Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
Deeter has waited so patiently… surely it’s his turn soon. If ever there was a dog who deserves his happily-ever-after, it’s Deeter. This affectionate and endlessly cheerful boy has been waiting far too long for someone to give him the chance he so deserves. With his eager-to-please personality and big heart, Deeter is ready to be someone’s loyal companion through thick and thin. He’s the perfect mix of cuddle bug and adventure buddy — happy to lounge beside you on the couch or trot beside yo
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The Australian Eagles are set to bring their signature blend of country rock back to the Airlie Beach Hotel in August, promising two laid-back afternoons packed with all the hits fans know and love. Founder and band member Shayne Browne said the group has been playing in Airlie Beach for over six years now, with two to three performances a year, and Shane said it’s always a highlight. “We love it,” Shayne said. “The town, the people, the pub, it’s great. It’s just got such a relaxed vibe. We
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Football - Whitsunday United FC Friday 1 August 6:00pm – Div 2 Men vs Country United at Whitsunday Sportspark 8:00pm – Div 1 Men vs Country United at Whitsunday Sportspark Saturday 2 August U13 Div 1 – Bye 9:30am – U13 FQPL vs Dolphins FC at Whitsunday Sportspark 9:30am – U14 vs Mackay Lions at Mackay Football Park 11:15am – U15/16 vs Mackay Lions at Mackay Football Park 3:00pm – Women’s FQPL vs Magpies at Magpies 5:00pm – U23 Men vs Mackay Wanderers at Whitsunday Sportspark 7:00pm – Men vs Mac
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The weeks are flying by at Airlie Beach Bowls Club as sunshine returns, the days grow longer, and interstate travellers begin to prepare for their journeys home. But before they go, there’s still plenty of friendly competition and camaraderie to enjoy. On Tuesday, July 22, 19 bowlers took to the green, with the top honours going to a strong trio led by Eric Barnard as skip, with Gail Simms at second and Des Ballance leading. The team combined well for a convincing win. Wednesday afternoon bowl
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As we head towards the pointy end of the season, most Whitsunday United teams are jockeying for positions in the top four. On Friday night, the divisional men played City Brothers. Div2 went down 2-1 but Div1 managed a win, coming out on top 2-1. Div2 are now in fourth spot on the ladder and Div1 are top of their league. U13 Div1 faced a strong Country United team who should arguably be in FQPL – the 8-0 loss does not reflect the effort on the park by the young Whitsunday team. The U13 FQPL Sq
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Bowen Tennis Association is proud to share the success of their pickleball players who competed in the Queensland Pickleball Tour in Townsville on 16th – 18th May and the Yeppoon Pickleball Tournament on 18th – 20th July. Eleven players – Shane, Jackie, Jason, Asia, Joyce, Jaymie, Rob, Amanda, Hayley, Madden and Chris represented Bowen in doubles and mixed events. Successful players came home with medals, collecting four gold, two silver and three bronze across the two tournaments. It was a fa
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With just two rounds remaining in the regular Premier League season, J Maher has surged to the top of the table for the first time this year, claiming a hard-fought 7–5 win over J Wilson. Meanwhile, D Friend had a busy and successful day, playing three matches and coming away with three convincing victories. He notched up 7–2 wins against both N Mitchell and K Reason, and a 7–3 result over A McMinn. Friend also hit the only 180 of the afternoon, continuing his strong form, while J Wilson impres
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Cannonvalley Pony Club hosted a memorable weekend of showjumping and history, combining its Official Showjumping and Jump Equitation event with a special visit from founding member Jo Bailey. Riders from across the Whitsundays, Mackay, and surrounding areas took part in the two-day competition. Despite smaller numbers, the event featured strong senior participation and showcased impressive sportsmanship. Ruby Smith riding Atrani was named Champion Overall Weekend Rider, with Jillian Moffat and
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It was a weekend of milestones and medals for the Cannonvale Cannons, with swimmers making a splash across Townsville. Our most senior Cannon, Jacob Bell, now based in Townsville, proudly represented the club in the Magnetic Island to Townsville Open Water Swim. Jacob was second overall out of the water with an impressive time of 1:46:14.80 and took out first place in his age group — an outstanding achievement in a challenging event. Meanwhile, five Cannons travelled to Townsville to compete i
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The Proserpine Veterans Golf Club enjoyed another beautiful day on the course for its annual Closed Club Championships, with players making the most of the ideal weather conditions. It was a particularly exciting event this year with several new names appearing on the winners' list, highlighting the growing depth of talent in the local veteran golfing community. Organisers thanked all participants for a great day of competition and congratulated the winners and runners-up across the various gr
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It’s been a packed week at Proserpine Bowls Club, with club championships, social games, and community programs all in full swing. In the Club B Singles semi-finals on Saturday morning, Harry Craig defeated Kendall Watts 25–16, while Todd Leys overcame Bruce Uhe 25–14. The final will see Craig and Leys battle it out for the title. Wednesday’s social bowls had a strong turnout. Trevor Parsons, Carol Smith and Heather Brown edged out Geoff Orton (visiting from Eltham, Victoria), Barry Zillmann a
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Five boats and ten enthusiastic members of the Abell Point Yacht Club set sail last Friday for a weekend getaway to Cape Gloucester, braving some wind and swell along the way. While conditions kept skippers alert, spirits remained high as the fleet cruised north. By late afternoon, the boats were safely anchored off Cape Gloucester Beach Resort. A blustery Friday night brought strong gusts and a couple of dragged anchors, but Saturday morning arrived calm and clear. After coffee and cake at th
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Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025 Takes Place On Local Shores In a powerful display of precision and partnership, Republic of Korea Marines stormed the Bowen coastline as part of Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025 this week. Arriving via two roaring MUH-1 Marineon helicopters, they executed a textbook amphibious air assault—clearing enemy positions and seizing control of their objective. Operating alongside Australian and U.S. forces, the mission tested their ability to adapt to unfamiliar terrain while
