Mackay’s softball scene is witnessing some incredible talent on the international stage, after local athletes Evie Grace and Miley Barrow recently headed to Wellington, New Zealand as Junior Pathway Players.

These softball stars are set to showcase their skills against top representative teams, highlighting the awesome opportunities softball provides to players of all ages in Mackay. With minimal equipment required - often just a pair of soccer boots - softball remains one of the most affordable and accessible sports in the region.

Cheryl Martin has been a long-time member of the Mackay softball community, dedicating over 35 years to the sport, yet she still finds joy in watching the next generation of players progress.

“Just watching the kids grow, from juniors to seniors - that’s what keeps me involved,” she says.

“Now, my grandkids are part of the game, and it’s so rewarding to see them improve.”

Parents and grandparents are also encouraged to get involved - whether it’s learning to score, volunteering in the canteen, or becoming an umpire.

“It’s a real family sport, with great opportunity,” says Cheryl.

“You form lifelong friendships…Some of the players I started with when I was 12, I still run into today.”

With training, coaching clinics, and opportunities to progress to higher levels at an affordable price, Softball is the sport of choice for those seeking fun, family-friendly competition and personal growth.

Caption: Evie Grace

Caption: Miley Barrow. Photos supplied

(Group photos) Caption: Mackay girls Miley and Evie travelled to Wellington, New Zealand, to proudly represent Mackay on the softball field. Photo source: Softball Queensland

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Hot on the heels of a sold-out event in 2024, organisers of this year’s BMA Mackay Marina Run are encouraging runners to secure their place early.

The 2024 run saw a total of 3,646 runners participate in the event with all race categories sold out prior to the run.

BMA Mackay Marina Run Event Director, Tim Magoffin, advised the event’s surge in popularity is part of a wider trend across the running industry in Australia.

Tim said, “Across the country, there’s been a growing trend over the past couple of years, with interest in running events growing exponentially.

“Many of the major events including the Gold Coast Marathon and Sydney Marathons are reaching capacity within a very short time.”

Tim believes this result is great news for the industry, and advised that “Running is a sport that offers a lot of benefits, not only for the people that run, but also for the communities that hold these races.

“To have successful, sell out events, ensures that the runs will continue to have longevity and will continue to provide social and economic benefits to those involved.

“That’s particularly important for regional areas like Mackay where sports tourism is a major contributor to visitor nights and the local economy.

“Last year was a great example of that with registrations coming from across Australia and we also attracted a number of international runners.

“That’s excellent exposure for Mackay and all that our region has to offer.”

Tim expects that the event will again prove popular in 2025 with runners advised to take advantage of early bird pricing and secure their places sooner rather than later.

He said, “Already registrations for this year are up 173%.

“We have made some capacity changes for 2025 to allow more people to run, but our advice is to make sure you register early to avoid disappointment.”

Registrations for the 2025 BMA Mackay Marina Run are now open with early Bird pricing ending on the 19th of March.

_For further information visit www.mackaymarinarun.com _

Caption: BMA Mackay Marina Run is racing towards another sell-out in 2025, with runners urged to register early after a booming 2024 event. Photos supplied

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Sunset Bay Outrigger Canoe Club is gearing up for the 2025 North Queensland Zone season, with returning President Belinda Quakawoot and new Secretary Renee Martin leading the charge.

The 2025 committee boasts a fantastic mix of experience, with members ranging from just six months of paddling to over 25 years, all eager to contribute to the club’s success.

Always open to newcomers and returning paddlers, Sunset Bay invites anyone interested in joining the fun at Eimeo Beach to get in touch with Club Captain Debbie O'Dea at 0413 804 688 or Denise Schmid at 0418 137 163.

Caption: Sunset Bay Outrigger Canoe Club’s 2025 committee, led by president belinda quakawoot and secretary renee martin, welcomes paddlers of all levels to eimeo beach. Photo source: Sunset Bay Outriggers

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After a month-long break over the festive season, the Bowen Bridge Club was back in full swing. To start off the year, six ladies from the Bowen Bridge Club travelled to the Gold Coast to compete in one of Australia’s most prestigious bridge tournaments.

