With hoops aplenty and defence as tight as a well-laced sneaker, the McDonald’s Mackay Meteors and Meteorettes orchestrated a symphony of basketball brilliance last Friday night, dribbling, dunking, and dazzling their way to victories. In a thrilling clash against the Brisbane Capitals, the Meteors showcased their prowess, emerging victorious with a final score of 92 to 73. Todd Blanchfield led the charge with an impressive performance, contributing 21 points and 7 rebounds to the team's triumph
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Last Sunday, 66 participants graced the Beach Road Dolphin Heads precincts, surpassing the attendance of the previous week's Tim’s Chariots of Fire event at Slade Point, confirmed by the event organiser and the author. While some may contest this tally, it's worth noting that The Tilse’s Toddle two weeks earlier boasted numbers nearing the triple-digit mark, with Whibley’s Wander closely following suit. One undeniable highlight was the hospitality of the Bishop’s Beach Road Barnstormer hosts, wh
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The Mackay cyclone swimmers surged into the National MC and Age Championships, held recently on the vibrant shores of the Gold Coast. Among the tide of competitors, two fresh qualifiers, Jarek Taylor and Ava Kearns, joined the seasoned attendees Max Vernon, Audrey Bryan and Vaughn Wyatt for their second year. Coach Leigh-Anne Pokarier said all the athletes swam well, and had a blast soaking up the atmosphere. Acknowledging the significant accomplishment of qualifying for such a prestigious level
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Coral Morgan celebrated her 83rd birthday this week – playing table tennis. Coral’s daughter Delma Knight, who has played table tennis alongside her mum since she was a child, baked her a delicious cake which was enjoyed by the players at Tuesday morning fixtures. Coral and Val Austin have been playing since the 70s, and they played out a huge battle on Tuesday, Coral winning -12, 7, -8, 11, 6. Full details of fixtures including player standings are available at https://www.revolutionise.com.
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The Mackay Champion Pairs was played on Saturday 13th April, with thirty pairs entered. This was a great attendance with players attending from Bowen and Airlie Beach as well as local players. Sixty players played across A, B and C grades. Max and Diane Holewa won A section with Robert Carless and Janelle Conroy runners up. Jan Harris and Mick King won the B section with Ming Ting and Debra Goodchild runners up. Sandy Patterson and Geoff Cowan won C Section with Annie Lynch and Sandra Morris run
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After a very successful launch last year, Sweet Repeats – Pre-Loved Clothing Market returns this Sunday! With a huge selection of high-quality, gently worn clothing and accessories, Sweet Repeats is a market aimed at promoting sustainability, affordability, and community engagement, offering people a budget-friendly shopping experience that’s kind to the planet without compromising on style or budget. For Healthy Clean and Green owner/manager Wendy Steindl, the concept for the market originall
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By Amanda Wright "Some of us were only 20," Kenneth (Ken) Higgins recalls, his voice heavy with the weight of memory. "In those days, you couldn’t vote until you were 21 and you couldn’t drink. “Yet they would send us to Vietnam to kill people." “We were sent to a foreign land we hadn’t even heard of before as kids, to kill people we didn’t know or dislike. “They expected us to go and do these horrors and then come back and forget about it.” This is part of the turmoil many Vietnam Veterans ha
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By Amanda Wright Belinda Hassan has emerged victorious in the race for Mackay Regional Council's deputy mayor, capturing the role with a resounding majority vote. The returning councillor expressed her gratitude, stating it was "very humbling" to receive the support of the electorate and fellow councillors. Having secured 4.1 per cent of the region's vote, Hassan's election to the deputy mayorship was confirmed with a vote of nine to two during Mackay Regional Council’s Statutory meeting last w
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As ANZAC Day nears, I find myself reflecting on the profound significance of this day in our national consciousness. ANZAC Day is not just a date on the calendar; it is a sacred moment of remembrance, a time to pay tribute to the bravery and sacrifice of those who have served our nations in times of conflict. For many of us, ANZAC Day holds a deeply personal resonance, a connection to loved ones who have worn the uniform and served their country with unwavering dedication. Growing up near RNZAF
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In recent years, M&P Services have demonstrated a heartening dedication to wildlife conservation through their commitment to support the Wildlife Rehabilitation Queensland, also known as Wildlife Care Mackay, in a passionate response to championing wildlife welfare. As a vital non-for-profit lifeline for injured and endangered wildlife throughout the region, Wildlife Care Mackay relies heavily on the generosity of business partners like M&P Services to fulfill their mission. Recently, M&P Servi
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The six-member Board appointed to govern the Mackay Hospital and Health Service (HHS) in mid-2023 has been expanded to include a seventh member. New member Monica McKendry is a Chartered Accountant with over 25 years of experience and is currently a Director of SH Tait & Co Chartered Accountants, which provides accounting, taxation and business advice to a variety of businesses and individuals in the Mackay region. She was appointed a director of North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation Ltd in Oc
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Easter weekend, became one the team at RACQ CQ Rescue will never forget, as it marked a momentous occasion for the service. RACQ CQ Rescue has now answered regional calls for help 12,000 times. CEO Tim Healee says, “Completing our 12,000th life-saving flight is not just a number; it's a symbol of the trust placed in us by our community. “We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve, and we look forward to many more flights, saving lives and spreading hope across our region. “It's a t
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Mater Private Hospital Mackay has completed a $7.3 million expansion and refurbishment of its operating theatres as part of its drive to meet the region’s growing health needs. The project included the construction of a sixth perioperative theatre, new sterile storage and cleaning areas, and updated patient waiting and holding bays. The hospital’s previous suite of theatres performed around 12,000 procedures each year. Mater Private Hospital Mackay General Manager Karen Wade said the expansion
