Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
A vibrant group of early risers attended a breakfast sausage sizzle on Tuesday morning, each person enjoying good company, conversations and connection. The BBQ Breakfast, held at Shirtfront Solutions in Cannonvale, was orchestrated in collaboration with Real Mates Talk and Whitsunday Suicide Prevention Network. Guys from across the community came together to show support for each other, connect and raise awareness of the importance of regular mental health check-ins with each other. Popular
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Friday 18 October The Pub, Airlie Beach Hotel: Andy Mammers (7pm – 10pm) Grand View Hotel: Dave Johan (from 8pm) Saturday 19 October The Pub, Airlie Beach Hotel: ‘Reckless’ Australian Crawl Tribute (2pm – 5.30pm) The Pub, Airlie Beach Hotel: Andy Mammers (7pm – 10pm) Grand View Hotel: DJ Night (from 8pm) Coral Sea Pavilion: Live Music (from 1pm) Coral Sea Pavilion: Chill DJ Session (2pm – 6pm) Sunday 20 October The Pub, Airlie Beach Hotel: ‘Reckless’ Australian Crawl Tribute (2pm – 5.30pm) T
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October 19 Mini Roller Disco, PCYC Whitsunday, from 10am 19 Tourism Awards, Daydream Island, from 5.30pm 25 Preloved Market Night, 3 Little Birds Espresso, from 6pm 26 Mini Roller Disco, PCYC Whitsunday, from 10am 26 Drizzle Boy, at the Proserpine Entertainment Centre, from 7pm 27 Dingo Beach Sunday Markets, Dingo Beach Community Hall grounds, from 8am 29 Sailing For Those With Disability, Whitsunday Sailing Club, from 9am 31 Adult Roller Skating Class, PCYC Whitsunday, from 6pm November 1 Ai
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Last Sunday marked the sixth Young Whitsundays Got Talent event and there was over 300 people in attendance cheering on the youth of the Whitsundays as they hit the stage. Organiser and coordinator Paula Hovey said the talent was amazing, the turnout was great, and the overall event was fabulous. Equal first was Category 5 (band) and Dom & Kaydee (duo). Second was Relaxolotyl (band) from Townsville in which every band member was under 11 years old. Third was Samara Risteski who was 12 years
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A new wave of students has proudly completed their Vocational Education and Training in Schools (VETiS) Coxswain’s Course programme at the Whitsunday Sailing Club. The innovative initiative helps shape the future of the marine industry by providing local school students with the skills, training, and opportunities they need to pursue a career on the water. This year’s programme saw 24 students from Proserpine State High School, St Catherine’s Catholic College and Mirani State High School join t
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The Whitsunday Game Fish Club’s Light Tackle Tournament, held over the weekend, lived up to its reputation, with participants describing it as “fantastic,” “unbelievable,” and “the stuff dreams are made of.” Despite challenging conditions with 15-20 km/h south-easterly winds, 87 anglers across 26 teams displayed skill and determination, tagging and releasing an impressive array of fish. Among the highlights of the tournament were the 67 sailfish, 5 black marlin, 60 longtail tuna, and a variety
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The Whitsunday Equestrian Group’s two-day T-Shirt Event, held on October 12-13 at the Cannon Valley Pony Club, marked a successful end to their competition season, providing an exciting weekend for riders and spectators alike. Competitors from Townsville to Mackay gathered to showcase their skills across both days. The bi-annual T-Shirt Event offered dressage classes ranging from Prep to Medium levels, and showjumping heights from 40cm to 110cm. Known for its casual atmosphere, the event contra
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Day 2 of the Pioneer Long Course Transition Meet saw 37 swimmers from the Cannonvale Cannons showcase their skills, securing multiple medals, personal bests (PBs), and age champion titles. The Cannons continued their strong performance over the two-day event, with their determination and talent on full display. Several standout swimmers earned medals in all their events, including Don Algie, Jacob Bell, Harry Chegwidden, Tora Delac, Charlie Doherty, Thomas Ganter, Lucas Korosec, and Isaac Pisan
