Anzac Day in the Whitsundays

Whitsunday locals turned out en masse for the various events of Anzac Day, which this year marks the 96th anniversary of the landing at Anzac Cove; a historic episode now commemorated to honour those who fell in the Gallipoli campaign and preserve the legacy of the Anzac spirit.
President of the Whitsunday/Airlie Beach RSL sub branch Terry Brown said close to 1,000 people attended the dawn service in Cannonvale, with similarly large crowds gathering in Proserpine.
Although Anzac Day pays homage to the sacrifices of the past its relevance to the present is no less significant, as modern society continues to rely on service men and women for the provision of peace-keeping and disaster relief services.
Guest speaker Flight Lieutenant Dave NcCarron reminded Whitsunday crowds that serving a nation takes many forms.
"The support of family and friends is also part of the Anzac spirit," he said.
Lest we forget.

Whitsunday business booms over Easter break

Airlie Beach was once again a tourist town, as the Easter weekend saw a return to the glory days of large crowds, balmy weather and roaring trade.
General manager of the Airlie Beach Hotel Mark Bell said business over the long weekend had exceeded previous years by a substantial amount.
"It's been by far the best Easter we've ever experienced, buoyed by the five-day break and the fantastic weather," Mr Bell said.
To read more on this and other Whitsunday news stories, pick up a copy of the Whitsunday Coast Guardian, available now from leading news agencies, service stations, Coles (Cannonvale) and the Chapman Street office in Proserpine.

Do the Whitsundays

Whitsunday Tourism Operators are about to be offered another bite of the social media promotion cherry, when a new campaign called 'Do the Whitsundays' launches in June.
The independently organised campaign is the brainchild of long-time local Phillip Batty, who came up with a 'best holiday in the world' as opposed to a 'best job'.
Competitors stand to win one of two Whitsunday holidays worth roughly $25,000 each, comprising an action-packed itinerary of 74 components in keeping with the 74 island wonders theme.
Mr Batty said the campaign will be run predominantly through an application on facebook.
"All you have to do is enter, 'like' the page and you're in. The more friends you share it with the more entires you get. Basically the more times your name is in the hat the more chance it has of being pulled out," he said.
To read more on this story pick up a copy of this week's Whitsunday Coast Guardian, available now from leading news agencies, service stations, Coles (Cannonvale) and the Chapman St office in Proserpine.

Last call for million dollar memo

"You have to be in it to win it" - that's the philosophy behind Air Whitsunday's recent entry to the million dollar memo.
"We realised we were just as entitled to explore the rest of Queensland as any international company," said Air Whitsunday operations manager Jade Korosec.
Ms Korosec said the company's entry, uploaded to the web on April 17, was enjoying a good response.
"It's absolutely taken off (pardon the pun!). In comparison to other videos uploaded the same day our score is amazing," she said.
With less than one week togo before the competition closes off, Tourism Queensland Acting CEO Wendy Harch is encouraging companies not to leave entries to the last minute.
"You don't need weeks to pull it together - just grab a video camera and show the world what makes your company great," Ms Harch said.
To read more on this story pick up a copy of this week's Whitsunday Coast Guardian, available now from leading news agencies, service stations, Coles (Cannonvale) and the Chapman St office in Proserpine.

Whitsunday Sailing Club Easter Regatta

The Whitsunday Sailing Club's Iceberg Easter Regatta was patronised by sailors from near and far, with the out-of-town participants setting up camp on the foreshore of Airlie Beach.
In an ironic twist of fate the regatta's overall winners were also the sponsors - Bill and Jenny Mairs.
"If you give them money they'll let you win," joked Bill at the presentation on Sunday night.
To read more on the Whitsunday 'on water' events, see 'creek to coast', on pages 26 & 27 in this week's Whitsunday Coast Guardian, available now from leading news agencies, service stations, Coles (Cannonvale) and the Chapman St office in Proserpine.

Proserpine Para-cyclist going for gold

Proserpine's 19-year-old David Nicholas has returned victorious from the Australian Para-cycling Road Championships and Oceania Championships held at Caloundra and the Glasshouse Mountains on April 9, 10, 16 and 17.
David, who was born with cerebral palsy, represented the Mackay Cycling Club (in the C4 division), taking home a total of four medals - one gold, two silvers and a bronze.
To read more on David's achievements and other Whitsunday sport stories, pick up a copy of this week's Whitsunday Coast Guardian, available now from leading news agencies, service stations, Coles (Cannonvale) and the Chapman St office in Proserpine.

