After Almost two decades in the making, Shute Harbour Marina Resort is forecasting a start of construction for the middle of next year, with plans to be fully operational by 2025.

Offering 395 private berths and 24 waterfront land and berth packages, the development is forecast to provide a ‘safe haven’ for boat owners.

In the past two years Queensland has experienced a doubling of boat registrations which is touted as potentially leading to a shortage of marina berths.

This is coupled with insurance companies requiring owners to seek permanent berths for their vessels, especially in cyclone prone areas like the Whitsundays.

These factors, combined with the natural beauty of the area, led to Adelaide developers choosing Shute Harbour to become a unique and modern marina, the first one built in the region for over 10 years.

Shute Harbour Managing Director, Sam Wade, said that over 450 jobs will be provided in the two-and-a-half-year construction phase and a further 250 in operation thereafter.

Taylors Property Specialists are working with developers to sell the lucrative berth and land packages, with Principal Rob Taylor saying they have received over 3000 enquiries and half are already sold.

To celebrate the successful project and connect with the community, Shute Harbour Marina Resort hosted a special event last week which included a talk by well-known researcher Peter Bell from Aurelius.

He presented his report findings and outlined the need for a marina of this calibre in the Whitsundays.

“Over half (57 per cent) of marinas in Queensland had a waiting list for boat storage spaces during their peak seasons,” said the report.

There are 10,678 wet berths in Queensland, with 61 per cent of these located in the state’s south-east.

North of Bundaberg there are 4,117 marina berths, and just 49 are for sale, leaving just 1.2 per cent of the supply available.

Attending the special event, held at the Volunteer Marine Rescue Centre in Cannonvale, were a mix of marine operators, professionals and local councillors.

After the presentation, a panel took questions with the central theme being the environment – where the dredge spoil would be taken and whether water quality would be affected.

Mr Wade reassured the community that water quality measures would be taken and that the dredge spoil would be removed from the area.

Shute Harbour Marina Resort is owned by a 100 per cent Australian consortium and has a small group of shareholders making decisions.

The development will cost $350 million and will be one of the biggest residential-resort projects for North Queensland in more than a decade.

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Shute Harbour Marina Resort Developer Sam Wade, researcher Peter Bell and Rob Taylor from Taylors Property Specialists

Over 30 people attended the special event held in Cannonvale last week

The new yacht share syndicate which has been creating conversations across the Whitsunday region, is hosting an open viewing event at the end of the month and everyone is invited to come down to Sorrento’s at Coral Sea Marina.

A unique concept in luxury boat ownership, Yacht Share Marina offers a syndicate of eight investors the opportunity to own shares in a vessel and spend up to six weeks a year sailing around the Whitsundays and the east coast.

The Bali 4.4, named Aleka, is the first of its kind in Australia and boasts 85 square metres of useable space on the main deck.

Known for its luxury, style and comfort the catamaran has an entire side dedicated to the master suite, where the owners can relax in comfort and privacy while their guests enjoy the other ‘wing’.

The galley and saloon areas are akin to a sumptuous lounge setting with all the modern fixtures and fittings you would expect from a vessel of this calibre.

All eight syndicate options for Aleka are already sold but a new Bali 4.4 is due to be delivered to the region next May.

In the meantime, anyone interested in taking a look is invited down to Sorrento on Wednesday, November 30 from 5pm until 7pm.

There will be drinks and nibbles served and an opportunity to find out more about the opportunity.

Anyone interested in touring the vessel, which will be berthed a short walk away, will need to make a booking to receive a time slot.

WHAT: Yacht Share Boat Viewing

WHERE: Sorrento, Coral Sea Marina

WHEN: Wednesday, November 30 from 5pm until 7pm

VIEWINGS: Call Trevor on 0412 296 656

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The Bali 4.4 is the only one of its kind in Australia

A group of Whitsunday students travelled to Brisbane to compete in a state-level STEM contest that saw their school raise $20,000 in sponsorship for a region-new program.

Bowen State High School Year 8 and 9 students travelled to the Queensland capital for the F1 in School’s State Finals from October 30 to November 3.

