Mackay Life

Isaac Mayor Anne Baker, Scott Bowen, Luke Swift, Sheree Biddle, Asher Telford , Rebecca Crane, Julie Telford, Matt Munchow, Aquila Fisher and Steve Fisher

Greg

for Dawson

Andrew Willcox

GIVING DAY BREAKS

Hospital Foundation’s Giving Day Raises Valuable Funds

MACKAY’S FIRST POP CON Some Of The Costumes From Mack Pop Con Last Weekend

SUGAR CITY CLASSIC Mackay Region Welcomes QLD’s Best BMX Riders

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SIT DOWN WITH SAM

When

I first moved to Mackay, I was fortunate in that

I knew a handful of people and was able to make new friends through them rela tively quickly.

Still, I looked for opportu nities through social sport, work and attending differ ent events throughout the community, and will now see someone I know or have previously met almost every time I leave the house.

I’ve learnt a lot about making new friends in your mid-20s and still have a lot to learn but one thing I’m sure many can agree on is that it’s not easy.

I recently joined a group of people who meet at Harbour Beach every Wednesday morning for a swim before heading to a nearby café for a coffee.

The idea is to create a space for people to meet and con nect in a wholesome and au thentic way – check out “Rise and Mind” on Instagram.

I’m discovering more and more avenues for connecting with like-minded people in our community like this ev

ery day.

On page 13, I chat with Zephyr and Bradley from Mackay Community Garden where connection and ca maraderie are at the heart of what they do.

They aim to create a welcom ing space where anyone can come to meet new people, learn about gardening and permaculture and get in volved in their community.

On page 3, Orange Sky has been providing conversa tion, connection and friend ship to the Mackay region for five years under the guise of a charity that only washes clothes.

It’s organisations and groups like these that go out of their way to connect like-minded people and provide a space to talk, listen and meet new people.

If you’re feeling lonely or out of touch with your commu nity, I urge you to consider finding a group that interests you, whether that be a sport ing club, special interest group or volunteer organ isation – maybe I’ll see you there.

CANELAND CENTRAL CONTRIBUTE TO ANTI-POVERTY WEEK

Caneland Central is asking for donations of non-perishable food items or fresh produce vouchers to be donated to The Neighbourhood Hub. Photo supplied

Caneland Central has been asking you to put a few extra items in your shopping trolley to donate to the Caneland Central Donation Hub for Anti-Poverty Week this week.

Running from October 16 to 22, Anti-Poverty Week are celebrat ing their 20th year of acting on poverty and making sure that all Australian children and families can cover the basics and have a secure roof over their head.

Caneland Central is asking for donations of non-perishable food items or fresh produce vouchers to be donated to The Neighbourhood Hub Mackay to support families in need in the community.

In Australia, one in six children live in poverty.

Anti-Poverty Week supports the Australian community to have an increased understanding of

poverty and to take action col lectively to end it.

The key message is “Poverty ex ists. Poverty hurts us all. We can all do something about it. It is one of hope, not despair.”

Since 2002, Anti-Poverty Week has been active every year in the week around October 17, the United Nations Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

During this week, all Australians are encouraged to take action and focus on positive solutions to end poverty.

The Donation Hub is located at the Customer Service Desk and is one way that Caneland Cen tral supports its local commu nity by providing an easy and convenient drop-off point while people are doing their shopping.

The Donation Hub is offered to various charities and causes throughout the community on a regular basis.

Five Years Of Orange Sky

Sarina Man Dies In Motorbike Accident

Five years of conversation, connec tion and friendship were celebrated this week as the Mackay and Sarina services of Orange Sky celebrated their fifth birthday.

Orange Sky first launched its services in Mackay in October 2017 and has since provided more than 4,350 loads of free washing to people in need across the Mackay community.

Don Leckby was instrumental in estab lishing Orange Sky in Mackay, starting a street ministry to assist those in need in 2007, with plans to build a dedicated drop-in centre in 2017.

“Orange Sky were going like champions

out of Brisbane, so we gave them a call and offered to buy a van if they installed Orange Sky here in Mackay,” he said.

“I take my hat off to Orange Sky because they found out what they were able to do and that’s what they did, and they do it well.”

When Orange Sky started in Mackay in 2017, the service was seeking volunteers which was when Helen Pert, Helen McK enzie and Terri Leotta got involved.

Ms Pert was retired at the time and seek ing any volunteer opportunities in the region, ultimately becoming the Mackay service’s first Service Coordinator.

“It’s just being able to make a difference,”

said Ms Pert.

“If you’ve got the time to make a differ ence for someone else, then that’s the pleasure that it brings.”

“I just enjoy meeting the friends and the people I volunteer with, and I look for ward to it,” added Ms McKenzie.

“A lot of the friends now have a safe place to come and chat and they feel comfort able coming here and I think that means a lot to them.”

“Every time I volunteer, I learn some thing from friends,” agreed Ms Leotta.

“How alike people are in just wanting a conversation, wanting to feel that other people care.”

ASarina

man lost his life after a sin gle-vehicle motorcycle accident at Mackay Harbour last Thursday, October 13.

29-year-old Jacob Mott was riding with friends as part of a regular group ride when he allegedly sped off before crashing into a light post at about 9:00pm.

“Our initial enquiry is that he moved away from the group so one could only suggest that he was accelerating away at that stage,” said Mackay District Office Inspector An drew Godbold.

“Our understanding is that the group of friends that he was riding with immediate ly attended to assist him where they could.

“They called for help.”

Insp Godbold said Mr Mott sustained “sig nificant head injuries” despite wearing a helmet and died.

Jacob was a regular part of the racing com munity in the Mackay region and has been described as “a great racer, a great man and a great dad,” leaving behind his wife Rae and son Xavier.

Alison Jones, Don Leckby, Terri Leotta, Helen Pert and Helen McKenzie.

Photo credit: Sam Gillespie

GARDIAN HELPS RAISE OVER $120,000 MACKAY HOSPITAL FOUNDATION'S GIVING DAY

The Phones were ringing HOT around Mackay on Thursday 13th October. A huge thank you to all locals that took calls, opened their hearts and wallets to give what they could to support Mackay Hospital Foundation’s annual Giving Day. The Day commenced at 8am right through to 8pm, what a fantastic effort by the wonderful team at the foundation and their dedicated volunteer's. YET another successful event supporting a VERY worthwhile local cause. With every dollar donated DOUBLED thanks to the generous matched donors. (these local business offered up generous dollars to ensure the day was possible. Donations from Moranbah Community Workers Club, Anglo American, Isaac Regional Council & Mackay Base Auxiliary, with many anonymous donations as well.

The Gardian Team donated their time and energy, participating in Giving Day by ringing many of their own contacts. These funds help provide much needed equipment for the 8 public hospitals and health centers within our local region. This year the goal was $200,000 which was double on last year. The final total amount raised for 2022 was a whopping $120,375 which exceeded last years total. Giving Day is a concept utilised by a number of hospital foundations throughout Queensland to raise much needed funds in support of equipment and projects for local hospitals.

The team at Gardian love being involved in the local community and helping out on the day is second nature to them all. Leading up to the event the staff at Gardian pre called their clients & local businesses to donate to Giving Day. "It is an immensely satisfying job to ring everyone you know to ask them to donate to such a worthwhile cause" Joe Rickman from Gardian Real Estate stated.

Gardian is proud to offer their support each year as a local, family owned business that has served the area for over 22 yearsgiving back is a high priority. With over 70 staff delivering expertise across Finance, Insurance, Financial Planning, Real Estate Sales, Property Management and Commercial Sales and Leasing, The team at Gardian really are "with you at every step".

Having 6 services offered within the Gardian Group enabled the team to have a little competitive FUN. Each trying to raise the most money on the day.

Susan, Mel & Sammie from Gardian Financial Planning calling for Giving Day

This years Giving Day Ambassadors Cade & Kacey with Kristi Algate, General Manager of the Mackay Hospital Foundation

Joseph Rickman (Real Estate Agent) from Gardian presenting our Gardian Donation cheque to Tegan of the Mackay Hospital Foundation (Just part of the nearly $23,000 the Gardian team raised on the day.)

(L to R) Kylie Darko (GM PA), Emilee Watson (Property Manager Assistant) , Sonya Lester (Property Manager) , Bridget Franettovich (Insurance Account Executive) , Taylah Park (Insurance Account Executive) & Susan McNamara (Financial Planning Client Services Officer) all from Gardian

(L to R) Patrick Daley (Real Estate Agent) , Ben Kerrisk (Principal/Director) , Mason Stubbs (Real Estate Agent) & David Fisher (Real Estate Agent) from Gardian helped out on Giving Day,

Opposition Leader’s Energy Warning

LOCAL BUSINESSES

To Benefit From SuperGrid

Leader of the Opposition Peter Dutton visited Mackay last week for the first time since his ap pointment and was welcomed to the region by Member for Dawson An drew Willcox, the pair spending time visiting local small businesses.

“We’ve been talking to lots of differ ent businesses and the sentiment’s the same for me right the way up through the electorate,” said Mr Willcox.

“People are concerned about electrici ty prices; they’re concerned about the cost of living.”

Mr Willcox and Mr Dutton spoke to local business owners including Mad eleine and Damian Connors of The Dispensary, where Mr Dutton pro ceeded to make a coffee under the watchful eye of barista James.

Mr Dutton said it’s getting tougher for businesses like The Dispensary to thrive with rising costs and added pressures.

“Cost of living continues to go up, it’s not just families but businesses as well,” he said.

“Let’s make sure that we have a sensi ble debate about energy in our coun try.

“I don’t want to see power prices go

up and up and up under Labor and I certainly don’t want to see the lights go out because manufacturing jobs will go from our country, and they’ll be shifted offshore.”

Mr Dutton said more detail needs to be provided by the Queensland Gov ernment around the planned Pio neer-Burdekin pumped hydro scheme.

“There are families in communities where there will be resumptions that are really panicking now,” he said.

“They don’t know whether their future is secure, they don’t know whether their house and their property will be resumed, and the Premier seems to be able to provide no detail.”

Mr Dutton said Queensland has the lowest input of renewable energy into the network.

“We will support renewable energy and we need to have a serious discus sion about how that energy is firmed up,” he said.

“If you don’t like coal and you don’t like gas and hydrogen is at least 10 years away, then what is the answer for firming up?”

Theregion’s business sector now has a better idea of how they can contribute to the Pioneer-Burdekin Pumped Hydro Energy Storage scheme after the Queensland Government provided local businesses with a briefing on the first round of tenders for the project earlier this week.

Speaking at the Growing Queensland Business Roadshow at Harrup Park on Wednesday, Min ister Mick de Brenni outlined how the region could benefit from one of the most significant nation-building infrastructure programs in Australia’s history.

“It will make Mackay the national capital of en ergy,” he said.

“We’ll be looking for local businesses to sup port the construction and operation of that sig nificant storage project.”

Mr de Brenni said he is confident business es can proceed with the knowledge that the project will go ahead despite being in the early stages of community consultation and environ mental study.

“We’ve got to go through those important en vironmental gateways like we do with all proj ects,” he said.

“What businesses can bank on right now is that all of the early work that gets us to that deci sion, which isn’t too far off, we’ll be looking for local businesses to deliver those parts of the project for us.

“We know that the Mackay and North Queensland region has significant experience in delivering some of our nation’s largest proj ects.

“ That’s why we’re confident in their ability to play a role in the delivery of the super grid.”

