The dishes, making the bed, making dinner, vacuuming, who does all of this at home for you? There are exceptions, but in most cases, mum takes care of the household in more ways than are ever appreciated.

For mums, it can become an identity – they can lose themselves and become just the person at home with what Deb Rae said is “the mental load,” a list of responsibilities that mums must complete every day.

“They themselves are at the bottom of the list, and often, you don’t get to the bottom of the list once you’ve looked after everyone else,” Deb said.

Deb Rae is a Mackay based life coach, author, and speaker, who has worked with mental health organisations, as well as one on one life coaching to help people invest in themselves.

Over the course of the Covid-19 pandemic, Deb spoke with mums across Mackay who, like many groups, were feeling even further mental strain during a time of uncertainty.

“It started with just friends and people I work with, and I found they were exhausted, overwhelmed, and there’s a lot of pressure [on them] to have a certain type of life as a mum,” Deb said.

“They spend so much time doing everything for everyone else and remembering everything that everyone else wants that I have lost myself in that process somewhere.”

Mums can feel buried in an avalanche of responsibility that, unfortunately, men can’t always understand. There’s a link between mother and child that is intangible and differs from that of a father and child – as well as societal expectations that can be heaped onto those biological feelings.

A mum can often be expected to make the kids lunches, make dinner, while a dad might take out the trash or walk the dog. There are exceptions, but these are the societal norms often laid before us.

It can be a thankless job to be a parent, and Deb, through her conversations with these women, found that being a mum can be an even less thankful position.

“Women talked to me about how they felt they were failing; that the list that they could do for everyone else was endless, so you never feel you’ve achieved everything,” she said.

“This sense of, I’m failing and I’m not good enough, I don’t feel pretty enough, I can’t do enough – they’re sitting in a sense of failing all the time.

“And, usually, no one ever says thank you.”

To combat this, Deb is now organising a Celebrate Me Retreat Program, because sometimes being a mum makes you feel like a broken mess.

She’ll be taking a group of women on a retreat, and a two-month long program, to get off the never-ending merry-go-round and to help women get back to themselves.

“It’s about becoming aware of that pressure and trying to clear away some of that other stuff and coming back to who you are,” Deb said.

“Helping women come back to their values and what they want from life.”

Deb’s first program will start in March, and she hopes to build on this initial program to provide a range of support for women and mums in the coming year.

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Thousands of sacked workers should be reinstated and compensated for loss of income, according to Federal Member for Dawson, George Christensen, who launched a petition on the issue this week.

Mr Christensen said real world data now proved mass sackings of unvaccinated workers were not justified.

“These workers lost their livelihoods for no justifiable reason and they should be immediately reinstated and compensated for lost income at the minimum,” he said.

“The rapid spread of Omicron through workplaces and the community cannot be blamed on the unvaccinated because the unvaccinated have been excluded from the workplace and excluded from polite society.

“We were told getting the jab would stop people getting the disease, stop them passing it on, stop them from going to hospital, and stop them from dying – but none of that was true.”

Mr Christensen added that he believed the State Government acted out of fear or a desire to coerce and control.

“They sacked or terminated thousands of nurses, doctors, hospital staff, teachers, and police officers who refused to comply with what turned out to be an unjustifiable order,” he said.

“Unfortunately, private enterprise has been emboldened by a widespread acceptance of tyranny and enacted their own punishing policies.”

Mr Christensen urged who he described as “freedom-loving Australians” to sign a petition at www.george.christensen.com.au/reinstate. More than 11,000 people already signed the petition over its first two days.

He said the State Premiers (and some private enterprises) had over-reached and should be held accountable for the negative impact they inflicted on innocent families.

“When you take away someone’s job, you take away their ability to pay the rent, pay a mortgage, and put food on the table,” he said.

“Some workers lost far more than a job – they lost their livelihood, their home, family, and (in the most extreme cases) their lives.

