Over the next 3 weeks the residents of the Whitsunday Regional Council area have a decision to make. A decision which will determine the future for the region. Do we want to go back to what we have seen over the last years or do we want to move forward and create a future for our families and their children to come?

Who do you want to be mayor?

According to some news reports: “we need someone experienced behind the wheel”… “now is not the time for a learner driver”. It seems council is a vehicle, a vehicle to transport you to higher office.

Experienced? Experienced in what?

Twenty plus years of increasing the rates? To make them the highest in Queensland.

Twenty plus years of driving the ratepayer funded car and getting paid to do so?

Twenty plus years of using the car to elevate himself to another job? A failed attempt to get out of this job when trying for federal parliament standing for the Labor party, two failed attempts to try for state parliament standing for the Labor party.

Twenty years of experience in failure

Years of missing Council’s budgeted results by $30 million dollars each year. Is this the experience we are supposed to need?

Years of “knowing better” what the community they represent wants and needs.

Approving a high-rise development on the foreshore contrary not only the planning scheme but clearly against the community wishes.

“Development has only one way to go and that’s up” according to some, just like the rates in the future.

Experience in secrecy and behind closed doors deals.

Experience in inaction.

Little wonder a career politician - and a failed one at that - is rattled by the challenge of new blood. And can only resort to trite and tired old scare tactics about learner drivers. Seems the only one scared is Mike.

You can vote Batty 1 with full confidence in the future-you won’t be putting a learner driver to any test; my only P plates stand for Progress and Probity.

Time to bring 40 years of global commercial experience to the wheel.

Time to bring 40 years of managing budgets for hundreds of millions of dollars to the wheel.

Time to bring 40 years of leading teams of thousands of people.

Time to bring in 40 years of getting things done and making things happen.

Phil batty may be just a “member of the public” but one who has made several more significant contributions to the prosperity of this region than any current councillor in recent years.

Vote Phil Batty for Mayor in this election and let’s not go back to the past.

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Five of the six candidates in the running to be the next mayor of Whitsunday Regional Council spoke to the community and answered their questions on Monday, July 25.

The Whitsunday Coast Chamber Of Commerce’s Meet The Candidates event was the first of two in the region, allowing locals a first-chance opportunity to scrutinize the potential politicians.

Mayoral candidates Michael Brunker, Philip Batty, Peter J Hood, Jan Clifford, and Julie Hall attended the event, with Al Grundy an apology on the day.

Initially the candidates were given three minutes each to introduce themselves, their experience, and their ideas for the region, before being asked a series of supplied questions from Whitsunday residents.

The event also coincided with the official nomination deadline day set by Electoral Commission Queensland, which was met by 12pm, and followed by an official ballot paper order draw.

The candidates in ballot paper order are: Michael Brunker, Jan Clifford, Al Grundy, Peter J Hood, Philip Batty, and Julie Hall.

Electoral Commissioner Pat Vidgen said there are plenty of voting options for the more than 23,600 enrolled voters in the Whitsunday council region.

“If they can’t vote in person there’s still time to apply for a postal vote, and telephone voting is available to people who meet certain criteria, including having to isolate because of COVID-19.”

Early voting polling booths are open 9am-5pm daily from 1 to 11 August 2022 (excluding weekends) and 9am-6pm on 12 August 2022 at the following locations:

•Bowen PCYC, corner Hay St & Queens Rd, Bowen

•Whitsunday Shopping Centre, shop 150/226 Shute Harbour Rd, Cannonvale

•Collinsville Community Centre,11 Conway Street, Collinsville

•Proserpine Whitsunday Freemason Lodge, 29 Chapman St, Proserpine

The Collinsville voting centre will open from 1-5pm on 8-11 August 2022 and 1-6pm on 12 August 2022.

On election day on 13 August 2022 there will be five polling booths.

Postal vote applications are open until 7pm on 1 August 2022. You can apply online via the ECQ website or phone the ECQ on 1300 881 665.

Telephone voting registrations are open 9am on 1 August 2022 until 12pm on 13 August 2022 and people can vote by phone up until 6pm on election day.

Further details on the Whitsunday mayoral by-election can be found on the ECQ website.

Four of six Whitsunday Mayoral candidates attended the ballot paper order draw on Monday, Julie Hall, Jan Clifford, Philip Batty, and Peter J Hood

Candidate Michael Brunker at the Whitsunday Coast Chamber of Commerce Meet The Candidates event

The event was well attended, with roughly 70 filling out the Reef Gateway function room

Candidate Jan Clifford speaking at the Meet The Candidates Event

Candidates Philip Batty and Peter J Hood

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Chamber Chat

On Tuesday July 25, the Whitsunday Coast Chamber hosted their "Meet the Mayoral Candidates 2022" event at the Reef Gateway Hotel. All six candidates committed to attending, however Al Grundy was a late apology due to illness and will be given an opportunity to answer the same question posed to the other candidates on the night.

