The $7 million replacement fire and rescue station set for construction in Airlie Beach raised alarm bells for local councillors this week.

The proposed location in a low-density residential area on the corner of Shute Harbour Road and Macarthur Drive in Cannonvale raised eyebrows for locals when it was announced in July, and the site is now set for a noise and light impact assessment, but not one that will impact its approval by the State Government.

In Whitsunday Regional Council’s Ordinary Meeting on Wednesday, Councillors discussed sending a submission to Queensland’s Deputy Premier, Steven Miles, seeking that the approval for the development be deferred until the assessment results were considered.

Whitsunday Regional Council Director Planning and Development Neil McGaffin explained that the original site was chosen by Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) because it met the bodies’ strict criteria.

“QFES need to consider the time it takes to leave the station to get where the fire is – that needs to be 16 or 17 minutes, and they can’t achieve that by leaving the [current station] in Jubilee Pocket,” he said.

Other sites had been suggested to QFES further from residential areas, according to Mr McGaffin, but they unfortunately did not meet the parameters.

Councillor Jan Clifford said the proposed location was “highly inappropriate place for a fire station.”

“My concerns are for Airlie Beach, Jubilee Pocket, Shute Harbour if they’ve got a time frame of 14 and a half minutes,” she said.

“The road is frequently blocked between Airlie Beach and Jubilee Pocket, only for a few minutes, but that can be the difference between life and death.”

Councillor Al Grundy suggested that QFES could keep the current station as an auxiliary, which would change the proposed stations requirement criteria, meaning it would no longer be needed to be built at the Shute Harbour and Macarthur Drive location.

“If it was deemed an auxiliary was required to service that area, it would change the impact requirement on this location and allow it to be moved closer to the Gregory Cannon Valley area or the edge of town,” he said.

“When people moved into this medium-low density area, they weren’t expecting a fire station to be built across the road.”

Councillor Michelle Wright was one of the few dissenting voices amongst the Councillors, speaking to the positioning of Bowen and Collinsville’s Fire Stations – both in residential areas.

“This is an essential service. We are putting it there to help the people, and I just don’t understand how some people think,” she said.

“To me, this is saving lives, it’s saving families, it’s saving properties. It’s selfish, I believe.”

Council voted in favour of sending the submission to the Deputy Premier and are now awaiting response.

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The Colonel is touching down in Airlie Beach after a proposal for a new KFC at Reef Plaza complex in Cannonvale is approved by Whitsunday Regional Council.

After a long hiatus – with the original KFC on Airlie Beach’s main road shut down – the new outlet on 16 Paluma Road, adjacent to an existing McDonalds, will be constructed.

The 24-hour restaurant and free-standing drive thru joins a soon-to-be completed KFC in Bowen and is expected to open mid-next year.

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Harvey Norman is the latest major retailer to jump onboard the planned Galbraith Park Drive and Central Avenue showroom development.

The additional showroom was approved by Whitsunday Regional Council and joins BCF and Supercheap Auto as tenants for the new shopping precinct opposite Whitsunday Plaza which made news for the required traffic lights as part of the development.

Councillors again settled upon concerns with increased traffic to the shopping complex, which will grow exponentially with the new retailers.

Councillor Al Grundy wished to defer the discussion until a zebra crossing was adjoined to the proposal, claiming the area was already “a nightmare” but was outvoted four to two.

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Two New Reservoirs Double Water Capacity For Airlie Beach Area

The Cannon Valley Reservoirs were officially opened last week, and everyone involved celebrated a project that broke the mould when it came to successful project management, budget and collaboration.

With five years of planning and just over 12 months in construction the two 12.5 mega litre water tanks are set to provide water security for our ever-growing population, effectively doubling the available water in the Greater Airlie Beach Area.

Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox was present on the day and expressed his pleasure at being invited to attend the opening of a project dear to his heart.

“When I first became Mayor in my first term for Council it became very obvious that the fastest growing area of population within the Whitsundays had a water security problem,” said the Member for Dawson.

