The Bowen community is morning the loss of a young man who died tragically in a road accident on the Bruce Highway north of Bloomsbury last week.

At approximately 6pm on Wednesday, February 1, it is alleged that a stolen blue SUV veered onto the other side of the road and collided with a B-double truck.

The highway was closed into the evening and while the 31-year-old driver of the truck survived, the 20-year-old driver of the SUV was pronounced dead at the scene.

It was later discovered that the SUV had been reported stolen from a Mount Pleasant home earlier that week at a property where a burglary had also taken place.

Despite the nature of the events that led to the death of the young man, police are reminding the public that his parents have lost a son, the family have lost a relative and friends have lost a good mate.

They are also reminding the community how one bad decision can put into motion a catalyst of events that can result in death.

“The only saving grace is that nobody else was injured in the particular incident however that is of very little comfort to the family and their loved ones who have lost a 20-year-old child,” said Detective Acting Inspector Chris Eaton.

Tiege Close will be remembered by those close to him for his kind heart and loving nature.

One of his best friends, Naitayah Preston, said he was caring, funny and always put everyone before himself.

“He was there for so many people and he made a big impact on everyone’s life,” she said.

“He was the light to most people’s lives, he always made sure no one did anything alone and made sure everyone had everything they needed.

“He adored his niece as much as his own - always wanting to talk to her and see what she was doing - he was an angel on and off this world too good to be on this earth.

“He was my best friend we would spend just about every day with each other - I will cherish every memory with him - we never had a dull moment wherever we ended up and I will cherish every moment I got to have with him.”

Police are also urging anyone to intervene if they hear of a family member or close friend intending to steal a car as their intervention could help save a life.

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Caption: Tiege Close in happier times. Photo supplied.

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Wet weather has plagued the Whitsundays all week and with a tropical low forming on the monsoon trough near the Solomon Islands, many residents are bracing themselves for the possibility of another cyclone.

With Cyclone Debbie entrenched in the local narrative and mass media sensationalising moderate weather reports, Whitsunday Life Newspaper decided to find out how this weather system will affect our region by talking to a local expert.

Liam Leonard from L&K Mackay Severe Weather has been following the weather as a hobby for 10 years and his Facebook Page has an impressive 24K followers who all listen to his predictions.

“I'm pretty damn good at what I do weatherwise,” he said.

“My forecasting is pretty damn accurate, especially when it comes down to cyclones and severe weather.

When discussing this week’s severe weather, Liam said that on Wednesday the system was just travelling and strengthening.

“It looks like we will have a tropical cyclone,” he explained.

“But no model suggests that it will impact Australia whatsoever.”

Liam predicts it will remain 400 kilometres off the South East coast of Australia and will continue to travel in a South East direction.

“We will get a few scud showers – fast moving, small, intense bursts of showers and some strong winds but it will be close to all over by Friday,” he predicts.

“Every year when we have a severe weather event the media always predict the worst-case scenario and put fear into people so they run out and buy all the bread and milk!

“I always give people the straight up version of what is likely to happen, without all the BS!

“I’ve lived here most of my life so I know the geographical lay of the land and can predict what is likely going to happen in our local area.”

For real time updates head to L&K Mackay Severe Weather and ‘like’ Liam’s page.

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Swimmers are warned to wear stinger suits when venturing out into the ocean at this time of the year following a suspected stinger incident last week.  

On Sunday morning Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) attended to a woman in her 20s who had received a suspected marine sting.

It was 11.26 am when paramedics arrived at the scene on Resort Drive, Hamilton Island and the woman was reported to be in a stable condition when she reached the island’s medical centre.

If you encounter anyone with a suspected marine sting, call 000 immediately and then douse the site of the sting with vinegar for at least 30 seconds.

If vinegar is not available, use salt water.

Also, try to carefully remove any tentacles.

Symptoms of an Irukandji sting may not be immediate and can appear five to 45 minutes later.

They include severe backache or headache, shooting pains in muscles, chest and abdomen, nausea, anxiety, restlessness, vomiting and breathing difficulties. Irukandji stings can cause heart damage and failure.

