Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
At Club Northern Beaches Club Northern Beaches, winner of the 2025 Australian Wedding Industry Awards for Whitsundays & Mackay, is a licensed wedding venue renowned for exceptional service and stunning event spaces. Located in the charming Northern Beaches of Mackay, Queensland, it offers the ambience of a tropical retreat while being only 20 minutes from the Mackay CBD. Boasting three unique venues within the facility, Club Northern Beaches is a destination that can host exceptional and
Read more-1753744992.jpg)
Mackay And Whitsundays Premier Wedding Videographer A creative force lighting up the wedding scene, SunBuzz Media has been officially crowned the number one Wedding Videographer for the Whitsundays and Mackay region at the 2025 Australian Wedding Industry Awards. At the heart of this rising creative powerhouse are wedding filmmakers Stacie Howarth and Simone Gallagher – longtime friends, collaborators, and the visionary duo behind the lens. With more than a decade of combined experience i
Read more
Queensland’s Award-Winning Celebrant When it comes to saying "I do," Barb Baretta is the name couples trust to make their moment special. Crowned the 2025 Wedding Industry Award winner for Civil Marriage Celebrant in the Whitsundays and Mackay region, Barb has become one of Queensland’s most respected and sought-after wedding celebrants. In just eight years, she has officiated nearly 200 weddings, combining experience, professionalism, and a heartfelt personal touch that has earned her a
Read more
Local Advocate Set To Sparkle on National Stage By Hannah McNamara Jenna Kerschbaumer is redefining the pageantry world, turning years of heartache into a mission grounded in confidence-building - not just for herself, but for the wonderful women around her. This October, she’ll step onto the Melbourne stage to compete in the Ultimate International Miss Australia pageant, proudly promoting self-love and empowerment with every stride. Throughout school, Jenna was bullied for her appearanc
Read more
At Alman Partners True Wealth, we’re passionate about helping people live their best lives - both our clients and our team. That’s why we’re proud to be part of the Mackay Careers Expo, where we’ll be showcasing exciting career pathways in the profession of financial advice. Whether you're a student, graduate, or professional seeking a meaningful career change, our firm offers more than just a job - we offer a future. With our Trusted Adviser Development Program, designed to guide aspirin
Read more
Empowering Our Community - Lessons Learned And Resources Discovered Since being elected to council in April last year, I’ve learned just how much valuable information and support is available to our community and just how many residents don’t know it exists. That realisation has become one of the biggest lessons of my first year and sparked a personal mission to help bridge that gap. One of the best tools I’ve come across is the Snap Send Solve app. This easy-to-use platform allows resi
Read more
At The Mackay Careers Expo Local students and jobseekers will have the chance to learn more about careers in Real Estate Sales, Commercial Sales, Leasing and Management, Finance, Insurance, Property Management, and Financial Planning when Gardian takes part in this year’s Mackay Careers Expo. The well-established, family-owned firm will be located at Site 96 at the Mackay Showgrounds, where representatives from across the business will be available to discuss the wide range of roles and o
Read more
Endless Pathways, Shared Purpose: Enrich Hearts, Minds And Futures Are you passionate about working with children and making a real difference? Whether you're just beginning your career or pursuing long-term goals, Catholic Education – Diocese of Rockhampton (CEDR) offers a rich tapestry of career pathways grounded in the Catholic faith tradition. Each step is an opportunity to accompany students on their journeys of personal and spiritual growth. Discover Your Pathway Begin your journey
Read more
Bright skies and high spirits greeted racing fans on Saturday, 26 July 2025, as the Mackay Turf Club played host to the premier feature of its summer racing calendar — the Ladbrokes Mackay Cup. Part of the Northern Winter Carnival, the highly anticipated 2000-metre handicap boasted a total prize pool of $150,000, drawing elite trainers, jockeys, and thoroughbreds to compete at Mackay Racecourse in Ooralea. The reigning champion Hype, piloted by Ryan Wiggins, struck again, defending the ti
Read more
The great diversity of Queensland’s 313 Catholic schools will be the focus of this year’s Catholic Education Week which runs from 27 July to 2 August. The theme for this year’s celebrations is Communities of Faith Hope, and Love. Queensland Catholic Education Commission (QCEC) Executive Director Mr Allan Blagaich said the theme reflected the broad range of social, economic, religious and cultural backgrounds of the 162 000 students in Catholic schools. “Catholic Education Week is a wond
Read more
The Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) is proud to announce that the highly prestigious Shirley Treacy Awards will take centre stage in Mackay on Sunday 10 August 2025, at The Theatre at the Conservatorium of Music, providing an opportunity to celebrate and reward the region’s RAD ballet students. Named in honour of Shirley Treacy OAM – a trailblazing Townsville-born dance educator, examiner and passionate advocate for regional dance – these Awards are among the newest on the RAD’s annual calen
Read more
Queensland Symphony Orchestra Returns To Mackay For Northern Lights And Southern Stars For the first time in over a decade, Mackay will welcome the full forces of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra (QSO) for their unforgettable performance, Northern Lights & Southern Stars on Thursday 30 October 2025 at the Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre (MECC). “This is the real McCoy” said Andrew Bobeldyk, Executive Manager of MECC and Events. “Not a chamber group, not a scaled down version,
Read more
