
Cannonvale Cannons made a strong showing at the Mirani Long Course Transition Meet, originally scheduled for January but postponed due to wet weather. With the date change impacting availability, a smaller team of 15 swimmers represented the club — but they certainly made their presence felt. A special congratulations to Wilson and Olive Hounsell and Miranda Palmero, who were proudly presented with A Grade upgrade medals on the day. Standout performances included Mackenzie Bennett’s incredible 17.59 second personal best in the 200m Freestyle, smashing through the three-minute barrier in a breakthrough swim. Eloise Chegwidden and Jax Clayworth dominated their events, each claiming a clean sweep of gold medals. Faithlyn Trotter also impressed, improving her times across every event she contested. Adding to the excitement, Tyler Bennett, Jax Clayworth, Eloise Chegwidden, Harry Chegwidden and Maeve Dichiera all placed in the crowd-favourite Dash for Cash events, walking away with well-earned prize money. Back at home, this week’s club night presentation celebrated more achievements. Upgrade certificates were awarded to Cooper Konopka, Reid Springbett and Harper Plested. Coaches Awards went to Alfie Konopka for his 12m Backstroke and Kaitlyn Moon for her 50m Freestyle, recognising their effort and technique. The ever-popular chocolate award for closest to personal best went to Lucas Korosec, finishing just 0.01 seconds off his seed time! With momentum building, Cannons swimmers are now focused on the 74th Annual North Queensland Championships in Mackay this weekend. We wish all competitors the very best as they take on the region’s best. Contributed with thanks to Jade Korosec. Captions Eloise Chegwidden at Mirani Carnival Photo supplied
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The second week of autumn has arrived and it already looks like cyclone season may be approaching. However, with our wonderful bowls cover and lights, we can continue bowling in any weather that comes our way. The Ladies' and Men's competitions are now in full swing, and the mixed competitions will begin soon. Several of our newer bowlers recorded impressive wins this week, with Des Balance defeating Stacey Hadlow and Phil O’Brien comfortably accounting for John Fielding in what were considered major upsets. Warren Mills also continued his purple patch of form, defeating Harry Quod 26–13. Tuesday’s social bowls saw Joan McGrath once again among the winners, this time playing with Stan Larkin at lead and David “Choc” Cleary at second in a very entertaining game. Wednesday afternoon’s social bowls featured three games of triples. The biggest winning team was skippered by Gary Smith, with Rick Brunell—arguably the best lead in our club—and second Mark Mawson defeating Ted Cullen’s team, who were unlucky despite solid efforts from Duncan Smith and Alan Pershouse. Wednesday night’s Business House Bowls competition has now reached the halfway mark of the round and features 12 teams. The current leaders are Girl Power, with Maureen Barnard at lead, Sue Dakin at second, Gail Simms at third, and skipper Cathy Russell. Four teams are tied in second place—Flame Tree Sparkies and Chippies, TNP Property, and Flexi Hire—in what is shaping up to be a very close competition. Saturday morning’s Scroungers saw first-round winners Des Balance and Andy McDougall, with Des Balance taking out the A Grade prize and Rene Thommen winning the B Grade. A terrible downpour on Sunday meant only eight bowlers took to the green, but Andy McDougall and David “Choc” Cleary delivered a brilliant performance, finishing as unbeatable winners with a mammoth score of 46–13. The photo this week features Michael Heynatz, an outstanding talent in the making. With the support of the Endeavour Foundation, Michael is making great strides toward achieving his goal of representing Airlie Beach in the disabled games next year. Contributed with thanks to Mark Mawson. Captions Photo supplied
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Welcome to 5 set week, with massive matches in every division of the evening fixtures. Josh Brown was the stand out with all 3 of his matches going to 5 sets. Josh battled to win against his dad (5 Set Neil) Neil Brown (7,-7,-6,7,11), he also had close matches with Emma Widdup and Lily Boland, he definitely got his money’s worth for the night. Division 1: Paris (Steve Whiting, Anne Sheridan, Josh Brown) def St Louis (Emma Widdup, Neil Brown, Lily Boland) 8-3 and the outstanding triple, with 5 set wins to Josh Brown that are featured above. Athens (Goncalo Serra, Graeme Walker, Geoff Denman) def London (Barry Patterson, Trent Day, Syed Hossain) 8-3 with one 5 set match