The Bowen Collinsville Pet Rescue will be at Pets Domain in Bowen on the 8th of March for their Adopt-A-Dog Day! Mark it in your calendar as the day you could meet your new, best furry friend and loving companion.
Run by 100% volunteers, the Bowen Collinsville Pet Rescue aims to give the animals in their care the best change at finding forever homes, and you just may be the one. Come and meet all their lovely pooches at the monthly markets hosted by Pet Domain Bowen, grab a snag at the sausage sizzle and maybe even win a raffle prize too!
The whole family is invited to come and pet the puppies, meet the dogs and feel the joy of a wagging doggy tail. This is your change to meet them, maybe add a new member to your family, and support your local rescue. There will also be face painting, tons of market stalls and food vendors, so make a dog’s day and visit Pets Domain in Bowen!

WHAT: Adopt-A-Dog Day & Monthly Market
WHEN: Saturday 8th March, 8am-1pm
WHERE: Pets Domain Bowen at 79 Powell Street, Bowen QLD

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During the recent North Queensland flooding, train drivers Jade and Renee spotted a stranded echidna along the Gregory Development Road.
With the help of the Bowen Rail Company’s rail traffic controller, the little creature was carefully relocated to a safer area away from traffic. Once out of harm's way, the echidna was able to get back on his way, snuffling through the bush.
This encounter highlights the Bowen Rail Company’s ongoing commitment to wildlife protection. From the early stages of designing the rail corridor to avoid critical habitat areas, to implementing monitoring programs that track and protect local wildlife, the company takes every opportunity to ensure the safety and preservation of their local native species.
The Bowen Rail Company is dedicated to making sure that both the environment and wildlife are safeguarded while continuing to operate services, demonstrating responsibility to both nature and the community.
Thank you Jade, Renee, and the rail traffic controller for looking out for this little guy.

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The Whitsunday Regional Council's Parks and Gardens team has been diligently working on significant upgrades to the Rose Bay Foreshore, improving both functionality and aesthetics for the community.
One of the key updates is the entrance upgrade, where three new sandstone blocks have replaced the old, worn post and railing system. These sandstone blocks not only provide a sturdier and more reliable entry point but also enhance the overall appearance of the foreshore, adding a touch of rustic elegance to the space. This change reflects a commitment to maintaining a welcoming and open spaced beach environment for locals and visitors alike.
Another improvement is the relocation of the beach shower, which has been moved to a more convenient location, making it easier for beachgoers to rinse off after a swim. To further enhance this area, two additional sandstone blocks were added around the shower, creating a more cohesive and visually appealing space. These thoughtful council upgrades ensure the foreshore remains functional, attractive, and enjoyable for everyone who visits and uses the beach.
Thanks to the Whitsunday Regional Council’s dedicated Parks and Gardens crew for their hard work and ongoing efforts in keeping local spaces clean and in top condition. Their commitment to enhancing the beauty and usability of the Rose Bay Foreshore is greatly appreciated by the community.
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The new sandstone block at the entrance to Rose Bay Foreshore. Photo Sourced: Whitsunday Regional Council Facebook Page.

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The Greater Whitsunday Vet Services are so excited to announce that they are having an Open Day Event for their new Proserpine clinic! The open day is so important as it showcases the brand-new clinic in its entirety. Come along on the 9th to see what your patients experience at the clinic, check out the amazing diagnostics equipment and experience how the pristine hospital ward is presented.  Collect an insight into what the day-to-day vet life looks like with a cool clinic tour every hour!
Get excited as they bring the local community together with over 20 market stalls in the spacious carpark including delicious food vendors. Greater Whitsunday Vet clinic is thrilled to support local businesses and for all the Proserpine and Whitsunday locals to meet their amazing new staff.
It is important to them that the locals know what Greater Whitsunday Vet Services brings to their community. Come along and have a chat to the friendly staff, share your experiences and ideas as they are always looking to enhance their services.
There will be a kid’s colouring competition to help give back, raffles to be won and staff ready to offer any advice that may be needed for your beloved pet. So, bring your dogs and your kids for a fun day of facepainting and even a best dressed competition - it’ll be a day for the whole family to enjoy!
WHAT: Greater Whitsunday Vet Service’s Proserpine Clinic Open Day
WHEN: Sunday, 9th March 10am-2pm
WHERE: 52 Main St Proserpine, Entrance via Dobbins Lane

