Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
The past few weeks have been nothing short of a celebration of the vibrant tourism scene in our region. First, Mackay/Isaac had its turn, and then the Whitsundays. But let's dive into a key insight from Amanda Pelagalli, the recipient of Mackay Isaac Tourism's Outstanding Contribution by an Individual award, as it truly resonated. Instead of grumbling about a lack of activities, her advice is simple: get off the couch and make things happen. Be part of the solution. Tourism in the region is boo
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More people will soon have access to Mackay’s beautiful blue water river with the installation of a floating pontoon. The pontoon, to be constructed at the end of Brisbane Street, near the Bluewater Quay, is part of the Mackay Waterfront Priority Development Area’s (PDA) Riverside Revitalisation project. The pontoon will allow commercial and non-motorised watercraft to have centralised access to the Pioneer River to load and unload for a day of recreation. Contractor SMC Marine Pty Ltd has been
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According to the latest figures produced by the Queensland Government, the Mackay region has beaten south-east Queensland in receiving its share of state government infrastructure spending. Data from the Queensland Budget papers and the Queensland Government Statistician's Office shows 56 per cent more per capita is being spent by the state government on infrastructure and capital works in the Mackay region, compared to its counterparts in South East Queensland. In fact, infrastructure spending
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Mackay Engineering College have partnered with the Mackay Chamber of Commerce to deliver the ‘Cars for Communities’ initiative, revving up this year to donate four newly refurbished cars to not-for-profit organisations. Mackay Engineering College was built in 2011 with funding from Queensland State Government to allow students from the Mackay region state schools to take part in vocational training programs. Students from Year 11 and 12 from the six local state high schools are currently compl
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Two of Mackay’s largest and most dynamic organisations have joined forces in a bid to attract more major sporting events to the region. This new strategic partnership between Mackay Airport and Harrup Park has a mission to increase visitation and secure national and international sporting showdowns. Mackay Airport Head of Operations Adrian Miles said Mackay was ‘ideally positioned’ to welcome more major events in 2024. “This is a great opportunity to use one of the largest sporting facilities
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A family in the Mackay region has been left shattered after discovering their thoroughbred horse, Skye, deliberately killed in their paddock on Beaconsfield Road, 4th October. The heartbreaking discovery happened just after 8am on Thursday, just two minutes from the family home. Skye’s body was found “in a lying down position”, Owner Melissa Turner at first suspected the horse had passed away from a snake bite. The 19-year-old former racehorse was said to be in good health the night before the
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A new, cutting-edge Virtual Reality (VR) laboratory marks a significant stride toward revolutionising workforce development and readiness in the mining industry. On 20th October, Anglo American and the Resources Centre of Excellence (RCOE) came together to deliver their purpose-built, fully integrated VR laboratory to better prepare workers for the mine site. The lab is designed to equip mining professionals, training organisations and community groups with immersive experiences and advanced l
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When was the last time you checked in on your home loan? It's usually a tedious and seemingly frivolous task. But what if we told you there's an easy-to-use, free tool that considers your current home loan and your future goals? Community Bank Sarina Bendigo Bank’s home loan health check starts with a review of your current interest rate, loan structure, home value, repayment options and remaining loan term. The team will also ask you about your goals, aspirations and any short or long term pl
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Sarina’s young achievers were in the spotlight last week at the Sarina State High School (SSHS) Annual Presentation Night. Bringing together the school community, students were awarded for qualities such as academic excellence, leadership, and contributions to their school and the wider community. Community Bank Sarina Bendigo Bank sponsored the Community Citizenship Role Model Awards (Grades 7-12), the Employment Ready Award, and the Excellence in Business Award. Community Bank Sarina Depu
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Meet the infamous duo, Elmo and Chicken Man, two men creating smiles in the Mackay region with their funky motorcycle helmets and dance moves in traffic. Name: Ethan Grech (Grechy) Handle: @motogrechy Alias: Elmo Age: 18 Origin: Mackay Bike: Black Yamaha MT-07 Ethan Grech, better known by his crew as ‘Grechy’, is a born and raised Mackay local with a strong love for his region. Growing up, he always wanted his motorcycle license and had a strong passion for bikes. Mr Grech has many reasons f
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The 2023 Mackay Isaac Region Tourism Awards recently shone a spotlight on the outstanding accomplishments of local tourism operators, underlining their essential role in the region's economy. This prestigious event unfolded at the Mackay Entertainment & Convention Centre (MECC) with 172 attendees representing the region's tourism businesses and industry stakeholders. Mackay Regional Council Deputy Mayor, Karen May, emphasised the importance of these awards in acknowledging those who continually
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Mount Pleasant Centre took home the gold in the Mackay Isaac Tourism Awards for ‘Excellence in the Retail/Hire Services’ category. MTP have worked diligently over recent years to define themselves as a community centre, with retailers catering to all needs from food to clothing and homewares. The recent win has alluded that the Centre has plenty to offer both locals and visitors to our region, priding itself on holding community engagement at the forefront. Two years ago, the Centre was bought
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Cath and Nick uit den Bogaard are the owner and operator power couple behind Comfort Resort Blue Pacific, located on the golden sands of Blacks Beach. Comfort Resort Blue Pacific won gold in the Standard Accommodation category at the 2023 Mackay Isaac Region Tourism Awards. Established in the Northern Beaches area over forty years ago, the couple have proudly owned the property for twenty four years. Since then, Comfort Resort has offered its variety of quality accommodations and services to
