At Mackay Contract Bridge Club

Well done to the Mackay Team who travelled to the Moreton-Bribie Teams and Pairs 2025 Congress. In an outstanding field of players, Diane Morgan, Janet Hansen, Francie Brown and Alan Brown won the Open Teams event. The second week of the Anne Hird Trophy was played on Wednesday with Andrew Canavan currently leading the coveted event.

Weekly Results

Monday 11 August 2025 – 8 Table Mitchell Green Points
N/S E/W
1st Janelle Conroy / Terry Sheedy 1st Helen Van Den Broek / Jan Harris
2nd David Ting / Eric Goodchild 2nd Geoff Taylor / Nancy Martin
3rd Barbara Tait / Josie Crowley 3rd Andrew Canavan / Geoffrey Patterson
4th Edward Kleise / Diane Stokes 4th Mary Rose Ramsden / Sandy Patterson

Tuesday Evening 12 August 2025 – 4 Table One Winner Green Points
1st Marilin Robins / Faye Wright 2nd Janine Rodgers / Andrew Canavan
3rd Janelle Conroy / Geoff Taylor 4th Terry Sheedy / Helen Van Den Broek

Wednesday 13 August 2025 – Anne Hird Memorial Trophy Week 2 of 3 Novice event
N/S E/W
1st Jayne Johnson / Geoff Taylor 1st Andrew Canavan / Geoffrey Patterson
2nd Jewel Schimdt / Janet Hansen 2nd Joy Hold / Terry Sheedy
3rd Martin Pearce / Joy Robinson 3rd Colleen Riddel / Gwen Liddell
4th Sandy Patterson / Debra Goodchild 4th Susan Gibson / Jan Harris

Thursday Evening 14 August 2025 – 3 Table One Winner Green Points
N/S E/W
1st Janine Rodgers / Janelle Conroy 2nd Martin Pearce / Terry Sheedy
3rd Geoff Taylor / Christopher Meyers 4th Jan Harris / Patricia Garner

Friday 15 August 2025 – Week 16 of 25 NWP 10 Table Mitchell Green Points
N/S E/W
1st Geoff Taylor / Joy Robinson 1st Lorna Shuttlewood / Debra Goodchild
2nd Terry Sheedy / Janelle Conroy 2nd Roland Taylor / Lynne O’Neill
3rd Janine Rodgers / Richard Wix 3rd Mary Rose Ramsden / Patrick Rasmussen
4th Martin Pearce / Gwen Liddell 4th Alan Brown / Frances Brown
5th Ming Ting / David Ting 5th Jewel Schmidt / Annette Howe

Saturday 16 August – B4 Week 1 of 2 - 11 Table Mitchell Red Points
N/S E/W
1st Eric Goodchild / Debra Goodchild 1st Errol Morris / Ian Gaskell
2nd Geoff Taylor / Terry Sheedy 2nd David Ting / Ming Ting
3rd Joy Robinson / Ken Seaniger 3rd Janine Rodgers / Jan Harris
4th Susan Ross / Geoff Cowan 4th Patricia Garner / Geoffrey Patterson
5th Julie O’Neill / Griffin Bancroft 5th Helen Van Den Broek / Joy Brunette

Contributed by Joy Block

Alan Brown, Diane Morgan, Janet Hansen, Pres.Robert and Frances Brown

Andrew Canavan and Joy Robinson. Photos supplied

A sparkling Queensland winter’s day gently opened the starting gate for the 40th Hamilton Island Race Week, presented by AMEX, on-water program.

The Dent Passage starters spent the morning ashore in postponement drinking coffee and chatting and the Eastern starters bobbed around under beautiful sunshine for a couple of hours, as humpback whales played freely nearby. Sailing can be a waiting game - sailors are accustomed to it - it’s one of the reasons they are generally relaxed at all levels of the sport.

Shortened courses accommodated the later start times, a light NNW - ESE breeze in Dent Passage off Hamilton Island Yacht Club enough to get Rating, Super 40, Hamilton Island Blue and Multihull Racing divisions underway.

Ron Epstein’s JPK1180 Bacchanal nabbed a first race win in Rating division 2 with his mixed team sailing for the Corinthian Yacht Club of San Francisco California and the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia.

“Half our crew are Californians who hadn’t seen the boat until two days ago,” Epstein said.

