I was recently reminded of the importance of kindness in this world.  While visiting my sister we spoke about all the great work the Suicide Prevention Networks do across the country.

She shared with me a personal experience where she was going about her busy daily schedule when she bumped into an old school friend that she had not seen for 15 years.  They were not close at school and she had an appointment she was running late for, but made 2 minutes to say a quick hello, a hug and tell him how good it was to see him.

She didn’t give it a second thought until around a week later when she received a message from him.   He thanked her for her smile, hug and kind words and explained he was actually on his way to take his life when he ran into her.

Our lives are so busy and we constantly have our heads buried in our phones, commitments, responsibilities and schedules that we often miss the opportunities that present.  Like most mental health issues, the most valuable thing we can give to someone struggling is some of our time to talk.

We all have daily opportunities to impact those around us.  Whether we choose to ignore the opportunities or embrace them, is up to us.  Don’t underestimate the power of asking someone how they are, giving someone a smile, encouraging them on something they do well at, giving them a hug, or including them in a conversation.

A simple act of kindness can actually save a life.  

Written by Whitsunday Suicide Prevention Network Treasurer Paul Burke

As little as a conversation with an old friend you pass by on the street can save a life, writes contributor Paul Burke

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The recent influx of international tourists combined with the travelling grey nomads, who enjoy spending the winter months in sunny North Queensland, have been major factors contributing to the biggest visitor numbers ever recorded in Bowen.

Bowen Tourism and Business welcomed 5751 visitors in July, an average of 185 customers per day passing through the doors of the Big Mango Visitor Information Centre south of Bowen and the information booth at Bowen’s Front Beach.

The previous record month was September 2020 when the team welcomed 5375 visitors.

Manager of Bowen Tourism and Business, Leanne Abernethy, said the visitors were from all states of Australia as well as overseas.

“We have noticed an increase in the number of international visitors since about February,” she said.

“It has been great to see Bowen buzzing this winter and we expect the numbers to remain strong.”

Records show that 23 per cent of visitors were staying in Bowen, 22 per cent were making a day trip into Bowen and a further 5 per cent wanted information for towns to the south, meaning at least half of visitors were spending money in our region.

Chief Executive Officer of Tourism Whitsundays Rick Hamilton said it was fantastic to see record visitation and the return of international holidaymakers.

“Bowen attracts an array of domestic and international visitors showcasing world-class beaches, a variety of accommodation options and an incredible number of day trippers staying elsewhere in The Whitsundays,” he said.

“Congratulations to the wonderful team and volunteers at Bowen Tourism and Business. Their experience and knowledge are a testament to these results, encouraging guests to explore more, enjoying the secluded beaches, fringing reefs, stunning lookouts and of course, The Big Mango.”

QUICK FACTS

• 5751 tourists visited information centres in Bowen in July

• That’s 185 visitors per day on average

• 23 per cent of visitors were staying in Bowen

• 22 per cent were making a day trip into Bowen

• 5 per cent wanted information for towns to the south

Manager of Bowen Tourism and Business, Leanne Abernethy with visitors John and

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Airlie Beach was alive and buzzing earlier this month with the Reef Festival kicking off the traditional events season. The main street was a hive of activity with the car show, parade and carnival bringing hordes of people not just into town but into the region.

The benefits that events bring to the region cannot be underestimated. Firstly, there is obviously the immediate financial impact that drawing people to the area brings – people in town will spend money. Accommodation suppliers, food and beverage, retail and tour operators all benefit – as do their suppliers and support industries. The exposure the area receives through direct marketing, social media and word of mouth from these events is incalculable and inarguably results in future visitation for longer periods.

Even more extraordinary is that almost without fail, the many events that the region hosts are organised, manned and run by volunteers. We are fortunate that we have an abundance of residents willing to give generously of their time. The region genuinely owes you a huge debt. You are all wonderful ambassadors for the Whitsunday Community.

And, just in case you missed it – the Mayoral election was held on Saturday 13th August. The next few years will be even more challenging than the past. We are once again heading into unknown financial and social issues. We need a leader to guide the region as a whole – ensuring we build on the strengths of our diversity.

