Mackay’s favourite indoor play centre, Kidz Life, is well-known for its exhilarating super slide, colourful ball pits and adventure tunnels that provide hours of entertainment for little ones while their parents get to chat and relax.

What many people do not know, however, is that Kidz Life is a non-profit organisation that is always giving back to the community and looking for different ways it can help change the world for others.

From giving vouchers as school raffle prizes to offering free parties to local children living with disabilities or even donating to world-wide charity projects, Kidz Life continuously reinvests in important causes close to their heart.

This means that every time your child enjoys a few hours of fun at the play centre, other children both locally and around the world will benefit in some way.

Open from Tuesday through to Saturday, Kidz Life is an affordable outing for families looking to enjoy some indoor air-conditioned fun.

Ideal for children’s parties, the centre can cater for groups up to 100 in a private function setting.

Kidz Life also has a welcoming and community-focused heart, with many friendships made and knowledge exchanged between parents and staff.

Part of New Life Church, the play centre works alongside the religious community to help others and bring more kindness to the world.

Everyone is invited to church on Sunday with children enjoying a kid’s church session followed by some time to have fun in the play centre.

An on-site café serves great coffee and has a small but delicious menu.

Suitable for babies right through to 12-year-olds, there is a designated toddler area so little ones can explore with their own age-group.

Open 9am – 12pm Tuesday to Friday and 9am – 4pm on Saturday.

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Play is vital to a child’s learning, development, confidence and wellbeing. Variety in play is important because it helps with all areas of children’s development, and the way a child plays will change over time.

Unstructured, free play is unplanned play that just happens, depending on what takes your child’s interest at the time. Unstructured, free play is particularly important for younger children because it lets them use their imagination and move at their own pace.

Examples of unstructured play might be:

• creative play alone or with others

• imaginative games

• exploring new or favourite spaces like cupboards, backyards, parks, playgrounds and play centres

Sometimes all a parent will need to do is point their child in the right direction – towards the jumble of dress-ups and toys on their floor, or to the table with crayons and paper. At other times, you might need to be a bit more active. For example, ‘How about we play dress-ups? What do you want to be today?’

Structured play is organised and happens at a fixed time or in a set space. It’s often led by a grown-up. Older children are more likely to enjoy and benefit from structured play.

Examples of structured play include:

• outdoor ball games like kicking a soccer ball

• swimming lessons

• storytelling groups at the local library

• dance, music or drama classes

• family board or card games

• After school sport

Whether play is structured or unstructured, indoors or outdoors, play can give your child the chance to explore, be active, test physical limits and get messy.

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Hundreds of people gathered at Wests Leagues Club in Walkerston on Sunday for the Mackay Sugar Run For MI Life, held in honour of brother, uncle and friend Matthew Ivory, who sadly died by suicide on October 19, 2012.

Since the first run in 2014, Run For MI Life has spread to three locations, seen thousands of people run and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to inspire people to seek help and support when it's needed.

A large focus of Run For MI Life is to ensure that the SafeTALK course is able to be offered for free within the communities that run, to make them suicide safe.

“Matt was a fun-loving, kind-hearted person who enjoyed a joke and relished making others laugh,” said event organisers.

“His death was both unexpected and devastating to those who knew him.

“We, as his family, intend on using his name to change the perception of depression and suicide in our community and take away the negative stigma attached.”

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Get to know some of the staff members bringing you delicious coffee, fresh food and service with a smile at Social Fresh & Local.

Belinda Potts – Owner

Go-to coffee order? Caramel latte

What do you like to do while sipping your coffee? “I love to be at the beach just relaxing and watching the world go by.”

Go-to Social Fresh & Local food order? Eggs Benedict – “Apparently, we’re getting well known for eggs benny, so I’ve heard.”

Favourite Mackay beach? Town Beach

Belinda is in her fourth year of managing Social Fresh & Local and is amazed at how much it’s grown. Born in WA, Belinda has been in Mackay for almost 30 years and draws on years of hospitality experience as a chef and barista.

“The community is absolutely amazing,” she said. “I love hospitality, I love people, I love giving that great service.”

Belinda and her team are passionate about delivering delicious coffee and excellent customer service to the Walkerston community.