“We had to make sure the town didn’t run out of water, and I would like to thank Councillor Jan Clifford for her advocacy.

Mr Willcox also thanked previous Federal Member for Dawson George Christensen for “going into bat” for the project to obtain $3.755 million from the Federal Government as part of the Building Better Regions fund.

The total project cost $9.2 million.

Mayor Julie Hall hosted the opening and spoke of the huge significance the two water towers will have in our region.

“They will supply increased water security in times of natural disaster and double the drinking water supply capacity for Airlie Beach and surrounds,” she explained.

“With our ever-growing population we needed to future proof our water supply.”

The reservoirs will also act as supply back-up for Proserpine and increase access for firefighters in emergencies.

This project was part of a larger staged water improvement plan which included the recent installation of the 8.8km water pipeline from the Proserpine Water Treatment Plant to Airlie Beach.

The pipeline will be serviced by a new pumping facility and a 2.5 km bore water main linking water bore sites to the Proserpine Plant.

During construction of the reservoirs, 20 local jobs were created and it is projected that up to 700 additional jobs will eventuate through the residential, commercial and industrial growth expected to result from the increased water supply.

The old Cannonvale Reservoir was damaged in 2017 from Cyclone Debbie and with the two new reservoirs now up and running, it will be able to undergo repairs.

Whitsunday Regional Council’s Chief Operating Officer for Water, Troy Pettiford, said that thanks to the project manager’s astute budgeting at pre-works they were able to deliver two reservoirs instead of the one that was initially planned.

“This means the project is twice as big as what we wanted and still delivered under budget!”

Dignitaries gather for the opening of the Cannon Valley Reservoirs

Mayor Julie Hall and Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox cut the ribbon

Mayor Julie Hall climbs the water tanks

Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox stands atop a successful project completed

Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox and Whitsunday Regional Council’s Chief Operating Officer for Water, Troy Pettiford admire the view

Photo credit: Rachael Smith

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A local couple are celebrating the life-changing moment that their lucky Keno ticket saw them win a whopping $150,000 cash prize last week.

The Whitsundays duo held a Keno Classic 8 Spot winning entry in draw 533 which they purchased from the Dingo Beach Hotel on Sunday, October 9.

Their total prize was $150,774.50.

With the prize money set to land in their bank account within the coming days, the pair say they have a few items to tick off their dream list.

“The first thing on the list is to purchase a new tractor – it’s something we’ve wanted to do for a while,” they said.

“We’d love to arrange some maintenance around the house and we can look forward to paying off the house mortgage as well!”

The winning couple have chosen to remain anonymous so far but decided to share an account of how their win unfolded.

The husband was at Dingo Beach Hotel when they realised he was holding the winning ticket and he immediately called his wife to tell her the news and asked her to come down to the hotel to celebrate.

“It’s come at the most perfect time!” she laughed.

“I was sitting at home and my husband rung to tell me that we’d won - all I could hear was his friends cheering in the venue on the phone call. My knees, hands and legs were shaking!

“This is the most we’ve ever won in our entire life, so it’s hard to process.”

Since its inception, Keno has crowned 19 millionaires and multi-millionaires who collectively took home more than $30.7 million.  Eleven of these major winners were Queenslanders.

The Keno winners have decided to stay anonymous so far

In a “post-Covid forum”, Rotary Club Airlie Beach invited the local community to have its say on the organisation’s potential future projects, as well as providing feedback on how the club itself can move into a new era.

The volunteer organisation opened the floor to groups and individuals to highlight small-scale projects that Rotary could support.

Rotary Club Airlie Beach President John Mol opened the meeting with a sobering reflection on the state of the club’s membership tally.

“As most of you know, there has been a slowdown in volunteerism across the country and in rural communities,” Mr Mol said.

“The pandemic made the decline not only more evident, but more concerning. Bodies like SES, VMR, and CWA are experiencing major downturns, especially in country towns. Service clubs such as ours have not been spared, and at the same time our existing members are ageing.

