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Whitsunday Triathlon Club finished the year on a high with two members competing at the IRONMAN 70.3 Taupo event in New Zealand recently. Dan McDonnell made his Professional debut at the 70.3 distance racing in a hot pro field of 19 and had a super race finishing in 12th place in 3 hours 57 minutes. He recovered from an early setback losing his goggles in the swim leg to blitz the 90km bike averaging 42 km pace and pushing 300 watts. Dan capped off the strong ride by storming home in the run leg
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Cannonvale Cannons Swimming Club coaches, Ken Crittenden and Mark Erickson have been very impressed with swimmers keeping up their swim fitness over the school holidays. Despite the hot weather, swimmers continued to train and put in their best effort. Last week, senior swimmers reflected on their achievements for 2023 and set new goals for the start of 2024. Many of the competitive swimmers have their focus on PBs, upgrades and club awards and some are looking at working towards qualifying for
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This weekly 9-hole stableford competition saw Scott Morrissey take first place with a 20 pt c/b, second place with 20 pts was Morgan Vanderwyk and third place was Chris Bartlett with 19 pts c/b. Fridays 9-hole stableford was a great day for Edwina Pettiford taking the win with 24 pts, second with 22 pts c/b was Andrew Gomez and third place with 22 pts Elise Hodgson. Great job by all. Sunday, we held our first monthly medal for 2024 and what a turnout. First place with a 44 NET was Morgan Vander
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Jude Maxwell Jenner achieved the special honour of being the first baby born in Mackay for 2024 when he arrived on 2nd January, five days after his due date of December 28. While his older sister Tatum, who is two and a half, was a little disappointed he wasn’t a girl, parents Kellen and Tori are thrilled with their new arrival and feeling much more relaxed the second time round. “My waters broke prematurely a few days ago, so I needed antibiotics to guard against infection and needed to birth
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‘Tis the season for toys, and with that, comes a plethora of batteries. Mackay residents are being reminded to keep batteries and flammable materials out of kerbside bins. One spark from an old battery can cause a fire in a rubbish truck or even send an entire waste facility up in flames. Remove batteries where possible and place clear sticky tape over the connecting parts, before storing in a cool place until they can be disposed at an appropriate collection point. Residents can dispose of batt
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Two outstanding members of the Clinical Measurements Unit (CMU) at Mackay Base Hospital have soared to a remarkable milestone, revolutionising care across the Mackay Hospital and Health Service (MHHS) region. Cardiac scientists Janine and Annie work closely with the Cardiology team when either a pacemaker or implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is implanted in a patient. They then provide ongoing follow up and monitoring for patients. ‘Since we began implanting more complex ‘high volta
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Alright, so, confession time. New Year, no resolutions—just learning to live my best life. You see, I had this epiphany on New Year’s Eve. There I was, eyeing this bottle of Champagne I've been hoarding. I almost didn't pop it because, well, I was waiting for a 'special' moment. But then it hit me: every moment is special! I mean, I've barely used these fancy glasses from my 40th, I’ve been saving scented candles like they're rare relics, and keeping luscious chocolate for... I don't know, an ap
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In the bustling aisles of the HomeCo shopping precinct on Mackay Bucasia Road, a touching moment unfolded, highlighting the kindness and support present within the community. Danii Seres, a mother managing the challenges of parenting, encountered a heartwarming act of compassion amidst a challenging situation. As her son experienced a significant meltdown, Danii found herself in a moment of distress. However, amidst the chaos, a stranger named Maddy from the local pet store stepped in to offer a
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Council will soon begin works at Paradise and Webberley streets, West Mackay, to improve safety at the intersection for motorists and pedestrians. The extensive upgrade project will begin in late January 2024, and finish in December 2024, weather permitting. The project will include installing traffic signals at the intersection of Paradise and Webberley streets and incorporating designated slip lanes onto and off Webberley St. Additional lanes will be added through the intersection on Paradise
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Get ready to witness the magic of empowerment and celebration as the JSP Women’s Awards 2024 gears up to honour the phenomenal stories and accomplishments of the women in the Mackay region. This annual event transcends mere awards, transforming into a vibrant celebration of resilience, triumphs, and inspiration. Nominations are now open, offering a platform to recognize the strength and success of women across diverse spheres of life, culminating in a magnificent gala slated for March 2 at the
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Detectives from the Mackay Child Protection and Investigation Unit declared a crime scene at a house in Eungella following the sudden death of a two-year-old girl on 31st December, 2023. Police were called to the property on Bee Creek Road at 2.20pm and found the child unresponsive in a vehicle. An investigation has commenced and detectives will work to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident. No further information was available at time of print.
