Friday 24th May Star Wars Unlimited Store Showdown 9am Join us for the very first Star Wars Unlimited Store Showdown! Big prizes are up for grabs, so you don't want to miss this one! Swiss style tournament with best of one, compete to see who can take out the top prize. Cost: $25 per person including a drink Time: Friday 24th May 6:30pm-10pm. May the Force be with you! 75 Victoria St, Mackay 2024 Mackay Expo 4pm Your lifestyle, your adventure at the 2024 Mackay Expo. Join us on 24th to 26th
Read more
Sydney Drag Queen’s sell-out Kath and Kim Drag Bingo returns to MECC on Saturday, 29 June, hosted by two foxy morons: Prada Clutch and Conchita Grande. Prada is one of Australia's most sought-after live-singing drag queens. She plays Kathleen "Kath" Darleen Day-Knight. “Playing Kath came natural to me as I grew up watching the TV show on rainy days at school and I was already using Kath-isms when hosting in drag as they have become a part of Australian culture,” says Prada. Conchita is one
Read more
By Hannah McNamara A solemn ceremony was held last Saturday as locals from all walks of life gathered in compassion to acknowledge the lives of those lost to domestic and family violence. As the sun set, 40 Pink Crosses were displayed on Eimeo beach to symbolise the 37 women murdered so far this year, along with the other three, in honour of the guest speakers loved ones who were tragically murdered in previous years. Among the crowd stood guest speaker Vicki Blackburn, mother of Shandee Bla
Read more
The recent unveiling of the BEE MINDFUL mural marks the progression of Stage 4 within the comprehensive "Bee Corner" initiative, a nine-stage program spearheaded by the MKY City Heart Collective. The program aims to extend connectivity throughout the community, linking directly to Wood St parkland. This was made possible through the generous support of grants, local business sponsorships, and the dedicated efforts of a resilient team of volunteers who fundraised for a year to make this masterp
Read more
To celebrate Botanic Gardens Day, Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens is hosting a special community event to celebrate all things botanic. The Botanic Gardens Open Day will be held on Saturday, May 25, from 8am to noon on the Tropical Sun Lawn. This family-friendly event promises to be a delightful time for all ages. Council's Libraries team will be on hand to entertain the kids with a range of fun activities, including the First 5 Forever van, craft activities, a baby space and a giant Jenga game.
Read more
As participants flocked to John Breen Park last weekend, the atmosphere was ablaze with excitement and anticipation. Families, friends, and even furry companions eagerly awaited the start of the Colour Frenzy Run, ready to immerse themselves in a kaleidoscope of hues and a day filled with vibrant experiences. The exciting event, known for its burst of colours and festive atmosphere, promised a 2.5km or 5km journey filled with laughter, joy, and plenty of hues. With each step, participants knew t
Read more
Brendan Whitby has padded up in first grade and rubbed shoulders with some of the biggest names in Queensland cricket. The Mackay Magpies stalwart spent eight seasons with Toombul District Cricket Club in the Brisbane Premier League competition where he earned his top-grade spurs as a capable all-rounder. Whitby’s cricket journey has taken the experienced campaigner and his three sons Jacob, Thomas and Nicholas to the Mackay District Cricket Association and the scene of many career highlights. A
Read more
The Mackay Aquatic Recreation Complex is playing host to some of Australia’s top Olympic swimming hopefuls, with huge economic benefits for our region. Swimming Australia’s High Performance training camps have seen three elite squads travel to the Mackay region in their final hit out before the Australian Swimming Trials in Brisbane next month. Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson said it was fantastic to welcome the High Performance Camps to the Mackay ARC. “These squads see our region and our facility
Read more.JPG)
Mackay Table Tennis Tuesday night fixture results May 14, 2024: Division 1: Green (Tim Shehan, Lily Boland, Robbie Richards) d Red (George Camilleri, Anne Sheridan, Graeme Walker) 6-5. Lily d Anne 8, -2, -4, 8, 11. Orange (Donna Abbott, Janice Kent, Geoff Denman) d Purple (Emma Widdup, Duncan Treloar) 6-5. Duncan d Donna -5, 9, 7, 9. White (Andrew McHugh, Neil Brown, Geoff Cowan) d Brown (Andrea Nicholson, Barry Patterson, Vince Boeske) 7-4. Neil d Vince 4, -5, 8, -6, 10. Black (Mick Ruhl,
Read more
In a sprint towards international glory, six athletes from the Mackay region are set to leap into action at the 2024 Oceania Athletics Championships in Suva, Fiji. These local stars are ready to vault over challenges and race against the region's best. The 2024 Oceania Athletics Championships will take place from Tuesday, June 4th to Saturday, June 8th, at the National Stadium, HFC Bank Stadium. Suva, a seasoned host of regional athletic events including the 1990 and 2017 Area Championships and
Read more
Last Saturday night, the McDonald’s Mackay Stadium was alive with excitement as the Mackay Meteors shot down the Northside Wizards in a thrilling 109-83 victory. With this slam-dunk performance, the Meteors extended their winning streak, setting the stage for a high-stakes Round 7 double-header on the road against the North Gold Coast Seahawks and Gold Coast. Todd Blanchfield led the charge for the Meteors, scoring 25 points and grabbing 7 rebounds. Isaac White contributed significantly with 20
Read more
Mackay Cutters’ enterprising women's rugby league team are on the cusp of BMD premiership glory. In a huge fillip for the region, Marco Peters’ in-form charges have zoomed into this Saturday’s title decider to determine the champion Queensland club for 2024. All roads lead to Redcliffe’s Kayo Stadium where the Cutters square off with the courageous Norths Devils in what is shaping as a crackerjack contest. Mackay will be chasing a unique women's championship double after the club captured the
Read more
