In a heart-warming act of kindness, a young woman has left a lasting impression on a local family after helping their anxious teenage daughter change a flat tyre on Eversleigh Road. The daughter, a P-plater with high anxiety, found herself stranded by the side of the road, upset and unsure of what to do. With her parents out of state, she was about to call RACQ when a stranger in a red Mazda CX-5 pulled over and offered assistance. The kind woman, who is believed to be of Islander descent
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Mackay Regional Council contractors will begin work on the fourth stage of the Mackay Waterfront Priority Development Area (PDA), which will include upgrades to the Sydney and River Streets intersection and Bluewater Trail. Vassallo Constructions Pty Ltd have been awarded the contract to improve the pedestrian and cycle connectivity between the City Centre and Riverside precincts. The works will include new and wider footpaths, new park furniture, improved lighting and landscaping. There will al
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The Federal Government’s $7.2 billion commitment to upgrading the Bruce Highway is already facing delays, with conflicting statements from senior government officials raising concerns about the timeline for delivering the critical funding. While Prime Minister Anthony Albanese assured the public during a press conference in Gympie that funding for the project would begin this year, Finance Minister Katy Gallagher told ABC’s 7.30 Report that the funding would fall outside the current forward est
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The Mackay community is in mourning following the tragic death of Cassandra Townsend, a 37-year-old mother of two, whose body was discovered in her Beaconsfield home on the 8th of January. Police were called to her Lorne Court property around 3.20pm, where her body was found. Authorities declared the site a crime scene, and investigations into the cause of her death are ongoing as they await autopsy results. A Queensland Police spokesperson confirmed, “Investigations into the death are conti
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An inferno on a conveyor system at a grain silo in Mackay Harbour on Monday, the 13th of January, left locals in shock and sparked an urgent response from emergency services. The blaze, which began around 6.15pm at GrainCorp on George Bell Drive, unleashed thick plumes of black smoke that could be seen throughout the Mackay Port industrial area. Workers in the vicinity were the first to spot the smoke and flames leaping from the silo, which reportedly contained chickpeas. Workers at nearby bus
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Wildcat Mackay, the award-winning boat tour that brought the beauty of Mackay’s offshore islands to life, has announced its closure after more than three years of operation. The decision, made with careful consideration, comes following a decline in demand for the day-tours over the past 18 months. Since its debut in December 2021, Wildcat Mackay has offered locals and visitors an extraordinary opportunity to explore the pristine islands of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Its state-of-the
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Mount Pleasant Shopping Centre is excited to announce a vibrant and inclusive Australia Day weekend celebration on January 25th and 26th. This year, we are proud to support our local RSL and bring together our diverse community for a weekend of events, unity and festivity. Landlord and Owner Fawkner Property believe that while we come from many cultures and hold many beliefs, we are united as one Australia. Our Australia Day weekend celebrations are a testament to this, and we warmly invite peo
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A new year brings the perfect opportunity to reflect on how we spend our time and how we can make a meaningful impact. If one of your 2025 resolutions is to give back, why not consider volunteering? Offering your time and skills to help others is one of the most fulfilling ways to start the year. And what better place to lend a hand than at the heart of our community – the hospital? Mackay Hospital Foundation provides countless ways for volunteers to support patients, families, and staff, making
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CatholicCare Central Queensland has been a trusted provider of care and support services in Mackay and the wider Central Queensland region for over 50 years, dedicated to providing individuals and families with the quality care and support they need to thrive. With a focus on respect, compassion, and inclusivity, the organisation offers a wide range of services designed to meet the needs of the community. Their extensive range of services include: • In-Home Aged Care and Disability Support
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Helen Zaglas is living proof of a miracle, but she credits much of her survival to the outstanding care and dedication of the Mackay Base Hospital staff. Described as a “walking miracle,” by many, Mrs Zaglas has faced an extraordinary number of health battles, yet her gratitude for the hospital’s exceptional service remains ever-present. “The staff at the Base Hospital are very good at what they do,” Mrs Zaglas said. “They’ve helped me so much over the years, and they’ve been amazing. “I
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Mackay residents have reported several sightings of what are believed to be at least two crocodiles regularly swimming around the Mackay Marina. These elusive visitors have been spotted both within the marina itself and just outside the rock wall, adding a cautious element to the picturesque waterfront, especially for those who use the sheltered water for paddle boarding. Earlier this week, one of the juvenile crocodiles, estimated to be about one metre long, was seen gliding along the Harbour B
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The Queensland Mines Rescue Service (QMRS) team and the wider community are mourning the loss of Andrew "Drew" Mallett - a highly respected member of their ranks. It is believed that Drew, a father from the Mackay region, tragically went missing while spearfishing off the coast of Lorne, Victoria, on November 28, 2024. Despite extensive search efforts, which included air, sea, and coastal operations, he has yet to be recovered and has since been presumed deceased. In a heartbreaking statement
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By Kevin Borg, Chairman, CANEGROWERS Mackay No doubts, there isn’t a grower out there who wants to be crushing past mid-November, let alone into January. It’s a path that is dogging industry profitability and making a mockery of agronomic best practices. Nonetheless, as we moved into the new year Plane Creek came to a wet end for the 2024 Crush on 3 January, leaving some 150 to 200,000 tonne—or in excess of 10% of the crop—as standover. In Mackay, both Farleigh and Racecourse had ceased operatio
