HI Aviation involved in Curry-Kenny split up

Whitsundays Online

Long-time Hamilton Island resident, Alan Sweeney, has commenced court proceedings against Curry-Kenny Aviation Holdings (CKAH). Mr Sweeney and CKAH are/were partners in many projects, including Tourism Aviation Holdings (which inluded Hamilton Island Aviation) since 2002.

According to the Courier Mail, Mr Sweeney lodged a lawsuit in the Supreme Court of QLD on Friday, 22 May, seeking almost $2.5 million from CKAH. However, it has been reported that only 3 days later, the 2 major husband-wife owners of CKAH, Grant Kenny and Lisa Curry-Kenny, had separated.

Mr Sweeney sold half of his business (based on Hamilton Island) to Mr and Mrs Kenny in 2002. Mr Sweeney then sold the remaining half of his business to CKAH in November 2007 for a reported $1.4 million ($100,000 deposit, apartment at Mantra Pavillions Mirage in 1770, and Two cash payments of $300,000 and $265,000).

According to Mr Sweeney, he has never taken possesion of the apartment, or the final 2 cash payments.

Mr Sweeney is also seeking the return of his loan/investment in CKAH of $300,000, plus interest; Aircraft cross hire and maintenance costs of almost $650,000, and over $10,000 in leave entitlements. The total amount being sought is around 2.4 million. Mr Sweeney has also sought an order to be released as a guarantor of CKAH given to Westpac.

Mr Sweeney is a very well known and respected local and was Chairman of Tourism Whitsundays for several years until 2006.

Editors note: On the left is a photo of AVTA's office on Hamilton Island, with infamous businessman Rene Rivkin in the centre, and Gordon Wood second from the left.

More in the Courier Mail
Aviation Tourism (AVTA) website

Pacific Dawn visits 'after dark'.

Whitsundays Online

The Pacific Dawn, the cruise ship that was sent to Willis Island because some of its crew were found to have the H1N1 (swine flu) virus, made an emergency stop in the Whitsunday Passage last night.

Officials said the ship was forced to make the emergency stop yesterday after a child suffered an arm injury and required a transfer by boat to Shute Harbour for treatment at Proserpine Hospital. Queensland Health said the child and family would be quarantined seven days.

The ship has continued on its way to Brisbane.

The Pacific Dawn was on a 10 day cruise from Sydney to the Whitsundays and Nth QLD, however it was turned away from all ports here due to the discovery of the virus on the ship.

Other reports by Cairns.com.au The UK Standard Bloomberg

Whitsundays Tourism websites revamped

Whitsundays Online

The best Whitsunday adventure and tourism websites have been revamped and all brought together.

Unique domains for each major interest and subject in the Whitsundays makes it easier for everyone to virtually get around our beautiful region.

• Aero Whitsundays Air services and info
• Channel Whitsunday Live TV
• Channel Whitsundays Multimedia
• Facebook Whitsundays Our Facebook site
  
• Learning To Be Body and Soul
• My 74 Islands Sailing
• My 74 Islands Diving
• My Whitsunday.Net International Gateway
• MySpace Whitsundays Our MySpace website
  
• Queensland Online Travel information
• TV Whitsunday Event Broadcast
• TV Whitsundays Event Broadcast
• Twitter Whitsundays Our Twitter website
  
• UN Island Support
• Whitsundays Online Portal
• Whitsundays Tourism Directory & Maps
• Whitsundays TV Event Broadcast
• Whitsunday TV Live WebCams
• Contact Us Local & International
  

New 2 ship berth for coal at Abbot Point

View Whitsundays Events and Incidents Map in a larger map
Whitsundays Online

Waratah Coal has announced that they and their partner, 'China First' "will include 490kms of standard gauge, heavy haul railway line and a 40 million tonne per annum, two-berth export terminal at Abbot Point near Bowen.

However, the new rail line is to be built from Alpha to Shoalwater Bay, just north of Rockhampton, (site of the AUS-USA military excercises every 2 years).

According to the map provided by Waratah Coal, the coal will travel through Moranbah or Rocky, then 40 million tonnes of coal a year will travel over the existing rail network through Bloomsbury, Proserpine, Bowen and then Abbot Point.

