Image: Caneland Central is asking for donations of non-perishable food items or fresh produce vouchers to be donated to The Neighbourhood Hub. Photo supplied

Caneland Central has been asking you to put a few extra items in your shopping trolley to donate to the Caneland Central Donation Hub for Anti-Poverty Week this week.

Running from October 16 to 22, Anti-Poverty Week are celebrating their 20th year of acting on poverty and making sure that all Australian children and families can cover the basics and have a secure roof over their head.

Caneland Central is asking for donations of non-perishable food items or fresh produce vouchers to be donated to The Neighbourhood Hub Mackay to support families in need in the community.

In Australia, one in six children live in poverty.

Anti-Poverty Week supports the Australian community to have an increased understanding of poverty and to take action collectively to end it.

The key message is “Poverty exists. Poverty hurts us all. We can all do something about it. It is one of hope, not despair.”

Since 2002, Anti-Poverty Week has been active every year in the week around October 17, the United Nations Day for the Eradication of Poverty.  

During this week, all Australians are encouraged to take action and focus on positive solutions to end poverty.

The Donation Hub is located at the Customer Service Desk and is one way that Caneland Central supports its local community by providing an easy and convenient drop-off point while people are doing their shopping.

The Donation Hub is offered to various charities and causes throughout the community on a regular basis.

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When I first moved to Mackay, I was fortunate in that I knew a handful of people and was able to make new friends through them relatively quickly.

Still, I looked for opportunities through social sport, work and attending different events throughout the community, and will now see someone I know or have previously met almost every time I leave the house.

I’ve learnt a lot about making new friends in your mid-20s and still have a lot to learn but one thing I’m sure many can agree on is that it’s not easy.

I recently joined a group of people who meet at Harbour Beach every Wednesday morning for a swim before heading to a nearby café for a coffee.

The idea is to create a space for people to meet and connect in a wholesome and authentic way – check out “Rise and Mind” on Instagram.

I’m discovering more and more avenues for connecting with like-minded people in our community like this every day.

On page 13, I chat with Zephyr and Bradley from Mackay Community Garden where connection and camaraderie are at the heart of what they do.

They aim to create a welcoming space where anyone can come to meet new people, learn about gardening and permaculture and get involved in their community.

On page 3, Orange Sky has been providing conversation, connection and friendship to the Mackay region for five years under the guise of a charity that only washes clothes.

It’s organisations and groups like these that go out of their way to connect like-minded people and provide a space to talk, listen and meet new people.

If you’re feeling lonely or out of touch with your community, I urge you to consider finding a group that interests you, whether that be a sporting club, special interest group or volunteer organisation – maybe I’ll see you there.

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Image: Peter Dutton warns rising energy and cost-of-living pressures will lead to small businesses suffering. Photo credit: Sam Gillespie

Leader of the Opposition Peter Dutton visited Mackay last week for the first time since his appointment, welcomed to the region by Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox to visit local small businesses.

“We’ve been talking to lots of different businesses and the sentiment’s the same for me right the way up through the electorate,” said Mr Willcox.

“People are concerned about electricity prices; they’re concerned about the cost of living.”

Mr Willcox and Mr Dutton spoke to local business owners including Madeleine and Damian Connors of The Dispensary, where Mr Dutton proceeded to make a coffee under the watchful eye of barista James.

Mr Dutton said it’s getting tougher for businesses like The Dispensary to thrive with rising costs and added pressures.

“Cost of living continues to go up, it’s not just families but businesses as well,” he said.

“Let’s make sure that we have a sensible debate about energy in our country.

“I don’t want to see power prices go up and up and up under Labor and I certainly don’t want to see the lights go out because manufacturing jobs will go from our country, and they’ll be shifted offshore.”

Mr Dutton said more detail needs to be provided by the Queensland Government around the planned Pioneer-Burdekin pumped hydro scheme.

“There are families in communities where there will be resumptions that are really panicking now,” he said.

