Despite a grey, wet, and windy start, with a tropical low looming, the Sinkers Fun in Feb meet went ahead at the Mackay North State High School pool. Once again, wild weather couldn’t stop the Masters swimmers from coming together.

Set-up crews bravely faced the conditions, setting up gazebos, tables, lane ropes, and flags in preparation for the 11 am warm-up. The early arrival of more volunteers ensured the final touches were added just in time as swimmers were welcomed with registration, a raffle, and a free lucky swimmer draw.

The 2025 event saw 44 registrations, with a strong showing from Sinkers members, many of whom were new to Masters swimming. Entries also came from other Masters clubs, including Mackay Swimming Academy, Long Tan Legends, Hervey Bay Humpbacks, and several guests from the Mackay Water Polo and Triathlon Clubs.

Designed as a friendly, fun meet, the event offered new swimmers the chance to experience races in a supportive environment. Judging from the smiles and positive feedback, that goal was certainly achieved.

In a fun twist, a "visiting crocodile" lined up on the blocks, though no one entered that race!

Notably, place-getters in each age group were given the opportunity to select a prize from a pool of chocolates, adding to the event's light-hearted atmosphere.

As in previous years, JB from the Rats of Tobruk club served as the main official, with support from Peter Nowlan (QNS). The team from the Pioneer Swimming Club "Dolphins" once again provided semi-automatic timing to ensure smooth officiating.

Many first-time volunteers from the Sinkers and their friends took on roles such as chief timekeeper, timekeepers, marshals, and announcers to keep the events running smoothly.

All strokes and distances from 25 to 200 meters were offered, and it was great to see new members experiencing an event under race conditions, albeit in a fun and forgiving environment.

The day concluded with an exhibition relay, where makeshift teams competed, followed by the raffle and age group announcements.

And what's a swim meet without an after-party? Nearly 40 swimmers and partners regrouped at the Mt. Pleasant Tavern, sporting 1960s tie-dye outfits. It was a great day followed by a fun and entertaining evening to cap off the 2025 Sinkers Fun in Feb event.

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The Sinkers Fun in Feb meet overcame wild weather, including a tropical low, with 44 swimmers enjoying a fun and friendly event, complete with a "visiting crocodile" twist, chocolate prizes, and an after-party in 1960s tie-dye. Photos supplied

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Softball in Mackay is booming, with young athletes making a significant impact on the national stage. Rising stars like 14-year-old Evie Grace, who recently competed with the Queensland development squad in New Zealand, are hitting the ground running on their path to success.

“It’s good to get to know girls from other countries and get to know more people in Queensland,” Evie shared, adding that the experience involved “a lot of hard work” but she enjoyed building friendships along the way.

Evie’s team placed second at nationals in Perth and she’s now looking forward to the next challenge.

“I’m looking forward to doing Perth again,” she said, also sharing her excitement for being selected as a reserve for the U15 World Cup in Italy.

16-year-old Jackson Maluga is another standout softball star.

“I’ve been playing it since I was basically born,” Jackson said, reflecting on his journey to multiple Queensland and Australian teams over the years.

Jackson’s proudest achievement was pitching for both the under-16 and under-18 teams, winning nationals a week apart. His dedication to the sport is clear as he trains six days a week, with professional aspirations in sight.

Meanwhile, 12-year-old Connor Doolan is one of the youngest to make the Queensland team and advises other young players to “follow what you want, and don’t give up.”

Coach Murray Rivers, with over 50 test matches of experience coaching Queensland and Australian teams, speaks highly of the young talent emerging in Mackay.

“I see some amazing young talent here,” Murray said, highlighting players like Evie, who worked hard to become the best pitcher in her league.

He describes softball as a quick, physical sport that demands athletes be in peak condition.

His advice for newcomers is to "Just come down and have a watch first—it’s a great game, and you'll want to give it a try."

