An inspiring local lady and much-loved family woman, Cathy Knezevic, passed away last week following a brave two-and-a-half-year battle with cancer.

Remembered by everyone who knew her as a kind-hearted, deeply caring person with a flamboyant and distinctive sense of style and passion for the arts, Cathy lit up any room she entered.

Hailing from Walkerston and then a cane farm on the Victoria Plains, Cathy married when she was young and had three children: Benjamin, Emma-Kate, and Adam.

Cathy worked for 20 years as a librarian at Mackay City Council, as well as managing the Council’s art collection. She was the Inaugural art curator of Mackay Artspace gallery and exhibitions, and Collections manager of Mackay Artspace’s nationally significant Artists Book collection.

She became the Director of Mackay’s Arthouse Gallery and Whitsunday Art Gallery, and was the Founding Director of the Whitsundays Art Festival, which is now in its third year.

In a loving relationship with Tom for 38 years, the couple were a formidable force as the multi-award-winning Mackay Queensland Homes building company where Cathy’s interior design skills were invaluable.

The people she met throughout her life and the positive and lasting relationships she created, however, were by far her biggest accomplishments alongside raising her children and becoming a grandmother.

“Cathy was a woman of beauty, flair, love, culture and all things absolutely fabulous,’ said her son, Adam.

“Although this is what she is most known for, mum was also humble, very shy and insecure at times - I think Mum's beloved Library friends summed it up best when they gave her the nickname 'the shy peacock'.”

Cathy loved a practical joke and, if she saw a family member’s car unattended, would often jump in and either drive off or hide and jump out on them.

She will also be remembered for her unique dress sense.

“Mum's look and image is iconic - she had some serious style!” said Adam.

“The big permed black hair, the nail polish, the lipstick, the bright clothes, the animal skin patterns and the pineapple hair!”

Cathy’s vibrant personality and positive presence touched everyone that knew her, and she will be deeply missed both in the Whitsundays where she lived and in Mackay where she grew-up and spent much of her life.

Cathy wearing her favourite dress

Airlie Beach is usually known as a picturesque holiday destination but in recent times dumped supermarket trolleys are causing our usually immaculate streetscapes, waterways and boardwalks to be littered with an unnecessary eyesore.

A local resident named Josh said that when he walked home one evening from the town centre to Port of Airlie, he came across 21 abandoned trolleys in a 600-metre walk.

“It’s a big problem in Airlie Beach right now and whenever you go out you see them everywhere,” he said.

“Of course, it starts with the people but it has been proved that people can’t be trusted so I believe it is up to Woolworths and Coles to take responsibility.”

It appears that many of the culprits are local yachties who take shopping trolleys down to their vessel then simply leave them in the bushes assuming the supermarket will eventually retrieve them.

In the meantime, they are left to become an eyesore.

A Woolworths spokesperson said that Trolleys are provided for the convenience of their customers and the vast majority do the right thing in returning them.

“We understand abandoned trolleys can be a nuisance and that's why we invest millions in collection services to help mitigate their impact in the community,” they said.

“We work closely with dedicated collection contractors who respond quickly to reports of abandoned trolleys to return them to our stores. They also conduct regular sweeps for abandoned trolleys in the streets surrounding our stores.”

Whitsunday Regional Council Director of Infrastructure Service Adam Hagy confirmed that shopping trolleys are owned by and are solely the responsibility of the respective supermarket chains and not the core business of Council’s Parks and Gardens teams.

“All bbq areas are also cleaned 5 days per week, park furniture maintained and litter picked up to ensure these areas are tidy,” Mr Hagy said.

“It would be unfair to burden the ratepayer with increased costs for employing extra staff to collect shopping trolleys for the supermarket chains.

If you see an abandoned trolley you can a free phone Trolley Tracker on 1800 641 497 or download the App “Report a Trolley” (RAT) to alert the supermarket chains to missing trolleys.

Caption:

An abandoned trolley in one of our local waterways

Josh once found 15 trolleys left at a taxi rank

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Keeping our beautiful region clean and actively seeking ways to prevent litter entering our oceans is everyone’s responsibility, and for the next two months the Whitsunday Regional Council is taking the lead by encouraging us all to participate in the Great Northern Clean Up.