“The very, very least those Premiers and private enterprise CEOs can do is to order the immediate reinstatement of those workers and reimburse them for the loss of income incurred because of those ridiculous health orders.”

Federal Member for Dawson, George Christensen speaking with Australians at the Convoy to Canberra

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More than 1,300 Mackay children a year are set to benefit from reduced price or free kindy, thanks to a more than $1 billion investment announced by the State Government last week.

Member for Mackay and Assistant Health Minister, Julieanne Gilbert, said the kindergarten program funding overhaul was the most significant reform for the sector in more than a decade.

“We know that the first few years of a child's life here in Mackay are incredibly important and play a major role in their future,” Ms Gilbert said.

“That’s why we are increasing our annual investment in kindy from $130 million to $211 million per year, which means more than a billion dollars will go into our kindy services over the next 5 years, with ongoing funding after that.

“Here in the Mackay Region, that means 1,329 kids will get reduced price kindy, with 332 of those getting it completely free.”

Ms Gilbert said kindy participation had grown rapidly in the state.

“I’m proud that Queensland has seen kindergarten participation grow from 29 per cent in 2008 to 96 per cent today,” Ms Gilbert said.

“Every child deserves the best start at life by attending kindy and experiencing those lifelong benefits of education, play and positive wellbeing.”

Ms Gilbert said the package also includes an expansion of the Kindy Uplift program, and extra funding for children with disabilities.

“We’re thrilled that this increased funding means we can more than double the number of services covered by the successful Kindy Uplift program to 930,” Ms Gilbert said.

“Kindy Uplift funding means services can invest in personalised programs so children can reach their full potential. For example, funding could be used to provide a dedicated support worker or professional development for staff.

“We will also invest more than $19 million per year to enhance support for families with children who have a disability or are developmentally vulnerable, so they can participate in either community or long day care kindies.

“In addition, eligible remote and regional community kindergartens and kindergartens in long day care will receive a funding boost to use on things like accommodation assistance and relocation costs to ensure they can attract and retain a qualified early childhood teacher.”

Education Minister Grace Grace said the Queensland Government was proud to be investing in Queenslanders’ early years.

“We’re investing in our youngest Queenslanders, we’re investing in our families, and we’re investing in the Mackay Region’s future,” Ms Grace said.

Over 5 years, the package includes:

● Free kindy access for 14,000 children a year

● Reduced fees for a further 26,000 children a year

● $33 million to expand Kindy Uplift from 400 to 930 services

● $38.5 million to help remote and regional services attract and retain early childhood teachers

● $95 million in support for families with children who have a disability

There are 12 services in the electorate of Mackay that are currently part of the Kindy Uplift program. An additional 16 services will be invited to join the program as part of this announcement.

For more information visit: www.qld.gov.au/KindyFunding

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A man has died following a single vehicle crash in Kuttabul, north west of Mackay earlier this week on Tuesday afternoon.

Early police investigations indicate around 4:40pm the car was headed west on Kuttabul Mount Jukes Road when it collided with a tree.

The driver and sole occupant of the sedan, a 22-year-old was transported to Mackay Base Hospital. Due to the patient’s unstable condition, a decision was made to transport the critically ill driver to Mackay Base Hospital by ambulance.

RACQ CQ Rescue reported that the sole occupant had to be cut from the wreckage by firefighters.

Sadly, the 22-year-old passed away in hospital.

The Forensic Crash Unit is investigating.

RACQ CQ Rescue attended an accident scene near Kuttabul on Tuesday where a vehicle left the road and collided with a tree. Photos Supplied: RACQ CQ Rescue

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A 14-year-old boy, Mark Angelo Ligmayo, was fatally stung by a box jellyfish at Mackay’s Eimeo Beach on Sunday, 27 February.

He had been standing in waist high water for roughly 10 minutes before walking from the water and crying out for help.

Eimeo Surf Life Savers rushed to Mark to attempt to assist before paramedics arrived.

Paramedics arrived at the scene and spent over 40 minutes attempting to resuscitate the teenager after he stumbled from the water with his legs entwined by what was estimated to be two meters of jellyfish tentacles.

