With just over a week of school holidays remaining, there is still time to participate in one of the family fun activities at a local library near you.

Whitsunday Regional Council Libraries have been hosting regular events throughout the holidays and they are all available for free.

Providing our youngest community members with interactive, entertaining and educational activities, these events offer a wide variety of distractions, perfect to fill the lazy summer days.

From computer coding to crime scene science labs, mosaic craft to canvas art and chess club, there are plenty of ways to keep you little family members active and engaged.

Here is a timetable so you can discover an activity near you:

Bowen

Tuesday 17 January

10am - QAGOMA: Superpowered On Tour Drop-In Session

2pm – Crime Scene Science Lab – bookings essentials (12+)

Thursday 19 January

10am - Introduction to Coding – booking essential (3–5-year-olds)

2pm – SRC ‘I Spy Activity Game’ drop-in session (6+)

Cannonvale

Tuesday 17 January

10am – Mosaic Craft – bookings essential (8+)

Wednesday 18 January

10am - SRC ‘Australia Day Storytime’ drop-in session (6+)

3pm – Chess Club drop-in session (6+)

Thursday 19 January

10am – SRC ‘Canvas Art’ bookings essential (7+)

3pm – Maker Space drop-in session (6+)

Saturday 21 January

9am – Mini Makers drop-in session (5 years and under)

Proserpine

Tuesday 17 January

10am - Introduction to Coding – booking essential (3–5-year-olds)

Thursday 19 January

10am – SRD ‘Build Your Own 3D Town’ bookings essential (all ages)

Collinsville

Tuesday 17 January

10am – Summer Craft bookings essential (3+)

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Finding the right school shoe is the foundation to every child’s development throughout the year - here are some tips to pick the right shoe for you and your family:

Choose age-appropriate fastenings: Look at whether they want Velcro or laces, it could be more practical to opt for Velcro if they are younger as this will save you more time in the morning.

Bring socks: When buying a new pair of shoes make sure you try them on with the same socks your child would usually be wearing to school.

Do the wiggle test: There needs to be enough room to wiggle your toes at the end, about 1cm is the perfect amount of growing room. If there is any more room, then the sole will flex in the wrong place and will not last as long.

Watch out for width: Most people think it is just the length of the shoe that matters but it is important that the width is comfortable too.

Be relaxed: Children pick up on attitudes around them, if you are stressed and frantic, they will be too. Try to be relaxed and calm, leave plenty of time to choose the right shoe, don’t rush.

Ask a specialist: Always check with a fitting specialist as your child may say that they fit well on them, but they could have lots of extra room at the back without them realising. The friendly team at Shoe Biz are always ready to help, simply call into their Proserpine or Airlie Beach stores today.

“Come in and see us, sit down in the relaxed atmosphere and get them fitted properly.”

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While some children seem to have a better social life than you do, there are other unique and special little people who feel shy and hesitant in social settings, characteristics that may make it harder for them to find friends. While it is important to support your child’s individual nature, it is also vital to help them get accustomed to a variety of social situations that are necessary when navigating everyday life.

Here are some tips to help you help them:

Validate their feelings: It is very common to feel anxious or nervous when entering a new social setting, such as a classroom, so instead of telling them there is nothing to worry about, try validating their feelings instead. Let them know it is ok to feel nervous, explain that everyone does and reassure them that they will be ok. The nervous feeling will start to leave when they relax and begin to understand their new setting.

Practice basic conversations: If your child is especially shy then you can help them learn ‘social scripts’ which are everyday conversations they can practice with you. The more you practice gentle conversation with your child, keeping eye contact and showing them how to respond to different moods, then the better equipped they will be when navigating social situations by themselves.

Initiate playdates: This is where your child can practice building social skills in the safety and comfort of their own home. Before the play date show your child how to be a gracious host and get them to greet their guest nicely. Also, pre-plan some activities with your child that are of their choosing and let them take the lead in showing their friend how to play. During the playdate take a step back and let the time naturally unfold. Afterwards, review how the playdate went, giving specific labelled praise and positive feedback.

Don’t put your own expectations on your children: If you have a more extroverted personality you might like to have a busy social life, but if your child is introverted they might prefer a slower social schedule. Discover what their social limits and degrees of comfort are and work towards giving them that. Some children might prefer reading or drawing by themselves, but they also need to spend a little time with others so they have an opportunity to make friends. For some children, however, just one or two good friends is enough for them.

