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Woman shot dead in Mackay in front of children

<p>A 34-year-old woman has been fatally shot through the window of a car in Mackay on Wednesday afternoon, in front of her teen children who had to flee for help. </p> <p>The man also allegedly shot a 66-year-old man who came to her aid before fleeing the scene. </p> <p>The woman died from her injuries, while the 66-year-old was taken to hospital in a serious but stable condition after he was shot in the sternum area, according to police. </p> <p>Her death caused an emergency declaration that shut down parts of South Mackay as police searched for the alleged shooter. </p> <p>“The children were young teenagers... it’s an absolutely shocking thing to have experienced,” District Superintendent Graeme Paine said.</p> <p>“They were very fearful... It’s an absolutely tragic situation.”</p> <p>The suspect was arrested at 7:45pm outside a Bruce Highway business, about 2km away and is assisting authorities with their investigation. </p> <p>Police said that there was no indication that the man and woman knew each other, but it is understood that they “reside in fairly close proximity”.</p> <p>“I don’t have any details at this stage in relation to any sort of motive or reasons behind what’s occurred,” the District Superintendent said. </p> <p>The emergency declaration has since been revoked, with police saying that they have contained the situation. </p> <p>No charges have yet been laid. </p> <p><em>Image: 7News</em></p>

Caring

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Two more infant deaths at Queensland hospital spark coroner's investigation

<p>In the wake of a recent healthcare scandal involving infant fatalities at a Queensland hospital, the state coroner is now delving into two more heartbreaking cases at the same facility, as <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-12/coroner-investigating-more-baby-deaths-at-mackay-base-hospital/103573248" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported by the ABC</a>. This development has reignited concerns about the safety and quality of care provided to expectant mothers and newborns at Mackay Base Hospital.</p> <p>The stories of Chloe Stanley and Jenna McGregor echo a disturbing pattern of maternal distress, dismissal of concerns and tragic outcomes. Stanley's baby girl, Everlee, tragically passed away in her arms just seven days after birth in May 2023, while McGregor lost her son, Hugo, five days after his birth, two months prior. Both infants succumbed to hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy, a condition stemming from oxygen or blood flow deprivation during birth.</p> <p>Stanley's harrowing experience sheds light on a systemic issue of young mothers feeling marginalised and ignored by healthcare professionals. At just 19 years old, Stanley expressed her belief that she was being "judged" for her ago, leading to dismissal of her concerns about her baby's well-being, ultimately resulting in devastating consequences. McGregor's ordeal parallels Stanley's, underscoring a troubling lack of responsiveness to maternal distress and the urgent need for systemic reforms.</p> <p>These recent tragedies evoke haunting memories of <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-09-30/mackay-hospital-health-service-babies-obstetrics-review/101411172" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a similar case a decade ago</a>, involving the loss of Jessica Beazley's newborn son, Nathan. Like Stanley and McGregor, <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-09-30/mackay-base-hospital-obstetrics-harming-mother-and-baby/101485862" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Beazley's concerns </a>appear to have  been disregarded, leading to irreversible harm. An investigation into Mackay Base Hospital's obstetrics and gynaecology service in 2022 revealed a disturbing pattern of inadequate care contributing to infant deaths and maternal suffering, prompting calls for comprehensive reforms.</p> <p>The review uncovered 122 recommendations aimed at improving communication, culture and empathy within the hospital's maternity care system. However, despite assurances of progress, Stanley and McGregor's experiences suggest that critical reforms have yet to be fully implemented, leaving expectant mothers vulnerable to similar tragedies.</p> <p>The Root Cause Analysis conducted by the Mackay Hospital and Health Service (MHHS) following McGregor's loss identified several systemic deficiencies, including delays in care escalation, poor collaboration and communication breakdowns. These findings underscore the urgent need for sustained efforts to address systemic failures and ensure the safety of expectant mothers and their babies.</p> <p>Stanley's and McGregor's accounts of feeling dismissed and unheard by healthcare providers highlight a pervasive culture of neglect and complacency that must be addressed. </p> <p>In response to these tragedies, health authorities have pledged to bolster obstetric care and enhance staff training and empathy initiatives. </p> <p>As the Queensland coroner investigates these heartbreaking cases, it is imperative that lessons are learned, and systemic reforms are swiftly implemented to prevent further loss of innocent lives.</p> <p>Expectant mothers like Chloe Stanley and Jenna McGregor deserve nothing less than the highest standard of care and compassion throughout their pregnancy and childbirth journey.</p> <p><em>Images: Mackay Base Hospital \ Getty Images file photo</em> </p>

