Whitsunday Regional Council reconsiders Havengrand

Mayor Jennifer Whitney has announced that Whitsunday Regional Council will be considering its options for Havengrand, the 96.05 hectares of land off Shute Harbour Road in Mt Marlow purchased for $2.1 million by the previous council as a site for a sports park. 

The mayor’s comments come after council resolved to invite tenders for the sale of the land, just weeks after it was announced that it would be inviting tenders for the lease of the land. Council has confirmed that the tenders received for the lease are on hold pending the outcome of the tenders for sale.

“At this stage, Council has not had the land revalued since it was purchased,” she said. “A report will go back to Council after the closing of tenders for further consideration and discussion on how best to move forward.”

When contacted by the Whitsunday Coast Guardian, former mayor Mike Brunker opted not to enter the fray; stressing that council is able to sell its own land.

“We were looking towards the future when we purchased the land,” Mr Brunker said. “But it is now council land, and it is council’s business what they do with it.

Community advocate Barb Adamson, who publicly opposed the Havengrand purchase in 2010 and used a council meeting last month to question why council couldn’t sell the land rather than lease it, described the mayor’s announcement as “good news”.

“Selling the land seems like a more sensible solution,” she said. “I’d rather see them sell it so we can get a piece of land that is accessible for everyone in the community.”

“Land was bought for a sports park at Carlo Drive ten years ago, before it was sold,” Ms Adamson said. “Then council bought this land, which was overpriced, and now it’s being sold, too.”

“The process has continually been halted over the years, and we’re still without the promised sports park.

“But from my perspective, this is good news,” she said. “I hope they go ahead and sell the land, so we can get outcome with which the community agrees.”

Mike Porter, Manager of CANEGROWERS Proserpine, said that the local farming community would welcome the sale of Havengrand, permitting that it was bought for agricultural use. 

“We would absolutely support any decision that succeeds in returning good quality agricultural land to the sugar industry,” he said.

“Whether the land is leased or sold, if it’s being used for agricultural purposes, which it’s zoned to do, then it’s a good thing,” Mr Porter said.

Tenders for the sale of the land close 4pm on Monday, 24 September.

Whitsunday Fun Race takes top sailing merit

Just when you thought the Whitsundays couldn’t get any better, after an incredibly successful Telcoinabox Airlie Beach Race Week, along came the Great Whitsunday Fun Race on Saturday.

With light NE 8-10 knot winds and clear blue skies, the sailing conditions were again perfect on Pioneer Bay for the near 50 yachts competing in the 35th Whitsunday Sailing Club’s Fun Race.
Five divisions with two classes saw popular local yacht "Merit" take line honours for another year, ahead of "Reignition" and "Silent Night".

Other popular wins were "Twister" in the 30-40ft Cruising division, "Malice" in the Multihull Racing division and "Oceans Apart" in the Multihull Cruising division. Gaffers and Square Riggers saw three beautiful yachts add colour to the field with "Centurian" coming third, "Emma Jane" second and "Solway Lass" first in that class.

Held in conjunction with the Reef Festival, Airlie Beach was abuzz with a party mood all weekend.
The pirate themed events saw reports of strange sightings of pirates and their wenches all over town.
As part of the fun, skippers were expected to dress their boats and crews and pirates with long hair, swords, bandannas and eye patches were spotted on and off the water.
The overall winner of both the best themed boat and best dressed crew was "Riff Raff" with cannons blasting from all portholes.
The best dressed yacht was won by "Thylacine", a regular participant in this fun sailing event. The team trophy event was won by "British Defender", the prettiest yacht award went to "Tropical Dream" and the yacht from furthest away was won by "Le Tigre" from Fremantle.
Principal Race Officer (PRO) Jim Hayes from the Whitsunday Sailing Club said. "Normally in our weekly races we can have up to about 20 yachts which is a good fleet, so to see so many yachts out on the water on Saturday was just great.
It was perfect conditions and no one got their toes wet!"
The pirate crowd stormed the Sailing Club from 6pm and were entertained by live bands including "AJ" who had everyone up dancing until the clock struck midnight.
The traditional Mr Six Pack competition was hilarious with Nathan Crow from Moranbah blitzing the field of nine buff guys by strapping six empty beer cans to his chest. The competition was a bit tougher for the $500 prize money for the Miss Figurehead places with Rachael Sargent from Airlie Beach taking out first prize.
All results from the racing can be found at www.whitsundaysailingclub.com.au while social images will be up on the Sailing Club’s facebook page.

Whitsunday athletes in top form for Airlie Beach Triathlon

It’s goodbye sailors and hello to the triathletes as the focus for Airlie Beach turns towards the 2012 staging of the Sportspower Airlie Beach Triathlon.

