Mackay Life

Well-known

Sarina mum of three, Sammy Coles, has just smashed a world record, completing an Ultra Marathon every day for 15 days and earning herself a place in the Guinness Book of Records. With the motto that “life just happens” and “it’s

never going to be the right time”, Sam my embarked on the challenge (which took her eight hours a day) while also simultaneously working full time, rais ing three kids and walking the dogs.

the

on

Ultra runner Sammy Coles (right) with Billy and Courtney who officiated running times

SMILES ALL AROUND Thanks To Sony Camp And Whitsunday Anglican School

MACKAY ISAAC TOURISM ANNOUNCE NEW CEO Former Whitsunday Councillor Takes Top Job

THE RUMBLE AND THE RHYTHM Re-live

Massive Day Of Skating And Music

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SIT DOWN WITH SAM

Hi Readers

My name is Sam and I work alongside our Mack ay editor Amanda, whom you would usually see here. Our hardworking editor is enjoying a break in America, so I’ll be shar ing my thoughts in the opening pages of the pa per until her return. Here goes.

I moved to Mackay in Feb ruary, deciding to leave Brisbane after eight years. Life was good but I was in a routine. Things needed shaking up. I decided to move to Mackay for a life style change, making the decision with no real job or plan other than to move into my cousin’s spare room. I was unbelievably lucky to land a job with the paper you hold in your hands.

This job has allowed me to achieve exactly what I had hoped for when leav ing Brisbane. I wanted a career that would see me do more than sit in an of fice for eight hours a day.

I wanted a profession that would allow me to explore the region and experience new things. I wanted a job where I could meet a vari ety of people and feel part

of my community. In my seven-ish months in the gig, I feel I’m on my way to doing it all!

I’ve come to really appre ciate the Mackay region in this time. The people are friendly. There are so many stunning natural surroundings to explore. The weekends are con stantly jam-packed with plenty to do. Just this weekend, I spent a day watching people of all ages absolutely shred the Sug ar Bowl at Rumble on the Reef, followed by an eve ning of music at Rhythm and The Reef that I proba bly wouldn’t have expected to see in Mackay before I moved here. You can see my photos on pages 18 and 19. My friends down south are constantly sur prised at how happening Mackay is when I tell them my weekend plans!

I’ve had heaps of fun so far and I can’t wait for a summer of gigs, sport and unique events throughout the community.

If you have an event com ing up please reach out to me!

DAMIEN SAVES THE DAY

Kyle Danns and his family became the vic tims of a scammer, they were left $4,000 out of pocket with a torn-up garden and nowhere to turn.

When

“We’d been meaning to do some thing with the backyard for a while,” said Kyle.

Through a miscommunication, Kyle paid someone he thought was trustworthy to do work on their backyard before the scammer did a runner with his money.

“We spent ages trying to chase him and get in contact with him to no avail,” he said.

Kyle posted in a community Face book group, hoping someone would be able to assist in finding the scam mer, only to be told by many others that they’d been scammed by the same person.

One comment from a gentleman named Damien Bennetts, however, would save the day for Kyle and his family.

“Damien put a post up basically saying, ‘I’d be happy to come and do that for you free of charge,’” Kyle

said.

“He came around the next day and he was awesome; he was so good.”

After a couple of days work, Damien had rejuvenated the back yard space.

“I don’t know what I would have done without him,” said Kyle.

“I didn’t want to go out in the back yard because it just made me so an gry.

“Now I get to go out there and think about all the good people in our community and one of them was Damien who was just so generous with his time.

“I can’t thank him enough.”

Kyle posted to Facebook to thank Damien, in turn, garnering more exposure and work for Damien and his concreting business Damo’s Concreting Construction.

Kyle says Damien has definitely be come a friend.

“He’ll be someone I keep in touch with,” he said.

“Whenever I go out into that yard, I’m going to think of him and his generosity.”

Kyle Danns’ backyard is no longer a torn up mess thanks to Damien Bennetts’ generosity. Photo supplied: Kyle Danns

Acontroversial Urologist who had previously made headlines across the coun try for incompetence and uncon ventional practices has now shot into the spotlight once again fol lowing an incident which saw him suspended from duties at Mackay Base Hospital.

Dr Daryl Stephens was the first doctor to be arrested and charged with murder in 2000 when he al legedly helped his patient, Freeda Hayes, who had terminal kidney cancer, end her life in a palliative care hospice.

It took a Supreme Court jury just 10 minutes to acquit him in 2001.

Moving to West Australia and tak

MACKAY DOCTOR SUSPENDED AMONG HYGIENE CONCERNS

ing up a position in a Perth Hos pital, Dr Stephens’ methods were once again thrown into question when he was fined for engaging in professional misconduct.

He then commenced work as a Urologist at Mackay Base Hospital in 2016 and, despite the findings of the tribunal in 2018, was allowed to continue working at the hospi tal, with lack of urological services cited as the reason he retained his position.

During his tribunal, it was heard that Dr Stephens mishandled a case in Perth which led to a cancer patient not being given pathology results for three months.

He was instructed to work under

supervision for 12 months.

Four years later and Dr Stephens was once again in the spotlight when he was suspended from Mackay Base Hospital following hygiene concerns this week.

The hospital gave a brief statement saying that they have systems and processes in place to encourage staff and patients to speak up for safety.

“If there are concerns about the ca pacity of a clinician to provide safe care these reports are taken very se riously,” said the spokesperson.

“It is important for anyone in volved to be provided with proce dural fairness while the concerns are investigated.”

WORLD’S BIGGEST PUMPED HYDRO PROJECT COMES TO MACKAY

Queensland

Pre mier Annastacia

Palaszczuk has an nounced a bold clean energy future including the biggest pumped hydro scheme in the world.

A new dam in the Pioneer Valley will supply half of Queensland’s entire energy needs with clean, reliable and affordable renewable energy.

It is just one part of a $62 billion Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan that promises 70 per cent of Queensland’s energy supply to come from renewables by 2032 and 80 per cent by 2035.

The Premier said the vision ary plan set Queensland up for the next century.

“This plan is all about cheap er, cleaner and secure energy for Queenslanders,” Ms Pa laszczuk said.

“It is about turbo-charging new investment in new min erals, batteries and manufac turing.

“Renewable energy is the cheapest form of new energy.

“This plan makes Queensland the renewable energy capital of the world.

“It also takes real and deci sive action on climate change providing the biggest com mitment to renewable ener gy in Australia’s history.”

Deputy Premier Steven Miles said the two new pumped hydro facilities would be big ger than the Snowy Moun tains Hydro-electric scheme.

“We will use cheap solar electricity during the day to pump water up the moun tain to store it,” he said.

“Then at night we can release the water to generate elec tricity.

“It’s like a giant battery.”

Treasurer Cameron Dick said Queensland’s energy transformation will provide the greatest jobs opportunity in a generation.

“This empowers our regions in every sense of the word,” the Treasurer said.

“It will bring manufacturing back to the regions in allnew industries.”

Urologist Dr Darryl Stephens suspended from Mackay Base Hospital. Photo credit: The West Australian

AN ULTRA MARATHON WORLD RECORD BREAKER

Thursday Sarina mum of three, Sammy Coles, broke the world re cord for running an Ultra Marathon every day for over two weeks.

Last

In a twist of fate, her title was overtaken by another opponent just one day after she secured the record but despite this, Sam my said she was thrilled to accomplish such an incredible feat which saw her run a total 795 kilometres (53 kilometres a day) for 15 days.

Still pumped from her victory, Sammy says she is eager to see how far she can go with besting the new record which is now set at 22 days.

“I’d love to beat it!” she said.

“My body held up so well and I paced my self the whole way, I knew I had the fitness to do it and I would love to go longer next time.”

While most competitors would train and set aside time to achieve a challenge of this magnitude, Sammy worked full time tak ing classes at the gym.

She would then race home to start each Ultra Marathon which would take her on average eight hours a day, jogging along a 10 kilometre circuit around her home.

“Life just happens!” said Sammy.

“There is no perfect timing, you’re never going to be in the mood, you just have to do it!”

Council Thanks Clean-Up Volunteers

Four sets of stairs, car tyres, six shop ping trolleys and a mouthguard were just some of the unusual items col lected as part of Clean Up, The Mackay Region.

More than three tonnes of rubbish was collected across 11 sites with an impressive 97 volunteers attending.

Clean up locations included Shellgrit Creek, Bridge Road, Sandfly Creek Re serve, Bluewater Trail, Finlayson Point Road, Grasstree Beach, Plane Creek Re vegetation Site, Hodges Road, Riverside Drive and North Wall Harbour Beach.

Mackay Regional Council Mayor Greg Williamson said it was the loyal volunteers who kept these events running year after year.

“We would like to thank everyone for tak ing the time to help keep our region beau tiful,” he said.

“While it was great to see less tonnage overall this year, volume was still at a sim ilar level.

“Volunteers removed large quantities of micro plastics, such as drink bottle lids, plastic water bottles, bread packet clasps, straws and other small pieces of plastic from various clean-up locations.”

Council also thanked event partners in cluding North Queensland Airports, Grasstree Beach Progress Association, Sa rina Landcare, Pioneer Catchment Land care, Mackay Land Rover Club and Mack

ay Board Riders Club for supporting this event.

FAST FACTS:

• 3.278 tonnes collected across the clean-ups

• six shopping trolleys and 36 tyres collected

• 531 “Containers for Change” donated to Incredable Tip Shop

• 852kg of resources recovered for recycling and resale at Incredable Tip Shop

Sammy was only allowed to break for a maximum of eight minutes after each round and often took the dogs for a run while she completed one of her circuits, she also found the time to feed her chil dren and take her son for a spin to clock up some hours on his P plates.

This was not her first taste of endurance running, Sammy had previously competed in the Irrational East challenge which saw her run for 98 hours straight, 330 kilome tres through the Wilderness in Adelaide.

“I had the fitness level to do this too, but you never know how your body will hold out and on that occasion, it was the second toe on my left foot that cramped.”

Next-up Sammy is looking forward to conquering the Triple Crown – which involves completing three 200-mile races within a six month period.

Despite the massive amount of endurance, physical ability and mental strength it takes to run this far, Sammy said that she thinks anyone can do it.

“I honestly feel like this is something any one could do,” she said.

“You just have to believe in yourself.”

Sammy would like to say thank you to her closest supporters: Lauren Matthews, Sar ah Brown, Tammy Vaiga and her partner Thian Bardnard.

Edie Weiss, Penny McMahon, and Elaine and Paul Nicholson spent countless hours cleaning up the region

Council thanked all volunteers involved in the cleanup events. Photos supplied: Mackay Regional Council

Sammy Coles (far right) pictured with friends and supportersSammy with her cheerleading kid squad

Friend Rachel Van Dam rode alongside Sammy

Serving Mackay's needs in THREE locations

Peter and Denise Phillips began their business journey in March 2000 with the launch of the Phillips Mortgage Choice franchise.

Luke Phillips, joined the team in 2005 and Gardian Insurance Services was born, closely followed closely by a another brother Ben who joined Phillips Mortgage Choice. Pretty easy to see why our business has always felt like a family!

In 2008, Gardian expanded further with the opening of Gardian Financial Services (now Gardian Financial Planning), and the family was added to in 2013 when Ben Kerrisk and Eric Rickman (Real Estate Agents) came on board to help kick off Gardian Real Estate. Eric retired in 2019 and Real Estate has since expanded to include the full service offering with Property Management (2015) and the recent addition of Commercial Sales, Leasing & Management (2021).

All services were originally based at 73 Wood Street however due to the rapid expansion of Gardian over the past 3 years other locations were sourced and developed within the Mackay City Heart Precinct. Gardian Real Estate Sales, Gardian Commercial Sales, Leasing & Management are located upstairs at 73 Wood

Street with Gardian Finance (formerly Phillips Mortgage Choice) and Gardian Financial Planning on the ground floor. With 12 staff and over 1,100 properties across Mackay Gardian Property Management moved into their own purpose built office at 88 Victoria Street in late 2020. Gardian Property Management is open Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5.00pm.

By August 2022 Gardian Insurance Brokers had doubled in size over a two year period to 12 staff which required the relocation to their purpose built Insurance offices at 94 Victoria Street. Gardian Insurance Brokers specialise in all insurance lines from personal insurance to general/heavy industry insurances. Luke Phillips heads the Gardian Insurance Brokers Team. The Gardian Insurance office is open Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5.00pm.

