By Hannah McNamara Mackay Regional Chamber of Commerce and Mackay Engineering College recently partnered to gift two refurbished cars to deserving recipients as part of their Cars for Community initiative. This program allows local students to gain hands-on automotive experience while contributing to a meaningful community cause. Rebecca Snell, a counsellor for the Trudy Crowley Foundation, was one of those recipients. Ms Snell, who frequently travels long distances to tirelessly provide supp
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A 44-year-old Mirani man has been charged following an alleged series of arson and assaults in the Sarina area on the night of October 18. Authorities were alerted shortly before 7pm, responding to reports that a man had allegedly set fire to a unit complex on Railway Square. Following this, it is alleged the man threatened several people with an axe at a nearby hotel before assaulting a man with the weapon. He is also accused of breaking into a grocery store and a liquor store during the rampag
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Mackay residents are encouraged to take up water-saving habits this National Water Week (October 21-27) to save more of the Mackay region’s precious drinking water and cut household bills. Mayor Greg Williamson said National Water Week was the perfect opportunity to learn new water-saving habits and save some money. "This National Water Week I'd like to encourage residents to embrace a water-wise lifestyle, particularly as we enter the warmer months," Mayor Williamson said. “We know that outs
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As Queensland gears up for the state election on Saturday, 26th October 2024, voters will have the opportunity to cast their ballots at various polling locations from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Here’s a handy list of voting venues across the Mackay region to ensure you know where to go: Mackay Voting Locations • Andergrove State School Fernleigh Avenue, ANDERGROVE, QLD Australia 4740 • Pioneer State High School 221 Bedford Road, ANDERGROVE, QLD Australia 4740 • Beaconsfield State School 1 N
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At the Mackay Regional Chamber of Commerce 'Meet the Candidates' night, local candidates presented their policies in a lively debate. Held last Thursday at Ocean International, the event brought together contenders from various parties, each vying for what's best for the region ahead of the upcoming election. The main topics of discussion were housing, infrastructure, crime, and regional development. Here's how each candidate addressed these pressing issues: Housing Belinda Hassan (Labor) menti
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In the lead-up to the Queensland election, both the Liberal National Party (LNP) and the Labor Party have made significant commitments to fund Stage 2 of the Great Barrier Reef Arena, highlighting their dedication to enhancing Mackay's community and sporting infrastructure. The LNP, represented by candidate Nigel Dalton for Mackay and Amanda Camm for Whitsunday, pledged $23.5 million to kickstart this project. This commitment was swiftly met with a matching pledge from Labor's Premier Steven
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Labor's Focus on Healthcare Premier Steven Miles has revealed a significant $365 million investment aimed at establishing bulk billing GP clinics across Queensland. The priority locations for these clinics have been identified based on areas with gaps in bulk billing primary care and rapidly expanding populations. In the Mackay Isaac Whitsunday region alone, six clinics are set to be established. Premier Miles expressed his commitment to improving healthcare access. “Too many people can’t access
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The Mackay and Whitsunday region are still waiting for road infrastructure commitments from major parties in the lead up to the Queensland Government election this week, according to the Greater Whitsunday Alliance (GW3). During the campaign, the ALP announced they will invest $157M, funded by progressive coal royalties, for critical improvements to Isaac region roads to enhance safety and supply chain efficiency, and the LNP committed $20M to improving traffic flow for the Mackay Bucasia Road,
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Are you getting the best deal possible on your home loan? It’s a tricky question to answer – but Bendigo Bank’s home loan health checks make keeping on top of things a breeze. “A home loan health check is where we review with the customer all current loans and accounts and provide options,” explains Bendigo Bank Community Bank Sarina’s Manager, Charmaine Matsen. It starts with a review of your current home loan situation. We’ll also ask you about your goals, aspirations and plans you have. F
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It seems the storm season has arrived, potentially throwing another spanner in the works of the 2024 harvest. In the week of 8-14 October, we saw rainfall across the region, with some localised totals up to 81mm for the week. On the one hand, it is not surprising to see the onset of rainfall at this point in the year. A glance at the Bureau of Meteorology graphic shows the date range we can start to expect rain. We are in a more neutral climate state at present; however, we are in the “build-up”
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This week Season to date Cane crushed 57,485 841,754 Average bin weight 3.94 3.90 CCS 14.84 13.98 Cane variety performance for region Variety % CCS Variety % CCS Q183 29.3 15.13 Q253 10.9 14.32 Q240 14.4 15.28 SRA9 14.9 14.91 Q208 16.6 14.64 SP80 1.8 13.63 KQ228 1.6 13.70 Q138 5.7 13.70 Comments: Plane Creek Mill processed just under 57,500 tonnes of cane for the week, bringing the season total to 841,754 tonnes. Average CCS remained at 14.84 as per the previous week with the year-to-date averag
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Queensland graziers are being urged to keep an eye out for pasture dieback and consider management options. Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) principal pasture agronomist Gavin Peck said the condition, which caused premature death of tropical and sub-tropical grasses, spread to new areas last year. “Previously, pasture dieback generally affected high-yielding sown-grass pastures in regions with more than 600mm of average annual rainfall,” Mr Peck said. “However, last summer it sp
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Although women are progressively stepping into leadership roles in agriculture, the journey to success can often feel overwhelming for many young women. Fortunately, the 2025 Next Ratoon Program provides a supportive network of fellow growers, offering aspiring leaders invaluable insights from seasoned professionals, fresh perspectives and a fast track to personal and professional growth. Judy Thatcher, a dedicated cane farmer and Mackay Area Committee grower representative, passionately advoca
