Shop Local 18

The best thing about golf is this: You can always improve your game. It’s you and the club, the wind, the green, and the open air. And at Christmas, the weeks roll out ahead of you – there’s free time to work on the gamut of golf’s disciplines: your drive, your putt, anything and everything. But sometimes you need a little assistance, sometimes some new gear, and sometimes maybe a helping hand. Cannonvale’s The Pro Shop Owner and Professional Golfers Association (PGA) Member Andy Farrow said he’s here to help you in your endeavours to become your best golfer. “Our mission is to provide you, the golfer, with guidance, advice and services through coaching, playing golf, club fitting, equipment and even events,” Andy said. “We will help you enjoy the game for life.” A PGA Member for 30 years, Andy’s golf knowledge, expertise, training, and cumulative experience ensure he’s always giving the best, qualified advice. Flanked by his fully stocked Pro-Shop - with everything any golfer could need for their next game – Andy’s here for the novice, the pub golfer, and the pro. He has everything and anything they could need, with a range of Christmas specials over this holiday season. As well, The Pro Shop has special trick up its sleeve: It’s fitted out with a FlightScope Golf Simulator, a state-of-the-art training supplement which provides the lifelike experience of being out on the course while in the Pro Shop’s cool air conditioning. “Flightsope technology captures your data from every swing, making it much easier to work out what you are good at and what you need to do to get better faster,” Andy said. “It even lets you play the course they’ve always dreamed of like Augusta, St Andrews, Pebble Beach, or the Royal Melbourne all from right here in Airlie Beach.” If you’re shopping for dad – the golfer who may seem like he has everything – there’s no better spot to drop in than the Pro Shop. It’s a hole in one.

Think Water Whitsunday owner Noel Gardner in festive gear alongside some of his store’s Christmas discounted pool pumps

The holiday season in Australia is inseparable with warm weather, especially in North Queensland – and where better to beat the heat and cool down during Christmas than the pool? But pools can be temperamental things that (most pool owners would know) are far from simple. You might be confused why your pool is all of a sudden the colour of a Christmas tree – or it might even be sprouting one! Or why it burns your eyes when you take a dip, your filter is clogged, or perhaps you want it to be more energy efficient, or is pH level giving you trouble? – it can all be very overwhelming. At Proserpine local business Think Water Whitsunday, owner Noel Gardner is urging locals to make sure their pools are in prime fighting condition well before boxing day arrives. “About two weeks before Christmas is the time of year when it’s so busy that people might be just getting around to checking their pools ahead of the family coming over,” Noel said. “That’s when they might be realising there’s a problem – whether it be salination, their pumps, or that their pool cleaner’s broken – that’s where we come in.” If it’s repairs you need, they have it covered with technicians, if it’s a new pump that’ll do the trick, they’ve got those in spades. Noel said that Think Water are “here to get you out of trouble.” “The pool section of the store has grown in the past year – it’s now a major part of what we do here,” Noel said. “We have proper, approved water treatment testing gear, 50 per cent off deals on generic pumps until they’re sold out, chlorinators, cleaners. Our pool area is still growing, and our knowledge is growing too.” Think Water are “not a shop that will get it in for you, because we have it already” – the latest testing gear, the expertise and the advice. “All the things you could ever need are here in Proserpine,” Noel said.

Santa Did The Rounds At Bowen Street Party

Bowen’s Christmas Street Party was an overwhelming success earlier this month with over 1,000 people filling the town and local shops with festive cheer. Santa entertained the crowd and live music created a party atmosphere while dozens of market stalls lined the streets inviting passers-by to try their hand at a game or purchase a product. The local cricket team hosted a ‘ham wheel’, selectability sold fairy floss to excited children, and the Country Women’s Association completely sold out of roast beef roles. All proceeds from the market stalls go straight back to the community groups that were hosting them and can be used for member activities. Many local shops were open late into the night and attendees were encouraged to support local business. “We’ve had such a great response around the shops,” said Coral’s City 2 Country owner Wendy Bickoff. “Many people said it was the best night in a long time in trade and that they would love to see us do something like this throughout the year as it was wonderful to have something to do on a Friday night.” The event was part of a broader Bowen Locals for Locals initiative where people who purchase an item from one of the 23 participating stores receive free entry into a series of prize draws which total $5000. Each Friday there is a draw and so far, two individuals have won $1000 worth of shop local vouchers over two consecutive weeks. The next $1000 vouchers will be drawn this evening and the final grand prize of $2000 in vouchers will be drawn on December 23.