Our previous best dressed pups, and a wonderful clinic tour on the day of the event! Photo supplied: Glenys Mansfield

Greater Whitsunday Vet Services, a local Bowen veterinary clinic, has expanded to service the wider Whitsunday community by opening a new clinic in the heart of Proserpine.
Located at 52 Main Street Proserpine, the new clinic will offer a comprehensive range of veterinary services including routine wellness exams, vaccinations, dental care, desexing, advanced imaging, surgical procedures, general health care, and preventative treatments.
Greater Whitsunday Vet Services Practice Owner and Veterinarian, Dr Jason Mansfield, said the expansion marks a significant milestone in the clinic’s mission to provide exceptional veterinary care.
“We are excited to extend Greater Whitsunday Vet Services’ reach throughout the Whitsunday region by opening up a new clinic on the Main Street of Proserpine,” Dr Mansfield said.
“Expanding to Proserpine will ensure accessible healthcare can be provided to all families and their beloved animals, meeting the growing needs of families in the wider Whitsunday region.
“The Proserpine clinic features state-of-the-art technology and equipment ensuring all our vets and nurses can deliver accurate diagnoses and effective treatments, enabling our customers to make informed decisions about their animal’s health and wellbeing.
“We approach veterinary medicine with a modern, professional, and compassionate mindset, and with currently six vets and 10 nurses the local Proserpine community can rest assured their animals will be getting the best care possible.”  
Their mission is focused on staff development, to offer number-one recommendations that provide the best patient outcomes.
We invite everyone to come and visit us at the clinic for our Open Day Sunday 9th March 2025 10am – 2pm and learn more about how we can help support the health and wellbeing of their animals and see our new clinic for themselves.
Clients can make appointments at their clinics in Bowen or Proserpine by calling (07) 4786 1010, or through their website: vetwhitsundays.com.au Greater Whitsunday Vet Services is there for you and your animal needs with 24/7 Afterhours service and mobile visits.
Opening Hours: Proserpine
Monday to Friday - 8:30 AM - 5.00 PM
Saturday & Sunday CLOSED
Opening Hours: Bowen
Monday / Tuesday / Wednesday / Friday - 8:30 AM - 5.00 PM
Thursday - 8:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday / Sunday CLOSED

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Greater Whitsunday Vet Services has 6 qualified veterinarian professionals working between Bowen and Proserpine (with over 35 years of combined experience) and all being involved in mixed animal components. These dedicated local vets approach veterinary medicine with a modern, professional and compassionate mindset.
The Greater Whitsunday Vet team are staunch advocates for animal health providing sound advice and professional recommendations, always striving to offer the best possible care for your animal companions and livestock.
These passionate vets are always learning and developing their skills whether that is introducing a specialist to coach, training at another clinic or attending an out-of-town conference they are always looking at ways to innovate and learn to give their clients the best services available.
The Proserpine and Bowen clinics feature state-of-the-art technology and equipment ensuring all their vets and nurses can deliver accurate diagnoses and effective treatments. Their skilled team can provide most surgeries in-house allowing your animals to get the best care without traveling too far.
Greater Whitsunday Vets Services provide their vets with a wonderful work-life balance ensuring your animals receive the best possible care when they are on the job. It also allows them to enjoy the beautiful Whitsunday Region with their family and friends.

