Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
The Whitsunday Regional Council’s public consultation regarding Short Term Accommodation closes this weekend Sunday 20 July 2025. Open from 11 June Council has asked the community to ‘Have your say” relating to Council’s scheme. The Whitsunday Regional Council announced change to the Whitsunday Planning Scheme 2017 following resident's concerns that short term accommodation was conflicting with the availability of housing for long-term residents. Council said that the changes were to help bet
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The Airport: More Than A Gateway It’s fantastic to see Whitsunday Coast Airport (WCA) reaching new heights and truly flying high. In the past year, we welcomed over 522,000 passengers, smashing our previous record and cementing WCA as one of Australia’s top regional gateways. But this milestone is about much more than numbers. The airport is a powerful driver of our regional economy, creating local jobs, opening doors for small businesses, and strengthening our tourism and hospitality sectors.
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Whitsunday Conference Reveals Next Program Rounds The Whitsundays Chamber of Commerce and Industry has released the next wave of program highlights for the 2025 Whitsunday Business Conference, showcasing eight practical breakout sessions designed to give local businesses real tools, insights, and strategies to grow and adapt in a changing regional economy. The conference—scheduled for Thursday 28 August at TAFE Queensland’s Whitsunday Campus—will feature two more rounds of concurrent sessions.
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As a business owner I spent many years, 10s of 1000s of dollars, and a lot of lost time on training my teams and seeing no difference. Big spend – zero shift. Sound familiar? If you’re like me you gave up. So why doesn’t it work No accountability after the training – Your key people attend the session… and then nothing. No follow-up, no expectations, no change in behavior is tracked. One-off events don’t create new habits - A single-day workshop can't undo years of habits. Without repe
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Coral Sea Marina’s Better Boating Expo, held on Friday, 11th July, welcomed a vibrant crowd of locals, visitors, and members of the boating community for a day packed with education, entertainment, and environmental advocacy at the Coral Sea Marina Gardens. From safety at sea to sustainability tips and local reef knowledge, the expo offered a fun-filled and informative day for all ages. Families and children, in particular, were thrilled by the live life raft demonstration presented by Voluntee
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More than 30 people gathered at the Proserpine Swimming Pool on Saturday, June 28, to honour the extraordinary legacy of Des and Janet Erricker, two beloved community members whose selfless contributions helped shape generations of local swimmers. The unveiling of a commemorative plaque was a long-overdue gesture recognising the couple’s efforts in not only helping to fund and establish the original Proserpine pool, but also teaching countless children to swim, completely free of charge. Des,
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Jack Tyree Remembers I came up to North Queensland after the war where I met an old sailor in Mackay who asked, “Why don’t you come and get a job on the boats on Hayman.” It was when Ansett had just bought the island … so there was a lot of construction to be done and materials to be transported. When I arrived, accommodation was in tents with fly sheets and floorboards in rows for all the workers. There was a ranch house where the meals were served. It was a great time to work there … a good
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For over 15 years, long-time locals Marie Bailey and Marg Hurst have been the warm and welcoming faces greeting visitors at Bowen’s iconic foreshore information booth located by Bowen’s Little Mango. As two of Bowen Tourism and Business's longest-serving volunteers, the pair have become familiar figures for travellers seeking insights into the region's hidden gems. Whether it’s recommending a stroll along the jetty, a swim at Horseshoe Bay, or a scenic visit to Flagstaff Hill and Mullers Lagoon