Waratah Coal's website
The original map image from Waratah Coal has been modified to show the proposed 'Northern Missing Link'.

Editors Note: If each coal train carries 7,000 tonnes, that means 5,700 full coal trains (+ return journey's) a year, or 220 more trains a week. However, if the 'Northern Missing Link' between Moranbah and Newlands is built, this would then be the shortest route to Abbot Point.

Flu ship visit to the Whitsundays cancelled

Whitsundays Online

The P&O Cruise ship, Pacific Dawn, has been diverted to Willis Island and will not be visiting the Whitsunday Islands tomorrow.

The decision to divert the cruise ship to a Meteorological outpost in the middle of the Coral Sea came about after the discovery of another 3 crew members with the virus.

More on this story at Aust. Network News and Cairns.Com.Au
Willis Island in Google Earth
Willis Island information
Willis Island Current Conditions
Willis Island Weather Radar - if the ship is within 10km of the island, it should get picked up by the radar
Pacific Dawn WebCam
Pacific Dawn Blog

Is the next cruise ship to the Whitsundays a potential biohazard?

Whitsundays Online
with the help of the ABC

Since our last report (15 hours ago), a total of 7 passengers and 2 crew who were on the previous leg of the cruise on the Pacific Dawn, have been confirmed to be suffering from the H1N1 (Swine Flu) virus.

More than 2,000 passengers from the Pacific Dawn have been asked by the NSW Medical Authorities to quarantine themselves for a week, as fears of a swine flu epidemic mount. The ship is now on its wayhere, using some of the same crew who sailed to Sydney on yesterday's cruise.

However, the cruise ship is expected here in about 60 hours, over 100 hours short of the NSW Governements end to the requested 'self quarantine'. The has been no advice locally (Whitsundays) of any cancelled 'day trip' services to operate from the ship to Airlie Beach and the Whitsunday Islands on Thursday.

P and O chief executive Ann Sherry says she is certain that proper procedures have been followed. "At the moment we've got a new set of passengers on a ship, we haven't been anywhere where there's swine flu," she said. "We're not going to locations where there's swine flu."

Editors Note : That is true . . . there is no swine flu in the Whitsundays . . . yet. If the 'worse case' scenario eventuates, will our small community's resources be able to handle it? 2,000 ill people can be better treated in a city of 4 million than a regional community of 30,000.

Full story at ABC News

Mama Africa 'Bomber' appeal refused

Whitsundays Online

Former security guard, Jason Gambier, who was found guilty of making bomb threats to Mama Africa's nightclub in August 2007, has lost his appeal.

Gambier was originally found guilty and sentenced to 9 months gaol, but ordered to be released after serving four months, and on good behaviour for 3 years. He was also ordered to pay $3000 restitution to Mama Africa's for lost trade.

In a unanimous decision, Gambier's application for leave was dismissed by the Court of Appeal. The COA's Justice Ann Lyons said that "given the seriousness of the conduct, his Honour (the sentencing judge) obviously considered that a period of imprisonment was required to be served.."

Full story at the Brisbane Times
Image courtesy Google Maps
Editors Note: Mr Gambier now lives in Ipswich.

Pacific Dawn heads for the Whitsundays

Whitsundays Online

The 2,000 passengers on board the cruise ship Pacific Dawn have been requested by Dr Kerry Chant (NSW Chief Health Officer) to quarantine themselves on the ship for a week, however, the ship will be in the Whitsundays on Thursday morning.

Two NSW children who left the ship in Sydney have tested positive to the H1N1 (swine flu) virus, and the NSW Govt. is now urgently trying to track down 130 people who were also on board the cruise ship and displaying flu-like symptoms.

Scientists say that while the strain does not appear to be deadly, more people could be at risk because they have no immunity.

At this point in time, there are 23 confirmed cases of swine flu in Australia.

The Pacific Dawn (operated by P&O) was allowed to leave Sydney at 10.30pm last night and is currently heading north along the Australian east coast, near Byron Bay (latest live image from the ship on the left, courtesy P&O).