I gave a brief welcome, outlining the format and rules for the evening and reinforcing our desire for positivity and respect from both the candidates and the packed room. Annette Harm from the Chamber then took over proceedings as moderator and following an opening statement by each candidate, she presented a series of pre-submitted questions followed by several questions from the floor. None of the candidates were given notice of question so it was a genuine test of knowledge, preparation and ability to think on the spot.

The questions spanned most of the significant issues affecting the region – with the candidates outlining their policies, positions and solutions to housing shortages, short term holiday letting approvals, town planning and building height issues, the Shute Harbour Marina Resort proposal, environmental issues and recycling, local laws and traffic issues.

The event was recorded and will be up on our FB page and website as soon we can record Al Grundy answers to the same questions.

The evening showed that we have some high quality yet very diverse candidates to choose from in this election. And in a region as diverse as the Whitsundays, each candidate will appeal to voters in all parts of the shire. It really does reinforce the fact that as this is an optional preferential election, just voting 1 won't give us the most preferred candidate.

You can vote 1, number every box or any combination between. I strongly encourage all voters to number every box – we are at the cusp of further financial challenges but there will be massive opportunities. We need a leader who will unite, represent the entire region and most importantly, has the support of the region behind them

Written by Whitsunday Coast Chamber of Commerce President Allan Milostic

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Whitsunday Life’s Mayoral Election Coverage is kicking into gear this week, and we sat down with the region’s six candidates to ask them the questions that matter to you.

1.Why are you interested in the position of Mayor of the Whitsundays?

2.What qualities make for an effective mayor?

3.If elected, what is the first thing in the region that you would strive to change?

Julie Hall

I have chosen to put my hand up for Mayor because I believe our communities are no longer being listened to or heard by the Whitsunday Regional Council and I am standing to offer the Whitsunday region someone who represents the people, A peoples Mayor.

I believe it is time the Whitsundays had representation whose focus is on unity, integrity, and prosperity of all, where everyone benefits not just a few.

A good mayor should be approachable and personable, cares about people and has great leadership skills, someone who has initiative, who sees challenges as opportunities to grow and who is a good team player and a hard worker.

Whilst the current counsellors have more direct Council experience, please don’t underestimate the value that someone like me can bring to the table. I have a large cache of transferrable skills that are easily adapted to government. I have run a successful business for over 16 years, worked as a sales and marketing manager for a large construction company, I have served on the Building and Construction Advisory Board and represented the board on the Regional EVE Committee for Education and Training.  I’ve made many contacts in both federal and state government through running in the last federal election and I have gained a wealth of knowledge and experience into the workings of government and politics. Most of all I am a people person who genuinely cares about others because everyone deserves a fair go and to be listened to and heard.

The first thing I will strive to achieve is looking at where we are wasting rate payers’ money so we can reduce costs and ensure we can rein in where council is putting even more pressure on the cost of living for our locals.

Michael Brunker

I have been in Local Government since 1994 as a councillor for Collinsville, then three years later became Queensland’s youngest Mayor at the age of 30 years. I held that Mayoral position as Mayor of Bowen and Whitsundays until 2008, and returning as a councillor in 2012.

I am as passionate about our communities in the Whitsunday region now as I was as a young man back in 1994. I love to have my say on issues brought before council and you’ll always know where I stand. I call a spade a shovel, and certainly don’t say one thing around the council table and another out in the community.

Our job is to set the strategic plan and corporate plans that will eventually link to our annual budget. The mayor’s role is to make sure that when councillors have taken a position or decision that it is carried out by the CEO and our workforce in a timely manner.

Economic development will be crucial this term to encourage industry and government, and I believe I am well positioned to bring in that support from both sectors.

This election will be optional preferential, so you only have to vote 1. I respect the intelligence of the voters and will not be handing out (how to vote cards), so if you support the most experienced candidates in the field, please just vote 1 Michael Brunker.

Phillip Batty

What can a Phillip Batty-led council do for me? There are two answers to that overriding question: offer management of proven ability and integrity, and bricks and mortar pledges of early actions.

First, you will have a council led by a former industry executive who brings 40 years of commercial experience, budget management skills, and proven team leading ability.

A mayor who will pledge to keep rate rises at the lowest possible level while still maintaining all those services a council is charged with providing. And a mayor who ensures he and his fellow councillors will consult regularly and often with our ultimate bosses: you, the ratepayers.

The office of mayor is to do a specific and clearly defined job - consult and act in the best interests of the community. Not make unilateral decisions that may be the product of hidden political or personal agendas.

