A New Coastal Connection

A brand-new walking track is on the way to the region and set to link two towns in Cape Gloucester pending approvals from Queensland Government.

Whitsunday Regional Council have commenced the process with the State Government to construct a walking track between the coastal towns of Dingo beach and Hydeaway Bay.

Initially to be constructed as an earth walking track, there is the possibility of converting the new route to a sealed path which could be used as a cycleway.

The alignment of the walkway has already been flagged and Council are now awaiting approval from the Queensland Government.

Whitsunday Regional Council Acting Mayor Mike Brunker said the walking track would be a great addition to the Cape Gloucester area.

“This track will provide a welcome connection between these two beautiful towns and add an extra activity for visitors in the area,” the Acting Mayor said.

“The walkway will offer breathtaking views of the azure bays and offer magnificent vistas over Gloucester and Saddleback Island.

“This is just another way we can discover the hidden gems in our backyard.”

Acting Mayor Brunker said that state approval can take some time; however, the council are confident that approval can be achieved this year.

Council will apply for a grant to construct the track once the required approval has been granted.

The scenic beauty of Hydeaway Bay

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This week Whitsunday Regional Council completed a decade of its feral pig culling program in the region.

The council’s Whitsunday Aerial Feral Animal Control Program has been successfully running for ten years to quell the major impacts of feral pig populations on environmental and agricultural systems.

Feral pigs are estimated to cause $12.6 million dollars’ worth of damage each year in the Whitsunday region alone.

Conducting over 130 flights, the program has seen the removal of almost 12,300 feral pigs, with council conducting 20 to 35 flights per year.

The local council’s efforts have seen them earn national plaudits, with the program selected as a case study for the National Feral Pig Action Plan.

The local scale program has an operating budget of up to $170,000 per year and has been active across five local government areas.

Whitsunday Regional Council Manager of Natural Resource Management Scott Hardy said the program has worked alongside 80 land managers and up to 19 organisations.

“We’ve worked with Mackay, Isaac, Charters Towers and the Burdekin with great results in removing the pigs in neighbouring shires as well as our own,” Mr Hardy said.

“I have to commend council worker Bren Fuller on his work in this as our staff member up in the helicopter doing the hard work.”

Although it may seem unsavoury to some, the program has a state government backing, enforced as part of the Queensland Biosecurity Act 2014 in which local governments have a role in coordinating the control and reduction of restricted and prohibited pest animals.

“There may be a small number of people who may dislike the euthanising of animals,” Mr Hardy said.

“[But] relatively small council contributions towards the Program are yielding measurable benefits to the agricultural sector and the Whitsunday environment.”

Studies state that, environmentally, feral pigs damage waterways, soil, and ground cover, as well as impacting native species through predation and the carrying of diseases.

Feral pigs are a Queensland bane, but Whitsunday Regional Council have made inroads in their ten-year culling program

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The pre-existing signage was removed and damaged during the airport expansion in 2019 and due to Covid budget restrictions, was not replaced until now.

“We haven’t had an arrival sign for quite some time and that was due to Covid and costs around operations,” said Chief operating Officer Aviation and Tourism Craig Turner.

“So now that we are back on track, we’ve taken it to Council and got a great sign which shows the new branding and also has three images which reflect the destination – and we will have those as part of the arrival experience.”

The new signage comes following negative community feedback on the matter and Council now view signage as a critical part in presenting the Whitsundays to arriving passengers.

An artist’s impression of the new airside signage

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Election Breakdown and Meeting wrap

This weekend, Australia goes to the polls after a bitterly fought campaign on both sides that dipped into the farcical more than once. Neither leader looks good.

And although the transgender debate grabbed a lot of headlines, the real issues concerning the Dawson electorate have been identified in a recent survey. The survey highlights the vast dichotomies in a region that relies so heavily on mining, agriculture and tourism. Often the attitudes of residents in different regions will be at odds to each other.