“The future sustainability of our club is now at stake, which is why we are all here tonight to listen to your projects to help create a better local community as we have always aimed to do.”

Assistant Rotary Coordinator Merewyn Wright highlighted the Airlie Beach club’s efforts in past years, including major projects like the raising of $100,000 dollars to contribute towards Volunteer Marine Rescue’s (VMR) very first vessel in years past.

Most salient was the club’s role in the construction of the Whitsunday PCYC where the meeting was held.

“It is one of the biggest local projects the club has been involved in,” Ms Wright said.

“We are still running a number of projects in the District, but tonight is an opportunity for us to learn how we can help even more.”

Other volunteer organisations like VMR and Zonta Club Of The Whitsundays attended, emphasising the idea of resource pooling and working together for the betterment of the region.

Potential projects raised from the night included completing the Bicentennial Boardwalk signage – a previous Rotary project – as well as joint scholarships with Zonta, sporting club grants, and projects to help the homeless.

Rotary Area Governor for District 9560, Trevor Hyatt said the idea was: how can the Rotary branding lend a voice or hand to issues or projects in the community.

“We might not be looking for active members, rather, we’re looking at what we can do with the age group and experience we have. It’s a very different world in volunteerism,” he said.

“The idea is to go to the community and ask: What is expected of a Rotary Club? And that can stir up interest in joining, too.”

Mr Hyatt said taking down the ideas of the community, addressing the small-scale projects that might not necessarily require a “workforce” and actioning them was the major plan of the meeting.

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Rotary Area Governor for District 9560 Trevor Hyatt emceed a meeting of Rotarians, community, and volunteer groups at the Whitsunday PCYC on Monday evening on the future of the Club

A 25-year-old Whitsunday local has won a prestigious TAFE award at the Cairns Campus, becoming one of only 16 students selected for the honour out of a cohort of 1,200 apprentices.

Tom Toohey was awarded Refrigeration Apprentice of the Year Award at the TAFE Queensland 2022 Cairns Trade Excellence Awards which was held at Hemingway’s Brewery in Cairns earlier this month.

Over 250 people gathered to celebrate 62 finalists and the Hamilton Island resident said he was thrilled to be one of the 16 students to receive a trophy.

“Winning was awesome! It was unexpected and it definitely means a lot,” said Tom.

“It’s a privilege to live on Hamilton Island and I really enjoy the freedom of my work.

“I love that my job is hands on, it’s really satisfying to be able to fix things and the science behind my trade is also really interesting to learn.

“I’ve enjoyed every bit of my refrigeration training.

“My teacher has been great and has taught me a lot and the classroom environment has been really collaborative, so all of the apprentices learn from each other as well.”

TAFE Queensland Director of Trades (north region) Mark Patterson said the 2022 Cairns Trade Excellence Awards was now in its sixth year.

“Our annual awards night is a great opportunity to celebrate the dedication and success of the next generation of tradespeople and I’d like to congratulate all of the finalists and winners,” Mr Patterson said.

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Tom Toohey was awarded Refrigeration Apprentice of the Year Award at the TAFE Queensland 2022 Cairns Trade Excellence Awards. Photo: supplied

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A local food-lover who is also gluten and lactose intolerant has put her passion for cooking into a unique concept, designing a cookbook that is dedicated to delicious recipes for those living with specific dietary requirements.

Paula Hovey was diagnosed with Chron’s Disease three years ago and following a food intolerance test at Kissun Clinics, she discovered that she was allergic to gluten, wheat, lactose, tomato and tea.

Paula spent many years in discomfort and although she now has to adhere to a strict diet, she is much happier.

“Tomatoes were the hardest!” she laughed.

“I loved Italian food and have had to accept that I will never enjoy it again, but I am so grateful for my diagnosis because my life has changed so much – I can finally sleep through the night!”

When cooking at a local retreat, Paula was inspired and motivated by other attendees to follow her dreams and create her own cookbook, filling it with delicious recipes that she has tweaked and improved over the years to accommodate her diet.

“Going out to dinner can be hard work when you have intolerances,” said Paula.

