After the New Year’s Eve storm passed, eager runners laced up their sneakers for a special New Year’s Day parkrun through the Botanic Gardens. Event number 362 for Mackay parkrun saw seven personal milestones achieved for runners and presented the perfect opportunity to look back on what was a record-breaking year for the running group. 2023 Statistics: . Annual Attendance - 13,438 (Previous best - 10,239 in 2019) . Average Event Attendance - 258.42 (Previous best - 254.35 in 2020) . Total
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Hi everyone and welcome to the first Whitsunday Life for 2024! I hope everyone had a relaxing and enjoyable Christmas and New Years break. For me, I headed back to my parents for the week of Christmas, before coming back up to Airlie Beach for New Years Eve. And I must say, Airlie Beach certainly knows how to party! With the amount of visitors we currently have in town, this shouldn’t surprise me, but looking out over the crowds at both the 8.30pm and the 12.00am-midnight firework shows on th
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For Airlie Beach resident Jj Saleh, establishing the men’s support group was an easy decision, one where he could support and be supported by likeminded men in the region. “The group allows for a safe space for men to express their feelings, to feel vulnerable, and reintroduce accountability,” Jj explained. Jj himself is on his own self-healing journey and wished to create a group to foster connection with males, to share and grow. “I thought it would be good to give back and share what I’ve
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Australia Day celebrations have been thrown into disarray, due to false information generated by news outlets, stating that Whitsunday Regional Council has decided to scrap Australia Day Ceremonies and Citizenship Ceremonies. Whitsunday Regional Council was named alongside Burdekin Shire Council, Bundaberg Regional Council, and Toowoomba Regional Council. However, Whitsunday Regional Council wishes to share that they have not scrapped Australia Day and Citizenship Celebrations and are gearing
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New data by the National and International Visitor Survey (NVS and IVS) has highlighted the incredible captivation that visitors find with the Whitsundays. As of September 30, 2023, domestically, the Whitsundays saw 513,000 visitors, an increase of 15.8 per cent over the past three years, with 266,000 or 36.6 per cent, from interstate. On average, visitors stayed 4.2 nights, down by 1.3 nights over three years, however, spending has increased, with $1.3 billion expenditure, a 28.4 per cent inc
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We wish all boaties a safe and enjoyable summer break, and hope that you will not need our ser-vices. But if you do, our dedicated and committed volunteers are available 24/7/365, saving lives at sea. PREPARATION – One of the keys to safety on the water The key to safety in a small boat is PREPARATION. Always do all your normal pre-departure checks before leaving home, and again before leaving the boat ramp. If you are towing a trailer any distance, you will need to have the trailer tyres
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By Rachael Smith The highly anticipated Whitsunday Skyway is set to gain momentum in 2024 and, with firm plans in place, all that remains is to secure the project’s final approvals and finalization of the investment structure. Once this occurs, the Whitsundays could be just two years away from welcoming its largest piece of on-land infrastructure which will completely change the landscape of tourism in the region. The base station of the Skyway’s cable car structure will be located a short wa
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Student Council Executives Amber Van Moolenbroek Being a leader allows Amber to give back to her school, and she says it “fosters my own self-improvement.” “The role of a student leader, as I see it, is to be a role model. To inspire students, no matter their learning styles, to be prepared for all things.” Jesselyn Hynard “I desire to see change within my school community, by creating an environment that encourages engagement and equality.” Eager to get into the role, Jesselyn has already intr
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Drink Driving Of A Vessel, Airlie Beach A 34-year-old Jubilee Pocket man has been arrested and charged by police following an alleged incident at about 3:35pm on January 1 in Airlie Beach. Police were located at New Beach on an unrelated matter when they intervened the man, who had just travelled to New Beach in a vessel. Following this conversation, the 34-year-old was arrested outright for operating the vessel while under the influence of liquor. He was taken to the Whitsunday police station
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The famous Bowen mango man, Patrick Martin, and his wife Sylvie have stepped away from their iconic mango sorbet business, after more than 25 years. Patrick arrived in Australia from France in 1971, travelling via boat and landing at Shepperton. He initially lived in Bowen and picked tomatoes before he decided to travel around Australia. He landed back in Bowen after some time and met his soon-to-be wife, Sylvie, also from France. They met while picking Bowen tomatoes and have never looked
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Budget airline Bonza is in hot water, with a series Christmas and New Year flight cancellations, disrupting holiday plans and causing chaos for travellers. Earlier in 2023, Bonza announced a new airline hub in the Gold Coast, connecting much of east coast Australia with affordable flights, however, the launch flight from Whitsunday Coast Airport, scheduled for December 7, was postponed a number of times, before the airline was successful able to take to the airs. Initially, the delays were due
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Technology may have changed the way we plan our daily lives but many people still like a good old fashioned calendar to hang on the wall. A traditional calendar gives you the chance to see at a glance who has a birthday coming up and add other appointments on the go for all in the household to see. It also a great chance to display lovely photos and the 2024 Bowen calendar is the perfect example. For the first time last year, Bowen Tourism and Business produced a calendar with photos of Bowen’s
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Happy New Year to the Whitsundays business community, our broader community and all our wonderful visitors! Despite the heat, a great vibe is clearly evident around town. Seeing as it is a new year, it’s a great time to think about what your business resolutions might look like. Business resolutions are commitments businesses make to improve their strategy, operations, or processes. Like personal New Year's resolutions, business resolutions can help prioritise goals or activities that may have
