After an extended period on the road, Whitsunday United's senior men returned to home turf over the weekend, hosting Country in two competitive matches. Division 2 opened strongly, converting early pressure into a 1–0 lead. However, two quickfire goals from Country just before halftime turned the momentum. The second half followed a similar pattern, with Whitsunday equalising to draw level, only for Country to find a late winner. The match ended in a narrow 3–2 loss for WUFC, despite a spirited
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The Whitsunday Powersports and Marine Mackerel and Reef Fish Rally was run and won over the 19-20 July weekend, despite testing conditions with persistent 20–25 knot southeasterly winds. Club Secretary Steve Obst claimed the Champion Male title with an impressive 18.0kg Spanish mackerel caught on 10kg line. Malika Stolte took out Champion Lady Angler with a solid 9.4kg mackerel, while Jasmin Smith tagged and released two Spanish mackerel to be crowned Champion Junior Female. Kirra Martin was ru
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There were great numbers across the board despite some less-than-perfect weather on Friday. From stableford events to the Centenary Opens, there was something for everyone—and even a hole-in-one to cap it all off! Tuesday 29 July The week began with a Stableford round. Ryan Wilkes took out the Men’s comp with 39 points, just ahead of Aaron Prosser on 38. Trish McNeill was in top form to win the Ladies with 42 points, while Heather Luvis followed with 36. Notable NTPs included Ryan Wilkes (9th)
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It was an early start for the Proserpine Veterans Golfers who travelled by bus to Home Hill for the latest round of the Whitsunday Veterans competition. The Home Hill volunteers provided a warm welcome, with a well-prepared course and delicious morning tea and lunch. The greens, as always, proved tricky for some, but spirits remained high throughout the day. A total of 69 players took part, including 22 ladies and 47 men. Proserpine was strongly represented with eight ladies and ten men. The P
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Close to 100 people attended the Heart Kids Charity Golf on Dent Island on Saturday 19 July. An impressive $110,000 was raised for HeartKids, a national organisation supporting children with congenital and acquired heart conditions. Now in its 11th year, the annual event is organised by Kerri and Troy Martin and has grown significantly since its beginnings. “Last year we raised $80,000, and this year we have certainly surpassed that,” said Kerry. The event has now become the biggest communit
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North Mackay Ladies Crowned Runners-Up North Mackay ladies played in the District Final of the Championship of Championship Fours against the ladies team from Airlie Beach . The game was held at Northern Beaches Bowls Club on Saturday 2nd of August. The Mackay Ladies played a valiant game but the Airlie ladies ran out winners in the end. Congratulations go to Donna Gordon (lead) Coral Francis(second), Deb Mackenzie (third), and Lorna Bowers (skip). Well done and your efforts are apprecia
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Mackay's finest veterans took Brisbane by storm at the Queensland Veterans Table Tennis Championships, held at the Southpine Sports Complex from the 16th to the 19th of July. Over four fiercely competitive days, our talented team of nine players proudly flew the Mackay flag and delivered brilliant performances across a range of age divisions. Congratulations and thanks to Vince Boeske, Anne Sheridan, Allan Edwards, Janice Kent, Donna Abbott, Daniel Warfield, Andrea Nicholson, and Noreen Frederi
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RUNNING A dedicated group of Mackay Road Runners took part in the weekly social Bluewater Quay run under ideal conditions — cool, breezy, and sunny — while many others travelled north to Townsville for the annual McDonald's Running Festival. Events ranged from marathon and half marathon to 10km, 5km, 2.5km, and team races. Race Director Andrew Short missed his usual local duties to compete in the Townsville Half Marathon, finishing in a solid 2:02, while his wife Jose claimed family bragging r
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The young U12 Rookieball players are showing great improvement in their pitching and catching, while their batting and fielding have reached new levels. Some are already preparing to transition into the U14s next year, with several emerging as impressive young softballers. Lucas Weinart and Nevaeh Smith were recognised for their hard work and dedication, each receiving club awards for their efforts. The Joeyball littlies are also stepping up and starting to show off their skills, with sev
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Students Set To Sprint Alongside Cathy Freeman At Reef Arena Mackay students will soon have the chance to lace up their runners and follow in the footsteps of one of Australia’s most beloved sporting icons — Cathy Freeman — in a landmark event celebrating the 25th anniversary of her unforgettable Olympic gold. The Run With Cathy – Schools Challenge will take over the Great Barrier Reef Arena on Friday, October 24 at 3.30pm, honouring the moment Freeman captivated the world with her 400m v
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The 71st Magnetic Island to Townsville Swim, and the 17th year it has been held as a cageless event, once again attracted open water swimmers from across the region. The iconic 8km swim starts at Picnic Bay on Magnetic Island and finishes on Townsville’s shoreline in front of Strand Park. Swimmers typically complete the course with support from a kayaker who provides direction and sustenance throughout the swim. This year saw 73 solo swimmers, 10 duo teams, and 8 full teams of four take p
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With Dragons Abreast Mackay Dragons Abreast Mackay Celebrated it’s 20th Birthday on 26th July at the Mackay Harbour Marina. Breast cancer survivors and supporters were joined by Townsville and Blue Mountains Dragons Abreast Clubs for a wonderful weekend of fun, friendship and celebration. A fun paddle on the Marina was followed by a scrumptious morning tea in Mulherin Park. “We all felt the groove with a Drum Circle by Rhythm Business, proving to be popular and enjoyed by all,” said club
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A talented contingent of six from the Northern Beaches Shito Ryu Karate Club, led by Sensei Helle Smith, has returned from Singapore with an impressive seven medals – 1 Gold, 2 Silver and 4 Bronze. Gold and Silver went to Tim Spratling, Silver and Bronze to Nathanial Smith, and Bronze medals were awarded to Helle Smith, Axsel Smith, and 9-year-old Phoenix Spratling – whose mum, Nicky Kupfer, also competed. Two members achieved a major milestone by grading for their Shodan (1st level Blac