“Our goal is to have a blast and sail well. We’ve started the week off the right way points-wise; the good news is there’s a lot we can do better. This is an incredible place to sail. There was a moment today when my main trimmer Shane took the wheel, to make sure I looked around.”

Andrew McInnes owns one of three trailer yachts transported to the Whitsundays from Ballina on the NSW North Coast.

The crew of McInnes’ Seascape 25se Alfina took the racing delay out at Eastern in their stride, practicing and even grabbing a snooze before racking up for a start around 1.30pm.

“It was a good shakedown race,” McInnes said. “We had new people in the boat, so the light breeze was great for us,” the owner said.

The Palm Beach Motor Yachts Trans-Tasman 49er Exhibition Series also commenced today as part of the 40th anniversary Race Week. Thirteen Olympic skiffs pitted Australia and New Zealand against one another over three races, with three more tomorrow and Tuesday August 19 and a final double points race.

Photos supplied

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The Whitsunday Game Fish Club’s Airlie Beach Tackle World-sponsored Billfish and Tuna Rally is set for the 13th and 14th of September, and it promises to be a busy weekend with excellent numbers of Sailfish, Juvenile Black Marlin, Mackerel, and Tuna around this season.

The event kicks off with a briefing and angler registration on Thursday, 11th September at 6 pm at the club on Altmann Avenue, Cannonvale. The rally is free and open to all club members.

Fishing takes place on Saturday, 13th, and Sunday, 14th, with a social raft-up at Stonehaven Anchorage on Saturday night for those boats choosing to stay out. All activities, sheers, tag cards, and any fish to be weighed for rally or club points must be at the club by 4 pm on Sunday, 14th, to allow the presentation of some great prizes at 5 pm. Full details will be explained at the briefing.
Don’t miss this one—it promises to be an exciting weekend! We thank Sam and the team at AB Tackle World for their support.

Also, mark your calendar for the bait and lure rigging and information workshop on Wednesday, 3rd September at 6 pm at the club. This workshop is packed with helpful tips on rigging troll baits using circle and J hooks, tackle setup, locating various species, and other useful ideas for anglers of all levels.

Everyone is welcome. The bar and sausage sizzle will open from 6 pm, and club membership forms will be available for anyone interested in joining a club where the whole family can enjoy fresh-air sport—no PlayStation or Gameboy required.

Finally, a special congratulations to club member Jasmin Smith for winning Queensland Champion Junior Female Angler at the recent QGFA Annual Awards. A fantastic achievement!

All our juniors performed admirably throughout the year and are already off to a strong start with some very impressive catches.

Contributed with thanks to Ashley Moore

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Nice long tail Tuna for the table. Photo supplied

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Rugby Union - Proserpine/Whitsunday Rugby Union Club
Grand Final
Saturday 23 August
Womens vs Bowen Rugby Union Inc at Whitsunday Sportspark
4:15pm - Premier Grade vs Mackay Brothers Rugby Union at Whitsunday Sportspark

Football - Whitsunday United FC
Friday 22 August
6:00pm – Mackay Lions Div 2 Men vs Whitsunday United FC Div 2 Men at Mackay Lions Soccer Club
8:00pm – Mackay Lions Div 1 Men vs Whitsunday United FC Div 1 Men at Mackay Lions Soccer Club

Saturday 23 August
9:30am – Mackay Rangers FC U13 Div 1 vs Whitsunday United FC U13 Div 1 at Mackay Football Park
9:30am – Mackay Wanderers U13 FQPL Rubies vs Whitsunday United FC U13 FQPL at Mackay Football Park
9:30am – Mackay Rangers FC U14 Gold vs Whitsunday United FC U14 at Whitsunday Sportspark
11:15am – Whitsunday United FC U15/16 vs Magpies U15/16 Black at Whitsunday Sportspark
5:00pm – Whitsunday United FC U23 Men vs Magpies U23 Men at Whitsunday Sportspark
7:00pm – Whitsunday United FC Men vs Magpies FC Men at Whitsunday Sportspark

Women’s
Saturday 23 August
3:00pm – Whitsunday Dolphins FQPL vs Wanderers at Whitsunday Sportspark

AFL - Whitsunday Sea Eagles
Senior Elimination Finals
Sunday 24th August
11:00am Reserves - Mackay Magpies vs Eastern Swans at Whitsunday Sportspark
12:40pm Senior Women - Whitsunday Sea Eagles vs Moranbah Bulldogs at Whitsunday Sportspark
2:10pm Senior Men - Whitsunday Sea Eagles vs Bakers Creek Tigers at Whitsunday Sportspark

Touch Rugby - Whitsunday Touch
Round 4 Fixtures at Whitsunday Sportspark

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In a great round of football, Whitsunday United maintained a clean sheet with not a single goal scored against any side! Unfortunately, the weekend was marred by multiple forfeits of our home games by Mackay clubs with our Div2 Men, U14 and U13 Div1 players all missing out on games.

