A critical piece of infrastructure on the Saraji Road between Dysart and Moranbah is receiving Federal funding to prevent road closures due to flooding.

The Phillips Creek Bridge will have $14.4 million committed by the Federal Government and is now awaiting a funding agreement with the State Government.

Flooding closes the Phillips Creek Bridge periodically throughout the year, costing businesses millions and causing frustrating delays for motorists. A replacement bridge would make the highway safer, more flood resilient and keep motorists and freight moving.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Barnaby Joyce said the Federal Government is committed to getting it done.

“The Liberal and Nationals Government has put money on the table because we know how important this project is to motorists, businesses, and the economy,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.

The Federal Government is committed to investing $14.4 million (80 per cent) in the $18 million project. Consistent with the usual funding arrangements for regional projects, the Queensland Government would fund the remaining $3.6 million (20 per cent).

“Road closures in this region affect our country’s ability to make money, slowing the flow of valuable commodities from Central Queensland’s mines to our ports and onto buyers.

“When the trucks stop, so do the royalties that pay for the services all Australians rely on. That’s why we’re pushing to get this project done,” Mr Joyce added.

Federal Member for Capricornia Michelle Landry called on the Labor state government to provide the remaining $3.6 million to make the project a reality.

“A replacement bridge will support year-round access for the benefit of the businesses that depend on this key freight route. These improvements to safety and year-round accessibility would help our area to grow and prosper,” Ms Landry said.

“The project would also provide an important economic boost for local communities, supporting an expected 42 jobs during construction and helping drive our region’s economic recovery.”

Capricornia MP Michelle Landry announced the Federal Government would commit $14.4M to replace the Phillips Creek Bridge near Dysart. Image supplied

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Two people have died in crashes in the Mackay region last week, one on the Peak Downs Highway and the other north of Koumala on the Bruce Highway in horrific and confronting circumstances.

Tam Dixon Frewin died following a two-vehicle crash on the Peak Downs Highway at Strathfield, near Nebo on February 2.

Mrs Dixon Frewin was recently nominated for Isaac Citizen of the Year Australia Day award and was driving a 76-year-old patient from Mackay back to Clermont around 3:40pm when she was involved in a head-on collision.

She regularly transported elderly people from Clermont to doctors’ appointments in larger cities, which aligned with her profession as a health worker with Mackay Hospital and Health Service.

Mrs Dixon Frewin was only 44, and there has been an outpouring of community grief for the loss of someone with such an enormous heart.

She is survived by her husband and three sons.

Queensland Health director Dr John Wakefield has since sent communication to health workers offering counselling and support to colleagues of Mrs Dixon Frewin.

Police report that the collision was between a 4WD Toyota heading east and Mrs Dixon Frewin’s Honda Wagon heading west on the Peak Downs Highway, around 25klm west of Nebo.

The female driver of the 4WD Toyota sustained serious injuries and was airlifted from the scene to Mackay Base Hospital.

Mrs Dixon Frewin died at the scene, with her passenger sustaining minor injuries and was transported by road to Mackay Hospital.

Police have said the investigation will last roughly four to eight weeks, and they are seeking any dash cam or witnesses to come forward.

Another crash claimed the life of a 50-year-old Mackay man in a two-vehicle collision north of Koumala just two days later on February 4.

The crash occurred just before 10pm in another head-on collision, this time between a utility and a prime mover and trailer on the Bruce Highway, resulting in both vehicles catching alight.

The driver of the utility was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The truck driver, a 58-year-old Walkerston man, was transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

A resultant scrub fire, as well as the vehicle fires, were extinguished by Queensland Fire and Rescue Service.

The resulting fire almost entirely incinerated the truck cab, as well as heavily damaging the ute.

The highway was closed for several hours as emergency crew cleared debris and oil slicks, with one lane opening around 2:30am.

The Forensic Crash Unit is appealing for any witnesses or motorists with relevant dash cam footage.

RACQ CQ Rescue transported a driver to Mackay Base Hospital with serious injuries after a head-on smash near Strathfield last week. Another driver involved in the accident died at the scene and a passenger suffered minor injuries. Image: RACQ CQ Rescue

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A Wirdi man from Clermont, who is widely recognised as Australia’s most senior First Nations Barrister, has just been appointed as Senior Counsel Assisting in an important commission investigating injustices experienced by First Peoples in Victoria.

