A global trend of “capital to regional” migration during the pandemic has continued in Australia as new figures show city dwellers moving countryside – could this be a boost for Mackay’s aging agricultural industry?

This quarter’s Regional Movers Index reported migration from major cities to regional centres remained higher than pre-COVID levels and had even increased from the height of the pandemic by 16 per cent.

The Regional Australia Institute and Commonwealth Bank report suggests that “inflationary pressures, lifestyle benefits and job creation in agriculture and services” are luring people out of cities.

Commonwealth Bank’s regional and agribusiness executive general manager, Paul Fowler, said that if the regions can “sort out housing” it could lead to a period of sustained growth.

“Regional centres should, in the meantime, prepare for continued growth for the foreseeable future,” Mr Fowler said.

With a perceived “simpler way of life” than the fast-pace of cities, a counter-culture movement of younger generations to smaller towns has been steadily growing for a decade – even being coined the “Great Relocation”.

Now Mackay farmers are wondering if the exacerbated Great Relocation of the pandemic could be a potentially “Great Supplementation”.

The Sugar City suffers from the same affliction as the rest of the country, its farmers are old and getting older: the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reports the average age of farmers across the nation as 58.

Mackay’s agricultural industry could be getting a facelift courtesy of young city dwellers taking the road less travelled.

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The Sugar City may capitalise on the increased movement of people from cities to the country

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If you’ve tried home brew before you may have some horrible memories, and for good reason. Maybe it’s my mid-life crises.

I recall my dad home brewing in Adelaide as a youngster. While not being able to taste it because of my age, I was part of the clean-up of exploding bottles in the shed, and at the time I had no idea why.

What beer is actually made from is extremely simple, but I’d love to go back a few thousand years and see how a civilization worked out how to make the stuff. Was it luck or an accident?

Put simply, its soaking grain in hot water for an hour at about 67 degrees, then boiling that water for an hour, adding some seed cones/flowers (the hops) then fermenting. That’s it. A big thanks to the malting businesses and those that grow the hops.

When people come over to my place and ask about the home brew, some are surprised just how basic it. A whole lot of grain, which could be bread, flower or breakfast cereal. That’s the basis for beer, and many other drinks too.  

One of the more interesting aspects of the beer you might be buying from your local grog shop, or from one of our local breweries, is the hops. The hops are what’s making craft beer so interesting and popular in Australia over recent years.

They all look basically the same, they’re grown vertically along wires, the hop cones visually look the same, but the different varieties bring different things to your beverage. There’s one called Pride of Ringwood, and it’s in most of the big Australian beers from the bigger breweries.  

A variety can be added at different points along the beer making process and make totally different beers, with the same recipe. On a night out if you’ve had a tropical ale, there’s a fair chance a hop called Galaxy is in it. It would taste of passionfruit, peach and citrus – but none of those fruits have been near the beer, it’s what comes out of the galaxy hops.

Right now, we’re lucky enough to have a few different places around our region brewing, Red Dog and Goanna in Mackay, and Ballistic in the Whitsundays. Down south the craft brewery industry is taking off, and maybe Mackay’s turn is coming to grow further.

Scotty

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Catch the Star breakfast show - Scotty and Rach with Kaley - from

5am, Daytimes with Johnny, Will & Woody from 5pm and the Kyle and

Jackie-o Hour of Power from 7pm every weekday!

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At first glance I am a boring creature of habit who has a predictable life with very little variation in what I do, where I go, who I see and the businesses I use. That may still be true after the second glance. And the third.

I prefer to think that I am loyal. But it’s not blind loyalty, rather it’s loyalty that has been earned and deserved.

I like going to the Shamrock Hotel on a Saturday afternoon or a public holiday for a quiet drink with my wife because there is a quiet, civilized bar (not the sports bar) and the bar manager is efficient, attentive and friendly. It isn’t good some days and bad on others, it’s always good.

And I love going to the Austral Hotel for lunch with friends because the steaks are good and the restaurant manager knows me and my mates and she is efficient, attentive and friendly.

Yes, I know, a theme is emerging here … not that I spend all my time in pubs but that good, friendly service brings me back time after time.

I go to the Ampol service station on Nebo Road for my petrol because I like the middle-aged lady who usually serves me.  She is efficient, attentive and friendly. She doesn’t try to up-sell. She never does any of the very annoying; “would you like to get a can of coke, a Mars bar and a pie for $10?”. Just good service.  I don’t even check the petrol price before filling up and sometimes I do buy ice creams for the family or a bag of ice for the Esky.