In their first time entering the competition, the local school saw several of its F1 Academy Classes – who participated throughout the year in a program which saw them design and race their own miniaturised Formula 1 race cars – qualify for state level at the F1 in School’s Regional Finals in mid-June in Mackay.

Teachers Katie Broomfield, Ben Davies, and Kayne Fayolle travelled with the students to Brisbane for the program which Mr Fayolle said the program “not only gets students working in teams, it also provides them with industry applicable skills, most notably through the use of industry-level computer programs.”

“They use Computer Assisted Design and a CNC Router Machines where anything they’ve designed in the program can be automatically cut, milled or anything like that,” he said.

“In this instance, they were creating cars, collating the data, testing it, and making a better design for competition.”

The F1 competition involves teams designing their own F1 car model with consideration given to Newton’s Laws of Motion, Aerodynamics, weight, friction, and other key principles of physics.

For the program’s success astounding success in its first year, Bowen State High School’s Senior School Head of Teaching, Tim Close, said they needed to thank both minor and major sponsors who helped them raise $20,000 dollars towards the F1 classes.

Mr Close said the students at the event made an outstanding effort and represented the school in perfect fashion, especially as it was their first year in the program.

“There are some schools who have been a part of it for 20 years, from the inception, and we were up there competing with them in our first year,” Mr Close said.

“We had a strong performance and the positives are that we can hopefully go again next year and send them through to nationals.”

The competition took place at Queensland University of Technology at the Gardens Point Campus with 27 students competing across the program’s distinct Development and Cadet in their self-named teams: Nitrous, Fast Finishers, C-TA, Rapido, KG Racing, Wescon, and Apollo Racing.

Mr Close said the school was extremely proud of the students and of the teaching team as part of a “massive, whole school effort.”

“The commitment by the actual classroom teachers with six-months of pedagogy and other staff members who have stepped in, as well as the students is exemplary,” he said.

“We are very excited to improve these programs in the future and produce the quality of the cars and the quality of their presentation in years to come.”

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Bowen State High School Student’s headed to Brisbane for the State Finals of the F1 in School’s in early November

The school hosted a sponsorship night for its major sponsors and minor sponsors who raised $20,000 dollars towards the program’s implementation

The way we dispose of our waste is changing - methods are improving and technology is enabling us to streamline processes - there are countless options to recycle almost anything from car tyres to batteries and mobile phones.

The Whitsunday Regional Council is at the forefront of this change and Manager of Waste Services, David De Jager, said they are currently developing a new Waste Management Strategy which will be rolled out in the coming months.

In the past year, 27 per cent of all waste received as landfill has been diverted, but David said that the biggest problem in regional areas like the Whitsundays is finding a company to purchase and then re-purpose the waste.

“We have no local markets,” he said.

“We have to find markets, and this often means transporting waste off-site which starts to stack up financially.”

Most importantly, though, David said it all starts with us. By adopting sustainable practices in our own households, we can contribute a small part of the bigger picture.

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WHERE DOES MY RECYCLING GO?

While some in the community believe that all recycling gets put back into landfill, this is a myth – local recycling is sent directly to Mackay for processing.

“It heads straight to the Material Recycling Facility in Mackay where it is sorted,” said David De Jager.

“A company called Re-Group sort it, remove all contamination, find markets for it and then it is turned into new products.”

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YELLOW BINS

While many households have yellow recycle bins, most apartment complexes do not. These locations often do not have the space for an additional bin on the premises, but Council are hoping to address this as part of the new strategy.

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SATELLITE TRANSFER STATIONS

There are 15 Satellite Transfer Stations in the Whitsundays and Council is working to transfer as many as possible into kerbside waste pick-up. So far this year, they have managed to close two stations by expanding areas serviced by garbage trucks.

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FOGO

No, this is not an acronym for ‘Fear Of Going Out’, it actually means Food Organics Garden Organics – these waste products represent 42 per cent of what we put in our household rubbish and they are the next big focus in our national waste management plan.

We are all encouraged to use our food waste as fertiliser in our veggie patches or in worm farms. If you don’t have these, then find a friend who does and donate your scraps to them.