Legal

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"That is NOT a goanna": Family stumbles upon metre-long croc in their chicken coop

<p>A Central Queensland family got the croc-shock of their lives when what they thought was a seemingly innocent goanna having a nap in their chicken coop turned out to be a rather laid-back, metre-long reptile houseguest.</p> <p>The unsuspecting family from <span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">Cape Hillsborough </span><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">stumbled upon the scaly interloper during their morning routine and, u</span><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">pon closer inspection, they realised that their "goanna" was actually a pint-sized crocodile with a hunger for adventure and perhaps a penchant for farm-fresh eggs. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">They immediately called upon the services of the wildlife officers from the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI) to handle the unexpected guest. </span></p> <p>DESI staff, armed with their best PVC tube, swooped in to relocate the confused crocodile to a more suitable venue – a facility in Mackay. There, the croc will wait patiently until wildlife officers can find it a new home, possibly at a licensed farm or zoo where it can continue its culinary escapades under professional supervision.</p> <p>Senior Wildlife Officer Jane Burns commented on the incident, saying, "While it isn't unusual to see crocs around Mackay, it is unusual to find one in someone's backyard." Well, Jane, they say every family has a skeleton in the closet, but in Mackay, it seems they might have a croc in the coop.</p> <p>This peculiar episode follows hot on the heels of recent reports of a crocodile deciding to test its high jump skills, attempting to land in a fisherman's tinnie at Jane Creek in nearby St Helen's Beach. Witnesses say the crocodile executed a perfect swan dive, narrowly avoiding a career in aquatic acrobatics.</p> <p>As the good people of Mackay navigate this unexpected croc invasion, wildlife authorities are reminding everyone to be "<a href="https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/plants-animals/animals/living-with/crocodiles/becrocwise" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Crocwise in Croc Country</a>". Tips include expecting crocs in all waterways (yes, even in your neighbour's kiddie pool), obeying warning signs (they're not just fancy decorations), and refraining from using canoes and kayaks (apparently, crocs have a thing for watercraft).</p> <p>So, the next time you suspect a goanna is admiring your chicken coop, remember – it might just be a crocodile in disguise, ready for a culinary adventure and a chance at stardom. </p> <p><em>Images: DISA</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Woman buys ad in newspaper to call out cheating partner

<p dir="ltr">A furious woman who was cheated on by her partner has taken out a whole page of the local newspaper to call him out. </p> <p dir="ltr">Jenny from Queensland purchased one page from the Mackay and Whitsunday Life paper with her cheating partner’s credit card page. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Dear Steve, I hope you’re happy with her,” the message on page 4 read. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Now the whole town will know what a filthy cheater you are. From Jenny.</p> <p dir="ltr">“PS. I bought this ad using your credit card.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The newspaper said they have received several messages from locals asking who Steve and Jenny are but they have kept quiet about it.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We do NOT know who Steve is, but apparently he’s been very very bad,” the newspaper said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We won’t be revealing any details about Jenny.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Despite writing that she used Steve’s credit card for the ad, the newspaper confirmed they have not yet charged the card. </p> <p dir="ltr">“We have not charged the credit card in question.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The ad made its way to social media with many commending Jenny for calling out her cheating partner. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Jenny sounds like someone I want to be friends with,” someone wrote. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Not all heroines wear capes. Jenny is my new favourite person,” another commented.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Sucks to be Steve,” another wrote. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Facebook</em></p>

Relationships

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Tradie saves sunbaking woman after random stabbing attack

