Since the age of seven, Keelan O’Brien has been competing in motor vehicle racing and now, at the age of 17, he is the youngest and the only motorsports competitor from the Whitsundays, in the Excel and Toyota 86 series.

Keelan’s passion for the sport manifested at the age of four, when he witnessed his very first live race. From there he, like so many other children, grew fond of go karting, thus beginning his racing career.

Since he started competing, Keelan has placed in multiple state-wide club meets, local championships, CQ titles, NQ titles and in the top 10 in the Queensland Championships.

Council provided financial support for Keelan O’Brien in 2021 through bronze level sponsorship of $2,500 cash.

In 2021, Keelan competed in the Bathurst six-hour race, traveling 19 hours by road from the Whitsundays, finishing his Bathurst race as the second fastest first-time competitor, overall fifth fastest up the mountain, and finished 21st out of 56 competitors.

This year, council has contributed a silver level sponsorship of $5,000.

This money contributes to Keelan’s racing career by allowing him to attend the only practice day available, which is over a 1,200km round trip.

Keelan also requires a variety of updated safety equipment, a new helmet fitted with up-to-date communication equipment, along with fireproof race suit, gloves and boots to enter in the Nationals and Bathurst endurance race.

Keelan is also an ambassador for the local charity Horsepower Heroes, raising money and awareness for the prevention of men’s suicide.

Keelan will compete in the Bathurst six-hour Enduro, partnering with Holly Espray in their newly built Toyota 86, in April 2023.

Holly is one of only a few young female drivers, and a top five competitor in the Queensland Excels series.

In return for sponsorship, council will have its logo on various panels of the two cars (rally and circuit), as well as digital media exposure and podium mentions.

Council voted in favour of the sponsorship unanimously.

The project is a localised immigration scheme known as the DAMA.

The DAMA allows a specific geography, in this case the Greater Whitsunday Region, to identify which roles cannot be filled by the existing workforce and allows for an easing of the application requirements for existing visa schemes.

For example, a subclass 182 Visa holder can have a higher age and a lower level of English language.

The DAMA also allows for a permanent path to residency for some Visa schemes.

There are currently 13 other DAMA programs operating in Australia, including Cairns Chamber of Commerce and Townsville Enterprises Limited, which have been a success.

In order for local businesses, and the community at large, to take advantage of this opportunity, it requires a co-ordinated response and some financial support.

There needs to be in excess of 100 businesses engaged via a four-minute online survey to understand their current staffing requirements and how this program could benefit them.

The chamber will also be seeking financial support from business to fund person(s) to assist with this process and get the program up and running.

“This is a tangible opportunity for local businesses to help alleviate the specific worker shortages in our area and ensure the region remains competitive attracting workers,” a chamber spokesperson said.

Contact the chamber for more information.

Seven men were killed.

When news of the disaster hit, all businesses and schools were closed and more than 2,000 people attended the funeral.

Today, the Miners Memorial Day committee honours those seven men with an annual commemorative event, the Collinsville Miners Memorial Day.

The annual Collinsville Miners Memorial Day was held on Thursday, October 13, 2022, as a means of honouring the 26 miners who have lost their life working at the Collinsville mine.

The Memorial Day was initiated in 1997 by the Collinsville Lodge of Retired Miners.

It is held annually on the anniversary day of the State Mine Disaster, on October 13, 1954, when seven underground miners died in a spontaneous outburst of carbon dioxide, which was estimated to release 950,000 cubic meters of deadly gas.

The seven men were: Alex Parkinson, Arthur Shrubsole, Frederick Ernest Walker, Henry Peterson, Herbert Ruff, James Reid Logan and Peter Miller.

The ceremony was held at the Miners Statue, which is situated within a Memorial Rose Garden adjacent to the United Mine Workers Club.

“The day went really well, we had a good crowd, some who travelled from really far away to show tribute,” president of the Miners’ Memorial Day committee Brett Murphy said.

“It was sad to start with but a happy end when everyone got together.”

Mr Murphy said the day served as a way for families from near and far to reconnect.

“People from Mount Mulligan came down to show their respects for every miner that’s passed away from all different areas,” Mr Murphy said.

“Collinsville has split and gone in so many different directions over the years so those people who have set up their lives in other towns have come back to Collinsville for this to celebrate the memorial.”

