Community News 1

Lucid Wings Live at the Seabreeze Hotel Christmas Day

New Year’s Eve River Party New Year’s Eve

All That Glitters NYE Karaoke Celebrations

EVENTGUIDE

Christmas Wrapping 9:00am to 4:00pm daily until December 24

SCOPE ladies and volunteers will be Christmas Wrapping at Home Co between Thrifties and Spotlight starting November 26 until Christmas Eve daily 9am to 4pm. Gold coin plus extra for over-sized gifts. All proceeds go to local charities including Samaritan House, Chances Op Shop (Australian Street Aid Project) and Mackay Animal Rescue Society.

Home Co between Thrifties and Spotlight Gift Wrapping For A Great Cause Daily until December 24

Get your Christmas gift wrapping sorted and help make a difference through a small donation to the Mackay Hospital Foundation. Our gift-wrapping elves will be located in front of the food court travelators, helping to make Christmas that little bit easier for all. Bookings not required.

Mount Pleasant Centre Santa Photos Daily until December 24

Santa Claus is coming to Mount Pleasant Centre.

Mount Pleasant Centre FRIDAY 23 DECEMBER

Friday SUN.sets Every Friday Evening From 6pm

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

Wake House Australia Christmas Lights Ride Friday, 6:30pm to 8:30pm

Light up the night and celebrate with a merry, festive and social ride! Add tinsel, baubles, stars and lights! Mandatory bike (and rider) dress-up! Average pace will be 23km/hr. Keep an eye on Corry Cycles’ Facebook page for an updated map of Mackay Lights.

Corry Cycles Lucid Wings Live at the Seabreeze Hotel Friday, 7:00pm

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

Seabreeze Hotel SUNDAY 25 DECEMBER

Annual No One Eats Alone Christmas Lunch Sunday, 11:00am to 1:00pm

Roshni Indian Restaurant invites those doing it tough to join in on a Christmas Lunch. Volunteers are also welcome from 10:45am.

Roshni Indian Restaurant SATURDAY 31 DECEMBER

New Year's Eve River Party Saturday, 6:00pm to 9:00pm

The ever-popular NYE River Party brought to you by the Mackay Regional Council is back at Bluewater Quay from 6pm - 9pm. This free community event is a favourite among locals and visitors alike. There will be non-stop entertainment for the whole family featuring amusement rides, face painting, food vendors, local musicians Tiffany Grace and Matt Tandy, as well as two exciting kids performances from special guests, SpongeBob Square Pants and Patrick! The NYE River Party will be topped off with the 9pm fireworks display brought to you by Key Solutions Group. Don't forget to head back to Bluewater Quay for the midnight fireworks as we celebrate the start of 2023!

Bluewater Quay NYE22 Pyjama Party @ The Bowlsie Saturday, 6:00pm

NYE22 @ The Bowlsie brings you the most epic pyjama party featuring The Feels live on the deck, outdoor cinema with popcorn, fairy floss, snow cones and sweet treat corner. Amusement Rides include Adrenalin Run, Mechanical Bull, Gladiator, Swing Chairs and Jumping Castle (unlimited ride armbands available for pre-purchase from Eventbrite for $25). Win a $100 Peter Alexander Gift Card for Best Dressed. Food & Beverages available all night!

Mackay Northern Beaches Bowls Club New Year’s Eve in the Garden Bar Saturday, 6:00pm

Join Harrup Park for this free event and celebrate into the new year with DJ Lambstar in the Garden Bar from 6pm. Bring on 2023!

Harrup Park NYE Rock n Roll Party Saturday, 6:00pm

Join Souths for the party of the year and a night of rock n roll! Enjoy an evening of entertainment from 7pm with the Ron & Deb band performing the hottest rock and roll hits until 12:30am. The kids can party the night away in the Kids Disco and free face painting from 6pm (kids welcome to stay until 12am). Food and drink specials available all night.

Souths Leagues Club Mackay All That Glitters NYE Karaoke Celebrations & Karaoke Comp Grand Final Saturday, 6:30pm

Join in with Souths Suburban Bowls Club and Karaoke Under The Stars for your favourite karaoke songs at their NYE Family Celebrations Party. This will be a night of singing, dancing, celebrations and fun to be had by all

Souths Suburban Bowls Club New Year’s Eve @ The Grove Saturday, 7:00pm

Join The Grove this New Year’s Eve. Awesome hourly giveaways from 7pm ‘til late, boogie with Nathan Kennedy from 7:30pm ‘til late, delicious chef specials and ice cold drinks all night long. Welcome 2023 with your Grove Family.

The Grove Fiesta on Wood Saturday, 9:00pm

Party 2022 away with a Mexican Street Party at Moss on Wood! Entertainment by G-Force and Viva from 9pm. Free entry. Street party games. Prizes for best dressed. Get your sombreros on and have a great night out!

Moss on Wood TUESDAY 3 JANUARY

Morning Melodies Tuesday, 11:00am to 1:00pm

Enjoy a morning of fun, food and entertainment with Morning Melodies at the Leagues Club with Anette Worthington performing live once a month! The cafe will be open from 10am & the bistro from 12pm.

