Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
July 4 Ice Age 1, The Movie Screen at Airlie Beach Foreshore in Coconut Grove, 6:00pm 6 NAIDOC Week, 6th – 13th 6 Bowen Community Markets, Hansen Park, from 8:00am 7 NAIDOC Flag Raising Ceremony & March, Bowen Town Square. Herbert Street, 8:00am-12:00pm 9 Whitsunday Quilters & Hand Crafts Group, Whitsunday Neighbourhood Centre, 9:00am-1:30pm, $5pp. 11 Matilda followed by Grease, The Movie Screen at Airlie Beach Foreshore in Coconut Grove, 6:00pm 12 NAIDOC Week Family Fun Day, Bowen Sounds
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Friday 4th July Airlie Beach Hotel: Andy Mammers (7pm – 10pm) Grand View Hotel: Sam McCann (from 8pm) KC's: Jason Bull (from 8pm) Saturday 5th July Airlie Beach Hotel: Blues Brothers Tribute (2pm – 5.30pm) Airlie Beach Hotel: Andy Mammers (7pm – 10pm) Grand View Hotel: DJ Night (from 8pm) Coral Sea Pavillion: DJ Ahri (1pm – 6pm) KC's: Jason Bull (from 8pm) Sunday 6th July Airlie Beach Hotel: Blues Brothers Tribute (2pm – 5.30pm) Airlie Beach Hotel: Paul Fergus Morris (6.30pm – 9.30pm) Grand Vi
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Sparking Powerful Conversations On Mental Health Almost 140 people attended the Whitsunday Suicide Prevention Network’s (WSPN) Legends Night and over $25,000 was raised. President of WSPN Matt Stokes said the event was a huge success, not just because of the money raised, but the response he has had from the community. He said many people have come to him to express that they had a wonderful time at the event. On the night, WSPN invited several inspiring speakers to address the audience. Ra
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Whitsunday United teams were in action across Mackay and at home over the weekend, producing a mix of hard-fought results, strong performances, and signs of steady improvement across the club. The Divisional Men travelled to Mackay for two top-of-the-table clashes against Lions. Division 2 played with intensity and created several chances, but a harsh handball penalty saw them trail early. They bounced back to 1-1 by halftime and took the lead shortly after the break, but Lions responded strong
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Hi everyone, I’m jumping into the editors column for this week. I’ve been with Life Publishing Group for almost a year and a half now and I can say that I am still thoroughly enjoying my time here. Every day I am meeting even more new people and I love attending our local events - if you see me out and about - come and say hi! Last Friday I attended Whitsunday Suicide Prevention Network’s Legends Night at the Reef Gateway Hotel. I was the night's official photographer, but I also got to enjoy
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The Tassal Airlie Beach Marathon Festival will be held along the foreshore over the weekend of 19/20 July 2025. A record number of entries have already been received for the marathon and half marathon and there are not many places left. At least 600 runners are expected to line up to run over the weekend. Entries have been received from every state and territory in Australia. There are also entries from New Zealand, Hong Kong, Canada, USA, France, England, Scotland and Sweden. Last year’s winn
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AFL - Whitsunday Sea Eagles Saturday 5th July 12:15pm - Whitsunday Sea Eagles Senior Women vs North Mackay Saints at Whitsunday Sportspark 1:50pm - Whitsunday Sea Eagles Senior Men vs North Mackay Saints at Whitsunday Sportspark Cricket – Airlie Beach Cricket Club Contact airliebeachcc@yahoo.com.au for information about Airlie Beach Cricket Club Netball – Whitsunday Netball Association Contact netballwhitsunday@gmail.com for netball information
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Creative Connections Whitsundays is looking at transforming the former Proserpine Information Centre, located next to the Proserpine Museum, into a vibrant community art gallery through their ‘Frame Our Future’ campaign. This space will be more than just a gallery; it will be a dynamic hub for local artists to exhibit their work, a venue for creative workshops, and a welcoming place for people to gather, learn, and connect. Creative Connections Whitsundays say the building has great potential
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The Whitsunday Regional Council's new 'Let's Get It Sorted' initiative is focused on improving the region’s recycling habits by getting back to basics. The campaign is designed to help residents understand what goes into each bin and how their choices at home can lead to real improvements in waste reduction. The Waste team at Council have one objective and that is to reduce total waste to landfill. "One of the main ways to do this is to increase the total of materials that can be reprocessed o
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The fifth annual Coffee with a Cop event was held at Whitsunday Plaza on Wednesday, 2 July, and proved to be another successful morning of community connection and conversation. The popular initiative, which has become a trusted platform for building relationships between local police and the public, once again delivered on its goal of breaking down barriers in a relaxed, approachable setting. “Sometimes people are reluctant to speak to police because of the position that we hold,” said Senior
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Sports Day in 1984 Sports Carnival in 2025 A newsletter in the 1980’s A newsletter in 2024 The Year 5 Last Supper performance in 1985 The Year 1 Last Supper performance in 2025 Rugby League in the 1980’s Rugby League in 2025
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As the proud principal of St Catherine’s Catholic College, I would like to extend a welcome to community members to learn more about our College, and to join us for the 100 year celebration. In 1925, the Sisters of Mercy founded St Catherine’s School in Marathon Street. Many of our current students have parents and grandparents who attended the school and who have fond memories of their schooling. Catholic schools were originally founded to provide for those who might not otherwise gain an ade
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At St Catherine’s Catholic College, education begins with a strong foundation. The school is committed to nurturing students from Prep through to Year 12, helping them grow academically, spiritually, socially and emotionally. The Mercy Precinct, named in honour of the Sisters of Mercy who founded the school in 1925, is home to Prep to Year 2 students. This dedicated area includes spacious classrooms and shaded outdoor play areas featuring mini soccer fields and imaginative play spaces designed t
