Romance novels, childhood cartoons and British band The Police have led everyone to believe that one day, we’d all find a mysterious bottle washed ashore at the beach containing a grand tale of adventure from the original sender.

It doesn’t happen as often as these sources let us hope, but it did happen to fisherman Darrell Barba two weekends ago.

Mr Barba was traversing the mangroves looking for mud muscles at Midge Point, north of Mackay, when he spotted an old, clear bottle with a hint of colour shining through.

“I thought it was full of money, actually,” Mr Barba said.

“I thought, ‘I’m onto it here’.”

The source of the colour was a sole $10 note and, alongside it, a stamped postcard with a return address and a faded, handwritten note.

Failing to manoeuvre the contents through the bottleneck, Mr Barba broke the bottle.

Upon unravelling the faded note, Mr Barba discovered that the bottle had been afloat for over ten years after being dropped off a cruise ship about halfway between New Zealand and Brisbane.

The postcard revealed it had been “dropped astern off the Sun Princess on Christmas Day 25th December 2011” in the “mid-Tasman sea”, floating thousands of kilometres to wash up at Midge Point.

The postcard also featured instructions, directing the bottle’s discoverer to write down where and when the bottle was found and post the postcard back to the name and address, which read John Reed in northern Sydney.

Mr Barba followed the instructions and made contact with Mr Reed, returning the postcard.

This all came as a shock to Mr Reed as he didn’t drop the bottle off the ship himself.

“I think it’s pretty amazing it’s floated around the Pacific, or maybe the world,” Mr Reed said.

It was his good mate, Tony Potter, a whiskey-loving larrikin, who set the bottle free off the side of the Sun Princess.

Mr Reed said Mr Potter probably thought it was a good idea at the time.

“He’s a bit of a character, Tony,” said Mr Reed.

“A good mate for many years.

“That’s the sort of thing he did.

“I wouldn’t have done it myself but that was his idea of a joke.”

Unfortunately, Mr Potter passed away last year and didn’t live to see the punchline of his long-term joke.

“I’d like to ring him up and tell him the bottle’s been found and I’d love to talk to him,” Mr Reed said.

“But he passed away last year so I’d have to have a very long telephone cord.

“He’d think it was terrific, he’d think it was great that the bottle actually turned up.”

The bottle washed ashore at Midge Point, catching the eye of fisherman Darrell Barba

The bottle contained a postcard, a faded handwritten note and a $10 reward

Mr Barba sent the postcard to the surprise of the recipient, Sydney’s John Reed. Photos supplied: Camp Misguided

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Locals will no longer need to travel to Brisbane for complex sinus and nasal surgery with new state-of-the-art surgical technology now available at Mater Private Hospital Mackay.

Mater Private Hospital Mackay is the only hospital in the region equipped with the $88,000 Fiagon ENT Navigation System, funded by community donations to Mater Foundation.

Ear, Nose and Throat Surgeon Dr Luke Reid said the cutting-edge technology enabled procedures to be performed within 1–2mm degrees of accuracy and allowed patients to access surgery close to home.

Marion resident William Whamond was the first patient to have surgery using the new technology at Mater and said it had significantly improved his quality of life. He is now able to breathe, smell, and sleep more easily.

“For years I have suffered from severe nasal polyps that were visible and gradually worsened, affecting my sinus cavity to the degree I always had a blocked nose,” Mr Whamond said.

“I am in a managerial position, and it started affecting my work because I didn’t want to go to meetings where people could be concerned that I had COVID-19 or the flu.”

Mr Whamond said being able to have the surgery locally without travelling to Brisbane had saved him time, money, and stress that would have interrupted his work and family life.

Mater Foundation Executive Director Andrew Thomas said last Wednesday (29 June) was Mater’s annual Giving Day, an opportunity for donors’ contributions to be tripled to fund much-needed healthcare equipment and services in regional Queensland.

“Mater Giving Day is a 24-hour fundraiser where generous donations made to Mater Foundation will be matched and tripled by donors,” Mr Thomas said.

