Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
A fleet of 14 yachts, with a total crew of 88 locals and visitors took part in last Wednesday’s twilight race conducted by Whitsunday Sailing Club. A 12 to 15 knot south easterly breeze and flat water made for a wonderful afternoon on the water.
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Whitsunday Sea Eagles hit the road to take on North Mackay Saints at Zeolla Park on Saturday with some close clashes in the higher grades.Sea Eagles Senior Men worked hard in what was an epic battle with reigning premiers North Mackay Saints ending the day 39 – 44 down. Sea Eagles had their chances right until the final few seconds of the game and can take many positives away from the narrow loss. Billy Galpin continues his run of form in the midfield backed by Jake Turner and Brent Downie, whil
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Congratulations to Stephen and Sheryn Barr who were both recently awarded the 2022 Motorcycling Queensland Lifetime Achievement Award. The Barr family (including their sons) have been involved with the Whitsunday Moto Sports Club (WMSC) right from its beginnings in 2009.
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Shades of Women Galvanises Empowered Sisterhood Shades of Women, an annual gala event organised by Kickass Women, brought together attendees from across the Mackay Region last week in a powerful display of support and solidarity. Supported by Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal, the annual event serves as a fundraising initiative to support women and children affected by domestic violence in the Mackay and Whitsunday Region. The funds raised will go directly towards supporting Mackay Women's Services,
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Resilience and compassion are two themes which burn brightly in this week’s edition, from initiatives to strengthen our homes to protect our most vulnerable to showcasing the power of unity and collective action. Annual gala Shades of Women brought together women from across the Mackay Region for an inspiring evening of empowerment and support. Not only did the event celebrate the strength and achievements of women, but it also raised crucial funds to aid women and children affected by domestic
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‘Paying it forward’ is a good deed that not only brightens someone else’s day, it can also initiate a chain reaction of good deeds and good vibes. Stacey Read recently witnessed this at BP Rural View. “To the very kind guy that paid it forward by paying for an elderly man’s fuel today at BP northern beaches,” she wrote on Facebook. “The gentleman whose fuel you paid for would like to say a huge thank you and thank you very much for your kindness. “He was very stunned and very grateful. “Wha
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A torch relay that has made its way from Pozières, France, through London and around Australia came through Mackay last Wednesday, May 31 to mark 100 years of Legacy Australia. 23 locals, all with a connection to Legacy Australia, carried the torch throughout the town, ending in a service held at Jubilee Park. “It shows the overall admiration that the public have for the veteran community who go out in uniform and carry out their duties for the nation and sometimes don’t come home,” said Vietnam
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The Salvation Army is urging everyone to get involved in this year’s Red Shield Appeal, with funds raised locally staying local to support community services and programs in Mackay. The Mackay Corps hosted a lunch last Friday, inviting the business community to come together and hear about the work of the Salvation Army and to help invest into the community. The event is the local charity’s major fundraiser of the year, seeking contributions to assist in funding programs like welfare programs,
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Mackay Regional Council is offering significant discounts to responsible pet owners who get in early to ensure their pet’s registration was up to date. Mayor Greg Williamson said residents who register their cats and dogs during the registration discount period in June can claim a reduction in fees ranging from 30 to 50 per cent. “Registering your pet is an important part of being a responsible pet owner as it ensures that if your pet goes missing, we have your most up-to-date contact details so
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A local artist has had his work showcased with the release of a second Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) unveiled by North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation (NQBP) last week. Launched during National Reconciliation Week, Acting Chief Executive Officer Belinda Kenny said the NQBP Reconciliation Action Plan 2023 to 2025 will further strengthen NQBP’s existing relationships with Traditional Owners in its port communities throughout Queensland. “NQBP has been actively engaging and building relations
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After 11 years of unemployment Butchulla man Brian Darby is thriving in his new job at Thomas Borthwicks & Sons. Brian secured employment after taking part in Moving the Mob, an intensive pre-placement training program created to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Mackay region. Powered by MRAEL through IntoJobs (part of the IntoWork Group), Moving the Mob has been co-designed with First Nations Program Facilitators to provide support and assistance specific to the nee
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Stronger, Safer, More Affordable Homes By Amanda Wright Quick Points ● $20 million Federal Government boost for Queensland’s Household Resilience Program. ● Builds on State Government’s $50 million of investment in the program to date. ● Up to 1,100 additional low-income homes in North and Central Queensland to be safer and more secure. ● Reduces insurance premiums by building resilience to natural disasters, especially cyclones and severe storms. Hundreds of Mackay and Whitsundays residents w
