Whitsunday Airport officially opened

If we build it, they will come.

Whitsunday Mayor Mike Brunker, Member for Whitsunday Jan Jarratt and Acting Premier Andrew Fraser.

This was Acting Premier Andrew Fraser’s message to the community at the official celebration marking the completion of the $7 million airport upgrade.

Flanked by Member for Whitsunday and Tourism Minister Jan Jarratt, Mayor Mike Brunker and a myriad of dignitaries, the former local boy used his speech to celebrate the massive achievements of the community and the airport staff.

"First impressions really count and this new airport with room to grow and allow for future growth will be the well springs of the Whitsundays’ vital tourism industry," Acting Premier Andrew Fraser said.

"This re-development which is on the doorstep of a beautiful region, really puts the region’s best foot forward," he said.

Member for Whitsunday Jan Jarratt said she was really proud to welcome "local boy" Andrew Fraser back into the community he grew up amongst.

"We never lost sight of this vision and it has been worth the fight. There were some doubters but it was never me, Andrew or Mike. I want to thank each and every member of the community for having faith," she said.

"I cannot overstate how important first impressions are and this is fantastic. I have to thank the council and the workers," she said.

Mayor Mike Brunker opened his speech with his gratitude to council, staff and workers at the airport.

"This is the jewel in the crown to our region. The upgrade has battled floods, two cyclones and an earthquake, so it’s a bit delayed but the fact that it is complete is a real credit to the people on the ground," Mr Brunker said.

Fly in fly out options were discussed as was increasing the number of flights in and out of the airport.

"The sky’s the limit now," Cr Brunker said.

"It’s a remarkable achievement and we’re only going to get bigger and better."

Arabian Prince visits cyclone shelter site at Proserpine School

 Just like in a children’s fairytale, a crowned prince from a far away land touched down in Proserpine late yesterday afternoon bearing a gift for the Whitsundays that would unite two nations forever.

 In a scene that made you proud to be Australian, his royal highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al Nahyan from the United Arab Emirates was welcomed by a sea of Australian and UAE flags held proudly and excitedly by Proserpine State Primary School students who sat collectively to form the letters U, A and E - visible from the helicopter.

 Sheikh Abdullah and his entourage made an historic stopover in Proserpine for the official turning of the sod for the new cyclone shelter, which will be built on the school grounds within 12 months.

 Deputy Premier Andrew Fraser, Local member Jan Jarratt and Mayor Mike Brunker were also there to welcome the distinguished guest.

 "Our relationship with Queensland stretches beyond the government. We want to be friends with you," His Highness Abdullah said.

 "It’s true we come from very different societies and cultures, we talk different and the colour of our skin is different, but there are also great similarities. We all love kids … and we all love you … you are our future," he told the students.

 The Sheikh heard from Major General RG Wilson who heads up the recovery task force who spoke of the restoration process in Queensland.

 "22 lives were lost, three quarters of Queensland was declared a disaster zone and 2-and-a-half million people were in the disaster area. But we are on our way to recovery and I thank you on behalf of everyone in Queensland for your generous donation," Major RG Wilson said.

 School captains Timothy Hines, Logan Donadelli, Darcy Pepper and Dana Madeley then gave personal accounts of their harrowing time during the last wet season, with Tim’s recollection of the landslide.

 "We were lucky to get out alive. Amazingly the mudslide was diverted somewhere a bit further up the mountain but we had mud and rocks through our home for weeks.

 "We were cut off for three days from town," he told the prince.

 "The facility will not only be a cyclone shelter but a hall for the entire community," the captains said.

 The Proserpine State Primary School band played the national anthems for the two nations, which drew applause from the prince before he was invited to officially turn the sod for the new centre.

 Deputy premier Andrew Fraser told the crowd that this was the beginning of a great friendship.

 "We have a saying here in Australia …that you discover who your true friends are in times of need … and it was during the cyclone that this friendship was formed," he said.

Andrew Fraser revisits Proserpine School

 Acting premier Andrew Fraser took time out from his busy schedule last week to revisit a part of his past at the Proserpine State High School.

 Mr Fraser gave an inspiring address to students from years 11 and 12 currently choosing careers.

 “I think it’s a real falsehood that anyone at age 17 should be expected to decide what they’re going to do for the rest of their lives,” Mr Fraser said, advising his protégés to simply “pick something that’s interesting”.

 “It doesn’t matter if you don’t yet fully understand it. Life’s generally a long endeavour and picking something that grabs the heart of you is half the battle,” he said.