“The funds raised contribute to the improvement of Mater’s facilities across Queensland in the same way the ENT Navigation System is enhancing access to world-class care in Mackay.

“Whether you dig deep or give a little, every contribution makes a difference to patients like William and extends the services offered at Mater.”

Dr Reid said he used the surgical equipment weekly to perform procedures on patients with sinus disease, including polyps, and for those with complex anatomy where the equipment enhanced the safety of the procedure being performed.

“Donations to Mater Foundation for new technology helps support us to deliver local services to our patients in Mackay that is comparable to those found in major cities and institutions around the world,” Dr Reid said.

Mater Private Hospital Mackay ENT surgeon Dr Luke Reid and the Fiagon navigation system

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Six students were the recipients of more than $25,000 last week to help them forge a diverse range of careers without having to move to a big city to do it.

Community Bank Sarina awarded the scholarships to assist in study costs through CQUniversity in regional areas, in a range of interests, from science and digital media to agriculture, engineering and plumbing. The scholarships were awarded for a combination of higher education studies and apprenticeships.

Scholarships To Support Diverse Studies

More than $25,0000 in scholarship funding was awarded last week by Community Bank Sarina to further support local students in their studies, helping them to achieve their goals while studying in regional areas.

Community Bank Sarina Board Chair Karen May said that the successful applicants had unintentionally all come from a “wide range of study interests and career goals”.

“All of these students are studying in regional areas through CQUniversity – representing the diversity of opportunity available outside of our metro counterparts,” Ms May said.

“It really goes to show that if you do want to stick close by to loved ones, that you don’t need to sacrifice following your chosen career path by staying in a regional centre.”

The recipients are:

• Taya Murray - Bachelor of Science > $6000 higher education scholarship

• Lucy Hamblin - Bachelor of Agriculture (Agribusiness major) > $6000 higher education scholarship

• Jordan Ruddell - Certificate III in Engineering (Fabrication Trade) > $4000 apprenticeship scholarship

• Andrew Vrbanic - Certificate III in Plumbing > $4000 apprenticeship scholarship

Scholarship recipient Taya Murray said that it was while at SSHS that she learned about biofuels and “found the mix of chemistry and mechanics really fascinating”.

“A career goal of mine is to work at Sarina’s ethanol plant, and with this scholarship – I really appreciate the Bank’s support and confidence in me,” Taya said.

Jordan Patullo (Ruddell) is undertaking an apprenticeship in engineering (fabrication trade) and was “so excited I couldn’t stop smiling” when her name was announced as a scholarship recipient.

“I tried welding in school and it was something that I just ‘got’ straight away, and I really liked it,” Jordan said.

“When I finish my apprenticeship – I’m hoping to become a trainer, to help guide others in learning how to do welding and fabrication.

“I’m also a leader with our local unit of the Australian Army Cadets, and I love nothing more than watching the kids grow and develop. So when I finish, I want to bring my love of welding together with that – to help train others in the trade.”

To keep up to date on future scholarship opportunities, follow Community Bank Sarina on Facebook.

Prof Pierre Viljoen, Cr Karen May, Jaymi Cook, Jordan Patullo (Ruddell), Lucy Hamblin, Andrew Vrbanic, Taya Murray, Maree Franettovich and Charmaine Matsen

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Encourage your children to get creative over the school holidays by making a masterpiece for the upcoming Cruise Whitsundays Great Barrier Reef Festival.

Held from August 4-7, the 22nd annual festival will bring colour, fun and fiesta to Airlie Beach with a range of exciting events, many of which you can contribute towards yourself.

Here are some ideas:

•Construct an inflatable raft for the recyclable regatta – all rafts must be made from recycled items aside from the ores.

•Design a piece of wearable art out of recycled items

•Build a lantern for the lantern parade

•Get your workmates together and create a costume or float for the street parade

Anyone in the community is invited to get creative and contribute their unique piece of art – this year the theme is the ‘Great Eight’ - clownfish, giant clams, manta rays, maori wrasse, potato cod, sharks, turtles, and whales.

Festival Chairwoman and ‘Immerse’ concept designer, Margie Murphy, said your artwork can be inspired by any of these incredible marine creatures.

