Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
We’ve had a good amount of rain over the past couple of weeks, which kept us off the green. However, Sunday was the first clear day, and many of our members were eager to get back to playing. The winners of the day were Graeme Read and Gavin Charles, who narrowly defeated Laurie Land and Pat Tracey in a tightly contested match. In another game, Deb Retchless, Alby Vigar, and Allan Rolfe ended in a draw with Lindy Suann, Isobel Wheeler, and Kennedy Whitton. Unfortunately, the jackpot didn’t go of
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In a powerful demonstration of community spirit, the Airlie Beach Cricket Club (ABCC) is not only making strides to enhance local cricket infrastructure but also offering a helping hand to neighbouring clubs in need. As part of the Australia Day weekend celebrations, ABCC collaborated with Club Whitsunday to promote cricket activities at their home base, the Sports Park, and raise supportive funds. This partnership was especially meaningful in light of the unfortunate theft of mowing equipment f
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Outrigger Whitsunday has successfully wrapped up a spirited four-week "Come and Try" program, engaging and inspiring the local community. The initiative received an enthusiastic response from 36 participants, all eager to immerse themselves in the world of team paddling. The journey began with an introduction to paddling techniques and canoes, progressing through stages of basic paddling and sprints. As participants honed their skills and built camaraderie, the program culminated in an exhilarat
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Cannonvale Cannons swimmers delivered stellar performances at the 2025 Queensland Sprint Championships, held last weekend at the Brisbane Aquatic Centre. This high-energy competition focused on speed, with each swimmer limited to four 50-metre sprint events in their age group. Older competitors with qualifying times could also enter the open-age category, with congratulations going to Ella Bounden, who qualified in Backstroke and Butterfly at the Open level! A strong 23-member squad represented
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On the Australia Day Holiday we responded to a call for help from one of our members at Gloucester Island. Their 5.5 metre half cabin had sunk and they were stranded on the beach in pouring rain. They were bailing it out at low tide, but would need a tow home. A lot of their gear had been lost, most tragically an esky full of liquid survival rations! The tow was spectacular with waves breaking over VMR1, pounding rain and the half cabin threatening to sink again on the end of the tow line. The f
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The spirit of resilience and remembrance filled the air at Bluewater Quay as more than 300 people gathered for the second Mackay Survival Day Walk on the 26th of January. Survival Day, also known as Invasion Day and the Day of Mourning, marks a time to honour the passion and endurance of ancestors who faced the Frontier Wars, which began on January 26, 1788, at Botany Bay. In Mackay, the day is dedicated to paying tribute to the survivors of the Yuwi Nation and their descendants, who continue
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Two auxiliary firefighters who helped establish a ground-breaking youth program for local teens were among 81 firefighters recognised for their service across the state. The Queensland Fire Department Australia Day Achievement Award, proudly sponsored by QSuper, annually recognises and celebrates community heroes who personify the spirit of mateship, service, and endurance. Timothy Davis and Christopher McMasters, auxiliary firefighters from Moranbah, received their awards at a special ceremon
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World Cancer Day on the 4th of February was a reminder that cancer doesn’t just affect one person—it touches families, friends, entire communities. For the past 12 months, cancer has been my reality. It has consumed my time, my energy, my body. It has left scars—some visible, others buried deep. The fight isn’t just physical; the mental toll is a battle all on its own. But I haven’t faced it alone. Hundreds of people, through kind words, gestures and assistance, have helped me navigate this un
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In the Eimeo neighbourhood, one local woman decided to show appreciation for the postman who had been delivering her mail in the area for the last two years. Sharing to the community through a Facebook post, she said "A huge shout out to this top bloke! He's been delivering our mail for the past two years. “[He] always has a smile on his face and waves hello! Just a nice bloke!" The community responded with overwhelming support, praising his consistent positivity, despite the significant ra
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Queenslanders are being urged to update their phone settings to ‘favourite’ the Emergency Alert (EA) phone number to stay informed during an emergency or disaster. Emergency Alert is the national telephone-based warning system used to send voice messages to landlines and text messages to mobile phones to warn people of emergencies, including dangerous weather with potentially severe impacts. Mackay Whitsunday District Superintendent Dean Cavanagh emphasised the importance of the system. "If
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Mackay has been hit by significant flooding over the past week, with flash flooding closing roads, cutting off access to the airport, and inundating homes and businesses. The heavy rainfall is part of a broader weather event affecting communities from Mackay to Cairns and especially from Townsville north in the Hinchinbrook region, including Cardwell, Ingham, and Giru. Federal Member for Dawson, Andrew Willcox, said the local governments of the Dawson region had been responding to a severe floo
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Member for Mirani, Glen Kelly MP, is calling for local community groups in the electorate of Mirani to apply for the Community Gambling Benefit Fund’s 123rd round of funding with applications open until 28 February 2025. The Gambling Community Benefit Fund (GCBF) is Queensland’s largest one-off community grants program and distributes approximately $60 million each year to not-for-profit community groups. The Gambling Community Benefit Fund funding helps these groups to provide services, leisu
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By Amanda Wright Every year, close to 15,000 Australians hear the words no one wants to hear: you have bowel cancer. For many, the road ahead is overwhelming, filled with medical jargon, invasive treatments, and a battle that is as much mental as it is physical. But in Mackay, there is someone dedicated to walking that road with them. Following World Cancer Day on the 4th of February, the spotlight turns to the incredible work being done to support patients across our region. Among those makin
