Whitsunday United FC (WUFC) men delivered a spirited set of performances in their opening round clashes against Mackay Lions, with a mix of results and valuable lessons on the road.

The U23s controlled proceedings from the outset, dominating possession and moving the ball confidently. Despite creating several chances, they were unable to break the deadlock, settling for a 0–0 draw. A clean sheet away from home, with several players making their debuts, provides a promising foundation as they begin their title defence.

In the Premier fixture, WUFC made a fast start against the reigning champions. Premier debutant Aaron Kinsella opened his account from the penalty spot after Reef Peel was brought down, before doubling the lead soon after with a composed finish from another Peel assist. Lions responded strongly in the second half, levelling the match before briefly taking the lead. However, Whitsundays showed resilience, with Max O’Keefe firing home to secure an entertaining 3–3 draw.

Division 1 Men showed plenty of attacking promise despite a 4–3 loss. Goals from Sam Reynolds, Rale Mudford and Nathan Sothmann highlighted their quality, but defensive lapses and fatigue allowed Lions to edge a closely contested encounter.

Division 2 Men produced a disciplined performance to claim a 2–0 win. Phil McAllister and Sam Watson both found the net in the first half, capitalising on their chances, while the side managed the game well after the break to deny Lions any momentum.

Across all grades, WUFC showed encouraging signs heading into the season.

Caption

Aaron Kinsella

Photo supplied

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It has been another fantastic week, with both Ladies’ and Men’s competitions in full swing. In the Men’s B Singles, Phil O’Brien, David “Choc” Cleary, Des Balance and Mark Mawson have all progressed through to the third round.

Tuesday afternoon’s Social Bowls saw skipper Noel Crosbie, alongside Glen O’Brien, claim the winners’ prize, while John Askew and Robin Brown took home second place in what was a very entertaining afternoon.

The results of the Ladies Fours semi-finals will be published in the next issue.

The biggest winning margin of the day went to the team led by Tony Whitehorn, assisted by lead David Meiklejohn and second Dennis Donadelli, with the entire team contributing strongly.

Wednesday night’s Business House Bowls saw a seventh consecutive win, with Cathy Russell’s team getting stronger each week. Two teams are now equal second on 15 points, with around 40 bowlers taking part.

Saturday morning saw eight teams competing in the 2 Bowl Triples, with semi-finals played in the afternoon. The matchups featured Andrew Butler, Steve Lawrie and Andy McDougall against Manny Isgro, Russell Jackson and John Fielding, while Bob Spees, Glen O’Brien and Warren Wilson faced Des Balance, David Cleary and Mark Mawson.

Sunday’s final saw eight-time winners Manny Isgro, Russell Jackson and John Fielding deliver a clinical performance, completely outclassing Des Balance, Mark Mawson and David Cleary to underline their dominance in the Men’s 2 Bowl Triples.

Sunday afternoon Social Bowls, run by Lyn Graham, saw Stacey Hadlow and his team emerge as winners in another highly competitive session.

Congratulations to Manny Isgro, Russell Jackson and John Fielding on their magnificent winning performance.

Contributed with thanks to Mark Mawson

Captions

Manny Isgro, Russell Jackson and John Fielding

Photo supplied

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Last Tuesday a single Stableford competition was played and thanks to the diligent ground staff the full 18 holes were available. Congratulations to the ladies winner Leanne Alexander and Gary Scotford for the men.

RESULTS

LADIES

Winner: Leanne Alexander 31 points

R/Up: Heather Luvis with 28 points

Rundown: Tind Badenhorst (26), Tiina Randmae (25), Linda Wardroper (25) and Vickie Wallace (21)

MEN

Winner: Gary Scotford 32 points

R/Up: Craig McLean with 31 points

Rundown:  John Oates (30), Ken Granger (29), Jim Sherrington (28), John Wallace, John Roser and Colin Hounsell all with 25 points, Barry Mortimer (24) and Vic Feldman (23)

PIN SHOTS

Ladies: A Grade - Heather Luvis (x2) and Leanne Alexander

             B Grade - Linda Wardroper, Allison McCarthy and Robyn Whitham

Men: A Grade - Gary Scotford

          B Grade - John Oates and Louis Neethling

CHIP INS

Leanne Alexander and John Roser

NAGAs

for a ball each Kath Borer and Trevor Peroz

DRAWS:

