Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
Women Dominate Central Queensland Training Awards By Amanda Wright Women have dominated the 62nd Queensland Training Awards in the Central Queensland region, claiming all seven individual awards. This year's winners include outstanding apprentices, trainees, and vocational teachers. The regional winners will now advance to the State Final in September, with the chance to compete for national titles at the prestigious Australian Training Awards in November. Among the recipients is Caitlyn Barnes,
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The Forensic Crash Unit is investigating a fatal, single vehicle crash on the Bruce Highway, two kilometres south of the Waverley Creek rest area. Mackay Police reported that initial investigations indicate just after 7am on Monday July 3, a white Mitsubishi wagon rolled before coming to rest back on its wheels. Senior Sergeant Tony McDowall confirmed the car had been travelling south towards Brisbane when it had veered off the road, crossing the centre line before leaving the road and rolling
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RACQ CQ Rescue are ‘airing’ their frustration with local boaties who are needlessly wasting search and rescue resources with expired or incorrectly disposed of Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs). The Mackay-based helicopter crew are urging people with EPIRBs or PLBs (Personal Locator Beacons) to regularly check batteries and expiry dates and correctly dispose of them after the chopper was activated to a beacon search earlier this week, in the early hours of Monday morning. Res
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Mackay Base Hospital’s use of voice to text software will feature on the international stage at a Sydney conference next week. Chief Digital Director Medical Services Dr Pieter Nel has been selected from more than 950 submissions to present at MedInfo23, a world congress on medical and health informatics. The former director of the Emergency Department has found a new passion in health information and supporting improved healthcare through technology. His presentation focuses on how Dragon Med
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New fishing quotas that were introduced on July 1 have dramatically reduced the amount of mackerel permitted to be extracted by commercial and recreational fishers in the Whitsundays.Most significantly impacted is the local mackerel fishing industry which has had their quota reduced from 600 tonnes to just 165 tonnes for the 2023 fishing season.The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries said that the decision was made to “ensure recovery of Spanish mackerel stocks” that have dipped below 17 per
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Mackay's Channel 7 Building Sold Mackay's iconic Channel 7 building has been successfully sold in a historic deal, marking a significant milestone for the local property market. Blacks Real Estate and Colliers International, the driving forces behind the sale, are delighted to announce this exciting development that paves the way for future growth in Mackay's bustling CBD. The negotiation of the sale was a result of the collaborative efforts of Peter Wheeler, Managing Director of Colliers Inter
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By Amanda Wright Stepping onto the vibrant canvas of Mackay's cultural landscape, MP Leeanne Enoch, the Minister for Treaty, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Communities, and the Arts, embarked on an artistic expedition last week. Accompanied by the Member for Mackay, Julieanne Gilbert, the Minister's visit was a brushstroke of exploration, highlighting the city's artistry and fostering a deep connection with the community. During her visit, Enoch and Gilbert immersed themselv
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Hiding behind a blanket of welcoming palm trees, a tropical oasis awaits, transporting you to another world mere minutes from the centre of Airlie Beach. Kipara Tropical Rainforest Retreat is ideally located at Jubilee Pocket, close enough to everything you could want for your Airlie Beach adventure but far enough to experience a quiet escape in the rainforest. With over 20 years of history, Kipara Tropical Rainforest Retreat welcomed new management last year, with the installation of brand-new
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Almost one hundred passengers were left stranded at Whitsunday Coast Airport on Tuesday evening after their Jetstar flight was cancelled due to an engineering issue.With limited local accommodation options due to already high occupancy rates over the school holidays, the passengers were left with nowhere to stay.Fortunately, our local community-owned and Council-operated airport were able to provide them with a “safe and dry” place to stay for the night.
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Hi Everyone,It’s great to be back in the Whitsundays after a week in the snow – it’s always exciting going on holiday, especially skiing, but returning home and seeing the sparkling blue sea always reminds me how lucky we are to live in such a beautiful part of the world.
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Community minded local Greg Smith hosted a Cancer Council Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea last Thursday. Taking place at Fitness Venue in Cannonvale, and servicing people pre and post workout and other community members, the morning tea saw over 30 people attend, raising $675 between monetary donations and fundraising for the donated raffle.
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Mackay Regional Council is seeking proposals for the construction of key water infrastructure in Bloomsbury. The call for tenders is for the construction of an 11-kilometre water main from Midge Point to Bloomsbury. Mayor Greg Williamson said the project was a significant investment in water infrastructure and would improve water quality and supply for residents in the area. “We are excited to provide the best possible long-term solution for residents in the Bloomsbury region,” Mayor Williamson
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A New Zealand man, who became unwell whilst snorkelling, was airlifted to safety from Hardy Reef last week and taken to Mackay Base Hospital in a stable condition.The 59-year-old man had been swimming at the popular tourist destination which is located 80km north-east of Airlie Beach.
