Four men between the ages of 19 and 49 were arrested last week, after allegedly using social media to contact and groom child victims over a two-year period to produce and procure child exploitation material. It is also alleged that sexual offences including rape and deprivation of liberty were committed directly against children and that a girl as young as five was shown sexually explicit material.

The alleged sexual offences were committed against four children, aged between 12 and 15. Mackay Police finalised Operation Westmeath when the arrests were made, in response to an anonymous call to Crime Stoppers in early January. Detectives commenced a complex operation led by Mackay’s Child Protection and Investigation Unit which led to the arrests.

Detectives finalised the operation after executing a search warrant at a Bakers Creek residence where they located three men aged 19, 22 and 49. A fourth man, a 21-year-old, ran from the address. He later surrendered himself to police and was arrested and charged with eight offences including rape, unlawful carnal knowledge, indecent treatment of a child, grooming, involving a child in the making of exploitation material and possession of child exploitation material.

The four men are known to each other.

Several digital devices were also seized from the address and will now undergo further forensic testing. A brown stain on a mattress believed to be blood will undergo forensic testing for an allegation of rape.

The other three men – aged 19, 22 and 49 – have been charged with a total of 27 offences between them including rape, unlawful carnal knowledge, indecent treatment of a child, permitting abuse of children on premises, grooming, involving a child in the making of exploitation material, possession of child exploitation material, deprivation of liberty and breach of privacy. The alleged time for the offending ranges over periods of time, a decade for the 49-year-old from 2011 to 2021, while the younger offenders are alleged to have taken part from 2016 – 2021 and 2019 – 2021.

They have been refused police bail and appeared in Mackay Magistrates Court on March 14, where the four appeared separately via video link from the Mackay Watch-house. The men were not required to enter pleas as their charges were read and matters were adjourned to the following day. On Tuesday 15 March their bail applications were denied after the court heard lengthy accusations involving depraved details of abuse. The four men accused denied the allegations. Their next court appearance is scheduled for May and they will remain in custody.

Investigations are ongoing and anyone with information is asked to come forward and speak with police. Quote this reference number: QP2200346703.

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Mackay Regional Council’s CEO Michael Thomson has extended his leave for three months due to a serious health battle.

He was recently diagnosed with bowel cancer and has undergone an urgent operation.

He is now about to embark on a journey of treatment, including chemotherapy.

Mr Thomson, who informed council staff last week, said the diagnosis came as a huge shock to him and his family.

He said it was an extremely personal matter, but he was willing to talk openly about his health battle as part of council’s Safety and Wellbeing value.

“As I told staff in my announcement today, it is a stark reminder about how important regular health check-ups and screenings are,’’ Mr Thomson said.

“This includes annual bowel cancer screenings as part of the national program for those who are eligible,’’ he said.

“I have had to have extremely confronting conversations with my loved ones, including my children, in recent weeks, and those regular screenings could prevent other Mackay families from having to go through what we are.”

Mayor Greg Williamson said the thoughts of councillors, senior leadership and staff were with the CEO and his family.

“Michael really needs to focus on his health and his family during this time,’’ he said.

“He has also recognised that council needs some stability in leadership in the interim and has requested three months’ leave.

“Council is able to grant that under the Local Government Act and we are more than willing to accommodate this leave to assist Michael and his family.”

Current acting CEO Angela Hays, council’s Community and Client Services director, will remain in the role during this time.

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Mackay Council crews have answered an SOS from Brisbane City Council to assist with the mammoth clean-up after the unprecedented floods a fortnight ago.

A convoy of vehicles, equipment and 12 Field Services workers left Paget depot earlier this week, arriving in Brisbane on Monday 14 March.

Another crew from council’s Civil Ops also headed south to Brisbane on Wednesday.

At this stage, they will be in Brisbane for two weeks, mainly helping with clean-ups in streets that were inundated with water, mud and debris.