94 VICTORIA ST

VICTORIA

Regional Forum Round Three

great lifestyle in regional Queensland.

Minister for Regional Development and Manufacturing and Minister for Water Glenn Butcher joined Mackay-Isaac-Whit sunday forum members, saying workforce shortages are of particular concern to the region’s manufacturing sector.

“What we’re now talking about in the sec ond wave of these forums is to make sure that we’re actually on the ground listening to the community’s concerns and putting into action some things that we can do to deliver as a government for these commu nities,” Mr Butcher said.

“One of the steps we’re doing today is real ly starting a deep dig into how we can help these businesses get to that level where we can get trained and skilled staff to come and join the businesses.

“We want to make sure that anyone who comes to Mackay looking for a job can get the training and skills that they need to get into new industries.

Renewable energy, regional services, economic diversification and hous ing accessibility were on the agen da at the third Mackay-Isaac-Whitsunday Regional Community Forum for 2022, held on Monday.

The forum, chaired by Member for Mack ay Julieanne Gilbert, began with site visits to the Mackay Substation Project and Re sources Centre of Excellence where forum members learnt more about the Stage 2: Future Industries Hub.

“We have forum members that are really passionate about driving the future of our community,” said Ms Gilbert.

“They’ve already been out there doing work on how they can best try bringing skills into our community.

“This is everyday mums and dads, small business owners, so passionate about their community that they’ll put their hand up to come onto these committees to make sure government is delivering services and programs to best suit our community.”

With renewable energy a hot agenda item, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the forum would discuss ideas on sustainably powering the state into the future.

“Regional Queensland plays a big role in renewable energy, to drive down power bills and ease the cost of living,” the Pre mier said.

“Mackay-Isaac-Whitsunday forum mem bers get to be part of this, helping to un lock investment in good clean energy jobs, better services, and helping to protect our

CAMPAIGN RAISING THE VOICE OF YOUNG PEOPLE

“What we’re hearing through the forums, particularly for this region, the Isaac, Whitsunday and Mackay region, is the need for more skilled workers.

The Mackay-Isaac-Whitsunday forum was one of seven held in regional centres across Queensland, with others taking place in Far North Queensland, Central Queensland, Darling Downs-South West, North-North West Queensland, Wide Bay-Burnett-Fraser Coast and Western Queensland.

The

2022 Raise our Voice Aus tralia Campaign is giving young people a voice in parliament and Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox is calling on people under 21 to get involved.

“This year I am excited to participate in the Youth Voice in Parliament campaign which aims to increase the political liter acy of our young voters and voters-to-be,” Mr Willcox said.

“The Raise our Voice campaign asks peo ple under 21 to write a 90-second speech, the best of which will be read out by their local member in Parliament from 21-24 November 2022 for Youth Voice in Par liament week.”

Young people are tasked with writing a speech on the topic of ‘What should

Australia’s new parliament accomplish?’

Last year’s campaign saw 603 speech submissions and approximately 130 speeches read in parliament.

Mr Willcox said that 60% of partici pants said it was the first time they had engaged with Australian politics or a politician, with 92% saying that taking part made them more likely to engage in politics in the future.

“Anything I can do to encourage young people to take an interest in Politics I will take part in,” he said.

“It is so important that our future leaders start having their say, I am honoured to be able to amplify the voices of the young people from Dawson by reading their vi sion for the future in our Federal Parlia ment.”

Minister for Regional Development and Manufacturing and Minister for Water Glenn Butcher and Member for Mackay Julieanne Gilbert

Resources Centre of Excellence CEO Steven Boxall conducted a tour of the facilities for forum members. Photo credit: Sam Gillespie

Andrew Willcox is one of over 70 Federal politicians taking part in the Raise our Voice Australia Campaign. Photo credit: Sam Gillespie

Fox Trapping Underway Car Plunges From Bridge“Lucky To Be Alive”

Residents are advised that a region-wide fox trapping project has now commenced and will cover all areas from Calen to West Hill.

The Mackay Regional Council initiative is de signed to reduce the numbers of a fox species that prey on agricultural and native species alike and can carry diseases.

The European Fox is a Restricted Invasive Animal under the Queensland Biosecurity Act 2014.

Conservation dogs have been used to detect dens and a Council workforce have laid out a series of overnight foot traps in some areas; these are non-lethal and signage will indicate their location.

During the project period, which takes place until October 11, residents are advised to avoid the fol lowing areas on the following dates as foot traps will be present:

East Point – September 30 and October 1

Blacks Beach Reserve – October 1

Hay Point and Louisa Creek beach frontages –October 5-7

The 2022 Fox project is a partnership between Mackay Regional Council, Turtlewatch, Reef Catchments, Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal Pty Ltd, North Queensland Bulk Ports, BMA, Depart ment of Environment and Resource Management, QPWS, and Sarina Landcare via the Queensland Government’s Community Sustainability Action grant.

Acouple

in their fifties are recov ering after their car swerved off the Bruce Highway at Bakers Creek south of Mackay, plummeting three metres from a bridge and onto the riverbed below.

Their Ford Ranger landed on its roof and paramedics said they were “lucky to be alive” because the tide was out at the time, otherwise their vehicle could have been submerged.

The incident happened at around 3.30am on Friday September, 23 and Queensland Ambulance Services (QAS) were first to arrive on the scene at 3.47am.

Less than ten minutes later, Mack ay Fire and Rescue arrived with Area Commander of Mackay City, Mark Ashford saying that it took his team 26 minutes to extricate the couple from the upturned vehicle.

“Surprisingly the car was not that dam aged,” said Commander Ashford.

“There was no cutting needed, we were able to get them out through the doors.”

QAS were on hand to assist the couple, the man was reported to be in a serious but stable condition having received head and chest injuries.

The woman was stable with minor chest

injuries.

It is understood that a wild animal run ning across the road had caused the driver to swerve to avoid a collision.

Paramedics advised that motorists should always resist the natural urge to swerve when possible.

The Forensic Crash Unit is now inves tigating the exact cause of the accident and are appealing for any witnesses or anyone with dashcam vision to contact police.

The couple are undoubtedly relieved to survive what would have been a very scary experience.

SCHOOL CAMP LIKE NO OTHER

Sony Camp wrapped up earlier this week with a show day incorporating rides, face painting, a petting zoo and smiles all around.

Mackay Sony Foundation Children’s Holi day Camp is a unique program for young people in our region who have a disability hosted by Whitsunday Anglican School (WAS).

Running from Saturday to Monday, it pro vided 16 Mackay campers the opportunity to go ‘on camp’ for three days of fun-filled action including swimming, dancing, re mote control car racing, gymnastics, a visit from fire fighters and police officers, drumming, games and finishing with

show day activities.

Sixty WAS students between years eight and 12 volunteered over the weekend, with year 11 students taking on the crucial and exciting role of primary companions and carers.

WAS Dean of Service and Global Learn ing Trisha McHugh says this time provides their families and carers valuable reprieve and much-needed time out.

“It’s (the opportunity for) our students at WAS to provide some respite to our com munity for people who have children with a disability,” Ms McHugh said.

“They have been looking after the camper

as if they were a brother or sister.

“We appreciate the fact that parents are en trusting their children to us to look after, and I also appreciate the fact that our stu dents have given up so much and parents have given up so much of their time so that we can run the event.”

Now in its eighth year, WAS Principal Andrew Wheaton says the weekend was a success apparent through the smiles on the faces of the campers.

“We feel that it’s a true transformational service opportunity where our students are really giving back to the community and providing that much needed respite

for families of students with a disability,” Mr Wheaton said.

Year 11 student Clancy Morgan volun teered at Sony Camp last year and took the opportunity to step up as a companion this year.

“It has been a great experience,” she said.

“I’ve been looking after Cooper … and just seeing the smile on his face, it’s been amazing.

“He’s very independent, which is good, but if he needs anything we’re always there.

“It’s just amazing to see what some families have to do every day.”

Sony Camp provides unique opportunities to children with a disability. Photo credit: Sam Gillespie

The vehicle plunged three metres onto a river bank

Image courtesy of Channel 7 News

Mackay Students Enter The Space Race

Atotal of 50 local school students got a taste of working in space as the Space 2101 program launched globally in Mackay last week.

The five-day program was facilitated by world-leading STEM education providers

STEM Punks, teaching students skills in coding, design thinking, 3D design, inno vation and creativity, all with the theme of living and working in space.

“We’re putting the kids into the future,” said STEM Punks CEO Michael Holm strom.

“It’s all about giving them STEM skills in the context of space and then we use some thing called design thinking to get them to transform ideas into outcomes really fast.”

The students were given the scenario of producing a new module for a futuristic space station.

“In the end, they get a really creative mind set,” Mr Holmstrom said.

“It’s about problem-solving, and they ba sically use those STEM skills in a prob lem-based learning scenario to produce an outcome.”

The program also featured former NASA astronaut Commander Susan Kilrain who flew in from the USA to present with STEM Punks.

“She was there as a mentor, as a validator of the ideas, and to share her inspirational story about being blasted off into space,”

Mr Holmstrom said.

Grade eight student Olivia Pearce has al ways wanted to be an astronaut and says meeting Ms Kilrain was inspirational.

“It really showed me that I could be an as tronaut and that it is possible and if you do well in school and join clubs you’ve got

opportunities,” Olivia said.

“I had quite a good chat with Susan, and she really told me that I could do it and it’s really good that I’m a female because that’s bringing more females into the field.”

Fellow grade 8 student Hunter McGeary agreed.

“That was amazing,” he said.

“First astronaut ever to come to Mackay apparently.

“I’ve just loved space and coding and pro gramming, and I heard there was a lot of that with this program.

“We’ve mainly been learning program ming, but we’ve done a bit of circuitry and 3D design which is cool.”

The Mackay program is the launch of a world tour for STEM Punks which will now head to Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Bahrain, UK, India and the USA.

A Walk For Charlie’s Heart

The whole community is invited to join the Quakawoot family for the annual HeartKids Two Feet and A Heartbeat charity walk which takes place in October.

disease each day and four sadly pass away each week.

Mackay locals, the Quakawoot family, have been living this traumatic experience since their son Charlie was diagnosed with CHD when he was born.

QLD media profile

Attendees can choose between a four and eight kilometre walk which will help raise both money and awareness for people liv ing with congenital heart disease (CHD).

CHD is one of the leading causes of death of Australian babies under one and one of the most common birth abnormalities af fecting one in every 100 births.

The little guy spent six weeks in hospital after his birth and will require expensive ongoing medicine twice a day to keep him alive.

Charlie’s family spent 6 weeks away from home to treat their son’s CHD

Eight Australian babies are born with the

Charlie’s mum, Robyn, was just 28 weeks pregnant when the midwife picked up a rapid heart rate of about 300bpm.

She was told to go to Townsville hospital straight away where they put her on two different heart medications to try and get Charlie’s heart rate down.

Charlie is young boy full of energy and doesn’t let his condition slow him down. While Charlie is always busy and full of beans the beginning of his life was a stressful time for his parents, Robyn and Andrew.

This was a very scary experience for Robyn and the family as Charlie had started to go into heart failure.

Fortunately, after a week of treatment, Charlie’s heart rate returned to normal but his parents had a nervous wait until he was born.

“It was a very stressful time during the hospital stay which lasted 6 weeks. It was also a very anxious time when we were able to bring him home,” said Robyn.

bath and when this didn’t work, they ad ministered a drug through an IV, which worked thankfully to reduce his heart rate,” says dad Andrew.

Navigating a new life with Charlie’s condi tion has been both traumatic and expen sive for the family who have had to dig into their savings to pay for his ongoing medicine.

Charlie’s mum, Robyn, was 28 weeks pregnant when the midwife picked up a rapid heart rate of about 300bpm. Robyn was told to go to Townsville hospital straight away where they put her on two different heart medications to try and get Charlie’s heart rate down. This was a very scary experience for Robyn and the family as Charlie had started to go into heart failure.

“When Charlie was five days old, he had his first SVT (supraventricular tachycar dia) episode outside the womb.

“To try and revert his heart rhythm, the doctors tried dunking his head in an ice

HeartKids have been a lifeline during this time by providing in hospital emotional support and meals to them while Charlie underwent treatment at Queensland Chil dren’s Hospital.

It took about a week to get his heart rate back to more of a normal rate. Robyn continued to take the medications for the rest of her pregnancy and was advised to give birth in Townsville, so she did just that.

