Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
Tourism Whitsundays recently hosted a talented group of journalists to showcase the incredible experiences our region has to offer. In collaboration with Virgin Australia, we welcomed six journalists for an exciting five-day famil trip that highlighted the diverse activities available in The Whitsundays. Representatives from Traveller, Australian Geographic, news.com.au, Pedestrian, Mamamia, and RUSSH joined us as we curated an itinerary that showcased the diverse activities in The Whitsundays
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A trip to Montes Bar and Grill in Cape Gloucester is always a fantastic choice, and this visit was no exception! Zana and I had the pleasure of hosting visiting journalists for lunch, and we were thoroughly impressed by the exceptional food and top-notch customer service. We opted for a banquet-style menu to sample a variety of dishes, and we were left completely satisfied. Highlights included Peruvian grilled chicken with green chimmi and sticky achiote, market fish with fresh salsa verde, an
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They say nothing in life is easy, and the recent experiences at our local bowls club certainly prove that. The much-anticipated installation of a new cover has faced a series of unexpected challenges, from mix-ups in delivery to construction mishaps. While the cover arrived in the wrong colour scheme—multiple shades of grey—Dulux has stepped up, promising fresh paint and painters to start work this week. To add to the obstacles, the cover was mistakenly sent to a different address and, after b
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Sunday Social Games October has been a lively month for the club's Sunday Social matches, with plenty of competitive spirit on display: • October 13: I. Thatcher, A. Williams, and J. Gilbert triumphed over R. Muir, R. Gould, and T. White, while D. McDonald and S. Roome defeated K. Moriaty and D. Kroll. • October 20: Tracey, Jill, and Tiarna emerged victorious against Gordo, Jane, and Kev. Ron and Margo secured a win over Meurisse. Dave’s team came out on top against Lyn’s team. • Oct
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On Wednesday, as 14 players gathered for a spirited afternoon of social bowls. In the day’s first match, Jim Bownds, Mary Hedgelong, Alan Pershouse, and Mike Harrison emerged victorious over a visiting player from Japan, Miyu, alongside Arthur Griffith, Philip Brown, and Heather Brown, with a final score of 23-18. In another closely contested game, Alen Sanderson, Dave Meiklejohn, and Mark Mawson defeated Pat Bownds, Barry Zillmann, and Sandy Daffara 21-17. On Friday night, 32 players celebrate
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Tuesday Social Bowls Tuesday’s social games saw strong competition, with Merle Elphinstone, Stumpy Adams, and Geoff Danvers defeating Bron Tolcher, Sue Shearing, and Gavin Charles. In another match, Barry Lee and Penny Warren overcame Cecila Lee and Robyn Stitt. Barry and Cecila, visiting from North Mackay Bowls Club, took the opportunity to test out the Bowen greens, adding an extra touch of camaraderie to the day. The jackpot, however, remains unclaimed and will roll over to next week. Succes
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Last Tuesday, Proserpine Veterans Golf Club made their way to Bowen for the concluding round of the Whitsunday Veterans competition. A strong showing of 60 players, including 43 men and 13 women, participated in the event. Despite lower player numbers, the competition moved along swiftly, allowing for an enjoyable pace of play. Following nine holes, players were treated to a delicious lunch, a highlight as always. The course presented a fresh challenge with its well-maintained greens and a stif
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The final Monthly Medal (MM) of the year saw a modest turnout at Whitsunday Golf Club, with eight players hitting the course for this last event. Despite the low numbers, players were treated to ideal conditions with a cool breeze. The sandy greens presented a challenge, testing the players’ putting skills and accuracy on a course known for its tricky greens. Standout Performances Anna Winterbourn stole the show with an impressive performance, carding a 91 off the stick and finishing with a net
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This year Lily Peacock has achieved all of her sporting goals that she had set herself. She has played every game of the NRL W season, played in the State of Origin, played in the Australian team and also won Rookie of the Year. Nathan Peacock, Lily’s dad, said making the Australia team came as no surprise to him. “It was no surprise, because literally, everything she said she was going to do that year, she did. But to sit back on the lounge and watch her out there singing the Australian nati
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It was a challenging week for putting at PGC, though some players managed to shine despite the tricky conditions. Members and social players are reminded to play with efficiency, courtesy, and consideration for their fellow competitors at all times. Tuesday, 29/10/24 PGC - Single Stableford • Men's Winner: John Strelec (38 points) ◦ Runner-Up: John Oates (37 points) • Ladies' Winner: Anna Winterbourn (35 points) ◦ Runner-Up: Genia Sarafian (34 points) Rundown: • 35 p
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Over the weekend, 21 swimmers from Cannonvale Cannons Swim Club made their mark at the Gardens Open Long Course Preparation Meet in Townsville, joining over 330 swimmers from Cairns to Mackay. This bustling event was filled with standout performances and personal bests. One of the meet's highlights was the 8-10 years boys 200m Freestyle Relay, where Zane Clayworth, Alex Trefz, Harris Delac, and Eric Mulliss clinched the bronze medal. Individual successes abounded, with Elouise Chegwidden meda
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Kona, Hawaii is the birthplace of the iconic Race that started in 1978. The Ironman World Championship has become a highly prestigious and gruelling endurance competition that triathletes around the World aspire to compete in. Athletes describe the race as brutal and challenging, but they are all up for the challenge. It is the World Cup of Ironman events and the best of the best participate in a number of age group categories. The event starts with a 3.8km swim which begins at the Kailua Kona
