Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
This year, Council will be hosting Australia Day with a special event at the Airlie Beach Foreshore. Join us from 4pm as we celebrate Australia Day Our Whitsunday Way, with live music, food stalls and family fun. The event will also include the prestigious Australia Day Awards Ceremony and conclude with a spectacular fireworks display at 8pm.
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Earlier this week, I had the pleasure of hosting Federal Senator for Queensland and Special Envoy for the Great Barrier Reef Nita Green to tour our region and witness firsthand some of the transformative projects underway in the Whitsundays. Senator Green is a tremendous advocate for North Queensland, and visits like this highlight the importance of collaboration between local government and other tiers of government to ensure our region gets its fair share of funding and support. During her
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Heading back to school is an exciting milestone, but it can also bring its share of stress. To help your child start the year off on the right foot, here are some essential items and tips to ease the back-to-school jitters: 1. Invest in a High-Quality Backpack A good backpack is a must-have for students who carry a variety of items, from lunch boxes and water bottles to books and stationery. Look for a comfortable, durable rucksack with adjustable straps and multiple compartments to help organis
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As the seasons transition from summer to autumn and you have no idea what to plant, here’s a helpful planting guide with some growers that do well in both seasons. The Whitsundays is located in the Wet & Dry Tropical zones of north Queensland and the plants below can handle the weather and the heat. Starting small with some ground cover, the native coleus is great for damp soil, sun or part shade and naturally thrives in eucalypt forests and rainforests. They are hardy, tough little plans that c
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While we are in the thick of storm season, it's important to prepare your trees for the weather to prevent incidents that could put you or your property at risk. Here’s some helpful advice on how to prepare your trees and keep them safe during storms. Assessing your trees is the best place to start. Consulting an arborist can be done if you are not familiar with your trees or if you need a professional, second opinion. All trees are different, and not every protective method is applicable to eve
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What better way to spend your Sunday than with six hours of classic Australian Rock at the Airlie Beach Hotel? For a raging afternoon of double-headers The Pub is putting on a show that will excite all Aussie Rock music enthusiasts. Start your afternoon off with a full three hours of surf rock tunes with Reckless, the Australian Crawl tribute band taking to the stage to deliver their signature back-to-back hits. Reckless, will perform the best songs from Australian Crawl’s iconic history, such a
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Embrace the spirit of Australia Day with the Whitsunday Regional Council’s exciting festivities at Airlie Beach Foreshore. From 4:00 PM, come together for a day filled with live music, delicious food stalls, and a wide range of activities for all ages. The little ones will have a blast with games, activities, and more, while the prestigious Australia Day Awards will shine a light on the exceptional individuals who make the Whitsunday community thrive. Australia Day Award Categories and nomin
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Friday 17 January The Pub, Airlie Beach Hotel: Andy Mammers 7pm–10pm) Grand View Hotel: Tim Griffin (4pm–8pm) Saturday 18 January The Pub, Airlie Beach Hotel: Soul Chisel (2pm–5:30pm) The Pub, Airlie Beach Hotel: Andy Mammers (7pm–10pm) Grand View Hotel: DJ Night (4pm–8pm) Coral Sea Pavilion: Chill DJ Session (2pm–6pm) Sunday 19 January The Pub, Airlie Beach Hotel: Noisy Neighbours (2pm–5:30pm) The Pub, Airlie Beach Hotel: Sam McCann (6:30pm–9:30pm) Grand View Hotel: Dave Johan (4pm–8pm) Cora
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January 18 Park Run, Meeting Area D, Coral Sea Marina, starting at 7am 19 Bowen Community Sunday Market, Hansen Park, from 8am 21 Watercolour Art, Cannonvale Library, 10am, Bookings Required 21 Stained Glass Mandalas, Proserpine Library, 2pm, Bookings Required 21 Summer Storytime, Proserpine Library, 10am 21 Fridge Magnet Canvas, Bowen Library, 10am, Bookings Required 21 Design Your Own Coasters, Bowen Library, 2pm 21 Boardgame Tote Bags, Collinsville Library, 10am 22 6 & Under Storytime – Cozy
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Meet Pascal, who is still looking for his furever home! Pascal is the zaniest feline teenager around! He's got swag and isn't afraid to show it. This self-assured adolescent kitty is still learning the ropes of being a social butterfly, so be prepared for some playful mischief. While still having some growing up to do, Pascal vacillates between caution and hyperactivity. If you have a feisty feline friend with comparable energy for him to play with, that'd be purrfect and would greatly enhance
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Cannonvale Library is having an exciting morning of themed reading and musical activities on the 6th of February. At the library, your children will have the opportunity to participate in stories, rhymes and songs all designed to engage youngsters. The event is themed around Eric Carle’s internationally acclaimed, and family favourite book: The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Your children will be captivated by the colourful images and funny words as they follow one little hungry caterpillar on its jo
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To ensure everyone can enjoy their holidays in 2025, we’ve created a guide highlighting some of the accessible experiences available in the Whitsundays. Home to some of the world’s most iconic natural wonders, the Whitsundays ensures everyone can enjoy these bucket-list experiences safely, comfortably, and stress-free. Daydream Island Great for: Travellers with Visual Impairments | Wheelchair Users A sensory haven, Daydream Island offers tactile experiences like feeding rays at the Living Reef.