Mackay’s upcoming Two Feet and A Heartbeat charity walk is an opportuni ty for HeartKids supporters, friends and families to come together to support fami lies like Charlie’s.

Tickets to the event are $30 for adults,

children under 15 are $15 and an infant under one is free.

Each participant will receive a pair of socks and a flag representing their journey. Blue for the kids living with CHD, white for those that have lost a loved one and red for supporters, friends and family.

The event will begin with a minute’s silence for those lost and this will be followed by your choice of four- or eight-kilometre walk.

Afterwards there will be a BBQ and a range of other activities.

WHAT: HeartKids Two Feet and A Heart beat charity walk

WHEN: Sunday, October 16 from 3.30pm – 6.00pm

WHERE: Old Mulherin Park, Mulherin Drive

Just before Robyn was to be induced, Charlie’s heart rate was up again and the doctors performed an emergency c section. After Charlie was born, his heart rate returned to normal

Baby Charlie was kept in hospital for six weeks after he was born with congenital heart disease

Charlie has since learnt to live a full life with his condition

Former NASA astronaut Susan Kilrain was the guest of honour as STEM Punks launched their Space 2101 program in Mackay last week. Photo Credit: STEM Punks Education

Inaugural Long Table Laneway Art Dinner From Town To Country

Holding a culinary feast within an immersive art gallery at an award-win ning laneway sounds both ambi tious and fascinating – it is also something that Crossroad Arts are introducing to Mackay next month.

The inaugural Laneway Art Din ner promises to be a cultural masterpiece where a nationally acclaimed guest artist will show case his work, while guests enjoy a locally sourced hand-picked food offering.

Located at Fifth Lane in the heart of Mack ay, watch how the stage will be set with an art gallery vibe for a two course-dinner which will further stimulate the senses.

The all-inclusive outdoor experience will feature dinner and drinks by Goanna Brewing and Joval Wine Group along with live music by Ruby Sue Music and a Cross road Arts wearable art parade.

Painting in the mediums of oil pastels and acrylics, his work reflects strong evocative colours together with an expressive visual language of his own.

An advocate for equal opportunities for people living with disabilities, Digby is also a member of Front Up, a disability led Arts and Cultural program initiated by Ability Options.

Through this program, he has exhibited several of his works at Ba rangaroo as part of the ‘I Am Still Here’ emerging art ists exhibition.

Artbank and Australia Council for the Arts have also included his works in their collection.

Digby will be guest of hon our at the Laneway Art Din ner and Artistic Director Alison Richardson says she is looking forward to intro ducing him at the event.

“Our Laneway Art Dinner is the first of its kind in the city heart’s award winning Fifth Lane,” she said.

“We’re excited to have ac complished Sydney based artist Digby Webster in at tendance and we look for ward to an evening in cel ebration of art, music and food!”

During the evening there will be a live art auction with works from a variety of re nowned artists including Archibald Prize Finalist, Digby Webster who will also be the VIP guest on the night.

A Sydney-based artist with a career span ning 10 years, Digby Webster is an inspir ing young man who has had is work exhib ited as far afield as Japan. He was also commissioned by Taste Me dia to paint images of the South Austra lian landscape which were then incorpo rated into the winning logo for the Special Olympics which was held in Adelaide in 2018.

All proceeds will be directly re-invested into the Mack ay community through Crossroad Arts inclusive arts events and artistic pro grams, helping them to expand and enrich their annual program of workshops and events in regional and remote Queensland.

Tickets are $165 per person, and they are selling fast so get in quick to secure your place.

For further details including how to book tickets visit www.crossroadarts.com.au

WHAT: Laneway Art Dinner

WHEN: Friday, October 21st – 6.30pm to 10.30pm

WHERE: Fifth Lane, Mackay CBD

Long-standing

Mackay Real Es tate Agent Noel Durnsford has re-opened his doors and is now taking clients for well-established Noel Durnsford Town and Country Realty.

Renowned for professional service with an emphasis on communication and personal connection, Noel pays careful attention to detail and focuses on customer requirements.

“We take the time to get the best pos sible price for a property, that the mar ket will allow,” said Noel.

“I know the region intimately from cane farms to coastal grazing blocks, as well as all types of residential prop erties, and that’s the reason we are called Town and Country Realty.”

Born and bred in Mackay, Noel oper ated a cane farm at Yalboroo (located just 70 kilometres north of Mackay) for over 30 years before moving into the city with his wife, Robyn.

His father and uncle moved to the farm in 1927 from Nebo and it has been in the family ever since.

Noel’s two sons are now third generation farmers on the property, along with his 26-year-old grandson.

Poor health saw Noel step away from the real estate industry for some years but 12 months ago he re-opened the doors under the same name and with the same service.

“We’re homegrown so I do understand the circumstances in Mackay, whether that be rural or town properties and I understand the layout of the land from Sarina to Proserpine,” he said.

As the principal of his agency, Noel is the person you will talk to for all business dealings regarding comparative market analysis, the listing process, settlement and everything in between.

For all your real estate needs, reach out to Noel Durnsford Town and Country Re alty and experience some good old-fash ioned service.

Acclaimed artist Digby Webster will be the VIP guest on the night

The stage is set at Fifth Lane under the lights. Photo credit: Alison Richardson

Noel Durnsford and his wife Robyn from Town and Country Realty

PROPERTY POINT

Whether it’s a sea change or a tree change, there is a movement away from the big cities to re gional areas and Mackay is one of the ben eficiaries.

Recent figures show that populations across regional Australia grew by 70,900 or 0.9 per cent in the 2020-2021 finan cial year and the population figure fell by 26,000 or 0.1 per cent in capital cities.

Covid-induced border closures are now well and truly behind us and there is a feel ing that this trend will only increase.

High-profile real estate identity John Mc Grath’s latest McGrath Report, quoted in The Australian newspaper, said big city es capees look for a cheaper destination, not something that is as expensive as where they are leaving, when choosing their sea or tree change.

McGrath pointed out that a sea change to Noosa Heads does not look so enticing when the median price is $2 million com pared to regional Queensland’s $569,000 median price.

One of the reasons people make the change is to reduce debt and financial stress. Yes, people want good weather, ac cess to beaches or other forms of natural beauty, reliable services and medical facil ities but cost is a big part of it.

McGrath has noticed how those factors have led to an increase in property sales

and price rises in our part of the world.

“Central Queensland, where many city dwellers from the southern states have moved, recorded the largest uptick in sales volumes of houses of 42.9 per cent in the year to February 2022,” the McGrath Re port said.

It also pointed out that sales volumes in the Greater Whitsundays, which also in cludes Mackay, were up nearly 41 per cent.

The on-the-ground evidence at open homes and buyer inquiries absolutely con firms that Mackay is very much on the list of those wanting to make the change.

Our average house price is in the low $400,000s, there is virtually no unem ployment, we have beautiful beaches and rivers, lovely hinterland bushland, easy access to Whitsunday Islands, good health and educational facilities and we’re a short flight to Brisbane.

One change that has been created by tech nology improvements and spurred on by Covid is the trend to work from home.

There are now people who work in the digital world who pretty much work from home all the time.

The organisation you work for might be based in Sydney but in many cases you can work from home in Manly, the Gold Coast or Mackay.

Whichever way you look at it there are positive signs for real estate in Mackay.

Looking for a job?

Have you considered working for Mackay Regional Council as an option for a rewarding career?

With about 1200 employees, we have a huge variety of roles with endless possibil ities.

As a councillor I get to interact with staff on a daily basis; they are a dedicated bunch, it doesn’t matter whether I get to the office at 6.30am or I am leaving at 6.30pm, there is always someone there.

I see our workforce as proud of the role they play in working to improve our re gion for their family and future genera tions, and when I ask staff for the reason they work for council, they are quick to answer:

• “I get a lot of satisfaction when I work with a team of people who want to help provide services to the community.”

• “Council offers me the ability to have a great work/life balance.”

• “Council provides me the opportunity to gain new skills and undertake fur ther training to advance my career within the or ganisation.”

• “Working at council provides a lifestyle and flexible arrangements for me to be home each night and on the weekend so I can enjoy time with my family and volunteer at various sports our family is involved in.”

Like all businesses in the region at the moment, we are struggling to fill roles be cause prospective employees are spoilt for choice.

We currently have 183 vacancies, of which

Jingle Jail For Bravehearts

On Monday There Will Be Tears

Apprentice Rises

Early to healthy, wise. In licity Stone’s the sun her to scoop

Plenty of tears.

Can you believe that in one month it’ll be Christmas Day! Amazing right!

It’s a time of reflection on what’s im portant to you, spending time with family, helping the community and of course Santa. But before we get there, we have to have our ducks in a row.

Monday is the D Day for kids as they have to head back to school af ter the spring holiday break and I reckon there will be a handful of kids and parents alike that won’t be happy with it.

One easy way is to volunteer your time. I do it and I love it. I volunteer at the PCYC, Blood Bank, YIRS, Mackay Tourism, Zonta, Meals on Wheels, Mackay Basketball, plus many others.

My suggestion is if you’re heading to the shops tomorrow to do your monthly shop, maybe grab an extra box of tissues just to be sure.

I know over the past couple of weeks we’ve had some fun.

Actually, tomorrow at Canelands we’ll be helping a great group of people at Brave hearts with 4MK’s Jingle Jail. We’ll have a makeshift jail in the centre and over the course of the day we’ll have Mackay’s movers and shakers in the “jail cell” with me rattling the donation bins so that they can be “bailed out”.

I ran the Sydney Marathon two weeks ago, plenty of families have had fun camping at Eungella and water skiing at Kinchant Dam, whilst others have had a chill out session in front of the TV watching Netflix and watching footy.

I’ll have our Mayor Greg Williamson com ing down, Derek Davis from Ezy Group, Steve Eden from City Fitness, Mackay

Whatever you’ve been doing I hope it’s been fun.

Can I make a suggestion though before Monday? Get the whole family together this weekend, grab some pizzas and some cans of fizzy drink and all sit down togeth er and nut out what you want to do in the Xmas holidays. They will come around quicker than you think.

Isaac Tourism’s Tas Webber, Paul Rutland from the Creperie Restaurant, Col Meng from Rotary, Adrian Westcott from Mack ay Hockey, plus a mystery detective from Mackay Police!

The decorations are out on the shelves now so that means our minds are tuned to the festive season and all that it brings. Tinsel, trees, presents and holidays in the sum mertime.

How much will we raise? Who knows? How much fun will we have? Heaps!

Does it mean an overseas holiday is in or der now that the premier has thrown away the pool gate key now? Does it mean you can relax with the whole family in the car driving down to Brisbane and spend some quality time with the cousins?

If you’re wondering who Bravehearts are, well put it this way. They help kids. Plain and simple. Kids around our region and more. Bravehearts want to make Australia the saf est place in the world to raise a child. You’d think that’d be easy right? Well not exactly because of a variety of factors, but we can all do our small bit, and Saturday 27th tomor row is when we can all help.

Whatever you choose to do, start organ ising it now. Don’t put it off because the next thing you know it will be too late and you’ll be kicking yourself that you didn’t listen to Uncle Rob.

If you’re doing your shopping or catching up with mates for a coffee at Canelands look for me and a whole bunch of beautiful souls in our jail and come and say gudday. It could change your life, and really, it will save the lives of kids all over Mackay and the Whit sundays.

Write down what you want to do, where to go and how you’re going to pay for it all. Stick it on the front of the fridge so it reminds you each day of what you are do ing, then in a few short months you will be relaxing with thousands of others at the best time of the year.

You can join Rob Kidd from 5am weekday mornings on 4MK 1026 AM in Mackay and Proserpine, 91.5FM in Airlie Beach or just ask your smart speaker to play 4MK!

Oh, one other thing. Lose some weight. You will want to look your best at the beach in that one-piece orange bathing suit. I know I will.

Have fun.

After returning to Africa, signed tificate She won Bakery Award efforts apprenticeship Pleasant many other the prestigious “I’ve worked past three before two years Her training gained the-art tutelage the skills cial baking “Now that turning to travel baking Felicity

To win Award, tude, ability ments and According all these “While

A Legacy Of Saving Lives Udderly Great Coffee And

You can join Rob Kidd from 5am weekday mornings on 4MK 1026 AM in Mackay and Proserpine, 91.5FM in Airlie Beach or just ask your smart speaker to play 4MK on iHeartRadio!

