Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
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Cape Hillsborough’s Between the Tides has captured global attention, earning two prestigious accolades that cement its status as a leader in cultural tourism. Securing Silver in the Cultural Tourism category at the Queensland Tourism Awards and the Best Music Tourism Initiative at the 2024 Global Music Cities Awards in Riyadh, this event is set to shine as the centrepiece of the 2025 QLD Music Trails, The Reef. Held on Yuwi Country, the event has captivated audiences with its extraordinar
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Last weekend saw eight milestone recipients celebrated at Mackay parkrun’s latest event. Achieving 100-finish milestones were Teresa Hackney, Isabelle Cahill, and Kate Mumford. Reaching the 50-finish milestone were Shelby Freidman, Michael Davidson, Georgie Wilson, and Traccee Ramsamy. Trevor Hodgson was also recognised for his 25-volunteer milestone. Participants are encouraged to notify their Run Director before or after an event when they achieve a milestone. Age Category Record Smashed
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With the energy of a dojo in full swing and the pride of a community backing them, Sarina’s Little Ninjas and Samurais brought their term to an electrifying close on their Graduation Day on 5 December 2024. Held in the Sarina High School hall, the event was a celebration of discipline, resilience, and the joy of learning martial arts, proving that even the youngest warriors can pack a punch when it comes to perseverance and spirit. This transformative programme, sponsored by Dalrymple Bay Coal
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Mackay Wanderers Football Club is excited to announce that registrations for the 2025 season are officially open for the Whitsunday Coast community. Newly elected MWFC President, Greg Kliese, said the Club was thrilled to open registrations for the 2025 season and can’t wait to see their football family grow. “Whether you're a seasoned player or new to the sport, there’s a spot for everyone at Mackay Wanderers FC this year,” Mr Kliese said. The Club offers playing opportunities to boys, girls
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Five first-year players claimed top-four positions this week. Karen Cadwell secured first place on Wednesday, Annette Howe and Jewel Schmidt tied for second on Friday, with Sue Mayer-Miller taking fourth place the same day, and Christopher Meyers earning third place on Saturday. This is an amazing effort for these first-year players. Bridge is a complex, fun game and these new members have taken to the game like ducks to water. Our Australia Day Come and Try day, sponsored by Mackay Regional Cou
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It sure was great to see so many men’s bowlers participate in the start of our 2025 club competition events. Over 50 players were present on Saturday, competing in the opening round of the Open Fours, with 36 vying for the right to progress to the second round of the Open Pairs on Sunday morning. A big thank you to all of the bowlers that took part and the Umpires that volunteered their time in assisting to make the weekend a smooth transition from our end of year break. Some close games with th
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The Mackay Road Runners’ informal off-season training series has been a resounding success. The addition of Shawn’s Summer Series Splash & Dash Biathlon has replaced the usual running-only program. This exciting new format has been a refreshing change, especially given the intense humidity at this time of year. Race Director, Club Captain, and Life Member Jim Ford has been the driving force behind the program for many years, alongside the regular Wednesday 5:30pm track training sessions, whi
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In late 2022, the North Mackay Sinkers Masters Swimming Club formed a Lifeblood team in partnership with the Red Cross donor centre. Community involvement is a key focus of the club, and the Lifeblood Team was seen as a perfect fit alongside other initiatives. Starting with 15 members in 2022, the team had grown to 25 participants by 2025, with a mix of long-term donors and newcomers. After refining their approach in 2024, the Sinkers achieved a personal best with 98 donations, helping to s
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Club Whitsunday is excited to announce its grand opening on January 24 2025, after eight years of dedication and hard work by their incredible team. This all-new sports bar will be a dynamic gathering spot, offering a welcoming space not just for local sports enthusiasts, but for everyone in the area to come together and connect. The Club has a fantastic range of facilities, including a modern restaurant, a fully-stocked bar, a spacious gaming floor, and a fun-filled kids’ play area, all set a
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Hi Everyone, What a week it's been! There’s so much exciting news in this week's paper, including the highly anticipated opening of Club Whitsundays and the upcoming Sports Expo, where you can get hands-on and try out a variety of sports. Having had the chance to experience Club Whitsunday firsthand, I’m thrilled to see the community finally get a much-needed hub for sports and recreation. The clean, modern design really enhances the atmosphere, and I can’t wait to return for dinner and drinks
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On January 12th, a few mates went fishing on the Peter Faust dam when they heard splashing in the water. But there was no need to reel in the rods or prepare nets for a catch, as a dog climbed on board the little tinny. The old boy had become separated from his owner and lost, but being the smart, working dog that he is, he went to the first people he could find. Even if those people were in the middle of a dam, he swam his way over, seeking help. He was a bit worse for wear, but thanks
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Each year, the Zonta Club of the Whitsundays Inc. offers scholarship opportunities to young female students from the Whitsundays region and its surroundings. These scholarships assist with the costs associated with accessing a tertiary course of their choice, providing worthy applicants with the means to pursue higher education when they otherwise wouldn't be able to. Founded in 1919 in Buffalo, New York, the club has become an international staple for women’s empowerment and women's rights to
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This country has some of the most dangerous weather in the world, and the people of beautiful, tropical north Queensland live with it every year. In Australia, the natural disaster that claims the most lives is extreme heat events. Last week, the temperatures climbed to the high thirties along the eastern coast during the day, receding to the mid-twenties at night. Impacted areas stretched from Port Douglas all the way down to Bundaberg under severe to extreme levels, with the regional surrou