This annual project is part of the Clean Up Australia initiative which was started by avid sailor Ian Kiernan in 1990.

He is one ‘average Australian Bloke’ who started a movement which over 20 million Aussie’s have now participated in.

The Great Northern Clean Up is held at a specific time of year, between August and October, to encourage communities who live in the tropics to clean-up the land before the wet season arrives and washes all the litter into the ocean.

When we think of plastic pollution, we usually think of chip packets, drink bottles or straws, but cigarette butts are the most abundant plastic litter item in the world, with up to 8.9 billion butts dropped in Australia each year.

This little but large polluter was reported as being the most prevalent waste material locally by Eco Barge Clean Seas who orchestrated a clean-up earlier this year.

Locals are now encouraged to join the Great Northern Clean Up by making a pledge and posting it online with the hashtag StepUptoCleanUp.

Many Council staff including Acting Mayor John Collins, Councillors Michelle Wright, Gary Simpson, Mike Brunker, Al Grundy and Jan Clifford have made a pledge.

Pledges include teaching children about recycling, stop buying bottled water, carrying a reusable coffee cup and remembering shopping bags.

What’s your pledge going to be?

Whitsunday Regional Council staff pledge to protect the environment

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Not all heroes wear capes. Saving a life can be as simple as paying attention while driving.

When we’re behind the wheel, we can easily forget that we’re in control of a machine which can easily kill.

This road safety week we’ve been reminded of the ‘fatal 5’.

SPEEDING

SEAT BELTS

DRINK / DRUG DRIVING

FATIGUE

DISTRACTION

While these are a given, there are other things we could be doing while driving to reduce the incidence of accidents and frustration caused to other motorists.

Learning how to properly indicate on a roundabout would be a good start. There’s an unbelievably high proportion of motorists who incorrectly indicate right when going straight ahead. Check the Queensland Government transport page which states you only need to indicate left when you’re about to exit a roundabout when driving straight ahead.  Of course, even more frustrating are those who don’t bother to indicate at all when turning.

The other simple courtesy is to keep left unless overtaking. In Queensland, it’s only law if the speed limit is sign posted at 90km/hr or above, or if there is a ‘keep left unless overtaking’ sign. However, in many other countries like the UK, drivers will adhere to this rule in all speed zones. When cars are only using right lanes when they need to, to overtake, the traffic flows better. There aren’t those blockages caused by that one person who sits in the right lane shadowing the person in the left lane, seemingly oblivious to the large lines of traffic backing up behind them.

It's also better for emergency services because the right-hand lane is clearer more often.

Being aware of others and paying attention while driving can go a long way towards happier roads for everyone.

Amanda

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Lachlan Spark, an avid runner and mental health advocate who’s spent most of 2022 running half marathons up the Australian east coast, dropped into Bowen’s Big Mango last week in the latter stage of his epic 5000-kilometre journey from Hobart to Cairns.

Over 200 days ago, Lachie began his mission in cold Tasmania to run 228 consecutive half-marathons up the country’s eastern seaboard in what he calls ‘The 222 Run’, arriving in sunny Cairns.

He had two goals aside from the physical and mental challenge of running 21.1 kilometres per day for the better part of a year: to raise funds and to raise awareness for Australians living with depression and anxiety, an issue deeply close to Lachie’s heart.

“I’d come up with the idea many years ago while I was living in Melbourne. I was incredibly depressed and was worried about my future because of it,” Lachie said.

“I thought I could do something extraordinary. So, I came up with the idea that I wanted to run the length of the Australian east coast.”

Lining up with the charities R U OK? and Heart On My Sleeve to raise awareness and funds, Lachie began his long, personal journey with an altruistic goal.

Last week, on day 196, Lachie dropped in at Bowen’s Big Mango for the “world’s best mango sorbet”.

“The mango sorbet is honestly the best thing I’ve ever tasted,” Lachie laughed.

Now in the journey’s closing stages, he reflected on what it all meant.

“The thing I’ll take with me once the race is finished is the impact that we’ve had on people who’ve never felt comfortable having a conversation about what they’re feeling,” he said.

“In a small way, I feel we’ve given their voice volume – just having a chat can do that. Keep having those conversations.”