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Queensland Cane Agriculture and Renewables (QCAR) has estimated more than 1.27M tonnes of cane remains unharvested across Australia’s sugarcane mills, resulting in forecast losses to farmers of more than $83M. QCAR CEO Stephen Ryan said most mills had closed the doors on the 2024 crushing season except for Wilmar Sugar’s Pioneer and Invicta mills in the Burdekin, with Mackay Sugar Limited advising on Sunday it would no longer accept bins at its Marian Mill past 6pm Monday, 13th January. “This am
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Planning for the future has never been more critical. Yet, for many, the path to financial security feels uncertain. While comprehensive financial advice may not be within reach for everyone, the desire to save and invest for a brighter future remains strong. But how can individuals tap into expert knowledge without traditional financial planning? Self-directed investment platforms are empowering investors with tools to make independent informed decisions. For young investors, the benefits of st
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Local Eyes, an independent optometry practice proudly owned by Mackay locals Kelly Menzies and Rebecca Vella, is raising the bar for eye care in the region. Known for quality service, premium products, and a genuine interest in eye health, Local Eyes is dedicated to providing patients with clearer vision for 2025 and beyond. All three local optometrists, Kelly Menzies, Natasha Westcott, and newly welcomed Kylie Freiberg, are passionate about their work. With a focus on continuity of care, they
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Celebrating more than 30 years of creating stunning interiors, Mackay Curtain Making Service is ready to help you refresh your home in 2025. Under the ownership of Gino and Deanne Pin for 22 years, with their son Dominic and his partner Shannon now involved, this family-run business has built a reputation for delivering exceptional service and tailored solutions that perfectly align with your style and budget. “We won’t sell you something just for the sake of it,” says Deanne. “It has to
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As the new year kicks off, so does the desire to reinvent ourselves – maybe this is the year to get outside more, drink less, or eat healthier. (Or maybe not!) For some, New Year’s resolutions are an opportunity to grow. For others, they’re a pointless exercise. Only 9 per cent of people succeed in keeping their resolutions. Yet, despite these dire stats, people continue to make them. So, what separates a good New Year’s resolution from a bad one? Most resolutions fail because they’re poorly pla
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Facing a tough case in 2025 and need a private investigator without the hassle of looking beyond the region? Based in Mackay, Jason King and his team at Regional Queensland Investigations are ready to handle even the most complex cases…big or small. With an expanding team of experienced professionals, Regional Queensland Investigations is ready to make a significant impact in 2025 as they rise to new heights, now extending their services as far as the Northern Territory. Jason, a former law en
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The Mackay Region Chamber of Commerce started 2025 on a high note last week with their first B2B Brews networking event at Ocean International. Over coffee by the pool, attendees forged new business connections and rekindled old ones in a relaxed, tropical setting. Special thanks went to Get It Done Training for sharing their exciting 2025 plans and to the Ocean International team for serving up excellent coffee to fuel the lively discussions. The event set the tone for a collaborative and succe
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Running a business can already be tough – your marketing shouldn’t add to the stress. You want your time, money, and effort to deliver real results, but the idea of creating a marketing plan? It’s daunting, especially if marketing isn’t your jam. Here’s a hot tip – you don’t need a degree in marketing to put together a workable plan!! The key is just starting. Seriously, that’s it. A simple plan gets you in the game and, from there, you’ll learn what works by paying attention to the results. R
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Porters Mackay, a key player in the building industry for 141 years, is embarking on a major transition with plans for a custom-built trade centre in Paget. This multi-million-dollar facility will consolidate several operations and streamline services for trade customers, marking a significant shift in the company’s presence in the region. As part of this evolution, Porters will also bid farewell to its iconic Brisbane Street retail store and café, which have been central to the business since 1
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As 2024 drew to a close, one of the region’s standout agricultural producers quietly achieved an extraordinary feat that deserves far more recognition. Australian Prawn Farms, a leader in prawn farming and biosecurity, quietly made waves with their exceptional approach to safeguarding the industry. Despite the attention often given to other sectors, this small but mighty farm has set the bar for biosecurity excellence, earning the title of Farm Biosecurity Producer of the Year. Located near Il
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Earl Neilsen’s journey through cancer was one of those life-changing upheavals that began in silence and then roared to life with devastating force. Diagnosed in November 2019 with stage three rectal cancer, Earl recalls how his world turned upside down in an instant. What started as subtle symptoms, bloating, blood in the stool, and a change in his bowel habits, culminated in a diagnosis that felt like “a ton of bricks” landing on his family. Yet, amid the shock and devastation, Earl found his
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In a world that often silences the unheard, a voice can become a revolution, one that speaks not just for itself, but for countless others. Beneath the veil of Bridgeen Doherty’s lilting Irish accent and radiant smile lies a story both heartbreaking and inspiring. Diagnosed with stage four ovarian cancer just before Christmas in 2019, Bridgeen has faced the relentless grip of the disease with extraordinary resilience, naming her cancer ‘Octavia’ and using her determination to bring light to eve
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