The 2nd Annual AGIS & Broken Ballerina Inc (BBI) Charity Golf Day, held on Friday, August 1, saw pink tutus, feather boas, and plenty of golf action despite wet weather on the green as players teed off to raise both funds and awareness for domestic violence victim survivors in the Mackay and Whitsundays. The event, hosted at Mackay Golf Club, drew strong community participation and friendly competition. A representative from Broken Ballerina Inc said, “We are proud to announce that after
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Rural Aid Marks Major Recovery Milestone Rural Aid has proudly reached a major milestone this month, with its 200th farm receiving vital support as part of the charity’s Farm Recovery Event currently underway in Coraki, in the New South Wales Northern Rivers. The event, running through to 2nd August, marks a significant achievement in Rural Aid’s ongoing commitment to Australia’s farming communities. Since its inception in 2018, the Farm Recovery Events program has provided hands-on assis
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Sugarcane is set to take the spotlight at the Royal Queensland Show next week, as CANEGROWERS returns to the Ekka to showcase one of Queensland’s most significant agricultural industries to city audiences. Hosted in partnership with Sunshine Sugar and Sugar Research Australia, the sugarcane stand has become a crowd favourite in the Ekka’s Agricultural Hall, drawing thousands of visitors each year and proving there's still plenty of curiosity and pride in the industry that helped build reg
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The Mackay and Plane Creek districts' sugarcane harvest season is well underway, and as this edition goes to print, should be hovering around the 25% mark harvested of the crop, give or take. Each year, the Mackay-Plane Creek region, recognised as one of Australia’s largest sugar-producing areas, contributes to both domestic consumption and export markets, making the progress of its harvest season of considerable economic importance. At the local level, every dollar spent in the sugarcane indus
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In the lead-up to the nationally held R U OK? Day on September 11, local suicide prevention charity Grapevine Group is encouraging businesses and community members across Mackay, Isaac and Whitsunday regions to stock up on their free Help-a-mate wallet cards – a vital resource listing local suicide prevention services. The free pocket-sized cards can be ordered directly from the Grapevine Group website. Each card includes a QR code linking to the Grapevine Group app, which provides a more
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The splash park at Seaforth Esplanade will be temporarily closed for scheduled maintenance from Monday, August 18 to Friday, August 22, 2025. The planned work includes replacing a foot valve at the base of one of the filtered water tanks, as well as repainting stencils on the concrete surface of the splash pad. While the splash park will be closed during this period, the nearby playground and public amenities will remain open for everyone to enjoy. The park is expected to reopen on Augu
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The Mackay Art Society launched the 2025 Woollam Art on Show Exhibition with sparkling success on Opening Night last Friday, drawing a crowd of around 240 art lovers, artists, and supporters. Guests enjoyed a fabulous evening, officially opened by Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson and expertly hosted by MC Rob Kidd from ABC Tropical North. Among the special guests were Nigel Dalton MP and Mark Svendsen, poet, writer and arts administrator of the Regional Centre of the Arts, Rockhampton who joi
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Mackay Safety has been nominated for the Expansion into New Markets Award – sponsored by Capricornia Pumped Hydro – at the upcoming 2025 Resource Industry Network (RIN) Awards. The nomination recognises their innovative payroll integration tool within the 4P Forms mobile platform, which is transforming industry data management. Designed to digitise and streamline critical business records, 4P Forms enables workers to submit timesheets, pre-start forms, service sheets, issue reporting, tasking,
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Celebrating Mackay’s Industry Trailblazers The Mackay Isaac Whitsunday region has never been short on heavy hitters in the resources sector, and this year’s Resource Industry Network (RIN) Awards finalists prove that excellence here isn’t just a habit, it’s a standard. Among the names stepping into the 2025 spotlight are four standouts already making waves nationally: ALT Industries, with Tristan Turnbull earning recognition in the Standing Out from the Crowd category; Mackay Safety, whos
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With Dual RIN Nominations At just 24 years old, Mackay’s Tristan Turnbull is redefining chemical safety and compliance in the resource industry, and the country is taking notice. His innovative leadership has earned him not one but two nominations in the 2025 Resource Industry Network (RIN) Awards: Expansion into New Markets and Standing Out from the Crowd. Tristan spearheads ALT Industries, with his father and business partner John Turnbull, a specialist provider of hazardous goods manag
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Proudly Mackay family-owned and operated, Gardian has been part of the local community for 25 years, and this year, the business has been nominated and are finalists for the Connecting in the Community Award – Sponsored by Local Buying Foundation at the upcoming 2025 Resource Industry Network (RIN) Awards. The category recognises organisations that excel in building meaningful connections with the community and external stakeholders. Built with the Mackay community at heart, Gardian’s con
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Richglen Nominated For Champion Culture Award In Mining Richglen, a Central Queensland-based company specialising in mechanical, electrical, and structural services for the mining and milling industries, has been nominated for the Champion Culture Award at the 2025 Resource Industry Network (RIN) Awards, sponsored by FMS Group. Managing Director, Matt Borg says the heart of Richglen is its people-first approach. “This award represents exactly what drives us – a culture built on connectio
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The latest round of Community Bank Sarina Bendigo Bank’s Community Engagement Program has been announced – with near $900,000 in community grants, donations and sponsorships committed to groups and projects across the greater Sarina region. The FY25 program includes 15 community grants supporting everything from school swimming programs, providing local students with lifesaving skills, to vital medical equipment. Community Bank Sarina also confirmed over 30 sponsorships and several major
