Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
The Endurance 1000 annual program consists of a number of distances and strokes, which start with 400m and progress to 1-hour swims, for the keen there are 63 swims in the program. On Saturday, a baker’s dozen of swimmers fronted at 7am for events ranging from 400m to 60-minute swims, recording either times or distances against the event. Swimmers earn points for the club in a State and National competition during the calendar year. It was also the first time for some swimmers to challeng
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At The 2025 Eimeo Triathlon The 2025 Eimeo Triathlon delivered a picture-perfect morning of racing, with calm waters and clear skies welcoming competitors to the first open water event of the year. The club’s new swim markers, funded by a Mackay Regional Council grant, added a professional touch. A low tide added difficulty with a longer beach run to transition, but spirits remained high, and the pace was fierce. Local favourite Jody Walker dominated the Sprint Distance once again, cl
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Celebrate RSPCA's Million Paws Walk Fundraising Event For The Final Time Across Australia In 2025\ For the past three decades, RSPCA’s Million Paws Walk event has united animal lovers across Australia, raising vital funds to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome animals in need. As the beloved event prepares for its final lap in 2025, the community is invited to come together one last time to celebrate its enduring impact – and create a brighter future for vulnerable animals. Among the thousand
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National Volunteer Week National Volunteer Week (19-25 May) is Australia’s largest annual celebration of volunteering – a time to recognise the vital role volunteers play in our communities and to encourage more people to get involved. This year’s theme, ‘Connecting Communities’, highlights the incredible power of volunteering to bring people together, creating meaningful relationships that enrich lives and strengthen the places we call home. At Community Bank Sarina Bendigo Bank, this th
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Friday 23rd May Mackay Outdoor Adventure Expo 8am The Mackay Expo returns in May 2025, promising three action-packed days as the region’s largest event of its kind. Featuring everything from caravans and 4x4s to camping gear, boats, and home improvement products, it’s a must for outdoor adventurers and home enthusiasts alike. With live demos, expert advice, and exclusive deals, it’s the ultimate showcase of lifestyle, leisure, and living. Mackay Showgrounds Crochet & Conversation 9am Jo
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Kimberley Named QLD Volunteer Of The Year A passionate Mackay local has taken out one of the state’s top honours during National Volunteer Week, being crowned Volunteer of the Year at the 2025 Queensland Volunteering Awards. Kimberley Doyle was recognised for her extraordinary service to Special Olympics Mackay Fire and Special Olympics Queensland. Since stepping into a leadership role in 2014, she has helped grow the powerlifting program across three states, introduced bocce and table te
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Local green thumbs gathered last week to celebrate the official opening of Sarina Landcare Catchment Management Association’s (SLCMA) expanded community nursery—an exciting milestone made possible through a $9,000 Community Grant from Community Bank Sarina Bendigo Bank. The event marked the completion of Stage 1 of the expansion project, which aims to boost the nursery’s capacity to grow native plants, engage volunteers and support environmental rehabilitation projects across the Sarina r
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Thick smoke rising from Marian Mill on Sunday afternoon drew attention across the Pioneer Valley, as emergency services responded to a fire within the Mackay Sugar facility. Mackay Sugar confirmed the incident involved a blaze in the mill’s bagasse bin. “There has been an incident today (Sunday 18 May) where a fire has become alight in the bagasse bin at our Marian Factory. The fire is now officially under control and all our people, employees and contractors, are safe and accounted for,
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Imagine living in a world where reality is constantly shifting – where the past and the present mix with the imagination, and paranoia creeps in. Based on a play by French writer Florian Zeller, The Father was released as a film in 2020, featuring Anthony Hopkins as an elderly father in the advanced stages of dementia. The film was nominated for six academy awards, as well as best actor (Hopkins) and best supporting actress (Olivia Colman). The stage play is now coming to Kucom Theatre i
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Did you know that already this year 28 Australian women have been killed as a result of domestic and family violence? This is not someone else’s problem – we all have a part to play in preventing this scourge on our society. So, what can you do to help? The combined Rotary Clubs of Mackay have collaborated with several other local organisations to take action. Our mission is clear and powerful. We aim to inspire values of respect and accountability – especially among young men. We also a
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Conference To Champion Culture Over Compliance In high-risk industries, safety is more than a checklist—it’s a culture. That’s the message behind Resource Industry Network’s 2025 Safety Conference, set to take place on Friday 23 May at the Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre. Themed Safety Starts with Us, this year’s event serves as a timely reminder that safety leadership isn’t confined to policies and procedures. It starts with people—every team member, every day. RIN’s annual S
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Serious Crash Under Investigation, Laguna Quays Police are investigating a serious two-vehicle crash that occurred last Sunday, May 18, at Laguna Quays near Proserpine. Around 10.25am, a group of motorcycles had been travelling southeast along Kunapipi Road when a Honda VT400C collided with a silver Holden Colorado coming from the opposite direction. A second motorcycle, a Kawasaki VN800 carrying a pillion passenger, lost control and crashed into a nearby ditch. The rider of the Honda,
