Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
Michael and Val Kimpton, originally from Melbourne, have quickly become familiar faces and community champions in Airlie Beach. After successfully helping to revive the Airlie Beach Triathlon, the pair have turned their energy toward another cause, securing a Mobile Blood Bank for the Whitsundays. In the 1970s, Michael received a life-saving blood transfusion after a serious accident, an experience that continues to inspire his passion for helping others. Proserpine Hospital currently relies
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The Whitsundays is set to benefit from a boost in social and affordable housing, with the State Government announcing dozens of new homes now underway or under contract across the region. The initiative aims to support local families and individuals struggling to secure housing, ensuring more residents have access to safe, stable and affordable places to call home. In the region, 30 new social homes are planned for Proserpine, 32 for Bowen, and 11 affordable homes for Moranbah. This is all part
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Last Friday the Whitsunday Suicide Prevention Network (WSPN) hosted their biggest Monthly Brekky in front of nearly 70 people. The monthly breakfast held out the front of Shirtfront Solutions and Enzed Whitsundays has been growing every time and President of WSPN Matt Stokes said these breakfasts are a fantastic way to promote conversations amongst mates. "It's great to see the numbers increasing and I'd like to see it even bigger than this. So keep inviting your mates!" he said. "Suicide pre
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The Story of Cec Mazlin Few Australian soldiers fought in Europe in World War 2 however the RAAF, including thousands of Australians who were posted to RAF squadrons, made a significant contribution to the bombing of Germany and patrolling of allied shipping in the Atlantic. The air war in the European theatre claimed the lives of 5488 RAAF airmen. One of those who was fortunate to return home was Flying Officer Cecil Graham Mazlin 018007 (434989) whose flying logbook was recently loaned to the
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The Brisbane Broncos started their Trophy Tour this week, starting in Brisbane, travelling up to Cainrs, down the coast and throughout Queensland. On Thursday 13th November the team will stop in Bowen, ex local and now Broncos player Corey Jensen will be dropping in to town. Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor Ry Collins took to Facebook to announce the news, he is under the impression the Brisbane Broncos will be dropping in to a handful of local schools, and will be stopping at Bowen Seagulls
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Founded in early 2024, Compass Realty Whitsundays is a boutique real estate agency dedicated to providing a personalised, transparent, and grounded approach to property sales, appraisals, and auctions. Owner and operator Kath Barker brings nearly two decades of experience in business, construction, property, and real estate. Kath launched Compass Realty to fill a gap in the market for a more human-centred service — one that supports clients through life-changing property decisions with care and
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The Hinchinbrook Festival of Events is entering week 3 of the event calendar, and the organisers are extremely pleased with the attendance and participation at the many events and celebrations delivered to date. The overwhelming and ongoing support from the local and visitor community has exceeded the organisers' expectations. Data recorded to date from each event indicates the majority of the ticketed events have been sell-outs, with the “free to enter” events exceeding previous attendance num
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Building Our Whitsunday Legacy The Whitsundays continues to make its mark on the State stage, with myself and CEO Warren Bunker front and centre at the Community Cabinet meeting in Mackay last Sunday where we presented our region’s priorities directly to the Premier, Deputy Premier and key Ministers. We’re a region on the move, and I’m proud to see the Whitsundays recognised as one of Queensland’s fastest-growing and most forward-thinking communities. We’re not waiting for the future, we’re ge
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Next week is National Recycling Week (10-16 November), and we’re celebrating with some exciting events for our youngest recyclers! Join us for a special recycling theme story time and a visit from the yellow recycling truck at the following locations: Bowen Library: 10am, Tuesday 11 November 2025 Cannonvale Library: 10am, Thursday 13 November 2025 Bring your mini recyclers and join in as we learn about recycling in a fun, hands-on way! Thanks to JJ’s Waste and Recycling for helping to delive
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Belle Property Whitsunday celebrated the grand opening of its new central office in Cannonvale over the weekend, marking an exciting new chapter for the real estate team. The black-tie event was an exclusive affair, welcoming staff and valued clients to experience the brand-new, purpose-built premises for the first time. Guests enjoyed sunset drinks while exploring the stylish new office, which features a sleek, contemporary design that captures the professionalism and prestige of the Belle Pro
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The festive season has officially arrived at News Whitsunday, where owner Rich Bates and his team have once again transformed the store into a Christmas wonderland. Now in their fourth year of returning Christmas memorabilia Rich said excitement continues to build as locals return each season to see what new decorations are on offer. "We get a lot of custom made stuff for us, and we try and get different ones every year, just so the locals can get different ones," he said. “This year we’ve go
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The Ultimate Music Holiday Is Here! The countdown is officially over the Airlie Beach Festival of Music is set to transform Airlie Beach into Australia’s most spectacular music playground. With venues across town polishing their stages and the Main Tent standing proudly against the Coral Sea, anticipation for the four-day music extravaganza is reaching fever pitch. This year’s lineup features a phenomenal mix of Australian legends, powerhouse performers, and exciting new talent, all set agains
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After several months performing across Europe, Melbourne singer-songwriter Tanya George is heading home to play at this year’s Airlie Beach Festival of Music. Tanya said the past few months have been a dream come true after being flown to Italy in July to perform at the Roma Busking Festival. Since then, Tanya said she has been touring Europe, with large crowds welcoming her and making her feel immensely proud of how far her music can reach. Tanya George was a finalist on The Voice and has wo