What I can bring to the office of mayor is what I will not bring to it. There will be transparency in all dealings within allowable regulations, there will be no private agendas, secret deals or going back on my word.

The Mayor needs to be financially literate, passionate about the job and the region, innovative, bold, relentless and focussed. I will strive to be this and more, the effort will be 100%. I am not nor ever have been a member of any political party.

But you then say that talking fine words is easy, what actual issues will you implement or act on first? For starters, a Philip Batty mayoralty will challenge and closely examine the council decision to support the high-rise development on Airlie Beach foreshore.

But there is much more to the WRC responsibilities than just Airlie. I will outline initiatives addressing other issues across the council areas in the coming weeks.

Jan Clifford

As someone who believes in the Whitsundays and its prosperity, I feel that running for mayor is the right thing to do for the region as I have no outside business interests, I do not belong to a political party, I have no family commitments and am available to the community

I am a people person who is passionate about the wellbeing of the community and its residents. I have a diverse working background and have completed all the modules for my Diploma of Local Government. I hold a Diploma in Management and am a Director of Regional Development Australia – Mackay, Isaac & Whitsunday.

I am also a Director of the National Rural Women’s Coalition, The Whitsunday Housing Company Limited and The Greater Whitsundays Community Boards. I openly encourage appropriate and sustainable development and am acutely aware of the critical affordable housing shortage which is the main inhibitor for further growth and sustainability in the region

My aim would be to be more engaged with the community by reintroducing Community Catch Ups along with Town Hall Meetings on important issues such as post budget and major changes or amendments to things like the planning scheme.

Peter J Hood

People have asked me why I put my hand up for mayor. I believe that the whole of the Whitsundays needs a voice and the position shouldn’t be just looked on as a steppingstone once you’ve become bored with being a councillor. It’s not about the perks, it’s about doing the best you can. I’m putting my money where my mouth is and have committed to returning half my mayoral salary back to the community – and that process will be completely transparent.

We have some of the highest rates in Queensland but do you really think we are we getting value for money?

That’s something else we need to talk about. As an accountant and business owner most of my job is about making everything as clear and open as possible. I can’t say our council operates the same way and one of the things that needs to change is the culture. Councillors should be free to speak up and openly argue for their beliefs. Yet there has been a view that WRC is all about getting everyone to agree with the majority and not rock the boat.

Sometimes that majority view is wrong and often it is harmful. And it’s in the area of town planning that most of these harmful decisions impact on us.

So how do we fix it? I’d like to start identifying areas of unmet need and encourage residents, community organisations and businesses to engage with that process. Working with councillors and WRC staff we can look at how we can streamline council’s processes while still being able to stop inappropriate development.

There’s a shopping list of infrastructure improvements we can work on, starting with the way we get around. The roads are average at best and dangerous whenever the weather changes.

We can do better.

Al Grundy

Three years ago, being a Councillor was not even on my radar, let alone running for Mayor. However, while I was chair of Tourism Whitsundays, Mayor Andrew Willcox joined the Board.

At this time a lot of what Tourism Whitsundays was working on was related to developing opportunity across the region.

We were also working closely on the recovery projects post the cyclone so got to understand each other.

After 28 months as a Councillor, I have learnt a lot about local government and the legislative frameworks.

With this position, I want to continue the journey of unifying our towns, indeed my slogan is “4 towns making 1 great community”.

I see potential for positive balanced growth, delivering economic prosperity, supporting existing industries and growing new.

In 2006, I was voted onto the Tourism Whitsundays Board and from 2016 to Oct 2019 I was the Chairman. In many ways, the skills of Chairman are similar to that required to be a mayor, in particular providing strategic direction to the CEO.

The position also requires experience to ensure good governance, financial management, audits, and transparency in decision making.

Media skills to be positive, even in tough times you must keep your head up, show empathy, balanced with ‘Can Do’.

Forging strong relationships and partnerships. Remaining independent, ‘A’ political and work with whoever is holding government. Community Engagement, to be a good listener and to encourage community conversations.

First thing I would strive to change would be to seek opportunities locally to meet our housing shortage.

We should look at every possible opportunity, working with the community, council, developers, agents, housing companies, builders to find local outcomes.

We are a small council, spread over 24,000 sq kms with only 19,000 ratepayers and we need to balance our community service obligations against good financial management.

Projects from the installation of solar panels, to improving commercial practices that realise returns from the council business units. Every dollar from a commercial activity, is a dollar not taken from general rates.

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A new crop of office bearers was elected for 2022-23 when the Proserpine Lions and Lions Ladies Auxiliary had their annual changeover night earlier this month.

40 people attended the meeting held at the Whitsunday Leisure and Activity Centre on July 2, including acting Whitsunday Mayor Mike Brunker and Councillor Al Grundy.