“We’ve managed to connect in some really positive ways in the community over the

“We’ve become a recognised source of help for people, and if someone doesn’t know where to go, they can come and see me and I’ll make them a coffee and we can sit and talk it out together and we let them know

destigmatise Mixed Anxiety and Depres sion - the MAD in MAD COW - for Son ya and Barry, who started the business as a tribute to their son Aiden after he sadly died by suicide.

With MAD Cow, Barry and Sonya have created a legacy for Aiden by continuing to tell his story over coffee and raising aware ness for the issue of suicide in regional ar eas, as well as providing an ear for those

31 are currently advertised, and this affects our ability to deliver services to the com munity in a timely manner and puts stress on other employees to fill the gaps so we can continue to be proud of our region. The available positions cover all aspects, from working in our parks and gardens so we can keep them looking great, to a role as a principal development engineer that helps plan the layout of or region into the future.

Applying is easy with vacancies listed on

Sonya says that, even though she’s not a professional counsellor herself, she knows the role that just listening and lending an ear can have.

The MAD Daisy.

Daisy’s launch also celebrated MAD Cow’s upcoming ‘Project Engage’, which Sonya says will local community key part Daisy was Me, and Mackay, Partners, Association

“We know of 39 suicides we have directly prevented, and a number of stories where we’ve allowed people to open up to their loved ones after hearing our story or at tending an event.”

If any of this has sparked interest in you or maybe you know a school leaver who needs a start, or an out-of-town fami ly member who is considering moving town or state, please contact them and say, “Have you considered working for Mackay Regional Council?”

Photo:

council’s website – mackay.qld.gov.au/ca reers.

Cr Laurence Bonaventura Mackay Regional Council

Cr Bonaventura and library staff at Book Week 2022

New CEO Announced

For Mackay Isaac Tourism

AWhitsunday Regional Councillor has been named as the new Chief Executive Officer of Mackay Isaac Tourism following a gruelling interview process which saw applicants from across the country vie for the job.

Al Grundy, has 26 years’ experience in tourism, operating an extensive charter boat company for much of the time and more recently becoming Chair of the Board for Tourism Whitsundays.

He was elected as division two councillor for Whitsunday Regional Council two and a half years ago and has now resigned from the position to pursue his dreams of lead ing a team and creating change within the industry.

Having already been equipped with the right skillset and his strong passion for the tourism industry, Mr Grundy says he is

raring to go and already has a clear direc tion on how he will steer the organisation and region to greater heights.

“I am excited to be given this responsibil ity of leading the region and the team at Mackay Isaac Tourism,” he said.

“I hope my years of experience will be an asset and I look forward to meeting the in dustry and working closely with them to shine a spotlight on the best of what the Mackay Isaac region has to offer to the world!”

Al is no stranger to the Mackay Isaac area, having worked on a number of local Committees including the Mackay Isaac Whitsundays Healthy Rivers to Reef Part nership for seven years and the Greater Whitsundays Council of Mayors Suicide Prevention Taskforce for 18 months.

“I already have links with Mayor Baker

and Mayor Wil liamson, which really helped with my deci sion to take this role,” he said.

“I am look ing forward to working within both Council areas, growing memberships and new opportu nities both coastal and outback.”

Mackay Isaac Tourism Chair Council lor Justin Englert said he is confident the new appointment will bring tremendous strengths to not only the organisation but also the region.

“With new ideas, a fresh approach and in novative concepts, backed by a strong tour ism marketing and business background, the organisation is in good hands,” he said.

“The board of directors at Mackay Isaac Tourism is excited about this new appoint ment and with Al’s significant background in the tourism industry, I am sure his abil ity to identify new opportunities will drive growth for our Mackay Isaac Region.”

Starting his role on Monday October 17, Al will reside in Mackay during the week, returning to the Whitsundays to be with his family on the weekends.

Current interim Mackay Isaac Tourism CEO Tash Wheeler will be finishing short ly after Al commences the role.

New Lead Agent, Same Great Service

Headspace services in the Mackay region will now be delivered by North and West Remote Health (NWRH) as the remote allied health ser vice took over as lead agent on September 12.

NWRH is a not-for-profit organisation providing mental health and wellbeing, outreach allied health, aged care and dis ability services across regional, rural and remote Queensland and will now deliver headspace services to Mackay as well as the Sarina and Whitsundays headspace satellite sites.

Based in Townsville, NRWH service from Mornington Island to Birdsville and from Emerald to Ingham but Executive Coordi nator Simone Campbell says Mackay is a new region for the organisation.

“We just wanted to be involved in Mackay because it’s not an area we’ve looked at or been in before,” she said.

Earlier in the month, NWRH board mem bers visited the region to meet with mem

bers of the headspace consortium.

The NWRH Board and Chief Executive Officer hosted a meet and greet with local

headspace staff, traditional owner elders from the Yuwi and South Sea Islander Communities, The Village Leaders, the Mackay Hospital and Health Service staff as well as other community ser vice providers.

The NWRH team then met with Mackay Regional Council Mayor Greg Williamson, Deputy Mayor Karen May and Councillors the next day.

“What we want to do is start a consortium partnership with some of the local people … so we could start meeting and getting involved in the community to promote headspace, to promote NWRH’s other services to see what else we can do down there and how else we can get involved,”

Ms Campbell said.

“The board is very interested in getting to know the community down there and see what they can do to help.”

While headspace may have a new lead agent, they still provide the Mackay region with the same great services they always have.

Headspace Mackay offers free confidential counselling services for young people aged 12 - 25 across Mackay region, making sure young people have the best support, infor mation, and services for their health and wellbeing including physical health, men tal health, drug and alcohol issues, em ployment and education support.

Headspace Mackay can be contacted on 4898 2200, headspace Sarina 4842 6750, headspace Whitsundays 4842 6760.

L-R Annie Clark (Board), Rob Stable (Board), Phil Barwick (Board), Kylie Doyle (Board), Randall Ross (NWRH), John Cain (NWRH), Terri Cox (headspace Sarina), Phil Ihme (NWRH) and Sandra Glaister (Board) at headspace Sarina. Photo supplied: Simone Campbell

L-R The NWRH Board met with Mackay Regional Council. Photo credit: John Cain

New Mackay Isaac Tourism Chief Executive Officer Al Grundy

New Mural Makes A Splash

One of Mackay CBD’s many lan eways is now a whole lot bright er thanks to local artist Cynthia Gregg.

The space next to Sam’s Singapore Restau rant on Wood Street has been transformed, with Cynthia spending a week painting the whole wall white before creating her mas terpiece last week.

Cynthia, who is also a Crossroad Arts Wearable Art Co-Facilitator and perform er, created the artwork using water-based exterior paints to celebrate the deep blue waters of the Pioneer River.

“The mural consists of a human silhouette spreading outwards into a large dynamic splashing of droplets in aquamarine blue hues,” Cynthia said.

“This form will suggest a welcoming river spirit, inviting the audience to interact.

“The themes are playfulness, vitality, ap preciation of and engagement with arts and the natural marine environment.”

Brightening the street, the artwork invites passers-by into the laneway to interact with the piece.

“This type of painting is designed to en gage its audience with photo shoots and selfies,” Cynthia said.

“It consists of shapes designed to smoothly frame and uplift the appearance of a per son standing directly in front of the mural.

“In photos, it will appear as though the person featured is one with the painting and wearing wings of splashing water ris ing, encouraging a cultural embrace with the river and street arts in Mackay.”

Cynthia was able to complete the mu ral after receiving an Activate My Place! (AMP!) program micro-grant from Mack ay Regional Council to create this new work.

She also had the support of Crossroad

Arts and Horizon Clubhouse.

With the whole wall now painted white, Cynthia hopes to secure more funding to fill the wall with similar figures.

Members of the local community are in vited to take part in photoshoots with the completed mural, encouraging connec tion and share to social media using the hashtags #BlueRiverSpirit and #Mackay Pride.

Do you have an exciting creative idea and need a bit of financial assistance to get it off the ground?

Mackay Regional Council is here to help you through the Regional Arts Devel opment Fund (RADF), offering almost $95,000 in grants during the latest funding round.

RADF Committee Chair Councillor Fran Mann said this round of funding was again offering three different categories to pro mote creativity across the Mackay com munity.

“RADF will again offer General Arts grants, as well as the Youth Arts grants which aim to support young people to pursue creative career pathways,” Ms Mann said.

“There will also be Green Arts grants available, which will support initia tives that focus on environmentally based arts and cultural practice and that highlight issues relating to our unique local biodiversity.

“Creativity makes communities connect, and RADF promotes the role and value of arts, culture and heritage as key drivers of diverse and inclusive communities and strong regions.”

This funding round of RADF (round one for 2022/23) is open now and applications close Wednes day, October 5, 2022, for projects

commencing after Monday, November 14.

Let Your Creativity Flow Get Connected At The Seniors Expo

This round will offer $46,000 in General Arts grants, $33,934 in Green Arts grants, and $15,000 in Youth Arts grants.

Previous RADF grant recipients have used the funds to publish books, record music, hold art exhibitions and more.

Council is also looking for new RADF committee members and you or your arts organisation can still apply for RADF funds if you are a RADF committee mem ber.

To apply for a RADF grant, visit mackay. smartygrants.com.au.

Seniors

of all ages and stages are invited to come togeth er at the Big Shed on the Mackay Showgrounds later this month for an event that prom ises to offer a wide range of op portunities to maximise quality of life during retirement years.

The annual Mackay Seniors Expo is a popular event which often attracts upwards of 2000 people who enjoy browsing over 75 differ ent stalls.

There is plenty to see and do - discover avenues to volunteer your time to charity organisations, sign-up to sporting activ ities such as pickleball and learn about your health options including managing hearing loss or how you can receive Meals on Wheels.

Mayor Greg Williamson said the expo is a great place to connect with others.

“This expo is all about making connec tions, whether with a group you’d like to be part of or a sport or hobby you’d like to try, or maybe just with old friends that you haven’t seen in a while,” he said.

“We’ve found that community members are interested in learning more about lei sure and lifestyle activities as well as the

more ‘practical’ considerations of growing older and staying active and healthy.

“This expo really offers a tremendous mix – in the Big Shed this year you will find ev erything from senior-friendly sports and hobbies to retirement living and health care services.”

The event forms part of the Queensland Government’s state-wide Seniors Month celebrations which aim to improve com munity attitudes towards older people, facilitate community participation and ac tivity by older people, and enhance com munity connections and inter-generation al relationships.

WHAT: Mackay Seniors Expo

WHERE: The Big Shed at the Mackay Showgrounds

WHEN: Tuesday, October 11 from 9.00am to 1.00pm

Local artist Cynthia Gregg has left her mark on a wall in Wood Street with a Pioneer River-inspired mural. Photo credit: Sam Gillespie

Cynthia hopes to fill the whole wall with similar figures. Photo supplied: Crossroad Arts

Bucasia Kindergarten Director Dorisina Penola and Arlo Russell pictured with an exhibition following local artist and RADF recipient, Shelley Engwirda’s grant to complete a four-week residency at Bucasia Kindergarten.

Photo supplied: Mackay Regional Council

Make new friends at the Seniors Expo

Hard Labour Pays Off

By Kevin Borg, Chairman, CANEGROWERS Mackay

Looking north, and seeing the deep troubles experienced in other grow ing regions in sourcing labour to transport cane to the mill, the Mackay re gion cane growing community is thankful for a couple of factors that have served us well this crush.

Canegrowers Mackay, working with our CQ Queensland Agricultural Workforce Network officer, went out hard and early, recruiting workers not just from within our community, but across the country. We used electronic billboards, social me dia and online jobs boards focused on backpackers and grey nomads. We ran ads in local media, and state rural press.

We even went old school, with posters and flyers delivered to roadhouses and caravan parks.

Beyond that, Canegrowers Mackay is al most unique among Queensland’s milling districts in that part of our recruitment

strategy is to actively train haulout drivers. The course is led by growers and harvest ers and a registered training organisation. This year, we had 20 trainees, 19 of whom passed the course and were work-ready by the end of their four-day training course, with some good in-paddock experience.

We think it’s important, to help raise skill levels of new workers to the industry, and thereby improve safety and productivity. That’s why we are currently applying for funding to run two courses in 2023.

This year, the course also taught us some thing. The majority of the trainees were older workers, looking for seasonal work to supplement their early retirement in come. Many had experience in other ag sectors and were looking to apply these to cane harvesting. It’s interesting and gave us a pointer on places to focus efforts in 2023.