Busking Brilliance

Airlie Beach local Noah Robertson continued his rise to fame with a winning performance amongst the country’s best busking talent in the finals of the 10th annual Australian National Busking Championships in Cooma, New South Wales. Dozens of musicians competed in the major event for the honour of being crowned the nation’s finest busker, with 12-year-old Noah putting on the show of a lifetime to win the 13 years and under primary category. The singer songwriter is already a seasoned performer and took to the stage with guitar in hand to show off skills that have impressed the likes of some of the country’s premier country musicians, including Sarah McCleod. “Have you got ears; can you see what’s going on in here? This kid is 12, can you actually believe it?” McCleod said of Robertson. The St Catherine’s Catholic College student is setting himself up as a serial winner, previously claiming top spots in local competitions like Whitsundays Got Talent, this year’s Noosa Sounds Busking Competition, as well as winning a Young Stars award at the Tamworth Country Music Festival. Amongst the judging panel was country music legend James Blundell and Oz Balydon of Gympie Music Muster where Noah performed as an artist earlier in the year. Noah said he was “so grateful and excited to have won the Australian National Busking Championships.” “There is so much talent out there on the streets,” Noah said. “I have to give a big thank you to my parents for their love and support every day and taking me to Cooma to compete.”

Noah Robertson (left) – the 12-year-old Airlie Beach rising star – has added another accolade to his trophy cabinet at the Australian National Busking Championship

Whitsunday Life newspaper is endeavouring to give a voice to the region’s writers in this new, recurring poetry section which will publish original works of up to 40 lines. In this first edition of Whitsunday Poetry, Whitsunday Life journalist Declan Durrant shares one of his own poems to “get the ball rolling”.

All the fun of the faire; A sprinkle here and a sprinkle there, all the fun of the faire; The carousel spins on blue screens of neon light; Ringing bells and singing twinkles Tune out, staining mind; Golden trinkets down thin vessels with Frivolous disregard Up and down, jacks, queens dance It spins and spins and I daren’t look away; Dry eyes and serpentine glances; Time is not, place is far; Dusk to dawn, the falling of the star Passes. Decrepit to my right, to the other Few teeth and less sense;

It’s all for the fun of the faire, ay? All the fun of the faire. The clinking of well-earned treasure As it plinks down drains; I do not care, nor do I dismay; I’ll get it back Another day.

It’s all for the fun of the faire, ay? All for the fun of the faire.

About the poet: Declan Durrant is a journalist of two years working at Whitsunday Life Newspaper who has published poetry, short stories, and cultural analysis at various online publications. His poem today comes from observations attained during university whilst working in a gaming room in Adelaide. Readers’ poetry can be emailed to declan@mackayandwhitsundaylifenewspaper.com. Submissions should be in the body of the email, not as attachments.

Whitsunday Writer’s Festival Back in 2024

Asmall group of passionate writers gathered for an informal meeting last week and the subject of conversation was centred around reinstating the Whitsunday Writer’s Festival. First established in 2010 and taking place annually until 2017, the Whitsunday Writers Festival was a popular event for lovers of reading, writing books, and words. Over the years, the festival attracted a host of guest speakers which included one of Australia’s most prolific non-fiction authors Peter FitzSimons, Prime Minister Bob Hawke’s wife Blanche d'Alpuget, famous sailor Jessica Watson, and winner of Hamilton Island’s Best Job in the World, Ben Southall. A mixture of writing workshops, talks and interactive sessions, the Writers Festival was an intimate affair where attendees would spend time with authors, dining together and enjoying spirited conversation. Known also for its lively social activities, the event opened with a cocktail party and a highlight of the weekend was Saturday evening’s Gala Dinner which featured fresh local seafood and an entertaining panel discussion with a selection of the weekend’s guest speakers. The event wrapped-up on Sunday afternoon with a long table lunch. Over the years the festival was held at Daydream Island, the VMR, and Coral Sea Marina – the sea views and relaxed atmosphere attracting attendees from far and wide. Sadly coming to an end when festival founder and much-loved leader Gloria Burley passed away in 2018, it has taken several years for like-minded individuals to pick up the baton. “Gloria Burley was an incredible woman and an inspiring leader,” said Whitsunday Writers Festival committee member, Rachael Smith. “Her passion and dedication to the festival knew no bounds - she was the driving force behind the event - and although she is dearly missed by all that knew her, I am sure she would be thrilled to hear that the festival she loved is now continuing with new faces carrying on all her good work.” When Cultural Ambassador of the Whitsundays and ‘voice of Siri’, Karen Jacobsen brought a group of avid writers together last week, she introduced Australian author Richard Evans who moved to the region with his wife Julia last year. Richard spoke about their intention to re-launch the festival in 2024 and plans are now underway to form a small committee and host of volunteers. Any local authors or interested people are invited to contact this newspaper directly to connect with the committee.

Avid writers gathered to discuss revitalising the Whitsunday Writer’s Festival. Back row: Tom Hudak, Jess Begun and Richard Evans. Front row: Melinda Hutchings, Karen Jacobsen and Sofia Fortunato

The Whitsunday Writers Festival committee and volunteers in 2016. At the centre, festival founder Gloria Burley.