Visionary farmers recall a bygone era

Just over fifty years ago, the first chopper cane harvester was driven into a paddock in Proserpine, bringing with it a vision that was heckled long before it was embraced by the region’s cane farmers.

Holding the book which contains the original minutes of the very first meeting of Up River Harvesting, founding members Jack Grosskreutz and Frank Raiteri told the Guardian of their journey which began all those years ago in 1961 and how it would forever change the face of cane farming in Proserpine.

Their jubilee celebration might be one year late, however there might be one very good reason for this …  the collapse of the Proserpine Sugar Mill’s co-operative – an entity over which they shed much blood sweat and tears - occurred at about the same time last year bringing with it too much heartache and uncertainty to warrant a celebration.

Early in 1961, Jack and Frank remember hiding in a cane paddock, well before dawn, watching a Massey 515 cut cane in a paddock in Mackay.   

“Oh ... everyone in the street they’d all say “we knew it was coming” but did they speak up in the beginning? No … but Jack and I did our homework,” said Frank.

“It was pitch black but we hid in the cane and watched the men come along and I remember the way it just rolled over those bloomin’ stones by lifting its base cut up a bit. We knew we were onto something.”

Early in 1961, Up River Harvesting which consisted of pioneering farming names such as Oscar and Hector Lawrence, Eric Atkinson, and the two story tellers, purchased Proserpine’s very first chopper harvester for some 6000 pounds and drove it back to town.

“Oh people were dead against it, especially those high up in the mill board and Canegrowers. They said you cannot do it, you will be taking jobs away from the cutters, and Proserpine will become a ghost town. But it  wasn’t going to and didn’t. I tried to tell them that jobs would be replaced, we’d need engineers, boiler makers, mechanics and drivers … but still they didn’t listen.”

So against all odds, Up River Harvesting began cutting their  group’s cane with their Massey 515, which apparently cut quite well with a cutting rate of over 20 tonne an hour.

But it wasn’t only the harvester that the group had to purchase from Mackay, they also had to bring up their own bins.”

“See, before chopper harvesting, cane was brought to the siding by truck but that wasn’t going to work with the new harvester so we had to buy our own bins.”

It took a good few years before the majority of groups were operating chopper harvesters, an era laden with a lot of heartache, the partners recall.

“A few years after we first started operating the harvester,  I was on the executive of the Canegrowers. I can always remember everyone at a meeting having a heckle at the Raiteris ... and how we’d done the wrong thing. I stood up and yelled "you are all a bunch of hypocrites, in ten years you’ll all be using chopper harvesters," I remember saying, and sure enough they were.”

Jack and Frank agree they were good as partners. They each knew what the other was capable of - and rarely had time to argue.

“There was always maintenance work to do on the harvester, no we’re not mechanics, self-taught yes. Frank would always work with the metal and the welding and I was one for the bolts and bearings. We didn’t really have time to argue. If we weren’t cutting, we were repairing.”

The pair’s reputation as the region’s harvesting entrepreneurs travelled far and wide with Massey Ferguson and Toft (later Case IH) reportedly, dropping in at the farm quite frequently.

“In 1968 I started a prototype harvester and fitted a conveyor which took the cane three feet up the belt before it got to the choppers which gave the dirt and the rocks a chance to fall out. I remember as plain as day that Massey coming out and saying if I altered the harvester, they wouldn't be honouring the warranty. I didn’t care ... I didn’t need their warranty but sure enough a later harvester of Masseys came out with my invention and I never took a patent out on it,” Frank said.

Thinking back over the past five decades, there are few things the founding members of Up River Harvesting would change.

“I never spared the horses,” said Frank.

“When I was sure of something … I’d go for the jugular and I knew chopper cane harvesting was the future. To this day I remember a top pin in Queensland sugar laughing at me, told me I was dreaming when I told him that the entire state’s sugar would be cut by chopper harvesters within the decade.”

