By Cr Heath Paton As the wheels of progress turn in the Pioneer Valley, Finch Hatton and Eungella are gearing up for an exciting new chapter. The mountain bike project that has captured the imagination of locals and visitors alike is moving into its next stage, with council inviting the community to hear the latest updates. Council will be providing a community update on the Finch Hatton Mountain Bike Project in Finch Hatton and Eungella on Monday, December 1 from 4pm to 5pm at the Eungel
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No business wants to look back and wonder whether a different decision may have led to a stronger outcome, yet it often surfaces the moment a competitor seems to be gaining momentum. What if we’d done it differently? What if we’d challenged the ‘that’s how it’s always been done’ playbook? What if we’d taken the risk? What if we made it ours? These moments often point to a deeper issue: whether a brand is using its unique voice or simply following familiar patterns because they feel safe. A
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Up until my summer holidays a couple of years ago I didn’t know that cockatoos had quite a sweet tooth. I knew they were friendly, smart and noisy and I was aware that feeding them was a no-no but until my trip to Hamilton Island that summer I wasn’t fully aware of their sweet tooth. During that Hammo visit I also found out what happens when you leave the sliding doors open overnight to the balcony in the flash unit you have rented. We had been on Hammo for four or five days in one of those b
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As 2026 draws near, the team at Century 21 Coast to Coalfields would like to extend our warmest wishes to all our clients, friends, and community members. This year has been an incredible journey, and we want to take a moment to say thank you — to our amazing sellers, buyers, landlords, tenants, and everyone who has supported us throughout the year. Your trust and partnership have been the foundation of our success. We’re proud of what we achieved together in 2026 — it’s been a great yea
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RUNNING Congratulations to all participants in the fourth event of the Shawn’s Splash n Dash Off-Season Social Biathlon Series for 2025/2026. A big thank you goes to Jim Ford for once again coordinating the series, and to Adam Knezevic for keeping everyone cool with those all-important Zooper Doopers. Despite the very warm conditions, participants showed great awareness and paced themselves sensibly. Next Sunday marks the halfway point of the series, followed by a full break throughout D
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Held In Singapore, August 2026 Sunset Bay Outriggers have recently returned from the Aocra National Sprint Titles held on the Gold Coast, competing against Australia's best outrigger crews with age divisions ranging from U12 to over 80yrs of age, in V12, 500m, 1000m and 1500m events over 3 days. With this being a first time attendance for many of the Sunset paddlers to a National event, the nerves were on high alert but once the butterflies were gone the crews went to another level of comp
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BRIDGE Mackay Contract Bridge Results Sunday was the first week of the Novice Pairs Championships (<100 MP’s) with the same partner for both weeks. This is a Red point event. It is amazing to see so many players who only finished lessons earlier this year participate in the event. Well done to all, for your determination and love for the game. Bridge is such a wonderful game and it really gets you in. International Men’s Day was celebrated at the club last week as well. Weekly Results
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By Ruth Puddefoot Turning the final corner with only a few kilometres to go, Whitsunday’s local Liv Compton fixed her eyes on the finish line and on a victory. When she crossed first among women in the brutal Coast to Kosci ultramarathon in New South Wales, she didn’t just finish, she reached a personal milestone. Ultra running is far from ordinary. With relentless training, iron will determination, and unwavering support from her team, Liv carved her own path in the world of endurance sport, a
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Hi everyone, More than 200 people from across our community came together last Friday for a truly special occasion – the inaugural Whitsunday Business Awards, held at the Proserpine Entertainment Centre. The dress code, Hi-Vis to High-Glam, set an inspiring tone for the night and I was delighted to see such an eclectic mix on arrival: a stunning 1920s tassel dress, some very sharp shorts proudly worn by the younger attendees, and even one guest who channelled Marilyn Monroe with sass and style
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One of the greatest strengths of our region is how deeply people care about where they live. When something has the potential to change our community, you speak up - and I value that more than anything. Over the past few weeks, many of you have reached out about the proposed Mt Challenger Windfarm, and it’s clear there are genuine concerns that deserve straight answers. After speaking with locals who felt blindsided or left in the dark, I released a have your say survey through my website to ga
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Finalist At AusTriathlon Awards Coral Sea Marina Resort Airlie Beach Triathlon Festival organisers and race directors Michael and Val Kimpton will head to the Gold Coast this weekend as they await the results for the AusTriathlon Event of the Year: Under 500 Participants winner. The Coral Sea Marina Resort Airlie Beach Triathlon Festival was announced as a finalist last week and Michael and Val have been over the moon since. "This is the goal I had three years ago when we started on our journe
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The Australian Air Force Cadets (AAFC) 110 Squadron in Bowen marked a significant milestone last week as they gathered for their Annual Inspection and Passing Out Parade. Held under clear skies and a sense of quiet anticipation, the ceremony served as the squadron’s final parade for the year, a moment where discipline meets celebration. Cadets stood proudly in formation as family, friends and community members looked on, reflecting the hard work and commitment shown throughout the term. Before
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Recognised In Our Region On Sunday the Whitsunday Suicide Prevention Network hosted a ceremony for International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day at Queens Beach in Bowen. The event offers support to people affected by suicide and provides a space to honour lost loved ones. The communty came together to remember those lost and provide support to those in need.
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It was a busy weekend for BMA CQ Rescue, with seven calls for help received in just 48 hours. Saturday alone saw five missions, keeping crews in the air from before sunrise until well after dark. The first call came just before 2am from Hamilton Island, where a man in his 20s required urgent care for a suspected snake bite. By 8:51am, the crew was airborne again, this time to Bowen to treat a patient with testicular torsion, who was flown to Mackay for further treatment. A man in his 40s exper
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The SSAA Bowen Branch have a started accepting gifts for their Christmas Raffle, so far the gifts have surpassed $5000 and will continue to grow. President of SSAA Bowen Branch Marty Duggan said they will continue to accept raffle contribution prizes until the end of the month, and they can be dropped to Marty's store Hunting and Shooting Supplies Whitsunday at 27 Main St, Proserpine. Marty said the current raffle consists of a chainsaw, toolbox, spotlights, a brewery kit, spray paint kit, rum
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Dingo Beach is set to come alive with festive cheer when the annual Mega Christmas Market returns on Sunday, the 14th of December, from 8am to 12 noon. Hosted by the Dingo Beach Progress Association, the much-loved event promises a morning packed with entertainment, family fun, and Christmas spirit. One of the highlights of the day will be the arrival of Santa and his elf, who are scheduled to roll in at 10am aboard a big yellow fire truck—a sight sure to delight children and adults alike. The
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Who’s making decisions if you can’t? Life is unpredictable. A Power of Attorney gives someone you trust the legal authority to make decisions on your behalf if you’re unwell, away, or unable to manage things yourself. It’s one of those documents people don’t think about, until they really need it. We’ll help you set it up properly and make sure it reflects your wishes. Whitsunday Law – Helping you prepare for the "just in case."
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With over $1.5 billion in property sales and more than 40 years of combined experience across Hamilton Island and the Whitsundays, the Sotheby’s team—Wayne, Lynn, and Joe—offer an unmatched level of local knowledge, professionalism, and proven results. Backed by the global prestige of Sotheby’s International Realty, we provide full-service coverage from both Hamilton Island and the mainland—ensuring no enquiry is missed and every opportunity is maximised. We live and invest locally, and we’re
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At APW, we make corporate registry and secretarial tasks simple—so you can focus on growing your business. Our services cover: ✅Company, Trust & Super Fund setup ✅Corporate register maintenance ✅Director, shareholder & unit holder changes ✅Address updates & meeting minutes ✅Annual review compliance ✅Business name registration We also help you choose the right corporate structure to maximise tax benefits, minimise risk, and protect your assets. ✨Smart structures = smarter business
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In the age of DIY everything, it’s tempting to believe financial decisions can be made with a quick Google search and a dash of confidence. But when it comes to retirement planning, borrowing, wealth building, investing, or personal insurance, the stakes are far too high for guesswork. Consider retirement. Many underestimate how market downturns can devastate a portfolio when you’re drawing income instead of contributing. History shows crashes like the GFC and COVID slump wiped out years of gro
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Across every tier of management, Imposter Syndrome sits like a quiet assassin. Hate to say it, however, it doesn’t magically disappear as you climb higher; it just gets more creative. Executive Imposter Syndrome just has better vocabulary and access to better coffee. At entry level, it shows up as the constant need to double-check every email, apologise for having an opinion, and they end up leading defensively. At middle-management tier, Imposter Syndrome becomes a full-blown circus. These te
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The inaugural Whitsunday Business Awards brought a new sense of excitement and pride to the region last Friday night as the Proserpine Entertainment Centre welcomed guests from every corner of the community. More than two hundred people filled the venue, coming together to recognise the achievements, innovation and resilience that define the Whitsundays business landscape. The evening opened with a warm, lively atmosphere supported by live music and the energetic hosting of radio personality Me
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Murroona Gardens has capped off a standout year, claiming Business of the Year 2025 at the Whitsunday Business Awards, along with a Highly Commended in the Community Champion category. General Manager and Director of Nursing, Megan Murray, said the recognition felt deeply personal to the whole organisation. She described the win as “an incredible honour” that reflects the everyday effort of staff, volunteers and families who form the Murroona Gardens community. The Bowen aged care provider has
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Whitsunday Law director Kellee Fogg has been named Business Leader of the Year, a recognition she describes as both humbling and energising for the entire firm. The award adds to her earlier accolade of the Pride of Workmanship honour received in 2010, and marks a significant milestone in a career built on professionalism and strong community ties. Kellee said the achievement belongs to her whole team. "On behalf of our team, I am honoured and absolutely thrilled to receive the Business Leader
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The Bowen Tourism and Business team were very proud to win the “Community Champion” award at the 2025 Whitsunday Business awards. The award was accepted on the night by three team members – Leanne Abernethy, Glenn Womal and Cindy Tonks. This not-for-profit organisation operates the Bowen Visitor Information Centre next to the Big Mango at Bowen and the information booth at Bowen’s Front Beach. Manager of Bowen Tourism and Business, Leanne Abernethy said the team were very honoured to be named
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