The Rotary Club of Airlie Beach has been serving the community for more than 40 years, having been commissioned in May 1981.

On Monday evening, club members hosted a ‘Have your Say’ community forum, where they welcomed community members who represent any business to attend and discus how the Rotary Club can help in a post-COVID society.

Discussions were also focused on obtaining more members for the Rotary Club itself.

Project ideas include joining businesses together to tackle homelessness, joint scholarship with Zonta International, environmental projects, advertising for additional members, providing shade on Airlie Beach, and sporting club grants.

Members of the Volunteer Marine Rescue (VMR) Whitsunday brought forward the discussion of upgrading the signs at the boat ramp with QR codes, to better suit the growing population and numbers of people going out on the water.

“The number of people with boats and people going out to sea has increased dramatically,” Volunteer Marine Rescue’s Bruce Dahl said.

“The Rotary Club sponsored the signs at the boat ramps, but the problem is they’re all out of date now.”

“What we want to do is upgrade those signs to include QR codes and things like that, so if somebody is heading to sea and they’ve never used the boat before, they can scan that and get immediate safety advice.”

The topic of helping the homeless, through food packs and accommodation, was also heavily discussed.

Rotary treasurer Ian Johnston said, in order to get these ideas up and running, the club needed ‘more boots on the ground’.

“There’s a significant number of ideas, but the vast majority of those require a lot of activity to actually get out to the businesses,” Mr Johnston said.

“Unfortunately, we don’t have the foot soldiers on the ground to go out and door knock, or go around the business community.”

The group will be supported by Airlie Beach favourites The Stone Apes, who frequent live music venues around town.

The Grogans are a Melbourne-based trio made up of band members Quin Grunden, Angus Vasic and Jordan Lewis, who explore surf, punk, blues, garage, psych, rockabilly and reggae.

The group banded together in high school before working their way up and cutting the ribbon on their debut album ‘Just What You Want’ in 2019.

“It (playing music) started out just being a Friday night, after-school jam at Quin’s place,” drummer Jordan Lewis said.

“It was never too serious because we were all in other bands and it was just meant to be a bit of fun.

“Eventually, we recorded our first track ‘Sick kids doin’ skitz skids’, started playing some house parties and proper gigs, and I guess we just kept the ball rolling from there.”

The Grogans have supported the likes of Ocean Alley, Maddy Jane, Northeast Party House, Drunk Mums and The Chats, and triple j’s favourite Aussie band, Hockey Dad. 

Now they’re back on the road and headed to Airlie Beach for their ‘No Thanks (I’m Going to See The Grogans)’ tour in celebration of their latest surf rock bop ‘No Thanks (I’m Going Surfing), out now via Cousin Will Records.

Jordan said the group can’t wait to play their first headliner.

“We are keen to come back up to play at Airlie beach! We were there a few months ago with Hockey Dad and the show was insane, so much fun. Can’t wait to play our first headliner.” 

The show is set to be a crowd pleaser with The Grogan’s giving the audience a taste of what’s to come from the upcoming third studio album ‘Which Way is Out’, set to hit record stores and streaming services on Friday, October 28. 

The Grogans will be supported by up-and-coming indie band The Stone Apes, who have played a series of killer gigs at venues across Airlie Beach.  “It was suggested to us by the promoter to get them on the line-up, so we dived into their music and liked what we heard,” Jordan said.  

Elvin Group Renewables and Hydrogen Integration Technologies sought Whitsunday Regional Councils’ joint advocacy and support for the Hi T Whitsundays Future Fuels project, at last Wednesday’s council meeting.

Elvin Group Renewables and Hydrogen Integration Technologies presented a proposal to council that aims to stimulate the use of future fuels in the Whitsunday region, namely ammonia.

The project presented a partnership between Elvin, as the energy provider, Explore Group, who are purchasing ammonia fuelled vessels from Elvin, and council, which has suitable land and can utilise green energy through its operations, while looking to support sustainable tourism and communities.

The 18-month project establishes ammonia and hydrogen at the Whitsunday Coast Airport and Shute Harbour Marine Terminal, which are the two main transportation hubs in the Whitsunday region.

Councillor Brunker spoke in favour of the project at the meeting.

“This will fit very well with the recent announcement of green origins $8m project, in Collinsville, it’s great that we can advocate for these guys,” Cr Brunker said.