He was then taken to Mackay Base Hospital where he died at 3:22pm.

The Box jellyfish is the most venomous marine animal in the world, with tentacles of up to three metres in length covered in poison-filled darts, called nematocysts, which cause severe pain and leave whip-like marks behind.

The stings can cause paralysis, cardiac arrest, and death within minutes of being stung.

Surf lifesavers had reportedly dragged the beach’s water for jellyfish only 15 minutes beforehand.

Mark, his mother, and sister had only recently moved to Australia from the Philippines to join his father, Nick Guinumtad who has lived in Mackay for several years, but the move had been delayed by the pandemic.

Mark was meant to start at Mackay State High School this month. Dawson Federal MP George Christensen said Mark’s parents wish to take his body back to the Philippines and had already contacted the Philippines Embassy on their behalf.

It is the second fatality from a box jellyfish sting in Queensland in the past 16 years, with the previous the death of a 17-year-old boy stung at Patterson Point in February last year.

Fourteen-Year-Old Dies After Box Jellyfish Sting At Eimeo Beach

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Marian State School has been busy beautifying their town thanks to a Mackay Regional Council’s Activate My Place (AMP!) Program grant.

The school was awarded $10,490 from the 2021 round to establish public art that has potential to be an economic driver for tourism while adding to the region’s growing list of murals. The school engaged artist Joel Fergie.

Additionally, the 2022 round of funding of AMP! is now open with $30,000 currently available for placemakers, artists, musicians, businesspeople and community members to submit their creative ideas to activate public spaces across our region.

AMP! aims to empower communities to create places where people feel connected, resulting in more engaged communities, thriving local economies, and an enhanced quality of life.

Council is keen to work with communities to identify projects that will activate the local pockets of our region for the benefit, pleasure and wellbeing of our communities and visitors.

Applications are open from January 25 until April 8, 2022.

To find out more information about the AMP! placemaking grant program please contact council’s Economic Development program via email business@mackay.qld.gov.au or phone (07) 4961 9587.

Mayor Greg Williamson and showcase mural project manager and local resident Laura Hamilton with students from Marian State School. Images supplied: Mackay Regional Council

Marian State School students in front of Marian’s newest town mural

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I breathed a hefty sigh of relief last Sunday, as flight VA617 pulled itself up through rumbling clouds to break through to the first clear sky I’d seen in days. I looked out of the window at a sodden Brisbane CBD, usually twinkling with the vibrancy of cars in a form of organised chaos, now slowly submerging suburb by suburb under brown muddy water.

The only way I can describe the rain was incessant and relentless, for days it peltered down, never letting up, much like being in a cyclone but with much less wind. A 5-second dash from your car into shelter still soaked you to the bone. Streets quickly became like rivers, making it near impossible to distinguish shallow from deep. I only lost a few hours due to a delayed flight, while others just a few hours further south, from Gympie to northern New South Wales, have lost everything.

Queenslanders are resilient. Brisbane will rebuild, communities will rally and neighbours will look out for one another. But that doesn’t bring back the priceless possessions or loss of life that many families have had to endure. A new house can be built, but it won’t have the marks on the doorframe from children growing up. New clothes can be bought, but a worn wedding dress can’t be replaced. Books can be borrowed from a library, but the stamp collection album handed down by your grandmother will never be seen again.

I’ve taken this opportunity to look at the things I have that can’t be replaced. An old weather station where the man with the umbrella comes out when it’s going to rain, that was my grandmother’s and I ‘checked the weather’ every time I visited her. A painting of Milford Sound, the place I think is one of the prettiest on Earth, painted by my mother and gifted to me for my 21st. My husband’s military medals and a painting of him from the Somme in France when he returned the ‘Unknown Warrior’ back to the Tomb of Remembrance in Wellington.

