Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
15-year-old local Noah Conyers has been competing in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) and Jiu-Jitsu since December 2020, and he is already challenging the adults at his gym, Whitsunday Martial Arts. He has won the Central Queensland Championship for three years in a row and in December this year, he has the opportunity to go to Las Vegas, to compete in the World Championship. Noah’s parents Ryan and Lauren are immensely proud of him for getting this opportunity to compete at this level. “It's an ama
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The Cannonvale Cannons swimming team put on a dominant display at the Whitsunday Long Course Transition Meet over the weekend, bringing home an impressive haul of medals and personal bests (PBs). Competing at the Proserpine Swimming Pool, the two-day event, hosted by the Whitsunday Swimming Club, saw 50 Cannons swimmers achieving top placings, breaking PBs, and earning several Swimming North Queensland (SNQ) upgrades. Among the standout performers, several swimmers medalled in every event they
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The Whitsunday Swimming Club held its annual LC Transition meet on October 19th & 20th at Proserpine Swimming Pool. 170 swimmers travelled from afar, including Townsville, Charters Towers, Moranbah, Mackay, Mirani, Bowen, Cannonvale & of course, our own Whitsunday Swimmers. There was two days of fast racing, friendly banter, many rubber ducks won, and great memories made. The Whitsunday Swimming Clubs own swimmers had some spectacular PB’s, A grade upgrades and Mystery Relay Wins. The cheering
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The 2024 Whitsunday Cup lived up to all expectations, delivering an unforgettable weekend of touch football, fun, and togetherness. Hosted in the stunning Whitsundays, the annual event drew players, families, and supporters from near and far to celebrate their love for the sport in a festival-like atmosphere. The sense of joy and community was palpable throughout the weekend, as people came together not just to compete, but to revel in the shared passion that makes touch footy so special. From
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This past week saw a quiet period for work on our club’s hard cover due to a mix-up with obtaining the necessary permit to access the old Fire Station land. However, that didn’t stop our members from enjoying some social activities. Our ladies represented the club at Sarina, while other members competed at the Proserpine Bowls Club. Back home, Friday afternoon saw the bar open for members, with Bar Manager Fiona Greener and Terry Clarke ensuring everyone was well taken care of. The afternoon b
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Social Bowls • Wednesday: Bruce Uhe, Arthur Griffith, and Sandy Daffara beat Alen Sanderson, John Anderson, and Philip Brown 21-17. Henny Tattum and Wayne Coonan won 30-13 against Dave Meiklejohn and Mark Mawson. Heather Brown represented Proserpine at Seaforth’s PAH 49th celebration. • Sunday: Andy McDougall and Heather Brown triumphed 23-17 over Bruce Uhe and Sandy Daffara. Mary Hedgelong and Mike Harrison defeated John Anderson and Philip Brown 32-16. Club Championship 2 Bowl Triple
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Tuesday Social Games On Tuesday, Merle Elphinstone, Irene Laird, and Geoff Danvers narrowly defeated Stumpy Adams, Lyn Danvers, and Greg Colquhoun. In pairs, Robyn Stitt and Dot Slater edged out Deb Retchless and Mark Drummond. The jackpot remains unclaimed and continues to grow! Friday Gathering We welcomed clients and carers from Grow and Evolve for a picnic and a game of bowls, which everyone enjoyed. Sunday Social Bowls Sunday's winners included Robyn Stitt and Penny Warren, who defeated J
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Tuesday 15th October – Single Stableford • Men’s Winner: Finbar O’Flynn (44 points) • Runner-Up: Scott Mason (37 points) • Ladies’ Winner: Di Chard (39 points) • Runner-Up: Leanne Alexander (35 points) Veterans’ Division • Ladies’ Winner: Leanne Alexander (35 points) • Men’s Winner: Barry Mortimer (35 points on countback) Wednesday 16th October – Ladies Single Stableford • Winner: Leanne Alexander (37 points) • Runner-Up: Tina Badenhorst (34 points) Thursday 17t
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The Pitbulls had a strong showing on Saturday, October 19, securing three victories out of four matches across the junior divisions. In the Under-11s, the Pitbulls faced a tough loss to Magpies White, with a final score of 65 to 88. Despite the defeat, standout performances came from Patrick, who contributed 7 runs, and Blake, who took an impressive 2 wickets for 8 runs off 4 overs. The Under-12s had more success in their away game at Walerston, winning convincingly with 4/101 against 55. Korb
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By Hannah McNamara Dual Olympian Geoff Huegill hosted a series of clinics during his recent visit to Mackay, but his appearance at Pat Wright Swim School was particularly special. Having learned to swim at the age of six under Pat's guidance, Huegill reflected on the significant impact she had on his early development as an athlete. This personal connection added depth to the clinic, where he shared valuable insights and techniques with aspiring swimmers. By encouraging the next generation, he
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The Mackay Region Chamber of Commerce held its highly anticipated Annual General Meeting (AGM) last Thursday (3 October) at Harrup Park, with over 80 local business people attending. The luncheon was filled with excitement and community spirit, as attendees, including Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson and Deputy Mayor Karen May, came together to reflect on the Chamber’s achievements over the past year and look ahead to a bright future. The luncheon included an overview of the Chambers's accomplishmen
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Last Friday evening, we had the absolute pleasure of celebrating 13 years of Core Magazine and over four years of Mackay and Whitsunday Life at Ocean International. It was a wonderful night filled with laughter, connection, and an overwhelming sense of community. We were incredibly grateful to have the support of local leaders like Mayor Greg Williamson and Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox, both of whom shared such heartfelt encouragement for our publications. Their belief in the importa
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In the past three months, 224 individuals have accessed Chances House for meals, healthcare and essential support. As a crucial resource for those experiencing homelessness in Mackay, Chances House provides fresh meals and takeaway packs for weekends, ensuring those in need have access to food. However, without the community's support, the organisation wouldn't be able to make such a meaningful difference in assisting the vulnerable. As part of Anti-Poverty Week, Mackay Christian Family Chu
