Mackay Surf Lifesavers recently headed to the Queensland Youth State Titles on the Sunshine Coast to take on the best of the best in the state, finishing with a record 13 state medals.

The club competed as part of the North Barrier Branch Team, which consists of the top competitors from Sarina to Ingham.

Mackay SLSC Director of Surf Sports, Josh Grant said “We are so very proud of what our lifesavers have achieved at a state level. Our volunteer coaching team have worked extremely hard to get our lifesavers to achieve at this elite level.

“We are a small but strong club, who are up against massive clubs with huge financial budgets to spend on their athletes.  We do it out of love for our sport, commitment to our youth & the community, and this is what makes us strong, this is our club culture. Mackay will always punch above it’s weight when it comes to big lifesaving events.”

The branch team finished an impressive 9th place out of 36 clubs statewide. With Mackay Surf Club athletes being a big contributor to the team’s overall success.

“It is a real credit to our parents, who are our Nipper family, to get their little champions to training, to branch carnivals and then to states to see them achieve at such a high level. It is a very proud achievement for Mackay and our region” said Mr Grant.

Full results from the Qld State Championships;

U11

Lachlan Griffith – 3rd surf teams, 22nd Surf swim final

U12

Aria Tobin – 1st individual 1km Beach run, 2nd 2 x 500m beach run relay, 3rd beach relay, 3rd All Age relay, 3rd Mixed beach relay

Talon Close – 3rd individual beach sprint, 3rd All Age relay, 3rd Mixed beach relay

Crue Tobin – 12th Board final, 3rd Mixed beach relay

U13

Johnny Grant – quarter finals for beach sprint / flags

Kody Amos - quarter finals for beach sprint / flags

U14

Hayden Tobin 3rd 2 x 1km beach run relay

U15

Isabella Grant – 1st Mixed relay, 2nd March Past

Cadence Mckinnon – 22nd Surf swim final

Contributed with thanks to Josh Grant

1 - U12 Aria Tobin – Club Champion taking home 5 x medals & dominating the 1km individual beach run.

2 - Mackay’s U12 Crue Tobin making the final of the board race finishing a close 12th

3 - U12 Talon Close – 3rd individual beach sprint

Twenty-one Mackay Cyclone Swim Club qualifiers travelled to Rockhampton over the Australia Day long weekend to compete in the inaugural Queensland Country Championships.

Coach Leigh-Anne Pokarier said it was a significant achievement for the athletes to not only meet the qualifying standards, but to compete alongside regional swimmers from across the state at such a high level.

“For many of our State and National level athletes, travelling to Brisbane and the Gold Coast multiple times each year to compete is the norm,” she said.

“Having this level of competition closer to home is a financial blessing for many families.”

The championships have been years in the making, thanks to the efforts of Swimming Queensland and the team at Southside Aquatics, including Rocky City coach Shane Kingston.

The Cyclones were represented across every age group, with 10-year-old Harper Miles the club’s youngest qualifier and senior swimmers Vaughn Wyatt and Ehsan Helou, both 17, leading the older ranks.

Several athletes used the meet to chase qualifying times and refine preparations ahead of April’s major national competition on the Gold Coast. Among those targeting key performances were 13-year-old Montana Townley, 16-year-old Audrey Bryan, 13-year-old Tamika Ness and sprint specialist Ehsan Helou in the 50-metre events.

Across three days of heats and finals, the 21-strong team delivered an impressive collective performance, securing fourth place overall out of 45 clubs.

It was a result built on teamwork, determination and pride — and one that reflects the strength of swimming talent emerging from regional Queensland.

One thing was clear throughout the weekend: the Mackay Cyclones were fired up, excited and ready to race at this historic first-time event.

Photos and article courtesy of Alisha Ness.

As we approach the middle of the season in our beautiful cool Air Conditioning.  There has been a lot of incredible matches.  