Up River Harvesting was passed on to Frank’s son Lou, the former chairman of the Proserpine Mill board and now to Gary, Lou’s son, who was yesterday covered in grease following in the footsteps of his forefathers.

'Little' Grey Fergie' a treasure of an era

They were first built around the time liquid paper, super glue and the wireless television remote were invented, but it is certainly no ordinary household item.

Now deemed as one of the best inventions since sliced bread, Midge Point local Vince Olsen is hoping to sell a unique 60-year-old Massey Ferguson TE 20 tractor to someone who will love the classic machine as much as he does.

The piece of vintage machinery was put into Mr Olsen’s hands more than three years ago when he was looking to buy a tractor to launch his boat from the beach at Midge Point.

"It was too small for my boat and I didn’t want to put it into the salt water anyway. It would be a damn shame," Mr Olsen said.

"She runs well and it’s a diesel which are a little more scarce these days."

Mr Olsen said The Little Grey Fergies, which were now a collector’s item, were a popular tractor back in the day as they changed the way people worked on the land in the 1950s.

"Using horses was hard work. The Little Grey Fergie changed the way people farmed - you could cover more country and get the job done properly."

"They made a lot of them in the 1950s or earlier and many have since rusted away or are locked up in a shed."

The engine and three point linkage system on Mr Olsen’s Little Grey Fergie are still in tiptop condition which, he says, proves the longevity of the model built sometime between 1954 and 1956.

"They are good little tractors and some people are fanatics when it comes to restoring them."

Mr Olsen is hoping to sell the collector’s item for $4000 and it can be inspected at 26 Peters Avenue, Midge Point. For more information contact Vince on 49 476 572.

Big business is risking our social fabric

Mining companies are undermining the social fabric of society, particularly in the Whitsundays according to a counsellor who sees a growing number of break-ups and relationship difficulties between local couples each week.

In a dig at the diggers of coal in our hinterland, Anglicare’s John Langford said many men in the Whitsundays were lured away to work in the mines on the promise of big pay packets and lifestyle rosters.

“But at what cost to our society?” counsellor Langford asked … “what we are seeing now is just a fraction of what is going to come. Work related problems are not going to diminish, they are likely to expand over the coming years,” he said. 

Mr Langford works with Anglicare, a non-government counselling service which provides emergency assistance to individuals, couples, families and the community as a whole.

Recently, Mr Langford has been seeing a growing number of families experiencing relationship difficulties, and more often than not, one partner is working away.

“Despite the fact that we live in pretty good social circumstances, there are still many families and individuals whose lives and the quality of their life remains poor in the absence of assistance from organisations such as Anglicise.

Mr Langford who operates out of the Proserpine Community Centre in Chapman Street, seeing a full line up of clients every Thursday, says big business needs to get back to the basic moral beliefs and standards.

“They can do this by embracing a set of values that are conducive to health, happiness and harmony in the community. Yes it’s all very well to offer top wages for workers but at what price? If big business starts to look after their humans, they will be more productive and successful.

“Ultimately we all have to take responsibility for our own behaviours or we will inflict our own inadequacies upon those who deserve our love and attention the most, especially our families,” Mr Langford said.

Anglicare’s service is open to everyone in the community including those experiencing marriage breakdowns, child-related problems and difficulties finding adequate housing.

“There is no fee but a contribution if one can afford it. We have never had a fee and we don’t want people to feel they cannot afford us. We offer exactly the same quality of service regardless. But if those who can make a contribution to the service, it is greatly appreciated,” he said.

To find out more about the Anglicare service, call
4953 3444 or email angli_mw@bigpond.com.au

No barrier to community support

Get your backside, trackside.

That’s’ the message from the Bowen Turf Club and the Whitsunday Coast Guardian as they team up for the first time ever to present the Whitsunday Cup race meeting at Bowen’s Ben Bolt Park on Saturday, June 9.

