Friday 7 October

Morning Melodies 2022 presents 1954: Ella, Etta & Eartha by Western-Dyer Productions

Friday, 11:00am

Swinging jazz, powerful soul and cheeky kitsch featuring Melissa Western and her band. It's the year 1954. Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James and Eartha Kitt are all at the dizzy heights of their careers. With swinging jazz, powerful soul and cheeky kitsch these three women broke new ground for all who followed in their footsteps. Melissa Western and her band pay tribute to this magnificent era in music and inspiring trio of pioneering singers. 50s style abounds.

MECC

Public Art Walk

Friday, 4:30pm

Hosted by Artspace Mackay Director Tracey Heathwood, the free city art walk for all ages begins at Artspace Mackay and takes you through the city centre. Along the way, participants will learn about Mackay’s iconic public art installations, and the local, and internationally-acclaimed artists who created them. Whether you’re an artist, art lover, local or visitor to our lovely riverside city, you’ll find this late afternoon public art walk a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Bring friends, family members, or come by yourself - wear a hat, comfortable shoes, bring a bottle of water, and arrive promptly to Artspace Mackay as the group will depart on time.

Artspace Mackay

Friday SUN.sets

Every Friday Evening From 6pm

Knock off drinks, lakeside dinner, good friends, and LIVE MUSIC.

Wake House Australia

Film & Arts Mackay Film Night: Murina

Friday, 7:30pm

Winner of the Caméra d’Or for Best First Feature Film at Cannes in 2021, MURINA is a psychological drama and a coming-of-age tale of a young woman’s struggle for independence.

Cook Lecture Theatre

Hockey Dad

Friday, 7:30pm

With touring stalled for much of 2020 and 2021, Zach and Billy alongside live bass player Steve Bourke have been writing and recording new music for album four, while keeping engaged in alternate ways. When Windang’s favourite sons had to cancel Mackay from a rescheduled tour earlier this year, fans were left disappointed and having to travel to Airlie to catch them play. Being as down-to-earth and true-to-their-word as they are, the boys have made it up to the sugar city and are ready to get back on the stage and deliver new music in 2022.

Seabreeze Hotel

Alex Lloyd

Friday, 8:00pm

This October, Alex Lloyd returns to the stage with his "Live And Amazing" Australian tour and will be hitting the Metropolitan Hotel, Mackay. The multi-platinum ARIA award-winning musician will bring all his hits to the stage for one incredible night of music, singing and nostalgia. Performing his classic songs like Amazing, Black the Sun, Lucky Star, Green, Coming Home & Never Meant To Fail together with some much loved and well-known covers, Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen), Better Be Home Soon (Crowded House). These amazing tunes will come to life through a tapestry of soulful singing, masterful playing and clever arrangements. Join for a very special show, up-close and personal with Alex Lloyd!

The Metropolitan Hotel

Standup Comedy - Mackay - Amy Hetherington & Kel Balnaves

Friday, 8:00pm

Get ready Mackay. Empire has a huge night of stand-up comedy coming your way. A couple of award-winning comedians. A jam-packed show full of side-splitting stand-up, relatable stories and funny jokes. Book early to avoid missing out.

Empire Alternacade

Saturday 8 October

Oktoberfest at Red Dog Brewery

Saturday, 1:00pm to 4:00pm

Be a part of the inaugural Oktoberfest at Red Dog Brewery. Enjoy locally brewed German-inspired beers, feast by Weaners on Wheels, Branded Red Dog half stein, 4x German beer fills, fun games and prizes.

Red Dog Brewery

Cuban Dance Class & Social Night

Saturday, 2:00pm

Cuban Salsa Dance workshops and Party with Australia's pioneer of Cuban Salsa Christina Monneron (Afrekete Australia). Workshop 1: 2-3.30pm – Cuban Salsa Fundamentals. Workshop 2: 3.45-5.15pm - Rueda (Cuban Circle Salsa - Progressive/ Wheel). Each workshop is $30 or $50 for both, pre purchased by Friday 7th October. It will cost extra if purchased at the door. PLUS Party Night from 7.30pm - $20. $70 for both workshops & party.

Palace Hotel

Slowly Slowly

Saturday, 8:00pm

Slowly Slowly are hitting the road again throughout August, September and October, visiting parts of Australia they’ve dearly missed and also making their long-awaited debut in others. Playing a slew of songs from their back catalogue and forthcoming release they will be shaking off the cobwebs from the last few years of silence.