“They don’t know whether their future is secure, they don’t know whether their house and their property will be resumed, and the Premier seems to be able to provide no detail.”

Mr Dutton said Queensland has the lowest input of renewable energy into the network.

“We will support renewable energy and we need to have a serious discussion about how that energy is firmed up,” he said.

“If you don’t like coal and you don’t like gas and hydrogen is at least 10 years away, then what is the answer for firming up?”

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The region’s business sector now has a better idea of how they can contribute to the Pioneer-Burdekin Pumped Hydro Energy Storage scheme after the Queensland Government provided local businesses with a briefing on the first round of tenders for the project earlier this week.

Speaking at the Growing Queensland Business Roadshow at Harrup Park on Wednesday, Minister Mick de Brenni outlined how the region could benefit from one of the most significant nation-building infrastructure programs in Australia’s history.

“It will make Mackay the national capital of energy,” he said.

“We’ll be looking for local businesses to support the construction and operation of that significant storage project.”

Mr de Brenni said he is confident businesses can proceed with the knowledge that the project will go ahead despite being in the early stages of community consultation and environmental study.

“We’ve got to go through those important environmental gateways like we do with all projects,” he said.

“What businesses can bank on right now is that all of the early work that gets us to that decision, which isn’t too far off, we’ll be looking for local businesses to deliver those parts of the project for us.

“We know that the Mackay and North Queensland region has significant experience in delivering some of our nation’s largest projects.

“That’s why we’re confident in their ability to play a role in the delivery of the super grid.”

Member for Mackay Julieanne Gilbert said the Mackay region would reap enormous benefits from the Pioneer-Burdekin project, from its early days with business opportunities during the investigation stage to procurement work and ongoing benefit sharing.

“This is the biggest infrastructure project of its kind in the State’s history, and I want to make sure that Mackay businesses have the opportunity to work on a legacy project for our region,” Ms Gilbert said.

“Local businesses are already lining up to fill contracts for opportunities including cultural heritage studies, ecological and biodiversity studies, surveyors, hydrological modelling, shallow geotechnical drilling, civil contractors, and provision of catering, printing services, safety and workwear.

“It could create thousands of construction jobs and apprenticeships over a six-to-ten-year period, ongoing operational jobs, as well as jobs and revenue for local businesses, fostering opportunities for our region for decades to come.”

Wednesday also saw the release of the Government’s draft Regional Energy Transformation Partnerships Framework for consultation at the event, outlining a set of principles to guide the implementation of the Energy and Jobs Plan, addressing issues including the preservation of the environment, biodiversity and the housing crisis.

“We know that accommodation is tight right across the nation at the moment, so we’ll be delivering a sophisticated plan to make sure that’s accounted for,” Mr de Brenni said.

“We’re calling for community and business leaders to have their say in terms of the ideas around benefit sharing, legacy infrastructure, how we’ll ensure that it’s local businesses that prosper most from this significant $62b investment.

“We’ve got a very clear plan about the delivery of the super grid.

“Now it’s about drilling down into that detail to make sure Queenslander’s prosper through this process.”

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Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox hosted Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Senator Bridget McKenzie in Mackay last week, highlighting several projects that were ear-marked for funding in the Dawson electorate that they say are now at risk in the upcoming Federal Budget.

Mr Willcox said the Dawson electorate received multiple funding commitments from the Building Better Regions Fund including $483 million towards building the Urannah Dam, $200,000 for a clubhouse upgrade to Mackay Hockey and $5 million towards Veteran Wellbeing Centres in the Mackay region.

The fund also directed $4.1 million to Mackay Regional Council for the Waterfront Revitalisation Project.

“These projects cannot happen for your average council,” said Mr Willcox.

“We need federal government support and that’s why the Building Better Regions Fund is so important.

“We will be watching what happens in this budget to make sure that we get our fair share because the people of Dawson deserve it.”

