🏦 Trust in Townsville’s mutual bank surges
Coward punch statistics | Fire guts Townsville’s iconic Sundoo | How Trump's Golden Dome actually works | Play Uno on Youtube and more
G’day and welcome back to another Townsville Times Thursday, it’s May 29.
Today's newsletter is 1,162 words and a 6-minute read.
In today's email:
One Big Thing: Trust in Townsville’s mutual bank surges
'Coward Punch' study exposes: 30 years of violence
SeaLink North QLD’s: Perfect tourism ratings
Trending: Watch out for red flags online 🚩
Around the web (Snippets): Fire guts Townsville’s iconic Sundoo, How Trump’s Golden Dome actually works, over $7,700 raised for Queenslanders with multiple sclerosis and heaps more
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1. One Big Thing: Trust in Townsville’s mutual bank surges
What’s Happening: On 26 May 2025, Roy Morgan released its Bank Trust and Distrust Scores Report, revealing that customer-owned banks – including Queensland Country Bank in Townsville – are Australia’s most trusted banking sector for the second year running.
Why It Matters: The report comes at a time when Australians are losing faith in major banks. By contrast, customer-owned banks have improved their Net Trust Score, reflecting a model that values people over profit.
“We’re owned by our customers, which means our purpose is to create long-term value for them and their communities. Unlike listed banks, financial performance is not our purpose – it enables our purpose.” COBA CEO Michael Lawrence explained
By The Numbers:
3.2 million Australians (14.2%) express distrust toward the banking sector
Customer-owned banks ranked 7th out of 27 industries for trust
Traditional banks placed 24th, with a Net Distrust Score of -3.97
What To Look For Next: The full article below 👇
2. 'Coward Punch' study exposes 30 years of violence
What’s Happening: A major Monash University study has analysed 287 coward punch convictions across Australia from 1990 to 2020, shedding light on offender profiles, incident circumstances, and judicial outcomes.
Why It Matters: This is the most detailed national picture yet of coward punch violence, which is helping to shape smarter legal reforms and public safety strategies.
By The Numbers
61% of coward punch cases occurred in NSW and Victoria
26: Was the median age of offenders
39% involved alcohol at the time of the offence
62% of offenders received prison time, with manslaughter terms ranging from 3.8 to 11.5 years
65% of attacks happened in public between 6 pm and 6 am
Only 2.1% successfully claimed self-defence
Local Impact: Queensland introduced coward punch legislation in 2014, alongside Victoria and NSW, all following WA back in 2008 and tNorthernher Territory in 2012, but gaps remain across the country with no equivalent laws yet in South Australia, the Australian Capital Territory, or Tasmania.
What The People Say
Danny Green, founder of the Coward Punch campaign, stressed,
"Using the term 'Coward Punch' attaches a strong negative connotation to a despicable act, serving as a deterrent. Through continuous education and awareness, we can reduce the occurrence of Coward Punch attacks in our communities."
What To Look For Next: The full article and more from the report below. 👇
3. SeaLink North QLD’s perfect tourism ratings
SeaLink Marine & Tourism achieved remarkable results in the 2025 Best of Queensland Experiences ratings by Tourism and Events Queensland, with SeaLink North Queensland’s Magnetic Island ferries and Great Barrier Reef Snorkelling Day Tour securing perfect 100/100 scores.
These achievements confirm SeaLink’s consistent excellence, quality customer care, and sustainability practices, driving more visitors to Townsville and boosting regional tourism.
Townsville’s tourism sector receives a significant uplift from these high ratings, drawing additional visitors seeking reliable, high-quality experiences. It provides economic benefits, supporting local employment and businesses.
Read more in the full article 👇
Weekly Dream Gig
This week – Simon George & Sons is hiring a Picker/Packer in Townsville to join their busy warehouse team and help deliver fresh fruit and vegetables across North Queensland.
This full-time role pays $34.05/hour, with shifts from 12:00pm to 8:30pm, Sunday to Thursday. You'll be working in a temperature-controlled warehouse, picking and packing fresh produce while staying active on your feet. Full training provided, and a forklift licence is a plus (or willingness to obtain one within 4 weeks).
Have a job opening? Promote your vacancy here 👇
4. Trending
🕰️ In Case You Missed It - Last week’s newsletter
5. Around The Web (Snippets)
Townsville City Council is conducting the first: Of its hazard reduction burns of the year later this week
What even is Trump’s Golden Dome missile system, and how would it actually work?
More than $7,700 was raised by Team Kokoda at the: MS Swimathon at Long Tan Memorial Pool to support Queenslanders living with multiple sclerosis
Google is training a new A.I. model to decode: Dolphin chatter, and, potentially, talk back
Townsville turns to locally led solutions to: Develop homegrown workforce
Victoria’s Secret hit by: Outages as it battles a cybersecurity incident
A First Nations social housing project is getting: Off the ground in Townsville
Massive crowds enjoyed a spectacular: 36th Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show with a record number of boats delivering an unsurpassed display of marine innovation, luxury and lifestyle.
Fears for the future of retro Chinese dining after: Blaze guts Sundoo in Townsville
🕹️That’s fun: Play Uno on YouTube using your keyboard! (Tip: use ‘Option’ instead of Control’ on a Mac)👇
6. Upcoming Events
🍻 May Friday Night Kick-Starters: May 30, 2025; kickstart your weekend with great drinks, food, and live entertainment at The TapHouse Townsville
📚 First Nations Writers Festival: May 30 to May 31; celebrate Indigenous storytelling through art, literature, and performance at The Seaview Hotel and Queensland Tropics Museum
🎨 Paint Your Peach – Body Positive Art Workshop: May 31 from 4 pm onwards; embrace self-love through art in this unique paint and sip session at the Heritage Exchange
🏃 Castle Hill Fun Run: June 1; join the community in this annual race up Castle Hill, featuring multiple categories for all ages at Kennedy Street, Castle Hill
Community Contributor - Thought for the week
[Sponsored supplied]
Save us from ourselves?
Humanity is a kingdom, like the animal, vegetable; mineral kingdoms; personal self aside, regardless of race culture religion country, we function also as one species, sharing one ultimate destiny through evolution.
Therefore, brother/sisterhood is not a choice; it is a fact of nature.
The challenge? Put the mean, the obnoxious, the myriad of ‘personality’ conduct aside. Just for a moment, can you open your mind and visualise every single soul- the entire human race?
Love is a force of nature, and very different to personal emotion or desire; cultivate it,embrace humankind, visualise the illumination of our species.