Simon Hood Wilmar Manager Grower Marketing Following a jam-packed July that was dominated by our international sugar trader roadshow, the Grower Marketing team has been busy compiling the first edition of our new grower newsletter – The Sugar Brief. In this new communication offering, we collate the range of activities we engage in that might otherwise go unnoticed. Wilmar Sugar and Renewables sponsors dozens of events within our sugar milling regions that are linked to cane growing, loca
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Thousands of young people will get a taste of democracy when they head back to the ballot box this week for the Mackay Youth Council election, building on the success of last year’s inaugural election. Voters will head to local high schools and community spaces to elect 12 representatives from 21 candidates to the second Mackay Youth Council. Young people aged 11-17 (inclusive) are eligible to vote for the candidates running in the region they live or spend the most time in. Voting will be opti
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Friday 23rd August Free Native Plant Program 9am Free Native Plant Program open days will return on: Friday, August 23, from 9am to 3pm and Saturday, August 24, from 9am to noon. Mackay ratepayers can collect four free native plants per year. Visit the Mackay Natural Environment Centre, 6 Swayne Street, North Mackay to view the collection and pick up your plants during open days. 6 Swayne Street, North Mackay Guided Walks In The Botanical Gardens 10am Explore the Botanic Gardens with your G
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Is Mackay’s next Aus Poetry Slam (APS) Champion among us? The CQ Heat is coming to town and it’s the perfect opportunity for aspiring poets to showcase their talent! With just an original poem and 2 minutes on the mic, participants have the chance to impress the audience and judges. The top two poets from the event will move on to compete in the QLD State Finals in Brisbane on September 27. For those who prefer to cheer from the sidelines, attending as part of the audience is just as important
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Director Kristyn Everett has assembled an impressive cast for David Williamson’s Family Values, Kucom Theatre’s final production for the year, which opens on Thursday 24th October for a two-week season. The play centres around Roger (played by Greg Webb), a retired judge, who is turning 70. All he wants for his birthday is some quality time with his wife Sue (Bronwyn Grannall) and their three children Lisa, Emily and Michael (Sarah Neivandt, Molly Betteridge, and Michael Brennan)—no gifts, no fu
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It’s time to dust off your bikes and scooters; construction on Woodlands Track in Andergrove is now complete. The new 300-metre multipurpose active track has been designed for all ages and a variety of wheeled devices including bikes, scooters, skateboards and more. Mayor Greg Williamson said Woodlands Track would be the ideal spot for exercise and family outings. “The track’s thoughtful design ensures it is a safe and enjoyable environment for everyone, from young children to adults,” Mayor
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If the Mackay real estate market were by itself at a school dance or sitting solo at a busy bar, there would be a line-up of suitors asking for a dance or offering to buy drinks. Mackay Market would be dressed nicely, nothing flashy or ostentatious, and would not be part of the boisterous “in-crowd” that likes being the centre of attention. But the conga line of admirers would be dizzy with delight at the very sight of this attractive, although slightly distant beauty. The admirers would be swe
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Last week, the Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre (MECC) hosted the annual Resource Industry Network (RIN) Awards Gala Dinner, where the region’s top organisations and individuals were honoured for their contributions across various categories. The event highlighted achievements in safety, innovation, community engagement, and more, reflecting the sector’s commitment to excellence. The standout winners included: Safety Foremost Award (Sponsored by Diacon Australia): BMA took home the a
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Eight-year-old Cindy is making moves, not just on the runway as a model, but as a compassionate young star now raising funds for Share The Dignity Drive – a movement dedicated to ensuring that women, girls, and those at risk of domestic violence, homelessness or poverty, have access to essential period products. Whilst Cindy eagerly awaits the grand final of the Fashion vs Beauty competition on the Gold Coast in September, she gladly dedicates her time to giving back to her community alongside
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The St Patrick's College Cultural Showcase is being held on Thursday 29 August at the Bluewater Quay, in conjunction with the Riverside Markets. Join us as we celebrate the incredible talents of our students, showcasing captivating performances from a variety of college ensembles. Whether you’re a fan of rhythmic beats or melodious harmonies, the lineup has something for everyone. Including performances from the College Stage and Concert Band, Drum Corps, Choir, Strings Ensemble and the lively D
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Mackay State High School's U15 Girls Netball team emerged victorious at the Capricornia Coast Carnival, held on the 12th and 13th of August at the Barmaryee Sports Complex. The team went undefeated over seven games, showcasing their skill and determination. The winning team, consisting of Anna Pearson, Abbey Williams, Sabra Roberts, Keeley Ball, Darcie Malayta, Lilly Boyd, Lara Snell, Ella Matsen, Talia Steindl, Eaden Madsen, Molly Cassan, and Dana Guley, played with exceptional teamwork and spo
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The three-match one-day series between Australia A and India A provided thrilling cricket action at Mackay’s Great Barrier Reef Arena, with Australia A ultimately securing the series win despite a resounding victory for India A in the final game. In the opening match, Australia A achieved a four-wicket victory, thanks to a masterful 129 from Katie Mack. Her innings was instrumental in chasing down India A’s total of 249 for 9. While Bist and Hasabnis impressed with their contributions of 82 and
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Mackay Table Tennis Tuesday night fixtures August 6, 2024: Division 1: Fiat (Donna Abbott, Emma Widdup, Allan Robins) d Ferrari (Steven Whiting, Janice Kent, Andrea Nicholson) 7-4. Steven d Allan -7, 5, -9, 9, 3. Hyuandi (Allan Edwards, Tim Shehan, Anne Sheridan) d BMW (Barry Patterson, Geoff Denman, Tony Bowman) 6-5. Tim d Tony 11, 7, -9, -10, 7. Audi (Andrew McHugh, Lily Boland, Ian McKay) d Honda (Graham Drury, Vince Boeske, Graham Brake) 7-4. Graham d Lily 3, -5, -3, 4, 6. Alpha (Mick R
