Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
Cannonvalley Pony Club hosted a fantastic weekend of equestrian competition on 31 May and 1 June, featuring a full day of dressage followed by a day of combined training – a discipline comprising a dressage test and a jumping round. The event was fortunate to have beautiful weather, making for a safe and enjoyable competition. The hosting club was well represented, alongside riders travelling from across the Whitsundays, Mackay, and as far as Dysart, all vying for qualifiers or exposure ahead o
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Since 1995, IDEAL Placements has been a cornerstone of the Mackay and Whitsundays region, providing life-changing support to individuals on their journey to meaningful employment. What started as a small, grassroots initiative from a local family has grown into a trusted not-for-profit organisation that continues to make a real impact across regional Queensland. For three decades, IDEAL Placements has worked alongside participants, employers, and community partners to deliver personalised, prac
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What if sharing a slice of pizza could help save a life? That’s the idea behind Pizza for a Purpose, Grapevine Group’s much-loved annual fundraiser, which returns this June for its fourth year. Teaming up once again with Laffos Bar & Pizzeria, the campaign invites the Mackay community to enjoy a pizza or host a pizza party—all while raising awareness and funds for suicide prevention in the Mackay, Isaac and Whitsunday regions. The campaign kicks off with a family- friendly launch event at Laffos
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After years of early mornings, clinking buckets and the unmistakable sound of contented cows in the shed, Dale and Paula Fortescue of Eungelladale Dairy have made the bittersweet decision to bid farewell to milk production. The much-loved Eungella dairy, nestled in the picturesque Pioneer Valley, will soon transition into beef cattle production – a change driven by the mounting pressures facing dairy farmers across Queensland and the nation. “This decision hasn’t come lightly,” Dale shar
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The 2025 Charity Horse Ride and Bush Muster, hosted by Breakaway Horse Riders Mackay, was a powerful show of community spirit, purple pride and heartfelt purpose — with thousands of dollars raised in support of vital health causes including cancer research, heart disease research, and the Mackay Base Hospital Oncology Unit. More than 170 riders saddled up for the annual event, which this year shone a spotlight on pancreatic cancer awareness, honouring survivors like lunchtime speaker Greg
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With more than 10,300 registered small businesses in the Mackay region, the Mackay Region Chamber of Commerce knows just how vital local operators are to the health of our economy. That’s why the Chamber continues to advocate strongly on behalf of small businesses – giving them a collective voice and greater visibility across the region and beyond. One of the simplest – and most enjoyable – ways to connect with other local businesses is through the Chamber’s popular B2B Brews, held fortni
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Lisa’s Legacy Of Service By Hannah McNamara Not all heroes wear capes…some wear orange. And if you’ve ever crossed paths with Lisa Jamieson, chances are you’ve seen more than just her hi-vis shirt. You’ve felt the glow of her kindness, the strength of her compassion, and the steady warmth of someone who shows up – rain, hail or shine – simply because she cares. Known for her generous spirit and unquestionable heart for service, Lisa recently made the heavy decision to resign from her vol
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Mackay Event Offers Vital Lifeline As Cost Of Living Crisis Deepens Feeling overwhelmed or unsure where to turn? You are not alone. As the rising cost of living continues to grip the region, leaving more families and individuals struggling to stay afloat, a powerful community event is stepping in to offer not just help, but hope. On Thursday, June 5, from 10am to 1pm, Together for Shelter, hosted by CASA, will transform Queens Park into a central hub of support and connection, uniting o
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A Sweet Escape Worth The Trip Get ready to stir up some sweet memories at the Sarina Sugar Shed, where the magic of sugarcane meets hands-on fun and flavour. Brimming with charm, history, and local pride, this award-winning attraction is open daily from 9am to 4pm, with the café dishing up delicious breakfast and lunch options until 2pm. It’s a joyful blend of education and indulgence that captures the spirit of the region, inviting families, foodies, and curious travellers to experience
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The Wilmar AgServices team is gearing up for a busy fertiliser season on the back of a successful series of Bio Dunder Season Launch events. More than 220 growers attended the five information sessions, lunches and dinners, held in the Mackay and Proserpine regions last week. AgServices Business Manager David Parker said the biggest turnout was at Walkerston, south of Mackay, where close to 100 Bio Dunder customers attended. “The response from growers was definitely up on recent years a
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Marg Speaks On Strength, Stigma, And Stereotypes The ongoing chorus of the cost-of-living crisis is becoming an all-too-familiar tune across our region, but while the conversation may be repetitive, its consequences are anything but. This crisis doesn’t discriminate. It touches every demographic – young families, pensioners, single parents, even carers. And behind every statistic lies a story – not of choice, but of undeserved chance. One of those stories belongs to 70-year-old Marg Baldock,
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Traditional, Hybrid, And Self-Publishing Options For Your Book Aspiring writers and authors looking to take control of their literary careers won’t want to miss the highly anticipated Publishing Pathways workshop, set to take place at the Dudley Denny Library on Saturday, 7 June. This free event will be hosted by publishing consultant 852 Press and led by industry experts: Dr Julia Evans, Director of 852 Press, and accomplished author Richard Evans, who has published ten books. This interactiv