Held at the Gold Coast Congress Centre, the international bridge tournament brought together 2,000 competitors from 11 countries. Including our ladies and many other Australians from across the states and territories. The week-long competition saw some impressive performances from the Bowen players, highlighted by several strong finishes and even a few wins.

Sue McInnes and Debbie Breeze won one session in the Restricted Section E, finishing 4th overall out of 80 teams in the final. Thea Weekes and Lydie Martin also had a successful run, winning a session in the Restricted Section D and placing 9th overall out of 80. To round off the Bowen success, Jill Brabon and Beverley Lawcock placed 3rd in their section of 75 teams.

Congratulations to all the Bowen players for their remarkable achievements in such a competitive bridge field! Their hard work and dedication to the game truly paid off.

Caption: Debbie Breeze and Sue McInnes with Richard Ward of the Tournament’s Administration Team. Photo Supplied: Lydie Martin

Caption: Thea Weekes and Lydie Martin with Richard Ward. Photo Supplied: Lydie Martin

Caption: All the competitors at the Gold Coast Congress. Photo Supplied: Lydie Martin

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This weekend marks a momentous occasion for the Proserpine Pitbulls, with every eligible team securing a spot in the Mackay Junior Cricket Grand Finals. It’s a moment of pride for this small but mighty club, which has shown remarkable growth over the past few years. From just two teams in the 2020/21 season to five teams competing in 2024/25, the Pitbulls’ rise is nothing short of inspiring.

The U12, U15, and U17 teams all finished in 1st place, while the U13s came in 2nd on the ladder, securing their place in this weekend’s grand finals. The U11s were unfortunately not eligible to play in the finals, but their contributions to the club's spirit have been equally valuable. However, this success has not come without its challenges. Just after Christmas last year, the club faced a devastating blow when their maintenance shed was broken into, and vital groundskeeping equipment was stolen. It was a crushing setback, especially after Proserpine had just hosted the Northern Alliance U13 State Championships.

Despite the adversity, the Pitbulls have shown incredible resilience. Thanks to unwavering support from the Mackay Cricket Association, the community, and local businesses, the club has bounced back stronger than ever. The determination and grit displayed by players, coaches, and supporters have been key to getting every team into the grand final.

Regardless of the outcome this weekend, the 2024/25 season is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and community spirit that defines the Pitbulls. This proud little club, through its challenges and triumphs, continues to hold its head high, it’s a testament to all the hard work and commitment from all the players, coaches, and supporters past and present. The club and would like to thank everyone for their continued support, GO THE MIGHTY PITBULLS!

Photos and Story contributed with thanks by Mark Valmadre

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As we near the end of our club night season, it’s been incredible to witness the number of upgrades and club records set by our swimmers. A huge congratulations to Jax Eaves, Eloise Chegwidden, Jax Clayworth, and Lucas Korosec for breaking new club records over the past fortnight!

We also want to acknowledge the swimmers who have recently earned upgrades for their outstanding performances: Reid and Asher Springbett, Zach Trefz, Indiana De-Lisle, Lucas Korosec, Kaitlyn Moon, Faithlyn Trotter, Indigo Harland, and Ruby Lawson. Congratulations to each of you for your dedication and continuous improvement!

This week marked our second Distance Night of the season, offering swimmers the chance to challenge themselves in longer races. The evening kicked off with the 1500m Freestyle, a true test of endurance. Great job to Jax Clayworth, Tora Delac, Harris Delac, and Zach Trefz for taking on this race and delivering exceptional performances.

Another highlight was the 400m Individual Medley, where Isabella Pisaniello, Charlie Doherty, and Roxy Groom pushed past their comfort zones with impressive swims.

We also saw some fantastic personal bests. Congratulations to Harry Chegwidden, Bonnie Crichton, Maeve Dichiera, Roxy Groom, Indigo Harland, Issac Pisaniello, Isabella Pisaniello, and Addie Sanders for achieving remarkable improvements in their times.

Over the weekend, several families travelled to Townsville for a special interclub meet, providing swimmers with the chance to secure qualifying times for the NQ Schools competition. Well done to those who hit their targets – we wish you the best in your applications!

Looking ahead, our focus now shifts to the NQ Championships in Townsville next weekend. We’re excited to see our swimmers compete against some of the region’s best. Good luck, Cannons!