“I am so proud to share this book with heaps of recipes that you will want to share with your family, that are enjoyable for all and easy to make.”

From popcorn chicken with bang bang sauce, slow cooked brisket and gooey brownie with home-made ice-cream – all 48 pages of recipes are winners.

Paula’s cookbook is entitled PJ’s Food Diary’s Gluten and Lactose Free – For Pains in the Arse Like Me!

She will be holding a launch party at Whisper Bar on Saturday 12th November at 12pm.

RSVP to 0412 948 813

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Paula Hovey launches her gluten and lactose free cookbook next month

Women looking for a career boost, a change of direction, first job or avenue for re-entering the workforce will soon be assisted by a dedicated program that offers free mentorship to rural ladies seeking career development.

LEAP WRQ (Leading Effective Action Program for Women in Regional Queensland) is an initiative that will commence in Bowen next week with its initial intake of 20 local women who have signed-up to the course.

The program is focussed on personal skills development and building confidence and capacity as part of a Career Personal Development Toolkit.

LEAP WRQ Co-Project Manager, Maree Franettovich said that a key focus of the program is not only on developing confidence capacity, but also to look at a variety of career pathways and particularly identifying local opportunities.

“There’s so much to offer in regional and rural communities and now with better quality training and study options available ‘online’, you don’t have to leave where you want to live to forge a career,” she explained.

During the course participants will learn skills such as resume writing, constructing a career plan, how to deliver an ‘elevator pitch’, interview with confidence and understand more about themselves through a personal strengths profile.

LEAP WRQ will run in a hybrid format commencing with the face-to-face workshop followed by online group sessions running from November to March.

Individual coaching sessions will provide further support for participants to implement their personal plans initiated at the workshop.

LEAP WRQ Co-Project Manager, Dr Pamela Greet, said the program will finish with a celebration event in Bowen, as it’s vital to celebrate success.

The initiative has been developed by Maree Franettovich, CareerForce Australia and Dr Pamela Greet, FutureAG Queensland.

It has been made possible with a National Careers Institute Partnership Grant – Career Opportunities and Pathways for Women.

Bowen Chamber of Commerce has partnered with CareerForce Australia, and has been instrumental in bringing LEAP WRQ to fruition.

LEAP WRQ will commence in Bowen on 18 October 2022 with a half-day workshop.

For more information contact: leap@careerforceaustralia.com.au

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LEAP WRQ Co-Project Managers Maree Franettovich and Pamela Greet

Two brothers riding postie bikes are halfway through their 10,000-kilometre round trip in the name of mental health awareness and charity.

Andrew and Michael Chapman arrived in Airlie Beach on Monday at the mid-point of their unassisted journey aboard a pair of Honda CT110 motorcycles.

Travelling from Melbourne to the tip of Cape York, the pair, who plan to drive the entire distance of mainland Australia, then back through central Australia, crossing the Simpson Desert before making their way back to Melbourne, are raising money for Black Dog Institute.

The brothers and Melbourne tradesmen decided on the “spur of the moment” to travel across the country in the name of something they were passionate about.

“It’s been amazing. The amount of people we’ve met, the support we’ve had, the generosity,” Andrew Chapman said.

“All of it has been an experience we’ll never forget – and we’re only halfway!”

Although they’ve never suffered with major mental health issues themselves, the pair have seen people close to them affected and knew their trip should have a mission: supporting Black Dog Institute.

The international charity organisation aims to create a world where mental health is treated with the same immediacy and seriousness as physical afflictions – a cause the boys are extremely proud to do their part for.

On their small motorcycles, which are slowly being phased out from use by Australia Post, having been in service from as early as the 1970s and with top speeds of 75 kilometres per hour, the brothers hug the shoulder of the road, stop by local pubs, camp under the stars, post updates on their social media, and meet people who are touched by their ‘Express Post’ mission.

“We’ve had people donate enormous funds, give us spare wheels, help us in any way they can, and we’ve heard their stories of struggling with mental health and how much our journey has even helped them,” Michael Chapman said.