One day there will be a third kerbside collection bin for FOGO, in fact, Townsville Council are already trialling one.

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BIGGEST PROBLEMS

• Solar panels that were installed 10 years ago are largely ending their working life and we do not have a local market for them yet, they are currently taken to Townsville

• Soft plastics – Coles shut down there REDcycle program last week. This had been a donation point for ‘anything you can scrunch’, so there is nowhere to dispose of this waste anymore

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RECYCLING RULES

• Follow the instructions on the label, if it has three arrows pointing towards each other in a triangle then it is recyclable

• Never use a plastic bag to recycle – remove contents and place them ‘nude’ into bin or tip

• Only recycle paper, cardboard, metal cans, glass jars and bottles, plastic containers, milk and juice cartons

• Rinse well before placing in recycle bin

Recycle your mobile phone here:

• Your local library

• Your local tip

• Your local phone shop

• Your local Council offices

Recycle old batteries here:

• Your local Bunnings

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Every location has its negatives, and in the beautiful Whitsundays, those come in the form of storm season running from November to April each year.

Tropical cyclones are a fact of life in the region when the gorgeous beaches and sunny skies turn dark and cloudy, and now is the month for residents to begin natural disaster preparedness according to Whitsunday Regional Council’s Disaster Management Coordinator, Sandra Black

“Now is as good a time as any; a time before we all start breaking for Christmas,” Ms Black said.

“The last things we want to be doing once our family arrives and we take on a holiday mode is pack up a house. It’s time to look over these things this month before we relax within that Christmas break.”

Ms Black said, for every household, the best place to start is with the basic of ensuring your gutters are cleaned, because storm season doesn’t always mean tropical cyclones, it can also mean inclement, severe rain and wind.

“Things like making sure before the season that your outside area is cleared of items that could become projectiles are great first steps,” Ms Black said.

“And in terms of purchases or items, generators, and batteries as well as an emergency kit are integral. Emergency kits include things like non-perishable foods for four to six days, first aid kits, batteries for radios – items you’ll find when you’re going camping.”

As well, the importance of familiarising yourself with storm season information is key. More information is always available at Council’s ‘Cyclone Sunday’ events, which will be hosted in Airlie Beach on November 27 at the Airlie Beach Foreshore and at Bowen Markets on November 20.

“The Whitsundays is very transient, so many people in the area who are not used to this weather and have never been in a cyclone before,” Ms Black said.

“These events are pivotal to getting the information out there about how warning systems work, how we can look after our households, our families.”

Ms Black said templates of Emergency Plans were available within Council’s Whitsunday Disaster Dashboard, as well as its customer service desks.

“The plans are good to complete with your family; get the kids involved and let them be part of it,” she said.

“I find at home, if I was ever getting ready, I would get my daughter to look after the animals with water, food. It gives them a job to do when you might be concentrating on other stuff. Let the whole family including kids be involved with little jobs.”

More information is available at both the Council website as well as the two community events on November 20 and 27.

WHAT: Cyclone Sunday (preparedness event)

BOWEN: Bowen Market, November 20

AIRLIE: Airlie Beach Markets, November 27

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Having a substantial first aid kit for the Whitsundays’ cyclone season – which occurs annually off the Queensland coast from November through to April – is paramount, according to local experts.

It’s as pivotal as wearing a seatbelt.

In a year where the likelihood of any tropical cyclone is above average, the month before a predicted four weather events occur in Australia’s Eastern region is a time of preparation.

Qualified First Aid Trainer and owner of AWB First Aid First, Andrew Barker, said first aid kit maintenance was key at this time of year, and that the first step for any individual, business, or household in the Whitsundays, was in accessing their own needs.

“Whether it’s a whole family or a personal kit, they need to be appropriate for the risk level of where they’re living,” Mr Barker said.

“If they’re living in town, the risk level is different to living somewhere like Strathdickie which might be cut off in a storm event. What is needed is to have a first aid kit that is going to both give you the ability to perform basic first aid, but also more serious stuff in a situation where emergency services may not be able to get to you for up to 24 hours, such as during Cyclone Debbie.”

