Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
With the Souths Bowls Club deck filled with lots of festive spirit and plenty of fruit cake, all the jingle ladies of the South Suburban Bowls Club came together to enjoy the most wine-derful time of the year at their annual ladies' Christmas breakup. All the ladies enjoyed an afternoon of laughter and reminiscing on their 2024 bowls season. Some shared goals for 2025, with Rhonda Meng putting winning the open ladies singles in 2025 on her wish list. From all the bowlers at South Suburban Bowl
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The Mackay Bridge Club celebrated another twelve months of fantastic card play with its Christmas break up last Saturday. A record 18 tables of members played bridge, with lots of laughter celebrating Christmas together. Partners also shared in the wonderful Christmas fare. A big thank you to Janelle and her helpers for providing a wonderful meal. Our Christmas raffle was extra special this year. Thank you to members for your donations and Debra Goodchild for her dedication to making this succes
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Sunday’s Fun Day Breakfast hosted by Club Manager Steve which included Breakfast and Bowls was a huge success with over 50 bowlers participating. The morning kicked off at 9.00am with a big breakfast and three games of bowls each having seven ends with players rotating for each game. Everybody enjoyed the morning and the club will host more in the future. The winners on the day were Neil and Maureen Blutcher and Peter Madden. TODAY'S TIP When playing short ends it’s
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Tuesday morning table tennis players celebrated the digital age at their annual breakup lunch at Harrup Park Country Club this week. Fixture coordinator Steve Mathieson was praised for his efforts in taking over from Iris Grasso and Pam Joyce in a presentation by players Frank Caruana and Gerry Synnott. “Full credit goes to Steve for taking over from Iris and Pam, which were big shoes to fill,” Frank said. “Steve decided to computerise everything in line with the era – there were a few hiccup
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Hi Everyone, For the past few days, I have had my seven-year-old son on ‘work experience’ with me. To make him feel special, I ordered him a fully branded work shirt and it was a moment of great pride when he first put the shirt over his head and stood in front of the mirror smiling. Over the next two days we took the long drive up to the Hinchinbrook region where we inducted a new staff member, visited local businesses, took photos, attended a Chamber of Commerce meeting and even distributed
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Haven’t you heard? Christmas cheer has become more contagious than ever! Santa Barry has become a friendly face across the Whitsundays, sporting the fashionable gear of the jolly man himself and working tirelessly behind the scenes to keep the picturesque region pristine throughout the busting holiday season. The Whitsunday Regional Council’s dedicated outdoor teams have been working their magic, keeping roads, drainage and waste systems, parks, gardens, and water services spick and span to en
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In this year's highly anticipated Christmas Lights Competition, organised by the Whitsunday Regional Council, the community was treated to a dazzling array of spectacular displays that truly captured the holiday spirit. Among the standout entries was the brilliant light display on Walker Street in Collinsville, which was crowned the winner of the coveted ‘Best Street’ award. This extraordinary display featured a mesmerising interactive light show that captivated both children and adults alike,
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At the Ordinary monthly meeting in Proserpine last week Council adopted a new Flying Fox Policy and Management Plan and Collinsville Roost Management Plan to address the challenges posed by Flying Fox roosts in the region. Mayor Ry Collins expressed his thoughts on the new policy: “This new policy represents a significant step forward and ensures that we balance the needs of our community with our environmental responsibilities.” Flying Foxes are a protected species under Queensland legislation,
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What began as a simple conversation with two homeless men in a park sparked the creation of a regular Thursday lunch gathering at the Lagoon. Barb Hill, an organiser with Drug Arm Mackay, approached the men and asked how she could assist them. Their response was straightforward, they needed food. This led Barb to develop the idea of providing regular meals, which has since expanded to weekly gatherings in both Airlie Beach and Bowen. While the meet-ups are a great way for individuals to have foo
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The Proserpine Mill has officially concluded its 2024 crushing season due to wet field conditions and an inadequate cane supply, according to Wilmar Sugar Proserpine Cane Supply Manager Peter Luke. The mill ceased processing operations last Thursday, 12th of December, following widespread rain that significantly hindered harvesting efforts. A storm on Monday night compounded the situation, delivering 40mm to 120mm of rain across the region and further delaying any chance of field recovery. Discu
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The Volunteer Cruise Ship Ambassador Program is dedicated to ensuring that every passenger has a warm and welcoming experience in the Whitsundays. From offering helpful tips on local activities to assisting with the coordination of cruise ship markets, each ambassador plays a unique and vital role in creating a memorable visit for all guests. Last Wednesday, the ambassadors gathered to celebrate Christmas and reflect on a successful year for tourism in the region. Lyn Blanche Woodham, Leader of
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This week, the Proserpine Community Centre had the honor of welcoming a very special VIP guest all the way from the North Pole—none other than Santa Claus himself! But this wasn't just any ordinary visit. Santa made a grand and unforgettable entrance, arriving in style on a stunning Harley Davidson motorcycle, much to the excitement and delight of the gathered crowd. Accompanied by his acrobatically talented elf, who added a touch of flair and fun to the festivities, Santa spent the afternoon sp
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As I wrap up my second month at Tourism Whitsundays, I’m really settling in and enjoying the chance to connect with our amazing Whitsundays community. It’s been a fantastic journey so far, and as we approach the end of the year, I wanted to share an update on tourism in our region. This week, we received the National and International Visitor Survey update for the year ending September 2024, and the results are promising. Domestic tourism continues to grow, with visitor spend hitting $1.4 billio