I like going to Laffo’s for a Sunday breakfast because, well, Laffo’s a good bloke, the food is good and the service is efficient, attentive and friendly.

My loyalty list goes on … Trantech for IT, NB Industries for servicing the car etc. It all comes down to the great service and trust.

I know there are other outstanding IT guys and mechanics, but I pick and stick with those I know who haven’t let me down. I need someone to trust for IT and David Tranter from Trantech is my man. I need a good mechanic that I can trust, and Shaun from NB Industries never lets me down. So I stick.

The other day I rang a client that I sold a house for a few years ago. He told me a while ago that he would be selling again at some stage, so I rang to see how he was going.

He said he and his wife had been talking about selling.

“We said just the other day that we need to get David around to have a look at the house and start making plans for the sale,” he said.

He told me that he wouldn’t go with anyone else and, while that is a wonderful thing to hear, I know there is an over-riding principle when it comes to loyalty … you have to deliver, always.

You can’t rest on your laurels. Loyalty is great but it is only retained by maintaining the standard that created the loyalty in the first place.

In my experience, selling real estate is no different to working in others businesses …  deliver results, be trusted, create loyalty.

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Platypus Beach, the Pioneer Valley Rail Trails and the Finch Hatton Mountain bike trail town are the ideas of three separate locals that found a councillor to champion their idea and present the idea to council for consideration.

My primary project has been the Pioneer Valley Mountain Bike trails. This project has never been about building something for the local kids to do on the weekends. The kids still get to use it, but this is the region’s biggest economic development project in two decades.

Mountain biking is the world’s second fastest growing sport, mountain bikers spend serious money on their machines and are willing to travel and spend money on new and favourite experiences.

At last week’s ordinary meeting, council approved tenders for the mountain bike trail head which connects the finish of the trails directly to town. A pump track that is critical to help mountain bikers develop their skills and the first 13 kilometres of mountain bike trail that will be the largest cluster of Airflow trails ever seen in Australia.

There have been some asking why council doesn’t spend on fishing and other tourism products. This council is the first to develop a fishing strategy, recreational vehicle strategy and mountain bike strategy.

It’s personally beyond me why we have never had a fishing strategy, but this council has done it.

There are big players in fishing that are coming to town because of this mountain bike project.

One product by itself can’t carry the load so now mountain biking is here fishing tours have a better chance of being viable.

The 30,000 mountain biking visitors a year will book a fishing or other tour on their rest days. They will buy meals, rent accommodation, and spend money at Finch Hatton, Eungella, Pinnacle, Garget, Walkerston, and Mackay. This will in turn bring more tourism products to the region and more opportunities for more people.

This council is spending money to provide opportunities for its residents, ratepayers, and their children. We used to be the gateway to the Whitsundays many years ago, but we lost that tourism title. This is how we get it back.

Cr Justin Englert

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Individuals working within the agricultural industry will soon have the opportunity to up-skill their ag-tech knowledge thanks to a new pilot scheme.

Expressions of interest are currently open to participate in The AgTech Skills Hub Pilot Program which has been under development since early 2022.

The scheme aims to support new ways of attracting, skilling, upskilling, retaining, and growing local workforces through the identification of a broad suite of new and updated skills and workforce programs.

The Aquaculture and Agriculture Tech Skills Hub is jointly funded by the Australian Government (under the Regional Recovery Partnerships program), Greater Whitsunday Alliance (GW3) and Regional Development Australia Greater Whitsundays (RDA GW) and is being delivered in partnership with the Queensland Government, TAFE Queensland and CQUniversity to support existing plans and priorities within the Mackay Isaac Whitsunday region.

RDA GW CEO Robert Cocco said that the implementation of pilot programs will “enable a range of cohorts, particularly in regional locations, to acquire new skills”.

“Our education partners – TAFE Queensland and CQUniversity – are seeking expressions of interest to participate in training, at no cost to participants,” said Mr Cocco.

“The Pilot Program will test the following micro-credentials throughout the course period – based on how participants interact effectively with others at work, work effectively within the industry, and follow work safety fundamentals.”

Applications to confirm participating pilot organisations and participants close on April 26 and the course information, training plan and materials are available from May 8.

The self-paced training course will be complete by May 26 and key findings will be summarised by June 22.

