Residents across the Whitsunday region are invited to honour the sacrifices of our servicemen and women at a series of ANZAC Day services taking place on Friday, 25 April 2025. From dawn services to community marches, come together to reflect, remember, and pay tribute to those that lost their lives. Please note service times and road closures in your area, and allow extra time for travel and parking. Airlie Beach Main Service: 9:00am - meet at Broadwater Avenue carpark at 8am for march to Ai
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Just a short time from entries opening for Airlie Beach Race Week (ABRW) 2025, keen competitors started committing to the fun event and with 60 entries received to-date, it is a good start to what is sure to be another great week of racing and where fun doesn’t set with the sun from 7-14 August. Entries have been received across the various classes. Looking healthy at this early stage is the Trailable Yachts & Sports Boats division and the boats are coming from far and wide. New to Airlie Beac
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The students of St Catherine's Catholic College are bringing a classic Broadway musical to life this May, with their production of Meredith Willson’s The Music Man set to dazzle audiences at the Proserpine Entertainment Centre. Running from Thursday 1 May to Saturday 3 May, this beloved story follows the antics of con-man Harold Hill, who arrives in the small town of River City, Iowa, posing as a band leader to swindle the townsfolk. He convinces the good people of River City to invest in inst
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The Bowen Polocrosse Club kicked off its 2025 season with a strong showing at the Far Northern Zone Benefit Carnival in Townsville, where seven of its players took to the field in mixed teams with clubs from across the zone. Representing Bowen were Cody McConnell, Wade Bidgood, Rhadaya Bidgood, Jesse and Mick Foster, along with up-and-coming juniors Lachy and Ollie Foster. The weekend was a fun and successful way to ease into the season, with plenty of game time and a chance to get both horses
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The story of the Whitsundays begins more than 100 million years ago, when Australia was still part of the ancient supercontinent Gondwana. As the landmass slowly broke apart and drifted, volcanoes became active across what is now Queensland. The Whitsundays have a fiery past that stretches back tens of millions of years. Around 110 million years ago, this region was part of a geologically active zone. For roughly 37 million years, volcanoes dominated the landscape with explosive eruptions that
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Are you looking for a new way to break up the work week? Airlie Beach Hotel are now hosting Musical Bingo. Last Tuesday over 150 people joined in the fun for the first evening, and Musical Bingo Creator Danny is expecting more to show up in the future. “Having such a big turnout on the first night was really great and it's great to see that everybody is engaging with it, and wanting to do something new,” said Danny. “I call it the world's easiest pub game, because you don't need to know anyth
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Barb Hill has been taking photos of landscapes and nature on her phone for as long as she can remember. But no place has made her as emotional as The Barron Falls. The falls were on her bucket list for some time before she finally got to see them. Barb visited after flooding hit the north and was overcome with emotion. “Once I got there, I could see how it was raging in such beauty,” said Barb. “I was overcome with emotion and awe. I stood there for ages, and probably, a good hour or so.” W
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In the lead up to the Federal Election on Saturday May 3, Whitsunday Chamber of Commerce and Industry hosted a Meet the Federal Election Candidates Event, last Tuesday. The event began with a statement from Queensland Senate candidate Jason Brown – Independent. Jason was given six minutes to answer the following questions. What are your business credentials and experience? As an elected senator for Queensland, what will you specifically do, and how will you achieve it? Political hi
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There’s no shortage of community spirit in Proserpine, and one local is proving just how powerful kindness can be. The Proserpine Community Centre expressed a big thank you to Steve, known to many as LairdndLady Thompson, for his ongoing dedication to helping out wherever he can. Steve has long been one of the centre’s most reliable and supportive community members, always quick to offer his help in maintaining the space for all who use it. He was spotted hard at work by the Proserpine Commun
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Hi Everyone I’m thrilled to share that I’ve returned to the Whitsunday Life Newspaper after four months living in Ingham where I helped launch our sister publication, Hinchinbrook Life. It was a privilege to launch a new newspaper in a region that had been yearning so long for print media, but the Whitsundays kept calling for my return. Whilst I was up there, myself and the Hinchinbrook Shire experienced the worst flooding event in over 50 years. I was located in Forrest Beach, so although I
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Proserpine State High School are proud to present their energetic school production of Disney’s Newsies – The Broadway Musical. More than 100 students and staff will bring the entertaining musical to life on their Performing Arts Centre stage form 8th-10th May, with many months of hard work going in to perfecting lines, dance routines and musical scores. Based on the real-life Newsboy Strike of 1899, this Disney musical tells the story of Jack Kelly, a rebellious newsboy who dreams of a life a
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Despite some challenging patches on the back nine, players were pleased to complete a full 18-hole round this week, with a solid turnout of 31 participants enjoying the competition. Familiar names found their way to the top of the leaderboard once again, with Jenny Hounsell and Gary Scotford both claiming victories in the ladies’ and men’s competitions respectively. The pair have certainly hit their stride, with consistent performances becoming a weekly habit. Congratulations to them both. Com
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Guests aboard the Coral Discoverer on a recent Citizen Science expedition on the Great Barrier Reef had the unforgettable experience of naming a brand-new manta ray. The playful juvenile male was first seen breaching the surface and showing off his curious nature at Yamacutta Reef in the stunning Whitsundays, and was aptly named Discover-ray. Adding to the magic of the voyage was Project Manta researcher and guest lecturer Hannah Moloney, who guided guests in capturing ID shots of the majestic