Overall, taking this multi-pronged recruit

ment approach has been a good success, thus far, with a list of people seeking work updating on our website jobs board, and members, for the most part, are not flag ging that they are having difficulty sourc ing labour.

However, with the crush now expected to extend into January, the sector will need to ensure that we can retain the labour needed to see the crush through, or if not,

attract new workers. It’s a hard call, but many farming operations unfortunate ly end up relying on family members to scrape through that end part of the season.

We are lucky that, for the majority of har vesting operations in this region, a C-class licence is all that is needed to be a haulout driver. Like many regions, the sugarcane industry can suffer attrition to the resourc es sector. It can’t be helped – those are high paying jobs in an affluent industry.

But what the sugarcane industry can offer is a worksite that’s a green paddock, not a black and brown hole. And to be home with your loved ones every day. There’s a good lifestyle trade off.

Picture: Contributed

Quality Haulout Operator training, led by a combination of grower/harvesters and RTO trainers was a core part of Canegrowers Mackay’s strategy to recruit and skill workers for the 2022 crush. Picture: Contributed

McDonald

Hockey Dad Are Crossing Their T’s

When Windang’s favourite sons Hockey Dad had to cancel Mackay from a rescheduled tour earlier this year, fans were left disap pointed and having to travel to Airlie to catch them play. Being as down-to-earth and true-to-their-word as they are, the boys have made it up to the sugar city, with a show at the Seabreeze Hotel next Friday.

Sam had a chat with Billy Fleming and Zach Stephenson before they make their way up the coast.

Sam: How did you guys become mates back in the day and then start Hockey Dad?

Billy: I was out the front playing footy with my dad and Zach lived a few doors down so he would see us playing out the front and we were just like, ‘You wanna hang out?’ Since then, we went to school together from kindergarten to year 12 and, yeah, just kept going. The band thing didn’t really happen until I’d just got into high school so year 7, Zach would’ve been year 9 I guess but, yeah, before then, we were just hanging out as kids do just riding pushies, surfing, skating, all the good stuff. Then, literally, the music just took over.

Sam: Were you playing music separately before Hockey Dad started?

Billy: Yeah, Zach, definitely, you were do ing guitar lessons for a good while.

Zach: Yeah, I was doing guitar lessons from primary school then we kind of started a high school band, Billy and I and a few other mates, that went on for a few years, we played in that band and learnt how to be in a band and play songs and that finished up towards the end of high school for both of us and Hockey Dad was birthed out of the ashes of that, I suppose.

Sam: Unearthed High was a big step for you guys. What’s your take on what Un earthed and triple j does for the up-andcomers of the scene?

Billy: Unearthed is a really cool platform. The whole premise behind it is sick. Just put up a song and hope for the best. The Unearthed High thing was just because I was still in high school, we were like, ‘We may as well do it.’ We knew we were go ing to be a band, we kind of had Dan, our manager, looking after us already. It was good but he was just like, ‘You might as well throw it up and see what happens.’ We were going to be touring anyway so it was a good moment for us to just jump into that scene and the reception was real ly good and yeah, it was definitely a good stepping stone.

Zach: I think it’s a good little entry point for any young people who want to come in. It gives you some experience and you meet fresh people who are important in the scene and you meet radio personalities and you kind of get your foot in the door and get a little bit of exposure and get your name out there. It’s great for that and really good for kids in high school to get a taste of what the music industry’s like and what it’s like to be putting songs out and work ing in the industry, so it’s a great program.

Sam: Does your approach to playing live change when you’re playing in a small room compared to playing a big festival?

Billy: It’s still always so good doing the smaller regional shows. I feel like that’s where the life is, it’s where all the stron gest fans are. Regional touring is the best. You can’t really beat it. Obviously, it’s good playing bigger headline shows in major cities, but we love regionals, it’s the fun nest thing. I feel like that’s the core of Aus tralian music. You’ve got your little, dingy venue 20 minutes down the road and if your favourite band comes through, you’re like, ‘Hell yeah, I’m going there for sure.’ Especially for a regional town, it’s kind of like word of mouth, it makes it more spe cial and the vibe is way better, in a way, than a larger scale thing.

Sam: We got ‘T’s to Cross’ earlier in the year, is that leading into a fourth album?

Billy: Yeah! Pretty much. We’ve got to fin ish mixing it and all that and figure out when to put it out, but, yeah, we’ve got some songs in the bank. We kind of put ‘T’s to Cross’ out because we were like, ‘We’ve got to get something out, it’s been a few years.’ We were hanging onto it for a little while and trying to get a plan hap pening, but we were like, ‘Let’s just get a song out.’ The reception’s been sweet. We haven’t played it in Australia yet so Mack ay’s going to be the first one.

Zach: Yeah, we got a bunch of new songs we’re going to play that we’ve just record ed so we’ll play a few on these new shows coming up and we’ve also got a bunch of old songs that we’ve never really played. We tried to refresh the whole setlist for these shows now that we’re back from the States. It’s kind of exciting, playing all new old songs again. It should be an exciting set.

WHAT: Hockey Dad supported by Nortica

WHERE: Seabreeze Hotel

WHEN: Friday, October 7 from 8pm TICKETS: Oztix

Hockey Dad promise a set filled with old songs they’ve never played live before, plus some new songs, for their Mackay show

Fantasy Trilogy Comes To Magical Conclusion

Orchids Create A Kaleidoscope Of Colour At Queens Park

Gardening

enthusiasts, flower-lov ers and anyone who enjoys mar velling at natural beauty are invit ed down to the Ken Burgess Orchid House which will be transformed into a kaleido scope of colour over the weekend.

A central part of the Mackay Orchid Ex travaganza, the annual event will see hun dreds of orchids on display at Queens Park from 8.00am to 4.00pm this Saturday.

In addition to the beautiful displays, at tendees will also have the opportunity to get involved with one of the orchid work shops or demonstrations and, for those looking for a souvenir, there will be stalls selling plants.

Mayor Greg Williamson said the event would offer something for everyone, from novice gardeners right through to orchid enthusiasts.

“Orchid experts will be available on the day to provide helpful tips and tricks for growing orchids in our climate and share their personal experiences,” he said.

“If you’ve ever wanted to incorporate or chids into your garden, the Orchid Ex travaganza is the perfect opportunity to discover what is available and to find out what would best suit your garden and life style.

“For those who don’t have a green thumb, the extravaganza is still an excellent op portunity to admire the exquisite orchids on display, which will include both exotic and Australian native species.”

Entry is free and food stalls will also be available for those who want to grab re freshments.

This event is proudly supported by Mack ay Regional Council, Mackay and District Orchid Society and Pioneer River Orchid and Plant Association.

WHAT: Mackay Orchid Extravaganza

WHERE: Ken Burgess Orchid House

WHEN: Saturday, October 1

ADMISSION: Free

Local

Urban Fantasy author, A. L. Tippett, officially launched her third book on Sunday, September 18 at the Badila Art Gallery in Pinnacle.

‘A Dragon’s Soul’ is the highly anticipated conclusion to her debut trilogy, ‘The MI NATH Chronicles’.

‘The MINATH Chronicles’ is a tale of magical realism and contemporary fantasy with all manner of mythical creatures.

Book one, ‘A Dragon’s Mind’, was released in 2020 followed by book two, ‘A Dragon’s Body’, in 2021.

Attendees enjoyed free coffee from Whis tlestop Coffee Cart, free cupcakes and an impressive book cake from Sam’s Cakes and Crafts.

Ms Tippett began writing her first fantasy novel when she was twelve but abandoned it after deciding that being an author wasn’t a “real” job and therefore not worth pursuing.

After completing her secondary school ing at Mirani State High School, her par ents encouraged her to experience the real world before committing to a university degree.

After working in hospitality, she landed a job as an insurance broker, where she worked for seven years before leaving to

It’s A Brew-tiful Day

start a family.

She and her hus band live on a farm near Eungel la and have now welcomed two children into their lives.

Tippett feels very fortunate to be able to stay at home and care for them whilst her husband works away.

“It’s challenging finding the time to write with two kids but, as they say, where there’s a will, there’s a way,” she said.

‘The MINATH Chronicles’ trilogy is avail able to purchase from altippett.com.

The

Mackay region’s first coffee competition is happening this weekend and will involve a massive after noon of family fun.

The Grounded Festival makes its debut in Sarina tomorrow with a day of markets, live music, good food and, of course, good coffee.

The team at Third Ground Cof fee House initially conceptual ised the idea at the start of the year when a staff member’s fam ily were affected by floods in the Lismore area, inspiring them to donate to the local SES.

“We were like, ‘What if we just do a fundraiser and donate it to them, because they’re local and they do so much for our com munity,’” said Third Ground Coffee House’s Skye Bailey.

“Then we were like, ‘What kind of festival could we get happen ing? Well, we’re good at coffee,’ and there’s so many other great cafes in the region.”

Some of the region’s most pop ular cafes, including Primal and Ninth Lane Grind, have since jumped on board.

Visitors can expect a relaxed

vibe similar to Eat Street with different coffee and food vans, market stalls, live independent music and plenty of family fun.

The festival will feature Battle of the Beans, a competition pitting the region’s best cafes and baris tas against each other in a vari ety of challenges including latte art, identifying different milks from their smell, coffee compo sition and a good old-fashioned egg and spoon race with coffees instead.

“We’re really trying to bring a fancy element to it but also have a lot of fun,” said Skye.

“I’m so excited to see most of our team get behind it and see how well they do.

“We’re hoping for some healthy competition and to get every body else’s passion sparking too.”

The guest coffee tasting judges include Mackay Regional Coun cil Mayor Greg Williamson, red hotblue’s Jody Euler and Chan nel 7’s Rebekah Jensen.

“It’s just going to be good fam ily fun; a nice, relaxed weekend session with a very entertaining

competition,” said Skye.

“We really want to bring a little bit more of a coffee culture be cause we have so many people passionate about coffee.”

Third Ground Coffee House has been operating for seven years with Skye and her siblings man aging it for the last five.

“I’ve been a barista for about eight years and went to the Gold Coast for a year and did some heavy barista training so that’s what started the passion for me,” she said.

“I’d done it on and off and was like, ‘Alright, let’s do this for real.’”

The festival will double as a fare well to the café’s Central Street location before they move to Broad Street later in the year.

WHAT: The Grounded Festival

WHERE: Third Ground Coffee House Backyard, 28 Central Street, Sarina

WHEN: Saturday, October 1 from 4:00pm TICKETS: Eventbrite

Adela, Sophie, Stacey, Nadia and Wesley of Third Ground Coffee in Sarina. Photo supplied: Third Ground Coffee

A. L. Tippett launched her third book at the Badila Art Gallery earlier this month

The Sugar Bowl was a hive of activity last week as Rumble on the Reef took over the skate park for a week of world-class skating.

After a massive action-packed series

of events, the Championships all came down to the Bowl Finals on Friday night and the Street finals Saturday, with incredibly talented skaters of all ages showing what they’re made of.

RESULTS

Men’s Street Final

1st Rome Collyer

2nd Daniel Woolley

3rd Dani Campbell

Women’s Street Final

1st Chloe Covell

2nd Felicity Turner

3rd Haylie Powell

For all the results, visit therumble.com.au

Men’s Bowl Final

1st Ethan Copeland

2nd Jake Thatcher

3rd Freddie Arnold

Women’s Bowl Final

1st Taniah Meyers

2nd Arisa Trew

3rd Jada Ward

Photo supplied: Julieanne Gilbert

Photo credit: Sam Gillespie

There was something for everyone at Rhythm and the Reef on Saturday, with the diverse line-up fill ing the dancefloor no matter who was on stage.

The day kicked off with local indie rockers Nortica, Uruguay native Felipe Baldomir and soulful surf folk courtesy of Jack Botts, setting the vibe of the afternoon perfectly.

Rapper Ivan Ooze then started the party as the sun dipped behind the clouds, before Touch Sensitive, Running Touch, Godlands, Shockone and Moss all filled the dance floor into the night with a selection of house, rap, drum and bass, and everything in between.

The new location on the riverfront at Bluewater Quay provided a convenient, central venue for punters and perfectly utilised what the Mackay CBD has to offer.

Only in its second year, it’s exciting to think of how Rhythm and The Reef will grow in the future.

Photo credit: Sam Gillespie

EVENTGUIDE

FRIDAY 30 SEPTEMBER

Friday SUN.sets

Every Friday Evening From 6pm

Knock off drinks, lakeside dinner, good friends, and LIVE MUSIC.