Brisbane City Council reached out to regional Queensland councils for assistance under the Council to Council (C2C) program, coordinated by the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ).

Mayor Greg Williamson said it was unusual to have a council the size of Brisbane City reaching out for assistance.

“They’re a huge council in their own right, but they just didn’t have enough trucks, enough low loaders and enough people on the ground with supervisory experience to get the job done,’’ he said.

More houses have been inundated in Brisbane during this month’s weather event than in the 1974 and 2011 floods.

Mayor Williamson said Mackay’s council did not hesitate in joining other regional councils in helping out on the ground in the south-east.

“When we’ve been through things in the past – the bushfires, floods and Cyclone Debbie – southern councils were the first to reach out and send teams, so it was the least we could do,’’ he said.

Brisbane City Council requested assistance from crews that could be self-sufficient.

The convoy that left Mackay included four body trucks, one low loader, two backhoes and four utes.

“It’s all about assisting with the street clean-up,” Mayor Williamson said.

“It’s about getting the stuff off the street and disposed of the way BCC wants it disposed of,’’ he said.

“I think it will be full on … If you’ve seen the mess that’s there – it’s just not a few streets,” Mayor Williamson said.

“There are dozens and dozens of streets and suburbs that are going to require a lot of TLC to get it back just to a working condition – not back to normal – just back to a working condition.”

Mayor Williamson said Brisbane City Council may renew its request for assistance past the two weeks.

But he said with the amount of support being provided by regional Queensland councils, he expected they would “break the back” of the job in that timeframe.

Photo caption: Field Services workers, who have joined a convoy to Brisbane to assist with the floods clean-up, are (from left) Carl Teske, Sven Hansson, Daniel George, Jon Sheafe, Russell Chambers, Tristan Husking, Sam Madelaine, Kalum O’Donnell, Matt Ballard, Trent Roxburgh

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It took Liudmyla Prymakova one whole week to flee from war-torn Ukraine to the Mackay heat.

The 74-year-old Ukrainian woman braved streets under attack, crowded trains, and a sense of dread and uncertainty to arrive at her daughter’s North Mackay apartment earlier in the month.

“No one was expecting such a massive attack on the heart of the city,” she said, translated to English by her daughter, Alla Long.

Ms Prymakova says that Russia started by bombing military objects, but when they started shooting civilians, panic really set in.

People were hiding in underground bomb shelters, everyone trying to save their children from the attacks.

Women moved towards train stations with their children intending on fleeing to neighbouring countries like Poland and Romania; men stayed, conscripted to join the resistance against the Russian invasion.

Ms Prymakova’s niece, who has a 4-year-old daughter, called her to tell her they were going to the train station and urged her to join them.

Living 20 minutes from the train station, Ms Prymakova walked through streets of chaos to get there.

The station was crowded with women and children, barely leaving space to move.

The crowd gathered on platform one waiting for the next train, but due to a bombing outside the station, the train was now expected at platform four.

People dropped their bags and scurried for their lives towards the platform, hoping to squeeze onto one of the packed carriages.

A guard picked up Ms Prymakova’s niece’s daughter and guided them all onto a train destined for Lviv in the country’s east.

What was normally a 12-hour train trip from Kharkiv to Lviv became a 21-hour trip as the train would slow down in areas of conflict, people pulling down blinds to not draw attention.

“All of this time, I couldn’t sleep,” said Ms Long. “I’ve been checking the news all of this time, ‘has any train been bombed?’”

When the train arrived in Lviv, Ms Prymakova’s relatives opted to stay as they had a son there, but she had eyes for Poland.

She sat on another train to Poland, with no idea which city it was destined for.

Thankfully, this train was comfier and had food and water for passengers.

The train reached a Polish town that Ms Long compared to Mackay in size where Ms Prymakova stayed in a motel and considered staying as a refugee.

But when Russian troops started shooting a nuclear station in Poland Ms Long and her sister, who resides in Canada, decided it wasn’t safe for their mother.

