Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
.jpeg)
Ever heard the saying, “Where your heart is, there your treasure is?” It's an interesting phrase, isn't it?' Our days are made up of so many little moments, but at the end of the day, it’s what our heart truly desires that gives us the motivation and drive to keep moving forward. It’s funny how we often place our happiness in material things, like a holiday, a car, or a new house – yet when we receive them, we immediately look for the “next best thing.” No doubt social media and current tren
Read more
Mackay Woman Shares Story Of Hope Following Early Detection October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time to remind women of the importance of early detection. For Mackay resident Wendy Hastie, 71, a routine breast screen during her retirement travels proved lifesaving. Wendy had been enjoying her retirement in 2022 with her husband Les when her BreastScreen reminder letter arrived while they were in Perth. “My daughter in Mackay called and said my letter from BreastScreen had arrived in th
Read more
Discover a sweet secret hiding in plain sight – oversized, 125g cookies that are crunchy outside with a gooey centre. Baked fresh every morning and served from the big purple Laffos Cookies truck outside Target at Caneland Central – they are a fast becoming a must-try taste sensation! An iconic New York treat, these cookies are packed with premium ingredients, including rich Belgian chocolate, and are known for their sheer size and melt in your mouth texture. Every bite is full of flavour! Laf
Read more
Reflecting On A Remarkable First Year As Your Member For Mackay One Year of Service: Reflecting on a Remarkable First Year as Your Member for Mackay By Nigel Dalton MP, Member for Mackay It’s hard to believe it’s already been a year since I was given the great honour of being elected to represent the people of Mackay in the Queensland Parliament. And what a year it has been. From day one, I made a commitment: to work hard, to listen, to be present, and to stand up for the projects and priorities
Read more
Whitsunday Anglican School students recently made their mark on the Central Queensland art scene, with their work showcased in the Creative Generations Excellence in Visual Art Awards – Central Queensland Regional Exhibition at the Emu Park Gallery. The exhibition, which ran daily until October 18, formed part of the Yeppoon Lions Pinefest celebrations — an annual highlight that celebrates the creativity, passion, and artistic excellence of young people from across the region. A representative
Read more
Veterans across the Pioneer Valley and beyond are set to benefit from the Crisafulli Government’s renewed commitment to recognising and supporting those who have served. Member for Mirani, Glen Kelly MP, welcomed the announcement, which includes the development of a Queensland Veterans and Veterans’ Families Strategy — aimed at supporting the more than 163,000 current and former Australian Defence Force members living across the state. A community forum will be held in Rockhampton on Wed
Read more
Mackay Christian College students once again took to the road, and the racetrack, for another year of hands-on learning. Packed and ready to roll, the team set off for race day with their cars proudly displaying stickers from local supporters including Frontline Equipment Maintenance, RMS Performance Engineering, Consolidated Engineering Plastics Products, L&R Contracting, Mackay Christian College, and the Mackay Christian College Trade Training Centre. The crew arrived at the track around 4:3
Read more
Your business’s audience is not everyone. Every day, thousands of ads, brands, and messages compete for attention, but no one notices them all. A health care worker isn’t interested in tractor tires, a teenager isn’t comparing retirement homes, a manufacturer isn’t looking for an Elvis impersonator, and no one cares about last month’s pizza discounts. That’s why redhotblue delivers the right message, in the right way, to the right people, at the right place and time. When you invest time and mo
Read more
Grab a passport and get ready to dance, taste and celebrate your way around the world – all without leaving Mackay! Global Grooves 2025 is set to transform Queens Park into a vibrant global party on Saturday, October 25, from 3pm to 8pm. This free family event will be a feast for the senses, bursting with cultural dances, global music, traditional dress, workshops and mouthwatering food from across the globe. With 12 cultural dance groups and bands lighting up the stage, the entertainment wil
Read more
As the Mackay and Whitsunday region heads deeper into fire season, residents are being urged to stay alert, take precautions, and understand the crucial role that fire plays across local landscapes, from controlled cane burns to hazard reduction in rural communities. Rural Fire Service Queensland (RFSQ) Area Manager, Inspector Andrew Houley said the local fire season typically aligns with the region’s sugar cane industry. “Our fire season tends to reflect the biggest crop on the coast,”
Read more
Foster carers are the backbone of Mackay Animal Rescue Society (also known as MARS). We rely heavily on these wonderful people to provide temporary homes for cats and dogs in care, while actively helping them find their forever families. MARS covers all vet costs for your foster, but we do ask that you bring your foster dog or puppy to our monthly adoption days, held on the last Sunday of each month. These events are a fantastic opportunity to showcase your foster to the public and help
Read more
Sarina State High School marked Mental Health Week earlier this month with a range of engaging activities held in the Resource Centre and Education Support Centre.The event aimed to promote awareness and encourage open conversations around mental wellbeing among students and staff.The school extended thanks to its Student Wellbeing and Student Services teams for their ongoing efforts to foster a positive and supportive environment.“A big thank you to our Student Wellbeing and Student Services
Read more