Bowen Turf Club president Cyril Vains said he was delighted the Guardian had pledged its support for a race meeting that encompasses all communities throughout the Whitsundays.

“It’s important we take the Whitsunday Cup to the next level which means a greater regional focus. By partnering with the Guardian, the Bowen Turf Club has the opportunity to market itself in places like Airlie Beach and Proserpine and that’s an opportunity we’ve jumped at,” Mr Vains said.

Whitsunday Coast Guardian owner manager Peter Lewis said it was a win-win for both parties.

“The Whitsunday Cup race day presented itself as a great opportunity for us to connect with those who love racing, fashion and a fun time here in the Whitsundays. It’s a known fact a lot of people here go to Bowen for the races and I believe our association with the Bowen Turf Club will result in a great day,” Mr Lewis said.

Earlier this week, Guardian editor Peta Keegan called in at the turf club to discuss the finer details of the race day with president Vains.

Bowen trainer Andrew Cameron was on the track with Gallant Hawk who will be starting in the June 9 event.

“Gallant Hawk has won four races … three in Brisbane and one on the Gold Coast. He also ran a really good fourth at Townsville recently,” said the trainer of the locally owned horse.

Ms Keegan said she had been interested in horse racing and rodeos since she was a little girl listening to her mother’s stories about riding in rodeos, years before females were even allowed in the arena.

“Mum tells a story where she rode pretending to be her brother. They were close to the same age and same build when mum was a teenager so no one could really tell the difference. I am not much of a rider myself but there’s something about the smell of the feed in the stables, the anticipation of the trainers, and the buzz of the punters around the old fashioned bookies that entices me to the races whether it’s around Tumut where I grew up to Townsville recently with my sister,” she said.

As part of the promotion, a number of sponsors have come on board and readers also stand a chance to win a weekend away to a luxury seaside retreat.

Whitsunday Regional Council sworn in

The region’s new team of leaders was sworn in on Friday morning, with Jennifer Whitney officially becoming the region’s new mayor, and Cr Peter Ramage being elected the deputy mayor.

Taking the oath of office for the second time were Jan Clifford, Peter Ramage and Dave Clark, who were all returned in their respective divisions, and freshmen Councillors Kevin  Collins, who ousted Rogin Taylor in Division 2, John ‘Sarge’ Collins, who succeeded Cr Whitney in Division 3, and Andrew Willcox, who has replaced former councillor Mark Gaudry in Division 6, who did not re-contest his seat.

If Cr Whitney was suffering from first meeting nerves, it certainly didn’t show as the long-term councillor and former local government employee confidently opened the meeting and proceeded through the agenda with ease.

The first hurdle emerged when Cr Whitney called for the adoption of a rotational system of electing the deputy mayor, suggesting that the Council reviews the position every 12 months and either elects or re-elects the deputy mayor.

Following a short discussion, in which several councillors sought clarification over Cr Whitney’s proposal, the position of deputy mayor was declared open, with councillors Clifford and Ramage emerging as the two contenders for the coveted role.

During the discussions Cr Willcox had indicated an interest in the role, but did not contest the position.

“If we don’t put our hand up today for deputy mayor, does that mean we can’t nominate in two or three years’ time?” he asked.

“No, not at all,” Cr Whitney responded. “As I said, the position will be reviewed every 12 months, and the process will begin anew each time.”

Councillor Clifford was nominated by Cr Kevin Collins, and seconded the nomination herself. Councillor Ramage was nominated by Cr Dave Clark, and seconded by Cr John Collins.

The mayor provided both candidates with an opportunity to make a pitch to their colleagues, with Cr Clifford claiming she was without baggage and Cr Ramage stating that he had the experience required to excel in the position.

“I am a product of the amalgamated Council, with not baggage from the former Whitsunday or Bowen shires,” Cr Clifford said. “I love the whole region, and while I love representing the people of Airlie Beach, I do not possess some myopic view that Airlie Beach is the centre of the world.”

