The name Younga, means mother in local language of the Gia and Ngaro people of the Whitsundays. The sea people of the Whitsundays, the Ngaro People, have been watching over humpback whales while they are calving in the protection of the islands, for over 9,000 years. The Ngaro people have a strong cultural connection to land, sea and country. The whales have significance as totemic ancestors. The Ngaro have creation stories that indicate the whales have been here since their creation spirits f
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I recently had the opportunity to meet in Brisbane with Queensland’s new Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Brent Mickelberg MP, during a busy week in Parliament. I’m grateful he was able to make time to sit down with me to discuss several key infrastructure priorities for the Whitsundays. We spoke at length about the long-overdue upgrades to Shute Harbour Road, including the $24 million Hamilton Plains flood immunity project and the $79 million Paluma to Tropic Road upgrade. I’m pleased to
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Eco Barge Clean Seas Inc. is proud to announce a new partnership with Green Energy Technologies through the installation of a 13.2kW solar system at Eco HQ in the Whitsundays. The system will power essential components of Eco Barge’s conservation operations, including the five quarantine turtle tanks, water pumps, and marine debris recycling machinery in the Ocean Trash Recycle Shack — allowing Eco HQ to run almost entirely on clean, renewable energy. This upgrade represents a major milestone i
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The Bowen Polocrosse Club made a strong impression at the Lower Burdekin Polocrosse Carnival over the weekend, with players of all ages showcasing skill, spirit, and sportsmanship at the Townsville grounds. Bowen fielded four teams across A, B, and C grades, along with two junior players and four enthusiastic sub-juniors, cementing the club’s presence across every level of competition. In the A Grade division, Bowen 1—comprising Adam Burns, Mick Foster and Bryce Watson—took to the field with d
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An Airlie Beach woman’s lunch break took an unexpected turn after she opened her phone and discovered she’d won $100,000 in today’s Lucky Lotteries draw, leaving her lost for words. The Whitsunday resident held the 1st Prize winning entry in Lucky Lotteries Super Jackpot draw 10988, drawn on Tuesday 27 May 2025. She is now looking forward to receiving a total prize of $100,000. "Woo-hoo! That’s unbelievable!” she cheered when an official from The Lott confirmed her win. “I’m on lunch break ri
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The B Kinder Foundation is taking meaningful action to foster a kinder world, with two inspiring B Kinder Summits being held this Thursday and Friday at Proserpine State High School. One summit will cater to high school student leaders and the other to primary school leaders. Local students will gather to participate in an immersive event designed to promote kindness, inspire change, and encourage others in the community to get involved. Founded by former Whitsunday resident Danny Mayson-Kinder
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A Ferris wheel will soon take centre stage at the Airlie Beach Foreshore, with Whitsunday Regional Council announcing a temporary installation beside Airlie Creek from early June through to October 2025. Operating daily from 10am to 10pm, the attraction will feature 24 gondolas seating six people each, offering sweeping views of the Whitsundays. The five-month trial will help Council assess the success of visitation and community usage of the attraction. Feedback has already been gathered from
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The Whitsundays Chamber of Commerce and Industry is proud to present the 2025 Whitsunday Business Conference, taking place from 9am to 5pm on Thursday 28 August at the TAFE Queensland Whitsunday Campus in Cannonvale. This flagship annual event will unite business leaders, innovators and stakeholders from across the region – from Mackay to Townsville – for a dynamic day of insights, connections, and future-focused ideas. Kicking off the day, nationally recognised business coach and keynote spea
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Team Whitsundays Dancing CEOs’ Head for Brisbane Showdown An eight-month marathon of early morning dance practices and late-night planning for fundraising events is about to come to an end for the women behind the Whitsundays’ inaugural team of ‘Dancing CEOs’. On Saturday night, Julie Telford (SeaLink Whitsundays), Kate Purdie (Coral Sea Marina), Candice Crossley (Whitsunday Transit) and Alice Harriott (Whitsunday Family Dental), will step out on stage at Brisbane’s City Hall in a dance contest
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Brave Local Pulls Over To Ensure Snake Safely Crosses Road A massive 5.5m scrub python was discovered trying to cross a local road this week, and a video of the incident has gone viral, attracting over half a million views and 600 shares so far. Author Kate Finnerty came across the giant reptile while returning from a book-signing event for her memoir, ironically titled Never Let a Good Disaster Go to Waste. True to her words, Kate conquered her fear and bravely waited for the python to safely
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Hi Everyone, One of the things I truly love about our sunny state is our fearless spirit — the desire not just to aim high, but to celebrate the best and strive to achieve the best. Whether that is patting someone on the back for winning an award or aiming for excellence in our own fields. Over the years, I’ve seen that in our community it’s not about racing to be the best — it’s about everyone bringing their best to the table. Being the very best version of ourselves. And I truly love that.
