Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
By Joseph Borg, Chairman, CANEGROWERS Mackay A firmly enforced bioethanol mandate, backed by increased local sugarcane production, is essential to strengthening Queensland’s industry resilience, regional jobs, and Australia’s long‑term fuel security. Our region holds enormous potential: not only for producing sugar, but for renewable fuel, energy diversification, and national economic security. Queensland’s sugarcane industry has always been a cornerstone of regional prosperity, but today it stands at a crossroads. Global markets are volatile and input costs are rising, and at the same time, Australia faces increasing pressure to reduce emissions, strengthen domestic fuel supplies, and build more resilient regional economies. A properly enforced bioethanol mandate is one of the most effective tools we have to meet these challenges head on. Queensland already has a mandate in place, but compliance remains inconsistent. When fuel retailers fail to meet their obligations, growers, mills, and regional communities lose out on opportunities that should rightfully be flowing into our local economy. Bioethanol is not a theoretical solution: it is a proven, practical, and immediate pathway to cleaner fuel and stronger regional industries and economies. Countries like Brazil and the United States have shown that bioethanol can reduce emissions, stabilise fuel markets, and create thousands of rural jobs. In these countries, and across the world, bioethanol forms a substantially higher portion of retail fuel sales than this country has embraced. Queensland has the same potential, but only if the mandate is taken seriously and enforced with the consistency it deserves. For Mackay, the benefits are clear. Our region is one of Australia’s most productive sugarcane hubs, with the land, infrastructure, climate, and expertise to support a thriving biofuels sector. Increased demand for bioethanol directly translates into increased demand for sugarcane. That means more cane in the ground, more certainty for growers, and more throughput for our mills, and we all know that milling is a volume game. This in turn supports jobs from the paddock to the processing line. But the opportunity extends far beyond economics. A stronger bioethanol industry enhances national fuel security, reducing Australia’s reliance on imported fuels. At a time when global supply chains are increasingly unstable, producing more of our own fuel is not just smart policy, it is essential. Every litre of bioethanol produced in Queensland is a litre of fuel Australia does not have to import. To seize this opportunity, we must also focus on increasing local sugarcane production. The industry cannot diversify, innovate, or expand into new markets without a reliable and growing supply of cane. More cane means more flexibility for mills, more investment in advanced manufacturing, and greater capacity to produce not only sugar and ethanol, but also bioplastics, green electricity, and other high value products. Growers are ready to meet this challenge. With the right policy settings from all levels of government, including a robust and enforced bioethanol mandate, we can plant more cane, improve productivity, and strengthen the long‑term viability of our region. But growers cannot do it alone. We need government to ensure the mandate is upheld, fuel retailers to meet their obligations, and industry partners to continue investing in innovation and infrastructure. Mackay has the land, the people, and the expertise to lead Queensland’s next era of renewable energy and agricultural diversification. What we need now is the policy certainty that comes from a mandate that is not only written into law but actively enforced. A stronger bioethanol mandate is not just good for growers it is good for Queensland, good for regional jobs, and good for Australia’s fuel future. The time to act is now. Bioethanol can use sugarcane by-products including molasses, bagasse, mill mud as well as plant material. Image: AdobeStock
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Marketing strategy boils down to answering four questions: What does your business want? > The goal. Who can help you achieve your goal? > The audience. What do you need to tell your audience so that they can help you achieve your goal? > The message. Where do you need to put your message so that your audience sees it? > The delivery. But how do you actually go about answering those Q’s? Like anything, the broad strokes are more complicated in practice but it’s a good framework to come back to when you’re planning your next marketing activity. Start by drilling down + identifying a measurable goal that you can work towards. Vague + lofty goals are okay, but without a clear way to track your progress, achieving them will be pretty tough. For example, tracking how many enquiries you get + the quote conversion rate can be useful info to have as a baseline. That way, if you do a targeted campaign to attract more work, you can see if it meaningfully pushed the needle in the right direction! Next, really empathise with who can help you achieve those goals. Try to build up a target customer in your head. How old are they? What do they want from your business? What are they interested in? The more specific you are, the easier it’ll be to craft messaging that will actually appeal to that person. Once you’ve defined your goal + who can help you achieve it, you’ve got to tell them how to help you do it. Your messaging should be the key information that your audience needs to know about your business. This is where you focus on not only what your customers want to know about you, but how your business is different to all the others out there. Your messaging should change based on the people you’re targeting. Lastly, the delivery. Where does your target market frequent? Do they use socials? Are they constantly listening to the radio? Do they frequent the pub on a Friday arvo? Once you know where they go, you can start figuring out how to get your message there. While socials are a great option, they’re not the only one. Billboards, coasters, or a flyer that sits on a wall somewhere are all effective options. But if that all sounds like too much effort, you can always reach out + talk to us. We’ll help you figure it out 😉 Taren McAuley