Having visited five years ago, Ms Prymakova already had an Australian Visa.

She got a bus to Kraków and then a plane to Mackay via Brisbane.

“The whole trip for my mum took one week.”

Ms Long says some of her friends and family are finding refuge in Romania, Germany, Denmark, Poland, and Australia, but others who remain in Ukraine whose houses have been destroyed are finding it difficult to seek safe shelter due to a lack of public transport and unsafe conditions to travel.

“I’m still so worried when I talk to my friends,” she said. “I could hear bombing in the background, I could see videos and photos.”

For now, she focuses on the indescribable feeling of relief, the feeling of having her Mum safely in her arms after weeks of not eating or sleeping with worry.

“I can’t even explain it. I’ve never had these feelings before.”

Ms Long says her mother has been settling into Mackay life well.

“The first night, she woke up the next morning and said, ‘there’s birds chirping’.”

Having been here for three months five years ago, Ms Prymakova knew what to expect in terms of climate.

Ms Prymakova will be taking part in English lessons in Mackay as well as joining a group of migrant women who meet for coffee every week and share their experiences, hoping to gain some independence in her new city.

“She needs to start speaking English and having a social life,” she said.

After hearing their story, many Mackay locals have come to the aid of the mother and daughter, offering their assistance, including members of the Ukrainian community of Mackay.

Ms Prymakova will remain in Mackay for the foreseeable future but they are waiting on a decision from the government on whether Ukrainian refugees will be offered assistance in obtaining Visas.

“If not, I don’t know,” she said.

“If not, I have to be her sponsor forever, so she will never have a Medicare card or anything.

“It’s going to be quite hard but it’s better for me than knowing my Mum lives somewhere where she may die in five minutes.”

Alla Long can’t explain the relief she felt having her mother safely in her arms after fleeing from Ukraine

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Do you have a legendary neighbour? Mackay Regional Council wants you to let them know!

Mayor Greg Williamson said the region was full of generous people who regularly carried out selfless acts for their neighbours.

“Whether it’s taking bins out, mowing a mate’s lawn or sharing homegrown produce with neighbours over the fence – we are lucky to have some of the best people living in our local communities,” Mayor Williamson said.

As part of Neighbour Day (which occurs on March 27), council is celebrating the region’s backyard heroes with its very own neighbour-centred competition, My Legendary Neighbour.

To enter, residents simply need to head to council’s website,  mackay.qld.gov.au/mylegendaryneighbour and tell us what makes your neighbour great.

Mayor Williamson said this was the second year council had run the competition.

“Last year we had outstanding nominations, including our winners Donna and Mark Sanim who were nominated by their neighbour Heather Arnold,” he said.

“This generous couple literally donated hundreds of hours of service to Heather and her late husband Don by pitching in around the home with odd jobs, picking up her groceries and just checking in on her wellbeing on a regular basis.

“This is the type of mateship that makes you really proud to call Mackay home and we’d like to shine a light on these backyard heroes.”

There are prizes to be won for nominators and their neighbours including a delicious share platter or barbecue pack.

Nominations close on Monday, March 21, at midnight, and the winner/s will be announced on Friday, March 25.

Neighbour Day 2022 will be held on Sunday, March 27, and is Australia’s annual celebration of community, encouraging people to connect with their neighbours.

Mayor Greg Williamson with 2021 My Legendary Neighbour winners Heather Arnold (second from right) pictured with Donna Sanim and her sons

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More than 130 men and women filled the Mackay Turf Club on Saturday March 5 for the inaugural JSP Women's Awards. It was a celebration of women throughout the greater Whitsunday region with a diversity of women recognised for their community contributions.

Organiser and JSP Founder Fallon Drewett said stories of the finalists and the winners inspired and captivated those who attended.

"This event was a way of sharing women's stories and giving many women the moment they deserve to feel empowered and loved," Mrs Drewett said.

"It really showcased how many incredible women live in our community and how determined, strong, kind and valuable they are.

