Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
The North Mackay Sinkers have participated in the MS Super Splash great fundraiser for nine years now, raising over $56,000 across all events. The Mackay community is encouraged to get involved by registering a team from a club or group to enjoy a great day out at the fantastic Memorial Swimming Centre and for those without a team, an adoptive team can be arranged. The MS Super Splash is an action-packed fundraising challenge held in various locations across Queensland, supporting people living
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A new season of Tuesday morning Mackay Table Tennis fixtures started this week, with a four-a-side format. The best match was in division 2 where Toyota Turners and Sydney Slam (great names!) drew 7-all. There were five five-game matches, the closest between Robyn and John, Robyn up -9, -9, 7, 6, 10.Mackay Table Tennis Tuesday night fixtures August 27, 2024:Division 1:Hyundai (Tim Shehan, Anne Sheridan) d Honda (Vince Boeske, Graham Brake) 7-2. Tim d Vince 6, -7, 4, -7, 11.Fiat (Donna Abbott, Em
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The 2024 Mackay Triathlon Festival is fast approaching and is set to be one of the region’s biggest sporting events, drawing athletes from across Queensland and beyond. Participants from Airlie Beach, Bowen, Townsville, Cairns, Rockhampton, Brisbane, and even Victoria are expected to attend, boosting Mackay’s profile as a sports tourism destination. Spanning two days, the festival will feature 16 events and over $11,000 in cash prizes, with an additional $5,000 in sponsored prizes from local bu
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Police have charged a 36-year-old Proserpine man in relation to an alleged assault incident at Cannonvale Beach on September 4, 2024. Police will allege about 5.40am, the man entered the female public toilets where he grabbed a woman from behind before he fled on foot up Beach Road. Police conducted a number of enquiries and charged the man with one count of common assault on September 8. Police will allege that the same 36-year-old Proserpine man was involved in a similar incident on August 24,
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Friday 6th September ‘One Remarkable Reef’ Strolling Story Trail8amWalk together and enjoy the Strolling Stories installation of 'One Remarkable Reef' at Queens Park from Friday, September 6 until Monday, September 30, 2024.This is a FREE self-guided activity suitable for all ages. This activity is hosted by Mackay Regional Council Libraries and supported by Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens.Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens Art Party Afternoons 3pmDo you have an existing arts project that you are l
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The 2024 BMA River 2 Reef Ride Festival held last weekend was a resounding success, bringing together hundreds of cyclists and their families for a celebration of fitness, community and charity. With a focus on promoting healthy living and raising funds for BMA CQ Rescue and Disabled Sport & Rec Mackay, the event has become a cornerstone in the region since its inception. The Golding Kids Colour Ride at the Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens was a hit with young riders, who delighted in the colourf
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By Hannah McNamara CQ Rescue put on quite a show last Wednesday as the Mackay community recently celebrated the exciting arrival of the new BMA CQ Rescue AW139 helicopter. A spectacular water show was presented by fire trucks on the runway, capturing the amazement of both children and adults as the chopper circled overhead, giving everyone a chance to view the impressive new aircraft from every angle. As the sun set over the runway, the landing of the pristine AW139 was a memorable moment,
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With treatment number four behind me yesterday, I'm officially halfway through my chemotherapy journey. It’s been a winding road, but one with a clear destination in sight. I’ll be taking the next few days to recover, so I can hit the ground running for next week’s edition. Thank you all for your continued support and understanding during this time, it means more than you know. Today (Friday), Mackay turns its attention to the Trudy Crowley Foundation’s Touch of Teal soirée, an event that holds
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After 25 years of dedicated service to the Mackay community, Robert Gregg has officially retired. As many in the city heart may have noticed, Robert is no longer seen with his iconic red trolley, tirelessly cleaning the streets and recycling to keep the town beautiful. His daily presence was a fixture in the community and was always accompanied by a friendly smile and a warm wave to passers-by. For decades, Robert’s quiet, yet impactful work touched the hearts of many, to the point of earnin
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Cathy Freeman OAM, the iconic Australian Olympic champion born in Mackay has recently expressed her strong support for the planned Stage 2 development at the Great Barrier Reef Arena. She highlighted the critical need for international-standard training and competition facilities for athletes in regional Queensland. The Stage 2 development at the Great Barrier Reef Arena will feature accessible accommodation and amenities, allowing athletes and school students from regional, state and interstat
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By Amanda Wright The ongoing crime wave in Mackay has left local businesses and residents frustrated and fearful, with many calling for stronger measures to combat the rising tide of offences. As part of their campaign for the upcoming Queensland election, LNP representatives have pledged to restore law and order in the region through their “Adult Crime, Adult Time” policy. Shadow Minister for Police and Community Safety, Dan Purdie MP, visited Mackay recently to highlight the alarming crime s
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‘Pick up the early warning signs, know what to say, what to do and where to go for.’ CORES-Queensland is dedicated to fostering community-led initiatives to combat suicide through targeted training and workshops. Their upcoming events in the region are designed to equip participants with vital skills when it comes to suicide prevention and self-care. Suicide Intervention Training – September 16 On September 16, from 9:00pm to 4:00pm, CORES-Queensland will host a comprehensive Suicide Intervent
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Have you ever stopped to think what it would be like if you were suddenly diagnosed with a severe disease only to then find out treatments available in Australia don’t work for you? What about if there were other treatments you could access, but they were only available in Brisbane? Sadly, only 5 years ago that was the case for many in the Mackay-Isaac-Whitsunday region. However, in 2018, the Coral Sea Clinical Research Institute (CSCRI) was established because a doctor was frustrated in seein
