The Queensland Country Women’s Association (QCWA) Sarina Branch’s centenary celebrations will culminate in a three-day Craft Expo, March 8-10, at the Big Shed, Mackay Showgrounds. Kicking off on International Women’s Day, the Craft Expo is open to the public and will feature hands-on classes with world-specialist crafters from Australia’s largest craft event series, Craft Alive, as well as displays from craft retailers with the latest supplies, kits, and equipment. Community Bank Sarina Bendigo
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Criminal charges brought by Queensland Police against anti-coal activist Coedie McAvoy returned to Emerald Magistrates Court earlier this week, almost a year after Mr McAvoy allegedly assaulted two workers at the Carmichael mine in central Queensland by forcing their work vehicle to stop and then attempting to drag the Indigenous environmental ranger from the car under the threat of subjecting the worker to “tribal law.” Mr McAvoy was arrested after he allegedly assaulted the Indigenous enviro
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Mackay welcomes a new era of medical expertise with the arrival of Dr. Wojciech Szubert, whose specialised focus on endometriosis treatment promises to elevate patient care in the region. The enviable lifestyle we often take for granted was a big drawcard for the newest member of Mackay Hospital’s Obstetrics and Gynaecology team, Dr Szubert. Dr Szubert, who is originally from Poland, relocated from the UK to Mackay with his wife and two children late last year. “My wife and I, when we were in
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New funding is now available to Central Queensland community groups and not-for-profit organisations in the Moranbah and Middlemount areas through Anglo American’s 2024 Community Grants Program. Anglo American Australia CEO Dan van der Westhuizen said the company was committed to supporting the development of thriving communities in the Bowen Basin. “The annual Community Grants Program is a vital avenue to ensure mining benefits are shared with local people, communities and economies in the
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Mackay Regional Council is hosting a Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF) Showcase to highlight some of the amazing talent, vision and creativity we have in our region. This showcase celebrates the locally driven arts, cultural and heritage programs supported by RADF during the 2022/2023 program. The showcase launch will be held in the Jubilee Community Centre from 5pm to 7pm on Friday, March 8. It will feature works and project displays by Jan Ward, International Men’s Day Mackay, Lanna Mack a
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“The Federal Government’s target of building 1.2 million homes over the next five years will fall well short, if Australia’s chronic shortage of skilled trades people is not dealt with soon,” HIA Managing Director Jocelyn Martin said last month.
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More than two million tonnes of trade have passed through the Port of Mackay in just seven months, underlying the publicly owned port's versatility and importance to the region. The port has already clocked up 2.218 million tonnes of cargo, surpassing throughput in the same period of the previous financial year (2,070,495). North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation (NQBP) CEO Brendan Webb said the top three traded commodities were petroleum (1,115,656 tonnes) sugar (636,196 tonnes) and grain (2
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By Kevin Borg, Chairman, CANEGROWERS Mackay With the crush behind us, many farmers are getting to the jobs that sometimes need to be put to one side during harvest. Like taking care of Smartcane BMP accreditation and re-accreditation. There are numerous growers undergoing their five-year re-accreditations. The program has grown over the years, and now 43% of Queensland’s cane country is operated under the sustainable Best Management Practice program. It’s a standard that has been accepted by
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In an announcement that further boosts Queensland’s credentials as Australia’s emerging AgTech innovation capital, Brisbane has been named as the home of the AgriFutures evokeAG. global innovation event in 2025. Connecting the global agrifood innovation community of investors, entrepreneurs, AgTech service providers and agribusiness professionals, evokeAG. provides a digital platform and premier agrifood tech event where farmers share their experiences, startups pitch their potential, scientists
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The Lyon’s Grassland Striped Skink had not been observed since 1981 and is known only from a single locality that is heavily grazed by cattle. That is until the rare lizard was found last year for the first time in over 40 years living in north-east Queensland. In early 2023, scientists from Queensland Museum and James Cook University were tasked with the challenge of finding the elusive Lyon’s Grassland Striped Skink. The surveys were part of research by the Resilient Landscapes Hub of the Aust
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Landholder: Jeff Grech Project: Major Grants Program: Mackay Whitsunday Water Quality Program Location: Sandiford, Qld Tonnes of Cane: 36,000 tonnes Sandiford grower Jeff Grech is enthusiastic about his new minimal till adjustable three row billet planter. Jeff was able to purchase the planter with assistance from the Major Grants Project under the Mackay Whitsunday Water Quality Program, funded by the partnership between the Australian Government’s Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Found
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As we approach International Women's Day, Resource Industry Network (RIN) is thrilled to be hosting its annual business luncheon to acknowledge women in the Mackay Isaac Whitsunday region. The global theme for International Women’s Day is "Inspire Inclusion,” reflecting a collective commitment to breaking barriers that may hinder women's presence and involvement in the workplace, and what we can do to bridge the inclusion gap. The luncheon will feature reputed speaker Dr Catherine Ball, an asso
