Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
Noel Bugeia and Terry Sheedy have won the B4 Red Pt competition after a two-week event. The annual AGM has been held with a change of guard. Noel Bugeia stood down after three years of service as president, with Frances Brown as the new President. Many awards were given out to members at varying levels of achievement. Andrew Canavan was the best student this year, pictured with Anne Lutz. Congratulations Andrew! Weekly Results Tuesday Evening 17 September 2024 – 5 Table Mitchell Gree
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Papua New Guinea has claimed victory at the first-ever Pasifika Cup, held as part of Rumble on the Reef. This event marked a significant milestone in uniting Pacific Island skateboarding communities, showcasing a strong sense of connection and camaraderie among riders. The atmosphere was electric, with a supportive crowd cheering on all participants. Taking the top spot on the podium was PNG’s Josh O'Loughlin, followed by Fiji in second place and the Solomon Islands in third. In a remarkable sh
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By Hannah McNamara Ollies, kickflips, grinds and drop-ins were among the many impressive stunts and tricks displayed by our local skaters last Thursday afternoon at the Rumble Roadshow. The event took place at Camilleri Street Skatepark in Blacks Beach, providing a safe space for some of Mackay’s youngest skaters to come together, skate, and learn. Participants had the chance to pick up top skateboarding tips and tricks, not only from experienced skaters but also from fellow enthusiasts who s
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The Magpies Sporting Club Mackay has awarded its Time to Shine - Women in Sport Grant to local rugby union talent, Hula Day. Hula, an active member of both the Slade Point Rugby Union Women's team and the Mackay Stingers, regularly travels to Moranbah, Bowen, and Airlie Beach to compete. In June, Hula represented the U18s CQ Bushrangers at the Queensland Country Rugby Union competition in Rockhampton, gaining valuable experience against some of the state's top athletes. Passionate about rugby un
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Multisporters converged on Mackay last weekend for Mackay’s Triathlon Festival. Held on the 21st and 22nd of September, it featured ocean swims, a kid’s triathlon and multiple race formats including triathlon, duathlon, aquabike and aquathlon. More than 170 entries were recorded across two days, marking a fantastic increase from the past two years. More than 50 participants took part in the ocean swims, with a strong showing from the North Mackay Sinkers Masters Swimming Club. The Mini Kids r
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Mackay Airport acknowledges the planned industrial action by Trident security screening officers and the United Workers Union on Friday 27 September. Richard Barker, CEO of Mackay Airport, stated, “We are aware of ongoing negotiations between the security screening provider and union representatives, however, have not been party to these discussions. “Trident Services Security are responsible for reaching agreement with the union on the outstanding matters and we are hopeful the parties will r
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Ever started making an Asian dish and thought... how do I get that authentic flavour? Asian Products on the Go has you covered, stocking everything you could need to make your dish taste like it has come straight from Asia. Having been in their current store at the Whitsunday Shopping Centre for 10 years, owners Ken and Myrna, started out selling in markets and are proud of their shop, which they opened back in 2014. They love their location as people often stop by to check out their unique sele
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Providing Whitsunday residents with the popular Hawaiian/Japanese dish Poke, the owner Erina Miyake loves bringing this healthy, delicious and super quick lunch and dinner option to our region. Erina opened Lokahi Poke Bar two years ago and loves seeing her regular customers who cannot get enough of the tasty bowls which are packed with fresh local produce and flavour. Poke Bowl is a dish that originated from Hawaii, and it was inspired by the large population of Japanese residents on the is
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Uniting their passion for property and gardening, Whitsundays Property Services has expanded, opening a new store at the Whitsunday Shopping Centre that caters to the region’s plant lovers. The idea began when owners of Whitsunday Property Services, Rhys and Karly realised they had too many plants at home and wanted to share them with fellow enthusiasts. This planted the seed of an idea to launch a side-business and Fay’s Garden grew into the flourishing wonderland of greenery customers enjoy
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Recently opened Reef Beats is set to make its musical mark in Airlie Beach. Bringing a unique vibe to the Whitsunday Shopping Centre, owner Steve Payne says he is excited to be back. After leaving Perth in 2001, Steve moved to Airlie Beach and set up a record shop, after stumbling across the place on a tour up the east coast of Australia back when he was a youngster. Steve retold his time in Airlie Beach over 16 years and emphasised how the town was “Rockin’ 24/7.” Due to Cyclone Debbie, howeve
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Boomerang Bags and Craft Shop is a beloved community hub dedicated to uniting people through creativity. The shop offers a wide array of craft supplies and is adorned with charming homemade creations, from handcrafted seat covers to delightful crochet turtles. Each corner of the store reflects the spirit of local artisans, making it a vibrant space where creativity and community come together. Founder Tina Everett, decided to start up the group after sadly losing her mum. The group started as an
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Lumos Café is named upon the Harry Potter spell to summon light. And that is the purpose of Lumos Café - Owner Sarah Chen wants to bring a lightness to people who come in, and she wants them to leave with a big smile on their face. To set this café apart from others, Lumos Café has a strong focus on customer service, and you’ll feel that from your first breath inside. “We care,” is how Sarah describes Lumos Café. With customers being 80-90% local, staff love remembering the order of returning c
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Meet Waylon Co-Manager And Butcher At MBW On The Barbie After eight years at Master Butchers Whitsunday and MBW On The Barbie, Waylon has certainly found his groove, carving out not just meat but also a satisfying career and lifestyle. When he made the switch from a large supermarket's meat department, he was ready for a real challenge, and Master Butchers Whitsunday delivered—helping him improve his skills as a third-year apprentice and eventually complete his trade in 2017. “They taught me
