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Could trauma sometimes look like ADHD?
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and trauma are very different experiences, but some of the difficulties they create can look remarkably similar. Problems with concentration, forgetfulness, restlessness, impulsivity, irritability, emotional regulation and sleep can occur in both.
This can make understanding what is really happening more complicated than simply ticking off a list of ADHD symptoms.
A child who has experienced ongoing stress or trauma may appear distracted, restless, impulsive or emotionally reactive. An adult who has lived through trauma may struggle to concentrate, organise everyday tasks or regulate their emotions. These difficulties can sometimes look like ADHD, particularly when the impact of trauma has been present for a long time.
At the same time, someone with ADHD may also experience trauma during their lifetime. ADHD and trauma can therefore exist together, making it important not to assume that one explanation automatically rules out the other.
Understanding when the difficulties started is an important part of assessment. ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition, with symptoms beginning in childhood, whereas trauma-related difficulties may develop or become more noticeable following traumatic experiences. However, when adversity occurs early in life or continues over time, the picture can be much more complex.
There is also an important reminder here: the body can hold the score of what we have experienced.
Trauma does not simply affect our thoughts or memories. Stress can influence the way the body responds to perceived threat, including sleep, muscle tension, arousal, energy, concentration and emotional responses. Sometimes the body continues to respond as though it needs to remain alert, even when the person consciously knows they are safe.
This is one reason it is important to look at the whole person rather than focusing only on a list of symptoms.
A thorough assessment considers developmental history, experiences of trauma and adversity, current functioning and how difficulties occur across different environments. Information from parents, teachers, partners or other important people can also help build a clearer picture. Most importantly, the person's own understanding of their experiences needs to be heard.
At Personal Transitions, we believe that understanding why someone is struggling is just as important as identifying what they are struggling with. ADHD, trauma or both may require different approaches, and getting the formulation right helps guide an appropriate treatment plan.
If you or your child are experiencing difficulties with attention, emotional regulation, behaviour or coping, seeking a comprehensive assessment can be an important first step.
For more support with ADHD, trauma or emotional wellbeing, visit Personal Transitions- https://www.personaltransitions.com.au/ or contact Cristie on 0488 667 264 or Sharon on 0418 708 214.
Donna Lawrence and Dr Paul Henderson. Photo supplied: Donna Lawrence
Donna Lawrence shared a personal side of her life through art, when her exhibition opened at the Whitsunday Sailing Club on Saturday 3rd October.
Held as part of Mental Health Week, the free community opening began at 3pm and introduced work exploring Donna’s lived experience with bipolar disorder.
“I was really, really pleased with the turnout,” Donna said.
“A lot of people came that I didn’t even know. So that was really fantastic.”
The nationally recognised visual artist used her work to express emotions and experiences that can be difficult to explain in conversation, offering a window into life with mental health challenges.
“My work actually aims to describe emotions or moods that occur … from day to day, you know, ups and downs and everything in between,” Donna said.
The exhibition invited people to spend time with those experiences, consider another perspective and begin conversations of their own.
While the artwork was central to the afternoon, the opening allowed people to meet Donna and learn first-hand about the personal journey behind her creative practice. Her willingness to share that part of her life gave the exhibition a purpose beyond displaying her work.
Visitors on Saturday night were also treated to a talk by Mackay psychiatrist Dr Paul Henderson, who helped support the event’s focus on mental health awareness.
“The speech by Paul Henderson was just beautiful, it made a lot of people cry,” Donna said.
The exhibit will remain up in the Sailing Club till Monday 12th October.
A sea of pink. Photos supplied: Colin Edgerton
Port Denison Gun Club turned pink on 27th September, raising $4,760 for breast cancer support, with the club topping up the donation to $5,000.
Sponsored by Mardos Mangoes, the fundraiser attracted 44 shooters for a day of competition, with donated raffle prizes and pink morning teas adding a big of flavour to the meet.
“Even our morning teas were all pink, we had marshmallows and cakes, everything was pink,” said Club Secretary Colin Edgerton.
Shooters competed in a 25-target point score event and a 75-target Champion of Champions event, shot from 18 metres, which drew interest from competitors across the Burdekin, Townsville and Mackay areas.
Following the successful event, members plan a blue-themed fundraiser supporting prostate cancer awareness next year.
“It went really well, and because it was such a success, we’re going to do it again next year but next year, we’re going to do it for prostate cancer,” Colin said.
Meet Grundy, a nine-year-old Kelpie cross with a heart of gold and plenty of love left to give.
Calm, confident and loyal, Grundy is the kind of dog who loves being by your side. He enjoys his daily walks, gets along well with other dogs and is great with kids.
Grundy takes his role as a yard protector seriously, but once the job is done, he’s happiest relaxing with his people.
He would suit a calm family home with secure fencing or a ground-floor apartment. Grundy must be allowed to sleep inside and isn’t suited to homes with cats or chickens.
He is desexed, vaccinated, microchipped, heartworm negative and up to date with flea, tick and worming treatments.
After nine years of giving his loyalty and love, Grundy is ready to find someone who will give it back.
Grundy’s adoption fee is $300 and he is available now through Bowen Collinsville Pet Rescue.
To enquire, send the rescue a direct message to Bowen Collinsville Pet Rescue or email bcpri.adoptions@gmail.com with your name, phone number and “Grundy”.
Ocean Rafting Scenic Flights. Photo supplied
Tourism in the Whitsundays is riding high, with Bowen’s Visitor Information Centre welcoming a record number of visitors in a single day and international spending across the region reaching an all-time high.
The latest figures released by Tourism Whitsundays show international visitor spending reached a record $273 million in the year ending June 2026, up 26.9 per cent on the previous year. Overseas travellers were also taking their time on their Whitsundays holidays, staying an average of 7.8 nights and spending $1,542 per person.
“International expenditure is at an all time high and visitors from around the world are now staying longer in the region than ever before, indicating that global markets have real confidence in The Whitsundays and the experiences on offer here,” said Tourism Whitsundays CEO Tim Booth.
Aussies were also making their presence felt, with domestic travellers contributing $997 million in spending and 678,000 Australians staying overnight in the region.
For local businesses, the figures reflect a positive year, with the Sales and Marketing Captain for Ocean Rafting Nathan Fleming saying the team had noticed strong international presence, while also enjoying the Aussie faces that simply wanted to escape the cold.
“Especially with our scenic flights, it seems to be a bucket list for a lot of people, but also our boat portion as well,” he said.
“[Aussies] do like to get out of the old cold weather and explore the nicer, warmer climate, especially over that winter period over the last few months.”
Bowen’s Visitor Information Centre also enjoyed a strong financial year, with the team beside the Big Mango welcoming more than 65,000 visitors through its doors, up 16 per cent on the previous year.
That momentum continued into its busiest September yet, with 8,576 people stopping by during the month. This included a record day on 24th September, when the team greeted 552 visitors.
This broke the previous records from last September when the team saw 545 people, a result that Manager of Bowen Tourism and Business Leanne Abernethy was pleasantly surprised with.
“We didn’t think we would ever be able to top those numbers again, but we did,” she said.
“We have certainly noticed an increase in the number of people making a daytrip to Bowen when staying in Airlie Beach for the holidays.
“They absolutely love our beaches, walks and lookouts and the fact you can snorkel directly off the beach.”
Despite the strong results, concerns remain over changes to working holiday visas, with businesses such as Ocean Rafting hoping the proposal is rectified quickly in order to keep this success.
“That's a demographic for us, not just coming to play in the Whitsundays, but also work in the Whitsundays as well,” he said.
“So we do need to get that sorted to hopefully keep that youth and adventure market driving through for us because that's a very big key part of our market.”
With sweeping Coral Sea views and the heart of town just a short walk away, Pinnacles is already known and loved by visitors to Airlie Beach. But now the team has another reason to celebrate. Pinnacles has been named a finalist in the 2026 Queensland Tourism Awards in the Self-Contained Accommodation category.
Members of the team will join fellow Whitsundays tourism operators at the awards in November, hoping to bring home gold.
"We’re incredibly proud to once again be a Queensland Tourism Awards finalist and represent the Whitsundays,” said Pinnacles Marketing Manager Therese Moran.
“It’s always a wonderful opportunity to come together and celebrate our tourism industry and the people behind it.
“We wish all our fellow Whitsundays finalists the very best in November – hopefully there’ll be plenty of gold coming home to the Whitsundays."
For visitors making Airlie Beach their home for a few days, Pinnacles offers space to unpack and ease into the local lifestyle.
With one to three bedroom apartments, with fully equipped kitchens, these spaces give guests room to settle in and find their own holiday rhythm.
A quiet evening might mean a soak in the spa or time on the balcony overlooking the Coral Sea, with town just a walk down the hill.
At the heart of it all is that home-away-from-home feeling, that has earned pinnacles the gold in this category the last 3 years.
Glenn Wolmal, Leanne Abernethy and Cindy Tonks. Photo source: Leanne Abernethy
The Bowen Visitor Information Centre is a finalist in the Queensland Tourism Awards, along with the dedicated team of Bowen Tourism and Business volunteers.
Bowen Tourism and Business Manager Leanne Abernethy said being named a finalist at State level was an honour and something the entire team was very proud of.
“To be finalists in more than one category is awesome and a wonderful recognition of the hard work of our staff and volunteers,” she said.
The Bowen Visitor Information Centre welcomed a record number of visitors during the past financial year, with more than 65,000 people calling into the centre beside the Big Mango.
“Our visitor numbers continue to grow, and our team works hard every day to make sure everyone who walks through the doors receives a warm welcome and great local advice,” Leanne said.
The Bowen Tourism and Business volunteers are once again among the finalists, building on last year’s Bronze in the state awards’ volunteer category.
“Our volunteers go above and beyond every day to ensure our visitors feel very welcome,” Leanne said.
“The number of volunteers has increased in the past 12 months, and they are all incredibly dedicated to promoting Bowen and the wider Whitsundays region.
“Their knowledge of the local area is amazing, and they greet every visitor with a smile.
“We simply couldn’t provide the level of service we do without them.”
Three representatives from Bowen Tourism and Business will attend the Queensland Tourism Awards on November 6 on the Gold Coast.
Whitsunday Coast Airport and Shute Harbour Marine Terminal are among nine local finalists at the upcoming Queensland Tourism Awards. Photos supplied
There is plenty to celebrate in the Whitsundays, with nine of our region’s tourism businesses, organisations and facilities named finalists in the 2026 Queensland Tourism Awards.
From Bowen to Airlie Beach, our islands and gateways to the Great Barrier Reef, the finalists are a great snapshot of the people, places and experiences that make the Whitsundays one of Australia’s leading visitor destinations.
This year’s Whitsunday finalists include Bowen Tourism and Business Volunteers, Bowen Visitor Information Centre, Iconic Whitsunday Adventures, InterContinental Hayman Great Barrier Reef, Pinnacles Airlie Beach, Tourism Whitsundays and Whitsunday Escape, along with two of Council’s own facilities, Whitsunday Coast Airport and Shute Harbour Marine Terminal.
Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor Ry Collins said having such a strong field of local finalists was something the whole region could celebrate.
“To have nine Whitsunday finalists recognised on the Queensland stage is a fantastic achievement and I congratulate every one of them,” Mayor Collins said.
“Tourism is part of the lifeblood of the Whitsundays and behind every great visitor experience are passionate people who work hard every day to make our region shine.”
Council is especially proud to see Whitsunday Coast Airport and Shute Harbour Marine Terminal among the finalists, with both playing an important role as gateways connecting visitors with the Whitsundays.
Mayor Collins said the recognition belonged to the Council teams behind both operations.
“I’m extremely proud of our teams at Whitsunday Coast Airport and Shute Harbour Marine Terminal. They put an enormous amount of work into delivering great facilities and a positive experience for the thousands of people who travel through these gateways.”
“Being named finalists is great recognition for their hard work, but this is also about celebrating the success of our entire tourism industry.”
Tourism in the Whitsundays is a team effort.
Every visitor who arrives here experiences much more than our beaches, islands and reef. They meet the volunteers welcoming people to Bowen, tourism operators taking visitors onto the water, accommodation and hospitality teams, airport and terminal staff and the many local businesses that help make a Whitsunday holiday memorable.
The recognition also comes during another strong year for the region, with Whitsunday Coast Airport continuing to record strong passenger growth and playing an increasingly important role in connecting the region with the rest of Australia.
Mayor Collins said the finalists reflected the quality and passion found right across the Whitsundays.
“These finalists are great ambassadors for our region and should be proud of what they have achieved.
“On behalf of the Council and our community, congratulations to all nine finalists and good luck on awards night. The Whitsundays will be cheering you on.”
Allan Molistic, president of the Whitsundays Chamber of Commerce
One of the priorities of the Whitsundays Chamber of Commerce and Industry is making sure the issues affecting Whitsunday businesses are heard – not just locally, but in the regional and national conversations where decisions are made.
There are a few areas where the Chamber has been particularly active recently.
Standing up for our regional workforce
Alongside Chambers from across Central, North and Far North Queensland, we have joined a united call for the Federal Government to review proposed changes to the Working Holiday Maker visa program before they are implemented. For many Whitsunday businesses, particularly in tourism and hospitality, these workers are an important part of the workforce.
Our message is simple: regional Queensland needs more workers, not fewer. We are calling for meaningful consultation with regional businesses, a review of the 88-day regional work requirement and regional classifications that better reflect the realities of today’s workforce.
Speaking up on the cost of doing business
The latest Reserve Bank interest rate increase to 4.6 per cent adds another pressure point for businesses already dealing with higher operating, energy and fuel costs, workforce challenges and increasing regulatory requirements.
The Chamber continues to support the broader business community’s call for governments to focus on creating the conditions businesses need to invest, employ and grow – including improving productivity, access to skills and innovation, while reducing unnecessary red tape.
Keeping businesses informed about change
There have also been some important changes to card payment surcharges from 1 October. Businesses can no longer add surcharges for EFTPOS, Mastercard or Visa debit, credit and prepaid card payments, while American Express is also removing surcharges voluntarily.
While these changes are intended to improve transparency and competition in payment services, they are another example of the practical changes businesses need to understand and implement.
These issues are different, but they all come back to the same thing: businesses need certainty, practical policy, and the right conditions to get on with investing, employing, and growing.
That is what we want the Chamber to keep doing – listening to our members, taking their concerns forward, and working collectively to make sure the Whitsundays has a strong voice at the table.
Recent bushfires across the Whitsunday Region, including fires that have caused road and highway closures, are a timely reminder of just how quickly conditions can change.
Thankfully, our emergency services have responded quickly but seeing how fast these fires can develop reinforces the importance of being prepared.
Across parts of the Whitsundays, conditions are drying out quickly.
We live in North Queensland and understand that natural hazards are part of life here. Bushfires, severe storms, flooding and cyclones are very different events, but the same principle applies to all of them: the best time to prepare is before there is an emergency.
For people living in or near bushfire-prone areas, now is a good opportunity to take a walk around the property.
Keep grass and vegetation maintained, clear leaves and other combustible material from around buildings, make sure access to your property is clear and think about what you would do if fire threatened your area.
Most importantly, have a Bushfire Survival Plan and make sure everyone in your household knows it.
Where would you go? What would you take? What happens with pets? How would you stay informed?
Those decisions are much easier to make around the kitchen table than when there is smoke in the air and an emergency warning on your phone.
It is equally important to know where you will get reliable information. Council’s Disaster Dashboard is worth bookmarking now, providing a central source for local warnings, road conditions and other information during an emergency.
And while bushfire is front of mind at the moment, it won’t be long before our attention turns towards the summer storm and cyclone season.
We can’t control what the weather throws at us, but we can control how prepared our households and properties are.
Recent bushfires across the Whitsunday Region have also shown the best of our community — people looking out for each other and supporting our emergency services and first responders.
Their efforts are a reminder that we all have a part to play. The best thing the rest of us can do is make sure our homes, properties and families are prepared before an emergency happens.
Years of community fundraising and long construction days are about to become a place to call home for women facing homelessness, with Proserpine’s tiny homes project preparing to open its doors.
Whitsunday Mayor Ry Collins will cut the ribbon at the official opening on Thursday 19th November, marking a milestone for everyone who has helped bring the project to life.
Volunteer project coordinator Sandy Clark said support had come from across the Whitsundays, with thousands of people contributing over the years.
The community had played an important part, attending a number of events over several years Sandy said.
Serious fundraising began around 2022, with locals gathering for dinners and other events to help turn the idea into something tangible. Raffles and auctions added to the funds raised, while building businesses donated materials or offered discounted prices.
The project was initiated by Whitsunday Housing Company Limited, a charity providing rental housing for vulnerable community members, and focuses on women aged 50 and over who are experiencing homelessness, including those needing somewhere to stay in an emergency.
“Which could be anything like a broken relationship, ill health, it could be just the fact that their skills are no longer relevant,” Sandy said.
“If they’re sleeping rough, they’re at the risk of being injured or taken advantage of.”
Beyond accommodation, the team hopes to help residents build skills that could open a path back into employment.
“So we’re also going to try and help them to reskill if we can,” Sandy said.
“So that they can get back to work and get a job and work into something full-time.”
Photo supplied: Whitsundays Regional Council
Whitsunday Coast Airport continues to punch above its weight on the national stage, recording the second-highest passenger growth of any major Australian airport.
The latest Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics (BITRE) figures show the Council-owned airport recorded passenger growth of 10.6 per cent for the year ending June 2026, second only to Karratha Airport at 11.6 per cent.
The result was more than three times the national passenger growth rate of 3.1 per cent and well ahead of many of Australia’s larger airports.
Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor Ry Collins said the latest figures were another strong vote of confidence in the Whitsundays as a destination and reflected the growing importance of Whitsunday Coast Airport to the regional economy.
“Whitsunday Coast Airport might be a regional airport, but it continues to deliver some seriously big results for our region,” Mayor Collins said.
“To be the second-fastest growing airport in Australia is a fantastic result and shows just how strong demand for the Whitsundays continues to be.
“Our airport is much more than somewhere people arrive and depart. It is one of the key gateways to the Whitsundays and a major driver of our visitor economy.
“Every extra passenger coming through the terminal potentially means another visitor staying in our accommodation, eating in our restaurants, booking a tour and spending money with local businesses.”
Mayor Collins said the result also reflected strong partnerships with airlines to increase capacity and improve connectivity into the region.
“We’ve worked hard with our airline partners to grow services and make it easier for people to fly directly into the heart of the Great Barrier Reef,” he said.
“The benefit is not just for tourism. Better connectivity also gives our residents more choice and makes the Whitsundays an even more attractive place to live, work and invest.”
The strong passenger figures come as Whitsunday Coast Airport continues to earn recognition within the tourism industry, with the airport also in the running for national tourism honours.
Mayor Collins said the results and national recognition were something the community could be proud of, but the focus was firmly on what comes next.
“We’re not interested in sitting back and patting ourselves on the back. We want to keep growing routes, building capacity and giving locals more choice about where and when they can fly,” he said.
“We know the Whitsundays is a destination people want to visit, so our job is to keep opening up opportunities to get them here while making sure our community benefits from that growth.
“We’ve got a regional airport serving a world-class destination, and we’re only getting started.”
Whitsundays Wind Farm Action Group. Photo supplied
By Zach Houtenville
In a decision welcomed by many local residents, Whitsunday Regional Council has rejected Alinta Energy’s application for a 160-metre meteorological mast linked to the proposed Mount Challenger Wind Farm.
The decision came at the council meeting in Bowen on the 23rd September where the council came to a unanimous decision.
“For me, it came down to the size and visibility of the structure, the rural character of the area and what we heard from the people who live there,” said Whitsunday Mayor Ry Collins.
“After weighing all of that up, I wasn’t satisfied a structure of that scale in that location was the right planning outcome.”
For the Whitsundays Wind Warm Action Group, the decision adds to another recent streak of milestone moments over the 12 months span since the project was first proposed, including a 6,000-signature petition and the developer withdrawing part of the proposed project.
“We were stoked as a community,” said member of the Whitsundays Wind Farm Action Group Alysha Lee.
“For us, it definitely signals that the council are listening.”
Alinta Energy said the mast was intended to measure wind conditions in the northern project area, helping the company decide how to proceed. It will now consider Council’s reasons for rejecting the application before deciding its next move.
“We acknowledge Council’s decision and will review its reasons in detail once the Decision Notice is issued before considering next steps for the project,” an Alinta Energy spokesperson said.
Council doors are still opened to future energy projects, with a willingness to work with developers who plan carefully and engage with local communities.
“I don’t see this as Council saying no to renewable energy or investment in our region,” Mayor Collins said.
“I support a balanced energy mix and I believe the Whitsundays has a role to play in future energy development, but that doesn’t mean every project is right for every location.
“What we are saying is that development needs to be in the right place, planned properly and take into account the communities that are being asked to live alongside it.”
The Wind Farm Action Group is now eager to hear Alinta’s next steps, with Alysha hoping that the next milestone will be a full withdrawal from the project.
“We’ll be approaching Alinta and asking when they’re pulling out of this project,” she said.
The group also hopes Council’s upcoming Community Benefit Agreement policy will give developers and landholders clearer guidance on suitable locations for renewable energy projects.
Mayor Ry Collins said the policy would consider what host communities receive in return, alongside impacts on nearby residents, local jobs and procurement, housing and infrastructure pressures, and the protection of agricultural land and the environment.
“At the end of the day, communities should see a genuine local benefit from hosting these major projects,” he said.