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There’s nothing like wrapping your hands around a favourite mug, and now, you can help to promote Mackay’s natural beauty with a set of collector’s mugs available at the Mackay Visitor Information Centre and kiosk! In collaboration with local artist Harry Bruce, these caricature mugs are retailing at $22 each and feature famous faces and landscapes of our region. Oh Deere – We’re One Of A Kind In Australia Karinda and Dale Anderson are the passionate stewards of their family-owned and operat
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Summer Sipper - Woo Woo (Or Should We Say, Woo Hoo!) Get ready to elevate your summer fun with the vibrant and delicious Woo Woo cocktail! Ingredients: • 50ml vodka • 25ml peach schnapps • 100ml cranberry juice • Few drops of fresh lime juice • Ice • Wedge of lime Instructions: 1. Grab your cocktail shaker and fill it with ice. 2. Pour in the vodka, peach schnapps, cranberry juice, and a splash of fresh lime juice. 3. Shake vigorously until well mixed and chil
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Located on the picturesque waterfront setting of Mackay Marina, the enviable location combined with high quality facilities and service has positioned Mantra Mackay as Mackay’s premier accommodation, conference and events venue. At the heart of the Mantra lies Latitude 21 Bar & Restaurant, a culinary restaurant offering modern Australian cuisine. Open daily for breakfast, from Monday to Sunday, guests are treated to a delightful spread of dishes to kick start their day on a delicious note. Com
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Due to the April production, ‘Bob’s Your Auntie’ being postponed to 2025, Director Maureen Coleman has promptly adapted to the minor setback by selecting another entertaining performance, a classical thriller by English playwright and screenwriter, Constance Cox, titled "The Murder Game". In this performance, a man is financially dependent on his wife but in love with another woman. Will he commit the ‘perfect murder’ to be with the one he loves, and will a decision he makes see him go from the
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A female Minx cat arrived at the Mackay Pet rescue Incorporated just weeks ago, on the brink of death, suffering from a severe uterine infection after her alleged owners said she had run away two years ago and could no longer take her back. The helpless cat who was once known as Harmony was withered, bleeding and in immense pain. Thanks to the action of Mackay’s pet rescue team and the expert care provided by Peta Snell at Northern Beaches Veterinary Hospital, Harmony received the life-saving tr
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Mackay Regional Council will be undertaking an upgrade to the Willetts Road playground in North Mackay. The playground closed last Friday, (February 23) and is expected to be out of operation for two weeks, weather permitting, while the work is undertaken. Crews will remove the old carousel and replace it with a new cup spinner and spica spinner. The old swing set will be replaced with a new one, and the soft fall sand will be refurbished. For public safety, the playground will be full fenced of
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In today's whirlwind of financial uncertainty, saving money has become trickier than ever with the cost of living continuously on the rise. Women often look after the household finances as well as business finances, and while women can be naturally savvy at number-crunching, we have found some smart tips to help put money aside even during tough times. Knowing how to start healthy saving habits can be difficult, that’s why the financial experts at The Lazy Trader have put together a list of hel
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If you’re up for a challenge and a few laughs, come along to the Bluewater Quay today after 5:30 and run down Harbour Road with me, and hundreds of other runners, all while raising money for the leukaemia foundation and celebrating the start of March. This time of the year you can guarantee a few things. It’s bloody warm, there’s showers around the place and the humidity is so moist, saying the word makes me sweat just thinking about it. Each year hundreds of us all run down towards the harbou
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“Thirty-thousand pigs have drowned in the river near Rocky.” The announcement was yelled out across the newsroom to me by a reporter at the local Mackay paper about 13 years ago when I was the editor and we were covering a central Queensland flood that had moved south and was about to engulf Rockhampton. Now, I’m no farmer but my first reaction was that this was a surprising amount of dead pigs. I said: “Thirty thousand pigs! Are we sure about that?” The Mackay journalist had spoken to our siste
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The World Day of Prayer is an ecumenical movement inspired by the motto “Informed Prayer and Prayerful Action.” We follow the example of Jesus Christ, who prayed with compassion and love for peace in our fractured world. The theme is “I Beg You... Bear With One Another in Love,” and calls us to patiently support each other with generosity and compassion, despite all difficulties and oppression. The Palestinian Christian women who wrote this worship service have invited the world to pray fo
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Get ready to roll this Saturday, as the Mackay Bowls Club hosts the long-awaited Australia Day Bowls event, kicking off at 1pm, March 2nd. Come along bowlers, and enjoy an afternoon of bowls and some Aussie tucker… be sure to wear your best Aussie attire! Sponsored by Mackay Regional Council and Karyn Shepherd from More Air, this event promises a day of fun-filled bowling action, offering two divisions, one for Bowlers and the other for non-bowlers. You’ve got to be in it to win it! There wil
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There were plenty of tight scores in the northern derby clashes between the Townsville Blackhawks and Mackay Cutters. The Mackay campaign started on a strong note with the Harvey Norman U17s coming away with a convincing 20-10 win over the Blackhawks. It was a day of impressive footy at Jack Manski Oval on Saturday, with the Harvey Norman Under 17s holding the biggest score difference, with just 10 points. Unfortunately for Mackay, that was the first and last win for the sides against a tough
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