Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
At just 18 months old and weighing 17kg, Obi is a happy little guy with plenty of love and enthusiasm for life. Getting along well with children, other dogs and visitors, he has plenty of potential to become a much-loved member of his new family. Obi had a rough start to life and can still find the world a little scary at times, so he is looking for a patient and understanding family willing to help build his confidence and show him the ropes. He already knows his basic commands and walks confidently on the lead, making him a great companion for someone happy to continue guiding him as he settles into his new life. Once Obi gets to know and trust you, he will become an unshakeable little shadow, following his favourite person wherever they go. If you have the time, patience and love to give Obi the fresh start he deserves, contact his carer Char on 0402 540 612 to arrange a meeting. Alternatively, email LLTAGSandDogRescue@gmail.com to find out more.
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No city or region in Australia has been unaffected by the property market changes that have become obvious ever since the Federal Government introduced its budget in May, removing negative gearing from established housing and changing the capital gains tax rules. But some have been hit harder than others. The latest property market review by valuers Herron Todd White gives an extensive rundown of where particular regions sit as well as the nation as a whole. HTW chief economist Cameron Kusher pointed out in the September review that inflation continues to be a factor, not only in cost of living but also projected interest rate rises in the months ahead. He said: “National dwelling values fell by 3.1 per cent over the three months to August 2026, with capital city values 3.7 per cent lower and regional values falling by 1.2 per cent.” He said property market analyst Cotality estimates that over the three months to August 2026 “there were 14.6 per cent fewer property sales than the same period last year”. “Transaction activity has seen a much greater decline in the capital cities than in the regional markets; however, falls are broad-based,” he said. “Every capital city except for Hobart is seeing a higher volume of properties available for sale relative to a year ago, and only regional Tasmania and regional NT are seeing fewer total listings. “Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra have historically high listing volumes, and although they aren’t at historic highs elsewhere, Brisbane and Perth have seen annual increases of more than 50 per cent, and Adelaide has seen an annual increase of more than 40 per cent. “The heightened volume of stock for sale at a time in which there are fewer active buyers in the market means that those who are buying have less urgency and more choice. In turn, this means that they have greater scope to negotiate on price, and there are many properties that will take a long time to sell in this market or simply won’t transact. “In the regional areas, the longest median days on market are in NT, NSW and Victoria and the lowest are in WA, Queensland and Tasmania.” The HTW monthly review includes their very interesting property clock, in which they categorise where particular markets are in the property cycle. Sitting at 3 o’clock on the property clock in a declining market are Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra. Sitting in the “starting to decline” category includes cities such as Alice Springs, Brisbane and the Gold Coast. Several Queensland cities are included in the “peak of the market” category; Gladstone, Bundaberg and Toowoomba. And cities in the “approaching the top of the market” category include Cairns, Sunshine Coast, Townsville and the Whitsundays. What about the cities still sitting at 9 o’clock, the “rising market” category? Well, there aren’t nearly as many cities in that category as there were a few months ago but it still includes Mackay, Rockhampton and Emerald, among a few others. HTW can only go on the data in front of them, however agents on the ground experience the market as it happens. It is true that the Mackay market is behaving nothing like the free fall being felt in major cities like Sydney. The economy is going well, unemployment is virtually non-existent, rental vacancies are low and properties are selling. However, no agent in Mackay will tell you that right now Mackay is in a rising market. It’s still active and people are still buying but at the moment it’s not going up … it represents a great opportunity for those wanting to get into the market and investors seeking one of Australia’s best rental returns.