Ms McKenzie said that, while in government, the LNP contributed $3.5 billion to the Mackay community towards road projects and community benefit projects.

“We are very concerned about the Government’s silence on regional funding in the lead-up to the Budget,” Ms McKenzie said.

Ms McKenzie said that there is uncertainty around what will happen to projects like the Riverfront Revitalisation Project if the Building Better Regions Fund is cut in the upcoming budget.

“It’s been very clear to us that, when the Treasurer’s been talking about the upcoming budget, that he’s described programs that have funded these sorts of projects in communities like Mackay as wasteful,” she said.

“These are the types of projects and programs that underpin the social and economic wealth of this community, and we need to make sure that Anthony Albanese and Jim Chalmers don’t remove one single dollar from these communities because we produce the wealth of this country out here.

“We don’t ask for a lot, but we do expect to have adequate investment in our economic infrastructure so that we can have a safe, sustainable and prosperous future just like the capital cities.”

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Five new police officers were welcomed to Mackay last week, beginning their careers as First Year Constables (FYCs) with the Queensland Police Service (QPS).

The cohort is part of 107 recent graduates who have been deployed to stations across the state.

The new officers were welcomed to the district with an orientation on Thursday, October 13 facilitated by Mackay Police District Officer Superintendent Graeme Paine before heading out to their stations in the following days.

“This is such an exciting moment for these officers as they now begin their careers in the Queensland Police Service,” Supt Paine said.

“Five officers is a significant increase for the area.

“Regardless of whether there’s been an increase or decrease in crime, we’re going to see an increase in police numbers, and, for us, that’s really important because it increases our capacity to actually be proactive.”

Three of the FYCs will start their career at Mackay Station and the other two at Mackay Northern Beaches Station.

The FYCs spent the past six months at the academy, now undertaking a further 12 months of station-based training.

Their training includes knowledge of laws, policy and procedure as well as practical training pertaining to police activities they’re likely to encounter.

“They’ve got sufficient experience and sufficient knowledge and learning to be able to apply their police powers, but they’ll also do that in a way which is supervised under the guidance of an experienced officer,” said Supt Paine.

Constable Zach Sheppard has previously served in the military and said transitioning into QPS was easy.

“I definitely have been interested in serving the community or the country since surf lifesaving, I did about 10 years in surf lifesaving,” he said.

Cst Sheppard said the six months of academy training made him excited to take on his role in the community.

“They are very thorough with their training but also it’s good to get out of the academy and see what the job has to offer,” he said.

Constable Nathan Giles has a background in psychology and social work and said theoretical and practical training prepared them well.

“It’s obviously a fairly challenging job but the theory side of it is really quite essential to learning our powers and our responsibilities,” he said.

Cst Giles said a key trait required to become a police officer is resilience.

“It’s been quite difficult over the last six months with everything that we’ve been learning and adjusting to the differences in everyday education,” he said.

Supt Paine said QPS is currently in a period of recruiting.

“It’s a fantastic job, it’s a fantastic group of people,” he said.

“There’s an incredibly wide range of roles that you can go into throughout your career.”

If you’re interested in a career in policing, visit PoliceRecruit.com.au.

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Patients have been reportedly experiencing long delays waiting for beds at Mackay Base Hospital, some of whom waited in an ambulance for up to seven hours.

Leader for the Opposition David Crisafulli says the hard-working hospital staff do not deserve to be put under the extra pressure of trying to save lives without enough equipment to meet rising demands.

With recent population trends causing mass movement to regional areas such as Mackay and the Whitsundays, current facilities are no longer adequate in catering for the increase and this extra strain is being felt across the region.

Mr Crisafulli says that despite population growth, there have been no additional beds in any of our eight local hospitals.

“At a time when our frontline staff were facing more pressure than ever, the State Government was making their job more difficult,” he said.

“They publicly said they were doing all they could to fix the health system, but behind closed doors many already-overstretched hospitals didn’t get one new bed.”