Seabreeze Hotel

The Stone Apes Return

Saturday, 9:00pm

After a big Empire welcome the first time, Rockhampton’s The Stone Apes and Mackay’s Nortica return with Red Veridian in tow. Strap in Mackay and make it another night to remember!

Empire Alternacade

Sunday 9 October

Mackay Annual Gem Show

Sunday, 9:00am to 3:00pm

Mackay Annual Gem Show hosted by Mackay Gem Club, where you will find the club and many other market stall holders showcasing all things crystal, gem and lapidary related products. Join for a great day out. 3 Leisure Court, South Mackay.

Mackay Gem and Craft Society Inc

Sunday Live Music

Sunday, 2:00pm to 5:00pm

Music every Sunday from 2pm - 5pm. Head down to the Seabreeze Hotel this Sunday for some fresh tunes, delicious food, and ice-cold brews.

Seabreeze Hotel

Wednesday 12 October

Mackay Farmers’ Market

Every Wednesday, 6:30am to 10:30am

The market is a showcase of our region’s amazing produce direct from the farmer.

Bluewater Quay

ARTIST’S TALK - Meet ‘Creative Inquiry’ featured artist Sophie Munns

Wednesday, 5:30pm

Sophie Munns melds art and seed science in her Brisbane-based art practice. Her work features as an Art as Lens case study in the Queensland senior secondary visual art resource, Creative Enquiry. Join Artspace Mackay as Sophie makes the case for the wonder and power of curiosity as a learning tool to navigate a changing world. The artist describes a technique she calls ‘bio-cultural mapping’ – offering teachers and students an integrated method for exploring themes of biodiversity and climate change. Sophie uses rare and common seeds as a lens for viewing various aspects of the world including the constant regeneration of life.

Artspace Mackay

Thursday 13 October

WBBL at The Great Barrier Reef Arena - Brisbane Heat v Sydney Sixers

Thursday, 6:00pm to 10:00pm

WBBL IS COMING TO MACKAY. Take the family out to see the Women’s Big Bash League make its return to The Great Barrier Reef Arena this October! Six Professional Games of Big Bash Cricket played across a huge 4 days. Mini Eat Street, Kids Activities & Fireworks!

The Great Barrier Reef Arena

The Grogans

Thursday, 7:00pm

Genre-expanding outfit The Grogans are a trio of best mates from Melbourne who explore nuanced manoeuvres in surf, punk, blues, garage, psych, rockabilly and reggae. With the announce of their forthcoming album Which Way Is Out, The Grogans have dropped the fourth single No Thanks (I’m Going Surfing). This playful track, both lyrically and sonically, showcases the bands plethora of song-writing capabilities yet again, differing from influences displayed in the previous three singles – all wrapped up in a 3-minute anthem.

Seabreeze Hotel

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Dave Conway says he is here for a reason.

Dave has been nominated for Blind Australian of the Year in recognition of his work throughout the Mackay community and the disability sector.

“It feels amazing to be nominated,” Dave said with the widest of grins.

“To get a phone call about that, that someone had nominated me, I was just on cloud nine million.

“I was just floating.”

Dave’s story is one of action, of risk, but not one of regret.

At the beginning of his final year of an environmental sciences degree, Dave was rock climbing at Mount French, west of Brisbane.

“I loved it as a hobby,” he said.

“I was actually training to compete in the Extreme Games in 2004 but at the start of the year, the 19th of February 2004, life stepped in and redirected where I was going.”

Dave fell 20 metres while lead climbing when his top anchor came loose in a crack in the rock, sustaining substantial damage to his back, pituitary gland and optic nerves.

He spent 17 days in a coma and when he awoke, he was surrounded by his family.

“When I woke up from my coma, I couldn’t talk because I had a breathing tube in and I was totally blind, but I felt so safe and so loved so I just went with what happened to me,” Dave said.

Thus began a long road to recovery and rehabilitation – Dave ultimately spent the next 15 months in hospital in Brisbane.

With little to no memory of the accident, Dave’s family took him downstairs one day for a chat.

“Mum and dad and my brother and my sister, we’re a very close family, so they told me everything I went through, what they think happened in the fall, and I almost died three times in intensive care, so I knew that I was here for a reason,” he said.

“I’ve got to grab life with both hands and just run with it.”

Dave said one of the best conversations came when his family all accepted his accident because he was doing something he loved.

“Looking back at all my actions, I’m glad I can speak very highly of my accident,” he said.

“Through having a sport accident, I count myself lucky because I can talk about what I went through with no regrets.”

Dave started creating art in the spinal unit in 2004 and, after moving back to Mackay in 2005, he continued to create charcoal drawings.

