Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
The Whitsundays Writers Festival is gearing for a grand comeback, with a schedule jampacked full of immersive celebrations of all things literary. On the cards is esteemed 2023 Miles Franklin Literary Award winner, Shankari Chandran, winner of Australia’s premier literary prize for her debut novel, ‘Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens’. Alongside Shankari are several other highly regarded, award-winning Australian authors, who are excited to be in sunny Whitsundays for a weekend of literary prowess.
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Get ready to fundraise for the Royal Flying Doctor Service and celebrate our fantastic sugar industry as the whole community gets together to pay homage to our quintessential local culture. Hosted by Cut Out Party, the annual Sugar Bush Shindig is set to ignite the region, celebrating the conclusion of the sugar season, and saying cheers to the cane farmers and associated industries for a job well done. With an exciting charity auction scheduled, the evening is going to be a lot of fun and will
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This March, Collinsville is turning pink, to celebrate International Women’s Day and help fundraise for the Mater Foundation, to fight breast cancer. Part of the fundraising will include the annual fun run which will be held on Sunday, March 10. This event has become a well-supported community tradition and aligns nicely with the Sea of Pink events which are set to take place across Australia over the same weekend. With the 2023 Collinsville event raising over $9,200, the local Sea of Pink tea
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E-Scooter Accident A female e-scooter rider has been transported to Proserpine Hospital, following a collision between the e-scooter and a vehicle at 8am on Tuesday, February 6. Occurring at the intersection of Shingley Drive and Shute Harbour Road, the female patient was transported to Proserpine Hospital in a stable condition, with head and neck injuries. Senior Sergeant Shane Edwards, the Officer in Charge of the Mackay Whitsunday Highway Patrol Group, urges riders of personal mobility devi
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Hundreds of people flocked into the Whitsunday Sportspark on Saturday to enjoy the ninth annual Whitsunday Sports Expo. Dozens of stalls were hosted by enthusiastic sports coaches, players and other volunteers who were all keen to impart their knowledge and meet potential new club members. Photo credit: Rachael Smith
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The volunteers of Bowen Tourism and Business were honoured at a morning tea last week, where they were thanked for their dedicated service and lasting commitment to the town. For Steve Fisher, better known as ‘Fish’, he began volunteering with the team following his retirement in 2015. “I found myself lost, with nothing to do,” Fish explained. And having caravanned across Australia with his wife, Chips, he knew he would be able to share recommendations and stories with visitors by volunte
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Businesses from across the region are invited to register for the inaugural Whitsundays Business Conference which is organised by the Whitsunday Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and due to take place later this year. The Conference will be held Friday, May 31 and will bring together the region’s business community and stakeholders for an inspiring day of education, sharing knowledge and experience. The morning program will be hosted in Proserpine, with attendees invited to the subsequent afte
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The tourism industry is inching its way back to the black following bad weather events which have significantly impacted the expected visitor numbers and, in-turn, the amount of tourism dollars flying into the region. Rick Hamilton, CEO of Tourism Whitsundays said it’s been a hectic few weeks for the industry. “The past six weeks have been eventful to say the least - two cyclones, Christmas Holidays, Clipper Race and a long weekend,” he said. “Unfortunately, we've taken a huge hit as a regio
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The old school field was put to good use last weekend when families from across the region attended the second annual Slime Fest, held by Proserpine YouthSpace to raise money for children’s activities, programs, and future events. Over 75 excited children registered on the day, embarking on a slime-fuelled obstacle course where buckets of bright coloured ooze were fair-game for slime-filled cannons shooting plumes of spray at anyone on the field. Continued on page 16.
