Ever had one of those moments where you can see a disaster brewing, like something is about to go horribly wrong, but you’re powerless to stop it? That was me last week, watching my rogue shopping trolley at ALDI gain momentum on a car park slope that rivals the skate park around the corner—or at least, that’s how it felt at the time. Consider this a friendly PSA: the gradient at ALDI is not to be underestimated, and neither is a runaway trolley. Picture this: I reach into my car to straighten a
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Star 101.9 Mackay’s Christmas Auction, hosted by Rach and Jake, was a resounding success, raising an incredible $4,225 to support local families in need this Christmas season. The live charity auction, held on November 29, featured a range of exciting items, including two Broncos NQ membership packs, a 55-inch TV from Betta Mackay, a three-night stay at the Mirage Whitsundays, a thrilling ride in the new Stinger Police Car, and a scenic flight over the Whitsundays, all generously donated by loca
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Last month, over 70 police officers and community members were honoured for their exceptional contributions to combatting crime and ensuring safety across Mackay and surrounding districts. The Mackay Police District Honours and Awards Presentation, held on November 28 celebrated the bravery, selflessness and dedication of Queensland Police Service (QPS) members. The event outlined the critical role our local officers play in protecting their colleagues, families, and communities. Superintendent
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Recent NAPLAN results highlight Whitsunday Anglican School’s commitment to an exceptional education for students, after ranking as the top secondary regional School in Queensland. Whitsunday Anglican School was featured in the top 25 NAPLAN rankings attaining 10th for Year 9 and 24th for Year 5. Principal Mr Andrew Wheaton said he believed that the school’s phenomenal outcomes were driven by Whitsunday’s exceptional teachers, who are committed to academic growth for every student, which is stro
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Throughout his early years of primary school, being on the spectrum, Logan Ivory’s educators needed strategies to help him through moments of unease. The advice given to them was "Give him blank paper, pencils and a quiet corner...". That advice was the catalyst for an amazing creative journey that will see him headlining his own Community Showcase Exhibition to celebrate International Day of People with Disability. The exhibition will launch on Monday, December 9, in the Jubilee Community Centr
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‘A Very Merry YarnBomb’ has struck Northern Beaches, bringing the festive and community spirit to Bucasia Esplanade. ‘A Very Merry YarnBomb’ is a crocheted public art installation completed by a group of volunteer women who attend a Friday morning Crochet and Conversation Gathering at the Beachfront Bar & Restaurant each week for the last five months. What started as a small vision to inspire creativity and community wellbeing, grew into a vibrant and festive large-scale project and a thriving
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Mackay, Isaac and Whitsunday businesses and community organisations will have better access to the tools and training they need to grow and thrive in an increasingly digital market thanks to funding secured by Split Spaces. Split Spaces Manager Kirra Tully said the funding would enable Split Spaces to provide valuable training to enhance digital innovation for businesses, start-ups, and communities throughout the entire Mackay Isaac Whitsunday (MIW) region. She said the REP program aimed to dr
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Artspace Mackay needs your help to create the next City Centre mural. Residents are being encouraged to enter their idea of the perfect “Mackay Moment”. It may be a photo or a story, a place or even an animal that you feel captures Mackay. Mayor Greg Williamson said the installation of other murals in the City Centre had activated area and created a real buzz. “Following the completion of the latest mural – BeeMindful – public art guided walks conducted by Artspace Mackay have seen a huge increa
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Mackay Regional Council will begin work upgrading Alsatia Park in Walkerston this week, weather permitting. Works will commence on the western side of the park and this area will be fenced off. However, the playground, skatepark and half basketball court will remain accessible. Mayor Greg Williamson said the work being completed was based on feedback that was gathered in 2022. “We will be constructing new footpaths and installing new public toilets to make the park more accessible, including
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Earlier this month, approximately 90 stakeholders from across the port industry and local community gathered at the Mackay Surf Lifesaving Club to celebrate their collective achievements at the North Queensland Bulk Ports (NQBP) end-of-year stakeholder event. NQBP CEO Brendan Webb thanked attendees for their strong teamwork, resilience, and adaptability during 2024. Mr Webb also shared NQBP’s significant economic contributions to the port communities and Queensland, with the Ports of Hay Point
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Greater Whitsunday Communities can fill them for you! The Greater Whitsunday Housing Alliance has rallied residents to step up and fill a gaping accommodation hole by renting their spare bedrooms to teachers hoping to live and work in the Mackay-Isaac-Whitsunday regions. Greater Whitsunday Communities (GWC) Chief Executive Carol Norris said the Housing Alliance, operated by GWC, was appealing to individuals, families and community members linked to the region’s schools and care organisations,
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For over 75 years, Ron “Mengie” Meng has been a cherished figure in the Victoria Park State School community. As a former student, proud graduate and lifelong supporter, Mr Meng’s bond with the school has only deepened with time. Last Thursday evening, he made a remarkable contribution to the school’s tradition of celebrating academic excellence, donating $5,000 to fund future Ron Meng Academic Excellence Shields at the year 6 graduation awards ceremony. “I started at Victoria Park in Grade O