Tantalising clashes, new races and course changes herald in a new era for the 14th annual event, and the future looks bright.
Once again, the event has been able to attract a quality field headlined by former winner Sam Betten who showed he’s in good form with a fighting second place at the Capricorn Half Ironman in Yeppoon last weekend.
His main competition will come from another rising star Ryan Fisher who has recently returned from Europe where he spent time with the Australian Olympic team as they prepared for London. Fisher has a win in the Fujifilm Hamilton Island Triathlon on his resume and would love to add this esteemed Airlie Beach title to his list!
The battle for supremacy should make things very interesting for spectators.
A new race has been added to the program with an Enticer distance race now an option for those interested in giving it a ‘tri’ and also to provide a bridge between the highly successful Ergon Energy Junior Tri and the Sprint Distance event.
The shorter distances make the event more achievable for those starting out;with a 350m swim, 10km bike ride and 2.5km run evidently popular with beginners, with a number of hearty locals already entered.
In an attempt to make the event more spectator friendly, even if it’s a little tougher for the athletes, is to introduce a two-loop bike course.
The bike leg will now see athletes turn right from Broadwater Avenue and head out along Shute Harbour Road to the William Murray Drive intersection before returning to transition via Summit Avenue, with Enticer athletes heading in for their run, while the sprint distance athletes head back out for a second lap. Spectators will have a good idea of whether the fast swimmers have been able to stay away or whether their lead has evaporated on the testing cycle!
Local bragging rights are always important but no-one looks likely to get close to emerging star Luke Henry of Proserpine, a member of the Triathlon Queensland Development Squad, more interested to see if he’s starting to bridge the gap on the established stars of the sport.
Online entries close on Thursday night, whilst late entries for the Sportspower Sprint and Enticer triathlons will be possible only on Saturday between 1pm and 5pm at the Airlie Beach Lagoon.
Entering online at www.whitsundaytriclub.com makes the whole process easier for athletes and organizers and the take-up online has increased remarkably over the last few years.
Organisers will however be at the Lagoon on Saturday afternoon for Race Number and kit collections as well as the Ergon Junior Triathlon. Strong support from Hamilton Island and Cannonvale Primary should ensure a fun afternoon, with races for all ages of kids and fantastic race packs including race singlets, McDonalds vouchers and goodies just for participating!
Starting out with an Enticer, throwing together a team or pressing your claims for future stardom, the Sportspower Airlie Beach Triathlon has it all in town this weekend.

Quota Whitsunday long lunch a delicacy

President Quota International of Whitsunday Barbara Kinsey has hailed the club’s long lunch, held this weekend at Whitsunday Gold, a success; with 96 locals heading out to Whitsunday Gold on Saturday to support the club.

“We had 96 attendees, which was great to see,” Ms Kinsey said. “It was astounding to see such a strong level of support from the community.

 “We had raffles and auctions, and the attendees loved both the food and the live entertainment, which were both amazing,” she said.

“All the proceeds from our events are pooled together, and at the end of the year, funds are given back to worthwhile local causes.

“The funds raised will go towards out hearing awareness project to take place at the high school in October,” Ms Kinsey said. “The project is aimed at raising awareness in young adults of the dangers of continual loud music, which can have long-lasting damage on their hearing.”

But don’t worry if you missed out on the long lunch, with Ms Kinsey reassuring the Guardian that Quota is gearing up for another must-attend event in the coming weeks.

“Our next event is our cocktail party, which is set to be just as memorable,” Ms Kinsey said.

Whitsunday's feasibility study reels in

After reading through 100 pages of a copy of the feasibility study for the proposed rockwall at the VMR, passionate boat ramp advocate Greg France is more than happy with the outcome.

Despite the long wait for the study into the project, which will improve local boating facilities, Mr France said the study detailed what his committee had proposed all along.

"Running over 100 pages it presents a detailed study of historical wave, wind, and cyclonic patterns since 1959," Mr France said.

"It’s all very in depth and interesting but particularly pleasing in that it doesn’t list any real constraints against building what we’ve proposed all along," he said.

"In its conclusion it then recommends an ‘L shape’ roockwall (that originates to the right of the existing ramp and then goes out 100m then turns left for 75m) that protrudes into the sea.

"Additionally it recommends that the existing ramp be extended by some eight metres in length."

The report came at a good time with the boat ramp committee meeting with Minister for Transport and Main Roads Scott Emerson at Community Cabinet on Sunday.

"The government and he are very aware of our need for this project to be completed and they understand and agree with the plan," Mr France said.

"The minister was also aware of the progress of the completed report and feasibility study and stated that now since that is complete, that the ball has returned to Whitsunday Regional Council to make a submission to the Queensland Government to get it funded."

Council's Mayor Jennifer Whitney said that she was very pleased to receive the feasibility study for the VMR Boat Ramp last Friday in time for the Community Cabinet.

