Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
Whitsunday Anglican School has celebrated a successful year of student sport, recognising the tremendous talent and achievements of its athletes at its 2026 Sports Awards. Among the major honours, the Bill Turner Cup Under-15 Soccer Team and Vicki Wilson Cup Year 7–9 Netball Team were named Sports Teams of the Year after winning their respective Mackay competitions and progressing to represent the Mackay Region at state competitions. Harriet received Sports Official of the Year for her commitment to netball umpiring, including her selection to officiate at Queensland Representative School Sport level, while Maverick and Chelsea were named Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year for their sporting excellence, integrity and contributions to the school. The school also recognised Mr Jim Fredericksen for 20 years of volunteer coaching with its Archery Programme. Mayor Greg Williamson attended the awards, alongside guest speaker Mrs Deanna Turner, who shared insights into the value of sport in education. A former Queensland Firebirds netball player, Australian rugby league player and Queensland Rugby League coach, Mrs Turner is also a current Queensland Representative School Sport coach. Her presentation explored how sport can help build resilience, teamwork and leadership. The school congratulated all award recipients and students who represented Whitsunday Anglican School throughout 2026. Photo source: Whitsunday Anglican School
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It’s the story about 30,000 drowned pigs and how it applies to real estate, best business practices and life in general. In an earlier life I was the editor of the Daily Mercury newspaper, back when it was published and printed six days a week and over 20,000 copies were sold on a Saturday. Different times in the media world. Anyway, this one day we were following a story about flooding in Rockhampton. Some days earlier there had been a lot of rain and some flooding in the Mackay region and, as often happens, the river system’s flood waters then made their way towards Rockhampton. When there is a rain event upstream a lot of water from various rivers and tributaries runs into the low-lying Fitzroy River system and into Rockhampton. It is very predictable and Rocky authorities can often establish that when there is flooding further north in places like Mackay that in a week’s time the Rocky area will be flooded. So up in nearby Mackay we were following the approaching flood and in communication with our sister paper in Rocky who were giving it massive coverage. It wasn’t Mackay so it wasn’t going to be front page in our paper but we were planning on a significant coverage. In the late afternoon one of our reporters came into my office and said: “30,000 pigs have drowned in the Rocky floods. They were washed away from a farm.” I said: “Thirty thousand pigs!? That’s a lot of pigs. Can we check on that?” The reporter came back five minutes later and said: “The story’s right. The farmer told the Rocky journo thirty thousand pigs have drowned from his property upstream from Rocky. Rocky’s running the story.” I asked if we had photos and he said they didn’t but would let me know when they had some, although none arrived that evening. We went pretty big on the drowning, as the Page 3 or Page 5 lead story with the obvious headline of 30,000 pigs drowning in the Rocky floods. Early the next morning the young journalist who had told me about the thirty thousand pigs drowning approached my office and tentatively knocked on the door. In a stammering voice he said: “Ah, look … about that, um, story about the, ah, thirty thousand pigs drowning near Rocky ...” I had an uneasy feeling, bordering on dread. “Uh ha … what about the pig story?” I asked. He said: “It wasn’t thirty thousand pigs. It was 30 sows and pigs.” I’m no mathematician but even I could work out that our story and big headline was out by about 29,970 dead pigs. I knew immediately how the miss-communication would have happened. A young Rocky reporter busily covering the floods. On the phone talking to a distressed farmer or piggery owner who blurts out: “Mate it’s terribly out here. I’ve lost 30 sows and pigs, all drowned.” If someone, speaking quickly, blurts out “thirty-sows-and-pigs” you can understand how someone could hear “thirty thousand pigs”. Also, who says “sows and pigs”? A piggery owner, obviously, but probably no-one else. Certainly not a reporter in the city. Anyway, we ran a correction the next day. The story reminds me that in life, real estate and business, listen to your gut. I had questioned the story. I thought 30,000 pigs was extremely unlikely but accepted it when the young reporter confirmed it. I should have asked more questions. I should have listened to my gut. In real estate, owners sometimes get the facts wrong … how many kilowatts in the solar system, how many litres the bore produces, when the previous owner had renovated the house. You can’t just pass these things on to a buyer as facts if you don’t know them 100 per cent true. You’ve got to be cautious, listen to your gut and check the facts.
