Janelle Conroy who has been playing Contract Bridge for twenty two years is now a Grand Master. This is an honor which the Australia Bridge Federation bestows on someone who has 1000 Masterpoints including 500 Red points and 200 Gold points. Janelle plays reguarly with Terry Sheedy, Noel Bugeia, Pamela Finger, Geoff Taylor, Robert Carless and many others. Janelle is a great mentor to beginners and novices and works tiresley for the Bridge Club.

Weekly Results

Monday 2 February 2026 – 8 Table Mitchell Green Points
N/S E/W
1st Terry Sheedy / Janelle Conroy 1st Monica Darley / Nancy Martin
2nd Jan Harris / Julie O’Neill 2nd Diane Morgan / Sandy Ford
3rd Janine Rodgers / Jewel Schmidt 3rd Diane Stokes / Edward Kleise
4th Rodney Miles / Joy Hold 4th Margaret Lane / Barbara Tait
Tuesday Evening 3 February 2026 – 5 Table Mitchell Green Points
1st Janet Hansen / Lorna Shuttlewood 2nd Janelle Conroy / Terry Sheedy
3rd Eric Goodchild / Noel Bugeia 4th Vicki Howard / Richard Wix
Wednesday 4 February 2026 – 11 Table Mitchell Green Points
N/S E/W
1st Jan Harris / Sandra Morris 1st Terry Sheedy / Lorna Shuttlewood
2nd Janelle Conroy / Noel Bugeia 2nd Diane Slokes / Joy Block
3rd Janet Hansen / Alan Brown 3rd Susan Wright / Bob Ellis
4th Eric Goodchild / Debra Goodchild 4th Gwen Liddell / Anne Lutz
5th Max Holewa / Diane Holewa 5th Jewel Schmidt / Anette Howe
Thursday Evening 5 February 2026 – 4 Tables One Winner – Green Points
1st Terry Sheedy / Noel Bugeia 2nd Ann Whitmore / Frances Brown
3rd Janelle Conroy / Janine Rodgers 4th Ken Seaniger / Robert Carless
Friday 6 February 2026 – 10 Table Mitchell Green Points
N/S E/W
1st Joy Robinson / Annette Howe 1st Frances Brown / Alan Brown
2nd Max Holewa / Diane Holewa 2nd Janelle Conroy / Pamela Finger
3rd Noel Bugeia / Terry Sheedy 3rd Nancy Martin / Kath Poole
4th Mick King / Geoff Cowan 4th Ann Whitmore / Julie O’Neill
Saturday 7 February 2025 –13 Table Mitchell Green Points
N/S E/W
1st Max Holewa / Diane Holewa 1st Janelle Conroy / Robert Carless
2nd Janine Rodgers / Geoff Cowan 2nd Terry Sheedy / Richard Wix
3rd Eric Goodchild / Debra Goodchild 3rd Adrian Westcott / Martin Pearce
4th Joy Robinson / Ken Seaniger 4th Lorna Shuttlewood / Susan Wright
5th Marilin Robins / Faye Wright 5th Helen Goldston / Jean Penridge

Contributed with thanks to Joy Block

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Robert, Noel & Janelle

Mick,Janelle & Jan

Pres. Frances presenting Cert. to Janelle. Photos supplied

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Mackay Cyclones Swimming Club delivered an impressive performance across all age groups at the 2026 Hancock Prospecting Queensland Sprint Championships, held 7–8 February 2026, with swimmers collecting medals, finals appearances and a host of personal best results.
 
The opening day featured the club’s senior swimmers. Anisa Helou swam strongly in her heats to reach the finals in both the 16-year-old 50m freestyle and 50m butterfly, recording a national qualifying time in the butterfly and adding to her national campaign after previously qualifying in the 50m freestyle. 
 
Cyclones sprint specialist and her brother, Ehsan Helou, claimed a silver medal in the 17-year-old 50m breaststroke. The result followed a strong Queensland Country Championships campaign in Rockhampton in late January where he won silver in the 50m breaststroke and 50m freestyle, and bronze in the 50m butterfly. 
 