Patient Off-Stretcher times have also been flagged by the opposition as an issue that needs to be addressed by state government immediately.

New health figures have revealed patients had to wait in the back of an ambulance for between five and seven hours.

The longest recorded time for a patient in Mackay was 7 hours 19 minutes in March, while in June two patients were forced to wait more than six hours.

Shadow Health Minister Ros Bates said it’s another symptom of the Queensland health crisis.

“It’s unacceptable for any Queenslander to wait more than seven hours on a stretcher before getting a hospital bed,” Ms Bates said.

“As a nurse and former hospital administrator, I know how frustrating it is for paramedics and patients.

“These dedicated men and women don’t want to spend their entire shift sitting at the end of a ramp, while other calls go unanswered.”

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Over the past few weeks Mackay Base Hospital Urologist Dr Stephens has been publicly scrutinised, his previous cases have been analysed and his professional ability thrown into question.

There are those that wish to jump up and defend a man they believe has been wrongly victimised and others that have connected dots to make their own accusations about ways they feel they have been mistreated.

Known for his unorthodox approach to consulting with patients, it was not uncommon for him to tell patients harsh truths about their lifestyles - like suggesting they stop smoking in order to increase their chances of survival.

“This would often brush people up the wrong way,” said a co-worker who has chosen to remain anonymous.

“But he was also the sort of person who would give patients his mobile number if they wanted to contact him after hours - he’d go out of his way to help others, even turning up on his days off to sit with an ill patient he knew had no family nearby.”

It seems that his unconventional approach to patient management and unique way of interacting with other staff certainly garnered a lot of attention.

His co-worker alleges that while some people loved him, there were those that really didn’t like him and could perhaps have been out to get him.

With all staff being monitored and not allowed to speak to media, Dr Stephens’ co-worker said they were reluctant to say more.

“We have so many patients asking when he is going to come back,” they said.

But does interacting with others in an unconventional manner mean he was less diligent in conducting his professional duties?

With accusations that he blew his nose on hospital drapes during an operation and also that his trousers fell down in surgery, stories about Dr Stephens’ behaviour has certainly been in the spotlight for all the wrong reason lately.

When explaining the most recent matter of his trousers falling down, Dr Stephens said he believes there is someone at the hospital that has been leaking information to the public and asserts that one of the photos is not even of him.

“The first photo is taken without my permission and the second one is not even of me!” he said.

“I do not wear green tape and I do not have a single hair on my leg,” he said.

Defending his lack of trousers, Dr Stephens explains that he has very narrow hips and that his trousers have fallen down between four and five times in his career.

It is worth noting that he does have shorts underneath his trousers and a wrapped long theatre gown down to his ankles.

He also adds that this issue is not something only he has experienced, apparently other surgeons have also had the same issue.

Does a surgeon continue with the job at hand or risk pausing to re-secure scrubs?

Curious to know who at the hospital is leaking confidential and often inaccurate information about him to the press, Dr Stephens said that he would welcome a full investigation.

He also said he would love to return to work but feels the public scrutiny will make him unemployable.

Image: Dr Daryl Stephens might be unorthodox but does that make him dangerous?

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One of the busiest bus stops in Mackay is about to move to a new location in order to facilitate a future expansion that will cater for the population growth in the region.

The Caneland Central Shopping bus stop will be repositioned onto Mangrove Road, in front of the shopping centre in what Member for Mackay Julieanne Gilbert says will be a much more convenient location for customers.

“People tell me they want better connectivity and accessibility on our public transport network, and now we’re delivering just that,” Ms Gilbert said.

“A big part of the upgrade includes additional capacity which will allow us to grow the bus network in the future – that’s room for more buses to stop at Caneland Shopping Centre as the population grows.”

Currently the bus stop can cater to two buses at a time, but the new location will be provisioned to cater for five.

