Coral Sea Marina hosted Star FM’s Star Car this week thanks to a promotional drive operated in partnership with Tourism Whitsundays to gain exposure for Sunday’s Clean Up Australia Day.

Tayla Hughes from Star FM has been driving the Star Car for almost three years and she says it is always a pleasure to come to the Whitsundays, especially when it is for a good cause.

“It’s great to be here and really important we all support this worthy cause,” she said.

“Especially because we live so close to the Great Barrier Reef, we’ve all got to work together to keep the reef clean and this community event will help us do just that.”

Tayla and her Star Car were crossing live from Coral Sea Marina on Thursday last week.

During the broadcast she was giving away vouchers, merchandise and anyone who called in could put their name on the list to win a $500 voucher.

Broadcasting live from the Whitsundays every few months, where will you see Tayla and the Star Car next?

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Tayla Hughes from Star FM

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Discovering the best parts of the Whitsundays and promoting them to media all over the country is a major part of Cait Fleming's role at Tourism Whitsundays.

This week she hit the road and spent a day in beautiful Bowen where she met with the team from Bowen Tourism and Business.

Manager Leanne Abernethy and her two staff, Kerry and Ellie, were eager to show Cait the wide range of mango-inspired products they have in store.

With plentiful merchandise and an enthusiastic team creating the best of first impressions, the Big Mango Tourism Information Centre is sure to be top of the list for incoming tourists as they get their bearings.

Cait also met with Addy from Rose Bay Resort and the team at Queens Beach Tourist Village who had recently won gold for the Best Large Caravan Park category in the Grey Nomads awards.

Touring the accommodation in person gave Cait a first-hand insight into the tourist experience at each location and the standard of facilities offered.

“It was such a great day!” said Cait.

“I now have a new appreciation for Bowen - the beaches are spectacular and the service was outstanding everywhere I went.

“Bowen is a destination for so many now, from grey nomads right through to young families and it’s easy to see why it’s the perfect relaxed beachside holiday.”

Cait is originally from Airlie Beach but spent a lot of her childhood visiting her grandparents in Bowen.

Her immediate family still live in Airlie Beach making it a very hard place for Cait to leave – not that she would ever want to!

Spending much of her working career in tourism and marketing, Cait has operated her own business, worked with Flight Centre and also Cruise Whitsundays.

She started her current role with Tourism Whitsundays last August and says she loves the depth and breadth of her role promoting every part of the Whitsundays to media and travel agents all over the world.

Cait Fleming, Publicity and Communications Executive at Tourism Whitsundays with Kerry Meier from Bowen Tourism and Business at Flagstaff Hill. Photo supplied

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Just over a year ago, when a Proserpine local opened a pop-up shop during the Christmas period she discovered a community of creatives that had an abundance of stock but nowhere to sell it.

This inspired her to transform her pop-up into a permanent store which now hosts the creative products of almost 40 small retailers, giving them a home in the “shop within a shop”.

Jade Richardson opened Proserpine Crafty Gifts over Christmas 2021, putting her husband’s empty tile shop project to good use by filling the leased space with hand-made colourful gift ideas.

Closing the shop in January, Jade soon realised she missed the community connection and soon decided to re-launch, but this time as Whitsunday Creatives.

“I have five children and I’d spent 11 years at home as a stay-at-home mum,” said Jade.

“It was great being back with the people, connecting with others and having fun!”

For the past 12 months, Jade has been carefully curating the ultimate gift store that is bursting with unique, often handmade treasures.

From homemade candles to leather purses, intricately designed jewellery, unique wooden chopping boards, colourful artworks, skin care products, soaps, local honey and sock savers.

“There are lots of little shops with the shop,” she said.

“We give people who wouldn’t usually be able to sell items through a shop the opportunity to be part of something.”

“They can play around with their product range, have fun with it and sell it easily so they can focus on the joy of making it.”