 “If you’re in a position where going to work means doing something you enjoy you’re already winning.”

 Mr Fraser said his education in Proserpine was “one of the best things that ever happened to me”.

 “A public education at a great school like this allows you to write your own ticket,” he said.

 School Principal Chris Roff said Andrew’s visit was “an affirmation of the pride he has in this school”.

 “Considering how busy he is it’s fabulous he’s making the time,” Mr Roff said.

 Grade 11 student Stacey Miotto said hearing Mr Fraser talk had definitely inspired her.

 “I have an idea of something I want to do at uni and this has given me the confidence to go for that,” she said.

 It wasn’t just students who were pleased by the visit with Mr Fraser’s former teacher Jenny Napier reminiscing fondly about the past.

 “All those years back Andrew did a brilliant job of a caricature of Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen in one of the school musicals so it’s always amused me that he went into politics,” Ms Napier said.

 “His characterisation was so clever and so hilarious that even Sir Joh would have been proud”.

Whitsunday Coast Airport's new branding takes off

 The redevelopment of the Whitsunday Coast Airport reached a milestone last week with the revelation of new branding and further funds for a comprehensive marketing campaign.

 Whitsunday Coast Airport business development manager Scott Waters said he was “very excited” to have the facility’s new logo unveiled by the acting premier, tourism minister and mayor.

 Mr Waters described the new branding as “basically the council logo and existing vibrant colours with aviation themes incorporated into it and also a new tag “gateway to the Whitsundays and coalfields”, which very much represents inbound and outbound travel”.

 “This gives us a new beginning. It shows we’re a region on the rise from an aviation perspective. Our tourism industry is a very strong story and one we will continue to tell but we also need to encapsulate where we sit from an economic perspective,” Mr Waters said.

 “This (airport) is the key gateway for the entire Whitsunday region and we can also be a launch pad into the Bowen basin and future Galilee basin as well,” he said.

 Acting premier Andrew Fraser announced a further injection of $80,000 in marketing money, on top of the $7million already spent on upgrading the Whitsundays’ “welcome mat”.

 Tourism minister and Whitsunday MP Jan Jarratt said this was “aviation history in the making”.

 “Just as we have rejuvenated the airport itself, it was imperative to rejuvenate the airport’s image,” Ms Jarratt said.

 “This logo gives a dynamic and professional impression, letting the major players in aviation know we are serious about increasing services and connectivity to the Whitsundays.

 Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor Mike Brunker said the appointment of a business development officer was already paying dividends.

 “Scott’s only been in the hot seat for a few weeks, but he hasn’t missed a trick,” Cr Brunker said.

 “Now we’ll be working together on short, medium and long-term growth strategies for our airport,” he said.

New Deputy Premier Andrew Fraser is Proserpine's political star

 Proserpine born Andrew Fraser puts his political achievements down to the quality education he received at Proserpine High School.

 Mr Fraser, who at just 35-years-old was last week sworn in as deputy premier to Anna Bligh, said very few people could name five academy award winners, while many would remember this number of their most inspirational teachers.

 “The education I received in Proserpine has enabled me to go on and pursue my ambitions – giving me the opportunity to represent the people of Queensland,” he said.

 Mr Fraser, who remembers “reading the Guardian when it came out on a Thursday and was only 25cents”, said he has always considered the sense of community in Proserpine to be one of the original motivators behind his career.

 “To work as a community, not as an individual, underpins why I stood for parliament in the first place,” he said.

 Whitsunday MP Jan Jarratt, who describes Andrew as “one of the brightest and most talented people in Queensland’s political landscape,” says the appointment is a proud moment for the region.

 “Andrew has always been a great supporter of the Whitsundays, and given his intimate knowledge of this area and its needs, he has also been a great ally for me in Parliament.

 “It’s fantastic to see a small town boy who attended a state school attain this enormous honour and I hope Andrew’s success will inspire local students to believe that anything is possible,” Ms Jarratt said.

 Meanwhile on a family level, Andrew’s parents Peter and Jeanne said they are very proud of their son, attributing his success to “sheer hard work”.

 “With Andrew anything could happen. He’s a determined sort of a bloke and if he puts his mind to something he’ll achieve it,” Peter Fraser said.

 Mr Fraser (Senior) said Andrew had never lost sight of his Proserpine roots.

 “When he comes home to the family at Midge Point he’s just a normal bloke who likes a cold stubby on a hot day.”