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Four new police officers have hit the ground running in the Mackay and Whitsunday District and can now say they have the busy Christmas and New Year period under their belt. The four new officers have a range of experience and knowledge behind them and bolster the expertise and ground crew of the region’s officers. Constable Erin North, posted to the Mackay Police Station, previously worked in administration in Brisbane. Constable Dan Larose, posted to the Bowen Police station, has worked as a
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Since its inception as a leading counselling and support organisation, Whitsunday Suicide Prevention Network has stood by it’s community grounded roots, of being present for every single resident and community member in the Whitsundays region, and providing support in every facet of mental health. Established in 2016, Whitsunday Suicide Prevention Network (WSPN) aims to be a haven for anyone who is struggling with mental health, by removing stigma, raising awareness, and opening the opportunity
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The Whitsundays is currently in the midst of stinger season, with many popular beaches falling prey to jellyfish. As the waters warm up, typically from November to May, the region becomes a hotspot for various species of jellyfish, posing a potential threat to swimmers and beachgoers. Adding to the challenge, northerly winds during this period can exacerbate the situation. Understanding the dynamics of jellyfish season and taking preventative measures is crucial for a safe and enjoyable experie
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A 51-year-old man has unfortunately passed away, following a drowning off Shingley Beach in Cannonvale. Just after midday on New Year’s Day, January 1, emergency services were dispatched to Shingley Drive, Cannonvale, near Coral Sea Marina, with reports of a near drowning. One crew from the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services attended the scene, alongside Police to assist. “Resuscitation was attempted,” a Queensland Fire and Emergency Services spokesperson said, “However, the man was declare
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With a bustling marine terminal full of happy holidaymakers embarking on a range of fantastic experiences, Cruise Whitsundays is the gateway to the islands, the Great Barrier Reef and the wide variety of on-water activities our region is known for. Whether it is snorkelling the coral gardens, stargazing from a glamping tent 39 nautical miles out to sea or walking along the silica sands of Whitehaven Beach, Cruise Whitsundays transform bucket-list items into reality for over 800,000 visitors ever
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With 14 different day tours from 11 different departure points, Cruise Whitsundays has created a spectacular selection of experiences for guests to enjoy. Travel 39 nautical miles out to sea for a Reefsleep adventure, cruise to Whitehaven Beach and wander the silica sands or jump aboard an island transfer. Whatever your dream is, it can be achieved with Cruise Whitsundays. Snorkel, swim and dive the remote Hardy Reef on the dedicated Cruise Whitsundays pontoon. This fully-equipped floating stru
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It has been a whirlwind over the past nine years for Leshia Krushka, Customer Service and Sales Manager with Cruise Whitsundays. And that’s to say, she has loved every single second of her time. Leshia fondly remembers when Cruise Whitsundays operated from Shute Harbour before they relocated to Port of Airlie, and the great expansion that the business has seen in recent times. “I have been so lucky to see the growth of Cruise Whitsundays, welcoming new vessels to the fleet, the launch of Reefw
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It was inevitable that Paige Hurley wouldn’t pursue a career in the marine tourism industry, a profession she feels passionate and energized about. Paige was welcomed into the Cruise Whitsundays family just over a year ago, as the Reef Experience Manager, a position that she is excited to be in and where she hopes to further develop her skills. “I’m incredibly grateful to be part of the Cruise Whitsundays business and the Reef world family,” Paige shared. “Being a part of the Reefstay experie
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Steadfast and confident are two words that perfectly describe the capable General Manager of Cruise Whitsundays, Renee Branton-Brown. Heralding the team for over six years now, Renee is the impeccable head, with a clear compass of direction. Renee joined the Cruise Whitsundays team in 2017, after an extensive history of marine tourism, which began in 2006. “I’ve been travelling the world for most of my adult life,” she explained. “I was fortunate to work across multiple Cruise Line Brands and
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There is not one part of the business that Vessel Engineer Tyler Bellingham hasn’t influenced at Cruise Whitsundays, with his over 10 years of dedicated service and commitment. In fact, Tyler is one of the hardest working team members with Cruise Whitsundays, having joined the team as a wharf porter and handling baggage, before moving into cruise attendant, tour guide, deck hand. He is now as Vessel Engineer, primarily for the beach boats that venture to Whitehaven Beach almost daily. Initially
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Whenever Ryan Guitman is behind the bar of Eastwoods Dining and Bar, impeccable does not begin to describe the calibre of beverages that he serves. With the title of Bar Supervisor, Ryan has a careful eye over his crew of bartenders, and, with his carefully curated drinks menu, each and every guest can be rest assured that Ryan’s keen eye for detail is ensuring only the best. Having experimented and perfected every single element of the Eastwoods Drinks Menu, Ryan knows the bar like the back of
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Do you ever have the inkling to tackle an absolutely obscene amount of food and get your picture on the coveted Wall of Fame? So has the team of KC’s Bar and Grill, having created the Not So Smally, a great challenge for one, and an ever better sharing platter for multiple. Created in early 2023 by the KC’s team, the Not So Smally contains half a rack of sticky BBQ ribs, half a kilo of buffalo wings, one piece of southern fried chicken, onion rings, chips, slaw and pickles, some of the very be
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