Twas two nights before Christmas and at the Mackay Life house,

Computers were switched off, including the mouse.

The newspapers were delivered that morning with great care,

In the hopes our readers were informed for the New Year.

As you nestle between the sheets all snug in your bed,

Dreams of a Christmas weekend dance in your head.

Those who featured in our good deed surely made the list of nice,

We know Santa reads our newspaper and has been checking it twice.

As Christmas Day approaches, St Nick readies his sleigh,

With reindeer fed and watered, it’s almost time for up-up-and-away.

"Now, DASHER! now, DANCER! now, PRANCER and VIXEN!

On, COMET! on CUPID! on, DONNER and BLITZEN!”

Keep an ear out for the jingle of bells on the roof,

As well as the prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

Santa doesn’t glide down chimney’s here in Mackay,

He manages to slide through the door with cunning and sly.

Our team wishes you and your family a Christmas filled with glee,

We hope you find something special to cherish under your tree.

Thanks for reading and for sharing your stories,

The pages would be empty if it weren’t for your glory.

As 2022 comes to a close and a new chapter starts,

We hope you have a wonderful New Year with joy in your hearts.

From Amanda and the team at Mackay Life xo

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The Mackay Hospital and Health Service (HHS) is currently seeking expressions of interest from people who would like to join its Maternity Community Reference Group.

The group, which was established in 2020, enables consumers and community representatives to contribute towards enhancing maternity care for those in the Mackay, Whitsunday and Isaac regions.

Mackay HHS Interim Chief Executive Paula Foley said listening to the voices of mothers, fathers and support people helps shape the care being provided at our facilities.

“We welcome participation from people across all sectors of our community as we work on shaping the future of maternity care,” Ms Foley said.

“Having mothers, fathers and support people contributing their knowledge and experience Is essential to planning services that are safe for the women in our care.

“We particularly want to hear from consumers living in our catchment area who have accessed any of our services in the past three years, whether it’s though our hospitals in Mackay and Proserpine, our rural maternity care services, the Birth Centre or Kem Kem Yanga services.”

The Maternity Community Reference Group will have the opportunity to partner with us on a range of projects including the Mackay Base Hospital expansion, and service improvement activities.

The Maternity Community Reference Group meets regularly with MHHS leadership and maternity representatives, and appointment is for a two-year term.

To find out more please complete the expression of interest form on our website https://www.mackay.health.qld.gov.au/join-our-maternity-community-reference-group/

Applicants can also email mhhsengagement@health.qld.gov.au or phone 4885 6801.

Applications close on Wednesday, January 11, 2023.

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Image: Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox

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As energy continues to be a geopolitical battleground, an intervention on the energy industry passed through the House last week, with the Greens supporting a Federal Labor government’s decision to cap the price of coal and gas.

The temporary caps on the wholesale price of gas and coal of $12 per gigajoule and $125 per tonne respectively are meant to combat the skyrocketing cost of electricity, however Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox warned of the detrimental effects of price caps in an address to the Parliament stating that they would drive business offshore and add pressure to the supply shortage.

Mr Willcox said Labor’s ineffective set of measures will only hurt Australians’ hip pocket.

“Price caps are receiving their rightful outcry across the community, from industry groups, to economists, to businesses and people trying to pay their bills,” Mr Willcox said.

“Some have labelled Labor’s response as a declaration of war on the gas and coal industry. They are more interested in demonising these groups who do so much to produce wealth for our nation. The caps do a lot to please activists, however they do not provide security to our energy supply.

“The root cause of the issue we face is supply. If there is an oversupply, the price goes down. If there is an undersupply, the price goes up. We have an undersupply, so bring on more coal and gas.

“We don’t want to end up in a situation where we are gas rationing because of the shortages that will occur when there is not enough gas being produced.”

Mr Willcox added that in our market-based economy, these price controls will drive away investment, reduce supply and send business overseas.

“That means our national profits will reduce dramatically, and the cost of living will increase for Australian households and businesses.

“Labor is about to get a major lesson in how markets work and unfortunately Australians will be collateral damage, paying the price for their ignorance.”