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Rising stars Evie Grace (14), Jackson Maluga (16), and Connor Doolan (12) are among a growing group of softball athletes in the region aiming to make their mark on the international stage. Photo credit: Hannah McNamara

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Wangaratta Weekly Results And Upcoming EventsThe winners of Tuesday's social bowls were Deb Retchless, Irene Laird, and Penny Warren, who defeated Stumpy Adams, Robyn Stitt, and Margaret Wilson in a competitive match. Unfortunately, the jackpot didn’t gooff this time, leaving players gearing up for a better outcome next time.

The mixed competition is progressing well, with several exciting matches. On Saturday, the semi-final of the mixed pairs was held, and it was Denise Wallace and Mark Drummond who emerged victorious, defeating Penny Warren and Allan Rolfe in a closely contested game. Then, on Sunday morning, the semi-final of mixed triples saw Laurie Land, Penny Warren, and Allan Rolfe triumph, overcoming Denise Wallace, David McDonald, and Gavin Charles in a thrilling match.

Later, in the Sunday afternoon session, players braved the sweltering heat to compete in the pairs competition. Teresa Willshire and Gavin Charles were the winners of the afternoon, defeating Alby Vigar and Pat Tracey. Meanwhile, Jim Quod and Allan Rolfe secured a win over Lindy Suann and Mark Drummond. Unfortunately, the jackpot still didn’t go off, leaving everyone eager for the next chance.

Looking ahead, next Saturday marks the first round of men’s local pennant, which will be played all day at Wangaratta, where we will face Bowen Bowls Club. Best of luck to all our players. Normal social play will take place on Sunday, and we wish good luck to our ladies participating in the BBC Ladies’ event this week.

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Contributed with thanks by Penny Warren

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Our belated February Monthly Medal saw a surprising turnout of 25 players, despite challenging conditions. The course was soggy and heavy underfoot, but fortunately, the rain held off, allowing golfers to enjoy the day even in less-than-ideal conditions. It was great to be back out on the greens, with many enthusiastic players embracing the tough weather.

In the ladies' competition, Elspeth Scotford emerged as the winner with an impressive 77 nett, securing her second consecutive victory. Tiina Randmae finished as the runner-up with a solid 85 nett. The rundown also included Robyn Whitham, Paula McQuat, and Heather Luvis.

In the men's event, Colin Hounsell claimed victory with an outstanding 69 nett. Trevor Peroz took runner-up honors after a countback, demonstrating a fine performance despite the challenging course. The rundown for the men featured Steve Mitchell, Gary Scotford, Larry Muller, John Roser, Laurie Dakin, Craig McLean, and Peter Lindsay.

Elspeth Scotford was the standout in pin shots, claiming two, while Jenny Hounsell, Robyn Witham, and Vickie Wallace also contributed. Among the men, Gary Scotford, Trevor Peroz, John Wallace, Colin Hounsell, and Nick Apruzzese claimed pin shots.

In the least putts category, Paula McQuat recorded 30 putts, while Colin Hounsell and Gary Scotford both finished with 25.

Our next competition will be the March Monthly Medal on 4th March 2025, stroke and count your putts and we’ll see you there

Contributed with thanks by Paula McQuat.

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The club’s Men’s Open Fours competition for 2025 was held in its entirety on the weekend of 1st and 2nd March. Eight teams participated in the event, with competitors ranging from top division pennant players and district players to first-year participants. The winning team, crowned Airlie Beach Men’s Fours Champions for 2025, consisted of Bob McMahon, Luke Kinnear, Russ Jackson, and Armando Isgro, who defeated Keith Bates, Alan Pershouse, Jeff Tierney, and Peter Barrett.

