Aussie pride on full display!
The long weekend was the perfect opportunity for many of us to visit our region's beaches, parks and venues to celebrate our Aussie way of life!🩴🌊🏖️🌭
Australia Day 2025!
There were many events held across Mackay and the Whitsundays celebrating our communities and our Aussie Pride🇦🇺
Community Spirit was on full display at both the Mackay and Whitsunday Australia Day Award Ceremonies and I congratulate everyone nominated - you truly inspire our community with your volunteering and passion and we thankyou👏🏻
Congratulations to our Mackay Australia Day Award Winners:
Citizen of the Year – Rebecca Cooper
Young Citizen of the Year – Murray Macgroarty
Lori Burgess Community Volunteer Award – Gloria (Bonnie) Spratt
Brenden Borellini Access and Inclusion Achievement Award – Peter Sumpter
Senior Sports Award – Lutie van den Berg
Young Sports Award – Monique Bobongie
Arts and Culture Award – Steven Pritchard
Environmental Achievement Award – Maya Harrison
Community Group Award – North Mackay Sinkers
Congratulations to our Whitsunday Australia Day Award Winners:
Citizen of the Year – Matt Stokes
Young Citizen of the Year – Cooper Groocock
Mayoral Award- Arthur Trezise – Susan Gravelle - Brittanney O’Brien
Australia Day Achievement Award for Outstanding Members of the Queensland SES - Suzanne Connors & Kevin Maude
Senior Sports Award – Michael Kimpton
Young Sports Award – Jure Portelli
Arts and Culture Award – Seagrass Theatre and Music Company
Environmental Achievement Award – Libby Edge, Eco Barge Clean Seas
Community Volunteer Award – Natasha O’Neil
Community Group Award - Whitsunday Brahmans Proserpine Rugby League Club
2025 - Time to get serious on the Bruce!
It has been a shocking start to the year on our region’s roads and we need to see immediate change.
✅Change in funding - the 80/20% funding arrangement between Canberra and Qld has been restored which should get some projects back on track.
✅Change in priorities - Upgrades need to be prioritised on need, not location.
✅Change in driver behaviour - The Fatal Five!
Speeding
Drink and drug driving
Failing to wear seatbelts
Driving tired
Driver distraction
I recently met with our district’s new QPS Superintendent, Dean Cavanagh and discussed the need for greater police presence on our roads.
The Crisafulli Government has re-established the Bruce Highway Advisory Council (BHAC) to ensure upgrades to our regional roads, and the safety of our loved ones are made a priority. Local Members, Dale Last and myself have supported local representation on this body.
Portfolio News- Scam alert!
As Minister for Seniors, Families and Disability Services I have been advised that there is a new scam website that is tricking a growing number of older Queenslanders into paying $30 for a Seniors Card.
Seniors Cards are free!
If you or someone you know has made a payment to the illegal website, www.theseniorsassistant.com, please contact your bank immediately.
There’s only one website you should visit to apply for a Queensland Seniors Card and that is www.qld.gov.au/seniorscard
You can also call 13 74 68 for more information.
Increasing our understanding of elder abuse and boosting community awareness is vital to stopping the abuse. That is why we have established a Parliamentary Inquiry into Elder Abuse in Queensland, to shine a light on the nature and extent of elder abuse, how we are reporting and responding to elder abuse, and where we can improve.
For updates on the inquiry or to make a submission click on the button below:
Written submissions close 5pm on Thursday 10 April 2025.
Suspected cases of Elder Abuse can be reported via www.qld.gov.au/stopelderabuse or by calling the Elder Abuse Helpline on 1300 651 192.
Community Spotlight
Zonta Awards For 2024!
Each year The Zonta Club of the Whitsundays Inc. offers a scholarship, in memory of the late PJ Halter, to a young female student from the Whitsundays region and surrounds, to assist with the costs associated with accessing a tertiary course of their choice. The Club also provides for Zonta Achievement Awards for worthy applicants.
