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 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.

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.

Debate before Whitsunday Regional Council portfolios passed

Mayor Jennifer Whitney’s portfolio motion was finally passed at a special council meeting last Wednesday with her Deputy Peter Ramage and Division 5 councillor David Clark continuing to oppose the proposal.

The portfolios will be divided up in a similar fashion to how ministers in the state and federal governments are handed certain packages including water and sewerage, rates or land and development etc.

"Given the geographical aspect of the region, I fail to see how this can work. I am yet to find a regional areas where its has worked," deputy mayor Peter Ramage said. "It is not compulsory, it is not in the act and I think it will be very hard to do something like this in a divided council.

Cr Kevin Collins disagreed.

"In our recent training it was made very clear to us all, which surprised me, that we are councillors for the whole region not just the division. And as far as I can see we cannot be across every single aspect of the council so I say let’s have a crack at it, and if it doesn’t work within six months, we’ll come back to the table with it.

Cr Clifford brought Bundaberg council into the argument saying their boundary covered an even greater geographical area than the Whitsundays and reiterated her support for a united council.

Cr John Collins entered the debate saying he was the newbie on the block and since being elected he’d been contacted by several constituents outside his division already.

"I am willing to have a crack at it, let’s give it a go and as Kevin says if it doesn’t work out we’ll revisit it in six months," Cr Collins said.

The mayor said the portfolios would be instrumental in getting over the massive hurdle of amalgamation which Cr Ramage argued there simply hadn’t been enough research put into the project.

"I don’t think it has been done democratically but I can see which way it is going to go and I am not in favour of it at all," deputy Ramage said.

In a show of good faith to her comrades, the mayor let the debate continue well past protocol.

Cr Kevin Collins took the floor.

"Some old bloke called me the other day about a dirt road. Now I know nothing about dirt roads and I am sure when he hung up he said to his wife "that guy’s an idiot" and he’d be right. If I could have said to him hang on I will put you on to someone who is an expert in that field, we’d all be a lot better off!

However it was the wishes of the majority that the motion be passed and so it was four to two with Crs Ramage and Clark voting against it, and Cr Andrew Willcox absent.

Whitsunday community celebrates a milestone

Memories of yesteryear came to life yesterday afternoon as the angels in blue celebrated 40 years of community care.

The Blue Care Proserpine Community Centre, established in 1972, has had a fascinating history through the last four decades and some of the former registered nurses told their stories at the anniversary event yesterday afternoon.

Prominent locals Doreen Wesley and Lillian Orr remember their days as relieving staff at Blue Care, while current director of nursing Sue Collins praises the former nurses achievements over the last four decades.

"They have made the most significant impact on Blue Care over the years," Ms Collins said.

"They set up the plans for the building and basically formed this to place to what it is today."

Blue Care employs 20 staff who deliver care services to  more than 170 clients.

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.

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.

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.

Whitsunday autism fundraiser gains momentum

A Whitsunday mother whose son was diagnosed with autism some 14 months ago says her life changed forever when she began talking to people about her only child Riley.

Debbie Henshell’s three year old son was diagnosed with autism just over a year ago.

“Riley is awesome. He is non-verbal … but he is starting to learn to talk now. For the first six months since I found out he was autistic I didn’t talk to anyone … and that does not help at all. Maybe I was slightly embarrassed about the label, I was in disbelief … it was just a combination of so many things and I stuck my head in the sand,” Ms Henshell said.

Some six months later and this passionate mother has certainly come a long way. She is now holding the reigns to one of the Whitsundays biggest autism fundraisers which is gathering momentum among businesses in the Whitsundays and continues this Friday night at the Reef Gateway Hotel.

“In our support group there are 23 people and that is just the people we know about … I believe there are a lot more people out there who are affected by autism and we want to let people know that this group is open to everyone."

Ms Henshell says a few months ago she started taking Riley to the AEIOU foundation in Townsville which has been a huge inspiration behind her fundraising.

“Many people are still taking their kids to Brisbane, but I want people to know that there are intensive specialised programs right here in north Queensland.”