"The event was a way to make women visible for their achievements, adversity, struggles and hope.”

Ms Drewett said the winner of each of the six categories were remarkable role models.

"If I could give an award to all the 129 women nominated I would.

“Women's stories and voices matter.

"However, we had to narrow it down to five finalists and from there our judging panel had the tough job of finding a winner.

"I 'd like to thank all our sponsors including Daly Bay for jumping on board as our major sponsor," Mrs Drewett said.

The evening was MC’d by the ABC’s Tegan Philpott and Minds Aligned Co-Founder Rowena Hardy was the guest speaker.

Attendees were kept entertained by live band, The Feels.

WINNERS

Mother of all Mothers - Jenny Binsiar

Jenny Binsiar is one of our region’s Indigenous elders and is a Mother, Nan and Great Grandma. But Jenny has also been a mother figure and role model for many of our region's most vulnerable young people.

Jenny is part of the Binga Birry Justice Group.  This group of volunteers visit the inmates of the Townsville and Rockhampton Correctional Centre’s on a monthly basis.  Jenny is also involved in Youth Justice and attends Court sessions for Youth and has worked as a Community Development Worker at the Mackay Women's Centre.

Modern Muse - Jules Thompson

Jules Thompson uses her voice for the greater good of women.

Jules is the face of domestic violence prevention and protection in Mackay. As a survivor herself, Jules knows all too well the heartache, struggles, violence and fear that many women in our region go through on a daily basis.

Jules created the Mackay-based charity and advocacy group Broken Ballerina that voluntarily accompanies women through the court process.

Health and Wellbeing Warrior - Kayleigh Brewster

Health and Wellbeing isn’t always found in a gym.

It can be found in Chance’s Op Shop and Cafe or the incredible work of Australian Street Aid Project Founder Kayleigh Brewster.

Kayleigh took a natural desire to help and has given respect to homelessness and is changing the perceptions of how society sees those who find themselves living on the street and in hard times.

Kayleigh dedicates so much of her time and energy into helping people who need it the most.

The Trailblazer- Melissa Johnson

Melissa has worked her way through various roles in mining and BHP. Melissa is currently the General Manager of Hay Point Coal Terminal.

Mel leads by example, is a woman in a very male-dominated industry. A Chartered Engineer by trade, Mel has worked with BHP for over 10 years in various leadership positions in Projects, Engineering, Major Shutdowns and Maintenance and has held her current position of General Manager, BMA’s Hay Point Coal Terminal since 2018. Mel’s deep sense of care for people’s safety and wellbeing along with her proven capability as a senior operational leader makes her the ideal nominee for this award.

Resilient Rebel- Vicki Blackburn

Vicki Blackburn has been through some of the most trying and devastating circumstances that, for many, we could never fathom. Vicki has been through the worst thing any parent could have to overcome. She has become a fierce advocate for safety. And nine years after her daughter Shandee was murdered, she is still fighting for justice.

Vicki’s story is well known. Shandee was murdered in February 2013 and her killer remains free nine years later. Vicki has sat through an investigation, trial, inquest and now a podcast and her reserve for justice is unwavering. She has used her pain to fight for better community safety and has pushed to have the inquest into her daughter’s death reopened. This year the case has been reopened based on findings in a recent podcast.

Magic Maker - Cody-Maree Allsop-Collins

Cody is at the forefront of women empowerment in the art form of Burlesque. She has built a beautiful community at her studio Burlesque by Bailey to help women from all walks of life love themselves in dance.

Cody supports women to love themselves and explore the art form of burlesque while empowering and inspiring in her own performances.

She is a performer, an artist, a teacher, a mum, a businesswoman which she does all with such class and poise. Cody empowers women of all shapes and sizes to love themselves and their bodies. She sees beauty in every single woman and creates a safe space for many women to express themselves and their creativity.