Mayor Greg Williamson said council’s design team had done a tremendous job tailoring this key interchange to meet the needs of our growing population.

"The new interchange will replace the existing one at the back of Caneland Central and will increase accessibility while catering for an increasing number of commuters,” Mayor Williamson said.

Construction will begin immediately and is expected to be completed by December, with the majority of the works taking place at night.

Stage one will include removal of the pedestrian crossing on Mangrove Road and the installation of a signalled crossing near the Mangrove Road and Peel Street intersection.

The Peel Street exit to Mangrove Road will also be closed to accommodate the new pedestrian crossing.

Image: An artist’s impression of the new bus stop

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Tickets are on sale now for the second annual Broken Ballerina Charity Ball which is due to be held at the Northern Beaches Bowls Club next weekend.

Dedicated to raising money and awareness for domestic violence, this colourful and vibrant event, with a serious overtone, will be hosted by Jay and Dave from Triple M.

With an eighties theme, guests are invited to dress up in anything from cocktail outfits to fancy dress.

“You can wear anything you like – back in the eighties anything went,” said organiser Jules Thompson.

The Broken Ballerina Charity started back in 2019 when a $50 Woolworths voucher was bought for a family escaping domestic violence and since then the charity have been helping countless people across the Mackay region.

“Every week, every day we are helping someone in some way,” said Jules.

“We don’t receive government support so we rely solely on hard work and people’s support.”

All the money raised from the charity ball will go directly to local projects that actively help families living in this area.

From purchasing plane tickets to help a family escape a situation of domestic violence to giving them a visa card so they can buy basic groceries or purchasing gifts to make Christmas feel special – Broken Ballerina are at the forefront of helping families through traumatic times with a kind heart.

The Charity Ball will be a lot of fun with an eighties themed DJ playing your favourite tracks.

Nibbles and a two-course meal will also be served, plus a charity auction with some great prizes to be won.

While the mood is lively, the greater message is both vital and important.

Two women who survived domestic violence will be speaking on the night, sharing their story in order to raise awareness and open the conversation about the reality of abuse.

Tickets are selling fast, so get in quick to show your support.

WHAT: Broken Ballerina Charity Ball

WHERE: Northern Beaches Bowls Club

WHEN: Saturday, October 29 from 7pm

TICKETS: $135 – email pete@brokenballerina-inc.com.au

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Local author Kaaren Sephton is currently compiling her second major work which will bring together stories from women across the region in an effort to fill in the gaps of our regional history.

Having previously published her thesis, At The Crossroads: Biographies of Mia Mia, Kaaren says she felt compelled to bring together unique female histories after speaking with members of the Mackay Family History Society.

She is now putting a call out for family members of women who lived around the 1900s and have now passed on but would have an interesting story that their ancestors would like to share with the community.

“Women have achieved so much with so little recognition, they often get unnoticed,” said Kaaren.

“From farmer’s wives to indigenous women from The Leap, hoteliers to matrons at the hospital and women who lived through WWI – I want to create a broad snapshot of women from the early days.”

Family members are invited to contact Kaaren directly and she would like to receive old photographs and information about individuals so she can compile them into a new history book.

While she is ideally looking for women who lived around the 1900s, Kaaren says that if she gets a good response from the community, she will consider looking at women from different eras in a subsequent book.

So far, she has 40 local women for the book and she is hopeful more families would like to come forward.

You can contact her directly by emailing kskaslester@gmail.com.

Image: Kaaren Sephton with her first book The Crossroads: Biographies of Mia Mia. Photo contributed

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Everyone is invited to hear the Rev. Dr Solmon Zwana, National Chaplain to Zimbabwean Methodists in Australia and Oceania, speak at meetings at St Paul’s Uniting Church on 18-20 November and on Sunday 20 November when he will preach at Armitage, St Paul’s and Calen Uniting Churches.