Member for Mackay Julieanne Gilbert said the Mackay region would reap enormous benefits from the Pioneer-Burdekin project, from its early days with business opportunities during

the investigation stage to procurement work and ongoing benefit sharing.

“This is the biggest infrastructure project of its kind in the State’s history, and I want to make sure that Mackay businesses have the opportu nity to work on a legacy project for our region,” Ms Gilbert said.

“Local businesses are already lining up to fill contracts for opportunities including cultural heritage studies, ecological and biodiversity studies, surveyors, hydrological modelling, shallow geotechnical drilling, civil contractors, and provision of catering, printing services, safety and workwear.

“It could create thousands of construction jobs and apprenticeships over a six-to-ten-year pe riod, ongoing operational jobs, as well as jobs and revenue for local businesses, fostering op portunities for our region for decades to come.”

Wednesday also saw the release of the Govern ment’s draft Regional Energy Transformation Partnerships Framework for consultation at the event, outlining a set of principles to guide the implementation of the Energy and Jobs Plan, addressing issues including the preservation of the environment, biodiversity and the housing crisis.

“We know that accommodation is tight right across the nation at the moment, so we’ll be de livering a sophisticated plan to make sure that’s accounted for,” Mr de Brenni said.

“We’re calling for community and business leaders to have their say in terms of the ideas around benefit sharing, legacy infrastructure, how we’ll ensure that it’s local businesses that prosper most from this significant $62b invest ment.

“We’ve got a very clear plan about the delivery of the super grid.

“Now it’s about drilling down into that detail to make sure Queenslander’s prosper through this process.”

Member for DAWSON

Peter Dutton warns rising energy and cost-of-living pressures will lead to small businesses suffering.

Photo credit: Sam Gillespie

Authorised

Willcox

Member for Mackay Julieanne Gilbert and Minister Mick de Brenni spoke at the Growing Queensland Business Roadshow in Mackay on Wednesday. Photo credit: Sam Gillespie

OFFICERS Start Careers In Mackay

Fivenew police officers were wel comed to Mackay last week, begin ning their careers as First Year Con stables (FYCs) with the Queensland Police Service (QPS).

The cohort is part of 107 recent graduates who have been deployed to stations across the state.

The new officers were welcomed to the district with an orientation on Thursday, October 13 facilitated by Mackay Police District Officer Superintendent Graeme Paine before heading out to their stations in the following days.

“This is such an exciting moment for these officers as they now begin their careers in the Queensland Police Service,” Supt Paine said.

“Five officers is a significant increase for the area.

“Regardless of whether there’s been an in crease or decrease in crime, we’re going to see an increase in police numbers, and, for us, that’s really important because it increases our capacity to actually be pro active.”

Three of the FYCs will start their career at Mackay Station and the other two at Mackay Northern Beaches Station.

The FYCs spent the past six months at the academy, now undertaking a further 12 months of station-based training.

Their training includes knowledge of laws, policy and procedure as well as practical training pertaining to police activities they’re likely to encounter.

“They’ve got sufficient experience and suf ficient knowledge and learning to be able to apply their police powers, but they’ll also do that in a way which is supervised

Long Delays, Lack Of Beds Hospital Staff Left Short

Patients have been reportedly experi encing long delays waiting for beds at Mackay Base Hospital, some of whom waited in an ambulance for up to seven hours.

Leader for the Opposition David Crisaful li says the hard-working hospital staff do not deserve to be put under the extra pres sure of trying to save lives without enough equipment to meet rising demands.

With recent population trends causing mass movement to regional areas such as Mackay and the Whitsundays, current fa cilities are no longer adequate in catering for the increase and this extra strain is be ing felt across the region.

Mr Crisafulli says that despite population growth, there have been no additional beds in any of our eight local hospitals.

“At a time when our frontline staff were facing more pressure than ever, the State Government was making their job more difficult,” he said.

“They publicly said they were doing all they could to fix the health system, but behind closed doors many already-over

stretched hospitals didn’t get one new bed.”

Patient Off-Stretcher times have also been flagged by the opposition as an issue that needs to be addressed by state government immediately.

New health figures have revealed patients had to wait in the back of an ambulance for between five and seven hours.

The longest recorded time for a patient in Mackay was 7 hours 19 minutes in March, while in June two patients were forced to wait more than six hours.

Shadow Health Minister Ros Bates said it’s another symptom of the Queensland health crisis.

“It’s unacceptable for any Queenslander to wait more than seven hours on a stretch er before getting a hospital bed,” Ms Bates said.

“As a nurse and former hospital admin istrator, I know how frustrating it is for paramedics and patients.

“These dedicated men and women don’t want to spend their entire shift sitting at the end of a ramp, while other calls go un answered.”

under the guidance of an experienced offi cer,” said Supt Paine.

Constable Zach Sheppard has previously served in the military and said transition ing into QPS was easy.

“I definitely have been interested in serv ing the community or the country since surf lifesaving, I did about 10 years in surf lifesaving,” he said.

Cst Sheppard said the six months of acad emy training made him excited to take on his role in the community.

“They are very thorough with their train ing but also it’s good to get out of the acad emy and see what the job has to offer,” he said.

Constable Nathan Giles has a background in psychology and social work and said theoretical and practical training prepared them well.

“It’s obviously a fairly challenging job but the theory side of it is really quite essential to learning our powers and our responsi bilities,” he said.

Cst Giles said a key trait required to be come a police officer is resilience.

“It’s been quite difficult over the last six months with everything that we’ve been learning and adjusting to the differences in everyday education,” he said.

Supt Paine said QPS is currently in a peri od of recruiting.

“It’s a fantastic job, it’s a fantastic group of people,” he said.

“There’s an incredibly wide range of roles that you can go into throughout your ca reer.”

If you’re interested in a career in policing, visit PoliceRecruit.com.au.

and Farm clean-ups

FYCs Zach Sheppard, Grant Syczynski, Nathan Giles, David Maclean and Jason O’Connell with Mackay Police District Officer Superintendent Graeme Paine. Photo credit: Sam Gillespie

The FYCs completed orientation in Mackay last Thursday. Photo supplied: QPS

Does Unorthodox Mean Dangerous?

Over

the past few weeks Mackay Base Hospital Urologist Dr Ste phens has been publicly scru tinised, his previous cases have been an alysed and his professional ability thrown into question.

There are those that wish to jump up and defend a man they believe has been wrongly victimised and others that have connected dots to make their own accusa tions about ways they feel they have been mistreated.

Known for his unorthodox approach to consulting with patients, it was not un common for him to tell patients harsh truths about their lifestyles - like suggest ing they stop smoking in order to increase their chances of survival.

“This would often brush people up the wrong way,” said a co-worker who has chosen to remain anonymous.

“But he was also the sort of person who would give patients his mobile number if they wanted to contact him after hourshe’d go out of his way to help others, even turning up on his days off to sit with an ill patient he knew had no family nearby.”

It seems that his unconventional approach to patient management and unique way of interacting with other staff certainly gar

nered a lot of attention.

His co-worker alleges that while some people loved him, there were those that re ally didn’t like him and could perhaps have been out to get him.

With all staff being monitored and not allowed to speak to media, Dr Stephens’ co-worker said they were reluctant to say more.

“We have so many patients asking when he is going to come back,” they said.

But does interacting with others in an un conventional manner mean he was less diligent in conducting his professional duties?

With accusations that he blew his nose on hospital drapes during an operation and also that his trousers fell down in surgery, stories about Dr Stephens’ behaviour has certainly been in the spotlight for all the wrong reason lately.

When explaining the most recent matter of his trousers falling down, Dr Stephens said he believes there is someone at the hospital that has been leaking information to the public and asserts that one of the photos is not even of him.

“The first photo is taken without my per mission and the second one is not even of

me!” he said.

“I do not wear green tape and I do not have a single hair on my leg,” he said.

Defending his lack of trousers, Dr Ste phens explains that he has very narrow hips and that his trousers have fallen down between four and five times in his career.

It is worth noting that he does have shorts underneath his trousers and a wrapped long theatre gown down to his ankles.

He also adds that this issue is not some thing only he has experienced, apparent

ly other surgeons have also had the same issue.

Does a surgeon continue with the job at hand or risk pausing to re-secure scrubs?

Curious to know who at the hospital is leaking confidential and often inaccurate information about him to the press, Dr Stephens said that he would welcome a full investigation.

He also said he would love to return to work but feels the public scrutiny will make him unemployable.

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Dr Daryl Stephens might be unorthodox but does that make him dangerous?

BROKEN BALLERINA CHARITY BALL COMING SOON!

CANELAND’S BUS STOP ON THE MOVE

are on sale now for the sec ond annual Broken Ballerina Char ity Ball which is due to be held at the Northern Beaches Bowls Club next weekend.

Tickets

Dedicated to raising money and awareness for domestic violence, this colourful and vibrant event, with a serious overtone, will be hosted by Jay and Dave from Triple M. With an eighties theme, guests are invited to dress up in anything from cocktail out fits to fancy dress.

“You can wear anything you like – back in the eighties anything went,” said organiser Jules Thompson.

The Broken Ballerina Charity started back in 2019 when a $50 Woolworths voucher was bought for a family escaping domestic violence and since then the charity have been helping countless people across the Mackay region.

“Every week, every day we are helping someone in some way,” said Jules.

“We don’t receive government support so we rely solely on hard work and people’s support.”

All the money raised from the charity ball will go directly to local projects that ac tively help families living in this area.

From purchasing plane tickets to help a

family escape a situation of domestic vi olence to giving them a visa card so they can buy basic groceries or purchasing gifts to make Christmas feel special – Broken Ballerina are at the forefront of helping families through traumatic times with a kind heart.

The Charity Ball will be a lot of fun with an eighties themed DJ playing your favourite tracks.

Nibbles and a two-course meal will also be served, plus a charity auction with some great prizes to be won.

While the mood is lively, the greater mes sage is both vital and important.

Two women who survived domestic vio lence will be speaking on the night, shar ing their story in order to raise awareness and open the conversation about the real ity of abuse.

Tickets are selling fast, so get in quick to show your support.

WHAT:

Charity Ball

An artist’s impression of the new bus stop

Oneof the busiest bus stops in Mackay is about to move to a new location in order to facilitate a fu ture expansion that will cater for the pop ulation growth in the region.

The Caneland Central Shopping bus stop will be repositioned onto Mangrove Road, in front of the shopping centre in what Member for Mackay Julieanne Gilbert says will be a much more convenient location for customers.

“People tell me they want better connec tivity and accessibility on our public trans port network, and now we’re delivering just that,” Ms Gilbert said.

“A big part of the upgrade includes addi tional capacity which will allow us to grow the bus network in the future – that’s room for more buses to stop at Caneland Shop ping Centre as the population grows.”

Currently the bus stop can cater to two buses at a time, but the new location will

be provisioned to cater for five.

Mayor Greg Williamson said council’s design team had done a tremendous job tailoring this key interchange to meet the needs of our growing population.

"The new interchange will replace the ex isting one at the back of Caneland Central and will increase accessibility while cater ing for an increasing number of commut ers,” Mayor Williamson said.

Construction will begin immediately and is expected to be completed by December, with the majority of the works taking place at night.

Stage one will include removal of the pe destrian crossing on Mangrove Road and the installation of a signalled crossing near the Mangrove Road and Peel Street inter section.

The Peel Street exit to Mangrove Road will also be closed to accommodate the new pedestrian crossing.