There are now over 35 local small businesses showcasing their products at Whitsunday Creatives and customers enjoy the diverse range of gift ideas, with the extra bonus of knowing each purchase supports a local.

Whitsunday Creatives was recently recognised for their efforts when they won an award for the Most Outstanding Whitsundays Retailer at the 2022 Whitsundays Tourism Awards.

Jade is now looking forward to expanding her offering by introducing a floristry to the store.

She also hosts a range of school holiday workshops including dream catcher making, flower arranging and jewellery making.

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Jade Richardson, founder of Whitsunday Creatives. Photo credit: Rachael Smith

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Four members of the same family were welcomed into The Proserpine Lions Club at the organisation’s dinner meeting at the Grand Central Hotel, Proserpine on March 1.

Proserpine Lions Club representative Horace Lowbridge said this is the first time the Club has inducted an entire family at the same time.

Kim, Misty, Rob, and Eddie Bland were officially “brought into the fold” by members Lisa Atkinson and Club President Joe Little in a small ceremony, and welcomed them with open arms.

The non-for-profit club is a collection of people who are “involved in humanitarian efforts locally, nationally, and internationally” with the Lions International organisation having a more than respectable reputation.

The Club is on a worldwide “Mission to Serve” with the goals of empowering Lions clubs, volunteers, and partners to improve health and well-being, strengthen communities, and support those in need through charitable services and grants that impact lives globally, and encourage peace and international understanding.

Club President Joe Little said he was proud to welcome an entire family in one ceremony, welcoming these “ordinary people doing extraordinary things.”

“Supporting people with a disability, community greening, fundraising for worthwhile cause, that is what being a part of the change and the Proserpine Lions Club is about,” he said.

Lions Club members strive to make a difference in their local community as well as in communities worldwide, volunteering their time to go beyond to address unmet health and education needs worldwide.

For more information on joining the Proserpine Lions Club, contact the local organisation on Facebook.

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The entire Bland family was inducted into the Proserpine Lions earlier this month. Pictured are Lisa Atkinson, Kim Bland, Misty Bland, Rob Bland, Eddie Bland, and Charlie Atkinson

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Over 100 Whitsunday locals participated in Clean Up Australia Day on Sunday, collecting litter from both land and sea to contribute to keeping our local environment cleaner for all to enjoy.

The official Clean Up Day in the Whitsundays was hosted by Coral Sea Marina and organisers were thrilled to see such a big turnout.

“We were thrilled to see an incredible number of volunteers, including so many families and children, who braved the heat and joined us this Clean Up Australia Day to pick up litter,” said Joscelyn O’Keefe, Head of Marketing and Business Development.

“It proved once again that Clean Up Australia Day is a fantastic opportunity for the local community to band together and collectively work towards protecting our beautiful backyard.”

Much of the on-land litter consisted of soft plastics and cigarettes, but other items included food containers, fishing nets and even a swag.

Local charter company Whitsunday Escape led the sea component of Clean Up Day, taking 30 family and friends out to Double Cone Island on two vessels.

They collected an impressive 250kg in one morning and items included toothbrushes, thongs, lighters and bottle tops.

Their message to the community is to be mindful of what goes overboard while sailing as, despite the islands looking clean from the distance, a lot of litter is washed up with the tides.

Tangaroa Blue/Reef Clean will now audit the collected litter and record findings in the Australian Marine Debris database.

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A long-standing Bowen farming family has been awarded 2022 Farmer of the Year in the Weekly Times which is Australia’s biggest rural news publication.

The Jurgens family operate VJK Produce and their efforts in innovation, sustainability and technology were recognised when they took home the award in the Horticulture category.

The family have been farming in Bowen for 100 years, with Jamie Jurgens’ parents starting out with just 20 acres of tomatoes.

VJK Produce is now farming close to 3,000 acres and for the past 12 years, since his parents retired, Jamie has been operating the farm with his wife Melita.