You can donate to Lachie’s cause here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-222

Lachlan Spark has run almost 222 half-marathons in a row each day for the better part of a year, and dropped into Bowen for a Mango Sorbet as he approached his journey’s end in Cairns

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Forty members of the same local family gathered for a luncheon to celebrate an incredible milestone: their matron’s 105th birthday.

Proserpine local Thelma Porter reached the incredible age of 105 on August 24 and was joined by five generations of her descendants for a birthday bash the weekend before at Northerlies Airlie Beach.

Mrs Porter cut her 105th birthday cake surrounded by her two children, 10 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren, and one great great grandchild.

“It surprised me,” Mrs Porter said of reaching the age.

“I just did it; it’s just another day, as far as I’m concerned! I had no say in it. But to be surrounded by my beautiful family who came up from Brisbane, that has been special.”

Ms Porter said people were always asking her what the secret to such a long life was.

“I lived a very simple life; I grew up in properties out west, and I don’t know what it was [that helped me reach 105], but I always tell people: don’t smoke.”

Mrs Porter arrived in Proserpine in 1949 with her late husband, George Porter, and their young family. The pair owned the newsagency and jewellery business in Main Street through the early 1950s to the late 1960s.

The family have been strong proponents of the region, with George involved in plotting the walking track rom Airlie Beach to Shute Harbour and was a strong advocate for the construction of Shute Harbour Road itself.

Setting up a kiosk on the Jetty at Shute Harbour in 1967, the family organised day trips, island bookings, and sold souvenirs.

Their son, Bob Porter, continued their tourism-centric legacy through arranging the first cruise ships to anchor at Cid Harbour, and even the very first Whitsunday Fun Race – a precursor to races now run in the Whitsundays today.

They are “the name that comes to mind when referring to the early tourist development in the Whitsundays” according to Proserpine Museum.

A barman at Northerlies told Mrs Porter that “she didn’t look a day over 92”.

Proserpine local Thelma Porter surrounded by her great grandchildren at her 105th birthday celebration

Mrs Porter cutting her birthday cake to celebrate the incredible milestone

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Abandoned and dilapidated island resorts here in the Whitsundays could soon come under more stringent land management criteria if results from this week’s parliamentary enquiry find that better practices would ensure correct monitoring of these precious local resources.

Whitsunday Conservation Council put in a submission with the state government some months ago and Member for Whitsunday Amanda Camm MP spoke passionately about the issue at the enquiry which was held in Cannonvale this week.

Island Resorts in “Sad Disarray”

Two significant island resorts in the Whitsundays have been closed for over a decade and with private lease holds on the premises, these dilapidated remains are largely left unmonitored.

The three-star Club Med resort on Lindeman Island has been closed since 2012 when it was purchased by Chinese firm White Horse Holding for $12 million.

Similarly, Brampton Island which is in the Whitsunday Island group but located in the Mackay region, has been closed since 2010 when United Petroleum, who are registered in Victoria, bought the resort.

There were plans for a $600 million redevelopment but so far nothing has come to fruition.

More locally, the resort on South Molle Island was bought by a Chinese company in 2016 and was largely destroyed by Cyclone Debbie a few months later.

It has been officially closed and slowly falling into disrepair since 2019.

Long Island’s Club Croc has also been closed for several years but was purchased by a Sydney-based company in 2021.

There are plans for major redevelopment to create an upscale resort, but nothing has commenced yet.

Whitsunday Conservation Society put a submission in for an enquiry into the management of all resort islands and spokesperson for the group, Tony Fontes, said that there needs to be a better system in place.

The group would like to see a stop to any new leases on national park land, no more expansion of existing resorts onto national park land and a bond system created where resort owners must deposit an amount that will be used to maintain the island in the event that they are no longer willing to invest.

Member for Whitsunday Amanda Camm MP said that resort development needs to be looked at in a sustainable manner and that many of the islands are in “sad disarray”.

“I see a real opportunity, post Covid, to see our islands return to their full potential in the way that they are managed sustainably into the future,” she said.

“If the current disrepair were happening on the mainland, no-one would allow that.”

