Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
Mackay, it’s time to get rowdy for a jam-packed return of Rhythm & The Reef, set to be held at the picturesque Meadowlands Amphitheatre, Mackay Botanic Gardens on Saturday, October 5th. Against the backdrop of this breathtaking location, the festival promises to deliver a jaw-dropping line-up and an experience that will leave a lasting impression on both local and interstate punters alike. Proudly presented by FMS Group and Hit 100.3, Rhythm & The Reef, now in its fourth year, is poised to igni
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Eight-year-old Cindy, a Mackay local girl with big ambitions has recently advanced to the grand final of the Fashion vs Beauty competition, held in September 2024 on the Gold Coast. Cindy’s journey into the world of pageantry began when her mother entered her into the competition, where she effortlessly secured spots in both the Miss Photogenic and Miss Diamond International events. Under the guidance of Brooke Lee Modelling since September 2023, Cindy has embarked on a path she hopes w
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Mackay is set to pulse with the beats of national and local music acts this July as The Push and Queensland Music Festival (QMF) team up to deliver an electrifying all-ages event! Spearheaded by The Push, a leading youth music organisation and part of QMF's QLD Music Trails program, this special event promises an unforgettable experience for music lovers of all ages. Scheduled for Saturday, July 6th at The Arcadia Bar, the event is a highlight of The Reef Trail, a segment of QMF's QLD Music Tr
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Mackay rugby league sensation Jaxon Purdue has reached another milestone in his fledgling NRL career with the North Queensland Cowboys. The 18-year-old rookie utility back celebrated his third appearance in the top grade by helping the depleted Cowboys upset premiers Penrith 16-6 last Sunday at Penrith Stadium. It was a victory to savour for the Queensland Under 19s representative – just weeks after shining on debut in the club’s miraculous win over the Sydney Roosters. Purdue won’t forget the
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Four bands, four genres, delectable street cuisine, craft brews and pop-up activations will create an electric atmosphere at the Whitsunday Wealth Festival Hub. Over four nights, from Thursday, July 11, to Sunday, July 14, the Bluewater Quay will echo with rock, rhythm and blues; folk and old-time mountain music; swing and rockabilly; and a Latin dance fiesta. Deputy Mayor Belinda Hassan said it was great to see the popular feature of the Mackay Festival of Arts back at the Bluewater Quay. “The
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Mackay Regional Council is proud to be hosting a community flag-raising ceremony for NAIDOC Week complete with cultural performances, guest speakers, a Didgeridoo player and morning tea. Everyone is invited to come along to this free celebration on Monday, July 8, at 10am in the Civic Precinct. Mayor Greg Williamson said the flag-raising ceremony and morning tea was a tremendous tradition that kicked off council’s local NAIDOC celebrations in a way that unified the community. “This is a wonderfu
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Fifteen-year-old Mackay Cyclones multiclass athlete Izabella Wills has wrapped up an impressive campaign at the Olympic para trials, showcasing her talent and determination on a national stage. Izabella achieved 11th place overall in the 100m freestyle and 10th in the 100m backstroke, competing against some of the nation’s top athletes. Remarkably, she secured a spot in the B Final, swimming at 9:55 pm when most teenagers her age are already in bed. Her dedication paid off as she achieved person
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Nine tables of mentors, beginners and novices played on Sunday in a very close competition. The beginners and novices are very appreciative of the time and effort given to them by the mentors to allow them to play with experienced players and improve their bridge game. Winners this month were N/S Joy Block and David Ting, E/W Diane Stokes and Griffin Bancroft. Weekly Results Monday 24 June 2024 – 6 Table One Winner Green Points N/S E/W 1st Helen Van Den Broek / Jan Harris 2nd Faye Wright / L
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More than forty runners and supporters enjoyed the beautiful Cape Hillsborough conditions by tackling the Mackay Road Runners annual Club Championship 5km and 9km. Runners enjoyed the early race start overlooking the glorious eastern coastal sunrise and well-populated beach just as much as the skippies. Several local and interstate casual day runners joined up with the Club’s existing members, revelling in a great Sunday morning as they challenged the Hidden Valley course which included sce
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The North Mackay Sinkers happily accepted the opportunity to enjoy an ocean swim on Mackay’s show holiday, Thursday June 20. The Mackay Surf Life Saving Club hosted its inaugural Winter Solstice swim and invited the general public to participate in the event to support fundraising for the Surf Club. Twelve Sinkers nominated across the 1, 3 and 5k events on offer to strongly represent the club in this fantastic event that was well supported by over 50 swimmers on the day. The day dawned
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Last Monday marked 30 years since the Mackay Birth Centre opened its doors to the region's expectant mums. On June 26, Hayden Powell and Jessika Novikov turned 30, their birthdays marks the anniversary of the first babies born at the centre. Hayden was the second baby born on 26 June 1994 at the newly-opened birth centre, to parents Maria and Michael Powell. He arrived just three minutes after the first baby Jessika was born. Both were born nine days after the Queensland-first and midwife-l
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By Hannah McNamara Last Wednesday afternoon, tragedy struck the quiet streets of Robb Place in South Mackay, leaving the community in utter disbelief and sorrow. Natalie Jane Frahm, a 34-year-old mother, tragically lost her life in an act of senseless violence allegedly perpetrated by Ryan Geoffrey Cole, 31. Cole has been accused of fatally shooting Natalie in the head and chest as she arrived home in her vehicle, a scene witnessed by two young girls in the back seat of Ms Frahm’s vehicle,
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A heart-warming gesture unfolded last Saturday during a formal wear shopping trip for one family, leaving a lasting impression of kindness and generosity. Accompanied by his mother, a young boy tried on suits until he found the perfect one. Satisfied with their choice, they decided to place the suit on layby and headed home. Approximately an hour later, their day took an unexpected turn when the mother received a surprising call from the lady at the store. A compassionate individual had vi
