Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
Serves: 4 Prep: 15 minutes Cook: 10 minutes Ingredients 500g raw prawns, peeled and deveined 1 tbsp olive oil 1 tsp smoked paprika ½ tsp chilli flakes 1 garlic clove, crushed Juice of 1 lime 1 ripe mango, diced ½ small red onion, finely sliced Handful fresh coriander, chopped 8 small tortillas ½ cup Greek yoghurt 1 avocado, sliced Extra lime wedges, to serve Method Combine the prawns with olive oil, paprika, chilli, garlic and half the lime juice. Set aside for five minutes. Toss the mango, red onion, coriander and remaining lime juice together to make a fresh salsa. Heat a frying pan over high heat and cook the prawns for 2–3 minutes on each side, or until cooked through. Warm the tortillas, then fill with avocado, prawns and plenty of mango salsa. Finish with a dollop of Greek yoghurt and an extra squeeze of lime. TASTE TIP: Add finely sliced jalapeño to the mango salsa for an extra kick, or swap the prawns for grilled chicken if seafood isn't your thing.
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Looking for something a little more fun than the usual Monday night at home? Hotel Mackay is bringing plenty of laughs, good food and friendly competition to the start of the week with its regular Monday night trivia. While the trivia might be competitive, there is no need to take it too seriously. It is all about enjoying some wholesome fun with friends, family or colleagues, with a chicken parmy and schooner deal available for $30 to round out the evening. Located in Mackay’s City Heart, Hotel Mackay is a locally owned and lovingly restored historical hotel, now offering a bar and restaurant where locals can settle in for a meal, a drink or a night of entertainment. Trivia is just one of the regular offerings on the calendar, with meat raffles, live music, karaoke and regular food and drink specials also bringing plenty of life to the venue. Open from 10am daily, Hotel Mackay offers a relaxed place to catch up, enjoy a meal and make the most of a night out in the heart of the city. For bookings, call Hotel Mackay on 07 4863 0564! Photo source: Hotel Mackay
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Two Mackay CBD businesses are joining forces this Melbourne Cup Day to create a spring celebration unlike anything Mackay has seen before. Hotel Mackay and A Willow In Bloom, the boutique florist located in Wood Street, are collaborating to transform the historic hotel into a bright and colourful spring garden party for the race that stops the nation. Guests can expect the venue to come alive with spectacular floral installations and vibrant spring styling by A Willow In Bloom, creating an elevated Melbourne Cup atmosphere from the moment they walk through the doors. The experience will include a complimentary charcuterie platter on arrival, a glass of sparkling wine and roaming food throughout the day, along with plenty of entertainment. Of course, Melbourne Cup Day wouldn’t be complete without the racing. Hotel Mackay’s TAB facilities will be operating throughout the event, giving guests the chance to follow all the action live. There will also be Melbourne Cup trivia, Fashions on the Field, prizes and plenty of surprises throughout the day. Combining A Willow In Bloom’s spectacular florals with the atmosphere of one of Mackay’s historic pubs, the collaboration is set to bring something fresh and exciting to the city’s Melbourne Cup celebrations. Melbourne Cup Day at Hotel Mackay is shaping up to be the place to be. Tickets will be released soon, with full event details and booking information to be announced. Keep an eye on Hotel Mackay and A Willow In Bloom’s social media pages for the ticket release and further details! Photo supplied by Hotel Mackay
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Every Thursday Walk, Talk & Coffee 9am Enjoy a relaxed morning of walking, fresh air and good company at this free community walk through the Pioneer Valley. The group follows the Pioneer Valley Rail Trail from Gargett to Gargett Gap and back, providing a great opportunity to get active, meet locals and enjoy a chat along the way. Coffee at Gargett Store afterwards makes for the perfect finish. Everyone is welcome. Pioneer Valley Sports Association, Gargett Sunday 27th September Trash & Treasure & Fruit & Veg Market 8am–12pm Browse a great mix of fresh produce, homemade treats, plants, herbs, handmade crochet items and plenty of bric a brac at the Gargett markets. With fresh eggs, health drinks and local stallholders including Ernie the Tool Man, there’s plenty to discover. Come along for a relaxed morning, pick up a bargain and support local sellers and the community. Gargett Store Saturday 10th October Art Exhibition: Opening Night 4pm–6pm Step into the imaginative world of Threads of Metamorphosis, a unique wearable art exhibition by Leah Tranter inspired by the wild beauty of the Pioneer Valley. Celebrating transformation, creativity and the extraordinary hidden within the ordinary, the opening night offers visitors the chance to experience Leah’s imaginative works and celebrate the local landscape through art. The Old Finch Hatton Railway Station Sunday 11th October