between Graeme and Syed with Graeme winning. Division 2: Los Angeles (Allan Edwards, Lee Brake, Mark Sleeman) def Stockholm (Geoff Cowan, Donna Abbott, Will VanDeKaa) 8-3 with Allan coming back to win against Geoff (8,-7,9,-7,8). Antwerp (Andrea Nicholson, Robbie Richards, Yilin Jiang) def Amsterdam (Janice Kent, Duncan Treloar, Graham Brake) 8-3, with Andrea went and finished Tuesday with a big win over Graham (-9,6,-12,9,8). Division 3: Helsinki (George Camilleri, Daniel Warfield) def Melbourne (Ollie Hamelink, Delma Knight) 5-0 with people missing from both sides, there were no 5 set matches. Rome (Ian McKay, Peter Goodson, Matt West) def Berlin (Mark Stam, Noreen Frederickson, Simon Hogan) 8-3, Ian came back from 2 sets down to win in 5 sets against Noreen (-8,-8,7,5,9). Division 4: Tokyo (Hollie Cleaver, Remy Zhan, Rachel Fiesta) def Mexico City (Kirsten Edwards, Dylan Ringwood, Archel Cruz) 9-2, Rachel and Remy snuck home a very close 5 set match against Archel and Dylan (12,-11,-5, 9,9). Montreal (Craig VanDeKaa, Jeric Engay, Melanie Theodore) def Munich (Liz Burton, Eldan Japay, Amanda Liu) 7-4, Liz made a clean sweep with winning all 3 singles and just coming home against Jeric in the 5th set (6,12,-11,-6,6). Moscow (Mohmout Ahmed, Logan Brown, Jeff Bennington) def Seoul (David Symons, Ricky Zhan, Regina Wulf) 8-3, Ricky came back in the 5th set to win against Jeff (-8,2,8,-8,9). Contributed with thanks to Andrea Nicholson.
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Mackay Road Runners had a busy weekend, beginning with the official launch of the BMA Mackay Marina Run on Friday morning, followed by the Mackay Airport Twilight City 5km Fun Run on Friday evening, and concluding with the club’s social 5/10km calendar event at the Mackay Surf Club on Sunday afternoon. Mackay Regional Council Mayor Greg Williamson formally launched the 2026 event at a sponsors and media promotional meet-and-greet held at Moss On Wood. The event was also attended by beneficiary charity, the Leukaemia Foundation. Inclement weather saw the launch relocated from Bluewater Quay; however, the Mackay Airport Twilight City Fun Run at 6pm proceeded as planned at Bluewater Quay, where hundreds of runners braved damp conditions to run and raise vital funds for the Leukaemia Foundation. With many Mackay Road Runners volunteering across both events, the club hosted a low-key social 5/10km run from the Mackay Surf Club on Sunday. Weather conditions lifted in time for the 5pm start, with more than twenty-five runners and supporters taking on a challenging course set by Race Director Andrew Short. The route thoughtfully incorporated Mt Bassett and the spectacular Southern Breakwater. This Sunday, MAD Fitness will once again generously sponsor the club’s first Club Championship race of the season. The 5km event will commence at 7am sharp from the Queen’s Park Shakespeare Street carpark entrance. To accrue valuable championship points, runners are encouraged to go online and become a club member. All members must report to the timekeeper/registrar 15 minutes prior to gun time and wear their race number bib on the front of their clothing so the timekeeper’s chip reader mat can recognise them and automatically allocate their finishing place. Casual day runners are also welcome for a $10 race day fee. Participants are encouraged to stay after the race for the presentation of a range of random draw prizes donated by MAD Fitness. 5202 - Toby Rule (3rd right) takes a steady lead from the gun at the Mackay Surf Club social 5k, 10k ahead of next weekend’s Under 20 State Athletics Titles in Brisbane in the 800 metres, 1500 metres and 3000 metre steeplechase. 5291 – Mackay Road Runners Merchandiser, Jo Hughes (right) presents Stephen Oberg with his 50th Anniversary singlet which included pretty flowery paper and a pink ribbon. 5221 – Hazel and her Mum Katie Dalton enjoy the Mackay Road Runners social 5km Mackay Surf Club. 5257 – Jess Evetts enjoys the Mackay Marina’s Southern Breakwater spectacular scenery during the Mackay Road Runners Mackay Surf Club social 10km. 5100 – Muscle Garden and Mackay Road Runners athletes enjoy the Mackay Airport Twilight City 5km Fun Run. 5207 – Carolyn Mapes and Daniel Stampa enjoy the social 5km Mackay Road Runners Mackay Surf Club. Photos supplied
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Mackay Surf Lifesaving Club’s Surf Rescue Team recently travelled to Broadbeach on the Gold Coast, to compete in the QLD State Surf Rescue Championships. The multidiscipline event involves lifesavers being assessed on their surf sports fitness, patient assessment & CPR skills and a detailed theory paper, after qualifying at a Branch level.
