Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
This Father’s Day Why not spoil dad this Father’s Day with a morning of miniature trains at Ooralea’s Muller Park? Hidden amongst the trees, miniature trains weave along miniature tracks, welcoming passengers young and old. Running once a month and on special occasions, the Mackay Society of Model Engineers is opening the amusement to the public this Father’s Day, Sunday, September 3 from 10:00am to 2:00pm. Simon Hamelink will be celebrating Father’s Day with the miniature trains after growing u
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Colgate used to advertise the “ring of confidence” that its product gave the users of its toothpaste and it is something that could be applied to Mackay right now. Nothing is more important than confidence when it comes to a real estate market and there are some important indicators you can look at in order to gauge the level of confidence in a particular market. I don’t have a crystal ball and there are no 100 per cent guarantees in life but it seems to me there are plenty of key indicators tha
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OPINION PIECE Here is the blue sheep, and here is the red sheep. Here is the bath sheep, and here is the bed sheep. But where is the green sheep? If you recognise these words…and quite possibly know every single other word in this award-winning children’s book by Mem Fox…you probably have a lot to do with little people. I’m talking specifically about 0-5 year-olds. Babies are born to learn. Their brain forms more than one million connections every second and up to 90 per cent of brain developmen
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It’s Father’s Day and you know what that means? Well how can I say this nicely? Heaps, that’s what. Sunday is the day all dads in the Mackay region get to be spoiled. Really spoiled. If you’re thinking of doing something nice for your dad, but you’re unsure whether it’s great, then I’m here to tell you it’s not enough. Go harder. Go bigger. When you do that, you might get close to where you need to be. Really, what you want your dad to do is go “oh wow!” on Sunday. You want to see that big go
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A unique six-month female mentoring program that concluded in Brisbane last week, setting a new group of young Queensland women on the path to a rewarding career in the state’s resources sector. Twenty Year 12 students from 17 schools across Queensland celebrated the finale of this year’s Girls in Resources Life Skills (GIRLS) Mentoring Program, an annual initiative delivered by the Queensland Resources Council’s Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA) and Women in Mining and Resources Que
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Hi Everyone,Youth crime seems to be rife at the moment, the latest incident involving a 12-year-old boy arrested for arson following a house fire in Jubilee Pocket on Tuesday afternoon.
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In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, women are not merely breaking barriers; they are architecting a new paradigm of leadership, innovation, and success. Let’s shine a spotlight on the incredible strides women continue to make in the world of business, inspiring a generation and reshaping the narrative. Historically underrepresented in boardrooms and executive suites, women have fought tenaciously to claim their rightful place in the business world. From tech moguls to sustainability
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Students from across the region enjoyed powerhouse presentations by four incredibly inspiring guest speakers sharing their career journeys in a variety of STEM fields and the opportunity to engage in virtual reality, robotics and drones. The Whitsunday STEM Challenge committee joined in National Science Week celebrations partnering with key players in the region to bring the Women in STEM event to life. Whitsunday Anglican School was one of the schools who made the most of the opportunity to
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A 12-year-old boy has been arrested and charged with one count of arson, following a suspicious fire in an unoccupied house in Jubilee Pocket, on Shute Harbour on Tuesday, August 29. Police and fire crews were alerted of the blaze at 4pm on Tuesday. One Ambulance crew also attended the scene, with Queensland Ambulance Service reporting no injuries sustained.
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Legacy Whitsundays badge stand has been a staple in the local Whitsunday shopping centres for years, raising funds for local Legacy projects and programs. However, in a turn of events, the Whitsunday Plaza has extended a fee to the group, charging them for their space.
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Excited dogs and their owners have been heading down to the Cannonvale dog park to sample the newly installed dog agility equipment that will now be a permanent fixture for all the community to enjoy.A tribute to the beautiful spirit of Stirling Edwards-Bland, the young man who tragically passed away in a road accident last year, the equipment has been purchased with money given to his family in the immediate aftermath.
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Bowen was host to the third Mackay Isaac Whitsunday Regional Community Forum of 2023 earlier this week and attendees came together to discuss pressing issues of the region. In particular housing availability, housing affordability, sustainable and resilient infrastructure, and workforce attraction and retention were hot topics of conversation. There was also a presentation about the Queensland Procurement Strategy, which outlined that Queensland based business will be prioritised with an estimat
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This past Wednesday was National Meals on Wheels Day, celebrating the service’s dedication and commitment to small communities across Australia.The Proserpine Meals on Wheels branch has been servicing Proserpine, Cannonvale, Airlie Beach, Jubilee Point, Midge Point, and Cape Gloucester since 1974, handmaking and delivering nutritious meals to members of the community.