The Yoorrook Justice Commission (Yoorrook) last week announced the appointment of Mr Tony McAvoy SC, a Wirdi man, and Ms Fiona McLeod AO SC to the role of Senior Counsel Assisting.

Mr McAvoy is widely recognised as Australia’s most senior First Nations Barrister and has had an illustrious legal career, being appointed as the first Australian First Peoples Senior Counsel in 2015.

Mr McAvoy grew up near Clermont and his grandmother was from Thargomindah in south-west Queensland. In recent years, encouraging the broader Australian public to take an interest in Indigenous Affairs has proven difficult, as it is commonly punctuated by calls for First Nations people to take personal agency and forge successful and prosperous lives within modern Australia.

“At present, we are told that our recovery from the trauma of our dispossession is largely our own responsibility, that we should stop living in the past,” Mr McAvoy said in his 2021 Charles Perkins Oration.

He is passionate about advocating for commissions and treaties with First Peoples and was previously appointed Senior Counsel Assisting to the Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in the Northern Territory (Don Dale Royal Commission) in 2016/2017.

Over Mr McAvoy’s expansive career, he has developed a strong Native Title practice and has acquired significant experience within the areas of environmental law, administrative law, human rights and discrimination law, coronial inquests and criminal law.

Mr McAvoy is joined by Fiona McLeod AO SC, a Senior Counsel at the independent Bar practising in the areas of commercial and public law. She has represented the Commonwealth in several Royal Commissions including the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission, Queensland Floods Commission of Inquiry and the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

Ms McLeod is a member of the National Co-design Group of the National Indigenous Voice to Parliament. She received an Order of Australia in 2020 for her service to the legal profession.

Professor Eleanor Bourke, Chair of the Yoorrook Justice Commission, spoke about the knowledge and experience Mr McAvoy and Ms McLeod will bring to Yoorrook.

“In addressing the broad scope set out in our Letters Patent of investigating historical and ongoing injustices experienced by First Nations people, it is vital we have a broad range of legal experience to pull from,” Professor Bourke said.

“Mr McAvoy and Ms McLeod both bring a unique set of skills which will help the Commission towards achieving truth and justice in Victoria and we are happy to have them on board as notable figures in the industry.”

As Senior Counsel Assisting, Mr McAvoy and Ms McLeod will work closely with Yoorrook’s five Commissioners and will action their guidance on specific matters throughout the historic process.

Mr McAvoy and Ms McLeod’s work in this role will be critical to accomplishing Yoorrook’s mandate of investigating historical and ongoing injustices experienced by First Peoples in Victoria since colonisation.

“With our Senior Counsel now in place, we have a greater range of expertise to contribute to the development of our interim report which will be delivered in June of this year.

“Our interim report will investigate a range of themes and include critical recommendations and reform.”

The Yoorrook Justice Commission (Yoorrook) announced the appointment of Mr

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With contact tracing a thing of the past, the State Government announced earlier this week that QR code check-ins were no longer necessary, however the check-in app would still be required to show proof of vaccination in specified venues.

Venues that still require patrons to be fully vaccinated, such as pubs, clubs, restaurants, cafés and event venues will still need to see proof of vaccination.

The move was enthusiastically welcomed by many businesses with some staff immediately removing the app signage from their venues.

Chief Executive of the Queensland Tourism and Industry Council Daniel Gschwind labelled the need to check-in as confusing and said there was relief that the practice was being shelved.

"It didn't serve much purpose and we still have mandated vaccination requirements for all hospitality venues and that will probably stay in place,” Mr Gschwind said.

Brisbane Mayor Adrian Schrinner had been calling on the State Government for the past month to scrap the app, saying finally common sense prevailed.

“Glad to see the State Government has listened to our calls to scrap the check-in app for many businesses,” the Lord Mayor said.

“The State hasn’t been using their app for contact tracing, so forcing residents to use it didn’t make much sense.

“This will help to reduce the angst and be good for local business.”

With double vaccination rates reaching 90 per cent this week, hospitality owners are calling to remove all vaccination mandates in an effort to rebound from what has been a stifling time in business.

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KAP Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter spoke in the heartland of Queensland’s coal coastline last week to fight for the future of affordable electricity and a strong economy.

