Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
Work is commencing on a major commercial precinct adjacent to Mackay Airport. Vacant land bordering Milton Street will be transformed into a purpose-built business, retail and mixed-use service hub, offering an array of new industry opportunities and injecting millions of dollars into the local economy each year. Mackay Airport Chief Executive Officer Richard Barker said the long-term project, titled ‘Milton Precinct’, was strategically located near existing and emerging growth areas, maximisi
Read more.jpg)
The importance of strong biosecurity is being emphasised to the next generation of agricultural industry leaders, with 40 high school students given the opportunity to join the 2024 Biosecurity Youth Summit. Fostering an understanding among our upcoming generation of the importance of biosecurity in everybody’s lives is critical to safeguarding Queensland’s economy, environment and way of life. The Youth Summit is part of the Miles Government’s $21.7 million funding for biosecurity preparedness
Read more
By Kevin Borg, Chairman, CANEGROWERS Mackay If you were following the recent action in Paris, you may have noticed the dazzling blue of the turf on the hockey fields of the Olympics. Called Poligras, it’s a carbon-neutral synthetic turf - and it was 80 per cent sugarcane-based. It’s an interesting fact that as the world looks for ways to get away from plastics, biodegradable products that source sugarcane are now genuinely part of the solution. It’s exciting to see these emerging uses for sugar
Read more
This week Season to date Cane crushed 60,190 377,048 Average bin weight 3.91 3.85 CCS 13.96 13.16 Cane variety performance for region Variety % CCS Variety % CCS Q183 29.1 13.91 Q253 17.4 14.18 Q240 11.2 13.71 SP80 2.1 13.63 Q208 15.2 14.27 SRA9 4.4 13.75 KQ228 7.2 14.51 Q242 2.8 12.43 Comments: Plane Creek Mill processed just over 60,000 tonnes of cane for the week, bringing the season total to just over 377,000 tonnes. Average CCS rose by 0.87 of a unit over the previous week, closing out at 1
Read more
The newly established network of Sustainable Agriculture Facilitators will connect stakeholders with others in the industry and share information on sustainable agriculture practices. The facilitators are employed by local Natural Resource Management organisations funded through the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program and will support the program’s broad climate-smart sustainable agriculture outcomes. Deputy Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Policy, Matt Lowe, said the $40.7 mill
Read more
Not only is Spring starting tomorrow, but there are hundreds of families outside enjoying the weather because it’s finals fever for so many sports. We’ve got grand final hockey action down off Bridge Road. Hundreds of kids and families are getting into the stick action to see who comes out on top. If you are looking for the next Aussie player to grab the green and gold jersey for Brisbane 2032, don’t come looking at my A4 men’s Arsenal team. Well not yet anyway. You will find out more in a few
Read more
One of Mackay’s most famous entertainment venues is The Dispensary, an outstanding spot for a meal or a drink and a place to catch up with friends. Its business model was a bit different a few years ago, when it included a seriously “high-end” restaurant that offered dishes that many customers had not experienced in Mackay. For diners who were accustomed to dishes like “crumbed steak” and “chicken parmy”, it was akin to entering a new world with terms like “degustation”, “confit” and “jus”. Anyw
Read more
Friday 30th August Bird Life Mackay 6.30am Join BirdLife Mackay on the last Friday of the month and walk through the Botanic Gardens and along the Lagoons to identify and count the different bird species along the way. This is a free activity and a great opportunity to learn about some of our local bird species. Birdlife Mackay welcomes all interested people to come along. Meet the group at the Viewing Deck next to the Café. Mackay Regional Botanical Gardens Matwork Pilates Slade Point 5.45
Read more
Director Kristyn Everett has assembled an impressive cast for David Williamson’s Family Values, Kucom Theatre’s final production for the year, which opens on Thursday 24th October for a two-week season. The play centres around Roger (played by Greg Webb), a retired judge, who is turning 70. All he wants for his birthday is some quality time with his wife Sue (Bronwyn Grannall) and their three children Lisa, Emily and Michael (Sarah Neivandt, Molly Betteridge, and Michael Brennan)—no gifts, no fu
Read more
A parade of 36 Postie bike riders have zoomed off on a week-long adventure, starting from Mackay and journeying through Eungella Dam, Lake Elphinstone, Lake Maraboon, Cania Dam, Lake Awoonga, and Lake Monduran, before making their way back to Mackay. The endurance ride is all for a good cause with the group of riders raising vital funds for regional families facing childhood cancer. The Postie Bike Safari now in its 11th year will cover over 2,000kms with riders running raffles and seeking don
Read more
Three face painters, two glitter tattoo artists, three jumping castles, roaming entertainment from Sensory Circus, a petting zoo and a hair braider – now that’s a recipe for a party in a park! Party in the Park, which celebrates and raises awareness of Child Protection Week each year, will be held from 9am to 11.30am in John Breen Park, Malcomson Street, North Mackay, on Wednesday, September 4. Mayor Greg Williamson said families could connect with playgroups and children’s service providers i
Read more
More than 300 participants revved up their themed cars for a week-long adventure to raise an astounding $1.5 million for children in need. The 32nd Variety Victoria Bash officially hit the gas on August 16, shifting into high gear for an unforgettable adventure, kicking off in Swan Hill, Victoria, the convoy then travelled through New South Wales, following a pit stop at the sunshine state of Mackay before concluding their joy ride in Airlie Beach last Saturday on August 24th. Along the way,
Read more.jpg)
