Unmarked graves dot the Whitsundays, their location and their occupants are largely unknown - lost to time - and it falls upon the patient few to track down these lone resting places.

Hundreds of burial sites dating back as far as 1861 have been found across the state, and in our own region the hunt for lone graves is in the hands of Whitsunday Regional Council senior information officer Kia Ellem.

Ms Ellem has been leading the council’s lone grave project since 2018, keeping track of not only where people are buried, but creating public databases which include their personal histories.

Along with finding missing graves along riversides, roads, and up through the backroad properties of the region, Ms Ellem has helped locate 70 unmarked graves in the Proserpine cemetery.

She uses ground-penetrating radars, metal detectors, maps and old records, as well as information from long-time Whitsunday families to find them.

“I wish I had started 20 years ago so that I could ask a lot of those people who’ve since passed away about the vague locations of graves on properties,” Ms Ellem said.

In many cases Ms Ellem finds not only graves of Australians, but also those of other countries – particularly ones brought here against their will.

“Blackbirding” of South Sea Islanders by Australian settlers was a common practice of the late 19th and early 20th centuries which brought over 50,000 Islanders to Australia to work as indentured labourers on cane fields in Queensland.

They were tricked, kidnapped, or lured to the country.

Their graves have since been unearthed in cane fields, farmsteads, and some local cemeteries across Queensland.

“We have South Sea Islanders buried in Proserpine and Bowen cemetery, and I know of some on private properties,” Ms Ellem said.

“When the old Crystalbrook sugar mill in Glen Isla was active, we know there may be 20 graves out near there somewhere.”

Ms Ellem has found 20 graves underneath a section of the old road in Proserpine’s Cemetery, 17 of those were South Islanders that were not given headstones.

As part of the operations, families of the deceased are told that the grave of a family member has been found, but usually not the exact location, and Ms Ellem said she was always looking for more information.

“We don’t want to intrude on properties or encourage people to do that,” she said.

“It is for future generations because these people deserve to be recognised.”

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In the Whitsundays we are spoiled for choice when it comes to pristine beaches and exquisite, untouched beauty, but there’s nowhere better than Whitehaven.

One of the region’s very best scenic experiences to one of Australia’s best beaches is SeaLink’s Big Island Day Tour.

With ample time to explore the crystal-clear waters of both north Hill Inlet and south Whitehaven, the tour offers a relaxed journey of pure comfort to the backdrop of the Whitsunday’s incredible islands.

SeaLink’s air-conditioned, modern catamaran comprises three levels including an observation deck with 360-degree views of the turquoise panorama. Your comfort is paramount, and that extends to both the service and food aboard the vessel.

Departing from the brand-new Shute Harbour Marine Terminal, SeaLink’s MV Nancy Wake glides past the unique view of the Molle Island Group and Cid Harbour.

The scenic tour then cruises to Whitehaven, taking in the pristine coastline’s remote island locations along the way.

The vessel has the feel of a large ship, with the intimacy of a private cruise.

Guests sip champagne and can With full bar service available, guests can sip champagne and head outside to enjoy the experience if they so choose or stay inside the cabin and listen to the captain’s entertaining commentary over the intercom.

The interactions with crew members and their incredible knowledge of the region’s water ways are worth the price of admission alone. With education, interaction, and experience at the forefront of this unique tour, every guest will leave feeling both inspired and informed.

If you’re looking for a relaxed, comfortable, and scenic ticket to Australia’s best beach at the hands of the region’s most knowledgeable skippers and most amicable deckhands, there’s no better choice than SeaLink.

The tour departs from 9am and returns at 5pm, operating daily from Friday through to Sunday.

DID YOU KNOW?

Some of Whitehaven’s silica sand helped to reveal the universe when it was used to make parts of the Hubble telescope.

SeaLink’s premier vessel, the Nancy Wake

The tour of Whitehaven Beach is spectacular

An experience unlike any other, dipping your toes into the cool sand at Whitehaven

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There is nothing that could ease the heatwave quicker than knowing the construction of the brand-new $1.2 million waterpark in Collinsville is tracking nicely and on course to open later this month.

The new facility, which is expected to attract families from across the region, will feature two thrilling waterslides, a timed tipping bucket, water jets and a shaded splash pad area.

Work has been delayed slightly due to late shipment of parts with some of the features stuck on a boat in Brisbane waiting for the port to reopen.

Despite this, the Whitsunday Regional Council operated facility is still expected to be open later this month.