“I’m lucky I got to move home with my family because it gave me time to really find myself,” he said.

While he still creates charcoal drawings, Dave prefers more colourful, high flow paintings and sells his colourful paintings through his business Art from the Blind Side.

“The art I do these days is the bright colours because they inspire me because I can see them better and just to see how colours interact with each other,” he said.

Dave says art provides therapy and a welcome distraction from the chronic pain of his spinal injury.

“The art really helps with keeping myself distracted from the pain as well as giving me a hobby, giving me an interest and also giving me a small business,” he said.

“It’s also great therapy for my eyes.

“As my ophthalmologist has said, when using the muscles in my eyes, somehow, that’s repairing things.”

Along with his artwork, Dave is kept extremely busy with his work in the community and the disability sector; work that has been recognised by his nomination for Blind Australian of the Year.

He works as a disability advocate, an access consultant, a state-wide convenor assisting people who self-manage their NDIS plans.

He’s worked alongside Mackay Regional Council, Mackay Hospital, IDEAL Placements, Mackay Advocacy, Sporting Wheelies and Queenslanders with Disability Network.

He’s a frequent host and speaker at forums and schools, he’s published a book and has even delivered a TED Talk.

“All the work I do, I really enjoy it,” he said.

“It’s been really self-satisfying but also, I’ve been really proud to be nominated as Blind Australian of the Year.

“All this work I do makes sense.

“People are paying attention, it’s pretty cool.”

The Blind Australian of the Year Award is announced later this month.

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The inaugural Grounded Festival wrapped up last Saturday with the organisers at Third Ground Coffee House elated with the event.

“I think it went really, really well,” said organiser Skye Bailey.

“It’s the first time pretty much any of us have done anything like this.

“Our whole team was just so proud of how much the community got behind it and how much they really wanted to be involved.”

The event saw over 300 people walk through the gate next to Third Ground Coffee House in Sarina with all funds raised being donated to local SES.

The highlight of the day came with Battle of the Beans, with both individuals and teams being judged to find the region’s best barista.

Competition was extremely even, with Madison Dargusch and Jahmayne Hicks tying for first place followed closely by April Leakena and Rusty Blazkovic.

Primal Coffee Roasters won the team competition over Third Ground Coffee House, but all would agree that coffee and community were the real winners on the day.

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A mega cent sale has raised vital funds for two community organisations when the third, jointly held event conducted by the Sarina Arts and Crafts Centre and Variety, the children’s charity with Arts and Crafts Centre manager Jenny Costello saying it was one of the best,

“We’re very grateful for the support of all those people at the sale, and for those who helped us in organising it. It was thrilling to see the big roll-up at Bob Wood Hall!” she said.

“We had more than 200 prizes as well as raffles and major prizes, so I think the people got value at the sale.”

Jenny Costello, Marg Hinrichs and many other members of the Sarina Arts and Crafts Centre spent months collecting prizes for the sale.

Variety’s Greg and Sandi Power, who helped run the sale, said funds would also go towards helping children through the Variety charity.

The two recently took part in the Variety Bash rally through Queensland’s outback and helped raise more than $2 million.

During the Bash they distributed 200 Where’s Wally beanies to children along the route, which were made by and donated by members of the Sarina Fibre Arts Group.

“The kids loved them. There are heaps of Where’s Wally characters getting around out there now!” they said.

Contributed with thanks Charlie Payne

Image: Debby Collins, Thelma Bromley and Helen Kirkwood got together for the Mega Cent Sale at Sarina. The trio are ex-domestic science teachers at Sarina State School. Photo: Owen Bromley

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Photo credit: Sam Gillespie

As the sun set last Friday and the sky filled with hues of pink and purple, an epic week of wakeboarding action was brought to a close.

The finals of Rumble on the Reef wrapped up at Wakehouse Australia with competitors of all ages from all over the country taking to the lake throughout the week.

RESULTS

Pro Men’s Final

1st Joe Battleday

2nd Busty Dunn

3rd Lachlan Fort

Pro Women’s Final

1st Charli Shore

2nd Sienna Mayer

3rd Pippa Wilkings

Amateur Men’s Final

1st Matthew Green

2nd Will Burgess

3rd Kouper Minniecon

Amateur Women’s Final

1st Noëlle Cooper

For all the results, visit liveheats.com/events/22355.

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A full house greeted the ambitious youngsters who sung their hearts out at the second heat of Young Whitsundays Got Talent competition which was held at the Grandview Hotel in Bowen on Sunday.