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Queensland Telestroke Service is saving lives one video call at a time, recently providing life saving consultation to 37-year-old Mackay mum Angelica Murray. Angelica suffered a stroke whilst out with a friend, and was rushed to Mackay Base Hospital. Within minutes of her arrival she was connected by video to a specialist stroke neurologist who prescribed life-saving medication. “I was in the car with my friend and suddenly I couldn’t concentrate or remember names,” Angelica said. As her condition deteriorated, her friend rushed her to hospital. At the emergency department, staff immediately recognised the signs of a stroke. “I remember all the nurses and doctors working together so quickly,” Angelica said. “They were explaining everything, even the stroke doctor on the screen.” From the advice of the Queensland Telestroke Service (QTS) neurologist, Angelica received the clot busting medication she needed. The speed of the service made a life changing difference. “I started feeling better after a couple of hours,” Angelica said. Mackay Base Hospital is now recording the fastest stroke treatment times in the state. QTS is operating live across ten Queensland sites ( Hervey Bay, Bundaberg, Ipswich, Makay, Toowoomba, Kingaroy, Rockhampton, Bowen, Proserpine, and Gladstone hospitals) with more than 850 patients being treated so far. 12 Queensland hospitals are planned to be added to the list. The service aims to make sure that regional patients are receiving specialist stroke care just as efficiently as those in central areas. Local Stroke Nurse Helen Nengasha, who has spent more than a decade caring for stroke patients, said seeing outcomes like Angelica's was exactly why the team has embraced Queensland Telestroke Service. “The introduction of QTS has streamlined care for patients experiencing time-critical strokes,” Helen said. “Now, it doesn’t matter where you live, you can get that expert care straight away. “In one recent case, the team achieved treatment in just 42 minutes, well under the national 60-minute benchmark. That’s the fastest we’ve ever done.”
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From toilet training to prostate health, pregnancy to menopause — why pelvic health matters to us all. When you hear the words pelvic floor, what comes to mind? Pregnancy? Childbirth? Perhaps those exercises you were told to do but never quite remembered? For many years, pelvic health has been viewed as a women’s health issue. But here’s something that might surprise you: everyone has a pelvic floor, and everyone can experience pelvic health problems. Whether you’re a child struggling with constipation, a new mum recovering from childbirth, a man experiencing bladder changes after prostate surgery, or someone navigating menopause, pelvic health plays an important role in everyday life. Our pelvic floor is a group of muscles at the base of our pelvis. These muscles support our pelvic organs, help control our bladder and bowels, contribute to sexual function and work alongside our abdominal muscles during movement. When things aren’t working as they should, the impact can extend well beyond the bathroom. It might be the child who avoids school toilets because passing a bowel motion hurts. The mum who stops running because she leaks urine. The man who avoids social outings because he’s worried about finding a toilet. Or the woman who believes pelvic heaviness is simply another part of getting older. Different people. Different stages of life. But one common thread: pelvic health can influence our confidence, activity levels and quality of life. And importantly, many pelvic health concerns can improve with the right support. Pelvic health physiotherapy is about much more than strengthening muscles. Treatment might involve bladder retraining, bowel management, improving muscle coordination, addressing pain or helping someone return to activities they love. Sometimes the answer is strengthening. Sometimes it’s learning to relax. And sometimes it’s simply understanding what’s happening in your body. This broader understanding of pelvic health is also why our clinic has recently embraced a new name. After five wonderful years as Women’s Health Physio Mackay, we are now proudly Pelvic Health Mackay. Our new name reflects something we’ve always believed: pelvic health is for everyone. While our name has changed, our team, our care and our commitment to helping the Mackay community remain the same. So here’s my question to you. Have you stopped doing something you love because of your bladder, bowel or pelvic health? Perhaps you’ve given up running because of leakage, avoided social outings because of urgency, or accepted discomfort because you thought it was simply part of getting older. You don’t have to wait until symptoms become overwhelming to seek help. Many concerns can improve with appropriate assessment, education and individualised treatment. If something doesn’t feel right, start the conversation. Speak with your GP or a pelvic health physiotherapist and find out what support is available. Because pelvic health isn’t just about muscles, bladders or bowels. It’s about confidence, independence and enjoying life without unnecessary limitations. Pelvic health isn’t just women’s business. It’s everyone’s business. And your health deserves attention. Lauren Neill | APA Titled Women’s, Men’s & Pelvic Health Physiotherapist | Pelvic Health Mackay
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Labour shortages driving the price of food up, the looming fuel excise increase and continued strain on the housing market is escalating a cost of living crisis which is forcing more locals into increased debt to cover essentials or onto the street.
