As Christmas approaches, we tend to become caught up in the flurry of preparations for the celebration. The decorations come out. Celebratory food is prepared and gifts are chosen for giving to those we love. It is a time to reflect upon the awe experienced by the shepherds and the wise men as we view the beauty of peaceful, serene paintings and images of the nativity. However, Christmas is not just a lovely idea. The message is serious. It is a time for all Christians to reflect upon th
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Residents living near the Ports of Mackay and Hay Point are encouraged to nominate for a seat on North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation (NQBP) community reference groups (CRGs). NQBP Chief Executive Officer Brendan Webb said the CRGs, which have been running for more than 20 years, provide an invaluable link between the port authority and its communities. “The Port of Mackay has been there every step of the way as our region established itself as a cornerstone for mining and trade in Northern Q
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We see Christmas light displays around the city, and I guess that means it's looking a lot like Christmas. But what is this "Christmas" thing? Christmas is a Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, whom Christians believe to be God's promised Messiah: Saviour and Lord of all. The public celebration of Christmas mixes a huge range of things from an equally huge range of sources and histories. For example, Santa traces back to St. Nicholas, the 4th-century Christian bishop of My
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Although he has just completed Year 12, Leo Gorrion already has an impressive resume of stage production and design. From set painting to lighting and sound for productions by both his school and the Mackay Musical Comedy Players, Leo is well on the way to a remarkable career. Leo was named as this year’s recipient of the MECC’s Jack Sturgeon Bursary, which has tripled this year to $3000 thanks to a sponsorship by the Friends of the MECC. The Mackay State High School graduate hopes to extend his
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Bring your “relaxing chair” to the Bluewater Quay for the New Year’s Eve River Party, because this year’s family entertainment features two of the world’s biggest stars. Better yet, entry to the family-friendly event that runs from 6pm to 9pm won’t cost you a single “dollarbuck”. In case you haven’t guessed yet, this year’s children’s entertainment will be Bluey and her little sister Bingo appearing for a Live Interactive Experience and meet and greet with families. Get ready to play Magic Aspar
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SummerSalt is set to shine in 2025, announcing a new show in Mackay, coming to Harrup Park for the first time. This dazzling event features an iconic, all-Aussie line-up of music greats, promising a vibrant celebration of Australian talent with Missy Higgins, Birds of Tokyo, Fanning Dempsey National Park, The Waifs, The Whitlams, and Josh Pyke. Since its debut, SummerSalt has become a premier outdoor festival across Australia, known for bringing world-class Australian and international artists
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Friday 20th December Crochet & Conversation 9am Join a friendly group of Northern Beaches locals for crocheting, coffee, and conversation at Beachfront Bar & Restaurant on Bucasia Esplanade. Bring your own tools or borrow from the communal box. Everyone is welcome, whether crafting or just enjoying the vibe. Look for the yarn under the shade sails or inside, weather permitting! Beachfront Bar & Restaurant on Bucasia Esplanade. Christmas Holiday Kids Craft 9.30am Santa’s elves are bringing
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The Mackay Cutters are delighted to announce the signing of half-back Ryan Rivett from Toulouse Olympique on a one-year deal. Rivett joins the Mackay Cutters after one season in the Betfred Championship with Toulouse Olympique, for whom he made 27 appearances combined. The 22-year-old began his semi-professional career first at the Newtown Jets, then signed to the Newcastle Knights playing in the NSW Knock on Effect Cup. The half-back was called up to play one game in the NRL during season 202
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Last week, Mackay Bowling Club welcomed 35 residents from Homefield Nursing Home for a Christmas lunch filled with good food and festive cheer. Bowling club members prepared and served the meal, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for their guests. The event gave residents a chance to enjoy a delicious meal, reconnect with familiar faces, and soak up the holiday spirit. The lunch not only celebrated the season but also highlighted the power of community connections. Residents and club membe
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Mackay Magpies rule the roost in Mackay Cricket Association after clinching the 2024-25 Poole Cup first grade championship trophy. The Magpies were crowned one day champions after toppling rivals Pioneer Valley in a Grand Final thriller at Great Barrier Reef Arena last weekend. Sixteen year old young gun Myles Cochrane starred with the ball and the experienced trio of Andrew Borg, Wesley Dyer and Ben Zurvas produced superb knocks as the Magpies secured their third Poole Cup premiership title i
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The North Mackay Sinkers commenced the 2025 year early by forming a small dedicated team raising funds for the Starlight Children’s Foundation. The annual Starlight Super Swim is held each February and the Sinkers have entered the pool of participants for 2025. This marks the second occasion of Sinkers members participating in this swimming fundraiser with 2024 seeing $2,827 raised for this worthy cause. And the 2025 campaign is off to a flying start with $2,185 in the kitty already thanks larg
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With the Souths Bowls Club deck filled with lots of festive spirit and plenty of fruit cake, all the jingle ladies of the South Suburban Bowls Club came together to enjoy the most wine-derful time of the year at their annual ladies' Christmas breakup. All the ladies enjoyed an afternoon of laughter and reminiscing on their 2024 bowls season. Some shared goals for 2025, with Rhonda Meng putting winning the open ladies singles in 2025 on her wish list. From all the bowlers at South Suburban Bowl
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The Mackay Bridge Club celebrated another twelve months of fantastic card play with its Christmas break up last Saturday. A record 18 tables of members played bridge, with lots of laughter celebrating Christmas together. Partners also shared in the wonderful Christmas fare. A big thank you to Janelle and her helpers for providing a wonderful meal. Our Christmas raffle was extra special this year. Thank you to members for your donations and Debra Goodchild for her dedication to making this succes
