Ashleigh Thompson, Financial Adviser From Alman Partners True Wealth Ashleigh Thompson didn’t just enter the financial world — she invested herself in it. What began as a simple interest in crunching numbers quickly grew into a full-blown passion for financially empowering others. “My passion for financial planning actually started from a selfish place. I wanted to know how to improve our own financial situation, plus I loved numbers with having a background in bookkeeping.” Now a Finan
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From a humble seed planted three decades ago, IDEAL Placements has blossomed into a community cornerstone, transforming thousands of lives through meaningful employment. This milestone was recently celebrated with heartfelt speeches, treasured memories, and an enduring message – one where people always come first. Notable employees, supporters, and guests gathered at the Windmill Motel and Events Centre on June 14 to honour the broad and lasting impact of IDEAL Placements across the Macka
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“I’m bored,” said every kid, every school holidays. Local, family-friendly activities that don’t break the bank can feel few and far between these days! That’s why Dunes Harbour Beach is excited to bring Coastal Kids back to Mackay this July. Start the school holidays with this local FREE community event happening Wednesday 2 July from 9am to 12pm. We can’t wait to bring the community together once again – save the date in your calendar! Following the fantastic community response from th
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Simon Hood, Wilmar Manager Grower Marketing As factories across our regions ramp up operations for the production season, the global sugar price remains under pressure. Recent figures from Brazil, the world's largest sugar producer, show a strong fortnight of crushing activity in the second half of May, according to UNICA. Brazil is now just 12% behind its 2024 crushing pace. Its sugar mix reached nearly 52% for the period, bringing the season-to-date balance to an even 50/50 split betwe
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Softballers Shine Despite Wild Weather It was a tough day at the diamond with cold winds, scattered showers, and soggy conditions – but that didn’t stop some strong performances across all grades. Under 14s Get the Power 5 def. Northjacklin Choas 3 Dodging rain showers on and off the diamond, Get the Power made an early statement with five runs in the first dig. Boyd Baxter was the only player to cross home plate twice. Teammates Slenna Kitto, Lilly McKenzie, and Brenton Worth all picked
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By Owen Menkens, CANEGROWERS Chairman Cairns has taken on a sweet international flavour this week, with grower reps, policymakers and sugar industry experts from across the globe touching down for a major international conference. It’s the first time in almost two decades that Australia has hosted the World Association of Beet and Cane Growers (WABCG), so it’s more than just a feather in the cap – it’s a rare chance to put Queensland cane on the world stage. Over three days, we’re getting stuc
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As we wrap up the financial year, Community Bank Sarina Bendigo Bank is proud to support local business confidence and provide financial insights – including through our sponsorship of the upcoming New Financial Year Breakfast hosted by the Mackay Region Chamber of Commerce on 8 July. Guest speaker and Bendigo Bank Chief Economist David Robertson will share his national and regional outlook for the year ahead, including some promising signs for local businesses. Robertson expects the 2025
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Winter Wins For Mackay You know it’s winter in Mackay when the jumpers come out and people start talking about “the chill”—even if it’s still warmer here than most of the country! In the last sitting of Parliament, we delivered some strong outcomes for our region: Stronger Laws, Safer Streets We’ve made Jack’s Law permanent, giving police the power to use handheld metal detectors in public places to help prevent knife crime. This proactive measure honours the memory of 17-year-old Jack
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The long-awaited Pioneer Valley Rail Trail is officially open to the public. Stage one provides a scenic route for runners, walkers, cyclists, horse riders and outdoor enthusiasts. This new trail, stretching 40 kilometres, connects the communities of Finch Hatton and Mirani via Gargett and offers stunning views of the surrounding Pioneer Valley landscape. This first stage uses 9kms of disused rail corridor with the balance on quiet rural back roads. This incredible community project could
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The Northern Beaches Community Hub project will go from strength to strength as council signs off on the next stage of this exciting signature project. Council awarded a $21 million tender for stage 1B to T.F. Woollam & Son Pty Ltd at last week's (June 18) ordinary meeting of council. Mayor Greg Williamson said Stage 1B would include a library, flexible community rooms and a town square with event space and a seating area. “A library in the Northern Beaches is going to be a fantastic co
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At Mackay Contract Bridge Club Inc Results For Week Ending Saturday 21 June 2025 Monday 16 June 2025 – 7.5 Table Howell Green Points North/South East/West 1st Janelle Conroy - Tex Sheedy 1st Nancy Martin - Geoff Taylor 2nd Jan Harris - Helen Van Den Broek 2nd David Ting - Eric Goodchild 3rd Edward Kliese - Diane Stokes 3rd Pamela Finger - Ming Ting 4th Vicki Howard - Susan Ross Tuesday Evening 17 June 2025 – 5.5 Table Howell Green Points North/South 1st Noel Bugeia
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UNDERWATER HOCKEY It was a cracking Monday night for the Mackay Underwater Hockey Club, with 17 players diving in for a full-team showdown packed with rolling subs and non-stop action. With strong numbers in the pool, the energy was high, the water lively, and the competition fierce—but one side proved unstoppable. In what could only be described as a clear violation of the club’s own unofficial league rulebook, Boyd, Elsie, and Macca somehow ended up on the same team. Individually, they
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LADIES BOWLS After two weeks of closely contested draws, the North Mackay Ladies Bowls Club hosted the much-anticipated final of the Club Championship Singles. Vying for the prestigious title were Robyn Rintoul and Brenda Trannore. As expected, it was an exciting and high-calibre match. Both players showed unwavering focus from the very first bowl, maintaining their concentration throughout the entire game. Spectators were treated to a remarkable display of skill and precision, with many