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I had the wonderful opportunity to visit Cannonvale State School earlier this year, where I was immersed in an incredibly insightful, educational, and inspiring experience with Wildlife Whitsundays. Tenielle, our local Wildlife Ranger, brought an abundance of show-worthy energy to a captivating and interactive session for the kids at school. The children were treated to an up-close encounter with various fascinating wildlife, and Teneille's passion for education was truly inspiring. As the regi
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Due to heavy rain and ongoing delays in the installation of the new hard-cover roof, there was no news from the club last week. However, we're eagerly awaiting its arrival and are currently in limbo. This week, Tuesday morning’s Ladies Bowls saw four exciting pairs games. The standout performers were Tony Whitehorn and Sue Walker, who emerged as the dominant winners of the day. On Wednesday afternoon, 18 bowlers participated in the Jackpot Bowls. The winning team, featuring skipper John Fielding
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The Cannonvale Cannons Swim Club made an energetic return to weekly club nights this week. Congratulations to Evie Doherty, Zane Clayworth, Roxy Groom, and Asher Springbett for delivering great performances and achieving notable personal best times during the evening’s races. A sincere thank you goes out to the dedicated swimmers who devoted their time over the weekend to sell tickets for the club’s annual mega community raffle at Whitsunday Plaza. Their efforts were rewarded with vouchers gener
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Outrigger Whitsunday recently asked the question - Why Do We Paddle? on their Facebook page as a part of the Come & Try program to be held on Saturday 11th. Organisers were excited to welcome 36 members of the community keen to see what outrigger canoeing was all about. Club President, Kim Dodds, greeted the new paddlers giving an overview of the sport and what to expect in the morning’s program. “What a great start to the New Year!” Kim has stated. “Our ‘Come & Try’ day was a huge success. We
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Aaron Lewis is a highly experienced real estate professional with over 25 years in the industry. He began his career in 1998 in Horsham, Victoria, before moving to Melbourne and later returning to Horsham in 2002. Over the years, Aaron has held pivotal leadership roles, including founding an independent office under the Ballarat-based Jen's Gaunt franchise. This initiative quickly expanded, with Aaron managing a portfolio of over 450 properties. In March of the previous year, he successfully so
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Hi Everyone, I’m pleased to inform you that our team continues to expand! Our Cadet Journalist, Daniel Heggie, has moved up to the Ingham to be part of the launch team for the new Hinchinbrook Life Newspaper which we started in November. This means we are now welcoming Whitsunday Life Newspaper’s newest Cadet Journalist Victoria Velton to the team. She will work alongside Ruth Puddefoot in the editorial department. Also, new to the team is our Sales Account Manager Kerry Eastwood who starte
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At the beginning of the year, Frankie O'Brien reached out to the Bowen community for support after being hospitalized due to a severe flare-up of her terminal autoimmune disease, Mastocytosis. In her Facebook post, she explained that she had developed five diabetic ulcers on her foot, requiring daily wound care at the hospital. Although the hospital was only 609 meters away, Frankie shared that she is highly allergic to UV exposure, making even short walks dangerous for her. With limited financi
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By Hannah McNamara After two decades of dedicated service in the medical field, Dr. Ben Shepherd, clinical lead at CQ Rescue in Mackay, has recently been selected for an exclusive secondment with the London Air Ambulance, one of the world’s most advanced helicopter emergency medical services. This prestigious opportunity places him among a select group of helicopter rescue doctors - fewer than 1 per cent globally - who have achieved this milestone. The selection process for this role is fierce
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It has been an incredibly tragic start to 2025 for many local families, and my heart goes out to all those affected. The devastating house fire in Sarina is unimaginable—such a loss is beyond words. A 25-year-old man tried desperately to save his mother from the flames, but tragically, she passed away. The loss of a loved one in such a way is heartbreaking, and I can only imagine the profound grief this family is experiencing. Sadly, the beginning of the year has seen further accidents on our r
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A humble trolley pusher at Sydney Street Coles has become the unexpected hero of Mackay, earning heartfelt praise from shoppers for his selfless acts of kindness and unrelenting work ethic. Local shoppers have taken to social media to express their admiration for Linden, a young man appearing to be in his late 20s with a signature Afro hairstyle and tattoos on his lower arms. One shopper posted, “Every time I go to Coles, I see him helping elderly people with their groceries, taking trolleys
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A quiet Sunday in Sarina took a tragic turn when a devastating house fire claimed the life of a 71-year-old woman and left her 25-year-old son with severe burns. The harrowing incident unfolded at a high-set home on Kathleen Street on January 5, leaving the community reeling in shock and grief. Emergency services were alerted just after 4.25pm, and when firefighters arrived, they found the home completely engulfed in flames. The inferno raged as crews fought tirelessly to bring it under control
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Meet baby Telicia, who chose the first moments of the year for her arrival into the world on 1 January, making her the first baby born in the Mackay region for 2025. Mum Heather Comer said she was not expecting bub to arrive on her due date, but she did just that at 12.16am weighing 3760g (8lb 2oz). “I had a calm and natural birth at the birth centre with the help of three wonderful midwives; Lisa, Julie and Danielle,” Heather said. “And then also a team of doctors and nurses at the hospital, t
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A quick photograph was all it took for Annie Tomkinson to notice something that would change her family’s life forever. She was at home in Mackay, enjoying a quiet afternoon with her newborn son, Lijah, when what appeared to be a golden reflection in his eye caught her attention. “He just looked the right way and at the right angle, and I managed to get a photo of it,” Annie recalled. Annie’s maternal instincts kicked in, and she wasted no time. Soon after, she showed the photo to her husba
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