U15 competitor Cadence McKinnon took out 1st place, closely followed by Isabella Grant who claimed 2nd in the state as female Champion Lifesavers, with Nate Espartinez taking out 6th in the U15 male category. Mackay’s U17 competitor Zara Richardson took out 4th in a hotly contested female division.
“The club is extremely proud of our Champion Lifesavers for representing Mackay and showing that our lifesaving skills are the best in the state. They have been training for months, under experienced coaches to achieve this result” said Josh Grant, Director of Surf Sports. “It is very reassuring for the club and community to have our youth not only take an interest in surf lifesaving but also excel in this at an elite level. Our competitors will be heading off to the Australian titles which only allows 9 competitors from around Australia to qualify. The whole club is behind them & wish them the best of luck.”
Contributed with thanks to Josh Grant.





A major new study reviewing more than 1,000 clinical trials has found exercise may be one of the most effective and accessible treatments for depression and anxiety; a finding that strongly aligns with the Whitsundays’ active lifestyle and growing running community.
The research was led by Neil Munro, a PhD candidate in the Department of Psychology at James Cook University, and analysed a vast body of global evidence examining the relationship between exercise and mental health outcomes.
“There have been more than a thousand studies on this subject, we wanted to synthesise this vast body of evidence, cut through conflicting findings and provide the clearest picture yet of exercise’s impact on mental health,” said Mr Munro.
The research team conducted a “meta-meta-analysis”, reviewing 81 separate meta-analyses that collectively included nearly 80,000 participants across more than 1,000 individual trials.
Mr Munro said the findings were particularly strong for people with diagnosed depression and anxiety disorders.
“There were particularly strong effects for people with diagnosed depression and anxiety disorders. For depression specifically, the greatest benefits were seen in two key groups: people aged 18 to 30 and postnatal women,” he said.
“This finding is especially significant given how under-served these populations often are in accessing traditional mental health care.”
The study found aerobic activities such as walking and running delivered the greatest benefits, particularly when exercise was supervised or undertaken in groups.
“Supervised and group-based programs delivered the greatest benefits. For anxiety, shorter-term programs of up to eight weeks, performed at a comfortable pace, were especially effective challenging the idea that only intense workouts yield results,” said Mr Munro.
These findings mirror the structured training opportunities offered by the Whitsunday Running Club, which provides a supportive weekly schedule including interval training, social runs, parkrun and long slow runs across Airlie Beach and Cannonvale.
“Rather than simply advising individuals to ‘exercise more’, referrals to structured, supervised programs may be key,” Mr Munro said.
“For those facing barriers to traditional care, the message is clear: moving your body, especially with others, can be a powerful step toward better mental health.”
Residents are encouraged to lace up for their mental health with Whitsunday Running Club offering several regular group sessions. Photo source: Whitsunday Running Club

Whitsunday FC and Brothers FC played out a thrilling seven-goal encounter, with Brothers storming back to claim a dramatic 4–3 victory after an end-to-end contest.
Brothers created numerous chances throughout the match, applying constant pressure and testing the Whitsunday defence from the outset. Whitsunday struck first when Ben Smith converted a free kick that ricocheted off the post, rebounded into a defender, and spun over the line to open the scoring. Brothers responded well and found an equaliser to level the scores at 1–1 midway through the half. Whitsunday regained the lead before the breakthrough Reef Peel, who produced a pearler from the corner of the 18-yard box, delicately chipping the keeper to send his side into half-time 2–1 ahead.
Whitsunday started the second half strongly, and their relentless pressing paid off when pressing machine Kristian Mulholland forced a turnover and finished clinically to make it 3–1. Despite the two-goal cushion, Brothers refused to fade. Continuing to create opportunities, they capitalised on defensive lapses and shifted the momentum late in the contest, scoring three unanswered goals to complete a determined comeback and secure a hard-fought 4–3 victory.
Contributed with thanks to Alita DeBrincat.

