Eight of our dedicated athletes travelled to compete at the Charters Towers Amateur Swimming Club Long Course Meet over the weekend, delivering strong performances and plenty of personal bests. Congratulations to Bonnie and Gracie Crichton, Thomas Ganter, Blaire, Indigo, Koa and Ruby Harland, and Nelson Malady for representing the club so proudly. The team showed great determination across their events, with notable PBs and podium finishes reflecting the hard work put in at training. Back home,
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U11 Boys Written by Luke Valmadre The Pitbulls U11 boys faced Walkerston Scrubbies on Saturday. Captain Hector lost the toss, and the visitors chose to bowl first on a dry wicket. Openers Harry and debutant Riley set a strong tone with sharp running before Liam, Jonty, Nick, James, and Lukas added steady contributions. Will and Hector finished in style, lifting the total to 123. Walkerston’s reply met disciplined bowling and sharp fielding, with wickets shared among James, Hector, Jonty, Liam, a
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On Tuesday afternoon, the winners came from Rink 5 — Bill Myers, Deb Retchless, Cliff Querro and Gordon Querro, who defeated Esra Miller, Budda and Laurie Land in an extremely tight match. In the other game, Shirley Jones, Lindy Suann and Penny Warren overcame Linda Scells, Irene Laird and Margaret Wilson. The jackpot didn’t go off. Sunday’s social play saw Lindy Suann, Teresa Willshire, Deb Retchless and Alby Vigar take the win over Bill Myers, Jim Quod, Linda Scells and Gordon Querro. In the
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Despite the warm conditions this early in the season, 31 dedicated players turned out for Tuesday’s Stableford competition. It was great to see Allison McCarthy continue her winning form, taking top honours in the ladies’ field with a superb 41 points. John Wallace also impressed, carding a strong 40 points to lead the men’s division. With more hot weather on the way, players are reminded to stay hydrated and take care on the course. In the men’s results, John Wallace finished first with 40 po
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On Sunday, November 2nd, from 2–5pm, all Whitsunday families are invited to a meet and greet for the newly formed kids’ club — the Whitsunday “Reefies.” The Reefies is a new initiative by the Whitsunday Game Fish Club aimed at teaching kids under 16 the basics of fishing, water safety, and safe boating practices. The club will also help young members organise their own fishing and social activities, all under supervision, while developing skills that will last a lifetime. The afternoon will be
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A Hub For Community Wellness The Mackay RSL Sub Branch is stepping boldly into the future, transforming its permanent Illawong Beach base into a Community Wellness Centre for veterans, first responders, families, and the wider community. Mackay RSL Sub Branch President Ken Higgins calls it “the perfect place for what we want to do – a wellness centre that supports everyone, not just veterans.” Already buzzing with activity—from beach volleyball tournaments and cadet training to school visits,
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A well-known couple to Coles Sydney Street recently experienced an unexpected act of kindness that reminded them there’s still plenty of good in the world. Last Friday, the husband, who has recently taken on the role of full-time carer for his wife, stopped in at the store to pick up some groceries on a particularly hot day. Feeling flustered and preoccupied, he collected everything on the list and headed to the checkout, only to realise he had forgotten his wallet. “I told the cashier I’d jus
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Ever heard the saying, “Where your heart is, there your treasure is?” It's an interesting phrase, isn't it?' Our days are made up of so many little moments, but at the end of the day, it’s what our heart truly desires that gives us the motivation and drive to keep moving forward. It’s funny how we often place our happiness in material things, like a holiday, a car, or a new house – yet when we receive them, we immediately look for the “next best thing.” No doubt social media and current tren
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Mackay Woman Shares Story Of Hope Following Early Detection October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time to remind women of the importance of early detection. For Mackay resident Wendy Hastie, 71, a routine breast screen during her retirement travels proved lifesaving. Wendy had been enjoying her retirement in 2022 with her husband Les when her BreastScreen reminder letter arrived while they were in Perth. “My daughter in Mackay called and said my letter from BreastScreen had arrived in th
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Discover a sweet secret hiding in plain sight – oversized, 125g cookies that are crunchy outside with a gooey centre. Baked fresh every morning and served from the big purple Laffos Cookies truck outside Target at Caneland Central – they are a fast becoming a must-try taste sensation! An iconic New York treat, these cookies are packed with premium ingredients, including rich Belgian chocolate, and are known for their sheer size and melt in your mouth texture. Every bite is full of flavour! Laf
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Reflecting On A Remarkable First Year As Your Member For Mackay One Year of Service: Reflecting on a Remarkable First Year as Your Member for Mackay By Nigel Dalton MP, Member for Mackay It’s hard to believe it’s already been a year since I was given the great honour of being elected to represent the people of Mackay in the Queensland Parliament. And what a year it has been. From day one, I made a commitment: to work hard, to listen, to be present, and to stand up for the projects and priorities
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Whitsunday Anglican School students recently made their mark on the Central Queensland art scene, with their work showcased in the Creative Generations Excellence in Visual Art Awards – Central Queensland Regional Exhibition at the Emu Park Gallery. The exhibition, which ran daily until October 18, formed part of the Yeppoon Lions Pinefest celebrations — an annual highlight that celebrates the creativity, passion, and artistic excellence of young people from across the region. A representative
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Veterans across the Pioneer Valley and beyond are set to benefit from the Crisafulli Government’s renewed commitment to recognising and supporting those who have served. Member for Mirani, Glen Kelly MP, welcomed the announcement, which includes the development of a Queensland Veterans and Veterans’ Families Strategy — aimed at supporting the more than 163,000 current and former Australian Defence Force members living across the state. A community forum will be held in Rockhampton on Wed
