Whitsunday Life

The Whitsunday region could soon have two multi-million dollar on-land eco-tourism developments underway if the new Twin Creeks Eco Park, located at the end of Rifle Range Road

in Cannon Valley, is approved by Council. This new development will join the ground-breaking Whitsunday Skyway Project which is seven years away from completion. Read on page 15

AIRPORT SETS NEW RECORDS WHILE BONZA CUTS

Jackson Gray, Councillor Clay Bauman, Brett Evans, Mayor Julie Hall, Corey Brown, Ashley Rees, Whitsunday Regional Council CEO Warren Bunker and Deputy Mayor Gary Simpson at the site of the proposed Twin Creeks Eco Park. Photo credit: Rachael Smith

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Editor’s Note

Hi Everyone,

Wow - what a week! I feel like I have truly experienced the depth and diversity of our wonderful region over the past seven days, and it reminds me not only how lucky I am to have such a cool job, but also how lucky we all are to live in this incredible region.

On Friday night I drove down from my home in Cannonvale to the bright city lights of Mackay to attend the Whitsunday Voices Youth Festival Literary Dinner with my partner and our friends.

The keynote speaker was political commentator and comedian, Annabel Crabb, who regaled the audience with how she progressed from country girl to one of the most respected journalists in Australia.

She also shared a deeply personal story about how her older brother had recently and tragically died by suicide.

When she was a young journo, Annabel was not allowed to report on any deaths of this kind, and it was very moving to see her stand up now as an important public figure and speak so openly about it. Hopefully her message will encourage us all to speak

about suicide and more broadly mental health, rather than hide it away.

Continuing on with my theme of incredible Whitsunday experiences, on Monday afternoon myself and two of the team were lucky to be invited on a ‘joyride’ aboard Viper Whitsundays.

This new highspeed vessel can take passengers to the outer Great Barrier Reef and Whitehaven all in one day.

It’s amazing to think tourists can now get to the outer reef in less than an hour!

This incredible experience was backed-up on Tuesday afternoon by a four-wheel drive adventure tour of the proposed Twin Creeks Eco Park site.

It was great to meet the enthusiastic developers and I had a great time bobbing along through muddy puddles and creek beds on the four-wheel drive buggy alongside Mayor Julie and other council representatives.

Rach

“Those who matter don’t mind, and those who mind don’t matter” (Bernard Baruch)

Tticulously organised, and beautifully decorated. The crowds were eager, sweeping past the bar to collect the complimentary drink before settling at a table for an evening of fun and laughter.

The Tiny Homes Project’s newest fundraising event was another massive hit with locals and visitors alike.

It was the day afterwards when Sandy Clark, Fundraising Coordinator for Tiny Homes Project, was tallying the results of the night, when she received a phone call from their accountant.

Confused, Sandy rang the bank.

Astoundingly, $10,000 had been deposited by an anonymous donator into the Tiny Homes Project account.

“But all the bank could tell us is that the person wished to remain anonymous, had attended the event, and that they were someone who loved what we’re trying to do and believed in the

Sandy said the donation came the day after the event and pushed the entire proceeds up from $32,000 to $42,000.

This helps the Tiny Homes Project inch even closer to the day they can begin construction of their four tiny homes in Proserpine, hopefully by the end of the year.

“We’re exploring every option possible,” said Sandy.

Tiny Homes Project has been named as an organisation to receive fundraising efforts from the 2023 Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor’s Ball, a Play for Purpose raffle, the Big4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort Camp and sCare weekend, and the Whisper Restaurant and Bar Plate of Hope.

“We are so thrilled with the effort,” Sandy said. For those wishing to donate to the effort, scan the QR code here.

Bonza Cancels Five Direct Flight Routes

AIRPORT SHUFFLE: TOOWOOMBA OUT – GOLD COAST IN!

BY RACHAEL SMITH

Disappointed passengers took to social media last week to express their frustrations at the announcement that Bonza will cease direct flights between Whitsunday Coast Airport and Toowoomba from August 1. Many passengers had pre-booked tickets and were now faced with cancelling entire holiday plans.

Meanwhile, Whitsunday Coast Airport announced earlier this week that they are in final negotiations for a direct flight to the Gold Coast.

“It is important we be proactive in taking every opportunity to explore new routes that would instantly boost the Whitsunday region’s economy,” said Whitsunday Coast Airport Chief Operating Officer Craig Turner.

“I am in the final stages of talks with an airline partner to commence flights direct from the Gold Coast to Whitsundays.

“This will be a huge breakthrough for our region as it opens a direct flight route for the 1.2 million people who in live in the Gold Coast region including Ballina in the south to Logan in the north.

“That is a huge catchment area that can fly to the Whitsundays direct but also provides connectivity for the millions of international and domestic tourists who transit via the Gold Coast for their holidays.”

This news comes off the back of a record 477,328 passengers passing through the airport in the 2022-23 financial year which was higher the previous record of 469,000 set in 2018-19.

Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor Julie Hall said the record numbers were testament to the amazing efforts of the airport team, our partner airlines, and the broader Whitsunday community, who have collaboratively worked to enhance the travel experience and showcase the unique offerings of our region.

“Our airport just continues to smash records, and this can be attributed to a variety of factors, including increased flight frequencies, expanded routes, and strategic partnerships with airlines,” she said.

“None of this happens without our airport team establishing strong relationships with multiple airlines.

“These relationships have allowed us to deliver a fast-expanding network of destinations that make connectivity easy for travellers to visit the amazing Whitsundays.”

Meanwhile, Bonza is making changes right across its networks due to low passenger numbers on certain routes proving operations to be unviable.

So far, they have cancelled direct flights from Whitsunday Coast to Toowoomba,

Mackay to Cairns, Sunshine Coast to Coffs Harbour, Sunshine Coast to Port Macquarie and Sunshine Coast to Tamworth.

A statement from Bonza said they “have decided to take a step back to allow our services to become more reliable”.

“We’ve been compelled to take out five routes where there isn’t sustainable demand at present,” said the spokesperson.

A total of 22 routes remain but some routes have been reduced to one flight a week. Three of the strong performing routes will see additional services announced.

YOUR AIRPORT YOUR SAY

To ensure the airport can keep pace with growth, Whitsunday Regional Council has engaged an external expert to conduct a comprehensive review and redesign of the Whitsunday Coast Airport Master Plan. A six-week consultation period kicks off on Monday, July 24 via Council’s Your Say page and we want to hear from you! This is your chance to provide valuable input to help shape the future of our community’s premier airport. Share your ideas, concerns, or suggestions on the Your Say page on Council’s website or submit your feedback to Glenn Robinson at glenn.robinson@airportsupport.com.au.

ENERGY BOOM!

Korean Han-Ho H2 Consortium has partnered with the Queensland Government and Ark Energy to move forward with their proposed mega-project.

The proposed mega-project will see 1.8 million tonnes of green ammonia, a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen, produced per year in the Whitsundays and exported to Korea.

The project will also see the expansion of the proposed Ark Energy Collinsville Green Energy Hub from an output of 3,000 megawatts to 4.5 gigawatts.

The proposal will be supported by the Queensland Government’s investment of $8.5 million into the Abbot Point Activation Initiative, a project that will encompass solar, wind, water desalination and an electrolyser to produce 20 tonnes of hydrogen daily. Both the Collinsville Green Energy Hub and the Abbot Point Activation Initiative will create thousands of job opportunities for residents, with Queensland’s energy exports estimated to support up to 10,000 jobs and $33 billion in economic activity by 2040.

Serial Thief Plagues Unlocked Cars

BY RACHAEL SMITH

Agroup of concerned community members living in Cannonvale have banded together to share information and fight back against a recent spate of vehicle break-ins.

What is believed to be one young boy, aged around 12-years-old, has been plaguing unlocked vehicles and stealing money.

One resident reported $800 went missing, but other thefts have been mostly loose change, the perpetrator choosing to leave behind keys, wallets, IDs and other expensive or personal items.

Local resident, Michael Stodd, set up a Facebook group called Neighbourhood Crime Watch, for people who have been robbed.

“Unfortunately, we have all left our cars unlocked and there are a lot of Airbnbs around with always new people coming and going so there are a lot of unlocked cars at the moment,” he said.

“There’s always going to be someone to steal from so it will continue until this person is caught.”

Mr Stodd explained that the group of residents are all “keeping an eye out” by monitoring security cameras, driving around at specific times the thief is known to operate and sharing information.

Another resident, who has asked to stay anonymous, said he is setting up an action group to combat the issue and that within the first 12 hours of announcing, over 30

Last Bulk Billing Doctor’s Surgery Gone

DESPITE $3.5BN FUNDING ANNOUNCEMENT

BY RACHAEL SMITH

individuals contacted him.

Over the weekend dozens of residents took to Facebook to share their experiences with others.

“Yes, the glove boxes were raided two nights ago on Iluka Street,” said one post.

“Yes, both cars in our driveway the night before on Wambiri Street,” said another.

One resident decided to walk around and see how much of the area was impacted –“I’ve walked everywhere this morning and there are around 20 cars broken into last night in this area and some people are still finding their cars gone through.”