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Locals gathered in Mackay last Saturday for the annual March For Life, which brought together supporters of the pro-life movement. The march began at Harbour Road before finishing at Caneland Central Park, where attendees heard from guest speakers and community representatives. Among those attending was Cherish Life Queensland CEO Matthew Cliff, who travelled from Brisbane for the event. Operating since 1970, and formerly known as Right to Life Queensland, Cherish Life is one of Queensland's longest-established pro-life organisations, with branches throughout the state, including Mackay. Mr Cliff, who has been CEO for around four and a half years, said the organisation's work centred on two key areas of education and advocacy, aiming to encourage greater understanding of its pro-life position, while engaging with elected representatives and participating in public discussions about abortion. Mr Cliff said the organisation also connected women experiencing unplanned pregnancies with other services that could provide practical and emotional support. Though Cherish Life do not offer direct assistance themselves, they refer women to services like Hope's Dream, a Christian-based, non-profit charitable organization which provides pregnancy counselling and support. “The rallies are really a good way of bringing public awareness,” Mr Cliff said. “It's an opportunity for people who support the pro-life movement to demonstrate why this is important to them.” Mr Cliff said his own Christian beliefs played a role in shaping his position, with his views centred on the belief that human life is valuable from conception. “The Christian method in which I believe as the CEO of Cherish Life Queensland is to walk in grace and truth, and truth in love, and that all human life from conception is valuable,” he said. The Mackay event featured several speakers and representatives, including Mr Cliff, Australian Christian Lobby Assistant Director Daniel Adsett, Family Voice Australia Queensland Director Andrew McColl, Lighthouse Church Mackay Pastor Jai Wright and St Joseph's Catholic Church Associate Pastor Rev. Fr. Raju Mandothparambil. While Cherish Life advocates against abortion, other organisations take a different view of reproductive rights. CEO of Queensland pro choice organisation Children By Choice Anjulee Singh shared: “Children by Choice believe all people have the right to make decisions about their own body and health care. “Abortion is legal healthcare and should be accessible without barriers regardless of where you live.” The organisation advocates for accessible reproductive care in regional communities, claiming that stigma and privacy concerns can make it hard to ask for help, and can prevent women from pursuing the healthcare they are entitled to. “Everyone has the right to make their own decision about their pregnancy, whether that means continuing, ending, or considering adoption,” the organisation states. “Support should be non-judgemental, confidential, and respectful.” The differing perspectives come amid ongoing public and parliamentary debate about reproductive rights in Queensland, including discussions involving Mackay MP Nigel Dalton, who earlier this year crossed the floor in opposition to restrictions on parliamentary debate about abortion. Photo source: Cherish Life QLD - Mackay Branch
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Mackay beachgoers are encouraged to put their photography skills to good use, with the arrival of two new monitoring stations giving community members a hands-on role in tracking changes to the coastline. Eimeo Beach and Lambert’s Beach are the first locations to introduce the newly installed CoastSnap poles, which feature a phone cradle where residents and visitors can position their phones, capture an image of the coastline and upload it through the CoastSnap app. Photos taken from the same position over time will help build a long-term record of sand movement, beach erosion and recovery, providing valuable information to support future coastal management. Mackay Regional Council Mayor Greg Williamson said the project, led by the University of New South Wales, would give council access to valuable monitoring data while allowing the community to get involved. "It's easy to use. You just follow the barcode. And you can do it anonymously, you don't have to put your name on it," he said. Mr Williamson said the photographs and accompanying observations would help build a detailed picture of how the region's beaches change over time. "If everybody does that every day, just imagine the record that we're going to have via the University of New South Wales to manage this in the future," he said. "This is just another tool for us to be able to effectively manage the 31 beaches we've got in our region." Council's Coordinator of Waterways and Coastal Planning Robyn Burkett said the initiative formed part of the Mackay Coast Our Future project, helping council better understand coastal conditions and plan for future changes. "It's about monitoring our beaches, and community education, so that's why we're encouraging people to come along, snap a photo, and learn more about coastal hazards and how our coastal processes work in the Mackay region," she said. Ms Burkett said ongoing monitoring would help determine how much sand was lost during storm events, whether beaches recovered naturally and when intervention might be needed. "Having good information now, when we experience a storm event, looking at what those changes are, and how much sand is lost, whether it will recover over time, or whether it needs intervention is really important." The CoastSnap initiative was founded in 2017 as a pilot project by the University of New South Wales, with more than 100 poles now installed across 16 countries. The two Mackay stations were funded by council, with further locations being considered for the region. To learn more, visit www.coastsnap.com or visit connectingmackay.com.au/mackay-coast-our-future. L-R - Robyn Burkett, Coordinator Waterways and Coastal Planning for Mackay Regional Council, Kylie Cauchi, Waterways Planning Advisor for Mackay Regional Council and Mayor Greg Williamson of Mackay Regional Council, testing out the new CoastSnap pole at Eimeo Beach. Photo credit: Hannah McNamara The impact of tropical cyclone Debbie in 2017. Supplied by Mackay Regional Council
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The Bowen Gumlu Growers Association has been making waves, delivering the ‘New Realities in Agriculture and Aquaculture Project’ to the region’s young people, though a virtual reality project.
