LOOKING ACROSS THE PACIFIC

LOOKING ACROSS THE PACIFIC

Different Possibilities in Property and Retirement     A recent visit to Mexico’s Pacific coast provided an opportunity to compare Australia’s Wide Bay and Southern Great Barrier Reef region with coastal Mexico—not only in lifestyle and property prices, but...
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE SLEEPBUS PROJECT?

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE SLEEPBUS PROJECT?

On Friday and Saturday nights, while most people are settling into bed, a quiet little bus parked at Apex Park becomes something far more important than transport. For some people in Hervey Bay, it becomes safety. Warmth. Privacy. A place to breathe. The Rotary Hervey...
OFF GRID ZONE – June 2026

OFF GRID ZONE – June 2026

Off Grid Living Firstly, an apology to the readers. We were so swamped during April that I didn’t get time to write a column for the last edition of Chitchat. Locally and Australia wide installers and suppliers have been swamped as everyone rushed to install as many...
CURB-SIDE OBSERVATION PROJECT (COP)

CURB-SIDE OBSERVATION PROJECT (COP)

Bundaberg Speed Camera Artwork A curious new “community art movement” has reportedly appeared around the Bundaberg Region. The community art crusade operates under the official-sounding title: “Curb-Side Observations Project” — or COP for short. The concept is simple....
BEFORE THE LIGHTS GO OUT

BEFORE THE LIGHTS GO OUT

SMALL BUSINESSES NEED US NOW For decades, small businesses have been the heartbeat of regional towns like Childers, Gin Gin, Woodgate and Bundaberg. They are the family-run bakeries opening before sunrise, the local repair shops staying back after hours, the...
WHO IS DAVE ADKINS?

WHO IS DAVE ADKINS?

The Builder Renovating New Life to Your Home After more than thirty years in the building trade, qualified builder David “Dave” Adkins is putting his experience to work for homeowners across the local Wide Bay region. With 38 years of working and living in the older...
BLINKIN U MISSIT – May 2026

BLINKIN U MISSIT – May 2026

News you may have missed, because if you blink, you may miss it.     BEN ROBERTS-SMITH The case of Ben Roberts-Smith has drawn attention to ongoing concerns about the National Security Information (NSI) Act, particularly the balance between secrecy and fair...
FROM BUSH CHORES TO BIG CROWDS

FROM BUSH CHORES TO BIG CROWDS

THE RISE OF LOGGER SPORTS   Call it logger sports, timber sports—or just good old-fashioned bragging rights with a blade. However you spin it, the sport has carved out a reputation as one of the toughest and most entertaining contests around. According to STIHL,...
TWO MORAL WORLDS

TWO MORAL WORLDS

Two Acts of Destruction A stolen car sits abandoned on a quiet, dead-end street. The window’s smashed and the contents scattered. Within minutes, the news spreads online, and the reactions are predictable: outrage, anger, and calls for tougher policing. Neighbours...
EVERYONE’S WELCOME

EVERYONE’S WELCOME

SIT DOWN AND JOIN IN Wheelchair Basketball Did you know that the Wide Bay Burnett has more wheelchair basketballers per capita than any other region in Australia? Just 7 years ago, there were no programs in the region. You may be wondering why locals have taken to...
What’s in a Name?

What’s in a Name?

What looks like a scientific discussion is often a struggle over labels with economic consequences. Pollution is simple. It’s the smoke you see, the chemicals you measure, the water you wouldn’t drink. It makes people sick. It damages land, air, and sea. You don’t...
LACE UP YOUR SKATES

LACE UP YOUR SKATES

The Bundaberg & Fraser Coast Relay For Life 2026   Lace up, Bundy—it’s time to roll for a reason. The Bundaberg & Fraser Coast Relay For Life 2026 is turning up the energy this year, teaming up with Rink Revolution Bundaberg to bring skating into the mix...
LOCAL IMAGES LOCAL IMPACT

LOCAL IMAGES LOCAL IMPACT

Image by Traci Osborn   The much-loved Woodgate calendar made its return ahead of the new year, with the 2026 edition arriving just in time for locals to get organised for January. Still priced at just $10, the Woodgate Calendar 2026 once again proved great...

Phil & Pat Quickfix Roadwork

The great state of Queensland has never been one for half measures—“Go Big or Go Home”. This applies to the potholes as well. With 211.92 potholes per 100,000 people (2024), it comfortably leads the country. Victoria trails behind at 165.05, NSW at 155.01, and most...
WARRIORS OF WOODGATE WELCOME YOU THIS MAY

WARRIORS OF WOODGATE WELCOME YOU THIS MAY

In a place like Woodgate Beach, it doesn’t take long for people to rally around each other — and that’s exactly what’s happening with this year’s Mother’s Day Classic. At the centre of it all is a group of seven local women who many in the community already know and...
LEARN ABOUT THE CHITCHAT NEWSPAPER

LEARN ABOUT THE CHITCHAT NEWSPAPER

From humble beginnings to a widely recognised community staple, Chitchat Newspaper continues to prove that local stories still matter. Serving communities from farm to coast, this free monthly publication has become a trusted voice across the Wide Bay–Burnett region....
FROM DESK TO DECK

FROM DESK TO DECK

FRASER COAST NETWORKING POP UP SET TO INSPIRE THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY A fresh approach to the workday is coming to the Fraser Coast next month, with local professionals invited to swap their usual office setup for a scenic riverside experience. Business by the River is...