Rising schoolgirl cricketers Matilda Wiggins and Kiana Dunn continue to inspire their male counterparts in the Mackay Junior Cricket Association.

The talented duo showed why they are regarded two of the region’s outstanding prospects after cracking unbeaten half centuries in one day junior Under 15 mixed fixtures last weekend.

Kiana, an Australian Indoor Cricket representative, smashed 97 not out for Norths Devils in a thumping win over Walkerston Green at George Gorrie Oval.

Opening the batting she faced sixty nine balls and clouted fourteen boundaries in a magnificent knock – sharing a stand of 65 with fellow opener Edan Beel (35).

Matilda hit 67 for Brothers in her side’s one day loss to Magpies White at Roy Trevaskis Oval.

The Mackay-Whitsunday representative and Brothers skipper faced sixty two balls and hit ten boundaries as she and opener Reuben Beardmore (26 retired) played lone hands with the bat.

Despite her heroics, the Brothers line up fell twenty sevens short of their target after the Magpies had earlier posted 4-192 in the 25 overs per side fixture.

Beardmore snared 2-19 off five overs and Wiggins took the new ball where she troubled the Magpies batsmen with her swing bowling.

Both Matilda and Kiana have figured prominently in St Patricks College Mackay’s North Queensland Secondary Schools Twenty 20 trophy winning teams over the past two seasons. They were part of the St Patricks Senior Girls Cricket Team who were named StreetSmart Secondary Schools T20 State Champions in September with convincing wins over Atherton and Matthew Flinders College.

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St Patricks College were named as the 2024 T20 Queensland School Girls Champions

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The North Marine sponsored by Del Ryan Memorial Teams Congress was held in Mackay last weekend – which was a Red Point event. Twelve teams competed for the elusive Red Points. Winners of Section A, Team Brown - Frances and Alan Brown, Diane Morgan and Marilin Robins. Winners of Section B, Team King - Mick King, Richard Wix, Jan Harris and Helen Van Den Broek. Walkins won by Karen Cadwell / Noel Saunders and Mick King / Richard Wix.

Weekly Results
Monday 11 November 2024 – 7 Table Mitchell Green Points
N/S

E/W

1st
David Ting / Eric Goodchild
1st
Diane Stokes / Eddie Kliese

2nd
Janelle Conroy / Terry Sheedy
2nd
Helen Van Den Broek / Jan Harris

3rd
Joy Block / Nancy Wix
3rd
Janine Rodgers / Richard Wix

Tuesday Evening 12 November 2024 –3 Table One Winner Green Points
1st
John McGee / Mick King
2nd
Helen Van Den Broek / Terry Sheedy
Wednesday 13 November 2024 – 9 Table Mitchell Green Points
N/S

E/W

1st
Alan Brown / Frances Brown
1st
Geoff Taylor / Janelle Conroy

2nd
Antonia Tarradas / Richard Wix
2nd
Diane Stokes / Joy Block

3rd
Marie McGuire / Nancy Wix
3rd
Terry Sheedy / Lorna Shuttlewood

4th
Ming Ting / Debra Goodchild
4th
Diane Holewa / Max Holewa

Thursday Evening 14 November 2024 –4 Table One Winner Green Points
1st
Janelle Conroy / Terry Sheedy
2nd
Frances Brown / Ann Whitmore
3rd
Ken Seaniger / Robert Carless
4th
Jan Harris / Susan Ross
Friday 15 November 2024 – Del Ryan Memorial Walkins 9 Table Red Points
N/S

E/W

1st
Karen Cardwell / Noel Saunders
1st
Mick King / Richard Wix

2nd
Joy Robinson / Geoff Taylor
2nd
Diane Holewa / Max Holewa

3rd
Faye Wright / Christine Nice
3rd
Lorna Shuttlewood / Susan Wright

4th
Terry Sheedy / Janelle Conroy
4th
David Ting / Ming Ting

Saturday/Sunday 16/17 November 2024 – Del Ryan Memorial Teams 11 Table Mitchell Red Points
A
Team
Team Members
1st
Brown
Frances Brown / Alan Brown / Diane Morgan / Marilin Robins
2nd
Cameron
Don Camerson / Jan Randall / Adrian Lohmann / Malcolm Allan
3rd
Holewa
Diane Holewa / Max Holewa / Janelle Conroy / Terry Sheedy