From exhilarating MTB trails to pulse-pounding kayak rides, picturesque trail runs and demanding road cycles, ZACH MACH proved to be the ultimate thrill for adrenaline enthusiasts. It was said to be an incredible weekend of adventure racing in the Mackay Pioneer Valley. The ZACH MACH Adventure Challenge offered just the right blend of mud, water, sun, and excitement for all participants. RESULTS ZACH MACH SOLO (18+) 1. Mitch Nissen 2. Hilary Bell 3. Rod Le Coz MINI MACH SOLO
Read more
Off the back of the major announcement with Mackay Regional Council at Harrup Park, Century Cricket Competitions Mackay can now announce the eight franchises competing in the tournament this August. The previously confirmed Great Barrier Reef Rays (QLD) will be joined by the City Pirates (QLD), Coastal Marlins (QLD), Moreton Magic (QLD), Eastern Comets (SA), Adelaide Rockets (SA), Spartans (SA) and Western Chargers (VIC). Franchises have been working hard behind the scenes to get their pre-a
Read more
The Woolworths Pick Fresh Play Fresh Netball Grants are back again for 2024, with local netball clubs and associations across Australia, who have a Woolworths NetSetGO centre, encouraged to apply to win a share of $100K to benefit young Aussie netballers. As part of this, the popular $20K People’s Choice Award returns for the second year, spotlighting the club or association that receives the most votes, encouraging their local members and supporters to get involved. The Grants have been des
Read more
North Mackay Ladies celebrated our Lady President, Lidia McCarthy, at our 76th Club's Birthday. President Lidia was presented with a gift from the ladies by Vice President Hilary Jones-Rowan. 90 guests gathered in fine style with bowls, Raffles, Lunch and a Cent Sale, including Alan Cooney representing the Board of Management, General Manager, Steve Lancaster and special guest Ray McCarthy. Each Club in the District was represented and the District President, Margo Stanley, brought three of her
Read more
A golden week at the Contract Bridge tables, with the first week of the Remembrance Pairs being played on Friday, while on Saturday ten teams vied for GNOT Gold Points. Team Conroy won Gold, with all participates receiving varying sprinkles of gold points. Congratulations to Diane and Max Holewa who were each presented with the Australian Bridge Federation, “Gold Life Master” Certificate by President Noel. This is a “Golden” achievement of 750 Masterpoints gained from many games of bridge over
Read more.JPG)
Nearly forty runners and supporters had taken to the undulating streets of Mt Pleasant from the Gordon White Library carpark to tackle the annual Jo’s 70 Scenic Steps event, which encompassed the breathtaking vistas and peaks of Pollock and High Streets, North Mackay. The event's namesake, Jo, had been severely distraught at the prospect of the run being removed from the calendar so the Club’s Calendar committee was prompted to include the event in the club’s program, aiming to accommodate its
Read more
A small team of four Sinkers travelled to the Masters Swimming Australia National Championships, which was hot on the heels of the Masters Queensland State Championships. Masters Swimming NT hosted the 47th annual Masters National Championships in Darwin from May 3 – 7, 2024. Held in the heart of Australia’s Northern Territory, this fantastic event attracted some of the finest Master’s swimmers from around the country and overseas. Pool events were held at the world-class Parap Pool, just five m
Read more
A mother and her calf are officially the first two humpback whales to have been spotted in the Whitsundays, marking the beginning of the season, the first as a formally declared Whale Heritage Site. The early sighting was claimed by a group of seafaring locals who were out filming near North Mackerel Bay on the North-eastern end of Hook Island on Tuesday this week. Continued on page 3. A mother and calf Humpback whale were the first of the majestic mammals to be spotted in Whitsunday waters t
Read more
Hi Everyone, As we approach the 200th issue of this fabulous newspaper, we would like to say a huge thank you to you all for taking the time to flick through the pages, read our stories and engage with our advertisers each week. Over the past four years, thanks to all of you and the dedicated work of our incredible team, we have created a fantastic print media platform that is keeping local story-telling alive. We have been privileged to experience significant growth during this time and we
Read more
A young Whitsunday resident has chopped off her lovely long locks for charity, raising an impressive $2,100 along the way. Seven-year-old Maya Murphy decided to donate her hair to help sick kids following a conversation with her mum, Shannon, who had heard of Variety Children’s Charity, Hair With A Heart. The initiative encourages people with long hair to “take the chop and change lives”, stating that “your lovely locks will be turned into wigs for people who’ve lost their hair from cancer, al
Read more
Good news for taxi-riders following the announcement this week that Uber will soon be coming to the Whitsundays, opening up the region and meeting the need for increased demand. More than 3.9 million Australian’s are already using the ridesharing app and Uber is now ready to expand its business model into the regional areas. The company, which has been operating in Australia for the past 12 years, is now looking for Uber Drivers and appeals for those interested to register. Whitsundays Mayor,
Read more%20(1).JPG)
As part of Domestic Violence Prevention Month, Whitsunday Regional Libraries are bringing awareness to their ongoing partnership with DV Safe Phone. This collaboration aims to raise awareness and encourage the community to contribute their old working phones to DV Safe which collects, repairs, and offers them for free to front-line services as a safe phone for victims in domestic violence situations. Phone drop-off points are currently located at all Whitsunday Regional Libraries in Cannonvale
Read more
A big, beautiful fig tree on the parkland adjacent to Cannonvale Beach has been poisoned according to recent information given by Whitsunday Regional Council. Evidence asserts that drill holes have been discovered around the base of the tree and poison could have been inserted into the roots which has then poisoned the tree itself. The tree has now lost over half its leaves and the remaining structure is brown and frail looking. A Whitsunday Regional Council statement on the matter reads as f
Read more