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By Amanda Wright Construction at Seaforth Esplanade is progressing smoothly, with an anticipated opening in September, weather permitting. The 5.77-hectare reserve is being transformed into a vibrant recreational asset to cater to the needs of residents and visitors. Sharing project update photos, Mackay Regional Council reported that progress includes the completion of shade structures, installation of new barbecues and furniture, and the shaping of the waterplay area. Amenities construction is
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In the last two months, 12 businesses in Cannonvale have been robbed in a crime wave that is uncharacteristic for this usually quiet and peaceful Whitsunday suburb.The latest in this series of community break-ins took place at Ride Whitsunday, located on Shute Harbour Road, two kilometres from the Paluma Road-Abell Road intersection in Cannonvale, on Sunday, July 2.The alleged perpetrators smashed their way through the front entrance, breaking through the glass door allegedly using a brick or a
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By Kevin Borg, Chairman, CANEGROWERS Mackay Fuel prices still linger over the $2 mark, a fact you can’t help but grimly note each time you visit the bowser. So why hasn’t ethanol taken off? We have the feedstock, and the push is on in the world for fuels to be sourced from renewable feedstocks like sugarcane. E10 is a blend of unleaded petrol and up to 10% ethanol, and is the more popularly used ethanol blend in the Australian market. E85 is suitable only for purpose-built vehicles. Bioethanol i
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Rural Aid supports the National Rural Health Alliance (NRHA) and its call for better funding for the bush in the wake of new research showing rural Australians are missing out on $6.5 billion annually in healthcare access. The NRHA-commissioned research reveals that each person in rural Australia is missing out on nearly $850 a year of healthcare access, equating to a total annual rural health spending deficit of $6.5 billion. Rural Aid CEO John Warlters said living and working in the bush w
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New regulations for a Working Holiday Maker (WHM) visa came into place on July 1 and Federal Member for Dawson, Andrew Willcox MP, says he is concerned how it will impact the agricultural sector.Currently 80 per cent of the harvest labour force in horticulture consist of WHM visa holders and there are more than 137,000 backpackers in Australia on this visa who are providing valuable labour across multiple sectors, including hospitality, tourism, and agriculture.
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It was a historic Queensland Government budget with a record surplus of more than $12 billion delivered last month, but the Queensland Resources Council (QRC) says there needs to be a balance or the state will lose out in the long run. It says that imposing the world’s highest coal royalty tax will have long-term consequences of lost jobs and lost investments, especially in regional communities. “There has to be a balance between what the Queensland Government takes from the resources sector a
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Almost 100 students from Capella and Clermont state high schools recently participated in two workshops that showcased the intersection of science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) with real-world resources and energy sector applications. The workshops were delivered by the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA), with QMEA Director Katrina-Lee Jones saying over the course of two days, students worked under the guidance of experienced representatives from Glencore Coal as they co
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BHP has backed away from allegedly insisting striking Operations Services workers be locked out of their accommodation camp in Central Queensland while taking protected industrial action earlier this week. Last week, the Mining and Energy Union provided notice on behalf of Operations Services Production members of a four-hour stoppage, on Tuesday July 4, at Goonyella Riverside mine near Moranbah. The Mining and Energy Union allege that on Saturday, workers on the relevant crew were told by a
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The investigation into the cause of the light aircraft accident that killed a young couple in the Whitsundays has been discontinued.22-year-old Rhiley Kuhrt and his pregnant 24-year-old wife, Maree, left Natal Downs Station for a private flight to the Lakeside Airpark, south of the Whitsundays, in a Piper Cherokee single-engine light aircraft on April 2.
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Across the Whitsundays, Australian Defence Force (ADF) operation Talisman Sabre 2023 will take to the air, performing a series of tactical flying activities.From July 21 to August 4, residents should be aware of increased flight traffic, particularly military helicopters, including heavy lift with slung loads, and unmanned aerial drones which will be completing low-level tactical flying operations.
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Missed Options Rate Renewal Can Be Costly To be honest, when purchasing insurance, we often overlook some of the most costly factors, usually because we never really expect to “use it”. The most frequent statement I hear is, “Oh I didn’t include that in my renewal”. “That” could be any or all of these; ~ a hire vehicle ~ an unlimited kilometre option ~ a reduced excess ~ a windscreen replacement ~ a choice of repairer At the time of purchase these items appear to be unnecessary, however ofte
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This week friends, family and the broader Airlie Beach community are remembering a spirited champion of the region, who tirelessly worked for the greater good, most notably in his over 40 years’ service to the Rotary Club and as one of the first Cruise Ship Ambassadors.John Wilson Powell sadly passed away late last month, and almost a hundred people attended his funeral at the VMR in Cannonvale on Monday where his rich and fulfilling life was celebrated by all.
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