ZIMBABWE CHURCH LEADER TO VISIT MACKAY

Everyone is invited to hear the Rev. Dr Solmon Zwana, National Chap lain to Zimbabwean Meth odists in Australia and Oce ania, speak at meetings at St Paul’s Uniting Church on 18-20 November and on Sunday 20 November when he will preach at Ar mitage, St Paul’s and Calen Uniting Churches.

A former presiding bishop, Methodist Church in Zimbabwe, theologian, church lead er, and advocate for good governance and honesty in public life, Dr Zwana is conduct ing a national tour of Australian capital cities and regional centres. He will raise awareness among Zimbabwean migrants of the relationship between the Method ist Church, founded in England in the 1730s, and its continuation in the Uniting Church in Australia, a union of Methodist, Presbyterian and Congregational Church es in 1977.

Dr Zwana has served as chairman of the Zimbabwe Elections Support Network, a local coalition of civil society organisa

tions formed to observe elections. ‘You cannot say you are preaching the gospel if social justice is not part of your work,’ said Dr Zwana, who has highlighted harass ment of voters by the government. Although he has received threat ening phone calls, government leaders, often educated in Christian schools, respect the role of the church in the community, appreci ate the large number of Christians as a pro portion of the population, and heed the constructive criticism provided by mainline Protestant Churches. International part nerships, such as the relationship between the Methodist Development and Relief Agency and the Uniting Church in Aus tralia through Uniting World, also encourage the Meth odist Church to speak up for justice.

Contributed by REV. DR JULIA PITMAN, MINISTER, ST PAUL’S UNITING CHURCH

ST PAUL’S UNITING CHURCH

MACALISTER STREET

Rev. Dr Solmon Zwana

National Chaplain to Zimbabwean Methodists in Australia and Oceania, former presiding bishop, Methodist Church in Zimbabwe, theologian, church leader and advocate for Christian unity, good governance and honesty in public life

Services

Friday 18 November 7pm-8.30pm

St Paul’s Uniting Church, Macalister Street, Mackay

Saturday 19 November 7pm-8.30pm

St Paul’s Uniting Church, Macalister Street, Mackay

Sunday 20 November 7.45am

Armitage Uniting Church, cnr Evan and Kennedy Streets, East Mackay

Sunday 20 November 9.15am St Paul’s Uniting Church, Macalister Street, Mackay

Sunday 20 November 2.15pm Calen Uniting Church, 42 McIntyre Street, Calen

Sunday 20 November 7pm-8.30pm St Paul’s Uniting Church, Macalister Street, Mackay

Singing, dancing and discussion on issues of church and society in Zimbabwe and Australia

Sponsors

Mackay City Girl Guides Celebrate 65 Years

Methodist Church in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwean Methodist Fellowship of Australia and New Zealand

The Uniting Church in Australia Parramatta-Nepean Presbytery of the Uniting Church in NSW-ACT, Uniting World

Alocal

girl guide group is marking a milestone moment by bringing together Guides both past and present to a special event which is due to be held next Saturday.

The Mackay City Girl Guides have been operating at their current location for the past 65 years and during that time count less young women have learnt invaluable skills such as resilience, team building, leadership skills and community engage ment.

The event will be a snapshot through time with the group putting up old tents that would have been used and exhibiting old membership forms that show processes of yesteryear.

“The vibe is reminiscing through the years of Guiding,” said Support Group President Erin Turner.

“We will look at what Guiding used to be like with old photos and go through the decades to see how things changed.”

The current Girl Guide patrols will also show some of their skills such as first aid, knots and lashing and telecommunica tions.

During the event there will be special pre sentations to two of the Guides who have recently been awarded the Baden-Powell

award.

There will also be a special celebratory cake and an opportunity for girl guides, young and old, to connect and share stories.

“Everyone is welcome to come along to the event,” said Erin.

“Even if you’re not a Girl Guide but are in terested in learning more about it – we’d love to see you.”

As the afternoon progresses there will also be a BBQ and for those that would like to stay into the evening there will be a camp fire.

WHAT: Mackay City Girl Guides 65 year celebration

WHERE: Girl Guide Hut on the corner of Sydney Street and Juliet Street

WHEN: Saturday October, 29 from 1pm to 5pm

New Book Places Women At The Forefront Of History

Local

author Kaaren Sephton is cur rently compiling her second major work which will bring together sto ries from women across the region in an effort to fill in the gaps of our regional his tory.

Having previously published her thesis, At The Crossroads: Biographies of Mia Mia, Kaaren says she felt compelled to bring to gether unique female histories after speak ing with members of the Mackay Family History Society.

She is now putting a call out for family members of women who lived around the 1900s and have now passed on but would have an interesting story that their ances tors would like to share with the commu nity.

“Women have achieved so much with so little recognition, they often get unno ticed,” said Kaaren.

“From farmer’s wives to indigenous wom en from The Leap, hoteliers to matrons at the hospital and women who lived through WWI – I want to create a broad snapshot of women from the early days.”

Family members are invited to contact Kaaren directly and she would like to re ceive old photographs and information about individuals so she can compile them into a new history book.

While she is ideally looking for women who lived around the 1900s, Kaaren says that if she gets a good response from the community, she will consider looking at women from different eras in a subsequent book.

So far, she has 40 local women for the book and she is hopeful more families would like to come forward.

You can contact her directly by emailing kskaslester@gmail.com.

Kaaren Sephton with her first book The Crossroads: Biographies of Mia Mia. Photo contributed

Giving Day Raises Record Breaking $120,000

Animpressive $120,375 was raised with donations from local busi nesses and individuals at the Mackay Hospital Foundation’s Giving Day that was held last Thursday.

In an action-packed day of altruism, the whole of Mackay Base Hospital was in volved in various charity events which saw the eventual amount beat last years’ tally by a modest $1000.

The day kicked off with the Corporate Breakfast in the courtyard at the hospital with an opportunity for local businesses to donate.

During the breakfast, the two Giving Day ambassadors attended, sharing their sto ries of surviving cancer.

Kacey Sanfilippo was diagnosed with highrisk B cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia as a 2-year-old and went on to endure two and a half years of cancer treatment.

Cade Duncan was four when Acute Lym phoblastic Leukaemia came into his life. He endured chemotherapy for almost four years.

Kacey and Cade formed a strong friend ship during their treatment and it was a happy day when the they returned with their families to support the cause which is close to their hearts.

All proceeds from Giving Day go towards

extra comforts for the eight state hospitals in our region.

While the government fund essential equipment, families often need items such as extra chairs, warm blankets, TVs and other articles we often take for granted at home.

As Giving Day progressed, more activities took place to generate money for these ex perience-changing items.

The Gardian Group took to the phones, using a huge database of numbers to call locals, many of which kindly contrib uted.

At lunchtime, Mackay Hospital Foundation and volunteers cooked and served a BBQ lunch to staff, col lecting donations along the way.

When the event eventually wrapped up at 8pm that evening, there was a tally of $117,158 but by Monday morning, this figure had risen to $120,375.

In addition to the on-the-day dona tions, the hospital wards had all been working tirelessly in the run-up to the event, receiving sponsorship from friends, families and strangers.

In a friendly rivalry, everyone was ea ger to see who would raise the most this year - last year it had been a close

race between the Gen eral Medical and ICU Wards.

This year Ward F2 (Med ical Unit) raised the most money and were con gratulated by all.

The donations will now be divided into location - whichever re gion the money came from, that local hospital will receive the equivalent back in invaluable items to improve patient expe rience.

Special thanks goes to Anglo American, Isaac Regional Council, Mackay Base Hos pital Auxiliary, Moranbah Community Workers Club and all the other businesses and individuals that supported the event this year.

Kacey Sanfilippo and Cade Duncan with Mackay Hospital Foundation General Manager, Kristi Algate (little Charlie Sanfilippo in front)

Isaac Regional Council Mayor Anne Baker with Krisi Algate. Photos supplied

Are You Prepared?

Disaster season is coming in hot, and council is urging residents to stock up their emergency kits, fa miliarise themselves with council’s Emer gency Action Guide and get their emer gency evacuation plans in place.

Mayor Greg Williamson said now is the time to prepare.

“Whether it’s fires, floods, cyclones or heatwaves, history has shown us that our best defence when it comes to disasters is preparedness,” Mr Williamson said.

“We are asking residents to make a plan and discuss it with their family, so they know when to go, where to go, how to move and what to take.

“We’re also asking them to get to know their neighbours who can be lifesavers in emergency situations.

“The last thing you want to do in a disaster is to have to put a plan in place last min ute when you’re stressed and not thinking clearly.”

Residents are encouraged to keep an eye out on council’s Facebook page for tips and tricks on how to get prepared for di saster season.

Suncorp Insurance’s Head of Home Claims Steven Hussey said that it’s important to educate and raise awareness of the simple ways Australians can be better informed, and therefore better prepared for severe weather, to protect their family, homes and mental wellbeing.

“We’re a country battered by extreme weather,” he said.

“Floods, cyclones, bushfires and storms are becoming more frequent and severe – yet our research shows Australians have limited knowledge and awareness about them.

“The knowledge gap around extreme

weather events is concerning and contrib uting to Australians being underprepared when it comes to managing their impact.”

Stay up to date with the latest emergency news thanks to council’s online Emer gency Dashboard, providing timely and relevant information to help you make in formed decisions and be better prepared.

The Emergency Dashboard provides all the information you need including latest road conditions, fire incidents, weather warnings, storm tide evacuation zones and power outages, active evacuation centres and flood cameras.

You can access resources including your local emergency action guide, emergency guides for pets, radio stations and emer gency contacts.

Check your route ahead of time with road status updates and flood cameras, allow ing you to take the safest roads in and out of the region.

Keep an eye on what’s happening in the sky and the water with local weather radar and local river height updates.

You can also opt in to receive text messages and email notifica tions of emer gency alerts and weather warnings in our region.

Access the Emer gency Dashboard at disaster.mackay. qld.gov.au or via the link on council’s web site.

The Five ‘Knows’

• Know When To Go – Listen for notifications from the Emergency Dashboard or on the official emergency broad caster. Where possible, con sider leaving before flooding/ cyclone/disaster commences.

• Know Where To Go – Identi fy now where you will go and let someone know where you have evacuated to and that you have arrived safely. Pub lic cyclone shelters should be your last resort as they may not be open.

• Know How To Move – Trans port options for people with medical needs or mo bility issues as well as pets require careful planning. Identify the safest route and consider potential hazards.

• Know What To Take – Pre pare an emergency bag with food, medicine, documents, flashlight, phone chargers and pet items. You may be away from home for several days.

• Know Your Neighbours –Think about who you could help in your neighbourhood or who might be able to help you. Neighbours are often best placed to assist with pre paring your home before di saster strikes.

On the banks of the Pioneer River, hidden behind a thicket of trees and shrubs, is an oasis of commu nity, nature and connectedness.

The Mackay Community Garden has sat next to the river, down past the hospital, for 25 years, with Zephyr Routh recently taking on the responsibility of bringing it to its former glory and showcasing the processes of permaculture used in the gar den.

“It’s become more of a demonstration garden and a place for the community to connect and share the love of gardening,” Zephyr said.

“I’m trying to bring community and trying to bring life back into the space and create a nice atmosphere for people to come and work in harmony with nature and work in harmony with each other.”

Zephyr explained that permaculture is all about biodiversity.

