Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
Queenslanders are part of a national boom in home building, with the latest HIA Housing 100 report highlighting the country’s largest residential builders and the homes they’ve delivered over the past year. “Metricon Homes has cemented its place in history as Australia’s number one home builder for the tenth year in a row,” stated HIA Chief Economist, Tim Reardon, at the launch of the HIA Housing 100 2024/25, sponsored by Colorbond® steel. The report ranks Australia’s 100 largest builder
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SOFTBALL What a day of action on the diamond — surprises, nail-biters, and plenty of fantastic ball played across all grades. Get The Power 5 Def. Nth Jacklin Choas Angels 4 It was a thrilling contest right down to the last innings, with the young ones keeping the crowd on edge. Pitchers Harry Dolgner and Ashlyn Ireland both impressed on the mound, with Harry the only player to take a catch in the game. For the Choas Angels, Harry, Ashlyn and Jarvis Locher each crossed home every turn a
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Kids Shine At Harrup Park Colouring Competition Throughout August, children had their coloured pencils, textas and crayons out, creating masterpieces that combined a love of cricket with a flair for art. The response far exceeded expectations, with more than 60 entries received in each division, making the job of choosing winners incredibly tough for judges. With all the international cricket action at Harrup Park during August, the club thought this competition would be a fun way to get
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BRIDGE Twenty one players went to Airlie Beach on Wednesday to compete in the Airlie Red Point pairs event. Six pairs all placed, including Patricia Garner and Martin Pearce, and Alan and Frances Brown winning first place. Nancy Wix and Julie O’Neill who have never played together before came in a respectable fourth place. Weekly Results Monday 15 September 2025 – 7 Table Mitchell Green Points N/S E/W 1st Helen Van Den Broek / Jan Harris 1st Geoffrey Patterson / Noel Bugeia 2nd Janelle Conroy
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TABLE TENNIS **Evening Fixture Results – Finals Night ** Well Finals for Season 3 have arrived and they delivered with the top 2 teams in each Division battling it out. There has been some incredible matches throughout the season and congratulations to everyone on a great season. Division 1: Fish (Goncalo Serra, Steven Whiting, Jacob Whelan) defeated Bears (Lily Boland, Josh Brown, Lee Brake) 7-4 with no 5 set matches but we did have some close 4 setters Josh come out on top by the skin
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$46 Million Set To Deliver Nearly 3000 Blocks Across The Region More than 2,900 new homes will be unlocked in Mackay and the Whitsundays with construction of several critical infrastructure projects set to be fast-tracked under the Crisafulli Government’s landmark $2 billion Residential Activation Fund. On Wednesday 24 September the Crisafulli Government announced in Cannonvale that funding of $41.66 million under the Residential Activation Fund (RAF) will support the construction of several cr
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Hi Everyone, This week has been one of big changes here at the paper — a mix of heartfelt goodbyes and warm new beginnings. Firstly, we bid farewell to the amazing Amanda Wright, who has stepped down from her role as Editor of Mackay Life to pursue a career in politics. Amanda has brought heart, talent, and fierce integrity to every edition, and we are so proud to see her take on a new chapter where she’ll no doubt make a difference. We also said goodbye to our office dynamo, Crissy Bottrell.
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A passion for craft and a love of community has led local maker Tina to brighten lives with her colourful handmade chairs and hampers. The project began when former school principal put a call out for a special reading chair for the school library. Tina answered the request and has since turned it into an ongoing way to give back. Each chair is carefully sewn, upholstered with cheerful fabrics, and donated rather than sold. “I don’t sell them – a lot of people suggest I should – but I only eve
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It was a proud moment for Marine Rescue Queensland (MRQ), formerly Volunteer Marine Rescue (VMR) Whitsunday this week, as volunteers were presented with their MRQ Citations during a special ceremony. Family, friends, community representatives, and fellow first responders gathered to celebrate the dedication and service of the local crew, who have played a vital role in keeping Whitsunday waters safe. Chief Officer Tony Wulff reflected on the organisation’s long history in the region, acknowled
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Plans are underway for a memorial plaque to honour the four Australian Defence Force members who lost their lives in the MRH-90 Taipan helicopter crash during Exercise Talisman Sabre. The aircraft, carrying four members of the Sixth Aviation Regiment based in Sydney—Lieutenant Maxwell Nugent, Captain Daniel Lyon, Warrant Officer Class 2 Joseph Laycock and Corporal Alexander Naggs crashed in the Whitsundays on July 28 2023. A group of ex-servicemen, from Operation Pilgrimage Group is leading th
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A Mother’s Mission to Help Grieving Parents On the 3rd of March, 2021, the Stevens family’s world was shattered when their eldest son, Ethan, lost his battle with Acute T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukaemia, just three days shy of his 14th birthday. For Kimberly, her husband Michael, and their youngest son Jett, life without Ethan felt unimaginable. Their “awesome foursome” was broken, and the road ahead seemed impossible to navigate. “Six months after our teenage son Ethan passed away from T-Cell Le
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Since this newspaper’s inception five years ago, office dynamo Crissy Bottrell has been at the very heart of the print house — steering deadlines, supporting staff, and caring for our valued clients with dedication and flair. Over the years, Crissy has been the friendly voice answering the main office line, effortlessly guiding advertisers through their campaigns with professionalism, warmth, and more than a few cheeky jokes along the way. In-house, she’s known for her rock-solid work ethic, r
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Road Safety And Community Awareness As school holidays kick off across Queensland, Whitsunday Police are urging everyone to prioritise safety on the roads and in the community. With increased traffic and more children enjoying outdoor activities, patience and care will ensure a safe holiday period for all. Queensland Police are reminding motorists to take extra care during the holidays, especially as roads may be busier with families heading to destinations such as beaches and parks. Drivers sh
