Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
At 12pm this Tuesday nominations closed for the upcoming Local Government Election and it was formally confirmed that four Mayoral Candidates have registered and two Councillor positions are opposed by a total four Councillor Candidates. Richard Evans, Ry Collins, Peter Hood and Phil Batty have all announced their Mayoral candidacy. Meanwhile the Division 2 seat, which encompasses Cannonvale, Cannon Valley and Woodwark, is contested with Councillor Clay Bauman the only seated candidate to be ch
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I wish to serve our Whitsunday community. I’m a seasoned leader with a 40-year track record in national politics and industry leadership. My leadership skills have developed from service as a federal member of parliament during the Keating-Howard years; championing national and small businesses and industry at a state and national level as Executive Director for the Franchise Council Australia, Australian Retailers Association, Australian Fashion Council, and Clubs Victoria; and my volunteer con
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I'm a passionate and experienced local advocate for our region with a strong and diverse business background. My current experience in addressing our economic challenges, promoting our best opportunities, coupled with strong family values and deep understanding of our community's needs, equips me to lead effectively. I'm committed first and foremost to listening, understanding, and acting on the concerns of our residents to drive outcomes, meaningful progress and growth. Addressing the current c
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45 years as Principal Accountant in public practice. 45 years registered Tax Agent. 45 years registered Company, Forensic and Asset Manager Auditor. 4,700+ clients throughout Australia. Lived and practised in The Whitsundays for 25+ years. 450+ clients in The Whitsundays; individuals, businesses, clients in agriculture and tourism. Clients Collinsville, Bowen, Proserpine, Airlie, Shute Harbour, the Islands. 1,600+ clients that work with Australian Councils on a near-daily basis. Worked with the
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My name is Philip Batty I first arrived in the Whitsundays in 2002. I have held senior executive positions for several very large Australian and international businesses during my 35 plus years in hospitality. My passion for the region is evidenced by my involvement in securing commercial flights and cruise ships to the region plus promoting the Whitsundays through a highly successful flash mob promotion, which I organised, reaching almost 2 million people around the world. Affordable housing
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I am a long-term local sugar cane grower and have been proactively involved in the sugar industry for many years, including being a Canegrowers director and the inaugural Chairman of Sugar Services Proserpine. I am the current Division 5 councillor and Deputy Mayor. The one issue I would address is cost of living pressure. It’s not a problem that I can fix, but I will do my best to limit any changes to council fees and charges. Honest representation, a good work ethic and a commonsense approa
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I feel very honoured to be uncontested for the Division 1 seat and I am very much looking forward to the next four years working with and for the community. I’ve got some big projects that I’ll continue to push forwards with, I would like to see a massive waterpark in Airlie Beach at the Airlie Beach Foreshore. I am also advocating for the redevelopment of the Airlie Beach main street and I would like to see a multi-story carpark as well as a place of safe refuge for extreme weather events.
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I have owned and operated a small business, Downtown Butchery, in the Main Street of Proserpine for over 30 years and, together with my wife, Jill, raised four daughters. It’s been a privilege to represent Proserpine and the surrounding areas on Council since 2012. I believe that I have the experience and passion to continue contributing to Division 3 and our wonderful region. I’m proud to say that I’ve achieved some major projects for Proserpine and surrounds but I’m not going to sit here a
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As the current Councillor for Division 4, I have a four-year term under my belt already which brings a fair bit of experience. During my term, I’ve gotten to know a lot of people in my division. I understand that if they’re contacting a Councillor, they genuinely have a concern, so I always do my best to help as much as I can. I’m married with three school age children and have lived in Bowen my whole life, a fourth generation local. The biggest thing that I would love to rectify immediately i
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The ‘why’ of your business and other key lessons from Kapow Interactive Ambi Middleton joined Whitsunday based digital marketing company Kapow Interactive in 2021, switching career paths after spending time in the maritime and health industries. “No one day is ever the same at Kapow Interactive. One day I’ll be managing social media for a builder, the next I’m designing a website for a childcare centre. It helps broaden, inspire, and entertain my creative side,” she said. Ambi is a sponge f
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As a Cannonvale resident, I believe we can improve how council serves us. My background in film and television has sharpened my budgeting skills and departmental leadership, equipping me to tackle the diverse challenges facing our community. I'm very careful and thorough with all the paperwork and I’m very able to help with people’s questions and concerns. These skills and experience gained since becoming a councillor in 2022 make me a great fit for the role. The most difficult thing is to cho
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Being a successful business owner, I understand the challenges and opportunities that our business owners face daily in Bowen. I am dedicated to representing the vibrant spirit of our community, and I am particularly passionate about fostering the growth of local businesses. I am reaching out to individuals who share a common vision for our community’s growth, prosperity and resilience. I believe that together, we can invest in initiatives that fuel growth, making Bowen an even better place to l