Oscar Wyatt and Rourke Bagley also competed on Saturday, both producing personal best times across their events.
 
The second day saw the younger swimmers take to the pool, led by Matthew Dolzon who won the Queensland State Sprint Champion (10 years S19 MC) title across all four strokes – 50m freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly – while completing eight races across the program. 
 
Maddison Searle finished 10th in the 11-year-old girls’ 50m freestyle and was first reserve for the 50m backstroke final, while her sister Ellanah Searle finished the meet with a determined swim and personal best in the 50m butterfly after a long day of racing. Vogue Miles achieved a PB in the butterfly and Willow McLennan impressed in her first State meet with PBs in freestyle and backstroke. Freyja Wyatt closed out the club’s competition with personal best performances across backstroke and breaststroke.
 
Head coach Leighanne Pokarier said the championships test both speed and resilience.

“The Sprint Championships are tough because they’re raced at high pace across all strokes, and swimmers who make finals can end up completing several races in a short duration,” she said.

“It’s a great learning meet, the skills and race execution we practise at training really matter in this format.”
 
Pokarier said the results highlighted the club’s growing strength and depth, with swimmers successfully competing against some of the State’s fastest athletes and building strong momentum heading into upcoming meets later in the season.

Contributed with thanks to Sevda Inan

Ehsan Helou- State Sprints 2026

Matthew Dolzan

Anisa Helou QLD Sprints 2026. Photos supplied

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Excitement is building across Airlie Beach, with the 2026 sporting season shaping up as one of the strongest yet.

At the heart of it all is the Whitsunday Sportspark, where local clubs, volunteers and families are once again coming together for a year of grassroots sport, connection and community pride.
 
With sign-ons underway and pre-season training already rolling, locals of all ages are getting active. From juniors pulling on boots for the first time to long-time players dusting off the kit, there’s a real buzz around the fields as teams prepare for what promises to be a big year.
 
The Sportspark is home to AFL, rugby, football, netball, cricket and touch football, with each code reporting strong interest and growing participation. Add in carnivals, come-and-try days and community events, and the precinct is set to be busy most afternoons and weekends.
 
Just as important as what happens on the field is what happens around it. Supporters are turning up, neighbours are stopping to watch, and families are making a habit of spending time at the park. It’s that shared experience – cheering from the sidelines, catching up with mates and supporting local sport – that continues to make Club Whitsunday a true community hub.
 
Behind the scenes, volunteers, coaches, referees and committee members are once again putting in countless hours to make the season possible. Their efforts help keep sport accessible, welcoming and enjoyable for everyone involved.
 
With strong club engagement, growing participation and a community keen to get behind its local teams, the 2026 season is shaping up to be something special. Whether you’re playing, volunteering or supporting from the sidelines, there’s never been a better time to get involved.
 
To be part of the 2026 season, contact your local club. Many are currently looking for players, coaches, referees and committee members. Make 2026 your year to get active, give back and be part of your community.

Contributed with thanks to Whitsunday Sportspark / Club Whitsunday.

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WHITSUNDAY TOUCH
Saturday 14th Feb 
4pm – 6pm
Juniors State Cup Trials
 
WHITSUNDAY UNITED FOOTBALL
Saturday 14th Feb
Kappa Cup Match Mens
6:30pm WUFC v FQPL
 
WHITSUNDAY TOUCH
Monday 16th Feb 
4:30pm – 5:30pm Rookies
6pm – 9pm Seniors Round 1