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Three Mackay-born athletes have been named in the Australian Steelers Wheelchair Rugby Team for the 2024 Paris Paralympics, marking a significant achievement for the region. Shae Graham, Brayden Foxley-Conolly and Josh Nicholson make up a quarter of the 12-player squad and bring with them an inspiring blend of determination, skill and resilience. Thirty-seven-year-old Shae Graham, was born in Mackay and faced life-altering challenges following a car accident at the age of 18, where she obtaine
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Twenty-three players are heading to Yeppoon this weekend to play in the annual Yeppoon Congress. Good luck to them all! The first week of the Anne Hird Memorial Trophy was played on Wednesday for novices (under 100 mps) playing with three different experienced players over three weeks. The trophy is in memory of Anne Hird and Beanies for Brain Cancer. Anne was a supporter of encouraging new players. Sandy Patterson is leading after the first week of play. Weekly Results Monday 12 August 2024 –
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They don’t come more committed than Mackay Cutters rugby league playmaker Bayley Gill in the Queensland Rugby League Hostplus Cup. In his third season with the club, the talented number six has become a top-grade regular and permanent backline fixture and the Mackay team’s on-field general. A determined Gill showed his credentials last weekend to spearhead the Cutters to a resounding 54-18 victory over the Western Clydesdales at BB Print Stadium. In one of his finest performances, the clever
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Mackay Road Runners’ annual Bonson’s Scrub Road 6km and 12km event proved to be a thrilling challenge for all Club members, with non-members also warmly invited to join in. This year’s event, part of the Tri-ActiV8 series, celebrated fitness, competition, and community spirit. Tri-ActiV8 aims to enhance fitness and performance through training with like-minded individuals while ensuring a fun and enjoyable triathlon experience. Adventure Racing, a rapidly growing sport, was highlighted through T
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A tragic car accident on Sunday, 11 August, which initially resulted in the deaths of two Filipino women and an unborn child, has claimed another life. The incident, involving two vehicles, has now also claimed the life of a man from Mermaid Beach. He was transported to Townsville University Hospital following the crash but succumbed to his injuries on Friday afternoon. According to a Queensland Police Service (QPS) report, the collision occurred at approximately 1:06pm in Mount Marlow. A Niss
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Hi Everyone, Rachael is taking a well-deserved break this week to celebrate her wedding, which took place over the weekend. In her absence, the Editor’s Note reins have been handed over to me, so I will give you a quick introduction to myself. The team and I were kindly invited to Rach’s wedding, and it was a truly beautiful event. Rach looked stunning, the weather couldn't have been better and we all had a fantastic time celebrating with her (even if there were a few sore heads in the office on
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There is no doubt that the Whitsunday Neighbourhood Centre does remarkable work for the community. One standout initiative is their Community Food Pantry. The fantastic program which aims to help reduce food waste and support community members has distributed a tremendous 519 kgs of fruit and 704 kgs of veggies in the six months since January. The Whitsunday Community Food Pantry provides grocery packs for $15, featuring a variety of items donated by the community as well as Coles and Woolworths
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Last Sunday, local communities gathered together to mark Vietnam Veterans Day, honouring the significant contributions of Australian veterans who served in the Vietnam War. August 18th is the anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan, one of the most pivotal engagements for Australian forces during the conflict. Between 1962 and 1973, over 60,000 Australians served in Vietnam, with some returning for humanitarian missions in 1975. Tragically, 523 lost their lives, and around 3,000 were evacuated due
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This week Queensland (QLD) Cricket launched their Play Cricket Week. Queensland and Brisbane Heat batsman, Matt Renshaw visited the Whitsundays this week to help drive Play Cricket Week. His presence had a significant impact on local engagement. “What we're trying to do is try and make as many people play cricket as possible,” said Matt Renshaw. “I think Australian cricket is strong and the country cricket is strong too. I think putting more funding into the country areas is really importan
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This year, the Mayor's Charity Ball introduces a brand-new ticket option: the After Dark Experience! For just $150, you can join the celebration from 8pm, enjoying a sparkling drink on arrival, gourmet canapés, an open bar, live music, and even a surprise performance. With free transport and a fireworks finale, it’s the perfect way to experience all the excitement without the formal dinner. This year's event supports RACQ CQ Rescue and the Whitsunday Suicide Prevention Network. To join the fun,
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Council regularly receives requests for improved lighting throughout the region and Council is always keen to improve public safety where possible. Obviously, we cover a massive area, so it is up to Council and Councillors to identify areas with the most urgent need and prioritise these locations. This year Council has been trialling the installation of 30 temporary solar-powered lights in Hansen, Lions, Case, and Barker Parks in Bowen to improve lighting in the busy Grays Bay area. The be
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Tourism Whitsundays and Cruise Whitsundays are heading to Brisbane in early September to meet with 49 buyers from India and South East Asia at Experience Queensland - India and South East Asia. This event, run by Tourism and Events Queensland, is focusing on this emerging market and building relationships with travel buyers and wholesalers from these locations. "Going back to pre-Covid times, India was quickly gaining momentum as a source market for The Whitsundays and this business-to-busi
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