After a quiet previous weekend, Whitsunday United roared back into action with a packed schedule of games across all levels. On Friday night, the Division 2 men travelled to face Rangers and were determined to bounce back from an earlier loss. A hectic opening half-hour saw them take a 3-2 lead. Harry netted his first senior goal early in the second half to give Whitsunday some breathing room, but a late Rangers goal set up a tense finish. Down a player, Whitsunday dug deep to hold on for a gri
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Football – Whitsunday United Football Club Friday, 20 June 6:00 pm - Div 2 Men vs Mackay Wanderers FC at Wanderers Park 8:00 pm - Div 1 Men vs Mackay Wanderers FC at Wanderers Park Saturday 21 June 9:30 am - U13 Div 1 vs Mackay Wanderers Roses at Whitsunday Sports Park 9:30 am - U14 vs Mackay Lions at Whitsunday Sports Park 11:00 am - U13 FQPL vs Dolphins FC at Whitsunday Sports Park 11:15 am - U15/16 vs Country United FC at Whitsunday Sports Park 5:00 pm - U23 Men vs Mackay Wanderers FC at Whi
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Hi Everyone, Hope you're all looking forward to a short week and the fantastic Whitsunday Show - I know I am! My past weekend was busy but so much fun. Saturday involved four-wheel driving through Cathu State Forest with friends. It's one of my top spots in the Whitsundays, and I always love discovering something new there! Sunday, though, was profoundly fulfilling. I spent the day planting corals in the Great Barrier Reef as part of a restoration project with an amazing team of divers. You c
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OPINION PIECE Superannuation is one of Australia's most important vehicles for building a comfortable retirement. Yet many of us only start paying attention to our super balances later in life. So why is super hitting the news and why am I raising it? The Federal government is planning a super heist and wants to change the goal posts on retirement savings. They are proposing to double the tax rate from 15 per cent to 30 per cent on all super balances valued above $3 million. This is a ver
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At Aligned Corporate Residences Mackay Located in the heart of Mackay on Queensland’s Central Coast, Aligned Corporate Residences Mackay offers a relaxed lifestyle in a vibrant, cosmopolitan city. Just an hour’s flight from Brisbane, this idyllic tropical destination is perfectly positioned for business and leisure. Our central city location places residents within easy walking distance to a variety of dining, shopping, and entertainment options. With convenient access to the business di
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Callea And Campbell Bring Elton And George To Life In an unmissable celebration of two of music’s greatest icons, Anthony Callea and Tim Campbell are taking the stage together for a spectacular live national tour, featuring the timeless hits of Elton John and George Michael. The powerhouse duo will bring their electrifying energy to the Mackay Entertainment & Convention Centre (MECC) on Saturday 28 June. Backed by their band, Callea and Campbell will take audiences on a musical journey t
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A major environmental milestone has been reached in the Mackay–Whitsunday region, with the completion of Queensland’s largest rock fishway on Jolimont Creek, north of Mackay. Spanning over 100 metres, the newly constructed fishway now provides vital upstream passage for native fish species, overcoming a three-metre-high concrete weir that has obstructed migration for more than three decades. Spearheaded by Mackay Regional Council and funded through the Australian Government’s Reef Guardia
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Sarina’s Railway Crossing Set For Vital Safety Overhaul Glen Kelly MP has championed a vital victory for Sarina, securing long-overdue safety upgrades for the Anzac Street Pedestrian Railway Crossing. While in Brisbane for Parliament on 29 April, Mr Kelly met with Queensland Rail to advocate for urgent improvements to the crossing. Queensland Rail has now confirmed the upgrades will go ahead under the Regional Level Crossing Upgrade Fund. Improving safety at the Anzac Street crossing ha
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Rotary Australia World Community Service Limited (RAWCS) was established in 1987 as a public company limited by guarantee. Operated under its own constitution and authorised by Rotary International as a Multi-District Activity, RAWCS helps facilitate life-changing community service projects both locally and internationally. Walkerston Rotary’s latest RAWCS project focuses on supporting communities in the Western Province of the Solomon Islands. The initiative aims to supply educational an
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Earlier this month, Michelle Landry was officially declared the winner of the seat of Capricornia by the Australian Electoral Commission. At the Declaration of Results event, Ms Landry was confirmed to have retained the seat with a decisive margin of 11,512 votes. “This is an incredible honour and I want to sincerely thank the people of Capricornia for once again putting their trust in me,” Ms Landry said. “To be elected for another term is deeply humbling. I never take this job for gra
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Tucked away on the sun-drenched shores of Blacks Beach, just 20 minutes from Mackay, Comfort Resort Blue Pacific is one of regional Queensland’s best-kept getaways. Blending seclusion, spacious comfort, and standout service, this award-winning beachfront resort is framed by the natural beauty of the Coral Sea. Guests are welcomed with roomy, fully self-contained one, two, and three-bedroom apartments, ocean views, and direct beach access. From peaceful strolls beneath swaying palms to sun
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MADEC is proud to announce the launch of a new dual wheelchair-accessible community van, thanks to the generous support of Macrossan & Amiet and the Gambling Community Benefit Fund. The new van is a significant step toward improving transport accessibility for people with disabilities in the Mackay region. As part of MADEC’s ongoing commitment to inclusion, the vehicle will be made available to other local not-for-profit organisations who support individuals with disabilities. “This van