Story and Photos contributed with thanks by Jade Korosec

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Adrian McCarthy is not your average dental professional, he’s a true adventurer, bringing his expertise to rural and remote communities across Australia for over 30+ years. As a registered Dental Prosthetist and Dental Technician, Adrian has dedicated his career to providing high-quality dentures and dental services, often in the most remote corners of the country and now to the Whitsundays!

Having travelled across Australia, Adrian’s mobile clinic serviced the small towns in far-flung regions. However, his journey hasn’t just been about work, it’s about connecting with communities and making a difference in people’s lives. Some people wait years for dentures in regional areas and Adrian was there for them to cut down on that wait time. Adrian’s travels now bring him to the Whitsundays, where he relocated his mobile clinic from Broome in Western Australia, he’s quickly becoming an invaluable service provider to the locals.

Adrian's Action Mouthguards offers a range of services including dentures, partial dentures, relines, and repairs, all completed on-site with high-quality products that Adrian personally makes. He prides himself on offering same-day services, including repairs while you wait, ensuring his clients never have to wait long for their dental needs to be met. When not helping his patients, Adrian enjoys the laid-back Whitsunday lifestyle.

“I’m enjoying the laid-back lifestyle that the Whitsundays has to offer. Last weekend I even caught a huge Grunter for dinner while driving between two mouthguard appointments, so I was pretty excited about that.”

It’s clear that Adrian is just as passionate about his work as he is about enjoying life in this beautiful region. With over 30 years of experience, and a great yarn of travel stories, Adrian is bringing his exceptional care and a personal touch that truly sets him apart. Whether you need dentures or a quick repair, the great ‘Denture Adventurer’ of Action Mouthguards is here to help, no matter where you are in the Whitsundays call Adrian at: 0401 361 646 or email: dentures@mailfence.com to book your quality service today!

Caption: Adrian working in his mobile clinic. Photo supplied: Adrian McCarthy

Caption: The pristine mobile clinic, ready for clients. Photo supplied Adrian McCarthy

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Due to rain, social bowling activities were suspended on Tuesday and Wednesday at the Airlie Beach Bowls Club. However, Thursday afternoon saw a great turnout, with eighteen enthusiastic players participating despite the short notice. This allowed for three rinks of triples to be played. Congratulations to the winning team of lead Kath Remmerswaal, second Dennis Donadelli, and skip John Askew for securing the highest winning margin and taking home the winners' pool jackpot.

In the Saturday Scroungers competition, Steve Lawrie claimed the Division 1 title, with Rick Galea also winning on the day. Sunday bowls saw enough players for one triples game and two pairs games. The winning team for the day was John Brown and Betty Whitehorn. It was fantastic to see increased interest, with several onlookers watching from the clubhouse.

Every Wednesday evening, local business people, primarily tradespeople, gather for an evening bowls competition, weather permitting. Bob Spees oversees the event, which has seen as many as forty-two participants, but the competition is currently limited to four rinks under lights.

Darren Jackson, who runs 3J'S, a local plumbing business, with his sons, was the first to upgrade his membership to become eligible for club competitions and pennant games. Bob mentioned that there is significant interest from other Business House bowlers eager to do the same.

Thanks to Lyn Graham, the ladies' division open championship draws are completed and posted on the noticeboard. Please know that our Women and Girls Six-Week Come & Try program will commence on Thursday the 6th March between 5pm-6pm.

Lastly, the men's bowling division secretary has requested that members express their interest in participating in weekend pennant games this year. If there is enough interest, a request will be made to the district to add an additional team to the competition.

Story and photo contributed with thanks by Betty Whitehorn

Caption: A group of players enjoying drinks after the Sunday game.

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Sunday was the only day of social play this week, and we were fortunate to have four visitors join our members for a friendly game. The competition was lively, and the winners of the afternoon included Robyn Stitt and Graeme Read, who triumphed over Lindy Suann and Laurie Land in an exciting match.