“Just as an African safari has its ‘Big Five’, our Great Barrier Reef’s ‘Great Eight’ are a checklist of the reef’s most mesmerising marine creatures and should provide ample inspiration for costumes and floats for this year’s Rotary Street Parade,” she said.  

“We’re also looking forward to seeing reef conservation innovatively expressed through our Wilmar Wearable Art and Anything Environmental Recyclable Regatta entries, so the time to get creating is now!”

WHAT: Great Barrier Reef Festival

WHEN: August 4-7

WHERE: Airlie Beach

Create some wearable art over the holidays!

Construct an inflatable raft out of recycled items

What are you going to create for the street parade?

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Did you know that your skin-health can be directly related to the types of food you choose to eat? Here are a few ideas for giving you fresh, clear skin all year round:

•Tomatoes – A great source of vitamin C which can help boost collagen production, they also fight cellular damage which can prevent fine lines and wrinkles

•Fatty fish - A source of omega-3 fatty acids, which are important for maintaining skin health - salmon, mackerel and herring are all excellent choices

•Quinoa – This super food has amazing skin benefits - it is packed with nutrients - Vitamin A, calcium, zinc, protein, manganese, fibre, iron and essential amino acids

•Green Tea – It contains powerful compounds called catechins and can protect your skin from damage and ageing. It is also anti-inflammatory, reducing skin irritations

•Avocado - High in healthy fats, avocados can do wonders for your skin. Getting enough of these fats is essential to help keep skin flexible and moisturised

•Carrots - Carrots are filled with antioxidants loaded with beta carotene that works on healing scars and blemishes on the skin

•Broccoli - This green tree goodness is full of zinc, vitamin A, and vitamin C

•Strawberries – Containing lots of antioxidants, strawberries are good at stopping your pores from becoming blocked and preventing spots from developing

•Walnuts - They contain a large number of polyphenols, which are compounds known for their antioxidant properties that fight skin damage and prevent ageing

•Greek Yoghurt – Containing natural anti-bacterial properties, yoghurt can help prevent acne breakouts and ensure glowing and healthy-looking skin.

Information sourced from bulk.com.uk

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This year at the Cruise Whitsundays Great Barrier Reef Festival, the Immerse art installation returns with a Vivid-style sculpture and animation theme.

Award-winning multi-media artists Donna Maree Robinson and Margaret Burgess have been working with local creators Brigitte Peel, Anita Pender, and Liz Knight to produce marine-themed digital projections and sculptures for a foreshore trail from the Lagoon to Fairy Tree Park in downtown Airlie Beach.

Donna Maree Robinson said festivalgoers could expect to see all manner of vibrant reef life animated onto building facades, rock walls, bridges, water, and an iconic fig tree, using specialised stop-motion techniques.

“This is something many people may not have witnessed before – it’s an immersive experience that brings to life quirky areas throughout the space we’re working in, creating a sense of wonder and awe about the reef, and also hopefully raising awareness about the need to protect it,” she said.  

The series of sculptures incorporated into the trail are being created at free workshops which are being held in communities across the region thanks to Regional Arts Development Funding (RADF).

Airlie Beach is next on the list, with the Immerse Workshop due to take place at the Whitsunday Neighbourhood Centre in Cannonvale on July 10, from 10am until 3pm.

“You don’t have to be an artist – you can have an interest in the environment, want to get creative or be somebody who just wants to connect with other people – it’s free of charge, and all the materials will be supplied, as well as the instruction,” said facilitator Margaret Burgess.

WHAT: Immerse Workshop

WHEN: July 10, 10am-3pm

WHERE: Whitsunday Neighbourhood Centre

The stunning ‘Immerse’ art installation from 2021

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End of financial year is upon us and with it the usual rush of last minute claims and financial manoeuvres. Take some time with your accountant and financial advisor to plan ahead for the next twelve months – with inflation rising and the costs of everything spiralling upwards, there will be challenging times ahead.

