Move over kale; there’s a new superfood in town. Seaweed, the nutrient-packed gift from the ocean, is set to steal the spotlight in 2025, not just for its health benefits but also for its role in sustainable living. Packed with essential vitamins, minerals like iodine, and gut-friendly fibre, seaweed supports metabolism, boosts immunity, and promotes healthy digestion. Its natural umami flavour makes it a versatile ingredient, while its sustainability credentials—growing without fresh water or f
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Grilled Chicken Salad with Avocado Ingredients: • 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts • 1 tbsp olive oil • 1 tsp dried oregano or mixed herbs • 4 cups mixed salad greens (such as spinach, arugula, and lettuce) • 1 avocado, sliced • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved • 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced (optional) • 2 tbsp lemon juice • 1 tbsp olive oil (for dressing) • 1 tsp Dijon mustard (optional) • Salt and pepper, to taste Instructions: 1. Grill the
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As the back-to-school season approaches, parents everywhere are gearing up for the challenge of juggling school supplies, schedules, and the emotional rollercoaster that comes with it. Whether your child is starting kindy or heading into their final year of secondary school, preparation is key to a smooth transition. Here are practical tips to ensure a successful start to the new school year, no matter the grade. For Kindy Kids: Building a Positive Foundation 1. Create a Routine Early Kinder
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As the school year swings back into action, the lunchbox becomes your secret weapon for fuelling little minds and bodies. But let’s face it, packing a balanced, creative, and waste-free lunch every day can feel like a Herculean task. Here’s a guide to making lunch prep not just manageable, but fun and rewarding. 1. Freeze Your Way to Freshness Cut fruits like grapes, berries, and melon into bite-sized pieces, then freeze them for a chilly treat that doubles as an ice pack. Frozen sandwiches are
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For Christmas, Cheeky Little Monkeys kindly donated gifts to the Mackay Hospital Foundation, surprising young patients with toys as well as a visit from Santa. The joyful event brought smiles to many children throughout the hospital. Thanks to generous donations, the gifts were truly appreciated, spreading immense joy to all involved. Cheeky Little Monkeys expressed their gratitude to the Mackay Hospital Foundation for the opportunity to be part of such a meaningful experience.
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Mackay West State School hosted a successful Disability Action Day, engaging students in a range of awareness activities. Students participated in Auslan lessons, sensory exercises, and used aided language boards to better understand the challenges faced by those with physical disabilities. A highlight of the day was said to be the scooterboard basketball event during first break, with Rob Kidd from 4MK joining the fun. The school also welcomed special guests, including Mayor Greg Williamson,
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Mackay Central State School captains Isabelle and Kieran had the honour of judging the best Christmas decorations at the Mackay Regional Office. Assisting School Supervisor Cath Lalor, they thoughtfully assessed each display, showcasing exceptional leadership and decision-making skills. Their efforts received high praise from staff, and the students thoroughly enjoyed the festive experience. This opportunity highlighted the captains’ dedication and enthusiasm, reflecting the values of Mackay Cen
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Last year, Joseph Richardson and CJ had the unique opportunity to participate in Exercise First Look: Indigenous Youth Placement at Simpson Barracks in Melbourne. This flagship program, run by the Army, provided Indigenous students from across Australia a firsthand glimpse into the life of a soldier. Over five days, participants aged 15 to 18 immersed themselves in Army routines and activities, offering a comprehensive introduction to military life. Designed to inspire and inform, Exercise First
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Mackay State High School students Adison Byrd and Oren Byrd recently represented their school and community with distinction at the Australian All Schools Championships in Brisbane. Adison, a Year 9 student, achieved an impressive personal best of 20cm in the Triple Jump, securing 6th place, while his brother Oren, also in Year 9, earned 8th place in Long Jump with a commendable performance. The talented siblings made both their school and peers incredibly proud at the 2024 Australian All Scho
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Whitsunday Anglican School congratulated its 2024 school dux, Dylan Itzstein, who has excelled from kindergarten through to year 12. Dylan achieved an outstanding 99.85 ATAR and a QCAA Certificate of Academic Commendation for attaining ‘As’ in all six subjects (Specialist Mathematics, Physics, Mathematical Methods, Literature, Engineering, and Chemistry). Dylan has an impressive background in many cocurricular pursuits outside of school in The Arts including dance: ballet, tap, jazz, contempo
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Friday 3rd January LIVE Music 6-9pm Enjoy LIVE music every Friday at Ocean International – it’s a performance you won’t want to miss! Pizzas & tapas available on the deck! Call 4957 2044 to make your booking! Ocean International BarbsWired LIVE 7pm Head on down to The Seabreeze and enjoy BarbsWired rocking the stage! The Seabreeze Hotel Saturday 4th January Learn To Tow In Safety 9am The Learn to Tow course offers participants practical training with skilled instructors in a suppo
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Local artist Andrew Doyle, a proud Iman and Kaku-Yalanji man, has won the 2025 Indigenous Jersey Design Competition with the Mackay Cutters. Andrew grew up playing rugby league in Mackay, and his artwork honours both his cultural heritage and his deep connection to the sport. “The story behind my artwork is a bit of history,” said Andrew. The design features blue and maroon stripes at the top, representing the Mackay Cutters’ 2013 premiership-winning jersey. The bottom half of the artwork reca
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Mackay parkrun has soared to new heights in 2024, eclipsing its previous best efforts with an incredible year of participation and personal achievements. With a total attendance of 15,423, up from 13,438 in 2023, the numbers tell a story of a thriving and growing community. Weekly averages also climbed, with 285.61 participants per event compared to last year’s 258.42, showing that Mackay parkrun is well and truly on the move. Both male and female attendance figures saw impressive growth. Male p