Ms Camm went on to cite the case of Brampton Island where a seven-star resort was going through planning approvals with Council and their current management criteria was rolled-over for a further six years without any new impact study or community consultation.

“This island still has no investment and there is significant debris which is impacting the environment,” she said.

The parliamentary enquiry of the resort islands continued onto Hamilton Island the following day and then Keswick Island at the end of the week.

It is hoped that the findings will create new regulations which will better supervise the management of our islands.

Member for Whitsunday Amanda Camm MP speaking at the parliamentary enquiry in Cannonvale earlier this week

A dilapidated South Molle Island after Cyclone Debbie

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A candidate that seemingly came from nowhere has just been elected to run the Whitsunday region and the self-proclaimed “People’s Mayor”, Julie Hall, says she is determined to build a bridge between the community and the Council.

“The people of the Whitsundays have sent a clear message for the Council to listen to,” she said.

“The fact that I was voted in shows that people really aren’t happy, and I want to give people hope, especially in these dark times.

“I am looking forward to giving the people of the Whitsundays a voice in Council.”

Election day was Saturday, August 13 and the results were too close to call that evening, which meant all the candidates have had an anxious wait as postal votes were counted and preferences allocated.

At 9.30am on Thursday, August 25, Julie Hall was officially declared the next Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor.

While the businesswoman and life coach has no direct experience in running a council, she says she is looking forward to the challenge.

“It’s definitely going to be a big job, but I am up for the task!” she said.

“I would like to thank everyone, it is truly an honour to be elected and I don’t take this responsibility lightly, I will work very hard for the people.”

Three key areas Ms Hall wants to help initiate change in are: rates, wastage and the disconnect between community and development.

Ms Hall shot into the spotlight when she ran as the One Nation candidate for Dawson in the Federal election and when asked if this political alignment would influence her role as Mayor she was adamant it would not.

“I previously ran as a One Nation candidate because that was the party that could give the people the most voice and because I shared the values of standing up for the industry and farmers,” she said.

“When it came to running for Mayor I chose to be independent, the Mayor needs to be A-political and what’s good for the community is what I’ll be standing for regardless of any political party views.”

During her campaign, Ms Hall was also criticised for being a psychic, a role that she says is not part of her life anymore, but also something she is not ashamed of.

“I have always liked helping people and I have very good gut intuition – I know who I can trust and who I can’t,” she said.

“While being a psychic is not something I do any more, I thought it was interesting that my ‘how to vote card’ was in the exact order of elimination!”

Ms Hall is expecting a call from Whitsunday Regional Council Chief Executive Officer today so she can complete the paperwork and be sworn in.

While she asked the community to give her a little time to get “settled in”, she also said she was excited to “get on with the job”.

Julie Hall casting her vote at the ballot box

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On Sunday August 7, about 60 lost sheep, including 10 children and teenagers, gathered for the 92nd anniversary service of Calen Uniting Church, the only Protestant Church building in Calen established in 1930 as a union church of Methodists and Presbyterians.

The program, on the theme of Little Bo Peep Has Lost Her Sheep, included handouts for the kids, mainly Cecil the Lost Sheep, Andrew McDonagh’s version of the Parable of the Lost Sheep (Luke 15:1-7).

Bruce Manning from Toowoomba, grandson of W. J. Manning, editor and proprietor of the Daily Mercury, and son of Noel Manning, an Elder from St Paul's and cane farmer who was among the church’s founders, reflected on the history of the church.

Margaret-Ann Jeppesen gave a poem on the nature of the church, Tracey Casey gave her testimony, and the church recognised the service of lawn mower Wayne Greishaber. Sally Day and Heather Fischle outlined plans to reach out to the local community through school chaplaincy and religious instruction in schools.

On Wednesday August 10, in the late business part of a meeting of Mackay Regional Council, Fran Mann highlighted the service. Thank you to all who helped make the anniversary service so memorable including the Christian Motorcycle Association and the Cantankerous Cow!

REV. DR JULIA PITMAN, SECRETARY, MACKAY CHURCHES TOGETHER

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Community Groups and not-for-profits now have access to an online resource that has already been embraced by more than 100 local sporting clubs.

Clubs Connect was launched last year as an online one-stop-shop for information, guidance and support.