A total of 12 contestants and four bands performed in front of over 150 guests who all threw their support behind these young and emerging artists.

Event organiser Paula Hovey said it was a fantastic day.

“There was phenomenal talent, and it was a full house!” she said.

Airlie Beach Festival of Music (ABFoM) founder, Gavin Butlin (Butto), said that the future of music is in safe hands which is testament to the quality of artist that performed on the day.

The event is now in its fourth year and is a gateway for young musicians to perform live on stage and, if selected, progress to the finals which are due to be held at Northerlies on October 23.

The winner and runner-up of the competition will be permitted backstage at the upcoming ABFoM for a ‘live’ experience where they can meet some industry legends and discover what it is like to be a superstar.

The Bowen heat guest judges included Councillor Jan Clifford, Bonnie Nicole from ABFoM and radio presenter Tony Fossey.

Five-piece girl band ‘My Envy’ rocked out to Oasis’ Wonderwall and shot through to the grand final with their rendition of this 90’s classic.

Also heading to Northerlies next month is 18-year-old solo performer Tiffany Grace who is a “well-acclaimed young artist with amazing talent” and performed an original song with her guitar on the day.

Solo artist Sienna Baxwell also got herself a place in the finals for the second year in a row.

This confident young lady with incredible stage presence is hoping to take the top spot this year.

While seven-year-old, Echo, did not make it to the finals, she did receive an encouragement award and will be performing on the day.

The Grand Finals will see the culmination of the all the talent perform in one event, bringing together winners from both the Proserpine and Bowen heats.

Winners from past years will also hit the stage and include Noah Robertson and Ivanna Laggos.

WHAT: Young Whitsundays Got Talent Grand Finals

WHEN: Sunday, October 23

WHERE: Northerlies

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Avatar

Cast your mind back to 2009: Barack Obama was inaugurated as the 44th President of the United States in January, Kesha’s Tik Tok topped the charts most of the year, Chrysler went bankrupt in May, the King Of Pop, Michael Jackson, passed away in June. And a little, independent film (ha ha) called ‘Avatar’ hit cinemas on December 18, changing the cinema landscape, namely the modern blockbuster, forever.

The epic adventure famously inspired by Pocahontas is returning to theatres this year to give audiences a nostalgia hit; letting them revisit a film, now in glorious 4k and with impeccable high-dynamic range, that was an absolute world-beater when it arrived in a far different entertainment atmosphere than now (it was pre-Marvel Cinematic Universe, for goodness sake).

But it also serves as an opportunity to introduce people who have never seen it before to the world of the Na’vi – a world both beautiful and terrifying - that stretched the limits of computer generation imagery, simulation, and motion capture technology.

And it’s perfectly timed to get people ready for the sequel, Avatar: The Way of Water, before it hits theatres this December.

Looking at Avatar from afar – having been through (and still going through) global warming, a worldwide pandemic, the potential cusp of World War III - it’s hard to understand, or even remember, the pandemonium it caused.

I saw Avatar three times in cinemas – and I wasn’t the only one. Still to this day, it’s the highest grossing film of all time (thanks to a re-release in China it reclaimed the top spot). It was an absolute phenomenon in every sense of the word, in part thanks to three factors: its story is simple, its visuals were revolutionary, and it encapsulated the essence of cinema; passion, spectacle, and heart.

To see Avatar on the big screen was extraordinary – and now we can do it all over again.

Revisit Avatar, or experience it for the first time, at the Bowen Summergarden Cinema on September 30.

Review by Declan Durrant.

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The King Of The Mountain is about to become the King Of The Coast when an all-star tribute to some of Australia’s top rock bands arrives at the Airlie Beach Hotel in October.

In the “ultimate Saturday Session rock out”, three legendary Aussie bands will star in one epic afternoon show. The Angels, Divinyls, and Midnight Oil Tribute Show will rock out to the sound of Oz anthems of the eighties at The Pub.

Three of the most energetic and dynamic rock bands ever to grace the live stage will be mashed together in this free show of hits galore.

From ‘Beds are Burning’ to ‘Blue Sky Mine’ and everything else in between, you can expect the Oils’ full repertoire of Australian classics.

Then, get ready to ‘Touch Yourself’ and rage with the ‘Boys in Town’ for a little trip into the world of ‘Science Fiction’ with Chrissy and the Divinyls.

But there’s no chance to take a break because the day will wrap up with a nonstop trip into Aussie rock history with the incredible Angels.

Everything from ‘Take a Long Line’, ‘Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again’, and ‘Marseilles’, to ‘Coming Down’, ‘We Gotta Get Outta This Place’ and much, much more.