Participating students were taken through the common misconceptions surrounding the industry and shown the diverse and varied roles that are available for young people.
Bowen Gumlu Growers Association Chief Executive Officer, Ry Collins, said the project was designed to engage directly with a young audience focused on their future.
“The virtual reality experience that the ‘New Realities’ project offers gives students and young adults the opportunity to step into a simulated environment and explore the roles available in the agriculture and aquaculture industries,” he said.
“Engaging this audience in an environment that stimulates discussion around future careers is crucial to the long-term success and viability of the industry.”
Senior students attending the Whitsundays Career Expo in August were the first to try out the virtual reality headsets.
Mr Rob Harris, Bowen State High School Principal, was in strong support of technologies that offer alternate ways to engage students and encourage them to consider pathways beyond year 12.
“The students really enjoyed the Virtual Reality experience and commented on the number of roles on offer across the industry,” he said.
“I think it surprised many students to learn that skills in the sciences, information technology and food studies can be utilised to forge a career in agriculture and aquaculture.
“Hearing first-hand from local growers about their experiences on farms added another dimension to the experience and allowed the students to imagine the reality of a career working alongside these mentors.”
Reef conservation is at the heart of Whitsunday schools, with the Whitsunday Regional Council leading waste minimisation programs across the region.
Working as part of the Mackay Whitsunday Isaac Reef Community Action Plan (CAP), the council sought to begin reef protection and conservation with the region’s youngest, implanting carbon footprint reducing tactics in schools.
Primarily through reduction of food waste in schools, a Waste Education Officer conducted waste bin audits before constructing plans to mitigate the concerns they found.
Across the five schools visited, common priorities included organics excluded from landfill, reducing the amount of soft plastics discovered, and introducing recycling programs.
Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor Julie Hall said the waste minimisation programs are a great tool to empower schools and to educate our community.
"It is more important than ever to ensure that the younger generation in our community understand the importance of sustainable waste management practices in order to preserve our environment and delicate ecosystems for years to come,” said Mayor Hall.
These school-based waste education programs have been really successful in educating our young residents on the difference they can make by following a few simple waste reduction steps.”
The Mackay Whitsunday Isaac Reef Community Action Plan detailed 10 community strategies to improve protection and conservation of the Great Barrier Reef.
Mackay Whitsunday Isaac CAP Leader Kellie Best said that over the past year, two of these strategies have progressed to on-ground projects in our region.
The Mackay Whitsunday Isaac Reef Community Action Plan is funded by the partnership between the Australian Government’s Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.
Whitsunday Regional Council taking Reef Protection to region’s youngest. Photo supplied
More than 500 residential lots bordered by open space and parkland have just been opened-up and approved for development in Cannon Valley.
Gold Coast-based, Alder Developments, have secured this 100-hectare parcel of land at 1405 Shute Harbour Road, Cannon Valley and are looking forward to creating a master planned community “for Whitsunday residents to live in and to raise their families”.
Alder Developments General Manager Greg Tupicoff says Alder Developments assessed dozens of alternate opportunities before deciding to secure the Cannon Valley site which is positioned on Shute Harbour Road leading into Airlie Beach.
“This master planned community project will be delivered in 20-plus stages over the next 10-plus years providing a range of diverse houses, retail, commercial, and educational land uses for the growing market along with parklands with shaded areas, play areas, utilities, and community facilities for the enjoyment of residents and locals alike,” says Mr Tupicoff.