"I am quietly confident that we will achieve a good result," Mayor Whitney said.

"The State Government, council and the boating community can work together to get the desired result," she said.

Mr France said it is quite a relief to see some good developments in the last few weeks.

"We anticipate we’ll have to wait until the Queensland Government State Budget is delivered in October. We only need to lever $4.5m
(estimated cost) to achieve the VMR plans."

Whitsunday man's golden moment

Like a scene from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, local man Julian Allen has the golden ticket in his hand after finding the winning XXXX Gold bottle which will send him on a magical adventure.
It was just two weeks ago Julian found and held the unique hand-painted XXXX bottle, which is one of 12 released around Australia as part of a competition to win a trip to the XXXX island.
"My mum bought the carton from Thirsty Camel at Centro ... as soon as I saw it, I knew!" Julian said.
The enviable local has won a trip to XXXX island with three friends, valued at $10,000 and as he expecting his first child in November, is holding off the trip-of-a-lifetime till December.
"I'll probably take my nephew, a mate and my father-in-law. The father-in-law doesn't know yet, but he'll find out after reading this story!"
XXXX island, known as Pumpkin Island, is approximately 15 kilometres of Yeppoon and is the perfect sanctuary for a 'man's trip'.
"I'm stoked. It's three nights! I'm a mad fisherman and crabber."
Julian is hoping for good weather and will continue drinking his favourite beverage.
"It's about as good as it gets. It's gold!"
To date, Julian is the only person to find a winning bottle or can with 11 more up for grabs.

Paralympian flies flag for nation

One of Proserpine’s own will soon be walking admist the best athletes in the world, when the homegrown champion sets off to compete in the 2012 Paralympics.

Already a world champion in cycling, David Nicholas has been preparing mentally and physically for his five events - the 1km individual pursuit, 3km pursuit, C3 Road time trial and road race and team sprint.

In his final week before flying out on August 6, the Guardian was able to catch up with David before he started a 30km light training session up Crystalbrook road late Monday.

He said he has mixed emotions but watching the Olympics this week, with cycling being his favourite sport of course, has brought on excitement for the young gun and having already tested out the track in London earlier this year, David feels a little more relaxed.

He said the road race will be challenging with a few difficult spots including sporadic hills and technical corners.

His father, David Nicholas said despite a bumpy lead up to the Paralympics, his son is in good form and will compete well no matter what.

"He won the world champion title by nine seconds, so every moment counts," Mr Nicholas said.

The homegrown Paralympian leaves next Monday for a training camp in Wales and Newport and will remain overseas for six weeks.

He and his family would like to thank Whitsunday Regional Council for their support including the poster message boards which are located at Faust’s IGA, council, libraries and Centro.

The community can also leave messages of support through the Telstra Hero Message site by clicking paracyling team.

Amanda Camm flies the flag for high profile corporation

Amanda Camm has been announced as the new Deputy CEO of the Mackay Whitsunday Regional Economic Development Corporation (REDC).

The former aspiring politician contested the state electorate of Whitsunday for Katter’s Australian Party earlier this year; managing 22.3 per cent of the primary vote and achieving the largest positive swing of the four candidates, despite announcing her candidacy less than five weeks from the election date.

While her new job may be substantially different from that of a state parliamentarian, Ms Camm told the Whitsunday Coast Guardian that she was pleased at the prospect of serving the community, albeit in a different role.

"I’m very excited to be taking on this position," Ms Camm said.

"It’s a role focused on external relationships," she said. "I enjoy a very strong rapport with all of the region’s elected representatives, and a large part of the role will be liaising with the recently elected mayors and councils across the region, and I’m looking forward to doing that.

"REDC focuses on development, both of key industries within the region, and the region’s development, generally," Ms Camm said.

"I will be responsible for maintaining relationships with the government, briefing government representatives when they’re in the region, and building strategic partnerships with various stakeholders," she said.

REDC CEO Narelle Pearse has welcomed Ms Camm’s appointment, believing that her extensive experience in a variety of industries and her passion for the Mackay-Whitsunday-Isaac community made her the ideal candidate.

"Amanda has many years’ experience working in the agriculture, travel and retail, mining and not-for-profit industries, and this will assist her immensely in the role," Ms Pearse said.

While critics may contend that her new role may serve as a springboard for another political tilt, Ms Camm ruled herself out as a potential candidate in the next federal election, due by September, 2013.

"I have no federal aspirations," she said. "My partner and I have a young family with five children, and traversing the Dawson electorate and campaigning would require an enormous commitment."

Ms Camm confirmed that she would be resigning her membership of Katter’s Australian Party, but said she would always consider maverick MP Bob Katter a friend.

"I am committed to my role as Deputy CEO of REDC, and I will no longer be active within the party," she said. "But Bob Katter will always remain a dear friend."