MEMBERSHIP JACKPOT $10 to Louis Neethling

WEEKLY RAFFLE $50 to Allison McCarthy

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Next week 24/3/26 - MARCH 2026 Monthly Medal and count your putts

DITTY

In golf as in life it's the follow through that makes a difference

Contributed with thanks to John Roser

1 – Stableford Winners, Gary Scotford and Leanne Alexander

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Winners for Tuesday were Bron Tolcher Skin Querro and Deb Retchless who defeated Stumpy Adams Alby Vigar and Shirley Jones. In the other game Tracy Stanford and Stuart Jeal defeated Robyn Stitt and Laurie Land. The jackpot did not go off.

Sunday's play resulted in a win for Lindy Suann Gavin Charles and Pat Tracey defeating Bill Myers Deb Retchless and Kennedy Whitton. The elusive jackpot went off in the game between Graeme Read and Allan Rolfe who defeated Sue Shearing and Stuart Jeal. In the other games Alby Vigar and Fely Duncan defeated Skin Querro and Greg Colquhoun. Bron Tolcher Ron Hyde and Mark Drummond defeated Toni Bowen Maureen Hyde and Kevin Daniels.

Denise is off this week playing for the district in the Northern Women's Challenge in Mackay. Wishing Denise and the rest of the North Qld Ladies the best of luck as they defend their title.

Contributed with thanks to Penny Warren

1 -  Sundays winners: Gavin Charles, Pat Tracey and Lindy Suann.

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The Mackay Road Runners’ 5km Club Championship successfully returned last Sunday after being rescheduled due to inclement weather, with strong support from long-time sponsor MAD Fitness Mackay. Participants and volunteers were rewarded with post-run refreshments and random draw prizes, courtesy of sponsors Erin and Andrew.

In a competitive field of approximately 70 runners, Nick Rewald claimed overall victory in 19 minutes 27 seconds, finishing ahead of Liam Mumford. On-form Alana Knezevic was the first female across the line and an impressive second overall in 20:13. Lily Leven secured silver in the women’s standings, followed by Carmel Mahon, while Chris Spiteri delivered a strong performance to place third in the men’s division.

Runners also competed for valuable age-category points toward end-of-year championship honours, with standout efforts from both new and returning members.

Attention now turns to this Sunday’s Tim’s Chariots of Fire 5km and 16km events, starting at 6.30am from Ocean Avenue, Slade Point, with all members and non-members encouraged to attend.

Contributed with thanks to Janelle Tilse

5404 – Mackay Road Runners long standing members, Sandy Strong (#10) and Jose Eisemann (#13) catch up at the MAD Fitness Mackay 5km Club Championship at Queens Park.

5316 – Ready to race the MAD Fitness Mackay 5km Club Championship are (left to right) Lauren Connor, Ross Connor and Scott McIntosh.

5318 – Good mates Lily Leven (left) and Milly Bishop warm up for the Mackay Road Runners MAD Fitness Mackay 5km Club Championship at Queen’s Park.

5345 – Stephen Oberg racing the MAD Fitness Mackay 5km Club Championship at Queen’s Park.

5449 – First female and male in the MAD Fitness Mackay 5km Club Championship, Alana Knezevic and Nick Rewald.

5451 – MAD Fitness Mackay team sponsored the Mackay Road Runners 5km Club Championship – thank you Erin & Andrew (far left, 2^nd left in back row). Photos supplied

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Local rider Max Teague has achieved outstanding success at the 2026 GWM Mountain Bike National Championships held in Mt Buller, Victoria.

Set against stunning landscapes, the Championships delivered five days of elite racing across Downhill, Cross Country Olympic, Short Track and Team Relay disciplines.

Max excelled and delivered a standout performance across multiple events, beginning with a dominant ride in the Junior Team Relay (XCR), where his team secured victory in convincing fashion.

He backed this up with an exceptional performance in the U15 Men’s Short Course Cross Country (XCC), where he claimed the win and earned the title of Australian National Champion.

Max next competed in the U15 Men’s Olympic Cross Country (XCO) event, taking home the silver with an excellent performance, making the Mackay & District MTB Club proud.