Mr Barker said most people buy their kits off the shelves, and in most cases, these kits are substantial and can cover all bases, but using them is another matter.

“It’s like buying a car and not having a license,” Mr Barker said.

“People may not know how to use them, and of course, we run first aid courses and we say to anyone: if you’re going to buy a kit, you need to know how it is used.

“What I advise for everyone when they buy a kit is to take it home, put it on the kitchen table and unpack it. Put it all on the table and have a look at it and understand it. Each kit comes with a list of its contents, which is used for restocking. As well, kits have an expected life expectancy of three to five years and need to be restocked or replaced.

“If there’s ever any confusion, you can come in and see us and we’re more than happy to discuss it with you.”

AWB First Aid First supplies the Whitsundays with professional first aid training, first aid kits and more.

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Wendy Barker from AWB First Aid First with some of the business’ first aid kits, suitable for the tropical storm season in the Whitsundays

A proactive collaboration between local sugarcane growers and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation is starting to reap benefits, making a big difference in how we farm our land and protect the Reef.

Funded by the partnership between the Australian Government’s Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, a large-scale $200 million water quality program is enabling projects to improve the quality of water entering the Reef, with $22.2 million being invested to support projects in the Whitsunday and Mackay region.

Mid-way through its four-year project period, the Mackay Whitsunday Water Quality Program has engaged with multiple growers, investing in initiatives across 40 per cent of sugarcane land in the Pioneer and Plane Basins.

With farmers spending a significant amount of money on inputs to grow their crop, many have been eager to hear how precision ‘smart farming’ can reduce costs while leveraging increased profitability.

Program Manager for the Mackay Whitsunday Water Quality Program, Chris Dench, said that the interests of the farmers are at the forefront of the project.

“Improving on-farm productivity and profitability is key, while increased water quality is an outcome of this improvement,” he said.

“Everyone wants a healthy Reef – a lot of growers spend time out on the Reef, it’s close to everyone’s hearts – but you have to maintain a profitable business as well.”

Through a series of funding streams that provide agronomic advice and equipment that assists with adopting environmentally sustainable practices, many farmers have jumped at the opportunity to trial initiatives.

Adopting practices such as planting soy or mung beans can allow growers to reduce the amount of synthetic Nitrogen being applied, which can result in big cost savings. Equally, identifying and addressing soil constraints such as pH can reduce the cost to the grower and the amount of fertiliser required.

Other growers involved in the program have focused their attention on better application of pesticides. Through the fabrication of a high clearance spray tractor and GPS rate controller, one grower has reduced pesticide usage by 15 per cent.  

These are just two examples of what is currently underway within the nine different project areas of the Mackay Whitsunday Water Quality Program.

“It’s been incredible to see the willingness of growers to get involved, give things a go and trial innovations,” said Chris.

“Farmers take their stewardship of the land seriously and we enjoy working with them for the benefit of everyone.”

The Mackay Whitsunday Water Quality Program is funded by the partnership between the Australian Government’s Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation and is locally managed by Central Resource Services and coordinated by Reef Catchments.

If you are a grower in the Pioneer, Plane Creek, Proserpine or O’Connell catchments and would like to find out about opportunities to be involved, please visit www.reefcatchments.com.au

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This high rise boom sprayer was fabricated and enabled one grower to reduce pesticide usage by 15 per cent. Photo supplied by Reef Catchments.

One of the region’s great natural phenomena began to unfold this week as the annual coral spawning cycle commenced.

The yearly reproduction event began on Monday, November 14, with coral across the Great Barrier Reef synchronising its breeding by releasing millions of tiny egg and sperm bundles into the water.

The bundles containing the elements for life erupt from coral across the reef in unison, covering the sea in colourful clouds which rise slowly to the surface where fertilisation begins before settling to the ocean floor to develop into coral.

In the Reef’s outer stretches, coral spawning occurs during November after a full moon, normally lasting from a few days to a week.

Master Reef Guide and skipper of Kiana Sail and Dive, Brent Chatterton experienced this year’s spawning event firsthand on a five-day four-night trip to the Reef.