Eungella Community Markets – (every 2nd Sunday of the Month) 9am–1pm Take a scenic drive up the mountain and enjoy the friendly atmosphere of the Eungella Community Markets. Browse a variety of local stalls featuring handmade items, crystals, leather goods, wood-turned bowls, fresh produce and tasty macarons. Stop by the café for a tea or coffee, soak up the mountain air and enjoy a relaxed morning supporting local stallholders. Eungella Hub, North Street Art Exhibition: Threads of Metamorphosis 10am–2pm Explore Threads of Metamorphosis, a unique wearable art exhibition by Leah Tranter, inspired by the wild beauty of the Pioneer Valley. Celebrating transformation, creativity and the extraordinary hidden within the ordinary, the exhibition invites visitors to step into an imaginative world where art, nature and wearable creations come together. The Old Finch Hatton Railway Station Monday 12th October Finch Hatton Progress Association General Meeting 5.30pm–7pm Come along to the Finch Hatton Progress Association’s general meeting and stay up to date with current community projects, upcoming events and local initiatives. The meeting is also an opportunity for residents, local businesses and community members to share ideas, have their say and help shape the future of Finch Hatton. Everyone is welcome to attend. RSL Finch Hatton Sunday 18th October Vietnamese Cooking Class 10.30am–1.30pm Join One Hungry Mumma in Finch Hatton for a hands-on cooking experience exploring the vibrant flavours of Vietnam. Learn how to prepare traditional-style dishes using a range of fresh ingredients while picking up practical cooking tips along the way. A relaxed and enjoyable class for anyone wanting to expand their home cooking skills and discover new flavours. Tickets/bookings essential. One Hungry Mumma, Finch Hatton
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Background shots from Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis. Photo supplied: Anthony ‘Bud’ Hopes
Airlie Beach locals could soon find themselves in front of the camera, with casting now underway for background and supporting roles in an international television series set to film in the region from late October to early November.
The project is casting for North Queensland-based people of any Asian heritage, aged from three to 100.
The opportunity includes both single and multi-day roles, with most successful applicants to spend two days on set after attending a fitting the week before filming.
The production will give locals a rare opportunity to step behind the scenes, experience life on a professional television set and perhaps even spot themselves on screen when the series is released.
Behind the search is Bud Hopes Film and Television Casting, a Gold Coast-based company with more than 60 production credits to its name, that has spent more than 20 years helping everyday people step onto film and television sets.
“I sort of fell into it,” said Founder Anthony "Bud" Hopes.
“It was in the early days of the Queensland film industry when someone rang and asked if I wanted to give the job a go. I said yes, and 20 years later, I’m still here.”
The company works with talent agencies and community groups to find background performers who reflect the places, cultures and stories being brought to the screen.
“In the bigger metro cities, we have an ecosystem of agents that we use, and we combine that with delving into communities as well,” Bud said.
“When we go north to places that don’t have a whole lot of agents, we get straight into the community and put it out there through social media and the press.
“Bud Hopes Casting is passionate about bringing realness and authenticity to all the stories we tell, and we'll go to any length to nail the brief every time.”
Bud Hopes Casting has built an impressive list of credits across film and television, with its portfolio including Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis, the action thriller Land of Bad and work connected to the Godzilla vs Kong franchise, with more recent projects include Anaconda, Balls Up, The Bluff and Runner.
The Airlie Beach Foreshore is about to turn into an open air cinema once again, as balmy summer evenings open the door to movie nights under the stars.
It’s time to dig out your picnic blankets, pack a bag full of snacks, round up the kids and prepare for an evening of classic entertainment, delivered a little differently.
Friday nights during the school holidays are a great excuse to get outdoors and connect with the community, as the big cinema screen on the Foreshore showcases two family favourites.
This coming Friday 25th September, the sweetest pig in showbusiness takes centre stage in the heart-warming classic, Babe.
The following Friday 2nd October, we step back into 1989 nostalgia with Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. Prepare for plenty of laughs, family fun and cosy moments on your picnic blanket under the stars.
If you fancy a treat, ditch the bag of snacks and enjoy a selection of delicious offerings from the food trucks on site.
With classic films, delicious food and a beautiful foreshore setting, these movie nights are the perfect way to enjoy a balmy evening together.