“All the staff, they thrive on us being busy, they thrive on watching the place grow,” she said. “We’re happy people, we’re kind people and we just want to provide the best we can for the region.”

Jen Hughes – Chef

Go-to coffee order? Vanilla flat white

What do you like to do while sipping your coffee? “Usually cooking. Experimenting.”

Go-to Social Fresh & Local food order? Eggs Benedict with mushrooms and spinach

Favourite Mackay beach? Cape Hillsborough

Jen has been a chef for most of her life and has worked at Social Fresh & Local since January, becoming an invaluable asset to the team.

“I just love food,” she said. “The rush of service day and the sense of accomplishment at the end of the day. It’s always good fun, the customers are always happy. It’s a nice, fun environment.”

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The goal of Pilates is to be in total control of your body as you move and to balance your muscles by targeting and strengthening the ones you don't usually use in your day-to-day life that would benefit from being stronger.

This requires beginning from your central core muscles and using the stability these muscles provide to smoothly control your arms, legs and other extremities.

This is no easy feat, which is what makes Pilates a great way to build strength and stamina.

Pilates is for everybody, regardless of gender, age, race, size, ability or current fitness level.

The Pilates Method, which includes mat and specialised equipment, is made up of over 600 exercises and variations.

“There’s something for everyone, whether you have a sedentary lifestyle, are a weekend warrior, are pregnant, are undergoing rehab, have anxiety, or if you’re a professional athlete,” said Core Defined Pilates and Fitness Studio Instructor Unica Estabillo.

“Studies have shown that Pilates improves quality of life by having a positive effect on depression and pain, most notably decreasing back pain.”

Pilates aligns your entire body’s overall structure and supports its joints.

“What appears to look simple can be deceptively challenging and incredibly effective when done correctly with good form,” said Unica.

The optimal strength gained from consistent Pilates practice is nonrigid, balancing strength with mobility and flexibility.

It helps you move and breathe through your daily activities with more freedom and power and less pain.

At Core Defined Pilates, all classes are taught by qualified instructors who will ensure you follow your individual program whether in a one-on-one or in their group "All Levels" class.

This ensures you perform all exercises correctly, safely and achieve the best results.

“We structure all our classes to provide you with flexibility and accessibility, whilst keeping class sizes small to ensure we provide personalised movements and maintain the highest quality standards,” said Unica.

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A unique scent fills the nostrils when you walk into P Comino & Sons. It’s the scent of fine leather and quality clothing but also the scent of almost a century of history emanating from the walls. P Comino & Sons has stood the test of time, celebrating its 90th year this year, and they’ve done so without compromising on their integrity, image or values.

“Nothing much changes here,” said Vassie, a third-generation business owner who operates the store with confidence in her brand and her approach to business. “We’re happy with the pace we’re at.”

Stepping into the store is like stepping into a time machine and Vassie says this is a deliberate choice, maintaining the history that got them where they are today.

“A lot of people like the atmosphere,” she said. “It’s different.”

Driving along Sydney Street towards the Forgan Bridge, the green, yellow and burgundy sign is unmissable, a clear indication of a business that values its heritage. The building dates back to 1890 and hasn’t changed a lot over the years, although one change came in 2000 when the Comino’s installed air conditioning.

“We got a heritage architect up from Brisbane to tell us how to do it properly in keeping with the age of the building,” said Vassie.

Vassie suggested to the architect that they repolish countertops and repaint shelves while work was being completed.

“He said to me, ‘Don’t you dare touch anything. Just leave it how it is,’” she laughed.

“It’s all part of the historical aspect of the building and the business.”

It’s a simple and old-fashioned approach to business and one that has seen P Comino & Sons establish a reputation and dependability and consistency throughout the community.

“We’ve got a lot of longstanding, loyal customers who come because they know this is where they can get exactly what they want,” said Vassie. “We don’t change things at a whim.”

P Comino & Sons have long-stocked brands that customers know and love including King Gee, Dunlop, Bonds, Blundstone, R. M. Williams and Akubra.

“I think people like the consistency,” said Vassie. “A lot of people do know what they want or have a favourite brand that they wear and want to buy the same thing again.”

While their stock is consistent, their range is unusual in its variety.

