This week’s 6 v 5 fixture in Mackay Underwater Hockey delivered a thrilling display of skill, teamwork, and the strong family spirit that continues to define the club. Newcomers the Malouf family made an impressive debut, with young Isabelle turning heads poolside thanks to her confident performance. Displaying natural talent beyond her years, Isabelle showed she’s one to watch in seasons to come. The Bollard brothers also continued their steady rise, sharpening their game with each outi
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When they crossed the graduation stage in Mackay this week, Shelly and Julieanne not only celebrated their academic achievements but also the support they received through the BHP/BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) Scholarship program that helped make their success possible. Bachelor of Nursing graduate Michelle ‘Shelly’ Erikson and Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) graduate Julieanne Bergmann joined hundreds of fellow graduates when they officially received their testamurs on Thursd
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By Amanda Wright Michelle Landry MP has been re-elected for a fifth consecutive term as the Member for Capricornia, pledging to continue her unwavering fight for the people, projects and industries that make the region strong. “This is an incredible honour and I want to sincerely thank the people of Capricornia for putting their faith in me once again,” Ms Landry said. “This result is not just about winning a seat; it’s about securing a voice that will never stop fighting for regional Qu
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Sarina’s heritage fire truck is here to stay, with Mackay Regional Council confirming the vehicle will not be moved from its longtime home. Concerns had been raised in the community following speculation on social media that the historic engine could be relocated as part of council’s regional museum project. However, at the most recent ordinary meeting of council, Mayor Greg Williamson set the record straight. “There was never any intent to move the fire engine,” he said. “The fire engi
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A powerful new initiative is giving victim-survivors of domestic and family violence in the Mackay, Whitsunday, and Isaac regions a safer, more supportive path to justice, and it's all thanks to a ground-breaking partnership between Queensland Police Service (QPS) and Mackay Women’s Services (MWS). The program, which embeds a Domestic and Family Violence Specialist Police Officer within MWS, is already showing results. Designed to remove barriers that often prevent victim-survivors from s
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Get ready to dive into a page-turning celebration as tickets are now on sale for regional Queensland’s biggest festival of books, ideas, and imagination: the Whitsunday Voices Youth Literature Festival. With the online booking portal now live and more than 7,500 students expected to attend, schools and book lovers alike are urged to secure their spots early before this literary extravaganza sells out. Returning for its 21st year on 17-18 July, the 2025 Festival promises to be one of the
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That Is The Question By Amanda Wright A major shake-up could be on the cards for how Mackay is represented, with council now seeking community feedback on whether to begin the process of reinstating electoral divisions. Since amalgamating with Sarina and Mirani councils in 2008, Mackay Regional Council has operated as an undivided council—meaning all 10 councillors and the Mayor are elected to represent the entire local government area, rather than specific geographic divisions or wards.
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In the quiet beauty of Bucasia’s beachfront, a group of dedicated community members have stitched together a tapestry of remembrance, resilience, and connection. The Poppy Project, an initiative under the Northern Beaches Community Wellbeing Series, has seen members of the Crochet and Conversation group create nearly 1,000 handcrafted poppies for a special ANZAC Day installation at Bucasia Esplanade. The project is the result of a collaboration between the Northern Beaches Community Netw
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By Amanda Wright With the dust barely settled on a national election night, Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox has already rolled up his sleeves. Re-elected with an increased two-party preferred swing of 1.76 per cent at the time of print, Mr Willcox defied the national trend to claim victory in one of Queensland’s most diverse and industrious electorates. His campaign, driven by on-the-ground community engagement and a clear commitment to Dawson’s future, secured 62.18 per cent of the tw
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Legally Blind Rider Turns Paddock Dreams Into Championship Reality By Hannah McNamara
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Council will be conducting maintenance works on the rail overpasses at Norris Road and Glenpark Street from this Saturday, May 10. The night works at Norris Road will require traffic to be reduced to single lane and reduced speeds from 9pm to 5am until Thursday, May 15, weather permitting. Maintenance works at the Glenpark Street rail overpass will require a reduced speed zone for six weeks, weather permitting, from 9pm to 5am. Stage two works will also be required at Norris Road in abo
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Dreaming of salty breezes, golden sands, and afternoon strolls along the shoreline? Buying a home near the beach in Queensland isn’t just a lifestyle upgrade — it’s an invitation to live more connected to nature, community, and calm. Coastal living in Mackay offers daily access to some of the world’s most beautiful beaches, a more relaxed pace, and endless opportunities for outdoor living. Think weekend barbecues with ocean views, morning beach walks before work, and the wellness benefits
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A new player has rolled into Mackay’s industrial landscape, promising to shake up the way local businesses buy, sell and manage high-value equipment. Slattery Auctions & Valuations, a nationally recognised leader in asset valuation and auction services, has opened a full-service site on the corner of Milton Street and Boundary Road, just 350 metres from the Mackay Airport. Known for its work across Australia’s key mining and agricultural regions, Slattery’s expansion into Mackay is a stra
