Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
Get ready to rock, Mackay! Aussie rock legends REGURGITATOR are gearing up to invade the stage at one of Mackay’s favourite local pubs, Seabreeze Hotel, on June 20th. Fresh from the release of their latest album, Invader, the band is eager to deliver an electrifying performance, bringing their iconic hits and boundless energy to their devoted fans in Mackay. Comprised of bassist Ben Ely, guitarist Quan Yeoman and drummer Peter Kostic, REGURGITATOR boasts three decades of music-making expertis
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The BMA Mackay Marina Run made history last Sunday with all event categories selling out for the first time, welcoming over 3,600 participants. The 21.1km half marathon saw a record turnout of 640 runners, including international participants. Over its 16-year span, the run has raised $600,000+ for the Leukaemia Foundation, aiding local services and support programs within the region. Photos supplied
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Riding high on an undefeated streak, the McDonalds Mackay Men’s Meteors faced off against the Darwin Salties last weekend in a game that promised to test their mettle. The game resulted in a clash of titans, with the Salties emerging victorious with a commanding 18-point lead, sealing the fate of the Men’s Meteors with a final score of 113 to 95. Reflecting on the game, Head Coach Joel Khalu acknowledged the harsh reality check it provided for his team. "It was a bit of a reality check for us
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Another competitive week at the Mackay Contract Bridge Club last week. Along with normal play, twelve teams competed in the Whitsunday Zone Teams; winners to go the Queensland Festival of Bridge to compete against other teams from all over the state. The team that will be representing the Whitsunday Zone is Diane Holewa, Max Holewa, Noel Bugeia & Terry Sheedy. Twenty-four pairs competed in the Nation Wide Novice Pairs with Mary Rose Ramsden & Noel Saunders and Sandy Patterson & Geoff Cowan the w
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MACKAY Cutters young guns Jaxon Purdue and Jamal Shibasaski have made every post a winner in the Hostplus Cup. The 18-year-old former Queensland Schoolboys representatives realised a dream last Sunday when they marked their NRL debuts with the North Queensland Cowboys. With the Cutters enjoying a bye, the versatile Purdue and power running forward Shibasaki were blooded in the Cowboys’ top-grade squad and made an impact in the club’s miraculous 18-16 victory over Sydney Roosters at Allianz Stad
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All conquering Mackay Brothers are setting a cracking pace in the 2024 NQBE Mackay Junior League A Grade competition. The runaway leaders demonstrated their power and class last Saturday by trouncing Wests Tigers 30-0 at Leprechaun Park to preserve their unbeaten status. It was the Brothers’ sixth successive victory of the season and keeps them four points clear of rivals Mackay Magpies on 12 competition points. Tom Heggie’s well drilled charges proved too strong for the Tigers with Australia
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Mackay Regional Council was proud to support the Whitsunday STEM Challenge over the weekend at the Mackay and District Kart Club, through their Economic Development and Tourism program. The winning team of the Pedal Prix Human Powered Vehicle 16-hour Endurance Event completed an amazing 573 laps. Mackay Regional Council Congratulated the teams from Mackay Northern Beaches State High School who won the senior and junior boys categories and said it was great to have Cr Alison Jones and youth cou
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Approximately seventy runners and supporters met at The Grove Tavern, Bedford Road, Andergrove for the racing of the annual Grove 10km Handicap Trophy on the 26th of May. Despite the onset of formal winter season only days away, the conditions were humid and sunny as runners traversed the multitude of streets in the Andergrove suburb, including the challenging Apsley Way circuit in a bid to take out the coveted 10km Grove Handicap Trophy. To be eligible for the trophy, all members must start
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Congratulations to Ashton Wallin, a young BMX champion who took home the President Award last week at Mackay and District BMX Club Inc. Ashton won the President Award for consistently giving it his all against older riders and never giving up on the race after displaying constant determination to make it across the finish line. Well done Ashton!