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Mackay Christian College students once again took to the road, and the racetrack, for another year of hands-on learning. Packed and ready to roll, the team set off for race day with their cars proudly displaying stickers from local supporters including Frontline Equipment Maintenance, RMS Performance Engineering, Consolidated Engineering Plastics Products, L&R Contracting, Mackay Christian College, and the Mackay Christian College Trade Training Centre. The crew arrived at the track around 4:3
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Your business’s audience is not everyone. Every day, thousands of ads, brands, and messages compete for attention, but no one notices them all. A health care worker isn’t interested in tractor tires, a teenager isn’t comparing retirement homes, a manufacturer isn’t looking for an Elvis impersonator, and no one cares about last month’s pizza discounts. That’s why redhotblue delivers the right message, in the right way, to the right people, at the right place and time. When you invest time and mo
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Grab a passport and get ready to dance, taste and celebrate your way around the world – all without leaving Mackay! Global Grooves 2025 is set to transform Queens Park into a vibrant global party on Saturday, October 25, from 3pm to 8pm. This free family event will be a feast for the senses, bursting with cultural dances, global music, traditional dress, workshops and mouthwatering food from across the globe. With 12 cultural dance groups and bands lighting up the stage, the entertainment wil
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As the Mackay and Whitsunday region heads deeper into fire season, residents are being urged to stay alert, take precautions, and understand the crucial role that fire plays across local landscapes, from controlled cane burns to hazard reduction in rural communities. Rural Fire Service Queensland (RFSQ) Area Manager, Inspector Andrew Houley said the local fire season typically aligns with the region’s sugar cane industry. “Our fire season tends to reflect the biggest crop on the coast,”
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Foster carers are the backbone of Mackay Animal Rescue Society (also known as MARS). We rely heavily on these wonderful people to provide temporary homes for cats and dogs in care, while actively helping them find their forever families. MARS covers all vet costs for your foster, but we do ask that you bring your foster dog or puppy to our monthly adoption days, held on the last Sunday of each month. These events are a fantastic opportunity to showcase your foster to the public and help
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Sarina State High School marked Mental Health Week earlier this month with a range of engaging activities held in the Resource Centre and Education Support Centre.The event aimed to promote awareness and encourage open conversations around mental wellbeing among students and staff.The school extended thanks to its Student Wellbeing and Student Services teams for their ongoing efforts to foster a positive and supportive environment.“A big thank you to our Student Wellbeing and Student Services
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New playgrounds and swimming programs are just some of the ways students have benefited from Community Bank Sarina Bendigo Bank’s Community Engagement Program. With World Teachers’ Day just around the corner, it’s a perfect time to highlight the important role schools and educators play in supporting students to reach their full potential. Throughout its Community Engagement Program, Community Bank Sarina continues to invest in local youth and education, creating meaningful community impact by
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By Joseph Borg, Chairman, CANEGROWERS Mackay October materialised with a real kick of hot dry weather, bringing with it some blazes around the region. That reality has dominated the month, bringing with it fire bans and moderate to high fire danger. It’s times like these, we are thankful for our local rural fire brigades It is something that probably became a little foreign in the recent past and hasn’t been experienced across the district in several years. In fact, an extended dry period like
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At low tide on the Seaforth coast, volunteers gathered with buckets, boots, and a shared ambition to restore the seagrass meadows that support the health of the Great Barrier Reef. Lead by Reef Catchments in partnership with Central Queensland University and OzFish Unlimited, the two successful volunteer events at Seaforth marked a major milestone in the (Sea)Grassroots Community Restoration Project; a three-year initiative aimed at improving the health and resilience of seagrass meadows in the
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Authorities are urging residents of the Mackay Shire to be hypervigilant around cane trains this crushing season following an incident last week involving an on-track collision between a cane train locomotive and a vehicle just south of the region. Shortly after 12pm on Monday, the 13th of October, first responders were called to Oakenden after a cane locomotive and a b-double truck collided at a level crossing. Queensland Fire and Rescue officers cut the train driver out of the terribly damage
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Disaster recovery assistance has been expanded to include a wider range of primary production businesses, offering vital financial support to more regional enterprises impacted by severe weather events earlier this year. Under the updated Primary Production Enterprise definition, contracting businesses such as farm irrigation services, mustering, shearing, silage baling, and timber plantation maintenance services may now be eligible for assistance, subject to the Australian and New Zealand Stan
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First there were the YUPPIES, then came the DINKS. The terms emerged in the 1980s when marketing types got the Western world by the scruff of the neck and started ascribing labels to various groups. The marketing people sought to categorise emerging groups within the society and then identify commercial opportunities. YUPPIES stood for Young Upwardly-Mobile Professional People and they were the type of annoying people in their 20s and 30s who would be seen arriving at trendy inner-city cafes
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