Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
The North Mackay Ladies Bowls Club has been keeping the bowls rolling with some exciting social matches. On July 17th, the winning team consisted of Lesley Baumgarten, Wendy McGee, and Lidia McCarthy, with Pam Louis and Bev McDonald as the runners-up. Moving to July 24th, Bev McDonald, Pam Louis, and Jean Schmidtke clinched victory, while Sue Roscoe, Lesley Baumgarten, and Lidia McCarthy took the second spot. In the latest action on August 2nd, the winning pair was Ann Smith and Sue Hazledine, w
Read more
Eight teams battled in the final of the Whitsunday Zone GNOT Gold Points event on Saturday at the Mackay Contract Bridge Club. Team Conroy came out on top winning the event. Monday 31 July 2023 – 6 Table One Winner Green Pts 1st Janelle Conroy / Terrence Sheedy 2nd Frances Brown / Vicki Howard 3rd Monica Darley / Joy Robinson 4th Margaret Jennings / Marilin Robins 5th Helen Van Den Broek / Jan Harris Tuesday 1 August 2023 Evening - 4 Table Mitchell Green Pts N/S E/W 1st Janelle Conroy / Eric
Read more
Ian Schifilitti was renowned for his dedication and work ethic as a professional rugby league journeyman. The industrious forward – who represented Italy at the Rugby League World Cup – was highly regarded during his playing career in the Townsville region and English Super League for his tenacity, courage, ball play and copybook defence. Those admirable traits have rubbed off on his St Patrick’s College Mackay team that has just secured the minor premiership in the Aaron Payne Cup. The all-
Read more
A Mackay junior made his National Rugby League debut on the weekend, scoring the opening try for the Parramatta Eels in their round 23 win against the St George Illawarra Dragons. Taking the field on the wing, Arthur Miller-Stephen scored in the left-hand corner just nine minutes into his first NRL game as the Eels went on to win 26-20 at CommBank Stadium, Sydney. The 19-year-old, who played for Brothers Bulldogs Junior Rugby League and Mackay Cutters and attended Mackay State High School, has r
Read more
A sail full of strong ambition and a hull lot of healthy competition is at the heart Airlie Beach Race Week (ABRW) where old rivals come together to test their mettle.Throughout the week, marina berths have filled with white yachts and laughter as crews are reunited and anticipation builds for another exciting event.One of these crews is from Treasure Vlll, a 36-foot yacht which has competed in ABRW for the past 16 years, eight of which with current owner and skipper, Rob Davis.
Read more
Community spirit is high at this time of year!With the Great Barrier Reef Festival last week and Airlie Beach Race Week setting sail today, I feel like we are sandwiched between two of the most exciting events of the year and the whole town is the tastiest filling, buzzing with life!Symbolising our quintessential seaside lifestyle, both festivals offer a unique take on what makes us ‘us’ here in the Whitsundays.
Read more
Fate looked destined to scupper plans for Mrs Norman’s 92nd-birthday cake in Collinsville last week when her family were unable to order a slab cake from nearby Bowen.Unfortunately, one of the ovens was not working at the bakery and cakes were off the menu.
Read more
Short-term accommodation applications are once again on the chopping block, but this time Councillors are voicing concerns that rate payers are forking out the costs for frequent court appeals, making each refusal a pointless cost.At Wednesday’s Ordinary Council Meeting, Whitsunday Regional Council decided to refuse yet another Short-Term Accommodation application for a dual occupancy home in Wambiri Street, Cannonvale.
Read more
Vinnies Airlie Beach has re-opened and is boasting it’s upgraded and beautifully renovated shopfront. Having been closed to the public for over six weeks, after having a flooding event earlier this year which fast tracked the much needed renovations, the Vinnies shopfront underwent extensive renovations and upgrades, with fantastic new paint, displays, wall art, and cash register area.
Read more
One patient with a neck injury and one patient with an arm injury were transported in a stable condition, to Proserpine Hospital following a two-vehicle crash on Kingfisher Terrace, in Jubilee Pocket at 2.28am Saturday, August 5.
Read more
The Queensland Country Women’s Association Proserpine has hit its biggest milestone, celebrating 100 years of dedicated service and commitment to Proserpine and the wider Whitsundays community.