The Div men hosted wanderers on Friday night eager to gain momentum at the end of the league season. Div 2 received a late forfeit win which helps the cause but was a missed opportunity to build for possible finals football.

Div 1 took on a in-form Wanderers side who have almost been scoring at will. The first half was tight with possession mostly with WUFC and wanderers playing on the counter. A mix up by their keeper gave us the lead before an unstoppable shot from Jake made things a bit more comfortable at half time. The second half was frantic for 15 minutes, wanderers battling to get back in but the defence kept them at bay leading to the WUFC attack running riot. 5 goals followed from some high pressing and quality in front of goal for a final 7-0 scoreline. A big confidence boost ahead of next week's game which is looking to be the league decider

WUFC U13 Prems battled to a determined 1-0 victory over Mackay Rangers at Mackay Football Park in a tense and hard-fought contest. The first half was a tight affair with few clear chances, as both teams defended strongly to head into the break locked at 0-0. The second half followed a similar pattern, though both sides began to create more opportunities. With about 15 minutes to play, Nelson M broke the deadlock for WUFC. From there, WUFC dug deep, holding their advantage until full time to secure a memorable win — their first for the season against Rangers. The result keeps the league title race alive and highlights the team’s resilience and fighting spirit.

The Whitsunday U15/16 continued the good form building confidence as the finals approach. A strong 4-0 victory over Lions Gold was a confidence building win as the team sits in 4 position on the table

Whitsunday Women’s brilliant team spirit shone in a commanding 7–0 away win over City Brothers. Michelle opened the scoring with a well-earned goal before Bre doubled the lead and a deflected own goal from another Michelle strike made it 3–0 at half-time. The second half brought a flurry of goals, with Karlee firing a screamer from distance, Bre curling in her second, Sarah adding a sixth, and Kiki finishing smartly to round out the victory. A dominant display with a pleasing variety of goals from across the team.

Whitsunday FQPL U23 Men faced tough opposition against Lions FC in must win games to keep top 2 dreams alive. Reserve grade came in with full confidence after an array of victories, however the game was a tight affair. A 1 nil win ensued with a decisive strike from Cialan Dollard ensuring all 3 points came home.

In premier league, Lions were top of the table, and deservedly so, being the most consistent team all year. Whitsunday came out with a great attitude and scores were deadlocked at half time. A penalty from Sean McCarthy and a great strike from Reef Peel gave Whitsunday United a much needed 2 nil victory and now the top 3 positions in the premiership are separated by just two points. With two games to go, this Sunday’s game against the new top of the table Magpies is going to be a nail biter!

Contributed with thanks to Allan Milostic

A happy and confident U13 FQPL squad – third in a competition separated only by 3 points

The Airlie Beach Triathlon Festival was buzzing with energy last weekend, and the Cannonvale Cannons were right in the thick of it, showing their strength both in the water and on land.

Saturday’s Junior Triathlon saw a strong turnout from our young Cannons, with Lucas Korosec, Zavier and Caleb Woolston, Lily Woolston, River and Penelope Shields, Sophie Palmero, Pippa Laguna and Finn Temple all giving their best in their respective age groups. A special congratulations goes to Lucas Korosec, who was the first individual triathlete across the line in the 8–10 years age category — a fantastic achievement.

Not content with just one event, Lucas, River and Penelope then backed up to compete in the 300-metre open water swim. The trio exited the water in close succession, finishing second, third and fourth overall. Roxanne Groom also took on her first open water competition in the 750-metre swim, storming home in first place with an impressive time of 9:36.

On Sunday, attention turned to the triathlon events. Roxanne Groom, Matilda Nicholes and Gracie Laguna all represented the club with grit and determination. Matilda shone in the Enticer Triathlon, finishing as the third female across the line, while Gracie followed closely as the fifth female finisher. In the Sprint Triathlon, Roxanne proudly represented the club as the swim leg in her team, whilst Cannons dad Bruce Laguna also made his mark, winning his age group and placing as the fourth male overall.

