Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
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Last Saturday, volunteers gathered to mark a significant milestone: Eco Barge’s 500th clean-up trip. The landmark journey began at Airlie Beach and headed to Mackerel Bay, where the team worked to remove ocean debris and make a positive impact on the marine environment. When the volunteers arrived at the bay, they were stunned to see the tides had deposited an overwhelming amount of trash. Debris was sadly scattered across the area. However, after about an hour of solid colle
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Saddlery is one of the world’s oldest handicrafts. In bygone days, when ploughing the fields and transport were dependent on the horse, saddlers were an integral part of daily life. Despite the need for saddlers diminishing with time, cattle mustering, the popularity of pony clubs and racing has ensured that the master saddler still have an important role worldwide. In Proserpine, thoughts of the saddlery trade awaken memories of Mr R.W. (Bob) Eckel. Born at Blackall in 1908, Bob was raised i
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At the weekend David Flower organised a beautiful bunch of artists to come together for an intimate three-day gathering on a private property in Preston (Conway Rd). The gathering offered a variety of entertainment across different music genres, including folk /funk /rock and roots artists and a full program of activities, games and guaranteed spontaneous moments known as the ‘Flower Effect’. The fantastic festival helped raise much-needed funds for Eco Barge Clean Seas, a spectacular organisat
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Two (very sweet!) white female rats are looking for their forever home. Rats are great therapists and companions, especially for children with developmental disabilities, due to their gentle and calm nature. A bonus is they are also extremely intelligent! You can train them to do tricks, and they are naturally curious animals who enjoy forming bonds with their owners. The best home for rats is a wire cage; the larger and taller, the better, especially due to their active nature, with them lo
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Jade from Tourism Whitsundays popped down to Shute Harbour this week to chat with Scamper - Whitsunday Island Camping Connections about the stunning weather, whale sightings, and upcoming ideas for Scamper in the Whitsundays. Camping with Scamper is a unique adventure that allows you to enjoy the Whitsunday Islands. Jade says as an amateur camper herself, who loves the idea of camping rather than the logistics, Scamper provides a service that ticks all the boxes for a camping experience witho
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North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation (NQBP) announced the launch of a new Community Reference Group (CRG) in Bowen on Monday 2 September. The CRG will serve as a platform for community members to engage with NQBP on key issues, share feedback, and stay informed about port activities. NQBP CEO Brendan Webb said establishing the CRG is a significant step towards building a stronger relationship with the community surrounding the Port of Abbot Point. “As a government-owned port authority, we
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As spring arrives at our club, the demolition of the shade cloth, seats, and covers is making way for the installation of a new hard cover. Despite the changes, there was a great turnout for Tuesday afternoon’s Thelma Porter Day. The team of skipper Joan McGrath, with Susan at lead and Arthur McManus at second, played brilliantly and took home first prize. Special congratulations go to Betty Whitehorn for her amazing efforts and to Lane Telford, who shared some wonderful stories about her remark
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Sunday Results: • Ron and Lloyd defeated Ray and Steve. • Allen, Rob, and Gus defeated Marion, Wendy, and Dave. • Janine, Geoff, and Skip defeated Rossco, Frank, and Gordo. Wednesday Social Bowls (August 28): • Peter, Jane, and Daryl defeated Janine, Frank, and Ray. • Lou and Dave defeated Mary Ellen and Steve. • Jeff and Rob defeated Doc and Marion. Congratulations to all the winners! Contributed with thanks to Joan Edwards
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The Club Championship Triples saw an exciting weekend of matches. On Saturday afternoon, a round of the Championship Triples was played, followed by the first semi-final. Jonathan Bye, Toby Craig, and Gavin Milne defeated Peter Lawton, Harry Craig (substitute for Kendall Watts), and Gavin Noonan with a score of 29-9. In another match, Dale Haack, Shane Kinnear, and Wayne Handley won against Vince Olsen, Michael Kinnear (substitute for Bryan Davy), and Luchie Gardel 25-14. On Sunday morning, t
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Self-Selected Triples Monday's self-selected triples event wrapped up the year with an exciting finish. The winning team on Rink 5, which also claimed the jackpot, consisted of Denis Madeley, Joe Paynting, and Leon Fox, who triumphed over Allan Gillies, John Riemann, and Jill Gillies. Runners-up were Greg Colquhoun and Kennedy Whitton, who defeated M McKenzie and Dom Diaz. Tuesday Social Bowls In Tuesday's social bowls, the winning team of Karen McKenzie, M Wright, and Joe Paynting defeated Joa
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It was a fantastic week of golf at Proserpine Golf Club with great weather and strong performances across all competitions. Tuesday, August 27 - Stableford • Winner: Sean Gower (42 points) • 2nd Place: Dylan Holland (41 points) • 3rd Place: Cory O’Shea (38 points) Wednesday, August 28 - Ladies’ Stableford • Winner: Jan Shuwalow (36 points) • 2nd Place: Di Dobbins (36 points) Thursday, August 29 - Stableford A Grade: • Winner: Adam Hosie (39 points) • 2nd Place: Cra
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Eighteen veteran golfers made the journey to Collinsville for the Whitsunday Group fixture, where they were greeted by glorious weather and an exceptionally maintained course, cared for entirely by volunteers. The course featured different grasses and surfaces compared to Proserpine, with thicker grass near the greens that caused the ball to stop abruptly. A total of 52 players competed in the event, and the Proserpine team performed impressively. Craig McLean claimed first place overall with a
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Thirteen players enjoyed a warm, sunny day for the Whitsunday Golf Club's September Monthly Medal and Least Putts competition. The dry greens presented a challenge, causing some players to zigzag from side to side, but the beautiful weather made for a great day on the course. Ladies A Grade: • Winner: Tiina Randmae with a nett score of 72 • Runner-up: Anna Winterbourn with a nett score of 76 • Longest Drive: Anna Winterbourn, with a huge drive that was the envy of many Ladies B Gra