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Last week, Vicki Blackburn and Chloë McCardel made a significant impact on local schools by holding presentations aimed at raising awareness about domestic and family violence (DFV). The duo engaged with students at Holy Spirit College Mackay, Catherine McAuley College and Kutta Mulla Gorinna Special Assistance School (KMG), where they shared their powerful stories in hopes of encouraging others to speak out and flee from domestic violence. After the tragic murder of her daughter, Shandee Black
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On Thursday 24th October, the Mackay Hospital Foundation will rally the community for its fourth annual Giving Day, a powerful event that turns generosity into life-changing support for local hospitals. From 8am to 8pm, every dollar donated will be doubled, thanks to the generosity of matched donors, ensuring that contributions go twice as far in enhancing healthcare across Mackay, Isaac, and Whitsunday regions. This isn’t just about raising funds—it's about keeping families close during their
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World Polio Day, observed on October 24, holds special significance for three members of the Souths Cricket Club. Second-grade players Paul Anderson and Shane Barford both have family members who were affected by the poliovirus, while Sanjay Patel is himself a polio survivor, having been struck by the disease as a six-month-old in Khanpur, India. Poliomyelitis, or polio, is a highly infectious disease that primarily affects children under the age of five. The virus spreads from person to person,
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Women in Mackay are set to experience a significant enhancement in maternity care, thanks to an election announcement from the Queensland Labor Party. A $20 million investment will establish a state-of-the-art birthing centre, ensuring that families in the region receive the highest quality of care during pregnancy and childbirth. The Mackay Birth Centre will provide a welcoming, home-like environment for women with uncomplicated pregnancies, allowing them to give birth with the support of dedic
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A groundbreaking study by CQUniversity has revealed the promising antioxidant and cancer-fighting properties of Gumbi Gumbi (Pittosporum angustifolium), a native Australian plant used for generations in First Nations healthcare. This study, funded by the CQUniversity BHP Chair in Indigenous Engagement, showcases how modern science is backing up traditional medicine. Led by Dr. Mani Naiker from the Bioactive and Functional Foods Research Group, the project was conducted in collaboration with Ghun
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Muller Park playground, located at Boundary Road in Ooralea, is scheduled for renewal. Community consultation will be taking place shortly and residents will be invited to share their ideas for the design of a new playground. The existing playground will be removed in the coming weeks for the community’s safety. Both the combination unit and swings are 25 years old and in poor condition. Recent testing has also shown that the softfall no longer meets current Australian safety standards. The ot
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The LNP has pledged a total of $5.9 million to improve key community facilities in Mackay, including $1.6 million for shaded netball courts, $3 million for upgrades at local high schools, $500,000 for an all-weather bowling green at Northern Beaches Bowls Club, and $800,000 for expanded parking at Mackay Football Park. The Mackay Netball Association will benefit from safer shaded courts if the LNP is elected on October 26, with a $1.6 million investment to build shade protection over four court
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Mater Private Hospital Mackay midwife Sarah Fordyce has proven it takes a dedicated team to ensure patients in the region receive access to high-quality healthcare. The former accountant-turned-midwife was recognised as a “dedicated leader” at the annual Mater People Awards event held in South Brisbane on Friday 11 October. Each year, Mater recognises the outstanding achievements of Mater People across the Health, Education, Research and Foundation ministries at the Mater People Awards. The
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By Amanda Wright In a bold call to action, Mackay's top business and community leaders gathered last week at Harrup Park, voicing their mounting frustration over the continued lack of substantial funding commitments for the region in the Queensland State Election campaign. With just 15 days left until election day, the message was clear: Mackay has been overlooked for far too long, and it's time for that to change. Despite the Mackay region's significant contribution to Queensland's economic out
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Every day, more than three tonnes of linen, including clean and dirty sheets, towels, blankets, scrubs and gowns, are delivered to and collected from wards and theatres across Mackay Base Hospital. A thorough and efficient laundry process is vital to prevention and containment of hospital infection, but also contributes to the delivery of care. Sharon Shakespeare has been part of the linen services team for 22 years; they work seven days a week to provide daily hospital linen and laundering se
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Taskforce Guardian, alongside local police, has charged 64 people on 124 offences during simultaneous deployments to Mackay and Ipswich districts. Taskforce Guardian brings together specialist police and expert youth justice workers, who together work alongside local police to tackle youth offending and bolster community safety through strategic patrols, targeted investigations, and joint operations including bail compliance support, community and family engagement. Between September 27 and Octo
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Tell us about you and what makes you ideal to represent Mirani in the state government? “I am a proud local of the Sarina district having been raised on a sugar cane farm and worked on cattle farms. I’m now a Mental Health Counsellor, which includes visiting mines to provide training and provide assistance during critical incidents. I am passionate about fairness and equity and I would be a strong representative of my local community.” If you could initiate a project or address one issue in
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