Sales Assistant With On The Barbie

Tracie’s career switch came in the most unexpected way— quite literally with opportunity knocking.

After leaving her role at a discount retailer, it didn’t take long for her to find herself back in the workforce, thanks to a serendipitous visit from Karen, one of the owners of all four MBW businesses.

On her first day of unemployment, Karen appeared on Tracie’s doorstep, offering her a job on the spot. It was an opportunity that took Tracie by surprise but it felt like a perfect fit.

Her love for creating relationships with people in the community kept her passionate about customer service, so the transition to MBW On The Barbie allowed her to continue doing what she loves while picking up a few new skills.

“I’m learning how to make different delicacies,” Tracie shared.

“I’d never made a chicken Kiev before working here.”

The hands-on training has been a highlight for her, especially with Nicky by her side.

“Nicky shows me how to improve. She's an awesome trainer,” said Tracie.

Beyond the skills, it’s the camaraderie that Tracie enjoys most.

“They laugh at all my dad jokes,” she said with a grin.

One of her go-to jokes is, “What do pirates say on their 80th birthday? AYE Mmm-atey!”

Originally from Bondi, Tracie came to the Whitsundays nearly 30 years ago after falling in love with the area while on holiday.

“It reminded me of Bondi when they looked after their locals,” Tracie said with a laugh.

“They don't look after locals anymore in Bondi, it’s all yuppie now.”

But in the Whitsundays, Tracie found a place that still holds onto that tight-knit community feel.

“The community here is awesome; everyone steps up to help each other. It’s brilliant,” she said.

Describe your personality in three words:

Upbeat, reliable and hardworking

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Co-Manager At MBW On The Barbie

MBW On The Barbie has been serving up top-quality cuts and mouth-watering meals for a decade now, and at the heart of it all is Nicky, who has been with the business since day one.

Originally working in supermarkets and a bakery, Nicky felt the need for a change. Knowing the owners before joining, she saw an opportunity to carve out a new path in the butchery business. That decision led her to become an essential part of the MBW team.

Nicky spends most of her time behind the front counter, but her role stretches beyond customer service.

“I do pretty much everything except cut meat,” Nicky shared.

“I make all the products, I serve on the counter, and I also slice ham and bacon.”

Having been with MBW On The Barbie from the beginning, Nicky has had a front-row seat to the company’s growth. She’s seen it expand from one bustling store to four, saying it’s great to see the business thriving across the region.

When she’s not busy at MBW On The Barbie, Nicky is hard at work on another passion—renovating her home.

“They call me Bobette the Builder,” Nicky laughed.

“I renovate my home and build stuff at home. I’m a bit of an arty-farty type person.

“I have plants and enjoy making the house look nice.”

Her home, complete with a pool and a cozy spot for beers, is her haven. It’s where she spends time with her “crazy black Great Dane” named Jonesy, whom she affectionately refers to as her child now that her four children are grown and spreading their wings on their own adventures.

Describe your personality in three words

Hardworking, reliable, kind

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Apprentice Butcher With MBW On The Barbie

From a young age, Lockie knew his calling.

Following in the footsteps of his uncle, he set his sights on becoming a butcher. Now, at just two-and-a-half years into his apprenticeship with MBW On The Barbie, Lockie is proving that his passion runs as deep as his skillset.

Lockie’s natural talent and keen interest in the craft have allowed him to thrive in his apprenticeship. He’s particularly proud of the progress he’s made, saying that his training at MBW On The Barbie pushed him ahead of schedule, picking up second-year skills during his first year on the job.

For Lockie, there’s nothing quite as satisfying as breaking down an animal and preparing it into different cuts that leave customers excited to take home a perfectly prepped steak or roast.

“The best part is seeing their faces when they get a good steak,” he shared.

His favourite task? Making sausages. While it might seem simple to the untrained eye, the art of crafting the perfect snag requires precision, speed, and a lot of practice.

“I’m getting pretty quick with them now,” Lockie said with a smile.

“I like making the thick ones, those take a bit more focus. They’re easy to overfill, and if you add just a bit too much pressure, they can burst, and they are a pain to clean when they explode all over the wall.”