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For 2025 Woollam Art On Show Awards The Mackay Art Society is proud to announce that acclaimed artist, Ron McBurnie, has been selected as judge for 2025 Woollam Art on Show Awards & Exhibition. A celebrated artist and educator, Ron previously served as guest judge for Mackay’s prestigious Woollam Art on Show Awards in 2010 and will return in 2025 to once again lend his expertise. McBurnie’s artistic journey began in 1975 at Queensland College of Art. In 1980, he relocated to Townsville,
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The Mackay VIEW Club recently received a generous $1,000 donation from the Mackay Alpha Rho ESA Club. Since its inception, the dedicated members of ESA Mackay have raised substantial funds in support of the Cancer Council of Queensland, the Leukaemia Foundation, and various local charities this year, including the Mackay VIEW Club. “This most generous donation will assist with our ongoing support of our 5 Learning For Life students,” said VIEW Club President Elizabeth. VIEW is proud to
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By Simon Hood, Wilmar Manager Grower Marketing It’s great to see the 2025 production season off to an early start, with crushing under way in the Burdekin and Plane Creek regions, and the Herbert commencing this week. The weather continues to cooperate, and we hope that remains the case so all regions can get sugar into the sheds. The #11 sugar contract continues to trend lower, with little change in the global surplus production forecast. The recent UNICA report for the first half of Ma
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By Amanda Wright In the quiet community of Andergrove, a local treasure known as MAD Animal Addiction, a cherished petting farm, finds itself facing an uncertain future. For over six decades, the property at 81 Andergrove Road has been a vibrant tableau of rural life, a place where the gentle bleating of goats and the soft rustle of feathers have harmonised with the daily rhythm of the neighbourhood. Yet, as its owner, Karen Mason, shares, recent actions by the Mackay Regional Council (MR
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Mackay Teacher Claims Back-To-Back World Titles
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Ex-Servicemen Hit The Road To Help Sick Kids In a world where recognition often follows spectacle, two local veterans are quietly carving a road less travelled … one of grit, heart, and community backing. Tony Ciantar and Wayne Davis, both retired servicemen, are trading boots for bonnets and embarking on a 10,000km journey in their lovingly restored 1994 Ford Fairmont as part of this year’s Variety Bash. Although, this isn’t just any road trip. It’s a rugged, soul-stirring mission to r
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The Australia Wide Novice Pairs were played in May with 28 Novice players from Mackay competing. N/S winners were Mary Cruickshank and Geoff Cowan. E/W winners: Ted Cullinan and Susan Gibson. Weekly Results Monday 2 June 2025 –- 8 Table Mitchell Green Points N/S E/W 1st Janelle Conroy / Terry Sheedy 1st Margaret Lane / Barbara Tait 2nd David Ting / Eric Goodchild 2nd Noel Bugeia / Geoffrey Patterson 3rd Edward Kliese / Diane Stokes 3rd Ming Ting / Pamela Finger 3rd Joy Block / Nancy Wix 4th H
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At Inaugural Eimeo Surf Club Event Approximately fifty runners enjoyed ideal weather conditions and generous hospitality at the inaugural Mackay Road Runners event hosted by the Eimeo Surf Club. Participants tackled either a 5km or 14km course through the scenic and undulating suburbs of Eimeo, Dolphin Heads and Blacks Beach. Mackay Road Runners Club President, Paul Tilse, extended his gratitude to the Eimeo Surf Club for their warm welcome, which included access to parking, amenities, deliciou
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Cairns once again proved itself an ideal host city for the Great Barrier Reef Masters Games, held from May 29 to June 1, with over 220 swimmers taking part in three days of competitive pool events at the Tobruk Memorial Pool, followed by an open water swim at Lake Barrine. This year’s swimming program concluded with a scenic open water event on the Atherton Tablelands, where 74 swimmers took on either a 1500 or 3000 metre course in the 24-degree waters of Lake Barrine. Among the competitors we
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A Season Of Celebration, Opportunity, And Community Spirit It’s been an inspiring and action-packed few weeks across our region, full of energy, ideas, and community pride. From welcoming visiting ministers to celebrating local achievements in training, sport, education, and the arts—there’s so much to be excited about! We were thrilled to host Assistant Minister for Finance, Trade, Training and Employment, Amanda Stoker. Her visit gave locals a valuable chance to share feedback on gover
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The competition that combines artistic fun with serious safety messages is now open to all Queensland primary school children from Prep to Year 6. Twelve different pieces of artwork from Queensland primary students will be chosen to feature in the calendar, with a different safety theme for each month. Deputy Premier, Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning and Minister for Industrial Relations Jarrod Bleijie said the competition is about creative young minds promoting the
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It was a strong showing for Dunbar, with their players demonstrating a keen eye at the plate, drawing 11 walks to get on base. Tristan Hillier connected well with the bat, though was caught out by Dragons’ Lachlan Colless. Dragons’ powerhouses Connor Doolan and Noah Baxter made it on base three times each, both eventually crossing home. Boyd Baxter launched a centre-field home run, helping secure a 14-6 victory over Dunbar. Heavy Iron Hawks dominated Dragons Ausgroup in a 14-6 win. Justin Loche
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By Owen Menkens, CANEGROWERS Chairman It’s been a big week in cane country. Harvesters are up and running in the Tableland and Bundaberg districts, marking the start of the 2025 crush. For growers, there’s nothing quite like seeing the first cane bins filling up – it signals a new season, a fresh start, and hope for better days after a challenging run last year. Across the rest of Queensland, farms are almost ready. Growers are fine-tuning gear, checking fields, and waiting for their loc
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