“It’s about working with the rhythms of nature and really focusing on perennial plants and biodiversity and stability,” he said.

“We focus on a lot of tropical foods be cause we’re growing into the climate.”

“It’s very structured and very planned,” Bradley Grendom added, explaining that trees and plants are positioned to optimise each plant’s exposure to the sun as it cross es the sky.

Being a pensioner, Bradley was seeking somewhere to connect with likeminded people when he found the garden.

“There’s a lot of spiritual people around this permaculture process that we’re in and that’s what I like,” he said.

“I’m just here to get a bit of the day changed and work around trees and plants, getting the hands and the feet in the soil.

“It’s a healing process.”

The Community Garden hosts a range of events for anyone to attend, including Abundance Days, potting days and work shops.

“We come in as a collective group and we go around and ask the community what jobs they want to do, whether that be play ing in the nursery, planting some herbs, picking some fruit, or even art,” Zephyr said.

“It’s always open and there’s always some thing different going on.”

The group of volunteers is hosting its first

Food Forest Fest this Sunday to showcase their hard work and to bring new people into the space.

“I just thought, ‘How can we bring more life into this place?” Zephyr said.

“A lot of people in Mackay don’t know about this area, it’s still a little hidden gem.”

Food Forest Fest is a celebration of the life of spring, centred around the region's diversity, permaculture, music, healing, food, and local handcrafted and home grown goods.

Activities will include permaculture work shops, tropical cooking demonstrations, sound healing, live music, garden tours,

kids’ activities, locally grown and hand crafted market stalls and tree planting.

“It’s really based around trying to get peo ple down here and show people a different way to live in community,” Zephyr said.

For more information on Mackay Com munity Garden and Food Forest Fest, visit the Mackay Community Garden on Face book or contact Zephyr on 0497 150 777.

WHAT: Food Forest Fest

WHERE: Mackay Community Garden

WHEN: Sunday, October 23 from 10:00am to 3:00pm

This is a free community event.

Roy Powell

Bradley Grendom and Zephyr Routh. Photo credit: Sam Gillespie

Mackay Community Garden hosts a wide

involved. Photo supplied

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STRUCTURED AND UNSTRUCTURED PLAY

Play is vital to a child’s learning, development, confidence and wellbeing. Variety in play is important because it helps with all areas of children’s development, and the way a child plays will change over time.

Unstructured, free play is unplanned play that just happens, depending on what takes your child’s interest at the time. Unstructured, free play is particularly important for younger children because it lets them use their imagination and move at their own pace.

Examples of unstructured play might be: creative play alone or with others imaginative games

• exploring new or favourite spaces like cupboards, backyards, parks, playgrounds and play centres

Sometimes all a parent will need to do is point their child in the right direction – towards the jumble of dress-ups and toys on their floor, or

to the table with crayons and paper. At other times, you might need to be a bit more active. For example, ‘How about we play dress-ups? What do you want to be today?’

Structured play is organised and happens at a fixed time or in a set space. It’s often led by a grown-up. Older children are more likely to enjoy and benefit from structured play.

Examples of structured play include: outdoor ball games like kicking a soccer ball swimming lessons

• storytelling groups at the local library

• dance, music or drama classes family board or card games

• After school sport

Whether play is structured or unstructured, indoors or outdoors, play can give your child the chance to explore, be active, test physical limits and get messy.

Mackay’s favourite indoor play centre, Kidz Life, is well-known for its exhilarating super slide, colourful ball pits and adventure tunnels that provide hours of entertainment for little ones while their parents get to chat and relax.

What many people do not know, however, is that Kidz Life is a non-profit organisation that is always giving back to the community and looking for different ways it can help change the world for others.

From giving vouchers as school raffle prizes to offering free parties to local children living with disabilities or even donating to worldwide charity projects, Kidz Life continuously reinvests in important causes close to their heart.

This means that every time your child enjoys a few hours of fun at the play centre, other children both locally and around the world will benefit in some way.

Open from Tuesday through to Saturday, Kidz Life is an affordable outing for families looking to enjoy some indoor air-conditioned fun.

Ideal for children’s parties, the centre can cater for groups up to 100 in a private function setting.

Kidz Life also has a welcoming and community-focused heart, with many

friendships made and knowledge exchanged between parents and staff.

Part of New Life Church, the play centre works alongside the religious community to help others and bring more kindness to the world.

Everyone is invited to church on Sunday with children enjoying a kid’s church session followed by some time to have fun in the play centre.

An on-site café serves great coffee and has a small but delicious menu.

Suitable for babies right through to 12-yearolds, there is a designated toddler area so little ones can explore with their own agegroup.

Open 9am – 12pm Tuesday to Friday and 9am – 4pm on Saturday.

Hundreds of people gathered at Wests Leagues Club in Walkerston on Sunday for the Mackay Sugar Run For MI Life, held in honour of brother, uncle and friend Matthew Ivory, who sadly died by suicide on Octo ber 19, 2012.

Since the first run in 2014, Run For MI Life has spread to three locations, seen thousands of people run and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to inspire people to seek help and support when it's needed.

A large focus of Run For MI Life is to ensure that

the SafeTALK course is able to be offered for free within the communities that run, to make them suicide safe.

“Matt was a fun-loving, kind-hearted person who enjoyed a joke and relished making others laugh,” said event organ isers.

“His death was both unex pected and devastating to those who knew him.

“We, as his family, intend on using his name to change the perception of depression and suicide in our community and take away the negative stigma attached.”

Photo credit: Daniel McLean

What Can Pilates Bring To Your Life?

Thegoal of Pilates is to be in total control of your body as you move and to balance your mus cles by targeting and strengthening the ones you don’t usually use in your day-to-day life that would benefit from be ing stronger.

This requires beginning from your central core muscles and using the stability these muscles provide to smoothly control your arms, legs and other extremities.

This is no easy feat, which is what makes Pilates a great way to build strength and stamina.

Pilates is for everybody, regardless of gen der, age, race, size, ability or current fitness level.

The Pilates Method, which includes mat and specialised equipment, is made up of over 600 exercises and variations.

“There’s something for everyone, whether you have a sedentary lifestyle, are a week end warrior, are pregnant, are undergoing rehab, have anxiety, or if you’re a profes sional athlete,” said Core Defined Pilates and Fitness Studio Instructor Unica Esta billo.

“Studies have shown that Pilates improves

quality of life by having a positive effect on depres sion and pain, most nota bly decreasing back pain.”

Pilates aligns your entire body’s overall structure and supports its joints.

“What appears to look simple can be deceptive ly challenging and in credibly effective when done correctly with good form,” said Unica.

The optimal strength gained from consistent Pilates practice is nonrig id, balancing strength with mobility and flexibility.

It helps you move and breathe through your daily activities with more freedom and power and less pain.

At Core Defined Pilates, all classes are taught by qualified instructors who will ensure you follow your individual pro gram whether in a one-on-one or in their group “All Levels” class.

This ensures you perform all exercises cor rectly, safely and achieve the best results.

“We structure all our classes to provide you with flexibility and accessibility, whilst keeping class sizes small to ensure we pro vide personalised movements and main tain the highest quality standards,” said Unica.

Social By Name, Social By Nature

Get to know some of the staff members bringing you delicious coffee, fresh food and service with a smile at Social Fresh & Local.

BELINDA POTTS – OWNER

Go-to coffee order? Caramel latte

What do you like to do while sipping your coffee? “I love to be at the beach just relaxing and watching the world go by.”

Go-to Social Fresh & Local food order? Eggs Benedict – “Apparently, we’re getting well known for eggs benny, so I’ve heard.”

Favourite Mackay beach? Town Beach

Belinda is in her fourth year of managing Social Fresh & Local and is amazed at how much it’s grown. Born in WA, Belinda has been in Mackay for almost 30 years and draws on years of hospitality experience as a chef and barista.

“The community is absolutely amazing,” she said. “I love hospitality, I love people, I love giving that great service.”

Belinda and her team are passionate about delivering delicious coffee and excellent customer service to the Walkerston community.

“All the staff, they thrive on us being busy, they thrive on watching the place grow,” she said. “We’re happy people, we’re kind people and we just want to provide the best we can for the region.”

JEN HUGHES – CHEF

Go-to coffee order? Vanilla flat white What do you like to do while sipping your coffee? “Usually cooking. Experimenting.”

Go-to Social Fresh & Local food order? Eggs Benedict with mushrooms and spinach

Favourite Mackay beach? Cape Hillsbor ough

Jen has been a chef for most of her life and has worked at Social Fresh & Local since January, becoming an invaluable asset to the team.

“I just love food,” she said. “The rush of service day and the sense of accomplishment at the end of the day. It’s always good fun, the customers are always happy. It’s a nice, fun environment.”

Core Defined Pilates offers classes taught by qualified instructors who will ensure you follow your individual program. Photo supplied

Jen Hughes, Belinda Potts and Megan Parker of Social, Fresh & Local at Walkerston. Photo credit: Sam Gillespie

Renowned for their quality products and friendly, per sonalised service, P Comi no & Sons has been faithfully serv ing the Mackay region for the past 90 years.

One of the founding business pi oneers in Mackay City, the first business was opened by newly mi grated Greek, Peter Comino back in 1906.

Initially the family worked in hos pitality, opening the Sydney Oyster Saloon in Sydney Street.

After a cyclone hit Mackay in 1918, the restaurant needed a renova tion, so the Comino family decid ed to rebrand and re-open as Bri tannia Café.

In the early 1930’s the business took a different and now very fa miliar path, opening Comino Drapers on 14 Sydney Street.

This business would soon become

the iconic P Comino and Sons we love and hold dear today.

A family business at heart, Peter Comino and his wife Vasiliki had 10 children, many of whom have worked at the family businesses over the years.

Their son Jim managed the store for many years, and his brother Cyril opened Comino’s Camping a few doors up on Sydney Street.

In 1979 Cyril took over manage ment of P Comino & Sons, com bining some items from his nearby camping store.

When he retired in 1986, Cyr il handed the reins over to his daughter Vassie, who left her pro fession as a pharmacist to work in the family business.

Vassie has now been managing the business for over 36 years.

Despite remaining a profitable and popular retail destination that has

successfully traversed the ages, P Comino & Sons holds dear to its past and part of its charm is the old-world feel customers experi ence as they enter the store.

The cash register, which was con verted to decimal currency in 1966, still sits on the long wooden counters which have stood in store since 1932.

In addition, some of the glass counters and display cabinets orig inally came from Britannia Café.

The only item of technology in the store is an EFTPOS machine and invoices are handwritten.

Priding itself on operating a good old-fashioned business that has withstood the tests of time and technological advancement, P Comino & Sons will remain how it is, like a museum for the modern age, creating a shopping experi ence that can no longer be repli cated.

Peter with sons George and Cyril, and some of their customers in the mid-30’s

Theo, Peter, Jim and George Comino, taken in the late 1930s

Vassie, Rachelle Johnson, Leeanne Oosen (nee Carroll), and long serving employees

Kerrie Ollett and Lola Walz in the 1990s

Cyril, Theo, staff members and Jim taken in 1949

Auniquescent fills the nos trils when you walk into P Comino & Sons. It’s the scent of fine leather and quali ty clothing but also the scent of almost a century of histo ry emanating from the walls.

P Comino & Sons has stood the test of time, celebrating its 90th year this year, and they’ve done so without compromis ing on their integrity, image or values.

