Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
Mackay Regional Council announced that more than half the trails at Finch Hatton MTB were made available to ride last weekend, with many riders across the region taking the opportunity to shred the twists and turns. This is an opportunity for riders to get some tyres on the trails and help pack them down after recent delays due to wet weather. A mix of easy, intermediate, and expert trails are ready to ride. These initial trails are the first to be accessible in stage one, with the remaining tra
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Over eighty Mackay Road Runners pounded the pavement at 6.30am from the Queen’s Park Rotunda for the annual Club Championship event competing for valuable open and age category points. MAD Fitness Mackay’s support added to the prestige and success of the event as runners took to the East Mackay streets despite the overcast skies after an initial loop of Queen’s Park before returning for a final loop to cross the finish line. There were many special performances amongst the field, particular
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Mackay Table Tennis Tuesday night fixtures February 20, 2024: Division 1: Lexus (Barry Patterson, Andrew McHugh, Janice Kent) d Jaguar (Tim Shehan, Anne Sheridan, Vince Boeske) 6-5. Tim d Janice -8, 6, 13, -14, 3. BMW (Emma Widdup, Allan Edwards, Ian McKay) d Ferrari (Geoff Denman, Tony Bowman, Robbie Richards) 7-4. Tony d Ian -4, 8, 10, -5, 10. Mercedes (Graeme Walker, Steven Whiting, Graham Brake) d Audi (Mick Ruhl, Lee Brake, Ishan Rana) 6-5. Mick d Steven 7, -16, -7, 3, 5. Division 2: Is
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The Mackay Triathlon community came together to honour the memory of Sonya Brazil in a remarkable display of athleticism and camaraderie at the Sonya Brazil Memorial Women's Only Triathlon. Since 2000 the race has been named in Ms Brazil's honour after she died unexpectedly in 1999 whilst on her quest to stay fit and active. The event, held under overcast skies, saw participants from all walks of life take on the challenge, with a special nod to those tackling a triathlon for the very first
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Eight Blokarters from Mackay ventured South to Mulambin, near Yeppoon, to compete in the Australian Blokart Championships. The Smith family were well represented from grandparents to grandchild. Most fleet classes were contested with the Mackay team performing well in their respected classes. The Francis family did well, Kate Francis achieving a 3rd overall in Lightweight Production, Tony achieving 1st overall in Medium Weight Performance. Other results included Trevor Smith 3rd overall
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The Wilson Kinchant Team Championship was held last weekend with Mackay Tournament Anglers facing challenging weather conditions. Despite the initial bout of pouring rain and gusting winds, the skies cleared up in the final hour, allowing anglers to vie for top honours. Brad Hocking secured the title for the biggest Barra, reeling in an impressive catch measuring 108cm and earning a prize of $100. In the overall standings, Mullet Mayhem, comprising Keegan Hayden and Brendon King, clinched the to
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The North Mackay Sinkers Masters’ small but fun February meet attracted 37 registered swimmers last weekend, to the club’s home training pool at Mackay North State High School. A large portion of the club participated but members were pleasantly surprised by the company of both the Mackay Swimming Academy Masters and Pioneer Swimming Club adults for additional local talent. The meet also attracted out-of -town visitors from the Atherton Mountaineers, Long Tan Legends, Rats of Tobruk, Toowoom
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Mackay Contract Bridge Club Results for week ending Sunday 25th February 2024 Monday 19 February 2024 – 4 Table Howell Green Points North / South East / West 1st GEOFFREY PATTERSON - ROBERT CARLESS 3rd BARBARA TAIT - MARGARET LANE 1st EDWARD KLIESE - DIANE STOKES 4th MONICA DARLEY - SANDRA FORD Wednesday 21 February 2024 –7 Table Mitchell Green Points North/South East/West 1st 2nd 3rd CARMEL BROWN - PATRICK RASMUS
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Passionate Indigenous owner, Robbie Congoo, is proud to release his self-funded 3.5-minute animated film about the creation of the Whitsunday Islands and the Great Barrier Reef. For the past year, the project has been underway, and the completed animation is now showing as a ‘Ngaro Dreaming Story’ video on Cruise Whitsundays tours. Robbie hopes the film not only opens eyes to Indigenous culture and history, but also encourages people to protect the local environment.