Mayor Andrew Willcox said that he is excited to see the waterpark coming together nicely.

“This will be a fantastic facility for families of the Collinsville and Scottville communities to enjoy and cool off from the heat of summer,” he said.

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Two Whitsunday locals are about to embark on a six-day jet ski adventure from Mackay to Port Douglas, raising both awareness and funds for a children’s charity along the way.

Father and son duo, Steve Ward and his 18 year old son Rhys, will depart on Sunday and are expected to reach their destination by the following weekend, covering some of Australia’s most spectacular coastline along the way.

The pair are aiming to raise $5000 for Variety Children’s Charity, an organisation that directly changes the lives of Aussie kids who are sick, disadvantaged or living with a disability by providing practical equipment and experiences for kids in need.

This is Rhys’ third and Steve’s twelfth Yamaha Variety Jet Trek and they will be joined by 110 other riders on personal watercrafts, known as the community of ‘Trekkers’.

The event began in 1998 and since then, the Trekkers have successfully raised over $2.4 million to empower Aussie kids to reach their full potential regardless of ability or background.

Now in its 24th year, the iconic Yamaha Variety Jet Trek is Australia’s largest and most successful charity personal watercraft event.

Steve, who operates Whitsunday Jet Ski Tours, has been participating for 12 years and says that he loves giving back when he can.

“We are more than happy to give up a week of our fortunate lives and dedicate our time to giving, as well as take on the challenges of jetskiing some incredible coastlines of Australia,” he said.

With support of wife Toni and other son, Will (11), as well as Rhys, Steve has raised over $45,000 for the Children’s Charity.  

Steve and Rhys Ward are ready to jetski to Port Douglas for charity

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Police are appealing for witnesses after a local man suffered from an unprovoked attack outside a licensed venue on Shute Harbour Road in Airlie Beach.

The victim had stepped outside the premises to check his mobile phone at 1am on Saturday 19th February.

It was this split second decision that saw him targeted by an unprovoked attack by an unknown individual.

As a result, he lost consciousness and was transported to hospital with serious facial injuries which later required surgery.

There were 2,469 assaults reported in the Whitsundays in 2021, the highest rates in more than 20 years.

Police are appealing for anyone who may have information or who may have witnessed the incident to come forward.

If you have information for police, contact Policelink by providing information using the online suspicious activity form 24hrs per day at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting.

Report crime information anonymously via Crime Stoppers. Call 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestoppersqld.com.au.

Quote this reference number: QP2200398614.

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To the Chagrin of Whitsunday locals, works along the Bruce Highway between Ayr and Proserpine have halted as the main contractor has gone into voluntary administration.

WBHO Infrastructure, the main contractor for the $46 million Bruce Highway upgrades, closed its construction works along the region’s main highway in late February.

The South African construction company has shut down operations in Australia due to the hard-line government response to COVID-19 making the businesses Australian arm “unsustainable.”

Its roadwork crews downed tools and walked off three job sites on February 25, ceasing work along three Bruce Highway upgrade projects.

The company was delivering the $38.8 million Emu Creek to Drays Road upgrade, the $8.03 million Bowen Connection Road upgrade and the $22 million dollar works between Bowen and Ayr.

Despite work abruptly finishing, the reduced speed limits have remained in place which is causing confusion for many motorists.

Swaths of the Bruce Highway from Proserpine to Bowen have reduced speed limits of 40 and 60 kilometres per hour.

Whitsunday Deputy Mayor, Mike Brunker questioned this at the council meeting last week, asking what could be done to increase speed limits to a safe 80 kilometres per hour.

Director of Infrastructure Services Whitsunday Regional Council Adam Hagy said he has already held meetings with Transport and Main Roads (TMR) who are still assessing the issue.

Council asked whether they could undertake safe works, but Mr Hagy said they were still live construction sites and possession of them falls under WBHO, meaning council would need approval from TMR.

Transport and Main Roads in a statement have said that “although road users may not see construction underway as they travel through these sites, reduced speed limits may need to remain due to changed road conditions.”

The construction was planned for completion by late 2022, and there is no confirmation for a restart date.

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When Yuliia Kuzma first heard Russia had begun its invasion of the Ukraine, she went into shock, desperately trying to find a way that she would be able to bring her adopted son from the city of Kharkiv to live with her in Proserpine.

“The first thing I did was cry; I could not believe it or imagine it - they are attacking the whole country and it has been so horrible watching what is going on,” she said.