New playgrounds and swimming programs are just some of the ways students have benefited from Community Bank Sarina Bendigo Bank’s Community Engagement Program. With World Teachers’ Day just around the corner, it’s a perfect time to highlight the important role schools and educators play in supporting students to reach their full potential. Throughout its Community Engagement Program, Community Bank Sarina continues to invest in local youth and education, creating meaningful community impact by
Read more
By Joseph Borg, Chairman, CANEGROWERS Mackay October materialised with a real kick of hot dry weather, bringing with it some blazes around the region. That reality has dominated the month, bringing with it fire bans and moderate to high fire danger. It’s times like these, we are thankful for our local rural fire brigades It is something that probably became a little foreign in the recent past and hasn’t been experienced across the district in several years. In fact, an extended dry period like
Read more
At low tide on the Seaforth coast, volunteers gathered with buckets, boots, and a shared ambition to restore the seagrass meadows that support the health of the Great Barrier Reef. Lead by Reef Catchments in partnership with Central Queensland University and OzFish Unlimited, the two successful volunteer events at Seaforth marked a major milestone in the (Sea)Grassroots Community Restoration Project; a three-year initiative aimed at improving the health and resilience of seagrass meadows in the
Read more
Authorities are urging residents of the Mackay Shire to be hypervigilant around cane trains this crushing season following an incident last week involving an on-track collision between a cane train locomotive and a vehicle just south of the region. Shortly after 12pm on Monday, the 13th of October, first responders were called to Oakenden after a cane locomotive and a b-double truck collided at a level crossing. Queensland Fire and Rescue officers cut the train driver out of the terribly damage
Read more
Disaster recovery assistance has been expanded to include a wider range of primary production businesses, offering vital financial support to more regional enterprises impacted by severe weather events earlier this year. Under the updated Primary Production Enterprise definition, contracting businesses such as farm irrigation services, mustering, shearing, silage baling, and timber plantation maintenance services may now be eligible for assistance, subject to the Australian and New Zealand Stan
Read more
First there were the YUPPIES, then came the DINKS. The terms emerged in the 1980s when marketing types got the Western world by the scruff of the neck and started ascribing labels to various groups. The marketing people sought to categorise emerging groups within the society and then identify commercial opportunities. YUPPIES stood for Young Upwardly-Mobile Professional People and they were the type of annoying people in their 20s and 30s who would be seen arriving at trendy inner-city cafes
Read more
Council is calling on residents to have their say on the draft Mackay Region Housing Strategy 2025–2030, which sets out a roadmap to ensure future housing supply meets the community’s changing needs. Council recognises that housing needs vary across life stages, household types and income levels, and community input is essential to ensure our future housing reflects these diverse needs. The strategy responds to a growing imbalance between the types of homes people need and the ones currently av
Read more
How Keyton’s Queenslanders Are Rewriting the Rules For many, retirement means slowing down: lazy mornings, long lunches, time to finally relax. Yet Australians are increasingly reimagining this stage of life as a chance to rediscover purpose, deepen connections, and embrace passions set aside during the busier years. Purpose, after all, is powerful. Those who feel their days have meaning enjoy greater wellbeing, sharper minds, and stronger health. Research into the world's Blue Zones, reg
Read more
In the endless pursuit of glowing, youthful skin, many of us reach for the latest serum, cleanser, or mask—believing that the right product will fix what we see in the mirror. But growing evidence suggests that beauty really does begin within, and the health of your skin might have far more to do with your gut than your skincare routine. This rising wellness trend, known as the gut–skin axis, is gaining traction among scientists, nutritionists, and dermatologists alike. In simple terms, it’s th
Read more.jpg)
World Menopause Month We talk about the weather in Mackay. We talk about the sugar price, the reef, the school run, and even the potholes; but one topic that often stays off the table is menopause. For something that every woman will go through in her lifetime, menopause is still surrounded by silence. Many women describe it as something you “just get on with.” But this natural transition can bring changes that affect your energy, mood, sleep, relationships, and confidence, and you don’t have t
Read more
By Hannah McNamara Smiles and excitement filled the room as Shara’s Club officially opened its doors on Monday, 13th October, celebrating a landmark moment for adults living with physical or intellectual disabilities across the Mackay, Whitsunday, and Coalfields regions. The not-for-profit registered charity offers a safe, welcoming, and non-judgemental space, that’s completely free, where visitors can connect, learn, and enjoy a wide range of enriching activities. The Open Day drew an excited
Read more
**Friday 24th October ** Women In Sport – Leadership Breakfast 7.30am Celebrate the power of women in sport at the Women in Sport Leadership Breakfast at Harrup Park. Hear from Olympic legends Cathy Freeman OAM, Tracey Belbin OAM, and Linda McKenzie OAM as they share insights on leadership, diversity, and inspiring the next generation on the road to Brisbane 2032. Proceeds support local girls’ sport through the Mackay Sports Foundation. Tickets essential via: https://bit.ly/WOMEN-IN-S
Read more
As Reclaim The Night Returns To Mackay The Zonta Club of Mackay, together with Mackay Women’s Service, Salvation Army, and The Neighbourhood Hub, will host the Reclaim the Night March and BBQ on Friday, 31 October 2025, from 5–7pm near Artspace in the Council Precinct. The event will feature information from Zonta and the Mackay Police Vulnerable Persons Unit, as well as a performance of a local Reclaim the Night song written for the occasion by Rhythm Business. Walkerston Rotary Club will als
Read more