It’ll be like being transported to Blue Sky Mine, or back to when you grew up in the greatest era of Oz Rock. If you’ve wished you could travel back in time to see a band that wanted to knock your head off with great music, this is the show for you.

Airlie Beach audiences will be floored by the dynamic and expressive moves of this tribute that recaptures the prime performances of Garrett and the Oils, or the giant slabs of Aussie rock legends that are Doc Neesen and The Angels, and the incredible star power of Chrissy Amphlett fronting the Divinyls.

Each will take the bar-top stage in full costume (paired with theatrical performances) at The Pub for a weekend show that’ll have you singing along to the sounds of Australia’s rock roots.

It’s three legendary Oz bands for free at The Pub – what’s not to love? Don’t miss The Angels, Divinyls, and Midnight Oil Tribute Show when it rocks and rolls into Airlie Beach on October 15.

What: The Angels, Divinyls, and Midnight Oil Tribute Show

When: 2.00pm until 5.30pm on Saturday, October 15

Where: The Airlie Beach Hotel

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Bob Eden is on a mission to eradicate suicide.

The Whitsunday-based fitter-turner turned folk singer and author is set to release his first book ‘The Gift of Depression, My Little Scrap Book’ with one mission in mind: sharing his story to save even just one life.

“Every 40 seconds, someone dies because of depression, and they do not have to. I am living proof of that,” Bob said.

“I believe that by sharing our stories, we can help to heal each other.”

Born in England, Bob had a turbulent childhood with an absent father and a violent mother. It left him with untrue lessons about his life which led him to an eventual battle with depression and anxiety.

“In 1984, three o’clock in the morning, I had my first panic attack. I went to the doctor and was put into the western medical model and I was in that for 20 years. Different antidepressants, psychiatrists, psychologists,” Bob said.

“That was my dance with depression. I could not understand it; but I do now”

Far from England and having lived in the Whitsundays for almost two decades, Bob is ready to lay out the lessons of his life in written word, sharing them with the people who need them most.

His scrap book is the story of a life that vastly changed direction. From a fitter-turner to a “depression recovery specialist and men’s wellbeing advocate”, managing ships and sailing to authoring books and managing festivals, like Wintermoon – Bob Eden has done it all and come out the other side with the scars to show for it.

“It took 20 years for me to realise that I could not think my way out, I had to listen to my body, and I did,” Bob said.

“I am master and commander of my life and I take full responsibility for this life that I create. Every event that happens in my life holds a lesson for me, I just must find and learnt it.

“My book just tells my story of my journey from trauma and despair to contentment, it describes the tools I found and used to completely recover from depression.”

Bob will launch The Gift Of Depression, My Little Scrap Book at Cannonvale Library in an event emceed by Councillor Jan Clifford on November 28 at 10am.

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A host of talented artist were celebrated as part of the Whitsundays Arts Festival, with their work on public exhibition during the festivities and several of them picked to win lucrative art awards for their contribution.

The major prize was won by Justin Telfer from Mullumbimby in New South Wales, for his work ‘Nullabor Crossing.’

Justin was awarded the $5,000 major prize, and his work will be acquired into the Whitsundays Regional Council Art Collection.

Winner of the Local Artist Award went to Cannonvale resident Jacqui Henderson for her piece ‘Summer Holiday’.

She received $1000 in prize money.

Other categories included Young Artist Award which was won by Cameron Letta (Leonay) for ‘Red Gum’ and the 3D Sculpture Award was won by Bowen resident Barry Smith for ‘Security’.

The 2D Works on Paper Award went to Tanya Coventry from Bowen for ‘February’ and the R&K Kenyon Award went to Java Small for ‘Meerkat’.

Only its second year, the Whitsundays Art Prize is a vibrant visual arts award, incorporating painting and sculpture and this year, the exhibition included 70 works from 63 Australian artists.

The event was held at the Elbow Room at Coral Sea Marina Resort from 23-30 September with the winners announced on the opening night.

Exhibition Coordinator Glenda Brown said she was honoured to be bringing art to the heart of Airlie Beach.

“Supporting these incredible artists and showcasing works from around Australia in our beautiful region, the Whitsundays Arts Festival exists to highlight art and arts practice,” she said.

The prize winners were selected by guest judge Tracy Cooper-Lavery, Director, Gallery and Visual Arts at HOTA Home of the Arts Gold Coast.

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Friday 30 September

Friday SUN.sets

Every Friday Evening From 6pm

Knock off drinks, lakeside dinner, good friends, and LIVE MUSIC.

