Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
In Creating Safe Work Environments With the theme of ‘Shifting the Focus: Step back and look at things differently’, Resource Industry Network’s 2023 Safety Conference delivered practical tools and information pertinent to workplace safety while sharing expertise and skills on how delegates can put their new knowledge into action in their own workplaces. The annual conference remains a powerful tool in helping businesses create and maintain safe work environments and this year’s event was no dif
Read more
Within The Wider Automotive Industry And What That Can Achieve How many times have you heard employers say that “Kids today just don’t want to work” or “It’s impossible to find the right people”? With Covid in the past, and as the new reality of business sets in, it is time to start asking different questions, of ourselves, our peers and our industry. What can we do better? How do we learn from leaders within our industry? Why do we need to judge industries that market to employees better? Th
Read more
Students from CQUniversity in Mackay recently tested their mettle in a workshop that challenged their metal fabrication skills. The task at hand? Crafting pot belly stoves from flat sheets of steel. Courtney Pollard, a 25-year-old apprentice boilermaker at Mackay Sugar, expressed her delight in acquiring new skills and the gratification of seeing tangible results. "To have something to bring home and be proud of is a huge highlight of being a boilermaker. “I like the different variety of work w
Read more
It’s another JAM-PACKED weekend around Mackay and the Whitsundays! There’s plenty to keep the family entertained around the district over the next few days. The Mackay Hospital Foundation’s Family Fun Day is happening this Sunday from 10-2pm at BB Print Stadium, the Star team and I will be there so come and say hi! I’ll also be at the BMA Mackay Marina Run on Sunday from 6.30am-9.30am gasbagging at the finish line. Remember there’s still time to register if you haven’t convinced yourself just y
Read more
Are you ready to tackle tax time? From that morning iced coffee to grabbing the tools you need, it's important to know which of these expenses are claimable. Lucky for you, Porters Mitre 10 has your back with the ultimate guide to help you determine which expenses are eligible for claiming. Let's start with protective clothing. As a tradie, personal protective equipment (PPE) is your trusty sidekick, and the best part is, it's tax deductible! Whether it's steel-cap boots, safety glasses, glov
Read more
May Help Construction Industry Weather A Perfect Storm Rising material prices, labour shortages, interest rate hikes and rainy weather have created a perfect storm for the construction industry in the past 12 months, sending many builders to the wall. Of all these factors, weather is the one that most people would cite as being beyond human control. However, a new study from Australia and the UK suggests this may not be the case. Engineers from Aston University, Birmingham, and the University
Read more
Laffos Bar and Pizzeria is helping to ignite a compassionate movement that combines gastronomic delight with social impact. Throughout the month of June, Laffos will pledge a generous $5 from every large pizza sold to the Grapevine Group, bolstering their unwavering commitment to local suicide training and awareness initiatives. The Pizza for a Purpose campaign will launch with a tantalizing pop-up restaurant extravaganza on Saturday, June 3, aiming to galvanize the community and raise awareness
Read more
Mackay recently celebrated National Volunteer Week (NVW), which is Australia’s largest annual celebration of volunteering. I recently had the pleasure of celebrating with some of our volunteers during NVW and I have to say, what a sense of joy and kindredship was enjoyed by all (myself included). It was lovely to sit in the company of these wonderful individuals all contributing to their community in such a positive manner, and actually having fun! The joy of getting my hands in the dirt and pla
Read more
Women have made great strides in the workplace in recent decades, but they still face a number of challenges. Here are the top 5 challenges women can face. By understanding these challenges, employers can better support their employees to succeed. 1. Unequal pay. Women in Australia still earn less than men for doing the same work. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, women earn 81 cents for every dollar that men earn. This gap is even bigger for our indigenous women. For example, Ab
Read more
A local condiment connoisseur has taken out four awards at the recent Mr Chilli Awards 2023. This is the fifth year Michelle Camilleri has secured several places in the competition, open to the chilli community of Australia and New Zealand, saying “in the chilli business, this is huge.” “When you are doing something you love, you don’t need recognition, but I must say I was super excited to receive the email to say I had won again,” Michelle added. Michelle started her business, One Hungry Mumma
Read more
With Shirlz Russell of Build Your F’empire ‘Empowerment’ is the number one word that arises when I discuss my 10 Point Checklist for Personal Financial Wellbeing. I call it a ‘Wellbeing’ checklist because it’s about feeling happy, content and empowered about your finances. This is basically the way me and my family operate in our lives; a tried and tested guide to managing finances responsibly and realistically. It’s a simplified method aiming to eliminate any fear or stress you may feel about
Read more
Dolly Louw is about to do something she says no one has ever done before. The visionary principal of Mackay Fame Talent School has purchased the rights to iconic Disney musical The Lion King, representing a rare and fantastic opportunity for the children of Mackay. It’s the first time a full-scale Disney Junior production has been staged in Mackay and will be entirely cast, acted and performed by young Mackay talent. “It’s a very holistic artistic experience for the children that culminates in
Read more