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I’ll let you in on a little-known secret about me. Growing up, I wanted to be a lawyer. I love a robust debate. I think it’s one of the reasons I enjoy sitting in regularly on Mackay Regional Council’s ordinary meetings when time allows. Being the same day that this publication goes to print can make attendance challenging, but I go when I can. Balancing the demands of a fiscally responsible annual budget and maintaining high service levels and liveability in a progressive city like Mackay is no
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Time is running out to take advantage of the pet registration discount period. All cat and dog owners who want take advantage of a discount on their pet registration fees will need to register their pet by June 30. These fees are put towards the cost of running council’s Animal Management Centre, which provides care for lost pets until they can be reunited with their owners or adopted. Council’s Local Laws Officers will be conducting spot checks of properties to ensure pets are registered. If yo
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Major infrastructure and commercial projects at Mackay Airport are being fast-tracked following approval of a multi-million-dollar loan from the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF). Up to $45 million will go toward wide-ranging runway, apron and taxiway surface upgrades as well as the highly anticipated Milton Street Precinct, taking shape as a new business, retail and entertainment hub less than 1km from the airport terminal. North Queensland Airports Chief Executive Officer Ric
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The region’s second Finley Smith Memorial Cup was deemed a remarkable success on June 15 with over 150 attendees indulging in a full day of cricket, raffles and auctions at Harrup Park. The Finley Smith Memorial Cup served as an opportunity to bring the community together in honour of Finley’s legacy and passion for cricket whilst also raising vital funds in light of Epilepsy awareness. On February 15th of 2022, Finley tragically passed away following an unexpected epileptic seizure, thus the F
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Queensland doctors, including those in Mackay, will receive a $40,000 boost to train in General Practice under a new $20 million Miles Labor Government workforce attraction incentive scheme. The incentive will bolster Queensland’s primary care services by incentivising trainees commencing their training from 2025 and 2026, to undertake General Practitioner training across Queensland. The payment will also address some of the issues young doctors face when considering a career in general practi
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Four deserving CQUniversity students can look forward to an even brighter future, thanks to the Community Bank Sarina Bendigo Bank Scholarship Program. The first-year students were selected to receive the impressive scholarship, which provides not only financial support, but also lasting opportunities for students' career and professional growth, as well as personal development. CQUniversity student Jordana Kelly was awarded a $9000 scholarship towards completing a Bachelor of Business, which
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Regional Development Australia Greater Whitsundays (RDA GW) has announced the launch of the EmpowerHER Collective, a bi-monthly networking initiative aimed at fostering a strong support system for women, both professionally and personally. The inaugural event will take place on July 9 from 8.30am to 9:30am at Ocean International Hotel. The EmpowerHER Collective will include professional development opportunities and promote the Women in Leadership programs managed by RDA GW. RDA GW Chief Exe
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What started out as a typical summer’s day for the Dray family, soon took a miraculous turn where a series of events ultimately saved their son Jed’s life. Mum Courtney, had taken her three children, Jed, Gus and Daisy down the road for a swim with their cousins. As the day progressed, Jed began feeling unwell, he was a little hot and headachy. Courtney initially assumed he’d had a little too much sun. However, overnight Jed’s condition worsened and she decided it was time to take him to the h
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Mackay Regional Council’s 2024-2025 budget has included a rates increase in line with CPI with no reduction in services in a climate of escalating costs. Mayor Greg Williamson said council understood that many people in the Mackay region were doing it tough, with cost-of-living increases putting pressure on household budgets. He said council, like any business or household, was also being impacted by rising costs. “This has been a tough budget to frame, but we’ve worked hard to keep the cost
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Much is discussed about how employers need to focus on the employee value proposition (EVP) to attract staff, however on a personal level, it’s just as important for your career to know what you have to offer the market. It’s widely acknowledged there’s a general skills shortage and that it’s more acute in some industries, therefore it’s mostly an employee’s market. It’s also reported that businesses are experiencing economic challenges and there’s an air of uncertainty. How are you as an emplo
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A pioneering Moranbah program designed to equip local talent with cutting-edge electrotechnology skills is creating career pathways into the mining industry while fostering thriving communities. Anglo American – which operates five steelmaking coal mines in the Bowen Basin – partnered with Moranbah State High School (MSHS) and Major Training to deliver the electrotechnology course in the region. The course provides an entry-level understanding of electrical systems, circuitry and safety while
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Queensland is intensifying its battle against Varroa destructor by employing six Varroa Development Officers (VDOs), an Extension and Engagement Coordinator, and establishing new surveillance hives for early pest detection. While varroa mite Varroa destructor has not yet been detected in Queensland, it is currently in New South Wales and the State Government has identified that Queensland needs to be prepared for this pest. The varroa mite is an insidious pest that poses a significant biosecurit
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