Wake House Australia

Ronny Croker Live at the Seabreeze Hotel

Friday, 7:00pm to 10:00pm

Cap off your work week at the Seabreeze Hotel. Dance the night away with Ronny Croker performing from 7pm - 10pm.

Seabreeze Hotel

Bone-a-fide

Friday, 7:00pm

Presented by the Bachelor of Music course at CQUniversity, this concert will feature the extraordinary trombone playing of Jeremy Borthwick alongside CQCM students and staff, performing works from New Orleans to Newcastle, from Buble to Borthwick. Tickets available at the door or at cqcm.sales.ticketsearch.com/sales

Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music

Saturday 1 October

Drawing Workshop

Saturday, 9:00am to 3:00pm

A Drawing Workshop for beginners and intermediate, ages 13 and up. Teaching all you need to know to draw in graphite pencil in a pleasant and friendly environment.

Artist Collective Caneland

Aeroflow Outlaw Nitro Funny Cars

Saturday, 10:00am

Aeroflow Outlaw Nitro Funny Cars and Palmyra Dragway are pleased to announce “Nitro Showdown”, featuring four flame-throwing nitro burning funny cars at the iconic Queensland facility. With a full field of support classes including super comp through to junior dragster, this will be an event not to miss.

Palmyra Drag Racing Club

MM Electrical Mackay Derby Day 2022

Saturday, 11:00am

MM Electrical Derby Day is one of the biggest race day events on the Mackay Turf Club calendar, attracting race goers from far and wide.

Mackay Turf Club

Oktoberfest in the Garden Bar

Saturday, 1:00pm to 9:00pm

Grab your dirndl and get ready for an afternoon celebrating some German traditions including a live Oompah band all the way into the night. There are three competitions including keg tossing, stein holding and best dressed on the day. Soak up the beer with giant pretzels and smoked meat available. This is an event you won’t want to miss out on.

Harrup Park

Sunday 2 October

The Butterfly Effect

Sunday, 2:00pm

With both new songs and old favourites guaranteed to grace the setlist for The Butterfly Effect’s impending album shows, as well as the quartet’s established history for swiftly selling out their tours, definitely don’t delay grabbing tickets to witness the exhilarating next chapter for one of Australia’s most exciting and beloved bands. And as to what fans can ultimately expect from the IV tour? Kurt concludes, “These shows will be a refined energetic hard rock band playing a swag of ripper new tunes with an energy and force not witnessed on Australian shores since ACDC”.

Seabreeze Hotel

Tuesday 4 October

Presentation Mastery Class

Tuesday, 5:30pm to 8:00pm

Mackay Toastmasters is inviting you to join for their inaugural masterclass – Presentation Mastery. Join for this masterclass to improve your public speaking and presentation skills.

Jubilee Community Centre

Real Mates Talk

Every Tuesday in October, 6:00pm to 8:00pm

Build connections and have some real conversations about Real Mates Talk.

Glenella Community Hall

Wednesday 5 October

Mackay Farmers’ Market

Every Wednesday, 6:30am to 10:30am

The market is a showcase of our region’s amazing produce direct from the farmer.

Bluewater Quay

Sugar City Rock and Roll Mackay Club Wednesday Night Lessons

Every Wednesday, 7:00pm

Why not come along and learn to rock ‘n’ roll in a friendly and fun atmosphere with the Sugar City Rock ‘n’ Rollers Mackay Club? Previous experience is not required. Everyone learns at their own pace and, even better, the first lesson is free on your way to learning the four step style of rock ‘n’ roll. $5 for members and $8 for non-members after that. The club caters for social activities for members with regular dances and live bands in attendance and away trips. For further enquiries call 0408 983 911.

58 Macalister St, Mackay

Thursday 6 October

Mackay Tenancy Skills Course

Thursday and Friday, 9:30am to 2:30pm

Whether you are looking to move out of home for the first time or already renting, this free tenancy skills course is for you. Learn what every tenant needs to know to get approved for a rental property and sail through a trouble-free tenancy.

Jubilee Community Centre

Mackay Riverside Market

Every Thursday, 3:00pm to 7:00pm

Fresh produce, artisan goods, food vans, music, every Thursday afternoon 3pm-7pm at Bluewater Quay.

Bluewater Quay

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Gardening enthusiasts, flower-lovers and anyone who enjoys marvelling at natural beauty are invited down to the Ken Burgess Orchid House which will be transformed into a kaleidoscope of colour over the weekend.

