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Launched in 2020, the Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre is eager to bring back the 2024 instalment of the September Weekender, the popular event that keeps the entire family entertained. Scheduled for the September School Holidays, this weekend extravaganza features the best of the best, from adults only evenings, musical icons, and circus performance. Now, what’s on the agenda? Day one will see award-winning cabaret, Briefs Factory, alongside celebrated songbird, Sahara Beck, return
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Mackay’s very own Lauren Morgan has been selected in the Australian Under 26 Women team to compete in the 8th World Youth Transnational Championships in Poland later this year. The Australian Bridge Federation have agreed to pay the team entry fees, but Lauren and the other team members need help to cover their travel costs. If anyone or any business would like to help fund the travel for this team or for Lauren, please contact the Australian Bridge Federation (02) 6239 2265 or youth@abf.com.au.
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A selfless group of eager participants met at the Mackay Marina at 5am, on Sunday morning to engage in a 60km Mackay Dragon Boat Club Paddle-A-Thon, raising vital funds for the prevention of homelessness, specifically to Chances Op Shop and Café. With issues like inflation on the rise, the financial struggles and housing crisis continues to worsen, leaving more and more vulnerable locals out on the streets. It is for this reason that a not-for-profit organisation like Chances Op Shop and Café i
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Despite the threatening stormy skies, over eighty runners kicked off at 6.30am last Sunday morning to race the annual 5km and 10km Rural View loop. As runners crossed the finish line, Club Patron Col Meng OAM donated zooper doopers to cool down the devoted participants. Club President Brendan Bishop welcomed many new and existing members to the first handicap points run of the year. Timekeeper and registration assistant, Arthur Dick and Julie Whibley had a big job ahead of them with an awesome
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Mackay Basketball have seen fantastic success, following both their Under 23 teams, the U23 Meteors Men’s and the U23 Meteorettes Women’s taking home the wins at the Mendi U23 Northern Leagues, held at Rockhampton last weekend. The U23 Mackay Meteorettes Women’s Team played four fixtures, against the Rockhampton Cyclones, twice, the Cairns Dolphins, and the Townsville Flames, defeating all teams for a clean sweep win for Round 1. GAME 1: Mackay Meteorettes 89 def Rockhampton Cyclones 64 GAME 2
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Last Saturdays Mackay Parkrun event was not only a celebration of personal achievements but also an appreciation to volunteers involved. Allan Lorraway, achieved a remarkable new personal best by shredding off 1 minute and 36 seconds from his previous score in his 149th parkrun finish. His previous on-going participation and eagerness has finally paid off and members of the Mackay Parkrun couldn’t be prouder. The success of Event #369 was made possible by the tireless efforts of a dedicated t
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One of Australia’s cricketing greats, Glenn McGrath delighted the crowds at the 10th annual Bowen Pink Stumps Day which took place in Bowen last weekend. Bowen Cricket Association were once again pleased with the turnout of over 200 ladies, who braved the rain and attended the event in an array of pink outfits that included everything from gum boots to elegant dresses. The afternoon ensued with delicious food, reels of laughter and of course important education on breast cancer. Over $6.5K was
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Hi Everyone, Great to hear Bowen Pink Stumps was another huge success over the weekend and congratulations to the organisers, Bowen Cricket Association, whose event was once again able to be included in the top 10 of fundraisers Australia-wide. Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, the Bowen Pink Stumps event was made even more special by the attendance of cricketing legend Glenn McGrath who catapulted our small regional town onto the national playing field once again. Our journalist,
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The Year 12 cohort at Whitsunday Christian College spread the Valentine’s Day love last week, gifting students and members of staff with a rose on Wednesday, February 14. The students were excited to get involved, hand delivering roses to all students, from pre-kindergarten to Year 11, and all members of staff. “We thought that roses would be a great way to spread love and kindness throughout the school for Valentine’s Day,” the Year 12 students explained. “Staff, students, and families respo
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By Paul Gellatly Bowen’s Chamber of Commerce has raised a jar to the health of Whitsunday region projects ahead of council elections in mid-March. At its monthly meeting on February 14, the chamber heard addresses from Chris Monsour, agronomist and director of Prospect Agriculture, which operates a 250-hectare agave farm between Bowen and Proserpine; and Sean Brown, director of Bowen Pipeline Company, which is planning to build a 115-kilometre water pipeline from the Burdekin River to Bowen.