Small Business Hero, EDGE Dance Studio Whitsunday
There are 46 nominees, seven award categories and plenty of secrets still to be revealed when the 2026 Whitsunday Business Awards take over the Proserpine Entertainment Centre.
The nominees know they are in the running. What they don’t know is what the judges have decided.
That will be revealed live, with winners announced across categories celebrating business leadership, customer service, emerging talent, community contribution, ambitious ideas and long-standing regional achievement.
Keeping the night moving will be Kaley and Scott from StarFM’s breakfast show, bringing plenty of energy and fun to the stage.
This year’s theme is From High Glam to High Vis, inviting guests to dress up, show their business pride or put their own spin on celebrating in the Whitsundays.
The night will feature grazing and networking, an alternate-drop main course and the interactive Luxe Dessert Bar, where guests can decorate their own individual cake.
Return buses will operate from Bowen, Airlie Beach and Cannonvale, while a cash bar will run throughout the evening.
The sold-out awards are presented by the Whitsundays Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Bowen Chamber of Commerce and Whitsunday Regional Council. A waitlist remains open.
2026 Whitsunday Business Awards
5pm–9:30pm, Friday 9 October 2026
Proserpine Entertainment Centre
2025 Winner of the legends of the Whitsundays hall of fame, Abbot Point Operations
The Whitsunday Business Awards shine a light on local businesses and the people behind them – but an event celebrating regional business also relies on regional businesses getting behind it.
The 2026 Awards are supported by organisations from across the Whitsundays and wider region, each helping recognise a different part of the local business community.
James Cook University is the 2026 Principal Partner, supporting the Awards’ focus on regional people, skills, innovation and opportunity.
StarFM is supporting Business of the Year, recognising businesses making a strong contribution to the Whitsunday economy and community.
Abbot Point Operations is sponsoring Business Leader of the Year. Its mission, “Grow Local”, is a natural fit for an award recognising the people leading regional businesses.
“That's why we're proud to support the Whitsunday Business Awards and celebrate the businesses, leaders and teams who help drive our region's success,” Abbot Point Operations said.
“Recognising business excellence is important to Abbot Point Operations because strong local businesses create jobs, support families and contribute to a thriving regional economy.”
TAFE Queensland is supporting Rising Star, recognising employees, apprentices and trainees building their careers and contributing to the region’s future workforce.
LiveLife Pharmacy Airlie Beach is supporting Customer Service Excellence, celebrating the businesses and people who make looking after customers part of their everyday work.
McDonald’s Restaurants Airlie Beach, Cannonvale and Bowen is backing Community Champion, recognising businesses and organisations making a difference beyond the workplace.
Bishopp Outdoor Advertising is supporting Think Big, celebrating ambitious ideas and businesses prepared to look beyond the expected.
Mackay and Whitsunday Life is the Awards’ print media partner, helping share the stories of the nominees, sponsors and winners with the wider community.
Whitsunday Transit is supporting the event’s transport, helping nominees and guests travel to and from the Awards ceremony.
Sponsorship is about more than putting a logo on an event. It provides an opportunity for businesses to actively support the people, organisations, and ideas that contribute to the region.
The Awards partners thank all sponsors and supporters for getting behind the 2026 Whitsunday Business Awards.
2025 winner, Trailblazing young entrepreneur, Sam Yanderpoel from Rolling with Netherpoel
Behind every Whitsunday business are people creating jobs, training apprentices, supporting families, sponsoring community groups and investing in the place they call home.
That’s what the Whitsunday Business Awards are designed to recognise — not simply business success, but the people and organisations making a contribution to the region.
Now in their second year, the Awards bring together businesses from across the Whitsundays through a joint initiative of the Whitsundays Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Bowen Chamber of Commerce and Whitsunday Regional Council.
This year, James Cook University (JCU) is Principal Partner, supporting an event that shares its focus on regional people, skills and opportunity.
“JCU is proud to support the Whitsunday Business Awards and recognise the businesses, leaders and innovators contributing to our region. Supporting local talent, skills and regional communities is an important part of what we do.”
For the Awards organisers, that support reflects the broader role business plays in regional communities.
A strong local economy needs skilled workers, opportunities for young people and businesses that are prepared to invest, grow and employ locally. It also relies on businesses supporting the community around them.
The 2026 nominees reflect that contribution, with categories recognising everything from customer service and emerging talent to community impact, innovation, leadership and long-standing regional contribution.
The Awards partners thank JCU and all sponsors and supporters for helping create an opportunity to stop, recognise the achievements of local business and celebrate the people behind them.
