There is no doubt, the Maori Wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus), is one of the most popular fish on the Great Barrier Reef. And for good reason. It is renowned for its large size, striking colours and friendly personality. An encounter with a Maori Wrasse will make your day. Maori Wrasse are so named for their distinct facial markings which resemble those seen on traditional Maori warriors in New Zealand. The males are most easily identified by their large size and large, prominent hump on its foreh
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Queensland is one of the few places on Earth where the extraordinary platypus can still be spotted in the wild. With its iconic duck-like bill, dense waterproof fur, and venomous spurs on its ankles, this enigmatic mammal is a living relic, one of the most evolutionarily distinct creatures on the planet. Yet, for all its unique adaptations, the platypus is highly vulnerable to environmental changes. Once widespread across Eastern Australia, populations have been steadily declining, particularly
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Where Turtles and Trash Meet Transformation In the quiet backstreets of Jubilee Pocket, just minutes from the bustle of Airlie Beach, a grassroots movement is working tirelessly to keep the Whitsundays pristine. At Eco Barge HQ, visitors are invited to step inside the world of marine conservation and witness how one community is safeguarding the Great Barrier Reef. The Eco HQ Experience Tour, held every Tuesday morning, offers more than a window into conservation; it immerses participants in th
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The warm-up event to the Whitsunday Game Fish Club’s major light tackle tournament is the club’s Billfish and Tuna Rally, set for September 13 and 14. This rally offers teams a great chance to fine-tune their skills ahead of this year’s Airlie Beach Tackle World/Daiwa Light Tackle Tournament, which runs from October 16 to 19. It’s an opportunity to try new tactics, get an idea of where the fish are holding, and score valuable club and QGFA points. The rally begins with registration and a brief
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Michael Kimpton, President of the Whitsunday Triathlon Club and Race Director of the Coral Sea Marina Resort Airlie Beach Triathlon Festival, is privileged to be selected to represent Australia at the 2025 Ironman World Championships in Nice, France, on 14 September. This will be Michael’s seventh time representing Australia in international World Triathlon Championships, taking him to all corners of the globe, including St. George in Utah, Samorin in Slovakia, multiple times to Kona in Hawaii,
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With the regular season wrapping up last weekend, Whitsunday United Football Club now turns its focus to finals, with an impressive nine out of ten teams finishing inside the top four. The club celebrated several standout achievements, with the U23 Men crowned Premiers, while the U13 FQPL and Division 1 Men secured second place — a remarkable reflection of the depth and commitment across the club, particularly given that half of their fixtures require travelling to Mackay. At home, the Divisio
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Cricket season is just around the corner, with junior sign-ups taking place at the Proserpine Junior Cricket Grounds on Friday, August 29 from 4pm. The popular Woolworths Junior Blaster program, aimed at boys and girls aged 5–7, will return this season, offering fun, skills-based activities and games. Also back is the ever-popular Master Blaster program for boys and girls aged 8–10. The juniors have been working hard in preparation, with several players set to feature in representative competi
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Before we begin, I’d like to clear up a small error in last week’s report. While Jamie Maher did win the league last week and was crowned the league winner, or minor premier, the Premier League Championship is still up for grabs—and that’s where we begin with this week’s report. The first week of finals got underway at the Airlie Beach Bowls Club, with Dom Friend and Joe Wilson battling it out in the first semi-final, and Art McMinn and Kameron Reason locking horns in the other. In two best-of
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Fantastic news for our readers, with the Ladies Division One Pennant side claiming victory in the Zone 8 Pennant Playoff against Marlin Coast (Far North Qld) in Townsville on Saturday. Both rinks played superbly, winning their games and the overall match. The team will now head to Tweed Heads on 1–2 November to contest the State Titles. Congratulations to Robyn Stitt, Teresa Willshire, Margaret Wilson and Fely Duncan, along with Maureen Hyde, Linda Scells, Denise Wallace and Penny Warren. Fundr
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Players were as always treated to near-perfect Autumn conditions and only a cool breeze rolling in on Sunday. A strong field also turned out for Saturday’s 3-Ball Ambrose, which followed the club’s AGM. Tuesday’s Stableford saw Aaron Prosser finish on top with 37 points, edging out Di Chard (36) on countback, with Wilf Herweg in third. At Collinsville, where the Vets joined the Whitsunday Group, Robyn Whitham impressed with a blistering 42 points, while Tessa Aitken (36), Elspeth Scotford (35)
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Proserpine Vets travelled to Collinsville last week and returned with some impressive results, particularly among the ladies, who claimed four of the top seven placings. Leading the way was Robyn Whitham, who produced a brilliant 42 points to win the event. The victory follows on from her success at Home Hill last month, making her something of an “away” specialist. Runner-up was Karen Dwyer from Bowen on 37 points, while Proserpine’s own Tessa Aitken (36), Elspeth Scotford (35) and Tiina Randm
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Who said, “There’s no place like home”? And while I never clicked my shiny red shoes, it’s certainly true—what a beautiful place we live in, and how lucky we are to call the best country in the world our own. Many thanks to my dear friend Betty Whitehorn, who kept up the news so beautifully in my absence. My return has been filled with exciting updates and sensational memories for our little club here in paradise. On Tuesday, 24 bowlers took to the greens, where we welcomed Janine and Jeff Ort
