
Member for Whitsunday Amanda Camm has stepped down from her role as Minister for Child Safety and the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, in an effort to prioritise her health and wellbeing. The announcement comes a fortnight after Ms Camm returned from six weeks of medical leave following major surgery, with the Whitsunday MP recognising she needed more time to recover. “This has been a considered and deeply personal decision,” Ms Camm said. “Having returned from six weeks of medical leave following major surgery I have come to recognise that my recovery still has some way to go and I need to prioritise my health and wellbeing.” “I sincerely thank the Premier for the opportunity to serve in his Government and for his support of my decision.” Ms Camm added in a presser outside of Parliament house in Brisbane, that the pressures of ministerial work had contributed to her decision to step down. This follows months of intense scrutiny over conditions for children in care and domestic violence prevention funding cuts had reinforced the importance of personal safety, especially in light of the recent attack on Victorian MP Helen Haines. “Public scrutiny and accountability are essential to democracy and to our institutions,” she said. “Harassment, threats, bullying and personal vilification are not and for the past year this has been my experience.” But during her time in the role, Ms Camm oversaw reforms to strengthen child protection, support foster and kinship carers and improve responses to domestic and family violence. Central to her child safety work was the Government’s response to the Child Safety Commission of Inquiry, which delivered 52 recommendations for improving the system. “The landmark Child Safety Commission of Inquiry was the turning point for the Child Safety system,” Ms Camm said. “There is much more work to be done, while early positive signs show we have stabilised numbers in the Residential Care system for the first time.” Her work in domestic and family violence included introducing laws for electronic monitoring of perpetrators to strengthen accountability, alongside her reporting a doubling of calls answered by DVConnect to help more people access support when they needed it. “After sitting with victims of domestic and family violence over many years through opposition and then in the ministry, I’m proud to have been part of delivering change that can help save lives,” Ms Camm said. In a statement following her decision, Premier David Crisafulli praised her work across both portfolios, describing the child safety inquiry’s reform roadmap as her greatest legacy and highlighting improved access to the domestic violence helpline. “I thank Amanda for her service to Queensland firstly as a Shadow Minister and then as a Minister,” Mr Crisafulli said. “Amanda took on an enormous task with a Child Safety system in crisis and a state in need of domestic violence reform. “With her dedication, passion and commitment, she has put Queensland on the road to repair both. “I speak on behalf of the Government, the LNP and all Queenslanders in wishing her the best in her recovery.” Ms Camm will continue serving as the Member for Whitsunday, reaffirming her commitment to the local community. “I remain committed to the people of Whitsunday as their Member of Parliament, and to supporting the Premier and the Government in delivering a fresh start for Queensland,” she said.
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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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The Mackay Criminal Investigation Branch and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) have concluded a 14-month investigation into a fatal light plane crash that occurred on December 24, 2021, at Ball Bay Beach. According to the police, the passenger, an 83-year-old man, lost his life when the plane crashed on the beach. Meanwhile, the pilot, a 66-year-old Halliday Bay man, was rushed to the Mackay Base Hospital, treated, and discharged.
On February 28 2023, detectives and CASA investigators executed a search warrant at a Halliday Bay Road, Halliday Bay residence. During the search, they arrested a Halliday Bay man and charged him with manslaughter, flying an aircraft without a license, carrying out maintenance without authorization, and flying without satisfying safety requirements. Police allege the pilot, Peter McDougall, was unlicensed and had failed to carry out routine maintenance on his aircraft since 2015.
The 83-year-old man, Gerry Miltenburg, died at the scene of the crash which was meant to be a leisure flight to sightsee nearby islands.
The accused appeared before the Mackay Magistrates Court on March 1.
The charges against the Halliday Bay man stem from the December 2021 light plane crash that resulted in the death of the passenger. The investigation, which lasted for over a year, was carried out jointly by the Mackay Criminal Investigation Branch and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. The crash was tragic and shook the local community. The investigators' efforts were aimed at ensuring that justice is served and that the cause of the accident is fully understood.
RACQ CQ Rescue was tasked to the light plane crash on Ball Bay Beach on December 24, 2021. Photos supplied: RACQ CQ Rescue