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Last week on April 12, Minister for Police and Community Safety, Mark Ryan introduced Mackay’s new marine rescue vessel, MR31, to help local volunteer rescue services keep people safe on the water. The MR31 is a modern 7.5m monohulled vessel, designed to accommodate the crew and up to six rescue passengers, adding a significant capacity to support local rescue efforts. The contingency vessel will be used by regional marine rescue services when additional capability is required due to disasters
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The state of safety reporting culture in Queensland’s mining industry was released by the Minister for Resources and Critical Minerals Scott Stewart and Interim Commissioner for Resources Safety and Health Andrew Clough at the Curragh and Oaky Creek mines in Central Queensland. More than 7,500 people took part in the survey which aimed to identify strength and opportunity areas in Queensland’s mining industry to achieve a stronger safety reporting culture. One of the strengths identified was tha
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NQBP CEO Brendan Webb said the project was a key priority for the North Queensland port authority. “This project will see the replacement and undergrounding of around one kilometre of pipeline infrastructure,” Mr Webb said. “The pipelines are currently used to supply ethanol, water, diesel, and petroleum to ships visiting Wharf 1. “This project aims to provide greater resilience to the overall infrastructure and ensure the longevity of the pipeline system,” he said. Fuel is the Port of Mackay’s
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The Mackay Youth Co-Responder Team (YCRT) has completed more than 5,000 engagements as it marks three years of working to intervene in the lives of at-risk young people and tackle the issue of youth offending. The YCRT is a joint initiative between the Queensland Police Service and the Department of Youth Justice, which brings together a police officer and a youth justice professional to proactively engage at-risk young people and their families and refer them to services to address the underly
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Check out M&P Services at the upcoming Mackay Ag Trade Expo, a locally owned business boasting a rich history of serving the region since its establishment in 1986. With a steadfast focus on manufacturing transportable buildings, M&P Services has emerged as a dominant option, securing the title of the largest manufacturer of portable buildings in Central and North Queensland. Positioned at stand #20 at the Mackay Ag show, M&P Services will unveil a selection of their premium quality transportabl
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Phoenix Powersports is preparing to roll in an impressive line-up of ATVs, SSVs and other top-tier brands at the upcoming Mackay Sugar Ag Trade Expo. Among Segway's featured products are the ATV 5S Quad Pro, ATV 6S EPS and UT10 Rugged EPS, each boasting powerful engines and versatile functionalities, delivering high performance and durable solutions. One of the standout features of Segway's UTV range is its impressive payload capacity, allowing farmers to transport all their gear in one trip w
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Mackay Containers and Mackay Trailers are gearing up to make a significant appearance at the upcoming sugar trade expo, showcasing their diverse range of equipment. Offering FREE registration on all display trailers during the event, this means potential customers can explore their options without the added hassle of registration fees, making it easier than ever to find the perfect fit for their needs. “Our expertise lies in providing top-quality solutions in secure storage including the hire,
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The Greater Whitsunday AgTech Hub online portal is reshaping the future of the region's agriculture sector through technology and collaboration. The Greater Whitsunday AgTech Hub, an integral component of the Agribusiness Futures Alliance project, supported by Greater Whitsunday Alliance (GW3) and key stakeholders, represents a bold vision for a world-class agriculture and agribusiness sector empowered by technology. The Greater Whitsunday AgTech Hub developed the online portal to bring new wa
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If the 2024 Mackay property market were a person, it would be spotted regularly emerging from the local gym with a smile on its face looking fit, strong and healthy and displaying the sort of energy required for continued intense activity. Housing markets take on different looks, depending on location and their particular real estate cycle. In recent years the Sydney market could be seen in its Dior gown and Prada bag stepping out of a limousine in all its finery and promenading along the red ca
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Repurposing household items is an eco-friendly and creative way to breathe new life into everyday objects while reducing waste. With a little imagination and resourcefulness, you can transform common household items into useful or decorative pieces for your home. Here are six ways you can repurpose household items: Glass Jars as Storage Containers: Empty glass jars from pasta sauce, pickles, or spreads can be repurposed as storage containers for pantry ingredients, spices, or dry goods. Clean a
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The National Fall Armyworm Symposium was held at Brisbane’s Ecosciences Precinct on April 17-18, bringing together industry, government, researchers, and funders to tackle the challenges posed by the invasive pest. "Fall armyworm infestations are now found in every important growing area in Queensland," highlights Minister Mark Furner, stressing the severity of this year's infestations and the critical role of research and extension efforts. Hort Innovation CEO Brett Fifield emphasises the colla
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Queensland families are feeling the pinch at the supermarket as fresh produce prices soar while farmers struggle to make ends meet. To address this disparity, the Queensland Government says it is taking proactive steps by introducing a farm gate price monitoring scheme led by industry experts. This scheme aims to establish industry pricing standards and monitor trends across the top 20 products through collating and analysing farm financial performance and pricing data. "As Premier, I shared a s
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