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Supervised play finished up for Christmas with a delicious meal organised by Susan Ross and Co. Thank you for another year of mentoring and answers - Geoff Taylor, Francie Brown, Helen VanDen Broek, David Ting, Ming Ting and Terry Sheedy. Supervised play is for players to attend after learning to play bridge. These dedicated mentors work with new players and older players to assist them to progress and become more confident. The Mackay Contract Bridge Club has the best beginners and mentors prog
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Weekly Events Monday- Starting time 08.30am 2x4x2 pairs. Wednesday - Starting time 09.30am ladies bowls. Thursday - Starting time 1.00pm 2x4x2 pairs. Friday - Starting time 1.30pm 3 bowl pairs. Saturday - Starting time 1.00pm men’s bowls. Social Bowls Results Monday Winners: Asko Helenius, John Kennell, Bev Swenson, Peter Shepperd Runners-up: Mick Walsh, Lloyd Ogilvie, Russell King, Lance Edwards Friday Winners: Allan Cooney, Greg McLean Runners-up: Tom Crocker, Ben Crocker 3rd Place: Tony A
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Mackay Road Runners bid farewell to the final social run of 2024, attended by a small group of dedicated enthusiasts who braved the 36-degree heat on a sunny Sunday afternoon. While the love for running in such oppressive conditions may be debatable, the runners and walkers persevered through sweltering humidity. The icy cold Zooper Dooper rewards at the finish line, courtesy of Luke and Lily, were a welcome relief. Paul MacKenzie claimed the unofficial record for consuming the most Zooper Doo
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The North Mackay Sinkers Masters Swimming Club is thrilled to announce its annual short course event, set for Saturday, 22nd February 2025. Open to registered Masters swimmers and guest participants aged 18 and over, this popular event welcomes swimmers from Central Queensland, beyond, and even recreational swimmers keen to test their skills. The competition features a variety of strokes over distances ranging from 25m to 200m, as well as novelty events and relays. Events are tailored to individ
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At the heart of sport is the community, and at the heart of the community is now Club Whitsunday. Club Whitsunday, a brand-new sporting facility, bar and restaurant is set to change the whole experience of sport in the region. As Queensland's first true greenfield club in 25 years, Club Whitsundays will serve as a vibrant hub for the sporting community and beyond. It will offer a welcoming space for families and locals to come together, enjoy delicious meals, drinks, and entertainment, including
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Hi Everyone and welcome to 2025! I am actually writing this on New Year’s Eve but by the time you read this note it will already be 2025. The fireworks will have zipped into the sky casting their glittery glow to the delight of every audience across the world. Millions of champagne corks will have been popped, warm embraces shared and the jubilance of a saying a fond farewell to 2024 will be complete. In fact, by now, the hangovers will likely have subsided, the party poppers cleared away an
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The Whitsundays has been hit hard by major flooding caused by three converging weather systems over the Christmas period, with heavy rainfall causing widespread disruption. Road closures and the shutdown of Proserpine Airport, which cancelled all flights for 24 hours, caused hundreds of people to be stranded and ruined many Christmas travel plans. Motorists also found themselves cut-off as floodwaters inundated the Bruce Highway, the primary route linking Mackay, Proserpine, Bowen, and Townsvill
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Jamie Otene continued to honour her family’s wonderful and heartwarming tradition of supporting those in need during the festive season each year through the establishment of her own Christmas appeal. “My family has always donated to giving trees growing up, and I wanted to try and reach more people and make sure the people in our community were looked after,” Jamie explained. Jamie reached out to one of her managers at Red Cat Adventures and proposed the idea of introducing a toy drive based wi
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The Airlie Beach Hotel has unveiled the ultimate paradise for sports lovers with its newly expanded bar officially opening just before Christmas. Hundreds of people flocked to the new expansive venue on opening night, eager to experience the facility known as The Bar. Boasting modern facilities, a long service bar, diverse seating options and stunning views of the bay, it is easy to see how this venue has become the beating heart of the Airlie Beach Esplanade. A brand-new venue and part of the
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A group of concerned residents from Hamilton Avenue and Scarlet Gum Crescent in Cannonvale have expressed outrage over the recent removal of a 1.46-hectare old forest nature strip. The land was allegedly cleared without adequate consultation, leaving residents frustrated and worried about the environmental and social consequences. Actioned prior to the recent rainfall season in December of 2024, some residents are concerned the removal of the trees and vegetation will cause environmental damage,
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The Queensland Police Service (QPS) is urging parents to take extra caution if they have gifted e-scooters this Christmas, as the number of lives lost involving these devices has more than doubled in the last year. As of 18 December 2024, eight lives have been lost on Personal Mobility Devices (PMDs), such as e-scooters and e-skateboards, compared to two lives lost in 2023. The growing use of PMDs, especially in regional areas like the Whitsundays where they are relied on as a mode of transport,
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In recent weeks, local Facebook pages have become an increasingly popular tool for reporting crimes, sharing information, and seeking assistance from the Whitsunday community. Platforms like Whitsunday Noticeboard and Whitsundays Chat are being used by residents not only to expose criminal activity but also to encourage people with information to come forward, helping to enhance community safety and aid investigations. One notable example involved a reckless driver on Beach Road, Cannonvale. A
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