A Mackay father who went into cardiac arrest at home has reunited with three police officers who saved his life in what doctors described as a remarkable recovery. Andrew was at home when he collapsed and became unresponsive. His braveeight-year-old son immediately called Triple Zero (000), unaware of the weight this brave decision would impact. Constables Joel, Liz and Travis from the Queensland Police Service were the first to arrive. They found Andrew without a pulse and not breathing
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OPINION PIECE Federal Member for Dawson and Shadow Assistant Minister for Manufacturing and Sovereign Capability, Andrew Willcox, says Labor’s plan to drop regional speed limits leaves regional Australia stuck in the slow lane. The ‘roadblock to regional progress’ proposal would reduce the default speed limit on unsigned roads outside of built-up areas, which is currently 100 km/h, down to as low as 70 km/h. “Slashing speed limits isn’t road safety reform, it’s a lazy fix. Instead of pa
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Mackay Gathers For Remembrance Day 2025 Mackay paused to honour its fallen at the 2025 Annual Remembrance Day ceremony, held at the Cenotaph in Jubilee Park last Tuesday, November 11. Marking the 107th anniversary of the end of the First World War, the solemn gathering saw the community observe a minute’s silence at the 11th hour, accompanied by the traditional “Last Post” and “Rouse.” Mackay Regional Mayor Greg Williamson welcomed attendees, while ADF Cadet Sergeant Murray Macgroarty, no
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The Crisafulli Government has brought its fourth Community Cabinet of 2025 to Mackay, taking the opportunity to hear directly from residents, business owners, and community leaders on what matters most to the region. More than 200 people attended the event at the Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre on Sunday, November 2, where Premier David Crisafulli and Ministers outlined their plan to deliver safety, health services, and economic opportunities for local communities. Premier
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By Hannah McNamara Mackay creatives are making their mark across the nation, and Kylie Ferriday is one of them. At this year’s Derby Day at Flemington, the local artist turned a custom couture gown into a breathtaking canvas celebrating nature and individuality. Amanda Katsadoros, brought the dress to life on the runway, crafted by Anna Dutton Couture and perfectly complemented by a striking millinery piece from Rebecca Share. The gown, designed in black and white to suit the Derby Day t
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Council is proud to announce the successful funding of 20 community-led initiatives through the Make Your Place, City Safety and Façade Improvement grant programs. These grants will inject a total of $80,182 into projects that enhance and activate public spaces, improve public safety and celebrate local creativity. Projects range from an interactive gnome hunt to local cooking demonstrations and a barbecue, craft beer and music festival on the riverfront. Successful Façade Improvement p
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The Mackay RSL Sub Branch Dinner, proudly supported by major sponsor Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal, drew an impressive crowd for an evening of fine dining, entertainment, and community spirit. Guests enjoyed a three-course meal, live band, prizes, and an auction, all in support of a meaningful cause. The event proved a tremendous success, with a generous amount of funds raised on the night to assist in the development of the new RSL Wellness Centre, a vital initiative aimed at supporting th
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A Mackay woman’s week took an unforgettable turn after discovering she’d won $200,000 on November 3rd, in a Monday Lucky Lotteries Mega Jackpot draw. The surprise left her shouting with excitement and declaring her love for the lottery official who broke the news. The North Queensland resident held the 1st Prize winning entry in Lucky Lotteries Mega Jackpot draw 1730, drawn Monday 3 November 2025, securing a dreamy $200,000. “I love you! You’ve just become my instant bestie!” she cheered
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What have Alice Springs, Launceston, Davenport, Burnie, Melbourne and Port Macquarie got I common? They’re the only cities in Australia where the property markets are declining, although Port Macquarie is approaching the bottom of the market. The revelation is featured in the latest “property clock” from property valuers Herron Todd White and gives an interesting insight into the state of play in Australian real estate markets, including Mackay. The HTW property clock shows whether t
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Honouring Our Heritage, Strengthening Our Future By Councillor Nathenea MacRae Over the weekend, I had the honour of attending the Mackay RSL 2025 Gala Dinner, a night that celebrated both our proud military history and the incredible community spirit that defines our region. One of the most moving moments of the evening was seeing the return of the original 42nd Battalion bagpipes, gifted by the people of Mackay in 1916 and carried by our soldiers through the battlefields of France. To
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Mater Volunteer Celebrates Life And Service Mackay grandmother Linda Veurman said she was “shocked and amazed” to be named Mater’s 2025 Volunteer of the Year – but her night of surprises did not stop there. By coincidence, two Mater doctors who helped save her life by diagnosing and removing a tumour growing next to her brain stem were both also honoured at the Mater People Awards evening in Brisbane. After collecting her award, Ms Veurman caught up with Mater Private Hospital Mackay ENT
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By Joseph Borg, Chairman, CANEGROWERS Mackay The Australian sugar industry has long prided itself on resilience, innovation and a sense of collective purpose. However, recent events at the industry owned, not for profit, Queensland Sugar Limited (QSL) Annual General Meeting have cast a shadow over this reputation, sparking outrage across cane communities and industry stakeholders alike. QSL has long served as the central marketing body for Queensland’s sugar exports, acting as an intermed
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Government Delivers Major Boost for Mackay Conservation The Crisafulli Government has announced a $7.8 million investment to support land, soil, water and biodiversity projects across the Mackay, Whitsunday and Isaac regions, delivering a major boost for local conservation and community-led environmental initiatives. The funding, part of the government’s Natural Resources Management Expansion Program (NRMEP), will help restore waterways, protect coastal reefs, and enhance wildlife habitat
