Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
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Stronger Homes Grant Earlier this year, many parts of North and Far North Queensland were hit hard by flooding. While the Whitsundays was fortunate not to experience widespread damage, it was still a challenging time for our region. Families here watched the impacts unfold across the north, some of our residents were directly affected, and the uncertainty around weather events weighed heavily on our community. That is why I welcome the Queensland Government’s recent announcement of the Stronge
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This week marks the final chapter for the community newspaper Whitsunday News, which has been part of the region since its inception in 2020. After shifting to an online-only format in 2024, the publication has now announced it will officially close its doors. Editor and founder Deborah Friend has been the driving force behind Whitsunday News since day one. In a touching gesture, Member for Whitsunday Amanda Camm recently surprised Ms Friend with a gift basket and a certificate of appreciation.
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Since rolling into town in June, Skyline Attractions’ Ferris Wheel has quickly become part of the Airlie Beach experience. Standing 35 metres tall, it’s given locals and visitors the chance to take in sweeping 360° views of The Whitsundays, from the sparkling Coral Sea to the bustle of the foreshore and some stunning sunsets. More than 40,000 people have already hopped on board, and the Wheel has even played host to a bit of romance, with 17 proposals happening high above the sea (that we know
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The school holidays are about to get seriously fun at the Proserpine Entertainment Centre! From the laugh-out-loud kid’s circus adventure ‘The Farmy Farm’ to big-screen new release cinema including The Smurfs, Bad Guys 2, Kangaroo and Gabby’s Dollhouse, there’s something for every mini movie buff or theatre lover! Don’t miss out, check out the What’s On page on the Proserpine Entertainment Centre website and grab your tickets today!
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It has been a term like no other for St Catherine’s Catholic College with students, staff, families, and alumni coming together to mark a century of Catholic education in the region. The College’s Centenary celebrations were the highlight of the term, drawing hundreds of people back to the school grounds to reminisce, reconnect, and celebrate the community that has flourished over the past 100 years. From moving liturgies to joyful reunions, the celebrations captured the proud history of the Co
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A vibrant showcase of dance, music and storytelling lit up the stage at Bowen State High School’s inaugural Multicultural Evening, where students, teachers and community members came together to celebrate cultural heritage and unity. Year 10 student Seinimilli Mau was credited as the driving force behind the evening, with her passion and leadership shining through every detail of the program. Guest compere Joe Mau, a Year 12 student from Burdekin Christian College, kept the evening flowing wit
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Two of the early pioneers in tourism in the Whitsunday region. It could be said that Leen and Bill Wallace from Coral Art on Dent Island fitted easily into the category of alternate life-stylers; individuals who had chosen a lifestyle that was perceived to be alternative and/or individuals who had chosen to drop out of society and live on islands or the coastal fringes of Queensland. From 1955 – 1961, they were caretakers of the lease owned by Jack O’Hara who, after his death, left it to his fa
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Hi Everyone, I had a fantastic weekend diving, which sparked my curiosity about fish identification, so I started looking for resources to learn more! I also thought this would also be a great opportunity to share with readers, so you can better recognise the incredible fish species right here in our backyard. Start by exploring the Whitsunday Conservation Council’s excellent guide on the Great Barrier Reef’s protected species, then read on for tips on how you can begin identifying them yourse
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Home to Many Protected Species The Great Barrier Reef is home to a stunning array of animals, from microscopic plankton to whales weighing more than 100 tonnes. If you are counting, you will find 1625 species of fish, more than a thousand species of hard and soft corals, 3000 plus species of molluscs (shells) and a mere 630 species of echinoderm (starfish, sea urchins). And the list goes on. These are well known facts. But what you may not know is that the Reef is home to a very large number of
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The Great Barrier Reef is home to more than 1,500 species of fish, making it one of the most diverse marine ecosystems on the planet. While it may seem overwhelming, there are a few simple ways to start identifying the fish you spot while snorkelling or diving. Look at size and shape. Small, slender fish darting in and out of corals are often damselfish or gobies, while larger, bulky species like groupers and cod move more slowly and are easier to approach. Long, beak-like mouths suggest specie
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Local Artist Shines at the Great Barrier Reef Festival Art Exhibition Creative Connections Whitsundays is proud to celebrate member Brigitte Peel, whose artwork Unity Comes from the Moon & the Sea captivated audiences at the recent Great Barrier Reef Festival Art Exhibition. The piece won both the Bendigo Community Bank People’s Choice Award and the Reef Theme Award, recognition Brigitte says is deeply meaningful. "I felt privileged that the community voted for my artwork," Brigitte shared. "It
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Friday 19 September Airlie Beach Hotel: Andy Mammers (7pm – 10pm) Grand View Hotel: Ash Smith (from 8pm) KC's: Corey Harris (from 8pm) Saturday 20 September Airlie Beach Hotel: INXS Tribute (2pm – 5.30pm) Airlie Beach Hotel: Andy Mammers (7pm – 10pm) Grand View Hotel: DJ Night (from 8pm) Coral Sea Marina Resort: Disco Dave (1pm - 5pm) KC's: Shaun Diver (from 8pm) Sunday 21 September Airlie Beach Hotel: INXS Tribute (2pm – 5.30pm) Airlie Beach Hotel: Nick De Gregorio (6.30pm – 9.30pm) Grand Vie
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September 20 & 21 Paul Bowman Challenge, Proserpine Junior Sporting Complex, from 7.30am 21 Bowen Community Markets, Hansen Park, from 8:00am 23 Sailing For Those With Disability, Whitsunday Sailing Club, from 9am 26 Shrek followed by Shrek 2, The Movie Screen at Airlie Beach Foreshore in Coconut Grove, 6:00pm 28 Bowen Community Markets, Hansen Park, from 8:00am 28 Proserpine Community Autumn Markets, Proserpine State School Cyclone Shelter on Sherry Street, from 8:30am 30 Social Seniors
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The unmistakable sound of AC/DC will once again thunder through the Airlie Beach Hotel when long-running tribute act takes the stage for a high-energy afternoon of rock and roll. The Sydney-based band has been performing its AC/DC tribute show for 20 years, bringing classic anthems to audiences across Australia. For frontman Michael Ward, the love of music is simply “in his DNA.” “I’m 55 now and I’ve been doing it since I was 12 years old, in various bands and multiple bands at one time too!”
