Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
Mackay’s Orchid Extravaganza is set to delight garden enthusiasts and plant lovers alike on Saturday, September 14. Hosted at the Ken Burgess Orchid House at Queens Park from 8am to 3pm, this annual event will showcase hundreds of stunning orchids. There will also be a range of activities for attendees to enjoy, including informative demonstrations by orchid and collectible plant experts and the opportunity to purchase unique orchids and plants. Best of all, entry to the Mackay Orchid Extravagan
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Opinion Piece Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox says the zero emissions ideology of the Labor, Greens and Teals has local business like Blue River Ice at boiling point because of power price hikes. “When power bills skyrocket from $10,000 per month to $25,000 per month – I am not a mathematician, but I sure know you can’t pass this onto consumers and businesses can’t absorb this hike,” Mr Willcox said. Owner of Blue River Ice, Francis Vigliante does not know what the future will hold.
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Federal Member for Dawson, Andrew Willcox, is demanding immediate action from the state and federal governments to fix the Bruce Highway as safety concerns pile up. “According to RACQ data, head-on crashes account for 50 per cent of fatalities on the Bruce Highway, and motorists are five times more likely to be injured or killed while travelling the Bruce than they are if they were travelling from Sydney to Melbourne,” Mr Willcox said. “It is deeply concerning that these statistics are being
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By Amanda Wright Last Friday, Mackay’s beloved Touch of Teal soirée took on a picturesque form as a Long Lunch by the Sea, bringing the community together in honour of a cause close to many hearts. The event, which sold out in just two weeks, raised vital funds for the Trudy Crowley Foundation, ensuring the continuation of its vital work supporting local cancer patients and their families. The foundation, named after Mackay local Trudy Crowley, who sadly lost her courageous battle with ovarian c
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A HONDA CRV will help deliver the Neighbourhood Hub’s Community Services Program in Mackay. The vehicle is on loan to the organisation for 12 months as part of the Honda Hero Foundation for use in its community service programs. General manager Nicolette Ffrost said the organisation was incredibly grateful for this generous loan vehicle. “It will greatly enhance our ability to serve the community and ensure that we can reach those in need more efficiently. This support is invaluable to our visi
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The Neighbourhood Hub was honoured as the Highly Commended recipient of the Multicultural Queensland Awards 2024, Diversity and Inclusion Champion in Brisbane. Based in George St and Shakespeare St, The Neighbourhood Hub has been operating since 1989 and is the largest locally owned community organisation in Mackay, with 19 staff and 35 volunteers. Along with multicultural advice, it provides information and referral to all who need support. The award recognises an organisation which has gone
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Back by popular demand, council’s Discover Mackay Treasure Trail is getting ready to hoist sails this weekend. After a successful launch last year and more than 1000 entry forms received, the campaign encourages residents to explore the hidden gems in their own backyard. Mayor Greg Williamson said the 2023 treasure trail received rave reviews, with many asking to weigh anchor again in 2024. “This year’s treasure trail will have all new locations and even more challenging clues to solve,” Mayo
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More than $6.2 million in manufacturing grants delivering 22 projects across Mackay were announced by the state government earlier this month, when Manufacturing Minister, Glenn Butcher, launched Queensland’s second Manufacturing Month at Mackay manufacturer, High Amp Maintenance. The month-long celebration showcases the achievements of the state’s incredible manufacturing industry which contributes around $20 billion a year to Queensland’s economy and employs around 180,000 Queenslanders. Le
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Just in time for the September school holidays, the Bluewater Lagoon is set to reopen on Saturday, September 14. The facility has been closed for significant upgrade work over the winter maintenance period. The existing surface of the main and top lagoons has been replaced with a new Polyvinyl Chloride membrane system that will reduce maintenance requirements at the facility. This work now completes the significant relining project that was undertaken over the last two years and involved relin
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A private hospital’s development application has been officially lodged with the Mackay Regional Council this month, marking a significant step towards enhancing local healthcare. Poised to provide a much-needed boost to the city’s healthcare system, Riverside Hospital will be a 60-bed short-stay private Hospital providing in-demand specialist healthcare led by experienced senior clinicians from Mackay. Its developers say that Riverside Hospital, being situated adjacent to the Mackay Base Hosp
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This week Season to date Cane crushed 59,200 486,007 Average bin weight 3.94 3.87 CCS 14.45 13.42 Cane variety performance for region Variety % CCS Variety % CCS Q183 24.9 14.77 Q253 14.7 14.17 Q240 11.6 14.38 Q138 3.3 13.62 Q208 17.5 14.87 SRA9 11.9 14.18 KQ228 5.8 13.95 Q238 2.0 14.08 Comments: Plane Creek Mill processed about 59,000 tonnes of cane for the week, bringing the season total to just over 486,000 tonnes. Average CCS rose by 0.36 of a unit over the previous week, closing out at 14.4
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Queensland Cane Agriculture and Renewables (QCAR) has expanded its growers’ services footprint in the Burdekin and Herbert River regions with the engagement of three new employees last week. Burdekin local Angelo Licciardello and Herbert Rivers’ Lawrence Di Bella were both appointed this week as the new Burdekin and Herbert River District Managers respectively. Anna Di Bella, wife to Lawrence, also was appointed as Administration Officer in the Herbert River cane supply area. QCAR CEO Stephen
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Wilmar Sugar and Renewables employees will have an opportunity to vote on a new, three-year enterprise agreement that includes an upfront $2,500 and total wage rises of 16%. The first two wage increases, totalling 12%, would be paid by Christmas this year. If the offer is accepted,1,300 Wilmar employees covered by the EA will receive an 8% increase in their first full pay after the ballot, another 4% in December this year, and a further 4% increase in December next year. The $2,500 bonus would
