Starting in Melbourne in 2009, No Lights No Lycra (NLNL) brings people together to dance like no one’s watching. Rapidly spreading to 74 different countries, the initiative has recently been introduced to Mackay by two women who love to feel the rhythm, move their bodies, and clear their minds. Anna Kahler first tried NLNL at the Sydney Opera House and recently connected with Lisa Merrett, who was a frequent NLNL participant in Melbourne before recently moving to Mackay, the pair teaming up to s
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A record numbers of travellers have passed through the Whitsunday Coast Airport this past April. The new record of 49,000 travellers smashed the previous record, of 47,000, from April 2022.
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The loss of someone close is devastating and knocks your world out of kilter. Everything feels different and you know things are never going to be the same again. The great benefit of a funeral and a subsequent wake is that you get to share the grief and somehow it seems more bearable when you know there are others, people close to you, who feel the loss the same way. The Gardian Group lost our CEO, Peter Phillips, on the 7th of May and his funeral was on Friday of last week. Peter was a husband
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A medical bus that will ensure the safe transport of patients from the Whitsundays to Mackay for hospital appointments is one step closer to operating the service following a successful volunteer driver course.
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Bowen residents worried about the future of the town's dilapidated jetty have received a "don't panic" assurance from some key players involved with the facility.At the Bowen Chamber of Commerce meeting last Wednesday night, guest speaker John Martin, a former manager of the North Queensland Bulk Ports (NQBP) tug facility on the jetty, spoke about the history of the facility and how it would be no easy task to demolish it after the NQBP lease on the facility lapses later this year, and if a new
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The Local Buying Foundation (LBF), a not-for-profit initiative established by BHP in partnership with C-Res, is positively impacting the Mackay region delivering economic benefits to local businesses and communities. To ensure that the LBF funding opportunities target genuine community needs, an Advisory Committee was formed to provide guidance, inform, identify and support the investment and disbursement of the foundation’s funds whilst ensuring effective governance of the Foundation. The commi
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Few children’s books have stood the test of time quite like Dr Seuss’s 200-word masterpiece ‘The Cat in the Hat’. As the top selling children’s author of all time, the story is as popular now as it was in the 1950’s when Dr. Theodor ‘Seuss’ Geissel wrote the book. Now both children and adults alike are sure to be left in raptures by this zany and imaginative stage show, that will bring the story to life on a 22 city, 45 show nationwide tour of Australian theatres.
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A new book entitled ‘Mental Health on the Land’ is offering local farmers guidance and support for coping with mental strain they may experience due to the uncertainties within their industry.
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Friday 19 May Nebo Rodeo Friday 19, from 4.30pm and Saturday 20, 8am to 12am The infamous Nebo Rodeo is back and better than ever. Friday has eat street, kids entertainment, dodgem cars, and the best stalls around. Saturday will have the main events, with the sounds of Luke Geiger to carry us out afterwards. There are no tickets available at the gate, so be sure to purchase beforehand at oztix.com.au Nebo Showgrounds Nebo Hotel Street Party Friday 19, 4.30pm to 11.45pm The party of the year is
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Whitsunday residents are encouraged to support two local destinations that have been announced as finalists for the 2023 Queensland Top Tourism Town Awards.
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It is less than three weeks away from the exciting 2023 return of Mackay’s Legends on the Lawn. With a massive lineup of Paul Kelly, Missy Higgins, Bernard Fanning, Mark Seymour, Vika and Linda, and Ian Moss and Troy Cassar-Daley, it is no surprise that locals are ecstatic. Having been touring since January, Troy Cassar-Daley sat down with Mackay Life’s Bronte to talk about the upcoming festival.
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The Whitsundays’ Top Tourist Attraction of 2022 is celebrating its 21st birthday this month and everyone is invited to join the celebrations.
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Firstly, I would like to thank all the people who attended our Council meetings and the community catch-ups that have been held so far. It was reassuring and reinvigorating to hear dozens of people applaud as Council voted to maintain “Maximum Building Heights” and what I call our Airlie Beach vision statement which calls for us to maintain our vital, small-town scale, blue views to the sea, green views to Airlie Hill, and heights.