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New Ag-Tech Pilot Program aims to up-skill workforce. Stock image

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Established in the local community for over 18 years and with over 40 years of combined industry experience, you can count on Roy Powell Security to find the best security solution for you.

Roy Powell Security provides advice, installation, and maintenance services for every aspect of security from your home, business and even vehicle.

Their services encompass security alarms, alarm monitoring services, CCTV, intercoms, boom gates, automatic gates, access control and much more, so you’ll rest easy knowing your premises are safe and secure.

“Our solutions can start from a basic home security system to a fully automated and customised solution,” said Roy Powell Security Office Manager Kelli Powell.

“Imagine hitting one button on an app on your phone that turns your alarm system off, your lights on and aircons on, knowing that you can walk in, and your house is ready for you to be at home.”

Roy Powell Security can offer a certified data and fibre solution for your business as well.  

With the industry’s technology ever-evolving, Roy Powell Security strives to stay at the forefront with innovations including thermal cameras, intercom systems, key trackers, GPS trackers, solar camera/boom gates and facial recognition software.

The team at Roy Powell Security can advise you on the security system products to suit your home or business and strives to offer a cost-effective, professional service each time.

Find out which level of security best suits your needs and speak to their consultants today.

Call 07 4952 5334, email reception@roypowellseciruty.com.au or visit the team at 3/52 Margaret Vella Dr, Paget.

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Kelli and Anthony Powell are here to help with your security needs. Photo credit: Alyce Holzy

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As the lush tropical region of North Queensland continues to attract an influx of plant lovers, it’s important to acknowledge the unique challenges and considerations that come with pot and plant care in our area.

Best plants

Tropical gardens are well suited to the far north, with stand out varieties such as palms, gingers, crotons, ferns and cordyline, Strelitzia, Anthurium, Spathiphyllum, and Bougainvillea being happy to be planted all year round. Likewise, native varieties such as Callistemons can be very successful when planted in winter, as they can harden off to the sun before the spring and summer heat.

Size matters

First, finding a pot suitable for your plant is important for the plant to thrive. When choosing a pot, choose a pot that is 1-2 inches larger than the current size if the plant is currently in a 10-inch pot or smaller. If your current pot size is smaller than 10 inches, choose a pot that is 2-3 inches larger in diameter.

Plant Care

One of the most important aspects of plant and pot care in our North Queensland climate is choosing the right container and soil. It’s crucial to select pots that are large enough to accommodate the plant’s root system and provide adequate drainage to prevent waterlogging, as heavy rainfall can quickly saturate soil and drown roots. Additionally, using a high-quality potting mix that is specifically designed for the region can help ensure that plants receive the necessary nutrients to thrive.

Watering

Striking a balance between providing enough moisture for plants to thrive and avoiding overwatering, which can lead to root rot and other issues, is essential in keeping our plants alive. It’s best to remember to pour no more than 1/3 of the container/pot size in water. This allows the soil to dry out slightly between waterings.

Porters Mitre 10 is having 25% off Plants and Pots this Thursday 27th to Sunday 30th of April at participating stores; Mackay City, Marian, and Sarina.

T&Cs apply, please visit in-store for more information.

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Pesto is a classic Italian sauce made with fresh basil, garlic, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese and olive oil. Making pesto at home is easy, and using basil from your garden can make it even more enjoyable. Here's how you can make pesto from basil in your garden.

1. Gather your ingredients: You will need 2 cups of fresh basil leaves, 2 cloves of garlic, 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese, 1/3 cup of pine nuts, 1/2 cup of olive oil and a pinch of salt and pepper.

2. Toast the pine nuts: Heat a small pan over medium heat and add the pine nuts. Toast them for 2-3 minutes or until they turn golden brown. Be careful not to burn them.

3. Blend the ingredients: Add the basil, garlic, parmesan cheese, and toasted pine nuts to a food processor or blender. Pulse the mixture a few times until it's roughly chopped.

4. Add the olive oil: With the food processor running, slowly drizzle in the olive oil until the mixture is smooth and creamy.

5. Season to taste: Add a pinch of salt and pepper and blend briefly to combine.

6. Store the pesto: Transfer the pesto to a jar or airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to a week. You can also freeze it in ice cube trays for future use.

Use your pesto to dress pasta, spread on bread or as a dip for vegetables. You can also experiment with different variations by adding other herbs, like parsley or cilantro, or swapping the pine nuts for walnuts or almonds. Have fun and enjoy the process!