Interestingly, for an electorate that tends to lean strongly towards the LNP, Scomo barely edges out Albo as preferred Prime Minister. The accelerating rise in cost of living is the major concern, China is being perceived as a growing problem and trust in politics is at an absolute zero.

Attitude to climate change was a surprise with twice as many voting to abandon Net Zero by 2050 compared to committing to it. On the security and trade front – China in the South Pacific is the biggest concern although expanding international trade is also a key issue. When it comes to COVID,  80 per cent felt that maintaining health protections and economic recovery from COVID was more important than removing mandates.

On the social front, healthcare is the biggest concern, whilst the biggest issues in the cost of living rise was petrol and groceries. Affordable housing was predictably a strong concern.

When it comes to Economic Policy, the preference was to expand manufacturing supported by regional investment in infrastructure. The skills shortage is a huge barrier to growth.

Focussing on the future, the Chamber event on Thursday, May 12, hosted Rob Cocco from Regional Development Australia (MIW) and WRC Economic Development Manager, Gary Warrener. Rob detailed the economic road map developed for greater Whitsundays which was developed in consultation with local stakeholders. Number one enabler for growth in the region was the need to improve transport infrastructure.

Garry Warrener explained his role within council and discussed several diverse projects and investment opportunities WRC is trying to attract to the region. A genuinely proactive approach to underpinning the economic success of the Whitsundays.

Contributed with thanks to Whitsunday Coast Chamber President Allan Milostic.

General Manager Bowen Gumlu Growers Association Ry Collins, Megan Taylor from Kapow Interactive, Rob Cocco from Regional Development Australia (MIW) and Councillor Jan Clifford

Whitsunday Coast Chamber President Allan Milostic and WRC Economic Development Manager, Gary Warrener

The Chamber of Commerce meeting last week

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Cheryl Speirs

Cannonvale

My concern, being the owner of a fairly large cleaning company, are the amount of displaced people that I’ve seen in the last two years, but especially the last six to eight months. There’s a real crisis for housing for people on low income. The cost of everything else has gone up, and it’s gone up exponentially.

I’ve heard of people living in cars. The government needs to do either or: address affordable housing, rentals especially, or the price of living in this country. They need to address the homelessness situation because it’s out of control.

John Cunningham

Cannonvale

What the government can do is increase the minimum wage. Pensioners I know are travelling alright, but we’re still paying high rents and we need a bit more. They need to help the homeless, too. Once upon a time it was preferable to buy than rent and now people can’t afford to buy, let alone to rent.

Give people a subsidy of some sort – a genuine one for people who really need it, or places that can be turned into emergency housing. You can’t blame the landlords, they’re in it for the money too and following the markets.

Mark Rose

Cannonvale

Everything is going up. Do we really need to pay a thousand dollars on a car registration, that much money in rates? You just about need to have a high-income job to continue to exist. Those big bills that people don’t want and are not looking forward to each year.

I’m paying $1,600 dollars each year in rates; where’s that money go? Why am I paying that much money? Everything is a thousand dollars: rego on a six-cylinder car. It won’t be long that, if you don’t have a high-end job, you won’t be able to afford a motor car. Surely, they can do something to change it.

Kirsten Robson and Zoe Bowley

Cannonvale

Zoe: More support in terms of buying your first home. Helping people get into the housing market. They need more support. Property prices are so ridiculous that its scary to think: what’s the next generation going to experience if we’re struggling?

Kirsten: If we struggled so hard to get in, how are they ever going to do it? We’ve managed to buy our first homes, but it wasn’t easy. It’s been a big issue for everyone, I think. Some people aren’t even able to afford rent, so how can they think about starting their lives?

Heather Brown

Collinsville

Living in a rural mining town doesn’t mean we are all rich coal miners. Something needs to be done about the constant rises in fuel, groceries and rent. The increase in community members seeking emergency food relief and food vouchers has hit an all-time high. Our community hub is struggling to keep up with the demand. There needs to be rent and mortgage rate caps for owner occupiers. Every goods and service that we need to survive and thrive should be taken out of the control of people who only see a means to augment their own wealth.

