Not everything belongs in your wheelie bin. Batteries, household chemicals, gas bottles and other hazardous items can cause fires in collection trucks and waste facilities. Disposing of these items correctly helps protect waste collection crews and keeps our community safe. Visit Council's website to find out how and where to safely dispose of hazardous household items.

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Airlie Beach Veterniary Surgery with their stars, Murphy and Mo. Photo credit: Zach Houtenville

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Friday 2^nd October

The Plarn Project: Crafting For A Cause
2.00pm - 4.00pm
Learn how to turn plastic bags into plarn, or plastic yarn, and crochet it into lightweight mats for people in need. No experience is required, with all skill levels welcome. Help reduce waste while creating something practical for the community through this meaningful project supporting responsible consumption and production.
Dudley Denny City Library, 134 Victoria St, Mackay

Mackay Prostate Cancer Awareness Night  

5.30pm - 9.30pm Join ManUp! Australia for an informative evening raising awareness of prostate cancer and the importance of early detection, featuring guest speakers Jill and Leah Costello, Mackay Prostate Cancer Specialist Nurse Louise Jackson, members of the Prostate Cancer Support Group Mackay, a physiotherapist and other health specialists. Light supper will be served.  

Masonic Lodge, 57 Wood Street, Mackay

Satu - Year Of The Rabbit
7.30pm
Enjoy a screening of the 2024 Laos/UK film Satu - Year of the Rabbit, rated PG, following an orphan child labourer who journeys through Laos in search of his long-lost mother alongside his new photojournalist friend. The 1hr 33min film is directed by Joshua Trigg and features Lao and English with subtitles. Wine and nibbles will be served after the film.
CQU Cook Theatre, CQU Ooralea Campus Building 1, 351-371 Boundary Road, Ooralea

Saturday 3^rd October

Exhibition Floor Talk
10.30am - 11.30am
Join exhibition curator Dylan Mooney in conversation with artists Brian Robinson and Darren Blackman as they discuss their exhibitions Kulba A Kaib and Post Truth, exploring cultural knowledge, ancestral stories, contemporary visual culture, cultural practice, text-based sculpture and more. The event will be Auslan interpreted and amplified for patrons with hearing difficulties.
Artspace Mackay, 61 Gordon St, Mackay

Sunday 4^th October

Writing Sunday
11.00am - 1.00pm
A free, volunteer-led writing program for writers of all levels, offering a chance to work on your writing while connecting with fellow local writers. Sessions use the Pomodoro Technique, with focused 25-minute writing blocks and short breaks to help boost productivity and keep your writing goals on track.
Dudley Denny City Library, 134 Victoria St, Mackay

Mini Cent Sale
11.00am.

Held in conjunction with the Sarina Country Music Family Afternoon, the mini cent sale will feature more than 50 prizes and vouchers to be won. Draw will be held from 2.30pm
Admission is $5 per person, with tickets available at the door from 11.00am.
Sarina Sporting and Services Club, Brewers Road, Sarina

Sarina Country Music Family Afternoon
1.00pm
Enjoy an afternoon of country music with the Sarina Country Music Club, with new artists always welcome and a band available to back anyone who wishes to perform. Admission is $5 per person, with a free courtesy bus available from the club.  

Sarina Sporting and Services Club, Brewers Road, Sarina

Tuesday 6^th October

Qdn Mackay Peer Support Group
First Tuesday of every month
Queenslanders with Disability Network hosts a free monthly peer support group for people with disability, offering a welcoming space to share experiences, exchange information, build connections and discuss topics that matter. No RSVP or QDN membership is required, with taxi vouchers available for transport assistance and light refreshments provided.
Jubilee Community Centre, 1/258 Alfred St, Mackay

Wednesday 7^th October

COLOUR CALM
10.00am - 11.30am
Take a mindful pause with a casual drop-in colouring session designed to provide some creative downtime, an opportunity to meet new people and a chance to relax and recharge.
Walkerston Library, 8 Creek St, Walkerston

Thursday 8^th October

NORTHERN BEACHES MUM & BUB WALK AND TALK
10.00am - 12.30pm
Mums and their bubs or young children are invited to enjoy a relaxed morning of gentle walking, mindfulness, conversation and connection along Bucasia Esplanade. Prams, babies, toddlers and all walking paces are welcome, with the free gathering also including coffee, conversation and time to connect with other local mums as part of Queensland Mental Health Week 2026.
Bucasia Esplanade, Bucasia

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Catherine Clark Dowden’s Brushstrokes of the Bush exhibition will bring 42 rural-inspired artworks to Mackay’s Jubilee Community Centre this month from 12th - 29th October 2026.