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Image: Travis Miller and Jessica Taylor have rallied behind Westminster Lodge, a retirement village experiencing numerous instances of neglect. Photo credit: Sam Gillespie

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A Facebook post requesting the loan of a barbecue for Christmas has uncovered a distressing case of alleged neglect in a Mackay aged care rental village.

Elvira Bates posted in Facebook group Mackay Noticeboard requesting the use of a barbecue for Christmas, saying “as our kitchen/dining room has been closed for months now, residents that have no family or are unable to travel Christmas day, will not have a Christmas meal.”

The post garnered hundreds of comments of shock and support and drove many locals to assist including Travis Miller and Jessica Taylor.

“We are just complete strangers, came here concerned about the barbecue, but coming here, it was just crazy, what they’re actually going through,” said Mr Miller.

“We saw it was a bigger picture than it actually was,” added Ms Taylor.

Westminster Lodge is an aged care rental village home to 37 residents aged between their mid-60s and mid-90s.

A meal service was provided as part of the residents’ rent, with three meals being served a day in a communal kitchen, dining and recreation space.

This meal service ceased in September and residents were given 24 hours’ notice that they would be left to fend for themselves.

Each room is equipped with a kitchenette that includes a microwave, mini fridge, toaster and kettle, which the Westminster Lodge Manager said is enough for residents to be self-sufficient.

“It’s an independent living village,” she said.

“They have one dining room, one lounge, a little kitchenette, a bar fridge, microwave – it’s a village, not a nursing home.”

Management of the village changed hands in April 2022 and the manager said at the time, all residents would eat the provided meals.

The number of residents eating the provided meals had dropped to around 20, which she said is why she ceased the service.

“As a business, if we don’t have enough people, we can’t run it, unless people want to pay more money,” she said.

“I want to look after them, but the payment would have to go up for the food.”

The manager went on to say the microwave meals some residents have been forced to eat since the kitchen closure would be “much better” than what was being served.

“Our food, it’s the same every week, repeat and repeat, it’s a bore,” she said.

“That’s why I say, okay, we’ll close and find a solution.

“It’s a business; I’m just a manager.

“The cooking is my commercial activity, not a charity.”

The management of Westminster Lodge has since been listed for sale on Gumtree, the manager saying she’s “sick of it”.

“Maybe someone who buys can do it, let them do it,” she said.

“I don’t want to stop it, it’s my income.”

Since the meal service stopped, the residents’ rent has been adjusted, but many issues remain.

Residents are not permitted to use the common kitchen, and, despite the manager’s claims, Ms Taylor said their rooms are insufficiently equipped.

“The rooms are not catered for cooking at all,” said Ms Taylor.

“When they shut it down, they were left to fend for themselves.”

Last week, volunteers saw to the repair and restoration of the “run down” facilities including fridge and freezer seals, air conditioning, gas supply, fire extinguishers and smoke alarms, security cameras and hot water.

There are two emergency phones on the premises, both of which have reportedly been disconnected.

Faulty chairlifts and poor lighting make it difficult for residents, visitors and emergency services to access the village.

Maintenance of the village and the apartments has largely been left the responsibility of residents and, more recently, volunteers with a reported lack of communication between the manager and body corporate.

Additionally, without their daily meals in the common room, residents lost their routine interactions with other residents with many opting to stay in their rooms.

“They don’t utilise this area anymore,” said Mr Miller.

“No one’s bonding … they’re not mingling, there’s no dinner here so there’s none of that time to come in, have a feed and mingle with other residents.”

To address this, Ms Taylor and Mr Miller hosted a dinner in the common room for the residents, a gesture that was met with tears of appreciation from some residents.

“That dining room was full,” said Ms Taylor.

“There was laughter … and it was nice, it was happy.”

The dinner was cut short, however, as Ms Liu reportedly “stormed into the dining room” and “ordered everyone out of the kitchen.”

“As soon as (the manager) turned up and walked in, 90% of (residents) got up and walked out, they were just too frightened,” said Ms Taylor.

The village’s locks have since been changed to prohibit residents and volunteers access to the common area.

The son of a Westminster Lodge resident, Mark Alterator, and his wife Suzie Penny were made aware of the issues at Westminster Lodge prior to the ceasing of the food service.