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Did you know that council may declare a dog dangerous if it has acted in a way that caused fear to a person or another animal?

Straying dogs and dog attacks are very stressful for all involved and make up the majority of reported incidents.

Effective dog management is a lot easier than damage control after an incident has taken place.

The following can influence behaviour:

• Health – If a dog is in physical or mental discomfort it may cause them to display unwanted behaviour.

• Owner influence and energy – Our dogs can react to certain situations based on how the owner is feeling, if an owner is feeling scared, the dog may feel uncertain about that situation also.

• Nutrition – Dog’s need good quality food and clean water every day. Sometimes a change in diet can automatically fix some behaviours.

• Basic obedience training – It can be much easier to work on more complex issues with a foundation of basic obedience.

• Types and duration of exercise – Search for information specific to dog breed, this will be helpful to understand the recommended exercise needs. A pug can’t do as much exercise as a kelpie for example.

• Rest – If a dog is getting enough exercise and still can’t seem to switch off, it could be because their environment is filled with stimulation. Swap the objects that create excitement, and replace them with calming activities that involve licking, sniffing and chewing.

Life with a dog should be stress free and value adding!

Contributed by Carrie Bain, who has a Diploma in Canine Health & Nutrition and an Advanced Diploma in Canine Behaviour from the British College of Canine Studies

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Check out the Photo Gallery here:

A canister containing aluminium phosphide pellets was found washed up in Airlie Beach after recent wild weather along parts of the Queensland coast last week.

The canisters have been washing up on beaches across the entire east coast of Australia since 2012, having been located as far north as Thursday Island and as far south as Tasmania - most coming ashore in Queensland.

A similar canister washed up on the Airlie Beach Foreshore in 2013 before being removed by Queensland Fire and Rescue Service.

The canisters are believed to have been used as industrial fumigation for pest control onboard grain ships and have either fallen overboard or been discarded carelessly before washing up on shore.

The exact origin of the canister is unknown, as is the quantity of canisters that are drifting in the ocean currently. The silver canisters are found about once a year on beaches.

The contents are phosphide pellets, a stable substance when dry and sealed in the container, but when introduced to moisture, produces phosphine gas – a highly toxic and highly flammable fume.

The toxic gas is flammable and colourless and can be incredibly dangerous and potentially fatal for anyone exposed to it – even the friction of opening the container could cause it to ignite.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services spokesperson said that if a person were to locate one of these silver canisters or any similar type of container, “leave the canister where it is and do not attempt to move it.”

“Call Triple Zero (000) immediately and report the item so our specially trained Hazchem officers can respond,” they said.

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A dangerous canister containing phosphide pellets – a potentially fatal and flammable substance when exposed to moisture – was found in Airlie Beach last week

An out of court settling has been reached following a five-year legal battle with the widow of a Chinese commercial airline pilot who drowned at the Airlie Beach Lagoon with his five-year-old son in October 2018.

Yuanwei Zhang, his son Chenxi and wife Jie Tan were visiting the Whitsundays on a cruise ship when they went ashore for the day and tragedy struck.

It is understood the pair were swimming at the lagoon while Jie Tan went to the nearby shops and it is possible that Mr Zhang suffered a medical episode while in deep water and was unable to save himself or their son.

It had been a busy day at the lagoon and many people were baffled that no-one noticed the pair quietly slip below the water.

It was six minutes before Mr Zhang’s submerged body was found and a further seven minutes before the young boy’s body was brought to the surface.

Following the tragedy, Jie Tan launched a $4.5 million legal case, suing the lifeguard company Ellmill Entreprises and Whitsunday Regional Council who own the facility.

She alleged that risk assessments of the facility had not been made regularly and that the lifeguards were negligent on that day.

Shortly after the incident a lifeguard tower was placed at the site and it is believed that the lifeguard company was also replaced.

The matter has now been settled out of court but there is no information available to indicate the agreed amount.

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The family together a few days before the tragedy. Photo supplied

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Hi Everyone,

Last weekend we bought a dog.

This is my first time as a pet owner and jeez this week has been an interesting learning curve!

From puddles of pee and piles of poo all over the lounge room floor to chasing him around trying to catch my pyjamas that were swiftly stolen and then lodged in his mouth – it has already been an adventure with this mischievous little pup.

His name is Finn, and he is an eight-week old Border Collie – he is warm, friendly and independent – which are all qualities that I admire so I think he will fit right in.