2025 Business of the Year: Bowen Old People’s Home Society (Murroona Gardens)
The Whitsundays has plenty to celebrate, with 46 nominees competing across seven categories in the 2026 Whitsunday Business Awards.
Representing tourism, trades, retail, health, manufacturing, professional services and community organisations, this year’s nominees are:
Business of the Year: Airlie Adventure Tours; Airlie Beach Transfers & Tours; Australian Agave Co.; Belle Property Whitsundays; Bowen Rail Company; Magnums Unique Accommodation; NQ Aerovation; Ocean Rafting.
Business Leader of the Year: Aaron Doherty, Coastal Brush; Emma Whybird, Edge Dance Studio Whitsunday; Hayley Moran, Airlie Health Hub; Stephanie McWhirter, Belle Property Whitsundays; Tenielle Matheson, Wildlife Whitsundays.
Rising Star: Dean Leslie, Australian Agave Co.; Giulian Grasso, Whitsunday Law; Sam Mckay, Hamilton Island Enterprises; Soumya Santosh, Tassal.
Customer Service Excellence: Airlie Beach Tourism; Airlie Beach Transfers & Tours; Airlie Health Hub; Airlie Legal; Ambitious Cakes; Bounce Airlie Beach; Bowen Tourism and Business; Bright Patch Cafe; Coastal Brush; Divine Weddings Whitsundays; Edge Dance Studio Whitsunday; Hog’s Breath Cafe Airlie Beach; Kath Barker, Compass Realty Whitsundays; Mana Skin Body & Soul; Mark Milligan, Pilcher’s Mitre 10; Rolling with Netherpoel; Team Whitsundays Body Corporate Management.
Community Champion: Bowen Community Op Shop; Bowen Flexi Care Inc.; Compass Realty Whitsundays; GRB Mining; Healthy Kids Project; Proserpine Historical Museum Society; Whitsunday Community Services; Whitsunday Counselling & Support; Whitsunday Self Defense Academy; Wildlife Whitsundays; Zero Waste Solutions.
Think Big: Bowen Community Council; GRB Mining; Hidden Valley Whitsundays; Scallywag Fabrication; Tassal.
Hall of Fame: Bowen Tourism and Business; Chloe Bauer; Elizabeth Hackett; Jennifer Rush; Lowcock Builders; Pilcher’s Mitre 10; Rabia Morris; Wayne Singleton; Whitsunday Neighbourhood Centre.
Winners will be revealed on Friday 9 October at the Proserpine Entertainment Centre.
What began with a love of creating beautiful experiences has grown into seven years of helping locals celebrate, connect and spend time together, without taking on all the work that comes with putting an event together.
The Best Intentions Tent Co, founded and owned by Candace Reed, has evolved from a small glamping business into a luxury glamping and event-hire operation, providing styled bell tents and Cinema Luxe packages for everything from weddings and festivals to children’s parties, corporate events and backyard movie nights.
“I think what makes The Best Intentions Tent Co special is that we don’t simply hire out a tent – we create an experience,” Candace said.
The business provides tents, beds, hotel-quality linen, lighting and styling, with customers able to have equipment delivered, set up and packed down for them.
“We take a blank outdoor space and transform it into somewhere people genuinely want to spend time,” Candace said.
“Our customers don’t have to worry about transporting equipment, setting up beds, styling tents or packing everything away afterwards. They can simply turn up and just enjoy themselves.”
As a locally owned business, Candace remains hands-on throughout the process, from the initial enquiry and planning through to styling, set-up and pack-down.
“Being a small business means customers generally deal directly with me, which is something I really value,” she said.
“I get to know the event, understand what the customer is looking for and then help bring the idea to life.”
A highlight of the business’ offerings is its Cinema Luxe package, which brings outdoor movie nights to backyards, schools and community events, complete with a screen, projector, sound system and comfortable seating.
“Glamping isn’t just for festivals and weddings!” Candace said.
The company caters to children’s sleepovers, girls’ weekends, hens’ parties, bridal parties and milestone celebrations, with flexibility to develop events around a customer’s vision, colour palette and budget.
Candace says the most rewarding part is seeing an empty space transformed and then watching people use it.
“But the best part is probably the feedback afterwards,” she added.
“Hearing that someone’s wedding guests loved their glamping village, that a child thought their sleepover was the best birthday ever, or that a group of friends stayed up late talking and laughing in their tents is what makes all the hard work worthwhile.”