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TABLE TENNIS The Mackay Open table tennis championships brought out some of the best competition seen for years by players throughout the state. Players from Cairns to the Gold Coast competed over three days at a packed Mackay Table Tennis Centre in what visitors and local players described as the best tournament of the season so far. Shanith Jayamaha of Brisbane won the men’s open singles ahead of Townsville’s Olav Dahl, with Mackay’s Vimal Chilukuri and Goncalo Serra Gagiero runners-u
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RUNNING The annual Forsyths Accounting Shawn Claydon 10km Memorial Shield Club Championship was held last Sunday morning in damp but favourable running conditions, drawing nearly forty competitors and a supportive crowd. Despite the wet weather, spirits remained high with The Rolling Coffee Bean and da Sausage vendors providing refreshments and a lively atmosphere. Now in its seventh year under Forsyths Accounting as major sponsor, the memorial event honours the late Shawn Claydon, a muc
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Dr Dee Nereda Hacking From Bay Massage & Homeopathy They say healing is both an art and a science, but at Bay Massage & Homeopathy, it’s also a legacy. Dr Dee Nereda Hacking offers something refreshingly different – a healing experience grounded in understanding, tradition, and heart. As the owner, physician, and sole practitioner behind Bay Massage & Homeopathy, she has spent nearly three decades blending the science of medicine with the soul of natural healing. It seems Dr Dee was alway
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Earlier this month, 41 cadets from No.105 (City of Mackay) Squadron, Australian Air Force Cadets (AAFC), took to the skies during a day of flying activities at Mackay Airport with Horizon Airways. For many it was their first flight in a light aircraft. A total of 17 cadets participated in Cadet Air Experience (CAE) flights, while 24 undertook Pilot Experience (PEX) flights, all under the supervision of Qualified Flying Instructors. CAE flights allow 3 cadets to fly in a Cessna 172 aircra
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In the heart of the Mackay Whitsunday Isaac region, a quiet revolution is taking place — one led by the women who live, work, and thrive in the agricultural sector. As farming families adapt to shifting roles and the evolving needs of agriculture, this group is stepping up to support and empower a vital part of the industry: women. Reef Catchments Sustainable Agriculture Facilitator, Kellie Harmsworth, lives by the mantra: “If you can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel, march down t
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Last Friday, St Brendan’s Catholic Primary School in the Mackay Northern Beaches officially opened and blessed its Stage 4 and 5 developments in a heartfelt ceremony attended by dignitaries, community members, and proud families. The event marked a major milestone in the school’s journey, which will celebrate its tenth anniversary in 2025. Since opening in 2015, St Brendan’s has grown more than fourfold and is now well on its way to becoming a three-stream school. Principal Karla Falzon
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With quiet strength and immense gratitude, Mackay man Les Hastie faced the toughest chapter of his life, battling both severe kidney disease and pancreatic cancer. Through every hospital visit and round of treatment, it was the steadfast love of his family and the compassionate care of Mackay Base Hospital staff that carried him through. After his passing in March and as part of his family’s healing journey, his wife Wendy and daughter Renae visited the palliative care and renal unit team
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Wilmar AgServices has bolstered its agronomic services with the addition of a third agronomist to the team. Drew McGilchrist, a respected Mackay agronomist with more than 20 years' experience, joined Wilmar AgServices in June. He joins Dev Chalise, a certified practising soil scientist with a PhD, and Marc Tanizar, who graduated from the University of Queensland's Gatton Campus last year with a Master's in Agricultural Science. AgServices Business Manager David Parker said the decision to
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You’re Not Alone! Pelvic floor health is often overlooked, but it’s something everyone should care about. From incontinence to pelvic pain, pelvic floor dysfunction affects millions of people — and the great news is, it’s treatable! As a local pelvic floor and continence physiotherapist, I want to help you understand how simple steps can boost your pelvic health and improve your quality of life. Your pelvic floor is a group of muscles that support your bladder, bowel and reproductive org
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Mackay Regional Council is proud to reaffirm its dedication to supporting local small businesses by re-signing the updated Small Business Friendly Commitment. The commitment will be co-signed in partnership with the Mackay Region Chamber of Commerce. This renewed pledge reflects council’s ongoing role in building a resilient and thriving small business community across the region. Originally signing the charter in March 2021, council continues to champion small business through this str
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Council has introduced five strategic advisory committees to enable councillors to develop the strategic directions outlined in the corporate plan. It’s important that councillors have opportunities to work with the CEO, directors and executive managers to ensure the best possible outcomes for our community. The advisory committees also enable community members, organisations, state agencies, business and industry to inform the committees on matters that help the Mackay region to become t
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The Search For 10 Key Biomarkers Bowel cancer is no longer just a disease of the elderly. In Australia and around the world, there's been a concerning rise in bowel cancer cases among people under 50, and no one yet knows exactly why. Leading cancer researcher Professor Michael Samuel – from the Centre for Cancer Biology based at the University of South Australia and the Basil Hetzel Institute for Translational Health Research – is at the forefront of a major effort to find answers. Back
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