A spokesperson for P&O said “We have worked very closely with the NSW and Federal authorities and Pacific Dawn has sailed with the full approval of these authorities. All of our ships have highly-trained doctors and well-equipped medical centres onboard. Staff are well equipped to prevent and contain the spread of any contagious diseases."

Passengers seeking further information should call P&O Cruises on 13 24 69.

*Editors Note: It has been common practice for many years here on the island resorts to quarantine staff and/or guests for a few days when they display symptoms of an illness that could spread. The 'house quarantine' is lifted when the illness is diagnosed as 'acceptable' or the person recovers completely.

As far as we know, the Day Trips from the cruise ship into Airlie Beach on Thursday have not been cancelled.

P&O Press Release
Pacific Dawn WebCam
Full story at ABC News

Our local MP's expenses now under the spotlight

Whitsundays Online

The Murdoch Press (News Ltd, Courier Mail) this weekend has been investigating the expenses received and spent by the MP for Whitsundays, Jan Jarratt.

The Courier Mail has allegedly obtained copies of Ms Jarratt's bank statements indicating that she may have used her electorate allowance to pay the rates on her house here in Cannonvale, another property in Townsville, and transferred cash to her husband and her son, of amounts between $200 to $3,000.

The Courier Mail goes on to say that. . .'It is important to acknowledge that Ms Jarratt has not broken any law in pocketing these allowances. The Courier Mail, therefore, is not embarking on a witchhunt, but it does call for a full and rational debate on MPs' remuneration, and especially the mechanisms which determine parliamentary allowances.'

*These moneys are paid above and beyond the travel allowances, telephone reimbursements, office running expenses such as staff and stationery, are paid for by Parliament.

Full story in the Courier Mail
Follow up story at News Ltd

Blues at its Best

Bob Eden
Whitsundays Online

WORKSHOPS
Wed 27 May to Sat 30 May 2009

PERFORMANCE
7.30pm Saturday 30 May 2009

VENUE
Airlie Beach PCYC, Port of Airlie

Kristina Olsen is one of the most entertaining and compelling performers on the international folk circuit, and she will be performing at the Airlie Beach PCYC this Saturday, 30 May 2009, from 7.30pm

A fine instrumentalist (acoustic guitar, steel-body slide guitar, saxophone, concertina and piano) as well as a powerful songwriter with a big bluesy voice, Kristina has audiences around the world coming back for more.

Kristina is also conducting several 'workshops' into Slide Guitar, Blues Singing and Songwriting in the days prior to her performance. The workshops will run from Wednesday 27 May to Saturday 30 May, at the ABPCYC.

For Concert and Workshop Bookings and Enquiries, phone 07 4946 1271

More of Kristina's music videos
Kristina's website

Mutiny boat found off Bowen

Insurance News/Sail-World Cruising

Air Apparent, the small yacht abandoned off the north coast of New Zealand last year when the crew mutinied and set off a distress beacon, has been recovered by fishermen off Bowen. It has taken more than a year to sail the distance alone.

The yacht was abandoned during a coastal trip in April last year when inexperienced crewmen grew alarmed in rising seas and set off the beacon in defiance of owner/skipper.

Full story at SailWorld.com

Alumina refinery at Abbot Point (Bowen) shelved

Whitsundays Online

Chalco has asked the QLD Government for permission to postpone its plans to construct and operate a alumina refinery at Abbot Point, near Bowen.

The proposed alliance between Chalco and Rio Tinto appears to be the main reason for the change in Chalco's plans, and it will probably be built in Gladstone now, where Rio Tinto has interests already there.

Full story at The Courier Mail

Virgin Blue to commence Sydney to Hamilton Island flights

Virgin Blue has announced it will launch direct flights between Sydney and Hamilton Island from July the 4th.

The airline’s new direct service will operate out of Sydney at 1015 and touch down at Hamilton Island at 1245 before departing the Island at 1315 and landing in Sydney at 1545.

The decision to commit an aircraft to operate the Sydney-Hamilton Island route was made after close analysis around demand for connecting flights via the airline’s existing services from Brisbane to Hamilton Island.