This month is Autism Awareness Month, and Autism Queensland has launched a new campaign “Go Blue for Autism” to raise funds and awareness of the condition, which Ms Henshell has grabbed hold of with both hands.

“I have received such an overwhelming amount of support from local businesses which is why we are having the spinoff raffle this Friday night at the Reef Gateway Hotel,” she said.

Tickets in the major prize, which will be drawn in conjunction with Rotary Club of Airlie Beach on May 23, can be purchased from many Proserpine businesses including Trish-Annes’ Beauty, Sirene Sea Pearls, Cherry Baby, Blackies Produce, The News Express and Fitness Venue.

“Even if people don’t want to buy tickets, at least they can pick up a brochure and see what our group is about and what support we offer,” she said.

Film star to run for Whitsunday mayor position

He may have retired from acting some years ago, but Grigor Taylor best known for his role in an early 1970s Australian TV police drama series still want in on the action.

The man who lives in the northern part of the Whitsunday Regional Council electorate is part of a proactive team which is promoting an “amalgamation of the two shires” rather than “a war between them”.

“It’s been gang warfare and it must stop. The joining of shires is the hand the state government dealt us – we simply have to work together,” said Mr Taylor.

Mr Taylor’s team consists of Division five candidate Terry Pilcher - a prominent businessman in Bowen and candidate for Division six Marg Tawse a teacher and trained draughtswoman.

“We have a slogan, which is a bit tongue in cheek but it fits,” laughed Marg … “together we will rebuild the region. Terry and Grigor are both builders and I can read the plans, which not a lot of people can do.”

The trio is promoting a list of promises they will bring into play once they are elected.

The top ones being rates capped in the first year, and never to increase beyond CPI, a complete freeze on selling public land, and a streamlined process where citizens can engage with council.

“When you go into a shop and a product is increased beyond the CPI you can choose not to buy it. With rates you can’t, they’re compulsory. I believe that council’s costs should never go past the community’s ability to meet these costs. We need to live within our means,” Mr Grigor said.

Mr Pilcher says their approach is about common sense and
co-operation.

“We won’t make a decision unless it is in the best interest of the majority – it’s as simple as that,” Mr Pilcher said.

Mr Taylor said his list of promises were designed for the genuine betterment of the community and he would be surprised if there was one candidate for the election that didn’t agree with any of them.

“I would like to see one councillor run their hand down our list and tell us which ones they don’t support. It won’t happen.”

Committee to source best candidates for council






The Whitsunday Ratepayers Association (WRA) has sworn five of its most knowledgeable members to work select and endorse the most suited candidates for the council election.

The chairman of the newly formed group known as the Election Advisory Committee (EAC) is Andrew Marshall and his fellow advisors are David Brooks, Sue Dickinson, Russell Cook and Ross Plowman.

Secretary Tony Moscato said the committee has been set up by the nearly 700 members of the WRA to obtain information about candidates for the council elections, the first time this has ever been done.

"This information will be published to its members for them to choose their endorsed candidates," Mr Moscato said.

Mr Marshall said the region needed integrity, transparency and competency in council. "We need to heal the image of the council and restore confidence in its decision making", he said.

"Voters need to think carefully about the candidates to ensure that they don’t allow a group of councillors to suppress other councillors and waste our money for the benefit of a few greedy people", Mr Marshall warned.

Mr Moscato said that the membership of the WRA was growing strongly and its endorsement of candidates would be a significant indicator of public support.

"Voters need to be WRA members to get the revealing facts or look out for candidates endorsed by the WRA," said Mr Moscato, adding, the WRA intended to have a councillor appointed to liaise with the group so that the community had a voice in council and a watchful eye on their proceedings.



Petition for another pharmacy in the Whitsundays

Young local pharmacist Kate Deambrogio says it has been many years since residents of Proserpine, and surrounding districts have been able to choose between pharmacies for their pharmaceutical services.

"Since the early 90s, there has only been one pharmacy in Proserpine, despite the growth in the district," she said.

In October 2011 the Federal Government introduced New Pharmacy Location Rules with specific guidelines for establishing new pharmacies in one pharmacy towns of sufficient size to sustain both businesses.

The young chemist said at the time the new rules came into force, Proserpine qualified for a new pharmacy.