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At St Catherine’s Catholic College, the primary school program for children in Years 3 to 6 lays a strong foundation for academic success and personal growth within a supportive and inclusive environment. With a focus on educating the whole child through head, heart and hands, students are guided through these important years by dedicated classroom teachers who support both their wellbeing and academic development. Literacy and numeracy remain central to the curriculum, but the learning experien
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At St Catherine’s Catholic College, the Secondary Campus caters to students from Years 7 to 12, offering a vibrant and supportive environment where young learners are empowered to thrive academically, socially, and spiritually. Igniting Curiosity in Years 7 to 9 The middle years at St Catherine’s are all about exploration and discovery, offering a rich curriculum designed to ignite curiosity and uncover hidden talents. Students dive deep into essential subjects like English, Maths, Science, and
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Whitsunday Regional Council is proposing changes to the Whitsunday Planning Scheme 2017 to better manage short-term accommodation, like Airbnbs, within the Low-Density Residential zones. The aim of these changes is to strike a better balance between homes for locals and holiday stays for visitors. We’ve mapped out 10 precincts across the region where STA may be supported, based on things like community feedback, existing use and historical holiday areas. Head to Council’s online engagement spac
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In the last couple of weeks there has been a few humpbacks whale sightings in the Whitsundays, as well as whale sounds through a hydrophone. The whales will start to become more regular now. The first humpback whales to arrive in Whitsundays in late May/early June are the females who are looking to mate this year. Followed by the pregnant females. Humpback whales only mate every 2-3 years. Their gestation period is 11-12 months and their calf will stay by their sides for 12 months. Some female
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Here in the Whitsundays, we are very fortunate to have such a diverse landscape, made up of a variety of vegetative regimes; woodlands, grasslands, rainforests, mangrove forests and…Littoral Rainforests. Littoral Rainforests occur on coastal headlands, dunes, sea-cliffs or other places influenced by the sea. There are a range of plant life forms including trees, shrubs, vines, herbs, ferns, and epiphytes (plants that are supported by or grow on other plants). Several plant species found in litt
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Hi everyone, Winter is well and truly here, and I’ve been hearing more and more about the amazing marine life this season brings! While whales often steal the spotlight, we’re also seeing more sightings of manta rays and dugongs! It’s been freezing lately, I’ve been tucked up with my hot water bottle most nights! Luckily, the chill hasn’t stopped me from getting creative. I’ve been running some wonderful weekly art sessions at Eco Barge HQ, where we turn recycled waste into beautiful pieces. I
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Budget 2025–26: Building a Fairer, Stronger Whitsundays Last week, Council handed down the 2025–26 Budget—my second as Mayor, and one that truly reflects the direction Councillors and I want to take as a region. My first budget last year was delivered just weeks after we were sworn in. This year, we’ve had time to dive deep, confront the financial realities, and make tough but necessary choices to put us on a more sustainable path. We uncovered a structural deficit in our general fund—around
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Proserpine’s very first show brought together an isolated community for social activity and friendly competition. While these days our community is no longer isolated, today’s show (now known as Show Whitsunday) continues to be an important and greatly anticipated social event. The people of the Whitsundays owe a debt to the many dedicated men and women who, for well over a century, have given their time and talents to make the annual show the success that it is today. Rail, hail or shine, this
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The Bowen Zonta Club recently hosted an inspiring two-day STEM workshop for local girls, with a fantastic program of hands-on activities designed to build skills, curiosity and confidence in science, technology, engineering and maths. Day one saw 37 young girls dive into electronics by building their own operation games, experimenting with samples and learning fingerprint analysis as they worked to solve the mystery of who ruined Suzie’s birthday cake. This fun and interactive forensic unit had
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In the last half of the nineteenth century, there were several unsuccessful forays into sugar cane growing in Bowen. The Bowen Sugar Company in the 1860s and Hildebrandt Brothers in the 1880s were two early failures. However, with the opening of the railway from Bowen to Proserpine in 1910, cane growing on the Don River near Bowen revived with the Field brothers and James Maltby planting cane by the Don. The only market for this cane was the Proserpine Mill, transporting it over the newly opene
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Join the Whitsundays Chamber of Commerce and Industry Today In a dynamic and evolving economic environment, the Whitsundays Chamber of Commerce and Industry remains a trusted voice and support network for businesses across the region. With more than 230 members and growing, the Chamber brings together a broad cross-section of businesses to advocate for local needs, foster collaboration, and provide timely access to valuable information and services. What is the Purpose of the Chamber? The Chamb
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Hey all, I’m putting my editorial writing skills to the test today, so please forgive any typos Ruth and Daniel haven’t caught! As I wrap up my time with Life Publishing Group, I want to say a heartfelt thank you to all the incredible clients, business owners, and community members I’ve had the pleasure of working with. From sales and social media to weekly chats with advertisers, unforgettable events, and Core Magazine photoshoots, this journey has been one I’ll always cherish. To the amazin
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