Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
The Whitsunday STEM Challenge invited young women and their families to learn, network and become inspired at a Women in STEM event earlier this week. Hosted at Whitsunday Anglican School as part of National Science Week, the event aligned with the national theme of ‘Innovation: Powering Future Industries’. Event Coordinator Leanne Williams said Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) was important for students in this contemporary world with the rise of new technologies. “This i
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Commemorating The 50th Anniversary Of The End Of Australia's Involvement In The Vietnam War Photo credit: Sam Gillespie
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Hosts Confidence Boosting Pageant When local model Jenna K took on the role of Mrs Charity Oceania 2023, she vowed to use her platform to raise money and awareness for causes close to her heart and help women of all ages with their confidence, mindset and self-love. One aspect of this mission was the Beeyoutiful Charity Pageant, an event held on Saturday, July 22 offering the people of Mackay the opportunity to improve their confidence while raising funds for BreastScreen Queensland. Entrants w
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Investigations continue for a two-vehicle car accident near Alligator Creek, just past 7am on Friday, August 18. Initial police investigations indicate that a Hyundai Palisade was turning onto the Bruce Highway from Perry Road, when it collided with an oncoming Toyota Landcruiser, which was travelling north. The Toyota swerved before losing control and rolling multiple times down an embankment. The three occupants of the Toyota were taken to Mackay Base Hospital. The 19-year-old male driver
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By Amanda Wright In a shellebration of conservation, Queensland Transport Minister Mark Bailey has given local turtles a fin-tastic win by expanding the protective boundaries of the Mackay Port to include the North Harbour Wall. This flipper-friendly decision ensures that Mackay’s turtles will continue to nest and hatch in their coastal haven for generations to come. Member for Mackay, Julieanne Gilbert, celebrates this decision as a triumph for the local community. The Port of Mackay, Queensl
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By Amanda Wright Steering the course for enhanced healthcare in the region, a fresh chapter unfolds as a new six-member Board takes the helm of the Mackay Hospital and Health Service. With a diverse array of expertise spanning emergency medicine, business, nursing, and law, these board members herald a promising era of leadership. Their appointment marks a decisive step following the dissolution of the previous Board in November 2022, signalling a renewed commitment to quality healthcare and co
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Police are seeking the assistance of the public as they investigate a fatal house fire that claimed the lives of the sole owner-occupant and his two dogs. Emergency services were called to a property on Grant Street at 6:30pm, Saturday, August 19, after neighbours reported flames coming from the building to triple zero. The body of 59-year-old Mark Gallagher was located inside the destroyed dwelling over 24 hours later once the fire had been extinguished and the property was certified safe for p
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Inspire Accounting Welcomes New Director With a passion for client satisfaction, Kate Paton has developed a varied and successful career with Inspire Accounting and Business Services, recently being announced as the firm’s newest Director. Kate joined the Inspire team over ten years ago, starting as a trainee accountant straight out of school. Now, at 28-years-old, she is the firm’s youngest Director and has become a driving force, a beacon of inspiration within the firm. “My team at Inspire are
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2023 RIN Awards Finalists Revealed The stage is set for a celebration of our region’s industry movers and shakers as the finalists of the 2023 Resource Industry Network (RIN) Awards step into the spotlight. With keen eyes and careful consideration, the judging panel has unveiled an impressive lineup of 17 finalists spanning seven categories. These awards stand as a testament to the unwavering dedication of the local resources services sector and its intricate supply chain. The Mackay-Isaac-Whi
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Mackay and District National Servicemen’s Association has donated a massive $17,000 to seven local charities. The National Servicemen Association of Australia (NSAA) Mackay and District Branch was formed in Mackay in 1996, with 40 former National Servicemen in membership, who were a part of the 1951-1959 National Service Scheme and the 1964-1972 National Service Act. On Tuesday this week, the NSAA Mackay and District donated $17,000 for local charities, with CQ Helicopter Rescue receiving $5,0
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Centenarian and Order of Australia Medal recipient, Allan Quartermaine, has encouraged the community to get behind the 81st annual Legacy Week, happening from August 27 to September 2. As 2023 commemorates a century of Legacy Australia, the former Legacy Mackay President remains a beacon of unwavering support for Legacy Week, an enduring national initiative established in 1942. The week-long event galvanizes vital funds to underpin Legacy’s mission: caring for the families of Australia’s dedic
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From much-needed community facilities and retail projects to beautiful family homes and seaside abodes, the Master Builders Mackay & Whitsunday 2023 Housing & Construction Awards showed off craftsmanship and stylish detail in construction. The best of the best in the building and construction industry were celebrated at the Awards held at the Mackay Convention Centre on Saturday, 12 August. Fergus Builders dominated the Construction Awards, scooping a third of the awards on offer by taking out
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With Slew Of Awards Building the dreams of clients is what has kept Fergus Builders going from strength to strength over their illustrious 40-year history. Taking pride in designing and delivering high-quality new homes as well as commercial and industrial premises for Mackay and surrounding districts, Fergus Builders’ dedication was recognised at the recent Master Builders Housing & Construction Awards, receiving a massive five awards for the Mackay & Whitsunday regions. Each accolade clearly h
