Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
In 1937, Ivan A Hughes wrote a book entitled “In the Wake of the ‘Cheerio’: The Narrative of a Memorable Cruise in Great Barrier Reef Waters” During a fourteen-day cruise on the “Cheerio” between Bowen and Mackay, Hughes and a group of tourists from Sydney visited most islands of the Whitsunday and Cumberland Groups and enjoyed trips to the outer Barrier Reef. The account of their experiences, of the beauty of the area, and the references to relics of early history is both comprehensive and ente
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Council held their latest Citizenship Ceremony at the Proserpine Entertainment Centre on Tuesday, and I swore in 38 new Australian citizens from 12 different countries. These citizenship ceremonies are always highly emotional occasions as family and friends also attend to witness what is a huge day for every new Australian citizen officially inducted. Tuesday was also National Citizenship Day, and this year was the 75th anniversary of the day which celebrates a momentous occasion that remin
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For a club of 30 members, Bowen sure does put on a great show. On 31st August and 1st September, Bowen Orchid & Foliage Society’s (BOFS) Spring Show was held in the Pat Tracey Pavilion at the Bowen Show Grounds with over 200 visitors passing through their doors to view the array of orchids and foliage plants. Although the show was held a couple of weeks earlier than in previous years, it still showcased an impressive variety of orchids and foliage for both judging and public viewing. Members
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Introducing Carlos, a stunning 3-year-old Bullarab/Mastiff mix who’s ready to find his forever home. Carlos is up-to-date with his vaccinations, including his annual Proheart injection, and is on a consistent tick and flea prevention regimen. The current owner is also open to having Carlos neutered before adoption. Carlos is a well-rounded companion who gets along wonderfully with people, older children, and other dogs.
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St Catherine’s Catholic College is proudly celebrating the incredible achievements of four of its First Nations students in the 7th annual Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Foundation (QATSIF) Creative Arts Competition. The event, held in partnership with Griffith University, showcases the creative talents of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from secondary schools across Queensland. This year’s competition was especially significant, with a record-breaking 201 ent
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Transitioning from Year 6 to high school can be overwhelming and a nerve-racking experience for both students and their parents and carers. At Bowen State High School they are trying to make this transition as smooth as possible. In 2025, Bowen State High School will introduce four scholarships which will be awarded to a number of Year 6 students who effectively demonstrate the criteria for each scholarship. The scholarships focus on the areas of Academic Excellence, First Nations, Sport and
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Soul music songstress Lisa Hunt is bringing her ‘Forever Soul’ show to the Airlie Beach Hotel on September 28 on Saturday evening 7pm – 10pm, and returns again on Sunday 29 for a daytime performance 2pm – 5pm. Lisa began blasting out her voice in great African American tradition at the gospel church when she was a young girl. Since discovering her talent, Lisa has performed alongside some of the best musicians in the world. During her career, she has shared the stage with huge artists inclu
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Last year’s event saw an impressive 50 cars and 30 bikes on display at Proserpine Showgrounds and this year should be even bigger. Organised by the Whitsunday Old Iron Restorers Club, the event is run by volunteers and member Lyn Burke said there will be numerous things to do on the day. “The tractor pull is going to be entertaining and there's free events for the children to keep them occupied,” said Lyn. “The Pioneer Valley Machinery Preservations Society Rally are brining all their station
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Get your sequins and jumpsuits ready as Morning Melodies is coming to the Proserpine Entertainment Centre, where Helpmann award winner Michael Griffiths and acclaimed cabaret darling Amelia Ryan celebrate the songbooks of Aussie icons Olivia Newton-John and Peter Allen. From their modest small-town roots to global stardom clad in sequins and jumpsuits, take a nostalgic journey through Olivia and Peters sing-along classics—from "Rio" and "Tenterfield" to "Xanadu" and beyond. Expect a delightful
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Twenty-six players from the Bowen Bridge Club recently competed in the prestigious Australia-wide pairs tournament, showcasing their exceptional skills on a national stage. A standout performance came from Elaine Hadlow and Jill Spencer, who achieved an impressive percentage of 59.70%. This strong showing earned them 153rd place out of nearly 3,200 participants. Their performance highlighted their strategic play and competitive spirit, distinguishing them among a large and talented field. Equall
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The Proserpine Cricket Club is set to kick off the new cricket season with an engaging "Junior Cricket Come & Try Afternoon" on Friday, October 11, from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm at the Proserpine Junior Cricket Grounds. This event promises to be an excellent opportunity for young cricket enthusiasts and their families to explore the sport in a fun and interactive setting. The Come & Try Afternoon will provide a hands-on introduction to cricket, featuring activities tailored to different age groups:
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At the 2024 Paul Bowman Challenge the Proserpine Whitsunday Junior Rugby League Football Club welcomed 80 teams from all over Queensland. Over 300 games were played, and it was a great weekend filled with footy, fun and fantastic action. The Paul Bowman Challenge kickstarted the school holidays, giving youngsters from all over the State a chance to play Rugby League in the beautiful Whitsundays for the entire weekend. On Sunday, everyone was blessed with the presence of Zac Laybutt and Coen
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Last Friday, 24 students from Whitsunday’s Senior Schools reached a significant milestone by earning their Certificate II in Maritime Operations (Coxswain Grade 1) through the VETiS program. This government-funded initiative allows students to gain nationally recognized qualifications while still in school. Their hard work and dedication culminated in this prestigious achievement, marking the beginning of their exciting journeys in the maritime world. The initiative is managed by the Whitsunday
