Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
As the Whitsunday tourism community gathers this Saturday to celebrate the 2025 Whitsunday Tourism Awards, the team at BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort reflects with immense pride on a year that has cemented its place as one of Australia’s most celebrated holiday destinations. Following an extraordinary run of success through the 2024 awards season, BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort achieved a truly remarkable milestone - winning Gold for the Caravan and Holiday Parks category at the Whitsunday,
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Airlie Beach favourite The Garden Bar Bistro is once again in the spotlight, named a finalist in this weekend’s Whitsunday Tourism Awards. The waterfront venue has already taken home gold in the Best of Queensland Experience program, earning its place among the region’s top tourism businesses. Owners Penny and Mandy Coles said they’re thrilled to be recognised and are looking forward to the gala event. “It’s always something we look forward to,” said Penny. “It’s an honour to be included among
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Bowen State High School Year 9 student Isaiah Howell has been selected as one of eight outstanding Queensland students to receive the prestigious 2026 Premier’s Anzac Prize, earning the opportunity of a lifetime to travel to Europe and learn about Australia’s rich Anzac legacy. Isaiah will join fellow students from across the state on a two-week educational tour of historic war sites in the United Kingdom, Belgium, and France, culminating in the Anzac Day dawn service at the Australian War Memo
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An evening of exhilarating talent will soon grace the stage of the beloved Airlie Beach Hotel (ABH) as the one and only Bobby Bruce returns to the Whitsunday Shire! Sold out venues from Vancouver to Vegas have had the absolute pleasure of hosting Bobby Bruce live and in concert. Since he began touring internationally, Bobby Bruce, known as Nearly Neil, has gained quite a following and now has fans throughout America, Canada, Europe, New Zealand, Asia and of course, Australia! “So Good, So Good
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The countdown is on for Schoolies 2025, with organisers officially dropping the theme nights for this year’s week-long celebration and it’s shaping up to be one of the biggest yet. Running from November 22 to 28, the official Schoolies event will take place each night from 8pm to midnight in a fully enclosed, alcohol-free zone at the Airlie Beach foreshore – the same site used for the Reef Festival. This year’s theme nights promise plenty of fun and creativity, giving Schoolies a new reason to
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Disaster season in the Whitsunday region runs from 1 November to 30 April. During this period, our region is at increased risk of cyclones, storms, floods and bushfires. Taking a few simple steps today to make sure you’re prepared can make all the difference in an emergency. Start by preparing your home: clear gutters, secure loose items and check your property for risks. Create a household disaster plan so everyone knows what to do and where to go. Now is the time to also start prepping a surv
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The season is officially underway for Proserpine Junior Cricket, with the first Club afternoon on Friday, October 10, welcoming many returning and new faces. With more than 120 registrations and counting, the club is set for another bumper season. History was made for the youngest Pitties, with the club fielding its first all-girls team. Their debut was a friendly club clash against the Under 11s Pitties Boys. The boys won the toss and batted first, facing strong bowling from the girls (M. Neal
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Meet Tipsy If a sweet, playful and fun-loving companion is who you’re searching for, Tipsy is your girl! Tipsy is a gorgeous young girl who was saved from the pound and is now safely in foster care. She’s an absolute sweetheart who just wants to be loved, and she’s more than ready to find her forever family! She’s affectionate and full of love to give, and would suit a family ready to enjoy her bucketloads of puppy energy, and provide her with a little training and guidance to see her grow int
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On Monday night, after a long day at the office and a beach walk with the dog, I arrived home with my son, ready to start dinner. “Mum, can you play basketball with me?” he asked as we pulled into the driveway, suggesting I park on the grass so we could wheel the hoop out. “Not tonight, darling, it’s a bit late,” I replied, pulling into the driveway. But then I looked at his little face — and paused. Is it really ever too late? Are we ever too tired to give just 10 minutes to our kids? I swe
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Crocodiles are masters of stealth, and their eyes play a central role in their predatory prowess. Research in the Journal of Experimental Biology shows that crocodile vision is perfectly adapted for lurking just below the water’s surface. Their fovea, responsible for sharp vision, is shaped as a horizontal streak rather than a circle, aligning with the horizon when they adopt their “minimum exposure” ambush posture, with only eyes, cranial platform, ears, and nostrils above water. This lets the
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Seahorses, despite their unusual appearance, are indeed fish. Belonging to the family Syngnathidae and the genus Hippocampus, they share this classification with other marine species like pipefish and sea dragons. They closely resemble the classic knight on a chessboard. Their unique physical characteristics include a horse-like head, monkey-like tail, and armour-like plates. Seahorses primarily inhabit tropical waters, including the Great Barrier Reef, as well as temperate coastal waters. The
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The Collinsville community gathered on Monday, 13 October for the 71st Miners Memorial Day, held at the Collinsville Workers Club. The annual service honours the lives lost in the region’s mining industry, particularly remembering the 1954 Collinsville State Mine disaster, which occurred 71 years ago and claimed the lives of seven local miners. The tragic event took place at 5:50pm on 13 October 1954, when a carbon dioxide (CO₂) outburst in the mine’s Number One Tunnel led to the asphyxiation o