“Nothing much changes here,” said Vassie, a third-gen eration business owner who operates the store with con fidence in her brand and her approach to business. “We’re happy with the pace we’re

Stepping into the store is like stepping into a time ma chine and Vassie says this is a deliberate choice, maintaining the history that got them where they are today.

“A lot of people like the atmosphere,” she said. “It’s different.”

Driving along Sydney Street towards the Forgan Bridge, the green, yellow and burgundy sign is unmissable, a clear indication of a business that values its heritage. The building dates back to 1890 and hasn’t changed a lot over the years, although one change came in 2000 when the Comino’s installed air conditioning.

“We got a heritage architect up from Brisbane to tell us how to do it properly in keeping with the age of the building,” said Vassie.

Vassie suggested to the architect that they repolish countertops and repaint shelves while work was being completed.

“He said to me, ‘Don’t you dare touch anything. Just leave it how it is,’” she laughed.

“It’s all part of the historical aspect of the building and the business.”

It’s a simple and old-fashioned approach to business and one that has seen P Com ino & Sons establish a reputation and de pendability and consistency throughout the community.

“We’ve got a lot of longstanding, loyal customers who come because they know this is where they can get exactly what they want,” said Vassie. “We don’t change things at a whim.”

P Comino & Sons have long-stocked brands that customers know and love including King Gee, Dunlop, Bonds, Blundstone, R. M. Williams and Akubra.

“I think people like the consistency,” said Vassie. “A lot of people do know what they want or have a favourite brand that they wear and want to buy the same thing again.”

While their stock is consistent, their range is unusual in its variety.

“Some shops specialise in workwear only, others specialise in western gear only,” said Vassie. “We’ve got an assort ment.”

And with such a wide variety of stock, it takes knowledgeable staff to help customers find what they want. Sharon, Jenny and Salina have

all worked with P Comino & Sons for over ten years and continue a tradition of long-serving and loyal staff members. P Comino & Sons is a family business, and everyone is a part of the family.

“I think they all have a nice attachment to the shop,” said Vassie. “So do a lot of our customers. A lot of them say, ‘Don’t ever close.’ It’s nice to know that we’re still here and well supported,”

Customers can expect genuine advice and utmost professionalism when they walk through the doors of P Comino & Sons – good old-fashioned customer ser vice.

“The personal service is a big part of it,” said Vassie. “Plus, we handwrite our in voices, isn’t that a dying art?” she laughed.

out the Mackay community. Their consistent approach to business allows them to traverse and withstand any trib ulation that comes their way.

“Mackay had a lot of local big business es … you thought they’d be here forever and they’re all history now,” said Vassie.

“I can’t imagine my grandfather ever would’ve thought the business would still be going, or even my father.”

Vassie says that, while the future is un known, she looks forward to celebrating the centenary in ten years’ time.

“It’s like, in a way, looking after a family heirloom but it’s also a challenge, run ning a business,” she said.

“We’re grateful to our customers who continue to support us.”

Vassie, Sharon, Jenny and Salina standing at the historic counter in modern times

EVENTGUIDE

FRIDAY 21 OCTOBER

Guided walks in the gardens Friday, 10:00am

Discover the gardens with a volunteer guide on this free guided walk around the botanic gardens. Find out what's flowering, local wildlife and the history of the gardens. Group bookings are welcome. To book your spot and find out more, phone the gardens on 4952 7300 or email botanic@mackay.qld.gov.au.

Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens

Ladies in Black Friday, 10:30am and 7:30pm, Saturday, 2:00pm and 7:30pm, Sunday, 2:00pm

Based on the 2018 film, Ladies in Black is a comingof-age story encouraging you to follow your dreams without ignoring the opportunities in life that appear in front of you. A studious young woman with dreams of attending university takes on a summer job in a sophisticated department store. Full of colourful characters and spectacular fashion, the ladies of the store open her eyes to the world and encourage her to believe in herself and her future. This laugh-out-loud story includes songs by award-winning composer Tim Finn. This comedy is one not to be missed. Tickets available at the door or at https://cqcm.sales.ticketsearch.com/sales

Central Queensland Conservatorium Of Music

Conversations with Art Friday, 1:00pm to 2:30pm

Join a casual conversation about art, deconstructing the works, considering themes, possible techniques used by the artist, and creating links with your own personal experiences. Whether you’re an artist, an art and language lover, beginner, or expert, you are invited to attend this free, interesting, thought provoking and extremely enjoyable discussion.

Artspace Mackay

Friday SUN.sets

Every Friday Evening From 6pm

Knock off drinks, lakeside dinner, good friends, and live music..

Wake House Australia

A-List Entertainment presents Multicultural Comedy Gala Friday, 7:30pm

Join Australia’s favourite and emerging comedic talent as they touch on cultural identity in a concoction of comedy that pokes fun at what makes us all different but very much the same. The starstudded line-up includes Dilruk Jayasinha, Akmal, Steph Tisdell, Urvi Majumdar, Ting Lim and Simon Taylor in a hilarious celebration of Australia’s multicultural diversity.

MECC

SATURDAY 22 OCTOBER

Jumble Sale at the Marian Bowls Club

Saturday, 7:00am to 1:00pm

Lots of bargains plus plants, cake and craft stalls and a sausage sizzle. Also, morning tea available. All welcome. All proceeds to the Bowling Club.

Marian Bowls Club, Reg Smith Street, Marian

Global Grooves 2022 Saturday, 3:00pm to 8:00pm

Travel the world in a single afternoon and celebrate our diverse cultural communities that together make up our proud Mackay region. The annual community event will feature an array of performances from multicultural artists, local community groups, and a range of talented musicians. Get your groove on or take part in the many activities and workshops on offer. Browse the market stalls or tantalise your tastebuds with a range of both local and exotic foodie delights. This event is not to be missed! Find out more, visit Mackay Festivals Facebook page.

Queens Park

Lonely Looking For Companionship?

Pocket Sessions - Spring 2022 Saturday, 4:00pm to 11:00pm

Join in for the second live, original music event set in the lush rainforest of Cameron's Pocket. Featuring The Basecoats, Weathered, David Flower Band, Gypsy Rambler, Woodbridge Music and Aaron Preston with a special guest appearance by Tattyfaez Ablaze!

Tickets on sale now!

Camerons Pocket Rd, Calen

SUNDAY 23 OCTOBER

Food Forest Fest Sunday, 10:00am to 3:00pm

Mackay Community Gardens presents Food Forest Fest. Join us in the celebration of the life of spring. This gathering is centred around the region's diversity, permaculture, music, healing, food, and local handcrafted and homegrown market stalls. This is a family event with lots of education, creating, and play.

Mackay Community Gardens

Pioneer Bonsai Mackay Workshops Sunday, 1:00pm to 4:00pm

Pioneer Bonsai Mackay hold their monthly bonsai workshops at the Botanic Gardens Meeting Room. If you enjoy the fellowship of bonsai or are interested in learning more, please come along. New members are welcome. For more information, please contact Michael Watt via email mackaybonsai@bigpond.com.

Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens

Sunday Live Music Sunday, 2:00pm to 5:00pm

Music every Sunday from 2pm - 5pm. Head down to the Seabreeze Hotel this Sunday for some fresh tunes, delicious food, and ice-cold brews.

Seabreeze Hotel

BABBA – An International ABBA Spectacular Sunday, 5:00pm

For 26 years BABBA have been thrilling audiences worldwide with their superb recreation of 70s super group ABBA and the legacy of hits they gave us. Bring your dancing shoes, dust off your flares and join the party as we celebrate all the iconic hits of ABBA.

MECC

TUESDAY 25 OCTOBER

United Nations Day - Celebrations at World Cafe Tuesday, 10:00am to 12:30pm

This year’s United Nations Day theme is "Resilience of Older Persons in a changing world".

People all around the world will come together and celebrate the day with ceremony and show in various cities in different countries and the Neighbourhood Hub will be doing exactly that with national costumes, flags, food, dance, culture and sharing stories. Wear your national costume/ dress/attire and bring along a national artifact to share with the group. Come and celebrate - RSVP to elam@tnhub.org.au for catering purposes.

The Neighbourhood Hub

WEDNESDAY 26

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 club members with regular dances with live bands in attendance and away trips. For further enquiries call 0408 983 911.

58 Macalister St, Mackay

THURSDAY 27 OCTOBER

Halloween Scavenger Hunt

Thursday, 4:00pm to 7:00pm

Join for a self-guided Trick or Treat Scavenger Hunt around the Centre this Halloween. Bring the kids along and hunt treats at your own pace, simply choose a time slot that suits your family.

Bookings are essential and we will provide you with a Halloween map of participating stores and goodie bag for each person booked. Parents are not required to book a spot for themselves! Limited spaces available, booking is essential, book your spot now. For any enquiries, please contact our Customer Desk on 07 4944 7111.

Caneland Central

Ladies in Black

Conversations with Art

BABBA

Halloween Scavenger Hunt

Global Grooves 2022

THE SOUNDS OF THE SURF

Just Bead It

The inaugural Beach Sounds Music Festival saw Hawaiian shirts and pluggers flock to the Mackay Surf Life Saving Club to enjoy a beautiful day of live music.

The festival brought musicians from all

over Australia including Dallas Crane, The Double Happiness and Mackay’s Bella Mackenzie.

The event raised funds for the Mackay Surf Life Saving Club and is hoped to be the first of many.

Using over 100,000 beads, local artist Louise Carter has created a wide variety of artworks for her new exhibition Seed Beads.

Seed Beads opens today, October 21, at the Jubilee Community Centre on what happens to be Louise’s birthday and runs until November 1.

The exhibition features a variety of sculp tures made entirely from beads and thread.

“Almost all of my sculptures are self-sup porting and are contemporary geometric forms, so there’s a lot of 3D shapes,” Louise said.

The exhibition will feature her shape series in which she attempts to create as many different shapes as possible.

There will also be an interactive element to the exhibition, with Louise creating a ‘stargazer’ out of silver and gold beads creating the effect of the night sky when looked into.

There will also be small geometric shapes that move similar to fidget spinners called kaleidocycles that Louise has created as well as miniature dresses.

Louise has always been creative but dis covered beading in her late teens through workshops at Spotlight, later discovering a 3D bead ball on the internet and deciding to give it a go.

“It was a bit of a challenge, but it was really

cool trying to figure it out, so that’s how I got started,” she said.

Louise has used the last 14 years or so to hone her craft and diversify her skillset.

“I really like figuring out the form and ex perimenting and exploring where things will go,” she said.

“A lot of people work out a pattern before hand and I just have an idea and go from there and sometimes it works out, some times it doesn’t.”

Louise is involved in an international group called the Beadworker’s Guild and is the Guild’s youngest guest ambassador to date.

She is running an international art proj ect through the Guild which involves over 100 participants.

“Everyone’s making 2D pentagons which I’ll then make into a big, large shape so I will actually have some of the pentagons on display at the exhibition,” she said.

It will be a taste of what people can expect when Louise displays the final product of the art project in her second exhibition in June next year.

WHAT: ‘Seed Beads’ Art Exhibition

WHERE: Jubilee Community Centre

WHEN: Friday, October 21 to Monday, November 1 COST: This is a free event

Louise Carter has been creating art with beads for over 14 years. Photos supplied

Photo credit: Sam Gillespie

WORLD CULTURES ON SHOW

Combining

and showcasing the cul tures of more than a dozen proud local multicultural communities, Global Grooves is an amazing and insight ful family festival.

