Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
A tragic car accident on Sunday, 11 August, which initially resulted in the deaths of two Filipino women and an unborn child, has claimed another life. The incident, involving two vehicles, has now also claimed the life of a man from Mermaid Beach. He was transported to Townsville University Hospital following the crash but succumbed to his injuries on Friday afternoon. According to a Queensland Police Service (QPS) report, the collision occurred at approximately 1:06pm in Mount Marlow. A Niss
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Hi Everyone, Rachael is taking a well-deserved break this week to celebrate her wedding, which took place over the weekend. In her absence, the Editor’s Note reins have been handed over to me, so I will give you a quick introduction to myself. The team and I were kindly invited to Rach’s wedding, and it was a truly beautiful event. Rach looked stunning, the weather couldn't have been better and we all had a fantastic time celebrating with her (even if there were a few sore heads in the office on
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There is no doubt that the Whitsunday Neighbourhood Centre does remarkable work for the community. One standout initiative is their Community Food Pantry. The fantastic program which aims to help reduce food waste and support community members has distributed a tremendous 519 kgs of fruit and 704 kgs of veggies in the six months since January. The Whitsunday Community Food Pantry provides grocery packs for $15, featuring a variety of items donated by the community as well as Coles and Woolworths
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Last Sunday, local communities gathered together to mark Vietnam Veterans Day, honouring the significant contributions of Australian veterans who served in the Vietnam War. August 18th is the anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan, one of the most pivotal engagements for Australian forces during the conflict. Between 1962 and 1973, over 60,000 Australians served in Vietnam, with some returning for humanitarian missions in 1975. Tragically, 523 lost their lives, and around 3,000 were evacuated due
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This week Queensland (QLD) Cricket launched their Play Cricket Week. Queensland and Brisbane Heat batsman, Matt Renshaw visited the Whitsundays this week to help drive Play Cricket Week. His presence had a significant impact on local engagement. “What we're trying to do is try and make as many people play cricket as possible,” said Matt Renshaw. “I think Australian cricket is strong and the country cricket is strong too. I think putting more funding into the country areas is really importan
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This year, the Mayor's Charity Ball introduces a brand-new ticket option: the After Dark Experience! For just $150, you can join the celebration from 8pm, enjoying a sparkling drink on arrival, gourmet canapés, an open bar, live music, and even a surprise performance. With free transport and a fireworks finale, it’s the perfect way to experience all the excitement without the formal dinner. This year's event supports RACQ CQ Rescue and the Whitsunday Suicide Prevention Network. To join the fun,
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Council regularly receives requests for improved lighting throughout the region and Council is always keen to improve public safety where possible. Obviously, we cover a massive area, so it is up to Council and Councillors to identify areas with the most urgent need and prioritise these locations. This year Council has been trialling the installation of 30 temporary solar-powered lights in Hansen, Lions, Case, and Barker Parks in Bowen to improve lighting in the busy Grays Bay area. The be
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Tourism Whitsundays and Cruise Whitsundays are heading to Brisbane in early September to meet with 49 buyers from India and South East Asia at Experience Queensland - India and South East Asia. This event, run by Tourism and Events Queensland, is focusing on this emerging market and building relationships with travel buyers and wholesalers from these locations. "Going back to pre-Covid times, India was quickly gaining momentum as a source market for The Whitsundays and this business-to-busi
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The team at Tourism Whitsundays bid their valued Brand Executive, Alyssa, a fond farewell as she ended her time with Tourism Whitsundays. They celebrated her significant contributions and future endeavours with an unforgettable sunset tour aboard Lady Enid Sailing. The evening sky painted a stunning array of colours, creating the perfect backdrop for relaxation and indulgence. Lady Enid, a well-maintained vessel, provided comfort and style with top-notch service from the crew. The tour's h
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The Whitsundays Chamber of Commerce and Industry is excited to unveil a bold new vision for the Whitsundays, developed with input from over 130 members of the local business community. This visionary project outlines an economic blueprint set to guide the region’s growth over the next two to three decades. According to Chamber President Allan Milostic, “Our region is on the verge of significant change. With a united vision crafted by and for the business community, we can effectively advocate,
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One of the most common financial steps people go through involves buying a new family home which is of a better standard than their last one. This is a natural progression as people settle into careers, have more disposable income and build families. Often people decide to keep the previous property as an investment and use the rental income to assist with repaying the larger debt and building wealth. There is a trap with this scenario that can lead to a poor taxation outcome, and effectivel
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This month’s Ask An Expert with the Whitsundays Chamber of Commerce and Industry asks: How do I manage staff that bring their personal issues to work? Chamber member, Judy Porter from Shiift, responded. We are kidding ourselves if we still believe people “park their emotions at the door”. Post Covid sees a very different workforce which requires flexibility, compassion, and ‘humancy’ more than ever. Every team-member in the workplace is affected daily by external and internal variables. Goo
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The Whitsundays are about to be the centre of Australia’s foodservice industry as suppliers from across the country descend upon our stunning region for the Whitsunday Foodservice Trade Show. This year’s event is set to be bigger and better than ever, with over 75 suppliers and more than 150 industry professionals showcasing an impressive array of products tailored for Whitsunday Foodservice’s diverse customer base. Whether you’re running a pub, café, restaurant, or even a food van, this is yo
