Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
If you’re up for a challenge and a few laughs, come along to the Bluewater Quay today after 5:30 and run down Harbour Road with me, and hundreds of other runners, all while raising money for the leukaemia foundation and celebrating the start of March. This time of the year you can guarantee a few things. It’s bloody warm, there’s showers around the place and the humidity is so moist, saying the word makes me sweat just thinking about it. Each year hundreds of us all run down towards the harbou
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“Thirty-thousand pigs have drowned in the river near Rocky.” The announcement was yelled out across the newsroom to me by a reporter at the local Mackay paper about 13 years ago when I was the editor and we were covering a central Queensland flood that had moved south and was about to engulf Rockhampton. Now, I’m no farmer but my first reaction was that this was a surprising amount of dead pigs. I said: “Thirty thousand pigs! Are we sure about that?” The Mackay journalist had spoken to our siste
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The World Day of Prayer is an ecumenical movement inspired by the motto “Informed Prayer and Prayerful Action.” We follow the example of Jesus Christ, who prayed with compassion and love for peace in our fractured world. The theme is “I Beg You... Bear With One Another in Love,” and calls us to patiently support each other with generosity and compassion, despite all difficulties and oppression. The Palestinian Christian women who wrote this worship service have invited the world to pray fo
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Get ready to roll this Saturday, as the Mackay Bowls Club hosts the long-awaited Australia Day Bowls event, kicking off at 1pm, March 2nd. Come along bowlers, and enjoy an afternoon of bowls and some Aussie tucker… be sure to wear your best Aussie attire! Sponsored by Mackay Regional Council and Karyn Shepherd from More Air, this event promises a day of fun-filled bowling action, offering two divisions, one for Bowlers and the other for non-bowlers. You’ve got to be in it to win it! There wil
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There were plenty of tight scores in the northern derby clashes between the Townsville Blackhawks and Mackay Cutters. The Mackay campaign started on a strong note with the Harvey Norman U17s coming away with a convincing 20-10 win over the Blackhawks. It was a day of impressive footy at Jack Manski Oval on Saturday, with the Harvey Norman Under 17s holding the biggest score difference, with just 10 points. Unfortunately for Mackay, that was the first and last win for the sides against a tough
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Solveig Lobo is a familiar face in the Mackay community, known for her role as an Account Executive at Bishopp, specialising in billboard and airport advertising. Born and raised in Mackay, Solveig has a deep-rooted passion for her hometown and is actively involved in various community events and initiatives. She sees herself not just as a business professional but as a proud member of the community, always eager to contribute to its growth and vibrancy. “I am very passionate about the commun
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Emerging all-rounder Jack Law produced another masterclass to propel Walkerston/Brothers to a premiership title in the Mackay Junior Cricket Association Under 17s Grand Final at Great Barrier Reef Arena last weekend. The fifteen-year-old schoolboy sensation a regular in the Brothers first grade X1 this summer snared 2-12 in a fiery five over spell to help his side topple minor premiers Magpies White in the trophy decider. It capped a successful campaign for the Mackay-Whitsunday junior repres
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Mackay Regional Council announced that more than half the trails at Finch Hatton MTB were made available to ride last weekend, with many riders across the region taking the opportunity to shred the twists and turns. This is an opportunity for riders to get some tyres on the trails and help pack them down after recent delays due to wet weather. A mix of easy, intermediate, and expert trails are ready to ride. These initial trails are the first to be accessible in stage one, with the remaining tra
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Over eighty Mackay Road Runners pounded the pavement at 6.30am from the Queen’s Park Rotunda for the annual Club Championship event competing for valuable open and age category points. MAD Fitness Mackay’s support added to the prestige and success of the event as runners took to the East Mackay streets despite the overcast skies after an initial loop of Queen’s Park before returning for a final loop to cross the finish line. There were many special performances amongst the field, particular
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Mackay Table Tennis Tuesday night fixtures February 20, 2024: Division 1: Lexus (Barry Patterson, Andrew McHugh, Janice Kent) d Jaguar (Tim Shehan, Anne Sheridan, Vince Boeske) 6-5. Tim d Janice -8, 6, 13, -14, 3. BMW (Emma Widdup, Allan Edwards, Ian McKay) d Ferrari (Geoff Denman, Tony Bowman, Robbie Richards) 7-4. Tony d Ian -4, 8, 10, -5, 10. Mercedes (Graeme Walker, Steven Whiting, Graham Brake) d Audi (Mick Ruhl, Lee Brake, Ishan Rana) 6-5. Mick d Steven 7, -16, -7, 3, 5. Division 2: Is
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The Mackay Triathlon community came together to honour the memory of Sonya Brazil in a remarkable display of athleticism and camaraderie at the Sonya Brazil Memorial Women's Only Triathlon. Since 2000 the race has been named in Ms Brazil's honour after she died unexpectedly in 1999 whilst on her quest to stay fit and active. The event, held under overcast skies, saw participants from all walks of life take on the challenge, with a special nod to those tackling a triathlon for the very first
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Eight Blokarters from Mackay ventured South to Mulambin, near Yeppoon, to compete in the Australian Blokart Championships. The Smith family were well represented from grandparents to grandchild. Most fleet classes were contested with the Mackay team performing well in their respected classes. The Francis family did well, Kate Francis achieving a 3rd overall in Lightweight Production, Tony achieving 1st overall in Medium Weight Performance. Other results included Trevor Smith 3rd overall