With Hay Point’s coal loading facility as the backdrop, Mr Katter said he is sick and tired of other parties spitting on the coal industry which delivers $110B per year to the Australian economy.

“If you want to buy a pair of shoes, food for your table, live the dream of owning your own home, the money for that comes from coal and iron ore,” Mr Katter said.

“This country has been carried in the coal truck for 70-odd years now.

“If you work in the coal industry, or benefit from the coal industry, for heaven’s sake, have the guts to stand up for coal.”

Mr Katter said businesses who publicly denounce coal and advocate for solar are taking Australian jobs and exporting them to China.

“Every time you put glass on your roof, you take a job off an Australian and send that job to China,” he said.

“600 million people are without electricity in India. They need coal, they don’t have space for glass.”

Mr Katter said that the coal-fired power plants of the future emit far less CO2 than previously and spoke of technology to use the CO2 emitted to cultivate algae, a protein-rich food source for farmers.

“The future of coal is very bright when you look at the research being conducted in using CO2 to grow algae.

“You need to have a lot of flat land, in North Queensland, we have heaps of flat land. Due west from Mackay, there’s desert upland, there’s water and it’s as flat as a billiard table. There’s about 10,000 square kilometres.

“Plenty of land, plenty of water and plenty of coal. Feeding the CO2 to the algae, zero emissions. Zero emissions. You can’t say there’s zero emissions in producing that silicone for your roof.

“Producing electricity from a modern coal-fired power station with the algae ponds, zero emissions.

“Algae is 23 per cent protein. In the cattle industry, you’d cry for 23 per cent protein. Anyone can cut grass, but it lacks protein.

“The future of coal is bright, black and shiny.”

Mr Katter also spoke of the cost of renewables, saying it would further widen the wealth gap.

“Think of the poor old pensioners, they’re going to be the ones paying double for their electricity to subsidise the rich people who could afford solar,” he said.

Katter also said he is looking for a strong federal candidate to take on the seat of Dawson, saying discussions with George Christensen hadn’t come to fruition.

“I think he has made a terrible mistake,” Mr Katter said.

“He could win this seat running for us.

“We’re determined to move forward in this seat (of Dawson). We dipped out by two seats to get the balance of power in the last election. Two seats.

“Behind the scenes we’re making great strides. We’re very strong in some seats.

“We will get the balance of power, and when we do, you can start counting the days to when we get our own state for North Queensland.”

Katter Party Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter and former Katter Party candidate for Whitsunday Ciaron Patterson at Hay Point. Photos: Amanda Wright

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With the recent Senate Inquiry into GP shortages in regional Queensland, Dawson’s Labor Candidate, Shane Hamilton, is throwing his full support behind addressing the issue in Mackay through James Cook University (JCU).

Meeting on Thursday with Dr Elissa Hatherly, Mackay Clinical School Head at James Cook University (JCU), Mr Hamilton heard the concerns facing the Sugar City’s hospitals, clinics, and medical professionals.

Mr Hamilton said that JCU is investing in three key areas to sustain and build a lasting health workforce for the communities of the Mackay region and supporting them was pivotal.

“JCU is well known for its success in taking kids from regional communities, giving them a great educational experience, with positive rural experiences and fantastic mentors, that inspire graduating health professionals to want to stay in the region,” Mr Hamilton said.

“It makes sense to back a local provider that is delivering strong results for our community.”

This past week, 18 doctors commenced training with JCU to become GPs in the Mackay region.

“From what I have been told, that is a 17 per cent increase of GP trainees in the Mackay, Isaac and Whitsunday regions,” Mr Hamilton said.

The University is seeking to expand the delivery of its Medical School program in Mackay and Cairns with a minimum 80 additional trainees commencing Commonwealth supported places (CSPs).

“North Queensland has really struggled for many years; we are under servicing, we have far fewer doctors in northern Queensland than our southeast corner counterparts,” Dr Hatherly said.

“Increasing the number of GP training program pathway positions here in Mackay and across northern Queensland is incredibly important.

“We have proven to deliver high quality general practice training and are well prepared to do that in greater numbers.”

Dr Hatherly said that, if these GP numbers aren’t met, workforce pressures will be exacerbated, and COVID has already highlighted the stress the system could experience in 10 to 15 years’ time.

“We need to be training people here to have them stay here,” Dr Hatherly said.