Their two adult children, Jessica and Jacob, are now also working back on the farm having returned with Agricultural Business Degrees.

VJK Produce grows a range of vegetables including green beans, sweet corn, pumpkin and mini capsicums.

This works alongside their organic range of green beans, sweetcorn, melons, tomatoes, pumpkins and mini capsicums.

Jamie Jurgens said he was thrilled to be recognised with the award, but that it is a reflection of the whole workforce of nearly 200 employees.

“It’s nice to be recognised for our whole team’s efforts,” he said.

“These awards aren’t won by an individual; it takes everyone to make it work. It’s really rewarding to have people around who share our passions and make a difference in agriculture, it makes you feel good about going to work.”

When asked what features of the business he believed warranted the award, Jamie said that he thinks it is their ability to innovate and the way they operate as a business.

“We have a sustainable approach to growing and use non-chemical fertiliser,” he said.

“We’ve also built an insectary which breeds insects to eat other insects, we’ve had it for four years now and it is the backbone to our organics.”

Jamie said their other successes include their ability to adapt to technology and also their ongoing partnership with Kal Fresh, a company in the south that also farm 3,000 acres.

By teaming up with the other farm, they can produce vegetables all year round.

“Being able to create the farming system we have, is a huge achievement,” said Jamie.

“To hand it over to the next generation in as good, if not better, condition than how we got it is one of my biggest goals.”

“Food is always going to be put on the table – farming is one of the biggest renewable resources and with every new crop there is a new opportunity and a positive future for agriculture done right.”

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The Jurgens family – Jacob, Jamie, Melita and Jessica – who own and operate VJK Produce. Photo supplied

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Continuing his story …

On his first expedition, Monty Embury visited Hayman Island and decided there and then that he would make this island his headquarters in the future. He acquired the lease from Boyd Lee and set up a permanent base there, hosting two trips a year.

Most of the tourists came by train to Proserpine and launch from Cannon Valley but some came by a coastal steamer which also brought day trippers. The deal was £1 a day with BYO bedding, dishes and cutlery. Naturally, Embury made sure the island was highly organised with a doctor, a post office, a sheep pen and later its own bakery on site and kerosene lighting throughout. Electricity did not reach Proserpine until 1929. In 1932, he advertised Hayman as having tennis courts, a nine-hole golf course, a shark proof swimming pool, a field research station and a port for interstate steamships.

In all, Embury organised eleven expeditions to the Whitsundays, all of which were marketed in NSW. Accounts of the trips appeared in the state newspapers and reunion parties were held. Monty himself published a booklet “The Great Barrier Reef” and numerous articles. In addition, links with the Australian Museum, surveys and specimen displays all publicised the reef as both a scientific and tourist destination.

Embury had plans to expand his operations by obtaining the leases to Hook, Langford, Black and Arkhurst Islands but found the government condition to spend £10,000 in seven years on tourist development too onerous, particularly as the Great Depression was putting restraints on tourism.

He stopped organising his Whitsunday expeditions after 1934 but continued to support his successors, the Hallams, as a publicity and booking agent in Sydney. The Whitsundays was not the only destination for Embury’s organised trips. In total, he coordinated thirty-seven expeditions to serious locations including arranging bird watching trips for the Gould League of Bird Lovers with his brother, Arch. Another interesting expedition he arranged was to Alice Springs for a party of forty people, all of whom travelled in a convoy of eight Model A Fords.

In the mid 1930s, Monty returned to teaching and remained in the profession until his retirement in 1956 with a break during World War Two when he rejoined the army. He had three children with his first wife, Honora and four more with his second wife, Dorothy. Edwin Montague Embury died in 1961.

In the words of eminent local historian, the late Ray Blackwood: “Thus ended the career of a man who in his own way helped to put the Whitsundays on the map while bringing knowledge and enjoyment to many hundreds of participants. His reward obviously was personal satisfaction with a job well done and little, if any, thought or realisation of financial return.”