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By Hannah McNamara Questions begin to surface as Mackay locals express concerns over the original intentions of Melbourne-based charity, sleepbus. The initiative was set to deliver three buses for the Mackay and Sarina regions as part of a movement to provide “safe sleeps” for the homeless. However, a recent announcement by the Founder of sleepbus revealed that the charity will soon cease their operations on June 30, 2025 due to financial difficulty. The three buses included one for the Macka
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Detectives from Mackay Child Protection and Investigation Unit have charged a 50-year-old man in relation to the supply of dangerous drugs and sexual assault of a child. On January 15 police executed a search warrant at a Mackay Harbour address, where 50-year-old Bradley Jetson was taken into custody. A quantity of dangerous drugs, drug utensils and electronic devices were seized from the address. It will be alleged the man supplied dangerous drugs to a girl under the age of 16 and sexually a
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A health service investigation has been launched into Mackay Hospital and Health Service (HHS) to examine concerns about the recruitment and credentialing for scope of practice of senior medical officers. Director-General Dr David Rosengren has commissioned the investigation under Part 9 of the Hospital and Health Boards Act 2011. The investigation will cover a two-year period from January 2023 to December 2024 to determine if Mackay HHS complied with processes and practices relating to seni
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A new training centre in a prime Moranbah position will help boost mines rescue capabilities and shorten response times when incidents occur in the Bowen Basin mining hub. Anglo American and Exxaro – which own a 50-50 joint venture steelmaking coal exploration project at Moranbah South - have leased an 18-hectare parcel of land to Queensland Mines Rescue Service (QMRS). The land, on the corner of Railway Road and Moranbah Access Road, is opposite the planned site for stage 3 of the Resources C
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Geospatial and Earth Observation (EO) technologies could be the next frontier for the Greater Whitsunday region’s workforce to explore. Greater Whitsunday Alliance (GW3) has released the Greater Whitsunday Geospatial Hub Economic Impact Assessment report to provide a roadmap of Geospatial and Earth Observation opportunities and strategy. Geospatial data identifies the geographic location and characteristics of natural or constructed features and boundaries on earth. This data can be derived fr
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As Australia fights to protect its most vulnerable wildlife, the use of 1080 baiting remains a controversial yet critical tool in managing major threats to native species. While some conservationists advocate for its role in reducing predation pressure, concerns persist over its impact on non-target species and the need for alternative control measures. Australia has some of the most unique wildlife and biodiversity in the world, but two invasive predators, feral cats and foxes, have already
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By Owen Menkens CANEGROWERS Chairman There’s something truly special and iconic about sugarcane. Grown along 2000km of Australian coastline, from Grafton in northern New South Wales to the fringes of the Daintree in the tropical far north, it’s been a cornerstone of Queensland’s identity for over 150 years. In fact, so foundational is this industry that it even features on our state’s Coat of Arms. Yet, as iconic as it is, sugarcane isn’t just part of our history – it’s a dynamic, future-fo
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QCAR Central District Manager Sonia Ball Rain And Flood In Northern Queensland Torrential rain across north and far north Queensland has caused immeasurable angst and damage for communities, businesses and governments with the final measure of implications and costs still to come. Natural disasters such as these can have life-changing and long-lasting impacts. QCAR therefore is supporting members with information and resources and staying available and abreast of updates but also urgently see
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Mackay could become a diabetes research hub with the potential to help accelerate treatment breakthroughs and enable greater access to life-changing technology for sufferers. This is the goal of Mackay HHS endocrinologist Dr Harshal Deshmukh who, after only 10 months in the region, has secured funding to conduct a world-first study focussed on type 2 diabetes and Diabetic Foot Disease (DFD). The local study, which investigates technology to track blood sugar and how it can benefit wound healin
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Mackay's biggest sport and recreation sign-on event is only days away. The Mackay Sport and Rec Expo will feature more than 100 clubs on display, creating a one-stop shop for sport and recreation opportunities. Mayor Greg Williamson said it was exciting to see so many local clubs get on board and support the annual expo. “This year’s event will be action-packed, with a range of active zone activities and demonstrations throughout the day and all the usual prizes and competitions, such as nomi
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William "Billy" Jarrett, 31, is thrilled to be back in the region, surrounded by family and familiar faces after a diverse and enriching career path. As a fourth-generation Mackay local, William, who hails from a family with deep roots in agriculture, is eager to contribute to the community that shaped him. "It's great to be back in the region after all these years away," William said, reflecting on his journey from growing up in Mackay to working across regional Australia. "I'm pretty ha
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Simon Hood, Wilmar Manager, Grower Marketing The wash-up of the 2024 season is all but done, with only a portion of growers still to price out the balance of their 2024 crop. The recent recovery in prices following the dip due to India announcing 1 million tonnes of export quota is welcome. We still see tight trade flow for raw and whites into this quarter which may stretch into the second quarter depending on how quickly Brazil comes back online and the current Indian and Thai crop cut out.
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