White Pages Covers Program

Courageous Australians Brett Norris and Phil Dowler to appear on Mackay's Yellow Pages® and White Pages®

June 10, 2010

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Each year, locals are featured on the covers of the Yellow Pages® and White Pages® directories in recognition of the contributions they make to their communities. Under the theme Courageous Australians, this year directories producer, Sensis, is recognising courageous people who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to overcome adversity and help others in their time of need.

After receiving nominations from community members for the annual honour, Airlie Beach and Mackay residents, Brett Norris and Phil Dowler have been selected to appear on the cover of this year’s Mackay directory which is distributed to Mackay and Whitsundays districts and surrounding areas.

In February 2008, Brett and Phil were called out to a rescue where 37 passengers and crew had been washed onto rocks at Caves Cove on Hook Island in the Whitsundays. The passengers and crew had been caught in dangerous sea conditions with wind speeds between 60-80km/h, and two to three metres seas pounding the yacht.

Brett courageously jumped from the police boat nearby and swam 100 metres in the dark to the rocks where the yacht was wedged and was met by Phil, who had been winched down from the RACQ CQ Rescue helicopter.

Once the vessel had been stabilised with ropes, they began a two and a half hour winching operation. Working quickly and calmly under extremely hazardous weather conditions, Brett and Phil courageously battled through the potentially fatal situation and eventually rescued all passengers and crew.

“When we were called out to the rescue we didn’t realise the magnitude of the sea conditions, with the support of our colleagues in the rescue helicopter and in the police boat we managed to get every single passenger to safety,” said Brett.

For their efforts, Brett received a silver bravery medal, and Phil, a bronze bravery medal, which were presented to the men by the Queensland Governor at Government House in April 2009.

Distribution of Mackay Yellow Pages® and White Pages® is planned to start on 12 June 2010 and it will take approximately six weeks for the directories to be delivered to all households.

Yellow Pages® and White Pages® print and online directories are now carbon neutral under the government’s Greenhouse Friendly™ program. Sensis will offset the carbon emissions of its directories through Greenhouse Friendly™ accredited providers and projects in Australia.

Sensis encourages residents and businesses to recycle their old directories. In most areas, Yellow Pages® and White Pages® can be recycled as part of normal kerbside recycling services. Visit www.recyclingnearyou.com.au to find out about recycling services in your area. 

Did you know? The last three local people to appear on the Mackay Yellow Pages® and White Pages® cover were: 

2009/10: Steve Mayer-Miller from Mackay appeared on the current 2009/10 Yellow Pages^® and White Pages^® cover under the theme ‘Creative Australians: Inspiring our Communities’. Steve is the director, writer and CEO of Crossroad Arts which facilities the creative development of new theatre and film works by a number of artists and community groups throughout Queensland. 

2008/09: Mackay’s Sonya Parris graced the ‘Celebrating Australian Flavour’ theme cover. As founder of Grinders Corporate Catering, Sonya has played a pivotal role in helping to establish the local food scene. 

2007/08: Mackay resident Berenice Wright was the cover hero for the ‘Champions of our Community’ theme cover, chosen for her work as one of the region’s most avid historians and volunteers.