On Sunday, social bowlers played pairs games, with the winning team consisting of Regina Aquilina and Sue Dakin. Later in the afternoon, members gathered to watch the 2024 Men’s Fours final. The match was tightly contested, with bowls of a high standard, as expected from division one pennant and district players. In the final, Rick Galea, Ash Warland, Kevin John Trembath, and Shane Spann were defeated by Bob McMahon, Peter Barrett (substitute for Tim Taylor), Russ Jackson, and Armando Isgro. A special thank you to Bob and Yvonne Spees, who generously volunteered their time to cook a sausage sizzle for all the players and visitors on both Saturday and Sunday.

On Tuesday, 20 competitors took part in a bowls match, which included two games of triples and two games of pairs. The prize-winning team, consisting of Mel, Henny, and Carol Crosbie, emerged victorious against Maureen, Dawn, and Betty Whitehorn. President Carol Crosbie will be hosting an all-day celebration on Monday, March 10th, with ladies from the Mackay district invited to join a bowling carnival in celebration of the joy of Autumn and the 38th anniversary of Airlie Beach Bowls in the Mackay district.

Wednesday social bowls had eighteen players allowing three games of triples. There were three close games and the winning team taking home the prize pool was team John Askew against team Kevin Jewell. There was no jackpot prize winner this week.

The Women and Girls come and try lawn bowls program, sponsored by the Queensland Government Sport and Rec recommenced Thursday 6th March at new time of 5pm -6pm.

Contributed with thanks by Betty Whitehorn

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Airlie Beach Golf Club Results - Week Ending 2nd March 2025
Despite ongoing weather challenges, the course improved throughout the week and is now nearly dry. However, players are still asked to exercise caution with their carts, sticking to the outer edges of the fairways when necessary and avoiding any wet spots.

Tuesday, 25th February 2025 - PGC February Monthly Medal
Sadly, the course was very wet, but congratulations to the winners for their exceptional play. Colin Hounsell won the men’s competition with an impressive 69 nett on a countback, edging out Trevor Paroz. In the ladies' competition, Elspeth Scotford took the win with 77 nett, and Di Chard finished as runner-up with 80 nett. Aaron Prosser and Elspeth Scotford won NTP prizes on the 2nd hole.

In the Veterans’ February Monthly Medal, Elspeth Scotford triumphed again with 77 nett, while Tiina Randmae placed second with 85 nett. Colin Hounsell also won in the men’s category with 69 nett. NTP winners were Gary Scotford, Trevor Paroz, John Wallace, Colin Hounsell, and Nick Apruzzese for the men, and Elspeth Scotford (x2), Jenny Hounsell, Robyn Witham, and Vickie Wallace for the ladies. Paula McQuat had 30 putts, while Colin Hounsell and Gary Scotford both had 25 putts.

Wednesday, 26th February 2025 - Ladies' Single Stableford
It was windy, but Heather Luvis won with 31 points on a countback, narrowly beating Jenny Hounsell. NTP winners were Heather Luvis and Paula McQuat on the 2nd hole, and Leanne Alexander on the 9th hole.

Thursday, 27th February 2025 - PGC February Monthly Medal Sponsored by Venuesmart
It was windy again, but Lewy Tuck won A Grade with 67 nett, while Laurie Dakin finished as runner-up with 70 nett. In B Grade, Peter Lindsay took the win with 69 nett, and Brendon Meharry was runner-up with 72 nett. There were several 2-shot winners: Colin Hounsell and Scott Mason on the 2nd hole, and Craig McLean and Lewy Tuck on the 9th hole. NTP winners were Colin Hounsell on the 2nd hole and Andrew Albergo on the 9th hole.

Friday, 28th February 2025 - Metropole Run (Front 9 Holes)
Samantha Aitken won with 22 points, while Kerr Claxton was runner-up with 21 points on a countback. Harry Russell took third place. NTP winners were Brendan Spann on the 2nd hole and Perri Simpson on the 9th hole.