Whether it’s mastering the art of sausage-making or breaking down a cut to perfection, he’s a butcher who takes pride in every step of the process.

Outside the shop, Lockie unwinds with his mates, spending his weekends fishing, pigging, or simply chilling out.

Describe your personality in three words

Easy-going, quick-learner, honest

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With MBW On The Barbie

What began as a service to the community and a desire to ensure a local shopping centre still had a butcher shop, has become a labour of love for a humble team of passionate staff members who have transformed a closing Butchery into a thriving business over the past 10 years.

One of the longest running businesses at Whitsunday Shopping Centre, MBW On The Barbie, is the brainchild of entrepreneurial meat-specialists, Karen Rix and Don Cameron. Ten years ago, when the couple heard the lease was not to be renewed by the existing tenant butcher and decided to step-in to ensure the continuation of this valuable service.

“We thought – every shopping centre deserves a local butcher!” expressed Karen.

“And the community welcomed us with open arms, everyone was excited to see that we’d continue at the convenient location, and we have had fantastic support ever since.”

Led by the demand for growth, Karen and Don were humbled by the support which encouraged them to expand from the Master Butchers Whitsundays store, which had been operating on Stewart Drive in Cannonvale for five years at the time, to the new premise at Whitsunday Shopping Centre. Determined to differentiate the new store from its big brother, the pair decided to specialise in quality barbeque products while also offering the same meat staples available at the other location.

Inspired by the outdoors lifestyle of the Whitsundays, the ‘On The Barbie’ branding was an instant success, with customers loving the delicious range of barbeque meats and helpful advice from the knowledgeable staff.

“We trained all the staff on adapting oven cooking times to suit hooded barbeques and found that people loved being able to cook their favourite meals outside, they simply needed to know how to do it!”

With a pre-existing reputation for quality meat products from the Stewart Drive Store, replicated seamlessly at On The Barbie, the new store quickly gained popularity and its convenient location made it popular, especially with locals living within walking distance.

Graduating from little sister to team-mate and business equal, MBW On The Barbie has risen in the ranks, rising to become a significant game-player in the local retail sector. This status was reinforced when MBW On The Barbie entered into the Australian Meat Industry Council Awards and came home with a gold award for the Best Sausage in QLD for their classic beef sausage.

Proud to be supplying delicious, high-quality meat for the Whitsunday community, MBW On The Barbie constantly innovates to ensure customers have the best flavours whether they are cooking up a storm in the kitchen or sizzling steaks outdoors on the barbie.

One of the ways they keep ahead of the pack is by offering a range of complementary products such as their marinades and rubs. These tasty additions ensure that nobody gets tired of the same old tastes, in fact they can keep trying different combinations.

In addition, Master Butchers has taken this one step further by opening a ‘Chef’s Kitchen’ at their Stewart Drive location. This new innovation supplies MBW On The Barbie with delicious accompaniments to complete the barbeque experience. Crunchy salads made with the freshest local products are put together by a talented chef who loves pairing the best recipes with the most succulent meats.

For those looking for a breakfast barbeque, MBW On The Barbie also supply their own bacon and local eggs.

Standing strong through the tests of times, MBW On The Barbie has weathered several storms including the shopping centre fire of 2016 and Cyclone Debbie in 2017. On both occasions, their priority was serving the local community and helping those that needed it most. It is this community spirit that has seen them become the highly-embraced, much-loved local business it is today.

As MBW On The Barbie celebrates its 10 year milestone, Karen hopes other local businesses will feel inspired by their resilience and witness first-hand how a small business can succeed in supplying quality produce to the local community.

Must Try Item

The Bonnie & Clyde – moisture infused pork rack which is stuffed with caramelised onion and Gouda cheese with a pistachio crust. Close the hood on the barbeque on a medium heat and it will be ready in about 35 minutes.

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Tropical Cyclone Debbie caused extensive damage not only to the regional landscape, it also heavily impacted underwater ecosystems. This disaster was a key factor underpinning the formation of a Great Barrier Reef Foundation project - the Whitsundays Reef Islands Initiative (WRII). Managed by Reef Catchments, this groundbreaking project focuses on positioning the Whitsundays as a global hub for inshore fringing reef stewardship.