Looking ahead, The Best Intentions Tent Co is focused on expanding its wedding and event glamping villages, while continuing to develop its children’s parties, sleepovers, outdoor cinema and celebration offerings.
The business is also exploring opportunities to work alongside Council and other local organisations on new events across the region.
Ultimately, The Best Intentions Tent Co aims to take care of the practical details, allowing locals to spend more time enjoying their occasion without the hassle of organising everything themselves.
“You don’t have to do it all yourself!”
“You bring the occasion, we’ll do the hard work for you!”
www.bestintentionstentco.com
Photo credit: Hannah McNamara
This year’s Mackay Seniors Expo attracted a strong turnout at The Big Shed last Tuesday, with thousands of people attending the annual event to connect with local organisations, services and support available to older residents.
Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson said this year’s Expo was one of the biggest the event had seen, with about 100 exhibitors providing information and support to seniors and their families.
“This is always a great expo, there's thousands of people here today, and I think it's probably one of the biggest we've seen yet.”
Emphasising the importance of connection and supporting older residents, Mayor Williamson said, “We, as a community, aren't complete as a community, unless we're looking after our older citizens.”
Saturday 19th September
BMA Mackay Triathlon Festival
Saturday 19th & Sunday 20th
The BMA Mackay Triathlon Festival returns this weekend for two days of racing and community fun along Mackay’s coastline. The festival brings together athletes, families and fitness enthusiasts for triathlon, duathlon, aquathlon, aquabike, open water swimming and a mini kids triathlon. From beginners to experienced competitors, participants can take part in a range of events in a welcoming, community-focused environment, with the Standard Distance Triathlon featuring a 1.5km swim, 40km bike and 10km run.
Mackay Surf Life Saving Club, Mackay Harbour
Ekphrastic Writing Club
1pm
Artspace Mackay will host its September Ekphrastic Writing Club this Saturday, offering a free and relaxed session for writers and anyone wanting to explore their creative skills. Participants will take a ‘slow look’ at a selected artwork in the main gallery before responding to it through writing and discussion. The session is suitable for experienced writers and beginners, providing a quiet and supportive space to explore ekphrastic writing, a creative practice inspired by visual art. Participants are asked to bring a pen and notebook.
Artspace Mackay
Behind the Figures Exhibition
5.30pm
The Just Saying Project will open Behind the Figures this Saturday, a free exhibition exploring women’s experiences of body image, confidence and self-perception through the work of eight local visual artists. The exhibition draws on original research involving more than 100 women, with artists interpreting stories and statistics around body image and the impact it can have on women’s lives. Opening night will also mark the first official exhibition at JSP Home of Women’s Stories, with the exhibition continuing through November.
Shop 5, 31 Wood Street, Mackay
Monday 21st September
Yarnbomb Mackay
9.30am
Yarnbomb Mackay invites locals to join its community knitting and crochet sessions, creating colourful installations for Mackay City Heart. Held at Jamaica Blue Sydney Street Markets, the free sessions welcome all ability levels, including beginners, with participants able to learn new skills while chatting with fellow crocheters over a cuppa. All materials are provided, making it a relaxed way to get involved in a creative community project and help add some colour to the Mackay city centre.
Jamaica Blue Sydney St Markets, Gordon Street, Mackay
What Is AI? Information Session
10am
Mackay Regional Council Libraries will host an introductory session on Artificial Intelligence this Monday, offering locals a simple and practical look at how AI is becoming part of everyday life. The session will explore what AI is, how it works, different types of AI and examples of how it is used, along with its benefits and potential risks including privacy, misinformation, bias and ethical concerns. Attendees will also learn tips for using AI safely and responsibly. The session is suitable for beginners and anyone curious about AI.
Dudley Denny City Library, Mackay
Tuesday 22nd September
Walk & Talk Book Club
8am
The Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens will host its Walk & Talk Book Club this Tuesday, combining reading, gentle exercise and conversation in the gardens. The group meets fortnightly to walk and chat about a new title, with members able to stay afterwards for a social coffee. A new book is selected each month, with discussions held throughout the month. Participants are asked to bring sensible walking shoes, a hat, sunscreen and water.
Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens
Wednesday 23rd September
Games On The Lawn
10am
Mackay Regional Council Libraries will bring Games on the Lawn to the Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens this Wednesday, with locals invited to enjoy a relaxed morning of outdoor games with family and friends. A range of games will be available to play, including Bag Toss, Giant Jenga, Backyard Dice, Bocce Ball and Four in a Row. The free activity is a simple way to get outdoors, enjoy some friendly competition and spend time together at the gardens.
Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens
Perched above the coastal city of Mackay, Cape Hillsborough is the kind of place where there’s so much to explore it feels like there might never be enough time to take it all in.
Its centerpiece is Casuarina Beach.
The long sweep of sand framed by rugged coastal cliffs is enough to make the trip for on its own, but the landscape is only half the attraction.
To see Cape Hillsborough at its most unforgettable, the journey begins in the early hours of the day.
The sunrise here is among Queensland’s most spectacular, helped by an open outlook across the Coral Sea.
Facing east, the bay offers a clear horizon, allowing the first traces of colour to spread uninterrupted across the sky before the sun emerges over the water.
On either side, the volcanic headlands of Cape Hillsborough and Andrews Point rise in silhouette, while Wedge Island and scattered offshore rocks break up the horizon.
The tide can make the display even more impressive. At low or mid-tide, a thin sheet of water often remains across the sand, turning the beach into a broad mirror that reflects the pinks, oranges and golds overhead.
The clouds can play their own part as well. Hanging low over the eastern horizon, they briefly hold back the direct sunlight, flexing the sky's colour potential before the first rays finally break through.
For many visitors, however, the main attraction is the locals.
Eastern grey kangaroos and wallabies emerge from the surrounding bushland early in the morning and make their way onto Casuarina Beach, foraging along the tide line and wandering across the sand.
It is a scene that feels unmistakably Australian and one that has become the signature image of Cape Hillsborough.
Sunrise times change throughout the year, so check ahead, arrive at least 30 minutes early and remember to keep your distance from these remarkable wild animals.
When the sun has finished its ascent, it’s time to begin your exploration.
Halliday bay, just down the road, is a great local spot to park-up at.
This compact beach is tucked into a sheltered corner of the coastline, bordered by calm water and a narrow beachfront reserve, with dolphins regularly passing close to shore.
At low tide, the sand stretches almost 200 metres towards the sea, revealing plenty of shoreline to wander and traverse along the rocks.
But the bay’s best-kept secret waits at its southern end.
Hidden at the end of the beach, the narrow McBrides Point Lookout track climbs to the top of the headland in just five minutes. It is short but slightly steep, with plenty of rocks and exposed roots, so pull on comfy shoes.
When you hit the summit, it’s a view that could capture you for hours.
Climb atop the giant granite boulders and take in sweeping views across Ball Bay and Halliday Bay. During whale season, you may even catch sight of one passing offshore.
It is a small and easy climb with a reward far bigger than the distance suggests.
With the September school holidays upon us, families are invited to head to Dunes Harbour Beach for the return of the ever-popular Coastal Kids - a free community event packed with entertainment, activities and plenty of opportunities to enjoy the outdoors together.
Designed to bring local families together, Coastal Kids offers a fun-filled morning where children can play, explore and make new friends, while parents enjoy a relaxed atmosphere and connect with others in the community.
This year's event promises plenty of excitement, with Jake from HitFM broadcasting live throughout the morning and capturing all the action. Children can look forward to a range of outdoor games, face painting, fantastic giveaways and a traditional sausage sizzle, while parents can enjoy a complimentary coffee before settling in to watch the fun unfold.
More than just a morning of entertainment, Coastal Kids is an opportunity for families to step away from screens, spend quality time together and experience the vibrant community spirit that makes Dunes Harbour Beach such a popular destination.
Whether you're a regular attendee or visiting for the first time, everyone is welcome to come along, meet other local families and create lasting school holiday memories.
Coastal Kids will be held on Thursday, 24 September, from 9.00am to 12.00pm at Dunes Harbour Beach, Sol Drive, adjacent to the Community Square.
The event is free to attend, making it an easy and enjoyable way to keep the children entertained during the school holidays while celebrating everything that makes our local community so special.
Proudly brought to you by the URBEX team, Coastal Kids continues to be one of the region's favourite family events, and organisers look forward to welcoming everyone for another memorable morning by the beach.
Photo source: Mackay Regional Council
Families, parents and carers gathered at Queens Park on Wednesday 9th September for Party in the Park, a free community event held during Child Protection Week.
The event provided an opportunity for parents and carers to connect in a relaxed outdoor setting while learning more about support services available throughout the Mackay community.
Children were kept entertained with a range of free activities, including face painting, jumping castles and a sausage sizzle, while parents and carers could enjoy a free coffee and connect with local support organisations.
