Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
Dr Dee Nereda Hacking From Bay Massage & Homeopathy They say healing is both an art and a science, but at Bay Massage & Homeopathy, it’s also a legacy. Dr Dee Nereda Hacking offers something refreshingly different – a healing experience grounded in understanding, tradition, and heart. As the owner, physician, and sole practitioner behind Bay Massage & Homeopathy, she has spent nearly three decades blending the science of medicine with the soul of natural healing. It seems Dr Dee was alway
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Earlier this month, 41 cadets from No.105 (City of Mackay) Squadron, Australian Air Force Cadets (AAFC), took to the skies during a day of flying activities at Mackay Airport with Horizon Airways. For many it was their first flight in a light aircraft. A total of 17 cadets participated in Cadet Air Experience (CAE) flights, while 24 undertook Pilot Experience (PEX) flights, all under the supervision of Qualified Flying Instructors. CAE flights allow 3 cadets to fly in a Cessna 172 aircra
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In the heart of the Mackay Whitsunday Isaac region, a quiet revolution is taking place — one led by the women who live, work, and thrive in the agricultural sector. As farming families adapt to shifting roles and the evolving needs of agriculture, this group is stepping up to support and empower a vital part of the industry: women. Reef Catchments Sustainable Agriculture Facilitator, Kellie Harmsworth, lives by the mantra: “If you can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel, march down t
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Last Friday, St Brendan’s Catholic Primary School in the Mackay Northern Beaches officially opened and blessed its Stage 4 and 5 developments in a heartfelt ceremony attended by dignitaries, community members, and proud families. The event marked a major milestone in the school’s journey, which will celebrate its tenth anniversary in 2025. Since opening in 2015, St Brendan’s has grown more than fourfold and is now well on its way to becoming a three-stream school. Principal Karla Falzon
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With quiet strength and immense gratitude, Mackay man Les Hastie faced the toughest chapter of his life, battling both severe kidney disease and pancreatic cancer. Through every hospital visit and round of treatment, it was the steadfast love of his family and the compassionate care of Mackay Base Hospital staff that carried him through. After his passing in March and as part of his family’s healing journey, his wife Wendy and daughter Renae visited the palliative care and renal unit team
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Wilmar AgServices has bolstered its agronomic services with the addition of a third agronomist to the team. Drew McGilchrist, a respected Mackay agronomist with more than 20 years' experience, joined Wilmar AgServices in June. He joins Dev Chalise, a certified practising soil scientist with a PhD, and Marc Tanizar, who graduated from the University of Queensland's Gatton Campus last year with a Master's in Agricultural Science. AgServices Business Manager David Parker said the decision to
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You’re Not Alone! Pelvic floor health is often overlooked, but it’s something everyone should care about. From incontinence to pelvic pain, pelvic floor dysfunction affects millions of people — and the great news is, it’s treatable! As a local pelvic floor and continence physiotherapist, I want to help you understand how simple steps can boost your pelvic health and improve your quality of life. Your pelvic floor is a group of muscles that support your bladder, bowel and reproductive org
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Mackay Regional Council is proud to reaffirm its dedication to supporting local small businesses by re-signing the updated Small Business Friendly Commitment. The commitment will be co-signed in partnership with the Mackay Region Chamber of Commerce. This renewed pledge reflects council’s ongoing role in building a resilient and thriving small business community across the region. Originally signing the charter in March 2021, council continues to champion small business through this str
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Council has introduced five strategic advisory committees to enable councillors to develop the strategic directions outlined in the corporate plan. It’s important that councillors have opportunities to work with the CEO, directors and executive managers to ensure the best possible outcomes for our community. The advisory committees also enable community members, organisations, state agencies, business and industry to inform the committees on matters that help the Mackay region to become t
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The Search For 10 Key Biomarkers Bowel cancer is no longer just a disease of the elderly. In Australia and around the world, there's been a concerning rise in bowel cancer cases among people under 50, and no one yet knows exactly why. Leading cancer researcher Professor Michael Samuel – from the Centre for Cancer Biology based at the University of South Australia and the Basil Hetzel Institute for Translational Health Research – is at the forefront of a major effort to find answers. Back
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Five small and family businesses in the Mirani electorate have received a grant under the Queensland Government’s Business Basics Grants program. The grants program provides support for small and family businesses to grow through access to professional business advice or improvements to digital and marketing systems. Queensland has more than 495,000 small and family businesses and they employ more than 1 million Queenslanders. One of the local recipients of the Crisafulli Government’s B
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Australian captain Alyssa Healy and vice-captain Tahlia McGrath will feature in the upcoming Australia A series to be played against India A across Queensland in August. National selectors have named three separate squads for the series that will feature a trio of T20s in Mackay as well as three 50-over matches and a four-day clash in Brisbane. Current and future stars of Australian and Indian cricket will go head-to-head across the multi-format series as part of an ongoing four-year agr
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What began a decade ago as a heartfelt response to a struggling community has blossomed into Central and North Queensland's largest charity golf day, consistently driving significant funds and fostering immense goodwill. The M&P Services-Key Solutions Group Annual Charity Golf Day is celebrating its remarkable 10th anniversary, poised to shatter all previous fundraising records and cement its legacy as a true community pillar. How a Passion for Golf Paved the Way for Community Support From hu