THEFT OF QUAD-BIKE, ETON
Between 5:00pm on March 1 and 7:00am on March 4 a quad bike has been stolen from an open shed at a property on Homebush Road in Sandiford (Eton).
The stolen vehicle is described as a red coloured 2006 model Honda 350 Quad-bike, spray tank fitted and other custom made accessories are visible.
Anyone who might have information about the current location of the stolen quad bike or the actual offence itself is encouraged to contact police as soon as possible. Police report number QP2300382930.
RURAL VIEW DRINK DRIVER CAUGHT IN EARLY MORNING
A 48-year-old male resident of Mount Pleasant has been arrested and charged with a drink driving offence after an alleged police intercept at 5:45am on March 4 on the Mackay Bucasia Road in Rural View.
It's further alleged that following the positive roadside breath test the 48-year-old male was taken to the Mackay police station for further testing. His breath alcohol concentration was confirmed as being .171%.
He was arrested and charged with driving while under the influence of liquor and will appear in the Mackay Magistrates Court on March 22 to have the matter heard.

Mackay Regional Council is seeking nominations for its Sustainability Advisory Committee.
The purpose of the committee is to discuss and provide information and advice to council on sustainability initiatives.
This includes current and emerging sustainability matters, as well as updates on sustainability initiatives being undertaken by committee members’ organisations.
Council is seeking nominations from anyone with a demonstrated interest in the sustainability of council operations and broader sustainable development issues pertaining to the Mackay region.
These include, but are not limited to:
• Climate change and resilience
• Natural resource management
• Energy management
• Transport
• Water management
• Circular economy
• Community partnerships/programs
The Sustainability Advisory Committee will consist of three councillors, including councillors acting as chair and deputy chair, as appointed by Mayor Greg Williamson.
Council wants to appoint a diverse committee that represents key stakeholders’ interest. It is seeking 12 community representatives to join the committee.
The positions are voluntary, and anyone interested in nominating should live in the Mackay region.
Nominations opened last Friday, March 3, and close March 31 at 5pm. The first meeting of the new committee is scheduled for May 12.
View the terms of reference and nominate online via council’s website.

Whitsunday Anglican School (WAS) has been ranked as Queensland’s top performing regional school and one of the best schools in the State based on 2022 NAPLAN results.
Proudly representing the regions, WAS was the only regional school in Queensland to make the State’s Top 10 for Secondary.
Senior students ranked an incredible 4th in Queensland, with all other schools in the Top 10 based in Brisbane.
Primary results were also high, with Junior students from WAS the only ones north of the Sunshine Coast to make the Top 50.
WAS Principal Andrew Wheaton said congratulations must go to teachers, students and the wider school community.
“These remarkable results are testament to our dedicated and gifted teachers, and strong academic and pastoral leadership over many years,” he said.
“They are also a reflection of our highly supportive wider parent community!
“It is truly inspiring to be a part of a team that achieves such incredible outcomes for our students.
“While NAPLAN is just one component of the learning journey, at Whitsunday Anglican School, we challenge and support our students to be the best they can be, in a supportive environment that allows them to thrive.”
Whitsunday Anglican School achieved the best NAPLAN results for any regional Queensland school. Photo supplied

