Community News 1

Celebrated local tour company Ocean Rafting have returned from the Queensland Tourism Awards this week with a gold award for Adventure Tourism and a silver in the Major Tour and Transport Operators category. In addition, their sister company, Ocean Safari which is based in Cape Tribulation, came home with a silver award in the Adventure Tourism category, coming second only to Ocean Rafting. Capping off a fabulous 25 years in operation, owners Jan and Peter Claxon say they are very proud of the team and look forward to many more successful years to come. “Both Ocean Rafting and Ocean Safari offer such unique experiences for guests, and they are constantly evolving and growing,” said Jan. “Our staff play such a big part in all of this and absolutely love what they do and the beautiful natural playgrounds they visit every day.” With three generations of the Claxton family working within the company, Peter said that the recognition means so much to everyone involved. “On behalf of the Ocean Rafting and Ocean Safari teams, we must thank our supportive family and friends, which includes our staff, to the traditional custodians of the land and sea country which we are grateful to share, to our loyal agents, fellow tourism operators, industry and government partners, and especially to our incredible guests who we share the beauty of the Whitsundays with every day, we thank you,” said Peter.

“While there has been ongoing evolvements for many tourism operators, it was wonderful to see so many Queensland tourism businesses come together to celebrate what this beautiful state has to offer and we pass on our congratulations to all the other winners and finalists.”

Ocean Rafting will now head to the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards in March 2023.

With eight custom-built bright yellow vessels that operate day-tours around the Whitsundays, Ocean Rafting have been fine-tuning their unique offering over the years. They are a coveted Ecotourism Australia Hall of Fame member for being continuously Advanced Ecotourism Australia Certified for 20 years or longer and a TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best award winner in the Top one per cent of Tourism Businesses around the world and Top 10 Experiences in Australia. They have also won a swag of awards including multiple gold wins at the Australian, Queensland and Whitsunday Tourism Awards. The only company in the Whitsundays with four Master Reef Guides, who are recognised as the world’s leading reef guides, interpreters and story tellers, Ocean Rafting have a team comprised of Marine Biologists and Eye On the Reef trained Eco Hosts.

Despite two COVID-impacted years, the business managed to grow and evolve, introducing a seven-seater Australian-built Airvan plane to the fleet.

Flying into operations in May, the new plane adds to the pre-existing Fly Raft package offering scenic flights over Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet and famous Heart Reef.

This new addition creates an iconic triple-whammy providing the ultimate Whitsunday experience in just one day.

Owners of Ocean Rafting, Peter and Jan Claxton with Sales Captain Nathan Fleming

Three generations of the Claxton family

Award Winning Tour Company Launches November Sunset Special

Cruise into sunset with Camira Spacious deck, perfect for relaxing in comfort

Cruise Whitsundays is celebrating a successful award season by launching a November special exclusive for Turtle Club members on their popular Camira Sunset Cruise.

With its exclusive all-inclusive drinks package, Camira is known as one of the best value tours in town and their new November special will really get the festive season started.

Built for comfort and speed, Camira is an 85-foot catamaran that boasts a large indoor space with seating and two outdoor netted areas where guests can sit and chat while watching the Whitsunday waters glide by. The sunset cruises set sail at 6pm and return at 8pm, departing from Port of Airlie and tracking a scenic route around Pioneer Bay to watch as the sun sets below the horizon until the night sky emerges, a sprinkle of sparkling stars illuminating the tranquil ocean vista. Departing every Friday and Saturday afternoon, this tour is an ideal way to begin a weekend with friends, workmates or even your partner. The largest commercial sailing catamaran in the Whitsundays, there is lots of room for guests to enjoy a lively party or discover a quiet corner to sit back and take in the incredible scenery of Pioneer Bay and the lights of Airlie Beach. Cruise Whitsundays is one of the largest tour companies in the region, offering full and half-day trips to Whitehaven Beach. They also operate Reefworld, a purpose-built pontoon located 39 nautical miles from land in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef.

Guests can travel out to Reefworld for a daytrip and enjoy activities such as scuba diving, snorkelling, semi-submersible tours and an underwater observatory. Reefworld contains Australia’s only underwater hotel, offering two luxury rooms with a unique underwater view like no other!

The pontoon location also offers a Reefsleep experience with glamping pods on the deck under the stars with no other light for miles around. Guests are transported to these exciting locations on one of Cruise Whitsundays high-powered, air-conditioned catamarans. Travel in speed and comfort and choose to enjoy the sea breeze from the ocean deck or sit in the cool lounge setting. From sunset cruises to Great Barrier Reef experiences, it is easy to see why this impressive tour company won awards both locally and state-wide this month. Taking home Gold for Major Tourist Attraction for Reefworld at the Whitsunday Tourism Awards as well as Gold for Unique Tourism Accommodation, then backing this up with bronze for Unique Tourism Accommodation at the Queensland Tourism Awards, Cruise Whitsunday is riding high on the wave of success.

Sunset Cruise November Special: Adult tickets $99 and children $79 Turtle Club price $69 for adults and $54 for children

MONDAY & WEDNESDAY SPECIAL

2 players, 1 cart $90 (18 hole), $60 (9 hole)

Conditions Apply. Not available on Public Holidays. Bookings essential.