“Some shops specialise in workwear only, others specialise in western gear only,” said Vassie. “We’ve got an assortment.”

And with such a wide variety of stock, it takes knowledgeable staff to help customers find what they want. Sharon, Jenny and Salina have all worked with P Comino & Sons for over ten years and continue a tradition of long-serving and loyal staff members. P Comino & Sons is a family business, and everyone is a part of the family.

“I think they all have a nice attachment to the shop,” said Vassie. “So do a lot of our customers. A lot of them say, ‘Don’t ever close.’ It’s nice to know that we’re still here and well supported,”

Customers can expect genuine advice and utmost professionalism when they walk through the doors of P Comino & Sons – good old-fashioned customer service.

“The personal service is a big part of it,” said Vassie. “Plus, we handwrite our invoices, isn’t that a dying art?” she laughed.

P Comino & Sons is one of a few businesses that has seen and survived countless changes throughout the Mackay community. Their consistent approach to business allows them to traverse and withstand any tribulation that comes their way.

“Mackay had a lot of local big businesses … you thought they’d be here forever and they’re all history now,” said Vassie.

“I can’t imagine my grandfather ever would’ve thought the business would still be going, or even my father.”

Vassie says that, while the future is unknown, she looks forward to celebrating the centenary in ten years’ time.

“It’s like, in a way, looking after a family heirloom but it’s also a challenge, running a business,” she said.

“We’re grateful to our customers who continue to support us.”

Steeped In History, Loved By Generations

Renowned for their quality products and friendly, personalised service, P Comino & Sons has been faithfully serving the Mackay region for the past 90 years.

One of the founding business pioneers in Mackay City, the first business was opened by newly migrated Greek, Peter Comino back in 1906.

Initially the family worked in hospitality, opening the Sydney Oyster Saloon in Sydney Street.

After a cyclone hit Mackay in 1918, the restaurant needed a renovation, so the Comino family decided to rebrand and re-open as Britannia Café.

In the early 1930’s the business took a different and now very familiar path, opening Comino Drapers on 14 Sydney Street.

This business would soon become the iconic P Comino and Sons we love and hold dear today.

A family business at heart, Peter Comino and his wife Vasiliki had 10 children, many of whom have worked at the family businesses over the years.

Their son Jim managed the store for many years, and his brother Cyril opened Comino’s Camping a few doors up on Sydney Street.

In 1979 Cyril took over management of P Comino & Sons, combining some items from his nearby camping store.

When he retired in 1986, Cyril handed the reins over to his daughter Vassie, who left her profession as a pharmacist to work in the family business.

Vassie has now been managing the business for over 36 years.

Despite remaining a profitable and popular retail destination that has successfully traversed the ages, P Comino & Sons holds dear to its past and part of its charm is the old-world feel customers experience as they enter the store.

The cash register, which was converted to decimal currency in 1966, still sits on the long wooden counters which have stood in store since 1932.

In addition, some of the glass counters and display cabinets originally came from Britannia Café.

The only item of technology in the store is an EFTPOS machine and invoices are handwritten.

Priding itself on operating a good old-fashioned business that has withstood the tests of time and technological advancement, P Comino & Sons will remain how it is, like a museum for the modern age, creating a shopping experience that can no longer be replicated.

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Hi Everyone,

I had an interesting experience this week when I tried to put a poster up at my son’s school.

It was for a Prep Year Halloween Fancy Dress Party that I am organising where everyone brings a plate of food and a bag of lollies to share with friends.

The whole community are invited and I was hoping to put four posters up outside the prep classrooms to make it easy to let all the parents know it was happening.

To my surprise, when I asked permission to put them up, I was told by the school that the theme of the party might ‘offend’ some people.

For a moment I was speechless – how could a kid’s party be offensive?

But when it was explained further, I was made aware that no ‘private’ parties can be promoted at the school and that they have to be very careful with promoting all holidays whether that be Christmas or Halloween.

I notice Easter was ok though.

Now to be clear, I am not upset with the school for the decision, I completely respect their right to make up their rules.

It just made me realise that broader society seems to be becoming so sensitive to all subjects especially those that are not intended to cause offence.

I respect everyone’s rights to live their life in the way that they choose, and I hope to live in a society that does the same.