Mr Hamilton said that GP training needs to meet Queensland’s needs, including continued funding for JCU to deliver the College-led GP training across regional Queensland.

“I 100 per cent support the outcomes of the senate inquiry which should and will support the need for more GPs and more doctors in regional Queensland,” Mr Hamilton said.

“Programs like the JCU are running allows doctors to be trained here, and will imbed them to stay here, have a career, have a life in the towns they’ve come to know.”

On the same day, The Honourable Dr David Gillespie MP, Minister for Regional Health announced the Federal Liberals and Nationals Government would invest $2 million over two years to the University of Queensland to expand allied health student training in St George in rural Queensland.

Dr Gillespie agreed with Mr Hamilton’s assessment that training a GP in a regional setting inclines them to stay there.

“There is growing evidence that students who have a positive and rewarding extended training experience in a rural area are more likely to take up rural practice upon graduation,” Dr Gillespie said.

The Coalition Government has stated that investing in and supporting high-quality rural health training is a proven and effective way to address gaps in the rural and remote health workforce now and in the future.

Mr Hamilton said that the current government's stance on healthcare is something that goes to show their level of awareness, with their stripping away of funding in telehealth and Medicare, and that these promises were election stunts.

“Their track history on health and healthcare speaks for itself, again we see the government getting close to election time trying to buy votes,” Mr Hamilton said.

Mr Hamilton could not promise that an investment in JCU’s priorities post-election would be “cast iron.”

“We can’t say 100 per cent that we’re there, but myself here in Dawson, John [Ring] up In Herbert, the guys up in Leichhardt, we’re all pushing this extremely hard,” Mr Hamilton said.

“It was a commitment in 2019, during that election, so I’m very confident we’ll get it over the line.”

“Increasing the number of GP training program pathway positions here in Mackay and across northern Queensland is incredibly important.”

Labor Federal Candidate Shane Hamilton and Dr Elissa Hatherly, Mackay Clinical School Head at James Cook University

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Cars, trucks and tens of thousands of people have converged on Canberra over the past fortnight as part of a convoy protesting against government COVID-19 restrictions such as vaccination mandates.

Hundreds of Mackay locals have already made what is being described as a ‘pilgrimage for freedom’ with many more showing support to convoys passing through from Townsville and Cairns by delivering meals and groceries along the highway.

One marcher from Mackay said they were in Canberra to fight for the freedom of those who had lost their jobs due to vaccine mandates.

“We should have the right of choice when it comes to any medical decision. Coercion, to say ‘you must do this or you will lose your job’ is absolutely criminal. More people are starting to wake up. Two weeks to ‘flatten the curve’ and here we are two years later.”

The Convoy to Canberra rally originally arrived in Canberra at the beginning of February, when thousands of people gathered at Parliament House. Thousands more are expected to continue to arrive over the coming week, as corners of Australia unite in the Capital.

Mackay locals gathered to send groups of cars and trucks off for the Convoy to Canberra. Photo credit Eye Kaptured

Dawson MP George Christensen at the Convoy to Canberra in Canberra

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I was forced to isolate myself at home lastweek after my wife and son contracted a well-known and highly contagious virus.

The virus was confirmed by our doctorduring a home visit and I immediately sent a telegram to my list of buyers totell them my open homes were cancelled for the coming Saturday.

I had four listings to get ready to beadvertised the following week so I typed up the write-ups and sent them intothe office by carrier pigeon. Not all of them arrived.

Since I was in isolation I was unable to doany real estate work so I filled the backyard incinerator with rubbish I’d beenmeaning to burn off, grabbed the wireless and a long-neck and listened to theTop 40 while I watched the smoke disappear over my neighbours’ properties.

All of the above is absolutely untrueexcept for the part about me having to isolate because my wife and son gotCOVID-19. But it is the way it could well have played out in the past.

The way the world has changed meant thatdespite me being in isolation my business was able to continue as close aspossible to normal, with listings being advertised, private inspections takingplace, open houses going ahead as planned and properties selling.

Some of the changes that allowed this weretechnological … I was able to work remotely with my laptop connected to theGardian server so I could do write-ups, select photos for properties to beadvertised, answer email inquiries from buyers, make and receive calls on mymobile.

But there are other equally importantchanges, relating to how the best real estate agencies now operate, thatallowed me to continue to provide the service that buyers and sellers need.

