Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
A 21-year-old Rochyview driver died in car crash in Nebo over the weekend. The Forensic Crash Unit is investigating a fatal single-vehicle traffic crash in Nebo, on March 13. Initial investigations indicate the Nissan Navara was travelling on Oxford Downs Sarina Road sometime during the morning, when it veered off the road and hit a tree. Emergency crews were called around 11am before the 21-year-old Rockyview driver and sole occupant of the vehicle was declared deceased at the scene. Anyone
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Local Year 10 students are showing a big interest in joining the new wave of female tradies as more women take up the tools and follow a trade career, according to statistics recently released by the Queensland Resources Council (QRC). Twenty students from four local high schools have participated in the all-girls Tradie for a Day workshop delivered by the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA) with the support of BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA). The hands-on workshop hosted by Pione
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Born and raised in the Proserpine area, Robert Murolo has spent his entire life in this region. His weekends are filled with outdoor activities like fishing and crabbing, particularly enjoying the thrill of chasing black marlin and other pelagic fish when the weather permits. If he’s not partaking in outdoor adventures, he’s tinkering in the shed or relaxing by the pool at home. Being a grandparent brings Robert immense joy, and he loves spending time with his 19-month-old granddaughter. Rober
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Community Bank Sarina Bendigo Bank is a team of locals, dedicated to bringing their unique skills and expertise to assist you in achieving your lifestyle and financial goals, Let's get to know the people "behind the bank" by finding out what attracted them to a career in banking. Charmaine Matsen, Branch Manager: "Quite by chance, 20 years ago I was doing my banking and the local Manager asked me if I was interested in a role at her branch. Despite having no qualifications, I saw the opportunit
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For many of us, the challenge to our personal and professional progress is not so much the lack of planning but rather a massive failure to execute. We often lack the courage to act. Courage to act is being willing to ‘expose’ oneself and set aside the fear of what others think – including being proven wrong, failure, or even success. All this is daunting so the easy option is to maintain the status quo in our careers, and in our lives. When we lack the courage to act, we forego the opportunity
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Helen Alvers is most known in the Mackay community as a local hero in the nursing industry, with an impressive background of 48 years in the field. Throughout her remarkable journey, she has been exposed to vast changes in regards to patient care and hospital technology. One thing that hasn’t changed over the years…is her unwavering passion and advocacy towards caring for others. Helen has spent a large portion of her career at Mackay Base Hospital, recently retiring after 17 years as the N
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Mackay Isaac Tourism (MIT) unveiled a new destination events marketing campaign ‘Yours 2 Discover’ to align with the region's exciting and diverse events calendar. The campaign which will run from 29 February to 29 June 2024 is designed to entice the youth market, families, couples and empty nesters to have a getaway, enjoy our events and stay a little longer to explore the region's natural gems. Mackay Isaac Tourism Chief Executive Officer Al Grundy said that with the amazing array of event
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From singing in a church to singing on stage, homegrown Central Queensland talent Mackenzie May is making her way up in the music arts world at just seventeen years old as she released her first debut single ‘Little Things’ on Friday, the 1st of March. Mackenzie wrote the bittersweet song back in July last year at the junior academy of country music in Tamworth, where she co-wrote the song with Sarah Buckley from ‘The Buckleys.’ Mackenzie says she wrote the song about the small joys in life,
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Get ready for some family-friendly fun! The playground at Iluka Park is set to reopen this weekend, weather permitting, on Saturday, March 23. Exciting upgrades are almost completed, with the climbing unit getting replaced along with a new Spica playground spinner included for extra fun! Additionally, new sections of concrete footpath and softfall edging are being installed to enhance safety. As part of the improvements, the rubber softfall below selected play units will be replaced with ar
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I went for a check-up at the skin clinic the other day and when I went in to see the doctor I accidentally left my car keys and wallet on the seat next to where I had been waiting. My car was parked out the front and it was virtually an open invitation for someone to grab the remote, jump in the car and have some fun with my cash and credit card. It had been a busy day and I had been sending work emails and texts as I was waiting to see the doctor, so while my body and soon-to-be-burned-off sun
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It’s that time of year again when we are giving one local school in Mackay and the Whitsundays $10,000! Jake and I have had the best time getting out to visit so many local schools who have entered to win. For me personally it has been a chance to have a sticky beak at which school I might enrol my kids in. With my daughter off to kindy next year I can’t believe I’m already at the stage of having to think about school. Feels like only yesterday I was competing in hunger games for a daycare sp
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Shortages remain an annual issue for growers and harvest contractors. It is a fact of life that seasonal workers need to maintain a living year-round, and so often move on to other regions post-harvest, or find more permanent work. However, for the viability of the entire sugar industry, it is vital that harvesters recruit enough haulout drivers that they can get the harvested crop off to sidings to load to cane trains. The work is a critical link in the delivery of crop from paddock to mill. C
