Friday 25th October Avanti Mackay’s Pink Ribbon Breakfast 10.30am A Pink Ribbon Breakfast will be hosted on October 25 at 10:30am, featuring sweet treats and mini-games to raise funds for the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Attendees are encouraged to wear pink, bring a plate of their favourite treats, and join the fun. Spread the word and get involved in supporting cancer research! Avanti Health Centre Mackay Sausage Sizzle On The Veranda 4pm Live music with Just Jo from Mango Junction
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Fridays are perfect for relaxing, having fun with family, and eating lots of food. Let me tell you why. This weekend is the perfect opportunity to not only eat some beautiful food, but you can also even get into the Christmas spirit as we are now only 62 days away from Santa coming through the screen door. Think about this. Tonight and tomorrow night, you can head to the Mackay Showgrounds for the annual Christmas Fair with West Mackay Rotary. They’ve been doing this for years. Remember when t
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I’ve never heard anyone say: “I’m so sad about selling my Commonwealth Bank shares. They’ve been there while the kids grew up, they’ve been part of the family. We didn’t want to sell them but we just couldn’t look after them anymore. I just hope they go to another family that’s going to love them and get as much joy from them as they have given us.” I have heard something along the lines of: “Oh, I sold the Commonwealth Bank shares today … can you pass the salt and pepper please.” It’s different
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Global Grooves 2024 will be a feast for the senses complete with cultural dances, global music, vibrant traditional dress and mouthwatering food from across the world. This free family event will transform Queens Park into a global party on Saturday, October 26. Twelve cultural dance groups and bands will entertain crowds from 3pm to 8pm. There will also be two exciting workshops where you can learn Latin dance moves and rhythm drumming and a dozen market stalls, showcasing global-inspired creat
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The Mackay West Rotary Christmas Fair is set to dazzle the community with an array of festive activities, ensuring that this year’s event is not only for the kids but also a delightful experience for adults! Scheduled for Friday, 25th October and Saturday, 26th October from 5:30pm at the Mackay Showgrounds, this jam-packed Christmas fair promises a magical evening filled with excitement and holiday cheer. While children can look forward to thrilling rides such as the Merry-Go-Round, Kids Rolle
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Pioneer Valley young gun Ben Valmadre has opened the Mackay Junior Cricket season in style. The talented sixteen-year-old cracked a majestic 53 in the Valley’s pulsating five-run victory over the Mackay Magpies White X1 in Under 17s action at Roy Trevaskis Oval. Valmadre faced 54 deliveries and clouted six boundaries in Pioneer’s tally of 8-123 - adding 67 runs for the third wicket with promising number four Jacob Williams (22). In reply the Magpies (8-118) fell agonisingly short despite top
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Mackay Magpies and Walkerston Roosters remain the only undefeated teams after the early rounds of the 2024-25 Mackay Cricket Association Poole Cup first-grade series. The Magpies top the table on 29 competition points – one clear of the Roosters (28) after both clubs posted three consecutive one day victories in a cracking start to a new campaign. Classy knocks from opener Rhys McBride (54 not out) and Adam Zurvas (39) steered the Magpies (2-109) to a resounding eight wicket win over Norths De
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Mackay brothers James and Michael Mogford are making waves in the Transportable Shade Sheds SXS Championship, currently sitting in the number one spot with just one race remaining in the season. After finishing second in the 2023 Australian SXS Championship, they are determined to improve their standing at the upcoming Kalgoorlie Desert Race, taking place from October 24 to 27. James takes the wheel while Michael navigates for the Moggy’s Racing team, which is also third overall in the Australia
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This weekend will see Mackay Surf Lifesaving Club host more than 1,500 competitors and spectators from the Gold Coast up to Cairns, competing for the coveted title of Northern Australian Surf Lifesaving Champions for 2024. Director of Surf Sports, Josh Grant said, “Our club are extremely proud to be the host of this prestigious surf lifesaving event that we have successfully hosted since 1991. “This is a huge drawcard for lifesavers to take on the best of the best in the North and it is absolu
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Another big week of play at the Mackay Contract Bridge Club. This week the play has consisted of The Presidents Trophy Week 1 of 3, Novice Pairs Week 1 of 3 and Week 20 of 24 of the Nation Wide Pairs. After the first week of the Presidents Trophy Patricia Garner, Mick King, Geoff Cowan and Mary Rose Ramsden are in the lead, with Geoff Cowan, Joy Block, Carol and Ian Gaskell leading in the Novice Pairs. Weekly Results Monday 14 October 2024 – 6 Table Mitchell Green Points N/S E/W 1st Antonia T
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Mackay is set to host a thrilling showcase of international cricket as the Australia A team faces India A in a 4-Day International Match at the Great Barrier Reef Arena from October 31st to November 3rd, 2024. This free event provides a unique opportunity for locals to witness world-class cricket in their own backyard. The Australia A squad has just been announced and features an exciting mix of experienced players and emerging talent. Amidst the Australia A squad is: Nathan McSweeney (c), Cam
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Over the weekend, local runners took on the challenge of the Blackall 100, a gruelling 100km ultra marathon held at Mapleton on the Sunshine Coast. Among them was Paul Mackenzie, who participated for the third time and achieved a personal best time of 13 hours and 35 minutes. Other local athletes included Peter Shuttlewood, who finished in 21 hours and 22 minutes, and Matt Graves, who completed the course in 14 hours and 54 minutes. The Blackall 100 is more than just an ultra-marathon; it’s a t