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The Whitsunday Swimming Club made a strong start to the season over the weekend at the Pioneer Long Course Meet in Mackay. Twelve dedicated swimmers represented the club, showcasing their talent and determination in their first swim meet of the season. Among them were three new swimmers—Jax, Ti, and Georgia—who made their debut in the competitive swimming world with impressive performances, proving they are ready to race. Returning swimmers Mae, Alex, Hayden, Leyton, Axel, Jayde, Chloe, George
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It’s an exciting time at Airlie Beach Bowls Club as preparations for the new hardcover are well underway. Foreman Trevor Scott and his team are making excellent progress, already halfway through installing the Category 5 foundations that will ensure the roof stands strong for many years to come. The effort and attention to detail are impressive, promising a fantastic new structure for the club. On the green, Wednesday saw a small group of bowlers head to Proserpine, where David Meiklejohn and M
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Eight members of the Bowen Bridge Club participated in a four-day Bridge Congress in Mackay, competing against some of the region’s best players. The Martin team, representing Bowen, achieved an impressive result, securing 2nd place in the B Division. Congratulations to the team for their strong performance and for proudly representing the club. Bowen Pair Wins Novice Section at Whitsunday Zone Pairs Debbie Breeze and Susan McInnes of the Bowen Bridge Club have triumphed in the novice section
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On Wednesday eight players enjoyed a game of Social Bowls. Alen Sanderson and Bruce Uhe defeated Arthur Griffith and Mike Harrison 23 - 15; Dave Meikele and Mark Mawson defeated John Anderson and Barry Zillmann 25 - 13. On Sunday, there was the threat of rain but 16 and 17 ends of triples were played before a shower interrupted play. Arthur Griffith, Philip Brown and Sandy Daffara defeated Mary Hedgelong, Peter Lawton and Wayne Coonan 19 -10; John Anderson, Bruce Uhe and Mike Harrison defea
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Tuesday's social bowls saw a quieter turnout as several of our ladies participated in the Northern Beaches Carnival. A big congratulations to the team of Robyn Stitt, Lyn Danvers, Margaret Wilson, and Heather Jorgenson, who secured second place at the event. Back at the club, the day's winners were Merle Elphinstone, Irene Laird, and Gavin Charles, who triumphed over Stumpy Adams, Deb Retchless, and Dot Slater. However, the jackpot remained unclaimed. Sunday's social bowls action crowned winner
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Labour Day Public Holiday (7/10/24) – Single Stableford The Labour Day Public Holiday saw Di Chard triumph in the Single Stableford with 35 points, winning on a countback from Joshua Mansley. Ross Meade claimed 3rd with 33 points, while Luke Swift finished 4th with 32 points. • NTPs: Sherri Meade and Jenny Hounsell Tuesday (8/10/24) – Single Stroke In Tuesday’s Single Stroke, Ryan Wilkes dominated with an impressive 66 nett, scoring eagles on the 1st and 12th holes. Adam Maggs finished as r
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Last Tuesday felt like an early taste of summer for the October Monthly Medal, with a great turnout of 31 players. The club was also pleased to welcome back Ken Granger, who had been absent for eight weeks. In the Ladies' division, Linda Wardroper claimed victory with a nett score of 72, winning on a countback from Leanne Alexander. Robyn Whitham (73), Vickie Wallace (75), Jan Shuwalow (75), and Genia Sarafian (78) rounded out the run-down with solid performances. In the Men's division, John S
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Northern Beaches State High’s Stunning Soiree Northern Beaches State High School’s Year 12 Formal on 5th October was a dazzling affair, held beneath a stunning marquee at the Mackay Marina. With golden moons and stars shimmering against a navy blue backdrop, the scene was set for an enchanting evening. Students enjoyed a night of celebration and memories under the celestial glow, marking a special milestone.