B

Team

Team Members
1st
King
Mick King / Richard Wix / Jan Harris / Helen Van Den Broek
2nd
Limmage
Frances Limmage / Mavis Anderson / Michelle Rau / Lee Chenoweth
3rd
Shuttlewood
Lorna Shuttlewood / Susan Wright / Faye Wright / Christine Nice

Contributed By Joy Block

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CMR Goosepond $10,000 Prize Winners
1st Place Winners: Wayne Hennesy, David Mckendry, Chris Woo and Terry Clark.
2ND Peter Blackburn 3RD Brendan Egan
4TH Jason Borg 5th Mick Walsh
6th Manny 7th Wayne Hendley
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Round Winners
   1. Kees Struik
   2. Asko Helenius
   3. Brad Lindenberg
   4. Shane Spawn
   5. Steven Lane

Fun Times At Goosies - A Great Weekend Was Had By All

Left to right: Wayne Hennesy, David Mckendry,Chris Woo and Terry Clark.

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The North Mackay Ladies Bowls Club celebrated a remarkable achievement, returning from Airlie Beach with the Club of the Year trophy for the second consecutive year.

Back in Mackay, President Lidia hosted a gathering to celebrate the victory with the club’s members. Individually, Debbie Mackenzie was recognised for her exceptional performance, winning the B Grade Singles, Champion of Champions trophy.

The club’s triumph was further solidified by the strong performances of its Pennant Sides.

Division 1, Division 2, and Division 3 all claimed victory in their respective competitions, while Division 4 finished as runners-up. The combined efforts of the entire club contributed to an outstanding year, showcasing their skill, teamwork, and dedication.

Group with President Lidia holding the Club of the Year Trophy.

Debbie Mackenzie with the Trophy for B Singles Champion of Champions.

Division 1

Division 2

Division 3

Division 4. Photos supplied

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One of the busiest families in the Mackay & District Rugby League Referees' Association (MDRLRA) marked a special milestone this year, showcasing their dedication to the sport and to refereeing.

The Reid family came together to officiate a junior rugby league match, with Scott Reid in the middle, his wife Les-Lee Reid on one sideline and their youngest son Cale, 16, on the other.

The Reids' commitment to refereeing began seven years ago when their eldest son Alex, who is no longer involved, first took up the whistle.

Scott followed a year later, with middle son Ryan also spending time as a match official.

Reflecting on the experience, MDRLRA treasurer Les-Lee Reid, the latest to take up on-field role after many years volunteering in support roles with the association, said it was a great experience to come together on the field for the first time.

"It was actually great, just being together as a family and supporting the association, I’d do it every weekend if we had to," she said.

“It was good just to have us all on one game to see how we all interact with each other.”

Les-Lee said she felt huge support from the members in getting on the field - after a few years of encouragement.

"We had a shortage one weekend and I thought 'Oh, stuff it, I may as well get out there and do it'," she said.

"Not just my boys but other members of the association have been trying to get me to do it for about four years saying 'Come on, get your shoes on and get out there'... and all of a sudden I was out there and I thought, this isn't as bad as I thought it was for all these years.

"Part of it is fitness, but it's also about helping control a game and helping it run smoothly.

"It's nice getting to know all the kids and them getting together and having fun and getting out there and officiating the game they love as well, and that's how we see it, as a family."

Les-Lee said refereeing was particularly valuable for her boys learning how to deal with the pressure of a fast-paced game and how to manage social situations.

"They've got a lot out of it in regard to how to deal with conflict, and their social skills in how to deal with different personalities and make (others) feel they're part of it, but keeping everyone in line," she said.

Retention of junior referees and ultimately moving those old enough into seniors is the focus for the association moving forward, but are hoping to see more older referees - 17 years and up - come forward to bolster the pool available for senior matches.

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Les-Lee Reid took the field alongside her husband Scott and their son Cale, marking a new chapter for the Reid family in rugby league officiating. Photos supplied

Les-Lee, Scott and referee from the GF women's local league Luke McCulloch

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Over forty athletes met at the Aquatic & Recreational Complex (ARC) to take part in the November section of the Shawn’s Summer Social Series Splash and Dash social Biathlon.  The event is being held for the first time this year as a great off-season, very informal training session hosted by Mackay Road Runners. Club Captain, Jim Ford is the man behind the plan, offering a unique switch up to the usual running-only format. 

