Issue #

Bowen Golf News

Wednesday’s competition was a single stableford event sponsored by Bowen Golf Club. Ladies’ winner on a countback was Claire Garrod with 33 points, runner up Amanda Parter, 33 also. Men’s winner was Kailan Batchelor, 40 points, runner up Bradley Reinke, 38.

Proserpine Golf Report

Tuesday Competition at Proserpine Golf Club saw Paul Gray perform at the highest standard, setting a great score of 40 points on Tuesday and streaking ahead of the competition.

On The Whitsunday Green

This week’s stableford 9-hole at Whitsunday Green Golf Club was won by Ryan Kenny on 22 points, followed in second by Scott Hayes Williams on 22, and third went to Marc Belke with 21.

Father-Daughter Duo Lead CQ Cricket Team

A group of young cricketers from the Mackay Whitsunday and Central Queensland zones recently formed to represent the Central Infernos at the Queensland U15 Female State Cricket Challenge, led by Coach Paul Anderson and Assistant Coach and Paul’s daughter Ella of Mackay.

Mackay’s All Stars At All Schools

While December has been a month of wrapping up 2022 for most of us, a group of talented Mackay athletes trekked across the country to the All Schools Track and Field Championships held in Adelaide. There was no winding down or early trifle for this group, who put it all on the line in one of the biggest competitions of the season.

On The Greens At Goosies

SOCIAL RESULTS Monday – mixed pairs draw Pam Louis and Gloria Sam. Runners up Bev Svenson and P. Shephard. Lucky draw Eric Skellern and Lawrence Borg.

DYNAMIC DUO

Rubbing shoulders on the training paddock with your NRL idols are moments to savour for any aspiring rugby league colt.

Pioneer Swimmers Attend Queensland Championships

A number of Pioneer swimmers travelled to Brisbane for a week of swimming at the 2022 McDonald’s Queensland Championships held at the Sleeman Aquatic Centre last week. Kylie Smith, who also coaches, swam in three events over three days, swimming in the 50m freestyle, 50m backstroke and 50m butterfly events.

SPRINTING TO SUCCESS

Another huge event is heading to the MARC next year with Athletics North Queensland announcing that the Mackay Regional Council will be the Major Partner and Host of the 2023 North Queensland Championships

Mackay Tri Kids Leave Their Mark On The MARC

The final event in the 3-part Tri-ActiV8 Kids Tri-Series was held on the 11th of December at the MARC (Mackay Aquatic & Recreation Centre) with 76 kids completing either a triathlon or aquathlon.

Mother And Daughter Duo Titans Of The Table

A mother and daughter tasted victory in Mackay Table Tennis night fixture finals this week. Emma Widdup led her team Bream to a 6-1 win over Barra in division 1, while daughter Lily Boland scored wins over Noreen Fredericksen and Simon Hogan as her side Prawn got up 7-4 over Lobster in division 2.

Airlie Beach parkrun

This week 69 people ran, jogged, and walked the waterfront course at Airlie Beach parkrun, of whom 20 were first timers and eight recorded new personal bests. Well done to Ulrika, Shailee, Calvin, Katie, Warren, Blake, Anne, and Jai.

The Difference Eight Weeks Makes

Just over two months ago, scores of Whitsunday locals signed up for an ‘Eight Week Challenge’ to pit themselves against themselves at F45 Airlie Beach.What exactly is an eight-week challenge? It’s in the name: A two-month fitness program combining F45’s signature 45-minute circuit workout classes with a detailed meal plan - and a lot of motivation, extrinsic and intrinsic.

Cannons Claim Medal At Queensland Championships

Seven Cannonvale Cannons participated at the 2022 McDonald’s Queensland Championships in Brisbane last week, representing the club and the region in the relays. Tora Delac, Holly Perrin, Remy Hedges, and Tiana Bell swam an awesome time of 2.03.62 in the Girls 16 years and Under Freestyle relay, while Jacob Dewis, Jy Parkinson, Remy Hedges, and Holly Perrin swam in the Cannons’ Open Mixed Freestyle relay.

A Home Away From Home

Last Thursday marked a momentous milestone for Mackay and district families, the Official Opening Ceremony for the Ronald McDonald Family Room at Mackay Base Hospital.It’s only the second Ronald McDonald Family Room to be opened in North Australia, with the other located in Townsville.

Editor's Note: Hug Your Loved Ones

The tragic events which unfolded west of Toowoomba earlier this week, where two police officers and a good samaritan local were slain by gunmen on a remote property, provided a chilling reminder that nothing on Earth is ever promised, especially time.

Kindness At Christmas Lunch

Mackay Life recently received an anonymous email from a group of ladies who were absolutely blown away with the kindness and Christmas spirit of an unknown individual.

LOCAL VOICES HEARD

Mackay locals said ‘NO’ to draft port expansion plans released by the state government, saying the expansion would put fragile environmental sites including multiple turtle nesting sites at severe risk.

New Guide Shows Businesses How To Be More Accessible

Mayor Greg Williamson visited Caneland Central last week to launch an exciting new guide aimed at helping businesses to grow their customer bases.The Good Access Equals Good Business guide was created by council and the Access and Inclusion Reference Group, which is made up of local stakeholders from the disability community.

Regional Listening Tour Comes To Mackay

The Nationals Regional Listening Tour kicked off in Queensland last week, starting in Dawson, with leaders and MPs of the National Party meeting with locals across the region, to hear about the issues affecting them.

Housing Summit Report Released

A Housing Roundtable was conducted in Mackay last week to identify potential solutions to the region’s housing stress following the release of the Queensland Housing Summit Outcomes Report.

ON THE MOVE

It’s no secret that Queensland is the place to be, and that locally, Mackay has experienced unprecedented population growth. In fact, Aussies are flocking to Queensland at the fastest pace in 20 years and in the five years to 2021, more people moved interstate to Queensland than any other state or territory.

Paving Paths For Investors

Community Spirit At Cummins

Domestic violence doesn’t take a break for the holidays, in fact, it often gets worse.Being able to support vulnerable women and children in need year-round is the aim of Broken Ballerina Inc. who were the recipients of 10 hampers and a $5,000USD grant from Cummins earlier this week.Broken Ballerina Inc. Founder Jules Thompson said they are so grateful to have received these donations from the team at Cummins as it will enable them to help many people.

Local Firefighters Join NSW Flood Rescue

Two Mackay firefighters were recently deployed to southern New South Wales to assist in the response to the state’s ongoing flood event.Parts of NSW have been in a flood crisis for almost three months with emergency services from across the country rallying to assist.Carl Jackson and Patrick McGuire of Mackay Fire and Rescue joined two firefighters from Gladstone and four from Airlie Beach, travelling to the NSW town of Deniliquin for seven days in late November.