EVERY winter, thousands of whales migrate north from the cold waters of Antarctica to breed and give birth in the warm tropical waters of the Whitsundays.
This is great for those of us living here and, of course, tourists to the region as well.
To mark the official start of the 2023 whale season, Traditional Owners of the Whitsundays hosted a special ‘Welcome to the Whales’ ceremony, on Friday, June 16 – see our story page 1.
The event, on the Airlie Beach Foreshore, was held in partnership with local organisations including Tourism Whitsundays and Master Reef Guides of the region.
I think this is a wonderful initiative and I hope it continues for many years to come.
Bowen’s being invaded!
Operation Talisman Sabre will run from July 22 to August 4 and involve 30,000 military personnel from 13 countries, part of the largest military training exercise ever held in Australia – see story page 5.
The manoeuvres will begin with an amphibious landing at Kings Beach and soldiers will be highly visible along Bowen’s streets and beaches.
The military personnel will be housed in tents at Bowen’s airport and showgrounds, and it sounds as if they will be out and about enjoying their time in the district, after hours.
This is a welcome boost to the local economy, so say G’day if you encounter some of the participants!
Bowen and Proserpine Shows
Who doesn’t love the Bowen and Proserpine Shows, back again this week and promising to be even bigger and better than in previous years – see pages 13 to 15.
The shows bring a wide range of entertainment to the area, whether your ‘thing’ is the wood chopping and sawing, or you’re an adrenalin junkie and love Sideshow Alley, and everything in between.
Kids, of course, will be keen to grab a showbag and a dagwood dog or maybe some fairy floss.
It’s also a great opportunity to catch up with people you might not have seen for a while, as the shows draw people out for the day – see you there!
As always, thanks for reading this paper.
Deborah.
