Commerce North West

20/10/2026

𝓜𝓮𝓶𝓫𝓮𝓻 𝓢𝓹𝓸𝓽𝓵𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽 || Kylie Rixon, Founding Director, Moondarra Cruises ⛴️🌅🌾

✔️ Tell us a little about Moondarra Cruises & the services and/or products you provide?

We provide not only Sunset Tours, but Corporate Functions, School excursions, Events, Christmas parties, floating board rooms – you throw an idea at me, and we can work something out. We now have a purpose-built projector and getting starlink for those corporate events and meetings. Now that we have the projector – I reckon we could even do State of Origin Cruises! Working closely with local caterer who has developed menus for us so down the track we will offer a cruise that comes with a 3-course meal. So many ideas… I don’t sleep much! And that’s just what we are doing now… more tours incoming, like bird watching and croc spotting….

✔️ Tell us how Moondarra Cruises came to fruition?

I have worked closely in the tourism space with Richard Kinnon for well over 12 years now. He is the founding Director out Outback Pioneers in Longreach and also a great mate. We also travel to some Caravan and Camping shows promoting the Outback, and it was at one of these shows, we were having a yarn and he mentioned that he had a boat that he will no longer use and I mentioned we hade a lake which needs celebrating… that was in February this year! And rest…. (you know the drill!)

✔️ What makes providing your services in the North West region rewarding, challenging or unique?

Well first it was getting the boat here!! After careful planning and coordination, a semi with an extended tilt tray and a caution vehicle, it arrived safe and well. Don’t often see a boat like that roll through the main street! Wet season was always going to be a struggle without the tourists; however I have been overwhelmed with the response. I initially thought if I could just get 1 tour a week, that would be amazing. October we have 13 bookings and counting. Get in quick if you want a Christmas party!!! The community support is so humbling.

✔️ What does 2027 look like for Moondarra Cruises?

You will have to watch this space – lots to come yet! I want to have a product polished to near perfection by the 1st April (start of tourist season) and then …lookout!!

✔️ Our Members can reach Moondarra Cruises here 👉🏼

🌅 https://www.moondarracruises.com.au
🌅 https://www.facebook.com/share/19WVDBHTDg/?mibextid=wwXIfr

20/10/2026

‼️ We have just loaded $700 worth of Buy Local Gift Cards 💳🛍️👏🏼

If you are a local shop / business that offers eftpos facilities let’s get you signed up to accept these cards!

With thanks to Glencore Mount Isa Mines registration is free ✔️

See the other local business already registered 👉🏼 https://commercenorthwest.com.au/buy-local-gift-card/

🛍️ Buy LOCAL to GROW LOCAL 🛍️

Are you registered to accept the Buy Local Gift Cards? 💳

Thanks to Glencore Mount Isa Mines it is now free for local businesses to participate!

All you need is an Eftpos Terminal that accepts swipe cards 💰

Set up is simple, get in contact with us today to arrange ✔️

📧 [email protected]

* Square terminals not accepted*

No ongoing fees, all transactions go direct to your business.

15/10/2026

🌿 A huge thank you to our Lead Level 𝓢𝓹𝓸𝓷𝓼𝓸𝓻𝓼 ibis Styles Mt Isa Verona Giuseppe's Cantina 👏🏼

Without our generous Sponsors 𝓝𝓸𝓻𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓷 𝓞𝓾𝓽𝓫𝓪𝓬𝓴 𝓑𝓾𝓼𝓲𝓷𝓮𝓼𝓼 𝓐𝔀𝓪𝓻𝓭𝓼 would not be possible 🏆🥇

Ensure you book your next accommodation with the team at the Ibis & enjoy your next dinner with Giuseppe’s! 🍝

🌿 𝓟𝓮𝓸𝓹𝓵𝓮’𝓼 𝓒𝓱𝓸𝓲𝓬𝓮 VOTING 🗳️ Follow this link to Vote;
1) register as a user (or login) &
2) cast your votes! 🗳️ https://northernoutback.awardsplatform.com/entry/vote/zAAZlNKY

⏰ voting closes October 27th, 2026.