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It’s interesting how Australian states have different rules and approaches in an attempt to achieve the best result for their citizens. In Queensland we have the “adult crime, adult time” approach to youth offenders, an approach with which some will agree and others disagree. Youth crime has become a significant issue throughout the country and certainly became a concern in places like Townsville and Cairns, which led to the change in how sentencing is assessed. Victoria seems a bit different and it is true that that state has challenges that Queensland doesn’t face. We don’t seem to have a problem with youth gangs armed with machetes so we do not require the same measures as they do in Victoria. In Victoria there are special boxes scattered around the place where people can hand in their machetes. Getting machetes off the streets is an important part of the fight against crime in that state. The different approaches also extend to real estate, particularly with the rules around auctions. In Queensland the seller of a property sets a reserve prior to auction but this price is only revealed to the auctioneer and the sales agent. Queensland law dictates that the reserve price cannot be revealed to any potential buyers. The rules in NSW and Victoria are different, with Victoria’s law changing in the past week to make it compulsory that sellers make the reserve public seven days prior to the auction. In one state it is illegal to reveal the reserve and in another state it is compulsory. Glenn Price, director of Price Buyers Agents, told real estate online publication REB that buyers wanted to know price expectations before spending time checking out a property. “The buyers I work with all say the same thing. They want to know what the vendor is expecting before they burn a Saturday standing in a backyard for an unrealistic number,” Price told REB. “If buyers know the number a week out, low-ballers stay at home and people who turn up are serious bidders.” There were only 500 auctions in Melbourne following the introduction of the new law compared to 700 the week before. Price said that some sellers might now be avoiding auctions because the don’t want to show their hand. He also pointed out that Queensland was now out of step with Victoria and NSW. Queensland’s auction clearance rate dropped to 17 per cent and Price said the fact that bidders don’t know the reserve could be an issue. “Based on the clearance numbers right now, Queensland’s market is a bit of trouble; that’s due to a host of other factors. Bidding blind on top of that doesn’t help,” he told REB. It is worth noting that Price is a buyer’s agent and that role is different to that of a listing agent, who is predominantly focused on getting the best result for the seller. The argument in favour of leaving the reserve confidential is that the open market is left to determine the true value of a property. That could be higher or lower than the reserve. It’s also worth remembering that while a seller sets a reserve, where the property will be sold to the highest bidder above that price, the vendor still has the option of selling at a lower price. Gardian’s auctioneer, Gordon Macdonald, will have a conversation with a seller if bidding stalls and the reserve has not been reached, which enables the vendor to assess the state of play and perhaps look at bids below that reserve price. Plenty of buyers would not turn up to an auction if the reserve was revealed and they felt it was too high … only to discover later that the property sold within the buyer’s budget at a price below the reserve. Too much meddling from governments or not enough?
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If you have a soft spot for big dogs and beautiful brindle coats, four-month-old Cozi might just be the perfect addition to your family. A Mastiff cross, Cozi is an intelligent, fun-loving pup with a gentle nature and plenty of playful energy. She's particularly fond of anything involving water. With her gentle temperament and affectionate nature, Cozi has all the makings of a wonderful family companion. Still enjoying the fun-filled puppy stage, Cozi will need a family committed to continuing her training and helping her grow into the best girl she can be. Contact her carer Aaron on 0400 821 800 to arrange a meeting, or email LLTAGSandDogRescue@gmail.com.
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The Proserpine community continued its support of a local church’s building fund last month by generously donating $1500 during a recent fundraising effort.
Proserpine Whitsunday Uniting’s Trivia Night on Friday, March 24, hosted by Proserpine Community Centre was a major success for the local institution.
The local congregation began fundraising to rebuild its St James Church on the corner of Herbert and Main Streets in Proserpine after the previous building was demolished after 2017’s Cyclone Debbie irrevocably damaged its roof.
