Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
The Coral Sea Marina Resort Airlie Beach Triathlon Festival is celebrating its 25th anniversary in style, smashing entry records and attracting the second-largest professional field in Queensland, behind only the iconic Noosa Triathlon. Set for Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 August, this year’s festival will see athletes from across the country descend on the wonderful Whitsundays, Heart of the Great Barrier Reef, to compete in one of Australia’s most scenic and exciting multisport events. Race Dir
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Nineteen members of the Whitsunday Running Club braved the rough seas to take part in the Great Whitehaven Beach Run in treacherous conditions with a 25 knott south easterly blowing. The female members of the club took out the trifecta in the half marathon with Liv Compton finishing ahead of Aimee Sulzberger and Alison Scoles. In the 10k race Riana Wronski finished strongly in second place. The male members of the club also achieved some great results with Roland Henderson placing second in th
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The Cannonvale Cannons’ youngest swimmers are proof that swimming is not only about medals—it’s about friendship, fun, and the joy in the journey, not just the finish line. We sat down with six of our youngest Cannons to find out what they love most about swimming and being part of the Cannons family. For Miranda, it’s all about the fun of club nights and racing her dog Chilli in her imagination. Lennox loves practicing his dives and seeing his “swim friends” each week, he also imagines a dog
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It was another busy and social week at Wangaratta Bowls Club, with action across several competitions, social events, and Friday night barefoot bowls. Monday Triples Dominated by Irymple Crew Monday’s self-selected triples saw the in-form Irymple crew of France Wilmann, Jenny Healey and Chris Healey claim victory over Meryl Elphinstone, Isobel Wheeler and Robyn Stitt. The Irymple side has been enjoying a strong run of form on Mondays in recent weeks. Runners-up were Ken Rod and Mark, who over
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Ocean Rafting Acquires Hamilton Island Water Sports. In a heartfelt continuation of local legacy, Ocean Rafting is proud to announce its acquisition of Hamilton Island Water Sports, bringing together two well-loved, family-owned businesses in the Whitsundays. This exciting new chapter sees the transition of ownership from one passionate local family to another, with both businesses sharing deep roots in the region and a commitment to delivering world-class, water-based experiences while support
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Get ready for a night of soulful singing, slick dance moves, and comedic antics as the Gold Coast-based sensation, Geed UP, hits the stage at the Airlie Beach Hotel on Saturday, July 19th & Sunday, July 20th. Geed UP have performed at the Airlie Beach Hotel numerous times, and every time Khan, Steve, Liz, and Xy, promise an unforgettable, high-energy performance that defies expectations. You may recognise Liz and Xy in Geed UP from TV. Both featured on The Voice Australia and became favourites
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July 4 Ice Age 1, The Movie Screen at Airlie Beach Foreshore in Coconut Grove, 6:00pm 6 NAIDOC Week, 6th – 13th 6 Bowen Community Markets, Hansen Park, from 8:00am 7 NAIDOC Flag Raising Ceremony & March, Bowen Town Square. Herbert Street, 8:00am-12:00pm 9 Whitsunday Quilters & Hand Crafts Group, Whitsunday Neighbourhood Centre, 9:00am-1:30pm, $5pp. 11 Matilda followed by Grease, The Movie Screen at Airlie Beach Foreshore in Coconut Grove, 6:00pm 12 NAIDOC Week Family Fun Day, Bowen Sounds
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Friday 4th July Airlie Beach Hotel: Andy Mammers (7pm – 10pm) Grand View Hotel: Sam McCann (from 8pm) KC's: Jason Bull (from 8pm) Saturday 5th July Airlie Beach Hotel: Blues Brothers Tribute (2pm – 5.30pm) Airlie Beach Hotel: Andy Mammers (7pm – 10pm) Grand View Hotel: DJ Night (from 8pm) Coral Sea Pavillion: DJ Ahri (1pm – 6pm) KC's: Jason Bull (from 8pm) Sunday 6th July Airlie Beach Hotel: Blues Brothers Tribute (2pm – 5.30pm) Airlie Beach Hotel: Paul Fergus Morris (6.30pm – 9.30pm) Grand Vi
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Sparking Powerful Conversations On Mental Health Almost 140 people attended the Whitsunday Suicide Prevention Network’s (WSPN) Legends Night and over $25,000 was raised. President of WSPN Matt Stokes said the event was a huge success, not just because of the money raised, but the response he has had from the community. He said many people have come to him to express that they had a wonderful time at the event. On the night, WSPN invited several inspiring speakers to address the audience. Ra
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Whitsunday United teams were in action across Mackay and at home over the weekend, producing a mix of hard-fought results, strong performances, and signs of steady improvement across the club. The Divisional Men travelled to Mackay for two top-of-the-table clashes against Lions. Division 2 played with intensity and created several chances, but a harsh handball penalty saw them trail early. They bounced back to 1-1 by halftime and took the lead shortly after the break, but Lions responded strong
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Hi everyone, I’m jumping into the editors column for this week. I’ve been with Life Publishing Group for almost a year and a half now and I can say that I am still thoroughly enjoying my time here. Every day I am meeting even more new people and I love attending our local events - if you see me out and about - come and say hi! Last Friday I attended Whitsunday Suicide Prevention Network’s Legends Night at the Reef Gateway Hotel. I was the night's official photographer, but I also got to enjoy
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The Tassal Airlie Beach Marathon Festival will be held along the foreshore over the weekend of 19/20 July 2025. A record number of entries have already been received for the marathon and half marathon and there are not many places left. At least 600 runners are expected to line up to run over the weekend. Entries have been received from every state and territory in Australia. There are also entries from New Zealand, Hong Kong, Canada, USA, France, England, Scotland and Sweden. Last year’s winn