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It’s been a fantastic start to the school holidays in The Whitsundays. Occupancy is up on the same time last year, and it’s been great to see so many families out making memories, whether it’s a reef trip, a sunset sail, a mainland adventure or hopping between the islands. We’re also celebrating our biggest year ever for website traffic, with 1.16 million page views- up 10% on the year before. Bounce rate is also down 5%, meaning visitors are staying for longer and engaging more deeply with our
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Whitsunday Christian College students are proving themselves as forces to be reckoned with on the athletics circuit, delivering a string of impressive results across regional events and setting their sights on state-level competitions. Annalise Kennelly placed 6th in the Under 16 girls division at the Regional Cross Country Trials in Townsville before powering into 1st place in the 16-19 girls category at the Mackay Marina Run. She is gearing up for another major event: The Queensland Sta
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A huge congratulations to Proserpine State High School Year 7 student Shailee Mewha, who has achieved an outstanding result at the Queensland Athletics Cross Country Championships, taking home the silver medal in a highly competitive 3km event. The championships were held last week at Toogoolawah Golf Club, located northwest of Brisbane, where runners tackled a challenging and hilly course. Shailee showed incredible determination, closely shadowing the first-place runner throughout the race and
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Bigger, Bolder, And Better Than Ever Step right up, Airlie Beach – the circus is back in town! Hudsons Circus is rolling in for a two-week season with its brand-new Bigger, Bolder, Better Than Ever tour, promising jaw-dropping acts, colourful characters and heart-pounding stunts that will thrill audiences from ages 2 to 102. Celebrating 12 years on the road, Hudsons Circus has pulled out all the stops for this year’s blockbuster production. From gravity-defying aerial acts and death-defying m
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National Program Now Open for Applications Women in the Whitsundays with a passion for music are being encouraged to apply for a unique opportunity as part of the 2025 Australian Women in Music (AWM) Queensland Regional & Remote Women’s Music Program. Expressions of interest are now open for the sixth annual program, which invites First Nations women, female, and gender-diverse music practitioners living in regional and remote Queensland to apply for a fully funded, two-day professional develop
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Friday 18th July Airlie Beach Hotel: Aaron Saxon (7pm – 10pm) Grand View Hotel: Nite Lightning (from 8pm) KC's: Retro Joe (from 8pm) Saturday 19th July Airlie Beach Hotel: Geed Up (2pm – 5.30pm) Airlie Beach Hotel: Aaron Saxon (7pm – 10pm) Grand View Hotel: DJ Night (from 8pm) Coral Sea Pavillion: DJ Bad Girl (1pm – 6pm) Sunday 20th July Airlie Beach Hotel: Geed Up (2pm – 5.30pm) Airlie Beach Hotel: Sam McCann (6.30pm – 9.30pm) Grand View Hotel: Nite Lightning (4pm - 8pm) Coral Sea Pavillion:
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July 19 Tassal Airlie Beach Marathon Festival, Races between Port of Airlie & Cannonvale Beach with the Race Precinct at the Sound Stage on the Airlie Foreshore 20 Bowen Community Markets, Hansen Park, from 8:00am 22 Tech Help, Cannonvale Library, 2:00pm-3:45pm 23 Whitsunday Quilters & Hand Crafts Group, Whitsunday Neighbourhood Centre, 9:00am-1:30pm, $5pp. 26 2025 Mayor's Charity Ball, Proserpine Entertainment Centre, 5pm - 12am, $250 27 Bowen Community Markets, Hansen Park, from 8:00am
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Fans of Australian music legend John Farnham are in for a treat next month, with The Whispering Jack Show set to take the stage at The Pub, Airlie Beach Hotel, on Saturday, August 2, from 2pm to 5.30pm. Hailed as the country’s premier Farnham tribute, the high-energy production has been touring nationally for almost 20 years, playing to packed theatres, RSL clubs, festivals, and cruise ships. Backed by a dynamic seven-piece band, the show brings Farnham’s chart-topping hits to life in a perform
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Patches is a gentle three-year-old Mastiff x Bull Arab who was heartbreakingly left behind by his former family. Rescued in poor condition, this big softie has slowly regained his strength—and his trust in people. Now, he’s searching for a fresh start with someone who’ll show him the kindness he deserves. He’s not an energetic dog and is happiest lounging on the couch, enjoying short play sessions or walks by your side. Once Patches trusts you, he’s incredibly affectionate, loyal, and easygoing