Hospital clinic threatens GPs

A group of Whitsunday doctors met late last night in Cannonvale to express their anger over the state government's decision to establish a GP clinic in the Proserpine Hospital.
The lack of consultation over necessity for the clinic was the focal point of the meeting, with doctors claiming they only heard about the new clinic on the same day it became operational.
To read more on this and other local news stories pick up a copy of the Whitsunday Coast Guardian, available now from leading news agencies, service stations, Coles (Cannonvale) and the Chapman Street office in Proserpine.

Quake rocks our world

It was a Saturday afternoon like any other - until 3.31pm when the Whitsunday region was shaken up - quite literally.
Seismologist with Geoscience Australia Jonathon Bathgate said the rare Queensland earthquake, measuring a revised 5.3 on the Richter scale, was felt over a radius of 228km from its epicentre 60km west of Bowen.
To read more on this and other local news stories pick up a copy of the Whitsunday Coast Guardian, available now from leading news agencies, service stations, Coles (Cannonvale) and the Chapman Street office in Proserpine.

No payments for landslide victims at Hydeaway Bay

Federal Member for Dawson George Christensen has accused Mayor Mike Brunker of undermining landslide victims at Hydeaway Bay.
Mr Christensen said he wrote to the Attorney General in the wake of the landslide, requesting disaster relief payments be made to victims, but Cr Brunker said no one had suffered hardship and therefore payments would not be made.
"Not only is that a slap in the face from their own mayor, it undermines any chance those residents had of compensation for the situation they now find themselves in," Mr Christensen said.
To read the full story pick up a copy of the Whitsunday Coast Guardian, available now from leading news agencies, service stations, Coles (Cannonvale) and the Chapman Street office in Proserpine.

Family fun at Wintermoon

Held on the May long weekend each year, the Wintermoon Festival brings hundreds of people from all over Australia and even overseas, to the rural and calm oasis beside St Helen's Creek near Calen, to take in the camaraderie and music for which the festival is world renowned.
To read more about this year's event pick up a copy of the Whitsunday Coast Guardian, available from news agencies, service stations, Coles (Cannonvale) and the Chapman Street office in Proserpine.

Ex Aussie Cricket Captain goes fishing in the Whitsundays

Former Australian cricket captain Mark Taylor visited the Whitsundays last week, squeezing in a return trip with Sea Fever Sportfishing during his stay.
Taylor had previously fished with Ashley Matthews, owner/operator of Sea Fever Sportfishing two years ago and was eager to head to the reef again.
"You are given expectations when you go on a charter, but those expectations are not always met. Fishing here on the Great Barrier Reef there are so many species on offer and teamed up with Sea Fever Sportfishing my expectations were exceeded," Mr Taylor said.
To read the full story, pick up a copy of this week's Whitsunday Coast Guardian, available now, from leading news agencies, service stations, Coles (Cannonvale) and the Chapman Street office in Proserpine.

Whitsunday Rate Payers Association to take petition to Parliament

The furore surrounding postal voting is far from over, with the Whitsunday Ratepayers Association (WRA) now preparing to present the matter to parliament.
WRA members remain strongly opposed to Whitsunday Regional Council's recent majority vote for a solely postal system at the next election, however, it now appears the final decision is not actually council's to make.
To read more on this and other Whitsundays news, pick up a copy of the Whitsunday Coast Guardian, available now from leading newsagencies, service stations, Coles (Cannonvale) and the Chapman Street office in Proserpine.

Whitsunday Regional Council holds a morning tea with Mayor Mike Brunker

Around twenty local residents attended Whitsunday Regional Council's 'morning tea with the mayor' at the Reef Gateway Hotel in Cannonvale last Thursday.
Cr Brunker said he was happy with the way the session progressed.
"It was a full range of issues. I don't think there were any surprises," he said.
Popular topics for discussion included postal votes, sewage, potholes, boat ramps and the beautification of Airlie Beach.
To read more on this and other Whitsundays news, pick up a copy of the Whitsunday Coast Guardian, available now from leading newsagencies, service stations, Coles (Cannonvale) and the Chapman Street office in Proserpine.