While she may be leaving the world of politics behind her for the time being, Ms Camm promised that she would bring the same level of passion and energy to this role as she did to the state election campaign.

"This part of the world means so much to me, and I think it must show," she said.

Whitsunday locals chance to sail with Jessica Watson

If you are a keen sailor and under the age of 18, you could win the chance to have a private sailing lesson with Jessica Watson at this year’s Telcoinabox Airlie Beach Race Week.

Jessica will be available to meet the public from 3pm on Monday, August 13 and then she will take the lucky winner for a sailing lesson from 4pm.

It’s easy to enter. All you have to do is drop your entry into the Whitsunday Sailing Club or email it to sailing@whitsundaysailingclub.com.au.

Please mark your entry " win a sailing lesson with Jessica Watson" and include your name, date of birth, phone number and contact details. The winning entry will be drawn by Jessica Watson at the Opening Night of Telcoinabox Airlie Beach Race Week on Thursday, August 9. The private session will be held at 4pm on Monday 13 August.

Jessica will also be available to meet the public from 3pm on Monday 13 August at the Whitsunday Sailing Club.

Commodore Rob Davis says, This is a fantastic chance for enthusiastic young sailors to meet this young sailing identity and ask her some keen questions and hear first-hand about her experience of sailing solo around the world."

Whitsunday beauty crowned Face of State of Origin

The eldest daughter of a worldclass body sculptor is putting her face into the male-dominated field of rugby league.

Kirra Longmuir was recently chosen to represent Queensland in the national finals of the Face of Origin competition and though she was up against 16 finalists from all over Australia, the stunning contestant went on to win the national ‘Face of Origin’.

Kirra will be on all advertising and promotions for the next State of Origin.

Kirra is visiting Proserpine this weekend to celebrate her 26th birthday on Saturday with her family at the Prince of Wales hotel.

Kirra will be taking her younger sister, Kirsten, back to Brisbane to help her run her hairdressing salon in Cleveland.

Magicial backdrop for aspiring writers in Whitsundays

Aspiring writers from the Whitsundays were treated to a world-class event last weekend at Coral Sea Resort.

Amidst a backdrop that would inspire avid writers, the Whitsunday Writers Festival attracted high profile guests, authors and publishers to its two-day event.

Festival organiser Gloria Burley said the writers were hugely appreciative of the magical backdrop of the Coral Sea Resort a location made possible thanks to their two major sponsors the Whitsunday Regional Council and the resort itself.

"I remember coming to a function here some years ago and I was in this room here but the curtains were drawn ... I pulled back the curtains and couldn’t believe the view. It is such a beautiful place and we are truly so thankful to the resort for their sponsorship of this festival," Ms Burley said.

Sarah L’Estrange who is a producer on Books and Arts Daily on the ABC National Radio was so inspired by the event, it will feature on her show today (Wednesday) between 10 and 11am.

"I have been doing vox pops with the guests and finding out why they are all here … I want to recreate the colour and atmosphere of the event for our listeners because there aren’t a lot of events like this in regional areas of Queensland," Ms L’Estrange said.

Other high profile guests included popular science author Professor Chris Turney, award winning screenwriter Cory Taylor, former chairman and managing director of the ABC David Hill and author and books editor Chris Flynn.

Whitsunday community throws support behind local Paralympian

Staff members at Whitsunday Regional Council are rallying behind one of their own as he heads to London to represent Australia as a cyclist in the Paralympics.

Council has arranged for 25 posters to be put up across the region, with locals able to leave messages of support for David Nicholas, who has worked with council since 2009, and is scheduled to depart for London on August 7.

Having already made a name for himself in Australian cycling circles following road race victories in 2009, 2010 and 2011, David won his first international medal in the road time trial at the 2011 Road World Championships, before becoming a world champion in 2012 after winning the 3km individual pursuit at the UCI Track World Championships, held in Los Angeles.

Council Deputy CEO Jon Gibbons described David as a valued employee who enjoyed the support of his colleagues.

"David started off as a trainee, and he’s now an IT support officer," Mr Gibbons said.

"He’s quite an incredible young man," he said. "He hasn’t let anything get in front of his goals."

"He’s achieved so much in such a short period of time.

"Everyone at council is very supportive and hoping for the best," Mr Gibbons said. "He definitely deserves it."

Long-time local Alan Dufty, who won medals at the 1984, 1988 and 1992 Paralympic Games, had only one piece of advice for David as he became the first person to leave a message for him at Fausts IGA yesterday.

"Treat it just like any other race," he said. "It takes the nerves away."

The posters will be located in most major shopping centres, all the libraries and council offices.

Whitsunday Regional Council's road block to advertisement

A Whitsunday engineer, who designs electrical systems for mines, has hit out at council’s decision to reject his application to place a custom-built sign on private property fronting the Bruce Highway.