At Gardian we operate in teams, orfamilies, that work together and support each other. I’ve got a little workfamily of three with me and two sales associates; Skye who is a buyers agentand Sandy who largely looks after contracts, listing documents and generaladmin.

During my week of isolation, Skye did a lotof private inspections and was in constant phone contact with me with updates.Sandy looked after listing documents, advertising uploads and theadministration work that is required to keep things ticking over. Skye andSandy did the open homes together on the Saturday, and they did six of them,and made sure we didn’t miss a beat for our clients.

The family system works extremely well whenlife runs as planned, and I’ll discuss that in a future column, but a big partof it is that when something goes wrong it allows us to continue to provide thebest service. Change is good and has definitely improved things, although Imiss the incinerator and Casey Kasem. (Google it kids.)

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One of Mackay’s emerging interior designers has taken out a coveted customer service award in design, based on satisfaction and reviews.

Deborah Muscat of Sabih Interiors won a ‘Best of Houzz’ award for Customer Service, on Houzz®, a leading nationwide online platform for home renovation and design.

The dynamic new Mackay design firm, which is only three years young, was chosen by the plethora of homeowners that comprise the Houzz community from among more than 2.7 million active home building, renovation and design industry professionals in Australia.

Ms Muscat won her award during the 10-year anniversary of the Best of Houzz awards program and says that it’s people who lead the way when it comes to design choice.

“The essence of interior design will always be about people,” Ms Muscat said.

She has been creating beautiful interiors for more than 25 years and believes as a designer it is not always about following cutting-edge trends and styles or replicating what is already safe and done.

“It’s about creating the uniqueness of each and every one of my clients,” she said.

Ms Muscat is honored to receive such an award and says, “The Houzz community is made up of millions of homeowners, home design enthusiasts and home improvement professionals Australia wide, and I am very thankful for the recognition within the Houzz community.”

Sabih Interiors offers a full personalised service, from consultancy to design and decoration, through to specially sourced furnishings and fabrics.

“We draw on extensive experience in both residential and commercial interior design and decoration.

“We specialise in custom designed furniture and can help and guide you every step of the way through your project.”

Sabih Interiors have its own approach to the progressive outcome and prides itself on making design available to everyone, no matter what budget or need.

“It is a unique touch of sophistication, where your personal style is predominant throughout the whole design process,” Ms Muscat said.

“We also help with project management during construction of the project if needed.”

Whether it is an interior for a new home or home renovation or your commercial office, Sabig Interiors can help you through as little or as much of the design stages as you want.

Creating a functional and intelligible space is key to a successful project.

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If you’re a parent with little primary school aged kids or high school kids around Mackay, Monday is going to be huge because most kids are heading back to school after being delayed due to COVID-19.

Sure, there have been many kids already back at school over the last few weeks because their parents are essential workers or even kids who’ve had no-one to look after them because both parents work.

This Monday I reckon will come as a bit of a shock to lots of kids. The alarm will be going off before midday. There won’t be a fridge to go and open every 5 minutes to see what food there is to dream about.

There won’t be a TV remote to hold to flick over every 5 seconds. There also won’t be a bed to lay down on when you get tired because you’ve just used more energy walking down the hallway, than you would have used over the last two months.

Kids are in for a shock. Some will have to wear face masks. Some will have to wash their hands more. Yes, wash them for longer than 10 seconds. Some kids will have to keep their distance from their mates. Maybe no hugs. Perhaps no shaking of hands. It’s going to be different.

But you know what? Being at school and around their mates has to be better than in front of a screen in your PJ’s right? I hope so.

Remember if your kids aren’t that happy about getting their uniforms ready to head off to North High, or Sarina, or MCC, or St Pat’s, or West Mackay Primary, it could be worse.

When I went to primary school in Sydney in 1976 I had to have everything ironed. I had to wear a jacket, a boater hat (look it up) and shoes that were polished the night before. If that wasn’t done, you’d get the cane. I kid you not. If you’re little ones still aren’t happy, remind them of how we used to ride our bikes to school.

Life was a little different back then.

You can join Rob Kidd from 5am weekday mornings on 4MK 1026 AM in Mackay and Proserpine, 91.5FM in Airlie Beach or just ask your smart speaker to play 4MK!