Evening Fixtures

Division 1: London (Trent Day, Barry Patterson, Vince Boeske) def Paris (Steven Whiting, Josh Brown, Anne Sheridan) 7-4, Vince came out on top in tight 5 Sets against Anne (8,4,-3,-8,8).  Athens (Mick Ruhl, Geoff Denman, Graeme Walker) def St Louis (Emma Widdup, Neil Brown, Danial Warfield) 6-5, Mick and Emma battled it out to the end with Mick winning (9,-8,1,-7,8)

Division 2 saw all 4 teams play some very long 5 Setters.  Amsterdam (Janice Kent, Graham Brake, Duncan Treloar) def Stockholm (Geoff Cowan, Donna Abbott, Will VanDeKaa) 9-2, the only 5 Set match was the doubles between Janice and Duncan defeating Will and Geoff (-9,16, 4,-7,3). Los Angeles (Lee Brake, Allan Edwards, Mark Sleeman) def Antwerp (Andrea Nicholson, Yilin Jiang, Robbie Richards) 8-3, Yilin and Lee went down to the death with a massive 5 Set match, Yilin won

(-10,11,-9,8,16).

Division 3: Melbourne (Ollie Hamelink, Delma Knight) def Berlin (Mark Stam, Noreen Frederickson) with players missing from each team, they played 2 on 2.  Melbourne won 3-2, Mark won close 5 Sets against Delma (8,-9,10,-5,6).  Rome (Ian McKay, Peter Goodson, Matt West) def Helsinki (George Camilleri, Dilini Ranasinghe, Darryl Ross) 7-4, Matt beat Dilini in great 5 Sets (-4,7,-9,14,7).

Division 4: Tokyo (Nate Clark, Rachel Fiesta, Hollie Cleaver) def Seoul (David Symons, Regina Wulf, Ricky Zhan) 6-5, Nate and Regina played a good 5 Sets with Nate winning (6,-8,7,-7,2).  Munich (John McGee, Liz Burton) def Mexico City (Tiffany Camilleri, Dylan Ringwood, Archel Cruz) 7-4, John beat Tiffany in close 5 Sets (-6,6,6,-3,10).  Montreal (Rod Hamelink, Jeric Engay) def Moscow (Mohmout Ahmed, Logan Brown, Jeff Bennington) 7-3, there were no 5 Set matches.

Morning Fixtures

Division 1: Byte Bouncers (Andrea Nicholson, Branko Vucurovic, Veronica Shepherd) def Code Crackers (Geoff Cowan, Delma Knight, Darryl Ross) 9-3, Veronica and Darryl battles continue to be very long 5 Sets with Veronica winning this round (9,-5,5,-8,9).  Nano Nets (Donna Abbott, John McGee, Peter Goodson) def Pixal Paddles (George Camilleri, Judy Zahn, Kevin Abbott) 9-3, Donna and John won doubles against George and Judy (6,-2,-6,3,14)

Division 2: Tokyo Turners (Kim Daffy, John Hamelink, Sally Muir) def Sydney Slammers (Gloria Vella, Josie Davis, Ken Best) 7-5, Gloria and Sally played a massive match with Gloria winning (-8,9,8,-6,12). London Loopers (Bryan Marshall, Louise Gould, Pam Keune) def Paris Spinners (Val Austin, Ian Dodds, Chris Collins) 8-4, Val beat Pam in close 5 Sets (7,6,-4,-8,7).

Division 3: Solar Comets (Sharon Muller, Gerry Synnott) drew with Mars Pioneers (Kim Challendar, Myles Dutton, Allison Day) 6-6, no 5 Set matches but were some close games.  Luna Legends (Coral Morgan, Janelle Keune, Laurie Bradshaw) def Rocket Stars (David Muir, Madge Saunders, Trish Zamparutti) 7-5, Coral played a great match against David with Coral winning (12,-6,-8,8,12).

Contributed with thanks to Andrea Payne.

‍

More than 50 runners, including existing members and newcomers, turned out for the annual Rural View 5/10km event despite inclement weather. Club President Paul Tilse welcomed and thanked runners and volunteers before delivering the race briefing, outlining the course and sharing club notices.

Junior runner Isaac Hammer produced an outstanding performance in the 5km, taking line honours in 25 minutes and 50 seconds over the technical and hilly Rural View course. His younger sibling and father also completed the run. Jose Short was the first female across the line in the 5km, followed by emerging runners Gail Mackie and Rebecca Malcolm.

In the 10km event, Michael Feenaghty and Rhiann Massey were the first male and female finishers, handling the challenging terrain which included several loops through the undulating hills of the scenic rural residential suburb.

Thanks were extended to club merchandiser Jo Hughes, who organised the club’s 50th anniversary singlets, proudly worn by many runners at the event.