Local stewardship benefits both the community and the reef by fostering a sense of responsibility and ownership over environmental conservation. Over time this leads to better outcomes for reef health, while also strengthening community ties, promoting sustainable practices and supporting regional tourism.

The WRII coral and seagrass restoration projects were Reef Catchments' first venture into ‘in-water’ projects, marking a significant shift in its conservation strategy.

As 2022 unfolded, while continuing to deliver the Whitsunday Reef Islands Initiative, Reef Catchments recognised the need to formalise its efforts towards preserving the Great Barrier Reef. This led to the establishment of a dedicated Reef Team. Since then, the team has expanded, adding a Senior Project Officer and developing a strategic plan . This plan not only outlines potential Reef research partnerships but also pinpoints critical marine ecosystems to prioritise moving forward. The addition of the Reef Team and strategic planning underscored Reef Catchments’ ongoing commitment to enhancing reef resilience and conservation efforts.

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Repairing the Landscape

Cyclone Debbie's impact in 2017 was severe, causing widespread damage across the region and significantly impacting local communities and ecosystems. Reef Catchments responded rapidly and proactively to provide a comprehensive assessment of regional environmental damage. The speed with which the assessment was compiled and submitted lead to the receipt of significant funding toward regional landscape remediation. The Disaster Recovery program received $6.2 million over 2 years across 33 sites. Work included streambank remediation, riparian vegetation planting and works to rebuild landscape resilience and protect valuable productive agricultural landscapes.

The project was executed swiftly, engaging local businesses to ensure timely delivery across the region. This efficiency not only led to the successful completion of the initial project but also paved the way for subsequent work and projects, establishing Reef Catchments as an efficient delivery vehicle, outstanding for a not-for-profit organisation.

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Water flowing through the land catchment area into the Great Barrier Reef plays an important role in the health of the reef ecosystem. Water run-off carrying pollutants, sediments, and nutrients from erosion, agriculture and urban activities threatens coral health, resilience and the overall biodiversity of the reef.

The first Mackay Whitsunday Water Quality Improvement Plan, developed in 2007-2008, was a significant step in providing crucial information on water quality flowing through the catchment to the sea. This plan created a strong foundation for the programs that would follow over the next two decades.

Monitoring water quality remains an important activity for Reef Catchments. Regional data collection directly contributes vital data to long-term monitoring projects such as the Paddock to Reef Program and Healthy Rivers to Reef Partnership.

At Reef Catchments, water quality data feeds into strategic planning for project implementation and supports landholders to make informed decisions around management practices.

Ultimately, understanding regional water quality issues, allows for better targeted land based initiatives to improve water quality flowing to the Reef.

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Between 2017 and 2023, the Reef Trust 4 program made significant strides in combating stream bank erosion in the Mackay Whitsunday region, particularly along the O’Connell River and St. Helens and Murray creeks.

It had been calculated approximately 2.9M m3 had been lost from stream bank erosion over nine years along 82kms of river in the O’Connell River/St Helens and Murray creeks.  Streambank erosion and sediment loss directly harm water quality and threaten the resilience of coral reefs. This compromises the reef's ability to recover from environmental stresses, affecting its overall health and sustainability.

The project was large scale, delivered over a six year project and provided significant challenges for the Reef Catchments Waterways team. The nature and size of the project required focused strategic planning and implementation along with strong collaboration with landholders and local businesses.

The program's efforts included collaboration with 31 local properties to reduce sediment flow into the Great Barrier Reef lagoon by 10,356 tonnes and the planting of over 70,000 trees to strengthen 25 hectares of riparian zones.

The initiative not only helped reduce erosion but also supported local job creation, improved regional environmental assets, and provided community education on sustainable land management techniques.

The success of Reef Trust 4 in Mackay Whitsunday region shines through its innovative approach to stream bank remediation and distinguishes it as a leader in the field. The important learnings and experiences from this and the Disaster Recovery program continue to pave the way for future environmental investments in the region.

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As part of the Australian Government’s Caring for Our Country Program, The Reef Rescue initiative was launched with the aim of enhancing the water quality entering the Great Barrier Reef.