In a move local business owner Scott Bennett is calling "hypocritical" the Whitsunday Regional Council refused his application at their Wednesday meeting last week to place an "undefined advertisement" on Collingvale Station.

"It’s hypocritical, that’s what it is and I am going to fight it. On the very same day they approved Whitsunday Caravan and Camping’s sign – now I have absolutely no problem with them – it’s a great sign and they’re good business people and good on them – but they deny me mine … why?" Mr Bennett said.

Mr Bennett is an electrical engineer and his business is to build million-dollar plus electrical systems mainly for the mining industry. He reckons his best scope to get his message out is to target the traffic on the Bruce Highway.

"A few months ago I approached Malvin Deicke and asked him whether I could put a trailer on his property. He said no worries, we all know each other pretty well around here, and so I made the sign up. Honestly, it’s a solid steel structure so if council is worried about it going anywhere in a cyclone, then it’s just not going to happen. If that goes, there won’t be a house left standing in Proserpine," he said.

Furious with council’s decision, Mr Bennett told the Guardian how he had tried to "do the right thing."

"I had a call from some bloke at council who basically told me to move it or he will fine me. I said righto I didn’t want to step on anyone’s toes and so I towed it way back up the paddock until it was sorted out. He sent me the form for an advertising licence and I filled it out and sent it away, thinking everything would be great," he said.

However at last Wednesday’s council meeting, even with Cr John Collins on his side, the majority couldn’t see it Mr Bennett’s way.

"The guy has a big red sign and it draws attention and that is what the ad is about. If Coca Cola puts a sign on the highway, are we going to tell them to change the colour of their sign because it’s red?" Cr Collins questioned.

Executive services confirmed it was a "grey area" with the actual report before council stating that; "town planning cannot regulate or control advertising devices that are on vehicles or trailers".

The fact that they actually have no jurisdiction over his sign is what has Mr Bennett most riled.

"They can vote all they want, as soon as the paddock dries out, I am taking my trailer back down there. My sign has the potential to bring millions of dollars into this region … look at the rest of the signs on the highway, KFC and such, what the hell do they promote?"

Mayor Jennifer Whitney said various criteria and public safety was taken into account before the decision was made.

"It was considered the advertisement on Collingvale Station, Bruce Highway, Gregory River, may cause reasonable distraction to vehicular traffic along the Bruce Highway with the speed limit in the area being 100km. It was further considered the advertisement does detract from the amenity and the natural features of the rural environment in which it is situated, primarily because of colour, design and sign presentation," Mayor Whitney said in a statement.

"The undefined advertisement for Whitsunday Camping and Caravan Centre however does not detract from the amenity and is consistent in colour and appearance, with buildings and natural features of the environment in which it is situated."

Proserpine projects pave way for cleaner future

An innovative, flexible project pioneered right here in Proserpine some three years ago is gaining a lot of attention lately particularly with the unseasonal weather.

Peter Sutherland, who used to work under the banner of BSES Limited, now works with Canegrowers Proserpine in a subdivision known as Sugar Services Proserpine (SSP).

While Mr Sutherland’s role won’t change a great deal from his former duties with the BSES, the time factor might.

"We’ve gone from four staff members down to one, so growers might have to be mindful of that," Mr Sutherland said.

Mr Sutherland says a big part of his role will be his continued involvement with the variety trials and clean seed plots.

The program is called the "one eye sett" and offers a much more flexible alternative to planting the traditional way.

"It’s a way to quickly propagate from a small amount of cane. It’s an eight-week head start which is vital during unseasonal weather like we are having now and it’s as disease free as we can make it," Mr Sutherland said.

First: The cane is cut from from the clean seed plots of hot water treated cane.

Second: The cane is then cut into three cm billets and put in the incubator to rapidly germinate the one eye setts.

Third: The germinating setts are dropped into 80mm pots and covered with our own specially formulated potting mix (with secret ingredients)

Fourth: The potted plants are moved to the hothouse for 2 weeks to complete the establishment phase.

The warm conditions inside allow the plants to grow rapidly even during cold winter days. And finally the plants are moved outside to harden in the sun for a few weeks prior to planting in the field with the mechanical

planter.

"In 2009 the BSES gave Proserpine 5 plants of the Q240 variety … this year we have 18,000 to plant and the growers have leapt on it. Their number one comment is; "Look it’s already coming up behind the planter", it basically minimises the risk, you don’t have to have your heart in your throat about the cane shooting, because the hard work is already done," Mr Sutherland said.

How does it work?

Hopes to form a Parkinson's Disease support group in the Whitsundays

These two blokes have a few things in common. They’re both ex-servicemen, don’t mind a few beers of an evening and they both have Parkinson’s Disease.

John Morris misses the deep blue sea. He’s ex-Navy, trained as a submariner and later a shipmaster who was diagnosed with the debilitating disease some 10 years ago.

