Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
What a week at ATE25! Tourism Whitsundays was proud to represent our region on the global stage in Brisbane. Alongside 10 passionate operators, we formed Team Whitsundays, showcasing the very best of our destination to the world. Across four busy days, we held 84 appointments with international buyers from over 30 countries. Each meeting was an opportunity to highlight the unique experiences and natural beauty that make The Whitsundays so special. Beyond the tradeshow floor, the famil program
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The weather this past week has certainly been a mixed bag, but there’s been a lot of you making the best of it and catching great fish despite it. One thing’s for sure – the drop in humidity has been welcomed by all! Dam The dam has been producing some good barramundi over the past week, particularly in the bays and creeks in the southern part. There have also been some cracking sooty’s coming over the side as a bycatch. The water temperature is starting to drop, which means it’s a great time
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This past week I had the privilege of joining fellow Mayors Greg Williamson (Mackay) and Kelly Vea Vea (Isaac) in Brisbane, as part of a united Greater Whitsunday delegation led by GW3. Over two days, we proudly showcased the strength and opportunity of our region to key state decision-makers – culminating in the Greater Possibilities Showcase at Queensland Parliament House, attended by more than 90 ministers, Director-Generals and invited guests. The flavours of our region made the journey wi
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Social bowls enthusiasts made the most of mixed weather conditions last week, with several solid performances on the green and the long-anticipated return of Barefoot Bowls. On Wednesday, ten players took part in social games, with Trevor Parsons and Philip Brown claiming a convincing 28–11 win over Alen Sanderson and Barry Zillmann. Meanwhile, the trio of Aurora, Bruce Uhe, and Heather Brown secured a 24–15 victory over Arthur Griffith, John Anderson, and Sandy Daffara. Friday night saw the s
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With Easter and Anzac Day behind us, members of the Airlie Beach Bowls Club paused to reflect on the sacrifices of our service men and women. We are reminded how fortunate we are to live in such a beautiful part of the country—especially here in our own slice of paradise. Tuesday morning saw continued action in the Ladies Singles and Pairs competitions, with only one social game played, meaning no prizes were awarded for the day. On Wednesday, Ted Cullen and Noel Crosbie dominated the green, w
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All five Sea Eagles AFL teams braved the wet and windy conditions for the home crowd on the weekend with some great results. Lots of supporters were out and about also making the most of having footy back at The Nest, enjoying the new rendition of the Sea Eagles Club song multiple times with wins throughout the day. Sea Eagles Senior Men clashed with Mackay City Hawks using the wind to their advantage in the first quarter, able to hold that lead for the remainder of the game running out winners
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The Airlie Beach Hotel is turning 57, and following last years spectacular birthday, the pub is turning up the volume for this year! To kick off the birthday, ‘The Yachtski Brothers’ will be hitting the stage, they will be bringing a vibe to the party that has never been seen before. Although their vibe is unmatched, The Pub is urging all of you to get up in 70’s and 80’s gear, a vibe many remember. Everyone is encouraged to get dressed up and arrive in style. There will also be Birthday Cake
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May 8 Proserpine Rock Wallaby Festival 8th – 11th | Exhibition Opening Night 6:30pm 9 Mamma Mia, The Movie Screen at Airlie Beach Foreshore in Coconut Grove, 6:00pm 10 Art in the Park, Proserpine Entertainment Centre, from 9:00am - varied class start times. Bookings required for class participation, $25pp. Exhibition free. 10 Car Boot Sale, Airlie Beach Bowls Club, 9:00am-3:00pm **11 Mother’s Day ** 11 Bowen Community Markets, Hansen Park, from 8:00am 11 Handmade & Homecrafted Markets, Ke
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Friday 9th The Pub, Airlie Beach Hotel: Andy Mammers (7pm – 10pm) Grand View Hotel: Julias Dator (from 8pm) Saturday 10th May The Pub, Airlie Beach Hotel: Shania Twain Tribute (2pm – 5.30pm) The Pub, Airlie Beach Hotel: Andy Mammers (7pm – 10pm) Grand View Hotel: 80s to the MAX (from 8pm) Coral Sea Pavillion: (Live Music & DJ Session 1pm – 6pm) Sunday 11th May (MOTHER’S DAY) The Pub, Airlie Beach Hotel: Shania Twain Tribute (2pm – 5.30pm) The Pub, Airlie Beac
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Young athletes from across the region will take to the fields this Friday, 9 May, as the Whitsunday Touch Association hosts its highly anticipated Touch Football School Trials at Club Whitsunday. The trials are expected to draw a strong turnout of talented students, all vying for selection and keen to showcase their skills, teamwork, and fitness on the field. Touch football, a fast-paced and strategic non-contact sport, continues to grow in popularity throughout Queensland schools, and this loc
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Proserpine will come alive with colour, creativity and community spirit when the Rock Wallaby Festival comes to Proserpine from 8 to 11 May 2025. This event will celebrate local art, music and culture, with an exciting lineup of exhibitions, workshops, entertainment and family-friendly activities. The festivities begin on Thursday, 8 May, with the official Festival and Exhibition Opening Night from 6pm to 8pm. The evening will feature the announcement of the Art Exhibition winners, the launch o
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A significant fire broke out at a Hostel in Bowen last Wednesday morning 30th April, and sadly a fatality has been confirmed. At approximately 3:30am a large-scale response was initiated by emergency services after police were alerted to a building fully engulfed in flames on Gordon Street, following reports from concerned locals. Fire crews from the local station were swiftly deployed, with three teams arriving on scene around 3:40am. The fire, located near the intersection of Brisbane Stre
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Local author and writers’ mentor Richard Evans is set to captivate readers with his latest political thriller, 'Horrible People', the first in the Jack Hudson MP series. Drawing on his experience as a former federal politician and national industry leader, Evans brings a unique and authentic perspective to political storytelling. Evans believes apathy towards politics often breeds scepticism and discontent. 'Horrible People' explores this idea through a compelling narrative filled with page-tur