Whitsunday model makes Ralph Magazine's Top 12

Whitsundays model Tanika McDonald says she is "over the moon" as she was announced one of the top 12 models in the Ralph Australian Swimwear model of the Year competition last weekend, securing her a place in the 2012 Ralph Swimwear calendar.
To read more on this and other Whitsundays news, pick up a copy of the Whitsunday Coast Guardian, available now from leading newsagencies, service stations, Coles (Cannonvale) and the Chapman Street office in Proserpine.

Spiritual Festival to hit Prosperpine

A very unique event will soon be held in Proserpine to celebrate the spirit of the goddess. That's right, it's the North Queensland Spiritual Festival, held in the 'goddess' town of Proserpine at the Proserpine Entertainment Centre on April 16 and 17.
To read more on this and other events in the Whitsundays, pick up a copy of the Whitsunday Coast Guardian, available now from leading newsagencies, service stations, Coles (Cannonvale) and the Chapman Street office in Proserpine.

Whitsunday boat Cynophobe to compete in Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race

The Whitsunday region will be well represented in this year's Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race, with the popular Airlie Beach boat Cynophobe set to take part.
The three-year-old 11.2 metre Grainger catamaran is a regular on the Whitsunday sailing scene and currently holds the 'Around Whitsundays' record, with a time of six hours, one minute and 20 seconds.
To read more on this and other 'on water' stories, see this week's Creek to Coast on pages 26 & 27 of the Whitsunday Coast Guardian, available now from leading newsagencies, Coles (Cannonvale) and the Chapman Street office in Prosperpine.

Smile Whitsundays

In the past week we've had record rainfall, landslides and flooded roads but the people of the Whitsundays are still smiling, and it's no joke.
The first instalment of the 'Smile Whitsundays' campaign was launched on Friday April 1 with over 100 businesses now striving for the best customer service in Australia, delivered with a smile.
To read more on this and other news stories pick up a copy of the Whitsunday Coast Guardian, available now at leading newsagencies, Coles (Cannonvale) and the Chapman Street office in Proserpine.

Hydeaway Bay residents return home

Mayor Mike Brunker, MP Jan Jarratt and Geotechnical expert Graeme Jardine attended an urgent meeting at Dingo Beach last week following which Hydeaway Bay residents have now returned to their homes.
To read more on this and other news stories pick up a copy of the Whitsunday Coast Guardian, available now at leading newsagencies, Coles (Cannonvale) and the Chapman Street office in Proserpine.

Get the million dollar memo

First came the best job in the world and now there's the million dollar memo - a chance for companies or workplaces around the globe to vie for the opportunity to win $1million worth of unique travel experiences here in Queensland.
Yesterday tourism Queensland announced a further $50,000 reconnaissance incentive for contenders who submit their entires by April 17.
To read more on this and other news stories pick up a copy of the Whitsunday Coast Guardian, available now at leading newsagencies, Coles (Cannonvale) and the Chapman Street office in Proserpine.

Whitsunday Sailing Club holds lady skipper twilight race

Ebony Norris is one Whitsunday woman who refuses to let a few drops of rain hold her back from the mystery and magic of the deep blue sea.
Ms Norris and seven other seafaring ladies donned smiles and wet weather gear for the Whitsunday Sailing Club's female-led twilight race on Wednesday afternoon.
To read more on this and other on-water stories, see 'creek to coast' in this week's Whitsunday Coast Guardian, available now at leading newsagencies, Coles (Cannonvale) and the Chapman Street office in Proserpine.

Whitsunday Fishing

To read all about fishing in the Whitsundays see 'Creek to Coast' our new on-water section in the Whitsunday Coast Guardian, available now at leading newsagencies, Coles (Cannonvale) and the Chapman Street office in Proserpine.

Proserpine to host first dirt track titles

Dirt and motorcross riders please start your engines.
The Whitsunday Dirt Riders will soon be holding their first ever dirt track titles - a huge step for motor sports in the region.
All the action will be happening at Dray Park, Proserpine on April 25 and 25.
To read more on this and other sports stories pick up a copy of the Whitsunday Coast Guardian, available now at leading newsagencies, Coles (Cannonvale) and the Chapman Street office in Proserpine.