From Allan Milostic, President of Whitsunday Coast Chamber of Commerce

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High achieving athletes from across the region were publicly congratulated for their sporting efforts at a Council meeting earlier this week where they were presented with gift bags by the Acting Mayor John Collins.

A total of nine local students had been financially supported by Council under its Junior Elite Athletes initiative, a scheme that assists with costs incurred when travelling to participate in representative competition at regional, state or national level.

Tyson Williams-Allen competed at the Under 15 and Youth Australian Weightlifting Championships and his successful lifting gave him the gold medal for the Under 15, 67kg male Australian championship category.

Prior to this, Tyson won Gold at the state championships in April and last year. He also won gold in the Queensland all schools competition last year.

Abigail and Charlotte Lee, recently travelled to Dalby for the 2022 Australian Pony Club Queensland State Show Jumping and Jump Equitation Championships.

Abigail was riding Snapchatter and successfully came home with the silver medal in the 120cm show jumping and Charlotte rode Hazardous, placing sixth overall in the 110cm show jumping competition.

The girls travelled as part of the Zone 22 State Equestrian Team representing the Whitsunday region from Collinsville to Proserpine.

Maxwell O’Keefe and Reef Peel went to Fiji recently representing North Queensland at the National Schools Futsal Championships.

Their team made it to the semi-finals in their age group and the two boys were among the leading goal scorers in the competition.

Despite their team unfortunately losing 4-1 in the final against Suva, the boy’s talents were identified, and they have been invited to participate in the 2022 overseas tour.

Twins, Russell and Connor Harris represented Australia in the Under 15 division at the Open Skiff World Championships in Carcans, France in July.

The boys said it was great to meet sailors from around the world and compete in very large fleets. They are looking forward to participating in the World Championships scheduled to be held in Italy in July next year.

Alice Wheeler was selected to represent Northern Queensland Girls 16-19 years Football team in Cairns.

The Northern team performed well with some close games and placed sixth in the overall competition.

Jake Pettigrew recently represented North Queensland at the Queensland School Boys Championships and was selected as a shadow player for the Queensland team, heading to Sydney in September to compete at the National Championships.

(left to right) Alice Wheeler, Acting Mayor John Collins, Charlotte Lee and Abigail Lee

from left) Maxwell O’Keefe, Tyson Williams-Allen, Reef Peel, Acting Mayor John Collins, Russell Harris, Jake Pettigrew and Connor Harris

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The gate to the Historical Cemetery has been locked and the signpost has been removed from the main road near Bogie in a bid to give the local community time to heal from the recent tragedy which saw three-people shot dead on the remote cattle station nearby.

The closure was ordered at last week’s Ordinary Council Meeting after concerns were raised by Councillor Michelle Wright, who asked for the changes to be considered in respect of the Schwarz family and their neighbours.

The signpost at the Normanby Road turn-off from Peter Delemonthe Road, which signals a 77 kilometres track to the Historical Cemetery, was removed on Friday and the gate to the cemetery has now been locked.

The graves are registered, and photos have been taken of each gravesite so that they can soon be displayed at the local library for public interest.

The community are still in shock following the triple murder of a local family, 71-year-old Mervyn Schwartz, 59-year-old Maree Schwarz and Maree’s son Graham Tighe, 35.

They are survived by Maree’s other son, Ross Tighe, who was shot in the abdomen but managed to escape and run into the bushland, finding a ute and driving 40 kilometres to raise the alarm.

Owner of the adjacent property, Darryl Young, was arrested and charged with the alleged murders several hours later.

It is believed the two families had a disagreement over land boundaries and cattle branding, an issue Young is known to have had for many years and raised with previous owners of the neighbouring property.

With a population of roughly 160 people, this devastating event has undoubtedly rocked the small community of Bogie and giving them time to heal privately is a respectful way to move forward.

The signpost guiding tourists to an historical cemetery site located metres from the murders has been removed

Darryl Young has been charged

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A total of 3,500 people cast their vote at Whitsunday polling stations across the region on Saturday and when this figure was added to the 11,000 early-voters, more than 390 telephone voters and 1,200 postal votes the Queensland Electoral Commission (ECQ) deemed the result “too tight to call”.