The Airlie Beach Triathlon Festival is officially eclipsing all records. What began as a local community race has firmly established itself as a flagship fixture on the national sporting calendar, recently securing a historic milestone: its first-ever round of Queensland State Government funding in its 25-year history.
Supported by Tourism and Events Queensland, the festival was one of only three sporting events to receive backing from a pool of 43 applications. This investment is set to supercharge the regional economy, driving overnight stays and showcasing the Whitsundays to a national triathlon audience.
The accolade follows a string of successes for the volunteer-run organisation. After being named the Queensland Triathlon Association's "Club Initiative of the Year" in 2024, the event placed national runner-up for "Best Triathlon (Under 500 Participants)" ai the AusTriathlon awards in December 2025 – beating out over 70 triathlons nationwide.
Race Director Michael Kimpton credits this momentum to a passionate executive committee and the support of over 60 local businesses.
The 2026 festival, held from July 24-26, promises another year of exhilarating triathlon.
Highlights include a professional meet-and-greet, the Junior triathlon, and the main event - the certified Standard Distance triathlon on Sunday. Closing out the weekend events with a bang is a fireworks-filled banquet at Coral Sea Resort on Sunday Evening.
With entries selling faster than ever, the committee is now working on the 2026 event. A refreshed Sponsorship Prospectus will launch shortly, offering local businesses elite branding opportunities and category exclusivity.
To join this award-winning legacy, contact Race Director Michael Kimpton at info@airliebeachtriathlon.com.au


Cannonvale Cannons made a powerful statement at the 2026 Queensland Sprint Championships, with 24 swimmers representing the club in a weekend defined by grit, speed and success. Leading the charge was Eloise Chegwidden, who claimed the title of Queensland Champion in the 50m Breaststroke for 10-year-old girls, an outstanding achievement and a proud moment for the Cannons community.
Eloise also placed fourth in the 50m Backstroke, capping off a remarkable debut at her first Sprint Championships after only just reaching the qualifying age this year. Fellow first-time Sprint competitor Miller Eaves also impressed, securing seventh place in the 50m Breaststroke in a confident performance on the big stage.
Another major highlight was Nelson Malady’s eighth place in the 50m Backstroke. Nelson has been swimming with the Cannons since 6 years of age, and his top-10 finish at state level is a testament to years of dedication, resilience and consistent training. It was a special result for both Nelson, our coaches and the club.
The Cannons contingent included Hamilton Anflous, Mackenzie and Tyler Bennett, Zane Clayworth, Declan and Maeve Dichiera, Liam Filewood, Roxy Groom, Koa and Ruby Harland, Gracie Laguna, Ruby Lawson, Eric Mulliss, Celeste Orenshaw, Addie Sanders, Indi and Levi Smith, Alex Trefz, Zavier Woolston and Andie Reynolds. Across the weekend, swimmers delivered exceptional personal bests and impressive swims.
A huge thank you to Coaches Mark and Kenny for guiding and supporting our athletes throughout the championships.
At the same time, Matilda Nicholes and Penelope Shields represented the region at the Queensland School Sport Triathlon and Aquathon State Championships in Hervey Bay. Matilda competed in the aquathon, triathlon and team relays in a packed schedule, while Penelope secured a top-10 finish in Queensland in the aquathon. Their results follow a strong showing earlier this year at Mackay Triathlon Club’s Australia Day Aquathlon, where Matilda and Penelope placed first and second respectively in the Enticer distance.
Another big weekend for the Cannons — and plenty to celebrate.
Contributed with thanks to Jade Korosec
1 - State Champion Eloise Chegwidden
2 – Cannonvale Cannons State Sprint Team
3 - Nelson Malady with Coaches Kenny and Mark



Get ready for big sailing action at Whitsunday Sailing Club!
Between 3rd April and 11th April, Sail Airlie will be bringing together sailors of all levels to enjoy the beauty and challenge of racing in our stunning tropical waters. This year will be extra special with the club hosting the WASZP State & National Championships, attracting top competitors from across the country.
Spectators can expect thrilling close-quarter racing, fierce competition, and a vibrant club atmosphere — it’s one of the biggest sailing events of the season and not to be missed!
Sailors can sign up by scanning the QR codes below.
1 - Register for the Sail Airlie Regatta 3-6 April
2 – Join in the WASZP States 4-6 April
3 - Sign up for the WASZP Nationals 8-11 April




On Tuesday 17th, A small hardy group of vets golfers competed in a single Stableford event battling wet weather and soggy course conditions which reflected in the scoring. No run and free casual water drops were the order of the day.
