The image of the man, woman and baby in the darkened stable has had a powerful hold on people’s imaginations over millennia.

What makes it so powerful? Maybe it’s because so many can identify with the man or the woman, huddled in darkness, turned away from the inn, apart from family.

How many people now feel displaced, not ‘at home’ in their surroundings? How many suffer the darkness of loneliness, betrayal and rejection? How many dwell in the shadow of illness and grief?

Mary and Joseph are first time parents- how many live with the anxiety of uncertainty about their actions, about the future for themselves and the family? The material world is not always a hospitable place.

But look closer! There is the baby, a universal symbol of hope and love. But there’s more: a light glowing through, and out from, the baby, and the light casts out the darkness, and the darkness has no power against the light.

The light is the sign of God in a human life, re-creating lives. In a world of uncertainty, the God of creation, life and love is still at work. I have seen many lives transformed by God’s presence.

At Christmas, those who have found the glory of this joy gather to give thanks for, and share, this most wonderful inner peace.  Come and join us and, wherever you are, may you know God’s blessings of joy.

Reflection from Ven Dr Rosemary Dunn

Archdeacon of Mackay

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Imagine if for minimal or no expense, your business can make changes that will allow you to increase your customer base and your bottom line? Interested…?

When we think of people with a disability, typically a person in a wheelchair comes to mind.  However over 90% of disabilities are invisible and more than half of these people are aged over 55. One in six people in our community have sight, hearing, social and mobility barriers that can result in a poor customer service experience – that’s 20% of potential customers your business could be missing out on!

There is a myth that making your business more accessible is costly. One of the simplest solutions is to educate your staff how to communicate well with people experiencing communication barriers which could include cerebral palsy, stroke or come from a non-English speaking background. Good communication equals good customer service.

The Good Access Equals Good Business Guide was created by Mackay Regional Council and the Access and Inclusion Reference Group. It is a brilliant resource for local businesses to identify their accessibility issues with a simple checklist.

Armed with this knowledge, business owners can then use the guide to make small changes that can make a big difference; attracting new customers and repeat business. It can also help businesses meet their legal responsibilities under the Disability Discrimination Act (1992).

The Queensland Government has declared 2023 is the Year of Accessible Tourism in Queensland. $12 million in funding has been announced to support small and medium businesses to develop or enhance accessibility.

The Mackay region is striving to enhance our reputation as an inclusive and accessible destination; the Seaforth Esplanade and Woodlands Parkland upgrades are a testament to our commitment to create amazing spaces for our whole community and visitors to enjoy.

We can shine as an Accessible Tourism Destination, and it starts with empowering our local businesses by dispelling the myths around access and inclusion and making the small changes that will take their business to the next level.

Everyone in our community deserves to feel welcome, included and experience great customer service wherever they go.

Cr. Michelle Green

Mackay Regional Council

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A climbing unit and hammock swing located in Iluka Park playground in East Mackay will be temporarily closed while council waits for replacement equipment to arrive.

Mayor Greg Williamson said vandals had recently targeted the play equipment, which was due for renewal.

“The team had modified the climbing unit to allow it to remain in service until the replacement equipment could be installed, however for reasons that totally baffle us, vandals have attacked the equipment with an angle grinder,” he said.

“Regrettably, crews now have no option but to remove the climbing unit and swing.

“This destructive behaviour is unacceptable, and it means that this play equipment is now out of action for the Christmas school holidays.

“The climbing unit has been cordoned off for public safety and is being removed.

“The good news is that most of the other play equipment in the park was not touched and remains available for use.”

If anyone has any information regarding the vandalism in Iluka Park, or at any of our other parks or playgrounds across the region, please contact council on 1300 MACKAY (622 529).

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Make room for Christ and others this Christmas

This Christmas how can you make room in your life for the Christ-child, the Saviour of the world?

Christmas is a time for awe, wonder and response. The angels sing glory to God. The shepherds proclaim the birth of the king of the world. Mary rejoices that God chose her to carry the Saviour. The wise men follow a star, are overwhelmed with joy, and kneel down and worship the babe of Bethlehem.

This Christmas experience anew the awe and wonder of the birth of Christ by finding your local church, attending a Christmas service, and contributing to a Christmas appeal. More than just family, presents and food, Christmas is a time to be confronted by the awe-inspiring reality of the birth of God into the world: Emmanuel, God is with us. The God who became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14) identifies with us in life’s challenges.

This Christmas how can you make room in your life for people seeking accommodation in the Mackay region?