Yuliia is a Ukrainian citizen who arrived in Australia seven years ago.

She is also a single mother working two jobs - one at Proserpine Pies and Pastries, the other in Woolworths.

Four of her last six years in this country have been spent trying to adopt her sister’s son, Max, and bring him here.

This led to a long battle to, not only have Max be declared Yuliia’s son, but also bring him to Australia to live with her.

When war broke out, those hopes of bringing the 12-year-old here for a better life changed drastically.

He had been living in Kharkiv with a family friend before the city was captured by the Russian Army, and Yuliia said they had since moved to a safer city after Kharkiv had been “smashed.”

She had hoped to already be in Poland last week, where she is going to coordinate Max’s safe arrival across the border before bringing him back to Australia to live.

She now plans to leave as soon as possible.

Whether that be through crossing the border herself to bring him back or having a friend do so, she cannot say.

“Legally, you are not allowed to go,” Yuliia said.

“What I am doing is not special, everyone can do it; if you would be in the same spot as I am, if you had a sister or a brother there, you would do the same thing.”

Max will come to Australia on a three-month tourist visa and hopefully extend to six, as currently Ukrainian citizens do not qualify as refugees.

Whether he will be allowed to attend school is also unknown.

She said that the outpouring of support from the Whitsunday community was the most astounding thing about her situation and she looks forward to hopefully bringing some good news about Max’s safe arrival in Australia soon.

Yuliia Kuzma will travel to the Ukrainian border to bring her twelve-year-old son back home to Proserpine

Yuliia’s adopted son, Max

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Last weekend, in two separate single vehicle traffic accidents, two cars flew off the road and into ditches – all of the occupants were lucky to survive the split-second moment in which their cars left the road.

On Thursday afternoon, Strathdickie resident Mariz Zarina had just picked her two sons up from school and was on her way to a dentist appointment in Cannonvale in wet weather conditions when her car started sliding uncontrollably across the road.

Mariz recalls skidding towards a bus pole and, without being able to control the steering wheel, the vehicle hit the pole and flew into the ditch.

Mariz lost consciousness but witnesses later informed her that the car rolled three times.

Miraculously no-one was hurt.

“The boys were aware of everything - it was scary and traumatising especially for my little boy, Andy,” said Mariz.

“All the windows, front and rear were damaged, and we were just so lucky that there was not a single injury. But the following day, I felt the body pain in my head and neck.

In a separate incident, less than 24 hours later in Cannonvale, local resident Maz was driving to the shops, just around the corner from her house, when she recalls an animal running directly in front of her car.

A split-second moment caused her to instinctively steer away from it and straight into a ditch with such force that the doors bent out of shape and she was trapped inside.

Maz recalls being on two wheels and remembers bouncing in her seat to trying to push her side down to prevent the vehicle from flipping.

“I honestly thought I was going to die, especially when I saw the rocks” she said.

Once the vehicle came to a halt, some quick-thinking bystanders raced to the rescue and comforted Maz until the emergency services arrived.

“I can’t even express the gratitude I have for them,” she said.

“They were fantastic trying to keep me calm, I’m not sure what I would have done without them.”

Similarly, passers-by stopped to aid Mariz and her two sons, an act of kindness that she says her family will never forget.

Mariz also wants to encourage other residents to be careful on the roads, especially in wet conditions.

“Check your car is in good and safe condition,” she said.

“The seatbelts are important - that saved us. I was not going fast because there was a car before me, but I would like to remind people to be mindful when driving and check your tyres - the cause of my accident was that I lost traction.”

In her incident, Maz believes that placing barriers on the stretch of road where her accident took place would help prevent future upset.

This spot, opposite the police station in Cannonvale, was the same site as where a fatal accident took place a few years earlier.

Mariz Zarina with her sons, 15-year-old Gabriel and nine-year-old Andy

The site of the accident on Shute Harbour Road near Plemenuk Road

Maz whose vehicle crashed in Cannonvale

The site of the accident, opposite Cannonvale Police Station

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The best of the best tourism operators from across Australia will come together this evening to vie for prestigious National Tourism Awards which is being held in the Sunshine Coast.

There are 24 Queensland operators participating, three of which are local Whitsunday businesses.

Red Cat Adventures are aiming for gold and a lucrative place in the ‘Hall of Fame’ which could be theirs if they win Best Major Tour and Transport Operators in 2022, notching up three consecutive years they have been awarded this title.