“We had the pleasure of seeing the coral spawning; it was amazing. Sunday night we saw the initial evidence of the spawning where they began to release the sperm and the egg,” Mr Chatterton said.

“[On Monday night] it was incredible when at around eight o’clock, the coral spawned before our eyes. It’s like an amazing snowstorm of baby corals under the water.”

Mr Chatteron said he saw different species of coral spawn over a period of days, with his tour witnessing the ‘bushies’ and Acropora corals spawning first.

“It is such a critical event, not only for coral but for fish species. It provides a tremendous amount of nutrients for small and big fishes to eat,” he said.

“The quantities are so vast to allow for it to be eaten, as well as migrate in the ocean currents to settle in other reefs as well, giving the chance for biodiversity to spread through the coral reef system.”

The Master Reef Guide said it signified a few things: “That the lifecycle of the coral is rejuvenating, ready to resettle on systems damaged by cyclones and storms.”

“Storms and cyclones are part of the coral lifecycle, the break and build. From an operator’s point of view, it’s refreshing to take tourists from all over the planet to see the health of the reef in an exciting time where the coral can be reborn and grow,” he said.

Coral Spawning is being utilised by Australian Institute of Marine Science for a project in the Whitsundays known as The Boats4Corals Program which collects spawn for resettling on places where reefs have become denuded.

In 2022, Boats4Corals will commence during this week’s spawn.

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Coral spawning began across the fringes of the Great Barrier Reef on Monday, November 14

Images: Maddie Gablehouse aboard Kiana Sail and Dive

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.
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On November 11, 1919, King George V inaugurated the first Remembrance Day, marking the end of, what was at the time, the worst conflict in human history: “The war to end all wars”.

To mark those who did not return – “The Fallen” - The Great War’s end on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month became a commemoration for soldiers and service personnel who lost their lives.

Now each year, to commemorate all who died while serving in conflicts and peace-keeping operations in conflicts since World War One, people across the globe observe Remembrance Day through a minute’s silence and a sounding of the Last Post.

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Proserpine

Proserpine’s Returned and Services League of Australia (RSL) Sub-branch hosted a Remembrance Day Ceremony, honouring all who were lost, including Proserpine Servicemen who were killed during World War One, World War Two, Korea, and Vietnam.

Proserpine RSL Sub-branch President Jason Raiteri led the proceedings, making special note of the Australian participation in ending The Great War.

“From the summer of 1918, the five divisions of the Australian Core were at the forefront of the Allied advance to victory,” Mr Raiteri said.

“Victory for the Australians had come at a heavy cost: They suffered almost 48,000 casualties in 1918 alone. The four years of World War One 330,000 Australians served overseas, and 60,000 died.

“Today, we remember the over 100,000 Australians who did not come home over all wars. From World War One, World War Two, Malaya, Korea, Vietnam, Rwanda, Somalia, Afghanistan, and Iraq, and all the other operations Australians have been involved in across the globe.”

Wreaths were lain at the foot of the Proserpine Cenotaph by representatives from Proserpine RSL, Whitsunday Regional Councillor Gary Simpson, ex-military servicemen, and local schools, before a minute’s silence was observed.
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The well-attended ceremony ended with a playing of ‘The Last Post’ before local’s travelled to the Proserpine RSL to continue a day of remembrance.

The Proserpine Cenotaph was the scene of a touching Remembrance Day ceremony

The event was well-attended by veterans, to whom it means so much

Proserpine Returned and Services League (RSL) Sub-branch organised the day and saw many of its members observe the ceremony

Members from various ex-service groups took part in the RSL-led service

Proserpine RSL Sub-branch President Jason Raiteri conducted the rites of the day

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Bowen

Over 80 people attended the indoor service at the Bowen RSL last Friday, including Mayor Julie Hall who stayed to speak with war widows and other guests after the ceremony.

“It was a lovely turn out,” said Bowen RSL President John Eyles.

“We had a very good day as a club.”