A squad of ten Whitsunday Swimming Club Swimmers delivered an impressive showing at the 2026 Queensland State Sprint Championships, held in Brisbane on February 7 and 8, recording personal bests, finalist placings and valuable championship experience across the two day meet.
All swimmers recorded personal best performances throughout the weekend. Charlie competed in six events, including two Open races, and posted a personal best in the 50m Butterfly, while Bella completed seven swims, also racing in two Open events, and achieved a personal best in the 50m Breaststroke.
Axel recorded a personal best in Butterfly from three swims, and Isaac achieved a personal best in the 50m Freestyle across four events. Chloe produced a strong all-round performance, recording three personal bests from three swims, while Evie achieved a personal best in Freestyle.
George competed in three events, secured three finalist placings, and achieved a National qualifying time in the MC 50m Backstroke.
The championships also marked a milestone for three swimmers competing at the event for the first time. Charlotte raced once and recorded a personal best on debut in Freestyle, while James competed in two events, achieving personal bests in both swims. Jesse, also attending the championships for the first time, recorded a personal best in his Freestyle swim.
The Queensland State Sprint Championships provided valuable racing experience for the team, with the results reflecting both individual improvement and growing depth across the squad.
Thank you to our coaches and parents who helped make these swimmers dreams come true. Many memories were made with this incredible team over the entire weekend.

Contributed with thanks to Whitsunday Swimming Club.

Photo supplied.

This week at Proserpine Golf Club brought a mixed bag, with challenging conditions disrupting events.
Wednesday’s bowls were washed out due to heavy rainfall, with the wet weather making the greens unplayable.
Friday night marked the first of the club’s weekly evening openings for the season. Although the rain again prevented bowls from going ahead, the clubhouse still welcomed members who came along to support the event and enjoy the social atmosphere. The weekly Friday night members draw was held, with the winning number being 39 – Bailey Bolam. As the winner was not present at the time of the draw, the prize will now jackpot to next week.
A sincere thank you goes to everyone who turned out on Friday evening despite the weather. With improving conditions forecast, the club is confident that numbers will continue to grow in the coming weeks.
Sunday afternoon provided a lovely opportunity to catch up with Mary Hedgelong, who is currently not bowling but stopped by for a chat and to enjoy watching the action for a while- it is always great to see familiar faces around the club.
On the green, a close contest saw Arthur Griffith, Bruce Uhe, Barry Zillmann and Mike Harrison draw with Arthur Griffith, Alen Sanderson, Philip Brown and Heather Brown, finishing level at 15 all.
Members look forward to better weather and another strong week at the club.

The Scroungers Round winner this week for A Group was Russ Jackson, and the winner of B Group was John Askew.
End-of-season playoff results were: Gold to Dennis Donadelli, Silver to Warren Mills, and Bronze to Tony Whitehorn.
Tuesday bowls had nineteen entrants. Ladda Purdie and Robin Brown defeated Tony Whitehorn and Lyn Hodder 36–11 to win Winner of the Day. Joan McGrath, Eric Barnard, and Sanda Argo defeated John Fielding, Gail Simms, and Maureen Barnard 28–22. Betty Whitehorn, Alan Pershouse, and Carol Crosbie (playing double lead) defeated John Brown, Kath Remmerswaal, and Carol Crosbie 27–15.
Wednesday midweek bowls saw eighteen players participate, allowing for the formation of three triples matches. John Anderson, Glen O’Brien, and John Fielding secured a victory over Barry Wainwright, Keith Bates, and Bob Spees to take first prize. David Meilklejohn, Merv Stewart, and Margo Stanley narrowly defeated Arthur McManus, Rene Thommen, and Terry Clarke by two shots.
The Wednesday evening Business House bowls competition has recommenced and is ideal for those wanting a light-hearted, friendly competition with a social atmosphere.
Friday morning Endeavour Group returned for fun bowls after the Christmas–New Year break. Happy birthday to Jett, who celebrated his 21st birthday within the last week.
There were four rinks of players for Sunday afternoon social bowls. The winning team was Lu Rogan, Dawn Dowell, and Andy McDougall, who won with the highest winning margin against Robin Brown, LouLou, and Elaine Kippen.
The club provides loan bowls for anyone interested in trying lawn bowls. Feel free to inquire at the club about free coaching lessons offered on Mondays and Thursdays from 4 to 5 pm. Stay updated by following the club on Facebook.