Read more
'Blowin' Bowen' has lived up to its reputation by curtailing the construction of a 300 metre temporary floating jetty by US forces presently in the town as part of the Talisman Sabre exercise.The US vessels, MV Bob Hope and MV Fisher, were waiting offshore of Bowen on August 3 for a break in blustery conditions at sea to allow the laying of a 300-metre floating jetty to connect supply vehicles with Kings Beach, the site of the logistics supply exercise.
Read more
The Whitsunday marine industry has been left astounded, following the release of the government backed Cyclone Reinsurance Pool that completely excludes Marine Insurance, putting local small water-based businesses at an unfair disadvantage.Once endorsed by the former Government, the current Labour Government has decided not to include Marine Insurance in the newly released Cyclone Reinsurance Pool, which was set to be a relief for the marine industry and operators.
Read more
Easing the self-build stressors of supply-chain issues and extended lead-times, Airlie Summit’s house and land packages are proving popular with discerning buyers who want a no-fuss experience where they can work with one trusted local company to get their dream home built efficiently and on-time.Alder Developments have designed these packages to eradicate any post-pandemic challenges for buyers and general manager, Greg Tupicoff, says they are entering the market at the right time.
Read more
A region first has just driven into its Bowen showroom, with the entire range of MG Motors available for test drive and showings right here in the Whitsundays.Formerly Bowen Mazda, Whitsunday Auto Group is proud to have all 24 model variants of MG Motors available on their showroom floor, with another 30 MG motors in the yard ready for immediate purchase.
Read more
The Jubilee Tavern bistro was a sea of purple and green on Saturday as over 200 past players of the Whitsunday Rugby League teams came together to mark 50 years since the 1973 team won the prestigious Foley Cup.
Read more
It has been a whirlwind of a time for Sandra Argo and Mark Jordan, owners of Airlie Beach Craft Distillery, more affectionally known as ABC Distillery, now hitting the five-year anniversary with a dual win at the Australian Distilled Spirit Awards. Stemming from a small seed of an idea, the brother and sister team have overcome tumultuous times, garnering a reputable name in many local households.Sandra specialises in bottling, accounts, and marketing, while Mark is the distiller, waking up at o
Read more
Over 80 producers, accommodation providers, labour hire consultants, government representatives and other stakeholders in the agriculture industry attended a Regional Capacity Through Migration Forum last month.
Read more
More than 30,000 military personnel from 13 different countries have been taking part in the joint military exercise Talisman Sabre across regional areas in Queensland.In Bowen, up to 900 US military officers have been among that contingent as part of the Joint Logistics Over the Shore (JLOTS) Exercise.The total operation is named Talisman Sabre but there have been many operations within the overall exercise.
Read more
On Saturday 29th July, I was lucky enough to meet the United States Secretary of the Army, Ms Christine E. Wormuth.Ms Wormuth flew into Bowen in one of four Blackhawk helicopters which was a real treat to witness. Having the opportunity to meet with the secretary face-to-face was something I will remember for many years to come.
Read more
Shute Harbour Marine Terminal welcomes in excess of 155,000 passengers per year to the Whitsundays, with an expected 260,000 people to pass through the terminal next year! However, it’s so much more than a simple terminal! Shute Harbour Marine Terminal also offers High Flow Diesel and Premium Unleaded Petroleum for all vessels at competitive rates.
Read more
Last week I joined Tourism Australia’s Marketplace and the Travel Answer Australia roadshow for a whirlwind tour of America.Starting in Denver, I met with over 600 travel agents across four stops and finished in LA on Friday. I love being out on the road, meeting new people and spruiking our region.
Read more
Proserpine Hospital’s catering service team has been recognised with the Golden Boot Award for excellent service.Celebrating all operational services teams across the Mackay Hospital district, which includes eight hospitals and five community health centres, the Golden Boot Awards commend excellent performance and service in operations.The Proserpine Hospital Catering team was presented the award due to their excellent work, particularly for how they responded following an incident, in which all
Read more
The quarter has rolled around, and the Proserpine Community Markets are on!Supporting the Proserpine Cricket Club, the Proserpine Community Markets are one of the best markets for handmade, handcrafted, and hand grown goods, with over 60 stalls on offer throughout the old St Catherine’s Campus.
Read more
Proserpine Hospital has celebrated World Breastfeeding Week in style, with their own ‘Breastival’ to celebrate all things breastfeeding. With a team of 19 midwifes, the Proserpine Hospital delivers about 265 babies a year, with 97 per cent of mothers deciding to breastfeed their baby.
Read more