A central part of the Mackay Orchid Extravaganza, the annual event will see hundreds of orchids on display at Queens Park from 8.00am to 4.00pm this Saturday.

In addition to the beautiful displays, attendees will also have the opportunity to get involved with one of the orchid workshops or demonstrations and, for those looking for a souvenir, there will be stalls selling plants.

Mayor Greg Williamson said the event would offer something for everyone, from novice gardeners right through to orchid enthusiasts.

“Orchid experts will be available on the day to provide helpful tips and tricks for growing orchids in our climate and share their personal experiences,” he said.

“If you’ve ever wanted to incorporate orchids into your garden, the Orchid Extravaganza is the perfect opportunity to discover what is available and to find out what would best suit your garden and lifestyle.

“For those who don’t have a green thumb, the extravaganza is still an excellent opportunity to admire the exquisite orchids on display, which will include both exotic and Australian native species.”

Entry is free and food stalls will also be available for those who want to grab refreshments.

This event is proudly supported by Mackay Regional Council, Mackay and District Orchid Society and Pioneer River Orchid and Plant Association.

WHAT: Mackay Orchid Extravaganza

WHERE: Ken Burgess Orchid House

WHEN: Saturday, October 1

ADMISSION: Free

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Image: Hockey Dad promise a set filled with old songs they’ve never played live before, plus some new songs, for their Mackay show

When Windang’s favourite sons Hockey Dad had to cancel Mackay from a rescheduled tour earlier this year, fans were left disappointed and having to travel to Airlie to catch them play. Being as down-to-earth and true-to-their-word as they are, the boys have made it up to the sugar city, with a show at the Seabreeze Hotel next Friday. Sam had a chat with Billy Fleming and Zach Stephenson before they make their way up the coast.

Sam: How did you guys become mates back in the day and then start Hockey Dad?

Billy: I was out the front playing footy with my dad and Zach lived a few doors down so he would see us playing out the front and we were just like, ‘You wanna hang out?’ Since then, we went to school together from kindergarten to year 12 and, yeah, just kept going. The band thing didn’t really happen until I’d just got into high school so year 7, Zach would’ve been year 9 I guess but, yeah, before then, we were just hanging out as kids do just riding pushies, surfing, skating, all the good stuff. Then, literally, the music just took over.

Sam: Were you playing music separately before Hockey Dad started?

Billy: Yeah, Zach, definitely, you were doing guitar lessons for a good while.

Zach: Yeah, I was doing guitar lessons from primary school then we kind of started a high school band, Billy and I and a few other mates, that went on for a few years, we played in that band and learnt how to be in a band and play songs and that finished up towards the end of high school for both of us and Hockey Dad was birthed out of the ashes of that, I suppose.

Sam: Unearthed High was a big step for you guys. What’s your take on what Unearthed and triple j does for the up-and-comers of the scene?

Billy: Unearthed is a really cool platform. The whole premise behind it is sick. Just put up a song and hope for the best. The Unearthed High thing was just because I was still in high school, we were like, ‘We may as well do it.’ We knew we were going to be a band, we kind of had Dan, our manager, looking after us already. It was good but he was just like, ‘You might as well throw it up and see what happens.’ We were going to be touring anyway so it was a good moment for us to just jump into that scene and the reception was really good and yeah, it was definitely a good stepping stone.

Zach: I think it’s a good little entry point for any young people who want to come in. It gives you some experience and you meet fresh people who are important in the scene and you meet radio personalities and you kind of get your foot in the door and get a little bit of exposure and get your name out there. It’s great for that and really good for kids in high school to get a taste of what the music industry’s like and what it’s like to be putting songs out and working in the industry, so it’s a great program.

Sam: Does your approach to playing live change when you’re playing in a small room compared to playing a big festival?

Billy: It’s still always so good doing the smaller regional shows. I feel like that’s where the life is, it’s where all the strongest fans are. Regional touring is the best. You can’t really beat it. Obviously, it’s good playing bigger headline shows in major cities, but we love regionals, it’s the funnest thing. I feel like that’s the core of Australian music. You’ve got your little, dingy venue 20 minutes down the road and if your favourite band comes through, you’re like, ‘Hell yeah, I’m going there for sure.’ Especially for a regional town, it’s kind of like word of mouth, it makes it more special and the vibe is way better, in a way, than a larger scale thing.

Sam: We got ‘T’s to Cross’ earlier in the year, is that leading into a fourth album?