“The development will serve the families of the Whitsundays by offering affordable land to the market in the area which the Whitsundays Regional Council has designated in their 2021 Structure Plan as the desirable growth areas for the Whitsundays.”
Alder Developments’ are also behind Airlie Summit, the last major subdivision of Airlie Beach centre, a 24-hectare development which has approval for the creation of 89 new residential lots.
Explore Whitsundays is the exclusive selling agent for both Cannon Valley and Airlie Summit, any enquiries are to be directed towards Steve Marks on 0423 790 850.
Family homes and lifestyle living at the new 100-hectare estate in Cannon Valley. Photo supplied
Back by popular demand, the third iteration of this lively community fundraiser is returning in October and this time they have extended the party, opening the event up to welcome 500 guests.
Hosted by one of the event sponsors, Cape Gloucester Resort, the night will embrace a Hawaiian theme, so make sure you bring your floral shirts and headdresses, throw on a grass skirt and get ready to dance barefoot on the sand.
The Tiny Homes Project is a local charity organisation created by a group of locals who decided to tackle the housing crisis head-on by raising much-needed funds to build four homes for homeless women over 55 living in the Whitsundays.
They work closely with Whitsunday Housing to source grant funding and have also garnered community spirit by hosting regular events which have proven very successful, the last one raising over $30,000 for the cause.
One of the organisers, Fiona Donnellan, said that they are swiftly reaching their goal and are aiming to start construction of the four homes on Gardenia Street in Proserpine before the end of the year.
“We are getting closer to our target thanks to the generosity of the community,” she said.
“Every contribution, big or small, makes a significant difference in the lives of those we aim to help - we are not just building tiny homes, we're building a community.”
Whitsunday Transit are also an event sponsor and have kindly supplied some of their buses to ferry partygoers from the Greater Airlie Beach Area to Cape Gloucester Resort.
GForce and Viva Acoustic will bring their own unique talent to stage for the night.
These two highly regarded bands have donated their time for the event, their lively tunes guaranteed to get the party started and the dancefloor packed.
The events kicks-off at 5pm and guests will be greeted with a welcome cocktail on arrival, perfectly timed to watch the sunset over the ocean.
Canapes will then be served and a lively charity auction will commence.
As daylight fades and night surrounds, the party steps up a notch with the music beckoning everyone to the dancefloor.
The free return shuttle departs at 10am and organisers are hoping to include a camping option for those who would like to stay.
WHAT: Get Lei’d Hawaiian Beach Party
WHERE: Cape Gloucester Resort
WHEN: Saturday, October 7
TIME: 5pm-10pm
TICKETS: $100 from airlieevents.com.au
Over 500 people expected to attend the Get Lei’d Hawaiian Beach Party Fundraiser at Cape Gloucester Resort. Photo credit: Rachael Smith
The inaugural Pop-Up Chamber event took place at Whitsunday Creatives in Proserpine last week and the relaxed, unstructured morning proved popular with attendees who relished the time to chat, network and share views in a casual environment.
“Today’s event saw business cards flying, excited conversations, and follow up actions,” said the Whitsunday Coast Chamber of Commerce’s Policy Officer, Richard Evans.
During the event, attendees spoke of the need for genuine opportunities to make valuable business connections and to form an active and collaborative business community.
Team Amanda Camm were present on the day and they voiced their eagerness to find a time and a place to regularly meet, learn more about each other, and explore collaborations.
Business concerns were also discussed, and topics included comprehensive insurance, small business education, reliable internet, mobile phone coverage, enhancements to Proserpine’s streetscape, funding pathways and support with grant writing.
Earlier this year Whitsunday Coast Chamber and Proserpine Chamber merged to form one united entity and during the pop-up event, the Chamber’s yet to be released strategy and advocacy plan was sense-checked with attendees.
Mr Evans said that today’s event emphasised the necessity of a unified and organised voice for businesses in the region.
“Our goal is to ensure that businesses have a powerful advocate that champions their interests and effectively engages with policy makers at all levels of government,” he said.
“By collaborating with the Chamber, businesses can amplify their collective voice, and directly contribute to fostering a prosperous and resilient Whitsundays.”