Saturday, 1st March 2025 - Metropole March Monthly Medal
John Clark won the overall competition with an impressive 66 nett. In A Grade, Conrad Werner took the win with 70 nett, while Rob Stanley was runner-up with 71 nett. In B Grade, John Clark also won with 66 nett, and Tony Chapple was runner-up with 69 nett. In C Grade, Trevor Paroz won with 69 nett, while John Oates was runner-up with 72 nett. The best gross scores were Rob Stanley (A Grade), Darren Reynolds (B Grade), and Phil Batty (C Grade). There were 14 two-shot winners. NTP winners were Larry Muller on the 2nd hole, Scott Dwyer on the 9th hole, Peter Faust on the 13th hole, and Levi Holmes on the 16th hole.

In the ladies’ competition, Di Chard won with 69 nett, while Toni Clauss was runner-up with 74 nett. Tiina Randmae won the 2-shot prize on the 16th hole. Di Chard won the NTP on the 2nd hole, and Penny Wardroper took the 9th hole prize.

Sunday, 2nd March 2025 - 3-Ball Ambrose with Shotgun Start
A total of 79 players participated. The winners were the Alfie Moretto trio, including L. Kobe and Harley, with a score of 53.5 nett. The runner-up team, consisting of Jason Whitney, his daughter, and Sidonie Fleet, posted a score of 54.5 nett. Third place went to Mark Thompson, Sean, and young Fogarty, with a nett score of 56.8. NTP winners were Tim Frew on the 2nd hole, Danny York on the 9th hole, Ben Harrison on the 13th hole, and Clay Coles on the 16th hole.

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Contributed with thanks by Tiina Randmae

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On Sunday, we kicked off our first game of bowls for the year. While the wet weather and the aftereffects of a heavy downpour delayed play, the green is in spectacular condition.

We had thirteen players and one spectator for our final session of Summertime hours bowls. In the first match, John Anderson, Mary Hedgelong, and Philip Brown defeated Alen Sanderson, Trevor Parsons, and Heather Brown with a score of 13-10. In the second match, Ken Watts, Bruce Uhe, Mike Harrison, and Kendall Watts triumphed over Ken Watts, Arthur Griffith, Sandy Daffara, and Gavin Noonan, finishing 22-10. It was lovely to see Lee King come down to watch the game. Lee will soon be back on the green, which is great news.

Nominations are now open for all club competitions. If you haven’t had a chance to visit the club during open hours to put your name down, you can easily nominate by emailing or texting Gavin Milne (Games Coordinator).

On Wednesday, Mary Hedgelong and Henny Tattam joined Heather at Mackay City for their PAH. Everyone had a great time and the next PAH will be held at Mackay Club on Friday, April 11th.

A big thank you to all who have dedicated significant time and effort into upgrading our green edges. Progress is looking great, and your hard work is deeply appreciated.

Starting Wednesday March 5th, social bowls will return to our regular hours. Please have your names in before 1:00 p.m. so we can start play by 1:30 p.m.

Contributed with thanks by the Secretary of Proserpine Bowls Club

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The Cannonvale Cannons put on a stellar performance at the 73rd Annual North Queensland Long Course Championships in Townsville over the weekend, hosted by Swimming North Queensland. This highly competitive event sees swimmers and clubs battle it out for Age Group Champions, Champion Club, and Parade Winner titles.

The Cannons are proud to announce that Jax Clayworth was named 11 Years Men Age Champion, while Jacob Bell took home the 17 Years & Over Men Age Champion title.

Adding to the club’s success, three Cannons swimmers were presented Swimming North Queensland Records. Jax Clayworth claimed the 11 Years 400IM record, Eloise Chegwidden set records in the 9 Years 25m Breaststroke and 25m Backstroke, and Lucas Korosec broke the 8 Years 25m Backstroke record.

The excitement kicked off on Friday evening with the much-loved club relays. The Cannons secured bronze in the 400m Medley (12 & Over Girls) and the Mixed 200m Medley, while the 8 to 12 Years Boys team claimed silver in both the 200m Medley Relay and the 200m Freestyle Relay.