Other winners were Mick Isobel Wheeler and Fely Duncan, who defeated Michael Merle Elphinstone and Pat Tracey in another close contest. Carol Jim Quod and Allan Rolfe also emerged victorious, overcoming Jerry Deb Retchless and Mark Drummond in a thrilling game. Unfortunately, the jackpot didn’t go off, but the afternoon was still filled with great sportsmanship and camaraderie.

Looking ahead, this Sunday will be an exciting event as we host not only our own club members but also members from other clubs for our annual Opening Day triples. The full green promises a lively atmosphere as we celebrate the start of another bowling season. It's always a great occasion to catch up with old friends and make new ones, as well as to enjoy some friendly competition. We are eagerly anticipating a fun-filled day and are looking forward to seeing everyone on the green!

Caption: The winners for Sunday, Robyn Stitt and Graeme Read

Photo and story supplied with thanks by Penny Warren.

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The 2025 Hancock Prospecting QLD State Sprints took place in Brisbane on February 8th and 9th. The Whitsunday Swimming Club sent nine swimmers to the event, who braved cancelled flights, flooded roads, and enormous potholes to make their way to Brisbane.

The swimmers from the Whitsundays truly shone, with personal best after personal best. It was clear the Whitsunday Swimming Club had arrived as cheering, laughter, and an overall sense of fun and enjoyment filled the Chandler Aquatic Centre.  Among the attendees were experienced State Sprint swimmers Axel, Chloe, and Mae, alongside first-timers Hayden, Leyton, Jayde, Ivy, Savanah, and George, who made sure to create lasting memories of their experience.

A big thank you to Aquatic Rush, Managed Computer Solutions, and Hip Pocket Workwear for their generous sponsorship of our state shirts. They looked fantastic!

The celebrations continued on Monday, February 17th, with a club night where JX certificates were awarded to Hayden, Chloe, and Jayde for their impressive JX time achievements at State Sprints. All State swimmers shared their experiences with the rest of the team, inspiring others to strive to attend next year.

If you’d like to be part of the Whitsunday Swimming Club, enjoy fun, build lasting friendships, and strengthen team spirit, get in touch! You can email us at: whitsundayfrogs@gmail.com, or send a message through Facebook, or visit the Proserpine Swimming Pool Monday to Thursday from 3:30 pm for a chat!

Story and Photos contributed with thanks by Amanda Yuskan

Caption: The State Swim Team gathered at the Chandler Aquatic Centre.

Caption: Achievers of the State Sprints.

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The Whitsunday Game Fish Club invites anglers of all skill levels to join its highly anticipated "Sweeties & Squires Ladies and Kids Fun Family Fishing Weekend," taking place from March 28th to 30th. This exciting event is open to all current Club members, who can participate free of charge. Non-members can also compete by joining the Club on Briefing Night for a fee of $35 per junior (under 16) and $70 per adult, with a chance to win some fantastic prizes.

As part of the Club’s Kids 2 Fish Program, the event is designed to encourage young anglers to get involved in the sport of fishing while enjoying a fun and family-oriented atmosphere. Every junior participant will receive a free Shimano Rod and Reel along with a tackle package, generously provided by the Whitsunday Game Fish Club and the Game Fishing Association of Australia (G.F.A.A.).

The event weekend kicks off on Friday, March 28th with the registration of lady and junior anglers, who will receive their new rods and reels. A briefing will follow, offering essential information for the competition, and the evening will conclude with a sausage sizzle at the Marine Club, located at Altmann Avenue, Cannonvale, starting at 6pm.

The rules are simple; participants must only use a rod or reel to catch fish, with every catch being eligible for one of the fantastic prizes, whether kept for dinner or released! To enter a fish into the competition, anglers must take a photo of their catch on a brag mat and send it to a Committee Member. The prizes will be awarded based on the merit of the fish, not necessarily the size. A panel of judges will review the entries, and winners will be announced during the Presentation on Sunday, March 30th.

After the Friday briefing, competitors can start fishing at their leisure, with no set start time. This laid-back approach encourages families to enjoy their time together out on the water.

For the events finale, competitors will need to return to the Club by 12 noon for the Presentation Ceremony, where the winners will be recognised and treated to gourmet nibblies.

This event is a wonderful opportunity to get out on the water, spend time with family and friends, and share the joy of fishing. It’s the perfect way to introduce new anglers to the sport and create lasting memories with loved ones.