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Artist Catherine Clark Dowden is celebrating the magic of childhood on the land with Brushstrokes of the Bush – a collection created over two years, inspired by the freedom, curiosity, mischief and joy of growing up in the country.

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Catherine says she feels incredibly privileged to have grown up on a farm in the north of England, surrounded by animals, open spaces, vibrant landscapes and the simple adventures of rural childhood.

Those early experiences earned a special place in her heart and continue to shape the artist she is today.

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Catherine’s original vision was to create 26 paintings, each inspired by a childhood memory of growing up on the land. But then, she put out a call for photographs on the theme and received an unexpected response.

More than 860 treasured images were shared by families from near and far.

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What began as 26 paintings ultimately became 42, each celebrating muddy boots and dusty roads, animals and adventures, family traditions, hard work, mischief, freedom and the simple pleasures of rural life.

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Alongside each painting is a story sharing the personal memory behind the image.

“My hope for Brushstrokes of the Bush has always been to create more than an exhibition,” said Catherine.

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“I wanted to create an opportunity for conversation and connection – to encourage grandparents to share memories with grandchildren, parents to tell stories from their own childhoods, and children to discover a little more about the lives their families lived before them.”

“Because memories have a wonderful way of travelling through generations.”

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“A photograph can remind us of a moment, but a story can bring it back to life.”

Through the paintings, Catherine hopes to evoke nostalgia, happiness and reflection.

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“I hope that when you view the artworks, you don’t just see paintings”

“I hope you see childhood.”

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“I hope you remember.”

“And most of all, I hope you find a little piece of your own story within these Brushstrokes of the Bush.”

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Catherine extended her gratitude and thanks to her family, friends and supporters, as well as RADF Mackay for its grant support.

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Brushstrokes of the Bush will be exhibited at the Jubilee Community Centre in Mackay from the 12th - 29th October 2026, with the official opening featuring special guest Graeme Connors. The exhibition will then travel to the Coalface Art Gallery in Moranbah from 10th February to 19th March 2027.

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What: Brushstrokes of the Bush Exhibition & Official Opening
When: Monday 12th October from 6.30pm - Thursday 29th October 2026
Where: Jubilee Community Centre, the old library next to Artspace

Photo source: Shutterstock

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Just 40 minutes north 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. 

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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. 

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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. 

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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.  

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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. 

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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.  

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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. 

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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.  

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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. 

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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. 

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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. 

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Climb atop the giant granite boulders and take in sweeping views across Ball Bay and Halliday Bay. It is a small and easy climb with a reward far bigger than the distance suggests. 

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Jayden Enterprises played a key role behind the scenes at Gather & Graze, helping bring the event to life while supporting My Hospital Foundation’s fundraising efforts for local hospital services and patient wellbeing. Photo supplied

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When My Hospital Foundation found itself needing to create a brand-new event in just six weeks, it quickly became clear that Gather & Graze would only be possible with the support of the community.

One of the first organisations to step forward was Jayden Enterprises, who came on board as Naming Rights Sponsor and became much more than a financial supporter along the way.

From helping with setup and pack down to lending hands wherever they were needed, the Jayden Enterprises team played an important behind-the-scenes role in bringing the inaugural event to life. Their positivity, willingness to jump in and commitment to the cause helped keep spirits high throughout the planning process and on event day itself.

"We were humbled and proud to have Jayden Enterprises be part of this great event," said Dirk Neugubauer, Director of Jayden Enterprises.

"Gayle and I take pride in running a business that supports our community and gives back to those who need it most.

"After five years as a Highflyer Sponsor of Dinner on the Runway, when we were asked to be the Naming Rights Sponsor of this fantastic evening, our answer was an immediate yes.

"For us, this isn't just about sponsorship or putting our logo on a banner. It's about standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our community and supporting an organisation that touches the lives of almost everyone in our region.

