Pelican was an expensive option to MCY from NTL plus 2 hours in a small prop
Sub $100 fares will fill seats and you can take that to the bank
You need to widen your catchment criteria
As I have posted earlier
Mildura to a bunch of destinations further north 1 stop, not just Sunny Coast
Mildura to BNE through MCY via Connexion without transferring at SYD or MEL