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The family of 19-year-old Kai Johnson is calling on the community for support following a serious traffic crash in Mackay last Friday night, May 2. At approximately 10.40pm, Kai was struck by a taxi while walking along Sydney Street in the Mackay CBD. Emergency services rushed to the scene, and he was transported in a critical condition to Mackay Base Hospital. Due to the severity of his injuries, Kai was later flown to Townsville University Hospital for further treatment. According to Q
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Selling real estate is about people, not about bricks and mortar. What I mean by that is that the human element of the transaction, the buyers and sellers, are what elevate the experience above trading shares in BHP or the Commonwealth Bank. If all you did was answer an on-line inquiry from a potential seller, sign up the listing without meeting the owner, take photos and a video of the property, send those images and basic information to potential buyers and then negotiate a sale over t
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The to-do list of a business owner never sleeps, it’s a daily juggle of customer demands, staff management, competitive pressure, and those inevitable fires that need putting out. People are so busy working in the business, they often neglect to allocate time to work on their business. Well-planned marketing often gets pushed aside, not for lack of importance, but because the day runs out before the list does. When it's left on the backburner, growth stalls and great opportunities are miss
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Earlier this week, midwives across the Mackay and Whitsunday regions were recognised for their outstanding contributions to maternal and newborn care during International Day of the Midwife celebrations. At Mackay Base Hospital, three midwives were presented with awards acknowledging excellence in care, leadership and emerging practice: Emerging Midwife Award (Postgraduate): Amber Moyle, registered midwife, Women’s Health Unit, Mackay Base Hospital. Exceptional Midwifery Care Provider Award (
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Friday 9th May ** Crochet & Conversation 9am Join a welcoming morning of crochet, coffee, and conversation with Northern Beaches locals at Beachfront Bar & Restaurant on Bucasia Esplanade. Bring your own tools or borrow from the communal box. All skill levels welcome—just look for the yarn to find the table. Connection and creativity guaranteed. Bucasia Beachfront Bar and Restaurant MMC Morning Tea & Cent Sale 9.30am Enjoy a delightful morning at the Morning Tea & Cent Sale on Friday 9 May fro
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A heart-warming act of kindness unfolded near the Beaconsfield petrol station last week, witnessed by a passing motorist returning home from North Mackay. According to the eyewitness, traffic was flowing steadily when a four-wheel drive suddenly pulled over. Without hesitation, a man – described as of Indian descent – stepped out of his vehicle, despite a line of traffic beginning to bank up behind him. His purpose was simply to rescue an injured bird stranded in the middle of the road.
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Wilmar Sugar and Renewables has confirmed the start dates for its 2025 North Queensland crushing season, with the first of its eight sugar mills set to fire up from Monday 3 June. Operations will begin in the Burdekin and at Plane Creek Mill in Sarina on 3 June, followed by the Herbert region on 10 June. Proserpine Mill will be the last to come online, with a planned start date of 17 June. Pre-season commissioning is already well under way, with steam trials scheduled to begin at Inkerma
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No matter how many birthdays you’ve had, there’s something about your mum that still makes you feel five again. That reliable all-wise voice on the end of the line. The smell of her cooking that feels like safety itself. At 42, I became a mum. Late, perhaps, by some standards, however I was just incredibly thankful for my little miracle to finally arrive. My own parents flew over from New Zealand to be here for the birth of my son. We had our first three-generation Mother’s Day together:
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With strong winds and showers forecast for the weekend, council and stakeholders have made the difficult decision to postpone SPARK! Wood Street. The SPARK! Wood Street event was set to “pop up” as a dynamic activation of the old cinema car park on Wood and Gordon streets from this Friday, May 9, to next Friday, May 16. Unfortunately, the festivities were mostly centred around the Friday, Saturday and Sunday (May 9 to 11) and the Bureau of Meteorology has forecast a strong wind warning d
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CQUniversity is thrilled to celebrate the success of alumna Lauren Hamilton Neill, who has secured the co-lead role in the upcoming Australian feature film The Girl in the Shadows, directed by award-winning filmmaker Darren K Hawkins. A graduate of CQUniversity’s Bachelor of Music Theatre program, Lauren’s career has taken flight both nationally and internationally, with her latest project set to debut at an advanced screening on July 12. The Girl in the Shadows marks a major milestone i
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Mackay Regional Council Libraries want you to tell us what a great library service looks like and what’s on your library wish list. Part yearly health check and part strategic planning tool, the annual Community Survey is Libraries’ way of giving the regional community a say in how their libraries operate. The survey is live from today. Jump in and complete it online at www.connectingmackay.com.au/libraries-annual-survey or visit your local library to complete the survey and go into the
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The 2025 Australian Speedway Sidecar Championship, held over Easter weekend (April 19-20) at Bowen Speedway, exhilarated the Whitsundays, galvanising Bowen as a hub of motorsport. Promoted by the NQ Speedway Riders & Supporters Club, this momentous event drew swathes of people to the granite-based track at Bowen Showgrounds, revived in 2019 after decades of history since 1927. For Bowen, hosting this national championship was a triumph, magnifying local pride and boosting tourism. The event show
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