The Volunteer Cruise Ship Ambassadors have been greeting cruise ship visitors as they arrive in Airlie Beach for the past 20 years, and last week marked a special milestone. According to records, they have just welcomed their one-millionth visitor into Airlie Beach, a moment that was 20 years in the making and an amazing achievement. Lyn Blanche, Coordinator of Volunteer Cruise Ship Ambassadors said it’s a great feeling to have welcomed the one-millionth visitor and that its terrific for busin
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PCYC Whitsunday’s Get Set for Work Program has become a top 3 finalist in the Queensland Training Awards. The award is part of the Community Training Initiative of the Year category in a North Queensland regional area. The awards ceremony takes place in Townsville on Saturday 20 July, 2024. With testimonies from parents, and students, PCYC Brand Manager Sergeant Billy Li believes they’ve put in a strong application and they have a strong chance of winning. If they win, the Get Set for Work p
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Collinsville has been experiencing subpar telecommunication coverage for several months, with many constituents reporting they’ve been unable to obtain service unless connected to home Wi-Fi. Federal Member for Capricornia, Michelle Landry, is calling on the Minister for Communications, Michelle Rowland, to urgently address the severe telecommunication issues plaguing Collinsville. “Telecommunication issues with Telstra were brought to my attention in March and I have been working closely with
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The future of the $8 million Whitsunday Sportspark Club House known as ‘Club Whitsunday’ is at a crossroads due to conflicting opinions within the eight different committees who operate the five different sports played at the public facility. For the past eight years the Hospitality Club has been under planning and construction, with various extenuating circumstances responsible for several delays. During this time the dedicated and hardworking committee, led by Chairman Justin Butler, have be
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Bowen River Rodeo and Campdraft is taking place right now and running throughout the weekend, the exciting event once again supporting highly regarded charity Buck Off Melanoma which is celebrating its 10th year this year. The charity’s founder, Janice Brown, has been a passionate advocate for Melanoma Research following her son’s Melanoma diagnosis and, over the last decade, has raised over $150,000. A self-funded charity, 100 per cent of the proceeds go directly to the QIMR Berghofer Medical
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The community is invited to come down to the Reef Gateway Hotel next month for a special event which is set to raise awareness and funds for the Whitsunday Suicide Prevention Network. Not only does this event support a meaningful cause, it is also hosted by some well-known sporting heroes and other inspiring role-models who will share their own journeys in mental health and finding fulfillment. A Night with Legends is your opportunity to hear from ex professional sports men, interact with them
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The Little Mango at Bowen’s Front Beach has had a facelift. The six-metre high Little Mango has been repaired and re-painted by Martin of Gwada Murals. The structure is a smaller replica of Bowen’s 10 metre “Big Mango” on the Bruce Highway south of Bowen. Manager of Bowen Tourism and Business, Leanne Abernethy thanked Whitsunday Regional Council for ensuring the Little Mango was ripe again in time for the busy winter tourism season. “The Little Mango is located right near the information boo
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This year marks the 111th year of the annual Show Whitsunday. Starting in 1912, the show has always been a cornerstone of local life, a time when the community gather and celebrate the lifestyle we love here in the Whitsundays. With horse shows, cattle grading, garden produce competition, two-days of wood cutting, a poultry pavilion, a local sugar cane exhibit and many more, the rural life of our region is on display for all to see. Children can cuddle a chicken or play with a baby goat at th
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The Whitsundays Writers Festival is thrilled to announce the featured local authors of this year’s pen-dropping event which is happening this September. Festival President, Karen Jacobsen says “We are excited to be showcasing the creative talent and diversity of the region’s writers and there are many ways local authors can get involved.” Featuring among the esteemed line up of local authors is Rachel Armstrong, North Queensland award winning contemporary romantic fiction author, who loves w
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Zonta Clubs from all over North Regional Queensland gathered in the Whitsundays in May for a weekend of friendship, fun and activity. The weekend started with welcome drinks which were held at the Coral Sea Resort on Friday 17 May. This was followed by the Area 5 meeting which was conducted in Coral Sea Resort’s function room on Saturday. The meeting began with an opening by the Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor, Ry Collins. During the day, District Governor, Lyn Agnew gave several presentat
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This week, the Bendigo Community Bank Cannonvale-Proserpine celebrates 12 years of serving the Whitsundays community. The locally owned and operated Branch opened its doors 5 June 2012 and is one of 322 community banks across Australia. The Bendigo Community Bank model is unique. “Our success is based on our profit-with-a-purpose model which sees around 50 per cent of the profits generated by our independently owned and operated Community Bank branch invested back into the community” said Co
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The Freight Distribution Centre at Whitsunday Coast Airport offers a streamlined one-stop-shop for all types of freight, simplifying the shipping process from start to finish. Notably, pet owners can now transport their pets directly from the Whitsundays, avoiding trips to Mackay or Townsville, thanks to the centre's full-service capabilities. Whether it's perishable goods, general cargo, or precious pets, the Freight Distribution Centre at Whitsunday Coast Airport makes shipping and receiving m
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I have been in Brisbane since Wednesday for multiple meetings with Queensland Government Minsters to advocate for funding and turn a spotlight on priority issues for the Whitsunday region. It is my belief that the relationship between local, state, and federal governments should be a partnership built on mutual support and shared goals rather than always criticising a lack of funding. I have had high-level meetings with multiple Ministers over the past two days and some of the issues discuss