During a crisis, I might not remember these things, so I’ve written a list to go with my emergency kit, so if I have the opportunity, I can take those things that, in my eyes, are priceless. And a reminder to check your insurance policy to make sure you’re covered for Mother Nature’s fury, whatever form that happens to take.

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Shades of teal scattered Alfred Street last week as many gathered to celebrate the opening of the Trudy Crowley Ovarian Cancer Support Centre.

The Support Centre was the dream of beloved Mackay woman Trudy Crowley, who lost her three-year battle with ovarian cancer in 2018.

“The Trudy Crowley Cancer Support Centre offers unique support services for cancer patients and their families,” said councillor and Trudy Crowley Foundation board member Pauline Townsend, speaking at the event.

“We currently have around 20 patients in our support group who would meet at local venues for coffee and a chat.

“Now they have their very own venue right here at our centre to enjoy.

“This is a proud day for us, we’ve achieved Trudy’s vision.”

As well as providing a space for patients to meet and share their experiences, the centre offers a hub for all cancer sufferers and their families to access education, moral support, counselling, a palliative care nurse, and even a wig room.

The blue ribbon was officially cut by Mackay Regional Council Deputy Mayor Karen May and Daly Bay CEO Steve Rae.

“Wanting to do good in our community and help people is something that’s really been at the forefront of what the Trudy Crowley Foundation is all about and what Trudy was all about,” said the Deputy Mayor before doing the honours.

“So today is really a realisation of Trudy’s dream.”

After being diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer in 2016, Trudy Crowley found it difficult to source relevant information and support for herself and her family.

The Trudy Crowley Foundation was established in 2018 to provide a source of information, support services, and resources to those directly and indirectly impacted by ovarian cancer.

The Trudy Crowley Ovarian Cancer Support Centre officially opened last week, with many attendees wearing teal

Mackay Regional Council Deputy Mayor Karen May and Daly Bay CEO Steve Rae cutting the ribbon

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Confidence in cruising has never been stronger, with the industry reporting booking demand at pre-pandemic levels. Travel Associates North Queensland General Manager Liam Giudes said as restrictions across the globe ease, COVID-19 is becoming like any other travel consideration.

“Every week we are seeing more restrictions easing globally, giving consumers rising confidence that Covid is just another background consideration, like security or insurance,” Mr Guides said.

It’s a glimmer of hope for the travel industry, who undoubtedly were hit hardest during the pandemic. It means people can plan to travel again, and for those who love cruising, there are cruises you can book now. Travel Associates are a locally Queensland-owned agency who can navigate the changing landscape of restrictions, and have a plethora of cruise and rail journeys available to book now. So much so, they have brought together 19 suppliers for a much-anticipated travel expo, coming to Mackay on Tuesday.

Cruising Is Back!

As the world navigates a new normal, the cruise industry has experienced a remarkable turn-around, with a rising demand from travellers already creating strong bookings throughout 2023 and 2024.

Travel Associates North Queensland Owner Liam Giudes said the way in which we cruise has changed, with a surge in the popularity of smaller, luxury cruises.

“People who cruise love it and are excited to see it return,” Mr Giudes said.

“The industry has invested millions into COVID safety procedures, with many ships now housing COVID-19 testing labs.

“There are cruises already departing American hubs like Miami and Fort Lauderdale, and popular European destinations include the south of France and the Nordic countries.

“There is a resurgence in small-ship cruising where there is almost the same number of staff as passengers, where people have plentiful space and COVID procedures are in place.

“In my opinion, I believe this type of cruising is the safest way to travel overseas at the moment.”

Mr Giudes said that there is availability on cruises for 2022 for those who want to travel now, with 2023 already quickly selling as more COVID restrictions are gradually eased around the World.

“There is a big show of confidence in the industry, we have 19 suppliers coming to the Expo in Mackay, all with products to sell,” he said.

“For those still uneasy about international borders, we have a lot of incredible travel options for within Australia on show too.

“We have already had more than 90 people register for the expo which shows the desire to travel again.”