Residents are advised to keep their vehicles locked and to remove all money and possessions.

The last bulk billing doctor’s surgery in the Whitsundays changed its practices in May and will now only offer free medical services to certain patients, such as concession card holders.

This means that a high percentage of Whitsunday locals will need to pay around $75 for a standard appointment, with around $40 paid back into their bank account as a government rebate.

This means each trip to the GP costs, on average, $40.

The doctor’s surgery receives around $40 from the patient and $40 Medicare levy from the government.

Comparatively, when a doctor’s surgery bulk bills they receive just $40 from the government to fund all operations, from doctors and staff salaries to leasing the premises and purchasing equipment.

The Medicare rebate has been frozen since 2014 and with rising costs, this nominal figure has not been enough to keep the business viable.

Local Pharmacist, Allan Milostic, from Live Life Pharmacy said that he can understand the reasons we no longer have bulk billing surgeries in the Whitsundays.

“Medicare simply haven’t kept up with the increase in costs,” he explained.

“Over the last four years it has become financially unviable.

“I believe healthcare needs to be affordable to everyone and the government needs to ensure that this happens.”

Retired doctor, Peter Beaumont, who has been practicing for over 50 years, five of which were spent practicing in the Whitsunday area, said that he has seen a lot of change over the years and that this trend is not a recent one.

“It started a long time ago, it has not happened suddenly,” he said.

“I think the pandemic made doctors question whether it was all worth it.

“Doctors have been doing charity work for the government for years.”

Water Deliveries

Did you know?

“There are not enough GPs, especially in rural areas like this. In rural areas, they need to work really hard and with lots of responsibilities.

“Even the government incentive of $30,000 to relocate didn’t attract more doctors to the region – if you go to an area with a shortage, you work twice as hard.”

Dr Beaumont says that “private practice is a private business” and creating a better system is up to the medical industry and the government.

“It’s a shame that private health insurance can’t pay doctor consults,” he said.

“But I think that is perhaps because it would undermine Medicare.”

Dr Beaumont said he believes that, in many cases, it is now up to the ‘private’ patients to pay for the patients that are bulk billed.

“If you go to the supermarket, they don’t offer a discount – food is as important as health care.”

A small reprieve on the issue came with the 2023 budget announcement of a $3.5 billion incentive to bulk bill, effectively tripling the fee doctors receive from the government. This incentive, however, is only available for children, pensioners and concession card holders and therefore leaves a high proportion of the population paying for their GP visits.

In the United Kingdom, 10 per cent of each person’s tax goes to the National Health Service (NHS), compared to just two per cent towards the Medicare levy here in Australia.

Perhaps an increased percentage of tax would be a better option for Australia.

Whitpro has a new truck and tank and can now deliver 15,000L of drinking water to properties with good access

Enhance the flow of your H2O! Whitpro provides fully licenced potable water deliveries, pumping 1000 litres-per-minute directly into your tank or pool. We also supply tanks, pumps and fittings and can deliver the tank to your property.

Water delivery is available 7-days-per-week.

A map of the area being targeted by the thief

Security camera footage of the alleged perpetrator in action in the area

Toni Childs Announced For Whitsundays Songwriter Festival

The Whitsundays Songwriter Festival has announced Emmy Winner and three-time Grammy nominated American artist Toni Childs to their line-up.

Now in its second year, the Whitsundays Songwriter Festival provides an opportunity for local singer-songwriters to learn from seasoned professionals in an intensive one-day workshop.

Toni Childs is a globally acclaimed singer-songwriter, who is infamous for her powerful vocals, independent spirit, and intimate storytelling.

Her discography includes massive hits ‘Don’t Walk Away’, ‘Stop Your Fussin’, and ‘Many Rivers to Cross’.

Festival co-founders Karen Jacobsen and Francesca de Valence said, “We were blown away when Toni said yes to joining us for the festival. We are both in awe of her talent, success, and career.

“To bring an artist of this international standing and reputation to the festival is a massive coup for local songwriters and the

region.”

While in Airlie Beach, Toni will also join the professional faculty of the Emerging Songwriter Workshop, to mentor songwriters with their own music.

She will perform alongside other artists in a Concert and Conversation event at Paradiso Restaurant, culminating the festival with a fantastic display of musical art and powerful vocals.

Whitsundays Arts Festival president, Jess Begun, is also delighted to welcome Toni Childs to the Whitsundays.

“Last year’s songwriter line-up was outstanding, and this year is shaping up to be even more remarkable.

“The success of Karen and Francesca’s concept of a professional song writing residency and one day workshop for local songwriters to learn from artists of such talent and accomplishment is exceptional.”

“A Flirter And A True Gentleman” Remembering Gavin Hussey

Remembering a man “who would do anything for anyone”, the family and friends of Gavin Hussey, who tragically passed away in a road accident near Proserpine two weeks ago, celebrated his life at his funeral in Townsville yesterday.

Survived by his soul mate and life partner, Sam Kissier and her two children, Jacinta (22) and Jasper (15), who he loved like his own, Gavin’s passing has left a big and irreplaceable hole in the lives of his loved ones.

“He was a flirter and a true gentleman,” said Sam who had been in a loving eightyear relationship with Gavin.

“There was nothing bad about him, he was such a genuine guy – likeable, sociable –and that laugh! It was very loud!”

“Gavin had been planning to ask me to marry him and I wish that he knew that I would have said yes 100 times – I just want to be hugging him and kissing him – I love him so much and hope I get to see him again one day.”

Gavin was originally from Townsville but had been living in the Whitsundays for over 15 years, many of which he had spent working as a contract truck driver for Whitpro’s postal deliveries.

He is also survived by his parents, Judith and Ronald, his brother Brenden, sister Annika and niece Madison.

His lasting legacies will always be the way he made everyone feel good about themselves, the unique bond he had with each of Sam’s children and the way he made Sam feel special at all the important times like her birthday and Mother’s Day.

Gavin Hussey and his partner Sam Kissier in happier times. Photo supplied

The couple with Sam’s children. Photo supplied

Singer and personality Toni Childs is coming to the Whitsundays to coach aspiring singer-songwriters.

Photo supplied

BERKELCALEB NOBLEJARROD OSBORNE

VMR Secures Further Three-Year Support

Spectator Oasis For Race Week

Spectators and locals of Airlie Beach are being spoilt for choice, with a fully-fledged program of the Airlie Beach Race Week encompassing all things sailing, salt and sweet vibes.

The lawns of the Whitsunday Sailing Club will be alive each evening, with live music almost every night, showcasing the very best of local and visiting talent, including G-Force, Kieran McCarthy, and Mason Rock Bank.

The Whitsunday Sailing Club lawns, dubbed the Festival Village for the week, will also host a variety of food trucks and cocktail bars for a sailing seaside eat-street, as well as the 20 Degrees South Bar and Restaurant open for bookings for those preferring a sit-down meal.

For those wishing for a front seat to the thrilling action, there are a series of speciality spectator boats.

Each tour is about three hours long, and includes a perfect view of the race, in close and comfortable quarters.

Speak to the team at the Whitsunday Sailing Club for more information regarding the spectator boat.

On Sunday, attendees and locals are welcome to attend the special Long Table Lunch.

Held on the sea view balcony of the Sailing Club, overlooking the Coral Sea, the lunch will host a South American themed fivecourse degustation menu.

On the final night of the Race Week, be sure to get to Festival Village for the closing ceremony and fantastic firework display, on Thursday August 17.

WHAT: Airlie Beach Race Week

WHERE: Whitsunday Sailing Club

WHEN: Thursday 10 August – Thursday 17 August

PRICE: All evening entertainment is free

TICKETS: Long Lunch/Spectator

Boat tickets: abrw.com.au

The Coral Sea Marina has pledged another three years as platinum sponsor of the Volunteer Marine Rescue (VMR) Whitsundays.

Joscelyn O’Keefe, Head of Marketing and Business Development at Coral Sea Marina explains of the sponsorship agreement, “The work done by this incredible group of volunteers is vital. Their dedicated service ensures that the boating community can explore the Whitsunday waterways safely and with peace of mind.”

“As the largest marina in the region, we are committed to supporting safe boating practices and encouraging both recreational and commercial boat owners to be prepared for the unexpected when they are at sea.”

Over the last few years, VMR Whitsundays has seen an increase of marine emergencies and calls for assistance, with a 116 per cent increase in boat malfunctions from 2022.

The VMR is completely volunteer run, operating seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

Over the weekend, the Whitsundays region welcomed 10 Starlight Children’s Foundation children from across Australia, for a jampacked weekend full of fun, laughter, and nonstop entertainment.

The Starlight Children’s Foundation marked their 13,000th Starlight Wish, banding together with Virgin Australia to create ‘Happiness Island’ on Hamilton Island.

Starlight endeavour to provide a sick child with the chance of happiness, of something fun to look forward to and to create wonderful memories with their loved ones.

The 13,000th wish recipient was 15-yearold Lara from Canberra, who was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma.

This was her first wish, and she wished for a relaxing family holiday at Hamilton Island.