Story courtesy of Proserpine Historical Museum and “The Whitsunday Islands – An Historical Dictionary” by Ray Blackwood.  Photo sourced from John Oxley Library.

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Mackay Aquatic and Recreation Complex (ARC) will be closed to the public until further notice.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) was called to the site early this morning after staff noticed a chemical leak in the plant room prior to opening the facility.

QFES is currently investigating the site and have advised that the leak has been contained to the plant room.

However, the ARC will be closed for the remainder of the day so the issue can be rectified.

Council is hopeful that the facility can be reopened tomorrow and will keep the public updated on council’s Facebook page and website.

Residents are also advised that they can use their memberships at Pioneer Swim Centre in North Mackay while Mackay ARC is closed.

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Mackay Marina's Bold Resilience Project Takes Shape

The Mackay Marina is set to receive increased protection with the construction of a new nib wall as part of a $10.5 million resilience project. The marina is exposed to northerly waves during certain weather conditions, making the construction of this new wall a critical step in ensuring the safety of the boats and the harbour.

Port Binnli has worked closely with the Federal, State, and Local governments along with several consultants to ensure the right design was implemented for the benefit of the Marina. The Principal Contractor, Hall Contracting, will be building a 125m long rock wall on the inside of the Southern Breakwater, just inside the current marina entrance.

Construction works on the new nib wall at the Mackay Marina began in mid-February with the first delivery of rocks to the site on Monday February 27. Construction will continue through until July 2023, weather permitting.

New Nib Wall To Bring Increased Protection To Mackay Marina

Mackay Marina Manager Ben Anderson said the nib wall would help deliver resilience for the marina and boats in the marina during adverse weather conditions. He is excited about the commencement of construction, which is expected to bring more visitors to the region and increase the potential for tourism.

Development Manager from Port Binnli Tom Hall-Brown said the new wall is being constructed within the small craft harbour, which won’t impact the commercial operations of the Mackay Harbour.

Mr Hall-Brown said this project has come at the ideal time given the Mackay Marina was recently accredited for superyachts by the Marina Industry Association, based on the level of service the Mackay Marina can provide.

“When these superyachts come in, their spend is just immense. One year we had one come in and they spent $19,000 on flowers. That’s the kind of big immediate impact it can have on small local businesses by attracting more craft like this to Mackay.

“This upgrade is the next step in evolving our capital works program which will upgrade the fuel system, potentially upgrade the size of the travel lift.

“It gives us more confidence to invest now we have the ability to protect the marina from this northerly fetch.”

There are 435 berths at the Mackay Marina and six capable of hosting superyachts.

Lead contractor building the wall, Cameron Hall, CEO of Hall Contracting, said that the wall will be 125m long perpendicular to the current breakwater. As the lead contractor for the project Mr Hall said they had engaged local subcontractors. During the peak of the project around 100 trucks will be delivering loads of rock daily.

Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox is pleased that the Federal Government has been able to commit $2.5 million to the project. He said that the nib wall will make visiting the Mackay Marina a safer prospect for superyachts, which are currently susceptible to damage when large swells from the north enter the marina.

“There are millions of dollars’ worth of boats here which are currently susceptible to damage when large swells from the north enter the marina,” he said.

“This is a hugely important step for local businesses through increased potential for tourism by making visiting the Mackay Marina a safer prospect.”

The Southern Breakwater wall will be closed to pedestrian and cyclist traffic during the working hours between 6am and 6pm, but it will be open to pedestrians and cyclists outside of these hours. The breakwater will be open to cyclists and pedestrians on weekends, but it will be closed to vehicles for the duration of the construction.