Federal member for Dawson Andrew Willcox warns that without hands to work the harvests, farmers will be reluctant to plant crops for fear the food will end up rotting on the ground and in trees with no workforce to pick and pack produce.
Willcox Warns Of Food Shortage Crisis
Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox warns labour shortages are driving the price of groceries up and escalating the cost-of-living crisis.
“We’re on the verge of a food shortage crisis,” Mr Willcox said.
“This is the time when farmers start to buy seed and plan for their next year’s crop and they’re very concerned about the labour shortages…which means food is rotting on the ground, rotting on the vine, not being picked, which means, for the average person, they’re paying a lot more in the supermarket.”
The Greater Whitsunday Region is home to the largest horticultural winter produce growing region in the country, valued at $450 million annually, and Mr Willcox says the agriculture and food processing sectors estimate the current workforce shortage at over 170,000 workers.
He has called on the Australian Government to reinstate the Ag Visa, saying the Government’s reliance on the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme will fall short of the industry’s current needs.
“It can also be a pathway, if successful, to be able to stay in Australia,” he said.
“That way we have the farmers train the people, get the benefit out of their workforce, but then actually have some longevity in that so they can actually keep a trained workforce going forward.”
Mr Willcox says there should also be a plan to allow veterans and pensioners to be able to work on farms without it affecting their payments.
“There are a lot of lighter duties…you don’t have to necessarily have a lot of physical dexterity to be able to work on farms,” he said.
In response to cost-of-living pressures and soaring fuel costs, the previous Australian Government temporarily halved the fuel excise in March which is set to run out this month.
Mr Willcox is calling on the Government to continue the fuel excise cut.
“We’ve got the cost-of-living crisis right now, so let’s see what we can do to help the average mum and dad now and then we can have a look at other options as we go further,” he said.
“If we don’t get this sorted out, it’s going to be a lot more expensive for the average mum and dad…and they’re going to feel it in their hip pocket.”
Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox says we are on the verge of a food shortage crisis which will escalate the cost of living. Photo credit: Sam Gillespie
Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox says reinstating the Ag Visa and continuing to half the fuel excise will relieve cost-of-living pressures for the families of Dawson
For F45 Airlie Beach trainer Monique Pattison, fitness is a lifestyle.
“Being fit makes me feel powerful; being able to lift a certain weight makes you powerful; being faced with a challenge and being able to say: ‘I can do that’ is a great feeling,” she said.
“I want to help people feel that way.”
Born into a fitness family – her mother has been an outdoor trainer herself for the past 10 years - Monique moved to the Whitsundays a year ago to get away from a Covid crazed Melbourne in on-again-off-again lockdowns.
She’d first experienced the region on holiday with her partner, and the lure of the sunnier part of the country was strong enough to bring her here, but what kept her here was its people and helping them achieve their goals.
“One of the things that makes me so happy is when someone accomplishes something. It can be something as small as a box jump,” Monique said.
“To see someone smile from something like that, that fills my soul.”
With a background in gymnastics and triathlons, staying fit has always been a personal passion, but now as a trainer at F45, she instils that passion into others.
“I know training can be hard for some people, they might not enjoy it, but that’s the difference with F45. You’re in a community. That’s what brought me to the gym,” Monique said.
“I love the values, which come from the top down with Sonny, our owner, who just explains things with health and fitness that let you relate to him.
“That’s one of the things I’ve learnt in my time at F45. With health and fitness, I think we’re so lucky to be able to exercise and I want to share that with people – that’s a value I’ve had and aligns with F45 so well.”
The world-renowned business, which has been in Airlie Beach for roughly ten weeks, has already made an impact on the region and those who train there.
As just one of the trainers at the fitness community that dreams big with its motto of “Team Training, Life Changing”, Monique said she feels privileged to be able to experience those fitness journeys of the people who train with her.
Pop in to F45 Airlie Beach and meet Monique and the other trainers and start your fitness journey alongside a welcoming community.