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Farmers are often considered the backbone of the Australian economy. Yet with long hours, high demands, and tough conditions it’s easy for them to put their health on the backburner. Now, new research from the University of South Australia hopes to provide farmers with a dedicated pain management resource, to help them better manage chronic pain. Currently, there are no farmer-focused chronic pain management resources available to help Australian farmers better manage chronic pain. UniSA P
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Simon Hood Wilmar Manager Grower Marketing This week we released our first look at the comparative pool performances for the 2024 season. Our quarterly Pool Performance and Comparative Outcomes report enables growers to compare our results and associated marketing fees with those of our competitor, QSL. The latest report, published this week, is the first analysis to include 2024 season pricing. It must be remembered that it is early in the 2024 season and there is much that can change, but the
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In today’s fast-paced world, saving time has become a priority for many, especially for those balancing demanding careers and busy households. That’s why Get It Sorted Mackay specialises in helping clients regain control over their space, with a particular focus on their popular house moving package. They understand that moving can be one of the most stressful life events, especially for those who are already overwhelmed by the demands of daily life. Between balancing work, family and other com
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Whitsunday Anglican School recently honoured two remarkable leaders among its Old Scholars who are making significant contributions in their fields. Principal Mr. Wheaton congratulated Madonna Kinsey and Dr. Harris Eyre as the recipients of the 2024 Old Scholar Awards to the Senior School Cohort. Madonna Kinsey, Old Scholar of Distinction 2024, is a respected figure in London’s real estate sector, currently serving as Deputy CEO of London’s most iconic development, the Battersea Power Station
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By Hannah McNamara Today's youth are taking bold steps to shape the future of Queensland through platforms like the Queensland Youth Parliament, where young leaders aged 15 to 25 tackle some of the most pressing issues facing society today. This program offers a dynamic space for young people to voice their ideas, debate policies and draft bills that could one day influence real legislation. When she’s not scoring goals on the netball court, 16-year-old Arhamah Haider, a Whitsunday Youth Parli
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Mackay will host the 101st Annual QCWA State Conference for the first time at Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre (MECC), from 29-31 October. The QCWA Pioneer Division will welcome over 200 members from branches across the state for vital discussions, networking, and advocacy on issues that benefit Queensland women and families. The QCWA’s vision is to provide a space for Queensland women to connect, collaborate and create an impact in communities, and they achieve this by advocating fo
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Knowing how to identify scams and what you can do to protect yourself is important. Especially when the scammer is impersonating your bank. How to spot a bank impersonation scam Receiving a message from your bank alerting you to fraudulent activity can be scary. Your instinct might be to act quickly, so you click the links and follow the instructions. Unfortunately, what looks like a genuine alert from your bank can often be a scam. And following the instructions in these messages can put your a
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Catholic Education – Diocese of Rockhampton has worked closely with the Daniel Morcombe Foundation (DMF) for approximately 20 years. From the commencement of the 2015 school year, the teaching of a Child Safety Curriculum in all Catholic kindergartens, prep, primary schools and colleges in the Diocese of Rockhampton has been mandatory. This safety curriculum is aligned with the Australian Curriculum: Health and Physical Education and consists of classroom lessons across 3 phases of learning: P
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This week, Australians will come together for Day for Daniel, an annual event dedicated to raising awareness about child safety in memory of Daniel Morcombe. Held on the last Friday of October each year, this national day of action invites communities to Wear Red, Educate, and Donate in support of the Daniel Morcombe Foundation, which continues to drive critical efforts to protect children from harm and prevent tragedies like Daniel’s. Daniel Morcombe was just 13 years old when he disappeared on
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Comfort Resort Blue Pacific in Mackay has firmly established itself as the go-to destination for travellers and locals alike seeking the perfect mix of relaxation and adventure. Recently celebrated with the prestigious Best of Queensland Hotel/Motel Accommodation award at the 2024 Mackay Isaac Tourism Awards, Comfort Resort Blue Pacific shines with exceptional service, innovative marketing and proactive sustainability initiatives - all driven by rave guest reviews and glowing recommendations.
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In the company of over 150 industry professionals, Mackay Isaac Tourism Acting Chair Rob Cocco and fellow Board Director Al Grundy took the opportunity to launch MIT’s Cruise Ship Strategy. Recognising the potential at the Port of Mackay, MIT have set out to position Mackay as an attractive cruise ship destination through effective marketing, relationships, capacity building and promotional initiatives. MIT Acting Chair Rob Cocco said the MIT Cruise Ship Strategy aims to delineate a comprehens
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The Mackay Isaac Tourism (MIT) Awards Gala Dinner has once again showcased the outstanding achievements of our region’s tourism operators, individuals and volunteers, recognising their contributions to making the Mackay Isaac region a must-visit destination in Queensland. Taking place at the Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre on Friday, 4th October 2024, the Awards Dinner, themed 'Captain’s Table,' set the tone for an evening of celebration and reflection. MIT CEO Jeff Stewart-Harris
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