With its secure, club-specific digital vault for records and documents, educational webinars and comprehensive resources that cover every facet of managing a club, including committee structures and roles, the platform has been a run-away success.

Mayor Greg Williamson said due to the popularity of the platform, council had decided to roll it out across the board, with a special focus on community groups and not-for-profits.

“Clubs Connect has been very successful in building club sustainability,” Mayor Williamson said.

“This platform has really helped clubs to create a system that ensures business continuity and makes sure that one committee can hand over the right sort of documentation and governance to the next committee,” he said.

With One Voice Community Choir director Jennifer Bee said Clubs Connect really helped club members to share the load.

“Rather than having everything sitting with one person, it allows everyone to share the work and prevents any one person getting over committed and burning out,” Ms Bee said.

Kucom Theatre director Bronwyn Grannall said Clubs Connect made committee members feel like they were supported with expert knowledge.

“With the tools and the webinars on Clubs Connect, our members can understand what good governance is all about and be able to fulfil their responsibilities,” Ms Grannall said.

Mayor Williamson said that, in the clubs world, good governance could be hard work.

“To avoid burnout of committee members in your club, you need to get in touch with council’s Community Development officers today and talk to them about how Clubs Connect can help you.”

Clubs Connect is completely free and is available to all not-for-profit clubs and groups in the Mackay region now.  To find out more, head to mackay.qld.gov.au/register or call 4961 9596.

Kucom Theatre director Bronwyn Grannall (pictured) said Clubs Connect made committee members feel like they were supported with expert knowledge

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In the 21st century one would expect that no home would be without a good internet and mobile service.  But that is not the case.  The community in the upper Pioneer Valley has had poor, and in some cases no, service. This, I believe, is unacceptable in 2022, so the community decided to do something about it.

After much collaboration with the people in the know, it was suggested we do a community survey in Finch Hatton and Eungella, which produced the evidence needed to prove the substandard telecommunications in that area.

After attending a regional infrastructure telecommunications review, the upper valley will now receive infrastructure to the value of $5.4m in upgrades to install fixed wireless over the next few years.

What is sad is that Slade Point, only 10 minutes from the CBD, also has poor internet and mobile reception, yet there are at least four towers in close proximity. We have to remember that the internet/NBN is one problem and mobile phones are another problem. We need to start having conversations with the powers that be to enlighten them to this issue.

One option for a better mobile service and making your calls is using WIFI calling that seems to be a bit more reliable. I also heard a great story from a resident recently that he changed mobile phone providers and his connectivity is so much better.

Armstrong Beach is at the other end of our region and also has limited internet access. But I did find out that Sky Muster is available to those in that area to assist them get better coverage and can be purchased from several providers. Just go check out NBN “check your address” to see what is available.

If you need a bit of help, then why not contact Regional Tech Hub (regionaltechhub.org.au), which is government funded, and they can do a report specific to your needs.  

Better Internet for Rural Regional Remote Australia (birrraus.com) also has provider recommendations that can help you make comparisons and this takes the work out of shopping around. They also have a Facebook page you can get heaps of info from.

I believe good phone and internet service should be accessible to all in our region, regardless of where you live.

Let me know if you need any assistance.  

Cr Alison Jones

Mackay Regional Council

cr.alison.jones@mackay.qld.gov.au

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In terms of professions the public loves to hate, car salesmen, journalists and real estate agents are usually named at the top of the list.

I’ve notched up two out of three on that list but, having never been a car salesman, I miss the trifecta. Feelin’ pretty superior right now.

It’s not hard to see why this general public view has been formed.

Historically, there has been an opportunity for dodginess in the sales area, with the widely used hard-sell approach by all sorts of sales people ranging from vacuum cleaner salesmen, encyclopedia salesmen, real estate agents, car salesmen etc.

But consumer law has changed and most of the bad practices have been stamped out.

However, you can’t stamp out all bad behaviour. There are people in all walks of life who are dishonest, manipulative and selfish and you are certainly going to find them in real estate.

I couldn’t count the number of times someone has said they don’t trust a particular agent and would never use them to buy or sell a property.

Sometimes, when you hear the story, the person’s opinion is absolutely justified and it is hard to believe the particular agent can look at themselves in the mirror on a daily basis.