“I have no small children that would take my away from Council,” she said. “I have a husband and a dog, who manage quite well without me.”

 “In fact, I think they quite like the arrangement,” she joked.

 “I have never missed a council meeting,” she said. “I am honest, reliable and hard-working and I work well with Jennifer.”

Councillor Ramage took a different approach, stressing his experience first on Bowen Shire Council and now on Whitsunday Regional Council.

 “My experience goes back 12 years,” he said. “I have been through the amalgamation process, I know how much Council has bled over this, and I know it has taken a long time to heal.”

 “This is my fourth term in local government, and I know I’m up for the job,” he said.

While Cr Clifford managed to gain Cr Kevin Collins’ vote, Cr Ramage, who enjoyed the support of Councillors John Collins, Dave Clark and Andrew Willcox, won the ballot.

This morning council meets in Bowen.

Whitsunday Book Bonanza on this weekend

Old love letters, post cards from faraway places and shopping receipts from years ago are just some of the artifacts found hidden between the pages of the books that have been donated to the museum for Proserpine’s biggest book sale.

The annual Book Bonanza is the museum’s biggest fundraiser attracting hundreds of avid readers and collectors each year.

Museum volunteer Mary Hedgelong has been working closely with the bonanza for some 10 years. She says people spend hours trawling through the thousands of titles which have been carefully arranged into categories by the museum’s volunteers.

“Over the years we have found some interesting pieces used as bookmarks, including notes from someone special, old bills of sale and postcards … one year we even found a 20 pound note which we cashed in and put into our fundraising coffers,” she said.

The Book Bonanza begins this Saturday, May 19 at 9am with many new titles on offer.

“We’ve got a big variety of authors including Agatha Christie, Tom Clancy, Wilbur Smith, Di Morrissey, James Patterson, and many more,” she said.

Volunteer and avid reader Dave Avenell said university students could also score a great find at the bonanza.

“I found quiet a new text book on zoology which would easily be $80 new.

“It goes to show that everyone can find something of value here,” Mr Avenell said.

Some of the categories include craft, cooking, fossils, evolution, biology, with the majority of the fiction novels categorised under either male or female authors.

24-hour watch on Airlie Beach

Next time you are walking down Airlie’s main street, think twice before you toss your cigarette butt in the gutter or do anything that might be misconstrued as antisocial behaviour, because within a few months there will be surveillance cameras recording every single thing that goes on.

Around-the-clock CCTV has been on the agenda of local police and the Whitsunday Regional Council for the better part of four years, this week taking a step forward with the two parties meeting up to discuss the location of the devices.

Cannonvale Police Acting Senior Sergeant and officer in charge Brad Teys said the joint venture had been revamped now to take in the redevelopment of the main street and hoped the surveillance system would be up and running within six months.

“There will be a minimum of three cameras which will send footage to a number of locations including council and the local police stations. Whether or not they’re monitored 24-hours a day will depend but the fact is the footage will be able to be reviewed immediately should there be a crime,” Snr Sgt Teys said.

Mr Teys said the three cameras would take in the main night club precinct and rotate to shoot every angle in the street.

Sergeant Teys met with Whitsunday Regional Council’s manager transport and major projects Edwin Mendoza , Information technology and communication team leader Lisa Stanley and IT & C Support Officer Michael Farrell on Monday morning to discuss where the cameras would be placed.

Reaction from Airlie businesses was mixed with Mama Africa’s Nicole Crofskey welcoming the initiative.

“We have a lot of broken windows around town and nobody knows who does it. We have cameras here in the inside of our courtyard area but on the outside we can’t tell, so it will be good in that case,” Ms Crofskey said.

However she was curious how police and council would determine who the people were just by the footage. “Unless they are known to police it might be difficult to determine who people are. At three in the morning they are going to be on foot, so there will be no cars etc for police to take number plates from,” Ms Crofskey said.