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The Wilson Kinchant Team Championship was held last weekend with Mackay Tournament Anglers facing challenging weather conditions. Despite the initial bout of pouring rain and gusting winds, the skies cleared up in the final hour, allowing anglers to vie for top honours. Brad Hocking secured the title for the biggest Barra, reeling in an impressive catch measuring 108cm and earning a prize of $100. In the overall standings, Mullet Mayhem, comprising Keegan Hayden and Brendon King, clinched the to
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The North Mackay Sinkers Masters’ small but fun February meet attracted 37 registered swimmers last weekend, to the club’s home training pool at Mackay North State High School. A large portion of the club participated but members were pleasantly surprised by the company of both the Mackay Swimming Academy Masters and Pioneer Swimming Club adults for additional local talent. The meet also attracted out-of -town visitors from the Atherton Mountaineers, Long Tan Legends, Rats of Tobruk, Toowoom
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Mackay Contract Bridge Club Results for week ending Sunday 25th February 2024 Monday 19 February 2024 – 4 Table Howell Green Points North / South East / West 1st GEOFFREY PATTERSON - ROBERT CARLESS 3rd BARBARA TAIT - MARGARET LANE 1st EDWARD KLIESE - DIANE STOKES 4th MONICA DARLEY - SANDRA FORD Wednesday 21 February 2024 –7 Table Mitchell Green Points North/South East/West 1st 2nd 3rd CARMEL BROWN - PATRICK RASMUS
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Passionate Indigenous owner, Robbie Congoo, is proud to release his self-funded 3.5-minute animated film about the creation of the Whitsunday Islands and the Great Barrier Reef. For the past year, the project has been underway, and the completed animation is now showing as a ‘Ngaro Dreaming Story’ video on Cruise Whitsundays tours. Robbie hopes the film not only opens eyes to Indigenous culture and history, but also encourages people to protect the local environment.
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Hi Everyone, One of my favourite parts of the job is meeting people who are so passionate about their mission in life that their energy is inspiring to be around. Their story is so engaging and meaningful that you can’t help but feel passionate right there alongside them. This happened to me earlier this week when I met Robbie Congoo, a proud Indigenous man who has just released an animated short film about local cultural history. I remember coming to Australia as a backpacker 20 years ago
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Upon hearing of the devastating effects of the flooding in North Queensland, following Ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper, local business owners Jen and Beth Walters of Cartridge Universe Whitsunday, decided to rally the community together to provide necessary supplies to small communities. “We became aware of the state of Rossville and surrounds when our friend, Dave Charlton, put the call out for any donations to travel up with him on 22nd December 2023,” Beth explained. In December, Jen and Beth w
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An Independent Inquiry has been launched to investigate the fatal helicopter crash of an Australian Defence Force helicopter, which killed four Defence personnel. The ADF helicopter, the MRH-90 Taipan helicopter was undertaking training exercises in the Whitsundays as part as Exercise Talisman Sabre 2023, when it experienced catastrophic failure and crashed into waters near Lindeman Island, in July 2023. The four Defence personnel onboard, Captain Danniel Lyon, Lieutenant Maxwell Nugent, Warra
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Early voting officially opens on Monday March 4, for voters wishing to escape the hectic polling booths on Saturday March 16. Here are the locations to vote early in the region: Cannonvale Shop 15 of Whitsunday Shopping Centre Proserpine Proserpine Whitsunday Freemason Lodge Collinsville Collinsville Community Centre Bowen Bowen PCYC All sites are open Monday March 4 to Friday March 15 (excluding weekends) from 9am to 5pm
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The upcoming Country Fest Queensland, a North Queensland country music festival due to be held in Bloomsbury later this month announced this week that headlining act, John Fogerty will no longer be playing at the festival. Event organisers released a statement saying John Fogerty will “no longer be attending Country Fest QLD.” “We are working hard on a revised line up and will have more information coming soon,” the official statement on the events Facebook explained. However, the Credence Cle
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A joint venture between Proserpine State High School and Whitsunday Shire Family Day Care (WFDC) has seen the creation of a new ‘The Whitsundays: Our Home, Your Adventures’ novel. The idea came from the team of WFDC, as a way to celebrate the region, the community’s identity, and incorporate iconic landmarks in a children’s book. “Our goal was to capture the unique charm of the region and involve the children in the process,” explained Amanda Brett, Coordinator with Whitsunday Shire Family Day
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The Whitsunday Foodbank in Proserpine is welcoming a grant from the 2024 Ergon-Energex Community Fund. The generous grant of $4,500 has already been allocated for the purchase of a new freezer for the not-for-profit venture, to allow community members to access frozen grocery items. Chairman of the Board for Whitsunday Foodbank, Jeff Boyle, welcomes the gift. “Our previous freezer has just died, and being able to replace it so quickly is great,” he explained. “Our previous freezer was a class
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Since she was three years old, Roze has passionately pursued her dream of becoming a fashion model and she finally realised this dream when she appeared on a billboard during New York Fashion Week recently. Answering a callout by former locals Belle Le Chic, Roze’s mum Katrina put Roze forward as a model to showcase Belle Le Chic’s new collection, the Goddess Collection. In the two-day shoot, Roze was sure that photographer, Alexis Turner, knew her good side, and posed perfectly, the hope of
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