Ms Deambrogio and her business partner Terry Travers said they had an application to establish a new pharmacy in Proserpine lodged with the Australian Community Pharmacy Authority (ACPA) to be heard at their December meeting.

"We aim to establish a pharmacy in a location convenient to both doctor’s surgeries and with ample car parking. Our proposed pharmacy will stock full pharmacy items – basically, what you would expect a pharmacy to have. We are not going to be a big discounting drug store – we don’t believe that is what the town needs, the town though does need competition and choice which can be achieved through the pharmacy which we propose to establish."

"However a Federal Court appeal lodged prior to the December meeting resulted in a restraint being placed on the ACPA in considering applications for Proserpine. This appeal was submitted by the current pharmacy owner in Proserpine.

"The rules do allow for an appeal and he is within his rights to do this." Miss Deambrogio said.

"It is understood that he is also intending to establish a branch of his existing pharmacy further towards the eastern end of the Main Street of Proserpine towards the Bruce Highway."

Robert McKay who owns Proserpine Family Pharmacy said he did not lodge a federal court injunction against Ms Deambrogio, rather it was to ensure the ACPA processed the orders in which they were received.

"It’s a process that has to take place. My injunction was to ensure the Australian government dealt with things as set out in their own rules. Kate somehow thinks a petition is going to get around the rules," he said, adding he wasn’t considering opening another pharmacy in Proserpine."

However Ms Deambrogio said she was aware of Mr McKay’s application to acquire a second licence. "And the rules do allow this, despite him owning the existing pharmacy in the town. It’s just we, also however, believe we should be entitled the opportunity to have our application heard by the ACPA, and so we are bringing this to the attention of the Federal Minister for Health and Ageing".

Ms Deambrogio said they were half way towards their goal in obtaining enough signatures for the document to be presented to the health minister and they would be at Fausts IGA this morning if people wanted to sign on.

"This is the community's chance to support this campaign as it will create competition," she said.

Whitsunday mum's plea for a safer Bruce Highway

A notorious stretch of the Bruce Highway some 20 km south of Proserpine closed on Monday morning bringing back dreadful memories for a young Proserpine mother of the day her partner was nearly swept from her life.

Bridget Middleton’s partner Scott Boldiston was travelling to work before dawn one morning in January 2011 when he was swept off the Goorganga flood plain.

"The flood indicators weren’t working, and my husband didn’t see the flooded road until he was in it. He wasn’t doing anything wrong. He was in the old ute, he wasn’t speeding and he had a trailer on the back. Coming up to the flood plain he had to dip his lights because a truck was coming the other way," Ms Middleton said.

The mother of three said a phone call came through from her husband before dawn but bad reception meant she couldn’t hear what he was trying to say.

"I knew he wouldn’t wake me up at that time of the morning … so I knew something was wrong."

A few hours later Mr Boldiston came back to the family home.

"He was soaking and freezing when he told me the story. As soon as he hit the water he wound down a window before the power cut out. He’s not the best swimmer so luckily he found a tree to climb up in where he basically sat until he could flag someone down for help. He could have died – the current was so fast and quick."

Ms Middleton followed the near tragedy up with a letter to the Main Roads Department.

"That was a year ago and nothing has happened. What will it take … someone dying?"

A spokesperson from the Department of Main Roads says in early 2011 (the time of Mr Boldiston’s accident), the flashing lights did not activate due to a software error which was immediately rectified by the company which designed and installed the system.

"The department has continued to regularly test the system and the flashing lights have not malfunctioned since this occurrence," the spokesperson said.

"Motorists are advised to drive with caution as wet weather continues across the Mackay/Whitsunday region and not to attempt to cross flooded roads. The message is simple. If it’s flooded – forget it," she said.

The department put up permanent flood warning signs on the Bruce Highway at the approaches to Goorganga Plains in 2010.

"The signs read "Road subject to flooding - indicators show depth", and drivers can see from the indicators the maximum depth of floodwaters across the road.

"The flashing lights are in place as an added warning signal for drivers."

Main Roads Minister Craig Wallace says the Bligh Government has a clear vision for the state’s longest road

"Upgrades of bridges and approaches at Goorganga Plains have been identified as priorities in our plan.

