More Than Just A Gym In just a few short months, Mackay will welcome a fitness destination unlike anything the region has seen before. Fitness Cartel Mackay is not just another gym — it’s a space built for strength, movement, and community, supported by cutting-edge facilities and a brand-new Wellness Centre dedicated to recovery and rejuvenation. Whether you’re stepping into a gym for the first time or you’ve been training for decades, this facility has been designed to raise the standard
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When most people think of the pelvic floor, they imagine pregnancy or ageing. But the truth is, our pelvic floor is working hard every single day — whether we’re lifting shopping bags, running after kids, or just going to the loo. And just like any other muscle group, daily habits can either protect it or put it under strain. The pelvic floor is a group of muscles, ligaments and connective tissue that support your bladder, bowel, and reproductive organs. When these muscles and connective
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The Mackay Malayalee Association Inc. hosted its Onam Ponnonam 2025 celebrations on Saturday, 13 September, at the Tommy Webster Memorial Hall in Walkerston. Formed in 2012 and incorporated this year as a non-profit organisation, the Mackay Malayalee Association is a community of people from Kerala, the southern state of India. While promoting Kerala’s cultural heritage, traditions, and festivals, the association also embraces Australian values of multiculturalism, mutual respect, and soc
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Friday 26th September ** Lagoon Life – School Holiday Activity 10am Discover the hidden wonders of Mackay’s freshwater lagoons at the Lagoon Life school holiday drop-in sessions. Explore trays of dragonfly and damselfly nymphs, diving bugs, tiny fish, shrimp, and more—collected by Garden Friends and displayed with water plants that provide their habitat. Magnifying glasses will be on hand so children and families can get a close look at these fascinating creatures without getting wet. A free, h
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Ian Haug, guitarist for Australian band The Church, is set to bring his unmistakable sound to Mackay audiences this October as part of the much-anticipated Legends on the Lawn concert series. Haug, who joined the band 13 years ago, reflected on his long-standing connection to North Queensland. “I’ve been Mackay many times over the years with my old band Powderfinger… we used to come there all the time and play. I love North Queensland,” he said. While relatively new to The Church, Haug d
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Living in North Queensland offers a unique lifestyle filled with sunshine, coastal beauty and a strong sense of community. However, it also means living with the reality of tropical cyclones during the wet season. With climate change contributing to more intense and unpredictable storms, the way homes are built in this region has become increasingly important. Over the past several decades, building codes and construction practices in North Queensland have adapted to meet the challenges p
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A Smarter Way To Retire In Mackay and across North Queensland, more retirees are choosing to downsize and embrace a lifestyle that offers freedom, simplicity and less maintenance. The demand for smaller, low-maintenance homes is rising as older Australians look for practical and affordable ways to make the most of their retirement years. For many, the traditional family home served its purpose during the busy years of raising children and working full time. But as retirement approaches, p
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Queenslanders are part of a national boom in home building, with the latest HIA Housing 100 report highlighting the country’s largest residential builders and the homes they’ve delivered over the past year. “Metricon Homes has cemented its place in history as Australia’s number one home builder for the tenth year in a row,” stated HIA Chief Economist, Tim Reardon, at the launch of the HIA Housing 100 2024/25, sponsored by Colorbond® steel. The report ranks Australia’s 100 largest builder
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SOFTBALL What a day of action on the diamond — surprises, nail-biters, and plenty of fantastic ball played across all grades. Get The Power 5 Def. Nth Jacklin Choas Angels 4 It was a thrilling contest right down to the last innings, with the young ones keeping the crowd on edge. Pitchers Harry Dolgner and Ashlyn Ireland both impressed on the mound, with Harry the only player to take a catch in the game. For the Choas Angels, Harry, Ashlyn and Jarvis Locher each crossed home every turn a
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Kids Shine At Harrup Park Colouring Competition Throughout August, children had their coloured pencils, textas and crayons out, creating masterpieces that combined a love of cricket with a flair for art. The response far exceeded expectations, with more than 60 entries received in each division, making the job of choosing winners incredibly tough for judges. With all the international cricket action at Harrup Park during August, the club thought this competition would be a fun way to get
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BRIDGE Twenty one players went to Airlie Beach on Wednesday to compete in the Airlie Red Point pairs event. Six pairs all placed, including Patricia Garner and Martin Pearce, and Alan and Frances Brown winning first place. Nancy Wix and Julie O’Neill who have never played together before came in a respectable fourth place. Weekly Results Monday 15 September 2025 – 7 Table Mitchell Green Points N/S E/W 1st Helen Van Den Broek / Jan Harris 1st Geoffrey Patterson / Noel Bugeia 2nd Janelle Conroy
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TABLE TENNIS **Evening Fixture Results – Finals Night ** Well Finals for Season 3 have arrived and they delivered with the top 2 teams in each Division battling it out. There has been some incredible matches throughout the season and congratulations to everyone on a great season. Division 1: Fish (Goncalo Serra, Steven Whiting, Jacob Whelan) defeated Bears (Lily Boland, Josh Brown, Lee Brake) 7-4 with no 5 set matches but we did have some close 4 setters Josh come out on top by the skin
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$46 Million Set To Deliver Nearly 3000 Blocks Across The Region More than 2,900 new homes will be unlocked in Mackay and the Whitsundays with construction of several critical infrastructure projects set to be fast-tracked under the Crisafulli Government’s landmark $2 billion Residential Activation Fund. On Wednesday 24 September the Crisafulli Government announced in Cannonvale that funding of $41.66 million under the Residential Activation Fund (RAF) will support the construction of several cr
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Hi Everyone, This week has been one of big changes here at the paper — a mix of heartfelt goodbyes and warm new beginnings. Firstly, we bid farewell to the amazing Amanda Wright, who has stepped down from her role as Editor of Mackay Life to pursue a career in politics. Amanda has brought heart, talent, and fierce integrity to every edition, and we are so proud to see her take on a new chapter where she’ll no doubt make a difference. We also said goodbye to our office dynamo, Crissy Bottrell.