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My professional qualifications, experience and community involvement include: Fellow Certified Practising Accountants, Bachelor Business Degree, Graduate Certificate Local Government. Employment: Manager SBB Partners (Accountants, Business Advisors) Bowen. Former Managing Director Rekenen Accountants. Council Positions: Chief Executive Officer, Director Corporate and Financial Services. Community: Current Treasuer - Bowen Community Centre, Bowen Collinsville Enterprise, Bowen Christian Outreach
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With a long history in the Whitsundays, raising our family in Cannonvale, I’m well positioned to represent our community. A business owner-operator of 45 years (Cannonvale and Proserpine) I’ve gained strong communication and negotiation skills. I’m community-focussed and bring experience as a former Councillor. My decisions are made in the best interest of Division 2 and region. I’ve organised major events and been on boards for Tourism Whitsundays, NQ Games and NQ Economic Development supportin
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across year groups being friends, and of assisting each other to better themselves and excel at their chosen passions. This passion for achieving your personal best, and of helping each other is strong in the 2024 College Captains both Primary and Secondary School. For Secondary School Captain, Zoe Shepherd-Smith, she decided to become a captain because she’s always admired the captains, since watching them from Prep. “I’ve seen a lot of captains, and they have helped me develop my own leader
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Get ready to share and experience the many cultures that call the Whitsunday Region home, with the return of the annual Whitsunday Multicultural Festival. Celebrating and sharing the cultures that are prevalent in our region, the Multicultural Festival is sure to have a large variety of food and drink, arts, music, and performances scheduled for the day. Don’t miss the excellent cultural cooking, traditional dance, and amazing activities and celebrate our Whitsunday Way. This year, the Whitsu
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The 2024 School Leaders of Proserpine State High School have officially been inducted into their roles, at a special ceremony last week. These students are now eager to begin their year of school leadership with prowess and confidence. The School Captains, Reid Ogden and Alice Pini are two confident and capable leaders, and are joined with School Vice Captains Holly Perrin and Nathan Richards. School Principal Mr Don McDermid said he looked forward to seeing all students thrive and reach th
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The revitalised Whitsunday Writers Festival has announced their Whitsundays Literary Heart Awards this week, just in time for Valentine’s Day. With substantial cash prizes up for grabs, the awards will recognise and honour the diverse and talent writers, while paying homage to the beautiful Great Barrier Reef. With categories encompassing writing, poetry, and book cover design, the Whitsunday Literary Heart Awards is offering up to $10,000 in prizes across four categories, with finalists in ea
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Introducing KC’s Bourbon Bar, exclusive and enigmatic and perfect for the locals and visitors. With a slight restructure to keep locals on their toes, this imaginative Bourbon Bar will take front and centre stage of KC’s Bar and Grill restaurant, in the encompassing warmth of the main dining room. The only bourbon bar in the Whitsundays, KC’s is taking Airlie Beach by storm, adding a layer of rich and aromatic flavours to the KC’s menu. And the grand opening will be a sight to behold, with the
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Up-and-coming musician Tiffany Grace has returned from renowned Tamworth Country Music Festival Country Music Academy, extending and progressing her own skills as a solo musician, songwriting and performing. Having launched onto the stage in recent years, Tiffany has seen great success, from winning the Young Whitsunday’s Got Talent in 2022, to performing alongside other musicians at the 2023 Whitsunday Songwriter’s Festival and being a headliner for the Airlie Beach Festival of Music. Tiffany’
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This is an explosive mix that tastes so sweet with the delectable flavours of a margarita, and The Mad Mariachi Band which are sure to bring the heat! Created in the heart of tropical Queensland, and intensely packed with the flair and beats of traditional Mexican Mariachi music, this show offers more than a dash of contemporary rhythms. From the creative imagination of Nelson Mansilla, The Mad Mariachi Band is best described as a “spaghetti-western Mexican music”. “We’re non-traditional,” N
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Photo credit: Bronte Hodge and Ruby Gorlick
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For the past 35 years, people have been travelling to Bowen for the town's annual polocrosse carnival. Polocrosse is a horsemanship sport that is a combination of polo and lacrosse and has been played in Australia since the 1930's. The annual Bowen carnival will be held on July 27 and 28, 2024. Representatives of the Bowen Polocrosse Club met with representatives of Bowen Tourism and Business this week to discuss the promotion of the 35th annual carnival. Chair of Bowen Tourism and Business,
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32 new Australian citizens have been welcomed in an official citizenship ceremony conducted by the Whitsunday Regional Council, at a special ceremony in Bowen earlier this week. The 32 individuals, from 13 different countries were invited to the ceremony, held at Bowen’s Flagstaff Hill Function and Convention Centre on Tuesday, February 13. “We meet today to acknowledge the individuals who are officially being Australian,” explained Deputy Mayor Gary Simpson. “Australians have a unique nati
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1 in 3 People Will Get Cancer Early Detection Is Best Know Your Normal
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