Utter insanity, thy name is Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile.

I’m not entirely sure how someone convinced Shawn Mendes to star as a computer-generated, singing reptile. But thank goodness they did; we’d all been asking for it.

Most of the film’s fun comes from that absurd premise which is the topping to a standard film-base: The Primm family (Constance Wu, Scoot McNairy, Winslow Fegley) have moved to New York City, and their young son, Josh, is struggling to adapt to his new school. How do we remedy that? We give him a singing crocodile named Lyle (Shawn Mendes).

It’s all very Paddington without the foppish, British charm.

But where it lacks in that department, it makes up in spades of this fever-dream, phantasmagorical quality that makes it insane for viewers over 20, but sensical for those under it.

Why wouldn’t the crocodile have a taste for baths, caviar, and great music? It’s that dream-logic, kid’s storybook styling that is Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile’s biggest strength. And of course, as a children’s book, it has that moral heart of: Being an outcast isn’t a bad thing – be you, be unique.

So, after all of that mess of moral signalling, we have a story about Lyle's existence being threatened by the evil neighbor Mr. Grumps (Brett Gelman). So the Primm's must band together with Lyle's charismatic owner, Hector P. Valenti (Javier Bardem – yes, he’s in this), to show the world that family can come from the most unexpected places and there's nothing wrong with a big singing crocodile with an even bigger personality.

Regardless of the absurdity, there is an impressive feat of technical wizardry on display in Will Speck’s film that reminds of Robert Zemeckis’ Who Framed Roger Rabbit. In the sense, at least, that the actors are interacting with something actually there, if cartoonish, crocodile.

A good bit of family fun for the school holidays.

Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile is showing at the Bowen Summergarden Cinema from December 28

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Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile is absurd – but it’s also great fun for the whole family

Fabulous Fireworks

A New Years’ Eve celebration is never complete until you’ve watched the magnificence of brightly coloured fireworks illuminate the night sky. There’s something about the dazzling lights and large pops of noise that inspire, enliven and cast you back to a nostalgic place where you can reflect on the past then look to the future with hope and promise.

There are three free community firework events this year:

WHERE: Bowen Foreshore

WHEN: 8.30pm
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WHERE: Collinsville Showgrounds

WHEN: 9pm
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WHERE: Airlie Beach Foreshore

WHEN: 8.30pm and 12am

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KC’s Tropical Party

Wear your best Hawaiian shirt and join a sea of bright, bold colours as you welcome the New Year in with a tropical party. Each guest will receive free Leis on arrival and legendary musician Lloyd Saunders will be performing from 8pm until late. Fireworks can be seen from across the road.

WHEN: open 11am until 2pm

PRICE: Free entry before 9.30pm and $10 after

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Whisper Restaurant and Bar

Enjoy an Indonesian Smorgasbord at Whisper Restaurant and Gin Bar this New Year’s Eve, the perfect beginning to the night’s festivities. Located at Mirage Whitsundays, this exclusive venue has uninterrupted sea views, and a delicious Gin cocktail will be served on arrival. The event wraps-up at 10pm and a free shuttle into Airlie Beach is running from 8pm until close.

WHEN: open 10am until 10pm (Indonesian Smorgasbord from 6pm until 8pm)

PRICE: $99 for adults and $59 children aged 4 to 12

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Coral Sea Resort Hotel

Celebrate New Year’s Eve evening at Coral Sea Resort with poolside vibes, panoramic sea views and the sweet tunes of DJ Dave Brannon. There will also be real life mermaids, fire twirlers, a light show and fireworks at 9pm. The a la carte restaurant is open with Lobster specials and there are food stations dotted across the venue including the Wagyu beef slider station and the Moreton Bay bug roll station.

WHEN: From 4pm until 9pm

PRICE: $60 entry only

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Grand View Hotel

Everyone is invited to dance the night away at the Grand View Hotel this New Year’s Eve with live band Rebelquin booked to get the party started and play throughout the evening. A range of cocktail specials will also be on offer.