18 Holes

Fully Stocked Pro Shop Triple A Rated Golf Professional

OPEN 7 DAYS

Call now 07 4945 1337

Jupp St, Proserpine

BC Construction 3 Person Ambrose Day Book your Christmas Friday 18th June 9am for 10am Shot Gun Over $1500 in prizes Mens and Ladies long drive 9 of the 18 hole Food Available Drinks Cart s a w ll ith an Day NTP function now Cost $20 Me embers and $25 Non Member

Providing an enjoyable, high quality, value-for-money golfing experience.

9-HOLE + CART

PACKAGES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

Farmers Frustrated As Sugar Season Runs Late

The Proserpine Mill will continue crushing until January and it is looking likely that there will be a ‘stand-over’ of sugar cane still left in the fields following a disappointing season that has been marred by the mill’s unplanned maintenance issues and worker shortage. Growers hoped for a bumper season with high sugar prices and a larger than usual harvest creating renewed positivity and the promise of recovery from several years of below average production. Mike Porter, Manager of Canegrowers Proserpine said farmers are “frustrated” and some are becoming “annoyed” by complications that have caused massive delays over the season. “Factory performance hasn’t been great this year and it is disappointing to be lower than normal,” he said. “After five years of below average crop, which has largely been to do with Cyclone Debbie, growers had been looking forward to finally getting a decent crop and with the potential to make more money with better sugar prices.” On average, the Proserpine Mill can expect to process two million tonnes in a 22week period or around 1.5 million tonnes in about 19 weeks.

This season’s crop is larger than the last few years, at 1.78 tonnes, but it has also taken a lot longer to process. Proserpine Mill Operations Manager Foti said that the extended season is mainly due to unplanned factory stops, wet weather interruptions and labour force challenges. “We also got off to a late start as a result of COVID-related supply chain issues and skilled labour shortfalls,” he said. Minimising delays where possible, the team utilised any wet weather stops to perform necessary maintenance, thereby reducing the need for scheduled maintenance stops. “We are focused on processing the whole 1.78 million tonne crop and are working closely with the growing and harvesting sectors to achieve this,” he said. Despite this, growers remain disappointed that this year will see the first ‘stand-over’ of crop since 2010. The crop left on the fields will not contain the same sugar quality as it would have yielded in this year’s harvest and the rest of this year’s crop quality will decrease as the temperatures rise over the next month. Unfortunately, when the hardworking industry should be celebrating with their annual cut-out party, they are instead working an extra six to eight weeks on a crop that will not yield much. In addition, Mr Porter said the growers may experience staff shortages as workers return to their families over the Christmas period.

Annual Cut Out Party

Organisers of the annual Cut Out Party are inviting the community to attend the festivities this January, celebrating the hard-working individuals from across the industry at the end of a challenging season. All are welcome, from cane farmers to mill workers, local affiliated companies and anyone in the community who wants to support the local sugar cane industry. The first event of its kind was introduced last year, and its huge success prompted an expanded committee to organise the second iteration.

Last year, $12,000 was raised, and this year, proceeds will go to RACQ CQ Rescue. The Cut Out Party will be held at the Proserpine Showgrounds and attendees can expect a fun night out with live music, a slideshow from the season, charity auction, fire pit, and of course an open bar. WHAT: Cut Out Party WHEN: Saturday, January 14 WHERE: Proserpine Showgrounds

Proserpine Bull Riding Final Next Week

Images: Declan Durrant

One of the state’s biggest annual rodeo events is bringing its bucking bulls to the Proserpine Showgrounds, taking its world-class show back to the sugar town for the first time in more than a decade.

Get your spurs, your boots, get your Stetson and your bolo tie: The Central Rodeo Cowboys Association (CRCA) Finals for 2022 will arrive in Proserpine on November 19.

Some of the country’s best riders have competed across the association’s yearlong calendar of rodeo competitions, fighting for points to place in the top 10 spot and qualify for the culmination in a weeks’ time.

The professional sport final will be the first time in more than 10 years that the CRCA have hosted a rodeo event in Proserpine according to the association’s President, Danny Borghero. “Proserpine used to have rodeos with CRCA all of the time, so it will be great have one back there,” Mr Borghero said. “It should be good. We’ve got a lot of bull riders and contractors there around the Proserpine area, so it’s a central rodeo area that really enjoys the events.” Mr Borghero said the event was filled to the brim with the traditional rodeo categories for spectators to enjoy: Bullride, open saddlebronc, bareback, ladies’ barrells, barrel racing, and a string of junior events.

“It should be a great night; we’ve got some of the best bullriders in Australia coming,” Mr Borghero said. “Clayton Brayden, one of the best saddleback riders in the country, and Jack Bowen, who’s leading three different associations will both be there. The quality of riders is probably the best in Australia.”

Winners for each category are in store for prize monies as high as $1,500. Mr Borghero said the event is “what the cowboys have been competing for all year and what it’s all come down to.”

Aside from the bucking bulls, the event will be home to a DJ, food vans, kids’ entertainment and activities, a bar, and more side entertainment.

The final has seen wide-scale support from local organisations including Dittman Bucking Bulls, Reef Gateway Hotel, Peries’ IGA Proserpine, Whitsunday Regional Council, and more. Tickets are available online at Eventbrite via the CRCA Facebook page. WHAT: 2022 CRCA Finals

WHEN: Saturday, November 19 from 4.00pm WHERE: Proserpine Showgrounds

The event is one of the first the association has run in the local The 2022 CRCA Finals will see bucking bulls return to Proserpine Showgrounds next weekend town for more than 10 years, with their most recent local showing in Airlie Beach last September

ALL RIDE ON MOWERS