Issue #

A Home Away From Home

Last Thursday marked a momentous milestone for Mackay and district families, the Official Opening Ceremony for the Ronald McDonald Family Room at Mackay Base Hospital.It’s only the second Ronald McDonald Family Room to be opened in North Australia, with the other located in Townsville.

Editor's Note: Hug Your Loved Ones

The tragic events which unfolded west of Toowoomba earlier this week, where two police officers and a good samaritan local were slain by gunmen on a remote property, provided a chilling reminder that nothing on Earth is ever promised, especially time.

Kindness At Christmas Lunch

Mackay Life recently received an anonymous email from a group of ladies who were absolutely blown away with the kindness and Christmas spirit of an unknown individual.

LOCAL VOICES HEARD

Mackay locals said ‘NO’ to draft port expansion plans released by the state government, saying the expansion would put fragile environmental sites including multiple turtle nesting sites at severe risk.

New Guide Shows Businesses How To Be More Accessible

Mayor Greg Williamson visited Caneland Central last week to launch an exciting new guide aimed at helping businesses to grow their customer bases.The Good Access Equals Good Business guide was created by council and the Access and Inclusion Reference Group, which is made up of local stakeholders from the disability community.

Regional Listening Tour Comes To Mackay

The Nationals Regional Listening Tour kicked off in Queensland last week, starting in Dawson, with leaders and MPs of the National Party meeting with locals across the region, to hear about the issues affecting them.

Housing Summit Report Released

A Housing Roundtable was conducted in Mackay last week to identify potential solutions to the region’s housing stress following the release of the Queensland Housing Summit Outcomes Report.

ON THE MOVE

It’s no secret that Queensland is the place to be, and that locally, Mackay has experienced unprecedented population growth. In fact, Aussies are flocking to Queensland at the fastest pace in 20 years and in the five years to 2021, more people moved interstate to Queensland than any other state or territory.

Paving Paths For Investors

Community Spirit At Cummins

Domestic violence doesn’t take a break for the holidays, in fact, it often gets worse.Being able to support vulnerable women and children in need year-round is the aim of Broken Ballerina Inc. who were the recipients of 10 hampers and a $5,000USD grant from Cummins earlier this week.Broken Ballerina Inc. Founder Jules Thompson said they are so grateful to have received these donations from the team at Cummins as it will enable them to help many people.

Local Firefighters Join NSW Flood Rescue

Two Mackay firefighters were recently deployed to southern New South Wales to assist in the response to the state’s ongoing flood event.Parts of NSW have been in a flood crisis for almost three months with emergency services from across the country rallying to assist.Carl Jackson and Patrick McGuire of Mackay Fire and Rescue joined two firefighters from Gladstone and four from Airlie Beach, travelling to the NSW town of Deniliquin for seven days in late November.

New Crossing Near Canelands

A new signalised pedestrian crossing has been installed on Mangrove Road to improve pedestrian connectivity and safety in the Mackay City Centre.The signalised intersection is now operational.It replaces the old zebra crossing and features traffic lights, pedestrian signal displays and line marking.

Refresh Your Home

Sometimes we feel our home gets cluttered and needs a refresh, however, the budget doesn’t have wiggle room for a full home-renovation makeover. There are many simple and cost-effective improvements you can do yourself that can make your home feel brand new – which don’t have to cost a fortune. Simple changes like freshening up your home décor, updating tapware or repainting a wall can make all the difference.

LICENSE TO CHILL

Spending more time at home over the last few years means the search for style inspiration for outdoor living has never been greater. Making spaces work harder for longer seasonal use is the current garden trend.

Urban Greening Strategy Adopted

Mackay Regional Council has a plan to make Mackay cooler, greener and more connected.It’s all part of council’s new Mackay Urban Greening Strategy, which was adopted at last week’s ordinary council meeting.Urban greening is the process of strategically identifying ways to protect, plan and plant vegetation across urban areas, including streets, parks, reserves, car parks and waterways.

NQBP Announces Community Fund Recipients

Science and technology education, conservation and sailing skills are among nine community initiatives to be supported under North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation’s (NQBP’s) 2022-23 Community Fund.

A Sweet Partnership With The Sugarcane Industry

Did you know that in the 2020-2021 financial year, Queensland produced 96 per cent of Australia’s sugarcane?In a partnership that goes back to the 1900s, the Queensland Government is continuing its support for Queensland’s sugarcane industry with a 5-year $14.25 million funding grant to Sugar Research Australia Limited (SRA) for research, development and extension (RD&E) activities.

Allan Cameron Rotary Park Upgrade

The Allan Cameron Park in Walkerston is now open after recent upgrades. Allan Cameron Rotary Park was originally a Walkerston Rotary Club project in partnership with Mackay Regional Council - way back in the year 2000.

BMX Wraps Up Wheely Great Season

Academic Awards For Walkerston Students

Congratulations to St John’s Catholic School’s Harrison Freiberg and Nathan Salter and Walkerston State School’s Sophie Vassallo who were recently presented academic awards by the Walkerston Rotary Club.

Light And Hope This Christmas

The image of the man, woman and baby in the darkened stable has had a powerful hold on people’s imaginations over millennia. What makes it so powerful? Maybe it’s because so many can identify with the man or the woman, huddled in darkness, turned away from the inn, apart from family. How many people now feel displaced, not ‘at home’ in their surroundings? How many suffer the darkness of loneliness, betrayal and rejection? How many dwell in the shadow of illness and grief?

IT MAKES GOOD CENTS

Imagine if for minimal or no expense, your business can make changes that will allow you to increase your customer base and your bottom line? Interested…?

Vandals Ruin Popular Play Area For Christmas

A climbing unit and hammock swing located in Iluka Park playground in East Mackay will be temporarily closed while council waits for replacement equipment to arrive. Mayor Greg Williamson said vandals had recently targeted the play equipment, which was due for renewal.

No Room In The Inn

This Christmas how can you make room in your life for the Christ-child, the Saviour of the world?Christmas is a time for awe, wonder and response. The angels sing glory to God. The shepherds proclaim the birth of the king of the world. Mary rejoices that God chose her to carry the Saviour. The wise men follow a star, are overwhelmed with joy, and kneel down and worship the babe of Bethlehem.

Farewell 2022!

And just like that another year draws to a close. As we wrap up 2022, I’ve been very reflective. I don’t know why I do it but every year I look back on what was. It's bittersweet because I must turn another year older, but it feels good to see the back of this one. Finally, we have gotten on top of the COVID pandemic, life is going back to a real normal around the world and I am honestly so excited for 2023.