The lively crowd were kept on their toes at the Uniting Church Building Fund Trivia night on Friday according Proserpine Whitsunday Uniting Church spokesperson Jane Betteridge.
“Questions like ’How many hearts does an octopus have?’ meant there was a great deal of laughter and fun had by all,” Ms Betteridge said.
“Thanks to the generosity of the bighearted businesses and talented people in town who donated many wonderful raffle prizes, and food.”
Ms Betteridge said The Proserpine Community Centre were exceptional hosts and that the Church could not thank them enough.
She said more Uniting Church fundraising projects are on the horizon including ‘Quiche n Treats’ on the last Friday of the month from March to July, starting March 31 at 3:30pm on the Church grounds.
Sausage Sizzles will also return on the last Saturday of the month, starting in April, at Porters Mitre 10 in Proserpine.
The sponsorship campaign "Brick by Brick" will also steam ahead in the coming weeks, allowing donators to sponsor bricks in the new Church and be a part of the new building forever.
David Fraser, Denise and Laurie Corrigan, Jo Fraser, Horace and Anne Lowbridge, and Jane Welbourne at the recent Proserpine Whitsunday Uniting’s Trivia Night
Enthusiastic readers, writers and book lovers have attended a series of author talks hosted by Richard Evans over the past few weeks and his entertaining sessions have proved a popular addition to our local cultural offering.
Cannonvale, Collinsville, Bowen and Proserpine State Libraries have all participated in the events which have seen a variety of community members enjoy stimulating stories about politics, plot lines and other insights into the world of publishing.
Richard Evans has written eight books in the political thriller genre, with much of the storyline inspired by his real-life experience as a Federal Member in the early 90s.
During his time in politics, Richard experienced issues such as sabotage, in-fighting and suspicious agenda.
He was also outspoken about issues such as Indigenous affairs, the Carbon Tax, euthanasia, and breast cancer.
His photo was famously printed on the front page of the New York Times for publicly proclaiming that he would get rid of all the cats in Australia following exponential growth in feral cat numbers.
During his talk at Cannonvale State Library, the audience was asked to participate in the event by sharing what they hoped to gain from the experience.
This allowed Richard to tailor his talk to suit the needs of the audience.
Richard and his wife Julia run a local publishing firm and are bringing their passion for the written word into a new project to reinvigorate the Whitsunday Writers Festival in 2024.
Last held in 2017, it is hoped that, with these two highly motivated individuals at the helm, the festival will become a popular mainstay on the annual events calendar and a hotbed of inspiration for writers, readers and thinkers both locally and across Australia.
Author Richard Evans with some attendees
Over one hundred people attended a lively evening event at Cannonvale Marine on Saturday to congratulate owners Leanne and Darrell Hinschen on successfully operating the business for 30 of its 50 years.
On the night a 370 Outback Explorer with a 20-horsepower Honda engine, valued at around $13,000, was up for grabs.
The lucky winner was Bill Falconer who had been a customer for the past 20 years and had recently stepped into retirement.
“He was quite chuffed with his win,” said Leanne.
“And we were really happy with the whole events, thanks everyone for coming along!”
Owners of Cannonvale Marine, Leanne and Darrell Hinschen
Winner of the $13,000 tinny, local Bill Falconer with Darrel Hinschen
Police report that an unknown person has illegally gained entrance to a portable construction site office in Paget between 5:00pm on March 27 and 6:00am on March 28.
Secure doors were damaged to allow access and Milwaukee brand batteries and chargers have been stolen along with a radio.
Police report that Milwaukee brand commercial tools are being targeted by thieves at multiple business locations and construction sites around the Mackay city area and the Pioneer Valley in recent weeks.
Police urge builders and business owners to ensure sufficient security is in place at their locations.
Information on the matter can be and should be reported to police as soon as possible – quote Report number: QP2300519975.
A new concept in nursing has arrived in Mackay and it promises to help residents receive the healthcare they need in the comfort of their own homes, enabling them to also avoid lengthy waiting times along the way.
Data has revealed that Mackay Hospitals are clogged with too many patients waiting for appointments.
Earlier this month, Queensland Health said the waiting-list-for-the-waiting-list at Mackay Hospitals increased by 16 per cent in the past 12 months for the December quarter.