We are a multi-cultural nation that is richer for its diversity, and I believe that we could all benefit from opening our arms to some innocence, especially when the intention is only that of inclusion.

On a brighter note, if your kid would like to come to the party – here is the invite

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Last weekend 13 people split into five groups and managed to collect 1,530 items, a total of 42.2 kilograms of litter, filling 15 bags in a collection area from Cannonvale Beach to Airlie Lagoon.

An initiative of the Tangaroa Blue Foundation, several litter picking groups have been tackling areas on a broader scale across the full length of the Great Barrier Reef as part of the ReefClean GBR project throughout the month of October.

The small contingent of Airlie Beach residents did their part on the weekend in an effort to not only collect litter but, also create data that will then help instigate better community practices on a local level.

Organiser Heidi Tait said that small groups are brilliant at maintaining and monitoring their “small patch” to make a big difference.

“Our motto is that if all you do is clean-up, that’s all you’re ever going to do,” she said.

“By ongoing collection you get some great data and every region is different, so what solutions work here and what works up the coast are entirely different.”

In the Greater Airlie Beach area cigarette butts have been flagged as a major source of litter with 321 collected by the team last weekend alone.

Heidi has been collaborating with ‘Ditch the Flick’ for some time and works with local businesses to encourage better disposal options.

These include placing cigarette shaped bins that are brightly coloured at strategic points where cigarette littering is predominant.

By working in collaboration with other organisations and local business they can cure the problem rather than prevent the impacts.

If you would like to volunteer your time to collect and monitor litter on your ‘patch’, then head to tangaroablue.org where you will find a range of resources including a specially designed data collection app to record your findings.

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The ReefClean at Airlie Beach last weekend

The grief-stricken mother of 24-year-old Luke Gilbert, who was fatally shot by police on the main street of Airlie Beach late last month, paid a visit to the site of her son’s death leaving behind a card which read ‘this is where they took you, but this isn’t where you stay’ on the back.

She also placed a toy four-wheel drive vehicle symbolising his love of camping and adventures, alongside a miniature skateboard to represent his passion for skating when he was younger.

Arriving from the UK where she resides in the city of Manchester, Nicola and her husband Darren Gilbert, say that they hope police realise that their lives also ended that night.

The couple are staying in Townsville but came down to Airlie Beach on Monday when the body of their son was released.

They will now take him back to Mandurah in Western Australia where he had been living prior to moving to Queensland a few months ago.

Nicola said that her son was loved by everyone who knew him and that he lit up the room because he was such a genuinely nice guy.

Furious with what she views as ‘excessive force’ by the police, Nicola says she hopes the officers feel guilty about what they have done.

“I hope my son is the last thing you think about before you go to sleep,” she said.

“I hope you realise you were the bigger threat that night spraying bullets into the ‘safe’ precinct endangering others.

“I hope you wish you had used one of the three other options you had, I hope you never get to use your firearm ever again and I hope more that you don’t want to.”

Luke was fatally shot by police just after midnight on October 1 when he allegedly threatened officers with a pen knife which had a blade that is believed to be between 4-5cm long.

Up to five shots were allegedly fired that night, two hitting parked cars on the street and one fatally hitting Luke.

Police performed CPR on him for some time but unfortunately Luke was pronounced dead at the scene.

An outpouring of grief came from friends and family, with many in the community wondering how the incident provoked such a strong response from police.

Two officers were present at the time of the incident, one who is believed to have 13 years’ experience in the police force and the other with three years.

Investigations are continuing into the shooting with evidence being drawn from the body cameras worn by officers and CCTV footage of the scene at the time of the incident.

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Luke Gilbert was fatally shot by police earlier this month

His parents left this vigil behind at the site of his death on the main street of Airlie Beach

A reshuffle at the top has generated movement below for local council as one councillor departs mid-term and a career politician takes up full-time work at the mines.

Both Whitsunday Regional Councillors previously vied for the top job at the recent mayoral election and, when they were unsuccessful, decided to pursue other ventures.

Mike Brunker, a previous Mayor of both Bowen Shire and Whitsunday Regional Council for a combined 15 years and a recent Federal candidate for Dawson and State candidate for the Burdekin, has now decided to wear both corporate shirts and steel cap boots, taking a job as a “coal sampler” and “helping his niece out” while also retaining his position as Division 6 Councillor.