Pinnacles Resort won gold for the Best Self-Contained Accommodation in 2021 and are hoping to take home the same again this year.

Similarly, the InterContinental Hayman Island Resort was awarded gold in the 5-Star Accommodation category in 2021 and are looking to replicate that achievement again.

Julie Telford from Red Cat Adventures said that she is excited but also nervous about the awards.

“I have mixed emotions, just being nominated is an amazing achievement but winning gold and getting a place in the national ‘Hall of Fame’ would be a mike-drop moment – if that happened it would be the absolute highlight of our entire business career,” she said.

“These awards are very different to State because we are all there rooting for Queensland, the more gold we get for Queensland, the better it is for tourism – it’s an absolute honour to represent our region with these guys!”

Therese Moran from Pinnacles Resort said they are honoured and really excited to be representing Queensland.

“It has been a tough couple of years, however, we are looking forward to celebrating the

resilience of our industry,” she said.

It really wouldn't be possible without our hardworking and dedicated team who strive to ensure that all guests have a wonderful holiday experience.”

Tourism Whitsunday CEO Rick Hamilton said that being recognised on a national stage is a significant achievement and shines a spotlight on our iconic destination.

“Three cheers for InterContinental Hayman Island Resort, Pinnacles Resort and Red Cat Adventures for Friday evening – let’s bring some gold home!” he said.

Red Cat Adventures aiming for double ‘Hall of Fame’ tonight

The team at Pinnacles going for gold again

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Dignitaries Gather To Celebrate New Era For Local Sport

The Whitsunday Sports Park Precinct has officially been handed over to its clubs at a ceremony last Friday, heralding the beginning of a new era for the Whitsundays’ organised sports.

Four years and $8.2 million dollars after construction began on the precinct, representatives from Local, State, and Federal government attended the completion ceremony, including Mayor Andrew Willcox, Federal Member for Dawson George Christensen and Whitsunday Regional Councillors.

Community Sports, A Whitsunday Winner

Committee members and volunteers from each sporting club - netball, touch football, soccer, rugby, bowls, and AFL – were in attendance, too, along with Police Sergeant Billy Li from PCYC Whitsundays.

Although not the end of the journey for the Sports Park, with the official opening to the public slated for July, Chairman of the Whitsunday Sports Park Association, Justin Butler, said they were “in the home strait” with all major construction complete.

He thanked the sporting clubs and the PCYC for what has been a “tremendously disruptive last few years.”

“Thank you very much for that and we hope that you can now use the better sporting facilities, changerooms, toilets, as well as the club, to grow your sports further,” Mr Butler said.

The facility is yet to be named but “Club Whitsunday” is the forerunner.

Federal Member for Dawson, George Christensen said that, aside from the boost to jobs and the local economy, the benefits to liveability were paramount.

“The Whitsundays are recognised the world over as a tourist destination, but it is much more than that,” Mr Christensen said.

“For thousands of locals, the Whitsundays is where we live, where we work, and where we play. When all the focus is on providing the ultimate experience for tourists, it would be easy to forget about the locals that make it all happen.”

Mr Christensen said that, of all the local community projects he has been involved in over his 13 years, this project is “probably the most significant that there has been.”

The project saw the construction of a new clubhouse building with a lobby, commercial kitchen, bar, dining areas, sports lounge, male, female and accessible toilets, covered outdoor terraces, tiered seating, kids’ recreation area, offices, storerooms, access road, car parking and landscaping.

It also includes a reorientation of the existing fields to allow for a third field to be installed, as well as new lighting to the existing fields.

Mayor Andrew Wilcox congratulated the Whitsunday Sports Park Association and especially Mr Butler.

“You came to us with a dream, but this dream has been fulfilled through you and your team,” he said.

The venue is still to be outfitted before the public will be able to use the facility seven days a week as a bistro type bar and gaming venue.

Mr Butler said that National Bank (NAB) have offered support in the form of loans to the tune of $500,000 for kitchen outfitting, $300,000 fitting out the remainder of the bar, $1.5 million to fit out the pokies and the operational cash to open and employ staff.

Once open, revenue generated by the project will be used to support the further development of sporting and community organisations across the Whitsunday region by being cycled back into the clubs.

“This business makes the money for the sports people, and that’s the way it should be,” Mr Butler said.