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On Wednesday, two competition games were played. Senior Singles kicked off with an epic match between Sandy Daffara and Philip Brown. After 38 ends, Philip Brown narrowly claimed victory 25-24. The first game of the B Pairs was also played, with Alen Sanderson and Trevor Parsons defeating Bruce Uhe and Mike Harrison 19-11. There were no Social Bowls on Wednesday, as many of our regular players were involved in competition games. Barry and John took the opportunity to have a roll-up instead. Sat
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The Mackay region’s ingenuity and resilience were on full display at the 2025 Resource Industry Network (RIN) Awards Gala Dinner, held Friday 22 August at the MECC. The black-tie celebration, hosted by Ed Kavalee and backed by live music from the Luke Miller Band, showcased the best of the mining equipment, technology and services (METS) and resources sector. Seven awards recognised excellence across safety, culture, community, manufacturing, innovation and inclusion, with standout winner
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Amber’s fourth birthday was made extra special last week when Mackay Northern Beaches police paid her a surprise visit. The young fan, known for her love of all things police, was thrilled when officers stopped by to celebrate her big day. During the visit, Amber had the chance to meet the officers, explore the police car, and even sit in the driver’s seat, beaming from ear to ear. The surprise brought smiles, laughter, and unforgettable memories for the birthday girl and her family. Mac
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This Sunday we celebrate Father’s Day – a chance to honour the dads and father figures who help shape our lives. There’s so much weight carried on the shoulders of men. Often, the expectation is to be the breadwinner, yet many step up as incredible caregivers too. From fathers and uncles to grandfathers and mentors, men play a powerful role in raising children, teaching resilience and encouraging courage in everyday life. I see this balance in my own family. While I hover nervously when
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In a bid to ensure the safety of the region’s children, Queensland has drawn a line in the sand against predators, taking a landmark step with the introduction of Daniel’s Law to Parliament — the state’s first public child sex offender register. Member for Mackay, Nigel Dalton MP, welcomed the landmark reform, saying it will put the rights of victims and families ahead of offenders by giving parents the tools they need to better protect their children. “Nothing is more important than the
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It’s not every day you see police horses patrolling the town with their respected riders from Queensland Police Service. But that’s exactly what Mackay locals experienced this week, when two mounted officers from Brisbane arrived in town after completing patrols in Airlie Beach. Children reached out to pat the horses, parents snapped photos, and plenty of locals were left starstruck at the sight of Sergeant Ben Bassingthwaighte with police horse Lance, and Constable Debbie Brunschlight wi
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Dangerous Driving Charges Laid Queensland Police have charged a 24-year-old man after a series of driving offences in Mackay earlier this month. At around 6pm on 5 August, police responded to reports of a Ford Falcon being driven dangerously near Mackay Harbour. The vehicle was located with a blown rear tyre and subsequently seized for mechanical inspection. It is alleged the man drove dangerously along the Mackay breakwater, overtaking vehicles, crossing unbroken lines, and performing
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Senior Constable Returns To Thank Hospital Staff After Life-Changing Crash
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Vandals have destroyed an area of important vegetation along a local foreshore for the second time in two years. Council officers have finalised an investigation into the apparent poisoning of trees along the foreshore at Belmunda, deeming the incident “extremely significant”. Mayor Greg Williamson said the area, near Macartney Drive, had only just been replanted after an earlier act of environmental vandalism in 2023. “About 20 young trees, which were planted a little over 12 months ag
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Last Thursday, Council started work to clear trees and other vegetation from the large open drain, which runs alongside Bridge Road. Over the course of several years, mangroves have established in the tidal drain on Bridge Road, South Mackay. Director Infrastructure and Operations with Mackay Regional Council, Simon Taylor said the clearing is expected to improve the efficiency of the drain during flood events where tidal conditions are favourable. “There are restrictions around the rem
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Council’s Mackay Region Economic Development Strategy 2025-2030 highlights the need to prioritise housing as a key driver of the regional economic engine. The strategy was adopted at today’s (August 27) ordinary meeting of council. Economic Development and Growth Strategic Advisory Committee (EDGSAC) Co-chair Cr Belinda Hassan said while housing availability was undoubtedly a vital social need, consultation on the strategy had also revealed that it was one of the main roadblocks for acce
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The BMA CQ Rescue team had an early start last Sunday morning, after responding to a mayday call just after 6:30am involving a yacht in distress near Keswick Island. Upon arrival, the crew found the vessel on its side with a man lying on the deck. “With nowhere to land, our RCO was winched down to assess the situation,” a BMA CQ Rescue representative commented. The patient was then winched back to the helicopter, where a Doctor and Paramedic provided care. He was found to have broken rib
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I have to, sadly, inform the House that the most dangerous place for a woman in Mackay is not in the safe night precinct, in a pub or in a club; a woman is in most danger when she is in a house or residence with a partner or previous partner. We should all feel safest at home, but this is not the case for many women. Domestic and family violence is one of the most pressing challenges facing Queensland today. In Mackay, as in so many regional communities, the impacts of violence ripple far
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