Contributed with thanks to Betty Whitehorn

Photo of the Scrounger Finalist provided by John Askew

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The weather has not been particularly kind to golfers this week so watch the timesheets carefully so you know what is being played. And when. Just in case things change at the last minute.

AND NOW FOR THE RESULTS : WEEK ENDING 1/2/26

TUESDAY 3/2/26
PGC - Stroke

MEN :
Winner : Gerald Lovell - 67 nett
R/Up : Adam Nissen - 69 nett

NTPs : Brock Smith (9th), Adam Nissen (13th), Geoff Harrison (16th)

LADIES :
Winner : Di Chard - 71 nett
R/Up : Leanne Alexander - 72 nett

NTPs :Di Chard  (2nd)

VETS : Feb MM/Putts

LADIES :
Winner : Leanne Alexander - 72 nett (C/B)
R/Up : Lyn Muller
3rd : Elspeth Scotford - 73 nett

NTPs : Lyn Muller (x2), Elspethe Scotford, Rehab Hull (x2)

MEN :
Winner : Jim Sherrington - 64 nett
R/Up : Gerald Lovell - 67 nett
3rd : Colin Hounsell -72 nett

NTPs : Gerald Lovell, Gary Scotford, Ken Granger, Wilf Herweg

Least Putts : Tina Badenhorst 27
Peter Lindsay and Jim Sherrington- 26

WEDNESDAY 4/2/26
Single Stableford - no comp

THURSDAY 5/2/26 - COURSE CLOSED
Jan MM sponsored by Loot Pay - postponed to 12/2 - weather permitting

FRIDAY 6/2/26 - COURSE CLOSED
9 hole Run sponsored by the Metropole Hotel

SATURDAY 7/2/26 - COURSE CLOSED
Medal sponsored by the Metropole Hotel
Rescheduled to 14/2 - weather permitting

SUNDAY 8/2/26
PGC - STABLEFORD - Front 9 holes
MEN :
Winner : Shaun Brown - 20 points (C/B)
R/Up : Jason Bourke

NTPs : Ireneusz Gruszczynski (2nd)

LADIES :
Winner : Kerrie Johannesen - 20 points (C/B)
R/Up : Lyn Muller

NTPs : Edwina Pettiford (2nd), Sandra Goldsworthy (9th)

Contributed with thanks to Tiina Randmae

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Mackay Road Runners Club will mark a very special milestone in 2026, celebrating 50 years of “Your running fix since ’76.” The club’s 50th anniversary will be formally celebrated with a gala dinner on Saturday, April 11, at the Mantra Mackay Harbour. Updates on how to join the celebration will be shared soon. Numbers for the gala dinner will be limited, so interested participants are encouraged to stay informed and spread the word.

Upcoming events with Mackay Road Runners:

   • Sunday, 8 February – 4.30pm: Social 5k and 10k at Bluewater Quay, followed by a short post-run warm-down and hydration session at the Red Dog.
   • Sunday, 15 February – 9am to 1pm: Mackay Regional Council Annual Sports Expo. Volunteers are required to assist at the Mackay Road Runners table. Contact Janelle on 0400 99 7432.
   • Sunday, 22 February – 5pm: Start of the 2026 Mackay Road Runners season at 24 Johnson Street, West Mackay. New and existing members are invited to run, walk or volunteer. Online registration is encouraged to be eligible immediately for handicap club points. Post-run refreshments will be provided.
   • Every Wednesday – 5.30pm: Free track training at the ARC (Aquatic & Recreation Complex), Ooralea, led by Club Captain Jim Ford. A $5 entry fee applies at the pool kiosk.

The club welcomes everyone to join in, whether running, walking, volunteering, or enjoying the social aspects of Mackay Road Runners’ activities.

Contributed with thanks to Janelle Tilse

(left to right): Andrew Short, Jo Hughes, Len Howarth, David Isbister, Carmel Mahon welcome back Daniel Stampa (right) after a 7-month secret training overseas vigil. Photos supplied

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Welcome back to all our returning players for 2026 and a big Welcome to our New Fixture Players. It is wonderful to come and enjoy our beautiful Air-Conditioned Centre.  Season 1 of Tuesday Evening Fixtures began with some very close and entertaining matches.

