If you knew that a free, over-the-counter nasal spray could save someone from an opioid overdose in just minutes, would you carry one with you? Now accessible at most pharmacies, is Naloxone (also known as Narcan), a medicinal nasal spray used to reverse or reduce the effects of opioids, with its makers claiming it can be used in a safe and harmless way, with no negative side effects. It’s also available completely free of charge. Naloxone offers a “quick and accessible treatment” that i
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Mackay Police have charged two people following investigations into a number of alleged drugs and weapons offences in Mackay late last week. Around 2pm on Friday, July 12, officers executed a search warrant at a River Street unit in Mackay, where they allegedly located several firearms, including three rifles, a handgun, a homemade firearm, a taser and several rounds of ammunition. Police also seized drug utensils, quantities of cannabis and cocaine, and cash. The recent arrests, led by officers
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Sleepbus, a charitable organisation dedicated to providing safe sleeping accommodations for those experiencing homelessness is bringing its life-changing sleepbus service to the QME Exhibition this weekend. Founded on the belief that sleep changes everything, sleepbus ensures that people facing homelessness have a secure place to rest, offering a temporary refuge until they can transition to more permanent housing solutions.
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Take a virtual look into what Mackay has to offer at the Greater Whitsunday METS Innovation Lounge at QME 2024. Mackay Regional Council is pleased to again partner with local and state government stakeholders and industry bodies to highlight the latest in technological innovations at QME from July 23 to 25. Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson said virtual reality and AI technology would feature at this year’s METS Innovation Lounge. “A feature at the stand this year will be the 360-degree 3D video, whi
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Decarbonisation Accelerated project has partnered with the Queensland Mining & Engineering and Exhibition (QME) to facilitate a one-day program focused on Mining and METS on Wednesday July 24. This event is set to bring together leading minds and key stakeholders to explore real-world examples of decarbonisation challenges and opportunities across the mining industry and its supply chains. The program will facilitate the exchange of ideas, innovations and strategies to drive the decarbonisatio
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By Kevin Borg, Chairman, CANEGROWERS Mackay With a delayed start to the crush, it is imperative that mills now settle down to a strong and consistent crush rate. We should be far ahead of current percentages of the crop processed, which is still markedly below 10% in Mackay and Plane Creek. There are growers in both milling areas who, at the time of writing, have not been able to cut. This is plainly unacceptable. The season start has been dogged by poor weather, industrial action and continuous
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A rural charity is encouraging farmers to reach out for assistance this Farm Safety Week. “This year’s Farm Safety Week theme is 'in safe hands',” Rural Aid CEO John Warlters said. “Rural Aid’s mission is to stand with farmers when they need it most.” “We’re encouraging farmers to register with Rural Aid, so that our organisation and its passionate donors, can support farmers’ wellbeing and safety with a hand-up.” Rural Aid’s range of assistance measures help farmers improve their live
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This week Season to date Cane crushed 51,322 90,771 Average bin weight 3.80 3.77 CCS 12.73 12.73 Cane variety performance for region Variety % CCS Variety % CCS Q183 37.7 12.65 Q253 8.9 13.04 Q240 14.3 12.99 Q232 3.0 13.79 Q208 14.0 12.74 Q252 2.9 12.79 KQ228 9.0 13.85 Q138 2.5 11.53 Comments: Plane Creek Mill processed just over 51,000 tonnes of cane for the week, bringing the season total to more than 90,000 tonnes. Throughput was disrupted on Sunday and again on Friday due to powerhouse issue
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Unions negotiating a new enterprise agreement with Wilmar Sugar and Renewables are consulting with members on a company suggestion that the parties accept an invitation from the Fair Work Commission for the assistance of a Commissioner in resolving issues remaining in dispute. The invitation for assistance was extended by a Commission Vice President after a hearing of the Full Bench in Sydney earlier this month (5 July). During last week’s talks between the company and union representatives, t
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Well, just like that, my holidays have come to an end. I’m back on air on Monday, and I will tell you now, I am a little excited! Sure, the last two weeks have been great. Sleeping in, movies, running training, hockey, weddings, fitness, and fun! All in the space of 14 days, I sure have packed a lot in. Do you get up to a lot when you have a break? When you take holidays from work, do you hit the road, or relax at home in the garden? I hope you do, as it’s one of those things we all take for gra
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The Artspace Mackay team has returned to our regional gallery and is excited to be rolling out workshops, programs and activities once more. Closed for refurbishments since late 2023, the facility now boasts new flooring, walls and a state-of-the-art climate control system, which will ensure it remains a AAA-rated, international standard gallery space long into the future. Kicking off at 1pm, Friday, July 19, will be Conversations with Art, a free and enjoyable discussion led by Artspace staff a
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Life changed significantly for 11-year-old Callum Brown when he was diagnosed with diabetes; but a new program is helping kids like him feel supported at school and giving their parents peace of mind. Mackay Hospital and Health Service (HHS) is one of two pilot sites outside of Brisbane to run the Diabetes in Schools program, an information and training program designed to help schools better support students with Type 1 diabetes. Callum, a Year 6 Emmanuel Catholic College student, was diagnos