Billy: Yeah! Pretty much. We’ve got to finish mixing it and all that and figure out when to put it out, but, yeah, we’ve got some songs in the bank. We kind of put ‘T’s to Cross’ out because we were like, ‘We’ve got to get something out, it’s been a few years.’ We were hanging onto it for a little while and trying to get a plan happening, but we were like, ‘Let’s just get a song out.’ The reception’s been sweet. We haven’t played it in Australia yet so Mackay’s going to be the first one.

Zach: Yeah, we got a bunch of new songs we’re going to play that we’ve just recorded so we’ll play a few on these new shows coming up and we’ve also got a bunch of old songs that we’ve never really played. We tried to refresh the whole setlist for these shows now that we’re back from the States. It’s kind of exciting, playing all new old songs again. It should be an exciting set.

WHAT: Hockey Dad supported by Nortica

WHERE: Seabreeze Hotel

WHEN: Friday, October 7 from 8pm

TICKETS: Oztix

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The Mackay region's first coffee competition is happening this weekend and will involve a massive afternoon of family fun.

The Grounded Festival makes its debut in Sarina tomorrow with a day of markets, live music, good food and, of course, good coffee.

The team at Third Ground Coffee House initially conceptualised the idea at the start of the year when a staff member’s family were affected by floods in the Lismore area, inspiring them to donate to local the SES.

“We were like, ‘What if we just do a fundraiser and donate it to them, because they’re local and they do so much for our community,’” said Third Ground Coffee House’s Skye Bailey.

“Then we were like, ‘What kind of festival could we get happening? Well, we’re good at coffee,’ and there’s so many other great cafes in the region.”

Some of the region’s most popular cafes, including Primal and Ninth Lane Grind, have since jumped on board.

Visitors can expect a relaxed vibe similar to Eat Street with different coffee and food vans, market stalls, live independent music and plenty of family fun.

The festival will feature Battle of the Beans, a competition pitting the region’s best cafes and baristas against each other in a variety of challenges including latte art, identifying different milks from their smell, coffee composition and a good old-fashioned egg and spoon race with coffees instead.

“We’re really trying to bring a fancy element to it but also have a lot of fun,” said Skye.

“I’m so excited to see most of our team get behind it and see how well they do.

“We’re hoping for some healthy competition and to get everybody else’s passion sparking too.”

The guest coffee tasting judges include Mackay Regional Council Mayor Greg Williamson, redhotblue’s Jody Euler and Channel 7’s Rebekah Jensen.

“It’s just going to be good family fun; a nice, relaxed weekend session with a very entertaining competition,” said Skye.

“We really want to bring a little bit more of a coffee culture because we have so many people passionate about coffee.”

Third Ground Coffee House has been operating for seven years with Skye and her siblings managing it for the last five.

“I’ve been a barista for about eight years and went to the Gold Coast for a year and did some heavy barista training so that’s what started the passion for me,” she said.

“I’d done it on and off and was like, ‘Alright, let’s do this for real.’”

The festival will double as a farewell to the café’s Central Street location before they move to Broad Street later in the year.

WHAT: The Grounded Festival

WHERE: Third Ground Coffee House Backyard, 28 Central Street, Sarina

WHEN: Saturday, October 1 from 4:00pm

TICKETS: Eventbrite

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Local Urban Fantasy author, A. L. Tippett, officially launched her third book on Sunday, September 18 at the Badila Art Gallery in Pinnacle.

‘A Dragon’s Soul’ is the highly anticipated conclusion to her debut trilogy, ‘The MINATH Chronicles’.

‘The MINATH Chronicles’ is a tale of magical realism and contemporary fantasy with all manner of mythical creatures.

Book one, ‘A Dragon’s Mind’, was released in 2020 followed by book two, ‘A Dragon’s Body’, in 2021.

Attendees enjoyed free coffee from Whistlestop Coffee Cart, free cupcakes and an impressive book cake from Sam’s Cakes and Crafts.

Ms Tippett began writing her first fantasy novel when she was twelve but abandoned it after deciding that being an author wasn’t a “real” job and therefore not worth pursuing.

After completing her secondary schooling at Mirani State High School, her parents encouraged her to experience the real world before committing to a university degree.

After working in hospitality, she landed a job as an insurance broker, where she worked for seven years before leaving to start a family.

She and her husband live on a farm near Eungella and have now welcomed two children into their lives.

Tippett feels very fortunate to be able to stay at home and care for them whilst her husband works away.

“It’s challenging finding the time to write with two kids but, as they say, where there’s a will, there’s a way,” she said.

‘The MINATH Chronicles’ trilogy is available to purchase from altippett.com.

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