There are countless benefits to making Pilates part of your health and wellness routine for both your body and your mind.

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

The Pilates Method is made up of over 600 exercises and variations meaning there’s something for everyone, whether you have a sedentary lifestyle, are a weekend warrior, are pregnant, are undergoing rehab, have anxiety or are a professional athlete.

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

Pilates is an exercise program that benefits your core muscles, including your abdominal muscles, lower back, hips and glutes.

These muscles will be strengthened and become leaner as you continue with your Pilates Journey.

You will also notice increased flexibility in your body.

As your muscles become toned and fat dissipates, you can expect to feel more energized throughout the course of the day.

When you strengthen your muscles, you also increase your resting metabolic rate, helping you lose weight and stay toned even when you’re not exercising.

Though there is an emphasis on core work, core strength alone is not the end goal.

Rather, using that core strength to develop functional and sustainable movement patterns throughout the body is the goal.

“Pilates aligns your entire body’s overall structure and supports its joints,” said Core Defined Pilates and Fitness Studio Instructor Unica Estabillo.

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

The optimal strength gained from a 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.

And it’s not just about physical health — Pilates has benefits for your mental wellbeing too.

The benefits overlap and are the result of the influence and connection of the whole body.

Core Defined Pilates and Fitness Studio offer Pilates classes taught by qualified instructors, who will ensure you follow your individual program whether in a one-on-one or in our group "All Levels" class.

“Whether you’re seeking to feel better, tone up, build muscle and bone density, Pilates can positively affect your quality of life,” said Unica.

To find out more, jump online and book now at www.coredefinedpilates.com.au.

Image: Pilates can help you shape your body and core and help you feel better and have more energy in your day-to-day activities. Photo supplied: Unica Estabillo

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Getting your kid into day care has become like the hunger games in Mackay!

Who knew I would feel like I had won the lottery when I got the call to say my daughter had been accepted into a day care.

Are we all just getting a little freakier in the sheets these days so there are more babies around? Or has it always been like this and I’m only just learning about it?

The good news for those who live in the Northern Beaches is that there is apparently a new day care being built in between the millions of petrol stations out there, woohoo! Also, the days of taking your first child out of day care while you were on maternity leave for your second are gone, unless you want to risk losing your spot completely and moving to the bottom of the list.  

The other day I made a phone call to a local school to ask about enrolments even though my daughter is at least three years away from starting school, yes, I’ve gone crazy. But with the day care situation the way it is around town, I’m wondering what happens when all these babies grow up!

Will getting them into school be just as difficult?

If anyone has any tips on best schools, and ways to get your child into a decent one, please feel free to ring the show and share your wisdom, I need it!

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A former colleague of mine used to love telling the story about his pathway to becoming a journalist.

In his last year of high school his parents, worried about his lack of apparent talent or skills in any particular area, went to see a wise older family friend and asked what he thought their son should do for a career.

“Is he any good at anything?” The family friend asked. “No, he is no good at anything,” the parents replied.

Friend: “So he’s no good at maths, science, no good with his hands? He can’t make things, he can’t fix cars or shine at anything?”

Parents: “No, he can’t do anything.”

Friend: “So, he’s completely hopeless. He’s absolutely useless at everything?”

Parents: “Yes, he’s absolutely useless.”

“Well,’’ the friend said, “there’s nothing else for it … he’ll have to be a journalist.”

The family friend helped arrange an internship at a local community newspaper.

There are certain careers that have unorthodox pathways and real estate is definitely one of them.

Most people go into real estate after having a career doing something else. At Gardian we have a former school teacher, a former travel agent, a former mechanic, a former veterinary nurse, a former pharmacy CEO and a former pub manager among others.

Those who find their way into real estate and succeed tend to be good communicators who get on well with other members of the human race. They want to get a good result for their clients.

It is a difficult career to break into because it is a commission-based model and if you don’t sell properties you don’t make money … and sellers don’t usually want to use someone inexperienced. A vicious cycle.

One way around that is working as a buyer’s agent. As a buyer’s agent, you don’t have the pressure to get listings …  you need to find the buyers.

I work with a young woman, Skye Bettridge, who is a buyers’ agent who works hard to try and match our properties with buyers.