“Everyone keeps going on about the kitchen and the food, that’s only a very small part of what’s going on here,” said Ms Penny.

Mr Alterator and Ms Penny contacted Member for Mirani Stephen Andrew who spoke to the Lodge’s body corporate, managed by body corporate management company Whittles Group, who plan on taking legal action against the manager.

“Even though it’s out of my patch, the welfare of the people of Queensland is still my remit,” said Mr Andrews.

“These people need to have a manager that has actually got to stand by the contract that she actually signed, they need to go back to a normal subsistence of life so they can interact with each other, they can have their daily meals, three meals a day.

“They’re issuing a notice of breach.”

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Image 1: Caneland Central has been purchased for $280 million

Image 2: Sentinel CEO Warren Ebert said Caneland completely dominates its market

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Caneland Central has been acquired by Sentinel Property Group after almost a year on the market.

The shopping centre had been owned and managed by Lendlease’s APPF Retail fund since 2001, with Sentinel bolstering its $1 billion plus commercial real estate portfolio in Northern Australia with the $280 million purchase.

Sentinel CEO Warren Ebert said Caneland Central is the premier shopping and lifestyle destination in the Mackay region.

“Caneland Central completely dominates its market,” he said.

“Every man, woman and child in Mackay comes to Caneland four times a month.

“You could never duplicate this centre and you also cannot find another 14ha site like this in the city, let alone even close to the city.”

With 202 tenants and a gross floor area of 65,964 sqm, Caneland Central is the largest of its type in the region, servicing a catchment of more than 175,000 people.

The retail hub first opened in 1979 and has since undergone significant redevelopments including a $230 million expansion in 2011 which introduced a new food court and dining precinct, as well as the Myer department store.

Sentinel plans to carry out immediate improvements to the centre including a renewable energy upgrade through the installation of a roof mounted solar system, which the Group has also provided at its DFO retail complex in Cairns.

A new moving walkway is also being installed in the centre.

Mr Ebert said major national and international tenants had already inquired about leasing space at Caneland Central.

“Caneland Central dominates the Mackay CBD and is the central focal point for retail spending and leisure for the wider region which spans 386 km north to Townsville and 336 km south to Rockhampton,” Mr Ebert said.

“The trade area population of the centre is around 154,110 persons which is projected to grow to around 183,410 persons by 2036.

“Bernard Salt, one of Australia's leading social commentators, recently forecast Mackay to be in the Top 20 sized cities in Australia by 2054.”

APPF Retail Fund Manager Anne MacSporran said “The centre has been a strong performer for APPF Retail due to its mix of retail, lifestyle and dining and core position at the heart of Mackay’s local community.

“Despite recent market volatility, the outlook for Australian retail remains positive, with sales remaining robust post the pandemic.”

The purchase of Caneland Central isn’t Sentinel’s first foray into the Mackay Market, with the Property Group’s portfolio also including Northpoint Homemaker Centre, Kings 4WD Supa Centre and Birch Carroll & Coyle cinema complex.

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Image: Mayor’s Charity Ball committee members Dale Cramer (left) and Richard Wainwright (right) with Australia Street Aid Project director Kayleigh Brewster (centre)

Mayor’s Charity Ball committee members (left to right), Tracey Dean, Brendan Hughes, Dale Cramer and Mayor Greg Williamson with Ronald McDonald House Charities Community Engagement Executive Samantha Lee (centre)

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After raising a record amount of more than $120,000 for local charities in 2022, the Mayor’s Charity Ball committee has announced the beneficiaries for the 2023 event.

Mayor Greg Williamson said the aim of the event was to fund two charities for two years, to enable significant funds to be raised for each charity and to make a real difference in the community.

“After careful consideration the committee has chosen two worthy beneficiaries for the 2023 Ball,” Mayor Williamson said.

“Proceeds will be split 50-50 between Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) and new beneficiary, Australian Street Aid Project,” he said.

“HeartKids Mackay drops out this year after completing their two-year tenure, but it’s exciting to see the positive impact of the funds raised over the past two events.

“For example, they have been able to employ a local convenor and set up their previously unfunded organisation that looks after 300 local kids suffering from congenital heart disease.