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In a swift response to an emergency call, the RACQ CQ Rescue team sprang into action on 30th December, following a Queensland Police Service directive to aid in the search for three individuals aboard a tinny that had gone adrift near Sarina. The rescue team located the trio safe and sound, ashore at Freshwater Point Beach. This timely mission highlights the invaluable role played by emergency response services. 2023 was the busiest year on record for the rescue service, clocking up more than
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Mackay families worried about expensive back-to-school costs for the new year can breathe a sigh of relief with the news that School Savvy is coming back to town. Selling secondhand school uniforms and quality booklist stationery supplies at extremely low-cost, School Savvy will be opening their pop-up shop at the St. Patrick’s Senior Campus Hall from January 8 – 12. The program’s incredibly popular free haircuts for kids will also be on offer again. CatholicCare’s General Manager for Health
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As the 50th anniversary of the Good Shepherd Lodge approaches next year, we take a reflective journey back to its inception. Founded in 1974, this institution's genesis can be traced back to the visionary Canon Gordon Guy, who foresaw the pivotal role the Anglican Church could play in caring for the elderly. The Good Shepherd Lodge project commenced in 1967 with the arrival of Canon Guy in Mackay, recognising the Anglican Church's need for active involvement in aged care. By May 1968, a steering
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A new road has opened at the Northern Beaches Community Hub site and its name has been chosen by traditional owners to honour young lives lost during a sad era of our history. The new road, which provides access to the site from Rosewood Drive and Eimeo Road, has been called Badyari Yalu Road (pronounced bud-jar-e yar-loo). This translates to “little child” in the Yuwi Aboriginal language. Mayor Greg Williamson said up until now the road had been known simply as J4 as work on the Northern Beache
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In its final ordinary meeting during 2023, Mackay Regional Council adopted a proactive plan to ensure the region’s coastal communities are as prepared as possible for the impacts of climate change. The Mackay Coast Our Future – Coastal Hazard Adaptation Study identifies coastal hazards that may impact our region both now and into the future including erosion, coastal flooding and rising sea levels. Mayor Greg Williamson said the study also identified adaptation options to mitigate the risks as
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Ready to add a splash of wanderlust to your Insta feed? This ultimate guide will have your followers clicking 'like' like never before! Get ready for a visual treat as we take you on a lens-worthy journey through the Mackay Isaac region. Say cheese, because these spots are camera gold! #Capehillsborough: Rise and shine with the wallabies on the beach! It's like having your own paparazzi moment with these wild cuties. #Wedgeisland: Timing is everything at this hidden gem! Catch the tides just rig
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As the summer sun illuminates Mackay, safety takes centre stage at the city's aquatic centres, ensuring a season of enjoyment and precaution. As the summer school holidays approach, Mackay Regional Council is reminding residents of the importance of water safety at the region’s aquatic facilities. Mayor Greg Williamson said children must be supervised by a parent or guardian when swimming at the region’s swim centres. "Lack of direct supervision by a parent or carer is believed to be a contribu
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It is easy to fall into the trap of internet scams, and with the holiday season in full swing, scammers will take this opportunity and use it to their advantage. Stay alert and keep your privacy protected. Common scams in the New Year include e-cards, online shopping, and parcel delivery notifications. Nefarious e-cards will often contain viruses and malware that embeds in your device, stealing valuable data such as personal information and financial/banking details. When someone has their p
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A life-long ‘people person’, health care leader Amanda Clark considered careers in vet science and medicine, before she found her calling as a nurse. But it wasn’t a straight path to her high-powered role as Executive Director of Nursing and Patient Experience at Central Adelaide Local Health Network. “I hit my teenage years, got interested in boys – my grades dropped, my pets all died, and that left nursing!” she laughed. “But nursing was absolutely where I was meant to be – I wouldn’t ch
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Picture a league of pet protectors, unsung heroes in the realm of responsible pet parenting. These are the RSPCA QLD Inspectors, custodians of a silent code—a creed that embodies the essence of compassionate care and unwavering dedication to our furry companions. Their playbook isn't just a set of rules; it's a testament to the heart and soul poured into safeguarding the well-being of our beloved pets. We reveal the cardinal rules they uphold—ten sacred vows never to be broken in the special
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The value of Australian agriculture production is forecast to fall as increasing global supply and drier conditions impact farmers. Acting Executive Director of Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) David Galeano said the forecast for total agricultural production values in 2023–24 is $78 billion. This is $16 billion lower than estimated production values for 2022–23 but would still be the third highest result on record. “The gross value of production is
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By Kevin Borg, Chairman, CANEGROWERS Mackay We regard membership levies as growers’ investment in their future, so it is important that we offer a good return on that investment. Whether that is advocacy on issues, industry representation, training and labour needs, or giving members access to some top professionals and great services. We aim to create a strong voice for growers, and creating a forum for that enables unity and common voice among growers is one of the most important aspects of CA
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Mackay Sugar mills have closed for another sugar cane crushing season with the final bin being tipped at Marian Mill at around 2.00am on 25 December 2023, following Racecourse and Farleigh Mills that crushed out on Friday 22 December. “Our people have worked tirelessly throughout the season to see more than 99% of the total crop harvested and processed and I know our workforce, along with growers and contractors, are glad to finish the crushing season,” said Carl Morton, Mackay Sugar General Ma
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Anglo American has forged a crucial partnership with Emergency and Long-term Accommodation Moranbah (ELAM) to provide vital support to families and individuals facing crises across the Isaac region. This significant collaboration spans two years and focuses on delivering essential food relief measures through the Community Pantry and Emergency Relief initiative. At Anglo American’s Moranbah North and Grosvenor mines, dedicated donation bins have been installed to gather non-perishable pantry goo
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