Skye works closely with me and with the buyers, answering their questions and getting them the information they need. She does a lot of the leg work, going with buyers to different properties, constantly sending them information.

It’s my job to get the listings and help her with buyers but, as she gets more experienced, she has started to come across buyers who also want to sell and we can help them both buy and sell a property.

It’s great for buyers because as a team we can do much more, great for sellers who have a team actively looking for buyers for their property, great for me because Skye helps me reach many more buyers and great for Skye because she gets to break into an industry and learn about it as she goes without the pressure of having to get listings.

There’s definitely a career pathway for bright young people.

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I know what you’re going to say.

I’m at work all day, so I don’t have the time. I’m looking after my kids, so I don’t have the time. I’m just so tired from everything that I don’t have the motivation, nor the time.

How can I incorporate exercise into my crazy, tight schedule?

Start small.

As little as 15 minutes of light activity a day can improve your health (and your life expectancy).

Exercise can be a silver bullet for a large swath of life’s problems. In addition to improving mood and shedding extra pounds, being physically active on a regular basis helps prevent and manage a wide range of health problems, including stroke, type two diabetes, depression (which we covered in-depth last week) – and the list goes on and on.

Several 10-minute workouts spread across a week are just as effective as a longer duration workout – as long as they add up to 150 minutes of physical activity a week.

So instead of changing your schedule abruptly, try incorporating small bits of exercise throughout your busy workday.

Start A Morning Routine

Beginning your day with a little bit of movement is an excellent way to wake up the body and mind, as well as get the juices flowing.

So, what can you do?

• Morning stretches. Experts emphasise that stretching in the morning improves posture, relieves pain and aches in your body, as well as increases body flow.

• Short bodyweight workouts. Doing energizing movements like jumping jacks or bicycles works as a dynamic stretch for the body, as well as elevate the heart rate.

• Morning yoga. A great choice for those who need to find their Zen, as well as deal with stressful deadlines. Practicing yoga in the morning helps to maintain a calm mind and set a tone for the day.

Exercise at the End of the Workday

It can be as little as 15-minutes.

• Aerobic exercise, such as brisk walking, jogging, biking, dancing, tennis, swimming.

• Lower-intensity exercise, such as yoga, also shows potential benefits when it comes to mood and reduces anxiety.

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For most people living with neck and back problems or regular headaches, it could actually be your spine alignment that is causing much of the pain.

A consultation with a chiropractor can help you with any issues and Dr Tim Harris from Whitsunday Spine Care in Cannonvale is ready to offer his professional assistance.

“It’s super important for everyone to have a functioning spine,” said Dr Harris.

“If you’re spine isn’t functioning it can affect how you move and how you live your life.

“Often, people get used to how they feel and that becomes a new normal, they don’t realise how much better they can function until they come and see me.”

Dr Harris opened the Cannonvale clinic in May and has since established a regular client base.

He has been a practicing Chiropractor for four years and living in the region for almost three.

Meeting his partner in Brisbane while he was studying, the pair moved up to Airlie Beach together and have a little six-month-old daughter.

In his leisure time he likes to keep fit and attends F45 in Airlie, he also enjoys taking his two ‘naughty staffies’ for a walk as much as possible.

A deeply caring person, Dr Harris enjoys working closely with all his patients and listening to their stories so he can form a holistic approach to his treatment practices.

“I try to take the time to make it all about the patient,” he said.

“Taking the bigger picture into consideration really helps me to treat the whole person.”

Image: Dr Tim Harris from Whitsunday Spine Care

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An entirely free family fun day event saw massive crowds turn out at Mullers Lagoon in Bowen last weekend, each of whom enjoyed a scorching day of weather backed by entertainment and games.

Bowen Neighbourhood Centre and Cooinda’s Family Fun Day packed the parklands on Saturday, kicking the school holidays into gear for kids and families alike.

There was plenty of entertainment from a petting zoo to sensory tables, amusement rides to face painting, and games and activities galore kept the children entertained from morning to midday.

A colour run ended the days celebrations, with kids cruising around the park and being painted with colour, and Bowen Fire Service turning on their water jets to cool off the kids in the 30-degree weather.

Aside from the entertainment, there were plenty of local organisations who hosted stalls highlighting their services and contributions to the local community: Bowen Flexi Care, Bowen Zonta Club, Bowen PCYC, Girudala, and many more.