Leader of the Opposition David Crisafulli said that “better resourcing, improving triaging, real time data monitoring and giving power back to local doctors and nurses to run our hospitals” could provide a solution.
“Behind these 9332 patients waiting for their specialist appointment are stories of Mackay patients desperate for a better quality of life,” Mr Crisafulli said.
A real-time solution is now on its way and, while it cannot replace the need for specialist appointments, it is hoped that it will take some of the pressure off by providing services such as complex bowel care, urinary catheters, wound management, and subcutaneous injections.
Nurse Next Door Home Care Services is operated by local residents Sarah Ryan and George Blackie who wanted to find a solution to support the local community by providing care and nursing services in people’s homes.
“While working in the disability sector, I’d often hear stories from clients about how hard it was to get the proper care they needed and going to hospital was the last thing they wanted to do because of how limited the resources were,” said Sarah.
“We wanted to find a way to help the vulnerable people in our community access healthcare from the comfort and safety of their own homes, on their own terms.” added George.
Almost 20 per cent of the Mackay population is either over the age of 65 or living with a disability.
Nurse Next Door aims to help people continue living independently at home, with the care they need, and to continue to participate in the community safely, with an added personal touch of compassion from locally employed caregivers and nurses.
“We are focused on getting Mackay’s residents that require some level of care back to doing the things they love, and we want each and every one of our residents to live their best lives,” explained Sarah.
The couple hope their services will help to address the growing demand on the healthcare system for Queensland’s ageing and special needs population.
A “thirsty workforce” is responsible for donating $50,000 to RACQ CQ Rescue Helicopter thanks to a partnership between Bravus Mining and Anything Environmental.
Since 2018, workers at the Carmichael Mine have been putting their empty bottles into dedicated recycling bins which are collected by Anything Environmental
These are then cashed in for 10 cents a bottle and, thanks to the generosity of Bravus, the money goes straight to RACQ CQ Rescue to assist with emergency airlift operations.
Bravus Mining and Resources Chief Operating Officer Mick Crowe said the success of the program was due to its simplicity, and a hungry and thirsty workforce.
“Mackay-based group Anything Environmental developed the program and they do the heavy lifting for us. They put the bins in place, collect the recyclable materials, and tally up the donation – all of which goes to RACQ CQ Rescue,” he explains.
“Our people are enthusiastic about doing what they can to reduce, reuse, and recycle on site, and Change for Choppers makes it as simple as putting the right thing in the right bin.”
Mick encourages other businesses to get behind the initiative, which can turn your costly waste into dollars that help provide the region with a vital service.
RACQ CQ Rescue CEO Tim Healee said the community was indebted to their corporate partners.
“RACQ CQ Rescue is a vital part of emergency support for all residents, visitors and workers in this region and it’s reassuring to know corporate organisations like Bravus appreciate the value of supporting our helicopter and that with their support we can continue to provide our vital, lifesaving service to anyone in a time of crisis,” he said.
(L-R) Bravus Mining and Resources COO Mick Crowe with RACQ CQ Rescue aircrewmen Grant Bollington and Ben McCauley. Photo supplied
A group of dog owners who regularly gather at Boathaven Beach to run their dogs off-leash and swim in the safe confines of the stinger net are imploring Council to provide dedicated dog-friendly times following a warning from rangers to put their pets on a lead.
Norma Strang and Paula Medley are part of a group of around 20 individuals who meet casually most mornings at the New Beach in Airlie.
“I moved here about 14 months ago and every friend I’ve made is from the beach,” said Paula.
“It’s a big community of friends and I love swimming here – I need to get in the water, and clear my head before starting the day.”
Norma added that she sees no need for the Council to change the rules.
“What’s the problem?” she said.
“The people are great, this is our morning mental health, our dogs are fine, we pick up after them and they are no trouble.
“We just want a few hours for us here with the dogs early morning - we are ratepayers too and our dogs need exercise off the lead”
Director of Community Services for Whitsunday Regional Council, Julie Wright said that Boathaven Beach has always been an on-leash dog walking area.
“It has never been an off-leash beach, it is an on-leash beach,” said Julie.
“It appears the signage from the western end of the beach has been removed by an unknown in recent months, but this sign will be replaced in the coming days.