Noun: Movement
It can be as simple as getting out of bed in the morning, as little as wiggling your finger, and it can be as big as moving mountains.
It can be a group of people working together to advance a shared idea, it can be a campaign, a minor part of a wider musical symphony. And movement can be hitting the gym or running along the boardwalk.
Welcome to Whitsunday Life’s Movement Month.
For the entirety of September, Your Community Voice In Print will highlight how to get moving. Following on from our widely successful Nutrition Month, and with the support of the region’s local movers – gyms, physios, chiropractors and more – your weekly newspaper will be putting exercise in the spotlight.
With a focus on the benefits of exercise and recovery, as well as the local experts who can help you get moving, there’s no excuse but to dig in and better yourself this month.
So where do we start?
The health benefits of regular exercise and physical activity are hard to ignore – they’re extremely well documented. But in a fast-moving, technology-based world, we’re certainly not moving as much as we should be.
Living a sedentary life may be the way our world is trending, but it’s certainly not the right way to live, nor is it the happiest. If you spend too much time engaging in behaviours that expend very little energy, it can cause you major problems – both with your mental and physical health.
On the flip side, there are the obvious benefits to exercising like weight-loss, combating health conditions, improving your mood, better sleep – the bottom line is it’s the best way to boost yourself in every facet.
Everyone benefits from exercise, regardless of age, sex or physical ability. The best time to start moving may have been yesterday, but the second-best time is now.
This week’s challenge: Get Moving.
Whether it’s going for a run, working out, or as little as going for a walk, this week is your signal: enlist a friend and let’s start a movement movement.
There’s no better time than now to get moving
Police officers from across the state made their way to the Whitsundays to test their limits in a gruelling race with an altruistic goal in late July.
The annual Whitsunday’s Toughest Race was held on the Whitsunday Great Walk by Queensland Police Service in support of victims of domestic and family violence.
The race, which was held on July 30, included nine teams of Police Officers from across Queensland.
It is the second time that the event has been run by Proserpine police station, and often takes its competitors more than nine hours to complete.
The title for this year’s race remained with last year’s champions– a team from Bowen Police Station – who again claimed the bragging rights, completing the course in a new record time.
The first ever event was organised by Proserpine police Sergeant Mark Flynn, who said the idea behind the race has always been to raise funds for people in domestic and family violence situations.
“Funds raised from the race were used to purchase toys for children, and care packages for mothers,” Sergeant Flynn said.
“[The toys] are gifted to community members forced to seek emergency accommodation after experiencing domestic and family violence.”
On Tuesday, Sergeant Mark Flynn delivered the gifts to Whitsunday Counselling Service.
“In an act of wonderful generosity, Big W Whitsunday donated $3,500 worth of gifts in addition to those purchased by the police,” Sergeant Flynn said.
Sergeant Flynn said this year’s event had already grown exponentially on the last, and he hoped next year’s would be the same.
Proserpine Police Officers continued a new tradition of running the gruelling Whitsunday Great Walk in support of domestic and family violence victims, donating toys from the funds raised
The Collinsville airport runway will soon be completely resurfaced, making it all an all-weather facility which can be accessed by a multitude of aircraft.
Located six kilometres out of town, the airport has always been unsealed, but this new funding stream will allow for fresh tarmac to replace the previous surface.
Costing a total of $450,000, the runway has been jointly funded by Whitsunday Regional Council and the Federal Government as part of the Remote Airstrip Upgrade Program.
Councillor Michelle Wright said that it was a competitive program with almost every remote airstrip in Australia putting in an application.
This was not the first time they had applied for upgrades for Collinsville runway, but with Whitsunday Regional Council contributing equally, Cr Wright believes this aided its approval.
“When I was elected this was one of the main things the community said that they wanted and I am really pleased that we have been able to deliver it now,” she said.
Collinsville Aerodrome is a vital piece of infrastructure for the remote town who were completely cut off for several weeks after Cyclone Debbie and relied upon the unsealed airstrip for supplies.
It is also an important facility for the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) who received 55 activations in 2021.
For many locals, the aerodrome represents a lifeline.
With the new sealed runway, however, it is hoped that it will enhance business and recreation to the town as well.
Tender will go out this year and work will be due to commence in March 2023.
