Issue #

Local Racer Picked For Ferrari

Whitsunday local student Jure Portelli has been one of eight girls selected for the international FIA Girls on Track Rising Star Program. Having competed in kart racing for just over two years, Jure’s made a quick ascent to fame, with 30 podium finishes, and 20 first place wins in 2022 alone.She initially began in karts that her parents wanted to teach her to drive before getting her license, with no motorsport background. She then progressed to faster vehicles.

Cannonvale Cannons Super Start to the Season

Jacob Bell and Jy Parkinson completed for the Queensland team at the Australian School Swimming Championships in Sydney last week. Team Manager, Kate Thomson said Jy and Jacob were great ambassadors for Queensland. Jacob and Jy made finals (Top Tens) for all their individual events.

Brahmans Win Grand Finals

The Proserpine Whitsunday Brahmans U14 team are celebrating this week having beaten the Mackay Magpies in the Grand Final, coming home 2023 champions. Coach Justin Follett has been coaching the team for the past nine years and although they undefeated last season, the team sadly lost the final.This year, with a point to prove, the youngsters came back fighting, but it wasn’t looking good when they were beaten four times.Despite this, they held themselves together as a team and triumphed.

Airlie Beach Bowls Report

As the days grow longer and spring is on our doorsteps the bowls this week has been sensational with so much news to tell.Let’s start with Tuesday afternoon bowls saw only a small but strong field play with Wendy Pomeroy with Henny Tattam take home the prize money.Saturday morning Scroungers saw Gary Kiff, Betty Whitehorn, Tony Whitehorn and Russell Jackson first round winners with the final playoff between Russell Jackson and Betty Whitehorn.

Proserpine Bowls Report

Wangaratta Bowls

Wangaratta hosted the annual Combined Shield on Saturday. With a format of Singles, Pairs, Triples and Fours men’s teams from Wangaratta, Collinsville, BBC, and a combined Wangaratta/BBC ladies team played for the trophy. Over the day there were a lot of great bowls played.

Darts Report

Round 19 came to a conclusion today at the Airlie Beach Bowls Club, when Dom Friend and Art McMinn went head-to-head for the last time this season. Dom, who picked up a bad knee injury during the week, was able to put that to one side on the day and play some strong darts. Art too has been playing well of late, but just couldn’t get enough going consistently in the scoring department to cause Dom enough problems.

Whitsunday Game Workshops

The Whitsunday Game Fish Club is hosting two more free Tackle and Baitrigging Workshops and everybody is welcome to come along. The first is on Tuesday, 5 September at the Marine Club (home to the Whitsunday Game Fish Club and V.M.R) in Altmann Avenue, Cannonvale from 6pm. The first workshop will deal mainly with tying good knots, making of wind-on leaders, tackle set-up, drag settings and an in-depth look at lure fishing for pelagics, such as marlin, sailfish, tuna, mackerel, GT,s etc.

Bowen Golf Report

Saturday 19 August – Single stableford event sponsored by Tim Warren Auto Aircon & Electrical. Ladies’ winner was Joy Hose 39pts, runner up Robyn Slade 37pts. Men’s winner on a countback Mark Fox 41pts, runner up Adam Borgh 41pts.

Proserpine Golf Report

2023 Club Champions were decided on the weekend.Trish McNeill and Luke Paroz both successfully defended their titles and are the 2023 Club champions.Congratulations to all the winners for 2023.

Veteran Golf Report

Last Tuesday we played our belated August Monthly Medal. Another excellent field of 35 players which included 3 guests. It was a lovely day weather wise.

Whitsunday Green Golf Report

This weeks 9 hole stableford competition saw Edwina Pettiford take the win with 26 pts, second with 25 pts was Moya Bradley and third with 22 pts Josh Quin. Fridays 9-hole stableford saw Andrew Gomez in first place with 21 pts, second with 20 pts was Peter Bitz and third with 20 pts David Wallace. Great job guys.

When Music, Dance, And Voices Collide

Mackay Eisteddfod 2023 After nine days and 37 sessions of performance across the MECC and Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music, the first leg of the Mackay Eisteddfod has wrapped up. The Eisteddfod will continue with drama and dance categories from October 1 to 14. Read on to find a selection of results on page 20 and visit Mackay Eisteddfod Results on Facebook for full results. Best Of The Best Shine At Mackay Eisteddfod Caption Mackay Eisteddfod pianoforte awards. Back from left:

Critical Summit In Response To Housing Crisis

More than 150 stakeholders in attendance at the Greater Whitsunday Housing Summit last week were presented with a comprehensive schedule of information outlining the multifaceted housing crisis confronting the Greater Whitsunday region. The aim of the Summit was to seek to develop solutions to the Mackay, Isaac, and Whitsunday regions’ housing issues in line with the priorities identified at the Housing Roundtable in December 2022. As major event sponsors, Community Bank Sarina Bendigo Bank D

