing issues in line with the priorities identified at the Housing Roundtable in December 2022.

As major event sponsors, Community Bank Sarina Bendigo Bank Director Ann Fordyce said the material presented and discussions highlighted what an “extremely complex dilemma” housing is – both currently and in our region’s future.

“Housing is critical for our economic and community development,” Ms Fordyce said.

“Our population has grown significantly in recent years, and housing and infrastructure has not kept up with the demand.

“With more people moving to the area, additional pressure is being applied to the region’s increasing demand for social and affordable housing.”

The Summit was an initial working step in formulating and implementing solutions that will take into account the many facets of the housing crisis.

“Collaborative solutions are required. This is not a situation where one organisation will be able to provide a complete, all-over solution. There are many important issues to be taken into account and actioned, such as housing availability to all demographics, diversity of choice and the required infrastructure support relative to population growth.

“Finding workable solutions will require buy-in and action from all levels of government, as well as the private sector, because this critical housing issue impacts every aspect of our region’s economic development.

“As a community bank, Community Bank Sarina supports a collaborative approach to identifying solutions to our region’s housing crisis and we look forward to seeing the strategic outcomes.

“We see the next steps being realistic and actionable solutions enabling partnerships to coordinate, promote and facilitate opportunities to increase housing supply, including the delivery of social and affordable housing outcomes.”

Amanda Camm MP, Member for Whitsunday congratulated the Greater Whitsunday Communities for hosting the Housing Summit.

“To see the breadth and diversity of stakeholders who made valuable contributions to the discussions, highlights the real impact the housing crisis is having across community, industry and development sectors in the region,” Ms Camm said.

Ms Camm said it was disappointing that the State Housing Minister was only able to attend the opening.

“And didn’t make time to hear from the locals in the room who clearly outlined the impacts the crisis was having on the region and also provided local solutions that may help alleviate the problem,” she added.

“Until this housing issue is addressed the challenge for all industries will be the challenge of attracting workforce to our region. It is going to take a collaborative, region specific approach to finding a solution.

“The Government must let regional stakeholders drive the response and not just dictate a one size fits all response from Brisbane.

“The Labor Government’s ongoing announcements and lack of delivery have been disappointing over the last two years.

“We have a 2-billion-dollar housing investment fund and not one cent has been used to build a home in regional Queensland.”

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Deputy Mayor Karen May, Member for Whitsunday Amanda Camm and Carol Norris, Executive Officer of Greater Whitsunday Communities attending the Greater Whitsunday Housing Summit

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NQ's Rock'n Country once again delivered a weekend of loud, energetic, and boot-scooting live country music last weekend.

The music of Shannon Noll, Morgan Evans, Troy Cassar-Daley, and Adam Brand was heard across the city of Mackay, emanating from the busy hub of the Mackay Showgrounds.

While locals and visitors alike enjoyed a weekend of country bangers, they were also playing their part in raising funds for Variety - the Children's Charity of Queensland.

NQ's Rock'n Country made a donation of $30,000 to Variety which will be used to support children who are sick, disadvantaged, or who have a disability.

Money was also raised through auctions and donations throughout the day.

The festival aligned with the 2023 Variety Bash, travelling from Toowoomba to Cairns, with the Variety Bashers stopping in and dancing their lay day away.

Congratulations to all who contributed to this great cause!

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NQ's Rock'n Country donated $30,000 to Variety Queensland. Photo supplied

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The pressing issue of the housing crisis demands immediate attention and proactive solutions. With the cost of building a home set to rise on October 1, 2023, the timing couldn't be more critical. As we grapple with the housing shortage, the Master Builders Association says the decision for the Queensland Government to introduce livable housing and energy efficiency provisions adds an extra burden to an already challenging situation. While other states have recognised the economic climate and housing crisis and postponed changes, the Queensland Government has chosen a different path.

The Master Builders Association added that the ramifications of these changes are substantial, potentially increasing the cost of building by $20,000 to $30,000. This comes on top of the 42 per cent rise in costs over the past three years. As the housing crisis deepens, adding further complexity and financial strain on prospective homeowners seems counterintuitive. Despite the economic challenges, local builders celebrated earlier this month at the Mackay & Whitsunday Master Builders Awards. You can read about some of the success on pages 10 – 13.

In light of these challenges, it's heartening to see efforts on the community level to address the housing crisis. The recent Greater Whitsunday Housing Summit gathered over 150 stakeholders to delve into the multifaceted housing issues in the region. Acknowledging the complexity of the situation, the summit aimed to formulate solutions in line with community priorities. Collaborative efforts involving all levels of government and the private sector are essential to tackle this crisis head-on. You can read more about this on the opposite page.

As we face the housing shortage, I believe all levels of government, businesses and individuals must come together to offer realistic and actionable solutions. The crisis impacts every aspect of our economic development, from attracting a skilled workforce to ensuring affordable housing for all demographics.

The housing crisis is a call to action, and now is the time for our leaders to step up and provide the necessary support and solutions. The welfare of our communities and the future prosperity of our region depend on it.

Amanda

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The Whitsunday STEM Challenge invited young women and their families to learn, network and become inspired at a Women in STEM event earlier this week.

Hosted at Whitsunday Anglican School as part of National Science Week, the event aligned with the national theme of ‘Innovation: Powering Future Industries’.

Event Coordinator Leanne Williams said Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) was important for students in this contemporary world with the rise of new technologies.

“This is to inspire our next generation to think outside the square on different available careers,” she said.

“Students need to learn the ability to understand and apply data and develop solutions to complex problems and this event aims to encourage an interest in science pursuits, especially among our young women.”

Students were offered the opportunity to take part in activities linked to STEM careers including virtual reality, robotics, drones, and forensics.

Four guest speakers of different backgrounds also presented to the group before engaging in a panel discussion and Q&A, including keynote speaker Nicola Grobler (Careers with STEM), Rebekah Rhoades (mechanical/CPEng accredited), Emma Jones (Environmental Management) and Kirtee Nadaraja (medical science).

Mechanical Engineer at BMA’s Broadmeadow Mine Rebekah Rhoades hoped to inspire the next generation to follow a career in STEM, saying “you can’t be what you can’t see.”

“I didn’t have the understanding of the resource sector growing up and wasn’t guided in that direction at all,” she said.

“I want to make it visible that we’re (women in STEM) are in existence.

“Our biggest benefit is the lower high school age bracket, so they can start studying the prerequisites and feel safe to do that.”

Year 11 Whitsunday Anglican School student Kashmala Kahn was eager for the opportunity to network and learn about STEM careers, an opportunity she said is rare.

“There’s not many opportunities like this where you get to meet other women who are interested in STEM, specifically robotics,” she said.

“Hopefully I can help my younger friends see that it’s alright to take part in this type of things.”

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Councillor Michelle Green (Emcee) with guest speakers Rebekah Rhoades, Kirtee Nadaraja, Emma Jones, and Nicola Grobler

Students from Mackay, Sarina, and Proserpine attended the event, partaking in robotics, VR, drones, and forensics

Photo credit: Sam Gillespie

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