Kerrie Suckling also thought it was a bit rich having 24-hour footage streaming live, querying the cost.

“I understand between 9pm and 5am but do we need it right throughout the day? I am just thinking about the cost.”

Whitsunday Pool Party for Blake

Proserpine Pool is hosting a pool party this Saturday for a local family who needs $37,000 to buy a specially-adapted vehicle to fit a wheelchair for their son who suffers severe cerebral palsy.

Kerry Read-Zorzi says her 10-year-old wheelchair-bound son Blake is their miracle. While he can barely talk – only recently voicing the words “mum, nanna, hello and oh no”, - she says her adorable son loves to sing, dance and socialise.

“We love our son so much. We want to be able to make his life as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. Due to the enormous costs of everything he needs we find this a huge challenge at times,” Ms Zorzi-Read said.

The Read-Zorzis need a new vehicle specially modified to support Blake in his wheelchair and the growing challenges this brings.

 “We are getting a wonderful response from the community but need a lot more help to reach our goal of $40,000. The Big4 kindly helped us with a weekend last weekend April 27 and 28 and raised just over $3,000 which included many donations. We are, from the bottom of our hearts, so deeply grateful for their support,” Ms Read-Zorzi said.

The pool party which will boast a monster inflatable, hourly lucky door prizes, face painting and much more, starts at 2pm and goes until 9pm this Saturday and the cost is $8 per person or $20 for a family.

Whitsunday publican takes on the big guys

  It’s enough to drive you to drink. A Proserpine publican whose insurance company turned their back on him after pocketing $75,000 in premiums over three years due to “faulty building work” is calling on the Building and Services Authority (BSA) to “do its job or shut its doors”.

  Thomas Dunne is the publican of what is often referred to as the Palace Hotel, one of Main Street’s oldest, most iconic buildings.  It’s a family affair with all four family members working within the confines of O’Duinn’s Irish Pub collecting their wages from pouring beers, cooking meals and providing a place for travellers to rest.

  However, a dispute over water damage to the interior of the building which dates back to when the Dunnes first bought the old hotel back in 2006, has this publican close to the end of his tether.

  “We noticed the water coming in, in 2007, and then it started to get really bad. The pictures hanging on the walls were going mouldy and the water was basically coming in and dripping down the walls. It has nearly ruined our restaurant,” Mr Dunne said.

  “It was so bad … when our insurance was due for renewal in 2010, the insurance company did their report and said they wouldn’t be re-insuring us … after we gave them $75,000 in premiums over three years,” Mr Dunne said.

  The publican says their first point of call was the BSA, the government-run group which regulates the building industry in Queensland.

  “They are dragging their feet and have been for years. I want them to get the builder who did the original work to come back and fix the entire problem caused during the previous renovations - the inside and the outside.

  The BSA tells me the case is closed and that I should go to the small claims court. Well if that is the case, why don’t we all go there … and the BSA can close its doors and save a hell of a lot of money,” he said.

  The builder who emphatically denies being responsible for the water damage is Peter Bailey from Bowen.

“We met with Thomas and the BSA onsite at the hotel last Tuesday morning and we did a full hour test to try to establish where the water was coming in from. Usually the test goes for about 15 minutes but we conducted an hour-long test which showed no water entry to the building.        

 “I understand Thomas’ frustration … I do. And if the water was getting in through faulty workmanship then I would fix it immediately but it’s important to remember there were a lot of other people doing work on the building, besides me, before Thomas bought it … including air conditioning contractors and the people who moved the pokie room to where it is today,” Mr Bailey said.

  The builder says if the BSA recommends he go back to the hotel to do some more work, then he will.

  “I feel for him, and I understand his frustration but the thing is I believe the water proofing method that was originally installed on the building has failed,” Mr Bailey said.

  The general manager of BSA Queensland Ian Jennings says the urgent meeting was set up between the publican, the builder and a BSA inspector on May 1 to hopefully clarify the issue.