The attendees comprised ex-servicemen, families, guests, and friends of the RSL, with the Country Women’s Association putting on a delicious afternoon tea for all to enjoy.
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Wreaths laid to remember those that served

Volunteers Rob Byles, Faileen James, Robyn Burrell

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Cannonvale

There were roughly 50 attendees at the Cannonvale Cenotaph to commemorate Remembrance Day this year and Airlie Beach Whitsunday RSL Vice President Carl Brown led the service.

Father Jose gave a shirt address and requiem which was followed by the prayer of Remembrance.

President of Airlie Beach Whitsunday RSL Dianne Trueman laid the first wreath followed by Amanda Camm MP’s representative Jacqueline Spruce and Councillor Jan Clifford.

They were followed by ex-service men, local police officers and students from nearby Cannonvale State School.

Jenni Borellini sung the New Zealand National Anthem and Airlie Norton sung the Australian National Anthem.

The flag was lowered and a minute’s silence observed to the emotive sounds of ‘Last Post’ played by Bryce Fraser.
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Service concludes with wreaths laid and flag at full mast

Councillor Jan Clifford, President of Airlie Beach Whitsunday RSL Dianne Trueman, Amanda Camm MP’s representative Jacqueline Spruce and RSL Vice President Carl Brown

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The Hamilton Island luxury yacht fire in late October is still being dealt with by insurance companies.

A stunning Sunseeker 82 motor yacht known as Time Out caught alight on the morning of October 24 this year, before emergency services attended the scene at Hamilton Island Marina which lasted approximately 10 to 12 hours before sinking.

The fire onboard caused the yacht to sink to the seabed which indicates its intensity, as well as the severity of damage the fire incurred to the hull.

Marina staff were integral in efficiently and effectively working with firefighters to contain the flames, with crew from the yacht having provided critical first response.

In days after Time Out’s eventual total submergence, the vessel’s owners were approved with an insurance claim sum in excess of $1,500,000.

A Loss Adjustor and Marine Surveyor, Michael Lieberman, from Nautilus Marine Insurance has been attending the marina to manage the post-incident site and minimise any environmental impact.

Within such a pristine environment this was of immediate concern to the insurance team who had immediately organised professional divers to secure any potential for pollution damage.

Assisted by a range of photos provided by the yacht mechanic, the diver operation was “very successful with the required lines being blocked and the fuel contained.”

The site is still being monitored with additional resources being utilised as soon as required.

“As a professional I have attended many salvages and none of them are ever the same, Mr Lieberman said.

“Being a large vessel resting on the seabed the issues with this salvage are manifold and, like all incidents in marine locations, must be carried out with an abundance of caution and consideration for the environment and local community.”

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A vessel named Time Out caught fire in late October

The emergency event at Hamilton Island Marina saw insurance claims awarded of $1.5 million

Three people were injured in a truck rollover on the Gregory Development Road earlier this week on Monday, 7 November.

The accident occurred at 9am and RACQ CQ Rescue was tasked by Queensland Health to fly direct to the scene near Belyando and land on the road to transport an injured passenger to Mackay Base hospital.

Two others were also transported to Townsville hospital with serious injuries.

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A trip to a tip store inspired a series of events, which led to a decorated piano being donated to the city for the love of music.

Whitsunday Anglican Year-11 student Clancy Morgan found a disused piano at the IncredableTip Shop at Paget. She started to play the instrument and noticed people gathering to have a listen, and thought it was wonderful to see people come together over a tune.

Clancy’s vision was born to restore the old beauty back to its former glory, with some colourful artistic additions. With the help of a $1990 Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF) grant and teachers at Whitsunday Anglican School, the piano underwent a transformation and many tune-ups to play sweet music once again.

As part of the City Heart Friday evening’s event, ‘Keys of Mackay’ was officially launched in front of an enthusiastic crowd on Wood Street who had gathered to listen to Whitsunday Anglican pianists perform.

Now based in the heart of Mackay, with the ability to be moved to other locations throughout the region, the old piano has a new lease on life, bringing joy to a wider audience.

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When the worst happens, you can only hope that Good Samaritans will run to your aid and make a traumatic experience better in some small way.