The weekend wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication of volunteers. A huge thank you goes to Mark and Raylene for lending their time as lifesavers across multiple events, and to all the families who manned the barbecue on Sunday, raising funds to support the club while keeping hungry athletes fuelled.

Well done to all our Cannons athletes for a weekend of outstanding results and team spirit!

Contributed with thanks to Jade Korosec

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Grace Laguna, Roxanne Groom and Matilda Nicholes after their triathlon events
River Shields and Lucas Korosec after their first open water event

Photos supplied

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The Port Denison Gun Club’s two-day annual shoot on July 26–27 attracted a strong field of 64 competitors from across Australia, including visitors from Tasmania, Victoria, Brisbane, Clermont, Dysart, Mackay/Sarina, the Burdekin, Townsville and Charters Towers.

Caravans began arriving from Wednesday, and by Friday the grounds were almost full. The weekend offered great competition, friendly rivalry, and a warm country welcome — complete with hearty meals from Kerry and Cheryl in the kitchen, a Friday night BBQ, and a roast dinner on Saturday.

Saturday dawned sunny and clear with only a light breeze — rare for “Blowin’ Bowen.” Despite the favourable conditions, only 12 possibles were recorded across the day. Joe Sebastiani shot the only possible in the 30T Medley (Event 1) to take the overall win, while Joe Caruso claimed the Port Denison Championship (Event 2) with a perfect 111/111. Michael Zabala was the standout of the day, taking the Double Barrel Championship (Event 3) with 100/100 and securing the Overall High Gun with 246/250.

Sunday began with light showers before clearing to another fine day. Nick Munro claimed the DB Continental (Event 4) with 68/68, while Peter Scott scored the only possible in the DB Handicap (Event 5) to take first place.

High Gun winners were: Overall – Michael Zabala; AA – Lindsay Groat; A – Brad Rea; B – Nick Munro; C – Chris Robertson. Junior High Gun went to Alex Sebastiani, Ladies to Robyn Mikkelsen, and Veterans to Anthony Lord.

The club thanked its many sponsors, prize donors, volunteers and competitors for making the weekend a success. The next competition will be held on Sunday, August 24.

Contributed with thanks to Colin Edgerton

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After a great winter holiday, many visitors are heading home. We wish them safe travels and hope to see them again next year.

Monday’s triples saw Maureen Hyde, Alby Vigar, and Ron Hyde claim victory over Graeme Read, Kennedy Whitton, and Mark Drummond. Runners-up were G. Wills, G. Cornell, and M. Eames, who defeated E. Dunn, John F., and G. Coleman. The jackpot didn’t go off.

On Tuesday, N. McKinnon, D. Retchless, M. Wilson, and J. Walsh defeated I. Hide, V. Boskma, P. Wilson, and N. Dawson. Runners-up James Maurie and John overcame Elaine, Pam, and Geoff. Again, the jackpot didn’t go off.

Fun Friday winners Mary Jackson and Maureen Hyde defeated Grant Hands and Shirley Smith. Runners-up were Carole Bellingham, Jan Harvey, Ron Boskma, and Joe Paynting, who beat Karen, Pam, Alan Gillies, and David Madden. Resting touchers went to Mary, Jim, Neil, Judy, and Jan.

In club competition, the men’s triples were won by Mark Drummond, Kennedy Whitton, and Kevin Daniels, who defeated Jason Wright, Mitch Wright, and Steve Roome.

Sunday’s triples featured eight teams, with Viv Boskma, Ron Boskma, and France Wilmann emerging winners over Karen Halkon, Shirley Smith, and Ron Symmons.

Runners-up Judy Christie, Jack Stamp, and Greg Kelly won the mango against Louise Sheldon Collins, John Hallas, and Norm Dawson.

Congratulations to Denise Wallace and Penny Warren, who partnered with Bernadette Hay and Denise Davis from Thuringowa to win the District Fours at the North Queensland Ladies District Championships in Townsville. Denise was named Player of the Tournament for the most wins across singles, pairs, and fours, earning the Roswell Trophy.

Contributed with thanks to Penny Warren

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NQ District Championship 4s winners - NQ President Lyn Riches Bernadette Hay Penny Warren Denise Davis and Denise Wallace.