Coming to Queens Park this Saturday, Oc tober 22, Global Grooves will feature a full stage line-up of musicians, bands, dance groups and cultural performances.

There will also be a workshop teepee and more than a dozen food vendors with ex otic food options, coffee and dessert.

Filipino community leader Vivien Hanra han said Global Grooves presents a unique opportunity for residents.

“Mackay has many passionate multicul tural communities, and they all have their festivities during the year to celebrate and showcase their cultures, but Global Grooves is special because it brings them all together and gives people a taste of a

Global Grooves Main Stage

• 3pm - Mayor’s welcome

• 3.15pm - Yuwi Corporation

• 3.45pm - Piping Mad

• 4.10pm - Mackay Filipino-Australian Community

• 4.30pm - Nepalese Australian Associa tion of Mackay

• 4.45pm - Tchundal Malar Aboriginal Dance Troupe

variety of cultures,” Ms Hanrahan said.

“We (the Filipino community) will be doing a lechon (rotisserie pig), which is a dish we cook at home when we have a celebration.

“When people come and try our lechon they are connecting with our culture and joining us in this celebration.”

Ms Hanrahan said not only is Global Grooves an amazing showcase of multi culturalism, but it’s also a great network ing opportunity for different communities to share ideas, experiences and stories.

Mackay Regional Council Mayor Greg Williamson said Global Grooves gave res idents the opportunity to experience a va riety of multicultural home cooking styles not available anywhere else.

“It’s also a very colourful event – the cos tumes are sensational, and the dances and music come from across the globe,” Mr

• 5.10pm - Sugar City Rock and Rollers Mackay

• 5.25pm - Mackay and District Pipe Band

• 5.50pm - Mackay Chinese Association

• 6.05pm - Claddagh School of Irish Dance

• 6.30pm - Mackay Chinese Association

• 6.45pm - Thai Aussie Community Mackay

Williamson said.

“Where else will you find bagpipes and Irish dancing sharing the stage with traditional dances from the Philip pines, Napal, China and Thailand?

“And the workshops on offer are equally diverse – there’s everything from ochre crushing and kokadama making to henna painting and Fijian dancing.

“Entry is free and Queens Park is a tremendous venue with plenty of space and shade.

“It’s going to be an amazing day and we look forward to seeing a big turnout.”

Global Grooves is an alcohol-free event.

• 7.10pm - Mackay Chinese Association

• 7.20pm - Will Blume Workshop Teepee

• 3pm to 6pm – Face painters by Let’s Face It

• 3.30pm to 4.30pm - Henna workshop by Mackay Regional Council Libraries

• 3pm to 4.45pm - Ochre crushing workshop by Melanie Kemp

FOR

WHAT: Global Grooves

WHERE: Queens Park

WHEN: Saturday, October 22 from 3:00pm to 8:00pm This is a free community event.

• 5pm to 5.45pm - Succulent Kokadama workshop by Melanie Kemp

• 6pm to 7pm - Dance workshop by the Fiji Association

For a full list of market stalls and food vendors, visit the Mackay Festivals

Facebook page at facebook.com/mackayfestivals

Acelebration

of pride, diversity and community will take place as the Mackay Rainbow Pride Family Fun Day takes over Queens Park next weekend.

Meeting at the Iconic Shelter at Queens Park, attendees will celebrate Mackay Pride in a safe environment with a parade around the park followed by music, entertainment, games, stalls, food and coffee vendors, local support organisations and a whole lot of co lourful fun.

Mackay Rainbow Pride volunteer Hannah Lewis said the mission of the event is to sup port and increase awareness and visibility of the LGBTQIA+ community in Mackay and show that there is support available.

“The aim is to create a safe space for people and for them to know that they are valid in how they feel and with their sexuality,” Han nah said.

“It’s nice to have a group of people.

“I remember the first year, I was like, ‘Finally, there is something for queer people in Mack ay to be a part of.’

“It’s about creating a space and making friends.”

Mackay Rainbow Pride was founded in 2020 by three women in the mental health space,

Abby Chester, Beth Cooper and Tracy Con nors, with the support of Anna Kahler.

“They saw that there was a gap and they said, ‘We need to fill this,’” said Mackay Rainbow Pride President Garry Thomas.

The event is now in its third year after Garry attended last year and wanted to get involved straight away, becoming president after Abby had to relinquish her duties earlier this year.

“It looked very much like we weren’t going to have an event at all,” said Garry.

“From where I stand, we need something, whether it’s big or little.

“I found some time and put my hand up for president, so we’ll do this event, another AGM and see what happens for next year.”

Mackay Rainbow Pride will also facilitate a Parkrun and a panel discussion in the leadup to the event.

This Saturday, October 22, Mackay Rainbow Pride, On The Run Mackay and Mackay Parkrun are joining forces in a celebration of the diversity of the people that live in the re gion, inviting runners to wear bright colours as they complete the 5km course through Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens.

Then, on Friday, Mackay Rainbow Pride are hosting a panel discussion focussing on the experience of growing up queer in the re gions, featuring panelists from Mackay, Mo ranbah and regional New South Wales.

The Mackay Rainbow Pride Family Fun Day is sponsored by NBN Co and facilitated in

partnership with Brisbane Pride Incorporat ed, and will feature stalls from Tropical Coast Greens, Woolworths, Feros Care, Mind Aus tralia, headspace and Share the Dignity.

The event is free and all ages are welcome.

“There’s something there for everyone,” said Hannah.

For more information on Mackay Rainbow Pride and all of their upcoming events, visit their Facebook page.

WHAT: Mackay Rainbow Pride Family Fun Day

WHERE: Iconic Shelter, Queens Park

WHEN: Saturday, October 28 from 4:00pm to 8:00pm This is a free community event.

Global Grooves gives festival goers the chance to experience a variety of multicultural home cooking styles, like lechon (rotisserie pig)

Founding member Abby Chester at the first Mackay Pride event in 2020Approximately 190 people attended the event in 2021. Photos supplied: Mackay Rainbow Pride

Ina flurry of colourful costumes, epic demonstrations and insightful discussions, the first-ever Mack Pop Con has come and gone.

The unique pop culture event brought celebrities, special guests, unique collectables and exciting photo opportu nities to the Mackay Showgrounds last Saturday and pop culture fans turned out in force to immerse themselves in

other worlds.

Celebrity guests, including The Matrix and Star Wars ac tor Matt Doran and graphic novelist Shaun Keenan, took to the stage to discuss all things pop culture while Sons of Obi-Wan and Mercenaries of Western Europe put on demonstrations and lessons throughout the day.

Photo credit: Sam Gillespie

Showcases Best Of Local Tourism

Continued from page 1

Glasses were clinking, speeches brought cheers and the atmosphere was vibrant as tourism businesses from across the region celebrated a renewed positivity that an industry massively impacted by the pandemic was bouncing back to a new normal.

Last Friday’s Mackay Isaac Tourism Awards was an opportunity for everyone to unite, connect and pay homage to all the dedication and hard work from businesses, groups and individuals working in tourism.

Mackay Regional Council Mayor Greg Wil liamson said the awards help to acknowledge those who have been constantly raising the bar in our tourism industry.

“Each of the businesses nominated are a shining example of the exceptional tourism experiences offered in our region,” Mayor Williamson said.

“It is these businesses that drive investment into our communities, supporting sustainability and

job creation and building upon the liveability of the region.”

Isaac Regional Council Mayor Anne Baker said the tourism awards creates a point of difference and helps to boost the profile of our tourism operators.

“These tourism awards not only shine a light on the region’s outstanding tourism offerings driving visitation, they also promote the desti nation with tourism leaders across the nation,” she said.

Congratulating each of the winners was Mack ay Isaac Tourism Interim Chief Executive Offi cer Tash Wheeler.

“It is the dedication of businesses and individu als we have recognised tonight,” she said.

“Those that have enabled tourism to firmly establish itself as a key economic pillar to the Mackay Isaac Region’s economy, contributing millions of dollars in investment and creating thousands of jobs.”

MACKAY ISAAC TOURISM AWARD WINNERS 2022

Best Tourist Attraction

Winner: Clermont Historical Centre

Best Business and Event Venue

Winner: Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre

Award For Best Retail and Hire Service

Winner: Caneland Central Shopping Centre

Award For Best Restaurant or Catering Service

Winner: The Seabreeze Hotel Award For Excellence in Food Tourism

Winner: Sarina Sugar Shed

Award For Best Caravan, Holiday Park or Hosted Accommodation

Winner: Cape Hillsborough Nature Tourist Park

Award For Best 3-3.5 Star Accommodation

Winner: Comfort Resort Blue Pacific

Award For Best 4-4.5 Star Deluxe Accommodation

Winner: Alara Motor Inn Award For Excellence in Customer Service

Winner: Flackyard Award For Most Outstanding New Business

Winner: Wildcat Mackay Award For Most Outstanding Regional Event Winner: St Lawrence Wetlands Weekend Award For Most Outstanding Volunteer Individual Winner: Michael Pugh Award For Most Outstanding Volunteer Group

Winner: Sarina Sugar Shed Award For Most Outstanding Contribution by an Individual Ben and Renae Atherton

spectacular

and

sands of Blacks Beach being just metres walk from your spacious

accommodation in

Northern Beaches.

Street

Mackay Isaac Tourism Interim Chief Executive Officer Tash Wheeler and new Mackay Isaac Tourism Chief Executive Officer Al Grundy

Isaac Regional Council Mayor Anne Baker and Mackay Regional Council Mayor Greg Williamson

Member For Dawson Andrew Willcox with his wife Raylene

It’snot every day that a multi-nation al award-winning tourism operator decides to launch a new business in a neighbouring region, but when they do, they do it with style.

Taking home the award for Most Out standing New Business, Wildcat Mackay is the latest offering from adventure tourism company Red Cat Adventures and they are proud to have established a solid reputation in Mackay after nearly a year of operation.

Owned by Asher and Julie Telford, who currently operate four charter boats, two land-based tours and manage Lake Pros erpine Campground in the Whitsundays, their new business Wildcat Mackay started

in December 2021, offering full-day island tours, school group immersive learning ex periences, private charters and sunset cruis es from Mackay Marina.

The purpose-built all-weather catamaran can carry up to 50 people and caters to all types of customers, from unique Christmas parties to remote island adventures.

Asher Telford said they were thrilled to win their first award for Wildcat Mackay and that it was a pleasure to bring along their eight invaluable staff to the tourism awards, many who had been involved in the plan ning and implementation of the tour from inception.

“Starting a new business in the middle

of Covid definitely put us through a stress-test, but the end result was well-worth it,” said Asher.

“We are now really proud of what we created. This would not have been possi ble without assistance from the Queensland Government Growing Tourism Infrastruc ture grant. We are very grate ful.”

“We are also proud to showcase Mackay as we are the only charter day boat operating locally and it’s great to help put Mackay on the map, encouraging people to stop-off when they travel up and down the coast,” added Julie.

Wildcat has become a local’s favourite, with 90 per cent of all passengers coming from the region.

“We are so grateful to everyone who has supported us so far,” said Julie.

“We have so many local return customers who love the tour because every day is dif ferent and we visit different locations.”

Heading to some of the most untouched

and remote islands off the coast of Mackay, the Wildcat tour includes snorkelling, pad dle boarding and plenty of beach time.

Everything is included on this tour – from stinger suits to a delicious locally catered lunch. There is also a licensed bar onboard.