WHAT: Sweeties & Squires Ladies and Kids Fun Family Fishing Weekend

WHEN: Briefing at 6pm, March 28th, with winners announced 12pm, March 30th

WHERE: The Whitsunday Marine Club for the presentations, and anywhere you can fish for the competition!

COST: Free for Club members, Non-Club members who join on the night: $35 per junior (under 16) and $70 per adult

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With the floods up north, Marine Rescue Queensland Mackay was asked to take its primary vessel up to Cardwell, towing another vessel from Bowen. This was to help transfer emergency services around the cut off roads. Here in the Whitsundays, we have been asked to provide backup with our larger vessel for the Mackay waters. It is a 4 hour trip each way to get down there, so we have made arrangements with our neighbour squadrons to protect Whitsunday waters if we are called away south.

Nearly half our rescue activations are medevacs, so while we use our larger VMR1 for Mackay, other means will have to be used to make these transfers. As our neighbours' vessels are either unsuitable or could never get here in time, we are sure Brisbane authorities would have these covered as medevacs from resorts are easier for them to service, those from vessels, not so much.

We were called out on a very "dirty" night recently to pick up a patient from a local resort. There was no chance of using a helicopter as it was impossible to see the island’s beacons, thus requiring a careful, instrument approach. It was quite dramatic having rock walls just appear out of nowhere, thank goodness for radar!

We are called on to take our excellent QAS paramedics to all manner of injuries and illnesses. Marine jelly stings with people in so much pain we have had to lock them in the cabin to stop them from jumping over board, heart attacks, seizures, broken bones and soft tissue injuries, just to name a few.

It is amazing what can go wrong for people on holiday. Recently, we had to do a 4-hour rescue because the boaties got frightened. They were only used to going out on a lake and the ocean waves came as a bit of a shock!

You think we’re kidding, don't you? 2024 was a very busy year for us, in fact, 274 activations were an all-time record for one year. Accordingly, we have placed an order with a local boat builder, Blacker Marine, to build our third vessel. It is a 10 metre, aluminium, enclosed flybridge cat with walk around decks. It will largely duplicate all the things our primary vessel can do, so we can handle two assists at the same time, which quite often happens.

Of course, we are looking for more volunteers to crew these vessels so if you’re interested, visit: vmrwhitsundays.com.au/volunteer and sign up!

Contributed by Shane Newell, President VMRW.

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President Hilary Jones-Rowan graciously welcomed all bowlers present, along with Life Members Margaret Armitage and June Cousen, and invited guests from the region’s clubs.

The day began with a game of bowls featuring the usual 'closest to the spider' competition, with all attempts being close. Laughter filled the air across all the rinks. Following the game, attendees retired to the clubrooms for a delicious afternoon tea, complete with sandwiches and cake. This was followed by a very lucrative (for some) and enjoyable cent sale.

The lucky winners of the bowls competition were: Marion Delaney, Jean Schmidtke, and Chris Woo (skip).

Runners-up for the day were: Wendy Sonter, L. Tungate, and Lorraine Silman (skip).

Lucky Card winners were: Jenny Petersen, Judith Snow, and Lesley Baumgarten.

President Hilary warmly thanked everyone for attending and invited all to join for a cool refreshment in the bar area before departing for the day.

The club’s competitions began on Wednesday, January 29th, with the club Graded Fours starting at 12 noon.  

Lucky Winners Marion Delaney, Jean Schmidtke and Chris Woo. Photo supplied

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By Hannah McNamara

At 34, Dale Potter is one of Mackay’s most talented and dedicated athletes, excelling across multiple sports while exceeding his own limits in the Special Olympics community. What began as a way to make friends, gain confidence, and stay active turned into a new profound passion for Dale, who now leads others to do the same.

Mackay Fire Special Olympics is a welcoming space for athletes of all abilities, offering basketball, table tennis, ten-pin bowling, bocce, and powerlifting in a supportive environment.

Coach Kimberley Doyle, who has lovingly volunteered for over a decade, said “Special Olympics is for anyone with an intellectual disability and/or autism, but we exclude no one.