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More than just a race, the 2025 BMA CQ Rescue Fun Run brought heart, hustle, and a whole lot of community spirit to the Mackay Marina on Sunday morning. Hundreds turned out to run, walk, volunteer or cheer, raising vital funds to keep our community-funded rescue helicopter in the sky. With crisp winter air and clear blue skies, it was the perfect morning for a good cause. In the 10km race, proudly presented by Ampcontrol, Jared Mackie claimed first place with a lightning-fast time of 37:
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Mackay Surf Club Lifesavers celebrate a season of success From national and state champions to podium finishes at North Aussies, branch age champions, and ensuring the safety of Harbour Beach, Mackay Surf Life Saving Club recently held its annual awards presentation night to honour the contributions of its dedicated volunteers. Club President Brendan Smith opened the evening by reflecting on the club’s 75 years of “Vigilance and Service” to the Mackay community, proudly referring to its
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PlayOn! Vouchers Now Available Families across the Mackay region have a new reason to get excited as the Crisafulli Government’s PlayOn! sports voucher program officially opened for applications at 9am on Sunday, 4 August. Designed to support grassroots sport and ease cost-of-living pressures, the program offers eligible families up to $200 per child to assist with registration, equipment, and uniforms. Local Member for Mackay, Nigel Dalton MP, welcomed the launch, calling it “a win for
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With Mackay Contract Bridge Club BRIDGE It was a busy week with the playing of the Unders & Overs Tuesday night, the final week of the Founders Teams, and the final two days of the 2025 Whitsunday GNOT. Weekly Results Monday 28 July 2025 – 8 Table Mitchell Green Points N/S E/W 1st David Ting / Eric Goodchild 1st Andrew Canavan / Geoffrey Patterson 2nd Geoff Taylor / Nancy Martín 2nd Terry Sheedy / Griff Bancroft 3rd Mary Cruickshank / Ian Cruickshank 3rd Helen Van Den Broek / Jan Harris
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Mackay’s Future Takes Root At National Tree Day Fingers in the dirt, boots muddy and smiles wide – more than 300 local students rolled up their sleeves at Glenfields Park last Friday for a hands-on lesson in giving back to the planet. As part of Mackay Regional Council’s 16th annual partnership with Planet Ark for National Tree Day, children from nine schools across the region planted over 3,000 native seedlings grown specially by the Mackay Natural Environment Centre. The event transformed Glen
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We might not have hit orbit, but Australia is now officially in the space game — and that’s something worth celebrating. This week’s ERIS rocket launch from the Bowen Orbital Spaceport didn’t quite go the distance, reaching an estimated altitude somewhere between 50 and 100 metres before returning to Earth. But in the world of rocketry, altitude isn’t everything, especially not on a maiden launch. As anyone who’s followed spaceflight will tell you, a first launch is rarely flawless. Rock
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Richglen has proudly donated $31,000 to the region’s two emergency helicopter services, recognising their vital role in supporting workers who travel to and from remote mine sites across Central Queensland. Through its matched giving program, Richglen employees contribute a portion of their pay to the life-saving services, with the company matching every dollar. This year’s total donation includes $22,000 to CQ Rescue in Mackay and $9,000 to CapRescue in Rockhampton. Managing Director M
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Mackay’s By-Election Candidates Unveiled On Thursday, 24 July, at the 500 Pavilion, the Mackay community learned that nine candidates will contest the upcoming Mackay Regional Council by-election, set for Saturday, 30 August 2025. This election follows the resignation of former councillor George Christensen on 30 May, with over 90,000 residents expected to participate via a full postal ballot announced by the Electoral Commission of Queensland. The candidates, consisting of Melissa Milton
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OPINION PIECE The Albanese Labor Government has used its numbers in Parliament to block a proposed Senate Inquiry into the health and future of Australia’s metals manufacturing industry, without providing any explanation for the decision. The Inquiry, moved by Nationals Senators Susan McDonald and Matt Canavan, was designed to investigate the looming crisis facing the sector, including key processing facilities Glencore’s Mount Isa and Townsville operations. “These facilities underpin ou
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The scenic coastal town of Midge Point has welcomed a vital boost to water safety, becoming the newest addition to Marine Rescue Queensland (MRQ) as Volunteer Marine Rescue (VMR) Midge Point officially joins the statewide service as its 15th unit. MRQ Midge Point Unit Commander Gary Considine said waters around the township provided rich fishing and boating opportunities and were a popular spot for locals and visitors to the area. “The area provides some wonderful opportunities for water
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By Hannah McNamara It’s no secret that Mackay is in the midst of a homelessness crisis, driven by escalating living costs, limited housing availability, and increasingly complex social challenges. In a climate where shelter has become a luxury for many, one initiative offers a glimmer of hope, in the form of three converted buses designed to give those without a roof over their heads a secure place to sleep. According to the Queensland Council of Social Service (QCOSS), Specialist Homeles
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Mackay students are set to take centre stage this month, joining some of Australia’s top professional opera vocalists for a special performance at the MECC. Opera Australia is Australia’s largest performing arts company, presenting over 700 performances to more than half a million people every year. The company will return to Mackay with its annual national tour, showcasing crowd favourite La Bohème with a choir of local students as part of the company’s Regional Children’s Chorus progra
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