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Caption: There have been 13 confirmed Irukandji stings in the Whitsundays so far this season

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A missing dog has returned home to his family safely after 16 days lost in bushland near a walking track on Brandy Creek Road.

It was over two weeks ago when Linda Peacock had been walking seven-year-old ‘Bear’, a Shar-Pei cross, and her other dog ‘Banjo’, a Border Collie pup, when a wild pig jumped out of the bush.

The two dogs immediately raced after the pig and within seconds they disappeared into the thick undergrowth.

The recent rains meant the sounds of flowing water were loud and Linda struggled to shout their names loudly enough to be heard.

Despite this, she stayed all day and into the evening, hoping to find the dogs.

Reluctantly returning home when it was dark, Linda put a notice up on popular Facebook site, Whitsundays Chat, and waited hoping that someone would find them.

Miraculously, Banjo was returned home after 32 hours but, despite possible sightings of Bear, he remained elusive.

“It was beautiful hearing of sightings because it kept the hope there,” said Linda.

“We knew he wasn’t dead because we just felt that he was alive, but it was difficult when it past the two-week mark because we’d heard that’s how long most dogs can survive.”

On the 16th day, Linda felt despair creep in and called out to the universe and pleaded for his return.

Five minutes later she received a call from three backpackers who had found Bear.

“It was amazing timing,” said Linda.

“The backpackers nearly didn’t see him as he was hiding and camouflaged under a tree, but another walker had informed them that they had seen a dog so fortunately, the boys knew to keep a look out.”

Shortly afterwards Bear was reunited with Linda, his little face lighting up the second he saw her.  

“He was so happy to see us,” said Linda.

“But he’d lost over five kilos – when we took him to the vet it was like he’d gone on the Biggest Loser and it was Reveal Day!”

The two dogs are now reunited with Linda’s third dog and the family is very happy to be back together.

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Caption:

1: Bear was found by three backpackers after spending 16 days alone in the bush

2: Happy to be reunited with his family and on the way home. Photos supplied

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Major Bruce Highway upgrades abandoned in February have finally recommenced this week with the new contractors for the work getting stuck in after a twelve-month delay on the project.

The $68.85 million worth of contract works across three sites between Ayr and Proserpine are finally moving ahead this week as the Queensland Government replaced previous contractor South African company WBHO Infrastructure -- which entered voluntary administration in early 2022 and downed tools on sites across Australia.

Work on the Bruce Highway is still a long way away, with the Queensland Government hoping it will be completed in 2023 barring any further delay.

Federal Member for Dawson, Andrew Willcox was glad that travellers on the Bruce are “finally seeing roadwork crews getting ready to recommence works on the road” yet questioned Labour’s commitment to the network considering the extended timeframe.

“These roadworks have sat dormant for 12 months, causing headaches and expense for locals and visitors to the Dawson region,” Mr Willcox said.

“Our people have had enough. We have been dealing with dangerous road conditions, lowered speed limits and extra fuel costs travelling through these dormant road works for what feels like forever.

“Timeframe blowouts, budget blowouts and now tire blowouts are firmly getting on our nerves. All this, and Labor thinks our roads are holding up well. Queensland Labor need to prioritise safety and connectivity of the Bruce in Dawson.

“This is my constituents hard earned tax dollars just sitting dormant while we urgently need our Bruce upgraded.”

The Member for Dawson said the recent flooding event in the region highlighted the urgent need for these upgrades.

“I will not stop urging the Queensland Government to prioritise road safety for the people of Dawson, either get the job done or get out of our road,” he said.

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Caption: Roadwork is finally recommencing on the Bruce Highway after twelve-months

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The RACQ CQ Rescue Helicopter had a busy few days over the weekend with a series of rescues that spanned the far reaches of the Whitsundays, from a remote homestead at Mt Coolon to a boat in distress near Hayman Island.

Firstly, RACQ CQ Rescue airlifted an elderly man with a broken neck from a remote homestead near Mt Coolon.