Proserpine Lions Club member Horace Lowbridge says the newly elected office bearers keenly put their hands up for their new roles.

“People are really keen and interested in the club,” he said.

The meeting was also an opportunity to present cheques from funds that were raised through a number of initiatives including the weekly Goose Club, Whitfunday and Proserpine Show catering as well as numerous other barbecues held throughout the year.

The funds raised are then donated to local organisations at the suggestion of members.

Donations of $1000 each were presented to the Girl Guides for kitchen renovations, Blue Care for a men’s shed, The Proserpine Nursing Home for an internal men’s shed, Whitsunday Leisure Centre for trips and activities, Meals on Wheels, The Boy Scouts and the Proserpine Museum.

Horace says the new committee will continue the great work the Lions are known for in the community including catering events, donating funds back to the community and facilitating the Youth of the Year Program.

Horace joined the Lions in 2000 after moving to Australia in 1999 and has served as the club’s secretary and president in the past.

He says he joined to meet new people as well as their families in the area.

“The Lions is every walk of life,” he said.

“If you join your local club, any club, it gets you into the community by making friends and socialising.

“That was really good for me.”

Proserpine Lions and Lions Ladies Auxiliary always welcome new members.

Visit proserpine.qld.lions.org.au/joinnow for more information.

Newly elected office bearers Tim Mcbride (Secretary), Steve Thompson (President), Sue McLeod (Secretary Lions Ladies), Linda Bullock (assistant Treasurer Lions Ladies), Lorraine Daly (Vice President Lions Ladies), Sue Dair (Lion Tamer Lions Ladies) and Damien Mott (Treasurer).

Cheque recipients Maria Strohfeldt (Girl Guides), Susan Blyth (Proserpine Nursing Home), David Hinschen (Lions), Helen Deighton (Whitsunday Leisure and Activity Centre),Tracey Tully (Blue Care), Margaret Perkins (Meals on Wheels), Sue Dair (Lady Lions). Photos supplied: Horace Lowbridge

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GROWING FROM SEEDS IS NOT DIFFICULT

It is certainly cheaper than buying seedlings and you don’t lose plants because of root disturbance when direct sowing into the ground. Why not give it a go?  At worst you’ve lost $3 for a packet of seeds, at best you have more vegetable seedlings then you can grow opposed to the six seedlings in that punnet.

Let’s talk growing from seed and what is needed for germination.

For a seed to germinate, it has three requirements:

Soil temperature

All seeds have specific soil temperature ranges to germinate.  Outside of these temps, they will remain dormant.  So how do you know what seeds to plant when?

If searching on the net, our zone is “Tropical”, you can read the seed packet or you can read this column. The Whitsundays winter is the time to plant most seeds.

Plant now:

Corn, Chillies, Capsicums, Parsley, Basil, Radish, Lettuce, Cabbage, Watermelon, Squash, Beetroot, Carrots, Eggplant, Cucumber, Coriander and beans to name a few

Correct sowing depth

If you plant your seeds too deep, the first shoot will not have enough stored energy to push its way through to the surface. A general rule of thumb is to plant the seed at twice the depth of the seeds’ width. For very small seeds like lettuce and many herb seeds, they are literally sprinkled on the surface and then sprinkle the finest layer of soil on top (with a sieve is perfect). Larger seeds like peas and corn must be pushed into the soil but remember, not too deep! You would be better off planting too shallow, than too deep.

Water

It is essential for germination that the soil remains moist. This means watering every morning without fail. The soil must not dry out in this crucial period of a seed’s transition.

I sow all my vegetable seeds directly into the ground and, as I am not at home during the day (due to work commitments), I water my seeds in the morning and then cover the soil until the green shoots pop out of the ground.  Your vegetable seeds do not need the sun to germinate, they need the correct soil temperature and moisture, so covering them from direct sunlight is not an issue.  Shade cloth or hessian work well. When watering seeds, it’s a gentle water, don’t hit your soil with a tsunami and wonder why your seeds washed away or rotted in very wet soil.

Can seeds fail?  Sure they can. But once you have seed germination success, you’ll never turn back!  You’ll have the pick of the strongest seedlings, and you’ll have plenty to share with others if you struggle to simply pluck out the excess (which you will need to do once they have grown their second set of leaves).  

If your vegetable seeds have not come to the surface within 3 weeks, chances are they are not going to. I suggest giving another variety a go.

Note:  Don’t forget to label your seeds.  You think you’ll remember what you have planted and three weeks later you’ll regret you didn’t label.

TAYLOR: don’t need to use all the images

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Lindeman Island, the once-site of a Club Med Resort, has been put back on the market after ten years’ worth of planning by its owners came to nothing.

