Issue #

Bags Of Goodies Help Those In Need

For the past 15 weeks a group of work mates have been collecting a variety of Christmas themed food items to create 25 gift bundles for local families ‘doing it tough’ this year.

Chamber Chat

A busy couple of weeks to launch us well into December. The Division 2 election has been held and with the result too close to call, it is going down to the wire. It looks so close, that recounts are expected to be requested.

New Coach Starts At Proserpine Golf Club

Our local golf club is expanding its services following the start of a successful training period of a new golf coach who says he is excited to help increase the range of golfing opportunities available at the Proserpine Golf Course.

Hillery Group Named State Finalist

One of Bowen’s largest independently owned companies has been named as a finalist in the Telstra Best of Business Awards, beating over 20,000 other applicants to become among the top 250 in the state.

Parnell’s Celebrates First Year As Part Of The Stratco Family

Celebrating over 75 years in the area, this third-generation family business has seen significant change in 2022 since joining the Stratco Group 12 months ago. Parnell’s unique local experience is now backed by one of the largest producers and marketers of quality building products in Australia.

Whitsunday Green Club Is Growing!

Airlie Beach’s only Par 3 Golf Course and Club is rapidly expanding with construction works now well underway.Works at Whitsunday Green Golf Club are steaming ahead including a new, larger Clubhouse and corporate facility followed by plans for an over 50’s Lifestyle Village, new residential subdivision, a motel and expanded golf all progressing steadily behind the scenes.

Using Less To Grow More

Meet This Years’ Starfish Reef Guardian Superheroes

Last week a Bowen kindergarten group was recognised for their efforts in raising awareness for important environmental issues such as preventing boat strikes on turtles, ensuring litter does not wash down drains and eradicating ghost nets from oceans.

KITCHEN GARDENS With Norina Jane Whitpro

Here in the tropics, we are privileged to have a variety of fruit that makes us the envy of southerners. Passion fruit and dragon fruit (on my favourite list) can be grown in small gardens. Lychee trees which are fruiting their hearts out at the moment, can be grown in a normal house block, along with lemons, grapefruit, avocados and limes. Mango season is also upon us but remember these trees can grow very big and they are the most common fruit trees that our Arborists are called in to prune

Holidays Are For Golfing

The best thing about golf is this: You can always improve your game.It’s you and the club, the wind, the green, and the open air. And at Christmas, the weeks roll out ahead of you – there’s free time to work on the gamut of golf’s disciplines: your drive, your putt, anything and everything.

Santa Did The Rounds At Bowen Street Party

Bowen’s Christmas Street Party was an overwhelming success earlier this month with over 1,000 people filling the town and local shops with festive cheer.Santa entertained the crowd and live music created a party atmosphere while dozens of market stalls lined the streets inviting passers-by to try their hand at a game or purchase a product.

Christmas Time Is Pool Time

The holiday season in Australia is inseparable with warm weather, especially in North Queensland – and where better to beat the heat and cool down during Christmas than the pool?

Saturday Night at the Movies: The Eldorado Theatre

On December 16, 1922, 100 years ago to this day, the Proserpine public were treated to the opening of the Eldorado Theatre. Described by the “Proserpine Guardian” as a “picture palace”, it was to provide enjoyment for residents for over six decades before closing its doors on December 8, 1984. The last movie shown was “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom”.

Busking Brilliance

Airlie Beach local Noah Robertson continued his rise to fame with a winning performance amongst the country’s best busking talent in the finals of the 10th annual Australian National Busking Championships in Cooma, New South Wales.

Whitsunday Poetry: All The Fun Of The Faire

Whitsunday Life newspaper is endeavoring to give a voice to the region’s writers in this new, recurring poetry section which will publish original works of up to 40 lines. In this first edition of Whitsunday Poetry, Whitsunday Life journalist Declan Durrant shares one of his own poems to “get the ball rolling”.

Whitsunday Writer’s Festival Back in 2024

A small group of passionate writers gathered for an informal meeting last week and the subject of conversation was centred around reinstating the Whitsunday Writer’s Festival. First established in 2010 and taking place annually until 2017, the Whitsunday Writers Festival was a popular event for lovers of reading, writing books, and words.

Proserpine Community Christmas Markets

Images: Declan Durrant

Tango In The Night On New Year’s Eve

Rumours? This ain’t no ‘Second Hand News’. Not someone’s ‘Dreams’. No, you’re hearing that magic, midnight music right: The Airlie Beach Hotel is bringing back one of its biggest shows in an epic New Year’s Eve extravaganza.

Punk Passion And Vitriol Comes To Airlie

Brisbane’s punk band of the moment is making its way down the Bruce Highway, flipping off North Queenslanders by the truckload in performances across the state for their newest album tour for ‘Real Rare Whale’.

Movie Review: Avatar: The Way Of Water

James Cameron’s Avatar: The Way of Water was, amongst what became a turning tide of popular opinion over the past 13 years, an unwelcome sequel. Audiences would certainly have eaten up a return to Pandora in, maybe, 2011. But after more than a decade, they weren’t begging for a new Avatar - but JC still thought he should deliver.

Airlie Beach Bowls

Another year draws to a close at the ever-evolving Airlie Beach Bowls Club with few games left on the green for 2022.Wednesday afternoon Social Bowls saw the pairs team of Graham Cowling and Andrew Butler take home the prize, with Betty Nicole winning the prestigious Health Hub award.

Bowen Bowls Club

Bowen Bowls Club was host to an excellent contingent of bowlers this week, starting with its Wednesday Social Bowls.Mary Ellen Pratten, Peter Bruce, and Daryl Tuttle were first to join the winners’ circle, defeating the side of Peter Thomson, Allen Williams, and Doc Fordham.

Wangaratta Bowls

Tuesday’s game at Wangaratta Bowls Club resulted in a win for Penny Warren and Bron Tolcher who defeated Robyn Stitt and Irene Laird. On Sunday afternoon, two triples and one pairs were played with winners for the afternoon Deb Retchless, Linda Scells, and John Turner who defeated Gary Kelly, Penny Warren, and Pat Tracey.

Bowen Golf News

Wednesday’s competition at Bowen Golf Club was the single stroke event for the December midweek monthly medal. Ladies’ winner on a countback with a score of 71 nett was Gayle, followed by runner up Julie Martin, 71 nett. Men’s winner was Kurt Gaudry with a 64 nett, and runner up was David Carus, 69 nett.

Proserpine Golf Report

Tuesday’s Competition at Proserpine Golf Club saw a small field of seven players topped by Brian Smith on 70 nett in the PGC Tuesday nett competition, followed by John Dodds on 74, and Michael Cragg on 75 nett.