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Mackay Regional Council's free native plant program gives ratepayers the opportunity to add a native touch to their gardens with the ability to receive up to four free plants of their choice per year. For those in a rural locality, it’s a good opportunity to get top value locally native plants for your creeklines and windbreak areas. Simply come along to the Mackay Natural Environment Centre at 6 Swayne Street, North Mackay and bring your rate notice and a bag/box to take your plants home. Open
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2023 is already a year dotted with highlights for the Porters Group, as the local family-owned hardware business celebrates 140 years, and Michelle Thompson has just added to the rich tapestry of family history. A member of the Porter family, Michelle is the Commercial Estimator in the Glass and Aluminium Division, and recently received the Women in Building Award at the Master Builders Mackay & Whitsunday Housing & Construction Awards. “It’s a really nice honour to be recognised,” Michelle said
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Dixon Homes is very proud to receive the 2023 Master Builders Mackay & Whitsunday Housing & Construction Award for Best Individual Home from $500,000 up to $750,000. This award and our many other awards in previous years (including Best Display Home, Best Renovation, and other individual home category awards) is testimony to Dixon Homes’ ability to be versatile, on trend and accommodating. Our team worked tirelessly with our client to design and create this truly beautiful custom designed home,
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Oncology nurse and clinical trials coordinator Carli Shaw has cared for hundreds of people in our community during their cancer journeys. She understands the physical toll the disease takes on not only patients but their families. What she didn’t understand and wanted to know more about was the impact of what is commonly called ‘brain fog’ or ‘chemo brain’ so she has spent the past four years researching this hidden affliction. “I’d see all the patients with ‘chemo fog’ and be hearing things li
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Pioneer Valley’s longest-established educational institution Eton State School celebrated its 140th anniversary in style last weekend, demonstrating that while it may be small in size, it’s big in heart and heritage. A large gathering of 250 including former pupils from bygone eras and their families flocked to the historic landmark to mark the school’s important milestone. Visitors basked in the brilliant winter’s sunshine as they took a trip down memory lane – enjoying a school tour, time ca
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This sounds like a cliché, but I reckon Father’s Day is every day. I love having kids and being a dad. Sure, at times they give me the “you know whats”, I wish they would stay away from screens more, and actually listen better … or at all. Being a dad gives you the excuse of being able to make funny noises and blame it on pets and other people. You can pull a jumper over your head and tell the kids they can’t see you – other dumb stuff like that, just to make your little people laugh. Moving
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Revitalising Waterways Through Community Action The Sarina community has banded together to support revitalisation and regeneration of two beloved beaches, as part of protection for the Great Barrier Reef plan. Off the back of 10 community-led prompts detailed by the Mackay Whitsunday Isaac Reef Community Action Plan (CAP), the Sarina Landcare Catchment Management Association (SLCMA) has held a coastal rehabilitation project, calling for volunteers and locals to help out. Working to revitalise
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Those readers under a certain age will not have heard of a movie called Cool Hand Luke. Some of you might not have heard of its lead actor, Paul Newman, which is a shame because the film and the actor are worth seeing. For those not in the know, Paul Newman was a superstar and fine actor who looked a bit like me except he had more hair, piercing blue eyes, a chiselled chin, a slim athletic build, a smile that women would swoon over and a natural charm and charisma that meant women wanted him, an
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OPINION PIECE Did you know that Pine islet Lighthouse, located at the Mackay Marina, was the last kerosene illuminated lighthouse in Australia? The lighthouse was previously situated on Pine Islet in the Percy Group of islands, south-east of Mackay. The tower structure and keepers’ quarters were prefabricated in Brisbane before being shipped to the island in October 1884. Iron cladding for the lighthouse was brought from Britain. The lighthouse apparatus is a second-order Chance Brothers lanter
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Each week, there are miners, part time teachers, engineers, mums, speech pathologists, Church Leaders, GP’s, and part time chaplains who all volunteer their time to deliver Christian Religious Instruction to our local state schools – a 30-minute lesson where children can explore faith and values. Then we have our biggest group of volunteers, our amazing retirees (with a lot of past teachers and teacher aides) who bring a lifetime's worth of experiences and seasoned lessons of faith through the
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Friday 25 August Friday SUN.sets Every Friday Evening From 6pm Knock off drinks, lakeside dinner, good friends, and LIVE MUSIC. Wake House Australia Choirboys Friday, 6:00pm Don't miss this unmissable show as Choirboys perform all your favourites, all their hits, all night long. Celebrating over 4 decades together, Choirboys’ back catalogue has a swag of enduring rock anthems including Never Gonna Die, Big Bad Noise, Fireworks, Gasoline, Midnight Sun, Rendezvous, Boys Will be Boys, Struggleto
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Film & Arts Mackay present their next film night for the month of September, a viewing of the 2022 political thriller ‘Cairo Conspiracy’. The gripping and critically acclaimed new thriller from Swedish filmmaker Tarik Saleh (The Nile Hilton Incident, The Contractor) follows Adam, a young man who is offered the ultimate privilege: to study at the Al-Azhar University in Cairo. Shortly after his arrival in the city, the university’s highest-ranking religious leader, the Grand Imam, suddenly dies a
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