A range of employers flocked to the Mackay Job Fair 2023 this week, with the event hosted at CQUniversity and sponsored by IDEAL Placements, Workforce Australia and Local Jobs to offer interested job-seekers a chance at secure employment opportunities. With over thirty businesses and employment agencies in attendance, the event gave opportunity to students from across the Mackay region, to inquire into a range of industries and career pathways. The Transition to Work program, guided by IDEAL P
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The Queensland Resources Dust Disease Support Group attended the Seniors Expo this week, with an important message to retired mine workers regarding their lung health. QRDDSG is a not-for-profit charity providing retired, former and current Queensland mine and quarry workers and their families with guidance, support, and friendship during the health assessment process and in the event of a diagnosis. It is a long road ahead for the volunteers of this organisation, with a goal to test 25,000 form
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Exodas Pty Ltd commenced their operations in 2001 with just two prime movers. Since then, the fleet has grown enormously, now consisting of approximately 120 prime movers and 260 trailers, with a mixture of both fridge vans and tautliners. Exodas services the east coast of Australia, running from Brisbane to Mackay and Whitsundays, Townsville, Cairns, Sydney and Melbourne, daily and return. Specialising in the transportation of produce, refrigerated products, general freight and green life wit
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Time is running out to apply for the 2024 AgriFutures Rural Women's Award, a program celebrating and empowering the inclusive and courageous leadership of women in Australia's rural and emerging industries, businesses, and communities. Applications will close on Wednesday, 25 October 2023, at 11.59 pm AEDT. The Award acts as a springboard, inspiring and nurturing Australian women to harness their skills for the betterment of their industries and communities, while simultaneously unlocking door
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Alison Richardson, the Artistic Director/CEO of Crossroad Arts, has made the decision to leave her role at the prominent inclusive arts organisation. She stepped down from her position on October 13th to return to her hometown of Sydney for personal and family reasons. The organisation, board and community acknowledge Alison's artistic vibrancy and advocacy for a more inclusive community through her commitment to the Crossroad Arts vision of Arts for All. Her work over the years on the many pro
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Residents are once again being asked to think about the value of water as we celebrate National Water Week this week (October 16 to 22). This year’s theme is “United by Water” which encourages everyone to think about the vital role water plays in connecting us all. Water touches every aspect of development. It drives economic growth, supports healthy ecosystems, and is essential and fundamental for life. Council’s Director of Engineering and Commercial Infrastructure, Jason Devitt, said council
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The 75th Anniversary Service for the Walkerston- Pleystowe RSL Sub-Branch Inc will be held on Saturday 18th November 2023 in ANZAC Memorial Park, Walkerston. The Walkerston-Pleystowe RSL sub-branch invites all members of the Walkerston-Pleystowe community to the 75th anniversary of the formation of the sub-branch in 1948. A commemorative service will commence at 5.00pm, at ANZAC Park in Walkerston. Dress is jacket and tie, with medals for veterans.
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Walkerston’s Mirani High Graduates of 1993. Last weekend there was a great reunion held at Walkerston’s Duke Hotel. People came from the north, the south and the west of the country to meet up with each other where they grew up some 30-plus years ago. The small township of Walkerston welcomed these ‘Scrubby’ kids who graduated from High School in 1993! Even though many of them, somewhat sporadically, keep in touch with each other via social media; there were lots of ‘Remember when…’ occasions.
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As we lead up to the warmer part of the year, many are left wondering how to prepare their gardens to beat the summer heat. Have no fear, native plants are here! Bush flowers, wildflowers, natives - whatever you call them, these plants are adaptable, hardy and a perfect choice to create a majestic and authentic Australian garden. Not only do native plants attract and provide shelter for local wildlife, they stand up to challenging climates and they look beautiful too! Establishing a native ga
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Walkerston Hockey Premiers A3 1965. B/R Barry Richards, Mark Kelly, Jimmy Evetts, Stephen Renton, Terry Dee, Alan Jorgensen, Johnny Jarrott. F/R Alwyn North, Kenny Sturdy, Manix Creedy (Coach), John Belden, David Lake. Photo supplied on the Facebook page ‘I grew up in Mackay’ by Rob Richards
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Head to Walkerston’s track cycling velodrome next weekend for FREE, fun, family entertainment. Mackay Cycling Club’s annual track cycling carnival will be held on Saturday, 28th October, attracting top riders of all ages from across Queensland. Witness the need for speed across a variety of track cycling disciplines, from the endurance scratch and points races to the fast and furious keirin racing. Grab a bite to eat from the canteen and enjoy a day of entertainment in Walkerston.
