Issue #

School Holiday Bowls

A special new initiative is about to begin for women and girls, commencing on Tuesday 2 April and running for five weeks. The hours 10am to 12pm, were selected to enable women to manage family commitments and school hours. During school holidays students are welcome to join in too. Bowls are available at the club. Very young children will be given soft rubber bowls to play with. The club has a good supply of bowls suitable for all ages and capabilities. Tuesday winners were Lyn Graham and

64 Compete in Ladies Fours Tournament

Results of Club Rinks Competition: Andy Peebles, Lee Welsted, Jason Wright and Mitch Wright defeated Lou Fordham, Helen Jacobsen, John Trembath and Shane Spann. Sunday Social: I. Thatcher, Daryl Tuttle, Gavin Charles defeated A.Delic, Allen Williams, Jane Gilbert. L.Kruger, Peter Bruce, Ron Gould. Wednesday Social: B.Neal, Allen Williams and Doc Fordham defeated MaryEllen Pratten, R.Rodda, Jane Gilbert. Ray Muir, Robyn Stitt and Wendy Coles defeated I Thatcher, Daryl Tuttle, Glen. Friday Marc

Competition Games Kick Off At Proserpine Bowls

Players were lucky to get a break in the weather for Wednesday's Social Bowls and Saturday for the beginning of the Men's Competition for 2024. On Wednesday with all the rain prior, we had 5 players for Social Bowls. Heather Brown played double lead. Heather, Dale Haack and Sandy Daffara defeated Heather, Philip Brown and Peter Lawton 22 - 14. There were no Social Bowls played on Sunday due to heavy rain on Sunday morning. On Saturday in Club Championship Singles Luchie Gardel defeated Jona

Wangaratta Bowls

Social play on Tuesday resulted in Gwenda Lydom, Linda Smith and Penny Warren defeating Lindy Suann, Irene Laird, Geoff Danvers and B Reddcliff, Lyn Danvers and Greg Colquhoun defeated Merle Elphinstone, Sue Shearing and Kevin Daniels. The jackpot didn’t go off. In the ladies club competition Deb Retchless defeated Bron Tolcher and Jocelyn Defranciscis defeated Tiarna Winter. The first round of the fours was played on Sunday morning. Congratulations to the winning teams of Irene Laird, Merle El

Bowen Golf Weekly Results

On Wednesday, we played a single stableford for a club trophy. Men's Winner, Nathan Vine 40 points, Benny Bon was runner up on a countback with 39 points. Ladies' Winner, Susan McInnes 38 points, Runner up Tracey Cousemacker 37 points. Pin Shots to Viv Clark, Trish Sellen, Tracey Cousemacker, Hayden Williams, John Courtney, Isaac Fellows, Jumbo Miller. Peter Theodossio claimed the Suntan Snack Bar voucher. OBP’s for Mark Russell, Hayden Williams, Jo Goldup and Jeremy Chrzanowski. Chocolate

Dry Weather Allows Golf Comps

The course dried out enough to see Vic Feldman edge out Ross Hammond on 37 points in Thursday's stableford event, where Warren Deighton and Gary Scotford won the pin shots. Friday's Met run saw Scott Mason win with 22 points, two ahead of Ryan Wilkes with a handy four under par for the nine holes. Christopher Bartlett and Karlene Lloyd took out the pins. Joshua Norris had 41 points to dominate the Hayman Electrical Saturday competition with Brodie Slater his A Division runner up on 37 points

Event Guide

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Zonta Social Pics

Bowen Candidate Forum “An Informative Meeting”

The third Whitsunday Local Government Candidate Forum was hosted by Bowen Chamber of Commerce on Monday night and held at the Larrikin Hotel in Bowen with an audience of 85 in attendance. All four Mayoral Candidates, Peter Hood, Richard Evans, Ry Collins and Phil Batty, were present on the evening alongside the Division 6 Councillor Candidates, John Finlay and David Paddon. Three questions were given from Bowen Chamber of Commerce and then three additional questions taken from the floor. Pres

Editors Note

Hi Everyone, As the weather cools down, the local event scene certainly heats up! This Sunday, I called in at three local events and was reminded once again how vibrant our community is. Firstly, the International Women’s Day celebrations held by the Zonta Club of the Whitsundays at Coral Sea Resort, then the Whitsunday Chef’s Lunch at Eastwoods and finally the 10-year birthday bash at Anchor Bar. Also taking place over the weekend was the annual Cut Out Party, Collinsville Sea of Pink and a

Pay It Forward

A local lady’s heart was filled last week by a random act of kindness that came just at the right time and lifted her sprits when she needed it most. Earlier that week she had received a call from family who reside in Western Australia informing her that a serious car accident could have claimed the life of a family member. Thankfully, the family member was helped by some wonderful people, but the whole family were left shattered for a few days at the possibility they could have lost him. Whi

The Whitsundays: A Food Tourism Mecca?