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Our wonderful Vet team. Photo supplied: Glenys Mansfield
no animal is too big for our amazing team! Photo supplied: Glenys Mansfield

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The veterinary nurses at Greater Whitsunday Vet Services aren't just standard, they are top-notch client liaisons. The team’s philosophy centres around friendly and easy interactions making your visit to the clinic as comfortable and seamless as possible.
Greater Whitsunday Vet Services’ nurses are here to ensure that clients feel heard, understood and cared about as much as possible and are devoted to understanding the needs of your pets. Each knowledgeable liaison will welcome you into the consult room and ensure they capture every bit of history or concerns you may be having.
Clear communication is at the heart of every service, enabling you to make informed decisions about your animal’s health and well-being. They will ensure you leave the consult room with complete clarity and understanding.

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Greater Whitsunday Vet Services Operational Manager, Georgia Bowser, is a Proserpine local, born and raised on the farm. Georgia rotates between the Proserpine and Bowen clinics throughout the week ensuring that the staff and productivity of the business is on track.
Georgia has over 8 Years experience as a Veterinary Nurse and brings a wealth of practical knowledge to the clinic. She enjoys coaching and training staff whilst allowing innovative ideas from the team for further development. Georgia loves to help her team thrive to ensure that we are providing a service like no other.
Greater Whitsunday Vet Services continues to provide Georgia with career opportunities and personal development to ensure she stays up to date with what our clients need and want in 2025. They have also provided her with a work-life balance stability helping her in personal achievements like recently purchasing her own property.
The knowledge and expertise she has gained from her career is assisting her and husband Jack to smoothly operate their farm. Equipping them with better ideas for animal health, profitability, and innovation so that they have their property long into the future.
Georgia said “Working for Greater Whitsunday Vet Services has been and continues to be, an amazing workplace. It is full of innovation and our team prides themselves on providing a client experiences like no other.” Customer service and clarity have unfortunately disappeared in some businesses, and this is something Georgia strongly focuses on with the team. they aim to bring back the old standard and making it so much better, ensuring a strong rapport across the team and clients.

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Georgia leading our last big event Photo supplied: Glenys Mansfield

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In today’s fast-evolving agricultural landscape, sugarcane growers must go beyond traditional farming practices to build resilient and profitable businesses. Recognising this need, CANEGROWERS introduced the Business Essentials workshop series, a comprehensive program tailored to empower sugarcane growers with the tools and knowledge necessary to navigate the complexities of modern agriculture.
Now in its fourth year, the program is more flexible than ever, offering a mix of in-person workshops and online webinars, so growers can tailor their participation to their specific needs.
The series provides practical knowledge, expert insights, and financial support opportunities to help build a profitable, resilient, and future-ready farm business.
With experienced trainers—including specialists from other agricultural sectors like cotton and grains—growers gain fresh perspectives across a wide range of topics, including:
   • Building a professional business: Learn to set achievable goals, develop robust strategies, and manage unforeseen risks effectively.
   • People management: Gain insights into attracting and retaining the right talent, navigating legal requirements, and fostering harmonious family working relationships.
   • Workplace health & safety (WHS): Understand your obligations, establish practical safety protocols, and create a culture of safety on the farm.
   • Sugar pricing strategy and industry knowledge: Demystify the complexities of sugar pricing, enabling informed and profitable decision-making. Enhance your understanding of industry-specific terms and practices, such as relative payment systems and Commercial Cane Sugar (CCS) metrics.
   • Advanced Bookkeeping: Elevate your financial management skills, including considerations around managing your own Business Activity Statements (BAS).
Growers can choose sessions that align with their specific interests and needs, mixing and matching between in-person workshops and online webinars. This approach ensures that participants can maximise the benefits of the program without compromising their operational responsibilities.
By equipping growers with a comprehensive farm business resilience plan, the program not only enhances operational effectiveness but also positions businesses to secure essential funding and support for future challenges.
The program also offers personalised one-on-one support, helping you develop a comprehensive business plan and implement strategic solutions that drive real, measurable success for your farm.
“There comes a time when you do need to step back and say, right what are our biggest issues, how are we going to get around them, are we going to do something about them or are we just going to ignore them. And look at where you want to be in that five-year or 10-year mark”
Jill Fox (Mackay)
Embrace this opportunity to transform your sugarcane farming business and register your interest today! The Business Essentials workshop & webinar series is more than just a learning experience; it's an investment in the future resilience and profitability of your enterprise.
“You are with your fellow growers. It's an outlet to provide support”
Paul Schembri (Mackay)
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn, network, and grow! For more details, workshop dates, and registration, visit canegrowers.com.au.

