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

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

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

“He’s a hero,” she said.

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

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

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

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

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

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

“I love being a part of it.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Last year’s expo in Mackay

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Donations close 30 April, 2022.

For further details contact Secretary Queensland Country Press Association:

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

President QCPA: Carl Portella

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The Share the Dignity vending machine has already been a huge success at Sarina State High School which has had one since 2020

Three schools in the Mackay region will be among more than 100 in Queensland to receive a Dignity Vending Machine, which provides access to free sanitary products at school.

Education Minister Grace Grace said the State Government was providing 120 state and non-state schools across Queensland with a Dignity Vending Machine.

“Access to sanitary products and misplaced stigma around periods should never be barriers to learning,” Ms Grace said.

“We want all students to be confident to attend school every day. Giving students access to free sanitary products can make a real difference, especially for students whose families are doing it tough, have unstable accommodation or are fleeing domestic and family violence.

“This initiative supports Share the Dignity’s aim to distribute period products to women, girls, and anyone who menstruates who needs support.”

The three local schools to receive the vending machine include Mackay State High School, Bowen State High School and Pioneer State High School.

Member for Mackay and Assistant Health Minister Julieanne Gilbert said the partnership with Share the Dignity wasn’t just about access to free sanitary products.

“The partnership also means that all Queensland schools have access to the Period Talk education program, which is designed to educate students in Year 5 to Year 8 about menstruation and the impact of periods,” Ms Gilbert said.

“These three school communities in Mackay and Bowen have shown their support for students and families with this initiative and the Queensland Government is delighted to be a part of this great program.”

Mackay State High School Principal Felicity Roberts said she was delighted her school was one of the three.

“Mackay State High School’s long tradition of success is built on a curriculum model focused on a diversity of student needs alongside a supportive school community,” Ms Roberts said.

“This initiative will further support our students, particularly those who may be vulnerable or experiencing hardship.

“All students should be able to attend school and focus on their goals without having to worry about lack of access to sanitary products."

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More than 50 nurses have celebrated 12 months on the job with the completion of the Mackay HHS 2021 Nursing and Midwifery Graduate Program.

Throughout their first year, graduate nurses and midwives experienced two clinically supervised six-month rotations across any of the 25 clinical areas within the health service.

Nurse educator Julie Phillipson said graduates have adapted well to their new nursing careers.

“The first year of nursing is often the most challenging as you are consolidating all the knowledge and clinical skills acquired over the past three years of study and applying them to real scenarios,” she said.

“I’m so proud of the graduates for becoming competent and confident nurses who are now caring for people every day at our hospitals and health facilities.”

Registered nurse and midwife Hannah Guijt was among the graduates accepting their program certificate.

“My rotations were with the Surgical and Woman’s Health Units where I gained a solid foundation of experience through the diverse mix of patients,” she said.

“It was certainly an intense learning period but the support and guidance I received have increased my skills as a nurse and allowed me to pursue my dream of becoming a midwife.

“I’m now part of the Mackay HHS Midwifery Group Practice team caring for women and families on their journey to parenthood.”

Hannah shared some advice for this year’s incoming graduate nurse cohort or people currently studying.

“Love your patients, trust your learnings but don’t be afraid to ask questions and take advantage of any post graduate study.”

The Mackay Hospital and Health Service (MHHS) nursing and midwifery post graduate program (graduate program) is twelve months in duration consisting of, potentially an offer of two (6 month) clinical rotations or a single 12-month contract across Mackay Base Hospital and the seven rural hospitals.

Applications for the 2023 Mackay HHS Graduate Nurse Program open on 25 July 2022.

Registered nurse and midwife Hannah Guijt was among the graduates

Some of the graduates from the Mackay HHS 2021 Nursing and Midwifery Graduate Program. Images: MHHS

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On Friday Evening last week, VMR 448 Mackay received a call from a solo yachtie at Curlew Island, 50 miles Southeast of Mackay, who was having engine issues and due to wind direction unable to sail from his anchorage.

VMR’s Peter T (Skipper), Craig, Ian B, and Lachlan left Mackay in Mastermyne Rescue 5 at 12pm for the 2.5hr trip to assist.

The vessel owner, a VMR member, was an experienced mariner and the vessel was quickly put under tow, but with an average speed of only 6 knots.

Water was noticed coming into the towed vessel, and Craig volunteered to go aboard to help locate the issue.

Using a few bolts to fill holes, the water egress was stopped, as well as the engine issue which had caused the boat to fail.

With the approaching storms, the owner decided to continue the tow to safety rather than risk the waters himself.

With only an hour of tow remaining, both Hay Point and Mackay Harbour lost power and all shore-lights went dark, and the crew's night vision was obscured by the frequent lightning.

Although heavy rain, winds and lighting continued, the power came back to the Mackay Harbour just as the team entered the swing basin.

With the engine now running, the towed yacht was untied, and Craig and the owner motored into the Mackay Marina and berthed safely.

The VMR crew had Mastermyne Rescue 5 re-fuelled and tied up by 11pm, with everyone safe, and thanked the vessel owner for being prepared and staying calm during the entire activation.

The stormy conditions on Friday evening put one vessel in trouble

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Today is World Sleep Day and I’m asking; did you get enough last night?