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One of the Festival’s marquee events is the Big Book Club High Tea, featuring acclaimed authors Sally Hepworth and Kirsty Manning, and hosted by Karina Kilmore. SALLY HEPWORTH, a New York Times bestselling author with nine novels and over a million copies sold worldwide, is beloved by readers everywhere. KIRSTY MANNING, known for her internationally acclaimed historical novels, has captivated audiences across continents, with her works translated into multiple languages and adapted for vari
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Living in North Queensland before the internet and after the internet are two vastly different experiences; not dissimilarly to before and after a pandemic. In fact, many of the committee members who have worked to create the 2024 Whitsundays Writers Festival are new residents, passionate about creating a greater arts presence. To our delight, there is a palpable excitement in the community for the arrival of our award-winning authors, and the opportunity to highlight and feature what we have
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The Love Letter to Queensland event – 6:30pm-9pm Thursday 5 September, Coral Sea Resort, Airlie Beach – will feature a stimulating lineup of notable speakers, each presenting their own love letters to Queensland, offering a diverse array of perspectives and experiences. Guest speakers include: • MARCO RENAI awarded 2024 Queenslander of the Year for his impactful work with at-risk young men. • ELIZABETH HACKETT known for her significant contributions to the tourism industry and the Whit
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The Festival is deeply grateful for the following for their support: Major Festival Partners – Beach Book Boutique, Whitsunday Sailing Club, Blue Peace Enterprises, Roderick Centre for Australian Literature and Creative Writing, Proserpine Wind Farm, and KB Design. Friends of the Festival – Airlie Beach Music Centre, Amanda Camm MP, Coastal Food Design, Cruise Whitsundays, Just Tuk’n Around, Kapow Interactive, McDonald’s Restaurants, Melinda Louise Media, Plants Whitsundays, Queensland Writers
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FRIDAY 6 SEPTEMBER Venue: Whitsunday Sailing Club 9:00am Festival opening 9:20am-10:30am The Art and Joy of Storytelling with Chris Sarra, Joy Damousi, Garry Disher, and Graeme Simsion. 11:00am-12:00pm Cops and Robbers: Writing and reading crime fiction and thrillers with Anne Buist, Garry Disher, Karina Kilmore, Jack Roney, Lindsay Simpson and facilitator Harry Colfer. 12:23pm-1:15pm Meet our Featured Local Authors at Beach Book Boutique 1:30pm-2:30pm Responsible writing? Stories about peo
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The Whitsundays Writers Festival provided several opportunities for young writers to nurture their creative writing talents and present their works in competition. The Love Letter to Queensland community writing competition sought 300-word entries in Adult, Under 18 and Under 12 divisions with winners taking home shopping vouchers for $500, $250 and $200 across the respective categories. Winners and high commended entries will be announced by Andrew Willcox MP, at the Love Letter to Queensland
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This year, Festival launched the Whitsundays Literary Heart Awards, offering $10,000 in cash prizes to recognise and honour outstanding contributions to the literary and design landscape. The Heart Awards’ mission is to spotlight the diverse talents within the Australian creative community while also paying homage to the Whitsunday’s Heart Reef. Festival President Karen Jacobsen expressed enthusiasm for the awards program, “We believe in celebrating the richness of Australian creativity in al
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As economic pressures mount, regional festivals like the Whitsundays Writers Festival face the challenge of maintaining quality while cutting costs. Complaints about the lack of government and community support are growing in regional towns, but there’s a simple solution: buy a ticket. Even if you can’t attend, your purchase can help pay it forward, allowing someone else to experience the event. Supporting arts and culture doesn’t require grand gestures; it’s as easy as buying a ticket. This sm
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Earlier this year The Whitsundays Writers Festival excitedly announced Beach Book Boutique as its official Festival Bookshop. Established in September 2015, Airlie Beach’s iconic independent bookstore overlooks the expansive lagoon. It offers new releases and second-hand books in-store and online, including their unique book exchange for new and high-quality recycled books. Beach Book Boutique’s owner Belinda Harris is very excited for the festival: “We are looking forward to having a great w
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Closing the Festival on Sunday 8 September will be the Local Author Long, celebrating the writing journeys of some of the Festival’s Featured Local Authors. Over lunch, the following authors will discuss their diverse genres, careers, and connections to the Whitsundays: • RACHEL ARMSTRONG award winning North Queensland contemporary romantic fiction author. • LORIE BRINK Townsville local and writes action-adventure books, with her debut novel to be launched at the festival. • HA
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Headlining this year’s festival is Shankari Chandran, winner of the prestigious 2023 Miles Franklin Literary Award for Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens. Shankari’s journey is as captivating as her writing. Raised in Canberra, she spent a transformative decade in London, where she worked as a lawyer dedicated to social justice. Upon returning to Australia, Shankari shifted her focus from legal advocacy to the art of storytelling. Through her writing, she delves into themes of dispossession and th
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More than 3000 people took advantage of the low tides this week to walk to the North Head Lighthouse from the Bowen mainland. People travelled long distances to be in the region for this event and were joined by many locals. The lowest tide was on Monday but some managed to make the trek on Sunday and Tuesday too. The lighthouse is located about 1km from the mainland, but you can only walk across when the tide is very low – and that only happens a couple times a year, making it a special occa
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