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What marine creature can have up to 21 arms, hundreds of venomous spines, a taste for coral, and the ability to appear in plague-like numbers?
If you guessed the Crown-of-thorns starfish, you’d be right!
Often referred to as COTS, Crown-of-thorns starfish are native to the Great Barrier Reef and are not an introduced species.
According to the Australian Institute of Marine Science, genetic studies have shown that there are at least four species of COTS. The species found on the Great Barrier Reef is currently referred to as Acanthaster cf. Solaris.
These large marine invertebrates feed on coral as adults, playing a significant role in the reef ecosystem. However, when their numbers surge, they can cause widespread damage.
COTS outbreaks are a major cause of reef-building coral loss on the Great Barrier Reef, with each starfish capable of consuming up to 10m² of hard coral per year. In addition, they have an incredibly fast reproductive rate, with a single female able to release millions of eggs annually.
Master Reef Guides in the Whitsundays often assist in controlling excess numbers at local tourism sites, while the COTS Control Program works throughout the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area to monitor and manage outbreaks.
The COTS Control Program uses a combination of data and modelling to prioritise reefs based on their ecological and economic value to the wider reef. So far, in the 2023–2024 period, the program has targeted 192 priority reefs, protected 11,640 hectares of reef habitat through targeted culling, and removed 50,227 Crown-of-thorns starfish.
The Crown-of-thorns starfish isn’t just a thorn in the reef’s side, it’s a royal pain for the coral. For updates on the work being done to manage them, head to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority website:
Www2.gbrmpa.gov.au
Fast Fact: COTS have eyes in their arms.

Since the Whitsundays border the Great Barrier Reef, they are home to not only stunning coral formations but also a diverse array of marine life.

Among the many iconic species inhabiting this remarkable ecosystem, the dugong plays a crucial role in maintaining the reef's balance and is frequently spotted along the Airlie Beach boardwalk.

Historically known as “Sea Cows,” Dugongs are more closely related to elephants than whales and dolphins.  

The Great Barrier Reef is a UNESCO World Heritage site, largely due to the presence of dugongs. The Reef's significant dugong populations played a key role in earning its World Heritage status.

The Dugong is a culturally significant species for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples along the Reef and is the only marine mammal that exclusively feeds on plants.  

Dugongs play a vital role in maintaining the health of seagrass meadows by dispersing seeds and promoting germination. While grazing on seagrass, these gentle marine giants help spread seeds, supporting the growth and sustainability of these essential underwater ecosystems.

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Fast Fact: A dugong's age is estimated by counting tusk rings, like tree rings. They can live up to 70 years, accumulating many rings!

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Hi Everyone!
This week's Ruth 2 Reef is a bit shorter, as the paper is packed with exciting news, but rest assured the content is just as engaging!
If you have a local environmental story you'd love to see featured, feel free to email me at ruth@lifepublishinggroup.com.
Happy reading!
Ruth
"Our task must be to free ourselves ... by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty" —Albert Einstein.