From 4th July, direct flights in to Hamilton Island will consist of:
Sunstate - SSQ2503 from Cairns at 8.55am
Jetstar - JQ860 from Melbourne at 11.35am
Virgin Blue - DJxxx from Sydney at 12.45pm
Virgin Blue - DJ1497 from Brisbane at 1.30pm
Jetstar - JQ852 from Brisbane at 1.35pm
Jetstar - JQ846 from Sydney at2.20pm

Proserpine's has 2 direct flights connecting Brisbane daily:
Virgin Blue - DJ1117 at 2.25pm
Jetstar - JQ830 at 5.45pm

Full story at the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation.

Whisper Bay goes into receivership

Katherine Jimenez | May 14, 2009

The Australian

FORMER prime minister Bob Hawke and ex-footballer Mathew Johns have been affected by the collapse of the $282 million Whisper Bay development at Abel Point.

The development has been placed in receivership.

The project was completed in December, however, earlier this month a banking syndicate, including Bankwest, issued a notice of demand for the repayment of a $180 million loan facility.

A request for an additional loan of about $10 million to fit out the hotel component of the complex was also rejected.

About one third of the apartments in the 104-unit complex have been sold, with settlement pending.

Mr Hawke, who bought one apartment in the complex off the plan and once promoted the project, said he was surprised by the fate of the completed development.

Full story at The Australian

Whisper Bay brochure in PDF

What's in the Budget for the Whitsundays

Whitsundays Online

The Federal 2009-10 Budget was presented tonightby the Treasurer, Wayne Swan, delivering an almost $60 billion deficit.

It appears the Capital Cities have 'scored' all of the $3.2 billion in rail funding, with no mention of federal funding for the Missing Northern Link Railway (between Moranbah and Collinsville).

It also appears that no extra money has been allocated to expand Abbot Point.

Surprisingly, single Pensioners were probably the biggest winners -they will receive an extra $32 a week, however couples will only receive an extra $10 a week.

I have editied sections from tonights actual Budget Papers on items that may have an impact on the Whitsundays.

Bruce Hwy
Projects to be completed along the Bruce Highway include an upgrade to the southern approach towards Mackay, significant safety upgrades in far north Queensland (including 60 overtaking lanes between Curra and Cairns and additional rest areas) and the Cardwell Range realignment.

Health
$250 million for the Townsville Hospital in Queensland

Social and Defense Housing
The Government has also committed $252 million for Defence Housing Australia to construct 802 new homes for Australian Defence Force personnel and their families. The new housing will be located to support Defence bases across several regions, including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Darwin, the Hunter Valley, Townsville and Ipswich.

Renewable Remote Power Generation - $6.7 million (down from 11.7 million) to QLD Govt to fund Renewable Remote Power Generation program which provides financial support to increase the use of renewable generation in remote parts of Australia that presently rely on fossil fuel for electricity supply.

World sailing championships - The Commonwealth will provide $2.0 million to Western Australia in 2009‑10 to contribute to the successful staging of the International Sailing Federation World Championships in Western Australia in December 2011.

The population of QLD is around 4,356,000, and Australia is 21,623,000.

You can view the Australian Commonwealth Government's 2009-2010 Budget here.

Kenyan bitter over ‘best job in the world’

By PHILIP MWANIKI
Sunday, May 10 2009 at 17:33
Daily Nation- Kenya

Kenya’s Kieran Jethwa lost out on the international hunt for a candidate to land ‘the best job in the world’, but he has been quick to congratulate the winner.

Jethwa, a DJ with a Nairobi rock radio station XFM was the only African in the top 50 even though he never made it to the final 15.

He also plays rugby for Nondies RFC, one of the top clubs in the country but currently undergoing a lean spell.

He considers Southall, who has also worked as a tour guide in Africa, a worthy winner after watching a video accompanying his applications for the dream job.

However, Jethwa says he knows why he was not selected for the final top 15 slot.

“I know the fact that I am from Kenya is what affected my chances because if you look at the final 15, they were all from countries whose citizens flock Australia as tourists,” he says.

