CityLife Magazine Publisher’s Note Spring 2026
Thirty Years. What An Extraordinary Milestone.
As I sit down to write this Publisher’s Note, it is difficult to quite put into words what it means to be celebrating 30 years of CityLife Magazine®.
This is so much more than another edition of the magazine. It is a celebration of three decades of stories, businesses, people, events, achievements and moments that have helped shape Far North Queensland – and it is an enormous privilege to be the current custodian of a publication with such a rich local history.
CityLife Magazine® was established in 1996, and in the years since, many wonderful people have played a part in its story. Owners, editors, journalists, photographers, designers, sales teams, contributors, advertisers, partners and, importantly, our readers have all helped shape the magazine into what it is today.
More than 300 editions have been published. More than 20,000 businesses have been showcased. Millions of dollars in sponsorship and in-kind support have been provided to local charities, sporting organisations, not-for-profits and community events.
Behind every one of those numbers is a story.
A local business given the opportunity to share what it does. A charity supported in its mission. An entrepreneur taking a chance on an idea. A community event bringing people together. A remarkable local person whose achievements deserved to be recognised.
That is what CityLife Magazine® has always been about.
And it is why, when we began planning this 30th Anniversary Collector’s Edition, we knew we didn’t want the celebration to simply be about us.
Some of the most rewarding pages within this edition belong to the businesses and organisations celebrating their own significant milestones alongside CityLife Magazine®.
Whether they are marking 10 years, 20 years, 30 years, 50 years or more, each anniversary represents resilience, commitment, innovation and countless hours of hard work. These are businesses that employ local people, invest in our region, support our community and contribute to the unique character of Far North Queensland.
We are incredibly proud to shine a spotlight on their journeys in our special Business Milestones Feature and celebrate what they have achieved.
Because longevity in business should never be taken for granted.
We live in a world where there is always a new craze, a new platform, a new business or the next big thing commanding our attention. And while innovation and evolution are essential, this anniversary has reminded me of something equally
important – longevity matters.
It represents trust built over time. Relationships that have lasted. Challenges overcome. Generations of staff and customers. The ability to evolve without losing sight of who you are and why you began.
For me personally, that message resonates particularly strongly this year.
I am a proud fourth-generation local, now raising the fifth generation of our family here. As Cairns celebrates 150 years and CityLife Magazine® celebrates 30, I feel an enormous sense of pride looking at the city and region around us and seeing just how far it has come.
My family’s history is deeply intertwined with the story of Cairns itself. Long before any of us could have imagined the city we know today, generations of our family were building businesses, serving the community and helping shape a young tropical town. From the horse-and-cart days, early transport and some of Cairns’ earliest family enterprises, through to generations of civic, political and community leadership. Some of those family names and their contributions remain woven into the places, landmarks and history of our region today.
So to be here, generations later, raising my own children in this city and publishing a magazine that has spent 30 years documenting its people, businesses and evolution feels incredibly significant.
In many ways, we have had the privilege of watching Cairns grow up.
And perhaps that is why I have such enormous respect for the businesses featured in this edition that have also stood the test of time. Businesses do not survive for decades by accident. They survive because people are prepared to work hard, adapt, invest, take risks, build relationships and keep showing up year after year.
CityLife Magazine® understands that journey very well.
Our own business has changed enormously over the years. While the beautiful glossy magazine remains at the heart of what we do, CityLife Magazine® has continued to evolve across digital media, social media, video, podcasts, email, television, radio and events – creating more opportunities than ever before to tell local stories and take local businesses to wider audiences.
But one thing has never changed.
We are proudly local.
We live here. We work here. We raise our families here. We understand this community because it is our community.
And after 30 years, that connection remains one of the greatest strengths of the CityLife Magazine® brand.
This Spring edition also celebrates the people, places and lifestyle that make our region so special, including our Cairns Business Women’s Club Awards Feature, recognising outstanding women in business and leadership.
We also head to the coast and country with our Northern Beaches and Tablelands Features, showcasing the businesses, destinations and experiences that make Tropical North Queensland such an extraordinary place to live, work and explore.
And the birthday celebrations certainly don’t end with this magazine.
On Sunday 25 October, we are inviting the community to celebrate with us at our FamilyLife EXPO at The Pier, Cairns – a FREE day for the whole family filled with entertainment, activities, market stalls, food, local performances and plenty of fun.
We wanted our 30th birthday to be something our community could share with us, because without this community there simply would be no CityLife Magazine®.
Most of all, I want to say thank you.
Thank you to everyone who has ever picked up a copy of CityLife Magazine®. Thank you to the businesses who have trusted us with their brands. Thank you to our contributors, partners and supporters. Thank you to every person who has worked on this magazine across its many chapters.
And thank you to our current team, who continue to bring enormous passion, creativity and commitment to ensuring CityLife Magazine® remains relevant, successful and proudly independent.
30 years is an incredible legacy – but in many ways it feels like we are only just getting started on our next exciting chapter.
Here’s to the businesses we have celebrated, the stories we have told, the generations who came before us, the community that has supported us – and all that is still to come.
Happy 30th Birthday, CityLife Magazine®!
Cheers
Danae
xx
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CityLife Magazine® is published quarterly by CityLife Media Pty Ltd September 2026 to November 2026.
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claims or judgements. The views expressed in CityLife Magazine® are those of the contributors, and are not
necessarily shared by the publication. CityLife Media Pty Ltd copyright September 2026 to November 2026.