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At last week's meeting of the Rotary Club of Walkerston, representatives from the Early Childhood Learning establishments in Walkerston – the town’s Schools, Kindergarten and Day Care Centres – were invited to join club members for dinner followed by each being presented with a bundle of colourful children’s books. It is a proven fact that early literacy helps young children develop and comprehend a significant vocabulary, confident self-expression, and general reading comprehension - tools nee
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OPINION PIECE As you get older, everything starts to hurt, I don’t know why, but everything hurts. Even the simplest of injuries or soreness can lead to another bit of you being sore, and before you know it there’s a chiro leaning over you twisting your body back to where it should be. It’s a discussion I was having with my near teenage son a few weeks ago, why does everything go wrong with you Dad? My only answer was that when you’re younger like he is, everything in your body is “rubbery”,
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OPINION PIECE I don’t like the whole “nanny state” thing. You know, governments, councils, agencies, faceless bureaucrats and the like putting their noses into our lives and creating endless rules and regulations that are usually none of their business. Whether it’s the economy, public policy or just everyday life, I am in the camp of less is best when it comes to government interference and bureaucratic meddling. I love the scene in the movie Wild at Heart when Nicolas Cage passionately descri
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OPINION PIECE I remember a while ago, myself and another councillor were labelled “conservative councillors” in a rather disparaging fashion. I wear that label with pride. Times of plenty can accommodate financial laxity and largesse, but in the history of this planet, good times have always been finite. Myself and others have, for a very long time, warned against thinking that “summer lasts forever”. This has been in the face of some pretty strong headwinds, I must say. It is unfortunate, bu
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KUCOM THEATRE REVIEW BY MIKI PONTING-BOYD You don't need to travel all the way to Sydney for world-class theatre, because you'll find it right here in Mackay with Kucom's latest production "Things I know To Be True", by Andrew Bovell. Set in the home of your "typical" Aussie family, this masterpiece delves deep into the complexities of family dynamics, exploring love, loss, betrayal, morals and the dilemma of "how to share personal struggles with others when those others are the cause". I was
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Friday 20 October Guided Walks in the Gardens 10am – 11:15am A guided walk in the Gardens. These walks last about an hour and are conducted at a leisurely pace. While bookings are preferred, individuals can phone the gardens at 07 4952 7300 or email botanic@mackay.qld.gov.au to reserve their spot. Every Friday until the end of October. | Free entry. Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens Friday Night Live Music Every Friday from 5pm Join us on Friday’s from 5pm for live music from our local favouri
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Each Friday in October, Mackay Regional Council’s Economic Development team hosts a ‘lunch and learn’ event, Yarning Together, as part of celebrating Indigenous Business Month. The weekly event was created as a platform for the business community to come together in a casual setting, to promote and showcase Indigenous businesses by ‘having a yarn’ and spreading awareness of their prominence in the Mackay region. Mackay Regional Council Director of Planning, Growth and Sustainability, Aletta Nug
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The Gold Coast SUNS will host Essendon under Friday night lights at Mackay’s Great Barrier Reef Arena in its final match of the 2023 AFLW home and away season. Gold Coast’s Round 10 fixture has today been confirmed with the SUNS to host its fourth match at the venue on Friday, November 3, first bounce 6.45pm AEST. Gold Coast SUNS Head of Women’s Football Fiona Sessarago says the club is excited to bring AFLW football to Mackay once again in Round 10. “Our match in Mackay is always an exciting
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Multiple Sclerosis Swimathon, a statewide series in eight locations across Queensland, held its Mackay event on Saturday, 7th October at the DMR Leisure Memorial pool. The North Mackay Sinkers Masters Swimming Club have supported the MS Swimathon in Mackay for eight events over nine years, with a combined fundraising total of over $52,000 raised. This year, six teams with some 90 plus participants managed to raise a combined total of $14,496 for Multiple Sclerosis Queensland. The teams particip
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Mackay Central’s Class Of ‘72 Reunion Mackay Central State School is gearing up to commemorate the reunion of the Class of 1972, scheduled for 21st October. The organising committee for the event have been busy planning celebrations, with reconnections and recollections set to make this an extraordinary time for past students of the graduating class. The event will begin with an escorted tour through the school on Saturday morning, followed by an afternoon gathering
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Treat your senses to a world tour this weekend at the Mackay region’s largest celebration of multiculturalism. Global Grooves will transform Queens Park into a global village this Saturday, October 21, from 3pm to 8pm. The festival will feature fascinating cultural workshops, mesmerising dance performances and global music, markets, and a smorgasbord of international cuisines. There will be Maltese and Italian baked goods, lechon (Filipino rotisserie pig), curries, dumplings, German sausages, Du
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At the end of September, the Mackay Mustangs Roller Hockey Club Under 16’s team won gold in Perth, competing fiercely in Roller Hockey Australia’s National Australian Club Championships. The National Australian Club Championships ran from 23rd to 30th September, this year taking place in Kwinana, with some of Australia’s most talented roller hockey teams competing. Mackay Mustangs Roller Hockey Club was founded in 1985 as a branch of the Mackay Roller Sports Association. The club has had a nu
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Wednesday Social games for Wednesday, 11th October included winners: Min Andrew, Brenda Trannore and Cheryle Corbett. Runner up was a pairs game, with Helen Fleming and Carmel Bell as the winners of the game. The North Mackay Bowls Club will be set to host a fundraising event for the RACQ CQ Rescue crew, on 14th November. Three Bowls Triples of any combination (men’s and women’s), with games starting at 1pm sharp. Entry fee is $45 per team, with everyone welcome to attend. Great prizes will b
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Rising all-rounder Etienne Pretorius underlined his value with another stand out performance for the Walkerston Roosters in Mackay Cricket Association action at Harrup Park’s George Gorrie Oval. The sixteen-year-old Mackay-Whitsunday representative top scored with 49 off sixty balls and grabbed 3-17 off four overs with the ball in the Roosters’ five wicket loss to Pioneer Valley in the Under 17s division limited overs competition. Pretorius – rated one of the region’s most promising young cric
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