The 30-minute run followed by the 30-minute swim has been an enjoyable shift in the program as evidenced by over forty competitors signing on each week.  Next Sunday will be the final one for November, however, will return for the final part of the biathlon series on the four Sundays in January 2025. The official start of the 2025 program will commence 16th February.
 
The Mackay Road Runners break in December will be well deserved by many hard-training athletes and volunteers who have had a successful and long 2024, however, most are still training vigorously for upcoming events such as the Hamilton Island Triathlon and the Malaysian Multisport 48-hour event this weekend. 

Publicity Officer Janelle Tilse acknowledged the runners’ efforts and said “All the best to anyone still training and competing in any events, big or small, it’s great to be moving and having fun doing it.
 
 “Mackay Road Runners will be celebrating its 50th birthday in 2026...and we look forward to celebrating with its members, families and the wider community.”

Contributed By Janelle Tilse

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(left to right) Carolyn Mapes, Jose Short, Tahnie Malagueno, Carmel Mahon, Dee McMurtrie and Todd Turner all in sync as they complete as many laps as possible in 30 minutes.
John Rae takes a well-earned breather as he completes a massive amount of laps in the 30min time limit.
Nikki Giles (right front) enjoys running laps with a few of her TriActiv8 crew at the Mackay Road Runners Shawn’s Summer Splash & Dash Biathlon Series.
Jose Short (left) and Carmel Mahon go stride for stride as they complete as many 400 metre laps as possible in the 30 minute time period.

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Mackay Table Tennis Tuesday morning fixtures November 12, 2024:

Division 1:

Pixel Paddles (George Camilleri, Pam Joyce, Judy Zahn, Kevin Abbott) d Byte Bouncers (Branko Vucurovic, Donna Abbott, John McGee, Marie Taylor) 8-6. Branko d Pam -6, 3, 6, -7, 12.

Nano Nets (Tony Bowman, Charlie Payne, Peter Goodson) d Code Crackers (Andrea Nicholson, Delma Knight, Noreen Fredericksen, Coral Morgan) 10-4. Veronica d Coral -9, -11, 9, 8, 1.

Division 2:

Berlin Blockers (Gloria Vella, Iris Grasso, Madge Saunders) drew Tokyo Turners (John Hamelink, Fred Saliba, Frank Caruana, Allison Day) 7-all. Frank d Gloria -7, -9, 4, 9, 9.

Sydney Slamm (Helen Ware, Robyn Bushell, Sharon Muller, Darryl Ross) drew London Looper (Ken Best, Kim Daffy, Nadine Stream, Glenda Brookes) 7-all. Ken d Helen -8, 6, 8, -9, 12.

Paris Spinners (Bryan Marshall, Ian Dodds, Trish Zamparutti) d Rome Ralliers (Bill Hey, Cheryl Aprato, Thelma Caruana) 6-5. Ian d Bill -12, -9, 6, 7, 3.

Mackay Table Tennis Tuesday night fixtures November 12, 2024:

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Division 1:

Alfa (Graham Brake, Steve, Tony Bowman) d Aqua (Neil Brown, Geoff Denman, Ian McKay) 6-5. Ian d Tony 7, 10, -6, -10, 7.

Andro (Janice Kent, Emma Widdup, Graeme Walker) d Barra (Anne Sheridan, Lee Brake, Trent Day) 8-3. Lee d Janice -9, -9, 9, 10, 8.

Corgi (Andrew, Lily Boland, Will VanDeKaa) d Azalea (Mark Sleeman, Barry Patterson, Allan Robins) Barry/Allan d Lily/Will -5, 5, -8, 7, 8.

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Division 2:

Bulldog (Delma Knight, Peter Goodson, David Symons) d Tigers (Ollie Hamelink, Andrea Nicolson, Steve Mathieson) 7-4. David d Ollie 8, 7, -12, -9, 7.

Cockatoos (Craig VanDeKaa, Geoff, Matt West) d Cats (George Camilleri, YiLin Jiang, Tiffany Camilleri) 6-5. Geoff d YiLin -8, 9, 8, -9, 6.

Canaries (Leo Gilbert, Kade Wright, Ishara Lylanagamage) d Cheetahs (Daniel Gilbert, Val Austin) 9-2. Ishara d Val -10, 9, 19, -10, 8.