Bowen Neighbourhood Centre Coordinator, Stephanie Cora said she couldn’t thank the services enough for their support, as well as Abbot Point Operations and the Queensland Government for their funding.

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Over 250 people attended the Bowen Neighbourhood Centre’s R U OK? Day where the local organisation spread the message of meaningfully connecting and lending support.

The event on Thursday, September 8, was by far the largest ever held at the centre, with attendance no doubt bolstered by a fantastic array of vintage cars on display proving a popular drawcard.  

Whitsunday Neighbourhood Centre Coordinator, Stephanie Cora said alongside the cars were free giveaways.

“For those who came along there was free coffee and cupcakes, a free sausage sizzle, free raffles, and a lot of free resources and promotional items with details on where to find help if needed,” Ms Cora said.

“The services that attended all promote good mental health within our community and this event provided an opportunity for them to create greater awareness and promotion of the support which they can provide.”

Ms Cora thanked Whitsunday Regional Council for their sponsorship, which she said had made it possible for the centre to host this extremely successful R U Ok day event.  

Organisations that attended on the day included representatives from Whitsunday Counselling and Support and Real Mates Talk, who contributed to the success in raising awareness for mental health issues.

They were flanked by stalls from Feros Care and Ideal Placements – both of which celebrate diverse and unique clients with disabilities.

Backed by the R U OK? harm prevention charity, the event was a major success for the community group, who hope to continue growing awareness and local participation.

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PCYC Bowen’s R.U.B.Y Crew have been stepping up their neighbourhood engagement this year and were lucky enough to be a part of the Don River Dash in their latest community outing.

The R.U.B.Y crew – which has been running for 11 years and stands for Respecting and Uniting Bowen Youth - put together the participant gift bags given out to all the racers at the Community Night held on the Friday before races began.

PCYC Bowen Manager and Police Sergeant Michelle O’Regan said she was extremely proud of the R.U.B.Y Crew for putting together the competitor bags over the months leading up to the event.

“They wanted to show the benefits of our wider region in their own initiative and spoke with Bowen Tourism and Business, as well as other businesses in town about making these bags,” Sergeant O’Regan said.

“They were very excited to promote Bowen businesses to those competitors and teams.”

Sergeant O’Regan said the youngsters – between the ages of 12 and 18 – doorknocked at local businesses, introducing themselves and explaining what they were trying to achieve.

“It’s great confidence building and it became a layered approach for skills and personal development for these young people,” she said.

The visitor bags were supported by multiple businesses across Bowen, including major input from Lowcock Builders.

The Crew attended the Don River Dash Community Night where they helped organisers and were even lucky enough to visit the Patriot Games TV site on Pit Lane, spending some time with the amazing crew.

“It’s excellent to be developing sociably responsible young people who understand the value of being involved in the community,” Sergeant O’Regan said.

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One of the region’s largest race-days is getting set to shoot out from the gates with Bowen Turf Club preparing for the annual Bowen Cup in early October.

The Turf Club, which has been holding regular race meets for over 150 years, is looking forward to adding another major race event to its tally on Saturday, October 8.

In past years, the Bowen Cup has hosted in excess of three thousand attendees, and visitors aplenty are expected to make their way to Ben Bolt Park for this year’s iteration of “The Race That Stops The Whitsundays”.

One of the region’s biggest social events of the year will host five local races, complete with TAB and on-track bookmakers, a licenced bar, food vendors, and everyone’s favourite: Fashion on the Field.

Ladies (and gentlemen) will be out in their Saturday best for a race-day that’s promising to be one of the club’s finest.

Bowen Turf Club President Stephen Daley said the early ticket sales and table lock ins are already promising for this year to be huge.

“We’ve got a good problem to have: figuring out where to stick all the people! It’s going to be an enormous day for the whole district, like it always is,” Mr Daley said.

“The track’s in terrific order, it’s going to be a normal five race card with nominations, and we’ve opted for it to be an over 18 day again because last year was very successful.

Mr Daley said there’ll be quite a few local horses racing on the day, each ridden by jockeys from Mackay and Townsville.

