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Brad Nicholls Shute Harbour Marine Terminal Operations and Compliance Officer

Meet Brad Nicholls, Council’s Shute Harbour Marine Terminal Operations and Compliance Officer who has worked in the marine industry all his life. Brad has been with Council for almost 3 years and started his career operating speed boat rides and parasailing on south Stradbroke Island on the Gold Coast before working as a marine engineer on a whale watching vessel, also on the Gold Coast. He then spent a period managing the island resort and vessel logistics from South Stradbroke Island before be

Event Guide

Friday 22 December Friday 5K Run 5:30pm Join Emmie-Lee Fitness, Rise & Mind Mackay and Mackay Surf Lifesaving Clubbies on a social fun run, jog or walk along the Breakwater and Marina paths. Meeting beach side of the Surf Club ready to go every Friday arvo @5:30pm. Mackay Surf Lifesaving Club The EMO Night Before Xmas 9pm – 3am Emo / Pop-Punk and Metal playing all night. Arcadia Bar Saturday 23 December Habana Carols Under the Stars 7pm One of the best outdoor carols in all of Mackay.

Did You Know?

Whitsunday Regional Council Customer Service Offices will be closed for the upcoming festive period from the 23nd December 2023 - 1 January 2024. Other Council facilities such as libraries, swimming pools and water parks, waste facilities and the Proserpine Entertainment Centre will also be closed at certain periods over the holidays. During these closure periods, Council has an After-Hours Emergency team who are available 24/7 by calling 1300 WRC QLD (1300 972 753). For more information o

Island Charm On The Turf

Vibrant memories from the Hawaiian-themed horse racing day at Mackay Turf Club. Relive the tropical flair and racing excitement that graced the tracks on this colourful day. Photos supplied, Mackay Turf Club

Merry Christmas from Tourism Whitsundays

As another busy Christmas and New Year period begins, we are once again thankful for the year that has been. To our major funders, Tourism and Events Queensland and Whitsunday Regional Council, thank you for your support this year. To all of our members, thank you for joining with us in 2023. . To our Volunteer Cruise Ship ambassadors, thank you for showing up to a record number of ships this year. Our community, thank you for making The Whitsundays the incredible destination it is. And finally

Buckle Up for an Unforgettable NYE

Sarina's Bull Riding Extravaganza Saddle up, Sarina! This New Year's Eve, prepare for a thrilling, heart-pounding experience unlike any other as the town welcomes a groundbreaking event to ring in 2024 - a bull riding competition with a twist. Organised by Borghero Mini Buckers, this isn't your typical rodeo; it's an entertainment spectacle set to ignite the Sarina Showgrounds with pulsating beats, adrenaline-pumping action, and family fun under the stars. Danny Borghero, a seasoned bull rid

Magpies Rediscover Top Form In Twenty20 Shootout

A REJUVENATED Magpies first grade X1 are back in the hunt for the Mackay Cricket Association Twenty20 Division One Shootout title. The reigning Poole Cup champions zoomed into trophy calculations after posting twin victories last weekend to grab a share of the competition lead with Pioneer Valley. Both the Magpies and Valley are the current Shootout pacesetters on 24 points with four victories each after five rounds. In a timely return to form the Magpies edged out the Valley at Great Barrier

NBL1 Homecoming For Boomer Star Blanchfield

In what looms as the biggest NBL1 off-season signing to date, Mackay Basketball announced the return of local hero and Australian Boomer Todd Blanchfield to the McDonald’s Mackay Meteors for 2024. The 15-season, 385-game NBL veteran will journey home to Mackay following his current campaign with the Illawarra Hawks, adding outstanding productivity and versatility to the Meteors NBL1 North line-up. The 32-year-old is coming off arguably his best NBL1 season to date, where he averaged 25 points (5