“Seeing us ride up the road and how ridiculous we look has brightened up their day. Even today someone flagged us down having seen our signs. She thanked us, gave us cash, and was almost tearing up from how much a little thing like this meant to her.

“If we can do just one thing to save a life, it will all be worth it.”

Andrew and Michael have raised over $6,500 so far with a goal of $10,000.

You can donate and follow their journey at: https://www.teamblackdog.org.au/fundraisers/expresspost

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Michael and Andrew Chapman are travelling up the east coast to raise money for mental health

One of our local Visitor Information Centres (VIC) has won the prestigious title of being the best in the state in the Regional Tourism Organisation category at last week’s 2022 Queensland Information Centres Association (QICA) Awards in Noosa.

Located at Whitsunday Gold Coffee in Proserpine, the Whitsunday VIC is the gateway to Airlie Beach and the Whitsunday Islands, providing information and assistance to road trippers who are about to explore our region.

Whitsundays Visitor Information Centre Manager, Dea Huvonen said the award was fantastic and an excellent boost to the staff and volunteers coming out of one of the busiest periods at the VIC.

‘I couldn’t run the VIC without the incredible volunteers who have worked 325 hours this year and are just as dedicated and passionate as when they first came in,” she said.

“This award is a credit to everyone involved with the Whitsundays Visitor Information Centre.”

Tourism Whitsundays CEO, Rick Hamilton said the award is a materialisation of the passion and dedication the team at the Whitsundays Visitor Information Centre give to delivering an exemplary experience to every traveller stopping in or staying in The Whitsundays.

“We’re focussed on promoting The Whitsundays as the best holiday destination in Australia and this goal drives every facet of the business, from our digital marketing through to the experience delivered at the Whitsundays Visitor Information Centre,” he said.

The Whitsunday VIC was funded by the Whitsunday Regional Council and is easily accessible to travellers heading north or south on the Bruce Highway.

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Whitsundays Visitor Information Centre Manager, Dea Huvonen receiving the award in Noosa last week. Photo supplied.

Gone but not to be forgotten

Travelling around our district, we see hectares of sugar cane and many beef cattle grazing in the paddocks. BUT - Did you know that in the early days of Proserpine, there were many small family dairies?

These farms provided milk and its by-products mainly to customers in the town area as country people usually had their own milking cows.  Jersey and Friesian cows were the most common breeds - the small Jersey cow produced very rich milk; the larger Friesian gave more milk but, it was not as rich. Excess cream was often sent to the Mackay Butter Factory in one to four gallon cans which were taken to the railway station and put on the evening train when the air was cooler.  A plate stamped with the owner’s name and address was soldered onto the can or lid.

Most milk-supplying dairies were fairly close to town. Owners included Frasers (near the Mill), Renwicks (Renwick Road), McCormacks and Clarkes (Glen Isla), Waddingtons (Myrtle Creek), Nielsens (Mt Julian), O'Haras (Hamilton Plains), Nicols (Willowbrook Farm in Faust Street). Further out – Hickeys (Conway), Marchants and Dabblesteins (Conway and later Gregory), Talbots (Kelsey Creek), Mullers (Crystalbrook), Hewsons, Helliers and Worthingtons (Strathdickie).  Over the years, Worthington's dairy passed through many hands.  Bill Jenkins ran a dairy on the Krebbs farm at Gregory and Mr Short’s dairy was at the top of the Gregory.

Renwick’s Dairy: This appears to be one of the earliest dairies.

Mr Renwick started mixed farming, especially dairying, when he came to Proserpine.  He was a great believer in introduced pastures for his dairy herd and planted Paspalum and Rhodes grass with great success.  He used only the best breeds of dairy cattle for his large scale operation. (“The Port Denison Times” October 31, 1908) This business was carried on into the fifties by family members.

Clarke’s Dairy: In about 1920, Hugh and Eliza Clarke purchased a farm at Glen Isla and named it Dunoon.  There they managed a dairy and grew cane until 1949. When Hugh and Eliza sold to their son and grandson, the dairy was discontinued.