Saturday and Sunday saw two intense days of individual racing, with all Cannonvale Cannons swimmers putting in outstanding performances. Many achieved personal bests and secured strong individual placings, showcasing their dedication and competitive spirit.

A special mention to our senior swimmers who reached the finals: Jacob Bell, Tora Delac, Zach Trefz, Tyler Bennett, Isabella Pisaniello, Isaac Pisaniello, Ella Bounden, Thomas Ganter, Mae Carter Atwood, Tiana Bell, and Ruby Lawson. Among them, Jacob, Tiana, Tora, Ella, Tyler, Zach, Isabella, and Mae all secured gold in at least one final.

Finally, a standout performance came from Zach Trefz who made the finals in 11 of his events to then take home three gold, five silver and a bronze, earning the most points for the Cannonvale Cannons.

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Contributed with thanks by Jade Korosec, Vice President of Cannonvale Cannons.
Silver for the 8 - 12 Years Boys Medley Team
Record Breakers: Eloise Chegwidden, Lucas Korosec and Jax Clayworth  
Bronze for the 11 & Over Mixed Medley Team
Bronze for the 12 & Over Girls Medley Team
11 Year Boys Age Champ Jax Clayworth

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In an exhilarating night of underwater hockey, the club welcomed an impressive turnout of 14 players, creating an atmosphere packed with energy and enthusiasm. Among the attendees were newcomers Hunter, Hudson, and Sarah, who were quickly integrated into the team dynamics. However, special guest from Townsville, Sonny, truly stole the show. Her seamless integration into the squad and demonstration of exceptional skills impressed both seasoned players and novices alike.

The evening kicked off with a game of "one breath," a classic drill that sets the tone for the session. While Boyd took the opportunity to share valuable skills with the new guests, anticipation built for the main action. As the games commenced, the Buschman family showcased their usual steadfastness, but it was Peter and Ryan who stood out in defence, skilfully coordinating with junior members to establish a strong presence on the field.

Todd and Jimmy split the opposition with their remarkable breath-holding capabilities, while Sarah showed resilience in her attempts to score, being thwarted twice by a determined defence. The camaraderie and spirit displayed throughout the session ranked it among the top three experiences in the young club's history.

As the night drew to a close, players packed up together, reflecting on the evening's highlights and enjoyed a friendly chat in the car park until the lights went out. The sense of community and shared passion for the sport is what makes the club special as they get ready for another exciting session on Monday night!

Contributed by Joel Sadleir

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Last Wednesday, the North Mackay Ladies social competition saw Cecilia Lee and Lorraine Lemke take the win in a well-fought pairs game.

In the triples match, the runners-up title went to Leslie Baumgarten, Narell Schmidtke, and Lurline Ford, who showed great teamwork on the green.

Last week, the competition heated up with four teams battling it out in the semi-finals of the Championship Fours. Only two teams secured a spot in Thursday morning’s final, and what a match it was! The tension was high, strategies were put to the test, and teamwork was on full display.

The ultimate winners were Donna Gordon, Coral Francis, Debbie Mackenzie, and Lorna Bowers, taking the victory in a fantastic showdown.

Runners-up, Isla Comelli, Maryann Bartolo, Ann Smith, and Lois Deguara, also delivered a brilliant performance, keeping the game exciting until the very end.

Member of the club, Sue Hazledine said “Thankyou for a great game showing us how it’s done. Congratulations to these lovely winners and to everyone who played in this competition.

“Next Wednesday sees the start of the championship Pairs. Best of luck to those playing!”

Contributed by Sue Hazledine

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Fours Runners Up : Ann Smith, Isla Comelli, Maryann Bartolo, Lois Deguara.