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AFL - Whitsunday Sea Eagles Saturday 5th July 12:15pm - Whitsunday Sea Eagles Senior Women vs North Mackay Saints at Whitsunday Sportspark 1:50pm - Whitsunday Sea Eagles Senior Men vs North Mackay Saints at Whitsunday Sportspark Cricket – Airlie Beach Cricket Club Contact airliebeachcc@yahoo.com.au for information about Airlie Beach Cricket Club Netball – Whitsunday Netball Association Contact netballwhitsunday@gmail.com for netball information
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Creative Connections Whitsundays is looking at transforming the former Proserpine Information Centre, located next to the Proserpine Museum, into a vibrant community art gallery through their ‘Frame Our Future’ campaign. This space will be more than just a gallery; it will be a dynamic hub for local artists to exhibit their work, a venue for creative workshops, and a welcoming place for people to gather, learn, and connect. Creative Connections Whitsundays say the building has great potential
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The Whitsunday Regional Council's new 'Let's Get It Sorted' initiative is focused on improving the region’s recycling habits by getting back to basics. The campaign is designed to help residents understand what goes into each bin and how their choices at home can lead to real improvements in waste reduction. The Waste team at Council have one objective and that is to reduce total waste to landfill. "One of the main ways to do this is to increase the total of materials that can be reprocessed o
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The fifth annual Coffee with a Cop event was held at Whitsunday Plaza on Wednesday, 2 July, and proved to be another successful morning of community connection and conversation. The popular initiative, which has become a trusted platform for building relationships between local police and the public, once again delivered on its goal of breaking down barriers in a relaxed, approachable setting. “Sometimes people are reluctant to speak to police because of the position that we hold,” said Senior
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Sports Day in 1984 Sports Carnival in 2025 A newsletter in the 1980’s A newsletter in 2024 The Year 5 Last Supper performance in 1985 The Year 1 Last Supper performance in 2025 Rugby League in the 1980’s Rugby League in 2025
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As the proud principal of St Catherine’s Catholic College, I would like to extend a welcome to community members to learn more about our College, and to join us for the 100 year celebration. In 1925, the Sisters of Mercy founded St Catherine’s School in Marathon Street. Many of our current students have parents and grandparents who attended the school and who have fond memories of their schooling. Catholic schools were originally founded to provide for those who might not otherwise gain an ade
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At St Catherine’s Catholic College, education begins with a strong foundation. The school is committed to nurturing students from Prep through to Year 12, helping them grow academically, spiritually, socially and emotionally. The Mercy Precinct, named in honour of the Sisters of Mercy who founded the school in 1925, is home to Prep to Year 2 students. This dedicated area includes spacious classrooms and shaded outdoor play areas featuring mini soccer fields and imaginative play spaces designed t
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At St Catherine’s Catholic College, the primary school program for children in Years 3 to 6 lays a strong foundation for academic success and personal growth within a supportive and inclusive environment. With a focus on educating the whole child through head, heart and hands, students are guided through these important years by dedicated classroom teachers who support both their wellbeing and academic development. Literacy and numeracy remain central to the curriculum, but the learning experien
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At St Catherine’s Catholic College, the Secondary Campus caters to students from Years 7 to 12, offering a vibrant and supportive environment where young learners are empowered to thrive academically, socially, and spiritually. Igniting Curiosity in Years 7 to 9 The middle years at St Catherine’s are all about exploration and discovery, offering a rich curriculum designed to ignite curiosity and uncover hidden talents. Students dive deep into essential subjects like English, Maths, Science, and
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Whitsunday Regional Council is proposing changes to the Whitsunday Planning Scheme 2017 to better manage short-term accommodation, like Airbnbs, within the Low-Density Residential zones. The aim of these changes is to strike a better balance between homes for locals and holiday stays for visitors. We’ve mapped out 10 precincts across the region where STA may be supported, based on things like community feedback, existing use and historical holiday areas. Head to Council’s online engagement spac
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In the last couple of weeks there has been a few humpbacks whale sightings in the Whitsundays, as well as whale sounds through a hydrophone. The whales will start to become more regular now. The first humpback whales to arrive in Whitsundays in late May/early June are the females who are looking to mate this year. Followed by the pregnant females. Humpback whales only mate every 2-3 years. Their gestation period is 11-12 months and their calf will stay by their sides for 12 months. Some female
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Here in the Whitsundays, we are very fortunate to have such a diverse landscape, made up of a variety of vegetative regimes; woodlands, grasslands, rainforests, mangrove forests and…Littoral Rainforests. Littoral Rainforests occur on coastal headlands, dunes, sea-cliffs or other places influenced by the sea. There are a range of plant life forms including trees, shrubs, vines, herbs, ferns, and epiphytes (plants that are supported by or grow on other plants). Several plant species found in litt
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Hi everyone, Winter is well and truly here, and I’ve been hearing more and more about the amazing marine life this season brings! While whales often steal the spotlight, we’re also seeing more sightings of manta rays and dugongs! It’s been freezing lately, I’ve been tucked up with my hot water bottle most nights! Luckily, the chill hasn’t stopped me from getting creative. I’ve been running some wonderful weekly art sessions at Eco Barge HQ, where we turn recycled waste into beautiful pieces. I
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