This means that the results of the by-election will likely be left to preferences and despite Mike Brunker being currently (as of 2pm Wednesday, August 17) in the lead with 29.11 per cent of the votes, there is a high possibility that either Julie Hall or Al Grundy could be in with a chance.

In simple terms, preferential voting means that as the candidates with the fewest number of votes are eliminated from the race, their votes are then passed onto whoever the voter marked as ‘second’ on their voting card.

This process of preference distribution will begin when the ECQ are “certain of the order of the candidates based on their first preference votes and have all ballot papers in the count.”

Postal votes must be returned by 5pm on August 23 for them to be counted but as soon as the ECQ have a clear picture on who is eliminated, it is hoped that preferences will begin to be distributed.

In the meantime, there is an agonising wait for the candidates. Current poll leader Mike Brunker stated that he’s “just got to wait for the process to take its course”.

“Hopefully it will come my way,” he said.

“But I am not popping the champagne just yet!”

Mr Brunker received almost 50 per cent of the votes in his hometown of Bowen but with four out of the five remaining candidates residing further south, it is thought that preferences are more likely to sway towards them, potentially knocking him out of the race.

Al Grundy currently has 21.63 per cent of the votes, followed closely by Julie Hall who has 20.68 per cent.

Battling a severe sickness which saw him head to hospital for IV antibiotics, Mr Grundy’s election race was hampered by poor health which saw him miss the ballot draw and candidate networking night held by the Whitsunday Coast Chamber of Commerce.

Despite this, he said that he “gave it my best shot”.

“The outcome doesn’t matter; I’ll still do my best as a Councillor and support the Mayor,” he said.

Choosing not to fill in a How-To-Vote card with preferences like other candidates, Mr Grundy believes that people should make an informed decision.

“I want people to make their own mind up, I don’t want to tell people how to vote. I hope voters read into it enough to make up their own minds, not listen to other candidates with vested interests,” he said.

Julie Hall said she was pleased with how she ran her campaign and feels that she could do very well on preferences stating that “it’s anyone’s game.”

“If people voted according to the rate cards that would make Al and Mike down the bottom,” she said.

Having never been a Councillor before, Ms Hall says she is thrilled by the trust the community have placed in her.

“The fact that I polled so high is an indication that people aren’t happy, it shows that not enough of Council are listening”

Jan Clifford is currently sitting on 13.87 per cent of the votes and said “it ain’t over yet!”

Phil Batty achieved 6.2 per cent of the votes and said it was a very eye opening, educational experience but that he is looking forward to getting on with life now it is over.

When asked who he thinks will win, he simply stated that Brunker is looking unlikely.

“It’s going to be a very close call,” he said.

“It’s down to preferences for candidates who are all from down here so it would be almost impossible for Brunker to win.”

Peter Hood received 8.1 per cent of the votes and although likely defeated this election, has already put his hat in the ring for 2024.

Al Grundy

“I am very keen to work with the planning department on short term housing. I’d like to get a better understanding of how developers, builders and real estate agents can help fast-track and fulfill the housing shortage.”

Julie Hall

“Getting feet under the desk, looking at how everything is sitting. Bringing the people together and looking at why the rates are so high. It’s the Mayors job to represent the people and that’s what I would do.”

Mike Brunker

“Our plans are in place and budget is on order, the first thing I would like to address is the roadworks in Bowen.”

Representatives of the candidates outside the polling booths on Saturday morning

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Proserpine Hospital is now equipped to provide more comfort for both carers and medical staff following two considerate donations from local community groups last week.

In June, the Whitsunday Lions Club held their inaugural Charity Golf Day at Whitsunday Green with over 120 players participating and an impressive $10,000 raised.

The proceeds were kindly put towards two attendant/carer chairs which can be used when a parent needs to stay overnight with a sick child in the paediatric ward.

Already proving useful, a recent patient commented that she “slept so good in these chairs when my daughter had emergency surgery recently”.

In addition to this practical donation, the St Pauls Anglican Op Shop in Proserpine also delivered two brand new chart trolleys to help clinicians in the hospital’s Emergency Department.

Sue Gravelle from the Whitsunday Lions Club said that after COVID put such a stress on medical facilities, they decided the local hospital would benefit most from a donation.