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At Diggers Landscape Supplies Born from a spark of post-military purpose and the sight of a “for lease” sign on an empty landscaping yard, Diggers Landscape Supplies has flourished into one of the Northern Beaches’ most respected providers of garden and construction materials. Founded by former Australian Army members Joel and Charlotte Ford, Diggers Landscape Supplies wasn’t born from a business plan – it was fuelled by a drive to find new purpose beyond the uniform. Armed with a truck
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Steve Mathieson Adds Flavour To Players’ Lounge With Restyled Jim Beam Bottle The players’ lounge at the Mackay Table Tennis Centre has become an even better spot to unwind after some spirited rallies on the court. Thanks to morning fixtures organiser Steve Mathieson, the lounge now boasts a uniquely restyled bottle of Jim Beam—a creative touch that’s already turning heads. Steve dedicated two hours to transforming the bottle into a decorative feature for the lounge, where players cool off wi
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With Nick And Cath Uit den Bogaard At Comfort Resort Blue Pacific Behind every great business is a passionate couple with a heart for serving others. With over two decades of love poured into Comfort Resort Blue Pacific, Nick and Cath Uit den Bogaard are preparing to trade the working day for late sunsets and coastal road trips. After 25 colourful, heart-filled years at the helm of their beautiful beachside escape, the couple is ready to pass the torch, and the keys, to a new owner ready to car
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Wrapping Local Mothers In Love And Support In the heart of Mackay, a quiet revolution is stirring, fuelled not by government grants or red tape, but by something far more powerful… mums helping mums. Leading the Mackay branch of the nationwide Nurtured Village Hampers initiative, Amanda Potter and Courtney Simpson have been running this grassroots effort since January last year, providing vital lifelines to mothers weathering the storm of motherhood amid rising living costs, domestic viol
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Simon Hood, Wilmar Manager Grower Marketing North Queensland has seen a nice drop in temperatures this past fortnight, which is a welcome change to our growers who are still busy out in the field preparing for the start of the 2025 season. Our team has also been active on the ground, meeting with growers to finalise their pricing and provide updates on what’s happening in the market. For those participating in the Managed Pool Plus for the 2025 season, you would have recently received an
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Queensland’s 2025 sugarcane crush is officially underway, with harvesters firing up across the Tablelands district this morning. It marks the start of a new season that growers hope will bring better fortunes after a tough run last year. Around 28.5 million tonnes of cane are expected to be cut and crushed across 13 districts, from Rocky Point in the south right up to Mossman in the far north. The crop is down slightly from last year, with recent widespread flooding across north Queensla
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A Mackay-Made Tale Of Warmth, Wonder And Painted Rocks
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Four exceptional young locals have done Mackay proud as finalists in the prestigious Seven News Young Achiever Awards Queensland, with one of them, Dominic de Moura McCarthy, taking home top honours. Dominic, currently overseas in Brazil, won the Connecting Communities Award for his outstanding work as Co-Founder and Co-CEO of the Pacific-Australia Youth Association Inc. (PAYA). The announcement, relayed to him by family via WhatsApp, was a surreal and humbling moment. “It was a great ho
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RSPCA Mackay’s Million Paws Walk Leaves Lasting Paw Prints More than 400 locals and their beloved pups gathered at Queens Park for the final RSPCA Mackay Million Paws Walk last Sunday, marking the end of an era with wagging tails, slobbery smiles, and community spirit. The event raised essential funds to support the rescue, rehabilitation, and rehoming of dogs across Queensland – many of whom have faced cruelty, neglect, or abandonment. With the RSPCA caring for nearly 17,000 dogs between 2023 a
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North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation (NQBP) has completed clean-up works at Harbour Beach, restoring safe public access ahead of a sunny weekend. Over the course of four days, more than 55 truckloads of woody debris were removed across 680 metres of coastline. The works were carried out in response to community concerns following severe weather events, including the effects of Cyclone Alfred. NQBP Acting Chief Executive Officer Carissa Mansfield said the organisation was pleased to su
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I can tell how my dog, Millie, is feeling just by looking at her. Millie is a smart, robust, ridiculously friendly and energetic mix of border collie, kelpie and some other dog or dogs that also love running and jumping. She is generally unaware of the boundaries that exist between humans and dogs. Although she has been trained and taught to know she is at the bottom of the pecking order in our family (otherwise it would be chaos), she certainly feels she is a crucial part of that pecking order
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Mackay Launches New Events Calendar Growing up in Mackay, I always dreamed of something like this. In my various roles organising events, I often found myself trying to avoid clashing with other major events or helping newcomers find out what was on. I’ve long wished for a one-stop-shop for events in our region – and now, I’m thrilled to say, we finally have it. As a new initiative aimed at boosting community engagement and economic activity, we’ve officially launched the Mackay Events Calendar
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Over forty runners took part in the annual Grove 10km Handicap Trophy and 5km events on the weekend, continuing a proud 32-year tradition from the same starting point at the Andergrove Tavern on Andergrove Road. The Mackay Road Runners Club extends its sincere appreciation to The Grove for its ongoing support of this iconic event, which remains a key fixture on the Club’s racing calendar. The prestigious 10km Handicap Trophy is awarded to the first male or female to cross the finish line based
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