Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
The Mackay community is mourning the loss of two beloved figures, Brenden Borellini and his mother, Marlene 'Merle' Mitchell. Brenden, a former Young Australian of the Year and a passionate advocate for inclusion and accessibility, passed away recently, followed tragically by his mother just days later. Their passing has left a significant void in the hearts of many. Brenden was well-known for his extraordinary contributions to the arts in Mackay. As the 2021 Mackay Regional Council Australia Da
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A crime scene was declared after a fire tore through a house on River Street in Mackay, prompting a swift response from emergency services. The blaze, which occurred on Tuesday night, August 6th, around 7:18 pm, led to the establishment of a 100-metre exclusion zone, which was lifted shortly after. A woman was transported to Mackay Base Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, and police are now investigating whether an accelerant was used to fuel the fire. Detective Senior Sergeant Chris E
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By Hannah McNamara Each year, on the 18th of August, communities across the nation stand together for Vietnam Veterans Day to honour the courageous Australian soldiers who fought in the Vietnam War. Among the numerous battles fought during the Vietnam War, the Battle of Long Tan stands as one of the most significant. On August 18, 1966, 18 Australian soldiers lost their lives and many others were wounded in one of the war’s fiercest encounters. On that day, the 6th Battalion, Royal Au
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By Hannah McNamara Steve Haidle’s journey into the Navy began in 1966 at just 18 years old, when he was drafted onto HMAS (His Majesties Australian Ship) Hobart as a seaman gunnery. Within three months, he received the news that he was headed to Vietnam. Reflecting on that time, Haidle recalls, “most of us were just 18 years old…and off we went.” During his seven months in Vietnam, Haidle served as a seaman gunner, tasked with a critical role as a Seacat missile aimer. He was responsible f
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The Mackay Memorial Services And Community Wellness Centre Welcome To All The Mackay RSL Sub Branch has some exciting news up its sleeve with the latest announcement of The Mackay Memorial Services and Community Wellness Centre, located near Illawong Beach in South Mackay. This community hub for all to enjoy will feature beach volleyball courts, a mini golf area, a laser tag zone, a pool, a bar and a welcoming seating area. While the office rooms are still in need of renovation, the RSL is ca
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MARIAN SUB BRANCH INC.10amVeterans and their families are invited to a service to be conducted at the Cenotaph, Main Street, Mirani from 1000 hours. Afterwards, there will be a light lunch served at the Mirani Motel. For any further inquiries please reach out to the Mirani RSL Sub Branch at: info@mirani.rslqld.net.auCenotaph, Main Street, MiraniMACKAY SUB BRANCH INC.5.30pmVeterans and their families are invited to pay their respects to those who served and sacrificed their lives for our country.
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Grade eleven and twelve Students from Mackay North State High School have undertaken an ambitious project at Mackay Engineering College to restore cars, transforming vehicles that would otherwise be sent to the wreckers into fully functional cars ready for community use. This initiative has seen significant support from local businesses who have generously donated their time, parts and services to the project. Repco Mackay has been a major supporter of this cause after jumping on board for th
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By Kevin Borg, Chairman, CANEGROWERS Mackay The sugar price remains strong, and is expected to do so as the market for sugar continues to outstrip supply. Last year saw some real sugar rush price peaks, but it has softened into what is still a solid price moving around the $600AUD/tonne. For growers, building productivity is critical to making the most of strong prices, and a counterweight to meeting input costs like fuel and fertiliser. Increased productivity equates to improved profitability T
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This week Season to date Cane crushed 46,791 282,734 Average bin weight 3.85 3.84 CCS 13.18 13.13 Cane variety performance for region Variety % CCS Variety % CCS Q183 28.0 13.02 Q253 20.3 13.96 Q240 9.4 13.77 Q138 3.1 12.01 Q208 12.3 13.23 SRA9 10.6 11.53 KQ228 5.4 14.52 Q242 2.7 12.15 Comments: Plane Creek Mill processed about 46,800 tonnes of cane for the week, bringing the season total to just under 283,000 tonnes. A cleaning intermission and work to isolate the master shredder turbine took p
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In recent years, Australians in rural and regional areas have faced unprecedented challenges that have taken a toll on mental health and well-being. Factors such as inflation, cost-of-living pressures, climate change, and the lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have underscored the importance of mental health support, particularly for farmers and rural communities. Recognising the critical need for support, Zoetis has partnered with Beyond Blue to once again champion mental health initiat
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Those four short words will never leave my memory, for as long as I live. Those lonely words came from the mouth of my 83-year-old Dad in Sydney last week as I held his hand. I thought it would be the last time I saw him with my own eyes. He was exhausted and had lost the will to live. Three weeks ago, my Dad was playing bowls on a Wednesday, as he normally does in Windsor, Sydney with his mates. He didn’t feel the best, so he went home and rested. The next day he didn’t feel so well, so he s
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Two not-for-profit community housing organisations have joined forces to fast-track fulfilling the need for housing stock in the Mackay region. Mackay-based Connect Housing Group, established in 2009, has integrated with national company BlueCHP to strengthen the region’s position in advocating and actioning an increased supply of affordable and social housing. Connect Housing Group Board Chair Karen May said the joint effort had “expanded our position and access to opportunities,” including a
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As Wilmar Sugar and Renewables marks the first quarter of the 2024 crush season, a notable 4.14 million tonnes of cane has been processed across its eight mills. The Plane Creek Mill in the Mackay region, a key player in Wilmar’s operations, is leading the charge with impressive performance metrics despite recent weather challenges. In the Plane Creek region, this week’s CCS (Commercial Cane Sugar) stands at 12.72, with 291,000 tonnes processed, representing 22 per cent of the total Plane Creek
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Friday 16th August Mackay Employment Showcase9amYou are invited to discover the wide range of employment opportunities available now at Endeavour Foundation Business Solutions – Mackay. You’ll learn about: The different jobs that might just be right for you, What it’s like to work for Endeavour Foundation and How you can be a part of #TeamPossible. This event is for you if you are: A person with disability looking for a job or Curious about the services we provide to support people with disabili
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Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens is already a magical place, but next Thursday (August 22) it will be transformed into a paradise for picture book heroes. Keep an eye out for cats in hats, alpacas with maracas, hungry caterpillars, Wiggles, Wallys, wizards, unicorns, superheroes and fairytale characters. Picnic in the Gardens, running from 9.30am to 11.30am, is Mackay Regional Council Libraries’ yearly Book Week blowout complete with Story Time under the trees and Baby Bounce on the lawn. The
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Australia’s beloved musical treasure, Marcia Hines has a career spanning five decades, and the pop superstar is heading to the Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre (MECC) on Saturday 21 September. The visit follows Marcia’s successful return as a judge on Seven Network’s Australian Idol and her starring role in the John Frost touring production of Grease. Accompanied by her musicians and production crew, the performance will celebrate the extraordinary output of this Australian legend.