Federal Member for Dawson, Andrew Willcox is calling on the Federal Government to further extend the Improving Mobile Coverage Round [IMCR] following Dawson completely missing out.
The IMCR will deliver funding to extend and improve mobile phone coverage and competition in regional and remote Australia, by co-funding new or upgraded telecommunications infrastructure in 54 target locations with up to $40 million available.
Mr Willcox said it is extremely disappointing to see the Government has completely forgotten about Dawson in its announcement. 54 locations across Australia have received a funding allocation, and Dawson has been completely left out despite having areas in the region with very little to no mobile service.
“Mobile phone coverage funding is a necessity and shouldn’t be a luxury only for those living in the cities. Dawson punches well above its weight when it comes to contributing taxes to our Government, yet we lack services and infrastructure,” he said.
“We have places suffering terrible mobile service in Dawson, like Slade Point, Beaconsfield, Merinda, Kuttabul, Bloomsbury, Dittmer, Crystalbrook, Cunjulla, Giru, Gnome and Cape Gloucester just to name a few. This is a major safety concern for residents living with minimal and unreliable mobile service.”
DAWSON TRUCKIES DRIVEN TO BREAKING POINT UNDER NEW TAX
Member for Dawson, Andrew Willcox said Federal Labor’s proposal to impose a 10 per cent per year increase in fuel taxes and registration charges on the nation’s truckies would cost the sector an additional $2.6 billion over three years and add to inflationary pressures.
Mr Willcox added that the Albanese Government’s proposed increases to ‘truckie taxes’ would drive up cost-of-living pressures on local families and businesses and accelerate closures for small and family operated transport enterprises.
“Everything we make in this country starts on a local farm or in the ground, and every product we buy gets to a shop and to the end consumer by travelling on a truck,” Mr Willcox said.
Mr Willcox added, “By 2025-26 the nation’s truckies would be charged $1.35 billion more per year under Labor’s 10 per cent truckie tax,” official documents show.
“This comes at a time when local trucking businesses are paying significantly more for fuel, wages, insurance and maintenance on trucks resulting from the shocking conditions of many roads,” Andrew Willcox said.
“The additional taxes proposed by Labor could send some trucking businesses to the wall.”
“The Coalition will stand by our truckies and press the Labor Government to scrap its plans to increase truckie taxes by up to 10 per cent.”
Barnaby Joyce and Andrew Willcox

Loneliness can be a difficult feeling to shake, especially when living in a neighbourhood where connections are scarce. However, a new initiative by council aims to change that for some lucky residents.
This year, council is putting a new twist on its successful annual Neighbour Day campaign, offering 10 families the chance to receive a box full of everything they need to host an introductory get-together with their neighbours. The aim is to bring people together and create new connections in the community. It's an exciting opportunity for those who are looking to build relationships and create a more resilient and connected community.
Mayor Greg Williamson said the “Be a Legendary Neighbour” campaign would provide 10 families with Legendary Neighbour boxes, which will include a $75 Sinclair Meats voucher, Legendary Neighbour invites to personalise, cups and plates, and conversation cards to help break the ice.
“This Neighbour Day initiative is aimed at those who may be new to a street or may have never had the opportunity to become acquainted with their neighbours,” Mayor Williamson said.
“We want to help build a more connected community because connected communities are resilient – they look out for each other,” he said.
“That can take the form of checking in on each other’s physical and mental wellbeing or helping to prepare for, or recover from, natural disasters.”
Mayor Greg Williamson said the My Legendary Neighbour Campaign had been a tremendous community initiative.
“In 2022, council received 75 nominations for residents deserving of the title of ‘Mackay’s most Legendary Neighbour’ and that was such a heart-warming result – the stories that came from it were beautiful,” Mayor Williamson said.
“After a few years of running that campaign though, we decided that we’d try a different approach that will encourage the forging of new legendary neighbour relationships.”
To register for one of the 10 Legendary Neighbour boxes, residents need to head to council’s website and answer the question – “why would you like to build relationships with your neighbours?”.
Applications close noon, Friday, March 24, and those with the 10 best answers to the above question will be notified on Tuesday, March 28.
Council will also be hosting a series of free “Cuppa with your neighbour” events where you can enjoy a free coffee while networking with other residents in your neighbourhood.
Council’s Community Development officers will be at these events to have a chat and share more information on activities happening in your area.
Cuppa with your neighbour events will be held on:
● Tuesday, March 14, from 8am to 10am at the Seaforth Mango Trees
● Saturday, March 18, from 10am to noon at Sealand Takeaway and Café, Midge Point
● Tuesday, March 21, from 8am to 10am at Beachfront Bar and Restaurant, Bucasia Esplanade
● Thursday, March 23, from 9am to 11am at The Esplanade, Grasstree Beach
● Friday, March 24, from 8.30am to 10.30am at The Pinnacle Whistlestop Coffee Cart
Residents of Marlin Court, Andergrove (pictured) were crowned 2022’s Legendary Neighbours. This year, council is encouraging the building of new neighbourhood friendships

