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The 2025 BMA River 2 Reef Ride Youth Art Competition is set to shine a spotlight on the incredible talent of high school students across the Mackay, Whitsunday, and Isaac regions. With last year’s winning design worn by over 500 cyclists, anticipation is building to see which school will take out the top prize this year.
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The next wave of female leaders will be empowered to chart their own course through a new partnership between North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation (NQBP) and Regional Development Australia Greater Whitsunday (RDA GW).
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Australia’s leading and emerging artists' book makers will once again vie for Artspace Mackay’s prestigious Libris Awards: The Australian Artists' Book Prize.Held every two years, the Libris Awards bring together works by leading and emerging artists' book makers from across the country.
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It has been a challenging time across our growing communities, with every region affected to various degrees by the recent rain event.The Herbert region obviously bore the brunt of it with extensive flood damage, lengthy power outages, communication issues and prolonged supply issues.
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Community Bank Sarina Bendigo Bank has pledged $20,000 to the Bendigo Bank North Queensland Flood Appeal, providing vital support to communities devastated by recent flooding.
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U3A (University of the Third Age) exists to provide a fun and inclusive community delivering lifestyle and learning activities to enrich the lives of seniors no longer working full-time. It is a worldwide organisation promoting learning for personal enjoyment and satisfaction, offering seniors the opportunity to explore new interests and share knowledge and skills.
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Mackay’s softball scene is witnessing some incredible talent on the international stage, after local athletes Evie Grace and Miley Barrow recently headed to Wellington, New Zealand as Junior Pathway Players.
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Proud Mackay brothers Sean and Silvan Aban are preparing for an extra special moment this December as they celebrate their university graduation…together!With a shared passion for healthcare and a drive to support their regional community, the Aban brothers have been on parallel paths towards their dreams. Silvan, in his sixth year of medicine, has been a guiding mentor to younger students while completing his final years of study back home in Mackay.
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The Project Launch at the Mackay Surf Lifesaving Club on February 10th drew around 65 passionate supporters for the Pine Islet Lighthouse Preservation Society's (PILPS) restoration project. Former Pine Islet residents reunited, with guest speaker and former lighthouse keeper Darrel Roche sharing his unique experiences.
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“Propulsive and Engaging” are the choice words used to describe the spectacular debut novel, Daughters of the Fatherland, penned by Mackay local Jericho J Johnson. This gripping historical fiction story transports readers to World War II Europe, uncovering the harrowing yet often overlooked experiences of Romani families under Nazi rule.
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Big plans for the region arise as tourism operators and stakeholders from Mackay and the Whitsundays come together to shape the region’s future, contributing “dozens” of ideas and feedback towards a bold 20-year master plan.
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St Patrick’s College Mackay celebrated some of Mackay's highest achievers last Thursday with their Investiture Mass, resulting in a wonderful presentation at the MECC, that welcomed the College’s newest student leaders and recognised the remarkable achievements of the 2024 bursary recipients.
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Fresh starts and friendly smiles are what Drug ARM aims to offer in their all-new office on Victoria Street. The move into a larger space at 45 Victoria Street means that the support service can now host regular free alcohol and other drug information sessions for families on site.
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“Everyone in Mackay deserves access to quality legal services,” said Member for Mackay, Nigel Dalton last Wednesday, after recently welcoming the Attorney General’s $6.1 million announcement in State and Commonwealth funding for Mackay Regional Community Legal Centre Inc.
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Hot on the heels of a sold-out event in 2024, organisers of this year’s BMA Mackay Marina Run are encouraging runners to secure their place early.The 2024 run saw a total of 3,646 runners participate in the event with all race categories sold out prior to the run.
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Sunset Bay Outrigger Canoe Club is gearing up for the 2025 North Queensland Zone season, with returning President Belinda Quakawoot and new Secretary Renee Martin leading the charge.
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The first Resource Industry Network Industry Briefing of 2025 was nothing short of exceptional, despite a few rainy hiccups and ongoing Harrup Park renovations. The energy was palpable, with a buzzing turnout that made for a vibrant and engaging atmosphere among like-minded mining professionals across Central Queensland.
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Reef Catchments is working together with local partners to assist in the vegetation management of the southern end of Harbour Beach in a joint effort to stabilise the sand dunes and restore vital coastal ecosystems. This initiative, is proudly funded through the Queensland Government’s Threatened Species Recovery Action Grants program, focusing on habitat restoration and protection for endangered flora and fauna in the region, which includes our endangered migratory shorebirds and sea turtles.
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The Just Saying Project Women’s Awards 2025 will be held on Saturday 29 March and celebrates the magic makers in the Greater Whitsunday Region.There are six categories, nominees were picked by the public and the event is an amazing fun filled night showcasing women in the community.The Keynote Storyteller this year is Jane Tara, author of the hit book ‘Tilda is Visible’.
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CANEGROWERS welcomes the State and Federal Governments’ joint decision to allow disaster recovery grants to cover replanting costs – calling it a major win for growers.
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At just 14 years old, Alexis Versaci is already making a significant impact in her community while pursuing her dreams. This year, she’s set to compete for two beauty pageant titles on the Gold Coast in October, and she’s not just walking the runway—she’s walking the talk when it comes to giving back.
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Confidence is a key and powerful quality that impacts both our personal and professional lives.While there are many definitions, a common aspect is that confidence is a belief in oneself, the conviction that you have the ability to meet life’s challenges and to succeed and act accordingly. The add on is that being confident requires a realistic assessment of our capabilities.
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QCAR is moving at its usual rapid pace on the QCAR integration with the Australian Cane Farmers Association (ACFA) front.As we have been saying, this is bringing two pro-active organisations who are, and will continue to, deliver a powerful and passionate voice for representation and advocacy for all sugarcane farmers and their industry.
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Yvette Morgan is a beautiful and brave Bowen-based mum who is running out of time with her family and we are in a position to help her. Yvette is a cherished mother of three, a much-loved teaching assistant and a valued member of the Merinda community, who has been diagnosed with aggressive, stage 4 cancer. Her close friend, Carla Adams, has organised a GoFundMe to help the family and anything we can give counts towards more time for Yvette.
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Hello wonderful readers!You may have seen my name popping up in the paper or noticed me running about Airlie Beach, Bowen and Proserpine over past month, so it’s about time I properly said hello and a big thank you for welcoming me to the wonderful (and wet) Whitsundays.
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