Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
Friday 29th November BirdLife Mackay Monthly Bird Count In The Gardens 6am Join birdlife Mackay on the last Friday of each month for a free bird species count at the botanic gardens and lagoons. Meet at the viewing deck near the café at 6am. All are welcome to participate and learn about local birds. Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens Sip & Pearl 3pm Enjoy an afternoon of creativity at sprinkles and love cake emporium. participants can design their own pearl jewellery with expert guidance fro
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A boost of vibrancy will be felt in the Mackay City and Waterfront with an exciting array of activations and building works set to kick-off in the coming months. The recipients of the latest round of the Make Your Place Mackay Waterfront Placemaking Grants and City Safety Grants have been announced. The City Safety Grant aims to deliver safety infrastructure within the Mackay city centre, and the Make Your Place Grant aims to help people create inspiring and inclusive projects that encourage peo
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Saving the best film for last, Film Arts Mackay are screening the highly anticipated romantic comedy-drama Mr Blake at Your Service featuring the dynamic duo of John Malkovich and Fanny Ardant. Malkovich's brilliant underrated comedic style is on full display as he takes on the role of the charming British businessman, Andrew Blake. In a twist of fate, Blake becomes the butler of the Domaine de Beauvillier estate, owned by the graceful and aloof Madame de Beauvillier (Ardant). A once-distingui
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After breaking the $1 million mark for donations in 2024, the Mayor’s Charity Ball committee has announced the beneficiaries for the 2025 event. Mayor Greg Williamson said the aim of the event was to fund two charities for two years to enable significant funds to be raised for each group and to make a real difference in our community. “Proceeds will be split 50-50 between Grapevine Group and new beneficiary The Salvation Army’s Family Violence Service,” Mayor Williamson said. “Australian Street
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Perfectly positioned near Mackay’s hospital and airport, Tropic Coast Motel offers a welcoming and comfortable retreat for travellers. With a variety of room options—Standard Queen, Executive Queen, Deluxe Twin, and Triple or Quad Family rooms—there’s an option to suit every need. All rooms are conveniently located on the ground level, featuring large undercover parking and outdoor seating for guests to relax. Additional amenities include a guest laundry, ample parking for trucks and trailers,
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Headspace Mackay has officially relocated to Caneland Central, on the second level, Tenancy 2514 - opposite Snap Fitness - making mental health support even more accessible for local youth. The grand opening on November 14 featured tours, guest speakers, snacks and a very welcoming atmosphere for all. The new space, funded by the North Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN), is designed to provide a more inclusive and accessible environment for young people aged 12-25. Headspace offers free
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Violence against women and girls is one of the most widespread human rights violations, affecting millions worldwide. It knows no cultural or national boundaries, occurring in homes, workplaces, and public spaces. From psychological and physical abuse to practices like human trafficking and child marriage - the impact is devastating - and to conquer this widespread issue we, as a community, must unite and take a stand against said acts. The Zonta Club of Mackay’s 16 Days of Activism campaign is
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The Mackay Surf Lifesaving Club recently travelled to Alva Beach, Ayr, to compete in the North Barrier Branch Champion Lifesaver Carnival. This challenging event assessed participants on their surf sports fitness, patient assessment, CPR skills, and theoretical knowledge through a detailed written exam. Josh Grant, Mackay SLSC’s Director of Surf Sports, highlighted the significance of the competition. “This competition is extremely important in developing the skills of our lifesavers,” he said.
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The Men’s Prostate Cancer Support Group is transforming how men view a prostate cancer diagnosis, turning fear and isolation into hope and connection. Meeting every second Thursday of the month at the South Suburban Bowls Club, the group provides a safe, uplifting environment where men can navigate the challenges of prostate cancer together. Chris Bartlem who has been involved with the group for 18 years after overcoming the disease himself, is passionate about breaking the stigma surrounding
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The final Sunday afternoon races for November wrapped up last weekend for the Mackay Road Runners, leaving just four more races scheduled for January 2025. December will provide a much-needed time for rest and recovery before the 2025 programs begin. However, for those eager to stay active, a few dedicated runners will meet at 4:30pm every Sunday throughout December at Bluewater Quay (near Red Dog). Everyone is welcome to join - no membership required, and there’s no cost involved. A small dona
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Monday 18 November 2024 – 7 Table Mitchell Green Points 1st Jan Harris / Helen Van Den Broek 2nd Mary Rose Ramsden / Sandy Patterson 3rd David Ting / Eric Goodchild 4th / Susan Ross / Vicki Howard Tuesday Evening 19 November 2024 –5Table Mitchell Green Points N/S E/W 1st Geoff Taylor / Janelle Conroy 1st Lorna Shuttlewood / Janet Hansen 2nd Patrica Garner / Adrian Westcott 2nd Terry Sheedy / Helen Van Den Broek 3rd Faye Wright / Marilin Robins 3rd Christopher Meyers / Shirley Worland Wednes
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The 2024 bowls year is just about completed…now’s the time to organise your competition teams and set your goals for next year. Setting goals is very important - it may be as simple as improving your game by approaching an experienced bowler or coach. For assistance it may take as little as 15 minutes. It may be your technique or stance requiring adjustment, or concentration level needs to improve. Improving your skill increases your outlook of the game and decreases the bad bowls delivered. Ano
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Mackay Table Tennis Tuesday morning fixtures November 19, 2024: Division 1: Code Crackers (Doug Dungavell, Delma Knight, Noreen Fredericksen, Coral Morgan) drew Byte Bouncers (Branko Vucurovic, Donna Abbott, John McGee, Marie Taylor) 7-all. Delma d Branko 7, -7, -10, 9, 13. Nano Nets (Tony Bowman, Charlie Payne, Peter Goodson, Veronica Shepherd) d Pixel Paddles (George Camilleri, Pam Joyce, Judy Zahn, Kevin Abbott) 10-4. Charlie d George 5, 6, -8, -3, 11. Division 2: Tokyo Turners (John Ha
