For over 70 years, Marian Bowls Club has been a pillar of the local community, offering a friendly and welcoming space for players of all ages and abilities. Nestled in the quiet surroundings of Reg Smith Street, Marian, the club provides a peaceful escape where the only sounds are birdsong, the gentle hum of the Marian Sugar Mill and the occasional cheer of happy bowlers enjoying a friendly match. The club caters to a variety of bowling interests, from social bowls to competitive pennants and
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If you’ve ever dreamed of the wind in your sails and the thrill of racing, but the sea isn’t your thing, then blokarting might just be your next adventure. Combining the exhilaration of sailing with the accessibility of land sports, blokarting delivers an adrenaline rush like no other. Imagine zooming along a sunlit beach with the breeze at your back and breathtaking scenery surrounding you—this is blokarting at its finest. Whether you’re a thrill-seeker or simply curious about this unique spor
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The Girls Only Hub program for 5-10-year-olds is set to begin on February 10, offering young girls an exciting opportunity to explore cricket in a welcoming and inclusive environment. Led by female coaches, the program focuses on building confidence, skills, and a love for the sport in a space designed just for girls. Great Barrier Reef Arena Sports Development Officer Mel Dwyer highlighted the importance of such initiatives, stating, “The girls-only program is a great opportunity for girls t
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Mackay’s newest swimming sensation, the Northern Stars Swimming Club Inc., is making waves in the region’s competitive swimming scene, delivering impressive results while fostering a love for the sport. With a focus on developing talent at all levels, the club offers three squad programs—Mini, Junior, and Senior—catering to swimmers of different ages and abilities. Under the guidance of Head Coach Steve Arnold, Northern Stars aims to provide a supportive and inclusive environment for swimmers
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The Mackay Regional Council-sponsored Australia Day “Come and Try Bridge Day” was a great success. Members and enthusiastic community participants gathered to enjoy morning tea, a sausage lunch and a wonderful day filled with cards and friendship. President Frances Brown expressed her delight at the strong turnout and encouraged attendees, as well as anyone interested in learning Bridge, to join the beginners' lessons starting Wednesday, 12 February, at 6:30pm at the Bridge Club, 414 Shakespeare
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A large roll-up of 84 bowlers took part in the Monday public holiday fun-packed afternoon of mixed bowls. The day was well represented by both men’s and ladies' committee members, ensuring the day was successful, and bowlers were treated to pies, sausage rolls, lamingtons and an ice-cold beer to top the day off. Congratulations to the prize winners and those who dressed up to the Aussie theme! Competition Results Open Fours Mick Walsh, Clive Wales, Greg McLean, and Andrew Coates dominated thei
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The 2024/2025 Shawn’s Summer Biathlon Splash & Dash Series concluded on Australia Day, with athletes and volunteers coming together to honour former Mackay Road Runners champion Shawn Claydon, who passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2018. Shawn’s legacy was celebrated with the attendance of his sister, Sharon Stewart-Harris, and her husband, Jeff, who supported the event. Held as an off-season training opportunity, the series welcomed not only club members but also newcomers and those seeking
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South Suburban Bowls Club has kicked off social bowls for 2025 and is welcoming both new and returning players to join in the fun. On January 16th, 30 ladies braved the heat, staying well hydrated and showing great determination as they played in the first Ladies Social Day of the year. Maryann Harrigan, President of the Ladies Section, was pleased to see so many ladies that were eager to get back on the green and called the day a success. For 2025, South Suburban Bowls is offering four days
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The first citizenship ceremony of 2025 took place last Friday, with 44 individuals taking the pledge to become new Australians, under the officiation of Mayor Ry Collins. The new citizens came from diverse corners of the globe, representing a rich tapestry of cultures and backgrounds. While some had only recently made their homes in the community, others had been valued residents for more than a quarter of a century. Over the long weekend, festivities continued with the Australian Day Awards whe
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Hi Everyone, Standing with my feet in the sand as the lively waves rushed past and our children squealed with delight, I caught myself smiling. Not just smiling, but grinning - wide and big – and I didn’t even realise I was doing it! That’s what holidays are about. From boogie boarding the surf of Wategos and Mooloolaba to feeding the birds and marvelling at the glow-worms at O’Reilly’s rainforest retreat to a relaxing time with family on Bribie Island - our holiday was both diverse and nour
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After four months of investigations, QPS Forensic Crash Unit has charged a 61-year-old Bowen man with dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death whilst adversely affected by an intoxicating substance and did drive UIL. The fatal Myrtlevale incident under investigation occurred at approximately 5pm on the 15th of September 2024 and tragically resulted in the death of 22-year-old Wangige Kiumbura from Burdell. Emergency services were called to a two-vehicle crash involving a Holden utility an
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Remy, an abused bull terrier rescued from death row at the local pound found himself in the caring hands of the folks at the Bowen Collinsville Pet Rescue Inc. Sore, broken and neglected, his pain was evident to the volunteers who took him in. Remy was diagnosed with an eye infection, a severe skin infection covering his body and luxating patella, meaning he could barely walk and was in terrible pain. He needed surgery but the procedure was too expensive for the volunteer organisation to afford
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December was a landmark month for Whitsunday Coast Airport, as passenger numbers surged to new heights. Whitsunday Regional Council is excited to announce that December 22nd set a new daily passenger record, with 2,524 travellers passing through the airport’s terminal. This impressive achievement highlights the region's growing appeal as a top holiday destination. The Christmas period brought a wave of visitors, many arriving for festive getaways or long-awaited family reunions in the stunning W