China-based firm White Horse, who purchased Lindeman Island around 2012, have said in statement this week that it is “with regret that after 10 years of ownership, White Horse has made the decision to divest Lindeman Island”.

White Horse purchased the island which sits 40-minutes from Airlie Beach a decade ago for $12 million and are now seeking a $20 million return.

Local representative of the firm, Michael Dawn, said this was despite having successfully completed the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) component of the redevelopment.

That EIS was for a $583 million dollar masterplan to redevelop the abandoned site - but those plans are now up in the air, and it is unknown whether a future owner would continue with the already drawn-up scheme or come in with their own ideas.

The marketing agency in charge of the island's sale and expression of interest campaign said the island was a “blank canvas”.

The plan includes a variety of four to six-star accommodation offerings, with 325 suites villas, suites and apartment, an eco-tourism education centre, restaurants, bars, beach club, nightclub, conference centre, arrival centre, retail shops, sport and recreation centre and a staff village.

Original concepts had believed the resort would be finished by 2022.

“White Horse hopes that the new owner continues with its vision to redevelop this once great island resort and restore it to its former glory,” the statement said.

The proposed redevelopment was originally floated almost seven years ago – with construction originally pegged to begin in 2017 - but Lindeman now joins a string of other islands in the Whitsundays Archipelago in a development limbo.

Those include islands like Long Island, which was recently purchased by Oscars Hotels, as well as the Meridian Australia purchased Hook Island, and South Molle Island – an island owned by China Capital Investment Group.

An artist Impression of the Lagoon pool at the new look Lindeman Island, which was due to be finished by 2022 but will now potentially never see the light of day

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Local fisherman and 81-year-old retiree, John Anderson, was ready to set off on a day of fishing with his two grandchildren when he was severely injured using the Shute Harbour boat ramp and pontoon.

The pontoon and boat ramp, installed in July last year for $1.4 million by State Government, was the scorn of Whitsunday boaties upon completion, who claimed it would be “impossible to be opened without somebody getting badly hurt.”

They claim that the design, which sees the pontoon fixed in place, is dangerous – but Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey said in July last year that the design was “special, glass fibre polymer” and was built as such to withstand cyclonic conditions.

Member for Whitsundays Amanda Camm MP slammed the design at the time, claiming it was “sub-standard”.

Since then, reports of injuries have flown into the offices of local Councillor Jan Clifford, as well as Member for Whitsundays Amanda Camm MP – both of whom were strong advocates against the ramp.

The latest injury toll was Mr Anderson.

“It’s a disaster, an absolute disaster. I’m not the first person to be injured on it either,” Mr Anderson said.

“My hand is broken; I was covered in bruises and cuts. I was standing on the pontoon, trying to get into the boat, and with the ramp on an angle and the pontoon on angle, it’s impossible.

“The boat stays level and if the boat moves while you’re trying to get in, you’re gone; you’re either in the water or the boat. I was flung into the boat and next minute I was on the deck.”

Mr Anderson said there were so many complaining about how dangerous the pontoon is “and here’s proof.”

“That pontoon should either be knocked out or permanently closed to the public. It’s a hazard, a public hazard, and its waiting for more injuries to come,” he said.

Mr Anderson took the issue to Councillor Clifford as well as the Member for Whitsunday, Amanda Camm.

They are pursuing the issue with relevant state bodies.

John Anderson suffered severe injuries at the Shute Harbour boat ramp and pontoon, which included a broken hand and widespread bruising and cuts

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After 12 years of breakfast radio, Jay and Dave from Triple M don’t need an alarm clock. Their bodies are finely tuned machines, always prepped and ready with all the latest news and views for and from the region, from 5am.

Last week, the duo reached a major milestone – 2,500 shows!

To mark this moment, they were presented with the keys to the city by Mayor Greg Williamson in the studio during their breakfast show last Friday.

When asked about the best talent he had interviewed on the show, Jay said there were so many to name.

“Agro, Jimmy Barnes, Margot Robbie and Rick Astley were fun. Honestly though, local and inspirational people who do extraordinary things gets me in the feels every time.”

Dave said he had two standout guests.

“The big one for me as far as laughability goes is comedian Ross Noble. But the main one was a young kid at primary school back in 2012 who had a heart condition by the name of Seth Hoey. He had gone through so many operations and wasn’t given long to live by his doctors, and all he wanted was his mum to be happy. The way he accepted his fate left us all in tears on the day. Seth lived until last year which was tough on both of us.”

Dave said a secret of their long-time success was chemistry.  

“The chemistry between the two of us has never been faked. And as Jay says we started off as strangers and now have a great friendship. We’ve both been through a hell of a lot, both good and bad in our personal lives and it has given us a bond you can only get with best mates – we’re practically brothers.”