💫 The winner will be announced at the 𝓖𝓪𝓵𝓪 𝓐𝔀𝓪𝓻𝓭𝓼, November 7th, tickets on sale now 🎟️ https://events.humanitix.com/2026-northern-outback-business-awards

🤞 Good luck to all of the finalists, we can’t wait to celebrate the very best of Northern Outback Business with you all 🥂

14/10/2026

🌿 A huge thank you to Outback Events for coming on board as sponsors this year & they will be the resident DJ & 𝓔𝓷𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓽𝓪𝓲𝓷𝓶𝓮𝓷𝓽 for the Gala Awards evening! 🕺🎶

🎟️ Tickets for the 𝓝𝓸𝓻𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓷 𝓞𝓾𝓽𝓫𝓪𝓬𝓴 𝓑𝓾𝓼𝓲𝓷𝓮𝓼𝓼 𝓐𝔀𝓪𝓻𝓭𝓼 are on sale now 👉🏼 https://events.humanitix.com/2026-northern-outback-business-awards

🗳️ Remember! Voting for the People’s Choice Award is still open 👏🏼
https://northernoutback.awardsplatform.com/entry/vote/zAAZlNKY?mc_cid=8e02e16191&mc_eid=cffd317650

We can’t wait to recognise & celebrate our finalists & highlight the best of Northern Outback Business 🙌🏽

13/10/2026

✈️ 𝓛𝓾𝓬𝓴𝔂 𝓓𝓸𝓸𝓻 𝓟𝓻𝓲𝔃𝓮 𝓐𝓷𝓷𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓬𝓮𝓭 ✈️

Rex Airlines have generously donated “Return flights for you & a friend, from Mount Isa to Cairns or Townsville” as this years Lucky Door Prize at the Northern Outback Business Awards 🏆🏝️👩‍✈️👏🏼

🎟️ Have your chance to win this incredible prize & grab tickets today!
🌿 https://events.humanitix.com/2026-northern-outback-business-awards

REX ~ 𝓞𝓾𝓻 𝓱𝓮𝓪𝓻𝓽 𝓲𝓼 𝓲𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓬𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓽𝓻𝔂 🌾

Good luck to all of our finalists! We can’t wait to celebrate the best of Northern Outback Business with you ✨

12/10/2026

🗳️ Have you voted yet? 🗳️

Get your votes in now to crown the Business Finalist’ 2026 𝓟𝓮𝓸𝓹𝓵𝓮’𝓼 𝓒𝓱𝓸𝓲𝓬𝓮 Award at the 𝓝𝓸𝓻𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓷 𝓞𝓾𝓽𝓫𝓪𝓬𝓴 𝓑𝓾𝓼𝓲𝓷𝓮𝓼𝓼 𝓐𝔀𝓪𝓻𝓭𝓼 🌿🏆

Voting closes 27th of October 👏🏼

✨🗳️ THE PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD NOW OPEN 🗳️✨

🌿 This is YOUR chance to vote for the 𝓝𝓸𝓻𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓷 𝓞𝓾𝓽𝓫𝓪𝓬𝓴 𝓑𝓾𝓼𝓲𝓷𝓮𝓼𝓼 𝓐𝔀𝓪𝓻𝓭𝓼 *BUSINESS* finalists 🙌🏽

🥇 The Business or Organisation with the most votes wins the prestigious 𝓟𝓮𝓸𝓹𝓵𝓮’𝓼 𝓒𝓱𝓸𝓲𝓬𝓮 Award, proudly sponsored & supported by Hit Mount Isa 🏆

🌿 Follow this link to Vote; register as a user (or login) & cast your votes! 🗳️ https://northernoutback.awardsplatform.com/entry/vote/zAAZlNKY

⏰ People’s Choice voting closes October 27th, 2026.

