There were few families in Australia that didn’t pay a heavy price as a result of World War One.

Writer Adam Holloway’s descendants perhaps contributed more than most with 11 of his male relations seeing service from Gallipoli to the Western Front.

In the countdown to the 100th Anniversary of Armistice Day Adam has published his first book Duty Nobly Done and he tells Mark it chronicles the experiences of young men embarking on an adventure only to discover a living hell.

The Courier Mail’s Sean Leahy is one of Australia’s leading political cartoonists but when he’s not skewering pollies he indulges a passion for painting.

He’s now opened his first exhibition DREAMSCAPES, Broome to Brisbane at Paddington’s Aspire Gallery.

Sean tells Mark the exhibition is the culmination of a personal life journey that began in April when he took part in Anglicare’s Arts & Minds initiative.

The controversial $1.3 billion Toondah Harbour development at Redland Bay is awaiting environmental approvals from the Federal Government before work can begin.

The project, which has been declared a Priority Development Area, would see the building of 3,600 residential dwellings, a new port facility, ferry terminals and a 200-berth marina.

While it has the support of the state government and the local council not everyone in the area supports the project.

President of the Redland 2030 group Steve MacDonald tells Mark opponents are worried the project will be railroaded through with little regard to the environment or the local community and business.

The State Opposition and the Katter’s Australia Party are calling for a parliamentary inquiry into the running of Queensland’s shark control program.

The Palaszczuk Government has ruled-out the use of drumlines at Cid Harbour in the Whitsundays following this week’s fatal shark attack, the third attack there in seven weeks.

Instead the state government will hold a roundtable with local tourism operators and scientists this Friday.

State Opposition leader Deb Frecklington tells Mark where there are nets and drumlines they have always proved very effective.

Peter Rudland served 28 years in the Australian army with postings to several of the world’s hotspots.

That was he was seriously injured in a Black Hawk helicopter crash in 2010 that claimed the lives of three Australian Commandos and one US soldier in Afghanistan.

Peter maintained his fighting spirit as wheelchair athlete.

He’s now been given a special honour by the RSL which has named it’s richest ever art union prize after him, ‘Redland’s Reach.’

A 33 year old Victorian man has died on the first day of a charter yacht holiday after being mauled by a shark at Cid Harbour in the Whitsunday Islands.

It is the third shark attack in the area in just two months and has led to calls from the State Opposition to install permanent drumlines to control shark numbers.

Prof Colin Simpfendorfer from James Cook University is one of Australia’s leading shark researchers and he tells Mark the most effective answer is better education for visitors.

Queensland sport’s annual night of nights is now just three weeks away.

The QSport Awards are celebrating their 24th year and this year will induct the 18th Legend into the Queensland Sport Hall of Fame.

QSport CEO Peter Cummiskey tells Mark that special honour will go to Mal Meninga.

The next election may still be six months away but Prime Minister Scott Morrison isn’t letting the grass grow under his feet.

His ScoMo Express is on a four day swing through Queensland selling the government’s economic achievements and announcing plans for the state.

Queensland is where the next election will be won or lost and the Prime Minister tells Mark he is acutely aware of the state’s importance politically and economically.

This Christmas some 9,600 children in Queensland will spend the festive season in foster care.

It’s a difficult time for those kids but to let them know they are valued online not-for-profit GIVIT is again holding Australia’s Biggest Secret Santa.

GIVIT CEO and founder Juliette Wright tells Mark a gift worth as little as $20 can really make Christmas for a kid in care.

Queensland’s teacher shortage has become some acute that students yet to earn their degrees are being given waivers to teach in some schools.

Competition for top talent is also so fierce that many high performing teaching students are being offered jobs even before they’ve graduated.

Kevin Bates from the Queensland Teachers Union tells Mark the teacher shortage is only set to get worse.