Leanne Abernethy  

Bowen

As the tourism industry in Bowen relies so heavily on the drive market, the price of petrol is certainly a major issue. The fuel excise was reduced by the Federal Government at the end of March but only for six months. The rate was reduced to 22.1 cents per litre but motorists are still paying more than 40 cents per litre for fuel than they were this time last year. I believe a continued reduction in fuel excise would be welcomed by tourists and locals.

Sydney Moxham

Proserpine

Cost of living; that’s a big one. A good question – it’s hard and the position [the government are] in, what the hell can they really do about it? It’s worldwide, that’s the problem. Federal Government can’t really do anything about some of the things that would affect it. The state government is the bigger problem than federal with their charges like rates and registration. We should have one government, that’s it, we have too many!

There are a few things they control but not the things that count. It’s been too late for too long. We’re in big trouble.

Daniel Lever

Proserpine

I actually don’t have an answer; it’s a great question. If you push the minimum wage up it may get worse – people will charge more for other things. It’s a tough position because what do you do? House prices, rent, groceries are going up, but why are they going up? Is it because of the whole Covid situation and extra money in circulation pushing the prices of everything up? How do you fix something that’s already been done? Raise interest rates and make money harder to get? That may just make it worse too. It all may just be something that we can’t undo.

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Labor leader Anthony Albanese ventured to the Great Barrier Reef on the election trail last week to pledge a further $194.5 million in funds for the natural wonder.

Mr Albanese’s prospective government had already committed $163 million to restoration and protection of the reef in November last year at Coral Sea Marina and announced on Friday last week an additional $194.5 million on a visit to Cairns.

The announcement arrived at a salient time for the reef as it suffered its sixth mass bleaching event (read our coverage on page 14).

The additional funds are promised to be used in programs including working with farmers on land management practices, $85 million for reef restoration projects, ad research into thermal-tolerant corals in partnership with the Australian Institute of Marine Science.

“Seeing the wonder of the Great Barrier Reef is a highlight for so many Australians,” Albanese said.

“But parents and grandparents are worried their children will not be able to see this incredible natural wonder for themselves.

“That’s why it’s so important we act on climate change and species protection – to protect the reef and the tens of thousands of jobs that rely on it.”

For the Whitsundays, Mr Albanese has promised expansion of the Crown of Thorns culling programs to protect tourism sites.

The program reduces crown-of-thorns starfish numbers down to threshold levels that promote coral growth and recovery.

Labor have promised an investment of almost $1.2 billion in reef preservation and restoration by 2030.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk welcomed the announcement from her party-mate.

“It’s clear Anthony Albanese will work in real partnership with our government, landholders, experts, industry, traditional owners and reef communities,” she said.

Scientist reports have identified that the reef would need almost $1 billion annually in support to recover.

In May, Liberal MP and Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley defended the Coalition’s management of the reef, calling it “gold standard”.

Ms Ley said the reef was the best managed in the world.

Labor Candidate for Leichhardt Elida Faith, Anthony Albanese and Labor Senator for the ACT Katy Gallagher who all travelled out to the reef with on Friday

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Last week the Supreme Court heard how Gavin Parnell had known Jay Brogden for approximately 12 months when he was forced to murder his friend on a fishing boat by a drug dealer they had both been working for.

It has been almost 15 years since Mr Brogden’s disappearance and his body has never been found, nor has anyone been convicted.

But that all changed when revelatory details were exposed last week detailing how Mr Parnell, who has long been suspected of the 21-year-old’s murder and was arrested in September 2019, stood in front of the supreme court and admitted he fired the shot that killed his friend.

Mr Parnell told the jury that the deadly encounter began when he ‘vouched’ for his mate during a conflict with an Airlie Beach ‘drug kingpin’ who had accused Mr Brogden of stealing a large amount of methamphetamine.