The sunset cruise departs on the weekends from 5.30pm to 7.30pm and takes a scenic tour around the marina with stunning views across the bay as the sun fades beyond the horizon.

Their business in the Whitsundays, Red Cat Adventures, has won gold over three consecutive years at the Australian Tour ism Awards and entered the prestigious Hall of Fame twice for the best Major Tour and Transport Operator and Adventure Tourism business at the 2021 Queensland awards.

Still riding the waves of this success, they have chosen not to re-enter this year and fo cus on raising the profile of their new busi ness Wildcat Mackay instead.

“Ash and I would just like to thank all our hardworking staff for everything they do, the Mackay tourism industry for welcoming us and all the locals who have supported us from the beginning.” said Julie.

Owners Julie and Asher Telford accept the award

Wildcat Mackay wins Most Outstanding New Business at the Mackay Isaac Tourism Awards

On the Green at Goosies

MACKAY CONTRACT BRIDGE

Abig

weekend of Bridge has been played on the weekend.

Saturday was the first of three weeks of the Mackay President’s Shield and Sunday was the first of three weeks of the Mackay Novice Pairs (<100 pts).

The President’s Shield is played over three weeks, with three different partners. The Novice Pairs is played over three weeks, with the same partner.

Saturday 17 September – Presidents Shield Week 1 of 3

N/S

1st Noel Bugeia

Janelle Conroy

Nancy Martin

E/W

Terrence Sheedy

Patricia Garner

Frances Brown

BOWLS

Diane Morgan / Cheryl Machen

Robert Carless 2nd David Ting / Ming Ting

Kath Poole

Jan Harris

Alan Brown

Sunday 17 October – Novice Pairs Week 1 of 3

N/S

E/W

Monica Darley

Richard Wix

Mick King / Noel Saunders

Joy Robinson / Ken

Our

‘Come and Try’ evening was quite successful, with several new members having applied to join our club. All of them showed promise; some coaching will bring out the best in them and hopefully they will enjoy their membership here.

North Mackay men won all three games against Sarina in the Dr. Williams Shield match on Saturday at Goosies. Our next opponents were Souths/Suburban, who won their games against Northern Beach es, but we lost to Souths on Sunday at Mackay City club.

Social Results

Monday pairs winners were G. Fahy and P. Crawford, followed by D. Layden and Wolfgang. Lucky draws were won by B. Woodward and S. Sommerfeld.

Wednesday ladies’ day was won by Jean Comelli and Pat O’Neill. Runners up: Chree Reseck, Wendy McGee and Shirley Bartolo.

Thursday pairs draws were won by Chriss Hall and Jess Haber, followed by Lance Edwards and Wayne Trannore. Greens vouchers winners were Margaret Fogg and Brian Perrin. The kitty toucher jackpots.

Friday pairs winners were Neil and Mau reen Blucher, who have been playing very well lately. Lucky draws were won by Wayne and Vern Mietzel, and Andrew Coates and Margaret Creese.

Saturday men’s day pairs winners were Kevin Dwyer and Ron Bowers, followed by Peter Delaney and John Fry. The jack pot was not won.

Contributed by Tony Allsop.

1st Annie Lynch / Sandra Morris

Carol Gaskell / Ian Gaskell

3rd Anne Lutz / Diane Stokes

Weekly Results

Monday 10 October – 5 Table One Winner

1st Ming Ting / David Ting

Antonia Tarradas / Graham Smith

Monica Darley / Kath Poole

Edward Kliese / Diane Stokes

Faith Hutchinson / Joy Block

Mary Rose Ramsden / Carmel Brown

Griffin Bancroft / Marylin Wilson-Nicholl

Wednesday 12 October – Nation Wide Pairs Week 20 of 22

1st Noel Bugeia

Thursday 13 October – 4 Table One Winner

Friday 14 October –

Table Mitchell Green Points

Asko Hele nius shows his style

Faith Hutchinson and Joy Block Novice Pair Leaders

Peter Shepherd and Ian Rowan enjoy a game on Monday morning. Photos contributed

Contributed with thanks to Joy Block.

Sport brought to you by

NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOY’S NEW PARTNERSHIP

RUGBY LEAGUE

NationalRugby League entertainers North Queensland Cowboys and St Patrick’s College Mackay have signed a memorandum of understanding to promote clear pathways for aspiring rugby league players in the region to play in the NRL competition.

The agreement will be current for the 2023 season beginning on November 1 this year and is a huge fillip for both parties.

Both Mercy College and St Patrick’s College have proved a thriving nursery for NRL clubs over the past three decades and have tasted phenomenal suc cess in the Confraternity Shield, Aaron Payne Cup and Cowboys Challenge competitions.

The schools – who will amal gamate in 2023 – continue to unearth a wealth of talent and have proved a force to be reck oned with in recent years.

Last season the Mercy College outfit captured the Cowboys Challenge trophy and earlier this year were pipped after the bell for back-to-back titles by Kirwan State High.

Michael Comerford’s St Pat rick’s Class of 2022 reached the Grand Final of both the pres tigious Confraternity Shield and Aaron Payne Cup compe titions where they succumbed to Townsville’s Ignatius Park College.

North Queensland Cowboys’ General Manager – Football Michael Luck said the club was eager to work with the abun dance of rugby league talent in the Capricornia region.

“The Cowboys are excited to

partner with St Patrick’s to fur ther assist the development of the rugby league program and players within it,” he enthused.

“We look forward to building on the back of the school’s suc cess of the past few seasons.”

The Cowboys will set up an Identified Players Capricornia Academy to develop the skills and prepare emerging talent for the rigours of NRL football.

Identified St Patrick’s players will receive specialised league tuition during clinics from Cowboys’ full time coach ing staff at the Mackay school grounds throughout the year.

The Cowboys would help de velop these players’ core skills, game sense, techniques and physical ability to compete at a higher level.

In a further boost, the Cow boys will also offer professional development opportunities for the St Patrick’s College rugby league Coaching Staff – en abling the school’s coaches to travel to Townsville to observe or participate in the North Queensland club’s elite Cap ricornia Pathways Academy training sessions and if appro priate to observe NRL sessions.

St Patrick’s College principal Janelle Agius said this would be of enormous benefit to the school’s rugby league program.

“We look forward to a prosper ous partnership with the North Queensland Cowboys for many years to come” Ms Agius de clared.

Contributed with thanks to Chris Karas.

Basketballers Shine At Queensland Championships

BASKETBALL

Testingyour skills on court against the State’s leading schoolgirl basketballers can be a sometimes difficult and arduous task.

For a batch of athletic and determined Mercy Col lege Mackay students it has proved a memorable experience with the nine hoopers bringing home a silver medal from the Molten Champion Basketball School of Queensland tournament staged last week on the Gold Coast.

Promising juniors Mackenzie Brown, Hannah Jen son, Ruby Crouch, Jessica Harris, Mia Young, Olivia Smyth, Amelia Crouch, Jaimie McPhee and Mikayla Green flew the flag proudly for the Mackay region by reaching the Grand Final of the Junior Secondary Girls Division 2 championship.

Under the ex pert guidance of renowned Queensland North State bas ketball coach Ja miey Doevendans and Rachel McK enzie, the girls turned in superb performances to qualify for the trophy decider where they were toppled 31-21 by an all-conquering Trinity College Beenleigh team. It was a coura geous effort by the Mackay warriors after producing skilful displays to win seven of their eight Pool A fixtures and fin ish second on 22 points behind the undefeated Been leigh outfit (24 points).

Mercy College advanced to the

championship decider after tipping out Sheldon College 33-21 in a semi-final with the Beenleigh girls downing Mount Alvernia College 31-16.

During the Pool rounds the Mercy girls chalked up an impressive tally of 311 points while conceding only 109 – posting an even better record than even tual champions Trinity College (305-113).

Mercy College fielded a youthful combination in the Junior Secondary Boys Division 3 championship –winning their opening two games before lining up against some of the finest schoolboy basketball tal ent in the State.

On the final day the boys defeated Redlands College to clinch the play-off for seventh spot.

Contributed with thanks to Chris Karas.

Mercy College volunteer Head Basketball coach Jamiey Doevendans (left) and Assistant Principal Curriculum Scott McSherry with silver-medal winning hoopers standing L-R: Jessica Harris, Mia Young, Ruby Crouch, Mackenzie Brown; kneeling Jaimie McPhee, Olivia Smyth, Mikayla Green, Hannah Jenson and Amelia Crouch. Photo contributed

OVER 800 LAPS FOR MS

Shield Time In Sarina BOWLS

Sarina ladies bowlers joined in for a fun-filled day for the Tom and Naomi Graham Shield over the weekend.

Now in its sixth year, Tom and Naomi’s daughters Ali son and Margaret started this event in honour of their par ents after Naomi passed away.

Naomi’s father started the club’s Johnston Shield for the ladies, so this family has a long-standing association with the Sarina club.

Alison and Margaret honour the club by coming along to watch some great bowls and then provide a beautiful High Tea.

This event is club select ed pairs of nine ends for a knock-out.

This year’s final between Ethel Gaw and Ann O`Shea against Doris Barnes and BB Smith was great to watch.

They went to the last end on level points but Doris and BB came up the winners.

Contributed by Rita Hughes

Consistency Final Game

Wednesday after noon the final was played in our club consistency competition.

After a well fought out game Cheryle Corbett was the even tual winner and Lois Deguara was the runner up.

Congratulations ladies you both played very consistent bowls.

In our social games - a win for Jan Comelli and Pat O’Neill in a pairs game and the runners up were Chree Reseck, Wendy McGee and Shirley Bartolo

A very big Thankyou to every one that competed in all of our club games this year and to the games committee.

Presentation night is on to night.

Contributed with thanks to Sue Hazledine

SWIMMING

OnSaturday, 8 October 2022, the Pioneer Swim Club had a fantas tic time participating in the MS Swimathon held at the Pioneer Swim Cen tre.

The team swam in a continuous relay for 12 hours from 6:00am to 6:00pm.

The event is held to raise crucial funds and awareness for Multiple Sclerosis.

The team raised over $1,200 in the leadup to the event and swam a grand total of 860 laps over the 12-hour period – that is a whopping 43 kilometres!

We wish to thank everyone who sponsored the team, the other teams for the healthy competition, those who came to support us, those who came to help us swim some laps and all those team members who gave up their Saturday and participated.

Contributed with thanks by Tahnie Malagueno

Mackay Surf Lifesavers Prepare For North Aussies

LIFESAVING

Injust over a week’s time Mackay SLSC “Guardians of Harbour Beach since 1950” will be home to 600 plus com petitors from the Gold Coast up to Cairns and across to Darwin and Broome, com peting for the coveted title of Northern Australian Surf Lifesaving Champion ships for 2022.

Director of Surf Sports, Josh Grant said this will be the 32nd year the Mackay club has hosted this iconic lifesaving event, which is getting close to being back to its glory days since its inception back in 1991.

“We have seen an increase in the num bers of competitors over the last few years which has been great for the Lifesaving movement,” he said.

“This should provide some really good entertainment for those watching on the beach and I wish our competitors and those of our regional clubs Eimeo and Sa rina the best of luck.

“Mackay has a really competitive con tingent this year with a number of older competitors in the masters category join ing our small but strong nippers and ca dets to take on the best of the best in the state.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing how our little (and bigger) champions go af

ter training for months under the super vision of head coach and team manager Greg Born, a successful competitor him self.”