"Funding is fundamentally a Federal responsibility but the Bligh Government is making contributions because we know how important the Bruce Highway is to Queensland.

"Over the next four years, the State and Federal government are spending more than $120 million on the Bruce Highway in the Mackay/Whitsunday region.

Works are already under way to build four overtaking lanes between Mackay and Proserpine, with work to begin on another four mid-year. A further four will be constructed between Mackay and Bowen over the next two years. All up, 16 lanes will be built between St Lawrence and Bowen, including four being constructed between Sarina
and Mackay.

State program opens world of opportunity to Whitsunday youth

Jason Pap couldn't stand the water - but a rare opportunity created by the state government has opened up a whole new world for the young Whitsunday man.

"How many people get an opportunity like this," said the 21-year-old who now spends his days deep sea diving along the great barrier reef picking up starfish detrimental to its eco system.

Jason and 19 of his reef ranger mates are now fully qualified dive instructors which Tourism Minister and local member Jan Jarratt says are vital for the tourism industry.

"I asked myself whether it was worth it ... but I know now that it is. I never really liked the water but now I am in it every day," Jason said.

The group has just completed the state government's Skilling Queenslanders for Work program and thanks to a grant given to the Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators (AMPTO) to support its Crown of Thorns combat program, the graduates can also help control starfish infestations.

AMPTO program manager Steve Moon said he has seen a complete turnaround in all 20 young participants.

"They all have diverse backgrounds (and) they would usually not have had this opportunity," Mr Moon said.

"The program has succeeded all expectations."

Participants, dressed in their navy blue AMPTO uniforms, received their certificates in front of trainers, teachers, Member for Whitsunday Jan Jarratt and tourism operators on Friday.

Member for Whitsunday Jan Jarratt said the program is a great investment in the young participants lives.

"Everyone knows it’s worthwhile. Congratulations to the participants, I’m so proud," she said.

"Whether this is the job of your dreams or a stepping stone, we’ve made an investment which is more than just money."

Twelve of the graduates have already received employment, including overseas work and also in the local tourism industry.

Throughout the employment program, participants undertook intensive training, placement and also developed important life skills.

They will also continue mentoring and follow-up support in the next six months.

Whitsunday teen dreaming of Miss Popularity

This young lady’s popularity is about to soar.

As the first entrant from Proserpine to enter the Lions International Miss Popularity competition, Naomi Turley’s ambition should be small, however the passionate teen is hoping to host a large family day out - just one of many fundraising ideas in the works.

But she needs the Whitsunday community’s help.

The prestigious competition she has entered involves full-on fundraising during the next nine months to be named Miss Popularity in the multi-district competition.

Eighteen-year-old Naomi said after seeing members of the Proserpine Lions Club volunteer their time, she wanted to help out.

"There should be more people out there like that," Naomi said.

When asked by the Proserpine Lions to become an entrant, Naomi was more than pleased to help the cause.

"It’s for charity and to help people out, I couldn’t say ‘no’ to that."

"It’s about raising and promoting fundraisers and bringing families in the community closer.

"It’s not about winning or losing.. it’s being able to help out."

Proserpine Lions secretary Damien Mott has some great fundraising ideas for the competition however needed a determined entrant to kick things off.

Naomi’s first fundraising event will be held this Sunday at IGA in Proserpine.

"Naomi has now come onboard, the sausage sizzle is an introduction for her, as an entrant, to the town," Mr Mott said.

Money raised will go towards the Medical Research Foundation of Lions International which is funded by Lions and a percentage will go towards a charity of Naomi’s choice.

With entrants last year raising $87,000 in total, Mr Mott is hoping to raise around $20,000 this year.

"That would be good for our little town," he said.

The Miss Popularity competition concludes in November.

Katter's Australia Party candidate for Whitsunday holding onto the pride of Australia

This girl has her sights set on success. Not for herself - but for the people of regional Queensland.

Meet Amanda Camm … an ambitious 32-year-old mother of three who wholeheartedly believes Katter’s Australian Party is the only party who will give a voice to the people in regional Queensland.