“Our new beneficiary, Australian Street Aid Project, is a local Mackay charity in urgent need of funds to help support people experiencing homelessness.”

Australian Street Aid Project (ASAP) was established in 2018 by Mackay nurse, Kayleigh Brewster.

Miss Brewster said it was an honour to have ASAP nominated as one of the charities for the 2023 Mayor’s Charity Ball.

“I founded ASAP because I had some experiences with people who were suffering badly due to homelessness,” Miss Brewster said.

“After this I wanted to create an organisation that filled some of the many gaps that were visible, whilst also providing a community of support for people who were marginalised and vulnerable.

“The funds received from the 2023 event will help to create a much-needed homelessness healthcare and case management program for the Mackay region which will greatly reduce suffering and increase physical and mental health for people experiencing homelessness in our region.

“This program will help individuals suffering from complex comorbidities in particular, as it aims to help increase their quality of life and their chances of gaining sustainable accommodation.”

RMHC North Australia Chief Executive Officer Tamara South was also delighted with the announcement.

“Our sincerest thanks to Mayor Greg Williamson for selecting RMHC North Australia for a second year as a beneficiary of the Mayor’s Charity Ball,’’ she said.

“Now that construction of the facility has been completed, funds raised from the 2023 event will make a vital difference in the ongoing operations of our Ronald McDonald Family Room at Mackay Base Hospital.”

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James Cook University scientists will lead seagrass restoration research spanning tropical Australia’s two oceans.

Researchers from JCU’s Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research (TropWATER) will investigate restoration techniques for key tropical seagrass species, from Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef across to the north of Western Australia.

Their aim is to develop a blueprint for coastal managers to rapidly restore seagrass meadows in high-priority regions.

TropWATER’s Associate Professor Michael Rasheed said future-proofing highly diverse seagrass meadows is crucial to reversing the global downward trend in tropical seagrasses.

“Seagrasses are critical ecosystems,” he said. “They provide habitat for fish, they power coastal marine productivity, and they sequester carbon to help combat climate change – but they’re under increasing pressure from extreme weather events, coastal development and declining water quality.”

Associate Professor Rasheed said climate models predict that future conditions will see more frequent seagrass loss in tropical Australia, making it essential to have tools at hand for effective intervention and restoration.

“We’re investigating the most effective ways to restore different seagrass species, and developing the tools needed for rapid restoration on local and regional levels,” he said.

Professor Rasheed said the project would focus on tropical seagrasses, as most previous seagrass restoration projects have occurred in temperate regions.

“Tropical seagrasses can be very different to temperate seagrasses. They have different growth strategies, and they have the potential for much faster recovery once established.

“Some restoration methods applied in temperate systems may not be applicable or transferable to tropical seagrass meadows, which makes our work all the more valuable.

“We’ll investigate methods such as using seeds and cuttings, and new ways they can be used in the field, much the same as many land plants and nurseries operate.”

“We’re going to develop new techniques for tropical seagrass restoration, a blueprint for seagrass-friendly marine infrastructure, and restoration decision tools that can be applied at local and regional scales.”

The project builds on a long-term collaboration with industry partners Ports North and North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation (NQBP).

“We are proud to support this ground-breaking research that aims to provide practical solutions to safeguard seagrasses and the Reef,” said Simona Trimarchi, NQBP’s Senior Manager of Sustainability and Environment.

The research is a significant next step in TropWATER’s long-term partnership with industry and will benefit from the decades of data already gathered.

“We take our environmental responsibilities seriously,” said Paul Doyle, Ports North’s General Manager of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability.

“Together with JCU’s TropWATER Centre we’ve supported seagrass monitoring and research for almost three decades across the ports of tropical Queensland.”

The project is funded by a more than $450,000 linkage grant from the Federal Government’s Australian Research Council.

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The long-awaited projects for road safety improvements in the Bowen area will forge ahead in early 2023, but it is looking likely they will take over a year to complete – a timeline the Federal Member for Dawson said is “not good enough”.

The state government awarded contracts to two projects last week, announcing works between Bowen Connection Road and Champion Street intersections.

