THERE’S nothing sweeter than the smell of success and three Whitsunday businesses came back from the Australian Tourism Awards smelling of roses.
Held on Friday, in Sydney, the awards saw Ocean Rafting, Magnums Accommodation Airlie Beach, and BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort all come away with medals.
These wins put the Whitsundays on the national stage. Thousands of pairs of eyes would have been on them, both at the event itself and in the ensuing media coverage.
It shows the Whitsundays to be a world-class destination – a wining destination that goes the extra mile for their guests.
Congratulations also to Airlie Beach based Red Cat Adventures, for their win for the Mackay region.
Wildcat Mackay won Gold for Australia’s Best New Tourism Business.
Meanwhile
It was a busy weekend back at home, with people all over the region celebrating St Patrick’s Day, on Friday – see photos page 18.
And on Saturday, it was the Lions ‘Youth of the Year’ Zone Final, in Townsville, with Proserpine State High School student Scarlett Foti romping home with the awards – see story page 10.
Also on Saturday, the Proserpine Showground came alive with the much anticipated cut-out party, to celebrate the end of the crushing season (postponed due to heavy rain in January).
The Whitsunday Dirt Riders event, held on both Saturday and Sunday, was a roaring success – see story page 4.
And on Sunday, the North Queensland Cross Country Championships were held, in Cannonvale, attracting 139 runners – see story page 28.
We really are a diverse lot, with so many different events, celebrations, wins and awards scattered right throughout the region!
Lastly
Plenty of people and organisations have been getting behind the World’s Greatest Shave, this week.
It’s for such a good cause and what a great idea to get people to shave, cut or colour their hard – and be sponsored for their efforts!
This year, the fundraiser is celebrating 25 years – see our stories on page 5 and page 10.
As always, thanks for reading this newspaper.
Deborah.