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Recently, Pioneer Tennis Juniors travelled out to the Emerald Open. Great country tournament part of the "Aussie Gold Natural Spring Water" Capra Series. 8 of Pioneer's Next Gen Squad made up part of the 84-player tournament where they showcased some fantastic results. In the 10 & Unders, Uday Singh and Isabelle Daniel took out both the singles before teaming up with other club’s players and taking out the Doubles too. They both now will be receive 50% off Solar Bat Sunglasses and will rec
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The unveiling of two Jetty designs for the new Bowen Jetty showcase ideas and features generated from the feedback of the people living within the region. North Queensland Bulk Ports (NQBP) CEO Brendan Webb said putting the community first was a key part of their planning stage. “We could not have asked for more from the community when it comes to them sharing their passion, local knowledge and great ideas,” Mr Webb said. “More than 770 people have gave their feedback through our first survey
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Hi Everyone, I was out on Cannonvale Beach with my son one morning, taking our excitable Border Collie, Finn, for a walk when I began watching two men at work planting little shrubs in the nearby garden beds. One of the men had a massive drill and was drilling into the soil, up-rooting much of it and breaking deeply into the beds before plopping a plant into the hole he’d created. The other man had a shovel in his hand and was gently scooping away the soil - slowly, quietly and lovingly he cr
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We are blessed to have a vibrant sugar industry here in the Whitsundays, and even more blessed to have an annual event which raises incredible amounts of money for invaluable charities such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service. The Cut Out Party took place again in March this year - a celebration of the sugar industry and also a fundraiser – the event raised a staggering $53,000 for the Royal Flying Doctor Service. The Cut Out Party committee recently travelled to Townsville to deliver the cheq
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A much-loved annual community event which spreads the word of kindness and remembers the life of an inspiring young girl, is taking place across Australia once again this June 22. Billie Kinder was a Whitsunday local who, at just 12 years old, sadly lost her life in an accident while horse riding. Her mother, Danny Mason-Kinder found her daughter’s paintings and poems that illustrated incredible insights into kindness and empathy, and she has since used these to create a book using her daughte
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The Volunteer Cruise Ship Ambassadors have been greeting cruise ship visitors as they arrive in Airlie Beach for the past 20 years, and last week marked a special milestone. According to records, they have just welcomed their one-millionth visitor into Airlie Beach, a moment that was 20 years in the making and an amazing achievement. Lyn Blanche, Coordinator of Volunteer Cruise Ship Ambassadors said it’s a great feeling to have welcomed the one-millionth visitor and that its terrific for busin
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PCYC Whitsunday’s Get Set for Work Program has become a top 3 finalist in the Queensland Training Awards. The award is part of the Community Training Initiative of the Year category in a North Queensland regional area. The awards ceremony takes place in Townsville on Saturday 20 July, 2024. With testimonies from parents, and students, PCYC Brand Manager Sergeant Billy Li believes they’ve put in a strong application and they have a strong chance of winning. If they win, the Get Set for Work p
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Collinsville has been experiencing subpar telecommunication coverage for several months, with many constituents reporting they’ve been unable to obtain service unless connected to home Wi-Fi. Federal Member for Capricornia, Michelle Landry, is calling on the Minister for Communications, Michelle Rowland, to urgently address the severe telecommunication issues plaguing Collinsville. “Telecommunication issues with Telstra were brought to my attention in March and I have been working closely with
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The future of the $8 million Whitsunday Sportspark Club House known as ‘Club Whitsunday’ is at a crossroads due to conflicting opinions within the eight different committees who operate the five different sports played at the public facility. For the past eight years the Hospitality Club has been under planning and construction, with various extenuating circumstances responsible for several delays. During this time the dedicated and hardworking committee, led by Chairman Justin Butler, have be
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Bowen River Rodeo and Campdraft is taking place right now and running throughout the weekend, the exciting event once again supporting highly regarded charity Buck Off Melanoma which is celebrating its 10th year this year. The charity’s founder, Janice Brown, has been a passionate advocate for Melanoma Research following her son’s Melanoma diagnosis and, over the last decade, has raised over $150,000. A self-funded charity, 100 per cent of the proceeds go directly to the QIMR Berghofer Medical
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The community is invited to come down to the Reef Gateway Hotel next month for a special event which is set to raise awareness and funds for the Whitsunday Suicide Prevention Network. Not only does this event support a meaningful cause, it is also hosted by some well-known sporting heroes and other inspiring role-models who will share their own journeys in mental health and finding fulfillment. A Night with Legends is your opportunity to hear from ex professional sports men, interact with them
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The Little Mango at Bowen’s Front Beach has had a facelift. The six-metre high Little Mango has been repaired and re-painted by Martin of Gwada Murals. The structure is a smaller replica of Bowen’s 10 metre “Big Mango” on the Bruce Highway south of Bowen. Manager of Bowen Tourism and Business, Leanne Abernethy thanked Whitsunday Regional Council for ensuring the Little Mango was ripe again in time for the busy winter tourism season. “The Little Mango is located right near the information boo
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This year marks the 111th year of the annual Show Whitsunday. Starting in 1912, the show has always been a cornerstone of local life, a time when the community gather and celebrate the lifestyle we love here in the Whitsundays. With horse shows, cattle grading, garden produce competition, two-days of wood cutting, a poultry pavilion, a local sugar cane exhibit and many more, the rural life of our region is on display for all to see. Children can cuddle a chicken or play with a baby goat at th
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The Whitsundays Writers Festival is thrilled to announce the featured local authors of this year’s pen-dropping event which is happening this September. Festival President, Karen Jacobsen says “We are excited to be showcasing the creative talent and diversity of the region’s writers and there are many ways local authors can get involved.” Featuring among the esteemed line up of local authors is Rachel Armstrong, North Queensland award winning contemporary romantic fiction author, who loves w
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Zonta Clubs from all over North Regional Queensland gathered in the Whitsundays in May for a weekend of friendship, fun and activity. The weekend started with welcome drinks which were held at the Coral Sea Resort on Friday 17 May. This was followed by the Area 5 meeting which was conducted in Coral Sea Resort’s function room on Saturday. The meeting began with an opening by the Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor, Ry Collins. During the day, District Governor, Lyn Agnew gave several presentat
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This week, the Bendigo Community Bank Cannonvale-Proserpine celebrates 12 years of serving the Whitsundays community. The locally owned and operated Branch opened its doors 5 June 2012 and is one of 322 community banks across Australia. The Bendigo Community Bank model is unique. “Our success is based on our profit-with-a-purpose model which sees around 50 per cent of the profits generated by our independently owned and operated Community Bank branch invested back into the community” said Co
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