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A $7.5 million partnership between North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation (NQBP) and James Cook University (JCU) will deliver a five-year program to advance marine science across four ports. Building on a decade of nationally recognised collaboration, the partnership will deliver world-class monitoring, research, education and training. It will also expand into new areas such as marine habitat restoration research, marine animal studies such as dugongs and turtles, and increasing Tradit
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Managing Risk In A Volatile Sugar Market By Simon Hood Wilmar Manager Grower Marketing Thank you to all growers who nominated Wilmar Grower Marketing as their GEI marketer for the 2026 season. I would like to extend a warm welcome to the growing number of new growers who have chosen Wilmar for the first time. We don’t take any nomination, new or existing, for granted and remain committed to delivering strong returns, flexible products and personalised service to maintain your trust i
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A home loan is one of the biggest financial commitments many of us will make – but paying it off sooner than expected is possible and it doesn’t always mean big changes. At Community Bank Sarina, we’re backed by Bendigo Bank and here to support locals with clear, practical ways to take control of their finances and make smarter decisions about their future. If you’re looking to reduce the life of your home loan, here are a few strategies worth considering: Make extra repayments Adding eve
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The Mackay Regional Council has approved the development application for a new McDonald’s in Sarina, with Mayor Greg Williamson casting the deciding vote following a robust debate. Speaking after the decision, Mayor Williamson said, “It was called to make a final decision on the development application for McDonald’s in Sarina. “After a robust debate, I used my casting vote to actually approve the development application for McDonald’s in Sarina.” The Mayor highlighted the economic bene
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Rick Price Performs For A Purpose Australian music icon Rick Price lit up the stage at Souths Leagues Club last Thursday night, performing to a lively crowd in support of Mackay-based domestic violence charity, Broken Ballerina Inc. The performance was part of Price’s Tamborine Mountain 30th Anniversary Tour, celebrating three decades since the release of his much-loved album. In a gesture that struck a powerful chord with the community, $10 from every Mackay ticket and $5 from each Bowe
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Locals are invited to come together for a free community BBQ celebrating International Men’s Day as a chance to connect, enjoy a great lunch, and raise awareness about men’s health and wellbeing. The event will be held on Wednesday, 19 November 2025, from 11am to 2pm at 160 Boundary Road, Ooralea, and promises to be a relaxed and welcoming afternoon for all ages. Guests can enjoy a complimentary BBQ lunch, fun giveaways, and free blood pressure checks. It’s also a great opportunity for m
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Meet our pet of the week - Kobe. Kobe is an 11 month old American Staffordshire X, who is looking for his forever home. Kobe loves to be around his people, loves to walk and run to burn off all his extra energy —and then cherishes curling up beside you at the end of the day. Kobe is still a young pup who will need ongoing training, but lucky for his new family, he has mastered the basics already. He lives up to his breed with excitement, but his big smile and warm heart truly make Kobe
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At Poetry In Print The Poetry in Print curation team is proud to present a bold new initiative that brings together the rhythmic pulse of poetry and the tactile beauty of printmaking in a celebration of creative dialogue and community storytelling. This unique project pairs nine poets from Mackay Poetry Slam with eleven printmakers from Printbank Mackay, exploring the alchemy that occurs when word meets image. The project began with a live warm-up session, where each poet presented two or
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Friday 14th November Weekend Fun & Beer Garden Opening At The Boomerang Hotel Friday – Sunday The Boomerang Hotel has unveiled its refreshed beer garden, a vibrant new space for locals to eat, drink, and connect year-round. Celebrate the opening with welcome weekend events from Friday 14 to Sunday 16 November, including live music, kids’ activities, roving canapés, raffles, and giveaways! The Boomerang Hotel Crochet & Conversation 9am Drop in for a relaxed morning of crocheting,
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Protein, Creatine And The Cognitive Edge By Michael James – Fitness Industry Professional, Facility Owner & Wellness Coach Training is only half the story. The other half — the part that often makes or breaks your results — is nutrition. What you put into your body determines how well you recover, how much energy you have, and even how sharp your brain feels day to day. At Fitness Cartel Mackay, we’ve made this a priority by including a café stocked with protein shakes, supplements, and t
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RUNNING The second event in the 2025/2026 Shawn’s Summer Splash n Dash Biathlon Series got off to a great start on Sunday, with milder temperatures making for pleasant conditions on the run course before competitors hit the pool for the final leg. Around 30 runners, swimmers, and supporters turned out to enjoy the relaxed, social atmosphere of the series, now in its second season as a biathlon. The event evolved from the long-running Shawn’s Summer Series, which was a running-only event
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Mackay Surf Lifesaving Club recently hosted the 35th annual North Australian Titles, which saw over 1000+ lifesavers, water safety, carnival officials and spectators descend on Mackay’s beautiful Harbour Beach. The Mackay hosts did exceedingly well in the region, beating fellow clubs Eimeo and Sarina, as well as outperforming large clubs from around the state. The club had some outstanding achievements placing 5th overall, with strong performances in marquee events such as the Lifesaver r
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