  “This building inspection was intended to determine whether water penetration is still an ongoing issue at this property.

  “Investigations are still pending and the BSA will be pleased to provide an update when the report is finalised,” Mr Jennings said.

  But Mr Dunne remains adamant the BSA is right at the centre of the controversy and clearly isn't doing its job.

  “They are a joke. This is their job. Not mine. Why don’t they shut their office down instead of messing with people’s livelihoods.

  “The meeting last week was an example of their incompetence. He said there was no water leaking, so I got him a chair told him to climb up and look at the pools and pools of water.

  “I was fuming, I had to walk away.”

Newly minted MP opens Whitsunday electorate office

Just over six weeks after his election, the newly-minted Member for Whitsunday, Jason Costigan, has opened the doors to his electorate office, located in Federation House on Proserpine’s Chapman Street.

There are not enough hours in the day for ‘Costo’, who traverses the Whitsunday electorate from dawn to dusk, listening to the locals who sent him to Parliament with a healthy 14.1 per cent swing.

Don’t be fooled, though. Between the parliamentary sittings in Brisbane and the meetings in the office, Mr Costigan is determined to be hearing about the local issues straight from the locals themselves.

Yesterday was spent attending a Red Cross open day in Mackay, followed by a Whitsunday Leadership Group in Proserpine, with enough time to spare for a swing by the office at 2pm.

“I’m not going to be stuck in some bunker as the invisible man,” Mr Costigan said. “I’m big on face-to-face diplomacy, and that’s the approach I’ll be bringing to the job.

“I’ll be facilitating a number of meetings with organisations, individuals and stakeholders to listen to their issues,” he said. “The issues people have raised with me so far have been consistent with the issues raised in the 57 weeks I spent campaigning.”

Today and tomorrow will be spent in Brisbane, where Mr Costigan will conclude his parliamentary induction ahead of the first parliamentary sitting week of the term, scheduled for next week, during which he will be officially sworn in as Member for Whitsunday.

Whitsundays' War on the Shore packs a punch in Airlie Beach

The crowd was on the edge of their seats the entire night on Saturday at this year’s War on the Shore fight night.

Whitsunday Boxing Club president and fight night promoter Paul Barrett described the event as ‘spectacular’ with each of the 10 fights well received and the crowd glued to the centre ring.

"All fights were really well matched and it kept the crowd on their toes because no one was really sure who was going to win," Mr Barrett said.

"That’s what you want, and it had all aspects like big Todd Housell who threw and copped big punches or Alice Fraser who boxed so techniquely it was textbook."

"Whatever you wanted it was there."

With local fighters so well matched to their opponents who travelled to the Whitsundays for the event, each round was hard fought and each win was well deserved.

"They all trained so hard and it showed. We had wins, losses and draws but everyone was at the maximum of their ability," Mr Barrett said.

Winners on the night were Evan Douglas, Todd Hounsell, Anton Zaffir and Shaun Taylor, while Alice Fraser and Cameron Mead drew their fights. Mr Barrett praised local fighter Adam Mitton who fought hard despite suffering broken ribs, as well as Jake Algie and Dan Zealand.

"That’s credit and shows his overall toughness," he said.

Mr Barrett said overall he appreciates the crowd’s participation and looks forward to the next fight night in September.

"There will be a couple of surprises for the one in September and they keep getting better. It won’t be short of a thrill."

He also said people who pre-purchase tickets to the next fight night will receive express entry through the doors and the standard of fighting will be
just as high.

Calen hotel gutted by fire

It was an emotional day on Friday as owners and locals watched on as a Calen icon burnt to the ground.

Multiple Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (QFRS) crews attended the hotel fire located on Mcintyre Street, Calen at 9.50am where they worked to evacuate the building.

Unfortunately, the hotel and its attached residence were well alight upon arrival while firefighters also worked to protect neighbouring buildings and the fire was under control
at 11.15am.