The 87-year-old man had fallen down a flight of stairs at the cattle property and suffered spinal injuries.

The team were tasked by Queensland Health at about 4.30pm on Friday to fly more than 400km with a doctor and Critical Care Paramedic on board to treat and retrieve the injured man.

The helicopter landed in a grassed area adjacent to the homestead in the nearly four-hour mission and he was transferred to Mackay Base Hospital in stable condition.

On Saturday the rescue helicopter was tasked to an EPIRB activation about 35 kilometres east of Hayman Island at about 6.30pm.

The helicopter quickly honed in on the distress beacon signal and made radio contact with occupants on a five-metre centre-console boat just before dark to establish they were safe, unhurt and that their boat had broken down.

Volunteer Marine Rescue was already en route to the scene and was tasked to assist retrieve the vessel and those on board, so the rescue helicopter returned to base at Mackay Airport.

On Sunday, RACQ CQ Rescue was tasked again to Hayman Island to airlift a resident with a serious abdominal condition.

It was a busy weekend of emergency airlifts for RACQ CQ Rescue and uplifting to know that all patients survived.

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Caption: RACQ CQ Rescue landed at a remote property near Mt Coolon on Friday to transfer an 87-year-old man with a broken neck to hospital. Photo supplied

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Organisers are thrilled with the success of their Bali Hai Fundraiser held at Waters Edge Resort on Saturday night.

Not only did the raindrops stay away for a spectacular open-air event around the pool, their valued guests and business sponsors generated over $15,000 worth of donations on the night.

The Tiny Homes Project is dedicated to raising much-needed funds for the construction of four homes on Gardenia Street in Proserpine on a piece of land which has kindly been donated by the Whitsunday Regional Council.

These four homes will be given to women over 55 who are currently experiencing homelessness and charity founder, Sandy Clark, said women in this demographic are statistically the most likely to suffer from homelessness.

“These women are someone’s sisters, mothers, cousins or grandmothers,” she said.

“It’s not fair that these elderly women are homeless and it’s not right that we turn a blind eye to reality when collectively we can make a difference.  

“We can fix this problem if we come together and share the load.”

The Bali Hai event was the latest in a series of charity dinners dedicated to raising money for the Tiny Homes project and Sandy said she was delighted by the ongoing support.

“The event was sold out two weeks in advance and we had nearly 100 enthusiastic guests, many in Balinese style outfits, hoping to win the best-dressed male or female prizes,” she said.

On the night there was live entertainment from Viva Acoustic and the talented Brad Elliott played four roles including MC, Singer, Auctioneer and Comedian.

Mayor Julie Hall was in attendance and announced that some of the proceeds from her upcoming Mayor’s Annual Charity Ball, due to be held on July 22, will be given to the project.

Organisers would like to thank every individual and local business who sponsored the event gave kind donations or supported the evening in some way.

While there are too many to list individually, each contribution was deeply appreciated.

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Caption: Volunteer Fiona Donnellan, Joanne Moynihan from Whitsunday Housing Company, Bonnie Taylor who spoke on the night and Sandy Clark from the Tiny Homes Project. Photo credit: Will Finley

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On Tuesday morning residents of Banksia Court in Cannonvale woke up to two loud explosions at around 7am.

Andrew McKay was listening to the radio with his wife at the time and after the explosions, the power immediately went off.

Heading outside to investigate the nearby substation, Andrew saw that it was on fire and immediately alerted Ergon Energy.

“I walked around the corner and could see that the doors on the substation had blown open and it was on fire,” he said.

“There was a lot of smoke coming out and we called Ergon, couldn’t get through but they had already identified the issue and were on their way.”

Within 30 minutes crews were attending to the outage which saw 565 customers in the nearby vicinity lose power.

Ergon restored electricity to more than 400 customers within an hour.

“Generation units from Mackay and Townsville were brought in so we could restore temporary supply to 146 customers while network repairs were underway,” said an Ergon spokesperson.

The cause of the explosion was a fault in the underground cable leading to a Padmount substation, which also needed to be repaired.