A desire to linger longer at the bedside of patients, hear their concerns and ease their pain led Dr Shanan Molloy to choose palliative care as her speciality.
“I decided when I was working as a GP training in Beaudesert hospital,” Dr Molloy said.
“There was a palliative specialist who came down once a week to do a round and see all the palliative patients.
“I did a number of rounds there, and I just really connected with the way that specialist practiced, she said.
“It was so patient-centred, and he was able to spend a lot more time with patients and address their concerns so thoroughly.
“You could make quite a difference for people at the end of their life.”
Happily for Mackay, Dr Molloy who has two children under the age of four, also chose to return home to be closer to family last year. In November she was appointed as the Mackay Base Hospital’s first specialist palliative care physician.
“We’d been travelling around for some time doing training,” Dr Molloy said.
“We decided to come back to Mackay to be near my family and set up base.”
Dr Molloy is working part-time at this stage and only seeing in-patients, but she also works closely with SPaRTa – the Specialist Palliative and Rural Telehealth service – which provides palliative care outpatient services.
She is also involved in the early stages of planning to increase the Mackay HHS palliative care workforce, as part of Queensland Health’s Specialist Palliative Care Workforce Plan.
Dr Molloy admits palliative care can be a difficult field to work in.
“It can be really challenging work, but it’s also really rewarding,” she said.
Dr Shanan Molloy was appointed as Mackay Base Hospital’s first specialist palliative care physician. Photo supplied: Mackay Hospital and Health Service

Hi I am Genie,
If you make three wishes, one of them will come true when you adopt me!
I am a very energetic dog so I need to live with an active family with older children who can give me a lot of time and attention since I crave socialisation. I am great on my own and I get on well with other dogs but I just need to continue my training to remain calm when I see them and not to bark - just saying "look at me" distracts me and works!
I am looking for my forever home and would love you to come and meet me and see if we are a good match.
My adoption price includes A FREE 4kg bag of ROYAL CANIN dry food and I'm desexed, microchipped and vaccinated.
Genie's stats
Breed - Kelpie / Labrador Retriever (Mixed)
Gender - Female
Age - 8 months
Desexed - Yes
My ID - 1375467
Adopt me from – Mackay RSPCA

A large gecko with a ‘beaky’ face, spindly legs and a spiny tail has been discovered on Scawfell Island, about 50km offshore from Mackay.
James Cook University’s Dr Conrad Hoskin discovered the gecko on the rugged, boulder-strewn island during a survey with Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service & Partnerships.
In a paper just released in the journal Zootaxa, it has been named the Scawfell Island Leaf-tailed Gecko (Phyllurus fimbriatus), with the species name referring to the fringe of spines around the leaf-shaped tail.
Dr Hoskin said the gecko is perfectly camouflaged to the rocks on the uninhabited island, where it lives deep in piled-up boulders during the day and emerges at night.
“It is incredible to still find large and spectacular new species in this day and age,” said Dr Hoskin.
“The fact that this gecko remained undiscovered to science shows that there are still areas of Australia with hidden secrets.”
Ranger in Charge of the Whitsundays region Brett Turnbull was on the trip when the species was discovered.
“This is an exciting discovery, and an important one, because we base our management of these islands on their biodiversity values,” Mr Turnbull said.
“Knowing which species occur where, and finding species restricted to single islands, informs our management of fire, invasive species and other threats.”
Much is still unknown about the flora and fauna of the islands off Mackay and throughout the Great Barrier Reef, with Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service Manager of the Ecological Assessment Unit Dr Rhonda Melzer saying that more surveys were required to understand the biodiversity of Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef islands.
“We know some islands well but this discovery highlights that some of our islands remain under-surveyed,” she said.
“We are working with researchers like Conrad, and QPWS staff, to better understand and conserve these islands.”
Dr Hoskin said it’s very hard to know how big the population is, but there are at least 30 individuals and more work needs to be done before scientists can say if the geckos are endangered or not.
“Some habitats on the island naturally burn, but the rocks are probably pretty good protection from fire,” he said.
“Another potential threat is the invasive Asian House Gecko and poachers - we know of at least two poaching events of a leaftail gecko near Townsville.”
The newly discovered Scawfell Island Leaf-tailed Gecko
Dr Conrad Hoskin on Scawfell Island. Photos supplied

