Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
Queensland’s new favourite game has taken the state by storm as a part of the launch of Tourism and Events Queensland’s biggest campaign in over a decade. On the second of June, Queensland officially set the record for the Worlds’ Biggest Game of Keepy Uppy, with games happening concurrently across the whole state. The Whitsundays played along with a game on Whitehaven Beach, on a boat around Heart Reef and on Hamilton and Hayman Island to feature in a campaign centered around the hit ani
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Friday 14 June The Pub, Airlie Beach Hotel: Andy Mammers (7pm – 10pm) KC’S: Tash (from 8pm) Reef Gateway: Dave Helgi (6pm – 9pm) Jubilee Tavern: Rebelquin (6pm – 9pm) Grand View Hotel: Mike Vaughan (8pm – 12am) Saturday 15 June The Pub, Airlie Beach Hotel: Grease Tribute (2pm – 5.30pm) The Pub, Airlie Beach Hotel: Andy Mammers (7pm – 10pm) KC’s: Shaun Diver (from 8pm) Reef Gateway: Sam McCann (6pm – 9pm) Grand View Hotel: DJ Night (8pm – 12am) Coral Sea Marina Resort: Live Music (from 1pm) Sun
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Our local libraries in the Whitsunday Region offer much more than just books! Hosting over 200 free events annually, they provide a variety of tech and literacy programs suitable for all ages. They will also be running a range of children's activities during the upcoming school holidays. Be sure to visit libraries.whitsundayrc.qld.gov.au to discover what's happening at your local library and make the most of these fantastic resources and events!
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As the 2024 Whitsunday Show approaches, it is interesting to consider what the annual show was like a century ago in the 1920s. It is fascinating to read the publication, “Show Whitsunday Celebrating 100 Years” published on the occasion of the show’s centenary. Covering ten decades of annual shows in our district, it provides an absorbing insight into what has changed and what remains the same. In the 1920 -1929 segment, the writer noted that the Proserpine A P & I Association Show was “movin
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Huge weekend at Lake Proserpine Campgrounds tomorrow and Sunday as they host the first Barra and Boots Festival and Camping Event. Event organisers RegFest have gathered some absolute legends of Australian Country Music to play a very intimate gig at Lake Proserpine with only 600 tickets available the event is close to a selling out. Major new events like this added to the Whitsunday calendar are vital to attract visitors to our region. It is unique in that campers will be able to stroll out
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A Year 12 Proserpine State High School student has been named as a top three finalist for the Queensland School-Based Apprentice/Trainee of the Year Awards and will find out if he’s won during a special ceremony held in Townsville in July. Rio Withyman is currently undertaking his Certificate III in Maritime Operations with local tourism operator Sealink and is being recognised for his commitment to his formal studies at school and in the workplace. Growing up onboard a sailing catamaran for
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The Proserpine Historical Museum have been honoured to accept the donation of a significant artefact; a handmade pair of shorts worn by William Dalziel Rudd from 1942 – 1945. William Rudd wore these shorts during his years as a prisoner of war (POW). William preserved the shorts throughout his life and his family has now donated them to the museum. William Rudd was born at Hughenden 14th April 1914 but later lived in Proserpine and at the age of 26 enlisted in the Australian Army. Shortly
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Bowen Summergarden Cinema often hosts charity screening events and everybody is welcome, the films are usually true stories and suitable for all ages. Their next charity screening is of ‘Unsung Hero’, hosted by the Bowen and Collinsville local Chaplaincy Committee charity. Bowen Summergarden Cinema owner Ben De Luca is looking forward to this showing. “It’s based on a remarkable true story, a mum's faith stands against all odds and inspires her husband and children to hold onto this,” said B
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Young people of Bowen are invited to come to PCYC Bowen Drop-In sessions where they can meet other people their age, connect with worthwhile community events and enjoy sport and activities. On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, young people in the Bowen area aged 12-18 can join the PCYC Drop-In sessions. Every day has a different activity, with Tuesdays from 3pm – 5pm an opportunity for attendees to go to Queens Beach for pizza and fun. On Wednesdays the PCYC Bowen Youth Leadership Team m
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At Whitsunday Christian College their vision is to see students develop as life-long learners of faith, character and purpose, achieving personal excellence and cultivating community through service. They seek to educate the whole person, with a focus on the head, the hands and the heart. They encourage student to have strong minds, develop practical skills and cultivate character, instilling Christian values. Mrs Kylie Langshore the College Principal believes, “Middle School is an importa
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Are you struggling with the changes in your body after giving birth? Are you worried about participating in activities in case your bladder leaks? Are you constipated or have trouble in the bathroom? Have you been diagnosed with prolapse or feel a bulge and don’t know what to do? If so, all these concerns can be managed with the help of Pelvic Health Physiotherapy. This unique area of physiotherapy encompasses more than just the pelvic floor as it looks at the whole person; your symptoms, gener
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Relive the magic of the Blues Brothers with the Soul Men as they present the Blues Brothers Tribute Show at The Pub, Airlie Beach Hotel. This tribute act being based on the iconic film of the same name and stands out from the rest with great audience participation. Jake in the show, performed by Greg Hill said “We're interactive, we’re choreographed. we are well rehearsed, and we also have a script that we use but we're also adlib as well.” “How we differ from a lot of other tribute shows is
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With his mother’s side of the family having 14 members and all being musical, Paul Fergus was involved in lots of family sing-a-longs and it sparked his passion for music. At the age of 10, Paul received great feedback from friends and teachers for his work in school productions. “It’s better than them throwing tomatoes at you,” joked Paul. Then during early teenage years, Paul started to enjoy acting, he enjoyed being the class clown and thought pursuing acting would be a good way to turn it