The club also reminded members about its 50th Anniversary celebrations, to be held at the Mantra Mackay Marina on April 11. Those wishing to attend can RSVP and purchase tickets for the two-course dinner by contacting publicity officer Janelle Tilse.

This Friday, March 6 marks the launch of the 2026 BMA Mackay Marina Run, headlined by the Mackay Airport Twilight City 5km Fun Run. The event begins and finishes at the Fish Bones on Bluewater Quay, with runners asked to arrive by 5.30pm for a 6pm start. All registrations are online, with proceeds supporting the Mackay branch of the Leukaemia Foundation.

With Mackay Road Runners heavily involved in the event, the club will instead host a social 6/10km run this Sunday at 5pm from the Mackay Surf Club in place of its usual handicap points run. Members are encouraged to check the club’s 2026 program to plan their running goals for the year.

Contributed with thanks to Janelle Tilse

– Isaac Hammer had an outstanding 5km Rural Viewrun despite the many undulating ascents and descents and strong headwinds.

– John Rae (#91) takes the lead from the scratch start over approximately 50 runners at the Rural View 5/10km.

– Tim Magoffin and Teresa Hackney enjoy the final descent in the 5km Rural View run.

– Michael Feenaghty (left) and Ryan Murray in sync in the 10km Rural View event.

– (left to right) – Craig, Rhiann, Andrew, Emily, Tahnie, Susan and Gail listen intently to the race briefing at the Rural View 5k/10k.

– Kayla Waugh enjoying the final stages of the 5km Rural View run.

– Timekeeper, Rohan Miles enjoys some downtime after the Rural View 5k/10k with Max and Ashley Miles. Photos supplied

‍

BUT FIRST

Fixtures : w/ending 1/3/26 : subject to weather conditions

Mon 23/2: Social play

Tue 24/2 : PGC & VETS - Stableford

Wed 25/2 : Stableford/Ladies 4BBB

Thu 26/2 : Stableford

Fri 27/2 : Metropole Hotel 9 hole run

Sat 28/2 : Stableford sponsored by the Airlie Beach Hotel

Sun 1/3 : March MM sponsored by KJC

AND NOW FOR THE RESULTS : WEEK ENDING 15/2/26

Not a good week for golf, constant rain meant the course was closed for the week, apart from Tuesday.

TUESDAY 17/2/26

PGC - Stableford

MEDLEY :

Winner : Tim Langford - 34 points

R/Up : Gerald Lovell - 33 points

3^rd : Brock Smith - 31 points (C/B)

4^th : Lyn Muller

NTPs : Larry Muller (2^nd), Ashley Morley-Hart (9^th), Louis Neethling (13^th)

VETS : Stableford

LADIES :

Winner : Lyn Muller - 31 points

R/Up : Jenny Hounsell - 26 points

MEN :

Winner : Gerald Lovell - 33 points

R/Up : Larry Muller - 30 points

3^rd : Gary Scotford - 28 points

NTPs : Jenny Hounsell, Lyn Muller and Paula McQuat for the ladies, Larry Muller, Gary Scotford and Peter Lindsay (x2) for the men.

WEDNESDAY 18/2/26 TO SUNDAY 22/2/26

COURSE CLOSED

The Jan MM scheduled for 1/3 will be rescheduled for a date to be advised.

* * *

Contributed with thanks to Tiina Randmae.

‍

It was a huge week for the Cannonvale Cannons, swimmer delivered outstanding performances at the Townsville Lightning Swim Club Long Course Meet followed by another record-breaking Distance Night at home.

A small but mighty team of six Cannons made the trip to Townsville and made their presence known. Tora Delac delivered a standout swim in the 100m Butterfly, clocking a massive 9.22 second personal best to secure her fourth National qualifying time, a result that came as a wonderful surprise to Tora and her family.

Miller Eaves, Jax Eaves and Lucas Korosec dominated their age groups, each claiming gold in all of their events. Jax also notched impressive personal bests in three of his four swims. Miranda Palmero and Harris Delac enjoyed a strong meet, each achieving PBs in 50 per cent of their races.

With generous cash prizes on offer at the Lightning Carnival, Tora, Miller and Lucas also returned home with a well-earned stash of prize money, a fantastic reward for their commitment and preparation.

Back at our home pool, the Cannons’ second Distance Night of the season once again delivered exceptional results. These nights provide swimmers the opportunity to chase big personal bests and club records as they are permitted to ‘swim-up’ to distances not yet upgrade to, and this week did not disappoint.