‍Federal Member for Dawson George Christensen, Whitsunday Mayor Andrew Willcox, Whitsunday Sports Park Chairman Justin Butler, Project Manager Penny Gill Conan, Steve Tween, Bob McMahon, Craig Spence, and Jason Salecich from NQ Rep Clubs Qld

Federal Member for Dawson George Christensen

Charmain of Whitsunday Sports Park Association Justin Butler

Mayor Andrew Willcox posing with Proserpine Whitsunday Raiders coach and players

Government representatives, sports club representatives and the PCYC all attended the handing over ceremony for the Whitsunday Sports Park

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It was International Women’s Day the other week and somehow that made me think of a comment that real estate agents sometimes hear from male buyers: “Mate, I love the property, but the missus doesn’t really like it.”

On hearing that comment you might think there’s still a chance of getting a sale with this couple because at least the husband loves the property.

You would be wrong. You would be showing that you have no understanding of the husband/wife dynamic when buying a property. You are completely ignorant about who has the power.

If “the missus” doesn’t like a property, there is no deal to be done.

However, it’s a different story when the situation is reversed. Say the comment is: “Mate, to be honest I don’t really like the property, but the missus loves it.” Start drawing up the contract baby, we have got a deal!

It’s not quite that easy but I have definitely sold properties to couples when the man isn’t a big fan but the woman loves it.

I’m not sure if they include my observations during International Women’s Day speeches but I think the house-buying dynamic does say something about a healthy modern relationship and shows clearly that women do not take a back seat when the important decisions are being made.

It also serves as a warning to sexist real estate agents … underestimate the authority of a woman in a relationship and you are doomed to failure.

We’ve all seen the salesman who focuses on the husband and ignores the wife. It’s embarrassing. There he is joking with the husband, making eye contact with him, laughing at his jokes, slapping him on the back, treating the wife as though she doesn’t matter.

That salesman is like the last of a species on the verge of dying out. The world has changed and time has passed him by and he doesn’t know it. But it’s over for him and it’s the female buyer who is about to finish him off.

“Sorry mate, I reckon you’re great but the missus thinks you’re an idiot.” Chk, chk, boom.

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Whitsunday Anglican School has announced Dr Richard Harris SC OAM as their keynote speaker for the 2022 Whitsunday Voices Youth Literature Festival and Literary Dinner.

Dr Harris is an Australian anaesthetist and cave diver who played a crucial role in the remarkable international rescue of a teenage soccer team from a flooded Thai cave system in 2018.

Dr Harris and dive partner Dr Craig Challen have recounted the heroic tale of the rescue in their book ‘Against All Odds’, and Festival Manager Tracey Gurdler says he will be huge for the town and the festival.

“He’s a hero,” she said.

“I think that the Mackay community will be able to come together to celebrate him as a person and an author.”

Dr Harris will speak to senior students at the festival and deliver a keynote speech at the Literary Dinner.

He is among 13 Australian authors attending as well as artists, musicians, a drama group, a slam poet, and a screenwriter, with the rest of the program and ticket sales to be launched on April 22.

The Whitsunday Voices Youth Literature Festival is the only festival of its kind north of the Sunshine Coast and welcomes approximately 5000 students from around the region, including 500 children from regional Queensland thanks to the Winchester Foundation.

“Sometimes being a regional community, you don’t expect to be exposed to the same sort of cultural activities as you are if you lived in Brisbane or Sydney or Melbourne,” Tracey said.

“To actually have something like this here as well that our kids can enjoy and benefit from, it’s fantastic.

“I love being a part of it.”

The 2022 Whitsunday Voices Youth Literature Festival will launch on Wednesday 13th of July with festivities taking place on Thursday 14th and Friday 15th July 2022.

The festival consists of book talks, workshops, performances, and author signings.

Heroic Cave Diver Dr Richard Harris has been announced as the keynote speaker at this year’s Whitsunday Voices Youth Literature Festival

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Regional Development Australia Greater Whitsundays (RDA GW) celebrated a milestone in community development following the official launch of the Greater Whitsunday Regional Roadmap.

As facilitators of economic development, RDA GW drew on regional economic development stakeholders over a period of six months to outline their views, thoughts, and contributions within the Regional Roadmap to determine key regional priorities over the next 10 years.

RDA GW Committee Chair Professor Pierre Viljoen said this collaborative process ensures that RDA work programs are “transparent and focused on collectively identifying regional priorities”.

The stakeholders originally put forward 180 projects to facilitate future growth and development across the target area, which includes the Mackay, Isaac, and Whitsunday local government areas.

The project list has been narrowed down to 20 and features existing and new ideas for growth in the Greater Whitsunday region.