Fours Winners (L) Donna Gordon, Coral Francis, Lorna Bowers, Debbie Mackenzie. Photos supplied

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Mackay Table Tennis Tuesday night fixtures, February 18, 2025:

Division 1:

Panther Prowler 8 (Vince Boeske, Allan Edwards, Trent Day) d Stellar Storm (Will VanDeKaa, Lee Brake, Barry Patterson) 8-3. Trent d Barry 11, 7, -7, -6, 6.

Phoenix Fire (Andrew McHugh, Josh Brown, Andrea Nicholson) d Venus Voyager (Graham Drury, Janice Kent, Graham Brake) 9-2. Andrea d Graham -8, 8, 11, 10.

Ant Warriors (Graeme Walker, Ian McKay) d Cosmic Sorcerers (Donna Abbott, Anne Sheridan) 7-2. Ian d Donna 6, -10, -9, 11, 6.

Star Lords (Vimal Chilukuri, Robbie Richards, Mark Sleeman) d Ghost Spin (Allan Robins, Steven Whiting, Lily Boland) 6-5. Lily d Robbie 2, -10, 6, 4, 8.

Division 2:

Zulu Spears (George Camilleri, Darryl Ross, Ricky Zhen) d Spartan Serve (Liz Burton, YiLin Jiang, Mark Stam) 6-5. Ricky d Liz -10, 8, -5, 9, 8.

Pirate Plunge (Geoff Cowan, Saisha Palod, David Symons) d Amazon Guard (Nehmat Dhaliwal, Simon Hogan, Noreen Fredericksen) 9-2. Bulldog d Nehmat -11, -7, 5, 9, 7.

Celtic Smash (Tiffany Camilleri, Steve Mathieson, Syed Zhang) d Rebel Celts (Delma Knight, Ollie Hamelink, Val Austin) 7-4. Delma d Syed 6, -9, -9, 10, 7.

Pharoah Aces (Duncan Treloar, Rymer Tabulo, Misha Palod) d Roman Legion (Craig VenDeKaa, Niro Premachandra, Peter Goodson) 7-4. Rymer d Peter 6, 1, -8, -11, 7.

Mackay Table Tennis Tuesday morning fixtures February 18, 2025:

Division 1:

Solar Comets (Doug Dungavell, Judy Zahn, Bryan Marshall) drew Venue Voyagers (Peter Goodson, Branko Vucurovic, Marie Taylor) 6-all. Peter/Marie d Doug/Bryan -11, -10, 8, 3, 6.

Luna Legends (Donna Abbott, Pam Joyce, Noreen Fredericksen) drew Saturn’s Rings (George Camilleri, Andrea Nicholson, Coral Morgan) 6-all. George d Donna 11, 5, -9, -5, 6.

Rocket Stars (Allan Robins, John McGee, Veronica Shepherd) drew Mars Pioneers (Delma Knight, Steve Mathieson, Kevin Abbott) 6-all. John d Steve -10, -7, 7, 9, 8.

Division 2:

Pluto Players (Darryl Ross, Iris Grasso, Gerry Synnott) d Mercury Meteor (Ken Best, Helen Ware, Kim Daffy) 7-5. Helen d Gerry -5, -6, 6, 8, 7.

Jupiter Jets (Don Boettcher, Kim Challender, Robyn Bushell) d Neptune Navigators (John Hamelink, Gloria Vella, Frank Caruana) 7-5. Gloria d Kim -8, 7, -8, 7, 9.

Division 3:

Aqua Waves (Charlie Farrow, Chris Collins, Thelma Caruana) d Black Panther (Sharon Muller, Madge Saunders, Carmel Christaldi) 10-2. Madge d Thelma 8, -10, -6, 7, 3.

Wonder Warriors (Virginia Clayton, Allison Day, Glenda Brookes) d Green Lantern (Ian Dodds, Laurie Bradshaw, Trish Zamparutti) 7-5. Ian d Virginia 9, -8, 5, -7, 7.