New club records were set by Celeste Orenshaw (12 years 1500m Freestyle, 21:30.67), becoming the first 12-year-old female to meet the benchmark time set when the club commenced almost 30 years ago. Miller Eaves (10 years 400m Individual Medley, 6:36.61), Lucas Korosec (9 years 400m Individual Medley, 6:36.11) and Harry Chegwidden (8 years 200m Breaststroke and 100m Butterfly) also etched their names into the record books.

Roxanne Groom, Hamilton Anflous and Liam Filewood achieved 1500m Freestyle upgrades, an outstanding endurance milestone.

Contributed with thanks to Cannonvale Cannons.

Captions

1. Celeste Orenshaw
2. Harry Chegwidden

Photos supplied

‍

It was a quiet start to the week at Wangaratta Bowls Club, with no social play on Tuesday and the much-anticipated Opening Day on Sunday cancelled due to unpredictable weather.

Despite this disappointment, several visiting club members from Townsville and Home Hill made the effort to travel to Bowen and enjoyed an afternoon of social bowls on Sunday afternoon.

Winners were Meryl Smith, Skin Querio and Kevin Daniels, who defeated Scott Taylor, Alby Vigar and Greg Colquhoun.

Other winning teams were:

Bill Myers, Mark Drummond and Allan Rolfe, who defeated Lindy Suann, Gavin Charles and Pat Tracey.

Toni Bowen, Celly Jeal and Kennedy Whitton, who defeated Wendy Pohle, Deb Retchless and Ron Smith.

Bernie Holland and Laurie Land, who defeated Boof Querio and Stuart Jeal.

The jackpot did not go off.

A reminder to all members that social play now commences at 1:00pm, with names to be submitted by 12:30pm.

Contributed with thanks to Penny Warren

1- Victorious Sunday Winners Kevin Daniels and Meryl Smith. Photo supplied.

‍

Mackay will make cricket history this August, hosting its first-ever international Test match.

Cricket Australia confirmed on Wednesday, 25 February, that the Great Barrier Reef Arena will stage the second Test of the 2026 NRMA Insurance Men’s Test Series against Bangladesh. The match runs from 22–26 August 2026, with play starting at 10am local time each day, giving fans the chance to watch world-class cricket on home turf.

Mayor Greg Williamson said council was excited to build on the success of the two one day internationals played at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in 2025.

“The Australia versus South Africa games were tremendous.  Both games were sell-outs and they showed us that we can attract strong crowds to our region for these world-class matches,” Mayor Williamson said.

“To their credit, the team at the Great Barrier Reef Arena also showed that they can deliver matches of this calibre and cater for crowds in excess of 5000 without a hitch,” he said.

“This Test match is going to be an exciting first for us and council is extremely proud to be able to play our part in bringing this Test to our region with the Invest Mackay Events and Conference Attraction Program.”

CEO of Great Barrier Reef Arena Adrian Young said this was a defining moment for the region.

“Hosting our first Test match is recognition that Mackay has earned its place on the international stage,” Mr Young said.

“It also reflects the confidence that Cricket Australia has in our venue, our team and our community,” he said.

“We have consistently demonstrated over several years that we can deliver elite international women’s and men’s cricket at the highest standard.

“As we continue to plan for Stage 2 of the venue’s development and look forward to playing a part in the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics, this Test match cements Great Barrier Reef Arena’s reputation as northern Australia’s premier cricket venue.”

Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg said northern Australia was perfectly positioned to host high-quality Test cricket outside the traditional summer window.

“We’re delighted to bring Test cricket to Mackay and look forward to a fantastic series against Bangladesh,” Mr Greenberg said.

“It is no secret the international calendar is now crowded and we’re fortunate to have world class facilities available in August ensuring we have another window for Test cricket outside summer,” he said.

“Great Barrier Reef Arena has proven to be an outstanding venue for international cricket in recent seasons and we’re grateful to the Queensland Government, Mackay Regional Council and Harrup Park for their strong support.”