The pair were then invited out on a fishing trip with the kingpin, in what Mr Parnell believed was an innocent trip out to sea.

This soon turned violent, however, when the drug boss started yelling at Jay, accusing him once again of stealing the drugs.

At this point, Mr Parnell allegedly felt a gun push into his back and a sawn-off shotgun, which was held together with duct tape, thrust into his hand.

He was then told to shoot Mr Brogden.

In court, Mr Parnell described the scene – a petrified Mr Brogden breaking down in tears and Mr Parnell shaking with fear and urinating himself.

Amidst the yelling, the shotgun fired, hitting Mr Brogden in the back right side of his head.

Mr Parnell broke down in court when he told the jury how he was forced to push Mr Brogden’s body off the boat and then vomited in the courtroom when he described cleaning up the blood.

After this, court was briefly adjourned, returning sometime later for the cross examination.

At this point, crown prosecutor Nathan Crane asserted that Mr Parnell had known the true purpose of the boat trip was to discuss the missing drugs and that he had been told they needed to take Mr Brogden somewhere quiet.

During the proceedings the court heard from 30 witnesses, including Mr Brogden’s family.

After all evidence was heard the jury, which consisted of eight women and four men, began deliberating into the evening.

It took them six hours to conclude that Mr Parnell was guilty, and he was given a life sentence, less the 960 days he had already served since his arrest.

Mr Brogden’s family were present at the time and were relieved to finally receive some closure as the week-long court proceedings marked the end of a 15 year wait to see a murderer brought to justice.

21-year-old Jay Brogden disappeared from Airlie Beach in 2007

Gavin Parnell was convicted of murdering Jay Brogden

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Local school children and visitors to the Proserpine Dam are expected to benefit from additional facilities thanks to a two-part promise from LNP Candidate for Dawson Andrew Willcox, who announced targeted funding for two key community projects last week.

Proserpine State School will receive $50,000 to contribute towards an additional playground for year three to six students who share one facility. Currently, some grades only receive access to the playground for an hour a week.

“The kids at Proserpine State School have had to be on a roster for outdoor play because there simply isn’t enough play space and equipment to cater for them,” said Mr Willcox.

“The P&C have worked hard to raise the funds they need so their kids get to play outside every day, not just a couple of times a week.

“They have done a terrific job and put together about $45,000. Their aim is to buy and install new playground equipment with a soft-fall surface and ultimately also put up a shade sail.

“This funding will help them do just that.”

In addition, Mr Willcox has pledged $1 million for stage 2 of the Lake Proserpine Recreation Facility, a project he was passionate about when he was Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor.

“One of the commitments I made to the Proserpine community before becoming mayor was to activate Lake Proserpine, to better utilise this great natural asset in the region,” Mr Willcox said.

Stage One of activating the campground saw the addition of new public toilets and showers, bush camping sites, fire pits, updated picnic facilities and fishing pontoons.

“This $1 million commitment will fund Stage Two of the Lake Proserpine Recreation Facility – Camping Area Expansion, which will see the establishment of 10 cabins, powered caravan sites and a camp kitchen in the southern area camping ground,” he said.

“This will provide more accommodation capacity right at Lake Proserpine to make it easier for people to stay in the area and try their hand at catching that barra.”

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Drink Driver Smashes Into Bollards

A 24-year-old Jubilee Pocket woman has had her licence suspended following an incident where the vehicle she was driving crashed head-on into the protective bollards outside Night Owl convenience store in Airlie Beach at 1.45am last Sunday.

Police laid charges immediately and the woman will face Proserpine Magistrates Court on May 23.

The woman was breathalysed at the scene and returned a breath test reading 0.237 per cent BAC, four times above the legal limit.

She has now been charged with high range drink driving offences.

Sergeant Jessica Leech said that drink driving has direct consequences on you and those around you.