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Wild weather and high winds made for an unforgettable weekend at Whitsunday Outrigger’s 2025 Regatta, with competitors battling 30-knot gusts and choppy seas. Saturday’s 20km downwind race from Shute Harbour saw the OC2 crews shine, two OC2s, one from Mission Beach in first position closely followed by Capricorn Coast from Yeppoon. Coral Sea from Townsville led the OC6 division, while fierce competition played out between Innisfail’s Coconuts crew featuring five male and one female junior and t
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Friday, 6th June | 5:00pm – 9:00pm Dust off your boots and mark your calendars! On the 6th June, Whitsunday Christian College will come together for a night of music, laughter, and good old-fashioned fun at the Under the Stars, Bush Dance. This whole-school event is open to the wider community and is set to be an unforgettable evening of connection, celebration, and country spirit! At the heart of this event is Whitsunday Christian College's commitment to Cultivating Community - one of their co
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A great pioneering lady and a woman of stamina Born Elizabeth Alberta Davis at Kelsey Creek on June 22 1906, she was one of a family of four. Elizabeth attended Kelsey Creek School from 1911 to 1917 and throughout her young life helped in her family’s struggle to establish a cane farm in pioneering conditions. This was just the beginning of a life of hard work and dedication. On September 20, 1922, she married William Allan and they settled into their first home at Saltwater in the Cedar Creek
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Since 1999 To Hell and Back have been rocking stages all over the country with their Meatloaf tribute act. But this time, they are coming to the Airlie Beach Hotel. The band has undergone a few changes over the years, but the current lineup has been performing together for the past 13 years. During this time the band have developed a strong chemistry and stage presence over this time creating an extraordinary Meatloaf tribute act. The band have gelled together over the years and Bass Pla
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Eight-year-old Koby is a small to medium-sized terrier mix who’s searching for a loving new home after being surrendered through no fault of his own. This charming boy is described as very cute, cuddly, and absolutely adores attention. With his striking markings and warm personality, he’s sure to melt hearts. Koby is toilet trained, cat friendly, and gets along well with other dogs, making him an easy addition to many family settings. He’s not suitable for homes with chooks or birds, but he doe
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Tourism Whitsundays' New Partnerships Coordinator Tourism Whitsundays has welcomed a new Partnerships Coordinator, Zoe Lunardelli, who brings a deep appreciation for the region and a strong focus on community connections. Having first visited The Whitsundays on holiday in 2019, Zoe said she “instantly fell in love” with the region. After multiple return visits, the natural beauty and welcoming community made it an easy decision to call this place home. In her new role, Zoe will focus on buildi
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Whitsunday Coast Airport is celebrating a significant five-year deal with Jetstar Airways that is set to deliver up to a 30 percent uplift in passenger numbers compared to 2024, driven by a significant boost in flight frequency across multiple routes. While QantasLink flights will cease from October, increased Jetstar services will exceed previous capacity and significantly boost connectivity to the Whitsundays. A key feature of the new deal is the introduction of Jetstar’s larger A321 aircraf
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As Bowen’s Big Mango celebrated its birthday on the weekend, this iconic tourist attraction has been very busy in recent weeks. It is expected to become even busier in the months ahead with so many people from the southern states heading to Bowen for the winter to escape the cooler weather in NSW and Victoria. Bowen’s Big Mango is located on the Bruce Highway 5km south of Bowen, right next to the Bowen Visitor Information Centre. It was erected in May 2002, so it has just turned 23 years old.
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Fixing a decade-long reduction in housing supply across Queensland is a step closer thanks to a funding program that guarantees support for regional areas. Member for Burdekin, Dale Last MP, has welcomed the program’s commitment to regional Queensland due to details that have been shared with him by locals. “The facts are that, over the last 10 years, housing approvals in Queensland have fallen by nearly 30% and the waiting list for social housing has ballooned,” he said. “I’ve spoken to fami
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Locals with a creative streak or enthusiasm to build are invited to join a free, hands-on art experience led by acclaimed regional artist Lalune Croker from Lalune Croker Art this Saturday, 31 May. Hosted by Whitsunday Art Fusion, the sculptural flower workshop will guide participants in creating decorative blooms using cane, bamboo, and paper. Lalune said that she has completed workshops in the past but this workshop will be targeted more towards adults. However, the workshop is open for anyo
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This week marks National Reconciliation Week and the Whitsunday Regional Council started the week with a morning event on Tuesday 27th May. National Reconciliation Week in the Whitsundays started with an event at the Proserpine Entertainment Centre which included a Flag Raising Ceremony, a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony. There were also speeches from Student Representatives from St Catherines Catholic College, Proserpine State High School, and Bowen State High School, and a short film
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The Proserpine Entertainment Centre (PEC) will be hosting a free screening of the Australian premiere of Ballet Preljocaj’s Swan Lake on 14 & 15 June 2025, which was filmed during the exclusive Brisbane season at Queensland Performing Arts Centre’s (QPAC) Lyric Theatre. Founded in 1985 by maverick French choreographer Angelin Preljocaj, the Aix-en-Provence-based Ballet Preljocaj last wowed audiences in Queensland in 2016 with the sell-out season of Snow White at QPAC and is world renowned for w
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BMA CQ Rescue has already flown 294 life-saving missions this year, highlighting the vital role the service plays in the region. As of Monday 26th, in just a week the rescue helicopter was called out 17 times, with more than half of those missions focused on the Whitsundays area. The team responded five times to Bowen, once to Hamilton Island, and once to Collinsville. Other flights included four to Dysart, two each to Clermont and Moranbah, and one to Stanage Bay. A critical patient transfer w
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With the Division 2 men on a bye, the Division 1 squad travelled to Mackay to face Magpies on Friday night. Bolstered by a few Div 2 call-ups, the team made a strong start, racing to a 2-0 lead. A lapse allowed Magpies to draw level, but Whitsunday quickly responded, taking a 4-2 lead into the break. The second half saw fewer chances as Magpies tightened up, but sustained pressure paid off with a fifth goal. Magpies pulled one back late, but WUFC held firm for a 5-3 win to stay in the title race
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