In the meantime, school holidays have arrived along with the influx of families enjoying the Whitsunday Winter. Add these to the Cruise Ship visitors and there is certainly a buzz in the main street again, particularly on weekends.

The Queensland State Budget was handed down this week with some welcome payroll tax for small and medium businesses (SME). This means SME's will be able to employ more people to meet the need of their customer base – around the limitations of ongoing staff and accommodation shortages. There were also positive measures in mental health support, regional infrastructure spend, and continued small business support programs.

With local mayoral elections just around the corner, the Chamber has organised a Meet the Candidates event to be held at the VMR Building, 6pm on Thursday, July 14. With most of the candidates already confirmed it will be sure to be an interesting evening. There are an unprecedented number of candidates in this election, it will be held as an optional preferential vote and Council have requested a postal election which is yet to be approved by the Queensland Electoral Commission.

If this goes ahead, it has several ramifications. It is expected that only 50 per cent of residents will vote and the vote will be fragmented amongst the candidates. Voters can just vote 1, or place a number against every candidates (or any combination in between)

The Chamber strongly recommends putting a number against each candidate to ensure the regions gets the most preferred mayor – not just the one that gets the most votes.

From Allan Milostic, President of the Whitsunday Coast Chamber of Commerce

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Young ladies in dazzling white gowns and long elegant gloves were formally ‘introduced to society’ last Saturday at the St Mary’s Parish Debutante Ball in Bowen.

Following months of training which involved learning many ‘old-time’ dances taught by a host of local volunteers, a total of 10 debutants and their partners presented.

The Grade 11 students were greeted at the church where they received a blessing.

They were then taken by bus to the Bowen State High School where they joined the official party of more than 200 people and were presented to Bishop Timothy Harris from the Townsville Dioses.

Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox was in attendance along with Acting Mayor Mike Brunker and Parish Council Representative Maureen Baxter.

The debutantes and their partners performed the ‘Deb Dance’ and then cut the ‘Deb Cake’.

After this, the bishop gave a speech and following dinner, all guests enjoyed dancing to live music performed by Hot Hot Hot from Mackay.

Organiser Raynee Bidgood said that the event was made possible with the help of many volunteers and that they were all happy to see such a fantastic night unfold.

“It was a very proud moment to see it all come together,” she said.

“They all looked beautiful and did a wonderful job!”

Andrew Willcox said that it was a pleasure to see them enjoy their night.

“These young ladies and gents work hard for weeks leading up to the big night, learning their presentation routine plus ball room dances,” he said.

“Well done must go to Raynee Bidgood and her team for the many hours of organisation and dance lessons that went into bringing this wonderful event together.”

The Debutantes and their partners attending the St Mary's Parish Debutante Ball in Bowen last weekend. Photo credit:  Photographer Kerri Smith

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The schooner, “Heroine”, was owned and commanded by Captain Martin McKenzie. In the 1840s, it was employed trading between south-east Asia, Port Essington and Sydney, being one of the earliest vessels to pass through Torres Strait from west to east, then beating her way south outside the Great Barrier Reef.

“Heroine” was involved in two mishaps – the first one on August 5, 1845 while travelling west through Endeavour Strait.  She struck an uncharted rock and, though damaged, was able to proceed. McKenzie reported this to Lieutenant Yule, RN in HMS “Bramble” who was in the area conducting surveys but Yule found this hard to believe having carried out a detailed survey of the Strait in 1844. However, in June 1846, Yule investigated the report and found an isolated rock in the position reported by McKenzie.

Yule's report was published in the “Sydney Morning Herald” October 14, 1846. By coincidence, the second mishap – this time resulting in the sinking of the schooner – and which occurred on April 24, 1846, was reported on the same page as Lt Yule’s report. Consequently, the two incidents were confused as one and the same and so arose the mistaken belief that the wreck of the “Heroine” was in Endeavour Strait.

But the wreck actually occurred near the Cumberland Islands. At 1 am on April 24, the schooner was near the Cumberland Islands/Gloucester Island when it struck a reef with such force that she began to sink immediately, disappearing within ten minutes and allowing no time for boats to be lowered.