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Frank Caruana and Gloria Vella had an interesting battle, with Frank losing the first two sets, only to mount a sensational comeback to take the win 3 sets to 2. Photos supplied

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MIXED PAIRS FINAL

A hotly contested final on Saturday saw the team of Kees Struik and Marie Bragg defeat Nuggy Pratt (still playing like a champion) and Alan Cooney who was subbing for Tony Allsop in a seesawing battle. Marie Bragg should be very happy with her contribution towards the win.

Weekly Events

Monday 9.00am start 2 x 4 x 2 pairs

Wednesday Ladies bowls

Thursday 1.00pm 2 x 4 x 2 pairs any mix

Friday 2.30pm (this week only) 3 bowls pairs

Saturday 1.00pm normally pairs

CMR Goosies $10,000

This weekend will see the club conduct it’s biggest event of the year. It commences with a pair event at 2.30pm today, Friday with $500 prize money followed by a Calcutta starting at 6.30pm for the main event the CMR Goosies $10,000 carnival held on the weekend. Visiting bowling teams will travel from Townsville and Rockhampton and clubs in between. A good weekend of bowls is guaranteed. All results will be in the “Mackay Life” next week.

Social Bowls Results

Monday winners Ian Rowan, Greg Pemoruice

Lucky Draw M Rose, P Morgan

Wednesday winners B Mulhall, N Schmidke, I Comelli

R/up T Russell, B Trannore, D Gordon

Thursday winners V Meitzel, P Elgey

R/up L Kane, D Kane

Friday winners V Depinto, B Svenson

Lucky draw V Meitzel, A Helenius, S Trannore, M Walsh

Saturday winners J C/Master, P Dellaney

R/up S Trannore, S Lane

Tip of the week

Once you have picked your grass and intended line; stance and posture is correct; your brain and concentration takes over and controls touch and pace. Simply; think before you deliver your bowl.

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Left to right: A Cooney, T Allsop, N Pratt, K Struik, M Bragg

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Mackay Road Runners Club is taking training to the next level with a splash of something new this season. Under the guidance of Club Captain and Life Member Jim Ford, the off-season program now includes a swim leg—a first in the club’s history. Ford, who juggles his roles as Race Director and proud Grandad, is excited to introduce this fresh challenge to keep members on their toes during the off-season.

Shawn’s Summer Series, known for its unique format under Jim’s direction, has adapted this season to include multiple disciplines due to the extreme summer temperatures, evolving into a biathlon training session. To make the event as inclusive as possible, Jim incorporates specific age-based advantages into the track and lap tallies, encouraging wider participation.

The Biathlon Series takes place every Sunday in November at 4:30pm at the Aquatic & Recreational Complex (ARC) and will resume in January 2025. Participants are invited to gather at the ARC’s running track gates after paying a $4 entry fee at the pool kiosk. A gold coin donation is encouraged to support post-run and swim refreshments. Jim ensures a smooth start by having a sign-in book for participants to complete before the 4:30pm race briefing.

Last week’s event attracted a lively mix of new faces, families, and regulars, with attendees from groups like Nikki Giles’ TriActiv8, Mackay Road Runners, and Eimeo Surf Club enjoying the ARC’s fantastic outdoor facilities.

The Mackay Road Runners Committee recently held its 2025 calendar meeting, where they are finalising the schedule. The confirmed calendar is expected to be released shortly. Additionally, the Mackay Road Runners Annual General Meeting (AGM) is set for January 13, 2025, with notices to be posted on social media in the coming weeks.

Contributed by Janelle Tilse

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Classy athletes, Kellie  Chappell (left) with Naomi Ballard (right) ready to start the run leg of the 2nd Shawn’s Summer Social Dash & Splash Biathlon Series at the Aquatic & Recreational Complex (ARC).

Todd Turner and Nikki Giles rack up the laps as they speed around the 400 metre track at the ARC.

Alana Knezevic and Carolyn Mapes enjoy the swim leg of the Biathlon.

Jim Ford (back to camera, front centre) instructs approximately 45 runners to complete as many laps in the 30 minute time limit before entering the pool leg of the Biathlon. Photos supplied

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The Mackay Whitsunday Cyclones Men’s representative team suffered back-to-back losses in the North Queensland Cricket Mens Open Zone championships at George Gorrie Oval last weekend.