JSP Founder Fallon Drewett (centre) with four of the six winners from the inaugural JSP Women’s Awards. Photos: Marty Strecker

More than 130 people celebrated women from the greater Mackay, Isaac and Whitsunday regions at the inaugural JSP Women’s Awards

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Residents of Slade Point are failing to stay up to speed in business with local residents saying they have been left with second rate phone and internet reception.

Locals in the northern beach suburb of Mackay have been calling for improvements in their area for around a decade. Despite being told the Mackay region is a priority, nothing has been done to date.

Labor Candidate for Dawson, Shane Hamilton, said that residents have reported that they have to leave the house to use their mobile phone or pay hundreds of dollars for an extra antenna.

“Residents are telling me their dodgy broadband means they can’t work from home properly and their kids can’t always do their school work, and in some cases, they can’t even make a simple phone call,” said Mr Hamilton.  

“This has been going on for years. This isn’t good enough for the residents of Slade Point.”

Slade Point resident and Councillor Alison Jones said that for over a decade, local residents have struggled to get reliable coverage despite many requests to the federal member to help fix the connection issues.

Mr Hamilton said he has written to the Communications Minister, alerting him to the situation facing Slade Point locals and calling on the federal government to fix it.

“I want to thank Councillor Alison Jones for standing up for this issue and I look forward to working her and the Slade point community to ensure they get the decent internet they deserve.”

Labor Candidate for Dawson, Shane Hamilton and Mackay Regional Council Councillor Alison Jones

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The Member for Whitsunday, Amanda Camm MP, has secured an inquiry into island resort management across the state, with a particular concern for Keswick Island.

The MP says she travelled to Keswick Island, located 34 kilometres north-east of Mackay, last year to hear the issues affecting residents first-hand.

“This inquiry was long overdue to assess issues regarding leasing and ownership models, governance and regulation responsibilities, development approvals, public interest and rights,” Ms Camm said.

“I have been a strong advocate for this since being elected and the Queensland Labor Government has finally agreed to a review.    

“Across the Whitsunday electorate we have many islands including Brampton and Lindeman Island.

“In the past they have been significant tourism destinations.  

“I encourage local Councils and island communities across the Whitsundays to have their say and make a submission to the committee.” Ms Camm said.  

President of the Keswick Island Progress Association, Craig Gilbert, welcomed the decision.  

Mr Gilbert said that, apart from basic infrastructure, none of the development proposed in the master plan for the island has happened.

“For an island that, over 20 years ago, had this amazing master plan of all this stuff, nothing’s happened,” he said.

“It’s an inquiry into why the lessor, which is the Queensland State Government, has not held these head lessees accountable for not doing what the head lease states which is to develop the island.”

Mr Gilbert says that life on the island over the last 12 months has been peaceful thanks to new management of the head lessee China Bloom, but it’s time to hold them accountable.

“Right now, it’s very comfortable, we’re all very comfortable, we get on with the management as far as just us living here, but access is still an issue,” he said.

“There’s no sign of their intention to develop.”

Mr Gilbert said that approximately 79 people visited Keswick Island over the Christmas and New Year period, every single one of them being friends or family of the Island’s residents.

He said that apart from the recently launched Wild Cat, there is little-to-no infrastructure for tourism on the island without access to the airstrip and a more functional permanent jetty.

“Tourism doesn’t exist here.”

Member for Whitsunday Amanda Camm MP visited Keswick Island last year to hear the concerns of Keswick Island Progress Association President Craig Gilbert and other residents of the island. Photos supplied: Office of Amanda Camm MP

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Red Cat Adventures Director Asher Telford and Bowen Gumlu Growers Association General Manager Ry Collins have been appointed as directors to the Greater Whitsunday Alliance (GW3) Board, offering industry diversity to a strong business group.

Mr Telford and Mr Collins joins GW3 Chair Mr Tony Caruso and six other directors on the board to guide the strategic outcomes for the Greater Whitsunday economic development organisation.