It was fortunate that “Heroine” had been towing a boat for delivery to Post Essington and twenty-six of her complement had taken refuge in it. Nevertheless, nine people died, two of them the young daughters of McKenzie. He had been forced to take to the water with his younger daughter, an infant and spent five hours swimming before being rescued. Sadly, his daughter died and he had discarded her body.

Some of the crew swam to a small sand-bank from which they were picked up next morning but one of the remarkable features of the story is that four people, a priest, McKenzie's Timorese wife and two Malay women who had been clinging to the topmast of “Heroine” were rescued by a Newfoundland dog, Nelson, which had taken them individually to the sand-bank. Sadly, Nelson was later to be taken by a crocodile at Port Essington.

As to the precise location of the wreck of “Heroine”, the following clues give some indication.

While abreast of the Cumberland Islands, McKenzie calculated they were about five miles off, it being apparent they had chosen to pass to the east of the group. However, according to Rae, chief mate, they were in fact twenty /twenty-five miles off and this makes it likely, indeed inevitable, that the reef “Heroine” struck was in the area of today's Hook/Hardy/Bait Reefs. Weight is added to this theory by the fact some of the crew swam to a small sand-bank before being rescued. This perhaps was the small cay on today's Triangle Reef. It is not improbable the cay could have existed in 1846 because some further south, reported by Matthew Flinders in 1802, still exist today.

Further, the “Sydney Morning Herald” October 14, 1846, reported the sinking as being on “The Cumberland Reefs, the island bearing south by west.” Another mentions it was “off the Cumberland Islands in latitude 20S.” Hook Reef's southern edge actually lies on 19.50S.

To add a little spice to the story, Rae reported that as “Heroine” was sinking, McKenzie rushed to his cabin to retrieve 300 gold sovereigns but found the cabin half full of water and the coins remained where they were.

Obviously, treasure lies out there somewhere. The real surprise is that no efforts have been made to recover the schooner’s valuable cargo from its watery grave near the western end on Hook Reef. Now where did I leave my snorkel?

Story and photo courtesy of Proserpine Historical Museum and “The Whitsunday Islands - An Historical Dictionary” by the late Ray Blackwood.

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Passing the second rate rise in as many years, Whitsunday Regional Council have delivered what Councillor John Collins coined ‘the hardest Budget I’ve seen in 10 years at Council’.

This year’s Budget was announced at a special meeting held at the Bowen Chambers last Friday morning and included a four per cent rate rise, equating to $3.71 per household per week.

“This is less than a Cherry Ripe or a cup of coffee,” said Acting Mayor Mike Brunker when delivering the budget.

With inflation running at six per cent in Queensland, Council had faced increased costs while also having less money coming in through reduced Federal and State government grants.

Cr Brunker said that there have been many robust debates between Councillors since Budget discussions commenced in April and that the finance team has created the best possible outcome in terms of maintaining our standard of liveability during tough times.

“We strive to reduce costs where we can so we can spend it where we must,” said Cr Brunker.

“This is a balanced Budget that continues to deliver services and enhance the liveability of our region, without compromising our future financial sustainability.”

Rates and charges account for $96.3 million out of Council’s $137 million operating costs and the majority of this is put into water and sewerage as well as maintaining roads and footpaths.

While ensuring liveability and services are maintained within the region, Council have also guaranteed sound financial management with a $227,000 operating surplus and are committed to debt reduction by allocating $5.4 million to reduce current loans.

Key Points:

•Inflation and reduced government support means rates have risen by 4 per cent or $3.71 per week per household

•Council will end the next financial year with a debt of less than $70 million for an asset base of $1.2 billion, in simple terms that compares to effectively owing just $70,000 on a $1.2 million home

•The Whitsundays has one of the most generous pensioner rates concessions in Queensland

•Council has a procurement policy that ensures the majority of work is awarded to local business so that money stays within the region

The Finance Team -  L-R: Julie Moller Manager Strategic Finance, Leah Bradley Manager Financial Services and Katie Coates Management Accountant with Acting Mayor Mike Brunker (centre)

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A Bowen icon is thought to be in danger according to local Chamber of Commerce, who believe it could either fall into disrepair or even be demolished.