“The on-leash signage is still in place at the eastern end of Boathaven Beach and dogs are not permitted to swim inside the stinger enclosure.”
Julie recommends that the group meet at the eastern end of Cannonvale beach which is an off-leash area from 5am-8pm daily except from 8am-9am and 2.30pm-3.30pm on school days.
Norma has been investigating the legal rights of dog owners and asserts that the beach is in international waters and is therefore not within the Council’s jurisdiction.
In response to that, Council said that Local Law considers it a ‘public place’ when referring to animals under effective control, so the argument of international waters is invalid.
She also added that Council had received “several complaints in the past six weeks from residents complaining that their families have been harassed by dogs off the lead at Boathaven Beach”.
“As a result, Local Laws teams will increase patrols to enforce the on-leash status,” she said.
There are no current plans for Council to change the restrictions, but the group believe that allocated off-leash times would allow all ratepayers to live freely and they remain hopeful that restrictions could change.
Local dog owners enjoying an off-leash swim with their friendly pooches at New Beach in Airlie. Photo credit: Rachael Smith.
Hi Readers
This paper marks the first full edition since our dedicated Editor took her maternity leave break. Firstly, I want to wish Amanda and Hamish all the best as you embark on such an exciting chapter. I know you will cherish this time with your family and welcome baby Wright with plenty of love.
This week, I’ve taken on a few of Amanda’s responsibilities, the most interesting one being pagination. I wasn’t unfamiliar with the process before now, but it took me actually doing it myself to truly appreciate the work our editors put in every week. Pagination is the mapping out of the paper – planning what article, ad, photo goes on what page; how much space to allow for it; what should go next to it. It’s a never-ending juggle of puzzle pieces and there’s an element of challenge, fun and satisfaction to fitting all the pieces together – although perhaps my editors will warn that the shine wears off with repetition. We will see.
If you flick to the event guide on page 18, you’ll see there’s no shortage of things to do this weekend. Being a fan of sport, I’m excited to see the Cutters, Meteors and Meteorettes getting plenty of home games. I went to my first basketball game ever last week and the energy inside the Crater was electric. I urge you all to check it out tonight if you can. Read my recollections of last week’s games on Page 21 before you do.
Being a beer fan, I’m also looking forward to celebrating Red Dog Brewery’s first birthday tomorrow. One year ago tomorrow, a relatively fresh journalist in a relatively new town, I dropped in at the corner of Victoria and Chain Streets, had a yarn to Woodsy and enjoyed my first schooner of Red Dog’s Red Ale. That year has flown by, and I’ve enjoyed plenty since. You can read Red Dog’s story on page 19.
Whatever you’re getting up to, I hope you have a good weekend and enjoy the read.
Warning: Confrontational Salesman
Whitsunday police received reports regarding behaviour of a 50– to 60-year-old man with tanned complexion and short dark hair who frequents business and shopping centre car parks.
The heavy-set man is allegedly insistently and confrontationally approaching elderly or vulnerable shoppers and offering services to repair damaged vehicle windscreens.
Anyone with safety concerns should contact police immediately.
Vessel Trespassers Charged
Two people were charged for allegedly entering a vessel moored in Airlie Beach at The Beacons on March 26 at 12.30am.
It's alleged the caretaker of a moored 30-metre-long vessel found two males in the cabin. The men decamped after being verbally challenged.
Police checked CCTV footage, conducted interviews, and patrolled the area before subsequently arresting and charging a 28 year old male Brisbane resident.
He will appear in the Proserpine Magistrates Court on April 17 for charges of trespass and unlawful entry of a vessel.
A 27-year-old Caboolture man was arrested on the same charges and an additional charge of unlawful possession of a dangerous drug (cocaine) and will appear in court on the same date
With 57 homeless young people turning to youth support service YIRS in the month of February, calls are being made for more funding to be funnelled into youth services.
YIRS (Youths Information Referral Service) is a youth service for young people aged between 8 and 21 and their families, with the most commonly seen issues facing Mackay’s young people being homelessness, mental health and education.
An average of 20,000 young people present to YIRS a year, and, with only four staff, Service Manager Dee Chapman said more funding is required to provide intervention and support to our young people.
“There’s just not enough manpower,” Ms Chapman said.
“The demand is high, ongoing and increasing.
“We talk about crime in youth but, basically, their basic needs aren’t being met.