By coincidence, residents had been informed that there would be a routine power outage that same morning, but Ergon assures residents that the unexpected fault was not connected to the planned maintenance which subsequently had to be delayed.

By 3.15pm Andrew had power returned to his household.

“Ergon have performed magnificently,” he said.

“We now have a very large generator pumping out power, it was running by late afternoon, so we were able to keep things cold and keep the fridges running – it’s miraculous and they need to be highly commended.”

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Caption:

1: Banksia Court resident Andrew McKay heard two loud explosions at 7am on Tuesday morning. Photo credit: Rachael Smith

2:  Equipment damage in the Padmount substation. Photo supplied

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In exciting news for Lake Proserpine, we are nearing our 10,000th campsite booking since we started taking official reservations in July 2021.

Lake Proserpine is truly a hidden gem within the region, and I encourage everyone to get out there to experience what Division 3 has to offer whether that’s catching a 1 metre barra or having a BBQ with your family while watching a spectacular sunset.

Only a few years ago we had minimal facilities here and we now have a popular camping area including glamping options, with new pontoons, shower facilities, upgraded toilets and improved picnic areas.

Having hundreds of vehicles each week travelling through Proserpine during peak season will create an estimated average spend of $385 on provisions and services per vehicle.

This means an economic injection into the Whitsunday region of up to $7million annually.

Due to the recent severe rainfall event in January, the Peter Faust Dam is now at 72.75 per cent capacity, which is great news as it is our sole water source for Proserpine, Airlie Beach, Cannonvale and Bowen. This is the highest it has been since 2019!

Our Whitsunday Disaster Management Group did a wonderful job coordinating road closures and ensuring public safety during the weather event. This group is made up of various agencies such as QPS, SES and QFES, with Council at the lead during a disaster. I can ensure you we are in very capable hands should a Tropical Cyclone form off our coastline this wet season.

It’s important that we’re all prepared for whatever may come our way during storm season – that’s just part of what we have to do to live in the beautiful Whitsundays! Visit Council’s website for preparation tips.

Til next time.

Sarge

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An exciting week last week with the arrival of the first Bonza flight from Sunshine Coast. Increased tourist visitation to the region and increased access for locals will be a positive for our members and the broader community.

Cruise ships continue to be a strong economic driver for the Airlie Beach and surrounds, please make our seafaring guests welcome if you are in the area.

Our next event is on Thursday, February 16 between 6-8pm.

Topic: Soon to be introduced legislation for paid family and domestic violence leave

Very special guest speaker: Joanna Minchinton from CCIQ. Specialist in Workplace Relations.

Ticketing per WCCC website. Venue TBC.

Full-time, part-time and casual employees will be able to access 10 days of paid family and domestic violence leave in a 12-month period. The full 10-day leave entitlement will be available upfront.

• The leave will be available from:

o 1 February 2023, for employees of non-small business employers (employers with 15 or more employees on 1 February 2023)

o 1 August 2023, for employees of small business employers (employers with less than 15 employees on 1 February 2023).

• From 1 February 2023, there are rules about information that must not be included on an employee’s pay slip relating to paid family and domestic violence leave.

Contributed with thanks to Allan Milostic.

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A local family are grateful their newborn son is alive following the terrifying moment his lung collapsed just hours after he was born.

Brianna Woods was concerned when listening to her son Kyron breathe in the hours after his birth.

“He sounded like a baby goat,” she recalls.

“I thought – this isn’t right - so I called a nurse who called the doctor who administered cold pressed oxygen and then his lung collapsed.”

Within minutes the medical team jumped into action and it was decided to airlift baby Kyron to Townsville.

“It was extremely scary because when my first baby was born, he was airlifted to Mackay,” said Brianna.

“It was like reliving a nightmare, going through it all again.”

Kyron was flown at a low altitude so that no additional damage was done to his lung and was soon in the care of experts.

Brianna and her husband were not permitted to travel on the aircraft, so they raced home to Bowen, packed a quick overnight bag and drove straight to Townsville.