“Identifying these projects and opportunities is key to stimulating our local economy through job creation, services and productivity growth, and overall improved living standards for business and community,” said Prof. Viljoen.

“By utilising the right opportunities, our region has the potential to become an economic powerhouse.

“We would like to thank everyone for their involvement. We look forward to continuing to work towards our vision of a resilient economy, environment and community for our region.”

For full details on the Regional Roadmap, visit www.rdagw.org.au.

RDA GW Staff and Committee Members, Back row (L-R): Stephen Cutting, Ry Collins, Professor Pierre Viljoen, Jeff Stewart-Harris, Robert Cocco. Front row (L-R): Nicola Willis, Karen May, Janet Clifford, Maree Franettovich, Gina Lacey. (Absent: Mitchell Flor, Irene Adams and Janine Wood). Image supplied: Rebel Nation

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In regional Queensland, people living with a disability and their carers struggle to find the same resources as those who live in larger cities.

Often, it’s down to not knowing what local services and support is available to them, leaving them going without or unnecessarily travelling long distances to metropolitan areas.

The good news is there are often more resources available to them than they realise - they just have to know where to look.

Regional Disability Expos are unique events aimed at bringing the disability community together to celebrate life, age, empower, learn, share and experience latest technologies through a large variety of exhibitors under the one roof.

As a member of the community in relatively good health you may ask yourself “why would I want to attend a disability expo?”

Even if you’re in good health and have no family members with physical disabilities, there are those around you that have hidden ones such as mental health or are in early stages of their conditions and are slowly losing mobility, hearing, sight the list goes on.

Disability can and does affect people of all ages and whether you require a hearing aid, to assist with hearing your loved ones or a walking stick or scooter to be mobile, a physiotherapist to keep you moving or something more there are any number of exhibitors that can assist you with living life to its fullest.

“Well done to the organisers and companies that attended the Expo. We gained more information and insight in an hour than what we have over the past year. Excellent job,” Miriam, an attendee of the RDE Regional Disability Expo said.

Regardless of your ties to disability, The RDE are inviting you to attend this year’s RDE – Regional Disability Expo at the McDonald’s Mackay Multisport Stadium at 107 Juliet St Mackay from 9:00am to 4:00pm.

First2care is one of the many providers with booths at the Regional Disability Expo

Last year’s expo in Mackay

here is much to see, learn and experience at the Regional Disability Expo

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Mackay and Whitsunday Life was quick to join the Queensland Country Press Association (QCPA) in joining forces with Vinnies Queensland to support thousands of Queenslanders affected by the recent floods.

This record event has seen homes destroyed, possessions washed away, lives put on hold and even tragedies.

Queensland Country Press Association president Carlo Portella said Queenslanders have always come together to help one another, no matter what the crises.

“Whether it is floods, bushfires or cyclones, help is always at hand,” Mr Portella said.

“I encourage all Queenslanders to try to help those less fortunate by contributing to the St Vincent de Paul Society Flood Appeal.

“The devastating floods in south-east Queensland and New South Wales have seen many people left devastated and in great need of our help.  

“A simple monetary donation, no matter how small, will help put the lives of those affected on the path to recovery.”

Vinnies Queensland CEO Kevin Mercer said, “We welcome the support from the Queensland Country Press Association and their community, as we work together to help flood-impacted Queenslanders rebuild their lives.”

“All funds raised through our Flood Appeal will provide immediate and long-term support to people in need – no matter how long someone’s recovery journey takes, we’ll be there to lend a helping hand.”

Mackay Life Editor Amanda Wright said she had never seen such incessant rain before which led to the devastating floods.

“The rain was just relentless and utterly saturating, for days it never let up,” she said.

“Roads became like fast-flowing streams, it was difficult to judge depth of the flooding across roads in most places and the Brisbane River rose rapidly.

“I’ve never seen such huge amounts of debris flow down a river before and it made you stop and take stock, that was someone’s home or business being washed out to sea.

“Australians from all corners rallied to support our region during Cyclone Debbie, it’s important for us to support those in Queensland and New South Wales now who have lost absolutely everything.”

Please show your support by donating to the QCPA/ Vinnies Flood Relief Appeal at: https://bit.ly/vinniesqldfloodappeal

Donations close 30 April, 2022.

For further details contact Secretary Queensland Country Press Association:

admin@qcpa.com.au or mobile 0439 377 525

President QCPA: Carl Portella

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