The scholarships are provided to deserving students who, because of limited financial means or distance, would otherwise struggle to access the course of their choice.
The ideal candidates will demonstrate the following qualities:
- Academic promise and commitment to their education
- Engagement with extra-curricular activities
- Personal qualities consistent with Zonta values
In 2024 the Club awarded three scholarships; the PJ Halter Memorial Scholarship for $3000 and two Zonta Achievement Awards each for $2000. The award winners are:
PJ Halter Memorial Scholarship – Eleanor Baldock
Zonta Achievement Awards – Molly Bennett and Hazel Farrell.
Between the Tides Qld Music Trails!
The sun was definitely shining for the launch of this year’s Between the Tides Qld Music Trails at Cape Hillsborough🌞
Now in its third year the event offers an incredible opportunity to showcase our Mackay and Whitsundays region, while attracting some of Australia’s most talented artists to perform across the two nights.
Mark your calendars for the 13th and 14th of June because with Xavier Rudd as this year’s headline act, you won’t want to miss it.
Uncle Gary Mooney from YUWI people and I caught up about eco-tourism opportunities, particularly for our young people across our region.
2025 Barra and Boots Music Festival
The Barra and Boots Music Festival is returning in 2025! Lake Proserpine will again play host to the exclusive country music event on Saturday 21st June.
Both camping and day tickets are available and with some of Australia’s biggest country legends set to perform it won’t want to be missed.
Youth Parliament
Nominations for the 2025 YMCA Queensland Youth Parliament (QYP) are now open and will close at midnight on Friday 14 February.
QYP is a parliamentary education, community engagement and personal development program run by the YMCA in collaboration with the Queensland Government.
I strongly encourage any Mackay and Whitsunday youth aged 15 – 25, with an interest in government, policy and community development to submit an application for this incredible opportunity.
For further information and online applications available at YMCA Queensland Youth Parliament
In Parliament
As Minister for Families, Seniors and Disability Services and the Minister for Child Safety and the Prevention of Domestic and Family Services, 2025 has started just how 2024 ended - flat out travelling across the State meeting with portfolio stakeholders.
The Qld Government are committed to delivering a fresh start for Queensland and that starts with our first 100 day plan. So far we have:
✅Passed the Making Queenslander Safer Laws -putting victims above criminals
✅Tripled police flying squad numbers to combat youth crime
✅Tasked the Qld Small Business Commissioner’s office to focus on cutting red tape for small businesses
✅Launched a new mobile breast screening van to improve access to this vital service in rural and regional Qld.
✅Rolling out 150 GPS trackers on high risk domestic violence perpetrators
✅Launched an inquiry into the failures of the Blue Card Child Protection system
✅Launched an inquiry into volunteering in Qld.
✅Launched an inquiry into elder abuse in Qld.
✅Re-established Bruce Highway Advisory Council (BHAC)
The Gambling Community Benefit Fund Round 123 is now open!
Round 123 of the Gambling Community Benefit Fund (GCBF) is now open, offering grants of up to $35,000 to help not for profit groups build their capacity to provide services, leisure activities and economic opportunities for the local community.
If your community group is thinking about making building improvements, purchasing new equipment or machinery, or undertaking some training or hosting an event, you may be eligible.
Hurry Round 123 closes midnight 28th February!
For further information or a letter of support, please contact my office on 4845 3100 or whitsunday@parliament.qld.gov.au.
Grant Opportunities!
Does your not for profit or community group have a project that you are seeking funding for? Make sure your group stays up to date with upcoming State Government grants available by ensuring your contact details are correct on my grant registry. This way you can be sure that your group will receive email notifications to advise when State Government grants become available.
Can you spare 30 seconds?
I’m asking Mackay and Whitsunday residents to take a moment to complete my 30-Second Survey so I can hear your concerns and advocate for what's important to you and our region.
Thank you to everyone who has completed my 30 second survey to date
I encourage those who haven't, to jump on and tell me what's important, it literally only takes 30 seconds.