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Queensland Cane Agriculture and Renewables (QCAR) has shared its dismay at the Australian Sugar Milling Council, saying it has lashed out at farmers for their criticism of the performance of mills this crushing season. QCAR has said that ASMC CEO Ash Salardini accused cane farmers of taking “pot shots” at mill workers and alleged they were “seemingly blaming the mills for not controlling the weather”. Mr Salardini further said he was “frankly dismayed” at commentary from grower collective groups
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By Sonia Ball (QCAR Central District Manager) The QCAR Team delivered with a clear purpose and a strong and memorable message last week at Mackay’s QCAR Meet & Greet and information session at Wests Leagues Club. That message, delivered by QCAR Board Chairman Christian Lago, CEO Stephen Ryan and QCAR Director and Central District Chairman Steve McKeering, was sound and compelling and indicative of the driving forces behind the growth and ever-broadening footprint of QCAR-ACFA across Queensland
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Simon Hood Wilmar Manager Grower Marketing As we move into December and the much-anticipated drop off in the Brazilian 2024 crush, the ICE #11 contract continues to trade in shallow downtrend pattern. The recent UNICA report covering the first half of November crush finally saw the season to date numbers drop below last year’s record cumulative total. The data was roughly in line with expectations and the consensus for total Brazilian sugar out is narrowing into the mid to high 39 million tonne
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A smart irrigation system powered by artificial intelligence will tell sugarcane farmers when and where to water their crops in an advance that could one day revolutionise agriculture – and help preserve the health of the Great Barrier Reef. Developed by Victoria’s La Trobe University for far-north Queensland ag-tech company Aglantis, the intelligent irrigation system uses the Internet of Things to automate water pump management and monitor sunlight, temperature, and humidity levels without hum
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CQUniversity has been selected as the new agribusiness provider under the Queensland Government Gateway to Industry Schools Program through to 2028. The Gateway to Industry Schools Program builds partnerships between schools and key Queensland industries to enable young people to acquire the knowledge, skills and attributes to participate effectively in the State’s economy and provides opportunities for industry and the education sector to work together to deliver outcomes for students, local c
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Paul Schembri's election as grower-director to the Sugar Terminals Limited (STL) board has been met with strong approval from grower advocacy organisations CANEGROWERS and Queensland Cane Agriculture and Renewables (QCAR). This milestone highlights the increasing demand for transparency, accountability, and grower-focused decision-making within the sugarcane industry. CANEGROWERS Chairman Owen Menkens hailed Mr Schembri’s election as a victory for growers, emphasising the significance of his lea
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As the year draws to a close, we at Alman Partners take this opportunity to reflect on an incredible 2024. It’s been a year of growth and triumphs, culminating in being recognised as a Financial Advice Association of Australia (FAAA) finalist in three national award categories. This achievement reflects not only the dedication of our team, but the trust and support of our valued clients and we thank them for being an integral part of our journey. The past year has reminded us of the importance o
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Facing a complex, time-consuming case that requires expert guidance? While investigations can seem quite messy, costly and even unresolvable, cracking the code to a complicated investigation has never been so easy, thanks to Regional Queensland Investigations. Regional Queensland Investigations aims to eliminate the common challenges most locals face, by introducing a highly regarded former law enforcement professional with a Security Firm Licence (Class 1), a Master of Laws (LLM), and a Bac
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The holiday season is looking brighter for local families thanks to the hard work of the team at Vinnies. Volunteers have been busy packing multiple hampers, filled with essential items and festive goodies, to help those facing hardship this Christmas. Local businesses and schools have generously donated handmade toys for children, ensuring they can experience the joy of Christmas. Families receiving the hampers are invited to select toys and wrap them, giving children a special gift to open on
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Boosting exercise is often on the agenda in the new year, but if you’re struggling to stick to a new fitness regime, University of South Australia research shows that virtual reality (VR) will not only make exercise feel easier but also ease chronic pain.
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As we approach the holiday season, many of us look forward to time with family and friends, indulging in delicious festive meals, or simply unwinding after a busy year. For some, the season is a joyful time, while for others, it can be challenging, with food and drink often becoming primary sources of comfort. Between office Christmas parties, New Year celebrations, and holidays, this period often comes with increased food and alcohol intake, coupled with a drop in physical activity. Studies sho
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The hustle and bustle of the holiday season is in full swing, and with only a couple of weeks left until Christmas, gift wrapping often becomes a last-minute headache. But thanks to the volunteers from Mackay’s SCOPE Club, you can turn that chore into a moment of relaxation – all while supporting local charities. From now until Christmas Eve, the SCOPE team will be stationed at Home Co between Thrifties and Spotlight, offering their expert gift-wrapping services daily from 9am to 4pm. For just a
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For Mackay local Megan Dillon, a career in surveying wasn’t something she expected for herself. As a female entering a male-dominated industry, she decided to not let it deter her and is now the leader of a team of nine – who are all men. Megan was recently honoured on Monday December 9th for achieving her registration as a surveyor in Mackay. She hopes to encourage more women to step into the industry – as new data reveals only 4 per cent of surveyors in Queensland are female. “If we wer
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