Article written using information from the Child Mind Institute.

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Thinking of new and exciting items to fill your children’s lunch boxes can be an exhausting process that often results in them eating sandwiches most days of the week.

If you are searching for new ideas, try this quick and easy recipe that is practical, delicious and makes your lunch box creations look exciting!

Ham And Cheese Puffs

Ingredients:

1 x sheet of puff pastry

125g shredded ham

125g grated cheese

1 x large egg

Method

Pre-heat your oven to 180 degrees Celsius (160 degrees fan force)

Lay the puff pastry sheet on the counter, sprinkle ham and cheese evenly across the surface leaving a 2cm gap along the top.

Very gently gather from the bottom and begin rolling upwards towards the top edge of pastry to create a firm ‘roll’.

Whisk the egg with a dash of water, brush along surface of the pastry.

Slice approximately 2cm wide, creating rings, then place on a lightly greased baking tray.

Bake for 12 – 15 minutes or until they start looking and smelling delicious.

They can be frozen for up to three months and can also be placed frozen into the lunchboxes in the morning to defrost by lunchtime.

Alternative filling options:

Vegemite and cheese

Salami and pizza sauce

Or for the adults – brie, bacon and cranberry

Top Tip

This recipe is also fun to make with your kids so get the family together and let them be involved in creating their own lunchboxes!

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• Fingernails grow four times faster than your toenails

• It is impossible to lick your own elbow

• You cannot talk and inhale or exhale at the same time – try it!

• Your heart is about the same size as your fist

• All babies are born with blue eyes

• It would take only one hour to drive to space

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Mental health is an important aspect of overall well-being and can have a significant impact on daily life.

Here are five tips to help improve your mental health:

• Exercise regularly: Physical activity has been shown to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, as well as improve overall mood. Even just a short walk or jog can help clear your head and boost your mood.

• Eat a healthy diet: A balanced diet is important for maintaining good physical and mental health. Eating nutrient-rich foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and lean protein, can provide the energy and nourishment your body and mind need to function well.

• Get enough sleep: Adequate sleep is crucial for maintaining good mental health. Aim for 7-9 hours of sleep each night and establish a regular sleep schedule to help regulate your body's natural rhythm.

• Practice stress management techniques: Stress is a natural part of life, but chronic stress can take a toll on your mental health. Practice stress management techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, and yoga to help reduce feelings of stress and anxiety.

• Seek professional help: If you are struggling with your mental health, it may be helpful to seek professional help. A therapist or counsellor can work with you to develop strategies for managing your symptoms and improving your overall well-being.

It's worth noting that some of the steps may be harder for some people due to various reasons, whether it be financial, time, or accessibility. But even small steps towards these tips can make a big difference.

Remember to be kind to yourself and know that it's okay to ask for help. With time, patience, and effort, you can take control of your mental health and improve your overall well-being.

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Do you have frizzy, uncontrollable hair? Thinning hair that is easy to break? Or Greasy hair that falls flat and lifeless? Whatever your haircare woe, let Monat’s vegan, plant-based, humidity combatting ingredients rejuvenate your scalp and transform your look.

Following its huge success in America, the US brand launched in Australia in November 2021 and local businesswoman, Sammy Walsh, is now bringing these revolutionary products to the Whitsundays.

“I used to get teased about my big frizzy hair,” she said.

“Over the years I’ve spent so much money trying so many products and spent a lot of time straightening it, but the products wouldn't hold, and the results wouldn’t last.”

When she first heard of Monat, Sammy was sceptical, but she tried the sample packs and was astounded by the results.

“I got results straight away and it’s been amazing ever since,” she said passionately.

“Finding something that holds, lasts, and gives definition whilst nourishing the scalp and hair inside and out, has truly been life-changing for me.”

“Not only my confidence and self-esteem in general but being able to wear my hair out without feeling self-conscious was amazing.”

With a mission to help other local women feel as confident with their hair, Sammy is now introducing the full range of Monat products to the Whitsundays.

“I am very much an empath and I love helping people,” she said.

“Our hair can be so important and being comfortable with your hair makes you feel good – it changes lives!

“For people who don’t have as much hair as they would like – or people who have a receding hairline or are post-partum – these products can help thicken your hair and there has been amazing results!”

Sammy can offer you a free consult, a quick online questionnaire followed by a more in-depth conversation, to discover which hair product will suit you best.

