Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
It’s been another action-packed and inspiring week for bowlers from Airlie Beach Bowls Club, both on and off the green. At the Para-Powerlifting Nationals on the Gold Coast, our very own Di Jackson took out the bronze medal, proving once again that her wheelchair is no match for her inner strength. Di continues to inspire with every achievement, adding another chapter to her remarkable story. Back on the green, the Men’s Triples Championship brought some serious drama. After preliminary rounds
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Under clear skies and easing winds, the Cannonvale Cannons Swimming Club hosted the 2024 Winter Short Course Transition Meet on Saturday at the Cannonvale Swim Centre. The meet welcomed 104 swimmers from 13 clubs across Queensland and provided one of the final chances for athletes to secure qualifying times for the upcoming 2025 Hancock Prospecting Queensland Short Course Championships. Many swimmers rose to the occasion, posting impressive results, smashing personal bests and taking home a hau
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It was a picture-perfect day for golf, with 31 players hitting the course for the July 2025 Monthly Medal. And while some rounds may have had their shaky moments, a few solid shots and timely putts were all it took to keep spirits high—and golfers keen to return next week. Congratulations to our Monthly Medal winners: Elspeth Scotford for the ladies and Gerald Lovell for the men. We were also pleased to welcome visitors Shane Aldridge and Gerald Heavey, who added to the day’s fun. Ladies Resul
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It’s been a vibrant and busy week at Wangaratta Bowls Club, with full greens and strong competition across all events. Monday Triples saw a full field with Jan Harvey, Rodney Barter, and Glenn Harvey claiming victory over S. Farrel, H. Beech-Jones, and K. Pedlar. Runners-up were Glen, Nick, and John, who defeated Neal, Bruce, and Robyn. The jackpot once again went unclaimed. Tuesday afternoon was a special occasion as the club honoured its Patroness, Merle Elphinstone—our oldest Life Member wh
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The Lions Club of Whitsunday’s fourth annual Charity Golf Day teed off on Sunday at Whitsunday Green, raising more than $10,000 for local causes. Proserpine Hospital will once again be the major beneficiary, with additional recipients to be confirmed at later dates. Golf Committee Chairman Alan Gravelle said the day was a huge success, thanks to generous community support. “It's a long day, but at the end of the day, when you see everyone happy and all the support and positive comments it sort
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The ladies from Marian Bowls Club have shown that community spirit is alive and well, recently donating ten beautifully handmade knee rugs to the residents of Nanyima Aged Care Home in Mirani. Over the past few months, members have been busy crocheting and knitting squares from home, later joining them together to create colourful, cosy rugs designed to keep elderly residents warm while in wheelchairs. On Wednesday, June 25, Marian Bowls Club President Thelma Johnston, Treasurer Judith Miller
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It’s not every week I get the privilege of having the Mayor cook me dinner — but thanks to Crunch Time, part of this year’s Mackay Festival of Arts, that’s exactly what happened. The live-theatre-meets-dinner-party event delivered five unpredictable courses dictated by democracy and whipped up by Mayor Greg Williamson himself. Let’s just say the democratic process took a dark turn when someone voted for Natto — a fermented bean experience that confirmed some things are better left off the plate
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Last Sunday, the Mackay Army Cadets once again laced up their boots and marched with purpose – this time around the Bluewater Trail – as part of a growing movement to raise awareness and support for veteran homelessness. Twelve months on from the extraordinary 382km trek in 2024, the cadets returned to action, completing a symbolic circuit of Mackay’s scenic Bluewater Trail. The event served as both a show of continued solidarity and a powerful reminder that, for many veterans, the battle
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$6 Million Allocated For Victim Safety And Justice Access Mackay’s justice precinct is set for a significant transformation, with a $6 million funding injection from the Queensland Government to upgrade the region’s courthouse—placing victim safety and frontline justice services firmly back on the agenda. The funding forms part of an $18.8 million boost to the state’s Domestic and Family Violence Courthouse Improvement Program, announced in the 2025–26 Budget. The additional investment li
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The Mackay Vietnam Veterans Support Group has crafted a colourful mud kitchen at Nebo State School, providing a creative play space for students of all ages. With help from sponsors and grants, the project took just over two months to complete and includes cupboards, an oven, a slide-out tray, and is even painted in the school’s colours. Kate Hardwick, a representative from Nebo State School, said the mud kitchen supports “some really creative play, particularly for the younger participa
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A rising number of missed specialist appointments across the Mackay Hospital and Health Service (HHS) region is placing strain on the public health system and putting patients’ own health at risk, officials have warned. Last year alone, 20,204 patients across the Mackay HHS – which includes rural facilities in Proserpine, Bowen, Sarina, Collinsville, Clermont, Dysart and Moranbah – failed to attend specialist appointments. At Mackay Base Hospital’s Specialist Outpatient Department, the fi
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Jacob King Takes On 4 Points Challenge For Starlight Kids At just 27, Moranbah local Jacob King has set off on an extraordinary 17,000-kilometre bike ride around Australia, turning his wheels, and his heart, toward raising funds for seriously ill children. On July 1st, Jacob departed from Mackay to begin the 4 Points Challenge, a self-designed route connecting the country’s four most extreme points: Cape York, Steep Point, Wilsons Promontory and Cape Byron. “The 4 Points Challenge is a
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An unforgettable night of glamour, music and meaning is coming to Mackay this August, as Crossroad Arts presents Candlelight Opera in the Woods — a breathtaking immersive performance held in a secret industrial venue in the Mackay CBD. This exclusive boutique fundraiser promises an operatic experience like no other, where guests will be surrounded by candlelight, soaring vocals and the industrial grandeur of a space transformed for one night only. All proceeds will support inclusive arts