Souths Leagues Club Mackay

A Sweet Christmas In Walkerston

ARTS AND CRAFTS FESTIVITIES

Jenny Price and Helen Stewart at the Sarina Arts and Crafts Centre’s annual Christmas party. Photos: Owen Bromley Lilian Brown and Di Proctor Christmas was in the air at the Sarina Arts and Crafts Centre when volunteers and crafters gathered to celebrate another year at their annual party on Saturday. Chairperson Jenny Price thanked both the crafters and volunteers for their efforts during the year and praised the quality of crafts on offer at the centre.

“We have a wonderful array of crafts, all made locally by our talented crafters,” she said.

“Our volunteers do a marvelous job of ensuring that the centre is open to the public.”

By Charlie Payne

Rhonda Payne and Jenny Costello Rosemary Rowles and Marg Schwarzrock Gayle Tomerini and Marg Hinrichs Charlie Payne and Bob Neilsen

Cash Lure On The Line In Fish’n’SIP$ Competition

Recreational fishers in parts of regional Queensland now have a cash lure to wet a line in five of the State’s favourite stocked impoundments. Member for Mackay Julieanne Gilbert said Kinchant Dam is one of the locations where some of 100 tagged fish have been released as part of a competition. “The first fifteen fish caught on a line and accurately reported to InfoFish will win a prize and the sooner you catch a tagged fish, the larger the prize will be,” Mrs Gilbert said.

“Kinchant Dam is a great place to go fishing, and we want even more North Queensland families to enjoy the experience.”

Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Furner said $50,000 was on the line in the first-ever tagged fishing competition involving Queensland’s Stocked Impoundment Permit Scheme (SIPS). “Thanks to the efforts of the Freshwater Fishing and Stocking Association of Queensland Inc, fishers can cast their lines and try their luck in the inaugural Fish’n’SIP$ competition for a good feed that will also net a cash bonus in time for Christmas,” Mr Furner said. “A total of 100 legal-sized fish, including barramundi and bass, have been tagged and released in the five participating impoundments in the Wide-Bay Burnett, Central and North Queensland regions. “Lake Tinaroo, Lake Proserpine, Kinchant Dam, Lake Callide, and Lake Cania are each breaming with 20 tagged fish that could be worth from $1000 to $20,000. Mr Furner said the only catch was that fishers need to purchase a SIPS permit to tackle the five impoundments involved in the Fish’n’SIP$ competition. “SIPS plays an important part in the Queensland Government’s overall Sustainable Fisheries strategy by helping to alleviate pressure on our wild fish populations,” Mr Furner said. “Revenue from SIPS permits supports our volunteer partners in the program to stock impoundments with native fish species including golden perch, Australian bass, and barramundi specifically for recreational fishing. “Fishing in Queensland’s 63 SIPS impoundments, which require a permit to fish with a line, also gives the economy an annual boost of approximately $100 million, with at least a quarter of that amount spent directly in regional economies. “I encourage recreational fishers to get a SIPS permit which you can access on-line and hook into this exciting new tagged fishing competition.” SIPS permits are available for purchase online, through the QLD Fishing 2.0 smartphone app, at 585 Australia Post outlets throughout Queensland and northern New

An Australian Bass caught in one of the 63 impoundments in Queensland’s Stocked Impoundment Permit Scheme. Credit: Department of Agriculture and Fisheries

South Wales or by phoning 1300 575 359. Visit qld.gov.au/recreation/activities/boating-fishing/rec-fishing/dams to find the nearest stocked waterway and buy a permit, or call 13 25 23 for more information.

Resource Industry Network Twilight Networking Event

Baby Markiel The Chosen One

Mater Private Hospital Mackay staged its annual nativity play last Wednesday, December 7 starring the children of Mater staff, with the most recently born baby cast as the infant Jesus. This year the part was played by one month old Markiel Ysaac Reyes, the son of Mater Private Hospital Mackay Midwife Maria Reyes. Maria said it was the second year she was involved in the nativity play, after her elder son and daughter performed in 2021. “I started at Mater in February 2021 and my other two children were shepherds in the nativity play last year,” Ms Reyes said. “Markiel is one month old so was chosen to be Jesus as the youngest baby of a Mater staff member this year. Ms Reyes’ other son was cast in the role of Joseph, keeping Markiel calm throughout the performance. Mater Private Hospital Mackay Mission Integration Manager and nativity play producer Magdala Thorne said the performance had become a highlight on Mater’s annual calendar. “Our nativity plays started more than 30 years ago by the Sisters of Mercy and they have become a great tradition for staff,” Ms Thorne said. “Pre-pandemic, the performance would move from department to department, but now it is all staged in one area so staff can pause to watch their children perform. “This year we have a very eclectic cast, with not only the children of staff, but also grandchildren involved. “It’s exciting that we are able to welcome multiple members of the same family too. “Our Mater People embody our vision to empower people to live better lives – and in Mackay we are very proud to put these values into action and provide opportunities for our staff and their families to feel supported.”

Baby Markiel starred alongside his siblings in Mater Private Hospital Mackay’s annual nativity play