Club President Brendan Smith he is real ly excited to be hosting The North Aussie Championships again and can’t thank the planning committee enough.

“Our club would appreciate any support from our local community to come and enjoy a day at the beach, watch both our junior and elite competitors in action over the weekend and soak up the atmosphere that comes with being at a surf lifesaving carnival.”

There will be a canteen running down stairs in the Beach Kiosk which will be open for anyone wanting a quick feed on the run and the Surf Club Bistro and Restaurant upstairs for a delicious meal and cold beverage overlooking the best beach view in Mackay.

If you would like any more information on this event please contact the club ad ministrator on admin@mackayslsc.com. au

Contributed with thanks to Josh Grant.

WHAT: Northern Australian Surf Life saving Championships for 2022

WHERE: Mackay Surf Life Saving Club, Harbour Beach

: 29-30 October

The Pioneer Swim Club participated in the MS Swimathon earlier in the month. Photos supplied

Winners of the Tom and Naomi Graham Shield BB Smith and Doris Barnes, centre, with shield donors Margaret and Alison Graham

Runners up Ethel Gaw and Ann O`Shea with winners Doris Barnes and BB Smith after the Tom and Naomi Graham Shield. Photos supplied Consistency winner Cheryle Corbett and runner up Lois Deguara. Photo supplied

2022

Classic, which was held over three days of the long weekend.

Hosted by Mackay and District BMX Club and Sarina BMX Club, the event took place over three consecutive days at the Mackay, Sarina, and Walkerston BMX tracks, making it one of a kind in Queensland.

The Nepean Conveyors Superclass Men winners were Jayce Cunning (Sun coast Hinterland BMX), 2nd Mackay’s Connor Parish and 3rd Reyne Barns dale (Redlands BMX).

The Monadelphous Superclass Women winners were Ashleigh Gunn (Towns ville BMX), 2nd Elisha Nesbit (Cairns), and 3rd Stella Begg (Caboolture).

The Pirtek Mackay Junior Superclass Men was won by Ben Emeleus (Cairns), 2nd Tyler Smith (Mackay) and 3rd Josh Harkin (Harbour City BMX).

The Walkerston Fuel Junior Superclass Women was won by Mackay’s Sarah Tickle, 2nd Marisa Delecki (Maryborough) and 3rd Teila Fellows (Beenleigh).

with thanks to Michelle Tickle

Photo credit:

Sports Photography

Jayce Cunning

Tyler Smith

Elisha

Nesbit Harrison Midgley

The Nepean Conveyors Superclass Men

The Monadelphous Superclass Women

KARATE KICKING ON

Classifieds

Kim Challender is be lieved to have set a martial arts record by becoming a karate black belt at the age of 83.

Mackay’s

Kim recently went through an intensive test to advance to the sport’s high ranking, after training regularly at the Northern Beaches Karate Club’s hall at Bucasia for the past seven years.

She is the oldest in her club and doesn’t know anyone in Queensland of her age who has been awarded a black belt.

Kim joined the club with her family when it first opened, and although the effort in volved in training is intense, she says it’s all worthwhile.

The family connection includes her daughter Candy and her husband Taizo, who are both black belts, and their daugh ter Meeka.

“Meeka is 11 years old and going very well,” Kim said.

“She’s grading her way up.”

Kim’s training and bouts are all non-con

tact, although some contact is allowed by black belts, but with safety gear such as heavy gloves and protective clothing in the form of shin and body guards.

“If you want to get something you must practice and practice,” Kim said.

“Practice makes perfect, and you have to put in the effort as your body has to get fit.

“It’s really good for seniors as you can gradually work your way through the belts and build up the fitness.”

Kim’s other sport is table tennis, which she and her late husband John started playing at the Mackay centre in Bridge Road in the 1970s, and she is still a keen competitor in the Tuesday morning fixtures.

“It’s a sport I enjoy as it’s good for anyone of any age,” she said.

“You’re inside the hall out of the sun and don’t get sunburnt and it’s good for anyone to do from beginners to more advanced players.”

Contributed with thanks by Charlie Payne

PROPOSED PERMANENT ROAD CLOSURE

Attention is directed to an application for Permanent Road Closure of two sections shown as ‘Area A’ with an area of about 1.2Ha, and ‘Area B’ with an area of about 1.63Ha being parts of Seninis Road, Finch Hatton, and adjoining Lot 3 on C124456 (Locality of Finch Hatton) shown as road proposed to be permanently closed on drawing 22/578/CEN.

Objections to the application must be submitted no later than Friday 25 November 2022 in writing to the Department of Resources Gympie Office Locked Mail Bag 383, Gympie, QLD, 4570, or online at the Queensland Government’s website at ‘Current Road Closure Applications’: https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/land/state/roads.

Any objections received may be viewed by other parties interested in the proposed road closure under the provisions of the Right to Information Act 2009.

If you lodge an objection, please include in your objection letter whether you would like to be consulted if this issue becomes the subject of an access request under the Right to Information Act 2009.

For further details and to view a copy of the drawing, contact the Department of Resources Gympie Office, on 07 5352 4209 quoting reference number 2020/014167 or view the application online on the Queensland Government’s website at ‘Current Road Closure Applications’: https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/land/state/roads.

PROPOSED PERMANENT ROAD CLOSURE

Attention is directed to an application for Permanent Road Closure of an area of about 1.43Ha being part of Seninis Road (shown as ‘Area C’), Finch Hatton, and adjoining Lot 1 on RP708051 (Locality of Finch Hatton) and shown as road proposed to be permanently closed on drawing 22/578/CEN

Objections to the application must be submitted no later than Friday 25 November 2022, in writing to the Department of Resources Gympie Office Locked Mail Bag 383, Gympie, QLD, 4570, or online at the Queensland Government’s

Kim Challender demonstrates a kick after being awarded a karate black belt at the age of 83. Photo credit: Charlie Payne

Angela Hays │ Acting Chief Executive Officer Mackay Regional Council │ PO BOX 41 │ Mackay QLD 4740

Angela

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BEACHES

11 September continued

Judging by the response to the first two open homes held at 224 Powells Road, properties that offer a change of lifestyle are still in demand!

If you are looking for small acreage along with a large home that oozes “country feel” set amongst a variety of shade trees and offering a view from the verandah to neighbouring cow paddocks, this property is a “must” to put at the top of your viewing list this Saturday. With the Auction set for 12 noon on Saturday, 29 October, time is running out for you to view this magnificent home.

This 2 ha property at the foothills of Mount Vince offers a rural lifestyle complete with small dam that could be resurrected to allow for the running of a couple of horses or cattle. Add to this the hen house and you are on your way to being self-sustained in your own piece of paradise.

With a large 9 x 6m shed with three manual roller doors (one positioned to function as a breezeway as well as drive through) plus an awning with cement flooring, this will allow for the extra vehicles or ride on mower to be housed.

The current owners influenced the design of this “Award Winning” House and Kitchen that was built by Tom Casey.

Built in 1997 this 5-bedroom home plus an office features high ceilings with Spotted Gum timber floors throughout.

The open plan design is such that it will allow you to express your own sense of style in the kitchen, dining and lounge area.

The country kitchen is unique in its’ design of timber benchtops and metal mesh inserts.

Double timber doors from both the dining and lounge rooms open onto the 3m wide back verandah which offers outdoor dining and lounging areas. A raised tiled area in the corner of the lounge is ready and waiting for an indoor wood heater to be installed. Ceiling fans and a split system air conditioning unit ensure this zone is cool and comfortable during the hotter months.

An office adjacent to the wide front entrance is suitable as a homework station or your “work from home” workplace.

A section of the verandah adjacent to the air-conditioned master bedroom has been sectioned off to allow for that extra bit of “Mum and Dad space”. A large walk-in robe plus a spa tub in the ensuite with shower completes this parent’s retreat.

The four other bedrooms of varying sizes are complete with built in robes and ceiling fans.

The main bathroom is unique in it’s design and features a rain shower head with timber look tiles. A separate powder room adds to the functionality of this large family home.

A home of this size definitely needs a spacious laundry with heaps of storage and bench space and this laundry has been designed with a split barn door and ramp leading to the outside clothesline. Everything has been thought of with adequate hallway storage also being factored in.

The two-bay garage with covered walkway and electric roller doors is set close to the house for convenience.

Spotted gum verandas on three sides of the home offers plenty of room for those family gatherings or brunch on a Sunday whilst the children divide their time between the established treehouse or the above ground pool. There is plenty on offer for everyone as there is an abundance of yard space sprinkled with a variety of trees for the younger members of your family to ride their bikes or to just run wild and free.

Banana and fruit trees are already established and there are vegetable gardens ready and waiting to be planted with this season’s kitchen herbs and vegies.

As with any rural property the other important extras are the two large rainwater tanks plus operating bore with reconditioned pump and the 12 solar panels.

A number of cost savings that should also be considered is that the exterior of the home has been freshly painted, the roof has been recently re-screwed, plumbing and electrical wiring has just been checked, a new stove and range hood has been installed along with new ceiling fans and the property is fitted with security windows and two security doors.

With Marian just 10 minutes’ drive away and a school bus run past the front door, this adds to the convenience of making that “lifestyle change”.

A move to 224 Powells Road will change your life for the better so don’t miss the opportunity to view this property prior to Auction Day…. Saturday, 29 October 2022.

22 October

s hoal Point

Dol P hin hea Ds

213 Shoal Point Rd, Bucasia Located in the sought-after Bucasia community. A rare find this 3518m2 established property will take your breath away. Walking distance to the beautiful Bucasia Beach & minutes to your choice of 2 boat ramps. A beautiful country home to grow your family & watch them flourish. Imagine veggie gardens, chooks & there’s probably even room for a pony. The 3 bay shed plus awning will be a winner. The outdoor living space perfectly positioned for the cool summer breezes to roll in. Boasting the best cubby house in the world. Walk to the local primary school, short trip to the shops.

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Views, Space and Dream Lifestyle

Unique property set on 9651sq m offers spectacular views, space, privacy, tranquility and a fantastic indoor-outdoor lifestyle

House flows from different living zones out to the huge wraparound decks with an array of indoor-outdoor options One level includes open-plan living zones, new kitchen, stylish bathroom, study/bedroom and laundry

Lower level has two large bedrooms and big walk-in wardrobe that flow out to another deck and a bathroom that opens out to the private surroundings

Upper level is a single room that could be a bedroom, living area or hobby space

Several sheds, three fenced paddocks, three large water tanks, a bore and a variety of fantastic fruit trees

From

73 Daniel Street, Mount Pleasant OPEN SAT - 10:00AM - 10:30AM

Position and Potential

This conveniently located home, is central to all town necessities, Mackay CBD, child care centres, parks, great schools, and Mount Pleasant shopping precinct.

The family sized home hosts 3 bedrooms, large kitchen, central bathroom, multi-living areas and all on a big block with the potential for improvements.

Upon entering the home, you are greeted with the tight filledspacious lounge room, which then follows onto the dining room and kitchen.

The three bedrooms are of good size and contain with celling fans/ the bathroom is central and functional with a separate shower and bath, storage cupboard and separate toilet for convenience.

Positioned just minutes from everything including just a 5-minute drive to the Mackay CBD, 73 Daniel Street, has something for all to enjoy. So, bring yourself and bring your family to see all that this property!

Offers From $349,000

Ben Kerrisk Mick McLeod 0407 514 983 0408 777 971 Ryan Patton 0435 825 323