Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
The coveted Viking Cup 10s is back on the calendar for the Whitsunday Junior Rugby Union club, with the competition already heating up. Since its inception in 2012, the Viking Cup has welcomed many a player, and the club is expecting a massive increase in players and registrations for the 2023 carnival. “It has evolved into what it is now, and it is regarded at the premier rugby event in our region,” explained Tim Oberg, the President of the Whitsunday Junior Rugby Union Club.
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Congratulations to Jy Parkinson and Jacob Bell for being selected for the Queensland School Team. Both boys will be travelling to Sydney this week to compete in the Australian School Sport Swimming Championships with Qld Team Manager, Kate Thomson.
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Mackay’s oldest family-held farm celebrated 150 years last week, with family, friends and special guests gathering on the property to mark the occasion on Saturday, August 12.The farm, named ‘Etowri’ after an aboriginal word said to mean ‘a good place to camp’, was purchased by Edward Denman for £214 on August 8, 1873, eleven years after the first settlement at Mackay.
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Hold onto your hats (or sunscreen), because the humpback whales have rolled into town, and boy, are they making waves – literally! It's that splendid time of the year when our coastal waters transform into a magnificent stage for these gentle giants. And let me tell you, they're putting on a show that deserves a standing ovation.
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Paying it forward is the good deed that’s taking the fast-food drive-throughs of the world by storm, and one local gentleman has been recognised for doing it regularly.Kat Simonsen recently posted in a local “Mums and Bubs” Facebook group after visiting the Red Rooster Mount Pleasant drive through where her purchase of $33 had been paid for by the driver in front.
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A ground-breaking robotic surgical system which will deliver state-of-the-art medical care to local patients has arrived at Mater Private Hospital Mackay. The da Vinci X robotic system, which has been used to perform more than nine million urology, gynaecology, colorectal, cardiac, head, neck and thoracic surgeries worldwide, will begin operating in Mackay next month.
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Year 10 students in Rockhampton and Mackay were given a taste of tradie life when they recently participated in the Try a Trade event hosted by WorldSkills Queensland, Construction Skills Queensland - CSQ and CQU.
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Mackay Police Dog Squad has welcomed its newest team member, with Police Dog Cobra (PD Cobra) joining the force.Cobra has been in Mackay for approximately three months, finishing his final training and development with Sergeant Jacob Bates and PD Griffin. "Recruit" Dog Cobra was recently signed off and officially promoted to "PD" Cobra after a series of assessments at a Police Dog Training Course he and Sergeant Bates attended in Brisbane.
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Whitsunday Anglican School proudly played host to internationally acclaimed jazz great James Morrison recently. Four of the School ensembles were excited to share the stage with The James Morrison Quartet at the Friday August 4 concert under the stars at the school.Brass students from years 5 to 12 also enjoyed a special workshop with James Morrison before taking to the stage later that night.
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Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox has thrown his support behind the announcement that a future Coalition government will commit $250 million in funding over the next four years to improve the lives of future sporting stars nation-wide.
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Businesses have the chance to breathe new life into their building facades and enhance the overall experience for residents and visitors alike.This council initiative, which has been in place for nine years, supports quality facade improvement works.
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Reef Catchments, the Natural Resource Management organisation for the Mackay Whitsunday Isaac region, has been awarded $3.5 million from the Australian Government Saving Koalas Fund to expand and improve koala habitat in Sarina.According to Reef Catchments Coordinator, Kira Andrews, “Our project provides meaningful support that enables the community to plant koala food and habitat trees for the creation of sustainable koala friendly corridors.”
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Mackay Police reported that between 3:00pm and 5:56pm on August 15 someone had broken into a home on Nine Mile Creek Road at Hampden.“Entry was gained into the house which is situated on an elevated block through either the front or back door which were both later discovered open,” police said in a statement.
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The official opening of the Seaforth Esplanade Redevelopment will take place next month, on Saturday, September 2, from 9.30am to noon.Be one of the first to try the new playground and waterplay area and enjoy the free entertainment on offer including live music, face painting and the Seaforth mini markets. There will also be a free fishing clinic thanks to Mackay Recreational Fishers Alliance. Bring your own rod or reel. Places are limited and bookings are essential. Don’t forget to bring your
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With hearts brimming with anticipation, proud parents throughout the Mackay region are rejoicing as they welcome an influx of newborns into their lives. At Mater Mothers’ Private Mackay, the month of July witnessed the advent of 33 newborns, each one an embodiment of pure potential and promise.
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Be Social Fest went off with a bang in June and the good vibrations are still being felt throughout the community.
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North Mackay’s Pioneer Swim Centre will close its gates for the month of September for scheduled maintenance work.The work will include levelling the deep end of the 50m pool, expansion joint renewal, pool tile renewal, recoating the children’s pool water features and repairs and maintenance to the grandstand.
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Energise your local community hub or Mackay’s town centre with a touch of magic courtesy of the Activate My Place! (AMP!) Placemaking Grants. As these grants take centre stage, they are your passport to rejuvenating your surroundings, stitching together vibrancy and vitality in a symphony of transformation.
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It is always positive to see government investing in the sustainability of the sugar industry. As growers, we know it is all-important that farm inputs - like fertiliser – stay in the ground where we need them working towards increasing productivity and profitability, and not making its way off farm during rain and into creeks and on to the Great Barrier Reef lagoon.
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Pivotal Ingredients has teamed up with the local sugar industry in Mackay to tap into the growing global demand for sustainable animal-free dairy products. Pivotal Ingredients is excited to announce its vision to build a state-of-the-art fermentation facility in Mackay, Queensland and is partnering with local sugar producers to help make this project a reality.
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Walkerston’s Vietnam Veteran William Lake was, at last week’s local RSL meeting, presented with a commemoration medallion and certificate marking the 50th anniversary of the end of Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War.
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When it comes to protecting your home from the impacts of natural disasters, being prepared is key. Mackay residents have experienced firsthand the importance of home maintenance in the face of our region's unpredictable weather patterns. Whether you own your home or are renting, these practical steps can make all the difference in safeguarding your property. If you are renting and have concerns regarding the safety of your home, bring these to the attention of your landlord or property manager
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Maintaining a clean car not only enhances its appearance but also contributes to its longevity and overall value. Regular cleaning goes beyond aesthetics; it helps protect your investment and ensures a comfortable and healthy driving environment. Here are some expert tips to keep your car sparkling clean:
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My real estate career is littered with occasions when I have held open houses and private inspections and have not been required to draw a gun and shoot someone. Call me a bright-eyed optimist who views the world through rose-coloured glasses if you like, but I have never even felt the need to take a gun to a private inspection. I think my stance on weapons in real estate probably reflects the broader Australian situation but, like so many things, it’s different in America. Judging by the discus
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These three words explain a lot about our extinct and endangered species. I can’t stand by and see this continuing to happen, so I came up with the ‘Love an endangered Aussie species’ revolution. I want all Australians to get on board and say, ‘I stand up for our endangered wildlife’. Australia is home to some of the world’s most unique and rare species. However, since European settlements in 1788, the country has experienced widespread habitat destruction and the introduction of non-native pre
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