Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
Mackay Surf Lifesaving competitors recently headed to Sarina Beach for the North Barrier Branch Titles - the premier surf sports event - for seven regional lifesaving clubs as North as Ingham and as South as Sarina. The Mackay team excelled by finishing a very close 2nd place to Townsville’s Arcadia SLSC. “We are very impressed with the results of our surf sports athletes leading into states and nationals,” said Josh Grant the Mackay Director of Surf Sports. “After analysing our results, it w
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Health professionals in the frontline of the fight against breast cancer will hit the streets of Mackay next month for the Mater Chicks in Pink International Women’s Day Fun Run, presented by Queensland X-Ray. While 23,000 people take part in the main Brisbane CBD event on Sunday 9 March, Mackay will hold its own fund-raising 5km fun run, starting and finishing at the Bucasia Beach playground. This year walkers and runners from Mater Private Hospital Mackay will be lining up with Queensl
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Melanie Grenier, an employee at one of Mackay's leading creative marketing agencies, redhotblue, will be shaving off her long locks and go bald to raise funds for medical ovarian cancer research. This cause hits close to home for Melanie, whose family has been affected by various forms of cancer over the years, including her mother, who has been impacted by cancer multiple times. In addition, the redhotblue team is honouring the memory of a beloved former employee, who tragically lost her
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From little things big things grow was a great way to describe the growth of Catherine McAuley College, Mackay, according to Principal Jim Ford. “I think we would be quite unique in terms of our dramatic change in student and staff numbers for the start of the 2025 academic year,” Mr Ford said. The Catholic co-educational College has commenced its fourth year of operation, having opened in 2022 with the expansion plan seeing the College add a new Year level each year until 2027 as it ste
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By Hannah McNamara In the shadows of rising living costs and a housing crisis, two Mackay organisations - CASA and Broken Ballerina Inc. - are battling to protect society’s most vulnerable. Women and children fleeing violence are sleeping in cars, with crisis services stretched beyond capacity. “We’re providing motel stays, but it’s just a band-aid fix,” says Jules Thompson of Broken Ballerina. General Manager at CASA, William Stafford says cases have shockingly doubled in a year. Despite wo
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For nearly 50 years, the Mackay Scope Club has brought together women dedicated to fundraising for local causes. Meeting monthly at Breezes Retirement Village, the club’s efforts benefit various charities through sausage sizzles, raffles, and even Christmas gift-wrapping. Ms Brenda Travaskis has been a member for almost a year now and thoroughly enjoys her time fundraising for those in need. “We hold sausage sizzles, wrap Christmas presents outside Spotlight for donations, and organise M
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Driver Caught Speeding Over 50km/H Above Limit In School Zone A 38-year-old Pacific Pines man was caught speeding over 50km/h above the limit in a Southport school zone on February 19. Police recorded his white Tesla travelling at 92km/h in a 40km/h zone during morning patrols. He received a $1,854 fine, eight demerit points, and an immediate six-month licence suspension. This incident highlights the dangers of speeding in school zones, where excessive speed increases the risk of fatal ac
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For 45 days, volunteers set up two wrapping stations inside the shopping centre, offering beautifully wrapped Christmas gifts in exchange for a gold coin donation. While each contribution may seem small, the collective effort has resulted in a substantial impact. This year, the funds raised will be distributed across three key beneficiaries: BMA CQ Rescue ($52,000), QRAT ($10,000), and Ronald McDonald House ($2,000). The generosity of shoppers, combined with the dedication of volunteers, has e
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"Don’t let anybody put you down… be strong, don’t let anyone tell you what to do. Go for what you want to achieve, follow your dreams… and be happy." These powerful words from 64-year-old Patricia Boneff encapsulate her journey of resilience, courage, and triumph over adversity. Like many individuals with disabilities, Pat faced barriers that kept her out of the job market for years, often feeling stuck and uncertain of her future. After enduring domestic violence, Pat could have easily
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Hey everyone! Hope you’re all doing amazing. If I’m being honest, I can’t wait to relax this weekend! The last couple of weeks have been absolutely chockers. Between unpacking, deep-cleaning and setting up our new home, it’s been non-stop… not to mention keeping a close eye on Facebook marketplace like a hawk to find the best deals on furniture! Despite being a little sleep deprived, I’m still overwhelmed with gratitude as I move into this next chapter of life. I remember when I first
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The North Queensland dad had unknowingly become the country’s newest multi-millionaire, holding the only division one winning entry in Oz Lotto draw 1619, drawn Tuesday, 25 February 2025. “Holy fing s!” he exclaimed. “Are you kidding me?! Holy s***! “Oh my lord! Oh my lord! “I can’t believe it. Holy, holy, holy! “I had no idea. I’m just starting my day at work. I have to call my parents and partner immediately! “My mum is really into lotteries; she won’t believe it. “I’m really trying to
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Locals have been eagerly awaiting the historic launch of Eris TestFlight 1, the first Australian-designed and built rocket aiming for orbit. Now, the wait is finally over with the No Earlier Than (NET) launch date confirmed for the 15th of March, marking the maiden flight of Eris. This milestone follows final airspace approvals, marking years of research, development, and manufacturing. The company, which also built Bowen Orbital Spaceport, received Australia’s first orbital launch facility lice
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The Proserpine Entertainment Centre hosted the second Australian Citizenship Ceremony of the year this week on the 25th of February. From individuals to large family groups from 18 different countries, 38 people took the pledge and chose to become Australian Citizens here in the beautiful Whitsundays. Mayor Ry Collins, Councillor Jan Clifford, Uncle Leo Gabey, and Whitsunday Regional Council’s Director of Services and Facilitation Julie Wright presided over the ceremony. “For myself and for coun