After this, she can drop off some samples or a ‘borrow basket’ so you can experience the difference yourself.

She will then set you up with an account and send you a link with your shopping cart so you can confirm payment and receive the products direct.

Monat also do a range of skincare products which include moisturisers, cleansers, a Vitamin C serum, an overnight target treatment, a berry scrub and a cold charcoal clay mask.

“It’s so nice to have a range of great products from the same brand,” said Sammy.

“They last usually last around six months too!”

Sammy Walsh says Monat beauty products have been “life-changing”

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For many years people have reported feelings of ‘losing track of time’ or being so engrossed in what they are doing that they simply do not notice what is happening around them.

This may seem like a pointless and unproductive state to be in, but many experts are starting to recognise the merits of this state, so much so, that it now has a name – ‘flow’.

When we are completely absorbed in a task, our pre-frontal cortex activity is reduced meaning that we are more open to creative ideas coming our way, a sense of complete calm will transcend and afterwards we will experience an untold amount of satisfaction.

A feeling of complete fulfillment.

Increasingly, the feeling of ‘flow’ is being sought after by many craving to wind down and detach from a busy mind.

Here’s how you can achieve a state of flow:

• Everyone’s ‘flow’ activity is different, some might like to play sport or exercise, others might like to create art – whatever activity you choose, it must be something that you are good enough at to do with ease but also challenging enough so that it captures your complete attention.

• Another way to find your flow is to eliminate distractions and focus on the task at hand. This means setting aside time to work on the task undisturbed, turning off your phone and other distractions, and finding a quiet and comfortable space to work.

• Flow also loves creating clear and specific goals for the task at hand and to make progress toward these goals. When you are working towards a goal, you can feel a sense of accomplishment and progress, which can help keep you motivated and engaged in the task.

Find your flow today and see how it can transform your life.

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Detectives from the Mackay Child Protection Investigation Unit are investigating the sudden death of a two-year-old girl in North Mackay.

Police said the child was taken to Mackay Base Hospital on December 29, around 8pm, where she was pronounced deceased upon arrival.

Detective Acting Inspector Chris Eaton said police were called and under direction of the coroner and are now conducting investigations into the child’s death.

The circumstances leading up to the child’s death have remained a focus of the investigation with DAI Eaton confirming the child had been unwell in the days leading up to her death. He said under direction from the coroner, police would look into any care the child had also received in the days leading up to her death.

DAI Eaton said the family had been through a very traumatic event and any sudden death that occurs with a child will be investigated by police. He wouldn’t comment on whether the family had prior association with the police or other services.

The North Mackay home where the child lived was declared a crime scene to enable police to conduct their investigation.

Police said an autopsy will be conducted to establish the cause of death.

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Mackay’s Georgia Knoll lights up a room from the moment she enters. Her beaming smile and constant positive personality has made her a favourite local identity, as well as a star employee for the Coffee Club on Wood Street.

For her dedication to service with a smile, Georgia was recognised with a nationwide award from the Coffee Club, the Service with Heart award.

The Coffee Club Wood Street and regular customers were quick to praise Georgia for this win.

“Every shift, Georgia arrives full of smiles and is extremely proud to wear the Coffee Club logo. Georgia has always encouraged us all to be kind to everyone and goes out of her way to greet everybody in store and does her best to make their day,” The Coffee Club said in a statement.

“We are so proud of Georgia for winning such a big award. Keep an eye out for her special embroidered apron next time you’re in store.”

Customer Helen Noy Newman said, “We had lunch at The Coffee Club Wood Street and Georgia’s beautiful face graced our visit! Thank you for making every single visit an enjoyable and happy experience.”

Jan Simpson added, “That big smile of yours is definitely a winner.”

Georgia’s family said that Georgia loves working at the Coffee Club and they are grateful for the business’ ongoing support.

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Georgia Knoll was presented with the Service with Heart award from Coffee Club’s head office

“I helped this woman load her shopping into her car this afternoon, she said she was so grateful that she could marry me.

“I couldn’t believe it, you do something nice for someone and they threaten to ruin your life.”

Happy 2023, Mackay!

I hope that joke started your day with a chuckle.

I chose to open with a good deed with a twist, because over the holidays, particularly in the week leading up to Christmas, I was floored with the generosity displayed by locals to those less fortunate.

And these displays of kindness came in all shapes and forms. Like a post on the Mackay Buy, Swap & Sell Facebook page, where Sonny Williams offered to give a good quality children’s bike away.