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Rymer Tabulo

Peter Goodson. Photos suppplied

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A special congratulations to Janelle Conroy, for being ranked second in the Gold Life Master section, in the 2024 Queensland Masterpoints awards, (which is a massive honour). Well done, Janelle! The first round of the GNOT Gold points event was played on Saturday with thirteen teams competing. Well done to teams Sheedy and Hansen finishing first and second. It was great to see so many new and up and coming players participating, well done to them also.

Weekly Results

Monday 17 February 2025 – 6 Table Mitchell Green Points
N/S E/W
1st Janelle Conroy / Terry Sheedy 1st Monica Darley / Nancy Martin
2nd David Ting / Eric Goodchild 2nd Thelma Caruana / Patricia Garner
3rd Karen Caldwell / Noel Saunders 3rd Sandy Ford / Diane Morgan

Tuesday Evening 18 February 2025 – 5 Table Mitchell Green Points
N/S E/W
1st John McGee / Mick King 1st Terry Sheedy / Helen Van Den Broek
2nd Janet Hansen / Lorna Shuttlewood 2nd Noel Bugeia / Eric Goodchild

Wednesday 19 February 2025 – 13 Table Mitchell Green Points
N/S E/W
1st Robert Carless / Ken Seaniger 1st Geoff Taylor / Janelle Conroy
Thursday Evening 20 February 2025 – 5 Table One Winner Green Points
1st Terry Sheedy / Noel Bugeia 2nd Geoff Taylor / Simon Barnes
3rd Ian Cruickshank / Adrian Westcott 4th Ann Whitmore / Frances Brown

Friday 21 February 2025 – 9 Table Mitchell Green Points
N/S E/W
1st Diane Cox / Christine Nice 1st Ming Ting / David Ting
2nd Joy Robinson / Geoff Taylor 2nd Diane Holewa / Max Holewa
3rd Mick King / Geoff Cowan 3rd Janelle Conroy / Pamela Finger
4th Terry Sheedy / Noel Bugeia 4th Eric Goodchild / Sandy Patterson

Saturday 22 February 2025 – GNOT 13 Table Mitchell Gold Points
Team Team Members
1st Sheedy Terry Sheedy / Noel Bugeia / Geoff Taylor / Janelle Conroy
2nd Hansen Janet Hansen / Diane Morgan / Frances Brown / Alan Brown
3rd Ting Ming Ting / David Ting / Debra Goodchild / Eric Goodchild
4th Bancroft Griffin Bancroft / Julie O’Neill / Ann Whitmore / Diane Stokes
5th Garner Patricia Garner / Thelma Caruana / Jan Harris / Helen Van Den Broek
6th Robins Mick Robins / Marilin Robins / Geoffrey Patterson / Robert Carless

Sunday 23 February 2025 – Novice/Mentors 5 Table Mitchell Green Points
N/S E/W
1st Karn Caldwell / Noel Saunders 1st Debra Goodchild / Annette Howe
2nd Janine Rodgers / Jewel Schmidt 2nd Adrian Westcott / Simon Barnes

Contributed by Joy Block

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Terry Sheedy, Neiil Hawthorne and Janelle Conroy. Photo supplied

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Excitement is building for the upcoming Canoe Blessing and Celebration at Eimeo Beach on Saturday, March 1, 2025, starting from 8:15am. The event will mark the initial blessing of the new Matahina OC6 canoe, which is set to be a significant addition to the Sunset Bay Outrigger Club’s fleet.

After the blessing, participants and spectators will gather at Eimeo Pub to enjoy a celebratory breakfast.

In conjunction with the canoe blessing, the event will launch the Junior Outrigger Program, designed to inspire young paddlers. This new initiative provides a fantastic opportunity for children aged 8 and up to learn the sport of outrigger paddling, build teamwork, and gain valuable skills.

It’s an exciting step forward in encouraging the next generation to develop an appreciation for the sport and the marine environment.