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Raising money and awareness for a cause close to their hearts, local couple Jared and Sophie Russell have launched a campaign to encourage more donations to fund much-needed research into brain cancer. Sophie’s father, Brendan who is in his late 50s, was sadly diagnosed with a Glioblastoma Multiforme grade 4 in August 2023, and since then the family have been passionate about raising both money and awareness. Originally from Armidale NSW, Brendan (Brenno) is a regular visitor to the Whitsunda
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Married at First Sight Australia Season 11 couple Eden and Jayden checked into Airlie Beach, for their Episode 3 honeymoon. The Australian branch of the Show, Married at First Sight follows a number of strangers from across Australia who participate in a social experiment and are paired together by ‘love’ experts. While the participants are not legally married for the television show, the stars complete an unofficial commitment ceremony, enjoy a luxurious honeymoon, live together for a time, a
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With the election race heating up, Mayoral Candidates are looking for every opportunity to engage with the community and The Whitsunday Conservation Council (WCC) are hosting a special event which is open to the public. The Mayoral Candidate Forum is due to take place on 28 February, 6:30 pm start at the Reef Gateway Hotel in Cannonvale. It is a free forum and everyone is welcome. The forum theme is Sustainability and Liveability in the Whitsundays. “As a Great Barrier Reef destination, t
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Please share with us one personal experience during your campaign trail so far that has really reinforced the reason you are running for council? Richard Evans Mayoral Candidate It's the moments of truth with residents throughout the Whitsundays that drive home a common frustration: the perceived lack of effective engagement and responsiveness from our Council. This sentiment echoes across regions and towns, signalling a clear need for change. We can either do more of the same, keeping the st
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The Cannonvale Police Station is welcoming its newest recruit, First Year Constable Zac Richters-Nielsen, who joined the team last week. Relocating from Brisbane, Zac’s professional background was in banking before he decided to make a career change and join the police force. “I have always wanted to be a police officer since I was a little kid,” Zac explained. Zac has started his new position at Cannonvale Police Station and says he is eager to get on the ground. “I bring a readiness and
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Terms 3 and 4 intakes of PCYC Whitsunday’s Get Set For Work Program have unveiled a refurbished dresser which has been brought back to life and is available for sale at the Whitsunday Neighbourhood Centre’s Furniture Shop. Get Set For Work program coordinator Scott Lynch said he was looking for a project to complete with participates during the term, when the idea of renovating and refurbishing a piece of furniture came to mind. “The Whitsunday Neighbourhood Centre generously donated us the dr
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Completely student led and student run, Proserpine State High School’s Seagrass Theatre and Music Company is gearing up for their 2024 production, reaching for new heights of performance, choreography, vocals, and costuming. With over 90 students involved, including on stage, backstage, technical, front of house, and in the orchestra, the Seagrass Theatre and Music Company will be performing the inspiring ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat’. Established in 2021, Seagrass allows stu
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Around town, Jaime Sparke is a notable figure, a much loved local and dedicated music fan, whose influence and impact is felt within the waves of the beats in the street. He has become a regular face on the Airlie Beach Main Street, having moved to the region over 10 years ago, the temperature and climate agreeing with him and his active lifestyle, with many a local recognising him and his furry friend, Rocco. Jaime’s diagnosis of cerebral palsy has not hindered his passion for life, with his a
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Last month I confessed to my dislike for setting goals – this month I’m professing my love for feedback! And not just positive feedback – feedback which, when phrased the right way, is constructive, motivating and provides a clear pathway to creating tangible positive outcomes. Negative, positive, constructive, and those hideous 360s – all feedback can be fraught with danger if it doesn’t land the right way and can result in further discord in the workplace than previous. Here’s some simple
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Holy cow – blink and it is the end of February! 2024 is charging ahead! Have you settled in and hitting your stride? Or are you still trying to get a handle on the year? An essential quality for everyone in business is endurance – from starting a new business, having big goals to achieve, or just your to do list. Endurance in businesses means owners, operators, and their teams have the willingness to stick it out and the ability to work through challenges productively. Like any endurance athlet
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By Paul Gellatly At last week’s Bowen Chamber of Commerce meeting, Sean Brown, CEO of Bowen Pipeline Company, outlined his vision for a $600 million, 115km pipeline from the Burdekin to Bowen, using on-site extracted HDPE plastic pipeline yielding a 45 per cent cost saving and a five-million km reduction in B-double truck movements. The pipe is to be extruded in 100m lengths and laid in a cutting that follows an old stock route for much of the way, which will simplify the approvals process. It
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Most countries have a system to encourage citizens to save for their retirement. In the USA they are called 401K Accounts, and, in the UK, they are called Pension Accounts. In Australia we call our system the Superannuation system. Is our super system a good system? Would we get a gold medal in the ‘Super Olympics’? When assessing a retirement system, the big questions are, how much investment choice and flexibility you have, and what access to your money you are giving up in return for the ta
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This week marked the start of our latest campaign aimed at boosting visitation through the traditionally quieter periods. We have kicked off with a billboard outside Brisbane Airport and a sponsorship of ‘The Daily Aus’ newsletter and Podcast to target the under 35 demographic nationally. If you travel outside The Whitsundays in the coming weeks and months, keep your eyes peeled for our world-class Whitsundays experiences and accommodation operators in ads on social media. They are also on di
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Are you a Bowen local, with a passion for the region, an interest in writing and storytelling, and desire to give back to the local youth? If so, the Bowen Neighbourhood Centre has the program for you! The idea for the Program stemmed from a team chat where it was noticed that Bowen’s youngest didn’t know much about local traditions and history. “Our children don’t know a lot of the traditions that Bowen has, things that the older in our community just inherently know,” explained Stephanie Cora,
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Established in 2005, by couple Jane and Glenn McGrath, the McGrath Foundation is built on the basis of equipping people diagnosed and fighting breast cancer with the very best breast care, no matter where in Australia they lived. In 2008, Jane McGrath unfortunately lost her life to breast cancer, having secured funding for 50 breast care nurses and leaving the legacy of the McGrath Foundation, for her husband, and Australian cricketing icon, Glenn McGrath to continue. In 2011, the McGrath Foun
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