Between 2008 and 2013, Reef Catchments implemented the program in the Mackay Whitsunday region to fast-track water quality benefits associated with improved farm management practices. The project outcomes for sugarcane, grazing and horticulture exceeded original expectations and it became foundational to the design and delivery of subsequent water quality programs.

The Mackay Whitsunday Water Quality Improvement Plan was used to identify a range of specific improved land management practices , based on the best available science and information for improving on-farm economic and environmental sustainability. The delivery process focused on increased adoption of these improved land management practices across agricultural properties in the region.

In total, 1,286 projects involving 942 land managers were funded, including 718 cane farmers, 204 graziers, and 20 horticulturists. At the outset of the program, Reef Catchments established working groups that were instrumental in building foundational industry partnerships and which were critical to the program’s success.

It was noted the Reef Rescue program also contributed to additional community benefits such as social engagement, economic growth, and technological innovation. It fostered community involvement in environmental issues, supported local economies through project funding, and introduced new technologies that reduced harmful runoff, setting new standards for sustainable practices.

Following on from Reef Rescue, Reef Catchments has continued to support projects to increase knowledge and undertake on-ground works, ensuring that productive land in the region benefits while contributing to improved water quality flowing to the reef.

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The Biodiversity team at Reef Catchments engages in various initiatives to safeguard the biodiversity of the Mackay Whitsunday Region. Their efforts concentrate on wetlands and priority species conservation.

Koalas

The first Reef Catchments Koala Habitat Restoration project kicked off early in 2024.

After many years working towards building recognition of the regional koala population and its needs, this project represented a significant step forward for Reef Catchments.

With a primary objective to stabilise or improve koala populations, the initiative includes managing 150 hectares for weed control to facilitate koala movement and lower fire risks, alongside planting 27 hectares with koala-friendly vegetation. The project spans from Sandy Creek to just north of Koumala, covering from Connors Range in the west to the eastern coastal areas, targeting several key zones within this range.

Regional landholders and communities have enthusiastically engaged with the project to assist with identification of koala habitat areas, weed management and habitat revegetation.

The program will provide valuable data and insights to support future regional programs in support of these endangered populations.

How you can help: reefcatchments.com.au/projects/sarina-region-koala-habitat-restoration

Eastern Curlew

Listed as a top 20 priority and critically endangered bird, the Eastern Curlew uses the Mackay region as a non-breeding roosting destination.

Flying more than 20,000 kilometres (round trip) from breeding grounds in China and Russia to Australia, they can lose 40-70% of their body weight. This significant loss makes it crucial for them to rebuild body muscle and fat during their stopovers in the region.

The Eastern Curlew programs, delivered by Reef Catchments, utilises habitat data to identify and prioritise sites for conservation interventions. These interventions include feral animal control, beach cleanup events, and habitat restoration. Community engagement, awareness, and education are also important in providing safe and quiet areas for birds to rest and feed.

These groundbreaking regional programs have been an important start to understanding and helping these beautiful birds in a bid to stabilise their population.

Want to know more? reefcatchments.com.au/projects/eastern-curlew/

Fishways

Many of our region’s fish populations are ‘Diadromous’ fish that travel between salt and freshwater as part of their life and breeding cycles. In 2015 the Mackay Whitsunday Fish Barrier Prioritisation Report investigated 3974 potential barriers that prevent, delay or obstruct their migration, impacting population numbers.

Reef Catchments and other regional partners have used the report to guide and focus future efforts on installing and repairing existing fishways, otherwise known as fish ladders, that facilitate the natural migration of fish. Fishways monitoring programs have shown that works completed on the prioritised areas quickly achieve outstanding results in terms of increasing number of fish and numbers of species repopulating inland waterways.

Wetlands

The Biodiversity team at Reef Catchments has a long involvement in the rehabilitation of wetland sites in the region, focusing on restoring these vital ecosystems to enhance wildlife habitats and maintain ecological balance. Their efforts contribute significantly to the conservation of biodiversity in these areas.

The team engaged in a long-term project at Sandringham Wetlands, just south of Mackay, which serves as a showcase study. This project was conducted in cooperation with the landowner to create a balance between wetland conservation and sustainable farming practices. Restoration activities at the wetlands included weed management, installation of fishways and the integration of beneficial farm management practices.