“As I said at the Council meeting, the transition to new forms of energy needs to be done with communities, not simply around them.”
Photo source: Skyway Development
The Whitsunday Skyway has been promoted as a game-changing tourism project for Airlie Beach, but residents living near the proposed route say they still have questions about consultation and the project’s changed footprint.
The state government announced the project’s Prescribed Project status on 3rd June, a move intended to streamline approvals for the proposed 1.8-kilometre cableway which has been officially planned since 2026 but a point of discussion for 20 years.
The project, backed by a $5 million state government commitment, is expected to include a summit station, luge-style ride, dining and cultural experiences, events facilities and walking tracks, with the government saying it could create up to 390 jobs during construction and at least 80 jobs once complete.
“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to showcase the natural beauty of the Whitsundays in an innovative way,” said Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jarrod Bleijie.
“Declaring the Whitsunday Skyway Project as a Prescribed Project is a clear message to the people of Queensland that we are serious about delivering infrastructure that creates jobs and drives economic growth.”
However, residents of Raintree Place near the proposed location of the project, have spoken out, stating their concern is not with the concept of the Skyway itself, but with more recent changes to the proposal, including the relocation of the base station to Waterson Way. They allege that these changes were implemented without direct consultation with nearby households.
According to local resident Pascale Whyte, a Variation Request lodged by the proposal’s consultants on 8th August 2025 relocated the cableway base station from its original site at the end of Raintree Place, behind nearby homes, to 45–71 Waterson Way in central Airlie Beach.
The document stated the changes are intended to provide greater access to the Airlie Beach tourist precinct and improve access for cruise ship passengers arriving through the Port of Airlie.
Pascale claims that she represents a group of residents who were not directly notified of the change, only becoming aware of the relocation through a AATG WOU shareholder announcement filed on the National Stock Exchange on 26th September 2025.
“Our base station was relocated from the hillside behind us to the centre of Airlie Beach without any consultation with us,” she said.
“They did a submission of change which no one knew about, putting the Skyway base station at the front of us in town.
“People still aren’t aware of it.”
These changes, according to Pascale, mean the skyway line would run in intrusive proximity to their properties.
In addition to the property impact, residents have raised environmental concerns in conjunction with the project’s layout.
Their concern is that clearing vegetation for the proposed luge and surrounding infrastructure could leave the steep hillside more vulnerable to erosion or landslides during heavy rain and cyclones.
Pascale pointed out the example of Queenstown, New Zealand. Back in 2023, a major landslip directly linked to their Skyline project caused a nighttime evacuation, 10 houses to be deemed unsafe to inhabit and millions in damages.
The group hopes Council’s Draft Environment Strategy will introduce stronger safeguards for areas like Conway National Park, following the passage of Queensland’s controversial Critical Minerals legislation on 27th August.
“They have just passed a law that lets a private luge and cable car be treated as more strategic than the residents who live underneath it,” Pascale said.
“In Queensland, we call that losing your rights to a fair go.”
The group is asking for the base station to return to its originally proposed mid-hill site behind Raintree Place, rather than the revised site near their homes.
“We don’t oppose the development,” Pascale said.
“We want to be able to have a say.”
As the proposal moves through the formal assessment process, engineering and design studies will be undertaken to examine ground conditions, visual impacts and potential noise from the development.
A spokesperson for the Whitsunday Skyway Project said:
“WOU continue to work closely with the Queensland State Government and the Whitsunday Regional Council and are committed to providing full transparency to the community and residents in relation to planning approvals and alignments at a time when certainty can be provided.”
A local couple recently took to social media to praise and thank the team at Proserpine Hospital. Photo supplied by Michael Campbell
A local couple recently took to social media to share praise of the staff at Proserpine Hospital, recognising the incredible work and care the team provided while welcoming their first child.
Michael Campbell said he and his partner were grateful for the care they received from the hospital’s midwives and medical team throughout the birth.
He said the team went above and beyond to ensure his partner felt comfortable, supported and cared for during the experience.
“Every member of the team went above and beyond to make sure my partner was comfortable, supported and genuinely cared for,” Mr Campbell wrote.
The first-time father also highlighted the importance of having dedicated healthcare professionals working in a regional community.
He said the team’s kindness, patience and reassuring nature had made a significant difference during one of the most important moments of their lives.
Mr Campbell thanked the hospital staff for their professionalism, compassion, sense of humour and care towards his partner and newborn.
“Living in a regional community like the Whitsundays, I think it's easy to overlook just how fortunate we are to have such dedicated healthcare professionals right on our doorstep,” he wrote.
The family said the care they received had helped make the life-changing experience even more special and was something they would never forget.
Mr Campbell encouraged other families who had experienced similar care to take a moment to recognise the Proserpine Hospital team.
Meet the people who keep the Whitsundays safe as local emergency services come together for a free family field day featuring rescue boats, emergency vehicles and live demonstrations. Photo credit: Zach Houtenville
When an emergency strikes, they’re the people we call. This Saturday, Whitsunday families will have the chance to meet those frontline crews in a more relaxed setting, explore their equipment and learn about the work they do, as well as how they do it.
From watching police dogs in action to climbing aboard rescue boats, visitors can get a closer look at local emergency services, while picking up some practical safety advice.
Police dogs, fire trucks, rescue boats, live demonstrations and much more will give families a closer look at the emergency services that keep the Whitsundays safe when they come together tomorrow, Saturday 10 October, for a free community field day.
Organised by Whitsunday Police Station, the family-friendly event will bring together Queensland Police, Ambulance and Fire services, Volunteer Marine Rescue, Whitsunday Water Police and Whitsunday Regional Council’s disaster management team.
“All the frontline emergency services we'll come together and do a bit of a show and tell,” said PCYC Whitsunday Sergeant Billy Li.
“The purpose of the event is to show the community a different light of emergency services available.
Visitors will have plenty to see and do throughout the day, each service will run its own demonstrations, providing a closer look at the skills and equipment crews use when responding to emergencies.
“All the frontline emergency services will come together for a bit of show and tell, with each agency displaying what it has to offer.”
“The community will be able to ask questions of emergency personnel and learn more about each service.”
The program may even include some friendly rivalry between agencies, with games and a possible tug-of-war giving the community a chance to pick a side and cheer them on.
“We will be engaging the community to join in as well,” Sergeant Billy said.
Younger visitors can climb aboard rescue boats, explore emergency vehicles and watch police dogs in action, while speaking directly with local personnel about their equipment and roles.
Beyond the safety lessons, the games and friendly agency challenges, this outing will allow families to see the more relaxed side of those who respond when the community needs help.
Whale Beached in Sinclair Bay. Photo credit: Sue and Larry Shieffelbein
By Zach Houtenville
A stranded whale made its way back to sea after hours of care at Sinclair Bay on Sunday 4th October, with local couple Larry and Sue Shieffelbien helping wildlife officers through the lengthy rescue.
For Larry, the day began around 6am with a morning coffee at Sinclair Bay Resort. Looking out over the beach, he noticed what appeared to be a large branch washed up on the shore. But as the tide receded, a fin appeared, prompting him and his wife, Sue, to wander down for a closer look.
Up close, they realised it was a roughly four metres long whale.
“It was still blowing through his blowhole, so I kind of felt that it was still alive and healthy, just stranded,” Larry said.
The couple reported the stranding to Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and got to work while waiting for officers to arrive.
For the next hour, Larry and Sue stayed beside the whale, shading it with an umbrella and keeping the towels covering it wet.
“They said to put towels over the whale, which is exactly what we did until they turned up,” Larry said.
The officers’ arrival marked the start of a long wait for the tide to change, with the team sheltering the whale beneath a gazebo and continuing to keep it wet throughout the day.
“They seemed to know what they were doing and just nursed it the whole remaining six or seven hours until the tide was coming back in,” Larry said.
Even then, the whale’s path to freedom was far from straightforward.
The relief of seeing the whale swim again was short-lived, with Larry recalling how the animal turned back towards shore and became stranded again further along the bay.
Officers Tim and Ben kept working to guide it beyond the sandbar, until it finally reached deeper water and swam out to sea at around 3pm.
‘It was a good feeling to see it go and to have helped save an animal, save a life,” Larry said.
“Tim and Ben, the two main guys from the wildlife people, they were awesome,” Larry said.
BMA CQ Rescue receiving the charity cheque from Mayor Ry Collins. Photo supplied: Whitsunday Regional Council
A record $44,000 has been raised for BMA CQ Rescue following the 2026 Whitsunday Mayor’s Charity Ball, delivering a significant boost to the region’s vital aeromedical rescue service.
The ‘Whispers of the West’ themed event takes Council’s total contribution to BMA CQ Rescue to an impressive $350,000 since 2016.
Sponsors, businesses and community members were thanked at a special ceremony this week, where BMA CQ Rescue was officially presented with the $44,000 cheque.
Nabin has been cooking up a storm at Hog’s Breath since 2023. Photo credit: Whitsunday Life
Hog’s Breath Café has been a staple of the Airlie Beach dining scene for 37 years.
As the business continues to grow and evolve, so does the team, with new chefs bringing culinary skills from across the world to the iconic Airlie Kitchen.
One such chef is Nabin.
Nabin has been cooking in Hog’s Breath’s flagship restaurant since January 2023, arriving in Australia from his home country, Nepal.
Back home in Nepal, Nabin honed his skills across various cuisines. He began his career in a continental kitchen, cooking western and Mexican food alongside Nepalese dishes.
His favourite taste of Nepalese cooking would be the momos- traditional steamed or fried dumplings filled with minced meat or vegetables.
Now, three years has passed since Nabin’s move down under and he has integrated himself into life here in Airlie Beach.
Just last week, Nabin’s wife joined him here, meaning now, it truly feels like home.
Nabin’s wife cooks too, but- at least according to Nabin - he’s the best chef in the household.
Nabin’s favourite part of working at Hogs Breath is the team, who have a lot of fun working together and truly believe in the food they present.
When it comes to the Hog’s Breath menu, Nabin’s recommendations are hearty classics cooked with finesse – starting with the prime rib.
The prime rib is cooked for 18-hours in Hog’s Breath’s unique slow-cooking ovens because – as the team believes - greatness takes time. The meat is selected for its superior quality by trusted supplier Teys, which has been in partnership with Hog’s Breath since the first restaurant’s 1989 conception.
Once the Prime rib is ordered, it’s hand cut, seasoned and flame grilled to seal in maximum flavour. Then, it’s cooked to taste- though it’s recommended as best served medium-rare.
The prime rib is served with a choice of two sides, like the café’s iconic curly fries or creamy mac and cheese.
Nabin’s second recommendation is the Chicken Parmigiana - Crumbed chicken breast topped with Italian-style tomato sauce & a duo of melted cheeses. A classic done well!
As for the best time to visit, Nabin highlighted the live music that accompanies meals on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, as well as the Salsa dancing that takes over the restaurant floor on Thursday evenings.
Meet Cassie, the dynamic force behind property management at Taylors Property Specialists. Born and raised in the Whitsundays, Cassie brings a blend of local insight and worldly experience to the table. Having jet-setted across the globe several times, she’s returned home with a wealth of knowledge and a passion for creating seamless property experiences.
As a devoted mum, Cassie knows the value of family and time well-spent. When she's not orchestrating the perfect property match, you can find her soaking up precious moments with her loved ones.
With a knack for problem-solving and a keen eye for detail, Cassie thrives in the bustling world of property management. She's not just about transactions; she's about building relationships. By prioritising open communication and fostering trust, she ensures both owners and tenants feel heard and valued.
At Taylors Property Specialists, Cassie is more than just a manager; she's a catalyst for happiness. Whether it's finding the ideal tenant or swiftly addressing maintenance needs, she's dedicated to making every interaction positive and productive.
With her winning blend of professionalism and warmth, you'll soon discover why clients trust her to make their property dreams a reality.
Steve and Lynne Rix receiving James Strickland’s painting of themselves Photo credit: Zach Houtenville
Creative Connections Community Gallery recently brought art lovers together for an evening celebrating local creativity, which allowed revellers to take home their very own piece of original art.
The $100 Art Night featured an inspiring collection of original works donated by local artists, with guests able to browse, meet the creatives behind the pieces, enjoy drinks and nibbles, and perhaps find the perfect new addition for their home.
With every artwork priced at just $100 and 100 per cent of sales going towards supporting the gallery, the evening forged new creative connections, whilst supporting the relatively new and already beloved Proserpine gallery space.
Four-year-old Poppy is hoping to find a loving forever home through Bowen Collinsville Pet Rescue.
A gentle and affectionate girl, Poppy is happiest curled up for a cuddle or enjoying a walk along the beach. She is comfortable around children of all ages, gets along well with other dogs and is curious but non-aggressive around cats.
Poppy has a calm nature and tends to hang back when other animals are around, but she is always happy to join in when playtime begins. She would suit a home where someone is around a little more and can give her plenty of affection and attention.
Poppy is desexed, vaccinated and flea and tick treated, with her microchip status currently being confirmed. She weighs approximately 35–40kg and has not yet been tested around livestock.
Those interested in giving Poppy a forever home can email Bowen Collinsville Pet Rescue at bcpri.adoptions@gmail.com to enquire about the adoption process.
Families are being invited to get up close with the region’s native wildlife while supporting the volunteers who work to protect it at the Fauna Rescue Whitsundays Family Fun Day.
The free community event will be held at Coral Sea Marina on Shingley Beach Road, Airlie Beach, from 12pm to 6pm on Saturday 3rd October.
The afternoon will feature something for all ages, with market stalls, street food, live entertainment and kids’ activities planned throughout the day. Young visitors can get involved with kids’ craft stations, face painting, competitionsand a scavenger hunt, offering plenty to keep little wildlife lovers entertained while families explore the event.
The event is being hosted by Fauna Rescue Whitsundays, a local volunteer organisation dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing sick, injured and orphaned native wildlife. Founded in 2001, the organisation works alongside vets, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Council and other wildlife and environmental groups, while also providing education to local schools and community organisations. Behind the scenes, much of that work relies on volunteers.
Fauna Rescue operates a 24-hour wildlife emergency hotline, connecting members of the public with trained volunteers who can provide advice, coordinate rescues and arrange transport for animals requiring care.
The organisation's most recent annual reporting highlights just how busy that service can be, with the hotline receiving between 80 and 150 calls each month, or up to around 1,500 calls a year. In the 2023–24 reporting period, the organisation recorded 1,172 hotline calls, with 621 from the Whitsundays, 403 from Mackay, 25 from Isaac and two from outside its service area. Birds accounted for 827 of those calls.
That community reliance on the rescue network is one reason events such as the Family Fun Day are important, providing an opportunity for locals to learn more about native wildlife while supporting the volunteers behind the rescues. Fauna Rescue also encourages community members to become involved, with opportunities ranging from rescue and animal care to hotline operation and other volunteer roles. Training and support are provided for volunteers.
For families heading along on 3rd October, however, the focus will be on enjoying an afternoon together, with plenty of entertainment, food and activities celebrating the wildlife that makes the Whitsundays home.
If you spot an animal who needs help, contact the Fauna Rescue hotline via 4947 3389.
BMA CQ Rescue receiving the charity cheque from Mayor Ry Collins. Photo supplied: Whitsunday Regional Council
A night of fun and generosity has delivered an impactful result for the Whitsundays, with the 2026 Mayor’s Charity Ball raising an impressive $44,000 for BMA CQ Rescue.
Mayor Ry Collins officially handed over the cheque this week, a culmination of support from the local sponsors, businesses, donors and community members who rallied behind the annual event.
“When something goes seriously wrong, having your service available to our community makes an enormous difference to people when they are at their most vulnerable,” Mayor Collins said.
“It was a great night for the community, but this is ultimately about supporting a service that is there for us when we need it most.
The Whispers of the West themed evening raised an outstanding $44,000, bringing the council’s total amount raised for BMA CQ Rescue since 2016 to $350,000. For the 24/7 community funded aeromedical and rescue services based in Mackay, this money goes a long way to keep the blades chopping.
“We're really grateful for the money that they've raised, it's amazing support in a lovely area and from lovely people,” said BMA CQ Rescue General Manager Lisa Krowley.
“Our operational cost per year is $17.5 million and covers a lot of ground, so the support from the communities and the regions is second to none.”
Mayor Collins took the opportunity to thank the sponsors of the event for helping make the evening, and donation, possible.
“A huge thank you to our sponsors, to everyone who donated and bought a ticket, and to everyone who helped make the ball happen,” Mayor Collins said.
“We had another fantastic ball this year. The support from our local sponsors, businesses and everyone who came along was tremendously important.”
Council is already looking ahead to the 2027 Mayor’s Charity Ball, with sponsorship opportunities now open for businesses interested in helping make next year’s event another memorable night for the community.
H Hamilton Island is celebrating two MICHELIN Key hotels, with qualia receiving the prized global accolade for a second consecutive year and The Sundays receiving its first following its opening in 2025.
Hamilton Island now has two MICHELIN Key hotels: the internationally acclaimed, adults-only qualia and The Sundays, the island’s newest boutique hotel, created with families in mind.
The MICHELIN Key is the hotel distinction of the MICHELIN Guide, recognising outstanding hotels around the world. Hotels are independently assessed across criteria including design, service, character, valueand their connection to place.
The 2026 Global Selection added 470 new hotels across 79 destinations worldwide, with 92 Key hotels recognised across Oceania, spanning Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and French Polynesia. Two of those are on Hamilton Island.
For qualia, the MICHELIN recognition follows a year that also saw the adults-only luxury retreat receive Condé Nast Traveler’s inaugural Triple Crown, recognising hotels that have appeared across its Hot List, Gold List and Readers’ Choice Awards since their inception.
Since opening in 2007, qualia has continued to evolve through considered refinement. Recent additions include Executive Chef Joshua Hingston’s Pebble Beach Collection and a collaboration with Fluidformfounder Kirsten King, alongside unique access to Whitehaven Beach, Heart Island and the waters surrounding Heart Reef.
“Retaining our MICHELIN Key for a second year means a great deal to the team,” said General Manager of qualia Rebecca Hamey.
“What has always defined qualia is exceptional privacy, intuitive personalised service and a deep connection to the beauty of the Whitsundays. Our guests come here for a complete escape; whether that’s through our dining and wellness experiences, a private day exploring the heart of the Great Barrier Reef, or simply enjoying the stillness of qualia itself. We’re incredibly proud to have that recognised again by MICHELIN.”
The Sundays’ first MICHELIN Key marks another milestone for the 59-room boutique hotel since opening on Catseye Beach in 2025. It follows its inclusion in Travel + Leisure’s It List 2026 and recognition as Gourmet Traveller’s Resort of the Year 2026, while Catseye Pool Club, its restaurant by Josh and Julie Niland, received its first Australian Good Food Guide Chef Hat in 2026.
“Receiving our first MICHELIN Key so soon after opening is a very proud moment for our team,” said Raza Syed, General Manager, The Sundays.
“The Sundays was created as a place for families to relax, reconnect and enjoy time together. From days by the waters-edge pool and beach to long, shared meals at Catseye Pool Club, there’s an easy rhythm to a stay here that is all about being together. To have that recognised by MICHELIN, alongside qualia here on Hamilton Island, makes us incredibly proud.”
The recognition comes amid a wider evolution of Hamilton Island’s accommodation, dining and experiences, and a year of accolades for Australia’s Tropical Island.
Judy Porter. Photo supplied
We talk a lot about communication in the workplace, but when a conversation might upset someone, expose a problem, or produce an outcome we can't control, for many - their communication skills tend to disappear.
Currently, I’m seeing avoidance of feedback, ignoring team tensions, and performance discussions so watered down that nobody actually understands there is a performance problem. Your team-members are not mind-readers, and honestly, most of them are too busy to pick up on your ‘hints’. Not having authentic discussions is a ‘you’ problem, not a ‘them’ problem.
The uncomfortable truth is difficult conversations trigger our human instincts. We are hardwired to be social, and potential loss of relationships, status, or belonging can feel like a threat. Our fight, flight or freeze response doesn't exactly make rational conversation easier, because the more we stress, the lower our IQ becomes.
Stepping into difficult discussions becomes easier when we prepare for them. Here’s my go-to list:
Avoiding a difficult conversation doesn't ever make the problem disappear, it simply gives you short-term relief while it gets quietly packed into the team-members ‘backpack of resentment’, to be lugged around until eventually creating a much bigger problem later.
Honest, authentic conversations combine curiosity, effective listening, accountability, understanding perspectives, managing emotions, and finding mutual purpose. Start with authenticity and good intent: “I might not have this right, but something doesn't feel right, and I think we need to talk about it.”
Every time I’m in Bowen at the moment, I seem to notice something else happening.
A new home going up, another project getting underway, work happening on a community facility or a local business investing in something new.
It’s great to see, because when you put all those individual projects together, there’s a real sense of momentum building across Bowen.
And importantly, it’s not being driven by one big project. We’re seeing activity across housing, health, industry, community infrastructure and our public spaces.
Housing is a big part of the story.
New homes are being built, medium-density housing is progressing on King Street and approved development is starting to move at Whitsunday Paradise.
Council’s $30 million Bowen South sewer project is also expected to start in coming months, providing the essential infrastructure needed to unlock around 360 new homes by 2028 and potentially more than 2,000 over the next decade.
Elsewhere, construction is underway on the $16 million expansion of Maroona Gardens, while new GP and pharmacy facilities have recently opened in George Street.
We’re also seeing investment in Bowen’s industrial areas, restoration work underway at the historic Bowen Courthouse and continued improvements to community facilities and public spaces.