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Daisy is an 18-month-old Kelpie-cross with a gentle soul and a heart full of hope. Life hasn’t been easy for her, and she can be shy when meeting new people, but with patience and kindness, Daisy blossoms into a loving and loyal companion. She is already desexed and vaccinated, and at a medium size, she’s a great fit for most homes—playful enough for outdoor adventures but easy to manage day to day. Daisy is particularly sensitive to loud noises and busy environments, so she’s looking for a cal
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On Friday evening the Whitsunday Sailing Club hosted the Whitsundays Writers Festival annual event and competition, Love Letter to Queensland. The evening began with Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor opening the event and announcing the Love Letter to Queensland Community writing competition. The Adult Section prize was awarded to Delila Bevan Zavadsky of Brinsmead, near Cairns, for her work title ‘Confessions to Queensland’. She received a two-night ocean view stay with transfers at Daydream
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Saturday afternoon saw the Whitsunday Sea Eagles hold their 2025 Presentation Day, celebrating another exciting year on the field. In 2025, all five Sea Eagles teams competed in Elimination Finals, narrowly missing out on progressing further after some thrilling matches. Individual accolades were a highlight, with Jake Turner (Senior Men) and Steph Griffiths (Senior Women) taking out Best & Fairest medals at the AFLQ Mackay League Awards. Aidan Allen-Fancke also earned Senior Men’s runner-up, a
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The weather was less than ideal on Sunday, 14 September 2025, for the second round of the Mackay Whitsunday Junior Cricket competition. The blustery conditions didn’t rattle the Under 12 Pitbulls as they faced North Mackay Devils. Skipper L. Aitken won the bat flip and sent the Devils in. The Pitbulls’ bowlers were on target, with R. Clarke shattering the stumps for the first breakthrough. F. Holscher grabbed two (including a sharp caught-and-bowled), while L. Aitken and N. Aitken took four bet
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Mission Beach, QLD — Twelve determined paddlers from Outrigger Whitsunday put their strength and skills to the test last weekend, competing in the Mission Beach Outrigger Canoe Regatta under challenging conditions. Saturday saw crews racing in sprint and mid-distance events, with teams well-prepared for the demanding 9.5 km courses. However, Sunday’s 24 km iron event proved the ultimate test, as strong winds and a heavy surf break pushed crews to their limits. Outrigger Whitsunday fielded two
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The Cannonvale Cannons kicked off their long course season over the weekend, with 18 swimmers competing at the 2025 Townsville Tourist Benchmark Transition Meet at the Tobruk Pool. This event marked the start of the long course season for our senior swimmers, who are now focused on achieving their goals at the Queensland Long Course Championships in Brisbane from December 13–19. Special congratulations go to the five senior swimmers who achieved qualifying times over the weekend, putting them o
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With only two weeks remaining in this season’s Premier League Championship campaign, all eyes turned to the four remaining players contesting the preliminary finals. In the first matchup, Kam Reason had the chance to book his place in next week’s grand final, but to do so he needed to overcome this season’s league winner, Jamie Maher. It was a tense affair, with Jamie holding a narrow 3–2 lead at the first break. He extended that margin to 6–2 after the interval, but Kam fought back strongly t
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With most of our visitors gone, it was a quieter week on the green. On Tuesday afternoon, the winners on Rink 3 were Merle Ephinstone, Shirley Jones, and Joe Paynting, who defeated Jenny Anderson, Shirley Smith, and Gavin Charles. Other results saw Tom, Deb, and Laurie defeating Grant, Irene, and Russell, while Lindy, Nick, and Graham overcame Cliff, Gordon, and Natalie. The jackpot didn’t go off. Sunday’s social play was won by Lindy, Suann, Isobel Wheeler, and Penny Warren, who defeated Jun
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The days are getting longer and warmer—and so is the standard of bowls at our club. On Tuesday, 27 players took to the greens. Despite battling pain while awaiting surgery, Elaine Kippen gave it her best before being replaced by organiser Regina Aquilina. The day’s top team was skippered by Gary Scott from Hideaway Bay, with left-hander Greg Fennell and Peter Jordan from Hallshead Bowling and Recreation Club, Mandurah WA. Wednesday afternoon’s social bowls ended in a tie, but on countback the
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A strong field of 42 players—16 ladies and 26 men—turned out for Tuesday’s stableford competition, enjoying much kinder conditions after the gusty weather of the weekend had eased. The day saw a standout performance from Allison McCarthy, who claimed top spot on the ladies’ leaderboard for the very first time with a score of 39 points. It was a terrific achievement and one that many hope will be the first of many. In the men’s competition, David Woods edged out Laurie Daiken and John Oates on
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R U OK? Day was marked across the Whitsundays on Thursday with two community events encouraging meaningful conversations and mental health awareness. In Cannonvale, the Whitsunday Neighbourhood Centre and Whitsunday Suicide Prevention Network (WSPN) hosted a morning tea at 9am at Cannonvale Beach, followed by a community walk to Shingley Beach — creating space for connection between friends, families and even strangers. Meanwhile, the Bowen Community Centre brought locals together with its own
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