Travel Associates Mackay Manager Alicia Keese said that while the pandemic was brutal on the travel industry, they have started to experience a swing where more people are heading to a travel agent to book their post-pandemic journey.

“There are many things to navigate travelling in a COVID world, especially with regard to testing and vaccination requirements for every country, but it’s just another consideration of travel that we can assist with,” Ms Keese said.

“We have noticed more people coming in to book through us who previously would book their travel online.

“It’s great having more options on offer, whether it’s a city escape, a snow holiday, a river cruise or a relaxing tropical vacation.”

Whether it's a multigenerational family trip to the Pacific Islands, a luxury European River Cruise, or a journey through the centre of Australia on the Ghan, the team of experienced travel advisers are ready to discuss your 2023-2024 travel plans.

With the world beginning to open, what better time than now to let Travel Associates show you why your next holiday should be on the water or the tracks.

“People who cruise love it and are excited to see it return,”

- Liam Guides

“For those still uneasy about international borders, we have a lot of incredible travel options for within Australia on show too.”

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The Proserpine Guardian 31 October 31 1947 - “The sale is reported of Mrs FG McGrath’s bus service to Mr Stanley Slater who recently arrived from the Nambour district. Mr Slater stated that it was his intention to place a modern bus on the Cannon Valley service as soon as possible. He assured potential customers that he intended covering the same territory as Mrs McGrath; namely, Proserpine to Sugar Loaf to Cannon Vale Beach to Jubilee Pocket.

This is how one past local described his first trip in this bus: “The bus had no doors and seating consisted of wooden benches bolted crosswise to the tray body which was roofed but open. There were rolls of canvas at the sides in case of rain. The driver was dressed in regulation bus driver's uniform of khaki shirt and shorts and bare feet. Five miles from Proserpine, the one lane tarmac ribbon abruptly finished and we were on red gravel, swerving to avoid the ruts and pot holes. There were a number of stops where wheel tracks disappeared into the trees and there would be a wooden box or a rusty kerosene tin on a post for parcels. Another twelve miles and we passed a few scattered houses which was Cannon Valley. Half a mile on we stopped at a stone jetty which was embarkation point for the island resorts.” (John Harper)

In 1951, Bob Filby purchased this run, eventually having a fleet of five buses. Wet weather made for interesting times; like the day when 36 locals and tourists had a miraculous escape when the bus slipped off the flooded causeway at Myrtle Creek and landed upright with only about two feet of the bus above water. Luckily, the passengers, mostly young, were able to scramble out through the doors and windows. The weaker swimmers had to cling to the bus to avoid being swept away. The passengers were helped to the safety of the causeway and the sodden luggage was retrieved from the trailer. Good swimmers volunteered to dive down and gather personal items left behind.

The community of Proserpine rallied. Wet, shivering passengers were transported to town. Clothes were washed and hung on hotel verandahs and in the RSL Hall. At the hospital laundry, Matron McGrath and Red Cross members washed, dried and ironed clothes. Several bags of soggy mail were delivered to the post office.

Still today, when creeks are rising, school buses have to take children home early. On one past occasion, all of the buses had been dispatched and the principal was heaving a sigh of relief when he looked down the road and saw all the children out of the Cannonvale bus and pushing it because it wouldn’t start!

Bob Filby sold to Mr George Sampson who spent some 20 years in the district. Mr Sampson’s long line of fans included hitch-hikers who would be picked up then chastised for partaking in such a dangerous activity; pre-schoolers who were carried free of charge and the elderly who were taken on many trips.  Mr Sampson liked to keep up with the times adding modern buses to his fleet, such as in 1993, the MAN 61-seater with air conditioning, PA system and video. Such luxury!

Fast forward and today this bus run is now known as Whitsunday Transit.

Story and photo courtesy Proserpine Historical Museum

The 1956 Filby's bus incident at Myrtle Creek

McGrath's bus

Slater's Bus

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Collinsville residents watched as the brand-new 34-wheeler travelling respiratory clinic drove through town last month, opening its doors to local retired mine workers to receive testing for mine dust lung disease.

