Ah, the annual dance with fitness resolutions! It's time to dust off those joggers, because we're diving into a new workout routine – literally! Let's talk about making waves – quite literally! Picture yourself in your chicest water gear, grooving along with an aqua aerobics class. It's like a dance party, except you're in a pool, bopping to the beat and working those muscles without even noticing. Now, for those sceptical about aqua aerobics, let's debunk the myth that it's just for water enth
Read more
Balancing business and family life is like performing a daily magic act. For Mackay's multitasking mavens, here are some real tips and tricks to ace this balancing act without dropping the ball: Set Boundaries: Draw a clear line between work and family time. Allocate specific hours for business tasks and then switch off completely when it's family time. Imagine it as a "Do Not Disturb: Family Zone" sign popping up on your mental door. Delegate and Prioritise: Embrace the power of delegatio
Read more
Yesterday we were cracking bon-bon’s eating stacks of food and getting more sand around our feet than a nesting turtle off Blacks Beach. But where has that time gone? It was only yesterday that we were seeing in the new year! What a night that was on Sunday at the Bluewater Quay! The Smurfs were brilliant! Time is certainly going too quickly. The next thing you know we’ll be playing beach cricket at the harbour and cooking a few snags on the BBQ for Australia Day. That’s only days away. I reck
Read more
January is shaping up to be a super busy month for Kucom. AUDITIONS On Sunday 14 January there will be auditions for the April production, a comedy by Thomas Amo titled Bob’s Your Auntie. Director Maureen Coleman is looking for a cast of nine actors to entertain audiences in this deliciously politically incorrect farce. Audition packs are available online at https://bit.ly/471B68P. Season dates will be 11, 12 ,13, 14, 18, 19, 20 April. ONE-ACT PLAYS Auditions were held in November for Odd Couple
Read more
Mackay Regional Council has approved funding for some fair dinkum community events for 2024 Aussie Day celebrations. Funding ranging from $400 to $1000 will support 13 Australia Day celebrations by local not-for-profit groups. Deputy Mayor Karen May said the wide range of events and locations for 2024 was great to see. “From barefoot bowls and live music at Seaforth to beach games and races at Sarina Beach, there really is something for the whole family,” Cr May said. “The Australia Day events a
Read more
Mackay native Ky Hamilton has established himself as the world’s best bull rider. The teak-tough Queenslander created history before Christmas when he captured the 2023 Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association Bull Riding World Championship. Hamilton showed tremendous courage and skill during the United States National Finals Rodeo in the hallowed Thomas & Mack Arena in Las Vegas to become the first ever Australian to claim a bull riding world title. The former Mercy College student overcame a c
Read more
The new Soggy Doggy game is a splash of fun! The perfect warm weather game has just launched in store. Ideal for young pet lovers, Soggy Doggy is the suspense-filled interactive board game sensation that has kids on the edge of their seat. Kids take turns rolling the dice and giving Soggy Doggy a bath as they race around the board. But watch out- he loves to shake himself dry! Get soaked and you’re sent back to start. 2018 Winner of the prestigious Toy of the Year (TOTY) award, Soggy Doggy is sh
Read more
Enjoy the thrills and test your mountain bike skills at the Finch Hatton pump track, which officially opened a few days before Christmas. The new pump track features more than 400 linear metres of specially designed track, offering a huge range of hump styles and sizes for riders of all ages and skill levels to enjoy. Visitors can access the pump track via the car park at the Finch Hatton Trailhead site, or they can walk their bikes through the pathway from Bagley Street. Toilets will be made av
Read more
After the New Year’s Eve storm passed, eager runners laced up their sneakers for a special New Year’s Day parkrun through the Botanic Gardens. Event number 362 for Mackay parkrun saw seven personal milestones achieved for runners and presented the perfect opportunity to look back on what was a record-breaking year for the running group. 2023 Statistics: . Annual Attendance - 13,438 (Previous best - 10,239 in 2019) . Average Event Attendance - 258.42 (Previous best - 254.35 in 2020) . Total
Read more
Hi everyone and welcome to the first Whitsunday Life for 2024! I hope everyone had a relaxing and enjoyable Christmas and New Years break. For me, I headed back to my parents for the week of Christmas, before coming back up to Airlie Beach for New Years Eve. And I must say, Airlie Beach certainly knows how to party! With the amount of visitors we currently have in town, this shouldn’t surprise me, but looking out over the crowds at both the 8.30pm and the 12.00am-midnight firework shows on th
Read more
For Airlie Beach resident Jj Saleh, establishing the men’s support group was an easy decision, one where he could support and be supported by likeminded men in the region. “The group allows for a safe space for men to express their feelings, to feel vulnerable, and reintroduce accountability,” Jj explained. Jj himself is on his own self-healing journey and wished to create a group to foster connection with males, to share and grow. “I thought it would be good to give back and share what I’ve
Read more
Australia Day celebrations have been thrown into disarray, due to false information generated by news outlets, stating that Whitsunday Regional Council has decided to scrap Australia Day Ceremonies and Citizenship Ceremonies. Whitsunday Regional Council was named alongside Burdekin Shire Council, Bundaberg Regional Council, and Toowoomba Regional Council. However, Whitsunday Regional Council wishes to share that they have not scrapped Australia Day and Citizenship Celebrations and are gearing