Mackay will make history this August, hosting its first-ever international Test match at the Great Barrier Reef Arena as part of the 2026 NRMA Insurance Men’s Test Series against Bangladesh from 22–26 August. Photo source: Great Barrier Reef Arena

‍

Grand National Open Teams

The first round of the 2026 Grand National Open Teams (GNOT) heat for Mackay Contract Bridge Club was played on Saturday. The (GNOT) is an Australia-wide event conducted by the Australian Bridge Federation (ABF). It is the only opportunity for players to earn Gold Masterpoints in their local club. After three rounds each region qualifies one or more teams to play online in the National Qualifying final. They then progress to either the National team final or in Mackay’s case the Country team final. Ten teams completed in Mackay, with team Goodchild overall winners. The next rounds will be played in March and May.

Weekly Results

Monday 16 February 2026 – 10 Table Mitchell Green Points

N/S

E/W

1^st

Diane Morgan / Sandy Ford

1^st

David Ting / Eric Goodchild

2^nd

Jan Harris / Helen Van Den Broek

2^nd

Noel Bugeia / Geoffrey Patterson

3^rd

Gwen Liddell / Griffin Bancroft

3^rd

Janine Rodgers / Patricia Garner

4^th

Terry Sheedy / Janelle Conroy

4^th

Sue Mayer-Miller / Karen Caldwell

5^th

Rodney Miles / Joy Hold

5^th

Monica Darley / Nancy Martin

Tuesday Evening 17 February 2026 – 5 Table Mitchell Green Points

1^st

Marilin Robins / Faye Wright

1^st

Eric Goodchild / Noel Bugeia

2^nd

Janet Hansen / Lorna Shuttlewood

2^nd

Martin Pearce / Sandy Patterson

3^rd

Adrian Westcott / Patricia Garner

3^rd

Janine Rodgers / Susan Gibson

Wednesday 18 February 2026 – NWP - 11 Table Mitchell Green Points

N/S

E/W

1^st

Janelle Conroy / Noel Bugeia

1^st

Terry Sheedy / Lorna Shuttlewood

2^nd

Monica Darley / Gwen Liddell

2^nd

David Ting / Eric Goodchild

3^rd

Joy Robinson / Robert Carless

3^rd

Janet Hansen / Alan Brown

4^th

Ming Ting / Debra Goodchild

4^th

Christine Nice / Diane Cox

5^th

Josie Crowley / Barbara Tait

5^th

Geoffrey Patterson / Sandy Patterson

Thursday Evening 19 February 2026 – 4 Tables One Winner – Green Points

1^st

Terry Sheedy / Noel Bugeia

2^nd

Janelle Conroy / Janine Rodgers

3^rd

Jan Harris / Julie O’Neill

4^th

Faye Wright / Adrian Westcott

Friday 20 February 2026 – 10 Table Mitchell Green Points

N/S

E/W

1^st

Max Holewa / Diane Holewa

1^st

Frances Brown / Alan Brown

2^nd

Josie Crowley / Victor Mason

2^nd

Lorna Shuttlewood / Debra Goodchild

3^rd

Jewel Schmidt / Monica Darley

3^rd

Janelle Conroy / Jan Harris

4^th

Noel Bugeia / Terry Sheedy

4^th

Nancy Martin / Kath Poole

Saturday 21 February 2026– Round 1 Grand National Open Teams – 10 Team Mitchell - Gold Points

Team

Players

1^st

Goodchild

Debra Goodchild, Eric Goodchild, Ming Ting, David Ting

2^nd

Sheedy

Kevin Sheedy, Lorna Shuttlewood, Janelle Conroy, Noel Bugeia

3^rd

Hanson

Faye Wright, Marilin Robins, Frances Brown, Alan Brown, Janet Hanson, Diane Morgan

4^th

Morris

Sandra Morris, Annie Lynch, Janine Rodgers, Jan Harris, Andrew Canavan

Sunday 23 February 2026 – Novice and Mentors - 7 Table Mitchell Green Points

N/S

E/W

1^st

Janet Hansen / Diane Morgan

1^st

Janine Rodgers / Jewel Schmidt

2^nd

Joy Block / Diane Stokes

2^nd

Anne Lutz / Ian Vary

2^nd

Adrian Westcott / Glen Cocup

3^rd

Susan Gibson / Karen Caldwell

Contributed with thanks to Joy Block

Caption: David, Ming, Debra & Eric. Photo supplied

‍

Tuesday Evening

Division 1 – Paris (Steve Whiting, Josh Brown, Anne Sheridan) def Athens (Goncalo Serra, Graeme Walker, Geoff Denman) 7-4, with no 5 set matches.  St Louis (Emma Widdup, Lily Boland, Neil Brown) def London (Trent Day, Barry Patterson, Danial Warfield) 9-2 with Neil winning a great 5 Set match against Trent. (-8,10,7,-8,6)