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Hello Everyone, I am writing this Editor’s Note on my 43rd birthday from a hotel room in the Burdekin where I have just attended an Industry Breakfast and will shortly be meeting up with the local Mayor and CEO of Council. It’s always nice coming up to the Burdekin, the people here are fantastic, but I always look forward to the drive south, returning to the turquoise waters and my cosy little beachside life. Especially today, where I have family waiting to see me. As I reflect on the year th
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Dr. Alice Harriott is no ordinary dentist; she is also a ‘Dancing CEO’, raising money and awareness for Women’s Legal Service Queensland (WLSQ), in an effort to break the cycle of domestic violence across our state. Combining her roles as a dentist, fundraiser and now dancer Dr. Harriott has created two special raffle prizes, designed to change lives. For just $25 a ticket, participants can win either a dental care package worth $9,000. The prizes offer a full orthodontic diagnosis, braces, or
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Cunard’s latest addition to its cruising fleet, Queen Anne, is due to anchor offshore at Airlie Beach next Wednesday 5 March. Launched in May 2024, the magnificent modern ship completed sea trials and shorter journeys before embarking on her inaugural world cruise on 9 January 2025 from Southampton carrying just over 2,600 passengers. Onboard from Southampton to Sydney were Whitsunday locals Dr Julia and Richard Evans presenting their creative writing program. “We had the absolute privileg
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A group of young local boaties were rescued by the incredible volunteers at VMR Whitsundays last week, the mission showcasing the wonderful work of this valued service in ensuring ocean farers of all ages are kept safe in our waters. “With the return of typically sunny, Whitsunday weather, boats are back in the water, and rescues are once again on the rise,” explained Shane Newell, VMRW President. “One of our good news stories this past week was the rescue of a group of children who somehow beca
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The Whitsunday Cruisin’ Car Club (WCCC) celebrated a stellar start to 2025 with their Car Run, Annual General Meeting (AGM), and Club Meeting on Sunday, February 16th. The event, which saw 19 beautiful classic & vintage cars take part, was a massive success and attracted a strong turnout of local enthusiasts, including guests from the Old Iron Restorers Club. The cars began their journey from Cannonvale, cruising along picturesque routes before arriving at Shute Harbour Marina Terminal. There, t
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At the last Whitsunday Regional Council meeting the members proposed making a bid for hosting Ramped Up in Airlie Beach this year. Ramped Up and other sporting events like it are a big drive for the Whitsundays, and the motion was unanimous, with a resounding yes to try and get it to return. Hosting open sporting events like Ramped Up are not just about thrills and spills, they're also part of a larger effort by the Whitsunday Regional Council to drive the local economy. Ramped Up, sponsored by
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The Whitsunday Thrift Club is excited to announce the return of its popular preloved and vintage clothing market for 2025, with a brand-new initiative designed to promote sustainability and foster community spirit. The “Give One, Take One” table invites both stallholders and shoppers to take part in a fun, interactive way to swap or donate up to three items of quality preloved clothing for FREE! “We are really excited to introduce this new addition to our markets,” said market coordinators Kaitl
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Last week, Tourism Whitsundays, along with 15 of our members, embarked on The Whitsundays East Coast Roadshow, visiting Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. In each city, we hosted a networking event that brought together key trade partners and front-line travel agents. These events served as an excellent opportunity to engage with the professionals that promote and sell Whitsundays holidays to travellers all across the country. More than 300 representatives registered for the events, and they were
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Last week, our Visitor Services Manager, Dea, joined Explore Group Australia's Sales Manager, Chris, for an unforgettable sail and snorkel trip to Whitehaven Beach and Chalkies Beach. Read about Dea's adventures here! [make a pop out subheading please] Aboard a purpose-built catamaran with a small group, we set sail from Hamilton Island to the serene shores of Chalkies Beach. After a thorough safety briefing, we plunged into the water for snorkelling, relishing the thrill of following a green
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As Mayor of the Whitsundays, my focus in this first term has been on advocating for our region and driving economic development that delivers real, tangible benefits for everyone in our community. Our region is experiencing exciting growth, and we’re committed to keeping that momentum going forward—planning not just for today but for the next 30, 40, even 50 years, so that our community and our youth have every opportunity to thrive. I’m also actively engaging with our federal and state gove
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This month, we meet Whitsundays Chamber of Commerce and Industry member Tolita Dukes of 8 Seconds. For the past 12 years, Tolita has been transforming how Whitsunday businesses approach marketing—taking it from an overwhelming afterthought to a systematic, stress-free process that delivers consistent results. 8 Seconds specialises in helping time-poor business owners escape the constant juggle of wearing too many hats with done-for-you marketing management. "After 27 years in the Whitsundays, I'
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Elder abuse is an issue that’s often overlooked, but the team at the Whitsunday Neighbourhood Centre is set to change that by equipping older Australians with the knowledge to recognise and respond to potential abuse. The session’s primary goal is to raise awareness of what elder abuse looks like, allowing attendees to address it if it happens to them or their loved ones and will be led by Sergeant Stephen Smith, Mackay District Crime Prevention Coordinator. He states it’s an immerging issue tha
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