Are you ready? Film Arts Mackay have some excellent films lined up this year, showcasing a diverse selection of cinema from around the world. Adding to the excitement, they also have a couple of exciting bonuses, Q&A sessions with the filmmakers of Road to the North and Strange Creatures. Upcoming Films: Friday, 1st August - BCC Mt Pleasant Cinemas 7.00pm – Holy Cow & Opening Night Event $35pp (FAM members & Non-members) Includes wine and French- inspired finger food Saturday, 2nd Augu
Read more
A Creative Workshop For Beginners If you’ve ever wanted to write but weren’t sure where to begin, this free storytelling workshop is for you. The Essentials of Storytelling workshop will be held at the Dudley Denny Library on Saturday, 16 August, and is designed for anyone aged 15 and up who wants to explore the fundamentals of creative writing in a relaxed, welcoming setting. This interactive two-hour session – presented by publishing consultant 852 Press director Dr Julia Evans and acco
Read more
Friday 1st August ** Friday Flow 5pm The River of Life Festival returns to the Mackay Waterfront from August 1, bringing a vibrant evening of connection and creativity every second Friday from 5pm to 8.30pm. Visitors can enjoy live music, interactive workshops, lawn games, botanical drinks from Elixir Garden Bar, and free children's art. Warm soup or dahl will also be available for purchase. Bluewater Quay Daryl McKenzie Kicks Off CQUniversity Schools Jazz Festival 6pm Australian jazz icon
Read more
What started as a hopeful swing at doing some good has turned into a powerhouse of philanthropy, as the 10th Annual M&P Services–Key Solutions Group Charity Golf Day hit the green at Mackay Golf Club last Friday — raising a record-breaking $75,178 for local charities. With this year’s success, the event has now raised more than $350,000 across its decade-long history, cementing its reputation as Central and North Queensland’s premier fundraising golf day. And if you ask event founder Max
Read more
Mackay’s Runners And Riders Rise To The Challenge Mackay Road Runners Tackle Eungella KOM Despite Damp Conditions RUNNING The Pioneer Valley was abuzz early Sunday morning for the annual Eungella King of the Mountain race, which started at 7am from Netherdale. Despite damp conditions, over 100 runners and cyclists participated in what organisers hailed as a huge success. The event has enjoyed the longstanding support of sponsors including the Eungella Chalet, which has backed the rac
Read more
UNDERWATER HOCKEY In a captivating display of skill and teamwork, the junior club members showcased the bright future ahead for the club’s young athletes. The evening kicked off with a series of flicking drills, setting the stage for a competitive and engaging 6 v 5 match. Owen, Isabelle, and Macca stood out with consistent excellence, demonstrating remarkable control and strategy throughout the game. However, the MVP award undoubtedly went to the Bollard boys. Their performance elevated
Read more.jpg)
Mackay Celebrates Olympic Countdown In Style With the countdown to Brisbane 2032 well underway, Mackay is stepping into the Olympic spotlight—celebrating seven years to go with a powerful tribute to our region’s growing legacy and the rising stars who could one day represent us on the world stage. As an official Olympic cricket venue, Mackay is now part of sporting history. Member for Mackay, Nigel Dalton MP joined young swimmers, coaches, and community leaders to celebrate the Olympic m
Read more
BRIDGE The second round of the Founders Teams event was won by team Roland Taylor. One more week to go, with each team in with a chance. The Novice and Mentors was played on Sunday with a great turn out. June incentive awards go to Martin Pearce and Laura Howland. Weekly Results Monday 21 June 2025 –- 7 Table Mitchell Green Points N/S E/W 1st Janelle Conroy / Noel Bugeia 1st Geoff Taylor / Nancy Martin 2nd Jewel Schmidt / Janine Rodgers 2nd David Ting / Eric Goodchild 3rd Marilin Robins
Read more
On Wednesday 30 July, Gilmour Space Technologies became the first company to launch an Australian-made orbital launch vehicle from Australian soil. While the flight lasted only around 14 seconds, Gilmour Space described the maiden launch as a strong and promising result. “For a maiden test flight, especially after an extended 18-month wait on the pad for final approvals, this is a strong result and a major step forward for Australia’s sovereign space capability,” the company said on Facebook.
Read more
A heartfelt message of gratitude has been shared by a local woman after she and her two-year-old were left stranded in the dark when their trailer came loose just five minutes from Proserpine. “I want to extend my deepest gratitude to the wonderful couple just 5 minutes from Proserpine who found me and my two year old stranded on the road when my trailer pin broke and came off my car,” she wrote in a public post. “It was pitch black, and I was stuck, feeling pretty helpless. Your kindness in h
Read more
Hello everyone, I hope you’ve all had a great week. Rachael is on holiday in Italy at the moment so I’m in the editor’s seat. With Ruth on holiday too, it’s been a very busy week. Whilst it’s been busy, I think it’s a good thing. I have recently quit nicotine. I had been using nicotine on and off for about three and half years and I can proudly say I have quit and I do not want to use it ever again. I was inspired by my friend who recently quit. In the past we both used vapes, the occasional
Read more
The Forensic Crash Unit is investigating a fatal traffic crash in Cannon Valley on 28 July. Around 10.30am, a dual-cab ute was headed south on Shute Harbour Road when it was involved in a collision with a small truck and a motorhome. The driver and sole occupant of the ute, a 63-year-old Shute Harbour man, died at the scene. The driver and sole occupant of the small truck was airlifted to Mackay Base Hospital, where he remains in a critical condition. At 10.50am that morning, BMA CQ Rescue we
Read more
Local Performer Brings Sinatra To Life A love of musical theatre sparked on a childhood cruise has grown into a full-blown stage career for one local performer, Nathaniel Savy is now bringing a nostalgic tribute to Frank Sinatra to the Proserpine Entertainment Centre. To Be Frank is more than just a collection of Sinatra’s greatest hits, it’s a cabaret-style experience, blending live music with personal stories. “It’s all the famous songs people love, but connected with monologues,” Nathaniel
Read more