Division 2 – Antwerp (Andrea Nicholson, Robbie Richards, Yilin Jiang) def Stockholm (Geoff Cowan, Donna Abbott, Will VanDeKaa) 9-2, Geoff and Andrea battled it out to the end with Geoff finished on top. (10,9,-4,-9,10)  Los Angeles (Mark Sleeman, Allen Edwards, Lee Brake) def Amsterdam (Janice Kent, Duncan Treloar, Graham Brake)  8-3.

Division 3 – Helsinki (George Camilleri, Darryl Ross, Steve Mathieson) def Berlin (Simon Hogan, Mark Stam, Noreen Frederickson) 6-5, George and Steve defeated Simon and Mark during a close 5 Set doubles match. (-2,7,-6, 11,8)  Rome (Ian McKay, Peter Goodson, Matt West) def Melbourne (Ollie Hamelink, Delma Knight, Rymer Tabulo) 7-4. Rymer took Ian down with tight 5 Set match. (-7,6,5,-6,5)

Division 4 – Tokyo (Remy Zhan, Rachel Fiesta, Hollie Cleaver) def Moscow (Mohmout Ahmed, Logan Brown, Jeff Bennington) 6-5, Mohmout and Logan defeated Remy and Hollie was a great 5 Sets. (-4,8,-9,9,4)  Mexico City (Tiffany Camilleri, Dylan Ringwood, Archel Cruz) def Montreal (Craig VanDeKaa, Melanie Theodore) 8-3.  Seoul (Kirsten Edwards, David Symons, Ricky Zhan) def Munich (Liz Burton, Amanda Liu) 7-4, with David and Ricky defeated Liz and Amanda in 5 Sets (8,-9,-10,5,8)

Tuesday Morning

Division 1 – Code Crackers (Donna Abbott, Steve Mathieson, John McGee) def Nano Nets (Doug Dungavell, Delma Knight, Darryl Ross) 7-5, Doug and Darryl sealed the win with the doubles against Donna and Steve. (-4,7,-7,8,12)  Byte Bouncers (Andrea Nicholson, Branko Vucurovic, Veronica Shepherd) def Pixal Paddles (George Camilleri, Judy Zahn, Kevin Abbott) 9-3. Andrea over turned to win against George from 2 Sets down to win in 5 Sets (-7,-8,9,8,6)

Division 2 – Paris Spinners (Val Austin, Ian Dodds, Robyn Bushell) wiped the floor with Sydney Slammers (Ken Best, Josie Davis) 12-0, no 5 Set matches, it was very one sided.  London Loopers (Bryan Marshall, Louise Gould, Pam Keune) def Tokyo Turners (Kim Daffy, John Hamelink, Sally Muir) 8-4, Louise came out on top against John in close 5 Sets. (-4,6,4,-6,7)  

Division 3 – Rocket Stars (David Muir, Madge Saunders, Trish Zamparutti) def Solar Comets (Sharon Muller, Gerry Synnott, Glenda Brooks) 7-5. Trish and Glenda battled out a great 5 Sets, with Trish winning (-9,-7, 8,6,9)  Mars Pioneers (Kim Challender, Allison Day, Cheryl Pearson) def Luna Legends (Coral Morgan, Laurie Bradshaw, Janelle Keune) 8-4, with Cheryl won a close 5 Sets against Coral. (8,10,-6,-7,8)

Contributed with thanks to Mackay Table Tennis‍

1 Neil Brown. Photo supplied

2 Trent Day. Photo supplied

The extreme humidity made running tough this afternoon for over 50 runners as the Mackay Road Runners formal 2026 program kicked off from West Mackay.

President Paul Tilse welcomed all new and existing members to the first social run on the calendar with the first handicap points run commencing next Sunday Morning at Rural View. Paul thanked the 2026 incoming committee for their generous assistance and backing up from the 2025 year.  Paul also congratulated Merchandiser, Jo Hughes on the awesome 50th Anniversary singlets that were ordered some months ago however, only recently arrived in time for handing out at the Tilse Toddle, very impressive work from Jo and the singlet Supplier, NFE.  