Prepare for an uproarious evening of laughter as the comic dynamo, Jimeoin, graces the stage of the Mackay Entertainment & Convention Centre on June 24, 2023. With his brand-new stand-up show titled 'The Craic!', Jimeoin promises to unleash his razor-sharp wit and hilarious observations on the quirks of suburban life in his signature devil-may-care style. Renowned for his award-winning performances and universally appealing humour, Jimeoin has captivated audiences worldwide, from the UK and Euro
Read more
Friday 2 June HeART (beats) - Access is Love exhibition Friday, 5:30pm to 7:30pm HeART(beats)- Access is Love Exhibition aims to help build a world where accessibility is understood as an act of love, instead of a burden or an after-thought. Crossroad Arts Inc invited all community members to respond to the theme Access is Love by creating an original artwork using any medium and in any style. Opening Night is Friday June 2 from 5:30pm - 7:30pm as part of Mackay City and Waterfront’s ‘City Hear
Read more
‘Song Contest - The Almost Eurovision Experience' Experience the glitz, the glamour, and the hilarious madness of CQUniversity's Bachelor of Theatre students as they unleash their uproarious new musical parody, Song Contest - the almost Eurovision experience. Get ready for a night of unforgettable performances that will transport you to Eurovision's dazzling world. The students will present five performances at Mackay’s Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music (CQCM) from Friday, 16 June. Wit
Read more
By Sam Gillespie Much like the Bee Gees, Luke, Sarah and Ryan Dunn are three siblings following their music dreams. Unlike the Bee Gees, the Mackay “family band” are impressing local crowds with their fresh take on indie punk music, fusing all their favourite genres to create a unique sound. Their band, Red Veridian, takes its name from the colours Luke, Sarah and Ryan associate with this sound, with red and viridian sitting almost opposite each other on the colour wheel. “What the name has actu
Read more
Everyone is invited to hear the Rev. Dr Solmon Zwana, National Chaplain to Zimbabwean Methodists in Australia and Oceania, speak at meetings at St Paul’s Uniting Church on 2-4 June and on Sunday 4 June when he will preach at a combined service at 9.15am at St Paul’s Uniting Church and at 2.15pm at Calen Uniting Church. Dr Zwana will also speak at St Paul’s on Friday 2 June at 7pm. ‘The Uniting Church is your church,’ says Solmon to Methodist Zimbabweans looking for the Methodist Church in Austr
Read more
By Sam Gillespie A local artist is getting ready to launch her Pioneer Valley studio and is inviting the Mackay community to get involved. Charlene Attard has been practising art since taking art lessons with legendary Mackay artist Rosemary Payne at age 12 and has been teaching art throughout Queensland for over 20 years. In trying to balance teaching and practising art, Ms Attard has established a studio, gallery and workshop space on her property in Netherdale called ‘The Brae’. “I’ve never
Read more
Mackay rugby league stars Xavier Kerrisk, Jaxon Purdue, Kai Simon and Matthew Watts are well versed on the traditions of Queensland Origin football. The talented quartet were part of an elite 37-man squad that spent two days training at the Maroons’ recent Under 18 Emerging Origin camp at the Queensland Sports and Athletics Centre in Brisbane where participants were given a taste of life as an Origin player. The Emerging Origin program aims to help develop highly skilled rugby league players f
Read more
Mackay Table Tennis Association Tuesday night fixtures May 23, 2023: Division 1: Lexus (Graham Brake, Steven Whiting, Allan Edwards) d Mercedes (Geoff Denman, Graham Drury, Mark Sleeman) 7-4. Steven d Geoff -4, -11, 8, 14, 5. Ferrari (Lee Brake, Andrew McHugh, Robbie Richards) d Jaguar (Barry Patterson, Anne Sheridan, Tim Sheehan) 8-3. Lee d Anne 7, 11, -6, -7, 10. BMW (Emma Widdup, Ian McKay, Ivan Perkins) d Audi (Duncan Treloar, Neil Brown, Janice Kent) 8-3. Ivan d Duncan -5, -9, 9, 5, 8. Divi
Read more
Elite Mackay Road Runners have battled for nearly thirty years to get their name on coveted The Grove 10km Handicap Trophy and today was no different when Oliver Rule took a resounding win in the historical event. Oliver’s form of late has been nothing short of classy as he bolted from his handicap start to take on and hold off the rest of the field in the technically tricky course which included a seriously challenging ascent and descent of Apsley Way, Andergrove. President Tim Magoffin and Vi
Read more
By Chris Karas Rugby league young guns Xavier Kerrisk and Jaxon Purdue have enhanced their sporting reputations with selection in the Queensland Secondary Schools Under 18s representative team. The dynamic St Patrick’s College Mackay duo were named in a powerful Maroons schoolboys’ squad after stand out performances for the Capricornia region at last week’s State Secondary Schools Carnival in Townsville. Both played key roles to help Capricornia reach the Championship final against South Co
Read more
Steer Meteors Into NBL 1 North Top Four Mackay Meteors have rediscovered their championship groove in the NBL 1 North basketball competition. Joel Khalu’s marauding charges gathered momentum when they registered their seventh victory in eleven matches after trouncing the Cairns Marlins 107-76 last Saturday night at Mackay Basketball Stadium. The win avenged a seven-point loss on the road to the Marlins earlier this month and keeps the Meteors entrenched in the top four. Spearheaded by champ
Read more
In his first season as Mackay Mavericks coach, Brad Somerville exceeded expectations by leading the local gridiron club to the Reef Bowl, coming agonisingly close to their first ever title. “All we wanted to do was play great football and improve throughout the year so the fact that we were able to get there was amazing for the boys,” he said. “They really put in 110% to get us there.” With the 2023 preseason approaching, Mr Somerville is excited by the growth the sport has seen, exemplified by
Read more
Pipped By Tigers In Hostplus Cup Thriller Mackay Cutters Rugby League Club paid homage to their champions of yesteryear but couldn’t share the spoils after another heartbreaking Hostplus Cup loss at BB Print Stadium last weekend. Brisbane Tigers pipped the courageous Cutters 30-28 in a QRL top division thriller to move into second spot but can consider themselves lucky after surviving a monumental challenge from the home side. A last gasp try by winger Jaylan To’o gave the Cutters an opportun
Read more