“Please arrange alternative plans for transportation if you are planning to drink and make sure you and other road users get home safely,” she said.

The car ploughed into bollards near Night Owl

Stolen Motorcycle Strathdickie

A Honda CRF250 motorcycle was stolen from a Gregory Cannonvale Road, Strathdickie address on Sunday last week and Police are urgently seeking information.

It is understood the vehicle was stolen between 8pm on Sunday, May 8 and 5.30am Monday, May 9.

The motorcycle has a Queensland registration 072TJ.

If you have any information in relation to the location of the vehicles or the offence itself, please contact Policelink.

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Whitsunday motorists were battling heavy rain and potholes last week during the unseasonal deluge which saw 47.2 millimetres fall in Proserpine in a 24 hour period.

As usual, Hamilton Plains was a source of frustration with un-seen potholes causing flat tyres in multiple vehicles, resulting in a hazardous situation when they pulled over to conduct repairs.

One local resident, Rachel Bott, said that she was driving home in the dark when a pothole appeared from nowhere.

“It was very dark, and I didn’t see it,” she said.

“I wasn’t going fast; I literally didn't see it until I fell in it - there were at least four of us who had wrecked tyres at the same time.”

Some emergency vehicles pulled over to check on everyone’s welfare and when a paramedic came by she informed Ms Bott that she had passed the sight four times that day and the pothole had been there each time.

This created some frustration for Ms Bott who believes that Council should have sent someone out to fix the potholes earlier, before it got dark.

“The paramedic already knew it was there, so she was able to avoid it in the dark – the rest of us had no idea it was there,” said Ms Bott.

“It was a very dangerous situation, and I didn’t want to even attempt to change my tyre without someone watching out for me – I could have got run over!

“I will be contacting TMR, Hamilton Plains is such a disgrace.”

A Whitsunday Regional Council spokesperson said that while TMR are ultimately responsible for most local roads, including Hamilton Plains, it is Council that repair the potholes after a heavy rain event.

“Council roads crews from our depots at Proserpine, Bowen and Collinsville were working in the rain to repair multiple potholes across over 1200 kilometres of roads including Proserpine, Airlie Beach, Bowen, Collinsville, Mt Julian, Lethebrook and Dingo Beach,” said the spokesperson.

“Council crews are out and about during the rainfall event to undertake urgent repairs, but it is TMR is responsible for the standard of Hamilton Plains road.”

Caption:

Council road workers fixing the potholes

The pothole that gave Ms Bott a flat tyre

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The region’s farmers have suffered after unseasonably heavy rainfall last week destroyed some 30 per cent of their yields, potentially costing the local industry $50 million dollars.

The growing belt that runs from Bowen up through the Burdekin saw varying degrees of more than 200 millimetres of rainfall.

President of Bowen Gumlu Growers Association, Ry Collins said that amount of rain has two major repercussions:

“We’ve had little rivers open in farms; a lot of the topsoil has eroded away. Those little rivers and crevices, they’ll have to be releveled and do civil works to those properties,” Mr Collins said.

“More importantly, the crop not far off being harvested doesn’t take that much water well.”

With typical production season beginning planting in February, March, and April, the bulk of crop in Bowen was to start harvesting this week.

Of that crop, tomatoes, melons, and corn are the likeliest to have been affected by the downpour.

“It’s too early to say how much will be lost. They’re only getting out assessing it today. But I would say on average 30 per cent of their crop will be no good,” Mr Collins said.

The Whitsunday region annually produces around $450 million dollars in agricultural revenue.

Mr Collins said the region wasn’t alone in suffering: Queensland wide the unseasonable weather brought 200 millimetres to places like Bundaberg, which is a key fruit and vegetable region.

“Coming into this season with the floods, we knew there’d be a shortage of fruit and veg, meaning the prices will be higher. This only adds to that,” he said.

“Less product on the market means higher prices.”