“Of course they take all your tickets and licences off you when you are diagnosed with Parkinson’s, so I haven’t been able to do what I love since 2003,” Mr Morris said.

Peter Dorman is an engineer who loves working with his hands. Days out from his 50th birthday, he was dealt an irreversible blow; being told he was suffering from Parkinson's Disease.

“I had it a couple of years before that but it takes a long time for them to work out what it is… Mine started with slowness of motion, I would be in the car and it would take me so long to do my seatbelt up.

“I suppose at the beginning it was a bit of the old “why me?” but all I could come up with was “why not?” Mr Dorman said.

Parkinson’s Disease is a chronic progressive, incurable and disabling neurological condition which is characterised generally by movement. It is the second most common degenerative neurological condition in Australia – affecting up to 80,000 Australians.

Parkinson’s Queensland’s client services co-ordinator Christine Bruinsma says at least 17,000 of those affected live in Queensland.

“There is currently no cure for the disease but the research community are doing all they can to find a cure into the future. While we cannot promise there will be a cure tomorrow, without the support of the community there would be less information available and few support groups,” Ms Bruinsma said.

Mr Dorman says statistics show that there may be 15 to 20 people living in the Whitsundays with Parkinson’s Disease and it is for this reason that the Guardian met with the two men at Cannonvale Library on Monday morning.

“It’s very hard to accept when you are first diagnosed, because you don’t know what to expect and soon everything starts to get worse. Your movements become more sporadic, it took me an hour to get out of bed, then another hour for breakfast, basically your whole life changes,” Mr Dorman said.

Mr Morris’s experience was equally daunting.

“There’s a level of embarassemnt I suppose. You might get the shakes when you go into a supermarket and people look. Mine was a bit different to Peter's where my condition wasn’t so much slowness, but sudden movements. My wife had to hold the plate down for me sometimes so I wouldn’t send it flying across the room,” Mr Morris said.

After several years treatment on a drug called Sinemet which artificially replaces dopamines in the brain, both John and Peter underwent surgery called Deep Brain Stimulus (DBS) which involves inserting a neurostimulator, to stimulate the target area and block signals believed to cause the disabling motor symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease.

Both men say they are now able to drive, where they weren’t before and their quality of life has improved greatly.

“I know when I was first diagnosed I wouldn’t have gone to a support group … but I certainly would now … I suppose if there had have been a support group here we both might have had the operation a bit sooner,” Mr Morris said.

In conjunction with Parkinson’s Queensland, the two men are calling for expressions of interest to establish a support group right here in the Whitsundays.

The first meeting will be held on Friday morning, August 17 at the Uniting Church Hall in Proserpine. “John and I only became friends because another bloke told me that he had the same condition. Before that I hadn’t really spoken to anyone who understood what I was going through … and that is really good especially when you are faced with something like this.”

Proserpine Community Centre acquires land for expansion

By the end of 2013, the two vacant blocks beside the Proserpine Museum will boast an expansive centre with a purpose for everyone in the community.

The Department of Community, Child Safety and Disabilities Services has played a major part in assisting the Proserpine Community Centre committee securing two Gardenia Street blocks which will eventually turn into the new purpose-built community centre.

This acquisition is a huge step for the centre which has been operating temporarily in the Old Ambulance Building on Chapman Street.

President of the Proserpine Community Centre Association Col Mengel said Whitsunday Regional Council has also played a significant role with the proposed new building.

“When complete, it will be the hub of many community services as well as visiting services from Airlie Beach, Mackay and Townsville who require a space,” Mr Mengel said.

The major project has been a long time in the making.

“I believe we have sufficient funding for the project,” he said.

“We are excited. A lot of hard work has been put in.”

The centre will boast around 15 rooms in the 500-700 square metres of building and is set to be complete by the end of next year.

“The facility will be suitable long term and will provide its needs for many years to come.”

“We are looking into a crystal ball.”

The community centre association is calling for potential clients facility users to attend a meeting today, Wednesday, July 11 to express their interests in the new centre.

The meeting will begin at 5.30pm and will be held at the Proserpine Community Centre at 9 Chapman Street.

The centre is also seeking expressions of interest in a project manager position which will involve managing the design, construction and commissioning of the centre.

Please register interest by Friday, July 20 to secretary, PO Box 678, Proserpine, Queensland 4800.

Whitsunday Coast Guardian owner runs into Costo at Origin

PROSERPINE newspaper owner Peter Lewis had good reason to pinch himself last Wednesday night at the third and deciding State of Origin game.

For the first time in his life, the proprietor of the “Whitsunday Coast Guardian” found himself at an Origin game and his first interstate rugby league game since 1959. Back then, the Brisbane Exhibition Ground was where such matches were played…a far cry from today’s Suncorp Stadium.