He asked, “Are there any mums or dads who need a pressie for a little takka?

“This bike would suit a 5+-year-old. Nothing wrong with it, free to a good home.

“I’d like this bike to go to someone who needs it and whom their child would appreciate. Merry Christmas.”

Another post on the Mums and Bubs of Mackay & the Whitsundays Facebook page showed that it doesn’t need to be a financial contribution to make a difference in a person’s life.

Madison Smith wrote, “I wanted to share about a beautiful and kind lady who helped me at Coles Mt Pleasant.

“I was in the self-serve checkout with my 7-week-old in the carrier and hubby had taken our son to the loo.

“My baby started crying and I had two people push in front of me as I turned to grab a couple of bags. When I got to the checkout, a lady in front of me asked if she could scan and bag my groceries so I could calm my baby.

“It was such a beautiful act of kindness, I’m so appreciative.”

Another story was shared about kindness from Coles Mt Pleasant.

“My son works at Coles Mt Pleasant mainly in the online department,” Tash Salanoa wrote.

“This is Tyrone’s first part-time job and first time working Christmas eve.

“When I picked him up after his shift, he came to the car with a smile from ear-to-ear just beaming and told me how a lovely lady surprised him with a box of chocolates and thanked him.

“Thank you to a lady named Leisa Scott, your kind and thoughtful gesture was so lovely.”

Pauline Nash in Sarina gave a shout-out to a local business who made her day.

She described how she accidentally placed an order for Alcorns Bakery in Andergrove instead of the Sarina store.

“They not only filled my order of bread rolls, but didn’t charge me. It was my mistake, so thank you ladies, I truly appreciate it.”

There were many more acts of kindness, from people picking up the tab for others while shopping, to individuals donating their belongings to those in need.

Now that the tinsel is down, the tree has been packed away and the world is a little less festive, I hope the kindness continues. The period after Christmas can be daunting for many people, emotionally and financially.

If you can spare some time to do good for others, I think January is the month where kindness is needed more so than any other time of the year.

Amanda

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A community forum was hosted in December 2022 by Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox focussing on veterans’ services throughout the electorate with the Former Deputy Prime Minister and Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Barnaby Joyce.

Mr Joyce said Veterans’ Services were a top priority for the LNP, with substantial investment committed for veterans’ wellbeing at the election earlier this year.

“Our veterans are the heroes of the nation who have sacrificed so much for the sovereignty and freedom of our country,” he said.

“They deserve our complete support and investment.

When in Government, the LNP invested $5 million towards Veterans’ Wellness which was hoped to assist in building an RSL in Mackay and a wellness centre at Kinchant Dam.

“This is a legacy that we are extremely proud of, but there is still so much work to be done.

“We’re going to fight to try and get a wellness centre back, and if we were given the great honour of government, we make a commitment that we’ll be putting a wellness centre in Mackay.

“You need RSL’s, you need wellness centres, you need sub-branches to basically meet people who can say, ‘How are you going? I haven’t heard from you lately.’”

Mr Joyce said the forum is an opportunity to talk to local veterans about their concerns.

“One of the big things you do in opposition is you develop policy, and you don’t do it by your own divine intuition,” he said.

“You do it by talking to people.

“We want to take their concerns to Canberra to make sure our ex-serving personnel are looked after as well as possible.”

Mr Willcox said it was important to listen directly to the veterans and local community on how returned service men and women can best be supported.

“Many returned servicemen and women come home with significant trauma – experiences that stay with them for a lifetime,” he said.

“The prevalence of PTSD and suicide among serving and ex-serving Australian Defence Force members is deeply concerning.

“I will be doing everything that I can to make sure our veterans are well supported in our region.

“In Labor’s first Federal Budget, they cut all Veterans Wellness Hubs north of Brisbane.

“The Coalition wants to work with the Government to see these services are fully supported and fully funded for our Mackay region veterans.

“I believe if people are good enough to fight for this country, if they’re good enough to put their bodies on the line, their lives on the line, then when they come back to our home turf, we should look after them.”

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Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox and Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Barnaby Joyce. Photo credit: Sam Gillespie

A prime riverfront food and beverage location is next in line for a revamp as part of council’s Mackay Waterfront redevelopment.

Council is calling for tenders for a structural refurbishment of 8 River Street, formerly Maria’s Donkey and more recently the Don Daniels restaurant site.