Each day, the Clarkes milked about forty cows by hand at 3am and 3pm. At one time, a milking machine was installed but they found it more trouble than it was worth so they returned to hand milking.  Milk and cream were delivered around town using a horse and cart.  There were three or four cans at the front of the cart and there was a step up into the cart.  The horse, named Wallace, knew that when someone stepped up into the cart, it was time to go and he always knew where to stop next.  At the end of the run, Mr Clarke would say, "Alright Wallace! Let's go home,” and off he'd go!

Grandson, Mitch Clarke, (now well into his 90s) recalls his grandmother’s lovely garden and how he looked forward to strawberries from the garden with Grandma's fresh cream. The residual milk (buttermilk) was usually fed to the pigs.  Some of the cream was made into butter for the family and excess cream was sent to the PCD Butter Factory in Mackay.  Out in the yard, there was always a copper full of boiling water ready to sterilise the equipment used for milking, separating and storing. It was a demanding life.

Read more in future editions about our dairies of the past – another rich, yet forgotten part of our district’s history.  

Story and photo courtesy Proserpine Historical Museum and Recollections from Bill Dinnie.

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A new Queensland Government initiative providing intensive employment and training assistance is coming to the Whitsundays courtesy of PCYC Whitsundays.

The local community organisation will facilitate the skills program Get Set For Work (GSFW) from November 14 this year at its Shute Harbour Road premises in an effort to develop youth in the Whitsundays.

The program is a state government initiative aimed at 15- to 19-year-olds who may no longer be enrolled in schooling and are struggling to find employment.

Through providing funding to non-for-profit community organisations like PCYC, Queensland Government help the institutions facilitate the training of youth to make them more employable.

Program Coordinator Scott Lynch said the 12-week program will be run at the PCYC with a Registered Training Organisation arriving from Townsville for two, weekly sessions starting in November.

Mr Lynch said participant hopefuls can send in an expression of interest application to be a part of the program.

“If they’re successful, they’ll be put through a ten-week program where they’ll attain a Certificate II in Skills For Work and Vocational Pathways, and also learn foundation skills like resume writing, job interview skills,” Mr Lynch said.

“There are also team building activities, industry visits, and a focus on improving soft skills: communication and teamwork.”

Mr Lynch has been brought into the local PCYC for the express delivery of GSFW, arriving with experience in recruitment for the resource sector, as well as a passion for helping youth achieve their potential.

“I’ve been volunteering with the Neighbourhood Centre and a lot of community groups in my time living in the Whitsundays, as well as studying a Certificate IV in Mental Health,” Mr Lynch said.

“When this role came up, it was a no brainer and a great opportunity to put my efforts to the community. I really feel like I can take this program forward and get some positive outcomes.”

PCYC Youth Club Manager and Police Sergeant Billy Li said the program has been run across the state at several other sites.

“We were selected by State Government because our Whitsunday PCYC is not only equipped for the program itself, but it is also in an area where this kind of program would be a major benefit to the community,” Sergeant Li said.

Local Formula 3 Driver Declan Coull will be undertaking a role within the program as well, acting as Youth Worker and helping Mr Lynch deliver the program.

The local sports star has been the face of Defensive Driving, as well as managing the PCYC’s Braking the Cycle program within the Whitsundays, which sees learner drivers paired with mentors to achieve their 100 hours of driving to progress to P Plates.

“I think those two programs coordinate very well together and I think because I myself am young, I can really help and have some fun with the participants along the way,” Mr Coull said.

The local PCYC will be meeting with schools and stakeholders, including HeadSpace and the Whitsunday Neighbourhood Centre, in the coming weeks to reach out to prospective participants.

This Skilling Queenslanders for Work project is proudly funded by the Queensland Government

For more information, contact Scott Lynch at scott.lynch@pcyc.org.au

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PCYC Youth Worker Declan Coull, PCYC Youth Manager and Police Sergeant Billy Li, and Get Set For Work Program Coordinator Scott Lynch

One of the Whitsundays’ mainstay volunteer groups is getting into the swing of things at the Proserpine Entertainment Centre, and they’re looking for your help.

