Category: All News

LOCAL specialist Dr Doug Quarry from International SOS reports in on this week’s developments in the pandemic world. On the bright side, vaccines and non-pharmaceutical interventions
are reducing cases across the UK, IUS and Israel, and Boris Johnson unveils his plans for ending restrictions in the UK. Not so positive is that the volume of French COVID-19 intensive care patients is at a 12-week high, and cases in Eastern Europe are escalating.

INDIGENOUS artwork featuring native animals and iconic Douglas locations star on new town entry signs at Mossman and Daintree Village.

A closer look at the long-standing history of coconuts in Australia. Historical sightings, Indigenous knowledge, linguistics and oral history about coconuts is evidence that they grew in Australia prior to European colonisation in 1788. A fossil coconut and fossils of Cocos pollen are evidence that they may have been in Australia for millions of years.

COLUMNIST Crispin Hull takes a look at the legacy of John Howard’s government…the opposite of the picture he painted on election night in 1996 when he said that the things that “united Australians were infinitely more important and more enduring than the things that divided Australians”.

While the weather gods have decided not to send us out camping or fishing, there are plenty of other activities around the Shire this weekend, with a hectic calendar of live entertainment (especially on Saturday night). From a $1550 Jackpot Joker, to a 28 meat tray raffles, free mosaic-making in Mossman, Amy Shark, the Walker Brothers, Miss T and Shannon Hunter…enjoy our definitive guide to ‘What’s On’ in, and around, the Douglas Shire this weekend.

In a boost to the retail sector in Port Douglas, Kmart’s new K hub store has opened in Port Douglas welcoming shoppers with their on-trend value range in a colourful and engaging new store format.

DOUGLAS Arts Base is hosting a ceramic leaf and insect decorating workshop this weekend, Saturday 27 February from 9am until midday.Samantha Matthews is facilitating “Making Mosaics for Mossman” as a successful grant recipients in this year’s Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF).

Experience the extraordinary view from Mars as NASA’s Mars 2020 Perseverance rover gets its first high-definition look around its new home.

FIFTY new Indigenous Land and Sea Rangers will be employed in 2021 to help protect Queensland’s natural and cultural landscapes.

Despite the tropical weather being a little more wet and rainy than hot and steamy, the Port Douglas Hot & Steamy Festival weekend shines bright…