Issue #

Nominations Now Open For Amazing Aussies

This January Whitsunday Regional Council will once again be celebrating amazing Aussies in the 2023 Australia Day Awards which means now is the time to put your fellow community members forward, with nominations closing at the end of this month.

Stinger Season Now On!

Residents are advised to always wear stinger suits when swimming in the ocean from now until May as jelly fish, that predominantly favour warmer temperatures, become prevalent in our local waterways at this time of year.

ON REMEMBRANCE DAY – SALUTING FATHER GARD (MBE)

Major Thomas Gard, Rat of Tobruk, is better known to the people of the Whitsundays as Father Gard, parish priest in Proserpine from 1966 until his retirement in 1988 and as a beloved coach to many young football players and cricketers in the area. But to the men of the 2/43rd Battalion, he was regarded as a legend in his own time. His award of an MBE was fitting recognition for this man renowned in military circles as “the priest who stopped the war”.

State School Students Contribute To Seagrass Study

A Coastal Marine Ecosystem Research Centre (CMERC) study enlisted the help of Cannonvale State School students and Whitsunday locals last weekend with the goal of educating the community on the importance of seagrass.

Local Lad Wins Townsville TAFE Apprentice Of The Year

Taking out the top prize at the TAFE Queensland 2022 Townsville Trade Excellence Awards, local Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic, Connor Spence, has been named the 2022 Outstanding Apprentice of the Year.

Whitsundays Represent At Queensland Tourism Awards

More than a thousand tour operators, both big and small, gathered at the Queensland Tourism Awards last Friday to celebrate a bounce-back year which saw intra-state tourism numbers rise by 21.5 percent, totalling $12.4 billion.

GOLD For BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort At 2022 Queensland Tourism Awards

Last Friday BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort was awarded top honours at the Queensland Tourism Awards with a Gold win in the ‘Caravan and Holiday Parks ‘category.

Award Winning Tour Company Launches November Sunset Special

Cruise Whitsundays is celebrating a successful award season by launching a November special exclusive for Turtle Club members on their popular Camira Sunset Cruise.

Ocean Rafting Win Gold At State Awards

Celebrated local tour company Ocean Rafting have returned from the Queensland Tourism Awards this week with a gold award for Adventure Tourism and a silver in the Major Tour and Transport Operators category.

Farmers Frustrated As Sugar Season Runs Late

The Proserpine Mill will continue crushing until January and it is looking likely that there will be a ‘stand-over’ of sugar cane still left in the fields following a disappointing season that has been marred by the mill’s unplanned maintenance issues and worker shortage.

Proserpine Bull Riding Final Next Week

Learn About Your Community Centre

A community association is inviting interested locals along to participate in its annual general meeting (AGM) where they can learn about its groups, services, and passion for its town.

“Final Fruition”: Proserpine Dam Thriving

Lake Proserpine has experienced exceptional financial growth as a tourism venture thanks to major redevelopments which have capitalised on the famed site’s natural splendour.

Therapy Is Expensive, Talk To Your Hairdresser!

This funny slogan is something you may have seen outside a hairdressing salon, but its message has a much deeper meaning, one that Whitsunday Counselling and Support (WCS) are hoping to explore at their upcoming workshops.

Find Your Purpose - Improve Your Mental Health

We live in a world that is more connected than ever, in an age where distance means little and we can reach the other side of the world in an instant from a device in our pockets. So why do so many people feel so disconnected from their family, friends, and community?

Airlie Beach Festival of Music 2022

Movie-Review - The Menu

Please, take a seat. A beautiful young couple, I must say. Quite exquisite. Our pleasure to feed you. Shall we start with a drink? I always recommend the Chianti, the house. Excellent vintage and pairs favourably with the hors d’ouevres; simply makes your mouth water, thinking of it.

Music Festival Announces Australia’s Brightest Rising Band

The Airlie Beach Festival of Music brought thousands of people together for one wild weekend of live tunes and awesome beats, from its central main-stage tent at the Whitsunday Sailing Club right through to the 16 venues spread right across the town.

Airlie Beach Acoustic At The Pub

Every Wednesday, every Thursday, every Friday, Saturday, Sunday, settle in at locals’ favourite local for an evening of music in its purest form: The Airlie Beach Hotel’s Acoustic Sessions.

We’re All In This Together

Ben Lee’s catalogue of iconic Australian hits can be heard in Hollywood movies, hit sitcoms and indie surf flicks all over the world. Saturday night at the Airlie Beach Festival of Music brought thousands together to watch Ben’s return to Australian stages and Sam had a chat to him before he took to the big tent.

Adopt A Family This Christmas

Whitsunday Neighbourhood Centre are launching their annual Christmas Gift Appeal again this year, inviting local residents to purchase gift vouchers for people doing it tough to make the burden a little lighter at this happy time of year.

Christmas Lights Competition Is Back

For the second year in a row the Whitsunday Regional Council is hosting their Christmas Lights Competition, inviting households from across the region to dress their gardens in festive lights and Christmas cheer.

A Very Merry Airlie Beach Darts

Groups C and D got their 2022 Xmas Open campaigns underway at Mika on Sunday morning, with group D being the largest group of this year’s competition, featuring five players.

Whitsundays’ World Competitors Return As Ironman Heroes

Three triathletes from a local Whitsunday club have completed the ultimate endurance test by not just finishing the gruelling and iconic Half-Ironman 70.3 World Championship in the United States but doing so in style.

Whitsunday Weightlifter Claims World Record

A local weightlifting club has had some outrageous results in the second half of the year, most recently sending one of its top competitors to the World Championships in early November in the hopes they would claim a world record – instead, they came home with three!