On other occasions, it is the circumstances that have been difficult and although the agent might not have handled it perfectly, he or she did not do anything wrong.

The situation with multiple offers on a property is a good example.

The real estate agent is legally and ethically required to give all relevant information to a seller.

When a buyer makes an offer the agent must pass that on to the seller. Let’s say that later that day, while the seller is considering the offer, another buyer makes an offer. The agent must pass that offer on to the seller. We are then in a multiple offer situation and there are some legal steps the agent must take.

He or she needs to tell both buyers that there are multiple offers and suggest that they make their best and final offers. The agent is not allowed to reveal one buyer’s offer to the other.

Sometimes, Buyer 1 is annoyed because they had “made a good offer earlier in the day and now you’re talking about another offer that’s suddenly come along”.

The truth is the agent works for the seller. Yes, as an agent I want to help buyers and do everything I can to help them in their property goals.

But the listing agent must act ethically and within the law to get the best possible price for the seller. If another offer comes in while the seller is considering your offer then that is the way it is and the agent has no choice but to make sure the seller has that information.

I always say to buyers in this position: “Imagine if you were the seller and I didn’t tell you about an offer that came in while you were considering an initial offer.”

Like any other industry, there are dodgy people and good people in real estate. Most of the agents I know are decent folk who like to help people. There are a few who are not. Their names are …

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Mackay Riding for the Disabled (RDA) is holding a Race Night to raise valuable funds for their horse-riding program.

The night promises plenty of high-paced action, with five mock horse races and one mock pig race to be projected on the big screen throughout the night.

Local businesses have come on board to sponsor the event and name the races and horses.

Tickets are $50 and that will get you entry into the races, finger food, entry in the door prize and $7000 of funny money to bet with, with more funny money available for purchase.

There will be a prize at the end of the night for the biggest funny money win and people are urged to go hard and blow their remaining funny money on the final pig race.

“Just go crazy,” laughed Mackay RDA Vice President Roz Ferguson.

“It doesn’t really matter because it’s not real money.”

There will also be a raffle to win two tickets to the Wildcat and a Balloon Pop, where you can pop a balloon for $10 and you are guaranteed to win, as well as fashions on the field.

“We’re saying to people dress to impress as if you’re going to the Mackay Cup or the Melbourne Cup,” said Roz.

RDA is an organisation that provides horse riding therapy for children and adults living with a disability in the Mackay region.

The funds raised on the night will go towards maintaining this unique experience for people of all abilities.

“The different games that we play, they’re a therapy more than a game, but we make them fun,” said Roz.

“They’re stretching, they’re balancing, it also helps them listen to instructions, follow instructions and directions, we get them thinking as well.

“It’s physical, it’s emotional and it’s spiritual therapy.

Last year, RDA held dressage competitions where Mackay riders were among the best.

“Two of our riders came second in the state of Queensland, which we were really happy about, in their particular classes,” said Roz.

“We have one girl who actually rides on her own now, she’s learnt so well she rides on her own, and she came second in Queensland, so we were really proud of that.”

Last year, RDA Mackay received Centre of Excellence Accreditation from RDA Queensland.

“It shows that, within this Mackay centre, we are really trying hard to make the centre a great place for people to come, not just to ride, but to visit and to volunteer as well,” said Roz.

“We’re always on the hunt for volunteers.

“You don’t have to be horse involved, there are many different opportunities.

“If somebody wants to come on board and they haven’t done this sort of stuff, we can train them up.”

For more information on the Race Night and the organisation, visit their group on Facebook where you will find the event and contact details.

WHAT: Race Night supporting Mackay Riding for the Disabled

WHEN: Friday, September 9 at 6:30pm

WHERE: Metropolitan Hotel Mackay

TICKETS: facebook.com/events/1136761463862224

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I don't know about you, but my heart is so heavy lately.

It feels like every time I check my newsfeed or turn on the telly, I hear about a death or tragic news for an entertainment and sports person that I've grown up watching. I don't know if this is actually happening noticeably more right now or whether it’s more of a realisation after turning 27 earlier this month, that while I'm not getting any younger, neither is anyone else.