"The success of the event, particularly in the short timeframe available to My Hospital Foundation, is a testament to the dedication of its staff and volunteers."

The event ultimately raised more than $40,000 for local hospital services and patient wellbeing initiatives, a result made possible by the collective efforts of sponsors, donors, volunteers and attendees.

My Hospital Foundation Managing Executive Officer Ashleen O'Neill said the success of the event was a reflection of the generosity of the Mackay community.

"The support we received was simply incredible. Every sponsor, volunteer, donor and guest played a part in making Gather & Graze such a success, and we are immensely grateful to everyone who believed in the event from the very beginning," said Ashleen.

While the funds raised will make a meaningful difference for local patients and families, the event's legacy will be the spirit of collaboration that made it all possible.

Gather & Graze may have started as a solution to an unexpected challenge, but thanks to the businesses, volunteers and community members who rallied behind it, it became something much bigger: a celebration of what can happen when a community comes together to give back.

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The winter sports season may be over, but the racing is just getting started at Whitsunday Sportspark.

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Dashie racing is coming to Oktoberfest, with qualifying heats on Saturday 10 October and the grand final on Saturday 17 October. The winning dachshund will take home $1,000. Dachshund owners are encouraged to register their little racers, and everyone is welcome to come down and cheer them on.

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There will be a race for the humans, too. Keg rolling is planned for one of the Oktoberfest Sundays, giving the public a chance to get involved in the action. The date and entry details will be announced soon.

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Club Whitsunday and Whitsunday Sportspark are working together to keep the precinct active as the winter sporting calendar winds down. Oktoberfest is a chance to bring people back to the Sportspark for something a little different, whether they’re racing, cheering or simply enjoying the day.

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Know a dashie with a competitive streak? Dob in a dashie and let’s get racing!

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WHAT: Dob In A Dashie, Dachshund Racing

WHERE: Club Whitsundays

WHEN: Saturday 17^th October  

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Airlie Beach Hotel is turning up the volume on the weekend of October 9^th with three days of live rock, banging anthems and original music from one of Australia’s seasoned rock performers, Dellacoma Rio.

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Best known locally as the frontman of The Australian INXS Show, Dellacoma Rio has spent more than 15 years making music professionally, performing around the world and releasing three albums of his own.

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His career has taken him from touring America with Sydney band Sunset Riot to performing for crowds of up to 250,000 people at Poland Rock Fest, as well as sharing a festival main stage with Def Leppard.

Next, he’s coming to the Whitsundays- and he’s bringing his band.

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Kicking off with the main event, on Friday 9^th October DELLACOMA will be headlining an end of footy season party special evening event in the sports bar with original music from all three of their studio albums alongside some of the songs and artists that have influenced them throughout their career.  

Expect brash, explosive and hard-hitting rock n roll, with dynamite stage presence.  

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The five-piece band will deliver everything from softer songs to high-energy rockers, with influences ranging from Van Halen and Noiseworks to Guns N’ Roses, Bon Jovi and The Killers.  

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DELLACOMA’s style is built on classic rock ‘n roll storytelling and emotion.

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“You kind of go through different parts of your life and you connect with different songs,” Dellacoma reflected.  

“And I think it's about honesty as well. When [a singer] really means the words that they're singing.  

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“That goes the same for the instrumental side of things as well. A really good guitarist can make their guitar sing or cry or show the emotion of anger or gratitude. If you're really in tune with your instrument, whatever that is, you can evoke emotions with that.”

Keeping the party going, on Saturday afternoon Rio will step into the shoes of another rock icon for Dellacoma Rio Presents Bon Jovi, celebrating 40 years of Slippery When Wet.

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The show will feature every song from the iconic album, including Livin’ On A Prayer and Wanted Dead Or Alive, alongside other Bon Jovi favourites such as Always and It’s My Life.

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Sunday will then bring Dellacoma Rio Presents Rock Anthems, a broad celebration of the songs that have filled pubs, festivals and stadiums for generations.

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Expect everything from Australian favourites by AC/DC, INXS, Cold Chisel and The Angels to international anthems from Queen, Def Leppard, Journey and more.

What, When, Where?

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DELLACOMA – Original Rock: Friday October 9th, 8pm–11pm, special evening event in the sports bar.