“It was especially nice to donate to the paediatric ward,” said Sue.

“Looking after a sick child would be such a stressful time for the parents, and I am sure the carer beds will be put to great use.”

There is still over half the $10,000 raised at the Charity Golf Day remaining and Sue says the hospital have a “wish list” of further items which will likely include some equipment for the maternity ward.

“We are looking forward to hearing what they would like to spend the money on as it will undoubtedly benefit the community further,” said Sue.

One of the new carer beds and chart trolleys at the Proserpine Hospital

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The region’s Neighbourhood Centres took part in National Homelessness Week from August 1 to 7, supporting those who need it most through fundraisers and community forums.

With the national housing crisis an ever-growing concern, the local organisations continued their advocacy on behalf of those experiencing housing stress and especially for those without a roof over their heads at all.

Over 116,000 people experience homelessness on any given night.

On August 5, Bowen Neighbourhood Centre held its annual Hamburgers for Homelessness fundraiser, collecting $900 dollars to support the homeless of Bowen through the sale of hamburgers to the local community.

Bowen Neighbourhood Centre Coordinator Stephanie Cora said they hoped to “create awareness in the community for Bowen’s homeless”.

“This year, with the help of Grace Christian Church and Project Deliver Managers donating the resources for the burgers, we were able to raise $900 at our Hamburgers for the Homeless event. These funds will go towards swags and backpacks for those in need,” Ms Cora said.

“We thank the Bowen Community for their ongoing support for this amazing cause.”

Ms Cora said the event came at a troubling time.

“At present, the Bowen Neighborhood Centre is seeing around two people a day that are experiencing homelessness,” Ms Cora said.

“[We] saw 466 couch surfers during the 2021-2022 financial year, and we had 93 crisis inquiries. A total of 559 for the year. This is the highest we have ever seen.

“As the Neighborhood Centre is a referral pathway, we do not have the ability to house people as our resources are very stretched.

“Events like this are the least we can do to help.”

In the same week, Whitsunday Neighbourhood Centre invited locals to a meeting to advocate for people experiencing homelessness.

The Whitsunday Centre said between six to 10 people present to them asking for housing assistance each week.

They plan to continue regular meetings.

Bowen Neighbourhood Centre volunteers served up hamburgers to raise awareness and funds for Homelessness Week

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An armed man was arrested at the Mobil Service Station in Proserpine on Sunday evening thanks to quick-thinking staff who called the police when a suspicious vehicle matching the description of a wanted man’s car entered the site.

Staff hid in the storage room while police confronted the man and made the arrest. He was wanted in relation to the alleged violent murder of a 44-year-old Townsville mother of four, Tania Trickey, on Saturday and the drive-by shooting of a Gold Coast man’s vehicle on Sunday morning.

Gunman Arrested In Proserpine For Alleged Homicide

A dramatic end to an intense 24-hour manhunt took place at a Proserpine service station on Sunday evening when police apprehended a person of interest involved in an alleged drive-by shooting just hours before.

He was also the main suspect in the alleged violent death of 44-year-old Townsville mother of four whose body was found in bushland by a group of teenagers in Bluewater on Saturday afternoon.

On Sunday, the alleged offender was seen driving erratically between Mackay and Bowen and at 11.30am on the Bruce Highway near Yarlboroo, 40 kilometres south of Proserpine, it is alleged that he fired shots at another motorist in what was reported to be an unrelated matter.

The Gold Coast motorist had been driving behind the suspect who was travelling at a low speed. When he tried to overtake the vehicle, it is understood that the motorist saw the shotgun and immediately ducked from sight, speeding away.

At this moment, a shot was fired and hit the rear driver’s side door.

Detective Inspector Jason Shepherd said that the driver of the vehicle was “very shaken up but uninjured”.

The incident was reported to police straight away and when the suspect’s vehicle was spotted at the Proserpine service station police moved in quickly to arrest the suspect at 8.30pm Sunday evening.

“We only became aware of the incident on Saturday and had the person in question in custody by 8.30pm Sunday evening,” said Detective Shepherd.

The arrest comes just 24 hours after the body of a woman, known to be in a “recent relationship” with the alleged offender was found in Bluewater in Townsville.