GW3 Chair Mr Tony Caruso said Mr Telford and Mr Collins, were strong candidates to fill the positions on the board, and said it was important that the board remains fresh and dynamic to offer a broad range of industry experience and skills expertise.

“Asher, a professional Mariner by trade, found a passion in building and delivering quality marine tourism experiences and for the past eleven years has been building Red Cat Adventures to become a nationally award-winning company,” Mr Caruso said.

“Asher is one of our region’s change champions, who uses the latest technology to build one-of-a-kind boats that provide equally as impressive tourism experiences.

“Ry is the General Manager of Bowen Gumlu Growers Association and is a well-known and strategic industry leader who champions the valuable horticulture sector across our region,” Mr Caruso added.

“Ry has had a diverse career across a number of different industries in the private and public sectors including agriculture and construction and we are excited to have those skills on the GW3 board.”

Mr Caruso said in the past 12 months the GW3 board has undertaken a comprehensive rewrite of its strategy and developed a clear and concise plan well understood and supported by our key stakeholders.

“Key elements of our strategy will focus on making agriculture and aquaculture cornerstone sectors of our regional economy and rebuilding our tourism sector following several tough years.

“Ry and Asher will help guide GW3 to achieve this with their industry knowledge and passion,” Mr Caruso said.

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Mater is paving the way for Australian health organisations to reduce their environmental footprint by embedding renewable energy into its power contracts at its hospital campuses across Queensland.

The purchase of 15 gigawatt hours of clean energy is estimated to prevent 12,000 tonnes of carbon emissions from being released in Queensland.

The cuts, certified by the Clean Energy Regulator, will apply to Mater’s hospitals in Bundaberg, Mackay, Redland, Rockhampton, South Brisbane, Springfield, and Townsville.

Mater Environmental Sustainability Project Officer, Ngaire McGaw, said Mater would continue to purchase 20 per cent renewable energy for the next two years under a contract with CS Energy.

Ms McGaw said the initiative was the most outstanding environmental sustainability achievement she had witnessed in her 20-year career.

“We aim to achieve 50 per cent renewable energy by 2025,” Ms McGaw said.

“This initiative sets us on our way and enables Mater to reduce its environmental footprint far more than we would achieve through solar panels or waste reduction.”

Ms McGaw said the hospitals had high electricity demands and the contract with CS Energy provided an innovative solution to cutting emissions without impacting service delivery.

“There is often a lot of focus on the improvements being made through installing solar panels at hospitals, but this typically reduces the overall environmental footprint by just one or two per cent at hospitals,” she said.

“What has been achieved across Mater with this initiative is a carbon reduction of 16 percentage points at its major sites, which is a significant result compared to our peers.”

Mater Chief Executive Officer, Dr Peter Steer, said environmental sustainability played an important role in the health of the community.

“Increasing impacts on the environment pose public health risks such as weather events like heatwaves and bushfires, and disease burdens including those from zoonotic diseases as we have seen with the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.

“Some of the patients most at risk from climate-related incidents are the most vulnerable in our community, including babies and the elderly.

“Investing in reducing our environmental footprint is an investment in the health of our patients and community.”

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Police continue to search for missing 53-year-old Koumala woman Helen Barnett after her disappearance near her property on Turnors Paddock Road last month.

Investigators have reiterated an appeal for information around the circumstances of Helen’s disappearance, establishing she was last seen about 300 metres from her home at approximately 4.20pm, on Sunday, February 13.

The location is about 11 kilometres from the Bruce Highway.

Investigators have also revealed that Helen was last seen wearing a black and white top, shorts, orthopaedic thongs with dark canvas straps, a shoulder brace and a knee brace.

Her hair was also in a ponytail.

Multiple agencies, including SES, Rural Fire Service, and the RACQ CQ Rescue Helicopter, have assisted police in the search efforts within the past few weeks.

Police request that anyone who has information regarding seeing Helen Barnett on Turnors Paddock Road on that day or any other information that may lead to her location is asked to contact police.