Julia and Richard Evans from Whitsunday Coast Chamber of Commerce host the inaugural pop-up event in Proserpine last week. Photo supplied
Earlier this month, my fellow Councillors and I attended the Greater Whitsunday Housing Summit in Mackay. The summit is a much-needed collaboration between the Mackay, Whitsunday, and Isaac regions to discuss gaps in our current housing system.
We came away with a multitude of learnings and information from the event which we will now use to prepare a local housing action plan to address local issues specific to our diverse industries and housing needs.
One of the challenges identified in the summit was investor and developer confidence in the region. To tackle this, we have been talking with community housing providers, and are investigating how we can move the provision of infrastructure forward by partnering with other government agencies.
Prior to the summit, WRC CEO Warren Bunker and I attended a breakfast with The Minister for Housing, the Honourable Megan Scanlon MP, to discuss how we can work with the State Government to secure future funding for social and affordable housing in our region.
In other news, Council’s organisational structure has recently undergone some slight amendments to allow for a greater focus on strategy and network planning. These changes will not affect the 23/24 budget and have been put in place to make sure we are well prepared for the future and that our regional advocacy needs are front of mind.
One such amendment of the organisational structure includes bringing all commercial business units under one Directorate. The goal of this strategic change is to refocus efforts within the commercial assets of council and ensure a strong and sustainable financial performance, which will deliver profits.
We are also identifying the key areas across the region where we will be talking to community and local stakeholders about masterplans to deliver more liveable and enjoyable places for residents and visitors alike.
To this end, Council have had an initial meeting with North Queensland Bulk Ports to investigate an economically viable way to save the Bowen jetty. I also recently had the pleasure of meeting The Honourable Minister Bailey MP, Minister for Transport and Main Roads to discuss the situation. I am extremely grateful for the $50M his government has decided to allocate to save the jetty.
In Proserpine, public consultation is underway for a new Whitsunday Coast Airport Masterplan. Amazingly, we have outgrown our last 10-year masterplan in 4.5 years due to the extremely successful performance of our airport. Well done to all!
Finally, I would like to take a minute to say THANK YOU to all of the amazing sponsors, donators, attendees, and auction bidders who made the record breaking 2023 Mayor’s Annual Charity Ball such a success!
We raised a whopping $105,828.58 which will go a long way in helping our two beneficiaries, RACQ CQ Rescue and Whitsunday Housing Company Ltd, to continue the great work they do in our region.
The generosity of our community has blown me away especially in tough times such as these. It is a real testament to the fact that our local people and businesses are truly the heart of the Whitsundays.
We have a several different construction crews within Council, all extremely versatile and capable!
Our grader teams work hard to repair and maintain our rural road network whilst our maintenance crews work on our major roads to patch up potholes, undertake drainage repairs, conduct line marking, install road signs, and carry out minor concrete repairs.
We also have dedicated capital works teams in the north and south of the region who deliver a large portion of our budgeted projects, no matter how complex.
Our mower teams maintain our major roads and highways by slashing overgrown vegetation whilst our Parks and Gardens teams work to keep all of our open spaces clean, safe, and tidy for all residents to enjoy.
We also have dedicated team who inspect Council infrastructure assets such as our roads, drainage, footpaths, and signage to ensure that they are always compliant.
This team also carries out investigations and replies to any Customer complaints we receive in these departments.
All of our construction workers are trained in traffic control and plant operation and are progressed though Certificate 3 and 4 Construction Operations.
Our teams work tirelessly to make sure our region is a wonderful place for us all to enjoy. They also take pride in their work and carry them out using safe work practices to ensure every employee can return home to their families every day.
Whether visiting the Whitsundays for a holiday or a long-time local, the Whitsundays Visitor Information Centre is a great place to head if you are seeking inspiration and knowledge.
For Dea Huvonen, the Business Development Manager who is at the helm of the Centre, it is a great community asset, one that she is proud to be involved with.
Alongside her six eager volunteers, Dea always greets every visitor to the centre, sharing knowledge, making recommendations, and ensuring guests have the best time in our region.
Dea says the volunteers are amazing.