Congratulations to the ladies winner Lyn Muller and Gerald Lovell for the men.
RESULTS
LADIES
Winner: Lyn Muller with 31 points
R/Up: Jenny Hounsell with 26 points
Rundown: Tiina Randmae (17)
MEN
Winner: Gerald Lovell with a creditable 33 points
R/Up: Larry Muller with 30 points
Rundown: Gary Scotford (28), Peter Lindsay, John Roser and Nic Apruzzese all with 27 points
PIN SHOTS
Ladies: A Grade - Jenny Hounsell and Lyn Muller
B Grade - Paula McQuat (x2)
Men: A Grade - Larry Muller and Gary Scotford
B Grade - Peter Lindsay (x2)
CHIP INS
Gary Scotford and Nick Apruzzese
NAGAs
for a ball each Beryl Nosworthy and Peter Fox
DRAWS:
MEMBERSHIP JACKPOT remains at $20 next week
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Next week 24/2/26 - Stableford
DITTY
The worst day of golf (possibly today) beats the best day of work
Contributed with thanks to John Roser.

Unsettled weather kept many players off the green this week, with only one rink played on Tuesday. The jackpot did not go off.
Two triples games were played on Sunday afternoon.
Winners were Gwenda Lydom, Laurie Land and Allan Rolfe, who defeated Bill Myers, Teresa Willshire and Gavin Charles.
In the other match, Bron Tolcher, Sue Shearing and Pat Tracey defeated Fred Skinny and Greg. The jackpot again did not go off.
The club is now looking forward to welcoming members and visiting clubs this Saturday for the annual Opening Day.
Play will begin at 10am, with two games of triples scheduled. A light lunch and afternoon tea will be provided.
Players wishing to take part are asked to add their name to the sheet on the noticeboard outside the clubhouse or contact the club by 9.15am on the day.
Contributed with thanks to Penny Warren
Sunday's winners: Allan Rolfe, Gwenda Lydom and Laurie Land.

Master Blasters B (U10s)
On home turf, the Proserpine Pittie Pups took on the Baby Bowen Barracudas.
Captain Liam won the toss and chose to send his side out to bowl first, steaming in to throw absolute rockets, picking up a wicket. Jack kept the pressure on with tight dot balls and sharp fielding.
Debutante Eddie claimed an immediate run out. Arlo was everywhere, chasing down anything that moved and collecting two run outs, while bowling with control. Eric was backing up his teammates and serving up some peaches.
The Baby Barracudas, however, came out swinging, with 119 runs. The Pitties claimed three wickets, earning 15 bonus runs.
When the Pittie Pups headed out, Eric opened confidently, scoring 14 runs and finding the boundary twice, while producing loud and clear run calls. Arlo followed with a classy 31.
Eddie added 7 valuable runs with smart running and an eye for the gaps. Jack blasted 22 runs, finding the boundary multiple times. Skipper Liam contributed 8 runs, facing quick bowling, showing solid defence.
Prossie finished on 82 runs, bringing their total to 97. The Barracudas’ six wickets lifted their total to 149.
Player of the Match went to Jack who showed great improvement this week.
Master Blasters A (u10s)
The Proserpine Pittie Pups were raring to go against Bowen.
Bowen took first strike with the bat, but the Pitties were ready. Harry started, striking a wicket on his second delivery. Max followed, building pressure, winning a valuable wicket.
Jack delivered absolute peaches, claiming three wickets. Angus snapped up two with confident, straight-arm bowling, while Toby also took two. Fielding was exceptional, with sharp stops, quick returns and energetic chatter.
Bowen battled hard for 96 runs, but the Pittie Pups had already built a healthy 45-run headstart.
Harry and Toby opened batting with a strong partnership, compiling 32 runs.
Angus kept the momentum rolling with a fluent 20, with clean strikes and hard runs. Jack battled strongly for his 14, showing grit and great awareness. Max added 31, combining powerful shots with clever placement.
Proserpine finished their batting on 116 runs. With Bowen earning 30 bonus, final totals saw the Pittie Pups win with 161 runs.
Max was awarded Player of the Match for his strong all-round performance.
U14s
The Bowen Barracudas rolled into Prossie for a friendly but competitive hit-out. Bowen won the toss, sending the Pitbulls to bat. The Pitties came out chewing on anything loose.