“We aim to make everyone feel welcome, even if someone has severe anxiety and struggles to participate in mainstream sport…Special Olympics is for them too.”

Coach Doyle said that Dale is heavily involved, not just in the game, but in supporting athletes who require additional assistance too.

After completing the Athlete Leadership Training at the Sunshine Coast in October 2024, Dale now dedicates 2.5 hours of his week to assisting juniors and C-grade players at Special Olympics Mackay Fire basketball training, all while playing in A-grade himself. As one of five athlete leaders on Mackay’s leadership team, he ensures that athletes’ voices are heard.

Dale also holds the bat in table tennis, helping with scoring at training sessions and competition games. In 2024, he represented the club at the 2024 Mackay Disability Expo and even had the privilege of speaking at the Accessible Active Living Seminar.

“We actively engage with athletes to give them the tools to build confidence and feel valued, and we focus on abilities - not the ‘D’ (disability) word,” Coach Doyle added.

“We want to break the stereotype that people with disabilities can’t compete.”

Dale’s passion for sports resulted in a slam-dunk at the North Queensland Games, where he not only competed in table tennis, ten-pin bowling, and basketball but also brought home multiple medals. His efforts have been recognised through the 2024 Queensland Community Achievement Awards, where he accepted the finalist certificate for Sports in the Community on behalf of Special Olympics Mackay Fire.

Before 2021, athletes had to travel to Brisbane to qualify, however, now, Special Olympics Mackay hosts local qualifying events, reducing costs and giving more locals the opportunity to get involved.

Dale’s passion for powerlifting is quite impressive, with daily training that includes up to 200 push-ups in preparation for competitions. In 2024, Dale represented the club at the Mackay Disability Expo and went on to participate in the Queensland State Games, where he won multiple medals, including gold in 3x3 basketball.

After earning top rankings in ten-pin bowling at the Queensland State Championships, Dale was selected for the Queensland Michael Cooke State Team to compete at the TBA Nationals in Perth in June 2025.

Additionally, he proudly represented Australia at the Special Olympics Asia Pacific Bocce and Bowling Invitational Games in India, returning with gold medals in both singles and team events, along with a silver in doubles.

As Dale trains for the upcoming games ahead, his focus is on pushing past his own limits, while advising others to “Just give it a go.”

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Dale Potter leads by example at Mackay Fire Special Olympics, inspiring athletes of all abilities to push their limits. Photo credit: Hannah McNamara

Dale Potter with Tegan O’Keeffe and Kathleen Hanson. Photo supplied

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Mackay Road Runners extends a big thank you to volunteers who helped with setup, spoke to prospective and existing members, and packed up at the MECC Sports Expo last weekend.

It was a lovely and very successful event filled with chatting, talking, laughing… and more talking! Special thanks to Julie Whibley (Secretary), Janelle Tilse (Publicity Officer), Club Captain Jim Ford, Assetkeeper Andrew Short, Merchandiser Jo Hughes, and Vice-President Len Howarth for their time and support throughout the weekend. The club is incredibly grateful for any assistance offered at any time.

The 2025 Mackay Road Runners committee welcomes you this Sunday, to come along for the 2025 season opener at 4pm (for a 4:30pm social racing start) at the North Mackay Bowls Club rear carpark. Please note the new meeting point from previous years.

In case of weather amendments or cancellations, please keep up to date via the Facebook page. All existing members should wear their race bib so the timekeepers can do a test run of the timing systems ahead of the first timed run next Sunday morning.
New members are also welcome!

Contributed by Janelle Tilse

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Mackay Road Runners Committee members, Len Howarth, Jo Hughes and Andrew Short volunteer at the 2025 Mackay Regional Council Sports Expo and Sign on.

Mackay Road Runners 2025 Executive Committee (back row) Julie Whibley (Secretary); Paul Tilse (President); Tim Magoffin (Treasurer); Brendan Bishop (outgoing President); Janelle Tilse (Publicity Officer).  Front row – Len Howarth (Vice-President); Jo Hughes (Merchandiser) and Andrew Short (Assetkeeper).

ackay Road Runners at the 2025 Mackay Regional Council Sports Expo and sign on – Julie Whibley (left) and Janelle Tilse (right). Photos supplied

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