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After a devastating house fire on Wellington Street left two sisters homeless, the family received an overwhelming outpouring of support from their local community. The girls’ big sister took to a Facebook community page, reaching out for help with securing basic essentials. They had found a unit but were still in desperate need of two queen-sized mattresses to get started. In her heartfelt message, she mentioned how funds were tight but was hopeful that the community might be able to lend a
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Proserpine Lake saw a successful Kids Fishing Day at the weekend, with 92 campsites booked out and around 400 people in attendance almost doubling last year's turnout. Craig Turner, Director of Commercial Businesses at Whitsunday Regional Council, expressed his excitement for next year's event, looking ahead for continued growth and the introduction of live music. Caption: Mayor Ry Collins and Member for Whitsunday Amanda Camm with two children at the Lake Proserpine Kids Fishing Day. Photo cre
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As we step into Get Ready Queensland Week (8-13 October), it's crucial to reflect on the recent devastating weather events that have unfolded globally. The toll of Hurricane Helene has been catastrophic, claiming over 230 lives across multiple states in the US. Helene made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane in Florida's Big Bend region, marking the deadliest hurricane to strike the mainland since Katrina in 2005. Hot on Helene's heels, Hurricane Milton is set to strike Florida with unprecedented
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A major funding boost for a significant piece of Whitsunday boating infrastructure could be a game changer for local boaties, with upgrades announced this week to the Shute Bay Boat Ramp and Carpark. Member for Whitsunday Amanda Camm was at the site of the current boat ramp last week and vocalised her intentions to deliver a new four-lane boat ramp and 130 trailable carparks if she is elected for a second term in the upcoming state elections due to be held later this month. The current boat ramp
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Mackay’s Leap Into Bio-Manufacturing A groundbreaking development is set to revolutionise Mackay, as Australian food-tech company Cauldron Ferm partners with the Queensland government to establish the region’s first precision fermentation contract manufacturing facility. The $100 million-plus "Cauldron Bio-fab" will become the largest end-to-end contract manufacturer of precision-fermented products in the Asia-Pacific, deploying state-of-the-art ‘hyper-fermentation’ technology to drive down cos
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Hi Everyone, It’s a kid’s life here in the Whitsundays! Everywhere I turn there seems to be another event for our little darlings to enjoy – from the recent Kids Fishing Day to the upcoming Healthy Kids Expo – there is so much for families to enjoy, no wonder we are considered one of the most liveable places in Queensland for young families. I remember when I first arrived in Airlie Beach as a 23-year-old backpacker on a Grey Hound Bus almost 20 years ago – it was certainly a different plac
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In a powerful show of support, seven senior students from Whitsunday Anglican School came together in their final term to make a difference, cutting their hair for the Ponytail Project and supporting those affected by cancer through the Cancer Council. Amelia Werner, Faith Rayner, Alex Otto, Amel Seethyah, Emerson Crowe, Olivia Whitehead, Hope Ware and Jazzie Sullivan all took part in this meaningful cause, where each student pledged to cut at least 20 centimetres from their hair. The donated h
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Technology advances in the medical sector, along with specialist training, are delivering a service to women in the Mackay region that previously required surgery. Endometriosis in Queensland has a higher prevalence than the national average and is a condition where endometrial-like tissue is present outside the uterus. It is associated with pelvic pain, infertility, and poor mental health, and often many women suffer for years without a diagnosis, as up until now it would require surgery. With
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Last week, two dogs embarked on an unexpected adventure. While enjoying their regular morning beach walk, Rebecca and Paul Douthwaite were accompanied by their three dogs: Nym, Bella, and Loki. Suddenly, Nym and Bella bolted into the nearby bush. The worried dog parents quickly jumped into action, posting on facebook and approaching everyone on the beach. They approached a woman called Megan. The lovely lady still had Rebecca’s number saved to her phone from the last time Bella and previous dog
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