Collinsville Aerodrome was used for 55 med-evacs by the Royal Flying Doctor Service in 2021
After a two-year hiatus, the Proserpine Health Festival is back and this year’s theme is ‘The World Within’, helping participants feel empowered by learning better life choices and looking inside their bodies to improve overall wellbeing.
The community of health services in Proserpine are banding together once again to give an educational and supportive experience to those interested in learning more about their health.
From colonics to naturopathy, nutrition to fitness and breathwork - festival-goers can experience a wide range of informative presentations and interactive workshops from local experts.
A wealth of health knowledge, organiser Selena Daly, says the Proserpine wellness community is a group of local businesses that all work in alliance to enhance the health of others.
“We all work so harmoniously together,” she said.
“Everyone is there for the benefit of the clients, and we all bounce ideas off each other to support others.”
“This week is Women’s Health Week, and we are all women, so this shows wonderful synergy!”
The whole community is invited to the festival which takes place at the Proserpine Community Centre next weekend, September 10 and 11 from 9am until 2pm.
Tickets are flexible and affordable with half-day passes just $10, full-day $20 and a weekend pass for $30.
“This is our way of giving back to the community – supporting them as they support us,” said Selena.
Tickets can be purchased from Bottoms Up Colonics or Wellness Centre Proserpine.
You can also purchase cash-only tickets at the door.
WHAT: Proserpine Health Festival
WHEN: Saturday, September 10 and Sunday, September 11 from 9am – 2pm
WHERE: Proserpine Community Centre
Healthy fun at the 2019 Proserpine Health Festival
It’s been 125 years since the first cohort of Proserpine State School students began lessons on a vastly different school campus to the one the township knows today.
Over a century on from those days, the local primary school will celebrate its momentous 125th anniversary this weekend with a School Fete, where it will remember its long history.
The school opened the very same year as the completed construction and first sugar season of the Proserpine Mill – an event which undoubtedly heralded the beginning of modern Proserpine.
It has seen countless students pass through its doors.
Julianne O’Brien is just one local for whom the school holds special significance; it has been a home away from home for four generations of her family.
“My mother worked as a teacher here for fifteen years before I started as a student at the Primary School in 1964,” Ms O’Brien said.
“I finished year seven here and came back as a teacher myself in 1984, working until about 2014 – I’ve been at this school a long time. While I was teaching, my son came to this school, too.
“It has changed so much, and it’s just constantly changing. I’m glad my granddaughter Lily [O’Brien] gets to experience the benefit of all that change now that she’s here in her first year of prep.”
Ms O’Brien will be just one of the ex-students taking part in the festivities for the school’s celebratory fete on Saturday, September 3. She’ll watch on as the school cuts a 125-year cake, hosts choirs, and old-fashioned games, as well as bands and food vans.
But she’s most excited about the Proserpine Historical Society display on the day: a classroom styled in the fashion of when she herself was a teacher and a student.
“I’ve got some memorabilia for that. I’ll be bringing along some of my son’s work from when he was in grade one, which I notice is still the same basic work as Lily is doing now she’s in the same grade!” Ms O’Brien said.
“Some things never change.”
The event starts at 2.30pm with an official opening ceremony and will feature school tours alongside other activities, including a firework display. The school will be producing a book which collates its 125-year history as well, which will be purchasable at the event.
Wilmar Sugar will be hosting their own display at the event to commemorate their 125th anniversary, too.
“This school has been my whole life, and my mother’s whole life. Four generations of O’Briens have been at this school; I think it speaks for itself,” Ms O’Brien said.
Lily said she wants to grow up to be a teacher, too.
Lily and Julianne O’Brien will be celebrating alongside Proserpine State School for the institutions 125th birthday this weekend
Tourism operators and business owners from across the Whitsundays gathered for a Conversations with Industry event hosted by the state body last week, listening to the industry’s concerns and giving them the latest figures on the region’s impact on nationwide tourism.
Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ) partnered with Tourism Whitsundays to welcome local businesses to the event which connected stakeholders with the latest insights into their industry.
The TEQ event at Mantra Club Croc hosted a who’s who of the Whitsundays’ tourism partners, as well as the Queensland Government’s Minister for Tourism Industry Development and Innovation and Minister for Sport, Stirling Hinchliffe.
