In 2024, The Australian and HarperCollins Australia launched the Australian Fiction Prize, a prestigious new literary award aimed at celebrating exceptional Australian storytelling. Open to all Australian writers, this annual prize offers a remarkable opportunity for aspiring authors to showcase their talent. The winner will receive $20,000 in prize money, $15,000 in advance, and the chance to be published by HarperCollins Australia. The inaugural winner, Katherine Johnson, took home the prize
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Exciting news in the world of Bridge as there were ten Bowen Bridge Club members competing in Mackay for the Whitsunday Zone Pairs Selection. Jill Brabon and her partner, Bev Lowcock, won the Novice Division and will represent the Zone at the Festival of Bridge in Brisbane this October. Lyn Adams and Betty Andison finished third overall. Saint Patrick's Day was a blast with everyone putting on their best green outfits for the club's meet-up. There was much joy, snacks and champagne to go around
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Birri Gubba Nation marked its second anniversary with a weekend of celebrations on March 8th and 9th, blessed by clear skies and vibrant community spirit. Saturday’s festivities took place at Bluewater Quay, alongside the picturesque Pioneer River, bringing together community members for a day of celebration, cultural connection, and prize giveaways. Invited guests included delegates from the Yidindji and Wakka Wakka Nations, who joined in the festivities, strengthening the spirit of unity and
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This is the first of three productions in Mackay Choral Society’s 80th anniversary year, for which the theme Present, Past, and Future has been adopted. Although Mackay Choral Society has performed Gilbert and Sullivan shows in the past, these have become popular again with both current members and audiences, and so this production represents the Present. Synopsis Since its premiere in 1885 at the Savoy Theatre in London, The Mikado (or The Town of Titipu) has become one of history's most-perf
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Art, creativity, and community spirit took centre stage earlier this month at the Isaac Coast Inspiring Women in Isaac event. Around 90 guests embraced the opportunity to explore their artistic side through hands-on workshops, including silk scarf painting, leather earring crafting, and charcoal painting. Live music provided the perfect atmosphere as attendees connected and shared in the experience. Health and wellbeing were also in focus, with Joanne Mulcahy from TRACC offering free blo
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A surprise power outage only added to the charm of Dysart’s Inspiring Women in Isaac event, transforming the evening into a beautifully intimate, candlelit gathering. Held at the Dysart Bowls Club, the event welcomed 30 guests for a night of creativity and relaxation, guided by Lisa Reilly. Attendees embraced the hands-on accessory-making workshop, crafting their own unique earrings and keyrings to take home as keepsakes. With laughter, conversation, and artistic flair filling the room,
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Walking into Deja-Vu is like stepping into another world—one filled with antiques, charming gifts, and the inviting aroma of fresh coffee. For Elisabeth Ribeiro, the woman behind this hidden gem, it’s the realisation of a dream that began when she moved from Brazil to Australia at 20. Arriving with little English, Elisabeth devoted 13 years to raising her children before finding her passion in business. Today, she proudly owns Deja-Vu, a gift shop café that offers more than just a place t
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For Jo Sainsbury, Founder of Kickass Women, growth doesn’t stop with age - it accelerates. With a passion for professional development, she embraces challenges, reinvention, and collaboration to help others thrive. “I consider myself an ongoing project—heading towards my late 50s, and I’m allowed to be both a work in progress and help others grow at the same time,” Jo says. Jo believes women over 50 are more empowered than ever, stepping into leadership roles, launching businesses, prior
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Mackay’s business world just got a serious upgrade. The Kollective Co. isn’t just another business hub - it’s a game-changing fusion of coaching, education, and strategy designed to elevate businesses from the inside out. Behind it all is Emma Armstrong, a fearless business growth strategist who blends sharp strategy with deep mindset work to unlock potential and drive real results. “We’re in the business of growing businesses and people,” Emma says. “It’s a Kollective house for strateg
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Kate Collins isn’t just reshaping business in the Whitsundays - she’s redefining success itself. A powerhouse entrepreneur and philanthropist, Kate has transformed the Taste Whitsundays experience at Whitsunday Coast Airport, setting a new standard for regional travel dining. Her high-tech, locally focused approach has played a key role in the airport’s recent award-winning success. “We try to use as much local food and products as possible, putting a Whitsundays spin on everything we do
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Dr Ritu Rana’s journey to Mackay began with a search for sunshine, but what she found was so much more - a thriving career, a supportive community, and a life where medicine, business, and family intertwine seamlessly. One of Queensland’s leading fertility specialists, Dr Rana never set out to be a business owner. Born and trained in India, she moved to the UK for further medical training, specialising in obstetrics, gynaecology, and reproductive medicine. After over a decade working in h
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At just 23, Kelisha Day is proving that success in commercial real estate isn’t about age or gender—it’s about drive, expertise, and delivering results. As a Sales and Leasing Executive with Explore Property Commercial, she’s not just brokering deals; she’s shaping Mackay’s business landscape. Kelisha’s journey began in 2019 with a determination that set her apart. She handed in her resume, followed up relentlessly, and landed a role as a personal assistant to director Jordan Miller. From
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In an industry traditionally dominated by men, Bec Gardner is rewriting the rulebook - balancing business leadership, family life, and a passion for rare sheep breeding with impressive finesse. As co-founder and Administration and Finance Manager of the ‘Cite’ Group of Companies, Bec’s day is a whirlwind of numbers, strategy, marketing, HR, and business development across CiteCon, CiteWorx, CiteHire, and CiteSpec. “My husband jokingly calls me the ‘bean counter,’ but really, I’m across ev