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Get ready for a whirlwind of excitement as 'Show Week' hits the region, kicking off with the Pioneer Valley Show this weekend, followed by the Mackay Show next week. With thrilling attractions, delightful exhibits, and mouthwatering treats, these shows promise fun for the whole family. First up is the Pioneer Valley Show, proudly hailed as the best one-day show in Australia. Set against the backdrop of picturesque, tree-studded grounds in Finch Hatton, this year's event, marking its 60th annive
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In an effort to address the issue of cost-of-living pressures, the Queensland state budget has taken centre stage, offering a range of concessions, rebates, and discounts. Premier Steven Miles and Treasurer Cameron Dick have earmarked $11.2 billion in concessions for Queenslanders in this year’s budget, marking a notable 31 per cent increase from the previous fiscal year. Among the headline initiatives is a 20 per cent discount on car registration fees and households will benefit from a substant
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For those following my colon cancer journey, I am pleased to share that my surgery was as successful as it could have been, thanks to the dedicated and professional team at Mackay Base Hospital. My recovery was swift, and the doctors were impressed that I was up and about with minimal discomfort the day after surgery. However, I did experience a setback when I caught a nasty virus, which sent me back into the hospital only days after discharge. The initial scare was that it might be sepsis from
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An anonymous Facebook user posted to a community page in awe of the support she received at a local Priceline Pharmacy last week. Despite feelings of embarrassment, she was extremely grateful that she was able to take home all of the baby products she had picked out despite not having enough money to pay for them. The anonymous lady approached the counter not realising she would be short of money, however, a kind stranger at the pharmacy in Ooralea selflessly paid for the baby products she wa
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Police are undergoing investigations following a suspicious house fire in Mackay. In the early hours of June 9th, emergency services responded to distressing reports of a house fire as flames engulfed a property on Goldsmith Street. The incident was attended to by local authorities just after 2.30am, where they arrived to find a 33-year-old man injured but with non-life-threatening burns. The man was then transported to Mackay Base Hospital for medical treatment. Residents who live near the pr
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Three exceptional individuals in the region have been recognised for their remarkable contributions to the community as part of the 2024 King’s Birthday Honours List. William ‘Bill’ Faint, Len Goode and Christopher Haswell were recently selected to be honoured with William and Len receiving the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) and Christopher being honoured with the Ambulance Service Medal (ASM). William Faint, also known as Bill is a former councillor from Clermont and has dedicated fif
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Picture this: a spectacular oceanside location featuring outdoor furniture, scattered cushions and picnic blankets, where families and friends come together under a mesmerising canopy of fairy lights. This enchanting scene sets the stage for Mackay’s newest and most unique event: ‘Tunes in the Dunes’ on Sunday 30th June. The first-of-its-kind, FREE BYO event is a golden opportunity to experience the breathtaking Dunes Harbour Beach setting and be part of its thriving community. Nowhere else in
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Mackay has recently experienced a fruitful surge in births as Mater Mothers' Private Mackay celebrated welcoming 60 newborn babies into the world during the month of May. This marks the hospital's highest monthly birth rate since September 2014 when 61 babies were born. Mater Mothers’ Private Mackay Midwifery Unit Manager Sarah Fordyce said the hospital had seen a steady increase in births over the past five years, from 410 in 2020 to 457 last year. However, she said the reason for last month
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In an exciting announcement, the highly anticipated Ronald McDonald Family Room officially re-opened to families earlier this week on Tuesday the 11th of June. As part of the Queensland State Government Mackay Base Hospital expansion project, the Ronald McDonald Family Room has been relocated to its new temporary site within the Mackay Base Hospital grounds. With an estimated 3,000 annual visitors who access the Mackay service, the Family Room welcomes the addition of a designated outdoor play
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With a big heart and a willingness to make a difference, Ashley Reid, the acting manager of operational services for Mackay Hospital and Health Services, volunteered to go under the clippers to bid farewell to his cherished beard. His sacrifice was not merely an act of personal grooming but a powerful gesture in support of Mackay's Ronald McDonald Family Room. Assisted by Sam from Ronald McDonald House Charities North Australia, each stroke of the clippers symbolised not only the shedding of fa
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Penny Tatow and daughter Timika Tatow are the driving forces behind Family and Children’s Emerging Support Services, (FACESS). FACESS is an indigenous organisation that provides a range of programs with a focus on working with and alongside vulnerable families and children in the community. This initiative was founded in March 2023 after recognising crucial gaps regarding support services in Mackay for first-nations families and children. Penny and Timika made it their mission to be the ligh
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When you think of Mackay Regional Council Libraries, a building full of books may come to mind, but that’s not all our regional libraries have to offer. Mackay Regional Council libraries provide a wide range of resources, programs and activities for all ages, completely free of charge with a focus on education and bettering the community. We spoke with Donna Kellion last Friday at Caneland Central, who shared some of the remarkable initiatives that Mackay Regional Council Libraries offer our
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