“This is their passion, they love the work and they love the region; they just want to give the visitors the best experience they can have in the Whitsundays,” she said.
Located next to the Whitsunday Gold Coffee Plantation and café on the Bruce Highway just outside Proserpine, the Visitor Information Centre boasts a welcoming space with a selection of information brochures and guides.
“We are unbiased, and just want the best for the visitor, so we suggest activities and experiences that work within their budget, their family, and their time frame,” explains Dea.
“Last month, we had our record month; we had over 900 people come in, so we’re looking at 30 to 50 guests a day.”
That’s not including the amazing phone and web enquiries, and emails Dea answers on a daily basis.
Visitor or not, the Whitsundays Visitor Information Centre is your one-stop-shop on all things Whitsundays.
The Bowen Historical Society and Museum is turning 60 and wants everyone to join in on the celebration!
An idea of three Bowen local men, the Bowen Historical Society and Museum now acts as a beacon for locals and visitors alike, to learn and engage with Bowen’s bountiful history.
The Historical Society was official founded in August 1963, by Victor Jones, Walter Cottrell, and Henry Darwen, who wished to discuss and explore Bowen’s history with likeminded locals.
In its first year, the Bowen Historical Society grew to over 70 members, and soon, locals began gifting antiques and items to Victor, for the Society.
Taking residence in the room above what is now the Department of Transport Centre, the Historical Society soon outgrew the site and went on to build their first museum premise.
“We have gone from strength to strength,” explained Julie Jurgens, Secretary for the Bowen Historical Society and Museum.
“In those days everyone knew the town’s history, preserving and collating pieces of history and artifacts.
“Nowadays, we stand for locals and visitors to come and learn about Bowen.”
Catering for everyone from visitors, locals, and even school groups, the Bowen Museum is a hive of activity and action.
The 60 Years celebrations includes markets tomorrow, and a Social Night next Friday evening, where the Society will share stories of the museum’s history and feature talks from the founders, that have been persevered in the museum.
WHAT: Bowen Historical Society’s Morning Market
WHERE: Museum Grounds
WHEN: Saturday August 26 from 9am
WHAT: Bowen Historical Society Social Night
WHERE: Museum Grounds
WHEN: Friday, September 1 from 7.30pm
Now is the time to invest in a new wardrobe with Wendy Bickhoff and her team at Coral’s City 2 Country.
Stocking everything from the perfect frock for race day to your jeans, boots, and hat for hitting the paddock, you are spoiled for choice.
“We’ve got everything from boots and jeans to dresses, shoes, and lingerie,” said Wendy.
With over 600 square meters of prominent store frontage and excellent customer service, it is no surprise customers travel far and wide to get a peek at the wide range of fashion items at the Bowen store.
“I have people coming from Mackay and Sarina, some from Ayr,” said Wendy
“They see our dresses in pictures and come into the shop looking for exactly that.”
Stocking some of the biggest brand names, Coral’s City 2 Country has Fate + Becker, Escape and Orientique, Thomas Cook, and Sass.
In the extensive range of country clothing, they also have Wrangler, Ariat, Bullzye, Grace in LA, and Pure Western.
Shopping for the entire family has never been easier, with an entire range of children’s clothing available on the shop floor too.
And Coral’s City 2 Country is even looking after their customers out and about, servicing almost each and every local show, PBR and rodeo that is occurring in the region.
You can’t miss them at the upcoming Dittmann Bucking Bulls and Bull Pit, on August 26, so be sure to find their stall and shop the newest fashions.
Wife and Husband team, Wendy and Mark Bickhoff, with Mary, Wendy’s mum, keeping Bowen on-trend. Photo credit: Bronte Hodge
If you haven’t been to the Grand View Hotel this week you haven’t been to the Grand View Hotel at all, with a new menu hitting the kitchen and dining room tables.
Completely turning your basic pub feed on its head, the Grand View Hotel is offering premium upmarket meals at fantastic prices, a move which is intriguing and exciting patrons with exotic touches on classic meals.
Louise Savage is the long time Kitchen Manager and has specially crafted this menu to entice Bowen locals and visitors.