Music Festival Makes Huge Donation

NQ's Rock'n Country once again delivered a weekend of loud, energetic, and boot-scooting live country music last weekend. The music of Shannon Noll, Morgan Evans, Troy Cassar-Daley, and Adam Brand was heard across the city of Mackay, emanating from the busy hub of the Mackay Showgrounds. While locals and visitors alike enjoyed a weekend of country bangers, they were also playing their part in raising funds for Variety - the Children's Charity of Queensland. NQ's Rock'n Country made a donation of

Urgent Action Needed To Address Housing Crisis

The pressing issue of the housing crisis demands immediate attention and proactive solutions. With the cost of building a home set to rise on October 1, 2023, the timing couldn't be more critical. As we grapple with the housing shortage, the Master Builders Association says the decision for the Queensland Government to introduce livable housing and energy efficiency provisions adds an extra burden to an already challenging situation. While other states have recognised the economic climate and ho

Celebrating Women In STEM

The Whitsunday STEM Challenge invited young women and their families to learn, network and become inspired at a Women in STEM event earlier this week. Hosted at Whitsunday Anglican School as part of National Science Week, the event aligned with the national theme of ‘Innovation: Powering Future Industries’. Event Coordinator Leanne Williams said Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) was important for students in this contemporary world with the rise of new technologies. “This i

Vietnam Veterans' Day

Commemorating The 50th Anniversary Of The End Of Australia's Involvement In The Vietnam War Photo credit: Sam Gillespie

Mrs Charity Oceania

Hosts Confidence Boosting Pageant When local model Jenna K took on the role of Mrs Charity Oceania 2023, she vowed to use her platform to raise money and awareness for causes close to her heart and help women of all ages with their confidence, mindset and self-love. One aspect of this mission was the Beeyoutiful Charity Pageant, an event held on Saturday, July 22 offering the people of Mackay the opportunity to improve their confidence while raising funds for BreastScreen Queensland. Entrants w

Serious Accident At Alligator Creek

Investigations continue for a two-vehicle car accident near Alligator Creek, just past 7am on Friday, August 18. Initial police investigations indicate that a Hyundai Palisade was turning onto the Bruce Highway from Perry Road, when it collided with an oncoming Toyota Landcruiser, which was travelling north. The Toyota swerved before losing control and rolling multiple times down an embankment. The three occupants of the Toyota were taken to Mackay Base Hospital. The 19-year-old male driver

A Win For North Wall Turtles

By Amanda Wright In a shellebration of conservation, Queensland Transport Minister Mark Bailey has given local turtles a fin-tastic win by expanding the protective boundaries of the Mackay Port to include the North Harbour Wall. This flipper-friendly decision ensures that Mackay’s turtles will continue to nest and hatch in their coastal haven for generations to come. Member for Mackay, Julieanne Gilbert, celebrates this decision as a triumph for the local community. The Port of Mackay, Queensl

Diverse Expertise Unites As New Hospital Board Appointed

By Amanda Wright Steering the course for enhanced healthcare in the region, a fresh chapter unfolds as a new six-member Board takes the helm of the Mackay Hospital and Health Service. With a diverse array of expertise spanning emergency medicine, business, nursing, and law, these board members herald a promising era of leadership. Their appointment marks a decisive step following the dissolution of the previous Board in November 2022, signalling a renewed commitment to quality healthcare and co

Body Found After Fire Destroys Mackay House

Police are seeking the assistance of the public as they investigate a fatal house fire that claimed the lives of the sole owner-occupant and his two dogs. Emergency services were called to a property on Grant Street at 6:30pm, Saturday, August 19, after neighbours reported flames coming from the building to triple zero. The body of 59-year-old Mark Gallagher was located inside the destroyed dwelling over 24 hours later once the fire had been extinguished and the property was certified safe for p

Meet Your Accountant

Inspire Accounting Welcomes New Director With a passion for client satisfaction, Kate Paton has developed a varied and successful career with Inspire Accounting and Business Services, recently being announced as the firm’s newest Director. Kate joined the Inspire team over ten years ago, starting as a trainee accountant straight out of school. Now, at 28-years-old, she is the firm’s youngest Director and has become a driving force, a beacon of inspiration within the firm. “My team at Inspire are

Celebrating Industry Titans

2023 RIN Awards Finalists Revealed The stage is set for a celebration of our region’s industry movers and shakers as the finalists of the 2023 Resource Industry Network (RIN) Awards step into the spotlight. With keen eyes and careful consideration, the judging panel has unveiled an impressive lineup of 17 finalists spanning seven categories. These awards stand as a testament to the unwavering dedication of the local resources services sector and its intricate supply chain. The Mackay-Isaac-Whi