The Roman Emperor called Mary and Joseph to their home town of Bethlehem for registration, but there were so many people present that they could not find a place to stay. ‘And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn’ (Luke 2:7). Mary found room in the animals’ quarters to give birth and to lay the baby Jesus in a manger, a feeding trough. From their treasure chests, the wise men offered lavish gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

This year, people seeking work in the Mackay region are looking for accommodation. Can you spare a room or a granny-flat out the back for people to come to Mackay to work? Can you advertise to take in a boarder? Like the innkeeper and the wise men, let us be adaptable and generous in helping to solve the shortage of housing in Mackay.

REV. DR JULIA PITMAN

ST PAUL’S UNITING CHURCH

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And just like that another year draws to a close. As we wrap up 2022, I’ve been very reflective. I don’t know why I do it but every year I look back on what was. It's bittersweet because I must turn another year older, but it feels good to see the back of this one. Finally, we have gotten on top of the COVID pandemic, life is going back to a real normal around the world and I am honestly so excited for 2023.

My pro tip to start the year off in the right way is to not wait until January to start your new year resolutions. I signed back up to the gym a couple of weeks ago, and I’ve been enjoying picking up some weights and feeling good about going into the holiday break as my most healthy and motivated self. That’s my resolution but whatever yours may be, start it sooner rather than later.

They say it only takes on average 66 days to develop a habit, so if you start right now, you’ll be in the swing of things by February and will have set up the new year to be your best yet. As I write this, I know I only have a few more days until I switch off for the year and take some much-needed time to enjoy time with my family and a lot of sleep-ins ahead of taking over the brekkie show with Scotty in the new year.

I hope you can join us for your mornings in 2023, I cannot wait to see what we can do on the show and with you next year.

Merry Christmas and happy new year to everyone in Mackay and the Whitsundays. Stay safe and see you on the flip side!

Kaley

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Three-year-old Ron has become the first cat in Mackay to be rehomed by RSPCA Queensland’s Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) rehoming program.

Ron will spend his Christmas in the care of his new loving family after being adopted earlier this week.

When the charming and friendly Domestic Short Hair Mix came into the care of RSPCA Mackay through the Mackay Animal Management Centre, not a lot was known about his life story or his history with FIV.

"A lot of the time, FIV cats are usually tom cats that live outside, but he's obviously been someone's pet at some point because he's so friendly,” said Animal Attendant Nerida Sadler.

FIV is a virus that causes a gradually progressive decline in immune function, estimated to be present in approximately 14-29 per cent of Australia’s cat population.

Symptoms include weight loss, anaemia and dental problems but, despite this, many FIV-positive cats are expected to have a normal life expectancy and similar quality of life to uninfected cats.

"We just realised that there was a need to find these animals homes because there wasn't any reason they couldn't live a normal life," said Ms Sadler.

“(Ron) deserves a chance and that's what this program's been really good for, is giving those cats a chance when, in the past, they might not have been.”

RSPCA Queensland’s FIV rehoming program has been running state-wide for 18 months, with Ron being the most recent of over 30 cats to be rehomed through the program.

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Ron was the first cat at the RSPCA Mackay shelter to come through RSPCA Queensland’s FIV rehoming program

Ron was adopted by a local couple earlier this week. Photo supplied

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World class musos brought locals together at the Eungella Community Hall over the weekend, as part of the Festival of Small Halls Summer 2022 Tour.

Festival of Small Halls features folk-pop songwriter Sam Buckingham from northern New South Wales and young traditional-folk trio Inn Echo from Canada, while they tour small communities up the east coast of Queensland.

Community Bank Sarina sponsored the tour performance in Eungella with Board Chair Karen May being the emcee for the evening.  

“Post-pandemic, we have been focusing on sponsorships for community organisations and groups to hold events and we couldn’t pass up on the opportunity to help bring a large event to our valley community,” said Ms May.

“In the past, we have partnered with the Eungella State School P&C Association who organised and catered the Festival of Small Halls Eungella performance.

“We sponsored the P&C again to assist in the costs associated with organising this year’s event, including covering the booking fees for the venue, so more profits could go back to the students.”

Eungella State School P&C Association member Mandy Tennent is grateful for the sponsorship and “looks forward to continuing and building our relationship with Community Bank Sarina Bendigo Bank in future years”.

“This sponsorship has helped more profits to go back to our P&C, and therefore flow onto our remote rural students, in support of their education.”

“Bringing world-class musos to our local hall for a night of magic and entertainment in the Valley means our community doesn’t have to travel far to experience something they would in the city.”