President of Bowen Chamber of Commerce Bruce Hedditch said the Bowen Jetty, which is currently under commercial lease by North Queensland Bulk Ports (NQBP) Corporation, could soon have no use for the company.

“We’re focused on saving it, because once the tugs leave and go up to Abbot Point, North Queensland Bulk Ports have no further use for it,” Mr Hedditch said.

“[The Chamber] understand – whether it’s true or not – that the council have no interest in it either.”

NQBP currently use the jetty and wharf for tugboat operations at Port of Abbot Point, and recently completed $3.6 million worth of works programs on the wharf.

Those works repaired the worst timber sections to “ensure it remains open for public access and available to meet commercial needs of the tugs”.

Mr Hedditch said – as the chamber understood it – NQBP would be moving their tug operation exclusively to Abbot Point port to limit expenditure, which he “understood entirely.”

Rumours have swirled in past years that the 154-year-old jetty heritage listed site has become too costly to maintain, and should NQBP move, no one would pick up the expensive slack.

An NQBP spokesperson said the company “knows how important the wharf is to the Bowen community” and they were working with key stakeholders to consider “long-term infrastructure options for the Abbot Point tugs.”

“We plan to engage with all relevant stakeholders at the appropriate time when considering the future of the Bowen Wharf as it relates to the Abbot Point towage infrastructure,” the spokesperson said.

“This will involve ongoing consultation with Whitsunday Regional Council, Bowen Collinsville Enterprise, Bowen Chamber of Commerce, our shareholding ministers, and, of course, the community.”

Mr Hedditch said the Bowen Chamber were hoping to come up with a plan to turn the jetty into a tourism venture.

“It’s very early days, but we just can’t let it get knocked over. There are not many tourist attractions in Bowen, so if we can turn it into that, it would be lovely,” he said.

“We’re going to come up with a concept that will create a lot of interest, that’s our next move.”

Bowen Chamber believes the iconic Bowen Jetty could be soon vacated by North Queensland Bulk Ports leading to a potential demolition

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Just six months ago, Airlie Beach welcomed its first organic bulk food store, offering locals and tourists alike the opportunity to purchase pure natural products while reducing single-use plastic along the way.

Owners of Airlie Health Hub, Hayley and Paul Moran, had been planning to open the store for almost a decade and said they finally felt the time was right.

“It’s a store to help everyday families live healthier, more sustainable lives,” said Hayley.

“That’s exactly how I shopped when I was a kid, and we wanted to introduce the same concept here.”

Customers are invited to browse the unique ‘scoop’ display shelves that allows you to personally pick and measure the produce to your exact specifications.

This flexible way of shopping is both interactive and economical.

“You can buy as little or as much as you like – so there is no limit – if you’ve got that recipe that you’ve been always been wanting to make, you don’t need to go and buy every single product,” Hayley explained.

“You can buy a teaspoon of spice if you like!”

Simply come into the store, which is located at the shopping complex on the corner of Stewart Drive in Cannonvale, and the team will assist.

You are welcome to bring containers with you or use one of the many jars that have been kindly donated by local businesses and meticulously cleaned by Paul.

One of the team will be on-hand to guide you around the store where you can scoop up a range of delicious products.

With over 300 products in stock, choose from dried fruit, grains, pulses, superfoods and spices as well as a range of pastas including chickpea and mung bean fettuccini.

Airlie Health Hub also stock a range of Australian made plant-based cleaning products including the Kin Kin washing detergent which was developed by a man who worked at Omo for 20 years.

Each re-fill container saves over 900 plastic bottles.

“The biggest thing we are trying to do right now is reduce food waste and plastic waste,” said Hayley.

“There is too much single use plastic and we really need to minimise it!”

Airlie Health Hub also cater to a lot of dietary requirements including gluten free, celiac and keto.

“So come and share your story and we’ll find out how we can best help from there,” said Hayley.

Hayley and Paul Moran from Airlie Health Hub

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Queensland environmentalists are celebrating a state budget with unprecedented funding for new national parks, while others are frustrated by its “big fat zero” in addressing the climate crisis.

