Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
By Amanda Wright For nearly four decades, M&P Services has been a cornerstone supporter of the Mackay Surf Lifesaving Club, showcasing a remarkable dedication that started in the 1980s. The foundation of this enduring relationship was laid by Max Lamb senior, who, using M&P’s first truck, transported vital materials to Mackay to establish the lifesaving club at Harbour Beach. This long-standing partnership was celebrated recently when Max Lamb Jr. from M&P Services presented the club with a ge
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Applications are now open for 10 more Regional University Study Hubs to be established around Australia, giving more students from rural and regional areas access to tertiary education. MP Andrew Willcox is throwing his support behind the program which has already supported over 12,000 students in 46 locations across Australia since its establishment. “Living in rural, regional, and remote areas can create significant barriers of entry for students looking to study at a tertiary level, but thi
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Federal Member for Dawson, Andrew Willcox, has said that Prime Minster Anthony Albanese refused to attend the National Farmer Rally outside Parliament House, ignoring farmers who travelled from across Queensland to plead with the Federal Government to stop an “anti-farming agenda”. Mr Willcox said the Prime Minister has once again demonstrated complete contempt towards farmers and rural, regional and remote Australia. “For the Prime Minister to ignore our farmers, many who have spent days on
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Mackay is set to benefit from the Queensland Government’s ramped-up efforts to combat the housing and homelessness crisis, with dozens of new social and affordable homes under construction in the region. As part of the state’s Homes for Queenslanders Plan, 79 homes are being delivered in Mackay and the Whitsundays, including 27 modular units aimed at easing housing pressures and providing quicker solutions for those in need. These modular homes, which are designed to be built faster, are ideal
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By Hannah McNamara Long after their uniforms were folded away, the toughest fight many veterans faced was the one that no one could see. Founder of the Veterans Support Group Mackay, Mr. Sean O'Mara OAM is a Vietnam Veteran and former area representative for North Queensland Veteran Affairs. He said that before the late 90’s, veterans had little to no support and were forced to deal with troubling flashbacks and emotions that lingered through their minds, even years after serving in the war.
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By Amanda Wright If Queensland wants the Mackay, Isaac, and Whitsunday regions to remain the economic driver of the state, then it’s time to fix our roads to ensure the journey to prosperity continues. This was a collective message delivered by our region’s mayors alongside GW3 Chief Executive Officer Kylie Porter, who are advocating for the state and federal governments to stop paying lip service and commit to fixing our broken roads. Despite generating $74.4 billion annually, our regions a
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Repairs to the decking boards on a section of the Pioneer Promenade commenced earlier this week, with work expected to continue until Friday, September 27. The repairs are focused on the stretch between Macalister and Wood streets. During this time, the affected section of the promenade will remain closed to the public, with pedestrians being directed to use the footpath along River Street as a temporary bypass. Council has apologized for any inconvenience caused by the closure, noting that the
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In a startling revelation, only one in 30 Australians donate blood, despite one in three requiring blood products at some point in their lifetime. To meet the country's growing demand, a blood donation is needed every 18 seconds and Lifeblood requires roughly 33,000 donations every week. With demand on the rise, Australia is calling on its communities to help fill this “life-saving” gap. Despite the common assumption that most donated blood goes to trauma victims, it's cancer patients and tho
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By Amanda Wright Marie Williams has spent decades weaving her compassion into the fabric of the Mackay community, using her remarkable knitting talent to bring awareness and raise funds for causes close to her heart. Handcrafting delicate pink and teal flowers—pink for breast cancer and teal for ovarian cancer—with sparkling bling in the centre, Marie is on a mission to spread awareness and raise money for the Trudy Crowley Foundation. Her latest goal is to raise enough funds to purchase a de
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By Hannah McNamara In recognition of the hardworking, down-to-earth, and selfless men in our region, several celebrations will honour those blokes who have consistently put the needs of their families, friends, and communities ahead of their own. As International Men’s Day approaches on Tuesday, 19th November, Shed Happens Mackay, sponsored by DGH Engineering and Daly Bay, will host three activities over the next four months. These include an Art Show at the Jubilee Community Centre (JCC), th
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By Amanda Wright As the Greater Whitsunday region’s mayors launched their passionate campaign for essential road upgrades, their efforts are being bolstered by federal members who share their frustration. The dangerous condition of the Bruce Highway continues to draw national attention, with alarming new statistics shedding light on the urgency of the situation. The Bruce Highway, particularly in the Capricornia region, has unfortunately claimed the title of Australia's most dangerous crash ho
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The rollout of 42 new RentConnect officers across Queensland, including 25 in regional areas, aims to improve access to rental support services. Additionally, a new online platform is being launched to further assist renters. This initiative is part of the Queensland Government's Homes for Queenslanders plan, which also includes measures such as rent bidding bans, a code of conduct for property management, and portable bond loans. Nearly 10,000 Queensland households have already benefited from
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This week Season to date Cane crushed 62,217 548,224 Average bin weight 3.92 3.88 CCS 14.42 13.53 Cane variety performance for region Variety % CCS Variety % CCS Q183 26.3 14.73 Q253 14.1 14.14 Q240 10.6 14.59 Q138 7.2 13.63 Q208 17.6 14.89 SRA9 9.5 14.12 KQ228 2.4 14.80 Q242 3.2 13.15 Comments: Plane Creek Mill processed just over 62,000 tonnes of cane for the week, bringing the season total to more than 548,000 tonnes. Average CCS fell by 0.03 of a unit over the previous week, closing out at 1