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The 2025 flag laying ceremony held a particularly moving moment this year, as the service of an unmarked soldier was finally recognised. More than 400 flags were placed at the Proserpine Cemetery during the annual tribute, with a special cross erected at the previously unmarked grave of Andrew William Anderson. Until now, his resting place bore no headstone, no sign of his service. Lyn Burke, founder of the flag laying tradition, emphasised the importance of remembering every service man and w
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It’s been another busy week on the greens for the Wangaratta Bowls Club, with both social and competitive matches drawing strong participation and close contests. Tuesday Social Bowls Tuesday’s social matches saw Neil Chittenden, Laurie Land, and Margaret Wilson take the win over Stumpy Adams, Irene Laird, and Ron Hyde. In another match-up, Deb Retchless, Robyn Stitt, and Penny Warren came away with a solid win against Lindy Suann, Linda Scells, and Maureen Hyde. The jackpot remained elusive on
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With a welcome break in the wet weather, Proserpine Bowls Club members took to the greens on Wednesday for a fun-filled afternoon of bowls and Easter cheer. Games were played in great spirits, with Trevor Parsons providing Easter eggs as prizes, adding a festive touch to the competition. Alen Sanderson and Sandy Daffara edged out Arthur Griffith and Mike Harrison in a tight contest, claiming victory 20–16 after winning the last four ends with single shots. In the other match, Trevor Parsons and
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With Easter now behind us and Anzac Day upon us, Airlie Beach Bowls Club is looking forward to the long-awaited installation of its new cover. In the meantime, the greens have been alive with action, as members turned out in force for a packed week of competitive and social bowls. Isgro Takes the Title in A Grade Final The headline event of the week was the Men’s A Grade final, where club legend Manny Isgro took on promising young talent Harrison Quad in a gripping contest. It was a classic bat
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Dam We haven’t heard much about fishing at the dam the past week because the good weather window has had people heading offshore instead. If the dam is where you’ll be this weekend, the topwater shallows should be the go. Frogs, unweighted soft plastics and small hard body surface lures are all great options to use. Estuary The crabs have been firing in the river. Plenty of people have caught lots, especially up the river towards the mussel beds. The water temperature is dropping so barramundi
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April 24 Paper Poppy Making, Youth Space Proserpine, 3:00pm-5:00pm 25 ANZAC Day – Various Commemorations, see Whitsunday Regional Council website for your local Service times. 26 Park Run, Meeting Area D, Coral Sea Marina, starting at 7:00am 27 Bowen Community Market, Hansen Park, from 8:00am 27 Proserpine Community Autumn Markets, Proserpine State School Cyclone Shelter on Sherry Street, from 8:30am 29 Sailability, Downstairs at the Whitsunday Sailing Club, Volunteers 8:00am-2:00pm &
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Thursday 24th April • The Pub, Airlie Beach Hotel: Sam McCann 6:30pm – 9:30pm Friday 25th April • The Pub, Airlie Beach Hotel: Whispering Jack/Thunderstruck 12pm – 6pm • The Pub, Airlie Beach Hotel: Andy Mammers 7pm – 10pm • Grand View Hotel: Jackson Dunn from 8pm Saturday 26th April • The Pub, Airlie Beach Hotel: The 3 Johns 2pm – 5:30pm • The Pub, Airlie Beach Hotel: Andy Mammers 7pm – 10pm • Grand View Hotel: Sam McCann from 8pm • Coral Sea Pavillion: Live Music & DJ Session 1pm – 6pm Sund
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They say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover—but let’s be honest, when it comes to buying a home, first impressions are everything. And nothing says “welcome” quite like a lush, emerald-green lawn. It’s the red carpet of real estate, the final flourish that takes a house from “nice” to “need to have.” If you’re looking to sell, don’t underestimate the power of a pristine patch of turf. A well-maintained lawn not only boosts street appeal but can add serious value to your home. Buyers
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Australian Red Cross Lifeblood urgently needs 6,000 additional donors to replenish supplies depleted by ex-Cyclone Alfred. Widespread donor centre closures last month and a surge in hospital orders before the Queensland emergency have significantly reduced blood stocks. A major increase in donations is now critical to ensure patients continue to receive the lifesaving blood they need. Acting Chief Executive Officer Stuart Chesneau said Lifeblood is particularly focused on replenishing pla
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As of April, more than 60 lives have already been tragically cut short on Queensland’s roads in 2025, with hundreds more seriously injured. With the Easter school holidays set to begin, the Queensland Government is ramping up its efforts to prevent further road trauma with a timely reminder: there’s no excuse for speeding. The state’s Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) has launched a new road safety campaign aimed at raising awareness of the dangers of speeding, as the state bra
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Mackay VIEW Club is on the lookout for new members who want to give back to their community and make new connections with women in the area. VIEW, which stands for Voice, Interests and Education of Women, is a network of close to 280 clubs and over 13,000 women throughout Australia. For 65 years VIEW has connected with others in the community, enabling The Smith Family to reach more families in need. It provides a place for women to connect with each other, enjoy social activities, and de
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Mackay’s prestigious Art on Show Awards has been saved from the brink of closure, thanks to the backing of Craig Percival, CEO of Woollam Constructions. Craig has stepped in as the major sponsor to ensure the beloved event continues to celebrate and support local artists. In its nineteenth year, the Awards is being hosted by the Mackay Art Society for the very first time. The Art Society is a not-for-profit organisation completely run by its members, twelve of whom have volunteered to org
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