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The World Multisport World Championships were due to take place in TOWNSVILLE in 2019. Then Covid hit. Finally, they took place this year between 15 to 25 August, 2024 There were 35 countries represented with athletes competing in an array of events over 10 days including a Parade of Nations and remarkable Opening ceremony. There were masses of Canadians, Americans, New Zealanders, Japanese, Spanish, English, Irish and others all in their Country Uniforms. But the show of Green and Gold athlet
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The first round of finals was a mixed bag for Whitsunday United, with only the Division 1 Men’s team securing a win. They faced Wanderers in Mackay on Friday night in a semi-final match. After a scoreless first half, Whitsunday came out strong in the second half. Caleb Vanderdrift scored early on from a cross by Tate Butler, and Aaron Morgan added a second with a late header, sealing a 2-0 victory. The Division 1 Men will face either Lions or Wanderers in the final. The Under-13 Division One te
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The Cannonvale Cannons had an action-packed and exciting week filled with impressive swimming performances and valuable training opportunities. The week began with the Cannons hosting their Club Night on Wednesday, followed by a weekend swim clinic led by top swim coach Shaun Crow. One of the standout performances of the week came from Eloise Chegwidden, who competed at the Townsville Tourist Swim Meet over the weekend. Eloise achieved outstanding results, winning gold medals in all nine of her
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The Whitsunday community has once again rallied to help a family in desperate need following the news last week that 40-year-old father Joel Pringle disappeared without a trace from a residence in Cannonvale last Monday. Every emergency service from the Queensland Police to local SES volunteers have been following every lead in a constant search to find Joel. A Facebook page has also been at the heart of operations with both friends and strangers within the community offering to help by walking
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I am excited to take my turn in the hot seat this week and it’s wonderful to say hello to you all! For those that haven’t met me yet, my name is Daniel and I have been a cadet journalist at Whitsunday Life Newspaper for almost six months now. I can’t believe how quick the time has flown by! I am loving the role, but I have to admit, I do get home-sick from time to time, especially when I watched my home-town rugby team win the Grand Final last weekend (Go Brighton!) But more than that, it is
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One person has died after a cabin caught alight on Star Drive in Sugarloaf on Wednesday 21st August. The fatal fire is said to have started just after 7pm when emergency services were called due to reports of a “large blaze.” Upon arrival at the scene emergency services stated that the “cabin was located fully engulfed.” Despite all efforts, a person in the property at the time died at the scene. Nearby residents were evacuated as a precaution; however, no one else was physically injured. Invest
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Seven-year-old wildlife advocate Theo Imhoff is making a difference through his work with Fauna Rescue Whitsundays, a non-profit voluntary group that rehabilitates sick, injured, and orphaned native wildlife. Registered carer for Fauna Rescue Whitsundays, Erica Imhoff, and her son Theo, who recently returned to the region, wanted to contribute to the well-being of local wildlife. Since joining Fauna Rescue Whitsundays, Theo has helped care for native animals such as possums, Melomys, bandicoot
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The community Colour Fun Run is back for 2024, with Whitsunday Counselling and Support gearing up for a bigger event than ever. Get ready for a jumping castle, bubbles, face painting, sausage sizzle, raffles, prizes, and of course the coveted colour fun run - this absolutely free event will see smiles and laughter from everyone who attends! Taking place during Child Protection Week, organisers aim to raise awareness that all adult community members are responsible for ensuring that our children
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Over 100 people attended the Thanks Doc event which was held in Bowen last Saturday and dedicated to showing gratitude towards local doctors, giving them recognition they truly deserve. Seven doctors were recognised on the night and awarded with a bottle of locally produced Agave spirit to celebrate the long-anticipated moment. Stephen Darwin chaired the evening and began by commending the local doctors. “The medical profession is one where no matter what you do, you effect people’s lives in
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Stella Life is hosting a special morning tea, inclusive of uplifting music, inspiring speakers and an overview of their new Neighbourhood Heart program set to help combat community loneliness. The Neighbourhood Heart program is a free initiative designed to link local residents through volunteer support, creating a network of care and inclusivity. The program will highlight how you can get involved in enhancing your community's sense of belonging, safety, and support. Head on down for a cuppa an
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A new expanded seagrass nursery has been unveiled in Airlie Beach which will support the enhancement of degraded seagrass meadows, helping to build their resilience against the increasing impacts of climate change. CMERC Director, Professor Emma Jackson, said the new expanded nursery, which is part of the Coastal Marine Ecosystem Research Centre, would play a crucial role in seagrass restoration in the region. “Seeds collected from nurseries are used to re-seed damaged or fragmented meadows, hel
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A recent article published by Whitsunday Life Newspaper and written by the Proserpine Museum set in motion a remarkable story of connection. It revealed that a current Proserpine Hospital obstetrician is in-fact the grand-daughter of the first baby born at the facility 100 years ago. The connection only became apparent when Dr Kyren (Ky) Baxendell was reading the article about the history of maternity care in the Proserpine region and noticed the maternity ward’s official opening date of 12 Ju
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