Visit the Community Bank Sarina Facebook page to keep up to date with all future sponsorships and events.

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Inn Echo Trio from Canada

MC Karen May

A Mackay resident has designed and created a potential alternative to the current Australian flag that she says encompasses all current flags.

Valerie Christiansen says she got her creative genes from her father who designed, planned and built houses.

“He was very good at designing plans, he sat in his office forever designing plans and building houses,” she said.

“I think I got the talent from him to design.”

When the discussion of a new Australian flag was raised, Valerie decided to put her skills to the test.

“I knew I had the talent to do it,” she said.

“To me it’s been like a duty to do it.

“An idea came to my head just to do the horizontal lines and all the colours.”

The flag features the red, black and yellow of the Aboriginal flag, the green, blue and white of the Torres Strait Islander flag, the red, white and blue of the current Australian flag and the iconic Australian green and gold.

The Southern Cross and Commonwealth Star remain in Valerie’s design while the Union Jack has been omitted.

“I feel it’s really good because it encompasses all the colours,” she said.

“I think we’re reaching independence soon … we need a flag that’s uniting all of the flags.

“I knew at the end it was right, you know when something’s right.”

Valerie took advice on the design from her friends, with a friend also assisting with the sewing.

“It was a team effort, the way it’s ended up,” she said.

She said now that she’s happy with the final product, she’s eager to see what the community thinks of her design.

“It’s not an easy thing to do because you’ve got to make something that everybody’s going to like,” she said.

“It’s just a proposed one and if it’s popular it's popular and if it isn’t it isn’t.”

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Valerie Christiansen has designed a potential alternative to the Australian flag

Valerie’s flag

A budding Mackay artist is one of thirty Year 12 students across Queensland to have been crowned winners of the 2022 Creative Generation Excellence Awards in Visual Art.

Whitsunday Anglican School (WAS) student Alexandra Clifford was recognised for her Collagraph Triptych piece titled ‘Disguised in the Dark’ which was inspired by an excursion to Cape Hillsborough National Park.

“The negative treatment of the environment is a repetitive human trait and through this piece the continual loss of ink through the three images demonstrates humanity as a parasite on nature,” Alexandra said in her artist statement.

“Within each print, the ink becomes lighter and lighter, showing the way in which humans are destroying nature and we can’t instantly see the damage but if compared over time, it is very easy to see.

“Through my personal connection with Cape Hillsborough National Park, a place I’ve visited many times, this beautiful landscape is marred as I continue to see human impact remaining unnoticed.”

The graduated year 12 student resides on a cattle farm in Clermont and says she has an acute understanding of land management and how we can have a positive effect on the landscape through respect for the environment.

Education Minister Grace Grace congratulated the winners on their outstanding achievement.

“The Excellence Awards recognise the incredible talent and dedication shown by Queensland art students,” Ms Grace said.

“Congratulations to all students who entered, I hope you are encouraged to continue creating and exploring visual art in life after school.”

Fellow WAS students Lachlan Nelson, Mikayla Parrotta and Hailey Rodger also entered pieces, with Hailey receiving a 2022 Regional Encouragement Award for her large scale etching and screen-print work titled ‘Drained in Nature’.

The winners of the 2022 Creative Generation Excellence Awards in Visual Art will have their art exhibited at the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) in Brisbane from 22 April 2023.

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Alexandra Clifford and her piece ‘Disguised in the Dark’

After a tight election race, which came down to preferences and a close count of postal votes on Tuesday this week, Clay Bauman was officially declared Councillor of the Division 2 Seat on Wednesday morning.

While Bauman held a lead of 193 votes, the distribution of preferences needed to win the seat from Andrew Camm was separated by just 20 votes.

Electoral Commissioner Pat Vidgen said that “the distribution of preferences significantly narrowed the margin” but Bauman was officially declared when he received over 50 per cent of the votes remaining in the count.

A total of 2,531 votes were cast out of the 4,155 registered voters, meaning 1,624 people failed to vote.

Bauman thanked his campaign team, volunteers and the wider public for their support and said the win was unexpected.

“I was very surprised that my first vote lead held up against all the other candidates,” he said.

“Especially due to the other preference deals that put me at the bottom of the pack.”

“I am lucky that there are so many people in Division 2 that didn’t follow the how to vote cards and gave me preferences instead.”

Dedicated to improving Council culture, transparency and open discussion, Bauman says that he is looking forward to forging good relations with other Councillors.