💫 The winner will be announced at the 𝓖𝓪𝓵𝓪 𝓐𝔀𝓪𝓻𝓭𝓼, November 7th, tickets on sale now 🎟️ https://events.humanitix.com/2026-northern-outback-business-awards

🤞 Good luck to all of the finalists, we can’t wait to celebrate the very best of Northern Outback Business with you all 🥂

08/10/2026

The prestigious 𝓗𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝓸𝓯 𝓕𝓪𝓶𝓮 award is proudly sponsored by Mount Isa City Council 🏆👏🏼

🌿 This award category was developed to acknowledge & celebrate consistency in superior business practices. The “Hall of Fame” concept recognises award recipients who have won at least one category in three separate years.

Here are the amazing team from Superior Machinery Maintenance, who were inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2024 🤩

It’s time to recognise & celebrate business excellence, growth, innovation, development & community contributions across North West, Queensland! 🌅

𝓝𝓸𝓻𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓷 𝓞𝓾𝓽𝓫𝓪𝓬𝓴 𝓑𝓾𝓼𝓲𝓷𝓮𝓼𝓼 𝓐𝔀𝓪𝓻𝓭𝓼 tickets are now on sale 🎟️ https://events.humanitix.com/2026-northern-outback-business-awards

06/10/2026

Commerce North West have aligned with the Townsville Chamber of Commerce, as well as 11 other regional advocacy bodies to express our shared concerns regarding the impacts of the recent Working Holiday Visa (WHV) reforms on regional businesses and communities.

“While we acknowledge the Governments' broader migration objectives, our members are reporting growing workforce shortages and increasing difficulty attracting and retaining workers in regional Australia. These challenges are particularly acute across northern and regional Queensland, where businesses already face significant labour constraints.”

Read more about this statement below 👇🏽

This morning, Townsville Chamber on behalf of eleven Chambers of Commerce representing business communities from Rockhampton to Weipa across regional Queensland wrote to Minister Tony Burke MP.

Collectively, our Chambers represent thousands of businesses that are deeply reliant on access to a flexible and available workforce to support economic growth, service delivery, tourism, hospitality, agriculture, construction, and regional development. The signatories to this statement have come together to express their shared concerns regarding the impacts of the recent Working Holiday Visa (WHV) reforms on regional businesses and communities.

While we acknowledge the Governments' broader migration objectives, our members are reporting growing workforce shortages and increasing difficulty attracting and retaining workers in regional Australia. These challenges are particularly acute across northern and regional Queensland, where businesses already face significant labour constraints.

Read the Statement here: https://www.townsvillechamber.com.au/joint-regional-chamber-statement-on-working-holiday-visa-reforms-and-regional-workforce-impacts/

Cairns Chamber of Commerce
Mareeba Chamber of Commerce
Western Cape Chamber of Commerce
Commerce North West
Cloncurry Commerce
Hinchinbrook Chamber of Commerce Industry & Tourism
Mackay Region Chamber of Commerce
Whitsundays Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Gladstone Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Capricornia Chamber of Commerce

05/10/2026

✨🗳️ THE PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD NOW OPEN 🗳️✨

🌿 This is YOUR chance to vote for the 𝓝𝓸𝓻𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓷 𝓞𝓾𝓽𝓫𝓪𝓬𝓴 𝓑𝓾𝓼𝓲𝓷𝓮𝓼𝓼 𝓐𝔀𝓪𝓻𝓭𝓼 *BUSINESS* finalists 🙌🏽

🥇 The Business or Organisation with the most votes wins the prestigious 𝓟𝓮𝓸𝓹𝓵𝓮’𝓼 𝓒𝓱𝓸𝓲𝓬𝓮 Award, proudly sponsored & supported by Hit Mount Isa 🏆

🌿 Follow this link to Vote; register as a user (or login) & cast your votes! 🗳️ https://northernoutback.awardsplatform.com/entry/vote/zAAZlNKY

⏰ People’s Choice voting closes October 27th, 2026.

💫 The winner will be announced at the 𝓖𝓪𝓵𝓪 𝓐𝔀𝓪𝓻𝓭𝓼, November 7th, tickets on sale now 🎟️ https://events.humanitix.com/2026-northern-outback-business-awards

🤞 Good luck to all of the finalists, we can’t wait to celebrate the very best of Northern Outback Business with you all 🥂