Party in the Park formed part of Child Protection Week, which this year encouraged communities to turn conversations about child safety and wellbeing into action.
Held at Queens Park, the event brought families together for a morning of activities, connection and information in a welcoming community environment.
A writer’s festival is about books. Isn’t it?
Not if you were at the Whitsunday Marine Club on Sunday, where the 2026 Whitsundays Writers Festival opened with a 30-minute violin performance from local solicitor, Giulian Grasso, and closed with Mackay business identity, John Glanville, singing and reading poetry to a room that felt more like family than an audience.
In between: live art was created and auctioned, vouchers were won, raffles drawn, the region’s own literary prizes handed out … and yes, there were plenty of books.
More than 100 attendees packed the Marine Club for a day of information, laughter, and refreshments, all in service of one simple challenge: go home and write your own story.
Festival President, Richard Evans, opened with a tribute to feminist icon Gloria Steinem, who died earlier this month.
“Please tell your own story,” he said, quoting Steinem.
“This is how we know each other and how we build a more respectful and compassionate world.”
It was a fitting opening for a festival with a story of its own. Richard traced the festival’s journey from its beginnings on Daydream Island in 2010 through the 2017 death of founder Gloria Burley, noting her memorial service was held in the very room the festival now called home for 2026 Festival.
Townsville’s Rachel Armstrong, the multi-award-winning romance author, delivered the From the Heart keynote, sharing her own writing journey. Her advice: be passionate about what you want to achieve, and never give up. And for anyone still weighing up whether to start, stop thinking about writing, and just do it.
That message ran through the Whitsundays Literary Heart Awards, presented during the day. Three shortlisted Under 18 writers received their certificates, while Mackay’s Janet Humphreys took out the runner-up prize in the Open Age Short Story category. “No small feat”, she said, among more than 90 entries from across the country. Local poet Suzy Gordon read the winning and runner-up poems aloud to the room, giving the words a life beyond the page.
Two panels tackled whether the rest of us can, and should, write our own stories. Is There a Book in You? offered a clear answer. Everyone has a story worth telling, and the only thing standing between an idea and a finished page is starting. A second panel, on where ideas come from, landed on the same lesson: inspiration can strike anywhere, so don’t let it go to waste.
The day closed with the festival’s free community celebration, Stories by the Sea. Local authors displayed their titles, Whitsunday Regional Council Libraries ran children’s activities, and a community book swap sent families home with something new to read. Four Street Libraries crafted by the Airlie Beach Men’s Shed went under silent auction, with bidders competing to bring a piece of the festival home to their own street.
Mayor Ry Collins and Councillor Clay Bauman dropped by, alongside a well-fed crowd enjoying the sausage sizzle and delicious treats from make your own cake cart. The most talked-about moment belonged to Creative Connections Whitsunday (CCW), whose five local artists spent four hours painting a Whitsundays landscape live before the crowd voted for their favourite.
The winner, Jahla Thompson, was awarded $200 of framing courtesy of Kenyon Framing. CCW president Glenda Brown said she was taken aback by how closely the crowd followed the artists’ progress, “it was a great event,” she said.
Richard closed by looking ahead to 2027, flagging a Festival of Ideas, a Love Letter to Queensland event, a Stanza Bonanza poetry reading, and a Big Book Club High Tea romance readers edition, with sessions on AI and crime writing under consideration. He returned to Steinem’s words to send the crowd home.
“Please tell your story,” he said. “This is the most important thing we can do for each other. To know each other through our words and our stories.”
For a community that turned out in force to hear that message, on a Sunday, by the water, it’s hard to argue the Whitsundays isn’t already listening.
Photo caption: Richard Evans
A Life Well Lived Is Worthy of Telling
By Richard Evans, President, Whitsundays Writers Festival
Near the end of her life, activist and writer Gloria Steinem was asked to leave one final piece of advice.
"Please tell your own story. This is how we know each other, and how we build a more respectful, compassionate world."
From the dreaming stories of our First Nations people to the hard yards of early pioneers, the isolation felt by settlers, and the drive of newer arrivals chasing a fresh start, our region is woven from stories. The question is, are we listening? Are we reading?
Screenwriting teacher Robert McKee puts it well … stories aren’t just entertainment, they’re how we make sense of our lives. We tell them through books, through memory, through the stories we simply speak aloud over a cuppa. But every story, however it’stold, needs one thing to survive: someone willing to listen.