At Horseshoe Bay there are new amenities, we’re improving facilities along the foreshore and at the Bowen Pool, and more improvements are coming at Mullers Lagoon.
Then there are the opportunities ahead.
Planning and approvals are progressing towards construction of the new Bowen Jetty, while master planning at Queens Beach and Bowen Harbour is looking at how we can make more of these important waterfront areas.
The Abbot Point State Development Area also has enormous potential to attract new industries and jobs to Bowen over the longer term.
There is still plenty to do and plenty we need to keep advocating for.
But Bowen has strong foundations and people willing to invest in its future.
That matters not only for Bowen, but for our whole Whitsunday Region.
Strong towns make a strong region, and whether it’s Bowen, Collinsville, Proserpine or our coastal communities, our job is to keep building on the strengths of each community.
Right now, Bowen has some genuine momentum and it’s exciting to see what comes next.
Photo source: Shutterstock
The gold sitting in your jewellery box or tucked away in a drawer may be worth considerably more than you realise.
At Airlie Beach Gold Buyers, the team regularly sees customers bring in old jewellery, coins and unwanted gold without knowing its current value. Some pieces might appear to be little more than sentimental keepsakes or forgotten odds and ends can have significant value based on their gold content.
Owner Jesse Robinson said that this is the beauty of the business.
“It's the feeling. When you see an old lady come in and expect $200 for a gold and you say ‘Oh, its really worth $10,000 plus!’
“Because we go off live prices, there's no ripping anyone off. They can do their maths before they come.
“I've had ladies go to throw out coins, and it turns out, that coin there's worth $1,500. They’re like: ‘Oh, we thought it was junk. We didn't know what gold's worth these days.'”
Others come in knowing exactly what the market is doing- but everyone gets a fair and
honest price.
Airlie Beach Gold Buyers uses live market pricing, with gold and silver weighed and tested in front of customers before a valuation is provided.
Customers can check the price, ask questions and decide for themselves whether they want to sell, with no obligation.
Jesse suggested that now’s the time to get your valuation, with the price of gold having
almost tripled in the last five years. And the next big thing? Silver.
As an investment, Airlie Beach Gold Buyers say that gold and silver is just as good as buying a house, if not better.
“You can't fake gold,” Jesse said.
“You can't print gold.”
From footy fields and swimming pools to community events, schools, arts projects and local businesses, more than $300,000 generated through Bendigo Community Bank Cannonvale–Proserpine has been invested back into the Whitsundays community over the past seven years.
That is the difference a local bank can make.
Bendigo Community Bank Cannonvale–Proserpine was created because local residents wanted banking that could deliver more for the community they called home. The journey began in 2009, when locals raised $800,000 to establish the Community Bank.
Today, that same community spirit remains at the heart of the business, with a percentage of the branch’s profits returned to the community through sponsorships, grants and community initiatives.
Chair Mark Henry said it was the branch’s “profit-with-purpose” model that made the Community Bank different.
“Our success is based on our profit-with-purpose model, which sees a percentage of profits invested back into the community,” Mark said.
“We see every day how local organisations contribute to the strength of our community, and we’re proud to be able to support the people who are making a difference.”
Over the past year, the branch has provided financial support to a wide range of Whitsunday organisations, from grassroots sporting clubs and local schools to arts and culture, community wellbeing, environmental initiatives and local business.
Alongside this funding, the branch’s Community BBQ Trailer gives local clubs and community groups access to practical equipment for their own events, including BBQs, gas bottles, cooking utensils, marquees, tables, chairs and a portable PA system.
Branch Manager Amanda Anderson said community impact starts with the customers who choose to bank locally.
“We’re here to have conversations with our customers, understand what they’re trying to achieve and help them find the right solution,” Amanda said.
The Cannonvale branch provides full banking services, including home loans, personal banking, insurance, business and commercial lending, equipment finance, merchant facilities and wealth services.
Senior Business Relationship Manager Luke Sheppard also works with local businesses across their banking and finance needs.
It is local banking creating local impact, helping keep more of the benefits of banking right here in the Whitsundays.
Community sponsorship applications are currently open. Contact secretary@whitsundaycel.com.au to find out more.
Your town. Your bank. Everything you need.
Visit Amanda and the team at Whitsunday Plaza, Cannonvale
(07) 4948 3599 | cannonvale&proserpinemailbox@bendigoadelaide.com.au
Local emergency services personnel, councillors and community members came together at St Martin’s Church in Cannonvale on National Police Remembrance Day. Photo supplied
Local Queensland Police Service personnel came together with council and community members at St Martin’s Church in Cannonvale on National Police Remembrance Day to honour the courage, service and sacrifice of officers who lost their lives in the line of duty.
Representatives from the fire and ambulance services and Airlie Beach PCYC were also in attendance.
“The 13 names read during today’s service were a sobering reminder of the people behind the uniform - those who have served, those we have lost, and the families and colleagues who carry their memory forward,” shared Mayor RyCollins.
“To every police officer who puts on the uniform each day: thank you for your courage, professionalism and commitment to keeping our communities safe.
“Your service often comes with sacrifices the rest of us don’t see, and it should never be taken for granted.
“Today, we remember those who served and did not return, and we stand alongside the wider policing family.”
The event echoed other services taking place across the country.
“Every day, police put on their uniform knowing they may be called upon to face situations that most people never will. They do so with courage and an unwavering commitment to keeping Queenslanders safe,” said QPS Acting Commissioner Brett Pointing Acting Commissioner Pointing.
“Today, we not only remember those we have passed, but we also stand with the families who continue to carry that loss.
“Their names are etched into our history, but more importantly, they remain part of the Queensland police family. We remember them today, tomorrow and always.”
The newly sealed Waterson Way Car Park is now open. Photo supplied: Whitsunday Regional Council
Parking in Airlie Beach just got a whole lot easier thanks to an additional 300 free carparking spaces designed to encourage visitors and locals to head into town without worrying about the added expense of parking fees
This is good news for locals, workers, visitors and business owners as the newly surfaced Waterson Way Car Park now open and offering free parking spaces conveniently located close to the heart of Airlie Beach.
Council says the majority of the line marking is complete and the motorists can now start using these spaces.
The new car park also includes six accessible parking spaces and several motorcycle bays to cater for a range of users.
“There are still a few finishing touches to come, including lighting, signage and some wheel stops, with the final area to bring more than 300 free spaces once complete,” said a Council spokesperson.
“Motorists are required to follow all instructional signage and take care while the remaining works are completed.”
Free extended-stay parking
More than 300 spaces when complete
Easy walk into the heart of Airlie Beach
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Ben De Luka has been the face of Bowen Summergarden Cinemas for also 75 years and turned 90 last month. Photo credit: Mackay and Whitsunday Life Newspaper
Bowen’s longest serving entrepreneur Ben De Luka turned 90 this September, and the much-loved local personality says keeping busy at the Bowen Summergarden Cinema is one of the main reasons for his longevity.
“I love my customers, I think they’re God’s gift to any donkey like me!” shared Ben.
“They’re always grateful to see me still standing up and see the place still going...
“All my friends of yesteryear, they’re all gone because they retired too early!”
Known for his charm, quick wit and kindness, Ben can still be found welcoming customers at Summergarden Cinemas in Bowen most days.
Beginning as a trainee projectionist 74 years ago, Ben has been part of the iconic cinema since the age of 16.
Within 10 years, he purchased the business and has operated it successfully for almost 65 years.
Over this time he has seen significant change.
“It used to be dirt floor down the sides and bitumen in the middle,” he recalls.
“Everyday we used to hose the dirt lightly so it couldn’t make a dust storm!
“It was an open air cinema when I first started and there was a section out the back with an army supply of tarps – customers could run back there when it rained and get cover under a tarp.
“It was a circus!”
When Ben purchased the business, he saved money to eventually complete a full roof, something the previous owners had started.
The cinema was a popular place for viewing movies but also live entertainment. One of Ben’s favourite memories was hosting Slim Dusty shows, something he did for 38 years.
“By the end we were good friends,” said Ben.
Another significant moment was the filming of Australia in 2008.
Ben met Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman and the rest of the cast, forming long-lasting friendships with many.
Manager of Bowen Tourism and Business, Leanne Abernethy, said Summergarden Theatre was a great tourist attraction.
“Many of our visitors go to the theatre, not just for the movies but to check out the memorabilia and to admire the old building,” she explained.
“Ben is always very welcoming whenever we recommend our visitors go to the theatre.
“We all wish Ben a very happy 90th birthday – what a fantastic milestone.”
After welcoming in his 90th year on the 18th September with a surprise birthday party organised by his wife Phyl, Ben says he is looking forward to many more years to come.
And, when asked if he will retire soon, Ben says “no way!”
The Proserpine Art Exhibition of Established and Emerging Artists 2026 was celebrated as a resounding success over the weekend, attracting more than 50 attendees and showcasing the remarkable talent of both experienced and up-and-coming artists from the region.
The exhibition, coordinated by long-time art educator Dawn Pearce, highlights the importance of nurturing the next generation of creative talent. With 35 years of experience as an art teacher, Mrs Pearce has dedicated many years to supporting emerging artists through exhibitions and community programs.
"These young artists are the future of our creative industries," Mrs Pearce said. "They will become the graphic designers, illustrators and professional artists of tomorrow, and they are the ones who will help keep our galleries thriving for years to come."
The exhibition provides a valuable platform for developing artists to display their work alongside established practitioners, giving visitors the opportunity to recognise and encourage artists at the beginning of their creative journeys.
Mrs Pearce believes art competitions and exhibitions should continue to create dedicated opportunities for emerging artists, helping the public appreciate both their talent and potential.
Guests enjoyed an evening of art, community connection, and celebration, with the diverse range of artworks receiving enthusiastic support from attendees.
The exhibition will remain on display at the Proserpine Museum until the end of October, with a selection of artworks available for purchase.
The organisers extended their sincere thanks to the Proserpine Museum for its ongoing support and assistance in hosting the event, helping to create a welcoming space for local artists to share their work with the community.
More than 50 volunteers removed 1,574 kilograms of marine debris from remote beaches and bays along 9 kilometers of the Cape Upstart coastline earlier this month.
Much of the debris is believed to have been associated with the North and Far North Tropical Low event earlier in 2025.
Volunteers were joined by Juru Enterprises Limited (JEL), the Juru owned business and the Eco Barge Clean Seas team over four days of hands-on marine debris removal.
“This clean-up was about much more than removing debris. It brought people together to care for a coastline and the marine life that depends on it. Every item removed was one less threat in the ocean, and every person involved helped show what a community of care can achieve.” Libby Edge, Founder, Eco Barge Clean Seas Inc.
Teams worked across identified debris hotspots, while protecting sensitive habitats and respecting cultural protocols. Marine debris within designated transects was collected, sorted, counted and processed to capture and report on key insights to help build understanding of marine debris sources and storm impacts.
The clean-up also provided a clearer picture of the debris affecting the Cape Upstart coastline. Across the four days, teams collected debris from designated transects to be further analysed, with the most common debris types –plastic fragments, bottles and oil drums among the most frequently recorded.
The Cape Upstart Marine Debris Removal Project forms part of the Environmental Cleanup and Local Conservation Program and is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland governments under the Disaster Recovery funding Arrangements.
Whitsunday Mayor Ry Collins and CEO of Tourism Whitsundays, Tim Booth. Photo credit: Zach Houtenville
Local tourism operators are expressing concern toward troubling times ahead, with the federal government’s new visa restrictions set to shrink the backpacker workforce that drives seasonal operations.
The Federal Government’s proposed cuts to Working Holiday Visas have raised concerns across two of the Whitsundays’ biggest industries. Bowen farmers warned that fewer backpackers could leave crops unpicked, and now tourism leaders in Airlie Beach have added that the same cuts could leave local businesses scrambling to find workers that aren’t there.
At Airlie Beach’s Heart of the Great Barrier Reef sign, Tourism Whitsundays CEO Tim Booth and Whitsunday Mayor Ry Collins spoke about what the proposed changes could mean for a region that relies heavily on tourism.
“We can't have Airlie Beach named Australia's top tourism town in the small category and then have the knees cut out from us by federal policy,” Tim said.
The proposed changes form part of the Federal Government’s effort to reduce migration, a topic that has been of hot debate by all three parties that Mayor Ry Collins believes the working holiday visas should be separated from.
“Obviously the federal government is really coming in with broad brushstrokes to try and address the publicly perceived issue around net overseas migration (NOM),” said Mayor Collins.
“Some of the dialogue I heard last week in Canberra was actually taking that working holiday maker class completely out of the NOM calculation.
“I think that's a fair and reasonable way that they can make the numbers look as good as they want but it won't affect the actual number of workers that are here to support our industries.”
The new restrictions look to cut the second-year extension on Working Holiday Visas from 57,000 to 45,000 slots, and 3rd year extension from 31,000 to just 5,000. According to Tourism Whitsundays, the Whitsundays hosts about 3,500 backpacker workers at any given time of the year.
“I think for regions like the Whitsunday’s unemployment rate is lower than the national average by 0.9%, so at a 3.5% unemployment rate, we just don't have the workforce there that can pick up these roles that the working holidaymaker delivers for our communities,” Tim said.
According to figures released by Tourism Whitsundays, in the year ending March 2026, domestic visitors spent $959.1 million in the region and international visitors spent a further $271.8 million. This spending was made possible by the abundance ofworkers delivering those experiences.
“[Working holidaymakers] do a terrific job already in delivering world-class experiences, particularly here in the Whitsundays,” said Mayor Collins.
“We do see working holidaymakers really take up that mantle, particularly in areas like customer service roles, hospitality roles, housekeeping roles...
“What we're asking for is that we can stay strong as an entire tourism industry.”
Having just returned from Canberra, the pair said raising regional and statewide voices is crucial to persuading the Federal Government to reconsider how the proposed restrictions would apply.
“And then at a federal level, obviously through our federal member Andrew Wilcox, but we've also engaged with the members of the Labor Party around that as well.
“But unfortunately it's starting to feel like a number of issues that we're campaigning on…along with things like disaster recovery funding arrangements which was one we linked into last week.”
Meet Cassie, the dynamic force behind property management at Taylors Property Specialists. Born and raised in the Whitsundays, Cassie brings a blend of local insight and worldly experience to the table. Having jet-setted across the globe several times, she’s returned home with a wealth of knowledge and a passion for creating seamless property experiences.
As a devoted mum, Cassie knows the value of family and time well-spent. When she's not orchestrating the perfect property match, you can find her soaking up precious moments with her loved ones.
With a knack for problem-solving and a keen eye for detail, Cassie thrives in the bustling world of property management. She's not just about transactions; she's about building relationships. By prioritising open communication and fostering trust, she ensures both owners and tenants feel heard and valued.
At Taylors Property Specialists, Cassie is more than just a manager; she's a catalyst for happiness. Whether it's finding the ideal tenant or swiftly addressing maintenance needs, she's dedicated to making every interaction positive and productive.
With her winning blend of professionalism and warmth, you'll soon discover why clients trust her to make their property dreams a reality.
With a wealth of experience spanning many years, Ali is known for her unwavering commitment and exceptional service and always goes above and beyond to ensure a positive outcome.
Ali’s strength lies in her ability to cultivate lasting relationships with clients and tenants alike. Whether you’re a property owner seeking management solutions, a business looking to lease space or you need a storage shed.
Approachable, knowledgeable and professional, Ali is dedicated to providing a personalised service to suit your needs.
Having relocated to the Whitsundays in 2000, Ali moved to the area after enjoying many happy childhood holidays spent on her grandparents’ sugar cane farm in Glen Isla.
For all your inquiries regarding the management or leasing of your commercial investment property, don’t hesitate to reach out. Contact Ali on 0461 496 380 or email commercial@taylorspropertyspecialists.com.au
Life does not always follow the plan we imagined. Relationships change, children grow, careers take unexpected turns, families adjust, and sometimes we simply reach a point where the way we have been living no longer feels right.
These transitions can be challenging, even when everything appears to be going well from the outside. We may continue working, caring for our families and meeting our responsibilities while privately feeling overwhelmed, uncertain or disconnected from the things that once mattered.
Understanding what is happening is often the first step towards finding a way forward. Rather than focusing only on a problem or diagnosis, it can be helpful to consider the whole person, their experiences, relationships, environment, strengths, values and goals.
Psychological support is not always about finding something that is “wrong”. Sometimes it is about having a safe space to pause, make sense of change, recognise patterns and develop practical strategies for managing what comes next.
Exploring the 6 Domains of life (Health, Family, Friends, Career or study or retirement, Spirit, and Finances) and setting clear goals in these areas help us achieve our goals in each area. It's like having a road map to wherever you're travelling. You get there more efficiently and faster.
Because getting through life and truly living it are not always the same thing.
Personal Transitions — turning life into living.
www.personaltransition.com.au or give Cristie 0488667264 or me 0418708214.
Giddy needs a little extra care and is looking for a long term foster carer who truly understands what makes him special.
Giddy lives with a spinal and hip condition, which means he needs careful, hands on management every single day. He can't be left to run wild in the yard, and he needs a lead for walks to protect his back and hips.
But here's the thing about Giddy: none of his issues have dimmed who he is. He is smart, affectionate and in decent overall health despite everything his body deals with.
He has a big personality too, including a bit of a habit of trying to be the boss with other dogs. Interestingly, the fix for this is a confident female dog! Every time he's tried to lord it over one, she's put him straight back in his place, and he takes it completely in his stride.
Can't foster but want to help support Giddy's care?
Donate via PayID: bcpri.adoptions@gmail.com
Local artist Jamie Strickland
By Glenda Brown, President of Creative Connections Whitsunday
AI (Artificial Intelligence) seems to have found its way into almost every part of our lives, and the art world is no exception.
For artists, AI presents some interesting possibilities – it can help develop an idea, experiment with composition, change lighting, test colours or take a rough concept in a completely different direction. But it also raises some uncomfortable questions.
If an artist uses AI to help create an image and then paints that image, is it still entirely their work? How is that different from painting from a photograph? And at what point does AI stop being a tool and start doing too much of the creative process?
There doesn't appear to be a simple answer, and even among our own Creative Connections Whitsunday (CCW) artists, opinions and approaches vary considerably.
A tool for ideas, but not necessarily for making art
CCW Vice President and artist Linda Forrester uses AI for writing and as a tool to explore and develop creative ideas. She sees value in its ability to quickly test possibilities, suggest different approaches and help visualise ideas, while recognising that it can also make it easy to rely too heavily on generated imagery.
Artist Jamie Stickland takes a slightly different view. He believes AI is inevitably going to become a large part of what we do, but there is something fundamental about creating art that he doesn't believe technology can replace.
For Jamie, some of the best parts of creating happen when things don't go according to plan.
"I create better when I'm scared or uncertain of the final outcome," he says, describing the process of learning from mistakes and discovering new directions while working.
Perhaps that's an important distinction – making art isn't simply about producing the best possible image. Often it's the mistakes, changes of direction and decisions made along the way that make the finished work interesting.
So where should artists draw the line?
Perhaps there isn't one line.
AI isn't going away, and artists will make their own decisions about whether to embrace it, avoid it, or find somewhere comfortable in between.
For now, perhaps the most important thing is that we keep talking about it, remain transparent about how it's being used, and make sure the artist doesn't disappear from the art.
Get in touch
Creative Connections Whitsunday
Glenda Brown
President
info@creativeconnectionwhitsunday.com
Creative Connections Whitsundays supports local artists through opportunities to connect, exhibit, learn, and thrive.
Looking for something creative to do with the kids these school holidays?
Creative Connections Whitsunday is hosting a School Holiday Creative Fun Day, 10am-2pm Wednesday 30 September, at the CCW Community Gallery in Proserpine.
Children and families can enjoy a colourful, hands-on day of art, games, and creative activities in a relaxed and welcoming environment.
Activities will include kids’ canvas painting, face painting, colouring and activity tables, craft, giant Jenga and giant Yahtzee, along with creative sessions led by local artists.
When: 10am-2pm Wednesday 30 September
Where: CCW Community Gallery, 192 Main Street, Proserpine
By Michael Kimpton
Val & I moved to the Whitsundays from the big smoke 10 years back for a number of reasons. Primarily, it was to enjoy the tropical lifestyle and warm weather, marine activities and a tight-knit community feel.
We were aware as we approached our twilight years we would experience challenges with our new location. Compared to larger metropolitan cities our research showed there would be a lack of resources and infrastructure with stretched medical services. Another big wake up call for us was Cyclone Debbie and the impact it created for our community.
But what struck us the most was: why was Northern Qld dealt a bad hand of cards when trying to donate blood? Val & I were regular blood donors in Victoria but moving to Airlie Beach made this virtually impossible.
Back in 1977 after a traumatic motorcycle accident I received two units of blood on the side of the road which saved my life. This is where our commitment and passion come from to do the community thing and donate blood.
Whenever possible as our time frame permits, we donate blood in Mackay- just last Monday both Val & I commuted to Mackay to give blood. We have already been contacted to advise that the blood has been delivered to a patient at the Princess Alexandra Hospital, which was wonderful news!
But it’s not possible to donate closer to home.
This month blood services in England, Canada and Australia issued a critical joint appeal as National blood reserves have dropped globally by 30%.
The key decision makers of Australian Red Cross Lifeblood have been found wanting in their management plan for Northern Queensland regional centres.
Townsville’s permanent centre only accepts plasma now which is very confusing. Plasma donating will take 45 minutes compared to normal whole blood donation time of 10 minutes.