The annual event highlights the state body’s marketing activities and opportunities for local businesses to get involved in them. Content was also specifically tailored to the needs of the businesses in the Whitsundays.
Minister Hinchliffe said it was excellent to see a great turnout from local operators, as well as representatives from across the state and country.
“It is great to have so many people interested in the conversations here in this region,” Minister Hinchliffe said.
“These conversations with industry this year are an opportunity to explore opportunities for the industry and continue the amazing work by individuals in building back better after the pandemic.”
Minister Hinchliffe said what was seen in the region was a terrific example of “the ingenuity of Queenslanders and the industry”.
“We know there have been some stand-out successes in this region during that Covid-19 recovery process,” he said.
Data presented on the day – gathered by Tourism Research Australia for March 2022 - showed the Whitsundays had the biggest surge in the country for domestic spending over a three-year trend, increasing 22.9 per cent on average, and going up to $1.1 billion.
But that did not mean the industry wasn’t seeing the same challenges which are ubiquitous across the state, Minister Hinchliffe said.
“The pandemics ongoing shortage of tourism and hospitality staff, chefs through to cleaners and everyone in between, are testing the patience of managers and owners not just in this region,” he said.
“As well as the shortage of housing. That message from you is not falling on deaf ears.”
Minister Hinchliffe’s address was followed by talks from TEQ representatives and delegates, who each spoke on the changing landscape of the industry – with careful notice given to the need to continue capturing the domestic market whilst again bringing in international tourists.
Tourism Whitsundays CEO Rick Hamilton, Minister for Tourism Industry Development and Innovation and Minister for Sport Stirling Hinchliffe, Julie Telford, and Tourism Whitsundays staff attending the Conversations with Industry event last week
Tourism Whitsundays invited its network of tourism operators and business owners along to a Conversations with Industry event hosted by Tourism and Events Queensland last week
Motorists travelling along the Bruce Highway between Bowen and Proserpine have been enduring endless traffic lights and extended delays for several months and Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox said that the frustration is causing drivers to “do silly things”.
“I realise the situation is challenging but it has been going on for so long and there are so many areas sectioned off – why can’t they just make it safe?”
Transport and Main Roads (TMR) are responsible for the operation and maintenance of the highway which had been receiving $69 million of major upgrades which began in August 2021.
When WBHO Infrastructure, the South African company contracted to deliver the upgrade, went broke in February this year, roadwork crews downed tools and walked off three job sites, 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.
Great swaths of the highway have been playing host to kilometres of abandoned roadworks since February and, despite no crews on site, the speed restrictions and traffic control measures are still in-place.
Andrew Willcox, who travels between his hometown of Bowen to the southern end of his constituency most weeks, says that the 45 minute drive between Proserpine and Bowen often takes an hour and a half.
In addition, he has noticed some motorists make dangerous choices.
Talking to TMR on behalf of the community, Mr Willcox said he was informed they are making progress.
“But it’s been way too long!” he said.
“The standard of road is, and I quote many of you who have expressed your concerns to me, ‘a goat track and a disgrace’. This is just not good enough!
“Putting lives at risk every day, how many more accidents have to happen before TMR and the Queensland Government get the job done?”
The Roadworks between Bowen and Proserpine have been abandoned for over six months
Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox says it’s time the job was finished
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Australia’s newest low-cost air carrier has announced its maiden flight will be to the Whitsundays thanks to a deal struck between Whitsunday Regional Council and Bonza Airlines when the new routes were negotiated several months ago.
With take-off expected sometime in September, our region will be at the forefront of national publicity alongside this innovative and independent new airline.
Promising to bring prices down across the country by charging an estimated $50 per hour of air travel, the new fuel-efficient planes are set to offer the most competitive prices for locals too.
The new routes will open the Whitsundays up to an additional 2.5 million people who will now find it easier to visit our region.
Known as the fastest growing regional airport in the country, this new alliance is set to further expand our visitor offering.
“This is an exciting time for Australian aviation and most importantly, the Aussie travelling public who will now enjoy more choice,” said Tim Jordan, CEO of Bonza.
Opening 17 destinations on 27 routes, 93 per cent of which are currently un-serviced, Bonza Airlines stands to be a big game changer in the industry.
A major part of that change is the Whitsunday Coast Airport, which will open up three flights a week to the Sunshine Coast and is scheduled to launch a further two flights per week to Newcastle and Toowoomba by the end of the year.