But it was a different story for the Cyclones women's side, who emerged as champions in the inaugural 4-Zone competition, going undefeated over the weekend.

The women's team secured victories in all three of their matches, showcasing their dominance on the field. Their stellar performance was capped with several players being selected for the North Queensland side to face South Queensland in Gatton in the coming weeks.

Congratulations to Elisha Holdsworth, Meghan McCartney, Matilda Faulkner, Dharmini Chauhan, Aleisha Middleton, Kianna Dunn, and Taylah Schutt on their well-deserved selections. The team will be coached by Shane Dunn, representing the region with pride.

Special mention goes to Sam Vassallo from the men’s team, who also earned a spot in the North Queensland Open Men's team to compete against South Queensland in Townsville. These athletes will now aim for a place in the Queensland Country sides heading to the National Championships in the Barossa Valley in January.

In the men’s competition, dashing half centuries from Lachlan Ford (69 off seventy one balls) and Ryan Eaton (58 off sixty five balls) and a four wicket haul by paceman Kai Adami (4-26 off eight overs) steered North Queensland (7-241) to a decisive 94 run victory over the Cyclones (147).

In a top batting performance, Adam Camer (37) and Pierce Carrara (33 not out) also impressed for North Queensland with Adami, Ford (2-21 off six) and quick Travis Busch (2-26 off eight) impressive with the ball.

The Cyclones were best served by Cody Filewood (47 runs off seventy five balls) with four boundaries and a six, Luke Jackson (24) and experienced opener Sam Vassallo (23).

Lane Kohler snared 2-49 with the ball.

Central Queensland recorded a seven wicket victory over the Cyclones last Sunday to zoom into title calculations.

Mackay-Whitsunday won the toss and elected to bat but were bundled out for 156 in the forty fourth over after stand out bowling displays from Central Queensland ace Joe McGahan (3-43 off seven overs), Riley McDonald (3-24 off ten) and Logan Whitfield (2-24 off ten).

A superb century by vice captain Jeff Case proved the highlight as Central Queensland (3-158) chased down the winning target inside thirty one overs.

Case smashed an unbeaten 101 off one hundred balls in an epic knock that featured eleven boundaries and two sixes.

He shared an unbroken stand of 91 for the fourth wicket with number five Brent Hartley (25 not out) as Central Queensland won their third match after four rounds to consolidate top spot on twenty two competition points.

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The Mackay Whitsunday Cyclones Men's and Women's teams after a weekend of mixed results. The women’s side made history with an undefeated run to claim the inaugural 4-Zone Championship, while the men's team battled hard in their North Queensland Open Zone campaign

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The 2024 Pan Pacific Masters Games recently wrapped up on the Gold Coast, bringing together over 16,000 participants across 40+ sports from November 1st to 10th. The aquatic events, held from November 6th to 10th, kicked off with 800m and 1500m races and included a full range of strokes up to 400m over the following days. Representing the North Mackay Sinkers, a dedicated "sole sinker" made the journey south, actively participating in both swimming events and volunteering.

The Games concluded on November 10th with a series of ocean swims, hosted by the Mermaid Beach Surf Life Saving Club. Swimmers chose between 1km, 2.5km, and 4km distances, with a Sinkers member impressively securing 4th place in the 4km event for his age group. The next Pan Pacs are already scheduled for November 6th–15th, 2026, promising another dynamic lineup of sports, social activities, and live entertainment, including performances by bands like “Killer Queen” and Sneaky Sound System.

Adding to their regular training on November 9th, the North Mackay Sinkers welcomed Kylie from Untapped Exercise Physiology. Kylie not only joined members in the pool but also led a valuable discussion on integrating professional guidance into training routines. Her insights emphasized the benefits of upper body isometric and functional exercises before swimming, as well as incorporating resistance training and impact workouts. Several members underwent functional tests, leaving the group with actionable fitness tips.

Looking to dive into the North Mackay Sinkers Masters Swimming Club? Masters Swimming Queensland offers programs for all skill levels, from beginners and recreational swimmers to competitive athletes in both pool and open water. The Sinkers invite those interested in a friendly and supportive swimming community to get in touch.

