Thursday, December 21, 2023

Issue:

Mackay and Whitsunday Life

Editors Note

Hi Everyone,

Merry Christmas to you all!

Thank you for reading this newspaper for yet another year, we’ve really enjoyed delivering your free weekly news and are already looking forward to another great year in 2024!

Thank you also to everyone in our amazing team, from the journos to the sales team, the graphic designers to admin queens – each and every one of you do an amazing job and give 100 per cent every day.

As I write this, I am about to head out the door on holiday for a month – we are heading over to the UK via France where we are meeting family for a week skiing.

I am very excited to be heading off for a white Christmas – my first one in over five years – and will be leaving you all in the very capable hands of Bronte who will be overseeing editorial while I am away.

Good luck Bronte!

On the front page this week you will see a wonderful photo of the Christmas Cane Train.

I love this photo because it is not only a wonderful example of Christmas spirit, it is also a wonderful example of what we stand for here at the paper – we love going the extra mile for a real, genuine community story.

While at Whitsunday Plaza a few weeks ago I watched in awe as the resident Santa swept everyone up with his incredible personality. His infectious energy caused children to literally follow in his wake as he walked around the centre.

He is the best Santa I’ve ever seen!

Later that week, miraculously I managed to find him on Facebook, and I invited him to be on the front page of the Christmas edition.

At the same time, I got talking with Caroline (the creator of the Christmas Cane Train) and she agreed for us to hold the photo shoot there.

She offered to engage Rebecca Telford who, within a few hours, kindly managed to round up a small army of children.

We met early one morning for the photo shoot and the atmosphere was magic!

Thank you to everyone who participated in this special photo – it really shows what is most important about Christmas – coming together as a community.

Rach

Quote of the Week: “How beautiful it is to do nothing . . . and then rest afterwards”

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