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Tourism Whitsundays headed to Melbourne last week, making a splash at the Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE), which is Tourism Australia’s largest annual trade event. ATE brings together all Australian tourism businesses with global distribution partners for business appointments and key networking events. Industry Development and Trade Manager, Cait Fleming, and Marketing Manager, Laura Knipe had a whirlwind week, securing over 100 meetings with international travel partners. From tour whol
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Would you love more media coverage for your business? Don’t know where to start, or want to try something different? Getting quality media coverage is a vital part of building your business brand and sales. But many businesses of all sizes often don’t know how to get noticed by the media or think they don’t have a newsworthy story to tell. Plus, journalists are constantly trying to find interesting people to write about and talk to – your business could be one of them! Mark your calendars f
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Originally from New Zealand, San Maere and his family emigrated to Australia when he was six years old. It wasn’t until San moved to Airlie Beach in 1993, however, that his love for food and passion for cooking was ignited. In the early 90’s, San joined some of his friends and they all began their cooking journey together on Hamilton Island. Hamilton Island was in a very progressive stage at that time and San was lucky enough to work alongside some prestigious Master Chefs who inspired him a
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A sultry blend of beans that speaks to the romance of a menage a trois, the Date Night coffee now being served at Whisper Gin Bar and Restaurant is made by combining three different beans in a match made in heaven. The strong, dominant Columbian bean is nestled within the softer Papua New Guinea notes and enhanced with the sweetness of an Ethiopian bean. This magical mix is created by passionate coffee-roaster Dan Shaw who began his journey as a hobby-roaster in Western Australia 15 years ago.
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A spectacular Drag Show, which has been performed to sold-out crowds up and down the East Coast over the last three months, is now on its way to the Whitsundays and there are still a few tickets remaining. Illegally Blonde has taken Brisbane by storm and the Whitsundays is the next on the list! Performing in the Reef Gateway Hotel’s function room, you can expect a flamboyant drag show packed with glamour, charm, hilarious games and a dance party. Cheer on the blonde trio, Terry Daktyl, Kourt
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The iconic Australian powerhouses of Olivia Newton-John and John Farnham are joining together in a special tribute show, and this is something performer Anita Spring says she has always wanted to do. Anita remembers how the chemistry the famous couple shared on stage was inspirational and their electric energy shone for all to admire. ‘Two Strong Hearts’ encapsulates this, with two strong performers. Anita, has been performing her Olivia Newton-John tribute show for four and a half years, and
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Everyone is invited to join in the Whitsunday Lions Charity Golf Day for a fun active day on the Whitsunday Green. All funds raised go towards the local Proserpine Hospital, raising money for a place that is essential for our health. At this year’s event, whether you play, sponsor a hole or donate a prize for the raffle, your contribution to the community will not be looked over, and your support is valuable. The Whitsunday Lions Club previous events have been fun and a great way to spend the
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Queensland Day at the Proserpine Entertainment Centre was a huge success last Sunday 2 June. Mayor Ry Collins was in attendance and conducted a Welcome Speech, followed by live music performances by Luella and Shayne and Skyhigh Juggling. Food stalls and activities kept everyone busy. Everyone was in high spirit and enjoyed the wonderful Whitsunday winter weather. The day was celebrated the Whitsunday way. A celebration of Queensland’s birthday; it marks its official separation from New So
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Hundreds of people flowed through the doors of the inaugural Pre-loved and Vintage Clothing Markets which were held in the large function room at Kipara Rainforest Retreat on Sunday. Dozens of stalls hosted by enthusiastic fashionistas created an Aladdin’s cave of delights where attendees could explore the racks of colourful clothing and discover hidden gems to add to their own collection. Photo credit: Rachael Smith
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More than one thousand people attended the bi-annual St Mary’s Catholic School Family Fun Day in Bowen last month, and with over 400 ride passes sold, it was clear that the children had a lot of fun! One of the organisers, Angela Gonzalez, said they were thrilled with the event’s success. “We were all very stoked with the turn out!” she said. “Thank you to all the sponsors and all our volunteers who made the event happen.” There was plenty to do on the day, including fairground rides, face p
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As winter arrives, the Cannonvale Bowls Club experienced a week filled with competitive spirit and camaraderie, featuring Ladies Pennants, Social Bowls, and Men's Pennants. Tuesday Highlights Tuesday's Ladies Pennants and Social Bowls included 14 players, with special guests Diana Stowers and Ian Gillies from Bangaroo Bowls Club on Bribie Island. Ian, alongside new player Dana Watson and Mark Mawson, secured an easy win. However, Tony Whitehorn and "Wild" Bill Gordon took home the prize money. I
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Club Pairs Results • Ron Gould and Steve Roome defeated Lee Welsted and Jason Wright in a tightly contested match. Wednesday Social Bowls Results • Mary Ellen Pratten, G. Cornell, and Daryl Tuttle defeated Sue Fox, Lloyd White, and Helen Jacobsen. • Daryl O’Connell, Ray Muir, and Steve Roome defeated Eddy Neylon, Jane Gilbert, and Bob Lindsay. • Peter, Ron, and Gus defeated Bev, Peter, and Rob. • Anna Delic, Wendy Coles, and Gary Turner defeated Glenys, Ian Thatcher, and D. M
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