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It’s been a whole week now since masks came off. I don’t know about you, but I still have them in my bag and car. I still walk to the shops looking for mine before I enter and then have that moment of realisation that life is going back to normal again, or what everyone is calling it the ‘new normal’.

When I walk around it feels nice to smile at other people and not have those awkward conversations where you’re constantly saying ‘huh?’.

But how bittersweet that as we’re removing our masks and celebrating life going back to how it used to be, there’s people in Ukraine and Russia suffering in a pointless battle and our neighbours in South East QLD and Northern NSW who have lost their homes and all their belongings.

I am warmed by how many people are donating their time, skills and money to help people here and abroad. Even when it’s such a tough time for every individual, especially over the last three years. I love the heart and spirit of giving that we have here in Australia so it’s uplifting to know that we’re a part of all the tough times together.

Scotty and Kaley are back with the brekkie show Monday to Friday from 5am and now we have some new additions - Galey, Emily Jade and Christo from 4pm, Will and Woody from 5pm and the Kyle and Jackie-o Hour of Power from 7pm. Also you can now register to win $1000 with Instagrand Workday at www.Star1019.com.au

Kaley

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One of Mackay’s largest retirement homes is set to almost double in size, with construction starting on a new four-level wing at Kerrisdale Gardens.

The expansion comes with a $15 million price tag, providing the retirement facility with 7 spacious apartments, 3 villas and an additional 40 residential aged care beds.

Kerrisdale Gardens is part of Good Shepherd Lodge, which has been in the Mackay community since 1974. Its vision is to enable its residents to live in an environment where they feel at home.

CEO Greg Skelton said that fostering a sense of belonging enables people to live a healthier life and encourages the local community to come into Kerrisdale to utilise the services available.

“We have a lovely café where we welcome mothers with young children to come in to use the play area. We have a chemist and a physio and those services are available to anyone,” Mr Skelton said.

“We are a part of the growing community at Kerrisdale and with no shortage of land on site this won’t be the last expansion.”

With an ageing population Mr Skelton said that demand for aged care will continue to grow.

“Mackay is one of the areas with the greatest need for residential aged care beds, it’s a high priority to provide this service,” he said.

“It shouldn’t just be a place to live, it’s a lifestyle. Our long-term goal is that of an integrated aged care facility that blends with the local community.”

Woollam Constructions was awarded the tender which is thought to inject more than $9 million into the local economy while creating between 150 – 200 local jobs.

Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson added that up to 200 jobs would be created in the construction alone, with another 50 permanent jobs being attributed to the expansion.

“All of that contributes to the regional economy immensely,” he said.

The project is due for practical completion in December with the first residents expected to move in within a year, in January 2023.

New inclusions for the aged care facility and community include a chapel and a men’s shed. There will also be additional car parking spaces built in to meet the rising number of visitors.

Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson and the Bishop of North Queensland The Right Reverend Dr Keith Joseph turn the sod at the site of Kerrisdale Gardens’ aged care facility expansion

Chairman Damian Carroll, Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson, the Bishop of North Queensland The Right Reverend Dr Keith Joseph, Woollams Constructions Managing Director Craig Percival, Good Shepherd Lodge CEO Greg Skelton get construction underway at Kerrisdale Gardens. Photos: Amanda Wright

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Despite widespread advances in growing awareness and action around gender violence, its prevalence remains alarming. A universal scourge, there is a perception that the problem is ‘too big’ to fix.

A local woman is using her entrepreneurial network to bring domestic violence out of the shadows, with an inaugural event aiming to shine a light on the growing epidemic.

SHADES OF WOMEN is a first for Mackay, a gala celebration to champion women and the strength they bring to our community, but it is also an opportunity to bring about awareness and raise much needed funds for domestic violence.

Event Founder Jo Sainsbury said she was horrified when local incidences of domestic violence were brought to her attention. By supporting this event, you are helping a woman and her children to safety.

