Simon Hood, Wilmar Manager Grower Marketing As the pricing nomination date for the 2025 season passes there are a couple of notable trends emerging in the ways growers are approaching their GEI sugar price management. Firstly, we are seeing a drift away from growers managing the price risk themselves and going back to the pools. Interestingly we have seen our first drop-off in growers choosing to manage their GEI pricing exposure with the popular GMPRS product. In the same vein, we h
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In a time when healthcare can often feel rushed and impersonal, Concierge Nursing Services is redefining the experience by providing expert, personalized care right at your doorstep. Founder Justina Giles saw a gap in community care and created a service that goes beyond just meeting clients where they are—it partners with them at every stage of their healthcare journey. Whether it’s post-surgery recovery, managing chronic conditions, or offering extra support, clients receive tailored care that
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FAST 5 FACTS Your favourite place to relax: Ball Bay Top tool for rejuvenation: Any quality time with my family Helpful health hack: Spit out toothpaste but don’t rinse Must-have beauty or health product: Electric toothbrushes – they do a very good job at keeping teeth clean Best inspirational show or podcast for health and wellbeing: The Imperfects Podcast Imagine growing up surrounded by chocolate... then dedicating your life to saving teeth! That’s the quirky journ
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Fast 5 Facts ** Favourite place to relax: Shoal Point Beach – we recently just moved to Bucasia and it’s just beautiful there. Top tool for rejuvenation: My hand cream – always within reach. Go-to snack: Cheese. Possibly not the healthiest habit… but it’s cheese! Health myth to debunk: Hearing loss doesn’t mean silence – it’s not all or nothing. Best health advice: Don’t wait. Early intervention is key to hearing health and quality of life. When it comes to hearing health,
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Fast 5 Facts Most rewarding part of your job? “Seeing clients lose 8–10kg in eight weeks after years of struggling.” What sets you apart? “I’ve lived it – I do the programs with them, not just prescribe.” Must-have travel item? “My Chelsea Jean lymphatic gloves.” Health myth to bust? “Colonics and enemas are actually beneficial.” Rejuvenation tip? “Do your lymphatics – it makes a big difference.” Josie Giles has walked the walk, and now she talks
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Mackay Table Tennis Tuesday Night Fixture Results May 6, 2025: Division 1: Delta Dashers (Niro Premachandra, Josh Brown, Barry Patterson) d Tech Titans (Neil Brown, Geoff Denman, Allan Edwards) 7-4. Barry d Geoff -6, -9, 3, 8, 2. Pixel Players (Jacob Whelan, Lily Boland, Graham Drury) d App Attackers (Steven Whiting, Graeme Walker, Andrea Nicholson) 6-5. Lily d Steven 7, -10, -6, 7, 4. Pixel Paddlers (Goncalo Serra, Trent Day, Robbie Richards) d Byte Bouncers (Ian McKay, Anne Sheridan, Graha
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In blustery conditions under heavy skies, approximately 40 determined athletes took to the start line for the inaugural Mackay Marina Mantra 5km and 12km event. Hosted by the Mackay Road Runners Club, the unique handicap-style race made its debut with plenty of grit, camaraderie, and competition. Club President and Life Member Paul Tilse welcomed runners with enthusiasm before detailing the demanding course—which included one ascent of Mt Bassett for the 5km competitors and two climbs for the 1
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The Mackay Bridge Club wishes Ted Cullinan (moving to Perth) and Noel Saunders (moving to Gladstone) all the very best for their future endeavours. Both Ted and Noel will be missed very much. Ted was secretary for many years and Noel was a committee member as well as a mentor to many beginners. Weekly Results Monday 5 May 2025 –5 Table Mitchell Green Points N/S E/W 1st Pamela Finger / Terry Sheedy 1st Monica Darley / Nancy Martin 2nd Edward Kliese /Diane Stokes 2nd Karen Caldwell / Sue
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If determination were a stroke, Ruby Boxall would be winning gold in that too. At just 16 years old, this Mackay-born backstroke sensation has surged into the national spotlight, making serious waves at the 2025 Australian Age and MC Age Swimming Championships in Brisbane, held on April 12–18, where she swam her way to two national titles and a place among Australia’s most promising young athletes. Representing Somerville House and coached by Olympic-level mentors Timothy Lane and Sarah Caithn
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When most people think about marketing, they immediately think of the public stuff — advertising, socials, billboards, events etc etc. All the ways we “put ourselves out there”. But there’s one audience that often gets overlooked in the marketing conversation: your internal one. Aka, your team. During my degree, one of my FAVE topics was internal communications – which I kind of think of as marketing to your employees. Not like in a brainwashing way, but in an open/transparent comms kind of way
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Whether you are aiming to progress your career or grow a small business, one of the most important elements contributing to your success is to invest in yourself. Warren Buffett, a super successful investor (CEO Berkshire Hathaway) and in the top ten of the world’s richest, provided this ‘investment’ advice recently... Generally speaking, investing in yourself is the best thing you can do. Anything that improves your own talents, nobody can tax it or take it away from you. … You can have all k
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From Collinsville to Sarina and across the Whitsundays, young people are diving into an unforgettable presentation that could help change their lives. World record-holding swimmer and Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) survivor Chloe McCardel is back in the region with her acclaimed Tumble Turns presentation. Already delivered to thousands of students since 2022, this powerful 60-minute session blends elite sport, lived experience, and essential education around DFV awareness and prevent
