Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
A significant fire broke out at a Hostel in Bowen last Wednesday morning 30th April, and sadly a fatality has been confirmed. At approximately 3:30am a large-scale response was initiated by emergency services after police were alerted to a building fully engulfed in flames on Gordon Street, following reports from concerned locals. Fire crews from the local station were swiftly deployed, with three teams arriving on scene around 3:40am. The fire, located near the intersection of Brisbane Stre
Read more
Local author and writers’ mentor Richard Evans is set to captivate readers with his latest political thriller, 'Horrible People', the first in the Jack Hudson MP series. Drawing on his experience as a former federal politician and national industry leader, Evans brings a unique and authentic perspective to political storytelling. Evans believes apathy towards politics often breeds scepticism and discontent. 'Horrible People' explores this idea through a compelling narrative filled with page-tur
Read more
Following a successful 2024 event, the Whitsundays Writers Festival is thrilled to announce its 2025 From the Heart Keynote speaker—Dr Anita Heiss. An award-winning author of 25 books, Dr Heiss is a proud Wiradyuri woman, Indigenous Literacy Foundation Ambassador, and Professor of Communications at the University of Queensland. Her novels include Manhattan Dreaming, Tiddas, and Barbed Wire and Cherry Blossoms, with Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray winning the 2022 NSW Premier’s Literary Prize for In
Read more
The Whitsundays Songwriter Festival is proud to announce that multiple Golden Guitar award winner Brad Butcher will be at the 4th annual festival due to take place in Airlie Beach this June. In 2024, the Central Queensland-born singer-songwriter wowed all four coaches on The Voice Australia, ultimately joining Team LeAnn Rimes. Since then, demand for his performances has soared, and the festival committee say they are thrilled to welcome him as part of their Professional Faculty. Brad Butcher
Read more
Football – Whitsunday United FC Friday 9th May • 6:00pm: Division 2 Men vs Mackay Lions • 8:00pm: Division 1 Men vs Mackay Lions Saturday 10th May • 9.30am: U14 vs Magpies FC • 11:15am: U15/16 vs Mackay Lions Green • 5:00pm: U23 Men vs City Brothers FC • 7:00pm: Men vs City Brothers FC AWAY MATCH 9:30am: • U13 Div 1 vs Mackay Lions (at Mackay Football Park) • U13 FQPL vs Mackay Lions (at Mackay Football Park) ***AFL - Whitsunday Sea Eagles AWAY MATCH • 3.20pm: Senior Men vs Magpies at R
Read more
The countdown has begun! Gilmour Space Technologies is gearing up for its next big launch from Bowen, with a launch window set to open 'no earlier than' May 15. The maiden flight of Eris will be the first Australian-designed and built rocked aiming for orbit. Gilmour Space has received airspace management approval from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority - CASA. Gilmour Space made history in March last year when its Bowen spaceport was granted the first orbital launch facility licence in Aust
Read more
The family business behind a proposal for an Australian-first, immersive dinosaur experience and mini-golf course on the main street of Airlie Beach, has come forward to address a growing number of community concerns around the look and theme of the project. A representative for ‘Jurassic Falls Pty Ltd’, said contrary to some opinions expressed on local social media sites, this was not about bringing “tacky, fake fibreglass dinosaurs” to town. “Our Australian-themed dinosaurs are hyper-realist
Read more
OPINION PIECE Australians are paying on average 32 per cent more for electricity than they were three years ago. Every day, I listen to people in Dawson who tell me one of the biggest pains they feel is the price they now pay to keep the lights on and cool. When people turn on the aircon during a sweltering summer day, they know one flick of a switch is costing more than it should. Pensioners and those on lower incomes tell me they have to choose which appliances to do without. Electricity pai
Read more
The Northern Beaches community is being invited to have their say on the future of their region. With key topics like infrastructure, outdoor spaces, transport, and community events already sparking vibrant discussions, locals are making their voices heard. Now, residents have the exciting opportunity to take it a step further and join focus groups to help shape the future of the Northern Beaches. The Your Place, Your Plan – Northern Beaches Mackay Community Plan, is a partnership betwee
Read more
At the peak of her life-threatening battle with a chronic auto immune disease, Andergrove woman Lisa Hodges lost the ability to walk and talk. After becoming seriously ill in November 2023, she spent almost three months in hospital in intensive care and the infectious diseases ward battling autoimmune hepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver. Lisa then developed cryptococcal meningitis while on immunosuppressant drugs, a dangerous fungal infection of the tissue covering the brain and spinal cord.