"On April 18 I will be 33, winning the seat would be a great birthday present, wouldn’t it?" joked the passionate girl who went to Kindergarten in Proserpine and speaks fondly of her grandma who religiously puts the Guardian aside for her every single week.

The day the government went into caretaker mode, Ms Camm from the northern beaches in Mackay announced she would be throwing her hat in the ring for the marginal seat of Whitsunday – along with Greens candidate Jonathon Dykyj, LNP’s Jason Costigan and high profile minister and sitting member Labor's Jan Jarratt.

"I’ve heard some people say that I have left my run too late. But I haven’t. As a woman we’re in a constant juggling act with careers, families, relationships … men just seem to do it, women evaluate. So here I am. I have no doubt that the time is right."

Ten days ago Katter’s girl for the Whitsundays met her illustrious leader at a party conference in Brisbane. She says what a lot of people don’t know about the man in the big hat is that he is a champion of women.

"Bob’s a man of his conviction. He’s getting something right as he’s been in public office for 40 years and he’s been very supportive of my candidacy," she said.

Ms Camm has spent the majority of her life in the Whitsunday, Mackay and Mirani districts and has connections with the agriculture, sugar, tourism and mining industries and has been involved in skills development, work force retention and next generation attraction as Chair of the Mackay Whitsunday agribusiness formation strategy.

Once elected, Ms Camm says she will work energetically for the Whitsunday electorate fighting passionately for reinvigoration of the sugar industry by mandating ethanol which she says will put more money in farmers’ pockets, establishing local health boards for local hospitals, supporting small business by lifting the payroll tax threshold and halting the sale of state assets.

"Over the next four and a half weeks I will be focusing on Katter’s Australian Party politics, my values for running and when I knock on people’s doors, walk into businesses and meet people in the street, people can judge me on face value."

MP Jan Jarratt challenges Qld Health to reveal all

Whitsunday MP Jan Jarratt has responded to community calls for an explanation as to why Queensland Health’s credentialing committee decided to limit the scope of Dr Paul Joice’s practice in treating acute care and obstetrics patients.

Ms Jarratt challenged Queensland Health to make the details of the committee’s ruling public, saying this matter had become an issue of public interest following extensive local media coverage.

“I believe locals deserve to know the truth, the whole truth, so that there is no longer a question mark hanging over this issue,” Ms Jarratt said.

“I have received many calls from concerned locals wanting to know why Queensland Health made its decision to limit the scope of Dr Joice’s medical practice.

“I wrote to the Director General of Queensland Health asking that Dr Joice be afforded all avenues of natural justice and I have been assured that there is now nothing stopping Dr Joice from treating his patients in hospital.

“However, to be frank, the advice I received provides no clarity as to how or why this decision was made in the first place and it concerns me that neither Queensland Health or Dr Joice have been willing to make these details public.”

Ms Jarratt said she knows Dr Joice personally and has the upmost respect for his dedication as a local medical professional.

“Dr Joice came to me with concerns regarding the credentialing process and I pursued this matter on his behalf – as I would for any constituent,” Ms Jarratt said.

“Dr Joice is entitled to request a review of the Queensland Health credentialing committee’s decision. Equally, I believe this community is entitled to know why this decision was made.

“Where public health and safety are concerned my priority is for truth and accuracy so that locals can make an informed decision for themselves.

“If Queensland Health is unable to make this information publicly available due to issues of privacy, then I hope Dr Joice will grant the organisation permission to release the details of its decision.

Dr Paul Joice who wants to wholeheartedly thank his patients and community members for standing by him and his wife, said he was pleased that Ms Jarratt recognised the gravity of the situation.

“I am pleased she has seen what impact this has had not only on my family and my patients but the whole community. I am grateful that she has gone out of her way to ensure there is some fairness in the whole situation.

“However I will not be giving Queensland Health permission to release details.

Mackay Health Service District Chief Executive Officer Kerry McGovern said the health service was aware of MsJarratt’s request to make public the material the credentialing committee relied upon to make its decision to limit Dr Joice’s Scope of Practice.

“Due to the confidential nature of this information, Dr Joice’s consent is required before this can happen.