“If we put more supports in place for this youth, we’re going to see less crime.”
Member for Whitsunday Amanda Camm welcomed changes to breach of bail legislation that was passed in the Queensland Parliament earlier in the month criminalising breach of bail for children aged 10 to 17 years.
“Juvenile repeat offenders are causing havoc in the community and to deter these young criminals it was crucial that we reinstate the breach of bail offences,” Ms Camm said.
Ms Camm is now calling for increases to funding for youth services in regional communities to prevent children from becoming involved in criminal activity.
“This government talks about early intervention and supporting young people with complex needs, yet for my community of Mackay, Isaac and Whitsundays there has been not one increase in funding in the past decade,” she said.
“My local community’s service, YIRS, is now using reserve funding and making a loss each year to support young people — young people with complex mental health issues who are known to Child Safety and the youth justice system.”
53 per cent of the young people that present to YIRS are victims of abuse, trauma or neglect, 41 per cent are under a current child protection order and 49 per cent have mental health issues.
Ms Chapman said, with more funding, these young people will have better access to the support they need.
“Young people bounce back from trauma if we intervene early enough and put those supports in place,” she said.
YIRS Service Manager Dee Chapman and Member for Whitsunday Amanda Camm at YIRS One Stop Youth Shop Mackay. Photo supplied: Office of Amanda Camm
Hi Everyone,
Let’s talk Easter Bonnets!
This week my son and I created a Minecraft Easter Bunny ‘Bonnet’ for his school parade which was held on Wednesday.
I’m sure many of you out there have also been part of the excitement of this crafty Easter tradition – paint splotches on the carpet, sticky fingers on couches, half-complete projects abandoned . . . and there you are at 9 o’clock in the evening glueing last minute accessories onto the masterpiece!
It’s a wonderful tradition, and I truly enjoyed spending time with my son, watching his eyes light up as a cardboard box was transformed into a Minecraft-inspired Easter bunny.
Squares were wonky and excess glue was making the paper creased, I found myself trying to correct his placements, make it perfect – but then I stopped myself and let go – this wasn’t a display of great parenting, this was an expression of creative joy, a project for him.
When we got to school, he was proudly wielding his bonnet, which was actually more like a mask, and I watched as his friends gathered.
Everyone was showing off their hats and other kids were keen to see what it was like inside the Minecraft Bunny.
Apparently, when he did his roll call in his classroom this morning he asked his teacher to call him Minecraft Bunny – “good morning Mrs Bunny” – he said afterwards.
As we all enjoy the Easter festivities, let’s remember that family and friends are at the heart of everything we do – quality time is the most important gift we can give anyone – so call your parents, spend time with your children, say hi to your neighbours and stop to talk to a stranger on the street.
Rach
“Life is what happens when you are busy making other plans” (John Lennon)
The Sugar City's young political aspirants are being given the opportunity to run for Youth Councillor positions and become Young Mayor of Mackay in May through a Queensland-first initiative.
Through an Electoral Commission of Queensland (ECQ) and Foundation for Young Australians (FYA) partnership, young people will be able to participate in a ‘Young Mayors’ program, vote in the region’s first Youth Council election, and get their first look at democracy in action.
Mackay Regional Council will be the first Queensland local government to pilot the program which hopes to promote electoral participation among young people.
Despite recent Federal Election results in which young voters turned out in record numbers, concerns for local- and state-level electoral enrolments remain – a recent Australian Electoral Commission study stated participation by youth was a “great concern in many democracies today”.
Electoral Commissioner Pat Vidgen said ECQ is delighted to be supporting this initiative which “will help young people to improve their knowledge about elections and be ready to vote when they turn 18.”
“Importantly, the program will inspire young people to learn about the electoral system and how they can influence decisions that impact their community,” Mr Vidgen said.
“The Young Mayors program will support people aged 17 and under to get elected to a youth council, positioning young people as decision-makers on issues that impact their future in the Mackay region.”
Over a week in May, young people will experience an election campaign and a week of voting to elect a 12-seat Youth Council.
Elected by their peers, the Youth Council will then nominate a Young Mayor, set an agenda for their 12-month term in office and work with the Mackay Regional Council on specific issues.
FYA’s Executive Director of Civic and Cultural Engagement Molly Whelan said local governments play a huge role in the everyday lives of people in Queensland communities, and “that includes young people. But young people are often locked out of power – consulted but never in charge”.