When they arrived, Kyron was connected to several beeping machines which was terrifying for the new parents to witness.

Their newborn son spent the next two days on oxygen and was attached to a CPAP machine while doctors put a drain on his lung.

Fortunately, his lung soon returned to normal, and all his signs were looking good.

“After a few days we took his wires off to give him a bath and all his levels were perfect,” said Brianna.

“But that night they declined again so he was put back on oxygen.”

While Kyron was under specialist care, Brianna and her husband, Bayden, were welcomed into the nearby Ronald McDonald House.

Located a one-minute walk away from the hospital, the Ronald McDonald House provides accommodation for families with sick children.

During their stay, Brianna met one lady who had spent six months at the house while her newborn twins received medical care.

“The house was a life-saver to so many of us in there,” said Brianna.

“You walk in, and everything is there – food, a bed, drinks – and there are other people to talk to who are going through a similar situation so you can comfort each other.

“The hospital can be very stressful with endless rounds of doctors and registrars; it was all so much to take in and it was nice to be able to escape that for a bit.”

After nine days at Townsville Hospital, Kyron was released and he is now a healthy four-month-old baby leading a normal life.

Recently, Brianna’s mum took a donation box full of children’s toys and clothes to Ronald McDonald House to say thank you.

Brianna will always remember her time at “Ronny Mac’s” and she said would recommend others to use the service if it is offered to them.

“I was a bit nervous at first, being away from Kyron, but it’s only a minute’s walk away,” she said.

“Don’t be scared, just take it in and use the service, it made all the difference when we were there.”

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Caption:

1: Baby Kyron’s lung collapsed a few hours after he was born

3: The family deliver a thank you package to the Ronald McDonald House

4: Kyron is now a fit and healthy four-month-old baby. Photos supplied

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The local property market is holding steady - even improving in some regional hotspots - despite interest rates in the country rapidly rising according to local experts.

Whitsunday Realty Principal Troy Liesch said it could be attributed to the lack of listings – something that’s “the same everywhere.”

“What we’re seeing is that there are still buyers, prices are still strong, rentals are crazy,” Mr Liesch said.

“A lot of properties have been sold over the past two years and I think a lot of them would be rental properties, which people are living in now. They’ve been sold and become owner occupied; a lot of investment properties that have been cleaned out and the market becomes dear, like it is everywhere.

“I haven’t seen any price crash here. It’s such a seller’s market now that most homes we get won’t even make it to market – we have a backlog of people looking to buy that get to it before then.”

For sellers, that means high prices. And Mr Leisch said with so few places up for grabs now that homes can be sold as quickly as a week – normally they would remain on the market for 30 to 40 days.

“If I was thinking about selling my house, it’d be a case of sooner rather than later. We have people ringing up almost every day looking for a house,” he said.

“What I would suggest is, because in the next six months, the interest rates will influence how many buyers there will be, to sell while the going’s good. What we might see is more people selling their homes once the interest rates reach even higher, and that can change the complexion of things.

“What I would suggest is: people can come have any conversation with me – a free appraisal or a chat about the market – I’m happy to talk to them. Whether it’s rental or selling. We’re here to help.

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Caption: Whitsunday Realty Principal Troy Liesch said the property market is strong and those looking to sell would best do so soon

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One of the region’s rising young stars spent his school holidays at a nationally prestigious annual summer camp that invites the country’s best and brightest in for a 10-day learning experience.

Proserpine State High School student Sam Rogers was invited to attend the National Computer Science School (NCSS) at the University of Melbourne alongside 64 other grade 11 and 12 students, receiving a full scholarship to attend.

The camp yearly invites students to its intensive course on computer programming, tasking its attendees with rigorous 18-hour days of activities ranging from lectures and programming interviews to scavenger hunts and social events.

Sam said this year’s course focused on “web development and allowed students to work in industry style teams to create a chatbot and video presentation for parents, mentors, and the public.”

“Regardless of coding abilities, the incredible tutors meant there was always something for everyone to contribute and learn,” Sam said.