The government announced a Queensland state budget with a commitment of $262.5 million in protecting more land – the lion’s share of which was going to land acquisition and capital works.

The Worldwide Fund for Nature said the spend is the “largest single investment” in expanding the national park estate in the state’s history.

But the environment spend ends there in a budget comprised of 2032 Brisbane Games planning and catch-up health spending, and conservationists across Queensland have said there’s “nothing for climate” in this budget.

Whitsunday Conservation Council Vice President Tony Fontes said there is “zero money in [the budget] for mitigation of climate change”.

“In a time where we’ve had terrible flooding in Queensland, and a mass coral bleaching event in Queensland, it’s simply not good enough,” he said.

Mr Fontes said that, especially for the Whitsundays, the Great Barrier Reef’s sixth mass coral bleaching event in March this year should act as a wakeup call – even more so considering it was the first ever during a La Nina weather cycle.

The spend on climate has drawn significant ire from Queensland conservationists who have pointed to the Palaszczuk Government’s three-time election promise that they would act on the climate crisis.

Mr Fontes said that those have, thus far, been empty promises, and didn’t reflect a populous who only recently changed its federal government because of its inability to act on climate.

“That 2030 emissions reduction target doesn’t look so good anymore when compared to Victoria and New South Wales cutting their targets by 50 per cent in the same time,” Mr Fontes said.

“The Federal government are aiming for 43 per cent by 2030, and Queensland need to put their hand up with the rest of the country and say we’re with you.”

Mr Fontes said the state government need to approach the issues they’re facing now “holistically” – particularly in reference to the Great Barrier Reef.

“They need transition plans for coal communities and to bump up that emissions target, because those need to be big ticket budget items,” he said.

“The number one goal holistically with reef protection is to mitigate climate change first, then reef restoration second, if you have to put one over the other.”

The state government’s 10-year energy transition plan is scheduled for release later this year.

Queensland’s state budget has a mammoth $262.5 million commitment to national parks, but a conspicuous lack of climate crisis spending according to conservationists

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Lost And Found

Two adventurous dogs, Glock and Winx, went missing in mid-June from their home in Jubilee Pocket, leading their owners on a five-day chase across the Whitsunday suburb before a teary reunion.

Glock, a black Staffordshire terrier, and Winx, what her owners Jessica Fricker and Brad Mitchell call a “bitsa”, were accidentally let out from the back garden of their Erromango Drive home on Saturday, June 18.

The dogs travelled from Erromango all the way up to the highest heights of Jubilee Pocket, mounting Moonlight Drive and eventually venturing out into the Conway Ranges – unbeknownst to their owners.

Over five days, Brad and Jessica, along with Jessica’s two children – Lincoln and Indy – worked their way around the suburb calling out the dog’s names and even leaving clothes at a few sites, hoping to entice the dogs to stick around the area.

They were joined in the hunt by Whitsunday residents and good Samaritans from as far afield as Bloomsbury.

The only clue for the local parents came from an older gentleman named Chris, who said he had seen the dogs the night they went missing. They had been barking in his back garden on Moonlight Drive, just 800-or-so metres from where they would eventually be found.

They stayed lost for five more days.

“Every day from the moment we dropped the kids off at school, we were out looking for them, calling for them,” Jessica said.

“I was driving up near Moonlight and luckily, I knocked on Chris’s door and asked him if he’d seen them, and he said: ‘Yeah, they were trying to eat my dogs last night!’”

That glimmer of hope dimmed over the next few days as no further sightings were reported. No one was more devastated than the 11-year-old Indy.

Indy shares a special bond with Glock, who acts as an emotional support dog for her disability.

“I could get her a thousand other dogs, but it wouldn’t be him,” Brad said.

“That’s why we had to find him. And they certainly know they’re loved now.”

After five days with no news and as many sleepless nights, the family received a call from Chris, who said he had heard the dogs near his property again on Wednesday morning.

“We got there, we called out for them and they howled back. I said: ‘That’s them’ and we just walked straight through the rainforest,” Jessica said.