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The Beetzsee Regatta Course in Brandenburg, Germany, boasts a storied legacy as a premier venue for significant rowing events. This year, it proudly hosted the 2024 World Rowing Masters Regatta from September 11 to 15, marking an impressive 50th Golden Jubilee. The event united over 4,843 rowers from around the globe, showcasing the course's ability to bring together a diverse array of talent and passion for the sport. Known for its stunning natural scenery and modern facilities, the Beetzsee c
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Glamorous gowns and stunning suits adorned the attendees of the 2024 Whitsundays Tourism Awards which were hosted by Tourism Whitsundays on Daydream Island last weekend. Local tourism operators were firmly in the spotlight with many businesses taking home awards on the night, some of which were inducted into the Hall of Fame having won their category for three consecutive years. Special Whitsunday Tourism Awards Feature Pages 16-29. Caption: Dea Huvonen, Crystal Walton, Rosanagh Gallivan, Aim
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Hi Everyone, Wow - What a week! In your hands, you are holding 96-pages of organically sourced, 100% local news delivered for free to you! The whole team has done an absolutely phenomenal job in creating this paper, in particular the 15-page Whitsundays Tourism Awards Special Feature that showcases 22 local businesses who won awards on Saturday night. From making phone calls to every Whitsundays Tourism Award recipient asking if they’d like to participate in the feature through to sensational
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Every day we are blessed to be in this wonderful Whitsunday community and Sofia Andreou experienced that first hand. Last week, she posted on a popular Facebook community chat site offering to give $50 for free to go to a good home. It all began when she was cleaning her rental property and found a $50 note hidden behind a book, deciding not to keep it but give it away instead. “So I thought, I'm going to actually advertise this because it's $50 I didn't even notice that I had and it's very e
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The highly anticipated Whitsunday Skyway received a funding pledge this week, promising to propel the $87 million project closer to its goal of being the largest piece of on-land infrastructure in our region. Amanda Camm MP, Member for Whitsunday, stated that if the LNP are successful in this weekend’s election, they would immediately invest $5 million into the project to get it off the ground and lift the local economy. The Skyway project will feature a 1km all-weather cable car ride that
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The whole community is in mourning this week following news that 17-year-old Proserpine State High School student Bree Day tragically passed away after six days in hospital following a road accident at Myrtlevale on the Bruce Highway. The crash occurred at 3:25pm on Friday 11 October and it is believed Bree was performing a U-turn on the highway when her vehicle collided with a truck. She was transported to Proserpine Hospital with severe head injuries and was transferred to Townsville Hospita
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Over the last few weeks some of our favourite actors from hit TV show Home and Away have been filming in the region proving there is nowhere quite like the Whitsundays for a stunning backdrop and holiday atmosphere. The cast and crew filmed across several local locations including Bowen, Foxdale, Airlie Beach and Daydream Island for two weeks. We’ll have to wait for the show’s release to learn more about the cast and crew's activities, however, Location Manager James Doherty revealed that they
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1: This is your final elevator pitch - in 80 words - what makes you the best candidate for the job? 2: If successful, what is the one key project/legacy achievement that you will be remembered for? 3: What role do you think local newspapers play in regional communities? 4: What would you say to someone who has never voted for your party before but is thinking about it?
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Every year on January 26 the Whitsunday Regional Council Australia Day Awards celebrate the outstanding achievements and contributions of individuals and organisations across our region. Nominations for the 2025 Whitsunday Regional Council Australia Day Awards are now officially open! These awards are an incredible way for us as a community to recognise the outstanding contributions of individuals and groups who go above and beyond to make the Whitsundays such a special place to live. Each y
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Bareboating – chartering your own yacht – is one of The Whitsundays’ most iconic experiences. With no licence needed and all training provided, bareboating is an incredible way to explore The Whitsundays your way - at your pace and with your loved ones. Take a look at what six days on a bareboat in The Whitsundays could look like. Day 1: Airlie Beach to Nara Inlet Set sail from Airlie Beach to Nara Inlet, where you can explore ancient Aboriginal rock art and enjoy a peaceful night at anchor.
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Accountants often educate their clients on their break-even threshold. Break-even points are relevant to all businesses – no matter their size. So, why is your break-even point so important? How can you decide on what price to sell your products, or services at, prepare a forecasting budget or write a business plan, if you do not know how many ‘widgets’ you need to sell to cover your costs and make money? This is your break-even point. You may have a high turnover but still run at a loss, b
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During Queensland Mental Health Week (5-13 October), the Chamber hosted an event featuring the region’s Business Wellness Coach Kristy Wilson. The Queensland Government has established a network of wellness coaches to provide free one-on-one support to small and rural businesses to address the impacts of health and wellbeing. The coaches have a background in business, combined with qualifications in social work or psychology. Kristy believes the most common health issues business owners face a
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We have been so fortunate to have been involved in Women’s Leadership programs for over five years, bringing groups of like-minded women together to build confidence, authenticity, resilience, emotional wellbeing and self-leadership. It has been humbling to see groups of strangers lean in, share narratives and experiences that have shaped who they are today. Tackling self-awareness themes such as ‘Imposter Syndrome’, ‘Negative self-talk’, ‘The Confidence Gap’, and ‘The Comparison Trap’ these a
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