Dellacoma Rio Presents Bon Jovi: Saturday October 10th, 2pm–5.30pm.

Dellacoma Rio Presents Rock Anthems: Sunday October 11th, 2pm–5.30pm.

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All shows are free to attend at the Airlie Beach Hotel.

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Swimming enthusiasts from across Queensland will head to the Whitsundays on Sunday, 4 October for the Whitehaven Open Water Swim, hosted by North Mackay Sinkers Masters Swimming Club and Masters Swimming Queensland.

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Now in its third year, the event gives swimmers the unique opportunity to take part in a 500m, 1km or 2km open water swim at the world-famous Whitehaven Beach.

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Swimmers will travel by boat from Shute Harbour to Whitehaven Beach for a morning of swimming, followed by lunch and an afternoon of social activities. The event brings together Masters swimmers, open water enthusiasts and visitors from across the region while showcasing one of Queensland's most iconic destinations.

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The Whitehaven Open Water Swim is proudly supported by local businesses and sponsors, helping make the event possible and contributing to the continued growth of open water swimming in the region.

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What's Included

• Ferry to Whitehaven Beach from Shute Harbour

• Entry to the open water swim

• Lunch on the beach

• Return ferry to the mainland

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Ferry Logistics

Ferries depart from Shute Harbour Marine Terminal, Shute Harbour. Departure and return times will be confirmed closer to the event. Participants are responsible for their own travel to and from the terminal. Full logistics details will be sent to registered participants.

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Eligibility

• Participants must be 18 years of age or older.

• All swimming abilities welcome for the 500m distance — it's a great introduction to open water swimming.

• We recommend open water swimming experience for the 2km distance.

• Non-swimmers are welcome to join as guests (ferry + lunch included).

• All participants must complete and sign a liability waiver prior to the event.

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Options

• 500 metres, perfect for first timers

• 1 kilometre, the classic distance

• 2 kilometres, for experienced swimmers  

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For more information, visit sinkers.au/whitehaven.

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WHAT: Whitehaven Open Water Swim

WHERE: Whitehaven Beach  

WHEN: Sunday 4^th October  

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BY GEORGIA MCDONALD

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This week, we sat down with local musician Nick Di Gregorio and talked about his musical journey, the Whitsundays’ music scene and his latest creative project he has been building in the local area.

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With a combination of live music, filming and the art of a good old chat, Nick created local podcast The Tiny Vinyl Sessions. Much like this column, Nick brings local musicians to the podcast seat and gives them a chance to share their passion, with each session featuring three live-recorded songs which are then professionally produced by Nick, as well as a chat about their story and all things music.  

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Nick wears plenty of hats behind the scenes, editing the videos and putting together the content for social media, as well as producing the tracks. Each episode takes him around 46 hours to complete.

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The podcast came from Nick’s personal experience in the local music scene, where he felt there was more room for original music and collaboration between musicians.  

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Whilst the project is based in the Whitsundays, Nick has plans to take it further, hoping to reach places such as Melbourne and Cairns.  

So, who is the musician behind the mic?

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Picking up a guitar at age 10, Nick quickly found himself drawn to the technical side of music. He describes himself as “a bit of a nerd”, starting out in classical guitar and jazz. Before his mother agreed to sign him up for lessons, she told him he had to work through a method book, so he did, teaching himself to read music.

At 15, Nick was accepted into the Victorian College of the Arts in Melbourne where he studied guitar and jazz, before heading over to Perth to study jazz performance at WAAPA.

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After his studies, Nick went overseas, working as a session guitarist on cruise ships. It was here, during a very fun and creative period of his life, that he decided it was time to learn a new skill - singing.  

“I’d always been meaning to sing, so I just started practising,” Nick said.

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Once he had completed a few contracts as a singer and built his confidence, he headed to London as a soloist and began performing full-time.  

Eventually, Nick found his way back to Australia. He was in the Whitsundays when COVID hit, and six years later, he is still here.  

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As restrictions began to ease and venues started opening back up, Nick began putting himself forward and building his position in the Whitsundays local music scene.

“I just said, ‘Can I come play?’” Nick said.

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Things grew quickly from there, with Nick becoming a resident musician on Hamilton Island, playing between five to ten gigs a week.