“If they had said that was the criteria, I would not have bothered to apply in the first place. I do understand it is a business decision. I doubt we have very many Kenyans travelling to Australia for holidays.”

He says he was shocked to receive messages from fellow contestants whom he had never met or talked to telling him they were shocked he was not in the final 15.

“I don’t think I will be travelling to Australia or even the Hamilton Island any time soon because they are clearly not my favourite people at the moment,” says Jethwa.

He will be concentrating on his radio job and maybe branch to television soon.

Image : Kieran Jethwa, of Nondies RFC, plays for SDV Transami Cheetahs in the Bamburi super series rugby tournament in Nairobi. He was Kenya’s applicant for the ‘Best Job in the World’. Photo/CHRIS OMOLLO

Full story at the Daily Nation

Another runner-up speaks out

"Cooler jobs than yours"

"Tie his kangaroo down. He's off to the beach"

"The world's best job? No, thanks"

Editors Note: I have seen a few reports about how the runners-up feel they have been mistreated by the organizers of "the World's Best Job', after missing 'the cut'.

One has to wonder why the organizers treated these people like this (especially someone from the media) and also wonder about the ramifications of the 30,000 or so people now disgruntled. Sure, the campaign raised awareness about QLD and the Great Barrier Reef this year, but are we now about to see the 'hangover' after the party?

Considering the 30,000 or so contestants were all young, impressionable, internet savvy, and with long memories, could the long-term effects of this campaign be detrimental to the tourism industry in QLD and Australia?

Giant Bird eating spiders seen in Bowen

DANIEL BATEMAN
Townsville Bulletin

In a scene that could almost be out of a B-grade monster movie, giant spiders have invaded* Bowen.

For about six weeks, residents have reported seeing huge bird-eating spiders crawling around their backyards and gardens.

Amalgamated Pest Control Bowen pest technician Audy Geiszler took the top photo of one of the spiders he caught wandering across the garden of a restaurant near the town's centre.

Mr Geiszler estimated its body alone was 5cm long, a specimen declared `especially large' by the Queensland Museum. Most grow to be the size of a man's hand.

*Editors Note: Mr Geiszler added, "There have been no more than 10 sightings of these spiders here,"

Full story at the Townsville Bulletin
Top Image: A bird-eating spider found at a Bowen business
Bottom Image: Whistling spider (Selenocosmia species). R Raven Queensland Museum

Fake Video application by Tourism group for World's Best Job

Fri May 8 2009
Whitsundays Online

A video showing a woman apparently getting a tattoo expressing her love of the Great Barrier Reef in a bid to win 'The Best Job in the World' on Hamilton Island was actually created by the tourism department advertising the job, the agency has admitted.

Thousands of people from across the globe had submitted video applications to the tourism department of Australia's Queensland state for what was billed as the "Best Job in the World" - a $150,000 contract to relax on Hamilton Island in the Great Barrier Reef for six months while writing a blog to promote the island.

Among the most popular video entries was footage of an Australian woman walking into a tattoo parlor and walking out with an apparent tattoo on her arm that read, "I (red heart) islands of the Great Barrier Reef."

But Tourism Queensland's CEO Anthony Hayes acknowledged the video and another showing a woman singing a song, were both the work of a Brisbane advertising agency (Cummins Nitro) that created the job campaign, and admits it was a mistake.

"The videos were intended to serve as guides for prospective applicants and have now been removed", Hayes said. "We messed up," Hayes said. "We should have had the word 'sample"' on the videos

Andrew Fraser* says he is not aware of the video in question, but believes using a bogus entry was not appropriate.

"I'd be happy to get some information about that particular issue and comment further but if that is the case then certainly I think that that is inappropriate," he said.

The video was removed from YouTube when this story broke.

*Andrew Fraser was reappointed as Treasurer and given additional responsibilities as Queensland Minister for Employment and Economic Development following the re-election of the Bligh Government in March 2009.

“Tegan” tells her side of the fake reef video furore

By mumbrella

The woman at the centre of the Tourism Queensland fake video furore says she was told to act like a would-be Big Brother applicant.

