Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
Unwind by the sea on Saturday 2nd August for an afternoon that captures the essence of coastal living. Tunes in the Dunes is a seaside event where live music meets ocean views, open skies, and fairy lights, creating a warm and easy-going atmosphere. Bring your picnic rug, favourite snacks and a few friends - it’s BYO and all about enjoying good company in a beautiful surround. Local musicians Zoey Mills and Leyon Milner will take the stage and will deliver a mix of covers and original acoustic
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Friday 25th July ** Crochet & Conversation 9am Join a welcoming morning of crochet, coffee, and conversation with Northern Beaches locals at Beachfront Bar & Restaurant on Bucasia Esplanade. Bring your own tools or borrow from the communal box. All skill levels welcome—just look for the yarn to find the table. Connection and creativity guaranteed. Bucasia Beachfront Bar and Restaurant 9th Lane Grind Illuminate Food Fest 5pm – Friday and Saturday For two nights only, 9th Lane Grind is t
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At 2025 NAIDOC Awards Mackay’s Indigenous community came together last week in a powerful celebration of culture, leadership and legacy, with the 2025 NAIDOC Awards and Pageant drawing a large crowd to Pioneer Murri Court on Wednesday evening. Now in its fifth year, the NAIDOC Pageant continues to grow in recognition and pride, showcasing young leaders and community role models through categories that honour cultural knowledge, dress, and expression of this year’s theme, “The Next Generat
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Mackay Anglican Community Are you a Good Samaritan? The Good Samaritan came to the rescue of a traveller, beaten and left for dead. The Samaritan performed first aid, took the man to safety, cared for him and paid the bills for his care. The Good Samaritan is a story that Jesus told. It is why so many church organisations venture into charitable works, and Mackay Street Chaplaincy is one in this model, as is The Faith in Action Coffee & Op Shop, based at Holy Trinity Parish Hall. The stor
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OPINION PIECE “Consistent with the recommendations from the Henry Tax Review: Don’t change negative gearing or capital gains tax until supply has been addressed and the purpose of the productivity summit should not be to increase the taxes on housing,” stated HIA Chief Economist, Tim Reardon. The McKell Institute earlier this week released a report suggesting changes to on investors with the goal of increasing housing supply. “All parties agree that Australia has an acute shortage of housing,”
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In a bid to tackle regional housing pressures and support essential services, five new modular homes are set to rise in Nebo, backed by funding from the Crisafulli Government to help Isaac Regional Council attract and retain key workers. The homes will feature two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a private open space, a covered carport, and a small garden shed. Designed to maximise the potential of the lot, the new homes will help address the shortage of accommodation for council staff and support the
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Some years ago, when my son Lincoln was aged about three or four, I was sitting on the couch watching TV and felt a tap on the back of my head. Now, I was able to make the connection between my four-year-old son, the space at the back of the couch where he was now obviously crouching, and the tap on the back of my head. But I went along with it, feigned surprise, rubbed the back of my head and slowly got up, giving Lincoln enough time to scurry out from behind the couch and tip-toe down the ha
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Mackay’s rising distance runners are stepping onto the national stage, with four outstanding athletes earning selection in the Queensland All Schools Cross Country Team after standout performances at the recent state championships. Leading the charge is Mackay Road Runners junior club champion Toby Rule, who has enjoyed a stellar seven-day stretch of competition. Last weekend, Toby placed eighth in the 8km race at the Queensland Athletics Cross Country Championships in Toogoolawah, securing a w
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Softball Action Heats Up It was a nail-biting clash between the Pink Hawks and Dragon Slayers, with both teams locked at 13-all by the final whistle. The Pink Hawks came out swinging, scoring six runs in the opening dig. Charlotte Whittaker, Angela Baker, and Julie Hankin each made it home three times, while Katrina Whittaker hit her first-ever home run, rounding all the bases to add to the tally. Defensively, Darcy Dorsett took two catches and Katrina added one more to the Pink Hawks' fi
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Over the weekend, four talented acrobats from Mackay Gymnastics showcased their skills at the prestigious Australian National Championships, held on the Gold Coast. Competing against strong rivals from across the country, the young athletes delivered outstanding performances that reflected their dedication and talent. Among the standout routines, Artaya and Mia secured an impressive third place in their dynamic routine, demonstrating exceptional teamwork and precision. Their success is a
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At The Airlie Beach Festival Mackay Road Runners were spoilt for choice over the weekend, with members taking part in both the local Bluewater Quay social run and the popular Airlie Beach Running Festival. While just over twenty runners enjoyed perfect winter conditions along the Bluewater Trail, it was Mick Vivian who blazed a strong trail in the Airlie Beach Marathon. Vivian looked set to take out top honours in the 42.2km event before a persistent hamstring niggle forced him to dig dee
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Mackay Bridge Players Shine Bright BRIDGE The Townsville Congress was held in June, with four players attending from Mackay. Janelle Conroy, Geoff Taylor, Terry Sheedy and Noel Bugeia had an eventful weekend placing in two out of three events. Terrence and Noel won the Walk ins North/South and Janelle and Geoff won the Walk ins East/West. The four combined in the teams event to come in third place. Well done, red points for everyone! Weekly Results Monday 14 June 2025 –- 8 Table Mitchell Gre
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When did the supermarket stop being exciting? As a kid, tagging along with Mum to grab the milk felt like an adventure. The fluorescent lights, the hum of the fridges, the quiet promise of a treat in the trolley — all of it was thrilling. Somewhere along the way, that little errand turned into a dreaded chore. We swapped excitement for efficiency, wonder for ‘why is butter $8?’ Over the weekend, I watched my son giggle with delight as he helped crack eggs for scrambled eggs. He marvelled