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The Whitsundays tourism industry will be in the spotlight this weekend as the 2025 Whitsundays Tourism Awards take place on Saturday evening at the Proserpine Entertainment Centre. Presented by Tourism Whitsundays, the annual event recognises and celebrates excellence across the region’s tourism sector — from world-class accommodation and immersive experiences to culinary offerings and unforgettable adventures. This year’s event carries the theme A Night of Stars, promising an evening of glamo
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From Social Media To Live Performance - Tones & I Lights Up Bowen! On 14 October 2025, Bowen came alive as Australian superstar Tones & I performed live in the coastal town. The concert was the result of a six-month Facebook campaign by local fan Katie English, whose persistence brought one of the country’s biggest stars to the region. Hundreds of locals and visitors turned out to enjoy her infectious energy and chart-topping hits, including Dance Monkey. The event was more th
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Local resident Cara Robinson has shared her heartfelt gratitude for two ambulance officers who came to her aid during a frightening late-night medical emergency. “I’d like to do a shout out to the beautiful, kind and caring ambulance ladies that helped me in the middle of the night,” Cara said. “Rosie and Kealie, you two are legends!” Cara explained that she had been suddenly struck by illness and was caught completely off guard. “And for everyone in the community, there is a nasty strain of s
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As students across the Whitsundays return to classrooms, a well-packed lunch can play a big role in keeping energy levels steady and concentration sharp throughout the day. A nutritious lunch doesn’t have to be complicated—simple, wholesome ingredients can make a noticeable difference in how students feel and perform. Including a good source of protein in every lunch helps children feel satisfied and focused during lessons. Options like lean meats, eggs, cheese, yogurt, or plant-based alternati
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The October 2025 Monthly Medal was contested today, with 14 ladies and 19 men taking part. Cooler conditions, a slight breeze, and extra run on the fairways made for tight scoring, while ‘sticky’ greens proved no problem for Leanne Alexander and John Grossy, who both recorded just 28 putts. Leanne Alexander claimed the ladies title with 64 nett, ahead of Elspeth Scotford on 66. Rounding out the field were Jan Shuwalow and Elaine Philpott (70), Jacqui Wall and Kath Borer (71), Paula McQuat (73)
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As the new school year kicks off across the Whitsundays, families are looking for ways to help students stay organised and motivated, and one of the simplest yet most effective strategies is establishing a consistent homework routine at home. Maintaining consistency is essential for building good habits, as setting a regular time each afternoon or evening helps children know what to expect and gradually makes homework a normal part of their day. Whether it’s right after school with a snack or f
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This week I was in Brisbane flying the flag for the Whitsundays at the Delivering 2032 Queensland Infrastructure Summit, a gathering of government, industry and local leaders focused on one thing: turning the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games into a legacy that lasts generations. For us here in the Whitsundays, these conversations are more than just capital city talk. I am passionate about ensuring regional Queensland, and especially the Whitsundays, is not left on the sidelines but ri
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Specialist in Fundraising Operations This month, we feature Whitsundays Chamber member Sue Birch, a business consultant specialising in fundraising operations, who relocated from Brisbane to Airlie Beach in April 2024. Since founding Sue Birch Consulting in 2020, Sue has helped not-for-profit organisations transform their operational capability by enhancing people, processes, technology, and data management. With over 15 years in the not-for-profit sector, Sue recognised a gap in the market. “
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In a challenging landscape for the live music industry, the Airlie Beach Festival of Music is defying trends by introducing new, innovative ticket and accommodation options designed to ensure the festival's continued success and accessibility. As other events face cancellations, the festival is excited to announce the introduction of dedicated camping packages and flexible 2-day tickets for its upcoming event. The new strategies are already delivering tangible success: the festival has recorded
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The iconic Big Mango at Bowen is a favourite among travellers. The 10-metre-high replica of the “Kensington Pride” mango was built in 2002 at a cost of $90,000. Located on the Bruce Highway just 5km south of Bowen, the Big Mango was named the “Best Big Thing” in Queensland in 2025 as part of the Premier’s Awards on Queensland Day – and that was decided purely by public vote. Bowen is the Australian birthplace The Kensington Pride variety of mango which was introduced from India in the late 18
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Visitors and locals in the Whitsundays are reminded to stay alert when encountering marine turtles, and to know the proper steps to help if a turtle appears sick, injured, or stranded. Acting quickly and correctly can make a life-or-death difference for these vulnerable animals. If you come across a turtle in distress, call the Marine Animal Stranding Hotline on 1300 130 372. This line connects directly to wildlife authorities and the Whitsunday Turtle Rescue Centre, who can assess the turtle’s
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These days there is much publicity surrounding the arrival of cruise ships to the Whitsundays but the forerunners of these modern marvels began visiting our waters nine decades ago. As early as Saturday, June 2 1934, the lure of the Whitsundays was acknowledged in a “Courier Mail” article, “Touring Queensland”. “This winter everything possible is being done to entertain visitors, and opportunities will be given tourists of viewing the beauties of Whitsunday. …
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Hello! Welcome to this week’s Ruth2Reef! In this edition, we dive into fascinating stories on crocodile eyes, what to do if you spot an injured turtle, and the incredible lives of Spanish mackerels and seahorses. Last week, I had the wonderful opportunity to help release one of Eco Barge’s rescued turtles, which was an unforgettable experience. I’ve also been exploring wildlife photography in my spare time, so keep an eye out for some of my own photos featured in this edition. I hope you enjo
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