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Overall, Winner – Woollam Art on Show Award 2024 Prize $3000 Artist: Bradley Short Title of Work: Plein Air Study Eungella Local Artist Award Prize $1200 Artist: Sam Pennisi Title of Work: Banksia Banquet Section 1 – Easel Painting Award 1st Prize $1000 Artist: Catherine Clark Dowden Title of Work: Like My Mama Highly Commended $350 Artist: Bonny Shore Title of Work: Across the Bay Commended $150 Artist: Loren Boyd Title of Work: The Opening Act Section 2 – Daly Bay Works on Paper Award 1st Priz
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If there’s one thing that the Mackay community is most passionate about, it’s supporting young regional talent in the world of sports. The Mackay region prides itself on the driving development of world-class talent, and Arisa Trew’s recent success at the Paris Olympics is a shining example of this. At just 14 years old, Arisa, who was born and raised in Cairns, made history as Australia’s youngest-ever Olympic gold medallist in the Women’s Park skateboarding event. While her victory is a maj
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By Amanda Wright Mackay’s own basketball stars played a pivotal role in the Australian Opals’ triumphant return to the Olympic podium, clinching a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Games. The win marks the Opals’ first Olympic medal in 12 years, with a dramatic 85-81 victory over Belgium in the final match. Sandy Brondello, head coach of the Opals, led the team with a mix of tactical brilliance and emotional leadership. Brondello, a four-time Olympian and seasoned triple Olympic medallist as a play
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The 2024 Magic Mile, hosted by the Mackay Road Runners, once again showcased the community spirit and athletic talent that define the event. Held at the scenic Mackay Harbour Breakwater precinct, the race took place under wet and cool conditions, but that didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of participants, sponsors, and volunteers. Long-term sponsors North Queensland Bulk Ports (represented by Lisa and Nick) and Podiatry Mackay (Donald Orr and Bec Baird) played a key role in ensuring the event's succe
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Mackay Table Tennis Tuesday night fixtures July 30, 2024: Division 1: Hyuandi (Allan Edwards, Tim Shehan, Anne Sheridan) d Ferrari (Steven Whiting, Janice Kent, Andrea Nicholson) 6-5. Anne d Steven -4, 5, -10, 6, 9. BMW (Barry Patterson, Geoff Denman, Neil Brown) d Honda (Graham Drury, Vince Boeske, Graham Brake) 8-3. Geoff d Vince -4, 10, 4, -3, 11. Audi (Andrew McHugh, Lily Boland, Ian McKay) d Holden (Mark Sleeman, Robbie Richards, Lee Brake) 9-3. Andrew d Lee -9, -8, 9, 5, 9. Alpha (Gon
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The final of the Whitsunday Zone GNOT (Gold National Open Teams) has been played, with team Bugeia – Noel Bugeia, Janelle Conroy, Terry Sheedy and Geoff Taylor taking out first place. The Grand National Open Teams (GNOT) is an Australia-wide event. Team Bugeia will play against 63 other teams in the GNOT National Qualifying event in the hope of being one of the eight teams to compete in the Non-Metropolitan Final in Sydney in November. Weekly Results Monday 5 August 2024 – 8 Table Mitchell Gr
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The Finch Hatton Flowing Trails Trail Run, held on Sunday, 4 August, marked the third event in the thrilling 4-part ‘Off the Beaten Track’ Trail Run Series. This exceptional event, the brainchild trail run series of Mackay’s ActiV8 Adventures, saw over 120 enthusiastic trail runners seize the rare opportunity to traverse the world-class Finch Hatton MTB exclusively. In collaboration with Mackay Regional Council and Finch Hatton MTB, the trails were exclusively open to trail runners from 6am t
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An outpouring of grief and sympathy has fallen heavily upon the Whitsunday community this week with the news that mother-to-be Mary Joy Estrada Dela Cruz perished in a car accident near Mount Marlow on Sunday along with her 60-year-old mother who was visiting from the Philippines. It is understood the two family members were travelling in a vehicle with their husbands when the accident took place. The two men remain in hospital fighting for their lives.
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Airlie Beach Race Week 2024 has been an unforgettable experience, both on and off the water. The week was marked by challenging weather conditions, with intense winds in the middle of the week and an unexpected lack of wind toward the end, testing the skill and perseverance of all participants. Onshore, the atmosphere was electric, with amazing bands, food vans, and entertainment bringing the community together. It was a time to reconnect with friends from other clubs and regattas, with partici
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