The Canoe Blessing and Celebration will also offer a chance for those new to the sport to try out outrigger paddling. With support from the Gambling Community Grant, the event showcases the continued growth of outrigger paddling in the region.

Participants are encouraged to bring a water bottle, a hat, and a long sleeve rashie or nippers stinger suit to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.

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Join the Canoe Blessing and Junior Outrigger Program launch at Eimeo Beach on March 1, 2025, and celebrate the arrival of the new Matahina OC6 canoe.

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Mackay Surf Lifesaving competitors recently headed to Sarina Beach for the North Barrier Branch Titles - the premier surf sports event - for seven regional lifesaving clubs as North as Ingham and as South as Sarina.  The Mackay team excelled by finishing a very close 2nd place to Townsville’s Arcadia SLSC.

“We are very impressed with the results of our surf sports athletes leading into states and nationals,” said Josh Grant the Mackay Director of Surf Sports.

“After analysing our results, it was awesome to see we were the club with the most gold medals overall and had a fairly small contingent yet excelled against all odds.”

Mackay Surf Club, now has a small but strong team ready to take on the upcoming state and national surf lifesaving titles in surf sports, champion lifesaver and surf boat events.

Contributed by Josh Grant

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Mackay Surf Lifesaving Club team that took out 2nd place at the North Barrier Branch Champs in Sarina.
Mackay’s U11 team enjoying being a part of the surf lifesaving movement .
U10 competitors at the start of the surf race.  This event involves a 288m surf swim for some of our youngest lifesavers.
Mackay Surf Club’s All Age Beach Relay – involves masters competitors down to U8 competitors
U14 Board race branch champion for another year running, Jo Madden. Photos supplied

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Health professionals in the frontline of the fight against breast cancer will hit the streets of Mackay next month for the Mater Chicks in Pink International Women’s Day Fun Run, presented by Queensland X-Ray.

While 23,000 people take part in the main Brisbane CBD event on Sunday 9 March, Mackay will hold its own fund-raising 5km fun run, starting and finishing at the Bucasia Beach playground.

This year walkers and runners from Mater Private Hospital Mackay will be lining up with Queensland X-Ray Mackay staff and members of the city’s Lazy Runners Club.

The International Women’s Day Fun Run is held by Mater Foundation, which is hoping to raise more than $1.8 million this year. The funds will be used to support Mater’s breast cancer services, purchase new equipment and fund life-saving breast cancer research.

“Mater’s Mackay team is joining Queensland X-Ray staff for this event, bringing together dozens of health workers who support women – and men – with breast cancer every day,” said Hazel Douglas, Assistant Director of Clinical Services at Mater Private Hospital Mackay.

“More than 20,000 patients a year are diagnosed with breast cancer each year in Australia and this is our way of showing our support for them and their families.”

Mater is one of the leading centres for breast cancer treatment in Queensland, with one in four patients state-wide being treated at a Mater hospital.

Around 300 patients underwent breast surgery at Mater Private Hospital Mackay last year.

Although registrations for the 2025 fun run have now closed, Mackay residents can still make a difference by donating at fundraise.mater.org.au/fundraisers/matermackaychicksinpink.

Supporters are also welcome to cheer on the participants at Bucasia Beach at 6.30am on 9 March.

Ms Douglas said the Mater team was hoping to raise $2000.

“Every dollar we raise helps women fighting breast cancer,” Ms Douglas said.

“It’s an amazing cause and we’re so grateful for the community support we’ve received so far.”

WHAT: Mater Chicks in Pink International Women’s Day Fun Run
WHERE: Bucasia Beach
WHEN: Sunday 9th March at 6.30am

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Mater Private Hospital Mackay fun runners (from left) Fiona Lynch (Dietitian), Belinda King (Enrolled Nurse), Elly Engstrom (St Paul’s ward Nurse Unit Manager) and Louise Mullaney (Mission Integration Manager). Photo supplied

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