Lara was joined with nine other children, between nine-years-old and 21-years-old, and their families.

“At Starlight we recognise being sick shouldn’t mean missing out on the happiness of childhood,” said Starlight CEO Louise Baxter.

“Happiness is one of the strongest determinants to how we perform in education, employment, and long-term healthy life behaviours.

“For 35 years, Starlight has been granting children their life-changing Starlight Wish.

“These adventures create lasting memories and provide a sense of hope when it is needed most,” she said.

While on Happiness Island, the children had a sunny beach barbeque, a chance to head to Whitehaven beach, a bowling and pizza night, and a fantastic fireworks show.

For the remainder of 2023, Starlight will complete over 700 wishes, with 12 set to travel to Hamilton Island.

The daylight action of the Airlie Beach Race Week gives way to music, food, and laughter on the lawns of the Whitsunday Sailing Club. Photo supplied

The team from Starlight, their 10 special guests and their families landing on ‘Happiness Island’. Photo supplied

The Coral Sea Marina has signed on to support the VMR for another three years. Photo supplied

Councillor Column

With Councillor John Collins

Exciting news that the 2023 Whitsundays Tourism Awards will be held at the Proserpine Entertainment Centre on Friday, 20th October.

The selection of the Proserpine Entertainment Centre (PEC) as the venue for the tourism industry’s night of nights was a great decision by Tourism Whitsundays who were keen to deliver a cocktail-style event with two distinct elements to the evening – live music, canapes, and drinks on the lawn followed by the awards ceremony in the auditorium.

The PEC provides our region with a stateof-the-art facility that can seat up to 380 people in the auditorium and has international standard lighting, sound equipment, and professional backstage areas. There is plenty of top-quality live shows and movies coming up at the PEC over the next few months with blockbuster films like Mission Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One (M), Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (M) and Barbie (PG).

Live shows include the raunchy Garry Starr Performs Everything on tonight, 21 July at 6.30pm, The Spirit of Leonard Cohen on 28 July and the Grigoryan Brothers – “This is Us” – A Musical Reflection of Australia, on 26 August.

I attended the Wilson Beach/Conway Beach Community Catchup recently and it was great that more than 35 residents turned up to be updated Council activities and provide feedback to us on issues affecting their area.

Housing, Skilled La Revitalised Chamber of

Residents raised several issues at the Wilsons/Conway Beach catch-up including illegal dumping and closure of cane sidings which may have safety implications for residents.

However, the main talking point was the Wilsons Beach swim enclosure which was badly damaged in Tropical Cyclone Debbie.

Council’s Manager Natural Resource Management and Climate Scott Hardy explained at the catch-up that after unsuccessfully going out for tender multiple times to have the Wilson’s Beach Swimming Enclosure demolished and rebuilt, Council have adopted a staged approach to get the works done.

He told the residents that Council engaged a local contractor to remove the damaged sections of the enclosure with a few vertical posts/poles remaining as they are still in reasonable condition.

Council has now sought quotes for the materials and once they arrive the tender process to award the contract for the rebuild will be issued and we hope to finish the project before the summer months.

Council’s next Community Catch-up is planned with for Proserpine on Wednesday August 2 from 9am – 11am at the Proserpine Entertainment Centre.

AWhitsunday Coast Chamber of Commerce Breakfast Networking Meeting took place in Proserpine last week with over 40 local business representatives attending.

The morning kicked off with engaging speeches and was followed by a focus group brain-storming session where region-wide issues affecting businesses were discussed.

Hot topics included housing, for both current and prospective staff, infrastructure, and services upgrades to meet increasing

demand.

The challenges of attracting skilled workers to the region and retaining school leavers to pursue tertiary education through the TAFE, were also brought up.

Member for Whitsunday Amanda Camm MP and Yvette Adams, a Business, Industry, and Regional Outreach Officer from the Australian Department of Home Affairs were the guest speakers at the event.

Ms Camm elaborated on the budget allocation for the region.

Collaboration Is Key

With Rick Hamilton, CEO Of Tourism Whitsundays

Central to a successful tourism industry is collaboration between key stakeholders, especially in the closely connected network of the Whitsunday region.

Bringing some of the great tourist-minds of the region together at the quarterly roundtable lunches is an important part of leveraging off local knowledge.

To make sure your dog and others around them are safe, it is important to keep your pet under effective control.

Effective control means holding your dog by a leash when you are in a public place such as parks, foreshores, or residential areas.

It is also essential that you are physically able to control your dog.

On the spot fines of $309 may apply if your dog is not deemed to be under effective control.

Unfortunately, the amount of calls our Local Laws Officers are receiving in response to roaming dogs, dogs off leash and dog attack complaints is rising.

Our Officers have spent over 130 hours in the last two months alone patrolling areas within the region in response to

these complaints.

This blitz will continue and unfortunately has a flow on cost to all ratepayers.

If your dog is deemed dangerous as the result of a dog attack, Council may increase your dog registration to $797 per year.

In extreme circumstances, Council also has the ability to issue a dog destruction order.

Please remember, we have ample offleash dog parks in our region, should you wish to exercise your dog off leash. Your dog must remain controllable in these areas and not cause harm to any other animal or person.

For more information, visit the pet ownership section of Council’s website.

Hosted by Tourism Whitsundays (TW) and held at Coral Sea Marina Resort, this quarterly roundtable lunch was attended by a selection of key members.

“The view was stunning from the Cabanas which inspired over two hours of productive conversations around the table!” said Rick.

A variety of topics were discussed over the luncheon, giving local operators an opportunity to provide a perspective of their business, outline challenges and future opportunities for growth for the region.

Some of the conversation points included the increased number of recreational vessels in the area, the hugely positive regeneration being seen on our fringing and outer reefs and an update from Councillor Clay Bauman on the many Council activities taking place in the region.

“The new financial year has started, and it brings with it a fresh focus on how we’ll deliver for our members,” said Rick.

“With the start of the new financial year, our focus is continuing to drive demand from our key markets of Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne with digital campaigns, supporting new air services such as the Newcastle to Proserpine Bonza route.”

“Tourism Whitsundays continue to host our monthly networking nights, which regularly see attendances of over 120 members.

“This very important event not only connects friends and colleagues but allows TW to provide information around trends, current and future market conditions and our marketing activity that helps generate revenue to our region, not just tourism but through our whole community.”

Attendees at the Tourism Whitsundays roundtable lunch at Coral Sea Marina Resort. Photo supplied

Photo credit: Bronte Hodge

bour, And Infrastructure Commerce Tackles Region Wide Issues

“Across our three local council areas, we have about $653 million in capital expenditure planned for the next year,” she said. “That is the lowest amount of capital investment in the state, behind Outback Queensland.

“I don’t say this to depress people, but because it is a lack of recognition by the government of the priority that our region is when it comes to particular infrastructure.”

Ms Camm also addressed the housing issue and its impacts on labour and staffing.

“There is a $2 billion housing fund that the government has invested in, but not one house has been built yet out of that fund.

“So, we’ve made a commitment that at the next election in particular, that any funding from that $2 billion bucket needs to go towards new housing development, not existing housing, taking it off the private

market, because its just competing with the market and we don’t need that right now.”

On the other hand, Yvette Adams from the Department of Home Affairs spoke on skilled foreign labour and demystifying visa requirements.

“Of course, it’s always employ Australians first, but if you can’t fill the vacancies locally with Australians, then one option is to look at overseas skilled workers,” she

said.

“We’re looking at how we can attract and retain the most skilled people globally and bring them into Australia.”

The next revitalised Chamber of Commerce event will be a pop-up meeting on the topic of chamber membership, on Wednesday, August 16, 10am – 12pm.

Stage 2 Boardwalk Upgrade Approved

The second stage of the refurbishment to the Airlie Beach Boardwalk has been approved by Whitsunday Regional Council, and now waiting on securing final approval from the Federal Government.

Despite this, the project is expected to begin in late August, set to be completed by the end of November.

Mayor Hall said the boardwalk urgently needed an upgrade to ensure its longevity and to continue its role as a vibrant connectivity hub along the Coral Sea for residents and visitors.

“Stage 1 of the upgrade between Coral Sea Resort and Coral Sea Marina was completed last month with the boardwalk being totally replaced and widened to improve user safety,” she explained.

“The Bicentennial boardwalk is over 630

Reach New Heights At Airlie Summit

metres of raised walkway and is a muchloved trail which allows residents and tourists to walk beside the Coral Sea all the way from Airlie Beach to Cannonvale Beach.

“Stage 2 of the project will upgrade the section from Shingley Beach to Whisper Bay boat ramp and replace the old timber boardwalk with a composite fibre material that is environmentally friendly and rust, rot, and corrosion resistant.”

The boardwalk will also be widened by one metre, for easier use of residents and visitors, and to allow joggers, pedestrians, and cyclists to better share the boardwalk.

The upgrade is funded with $1 million from the Australian Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Grant and $950,000 from the 2023-24 Whitsunday Regional Council budget.