“It’s the fuel energy source of the future, and it’s great that they want to do it here because it fits in with the image of the Whitsundays and the Great Barrier Reef.

“We support any new industry that’s going to help the region and any sort of green investment in our region will be fantastic.”

Cr Clifford raised concerns about the danger of having an ammonia fuel storage on Shute Harbour Road, however, council aviation and tourism spokesperson Shaun Cawood said that it was safe to store the ammonia because it will be converted to hydrogen on the vessel itself.

The outcomes of this project could effectively activate the transition to ammonia/hydrogen fuel in the Whitsundays, which would be a game-changer for sustainable tourism.

Shaun Cawood suggests that the Whitsundays could be using passenger boats that utilise hydrogen fuel by April next year.

The amount of new jobs is estimated at 50, with 45 being through construction and five ongoing.

The Queensland Hydrogen Industry Strategy 2019-2024 has been established by the Queensland Government to encourage investment and development of hydrogen projects across Queensland.

The motion was carried 7/0, with all members of the council including the mayor voting in favour.

The Songwriter Festival was co-founded by North Queensland performer Karen Jacobsen, and award-winning songwriter, educator, and founder of the ‘I Heart Song Writing Club’, Francesca de Valence.

“When I was growing up in Mackay, there were very few resources for somebody who wanted to have a career in song writing – it just didn’t exist,” Ms Jacobsen said.

“I really wanted to create resources for other young people here that I didn’t have growing up.

“It was everything I envisioned and more, and I had the dream to create a song writers festival for a very long time.

“When I spoke with Jessica Begun, she asked me where I saw the Whitsunday Arts Festival going in the future and I told her about my dream and she said, well why don’t we do it?”

The residency was comprised of a professional Songwriter Residential Retreat, from September 22 to September 26, with a one-day workshop event for emerging songwriters.

Over three days, the writers participated in a professional level Song Writing Retreat, connecting with the potential for co-writing and masterminding.

Six professional songwriters of diverse music genres, with a proven track record of released recordings and performances nationally and internationally, were invited to attend the residency.

“The thinking behind the residency was to bring professional songwriters from different backgrounds and genres together into a creative incubator, immersed in your own space, that opens a potential for creative magic to arise,” Ms Jacobsen said.

Included was Graeme Connors, country music legend and the most successful songwriter to hail from the region, with 20 albums and 14 Golden Guitar awards; as well as certified Platinum artist Tia Gostelow, a Queensland Music Award winner.

Other outstanding artists include Francesca de Valence, Karen Jacobsen, Bryce Sainty, and LT (Leanne Tennant).

Whitsundays Arts Festival director Jessica Begun said the residency was a ‘ground-breaking opportunity’.

“To be able to bring songwriters of this calibre and professional experience to this event is a ground- breaking opportunity for creatives and songwriters locally,” she said.

“Close access to learn, be inspired, and develop their own craft from such award-winning songwriters is uncommon, even in major centres.”

The Songwriter Workshop allowed emerging songwriters to experience a full day with professional songwriters, from creation, to development, to performance.

“I created I Heart Song Writing Club and have run workshops from Dublin to Rio De Janeiro, because as a young songwriter, I was unable to find a song writing community where mentorship was highly valued,” Francesca de Valence said.

“We had people coming who were local, but we also had people coming from as far as Brisbane because this is how unique this opportunity is,” Ms Jacobsen added.

“It would be wonderful if we come across a local benefactor, because an event like this has the potential of getting national recognition and would really help the area be known as a strong, creative place.”

The Queensland Fire and Emergency Services is proposing to construct the new Airlie Beach Fire and Rescue Station at 2-6 Banksia Court, Cannonvale.

It will involve a new, single-story Fire and Rescue Station to improve current and future response times.

Resident Phillip Smailes has contacted MP Amanda Camm regarding the issue and begun proceedings to hold a petition to the Queensland Government on the matter.

Mr Smailes, who lives right next to the proposed site, held a community meeting with many irate residents also surrounding the lot proposed for the station.

He claims few residents received any notification of the proposed fire station.

Notification for the fire station commenced on Wednesday, September 28, with a sign placed on the land advising how submissions can be made.

Letters were sent to adjacent neighbours and an advertisement was placed in last week’s edition of the Whitsunday News.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services said not all residents in the area received a letter because the notification sign was intended to alert all residents to the development.