Construction ceased in February 2022 after principal contractor WBHO Infrastructure Pty Ltd went into voluntary administration.

New contractor FKG Civil will now deliver six kilometres of safety improvements in the area which include road widening, wide centre line treatments, guard rails, protected turn lanes, removal of roadside hazards and an upgrade to the Bowen Connection Road and Don Street intersection.

They are expected to be complete in early 2024 but Federal Member for Dawson, Andrew Wilcox, said this is too long for residents to endure.

“While I am relieved that new contractors have been appointed and works will recommence it is just not good enough to expect locals to put up with this,” he said.

“If this road was in the southeast corner, they would not be waiting years for six kilometres of safety improvements to be completed.

“The hard reality is locals are over it. We have been dealing with dangerous road conditions and lowered speed limits with no action for almost 12 months and to hear the completion date keeps getting dragged out is very frustrating.”  

Willcox took his frustrations to social media where the community responded with their comments, many stating that the current situation is dangerous and the speed restriction pointless in some areas.

“I find the tall red bollards very difficult to see through at the intersection of Bowen. They have been there for so long it’s unbelievable. I breathe a sigh of relief every time I successfully make the right turn to continue the Bruce Highway south,” said one disappointed road user.

“If the roads can’t be fixed, can someone please revise the speed limits? Doing 60 in some and 80 in other sections with no workers and no work happening is ridiculous,” said another.

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Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox holds a sign up to vent his frustrations about long delays to roadworks along the Bruce Highway. Photo supplied

Anglican Church Whitsunday

8 Main Street, Proserpine

Christmas Eve at 7pm

Christmas Day at 8am

Liberty Church Whitsunday

19 Philip Street, Proserpine

Christmas Day at 9.30am

New Year’s Day at 9.30am

Proserpine Whitsunday Uniting Church

Christmas Eve at 7pm at St Paul’s Anglican Church

Christmas Day at 8am at St James Uniting Church

Christmas Day at 8am at St Paul’s Anglican Church

Whitsunday Baptist Church

4 Martin’s Lane, Cannonvale

Christmas Day at 9am

Whitsunday Impact Church

202 Bruce Highway, Proserpine

Christmas Carols on Friday, December 23 at 6pm

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A trusted rural charity has distributed more than 700 bales of hay to Central West New South Wales farmers, helping to make Christmas a little brighter for flood-affected producers.

A hay drop was held at the Central West Livestock Exchange in Forbes on Friday, December 16.

Ten road trains delivered more than 480 tonnes of hay to the saleyards for Rural Aid’s registered primary producers.  

Forbes cattle breeder Danielle Beard said her property is still covered in floodwaters and thick layers of mud, smothering any grass underneath.

“75 per cent of our property is under water and we’re going to have water on our place for another seven months.”

She said the bales of hay were exactly what her family needed to help them recover from the flooding event.

“We’re just so grateful for this hay,” Ms Beard said.

Rural Aid CEO John Warlters said flood affected farmers are facing a difficult recovery that will last well after Christmas.

“Rural Aid has brought back its Buy a Bale campaign, which was first created in the Millennium Drought, to help raise funds to support farmers impacted by these record-breaking floods,” Mr Warlters said.

“Christmas is going to be an enormously difficult time for thousands of our farming families.”

To support Rural Aid or make a donation go to: www.buyabale.com.au

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Merry Christmas Everyone, from all of us to all of you!

We really appreciate you picking up the paper every week and we hope we delivered another year of exciting local news stories – we aim to support as many events and cover as many community issues as possible so please reach out to us if there is anything you would like us to cover for you.

I received a call last week saying that since the Bowen Independent stopped running, many of you in the north of the Whitsundays had been feeling abandoned and like you’d lost your local paper.

That was until we showed up!

We’ve received so many calls lately from Bowen and Collinsville – residents looking to us to relay their concerns to the broader community – whether that be a vandalised sign or the flying fox problem or a proud mother wanting us to cover her son’s sporting success.

Every time I receive one of these calls, I am thrilled to hear how our newspaper reaches every corner of the region and that many people consider us their local newspaper now.

While our office is based in Cannonvale, our team are all around the region and if not in person, we are always at the end of the phone so please call us anytime.