“The most important thing is to create a relationship of trust with the other Councillors,” he said.

“I’m only one vote and once we all start to work together, they will realise we’re all on the same team and working towards the same goals.”

He is also ready to back “projects that should be moving ahead” in his electorate and stated that he was disappointed to see the division under-represented in last years’ budget.

“Division 2 has 20 per cent of the rate payers but received only 2.5 per cent of capital works, aside from the reservoir, in the last budget”

The next official step is for Cr Bauman to be sworn in by the Whitsunday Regional Council Chief Executive Officer.

After this, the first Council meeting will take place on January 25 and in the meantime, Bauman says he will be engaging further with public, taking tours of important services and joining relevant committees.

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Hi Everyone,

Writing stories read by thousands of people each week is a great privilege, but in the words of Spiderman’s uncle – is also a great responsibility.

This week I learnt this firsthand when I accidentally assumed something about a person and wrote a story which inadvertently offended a reader.

At Whitsunday Life, we are grateful that many people trust us with their stories and allow us to transfer their experiences into words so that we can share it with the community.

Every day we endeavour to write with respect, empathy, and compassion.

We take great care to understand others and represent a true reflection of the people in each story.

And while we always aim to get it right, sometimes we do not.

Writing is a delicate art, and it often surprises me how powerful words can be – how easy they inspire, invoke emotion and unfortunately sometimes offend.

This week I would like to use my Editor’s note to raise awareness about looking beyond what we see at face value.

If we see meet someone who is rude and gruff, don’t assume they are unfriendly – perhaps they are having a bad day – you don’t know what events brought them to that moment.

If we see someone living with a disability, don’t assume that they have an intellectual disability as well – ask them a question to see how they respond.

If we see a parent struggling with their child’s meltdown, don’t assume they are a bad parent or have a naughty kid – there may be another reason for the outburst.

Also, for those that may feel judged by others, try to remember that most people have a good heart and good intentions and seek only to learn and understand – perhaps take the time to explain how they could have better handled the situation.

Rach

Quote of the week: “Before you judge me, make sure you’re perfect” (Clint Eastwood)

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When local real estate agent Sarah Nutley returned from a family dinner late one evening she saw a beautiful bouquet of flowers waiting for her on her doorstep.

“I thought I had a secret admirer!” said Sarah.

“But when I ran upstairs to put the light on so I could read the card – I saw it was addressed to someone called Helen!

“The card was so sweet, and the flowers were so beautiful, I didn’t think twice - I knew I had to try and find the real owner.”

Sarah jumped online and went straight to popular community site – Whitsundays Chat – where she posted pictures of the flowers and asked: who is Helen?

Within 45 minutes the community had answered, and it turned out that Helen was Sarah’s neighbour.

The pair arranged to meet at the end of their driveways and within a few minutes, the exchange was complete.

“She was a lovely lady and really appreciative,” said Sarah.

But this was not the end of the story.

When Sarah returned home the following evening, she was surprised to find another bunch of flowers waiting for her at the door.

“I thought – here we go again!” said Sarah.

“But then I looked at the label and could see that this time they were meant for me – it was from the florist! They had dropped off a little bunch to say thank you for taking the time to ensure the flowers from the day before had gone to the rightful owner.”

The card read – “Thank you for helping to find Helen” – and was sent by local florist, Espresso and Bloom.

Flowers for ‘Helen’ got the community talking last week

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Two men in their twenties are lucky to be alive after the vehicle they were travelling in rolled over on Mount Danger Road in Bowen over the weekend.

The incident took place on Friday, December 9 at approximately 7pm.

A Queensland Ambulance report stated that the two patients were transported to Bowen hospital for treatment.

One man was in a stable condition with a minor head injury and the second man had a significant head injury.

The second patient was transported to Bowen Hospital in a serious condition and then airlifted by the RACQ CQ Helicopter to Townsville University Hospital.

Queensland Police Service also attended the scene and the cause of the accident is still under investigation.

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With federal and state government focusing resources on assisting with urgent social housing needs and developers prioritising financial return on high yielding projects, local experts believe mid to low range affordable housing is “falling through the cracks”.

This was one of the key findings of the Greater Whitsunday Housing Project roundtable meeting that took place in Mackay earlier this month.

Stakeholders from across the region gathered to share issues, collaborate on solutions, and contribute information for a housing summit which is due to take place in 2023.

The results of the roundtable meeting found that availability of affordable housing was the biggest issue, followed by a mismatch in what consumers wanted and the stock available and then its affordability.