<p>On Monday, 23-year-old Kaitlin Jones was sunbaking on popular Blacks Beach near Mackay in Queensland when she was allegedly stabbed multiple times in a random attack by a sixteen-year-old boy.</p> <p>The teen was unknown to her and allegedly stabbed her multiple times, inflicting serious wounds to her head, neck, chest and arms.</p> <p>Jones ran screaming along the beach and a local tradie called Gavin Odgaard heard her screams for help and ran to assist her.</p> <p>The 58-year-old carpenter said: “I got down closer to her and I could see the blood on her.”</p> <p>She said to me: “Help me, help me, help me, I’ve been stabbed. I don’t want to die.”</p> <p><strong>Tradie has extensive first aid training</strong></p> <p>Luckily Odgaard has extensive first aid training so he knew how to help: “I listened to the way she was breathing and her voice, and she said she had been stabbed in the chest and I realised she hasn’t had a punctured lung and her breathing was normal,” he said.</p> <p>“The cut, the stab wound to the side of the head, was bleeding more than any of the wounds that I could see, but she constantly kept pleading, ‘help me, help me, I don’t want to die’,” he added.</p> <p>Odgaard made the woman comfortable and watched her closely until the paramedics arrived. Another tradie called Paul Ferdinand who was on the same construction site as Odgaard, helped out as well. Jones asked Ferdinand to call her mother and tell her what had happened.</p> <p>Ferdinand did this for the young woman and they asked her who had carried out this attack on her.</p> <p>“She said she was lying down sunbaking, he’s walked past her, she didn’t really take too much notice and 10 minutes later he’s come back on top of her, stabbing her,” Ferdinand said.</p> <p>“He’s lucky we didn’t see him,” he added.</p> <p><strong>16-year-old teen has been taken into custody</strong></p> <p>Detective Inspector Tom Armitt said Kaitlin Jones is now in a stable condition in Mackay Base Hospital and would need “attention to some serious lacerations”.</p> <p>Queensland Police have revealed they took a 16-year-old boy into custody after an extensive search. The teen is now being questioned in relation to the attack on Kailin Jones and charged with acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm.</p> <p>Police will allege the male launched the random attack while the woman sunbaked and stabbed her multiple times in the neck and body with a knife before fleeing the scene.</p> <p>The 16-year-old was refused bail and is due to appear before the Mackay Children’s Court on Tuesday.</p> <p><em>Images: Facebook</em></p>

Legal

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Destination focus: Mackay

<p>It’s a quintessential Queensland working town, built on farming and sugar, but Mackay has plenty to offer the visitor too.</p> <p><strong>See</strong></p> <p>You might be surprised to learn that Mackay has the best collection of art deco buildings in Queensland. It was one of the only city’s to boom from the 1920s to 1940s, when the style was popular, and it has left a stylish legacy. Wander along the town’s heritage walk and look out for the pineapples on top of the columns at the post office, the ocean liner-style of the Australian Hotel and the charming pastel colour scheme of the Ambassador Hotel.</p> <p><strong>Do</strong></p> <p>The Mackay region is home to two great national parks, Eungella and Cape Hillsborough. Eungella is one of the most ecologically diverse parks in the country, blending tropical and sub-tropical rainforest, and there are a number of well formed trails that wind through it. Take the Broken River trail to the viewing platform over the river and look for platypus. At Cape Hillsborough, wallabies and kangaroos search for food on the beach at sunrise and you can see more than 150 species of bird and 25 species of butterflies along the Diversity boardwalk.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="498" height="245" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/36497/image__498x245.jpg" alt="Image_ (275)"/></p> <p><strong>Tour</strong></p> <p>Mackay is set right along the middle of the Great Barrier Reef, so you should definitely get out and explore the underwater world. Day tours run from town and visit nearby islands like Brampton, Scawfell and Keswick and, while they aren’t as famous as their Whitsunday cousins to the north, they offer great snorkelling, diving and swimming at secluded sandy beaches.</p> <p><strong>Eat &amp; Drink</strong></p> <p>Mackay has stayed mostly off the tourist map, so don’t expect too many fancy bars and restaurants. Head down to the waterfront and Maria’s Donkey Tapas bar for good food with a view. The brand new Paddock &amp; Brew Company serves food with a paddock to plate philosophy and a great range of craft beers. Or you can just grab some fish and chips and head for the beach.</p> <p><strong>Stay</strong></p> <p>In Mackay you’ll find everything from retro roadside motels to family-friendly resorts and stylish self-contained apartments. It's one of the few beachside towns in the country where you can reliably find a room for less than $100 a night. To stay right on the beach, try SeaEagles Beach Resort, Potter’s Oceanside Motel or the Sarina Beach Motel.</p> <p><strong>Here are some tips from the Over60 Community:</strong></p> <p><strong>Michelle Nightingale</strong> says: “Sorbello's Italian Restaurant in the city. George's Thai Restaurant at the Marina. Eungella Chalet - beautiful views, friendly service and very reasonably priced.</p> <p>“Botanic Gardens are worth a visit with a lovely sitting area to enjoy a yummy lunch and the Blue Water Trail goes for many kilometres and encircles the city. This trail can be followed on skates, bikes, scooters or foot. The last time I walked part of this trail I spent a good 30 minutes enjoying the antics of a black cockatoo family feeding in one of the native trees along the walk.</p> <p>“There is so much here.”</p> <p><strong>Karen Davidson</strong> recommends a meal at “Burp Eat Drink. The best place to enjoy food, wine and music!”</p> <p><strong>Robyn Chalmers</strong> thinks you should get, “Fish n chips from the shop near McKay Marina. Best ever!”</p> <p>Have you ever been to Mackay?</p>