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Amanda Pelagalli Amanda Pelagalli, Managing Director of Wake House Australia and the creative mind behind Mackay Adventure Tours and Transfers, has received the 'Outstanding Contribution by an Individual' award at the Mackay Isaac Tourism Awards. Her journey from hosting pro wakeboarders to transforming Mackay's tourism landscape is a testament to the untapped potential of the region. It all began in 2019 when Amanda and her husband, Dan, revived the wake park at Wake House Australia, one of
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Mackay Base Hospital is receiving a boost to its ability to identify cardiac issues thanks to Mackay Hospital Foundation and Daly Bay. Local Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Specialist, Dr Stephen Luke, is attending a masterclass in Critical Care Transoesophageal Echocardiorgraphy in Europe, thanks to a grant from Daly Bay, coordinated by the Mackay Hospital Foundation. One avenue to detect cardiac issues is a transoesophageal echocardiogram (TOE) which is a specialised procedure which can be perform
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By Kevin Borg, Chairman, CANEGROWERS Mackay It has been excellent to see the recent news from the University of Queensland and Sugar Research Australia that a five-year collaboration has resulted in proof through a validation trial that genomic selection can successfully predict the performance of key sugarcane traits. The technology promises to bring benefits to the industry, improving plant breeding outcomes and speeding up the implementation of genetic improvements. In the announcement, SRA’s
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One of the questions you get asked a lot in real estate is: When is a good time to sell? There are not many bad times to sell in Mackay but certain times of the year are very good for selling a property. This is one of them. The lead-up to Christmas from late October is a very active time for buyers. One of the things sellers should be more aware of is the mind-set of buyers. Put yourself in their position. Imagine what would be going through your head if you were a buyer. At any time of the yea
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OPINION PIECE There is always excitement around celebrating our sporting achievements and on November 4 we will do just that. The MM Electrical NQ Sportstar Awards is being held at the MECC to determine the best North Queensland has to offer, with 129 finalists across 11 categories. Mackay is well represented, with 28 finalists in the following categories: Service to North Queensland Sport, Masters Sportstar, Athlete with Disability, Senior Sportstar, Junior Sportstar, Senior Team of the Year,
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A couple of big things are happening this weekend that you may not be aware of. I suppose you could get into quite an argument over which is more important than the other. I’ll just put it out there. The first one is National Teachers’ Day which is today. The second is our 4MK Cyclone Sunday in Bowen. Sure, both are very important to highlight and to be thankful for so I’m going to break down both for you and you can either agree or disagree with me. That’s your call. Let’s look at National
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Friday 27 October Guided Walks in the Gardens 10am – 11:15am A guided walk in the Gardens. These walks last about an hour and are conducted at a leisurely pace. While bookings are preferred, individuals can phone the gardens at 07 4952 7300 or email botanic@mackay.qld.gov.au to reserve their spot. Every Friday until the end of October. | Free entry. Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens Come and Try Lawn Bowls 10am – 11:30am Enjoy a fun session learning to play. Bowls provided or bring your own. We
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DRIVING MADELEINE is a heart-warming French drama film, released in 2022 and directed by Christian Carion. The story rediscovers the power of the kindness of strangers, following taxi driver Charles (Dany Boon) who reluctantly takes on an early-morning booking. He begins to regret his decision when a cantankerous old woman, Madeleine (Line Renaud) is waiting begrudgingly at the pickup point. Despite his own personal grievances, Charles begins to realise that his problems are nowhere near as har
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Shed Happens Mackay is set to celebrate International Men’s Day on 17th November this year. The organisation celebrates this event annually, with a corporate charity breakfast on or near International Men’s Day, which falls on 19th November. Sponsored by DGH Engineering and supported by DBCT, this is Shed Happens Mackay’s premier event, being supported by an Art Show in August and presentation of Mackay Man Of The Year at the International Men’s Day breakfast. Our sponsors include DBCT, 2iT Tec
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Mackay Regional Council has awarded more than $30,000 to two local equestrian organisations. Mackay Riding for the Disabled was awarded $6739 to upgrade its fences and boundaries and Mackay and District Hack and Pony Club received $24,300 to upgrade and extend their current cross-country course. The grants were part of $192,564 worth of Community Grants (round one) awarded to 22 community groups. Community Grant Committee Chair Cr Laurence Bonaventura said this round of grants had been very comp
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This year, Mackay Regional Council is asking residents to be prepared for all natural disasters – not just cyclones. On Saturday, November 4, council will hold Disaster Ready Saturday at Caneland Central from 9am to 1pm, outside Target. Mayor Greg Williamson said more and more we were faced with the threat of bushfires, floods, storms and extreme heat, as well as cyclones. “We’ve changed the name of this event from previous years as natural disasters can happen to anyone, anywhere,” Mayor Willia
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Businesses looking to leverage off the exciting Finch Hatton Mountain Bike Trails can learn more at workshops being held in November. Council is hosting two Bike Ready Business Workshops, at Finch Hatton and Mackay, to assist businesses in learning about the significant opportunities the trails will offer. Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson said the workshops would be co-hosted by award-winning destination and marketing specialists, Destination Marketing Store (DMS) and Swell Design. “DMS and Swell ha
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