Those wanting to secure one of these spectacular singlets, can contact Jo and you too can be seen in one of these special edition singlets for $35. Thank you also to Jo for organising the 50th Anniversary cake, which was expertly cut by Life member, Judy Zahn, signifying the formal start of the Club’s 50th year of successful running in the region.

Past and present members and any interested persons are very welcome to join in the celebrations with our 50th Anniversary dinner booked at the Marina Mantra on Saturday 11th April.  Please secure your seat now for $65 per person with RSVP to Janelle Tilse 0400 99 7432 or publicityofficer@mackayroadrunners.com  Pre payments are required by 28th March, however, we urge you to get in now as there are only 80 spaces available at the amazing Mackay Mantra Marina View Venue.

With the first handicap run of the season on next Sunday morning, please register yourself as a member online asap so you can start accruing valuable handicap points immediately.  Please check the calendar online at mackayroadrunners.com for start location, time and course map to assist in following the directions given at the race briefing on the morning and following the very well-marked course arrows set up by Andrew Short.  Thank you, Andrew, for taking on the course marking once again this year, everyone please thank him, as he gets up very early to have the course ready for you!

Contributed with thanks to Janelle Tilse

– Life Member Judy Zahn cuts the 50th Anniversary cake at the formal Mackay Road Runners Seasoner Opener event, The Tilse Toddle in front of over 50 runners and supporters. Photo supplied

– Kim Saron (left) is excited for the first formal run on the Mackay Road Runners 2026 program. Photo supplied

– Tim Dalton takes Hazel for a spin at the Mackay Road Runners Tilse Toddle Season Opener event. Photo supplied

– Carolyn Mapes snatches line honours from Tahnie Malagueno and Alan Zamparutti in a spontaneous sprint finish. Photo supplied

– Levi Wallace finishes off a huge weekend of racing at the Tilse Toddle 10km Season Opener. Photo supplied

– Kayla Waugh bolts from the gun at the Mackay Road Runners Season Opener, The Tilse Toddle. Photo supplied

‍

Mackay Surf Lifesaving Club’s Surf Rescue Team recently travelled to Broadbeach on the Gold Coast, to compete in the QLD State Surf Rescue Championships.  The multidiscipline event involves lifesavers being assessed on their surf sports fitness, patient assessment & CPR skills and a detailed theory paper, after qualifying at a Branch level.

U15 competitor Cadence McKinnon took out 1^st place, closely followed by Isabella Grant who claimed 2^nd in the state as female Champion Lifesavers, with Nate Espartinez taking out 6^th in the U15 male category.  Mackay’s U17 competitor Zara Richardson took out 4^th in a hotly contested female division.

“The club is extremely proud of our Champion Lifesavers for representing Mackay and showing that our lifesaving skills are the best in the state.  They have been training for months, under experienced coaches to achieve this result” said Josh Grant, Director of Surf Sports. “It is very reassuring for the club and community to have our youth not only take an interest in surf lifesaving but also excel in this at an elite level.  Our competitors will be heading off to the Australian titles which only allows 9 competitors from around Australia to qualify. The whole club is behind them & wish them the best of luck.”

Contributed with thanks to Josh Grant.

1. Mackay’s Surf Rescue Team (L-R) U17 Zara Richardson, U15 Isabella Grant, U15 Cadence McKinnon and U15 Nate Espartinez. Photo supplied
2. Current State & National Champion Cadence McKinnon (centre) took out 1st place, with Isabella Grant taking out 2^nd (left) for Mackay. Photo supplied
3. Mackay’s U15 Females after their board race. Photo supplied
4. The team ready to complete CRP & patient assessments at Broadbeach on the Gold Coast. Photo supplied
5. Competitors getting ready for the start of the tube race. Photo supplied

A major new study reviewing more than 1,000 clinical trials has found exercise may be one of the most effective and accessible treatments for depression and anxiety; a finding that strongly aligns with the Whitsundays’ active lifestyle and growing running community.

The research was led by Neil Munro, a PhD candidate in the Department of Psychology at James Cook University, and analysed a vast body of global evidence examining the relationship between exercise and mental health outcomes.

“There have been more than a thousand studies on this subject, we wanted to synthesise this vast body of evidence, cut through conflicting findings and provide the clearest picture yet of exercise’s impact on mental health,” said Mr Munro.

The research team conducted a “meta-meta-analysis”, reviewing 81 separate meta-analyses that collectively included nearly 80,000 participants across more than 1,000 individual trials.