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A brave group of six men and eleven ladies took on the threat of inclement weather at Tuesday’s Stableford, with conditions fortunately holding for a smooth round. Some members also competed in the Wintersun tournament in Mackay, showing the club’s competitive spirit.

Elspeth Scotford had a standout day, finishing as runner-up in the Tuesday competition while also claiming the nearest-the-pin award. The day also saw a remarkable achievement from Tiina Randmae, who scored a hole-in-one – every golfer’s dream.

In the ladies’ division, Robyn Whitham claimed victory with 32 points, followed by Anna Winterbourn on 29 and Jan Shuwalow on 28. David Woods led the men’s field with 33 points, with Nick Apruzzese runner-up on 31. John Roser also scored 31 but fell short on a countback, while Gerald Lovell finished with 30.

Notable pin shots included Tiina Randmae’s hole 13 ace, multiple efforts from Robyn Whitham, and solid performances from Ken Granger, Nick Apruzzese, John Roser, John Oates, and Peter Lindsay. Nick Apruzzese also chipped in on hole 18 for a birdie, capping a memorable day for the club.

Contributed with thanks to Paula McQuat

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David Woods & Robyn Whitham. Photo supplied

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This weekend the Under 200s, sponsored by the Metropole Hotel, Proserpine Bowls Club and Cane Country Tyres, was held in absolutely perfect weather conditions. Players from Marian, Souths Suburban, Northern Beaches, Airlie Beach, Giru, Ingham and Proserpine came to put in their best games of competitive bowls in the quest to win this event and have their names etched into the trophy.

Before I get on to the results, we'd like to thank all those people who made this event possible and such a success.

Our loyal sponsors: Metropole Hotel, Proserpine Bowls Club and Cane Country Tyres. The players who nominate and travel for this event every year. We were a little down on previous years in numbers, but we are sure that some who didn't take up their invitations this year will have others who will jump at the opportunity to maybe get an invitation in 2026.

We thank Andrew Bell and David Ling and all who assist them in the maintenance and preparation of the green. A lot of work has gone into the surface over the last couple of years to bring it up to the condition that it is in, in terms of running speed and trueness of line. This is being consistently worked on, and the results of all the knowledge, effort and improvement plans are beginning to show.

We thank Bruce Uhe for having all the catering plans in place for the weekend and those who offered to assist and then stepped up to put plans into place when Bruce was ill. Thank you Ken Watts, Henny Tattam, Lee King, Arthur Griffith, Alen Sanderson, Philip Brown. Also, thanks to Betty Petersen and Jo Inch who were visiting with players and, as always, assisted. We thank Trevor Parsons who cooked the BBQ on Saturday and Dale Haack who stocked the bar and cooked Sunday morning breakfast.

We thank Maryann Harrigan who once again gave up time to assist in the bar when needed and sold a mountain of raffle tickets for us. Also, Tammy our bar staff for the weekend, and all who jumped in to assist when needed and who did the late hours and closing up.

Thank you to all of our Board Committee who worked behind the scenes to plan and make this event the success that it was.

Winners of this year's Under 200s were the Airlie Beach team of John Matterson, Peter Barrett, John Fielding and Warren Mills with 5 Wins plus 47. Warren also won the Major Raffle, taking home a $750 Bowlers Paradise Gift Voucher. Runners-up were a Proserpine team of Kendall Watts, David Ling, Dale Haack and Shane Kinnear with 5 Wins plus 41. Third place was a Souths Suburban/Proserpine team of David Peet, Sam Lurton, Grahame Kinnear and Peter Blackburn. Fourth was a Proserpine/Bowen/Sydney team of Gus Munro, Nathan Dodds, Jonathan Bye and Scott Hamilton. Round winners were Manny Isgro, Chubby Leather, Peter Blackburn, Shane Spann and Barry Saroglia.

Social bowls from Wednesday: Alen Sanderson and Heather Brown defeated Arthur Griffith and Mike Harrison 28–27; Henny Tattam and Philip Brown defeated John Anderson and Sandy Daffara 24–21.

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Under 200s Winners John Matterson, Peter Barrett, John Fielding and Warren Mills from Airlie Beach with Proserpine President Scott Hamilton.

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It was another fantastic week of bowling at the Airlie Beach Bowls Club, with the all-weather dome ensuring plenty of action on the greens.

