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Calen Country Women Celebrate Springtime

Calen QCWA invites you to their Springtime Festival, a celebration of horticulture, friendship and sunshine. The Springtime Festival will incorporate a free horticultural competition across many classes, best colourful spring outfit competition, guest speakers, afternoon tea, a lucky door prize and more. Entry is $10, which includes afternoon tea, and children are free. There will also be a cent sale and snap raffles throughout the afternoon. For more information, call Diane on 0421 923 820 or

Local Talent And Acclaimed Artist Converge At Artspace Mackay

Artspace Mackay welcomed three new exhibitions last weekend with two local creatives showing alongside a nationally acclaimed video installation artist. Artspace Mackay’s new suite of exhibitions are Zanny Begg: These Stories Will be Different, Kara Day: Ladylike and Stephen Homewood: Turbulence. Zanny Begg is a video installation artist who works across drawing, film, social and spatial practice to explore questions of feminism, migration and ecological and intergenerational responsibility. Art

Car Park Safety Concerns

Following Near Misses With Children Following numerous incidents at a nearby car park, Eimeo Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC) has shared their concern for children’s safety in an open letter to Mackay Regional Council. The letter, penned by Eimeo SLSC President Cynthia Hegarty, suggests a risk management plan for the car park, located between the clubhouse and Eimeo beach, requesting a boom gate to be installed at the entrance. Eimeo SLSC President Cynthia Hegarty said that the car park is often us

Introducing Insane Cane Train

Local Band To Debut At The Brewery If you disregard how often some of the members indulged in a cold pale ale at Red Dog Brewery, it’s a beautiful coincidence that Insane Cane Train’s first ever gig will take place at the same location the band was conceptualised. Lead singer and guitarist Dom Pinzone is a seasoned performer at the Chain Street brewery, his sets often involving everything from Ball Park Music to Neutral Milk Hotel. With a drum kit packed up in the corner of his apartment and a s

Master Game In The Marian Master 4s

The Marian Ladies Bowls Club hosted the Marian Master 4’s last week, culminating in an exciting grand final. Held on Monday August 14, with the finals on Wednesday August 16, the Masters were a testament to the ladies strength and determination. With 16 teams, and only the top four qualifying for the semi-finals on Wednesday morning, and the grand finals on Wednesday afternoon, the competition was heated. The winners for the Masters was Robyn Deveraux's team of Gail Meng, Val Pilcher, Deali

THE BALL IS IN YOUR COURT

MACKAY COUNCIL ENCOURAGES NOMINATIONS TO SPORTING HALL OF FAME By Sinead Porter When you hear the term ‘dedicated to sport’, who in your life instantly springs to mind? You can now recommend your top pick from the local community to Mackay Regional Council’s Sporting Hall of Fame. This institution has been developed to recognise the region’s residents who have made outstanding achievements in their sport. No matter your age or skill level, if you have made an impactful contribution to your sp

AFLQ Schools Cup A Success For The Region

Schools from Mackay, Cairns, Townsville and Capricornia descended upon Harrup Park last week as it hosted the AFLQ Schools Cup North Queensland Championships. North Queensland’s up and coming Australian rules football players from Junior, Primary and Secondary male and female divisions battled it out from August 15-16, with the six triumphant schools to compete at State Finals in Maroochydore in October. It was the first time Mackay hosted the tournament which brought over 1,000 visitors to the

Sign Up Now For Upcoming Nippers Season

The Mackay Surf Life Saving Club is excited to welcome returning and new Nippers for the upcoming Nippers season, with a Sign On Day this Sunday, August 27. Come along to the club headquarters on Mackay’s Harbour Beach from 10am to 12pm this Sunday and learn the lifesaving sport of Nippers. With a series of ‘come and try’ days scheduled for September, this is a great chance to meet the crew and get all the information you need. Complete with surf education, fitness, and beach skills, these ‘com

Blokarts Return To Cape Hillsborough

Cape Hillsborough will be a sea of sails when Mackay’s Central Queensland Blokart Club (CQBC) holds its annual regatta from September 8 to 10. Returning to the sandy flats for the 15th year, the CQBC Annual Cape Hillsborough Regatta has become the second biggest blokarting event in Australia, welcoming competitors from Victoria, southeast Queensland, Capricornia, Whitsundays and north Queensland. With strong links to sailing, blokarting is a rapidly growing sport that involves maneuvering a win

Mackay Magic On The Marina

The 1.609 kilometre out and back course was held from the beautiful Mackay Marina Breakwater precincts in perfectly cool and sunny running conditions for this year’s annual North Queensland Bulk Ports (NQBP) Open Magic Mile and the Podiatry Mackay Junior Magic Mile. All runners were very excited to run the 1609 metres distance on the spectacular breakwater, although not sure if they had time to take in the views in the fast and furious sprint distance event. The U13 and U18 Podiatry Mackay Mag

Cutters End Season On A High

The Hostplus Cup Mackay Cutters had local fans cheering as they played out their last game of the 2023 season, achieving their first win at home for the season. The beleaguered side secured their third win of the season, joining round 22 opponents Western Clydesdales on 10 premiership points and finishing the season 14th on the ladder. In the first clash between the two sides since the Clydesdales returned to the state competition, the Toowoomba-based visitors drew first blood in the fourth minu

Mackay Contract Bridge Club

Founders Teams Winners After three weeks of fierce competition between eight teams with a minimum of four players, each playing with a different partner each week, Team Conroy has taken first place. Team Conroy consisted of Janelle Conroy, France Brown, Janet Hansen & Alan Brown. Weekly Results Monday 14 August 2023 – ANNE HIRD MEMORIAL TROPHY Week 2 of 3 N/S E/W 1st Diane Stokes / Debra Goodchild 1st Ian Gaskell / Edward Kleise 2nd Antonia Tarradas / Anne Lutz 2nd Joy Block / Monica Darley 3r

Editor's Note

Hi Everyone,My mum is a bit of a conspiracy theorist. She was enthralled by the recent investigative book on the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines doomed 370 flight and regaled me with the theory that different governments knew about a package onboard and shot down the plane.