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Following a successful 2024 event, the Whitsundays Writers Festival is thrilled to announce its 2025 From the Heart Keynote speaker—Dr Anita Heiss. An award-winning author of 25 books, Dr Heiss is a proud Wiradyuri woman, Indigenous Literacy Foundation Ambassador, and Professor of Communications at the University of Queensland. Her novels include Manhattan Dreaming, Tiddas, and Barbed Wire and Cherry Blossoms, with Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray winning the 2022 NSW Premier’s Literary Prize for In
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The Whitsundays Songwriter Festival is proud to announce that multiple Golden Guitar award winner Brad Butcher will be at the 4th annual festival due to take place in Airlie Beach this June. In 2024, the Central Queensland-born singer-songwriter wowed all four coaches on The Voice Australia, ultimately joining Team LeAnn Rimes. Since then, demand for his performances has soared, and the festival committee say they are thrilled to welcome him as part of their Professional Faculty. Brad Butcher
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Football – Whitsunday United FC Friday 9th May • 6:00pm: Division 2 Men vs Mackay Lions • 8:00pm: Division 1 Men vs Mackay Lions Saturday 10th May • 9.30am: U14 vs Magpies FC • 11:15am: U15/16 vs Mackay Lions Green • 5:00pm: U23 Men vs City Brothers FC • 7:00pm: Men vs City Brothers FC AWAY MATCH 9:30am: • U13 Div 1 vs Mackay Lions (at Mackay Football Park) • U13 FQPL vs Mackay Lions (at Mackay Football Park) ***AFL - Whitsunday Sea Eagles AWAY MATCH • 3.20pm: Senior Men vs Magpies at R
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The countdown has begun! Gilmour Space Technologies is gearing up for its next big launch from Bowen, with a launch window set to open 'no earlier than' May 15. The maiden flight of Eris will be the first Australian-designed and built rocked aiming for orbit. Gilmour Space has received airspace management approval from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority - CASA. Gilmour Space made history in March last year when its Bowen spaceport was granted the first orbital launch facility licence in Aust
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The family business behind a proposal for an Australian-first, immersive dinosaur experience and mini-golf course on the main street of Airlie Beach, has come forward to address a growing number of community concerns around the look and theme of the project. A representative for ‘Jurassic Falls Pty Ltd’, said contrary to some opinions expressed on local social media sites, this was not about bringing “tacky, fake fibreglass dinosaurs” to town. “Our Australian-themed dinosaurs are hyper-realist
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OPINION PIECE Australians are paying on average 32 per cent more for electricity than they were three years ago. Every day, I listen to people in Dawson who tell me one of the biggest pains they feel is the price they now pay to keep the lights on and cool. When people turn on the aircon during a sweltering summer day, they know one flick of a switch is costing more than it should. Pensioners and those on lower incomes tell me they have to choose which appliances to do without. Electricity pai
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The Northern Beaches community is being invited to have their say on the future of their region. With key topics like infrastructure, outdoor spaces, transport, and community events already sparking vibrant discussions, locals are making their voices heard. Now, residents have the exciting opportunity to take it a step further and join focus groups to help shape the future of the Northern Beaches. The Your Place, Your Plan – Northern Beaches Mackay Community Plan, is a partnership betwee
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At the peak of her life-threatening battle with a chronic auto immune disease, Andergrove woman Lisa Hodges lost the ability to walk and talk. After becoming seriously ill in November 2023, she spent almost three months in hospital in intensive care and the infectious diseases ward battling autoimmune hepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver. Lisa then developed cryptococcal meningitis while on immunosuppressant drugs, a dangerous fungal infection of the tissue covering the brain and spinal cord.
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Dan Stampa, Past President and current Vice President of the North Mackay Masters Swim Club, the Sinkers, has been recognised for his commitment to the club and Masters swimming in general. Dan has been appointed to the role of Director of Program Development for MSQ (Masters Swimming Queensland). MSQ President Susanne Milenkevich confirmed that the formal appointment will be finalised at the next Board meeting in May. She thanked Dan for his commitment and said she looked forward to seei
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When Kathryn George, OAM, first walked into Mackay North State High School in 1979, she faced a musical mountain with nothing more than three broken xylophones and a piano badly in need of a tune. Fast-forward nearly five decades, and Kathryn now stands at the helm of a $200,000 music department, leading one of Australia’s most celebrated school marching bands. Her determination to transform scarcity into success earned her an Order of Australia Medal in 2019, recognising her dedication t
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With lights flashing and wheels in motion, a new era of community policing has arrived on the streets of Mackay and the Whitsundays. The Mobile Police Beat has officially launched, providing a flexible, high-visibility police presence designed to engage with communities and enhance crime prevention efforts where they are needed most. As part of the Queensland Police Service’s ‘Bring the Beat’ initiative, the program allows residents to request a Mobile Police Beat deployment to their loca
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This week in Mackay has been rich with community spirit from recognising cultural champions and personal milestones to advancing infrastructure and reinforcing public safety. Crossroad Arts Giving Day – A Showcase of Inclusion It was such a privilege to attend Crossroad Arts’ Giving Day here in Mackay. The event was an uplifting reminder of the power of inclusive arts where creativity meets community. Crossroad Arts continues to lead the way in creating opportunities for people of all ab
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