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The Bluewater Lagoon will close next Monday (June 30) for its winter maintenance period. The facility will undergo important upgrades to the plant room, including pump and instrument upgrades, during that time. Contractor Dowdens Pumping and Water Treatment will be carrying out the upgrades and are expecting works to be completed by mid-September 2025. Works will be carried out Monday to Friday from 6.30am to 6pm and Saturday from 7am to 5pm, as required. There may be some noise associ
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Friday 27th June Crochet & Conversation 9am Join a welcoming morning of crochet, coffee, and conversation with Northern Beaches locals at Beachfront Bar & Restaurant on Bucasia Esplanade. Bring your own tools or borrow from the communal box. All skill levels welcome—just look for the yarn to find the table. Connection and creativity guaranteed. Bucasia Beachfront Bar and Restaurant Farm Fun Open Day For Under 5’s 9.30am Enjoy a special morning of story time, farm-themed fun, and hand
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Calls for improved public transport access in Mackay’s growing Beaconsfield area have been brought to the attention of state leaders, with Member for Whitsunday and Minister for Seniors, Hon Amanda Camm MP, recently meeting with Margaret Lane and residents of Kerrisdale Gardens to hear their concerns. Ms Camm said, “After listening to the needs of the Kerrisdale community, I will take the matter forward to the Minister for Transport, TransLink and Mackay Regional Council to progress great
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By Amanda Wright Queensland’s new LNP Government has wasted no time making its mark, handing down a bold first budget that Premier David Crisafulli says will reset the state’s financial future. Unveiled on Tuesday by Treasurer David Janetzki, the budget comes less than nine months after the October election win and is shaped by what he called “the biggest redistribution of GST revenue in Australian history”. Titled Foundations for a Fresh Start, the budget outlines the new government’s p
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Finance experts are calling on the Federal Government to make it easier for Pacific and Timor-Leste workers that come to Australia to access unclaimed superannuation once their visa expires. More than 31,000 workers participated in the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme in rural and regional Australia in March 2025, helping to fill labour gaps in agriculture, aged care, hospitality and tourism. PALM workers on a nine-month visa can typically accumulate between $3000-4000 in
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Aspiring home owners in Queensland will have access to a new shared equity program designed to lower the entry barrier to the property market. Expressions of interest open July 1 for the Boost to Buy scheme, which allows eligible first home buyers to purchase a home with as little as a 2 per cent deposit, thanks to a government equity contribution of up to 30 per cent for new homes and 25 per cent for existing properties. The initiative, unveiled in the 2025–26 State Budget, is targeted
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They say write what you know, but, this week, what I know is brain fog, a raspy cough that could sand timber, and the unique frustration of watching every hour crawl by during a night of fever, chills and wild temperature swings. I’ve been battling some uninvited flu-like lurgy for the better part of a week, and my body currently feels like it lost a wrestling match with a semi-trailer. So it was oddly poetic when I woke up to a region shrouded in thick fog on Wednesday. The sky outside p
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You might laugh at the term Netflix Bum, but Australia’s growing obsession with streaming, scrolling and sitting is no joke. Whether it’s back-to-back episodes or endless TikTok loops, the hours we spend glued to our screens are quietly taking a toll on our health – and our backsides. According to leading physical activity researcher Professor Corneel Vandelanotte, this modern-day lounge room phenomenon (known to weaken the gluteal muscles) is a symptom of a much bigger problem: Aussies
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By Hannah McNamara A grassroots movement in Mackay is punching beyond barriers in the fight against domestic violence, not just with words, but with gloves, grit and a dash of pink. Last Wednesday, Project Pink held its official opening and activewear fundraiser at the CWA Hall on Gordon Street, offering locals a chance to support the cause with every $5 item sold helping fund vital programs for women and teen girls affected by domestic violence. Founded by local mother and entrepreneur
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With Allison Bekker From Skin Transformations If you’ve ever wished for firmer, clearer, or more youthful-looking skin without going under the knife, there’s a breakthrough worth knowing about — and it’s right here in Mackay. Skin Transformations is one of only six clinics in Australia to use and recommend the cutting-edge Fusion Plasma USA device. Made in Turkey, this non-invasive plasma treatment is designed to rejuvenate, tighten and heal the skin using advanced argon gas-powered plasm
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In a frantic search for her daughter’s beloved bunny, a Mackay mother turned to a local mums and bubs Facebook page, hoping the power of community could help return her little girl’s most cherished companion. “Long shot, but us mummabears will do anything for our munchkins,” she wrote. “Andergrove State School mums and parents, my daughter has misplaced or lost her purple plush bunny at school… She is absolutely devastated.” The treasured toy – a Frankie & Friends plush bunny – carried
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The 2025 Woollam Art on Show Awards & Exhibition is already generating strong national interest, with entries coming in from across Australia and growing support from art societies, artist groups, and regional advocates. Now in its 19th year, the exhibition has become a key fixture in Mackay’s cultural calendar and a recognised highlight of the Mackay Festival of Arts. The $10,000 prize pool and the high standard of presentation continue to attract both emerging and well-established artists fro
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