Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
Hi everyone, As promised, here is the extended edition of Ruth2Reef! I’m excited to bring you three full pages of fascinating environmental news from around the Whitsundays. In this week’s edition, we explore the geological history of the Whitsundays and how the region was formed, dive into the vibrant world of nudibranchs, and share some amazing reef and whale facts. I spotted my first nudibranch a few weeks ago and it was absolutely beautiful. It was tiny, bright blue, and slowly making it
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Only one more week until the big dance – election day is next Saturday. Candidates will be making their final pitches. Chances are though, many voters have already made up their minds and are heading for an early vote. Early polling opened this week and people can cast their vote anytime from now until polls close on May 3rd. At the 2022 election 32.2% of eligible voters chose to cast their vote before polling day with another 15.9% sending in postal votes. That is a whopping 48.1% of Australia
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Tour de Cure’s is heading north for eight unforgettable days of cycling through Queensland. From Airlie Beach to Port Douglas, 190 riders and support crew will travel more than 1,000 kilometres across some of North Queensland’s most scenic and lesser-travelled roads. This isn’t just a ride, it’s a powerful movement to help cure cancer. Tour de Cure is a cancer-agnostic organisation, meaning funds raised support a wide range of cancer research, support services, and prevention projects. The fund
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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, a coastal gem of the Whitsundays, hosting this national championship was a triumph, magnifying local pride an
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The price tag for Labor’s failed ‘Voice’referendum hit more than half a billion dollars. At a time when Australians are doing it tough, that money could have helped ease cost of living pressures, putting food on the table, covering rent, or paying power bills. Here in Dawson, I hear from families every week who are struggling just to get by. Cost of living pressures are crushing our local communities, yet the Albanese Government chose to pour hundreds of millions into a divisive referendum that
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Proserpine has a rich military history dating back to the Boer War and since then generations of men and women from this community have answered the call. Some made the supreme sacrifice and are remembered on our cenotaph. Others suffered the horrors of being a prisoner of war, either dying in captivity or returning home as shadows of their former selves. It would have been heart-wrenching for families to watch their sons head off to war, but imagine what it must have been like for those who sa
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Everywhere I go in the Whitsundays, I hear the same concern: insurance is becoming unaffordable. Whether it's families, small business owners, or strata property holders — the cost of protecting what matters most has blown out. And during a cost-of-living crisis, those costs hit even harder. Too many people are being forced to go without insurance or settle for inadequate cover. This leaves our communities exposed and underprepared — especially in regions like ours, where extreme weather event
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As the Easter treats disappear, the foil starts piling up, it is important to remember that Aluminium foil is fully recyclable. To make sure it actually gets recycled and doesn’t get mistaken for paper, scrunch your wrappers together into a ball about the size of your fist. If you somehow didn’t get through enough chocolate to make a fist-sized ball of foil (hard to believe, but it happens!), you can pop those smaller bits into an empty aluminium drink can. Once it’s full, pinch the top closed
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The Queensland Tourism Industry Council, in partnership with Whitsunday Regional Council, invites you to join us for a special World Environment Day event on Thursday 5 June at 3:00pm. Taking place at Shute Harbour Marine Terminal, this event is all about bringing sustainability into the spotlight and exploring how we can build a more environmentally-conscious tourism industry - right here in one of Queensland’s most iconic regions. Whether you're just getting started on your sustainability jo
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Pre-polling opened this week, marking a pivotal moment in the Federal Election race as candidates ramp up their campaigns, attending events, meeting voters, and making their case for the title. Last week, the Whitsunday Chamber of Commerce and Industry hosted a Meet the Federal Election Candidates Event, where attendees were eager to hear about the candidates' plans and promises. This will be followed by a formal debate in Mackay this Wednesday. The Australian Federal Election will be held on S
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The Mayor’s Charity ball is a fundraising event with all proceeds supporting BMA CQ rescue, the Whitsunday Neighbourhood Centre and the Bowen Community Centre. The event is fully funded through tickets sales and sponsorships. There are multiple sponsorship levels available, from becoming a Platinum sponsor to donating a prize for the auction or mystery reveal game. Sponsors are acknowledged during the Mayor’s Charity Ball promotional activities as well as at the event. For more information on
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Residents across the Whitsunday region are invited to honour the sacrifices of our servicemen and women at a series of ANZAC Day services taking place on Friday, 25 April 2025. From dawn services to community marches, come together to reflect, remember, and pay tribute to those that lost their lives. Please note service times and road closures in your area, and allow extra time for travel and parking. Airlie Beach Main Service: 9:00am - meet at Broadwater Avenue carpark at 8am for march to Ai
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Just a short time from entries opening for Airlie Beach Race Week (ABRW) 2025, keen competitors started committing to the fun event and with 60 entries received to-date, it is a good start to what is sure to be another great week of racing and where fun doesn’t set with the sun from 7-14 August. Entries have been received across the various classes. Looking healthy at this early stage is the Trailable Yachts & Sports Boats division and the boats are coming from far and wide. New to Airlie Beac