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The latest Citizenship Ceremony took place at the Proserpine Entertainment Centre last Sunday, where Mayor Ry Collins had the honor of conferring Australian citizenship to 44 new citizens. These new Australians come from a wide range of countries, each bringing their own unique stories and backgrounds to the celebration. Becoming an Australian citizen is a deeply personal decision, one that is met with warmth and pride across the nation. Citizenship represents a commitment to Australia’s values,
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Whitsunday Regional Council has honoured our community champions with a special Australia Day Awards ceremony held at the Proserpine Entertainment Centre. Mayor Ry Collins said the awards are a special opportunity to celebrate the incredible individuals and groups who make the Whitsundays such a vibrant and connected community. “These awards are about recognising the extraordinary contributions that help shape our region, from inspiring leaders to those who quietly work behind the scenes to sup
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This month the Chamber meet Jannah Baker and Jason Weir from Scallywag Fabrication, an aluminium manufacturing business producing a range of adventure, tradie, and lifestyle products tailored for regional Queensland. They specialise in aluminium-based trays, canopies, and 4x4 accessories designed to withstand the demands of the Australian outdoors. Jason grew up in Bowen, often working on utes and boats to make them more functional for fishing, camping, and off-roading adventures. His partner,
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Not all properties will benefit from sandbagging, in fact sometimes it can do more harm than good! Make sure you are aware of the flow of water around your property during high rainfall events before deciding whether sandbags will be useful to you. Sandbags are only effective when used correctly. They should only ever be filled two-thirds full and be folder over, rather than tied at the top. Lay them like brickwork, staggering the rows so that’s the joins do not line up. Sandbags will not
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The Whitsunday region is officially one of the fastest growing in Queensland and myself and Councillors are committed to ensuring that every community has access to modern, functional spaces that meet residents’ needs. That’s why I’m thrilled to invite you to have Your Say on the proposed Collinsville Community Hub and Showgrounds Masterplan. This transformative project, proudly funded by the Queensland Government’s Resources Community Infrastructure Fund, represents a $14.6 million investment
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Seniors of Queensland are being targeted with a new scam that’s exploiting them for $30, for a free Senior's Card. Senior’s Cards are always free of charge and applicants are never requested to disclose their bank, credit card or PayPal details in exchange for membership. The website to watch out for is called The Seniors Assistant: https://www.theseniorsassistant.com/ claiming to specialise in assistance for several senior–related applications including but not limited to, Senior’s Cards. The
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With the number of people calling in at the Big Mango increasing each year, so is the range of merchandise available at the Bowen Visitor Information Centre right next door. The team at Bowen Tourism and Business welcomed more than 52,000 people last year and they are always keen to meet the needs of all those travellers. Manager Leanne Abernethy said the merchandise range had been expanded again to include a new range of polo shirts and fishing shirts as well as new aprons and tea towels. “We
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A juvenile joyride traffic incident involving a stolen vehicle has left both the Whitsundays and Burdekin communities on high alert following an almost 24-hour ordeal. A white Hyundai hatchback was reported stolen from an address close to Home Hill State School the morning of Monday the 20th of January. Locals took to online platforms to demand harsher consequences for offenders with many members of the community saddened to learn the car belonged to a Home Hill grandmother. Reports have eme
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Burnout used to be the workplace experience we all tried to manage and avoid. In 2025, it’s Change Fatigue. Change fatigue is feeling exhausted or overwhelmed in response to organisational changes. Covid-19 was when we first started noticing this phenomenon as businesses pivoted left and right to keep up with ever-changing government policies, protocols and requirements. Today we are being bombarded with constantly shifting workplace flexibility & hybrid work policies, AI technology, keeping
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The good volunteers at the Whitsunday VMR service have had a busy few days. From stingers to sinking boats, they were on the case in the worst of the weather, teaming up with paramedics to ensure the safety of everyone they rescued. It’s stinger season, and no one should be swimming in the Whitsunday area without a suit. A yachting group paid heed to this and wore them while swimming off the back of their boat but afterwards took them off for a leisurely stroll down the beach. To cool off they
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The Whitsundays have long been celebrated for their stunning landscapes, particularly their pristine beaches. It’s no surprise, then, that Whitehaven Beach on Whitsunday Island has recently been named the best beach in the world for 2025 by Lonely Planet, beating out a host of international contenders. With its iconic white silica sands stretching over 7km, crystal-clear turquoise waters, and breathtaking panoramic views, Whitehaven continues to captivate visitors from around the globe. This rec
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Dirty Deeds is back in Airlie Beach bringing the real Australian pub sound with their smashing tribute to AC/DC with the Bon Scott vs Brian Johnson show. Dirty Deeds have been kicking the can for AC/DC for over 20 years and are a force to be reckoned with LIVE on the big stage. No other show comes close to the pure power, energy and dedication of these High Voltage Rockers! Dirty Deeds are the real thing. For two stand-alone shows Dirty Deeds are bringing AC/DC's signature sound of loud, poundin
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