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By Amanda Wright The unmistakable scent of race fuel, scorched rubber and hot chips hung in the air, as the roar of engines echoed through Palmyra for the 2025 Sugar City Titles, a full-throttle festival of speed and spirit. From pint-sized prodigies to silver-haired speedsters aged 6 to 68, the Mackay and District Kart Club was alive with heart-pounding hairpins, high-speed skids and flag-flying finishes. With Mayor Greg Williamson on the starter’s line and legendary race caller Kev Davies at t
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I was at a bloke’s house doing an appraisal the other day and saw a phone on the wall and it took me by surprise. It shouldn’t have surprised me because it wasn’t that long ago that everyone had a phone on the wall. Okay, some people kept the phone on the kitchen bench or on a stand in the hallway or, if they had two, one was on the bedside table. Ooh, flash. The point is that it was only a few years ago that you’d expect to see a phone on the wall. And we didn’t call it a landline way
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The countdown is on to one of Mackay’s most loved community events — and this year’s Family Fun Day is set to be bigger, brighter and more joyful than ever. Hosted by Mackay Hospital Foundation and presented by Gardian, the much-anticipated event will roll into BB Print Stadium on Sunday 1 June from 10am to 2pm, bringing with it a full program of free rides, family entertainment and live performances. Entry is $10 for children aged over two, with adults free — and the one-time ticket pri
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If Mackay had a middle name, it’d be “Eventful.” From dirt-kicking rodeos to dazzling stadium takeovers, this region doesn’t just host events, it wrangles them, races them, and occasionally feeds them fairy floss. Last weekend, Nebo brought the yee-haw with its annual rodeo, and if the dust has finally settled, it’s only because we needed room on the calendar for a flurry of fun runs, triathlons, and the type of Lycra that really shouldn't be seen in slow motion. But don’t hang up your c
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As industries evolve and workforce demands shift, understanding the expectations of the next generation is essential for employers seeking to attract, retain, and develop future talent. The Whitsundays Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s next event – 7:30am Thursday 5 June at Wilmar Sugar and Renewables, Proserpine Mill – will explore what today’s apprentices, trainees, and early career professionals value most in a workplace; from culture and leadership to flexibility, purpose, and career progr
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This week is National Volunteer Week where we celebrate the power of volunteering to bring people together, create lasting relationships and strengthen our communities. The theme this year is ‘Connecting Communities’ and I can hand on heart say the volunteers across the Whitsunday region have an enormous impact in ensuring our communities are thriving and inclusive. The breadth of volunteer groups in our region is far-reaching – from the SES, marine rescue crews and wildlife carers to museum gu
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Sign Up To The Whitsundays First ‘Masterclass For Mums’ Whitsunday mums and local practitioners with specialised skills are being invited to participate in the region’s first ‘Masterclass for Mums’, a short, paid program that aims to support maternal wellbeing and help families thrive. This brand-new initiative is designed for mums of all ages and stages and will run four times over the next 12 months. Program creator and founder of Motherhood & Matrescence, Amanda Jackson, said this was not a
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In Bowen, Coastal Esthétique Skin Clinic, led by aesthetic nurse Leonie, is revolutionising local access to professional skincare treatments and products. Leonie’s passion for aesthetic nursing was ignited in 2012, but after acquiring her Diploma of Midwifery, she focused on consolidating her skills in this area. While traveling Australia with her husband and welcoming their children into their lives, she took the time to nurture her clinical expertise. After settling in Bowen, Leonie recognised
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Last Wednesday, the Bowen Chamber of Commerce hosted a meeting featuring a speaker from Muroona Gardens and QCoal. The board of Muroona outlined its role as a not-for-profit aged care provider since 1964, employing 165 locals and offering residential care, home care, and independent living units. They emphasised challenges such as uncertainties in funding, nurse shortages, and rising dementia rates and consequential care demands, alongside plans for 24 new dementia care rooms funded by a $14.7
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When the going gets tough, the tough get going! At the beginning of May, I knew this would be the busiest month of the year, and I braced myself for impact. Three kids' birthdays, two weekends away, one magazine deadline, staff on holiday, family visits, and... we’re moving house! The last three weeks have been a whirlwind, and I think many of us can relate to the madness of mid-year. It feels like the year is flying by at full speed, and May seems to be the peak of it all. Despite all this,
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The Queensland Government has launched the exciting new “All the Best” campaign, celebrating the State’s favourite produce and places, ahead of Queensland Day on June 6. From the best pie to the best pint, Queenslanders across the State are being encouraged to put their town on the map and vote for their local ‘bests’ across 15 categories, including: • Fish and chips • Meat pie • Coffee • Bahn Mi • Parmi • Ice cream • Burger • Beer • Pub • Café • Event • Big thing • Beach • Landmark • Natural
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