The beautiful township of Bowen has been declared national finalist for the Grey Nomads Awards, in two massive categories. Championing experience for visitors over the age of 50, the township of Bowen has been shortlisted for the 2023 Best Grey Nomad Friendly Town category, while The Big Mango and the Bowen Visitor Information Centre has been named finalist in the Best Attraction category. Chair of Bowen Tourism and Business, Jenn Honnery said making it to the shortlist for the Grey Nomads awa
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As the school year kicks off, packing a wholesome lunchbox is a fantastic way to ensure that both kids and adults stay fuelled and focused throughout the day. Ditch the monotony of pre-packaged snacks and explore these mouth watering yet healthy lunchbox recipes that will satisfy taste buds while providing essential nutrients. 1. Quinoa Salad Jars: Prepare a batch of quinoa and layer it in portable jars with colourful veggies like cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and capsicum. Add a protein boost wit
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The Whitsundays are invited to head north this February for the latest cultural instalment from the Burdekin Theatre which is showcasing a magical story of finding true love. Hans Christian Andersen’s classic animated film, Disney’s The Little Mermaid, has been transformed into a beautiful musical that the Whitsunday region is invited to enjoy under the talents of The Burdekin Singers and Theatre Company. The tale begins in a magical deep-sea kingdom where a young mermaid, Ariel, dreams of lea
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It is the match of the century, with the likes of Rock Queen Pink going up against Pop Goddess Lady Gaga, a heated battle set to ignite the music world on fire! In one corner, we have Pink, with countless top 10 singles, this rock vixen has sold out more tours and broken countless records for attracting larger audiences than ever before. We’ll be yelling ‘So What’ with the energy, ‘Just Give Me A Reason’ and we’ll be jumping to the beat of the hits. The audience is guaranteed to be high energy
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Celebrating the ninth annual Whitsunday Sports Expo, organisers are opening the doors to more than just sports, inviting all other local groups to participate in this vibrant community event. Held at the Whitsunday Sportspark, the Expo has established a reputation for bringing a wide variety of community groups together, offering each club a platform to connect with potential members. From swimming to basketball, the annual Whitsunday Triathlon Festival, ball sports such as netball, water spor
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Welcome to Whitsunday Touch, where passion and fun collide on the shores of the magnificent Whitsunday Islands! A Journey Back to 1974 Our name, the 74's, pays homage to both the breathtaking archipelago that surrounds us and our humble beginnings. The Whitsundays, with its 74 enchanting islands, serves as our playground and inspiration. We are fortunate to call this natural wonderland home, and we celebrate its beauty through our club's identity. In 1974, a small group of passionate individ
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The Coral Sea Marina Resort Airlie Beach Triathlon Festival is gaining momentum for its 24th annual event on July 27 and 28 this year with the attendance of former superstar swimmer Susie O’Neill and the “voice of triathlons” Pete Murray now locked in. Whitsunday Triathlon Club President Michael Kimpton said this year’s festival will be a triathlon weekend like no other appealing to both seasoned competitors and the local senior and junior triathletes and swimmers. “The 2024 Coral Sea Marina R
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Over the past 30 years Cannonvale Swim Centre has evolved from a small club to a vibrant community that proudly represents 120 members and welcomes more than 200 swimmers to regular training sessions. The Swim Centre is home to the Cannonvale Cannons, a thriving club which has recently seen three of its members qualify for national competition. In the beginning, the Club wanted to offer Cannonvale residents a local place to swim and train, this has now evolved and countless children head stra
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On Wednesday men and ladies played a single stableford event sponsored by the Bowen Golf Club. Ladies’ winner Jo Kukura 35pts, runner up Claire Garrod 33pts. Pin shots to Joy Hose, Ruth Dunn, and Trish Sellen with an IBP. Men’s winner Rod Wells 41pts, runner up on a countback Mark Russell 38pts. Pin shots to Garry Kukura, Rikki Bartlett, Nick Riley, and Kevin Cross. On Saturday, we played a single stableford event sponsored by Bowen Golf Club. Ladies’ winner Tanya Gaudry 36pts, runner up on a
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Aaron Prosser won the Tuesday competition with 35 stableford points; one ahead of Louis Neethling. Pins went to Ben Smith, Rehab Hull, John Roser and Matthew Muller. Thursday's winner, Fraser Simpson had 42 points to beat Jason Bourke in the A division, while Michael Jarvis had 40 points ahead of Leigh Redpath with 38 points in the B division. Pins went to Levi Holmes, Fraser Simpson, and Nathan Holohan. Troy Smith edged out Brendan Spann with 21 points to win the Friday Met run, while Sam De
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Another very warm and steamy day on the golf course which kept some of our players indoors, however Sundays are getting busier every week so make sure you log into the timesheet as early as possible. So the winners were: LADIES ALL IN: Winner: Elise Hodgson with 36 points Runner-up: Tiina Randmae with 29 points Longest Drive: Tiina Randmae and Pam Casey MEN’S A GRADE: Winner: George Meharry with 36 points Runner-up: Ritchie Atkins with 32 Longest Drive: Aaron Watts MEN’S B GRADE Winner
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This week’s 9-hole stabelford saw Donna Henderson take first place with 21 pts c/b, following in second with 21 pts was Brock Brindle and third place with 19 pts was Michael Pettiford. Fridays 9-hole stabelford saw Chris Bartlett in first place with 24 pts, second with 21 pts c/b was Brock Brindle and third place with 21 pts Glenn Rees. Sunday PAR SVS 18-hole competition was a very warm day but didn’t stop Brent Daniel taking first place with +5, second with +3 was Glenn Rees and third place wa
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Since its launch in 2022, the Next Stars Sports Academy has quickly established itself as a leader in sports coaching and mentorship for children in the Whitsunday region. Offering a variety of sports including running, basketball, netball and ninja as well as school holiday programs, Next Stars mission is to “inspire youth in regional and remote Australia to reach their full potential through sport”. Co-Founder of Next Stars, Tim Oberg, said “I grew up in Brisbane and was fortunate enough to h
