Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
Married at First Sight Australia Season 11 couple Eden and Jayden checked into Airlie Beach, for their Episode 3 honeymoon. The Australian branch of the Show, Married at First Sight follows a number of strangers from across Australia who participate in a social experiment and are paired together by ‘love’ experts. While the participants are not legally married for the television show, the stars complete an unofficial commitment ceremony, enjoy a luxurious honeymoon, live together for a time, a
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With the election race heating up, Mayoral Candidates are looking for every opportunity to engage with the community and The Whitsunday Conservation Council (WCC) are hosting a special event which is open to the public. The Mayoral Candidate Forum is due to take place on 28 February, 6:30 pm start at the Reef Gateway Hotel in Cannonvale. It is a free forum and everyone is welcome. The forum theme is Sustainability and Liveability in the Whitsundays. “As a Great Barrier Reef destination, t
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Please share with us one personal experience during your campaign trail so far that has really reinforced the reason you are running for council? Richard Evans Mayoral Candidate It's the moments of truth with residents throughout the Whitsundays that drive home a common frustration: the perceived lack of effective engagement and responsiveness from our Council. This sentiment echoes across regions and towns, signalling a clear need for change. We can either do more of the same, keeping the st
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The Cannonvale Police Station is welcoming its newest recruit, First Year Constable Zac Richters-Nielsen, who joined the team last week. Relocating from Brisbane, Zac’s professional background was in banking before he decided to make a career change and join the police force. “I have always wanted to be a police officer since I was a little kid,” Zac explained. Zac has started his new position at Cannonvale Police Station and says he is eager to get on the ground. “I bring a readiness and
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Terms 3 and 4 intakes of PCYC Whitsunday’s Get Set For Work Program have unveiled a refurbished dresser which has been brought back to life and is available for sale at the Whitsunday Neighbourhood Centre’s Furniture Shop. Get Set For Work program coordinator Scott Lynch said he was looking for a project to complete with participates during the term, when the idea of renovating and refurbishing a piece of furniture came to mind. “The Whitsunday Neighbourhood Centre generously donated us the dr
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Completely student led and student run, Proserpine State High School’s Seagrass Theatre and Music Company is gearing up for their 2024 production, reaching for new heights of performance, choreography, vocals, and costuming. With over 90 students involved, including on stage, backstage, technical, front of house, and in the orchestra, the Seagrass Theatre and Music Company will be performing the inspiring ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat’. Established in 2021, Seagrass allows stu
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Around town, Jaime Sparke is a notable figure, a much loved local and dedicated music fan, whose influence and impact is felt within the waves of the beats in the street. He has become a regular face on the Airlie Beach Main Street, having moved to the region over 10 years ago, the temperature and climate agreeing with him and his active lifestyle, with many a local recognising him and his furry friend, Rocco. Jaime’s diagnosis of cerebral palsy has not hindered his passion for life, with his a
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Last month I confessed to my dislike for setting goals – this month I’m professing my love for feedback! And not just positive feedback – feedback which, when phrased the right way, is constructive, motivating and provides a clear pathway to creating tangible positive outcomes. Negative, positive, constructive, and those hideous 360s – all feedback can be fraught with danger if it doesn’t land the right way and can result in further discord in the workplace than previous. Here’s some simple
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Holy cow – blink and it is the end of February! 2024 is charging ahead! Have you settled in and hitting your stride? Or are you still trying to get a handle on the year? An essential quality for everyone in business is endurance – from starting a new business, having big goals to achieve, or just your to do list. Endurance in businesses means owners, operators, and their teams have the willingness to stick it out and the ability to work through challenges productively. Like any endurance athlet
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By Paul Gellatly At last week’s Bowen Chamber of Commerce meeting, Sean Brown, CEO of Bowen Pipeline Company, outlined his vision for a $600 million, 115km pipeline from the Burdekin to Bowen, using on-site extracted HDPE plastic pipeline yielding a 45 per cent cost saving and a five-million km reduction in B-double truck movements. The pipe is to be extruded in 100m lengths and laid in a cutting that follows an old stock route for much of the way, which will simplify the approvals process. It
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Most countries have a system to encourage citizens to save for their retirement. In the USA they are called 401K Accounts, and, in the UK, they are called Pension Accounts. In Australia we call our system the Superannuation system. Is our super system a good system? Would we get a gold medal in the ‘Super Olympics’? When assessing a retirement system, the big questions are, how much investment choice and flexibility you have, and what access to your money you are giving up in return for the ta
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This week marked the start of our latest campaign aimed at boosting visitation through the traditionally quieter periods. We have kicked off with a billboard outside Brisbane Airport and a sponsorship of ‘The Daily Aus’ newsletter and Podcast to target the under 35 demographic nationally. If you travel outside The Whitsundays in the coming weeks and months, keep your eyes peeled for our world-class Whitsundays experiences and accommodation operators in ads on social media. They are also on di
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Are you a Bowen local, with a passion for the region, an interest in writing and storytelling, and desire to give back to the local youth? If so, the Bowen Neighbourhood Centre has the program for you! The idea for the Program stemmed from a team chat where it was noticed that Bowen’s youngest didn’t know much about local traditions and history. “Our children don’t know a lot of the traditions that Bowen has, things that the older in our community just inherently know,” explained Stephanie Cora,