Nothing beats the feeling of inviting friends and family to a home that you’re proud of, and that is exactly what you will experience living on the elevated enclave of Airlie Summit. With stunning panoramic views of the crystal clear cerulean blue seas to the front, each plot of land is also sheltered by the lush natural wonderland of the Conway National Park behind. There is there literally nowhere else in the world quite like it. Consisting of only 89 residential blocks ranging from 606 to over 1,938 square metres, this 24-hectare parcel of land is the highest zoned site in Airlie Beach and the last remaining master planned estate. Each gently sloping site is builder friendly and ready for your architectural vision to be manifested.

With a diverse range of plot size and aspect to choose from, there are broad and varied options to suit the most discerning taste. Regularly commanding $1 million, but ranging to a modest $450,000, these unique parcels of land are proving popular with those seeking the ultimate elevated lifestyle.

Their builder-friendly gradient is an architect’s dream, offering unending potential to the most bespoke designs that will truly make your heart sing. The gently sloping sites provide an opportunity for higher ceilings and a feeling of more space, air,

and light.

While Airlie Summit boasts elevated and tranquil surrounds, it is also a short dis tance to Airlie Beach town centre and ide ally placed as gateway to the Whitsunday Islands.

Exclusive Selling Agent for Airlie Summit, Steve Marks Principal of Explore Proper ty Whitsundays, said these bespoke land plots are selling fast and offer a unique op portunity.

“This will be the last ever residential de velopment in Airlie Beach and the last ap proved major subdivision,” he explains.

“Bordering the Conway National Park to the south, this will be the last ever major land elevated subdivision in Airlie Beach, opportunities to buy a block and build your dream home will soon no longer be an option.”

The continued refurbishment of the Airlie Beach Boardwalk is underway with council approval. Photo supplied

I would like to sincerely thank the amazing sponsors who have generously supported my 2023 Mayor’s Annual Charity Ball.

This year, funds raised will go to my chosen charities, RACQ CQ Rescue and the Whitsunday Housing Company Limited. The decision to support these charities was simple, because ultimately, Council, RACQ CQ Rescue and Whitsunday Housing Company Limited all want the same thing. That is, to serve the needs of our communities.

Events such as this are a fantastic way to highlight the vital service they both provide to our region. I am pleased to announce that tickets for this event have sold out and there is much excitement and buzz around the event on Saturday 22 July 2023.

I am extremely grateful for our platinum sponsors Bishopp Outdoor Advertising, PDM Project Delivery Managers, Hillery Group and Top Shelf International, our many gold and silver sponsors and donors of our auction prizes and gifts for the Arctic Treasure Trove. Without your support, this event would not be possible. I look foward to enjoying a fantastic social night of live entertainment, dinners, drinks and an exciting range of auction prizes on offer!

PLATINUM SPONSORS

GOLD SPONSORS

SILVER SPONSORS

Mayor Julie Hall

Social Life

GIG GUIDE

Friday 21st Jul

• The Pub: Acoustic Sessions, Andy Mammers (7-10pm)

• Paradiso: Rob Papp, Blues Show (7-10pm)

• KC’s: Aaron Saxon (8pm-late)

• Hotel Metropole: Live Entertainment (8pm-late)

• Grand View Hotel, Bowen: Shawn Durkin (from 8pm)

Saturday 22nd Jul

• The Pub: Australian Eagles Show (25.30pm)

• The Pub: Acoustic Sessions, Andy Mammers (7-10pm)

• Paradiso: Rob Papp, Blues Show (7-10pm)

• KC’s: Jason Bull (8pm-late)

• Hotel Metropole: Live Entertainment (8pm-late)

Sunday 23rd Jul

• Paradiso: Aaron Saxon (1-4pm)

• Grand View Hotel: Shaz & Bom (25.30pm)

• The Pub: Australian Eagles Show (25.30pm)

• The Pub: Acoustic Sessions, Lloyd Saunders (7-10pm)

• KC’s: Aaron Saxon (8pm-late)

Monday 24th Jul

• KC’s: Erin Reus (8pm-late)

Tuesday 25th Jul

• KC’s: Erin Reus (8pm-late)

Wednesday 26th Jul

• KC’s: Jason Bull (8pm-late)

Thursday 27th Jul

• Paradiso: Aaron Saxon (6.30-9.30pm)

• The Pub: Karaoke Party (6.30-9.30pm)

• KC’s: Jason Bull (8pm-late)

Revisioning Of Leonard Cohen Coming To The PEC

The classic legend of Leonard Cohen is reimagined in this star-studded musical biographical cabaret, coming to the Proserpine Entertainment Centre (PEC) this month.

Be transformed and transfixed by this fantastic and sensational seven-piece band, starring the magnificent Jonathan Anstock as Leonard Cohen himself.

Embodying the very iconic songs that pushed him into forever stardom and showcasing Leonard’s infamous life, ‘The Spirit of Leonard Cohen’ performance is intimately authentic.

Exploring the man behind ‘Hallelujah’, Jonathan and his band will travel through Leonard’s past, his poetry, song writing, spiritual journey, political motivations, depression, and the eventual passion and peace.

With beautiful renditions of Cohen’s classic ‘Suzanne’, ‘So Long Marianne’ and ‘Bird On A Wire’, Jonathan and his band will leave audiences wanting more.

Leonard Cohen rose to stardom in the 60s

WHAT'S ON

21 Garry Starr Performs Everything performing at the PEC

21 Mackerel Fishing Workshop from 6.30pm at VMR

23-24 Elemental showing at the PEC 24 Kinder Gym at Bowen PCYC (every Mon & Wed)

25 Sailability Whitsundays from 9am at Whitsunday Sailing Club

26 Kinder Gym at Bowen PCYC (every Mon & Wed)

27 Fitter For Life Over 50’s at Bowen PCYC (Tues & Thurs)

28 Spirit of Leonard Cohen performing at the PEC

29 Children’s Authors & Illustrators Group, Cannonvale Library

and 70s, with early success of his song ‘Suzanne’. His effervescent harmonies lend themselves to the themes of faith, mortality, isolation, depression, betrayal, redemption, social and political conflict, love, regret, and loss, which permeates through his numerous tracks.

Leonard passed away in 2016, and in 2023, Rolling Stone awarded him 103rd place in their ‘200 Greatest Singers of All Time’.

WHAT: The Spirit of Leonard Cohen

WHERE: The Proserpine Entertainment Centre

WHEN: Friday, July 28 from 7pm

TICKETS: proserpineentertainmentcentre.com.au

29-30 Airlie Beach Triathlon, Coral Sea Resort

30-31 Elemental showing at the PEC

30-31 Indiana Jones – Dial of Destiny showing at the PEC

31 Kinder Gym at Bowen PCYC (every Mon & Wed)

August

2 Sailability Whitsundays from 9am at Whitsunday Sailing Club

2 Kinder Gym at Bowen PCYC (every Mon & Wed)

3 Fitter For Life Over 50’s at Bowen PCYC (Tues & Thurs)

3-6 Cruise Whitsundays’ Great Barrier Reef Festival

4 Self Publishing Basics Workshop, Cannonvale Library (registrations required)

5-6 No Hard Feelings showing at the PEC

6-7 Indiana Jones – Dial of Destiny showing at the PEC

10-17 Airlie Beach Race Week

11 Scone Day from 9.30am, QCWA Hall

11-13 No Hard Feelings showing at the PEC

17 Zonta meeting at VMR

19 B en Bolt Cup Race Day, Bowen Races from 11am (entry fee)

31 – 4 Whitsunday Songwriter Festival at Yangaro Resort

Movie

Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One (CTC)

Ethan Hunt and his IMF team embark on their most dangerous mission yet: track down a terrifying new weapon that threatens all of humanity. With control of the future and the fate of the world at stake, a deadly race around the globe begins. Confronted by a mysterious, all-powerful enemy, Ethan is forced to consider that nothing can matter more than his mission - not even the lives of those he cares about most.

Elemental (PG)

Disney and Pixar’s Elemental is an all-new, original feature film set in Element City, where fire, water, land and air residents live together. The story introduces Ember, a tough, quick-witted and fiery young woman, whose friendship with a fun, sappy, go-with-the-flow guy named Wade challenges her beliefs about the world they live in.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (M)

In the fifth installment of this beloved swashbuckling series of films, Indiana Jones finds himself in a new era. Approaching retirement, Indy wrestles with fitting into a world that seems to have outgrown him. But as the tentacles of an all-too-familiar evil return in the form of an old rival, Indy must don his hat and pick up his whip once more to make sure an ancient and powerful artifact doesn’t fall into the wrong hands.

This beautifully elegant reimagining of Leonard Cohen’s songs and life is intricately touching. Photo supplied

‘Thank You For Loving Me’ Bon Jovi Forever Show

We will all be ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’ next weekend, with one of the best Bon Jovi tribute acts gracing the Airlie Beach Hotel stage for one massive show.

Front man Ben, better known as Ben Jovi, has been leading the way with the Bon Jovi Forever show for years, with powerful and palpable prowess and dedication to the show and the performance.

Full of intimate and personal audience interaction, and backed by quality musicians, this is not a show to miss, full of all the charm of the classic legend.