Read more
New data by the National and International Visitor Survey (NVS and IVS) has highlighted the incredible captivation that visitors find with the Whitsundays. As of September 30, 2023, domestically, the Whitsundays saw 513,000 visitors, an increase of 15.8 per cent over the past three years, with 266,000 or 36.6 per cent, from interstate. On average, visitors stayed 4.2 nights, down by 1.3 nights over three years, however, spending has increased, with $1.3 billion expenditure, a 28.4 per cent inc
Read more
We wish all boaties a safe and enjoyable summer break, and hope that you will not need our ser-vices. But if you do, our dedicated and committed volunteers are available 24/7/365, saving lives at sea. PREPARATION – One of the keys to safety on the water The key to safety in a small boat is PREPARATION. Always do all your normal pre-departure checks before leaving home, and again before leaving the boat ramp. If you are towing a trailer any distance, you will need to have the trailer tyres
Read more
By Rachael Smith The highly anticipated Whitsunday Skyway is set to gain momentum in 2024 and, with firm plans in place, all that remains is to secure the project’s final approvals and finalization of the investment structure. Once this occurs, the Whitsundays could be just two years away from welcoming its largest piece of on-land infrastructure which will completely change the landscape of tourism in the region. The base station of the Skyway’s cable car structure will be located a short wa
Read more
Student Council Executives Amber Van Moolenbroek Being a leader allows Amber to give back to her school, and she says it “fosters my own self-improvement.” “The role of a student leader, as I see it, is to be a role model. To inspire students, no matter their learning styles, to be prepared for all things.” Jesselyn Hynard “I desire to see change within my school community, by creating an environment that encourages engagement and equality.” Eager to get into the role, Jesselyn has already intr
Read more
Drink Driving Of A Vessel, Airlie Beach A 34-year-old Jubilee Pocket man has been arrested and charged by police following an alleged incident at about 3:35pm on January 1 in Airlie Beach. Police were located at New Beach on an unrelated matter when they intervened the man, who had just travelled to New Beach in a vessel. Following this conversation, the 34-year-old was arrested outright for operating the vessel while under the influence of liquor. He was taken to the Whitsunday police station
Read more
The famous Bowen mango man, Patrick Martin, and his wife Sylvie have stepped away from their iconic mango sorbet business, after more than 25 years. Patrick arrived in Australia from France in 1971, travelling via boat and landing at Shepperton. He initially lived in Bowen and picked tomatoes before he decided to travel around Australia. He landed back in Bowen after some time and met his soon-to-be wife, Sylvie, also from France. They met while picking Bowen tomatoes and have never looked
Read more
Budget airline Bonza is in hot water, with a series Christmas and New Year flight cancellations, disrupting holiday plans and causing chaos for travellers. Earlier in 2023, Bonza announced a new airline hub in the Gold Coast, connecting much of east coast Australia with affordable flights, however, the launch flight from Whitsunday Coast Airport, scheduled for December 7, was postponed a number of times, before the airline was successful able to take to the airs. Initially, the delays were due
Read more
Technology may have changed the way we plan our daily lives but many people still like a good old fashioned calendar to hang on the wall. A traditional calendar gives you the chance to see at a glance who has a birthday coming up and add other appointments on the go for all in the household to see. It also a great chance to display lovely photos and the 2024 Bowen calendar is the perfect example. For the first time last year, Bowen Tourism and Business produced a calendar with photos of Bowen’s
Read more
Happy New Year to the Whitsundays business community, our broader community and all our wonderful visitors! Despite the heat, a great vibe is clearly evident around town. Seeing as it is a new year, it’s a great time to think about what your business resolutions might look like. Business resolutions are commitments businesses make to improve their strategy, operations, or processes. Like personal New Year's resolutions, business resolutions can help prioritise goals or activities that may have
Read more
Four new police officers have hit the ground running in the Mackay and Whitsunday District and can now say they have the busy Christmas and New Year period under their belt. The four new officers have a range of experience and knowledge behind them and bolster the expertise and ground crew of the region’s officers. Constable Erin North, posted to the Mackay Police Station, previously worked in administration in Brisbane. Constable Dan Larose, posted to the Bowen Police station, has worked as a
Read more
Since its inception as a leading counselling and support organisation, Whitsunday Suicide Prevention Network has stood by it’s community grounded roots, of being present for every single resident and community member in the Whitsundays region, and providing support in every facet of mental health. Established in 2016, Whitsunday Suicide Prevention Network (WSPN) aims to be a haven for anyone who is struggling with mental health, by removing stigma, raising awareness, and opening the opportunity
Read more
The Whitsundays is currently in the midst of stinger season, with many popular beaches falling prey to jellyfish. As the waters warm up, typically from November to May, the region becomes a hotspot for various species of jellyfish, posing a potential threat to swimmers and beachgoers. Adding to the challenge, northerly winds during this period can exacerbate the situation. Understanding the dynamics of jellyfish season and taking preventative measures is crucial for a safe and enjoyable experie
Read more