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I’m a big fan of liberalism and the central belief of that philosophy that focuses on the individual and his/her rights in a capitalist, free market democracy. However, I am clearly in the minority as the world increasingly defines people by the group to which they are seen to belong: if you are black or gay or Muslim or a woman, for example, you are allocated your group and the world is somehow supposed to view you through that lens rather than as the individual you are with your own specific v
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Mackay’s Kutta Mulla Gorinna Special Assistance School is ready to grow following the State Government's granting of a 30-year lease for a new location. The school will be based on the site of the city’s old fire station on Sydney Street which closed in 2018. This pivotal development will allow the school to expand and enhance its facilities, all aimed at creating a nurturing and advanced learning environment for Mackay’s youth. Kutta Mulla Gorinna Special School specialises in providing educa
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Hundreds of lucky locals and visitors were invited onto Cape Hillsborough Beach earlier this month, for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Between The Tides, a signature event of QLD Music Trails’, The Reef Trail capped off its back-to-back two-night run with a headline performance by multi-ARIA Award winner, prolific singer-songwriter, Josh Pyke. The QLD Music Trails is a program run by Queensland Music Festival (QMF) and known for using the power of music to create experiences perfectly uni
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Join Broken Ballerina in supporting their annual charity fundraiser, the 2024 ‘Be Bold, Be Brave, Be Beautiful Ball,’ taking place on Saturday, September 21st at Mackay Turf Club. The evening begins at 5pm with pre-dinner nibblies and a complimentary drink upon arrival (beer, wine, or soft drink). Guests are encouraged to dress in Spring Cocktail Attire, embracing the theme of charity colours: Pink, White, and Black. Hosted by MC Kim Tower, the event continues from 6pm to 11pm where attendees
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The Best of the Bee Gees will honour the legacy of the Grammy award-winning album Saturday Night Fever at the Mackay Entertainment & Convention Centre on Saturday 24 August from 7.30pm. The performance will feature two special guests - child actor/original Bee Gees drummer, Colin “Smiley” Petersen and global chanteuse Roslyn Loxton. In a two-act performance, the Best of the Bee Gees will open with the group's greatest hits spanning the decades, followed by a high energy second act showcasing t
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Friday 19th July Performance Parts Plus Road Trip Drag Challenge 7am The Performance Parts Plus Road Trip Drag Challenge is a social Drag Racing event where entrants, crew, family & friends get to enjoy taking their registered cars down the strip in a controlled environment and cruising down the road with like-minded car enthusiasts. Palmyra Drag Racing Club Greater Foundations24 8.30am At Greater Foundations24 professional development event, you’ll hear directly from industry leaders about
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Jacki Cooper is a jazz and big band singer who has performed around the world. From singing in the famous Landing Jazz Club in San Antonio, Texas, to touring as a featured cruise ship vocalist around Europe, Russia, Scandinavia and the Mediterranean. From there to the Sax n Art Jazz Club in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam and then touring China, including a performance with the Shanghai Symphony Big Band. She now resides in Sydney and council are excited to have her performing at the Friends of the
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Over 300 mountain bike riders descended on the brand-new Finch Hatton MTB trails for a weekend of racing and camaraderie at the Rocky Trail Entertainment (RTE) Fox Superflow® presented by Stan’s. Despite some damp weather, the trails held up remarkably well, and the event was a resounding success, exceeding expectations with a strong showing from local riders and a positive economic impact on the Mackay region. The event attracted a diverse range of riders, with some “big hitters” battling it o
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After going into caretaker mode in 2022, Sarina & District Athletics Club has successfully reopened in 2024 thanks to the support of local volunteers and businesses. With a new committee in 2024, the Club had to go through extensive updates to revive the athletics field, membership, marketing and finance options. Club Secretary Nicole McCowan said that the Club’s base of operations, the athletics field, “didn’t have anyone looking after it for over 12 months”. “Getting it up to scratch was a
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Wisely Wine and Food Day 2024 will be bubbling with mouthwatering food, refreshing beverages, epic music and copious amounts of bubbles – 12,000 every minute, in fact. The flood of bubbles is thanks to The Bubble Canteen, a captivating and interactive installation that promises to transport young families to a world of wonder and whimsy. Entry to The Bubble Canteen, and the entire Wisely Wine and Food Day, is free. And The Bubble Canteen is just one of the new Wisely Wine and Food Day attraction
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When Sunshine Coast Falcons flyer Flynn Camilleri returned to his old Mackay stamping ground last weekend, he didn’t require a knowledge test. The former Cutters winger knows every blade of grass on BB Print Stadium – the scene for many of his try-scoring feats in the QRL Hostplus Cup competition. Back on his home patch the quicksilver Camilleri made his presence felt in the Falcons’ rousing 38-20 victory over Mackay to stay on track for the finals. The elusive try merchant opened the scoring
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By Hannah McNamara Mackay is becoming the epitome of regional talent after celebrating the rise of 24-year-old Lachlan Stitt, now crowned the Welterweight Boxing Champion of 2024. Known in the ring as 'Deadshot,' Lachlan achieved a remarkable knockout victory at the recent EternalMMA event held on the Gold Coast. Despite now residing in Sydney, Lachlan fondly acknowledges Mackay as his hometown and points his beginnings in combat sports to his early days playing karate and footy at the age of
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The Mackay Novice Pairs Congress was played on Saturday with 16 pairs from Bowen, Mackay & Sydney competing. Well done to all the Placegetters and Director Ian Cruikshank and Convenor Anne Lutz. First place was Jill Brabon & Noel Saunders with Annie Lynch & Diane Stokes second.
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