Aiden F wasted no time, driving and pulling to a punchy 46 off 25 balls. Matthew H played the perfect partner, retiring not out on 26. Bradley H anchored things beautifully through the middle, finishing 28 not out.
Blair L chimed in with a handy 13, Sean G dug in for 7, and Patrick R added 6. Lily S stayed unbeaten on 4 and ran hard between the wickets. Cabe M worked hard for his single with sharp calling, while Hector V bounced back from a tough moment, encouraging teammates, ready to make an impact. The Pitbulls wrapped up a strong first innings at 5 for 172 from their 30 overs, giving the Barracudas a big target to swim after.
Then it was time for the pack to hunt.
Aiden F snapped up 4 wickets, keeping the stumps under constant threat. Murphy A, Henry H, Cabe M and Hector V each claimed a wicket. Patrick R, Matthew H, Sean G, Bradley H and Blair L all bowled tight lines and forced the Barracudas to work for every run.
In the field, Hector V held onto two sharp catches, Sean G snaffled another. The Barracudas launched bombs in the last overs but finished on 154 runs.
A great game played in good spirit. Exactly what junior cricket is all about.
Contributed with thanks to Danni Green.
1- A Team Master Blasters
2 – B Team Pitties & Barracudas


The Airlie Beach Cricket Club enjoyed a remarkable weekend, fielding three teams and securing three impressive victories in both the Mackay 3rd Grade and Proserpine competitions.
On Sunday, 15th February, the club’s foundation team “Valleys”, played in the Proserpine league and delivered a dominant performance to comfortably defeat their opponents. Their win has placed them firmly at the top of the Proserpine competition.
On Saturday’s 3rd Grade team playing in the Mackay Competition produce one of their most thrilling displays of the season. In a close Dixon Homes T20 match at Harrup Park, Airlie Beach secured a narrow 3-wicket victory. Norths posted a competitive total of 8/158, with standout bowling from Dan White (2/30), Fraser Simpson (1/17), and Aaron Regan, who took 3/19. Regan’s all-round performance was on show as he smashed an unbeaten 76 from 43 balls, turning the game in Airlie Beach’s favour. Jonathan Maxwell (6*) provided calm support at the finish as Airlie Beach reached 6/161 to secure victory with little margin for error.
On Sunday, Airlie Beach’s 3rd Grade backed up their Saturday performance and convincingly defeated Souths at Harrup Park 5 - Roy Trevaskis Oval. Airlie Beach posted an impressive 5/170 off 20 overs, led by Mark Haebich’s spectacular 84 off 50 balls. Jacob Williams was outstanding with the ball, taking 4 wickets for 5 runs in four overs, supported by Andrew Clark’s 4/12 off 4 overs. The team’s disciplined bowling and sharp fielding, with William Logan taking three catches behind the wicket, ensured a comprehensive victory winning by 150 runs in the 9 over.
This impressive weekend has propelled Airlie Beach Cricket Club in both competitions, with Airlie Beach’s 3rd Grade now second on the 3rd grade table - demonstrating our growing strength, ability and team spirit across the club.
Contributed with thanks to the Airlie Beach Cricket Club

The North Queensland Cowboys delivered a commendable performance in Mackay on Friday, 13 February, defeating Penrith 66–24 at a sold-out BB Print Stadium. The Cowboys stormed out of the gates, leading 44–0 at half-time, thrilling the crowd with fast-paced footy, precision plays, and local pride on full display.




































Blue and yellow jerseys filled the Fitness Cartel Wellness Centre in Mackay last Thursday as the North Queensland Cowboys turned their focus to recovery ahead of their highly anticipated trial clash with Penrith.
Preparation was key as 24 squad members made the trip to Mackay, reflecting the club’s investment in the region and its local talent. Mackay-born Co-captains Tom Dearden and Reuben Cotter, together with fan favourite Jaxon Purdue, proudly represented their hometown throughout the match.
Head of Performance Paul Bowman reinforced Mackay’s significance within the Cowboys’ footprint.
“Mackay is a big part of our catchment and our region. We obviously have a close relationship with the Cutters being one of our feeder clubs, so it’s always great to get down here and see our fans.”
With many supporters regularly making the trip to Townsville, bringing a game to Mackay made the occasion all the more special.
“To play a game here is great,” said Mr Bowman.
And the facilities themselves drew particular praise.