Wake House Australia

Ronny Croker Live at the Seabreeze Hotel

Friday, 7:00pm to 10:00pm

Cap off your work week at the Seabreeze Hotel. Dance the night away with Ronny Croker performing from 7pm - 10pm.

Seabreeze Hotel

Bone-a-fide

Friday, 7:00pm

Presented by the Bachelor of Music course at CQUniversity, this concert will feature the extraordinary trombone playing of Jeremy Borthwick alongside CQCM students and staff, performing works from New Orleans to Newcastle, from Buble to Borthwick.

Tickets available at the door or at cqcm.sales. ticketsearch.com/sales

Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music

SATURDAY 1 OCTOBER

Drawing Workshop

Saturday, 9:00am to 3:00pm

A Drawing Workshop for beginners and intermediate, ages 13 and up. Teaching all you need to know to draw in graphite pencil in a pleasant and friendly environment.

Artist Collective Caneland Aeroflow Outlaw Nitro Funny Cars

Saturday, 10:00am

Aeroflow Outlaw Nitro Funny Cars and Palmyra Dragway are pleased to announce “Nitro Showdown”, featuring four flamethrowing nitro burning funny cars at the iconic Queensland facility. With a full field of support classes including super comp through to junior dragster, this will be an event not to miss.

Palmyra Drag Racing Club

MM Electrical Mackay Derby Day 2022

Saturday, 11:00am

MM Electrical Derby Day is one of the biggest race day events on the Mackay Turf Club calendar, attracting race goers from far and wide.

Mackay Turf Club

Oktoberfest in the Garden Bar

Saturday, 1:00pm to 9:00pm

Grab your dirndl and get ready for an afternoon celebrating some German traditions including a live Oompah band all the way into the night. There are three competitions including keg tossing, stein holding and best dressed on the day. Soak up the beer with giant pretzels and smoked meat available. This is an event you won’t want to miss out on.

Harrup Park

SUNDAY 2 OCTOBER

The Butterfly Effect

Sunday, 2:00pm

With both new songs and old favourites guaranteed to grace the setlist for The Butterfly Effect’s impending album shows, as well as the quartet’s established history for swiftly selling out their tours, definitely don’t delay grabbing tickets to witness the exhilarating next chapter for one of Australia’s most exciting and beloved bands. And as to what fans can ultimately expect from the IV tour? Kurt concludes, “These shows will be a refined energetic hard rock band playing a swag of ripper new tunes with an energy and force not witnessed on Australian shores since ACDC”.

Seabreeze Hotel

TUESDAY 4 OCTOBER

Presentation Mastery Class

Tuesday, 5:30pm to 8:00pm

Mackay Toastmasters is inviting you to join for their inaugural masterclass – Presentation Mastery. Join for this masterclass to improve your public speaking and presentation skills.

Jubilee Community Centre

Real Mates Talk

Every Tuesday in October, 6:00pm to 8:00pm Build connections and have some real conversations about Real Mates Talk.

Glenella Community Hall

WEDNESDAY 5 OCTOBER

Mackay Farmers’ Market

Every Wednesday, 6:30am to 10:30am The market is a showcase of our region’s amazing produce direct from the farmer.

Bluewater Quay

Sugar City Rock and Roll Mackay Club

Wednesday Night Lessons

Every Wednesday, 7:00pm

Why not come along and learn to rock ‘n’ roll in a friendly and fun atmosphere with the Sugar City Rock ‘n’ Rollers Mackay Club?

Previous experience is not required. Everyone learns at their own pace and, even better, the first lesson is free on your way to learning the four step style of rock ‘n’ roll. $5 for members and $8 for non-members after that. The club caters for social activities for members with regular dances and live bands in attendance and away trips. For further enquiries call 0408 983 911.

58 Macalister St, Mackay

THURSDAY 6 OCTOBER

Mackay Tenancy Skills Course

Thursday and Friday, 9:30am to 2:30pm

Whether you are looking to move out of home for the first time or already renting, this free tenancy skills course is for you. Learn what every tenant needs to know to get approved for a rental property and sail through a troublefree tenancy.

Jubilee Community Centre

Mackay Riverside Market

Every Thursday, 3:00pm to 7:00pm

Fresh produce, artisan goods, food vans, music, every Thursday afternoon 3pm-7pm at Bluewater Quay.

Bluewater Quay

Real Mates Talk

Bone-a-fide

Oktoberfest

Presentation Mastery Class

Aeroflow Outlaw Nitro Funny Cars

Apopular new fitness offering in Mackay that provides both Pilates and Yoga in one place is becoming a huge hit. So much so that its owners have just opened a second location to meet rising demand.

When Madeleine Snaith and partner Jake Salomone moved up from Brisbane in July last year, they were surprised to discover this combination was not yet available in the region.

Eager to share how these two disciplines could work together to enhance both physical and mental wellbeing, the couple opened their first studio, Contro Pilates and Yoga in January this year.

With their Rural View location frequently booking out and a wait list of three weeks, they decided to investigate their client list. They quickly noticed clients were often travelling from the other side of Mackay to participate in classes.

Deciding to make it more convenient for their growing clientele, the couple decided to open a second studio on Shakespeare Street in Mackay City earlier this month.

With a total of 12 instructors spread over two rooms at each location, Contro offers a wide range of class options including Reformer Pilates, Matwork Pilates, Yoga, Hot Yoga and Barre.

A maximum of 10 people per class ensures a relaxed and intimate environment, enabling instructors to build positive connections with each and every client.

“It’s such a beautiful community that we’ve built, a lot of clients have now become our friends,” said Madeleine.

“We’re all about making people feel special for an hour and I always tell my staff to remember everyone’s names plus a fast fact about them – that way we have a personal connection.”

The membership structure at Contro has been flexibly designed and purposefully priced to meet the needs of everyone.

Enquire now to find out how Pilates and Yoga can work together to challenge your strength, stability, flexibility and inner wellbeing.

With more and more businesses allowing flexible working options which often include working from home, it can be easy to fall into a routine of laziness and simplicity when the work desk is mere metres from the bed. On the contra ry, working from home allows the freedom and flexibility to take exercise and leisure into your own hands. Read on to discover tips and exercises to incorporate into your routine, making the most of your workdays.

Start Your Day With A Walk

Starting your day with a walk is a great way to boost your energy first thing in the morn ing. Put on a podcast, catch up on current events or spin some bangers to get yourself moving and begin your workday already exercised, motivated and ready to go.

Depending on your schedule, you can also break your day with walks before, during and after your workday. Leaving the desk and the house is a great way to reinvigorate and re-energise your body and mind as well as avoiding the dreaded cabin fever.

Stand During Calls

Sitting for long hours can be terrible for your blood pressure, back, posture and more, especially when sitting on the couch or at the kitchen bench. Regularly standing

or walking will decrease your sitting time and doing these things while working will integrate them into your workday seamless ly. Walk around the house or the block when on a work call or stand at your desk when on a Zoom call. Investing in a standing desk or finding somewhere to properly prop up your computer can help you get up out of your chair and boost your concentration and focus.

Turn Your Office Equipment Into Gym Equipment

With enough space, your desk or chair can serve as push up equipment to help you exercise from home. All you need is some thing stable to be able to complete push up exercises, including:

• Tricep dips: keep your arms bent at a 90-degree angle on your chair while push ing up and down.

• Desk push ups: place your hands on your desk in a push up position and push up and down.

• Wall push ups: again, place your hands in push up position on the wall and push back and forth.

Make sure to keep your legs at an angle and your entire body in a straight line for best positioning and results.

Madeleine Snaith and partner Jake Salomone from Contro Pilates and Yoga

Fordecades, Wests Leagues Club Mackay has been a social and sport ing hub for the communities in the Pioneer Valley and beyond.

With the valley’s population growing and the demand for sporting facilities rising, the club has big plans in the works.

“The club acquired a farm that’s directly behind our current facility, over 60 acres we purchased, with the vision to create a multi-sports complex out here in the Pio neer Valley,” said General Manager Kings ley Theiber.

“Unfortunately, there is a massive lack of facilities out in the valley so the club’s taken it upon themselves as part of their

vision to complete and construct a multisports facility for all residents in the valley and surrounding communities.”

The club currently incorporates two fields which support junior and senior rugby league and soccer and senior soccer as well as a set of cricket nets adjacent to the fields coupled with an undercover bowls green.

The construction of the multi-sport com plex will include additional fields to sup port AFL and cricket, netball courts, more cricket nets, lighting, security, communi ty facilities such as a men’s shed, covered seating, unisex dressing rooms and can teen and bar facilities.

The project will provide a first-class sport

RANGE

KNOWLEDGE GLOBAL REACH

ing facility for multi-sports in Walkerston for all of the Pioneer Valley, something Mr Theiber says the community is hungry for.

“We have had feedback from our members that have junior children driving into town for training and it’s an hour into town back and forth for some of these people and people are time-poor as it is, which then turns into children not getting opportuni ties to participate in sport,” he said.

The project is expected to create 160 jobs during construction, 19 full-time club and 30 permanent part-time club positions and bring the community together in more ways than one.

“It’s an essential part of the community, not only for the sporting side of things but from a social aspect as well,” said Mr Theiber.

“Obviously, coming out of Covid, that had a major effect on people’s mental health not being out and social.

“Our role in the community is to be able to provide that social aspect, not only to our sporting codes but to all members of the public.”

The next step is to secure funding for the project.

“All of this is going to be reliant on funding from state, federal and local governments to work in partnership with the club,” Mr Theiber said.

“We look to support from all levels of gov ernment to make sure we can create this and make it a reality.”

What Will The Expansion Bring To The Pioneer Valley?:

• Provide a first-class multi-sport sporting facility in Walkerston

• Engage community and enhance the community spirits

• Provide opportunities for all in the region

• Promote and increase participation in sports, through the provision of universally designed facilities

• B e an inclusive club where everyone is welcome

• Develop facilities for girls and wom en in their chosen sports

• Fill the void in quality sporting and training facilities in the community

• Provide further opportunities for future heroes and role models to be homegrown from the region

From the city to Central QLD, rely on us to…

Kingsley Theiber plans to deliver a multi-sport facility to the Pioneer Valley community. Photo credit: Sam Gillespie

It’s

often said that volunteers are at the heart of every community.

While volunteers can sometimes go underappreciated, Wests Leagues Club cherishes its volunteers, particularly Robyn Stevens and Alexis Lake.

“Both ladies are integral to our club op erations,” said General Manager Kingsley Theiber.

“Clubs don’t operate without volunteers and these ladies have been with the club for numerous years.

“They don’t have children who are playing sport, but they have the club at heart and

just continue to support.

“I can’t speak highly enough of what they do for our venue.”

Close friends for over 40 years, Alexis and Robyn have been involved in Wests since the 1990s.

Robyn began volunteering in the late 1990s, first getting involved through her sister-in-law.

“My nephew played football and my hus band’s family come from Marian, they grew up in Marian, so they’ve always been Wests Tigers,” she said.

“We just got interested in the club and started to volunteer at the canteen, that’s how it all came about.”

Robyn has previously filled the role of club sec retary and board member but now spends her volunteering time in the canteen.

A life and foundation member of the club, Robyn says she has made lifelong friend ships through volunteering with Wests.

“I just feel I want to help while I can, be cause I’ve been honoured with that life membership, I would still like to do volun teering for the club,” she said.

“I just love it, I just love the club.

“It’s like part of the family.”

Close friend and fellow foundation and life member Alexis is formerly a Manager

of Wests Leagues Club, a role she filled for six years before leaving to travel.

Upon returning, Alexis joined the Board of Directors and has been in the role for the last eight years.

“With that job, you’ve also got to do a lot of voluntary work so that’s when I just kept going and doing voluntary work for the canteen,” she said.

“It’s just a very friendly, very family-orien tated club.

“They’re just a good bunch, we love it.”

Friends through thick and thin, Robyn and Alexis will be volunteering together in the Wests canteen until the end.

“We always say we’re going retire, Robyn and I,” said Alexis.

“We’ve got a pact: when one retires, the other one is going to go with them.”

Wests Tigers Mackay

Kinglsey Theiber says Wests couldn’t operate the way it does without volunteers Robyn Stevens and Alexis Lake. Photo credit: Sam Gillespie

St Patrick’s College Trio Become Queensland Country Reps

RUGBY LEAGUE

dominant second half display to claim brag ging rights.