A former presiding bishop, Methodist Church in Zimbabwe, theologian, church leader, and advocate for good governance and honesty in public life, Dr Zwana is conducting a national tour of Australian capital cities and regional centres. He will raise awareness among Zimbabwean migrants of the relationship between the Methodist Church, founded in England in the 1730s, and its continuation in the Uniting Church in Australia, a union of Methodist, Presbyterian and Congregational Churches in 1977.

Dr Zwana has served as chairman of the Zimbabwe Elections Support Network, a local coalition of civil society organisations formed to observe elections. ‘You cannot say you are preaching the gospel if social justice is not part of your work,’ said Dr Zwana, who has highlighted harassment of voters by the government. Although he has received threatening phone calls, government leaders, often educated in Christian schools, respect the role of the church in the community, appreciate the large number of Christians as a proportion of the population, and heed the constructive criticism provided by mainline Protestant Churches. International partnerships, such as the relationship between the Methodist Development and Relief Agency and the Uniting Church in Australia through Uniting World, also encourage the Methodist Church to speak up for justice.

REV. DR JULIA PITMAN, MINISTER, ST PAUL’S UNITING CHURCH

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A local girl guide group is marking a milestone moment by bringing together Guides both past and present to a special event which is due to be held next Saturday.

The Mackay City Girl Guides have been operating at their current location for the past 65 years and during that time countless young women have learnt invaluable skills such as resilience, team building, leadership skills and community engagement.

The event will be a snapshot through time with the group putting up old tents that would have been used and exhibiting old membership forms that show processes of yesteryear.

“The vibe is reminiscing through the years of Guiding,” said Support Group President Erin Turner.

“We will look at what Guiding used to be like with old photos and go through the decades to see how things changed.”

The current Girl Guide patrols will also show some of their skills such as first aid, knots and lashing and telecommunications.

During the event there will be special presentations to two of the Guides who have recently been awarded the Baden-Powell award.  

There will also be a special celebratory cake and an opportunity for girl guides, young and old, to connect and share stories.

“Everyone is welcome to come along to the event,” said Erin.

“Even if you’re not a Girl Guide but are interested in learning more about it – we’d love to see you.”

As the afternoon progresses there will also be a BBQ and for those that would like to stay into the evening there will be a campfire.

WHAT: Mackay City Girl Guides 65 year celebration

WHERE: Girl Guide Hut on the corner of Sydney Street and Juliet Street

WHEN: Saturday October, 29 from 1pm to 5pm

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Disaster season is coming in hot, and council is urging residents to stock up their emergency kits, familiarise themselves with council’s Emergency Action Guide and get their emergency evacuation plans in place.

Mayor Greg Williamson said now is the time to prepare.

“Whether it’s fires, floods, cyclones or heatwaves, history has shown us that our best defence when it comes to disasters is preparedness,” Mr Williamson said.

“We are asking residents to make a plan and discuss it with their family, so they know when to go, where to go, how to move and what to take.

“We’re also asking them to get to know their neighbours who can be lifesavers in emergency situations.

“The last thing you want to do in a disaster is to have to put a plan in place last minute when you’re stressed and not thinking clearly.”

Residents are encouraged to keep an eye out on council’s Facebook page for tips and tricks on how to get prepared for disaster season.

Suncorp Insurance’s Head of Home Claims Steven Hussey said that it’s important to educate and raise awareness of the simple ways Australians can be better informed, and therefore better prepared for severe weather, to protect their family, homes and mental wellbeing.

“We’re a country battered by extreme weather,” he said.

“Floods, cyclones, bushfires and storms are becoming more frequent and severe – yet our research shows Australians have limited knowledge and awareness about them.

“The knowledge gap around extreme weather events is concerning and contributing to Australians being underprepared when it comes to managing their impact.”

Stay up to date with the latest emergency news thanks to council’s online Emergency Dashboard, providing timely and relevant information to help you make informed decisions and be better prepared.