“To have a facility like Fitness Cartel and what they have here for us to use is really great. For a regional town like Mackay to have a facility like this – it’s just tremendous.”
Inside the Wellness Centre, recovery was front and centre. Players rotated through compression boots, a traditional hot rock sauna and contrast therapy pools, alternating between hot and cold to support circulation and muscle repair in preparation for game night.
For fitness industry professional and facility owner Michael James, hosting the Cowboys marked a proud milestone.
“It’s awesome for Mackay and sports lovers in general to have the Cowboys here. People often travel hours to watch their games, so for the Cowboys to come to Mackay, it’s pretty special.”
He said the feedback from the squad affirmed the vision behind the Wellness Centre, along with Fitness Cartel as a whole.
“We think we’ve got a world-class facility suitable for world-class athletes, and to get that feedback from the Cowboys, to know it was everything we hoped, that’s extremely validating.”
The goal, Mr James explained, was always to raise the benchmark locally.
“At Fitness Cartel, we aim to be a place where current and emerging athletes can train hard, then step into our Wellness Centre to recover, rejuvenate, and get ready to perform at their very best.”
“Our goal was always to bring something world-class to Mackay… and to hear athletes who’ve trained in the best facilities around the world say ours is up there – it’s definitely a proud moment.”
Just over twenty-four hours later, that preparation paid off. On Friday, 13 February, at BB Print Stadium, the Cowboys delivered a commanding 66–24 victory over Penrith, thrilling the crowd and capping a week defined by preparation, teamwork, and North Queensland pride.


This week saw a lot of close matches across the morning and evening fixtures. With a cool hall and warm rallies in our climate-controlled comfort and despite the cooler conditions the standard didn’t drop one little bit.
Tuesday Evening Fixtures saw some close matches.
Division 1: London (Barry Patterson, Trent Day, Syed Hossain) def Athens (Mick Ruhl, Vince Boeske, Geoff Denman) 7-4 with Mick and Trent battling to the end, Mick won 11-6 in 5th Set. Paris (Steve Whiting, Josh Brown, Anne Sheridan) def St. Louis (Emma Widdup, Lily Boland, Neil Brown) 6-5, Josh defeated Lily in a tight match that could have gone either way,12-10 in the 5th Set.
Division 2: Amsterdam (Janice Kent, Graham Brake, Duncan Treloar) def Antwerp (Andrea Nicholson, Danial Warfield, Yilin Jiang) 9-2. Duncan come back from 2 sets down to win against Yilin in the 5th Set, 11-4. Los Angeles (Mark Sleeman, Allan Edwards) def Stockholm (Donna Abbott, Will VanDeKaa) 4-1. Both teams were missing a player so they were 2 on 2. Will beat Mark 11-9 in the 5th Set.
Division 3: Rome (Ian McKay, Matt West, Peter Goodson) def Berlin (Simon Hogan, Noreen Frederickson, Mark Stam) 7-4 with Noreen won great 5 Set match against Peter 11-9. Melbourne (Ollie Hamelink, Delma Knight, John McGee) def Helsinki (George Camilleri, Darryl Ross, Dilini Ranasinghe) 7-4. Ollie won a very close 5 Set match against George 12-10.
Division 4: Tokyo (Rachel Fiesta, Nate Clark, Kirsten Edwards) def Montreal (Melanie Theodore, Craig VanDeKaa, Jeric Engay) 6-5, Rachel won close 5 Sets against Craig 11-5. Mexico City (Tiffany Camilleri, Dylan Ringwood, Archel Cruz) def Seoul (Ricky Zhan, David Symons, Regina Wulf) 7-4 with Tiffany winning close battle against Ricky 11-9 in the 5th Set. Munich (Liz Burton, Rod Hamelink, Amanda Liu) def Moscow (Logan Brown, Jeff Bennington, Mohmout Ahmed) 7-4 with no 5 set matches there were some great 4 setters.
Tuesday Morning Fixtures
Division 1: Nano Nets (Donna Abbott, John McGee, Peter Goodson) def Byte Bouncers (Andrea Nicholson, Branko Vucurovic, Veronica Needham) 8-4. Donna won over Andrea 11-6 in 5th Set. Code Crackers (Doug Dungavell, Darryl Ross, Delma Knight) def Pixal Paddles (George Camilleri, Judy Zahn, Kevin Abbott) 8-4, with George came back from 2 sets down to win 11-8 in the 5th Set.