Brunker and his wife currently own Bowen Plaza News and after six years, the couple now have the business for sale.

“My wife wants to sell, and I’ve decided to change direction a bit,” said Cr Brunker.

A Council spokesperson said it is not uncommon for Councillors to hold a second job as their role is a category 3 on the Local Government pay scale which is considered part-time with renumeration around $70,000.

Indeed, Councillor John Collins is a well-known local retailer operating Downtown Butchery in Proserpine and Deputy Mayor Gary Simpson owns a large cane farm in the area.

Brunker’s new role, however, will see him leave the region for seven days a fortnight and many are asking the question of whether this could be symbolic of his intention to leave politics, with this being his last term in office.

This announcement comes just two weeks after Al Grundy’s shock resignation following his appointment with Mackay Isaac Tourism.

With his seat vacated at the beginning of this week, the Electoral Commission of Queensland say they are still waiting to receive confirmation as to when and how the next by-election for the Division 2 seat will be run.

It is meant to take place within eight weeks of the seat being vacated.

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One confirmed and a second unconfirmed candidate for the Division Two Councillor role have stepped forward to stake their claim in the seat which Al Grundy vacated a week ago.

Mr Grundy resigned from his position mid-term which means that a by-election will be called within the coming weeks.

The Electoral Commission Queensland said they are still waiting to receive a confirmation of the date and method of voting (which may be postal) but that it is expected to happen within eight weeks.

In the meantime, candidates are beginning to come forward with long-term local resident, Clay Bauman, officially announcing he is running this week.

Known for his vocal Council meeting appearances where he holds staff members to account on various issues including the Port of Airlie development, Mr Bauman says he is now looking forward to creating change from the inside instead.

“I know it’s a big step-up to be part of it, but I have had a lot of dealings with Council,” he said.

“I’ve tried my best to do it from outside, so now I’ll have a go at doing it from the inside.”

Coming from a film and television background, working as both a Director and Producer for many years, Mr Bauman says he understands how to deal with different departments, meet budgets and other organisational practices common in big corporations like a Council.

“I also have direct experience with reading Council agendas and reports, and I’ve been attending Council meetings for years,” he said.

“I have a real grounding on what the responsibilities and powers of a Councillor are, and I will be able to put some dedication and diligence into this role so that Council can make balanced decisions, that benefit the community.

“We need a strong voice for discussion to debate all issues and get the voices of the community heard.”

One of the main topics on the agenda for Mr Bauman, if elected, will be major amendments to the Planning Scheme which he believes falls short of what was promised to the community.

He has already met personally with Mayor Julie Hall and says that he feels he could work well with the team.

The second, unconfirmed candidate, is still yet to officially come forward but it is believed he will do so within the coming weeks.

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Clay Bauman will run for the Division 2 seat

A second candidate is unconfirmed

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Our local member for Whitsunday, Amanda Camm MP, is speaking up on behalf of concerned local residents who are unhappy about the location of the new Airlie Beach Fire Station.

The brand-new $7 million replacement fire and rescue station has been ear-marked for a residential area on the corner of Shute Harbour Road and Macarthur Drive in Cannonvale.

Ms Camm says that, while she is pleased to see that Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) have recognised a need for adequate emergency services to support the growing Cannonvale community, she does share the community’s concerns in regard to the proposed site.

“It’s not often that a community gets a new fire station, so we need to ensure this station is best positioned to not only support the community now but also as it grows in the future," she said.

“I have met with local residents and I share their concerns regarding noise and light impacts on residences in the area, as well as heavy traffic at that particular intersection, and the removal of quality residential land from the market during a housing crisis.

“The Queensland government needs to understand that ‘consultation’ does not mean making a decision and then informing the public after the fact.

“It’s time for community members to have their say on the location of their new fire station.”

Ms Camm is now sponsoring a petition calling on the government to engage in genuine community consultation and invites residents to sign the petition so they can have their say.

You can find the petition online at: https://bit.ly/3yPP3Ix

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Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox and Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Senator Bridget McKenzie are calling on the Federal Government to maintain commitments made to the regions through the Building Better Regions Fund.

