Fertilizer Accident
Proserpine fertilizer agent, Kevin Rogers, suffered severe burns and internal injuries from an aqua-ammonia spillage, while delivering to a cane farm in the Andromache area, on Monday. He was placed on a respirator in Mackay Hospital intensive care unit.
Grim Situation Faces Cane Country
Proserpine’s ‘Save The Town’ Committee wrote to all state and federal politicians, asking for support for a guaranteed minimum price for cane. Evidence for the current situation was presented. Local tractor sales had dropped to six percent of 1981 figures, and employment in cane had dropped to 28 per cent.
Remarkable Escape in Train Accident
High school teacher Max McGill’s car was hit by a North bound passenger train, at Upriver Road level crossing, at 7am. Uninjured, he still got to school early.
South Molle and Hook Island Takeover
Ansett Transport has made a bid for these islands, which include Hook Underwater Observatory, a prominent attraction in the Whitsundays.
Tourism Trends
Tourism surveys reveal changes in tourists since 1975. The percentage of females grew to 61.2%. Family groups and married couples predominated in the survey. 48.8% of visitors heard about The Whitsundays from relatives or friends, rather than from the media or via travel agents.
Ambulance Increase
Ambulance superintendent John Klohs reported that, during the last financial year, vehicles from the Ambulance centre, in Proserpine, and the subcentre at Cannonvale had travelled a total of 106,831 Kilometres, an increase of 23,202 kms above the previous year.
Junior Soccer Season
Three local teams won premierships against teams from Bowen and Collinsville. They were the Under 9, Under 10 and Under 14s. Bowen won the Aggregate Shield.
Whitsunday Aero Club’s ‘Wings Night’
Fifteen pilots passed the first milestones in their flying careers, following ‘hours of study, hard work, joy and the occasional fright’.
Proserpine Country Music Club
The club has performed in various jamborees and concerts. Gavin Douglas and Beverley Altmann won the Duo section, in Sarina, and Beverley was runner-up in the Gospel section.
Trees Wanted at Cannonvale.
The developer at Cannonvale Industrial Centre has been requested to beautify the area but has not yet done so.
Proserpine Citizen’s Band
Wind and percussion students from local schools joined the Citizen’s band for the first time. Bandmaster Ron Patrick teaches 25 students, aged from nine to 15 years, in a wide range of instruments; it is hoped that he will become employed as part of the Education Department’s Instrumental Music Program.
High School Athletics
Several new records were set: Katrina Lucas set new marks in 100m [12.9s] and 200m [27.6s].