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Being safe around overhead powerlines is a safety message that will feature in the 2025 Farm safety calendar, as illustrated by a local Mackay region student from Homebush State School. Madison Agius in Grade 6 drew a John Deere tractor underneath powerlines, with the safety message, “Overhead powerlines are dangerous. Don’t play, park equipment, operate machinery, or plant trees or crops under them”. Twelve children from across Queensland were selected as winners in this year’s calendar compe
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In a decisive turn of events, the long-standing and contentious pay dispute between Wilmar Sugar and its employees has finally reached a resolution, paving the way for significant wage increases and bonuses. Growers can now breathe a sigh of relief, as the resolution ensures that the threat of disruptive industrial action will no longer jeopardise their crucial crops. A majority of Wilmar Sugar and Renewables employees has voted in favour of a new enterprise agreement (EA) offering an upfront $
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By Amanda Wright Alexis Versaci is turning heads in the Mackay community, combining her passion for modelling with a heart full of purpose as she prepares to take the pageant stage for the first time. As a rising star in her third year with Brooke Lee Modelling, Alexis is not only perfecting her runway walk but also making a statement with her dedication to philanthropy. Balancing grace with grit, she’s preparing for her next big move: competing in the Miss Diamond International and Miss Photoge
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By Hannah McNamara Rosemarry Waldon, a 14-year-old from Mackay, is strutting her way to pageantry stardom, leaving a trail of glitter and grace with Brooke Lee Modelling & Deportment School. Her journey began with a dream and a leap into the world of pageantry, competing in Mini Miss Tasmania last year, fuelled by her desire for personal growth and confidence. Starting out a little shy, she was introduced to the spotlight by her modelling teacher Ruby with the help of an insightful seminar, w
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By Amanda Wright At just 16 years old, Emersen Lamb is already taking the pageant world by storm. Crowned Miss Teen of Australia at the prestigious Australia’s Royalty Pageant in Melbourne, Emersen’s rise to the top is a dazzling mix of hard work, resilience, and undeniable charm. From winning her first major pageant in 2022 to visiting New York, Milan, and Paris for Fashion Week, this young model is proving that she’s more than ready for the international spotlight. “Winning feels surreal, It’s
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A Mackay student was recently honoured for her inventive talent at the Independent Education Union – Queensland and Northern Territory (IEU-QNT) Excellence in Art and Design Awards. Year 11 student, Ernestine Hankin from Kutta Mulla Gorinna School in Mackay was recognised with an Award of Excellence in the First Nations category for her artwork, titled Leaving the Nest. Art and Design Awards reviewer Donna Hensen recognised the creativity behind the artwork and said that Ernestine’s piece st
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By Amanda Wright From the tiny rural community of Septimus, where his school once had only three students in a class, local author Earl Neilsen has crafted a magical story that captures the heart of his childhood. His debut children's book is not just a blend of fun and rhyme, but a celebration of embracing uniqueness and resilience—a reflection of the country upbringing that shaped him. Growing up in the Pioneer Valley, Earl fondly recalls a community where larrikins were the storytellers, and
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The Trudy Crowley Foundation has further cemented their legacy for cancer support and care in the Mackay community, by announcing Levi Crowley as a newly appointed director at the recent Touch of Teal Soiree. Founded in 2018 by Jacquie and Charles Camilleri, the Trudy Crowley Foundation was named in honour of local Mackay Mum Trudy Crowley, who was diagnosed in 2016 with ovarian cancer. When Trudy passed in 2018, the Foundation had just commenced – with Trudy’s husband Damian as one of the dir
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Friday 20th September Free Learn To Crochet Workshop 9am FREE School Holiday Workshop welcoming children and adults to a community learn to crochet session with Tracey Robb Arts. Come along and learn how to make a granny square with a twist or build on your skills. All materials are provided but you’re welcome to bring along your own yarn and hook if you wish. Whilst the workshop is FREE, the Café hosting the workshop makes delicious coffee, shakes, breaky and sweet treats for you to purchase
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The Mackay & District Orchid Society has been in full bloom over the past few months, hosting successful events and supporting the local community. In July, their Winter Orchid Show at the Mackay & District Senior Citizens' Centre drew a vibrant crowd, with a stunning display of orchids. The Society also teamed up with the Pioneer River Orchid & Plant Association to donate funds to YIRS, helping homeless youth in Mackay. They followed this up with a charming Father’s Day plant display at Bunning
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Last month, Crossroad Arts presented Unlock the City, a major production as part of the Mackay Festival of Arts. Over the course of three nights in August, performers from Crossroad Arts offered audiences a chance to explore Mackay from a new perspective, revealing both familiar and unfamiliar aspects of the city through their unique storytelling. Supported by Gold Project Sponsor BOLD Architecture and 2024 Artistic Program Sponsor Daly Bay, the production stood out as a fringe event in the fe
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Get ready for an exciting morning of outdoor adventure at Coastal Kids! On Tuesday 24 September, Dunes Harbour Beach will come alive with excitement and activity, transforming into a vibrant fun-filled location for a spectacular FREE school holiday event from 9am to 12pm. The stunning location, just 7kms from Mackay City, is renowned for its pristine sands and sweeping ocean views. It will serve as the perfect backdrop for a morning overflowing with fun activities, creative experiences, and an
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