More Records For Bowen Visitor Information Centre

A record number of people have visited the Bowen Visitor Information Centre in 2023 – smashing the previous year by more than 25%. The Visitor Information Centre next to the iconic Big Mango and the Information Booth next to the Little Mango at Bowen’s Front Beach are both operated by the team of staff and volunteers from Bowen Tourism and Business. For the first time in history, the team has welcomed more than 50,000 visitors this year. Manager of Bowen Tourism and Business, Leanne Abernethy sa

A Need For Speed Team Ignition Heads To Nationals

Intelligent and confident does not begin to describe the four students of Bowen State High School’s F1 team Ignition. Being one of the world’s most competitive STEM Challengers, F1 in Schools asks students to directly engage with all aspects of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics in order to create the fastest miniature F1 car. Practicing real-life engineering and manufacturing skills, including design, analysis, testing, creating and then racing, Bowen State High School’s ‘Team I

Mullers Lagoon Revitalisation Approved

One of Bowen’s best attractions is about to receive a facelift, with Whitsunday Regional Council approving the Mullers Lagoon Park Masterplan, at last week's Council Ordinary Meeting. Mullers Lagoon is 19.5 hectares of Council-run Park land, containing a large lagoon, several picnic areas, small playground, walking paths, unique gardens, diverse bird habitat and bird watching hides. Council approached the Bowen community for their ideal construction for the upgrades, receiving 60 online submis

The Sweet Taste Of 150 Years Archers Soft Drink And Proserpine

For close to 120 years, Archers Soft Drink has been creating, bottling and distributing their products across the region, and with Proserpine’s 150th birthday, Archers are proud of their stamp on the township. Steeped in history and lush with connection, Archers continues to be integral to Proserpine and the wider Whitsunday region. Allan and Michael Horsford are the helm of Archers Soft Drink, and have been since 1977, when their dad took on the business. So here’s a bit of this massive hist

The Sweet Sugar Taste Of Proserpine History

For Lui Raiteri, the time spent within the Proserpine sugar industry is enormous and memorable. Spanning over four generations of the Raiteri clan, Lui has called the Up River farm home for 75 years, and now welcomes his son on to the farm professionally. During his time in the industry, Lui has held positions on the board of Proserpine mill, BSES and the Co –Operative Federation of QLD and many other industry boards giving back to the industry that has given him so much. And with Proserpin

Sky's The Limit For Spaceport Launch

By Paul Gellatly One of the directors of the Bowen spaceport venture has jokingly promised "the largest party" the town has seen if its Eris rocket launch early next year makes it into orbit. Adam Gilmour, CEO and co-founder of Gilmour Space with his brother James, told 50 attendees at the December meeting of Bowen Chamber of Commerce about progress towards the launch of their Southeast Queensland-built space vehicle. With the company planning for an initial 12 rockets and 15 satellites, much

International High Speeds For Bowen Racer

Bowen’s own high-speed racer, Henry Snell, has been fast tracked to the industry of his dreams, being accepted into the Affinity Sports Academy, as Rokit Rookies. Racing alongside professional racers, Henry will join the new Superteen Championship, on the newly released Kawasaki in the British Superbike Championships, as a pathway into World Superbikes and MotoGP. 17-year-old Henry championed 2023 across Australia and was close to securing first place at the Australian Championships, but secur

Proserpine Over 150 Years

Officially recognised in 1873, the township of Proserpine turns 150 years old in 2023. The town of Proserpine began when brothers George and Charles Waite took up a parcel of land, from the railway corner to Glen Isla, on the south side of Main Street. From then, Proserpine exponentially boomed, becoming the central hub that the town now is.1895 – First school opened, at Kelsey Creek. Stores set up by Jonathon Jupp. 1896 – Jonathon Jupp operated an unofficial post and telegraph office. Proserpin

Mavis Irene McClements (1916 - 1996) Acknowledging an accomplished historian in Proserpine’s 150th year