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Leading mental wellbeing and suicide prevention not-for-profit charity, selectability, has welcomed a new General Manager, service development to support its continued expansion in regional Queensland. The new General Manager, Matt Kinnane was appointed to create and develop multiple new services to meet the diverse mental wellbeing and suicide prevention needs of regional Queenslanders. CEO, Debra Burden said the rapid growth of the company prompted the move, which required a dedicated indust
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North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation (NQBP) launched its 2023-24 Community Fund today, Friday June 9. A total of $60,000 in funding is available for initiatives across NQBP’s port communities of Hay Point, Mackay, Abbot Point (Bowen), and Weipa. NQBP Acting Chief Executive Officer Belinda Kenny said the annual NQBP Community Fund supports local groups and organisations in delivering valuable initiatives that make a real difference in their communities. “NQBP values the importance of giving ba
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Shaun Killian is obsessed with studying, reading, improving his knowledge and using it to help others. A teacher for most of his life, Shaun ran into health complications that altered his path and led him to a career in web design, starting his business WEBsmall Website Design in 2021. Shaun started teaching in Collinsville in 1991 and spent most of his teaching career as a Tech Coordinator. “As schools got more and more invested in technology, I remained as Computer Coordinator in many schools
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A local third-year apprentice boilermaker from Mackay Sugar’s Marian Mill is one of the faces of a new digital campaign launched by the Australian Sugar Milling Council (ASMC) to highlight the training and apprenticeship opportunities available throughout regional Queensland and the sugar milling industry’s significant economic and social contributions to the state. Maddy McConaghy is one of eight apprentices from Queensland sugar mills to feature in the campaign, which coincides with the s
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By Kevin Borg, Chairman, CANEGROWERS Mackay The Plane Creek milling area covers a lot of country- the coastal strip from around Alligator Creek all the way down to Flaggy Rock and on to Clairview, and that country takes in a lot of productive cane growing land, along with many very good farmers. Just over a week ago, the cane-growing community came together to celebrate the Plane Creek Productivity Services Productivity Awards, celebrating the achievements of growers in the 2022 harvest. The to
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Photo credit: Sam Gillespie Hundreds of families enjoyed a Sunday filled with family fun last weekend, with all proceeds donated to Mackay Hospital Foundation and local hospitals. Presented by sponsors Gardian, Daly Bay, BMA, Mount Pleasant Shopping Centre and S.H. Tait & Co.
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Sarina Ladies showcased their skills and determination in the finals of the Open singles and B Singles, delivering an exhilarating display of bowling prowess. In a tightly contested battle, Bertha Archer emerged victorious in the Open category, overcoming Sudi Blinco with a nail-biting score of 25-22. Meanwhile, Robyn Large claimed the title in the B Singles, triumphing over Ros Way with an impressive score of 25-9. With these individual victories under their belts, the spotlight now shifts to t
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It's not every day that you come across individuals who go above and beyond to help others. Today, we shine the spotlight on Kylie Schulze, a remarkable individual who has been a vital team member of Community Bank Sarina Bendigo Bank for the past eight years. In her role as a Customer Relationship Officer, Kylie's primary focus is personal lending, including personal loans and credit cards. What sets her apart is her genuine passion for assisting clients to achieve their goals, whether it's p
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Hi Everyone,The housing crisis is something we have been covering fairly regularly for the past few years and a subject I feel passionate about including in the paper.It seems like we have all either directly experienced or know someone who has been directly impacted by the issue.This week I met a young 17-year-old couple who have a seven-month-old baby daughter.
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Porters Mitre 10 Mackay proudly emerged as the triumphant victor of the hardware realm, crowned as 'Store of the Year' at the prestigious National Timber & Hardware Awards. This monumental accomplishment, awarded to the Mackay City Store in the Retail Store over 2500 sqm category, pays homage to their unwavering commitment to store standards and operational excellence. Nestled at the heart of Mackay's thriving CBD, Porters Mitre 10 Mackay stands tall as the flagship store of the Porters Group. W
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When a grandmother took to social media to ask the local community if there was someone willing to teach her grandson to fish while they were on holiday, she was overwhelmed by the kind response from people willing to help.
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The upcoming Australian Defence Force (ADF) visit has become more exciting, with the Bowen Aerodrome being taken over for training exercises. The main runway of the aerodrome with remain open for pilots, except for when a Notice To Airmen (NOTAM) alert bulletin has been released to pilots.
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Over two years ago, the Proserpine Golf Club was granted $145,000 from the federal government to construct an irrigation circuit, keeping the green perfect and lush all year round for locals and visitors alike.
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