Satisfying every fan, the Bon Jovi Forever show has been featured on national TV, pumping the tunes across Australia, with true authenticity, passion, and high energy thrills and spills.

Nothing will be missed, with both cult classics and obscure tracks being unearthed on the Airlie Beach stage.

‘Make a Memory’ at the Airlie Beach Hotel with this show, and ‘Runaway’ with the sweet harmonies of Ben Jovi and the Bon Jovi Forever Show.

Ben Jovi of the Bon Jovi Forever Show embodies the classic rock legend with true authenticity

‘Feels Like the First Time’ With Classic Rockers

Don’t forget to check out the Australian Foreigner Show on Sunday, July 30, showcasing the likes of Ben Jovi of the Bon Jon Forever Show, depicting the absolute legend, Lou Gramm, of the classic Foreigner.

This ‘Hot Blooded’ show is perfect for the

Calling All Artists!

As part of the upcoming Cruise Whitsundays Great Barrier Reef Festival, local artists are invited to create new artwork to submit into the festival’s art exhibition which will take place at a special location for the duration of the event.

Following the broader festival theme of ‘Whales’, entrants are tasked with creating an artwork with the premise: ‘The Grandeur Of Humpback Whales’.

“Many whales are born in the quiet bays of the Whitsundays,” said organiser Leigh Skead.

“Join in the fun and create your interpretation of the theme - your art can be or include the reef, the Whitsundays, and/ or the environment of the whales above or below sea level.”

An initiative of Creative Connections Whitsunday (CCW), the exhibition will take place at Beach Plaza on the Airlie Beach Esplanade for the duration of the festival – August 3-6.

Every type of artist is invited to submit their work, from amateur to abstract, and

Of course, we ‘Never say Goodbye’ to these legends, so ‘This Ain’t a Love Song’ and you’ll see us in the crowd at Airlie Beach Hotel, hitting every note, and keeping up with the ‘Bad Medicine’.

‘Juke Box Hero’ and has all the makings of a perfect winter in Airlie Beach Sunday afternoon.

WHAT: The Australian Foreigner Show

WHERE: The Pub, Airlie Beach Hotel

WHEN: Sunday, July 30, 2pm to 5.30pm

all interpretations of the theme are encouraged to create a colourful and exciting exhibition.

Entries need to be delivered to Beach Plaza on Wednesday, August 2.

Entry forms are due in on Wednesday, July 26 and are available from CreativeConnectionsWhitsunday.com.

Members of Creative Connections will pay an entry fee of $5 per artwork and non-members will need to pay $10.

It’s a People’s Choice competition which means that submissions will be judged by attendees.

Locals are encouraged to get involved and come along to the exhibition to cast their vote.

The Art Exhibition is proudly sponsored by PRD Realty – Whitsunday, Smart Arts, and Coral Sea Marina.

WHAT: Community Art Exhibition

WHERE: Beach Plaza, Airlie Beach Esplanade

WHEN: August 3-6

WHAT: The Australian Bon Jovi Show: Bon Jovi Forever

WHERE: The Pub, Airlie Beach Hotel

WHEN: Saturday, July 29, 2pm to 5.30pm

Carnival Rides • Eat Street

Pop-up Bar • Live Music

All Weekend!

Coral Sea Marina Resort

Night Markets

Camira Fireworks Sail

Coral Sea Marina Lantern Parade

Fireworks on the Foreshore

Main Stage with Reece Mastin

Cruise Whitsundays Master Reef Guided Experience

Main Street Fun - street performers & entertainment

Fraser Ford Car, Truck & Bike Show

Medibank Magic Mile

Rotary & Ray White Street Parade

Beats on the Beach with Sun Salute & The Wild Sky

Team Kerr Family Fun Day

Bait to Plate at Fish D’Vine

Whitsunday Escape Recyclable Regatta

Chill in the Park

a chill Sunday evening. Photos supplied

Barbie

The newest Barbie film, headlined by Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, has been kept tightly under wraps, meaning the intrigue and wonder is only building for audiences.

What we do know:

It is clear that Barbieland is not quite as perfect as Barbie believes, when her permanently arched feet, crafted for her heels, fall flat, and she is cast out of Barbieland and travels to the human world, exploring the idea that true perfection can only be discovered within.

With her is Ken, her companion who unwittingly joins her adventures into the human world.

Directed by Greta Gerwig, known for her stunning filmography of 2017 film ‘Lady Bird’, the film is set to turn heads with its satirical nonsense and true heart.

Complete with poignant undertones of social commentary, the importance of confidence, and social connections, the film also tackles many of the controversies that are associated with the Barbie Mattel brand.

One such controversary is the issue of diversity, with the film’s director Greta deciding to portray every single Barbie, including Diplomat Barbie, Author Barbie, Lawyer Barbie, and Doctor Barbie, plus so many more.

Paired with the incredible variety of Barbie is the range of Kens, which include Cowboy Ken, Country Ken, Stereotypical Ken – who acts like Margot Robbie’s Barbie

right hand man, played by Ryan Gosling – and even a brief doll created, Allan, Ken’s buddy.

Playing on ideas of male representation and storytelling, not much has been shared about the roles of the Kens, with their posters containing the same line: “He’s just another Ken.”

Set with the perfectly pink backdrop that rings true to childhood memories, including the bedroom to pool slide, the film had an absolutely stunning all-star cast, including the likes of Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Simu Liu, Kate McKinnon, Hari Nef,

The Ins And Outs Of Self-Publishing

Calling all authors, this is the event for you!

Taking you through the world of self-publishing, publishing consultant 852 Press are hosting the ‘Self-Publishing Basics’ workshop.

852 Press Director Dr Julia Evans and author of nine books, Richard Evans, will go through all the ins and outs of the self-publishing world, covering all aspects of the pathway.

Get the overview of the entire process including perfecting your manuscript and discovering distribution channels.

Learn the values of having a captivating cover and book design, with industry trends and top tips, what visually appeals to readers, and how to stand out on the shelf.

Be informed on pricing strategies and be sure to price your work within the market correctly, both nationally and internationally.

And don’t worry, Julia and Richard will go

over tax requirements and other financial matters and costs that pop up during the self-publishing journey as well.

And finally, Julia and Richard will detail invaluable marketing techniques on how to share your work with wider audiences, with latest marketing trends and opportunities that are attracting keen readers, as well as techniques to elevate visibility.

This workshop is completely free for aspiring authors, and a great opportunity to

learn from industry professionals and receive untapped industry knowledge.

WHAT: Self-Publishing Basics Workshop

WHERE: Cannonvale Library, Whitsunday Plaza

WHEN: Friday August 4, from 9.30am to 11.30am

REGISTRATION: Call the Cannonvale Library Branch, on 07 4846 9400, to reserve a seat

BOWEN S SUMMERGARDEN CINEMAS

“MISSION:IMPOSSIBLE-DEAD RECKONING PART ONE” (M)163 min Action/Adventure

Ethan Hunt and his IMF team must track down a dangerous weapon before it falls into the wrong hands.

Stars: Rebecca Ferguson, Tom Cruise, Pom Klementieff

“NO HARD FEELINGS” (MA) 105mins. Comedy

On the brink of losing her home, Maddie finds an intriguing job listing: helicopter parents looking for someone to bring their introverted 19-year-old son out of his shell before college. She has one summer to make him a man or die trying.

White Noise

Amidst the white noise of the world, I again hear the whisper of doubt. The voice that says, ‘you don’t belong, You’re not good enough, get out.’

But I take a breath and pause, To listen to my soul’s voice. A voice that says, ‘you’re here for a reason, You’re worthy, you have a choice.’

And with confidence I stand a little taller, To walk faster with a tad more grace. For I know that I’m not an imposter, I belong in this blessed space.

By Richard Evans

Readers’ poetry can be emailed to bronte@mackayandwhitsundaylife. com Submissions should be in the body of the email, not as attachments.

-

“INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY” (M) 154mins. Action/Adventure

Archaeologist Indiana Jones races against time to retrieve a legendary artifact that can change the course of history.

Stars: Harrison Ford, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Mads Mikkelsen

“BARBIE” (PG) 115mins. Adventure/Comedy

To live in Barbie Land is to be a perfect being in a perfect place. Unless you have a full-on existential crisis. Or you’re a Ken. Stars: Margot Robbie, Hari Ne, Ryan Gosling

10.00am 3.30pm

Stars: Jennifer Lawrence, Andrew Barth Feldman, Laura Benanti1.05pm

The Barbie film portraying a range of Barbies, including Mermaid Barbie and Sailor Barbie. Photos supplied

America Ferrera, Emma Mackey, Michael Cera, Helen Mirren and Dua Lipa, plus so many more that it’s hard to count.

Barbie is in Bowen Cinema Saturday July 22.

Whitsunday Local Plays In Women’s State Of Origin Match

Now two months into her professional development, Lily Peacock, has made her Women’s State of Origin debut.

Earlier this year, Lily made the move to Townsville, to begin her development with the Toyota Cowboys, a move which has rewarded her with a shot at the U19 Women’s State of Origin.

Picked as one of four players from the Cowboys, Lily travelled to Redcliff for the double header game, with the U19s Men’s State of Origin happening afterwards.