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The well-known Yacht Share Mariner Group, which currently has two vessels operating in the Whitsundays, are expanding to offer a brand-new yacht share opportunity in the Mediterranean.
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A beautiful quilt made by a late Sarina crafter has gone to a good home. Lilian Brown won the quilt made by Dulcie Christensen, first prize in the Sarina Arts and Crafts Centre mega raffle drawn just in time for Mother’s Day. Lilian and Dulcie spent many years working on crafts together at the Sarina Fibre Arts Group and as supporters of the Sarina Arts and Crafts Centre. The quilt was donated by Dulcie’s son Glen after she sadly passed away last week. It was one of five prizes in the raffle
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One of the Whitsunday’s most exciting property developments, Mandara Rise, boasts 40 residential land lots spread out over 80 beautiful acres of prime local real estate in Cannonvale.
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Have you ever wanted to try your hand at jewellery making, weaving, felting, yarn and textile working, or charcoal drawing, but wanted some detailed instruction first? Why not take part in The Artist Place’s workshops at Queens Park. The Artist Place is a community art group, who allows people to try their hand at a broad range of art mediums in workshops and classes with local artists. In this mammoth week of 11 workshops, attendees will be given dedicated instruction and intimate help, in ord
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I have been asked frequently of late: “Is it too late to plant from seed?”, Absolutely not!May and June are the perfect months of the year in the Whitsundays to start planting your vegetables and herbs. So, get planting this month!
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For the second year in a row, Magpies Sporting Club is hosting a Biggest Morning Tea event to raise money for Cancer Council and improve the lives of those affected by cancer. Everyone is welcome to attend this vibrant charity function which will take place on The Deck, where guests will enjoy a decadent morning tea with barista coffee. An inspirational guest speaker from the Icon Cancer Centre Mackay will inform and tickets are just $25 per person, with all proceeds going directly to the Can
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Prepare to be amazed by the performance of the year, with the Grand Kyiv Ballet of Ukraine taking over the Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre this June. This internationally touring performance will keep audiences hooked, encompassing two magical stories that will be sure to keep audiences enraptured in the touching choreography and fantastic cinematography. The first act follows the Ukrainian story, Forest Song, and reflects Ukrainian culture and heritage. Forest Song follows Lukash, a
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For the month of May, the Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens are celebrating their birthday. On May 24, 2003, the Mackay botanic gardens officially opened, marking a goal accomplished of the Mackay Association. Since then, the Botanic Gardens have gone through stages of redevelopment and redesign including constructing new gardens, permanent wetland, to highlight the various water plants, and a kids play garden in 2006, and restoring and rehabilitating frost-damaged and drowned plants in 2007 and
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The world is their oyster for a group which visited the Sarina Arts and Crafts Centre. The World Café group enjoyed a morning tea before viewing the centre’s crafts. It is a free culture-sharing group which meets every Tuesday at 4 George Street, Mackay (the Annex) between February and November from 10 am to 12.30 pm. Activities include cooking, art and craft, conversational games, small projects, workshops, information sessions, culture and conversations and local excursions. For more info
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Meet the promising St Patrick’s College Red rookies that captured the NRL Gala Day Trophy last week at the Mackay Junior League Fields. Under the guidance of Sports Co-ordinator Mercy campus Matthew Paul, the Mackay colts underlined their depth of talent with impressive victories in the preliminary rounds before toppling Bowen State High School 8-4 in the Year 7/8 trophy decider.
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Sarina Bowls Club celebrated and remembered all the fallen soldiers on Anzac Day. After a minute’s silence, 64 bowlers all in great spirit enjoyed an afternoon of two games of bowls, good music, many laughs and afternoon tea. Contributed by Charlie Payne
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Four Mackay Cutters have been named in the Queensland Maroons squad ahead of the opening game of the women’s State of Origin series in Sydney. Emma Manzelmann, Shannon Mato, Romy Teitzel, and China Polata have all been named in the extended squad after leading the Cutters to the BMD Premiership semi-finals in the club’s debut season in the competition. “We’ve picked in-form players on the back of a really strong BMD Premiership competition,” Maroons head coach Tahnee Norris said. "This year’s co
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