Division 1: Paris (Steve Whiting, Anne Sheridan, Josh Brown) def. Athens (Mick Ruhl, Graeme Walker) 7-4. Anne won a tight 5 sets against Graeme (4,-4,-9,2,9).

St Louis (Emma Widdup, Lily Boland, Neil Brown) def. London (Barry Patterson, Trent Day, Syed Hossain) 7-4. Neil and Barry battled it out for the biggest 5 set match with Neil coming out on top
(-10,-15,6,10,12).

Division 2: Stockholm (Geoff Cowan, Donna Abbott, Will VanDeKaa) def. Antwerp (YiLin Jiang, Andrea Nicholson, Robbie Richards) 9-2. YiLin beat Donna (-14,-7,10,5,6) in a great match.

Los Angeles (Allan Edwards, Mark Sleeman, Lee Brake) def. Amsterdam (Janice Kent, Graham Brake, Duncan Treloar) 6-5. Mark and Duncan had a massive battle to the end with Mark winning (-5,-9,12,8,10).

Division 3: Helsinki (George Camilleri, Dilini Ranasinghe, Darryl Ross) def. Berlin (Simon Hogan, Noreen Frederickson, Mark Stam) 8-3. Simon had a great battle with George (-10,-9,8,7,9).

Melbourne (Delma Knight, Rymer Tabulo, Ollie Hamelink) def. Rome (Ian McKay, Matt West, Peter Goodson) 7-4. Rymer won close 5 sets against Matt (7,9,-3,-9,9).

Division 4: Mexico City (Tiffany Camilleri, Dylan Ringwood, Archel Dela Cruz) def. Tokyo (Remy Zhan, Rachel Fiesta, Hollie Cleaver) 6-5. Dylan started well in his first night against Remy, by winning in 5 sets (9,-9,3,-3,5).

Montreal (Melanie Theodore, Craig VanDeKaa, Jeric Engay) def. Munich (Liz Burton, Amanda Liu, Eldan Japay) 7-4. Eldan had a great win against Craig (7.9.-4,-2,8).

Seoul (David Symons, Ricky Zhan, Daniel Warfield) def. Moscow (Jeff Bennington, Logan Brown, Mohmout Ahmad) 9-2. David had a close battle against Jeff, with David winning (10,9,-8,-5,10).
 
Contributed with thanks to Andrea Nicholson

Mark Sleeman
Duncan Treloar. Photos supplied

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The North Mackay Ladies Bowls Club kicked off its 2026 season with a Graded Fours Competition, welcoming 40 ladies to the green to compete for the first trophy of the year.

The winning team was Lesley Baumgarten, Daphne Offield, Jean Schmidtke and Ann Smith.

Second place went to Wendy McGee, Phyllis Cooper, Sue Hazledine and Chris Woo.

The club thanks all players for a great start to the year and looks forward to seeing everyone back next week for the Graded Triples Competition.

Contributed with thanks to Sue Hazledine.

Photos supplied

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Members of the Sinkers Masters Swim Club are a versatile lot and regularly join in other clubs’ events as well as hosting their own. 
On Australia Day 2026, the Mackay Triathlon Club hosted the Aquathon, with a number of Sinkers competing in the sprint, 2.5km run and 300m swim legs, with many even running and swimming the distances twice. 
A great team effort. 
FUN in FEB on Saturday 28th February is fast approaching and all are welcome. Entry is via Swim Central and closes on Feb 20th. https://mastersswimmingqld.org.au/event/sinkers-fun-in-feb-meet/ 
This is a local short course (25m) carnival at Mackay North State High School Pool (Valley Street) finishing with a fun after party.  
Swim 25m, 50m, 100m or 400m in any stroke and you can nominate up to 6 events.  
Save the Date: 2026 Whitehaven Open Water Swim – 4th October 2026. 
It’s the King’s Birthday long weekend, so stay the night and party into Monday. There’ll be crystal clear water, world famous white silica sand and an unforgettable swim experience! Whether you’re racing, challenging yourself or soaking up the atmosphere, it’s going to be an incredible weekend in Paradise. More details coming soon. 
Proudly supported by MSQ Masters Swimming Queensland.  
Sinkers Masters Swimming Club isn’t just for swimmers. It is inclusive of non-swimmers, those learning to swim again and a few using the water to recover from injury, as well as some serious competitors. The club holds regular social events with a morning tea held after each Saturday morning session at the DMR Memorial Pool. For information, please call Megan on 0439980103. 
Contributed by Gerri Kissner 