On Wednesday, sixteen players took part in social bowls. The standout pairing of Warren “Wazza” Wilson and Arthur McManus claimed a convincing 33–11 win over Barry Wainwright and Tony Kelly. Sunday saw twenty-eight bowlers take to the green, where Tony Kelly bounced back in style, teaming with Robin Brown and Ken McAllister to record a commanding 36–11 victory.

In ladies’ competition, club pairs champions Betty Nicolle and Ladda Purdie narrowly missed out on the Champion of Champions title at Seaforth, falling to South Suburban by a single shot in a tie-breaker. Meanwhile, the ladies’ triples champions—Carol Crosbie, Joan McGrath, and Betty Nicolle—claimed a thrilling win at Marian, edging out North Mackay by one shot. Trailing by four shots on the 20th end, the trio staged a remarkable comeback to pick up five shots on the final end and secure victory.

Airlie Beach was also well represented in the Proserpine Under-200’s Men’s event across the 16th and 17th of August. The winning side came from Airlie, with John “Matto” Matterson, John Fielding, Peter Barrett, and skip Warren “Millsie” Mills lifting the title.

The Saturday Scroungers final will be played on the 20th of August, with thanks extended to John Askew for his efforts in coordinating this much-loved weekly competition.

The club also expressed gratitude to the many members and friends who have been working hard behind the scenes to prepare the surrounds of the green ahead of the October Men’s Carnival.

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Di Jackson’s journey is a testament to the power of sport in rebuilding identity, fostering community, and providing hope beyond her diagnosis of Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia. Through her determination, she continues to inspire others to embrace new challenges and find strength through sport.

Di’s drive to stay active led her to the 2024 DoD Warrior Games in Florida, an adaptive sports competition for current and former military personnel. The experience not only reignited her competitive spirit but also reconnected her with the camaraderie of service.

Competing alongside other veterans was life-changing. “They challenge you and inspire you to try things you never thought achievable,” said Di.

Lawn bowls keeps Di engaged with her community, archery and hand cycling help her focus on upper-body precision and control, while powerlifting has pushed her to new personal bests. In December 2024, she competed in powerlifting at the Pan Pacific Masters Games, taking out gold in her category. She has just returned from the 2025 Para-Powerlifting National Championships on the Gold Coast, where she claimed bronze in her category.

Archery has now become a key focus for Di, after being identified in the Future Green and Gold Talent Search, run by the Australian Institute of Sport and the Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS), as a potential Paralympic pathway athlete.

“I never thought archery would be something I’d be able to competitively take up, but the Warrior Games gave me the opportunity to try. Now, it’s an exciting new challenge for me, and I want to see how far I can go,” she said

Di has just returned from a Para Archery Classification and Development weekend held in Brisbane, where she received briefings from QAS staff and coaching from the National Coach and National Assistant Coach. The weekend was about more than the National Pathway Program – it was about celebrating the passion, resilience, and dedication of para-archers and building a strong, supportive environment for success.

Sport has also provided Di with structure and clear goals. Whether it’s training for her next powerlifting meet or refining her archery technique, she believes that having something to strive for keeps her motivated and engaged.

“Sport gives you focus. It pushes you to train and set new goals.”

Di is greatly supported by Driven Athletica, PhysioPlus, and LK Strength Coaching. “You never do these things on your own – there’s always people alongside you, supporting you.”

Contributed with thanks to Di Jackson

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The Bowen Polocrosse Club hit the highway in full force recently, travelling to Gordonvale for the Pyramid Polocrosse Carnival in what felt like a regional convoy of floats, utes, horses, and determination. With gear packed, horses loaded, and a solid playlist (or two) on rotation, players from Bowen, Sarina, Proserpine, and Townsville made the journey north to represent the Bowen Polocrosse Club with pride.

Bowen 1, made up of Bryce Watson, Adam Burns, and Teneale Griggs, had a strong start to their weekend, winning their A/B Grade decider against Chinchilla to secure a spot in A Grade. Although they didn’t manage another win in the tough A Grade pool, they played hard, had a blast, and gained valuable experience competing at the top level.

Meanwhile, in B Grade, Jesse Foster joined the Rest of the World (ROW) team alongside Gail Bradshaw (Pyramid) and Theresa Grant (Burdekin). With their team graded just one point above C Grade, they faced a challenging run starting with an A/B Grade decider and didn’t notch a win all weekend. Still, there were plenty of positives, with Jesse and her young creamy horse stepping up defensively and stopping more than a few goals, showing grit and determination throughout the carnival.