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Mackay Regional Council is strongly advocating for state and federal funding to support a new local road connection that would help ease congestion on Mackay-Bucasia Road. The proposed extension of Reed Street to Norwood Parade, while not a long-term solution, presents a more immediate option that can be delivered faster than the construction of an entirely new road. This project would improve access for Northern Beaches residents without placing the financial burden on local ratepayers, address
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Roll up your sleeves and join The Great Spring Clean Up to help tidy up our beautiful region. This year council is aligning with Clean Up Australia’s “The Great Spring Clean Up” which will be held during September and October in a bid to keep our region pristine. Mayor Greg Williamson said the events were the perfect opportunity for residents to show their community pride and help keep our region beautiful. “Spring cleaning our homes is a usual practice for most of us – so why not also get out
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After working for years as a boilermaker in the mines, Curtley Quakawoot is forging the tradespeople of the future as a schoolteacher, thanks to CQUniversity and the Queensland Government’s Trade to Teach Internship Program. Curtley completed his Certificate III in Engineering Fabrication in 2010 and quickly found work in the mining industry. “I spent three years post-trade on the tools out in the Bowen Basin in the coal mining industry before heading into a product conveyor support role as a s
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North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation (NQBP) has launched its 2024-25 Community Fund, offering $100,000 in funding—an increase of $40,000 from previous years—for initiatives across its port communities in Hay Point, Mackay, Abbot Point (Bowen), and Weipa. NQBP Chief Executive Officer Brendan Webb said the annual NQBP Community Fund supports local groups and organisations in delivering valuable initiatives that make a real difference in their communities. “NQBP values the importance of givin
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Armed with grit and an unwavering commitment to save lives, Australia’s top underground mines rescue teams are ready to prove their mettle against the best around the world. Anglo American teams from Grosvenor and Moranbah North mines won first and second place respectively at the 59th annual Australian Underground Coal Mines Rescue competition in October. This qualified the two Bowen Basin teams to compete at the International Mines Rescue Competition in Colombia from September 13 to 20 this ye
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Australia’s place in the US $20 billion global banana market has been safeguarded, according to the federal government, with a new genetically modified banana being granted approval for commercial release and consumption. The QCAV-4 variety of the Cavendish banana has been developed by the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) to counteract the effects of Panama Disease or Tropical Race 4 (TR4), a fungal disease that starves bananas of their nutrients eventually killing the plant. Followin
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CANEGROWERS is calling on Wilmar Sugar and unions representing mill workers to prove they are serious about resolving their long-running pay dispute by getting out of the way and letting the independent umpire decide a fair and reasonable outcome. “After many months of fruitless and increasingly bitter negotiations, it’s time for both parties to step aside and let the Fair Work Commission decide,” CANEGROWERS Chairman Owen Menkens said. “It’s clear that the parties involved are either unable
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This week Season to date Cane crushed 50,817 427,811 Average bin weight 3.92 3.86 CCS 14.09 13.27 Cane variety performance for region Variety % CCS Variety % CCS Q183 31.9 13.85 Q253 16.2 14.22 Q240 10.4 14.72 SP80 4.8 13.78 Q208 13.2 14.30 SRA9 6.5 13.76 KQ228 6.6 14.72 Q252 3.9 13.67 Comments: Plane Creek Mill processed just over 50,000 tonnes of cane for the week, bringing the season total to just under 428,000 tonnes. The Plane Creek crop continues to cut above the original estimate. As a re
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Australian agriculture is set to benefit this financial year, as the gross value of agricultural production is forecast to increase by 4 per cent. The ABARES Agricultural Commodities and Crop Reports show significant growth in the sector, from $82.5 billion in 2023-24 to $86.2 billion in 2024-25. Executive Director of ABARES, Dr Jared Greenville, said this forecast shows value of production across agriculture, fisheries and forestry reaching $92.1 billion in 2024-25. “We have seen more favourabl
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A new program aimed at achieving better health outcomes in our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community was launched this week at Mackay Base Hospital. The Better Medication Access program will give Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients across the Mackay Hospital and Health Service (HHS) access to any prescribed medications at no cost. Uncle Gary Mooney provided the Welcome to Country and spoke about the hospital working with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communiti
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While the community came together to fundraise at the Annual BMA CQ Rescue Gala Ball, the dedicated crew were hard at work, showcasing their life-saving skills. The new AW139 helicopter, which only arrived in Mackay last week, has already been put to the test, flying to Collinsville, then to Hamilton Island via Proserpine, and the following day to Bowen Hospital to assist a patient. In another mission, the helicopter was dispatched to Cape Palmerston after a motorbike accident along the beach.
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At around 11pm on Thursday, August 29, a man entered a business on Nebo Road in West Mackay and allegedly committed an armed robbery. The suspect initially placed an item from a shelf onto the counter as if intending to purchase it. However, he then produced a knife and demanded money from the staff member. After taking cash from the till, the man fled the scene on foot, heading north. Fortunately, no one was injured during the incident. The suspect is described as approximately 170 centimetr
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