A brand-new American-made 737 MAX aeroplane touched down in the Sunshine Coast on August 1 and has sincet received a complete fit-out on Australian shores.
A total of eight additional aircraft will be joining the fleet over the coming months with the inaugural flight scheduled for late September.
Whitsunday Chief Operator of Aviation and Tourism said that he is looking forward to seeing our local airport in the spotlight for their launch.
“This was all part of our initial pitch,” he said.
“We are hoping that they will stay overnight on the runway so we can have a big runway party!”
Dates are yet to be officially announced but the stage is set for a new and exciting flight path for the Whitsundays.
Whitsunday Coast Airport set to host inaugural Bonza Airline Flight
Tourism operators and business owners from across the Whitsundays gathered for a Conversations with Industry event hosted by the state body last week, listening to the industry’s concerns and giving them the latest figures on the region’s impact on nationwide tourism.
Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ) partnered with Tourism Whitsundays to welcome local businesses to the event which connected stakeholders with the latest insights into their industry.
The TEQ event at Mantra Club Croc hosted a who’s who of the Whitsundays’ tourism partners, as well as the Queensland Government’s Minister for Tourism Industry Development and Innovation and Minister for Sport, Stirling Hinchliffe.
The annual event highlights the state body’s marketing activities and opportunities for local businesses to get involved in them. Content was also specifically tailored to the needs of the businesses in the Whitsundays.
Minister Hinchliffe said it was excellent to see a great turnout from local operators, as well as representatives from across the state and country.
“It is great to have so many people interested in the conversations here in this region,” Minister Hinchliffe said.
“These conversations with industry this year are an opportunity to explore opportunities for the industry and continue the amazing work by individuals in building back better after the pandemic.”
Minister Hinchliffe said what was seen in the region was a terrific example of “the ingenuity of Queenslanders and the industry”.
“We know there have been some stand-out successes in this region during that Covid-19 recovery process,” he said.
Data presented on the day – gathered by Tourism Research Australia for March 2022 - showed the Whitsundays had the biggest surge in the country for domestic spending over a three-year trend, increasing 22.9 per cent on average, and going up to $1.1 billion.
But that did not mean the industry wasn’t seeing the same challenges which are ubiquitous across the state, Minister Hinchliffe said.
“The pandemics ongoing shortage of tourism and hospitality staff, chefs through to cleaners and everyone in between, are testing the patience of managers and owners not just in this region,” he said.
“As well as the shortage of housing. That message from you is not falling on deaf ears.”
Minister Hinchliffe’s address was followed by talks from TEQ representatives and delegates, who each spoke on the changing landscape of the industry – with careful notice given to the need to continue capturing the domestic market whilst again bringing in international tourists.
Tourism Whitsundays CEO Rick Hamilton, Minister for Tourism Industry Development and Innovation and Minister for Sport Stirling Hinchliffe, Julie Telford, and Tourism Whitsundays staff attending the Conversations with Industry event last week
Tourism Whitsundays invited its network of tourism operators and business owners along to a Conversations with Industry event hosted by Tourism and Events Queensland last week
Stage one of the new skate park in Cannonvale opened last week and families flocked there in great numbers, eager to try out the facility.
Skateboards, scooters, bikes and trikes slid across the brand-new concrete with children of all ages excited to explore the twists, turns, slopes and grinds for the first time.
The newly completed stage one of the skate park complex is gentler and easier, making it ideal for little learners, as well as being designed to suit a broader range of skill levels compared to its previous iteration.
Some of the children commented that the skate park was slipperier than the last one but that they were enjoying getting to know the new course.
The teenagers said that they were looking forward to the second stage of the skate park complex because it will be more challenging as it is set to be of competition standard.
Stage two of the skatepark is a ‘bowl’ design which is ideal for intermediate to advanced level skaters and it is hoped that this standard of facility will help attract competitions to the area.
Whitsunday Region Council said they were thrilled to see the skatepark operational and that they were looking forward to completing stage two of the project by early 2022.
“The new venue is the perfect place to meet up with your friends and enjoy a new rider experience,” they said.
“Grab your scooter, your skateboard or your skates and try out the brand-new street style skating area.”