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Established in 2005, by couple Jane and Glenn McGrath, the McGrath Foundation is built on the basis of equipping people diagnosed and fighting breast cancer with the very best breast care, no matter where in Australia they lived. In 2008, Jane McGrath unfortunately lost her life to breast cancer, having secured funding for 50 breast care nurses and leaving the legacy of the McGrath Foundation, for her husband, and Australian cricketing icon, Glenn McGrath to continue. In 2011, the McGrath Foun
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While a wet day, the reception of the ladies at the Bowen Cricket Pink Stumps Ladies Day was great, with over 200 ladies celebrating the McGrath Foundation and breast care. Organiser and Club President, Seth McIntosh was proud of the event. “Even with the rain, it wasn’t a disaster,” he laughed. With special guest Glenn McGrath, with Dr Adrian Westcott of the Mater Hospital in Mackay, Sue Murray Image Specialist with Coastal Radiology, and Mardi Mandersloot, who battled with breast cancer her
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With two more months of cyclone season on the cards on the first half of 2024, now is the best time to get cyclone prepared, with Scott and Lisa Raisbeck of Bowen Small Motors ready and prepped to get you and your family best equipped. Scott’s number one necessity during a cyclone is a capable and appropriate generator. “And even outside of cyclone season, we have enough power blackouts, that having a generator handy is great in any emergency,” he explained. “However, having a generator is gre
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Perfect for the older Bowen locals, the Bowen Neighbourhood Centre is eager to launch their Stay Connected program which helps participants use technology effectively. Designed for Bowen locals over the age of 55-years-old, the Stay Connected program is a weekly program, that will run for 12-months, with small, yet intimate classes, where the program coordinators can ensure each participant is confident and able to navigate the week’s topic effectively. “We’ve designed this program to assist i
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Are you ready for a fun and engaging night out? Then the Collinsville-Scottville Kindy have the perfect event for you! Raising funds for their kindy program, you can party it up for a good cause, with musical bingo the main entertainment. Adults only, you can be sure this will be a hoot, with tickets including the choice of a beer or wine on arrival, nibbles, and a music bingo card. But the fun doesn’t stop there, with raffles and a lucky door prize sure to bring more laughs to the room. Doub
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The Australian Army’s 1RAR Band is heading to Bowen, as part of their Southern Community Engagement Tour, for a special one-night concert. The 1st Battalion Royal Australian Regime, the 1RAR Band has been instrumental in encouraging community engagement with the Australian Army, through the positive and uplifting tunes of their music. “We’re a 22-piece full time band, performing for the community with modern and atmospheric beats,” explained Band Sergeant Major, James Duquemin. Based in To
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The revitalised Whitsundays Writers Festival is gaining momentum, with the recent announcement that acclaimed Australian crime writer Garry Disher will join the lineup of prestigious speakers at the highly anticipated event due to be held this September. Garry Disher, author of the novels ‘Hell To Pay’ and ‘The Divine Wind’, is also a three-time winner of the Ned Kelly Award for Best Novel. He is known for his captivating characters and engaging narratives and is eager to meet with fellow write
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The Great Barrier Reef Art Exhibit has been confirmed to return in 2024, taking centre stage at the refurbished Whitsunday Sailing Club. Scheduled for the first week of August, the exhibition will showcase a curated selection of over 70 artworks, including paintings, sculptures, and photographs, chosen by a panel of judges. The special guest judge, Lauren Turton the Curator of Artspace Mackay, will have the honour of selecting the winning artworks, at the Opening Night on August 1. Margie Murp
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For Ämi Andrews, falling into a fabulous career in the kitchen was a no brainer, a move that she made with calculated decision and passion, always valuing the art of cooking and enjoying the vibrant cuisine-fuelled environment. Having called Airlie Beach home for over four years now, Ämi initially ventured to Australia from London close to 10 years ago, travelling up the east coast before settling for a short period of time. “When I left the UK, I knew being a chef would be great, because I ca
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Anyone in the community that wakes up in the morning feeling sad, lost or alone is encouraged to reach out and come along to the On The Men-d Support Group which takes place at the Skatepark in Cannonvale every Wednesday. Initially a men’s group, the support network is now open to everyone regardless of gender. Established by qualified counsellor, Bob Eden, the informal weekly catch-up is an opportunity for people to share their thoughts and feelings in a safe and respectful space. “It’s all
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The barramundi fishing competition of the year is back, with the organisers Whitsunday Game Fish Club excited to take to the lake. Based at Camp Kanga, the weekend starts with a briefing and registration at Camp Kanga on Friday March 22, from 7pm, for those wishing to get in on the action. Nomination for the Barra Bash is free and prizes will be presented at the conclusion of the weekend, from 1pm, with photo on a brag mat, including the date, of the longest Barra. Anglers can fish the lake,
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With a backdrop of the Coral Sea, on the lush grass of the Coral Sea Marina, the annual Whitsunday Cruisin Car Club Show and Shine is back for another year. The event welcomes a diverse range of classic and unique cars and bikes, with everyone invited to get their vehicle in on the fun. “We hope to have more local entrants and as always welcome those car and bike enthusiasts displaying their own pride and joy,” Club Secretary Kerri Southee explained. “Cars and bikes of all ages, makes and mod
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