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Mackay players Max and Diane Holewa, Janelle Conroy and Terry Sheedy played in the Townsville Australia Day Congress. Max and Diane came second in the Walk-ins, Janelle and Terry second in the Swiss Pairs, and all combined to win the Division A Team event. Noel Bugeia came a respectable fourth in the Swiss pairs at the Festival of Bridge in Canberra earlier in the month.

Weekly Results

Tuesday Evening 27 January 2026 – 5 Table Mitchell Green Points
1st Eric Goodchild / Noel Bugeia 1st Adrian Westcott / Patricia Garner
2nd Mick King / John McGee 2nd Martin Pearce / Christopher Myers

Wednesday 28 January 2026 – 8 Table Mitchell Green Points
N/S E/W
1st Max Holewa / Diane Holewa 1st Janet Hansen / Alan Brown
2nd Monica Darley / Frances Brown 2nd Jan Harris / Sandra Morris
3rd Faith Hutchinson / Geoff Cowan 3rd Terry Sheedy / Lorna Shuttlewood

Thursday Evening 29 January 2026 – 3 Tables One Winner – Green Points
1st Martin Pearce / Karen Caldwell 2nd Terry Sheedy / Noel Bugeia 3rd Jan Harris / Diane Stokes

Friday 30 January 2026 – 8 Table Mitchell Green Points
N/S E/W
1st Susan Wright / Geoffrey Patterson 1st Noel Bugeia / Terry Sheedy
2nd Christine Fitzpatrick / Joy Block 2nd Sandy Patterson / Eric Goodchild
3rd Lorna Shuttlewood / Debra Goodchild 3rd Christine Nice / Diane Cox
4th Joy Robinson / Jewel Schmidt 4th Martin Pearce / Gwen Liddell

Saturday 31 January 2025 – Section A - 7 Table Mitchell Green Points
N/S E/W
1st Mary Rose Ramsden / Chris Nice 1st Lorna Shuttlewood / Susan Wright
2nd Frances Brown / Christopher Meyers 2nd Marilin Robins / Faye Wright
3rd Janelle Conroy / Robert Carless 3rd Jan Harris / Griffin Bancroft

Saturday 31 January 2025 – Section B – 7 Table Mitchell Green Points
N/S E/W
1st Joy Robinson / Ken Seaniger 1st Monica Darley / Nancy Martin
2nd Sandy Patterson / Joy Hold 2nd Max Holewa / Diane Holewa
3rd Annette Howe / Jewel Schmidt 3rd Eric Goodchild / Debra Goodchild

Contributed with thanks to Joy Block

Terry Sheedy, Janelle Conroy, Max Holewa and Diane
Noel Bugeia. Photos supplied

Mackay Surf Lifesaving Club recently travelled to Alva Beach, Ayr to compete in the North Barrier Branch Champion Lifesaver Carnival.  The event involves lifesavers being assessed on their surf sports fitness, patient assessment & CPR skills and a detailed theory paper. 
Mackay SLSC Director of Surf Sports, Josh Grant said “This competition is extremely important in developing the skills of our lifesavers. These are the youth who patrol our beaches for the community and make going to the beach safe & enjoyable.  It is a very challenging multi-disciplined event that tests competitors in a number of different scenarios that could one day save someone’s life.” 
“The surf club’s lifesavers had some outstanding individual results with U17’s Nate McKinnon & Zara Richardson taking out 1st in Champion Lifesaver as well as 1st in First Aid.  U15’s females Cadence McKinnon finished 1st with Isabella Grant coming in 2nd in Champion lifesaver, and as a team placed 1st in the First Aid competition.  With U15 male Nate Espartinez taking out 1st place also” said Mr Grant
“The club is extremely proud to see our lifesavers excel at such an important event.  This was all thanks to the coaching of Cathy McKinnon & Stewart Richardson who will now lead the team heading into state championships on the Gold Coast this weekend, so we can hopefully retain our current positions as state champions in their age groups.” 
Contributed by Josh Grant.