Max’s journey into cycling began at an early age in Germany, where his love for speed and adventure was born. Over the years, that passion evolved into a serious dedication to racing, as he developed a deep love for the challenges and thrills that come with competing at a high level.

Looking ahead, Max dreams big—he’d love to win gold at the 2032 Olympics in XC MTB.

According to sponsors Mackay Cycles: “With his dedication and relentless drive, there’s no telling how far he’ll go.”

“We recognise the dedication, preparation and support behind Max’s success, including his family, coaches and the broader cycling community,” they shared.

“His achievements reflect the strength of junior cycling development and the growing presence of regional athletes on the national stage.”

1 – Max claims the win in the U15 XCC event.
2 – The team secured victory in the Junior Team Relay.

3- Max takes to the podium.

4 – The U15 winner crosses the finish line

The North Mackay Sinkers are pleased to acknowledge club member Pierre Craven on achieving an exceptional milestone in the Vorgee Million Metres Program. Pierre has officially surpassed 3 million metres, completing this remarkable distance in just three years.

This achievement reflects an extraordinary level of commitment to regular training and longterm participation in Masters swimming. Averaging one million metres per year and over in some years, Pierre has demonstrated the consistency, discipline, and personal drive that underpin the Million Metres Program and the broader values of Masters Swimming.

Pierre’s biggest year to date in 2025 saw some 1,234,000 metres completed. That’s over 23km a week and, over 100km each month of 2025. No easy feat, and contributed to his rapid progression through the program.

A Significant Contribution to the Spirit of Masters Swimming

Pierre is widely regarded within the club for his steady work ethic and positive presence at training. His approach exemplifies the Masters ethos of sustained fitness, personal challenge, and community engagement. His progress through the Million Metres levels provides a strong example for swimmers across Queensland who are pursuing their own longdistance goals.

Recognition of a Major Milestone

Reaching the 3 Million Metres level is a distinguished accomplishment within the national program, earning formal recognition from Masters Swimming Australia. Pierre’s achievement adds to the North Mackay Sinkers’ growing record of participation in the Million Metres Program and highlights the club’s culture of dedication and continuous improvement.

The Sinkers congratulate Pierre on this outstanding milestone and acknowledges the commitment required to reach it. His achievement is a testament to perseverance and a valuable contribution to the Masters swimming community in Queensland.

On Wednesday 11 March, the club hosted a truly exciting game of bowls, filled with ups and downs, tension, and some brilliant shots from all the ladies on the green.

Brenda Trannore and Wendy Sonter faced off against the more experienced duo of Nuggy Pratt and Lorraine Lemke. Despite the nerves, Trannore and Sonter kept their composure, executing their shots with precision and ultimately claiming a well-deserved victory.

The match was one of the best seen on the greens, with nearly every end showing a tightly contested head and exceptional bowling from all players.

Congratulations to Brenda, Wendy, Nuggy and Lorraine on a game that had everyone at the club on the edge of their seats.

Contributed by Sue Hazledine

Championship Pairs Winners Brenda Trannore and Wendy Sonter.

Championship Pairs Runners Up Nug Pratt and Lorraine Lemke. Photos supplied

Thirteen players from Mackay attended the Rockhampton Congress last weekend competing in Pairs and Team events. First and second in Section A Teams were Mackay’s Bugeia and Sheedy teams, however, the stand out performance of the weekend was team Howe!

The Howe team not only won the Section C Teams event, but finished fifth overall out of twenty teams. This feat outperformed many seasoned Section A and B teams. The Howe team consisted of experienced players, Noel Saunders and Martin Pearce, along with Annette Howe and Jewel Schmidt to create the successful winning combination. Annette and Jewel are new to the game and their dedication and knowledge gained in only two years of play is to be commended. Well done team!