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Hi Everyone, One of my favourite parts of the job is meeting people who are so passionate about their mission in life that their energy is inspiring to be around. Their story is so engaging and meaningful that you can’t help but feel passionate right there alongside them. This happened to me earlier this week when I met Robbie Congoo, a proud Indigenous man who has just released an animated short film about local cultural history. I remember coming to Australia as a backpacker 20 years ago
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Upon hearing of the devastating effects of the flooding in North Queensland, following Ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper, local business owners Jen and Beth Walters of Cartridge Universe Whitsunday, decided to rally the community together to provide necessary supplies to small communities. “We became aware of the state of Rossville and surrounds when our friend, Dave Charlton, put the call out for any donations to travel up with him on 22nd December 2023,” Beth explained. In December, Jen and Beth w
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An Independent Inquiry has been launched to investigate the fatal helicopter crash of an Australian Defence Force helicopter, which killed four Defence personnel. The ADF helicopter, the MRH-90 Taipan helicopter was undertaking training exercises in the Whitsundays as part as Exercise Talisman Sabre 2023, when it experienced catastrophic failure and crashed into waters near Lindeman Island, in July 2023. The four Defence personnel onboard, Captain Danniel Lyon, Lieutenant Maxwell Nugent, Warra
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Early voting officially opens on Monday March 4, for voters wishing to escape the hectic polling booths on Saturday March 16. Here are the locations to vote early in the region: Cannonvale Shop 15 of Whitsunday Shopping Centre Proserpine Proserpine Whitsunday Freemason Lodge Collinsville Collinsville Community Centre Bowen Bowen PCYC All sites are open Monday March 4 to Friday March 15 (excluding weekends) from 9am to 5pm
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The upcoming Country Fest Queensland, a North Queensland country music festival due to be held in Bloomsbury later this month announced this week that headlining act, John Fogerty will no longer be playing at the festival. Event organisers released a statement saying John Fogerty will “no longer be attending Country Fest QLD.” “We are working hard on a revised line up and will have more information coming soon,” the official statement on the events Facebook explained. However, the Credence Cle
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A joint venture between Proserpine State High School and Whitsunday Shire Family Day Care (WFDC) has seen the creation of a new ‘The Whitsundays: Our Home, Your Adventures’ novel. The idea came from the team of WFDC, as a way to celebrate the region, the community’s identity, and incorporate iconic landmarks in a children’s book. “Our goal was to capture the unique charm of the region and involve the children in the process,” explained Amanda Brett, Coordinator with Whitsunday Shire Family Day
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The Whitsunday Foodbank in Proserpine is welcoming a grant from the 2024 Ergon-Energex Community Fund. The generous grant of $4,500 has already been allocated for the purchase of a new freezer for the not-for-profit venture, to allow community members to access frozen grocery items. Chairman of the Board for Whitsunday Foodbank, Jeff Boyle, welcomes the gift. “Our previous freezer has just died, and being able to replace it so quickly is great,” he explained. “Our previous freezer was a class
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Since she was three years old, Roze has passionately pursued her dream of becoming a fashion model and she finally realised this dream when she appeared on a billboard during New York Fashion Week recently. Answering a callout by former locals Belle Le Chic, Roze’s mum Katrina put Roze forward as a model to showcase Belle Le Chic’s new collection, the Goddess Collection. In the two-day shoot, Roze was sure that photographer, Alexis Turner, knew her good side, and posed perfectly, the hope of
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Whitsunday Regional Council has set a new precedent, overruling Botanica Estate’s governing body and body corporation recommendation, by approving an owner’s application for their property to be a short term accommodation listing. Botanica Estate is a gated, residential community, with 48 residential lots. Managed by Whitsunday Body Corp Management and the Botanica Body Corporate Committee (BCC), the committee opposed the application, on the grounds of personal safety, residential amenity and
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Three Proserpine youth have spoken their heart out, at the annual Proserpine Lions Youth of the Year competition. The Lions Youth of the Year was created to enable and encourage student to take an interest in leadership, providing the opportunity to take an active and constructive role in their community. The Youth of the Year Final includes one prepared speech, on the topic of their choosing, and two impromptu speeches. The three youth at the Proserpine Youth of the Year embody community spi
Read moreQuestions Of The Week: 1. Who do you think is your biggest competitor? What do you admire about them and what qualities do you have that will ultimately make you better for the role? 2. If you could throw your support behind a particular local community organisation what would it be and how would you support them? 3. What’s your vision of the Whitsundays in 10 years? Tell us about the infrastructure, services and facilities you think are most important to the region and paint a picture o
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Bowen Gumlu Growers Association led initiative ‘New Realities in Agriculture and Aquaculture Project’ has successfully concluded, revolutionising youth engagement in agriculture and aquaculture by offering an immersive virtual reality experience. The project allowed participants a window in careers in agriculture and aquaculture, utilising virtual reality, with the selected young people reporting newfound enthusiasm and appreciation for the diverse career opportunities in the industry. "This i
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The Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning and Whitsunday Regional Council are inviting business to a Business Capability Development session aimed at supporting local businesses and industry in positioning for work throughout major project and business supply chains. This session will include delivery of a Capability Statement Workshop and Tendering: Top Ten Tips presentation. WHAT: Business Capability Development Sessions WHERE: Whitsunday Regional Cou
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The Rotary Club of Bowen has officially celebrated 71 years of establishment, alongside the 119th anniversary of Rotary around the world. While the actual birthday of the Rotary Club of Bowen isn’t until June, Club President Helen Woodhouse explained that the Club decided to “tag” along with the 119th anniversary of Rotary as their birthday function. The group were delighted to see Federal Member for Dawson, Andrew Willcox, come along to celebrate the milestone. “The idea of the event was to ta
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Greys Bay in Bowen is welcoming two new undercover shelters, ahead of the expected influx of visitors. The shelters, which include a picnic setting, overhead cover and solar lighting, will allow visitors and locals to enjoy the beach in shade. The first shelter will be placed at Greys Bay Lookout, with works beginning earlier last week, and expected to be completed by mid-March. The second shelter will be in Lions Park, with exact times for the expected work to be confirmed, once materials ar
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This month’s Ask An Expert with Whitsundays Chamber of Commerce and Industry asks: Are business plans a waste of time? Some Chamber Board members responded. Melinda of Melinda Louise Media believes that business plans are key to success. It provides a framework for strategic direction, identifies goals, timeframes to monitor growth and financial targets, and track progress. It can be revisited as the business grows and adapted to market and customer shifts. Are they a waste of time? “No w
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