Mr Smailes has claimed that the diagram being used to inform the public of the proposed fire station development needs correction due to it being misleading and not covering the whole site.

 He called it ‘very sloppy’.

“What are Queensland Fire and Rescue trying to hide?” he said.

Mr Smailes has contacted Whitsunday Mayor Julie Hall in a letter that reads: ‘We need to stop this madness by the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Department”.

“I have been forthright with my response to Queensland Fire and Emergency Services on their proposal, however, my response has mainly fallen on deaf ears,” he said.

In August, Mr Smailes sent a letter to The Hon. Mark Ryan MP, Minister for Fire and Emergency Services, where he identified the noise the fire station would contribute to the area as a serious concern for surrounding homes.

“The proposed location is at the bottom of a natural amphitheatre,” Mr Smails said.

“The terrain slopes upwards on both sides of Shute Harbour Road with noise, including traffic noise, being resonated to the tops of the valley.

“Your proposed fire station will increase this noise with sirens and vehicle movement from both fire appliances and employees’ vehicles, including delivery vehicles that supply firefighting equipment and consumables.”

“We all have a right to live peacefully in our homes, without the disruption of a proposed noisy and unsettling fire and rescue station.”

Mr Smailes has requested a correction to the ‘Have Your Say’ advertisement and for the deadline for submissions to be moved to November 4, after residents have been properly informed.

Councillor Grundy was elected to Council in 2020 and will have served two-and-a-half years of the current four-year term.

Mr Grundy has said the trigger for his decision to leave Whitsunday Regional Council – and take the role of CEO for the Mackay and Isaac Region tourism industry body – is due to his ‘spare capacity’, since the most recent election.

“When you’re a councillor, it’s really difficult to be as strategic as you want to be as a leader, as most of the role of strategic direction and leading the way falls on the Mayor,” Cr Grundy said.

“The reason I put my hand up to run for mayor is that I had some strong views on what we could do as a council but, after the election process, I was back to having all this spare capacity and it just so happened this (other) position was vacant.

“So now I’m still going to be able to use my strategic leadership and run the tourism sector for the Mackay and Isaac region, and the tourism sector in these regions works closely with Tourism Whitsundays. I’ll still be involved in the community.”

Councillor Grundy intends to live in Mackay, during the week, and travel back home to the Whitsundays to be with his family on the weekends.

He has ‘a lot of love’ for the Whitsunday region and intends to remain involved in the community.

Mayor Julie Hall said, on behalf of council, she thanks Cr Grundy for his time serving his division and for his contribution during his time as councillor.

“Cr Grundy is a very active member in the community and has represented council on a range of committees, with the environment, waste management and tourism at the centre of his approach,” she said.

“We wish him well for his future outside of council.”

Chief Executive Officer Rod Ferguson said that council would work closely with the Electoral Commission of Queensland to progress a by-election for Division 2, to fill the vacancy.

Councillor Al Grundy proposed Councillor Simpson and the motion was then carried 5-2.

Prior to this appointment, Councillor John Collins proposed Councillor Mike Brunker for the role, but that motion was lost 3-4, with Mayor Julie Hall also voting against.

Councillor Jan Clifford voted against the appointment of both deputy mayors.

Deputy Mayor Simpson said although he ‘had his suspicions’, he was mostly unaware Councillor Al Grundy intended to put his name forward.

“I’m just as qualified for the role as anybody else, but I do always like to do the right thing because we’ve got to help the majority of people as best we can,” Cr Simpson said.

“Maintaining the liveability and affordability of the region, as well as allowing it to grow and prosper, is important to me.

“We live in one of the most beautiful parts of the world and we need to maintain that.”

Deputy Mayor Simpson says he looks forward to working with Mayor Julie Hall on uniting the Whitsunday region and lessening the ‘them vs us’ attitude.

“When I first started, there was an unspoken rule that if the Mayor was from the north then the deputy was to be from the south and vice versa but, since we’ve been rotating the deputy mayor every 12 months, that hasn’t been the case.”

Mayor Julie Hall said she was excited by the appointment.

“I’m really excited that Councillor Simpson is our new Deputy Mayor, it gives us a southern deputy and a northern mayor, so it brings unity into the region,” she said.