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Masters Swimming Qld hosted the pool events that attracted over 550 swimmers to attend from all over Australia and overseas

The Men’s 4km ocean swim gets underway in perfect conditions.

The calm conditions and Gold Coast city scape made for a great swim in 21-degree water.

The exercise physiology session with Kylie was well received and focussed on masters athletes. Photos supplied

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Mackay Table Tennis Tuesday morning fixtures November 5, 2024:

Division 1:

Pixel Paddles (George Camilleri, Pam Joyce, Judy Zahn, Kevin Abbott) drew Code Crackers (Doug Dungavell, Delma Knight, Noreen Fredericksen, Coral Morgan) 7-all. Judy d Doug 5, -6, -9, 5, 10.

Byte Bouncers (Branko Vucurovic, Donna Abbott, John McGee, Marie Taylor) d Nano Nets (Tony Bowman, Charlie Payne, Peter Goodson, Veronica Shepherd) 8-6. John d Peter 11, -8, -9, 10, 7.

Division 2:

Tokyo Turners (John Hamelink, Fred Saliba) d Rome Ralliers (Louise Gould, Bill Hey, Cheryl Aprato) 6-4.  John d Louise -12, -9, 8, 7, 8.

London Looper (Ken Best, Kim Daffy, Nadine Stream, Glenda Brookes) d Berlin Blockers (Iris Grasso, Madge Saunders, Josie Davis) 11-3. Kim d Iris 7, -6, -5, 3, 9.

Sydney Slamm (Helen Ware, Sharon Muller, Darryl Ross) d Paris Spinners (Bryan Marshall, Trish Zamparutti) 7-3. Helen/Sharon d Bryan/Trish d Helen/Sharon -8, 7, 0, -10, 7.

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Kim Daffy defeated Iris Grasso in a close match, winning the fifth set 11-9

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Twenty-one members attended the Airlie Beach Congress (Red Points) on Friday 8th November. Mackay place getters were in Section A 2nd Janelle Conroy and Terry Sheedy, 3rd Diane and Max Holewa. Section B N/S 1st Monica Darley and Geoff Taylor, 2nd Noel Saunders and Mary Rose Ramsden. E/W 2nd Patricia Garner and Jan Harris. On the home front, Tuesday saw a fabulous day of Bridge, comradery and horse racing, with a Melbourne Cup luncheon. Winners for the day were N/S Diane Stokes and Terry Sheedy, E/W Joy and Thomas Block.

Weekly Results

Monday 4 November 2024 – 5 Table One Winner Green Points

1st Janelle Conroy / Terry Sheedy 2nd Janine Rodgers / Richard Wix

3rd Edward Kliese / Diane Stokes 4th Margaret Lane / Barbara Tait

5th Sandy Patterson / Mary Rose Ramsden 6th Nancy Wix / Joy Block

Tuesday 5 November 2024 – Melbourne Cup 11 Table Mitchell Green Points

N/S E/W

1st Terry Sheedy / Diane Stokes 1st Joy Block / Thomas Block

2nd Janelle Conroy / Geoff Taylor 2nd Sandra Morris / Sandra Ford

3rd Helen Van Den Broek / Jan Harris 3rd Frances Brown / Alan Brown

4th Max Holewa / Diane Holewa 4th Marilin Robins / Faye Wright

5th Errol Morris / Mick Robins 5th Julie O’Neill / Patricia Garner

Wednesday 6 November 2024 – 7 Table Mitchell Green Points

N/S E/W

1st Joy Brunette / Don Poole 1st Jan Harris / Sandra Morris

2nd Joy Robinson / Robert Carless 2nd Monica Darley / Kath Poole

3rd Mary Rose Ramsden / Noel Saunders 3rd Victor Mason / Gwen Liddell

Friday 8 November 2024 – 5 Table Mitchell Green Points

N/S E/W

1st Sandy Patterson / Eric Goodchild 1st David Ting / Ming Ting

2nd Joyce Deguara / Gwen Liddell 2nd Jewel Schmidt / Susan Ross

Saturday 9 November 2024 – 11 Table Mitchell Green Points

N/S E/W

1st Geoff Taylor / Terry Sheedy 1st Janelle Conroy / Robert Carless

2nd Ming Ting / David Ting 2nd John McGee / Shirley Casey

3rd Mick King / Jan Harris 3rd Debra Goodchild / Eric Goodchild

4th Monic Darley / Nancy Martin 4th Diane Stokes / Annie Lynch

5th Nancy Wix / Richard Wix 5th Ann Whitmore / Sandra Morris

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Contributed by Joy Block

Twenty-two Mackay Players at Airlie Beach Congress

Melbourne Cup Day Winners Diane Cox, Terry Sheedy, Joy and Thomas Block. Photos supplied