“I try to bring something totally different to the menu than your normal pub fare, while still trying to keep your normal standard pub goers happy,” she explained.
“We’re utilising the smoker with the smoked chicken wings, and we’ve got different things like gourmet spring rolls, and lemon pepper calamari.”
One dish on the menu is the Buddha Bowl, which is proving popular with travellers.
With a base of sushi rice, the bowl includes pickled carrot, daikon, salt and pepper tofu, kakiage fritters, edamame and wakame slaw.
“We’re trying to bring really different flavours that people aren’t used to trying.”
Don’t miss the beautiful al dente pasta, Macadamia Nut Pesto, with local tomatoes, burrata cheese on pappardelle.
Perfectly pairing with the extensive main meals is the carefully selected dessert menu.
Each are created in house and are decadent in rich flavours.
In fact, close to everything in the kitchen is locally produced and sourced, with each sauce made in house.
“That’s why we have such a tomato heavy menu!” said Louise.
St Catherine’s Catholic College Year 10 student, Ivan Poljakavoic has recently completed an entire week of work experience, working with the Whitsunday Regional Council Bowen Office.
Primarily working in the Information Technology Department of Council, Ivan was given a fantastic opportunity to experience technical computer engineering and data base collection.
For five days, he was doing everything from internal computer diagnosing, IT jobs, and computer assembly and disassembly, as well as compute mapping.
“My supervisors and the Council gave me a good look at everything that is involved in the job,” Ivan explained.
“They were very supportive and helped me at every point of the week.”
With this work experience under his belt, Ivan is looking to complete a traineeship or certificate in Information Technology, wishing to expand his skills and talents.
“It’s exciting to see the amount of young people taking advantage of the opportunity to work in one of the many fields that local government has to offer,” said Julie Hall, Whitsunday Mayor.
“It’s also a positive for the organisation knowing that some of the students might decide to follow a career path at Whitsunday Regional Council in the future.”
St Catherine’s Catholic College is proud of our students and grateful to the Whitsunday Regional Council and all our hosts across the community.
“The work experience hosts have dedicated their time in training our students and provided an understanding of the work environment,” said Tara Congoo, VET and Pathways Coordinator for St Catherine’s Catholic College.
“Our students have received great feedback from their hosts, and we have had some students receive job offers and further training opportunities which is a fantastic outcome. “
Work experience student Ivan Poljakavoic spent one week in the Bowen Offices of the Whitsunday Regional Council, learning the tricks of the trade in Information Technologies. Photo supplied
If Australia goes into a recession over the next twelve months, how prepared is your family? How will it affect your job or business? How will it affect your super or pension?
There is a very strong possibility that Australia will have a recession soon. Like most of the world, the huge handbrake central banks have put on economies with much higher interest rates are starting to bight. With monthly loan repayments rising by around 50% and those increases flowing on to rents as well, families have less to spend and are cutting things back in their budgets. Less spending means less economic growth and if growth across Australia is negative for two consecutive quarters, that is deemed a recession. Other than during Covid, we haven’t had a recession in Australia for decades.
It's time to think about how a recession will affect your business or the business you work for. As we’ve seen several times in the last 5 years, the demographic mix of visitors to town could change, more young people and retirees who don’t have home loans and less middle-aged family people with home loans. With our dollar quite low, more international travellers and probably the barbell effect of them being younger people before they have home loans or retirees with no home loans. Less discretionary spending means businesses selling goods and services that could be deemed luxuries or toys will see less demand. Can you pivot your marketing towards those consumers with little or no home loan who won’t be as badly affected? Are you ready to be nimble with your staffing levels and expenses to trim them quickly if sales fall?