Val & I had a formal meeting with Tim Nicholls MP and staff at the deputation Community Cabinet meeting in Mackay last November, liaison with Queensland and Federal politicians, Mayors & Councillors. We also raised the topic during our meeting with the Premier David Crisafulli MP last month in Proserpine.
Our region wants to think BIG for our future but we are all hamstrung by policies outside of our decision-making. Lachlan Jackwitz died in April this year in regional Queensland after waiting for 2 hours for blood.
It is unacceptable that our Whitsunday community of 40,000 people has lost the opportunity to conveniently donate blood and help reduce the chronic shortage of blood. A mobile blood bank operated out of Proserpine some time ago but why was it discontinued?
Visit to view Michael’s petition to bring a mobile blood bank to the Whitsundays: https://www.change.org/p/bring-a-mobile-blood-bank-to-the-whitsundays
Michael Kimpton
0417 717 818
mkmotivationalspeaker@gmail.com
Planning to retire soon?
If retirement is on your horizon in the next few years, now is the time to start preparing.
There are plenty of questions to work through. How much income will you need during the active, slowing and sedentary stages of retirement? Do you have enough super and other investments to support the lifestyle you want? Could you qualify for the Age Pension? Would moving money between super, personal investments or spouses improve your position?
Then there is another important question: what happens if investment markets fall just before or after you retire?
While you are working, you are generally a regular buyer of investments. Your employer contributions, and perhaps your own extra contributions, continue purchasing assets through your super. When markets fall, those contributions buy investments at lower prices.
Retirement changes that position completely. Once you begin drawing an income from your super and investments, you become a regular seller. If markets fall and you still need to fund monthly pension payments, you may be forced to sell investments when their values are temporarily depressed. That can make it harder for your retirement savings to recover.
We have seen several major downturns over recent decades, including the technology crash, the Global Financial Crisis and the COVID market fall. Each was different, but they all demonstrated that investment markets can fall sharply and may take time to recover.
The aim is not to predict the next downturn. Nobody can do that reliably. The aim is to have a retirement income strategy that reduces the chance of selling quality investments at the wrong time when they are undervalued.
At Eclipse Financial Services, we use our Bucket Strategy to help protect retired clients through changing investment markets. It is designed to provide money for pension payments while allowing longer-term investments time to recover after a downturn.
The key message is simple: if you are hoping to retire in the next few years, start planning now.
A well-prepared retirement strategy can give you a clearer picture of the income you may receive, how your money should be structured and how you could manage future market volatility. Do not let an unexpected downturn delay the retirement years you have worked so hard to enjoy. Plan early, understand your options and put suitable protections in place.
For a free consultation with local people who understand these and other financial matters, contact Eclipse Financial Services in Cannonvale on 4946 7359 or visit www.eclipsefp.com.au.
Member for Burdekin, Dale Last MP, President of BGGA, Carl Walker, BPC Director Sean Brown, and Whitsundays Mayor Ry Collins (WRC). Photo supplied
Contributed with thanks by Bowen Pipeline Company
Ministerial Infrastructure Designation approval provides greater planning certainty for proposed 182-kilometer North Queensland water pipeline
Bowen Pipeline Company welcomes approval of the Ministerial Infrastructure Designation (MID) for the Bowen Pipeline Project by the Deputy Premier, Minister for State Development,
Infrastructure and Planning and Minister for Industrial Relations, the Honourable Jarrod Bleijie MP.
The Decision Notice marks an important milestone for the project providing formal recognition for the proposed 182-kilometre water pipeline under Queensland’s infrastructure planning framework.
The Bowen Region produces 1/5th of Australia’s vegetables (over 250 million kilograms sold at the farm gate) and is Australia’s largest winter vegetable growing area supplying over 90% of some vegetables supplying Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaide and internationally. The region has no reliable, secure water supply relying on summer rains.
The approval provides greater planning certainty following extensive technical assessment,
stakeholder engagement and consultation with government, Traditional Owners, landholders,
growers, councils, industry participants and regional stakeholders.
Bowen Pipeline Company Chairman Carl Walker said the decision represented an important step forward for the project and recognised the considerable work undertaken to reach this point.
“This is an important milestone for the Bowen Pipeline Project and for the many people who
have contributed their time, knowledge and support along the way,” Mr Walker said.
“A significant amount of work sits behind this decision, from technical studies and planning
through to engagement with landholders, growers, Traditional Owners, government, councils,
industry and communities across the region.
“There is still work ahead, but the MID gives us greater planning certainty as we continue
progressing the remaining approvals, funding pathways and development work required to
move the project forward.”
The Bowen Pipeline Project is designed to transfer water from the Burdekin River south towards Bowen providing a reliable long-term water supply to support agriculture, industry, horticulture, aquaculture, citrus, algae, green energy and communities.
Mr Walker said the significance of the project ultimately lies in what greater water security could make possible for the region. The project’s broader economic case centres on using reliable water infrastructure to enable greater agricultural production, investment and industry development across the Bowen-Burdekin corridor.
Preliminary economic analysis cited by Bowen Pipeline Company indicates the project has the potential to support around $300 million in annual economic output and approximately 1,200 full-time equivalent jobs when operational across agriculture, industryand regional services.
“For growers, businesses and communities across the region, reliable access to water is
fundamental to planning for the future. Greater water security has the potential to support
agricultural production, encourage investment and create new opportunities for the region over
the long term,” Mr Walker said.
“That is what we are working towards, and this decision takes us another important step
forward.”
Early engagement with prospective water users has demonstrated strong interest in securing
future water allocations from the Bowen Pipeline Project.
Mr Walker said the response provided further confidence in the need for the project.
“Over recent weeks we have seen strong interest from prospective water users and new market entrants, reinforcing both the demand for greater water security and the confidence people have in investing in the future of this region.
“Their participation is an important part of building the commercial foundation required to
progress the project.”
Minister for Natural Resources and Mines, Minister for Manufacturing and Minister for Regional
and Rural Development and Member for Burdekin Dale Last said reliable water supply could
unlock significant opportunities for the region.
“Where you have water, you have opportunities. It is those opportunities that are the reason I
support ensuring a reliable water supply for an area that offers so much untapped potential,” Minister Last said.
“There is 100,000 hectares of arable land in the Burdekin-Bowen-Collinsville area that could be
used for primary production if there was a reliable source of water. Whether you look at it from
a self-sufficiency or an export perspective, that is a lot of jobs that could be created and huge
financial benefit for the region.”
“The Crisafulli LNP government has set a target to boost Queensland’s primary production
output to $30 Billion by 2030. To take full advantage of Queensland’s potential when it comes
to primary production, we need to back the infrastructure the industry needs to turn potential
into reality.”
“Approving the Ministerial Infrastructure Designation is a clear sign that the project has received a positive result during public consultation. Whilst the approval does not signal the start of construction, it sends a strong message that the Crisafulli government recognises the potential benefits and has played its part in seeing the project move forward.”
Last week was a good reminder that advocacy is rarely about one meeting, one announcement or coming home with a cheque in your pocket.
More often, it is about making sure the Whitsundays is in the room, building relationships and consistently putting our region’s opportunities and challenges in front of the people who can help shape what comes next.
There was no better way to start than seeing Airlie Beach named Australia’s Top Small Tourism Town for 2026 at Parliament House in Canberra.
After six years of nominations, it was fantastic to finally bring the national title home. More importantly, it recognises the thousands of people across our tourism industry who work every day to make the Whitsundays such a memorable destination.
We also used that national platform to highlight two issues that matter enormously to tourism regions like ours.
The first is the future of the Working Holiday Maker program. International visitors are an important market in their own right but working holiday makers are also a critical part of the workforce that keeps many regional tourism and hospitality businesses operating.
The second is disaster recovery funding. Regions regularly exposed to cyclones and severe weather need funding arrangements that allow communities and critical infrastructure to recover quickly and build greater resilience for the future.
Later in Canberra, I met with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles, joined by representatives from Gilmour Space, to discuss another very different opportunity — the role Bowen and Abbot Point could play in Australia’s future sovereign space and defence capability.
That conversation extends beyond the Bowen Orbital Spaceport itself to opportunities around advanced manufacturing, logistics, fuel, supply chains and other industries that could develop alongside it.
From Canberra it was on to Sydney, where I met with major investors and developers about opportunities across the Whitsundays, particularly in tourism, accommodation and regional development.
None of these conversations guarantees an outcome tomorrow.
But investment and government decisions are rarely made because a region waited patiently for someone to notice it.
We have an exceptional story to tell — a growing population, a strong economy, world-class tourism, emerging industries and Brisbane 2032 on the horizon.
My job is to make sure that story is heard, and that when opportunities arise, the Whitsundays is firmly part of the conversation.
Belle’s Property team. Photo supplied: Julia Evans
With a strong local presence and the support of a national brand, Belle Property Whitsundays is bringing a fresh approach to residential real estate across the region.
The locally owned agency specialises in residential sales, property management and leasing. The team combines its knowledge of the Whitsunday market with the marketing, technology and network available through Belle Property.
For the team, it is this balance between being local and having access to a national network that makes a real difference.
The team lives in the Whitsundays and understands what makes the region such a special place to live. At the same time, they have access to the broader Belle Property network, giving clients the benefit of wider exposure and professional marketing support.
“We pride ourselves on personalised service, attention to detail and achieving great results for our clients,” said Principal Stephanie McWhirter.
“We genuinely care about our clients and our community, and we want to make sure people feel supported throughout the process.”
The agency continues to see interest from a range of buyers looking to move to the Whitsundays, invest in the area or enjoy the lifestyle the region offers.
For sellers, the team believes that good presentation, effective marketing, and realistic pricing are all important when bringing a property to market. Having a team that understands the local market also helps ensure each property is positioned in a way that appeals to the right buyers.
For Stephanie and the team, one of the biggest challenges over the past 12 months has been managing the growth of the business while continuing to provide the level of service their clients expect.
As a relatively new business, building relationships and establishing a presence in the local community has also been a key focus. Growing the team, putting the right systems in place, and maintaining regular communication with clients have all played an important role.
Just as important has been creating a positive team environment.
The team’s advice to other business owners is simple: build a good team, look after your customers, and keep communicating.
“We believe communication is one of the most important parts of what we do,” Stephanie said.
“Our clients want to know what is happening, and our team needs to be on the same page. Keeping those lines of communication open makes a big difference.”
The business also sees its Chamber membership as a great opportunity to connect with other local businesses and be involved in the wider Whitsunday community.
Being able to meet other business owners, share ideas and support local initiatives is an important part of being a local business.
As a locally owned agency, Belle Property Whitsundays is proud to support other businesses in the region and play its part in the local community. For the team, it is about building genuine relationships and being part of the Whitsundays for the long term.
Proserpine Mill processed about 84,990 tonnes of cane for the week, bringing the season-to-date total to more than 1,055,136 tonnes.
Average weekly CCS came in above budget, at 15.06 units.The highest weekly CCS sample for the week was 18.26 units, from a rake of Q183 Ratoon cane in the Lethebrook productivity
district.
Now that the school holidays have started, we again ask parents and guardians to remind their children about the dangers of playing on or near the cane rail network.
Please only cross cane rail lines at designated crossings andalways look out for cane trains before proceeding. Our cane trains work around the clock, seven days a week, so remember to use your train brain.
Kids enjoying the library with their school holidays. Photo supplied: Whitsunday Regional Council
After months of listening to young people across the Whitsundays, Council has transformed its libraries with upgraded technology, flexible furniture and new activities aimed at bringing more young people through the doors.
The Your Say initiative was a youth engagement project that ran between January and June, asking young people whether the library was somewhere they wanted to spend time, what programs and technology interested them, and what they felt was missing.
Now, that time and feedback is being seen on full display, with libraries in Proserpine, Cannonvale, Bowen and Collinsville all receiving a refresh.
“We were able to purchase adaptable furniture, upgraded technology, like a switch and VR technology,” said Alicia Mulcahy, team leader at the Proserpine library.
“They certainly wanted technology, which we expected, but the main thing they were after was just a space where they could feel comfortable, relax and be themselves.”
The upgrades have also led to new programs, including a permanent Dungeons and Dragons group at Bowen Library, while Proserpine and Cannonvale are looking to follow suit if local Dungeon Masters can be found.
The consultation with young people will continue even now that the upgrades are in place, with a permanent program held at Proserpine Library every Tuesday giving participants a chance to socialise and shape future activities.
“They actually tell us what they want to do going forward,” she said.
“The young people are also putting their little shine on it as well, it’s their space.”
Sarah Beardmore. Photo supplied
With no shark nets, drumlines or government-run sighting platform across the Whitsundays, a free community-powered app is helping ocean dwellers find out what may be moving beneath the water before diving in.
Created by former professional surfer Sarah Beardmore, Dorsal allows beachgoers to view and report shark sightings in real time, with new smartwatch alerts and public drone-reporting technology set to strengthen its reach ahead of summer.
“It’s not to scare people but It’s just an additional tool, like putting on sunscreen or checking the forecast,” she said.
“In Queensland, our reports are 100 per cent community-generated, compared to New South Wales, where they already have drone programs and other programs in place that push those reports out to the public.
“So in Queensland, we’re relying completely on people going to the beach, going fishing and heading out on boats.”
Sarah spent around 12 years competing as a professional surfer, travelling the world before eventually settling in Byron Bay.
After spending much of her life in and around the ocean, Sarah understood how quickly conditions could change. When a series of shark attacks struck northern New South Wales in 2015 and 2016, she saw a clear gap in the way vital sighting information was being shared, inspiring her to create Dorsal.
“In some of these events, sharks had been seen in the area the day before and on the day of the attack, but there was no real way for people to share that information,” Sarah said.
Shark safety has returned to the national spotlight following a series of incidents across Australia, including a fatal attack at Sorrento Beach near Perth.
Sixty-three-year-old swimmer Greg O’Neill was reportedly attacked by a great white shark close to shore, with the tragedy unfolding in the clear view of onlookers.
The incident marked Western Australia’s third fatal shark attack of 2026 and followed several shark encounters around Sydney earlier in the year, as well as one fatal attack in Far North Queensland back in May.
Against that backdrop, Sarah believes fast and reliable sighting information can help people make better-informed decisions before entering the water and hopefully mitigate these incidents.
Dorsal works through a network of everyday of up to 750,000 users, allowing people to check recent shark activity before heading to the beach or submit their own sighting.
Reports from trusted and verified contributors can appear immediately, while new submissions are checked using details such as GPS location, time stamps and image-recognition technology. Users can attach a photograph or video where possible, although Sarah understands that sightings often happen too quickly to capture on camera.
Any report flagged by the system is reviewed by Sarah or another member of the team, who may contact the person who submitted it before making the information public.
Once verified, the sighting is shared through the app, helping warn swimmers, surfers, fishers and boaties within minutes.
“We try to get shark sightings and information to as many people as possible, as quickly as possible,” Sarah said.
Photo source: Shutterstock
Fresh warnings have been raised about drink spiking in Airlie Beach after a Sunshine Coast visitor was rushed to hospital with a dangerously low heart rate.
Sam Hensen and his friend Erik had flown to Townsville to pick up a newly purchased LandCruiser and on their way home, stopped into town for a bit of fun.
About 30 minutes into the night, Erik began feeling unwell and returned to their accommodation, where his condition rapidly deteriorated.
“I came back to him about an hour later, in absolute agony,” Sam said in a Tik Tok video.
“He was completely out of it and seeing the severity of the situation, I decided to call an ambulance.
Erik was assessed by paramedics, who recorded his heart rate at just 37 beats per minute.
Erik remained in hospital overnight before flying home to the Sunshine Coast, bringing the trip to an abrupt end, with Sam mentioning the effects lingered for several days with Erik still feeling mentally unsettled after returning home.
Sam later shared the experience on social media to warn others about how quickly drink spiking can take hold. The video attracted more than 250,000 reactions, with many viewers sharing similar experiences of their own.
“We don’t know when, where or who did it,” Sam said in the video.
“These horrible people don’t just spike you to commit sexual assault, they also spike you to rob you on your way home.
“A lot of blokes have the same mindset as me, and they need to know this can happen at anytime at any place to anyone.”
Erik’s ordeal echoes an account previously shared with this newspaper by an Airlie Beach resident, who believes her drink was tampered with while she was out with a group of friends.
The young woman, who chose not to be identified, remembered little between drinking at the venue and finding herself isolated in a bathroom, where her body would no longer respond as she tried to call for help.
“It wasn’t like being drunk,” she said at the time.
“My mind was present, but I couldn’t control my body.”
“I wanted to pick up my phone to call a friend, but it was like I couldn’t control my body.”
After repeatedly trying to get herself off the floor, the woman was left bruised and sore before being taken home safely by a friend.
During a later hospital visit, she described what had happened to a doctor, who told her the symptoms indicated her drink had likely been spiked.
Together, the two accounts show how suddenly suspected drink spiking can take effect and why an unexpected reaction after only a small amount of alcohol should never be dismissed.
Dale Last presenting the Bowen QAS with the newest addition to their fleet. Photo supplied
Bowen paramedics have welcomed a new $282,000 patient transport ambulance, providing a more comfortable and practical way to move patients throughout the region.
Member for Burdekin Dale Last said this addition was vital to maintaining a strong, well-functioning health system in Bowen.
“The Crisafulli Government is committed to delivering a world-class health system for all Queenslanders, no matter where they live. Part of that commitment is giving our ambulance officers the resources they need to do their jobs safely,” Mr Last said.
“In Bowen our QAS plays a vital role in transporting more acute patients to larger, referring hospitals, which is why we have ensured they have a state-of-the-art vehicle to meet the needs of our officers and patients.”
The new vehicle can carry two patients on powered stretchers, with room for up to four additional patients who can walk aboard.
It also has a refrigerated compartment to keep medication at the correct temperature, while a video display allows the driver to keep a closer eye on the patient area throughout the journey.
Bowen ambulance crews spend much of their time transporting patients beyond the town to other parts of the region, making the new vehicle a timely and welcome addition.
“It’s fantastic, as it’s replacing an older vehicle, so it's a lot smoother and more comfortable for patients,” said Heather Shields, officer in charge at the Bowen Ambulance Station.
“We do transfers from Bowen Hospital to Mackay, or Bowen to Townsville University Hospital and we quite often transfer patients to and from Collinsville to Bowen Hospital as well, from Bowen to Collinsville Hospital.
“But due to the number of kilometers that we do each year in that vehicle, it was getting dated.”
Besides giving patients a smoother trip the vehicle will make everyday transfers easier and safer for Bowen’s ambulance officers, with its powered loading systems reduce the physical strain involved in moving patients, particularly during the station’s frequent long-distance trips.
“There’s no lifting required with the stretchers to get them in and out of the vehicle when they’ve got patients on them,” Heather said.
“It’s a great addition to our fleet at Bowen Station and for the community.”
The ladies putting their sewing skills to work for women recovering from breast cancer surgery. Photo supplied: Marlene Reiffel
The sewing team at the Zonta Club of the Whitsundays has put its needles to work, creating specially shaped breast cancer cushions for women recovering from mastectomy surgery.
Made during a recent club working bee, the cushions are designed to provide comfort and support during recovery, helping to ease pressure around the chest and underarm following surgery.
Ahead of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the finished cushions will be distributed through Proserpine and Mackay hospitals to women who may need them.
“It’s one of the quieter things we do as a club, but also one of the most meaningful,” said club president, Marlene Reiffel.
“Our working bees give us the chance to come together, enjoy each other’s company and create something practical that can make a difficult time just a little more comfortable for someone in our community.”
For more than 100 years, Zonta International has worked to support women and girls, with the Whitsundays club continuing that legacy locally with initiatives such as this one.
Bowen Growers Speak Out Against New Backpacker Visa Restrictions
In Bowen, a good harvest depends on having hands at the ready when the crops are ripe.
Backpackers have long provided that workforce, moving with the seasons and helping growers bring capsicums, mangoes, tomatoes and other produce from the paddock to Australian tables.
But under the Federal Government’s proposed changes, second-year working holiday visas would be capped at 45,000 and third-year visas at 5,000, with places decided by ballot.
Local farmers fear that uncertainty could leave regional communities without the seasonal workforce they have come to rely on.
Farmers in Bowen and across Australia fear they could be left without the seasonal workers needed to harvest their crops following the Federal Government’s crackdown on backpacker and student visas.
Under the proposed changes, backpackers seeking to stay beyond their first year would enter a ballot for limited places, with Second-year visas capped at 45,000, down from about 57,000 last year, while third-year places would fall from approximately 31,000 to 5,000.
Applicants must still complete 88 days of regional work for the second-year ballot and six months for the third. The Federal Government says the restrictions will provide greater control over migration, but growers warn they could discourage backpackers and further shrink the seasonal workforce.
“You’ve got backpackers now thinking, ‘Do I apply for a second visa? Do I even bother coming to Australia? We’ll go to Canada or New Zealand, somewhere they actually want us,’” said Chair of the North Queensland Farmer Carl Walker.
Carl Walker has grown capsicums in Bowen for 30 years and understands how quickly labour demands can change during harvest. Unlike permanent employees and workers employed through the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, backpackers provide farms with a flexible workforce that can rapidly expand when warm weather causes crops to ripen at once.
“If the weather changes and everything comes on at once, you might need another 50 or 100 people,” Carl said.
“You can’t just find another 50 locals or PALM workers, but with backpackers, you can bring them in when you need them.
“We could lose up to 30 per cent of our product with no return.”
That pressure is not confined to Carl’s capsicum crop, with NQ Farmers CEO and former mango grower Jenn Honnery warning the changes could also threaten one of Bowen’s best-known delicacies.