The condition was thought to be eliminated many years ago, but Collinsville resident Steve Malone said it was flagged once again when Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) District President Stephen Smyth went to a conference in America which offered proof that the disease was still prevalent.

This information led to a Queensland State Government enquiry and after repeat recommendations it became mandatory for mine workers to get x-rays and lung function testing checks every five years.

“This is great news for the younger people, but it means a lot of the retired people, or those that left the mines, have slipped through the system,” said Mr Malone.

It is estimated that 25,000 people may have been missed being assessed for the disease during the gap between testings.

Thanks to the Queensland CFMEU Resource Safety and Health Queensland, I-Med Radiology, and Philips the new purpose-built ‘dust bus’, which features an x-ray and a CT machine, was able to test 74 Bowen residents between Monday, February 14 and Thursday February 17.

The project is operated by Heart Of Australia, a company that take advanced medical equipment to patients in regional areas.

They operate four different trucks and are expected to come to Proserpine soon and also visit Collinsville again within the year.

Mr Malone was a miner for 33 years and says he is happy to chat to anyone who would like assistance with accessing the service.

“I often catch-up with blokes, help them with their application and check if they are eligible,” he said.

“Give me a call and I’ll help if I can.”

To be eligible you need to be permanently retired from the industry and to have not been screened for at least five years.

Steve Malone’s number is 0429 094 857.

The 56 tonne, 26 metre ‘Dust Bus’

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The extreme rain event which plagued the region earlier this month caused many concerned locals to vent their concerns, once again, about Hamilton Plain’s susceptibility to flooding.

Councillor for division 3, John Collins, raised the issue at last week’s ordinary council meeting, asking for an update on what Transport and Main Roads (TMR) will be doing to solve the problem.

Director of Infrastructure Services, Adam Hagy, said that TMR are aware of the ongoing issue and are bringing forward their plans to address it as soon as possible.

“There has been enough pressure from the community to bring the works forward to the first quarter of next year,” he said.

“The aim is to reduce the time of submergence to a maximum of one hour during a rainfall event.”

Mayor Andrew Willcox added that the federal government has $30 million allocated for the job.

“It will be fantastic to see that happening,” he said.

“We are not talking about flood immunity, however, as it is a flood plain – we are talking about flood mitigation.”

With the largest population area regularly at the mercy of the wet weather and running the risk of being cut-off from the hospital and airport during extreme rain events, this work could not come soon enough.

It was decided at the meeting that the Chief Executive Officer of Whitsunday Regional Council, Rod Ferguson, would write a letter to TMR to get an update about the project.

Flood camera footage showing the flooding at Hamilton Plains

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Locals are invited to participate in the annual Clean-up Australia Day this Sunday as many community groups and businesses offer a variety of ways we can all get involved in collecting rubbish from parks, roadsides, beaches and even the ocean.

One local business which is at the forefront of the event this year has decided to unite its clean-up activities with an educational experience planting more coral fragments on endangered areas of the reef.

Aqua5’s dive instructor, Ben Corbishley, has been working with Nathan Cook from Reef Ecologic for some time and together they decided to leverage the day to offer a cost-price tour that incorporates a beach, sea and dive clean-up with the opportunity to re-plant coral.

“It’s good to get to tie the two initiatives together,” said Aqua5 owner Paul Battaglia.

“We want to get the local community involved a bit more and thought this would be a great way to do it.”

The tour will head out to the Whitsunday Islands and all passengers can help collect litter from several locations on the day.

They will then be guided by Reef Ecologic marine biologists on how to plant live coral on discs and tag them so they can be monitored monthly.

Guests can then snorkel above the coral gardens.

A nominal fee of $90 is charged for the trip with snorkel gear and stinger suit provided. Food and drinks are to be brought onboard by guests who can use the esky supplied.

Clean Up Australia Day is held every year on the first Sunday in March.

