Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
Mellissa Austin's Commitment to Supporting Families with Knowledge, Care & Experience With two decades of experience and a wealth of education behind her, Mellissa Austin owns and operates Empower 4 Success with expertise to provide her clients with personalised, holistic support. Empower 4 Success offers a selection of comprehensive services to ensure the best results for you and your family, covering issues rooted in anger management, stress, depression, self-esteem, and anxiety. Mellis
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How Stress Shows Up in Your Pelvic Floor Most of us know what stress feels like — the tight shoulders, the clenched jaw, the racing thoughts at 3am. But there’s one place stress loves to hide that almost no one talks about: your pelvic floor. Yes, the same group of muscles that help keep you dry when you sneeze, support your organs, and form the foundation of your core can also become tense and overworked when life gets busy. Here in Mackay, it’s no surprise that many women are carrying tension
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Pleystowe Says No To BESS Member for Mirani, Glen Kelly MP, is calling on Mackay Regional Councillors to stand with the community and vote against the proposed Pleystowe Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) when it comes before Council. Submissions have now closed, with close to 100 objections lodged by local residents, a powerful show of community concern from one of the most pristine rural localities in the region. Mr Kelly said the message from Pleystowe and the wider Pioneer Valley i
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The City Centre might be a long way from the North Pole, but this year it will be brimming with just as much Christmas magic. From carols to markets, dazzling projections to a moonlight movie, the City Heart Christmas celebrations on Friday, December 5 promise an unforgettable night for all ages. From 4pm to 9pm, Wood Street Park and surrounding areas will be transformed into a hub of free family fun. Highlights include a Moonlight Family Movie, roaming Christmas carollers, facepainting and g
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The Heart of Our Region The Mackay City Centre has long been recognised as the vibrant heart of the region, offering an inviting blend of local character, coastal charm and community spirit. From its warm, tropical atmosphere to its walkable streets and welcoming public spaces, the City Centre provides an experience that feels both relaxed and full of opportunity. Whether stopping in for a morning coffee, browsing boutique retailers, enjoying a treatment at a local beautician or settling i
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Redefining Skin Health In Mackay Formerly known as Alli’s Beauty, Skin Transformations has proudly served Mackay since 2012. Locally owned and operated, the clinic is celebrated for exceptional service, transformative results, and loyal client relationships. Founded by Allison Bekker—an Enrolled Nurse and Dermal Therapist with over 19 years of experience—Skin Transformations specialises in advanced Plasma Treatments. Allison is joined by Janeen Kearns, a highly accomplished Dermal Therapi
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With Roshni By Raj Mackay’s brunch scene just got a whole lot better with Roshni by Raj stepping boldly into the spotlight, serving up mornings and middays with flair and flavour. Long known for its authentic Indian cuisine, this family-owned favourite has reinvented itself as one of the premier places in the region to dine for breakfast, lunch and dinner, blending the spices of India with the classics Australians crave. Start your day with something traditional, like a Masala dosa, a warming d
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At Woodman's Axe Espresso Bar Mackay What began as a simple idea to create a space that feels like home has evolved into a hub for the Mackay community. With quality coffee, delicious food, and a welcoming environment, Woodman’s Axe Espresso Bar Mackay has attracted customers who have become familiar faces, friends, and an integral part of its daily rhythm. This atmosphere fosters what owner Jason Ha describes as a “genuine connection.” The business continually refines its craft through experi
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Fancy a Platter and a Natter? The Deli Nook has had you covered since 2019. They are not just a café, but also a deli, caterer, and event space. Offering corporate hampers and gifting, this little shop really does cover it all. With a love for Mackay, where they both grew up, owners Patrice and Simon enjoy providing their community with high-quality goods. Patrice Zarzecki explains, “We grew up in Mackay and love our community, providing them with great coffee, food and banter, hearing a
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Celebrating 80 Years of Local Expertise with Hugh Reilly Real Estate In a market where experience, consistency, and genuine care are everything, Hugh Reilly Real Estate continues to set the benchmark—80 years strong in 2025. But behind the doors of one of Mackay’s longest-standing real estate agency stands one of the region’s most trusted names in Property Management: Wendy Chatto. If you don’t have Wendy and her team looking after your investment property, it may be time to ask yourself
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Dr. Suzanne Kippen, Chiropractor From Move It Chiropractic At the backbone of health and vitality in Mackay lies a chiropractic clinic where the power of the body heals the body. At Move It Chiropractic, Dr. Suzanne Kippen and her devoted team are revolutionising healthcare, one adjustment at a time. Raised on a sugar cane farm just outside of Mackay, Dr Kippen’s interest in health and fitness grew from an early age. Inspired by personally witnessing the transformative power of chiropract
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Teresa Abela, Remedial Massage Therapist, From Move It Chiropractic For many years, remedial therapist Teresa Abela has quietly supported clients at Move It Chiropractic as one of the practice’s “best kept secrets” until recently. With more than 20 years of experience and a Diploma in Remedial Therapy, Teresa works in close collaboration with chiropractor Dr Suzanne Kippen and the clinic’s allied health providers to support pain management, mobility, and overall wellbeing. Alongside her r
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Christmas Gift Guide There’s something genuinely special about the moment Australia slides into the festive season. The days get longer, the evenings feel warmer, and suddenly the neighbourhood is dotted with twinkling lights, inflatable Santas, and the unmistakable scent of backyard barbecues. It’s the time of year when we lean into joy, connection, and (let’s be honest) the annual mission of figuring out what on earth to buy everyone for Christmas. Whether you’re hunting for something me