There are suspicions this could be a domestic violence offence and it has been confirmed that the man was known to the police.

The autopsy took place on Tuesday and it is understood a weapon was used but there has not yet been confirmation of whether it was the same shotgun used in the drive-by incident.

The suspect is in custody and has been transported to Mackay.

His vehicle is also in Mackay and it underwent close examination earlier this week.

Police are calling out to anyone who may have dashcam or CCTV footage on Jaloonda Road in Bluewater, Townsville at any time prior to 4.40pm on Saturday, August 13.

They would also like to see footage from the Bruce Highway between Mackay and Bowen on Sunday, August 14.

‍The vehicle wanted in relation to two serious crimes as it entered the Proserpine service station

Detective Inspector Jason Shepherd at the press conference on Monday

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A dramatic end to an intense 24-hour manhunt took place at a Proserpine service station on Sunday evening when police apprehended a person of interest involved in an alleged drive-by shooting just hours before.

He was also the main suspect in the alleged violent death of 44-year-old Townsville mother of four whose body was found in bushland by a group of teenagers in Bluewater on Saturday afternoon.

On Sunday, the alleged offender was seen driving erratically between Mackay and Bowen and at 11.30am on the Bruce Highway near Yarlboroo, 40 kilometres south of Proserpine, it is alleged that he fired shots at another motorist in what was reported to be an unrelated matter.

The Gold Coast motorist had been driving behind the suspect who was travelling at a low speed. When he tried to overtake the vehicle, it is understood that the motorist saw the shotgun and immediately ducked from sight, speeding away.

At this moment, a shot was fired and hit the rear driver’s side door.

Detective Inspector Jason Shepherd said that the driver of the vehicle was “very shaken up but uninjured”.

The incident was reported to police straight away and when the suspect’s vehicle was spotted at the Proserpine service station police moved in quickly to arrest the suspect at 8.30pm Sunday evening.

“We only became aware of the incident on Saturday and had the person in question in custody by 8.30pm Sunday evening,” said Detective Shepherd.

The arrest comes just 24 hours after the body of a woman, known to be in a “recent relationship” with the alleged offender was found in Bluewater in Townsville.

There are suspicions this could be a domestic violence offence and it has been confirmed that the man was known to the police.

The autopsy is taking place today and police anticipate being able to confirm cause death afterwards.

It is understood a weapon was used but there has not yet been confirmation of whether it was the same shotgun used in the drive-by incident.

The suspect is in custody and has been transported to Mackay.

His vehicle is also in Mackay and due to undergo close examination today.

Police are calling out to anyone who may have dashcam or CCTV footage on Jaloonda Road at any time prior to 4.40pm on Saturday, August 13.

They would also like to see footage from the Bruce Highway between Mackay and Bowen on Sunday, August 14.

Detective Inspector Jason Shepherd at the press conference today

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A full-page ad in Mackay and Whitsunday Life Newspaper went viral this week when a woman named Jenny decided to take revenge on her cheating partner by booking the premium placement ad spot to tell everyone in town about his alleged actions.

Jenny booked the ad through our newspaper’s online portal and it was published in this Friday’s edition which is read by over 50,000 people in the Mackay and Whitsunday Life community.

The ad read:

Dear Steve,

I hope you are happy with her.

Now the whole town will know what a filthy cheater you are.

From Jenny.

P.S. I bought this ad using your credit card.

When payment for the ad was due to be processed it was noticed that the name on the credit card was different to the name on the booking so no payment was taken for the ad.

As soon as the newspaper hit the stands, we were inundated with calls from the community so we felt it best to release the information on Facebook.

Here is what it said:

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**ANNOUNCEMENT** We have been inundated with dozens of messages this morning about the Advert on Page 4 of Mackay Life - As there’s too many to reply to; we would like to address it here.

1. We do NOT know who Steve is, but apparently he’s been very very bad.

2. We won’t be revealing any details about Jenny.

3. We have not charged the credit card in question.

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Within hours of the post hitting social media the story went viral, gaining over 2,500 likes and generating both national and international media interest.

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Occasionally, despite best intentions, things get missed in my vegie patch.