Landholder Jason Bradford is quick to describe the benefits of protecting what he sees as a very special asset. “What I want (for my property) is to be a financially viable enterprise, as well as the best outcomes for nature”

More info on Sandringham: https://reefcatchments.com.au/projects/sandringham-wetlands-complex

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With 21 years regional experience, Reef Catchments has gained an intimate and very personal knowledge of the Mackay Whitsunday Isaac region and its community. It’s an accumulation of knowledge that provides a powerhouse of expertise behind their services.

Locals and visitors alike enjoy a diverse range of unique ecosystems; from pristine beaches and coral reefs of the Whitsundays to the lush, sugarcane fields of Mackay and the rugged, pastoral lands of Isaac. This area is pivotal for agriculture, tourism, and mining, and plays a crucial role in water management, supporting both community livelihoods and natural habitats. Natural resource management is an essential service for sustainable regional development with Reef Catchments well positioned to deliver services in our region.

Starting with the first Strategic NRM and Water Quality Improvement plans, Reef Catchments has played a key role in building essential knowledge of regional and community environmental needs. Their ongoing work has been key to identifying issues such as poor water quality affecting the Great Barrier Reef, loss of natural habitats due to city and industrial growth, and invasive species harming local wildlife along with the effects of climate change. These challenges require integrated management approaches to ensure sustainable use and conservation of natural resources.

By managing these challenges through integrated approaches, Reef Catchments strives to support sustainable development and conservation, protecting the region's diverse ecosystems and supporting its communities. With 21 years of regional knowledge and expertise, their continued commitment underscores the importance of their role in maintaining the area's environmental health and economic vitality.

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The Mackay Whitsunday Isaac region has a rich biodiversity providing numerous ecosystem services to the people who live and work here. Natural Resource Management is an essential service for sustainable regional development, with Reef Catchments well positioned as a primary provider of these services in the region.

Developed by Reef Catchments, The NRM Strategic Plan for the Mackay Whitsunday Isaac region guides the sustainable management of natural resources for the region. The plan is essentially a community-driven document, guided, endorsed, and owned by the residents of Mackay, Whitsunday, and Isaac. The development of the plan involved substantial contributions and consensus from various stakeholders including landholders, Traditional Owners, industry representatives, community groups and governmental bodies. Reef Catchments collaborated closely with the community to craft this plan, aiming to forge a cohesive and forward-looking strategy for managing the region’s natural resources.

As part of NRM Regions QLD, Reef Catchments is connected to a network of 56 NRM bodies across Australia. This network, which includes 12 independent organisations in Queensland, addresses a wide range of environmental challenges from the Great Barrier Reef to rainforests and rangelands. They work collaboratively on issues such as land management, biodiversity conservation, water quality, catchment repair, sustainable farming, and climate resilience.

These collective efforts are aimed at maintaining resilience and adaptability to change, and aligning human activity with environmental conservation across regional Queensland. Through securing investments and building strong community relationships, NRM Regions QLD aspires to create landscapes that are both resilient and beneficial to local communities. This strategic commitment ensures that the natural beauty and productivity of the Mackay Whitsunday Isaac region are preserved, supporting both current residents and future generations in living in harmony with their environment.

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With General Manager Rebecca Filby

Born in Proserpine in December 1982 and raised in Cannonvale, Rebecca Filby’s roots run deep in the Whitsundays Region. After a brief stint in Townsville at 18, she returned home and has lived across the region—from Cannonvale to Jubilee Pocket, Airlie Beach to Bowen—before settling in Proserpine for the past eight years.

Family is at the heart of Rebecca’s life. Married to Joel Altmann for five years and together for nine, they share two boys, Eric, 7, and Dylan, 4. Their family wouldn’t be complete without their two dogs, Callie, 13, and Benji, 10, who were Rebecca’s ‘first children’. Weekends are often spent travelling, enjoying family vacations at caravan parks, and creating lasting memories with their sons.