Fashion on the Field will this year be run by Filby’s Motors, where there’s already been a great deal of interest from local ladies

“We’re looking forward to the whole day. It’s one of the biggest events in Bowen and it’s great for the community, even Airlie Beach and Proserpine support us immensely,” Mr Daley said.

“Last time was a great day out and if we can peak that performance, we’ll be very happy.”

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Are you or someone you know, suffering from suicidal thoughts, struggling to process, or grieving from a loss of a loved one? If so, don’t do it alone, reach out to the free counselling service available right here in Bowen.

Whitsunday Suicide Prevention Network (WSPN) offer free counselling across the Whitsundays with Megan Mattingley who will be the voice you hear as soon as you dial the local number.

Having worked at Relationships Australia for the past 13 years, Megan now has her own business which makes her flexible and available to help.

From immediate assistance over the phone to video consultations and even home visits, there are plenty of avenues for you to receive help.

“Counselling can cost a lot of money for people to access and there’s usually a long wait-list,” said Megan.

“I can look after you sooner rather than later and when I answer the phone, I am equipped to know what to do.”

Helping people manage their expectations of grief and using education to remove the stigma associated with suicide, Megan shows clients how to process their emotions.

From there, she will assist with creating a support plan of self-care strategies by using tangible tools, such as journal writing or going for a walk.

If you are a parent or relative who is worried about a loved one, Megan can also tell you how best to handle the situation and what to say.

If you are worried about a loved one or if this article has raised any issues for you please call one of the following support services.

Whitsunday Suicide Prevention Network 07 4945 2858

Headspace Whitsundays 07 4842 6760

Lifeline 13 11 14

Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467

Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636

Image: Whitsunday Suicide Prevention Network Counsellor Megan Mattingley

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A depiction of Bowen’s past has begun a process of rejuvenation this week, with one of the Australian mural town’s collection of 27 murals being given a much-need touch-up.

The Merinda School Mural on the wall of Le Sorelle The Sisters Coffee House on Richmond Road is being repainted by artist Martin Jegou of Gwada Murals over the month of September.

The previously damaged mural is being touched up by Jegou, a French artist who’s lived in the Whitsundays since 2017.

Jegou, who normally paints large-scale Coral Sea creatures – like his most prominent mural of a Humpback Whale on display on Waterson Way – is putting his artistic talents to work by giving the Bowen mural a new splash of paint.

He began work on the mural on September 7.

Bowen Mural Society Spokesperson Heather Skinner said they were very happy with the work so far and were expecting completion by the end of September.

“The Marinda School Mural had been vandalised previously. Martin [Jegou] has obliterated that damage, but there is still some touching up to do with the parts depicting the school itself,” she said.

“He’s managed to put some of the vibrancy into it that he’s known for, and we’re very happy for that.”

The original mural was painted by Winka Von Fahland, and the retouching process has been funded by Whitsunday Regional Council.

Bowen Mural Society are now fundraising for the retouching of a mural on the wall of the newly refurbished Bowen Hotel. That mural depicts the Denison Hotel.

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One of Bowen’s biggest earthmoving businesses is on the recruitment drive.

Hillery Group, which owns and operates five quarries in Bowen, Collinsville, and Abbot Point, are on the lookout for diesel fitters to join their enormous workforce in the famous mango town.

With 46 years of operation as a generational, family-owned business, Hillery Group are renowned for their family culture – helped by the fact they employ one per cent of the Bowen population.

Kelly McDonald, Director-People, Culture and Business Development at Hillery Group is the resident expert on all things business ethos and said Hillery Group’s reputation for family feel comes from its actual retaining of staff and the staff themselves.

“We have families who have worked for us for many years, from dads down to sons,” Ms McDonald said.

“I think a lot of that comes from our Maintenance and Asset Manager, Daniel Maher. He’s genuinely one of the best leaders I’ve ever worked with. He’s created such a well-knitted and well-run team; all the boys love working here, and we love working with them. We invest in our teams.”

Aside from running five quarries in the region, Hillery Group are involved in major civil works and landscape supplies which focus on the commercial and domestic markets.

Ms McDonald said a diesel fitter from the region who becomes part of the Hillery Group family will be an integral part of their large-scale operation.