Nick says that one of the best parts of being a musician in the Whitsundays is the community that comes with it.

“It’s such a small community that you’re all connected,” Nick said.

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With a consistent and steady demand for live music across the region, Nick said that there is a real sense of support between the musicians, with everyone bringing their own style and approach to the gigs.  

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“I think everyone just has a unique way of approaching the same kind of gig, which is kind of what makes everyone different,” he said.

For Nick, the Tiny Vinyl sessions are another way of giving musicians a space to collaborate and showcase their uniqueness, while continuing to grow the Whitsunday music community that he has become such a large part of.

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Song Recommendation For The Week: Stick Around, Please – Nick Di Gregorio

Podcast Recommendation For The Week: The Tiny Vinyl Sessions – available on podcast platforms

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This week’s winning photograph is a picture of serenity, captured amongst the perfect calm of Lake Proserpine by Megan Weir.  

Submitted under the theme of Landscapes, this is a photo you could step right into, and float on a lilypad across waters so reflective you don’t know which way is up.  

Thank you and congrats, Megan!  This the theme is “Aromas in Focus,” AKA things that smell nice – so get snapping, and submit your photos via the Whitsundays Amateur Photographers Facebook group.

In the time before radio and television and when gramophones and records were very basic and quite expensive, residents yearned for entertainment outside the home. Occasionally, travelling vaudeville groups and pantomime companies visited the town. From very early days, concerts were staged as both church and community fundraisers as well as providing a social outlet. The Tivoli Hall was a regular venue for these occasions.  

Opened in 1913, the Tivoli Hall/Theatre was situated in Chapman Street. It had earlier been known as Oddfellows Hall which hosted a variety of functions.  Before transitioning to the showgrounds, exhibits for the annual show were displayed in the Oddfellows Hall. In 1910, the inaugural Proserpine Show Ball was held there and the “Bowen Independent” April 11th 1911, reported, “The ladies of the R. C. Church are holding a Euchre Party on Easter Monday night in the Oddfellows’ Hall.” In an advertisement on April 15, 1911, Mrs G Taylor announced that she intended holding “A series of Assemblies in the Oddfellows Hall … every fortnight …Bright and up-to-date music.”  

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The Tivoli, managed by Mr RAT Morrison, served as the town's initial venue for moving picture screenings and events before entertainment shifted to larger venues such as the Eldorado Picture Company run by Mr J Johns in the Alexandra Hall on Main Street. A boy was employed to ring an auctioneer’s bell in the main street announcing, “Pictures tonight!”  

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Twice weekly, silent movies were screened at the Tivoli. Typical programmes presented a feature film, a comedy and a serial episode. Serials such as “The Iron Test” and “Elmo the Fearless” often ran for up to twenty episodes, each ending with an unresolved crisis - usually placing the heroine in danger to encourage audiences to return. Programmes sometimes included live acts such as “Frank Sidney - Trick Cyclist and Vaudeville Artist with his Singing Dog” and “Mr Dickenson who Specialises in Irish Songs”.  

Life for the cinema proprietors had its difficulties. Because of unreliable transport, films often failed to arrive, and equipment breakdowns were a perpetual worry, so old programmes had to be re-shown, or the proprietors cheerfully held a dance instead.  

In 1918, the Tivoli’s screening of the 5^th episode of the great picture, “Gloria’s Romance” was thrilling audiences. Seats were a bit cheaper at the Tivoli than Alexandra Hall. Canvas chairs were 1/8; front seats 1/4. I Edwards was manager at this time. The “Bowen Independent” reported positively on the Tivoli pictures. February 18, 1919 – “Last Saturday night the Proserpine Branch of the Tivoli was packed to its utmost to see “Zara”, and the management was well thanked for the grand paramount program.” October 21, 1919 – “An enormous crowd witnessed the screening of that wonderful picture, ‘The Better Ole’”  

During the severe influenza epidemic of 1919, when restrictions on indoor entertainment were imposed, the community was fortunate to have the Tivoli’s open-air skating rink providing an alternative venue for their entertainment.  

The First Annual Military Ball was held at the Tivoli on Anzac night, 1919. This event was greatly anticipated as a commemoration marking the anniversary of the Anzac campaign. Circa 1927, the Tivoli held its first skating Fancy Dress Ball.  