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Tucked inside the Whitsunday Shopping Centre, Tranquil Breeze Massage has been helping locals and visitors unwind since new owners Angela and Grant opened their doors on September 17. Angela says the business has quickly developed a roster of loyal customers, thanks to its convenient location and calming atmosphere. “There’s lots of foot traffic going past, and it’s great to see people stop in to relax,” she said. Originally from Taiwan, Angela and her family moved to Australia in 2019, drawn
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By Sharon Ashman ADHD can bring unique strengths to relationships such as creativity, energy, and spontaneity but it can also create challenges. Forgetfulness, distractibility, or impulsivity may sometimes cause tension with partners, friends, or family. The good news is that with awareness and strategies, relationships can thrive. Open communication is key. Letting loved ones know how ADHD affects you builds understanding. Equally important is listening to their experiences, so everyone feels
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Now in its 21st year, one of the Whitsundays’ most beloved charitable events, Camp and sCare, once again brought families together for a frightfully fun weekend — all in support of a vital local cause. Held at BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort, the sell-out event raised an impressive $14,036.69 for Whitsunday Suicide Prevention, with 100% of proceeds from Friday night campsite bookings and activity donations going directly toward local mental health awareness and support initiatives. Guests emb
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Friday 7 November Airlie Beach Hotel: INXS Tribute (from 2pm - 5.30pm) Airlie Beach Hotel: Soul Chisel (7pm - 10pm) Grand View Hotel: Three's a Crowd (from 8pm) Horseshoe Bay Cafe: Sam Bannick (5.30pm - 8.30pm) Sorrento: Airlie Beach Festival of Music Events Club Whitsunday: Airlie Beach Festival of Music Events Colonial Palms Motor Inn: Airlie Beach Festival of Music Events Elementa: Airlie Beach Festival of Music Events KC's: Airlie Beach Festival of Music Events Saturday 8 November Airlie Be
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November 7 Airlie Beach Festival of Music (day one), Whitsunday Sailing Club, 3pm 7 Rango followed by Drop Dead Fred, The Movie Screen at Airlie Beach Foreshore in Coconut Grove, 6:00pm 8 Airlie Beach Festival of Music (day two), Whitsunday Sailing Club, 4pm 9 Bowen Community Markets, Hansen Park, from 8:00am 9 Airlie Beach Festival of Music (day three), Whitsunday Sailing Club, 1pm 10 Airlie Beach Festival of Music After Party, Northerlies Beach Bar & Grill, 1pm **11 Remembrance Day **
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Meet Max, a big, beautiful boy with a gentle heart who’s waiting for a second chance at happiness. This large mixed-breed dog is currently in the care of Bowen & Collinsville Pet Rescue Inc. (BCPRI) and is searching for a dedicated foster carer to help him rebuild trust and find his forever home. Despite his impressive size, Max is known for his soft, loving nature. He’s well-behaved, good around other dogs, and eager to please — especially when treats are involved! Max thrives on companionship
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U11 Boys – Written by Luke Valmadre The Pitbulls hosted Magpies Black on Saturday. Captain Logan won the toss and batted first, with N. Garroway smashing a rapid 21 to help post 66. Despite tight bowling from J. Gibbs, J. Smith, and strong fielding including four runouts, the Magpies chased down the total with 118. Player of the Match went to Nick Garroway for his batting and bowling. U11 Girls – Written by Danni Green The Pitties in Pink faced the Sarina Spartans. Batting first, M. Neal and G.
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Australian music legend Andrew De Silva is bringing two powerhouse tribute shows to Airlie Beach this weekend, celebrating the music of Prince and George Michael with all the style, soul, and groove of the originals. Dedication to Prince has been one of Andrew’s signature performances since 2016, coincidentally debuting just three weeks before the music icon’s passing. For Andrew, Prince’s influence runs deep. “Prince has always been in my DNA when it comes to music,” he said. “The way he mix
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Hi everyone, I hope you’re all enjoying our new Great Barrier Reef–inspired rebrand, which so many of our team helped bring to life! I don’t know about you, but this heat has me wanting to stay indoors. While we’re keeping cool, things are heating up underwater as coral spawning season begins. Enjoy reading about the wonders of coral in this edition. We’ve also included a great octopus story from the fantastic Whitsunday Conservation Council. Happy reading, Ruth
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A few nights after the full moon, something begins to spawn...and no, we don’t mean werewolves! It’s coral spawning season. This weekend, corals across the Great Barrier Reef will release their reproductive bundles into the water column in a spectacular, synchronised event. For the Reef Catchments team, it’s one of the busiest and most exciting times of the year. As a partner in the Boats4Corals project, Reef Catchments works alongside the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), local to
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What has three hearts, a big brain, and blue blood? The octopus, of course! These bizarre yet brilliant creatures have been around for hundreds of millions of years. For humans, they’ve inspired emotions ranging from curiosity to admiration — and even fear, thanks to their starring roles in Hollywood monster flicks. Belonging to the class Cephalopoda, octopuses are easily recognised by their soft, flexible bodies, large heads, and eight long tentacles lined with powerful suckers. They are com
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A brief shower early in the morning had players wondering whether the 4BBB Team of Two event would go ahead, but common sense prevailed and all sixteen teams took to the course. Conditions soon cleared, and the competition produced excellent scoring, with just ten points separating first and last place. Leading the way were Tessa Aitken and Mark Richards, who claimed victory with a superb 47 points. Runners-up were Jim Sherrington and Vic Feldman on 45 points, edging out Gary and Elspeth Scotf
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