International Travel

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Elton John is returning to Australia

<p>Forty-one years ago, Sir Elton John first performed in Australia, kicking off a decades-long love affair with our beautiful country. Now, the “Rocket Man” singer has announced he’ll be returning to our shores for two shows in “first-and-last time events” in Mackay and Cairns.</p> <p>The tour, aptly titled “Once in a Lifetime,” will take Sir Elton and his band (Davey Johnstone on guitar, Matt Bissonette on bass, John Mahon on percussion and Kim Bullard on keyboards) to Queensland to perform fan favourites from his stellar career spanning more than 50 years.</p> <p>Mackay and Cairns are the first cities to be listed by tour promoter <a href="http://www.chuggentertainment.com/eltonjohn2017" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Chugg Entertainment</span></strong></a>, but if you’re not a Queensland native, there’s still hope – more tour dates are still to be announced.</p> <p>The Mackay show will be held at BB Print Stadium on Friday, September 22, while the Cairns show will take place at Cazaly’s Stadium on Saturday, September 30. For more information, <a href="http://www.chuggentertainment.com/eltonjohn2017" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">click here</span></strong></a>.</p> <p><em>UPDATE: Chugg Entertainment have just announced a new NSW show to be held at WIN Stadium in Wollongong on Sunday, September 24.</em></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/entertainment/music/2016/12/bob-king-50-years-of-music-photography/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Bob King celebrates 50 years of music photography</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/entertainment/music/2016/04/the-surprising-real-names-of-singers/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>The surprising real names of famous singers</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/entertainment/music/2016/05/1970s-songs-that-defined-a-decade/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>1970s: songs that defined a decade</strong></em></span></a></p>

Music

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Mackay man diagnosed with Zika virus

<p>Queensland health authorities have stressed the public remain calm in light of news that a man from Mackay has been diagnosed with the Zika virus.</p> <p>The man is believed to have contracted the virus upon a trip to Mexico, and was diagnosed after visiting a GP after returning home to Australia.</p> <p>The Mackay Public Health Unit has reportedly stressed that there is no immediate risk of anyone in the area contracting the virus, but a mosquito control team is expected to travel from Townsville to Mackay to assess the mosquitos in the area.</p> <p>The authorities will be looking to determine whether there are populations of the Aedes aegypti mosquito present, which is commonly known to carry the Zika virus.</p> <p>Director of Public Health Dr Richard Gair said it was important that people do not panic at this stage, "We will assess the risk of mosquitoes transmitting the virus and will provide further advice to the public once we have done a physical inspection of the area near the man's home.”</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2014/09/the-benefits-of-having-a-pet/"><em>Why having a pet is SO good for you</em></a></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/01/photos-of-animals-hitchhiking/"><em>Hilarious photos of animals hitchhiking</em></a></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2015/11/how-to-help-your-pet-conquer-their-phobias/">How to help your pet conquer their phobias</a></em></strong></span></p>

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