“Mangoes are a Christmas fruit, and we want Australians to have them on their Christmas lunch tables,” Jenn said.
“With this reduction, the Bowen Special could be at risk.”
The impacts of a labour shortage during harvest season would extend beyond the farm gate, with Federal Member of Dawson and former Tomato Farmer Andrew Willcox MP warning that unpicked crops would reduce supply and push prices higher for families at the checkout line.
“If that fruit falls to the ground, it won’t make it to market,” Mr Willcox said.
“Under the simple laws of supply and demand, prices will rise and every Australian will pay more for fresh fruit and vegetables, while the farmer also misses out.”
On top of the trickle-down effect on local business and tourism, Mr Willcox criticised the Federal Government for introducing the changes without properly consulting the regional industries that rely on backpacker labour.
“This was handled really badly,” Mr Willcox said.
“It was announced at the National Press Club and didn’t come through Parliament, despite being a major impost on growers and the hospitality industry.
“They’re incredibly important, and for the government not to understand the seasonality of this region is a major problem.”
Marooned boat north of Elizabeth Reef. Photo supplied: BMA CQ Rescue
By Zach Houtenville
A family of four was winched to safety in an early morning helicopter rescue last weekend after their vessel ran aground on a Reef about 120 kilometres offshore.
On the afternoon of 18th September, Gary Dorman and his family departed the Whitsundays aboard their yacht, setting off for a 30-to-36-hour passage to Herald Cays, about 180 nautical miles north, where they planned to anchor and explore the remote islands and reefs.
But at around 1am, while Gary kept watch, the voyage took a terrifying turn.
Despite the family’s electronic charts showing they were travelling through deep water, the yacht suddenly struck a reef north of Elizabeth Reef, coming to an abrupt stop before listing about 60 degrees onto its side.
“The first thing I noticed was that the dinghy had started to surf on white water, like a small wave, and then we came to a stop,” Gary said.
“The boat listed to about 60 degrees because the keel was sitting on the reef, leaving it supported by the keel and the side of the hull.”
The family placed a Mayday call via satellite phone and activated their emergency beacon, but what followed was six harrowing hours as waves repeatedly lifted the yacht and slammed it back onto the reef.
“It’s a horrific sound, having the keel scrape along the rocky bottom of the ocean while the boat groans as it tries to stay together,” Gary said.
“For six hours, we were being thrown around by waves, as the boat would lift slightly as each wave hit, then fall onto its side again and be dragged along the bottom.”
Gary praised the way his family remained calm during the ordeal, working together as a team to manage the situation until help arrived.
“All three of them handled it remarkably,” Gary said.
“They understood the gravity of the situation and knew we had to keep it together, work as a team and get each other through it.”
Within an hour of the distress call, a rescue vessel was launched from Airlie Beach, while an AMSA Challenger jet arrived soon after to monitor the stranded family from above.
As daylight approached, the BMA CQ Rescue helicopter was dispatched from Mackay, reaching the yacht around sunrise as its condition continued to deteriorate.
With the mast and violent movement of the vessel making it too dangerous to approach directly, a rescue swimmer was lowered into the water before helping each family member reach the winch cable.
“The rescue crew were absolutely fantastic, from the pilot and paramedic through to the rescue swimmer,” Gary said.
“One by one, she took my family from the boat. It would have been a lot more difficult if we had needed to be rescued from that reef by another vessel.”
The family was winched to safety and, despite the ordeal, escaped relatively unscathed, other than Gary sustaining a minor head injury.
While grateful his family survived, Gary said the incident had raised serious concerns about the reliability of electronic navigational charts.
He said the reef was missing from the electronic charts used aboard the yacht, which showed the family travelling through deep water when the vessel ran aground, and one he claims was visible on paper maps.
“This was a known reef because it’s on the paper charts, but it’s not on the electronic charts,” Gary said.
“It’s unacceptable that, this close to mainland Australia, we have charts that are not showing hazardous terrain.”
For Gary, ensuring those hazards are accurately mapped could prevent another family from enduring the same ordeal.
In 1917, Walter Perroux’s composite photograph of Proserpine’s leading citizens included not one woman. Yet women have long played vital roles in the shire’s farming, business and community life. One such woman was Edith (Edie) Grimstone, affectionately known as Mrs Grimmie.
Edith Grace Elizabeth Pepper was born December 29th 1918, in Wolfram Camp North Queensland where her father was Mining Warden. She was the youngest of six children born to parents, William Arthur Pepper and Edith Annie nee Williams.
Hoping for an easier life, Edith’s father travelled to Cannon Valley to purchase a block of land for farming. Relatives, the Byers’ family, had already moved into the district. Once William had established somewhere for the family to live, he sent for them. With two horses and all their goods and chattels, Edith and her children travelled by wagon, boat and rail to reach their new home.
And so began many years of struggling to make the farm sustainable with the older children missing school to assist their parents. Edith (Edie) attended Windermere State School for her primary years and was regarded as a very bright student, however, difficulties of the time such as low sugar prices and impending war meant that she was unable to continue with further education.
In her early working life, Edie spent some time at Yarrabah Mission in North Queensland where she lived with the Anglican Minister and his wife and was governess to their children. She also taught some of the aboriginal children there.
Prior to the war, there was a national push by the government to boost fitness levels of Australians. When the local council called for nominations, Edie successfully applied and was sent to Brisbane to do a physical fitness training course. Upon her return, she ran fitness classes. Edie maintained that the secret to her longevity was her exercising. Perhaps it also had something to do with the fact that despite having a licence, she walked everywhere.
When the war broke out, Edie answered the call and went to work in a munitions factory in Brisbane. It was there that she married Eric Grimstone, a returned WW2 soldier, on March 31, 1945.
Upon their return to Proserpine, Edie and Eric opened a menswear and sports store near the Grand Picture Theatre which was in the old Faust Building. This was the beginning of an outstanding retail service; a service that operated for over 50 years. ln 1966, they moved across the street to the old ABC Café and opened a new shop. In 1975, they purchased the building.
Edie opened the business out of hours for customers; she ordered special items if she didn’t have them. She was renowned for knowing where every item could be located right up until her retirement at the age of 80 when she sold the business.
Although best known for her years serving customers at Grimstone’s Store, Mrs Grimmie was also active in the local tennis club and was women’s champion for several years. Her love of tennis began on courts her brothers built below their house. She and Eric were life members of the Proserpine Tennis Club and often donated sports goods to local schools and charities. She was also devoted to the Anglican Church, attending every Sunday, volunteering and baking for church events.
When Edith Grace Elizabeth Grimstone died on Christmas Day 2016, just four days before her 98th birthday, the community lost a much-loved and remarkable woman.
Story sourced from Proserpine Historical Museum archives; photo used with family permission.
Minnie has a way of winning people over quickly. It could be her expressive eyes, her goofy smile or the fact she will velcro herself on you within minutes of meeting you.
At around eight years old and 40 kilograms, this mixed-breed girl is gentle, bright and full of character.
She is a dog of principle, such as her dinner manners, sitting and waiting patiently until she is given permission to eat. She is equally particular about affection, with a light pat on the back or bottom guaranteed to get her happily groaning and her tail going.
Windy days can make her anxious, but carrying a blanket around like a security cape until everything feels calm again is her adorable way to cope
She is good with people and other dogs, toilet-pad trained and could suit a home with a small yard or apartment. Minnie is still working on her lead manners, so a patient owner willing to continue her training would be ideal. But if she brings the same discipline she shows at dinnertime, she should have her walking routine mastered in no time
If Minnie sounds right for your family, message Bowen Collinsville Pet Rescue with your name, phone number and “Minnie” to begin the adoption process.
Photo credit: R Jean Photography
After three decades spent building Taylors Property Specialists into a trusted local agency, Rob Taylor is preparing to place its future in the hands of experienced real estate professional Beau-Lea Miller.
With more than 25 years in the industry, Beau plans to strengthen the business while preserving the team, values and community connections Rob has established.
“I’m not here to change the business Rob created,” she said.
“I’m here to strengthen what he has built and support the team he has created, so they can be the very best they can be for the community they serve.
“We’re really blessed that Rob is giving us the opportunity to continue that dream for him.”
Beau began her real estate career at 17 and has since worked across property management, residential sales, agency ownership, business development, technology and team leadership.
She established and led her own independent Brisbane agency, Beautique Realty, before moving into a state operations role with Elders Real Estate across Queensland and the Northern Territory.
There, she oversaw around 12,500 properties across six offices. While she valued the experience, Beau missed the personal connection that came with working inside a close-knit local agency.
“It was important to me to get back into a business where I could be innovative, lead change and make a difference for people,” she said.
One of her priorities at Taylors will be finding the right balance between the agency’s traditional, personal approach and the systems and technology now available to support its staff.
“There’s a younger generation of agents coming through, and I really want to make sure their lives are easier,” she said.
“It’s about building on those old-fashioned ways of doing things and bringing them into the new world.
“Technology is here, but how do we make sure we keep the human element in those transactions?”
With a strong background in property management, Beau is keen to give Taylors’ rental division the attention she believes it deserves, equipping staff to help clients look after their investments.
“The rental business is always the thing that keeps the doors open, and many people forget that,” she said.
“I’m pretty passionate about saying that it is the core of the business, and it will continue to be that for Taylors.”
The team has already made a strong impression on her, particularly through the way its members support one another, with a strong willingness to collaborate and share ideas.
“They call each other a family, but I think they’re a team in the truest sense,” she said.
“Everybody supports everybody else to do their best. I haven’t seen many businesses that operate like that, and that legacy belongs to Rob.”
That connection extends well beyond the office, with the company's longstanding supporter of local schools, sporting teams, events and community initiatives, something Beau intends to continue.
“I want to make sure that whatever impact we make here genuinely makes a difference,” she said.
With the Whitsundays and its property market continuing to grow, Taylors is preparing for what comes next without losing the local values that have guided the agency for the past 30 years.
Proserpine State High School Year 12 student, Wiremu Tairaki, reflects on what it means to learn, grow and pursue opportunity in the Whitsundays.
Growing up in the Whitsundays builds a unique kind of grit. There are genuine disadvantages to being a regional student, and I do not think we should pretend otherwise. We do not have the same endless maze of electives, university programs or specialised opportunities sitting on our doorstep. Sometimes that does limit our choices. But the real story of regional students is not that we are somehow unaffected by those limits. It is what we do with the pathways we are given.
In our community, our educational landscape is materially different. We do not have a university campus on every corner or one hundred niche subjects on the school timetable; I have seen that first-hand in Year 12. When I wanted to push myself further in Law and Business, I could not simply walk into the Walter Harrison Law Library after school. Instead, I pursued Mooting and Business competitions through school and took the external opportunities I could access.
The opportunities our local schools and businesses do provide are targeted, practical and deeply valued. Whether we are engaging in Marine Science, securing a local trade certificate or utilising online learning, we learn to commit fully. This kind of education teaches us resourcefulness.
On paper, it can feel as though we have drawn the short straw - and sometimes, in terms of choice, we have. But that environment can also foster an unmatched drive. When choices are streamlined, we do not become passive, we become hungry. I have learned that being a regional student means setting a goal, valuing the expertise of local educators and making the most of opportunities when they appear, because there may not be ten identical alternatives waiting behind them.
Geography changes the nature of our opportunities, but it does not determine our potential. Regional students can be disadvantaged by distance without being defined by it. Future excellence is not decided by whether our timetable offers Advanced German or Digital Forensics and Cyber Security. It is decided by the grit and focus we bring to the opportunities we do have. We do not need equal access to prove equal ability.
Bowen State High School pupils spelling out T-O-M for Tournament of Minds. Photo supplied: Bowen State High School
Contributed with thanks to Bowen State High School.
Bowen State High School is celebrating the efforts of the students who competed in the Tournament of Minds (TOM) State Finals held at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in Brisbane over the weekend.
Tournament of Minds is an international problem-solving program that challenges students to work collaboratively in teams to solve demanding, open-ended challenges.
The competition encourages creativity, critical thinking, teamwork and communication across disciplines including Language, Literature, STEM, Social Sciences and The Arts. Students are required to think on their feet, respond to spontaneous challenges, and present innovative solutions, making TOM a valuable learning experience both inside and outside the classroom.
This year, three teams from Bowen State High School represented the school at the State Finals.
“Congratulations to all students involved on their commitment, teamwork and excellent efforts in reaching this level of competition,” said Bowen State High School Principal Robert Harris.
A special congratulations goes to Bowen State High School’s winning Language Literature team, consisting of Isaiah Howell, Sienna Davies, Frankie Brown, Justin Davidson and Hayley Hickey.
Their success at the State Finals means the team has now qualified for the International Finals in Darwin in October — an outstanding achievement for both the students and the school community.
Year 10 student Isaiah Howell reflected positively on his Tournament of Minds experience.
“Thinking creatively and including different team members’ ideas and perspectives not only creates a bond between team members but also helps us think on the spot and adapt to different situations. This has been helpful when I am learning new subjects,” Isaiah said.
Fellow team member Hayley Hickey said the experience had helped her develop important personal and academic skills.
“It has helped improve my teamwork and resilience when dealing with challenges. TOM provides an opportunity for students to interact with peers, strengthen relationships and connect with other like-minded students across the state and the world,” Hayley said.
Hayley also said the upcoming International Finals would be a valuable opportunity for learning and growth.
“The International Finals will provide us with an amazing opportunity to learn from students from around the world and how they think and consider topics in different ways based on their culture and values,” she said.
Bowen State High School would also like to acknowledge and sincerely thank the local businesses that generously sponsored the students’ attendance at the State Finals.
Community support will again play an important role as the team prepares to travel to Darwin for the International Finals. If you are interested in sponsoring the team, please contact Bowen State High School on 4786 9888.
Fr Emannuel Anroe and St Catherine’s Principal, Samantha Hinton. Photo supplied: St Catherine’s Catholic College
Long-time Local Appointed Principal At St Catherine’s
A new chapter has begun at St Catherine’s Catholic College, with long-time educator and Whitsundays local Samantha Hinton officially appointed as the school’s new principal.
Following her recent stint as acting principal, she was appointed in an official announcement with the school’s new catholic priest, Fr Emmanuel Anroe.
“I didn’t think I’d take on the principal role, but here I am,” Mrs Hinton said.
“I’m looking forward to what happens next and continuing to grow this really great community we have here at St Catherine’s.
“Being a Catholic school adds an extra layer to our community, and I want to build on what we already do here as a faith-filled community.”
Mrs Hinton’s connection with St Catherine’s spans about 20 years, beginning when it was still a primary campus on Marathon Street and continuing as the college expanded.
Over the past 15 years, she has held several leadership positions, including Deputy Principal of Primary and Assistant Principal of Learning and Teaching across Prep to Year 10, along with many others.
“I believe I’ve built trust within our community and in what we do at St Catherine’s,” Mrs Hinton said.
“An important part of education is being connected with families and the wider community.
“Having been here for so long, I hope I’ve developed the trust needed to engage everyone in what we want to achieve.”
Before settling in the Whitsundays, Mrs Hinton’s career took her to schools in Brisbane, Sydney and London, giving her a broader perspective that she can now draw on in leading the college.
Mrs Hinton hopes to draw on that perspective as she supports the college’s continued growth, with a focus on consistent teaching practices, strong expectations and closer connections with families.
“I want to support that growth by making sure we have consistent practices across the school for behaviour and learning, along with high expectations,” she said.
“I want that consistency so we can continue to grow for our families, while improving what we do and maintaining those high expectations.”
She now hopes to guide St Catherine’s through its next stage of development as the college and wider Whitsunday community continue to expand.
“I’d certainly love to see more buildings as we grow and continue to beautify our spaces as we welcome more students,” she said.
“I want to make sure that as we grow physically, we also continue improving what we do and maintaining high expectations.
“We’re such a growing community, and St Catherine’s has been growing alongside it.”
A New Community Heart Taking Shape in Collinsville
There’s something exciting taking shape in Collinsville, and if you’ve been past the site of our new Community Hub lately, you’ll know exactly what I mean.
Construction is now approaching the halfway mark and we’re starting to get a real sense of what this $16 million facility will become for the Collinsville and Scottville communities.
The wall and ceiling framing is complete, new footpaths are in, polished concrete has been finished through the library and mezzanine areas, and work is continuing on essential services.
Over the coming weeks we’ll see more visible progress, including work on the timber stage and gabion rock walls, along with plastering, tiling, external cladding, window glazing and installation of the rooftop solar system.
But while watching a major construction project come together is exciting, for me the most important part is what will happen inside those walls once the doors open.
The new Hub will bring the Collinsville Library, Council Customer Service Centre, computer services, gym and Community Hall together under one roof.
It means one modern, welcoming and accessible place where people can borrow a book, access Council services, use a computer, exercise, attend an event, catch up with friends or simply spend some time.
Importantly, it’s an investment in the future of Collinsville and Scottville and another example of making sure our smaller communities continue to receive quality facilities and services.
At $16 million, it’s a significant project for our region and one we simply couldn’t deliver without the support of the Queensland Government, which is contributing $14.6 million.
I want to acknowledge the Crisafulli Government for that support and also thank everyone involved in bringing the Hub to life, from our Council team and contractors through to the local community who have helped shape the project.
There’s still plenty of work ahead but reaching almost 50 per cent completion is a great milestone.
I’m looking forward to watching the final pieces come together and, more importantly, seeing this fantastic new community space full of people and activity.
That’s when a building really becomes a community hub and I reckon Collinsville is going to have one it can be very proud of.
Allan Milostic. Photo supplied: Julia Evans
If you charge customers a fee for paying by card, there’s an important change coming on 1st October 2026.
The Whitsundays Chamber of Commerce and Industry is reminding local businesses that from 1st October, businesses will no longer be able to add a separate surcharge when customers pay by eftpos, Visa, Mastercard or American Express.
In simple terms: if you currently add 1% or 2% to a customer’s bill when they pay by card, that will need to stop.
The change applies to debit, credit, and prepaid cards.
So, what should businesses do?
First, talk to your payment provider. If you use an EFTPOS machine, online checkout, booking system, accounting software, or payment links, check what changes you need to make. Your provider may update your system automatically, but it’s worth checking.
Next, look at your pricing. Businesses will still have costs associated with accepting card payments. You may need to consider whether your overall prices need to change to account for those costs.
If you do change your prices, make sure customers can clearly see what they are paying and that your pricing complies with Australian Consumer Law.
It’s also a good time to check your menus, websites, invoices, quotes, signs, and booking systems. If they mention a card surcharge, those references may need to be removed or updated.
And don’t forget your staff. Make sure everyone knows what is changing so they can answer customer questions.
The Chamber is also reminding businesses that not every surcharge is disappearing.
The new rules are specifically about card payment surcharges. Other charges, such as clearly advertised weekend or public holiday surcharges, can still apply where permitted. However, businesses should make sure these charges are not simply a card surcharge under another name.
Until 30th September, the existing card surcharge rules continue to apply.
“Our message to local businesses is simple – don’t leave it until 1st October,” said Chamber President, Allan Milostic.
“Check with your payment provider, review your pricing and make sure your business is ready.”
For more information, visit the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) or Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) websites.
Leanne Aberthery with the Kent Family. Photo supplied: Bowen Tourism and Business
Three descendants of one of Bowen’s pioneering families returned to the region last week, retracing their family history across all corners of the town.
Last week, siblings Colin, Cameron and Dianne Kent returned to Bowen for a small family reunion and to reconnect with their family history.
The trio are great-great-grandchildren of G.F. Sandrock and grandchildren of prominent Bowen farmer George Kent. During their visit, they visited all the big sites in Bowen, from the Big mango, to the museum and their family’s original property, Woodlands.
“It was a really nice trip down memory lane,” said Colin.
“The accommodation we stayed at on the harbour felt so surreal, especially since that’s where our grandfather was the harbour master.”
George Frederick ‘G.F.’ Sandrock is credited with bringing mango seeds from India to Bowen in 1871, helping establish what would eventually become one of Australia’s best-known varieties, the Kensington Pride or ‘Bowen Special’.
He was also appointed the town’s Customs Officer and Sub-Collector of Customs during the 1860s before later serving as Harbourmaster and Police Magistrate.
One of his homesteads and orchards, Woodlands, on the outskirts of Bowen, where he helped cultivate a wide variety of produce still intertwined into the community.
“While Sandrock grew various crops at Woodlands, the orchard’s lasting place in Australian horticultural history comes from its role as the birthplace of the Kensington Pride mango,” Colin said.
“He had his fingers in just about everything in Bowen.”
During the late 19th century, Bowen was an important trading port and shipping hub for the British–Indian horse trade. Ships returning from India often carried exotic plants, fruit and spices, and Mr Sandrock asked their captains to bring him different mango seeds and other tropical varieties.
He planted the seeds at Woodlands, where it is believed his experimental orchard contained about 40 types of mango trees. Each was reportedly identified by an engraved copper plaque bearing its botanical name.
At the time, growing tropical fruit in Queensland involved considerable trial and error. Mr Sandrock observed how each variety responded to the local soil and climate, noting differences in yield, flavour and the texture of the fruit.
Colin said these experiments helped lay the foundations for North Queensland’s commercial mango industry.
“His early plantings produced the direct lineage of the Kensington Pride, which remains one of Australia’s most widely grown and recognised mango varieties today,” he said.
His grandson, George Kent, continued the family’s legacy as one of Bowen’s early tomato growers, eventually earning the nickname the “Tomato King”.