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Recently, Jade visited Azure Sea Resort to speak with managers Stuart and Nicole Morris. Located in Airlie Beach, this resort offers stunning 180-degree views over the Coral Sea towards Hayman Island. Azure Sea Resort features 30 exquisitely appointed, fully equipped apartments accessible via lift. Guests can relax in tropical gardens or enjoy a spectacular infinity-edge waterfall swimming pool that flows into a second pool. Conveniently, the resort is only an 8-minute walk from the beach and sh
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Having recently taken over the iconic Kevla Espresso Bar in Bowen, new owner Brad Williams is enthusiastic about the café’s future. With years of experience in hospitality, Brad has long dreamed of running his own business, a vision he has now brought to life after transitioning from the coal mines to the café industry. Kevla Espresso Bar offers a delightful selection of coffees, mouthwatering paninis, and a variety of healthy options, all served in a cozy, welcoming atmosphere. Tucked away on M
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The Whitsundays Chamber of Commerce and Industry (WCCI) is committed to supporting initiatives by the Whitsunday Regional Council that aim to strengthen our community, economy, and long-term liveability. Recently, the Chamber invited its members to participate in the Council's consultation process for the proposed Corporate Plan 2025-2030. This Plan will serve as the Council's primary strategic document, guiding all future strategies, actions, and decisions for the region. The consultation soug
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Whitsunday Regional Council Customer Service Centres and Libraries will close for the Christmas/New Year period at 4:45pm on Friday, 20 December, and will re-open at 8:15am on Monday, 6 January 2025. For emergencies during this time, residents can contact our after-hours team on 1300 972 753. Please note, our aquatic and waste facilities will also have adjusted operating hours. For full details, visit our website. Wishing everyone a safe and joyful holiday season!
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As we head into the Christmas-New Year holiday season, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on my first nine months serving as Mayor since being elected in April. To date it has been a journey filled with many challenges, some achievements, and plenty of invaluable lessons. Stepping into the position of Mayor has been both an honour and a great responsibility. It has been a year of listening, learning, and laying the foundation for an exciting future. From day one, my focus has been on hea
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Misogyny doesn’t always involve men. Boom – drop the mike! Misogyny is defined as a dislike of, contempt for, or prejudice against women. It involves anything from unsolicited comments, favouring men at the expense of women, aggressive or intimidating behaviour, gender pay gap, ignoring or speaking over women, stealing (or rejecting) ideas from women, and limiting opportunities based on gender. However, misogyny has wider reaching ramifications than the effect on the female employee. When wo
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The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Aspirations Program (ATSIAP) is an initiative for high-achieving secondary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in Queensland state schools. Bowen State High School’s Junior team consisting of Year 7 students Havana Power, Billie Grice, Sefton Power and Year 8 student Eli Prior travelled to Brisbane from the 25th to 28th November to take part in the state finals at the University of Queensland. After two days of competition which included for
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The team at the Bowen Visitor Information Centre have been very busy this week with the Queensland school holidays now underway. Manager of Bowen Tourism and Business, Leanne Abernethy said there was a significant increase in visitor numbers as soon as the school holidays started. “We had been averaging about 115 visitors per day for December, but we had 155 people come to the centre on Monday alone and that was at the start of the holidays,” shared Leanne. “The rest of the week has continued
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Head to Coral Sea Resort on Sunday, January 19th, for an unforgettable afternoon of smooth jazz, Latin rhythms, and timeless classics, as the extraordinary Domenico takes the stage at the Coral Sea Resort’s Pavilion. A true musical prodigy, Domenico’s journey began at the age of 4 in 1971, when he first picked up the piano accordion. His exceptional skill quickly earned him recognition as a specialist of the instrument. In 1986, he began performing with a three-piece cabaret band, captivating au
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Eris TestFlight1, the highly anticipated inaugural launch of Australia's first sovereign-made rocket, has officially received its launch permit approval and is now slated for liftoff from Gilmour Spaceport in Bowen. While the precise launch date is still to be confirmed, the mission is expected to take place in mid-January, marking a historic milestone for the Australian space industry and Bowen. This launch will not only be the first orbital attempt of an Australian-made rocket, but it also rep
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Roger a beautiful Huntaway cross Shepherd, is looking to find the rest of his pack. Roger is heartworm positive but his treatment is fully covered by Bowen and Collinsville Rescue. Due to this, he needs a calm space to recover and a loving family to call his own. Although he's smaller than a Kelpie, he's just as smart and clever as one, he is also extremely active so needs to go to a home where he can get lots of stimulation. Therefore, he would be perfect for a hobby farm or an exercise-loving
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Approaching their busiest time of the year, Whitsunday Mowers are more than ready to provide the region with a celebrated selection of high-quality equipment to cater to any, and every customer’s needs. Wayne Drabsch of Whitsunday Mowers has been busily preparing a range of new products and lines over the past few weeks including Walker and Altoz mowers, whilst maintaining the business’ reputation as the largest Stihl dealership in the area. With in-store demonstrations having been held periodic
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