This was the case for Gail Swanerton when tragedy struck her family at the Aquatic Recreation Complex (ARC) earlier this month.

Enjoying a visit to the swimming-pool with her partner’s uncle and his wife, who both suffer from disabilities, an incident occurred where the uncle unfortunately passed away.

While medical teams arrived and handled the situation, Gail remembers two kind police constables who spent over four-hours by their side.

“The police often get a bad rap,” said Gail.

“But these two constables stayed with us and were so lovely.

“It was a dreadful thing for all the staff to go through too, but they were all so caring and respectful.”

Comforting the gentleman’s wife and bringing free bottles of water to the family, were just some of the acts of kindness from staff during the incident.

From the Police to the Paramedics, ARC staff and Southern Cross Carers staff – everyone jumped in to help and make a terrible situation better in some small way.

Gail would like to publicly thank everyone who assisted that day and let them know that every word, thought and deed meant so much to her family, bringing a ray of light to what was such a sad day.

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I couldn’t tell you when I heard my first Ben Lee song.

His music has been omnipresent in my life, and I feel like this is how most Australians experience Ben Lee.

‘Cigarettes Will Kill You’, ‘Catch My Disease’ and ‘We’re All In This Together’ were heard regularly on Rage, TV ads and in movies and shows; he was a part of growing up in Australia in the ‘90s and ‘00s.

He’s an icon who has been making waves internationally for decades, so I was elated when I got the chance to see him perform at Airlie Beach Festival of Music on the weekend.

I was even more elated when I got the phone call with the opportunity to head backstage and have a quick chat with him.

I was so excited and had plenty of questions ready to go: I wanted to know about his childhood band Noise Addict, what international stardom was like for him, how he met and started a band with ‘How I Met Your Mother’ actor Josh Radnor.

I got to ask him all this and more, and you can read my chat on page 23 of Whitsunday Life and online at mackayandwhitsundaylife.com.

It was one of my first “backstage media” type experiences and it was extremely cool to get that glimpse of the industry.

It was one of those moments where I thought, “How cool is my job?”

My Saturday at the Airlie Beach Festival of Music also included sets from Weathered, Allison Forbes, Ben Ransom, The Badloves and Salt & Steel, all of which were terrific.

It was headlined by an excellent set of rhythm and blues from British icons The Animals.

I sent some videos of The Animals to my dad, to which he replied, “Glad you enjoyed some 60's classics,” and I sure did.

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Sarina Sugar Shed has officially produced one of the best rums in the country.

The signature Sugar Shed Rum was awarded silver in the two-to-four-year rum category at the inaugural Australian Rum Awards last Friday, November 4, in Brisbane.

An esteemed panel of rum and spirit experts rated the Sugar Shed Rum highly, with a score of 86 points, ranking it among the finest rums in Australia.

Deputy Mayor Karen May hailed the achievement and congratulated distiller, Sarah Parrott.

“This is an outstanding result, not just for Sarina Sugar Shed but also for the Mackay region and for Sarah herself,” Cr May said.

“On behalf of council and the community, I want to add my well-deserved congratulations to Sarah for her excellent skills as a distiller.

“This award demonstrates the standard of local producers in our region, and council is pleased to support agri-tourism and food tourism experiences through its flagship attraction, Sarina Sugar Shed, which continues to garner attention on the state and national stage,” she said

Sarina Sugar Shed coordinator Ian Mason said the whole team was very proud of the result and particularly proud of Sarah.

“Sarah has been consistently producing high-quality rums and this national silver award is due recognition for her dedication to her craft,” Mr Mason said.

The silver award at the Australian Rum Awards adds to the gold award won by Sarina Sugar Shed at the Australian Distilled Spirit Awards in December last year for its Sugar Shed Classic, as well as numerous silver and bronze medals in previous years.

The Sarina Sugar Shed provides guided tours of the sugar cane crushing process, featuring a miniature mill and product tastings. It is open seven days (except selected public holidays) from 9am to 4pm. Advance tour bookings (9.30am, 11am, 12.30pm and 2pm) are highly recommended.

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