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The students of St Catherine's Catholic College are bringing a classic Broadway musical to life this May, with their production of Meredith Willson’s The Music Man set to dazzle audiences at the Proserpine Entertainment Centre. Running from Thursday 1 May to Saturday 3 May, this beloved story follows the antics of con-man Harold Hill, who arrives in the small town of River City, Iowa, posing as a band leader to swindle the townsfolk. He convinces the good people of River City to invest in inst
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The Bowen Polocrosse Club kicked off its 2025 season with a strong showing at the Far Northern Zone Benefit Carnival in Townsville, where seven of its players took to the field in mixed teams with clubs from across the zone. Representing Bowen were Cody McConnell, Wade Bidgood, Rhadaya Bidgood, Jesse and Mick Foster, along with up-and-coming juniors Lachy and Ollie Foster. The weekend was a fun and successful way to ease into the season, with plenty of game time and a chance to get both horses
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The story of the Whitsundays begins more than 100 million years ago, when Australia was still part of the ancient supercontinent Gondwana. As the landmass slowly broke apart and drifted, volcanoes became active across what is now Queensland. The Whitsundays have a fiery past that stretches back tens of millions of years. Around 110 million years ago, this region was part of a geologically active zone. For roughly 37 million years, volcanoes dominated the landscape with explosive eruptions that
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Are you looking for a new way to break up the work week? Airlie Beach Hotel are now hosting Musical Bingo. Last Tuesday over 150 people joined in the fun for the first evening, and Musical Bingo Creator Danny is expecting more to show up in the future. “Having such a big turnout on the first night was really great and it's great to see that everybody is engaging with it, and wanting to do something new,” said Danny. “I call it the world's easiest pub game, because you don't need to know anyth
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Barb Hill has been taking photos of landscapes and nature on her phone for as long as she can remember. But no place has made her as emotional as The Barron Falls. The falls were on her bucket list for some time before she finally got to see them. Barb visited after flooding hit the north and was overcome with emotion. “Once I got there, I could see how it was raging in such beauty,” said Barb. “I was overcome with emotion and awe. I stood there for ages, and probably, a good hour or so.” W
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In the lead up to the Federal Election on Saturday May 3, Whitsunday Chamber of Commerce and Industry hosted a Meet the Federal Election Candidates Event, last Tuesday. The event began with a statement from Queensland Senate candidate Jason Brown – Independent. Jason was given six minutes to answer the following questions. What are your business credentials and experience? As an elected senator for Queensland, what will you specifically do, and how will you achieve it? Political hi
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There’s no shortage of community spirit in Proserpine, and one local is proving just how powerful kindness can be. The Proserpine Community Centre expressed a big thank you to Steve, known to many as LairdndLady Thompson, for his ongoing dedication to helping out wherever he can. Steve has long been one of the centre’s most reliable and supportive community members, always quick to offer his help in maintaining the space for all who use it. He was spotted hard at work by the Proserpine Commun
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Hi Everyone I’m thrilled to share that I’ve returned to the Whitsunday Life Newspaper after four months living in Ingham where I helped launch our sister publication, Hinchinbrook Life. It was a privilege to launch a new newspaper in a region that had been yearning so long for print media, but the Whitsundays kept calling for my return. Whilst I was up there, myself and the Hinchinbrook Shire experienced the worst flooding event in over 50 years. I was located in Forrest Beach, so although I
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Proserpine State High School are proud to present their energetic school production of Disney’s Newsies – The Broadway Musical. More than 100 students and staff will bring the entertaining musical to life on their Performing Arts Centre stage form 8th-10th May, with many months of hard work going in to perfecting lines, dance routines and musical scores. Based on the real-life Newsboy Strike of 1899, this Disney musical tells the story of Jack Kelly, a rebellious newsboy who dreams of a life a
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Despite some challenging patches on the back nine, players were pleased to complete a full 18-hole round this week, with a solid turnout of 31 participants enjoying the competition. Familiar names found their way to the top of the leaderboard once again, with Jenny Hounsell and Gary Scotford both claiming victories in the ladies’ and men’s competitions respectively. The pair have certainly hit their stride, with consistent performances becoming a weekly habit. Congratulations to them both. Com
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Guests aboard the Coral Discoverer on a recent Citizen Science expedition on the Great Barrier Reef had the unforgettable experience of naming a brand-new manta ray. The playful juvenile male was first seen breaching the surface and showing off his curious nature at Yamacutta Reef in the stunning Whitsundays, and was aptly named Discover-ray. Adding to the magic of the voyage was Project Manta researcher and guest lecturer Hannah Moloney, who guided guests in capturing ID shots of the majestic
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The 2025 flag laying ceremony held a particularly moving moment this year, as the service of an unmarked soldier was finally recognised. More than 400 flags were placed at the Proserpine Cemetery during the annual tribute, with a special cross erected at the previously unmarked grave of Andrew William Anderson. Until now, his resting place bore no headstone, no sign of his service. Lyn Burke, founder of the flag laying tradition, emphasised the importance of remembering every service man and w
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