Outstanding

Mackay Cutters rugby league colts Xavier Kerrisk, Jaxon Purdue and Kai Simon have capped a memorable 2022 campaign by earning Queensland Country Under 17 representa tive jumpers.

The talented trio produced strong perfor mances last weekend to help Country topple Queensland City 38-20 in the annual Under 17s challenge at Redcliffe’s Moreton Daily Stadium.

It was an impressive achievement by the St Patrick’s College Mackay students and North Queensland Cowboys scholarship recipients who have captured the imagination of senior rugby league officials with their skill and du rability.

The Queensland City v Country Under 17s clash was played as a curtain raiser to the Hostplus Cup Grand Final with Norths Dev ils chalking up back-to-back premiership titles after a 16-10 triumph over Redcliffe Dolphins.

Country Under 17s sealed the victory with a

Power running prop Delasalle Va’a - who is contracted to the Sydney Roosters – and elusive Souths Townsville winger Rayzarlin Pearson grabbed try doubles for Country with Central Queensland Capras fullback Mutua Brown and wily hooker Kerrisk com pleting the six try rout.

Promising centre Simon bagged a personal tally of 14 points after potting seven goals.

Country jumped to an early 12-0 lead before City hit back with tries by prop Mi chael Waqa and half back Stanley Huen that were converted by five eighth Keahn Skipps.

A penalty goal by Simon gave Country a narrow 14-12 advantage at the half time break.

City struck after the interval with centre Devonte Vaivela crossing for a converted try and Skipps adding a penalty goal to give his side a 20-14 lead.

But when a rampaging Va’a burst over for a second try the Country colts clicked

Sporting Warrior Saxon Crofts

RUGBY LEAGUE

Pound for pound they don’t come any tougher or more resilient than Mer cy College Mackay sporting warrior Saxon Crofts.

Whether its ripping into the opposition with a bustling run or copybook tackle for the Mercy rugby league colts or fooling the defence with a tricky step or sharp burst, in an All Schools Touch Football fixture you will find young Saxon leading from the front.

The 15-year-old utility forward was a gen uine trojan for the College rugby league team in 2022 – inspiring team mates to another Grand Final appearance in the Cowboys Challenge Shield schoolboys competition.

In a cruel blow, the Mercy boys were less than 60 seconds away from back-to-back titles only to surrender possession and concede a try after the bell to Townsville rivals Kirwan State High School.

A super-fit Saxon turned in tireless dis plays during a hectic rugby league sched ule this season at both schoolboy and Ju nior League level.

He proved a mainstay for both Mercy College and his club team Souths Sharks where he constantly topped the tackle count and metres gained with the ball.

Saxon demonstrated his versatility by wearing the number seven half back jump er and steering the Sharks to the Mackay and District Junior League Under 15 finals series.

The Sharks bowed out after a 20-10 loss to the Magpies in an elimination final with the courageous Crofts producing yet an other wholehearted performance but to no avail.

A steely-eyed Saxon will now turn his at tention to his other sporting love - touch football.

He is one of several Mercy/St Patrick’s Col lege students that will compete at the 40th

into top gear and stamped their supremacy through their slick backline and rugged for ward pack.

The representative honours capped a big fortnight for the dynamic Simon and Ker risk, who had earlier captained the Wander ers club to an Under 17s premiership win over Purdue’s Norths Devils in the Mackay and District Junior League competition. Contributed with thanks to Chris Karas.

annual Gold Coast Ti tans Queensland All Schools Touch Football Championships to be staged from Wednes day October 5 to Sun day October 9 at the world class Gold Coast Performance Centre at Runaway Bay.

Saxon is part of a strong Under 15s Boys team that will test their skills and stamina at the prestigious carni val, billed as the world’s largest touch foot ball tournament.

Mercy/St Patrick’s College have also en tered an Under 13s Boys, Under 15s Girls and an Under 18 Mixed team in the cov eted event.

The major tournament is run by Queensland Touch Football and attracts over 450 teams, representing various schools both nationally and international

ly, on the big sporting stage.

It is a seeded round robin-based compe tition where teams are placed in Pools of 6-8 teams depending on the size of the di vision, which provides school teams with a minimum of seven games.

Across the five-day tournament, more than 6,000 students will take to the field playing over 1,700 games across 23 fields, attracting between 6,000 and 10,000 spec tators.

Contributed with thanks to Chris Karas.

Jaxon Purdue Kai Simon

Xavier Kerrisk

Mercy College sporting ace Saxon Crofts in action during this year’s Cowboys Challenge rugby league campaign.

McDonalds Mackay Meteors and Meteorettes would like to thank the sponsors for their support over 2022

Indigenous Round Team Photo

NBL1 Presentation Night

NBL1 Women Presentation Night

On the Green at Goosies

BOWLS

Monday mixed pairs resulted in a win for Chrissy Hall and Mau rie Pearson, with Fred King and Rob Evans in second place.

Lucky draw vouchers went to Maurie Pearson and Wolfgang.

Wednesday ladies’ day winners were Glo ria Sam, Pam Louis and Joyce Camilleri. Runners up was the pairing of Hilary Jones-Rowan and Jean Zamparutti.

Thursday mixed pairs was taken out by Maryann Bartolo and Eric Galletly with Ian Rowan and Hilary Jones-Rowan in second place.

Greens vouchers were won by Wayne Trannore and Lance Edwards.

Friday mixed pairs winners were Doug Giddings and the popular Valley club member, Bob Kinnane.

Winners of the draw were Lois Deguara and Isla Comelli with Wayne and Vern Mietzel next.

Saturday men’s day game resulted in a win for John Kennell and Bundaberg visitor, Terry McCrystal, with Ken Martin and Alan Dillon in second place.

Make a note on your calendar for Presen tation dinner: Monday, October 24. Contributed by Tony Allsop.

Mackay Road Runners

RUNNING

Mackay

Road Runners held their annual Robbo’s 69 Steps in hon our of a previous member, Gra ham Robinson who has now moved to Brisbane and loved the 69 steps at the top of High Street, North Mackay for regular training/ torture sessions.

Over forty runners took in the serious as cents of the two loop 5km/10km course.

Highest handicapped runner, Angus Ja cobs had a very long wait for his start time on the handicap start event, but he still had a big smile on his face as usual as he bolted from the starter’s hands.

Other high handicap markers, Paul Mack enzie, Mick Vivian, Shane Donnollan, Michael Feenaghty, Joe Grech, Hamish Donnollan and Matt Graves were also held back by the starter, Arthur Dick due to their awesome running ability.

Backmarker in the females, Tahnee Malagueno made a welcome return to rac ing after injury, cruising the course in the very humid conditions, alongside Alana Knesevic and Carmel Grech.

Thankfully the cloud cover shielded run ners from the blazing sun, however did lit tle to dispel the humidity and rising tem peratures from the race start time of 7am.

Five kilometre runner Carolyn Mapes made light work of the undulating course due to her regular dance training over the past weeks for a fully booked out gala dance performance at the MECC this Sun day.

Runners are now gearing up for the Blue water Quay Grand Finale of the seasonthis Sunday commencing 7am will be the annual running of the Benita Wilis 10km Handicap Trophy which is the last run on the 2022 formal program, supported by On The Run (Martin Lambert).

Only members doing the 10km event are in line to take out the coveted Benita Willis 10km trophy, however, all members must start on their official handicap time to be eligible for the top prize.

The first 10km member to cross the line will be honoured with the huge prestigious framed perpetual trophy.

Mackay Bridge Results

Awards

galore were presented at Mackay Contract Bridge Club An nual General Meeting.

The Founder’s Teams Championship - The Holewa Team: Max and Diane Holewa, Eric Leivesley and Terrance Sheedy.

Club Teams Championship - Open: Mon ica Darley, Kath Poole, Del Ryan and Janet Hansen

Understate: Patterson Team: Sandy Patter son, Geoff Cowan, Debbie and John Lud kin and Thomas Block

Club Pairs Championship - Open: Diane

Monday

1st

Tuesday

Thursday 22 September – 4 Table One

1st

Green Points

Holewa and Max Holewa

Under State: Sandra Morris and Noel Saunders

President’s Trophy (Playing with three dif ferent players) - Del Ryan

Remembrance Pairs - Open: Joy Robinson

Under State: Anne Whitmore Club Novice Pairs Championship - Anne Lutz and Diane Stokes

Mary Barfield Award (for most promising student player) - Cheryl Machen

Most Promising Player–Supervised Play (Sponsor - Monica Darley) - Vicki Howard

1st Lorna Shuttlewood

2nd Frances Brown

3rd Janet Hansen

2nd Frances Brown

Janet

Diane Morgan

Alan

EW

1st Monica Darley

2nd Josie

3rd Diane

2nd Janelle Conroy

3rd Patricia

Mick King

Bev Svenson and Elaine Buckton enjoying bowls last Monday.

Ladies Secretary, Helen Fleming with Sheryl Cuttriss at Monday Bowls.

All runners and supporters are also most welcome to stay for the post run brekky celebrating a big year of running.

The formal annual Awards evening will be held Saturday, October 22 from 6pm at The Grove. Club Patron, Col Meng and his wife Rhonda and Leukaemia Foundation Mackay Branch representatives will be special guests on the evening.

Mackay Road Runners Shawn’s Summer Social series will continue once again in the off season under the awesome leader ship of Club Captain, Jim Ford, who will have a program of running events avail able shortly.

Contributed with thanks to Janelle Tilse.

The Future Of Women’s Rugby

Friday 23 September

Green Points

N/S

1st Monica Darley / Del Ryan

Mitchell

2nd Helen Van Den Broek / Don Poole

3rd Anne Lutz / Toni Large

4th Joy Robinson / Geoff Taylor

Saturday

N/S

September

1st Carol Gaskell / Ian Gaskell

Mitchell

2nd Lorna Shuttlewood / Doone Mitchell

3rd Joy Robinson / Ken Seaniger

4th Jan Harris / Mick King

Sunday 25 September – Novice 4 Table One Winner

1st Mary Rose Ramsden / Carmel Brown

2nd Ian Cruickshank / Anne Lutz

E/W

1st Alan Brown / Frances Brown

2nd Nancy Martin / Kath Poole

3rd Victor Mason / Josie Crowley

E/W

1st Terrence Sheedy / Eric Leivesley

2nd Anne Whitmore / Sandra Morris

3rd Christine Nice / Faye Wright

4th Helen Van Den Broek / Joy Brunette

5th Susan Wright / Patricia Garner

3rd Ann Whitmore / Sandy Patterson

4th Faith Hutchinson / Diane Stokes

RUGBY UNION

Withthe Australian wom en's rugby sevens team re cently winning the World Cup to complete a triple crown, more and more girls are being inspired to play rugby including Mackay year 11 student Cierra Lewer.

Cierra was one of four Mackay girls to travel to the Gold Coast earlier in September to represent Central Queensland in the Queensland Rug by Union Girls State Championships.

Cierra and fellow Mackay player Anna Crossan played alongside play ers from Rockhampton, Whitsun days and Emerald in the U17 Central Queensland squad while Montana Hodgkinson and Ella Duncan played in the U15 squad.

“The first day that we were there, it was raining and windy and muddy and disgusting,” said Cierra.

“The second day was much nicer, it was dry and sunny, perfect rugby weather.

“I could see, just over the day, how we improved.”

Central Queensland played against teams from Brisbane, Gold Coast, far north Queensland and Townsville and Cierra said the competition was a good learning experience.

“Going down, we knew there was go ing to be a difference in the game,” she said.

“Up here, we have a bit more of a so cial element.

“We haven’t really dived into the technical side of rugby.

“It was definitely a learning curve.” Cierra said she has come out of the

weekend inspired to develop her rugby, especially after meeting idols Maddison and Tegan Levi.

“They came into the locker room, Maddison and Teagan did, and they spoke to us, and we asked them ques tions and that definitely sparked my interest in going further in the game,” she said.

“I just want to see how far I can get.”

Cierra first got into rugby four years ago through come-and-try sessions.

“It wasn’t really a big thing four years ago,” she said.

“I think there was probably four or five of us … but it’s expanded mas sively.”

Four years later, Cierra plays U17s rugby as well as playing in the open women’s team that took out the inau gural title a couple of weekends ago.

She also assists in coaching the comeand-try sessions that first got her into the sport.

“When I first started rugby, you didn’t really have that encouragement from everyone but now everyone wants you to get in there and give it a go,” she said.