Brad and Jessica trekked through thick brush and winding rock paths into a gully and around 120 metres of elevation in the Conway Ranges to follow the sounds of Winx and Glock.

“The SES said to us later, ‘How did you get through this?’ and they had come up in long pants, boots. We were wearing thongs – which we both lost our pairs of, so we were barefoot - and shorts!” Brad said.

They found Winx and Glock at a three-tiered waterfall. Winx had fallen into the lowest tier pool, while Glock was watching over her from the top.

Jessica said that, when she saw they were both together, she “went to water”.

“I just cried and cried – I couldn’t stop and Glock tried to come over to me. He almost fell off the rocks!” she said.

The dogs were wet, scrawny, and shaking, but “elated”.

The family was partially reunited; now they just needed to get home.

Brad and Jessica had been in contact with friends, updating them continually on the journey. Brad reached out to his mother to contact Whitsunday Police, who filed a report to alert the local SES branch.

The pair found Winx and Glock at around 3.00pm – they’d began their own trek at around midday, and it was 9.00pm before they heard the team of five SES operators coming up through the rainforest.

Whitsunday SES Controller Mark Connors said they hadn’t performed that kind of rescue operation for some time – especially one with dogs.

“In the Conway, it gets extremely dense so it was pretty rough going for all of the operators,” he said.

“We were able to get an exact location, but we just had to work out a way to get there. We took some food up for the dogs because we knew they were undernourished, and we just had to walk them out.

“They were hoping for a helicopter but with the dogs that just wasn’t possible.”

Mr Connors said it is always a great feeling when a mission ends as a good news story, but as an animal lover, he was particularly pleased.

“One of the dogs came out first with the first part of the team and promptly sat down on my foot!” Mark said.

“It was also, for some of my guys, their first search and rescue and they loved every minute of it.”

Jessica and Brad arrived back home by 10.00pm, opening the door to a sleeping Indy, who woke up with some sloppy wet kisses from her favourite dogs.

Glock and Winx, who usually sleep alone on a bed in the living room, have been joined every night this week by Indy curled up on the couch nearby.

“It meant more to her than it did to anyone else,” Brad said.

A Facebook post on a local group, Whitsundays Chat, alerting locals the dogs were home has since received upwards of 1000 likes and overwhelming positive feedback.

Winx and Glock are finally home, a little skinnier, but safe after their rainforest adventure.

Jessica Fricker, Glock, Winx, and Brad Mitchell unified at last

Jessica Fricker, Brad Mitchell, and their two dogs were helped down from the Conway Ranges by local SES after rescuing their lost pups

Jessica and Brad found Glock and Winx near a waterfall one kilometre into the Conway National Park

The SES trekked through the same tough terrain that Jessica and Brad did to find the quartet

Jessica’s daughter, Indy, with Glock, who acts as an emotional support dog

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A woman has died after developing chest pain and difficulty breathing during a snorkelling trip in Whitsunday waters.

The 53-year-old woman is understood to have been snorkelling near Hook Island with a commercial tour operator from Airlie Beach when she suffered a cardiac arrest.

She returned to the commercial tour vessel which then immediately re-routed to Coral Sea Marina where Queensland Ambulance paramedics and police met them.

It is understood her condition worsened once onboard and crew attempted to revive her through first aid.

She sadly passed during transit before the vessel arrived at the Marina at 12.30pm.

Whitsunday Ambulance Station Officer In Charge Steve Thurtell said the woman’s heart had stopped while she was onboard the vessel.

“The crew determined she had stopped breathing and the boat immediately high tailed it to Airlie Beach,” Mr Thurtell said.

“While we have great med-evac plans in place and it was good the tourism operators could perform CPR, unfortunately the distance was working against them.”

Mr Thurtell said a team of four paramedics took over at the scene once the vessel arrived.

“I think the team onboard the tour operator performed above and beyond expectations and did well on all accounts,” he said

“But unfortunately, despite all treatments, she passed away.”

It is understood the woman was on holiday with her partner and friends, who were also onboard the vessel.

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