Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
Dear Queensland, I know…I’ve left you several times, I’ve wandered afar, seen remarkable sights, experienced pure joy. But here I am, hat in hand, hand over heart. I belong here with you. You give so much and more. You tantalise me, surprise me, reward me and open your arms to let me in, take me home. This is where I belong, where I was born…in Queensland. Your glorious sunset skies, white open beaches, forests of wonder, fields of every hue, red earth…ah there lies your heart. Through trage
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Last weekend over 230 bikes and 89 cars hit the long dirt track around the Don River to compete in the 2024 Don River Dash. Congratulations to Kent Battle for winning the car category, and to Liam Walsh for winning the overall event three years in a row, solidifying his title as ‘King of the River’. Co-event organiser and Burdekin Offroaders president Michael Martson said the weekend went to plan and he is looking forward to next year. “All the competitors were happy and next year is going to
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The Whitsunday Game Fish Club is excited to host its Billfish and Tuna Rally on Sunday, 29 September, offering anglers the chance to compete using any of the GFAA’s line classes for Club points. This event is a great opportunity for teams preparing for the Annual Light Tackle Tournament (10–13 October) to hone their skills and identify prime areas where gamefish are feeding on bait schools. The Rally Registration and Briefing will take place on Thursday, 26 September, at 6 p.m. at the Clubhouse
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The 2024 Paul Bowman Junior Rugby League Challenge is this weekend. Proserpine will come alive with approximately 4500 players, coaches, helpers and their families over the weekend of 14 and 15 September 2024. 80 teams from all around Queensland will make their way to Proserpine for a lively rugby-filled weekend. Along with the games, one of the most spectacular sites will be the Sam Faust Memorial Relay, scheduled at midday on Sunday. Possibly the largest relay in Queensland, with 800 kids
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Hundreds of athletes spanning a broad range of ages and abilities took part in the Whitsunday Trail Fest over the weekend. Presented by Whitsunday Running Club, the event offers a variety of challenges including the 58-kilometre Accom Whitsunday Ultra Marathon, the 28-kilometre Anaconda Whitsunday trail, the 11-kilometre Honeyeater Shokz Challenge and the Whitsunday Transit Kids Beach Run which encompasses a 1400 metre route along the Foreshore. Held annually, those interested in getting invol
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On Sunday, August 25th, the Port Denison Gun Club held its monthly shoot, attracting twenty-five shooters who competed under a bright and sunny sky. Participants traveled from Mackay/Sarina, Burdekin, Townsville, Hamilton, and Mansfield to join local club members for a day of spirited competition. The day kicked off with Event 1: 50T Medley Trophy. The results were as follows: • AA: M. Zaballa scored 97/100 • A: C. Edgerton scored 117/120 • B: J. Kinnonmonth scored 111/120 • C:
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Spring has arrived with a few light showers, but not enough to disrupt the bowling schedule. Last Monday, several ladies enjoyed a wonderful day at the St Helens Carnival. On Tuesday, four members attended Wangaratta Bowls Club’s Presidents At Home Day. Tuesday’s social bowls saw Tony Whitehorn and Robin Brown emerge as winners with an impressive margin of 34-7. Other matches included Betty Whitehorn’s team defeating John Brown’s team 28-16, and Arthur McManus’s team winning over Tony Kelly’s t
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The Social Bowls on Sunday, 1 September, saw some exciting matches. Jane Gilbert and Helen Jacobsen claimed victory over Ron Gould and Steve Roome, while Tracey Roach, Ray Muir, and Lloyd White defeated L. Kruger, Gordo, and Gus Munro in a competitive game. On Wednesday, 4 September, Jane Gilbert and Tiarna Winter triumphed over Ray Muir and J. Honey. In another match, Ron Gould, Gordo, and S. Sloan secured a win against F. Low, David McDonald, and Gus Munro. There was also one game of Scroung
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The first of the Senior Singles Semi-Finals took place on Wednesday afternoon, with a thrilling match that went the full distance of 36 ends. In a close battle, Mike Harrison defeated Luchie Gardel 27-22. Mike will now face the winner of the upcoming Dale Haack vs. Bryan Davy match. Several social games were also held on Wednesday. Bruce Uhe and Sandy Daffara triumphed over John Anderson and Philip Brown, 21-17, while Heather Brown secured an 8-5 victory over Mike Harrison in a quick seven-end
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Tuesday’s Ladies’ President’s Day, sponsored by Tropical Beach Caravan Park, was a resounding success, thanks to beautiful weather and enthusiastic participation. President Lyn Danvers extended a warm welcome to North Queensland officials and visiting clubs from Jubilee, Alligator Creek, Ayr, Airlie Beach, and southern regions. With a full green of triples, the morning games were highly competitive. Ruth Moore, Dot Slater, and Fely Duncan emerged as the top team with 17 points, defeating Merle
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As a reminder to all players, please prioritize safety when moving from the 9th green to the 10th tee by using the area behind the 18th green. Be mindful of players approaching the 18th fairway. Good luck to the Men’s Pennant teams competing at Ingham and Home Hill! We're excited to see how they perform. Week Ending 6/9/24 Despite strong winds and challenging conditions, golfers persevered, with little rain to dampen the week’s events. Tuesday 3/9/24 - PGC Stroke Men: • Winner: Craig McLe
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It was a glorious day for golf as the sun shone brightly with a gentle, cooling breeze—a touch blustery at times, but overall, simply beautiful. A strong field of 35 players took part in the highly anticipated September Monthly Medal, including special guest Graham Banister from Easts Leisure and Golf, Maitland. Results: Ladies: • Winner: Tiina Randmaec, with an impressive 69 nett. • Runner-up: Elspeth Scotford, close behind with 72. • Run Down: Leanne Alexander and Pam Harrison wit
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On 7th September 2024, the rain finally cleared, providing ideal conditions for the 109 participants who ran, jogged, or walked the scenic five kilometre waterfront course B. The event saw a large turnout of 41 first-timers, while 13 participants achieved new personal bests, adding to the positive atmosphere. A highlight of the day was celebrating Co-Event Director Kara’s impressive 250th parkrun, a significant milestone. The event also saw Kideok complete his 100th parkrun and Stuart reach his