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The Brazil crush continues to power along and is currently around 60% complete. UNICA’s second half of July report indicated that while year to date the crush was ahead, the fortnightly cane crush is now below last year’s comparative volume. As each month passes, the focus on the UNICA reports intensify as analysts dissect the results to see if their projected sugar volume is still valid – or not. Cane crushed is a key variable and accumulated volumes remain over 5% ahead of last year. What UN
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Get ready for what I’m about to say, because it’s going to blow your mind. Maybe grab a coffee and get comfy. In a few hours I’ll be flying to NSW to run the Sydney Marathon again, but more on that soon. Right now, I want to talk about a Mackay bloke who has just done something spectacular on the other side of the world, and he’s done it with grace and dignity. Heard of a fit man called Paul MacKenzie before? He’s an electrician who loves to run and get outdoors. Or should that be a bloke who
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By Kevin Borg, Chairman, CANEGROWERS Mackay There has been plenty said about Sugar Research Australia's decision to supply clean plant source to a fledgling Indonesian cane growing industry. At first glance many people have seen the potential negatives in this decision, in that an Australian research organisation is assisting an emerging market competitor with Australian-developed varieties. Growers and millers pay compulsory levies to Sugar Research Australia (SRA), with co-funding coming from
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Real estate commentators are suggesting the traditional spring selling season might not be as good as usual for vendors in the big southern markets such as Sydney and Melbourne. There is a fair degree of economic uncertainty relating to a possible recession and the feeling is that in those high-priced capitals there might be an impact on real estate over the coming months. Higher interest rates are tied up in all this and they have limited the borrowing power of many buyers. The informative on-l
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Rail freight business Aurizon has officially partnered with Mackay Regional Council to deliver a native revegetation project at Koumala on 118-hectares of land. The site, previously impacted by land clearing and grazing, will now undergo restoration efforts to rejuvenate the native environment. Reforestation has involved the planting of 59,000 native seedlings, comprised of a mixture of species found in the Hatfield and Connor Ranges, sourced from Mackay Regional Council’s nursery. Adjoining t
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Taking the leap into homeownership is a significant milestone, and with the right preparation, it can be a smooth journey. Here’s a quick guide to help you get started. Begin by doing your homework. Various Government benefits, such as first homeowner grants and stamp duty rebates, can make buying your first home more affordable. Community Bank Sarina Bendigo Bank can assist you in navigating the process, by helping you calculate how much you can borrow and explaining the different loan options
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Cheeky Little Monkeys, the playful brainchild of local mum-of-five Lisa Versaci, has swung to the top of Mackay’s business scene, recently claiming the Mackay Region Chamber of Commerce Best in Business Award for the Next Big Thing (New Business). With a focus on creating a safe, fun-filled jungle for children and a much-needed break for parents, Cheeky Little Monkeys has quickly become a favourite among local families looking for an easy and enjoyable place for their little ones to monkey aroun
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In just 18 months of operation, Habitude has made remarkable strides in the Mackay region, after winning two significant titles at the Mackay Region Chamber of Commerce Best in Business Awards. The innovative company, founded by Dr. Suzanne Francisco, is already being recognised for its transformative impact on behaviour change across a broad spectrum of services. Much to her pleasant surprise, Dr Francisco, Owner and CEO of Habitude, took home the ‘Mover of Mountains’ award and said, “It was
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The Mackay Region Chamber of Commerce celebrated the highly anticipated Best in Business Awards on Thursday, 29th August, with a dazzling evening of recognition and celebration at the Mackay Masonic Hall. After nearly 15 years without a dedicated awards night for local Chamber businesses, over 150 attendees gathered for a sold-out event, proving that the appetite for recognising business excellence is alive and well in Mackay. The event kicked off with red carpet arrivals captured at The Dispens
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Porters Mitre 10 has been honoured with the Legacy Legends Award at the Mackay Region Chamber of Commerce Best in Business Awards, a testament to its century-long impact on the local community. Recognised for its exceptional blend of tradition and innovation, this award celebrates Porters' transformation from a pioneering construction firm into a modern hub of retail and manufacturing excellence, all while maintaining its deep-rooted commitment to the Mackay region. Founded in 1883 by Charles Po
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The excellent craftsmanship and impeccable standards Master Builders are renowned for were visible in the work of every winner at the 2024 Mackay & Whitsunday Housing & Construction Awards. Fergus Builders took out an incredible eight awards – the highest number for one builder so far this season. The team won both the highly-regarded McInnes Wilson Lawyers Project of the Year Award and Education Facilities over $10 million for the world-class Whitsunday Anglican School – STEAM Centre – a first
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At the 2024 Master Builders Mackay & Whitsunday Housing & Construction Awards, Fergus Builders took home an impressive eight awards, emerging as the only builder in Queensland to receive this many accolades at a Master Builders awards evening. Fergus Builders' success at the awards was recognised due to their remarkable work on the Whitsunday Anglican School STEAM Centre, which earned them the prestigious McInnes Wilson Lawyers Project of the Year Award. Director and Construction Manager of F
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