This week also represented some new beginnings at the newspaper.

We welcomed our new Cadet Journalist Bronte – you can read her story on page 12 this week - and we also bid farewell to our journalist Declan.

Declan has chosen to progress his career and start his own ‘new beginning’ by moving to Tasmania to work on a daily newspaper.

He has been with us for over two years and will be sorely missed by all of us in the team.

His quiet wit in the office, his deep compassion for telling people’s stories, his highly skilled photography and his incredibly perceptive movie reviews will be part of his legacy and we wish him all the luck in his future endeavours.

Our new recruit, Bronte, joins us from Armidale and has been brave enough to move by herself to a town she has never even visited before.

Bronte brings with her a passion for journalism, a dream of adventure and a hope of an exciting new life in the Whitsundays.

I hope everyone will make her feel welcome.

Rach

Quote of the Week: “And suddenly you know: It’s time to start something new and trust in the magic of beginnings”  (Meister Eckhart)

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An enthusiastic group of Collinsville residents have been acknowledged for their incredible fundraising efforts by being named a Mater Foundation Community Hero. 

This privilege is given to not only the community groups who raise the most, but also those who embody the community spirit, enthusiasm and support the mission of the broader project.

In February this year, the first Collinsville Sea of Pink event took place – 62 people participated in a five-kilometre walk or run for charity, with all proceeds going towards breast cancer research.

Organiser Alice Randell said that she was inspired to create an event that brought the community together and celebrated women on International Women’s Day.

“From very small things, big things grow!” said Alice.

The event was a huge success and was followed by a community breakfast with raffles and a guessing game.

“By the end everyone was asking what date it would be next year!” said Alice.

In addition to the run, several other community events raised further funds.

The ‘Pay per Rep’ challenge at Alice’s workplace was one of the most popular.

A group of visiting athletes were conducting a training session at the Collinsville Open Cut Mine that day and Alice said that over $1,000 was donated within 10 minutes of the event because everyone was eager to see how much they could do.

Incredibly, 14 volunteers managed to do 470 squats, 515 star jumps and 662 push ups!

The fundraising effort continued with Collinsville Youth Coalition selling pink lemonade slushies and one community member even handcrafted quilted products to auction off.

In total, across all fundraising avenues a total of $9,216 was raised and the event was ranked 16th in the top 20 of its kind in Australia.

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The Collinsville Sea of Pink participants. Photo supplied

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Bowen State High School graduate and Whitsunday Brahmans junior player Shaniah Power has signed a two-year deal to join the inaugural North Queensland Toyota Cowboys NRLW side.

Power scored “the biggest try in the history of women’s rugby league in North Queensland,” crossing the line last-minute in the grand final victory for the Gold Stars last season -- and now she’s ensured her part in the next major milestone for the female game in her home region.

Power said that as soon as the Cowboys knew they would be joining the NRLW, she’s been in their thoughts.

“We’ve been talking about it for a very long time,” Power said.

“But the moment I actually put pen to paper with my favourite club was a dream come true, it was quite surreal.”

The 26-year-old second rower has featured for the Warriors, Titans and Roosters across three NRLW seasons, scoring six tries in 13 games, she’s no stranger to this level footy.

Bowen-born, she began playing her junior rugby league for the Whitsunday Brahmans and has been part of the Cowboys Women’s Academy since its inception in 2019.

“I didn’t think it was possible I would ever sign for the Cowboys,” she said.

“I never even thought it was a possibility three years ago to play professional women’s rugby when I got picked up for the Warriors.

“For girls in the regions, I think my signing gives them hope that they can achieve that goal if they work hard enough for it. But they have to work hard; you have to make bigger sacrifices than someone living down in Brisbane.”

For Cowboys NRLW Head Coach Ben Jeffries, Power was a perfect choice with her resume, which includes representing Queensland at State of Origin level in 2020 and 2021 and the Indigenous All Stars on four occasions.

“Shaniah has very good football instincts, possesses good footwork and can find space consistently,” Jeffries said.

“Her form this season has been outstanding. As it stands after four rounds of the BMD QRLW competition, Shaniah leads the points tally for the Steph Hancock BMD Premiership Player of the Year.

“Shaniah loves being amongst the community in promoting the game and as a North Queenslander, she will be a pivotal player within the leadership group who sets the standards for our inaugural season.”

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Bowen-born rugby star Shaniah Power has signed for the inaugural North Queensland Toyota Cowboys NRLW side