Consequently, I’ve had a couple of plant issues to deal with of late, so I thought I’d talk vegie garden problem solving over the next few weeks.

Let’s start with POWDERY MILDEW caused by fungi.

This is a particular common issue with zucchini, cucumber and pumpkin plants but effects a large range of vegetable plants.

Powdery Mildew is that white patch on leaves that slowly spreads until it covers the entire leaf surface.  If left, the leaves will eventually turn brown and die off.

If caught early you can organically treat the leaves.  Milk is a popular option.  Simply put milk in a spray bottle and spray the infected area.  Some use a diluted solution of 50/50 milk to water but I use straight milk.  Apply twice a week until the problem is resolved.

Baking Soda is another option I have heard used, though I have not used this myself.

X1 Tablespoon Baking Soda

X3 Litres of water

X1 Teaspoon liquid soap (not dishwashing liquid)

If you’ve left it a little late and the leaves are covered in Powdery Mildew, then I would pull the plants out and use your valuable space for other plantings.  The spores spread easily and can become an issue in other parts of your garden.

The three things to be aware of to prevent Powdery Mildew are:

AIR FLOW

Air movement is an important factor when dealing with fungi.

This is one reason why thinning out your planting is important for plant health.

Location is also important.

I made the mistake of planting against a wall and then using hessian instead of netting to give sun protection, this resulted in no air movement and, of course, fungi took over.

Air movement dramatically reduces the spread of fungi, disease and insect pests.

WATER

Water the soil and not the foliage of your plants and don’t use a “jet stream” when watering, that will splash spores from the soil onto the foliage.  Water gently.

Water in the morning, giving the foliage time to dry out before the evening temperature drops.

MULCH

If you mulch around your vegetable plants, not only will you be supressing weeds, feeding the soil (as it breaks down), regulating the soil temperature and saving water, you will also be reducing the spreading of spores from the soil to your plants.

Mulching is essential for successful vegetable growing.

BE AWARE:  Plants and cuttings with Powdery Mildew should not be put in your compost bin as the spores will potentially be spread throughout other parts of your garden when used.

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Many of you may have heard about tinnitus or personally experienced it for yourself.

Tinnitus is when you experience ringing or other noises in one or both of your ears. Some people experience a hum, buzz, cricket or high-pitched squeal which may be constant, intermittent and can sometimes change in tone, pitch or intensity.

The noise you hear when you have tinnitus isn't caused by an external sound, and other people usually can't hear it. Tinnitus is a common problem. It affects about 15 to 20 per cent of people and is especially common in older adults.

So what causes tinnitus?

Tinnitus is usually caused by an underlying condition and is most commonly associated with a hearing loss. Generally, the worse your hearing is, the louder or more frequent the tinnitus will be.

Wax occluding the ear canal, injury to the tympanic membrane such as a perforation are also other common causes of tinnitus, and then there are more serious causes which are less common. If your tinnitus occurs suddenly, it is always best to seek medical advice to work out the underlying cause.

Other contributing factors to someone experiencing tinnitus can include alcohol intake, levels of salt in the diet, stimulants such as caffeine, various medications may have tinnitus as a side effect, and stress. Often, if someone is stressed or anxious, or there has been an unwanted change in personal circumstances, the level of tinnitus they experience can fluctuate in intensity.

For many people, tinnitus improves with treatment of the underlying cause. Apps such as Beltone Tinnitus Calmer uses a combination of sounds and relaxing exercises that aim to distract your brain from focusing on the tinnitus. Hearing aids are also another great option for tinnitus suffers as many also have a hearing loss, so the benefits are twofold.

Written by Owner/Audiometrist at Whitsunday Hearing, Sarah Logan

Tinnitus affects about 15 to 20 per cent of people around the world

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Peter J Hood

1: Council can deal, in a limited way, with repercussions from increased financial stress. While we have lower house prices compared to many other areas in Queensland (and consequently lower interest repayments) we also have some of the highest rates and insurance premiums.

I’ve hammered home over the past couple of years Whitsunday rates can and should come down. As Mayor I would immediately Conduct my own audit of council spending (zero cost to residents for the audit) and look at the budget priorities we have.

I also believe we can reduce the hoops many buyers need to jump through to be able to build and buy locally.