Mr Munro said the findings were particularly strong for people with diagnosed depression and anxiety disorders.

“There were particularly strong effects for people with diagnosed depression and anxiety disorders. For depression specifically, the greatest benefits were seen in two key groups: people aged 18 to 30 and postnatal women,” he said.

“This finding is especially significant given how under-served these populations often are in accessing traditional mental health care.”

The study found aerobic activities such as walking and running delivered the greatest benefits, particularly when exercise was supervised or undertaken in groups.

“Supervised and group-based programs delivered the greatest benefits. For anxiety, shorter-term programs of up to eight weeks, performed at a comfortable pace, were especially effective challenging the idea that only intense workouts yield results,” said Mr Munro.

These findings mirror the structured training opportunities offered by the Whitsunday Running Club, which provides a supportive weekly schedule including interval training, social runs, parkrun and long slow runs across Airlie Beach and Cannonvale.

• Tuesday, 5.30am: Speed and intervals — Airlie Beach Lagoon carpark
• Wednesday, 5.15pm: Slow group run (6–10km) — Cannonvale Beach
• Thursday, 5.30am: Hills — Airlie Beach Lagoon carpark
• Saturday, 7.00am: Airlie Beach parkrun — Coral Sea Marina
• Sunday, 5.30am: Long slow run — Airlie Beach Lagoon carpark to local routes

“Rather than simply advising individuals to ‘exercise more’, referrals to structured, supervised programs may be key,” Mr Munro said.

“For those facing barriers to traditional care, the message is clear: moving your body, especially with others, can be a powerful step toward better mental health.”

Residents are encouraged to lace up for their mental health with Whitsunday Running Club offering several regular group sessions. Photo source: Whitsunday Running Club

‍

Whitsunday FC and Brothers FC played out a thrilling seven-goal encounter, with Brothers storming back to claim a dramatic 4–3 victory after an end-to-end contest.

Brothers created numerous chances throughout the match, applying constant pressure and testing the Whitsunday defence from the outset. Whitsunday struck first when Ben Smith converted a free kick that ricocheted off the post, rebounded into a defender, and spun over the line to open the scoring. Brothers responded well and found an equaliser to level the scores at 1–1 midway through the half. Whitsunday regained the lead before the breakthrough Reef Peel, who produced a pearler from the corner of the 18-yard box, delicately chipping the keeper to send his side into half-time 2–1 ahead.

Whitsunday started the second half strongly, and their relentless pressing paid off when pressing machine Kristian Mulholland forced a turnover and finished clinically to make it 3–1. Despite the two-goal cushion, Brothers refused to fade. Continuing to create opportunities, they capitalised on defensive lapses and shifted the momentum late in the contest, scoring three unanswered goals to complete a determined comeback and secure a hard-fought 4–3 victory.

Contributed with thanks to Alita DeBrincat.

‍

The Airlie Beach Triathlon Festival is officially eclipsing all records. What began as a local community race has firmly established itself as a flagship fixture on the national sporting calendar, recently securing a historic milestone: its first-ever round of Queensland State Government funding in its 25-year history.

Supported by Tourism and Events Queensland, the festival was one of only three sporting events to receive backing from a pool of 43 applications. This investment is set to supercharge the regional economy, driving overnight stays and showcasing the Whitsundays to a national triathlon audience.

The accolade follows a string of successes for the volunteer-run organisation. After being named the Queensland Triathlon Association's "Club Initiative of the Year" in 2024, the event placed national runner-up for "Best Triathlon (Under 500 Participants)" ai the AusTriathlon awards in December 2025 – beating out over 70 triathlons nationwide.

Race Director Michael Kimpton credits this momentum to a passionate executive committee and the support of over 60 local businesses.

The 2026 festival, held from July 24-26, promises another year of exhilarating triathlon.

Highlights include a professional meet-and-greet, the Junior triathlon, and the main event - the certified Standard Distance triathlon on Sunday. Closing out the weekend events with a bang is a fireworks-filled banquet at Coral Sea Resort on Sunday Evening.

With entries selling faster than ever, the committee is now working on the 2026 event. A refreshed Sponsorship Prospectus will launch shortly, offering local businesses elite branding opportunities and category exclusivity.

To join this award-winning legacy, contact Race Director Michael Kimpton at info@airliebeachtriathlon.com.au