Once again, thank you for a fabulous year delivering your local newspaper and I would also like to say a huge thanks to our amazing team – everyone always gives 100 per cent and cares deeply about what they do.

See you in the new year!

Rach

Quote of the week: “May you never be too grown up to search the skies on Christmas Eve” anonymous

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A national outpouring of grief followed the mid-December murders of two young Queensland Police officers in Wieambilla, including in the Whitsundays where a group of Bowen kids took the opportunity to thank their local officers.

Children from ‘Kidz at the Beach’ day care centre visited their local officers at the Bowen Police Station last Friday, offering them their gratitude as well as some delicious home baked cookies.

Chaperoned by Owner and Director of Kidz at the Beach, Anna Woodhouse, and Police Sergeant Michelle O’Regan, the kids were treated to a tour of the station as thanks for their gifts.

Those gifts included the aforementioned cookies – baked at Kidz at the Beach’s premises by the children themselves – as well as the children’s own drawings of police officers with ‘Thank You’ written on each.

Police Sergeant O’Regan said Kidz at the Beach had contacted her sending their well wishes to all Bowen officers which soon expanded to the pictures.

“They hopped on the bus, we took them to the police station, and they delivered their drawings which are just fantastic,” Sergeant O’Regan said.

“The guys were busy at the station, but they took the time out of their day to show the kids around because it really filled our buckets. It’s wonderful to see the genuine appreciation from the little people – it enlightens your soul in relation to what we do in community.

“Community is right behind police at the minute, and it’s just wonderful to have that.”

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Bowen’s police officers were lucky enough to have a show of appreciation from some of the town’s ‘little people’ this week during what is a tough time for all law enforcement personnel

Sirens blaring, lights blazing and fire fighters with lollies in bared hands – the annual ‘lolly drop’ returned to Collinsville and Scottville last week after an 11-year hiatus and everyone in the community was thrilled to see it back.

Organised and funded by the Fire Station Social Club and with kind donations from Mamma Varity sweet shop, the annual event received the support it needed to reinstate this much-loved Christmas tradition.

Lieutenant Ashley Murphy and two other Auxiliary fire fighters were joined by members of the local ambulance and police services, all volunteering their time last Saturday to throw handfuls of lollies out to excited children who lined the street.

Lieutenant Murphy said the idea began when the fire station posted a picture of their fire truck dressed in tinsel on social media and they were overwhelmed with the response.

“So many people reminisced about the old days,” he explained.

“The lolly drop used to mean a lot to the local community, so we were pleased to bring it back.”

Watching the children’s faces as they drove down the street was a highlight for all the volunteer emergency service workers.

“The kids were so excited because they could hear the lights and the sirens coming their way,” said Lieutenant Murphy.

“Throwing the lollies on the footpaths and seeing the smiles on all the faces was a definite highlight for us all.”

The ‘lolly drop’ team: Fire Fighter Billy Bilson, Anthony Sehl from Queensland Ambulance Services, Ross Petersen from Queensland Police, Lieutenant Ashley Murphy and Fire Fighter Lizzy Hill. Photo supplied

Santa hats on and ready to go!

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Car Spins Out Of Control On Wet Road

A local family are thankful this week having escaped without harm following an incident where the vehicle they were travelling in suddenly span out of control when they tried to navigate a roundabout shortly after a downpour of rain.

Driving at less than 40 kilometres an hour, the accident occurred when Ruth Russell, her husband, their daughter and two young granddaughters were heading towards Airlie Beach and attempted to traverse the roundabout near Bunnings in Cannonvale.

“The police later said that a touch of rain makes the road very slippery after a long dry spell due to the accumulation of oil that builds up, so extra caution is needed especially on a roundabout or corner,” said Ruth.

In this case, when the vehicle suddenly started skidding, it began heading towards the central reservation and oncoming traffic.

Ruth’s daughter, who was driving at the time, overcorrected but the steering wheel locked, leaving them helpless and spinning out of control.

“It all felt like it was going in slow motion,” said Ruth.

“There was no gripping, just skidding and we careened straight off the road.”

The vehicle passed through the crash barrier and plummeted two metres into the grassland below.