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A Mackay Northern Beaches State High School student has been recognised on the state stage, earning top honours at the annual Literary Competition hosted by the Independent Education Union – Queensland and Northern Territory (IEU-QNT) in partnership with the English Teachers’ Association of Queensland (ETAQ). Isabelle Refalo claimed first place in the Years 9 and 10 poetry category for her poignant piece Blood-stained poppy. Rebecca Cheers, who judged the entries, said the winning entry
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‘Freedom of choice’ is a superpower in careers, just as it is in other aspects of our lives. ‘Freedom of choice’ in careers give us a sense of control and reduces the risk of feeling stuck. A lot of attention and energy goes into making those first career decisions. So we don’t feel stuck, it’s important to check in and reflect as we progress through our careers whether our choices are serving our purpose. ‘Freedom of choice’ becomes increasingly important as we progress through our car
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Cr Heath Paton Some fantastic news to report this week with the appointment of the new CEO for Mackay Regional Council. After an extensive recruitment process, Gerard Carlyon will be coming on board at the end of September. He brings with him a wealth of experience as he joins us from the Fraser coast regional council where he’s currently serving as the deputy CEO. Mr Carlyon is a personable, approachable leader who cares deeply for his staff and the community. He aims to make council a
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I usually talk about the marketing and comms side of branding – what you say, how you show up, the messages that connect with your audience. But today, I’m crossing to the dark side – and talking design (because I guess visuals matter as much as your voice 😉). Specifically: logo suites and style guides. Because if your brand is still limping along with a single JPEG logo from 2012, this one’s for you. Let’s break it down… What’s in a logo suite (aka the essential files every business sh
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Going for a wander around Mackay’s City Heart will tell you a few things, some good and some not so good. On the down-side you will see plenty of vacant shops and commercial spaces, some with boarded up facades. It is disappointing, in a city as active, vibrant and successful as Mackay to see empty spaces in the City Heart. We’ve all seen dead city hearts in regional areas. They reflect the changing demographic of a particular town; people leaving because they can’t find work, young peo
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A donated car restored by Mackay engineering students has found a new home with local youth support organisation YIRS One Stop Youth Shop, marking another milestone in a community-driven automotive initiative that blends training, purpose, and giving back. The project, now in its third year at CQUniversity's Mackay Engineering College, gives students hands-on experience refurbishing vehicles destined for non-profits. Automotive trainer Simon Korneliussen said this particular vehicle had
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Cricket Is Coming to Mackay “Cricket” is my favourite Bluey episode. Yes, my kids are outside the target market for Bluey, but I just couldn’t shake the FOMO. We watched it — and my heart is happy for it. A show for kids that is genuinely, unironically beloved by parents? I still don’t know how they do it. It’s always clever and charming, but for me, that cricket episode hits different. Somehow it captures the magic and reverence of the backyard version of our national pastime. From Uncle
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Zoe Kennedy – Financial Adviser In 1983, Australia abolished what were once known as death duties; estate taxes that could strip up to 27.9% from estates worth more than $1 million. With their abolition Australian’s have long assumed our country is free of inheritance taxes. However, while traditional estate duties are gone, certain taxes can still apply after death and one of the most significant is embedded within the superannuation system. As superannuation becomes the primary wealth-b
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The Airlie Beach Festival Of Music Has Camping! The Airlie Beach Festival of Music has always been more than just a music event; it’s a full-blown music holiday, and this year, the festival is taking that experience to the next level with an incredible lineup and a brand-new camping package designed to make your escape to paradise as seamless and unforgettable as the music itself. The 2025 lineup is a legendary mix of Australian music royalty and thrilling new talent. Get ready to sing al
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Friday 15th August Crochet & Conversation 9am Drop in for a relaxed morning of crocheting, coffee and conversation with friendly Northern Beaches locals at the Beachfront Bar & Restaurant on Bucasia Esplanade. Everyone is welcome—whether you're a seasoned crocheter, a beginner, or just love a good chat over coffee. Bring your own tools or borrow from the communal box. It’s all about connection, creativity, and community. Beachfront Bar & Restaurant on Bucasia Esplanade QCWA Mackay Branch Mo
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Mackay’s rising cycling stars have made their mark on the state stage, bringing home an impressive haul of titles and podium finishes at the AusCycling Queensland 2025 Gravel State Championships in Rockhampton on Saturday, 9 August, and the Cyclocross State Championships the following day. Heavy rain in the lead-up to the gravel event made for a muddy, unpredictable course, but Mackay’s juniors thrived in the challenging conditions. In the Gravel State Championships, Max Teague was crown
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The 2025 Mackay Wanderers Junior Football Carnival was a standout weekend for grassroots sport, featuring a record-breaking 130 teams from across Central Queensland. The carnival’s scale and success brought thousands of visitors to the region, creating an electric atmosphere on and off the field. Mayor Greg Williamson congratulated the organisers, volunteers, and families who made the event possible. He said, “It was the biggest event to date, bringing thousands of visitors to our region and c
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