This week it made news that the female vocalist behind the Aussie classic song 'The Horses', New Zealand singer Margaret Urlich passed away on Monday and on Tuesday morning we got news that Aussie legend John Farnham was admitted to hospital for treatment of his own a cancer diagnosis. It comes after losing a number of notable Australians in the domestic entertainment and sporting industries, which is a scary thought.

We all had high hopes that 2022 would be a better year.

I had a friend ask me recently "why do you feel sad about people you don't know?".

It took me back for a moment because I wasn't exactly sure how to articulate it, but then it was clear, while you and I don't know these people directly, they have had so much influence over our lives. We've grown up loving what these people bring into our lives, we follow their lives so it's an investment that we've put in. Losing them is losing part of our own interests and history as well.

Vale Margaret Urlich and thoughts and prayers to John Farnham in this difficult time.

It reminds me to not take for granted the time I have with those I love, while it's still here.

I know I'll be hugging my grandma extra tight the next time I see her. And I really hope you do the same.

Kaley

Catch the Star 101.9 breakfast show with Scotty and Rach from 5am, Kaley for afternoons from 12pm, Galey, Emily Jade and Christo from 4pm, Will & Woody from 5pm and the Kyle and Jackie-o Hour of Power from 7pm every weekday!

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Total rural debt in Queensland has risen to $24.06 billion, an increase of 25.97 per cent since 2019 according to the 2021 Queensland Rural Debt Survey.

At the same time, the quality of that rural debt has remained strong with almost 95 per cent rated viable or long term viable, despite challenging times for rural businesses.

Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries, Mark Furner MP tabled the 2021 Queensland Rural Debt Survey report last week and said the average debt per borrower rose by 32.67 per cent to $1.39 million.

“The 2021 Queensland Rural Debt Survey provides critical insight into the financial state of enterprises across rural industries over the past two years and will assist government and industry to help inform future decisions,” Mr Furner said.

“Debt funding remains the principal source of capital for Queensland primary producers including for working capital, infrastructure, property, and other investment purposes.

“Debt in the beef industry accounts for the largest proportion of rural debt across Queensland, growing by more than $3 billion and accounting for around 60 per cent of the increase in total debt. This is followed by cotton debt, growing 53.1 per cent to $1.69 billion. grain/grazing also saw a large increase, totalling $1.68 billion and recording a 40.9 per cent growth since the 2019 survey.

“The Western Downs and Central Highlands region represented the largest portion (just over 35 per cent) of total rural debt in Queensland, totalling $8.51 billion. This is followed by the Southern Coastal Curtis to Moreton region ($5.46 billion or 22.7 per cent) and Eastern Darling Downs region ($3.34 billion or 13.89 per cent).”

“In addition, the total number of rural borrowers in Queensland has decreased by 920 to 17,312 borrowers, down 5.05 per cent on 2019.”

Conducted as of 31 December 2021, the latest Queensland Rural Debt Survey was undertaken by the Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority (QRIDA) in collaboration with the Queensland Government Statisticians Office (QGSO) and with the support of all major rural lenders and insights from agricultural industry associations.

QRIDA Chief Executive Officer, Cameron MacMillan said 2021 Queensland Rural Debt Survey provided a comprehensive breakdown of the value, movement and quality of rural debt and the number of borrowers by industry and region.

Mr MacMillan said rural businesses continued to face tough conditions throughout the period from December 2019 to December 2021, yet many industries had also shown their resilience.

“In 2019, Queensland recorded the lowest level of rainfall since 2005. From 2020, they also faced rising input costs and supply chain disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. All these factors have impacted production and business decisions by primary producers.”

“While overall debt has grown, the survey showed the quality of that debt has remained strong. Rural debt rated viable (A) and potentially viable long term (B+) combined increased from 93.14 per cent in 2019 to 94.97 per cent in 2021 as a proportion of total debt.

“This in part reflects the improved seasonal conditions and production over the latter part of the 2019-2021 period, continued strong commodity prices and the significant increase in the value of rural land that underpins much of this rural debt,” he said.

For more see the 2021 Rural Debt Survey full report and interactive dashboard at: qrida.qld.gov.au/queensland-rural-debt-survey

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