Division 2: Tokyo Turners (Kim Daffy, John Hamelink, Sally Muir) def Paris Spinners (Ian Dodds, Robyn Bushell, Val Austin) 8-4. Val and Kim battled to the death with Val coming out on top 12-10 in the 5th Set. London Loopers (Bryan Marshall, Louise Gould, Pam Keune) drew with Sydney Slammers (Josie, Davis, Frank Caruana, Ken Best) 6-6 with Josie digging deep to outlast Pam 11-7 in 5th Set.
Division 3: Rocket Stars (Madge Saunders, David Muir, Trish Zamparutti) drew 6-6 with Mars Pioneers (Allison Day, Thelma Caruana, Kim Challendar) with Allison completed a 5 Set comeback over Trish 11-4. Lunar Legends (Coral Morgan, Laurie Bradshaw, Janelle Keune) drew 6-6 against Solar Comets (Sharon Muller, Gerry Synnott, Glenda Dutton) with Coral coming back from 2-1 down to win in close 5 Set match against Gerry 11-7.
Contributed with thanks to Andrea Nicholson.



Congratulations to Faye Wright, Susan Wright, Ken Seaniger and Robert Carless who started Bridge lessons together in 2006. They celebrated twenty years of bridge Saturday. Well done!
Weekly Results
Monday 9 February 2026 – 8 Table Mitchell Green Points
N/S
E/W
1st
Terry Sheedy / Janelle Conroy
1st
David Ting / Eric Goodchild
2nd
Rodney Miles / Joy Hold
2nd
Diane Morgan / Sandy Ford
3rd
Margaret Lane / Barbara Tait
3rd
Noel Bugeia / Geoffrey Patterson
4th
Gwen Liddell / Griffin Bancroft
4th
Monica Darley / Nancy Martin
5th
Susan Ross / Vicki Howard
5th
Jan Harris / Julie O’Neill
Tuesday Evening 10 February 2026 – 7 Table Mitchell Green Points
1st
Eric Goodchild / Noel Bugeia
1st
Janelle Conroy / Terry Sheedy
2nd
Marilin Robins / Faye Wright
2nd
Adrian Westcott / Glen Coup
3rd
Frances Brown / Ann Whitmore
3rd
Janet Hansen / Lorna Shuttlewood
Wednesday 11 February 2026 – 10 Table Mitchell Green Points
N/S
E/W
1st
Janelle Conroy / Noel Bugeia
1st
Janet Hansen / Alan Brown
2nd
Sue Mayer-Miller / Martin Pearce
2nd
Terry Sheedy / Lorna Shuttlewood
3rd
Joy Robinson / Robert Carless
3rd
Max Holewa / Diane Holewa
4th
Eric Goodchild / Debra Goodchild
4th
Jan Harris / Sandra Morris
Thursday Evening 12 February 2026 – 4 Tables One Winner – Green Points
1st
Terry Sheedy / Noel Bugeia
2nd
Ann Whitmore / Frances Brown
3rd
Janelle Conroy / Janine Rodgers
4th
Ken Seaniger / Robert Carless
Friday 13 February 2026 – 9 Table Mitchell Green Points
N/S
E/W
1st
Noel Bugeia / Terry Sheedy
1st
Janelle Conroy / Jan Harris
2nd
Sandy Patterson / Eric Goodchild
2nd
Annette Howe / Monica Darley
3rd
Mick King / Geoff Cowan
3rd
Janine Rodgers / Richard Wix
4th
Joy Robinson / Jewel Schmidt
4th
Lorna Shuttlewood / Debra Goodchild
Saturday 14 February 2025 – Section A - 6 Table Mitchell Green Points
N/S
E/W
1st
Terry Sheedy / Richard Wix
1st
Ann Whitmore / Sandra Morris
2nd
Ming Ting / David Ting
2nd
Marilin Robins / Faye Wright
3rd
Joy Robinson / Ken Seaniger
3rd
Julie O’Neill / Gwen Liddell
Saturday 14 February 2025 – Section B - 7 Table Mitchell Green Points
N/S
E/W
1st
Janet Hansen / Diane Morgan
1st
Nancy Martin /Monica Darley
2nd
Annie Lynch / Diane Stokes
2nd
Christine Nice / Mary rose Ramsden
3rd
Sue Mayer-Miller / Adrian Westcott
3rd
Janelle Conroy / Robert Carless
Contributed with thanks to Joy Block
Ken Seaniger, Susan Wright, Robert Carless & Faye Wright. Photo supplied