The Emergency Dashboard provides all the information you need including latest road conditions, fire incidents, weather warnings, storm tide evacuation zones and power outages, active evacuation centres and flood cameras.

You can access resources including your local emergency action guide, emergency guides for pets, radio stations and emergency contacts.

Check your route ahead of time with road status updates and flood cameras, allowing you to take the safest roads in and out of the region.

Keep an eye on what’s happening in the sky and the water with local weather radar and local river height updates.

You can also opt in to receive text messages and email notifications of emergency alerts and weather warnings in our region.

Access the Emergency Dashboard at disaster.mackay.qld.gov.au or via the link on council’s website.

The Five ‘Knows’

• Know When To Go – Listen for notifications from the Emergency Dashboard or on the official emergency broadcaster. Where possible, consider leaving before flooding/cyclone/disaster commences.

• Know Where To Go – Identify now where you will go and let someone know where you have evacuated to and that you have arrived safely. Public cyclone shelters should be your last resort as they may not be open.

• Know How To Move – Transport options for people with medical needs or mobility issues as well as pets require careful planning. Identify the safest route and consider potential hazards.

• Know What To Take – Prepare an emergency bag with food, medicine, documents, flashlight, phone chargers and pet items. You may be away from home for several days.

• Know Your Neighbours – Think about who you could help in your neighbourhood or who might be able to help you. Neighbours are often best placed to assist with preparing your home before disaster strikes.

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On the banks of the Pioneer River, hidden behind a thicket of trees and shrubs, is an oasis of community, nature and connectedness.

The Mackay Community Garden has sat next to the river, down past the hospital, for 25 years, with Zephyr Routh recently taking on the responsibility of bringing it to its former glory and showcasing the processes of permaculture used in the garden.

“It’s become more of a demonstration garden and a place for the community to connect and share the love of gardening,” Zephyr said.

“I’m trying to bring community and trying to bring life back into the space and create a nice atmosphere for people to come and work in harmony with nature and work in harmony with each other.”

Zephyr explained that permaculture is all about biodiversity.

“It’s about working with the rhythms of nature and really focusing on perennial plants and biodiversity and stability,” he said.

“We focus on a lot of tropical foods because we’re growing into the climate.”

“It’s very structured and very planned,” Bradley Grendom added, explaining that trees and plants are positioned to optimise each plant’s exposure to the sun as it crosses the sky.

Being a pensioner, Bradley was seeking somewhere to connect with likeminded people when he found the garden.

“There’s a lot of spiritual people around this permaculture process that we’re in and that’s what I like,” he said.

“I’m just here to get a bit of the day changed and work around trees and plants, getting the hands and the feet in the soil.

“It’s a healing process.”

The Community Garden hosts a range of events for anyone to attend, including Abundance Days, potting days and workshops.

“We come in as a collective group and we go around and ask the community what jobs they want to do, whether that be playing in the nursery, planting some herbs, picking some fruit, or even art,” Zephyr said.

“It’s always open and there’s always something different going on.”

The group of volunteers is hosting its first Food Forest Fest this Sunday to showcase their hard work and to bring new people into the space.

“I just thought, ‘How can we bring more life into this place?” Zephyr said.

“A lot of people in Mackay don’t know about this area, it’s still a little hidden gem.”

Food Forest Fest is a celebration of the life of spring, centred around the region's diversity, permaculture, music, healing, food, and local handcrafted and homegrown goods.

Activities will include permaculture workshops, tropical cooking demonstrations, sound healing, live music, garden tours, kids’ activities, locally grown and handcrafted market stalls and tree planting.

“It’s really based around trying to get people down here and show people a different way to live in community,” Zephyr said.

For more information on Mackay Community Garden and Food Forest Fest, visit the Mackay Community Garden on Facebook or contact Zephyr on 0497 150 777.

WHAT: Food Forest Fest

WHERE: Mackay Community Garden

WHEN: Sunday, October 23 from 10:00am to 3:00pm

This is a free community event.

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