2: If I weren’t running, I’d take a close look at each of the candidates. I’ve copped some criticism because some candidates believe you need to be a Councillor before you run for Mayor. I have to say that their performance to date as a Councillor hasn’t been spectacular enough to fill me with any sort of confidence.

One of the advantages of a by-election at this time is that no matter who you vote for you can get rid of them in two years. I have been dealing with the top-end of local, State and Federal governments as a Principal Accountant in Public Practice for 44+ years.

Working with state and federal governments, particularly around funding, requires a professional approach. There’s also a need to get the basics right before we waste money on things that are not essential.

3: I think we can make a good case for upgrading the Bruce Highway between Mackay and Townsville, floodproofing Goorganga and Hamilton Plains and developing a sealed road between Proserpine and Collinsville. Housing is obviously an area of need for our region. I’d argue that many essential medical services need incentives to encourage providers.

We also need to support our residents and to take the lead from them. We can’t tell people what they need, Council should be prepared to listen and act.

Julie Hall

1: The interest rate rises are going to place more and more pressure on the cost of living, and this will have a run-on affect to our community, businesses, and our tourism industry. People stop spending money on non-essentials when times are tough.

Advocating for more support from Federal and State Government for our businesses, tourism and our industries and ensuring Council is doing all it can do to protect the economic development of the region.

This is not a time to be placing more pressure on our locals with higher rates and we should be looking at where we can save money, especially wasted money, this I believe is an absolute must.

Listening to the needs of the community as we move through these times, so we have enough foresight and planning to adapt and change as required. This will require a leader who is willing to step outside the box and who is willing to bring new initiatives to the table.

Our local community groups are an essential part of supporting the people in our community that are doing it tough and as a community we can all do more to help and support. My vision is to pull together the Whitsunday region and stop the division of us and them. Together we will be stronger and more resilient and together we will get through these tough times.

2: I would give my vote to Phil Batty if I wasn’t running as he has similar values to me. He is genuine in his vision of doing what’s right and helping the community first and foremost.

3: I have already made many State and Federal government contacts since running in the last Federal Election and I will be leveraging on these contacts to advocate for our region to ensure we are not forgotten up here in the north and we receive our fair share of funding.  

Al Grundy

1: Council can support our community by being as effective and efficient as possible to ensure that every dollar is spent wisely. We are moving into a period that has not been experienced by a great majority of our community, with rising interest rates and rising costs of living, greater than wages growth. These recent economic pressures come on top of the housing shortage and challenges presented to businesses with staff shortages.

For the next few years, the most important role for the Mayor and the Councillors is to keep a close eye on expenditure to ensure that rates and utility charges are kept to an absolute minimum, while maintaining the services of Council at the best possible standards. The work of advocacy for the Mayor will also be very important, meeting with local, state and federal politicians and agencies to ensure the financial assistance from grants and programs is fairly and equitably distributed back to our community.

On financial management, another area I want our CEO to focus on is achieving the best possible returns from the commercial business units. By ensuring we are realising a return from the business units we can help reduce the pressures on the general rates from rising costs, such as wages, fuels, fleet and consumables.

2: If I was not running, I would want a candidate who had experience in local government and running a small to medium size business. One of the things that I have found since becoming a councillor in April 2020, is that it takes around a year to understand the legislative requirements and processes for conducting Council business.

3: I have over 10 years of experience advocating for this community, in particular during the period after Cyclone Debbie. I have represented this community in Canberra with politicians and bureaucrats on two occasions, and have hosted numerous politicians and agencies on local visits to the area. I have also presented papers to senate estimate hearings and been asked to represent the area on numerous committees. The most important advocacy is the with Financial Assistance Grants, where grants from the Federal Government are distributed back for Councils to work on programs, such as the local road network.

Mike Brunker

1: Cost of living pressures are always at the front of mind when you are a Councillor. Framing our budgets for the region, we are sure to make certain that, while all of our water and sewerage budgets should be self-funding, we balance that principle with the affordability of our rates each year.

That's why over the six years since Cyclone Debbie and the Covid outbreak, we have only raised the general rates twice, as well as still trying to provide the communities with a good standard of services that are expected today.