Cierra coached the sessions alongside Mackay Christian College Sports Coordinator Sheril Buchanan for girls aged 10 to 13 for the last four weeks of the school term.

“It’s good for the young girls to see a young person who’s come through the same program just a couple years down the track,” said Sheril.

“That’s what you want in sport, you want girls to grow in confidence, you want girls to be encouraged and you want girls to enjoy life and the social and fitness aspect.”

Del Ryan

Nancy Bridge

Thomas and Sandy

Vicki and Monica

L-R: Highest handicapped 10km runner, Angus Jacobs, 5km specialist, veteran runner Ricky Parker and ultramarathoner, Glynis Forse

L-R: Former champion Mackay Road Runner, Carl Pinkstone is welcomed back by Peter Ford and Alana Knesevic

Tahnee Malagueno made a great comeback from injury

Cierra Lewer wants to take her rugby career as far as she can go. Photo credit: Sam Gillespie

Cierra repre sented Central Queensland at the Girls State Championships recently. Photo supplied: Cierra Lewer

SIENNA PRIMED TO IMPRESS

At Wakeboarding Nationals

WAKEBOARDING

Performing aerial manoeuvres on the water has become second nature for Mackay’s new wakeboarding sensa tion Sienna Mayer.

The 15-year-old Mercy College Mackay student, who resides in Eimeo, is only new to the popular water sport but has already left her mark as a rider with a string of spectacular performances.

Since being introduced to wakeboard ing back in 2020, the talented schoolgirl has quickly emerged as one of the State’s brightest prospects.

Based at The Wake House Australia cable park at Andergrove, super fit Sienna is preparing for major wakeboarding com petition both at home and interstate in the coming weeks and is confident of picking up some extra silverware.

She will compete at the Rumble on the Reef event in the Under 18s and Pro Wom en categories to be staged in Mackay from

Wednesday September 28 to Saturday October 1.

Rising star Sienna has fond memories of the Rumble on the Reef as it was last year that she won her first ever race in the event’s Under 17 category at the Mackay venue.

At the Cairns Rumble on the Reef event earlier this year, Sienna finished second in the Under 18s and third in the Pro Women finals.

The Mackay Rumble on the Reef is an ide al tune up for Sienna before she represents Queensland at the National Wakeboard ing Championships in Penrith, NSW, from October 10 to October 15.

Sienna is sponsored by Double Up, Kinx ton Caw and Wing and will compete in the Under 18s section, hoping to turn in top performances to push her claims for selec tion in the Australian team to participate at the World Wakeboarding Champion ships in Thailand at the end of October.

Contributed with thanks to Chris Karas.

LILLI TAKES ON STATE TITLES

NETBALL

“It was hard for us to go down and com pete with teams that had played togeth er every week, but it was really cool that we could come together and still be a big competitor with teams that have so much experience with each other,” she said.

Earlier this year, Lilli joined Galaxy Net ball Club in Mackay, playing under the guidance of local legend Jayden Taylor.

“It was an incredible experience, I’ve learnt so much this year,” she said.

“The whole season, my team’s been like a family and we’ve learnt so much from each other.”

Lilli hopes to pursue netball and plans to move down south to join the Ruby series next year.

After

being selected in the North ern Mendi Rays U18 squad, local netballer Lilli Pryor travelled to Brisbane last weekend to compete in the Nissan State Titles.

Lilli was selected from approximately 30 players trialling in Townsville, participat ing in drills and gameplay, and was able to travel to Brisbane to participate thanks to sponsorship from Force Equipment and Inspire Accounting.

“It was a really validating experience,” Lilli said.

“Getting to represent north Queensland, getting to show off Mackay, that we do have stuff to offer down south.”

Coached by Kim Patterson and Bec Bulley, the team were only able to train twice be fore the tournament.

“They taught me so much,” said Lilli. “They had a lot of knowledge to offer.

The Rays finish eighth and Lilli says the team remained extremely competitive throughout the tournament.

Classifieds

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice of aerial baiting program

Baiting for feral pigs on Conway National Park, Dryander National Park, Dryander State Forest and Dryander Forest Reserve

The Department of Environment and Science is undertaking an aerial baiting program on 6 October 2022.

Sodium Fluoroacetate (1080) meat baits will be used to control feral pigs on Conway National Park (Lot 43 on NPW1144 and Lot 1 on NPW1145), Dryander National Park (Lot 24 on AP19346), Dryander State Forest (Lot 432 on AP19346) and Dryander Forest Reserve (Lot 5 on AP19346).

A licensed operator will distribute the baits by helicopter. These baits will not be collected.

Notices will be placed at the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service office at Jubilee Pocket and the Whitsunday Regional Council offices at Proserpine and Cannonvale for one week prior to the baiting event.

These notices will remain in place for four weeks after baiting has finished.

Notices will also be placed at the entrances of the Conway Circuit on Conway National Park and at Double Bay on Dryander National Park. A Park Alert will also be placed on the Department of Environment and Science website (www.des.qld.gov.au) for the same period.

Dogs and other domestic animals are not permitted within the protected areas.

Steps must be taken to ensure domestic dogs do not gain access to the 1080 baits or poisoned animals. Neighbours should restrain dogs and other domestic animals during baiting programs.

For more information, please contact the department on 13 74 68.

Wakeboarding champ Sienna Mayer performs her aerial manoeuvres.

Lilli Pryor represented the Northern Mendi Rays in the Nissan State Titles last weekend. Photo supplied: Lilli Pryor

Located in the picturesque Pioneer Valley about 50 kilometers west of Mackay, this cattle breeding property comprises two freehold titles plus a road license with a Total area of 110.36 hectares or approximately 272.7 acres.

The property is mostly cleared and pastured with signal, humidicola and Rhodes grasses which are well established. The property is broken in to four main paddocks which are grazed on a rotation basis. All boundary and internal fencing comprises four barb and is in good condition.

The paddock layout provides easy access to a set of steel cattle yards with loading ramp and a new crush. The yards have water connected and feature good shade trees.

The property is watered by a bore equipped with a submersible pump and a 10000 gallon concrete tanks which reticulates to both

houses and several water troughs. In addition the property has a dam and a spring fed creek.

The property is currently carrying seventy Droughtmaster breeders, two herd bulls and about thirty odd calves. Current carrying capacity is light and the property will easily carry eighty to a hundred head of breeding stock. Potential buyers have the option of including the cattle in the sale or buying the property bare.

The property includes two dwellings, both of which are currently tenanted providing a secondary income stream. Rental details will be provided on request. Separate power meters have been established. The main dwelling has a new two bay carport.

The property includes three sheds. The main is a 20m x 12m Lane steel frame shed high clearance shed with corrugated iron roof and walls, power is connected.

Road,

extensively rock

towards

coast

Large Home with Everything

A

auction

resulted in multiple registered bidders and the property being sold on auction night by Ben, Mick and Ryan.

partnership with

Love the Lifestyle and Location

Offering six acres and in an ultra-quiet location, you could find yourself living on the doorstep to town with this property that has lifestyle written all over it!

This rural residential zoned property offers you the space to live the relaxed life we all yearn for. Situated at the end of a quiet road and approximately 25 minutes from the Mackay CBD, properties of this size so close to town are a rarity!

4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and an open plan living area which flows onto the wrap around balcony that features 180 degree views of the beautiful countryside.

Nothing has been spared on this beautiful lifestyle property and being centrally located between Marian and Mackay it is ideal for the buyer looking to enjoy life. You, too , will fall in love with 268 Griffiths Road and all it has offer.

Ben Kerrisk Mick McLeod 0407 514 983 0408 777 971

Ryan Patton 0435 825 323

Ben Kerrisk 0407 514 983

Mick McLeod 0408 777 971

Ryan Patton 0435 825 323

1A212 Richard St, Andergrove $449,000 3:45-4:30Blacks

2A2 22 A&B Wagtail St, Andergrove By Negotiation9:00-9:30Explore

3A231 Livistonia St, Andergrove By Negotiation10:00-10:30Explore

4A2 144 Apsley Way, Andergrove By Negotiation12:00-12:30Explore

333 Armstrong Beach Rd $529,000 2:00-3:30Blacks RE

5B1 112 Oldmill Dr, Beaconsfield By Negotiation9:00-9:30Explore

6D211 Bridge Rd, East Mackay O/F $499K9:00-9:30Gardian

7B12/8 Windsor St, Glenella $435k 10:00-10:30Gardian

8B1 3 Cutfield St, Glenella O/F $699K11:15-11:45Gardian

9B110 Roy Crt, Glenella By Negotiation10:00-10:30Explore

10C24 Grant St, Mackay $415K 9:00-9:30Gardian

11 C227/26 River St, Mackay $730k 10:15-10:45Gardian

12C249/26 River St, Mackay $740K 9:45-10:15Gardian

13C2301/2 Nelson St, Mackay $800K 11:00-11:30Gardian

14B113 Raymond Croker Dr, Mt Pleasant$445,000 10:00-11:00Blacks RE

15B23 Graves St, North Mackay O/F $299K10:15-10:45Gardian

16C28 The Cres, North Mackay OF $539K10:00-10:30Gardian

17D11 & 2/56 Botanical Dr, OoraleaBy Negotiation9:00-9:30Explore

18D12/11 Napier St, South Mackay$285,000 2:30-3:15Blacks RE

19C21 Ready St, South Mackay

$349K9:00-9:30Gardian

20D22 Kindermar St, South MackayBy Negotiation10:00-10:30Explore

Stevic St,

$579,0001:30-2:00Explore

21C1416 Bridge Rd, West MackayO/F $499K12:00-12:30Gardian

corresponds with

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144 Apsley Way Andergrove

If you love to entertain but have never had the space to do so here’s a home for you! Set on 3,487m2 in a highly desired pocket of Andergrove this recently renovated home is an entertainers dream. Throughout you’ll be treated to open plan living, three bedrooms, two bathrooms, enclosed entertaining area, inground pool and multiple car accommodation, plus loads of space outside. This home has been repainted internally and externally, new vinyl plank flooring throughout and a/c in all spaces. Cool off in the inground pool, work away within the 6x7.5m shed with lean-to and enjoy minimal running costs with 5kW solar.

10 Coral Ridge Dr Eimeo

The full package awaits you here upon Coral Ridge Drive, taking in views over both Bucasia Beach and Sunset Bay coming home will be a dream. Built to impress don’t be deceived by this home’s modest facade, upon entering you’ll soon appreciate the sheer size and space let alone the upmarket finishes throughout. Sprawling across two levels this hilltop home includes an array of both indoor and outdoor living spaces, five bedrooms, three bathrooms, multiple car accommodation and an inground concrete pool. This home oozes plenty of storage, a/c throughout, C-Bus system and is fully alarmed.

Price By Negotiation

12 Emma Dr Richmond

12 Emma Drive is a stunning masterpiece of open plan living, of opulent taste and of serious entertaining. Amassing approx. 545m2 under roof, there is undoubtedly room for everyone and certainly for the growing family. Set on 2128m2, it’s refreshing to see a property that has a big back yard and yet also all the other amazing attributes. A full sized, fully lit tennis court, a resort style 12m pool with gorgeous mosaic tiling and a place you can entertain here or you can entertain on the back deck keeping an eye on all the fun happening right in your very own yard. This residence is a home owners dream come true.

CONTACT AGENT

22 Buoro St Ball Bay

Pack up the car and call your family and friends, you have just found your next weekend getaway. Featuring an open plan living, dining and kitchen area with vinyl flooring, a/c, fans and access to both entertaining areas. Bed 1 is carpeted with a/c, fan and BIR. Bed 2 is carpeted with a fan and BIR. Bed 3 is carpeted with a fan and BIR. The formal bathroom includes the laundry. A desk nook. A timber floorboard deck. A low-maintenance backyard with a section of turf, perfect for an outdoor setting. A single bay shed, with a sink and bench space built-in, plus two serving bays. A single bay carport attached to the shed.

24 Botha St Blacks Beach

Elevated to capture the sea breezes and walking distance to the beach, 24 Botha St is a feature packed home offering a desirable lifestyle opportunity. Inside this home you’ll delight in everything on offer including spacious open plan living, formal lounge, 4 beds, study, 2 baths, double lock-up garage and pool. This home is air conditioned throguhout and has side access to store a tiny or camper trailer. Enjoying a beachside lifestyle has never been easier thanks to the recent developments within the Northern Beaches of Mackay now offering schools and other conveniences only minutes’ drive away.

Price