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On Sunday, several standout athletes from the Cannonvale Cannons Swimming Club attended the SNQ State & National Clinic held in Bowen. Among the participants were Charlie Doherty, Thomas Ganter, Isaac Pisaniello, Jax Clayworth, Jacob Bell, Isabella Pisaniello, and Tora Delac. The full-day event provided expert coaching aimed at enhancing their swimming technique and overall performance. The swimmers engaged in specialised pace and technique sessions, focusing on refining their strokes. A physio
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Friday 13th September Fitness Frenzy Open Day7amGet ready for a Fitness Frenzy Open Day!! There will be a Low-Intensity 80s themed Spring Group Fitness Marathon designed for the over 50s community! Dust off your leg warmers and neon gear, and let's have some fun! Doors will be open to everyone for the fitness frenzy, this means that you can bring your friends along for free! Get moving, grooving, and feel great in a welcoming environment!7 Discovery Ln, Mount Pleasant Sugar City Powerfest 2024Fr
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Australia’s champion women cricketers are currently preparing for a series of T20 matches at Mackay’s Great Barrier Reef Arena (GBRA) to kick off the new summer season of cricket. The two T20 matches at GBRA between Australia and New Zealand will be played next week, on Thursday 19 and Sunday 22 September. The season openers will be vital preparation for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup to be staged in Bangladesh in October. The Australian women are the reigning T20 World Cup Champions, having wo
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There are moments in life when words fail, when the reality of what people endure is so shocking that it stops you in your tracks. One of those moments came for me while watching heart-wrenching videos shared at the Touch of Teal Soiree. A wife recounted the final hours of her husband’s life—denied pain medication as he lay dying because of concerns over addiction. Let that sink in. A man in his final moments, suffering beyond words, and his comfort was compromised in the name of addiction preve
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Barbra and her husband Don Hargreaves from Carlisle Gardens in Mackay, had parked their car and headed into Andergrove Woolworths to quickly grab some groceries when a gentleman was coming out with what Barbra describes as “the most beautiful dog.” When they approached the entrance, Barba greeted the man and complimented the dog of Dutch breed on how beautiful it was and the gentleman said “thank you” before noticing that Don was blind and using a mobility cane. The gentleman then moved closer
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People Seen Fleeing Into Cane Fields From Car Fire Police are appealing for assistance following a suspicious car fire in Glenella on Saturday, September 7. Just before 8am, emergency services were called to Glendaragh Road following reports a white Ford Focus was on fire. Upon police arrival, three people were seen running from the scene into surrounding cane fields. The fire was extinguished, however, the vehicle sustained significant damage. Investigations into the registration of the vehicle
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Mackay’s Orchid Extravaganza is set to delight garden enthusiasts and plant lovers alike on Saturday, September 14. Hosted at the Ken Burgess Orchid House at Queens Park from 8am to 3pm, this annual event will showcase hundreds of stunning orchids. There will also be a range of activities for attendees to enjoy, including informative demonstrations by orchid and collectible plant experts and the opportunity to purchase unique orchids and plants. Best of all, entry to the Mackay Orchid Extravagan
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Opinion Piece Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox says the zero emissions ideology of the Labor, Greens and Teals has local business like Blue River Ice at boiling point because of power price hikes. “When power bills skyrocket from $10,000 per month to $25,000 per month – I am not a mathematician, but I sure know you can’t pass this onto consumers and businesses can’t absorb this hike,” Mr Willcox said. Owner of Blue River Ice, Francis Vigliante does not know what the future will hold.
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Federal Member for Dawson, Andrew Willcox, is demanding immediate action from the state and federal governments to fix the Bruce Highway as safety concerns pile up. “According to RACQ data, head-on crashes account for 50 per cent of fatalities on the Bruce Highway, and motorists are five times more likely to be injured or killed while travelling the Bruce than they are if they were travelling from Sydney to Melbourne,” Mr Willcox said. “It is deeply concerning that these statistics are being
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By Amanda Wright Last Friday, Mackay’s beloved Touch of Teal soirée took on a picturesque form as a Long Lunch by the Sea, bringing the community together in honour of a cause close to many hearts. The event, which sold out in just two weeks, raised vital funds for the Trudy Crowley Foundation, ensuring the continuation of its vital work supporting local cancer patients and their families. The foundation, named after Mackay local Trudy Crowley, who sadly lost her courageous battle with ovarian c
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A HONDA CRV will help deliver the Neighbourhood Hub’s Community Services Program in Mackay. The vehicle is on loan to the organisation for 12 months as part of the Honda Hero Foundation for use in its community service programs. General manager Nicolette Ffrost said the organisation was incredibly grateful for this generous loan vehicle. “It will greatly enhance our ability to serve the community and ensure that we can reach those in need more efficiently. This support is invaluable to our visi
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The Neighbourhood Hub was honoured as the Highly Commended recipient of the Multicultural Queensland Awards 2024, Diversity and Inclusion Champion in Brisbane. Based in George St and Shakespeare St, The Neighbourhood Hub has been operating since 1989 and is the largest locally owned community organisation in Mackay, with 19 staff and 35 volunteers. Along with multicultural advice, it provides information and referral to all who need support. The award recognises an organisation which has gone
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