He was looking for a crop that would offer a quick return following the 1903 cyclone and started growing them on Woodlands property.
He later helped turn tomato growing into a major commercial industry for Bowen during the early 20th century, distributing the region’s produce across Australia and as far as New Zealand.
Manager of Bowen Tourism and Business, Leanne Abernethy said it was a pleasure to meet the three descendants of these early pioneers.
“It was very interesting to learn more about the history,” she said.
Emergency services day set to showcase your local heroes. Photo credit: Zach Houtenville
From police dogs and fire trucks to rescue boats, the emergency services that keep the Whitsundays safe will come together on Saturday 10th October for a free, family-friendly community field day.
Organised by Whitsunday Police Station, the field day will feature Queensland Police, Ambulance and Fire services, Volunteer Marine Rescue, Whitsunday Water Police and Whitsunday Regional Council’s disaster management.
“All the frontline emergency services will come together and do a bit of a show and tell,” said PCYC Whitsunday Sergeant Billy Li.
“The purpose of the event is to show the community a different light of emergency services available.
“It’s really an all-ages event and will be a fun day for everyone.”
Visitors will have plenty to see and do throughout the day. Each service will run its own live demonstrations, giving visitors a closer look at the skills and equipment crews use when responding to emergencies.
“All the frontline emergency services will come together for a bit of show and tell, with each agency displaying what it has to offer,” Sergeant Billy said.
“The community will be able to ask questions of emergency personnel and learn more about each service.”
During previous events, the VMR showed the community how to sandbag and let off flares, QFS conducted a swift water marine rescue, while Queensland Ambulance Service taught vital first aid skills, such as wrapping snake bites.
The program may even include some friendly rivalry between crews, with games and a possible tug-of-war giving the community a chance to pick a side and cheer them on, and join in on the action.
Younger visitors can climb aboard rescue boats, explore emergency vehicles and watch police dogs in action, while speaking directly with local personnel about their equipment and roles.
Beyond the safety lessons, the games and friendly agency challenges, this outing will allow families to see the more relaxed side of our first responders.
MRQ Whitsundays Anniversary party. Photo supplied: Marine Rescue Queensland
On 9th September 2025, the volunteers of VMR Whitsunday began a new chapter in more than 60 years of saving lives at sea, becoming the 18th unit to join Marine Rescue Queensland.
Now, MRQ Whitsunday is celebrating its first anniversary with the statewide service while honouring the generations of volunteers who have helped keep boaties safe across the region’s waters.
“Today is a chance to celebrate everything the unit has achieved in its first year with MRQ, while recognising the many years of volunteer service and local knowledge that came before it,” said a representative of Marine Rescue Queensland.
The volunteers’ efforts stretch back more than six decades to 1964.
It began when a casual meeting at the Metropole hotel in Proserpine led to 6 forward thinkers realising there was a need for sea rescue services in the region.
The organisation was formally established as Proserpine Sea Rescue in 1967 before becoming Whitsunday Air Sea Rescue later that year. It operated alongside the local Coast Guard flotilla from 1977 until the two groups merged in 1991, eventually becoming VMR Whitsunday.
As the service grew, so did its capabilities. The first dedicated rescue vessel, a Dale Sealord, was purchased in 1987, replacing the long-standing reliance on volunteers’ private boats.
After years of meetings at venues around Proserpine, the organisation later found a permanent home with the opening of the Whitsunday Marine Club in 1994.
Today, under the new name of MRQ Whitsunday, the service has more than 80 active crew members and operates with modern rescue vessels, advanced radios, mobile communications and tracking technology, providing emergency marine support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Federal member of Dawson, Andrew Willcox MP. All photos supplied: Andrew Willcox MP
Goorganga Plains is set to receive a much-needed upgrade to its section of the Bruce Highway, with construction now underway on new overtaking lanes aimed at improving safety and reducing driver frustration.
The project is a major milestone in the federal and state governments’ ongoing investment in the Bruce Highway, with new northbound and southbound overtaking lanes to provide motorists with safer opportunities to pass slower-moving vehicles.
The works will also include roadside safety improvements and upgrades to the Gunyarra Road intersection, including improved lighting and pavement treatments.
Member for the Whitsundays, Amanda Camm MP, revealed the upgrades, while also acknowledging how this can open the door for more necessary improvements to come.
“Anyone who regularly drives this section of the Bruce Highway understands how important these upgrades are for safety and reliability," Ms Camm said.
Ms Camm also praised the planning for new flood resilience roads which is currently underway, with a current proposal to raise about 10.6 kilometres of the highway between Thompson Creek and Lethebrook, looking to improve drainage and new bridge upgrades.
"Locals have endured the impacts of flooding in this region, so it is fantastic to also see planning underway to deliver infrastructure improvements to improve flood resilience where it is needed most.”
However Federal Member for Dawson, Andrew Willcox MP, said the long-awaited and asked for project needs get beyond the design stage.
“I welcome these overtaking lanes, I welcome the extra work, but I do ask that the flood mitigation on that Goorganga section of the road be expedited,” Mr Willcox said.
During his time as Whitsunday Regional Council mayor, Mr Willcox called for the flood-prone section to be upgraded, lobbying the former Coalition government and securing $10 million for a business case into the proposed works.
“That came through and, of course, showed how important it is,” Mr Willcox said.
“The next step was the design phase, but that now needs to be completed, and then it needs to be built.
“I’m sick and tired of seeing money head down to the southeast corner while people in my electorate and across the north miss out.”
Recognising the cost of the project, Mr Willcox suggested the entire upgrade could be master-planned and delivered in stages if sufficient funding was not immediately available.
“I want to see it done as soon as possible, and I understand it’s going to be expensive,” he said.
“If there’s not enough money to get it all done in one hit, let’s master-plan the whole project and deliver it section by section, so we ultimately achieve the final result.”
Catman caught on camera at the Pitch and Wicket. Photo credit: Sharon Hinton
Currently walking his way around Australia, social media icon Catman found himself passing through the Whitsundays this week, where he attracted more than a few wandering eyes.
Kentaro Jin, otherwise known as Catman, has walked about 6,500 kilometres from Carnarvon in Western Australia to Sydney over the past two and a half years, becoming known for his distinctive Catman character and the friendships he has formed in communities across the country.
While the journey began without a clear purpose, the encouragement Ken received during the difficult stretch between Carnarvon and Perth, where Children chanted “Go, my hero,” and gave him handmade drawings, inspired him to imbue his with a deeper meaning.
Ken decided to use his growing profile to support children battling serious illnesses, turning his long walk into a fundraiser for the Royal Children’s Hospital.
Holding the victory trophy in front of Parliament house. Photo supplied: Heather Mollins
Following six years of nomination, Airlie Beach has taken the gold for Australia’s Top Small Tourism Town, a national accolade that will further cement the Whitsunday region as a must-visit for tourists travelling down under.
The win was put down to the town’s combination of natural beauty, tourism infrastructure and top experiences.
Airlie Beach has reached the top, claiming Gold as Australia’s Top Small Tourism Town for 2026 after six years of nominations and a determined push to bring the national title home to the Whitsundays.
Announced at Parliament House in Canberra, the win is a national accolade and a celebration of all the community members who help deliver the Airlie Beach experience.
“Tourism is in the Whitsundays’ DNA, and this recognition belongs to the thousands of people who make our region such a memorable destination,” said Mayor Ry Collins.
“Awards like this celebrate what we have achieved, but they also give us a platform to keep advocating for what regional tourism communities need to succeed in the future.”
Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox MP praised the efforts of the region achieving this status the obstacles of the last 6 years.
“Tourism can be a tough business, and over the past few years, with the ups and downs of covid, cyclones and the many other barriers that can be met along the way, the tourism industry always gives 100%,” said Mr Willcox.
“Airlie Beach might be small but it’s certainly mighty when it comes to providing an amazing experience of vistors from all over the world.”
This victory comes as one of two for Queensland, with Stanthorpe also claiming the top tourism town spot with a population over 5,000.
“This is an incredibly proud result for Queensland and a well-deserved national recognition for Stanthorpe and Airlie Beach,” said Queensland Tourism Industry Council’s (QTIC) CEO, Natassia Wheeler.
“Stanthorpe and Airlie Beach are very different destinations, but that diversity is exactly what makes Queensland’s tourism offering so special.
“From our regional food and wine experiences to our world-famous coastal destinations, Queensland has extraordinary experiences right across the state.
“Each of them has helped showcase the quality, character and diversity of Queensland tourism to the rest of the country.”
Taylor Lifestyle Connections’ Out Of The Shadows walking group. Photo credit: Zach Houtenville
This World Suicide Prevention Day saw the Whitsunday community deliver their advocacy through a variety of avenues, from a nine-kilometre walk and sausage sizzle to a simple conversation.
The 10th of September marks a day of remembrance for those who have been lost to suicide, while the day’s other moniker, ‘R U OK?’ gears the community to helping those who are still here.
“It’s about conversations, connections, helping, looking out for each other,” said Matt Stokes, President of the Whitsundays Suicide Prevention Network.
“People do get to that point where someone’s questioning - but if we can prevent them from getting anywhere near that, that’s what our job is.
“We have a great community that cares for one another and simple things like kindness go a long way.”
The community’s willingness to support others was clear throughout the day, such as in Proserpine, where the Mental Health Disaster Recovery Team hosted a free sausage sizzle.
“It’s a reminder to check in with the people around us, not just today, but any day,” said Electorate for the Whitsundays, Amanda Camm MP, on Facebook.
“A genuine conversation and a listening ear can make a big difference.”
Others made sure to get fitness involved, like Taylor’s Lifestyle Connections whose Out of the Shadows 9 kilometre walk between Cannonvale Beach and Shingley Beach represented the nine Australians who die by suicide each day.
“Events like this are incredibly important,” said Josie Middleton from Taylor’s Lifestyle connections.
“Being such a small community, we don’t have a ton of resources comparatively.
“It’s great to have this sort of awareness of what's available, and to let people know they're not alone.”
WSPN also made an appearance at Bowen State High School, where they held a mindfulness markets initiative, where they collected messages of hope from the students, creating a space in the school for kids to read in times of distress.
“We’re trying to get kids at an early age, we wanna teach them about resilience because the world is hard,” said Matt.
“Teaching them how to be able to get past a problem and see the positive in things.
Beyond the events held on the day, support remains available across the Whitsundays throughout the year.
Sometimes that support can begin with simply opening up to a trusted friend, family member, colleague or counsellor. For those worried about someone else, asking how they are going, taking the time to listen and checking in again can help keep the conversation going.
“It’s amazing, just sharing your burdens with one person, how it seems to be a bit lighter,” said Matt.
“You don’t have to say much, just, ‘hey, where you at?’”
The WSPN helps connect people with counselling and crisis-support services across Airlie Beach, Proserpine, Bowen and Collinsville through its online Service Finder.
But if you or someone you know needs immediate help, call Triple Zero (000). For 24-hour crisis support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or text 0477 13 11 14.
The Whitsundays Writers Festival has officially sold out, but there is still a chance for the whole community to join the final chapter.
Book lovers will gather in Cannonvale this Sunday for the sold-out 2026 Whitsundays Writers Festival, celebrating a full day of stories, ideas and local creativity.
But those without a ticket have not missed out entirely. From 3pm, the festival will open its free waterfront finale, Stories by the Sea, at the Whitsunday Marine Club.
With more than 20 regional authors, live readings, music, children’s activities, book swaps and artists creating works before the crowd, there will be something for readers and families alike.
Living with anxiety can often feel exhausting. The mind may become focused on potential problems, while the body remains in a state of constant alertness. Recovery involves more than simply reducing symptoms; it involves building resilience, confidence, and the ability to navigate life’s challenges. Experiencing the feeling of being “comfortably uncomfortable” rather than in a state of alertness.
Anxiety is not simply “being worried”; it is the body’s threat detection system (amygdala) becoming activated, sometimes when there is no immediate danger. The brain has evolved to protect us by rapidly identifying potential threats and preparing the body to respond through the fight, flight, freeze, or fawn response. This response helps in genuine danger, but when the alarm system becomes overly sensitive from frequent stimulation, everyday situations, uncertainty, or physical sensations can start to feel threatening.
This is how it works: when the brain perceives danger, the amygdala activates the body’s stress response. The sympathetic nervous system increases heart rate, speeds up breathing, tightens muscles, and redirects energy toward survival. Stress hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol, are released, increasing alertness and readiness to act. Prolonged activation heightens amygdala sensitivity and can leave the body in a state of ongoing stress. Individuals may experience racing thoughts, muscle tension, sleep disruption, irritability, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and increased awareness of physical sensations.
Psychotherapy, particularly approaches such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), can help individuals understand the connection between their thoughts, emotions, physical sensations, and behaviours. Therapy can provide strategies to recogniseunhelpful thinking patterns, gradually face fear-related situations, and develop more effective ways to respond to stress and uncertainty.
Exercise can complement psychotherapy by supporting both physical and psychological wellbeing. Physical activity naturally increases heart rate and breathing, creating sensations that can be similar to those experienced during anxiety. Experiencing these sensations in a safe and controlled environment may help individuals learn that an increased heart rate, sweating, or faster breathing does not necessarily mean something is wrong. This is similar to exposure therapy. As you are exposed to the physical symptoms of a perceived threat, but your mind lets you know you are in a safe space, the threat system sensitivity becomes less responsive and therefore reduces the feelings of anxiety. Exercise can also create opportunities to feel a sense of achievement, build confidence, improve sleep, and establish a routine and sense of control.
Importantly, resilience does not mean never feeling anxious or stressed. Resilience is the ability to recognise difficult emotions, respond effectively, and keep moving forward- that is, feeling “comfortably uncomfortable”. Combining psychological strategies with regular physical activity can give people more than one pathway to manage stress and strengthen their capacity to cope.
Recovery is therefore not about eliminating every uncomfortable thought or physical sensation. It is about learning that these experiences can be managed, understood, and tolerated. With the right support, individuals can move beyond simply coping with anxiety towards developing greater confidence, resilience, and participation in the things that matter to them.
If you’d like more support in managing ADHD for yourself or your family, visit my website Personal Transitions or give Cristie 0488667264 or me 0418708214.
Proserpine’s Club Championship Triples team travelled to Sarina at the weekend to contest the Champion of Champions.
Mark Holmes, Shane Kinnear and Michael Kinnear opened their campaign with a strong 26-18 victory over Sarina before falling 32-15 to Airlie Beach in the second round.
Airlie Beach then defeated Mackay Club 23-18 to advance to the final against Souths Suburban. Souths reached the decider after wins over Northern Beaches, Mackay City and Pioneer Valley, before defeating Airlie Beach 31-16 to claim the title.
Attention now turns to this weekend’s Pratt Cup, with Saturday’s games hosted by Seaforth, Mackay City, Marian and Pioneer Valley.
Proserpine will play at Mackay City, beginning with a morning match against Pioneer Valley. The winner will advance to face either North Mackay or Souths Suburban.
Representing Proserpine will be Michael Kinnear in the Singles; Shane Kinnear and Andrew Bell in the Pairs; and Gavin Noonan, Dale Haack, David Ling and Barry Saroglia in the Fours.
We wish the team good bowls for the weekend.
In Wednesday’s social bowls, Alen Sanderson, Barry Zillmann and Philip Brown defeated Alen Sanderson, Sandy Daffara and Graham Thropp 13-9.
Alen Sanderson, Graham Thropp and Barry Zillmann then drew 7-all with Alen Sanderson, Philip Brown and Sandy Daffara.
There were no social bowls on Sunday, with Philip and Heather both succumbing to colds they decided were better not shared around the club.
Lions out to support Nepal this weekend. Photo credit: Zach Houtenville
Across a busy week of fundraising, the Whitsunday Lions Club has raised about $8,100 for communities affected by devastating flash flooding in Nepal.
Efforts began on Thursday with a Father’s Day stall at Bunnings, before continuing at the weekly Saturday Lions’ markets and Sunday’s Colour Fun Run at Club Whitsunday.
“I’m not just proud of our club, I’m proud of Lions International and that we’re able to help Lions all over the world when there’s a crisis,” said Whitsunday Lions Club President Greg Smith.
Kathmandu Lions Club Past District Governor Ram Chhetri praised the support shown by the Whitsunday community.
"The Lions members in Nepal were overwhelmed by the support and compassion of Australians in their hour of need,” he said.
“The plan is for the Lions of Nepal to ensure that the funds get to where they are needed most and are spent wisely for the benefit of those in most need.
“To this point they have been supporting the rescue teams in their efforts to find survivors, however they are now looking at how to best support the thousands of displaced and homeless survivors.”
While the fundraising was organized and facilitated by the Lions club, they recognised this outstanding effort as a community-achieved goal.
“We really want to drive home that this was achieved by the community as a whole,” Greg said.
Sandra Argo and Mark Jordan with their award-winning creations. Photo credit: Zach Houtenville
What began as a what-if over a few drinks in 2018 has grown into an award-winning boutique distillery for siblings Sandra Argo and Mark Jordan, who recently took home two Gold Awards and a Silver at the 2026 Australian Distilled Spirit Awards in Melbourne.
The success story began at a family gathering in 2018, when the conversation turned to the need for a local distillery. After plenty of careful planning and a wet season spent perfecting the recipe for tropical gin, the pair’s idea was well on the way to becoming reality.
Today, the boutique distillery produces gin, rum, vodka and whisky using an assortment of kit including a family of nine Portuguese copper stills affectionately named Rhonda, Sophia, Bill, Ben, Dad and Dave.
Production begins with a stripping run, which separates the alcohol, water and selected flavours from the fermented wash. The spirit then undergoes a slower second distillation, with some runs lasting up to 16 hours. For the tropical gin fresh limes, lychees, bananas and mangoes are gently steamed inside the still, allowing their flavours to infuse without stewing the fruit.
The distillery also uses three mechanical stills for whisky production, helping to retain its rich flavour and distinctive character.
The Barrel-Aged Rum offers smooth, warming notes of caramel, vanilla and oak, while the lighter, refreshing Hibiscus Pink Gin balances delicate floral flavours with a gentle citrus finish and a flower plucked from the garden floating inside.
The flavours certainly impressed the judges, with the Single Malt Redgum Smoked Whisky and Barrel-Aged Rum each claiming gold at the Australian Distilled Spirits Awards, while the Hibiscus Pink Gin received silver.
For the duo, the medals are a proud reward for years spent producing distinctive spirits in paradise, while supporting local ingredients and businesses wherever possible.
Catch ABC distillery at the Saturday Airlie Beach markets, or give them a call on 0413171404 to arrange a tasting.
Ash may have had a rough start to life, but this sweet little survivor is ready for a much brighter chapter.
The 8-to-12-week-old Bull Arab cross Staffy arrived at Bowen Collinsville Pet Rescue through the council after police recovered him from a stolen vehicle crash.
Despite everything he has been through, Ash is a healthy and affectionate puppy with plenty of love to pass around.
At his young age, he is still learning the ropes of puppy life and will need a patient family ready to guide him as he grows. With the right training, care and encouragement, Ash can become the wonderful companion his new family helps shape him to be.
If you think Ash could be the perfect addition to your home, contact Bowen Collinsville Pet Rescue by direct messaging your name, phone number and “Ash” to begin the adoption process.
Jessica and Luke Volker, Lower Don Organics, Bowen have trialled different vegetable crops in their two shade houses funded by a QRIDA First Start Loan
Bowen growers Luke and Jessica Volker are taking Lower Don Organics to the next level after purchasing a larger property and moving into full-time horticulture production.
The couple bought the property in early 2025 with support from a Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority First Start Loan.
“We used the First Start Loan to buy a second, larger property that we could grow more produce on and hopefully make our business viable,” Jessica said.
The move has given them more farming land, a larger packing shed and room to grow watermelons, cherry tomatoes, eggplants, beans, capsicums and cucumbers.
“We knew that if we wanted to continue farming and make it a viable business, we needed more land,” Jessica said.
They have also added two shade houses, protecting their produce from Bowen’s summer heat while extending their growing season and helping them use water and fertiliser more efficiently.
Putting together the loan application encouraged Luke and Jessica to take a closer look at their day-to-day costs and build a stronger understanding of their business.
QRIDA Regional Area Manager Tegan McBride began working with the couple early in the process, helping them examine their production schedules, costs and plans for growth.
“Looking at the economies of scale on five acres, they were certain that the next step was a little bit bigger for them, trying to maximise their growing space and potential sales into bigger markets,” Tegan said.
Tegan said understanding the numbers helped the couple see how their plans could be scaled across a larger property.
For information about QRIDA First Start Loans, visit QRIDA’s website or call 1800 623 946.
One of the best parts of being Mayor is getting the chance to recognise people who quietly do great things for our community.
So I want to start this week by congratulating Whitsunday SES Local Controller Greg Yuskan, who has taken out the Suncorp Spirit of SES Award at the Queensland SES State Awards.
It’s a fantastic achievement and well-deserved recognition for Greg’s leadership, professionalism and commitment to our Whitsunday community.
But I reckon Greg would be the first to say that SES is very much a team effort.
Across the Whitsundays we are incredibly lucky to have people who put their hand up to help when things go wrong.
They’re SES volunteers, rural firies, marine rescue crews and the many other volunteers and emergency service personnel who turn up when our community needs them.
Most aren't doing it for awards or recognition. They do it because they care about their community and want to help.
As Chair of the Whitsunday Disaster Management Group, I get to see just how important these people are and how much work goes on behind the scenes before an emergency ever happens.