In 1934, the Tivoli ceased to operate and was converted into a plumbing business. After suffering severe damage during Cyclone Debbie in 2017, structural assessments determined that the then 104-year-old building was beyond repair and could not retain its heritage façade. It was subsequently removed from the Queensland Heritage Register. And so ended a grand chapter of our district’s history.  

Story and photo courtesy Proserpine Historical Museum Society.  

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Markets are part of what makes the Whitsundays tick – supporting local businesses, giving visitors a taste of the region, and bringing people together.

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Over the past 12 months, the Whitsundays Chamber of Commerce and Industry has managed the Airlie Beach Cruise Ship Markets in partnership with Airlie Events and has now added back-office support to Tarnia Patton and Ambi Ford for the popular Proserpine Community Markets.

Together, the markets create opportunities for local traders to showcase what they do, reach new customers, and contribute to the wider community.

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A place to start, test and grow

For many stallholders, markets are an important part of doing business – whether they’re starting out, testing an idea, or reaching new customers.

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Makers, growers, home-based businesses, and food vendors can meet customers face-to-face, build their profile, and generate income without the overheads of a traditional shopfront. For hobbyists, a market can also be a way to share a passion and see where it might lead.

The Airlie Beach Cruise Ship Markets provide the added opportunity to connect with thousands of visitors, many who stay connected long after they leave the Whitsundays.

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Supporting the people behind the stalls

For Cruise Ship Market stallholders, the past year has brought more support, clearer systems, and a stronger voice in the market’s future.

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Regular stallholder meetings, weekly updates, online registration and site allocation, and a dedicated Stallholder Sub-Committee make it easier for traders to stay informed and help shape the market.

The Chamber has also worked closely with Council on practical improvements to support stallholders and visitors, while Chamber’s $99 Market Vendor Subscription provides discounted fees, promotional opportunities, and access to business resources, education, and networking.

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Local money, local causes

Both the Airlie Beach Cruise Ship Markets and Proserpine Community Markets contribute to the Whitsundays Chamber Community Fund, which provides grants to eligible local not-for-profits, community groups and volunteer organisations.

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Keeping Proserpine’s local character

The Proserpine Community Markets have been built over more than five years by founder Tarnia Patton around a simple idea: run by locals, for locals. That local character remains, with Tarnia continuing as on-site Market Manager while the Chamber provides back-office support.

The next Proserpine Community Market is at the Proserpine Show Grounds on Sunday 6th December, with makers, growers, bakers, food vans, retailers, home businesses, services and community groups welcome to apply.

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The Proserpine Twilight Christmas Fair will also bring another opportunity for local businesses and community groups, running from 5pm to 8pm on Friday 11th December.

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More than a market day

“The Chamber is here to back our market stallholders. Behind every stall is a person, a product and often a small business, and we want to help create opportunities for all of them to connect, trade and grow,” said Chamber Portfolio Manager Cait Fleming.

Contact the Chamber to learn more about our markets via portfolios@whitsundaycoastchamber.com.au

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Sometimes a photograph’s beauty lies not in the grandeur of the subject, but in the intricate details revealed by looking a little closer.  

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Michele Shea captured this week’s winning photograph with a beautiful close-up of a waterlily in bloom, bringing the flower’s delicate petals and natural symmetry into sharp focus. It is a peaceful, yet wildly beautiful frame that makes for a great example of this week’s “Macro” theme.

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Congratulations, Michele, your photograph will have us all giving things a closer look!

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For next week’s Photo of the Week, the theme is “Landscapes”.

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Thank you once again to everyone in the Whitsundays Amateur Photographers Facebook group for sharing another wonderful collection of images.

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Photo source: Shutterstock

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Serves: 4
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes

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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  

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Method

1. Combine the prawns with olive oil, paprika, chilli, garlic and half the lime juice. Set aside for five minutes.  

2. Toss the mango, red onion, coriander and remaining lime juice together to make a fresh salsa.  

3. Heat a frying pan over high heat and cook the prawns for 2–3 minutes on each side, or until cooked through.  

4. Warm the tortillas, then fill with avocado, prawns and plenty of mango salsa.  

5. Finish with a dollop of Greek yoghurt and an extra squeeze of lime.  

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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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