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By Amanda Wright Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson swapped council chambers for kitchen chaos earlier this week, stepping into the spotlight as guest chef for Crunch Time, a theatrical dining experience that’s stirring more than just soup. Part of this year’s Mackay Festival of Arts, Crunch Time is no ordinary dinner party. Co-commissioned by Metro Arts and the Next Wave Festival, the critically acclaimed event transforms the dining table into a democratic battleground, where a select group of
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Community Invited To Free safetalk Suicide Prevention Training Grapevine Group has trained more than 7000 people in suicide prevention across Mackay, Isaac and Whitsunday regions and the community is invited to attend the next free safeTALK training session on Wednesday, July 23 at 6pm at Ocean International, Mackay. This internationally recognised training teaches participants how to recognise when someone may be at risk of suicide. It also provides the skills to engage in open and suppo
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A major investment in skills training is set to deliver a stronger future workforce for Queensland’s booming resources industry, with the expansion of the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA) announced this week in Mackay. The Queensland Government is allocating $2 million over three years to expand the QMEA into regional hubs across Central and North Queensland, starting right here in Mackay. The first hub will be established at the Resources Centre of Excellence, followed by Ro
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Mackay’s Budget Blueprint This year’s State Budget has landed, and it brings with it a wave of good news for Mackay. The Crisafulli Government has delivered real funding, real projects, and a real plan to restore trust in the system—especially here in Mackay. The budget rests on four key pillars: delivering safety, boosting health services, improving lifestyle through a stronger economy, and planning for Queensland’s future. Across each of these, Mackay is seeing major investment. On sa
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Gold Coast Mackay Yacht Race Sets Sail With New Safety Standard Anticipation is building across Mackay’s coastline as one of Australia’s most exciting offshore sailing events returns — with new safety measures leading the charge. The GCCM Gold Coast Mackay Yacht Race kicks off on 1 August, promising 520 nautical miles of pure offshore exhilaration from the shimmering skyline of the Gold Coast to the tropical charm of Mackay. But as the fleet grows — now with 29 entries, nearly double the
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Thousands of car enthusiasts rolled into the Mackay Showgrounds over the weekend for the Hawks Industrial Solutions Pirtek Mackay Motor Show 2025, and the atmosphere was electric. Presented by the Mackay Rod & Custom Club, the two-day event featured a stunning display of classic cars, street machines, bikes, and jaw-dropping custom builds that left even seasoned showgoers speechless. “The level of some of these builds is absolutely mind-blowing and the attention to detail is on another le
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The State Government has initiated a new Parliamentary inquiry through Queensland Parliament’s Primary Industries and Resources Committee to investigate the potential of sugarcane as a renewable energy source to help power Queensland’s future. The committee will be examining how to unlock new investment, support the value-add opportunities in the sugar industry and examining the regulatory hurdles that the sector may have to overcome to see potential growth for a new biofuel industry made
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Concerns Over Future Of Wild-Caught Seafood Voiced Fresh, wild-caught seafood has long been a cornerstone of coastal Queensland life — not just a staple on the dinner table, but a key economic driver for countless small businesses, regional communities, and family-run operations. Yet the future of this industry is looking increasingly uncertain, with rising regulatory pressure and economic headwinds threatening to reel in more than just fishers’ nets. In a bid to hear directly from those
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CANEGROWERS Australia Chairman Owen Menkens has been elected President of the World Association of Beet and Cane Growers (WABCG), marking a proud moment for the Australian sugarcane industry on the final day of the WABCG Conference in Cairns. The appointment was confirmed during official proceedings last Wednesday, with delegates from around the world endorsing Mr Menkens to lead the peak global body representing sugarcane and beet growers from 38 countries. “It’s a great honour to be el
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Simon Hood, Wilmar Manager Grower Marketing Brazil remains front and centre in global sugar market movements. The latest UNICA report for the first half of June shows sugar production continuing to outpace ethanol. While sugar output dipped slightly in the fortnight, it still accounted for 51.5% of cane crushed, nudging the year-to-date figure to 50.5%—up from 48.3% in the previous season. However, cane quality remains a concern. The ATR is hovering below 12%, prompting analysts to downgr
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A living legacy of culture, healing, and community spirit has taken root in the heart of Sarina. Unveiled during NAIDOC Week, the Yinha Gurubila Ganya – meaning ‘here medicine place’ – is a traditional bush medicine garden now flourishing at Sarina Hospital. More than just a garden, it is a cultural milestone, reconnecting the community with ancient knowledge passed down through generations of the Yuwi people. The project began as a shared vision and blossomed through collaboration betwe
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A powerhouse team of mud racers from Sarina left their mark on the Queensland State Mud Racing Titles over the weekend, tearing up the tracks at CQ Mud Sportz in Kabra with a thrilling mix of speed, skill and Sarina spirit. Held across two adrenaline-pumping days on July 5 and 6, the state titles brought together racers from across Queensland for a high-octane display of horsepower, mud, and fierce competition – and the Sarina contingent more than held their own. Leading the charge in th
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