The event was founded in 1990 when one man, who was so shocked about the pollution and rubbish he saw, decided to get a group of friends together for a clean-up day.

Now in its 32nd year, the event has become part of Australian culture with over 19 million people participating so far.

The Aqua5 vessel visits endangered areas of the reef

Coral fragments are replanted

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The $3 billion Urannah Dam project is inching closer to fruition thanks to a bilateral agreement between the state and federal government this week.

Stakeholders are excited to see the final designs set with the completion of the Environmental Impact Study underway and early stage works due to commence within the next two years.

Forecast to be the biggest economic development in our region in the next decade, the dam will hold 1.5 megalitres of water, create an irrigated agricultural area of up to 25,000 hectares and feature an extensive pipeline which will connect to Moranbah.

The broader project will encompass the Bowen Renewable Energy Hub which is expected to relieve energy consumption throughout the Whitsundays.

The Bowen Collinsville Enterprise non-profit organisation have been the driving force behind the project for the past six years, working with limited resources and lobbying to receive funding where possible.

LNP Candidate for Dawson Andrew Willcox has been supporting project for many years and welcomes this weeks’ announcement.

“I have been backing the plan to build the Urannah Dam for a number of years and I want to pay tribute to the vision and determination of the team at Bowen Collinsville Enterprise group for setting us on a path to transform our region,” he said.

“The construction of Urannah Dam will open up hectares of agricultural land for high value produce like avocadoes, mangoes and macadamias to further grow our reputation as a prime horticultural producer.

“It will also create about 1800 jobs which will be a massive shot in the arm for small communities across our region like Bowen and Collinsville.

“Urannah will be able to provide a reliable water supply to our mining towns and support close to 100 other projects spreading benefits even further.

Chairman of the Bowen Collinsville Enterprise group, Paul McLaughlin, says that this project stands to transform Collinsville in the same way as the Fairbairn Dam helped grow the town of Emerald many years ago.

“This is the biggest economic development this region will see in a decade,” he said.

“It will be fantastic for everyone involved.”

An artist’s impression of the Urannah Dam

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The seascape of our marine rescue organisations across the state are about to go through a significant change when Volunteer Marine Rescue (VMR) amalgamates with Queensland Coast Guard.

It is anticipated that the merge will enable both services to leverage from each other and receive better overall government funding.

Mal Priday from VMR Whitsunday said that, in his mind it couldn’t happen sooner.

“Bring it on! – The sooner the better!” he said.

“The move means we will receive more realistic funding now – we won’t need to spend so much time on our knees begging for funding.”

Currently, in order to keep VMR Whitsunday operating, volunteers need to raise an astounding $130,000 per year to bank as a contingency fund so they can replace a vessel after it’s served its best years, usually after roughly 10 years.

Four years ago, VMR Whitsunday spent over $1 million on their latest boat and only $160,000 was funded by the state government, the remaining was raised through the kindness of local sponsors and the community.

The amalgamation will instantly give VMR across the state access to a bigger pool of funding.

Concerns have been raised, however, that the merge would mean that all VMR resources, including boats, buildings and cash would become property of the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) based in Canberra.

Having been part of the Blue Water Review fleet working group for some time, Mr Priday is well-informed about the plans and says all assets will remain in the community it serves.

“It would be morally wrong for it to be taken away by our community,” said Mr Priday.

“All assets will not be taken by the QFES.”

There are 26 VMR squadrons in QLD, locally these include Mackay, Midge Point, Whitsundays, Bowen, and Burdekin.

This is compared to 17 Coast Guard Squadrons with the nearest in Townsville or just south of Mackay.

At the moment the Coast Guard is declining to participate in the amalgamation, but Mr Priday believes a merge is inevitable due to the fact that both New South Wales and West Australia are already operating as one enterprise.

Mr Priday hopes this will happen soon so that our local VMR can receive more state funding and focus on the important job of keeping our local waterways safe.

The VMR Whitsunday rescue vessel sponsored by Coral Sea Marina

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