“The District has written to Dr Joice seeking his permission to release, to the media, minutes from the committee meetings and other documents the committee considered, which may include information about reported clinical incidents or near misses.

“Once the District receives written permission from Dr Joice, these documents will be released," Mr McGovern said.

Queensland Health Minister Geoff Wilson said like pilots who are required to maintain flight hours, doctors who want the right to deliver babies in public hospitals needed to demonstrate they continued to maintain their skills.

“It is a matter of public safety,” Mr Wilson said.

“I am advised that Dr Joice failed to satisfy the local credentialing Committee made up of 10 of his clinically trained peers. Their decision was independently reviewed and confirmed by the Director of Rural Health. 

“The Committee has provided written reasons to Dr Joice, and explained to him the standard process for getting the decision reviewed.  He has not taken up that offer. 

“The Committee stands ready, willing and able to consider any paperwork Dr Joice wishes to provide.

“I am further advised the Mackay Health Service District is able to release the minutes of the credentialing committee along with notes of any complaints, clinical incidents, and near misses recorded in relation to Dr Joice if Dr Joice provides his written authority for that to happen. 

“But the best course of action would be for Dr Joice to follow the process that every other doctor in Queensland is required to follow:  if he has concerns, he should file the paperwork for a review by his peers.”

Whitsunday doctor fights for unsupervised visits to hospital

Queensland Health is refusing to back down on a decision to deny a Proserpine doctor unsupervised access to his patients in the Proserpine Hospital.

Dr Paul Joice who has been practising in Proserpine for more than 33 years was banned from treating acute patients in the government-run institution after a credentialing committee found the doctor’s application for credentialing failed to satisfy the “independent clinical experts” on the committee.

Committee chairman Dr Max Mansoor said while the onus was now on Dr Joice to demonstrate he was able to safely practise in the fields of obstetrics and acute care, “the department would not be taking a backward step on the safety of patients just because an individual wishes to run a misleading, unfounded media campaign”.

Dr Paul Joice, who treats 200 patients from his Main St surgery every week, said he was tired of being harassed and was considering making the heart-breaking decision of shutting the practice down.

“These are intimidatory, stand over tactics by an authority - that cannot get is own act together – under the guise of protecting the public. God help us, someone should protect the public from Queensland Health,” said Dr Joice yesterday.

Dr Joice said under no circumstance would he be taking up the offer from the health department to treat his hospital patients “under supervision”.

“I trained half these doctors. It’s a character assassination and as I have said last week and I will say again I want an independent assessment of what has happened here,” he said.

“They have offered me no explanation as to why they consider me incompetent and I take offence to the association between myself and Dr Patel,” he said.

Dr Joice said at the end of the day, he was beginning to feel he no longer had an option.

“Yes I am considering walking away. I can get a job in a place like Port Headland … where I can work without being harassed. A place they actually appreciate doctors, because this is a denigration of my character on some pretext where I am not even party to the reasons,” he said.

The story on last week’s front page drew a massive response from readers with countless texts to the editor – some appearing on the opinion pages.

One such letter was from long time patient Dell Linneweber who met the doctor when he first arrived in town 33 years ago.

“Dr Joice delivered my baby Lloyd in 1979 just after he had come here,” Ms Linneweber said.

“I had a daughter with heart complaints, he assisted with her throughout her whole life. For 33 years I have put my faith in Dr Joice and I am not about to second guess that now!.”

Ms Linneweber’s granddaughter Connie was born on January 24 one of the last days the doctor was allowed into the hospital unsupervised.

“Now Dr Joice was allowed to go up and see her on the Friday but all hell would have broken loose if my daughter-in-law Rhea hadn’t have had him as a doctor. It’s a personal sort of thing,” she said.

“Now I know Dr Joice isn’t everybody’s cup of tea but if you like him – the choice should be yours.”

But the doctor from the Mackay committee maintains that a second opinion was also sought from the director of rural and remote health which upheld the findings.

“However, the committee has invited Dr Joice to provide further information and has indicated it will reconsider his application on February 14. It will be open to Dr Joice to provide the required information to the Committee and satisfy the experts on the Committee that it is safe to allow him to practise unsupervised,” Dr Mansoor said.