Peter wasn’t the only Whitsundays identity in the crowd either, with one of his old sparring partners from squash, an electrician from the mill and your own rugby league columnist among many who made the trip south.

***

WHEN I was a boy, I remember how thrilled I was to get a copy of this rugby league book written by noted rugby league historian Gary Lester.

It was a book that detailed the history of the game in Australia, outlining the clubs that made up the old Sydney and Brisbane competitions, with some colour photos of legends like Wally Lewis playing for Valleys!

It’s a book that I still cherish, even more so after I was lucky enough to get one-half of the ‘Gladiators’ from 1963, the great Arthur Summons, to sign it after I interviewed him at a hotel in Wagga Wagga many years later.

I’ve collected many rugby league books since then, many of them also signed, but one that is right up at the top of the pile is “Up North”, a book on the history of the Foley Shield and authored by Graham Stockwell.

For those unaware, ‘Stocky’ played for Proserpine way back in ‘75 – a year that Proserpine won the Whitsunday premiership before winning the Noel Ford Memorial Trophy in Townsville in a Foley Shield final curtain-raiser.

Until last weekend, I had never met this bloke whom I had heard so much about, a man who clearly has a great love for league in the North, following on from his days playing for not only the Brahmans but also Carltons (now Northern Suburbs), Magpies and Southern Suburbs in Mackay.

Stocky also played with East Coast in ’76 alongside blokes such as Frank Daisy and Neil Appo. Actually, that’d be a very good trivia question. What North Queensland club was once called East Coast? The answer: Sarina.

But back to last weekend, when I finally met Stocky, wearing his old jersey from ‘75, after I climbed down from the broadcast box at Les Stagg Oval, which seemed under siege from the elements…not that a bit of rain would dampen everyone’s spirits, especially those people visiting from out of town.

I’ve got to say our meeting was brief but little did I know that we would be sitting together on the plane to Brisbane the following day when Stocky recalled past battles, including that one in Townsville in ’75 when Barry Preston kicked a championship-winning goal for Proserpine.

Not surprisingly, ‘Presto’ was on the same flight but he left these footy nuts to their own devices, as Stocky told story after story…so many that Cathu State Forest would have to be chopped down to print the lot of them!

I never came close to playing for the Brahmans but I count myself lucky to have met good, decent fellas who did – people like Stocky, who loved every minute of his weekend back in the Whitsundays, enjoying the company of great old mates such as Presto, Laurie Goldman and Luchie Gardel.

Top marks to everyone who helped make this reunion such a resounding success – a weekend that many old fellas will not forget.

***

FINALLY, well done to the Brahmans on a gutsy 24-all draw last Saturday night against Southern Suburbs, who were grand finalists last season.

Aside from denying the Sharks a victory, the highlight was that massive tackle from Jamie Dodt in the opening exchanges. I missed it but from all reports, you wouldn’t get bigger hits on “Countdown” although Anselam Tabua may argue the toss with me there. After all, he is ‘The Jukebox’.

Until next week, enjoy the greatest game of all.

# Jason Costigan is the Member for Whitsunday and a former commentator on Fox Sports and Sea FM.

Community cabinet comes to Whitsunday

The second Community Cabinet of the LNP Government will be held in the Whitsundays next month, Premier Campbell Newman announced yesterday.

Mr Newman said the region was an ideal location to hold Community Cabinet on August 5 and 6.

"Bringing Cabinet to the Whitsundays continues our focus on regional Queensland and follows the highly successful DestinationQ forum in Cairns and Townsville Community Cabinet meeting," he said.

"Under the LNP Government Queenslanders are getting a real say in our state’s future direction and growth, and an important part of that is interaction with Members and Ministers of the government.

"Community Cabinet will be a great opportunity for locals to meet with members of the LNP Cabinet and tell us about their concerns and what is important to them."

Mr Newman said the government had met all its First 100 Days targets but there was a long way to go to get Queensland back on track.

Local Member for Whitsunday Jason Costigan welcomed the announcement.

"Under an LNP Government, regional Queensland will no longer be ignored as it was by Labor," he said.

"I have lobbied hard for Community Cabinet to come to our region so members of the government get a real understanding of our concerns.

"Proper funding for local roads is a red hot issue and I’m sure it will be raised with my ministerial colleagues, along with the cost of living and the need to support our tourism sector by building on the solid outcomes of the DestinationQ forum."

All nineteen members of the Cabinet will travel to the region, with events planned for Airlie Beach and Proserpine.

Mike Brunker weighs in to de-amalgamation debate in Whitsundays

The state government will hold their community cabinet meeting in the Proserpine/Airlie Beach area on August 5 and 6.

Mayor Jennifer Whitney shared this news with the Guardian yesterday after the LNP’s business breakfast in Mackay celebrating 100 days in government.