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Friday 28th November Crochet & Conversation 9am Drop in for a relaxed morning of crocheting, coffee and conversation with friendly Northern Beaches locals at the Beachfront Bar & Restaurant on Bucasia Esplanade. Everyone is welcome—whether you're a seasoned crocheter, a beginner, or just love a good chat over coffee. Bring your own tools or borrow from the communal box. It’s all about connection, creativity, and community. Beachfront Bar & Restaurant on Bucasia Esplanade Mega Mackay Twighlight
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By Cr Heath Paton As the wheels of progress turn in the Pioneer Valley, Finch Hatton and Eungella are gearing up for an exciting new chapter. The mountain bike project that has captured the imagination of locals and visitors alike is moving into its next stage, with council inviting the community to hear the latest updates. Council will be providing a community update on the Finch Hatton Mountain Bike Project in Finch Hatton and Eungella on Monday, December 1 from 4pm to 5pm at the Eungel
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No business wants to look back and wonder whether a different decision may have led to a stronger outcome, yet it often surfaces the moment a competitor seems to be gaining momentum. What if we’d done it differently? What if we’d challenged the ‘that’s how it’s always been done’ playbook? What if we’d taken the risk? What if we made it ours? These moments often point to a deeper issue: whether a brand is using its unique voice or simply following familiar patterns because they feel safe. A
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Up until my summer holidays a couple of years ago I didn’t know that cockatoos had quite a sweet tooth. I knew they were friendly, smart and noisy and I was aware that feeding them was a no-no but until my trip to Hamilton Island that summer I wasn’t fully aware of their sweet tooth. During that Hammo visit I also found out what happens when you leave the sliding doors open overnight to the balcony in the flash unit you have rented. We had been on Hammo for four or five days in one of those b
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As 2026 draws near, the team at Century 21 Coast to Coalfields would like to extend our warmest wishes to all our clients, friends, and community members. This year has been an incredible journey, and we want to take a moment to say thank you — to our amazing sellers, buyers, landlords, tenants, and everyone who has supported us throughout the year. Your trust and partnership have been the foundation of our success. We’re proud of what we achieved together in 2026 — it’s been a great yea
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RUNNING Congratulations to all participants in the fourth event of the Shawn’s Splash n Dash Off-Season Social Biathlon Series for 2025/2026. A big thank you goes to Jim Ford for once again coordinating the series, and to Adam Knezevic for keeping everyone cool with those all-important Zooper Doopers. Despite the very warm conditions, participants showed great awareness and paced themselves sensibly. Next Sunday marks the halfway point of the series, followed by a full break throughout D
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Held In Singapore, August 2026 Sunset Bay Outriggers have recently returned from the Aocra National Sprint Titles held on the Gold Coast, competing against Australia's best outrigger crews with age divisions ranging from U12 to over 80yrs of age, in V12, 500m, 1000m and 1500m events over 3 days. With this being a first time attendance for many of the Sunset paddlers to a National event, the nerves were on high alert but once the butterflies were gone the crews went to another level of comp
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BRIDGE Mackay Contract Bridge Results Sunday was the first week of the Novice Pairs Championships (<100 MP’s) with the same partner for both weeks. This is a Red point event. It is amazing to see so many players who only finished lessons earlier this year participate in the event. Well done to all, for your determination and love for the game. Bridge is such a wonderful game and it really gets you in. International Men’s Day was celebrated at the club last week as well. Weekly Results
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By Ruth Puddefoot Turning the final corner with only a few kilometres to go, Whitsunday’s local Liv Compton fixed her eyes on the finish line and on a victory. When she crossed first among women in the brutal Coast to Kosci ultramarathon in New South Wales, she didn’t just finish, she reached a personal milestone. Ultra running is far from ordinary. With relentless training, iron will determination, and unwavering support from her team, Liv carved her own path in the world of endurance sport, a
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Hi everyone, More than 200 people from across our community came together last Friday for a truly special occasion – the inaugural Whitsunday Business Awards, held at the Proserpine Entertainment Centre. The dress code, Hi-Vis to High-Glam, set an inspiring tone for the night and I was delighted to see such an eclectic mix on arrival: a stunning 1920s tassel dress, some very sharp shorts proudly worn by the younger attendees, and even one guest who channelled Marilyn Monroe with sass and style
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One of the greatest strengths of our region is how deeply people care about where they live. When something has the potential to change our community, you speak up - and I value that more than anything. Over the past few weeks, many of you have reached out about the proposed Mt Challenger Windfarm, and it’s clear there are genuine concerns that deserve straight answers. After speaking with locals who felt blindsided or left in the dark, I released a have your say survey through my website to ga
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Finalist At AusTriathlon Awards Coral Sea Marina Resort Airlie Beach Triathlon Festival organisers and race directors Michael and Val Kimpton will head to the Gold Coast this weekend as they await the results for the AusTriathlon Event of the Year: Under 500 Participants winner. The Coral Sea Marina Resort Airlie Beach Triathlon Festival was announced as a finalist last week and Michael and Val have been over the moon since. "This is the goal I had three years ago when we started on our journe
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