Breaking glass ceilings has never been a problem for Jo Sainsbury.

She knew that if she wanted to make it in a man’s world, she would have to surpass stereotypes to break gender bias. She founded Kickass Women to empower others to pursue careers in non-traditional roles, saying that women should feel as confident in work boots as they do in heels.

But it will be a different shoe Jo will be slipping on in May, as she joins other women from around Queensland to participate in Dancing CEOs, where brave business leaders will swap the boardroom for the ballroom in an effort to end domestic violence.

Jo was introduced to this event through her involvement with the Women’s Network Australia and said it really opened her eyes to the scourge of domestic violence.

“The figures were alarming, there’s no other word for it,” Jo said.

“It’s frightening to see the number of domestic violence cases brought before the court in Mackay every week, and there is a rising number of women and children living in cars because they have had to flee a dangerous situation.

“We know domestic violence is out there, but we tend to have our blinkers on. It pulled on my heartstrings and I knew immediately this is a cause I want to advocate for.”

Dancing CEOs supports Women’s Legal Service Queensland, who provide free legal and welfare help to Queensland women and their children at risk from domestic and family violence.

Despite providing over 38,000 services to Queensland women, currently 30% of calls cannot be answered due to resource limitations.

“There is no way to know when these women will have the courage or the opportunity to call again.”

It was a chance article read by Jo that ignited the idea for Shades of Women.

“It was a beautiful editorial talking about how different shades represent different women, how different we all are and that innumerous shades of colours reflect our unique diversity.

“Without giving away too much for the evening, we play on the colour concept of W.O.M.E.N with W being White, O is Orange, M Magenta, and so on.

“Given the event is to raise funds to support women in DV, the shades also represent the various stages of pain, the healing from dark purple to green and yellow of bruising as well as the shades of trauma that aren’t as visible and can project in different ways,” Jo added.

In addition to the event, Jo has created Escape Boxes, which will be donated to Mackay Women’s Services.

“When a woman flees, she sometimes has a small window of opportunity to escape,” Jo said.

“These boxes have been designed to support a woman through that first week of being on their own, to help get them back on their feet.

“Wonderful local businesses have donated items or sponsored boxes, which contain essentials like a cell phone and sim card, fuel and grocery voucher, sanitary items and more.”

Money raised from SHADES OF WOMEN will be donated to Women’s Legal Services Queensland.

Tickets can be purchased online - visit the Kickass Women Facebook Page (Event Page) to purchase.

Event location: Magpies Sporting Club Mackay | Saturday, 19 March 2022 from 6:00 PM

Jo Sainsbury has built a career from breaking gender bias as a train driver and entrepreneur

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Come one, come all creative souls of Proserpine - the growers, the bakers, the potters and jam makers are all being invited to not only put up a stall at the Proserpine Farmers’ Market, but to come and peruse the fine wares.

Local food producers have been eagerly awaiting the first farmers’ market of the season, which will commence on Saturday March 19, starting at 8:00am until 12:00pm.

The markets are becoming familiar favourite for locals and will continue next weekend at their regular spot on 17 Chapman Street, Proserpine.

Now in their second year, organiser June Miller and her husband Steve Miller are ecstatic for their first market outing for 2022.

“We’re really excited, all the ladies of Proserpine have been baking chutneys and jams and biscuits. We have local produce from down in Bloomsbury like honeys, and it’s going to be such a fun little morning and it’s just a great little vibe – it’s so friendly,” Mr Miller said.

Mr Miller said that the idea of the market was that homemade, home baked, and home grown products were readily available for Proserpine locals.

“With Proserpine so malleable with its good soil, my wife said we should start it up, and it’s been fantastic to get that real community feel,” he said.

The markets are held right in the centre of town and are “perfect for people doing their daily walking circuits” so drop in and say hello.

The markets will be held on the first and third Saturday of each month throughout 2022.

The Proserpine Farmer’s Market is returning in a week’s time

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