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The Mater Chicks in Pink International Women’s Day Fun Run last weekend in Mackay's Northern Beaches was the biggest yet, raising an incredible $6,245 to fight breast cancer across Queensland. Mater Mackay Chicks in Pink collected $4,194, while the Lazy Runners Club contributed $2,051. Created to ensure no woman faces breast cancer alone, the event supports women—our mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends—by easing the emotional and financial burdens of diagnosis. Funds raised go toward
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Mackay MP Nigel Dalton recently called on locals to nominate women making a difference in the community—and the response was overwhelming. From healthcare to volunteer work, countless women were recognised for their dedication and passion. To show his appreciation, Mr Dalton personally delivered flowers and certificates of recognition to four inspiring recipients during Queensland Women’s Week. “On International Women’s Day, I had the privilege of delivering flowers and certificates to f
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At Gardian, success is built on expertise and the people who drive it forward. Among them is an inspiring group of women who bring skill, passion, and professionalism to real estate, finance, insurance, and commercial asset management. More than experts, they are mentors, problem-solvers, and trailblazers shaping Mackay’s business landscape. Navigating finance, real estate and insurance requires knowledge and trust—qualities that define Gardian’s professionals. As a Financial Adviser, Ni
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Earlier this month, Mackay Hospital and Health Service (HHS) celebrated the dedication of the more than 3,300 women who play a vital role in delivering healthcare across the region. From frontline professionals to behind-the-scenes specialists, these women are the backbone of the health service—saving lives, driving innovation, and shaping the future of healthcare. As part of International Women’s Day (March 8) and Queensland Women’s Week, teams across Mackay HHS wore purple to show their
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Resource Industry Network (RIN) is proud to have hosted an impactful business lunch celebrating inclusivity and gender equity in the workplace. This year’s theme, "Accelerate Action," emphasised the urgent need to dismantle the systemic barriers and biases that women still face in professional environments. The event featured Olympic Gold Medallist Kerri Pottharst, whose decades of expertise in goal achievement and competition provided invaluable insights. As one of the world’s top volley
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Last weekend, the Zonta International Women’s Day High Tea celebrated more than just a tradition—it honoured the extraordinary leadership, resilience, and community spirit of young women shaping the future. The prestigious Zonta Young Women in Leadership Award recognises outstanding young women aged 16 to 19 who go above and beyond in demonstrating leadership and a commitment to public service. This year’s winner, Arhamah Haider of Whitsunday Anglican School, and runner-up Sanvi Rana, als
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March is a powerful month of celebration and reflection, marking International Women’s Day, Queensland Women’s Week, and International Women’s Month. It’s a time to honour the incredible women in our community—mums raising the next generation of champions, grandmothers sharing their golden wisdom, business leaders breaking barriers, students striving to make a difference, frontline workers saving lives, and those who unite women through networking and support. These women are the backbone
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Simon Hood, Wilmar Manager Grower Marketing As the ground dries out and activity picks up on farm, so does the activity of our Grower Marketing team. We are in the process of organising our popular shed meetings where we come on farm and update growers on our recent results, the global sugar market and new products or services we can offer. This will be followed up in June with a regional tour by our Senior Sugar Trader Peter Bingham to deliver an in-depth analysis of global produ
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International Women’s Day provides a highly visible lens to spotlight women’s contributions and elevate issues, however this special day should be only part of the story. If we are to effect real change, we need to be influencing and advocating for change as part of ‘business as usual’. Women’s influence is everywhere in society – as parents, sisters, aunts, grandmothers, friends, teammates, and colleagues – and historically while many of these roles are informal, they should not be unde
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Mackay has been blessed so far this year, avoiding the worst of natural disasters. But when ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred devastated Southeast Queensland, our local emergency services stepped up to help those in need. Sixteen Mackay police officers, including newly promoted Superintendent Dean Cavanagh, deployed south to assist their counterparts. Their dedication embodied the Queensland spirit—showing up when it mattered most. Our SES volunteers also answered the call, with 85 personnel fr
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If your idea of marketing to women involves pastel packaging, soft imagery or throwing a “girl boss” in there, it’s time for a rethink. Women make up a massive part of the consumer market, but too many brands still rely on stereotypes that srsly miss the mark. The good news? It’s not hard to do better – here’s how >> Drop the stereotypes Not all women are into babies, cooking + fashion (srsly – have you seen what I wear??!). Not all Mums want “Mum life” products. Women are just as di
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The Zonta Club of Mackay’s International Women’s Day High Tea was bigger than ever this year, bringing the community together to celebrate women’s achievements and push for meaningful progress. Held with the generous support of Area Specialist as the major sponsor, the event featured raffles, silent auctions, and thought-provoking panel discussions on the 2025 UN theme, March Forward – It’s Time to Turn Promises into Progress. The afternoon was a celebration of resilience, highlighting th
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