Dave said his proudest moments on air were very personal ones.

“I’m so proud of Jay coming out on air – to Bob Katter of all people!

“Another proud moment is saying I needed help with the Black Dog. I don’t cry often - except when it’s a good belly laugh, but I completely broke down on air. Not only did it help me, it has also helped a number of blokes who got in touch, both on air and off, to put their hand up too.”

Both said the ability to call the community to arms, whether it be for fire, floods, emergency or to help families or communities in need was one of their most loved actions on air.

Here’s to another 2,500 shows boys!

Jay Shipston (left) and Dave Peters (right) were presented a cardboard ‘key to Mackay’ from Mayor Greg Williamson last Friday after delivering 2,500 breakfast radio shows

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The Countdown is on for the 2022 Mackay Sugar Ag Trade Expo, hosted by Western Suburbs Leagues Club (Walkerston), and it’s gearing up to be a massive feast of all things agricultural.  

Spokesperson for the event, Coordinator Julie Crowley, said she has been overwhelmed with the support from the local community for this event, with exhibitor bookings coming in daily.

“It was very disappointing having to postpone the event back in May due to the weather, however the good news is August is looking to be even bigger and better with more exhibitors to add to the already exciting list”, Julie said.

“We have a terrific variety of stall holders that will guarantee plenty of action, displays, products and services to keep anyone in the business of agriculture, or interested in agriculture and rural lifestyles, busy for the two days,” Julie added.

Julie said that Agricultural shows are an integral part of Australian culture.

“It’s the most authentic and accessible way to display Australian farming and regional life and we need the support from local businesses to ensure the growth and future of this Expo,” she said.

“We would like to sincerely thank all the wonderful businesses that have already booked their site for 2022; however it is certainly not too late if you would like to join us.”

Julie added that to date, around 700 shows and field days have been cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“So, it gives us great pleasure to be able to bring this expedition together and return as a bi-annual event in Mackay,” she said.

“With great pride we welcome our valued naming rights sponsor - Mackay Sugar, member of Nordzucker Group!! Mackay Sugar staff bring a professional and exciting aspect to our event and we look forward to working with them throughout 2022 and beyond.”

The 2022 Mackay Sugar Ag Trade Expo will be held at Wests Leagues Club, Branscombe Rd Walkerston on Friday 12th August, 8:30am - 5pm and again on Saturday the 13th of August between 8:30 and 3pm.

The family friendly event will include live music by singing sister duo “Gottani Sisters”, cooking demonstrations and exhibitor demonstrations on both days and a kidszone on the Saturday with amusement rides including a jumbo slide and jumping castle.  

One lucky person will win a $500 fuel voucher just by walking through the gates, and the expo will also have a generator being raffled, valued at $4,500.

Entry to the event is Adults $5, with children under 16 years are free.

Visit the website at www.mackayagtradeexpo.com.au or call Julie Crowley at West’s Leagues Club on 4959 2480 or email julie@weststigersmackay.com.au for more information.

Sublime Harmonies Of Gottani Sisters Will Be An Ag Show Treat

The superior harmonies of the Gottani Sisters have carried them from their North Queensland hometown of Rollingstone to the world stage and back again.

Now is your opportunity to see them live, at the 2022 Mackay Sugar Ag Trade Expo.

With Pauline on guitar and Jennifer on guitar/banjo these sisters have represented Australia in Nashville, done support shows for the legendary Johnny Cash and toured with the late and great Slim Dusty.

The sisters began their career in country music in 1975, at 12 years of age, singing their hearts out in the Rollingstone Hotel.

Twelve years later, in 1987, and thousands of concerts and festivals down the line, the Gottani Sisters were working hard to promote their unique modern harmonies to the people of Australia and abroad. The sisters moved to America and worked consistently touring as backup singers with some of the big names of country such as George Jones and Janie Frickie.

They have done numerous television shows and have supported other greats like Gene Pitney. Their album “Drops of Water” was the record company’s third best seller after Buddy Williams and Nev Nicholls.

This great Aussie duo are back touring Australia and are looking forward to sharing their unmistakable style of country music at the Ag Trade Show.

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Feel like a lack of funds is holding you back from achieving your dreams?

Whether you are dreaming of purchasing a car or a house – here are our top five steps to make those dreams a reality.

1.Get clear on your cash

Start with a budget. We don’t need to cut expenses straight up – but it’s good to understand where your hard-earned money is going. By looking at your cost of living, you can see what’s a priority, but also what’s a waste. It will help allocate funds to your financial goals.

2.Set goals that have meaning for you

Define the financial goals you wish to achieve in the next few years. What are the big-ticket items or experiences you are wanting to spend your cash on? Maybe it’s your first home or a family holiday. Whatever it may be, write it down and put a dollar value next to it.