Read more
Dan Stampa, Past President and current Vice President of the North Mackay Masters Swim Club, the Sinkers, has been recognised for his commitment to the club and Masters swimming in general. Dan has been appointed to the role of Director of Program Development for MSQ (Masters Swimming Queensland). MSQ President Susanne Milenkevich confirmed that the formal appointment will be finalised at the next Board meeting in May. She thanked Dan for his commitment and said she looked forward to seei
Read more
When Kathryn George, OAM, first walked into Mackay North State High School in 1979, she faced a musical mountain with nothing more than three broken xylophones and a piano badly in need of a tune. Fast-forward nearly five decades, and Kathryn now stands at the helm of a $200,000 music department, leading one of Australia’s most celebrated school marching bands. Her determination to transform scarcity into success earned her an Order of Australia Medal in 2019, recognising her dedication t
Read more
With lights flashing and wheels in motion, a new era of community policing has arrived on the streets of Mackay and the Whitsundays. The Mobile Police Beat has officially launched, providing a flexible, high-visibility police presence designed to engage with communities and enhance crime prevention efforts where they are needed most. As part of the Queensland Police Service’s ‘Bring the Beat’ initiative, the program allows residents to request a Mobile Police Beat deployment to their loca
Read more
This week in Mackay has been rich with community spirit from recognising cultural champions and personal milestones to advancing infrastructure and reinforcing public safety. Crossroad Arts Giving Day – A Showcase of Inclusion It was such a privilege to attend Crossroad Arts’ Giving Day here in Mackay. The event was an uplifting reminder of the power of inclusive arts where creativity meets community. Crossroad Arts continues to lead the way in creating opportunities for people of all ab
Read more
A re-elected Albanese Labor Government will contribute $250,000 to upgrade facilities at the Australian South Sea Islander Precinct in Mackay. This election commitment delivered following strong advocacy from the Labor Candidate for Dawson, Neil Wallace, includes funding for rethatching the roof on the traditional South Sea Islander Hut in the precinct. The precinct acknowledges the important history of South Sea Islanders in the region. The Queensland United Australian South Sea Islande
Read more
Sonia Ball, QCAR Central District Manager With our successful roadshows now behind us, the QCAR Central District Committee and I are returning our focus to the season ahead. Meetings in Mackay, Proserpine and Plane Creek were informative, with the outcome of new memberships and a new Central District committee member, Bryce Jackson, a Carmila cane farmer in the Plane Creek district. The QCAR District Committee voting period has also now ended in the Burdekin and Herbert River regions, wi
Read more.jpg)
Following the successful launch of our Managed Pool Plus for the 2025 season, we’re pleased to announce that we’re opening nominations earlier for the 2026 season. Nominations for the Managed Pool Plus open on 1 May and close on 30 June 2025. We’ve seen strong interest from growers who have experienced a couple of volatile seasons with unpredictable target pricing and are now seeking to share some of that pricing responsibility with Wilmar. The enhanced Managed Pool Plus aligns grower e
Read more
Sugarcane growers and industry stakeholders from across Queensland and beyond have converged on Brisbane earlier this week for Sugar Cubed 2025 – a dynamic, future-focused event set to spark fresh ideas and foster new connections across the cane supply chain. Hosted by CANEGROWERS at the Royal International Convention Centre, Brisbane Show Grounds from 27-29 April, Sugar Cubed brought together growers, manufacturers, researchers, policy makers and innovators for three days of thought-prov
Read more
The annual doubles challenge proved to be just that at the Tuesday morning table tennis. Doug Dungavell and George Camilleri tied with 186 points in group 1, and Ken Best and Virginia Clayton did the same in group 2 with 183 points. The unusual challenge is a round robin, but with partners swapping after every game which is the first to 30. In last season’s fixtures Mars Pioneers (Delma Knight, Geoff Cowan and Kevin Abbott) won division 1, while division 2 went to Pluto Players (Darryl
Read more
Last Friday, the North Mackay Ladies welcomed players from across the Mackay District to join them for the Annual Goosepond Triples event. North Mackay Ladies President Hilary Jones-Rowan formally welcomed all attendees to a day designed for participation, camaraderie, and above all, enjoyment. Play commenced with the first of three scheduled 16-end games, with the opening match concluding at 11:30am. Participants then returned to the club for a delicious lunch, thoughtfully prepared by
Read more
Results For Week Ending Sunday 27 April 2025 Monday 21 April 2025 – 6 Table Howell Green Points (Nation Wide Pairs) North/South East/West 1st Janelle Conroy - Tex Sheedy 1st Ian Cruickshank - Mary Cruickshank 2nd David Ting - Eric Goodchild 2nd Andrew Canavan - Jan Harris 3rd Margaret Lane - Barbara Tait 3rd Ken Seaniger - Nancy Martin Tuesday Evening 22 April 2025 – 5 Table Mitchell Green Points North/South East/West 1st Christine Morrison - Glen Cocup 1st Noel Bugeia - Eric Goodchild
Read more
More than forty runners converged on West Mackay’s residential streets this afternoon for the annual Tilse Toddle 5km and 10km events. The Club sincerely thanked Johnson Street residents for their patience, with a special thanks to President Paul Tilse and family for hosting and setting the course. Invaluable race day support came from Len Howarth, David Isbister, Julie Whibley, and Rohan Miles. Congratulations to all competitors, including a commanding 10km comeback by Justin Rule after
Read more
Mackay will come alive in July as the 2025 Mackay Festival of Arts brings a dynamic showcase of art, culture, cuisine and entertainment. This year’s program promises to delight all your senses, broaden your horizons and leave you with memories that last a lifetime. Mayor Greg Williamson said the 38th annual festival would change gear in 2025 with sensational new events and different locations for regular crowd favourites. “This year, we have some outstanding new shows that have been sel
Read more
Are you ready for Greater Possibilities? That’s the message a delegation of Greater Whitsunday leaders took to Brisbane this week to showcase the economic strength and potential of one of Queensland’s most productive and promising regions. Earlier this week, a group of regional champions – including Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson, Isaac Mayor Kelly Vea Vea and Whitsunday Mayor Ry Collins – travelled to Brisbane to meet with key parliamentarians, while championing the people, industries and
Read more
Northern Suburbs Junior Rugby League is a non-profit, volunteer-managed sporting organisation in North Mackay and the Northern Beaches. Founded in 1966, the club has become a passionate, family-oriented organisation with a strong local presence. Initially known as Centrals, the club became the Centrons Demons in 1976, then Carltons Junior Rugby League Club in 1983, following an alliance with the Carltons Seniors. In 1987, the name was changed to Northern Suburbs Junior Rugby League Club –
Read more