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Mackay Surf Lifesaving Club recently hosted the 34th annual North Australian Titles, which saw over 1500+ lifesavers, water safety, carnival officials and spectators descend on Mackay’s beautiful Harbour Beach. The Mackay hosts did exceedingly well in the region, beating fellow clubs Eimeo and Sarina, as well as outperforming large clubs from Townsville, Arcadia and Picnic Bay SLSC’s.

The club had some outstanding achievements placing 4th overall, with the Juniors placing 2nd in their division as well the club taking out 1st place for the Handicap Trophy, meaning they were by aggregate the most improved club of the championships.  

Mackay SLSC Director of Surf Sports, Josh Grant said, “The club is very proud of our small but strong competition group, from the nippers in U11’s to our masters.

“To see our competitors take on the best of the best in regional Qld and achieve some great results, is a credit to the culture and commitment we have at our club.  

“The feedback I have received from visiting clubs is that they love coming here and competing at one of the best beaches in Queensland.  

“I would just like to thank all the clubs that made the effort and travelled to Mackay for the Nth Aussies, we hope to see you next year!

“It was very pleasing to see Hayden Tobin (U13), Cadence McKinnon (U14), Meliana Craig (U15) and Nate McKinnon (U17) selected for the Qld Country team based on their outstanding results,” Mr Grant said.  

“It’s a fantastic result to place with the best of the best of Northern Australia and regional Qld.  

“The club is going from strength to strength, and we are now preparing our lifesavers for Branch Titles at Sarina in a few weeks.”

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Mackay SLSC small but strong team get ready for day 3 at Nth Aussies

U17’s Zara Richardson & Molly Madden celebrating after taking out bronze in the Open female Nth Australian double ski race.

Mackay Harbour’s Kellan & Johnny (back) get ready for the action at Nth Aussies 2024.

Mackay’s All age beach relay team, comprising age groups from U11 to Masters took out 2nd place in North Australia.  Winners are grinners!

Captain of Mackay SLSC “Stingrays” Masters, Ben Madden, celebrates success in the 2km Beach Run.

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Mackay Christian College’s F1 in Schools teams have delivered an outstanding performance at the state finals, making a clean sweep across multiple categories. The event, which took place in Mackay, saw teams from across Queensland, including Townsville and the Gold Coast, come together for a thrilling showcase of innovation, engineering, and speed.

According to a representative from Mackay Christian College, the highlight of the competition was the impressive showing by Team Fusion, who achieved a perfect score of 80/80 in their submissions—a first in the five years the program has been running at the college.

“It’s an incredible achievement for our team,” the representative said. “Scoring 80 out of 80 is something we’ve never seen before, and it’s a testament to the hard work and dedication of our students.”

On race day, the college’s teams excelled, with Team AEROjet, led by Ada and Kaitlyn, taking first place in the cadet category. Meanwhile, in the development division, Team Fusion not only clinched the top spot but also set a new record for the fastest lap in Queensland, breaking the previous time of 1.131 seconds with a new record of 1.125 seconds.

The knockout racing event saw further triumphs, as Team AEROjet secured the title of Knockout Champions, followed closely by Team Fusion. This remarkable performance earned the school the distinction of being the best racing team in Queensland across both the Cadet and Development divisions.

Awards Recap:

Team AEROjet:

• Best Engineered Car

• Grand Prix Champion

• Best Team Poster

• Overall Champions in the Cadet category

Team Fusion:

• Knockout Champions

• Best Engineering Award

• Best Reaction Time

• Grand Prix Champion

• Best Engineering CAD

• Fastest Lap Award

“This has been a fantastic competition, and our students have represented Mackay Christian College exceptionally well,” added the representative. “Their success wouldn’t have been possible without the support and guidance from our school community.”

Congratulations to all involved on their phenomenal achievements, which have put Mackay Christian College at the forefront of F1 in Schools racing in Queensland.

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