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Last Monday, the Mackay Hospital and Health Service (HHS) gathered to celebrate International Nurses Day, recognising the dedication and skill of the region’s 1,400 nurses who form the backbone of local healthcare. The event, held at Mackay Base Hospital, shined a light on the invaluable contributions of nurses who deliver patient care with exceptional compassion and integrity. James William Jenkins, Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery, opened the ceremony by expressing profound g
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As part of Small Business Month, Mackay Regional Council is holding a Small Business Procurement drop-in session at Greater Whitsundays Innovation (Split Spaces). The free session will be from 9am to 10am, Tuesday, May 20. No bookings are required. This is an open opportunity for small businesses to drop in and have a chat to the council Procurement team to learn more about their processes, programs and systems. Council’s Procurement Policy has recently been updated, with a renewed comm
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A new support group in Mackay is bringing warmth, connection and crucial conversation to those navigating life with bowel cancer. The “Gut-Togethers” are informal bi-monthly catch-ups for colorectal cancer patients and their families, offering a safe space to talk, listen and lean on each other. The first gathering will be held Friday, May 23 at Deli Nook, Macalister Street, from 9.15am. Facilitated by Alexis Coutts and Lorraine Taylor, with clinical guidance from bowel cancer nurse Sue Allsop
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By Amanda Wright He’s called Mackay home for the past 20 years, but David Ferguson’s legacy runs much deeper out west, cutting through the rapids and memory banks of the iconic Gregory River. Fifty years ago, David was one of four young blokes from Mount Isa who, armed with little more than enthusiasm and a borrowed TAFE course, decided to make a race of it. “We weren’t even canoeists,” he said. “We’d done a beginner course at TAFE and then a fibreglassing course, made our own canoes, a
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Cricket is for everyone, and a new all-abilities program launching this May at Harrup Park is here to prove it! Kicking off on Wednesday, 21st May, this FREE five-week cricket program is designed for boys and girls aged 11 to 17 of all abilities. The sessions will run every Wednesday from 4:00pm to 5:00pm, offering participants a chance to develop their cricket skills, grow a love for the game, and make new friends in a fun, safe, and inclusive environment. Organisers are passionate about brin
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A small kitchen fire prompted the evacuation of the Eimeo Pacific Hotel last Monday afternoon. Emergency services were called to the popular hilltop venue on Mango Avenue in Mackay’s north at around 1:30pm, following reports of a fryer catching alight in the kitchen. The blaze, which started behind the fryer, was quickly contained and extinguished by staff using a fire blanket before firefighters arrived on the scene. Co-owner of the hotel described the incident as “nothing serious,” an
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CQUniversity fitness and sport and recreation graduate Trey Sturgess’ determination and drive has made him ‘fit-for-purpose’ to help others reach their goals. The 19-year-old recently secured a position as a coach and personal trainer at 21Laps Performance Training in Mackay – an achievement he says wouldn’t have been made possible without CQU’s fitness and sports and recreation courses. Trey completed the Certificate II in Sport and Recreation and Certificate III in Fitness while still
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Queensland Police Pipes and Drums (QPP&D) is usually known for bagpipes, kilts and rousing traditional tunes, but this May it will be known for something a little less expected – cowboy boots and country hits with a touch of rock for good measure. The group is embarking on its largest regional tour since before the COVID-19 pandemic, travelling more than 2000km across the state to connect with and provide support to rural QPS families and the communities they serve. Dubbed ‘Beach to the
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Mackay VIEW Club is calling on the community to dig deep for The Smith Family’s Winter Appeal, to help break the cycle of disadvantage for thousands of children and young people struggling to access education. The appeal comes at a time when Australians are increasingly aware of the issue, with The Smith Family’s latest Community Attitudes Survey revealing that 83 per cent of respondents believe tackling childhood poverty should be a top national priority. The Smith Family CEO Doug Taylo
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For many Australians, the quietest struggle is hearing loss – not just the fading of sound, but the isolation, strained relationships, and uncertain next steps that follow when hearing aids are no longer enough. But there is hope… and it all starts with connection. CICADA Queensland has been a lifeline for people with profound hearing loss for over 35 years, transforming from a small social group to a bold, state-wide leader in peer support, education, and advocacy. With hearing loss now
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A warm, honest and insight-rich afternoon of storytelling unfolded last week as the Mackay Region Chamber of Commerce hosted Small Business Stories—a Small Business Month luncheon designed to spotlight the start-up grit, scale-up grind, and succession dilemmas facing local business owners. The relaxed luncheon at Harrup Park featured a powerhouse panel of local talent: Dr Suzanne Francisco (Habitude), Dan Shaw (Primal Coffee Roasters), and Jason Sharam (CSE Linked), with keynote insights from P
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Every now and then, a local government decision comes along that quietly shapes the future of a region. Right now, in Mackay, we’re facing one of those moments. The Mackay Regional Council is asking the community whether our current undivided structure should continue—or whether it’s time to return to a system of electoral divisions. You can find all the information and have your say at connectingmackay.com.au/have-your-say-on-electoral-divisions. This isn’t just a question for bureaucra
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