Training, planning and preparing doesn't attract much attention on a normal Tuesday afternoon.
But when a cyclone is approaching, roads are cut or somebody needs help, suddenly that preparation matters enormously.
Cyclone season officially starts on 1 November, so we're getting to that time of year when all of us should start thinking about our own preparations as well.
That doesn't mean panicking or filling the trolley with baked beans every time there's a cloud on the weather map.
It just means having a plan, knowing where you'll get reliable information, checking around the house and making sure you're ready before you need to be.
Because disaster preparedness isn't only something Council and emergency services do as we all have a part to play.
So congratulations again Greg, and thank you to every volunteer across the Whitsundays who gives their time to help keep the rest of us safe.
You probably don't hear it often enough, but our community is lucky to have you.
Whitsunday community groups and not-for-profits can now apply for grants of up to $5,000 through the new Whitsundays Chamber Community Fund.
Launched by the Whitsundays Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Fund creates a new way for money generated through Chamber activities and local business support to be reinvested into projects benefiting the community.
The funding pool will include a share of stallholder fees from the Airlie Beach Cruise Ship Markets and Proserpine Community Markets, alongside donations, sponsorships and proceeds raised through Chamber events.
Chamber President Allan Milostic said the Fund recognised the important contribution made by volunteers, community groups and small organisations across the region.
“Some of the things that make the Whitsundays such a great place to live, work and visit aren’t run by business at all—they’re run by volunteers, community groups and small organisations working with tight budgets and a lot of goodwill,” Allan said.
“The Chamber’s role is to support business and strengthen our local economy, but a strong economy is only part of the picture.
“This Fund is about closing that loop—taking money generated locally and putting it back into local causes.”
Funding will be offered across three categories:
Applicants do not need to be Chamber members. Submissions will be assessed against published criteria, including community benefit, financial need, value for money, alignment with the Fund’s purpose and the organisation’s ability to deliver.
Chamber Portfolio Manager Cait Fleming said transparency would be central to the program, with applications independently scored by the Chamber Board.
“We want organisations to know there is a fair and transparent process, and businesses and market stallholders who contribute can have confidence their money is being put back into the community,” Cait said.
The Fund also provides local businesses with a straightforward way to support community causes through donations, sponsorships and fundraising.
“Many local businesses want to help but don’t necessarily have the capacity to identify organisations or manage grants,” Cait said.
“The Fund provides a simple way to contribute, while allowing community organisations to put forward the projects they know will make a difference.”
Round 1 opens Monday 13th September and closes at 11.59pm on Sunday 18th October, with outcomes announced by 30th November.
Applications can be submitted at www.whitsundaycoastchamber.com.au. Questions can be directed to portfolios@whitsundaycoastchamber.com.au.
Burdekin shire council Mayor, Pierina Dalle Cort and Councillors cutting ribbons to open completed expansion.
Burdekin Shire Council is proud to announce the completion of the Ayr Industrial Estate Expansion, marking a major milestone in the region’s economic development and delivering new opportunities for business growth, investment and job creation.
The project has transformed land adjacent to the existing industrial estate into a fully serviced industrial precinct, creating 19 new industrial lots in stage 1. The development includes new roads, drainage, water, sewerage and underground power infrastructure to support future industrial growth in the Burdekin.
Mayor Pierina Dalle Cort said the completion of the project was the result of Council’s long-term vision to ensure the region has the infrastructure and land supply needed to support future economic growth.
“This is one of the most significant economic development projects delivered by Council in recent years and represents an investment in the future of the Burdekin,” Mayor Dalle Cort said.
“The hard work is done. The infrastructure is in place, the land is ready, and now we’re inviting businesses and investors to be part of the next chapter of the Burdekin’s growth story.
“Whether you’re looking to establish a new operation, relocate, or expand an existing business, there has never been a better time to invest in the Burdekin.”
The expanded precinct has been designed to accommodate a diverse range of industries and provide opportunities for existing businesses to expand while attracting new enterprises to the region. Previous planning identified the project as having the potential to generate hundreds of jobs during construction and through ongoing industrial development.
The expansion complements the existing Ayr Industrial Estate and provides additional capacity to support the region’s diverse agricultural, manufacturing, transport and service industries into the future.
Businesses and investors interested in opportunities within the Ayr Industrial Estate Precinct can contact their preferred real estate agent or visit Council’s website for further information, burdekin.qld.gov.au.
Chris Burgess and Este Darin-Cooper. Photo supplied: Este Darin Cooper
Bowen couple Chris Burgess and Este Darin-Cooper were recognised on Saturday 5th September, receiving the prestigious Ron Dempster Award for their exceptional contribution to the future of recreational fishing in Queensland.
The award celebrates their efforts through the Inshore Flats Project, a community-led initiative advocating for the long-term health of Queensland’s inshore habitats and coastal fisheries.
The project has promoted a sustainable approach to managing important fishing habitats while bringing together those closely connected to the coast. It also rallied community opposition to a proposed new tunnel-net fishery in the Whitsundays and elsewhere along Queensland’s east coast, with a petition attracting more than 11,000 signatures.
“Our inshore flats — the beaches, bays and foreshores — are some of the most accessible and productive waters for everyone, from dedicated sport fishers through to families, kids and visitors,” Chris said.
“They also provide key nursery habitat for juvenile fish and movement corridors for countless species. When you look after these areas, you’re looking after the whole fishery.”
Este said the award recognised all the people who helped build the project from the ground up.
“Everything we’ve achieved has been built with people whose lives and livelihoods are connected to these waters giving their time, expertise and support because they genuinely care about the future of these fisheries,” she said.
“It is an absolute honour to accept this award, following in the footsteps of past recipients like the legendary Vic McCrystal, and we accept it on behalf of all the members of the Inshore Flats Project.”
The volunteer-led initiative has recently taken another important step forward by incorporating as a not-for-profit association.
Bowen Chamber President Alex Pike, owner of Meraki Whitsunday Amanda Brockbank, owner of Fiorella Florals Lily Blain, owner of Bird’s Fish Bar Chloe Baur, WRC and WCC&I Liaison Jo Shepherd and Mayor Ry Collins. Photo credit: Rachael Smith
By Rachael Smith
Three inspiring local business women took to the stage at the Larrikin Hotel on Tuesday evening, highlighting the importance of striving towards your dreams and sharing what success looks like in regional business.
Hosted by former Bowen Chamber President, Joanne Shepherd, the panel presentation saw Lily Blain from Fiorella Florals, Chloe Baur from Bird’s Fish Bar and Amanda Brockbank from Meraki Café share their stories following their recent success at the Queensland Best of Business Awards.
Fiorella Florist won Queensland’s Best Florist in the Queensland Day Awards this year, Meraki was awarded second place for the Best Café in Queensland and Bird’s Fish Bar took home 1st place in 2025, followed by runner-up this year for Best Fish and Chip Shop.
Joanne Shepherd congratulated all three women and shared how impressive it was to have three businesswomen who are also state-wide winners residing in the same town.
Each woman shared their personal story which outlined individual challenges and gave an insight into what it takes to run a business in a regional community.
This was followed by an update from newly elected Bowen Chamber President Alex Pike who took the audience through a new-look Chamber plan for the future which focuses on collaboration and inclusivity.
He also announced his fellow board members: Glenda Robertson (Secretary), Vineeth Siripuram (Treasurer), Barney Menzie (BCE Liaison), Jo Shepherd (WRC and WCC&I Liaison), Mark Steen (Events), John Barnes (Policy Review).
Next up, Paul Hanlon, Whitsunday Regional Council Manager of Investment Attraction and Growth provided an in-depth look at future growth in the region and planning over the next decade, giving an insight into projected population growth.
Mayor Ry Collins and his wife Mel were present on the evening and Chamber announced that Ry would be speaking at the forthcoming October event.
All Bowen businesses are encouraged to become members and attend the newly revitalised monthly meetings. The next one is due to take place at the Larrikin Hotel on Tuesday 13th October.
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More than four years after three members of a family were murdered and a fourth was seriously injured, Bogie farmer Darryl Young has been found guilty of all four crimes.
The 63-year-old was convicted in the Townsville Supreme Court on Friday 4th September for the murder of Mervyn and Maree Schwarz and Maree’s son, Graham Tighe, as well as attempting to murder Graham’s brother, Ross Tighe.
After 15 hours of deliberations over three days, the jury unanimously found Young guilty of all three murders. An 11–1 majority verdict was later reached on the attempted murder charge.
"We are grateful to the jury for their guilty verdict, but no verdict or sentence can give us back Merv, Maree and Graham, or what Ross had to survive that day," Mervyn Schwarz's eldest son, Guy Schwarz, said on behalf of the families in an ABC report.
"He robbed two young children of their father and a whole family of people we loved."
The verdict followed a four-week trial examining the events of August 4th 2022, when the four members of the Schwarz-Tighe family arrived at the gate of Young’s Shannonvale Station at Bogie.
The court heard Young had long accused the family of stealing and selling his cattle. Following a tense phone call with Graham, Young demanded the family meet him at the boundary gate between the properties.
When the Schwarz-Tighe family arrived about 8am, Young fatally shot Mervyn, Maree and Graham with a .30-30 calibre rifle. Ross was shot in the abdomen but managed to escape in a vehicle and raise the alarm.
In the years that followed, Young maintained his innocence, pleading not guilty and claiming he was not at the gate when the shootings occurred.
His defence pointed to footage recorded by wind farm workers elsewhere on the property at 8.04am, about six kilometres from the scene, which could have brought into question whether Young could have committed the shootings before being seen again about 8.30am.
His lawyers also challenged Ross Tighe’s account, going as far as suggesting Ross may have been responsible for the shootings.
However, the jury heard evidence supporting Ross’s account, including .30-30 calibre cartridge casings found around the victims and ammunition of the same calibre discovered in Young’s home.
Two of the trial’s more than 30 witnesses also recalled overhearing Young angrily demand that Graham and his family meet him at the gate the following morning. Taken together, the evidence convinced the jury of Young’s guilt.
Photo supplied: Sacred Earth Collective.
A casual Sunday morning clean-up has left the gateway to Airlie Beach around 40 kilograms lighter, after three local volunteers tackled rubbish scattered across the hills along Shute Harbour Road.
On the 30th August Sacred Earth Collective filled four large sacks with waste from the roadside. Beyond improving the area’s appearance, the clean-up helped stop rubbish from entering the drainage system during heavy rain and eventually making its way into the ocean and Great Barrier Reef.
“This rubbish eventually ends up in the sea after big rains as it finds its way into the drainage system,” a representative for Sacred Earth Collective shared.
“Thanks to the 3 friends and local legends for giving an hour of their time to making an impact.”
With the wet season approaching, the group is not stopping there. Its next community clean-up will take place this Sunday 13th September, targeting several roadside and coastal areas between Airlie Beach and Shute Harbour.
“All are welcome,” the group said.
“First location will be the hills coming up into Airlie, the bends in the roads at Shute Harbour, then the beaches and mangroves down at Shute Harbour.”
Contact Sacred Earth Collective on Facebook to get involved.
BY GEORGIA MCDONALD
Following a vote on the proposed transfer of Proserpine Nursing Home to national aged-care provider Respect Group on Monday 7th September, the home will remain under community ownership.
The decision comes after the nursing home’s board proposed transferring the facility and its assets to Respect Group Ltd. Based in Tasmania, Respect operates aged-care homes, retirement living and home-care services across regional Australia, with a network of 47 community aged-care homes.
The board said the proposal was considered as the nursing home faced increasing challenges around regulations, staffing, governance and the cost of running an independent aged-care provider.
The nursing home has been part of the Proserpine community for almost 40 years, and members of the community have expressed their happiness to see still in their possession.
“There's relief, a lot of relief in the community as far as I'm aware,” said association member Allana Van Niekerk, who had previously advocated against the transition.
She described the outcome as a community effort, saying staff and association members had faced difficulties getting answers throughout the process.
“It was 100 per cent a team effort in making sure it remained with us,” she said.
Respect Group Ltd has since responded to the result, saying its focus throughout the process was on ensuring older people in the region received the care they deserve.
“At the end of the day, our not-for-profit purpose is what drives Respect, and that purpose isn’t to take over facilities. It’s to ensure older people receive the care they deserve, no matter where they live,” said CEO & Managing Director Jason Binder.
“This was never about me or Respect. It was always about the older people in the Proserpine community and ensuring they got the care they deserved. The community is confident it can continue to deliver great care to the older people of Prosperine and surrounding communities, and if that’s the case, we’re very happy to see that happen.
“I'll be cheering them on and genuinely wish them every success.”
Attention will now turn to the Proserpine Nursing Home association’s Annual General Meeting on 28th September, when members will have their chance to select members board for the coming year.
Allana said the make-up of that board would depend on who association members nominated and elected.
“Hopefully we get a well-rounded skill set on it, and then we can move forward,” she said.
She expressed hope the next chapter will bring greater community involvement and transparency, with association members given more say in the home’s future.
Andy and Kirsty Holmes from custom lithium with Grant Denyer before the off road ride. Photo credit: Dan Johns
The roar of engines revived through Bowen this past weekend, as the Don River Dash delivered two days of fast-paced racing across an iconic off-road river course.
Now in its eighth year, the Burdekin Offroaders event challenged competitors to complete across 300 kilometres through deep sand, water crossings, dust and heavy traffic. Flooding earlier this year had stripped away large amounts of sand and vegetation, leaving organisers with the enormous task of building two new 25-kilometre tracks through the changed riverbed.
“Our volunteers, officials, recovery crews, track preparation teams, sponsors and the wider community all play such an important role in making this event possible,” said Burdekin Offroaders President Michael Marson.
“Their commitment and effort, both in the lead-up and across the race weekend, is what makes the Don River Dash such a special event for Bowen and the Whitsunday region.”
Australian television personality and motorsport enthusiast Grant Denyer was among the weekend’s most recognisable competitors, tackling his first off-road race in a Custom Lithium-backed vehicle.
“My first ever off-road race was nuts,” Denyer said.
“I sent it flying, got drenched in river crossings, sand in my bits and a smile that won’t leave my face. The Don River Dash was epic.”
Denyer praised the people, terrain and location, describing the event as “some of the most fun you can have in a car”.
Brett Comiskey and navigator Corey Cooper conquered the car section in a brand-new Class 8 Mason all-wheel-drive truck, completing the course in two hours and 38 minutes.
The victory was made even more impressive by Comiskey having virtually no time behind the wheel beforehand, with his only previous drive occurring when he unloaded the truck from the trailer.
In the bike section, Newcastle rider Levi Stephens went one better than his second-place finish in 2025, claiming victory in two hours and 50 minutes.
The engines were not the only things firing on all cylinders over the weekend, with the Don River Dash delivering a welcome boost for businesses across Bowen.
Bowen Tourism and Business Manager Leanne Abernethy said the Visitor Information Centre and local accommodation providers were consistently busy around the event.
“At the Bowen Visitor Information Centre, we are always busy leading up to the event, as well as over the weekend and the days immediately after,” she said.
“A lot of competitors, along with their crew and supporters, come several days before and many stay for a few days after the event and check out the rest of the region.”
“Bowen Tourism and Business is proud to support the Don River Dash.”
Photo by Zach Houtenville
By Zach Houtenville
After months of speculation and growing community debate, Proserpine Nursing Home (PNH) association members are preparing to make a decision that could reshape the facility’s future.
Built nearly four decades ago, the Proserpine Nursing home started out as cane paddock donated from a local farmer, filling a community gap with 30 beds.
Over time, it's turned into a haven for the communities' elderly, expanding into the 103 beds it is today.
Now, that community legacy rests with association members, who will vote on Monday 7th September, on whether the home and its assets should be transferred to national not-for-profit aged-care provider Respect Group Limited.
Headquartered in Tasmania, Respect Group currently operates 47 community aged-care homes, alongside retirement living and home-care services, across regional Australia.
While Respect Group’s board declined to comment on the matter, a representative on behalf of Proserpine Nursing Home said it had approached three large not-for-profit providers before selecting Respect, citing its experience in regional communities, clinical governance, quality of care and alignment with the home’s values as drawing points.
Under the proposal, Respect would retain existing staff and invest at least $10 million in the Proserpine facility within three years, with its total commitment potentially reaching up to $20 million.
The PNH representative said the arrangement would be a transfer between two not-for-profit organisations rather than a commercial sale, allowing the home’s resources to continue supporting aged care.
“This type of transfer is not unusual to PNH,” the representative said.
“Transfers of assets between not-for-profit organisations to continue a shared purpose occur regularly across Australia and across many sectors- including the aged care sector.”
However, association member and accountant Allana Van Niekerk, whose mother-in-law moved into the home back in November, has questioned whether the proposed transfer represents fair value for a facility built and supported by the Proserpine community.
PNH’s 2025 financial statements recorded $32.6 million in total assets, including $20.6 million in cash and $11.9 million in property, plant and equipment. Its liabilities included $14.7 million recorded as ‘other financial liabilities’, which Allana said largely represented refundable deposits owed to residents.
Her concern is that Respect would receive the home’s land, buildings, cash and liabilities without paying a purchase price. She has also raised questions about Respect’s management of refundable accommodation deposits across its expanding network. Their 2025 financial statements recorded $264.3 million in cash and $568 million in residential funds held.
Allana fears PNH’s cash could be pooled with Respect’s broader finances and used for permitted purposes, including developments or acquisitions elsewhere, rather than remaining within the Proserpine facility, and won’t be available to meet refundable accommodation deposit obligations.
“We’re giving away assets that are community-owned,” she said, alleging:
“The biggest issue is that historically, Respect Group, by their financials, have spent 60 per cent of the refundable accommodation deposits held by residents.”
“It won’t necessarily go back into our nursing home.
“There are two sides to this, and the board is choosing not to share that with the community.”
When asked about its due diligence, the nursing home’s representative said the board had reviewed Respect’s financial position and was satisfied it could meet its obligations to residents.
“Respect has one of the strongest balance sheets among large aged care providers in Australia and comfortably meets the Australian Government’s prudential requirements for the repayment of refundable accommodation deposits,” said the representative.
“Regardless of this, residents’ refundable accommodation deposits are guaranteed by the Australian Government, providing an additional safeguard regardless of the provider’s financial position.”
Beyond the financial debate, Allana has raised concerns about the process put in place for the upcoming vote, questioning whether the process follows the association’s constitution.
According to the association’s constitutions, page 8 section 27(1), a general meeting vote must be called by the board’s secretary, and according to page 10 section 32(5), all proxy votes must be sent to the board’s secretary.
However, emails sent to Allana show that the current interim general manager at the nursing home was the one to call the general meeting, and that he requested all proxy votes be sent to him personally.
“I emailed the board asking them to correct and have not had a response,” said Allana.
Allana’s concerns extend to availability of information, with member requests for financial records, meeting minutes and access to the association’s membership list reportedly unanswered ahead of the vote.
The nursing home’s representative pointed to PNH’s latest audited financial statements, which are publicly available on its website. The 2025–26 audit was completed in August, but the results are not expected to reach the board until September.
“We understand concerns about the FY26 results not being available before the 7th September vote, however, this decision was not made for solely financial reasons,” said the nursing home’s representative.
“The Board’s decision is about the increasingly complex regulatory risk, and governance, workforce and capital requirements of operating a stand-alone aged care provider.”
Figures provided by the nursing home show the number of small residential aged-care providers across Australia declined by 32 per cent between 2017 and 2025, while the number of large providers rose by 37 per cent. They mentioned similar transfers have happened at Sarina Community Nursing Home, Resthaven on Quarry, Nanyima Mirani Nursing Home and Glenella Care.
For those opposing the transfer, the issue is about more than dollars and figures. It is about keeping a much-loved facility, built and supported by generations of locals, in the hands of the community it serves.
“In our experience generally, what happens when a community loses control of an important institution like an aged-care home is it eventually results in worse services for the community,” Australian Worker’s Union Northern District Secretary Jim Wilson told the ABC.
With arguments raised on both sides, the decision will ultimately rest with association members when they cast their votes on Monday.
Ground has officially been broken on two major developments set to serve Whitsunday residents for generations to come.
In Bowen, Murroona Gardens has begun its $14 million expansion, delivering two purpose-built, 12-bedroom dementia care homes and a new central laundry, which will allow more residents to receive specialised support close to their families and community.
Meanwhile, construction has officially begun on the $30 million Cannonvale Community Hub at Galbraith Park, bringing together a modern library, council customer service centre, meeting rooms and flexible community spaces all in one.
Together, the projects represent a $44 million investment in care, connection and the region’s future.
Supplied by Libby Edge.
The community gathered at Cannonvale Beach on Sunday morning to watch Marissa and Bentley, two rehabilitated juvenile green sea turtles, return to the ocean.
The pair were found malnourished and covered in algae and barnacles before being taken to the Whitsunday Turtle Rescue Centre in July. After weeks of care and rehabilitation, they were declared healthy and ready to return to Whitsunday waters.
Carried down to the shoreline by their carers, Marissa and Bentley were met with cheers from the crowd as they made their way across the sand and disappeared beneath the waves.
“To see more than 250 people come together to celebrate Marissa and Bentley’s return to the ocean was absolutely heartwarming,” said Founder of Eco Barge Clean Seas Libby Edge.
“We were overwhelmed and incredibly grateful for the turnout, which was much larger than anticipated.
“I also want to say a huge and heartfelt thank you to our incredible turtle carers. They have each volunteered so many hours this year to provide our turtles with the daily food, treatment, cleaning and specialised care they need.