Delighted diners eagerly devoured a delicious lunch prepared by former Master Chef contestant, Callum Hann, on Sunday afternoon, at a special Whitsunday Chef’s Lunch hosted by local Asian fusion restaurant, Eastwoods. The event was orchestrated by Whitsunday Coast Airport as part of an initiative to promote the upcoming direct flights to Adelaide in September. “Callum has a massive network and is very high profile in Adelaide,” said Director of Commercial Businesses for Whitsunday Regional Cou

Voting Day This Saturday

Whitsunday Regional Council Local Government Elections will be held this Saturday,16 March. Polling booths are open from 8am - 6pm on election day. Please note that by law, it is compulsory for eligible Australian citizens, aged 18 or older, to vote at Queensland elections. If you don’t vote, you may be fined. The penalty for failing to vote in an election in Queensland is one penalty unit, valued at $154.80 from 1 July 2023. Find your closest polling booth location. GREATER AIRLIE BEACH AREA

Eight New Fire Fighters Road Crash Trained

Eight new Auxiliary Fire Fighters completed four days of intensive Road Crash Rescue Training, conducted by Queensland Fire and Rescue Emergency Services, last week. The eight new Auxiliary Fire Fighters gathered at Proserpine Fire Station, and travelled from as far afield as Mackay and Moranbah to complete the necessary training. “This intensive four-day course gives the new Auxiliary Fire Fighters the necessary skills and knowledge to then become very important members of their fire station

New Authors Announced For Writers Festival Line-Up

Two Australian literary powerhouses have been announced to feature in the all-star cast at the Whitsundays Writers Festival which is set to take place in September. The two highly acclaimed authors are Anne Buist and Graeme Simsion who are renowned and admired writers who have both published acclaimed novels. Graeme Simsion, celebrated for his bestselling novel The Rosie Project and Professor Anne Buist, eminent psychiatrist and prolific author, will grace the Festival with their presence to

New Backpackers For Bowen

The Whitsunday Regional Council has approved an application for backpackers-style accommodation in Bowen. The proposed accommodation, previously used by Queensland Rail to house workers, is located on Pantall Stret in Bowen, and will primarily be utilised as short term accommodation for seasonal workers. The existing dwelling, which will remain unchanged, is a single storey building with seven bedrooms, and one dormitory style room, which will contain four beds, with shared amenities for all.

Lucky Lotto Player Claims Winning Ticket

One lucky winner has claimed their golden ticket after they purchased a winning lottery ticket in Cannonvale. The winner claimed their $620,369.07 from the Saturday Gold Lotto draw from last Saturday after purchasing a ticket at News Whitsunday. It took more than two days for the winner to come forward and there was much speculation on who the lucky ticket holder was. News Whitsunday Owner Rich Bates said the last division 1 winner in the area wished to stay anonymous due to the size of the

Sea Of Pink Raises $13K

Almost 100 people attended the Sea of Pink fundraiser over the weekend in Collinsville with friends and family all coming together to raise money for breast cancer. The format of the event was a 5-kilometre fun run and this is the second year the event has taken place with organisers hoping to make it an annual fundraiser for all the community to get involved with. This years’ event raised over $13,000, smashing the $10,000 goal they had set in place. Organiser, Alice Randell, said she is

Bowen Youth To Attend National Convention

Bowen State High School student, Dasani Appoo will be among 95 Year 11 and 12 students from across Australia attending the 29th National Schools Constitutional Convention (NSCC), in mid-March. Held at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House in Canberra, Dasani will be the second Bowen State High School student to attend the Convention. Dasani is excited to participate in the Convention and is looking forward to meeting likeminded students from across Australia. “I became in

Buzz The Bus Driver Finalist In National Award

One of the Whitsundays very own has been announced as the Regional Finalist for Translink Queensland and on the short list to become Queensland Bus Driver of the Year. David Bussey joined the Whitsunday Transit team close to seven years ago, initially joining the team as a bus cleaner, before being promoted to a service bus driver one year later. A dedicated team member and avid driver, David, more affectionately known as ‘Buzz’, enjoys sharing local history and fun facts with his passengers,

Cut Out Party Success!

Despite the weekend’s weather challenges the Cut Out Party in Proserpine was a huge success. Close to 200 people gathered at the Proserpine Showgrounds to celebrate the sugar industry which is marking its third year. This time around the event supported the Royal Flying Doctors Service. As of the time of going to print, there was no official number announced but organisers are expecting funds raised to be upwards of last years’ $38,000. “It’s been a real community effort; you don’t know wh

ELECTION: ON THE FRONT-LINE

Tony Price Division 2 Candidate High-rises in Airlie Beach – what are your views on allowing more to be built in our local holiday town? The Whitsundays is facing a critical housing and accommodation crisis that threatens our growth and prosperity. We have inadequate housing for our valuable staff and a shortage of top-quality accommodation. I support council’s existing Town Plan which outlines Highrise limits for Airlie Beach. It’s vital that Council supports developers and works towards som

The Beginning Of Local Council With John Compton

John Compton was a pioneer of the Proserpine district - the very first Chairman of the Proserpine Shire Council (1910) and a mover and shaker in the separation of Proserpine from Wangaratta (Bowen Rural Shire). Born in Herefordshire England March 14 1865, he migrated to Bowen in 1883. Though working in the Bowen district, in October 1884 he purchased 160 acres of land at Mt Julian (called “Fern Hill”). In 1893, he married Sarah Gray and together they travelled to stations where John, a proficie

What ONE thing do you want from the new Council?

Peter Hinschen Cannon Valley I'd like to see a freeze on rates, every year they seem to go up. A freeze on rates and I’d like know before the election what their intentions are in dragging that wind farm between here and Collinsville. I think someone should come forward and let us know whether they want to approve it. That’s my opinion. Liz Pearson Cannonvale I think the first thing is obviously the roads and the main town of Airlie Beach it's just, Airlie Beach is abysmal, you know, for a

Vote 1 Tony Price for Outcomes & Progress

In 20 years, the population on the Whitsunday Coast (Cannonvale/Airlie Beach area) has almost doubled while the infrastructure to support that growth has never happened. What I bring to the table is an ability to fight for more than a fair share for Division 2. I’m about getting things done in the area, not endlessly trying to find a reason to say no or put-up roadblocks to stop something that will help our region grow and prosper. 10 Reasons to Vote 1 Tony Price for Division 2 1: Pro-Busine