Mackay Contract Bridge Weekly Results

Monday 9 March 2026 – 7 Table Mitchell Green Points

N/S

E/W

1^st

David Ting / Eric Goodchild

1^st

Helen Van Den Broek / Jan Harris

2^nd

Terry Sheedy / Janelle Conroy

2^nd

Geoff Taylor / Nancy Martin

3^rd

Joy Block / Thelma Caruana

3^rd

Patrick Rasmussen / Mary Rose Ramsden

Tuesday Evening 10 March 2026 – 5 Table Mitchell Green Points

N/S

E/W

1^st

Noel Bugeia / Eric Goodchild

1^st

Adrian Westcott / Patricia Garner

2^nd

Janet Hansen / Lorna Shuttlewood

2^nd

Terry Sheedy / Helen Van Den Broek

Wednesday 11 March 2026 – 11 Table Mitchell Green Points

N/S

E/W

1^st

Josie Cowley / Barbara Tait

1^st

Eric Goodchild / David Ting

2^nd

Monica Darley / Kath Poole

2^nd

Lorna Shuttlewood / Terry Sheedy

3^rd

Max Holewa / Diane Holewa

3^rd

Victor Mason / John Ludkin

4^th

Alan Brown / Janet Hansen

4^th

Sandra Morris / Jan Harris

5^th

Ming Ting / Debra Goodchild

5^th

Gwen Liddell / Anne Lutz

Thursday Evening 12 March 2026 – 4 Tables One Winner – Green Points

1^st

Jan Harris / Julie O’Neill

2^nd

Martin Pearce / Simon Barnes

3^rd

Lynne O’Neill / Sue Gibson

Friday 13 March 2026 – 9 Table Mitchell Green Points

N/S

E/W

1^st

Noel Bugeia / Terry Sheedy

1^st

Pamela Finger / Janelle Conroy

2^nd

Joy Robinson / Geoff Taylor

2^nd

Helen Van Den Broek / Karen Caldwell

3^rd

Geoff Cowan / Mick King

3^rd

Ming Ting / David Ting

4^th

Griffin Bancroft / Diane Stokes

4^th

Julie O’Neill / Ann Whitmore

5^th

Gillian McCallum / Rod Miles

5^th

Eric Goodchild / Sandy Patterson

Saturday 14 March – 11 Table Mitchell Green Points

N/S

Open Section

E/W

1^st

Margaret Lane / Adrian Westcott

1^st

Geoff Cowan / Vicki Howar

2^nd

Janine Rodgers / Lynne O’Neill

2^nd

Anne Lutz / Ian Vary

3^rd

Ming Ting / David Ting

3^rd

Eric Goodchild / Debra Goodchild

4^th

Andrew Canavan / Simon Barnes

4^th

Monica Darley / Nancy Martin

Contributed by Joy Block

CAPTION: Noel, Annette, Jewel and Martin. Photos supplied

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On Wednesday 25 February the ladies at Marian Bowls Club put on an afternoon tea to celebrate three new members being given Life Membership. It was a lovely afternoon for all, with family members also attending.  

Sue Austin joined the Club in 1991 and was asked to take on the position of Games Controller virtually on joining.  Sue did this job for 35 years, and whilst she has stood down from this position to be Assistant Games Controller, Sue is still active at the Club despite health issues over the past year.

Lorraine Hamilton joined the Club in 1980 as a very young player.  During her time with the Club she has taken on positions as President (twice) and Senior Vice President, Selector and Assistant Treasurer. She is always available to help wherever needed as well as being an active bowler.

Katie Moohin joined the Club in 1998.  During her 28 years with the Club she has been President (twice), Selector and also a major Sponsor for many years of the Master 4's competition held at the Club; a major fundraiser event with bowlers coming from the whole district to participate.

Contributed with thanks to Lyn Jackson.

1- New life members, Lorraine Hamilton, Sue Austin & Katie Moohin. Photo supplied

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Earlier this month, over 50 St Patrick’s College students competed at the Mackay Whitsunday Interschool Chess Competition, one of the region’s largest tournaments with more than 150 players.

Top Division Champions, Team 1, comprised Elijah J, Wenlock G, Pascoe G, and Woodley G, with Elijah also achieving a tie for 3rd place individually.

A representative from St Patrick's College Year 7-12 Mackay said, “We are incredibly proud of all students who represented the College.”

Photo source: St Patrick's College Year 7-12 Mackay

10^th March 2026

Table Tennis is a sport for all ages, and here in Mackay we welcome players from five to eighty-five.  From the time you walk in the door, you will be welcomed into the Table Tennis Community, so come along! If you are interested in coming down for a hit or a look, the centre is open for social play on Friday and Sunday mornings from 9am to 12noon.  