3.Create your own cash stash

Having a separate account for your ‘emergency’ money is a useful tool that can help you reach your financial goals. This account is for those times when an unexpected bill arrives, or your washing machine dies – it’s a stash of cash you dip into for emergencies, instead of dipping into your savings.

4.Save save save

Now that you have your financial goals in place and you understand your cashflow, you can put money aside to reach those goals. To help, set up different savings accounts for each goal and name that account after that specific goal. This will help you to see how close you are to reaching that goal.

5.Schedule an annual review

It’s always a good idea to schedule an annual budget review with yourself and your personal banker. Check-in how your savings are travelling, tick off goals you’ve reached and write down your new goals.

To help you get started in reaching those financial goals, Community Bank Sarina Bendigo Bank is here to help! As a bonus – when you bank with us, you’re also helping to help others as our profits go back into the community. Since 2005, we have invested $2.7million through a wide range of sponsorships, community grants, scholarships and donations in our greater Mackay community. A bank giving back sounds unusual but for us, it's business as usual.

Call Charmaine and the team at Community Bank Sarina 07 49432624

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When storm season hits and power from the grid fluctuates, the last thing you need is damage to your home and property infrastructure, resulting in the need for electricians, insurance claims and new equipment.

All these measures take time and money which are liberties you may not have when your fridges, freezers, bore pumps, cold room motors and other critical property infrastructure are out of action.

Electrical technician and Queensland Country Electrical director/owner Gavin Elliott knows this issue all too well and took matters into his own hands, developing MACS Monitoring, a voltage monitoring system that has already saved farmers and homeowners thousands.

“When you’ve got storm season and the power fluctuates on the grid, this prevents when that fluctuation happens, cuts the power, makes sure it’s stable and brings the power back on again,” said Gavin.

“Also, when it’s not storm season and the power fluctuates and drops down to what you call a brown out, that’s what burns out all your fridges, cold rooms, pumps and motors.

“That’s where it really saves people in that regard.

“And when the power’s too high, that’s when it burns out your electronic stuff, especially security systems.”

With a background in sheep, cattle and lucerne farming, Gavin completed an electrical trade in Townsville, working on switchboards in mining, heavy industry and rural.

“You start seeing more and more of the electrical problems in the rural, regional and remote areas,” he said.

In 2010 he started as an electrical contractor and over four and a half years, he developed the MACS Monitoring system.

“That’s where I came up with this product because there was nothing in the country that suited our Australian conditions and our climate.”

“We’ve saved some of our customers 40 to 60 thousand dollars over the last five years.”

The Queensland-owned, developed and patented product is simple enough for any electrician to install.

“We’ve provided a product where everyone’s happy, no one’s losing anything and we’re saving people money every year; happy days,” Gavin said.

MACS Monitoring will be at the Mackay Ag Trade Expo next month to answer all of your electrical questions and discounts are available for enquiries made at the expo.

For more information about the MACS Monitoring system contact 0400 867 800 or visit macsmonitoring.com.au.

Gavin Elliot has developed the MACS Monitoring system after seeing first-hand the issues fluctuating power can cause to properties and equipment

MACS Monitoring is a simple system intended for any electrician to be able to install, saving customers thousands. Photos supplied: Gavin Elliot

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With the promise of a laidback lifestyle, quality tropical pastures and regular rain, it’s no surprise demand for rural residential properties has skyrocketed in the region over the past two years.

Partner in Charge of the Blacks Real Estate Rural Department Royce Dunn says the trend in demand and, subsequently, the price has been rising since mid-2019, with some property prices leaping 20-25%.

“There’s been a substantial increase in values across the rural types of real estate in that time, from small rural residential properties and vacant rural residential land through to rural lifestyle properties and hobby farms and, indeed, right through to cane farms and cattle stations,” said Royce.

The pandemic saw multitudes of people relocating out of urban environments and, along with the desire for self-sufficiency, this has seen a spike in rural residential, rural lifestyle and hobby farm sales.

“If you extend that to the cattle properties and cane farms, both of those industries are in a real purple patch at the present time in terms of the commodity price,” said Royce.

Properties in the Mackay region offer prime agricultural land and the prospect of more regular rain, and people are seeing the potential in the lifestyle the region offers.

“There are more people now looking to get into cattle grazing, even if it’s in a small way,” said Royce.

“It’s hard to get into it in a small way out west because everything’s cut up for fair-sized cattle stations whereas down here on the coast, it’s easier to buy a cane farm or a bit of country with established good quality tropical pastures.”

Blacks Real Estate has an intimate knowledge of rural real estate in the area, developing a very strong and loyal client base through over 140 years of history in the Mackay rural scene.