Friends of the Theatre – a non-for-profit volunteer organisation that has dedicated countless hours to the arts in the sugarcane town for three decades – is on the hunt for new members.

Volunteers at the organisation, who work primarily as ushers, greeting patrons, running raffles, and occasionally making them a cuppa, said the Proserpine Entertainment Centre is amping up its show schedule once more, meaning they need the added help.

Friends of the Theatre Secretary Colleen Johnson said the group presently has close to 25 members, but they were always looking for an extra hand.

“We’re always looking for volunteers; whether you’re retired or still working, you can always lend a hand,” Ms Johnson said.

“The things we do are very simple, and it’s not hard. It’s all in the name of people having a good experience when they come here.”

President of Friends of the Theatre Irene Lemmon said the organisation which started in 1992 has been an integral part of the Entertainment Centre all those years.

“We have often helped the Centre with fundraising, and we still do. All of our funds from ushering and the raffles head back to the building and in turn the community,” she said.

“It is extremely rewarding; It has been a real friendship circle where we can have a morning tea together and a chin wag whilst doing something good for Proserpine.”

For more information on joining Friends of the Theatre, ring Colleen Johnson on 0418 760 151.

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In the calm, early summer breeze just outside of the sugarcane town of Proserpine in North Queensland, John Casey is calling out next to a shallow, green pool: “Come on, Charlene. Come out, girl.”

He’s been fussing next to the water on his property in anticipation of a visitor in the mid-morning cool, trying to coax out his family pet: a three-metre estuarine crocodile.

A whole generation of youngsters in the Whitsundays region might not know the story of the ‘Real Crocodile Dundee’ and the salty named Charlene that he raised for more than 40 years.

One of very few crocodiles in Queensland still exempt from laws that forbid ownership of the protected species, old Charlene has lived quite a life.

She’s been a socialite: invited to parties across the state, hopping on bar tops, and cruising up the coast in her family’s station wagon, as well as a source of extreme pride for the man who raised her, Alf Casey.

John’s father – who passed the saltwater reptile onto his son in his will – had a point to prove when he received the croc as a gift in 1963.

“Dad got her off a croc hunter years ago; [the hunter] had shot the mother. He gave him three eggs and she was the only one to survive,” his son, John, said.

“He wanted to quiet a crocodile down, tame her, because people said it was impossible to be done.”

It’s safe to say that Alf Casey gave raising the croc a fair crack.

Charlene, now 59-years-old, was once a regular sight on Proserpine Main Street – Alf would walk side by side with her down to local pubs: “She’s been to every pub from Rockhampton to Cairns”, and she became a sibling for his son, John, who himself has lived with the croc since it was a hatchling.

She’ll potentially live for another 60 years, and John has already listed the crocodile in his own will.

But her tenure as the Casey’s pet hasn’t been all fun and games, or without incidence.

Just over three decades ago – serendipitously coinciding with the release of the hit film Crocodile Dundee - Charlene bit off John’s dad’s hand.

“He never blamed her. He said it was always his fault – he broke the routine they had when he was showing her to some people one day,” John said.

“She grabbed his hand, thinking he had a fish, the people he was with grabbed him and she just rolled.”

It’s strange to have a pet that could one day choose you for supper, but for John, it’s just part of the routine.

“The grandkids come over and they used to be very keen to see her, but now it’s just: ‘Yep, Grandad has a crocodile’,” John said.

“It’s just business as usual. Even more for me; she’s been here all my life.”

For Proserpine’s old timers, Charlene is just part of the town’s rich history – a “Proserpine Icon”, as John said.

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John Casey has lived with his father’s – now his – pet crocodile for 59 years

Charlene is a “Proserpine Icon” and a part of the town’s rich history

She was a regular at the pub in a much different Queensland than today

Images: Declan Durrant/Supplied