Tuesday Morning Fixtures

Division 1: Code Crackers (Doug Dungavell, Delma Knight, Darryl Ross) drew 6-6 against Nano Nets (Donna Abbott, John McGee, Peter Goodson), Doug and Donna had a close match with Doug coming out with the win (8,-3,-9,6,6). Byte Bouncers (Andrea Nicholson, Branko Vucurovic, Veronica Needham) also drew 6-6 Pixel Paddles (George Camilleri, Judy Zahn, Kevin Abbott), no 5 set matches but there was a close double between Andrea and Branko won in close match against George and Judy (8,-10,8,7).

Division 2: Paris Spinners (Val Austin, Robyn Bushell, Ian Dodds) won 8-4 over Sydney Slammers (Gloria Vella, Josie Davis, Thelma Caruana), in the doubles Ian and Robyn outlasted Gloria and Thelma (-9,9,4,5).  Tokyo Turners (Kim Daffy, John Hamelink, Sally Muir) tied up 6-6 with London Loopers (Bryan Marshall, Louise Gould, Pam Keune), John and Pam battled out a massive 5 set match (10,-5.9,-9,8).

Division 3: Solar Comets (Sharon Muller, Gerry Synnott, Glenda Dutton) defeated Rocket Stars (David Muir, Madge Saunders, Trish Zamparutti) 8-4, Sharon came out on top against Madge after 5 sets (9,-6,9,-10,6).  Lunar Legends (Coral Morgan, Laurie Bradshaw, Chris Collins) beat Mars Pioneers (Kim Challendar, Allison Day, Myles Dutton) 6-4, with a great 5 sets Kim came back from 2 sets down Chris, Kim won this battle (-11,-3,8,10,5).

Tuesday Evening Fixtures

Division 1: London (Syed Hossain, Trent Day, Barry Patterson) snuck home against St Louis (Emma Widdup, Neil Brown) 6-5, Neil got his moneys worth again coming back from 2 sets down to win against Barry (-5,-8,7,11,5). Paris (Steve Whiting, Anne Sheridan, Josh Brown) defeated Athens (Mick Ruhl, Vince Boeske, Geoff Denman) 8-3, Anne came home strong against Geoff and won (-14,4,6,-5,7).  

Division 2: Antwerp (Robbie Richards, Yilin Jiang, Andrea Nicholson) won 7-4 over Stockholm (Geoff Cowan, Donna Abbott, Will VanDeKaa), Yilin came back from 2 sets down to win in 5 sets against Geoff (-9,-6,2,6,7). Los Angeles (Mark Sleeman, David Astridge, Lee Brake) defeated Amsterdam (Janice Kent, Duncan Treloar, Graham Brake) 6-5, Janice came home strong against Mark to win in close 5 sets (-7,6,-10,7,7).

Division 3: Helsinki (George Camilleri, Darryl Ross, Danial Warfield) had a massive win over Berlin (Mark Stam, Noreen Frederickson, Cameron Villis) 9-2, Danial and Mark had a close battle with Danial winning (-13,13,9,-9,7).  Rome (Ian McKay, Peter Goodson) won 5-0 over Melbourne (Delma Knight, John McGee), the doubles was very close from the word go with Peter and Ian up 2 sets, Delma and John came back to level at 2 sets all, with a nail-biting finish Peter and Ian won (9,9,-9,-8,10)

Divison 4: Tokyo (Rachel Fiesta, Hollie Cleaver) defeated Munich (Liz Burton, Amanda Liu) 4-1, with no 5 set matches but some very close matches over all.  Mexico City (Tiffany Camilleri, Archel Cruz, Dylan Ringwood) just got home 6-5 against Moscow (Logan Brown, Jeff Bennington, Mohmout Ahmed), Tiffany and Logan had a great battle with Tiffany winning in 5 sets (-8,6,9,-8,8). Seoul (David Symons, Ricky Zhan, Mark Bowerman) won 8-3 over Montreal (Melanie Theodore, Craig VanDeKaa), Craig won in close 5 sets against new comer Mark (8,-5,5,-7,10)

Contributed by Andrea Nicholson

1. Fun for Juniors, Seniors and Veterans, everyone is welcome to the Mackay Table Tennis community.

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Mackay played host to the 2026 Under 16 Northern Queensland Junior Basketball Championships (NQJBC) last weekend, showcasing the region’s rising basketball talent. Local teams dominated the top divisions, much to the delight of supporters.