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L-R: Cameron Hall, CEO of Hall Contracting, Federal Member for Dawson, Andrew Willcox, Member for Mackay Julieanne Gilbert, Development Manager from Port Binnli Tom Hall-Brown on the Southern Breakwater, the location for the new nib wall in the background. Photo credit: Amanda Wright

Plan showing the location of the new nib wall currently under construction from the Southern BreakwaterThe first load of rocks placed into the marina for the nib wall was delivered on Monday, February 27. Photo credit: Amanda Wright

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Film & Arts Mackay is known for bringing unique films from around the world to Mackay screens, they also support the local community while doing so.

Committee members recently had the pleasure of presenting Tony, Pam, Zoe and others from Meals On Wheels Mackay with a donation of $1,572.30.

The donation was raised through the committee's last film screening event, which showcased the heartwarming film Blue Bayou on February 3.

The committee members expressed their gratitude towards all attendees and members for their overwhelming support in making this donation possible.

Meals On Wheels Mackay is a vital social service provider that helps people in and around the Mackay community.

The organisation is dedicated to delivering healthy meals to those who are unable to leave their homes or prepare food for themselves due to illness, age or disability.

The committee urged people to support this remarkable organization by making a donation or volunteering their time.

Interested individuals can contact Meals On Wheels Mackay at 07 4957 6522 or visit their website at https://www.qmow.org/mackay-meals-on-wheels/.

The Film & Arts Mackay committee recognises the incredible work done by Meals On Wheels Mackay and is proud to have contributed to their cause.

The committee hopes that their donation will go a long way in supporting the organization's mission and making a positive impact on the lives of those in need.

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International Women's Day is a day of reverence and celebration, a time to pay homage to the indomitable spirit of women who have inspired, empowered, and led by example. With the arrival of March 8th, we are called to recognize the remarkable strides women have made in every aspect of life, from science and politics to culture and business. It is a day to honour the immense contributions women have made to shape our world, while acknowledging that there is still much work to be done.

Women have come a long way, breaking barriers and shattering glass ceilings in every field imaginable, and in this record-breaking edition (our biggest newspaper to date) we learn about 20 different local women doing just that across a range of different industries. Read their stories on pages 20 – 27.

The Resource Industry Network is hosting its International Women’s Day Business Lunch on March 8, with entertaining comedic emcee Kat Davidson at the helm. Earlier this week I spoke to Kat for an article you can find on page 19, and it was interesting to learn that while she felt gender equality had come a long way in media, it still had some strides to make in the world of comedy.

On our Community Chat page on 32, you’ll find Cr Belinda Hassan’s column on equality and empowerment. She also shares information about the Zonta Club’s annual IWD lunch, which is being held on March 5th.

Let us embrace equity, uplift women, and create a brighter future for all. Together, we can create a world where every woman has the opportunity to thrive, and where gender equity is not just a must-have, but a given.

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The House Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Resources has launched an inquiry into advanced manufacturing to seek solutions to support the Australian manufacturing industry, create jobs and revive manufacturing in Australia.

Advanced manufacturing is any manufacturing process which utilises high-technology or knowledge-intensive input as the integral way a product is constructed.

This includes the following manufacturing sectors: chemical and medicinal, vehicle and transport, specialised machinery and equipment, computer and electronic, scientific and professional.

Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox welcomes this inquiry and stated that Australia’s manufacturing industry is critical for economic growth. Dawson is a manufacturing hub, with towns right across Dawson boasting some of the best in the industry.

“I think it’s extremely important that we consult industry so we know firsthand how we can make industry better and to ensure that Australia continues to make world class products,” Mr Willcox said.

“I encourage manufacturing businesses across Dawson to make a submission with your ideas on what it will take to make things better – and how we can ensure reliable growth within Australia’s manufacturing sector.”

Committee Chair Rob Mitchell MP said understanding opportunities associated with advanced manufacturing is crucial for strategic growth.

“Supporting the growth of advanced manufacturing is about enhancing the things we do well by taking advantage of new and improved processes,” Mr Mitchell said.

“We need to ensure that we are well-positioned as a nation to take advantage of new technologies, and that our strategic decisions are informed by the right data. Continuing to grow the relationship between industry and our research sector is also vital.