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A passion for craft and a love of community has led local maker Tina to brighten lives with her colourful handmade chairs and hampers. The project began when former school principal put a call out for a special reading chair for the school library. Tina answered the request and has since turned it into an ongoing way to give back. Each chair is carefully sewn, upholstered with cheerful fabrics, and donated rather than sold. “I don’t sell them – a lot of people suggest I should – but I only eve
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It was a proud moment for Marine Rescue Queensland (MRQ), formerly Volunteer Marine Rescue (VMR) Whitsunday this week, as volunteers were presented with their MRQ Citations during a special ceremony. Family, friends, community representatives, and fellow first responders gathered to celebrate the dedication and service of the local crew, who have played a vital role in keeping Whitsunday waters safe. Chief Officer Tony Wulff reflected on the organisation’s long history in the region, acknowled
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Plans are underway for a memorial plaque to honour the four Australian Defence Force members who lost their lives in the MRH-90 Taipan helicopter crash during Exercise Talisman Sabre. The aircraft, carrying four members of the Sixth Aviation Regiment based in Sydney—Lieutenant Maxwell Nugent, Captain Daniel Lyon, Warrant Officer Class 2 Joseph Laycock and Corporal Alexander Naggs crashed in the Whitsundays on July 28 2023. A group of ex-servicemen, from Operation Pilgrimage Group is leading th
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A Mother’s Mission to Help Grieving Parents On the 3rd of March, 2021, the Stevens family’s world was shattered when their eldest son, Ethan, lost his battle with Acute T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukaemia, just three days shy of his 14th birthday. For Kimberly, her husband Michael, and their youngest son Jett, life without Ethan felt unimaginable. Their “awesome foursome” was broken, and the road ahead seemed impossible to navigate. “Six months after our teenage son Ethan passed away from T-Cell Le
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Since this newspaper’s inception five years ago, office dynamo Crissy Bottrell has been at the very heart of the print house — steering deadlines, supporting staff, and caring for our valued clients with dedication and flair. Over the years, Crissy has been the friendly voice answering the main office line, effortlessly guiding advertisers through their campaigns with professionalism, warmth, and more than a few cheeky jokes along the way. In-house, she’s known for her rock-solid work ethic, r
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Road Safety And Community Awareness As school holidays kick off across Queensland, Whitsunday Police are urging everyone to prioritise safety on the roads and in the community. With increased traffic and more children enjoying outdoor activities, patience and care will ensure a safe holiday period for all. Queensland Police are reminding motorists to take extra care during the holidays, especially as roads may be busier with families heading to destinations such as beaches and parks. Drivers sh
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Established September 1 1925 In July 1925, two young men, Messrs C E Mazlin and E S Briggs, foresaw the possible advancement of the Proserpine district and took the big risk of resigning from their positions and purchasing the business of Mr Randolph Traill, a Real Estate and Commission Agent with an auctioneering business and motor car agency. On September 1, they began trading as Briggs and Mazlin. Mr E S Briggs had arrived in Proserpine in 1921 to establish a branch of the Australian Bank of
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Meet Fraser Simpson Cruise Whitsundays’ largest vessel, Seaflight, has just returned to service after a major repower and a fresh coat of paint in the new company livery. The project forms part of a multi-million-dollar investment strategy focused on upgrading and expanding the fleet, with four of the eight key vessels already undergoing significant works this year and more planned for the future. But the real story isn’t just about the vessel – it’s about the person now at the helm. Local ski
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Our Whitsunday region is officially the fastest growing local government area in Queensland and the third fastest in the whole of Australia. Growth at this level is exciting, but it also brings real challenges. One of the biggest is making sure there are enough homes for the families who want to live here. Yesterday I joined Premier David Crisafulli and our local Member of Parliament Amanda Camm to announce more than 15 million dollars in funding for critical water and sewer infrastructure in C
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The Whitsundays Chamber of Commerce and Industry has announced an action-packed program of events for October, designed to strengthen local businesses and provide practical tools for growth and success. The month begins with a timely professional development session on Managing Difficult Personalities in the Workplace, to be held on Thursday 9 October, 7:30–9:00am at Club Whitsunday, Airlie Beach. Delivered by Judy Porter of Shiift, this interactive workshop will address one of the top challeng
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The Whitsundays is set to sparkle as the region prepares to honour its leading tourism operators at the 2025 Whitsunday Tourism Awards, to be held on Saturday, 18 October at the Proserpine Entertainment Centre. This year marks a fresh chapter for the awards, with the introduction of a new structure based on the Best of Queensland Experience Program (BOQEP). This innovative approach means recognition is awarded not by submissions, but through real results and customer feedback, ensuring the fina
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