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What began as a service to the community and a desire to ensure a local shopping centre still had a butcher shop, has become a labour of love for a humble team of passionate staff members who have transformed a closing Butchery into a thriving business over the past 10 years. One of the longest running businesses at Whitsunday Shopping Centre, MBW On The Barbie, is the brainchild of entrepreneurial meat-specialists, Karen Rix and Don Cameron. Ten years ago, when the couple heard the lease was
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Friday 20th SeptemberThe Pub, Airlie Beach Hotel: Andy Mammers (7pm – 10pm)KC’s: Josiah (from 8pm)Grand View Hotel: Hannah Roberts (from 8pm)Saturday 21st SeptemberThe Pub, Airlie Beach Hotel: Geed Up (2pm – 5.30pm)The Pub, Airlie Beach Hotel: Geed Up After Dark (7pm – 10pm)KC’s: Shaun Diver (from 8pm)Grand View Hotel: DJ Night (from 8pm)Coral Sea Pavilion: Live Music (from 1pm)Coral Sea Pavilion: Chill DJ Session (2pm – 6pm)Sunday 22nd SeptemberThe Pub, Airlie Beach Hotel: Geed Up (2pm – 5.30pm
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September20 Airlie Beach Movie Night – The Addams Family and Dumb & Dumber, Airlie Beach Foreshore, from 6pm21 Whit Old Iron Restorers Club Car & Bike Show, Showgrounds from 9am21 Mayor’s Charity Ball, at the Proserpine Entertainment Centre, from 5pm27 Children are Stinky, at the Proserpine Entertainment Centre, from 11am27 Children are Stinky, at the Proserpine Entertainment Centre, from 1pm29 Dingo Beach Sunday Markets, Dingo Beach Community Hall grounds, from 8am October1 Sailing For Those Wi
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The 2024 state elections are heating up with the formal announcement of all candidates who are in for the running. After four years of a Labour-run state led by Premier Steven Miles, the political landscape is wide open as the election approaches on October 26, 2024. All eight regional candidates are preparing their election campaigns in the lead up to the big day. Each candidate is working hard to connect with North Queenslanders, hoping to secure their votes and represent the region’s interest
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Hi Everyone, Have you ever shared a moment with others and felt an almost palpable energy radiate? I experienced this feeling twice this week, on two very different occasions. The first was when I was at my Saturday morning Body Combat class; we were about two-thirds of the way through and I was doing my two-hundredth knee kick when the moment struck me. The music was punchy, the stamina was waning and all of a sudden, I felt this almost euphoric energy wash over, one that I felt sure was
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Police have charged a 29-year-old Bowen man following a fatal hit-and-run traffic crash that happened in Bowen in July. Emergency crews were called to the intersection of Bootooloo Road and Wheelers Lane on Thursday, July 25, after a cyclist was located on the roadway by a passing motorist at 4.42am. The male cyclist, a 69-year-old Bowen man, was declared deceased at the scene. The cyclist was struck by a vehicle, which had failed to remain at the scene. Following extensive investigations, the d
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For the past 20 years Zonta Club of the Whitsundays have offered a substantial annual scholarship to one lucky student from one of the local high-schools. This year the generous scholarship has been named the PJ Halter scholarship in memory of the club’s beloved and very hardworking member who sadly passed in 2022. The scholarship embodies the club's commitment to supporting women who, due to various life circumstances, may not have had the chance for further education earlier in their lives.
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The tragic death toll in our region has sadly risen again this week following a road accident on Sunday evening that claimed the life of a 22-year-old woman. On Sunday 15 September at 5pm a 61-year-old Bowen man was travelling in a silver Rodeo North on the Bruce Highway, and in the initial police investigation, it appears to have veered onto the wrong side of the road. The silver Rodeo collided head on with a black BMW, driven by a 22-year-old female who tragically lost her life as a result t
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By Paul Gellatly The election of the 2024-25 committee for Bowen Chamber of Commerce was backed by presentations highlighting the importance of the Abbot Point coal and industry facility to the town. An audience of around 40 people attended the chamber's September 11 meeting at the Larrikin Hotel to hear the results of the election of office bearers, for which vacancies closed on September 2. Although he jested that he thought his existing term would be his last, popular Larrikin Hotel public
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Bowen has been very busy in the school holidays with the Visitor Information Centre reporting a bumper start to the two-week break. On Monday alone, the staff and volunteers welcomed more than 350 people to the centre. Manager of Bowen Tourism and Business, Leanne Abernethy said a lot of people were staying in Bowen but there were also a lot of day-trippers from Airlie Beach. “The Big Mango is always an attraction during the school holidays,” she said. “There has also been a lot of families
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A local girl from Proserpine, Matilda Braney, sparkled at Australia’s Royalty pageant (ARP) National Finals that were held in Melbourne earlier this month. Not only has Matilda, obtained numerous beauty titles for her appearance in the ARP, she also has done incredible work in the local community to raise funds for Starlight Children's Foundation. Matilda, alongside her aunty, raised funds for the foundation by selling chocolate in the mines. All proceeds from their sales went directly to th
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It was announced this week that award-winning viral sensation, Jude York will be joining 7-time ARIA award winner Wendy Matthews at the upcoming Whitsundays Songwriters Festival which is due to take place next month. Jude’s song ‘Monaco’ is climbing the international charts with a staggering million streams in its first week and Whitsundays Songwriters Festival organisers say they are thrilled to welcome him to the line-up. “Jude’s clarity of his artistic direction will serve as an inspiration
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