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Established September 1 1925 In July 1925, two young men, Messrs C E Mazlin and E S Briggs, foresaw the possible advancement of the Proserpine district and took the big risk of resigning from their positions and purchasing the business of Mr Randolph Traill, a Real Estate and Commission Agent with an auctioneering business and motor car agency. On September 1, they began trading as Briggs and Mazlin. Mr E S Briggs had arrived in Proserpine in 1921 to establish a branch of the Australian Bank of
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Meet Fraser Simpson Cruise Whitsundays’ largest vessel, Seaflight, has just returned to service after a major repower and a fresh coat of paint in the new company livery. The project forms part of a multi-million-dollar investment strategy focused on upgrading and expanding the fleet, with four of the eight key vessels already undergoing significant works this year and more planned for the future. But the real story isn’t just about the vessel – it’s about the person now at the helm. Local ski
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Our Whitsunday region is officially the fastest growing local government area in Queensland and the third fastest in the whole of Australia. Growth at this level is exciting, but it also brings real challenges. One of the biggest is making sure there are enough homes for the families who want to live here. Yesterday I joined Premier David Crisafulli and our local Member of Parliament Amanda Camm to announce more than 15 million dollars in funding for critical water and sewer infrastructure in C
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The Whitsundays Chamber of Commerce and Industry has announced an action-packed program of events for October, designed to strengthen local businesses and provide practical tools for growth and success. The month begins with a timely professional development session on Managing Difficult Personalities in the Workplace, to be held on Thursday 9 October, 7:30–9:00am at Club Whitsunday, Airlie Beach. Delivered by Judy Porter of Shiift, this interactive workshop will address one of the top challeng
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The Whitsundays is set to sparkle as the region prepares to honour its leading tourism operators at the 2025 Whitsunday Tourism Awards, to be held on Saturday, 18 October at the Proserpine Entertainment Centre. This year marks a fresh chapter for the awards, with the introduction of a new structure based on the Best of Queensland Experience Program (BOQEP). This innovative approach means recognition is awarded not by submissions, but through real results and customer feedback, ensuring the fina
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October is Seniors Month, a time to celebrate the vital role older Queenslanders play in our families, workplaces and communities. It’s also a chance to connect across generations, share stories and recognise the experience and wisdom our seniors bring to everyday life. Join in with local events this Seniors Month and help celebrate the theme of social connection and inclusion for all ages. Events include an Ageism Awareness Day Mental Health Session at the Proserpine Library, Stay Safe Online
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Tec-NQ House Year 11 boarder Max has taken a big step toward his future, securing a school-based plumbing apprenticeship with Hilditch Plumbing in Townsville. He splits his week between paid work on real sites, training with Tec-NQ, and the study he needs to complete his Senior Certificate, earning while he’s learning and loving every minute. “It’s busy and it’s hands-on, which is exactly what I wanted,” said Max. “I’m earning while I learn, and I’m picking up skills on the tools that I can use
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Bowen Summergarden Cinema will celebrate World Space Week 2025 with a children and youth poster competition and screenings of To The Stars – Beginning, a feature documentary about the early years of Gilmour Space Technologies. Both events are officially registered Australian activities for World Space Week, which runs from October 4–10 each year. The 2025 theme is Living In Space. Cinema owner Ben DeLuca said the poster competition invites entrants to pick a planet or planetary moon within the
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Member for Burdekin, Dale Last MP, has confirmed that after more than 12 years of lobbying, the Bowen Boat Harbour Master Plan is finally moving forward. The Master Plan was an election commitment during the October 2024 election, and with funding recently allocated by the Crisafulli Government, the focus turned to timing. Mr Last said that, following a commitment from the Minister for Transport and Main Roads, work would begin soon. “Less than two years ago, the former government put the Mast
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Australians love big things and nine in 10 people are said to embrace the oversized landmarks as a part of their great Aussie road trip. For 72% of Aussies, visiting one is more than just a detour, it adds purpose to their trip. Following overwhelming demand for the first collection, Australia Post has released its latest $1 coin collection in partnership with the Royal Australian Mint, celebrating Australia’s iconic roadside attractions. The ‘Aussie Big Things 2’ collection features 10 of Au
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Retreat For Locals And Visitors Alike On the shoreline of Bowen’s Rose Bay, a boutique caravan park has been winning over visitors with its relaxed coastal charm and a surprising healthy twist. Tony Dente and Bernie Mackie opened the Rose Bay Beach Caravan Park just over 18 months ago, creating a welcoming escape with only 24 sites. Their goal was to provide a smaller, quieter alternative where guests could enjoy a friendly community atmosphere in a stunning beachside setting. “It’s a small, b
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After years of building a successful career on the Gold Coast, local real estate agent Kath Barker has returned to the Whitsundays with a fresh perspective on the industry choosing to go out on her own and offer something a little different, Compass Realty Whitsundays. Having first lived in the region in the late 1980s and early 90s, Kath has strong ties to the area. “My dad lived here for many years, and when my husband suggested moving back, at first I thought he was crazy. But once we made
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