Rebecca’s career journey is marked by diversity and success. She began in the Jewellery Industry in 2002, where she quickly distinguished herself, owning a jewellery business and becoming a Diamond Broker by age 24. After nine years in the industry, she transitioned to banking, starting as a Teller with Westpac in Proserpine before advancing to Personal Banker in 2012. Her career continued to rise when she became the Bank Manager in Bowen in 2014, a role she held for four years.

In 2018, Rebecca pivoted to join the family business, a move that allowed her to blend her professional expertise with her passion for family. She started as Financial Controller, progressed to Sales Manager in 2021, and was promoted to General Manager in 2022. Along the way, Rebecca earned a Sales Licence, Motor Dealer Licence, completed Toyota’s two-year Future Dealer Leaders Program, and obtained an Advanced Diploma of Leadership & Management from the Australian Institute of Management (AIM).

Balancing her career with motherhood has been Rebecca’s greatest challenge and most significant accomplishment. She is determined to inspire her sons by exemplifying that success at work can coexist with a fulfilling family life.

Describing herself as outspoken and detail-oriented, Rebecca embodies resilience, dedication, and love in everything she does.

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Director Brian Filby

At the heart of every successful business is the person who connects the departments and brings operations together to ensure seamless flow, quality workmanship and precision delivery. At Filby’s Motors, that person is Brian Filby, who not only unites the team but also connects the business with the broader community when opportunity arises.

As a Director of the company and Parts Manager, Brian is a qualified Mechanic and Parts Interpreter. He is the fountain of knowledge for every pipe, fitting, screw and engine part any of their vehicles may need when it’s time for a service. Wherever possible, he engages with the local community, opting to spend money within the region and keep the dollars flowing within the Whitsundays.

It is this community spirit that makes him a well-respected individual and he is well-known for supporting the local causes that can often fly under the radar. He is a strong proponent of supporting aged care and support related services, as he feels these community groups are often overlooked.

Born in Proserpine, Brian has lived in Cannonvale for the last 58 years. In his youth, he was a keen sportsperson, even travelling overseas to play sport. He has three adult children and two lively dogs that keep him entertained. When he enjoys a moment of relaxation, Brian can be found out in the garden or taking the dogs down to the beach.

Describing himself as quiet, patient and fair, Brian recalls one of the most significant times of his life as the day each of his three children were born. He dreams of one day going on holiday to a location he has never been to before and says his favourite movie is ‘The Choice’.

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With Dealer Principal Robert Filby

Two of the pioneering families of Proserpine and the broader region were joined as one with the union of the Filby family and the Abell family in the mid 1950’s. This union set in motion a love story that has lasted through the decades and a legacy that has spanned generations. Robert Filby Senior married Thelma Abell, their love bringing together two powerful local families and a wealth of industry within the transport sector. This established the legacy of Filby’s Motors which opened its doors in 1964 and now lives on with their children and grandchildren to this day.

In 1981, the love story continued when Dealer Principal of Filby’s Motors, Robert Filby, married his high-school sweetheart Sue. The couple were blessed with four children and, after more than 40 years together, now enjoy watching their four grandchildren blossom as well. Robert feels very grateful to share such a long life with Sue and considers family the most important success in his life.

Leaving school at 15, Robert pursued an apprenticeship as a butcher, completing the trade before moving into the family business in 1978. Over the years Robert has gained experience in almost every aspect of the business, working in every department to gather an understanding of how each section operates and drives the business as a whole. This experience led Robert Filby to become Dealer Principal, a position he still holds to this day after 35 years of successfully leading the business.

Wearing the test of time, Robert Filby has experienced many challenges over the years, but on each occasion has been able to pivot and prevail, safely guiding the business to move with the times and adapt to changing markets. It is now a proud moment when Robert is beginning to see the next generation come forward, as his daughter Rebecca Filby steps into more of a leadership role. This cements the succession plan that will see Filby’s Motors become a three-generation business.

A family man, a man of industry and a man of community, Robert Filby prides himself on his compassion and connection with others. He loves supporting events and charities, participating in local sporting groups and watching his local community thrive. When he was in his twenties, Robert travelled the world and has fond memories of his time oversees. These days he enjoys being at home with family and loves art, model building, golf and gardening. He also loves watching both the cricket and NRL with the Cowboys being his favourite team.

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