Maybe you had a few too many green drinks yesterday down at Harrup Park for St Patrick’s Day or maybe you did a little too much exercise leading into this weekend. Thing is, did you get enough sleep?

Today is a great day to make light of the fact that so many of us don’t get enough sleep and it’s not good for our health. No good at all.

We need on average at least 8 hours of sleep a day to be normal. Doing normal things during the day requires a good amount of sleep to function properly, but do you get it?

I was speaking to my workmate the other day and he told me he regularly goes to bed after midnight and gets up when the kids wake him at 6. Is that enough? I doubt it.

I go to bed after 8 each night depending on what’s happening and always get up with the 4am alarm. Is that enough? Of course not. But can I change the habit? Probably not, but I get things done.

How about this, and I’m just throwing it out there for all to read, let’s have a lunchtime tip. You know what they do in Europe? They sleep at lunchtime. Shop doors close and people have a well-deserved sleep and then they’re recharged to go again for the afternoon and night. What do you think? Good idea?

I am putting the call out to our community leaders today. Mayor Greg Williamson, Zoe from Meals on Wheels, Sarah at Canelands, Terry who drives the street sweeper on Gordon St at 3am each day.

How about we start a revolution and have a lunchtime nap each day.

Who’s with me?

If you’re reading this, put the paper down and sleep. Do it. If anyone asks what you’re doing, tell them Rob Kidd told me to and it was alright. If anyone has any questions, get them to call me o1300 891 929 and I’ll tell them.

Anyway, I’m off to have my nap now, but it’s only 11am. Oh well, I got an early mark!

You can join Rob Kidd from 5am weekday mornings on 4MK 1026 AM in Mackay and Proserpine, 91.5FM in Airlie Beach or just ask your smart speaker to play 4MK!

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The last time Mackay Regional Council’s Community Development Strategy was updated, it was 2017, and the region was just recovering from an economic downturn. Now, we’re dealing with a global pandemic.

Few things have had an impact on regional communities as much as COVID-19 has, however, our communities are resilient and adaptable, and always rise to the challenges presented.

Mackay Regional Council is working on updating its strategy to ensure resources are appropriately invested to support our communities from 2022 to 2027.

Mayor Greg Williamson said council had a Community Lifestyle team that worked constantly to nurture, facilitate and champion the many communities of our region.

“Like any team, they work with a set of clear strategic goals – and those strategic goals are very much dictated by the needs of the community,” Mayor Williamson said. “And, obviously, community needs change over time,” he said.  

“Now is a good time to do a health check and find out what our communities’ priorities are today and into the foreseeable future.

“We will be rolling out a survey to gauge residents’ feelings around areas of accessibility, volunteering, sports and recreation, culture and arts, disaster resilience and community safety as well as a number of other areas.”

Mayor Williamson said the goal of the survey was to shape a strategy that would strengthen and connect our communities while reducing inequality and disadvantage.

“So, if you are an active community member with constructive feedback that will benefit our community, and the region as a whole, we want to hear from you,” he said.

“This is your chance to tell us what you love about living here and also what needs to change to make our community better.”

You can give your feedback at connectingmackay.com.au/community-development-strategy until Sunday, April 3, at 11.59pm.  Anyone who completes the survey will go into the draw for a $100 Caneland Central gift card.

Should you need any assistance taking the survey, head to a Mackay Regional Council Library branch and ask a staff member for assistance.

The Community Lifestyle team’s work covers a huge range of areas, including subsidised health and fitness programs (pictured).  This is your chance to let the team know if their work is hitting the mark. Supplied: Mackay Regional Council

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Mackay's University of the Third Age (U3A), part of a world-wide movement that began in France in 1973, is dusting off the books to restart its activities in the coming months.

The senior aged university has been a long time favourite of Mackay retirees and is now returning after a break during the heights of COVID.

Aimed primarily at retirees who are “around the time of life when full-time work and raising families are over,” The University takes these freedom and energy filled seniors through classes and workshops which allow them to follow their own interests and needs.

It can be a resumption of activities which had fallen by the wayside in life, or something they may have always fancied trying - an academic study, an artistic pursuit, a physical exercise or a game – but didn’t have the time.

Membership Director of the University of the Third Age, Elizabeth Springall, said the group will be holding an information and sign-on day today (Friday 18 March) from 10:00am to 2:00pm.

“The University is aimed at learning for life; you never stop learning, you never stop developing new skills,” Ms Springall said.

The event is called “Give it a Go Day” and will be very low-key with prospective members able to speak with the committee about the varied classes offered by the University.

Classes are accessible across a variety of disciplines, from Tai Chi to Pickle Ball, the arts to collecting, opera appreciation to creative writing or even as varied as Mahjong.

They are also always looking for tutors to take on new classes, with one such this year being line dancing.

Membership is $10 dollars a year, which covers insurance, and there are also some fees depending on the group, like Tai Chi which hosts a small fee of $10 dollars a class.

There is also a $5 dollar administration fee when initially signing up.

Ms Springall, a teacher before retiring, said the benefits of belonging to the international organisation are fantastic.

“The social benefits for one, as well as learning, both of which are associated with mental health, and there is the physical aspect too with many of the activities,” she said.

The “Give it a Go Day” will be held at the Senior Citizens Hall in 58 McAlister Street from 10:00am to 2:00pm today, March 18.

The Bocce group from University of the Third Age

The University’s dine out group

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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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