Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
It’s been a week of sizzling golf at Proserpine Golf Club, with hot temperatures and plenty of run on the fairways helping players post some impressive scores. The dry conditions were welcomed by many, though golfers know it won’t last long before the next round of rain slows things down again. Tuesday, October 28 – Single Stableford & Vets 4BBB Gary Scotford dominated Tuesday’s Single Stableford with 45 points, ahead of Tommy Gallagher on 41. Elspeth Scotford led the ladies with 38 on countbac
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How hot has it been here in paradise! Thankfully, our wonderful cover has made things much cooler for all the bowlers — though the bowling itself has been sizzling hot. Tuesday afternoon social bowls saw 14 bowlers vying for the prize. They should have realised that Tony “Take the Money” Whitehorn was playing, and teamed with Dawn Dowell, the pair won convincingly with 21 points. On Wednesday afternoon, social bowls produced another brilliant performance, with skipper Arthur McManus and Alan P
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It’s been another exciting week for the Cannonvale Cannons, with our swimmers making waves both locally and on the national stage. First up, a huge congratulations to Eloise Chegwidden, who proudly represented Queensland at the School Sport Australia Swimming Championships in Ballarat, Victoria. Despite the freezing temperatures, hail, and storms, Eloise powered through with incredible focus and determination. On Day One, she placed tenth in the country in the 100m Breaststroke and helped her
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Olympic Legend Cathy Freeman Returns Home! By Hannah McNamara Olympic legend Cathy Freeman OAM returned to Mackay last week to announce a state-of-the-art sporting facility named in her honour. “It is quite surreal,” Freeman said, celebrating the milestone as the region prepares to nurture the next generation of champions. The Cathy Freeman Sports Performance Centre, part of the Great Barrier Reef Arena’s Stage Two expansion, promises to give young athletes from Central and North Queensland a
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Hi lovely readers, What an amazing week it’s been! As you may have seen on the front cover, the legendary Cathy Freeman was in town, and I had the honour of meeting her last Thursday as she announced stage 2 of the Cathy Freeman Sports Performance Centre right here in Mackay. You can read all about it on the next page, and don’t forget to check out the pictures from the ‘Run With Cathy Freeman’ event on page 16. Last Friday, it was inspiring to see so many students from across our regio
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At The Whitsunday Wealth Enchanted Garden, Hosted By Life Publishing Group It was glitz, glam, and pure enchantment last Saturday as guests stepped into The Whitsunday Wealth Enchanted Garden, hosted by Life Publishing Group and Core Life Magazine – an evening brimming with sparkle, soul, and sophistication. Held at the breathtaking Elementa, perched high above the Whitsundays, the event lived up to its promise as “a night like no other.” Beneath a canopy of fairy lights and lanterns,
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A revolutionary blood test developed by a Mackay Hospital and Health Service (HHS) gastroenterologist is poised to transform coeliac disease, offering patients a less invasive path to diagnosis. Mackay HHS gastroenterologist and biotech co-founder and director Dr Robert Anderson said the antigen-specific T-cell blood test eliminates the need for patients to undergo a gastrointestinal endoscopy. “Potentially, you no longer have to do that,” Dr Anderson said. “You can just draw blood
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OPINION PIECE Next Tuesday, being the first Tuesday in November, the race that stops the nation will be beamed into homes and workspaces across Australia. But many won’t just be watching the horses. Mortgage holders will be eyeing the Reserve Bank’s Cup Day decision and praying for relief in the form of a rate cut. In recent months, economists have poured cold water on the chances of any more rate cuts this year, pointing to a return to higher inflation and the Labor government’s failure
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Mackay has received a major boost in youth support and community safety initiatives, with two local organisations sharing in $300,000 of funding as part of the Crisafulli Government’s Gold Standard Early Intervention program. The investment is part of a $115 million statewide initiative designed to help make Queensland safer by tackling the causes of youth crime early and supporting at-risk young people before they become entrenched in offending. Two new early intervention programs will
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Catholic Education – Diocese of Rockhampton has worked closely with the Daniel Morcombe Foundation (DMF) for approximately 20 years. From the commencement of the 2015 school year, the teaching of a Child Safety Curriculum in all Catholic kindergartens, prep, primary schools and colleges in the Diocese of Rockhampton has been mandatory. This safety curriculum is aligned with the Australian Curriculum: Health and Physical Education and consists of classroom lessons across 3 phases of learni
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Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson and Whitsunday Mayor Ry Collins have been appointed to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games Organising Committee’s Host Mayors Advisory Group, ensuring the Mackay and Whitsunday regions have a voice in shaping the legacy of the Games across Queensland. The announcement comes as one of Australia’s greatest Olympians, swimmer Ian Thorpe AM OLY, joins the Athletes and Sports Advisory Group, while seven Queensland mayors, including Mayor Williamson, officially
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East Point is set to welcome vehicles back in a carefully staged reopening by Mackay Regional Council, while keeping its delicate environment protected. Dunes Boulevard has been closed since March as work continues on the latest stage of the Dunes residential estate at Harbour Beach. The road will reopen this Friday, October 31, but vehicle access will remain restricted across the area, including the foreshore reserve. With turtle breeding season in full swing, council has created a tempo
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Growing out of the need expressed by the community for an alternative to traditional Halloween celebrations, the Light Party is an inclusive annual event, which provides community members of all backgrounds, with a positive, fun, family friendly option. This free event includes interactive games, creating and activities for the kids and food trucks, live music, all while creating a vibrant atmosphere in the city heart, at the Blue Water Quay. ‘The Light Party began as a set of family acti