2: I obviously have voted for myself, as I believe I have the most experience as a Mayor to make sure we as a Whitsunday Regional Council still get our fair share of funding from State and Federal governments.

But, if I wasn't running for Mayor, I would probably vote for Al Grundy. Although he has not been on Council for long, I believe he has more – a lot more - credibility and integrity than the others. You cannot say one thing around the council chambers and a different thing out in the community. So, for me, it would be Al Grundy.

3: As I said: I have the experience of running a Council as a Mayor as I've spent 22 years in Local Government with 15 of those years as Mayor. So, I do know my way around, which is important when lobbying State and Federal Ministers for project funding or support for our communities.

It's crucial that after this election, whoever has the honour of leading the mighty Whitsunday Regional Council, that we get straight back to business and work as a united group without any hard feelings or backstabbing. It is a bare minimum that the voting public would expect.

So Just Vote 1 Michael Brunker - you don't have to fill in every square - and stick with experience.

Jan Clifford

1: As a councillor, I have no control over the interest rates.

2: I have no interest in voting for any other candidates.

3: As a long serving Councillor for many years, I have both formed professional friendships and strengthened others with both levels of governments on both sides of the political aisle. As a Director of Regional Development Australia for the Mackay, Isaac and Whitsunday region I become aware of funding opportunities in their early stages and am able to react quickly. I will, through my contacts, continue to push for additional funding such as the Works for Queensland State government initiative and ensure that these funds are shared equitably across the entire region.

Phil Batty

1: Council cannot control interest rates and inflation rates in any meaningful way, what council can do is not continually impose rates, fees and charges to the community which compound the global and national impacts.

Council can and must do better in terms of budgeting and wasteful spending, like every household it must very quickly adapt how business is done to get better value for every dollar spent thus minimising and holding the line on rate increases, charges and other income lines like parking fees and all other revenue lines from the public. This focus and prudence will relieve and assist the continual stresses caused by interest and inflation.

2: I can understand the dilemma currently presented to the resident in deciding who to vote for. Each of the candidates have different strengths and different political leanings. The difficulty as with any election is separating what you are told from what will be achieved. Whoever gets elected, and I am not going to pick one, I would hope has the vision to improve this region and the strength to lead and manage a council to make these things happen.

3: This is where my strengths will really bring results. Firstly, modelling and planning before approaching state and federal governments is mandatory. Fully costed clearly articulated proposals with ROI and risk profiles in place addressing the need and benefits to the current community and that of future generations must be completed before asking for support. Simply asking for money will never work in the current financial climate.

Then getting these proposals into the right hands, knocking on doors, knocking again and pressing the case. Having the answers to the obvious questions which will come back. Then sell the region and show that Council is ready and able to deliver on all their plans to compliment this investment. Do the work well to make the government’s decision to offer support easier and publicly acceptable.

I can and will lead this approach if elected as Mayor, the Mayor for all the people of this region.

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Paperbacks were flying off the shelf in July for Proserpine Museum’s Book Bonanza with the local institution reporting this year was its best ever, both in terms of donations and funds raised.

Volunteers at the museum were astounded by the backing from the local community as the over two decade-long running event experienced unprecedented support.

A volunteer at Proserpine Museum attributed the 2022 event’s success to a few factors.

“The community has always given us strong support by giving us the books themselves,” the volunteer said.

“But this year in terms of donations, it’s definitely our best ever. The only things I can think is that people had purchased a lot of books over COVID and they needed somewhere to get rid of them!

“I think, even though it’s been 26 years, the word is really getting out now because there were a lot of new people dropping in.”

The week-long event is the major fundraiser for the museum, with money cycled back into maintenance, upkeep, and upgrades for the volunteer-run building.

The Book Bonanza has long been a “treasure trove” for local collectors, but volunteers were particularly glad to see the new generation picking up the paperbacks this year – another indicator of its growing success.

“We were just so thrilled – the first Saturday and Sunday were the busiest and I was so pleased,” the volunteer said.

“We had so many young families coming through and that was something in particular that I noticed. It was fantastic to see.”

Volunteer Jan Lade, Proserpine Museum Vice President Don Kurkowski, and volunteer Larraine Bigg

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