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This Sunday (September 3), from 1pm to 4pm, about 35 vibrant artisans, musicians and food vendors will bring the Mackay Civic Precinct to life. Showcasing everything hand-made, from paintings and platters to toys, totes and textiles, the Rock Paper Scissors Art and Design Market attracts an eclectic mix of talented stallholders. This event is also not just about shopping for art, you can also make your own – the “craft yurt” will be back again this year with free all-ages craft activities. Visit
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Get your old runners on and a white top, it’s time for the Whitsunday Counselling and Support Inc Colour Run Fun!Encompassing a jumping castle, face painting, sausage sizzle, and so much more, this free event is happening next weekend. “We’ve designed the event to have gentle and fun educational activities for everyone,” explained Alex Sambrooks, the Therapeutic Case Manager with Whitsunday Counselling and Support.
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The weather is getting warmer, which means it’s time to get outside and bask in the beautiful north Queensland spring. With 31 beautiful beaches surrounding Mackay so no matter what side of town you’re on, you’re never too far from a beach. Be wary when swimming, though, as stinger season approaches, generally running during the warmer months from October to May. Make sure to wear a stinger suit when swimming to be completely safe. Blacks Beach Blacks Beach is a serene coastal gem known for it
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In a fantastic effort, the 2023 Mayor’s Annual Charity Ball has raised more than $105,000, this being the highest amount ever raised since the first Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor’s Ball in 2015.RACQ CQ Rescue and Whitsunday Housing Company were the two nominated charities, each receiving $52,914.29 at a special presentation last week.
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On August 27, police arrested a 50-year-old Cannon Valley man for assault occasioning bodily harm that they allege occurred in Airlie Beach. It is alleged he assaulted a 50-year-old man in an unprovoked assault. He will appear in Proserpine Court at a later date.
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Whitsunday Regional Council have decided to move to monthly Ordinary Council Meetings, rather than their bi-monthly meetings, for a more streamlined focus on strategy. The monthly meetings begin in September, with the meeting scheduled for Wednesday September 27.
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More than 80 students from four different schools participated in the Regional Finals of the Tournament of the Minds competition last Sunday.Hosted by St Catherine’s Catholic College and held at the Secondary Campus’ Multi-Purpose Hall, the event saw 14 teams take part in the state-wide competition.
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A series of mature blue gums and rainforest trees are under threat of being cleared and removed, following the Whitsunday Regional Council initiative to approve an existing development plan on the land.
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"Little Shop Of Horrors" Hits The Stage! Get ready to be entangled in a web of music, comedy, and a dash of sci-fi as the Mackay Musical Comedy Players proudly present their latest production, "Little Shop of Horrors." Following the triumph of their recent show, "The Addams Family," this not-for-profit Musical Theatre group is back to bring you a performance that's bound to leave you hungry for more. For over three decades, "Little Shop of Horrors" has captivated audiences with its devilishly de
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The development of Langford Park in Eton is starting to take shape. A master plan for the area has been developed based on feedback that was gathered during the community consultation activities in November last year. Mayor Greg Williamson said council was committed to improving liveability across the whole region. “These upgrades will ensure Eton residents have a viable option close by for birthday parties, play dates and other social activities,” Mayor Williamson said. “The work will take plac
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Bowen’s Big Mango continues to attract travellers from all states as well as overseas and they include families, grey nomads, celebrities and people travelling in unusual vehicles.An estimated 100,000 people stop by this iconic tourist attraction each year to have a selfie taken next to one of Australia’s favourite “big things”.
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The weather was perfect for SCOUT FEST 2023 at Rowallan Park on August 19 and 20. On Saturday, there were 203 public participants and 258 Scouting members, along with six Guiding youth and three leaders who joined the activities. Leaders and youth members from Calliope and Tannum Sands enjoyed the weekend, along with youth and leaders from Proserpine, Sarina, Mackay City Central, and Banksia Groups. Visiting leaders from Brisbane, Townsville, and Yeppoon were also present, and their expertise wa
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