Editor's Note 28 November

Hi everyone,

More than 200 people from across our community came together last Friday for a truly special occasion – the inaugural Whitsunday Business Awards, held at the Proserpine Entertainment Centre.

The dress code, Hi-Vis to High-Glam, set an inspiring tone for the night and I was delighted to see such an eclectic mix on arrival: a stunning 1920s tassel dress, some very sharp shorts proudly worn by the younger attendees, and even one guest who channelled Marilyn Monroe with sass and style. This combination felt so authentically “Whitsundays” – a region filled with tradies, self-starters, school leavers, beachside corporates, fun-loving hospos and everyone in between.

The inclusive dress code perfectly matched the spirit of the event itself. For a first-year awards night, it already felt vibrant, welcoming and truly representative of who we are as a region.

Inside, the cabaret-style setting, live music and delicious snack boxes created a warm and celebratory atmosphere. Radio personality Meecham Philpott emceed the evening with humour, energy and just the right amount of genuine enthusiasm.

Twelve of our team of twenty attended, after spending the day in training and choosing to unwind together at the awards that evening. Having so many of our team present made what happened next even more special – hearing our name announced as the winner of the Regional Game Changer Award.

We all leapt onto the stage to collect the award and, in my excitement to gather everyone into place, I managed to drop the solid glass object on the floor! It hit the stage with a thud, which was followed by a dramatic gasp from the audience. Thankfully it didn’t break, and I quickly scooped it up, dusted it off and tucked it safely back into its velvet box. Worried I might be remembered as “the girl who dropped the award,” I apologised into the microphone before offering a brief but heartfelt speech. Fortunately, the crowd was wonderfully kind – and forgiving.

Receiving this award means the world to our team. As many of you know, our central office is based here in the Whitsundays, with half our team working locally and the rest stationed across the regions our other newspapers serve. Five years ago, we launched our first paper, Mackay and Whitsunday Life. Since then, two communities have invited us to open newspapers in their regions, leading to Burdekin Life and Hinchinbrook Life.

We believe passionately in giving regional communities a free voice in print. Our mission is to share quality local stories, celebrate positive news, connect communities and document history as it unfolds. I genuinely feel our papers have been gamechangers for the towns we serve, and I’m deeply grateful to be part of this revival of community journalism.

To all the businesses who won or were nominated – congratulations. It was wonderful to celebrate alongside you. Business is tough, but together we make it shine.

You can read the full Whitsunday Business Award feature from page 17.

Rach

Quote of the week: "If your dreams don't scare you, they are too small" (Richard Branson)

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