In the standout performances, the Mackay Meteors claimed the Division 1 Boys title, while the Mackay Meteorettes secured the Division 1 Girls championship. The Mackay Comets also impressed, taking out the Division 2 Boys competition.

Other winners included the Townsville Lightning (Div 2 Girls), Cairns Sharks (Div 3 Boys), and Townsville Sparks (Div 3 Girls).

Basketball Queensland commended the gameplay, and said: “Congratulations to all of the U16 NQJBC Champions & medallists for this representative year, and best of luck to the teams who will compete next month at the Under 16 Boys and Under 16 Girls State Championships!”

The championships not only highlighted Mackay’s strength in junior basketball but also provided valuable experience for young athletes aiming to compete at the state level. With local teams excelling across multiple divisions, the city’s reputation as a hub for emerging basketball talent continues to grow.

Winners:

Div 1 Boys: Mackay Meteors

Div 1 Girls: Mackay Meteorettes

Div 2 Boys: Mackay Comets

Div 2 Girls: Townsville Lightning

Div 3 Boys: Cairns Sharks

Div 3 Girls: Townsville Sparks

Photo source: Basketball Queensland

A remarkable young talent has emerged from our community, and her achievement is something we can all celebrate. At just 13 years old, Shailee Mewha has secured an outstanding second-place finish in the 3000m event at the Queensland Athletic Championships—an accomplishment that has earned her qualification for the Australian Athletics Competition later this year.

Shailee’s success is not just about a silver medal; it reflects dedication, discipline, and countless hours of preparation. Competing against some of the best young athletes in the state, she demonstrated resilience and determination well beyond her years. Her performance is a testament to what can be achieved through hard work and passion.

Looking ahead, Shailee is set to compete in multiple demanding events, including the 1500m, 3000m, 2000m, and the challenging steeplechase. Such versatility highlights her strength and commitment as a distance runner.

Our community stands firmly behind her, inspired by her journey and proud of her achievements. Shailee represents the spirit of perseverance and excellence we value so deeply. As she prepares to take the national stage, we wish her every success and look forward to cheering her on in the next chapter of what promises to be a very bright future.

Captions

Photo source: Facebook

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Proserpine Junior Cricket has wrapped up an outstanding 2025/26 season, with a record 140 player registrations highlighting the club’s continued growth and the strength of cricket in the region.

The club fielded its highest number of teams in the Mackay Junior Cricket competition, including its first all-girls team, two additional Under 11 sides, and representation across every age group—making Proserpine the highest participating club.

Success extended beyond participation. Proserpine reached the finals in every eligible age group, with both the Under 15 and Under 17 sides finishing as minor premiers. The Under 17s capped off their campaign with a Grand Final win.

The season also highlighted the strength of the club’s development pathways, with many players earning representative honours across school, regional and state programs. Selections included Northern school teams, Northern Alliance squads, Century Championship competitions in Brisbane, and T20 Smash events. Several players progressed into Central Queensland and Queensland Country pathways.

One player earned selection in the Queensland School Boys team, while another was named in the Queensland Indigenous Training Squad—further demonstrating the depth of talent within the club.

Club President Mike Hope praised the continued progress.

“It is great to see so many of our Junior Pitbulls taking these opportunities and progressing their cricket,” he said.

“Our juniors can now see a clear pathway into future opportunities. Anything is possible.”

Off the field, the club celebrated its presentation day on Saturday, March 15, recognising achievements across all age groups.

Lily Smith was named Female Player of the Season and Club Captain. Champion Player awards went to Hector Valmadre (Under 12s), Bradley Hetherington (Under 14s), and Will Marshall (Under 17s). Ben Hope was named Representative Player of the Season, while Robyn Geisler received Volunteer of the Season.

The club also claimed the prestigious Graham Brown Club Championship Award at the Mackay Cricket and Mackay Whitsunday awards.

Further recognition has come with Queensland Cricket Award nominations, including Volunteer of the Year for Jess and Michael Hope, and Sarah Logan, as well as a nomination for Association of the Year.

With strong participation, growing representative success, and continued community support, Proserpine Junior Cricket is well placed for an even bigger season ahead.

And as always — go the mighty Pitbulls!

Captions

1. Representative Player of the Year – Ben Hope
2. Break Up Fun

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