Since the news that Norma Shuttlewood had passed away was shared on 1 March 2023, tributes have been flowing in from the many people who knew her and who benefited from her life-long commitment to the arts.
Norma held many positions within Mackay Choral Society but was also deeply involved with other groups including the Mackay Eisteddfod Association Inc, of which she was a Life Member. The Norma Shuttlewood OAM Bursary, awarded to outstanding competitors in the Mackay Eisteddfod, is regarded as a highly prestigious prize. It will be very strange not to see Norma in her usual seat watching the competitors at the Mackay Eisteddfod every year.
Norma was also very fond of Mackay Choral Society's involvement in the North Queensland Eisteddfod. She has regaled us over the years with tales of the adventures had by participating choristers when travelling the road to Townsville and Cairns to compete. As with everything, Norma gave her all and as recognition of her contribution was appointed Life Governor of the Eisteddfod Association of North Queensland in 1987.
Norma was awarded the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in the Queen's Birthday Honours in June 1998 for service to the community through the Mackay Eisteddfod Committee and the Catholic Women's League Australia.
Norma and her family were actively involved with the Mackay Table Tennis Association. Norma was made a life member in 1993 and was Patron of the Club to the end of her life. There is a most fitting tribute to Norma on the Club's Facebook page with a lovely quote from the lady herself:
"I just think it’s a very good sport because it’s as energetic as you want it to be and it’s out of the sun which is a big plus. You can play it at your own level and you can play it all your life – just look at the players we have in our association who are in their 70s and 80s and still play each week.”
I like to think Norma's first love was Mackay Choral Society. When I last visited her this year the choir was the main topic of conversation which is not surprising since she joined at the age of 19 in 1945, when the Mackay Choral Society was founded. Norma was historian from 2006-2010 but her personal records, preserved in many scrapbooks, extend over all the decades since she joined. Other positions held were, President 1975, Secretary 1963-68, Treasurer 1975-76, Conductor 1974-80, Deputy Conductor 1969-74, a record of service more than worthy of the Life Membership awarded in 1980.
So much more can be said about Norma and all she contributed to our community. Her funeral was held at St Patrick's Church Mackay on Tuesday 7th March where we celebrated what can truly be described as a life well lived.
Contributed by Isobel Gillman
Norma at the 2019 Mackay Eisteddfod at the MECC
Norma and then President, Jeanette Oberg, at the 75th anniversary of Mackay Choral Society. Photos supplied

A local church has revamped its food pantry, offering a huge variety of free food to those in need.
Mackay Church of Christ’s food pantry has taken various forms over the years, the church looking to expand the program with Lynnette Labuschagne leading the way.
“She’s done an extraordinarily good job,” said Pastor Paul Hicks.
Open every Tuesday from 7:30am to 9:30am, Mackay Church of Christ offers grocery items, baked goods, meat, fruit and vegetables and pet food to those in need.
“We have people coming with not much, we have people coming just hard on their luck,” said Mr Hicks.
“Some days they might be able to give and some days they might need to take but there’s no harm, no foul.
“People are not required to do anything.
“When we give, we give what we would eat, and we give with no thought of return.”
Local suppliers and businesses donate goods to the church as well as other churchgoers and people throughout the community.
“It’s been quite amazing, when people found out they just kept coming,” Mr Hicks said.
“We’ve done our very best to give all the food away, and we cannot do it.
“It’s a fantastic problem to have, we have plenty of food.
“There’s no leveller on the planet like compassion.
“One singular act of kindness costs you nothing, but it means the difference between someone having dinner tonight and not.”
Anyone interested in partaking in the church’s food pantry, whether to give, take or simply enjoy a cuppa and a chat, is invited to Mackay Church of Christ every Tuesday morning from 7:30am to 9:30am.
Mackay Church of Christ’s food pantry is open every Tuesday morning