“NCSS was a phenomenal chance to learn more about the booming industry of computer science, but also to meet an incredible group of passionate and like-minded teenagers from around the country.”

The Proserpine-born student - who showed off his computing abilities on the world stage when winning two awards at the International Science and Engineering Fair last May for the construction and programming of a robotic arm – continued his rocketing momentum in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S.T.E.M) fields at the national camp.

At the event’s closing ceremony, Sam was recognized with an award for ‘Outstanding combination of technical, teamwork, and leadership skills’.

Alongside brother Mac Rogers – Proserpine State High School’s Year 12 Dux for 2022 and inaugural winner of Channel 10’s ‘Ultimate Classroom’ S.T.E.M program – Sam is proving a major player in the Proserpine school’s scientific revolution, with his dream to study at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in his crosshairs.

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Caption: Proserpine State High School student Sam Rogers (right) claimed another accolade for his growing collection at the National Computer science School

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Susan Blyth

There has been some culture shock in adjusting to Proserpine for Susan Blyth, the new manager of the town’s Nursing Home.

“I heard recently that truck drivers shouldn’t be stopping by the roadside to fish for barramundi after the flooding because the crocodiles are there,” Susan laughed.

“I heard Proserpine River has them in plague proportions and it’s right over there, a few hundred metres from where we work!”

Moving from Launceston, Tasmania, to take on the role at Proserpine Nursing Home, Susan has worked in aged care for more than two decades, travelling across the country to better facilities in both the business sense and in their ability to care for the elderly.

Her ethos is: “where there’s a will there’s a way. Never say no!”

“I always say this to staff: if we run out of ice cream, we never say we’ve run out of ice cream. We get into our vehicles and drive down to the local IGA and get some ice cream,” Ms Blyth said.

“The privilege of working in aged care is the simple fact you are caring for another person.”

She arrived at Proserpine Nursing Home in May of last year with fresh ideas that she hopes to implement like hosting wine and cheese nights for the residents and their families, as well as those she already has realised, like restructuring the catering.

Ms Blyth said she arrived at Proserpine Nursing Home to find that it was already a place that its residents called home:

“I can honestly say, quite sincerely, Proserpine is the first facility I have walked into where the genuine love and care is extraordinary,” Ms Blyth said.

“Aged care can be such a challenging thing. Yet, to have a place where the local community has already show their passion and priority for those who live here, that is more than many places across the country.

“I have never come across that before. Normally, you’re having to change the culture towards that, however, here, it is a place built by the community for the community. Every resident is so well loved.”

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Robyn Batman

If it is possible that the ‘world’s happiest job’ exists, Robyn Batman could convince you that it is being a librarian.

Mrs Batman exudes passion and happiness for her profession. Perhaps it is the proximity to great writing, perhaps the air conditioning, but the Proserpine, Bowen, and Collinsville Library Team Leader would point to where a group of children sit reading in the library’s breezy corners and smile -- the expression says more than words in any book.

“I love the people. It’s not just the community, it’s my staff members; I love interacting with all of them,” Mrs Batman said.

“Being in a job that gives so much back and provides so much to the community in lots of positive ways fills my cup.

For 12 years, Mrs Batman has worked at Proserpine Library, starting as its Team Leader before expanding into the Team Leader roles for Bowen and Collinsville. She spends her weeks in between Proserpine and Bowen, occasionally heading out to Collinsville, and said she could not adore it more.

“What my job entails is a good customer service background, good people advisory and people skills for managing and running a team, how to catalogue a book, activities, promoting, marketing – things that I loved and learned and have been a part of my job from day one,” she said.

“I have seen some change here, especially through Covid, where we have learned more about engaging with the community more and in different ways, particularly moving into the digital age.

“People should come to the library because it is a place that offers so much for free. There is so much to take from books and in the variety of services we offer here. And it’s air-conditioned!”.

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Caption: Robyn Batman, the Proserpine, Bowen, and Collinsville Library Team Leader has been in amongst the stacks for 12 years

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