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One more month of summer and the days are already getting shorter and although we are still only bowling on Wednesday afternoon, Jackpot Bowls, and Sunday afternoon Social Bowls we are getting big numbers in attendance and some great performances from our players in our little but elite Club. Great news, this week starting on Wednesday where Mervyn Stewart and Rick Galea do a superb job of running an even competition and there can only be one winner with Warren Mills showing he's back to his be
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Sunday Social: W.Coles, and Helen Jacobsen, Steve Roome defeated Harry, Ross Scanlon, and Mitch Wright. Ron Muir, Rob, and Jane Gilbert defeated Herb Dalton, Andy Peebles, and Tiarna Rogers. Keith Kirk, Wayne Crowhurst, and Kevin Jewel defeated Jake Delic, Ray Muir, and Gavin Charles. Wednesday Social: Jake Delic, Ron Gould, and Steve Roome defeated Sue Fox, Lou Fordham, and Doc Fordham. Peter Bruce, and Jason Wright defeated Ray Muir, and Mitch Wright. Jocelyn, Tracey Roach, and Mark Drummond
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Winners for Tuesday social bowls were Stumpy Adams, Robyn Stitt, and Steve Roome defeated Lindy Suann, Deb Retchless, and Mark Drummond. Jocelyn DeFranciscis. Merle Elphinstone, and Penny Warren defeated Bill Myers, Irene Laird, and Allan Rolfe. The jackpot didn’t go off. On Sunday, 24 players braved the heat for a nice afternoon of bowls Thank goodness for the shade cover. Winners for the afternoon were Gwenda Lydom, Robyn Stitt, and Kevin Daniels who defeated Terry Blair, Jocelyn DeFrancisc
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The Cannonvale Cannons Swimming Club hosted another successful Club Night on Wednesday night. The Cannons commended two young members with new Club records. Lucas Korosec for setting a record for boys 7 years 50m Butterfly in a time of 54.30s. Eloise Chegwidden, aged 8 years, set a record for 50m Breaststroke in a time of 52.31sec. Congratulations, Eloise, and Lucas! Club Secretary, Giselle Burton presented Upgrade Certificates to Andie Reynolds, Connor Lee, Eloise Chegwidden, Eric Mulliss, B
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Now is the time for Mackay residents to get ready, and the message is to be prepared, but not panic. At a press conference on Monday morning, Mayor Greg Williamson announced that the region transitioned from an alert position to a 'lean forward' stance. This signifies that the Disaster Management Group (DMG) is actively engaged in providing all the necessary resources and support for our region to prepare for the possibility of a significant flooding event. With the high possibility that Cyclone
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As I reflect on Mother Nature's frightening force, my mind drifts back to where I grew up in Renwick, a quaint town perched atop New Zealand's South Island, where the Wairau Fault Line offered a regular reminder of seismic uncertainties. During school days, earthquake drills were almost as routine as morning roll calls, with the ringing bell signalling a well-practiced dive beneath sturdy desks. My journey to Australia held the promise of seismic serenity, yet North Queensland brought a differen
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In a sugar-covered gesture, a local mum and her young son spread a little sweetness during a challenging morning for Anita Pritchard and her children. Facing the unexpected hardship of waking up to a power outage caused by a car accident near their home, the Pritchard family found themselves on the way to an appointment with empty stomachs. The thoughtful duo ahead in the line at Mount Pleasant Donut King surprised them by purchasing a dozen cinnamon donuts, paying it forward in an unexpected
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The Isaac Regional Council is set to receive a crucial funding boost from the Queensland Government, securing $70,200 in grants as part of the Flying-Fox Roost Management in Queensland Program. This initiative, now in its sixth round, disburses over $620,000 among sixteen Queensland councils, empowering them to enhance flying-fox management projects. The funding will enable Isaac Regional Council to implement low-impact actions outlined in their Hoods Lagoon draft flying-fox management plan, foc
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On Saturday, just after 4.00pm, RACQ CQ Rescue received word from Queensland Health that four hikers needed help after it received a triple 0 call. The chopper headed to the dense bushland of Cape Hillsborough to search for the bush walkers. The four were reportedly walking the trails when they became disoriented and overcome by the heat of the day. On arrival, RACQ CQ Rescue quickly located a hiker in steep, wooded terrain. A Rescue Crew Officer was winched to the site to determine what medi
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Amid community concerns over potential delays, Mackay Base Hospital's helipad operations are set to temporarily move to Mackay Airport during the forthcoming $250 million hospital expansion. This relocation introduces a travel distance of 5.4 to 6.2 km from the airport to the hospital, sparking apprehensions about extended transfer times. The decision, guided by extensive consultation and expert evaluations, underscores the importance of Mackay Airport as the interim landing site due to not havi
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Get ready to applaud and celebrate the exceptional achievements of women in the greater Mackay region as the Just Saying Project (JSP) Women’s Awards 2024 unveils its nominees. This annual event transcends mere awards, transforming into a vibrant celebration of resilience, triumphs, and inspiration. The awards gala, penned for March 2 at the MECC, promises to showcase diverse narratives, spotlighting the inspiring stories, challenges overcome, and successes achieved by the women shaping the reg
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Five lucky university students will have the opportunity to kick start their careers through the academic bursary program when applications open today. The program offers students in their second last year the chance to gain valuable paid work experience aligned with their area of study, along with the added bonus of $5000 financial assistance for costs associated with their studies. Mayor Greg Williamson said council established the program back in 2011 to help support students in the region an
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