In 1860, Daniel Emmerson and his two sons took up leases in the district and on August 30 1861, successfully applied for the lease of The Proserpine Creek Run (The first recorded use of the name ‘Proserpine’). In 1870, Charles Bradley was the first actual settler living in the Gregory area. About the same time, Mr MacArtney took up land at Lethebrook (then known as Banana Pocket). Then, in 1872, there was a gold rush at Normanby near Bowen and Happy Valley out from Proserpine where a small t

A Small Notch On Proserpine’s Belt Whitsunday Mowers

A young one in the 150-year belt of Proserpine, Whitsunday Mowers punches above its weight, a testament to the calibre and experience of the team behind the engine. For Wayne Drabsch, owner and manager of Whitsunday Mowers, the last five years that he has owned Whitsunday Mowers have flown by, with overseeing an expansion, directing growth, and securing the shopfront as the preferred retailer for Proserpine residents. However, Whitsunday Mowers’ history is older than that. “I took it over fiv

ABH Social Pics 22/12/23

New Years Eve Across The Whitsundays

As the region counts down to 2024, get ready for a celebration like no other. Here’s the line up of celebratory fireworks occurring across the region. Airlie Beach WHERE: Airlie Beach Foreshore WHEN: 8.30pm WHERE: Airlie Beach Foreshore WHEN: 12am Bowen WHERE: Bowen Foreshore WHEN: 8.30pm Collinsville WHERE: Collinsville Showground WHEN: 9pm

From One Paw To Another Proserpine Vet Supporting Proserpine

Affectionally known as Dr Bill, Dr William Bowman was Proserpine’s first full time veterinarian. The business is now nearing 50 years young. Dr Bill gave full time care and attention to the community until his retirement in 2010. Dr Faye McPherson began locuming for Dr Bill in the 1990’s and loved working with fulltime nurse Billye-Jean Stevens so much that she then permanently joined Dr Bill in partnership in 2003. Since then, the practice has continued to expand and develop to what it is tod

Motown Magic

The space between Christmas and New Years Eve just got sweeter, with Dancing in the Shadows of Motown checking in to the Airlie Beach Hotel for two days of unbelievable music, non-stop dancing, and an all round good time. Cruise through this break with some of the absolute best hits imaginable, who each faithfully and accurately recreating the beats, vocals, and impact of some of the greatest musicians around, including Stevie Wonder, The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Fontella Bass, The Jackson Five,

Paradise Bowls With Airlie Beach Bowls

Would you name your son Jasper? Many people in North Queensland certainly wouldn't name their son Jasper their dog or their frog Jasper after the damage the cyclone did way up north to Ingham, Cairns and above and although we had rains and winds here in Paradise, it was nothing that our brothers and sisters received further north, and we all pray for their safety and quick return to normality for Christmas. We had no bowls played on Wednesday because of Jasper, and on Sunday we had a decent rol

Tee Up With Bowen Bowls

Results of Social Games Sunday: Keith Kirk, Lee Welsted, and Steve Roome defeated Ron Gould, Peter Bruce, and Daryl Tuttle. Andrew Peebles, Jason Wright, and Mitch Wright defeated Ray Muir, Lloyd White, and Wayne Crowhurst. There were two games of Scroungers played: Lloyd White defeated Andrew Peebles and Steve Roome. Jane Gilbert defeated Sue Fox and Gavin Charles. Wednesday Social: W.Coles, and Steve Roome defeated R.Roda, and Jane Gilbert. Anna Delic, and Steve Roome defeated MaryEllen Pratt

Wangaratta Bowls

On Tuesday just in time for Christmas the joker came out and the jackpot went off in the game between Lindy Suann, Merle Elphinstone and Penny Warren who drew with Gwenda Lydom, Deb Retchless and Allan Rolfe. Winners for Sunday afternoon bowls were Laurie Land, and Allan Rolfe who defeated Jim Quod, and Barry Beel, Graeme Read, and Pat Tracey defeated Bill Myers, and Kevin Jewell, Lindy Suann, Deb Retchless, and Greg Colquhoun defeated Merle Elphinstone, Toni Bowen, Irene Laird and Sugar Brunk