Joanne Moynihan from Whitsunday Housing attended the meeting and said the issue arises when people earn too much to qualify for social housing but too little to afford the inflated rental prices.

Councillor Jan Clifford said this issue is exasperated because there is less than a 0.5 per cent rental availability in the Greater Airlie Beach Area and this often creates a bidding war on properties which drives the prices up.

“It’s endemic right across the region,” said Cr Clifford.

“People can’t find anything, and if they can, they can’t afford it.”

Medium to low-income earners are struggling the most.

“Your rent is not meant to be more than one third of your income otherwise it puts too much stress on your household,” explained Cr Clifford.

“How are people meant to afford $600 to $700 a week in rent when that’s all they earn?”

Tonia Wilson from Greater Whitsunday Communities said one of the key outcomes of the meeting was the need to find an incentive for developers to invest in affordable housing.

In the United Kingdom, the government enforces a law which says any development needs to comprise 40 per cent affordable housing.

“An element of affordable housing in a commercial development helps reduce risk for developers,” said Ms Wilson.

“Affordable housing can be potentially subsidised by the government making it a more reliable investment for developers.

“This can create a sweet spot where social and economic factors come together.”

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Key Points

• Low- and medium-income households earn too much to qualify for social housing but too little to afford rental rate rises

• There is less than 0.5 per cent rental availability in the Greater Airlie Beach Area

• Bidding wars are driving the prices of rental accommodation up

• There are no incentives for developers to invest in affordable housing

• The UK has a law that states 40 per cent of any development must comprise affordable housing

• Experts believe this creates a ‘sweet spot’ where developers and the community benefit

• A housing summit in 2023 will discuss how this, and many other ideas, could be applied locally

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The Greater Whitsunday Housing Roundtable took place in Mackay on December 6

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Bowen Hospital’s $7 million Renal Unit and Medical Imaging expansion officially opened last weekend after 20 months of construction.

The major project saw the addition of a new, comprehensive hospital wing which now houses a range of services including a CT scanner - ending the need for Bowen patients to travel to Proserpine or further for important medical scans.

The multi-million-dollar upgrade also included an expansion to the hospital’s renal dialysis unit, with both the unit and the expansion named in honour of Cyril Isbell – a member of a prominent Collinsville grazing family who had business interests in Bowen including a butcher shop and hotel.

The new unit will provide additional dialysis services to support more patients and meet the future needs of Bowen and the surrounding areas.

The combined new equipment is expected to benefit 800 patients annually.

Special guests at the official opening included Graham Isbell and family members to represent the Cyril Isbell estate which contributed $1 million towards the project – with a further $7 million provided by the previous Federal and the Mackay Hospital and Health Board’s retained earnings.

Mackay Hospital and Health Service (HHS) Interim Chief Executive Paula Foley said this was a “significant milestone for local public health services and a wonderful day for the Bowen community.”

“On behalf of the Mackay HHS, I wish to express our gratitude to the Isbell family and to the federal and state governments for their contributions that made this expansion possible,” Ms Foley said.

“It is a milestone for local public health services and a wonderful day for the Bowen community.”

Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox said it was excellent to see the previous Federal Government’s investment of $5 million come to fruition with this “this vital bit of equipment”.

“It will save lives and save a lot of downtime for nurses and staff. For many patients, this will also mean they don’t have to travel to Townsville or Mackay,” Mr Willcox said.

State Member For Burdekin Dale Last said that “every now and again, you have a win, and this is one of those occasions”.

“[I’ve] been fighting for so long to have this facility open here in Bowen,” Mr Last said.

“This community no longer have to travel through to Proserpine or Mackay or up the road to Townsville and have these scans. It’s adjacent to the emergency department as well, meaning those people who come into this hospital can get first class treatment.

“Fantastic outcome for this community and a real community effort. Big tick for everyone concerned today.”

The need for a CT scanner was raised in years past by countless locals, including Bowen Chamber of Commerce President Bruce Hedditch – and a member of the Bowen Hospital Community Reference Group - who had repeatedly asked Mr Willcox’s Federal predecessor, George Christensen.

Mr Christensen, before retiring from politics, was integral in securing the funding for the new hospital wing.

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Bowen Hospital’s new Renal Unit and Medical Imaging expansion officially opened on Sunday, December 11. Pictured are Bowen Hospital staff and dignitaries with Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox alongside the hospital’s new CT scanner

Family members of the late Cyril Isbell, whose estate donated $1 million towards the $7 million expansion

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