"I gave a thank you speech to the premier which expressed council’s gratitude for him taking time out to visit smaller communities like us in the Whitsundays," the mayor said.

The LNP went to the 2012 State Election promising to consider applications from former shires which wanted to revert to their old boundaries.

The Boundaries Commissioner Col Meng who is former mayor of the first amalgamated council has been appointed to assess the viability of the de-amalgamations.

"Personally I don’t think there will be a large amount of councils that want to de-amalgamate purely because of the cost associated, but if the Whitsunday region is one then whoever is pushing the de-amalgamation will have to get a petition signed by at least 20 per cent of the voting population," Mr Meng said.

"Over the next few weeks I would like to sit down and talk with community groups, as well as councils and see what their intentions are," he said.

The LNP has put up an online fact sheet detailing exactly what was required to be considered for de-amalgamation including a deadline of August 29.

If the Whitsundays is one of the successful shires, a referendum will be held before the year’s end.

"Basically it has to be all done and dusted by February next year," Mr Meng said.

If residents back de-amalgamation and the
Government supports the proposal, new elections will be held for a mayor and councillors in the breakaway area.

Former Whitsunday mayor who was also mayor of the former Bowen Shire Mike Brunker says he will not be putting up his hand should de-amalgamation be successful.

"I don’t think de-amalgamation will be successful but what this will prove is that the old Whitsunday Shire was broke. Nobody would believe me, even Jennifer wouldn’t believe me. Let’s see what happens now?"

The former Mayor who rejected rumours of him running for a seat in any of the three tiers of government, including the state seat of Mackay which is currently held by Tim Mulherin, said it was amazing how people’s views changed overnight.

"If the 600 votes had have gone my way, then there’d be people at the beach screaming for de-amalgamation … now they’re fully supportive because they have a mayor they think they can control. These people just attacked everything we did for four years. They were pushing their own barrow, Mr Brunker said.

However, Mayor Jennifer Whitney said she certainly did not think the former Whitsunday Shire was broke, and rejected Mr Brunker's comments.

"We had a debt of $22m which was quite sustainable … if I thought we were a basket case for the debt of $22m what are we now with this new debt of $80m contracted out the water and sewerage plant work? We are a sustainable council," she said.

The mayor said if the greater community wanted to look into de-amalgamation then the council would certainly listen to their views, however she warned the process wouldn’t be too unlike a divorce.

"We are one region and we can be one great region … we just need to work together," she said.

Vital message through heartbreak

No matter what, you are somebody.

This powerful message is carried by a local family who has more reason than ever to stop an occurrence which now happens every day in society.

Brad and Liz De Vries have both loved and tragically lost their beautiful daughter, Brianna, when she took her own life as a result of continual bullying.

Brianna was 14 years old.

With nothing else do but mourn the loss of their amazing daughter, the family has taken up Brianna’s battle against this societal struggle by launching a program which spreads the message that bullying must stop now.

In Brianna’s legacy, the De Vries have brought the ‘Stand Up for the Silent’ program to Whitsundays in the hopes to only change lives but also to save them.

Mr De Vries is so passionate about the program he wants to eventually deliver it across Australia.

"We need to educate the bullies and teach them what they are doing has consequences (and) what they are doing is wrong, and to teach the bullied, that they are somebody,’ Mr De Vries said.

"It’s made a huge difference in the US. The program does a lot, but the kids are the only ones who can change it. It teaches kids to be the ones to stand up rather than watch."

Ms De Vries spoke from the heart when she said everyone had been affected by bullying in some shape or form.

"We want people to know there can be consequences," Ms De Vries said.

"If they only knew what we have to go through every day."

The De Vries said the ‘Stand Up for Silent’ program involves teaching younger generations about empathy and consequences while changing their perceptions.

"I want to get into the primary school system to get to them before this prejudice starts and they start finding reasons to hate when they can find reasons to care," Mr De Vries said.

"These days, where there is mobile phones, computers and internet it brings it (bullying) into the home. No where is safe.

"The most effective way is kids have a group around them to stand beside them, wrap them up in warmth, no matter what, you are somebody."

The De Vries, who speak highly of the support from the community, said though suicide was a contentious issue, they wanted to break through the stigma by getting people to open up.

"We want to help them overcome the problem, from our loss, we can help them. Ask everyone who has been bullied, it doesn’t go away," Mr De Vries said.

Ms De Vries urges anyone experiencing bullying to tell someone who can help.

"Open up the lines of communication and take up the battle," she said.

The De Vries would like to thank Anna Smith, Rotary, Community Solutions and the Whitsunday Christian College for their continual support.

The official launch of ‘Stand For The Silent’ Australia, presented by Kirk Smalley will be held on Wednesday, July 18 at 4pm at the Whitsunday Christian College Hall.