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Teeing off for a worthy cause, last Sunday the Proserpine Golf Club hosted its annual Breast and Prostate Cancer Charity Event. Participants turned out in vibrant pink and blue attire to show their support, enjoying a fun-filled day of golf with friends, family, and colleagues. The scenic Proserpine Golf Club provided the perfect backdrop for the event, which was expertly organised by the dedicated Noelene Spurway. The aim was to raise vital funds to combat two of the most prevalent cancers affe
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Earlier this week Crown Princess made its inaugural call to the Port of Airlie, marking a significant milestone for both Cruise Whitsundays and the Port of Airlie Terminal. The ship received a warm and enthusiastic welcome from the Cruise Whitsundays team, with even the beloved Cruise Whitsundays mascot, Cruiser the Turtle, making a special appearance to greet both crew members and guests as they arrived at the port. Ren Van Rooyen, Hotel General Manager aboard the Crown Princess, shared his exc
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Hi Everyone! It’s been a busy week here at the office! As many of you know, we officially launched our brand-new Hinchinbrook paper on Tuesday. I'd like to start by giving a huge congratulations to the Hinchinbrook Life team for their fantastic efforts in bringing this paper to life. In other news, I've been busy doing a lot of dog-sitting lately, and one of the wonderful dogs I've been looking after this week is Finn, one of our office dogs. Which leads me to an exciting new addition to Whitsun
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Who doesn’t adore a nice little street library? If you haven’t heard of this heartwarming community concept, street libraries stand as beautiful homes for books, to invite neighbours and members of the community to share the joys of reading with one another! A popular phenomenon during COVID-19 isolation periods, street libraries began popping up around local streets and parks to keep people connected and reading - a wonderful habit with a world of benefits. Locals are able to leave a book they
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On Monday, November 25, Mayor Ry Collins, joined by several WRC Councillors, officially launched the Zonta Club Book Collection at Bowen Library. The unveiling took place before an enthusiastic crowd of community members, marking the addition of this valuable resource to the library. Mayor Collins was excited to launch the Zonta Collection. He praised the efforts of Zonta members for their contribution to the community. The Zonta Club of Bowen has generously donated a diverse and thoughtfully c
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In recent years, residents of Tropic Road in Cannonvale have raised concerns about plans to develop a large storage facility at the location. One vocal opponent of the proposal is Robin Weaver, who lives adjacent to the proposed site. Robin has been actively involved in the campaign against the development, working closely with the Whitsunday Regional Council to argue against the project. His primary concern was the impact that the 550-unit storage facility would have on a block of land that is
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You may have noticed some fascinating new structures emerging over Maureen Cove. Five larval pools have been deployed here until Tuesday, November 26th, 2024, as part of a collaborative reef restoration project led by Red Cat Adventures, Ocean Rafting, ZigZag, Reef Catchments, AIMS, and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation. Each year, following the full moon in November or December (timing depends on the full moon, water temperature, and tides), the outer Great Barrier Reef comes alive with a spect
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November 17th marked the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, a day to honour those lost in road accidents and reflect on the far-reaching impact of road trauma. In the Whitsundays, the recent tragic deaths of three locals in October has prompted a call for greater road safety awareness. Rebecca Woods, a local advocate for road safety, is urging residents to ask themselves: “What are you doing for road safety?” A recent survey in the region revealed that 94% of respondents believe
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The recent bogging of an excavator in Shute Harbour has raised questions for local environmental group Whitsunday Conservation Council (WCC) who are concerned any new development would cause damage to the environment and create safety issues for mariners. “First proposed back in the mid 1980’s, the long history of this location’s unsuitability to support a marina has become more obvious as the years pass by,” says WCC President Tony Fontes. “This entire bay in its natural state plays a critic
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This month’s article showcases our diverse businesses community in partnership with the Whitsundays Chamber of Commerce and Industry. This month we meet Ellen and daughter Bek Kerr of One Agency Team Kerr. In January 2025, Ellen and Bek will celebrate 2 years in business, having established their small boutique real estate agency specialising in residential sales in January 2023. Having worked in real estate in the region for the last 18 years, ‘Team Kerr’ looked for an opportunity to bring a
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Whitsunday Regional Council is rolling out a collaborative Erosion and Sediment Control Inspection Program this wet season (November - April 2025) to protect our waterways, marine ecosystems, and stormwater network. Sediment on roads can be hazardous and clog stormwater pipes, increasing flood impacts. By working with builders and developers, we’re ensuring best practices to reduce sediment loss, keep roads safer and safeguard our reef environments. Learn more about erosion and sediment control
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Advocacy is crucial for regional councils like ours, especially when faced with urgent infrastructure demands created by rapid population growth and thriving tourism, mining and agriculture sectors. During my first 7 months as Mayor, I have put a strong emphasis on proactive engagement with state and federal governments in a bid to secure necessary funding and support for key projects. Which is why I have been on the road the last 10 days pushing the flesh at the halls of power in Brisbane a
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