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The secret to love for this couple is quality time, with every moment spent together a cherished and loving piece of their wider puzzle. Amy Dolman knew that Reece Nesbitt was the person for her when she saw him walking out of a restaurant one evening. “He just walked out of the Restaurant I was going to in his chef uniform and I knew I had found a handsome man to cook for me for the rest of my life,” Amy laughed. Now, eight exciting years on, Amy and Reece keep their connection alive and thriv
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It began with a workplace romance, with Greg and Nettie Dunlop meeting in the kitchen of a restaurant in Victoria, and since then, the pair have never looked back. Now, with 30 years of marriage behind them, Greg and Nettie are as inseparable as they were when they first met, and for them, it’s not always about the romance, but a vow to each other. “It’s not always about the romance but more of making forever memories,” Greg explained. And great memories they have shared, with one of the more
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19 years of being in a relationship has turned a romantic spark into a strong bond for Norina Jane and Tim Perkins, with their love for each other strengthening through their shared sense of humour. “Sometimes you need humour, so you don’t kill each other!” They laughed. It began with an interesting introduction, with Norina rummaging in the work fridge, while Tim was being shown through his new workplace, the Proserpine Airport. “I was head in and bum out of the fridge grabbing the first-class
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The Zonta Club of the Whitsundays is welcoming the community to their 2024 International Women’s Day Luncheon, to celebrate the women of the world, and the amazing influence and contribution they make to their individual communities. With an array of notable guest speakers, a glass of bubbles on arrival, and a three course lunch, the Zonta Club of the Whitsundays will also host an exciting auction and raffle, with the likes of water adventures, a helicopter ride, and island stays on the cards fo
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This will be a weekend of rock, a weekend of beats, and a weekend where the show must go on, there is no doubt about that. Get ready to rock, with the Queen Rocks tribute show checking into the Airlie Beach Hotel for one weekend of two massive rock shows! With intricate beats and accurate costuming, plus a dash of suspended disbelief, be transported to the heyday of Queen, hear the unforgettable tracks of Freddie Mercury, and rock out the only way you can. “We started as just a group of mates
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Brought to life by the likes of Harley Mann, a Wakka Wakka man of Queensland, THE WET speaks to traditional North Queensland, of connection, and of being one small cog in a much bigger wheel of life. Produced and performed by Circa Cairns, THE WET is led by First Nations People, and is made of an ensemble showcasing the heart and soul of Cairns, speaking to the country of Far North Queensland, of the tales of the landscape and the legacy of yarns with community and country. Telling of ancient
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Elise Hodgson won Tuesday's stableford with 39 points, with Lyn Muller the second lady on 33 points. Scott Mason had 35 points to edge out Phil Luckett in the men's field. Pins went to Tiina Randmae, Larry Muller, Gerard Lovell, and Craig McLean. Joshua Norris edged out Tom O'Brien on 38 points to win Thursday's competition. John Roser and Brad Fleet had 37 points to lead the A division. Pins went to Aaron Prosser and Joshua Norris. Brendan Spann won Friday's Met run with 21 points, with Lar
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Airlie Beach local Dennis Winstanley has shown the high calibre of NQ sailing talent in the Windsurfer World Championships held over the New Year at the South of Perth Yacht Club in Western Australia, winning gold in the heavy weight Course Racing and silver in the Marathon. The 2023 Worlds were held in Australia, following the successful reboot of Windsurfer World Competitions in Italy in 2022. Taking the opportunity to attend a rare ‘home’ Worlds, Dennis, former 2001 World Champion and multi
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23 Cannonvale Cannons travelled to Townsville to compete at the Townsville Tourists LC Meet. The Cannons had an excellent weekend with swimmers achieving State and National qualifying times, accumulating 70 PBs, earning A Grade times, ribbons, medals, and the Skins. Jy Parkinson qualified for the Australian Age Championships for his 100m Backstroke and won all his events. Jacob Bell won the Medley Skins event and was thrilled with the prize money. Addie Sanders, Andie Reynolds, and Indi Smith
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Mackay Regional Council faced a tough call last week as they made the difficult decision to cancel this year's Australia Day Awards Gala, originally set for Thursday, January 25. The cancellation came as a precautionary step, considering the unpredictable weather conditions tied to TC Kirrily. Mayor Greg Williamson acknowledged the heaviness of the situation, stressing the council's commitment to community safety. He said the fact that we had a cyclone forecast to cross the coast late at night
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In a startling act of destruction, a man has been caught on CCTV engaging in what appears to be an intentional arson attack on a mobile camera trailer in Mount Pleasant. Police have released CCTV footage of a man they want to speak to in relation to an arson investigation of a mobile camera trailer in Mount Pleasant on January 20. In a statement shared by police, initial investigations indicate a man approached the trailer on Malcomson Street around 10.30pm and set the trailer alight. "Emerge
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As we embark on the journey that is 2024, there's no denying that the financial rollercoaster is taking us for a spin we didn't sign up for. The economic ups and downs are leaving many of us feeling a bit queasy, especially when it comes to the ever-rising cost of living. But fear not, because we're all navigating this terrain together. Let's dive into those proposed tax cuts. The powers that be in Canberra have put forth some potential changes to income tax rates and thresholds, slated to take
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Five children under the age of thirteen are being relocated to a local Mackay home after it was alleged that they weren’t being taken care of properly. In a heartfelt attempt to give the children a better life and a fresh start, a compassionate Mackay local has taken the children into care despite not having extra beds or necessities for school supplies to cater for the five young children. This act of kindness shortly reaped a multitude of generosity after the caretaker made a post on a local
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Mr Colin Meng OAM, an esteemed former businessman and former Mayor of Mackay, has been honoured with Australia's highest distinction, the Medal of the Order in the General Division (OAM), in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the community through various organisations. Prior to assuming the role of Mackay's Mayor in 2008, Meng forged a successful career in the automotive sales industry, establishing Meng Tyres and Mechanical in 1982. After nearly three decades in business, he trans
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One of council’s signature projects, the Northern Beaches Community Hub, will begin taking shape onsite. Council has awarded a $10.2 million tender to Fergus Builders for stage 1A and associated works of the key piece of infrastructure to service the rapidly growing Northern Beaches. It includes an undercover multi-purpose court, adjoining kitchen and store, nature play and picnic spaces, as well as landscaping, pedestrian links, and a parking area. Mayor Greg Williamson said construction was ex
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