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The Great Barrier Reef Festival is thrilled to announce a series of events dedicated to sustainability and environmental education. The Festival's commitment extends to supporting the Traditional Owners, local High Standard Tourism Operators, and the vital work of Master Reef Guides, delivering a collaborative approach to the conservation of the Great Barrier Reef for future generations. The festival’s sustainability focus is headlined by several key events designed for all ages: **Nature Cele
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The Giant Clam certainly lives up to its name. As the largest bivalve mollusc, the giant clam weighs an average of 200kg and can grow over a metre across its shell. They can live for several decades, with some individuals living for over 100 years. These clams are found sitting on the sandy bottom in the warm, shallow waters of the Great Barrier Reef. They are easily spotted by their distinctive, fluted shell and the brightly coloured mantles (the “lips” of the clam). Giant clams are filter f
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Spring Comes Early at Coral Sea While the rest of the Whitsundays are still shaking off the last chill of winter, spring has already sprung in an unexpected place – the seagrass nursery tucked inside Coral Sea Marina in Airlie Beach. Here, rows of sunlit tanks are quietly nurturing the next generation of seagrass meadows, offering a hopeful glimpse into the future of our coastal ecosystems. Zostera muelleri, or “eelgrass”, has produced the first flowers for the year - and in abundance. Found in
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The Tassal Airlie Beach Marathon Festival takes place this weekend of 19/20 July. The McDonald's Airlie Beach Foreshore Magic Mile will be run along the beachfront at 4:00pm on Saturday with a dash for cash. The winner and podium finishers will take home the cash in the open race with the junior runners competing for gold, silver and bronze medals. Sunday will see over 600 runners competing in a variety of races from the 42 to 1 km. These races will be run over several laps between the Port of
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Find out at the Coral Sea Marina Resort Airlie Beach Triathlon Festival! Get ready to feel the energy of the Whitsundays as you dive into the ultimate challenge! The Coral Sea Marina Resort Airlie Beach Triathlon Festival isn't just about setting personal bests; it’s a high-energy friendly competition. This year, we're challenging local businesses, groups of mates, and junior stars to step up and claim the crown for the fastest team in town! Forget stuffy boardrooms and boring team-building se
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The Bowen Polocrosse Club delivered a strong and spirited showing at the recent Nebo Carnival, fielding four chukka teams across all grades and showcasing skill, determination, and true sportsmanship against top teams from around Queensland. In D Grade, Bowen 4—a young side featuring Rhadaya Bidgood, Addison Odger, and a teammate from Wandoan—gained valuable experience with every match. Their improvement and resilience were clear to all watching. Bowen 3 stole the show in C Grade, bouncing bac
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Football - Whitsunday United Football Club Friday, 18 July 6:00 PM – Whitsunday United FC Div 2 Men vs Sarina Saints Div 2 Men at Whitsunday Sportspark 8:00 PM – Whitsunday United FC Div 1 Men vs Magpies FC Div 1 Men at Whitsunday Sportspark Saturday, 19 July 9:30 AM – Whitsunday United FC U13 FQPL vs Mackay Wanderers U13 FQPL Rubies at Whitsunday Sportspark 9:30 AM – Whitsunday United FC U14 vs Mackay Rangers FC U14 Gold at Whitsunday Sportspark 11:00 AM – Dolphins FC U13 Div 1 vs Whitsunday U
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Last Saturday saw Sea Eagles Senior Men and Women head deep into enemy territory to take on Eastern Swans in the gusty and blustery conditions Mackay put on. Sea Eagles Senior Men had a hard task ahead of them taking on the reigning premiers and top of the table Swans. Sea Eagles came out strong but were inaccurate in front of goal with the Swans leading up until the half time break. Sea Eagles regrouped at half time and had control of the play in the third quarter kicking 4 goals 3 points and
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