Battle for Whitsunday begins

Member for Whitsunday Jan Jarratt wants to protect our lifestyle, LNP’s Jason Costigan wants a better Bruce Highway and Greens’ Jonathon Dykyj wants
a container deposit scheme - similar to that in South Australia - where people are paid for their recycling efforts.

These are just a few, in a long line of pledges from the three contenders for the marginal seat of Whitsunday which will be battled out over a nine-week campaign.

The state election was called last Wednesday for March 24, with the Premier Anna Bligh announcing local government elections would be pushed back until April 28 – a change the Greens' candidate admits isn’t an ideal situation.

"On the bright side, candidates have more time to campaign," said Mr Dykyj who launched his campaign on the weekend with a near-200km bike ride from Mackay to the Whitsundays.

Mr Costigan however, isn’t so forgiving.

"The date has been forced on the community by a desperate Labor Government with one objective...staying in power," Mr Costigan said.

"They’ve known all along about the March 31 council elections across Queensland and now they have shown a complete disregard for local government by changing the date to suit themselves.

"In the Whitsundays, it means we have to cop Jan Jarratt’s fellow Laborite, Mike Brunker, for at least another month," he said.

Ms Jarratt says it’s admirable of the premier to put the interests of Queensland ahead of her re-election prospects by setting the election after March 16 – once the floods commission inquiry has completed its investigations.

"Changing the date of the local government elections allows sufficient and reasonable time for councillors to campaign independently of a state election. As the Premier said at the time, "What’s at stake here is the truth. The truth about the cause of our floods and that matters to those flood victims but it also goes to the heart of the future safety of our city and our region and its people."

Regardless of the dates, the Whitsundays will be seeing the three candidates out and about a fair bit over the next two months, with the LNP candidate saying "nothing changes".

"Except we’ll have some mates from the LNP coming through town from time to time," Mr Costigan said.

"Hey, I’m the same bloke who grew up down the road in Mackay, the same bloke who has a daughter attending school here in the Whitsundays, the same bloke who loves his rugby league and the same bloke who’s fiercely passionate about this region and North Queensland in general.

"That’s why I’m running for office, because I love this community and want us to get a better deal after 20 years of Labor. That’s right, 20 years. I said at my pre-selection last February, we’ll fight Labor in the canefields and on the beaches and that’s exactly what we’ve been doing."

Mr Dykyj says he will be on leave from his normal employment from February 19 when the government goes into caretaker mode.

"I will be staying positive, open, accountable and accessible. I’ll be knocking on as many doors as possible and; get factual information out there so people can make an informed choice, giving them no reason not to vote 1 Greens," Mr Dykyj said.

Current member and tourism minister Jan Jarratt says it will be business as usual until the caretaker period comes into effect from February 19.

"I’ll be continuing to work hard as the Whitsunday MP and also in my Ministerial duties for Queensland," Ms Jarratt said.

"People can expect to see me in the community finalising arrangements on local projects which are close to my heart. I want to make sure the LNP can’t short change the Whitsundays. On becoming LNP Leader Campbell Newman declared all previous LNP policies to be "null and void" and it troubles me to think that he is likely to see the Whitsundays as an area where savings can be made."

LNP’s Jason Costigan sees it quite differently.

"I want to see a better Bruce Highway, not a neglected one under Labor’s Jan Jarratt. I want to see more overtaking lanes, something they’ve forgotten about until recently. Seriously, why hasn’t she delivered something in this regard in her 11 years in office? People shouldn’t be fooled by media stunts to cover up a politician’s lack of action," the LNP candidate said.

And Mr Dykyj, who has "in principal support" from his two adversaries for a number of debates in the next few months, says he will be concentrating on the electorate as a whole.

"I think that there are a lot of people from all kinds of backgrounds that are over the sameness of the old parties and will warm to the positive, healthy and long term vision that the Greens promote," Mr Dykyj said.

"Especially with the amount of rubbish on the sides of the roads, the Greens want to introduce a deposit scheme - like the one in South Australia - which will reduce waste into the reef, create jobs and recover precious resources," he said.