It will be the third major project in the Mackay Waterfront Priority Development Area (PDA).

The first was the Queens Park redevelopment, followed by the Riverside Revitalisation.

Mayor Greg Williamson said the Riverside Revitalisation, a public realm development where the old Seafresh sheds were previously located, was nearing completion.

He said a revamp of the nearby 8 River Street building was the next important stage in revitalisation of the riverfront.

“We’re calling design and construct tenders for this building,’’ Mayor Williamson said.

“We are seeking a proposal from suitably qualified contractors for the structural refurbishment of the building,” he said.

“The brief will be a design and construct contract and aims to refurbish the building as a food and beverage facility.

“The building remediation will aim to enable the site to accommodate a variety of hospitality uses, such as café, restaurant, bar and function capabilities.”

Mayor Williamson said the design of the building must make full use of the position and the river views available.

“It must also provide connectivity with the Riverside Revitalisation public realm space, which is nearing completion.”

This project is jointly funded by the Australian Government and Mackay Regional Council.

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Tenders are wanted for structural refurbishment of the former Maria’s Donkey building on River Street

Means Less Patrolled Beaches For Mackay

Sarina and Bucasia Beaches will no longer be regularly patrolled by lifeguards, as a result of a decision by Surf Life Saving Queensland.

Following the tragic death of a teenager due to a box jellyfish sting, there has been a change to the marine stinger risk management procedure which will now require two lifeguards to perform a stinger drag before opening a beach. Previously this task had required only one lifeguard.

Adding increased resource pressures has meant that two of the Mackay region’s popular beaches will not be regularly patrolled, meaning the added intent of safety could have the opposite effect, with the potential to put more of the community in danger due to less patrolled beaches. Continue reading on page six to find out what this means for communities in Bucasia and Sarina.

A change to Surf Life Saving Queensland’s procedures will significantly impact the number of beaches that can be patrolled in the Mackay region.

As part of changes to their marine stinger risk management procedure, two lifeguards are now required to perform a box jellyfish drag before opening a beach.

This task was previously performed by one lifeguard with a smaller sized net.

However, the procedure has been updated following recommendations from Workplace Health and Safety Queensland after the tragic death of a teenager at Eimeo Beach last year due to a box jellyfish sting.

As a result, only Harbour Beach, Lamberts Beach and Eimeo Beach will be patrolled regularly for the next 12 months, which commenced earlier this week on Wednesday, January 4.

Sarina Beach will be patrolled intermittently by volunteer lifesavers and a roving lifeguard will be visiting both Sarina and Bucasia beaches each week to advise beachgoers of the risks of swimming at local beaches.

Development Services director Aletta Nugent said the reduction in patrolled beaches was unfortunate, but council had no other option.

“Surf Life Saving Queensland (SLSQ) patrol our beaches and they have been struggling with staff shortages for quite some time,” Ms Nugent said.

“Given the additional resourcing requirements of the new procedure, our only option was to reduce the number of beaches patrolled across the region or the contract would be cancelled as the terms would be unable to be met,” she said.

“This would mean we wouldn’t have anyone to patrol any of the beaches.

“Over the next 12 months we’ll be investigating ways to reinstate patrols to Bucasia Beach and Sarina Beach.

“We’re hopeful that the job market may also improve during this time.”

Residents in Sarina are encouraged to visit beachsafe.org.au for regular updates on the dates and times that volunteer lifesavers will patrol Sarina Beach.

Residents are also encouraged to visit nbbsurflifesaving.com.au/beach-reports for beach open/closure updates for SLSQ’s entire patrol region.

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Harbour Beach will continue to be patrolled following changes to Surf Life Saving Queensland’s marine stinger risk management procedure. Photo Supplied: Mackay Regional Council

Eimeo Beach

New Year’s Day, 2023.

While most of us were sleeping peacefully, perhaps nursing a sore head or wiping crusty eyes from seeing the new year in, our region’s rescue helicopter crews were primed and ready for activation.

They weren’t waiting for long.

On the morning of New Year’s Day, RACQ CQ Rescue were tasked to Moranbah to airlift a woman with a cranial bleed. This was followed in the afternoon by an even longer flight to Clermont, to transfer a hospital patient to Mackay.

To find out more about our region’s community funded rescue service, visit cqrescue.org.au.

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RACQ CQ Rescue started 2023 by airlifting a patient with a cranial bleed from Moranbah. Photo credit: RACQ CQ Rescue