Weaving through the Pioneer Valley, the Mackay Railway first opened in 1885, with the last section closing between Paget and Marian in 2009.
While much of the line is still used for carting cane, a group of locals have taken it upon themselves to clear unused parts of the line and repurpose it as the Pioneer Valley Rail Trail.
Pioneer Valley Rail Trail Committee President David Arnold has a background in mountain biking and, while riding rail trails around Australia, wondered if something similar was possible in the Mackay region.
He initiated work on the project five years ago and formed the committee one year ago, starting discussions with Mackay Sugar who are the exclusive lessees of the corridor through the valley.
“Over that time, I’d identified sections that Mackay Sugar weren’t using,” said Mr Arnold.
“We came to the agreement that there’s two sections between Walkerston through to Marian.”
Mr Arnold identified one 18km stretch of the line that isn’t going to be used in the foreseeable future, but still has Queensland Rail infrastructure on it, making it a possibility.
Another section, covering 8.5km between Gargett and Benholme, has no possibility of being used and is therefore the section of rail the committee started working on.
“It started out with us getting out the cane knives and chopping lantana down,” said Mr Arnold.
“Then we’ve got a couple of guys with ride-on mowers and excavators doing a bit of work for us.
“We’ve got the 8.5km cleared.
“Bar a couple of obstacles, it’s usable now.”
The committee hopes to have the rail trail open to hikers, bike riders and horseback riders midyear.
In the long term, Mr Arnold hopes to make the trail a convenient and safe route from Mackay to Finch Hatton, especially ahead of the Pioneer Valley Mountain Bike Trails opening at Finch Hatton.
“The long picture is being able to get on a bike or a horse in Mackay and go all the way to Finch Hatton,” he said.
“There are a lot of backroads that can be used as link roads from one section of true rail trail to the next.”
Anyone interested in joining the committee, lending a hand or keeping up to date with the rail trail’s progress is asked to like Pioneer Valley Rail Trail on Facebook or join the Friends of the Pioneer Valley Rail Trail Facebook group.
Membership forms can be found on Facebook with the option to join as an individual, family or organisation.
“This is 100 per cent community led,” said Mr Arnold.
“Whatever work and whatever machinery that’s happened on the trial to date has been volunteers.”
The Pioneer Valley Rail Trail Committee are hoping to have the rail trail open midyear. Photos supplied

Lunchtime at the Isaac coast is set for a foodie makeover with one of the nation’s much-loved amateur cooks turned restauranteurs starring at this year’s St Lawrence Wetlands Weekend.
Hervey Bay’s Dan and Steph Mulheron have earned their place in the serious foodie world after their My Kitchen Rules win in 2013. In recent years, the sausage king and queen landed a huge Coles deal to create their own gourmet range thanks to their ambassador roles with major Australian producers SunPork and Sweet Potatoes Australia.
They currently own and operate EAT at Dan & Steph’s basing the restaurant experience around family, food and fun while being stars of their very on TV show on Channel 7, Travel and EAT with Dan & Steph.
The pair will take on the signature lunch event at St Lawrence Wetlands Weekend, sharing the limelight with crowd favourite ABC TV’s Gardening Australia alumni Costa Georgiadis, bush gourmet chef Nik Flack and First Nation Peoples.
The couple’s passion is food and they are looking forward to the range of produce offered in the Isaac.
“Dan is the strong cook and always was, prior to us being on MKR,” says Steph.
“I wasn’t a great cook before we got together. But Dan has taught me so much and is my inspiration.”
“We cook every day at home for our family and we love to have friends over regularly to put on a spread,” Dan says.
The couple published their first cookbook in November 2014 ‘EAT @ Home’ and published their second cookbook ‘Meat & Sweet’ in July 2015. Their biggest goal in life was achieved when they introduced their first child into the world, a daughter Emmy born in late April 2015.
Isaac Regional Council Mayor Anne Baker said the award-winning nature, culture, and culinary event is nestled in the backdrop of one of Australia’s birdwatching havens.
“St Lawrence’s population swells 12 times over as the wetlands’ bursts into life with an immersive experience of creativity, education, family fun and live entertainment,” Mayor Baker said.
“Take the road less travelled and head to the multi-award winning nationally recognised three-day extravaganza at historic St Lawrence on the Isaac region’s coast in Central Queensland.
“It’s the mouth-watering food, especially the locally caught mud crabs, king salmon, and prawns that attracts the foodies at heart and has helped put the Isaac coast on the destination tourism map.”
The Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia listed the St Lawrence wetlands as an essential ecosystem that supports nationally threatened water birds and is abundant with wildlife. The event is also the perfect spot to pull up the caravan and watch the colours of the east coast Australian sunset or pitch a tent or glamp at the St Lawrence Recreation Grounds.
The event is proudly brought to the region by Isaac Regional Council in partnership with the Koinjmal People from Koinmerburra Country and the community. St Lawrence Wetlands Weekend is supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland.
Tickets will be on sale from 7am on Friday, 10 March 2023 for the 23-25 June 2023 event. Visit www.isaac.qld.gov.au/wetlandsweekend, call 1300 ISAACS (1300 472 227) or follow Isaac Regional Council’s Facebook page for more information.
Dan and Steph Mulheron, My Kitchen Rules champions from 2013, will take on the signature lunch event at St Lawrence Wetlands Weekend