“It was the toughest and fastest game I’ve played yet,” she explained.

During the first half, Lily left the field for a Head Injury Assessment (HIA) but was able to return to play shortly after.

“I just focused on the questions, because I wanted to get back out there.”

Ultimately, it paid off, with the Maroons coming out on top, with a 20 to 14 victory.

“We train hard, and I was pretty rapt when I made the team,” Lily said.

Lily was voted the Players Player for the match, and is looking forward to 2024, where she is hopeful to make the U19s Women’s Marrons again, before she turns 19 years old.

“My parents were in the crowd too, and my dad said that he preferred the women’s game.”

Back with the Cowboys, she will face the Titans on July 22 on the Gold Coast.

Records, Records at the Tassal Group Airlie Beach Marathon Festival

The Tassal Group Airlie Beach Marathon Festival was held over the weekend with almost 500 runners pounding the footpaths and boardwalk around the foreshore.

The competitors came from all over Australia and further afield with entries from New Zealand, Scotland, and the USA.

The McDonald’s Magic Mile was the enticer on Saturday afternoon with Billy Grogan winning the men’s race and Claire Ashworth taking the cash in the women’s category.

The North Queensland Marathon Championship was the marquee event for the meet and was won by local Whitsunday Running Club member Viv Compton who broke her previous record in a time of 3:22:02.

The defending men’s champion, Justin Gibbs retained his title in a much-improved time of 2:47:40.

We had our first ever wheelchair entry this year with Chris ‘Wheelsie’ Keillor from Western Australia completing the course in a record time of 5:33:58 using a standard wheelchair.

The ‘boutique marathon’ attracted a larger field than last year and included some interesting personalities all running for various reasons.

The Tassal Group Half Marathon also saw the lady’s record broken by Canberra runner Claire Ashworth in 1:22:27.

The men’s winner was a surprise entry by Tom Ferrington from Scotland who finished just outside the record in 1:18:36.

The 2km boy’s section was won by Banjor Moser followed by Don Vinh Algie and Lucas Appleton.

The girl’s section winner was Willow Moser with Isabella Gomez second and Penelope Shields third.

The 1km girl’s category was won by Ella Maddock with runner up Alihra Karon and Aria Crawford. The boys were led home by Billy Appleton then James Gibbs and Oliver Bright.

The Event Manager, Tim McQuoid-Mason said that:

“The results achieved to today were very impressive as the south easter was howling through at about 25knotts and despite that there were two new records set by Liv Compton and Claire Ashworth.

It was great to see the community support with 40 marshals out on the course. Thank you to all the volunteers, runners, and the community for sharing the foreshore with us.”

Lily Peacock with other Toyota Cowboys Women’s State of Origin picks Shaylee Joseph, Libby Surha, and Ebony Raftstrand-Smith. Photos supplied

Whitsunday Running Club members in 10km

Mascot Race

Marathon runners

Justin Gibbs CSM

Tom Ferrington half winner from Scotland Support gang

TRIATHLON

he Coral Sea Resort Airlie Beach Triathlon Festival is only seven days away with a record field nominated and the event has been boosted by late news that former Netherlands superstar Lotte Wilms will be joining in the female professional field.

young athlete whose life was tragically cut short in a car accident last year.

Kimpton said events like the Coral Sea Resort Airlie Beach Triathlon Festival do not happen without amazing support from sponsors and volunteers.

Wilms is now based in Sydney and is a multiple winner on the World triathlon circuit with her most recent victory in lronman Austria on June 20.“They say it takes a village to raise a child and that is also true when staging such a huge weekend of triathlon racing.

The Airlie Beach Triathlon will be her final warm-up event before heading off to the first staging of the Professional Triathletes

Organisation Asian Open event in Singapore August 19 and 20.

Race director Michael Kimpton said the late entry of Wilms gives the 2023 Airlie Beach triathlon the€ strongest field in the event’s history.

“But wait there’s more.... next weekend’s event will also see our local star Daniel McDonnells debut as a Professional after just being granted his Professional licence by Triathlon Australia.

“As exciting as the men’s and women’s Pro fields with the spotlight on the first day of the festival being shone on the juniors as they race on Saturday in Under 8’s, Under 10’s and 11 years plus.

“It’s not too late to nominate so I encourage all juniors keen to try the sport of triathlon and jump on to our website and enrol.

“The club are humbled to be able to announce a new award, the Stirling Edwards-Bland Perpetual Junior Encouragement Award Trophy in memory of a local

“l want to extend our sincerest thanks to all sponsors tor their support and the club looks forward to continuing this partnership in the future and exploring now opportunities to collaborate and grow together.

“The club are still seeking volunteers so whether you are a seasoned volunteer or a newbie, your contribution will make a meaningful impact on our event and help create a memorable experience for all involved,” Kimpton said.

“There are a variety of roles available, including registration, water safety positions, first aid tent, course marshalling, guidance marshals, water stations and transition area support.

“Volunteers are the backbone of any event, and it is a wonderful opportunity to connect with others and give back to our community.

“It is only with the support of our amazing volunteers that we can create an 6vent that showcases the very best of Airlie Beach.

“If anyone is interested in joining our team volunteers, I encourage you to contact our dedicated volunteer coordinator Val Kimpton, on 0438 717 819.

A spotlight on the first day of the festival will be shone on the juniors as they race. Photo supplied

Netherlands superstar Lotte Wilms will be joining in the female professional field. Photo credit: Triathlon Today

Fred Quod Blast H20

SCORE

80

SCORE

Pete Cook Flat Out Digging SCORE

DIGGING

Kids Welcome At The Upcoming Triathlon Festival

Massive weekend of Football for Whitsunday United FC

The weekend started on the Friday night with our Divisional Men coming away with two losses despite strong performances.

The div2 men put up a respectable fight but as has happened for most of the season, goals were elusive, and the good periods of possession went unrewarded.

The div2 men went down 4-0.

The div1 men started strong against the second placed Wanderers side, going into the half 1-1. Unfortunately, a goal to the Wanderers in the first minutes of the second half deflated the home side and compounding errors in the second half saw the div men walk away with a 6-1 loss.

Saturday started off with Under 13 div 1 putting on an impressive display against a determined Dolphins outfit.

Leading 2 nil at the break, the second half proved a lot more productive for the home side playing impressive football to add another 5 goals – a great 7-0 win for a side constantly improving.

U13 Premier had a harder slog against a well organised Dolphins side.

The second half was very even and added no score – a 3-0 loss but a great effort by the side.

U15 Div1 played Magpies with both sides

Sea Eagles Win With Pride

putting up a hard fight. Goals by Freddie Hazleton and Cohen Springbett put the home side up 2-0 at half time.

The U15 Prem side also secured a strong win against Dolphins which secures them a place in the finals. The 3-2 win was impressive against the team placed second in the comp.

The Premier Women also played out a competitive 1-1 draw against top placed Lions. Despite maintaining possession for much of the game, the ladies found themselves 1-0 down early in the first half when a deflection gifted Lions a goal against the run of play.

There were many strong performances, however special mention must be made to goal keeper Chloe who made outstanding saves in crucial moments and Violet who shut down countless Lions attacks and created many opportunities through her midfield runs.

Whitsunday Sea Eagles hosted AFLQ Pride Round at home Saturday with some fantastic clashes against North Mackay Saints in the changing wet and windy conditions.

Sea Eagles Senior Men took on ladder leaders North Mackay Saints for a tough on field battle in trying conditions.

Both teams adapted quickly in a fast-moving game that saw Sea Eagles take command when they had the wind advantage.

Saints made a hearty come back in the last quarter coming within five points of the Sea Eagles however a late goal from Leigh Sartori capped off some good work from the midfield to hold the Saints at bay 56 – 45 until the final siren.

Sea Eagles Senior Women were pumped to take on top of the ladder Saints in Pride Round looking the part with colourful guernseys supplied by the Club to symbolise inclusion for all in the great sport of AFL.

Sea Eagles pushed the Saints all day however were outgunned 7 – 57.

Game of the day went to Sea Eagles Under 17s taking on Saints in a much-anticipated top of the table clash.

After being narrowly beaten in their last encounter Sea Eagles were keen to put in a good performance in a hot start.

Twilight Race Report SAILING

It proved an even contest with the lead changing hands multiple times.

The closing stages of the final quarter saw Sea Eagles display tremendous heart to repel the North Mackay attacks until the final siren rang out with Sea Eagles victorious by the narrowest of margins 53 – 52 and retaining the top spot.

Sea Eagles Under 14s took on a strong North Mackay Saints in what was always going to be a tough battle losing out 3 – 63.

In the return of Under 12s the young Sea Eagles displayed a commanding performance to post a convincing win 59 – 4.

In the second term Sea Eagles turned it on and took a commanding lead into the second half to finish strong.

This Saturday 22nd July sees all five Whitsunday Sea Eagles teams celebrate Sponsor and Volunteer Appreciation Day at home with Juniors from 9:15am, 1:50pm Senior Women, 3:20pm Senior Men.

Contributed with thanks to the Whitsunday Sea Eagles.