Ebony Gould, Josh Martin, Luka Nott, Riley Cowley and Sammy Mackie. Back row: Axel Sergeant, Jack Phyland and Damon Magill
The stage two competition bowl is due to be completed early 2023
The newly elected Mayor of Whitsunday Regional Council, Julie Hall, was officially sworn in on Monday, taking the declaration of office at the Bowen Council Chambers in front of a small crowd.
Mayor Hall was declared in the ceremony attended by council staff, media, councillors, a few supporters, and family, and officiated by Council Chief Executive Officer Rod Ferguson.
The Mayor gave a small speech as her first act in the office, taking the opportunity to thank the region for their good faith, as well as highlighting what she hoped to achieve in her 18 month term.
The People’s Mayor Is A Reputation I Intend To Keep”
Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor Julie Hall was sworn in on Monday, August 29, at a Declaration of Office Ceremony at the Bowen Council Chambers.
The self-proclaimed “People’s Mayor”, a life coach and businesswoman who shot into the spotlight as a One Nation candidate for the seat of Dawson at the recent Federal Election, took the opportunity to “thank all the region for sharing this special moment” with her.
“It is both a privilege and an honour to receive my Declaration of Office today and officially take the seat as the new mayor of the Whitsundays Regional Council,” Mayor Hall said.
“I step into this role knowing full well that it will be challenging and that I have a lot to learn. I also step into this role with courage, strength, and determination which is required to fulfill my role as your mayor to the highest possible standard.”
Mayor Hall, who understands the role is going to be a “big job”, especially considering she has no direct experience in local government, asked her constituents to be patient.
“I ask for your trust, and to not underestimate my abilities. I got here today against the most incredible odds, and that achievement alone should be a testament to my ability to what I can achieve when I set out to do so,” she said.
The newly elected head of Council also took the opportunity to address the change that her taking office can present for the region and its councillors.
“Change is always difficult because it asks us to step outside what we know and into the doubt and fears of the unknown,” she said.
“This is where I extend my invitation to our executive team and councillors to stand together and show the community, through your support of me, that we really do have their best interests at heart.”
Mayor Hall said she intended to “lead from the front with grace and dignity”.
“I will always be the mayor who has the best interests of council and community in mind,” she said.
In the coming weeks, Mayor Hall will head from her home in Bowen down to Brisbane where she will meet with Government Officials for full induction into the role.
She will preside over her first council meeting on September 14.
Newly elected Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor Julie Hall and Council Chief Executive Officer Rod Ferguson
Julie Hall was sworn in as Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor at a ceremony in Bowen on Monday
Mayor Hall gave a speech thanking her constituents and promising a term of “grace and dignity”
Golf Lessons With A Pro
The Pro Shop in Cannonvale are offering a special Father’s Day package which includes three, one hour game improvement sessions and four players on the 18-hole golf simulator. Normally this would cost $359 but this special is just $199 and you have 12 months to redeem.
A Classic Rusty Tin Sign
With over 2000 rusty tin signs in-stock, Proserpine’s More Than Just A Gift Shop, has a wide selection of memorabilia designs which would be perfect for any man shed. From motorbikes to trucks, gardening to golf, quirky sayings to superheroes, beer brands and dad’s favourite spirits.
This Father’s Day why not get your dad a practical present that he will appreciate with every kilometre he drives along our local regional highways.
Did you know that a new set of tyres are not only a great way to improve safety on the roads, but they also improve the quality of your driving experience and can often make you feel like you are driving a new car again.
Goodyear Auto Care at William Murray Drive in Cannonvale, supply quality tyres backed with their prestigious international brand name.
This means that every tyre is durable and professionally made to maximise mileage, provide better handling and ensure safety by sticking to the road in all conditions.
The Cannonvale branch takes pride in providing excellent service and support.
Each purchase will include the fitting and balancing of the tyres, with a nominal additional fee for disposing of your old tyres.
Customers who are booking a full set of tyres are recommended to opt for a wheel alignment which will ensure longevity.
It is also advised that tyres are rotated every 10,000 kilometres and tyre pressures are maintained to get the most out of them.
A Goodyear Tyre:
• Helps stick to the road under differing conditions
• Disperses water for maximum safety
• Provides better handling and ride comfort
• Quality tyres give extended mileage and performance
Rory Staniland loves a Goodyear tyre
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