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A humble Mackay local has found himself at the centre of a feel-good viral moment after a simple act of kindness captured the hearts of thousands online, and even landed a Japanese hitchhiker on national TV. Matt, who was travelling from Bowen to Mackay, offered a lift to a Japanese traveller named Tom, who is hitchhiking his way across Australia from Cairns to Melbourne. But the generosity didn’t stop there. Matt also took Tom to a local pub, shouted him dinner and a beer, and shared a t
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By Amanda Wright More than 90,000 Mackay region residents will cast their votes in a full postal ballot by-election next month, following the resignation of Councillor George Christensen in late May. The by-election, scheduled for Saturday 30 August 2025, will determine who fills the vacant seat on the Mackay Regional Council. With the nomination period now open and closing at noon on Thursday 24 July, the Electoral Commission of Queensland (ECQ) is urging interested community members to
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OPINION PIECE Last week, I attended the inaugural Queensland Resources and Innovation Expo at the Resources Centre of Excellence in Paget, Mackay. The expo, promoted as a platform showcasing cutting-edge technologies, fostering industry collaboration, and driving sustainable advancements in the resource sector, definitely delivered – what a fantastic event it was! I was incredibly proud to meet so many local innovators and industry experts, all deeply committed to their products and ideas
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Queensland Police are appealing for further information as part of ongoing investigations after a 61-year-old Mackay man was recently charged with child sexual assault offences. On Saturday 12 July, Detectives from the Mackay Child Protection and Investigation Unit (CPIU) attended a Mackay address where they took a man into custody. Police will allege the man sexually assaulted two boys known to him, within the Mackay area over the past several months. The man has been charged with ten
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Mackay has officially been recognised as one of Australia’s top 10 cities to launch a start-up, according to the latest Reckon Startup Cities report. Mackay was also named the third best city to start a business in Queensland, behind Brisbane and Toowoomba. The study, which analysed 50 cities across the country, highlights Mackay’s strong business survival rates, affordable living costs and robust internet infrastructure as key factors driving its entrepreneurial appeal. Reckon CEO Sam
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Resources Innovation Expo Showcases Queensland’s Cutting-Edge Capability Regional innovation and industry excellence were on full display last Friday at the inaugural Queensland Resources and Innovation Expo, hosted at the Resources Centre of Excellence (RCOE) in Mackay. The one-day event, backed by the Queensland Resources Council (QRC) as principal sponsor, brought together more than 30 exhibitors from across Queensland and interstate, including Western Australia, South Australia and Vi
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Massive Sport Upgrade To Kick Off In Walkerston Walkerston is set to become a sporting powerhouse, with a record-breaking $3.125 million investment locked in to upgrade the home of the Wests Tigers — the largest single boost to sports infrastructure ever seen in the Mirani electorate. Backed by the Queensland Government, the funding delivers on Member for Mirani Glen Kelly MP’s key election commitment, and marks a major win for the region’s sporting future. Delivered under the state’s Ga
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The new state-of-the-art Industrial Technology and Design (INTAD) Precinct at Holy Spirit College was officially blessed and opened earlier this year by Bishop Michael McCarthy and our Diocesan Director, Catholic Education Mr Michael McCusker. The Blessing and Opening marked a significant milestone in Holy Spirit College’s journey with Vocational Education. Consisting of six workshops, including a construction court, storage and shared machinery zones, three project development rooms with
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Community spirit is thriving in the Mirani electorate, thanks to a welcome injection of funding aimed at strengthening local services, improving facilities, and supporting regional resilience. Nine community groups across the electorate have shared in more than $216,000 through Round 123 of the Gambling Community Benefit Fund (GCBF) – a vital initiative that supports not-for-profit organisations delivering meaningful outcomes in their local areas. Member for Mirani, Glen Kelly MP, congra
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EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW Wisely Wine and Food Day 2025 will be a delight for all the senses with mouthwatering food, refreshing beverages, epic music and the feel of juicy grapes between your toes! Yes! Grape stomping is just one of the many amazing Wisely Wine and Food Day attractions on offer at Queens Park on Saturday, July 19. Whether you’re in it for fun, or just a great photo op, festivalgoers will have the opportunity to step back in time and experience the age-old winemaking t
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The Kemmis Park Skatepark in South Mackay temporarily closed on July 14 to allow for essential repairs to its shade structure, with works aimed at ensuring the facility remains safe, shaded, and enjoyable for years to come. The upgrade is part of council’s ongoing investment in recreational infrastructure, with repairs expected to take approximately one month, weather permitting, and the site anticipated to reopen by mid-August. While the skatepark itself is fenced off during the works,
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State Budget Delivers Vital Funding For Homelessness Services Last Friday, The State Government’s 2025–26 Budget announced and delivered a 20 per cent increase in funding to frontline services, aiming to bolster support for people facing homelessness in Mackay and the Whitsundays. Billed as laying the groundwork for a fresh start, the Budget includes an additional $592 million for homelessness services across Queensland, with a strong focus on critical, on-the-ground support for the stat
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