The Marian Ladies Bowling Club's annual Master Fours event kicked off on Monday, 12 August, with less-than-ideal weather conditions. A heavy downpour greeted the 72 lady bowlers eager to start the three-day event, but despite the weather, the show went on. With true resilience, the first day’s matches were swiftly moved to South Suburban's covered facilities, allowing play to continue. A special thank you was extended to South Suburban for their generous accommodation. Day two brought a welcome
Read more
They started the Queensland Rugby League season full of promise but the Mackay Cutters have ended their 2024 Hostplus Cup campaign on a low. In their final-round display the Cutters suffered a 46-28 loss to the third-ranked Redcliffe Dolphins last weekend at Kayo Stadium. There’ll be no finals action for the Mackay team after finishing twelfth on the table on 22 points with eight wins and twelve losses. Dolphins centre Steven Numambo and interchange hooker Harrison Graham both posted try doub
Read more.JPG)
The Mackay State High School Football Academy recently stole the spotlight at the North Queensland Futsal Championships, delivering stellar performances across various age groups. The U15 boys’ team emerged as a powerhouse, finishing the pool stage undefeated with decisive victories over Cairns SHS (7-3), Kirwan SHS (13-1), Bentley Park College (10-1), and Southern Cross Catholic College (14-3). Their winning streak continued in the grand final, where they dominated Cairns SHS with a 6-2 win. Th
Read more.jpg)
Marian State School has been awarded a $10,000 grant in sports equipment through Decathlon’s Playgrounds to Podiums initiative, marking a significant boost for the school’s sports program. The school earned the silver grant for Queensland after a competitive application process, which is a move that promises to diversify the sports options available to students and nurture the next generation of athletes. Marian State School is situated in a close-knit community where many parents work away i
Read more
The girls were victorious in the Tuesday morning annual championships at the Mackay Table Tennis Centre. Janice Kent (division 1), Veronica Keioskie (division 2) and Veronica’s daughter Nadine Stream (division 3) won the three singles titles, shutting out the men. Donna Abbott won the first game of the final, but Janice took the next three for the title. Veronica defeated Don Boettcher in division 2, and Nadine beat Sharon Muller in division 3. Janice teamed with Bryan Marshall to win the divisi
Read more
Twenty-three Mackay Contract Bridge players participated in the Yeppoon Pairs and Teams Congress on the weekend. Janet Hansen and Thelma Caruana won the A Grade pairs. Sandra Morris and Annie Lynch won the B Grade Pairs. Alan and Frances Brown came third in the A Grade Pairs. Team Holewa – Max and Di Holewa, Terrence Sheedy and Noel Bugeia came second in the A Grade Teams with Team Hutchinson – Faith Hutchinson, Dot Slater, Joy Block and Geoff Cowan coming second in the C Grade Teams.
Read more
Mackay SLSC “Guardians of Harbour Beach since 1950” is kicking off the start of its Nipper season with a Sign On Day, Sunday the 1st of September from 10am – 12noon at the surf club located at Mackay’s beautiful Harbour Beach. The Surf Club is holding “come and try” days for all of September, with surf education, fitness and beach skill activities, as well as a whole lot of fun being held from 8.45am each Sunday. The Nippers’ family will provide stinger suits, boards and all other equipment nee
Read more%5B61%5D.jpg)
The highly anticipated 2024 BMA River 2 Reef Ride Festival returns this weekend for two thrilling days on 31 August and 1 September, promising a vibrant mix of cycling, community spirit, and 2024 Paris Paralympics LIVE screen. The festival will feature screenings of the Paralympics throughout the weekend, with a special focus on two Mackay Paralympians, Josh Nicholson and Brayden Foxley-Conolly, who are proudly representing Australia in Wheelchair Rugby. Both athletes are supported by Disabled
Read more
Perfect weather conditions set the stage for the annual Sladie Sand Dunes three-loop course, hosted at the picturesque Lamberts Beach Esplanade. Runners tackled the challenging course, set amidst the serene nature reserve, under the expert supervision of Mackay Road Runners Vice President and Race Director, Mick Scholer. The team behind the event included course setup expert Andrew Short and timekeeping and registration professionals Beck Scholer, Julie Whibley, and Jo Hughes. Unfortunately, clu
Read more
The North Mackay Sinkers and Masters Swimming Qld are excited to host the return of an Open Water Swim to the fabulous Whitehaven beach this October 6. This thrilling event is back after a five-year break and swimmers from across the region are gearing up for an unforgettable experience. With a choice of 1km or 2km races, the swim offers both a challenge and a sense of adventure as excitement of the swim is matched by the breathtaking surroundings, making this race one to remember. The last W
Read more
By Hannah McNamara Last Sunday evening, Vietnam veterans, families of veterans, and members of the public gathered at the Mackay City Cenotaph, Jubilee Park to acknowledge the fallen soldiers who sacrificed their life in Vietnam, as well as those who are still standing with us today. Vietnam Veterans' Day is celebrated annually on the anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan, at 5.30pm, on August 18 - this specific time and date holds significance as it is said to be when Australian forces had c
Read more
There’s a special kind of magic in watching two people you care about commit to a lifetime of love. Last Saturday, our very own Whitsundays editor, Rachael, tied the knot with her beloved Matt at the stunning Paradise Cove, surrounded by the beauty of nature—and even more so, the beauty of their love. As they embraced their vows, a line from a favourite poet comes to mind: “The best part of love is not just in being adored, but in the reflection you see of yourself in the eyes of the one who ad
Read more.jpg)
In an attempt to help improve the life of a gentleman in his 60s who has struggled on the streets for the past nine months, Chances House (Australian Street Aid Project) reached out to the community for extra support. Quick to jump on board, the Mackay community donated enough money to secure nearly 12 months of rent for the elderly man’s new home, providing him with a safe and warm place to sleep. With rent now paid in advance, the organisation can focus on getting him an ID and a future inc
Read more