And listening starts with words. We learn them from our parents, build on them at school, and carry them into our working lives. Yet literacy is a subject we rarely talk about, perhaps because it’s uncomfortable.
National surveys show 38 to 64 per cent of employed Australians struggle with basic reading, maths, problem-solving or understanding documents. More than a third of adults live with low literacy, often hiding it. They are parents unable to help with homework, workers who dread forms and neighbours struggling in silence.
Low literacy, particularly among young men and teenagers, can fuel isolation and disengagement and has been linked to self-harm. One in three Australian teenagers has experienced suicidal thoughts in the past year, while suicide remains the leading cause of death for Australians aged 15 to 24. The figures are damning.
Reading offers a simple solution. Just 15 minutes a day is enough to finish roughly 26 books a year from a habit shorter than a coffee break. Imagine what that could do for a community.
Encouragingly, Australians still love a good story. Two in three read for pleasure, while young Australians are embracing print, e-books and audiobooks. Print remains the favourite, but audiobooks are gaining ground.
It starts at home. Parents who read aloud, visit the library and let their children see them reading are passing down something priceless. Research shows children who read at four and five are far more likely to enjoy it by age ten or eleven.
Steinem also said, "If you want people to listen to you, you have to listen to them."
Storytelling and reading are two sides of the same act of listening. We need to listen to our children, our neighbours, and to those whose stories have too often gone unheard.
Words matter. We at the Whitsundays Writers Festival are building access with a goal to provide the community with leading practitioners of the craft of reading and writing.
So, let’s build a culture where reading is every day and easy. Let’s tell our stories and truly listen to each other’s. That is how we come to know one another.
Whitsundays Writers Festival
Richard Evans
Festival Director and President
hello@whitsundayswriters.com
Save the date for the 2027 Whitsundays Writers Festival, 10-12 September.
Creative Connections Whitsunday
Glenda Brown
President
info@creativeconnectionwhitsunday.com
Creative Connections Whitsundays supports and celebrates the region's arts community by creating opportunities for artists to connect, exhibit, learn, and thrive through partnerships, cultural events, and creative programs.
What if you could take home an original artwork by a local artist for just $100?
Art lovers will have the chance to discover original works by some of the Whitsundays’ emerging, professional and award-winning artists when Creative Connections Whitsunday (CCW) hosts a special $100 Art Night at its Community Gallery on Thursday 24th September.
From 6pm to 8pm, the Gallery will be transformed into a celebration of local art, featuring a collection of small original artworks created and donated by artists from across the region.
Every artwork in the special collection will be priced at $100, giving visitors an accessible way to purchase an original work while directly supporting the Gallery and its ongoing work within the local arts community.
Gallery Coordinator and CCW Vice President Linda Forrester said the event was designed to bring people together around local art while showcasing the breadth of talent in the region.
“There’s something special about discovering an artwork you connect with and knowing that the person who created it lives and works in our community,” Linda said.
The evening will feature an art auction, People’s Choice Award, raffle, light refreshments and a cash bar. Visitors can also browse original artworks, handmade pieces and gifts, with all $100 artwork proceeds supporting the Community Gallery and future creative programs.
Event organiser Gemma-Louise Pap said the evening was also about celebrating the strong creative community that has grown around the Gallery.
“CCW is fortunate to have such a diverse creative community around us,” Gemma-Louise said.
“We’re looking forward to bringing everyone together for a relaxed evening where the art really is the star.”
What? The $100 Art Night
When? Thursday 24th September, 6pm-8pm
Where? Whitsunday Community Gallery, Proserpine
Visitors to the Whitsundays Writers Festival’s free Stories by the Sea event on Sunday were treated to a unique display of creativity as local artists took part in the Creative Connections Whitsunday Plein Air Challenge.
Working on location at the Whitsunday Marine Club, participating artists spent the day creating original works inspired by the coastal setting and atmosphere, giving visitors the opportunity to watch the artworks develop from blank canvas to finished pieces.
Festival visitors were then invited to vote for their favourite work in the People’s Choice Award, with Jahla Thompson taking out the inaugural award and receiving a $200 voucher from R&J Kenyon Framers.
The completed artworks were also offered through a silent auction, with 100 per cent of the sale proceeds going directly to the participating artists.
The Plein Air Challenge was held as part of Stories by the Sea, the Festival’s free community finale, which brought together more than 20 regional authors, readers, families and creatives for an afternoon of books, readings, music, art, and activities.
Jahla’s winning artwork and the other completed works were available for viewing and bidding during the afternoon.
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