Work to monitor the situation and dampen down the scene went on for some time.

Significant damage was caused to the highway building however no injuries were reported.

Sugar industry the centre of Whitsunday arts festival

The Proserpine sugar industry is back in the spotlight.

Two locals, Lyn Fenton and Bob Barford are excited to bring a new, innovative festival to the Whitsundays, called ‘Sweet’ and solely based on the cane industry.

Being involved with small and large festivals for over 30 years, Mr Barford wanted to put sugar with spice to create a festival showcasing musicians, artists, dancers and more.

Mr Barford said all artists will be local.

"It’s a country event, not aimed at tourists, and to by no means exclude tourists, but the focus is giving local people the chance to see what they can do," Mr Barford said.

"If it becomes a tourist attraction, that’s a bonus!" he said.

"What a better subject than to loosely base this on the sugar industry..that’s the backbone here."

"We are trying to give a good show for everyone to have a look at a good musical, fun event."

Ms Fenton said she hopes the one-of-a-kind festival will bring positivity to Proserpine.

"We want to step up morale for Proserpine and make a tribute to the sugar industry which started everything," she said.

"It may even make Proserpine an arts centre..there’s lots of talent here but they’re all hidden away."

The festival intends to bring various community groups, performers, stallholders and artists together in a combined show.

"The performances will be woven together to tell a story. It will be special," Ms Fenton said.

Many groups have already jumped onboard to be part of the festival however organisers are still looking for a shanty singer, lead male and female singers, backstage hands and help with sounds and lighting.

Mr Barford and Ms Fenton are hoping people with old cane equipment will come forward for a display. There will be a meet and greet evening at 6pm on June 2 at the Proserpine Entertainment and the festival will be held on July 21.
For more information contact Bob on 0407 895 011.

Sparks fly at final Whitsunday Regional Council meeting





No truce was reached between Mayor Mike Brunker and his main challenger, Councillor Jennifer Whitney, before the final council meeting of the term, held in Bowen on Thursday.

Whilst Cr Brunker began the meeting by thanking Council staff for their work over the last four years, Cr Whitney succeeded in steering attention towards the controversial Airlie Beach Main Street Project.

Cr Whitney submitted a notice of motion calling for Council to hold a public meeting at the Airlie Beach PCYC within a month to provide a community update on the project.

"Walking around the streets of Airlie, there’s still a great deal of confusion," Cr Whitney said. "Businesses are struggling to survive week by week."

Cr Brunker was critical of the suggestion.

"Putting something like this onto a new council has never happened in my lifetime," Cr Brunker said. "We may as well set the budget now, too."

Despite Cr Whitney claiming that "people are very anxious to have a community meeting," the motion was defeated.

The second motion submitted by Cr Whitney requested Council to advise of the total debt following the funding of the Water and Sewerage Infrastructure.

Cr Brunker claimed that the figures had been available since 2011.

"In two days you could be mayor, and you don’t know that information," Cr Brunker said.

After the two motions were debated, Whitsunday Regional Council CEO John Finlay praised the achievements of the Mayor and Councillors.

"This isn’t something you can learn by reading a textbook," Mr Finlay said.

Mr Finlay acknowledged Council’s achievements, among them the Bowen PCYC, front beach development, sewerage treatment and water treatment facilities, the Whitsunday Coast Airport upgrades, extensive road upgrades, and the "tackling of inherited deficit from the previous council."

"This council has set the bar for the next," Mr Finlay said.

Cr Mark Gaudry, who chose not to recontest his position as Division 6 representative, used his final meeting to deliver a light-hearted speech, thanking council staff, his colleagues and his constituents.

"Thank you for your friendship, help, advice and support," he said.

"Council is a cross between the Commonwealth Bank and Vinnies," Cr Gaudry said. "You’ve got to run an efficient business, while also being the first port of call for support and donations."
Cr Gaudry expressed his faith in the local government system, and wished current and prospective Councillors well.