Detrimental Move For Commercial Fishing

The Federal Government has made the move to ban commercial gillnet fishing, a decision that will drastically impact over 90 licensed fishermen in the region.Andrew Willcox Federal Member for Dawson said the decision came without consultation and allowed no rebuttal from affected fishermen, stating the supposed dangers that gillnets pose to marine life as reason behind the ban.

Wedding Day Rush

Usually organised mother-of-the-groom, Leanne Kettleton, woke up on Monday morning in a panic – it was the week of her son’s wedding, and she was completely unprepared.Working out west for long periods of time, she had just returned back to her hometown of Airlie Beach, and life was suddenly catching up with her.

Mackay Bowls Club News

Albert Wicks, 93, is Mackay Bowls Club’s oldest active member. Albert regularly plays social Triples on Tuesday using his original bowls with only a walking stick for balance. Besides being a past committee member, Albert’s pervious bowling achievements include Club Pairs and Triples Championships, Senior Singles Champion as well as District Finalist in Pairs and Triples. Alberts experience and knowledge is invaluable for all bowlers, especially at Annual General Meetings. Ross Dunstan competed

Record Breaking St Patrick’s College

Celebrate Dual Challenge Titles Aaron Payne Cup North Queensland Cowboys bound half back Jaxon Purdue demonstrated his class as rugby league powerhouse St Patrick’s College completed a unique championship double last week in Townsville. The famous Mackay sporting nursery unveiled several Cowboys’ stars of the future when they slammed Kirwan State High 32-10 to lift the Aaron Payne Cup premiership trophy at Queensland Country Bank Stadium. Played as a curtain raiser to the NRL clash between t

Global Yacht Races Into The Whitsundays

In January next year Airlie Beach will welcome a fleet of 11 racing yachts, as Coral Sea Marina once again becomes Host Port for the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. As Leg 4 of the around the world race, the competitors will travel north from Newcastle, in New South Wales, before stopping and resting in the Whitsundays for a brief period before beginning Leg 5.

Forest Of The Fallen Silent Protest In Airlie Beach

A flash mob of protest signs suddenly appeared on the Airlie Beach Foreshore over the weekend when representatives of a movement known as ‘Forest of the Fallen’ publicly displayed photos of people who are believed to have died or been injured following a COVID 19 vaccination.Dozens of faces told the story of the human toll of the pandemic and the lives believed to have been impacted as a result of adverse effects of the vaccine.As quickly as the silent protest appeared, however, it then disappea

Fatal Traffic Accident 6 in 7 weeks

A 67-year-old Dingo Beach man has sadly passed away following a two-vehicle collision on the evening of Sunday August 20, on Strathdickie Road. Initial investigations indicate that the two vehicles collided at the intersection of Strathdickie Road and Staniland Drive, just before 6.30pm on Sunday evening.

Nominations Close Soon For Sporting Awards

The North Queensland Sportstar Awards nominations will close at midnight on Friday September 1. With 11 categories to nominate into, and more than $18,000 up for grabs, there is something for every sports star, recognising achievements of individuals and players who put their very best into their sport. North Queensland Sports Foundation director and Mackay Regional Council councillor Laurence Bonaventura said the planning committee has been pleased with the response so far. “We’ve received a

Mackay Cyclone Athletes Smash PB’s

To Bring Home A Swag Of Medals On the weekend of August 11-13, the Mackay Cyclones had nine athletes compete at the 2023 Hancock Prospecting Queensland Short Course Championships in Brisbane. Over the course of the championships, the club achieved 26 top 10 spots, 50 out of 54 personal bests, five gold medals, three silver medals and two bronze. Mackay Cyclones Swimming Club was given a ranking of 38th out of the 113 clubs in Queensland for the event. It was some of the best results for the co

At The Table

Mackay Table Tennis Tuesday night results August 15, 2023: Division 1: Tibhar (Steven Whiting, Tim Sheehan, Vince Boeske) d Donic (Tony Bowman, Anne Sheridan, Ian McKay) 8-3. Tim d Ian 2, -9, -9, 4, 5. Radak (Mick Ruhl, Lee Brake, Graham Brake) d Joola (Janice Kent, Andrew McHugh, Geoff Denman) 7-4. Mick d Andrew -10, 7, -9, 7, 10. Butterfly (Emma Widdup, Allan Edwards, Graeme Walker) d Andro (George Camilleri, Robbie Richards, Barry Patterson) 8-3. Allan d George 6, 8, -7, 11. Division 2: Xiom

10 Properties At Auction For Council Rate Arrears

A total of 10 properties are due to go under the hammer as the Whitsunday Regional Council auctions off properties with rates in arrears. This is off the back of 13 properties that faced a similar fate in April’s auction, although only one property was successfully sold. The properties, encompassing addresses in Collinsville, Bowen, and Queens Beach, must be in council rate arears of at least three years to qualify, and for the council to have exhausted all other repayment options.

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