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In the light of youth crime, political tensions and war we seem to be living in the pain of a perpetual Good Friday – without the “Good” bit. This Easter season I encourage us all to find the hope of the resurrection – It is not just a wishful hope, but based on a real and certain rock of truth and freedom. Holy Thursday and Good Friday we commemorate facts in history. Jesus, considered a miracle worker, a good man, was whipped, mocked and crucified. Christians believe that when Jesus died on
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As the excitement builds for the countdown of the Mackay Sugar Ag Trade Expo 2024, Western Suburbs Leagues Club is set to host a spectacular celebration of all things agricultural! Julie Crowley, Coordinator for the event said "We've been thrilled with the response from exhibitors, with bookings pouring in daily. “We have an incredible lineup of stallholders already confirmed, ensuring two days packed with action, displays, products, and services catering to all aspects of agriculture and ru
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Another massive name is Australian literature will be gracing the Whitsundays Writers Festival stage, with Christos Tsiolkas recently announced to attend. Prepared for the September festival, Melbourne based author, Christos Tsiolkas has penned nine novels, and is an accomplished playwright, essayist, and screenwriter. His novels include ‘The Slap’, which won Overall Best Book in the Commonwealth Writers' Prize 2009, Australian Literary Society Gold, and 2009 Australian Booksellers Association
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Easter is about celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ and God’s invitation to share in resurrection joy. What are you doing at Easter? Going away, attending a conference, or going to church? You are invited to join us in one of our Uniting Churches in the Mackay region. From Mirani in the Valley, to Sarina in the south, to Northside in the northern suburbs, to St Paul’s and Armitage in the city. There is a Uniting Church near you to which you are invited to attend. At one of our service
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The Mackay Cutters have kicked off their 2024 Hostplus Cup season with an emphatic win on the road against the Sunshine Coast Falcons. The Falcons were flying high after a round one win over Brisbane Tigers but the Cutters, coming off a bye in the opening round, proved too strong at Sunshine Coast Stadium on Saturday. It was an error from Falcons winger and former Cutter Flynn Camilleri that led to the visitors’ opening try, with opposing winger Semi Valemei crossing in the sixth minute to open
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Last week a big week of bridge was held at the Mackay Contract Bridge Club. Week one of the Mackay Teams, Week 6 of the Nation-Wide Pairs and the two section Whitsunday Zone Pairs event. Thirty pairs over two days battled to win the Open and Novice sections of the Whitsunday Zone Pairs, with the winners of each section representing the zone in the Queensland Festival of Bridge in Brisbane in October. Terrence Sheedy & Noel Bugeia from Mackay Contract Bridge Club took out the Open Section and Sue
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Masters Swimming is for all adults over the age of eighteen. There are no age limits to be a member of Masters Swimming Queensland (MSQ). In fact, many members started their adult swimming in masters several decades ago and continue to enjoy the many benefits of swimming and club life. Masters Swimming Australia aims to provide an environment that encourages all adults, at a club, state and national level, regardless of ability, to swim regularly or compete to promote fitness and improve their g
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Over this weekend, Toby Tule has been competing at the Queensland Athletics State Championships and won a silver medal in the Steeplechase and an 11-second PB on Thursday night in the 1500-metre to place 4th. He also came 4th in the 800-metre with a 2-second PB. Next weekend, he will compete back in Brisbane at his last Little Athletics Championships, which are in the 800-metre and the 1500-metre. In April, Toby will be attending the 2024 Chemist Warehouse Australian Athletics Championships,
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Mackay Surf Lifesaving Club’s U15 competitors Nate McKinnon and Zara Richardson recently travelled to Broadbeach on the Gold Coast to compete in the State Rescue Championships. The event involves lifesavers being assessed on their surf sports fitness, patient assessment and CPR skills and a detailed theory paper, at a state level. Nate McKinnon took out 1st place, with Zara Richardson achieving a 4th place. “The club is extremely proud of Nate & Zara for representing Mackay and showing that
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Over sixty enthusiastic runners gathered for an invigorating Sunday morning run in West Mackay. The scratch start race kicked off at Club Secretary Julie’s house, sending runners from the Whibley’s backyard reserve towards the Mackay Base Hospital and onto the scenic Catherine Freeman Trail. Those that tackled the twelve-kilometre continued towards Forgan Smith Bridge before returning for the homeward trek. Luke Leven had a sensational twelve-kilometre run, bolting from the starter’s gun with f
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Mackay Table Tennis Tuesday night fixture results March 12, 2024: Division 1: Ferrari (Geoff Denman, Goncalo Serra, Ishan Rana) d Lexus (Andrew McHugh, Janice Kent, Barry Patterson. Geoff d Barry -12, 8, 2, -11, 9. Mercedes (Steven Whiting, Graham Brake, Graeme Walker) d BMW (Ian McKay, Allan Edwards) 9-2. Allan d Graeme -8, 12, -6, 9, 9. Jaguar (Tim Shehan, Anne Sheridan, Vince Boeske) d Audi (Jason Hodda, Mick Ruhl, Lee Brake) 7-4. Tim d Lee 3, -1, -9, 9, 4. Division 2: Mazda (Mark Sleeman, N
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