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Last week, when staff entered their office in Airlie Beach, they noticed a little note had been left on their desks. Looking around curiously, they wondered if it had been one of their co-workers, but soon discovered that every desk had a note - who could it be? Each note was handwritten and included one simple yet inspiring sentence. The office soon filled with staff, and each person read their note, taking a moment to pause before the day began. Each note was individual, and somehow, each
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This week, I’m off on an adventure of my own—I fly to Italy today for a two-week holiday! We’ll be landing in Rome, catching a train to Florence, and then taking a taxi to a small village called Radicondoli, where we’ve leased a small holiday villa with our family. It’s a special trip for us, as we’ll be sharing the villa with my brothers and their families, along with our beautiful mother, Jan. While I’m incredibly excited for the travels ahead, I’m also a little sad to be missing the Great
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A snorkelling trip at one of the Whitsundays' most iconic destinations turned into a medical emergency last Thursday, when a woman in her 50s experienced breathing difficulties in a near-drowning incident at Whitehaven Beach. Just before midday on 17 July, BMA CQ Rescue was urgently tasked to the area with the rescue helicopter becoming the only emergency service able to respond swiftly due to the area’s isolation. Landing directly on the pristine sands of Whitehaven Beach, the onboard critica
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Released For Community Feedback Whitsunday Regional Council is encouraging the community to share their feedback on the draft Airlie Beach Masterplan, a bold vision aimed at guiding the town’s future growth and transformation in the lead-up to the 2032 Olympics and beyond. Mayor Ry Collins said the draft plan marks an exciting step forward in reimagining the future of Airlie Beach and shaping a long-term vision that extends to 2050. “This is a draft for feedback, and we want locals, visitors a
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Following the tragic death of 17 year old Jack Beasley in Sufers Paradise in 2019 the Queensland Police Service has been very proative in addressing community concerns about knife crime in Queensland. In 2021 the legslative framwework for ‘Jacks Law’ was put in place. This legislation allowed Police the power to use hand held scanning devices in relelvant places. Airlie Beach Safe Night Precinct is one of those areas that was named. Since 2021 in Queensland more then 100,611 wanding operations
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Meet Michelle McPherson The Whitsundays community will soon welcome experienced paediatric psychologist Michelle Macpherson, who is set to begin consulting at Barefoot Medicine Whitsunday next week. With more than 25 years in Educational and Developmental Psychology, Michelle brings extensive experience supporting young people aged 2 to 18, particularly those navigating anxiety, depression, school refusal, and complex diagnoses. Her client-centred approach is built on collaboration with familie
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To Celebrate 100 Years This Sunday! A century of education, faith and community spirit will be honoured this weekend as St Catherine’s Catholic College hosts its much-anticipated Centenary Picnic on Sunday, the 27th of July, from 10am to 3pm. Held at the college grounds, the family-friendly celebration promises a day of connection, celebration and fun for all ages. Locals past and present are warmly invited to attend and take part in this special milestone event. Guests can look forward to a v
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Cory O’Shea knows how far an apprenticeship with Wilmar Sugar and Renewables can take you. He scored a fitting and turning apprenticeship at Wilmar’s Herbert sugar mills straight out of school, back in 2007, and is now Manager Operations at Proserpine Mill. “I knew I wanted to do a trade, and Mum and Dad strongly encouraged me to try for an apprenticeship at the mill,” Mr O’Shea said. “I didn’t have a family connection to the mill, but I knew some people who worked there so I organised work e
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Whitsundays-based spiritualist and author Marion Weatherburn is preparing to launch her second book, ‘Wired Not Weird’, this Sunday at the Whitsunday Sailing Club. Describing herself as a fourth-generation spiritualist, Marion has completed nearly 7,000 readings over 37 years and her new book, ‘Wired Not Weird’, is both memoir and manual. “This book is a spiritual handbook. It teaches people how to hear, how to listen, and how to know, so they can connect with their own guides and loved ones,”
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Change The Way You Connect Whether you love working the room or loathe the awkward small talk, the Whitsundays Chamber of Commerce and Industry invites you to reimagine what networking can do for your business. Ahead of the 2025 Whitsunday Business Conference, the Chamber will host a high-impact preview event at 7:30am Thursday 14 August at Club Whitsunday, Airlie Beach. This practical and energising session will demonstrate why networking is not just a social nicety but a core business strat
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Let’s Shape the Future of Airlie Beach Together The draft Airlie Beach Masterplan is now out for community feedback and Council would love your input. This isn’t just a plan on paper. It’s a shared vision for the future of Airlie Beach and a roadmap for how we can create better public spaces, encourage smart investment, and get ready to shine when we host the 2032 Olympic sailing events right here in the Whitsundays. The draft reflects years of community feedback on what matters most — things
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Soft plastics can’t be recycled in your yellow-lidded recycling bin. In fact, placing them in the yellow bin can contaminate the load, meaning the entire batch might end up in landfill. What a waste! To check if plastic waste can be recycled, try the scrunch test! Soft plastics can be scrunched into a ball and don’t bounce back (like cling wrap, plastic bags and food wrappers) - these items must go in the waste bin. Hard plastics (like milk bottles, yogurt tubs and shampoo bottles) can be placed
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