Bowen Gumlu Growers Association have reached out to Agriculture Queensland to articulate the impacts.

A Department of Agriculture and Fisheries survey has been sent to local growers to build the picture for state government on what’s happened and what potential support can flow through.

Mr Collin’s said there’s little to be done other than to “get the shovel and tractor and get going.”

“At the end of the day, it is weather, and there’s not much we can do about it. The time of year it’s come, we don’t normally get that at our busy period,” Mr Collins said.

“There’s some financial pain attached to that, but the growers will get going again

Fields flooded heavily during this week’s downpour, which President Bowen Gumlu Growers Association Ry Collins said may be the worst since Cyclone Debbie (Pictured here)

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The leadership of the country is now in the hands of the people as polling stations across the nation open their curtains to millions of voters tomorrow. Each individual vote will contribute to deciding the next government and also the next Member for Dawson.

Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese may be the front runners for the country, but the tight race for the Dawson electorate is being contested by LNP candidate Andrew Willcox and Labor candidate Scott Morrison, with One Nation candidate Julie Hall, the UAP’s Christian Young, Ciaron Patterson of the Katter Party, Paula Creen from the Greens, and Jim Jackson of the Great Australian Party hot on their heels.

Pre-Poll Proves Popular

Pre-polling stations across the nation are greeting an unprecedented number of early voters who are all keen to skip the Saturday crowds and possible COVID exposure.

The polling station at Whitsunday PCYC was a hive of activity on Wednesday with representatives from rival parties spruiking their agendas but retaining a friendly camaraderie.

More than two million Australians voted a week out of the election and experts are predicting that up to 50 per cent of all votes will be cast before the big day.

This does, however, mean that half of the overall voting population still need to pass through the polling stations on Saturday.

Here is a list of all the places to vote locally tomorrow:

•St Catherine’s Catholic College (Primary Campus) - 96 Renwick Road, Proserpine

•Cannonvale State School – 58 Coral Esplanade, Cannonvale

•PCYC Whitsundays – 2489 Shute Harbour Road, Airlie Beach

•Hamilton Island Resort – Resort Drive, Hamilton Island

•Bowen PCYC – Corner of Hay Street and Queens Road, Bowen

•Queen’s Beach State School – 37-39 Tracey Street, Bowen

•Collinsville State School – Devlin Street, Collinsville

Shane Newell from the LNP, Hilary Sutton from the Greens, Don Campbell from Labor, Julie Stokes from the United Australia Party and Danny Robes from One Nation at the early polling station last week.

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He came to Australia because of a charitable deed, and ever since, Kay Nyenuh has paid that generosity back to the community tenfold.

“A complete stranger (at the time) made it possible for me to be here today,” Kay said.

13 years later, Kay has established himself as a regional health and fitness leader, having recently opened his third fitness centre in Andergrove. To celebrate, he is hosting a charity fun run Ks For Kay Charity Fun Run this Saturday morning.

“Join us on Saturday May 14, 2022, at the Bluewater Quay for our annual charity fun run to help raise funds for the Mackay Hospital Foundation. Distance this year will be 5Ks for Kay with 8K and 13K options,” Kay said.

“Walkers are welcome and there will be bacon and eggs for breakfast!”

Kay encourages walkers and runners to grab a ticket online so he knows how much breakfast to prepare for, but people are welcome to show up on the day. A minimum of $10 donation is asked for to support local charities.

Kay said he is where he is today because of the support of the local community, so it is important to him to give back.

“Giving back is something that is of second nature to me,” he said.

“Though we support other local charities, we mainly fundraise for the Mackay Hospital Foundation because it is a charity that I believe benefits everyone that lives and works in our region.

“Coming from a third world country where the healthcare system is almost nonexistent, I think it’s paramount that we do everything we can to support our local hospitals.”

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Parents of Mackay will be empowered with the tools and strategies to guide their children through their formative years with two free parenting seminars hosted by Member for Mackay Julieanne Gilbert next week.