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Growing up in Brisbane, Victoria has had a progressive career, having worked as an editor for a medical journal at Queensland University of Technology and completing a Cert III in Business Administration alongside a swimming teaching qualification with AustSwim. After obtaining these qualifications they worked as a receptionist and swimming teacher, where they saved to get themselves into university earing a Diploma of Arts. Victoria is greatly anticipating having a job that means something to
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The PCYC in the Whitsundays is putting out the call for any young people who are looking to get skilled up for work. Their Get Set for Work program is an intensive employment and training assistance program for young, disengaged Queenslanders aged 15–19 years. Participants will gain the skills and confidence to enter the workforce, go on to further training or go back and complete school. The program runs every term for 10 weeks and Term 1’s intake begins on the 28th of January. It aims to help
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I hope you all had a wonderful Summer Holidays so far! It’s great to be back, and 2025 is already shaping up to be a big one for the Whitsundays. To kick off the year on a high, Whitehaven Beach has claimed the title of Lonely Planet’s Best Beach for 2025. With its white sand and turquoise swirls, it’s easy to see why this slice of paradise remains a global icon. Next month, our team is heading to Sydney for International Media Marketplace, connecting with top media and influencers to keep the W
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Palm Bay Resort is a hidden gem that promises an unforgettable tropical island escape. Nestled in a breathtaking, secluded setting, this intimate resort offers 23 villas and bungalows, ensuring a truly exclusive experience. For locals, a special rate starts at $200 per night, or you can enjoy a day visit for only $25 to access all the resort’s top-tier facilities. Small boats are able to pull up at the Southern end of the beach free of charge and enjoy lunch at the resort restaurant. Reservatio
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The Whitsundays Chamber of Commerce and Industry is excited to introduce one of their new Board members – Emily Harvey of Filby’s Motors. “We are always grateful to our members who step up and volunteer their time and expertise in shaping our strategy and being great ambassadors for the Whitsundays business community” said Chamber President Allan Milostic. Emily Harvey is the Marketing, Branding and Customer Experience manager for Filby’s Motors – Bowen and Proserpine. “My primary focus is o
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Whitsunday Regional Council manage 10 flood cameras across the region to allow the community to better prepare during wet season. The flood cameras monitor various local roads and causeways which are subject to flooding. Images of each area are updated every 15 minutes to enable community members to keep up to date with any localised flooding, and to make informed and safe decisions when travelling. Residents can view the flood cameras online via Council’s Disaster Dashboard and website. R
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Local roads are the lifeblood of our community. They connect us to our workplaces, schools, and essential services, and they support the industries that drive our local economy, from tourism to agriculture. Here in the Whitsundays, with our fast-growing population and increasing visitor numbers, it’s more important than ever that we invest in maintaining and improving our road network. To kick-off 2025, Council last week announced the launch of our $7.8 million road re-seal program, aimed at
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On Sunday the community came together to show overwhelming support at the Metropole Hotel for Tickled Pink for a Cure, an event to raise funds and provide support for anyone with cancer. With a raffle, games, live music, and prizes for the best pink outfit and decorated bra, it was a wonderfully warm feeling to see so many people come together to support the cause. Breast cancer does not discriminate, it can strike anyone at any time, women, men and children. The treatment process can be dauntin
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The Bowen Art Society has announced its annual art show is returning! For all the artists and creatives amongst you it’s time to get crafting, painting, drawing, or whatever your medium, the Art Show wants to see it. The theme has been made public as Australiana, nice and broad but also thematic. Australiana covers anything pertaining to Australian culture, society, geography and ecology, especially if it is endemic to Australia or has reached iconic status. Hopefully that sparks some ideas to
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The Indian Myna was brought to the region, like cane toads, to eat the bugs on our crops. However, their incredible adaptability has allowed them to become one of the biggest invasive, and aggressive pests. The Whitsunday Indian Myna Action Group is out there trying to cull these birds before they kill all of our native birds and completely take over. Indian Mynas are prolific breeders, 12-16 eggs per season, in a colony that can contain hundreds of birds, this is a huge problem. They kill nativ
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The team at the Bowen Visitor Information Centre welcomed more than 32,000 visitors in the six months ending December 31, an increase of more than 8 per cent from the same period last year. Manager of Bowen Tourism and Business, Leanne Abernethy said the team had welcomed more visitors in every month so far in this financial year than for the same months last year. January has also started off well with 3088 visitors being welcomed in the first two weeks of January. “That’s a big increase on
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Drivers on the Bruce Highway are taking advantage of the Driver Reviver Station located at the Bowen Visitor Information Centre, next to the Big Mango on the Bruce Highway, just 5km south. The centre has been providing free coffee to drivers for a long time but officially became a “Driver Reviver” location last year, with signs installed on the highway last April. Since then, the service has become increasingly popular. Manager of Bowen Tourism and Business, Leanne Abernethy, said the organisati
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