Rob growing up in Sydney with older sister Alison before the family moved to Mackay

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Blessed in July, with the first students arriving in November for orientation, Mackay’s newest Catholic College, Catherine McAuley College is set to open in less than a week’s time.

Built around the old Sugar Research Institute, the new college went through a blessed construction period where it ran ahead of schedule and will welcome its historic first four classrooms of Year 7 students through the Institute’s historic doors on February 7.

“The College looks amazing with a blend of refurbished old and stylish new,” Catherine McAuley College Principal, Mr Jim Ford said.

“The Institute’s main building has been transformed into a versatile, highly functional educational facility with fully equipped, attractive, air-conditioned rooms.”

The Sugar Research Institute was one of the most iconic landmarks in the Australian sugar industry, and now transformed, reinvigorated, and renovated, but retaining its spirit is part of the $20m dollar project.

The original building has remained, with architects managing to meld the old with the new, providing other buildings on the campus with fresh looks.

“An eighteen-month construction period had much to achieve in both restoration and new structures with contemporary architecture making best use of the site,” Mr Ford said.

“Ample car parking, play spaces and student lunch facilities are some of the welcome finishing touches. As the landscapers finish their plantings the site is finally dedicated to quality education.”

Year 7s will be the first cohort arriving at the school, with further years joining until the college reaches its full capacity of 1200 students.

Mr Ford said staff are ready to go and somewhat impatient to make a start on another kind of building program.

“That involves building the traditions and effective practices that offer the families and students who seek our values a place in an excellent school. I’m sure the whole of Mackay wishes us all the best,” he said.

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After a public allegation claiming newborn babies were being ‘taken’ from COVID-positive mothers at Mackay Base Hospital, the health service issued a statement refuting the claim and to make their birthing policy clear surrounding the pandemic.

“Our policy has always been that new mothers and their babies are able to room together in the COVID-19 ward at Mackay Base Hospital if both are well,” the statement read.

“If the baby needs to go to the Special Care Nursery they will be cared for there while their mother remains in the COVID-19 ward or in the Intensive Care Unit.

“It is important that premature and other unwell newborn babies in the Special Care Nursery are not exposed to a visitor who is COVID-19 positive.”

Mackay HHS has undertaken planning to care for women with confirmed or suspected COVID-19. The hospital said these plans will continue to be updated in line with the latest advice from the Chief Health Officer.

“Our hospitals are well prepared to respond to COVID-19 to ensure they are a safe place for you and your baby.

“Staff are vigilant with cleaning, handwashing and using protective equipment to keep you and your baby safe.”

Women with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 are able to birth at Mackay Base Hospital in dedicated rooms in Labour Ward.

“This is the case as long as there are no other factors that would normally result in transfer to a tertiary hospital. Staff will use COVID-19 precautions until results are returned.

“After birthing you will be cared for in a dedicated COVID-19 ward at Mackay Base Hospital. If babies are well and not requiring care in the Special Care Nursery they will remain with their mothers,” the policy reads.

“Your mode of birth will not be influenced by COVID-19 unless urgent delivery is indicated. Your choice of feeding is supported and breastfeeding is still recommended even if you have COVID-19.”

The hospital also said that unvaccinated partners were able to be support people.

“While we can allow an unvaccinated partner to attend (provided they follow all staff instructions regarding Personal Protective Equipment), we do require that any secondary support person be vaccinated, to limit risk to our staff.”

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Providing care for Mackay’s young patients and their families is a life-long passion for paediatric staff specialist Dr Clara Menezes, who said Mackay gave her the opportunity to treat her patients holistically.

“Prior to working at Mackay Base Hospital, I worked mainly in tertiary centres for twenty years, where I would ‘treat the child for the condition they are referred for,’” she said.

“You can be a true paediatrician here. It’s not like you are just managing a few conditions for the patient, you provide care for them and their family as a whole.”

Dr Menezes first came to Mackay Base Hospital in 2011 and initially only stayed for a year but knew she wanted to come back as soon as possible. In 2015, when her son had finished his schooling, Dr Menezes packed up her life and returned to the tropics.

“When I started off at Mackay Base Hospital, my intention was to stay here forever but sometimes life doesn’t go the way we want,” she said.

“I love this place, and everyone knows it. This is like a home to me and it will remain that way.”