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If you’re a business owner looking to sharpen your marketing knowledge or someone who’s been handed the job of marketing and feels a bit lost, support is now closer than ever. Mackay based agency Rebel Nation has relaunched The Rebellion, an online marketing and mentoring membership designed to provide practical tools and guidance, including bite-sized lessons, expert advice, regular check-ins and accountability. Delivered fully online, members can learn at their own pace while still ben
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Regional Development Australia Greater Whitsundays (RDA GW), with support from the Local Buying Foundation (LBF), has opened applications for the 2026 Bowen Basin Women in Leadership program, dedicated to empowering women across the Isaac region. The Women in Leadership program supports women in the Isaac region who are aspiring workplace or community leaders, providing access to workshops, mentoring and skill development sessions, aimed at building leadership capabilities and workplace c
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In true tropical style, Mackay has come out on top once again, officially ranked #1 in Australia for work-life balance, proving that our corner of Queensland is more than just paradise; it’s the perfect blend of career, community, and coastline. The national research by Remitly crowned Mackay as the leader with an impressive work-life balance score of 8.42 out of 10, edging out Ballarat, Victoria (7.55) and Hobart, Tasmania (7.44) for the top three spots. The study highlighted Mackay’s a
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You're Invited! Seniors across the Northern Beaches are invited to enjoy a morning of music, friendship, and celebration at the Seniors Music & Morning Tea event on Friday, 7 November, from 10am to 12pm at the Northern Beaches Community Hall, 24 Wallace Street, Bucasia. Guests will be treated to the soothing sounds of harpist Kathleen Campbell, alongside a relaxed morning tea, providing a chance to connect with new and familiar faces. The event marks the joyful finale to Seniors Month, a time
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Simon Hood Wilmar Manager Grower Marketing Recently, we released the first edition of this season’s comparative analysis for growers. This year’s analysis takes a slightly different focus, offering valuable insights into the strategies growers use to manage their GEI price exposure. Typically, growers who choose to market with Wilmar Grower Marketing use the Target Price and GMPRS pricing mechanisms, which give them maximum control over their final price outcomes. This year’s report analyses
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A new initiative is urging Queensland businesses to take biosecurity as seriously as other critical risks, with the Queensland Farmers’ Federation (QFF) and Biosecurity Queensland leading the charge. Biosecurity in the Boardroom highlights the growing threat of biosecurity incursions across all sectors of the economy, not just agriculture. With risks forecast to quadruple over the next decade, organisers say businesses of all kinds need to act now to protect supply chains, reputations, an
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Grazing Forum And Field Day Delivers Big Learnings For Whitsundays Graziers For the first time in its 12-year history, the Reef Catchments Grazing Forum and Field Day were held in the Whitsundays - and it was a resounding success. Over two days, graziers, ag professionals and community members came together to share knowledge, explore innovation, and strengthen connections across the region. The event, delivered by Reef Catchments’ Sustainable Agriculture team, highlighted the importance
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By Cr Ash-Lee Johnson Since being elected, one of the greatest realisations I have had is just how strong and generous the community spirit is across our region. We are home to a remarkable network of community groups and volunteers who quietly go the extra mile week after week, simply because they care about people and want to make a difference. Among them, the Country Women’s Association stands out as a powerful example of what community connection truly looks like. The Country Women’s
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Why Group Fitness Builds More Than Strength By Michael James – Fitness Industry Professional, Facility Owner & Wellness Coach When most people think of going to the gym, they imagine lifting weights or working alone on a treadmill. But some of the most powerful results don’t come from solo sessions — they come from training together. At Fitness Cartel Mackay, our vision is to create a community where group training is more than just exercise; it’s connection, motivation, and joy rolled into one
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What began as one woman’s simple act of kindness has grown into a lifeline for lost and abandoned animals across Mackay. When local animal lover Taylah Kolaric first bought a microchip scanner online, she simply wanted to help reunite lost dogs with their families. “I was always seeing lost dog posts on Facebook and it was concerning to me how much pound fees were,” she said. “So, I volunteered on community pages to scan dogs if someone could hold them. That way, I could call the owners
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Aussie music legend, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Rick Price is set to hit the Mackay stage, not only to deliver an unforgettable night of live music, but also to lend his support to local domestic violence charity Broken Ballerina Inc. Price will perform at Souths Leagues Club on Wednesday, November 6 at 7pm as part of his Tamborine Mountain 30th Anniversary Tour, celebrating three decades since the release of his iconic album. A portion of every ticket sold will go direct
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Mackay Apartment Owners Hit With Costly Repair Bills Mackay townhouse and apartment owners are being urged to understand strata law, as disputes over who pays for repairs and upgrades are leaving some with surprise bills in the tens of thousands. From roof repairs to storm damage, owners are finding that costs they assumed were covered by the body corporate can fall to them. “Disputes over levies, unexpected bills, or delayed repairs are becoming more common in strata communities,” said A
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