After a couple of weeks of very light breeze, it was nice to see a 15 knot south-easterly wind blowing across Pioneer Bay for the start of last week’s Whitsunday Sailing Club twilight race.

These events, every Wednesday afternoon, attract up to 120 locals and visitors to have a go at sailing in an organised yacht race.

In the first start, a mistake by Treasure VIII (Rob Davis) saw them returning to restart, giving the Doyle Sails sponsored best start prize to Wide Load (Shannan Hart).

At the first rounding mark, QMS Ponyo (John Galloway) held a slender lead over Reignition (Charles Wallis), with Smooth Criminal (Leo Rodriguez) and Bobby’s Girl (Mark Beale) hot on their tale.

On the second lap, it all went wrong for Smooth Criminal, as they dropped to the back of the lead group, allowing QMS Ponyo an easy race to the finish.

Bobby’s Girl came home second, 30 seconds ahead of Reignition.

On corrected time, QMS Ponyo took the honours over Wide Load and Reignition.

In the second start, Masquerade (Tom Vujasinovic) caught the competition napping, and led the fleet into the start.

As usual, this did not last long as Matchless (Terry Stevens) soon took the lead, stretching out to over 4 minutes on Domino (Paul Dynes), with Shiraz (John Cable) a further 20 seconds back.

While Masquerade kept the rest honest, Manteca (Frank Tennyson) sailed a great race to be right in the mix.

Corrected time results, after handicaps were applied, saw Lama (Louie Tuck) take the win over Manteca and Masquerade.

In the third start, G’nome (Terry Archer) took the starting honours over Ullman Sails (Paul Mitchell), but that was the only time as Ullman Sails powered away to a convincing win both on the water and on corrected time.

Races continue every Wednesday from 4:30pm, with limited crewing positions available. Those wishing to participate as crew need to be at the club by 2:30 pm (limited spots available).

Contributed with thanks to Ross Chisholm.

Whitsunday United taking on big competition across the region. Photo supplied

Senior Men - Billy Galpin Best on Ground for the day

U17 - Jacob Dewis under pressure from the Saints

AFL

Senior Women Pride Round guernseys. Photo Credit: Cody Fowler

Whitsunday Regional Council - Public Notices & Tenders

21 July 2023

Upcoming Rates Issue

Residents are advised that rates will be issued across the Whitsunday Region early August 2023.

Rates Concessions

Are you an owner occupier?

Council is seeking information from the owners of residential properties, which is their principal place of residence and is also single residential use, within the Whitsunday area, in order to categorise properties correctly for the benefit of a lower differential general rate.

Eligible parties are asked to complete the form and return it to the Council by the 4 August 2023.. If you are already receiving the owner occupier benefit, you do not need to reapply.

Pensioner Remission on Rates

Persons in receipt of a pension, who qualify in accordance with Council’s Policy and/or the State Government’s Pensioner Rate Subsidy Scheme, are hereby requested to make application for the first half of the 2023/2024 year.

Pensioners who received the maximum benefits in the 2022/2023 year and whose situation has not altered need not submit a written application. Confirmation of your eligibility will be sought from the Department of Communities and Department of Veteran Affairs.

Mayor’s Annual Charity Ball, 22 July 2023 Notice of Fireworks

Fireworks will be taking place as part of this event at 9.30pm on 22 July 2023.

Fireworks can be very distressing for animals so we urge you to

make sure that your pets are tied up or locked in your house to prevent them from jumping fences or running away.

All enquiries can be directed to Council on 1300 972 753.

Mayor’s Annual Charity Ball, 22 July 2023 - Car Park Closures

This year’s Mayor Charity Ball will be held at Shute Harbour Terminal on Saturday 22 July 2023. All proceeds from the charity ball will go to RACQ Rescue and Whitsunday Housing Company Ltd to support the amazing work they do for our community.

Residents are advised that the northern end of the Shute Harbour carpark adjacent to Snows Beach will be closed for the event and its preparations from Thursday 13 July to Monday 24 July.

Parking will be available in the remainder of the downstairs carpark as well as the upper-level carpark during this time.

We thank you for your patience during this time. All enquiries can be directed to Council on 1300 972 753.

Current Tenders

Whitsunday Regional Council invites tenders from suitably resourced and experienced contractors for the performance of the works as described in the tender documents.

Prospective tenderers are requested to register on the eTenderBox website – https://whitsunday.etenderbox.com.au to download the relevant documentation.

• # 500.2023.0046

Fire System Maintenance Services Tender closes no later than 2:00pm, 9th August 2023

Tenders should be addressed to the Chief Executive Officer, endorsed with the tender name and number and lodged via eTenderBox – https://whitsunday.etenderbox.com.au, by no later than the closing date. Section 228 (7) of the Local Government Regulation 2012, relating to changes to tenders may be applied.

Enquiries can be directed to the contact officer through the eTenderBox website or by contacting Council on 1300 972 753. Choose Collinsville – Town Centre Upgrade

We are undertaking works in Stanley Street from Monday 17 July - early September, to upgrade and renew the Collinsville Main Street.

The upgrade will revitalise and create a ‘like new’ feel in Stanley Street, aligning with our Main Street upgrades completed in Bowen, Proserpine and Airlie Beach.

Works will occur in stages, with short term impacts expected for any one business/resident, at any one time. Our local workers will create small work sites as they undertake construction through the street during July and early August. Impacts to traffic may be noticed late August as asphalting and road reseal is undertaken.

We apologise for the inconvenience of the necessary works and will endeavour to minimise impacts on the community where possible.

We encourage you to keep up to date on construction progress via our Online Engagement Portal - yoursay.whitsundayrc.qld. gov.au and Council’s Facebook page.

Works are supported by the Australian Governments Building Better Regions Fund.

LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION

Escape to your dream holiday getaway with breathtaking ocean views in the heart of Airlie Beach. This stunning apartment is the perfect place to unwind and soak in the beauty of your surroundings.

Featuring two generously sized bedrooms and two bathrooms, this spacious apartment spans across 115 square meters. The open-plan living area flows seamlessly onto a large balcony with panoramic ocean views, providing the perfect space to relax and take in the stunning sunsets and watch the boats sail by in the distance.

Indulge in resort-style living with multiple pools available in the complex, ideal for a refreshing dip or simply lounging in the sun.

Investors will love the proven holiday letting financials, making this property an excellent opportunity for those seeking a smart investment.

Situated in the heart of Airlie Beach, this property is just moments away from some of the best restaurants, cafes, and shops the area has to offer. The best part? NO HILLS! Enjoy a laid-back coastal lifestyle while still being close to all the amenities you need.

Don’t let this chance slip away to own a stunning property with sensational ocean views. Get in touch with us today to arrange a viewing.

Acreage Property In The Heart Of Town

Located just minutes from the vibrant centre of Airlie Beach and the bustling Port of Airlie Marina, this lovely Hampton-style residence rests on a picturesque 5-acre property that will leave an indelible mark on your senses.

Upon entering, this magnificent home boasts 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and an open-plan living area. Additionally, tucked away at the rear of the property, there is a charming guest accommodation. This self-contained granny flat features a fully equipped kitchen, 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, an undercover entertainment area, and a carport. This would be perfect for guests, family and teenagers to hang out in.

One of the standout highlights of this remarkable property is the sea views that command attention, offering a breathtaking panorama of Airlie Beach from its elevated position atop the hill.

Opportunities like this are becoming increasingly rare in such close proximity to Airlie Beach, making this discovery truly exceptional.

• Great location, just a walk into town

• 5 acres in the heart of Town

• Newly built 4-bedroom Hampton style Home

• Additional 1 bedroom granny flat at the rear of the property Rare opportunity

• Also close to local parks, tavern, bus stop

• Just a very short drive to boat ramp & marina

Generous Sized Home, Large Backyard & Side Access

Located in Jubilee Pocket, only minutes from the heart of Airlie Beach. Block rendered home with a double lock-up garage complete with epoxy coated floors nestled in a neighbourhood proud street and backs onto council bush land.

Floor plan of three queen-sized tiled bedrooms, inc ceiling fans and air conditioning.

• This property has side gate access with an impressive 2770m opening, perfect to store the caravan and or boat

• Ready to move in – no tenant or builder wait time!

OPEN HOME: Friday 4.45pm - 5.15pm & Saturday 10.45am - 11.15am

Welcome to Paradise at 1299 Midge Point Road!

This extraordinary property offers an enchanting blend of natural beauty, luxurious living, and endless possibilities. Nestled on 5 glorious acres, this renovated Queenslander is a true gem that will leave you spellbound.