Dr Menezes particularly loves the family spirit at the Mackay Base Hospital, especially within the paediatric department. She credits her colleagues for helping her become the paediatrician she is today.

“We work as a team with the final goal to provide the best of care for the child and to their family.

After seven years of working in Mackay Base Hospital’s Child and Adolescent Unit, Dr Menezes has bid farewell to the place she calls home after deciding to move to New South Wales.

“I am thankful for all my support networks over the years from my nursing, allied health and child safety colleagues,” Dr Menezes said.

“Mackay is the best place and has an excellent team of professionals I learned my medicine from. We have very well-trained clinicians.”

Dr Clara Menezes. Photo supplied: Mackay Hospital and Health Service

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Last Friday, All Abilities Mackay’s Summer House, the disability initiative providing a variety of program for children in the community, closed its door for one last time.

From mainstream activities for all children with their parents, smaller group programs for children with disabilities, after school programs for children with disabilities, and school holiday programs for children with disabilities, the programs of Summer House were a hit amongst the Sugar City’s parents.

Founded in 2019 by Bec Nicol, the aim was to create a place where families struggling with disability could have a safe, predictable place for kids, and then bring in neurotypical kids to socialise with them in an inclusive play setting.

Letting kids interact with other kids was the idea, but with struggles in achieving NDIS funding a constant bane for the initiative, as well as pandemic problems, Summer House closed its doors last Friday.

Ms Nicol said that she wished the circumstances were different.

“We have loved the time getting to know families and support you the best we knew how to,” she said.

“Unfortunately, we must recognise when things aren’t meant to be, and for us the time has come.”

Summer House was a “long term dream” for Ms Nicol, who said the current uncertain times forced her to be unable to continue.

“I don’t have the time, energy or tenacity left to continue,” she said.

She thanked the exceptional businesses, organisations and individuals who supported the group over the years.

I would like to shout out a special mention to Sharon and the crew at Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal and Flagon & Dragon Mackay,” Ms Nicol said.

“Without their tens of thousands of dollars of support over the years, we couldn’t be anywhere close to where we are without them.”

The community have expressed their support for Summer House, and hope that it will continue on in some form or another, or be reborn.

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Not many people know that the op in Op Shop means opportunity, and that Mackay has a population of over 3,500 people suffering from homelessness. Many of them without opportunity, without shelter, often living within a cycle of drug abuse, or a cycle of poverty.

It is a hidden world of confrontation, and it seems that chances are hard to come by in it.

One organisation providing for Mackay’s growing population of those experiencing degrees of homelessness is Australian Street Aid Project LTD. (ASAP).

They performed a recent striking interview in a sit down with Karren in Mackay at their Chances Café in Shakespeare Street. Karren has been experiencing homelessness for six months.

“I’ve lived in abandoned houses and in the streets,” Karren said in the interview.

“I feel like I’m useless, like I’ve lost my soul, and that sometimes I don’t want to be alive. I just want to have a home and somewhere to live and be happy again. This is not happiness.

“I just hope that a lot of things change in Mackay and that the homeless situation gets help[ed] for everyone.”

Its ‘Pay Forward’ board in the Shakespeare Street cafe is a way for people to purchase a meal for those in need.

“Our Pay It Forward meal system feeds up to 60 people per week who are experiencing homelessness,” a cafe spokesperson said.

“From mothers and children to people with disabilities or those who are just down and out - homelessness does not discriminate.”

ASAP have been providing ‘op’ since their humble beginnings in 2018, and have now expanded to not only provide the tools that people need to break their cycle through employing those experiencing homelessness, but now with a new coffee shop within the Chances Op Shop in Victoria Street.

“Our cafe on Shakespeare Street is still open as per usual, but we now also have a coffee shop within our Chances Op Shop at 7 Victoria Street.

“You can grab a quick bite to eat or drink whilst checking out all the bargains, knowing that your money goes right back into the Mackay Community.”

They’re one of the many organisations championing the cause of helping those experiencing homelessness in Mackay. As a non-for-profit they are always seeking donations or volunteers on their website.

In December, Mackay and Whitsunday Life Newspaper spoke with Paul Winter, a local man on a crusade to build a homeless shelter as part of his non-for-profit 360five, another individual doing what he saw as his part. After a long bout of drug addiction himself, Paul saw the issues in the regions firsthand.

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