“We want to hear from stakeholders across industry, our tertiary sector and government about what it will take to make things better – and how we can ensure reliable growth within Australia’s manufacturing sector.”

Submissions for the Inquiry into Developing Advanced Manufacturing in Australia are now open until 30 March 2023.

More information about the Inquiry into Developing Advanced Manufacturing in Australia can be found at aph.gov.au/isr.

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Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox

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Over the past week, enforcement officers from the State Penalties Enforcement Registry (SPER) have been cracking down on people who refuse to pay their SPER debts in Mackay and the surrounding areas. SPER Enforcement Director Kim Easton revealed that around 13,000 individuals and businesses across the Mackay Whitsunday region collectively owed almost $30 million in unpaid fines and penalties.

Mr Easton encouraged anyone with outstanding debts to contact SPER before officers took enforcement action.

“Our officers are visiting debtors at their home or workplace and those people that refuse to pay their debts will face tough action,” he said.

“This includes having money taken from their wages or bank accounts through garnishment powers or having their cars clamped, seized and sold to meet their obligations.”

Mr Easton also advised that the best way to avoid enforcement action and extra fees was to pay fines on time, and the consequences of not doing so were serious. He revealed that regional enforcement activities were part of SPER's ongoing state-wide operations, which have already led to the seizure of luxury SUVs, hi-spec utes and motorbikes, trucks, boats, trailers, and jet skis from people refusing to pay their debts.

In light of this, anyone having trouble paying for whatever reason was urged to contact SPER on 1300 365 635 to discuss their payment options and avoid enforcement action. Mr Easton reminded people that SPER debts did not go away and would catch up with them if they did not act.

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Megan Warrener started picking up the Mackay Life Newspaper when she first moved to Mackay, flicking straight to the real estate section to look for a house.

After settling into Mackay life, she’s become a regular reader of the newspaper and the inaugural winner of our reader survey, winning $1,000 in fuel vouchers.

Megan finds the paper on a newspaper stand outside a store on Nelson Street every Friday on the way to work, reading it front to back to keep up with news from both Mackay and the Whitsundays.

“It’s good to know what’s on and what’s been happening,” she said.

“There’s no components of the paper that I skip over, I read through all of it.”

“Everyone at work loves getting the newspaper, too, and having a read through and discussing what’s in there.”

Megan moved to Mackay from Moree looking for more opportunities for her 12 and 14-year-old boys.

“Mackay has everything that we need – good sporting opportunities, good schools, work – we’ve found that Mackay has everything we need,” she said.

Megan is the registrar of Brothers Bulldogs Junior Rugby League and weekends are often spent taking the boys to sport or the beach.

“I’m a very passionate footy mum,” she said.

Megan was one of 881 people to complete the Mackay and Whitsunday Life reader survey last year, winning her the $1,000 fuel voucher prize.

She said it’s come at the perfect time, with a drive to Yamba in northern New South Wales for a wedding coming up soon.

Congratulations, Megan, and thanks for reading!

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A miner was airlifted to Mackay Base Hospital after a coal collapse trapped him by the foot at the Carborough Downs Underground Coal Mine last week. The 34-year-old Sarina man was working underground when the incident occurred, causing a significant amount of rubble to fall on him, leaving him trapped.

The miner was freed by a mine rescue team before being treated on site by paramedics. The RACQ CQRescue chopper, with a doctor and paramedic on board, was called to the scene to airlift the patient to Mackay Base Hospital, which was located 288km away. The 3.5-hour task required careful coordination and expertise to ensure the safe transfer of the injured worker.

The rescue helicopter landed at the nearby Poitrel Mine site, where the patient was transported from the underground mine. The man was treated by paramedics on site before being transferred to the chopper, which flew him to the hospital in a stable condition.

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Photo credit: RACQ CQ Rescue

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