Start of the surf race. 
U17’s Zara Richardson & Nate McKinnon undertaking  a scenario as part of the first Aid competition, which they placed 1st. 
Mackay SLSC Champion Lifesaver Team – competitors, officials, coaches and parents. 

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An innovative refit of Queensland’s flagship marine patrol vessel, Reef Ranger, is set to strengthen the protection of the Great Barrier Reef while supporting local jobs and advancing sustainable marine operations across the state.

Operated by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) in partnership with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Reef Ranger has worked across the Reef for more than a decade, acting as a floating ranger base for multi-day field operations, scientific research, compliance patrols and Traditional Owner partnerships.

For Whitsundays residents, the Reef is not a distant icon but a living part of the region. The Whitsunday Islands sit within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, with coral reefs beginning as little as 20 kilometres offshore and extending throughout the island group. These reefs underpin the region’s tourism industry, marine biodiversity and coastal lifestyle, making their protection critical to the local economy and environment.

Completed in 2025, the Reef Ranger refit introduces state-of-the-art technology designed to improve efficiency while reducing environmental impact. The upgrades were carried out by specialist Queensland contractors, including Rivergate Marina and Shipyard, supporting skilled jobs and local industry.

Key improvements include new Euro V-compliant propulsion engines, significantly reducing carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions and eliminating black smoke. The vessel can now operate on hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) diesel; a lower-emissions renewable fuel made from waste oils and sustainable feedstocks, subject to availability.
A new hybrid power system has also been installed, combining solar panels, lithium-ion batteries, engine-driven alternators, traditional generators and shore power while in port. This system reduces reliance on diesel generators and lowers overall fuel consumption and emissions.

The final stage of the refit will see the installation of an innovative hull vane foil system, one of the first operational uses of this technology on a government vessel in Australia. The system reduces drag and improves fuel efficiency, with estimated savings of around 50 tonnes of fuel per year — equivalent to the annual energy use of seven to ten average households. A silicone-based antifouling coating has already been applied to the hull, improving performance and making cleaning easier.

The 23.9-metre aluminium catamaran operates for approximately 240 days each year, travelling more than 12,000 nautical miles annually, a distance equivalent to more than six full circumnavigations of Australia since its launch in 2014. With accommodation for 16 crew and support for multiple smaller vessels, Reef Ranger plays a vital role in maintaining reef health across vast and often remote areas.

Among its most significant contributions is its support of major conservation initiatives such as crown-of-thorns starfish monitoring and control, and the Raine Island Recovery Project, delivered in partnership with Traditional Owners. These programs combine Traditional ecological knowledge with modern science to protect culturally and environmentally significant reef systems.

The Great Barrier Reef contributes an estimated $9 billion each year to Australia’s economy and supports around 77,000 full-time jobs, making it one of the nation’s most important natural assets. Tourism alone accounts for nearly 90 per cent of this economic value, a reality strongly felt in regions like the Whitsundays.

Queensland and Australian Government investment in vessels like Reef Ranger reflects a long-term commitment to reef protection, innovation and sustainability. For coastal communities, including those in the Whitsundays, the refit represents not only environmental stewardship but also reassurance that the Reef, central to local livelihoods and identity, is being actively safeguarded for future generations.

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The Reef Ranger after its 2025 refit, featuring low-emissions andhybrid technology to boost protection of the Great Barrier Reef.

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