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Whitsunday, September 15, 2024 – The Whitsunday Sea Eagles capped off their 2024 season with a vibrant Presentation Day celebration on Sunday afternoon. The event highlighted the team's achievements and individual player successes throughout the year. The Sea Eagles’ Senior Women’s team made a significant leap this season by reaching the finals competition for the first time since their return to the league. The Under 17s also had a commendable season, making it to the Preliminary Finals. Meanwh
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The Whitsunday Brahmans recently hosted a spectacular presentation night, celebrating the remarkable achievements of their players, committee members, volunteers, families, supporters, and sponsors. The event was a vibrant showcase of the club's success and camaraderie over the past season. The evening's festivities were enhanced by the exceptional catering provided by ‘I’m the Pizza Guy’, whose delicious pizzas were a hit with all attendees. Their support added a special touch to the celebrator
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The Bowls Club was bustling with activity this week. On Tuesday, the social mixed bowls featured three triples games. Dawn Dowell, Lane Telford, and Tony Whitehorn emerged victorious with a close 20-18 win over Betty Whitehorn’s team, marking the day’s lowest winning margin. Wednesday afternoon, Rik Galea and Michael Jacometi tookJacometi take home the prize money with a 29-18 win against Ash Warland and Bill Gordon. The Jackpot was not won and will increase next week. John Fielding also secured
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Sunday, September 8: The social bowls featured a vibrant mix of players. Marion, Andy, Steve, and Jane triumphed over Allen, Daryl, Ray, and Herb. Meanwhile, Vicky, John, and Spanny faced off against Ron, Steve, and Marion. In Scroungers, Rob defeated Lloyd and Ron. Wednesday, September 11: The competition continued with MaryEllen, Jane, and Kevin securing a win against Ray, Frank, and Wendy. Peter, Kevin, and Daryl also came out on top against Eddy, Gordo, and Gus. In another match, Ron and Ste
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B Pairs Final: The B Pairs competition reached its climax on Tuesday with Nathaniel Watts and Gavin Noonan securing a hard-fought victory over Bruce Uhe and Mike Harrison. The final score of 21-17 highlighted a closely contested match, showcasing the high level of skill present in this year’s competition. Senior Singles Semi-Final: On Wednesday, Bryan Davy advanced to the Senior Singles final by defeating Dale Haack with a score of 25-13. This win sets up an exciting final showdown between Davy
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Tuesday Social Bowls: The social bowls held on Tuesday featured a tight contest in which Robyn Stitt, Gavin Charles, and Margaret Wilson narrowly defeated Barry Gazzola, Irene Laird, and Bruce Magilton. Other winners included Sue Shearing, Jocelyn DeFranciscis, Deb Retchless, and Joe Paynting, who won against Gwenda Lydom, June Paynting, Lorraine Knight, and Greg Colquhoun. Additionally, Lindy Suann, Penny Warren, and Geoff Danvers emerged victorious over Merle Elphinstone, Lyn Danvers, and Dot
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The Cannonvale Cannons swimming team experienced a memorable evening this week as Jax Clayworth shattered a 23-year-old club record. Former Cannons swimmer Abel Morris, who set the 11-year-old 100 metres Butterfly record on March 7, 2001, made a special appearance to pass the honour to Clayworth. Clayworth achieved an impressive time of 1:21.39 in the 100 metres Butterfly, surpassing Morris’ previous record by 0.20 seconds. Additionally, Jax set a new record in the 11-years 100 IM with a time of
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The golf course provided perfect conditions today with sunshine, light winds, and no rain, making for an enjoyable Stableford game. Thirty-one players, including guests James House and Herb Maierhofer from Maryborough Golf Club, took advantage of the ideal weather. In the ladies' competition, Jenny Hounsell emerged as the winner with 33 points, while Leanne Alexander finished as the runner-up with 30 points. The rundown included Beryl Nosworthy and Robyn Whitham with 28 points, and Vickie Wallac
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Ahoy there, parents and guardians! We’re heading into the final stretch of the school holidays, and if you’re anything like me, you’ve been navigating these waters with a mix of excitement, exhaustion, and just a splash of chaos. As I sail through a good week—feeling well enough to get out and about before my next chemotherapy treatment—I’ve been making the most of it with my little one, who’s nearly a year and a half now. Let me tell you, keeping up with a toddler during school holidays is it
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On a quiet Sunday afternoon at the Ampol service station in Farleigh, a local woman found herself in a predicament, unsure of which oil to buy for her car. The young employee, though polite, couldn’t provide much assistance, so they decided on a 5-litre bottle of 30-weight oil. Just as she was about to pay, a friend messaged her, suggesting she needed 40-weight oil instead. Rushing back to the shelves, she encountered what she later described as an "angel" in the form of a "gentle giant" nam
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A graduation ceremony at Mackay Base Hospital for six Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students last week marks the next big step in turning their healthcare career dreams into a reality. The teens have completed an 18-month traineeship across various departments at the hospital as part of the Budyubari Bidyiri Kebi Stapal or Big Dream, Small Steps Program. In a ceremony on Tuesday 10 September, the students cut the graduation cake and were presented with their Certificates lll qualific
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Member for Whitsunday, Amanda Camm MP, is calling on the Queensland Government to be open and honest with Queensland commercial and recreational fishers about its future plans for the fishing industry. “For the last two years, this Labor Government has treated our Queensland fishers with contempt bringing in changes with little consultation or transparency around their decision-making process and with little concern as to the implications on the future of the fishing and seafood industry in Q
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