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On November 5th, the Airlie Beach Hotel will host a special event designed to make you feel like you are part of the racing action of the Melbourne Cup. While the cup is on, get ready to moonwalk down memory lane and groove to the electrifying beats of two music legends. You may remember returning band ‘SOULCUTZ,’ and their unforgettable journey on X Factor in 2014, where they made it to the top 12. Get ready to moonwalk down memory lane as these musical legends are back at the Airlie Beach Ho
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By Amanda Wright In a historic swing, the Liberal National Party (LNP) has won the seat of Mackay, a long-held Labor stronghold, with former police officer Nigel Dalton capturing the seat through a grassroots campaign focused on tackling youth crime and supporting community safety. Dalton expressed gratitude, saying, “The community chose change, and I’m here to deliver it.” Amanda Camm retained her seat in Whitsunday, celebrating the strengthened LNP presence in the region, which she believes w
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On election night, as results poured in and history was being made, some Queenslanders were glued to their screens, caught between the thrill of politics and the comfort of home. I was trackside in Townsville at the velodrome, with one eye on my husband competing and the other trying to wrangle a very active toddler, all while refreshing my phone screen to watch the vote tally tick along. Geoff from the Chamber of Commerce let it slip at the B2B coffee event on Tuesday that he was riveted to th
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A leisurely outing to Bucasia turned into an unforgettable experience for a local couple last week when they found themselves stranded by a flat battery after enjoying the shoreline at Shoal Point. After picking up some items they had ordered online, the pair planned a quiet moment by the sea before returning home. However, their plans were disrupted when their car refused to start. The husband, suspecting a dead battery, began seeking help from passing drivers. Although several people stoppe
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Fatal Collision With A Cow Ends The Life Of A 27-Year-Old Father-To-Be Jofarn Tapim, a 27-year-old father-to-be from Sarina, sadly lost his life on the morning of October 27 following a collision between his motorcycle and a cow in Glenella. Police responded to reports shortly before 2am of a motorcycle collision with a cow on Sugarshed Road near Glenella Connection Road in Glenella. He was rushed to Mackay Base Hospital in critical condition but sadly passed away shortly after. Pre
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The Mackay Hospital Foundation’s recent Giving Day raised a remarkable $146,079, thanks to generous community support and the vital contributions of Matched Donors. Held on Friday, the 12-hour fundraiser saw donations double in impact thanks to matched contributions from local supporters including Abbot Point Operations, Anglo American, Isaac Regional Council, the Mining and Energy Unions (Goonyella Riverside, Grosvenor, Moranbah North, and Peak Downs), Pembroke Olive Downs, and Whitsunday Regio
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Approximately 100 locals used their resilient voices on the streets of Mackay last Friday, in an attempt to present a battle cry for the long line of women and children who have been impacted by violence. As the crowd cheered “What do we want, safe streets, when do we want it, now,” the sound of the drums echoed in the hearts of those present – led by Rhythm Business. Held on the last Friday of October during Sexual Violence Awareness Month, this annual gathering is a reminder of not only the
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The calendar may have only just turned over to November, but Mackay Regional Council staff will begin decking the region’s streets with Christmas cheer this week. From Saturday, November 2, Christmas decorations will start popping up at various locations across the region and the installations will continue each weekend until the end of November. The long lead time is necessary to ensure the decorations are in place for the festive season and so that work can be done at times that won’t inconve
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Fitzgerald State School has captured a major accolade on the national stage, receiving an award for storytelling excellence and creativity in the performing arts at the 2024 National Wakakirri Story-Dance Festival. Their performance, Salt meets Sand, stood out for its thoughtful portrayal of unity, culture, and respect, winning acclaim among 180 participating schools from across Australia. The Wakakirri Story-Dance Festival, Australia’s largest performing arts event for schools, embraces the et
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Oh Deere Farmstay, a family-run agricultural retreat owned by Dale and Karinda Anderson, stood out at the recent Mackay Isaac Tourism (MIT) Awards Gala, clinching multiple awards that reflect its popularity and dedication to agri-tourism. The farmstay took home the Outstanding Contribution by an Individual award for Karinda, as well as two People’s Choice Awards for Favourite Accommodation Provider and Favourite Operator or Experience Provider. These wins highlight the deep connection Oh Deere
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This week Season to date Cane crushed 36,743 880,115 Average bin weight 3.91 3.90 CCS 14.87 14.01 Cane variety performance for region Variety % CCS Variety % CCS Q183 19.6 14.86 Q253 23.3 13.92 Q240 20.5 15.05 SRA9 10.7 15.58 Q208 12.1 14.15 SP80 1.5 13.63 KQ228 1.6 13.70 Q138 5.7 15.14 Comments: Plane Creek Mill processed just under 37,000 tonnes of cane for the week, bringing the season total to just over 880,000 tonnes. Average CCS rose by 0.03 of a unit over the previous week, closing out at
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Central Queensland’s endangered koala population is facing a dire future if nothing is done to prevent the number of animals being killed by vehicles.
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By Sonia Ball (QCAR Central District Manager)Up she goes and what a beauty it is! This week our QCAR signage finally arrived at the doorstep of R&T Pumps in Mackay. The QCAR Central District is located on the first floor of R&T Pumps at 8 Tennyson Street, and now even people passing by will see that – it’s colourful and inviting and clearly states who we are as an organisation, and what we do. QCAR Central District is a mobile operation travelling throughout the Proserpine,
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