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Harry, a charming 6-month-old male Cattle Dog cross, is searching for a loving forever home!
This sweet boy was surrendered through no fault of his own and is now hoping to find a family to shower with love.
Harry is incredibly affectionate and thrives on being close to his humans. He’s also a smart pup! He already knows how to play fetch, shake hands, is fully toilet trained, and enjoys his daily walks.
He gets along wonderfully with other dogs and absolutely adores his three foster fur friends. If you're looking for a loyal and loving companion, Harry could be the perfect addition to your family.
If you'd like to adopt Cosmo contact Bowen Collinsville Pet Rescue Inc:
• Phone: 0459 757 455
• Facebook: Bowen Collinsville Pet Rescue
• Email: bcpri.adoptions@gmail.com

Rehoming fee: $650
Breed: Cattle X
Age: 6 months
Sex: Male
Other dogs: Yes
Fences: 6ft

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Can you adopt the gorgeous Harry?

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On Friday last week, Member for Whitsunday Amanda Camm MP attended a community forum in Mackay hosted by the Queenslanders With Disability Network (QDN), sparking important conversations about NDIS reform and the ongoing Royal Commission at the federal level.

This marked the third such forum for Minister Camm, with others held in Cairns and Brisbane. These forums aim to listen to those living with disabilities, identify what is working, and highlight areas where support services may be lacking, particularly in regional and rural areas like Mackay and the Whitsundays.

“The Queensland government is partnering with the Qld disability network to consult across the state with those living with a disability along with service providers and other agencies to identify the priorities that we as a state government need to consider given the large reform being led by the federal government with the NDIS,” said Ms Camm.

“It was an opportunity to hear from local disability advocates who shared where there are gaps in services to support their needs.”

Ms Camm further noted that “These gaps become bigger in regional and rural settings like Mackay and the Whitsundays.”

In late 2024, the Queensland Disability Stakeholder Engagement and Co-Design Strategy was introduced to place people with disabilities at the forefront of the disability reform process through Co-design. The strategy involves establishing governance structures, creating a Disability Engagement and Co-Design Hub, organising community engagement activities, and supporting data collection to ensure that the needs of the disability community are effectively addressed.

Queenslanders With Disability Network (QDN) promotes inclusive communities and advocates for equal rights. Through initiatives like Peer Support Groups, QDeNgage, and the Emerging Leaders Program, QDN connects people with disabilities, encourages inclusive design, and nurtures the next generation of leaders.

The network addresses essential issues such as the NDIS, healthcare, accessible housing, transport, disaster planning, and employment, ensuring people with disabilities have a say in all decision-making processes.

Ms Camm stressed the power of community voices in shaping meaningful change.

“It’s important our communities voices are heard in these reforms.”

1: Queensland Disability Peak and Representative Network organisations met with Member for Whitsunday Amanda Camm in November last year

Let’s be honest…house hunting in Mackay right now can feel challenging. It’s frustrating, competitive, and at times, downright overwhelming. You scroll through endless listings, rush to inspections, and still feel like you’re in a race with half the town. But don’t lose hope - securing that dream rental is possible with the right approach.

Prepare Your Application Early: Before inspecting properties, gather all necessary documents, including proof of income, identification, rental history, and references.

Make a Strong First Impression: Arrive on time for inspections and present yourself well. Being polite and showing genuine interest can leave a positive impression on property managers.

Have References Ready: Landlords value reliable tenants. Ensure your references, particularly from previous landlords or employers, are contactable and prepared to speak on your behalf.

Be Financially Prepared: Demonstrate your ability to pay rent consistently. Showing evidence of stable employment or savings can reassure landlords you’ll meet rental obligations.

**Be Flexible: **The more flexible you are with move-in dates, lease terms, or property features, the better your chances. Consider broadening your search to different suburbs or property types.

Act Quickly: Good properties are snapped up fast. Monitor online listings daily and register for alerts. If you find a suitable home, apply without delay.

Follow Up: After submitting your application, follow up with the property manager to express your interest and ensure your application is being considered.

Remember the three P’s: Be prepared, proactive, and professional!

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