Speaking in Mackay last week, Mr Willcox said the Dawson electorate received multiple funding commitments from the Building Better Regions Fund including $50,000 to Proserpine State School, $1 million towards stage 2 of the Lake Proserpine Recreation Facility and $9 million towards Disaster Resilience and flood protection.

He said the $420,000 committed to Volunteer Marine Rescue (VMR) Whitsunday is also at risk.

“That goes towards the upgrade of their clubhouse or actual facility where they do a lot of their rescues from,” Mr Willcox said.

“They’ve had a 50 per cent increase in their callouts in the last few years and now they’re required to do medivacs and all those sorts of things and they’re all volunteers, they even pay for their own shirts.”

“We need to provide them with facilities to help service the community and keep people safe.”

“These projects cannot happen for your average council.

“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 key projects facing an uncertain future include a swathe of community and major infrastructure projects that will underpin the future economy of the Dawson electorate.

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

“I’ve had mayors right around the country express concern to me that the Building Better Regions Fund will come under attack.

“It’s up to the Labor Party to keep those commitments, to keep backing the regions, because we believe we deliver a lot for this country so we’re asking they do not remove one dollar from the programs that underpin our economic and our social future.”

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Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox and Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Senator Bridget McKenzie in the Mackay last week. Photo credit: Sam Gillespie

A group of dedicated community members who fight for the protection of Airlie Beach’s small town, low-rise, village atmosphere is heading to court today in order to challenge the Whitsunday Regional Council decision to approve a 46.7 metre high-rise building at Port of Airlie.

Similar height buildings already exist in Airlie Beach but they hug the hillside and are therefore less dominant than the striking structure that will sit on flat public parkland at Port of Airlie.

Community group Save Our Foreshore (SOF) have been at the forefront of challenging such developments for many years and have successfully fought developers on two occasions.

They have now raised a staggering $22,000 to pay for a barrister and legal costs in taking the matter to the courts today.

In addition, they have a petition which holds over 2000 signatures from residents who do not wish to see the development go ahead.

SOF President Suzette Pelt said that with developers reconfiguring the site into 10 lots, she is concerned that the recent approval of a high-rise will pave the way for a “Mini Manhattan” separating adjacent Airlie apartments, homes and shops from the Beach.

“Foreshore high-rises just don’t belong in Airlie Beach,” she said.

“Losing public parkland to make it happen is just not on either - what happened to the original Queensland Government approval of a maximum of three to five storeys in an integrated resort development over the whole site?”

“Traditionally town plans support maintaining the character of a place, and for Airlie Beach that is its low-rise, village atmosphere brand.”

Ms Pelt said a huge thank you to everyone who has supported the cause.

“We’ve reached this critical point thanks to the amazing financial support of the Whitsunday community, businesses and visitors who were shocked and disgusted with council’s decision,” she said.

“We believe we have a very strong case. Based on the opinion of our expert witness and barrister who will argue not just on planning issues, but on social and community grounds as well.”  

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Save Our Foreshore have been protesting about the Port of Airlie high-rises for some time, but today they head to court

Closing in on almost a century of community involvement in Proserpine, the local Queensland Country Women’s Association (QCWA) branch are cleaning house to fundraise for their future.

Set to celebrate 100 years in July next year, the local branch will hold their first ever garage sale next week to raise money towards upgrading their QCWA Hall on Main Street.

The Proserpine branch’s current building – constructed in 1935 - needs its entry access ramp and stairs replaced, and a garage sale was plotted to help fundraise for the cause.

Proserpine QCWA member Kerri Southee said the building has served the community in many ways since its establishment.

“It is used for many varied events and community organisations even today. From Yoga to Orchid Society Meetings and the QCWA ladies themselves meet on the second Tuesday of each month at 9am,” Ms Southee said.

“We need the community support to keep this historic institution alive and well and continuing to serve the community of the Whitsundays.”

QCWA are an active community of women who, together, improve the lives of people living in regional, rural, and remote Queensland. They are always looking for members.

The garage sale will begin at 8.00am on Saturday, October 29, at the QCWA Hall on 4 Faust Street, Proserpine. Donations will also be accepted with the hall opening the day before from 1.00pm to 4.00pm.