According to Rhiannon Craig, she had only been working at the Brisbane-based office of Cummins Nitro for a matter of days when they asked her to appear in a video. It was to promote entries into the “best job in the world” campaign offering someone the chance to be caretaker of the Islands of the Great Barrier Reef. She said: “They wanted to have a couple of example application videos for when the site went live, to try and set the standard of applications.

Writing on her own blog, which has since been taken down, she goes on: “It got suggested that I should pretend to get a tattoo showing my dedication for the islands. They submitted my video as a test and used a fake name for the application.”

“I thought it would be so obvious that it was fake, but I guess some people still fell for it including the lazy journalists who had nothing better to write about.”

This is an edited version of the story. The mainstream media picked up the story from Tim Burrowes' Mumbrella website, and it can be read in full here.

Related articles :

The story about to unfold The Age

The fake video exposed ABC News 9 News NZ Herald Reef Job UK Daily Express News TinVirgin Media UK Telegraph Sydney Morning Herald Tailored Web Euro Newspapers UK Daily Express The Mercury Channel 4 UK USA Journal Gazette Singapore Straits Times WA Today

A perspective of the "World's Best Job" Campaign
Best job in the world? Not if you're vision-impaired

Whitsundays Public 'Heavies' push for Northern Missing Link

View Whitsundays Events and Incidents Map in a larger map7th May 2008
Whitsundays Online

A delegation from North Qld, lead by Whitsunday Mayor, Mike Brunker, converged on George St, Mackay yesterday to stress the urgency of the Northern Missing Link to the State Government.

The delegation also included John Finlay (CEO Whitsunday Regional Council), Rebecca Andrews (CEO, Enterprise Whitsunday), Narelle Pearse (CEO, REDC), John Bearne (Chair, Townsville Enterprise), Trevor Goldstone (CEO, Townsville Enterprise) and Mick Crowe (Director, G&S Engineering).

The group addressed the Transport Minister, Rachel Nolan, the Infrastructure & Planning Minister, Sterling Hinchcliff, and the Co-Ordinator General Colin Jensen, and a number of other senior officials.

REDC CEO, Ms Narelle Pearse, says that overall the meeting was positive, with the Government confirming that the Northern Missing Link was a State Government priority.

Ms Pearse asked the State Government to provide leadership in this project in order to accelerate the timeframes and outcomes.


“In the current economic climate there are major industry concerns about the future of coal. The Government needs to take a lead role in projects such as the Northern Missing link in order to instil confidence in the future of coal mining in Queensland, which will ultimately recover from the global financial crisis, and potentially put us into a second boom.”

“It is vital that enabling infrastructure such as the Northern Missing Link are constructed ahead of demand, otherwise we will be in the same situation we were seven years ago.”

Mick Crowe from G&S Engineering stressed the importance of the project for Qld jobs. “The Northern Missing Link is not just about coal. It is about Queensland people and Queensland jobs. This project has the ability to re-employ displaced workers in our region in the short term. The project will also secure Government revenue in the future to assist in the repayment of the current debt.”


Original Press Release from the Mackay Whitsundays REDC in PDF
Previous article on the Northern Missing Link
Video by QRhuggies 4 September 2007

Whales on their way to the Whitsundays

1.25pm Tue 5 May 2009
Whitsundays Online

The annual migration of Humpback whales up the Australian east coast has progressed north of Byron Bay, NSW last week, which could signal an early start to the whale watching season here in the Whitsundays.

The Sunshine Coast Daily reported today "Migrating whales head north through the Whitsunday Islands around June to the sub-tropical coastal waters between Australia and Fiji . . . The start of the official whale watching season, which peaks in duration in this region, is another month away. However, the early NSW sightings signal a repeat of last year's season debut in May."

Certain vessels are prohibited for use in whale and dolphin watching. These include all personal motorised watercraft (e.g. jet skis and underwater scooters), parasails, remotely operated craft, wing-in-ground effect craft (Ekranoplans), and hovercraft.

The most current rules for Whale Watching by those in boats is called the Australian National Guidlines for Whale and Dolphin Watching 2005, produced by the Australian Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, and a PDF copy can be found here.

Image courtesy Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
Full story at The Sunhine Coast Daily