Community At The Core

With Rich Bates, owner of News Whitsunday

In the heart of Cannonvale, one business owner is proving that good old-fashioned community spirit is still a powerful recipe for success.

When Rich Bates took over News Whitsunday as part of his retirement plan, slowing down was the last thing on his mind. Instead, he transformed the newsagency into a thriving hub—where laughs are shared, names are known, and locals feel at home.

Rich’s career has been as colourful as it is impressive. He began as the youngest wildlife ranger on Phillip Island, reporting directly to the Minister for Tourism. Later, he moved into corporate leadership, expanding Apple’s Queensland operations from one to three stores, and managing multiple Specsavers locations.

But when it came time for a sea change, the Whitsundays were an easy choice. With family ties and fond boating memories, Cannonvale called him back—and News Whitsunday gave him the local connection he craved.

“It’s a locally driven business, and I wanted to stay local,” Rich says. “Between lotto tickets, newspapers, magazines, and gifts—I knew I’d get to meet people quickly.”

He wasn’t wrong. Today, the store draws visitors from as far as Bloomsbury and has grown from supporting three regional schools with back-to-school orders to eight.

But it’s the vibrant culture he’s fostered that sets the business apart.

“We’re called ‘Scallywag Lane’ by locals,” he laughs. “We do AFL dress-ups when our teams lose a bet. Everyone wants to be here!”

Beyond the counter, Rich serves as a Justice of the Peace, adding another layer of community support.

Though the Whitsundays began as a retirement dream, Rich’s newsagency has become something more—a local cornerstone built on connection, humour, and heart.

“Out of the six thousand locals that live here, I think I could name four and a half thousand,” he says proudly.

“It’s always been about locals supporting locals. If we don’t look after each other, we’ll never survive.”

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