Whether you’re looking to make the move to a more spacious and relaxed lifestyle or you’re looking to sell or downsize, Blacks Real Estate has the experience in the sugar, grazing and rural industries to get you the desired outcome.

Blacks Real Estate will be at the Mackay Ag Expo to answer all your property questions or you can contact them on 07 4963 2500.

Royce Dunn of Blacks Real Estate says there is a current spike in rural property sales in the Mackay region. Photos supplied: Blacks Real Estate

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Did you know that 95% of all life on earth resides in the soil?

Most of the energy required in the world is derived from plant carbon.

In the last century, the world’s agricultural soils have lost 30-75% of their carbon (fertility), reducing production and vastly increasing farming costs.  

Even worse, many essential minerals and trace elements contained in your soil naturally are not reaching the plant.

Plants convert simple sugars into carbon compounds through the miracle of photosynthesis.

This is critical to healthy soil structure.

None of this can happen without soil microbes - soil without microbes is just dirt.

Factors such as chemicals, inorganic fertilisers, exposure of bare soil to sunlight, compaction and lack of inorganic carbon can all seriously reduce essential soil microbes and beneficial fungi.

Adding inorganic fertiliser to soil to make up for mineral and carbon depletion is an expensive and often inefficient practice.  

Your soil probably contains many of the minerals and trace elements required – they are simply not plant available.

Lime is a relatively inexpensive way to make minerals and trace elements plant available.

Kennedy Creek Lime (KCL) provides lime that contains around 5-6% magnesium carbonate – good for raising the PH of soil and also enhancing plant development (note: the magnesium already in your soil may not necessarily be plant available).

High grade gypsum is available for acid sulphate soils.

Low PH soil is a slippery slope.

The lower your PH gets, the harder it is to recover and the less minerals and trace elements are available to your plants.

KCL operates a strict Quality Assurance program that ensures all products meet expectations.

They consult with professional and private groups to ensure their products continue to deliver desired results.

Kennedy Creek Lime is located between Rockhampton and Mackay in Central Queensland and will be at the Mackay Ag Trade Expo to answer all your soil and fertiliser questions.  

A 6 tonne Marshall spreader is provided with all purchases and as of 2022 there is no delivery cost.

(Acknowledgments Dr. Christine Jones PhD, Founder, Amazing Carbon)

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We all love a good boogie on the dance floor, but did you know dancing and movement are known to have a broad range of benefits including improving body image, self-esteem, focus, and communication?

Lauren Heitman knows these benefits well and is assisting young people through her all-abilities dance classes Groove Movers.

Groove Movers started as a disability dance group with the simple aim of having fun.

Since Lauren took over a few years ago, the classes have developed rapidly but the aim has stayed the same.

Lauren holds a variety of classes on Wednesdays and Thursdays, with Wednesday’s classes focusing on working together to build skills that can be transferred into the outer community.

“We started with a couple of younger students who came into the group to start with, and they wouldn’t go near it, they’d just sit and watch, and now they actually get up and participate,” Lauren said.

“It’s quite a beautiful thing to watch them evolve from not wanting to be a part of the group … to actually watch them have that confidence and trust and to join in groups and benefit from being around others through music, movement and dance.”

Thursdays is a therapeutic music group known as Soul Singers where students socialise, listen to their favourite songs, dance, sing and jam on instruments.

Lauren also hopes to expand into movement therapy classes and classes for older students to help improve dementia and falls prevention and is studying music therapy to further her skills in helping people.

Groove Movers perform regularly, often joining forces with Crossroad Arts, and are currently practising for the upcoming Mackay Eisteddfod.

“Just to get them out so that they can experience new things and also to educate the general public, just because we have a disability, doesn’t mean we can’t do mainstream things, so to speak,” said Lauren.

“A lot of people don’t realise that they can actually achieve what they do.”

Groove Movers will be showing off their moves with the use of scarves and different movement techniques at the Mackay Disability Expo on August 12.

“If we’ve got any opportunities to perform, they want to perform; they love performing.”

SEE GROOVE MOVERS AT THE MACKAY DISABILITY EXPO!

The Mackay Disability Expo is back, bigger than last year and in a larger venue on Friday, August 12, from 9am to noon.

The expo will offer a crucial opportunity for people with a disability to find out about the latest products, services, aids and equipment.

It is an ideal platform for product and service providers to connect with people with disability, their families and carers.

The opportunity is also there for service providers to build networks with other providers, organisation and agencies in the region, to bring together everyone in the Mackay disability sector. All with the aim of enhancing the lives of people with disability.

This year the event has moved to a more spacious locality, the Big Shed at the Mackay Showgrounds.

Groove Movers frequently collaborate with Crossroad Arts for performances and fundraisers. Photo supplied: Lauren Heitman

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