Positive Parenting Program, or Triple P, will run two free seminars on Wednesday, May 18, surrounding children’s mental wellbeing, decision making, and anxiety.

‘Raising Resilient Children’ will provide proven parenting strategies for parents to guide children in making good decisions in life and online.

The seminar will help parents problem solve with their children, manage screen time, and help cope with stress and positivity and will take place at the Andergrove Community Hall from 1:00pm.

Later that evening, Triple P will host a seminar packed with tips and ideas for parents to help children break free from anxiety, providing an understanding of child and teen anxiety and ways to support children in coping with anxiety.

This two-hour seminar at the Pioneer State High School Theatre starts at 6:30pm.

Both seminars are presented by Michael Herd who has worked with families as a primary school teacher, guidance counsellor, and registered psychologist for more than 30 years.

Having completed his PhD researching parenting support for families of premature babies, he has become a popular Triple P presenter and has trained Triple P practitioners around the world.

Aaliyah Talukdar, a representative from Parentline, will also be presenting at the seminars.

Parentline is a service of yourtown which provides virtual counselling to parents and carers from 365 days a year across Queensland and the Northern Territory.

Aaliyah's work as a Cyberbullying Consultant focuses on providing information and resources to caregivers about supporting young people’s online wellbeing generally, and if they're exposed to negative online experiences.

Triple P’s Raising Resilient Children Seminar is happening from 1pm-2pm on Wednesday May 18 at the Andergrove Community Hall and the Fear-Less Triple P Seminar takes place from 6:30pm-8:30pm at the Pioneer State High School Theatre the same day.

Go to www.triplep-parenting.net for more information and to book your free place.

Member for Mackay Julieanne Gilbert is hosting two free seminars next week on raising resilient children. Photo: supplied

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Construction for Mackay’s Ronald McDonald Family Room began last Friday, the next step in providing Mackay families a safe space for respite when caring for their sick children.

Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) North Australia CEO Tamara South says the Family Room will play a vital role in the families of the region.

“To get here today, we have had an immeasurable amount of community and corporate supporters in helping to essentially make the Family Room happen,” Ms South said.

“Partnering with Mackay Hospital and Health Service and Mackay Hospital Foundation to deliver Ronald McDonald Family Room to help support the more than 2500 families that call upon Mackay Base Hospital each and every year.”

The two-bedroom house will be fully equipped with a kitchen, food, bathroom and laundry amenities, and volunteers for families to utilise, eliminating the need to leave their sick children while in the care of the hospital.

“It’s about providing that home-like environment steps away from a child’s bedside so there is no reason you need to leave these premises when you have a sick child,” Ms South said.

Amber Hollywood has utilised Ronald McDonald facilities in Townsville and Brisbane while caring for her 16-month-old Samuel and says she wishes Mackay had the facilities when Samuel was born.

“Samuel was in the special care nursery for the first two weeks of his life, and it was very hard, every day, having to leave him and go home when he was a newborn,” Ms Hollywood said.

“It’ll be really great for our family to have a place where we can go to recharge and refresh together, to get away from the harshness of hospital life.”

Local company Fergus Builders are leading the construction of the facility and Project Manager Adam Wright says the company is proud to be involved in the project.

“We jumped at the opportunity when we first heard about the tender,” Mr Wright said.

“It’s really special for us.”

Fergus Builders plan to fundraise for RMHC throughout construction.

Ms South hopes to have the project complete by the end of the year and the Ronald McDonald Family Room caring for families by Christmas.

L-R Fergus Builders Project Manager Adam Wright, previous RMHC North Australia guest Amber Hollywood, Local McDonalds Licensee Niki Ramsay, Mackay Hospital Foundation Chair Peter Tait, RMHC North Australia CEO Tamara South, and Mackay Hospital and Health Service Chief Executive Lisa Davies-Jones. Photo: Sam Gillespie

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