“We have an enormous maintenance shed and we’ve got a fully fitted out warehouse with tens of thousands of parts which will be a base of operations for a lot of field service.  It has some unique features compared with other maintenance departments; there’s its own air conditioning and component rebuild centre – which is a skill area most won’t find with other employers,” she said.

“Everyone starts at the depot and then might head out to a breakdown in provided LVs or service trucks.

“That would be what a normal day would look like. And, although a diesel fitter will be coming in trade qualified, we are always looking to help them advance themselves – that’s one of our big mottos. We want to develop our team and see them excel.

“We want them to work here, come here, and stay here. We’re very focused on the staff and that they’re enjoying themselves, staying healthy and staying motivated.”

To apply, visit https://hillerygroup.com.au/working-with-us/

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Do you remember the feeling you had after being promoted into a leadership role?

For many of us, once the euphoria subsides, the work doesn’t feel as productive (or as much fun) compared to the tasks we used to undertake. We’re easily drawn back into doing the same work as we did before while adding more meetings and admin tasks to our schedules.

Your primary role as a leader is to build your teams.

For new managers this can be especially challenging as your natural instinct is probably to be “liked”.

Next time you are tempted to solve a problem for your team though, stop yourself and turn it in to a learning opportunity instead!

You’re not the team captain, you’re the coach!

Your role is to set clear expectations, communicate who is accountable, and give your team the tools they need to succeed.

When someone comes to you with a problem, ask the right questions.

Firstly, “What do you think the solution is?” Teach your team to problem-solve for themselves. “Have you thought about alternative approaches? What can we sacrifice without detracting from the overall value of the project? Who can you share the problem with to seek a different perspective?”

Think about your future.

You shouldn’t make yourself indispensable to your team, rather the goal should be to build a team so strong you can’t tell who the leaders is.

Image: Judy Porter from Shiift

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Workforce shortages and a lack of affordable accommodation. Two of the most critical issues facing business at the moment. It's a broken record, heard over and over again at all levels of government, and finally there does appear to be some activity at local and state levels.

On the housing front, council is being proactive in discussing and facilitating appropriate accommodation locally. Nothing set in concrete yet, however it does show council is committed to assisting in this space.

On a state level, the Housing Supply Expert Panel has been expanded to address housing supply issues and provide advice and direction to local councils. And this week, the Premier herself is chairing a roundtable discussion which is seen as the first step towards holding a Housing Summit in October to consider housing and cost of living, especially in regional areas.

With regard to workforce shortages, the Whitsunday Coast Chamber is taking a leading role with Gus Walsgott spearheading the local push to establish a Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) for the greater Central Queensland region.

For those unfamiliar, a DAMA is an agreement between the Australian Government (through Home affairs) with a regional authority making it easier to employ overseas workers in the region. Whilst it utilises a couple of existing temporary visas it does provide several substantial advantages specifically a broader range of worker can be specified across a wider range of age groups. And all visa issues under a DAMA offer the opportunity for permanent residency. Watch this space as the project evolves.

The next Chamber event is on Thursday 13th October and will be a morning networking event incorporating the AGM. If you are keen to get involved and help assist and promote small business in the region, contact the chamber for nomination forms and keep an eye out for more details.

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It’s the time when we all get our records and receipts together for the annual trip to the accountant or the dreaded job of completing a tax return ourselves.  If you’re doing your own, your MyGov online account now has a lot of information like Group Certificates and Interest pre-loaded.

When you’re completing this mundane task this year, spare some time to think about how you’d like your tax return to look next year.  Tax returns look backwards at what the situation was for the last financial year whereas Financial Planners look forward at what we want to achieve in the current and future years.  

This can involve things such as:

• Ensuring you have income protection in place which not only protects you and your family but is fully tax deductible.

• Ensuring you are utilising the generous tax rules on superannuation to your best advantage with strategies like Salary Sacrifice and pensions for those over 60, even if you’re still working.

• Ensuring that you’re making the most of any Salary Packaging opportunities your employer provides, especially if you’re employed in industries like hospitals or aged care facilities which attract significant salary packaging opportunities.

• If you have a home loan as well as an investment loan, ensuring you’re doing the right things to be able to claim more interest as a tax deduction and pay less interest on the home loan for the property you live in.

If you’d like an obligation free review of your situation, to discuss ways to put a smile on your face this time next year with a better tax return, call us for an appointment today.

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