• The House - Spacious Kitchen, Modern Bathroom, Walk-in Robes & Renovated Interior

• The Shed - 300m2 Shed with Awning & Hoist: Toy lovers rejoice! Outdoor Fanatics: Sheer bliss of the outdoors, good fishing and mud crabbing awaits

OPEN HOME: Saturday 10.00am - 10.45am

FOR SALE: $1,390,000

34-44 Jubilee Pocket Road Jubilee Pocket

CONTACT: Rob Taylor 0428 466 124 rob@taylorspropertyspecialists.com.au

CONTACT: Alex Swan 0432 328 196 alex@taylorspropertyspecialists.com.au

534

BED BATH CAR

AUCTION: Tuesday 1st August at 6pm

TAYLORS Office: 98 Shute Harnour Rd, C’Vale

9 Sanctuary Avenue Jubilee Pocket

CONTACT: Melinda Butcher 0400 773 478 melinda@taylorspropertyspecialists.com.au

322

BED BATH CAR

FOR SALE:

1299 Midge Point Road Midge Point

CONTACT: Rhett Nelson 0499 009 855 rhett@taylorspropertyspecialists.com.au

2210

BED BATH CAR

6.00

1.00

3.00

Cycling: Allan Peiper As Good As I Could. 3.50 Kill Off. 4.05 Trail Towns.

4.35 Tour De France: Bonjour Le Tour. 5.35 Black Panthers Of WW2.

6.30 News. 7.30 When Champollion

Meets Ramses II. 8.30 Cycling. Tour de France Femmes. Stage 1. 12.00

Cycling. Tour de France. Final stage.

4.00 French Food Safari. 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.15 France 24 Feature. 5.30 Al Jazeera.

6.00 Better Homes. 7.00 Weekend Sunrise. 10.00 Morning Show. 12.00

Cycling. Tour de France Femmes. Stage 4. 1.50

Cheyenne & Lola. 3.55 Destination Flavour Down Under. 5.00 Late Programs.

6.00 Morning Programs. 12.00 MOVIE: My Evil Stepdad. (2019) 2.00 FIFA Women’s World Cup Highlights. 2.30 Highway Cops. 3.00 The Chase. 4.00 News. 5.00 The Chase Aust. 6.00 Seven Local News. 6.30 News. 7.00 Home And Away.

7.30 ABBA Silver, ABBA Gold. 8.30

SBS VICELAND

7.30pm Spicks And Specks. (PG, R)

8.00 Hard Quiz. (PG, R)

8.30 Movie: Center Stage. (2000) (M, R)

Amanda Schull.

10.25 Doctor Who. (PG, R)

11.15 We Hunt Together. (M, R)

12.00am Killing Eve. (M, R)

12.45 Unprotected Sets. (M, R)

1.40 Brassic. (MA15+, R)

5.30pm Escape To The Country. (R)

6.30 Bargain Hunt. (R)

7.30 Border Security: International. (PG, R)

8.30 Escape To The Country.

10.30 The Aussie Property Flippers. (PG, R)

11.30 Border Security: International. (PG, R)

12.30 Escape To The Country. (R)

5.30pm American Pickers. (PG, R)

6.30 Pawn Stars. (PG, R)

7.00 AFL: Friday Night Countdown.

7.30 Football. AFL. Round 19. Essendon v Western Bulldogs.

10.30 AFL Post-Game Show.

11.00 Armchair Experts.

(M)

12.00 Movie: The Recruit. (2003) (M, R)

5.30pm Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman. (PG, R)

6.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R)

7.30

8.50 George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces. (R)

9.40 Julia Zemiro’s Home Delivery. (PG, R)

(PG, R)

11.30 Doc Martin. (M, R)

12.30 Medical Emergency. (PG, R)

1.00 Endeavour. (M, R)

6.00pm Border Security: International. (PG, R)

6.30 Border Security: International. (PG, R)

7.00 Border Security: Australia’s Front Line. (PG, R)

8.30 Movie: The Day After Tomorrow. (2004) (M, R) 11.00 Movie: Vertical Limit. (2000) (M, R)

1.30 Blokesworld. (PG, R)

5.30pm American Pickers. (PG)

6.30 Pawn Stars. (PG, R)

7.30 Counting Cars. (PG)

8.30 Movie: True Lies. (1994) (M, R) Arnold Schwarzenegger.

11.30 Movie: Kickboxer: Vengeance. (2016) (MA15+, R)

1.30 American Restoration. (PG, R)

2.00 American Pickers. (PG, R)

The Ashes. Fourth Test. England v Australia. Day 4. Morning session. (Please note: alternative schedule may be shown due to changes to cricket

Doctor Who. (PG, R)

11.40 Tomorrow Tonight.

(PG, R)

5.30pm Escape To The Country. (R)

6.30 Bargain Hunt. (R)

7.30 Father Brown. (M, R)

8.30 Miss Scarlet And The Duke. (M, R) 9.30 Ms Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries. (M, R) 10.30 Murdoch Mysteries. (M, R)

12.30 Father Brown. (M, R)

Cricket. The Ashes. Fourth Test. England v Australia. Day 5. Morning session. (Please note: alternative schedule may be shown due to changes to cricket coverage). 10.40 Cricket. The Ashes. Fourth Test. England v Australia. Day 5. Afternoon session.

5.30pm Yorkshire Auction House.

6.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R)

7.30 Death In Paradise. (M, R)

8.40 Movie: The Dry. (2020) (MA15+, R) Eric Bana, Matt Nable, Genevieve O’Reilly.

10.55 Coroner. (MA15+, R)

11.55 Footy Classified. (M)

1.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

5.30pm JAG. (PG, R)

6.30 JAG.

R) 8.30 The Force: Behind The Line. (PG, R) 9.00 FIFA Women’s World Cup Pre-Game. 9.30 Motorway Patrol. (PG, R)

Beach Cops. (M, R)

Surveillance Oz. (PG, R)

5.30pm American Pickers. (PG, R)

6.30 Pawn Stars. (PG, R)

7.30 The Simpsons. (M, R)

8.30 Movie: Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2. (2015) (PG, R) 10.30 Movie: Risky Business. (1983) (M, R) 12.30 It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia. (MA15+)

1.00 Storage Wars. (PG, R)

1.30 American Restoration. (PG, R)

5.30pm Yorkshire Auction House. 6.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R)

5.30pm Rugby League. NRL Women’s. Round 2. Brisbane Broncos v Gold Coast Titans.

7.30 Cricket. The Ashes. Fifth Test. England v Australia. Day 1. Morning session.

& Order:

ACROSS

12 Futile (7)

17 They’re bitten in tense situations (11)

19 Collarbones (9)

23 Wins (5)

25 Boyfriends (5)

28 Waterbirds (5)

29 Destroyed (11)

18 Excel (3)

20 Compare (9)

21 Rite (8)

22 Bound (8)

24 Unfulfilled (5)

26 Ran with quick, light steps (9)

27 The study of signs (9)

33 Comfort (4)

35 Right away (15)

36 Prevent (4)

40 Setting (8)

41 Astonished (3-4)

42 Guiding (8)

43 Dollar, informally (4)

44 Small package (6)

46 Getting older (6)

48 Recording device (abbr) (4)

52 Charm (8)

54 Warmer (7)

55 Chinese pastry (8)

58 Follow (4)

60 Related to Mary Shelley’s literary work (15)

61 Hide; pelt (4)

62 Neglected (9)

65 Used in medicine (9)

67 Get outta here! (5)

68 Grow faster than (8)

71 Unarmed person (8)

72 American pancakes (9)

73 Saucepan (3)

75 Earlier (3)

77 2003 musical (6)

78 Ardent devotee (11)

79 Largest Austrian city (6)

80 Enthusiast (3)

81 'Bye!' via text (3)

DOWN

1 Burns (coll) (7)

2 Act out of order (9)

3 Stole (3)

4 Friend (3)

5 Expiate (5)

6 Heating (7)

7 Confused (7)

8 Ogre (5)

9 English actor, – Butterfield (3)

10 Born (3)

11 Car-fixers (9)

30

Oohed and – (5)

31 In a tough spot (11)

32 Image files (5)

No.

243 391567248

TODAY'S

7 137926584

5 9 825314769 543271896

1 469758123 918635472

2 784192635

5 652843917

34 Theorise (9) 37 Body of experts (9) 38 Illuminated from behind (7) 39 Northern rodent (7) 42 Rounded vase (3) 45 Battery type (1,1,1) 47 Making international (11) 49 News (5) 50 Member of a Mennonite sect (6) 51 Tiny (5) 53 Call-and-response game (5,4) 56 Spiritual being (5) 57 Chaotic situation (5) 59 Annual publications (9) 61 Yellow flora (9) 62 Watery (7) 63 Frozen container (7) 64 Umbrella (7) 66 Transferring data (7) 69 Soft fibres (5) 70 Arabic word that means ‘great’ (5) 73 File format (1,1,1) 74 Sunbathe (3) 75 American politician and activist (abbr) (1,1,1) 76 Egg cell (3) No. 155 crossword TODAY'S SOLUTIONS Puzzles and pagination © Pagemasters Pty Ltd. | pagemasters.com SORRY LOCAL, FAMILY OWNED AND INDEPENDENT CAN YOU REPEAT THAT? Permanent Cannonvale Clinic Open 5 Days A Week And After Hours By Appointment Also Servicing Proserpine, Bowen and Ayr Suite 16, 121 Shute Harbour Rd, Cannonvale whitsundayhearing.com.au Call 4946 4906 to book a check-up now! DON’T IGNORE HEARING LOSS - IMPROVE YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE