Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
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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Burdekin Shire Council is delighted by the strong interest shown following the release of land in Stage 1 of the Ayr Industrial Precinct. Nutrien Harcourt McCathies have received numerous enquiries since the release with negotiations underway for a number of lots. Burdekin Shire Council Mayor Pierina Dalle Cort said the Ayr Industrial Precinct presents an exciting opportunity for businesses looking to establish or expand their operations in North Queensland. “The strong response to the Stage 1 l
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To ensure your dog and others around them are safe, it is important to keep your pet under effective control. Effective control means holding your dog by a leash that is no longer than 2 metres when you are in a public place such as parks, foreshores or residential areas. It is also essential that you are physically able to control your dog. When you are at home, please ensure that your dog has adequate fencing and is not aggressive towards people or other animals through the fence, including
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Thank you for trusting me to be your representative for another three years. As the reelected Member for Dawson, I will repay your faith by continuing to work hard and fight for our region’s fair share. Saturday night was bittersweet. I celebrated our local team’s increased vote with family and supporters, while also mourning the missed opportunity for the Coalition to form government. Labor has made many promises in retaining government, and I intend to hold them to account for our region. I’
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This month we meet, Drew and Lara Kell-Colliver of Whitsundays Property Buyers – the region’s first and only exclusive buyers agency. Established in May 2024, they offer three core services – a comprehensive buying service from search to settlement: an exclusive access to pre-market and off-market properties; negotiation only service for buyers who want expert guidance to secure the best price, terms, and inclusions; and auction representation providing a clear, confident strategy on auction da
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On April 28, 2025, Volunteer Marine Rescue (VMR) Whitsunday was called into action to assist a broken-down vessel just north of Hayman Island. A quiet afternoon of rest before scheduled meetings was suddenly interrupted by the activation. Ray, the 24/7 emergency phone holder, tasked the crew with the rescue operation, which turned out to be five nautical miles north of the shipping channel. As Ray gathered a crew, the team made their way to Coral Sea Marina. Upon arrival, the crew quickly asse
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Hi Everyone, What are your thoughts on the new dinosaur-themed putt-putt course currently being proposed for Airlie Beach's main street? Do you think the artists' impressions show a potential eyesore, or could this become the all-weather tourist attraction we’ve been asking for? Would a reef theme be a better fit or is it time to embrace a novel concept like a dinosaur attraction - is the reef best explored out on the water or perhaps in the council proposed Marine Discovery Centre? From loca
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Bowen’s polocrosse talent was on show in Roma over the weekend as Shannon and Adam Burns represented the region at the Roma Polocrosse Club Carnival, joining more than 30 teams for a packed schedule of fierce but friendly competition. The Sarina-based duo joined forces with players from Emerald and Tara to form a composite side cheekily dubbed the “Rest of the World” team. Their teammates included Emerald’s Sam Parnell and Brian Wells, as well as Tara locals Wayne Doyle and Russell Stevens. Wi
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A field of 29 clay target shooters converged on Port Denison Gun Club on Sunday, April 27, for the club’s monthly competition — with competitors travelling from across the region to take part in the popular shoot. Visiting marksmen and women hailed from Clermont, Dysart, Mackay/Sarina, Burdekin, Townsville and Silkwood, joining local members for a full program of events held in ideal conditions. In Event 1: 25 Target Double Barrel, AA Grade honours went to T. Coco with a flawless 25/25. A. Lor
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The Whitsunday Game Fish Club’s highly anticipated Queenfish and Trevally Rally is set to hit the water on Friday 16 and Saturday 17 May, with all current Game Fish Club members invited to take part in the action-packed weekend of sportfishing. The event will be fished under club rules with an open line class, and anglers will be targeting five eligible species: Queenfish, Giant Trevally, Golden Trevally, Big Eye Trevally, and Gold Spot Trevally. While most competitors are expected to favour s
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The highly anticipated return of the Whitsundays Writers Festival September 12-14, 2025 marks an exciting opportunity for writers of all ages across Australia. The festival announces the launch of the 2025 Whitsundays Literary Heart Awards, offering substantial prizes to recognise and honour outstanding contributions to the literary landscape. The Whitsundays Literary Heart Awards’ mission is to spotlight the diverse talents within the Australian creative community while also paying homage to
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The Whitsunday Regional Council is calling on federal support to help bring a world-class Marine Discovery Centre to life, spotlighting the Whitsundays’ critical role as a gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. Despite welcoming around 50% of all Reef visitors, the region currently lacks a dedicated reef education centre - something Council says needs to change urgently. With a funding ask of $4.5 million, Council’s vision for the Whitsunday Marine Discovery Centre includes interactive virtual exp
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Local author and humanitarian Sandy Clark will launch her powerful new memoir, Anyone Can Become a Princess, at Eastwoods in Airlie Beach on June 24. The event, running from 6pm to 9pm, forms part of the “Africa Calls” charity cocktail party supporting Dignity Zambia - Clark’s long-running charitable initiative. Published by international house Austin Macauley Publishers (London, Cambridge, New York, Sharjah), Anyone Can Become a Princess tells the remarkable true story of Sandy’s unexpected ro
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After relocating from Sydney, Mark Edgar and Anna Panton identified a gap in the local market and established Whitsunday European Prestige. They found no nearby services for European cars, and since they had run European Prestige successfully in Sydney for many years, they decided to bring their concept to their new location in 2016. Whitsunday European Prestige specializes exclusively in European car brands such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, Volkswagen, Fiat, Peugeot, and Bentley. While the wor
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Get ready to dust off your flared jeans and platform shoes, The Yachtski Brothers are cruising into Airlie Beach for a weekend of retro grooves and outrageous fun as part of the Airlie Beach Hotel’s 57th birthday celebrations. Making their Queensland debut, the band is known for their high-energy performances, vintage fashion, and a stage show that’s as much theatre as it is music. Drummer and Manager Tom Coppolas said the group is thrilled to be bringing their unique act north. Tom said The Y
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A spur-of-the-moment decision saw 20-year-old Mac Rogers change the trajectory of his life when he came across an ad for the YouFor2032 Olympic Testing Sessions and decided to give it a try. After tests that included the beep test, sprints, pull-ups, and detailed physical measurements such as height, wingspan, and body composition, the combined data revealed that Mac had the potential to excel in as many as five sports. He was told he could succeed in beach volleyball, pole vault, boxing, cano
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At the Metropole Hotel Proserpine, they believe in more than just great service, they believe in the community. At the driving force behind the retail and corporate liquor sales division is Bruce Spannagle. With over 20 years of experience in the liquor industry, Bruce brings a wealth of knowledge, dedication, and a genuine passion for helping local businesses and customers alike. Whether you're a café, restaurant, event organiser, or small business, Bruce and the Metropole team are there to ma
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Proserpine State High School student Allegra Bradley has returned to Australia after her life-changing Anzac Tour of Europe walking in the footsteps of our Anzacs. The trip was made possible because Allegra was named one of the eight Premier’s Anzac Prize recipients from across Queensland for 2025. As part of the application process, Allegra had to submit a video research project about a local service person. “I met with local historians and ex-service men who were very kind to share with me
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Television presenter Greg Grainger has been in Bowen and Collinsville filming for an episode of “Travel Oz”. The show is expected to be aired on Channel 7TWO at 8.30am on Saturday, May 17. It will also be aired on international TV. The crew were hosted by Bowen Tourism and Business with co-sponsors – Rose Bay Beach Caravan Park, the Collinsville Community Association, Meraki Whitsundays, and the North Queensland Cruising Yacht Club. Manager of Bowen Tourism and Business, Leanne Abernethy said
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Proserpine Golf Club celebrated its centenary in style with a three-day golf festival over the weekend. Friday kicked off with a 9-hole competition followed by sunset canapés, with ticket options including golf and gift packs or an evening of gourmet treats. Saturday upped the ante with an 18-hole showdown and a celebration dinner, offering a three-course feast and great company. The festivities wrapped up on Sunday with a 3-Ball Ambrose event, where teams were invited to tee off in a friendl
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