“This program puts young people in the driver’s seat – ensuring that council policies and programs better reflect the concerns, needs, and desires of local young people,” they said.
The Young Mayors program was designed by Foundation for Young Australians and is based on successful United Kingdom models.
Other Australian councils - in Victoria, and New South Wales – will launch their iterations of the program across 2023 and 2024, with Mackay the first of a proposed number of Local Councils in Queensland to participate.
Youth Council members can be as young as 11, and more information can be found online at: https://www.fya.org.au/young-mayors-mackay/
A Queensland-first Young Mayors program has begun in Mackay with election canvassing to start in May for a ‘Youth Council’
Image: Supplied
A local mumand her fitness coach are on a month-long challenge of 57 squats per day – acombined total of 38,874 squats - to fundraise for the National Breast CancerFoundation.
Over themonth of march, Kerry Dibbin joined forces with ‘A Fit Life by Tonya’ to raiseawareness for the current 57 Australians diagnosed daily with breast cancer,having raised $4,482 so far.
Ms Dibbin,who had decided to undertake the national fundraising effort, also recently invitedthe Proserpine Rugby League Club to join her in one day of the challenge afterbringing the idea up to her son’s Under 12 team.
“When we spoke with the Club, they were so quick to jump onboard and very supportive. It was just terrific,” Ms Dibbin said.
Proserpine Brahmans Club President Justin Folley said theentire club joined in, and that it was an obvious choice to do so with the clubhaving been touched by Breast Cancer on more than one occasion.
“We were keen to do whatever we could to support the 57Squat Challenge,” he said.
Ms Dibbin,who trains with local fitness coach Tonya Dunne in her A Fit Life by Tonyagroup, soon had her coach and her coach’s participants signed up too.
“Given my line of work as a Personal Trainer the idea of theNBCF 57 Squat Challenge resonated and I thought, now this is something I can doto support my family and friends fighting this terrible disease,” Tonya Dunnesaid.
“I want tomake a difference in the lives of those 57 Australians impacted by the disease– that's why I'm taking on the 57 Squat Challenge, to raise vital funds forworld-class breast cancer research. Everyone knows someone who has or has hadBreast Cancer.”
To learnmore and make a donation please visit https://fundraise.nbcf.org.au/fundraisers/afitlifebytonya
The Proserpine Brahmans Junior Rugby League Club joined a fundraising effort by a local mum and her trainer who are squatting 57 times per day to fundraise for Breast Cancer
A Whitsunday local and ex-Mayoral candidate interrupted the recent Whitsunday Regional Council Meeting to pose questions regarding misconduct findings against a senior Councillor.
During Council’s Questions from the Public Gallery in its Wednesday, March 22, meeting, Phil Batty stood to query Council on matters relating to Councillor Michael Brunker’s recent misconduct hearing.
Mr Batty had been denied the right to ask his questions in the regular forum, yet still stood during the allotted public question time to display his disagreement.
“I will stand at this stage, Mayor, and have my say,” Mr Batty said.
“You have shut me down four times and I’m going to continue speaking. You’ve let Councillor Brunker humiliate and vilify me at the last meeting and I won’t stand for it.”
Mr Batty’s comments refer to the March 8 meeting in which Councillor Brunker was fined $500 and asked to apologise after using Council assets during the Mayoral election campaign last year – the now-substantiated allegation of which was first brought to light by Mr Batty.
In his statement at that meeting, Councillor Brunker had, without referring to Mr Batty by name, alluded to the “failed mayoral candidate who has lodged this complaint”, saying he felt “embarrassed for him” – this is the “vilifying” Mr Batty alleges.
Mayor Julie Hall was quick to see Mr Batty leave the Council Meeting for his impertinence, telling him he had been refused his questions and that if he wished to pursue the matter further, to do so with State or Federal regulatory bodies.
“This matter has already been dealt with, and if you have any further issues, Mr Batty, it is an OIA [Office of the Independent Assessor] or CCC [Corruption and Crime Commission],” Mayor Hall said.
“Refer it to them.”
Mr Batty told this publication that he has reported Mayor Hall and Councillor Brunker to the OIA regarding his allegations of their breaching the Local Government Act.
Whitsunday Regional Council said the matter had already been dealt with and had no further comment.
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