“Our carers work tirelessly behind the scenes, and Marissa and Bentley’s return to the wild would not have been possible without their dedication and compassion.”
Eco Barge Clean Seas currently has another five sea turtles receiving treatment and rehabilitation at the Whitsunday Turtle Rescue Centre.
Cait Fleming, Trish Jandt and Julia Evans. Photo credit: Zach Houtenville.
The 2026 Whitsunday Business Conference brought together 120 attendees from 77 businesses for a day of practical learning, networking and collaboration.
Hosted by the Whitsundays Chamber of Commerce and Industry across PCYC Whitsunday and Club Whitsunday, with the event featuring a business expo, long lunch and an update from Mayor Ry Collins, who announced the 46 finalists for the 2026 Whitsunday Business Awards and the inaugural Chamber Games.
Media and communications expert Ian Cohen proved a highlight of the day, while five young local employees, trainees and apprentices shared what the next generation values in a workplace during the inaugural Rising Stars Panel. Attendees walked away with fresh ideas for their businesses and valuable new connections across the region.
The conference returns on Thursday, 26 August 2027. Chamber now looks forward to it’s new Look & Learn series, which will begin with a free social media session at the Proserpine Entertainment Centre on Wednesday, 9 September.
This 15 month old Kelpie Cross, Freddie, is looking for his next chapter and whoever says yes to him is going to be very lucky.
Freddie has known nothing but love his whole life. He is well trained, beautifully socialised and comes with the kind of manners that make people stop and ask how you did it. His foster mum has had to return overseas and now Freddie needs someone to carry on the love she gave him.
He is a goofball of the highest order. Food obsessed, people obsessed, he makes the funniest noises during play and will say hello to every single person at the beach before he even glances at another dog.
He walks beautifully on lead, learns new tricks in minutes if there is a treat involved and will snooze on the couch next to you once his energy is spent.
Freddie does best in an active home with a secure yard, older kids and ideally another dog to be his mate.
To adopt Freddie contact Bowen Collinsville Pet Rescue on Facebook.
About Freddie
Breed: Kelpie x (possible Lab mix)
Age: 15 months | Weight: 24kg
Desexed, vaccinated, microchipped, flea, tick and worming up to date
Heartworm negative | No known triggers | Available now
There’s a particular time of day in the Whitsundays when everything seems to slow down.
The heat softens, the light begins to change and Coral Sea Marina takes on that unmistakable late-afternoon glow. At The Garden Bar, it’s one of the loveliest times to find a table and simply settle in.
From 3pm, the Baked Brie offers an early taste of what’s to come. Served warm and gooey, drizzled with local honey and accompanied by roasted walnuts, sweet dates, crisp apples and crackers, it’s made for sharing while the afternoon unfolds.
Then, from 5pm, the kitchen opens for dinner service, inviting you to stay a little longer. The menu reflects the relaxed Whitsundays lifestyle, moving from light bites and share plates through to fresh seafood, house-made pasta and a variety of globally inspired substantial mains.
And then there’s the view.
Boats make their way across the marina, the Whitsunday Islands sit beyond the water, and the sky puts on a show of its own. As daylight fades, the garden lights begin to twinkle and the yachts reflect across the water.
It’s a subtle change, but one that sets the evening atmosphere.
Perhaps you arrived for a share plate in the afternoon and found yourself staying for dinner. Perhaps you’ve come straight from a day exploring the Whitsundays, ready to slow the pace and watch the evening settle over the marina. Or perhaps you’re a local who knows that sometimes the best way to appreciate where we live is simply to stop long enough to enjoy it.
That’s part of the charm of The Garden Bar. There’s no need to rush the experience.
For visitors, it’s a chance to experience a relaxed side of Airlie Beach without an itinerary. For locals, it’s a reminder of just how special our own backyard can be.
Good food, warm hospitality, tropical surroundings and an evening unfolding by the water.
Sometimes, that’s all the plan you need.
The Garden Bar is located at Coral Sea Marina - South Village, Airlie Beach. Open Wednesday to Friday from 3pm and Saturday and Sunday from 12pm.
The Signature Seafood Platter.
With uninterrupted water views, fresh Australian seafood and cocktails made with that local touch, Coral Sea Pavilion is hoping more Whitsunday residents will come down and see what is on their doorstep.
Although the restaurant’s location may leave some locals thinking it is mainly there for holidaymakers, the team wants to change that perception and encourage more residents through the doors.
“We want to bring more awareness to the restaurant and show locals what we offer,” said Marketing Specialist for Coral Sea Resort Maria Markham.
The menu features plenty of fresh Australian seafood, much of it locally sourced, with Coral Sea Pavilion’s generous hot and cold seafood platter among its signature must-haves.
Behind the bar, guests will find beers on tap, a selection of wines and a mix of classic and handcrafted cocktails. Its signature range includes the Nemo, Mango Tango and Gin & Bare it, made using 74 Islands gin and vodka.
Despite first impressions with a gorgeous waterfront setting, the Pavilion remains in line with other restaurants around Airlie Beach.
“We want locals to know they don’t need to wait for a special occasion,” Maria said.
“Lunch, sunset drinks or an easy dinner, the Pavilion is somewhere they can enjoy any day of the week.”
Locals can scan the QR code below to join the Pavilion’s rewards program and receive 10 per cent off every visit, along with additional rewards each time they return.
Long before the medals, the podiums and the recognition, an Olympic dream is built through thousands of hours of training when very few people are watching.
For 15-year-old Whitsunday swimmer Tora Delac, that means early mornings, countless laps and years of commitment in the pool.
Tora is the third young athlete featured in Whitsunday Regional Council’s Home Grown: Future Olympians series, showcasing talented young Whitsunday athletes chasing big sporting dreams from right here in our region.
Tora began swimming with the Cannonvale Cannons and was competing at regional meets by the age of nine.
At just 10, she competed at her first Queensland State Championships and has continued to progress through the swimming ranks ever since.
Along the way, Tora has celebrated plenty of milestones – from breaking the 30-second barrier in both the 50-metre freestyle and butterfly to achieving multiple top-10 placings at Queensland State Championships.
In 2024, she qualified for her first Australian Age Championships and has now competed at the national event three times.
Her latest achievement will see her head to Sydney in October after qualifying for the Australian Open Short Course Championships, another major step in a sporting journey that started in a local Whitsunday pool.
Tora has also been awarded a Hancock Prospecting Patron Scholarship – Olympic Pathways, while continuing to be a leader and positive role model for younger swimmers at her club.
Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor Ry Collins said Tora’s story showed what could be achieved through commitment, discipline and the support of local sporting communities.
“Tora is only 15, but she has already spent years getting up early, diving into the pool and doing the hard work that happens well before anyone starts talking about medals,” Mayor Collins said.
“That commitment has taken her from swimming locally with the Cannonvale Cannons to competing at State and National Championships, and now qualifying for an Australian Open event.
“She should be incredibly proud of what she has achieved, but what I also love about Tora’s story is that she hasn’t forgotten where it started and is already helping and encouraging younger swimmers coming through behind her.”
Mayor Collins said the Home Grown: Future Olympians series was about celebrating talented young athletes while highlighting the importance of creating sporting opportunities and pathways closer to home.
“We know regional kids have the talent, determination and work ethic to compete with the best anywhere in Australia.
“Our job is to keep advocating for the facilities, investment and opportunities that give them every chance to do that without believing they have to leave the Whitsundays to chase a big dream.
“That is a big part of the legacy we want from the Whitsundays becoming the home of Olympic and Paralympic Sailing in 2032.
“It’s not simply about what happens during the Games. It’s about using that opportunity to inspire young people, strengthen local sport and leave better facilities and pathways for the generations coming behind them.”
Tora’s story is the third profile in Council’s Home Grown: Future Olympians campaign, following young Whitsunday sailors Reid and Rory Martin and footballer Lilliana Knight.
The series celebrates the athletes as well as the families, coaches, volunteers and local sporting clubs helping young Whitsunday talent pursue their dreams.
Because Olympic and Paralympic dreams don't start on the podium.
They start right here in the Whitsundays.
Mayor Collins addressing the council before turning the sod. Photo Credit: Zach Houtenville
The turning of the first sod on 1st September marked the beginning of construction on the new $30 million Cannonvale Community Hub, which will provide a place for locals to read, learn, meet and connect as the community continues to grow.
Set within Galbraith Park, the hub will bring several services under one roof, including a modern library, council customer service centre, meeting rooms and flexible spaces for community activities.
The facility’s outdoor areas will connect with new access points and pathways delivered through Stage 1 of the Galbraith Park Master Plan, creating a more welcoming and versatile place for the wider community to gather while laying the groundwork for future improvements.
“The project is about planning early and investing in infrastructure that will serve the community for generations,” said Mayor of Whitsunday Region Ry Collins.
“Cannonvale is growing rapidly, and we need to make sure the infrastructure supporting our community grows with it.
“This Hub is a practical investment in Cannonvale’s future, bringing important Council services together while creating more places for people to learn, meet and connect.
“It will complement the valued work of the existing neighbourhood centre and local community organisations, creating new opportunities for programs, partnerships and community use rather than replacing what is already working.”
The project is being jointly funded by the Australian Government and Whitsunday Regional Council, with each contributing $15 million.
“The Albanese Government is investing in infrastructure to enable growing regional communities to plan confidently for the future,” said Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories, Kristy McBain.
“The Cannonvale Community Hub will create new opportunities for local families, students and community groups, while building on the programs and connections already established across Cannonvale.”
More than simply a new building, the hub is intended to become a welcoming and accessible space for Cannonvale residents of all ages, providing room for local programs, community groups and everyday connections as the area grows.
“Essential community infrastructure makes a real difference to how people connect, access programs and take part in community life,” said Assistant Minister for Northern Australia and Senator for Queensland, Nita Green.
“Cannonvale Community Hub is the kind of legacy infrastructure that will continue serving the community as the region grows.”
Construction is expected to be completed by late 2027, weather permitting.
“Fingers crossed it will be ready by Christmas next year,” Mayor Collins said.
“I think it would be a nice time of year to open something like this, giving the community a place to gather and escape the hot and wet weather.”
Proserpine Mill processed about 88,900 tonnes of cane for the week, which is the highest weekly throughput this year. Our season to date total is now more than 801,100 tonnes.
Average weekly CCS came in above budget, at 14.37 units. The highest weekly CCS sample for the week was 17.95 units, from a rake of Q183 ratoon cane in the Kelsey Creek productivity district.
We want to remind the public to always give way to cane trains and only cross the line at designated road crossings.
Remember that a fully loaded cane train can take up to one kilometre to pull up. Our cane trains work around the clock, seven days a week, so please continue to use your train brain and always take care around the cane rail network.
Whitsunday SES member Gregory Yuskan has earnt recognition for his dedication to the community. Photo supplied: My Police QLD
Whitsunday State Emergency Service (SES) member Gregory Yuskan has been awarded a major honour, winning the Suncorp Spirit of SES award.
A local controller with the Central region, Gregory received the prestigious acknowledgement at the SES State Awards on Saturday afternoon in Brisbane, which marked the end of SES week across Queensland.
He was recognised for his ability to lead by example with calmness, professionalism and integrity during severe weather and emergency operations across the region.
Gregory is currently leading the coordination of a major multi-unit field exercise, with members from Whitsunday, Mackay and Isaac units, which is designed to enhance the skills, knowledge and relationships for volunteers.
During the past year, he was heavily involved with championing the use of Geographic Information Systems within SES operations.
Area Controller Michael Young said Gregory is extremely deserving of the honour.
“We are so proud of Greg and his amazing contribution to the region,” Michael said.
“Greg consistently demonstrates his exceptional leadership, innovation, integrity and commitment to the Whitsunday community.”
Gregory said he is humbled to have been recognised.
“Being a part of the SES is about giving back to the community, we don’t do it for the recognition,” he said.
“It’s still a great honour to be acknowledged and to represent the Whitsundays and the Central region.”
Suncorp Chief Executive Customer, Brand and Digital Bridget Messer said the Suncorp Spirit of SES Award was going to a worthy recipient.
“SES volunteers are the backbone of many communities, and Greg’s leadership, commitment and service exemplify the spirit of the organisation. He is a very deserving recipient of this award,” Bridget said.
Team members Juliann Firmin, Cindy Tonks and Leanne Abernethy wearing the Don River Dash Shirts this week at the Bowen Visitor Information Centre.
This winter has marked a record tourist season in Bowen, with more visitors welcomed at the Information Centre over the past three months than the same period in any year prior.
Manager of Bowen Tourism and Business Leanne Abernethy said this was a very pleasing result, given that there had been concerns about fuel prices, interest rates and other cost-of-living pressures.
“We had a record month in July 2025 and didn’t expect to be able to repeat those numbers again this year,” she said.
“Some visitors are spending slightly less but they are certainly still coming.
“In June, July and August this year, we welcomed a total of 22,750 people to the Bowen Visitor Information Centre – that is an average of 247 people per day!
“With the Don River Dash this weekend, we are expecting that momentum to continue as this unique off-road event for bikes and buggies is growing in popularity every year and brings hundreds of visitors to town from all over Australia.
“The school holidays later in September will also be a busy time for us.
“We are expecting very strong visitor numbers this month. Although we did have a record day in September last year with the release of the Big Mango $1 coin, so that will be hard to beat.”
The team also recently hosted the Channel 7 Weekender crew, with the segment airing last weekend and providing valuable statewide exposure for Bowen as a visitor destination.
OPENING HOURS
Bowen Visitor Information Centre next to the Big Mango in Bowen is open 7 days a week.
Monday to Friday – 9am – 5pm
Saturday and Sunday – 10am – 3pm
Alicia Mansbridge. Photo source: Mackay Hospital and Health Services.
A Proserpine nurse has received the Sustainable Organisation Award at the 2026 Let’s Celebrate Staff Awards for her innovative approach to improving care for older patients.
During her time at Proserpine Hospital, clinical nurse and rural generalist Alicia Mansbridge has helped bridge the gap between hospital and community care for frail older patients, developing a practical model that has drawn interest for adoption from other rural health services.
This crowning achievement is known as BRIDGE, a nurse-led program standing for Building Recovery, Independence and Discharge Guidance for the Elderly.
BRIDGE supports patients after they’ve left hospital, connecting them with specialist and community care while helping to prevent avoidable re-admissions. Through an organised triage and referral process, eligible patients can access geriatric expertisewithout making another trip to hospital.
Another key element of BRIDGE is telehealth, with Alicia introducing rapid geriatric assessments and consultations with Geriatric Care Australia nurse practitioners that patients can access from home. Their GP then receives written recommendations to help guide the next stage of care, ensuring fluidity between all services.
“For frail older patients, this can mean less travel, fewer mobility challenges and shorter waits for specialist support,’ shared Mackay Hospital and Health Services.
“It also reduces pressure on health services by limiting the need for vehicles, office space and hospital facilities.”
Behind BRIDGE is a team working to ensure older patients remain supported after leaving hospital, with clinical nurses overseeing referrals, health professionals who meet weekly discuss ways to improve the care they deliver through this program.
“Early results are demonstrating benefits for patients, families and the health system, including more timely access to specialist geriatric assessment, improved care coordination and greater involvement of families in care planning,” said Mackay Hospital and Health Services.
“Patients can receive support in their own homes, helping them feel more informed, connected and confident as they recover and maintain their independence.”
For rural communities, where distance can make accessing care difficult, BRIDGE offers older patients a more comfortable way to receive timely specialist advice from home.
Whitsunday Lions Club. Photo credit: Zach Houtenville
As Nepal reels from catastrophic flash flooding that has killed more than 1,000 people and left thousands missing, the Whitsunday Lions Club is rallying the local community to support those affected at their weekly markets this Saturday.
On Wednesday 26th August after a glacier collapsed and triggered a landslide, a flash flood rushed through the valley below and into the Rasuwa district villages along the Trishuli River in central Nepal.
Travelling at an estimated 50 metres per second, the wall of water, ice, mud and debris gave communities little time to react, sweeping away homes, roads and bridges, with the destruction stretching more than 100 kilometres downstream.
As of Wednesday 2nd September, at least 1,050 people had been confirmed deceased and about 4,000 remained missing. Among those unaccounted for were 583 tourists, including 38 Australians, according to an ABC News report. More than 11,000 people had been rescued, while emergency crews continued searching remote communities and debris-filled tunnels.
The scale of the disaster has left tens of thousands of people in urgent need of support, with United Nations spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric telling ABC News that about 65,000 people require emergency water, sanitation and hygiene assistance.
"More than 22,000 children need protection. 2,600 children under five are expected to need treatment for severe wasting," Stéphane Dujarric said.
"And around 10,500 pregnant and breastfeeding women need nutrition assistance."
In an effort to help out from home, the Whitsunday Lions Club are holding a raffle and collecting donations at their Saturday market with 100% of the funding going straight to Lions of Nepal.
“I’m not just proud of our club, I’m proud of Lions International and that we’re able to help Lions all over the world when there’s a crisis,” said President of the Whitsunday Lions Club Greg Smith.
“Our Lions Club is a small cog in a very, very big wheel. We’re sending money to the Lions Clubs International Foundation, where it will be pooled with donations from around the world.
“The funding is helping those searching for survivors and carrying out rescues, as well as displaced people who need shelter and food.
“I spoke to a personal friend who is a district governor, and he was overwhelmed to think that people in Australia would be helping his country in its time of need, he was very emotional.”
Club members will be at the markets from about 8.30am until noon, with a donation tin available for anyone wishing to contribute. The club will also donate its weekly market takings to the Nepal flood appeal, apart from the Whitsunday Regional Council land-use fee.
I’ll be the first to admit the words “Draft Environment Strategy” probably aren’t going to have too many people rushing to read it over their morning coffee.
That’s fair enough but what sits behind it really does matter.
We’re fortunate to live in one of the most remarkable parts of Australia. We have the Great Barrier Reef and 74 islands on our doorstep, beautiful beaches and waterways, national parks, productive farmland and plenty of special places in between.
It’s a big part of why we live here, why millions of people visit and why industries like tourism and agriculture are so important to our economy.
But the Whitsundays is also growing quickly.
We need more homes, better roads and infrastructure. We want investment, new jobs and opportunities for our young people. And we want our towns and communities to keep moving forward.
The challenge is making sure that as we grow, we don’t lose the things that make the Whitsundays such a special place in the first place.
That, in plain English, is what Council’s Draft Whitsunday Environment Strategy is about.
It considers how we protect and enhance our natural environment while recognising that the Whitsundays is also a growing, productive and working region.
Importantly, it’s still a draft — which means now is the time to tell us what you think.
You don’t need to be an environmental expert, and you don’t need to agree with everything that's proposed.
Perhaps your priority is our waterways and beaches. It might be wildlife and bushland, productive farmland, waste and recycling, or ensuring we can accommodate sensible development without unnecessary red tape.
Whatever matters to you, we want to hear it.
I’d much rather hear your views now, while we can consider them and make changes, than after the Strategy is finished.
Consultation is open until Sunday 27th September through Council’s Your Say Whitsunday website, where you can read the draft, look through the shorter fact sheet and provide your feedback.
The Whitsundays will keep growing and I believe that’s a good thing.
Our job is to make sure we grow well: creating new opportunities while protecting the extraordinary environment and lifestyle that make the Whitsundays a place unlike anywhere else.
Belle Property Whitsundays is celebrating an extraordinary night of success after taking home seven major awards at the 2026 Belle Property Awards in Brisbane on Thursday 20th August, including being named the No. 1 Customer Experience Sales Office in Australia.
The results are particularly significant for the locally owned and operated business, which only opened its doors in December 2024. The 2026 awards marked Belle Property Whitsundays’ first Belle Property Awards and first full financial year of trading, making the recognition an incredible milestone for the young business.
Belle Property Whitsundays was also proud to be recognised as the most awarded Belle Property office in Queensland, a remarkable achievement given the business is still in its early stages.
The Belle Property Awards bring together more than 200 offices across Australia to recognise outstanding performance across sales results, customer experience, leadership and overall business achievement.
For Belle Property Whitsundays to be recognised among such an extensive national network after only opening its doors in December 2024 makes the achievement even more significant.
For Principal Stephanie McWhirter, the recognition is a testament to the vision behind establishing Belle Property Whitsundays and, most importantly, the commitment of the entire team to delivering exceptional service to the local community.
“We are incredibly proud of what our team has achieved in such a short period of time. To open our doors in December 2024 and, within our first full financial year, be recognised alongside some of the most established offices and agents across Australia is something we are extremely proud of,” Stephanie said.
“What makes it even more special is that these awards are not just about numbers. Our Customer Experience awards reflect the way our team looks after our clients and the relationships we have built within our local community.”
Sales Agent Adam Webster was another standout, receiving three major accolades, including Customer Experience Agent of the Year nationally and No. 5 Sales Agent nationally for transactions.
With many of the 2026 award categories requiring staff to have been employed for a full 12 months, Belle Property Whitsundays is looking ahead to an even bigger 2027 awards campaign as more of the team become eligible.
“We are absolutely going big next year,” Stephanie said.
“This year was our first opportunity to compete, and we are incredibly proud of the results. Next year, we will have more team members eligible across the categories, so we are already setting our sights on building on this success and striving to go even further.”
The awards are a significant milestone for a business that has experienced rapid growth since opening, and the team remains focused on continuing to raise the standard of real estate service across the Whitsundays.
Belle Property Whitsundays would like to thank its clients, local community and supporters for being part of the journey so far.
The first chapter has certainly been a successful one - and the team is already looking forward to what comes next.
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