Sometimes recessions spill over into the share and property markets. This doesn’t happen all the time so ‘selling out’ of growth assets like shares and property in your super isn’t sensible. Major studies throughout history have shown that people who try to ‘time markets’ and buy low and sell high end up worse off than those who buy and hold. If it was easy to time markets, we would all be rich. No one’s crystal ball is reliable in the long run. There are however ways to prepare your super or super pension. Understand what you’re invested in and ensure your investments are weighted towards quality, reliable assets and not risky, ‘blue sky’ assets. If you are drawing down on your super, make sure you have a strategy in place so you don’t have to sell growth assets when they have fallen in value to make pension payments. Come in and we will review your existing investments and explain our 3 Bucket Protection Strategy for free. Now is the time to ensure you have a steady hand on the tiller as the weather looks like turning nasty…
If you think you could benefit from a discussion with a Financial Planner, give us a call. There’s no obligation, the first meeting is free, and all fees are spelled out clearly in advance. If you’re not sure, try our Financial Fitness Survey on our website at www.eclipsefs.com as it’s a simple free tool to help assess your financial strength.
Please stop talking!
Whether it was a live presentation, a speech, a video clip, or even a TV show, most of us have sat through an experience where we just want the speaker to use less words or stop and pause.
What if we are that person to someone else?
How can we speak in a way that people want to listen?
How well your message is received comes down to the specific words you use, your tone of voice, and how your presentation (body language) comes across.
Tune in to your inner voice.
The words that run through our mind shape our view of ourselves, others, and our environment. They not only determine our approach towards the world around us, but our outward behaviours, such as what and how we say things to others.
Listen to the words that flow through your mind and consciously work on shaping them into a language you want to convey outwardly.
Set an intention for the language you want to use.
Think about how you would like to deliver a message – how you will speak and the words you will use. How will your outer voice sound? What will your posture be like?
Take small steps to remove the words that don’t deserve a place in your vocabulary and consider how you can incorporate language that more closely aligns with what you want to communicate.
Commit to speaking more consciously.
Commit to communicating consciously to have a greater impact. When you speak clearly, transparently, and in a way that others can understand, they will be far more open to receiving what you have to say. Inspire others by using words of possibility not difficultly, of clarity not confusion and of harmony, not conflict.
And above all, listen. Listen to the comments, feedback, or silence – and observe how your message is landing. Be prepared to change it up halfway to create the impact you require.
With awareness, intention, and action towards your everyday language, you can avoid being tuned out by your audience, and increase the impact your words have in a positive way.
The Bowen brand of Bowen Mazda has seen an upgrade, taking on the moniker Whitsunday Auto Group, and increasing their on-floor fleet.
However, this family owned and operated business has journeyed through many a business model, starting out as Crossley Holden, before succinctly moving into the name of Bowen Mazda in 2017.
Now, in 2023, Bowen Mazda has seen one last manifestation of the business, with HG Auto Group taking on the dealership and introducing MG Motors into the fleet, as well as increasing the on-ground team.
At the helm is Gary Brenchley, with an impressive history in vehicle sales from his time in Hervey Bay, before moving up to Bowen to take on a new role as Principal for Whitsunday Auto Group.
With him is Lindsay Galloway, a seasoned vehicle salesman, and Troy Jackson who is at the heart of the operation, having been with the business for years, and knowing Bowen like the back of his hand.
Keeping all of them in line is Lisa Read, who is the receptionist and car rental administration person, the first port of call for enquiries.
Working as a team, Whitsunday Auto Group has overseen their recent expansion with ease and confidence.
Now operating under Whitsunday Auto Group, the team have incorporated MG Motors into the mix.
They also have access to the extensive second-hand vehicle market across the entire HG Auto Group umbrella.
“Across our entire fleet stock, we have almost everything. If somebody is looking for something, we’ll search for it, and we’ll get it to their door,” said Gary, Principal for Whitsunday Auto Group.
For those looking at keeping the budget to a minimum, the offering of MG Motors is a great option.
“MG adds another dimension to our fleet, as people are looking for a particular price range of car, and someone who sees the value in a brand-new car.”
At this stage, more new offerings and brand names are soon on the cards for this dealership, meaning even more choice for Bowen and wider Whitsunday locals.
Whether you’re shopping around, or know exactly what you’re after, Whitsunday Auto Group is the dealership for you.
Visit the entire fleet at 98 Herbert Street in Bowen, or ring 07 4763 2101, or visit whitsundayautogroup.com.au
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