In C Grade, Bowen 2 – featuring Wade Bidgood, Rhadaya Bidgood, and Shannon Burns – finished as B Grade runners-up, with individual awards recognising their outstanding play.
Wade Bidgood took out both Best No.1 and Best Working Horse, while Rhadaya Bidgood was named Best No.2, capping off a strong weekend for the Bidgood siblings.

In the Subbies division, Bowen’s younger riders also shone:
Ollie Foster, playing alongside Harry Carr and Laura Seccull from Townsville, was part of the winning Subbies team.
Lachlan Foster, with Felicity Alley and Tessa Claxton, finished as runners-up, showing great teamwork and skill.

Adam Burns was recognised for his contribution beyond the saddle, receiving Best Umpire of the carnival – a nod to his leadership, fairness, and experience on the field.

It was a weekend of great competition, community spirit, and plenty of kilometres. The Bowen Polocrosse Club continues to show what regional commitment looks like—bringing passion, sportsmanship, and pride to every carnival they attend.

Contributed with thanks to Ellisa Hunter

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Photos supplied

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The Proserpine Showground was alive with activity as caravans from across Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland gathered for this year’s Wintersun Annual Carnival. A full field of 137 players competed — including 47 ladies and 90 men — with Proserpine veterans well represented by 15 ladies and 18 men. Thanks go to everyone who contributed their time and donations, helping make the event a huge success.

Congratulations to the 36-hole champions: Ladies champion Sharon Ischenko from Yeppoon scored an impressive 77 points, while Proserpine’s own John Strelec won the men’s title with 71 points.

Other overall winners:

Ladies Div A: Winner Julie Berick (Kew) 67, Runner-up Robyn Drowley (Goombungee) 67
Div B: Winner Edna Atkinson (Gordonvale) 67, Runner-up Proserpine’s Sherri Meade 65
70+ Category: Winner Edna Atkinson 67, Runner-up Gloria Davis (Nowra) 63
Men Div A: Winner Boyd Vickers (Mackay) 66, Runner-up Dennis Davis (Nowra) 63
Div B: Winner Proserpine’s John Roser 69, Runner-up Allen Roberts (Proserpine) 67
Div C: Winner Alan Dwyer (Tallebudgera) 66, Runner-up John Coey (Howlong Country) 61
75+ Category: Winner Alan Dwyer 66, Runner-up Eric Hudson (Leeton) 63

Proserpine Notables:
Monday Ladies Div A winner Elspeth Scotford (36) and runner-up Leanne Alexander (33), who also took NTP honours. Div B winner Jan Shuwalow (32) and runner-up Jacqui Wall (32), with Anna Winterbourn claiming NTP.
Men’s Div B runner-up Laurie Dakin (35) and Div C NTP John Strelec.
Tuesday Div C winner Barry Shuwalow (36) and Div B runner-up Colin Hounsell (39).

Contributed with thanks to Paula McQuat

The Queensland Game Fishing Association recently held its Annual General Meeting and Awards Night, hosted this year by the Townsville Game Fish Club.

The Whitsunday Game Fish Club achieved outstanding results, winning both the All-Ports Champion Club for Zone 2 (Mackay, Whitsunday and Townsville) and the coveted All-Ports Champion Club for Queensland. The All-Ports competition is held over two nominated weekends each year, with clubs from across the state competing. For one of the smaller clubs to take out both titles is a remarkable effort.

There was also recognition for individual achievements. Junior member Kane Bird received a Junior Encouragement Award for his dedication and improvement over the year. Jasmin Smith was acknowledged for her tag and release of various species.

The club’s junior program is thriving, with a growing number of talented young anglers enjoying friendly competition. The club encourages more local kids to get involved and experience the fun of fishing.

Next on the calendar is an informative workshop on Wednesday, September 3, at 6pm at the clubhouse in Altmann Avenue, Cannonvale. Topics will include rigging baits and lures for sailfish, marlin, tuna and mackerel, tackle and boat set-up, and techniques for targeting these species.

The session comes ahead of two major events — the Billfish & Tuna Rally on September 13–14, and the Airlie Beach Tackle World/Daiwa Light Tackle Tournament from October 16–19.

The Whitsunday GFC looks forward to seeing anglers of all experience levels join in the action.

Contributed with thanks to Ashley Moore

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