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Sunday’s Fun Day Breakfast hosted by Club Manager Steve which included Breakfast and Bowls was a huge success with over 50 bowlers participating. The morning kicked off at 9.00am with a big breakfast and three games of bowls each having seven ends with players rotating for each game. Everybody enjoyed the morning and the club will host more in the future. The winners on the day were Neil and Maureen Blutcher and Peter Madden. TODAY'S TIP When playing short ends it’s
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Tuesday morning table tennis players celebrated the digital age at their annual breakup lunch at Harrup Park Country Club this week. Fixture coordinator Steve Mathieson was praised for his efforts in taking over from Iris Grasso and Pam Joyce in a presentation by players Frank Caruana and Gerry Synnott. “Full credit goes to Steve for taking over from Iris and Pam, which were big shoes to fill,” Frank said. “Steve decided to computerise everything in line with the era – there were a few hiccup
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Hi Everyone, For the past few days, I have had my seven-year-old son on ‘work experience’ with me. To make him feel special, I ordered him a fully branded work shirt and it was a moment of great pride when he first put the shirt over his head and stood in front of the mirror smiling. Over the next two days we took the long drive up to the Hinchinbrook region where we inducted a new staff member, visited local businesses, took photos, attended a Chamber of Commerce meeting and even distributed
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Haven’t you heard? Christmas cheer has become more contagious than ever! Santa Barry has become a friendly face across the Whitsundays, sporting the fashionable gear of the jolly man himself and working tirelessly behind the scenes to keep the picturesque region pristine throughout the busting holiday season. The Whitsunday Regional Council’s dedicated outdoor teams have been working their magic, keeping roads, drainage and waste systems, parks, gardens, and water services spick and span to en
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In this year's highly anticipated Christmas Lights Competition, organised by the Whitsunday Regional Council, the community was treated to a dazzling array of spectacular displays that truly captured the holiday spirit. Among the standout entries was the brilliant light display on Walker Street in Collinsville, which was crowned the winner of the coveted ‘Best Street’ award. This extraordinary display featured a mesmerising interactive light show that captivated both children and adults alike,
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At the Ordinary monthly meeting in Proserpine last week Council adopted a new Flying Fox Policy and Management Plan and Collinsville Roost Management Plan to address the challenges posed by Flying Fox roosts in the region. Mayor Ry Collins expressed his thoughts on the new policy: “This new policy represents a significant step forward and ensures that we balance the needs of our community with our environmental responsibilities.” Flying Foxes are a protected species under Queensland legislation,
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What began as a simple conversation with two homeless men in a park sparked the creation of a regular Thursday lunch gathering at the Lagoon. Barb Hill, an organiser with Drug Arm Mackay, approached the men and asked how she could assist them. Their response was straightforward, they needed food. This led Barb to develop the idea of providing regular meals, which has since expanded to weekly gatherings in both Airlie Beach and Bowen. While the meet-ups are a great way for individuals to have foo
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The Proserpine Mill has officially concluded its 2024 crushing season due to wet field conditions and an inadequate cane supply, according to Wilmar Sugar Proserpine Cane Supply Manager Peter Luke. The mill ceased processing operations last Thursday, 12th of December, following widespread rain that significantly hindered harvesting efforts. A storm on Monday night compounded the situation, delivering 40mm to 120mm of rain across the region and further delaying any chance of field recovery. Discu
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The Volunteer Cruise Ship Ambassador Program is dedicated to ensuring that every passenger has a warm and welcoming experience in the Whitsundays. From offering helpful tips on local activities to assisting with the coordination of cruise ship markets, each ambassador plays a unique and vital role in creating a memorable visit for all guests. Last Wednesday, the ambassadors gathered to celebrate Christmas and reflect on a successful year for tourism in the region. Lyn Blanche Woodham, Leader of
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This week, the Proserpine Community Centre had the honor of welcoming a very special VIP guest all the way from the North Pole—none other than Santa Claus himself! But this wasn't just any ordinary visit. Santa made a grand and unforgettable entrance, arriving in style on a stunning Harley Davidson motorcycle, much to the excitement and delight of the gathered crowd. Accompanied by his acrobatically talented elf, who added a touch of flair and fun to the festivities, Santa spent the afternoon sp
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As I wrap up my second month at Tourism Whitsundays, I’m really settling in and enjoying the chance to connect with our amazing Whitsundays community. It’s been a fantastic journey so far, and as we approach the end of the year, I wanted to share an update on tourism in our region. This week, we received the National and International Visitor Survey update for the year ending September 2024, and the results are promising. Domestic tourism continues to grow, with visitor spend hitting $1.4 billio
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Recently, Jade visited Azure Sea Resort to speak with managers Stuart and Nicole Morris. Located in Airlie Beach, this resort offers stunning 180-degree views over the Coral Sea towards Hayman Island. Azure Sea Resort features 30 exquisitely appointed, fully equipped apartments accessible via lift. Guests can relax in tropical gardens or enjoy a spectacular infinity-edge waterfall swimming pool that flows into a second pool. Conveniently, the resort is only an 8-minute walk from the beach and sh
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