“I’m very grateful that the railing gave way,” said Ruth.

“It slowed us down but didn’t stop us, otherwise it might have been a different outcome.

“My son was travelling in the car behind us, and he said it was terrifying to watch – we nose-dived off the edge!

“We are grateful to God the car didn’t turn over after crashing through the barrier.”

Once the vehicle came to a halt, staff from Bunnings and someone travelling behind them immediately raced over to check on their welfare.

Miraculously everyone was unharmed, although Ruth reported minor whiplash the following day.

The ambulance, police and fire brigade attended the scene and took charge.

Meanwhile, the Bunnings staff brought out ice blocks for the children, a box of teddy bears and some craft items.

“The loving response from many people who stopped to help was so touching,” said Ruth.

“We felt very looked after.”

The following week Ruth heard that this was not the first time there had been an accident at that location.

“The tow truck operator told us there had been a lot of accidents there because of the camber of the roundabout being really faulty,” she explained.

“Hopefully something can be done before anything worse happens.”

The Russell family are very grateful to everyone who helped on the day and decided to share their story hoping to raise awareness for other road users to take great care when driving at this time of year, especially after the rain.

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The family’s vehicle plummeted over two metres off the edge of the road

People are advised to be extra vigilant driving after rain as oil on the road makes it very slippery

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Image: CANEGROWERS Mackay recently held its AGM, an important event in the membership calendar. Pictures: Contributed

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“Whatever decisions may be arrived at, it is well to keep that important principle in view – that the interests of the whole are always greater than the interests of the unit, and what is of benefit to all must be of benefit to the individual.”                                    

Queensland Agriculture Minister William Forgan Smith (Member for Mackay 1915-42; Premier of Queensland 1932-42) speaking at the first meeting of the Queensland Cane Growers Association, Mackay, 21 January, 1926.

CANEGROWERS has a long and rich history of grower representation, going back almost 100 years, and with its origins here in Mackay. Did you know the first ever meeting of the Queensland Cane Growers Association was held here in Mackay on January 21, 1926?

That coming together signalled something important: that growers needed to unify as a collective. There’s nothing new about collective representation, and the principles of collective representation are sound: when we stand together we can speak out with a common voice.

And that is what the organisation does, representing grower member families from the negotiation of cane supply agreements with mills, to ensuring a place at the table in regional economic development, to getting good support from governments, to maintaining global market access.

Our grass roots representation starts with the farmgate, to branch meetings and the district office, providing advocacy at a local, state, national and international level. We negotiate at the local level and enforce at the State level, supported by CANEGROWERS Queensland, which includes elected representatives from our own Mackay and Plane Creek milling districts.  

We ensure growers have marketing choice nationally and take other countries to task if they break the trade agreements to keep our export industry strong and ensure growers get paid on their cane supply agreement. A great example of this is what CANEGROWERS was able to achieve through lobbying, with the Australian Sugar Milling Council, to achieve a positive decision from the World Trade Organisation when Australia disputed India’s dumping of subsidised sugar onto the market several years ago.

By having a strong grower representative body, backed by high grower membership, we can work with other peak organisations in the sugar industry and government to keep our industry strong. It is evident that when CANEGROWERS speaks, government listens

Across 2022, CANEGROWERS Mackay elected members and staff have worked hard for the 740 grower member families across this region. We have met with State and Federal Government ministers and departments discussing important and topical matters, such as energy, transport, land use and management, cost of production, biofutures, environment and climate. We have engaged and collaborated with businesses and organisations across the sugar industry supply chain.

We were able to offer free crop insurance for crop areas listed under membership from June 2022 to June 2023.

We have enabled the running of courses that help our members run their business effectively, such as the excellent Business Essentials course, chemical accreditations, pilot driving, and heavily championed Smartcane BMP delivery.

We have facilitated access to CANEGROWERS’ top-level professionals, such as solicitor Chris Cooper, who represents and advises members in a range of areas, including Government land resumptions, disputes and other legal proceedings.

The levy that our members pay truly is an investment in the future of their business.

There is a huge amount of value in CANEGROWERS membership, but the greatest value is the strength in numbers of our membership. As growers, we are stronger together!

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