Sarina Community Arts And Crafts Mega Raffle Featuring Handmade Quilt By Late Dulcie Christensen
A hand-made quilt by a talented Sarina crafter will be first prize in a mega raffle, conducted by Sarina Community Arts and Crafts.
A quilt made by the late Dulcie Christensen, donated by her son Glen, will be the major prize.
Dulcie was a prominent and long-standing member of Sarina Community Arts and Crafts and Sarina Fibre Arts. Dulcie loved crafts and was very artistic. She made many quilts, for her family, for friends, for fundraisers for Fibre Arts. She also was talented in Folk Art painting and many forms of embroidery.
She was an inaugural member of the Red Hat Belles of Sarina.
The raffle will be drawn on May 13, one day before Mother’s Day.
As well as the quilt, other prizes to be won are:
● A corner-to-corner crocheted rug;
● A hamper of locally produced delicious foods;
● A one-of-a kind tea cosy and tea pot;
● A fuel voucher.
Tickets are $2 and are available at the Sarina Arts and Crafts Centre.
Dulcie Christensen
Rhonda Payne and Jenny Costello with a quilt made by the late Dulcie Christensen which is first prize in a mega raffle
A quilt made by the late Dulcie Christensen is first prize in a mega raffle

As interest rates continue to rise, it is more important than ever for homeowners to review their home loans. A home loan health check can help ensure that your loan is still right for you and your current needs. Here are five reasons why you should book an appointment for your home loan health check today.
1. A home loan health check could potentially save you thousands of dollars. By reviewing your rate, term, repayments, and equity, you may be able to find ways to reduce your loan costs.
2. Interest rates are on the rise. By reviewing your home loan now, you may be able to lock in a lower rate before they increase further.
3. Your personal situation may have changed since you took out your home loan. A health check can help ensure that your loan still meets your needs and that you are not paying for features or benefits that you no longer require.
4. Your home's equity has likely increased over time. A home loan health check can help ensure that you are taking advantage of this equity, which could help you access additional funds or reduce your loan costs.
5. Community Bank Sarina Bendigo Bank offers a 100% offset option, which could help you save on interest charges. By linking an offset account to your home loan, you can reduce the interest charged on your loan by the amount held in the offset account.
At Community Bank Sarina, we are here to help you get the most out of your home loan. Whether you are an existing customer or you are new to our bank, we welcome you to book a home loan health check today. With interest rates on the rise, now is the time to review your home loan and ensure that it is still right for you.
To help with your home loan check, Community Bank Sarina is here to help! Call Charmaine and the team on 07 4943 2624 or enquire online at bendigobank.com.au/healthcheck.