Entertainment and Community
Guiding Young People To Discover Their Potential JOHNATHAN THURSTON ACADEMY
By Daniel Heggie When North Queensland NRL legend Johnathan Thurston (JT) hung up his boots in 2018, many wondered what his next venture would be. But JT had been working on something for years — the Johnathan Thurston Academy. The Academy was born in the lead-up to the NRL’s first Indigenous vs NRL All Stars Match. During preparations, JT realised he didn’t know much about his family history, which inspired him to learn. After a weekend visit to Mitchell, Gunggari Country, he began to thin
Read the full story“Watch This Space” Gilmour Space Technologies
By Ruth Puddefoot On the rooftop of a house their grandfather built with his own hands, CEO’s James and Adam Gilmour once traced constellations across the vast Queensland night sky. “Our grandfather… he was really heavy in photography and astrology. I remember him taking me up to the top of the house… to show me constellations that I still recall. And I’ll pass it down now to my daughter,” James recalls. That childhood fascination, sparked by stargazing with their grandad, a love of science
Read the full storyThe Enchanted Garden Where Glamour And Giving Take Root
Close your eyes and picture it: fairy lights flickering like fireflies through the forest canopy, music drifting on the night air, champagne glasses catching the glow of lanterns as laughter carries across the hillside. This October, that vision comes to life when Life Publishing Group presents The Enchanted Garden — the very first of what is set to become the Whitsundays’ most coveted annual event. On Saturday 25 October 2025, the gates of Elementa will open to reveal an evening of magic and
Read the full storyGreater Whitsunday Innovation: Mackay's Tech and Innovation Community Hub
What began in 2016 as Split Spaces—a single coworking room created to give local entrepreneurs a place to connect—has grown into Greater Whitsunday Innovation (GWI), a thriving not-for-profit hub supporting small business and community across the Mackay Isaac Whitsunday region. Based at CQUniversity Mackay, GWI offers flexible desks, professional boardrooms, and modern training rooms, alongside specialist facilities such as a dedicated podcast and media studio. These spaces give entrepreneurs,
Read the full storyAirlie Beach Festival Of Music: Line-Up Announced!
The countdown is on as the Airlie Beach Festival of Music unveils its daily main stage lineups, building excitement for one of the region’s most anticipated events. “We’ve always been about creating a full-sensory experience, and now it’s time for a taste of what each day will bring,” said a spokesperson. Organisers have also announced new 2-day ticket options to suit every type of festival-goer. Whether you're in for the full weekend (plus pre- and post-party) or just a highlight or two, your
Read the full storyABFoM Headline Act Jessica Mauboy Excited For Airlie Beach Visit A Warm Whitsunday Welcome For Jessica Mauboy
Multi music award winner Jessica Mauboy will make her first Airlie Beach Festival of Music appearance this November. The much-loved Australian music legend first gained recognition on Australian Idol, but in an exclusive interview with Whitsunday Life Newspaper, she said performing live is her ultimate joy. “Being able to play it live is my ultimate favourite. So, it’s an absolute honour and opportunity to be able to do that in Airlie Beach. I'm looking forward to that,” she said. “I love to
Read the full storyThe Long Run
Michael Kimpton turned a five-kilometre parkrun into a passport to the world’s toughest races.Most retirees who make the move to the Whitsundays choose a relaxed lifestyle, soaking up the sunshine and enjoying the laid-back atmosphere. But for local Michael Kimpton, retirement was just the warmup lap.
Read the full storyBlood, Grit And The Will To Live
Dane Campbell has never been one to back down from a challenge. A former rugby league player and now the North Queensland Cowboys’ Head of Recruitment, Dane has faced many battles on the field, but none quite like the one he’s tackling now: stage four bowel cancer.
Read the full storyAustralia’s Industrial Future Has A New Voice
In a time when global supply chains wobble and energy debates rage louder than ever, one of Canberra’s rising regional voices is helping shape the blueprint for Australia’s industrial backbone — and he’s doing it with the grounded pragmatism of someone who prefers welders and workshop floors to whiteboards and buzzwords.
Read the full storyYou Don’t Need To Be Just Another Statistic
Are we looking at the right statistics in the right way? For decades, society has rightly fought for women’s rights. But in the process, have some men been left behind? In the 1960s and ’70s, Australia introduced no-fault divorce laws, initially to protect women—especially those abandoned by husbands. These laws allowed women to retain the family home and often full custody of the children. At the time, it was a necessary reform. But five decades on, some are asking: do these laws now unfairly d
Read the full storyA Man On A Mission
Ren Pedersen never planned to be involved in medicine. He never went to medical school. He never paid too much attention in science class.But when he tragically lost his nine-year-old daughter Amy to Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) in 2009, he dove head-first into the medical world—not as a doctor, but as a father with a promise to keep.
Read the full storyCanvas, Soul And Stage
World-renowned artist Matteo Charles is set to bring his unique brand of “Inspirational Artistry” to the Whitsundays this October, headlining the Life Publishing Charity Event, The Enchanted Garden at Elementa on October 25.
Read the full story