WHEN: open from 10am till late

PRICE: Free

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Airlie Beach Hotel

The party will be rocking all night long at The Pub, Airlie Beach Hotel. With its bar-top stage, pumping atmosphere and friendly bar staff, this New Year is guaranteed to be fun. Start the party early with Gold Coast entertainers Geed Up - boasting their polished three-piece harmonies, impressive dance moves and unique humour – this band always impress. This event gets the crowd warmed-up for the headline act – Dreams – Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks Tribute Show. Re-live one of the legendary bands and performers of the seventies and eighties with a group of musicians dedicated to the task of bringing this era to the stage for all to enjoy.

Geed Up

WHEN: from 2.30pm

PRICE: Free

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Dreams Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks Tribute Show

WHEN: 5pm until 12am (show starts at 8pm)

PRICE: $120 pre-sale ($150 on the door)

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Jubilee Tavern

Kids eat free this New Year’s Eve at the Jubilee Tavern and families are invited to enjoy a meal together before heading into Airlie Beach to watch the fireworks.

WHEN: 5.30pm to 830pm

PRICE: Kid’s eat free with purchase of adult’s meal

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Photo credit: Matthew Newton

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Image: Mackay Lego robotics team The Golden Blocks are holding workshops to fundraise for their upcoming First Lego League Asia Pacific Open Championship Competition campaign. Photos supplied

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It has taken plenty of trial and error, hours of dedication and piles of Lego but Mackay’s robotics team The Golden Blocks are getting ready to represent Australia at the First Lego League Asia Pacific Open Championship Competition.

The team recently competed in the National competition and took home first place for the Core Value Award and Robotic Performance Award.

One of the team’s coaches, Maighan Grant, said that the team had to code their robot to complete as many missions as possible in 2.5 minutes.

“In the competition they need to solve missions with their robot and attachments by coding it all,” she said.

“We achieved the highest score in Queensland at North Nationals at the end of November.”

Speaking about the upcoming international competition in June 2023, Ms Grant said that it’s an exciting opportunity for the students.

“They have really learnt a lot so far on this journey including critical thinking, teamwork, presenting, coding, planning and renewable energies,” she said.

“This next opportunity will be a big challenge for everyone but will be so rewarding for the students to grow as individuals.

“It is an honour to represent our country as coaches and team members.”

The community home-school team will compete against many teams supported by education institutions.

To support the students further and raise funds for the next competition, The Golden Blocks will be hosting robotics workshops over the school holidays.

Mrs Grant said the workshops are in partnership with a local Lego education company called Young Engineers Central Queensland.

“The team is excited to share their skills about robotics building and coding with students in the community,” she said.

The robotics workshops are open to 8-12 year old’s and no previous experience is necessary.

More information can be found on The Golden Blocks Facebook page and Eventbrite.

Contributed by Maighan Grant

WHAT: The Golden Blocks Robotics Workshops

WHERE: CQUniversity Ooralea Campus

WHEN: January 3, 6, 18 and 20, 2023

TICKETS: Eventbrite

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Mackay regional council area residents are being reminded about the following council facility closures over the Christmas and New Year holiday period.

Call Centre 1300 MACKAY (622 529)

Council’s local call centre will be closed Saturday, December 24, to Monday, January 2 (inclusive) with an after-hours service operating during this time for emergency calls. For non-urgent requests and payments, visit www.mackay.qld.gov.au/request.

Customer Service Centres

Mackay

Closed Saturday, December 24, to Monday, January 2

Reopening 9am, Tuesday, January 3

Mirani

Closed Saturday, December 24, to Sunday, January 8

Reopening 9am, Monday, January 9

Sarina

Closed Saturday, December 24, to Sunday, January 8

Reopening 9am, Monday, January 9

Artspace Mackay

Closed Saturday, December 24, 2022, to Monday, January 2, 2023

Reopening 10am, Tuesday, January 3

Foodspace

Closed from 2pm, Friday, December 23

Reopening 8am, Monday, January 9

Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre Box Office

Closed from 3pm, Friday, December 23

Reopening 9am, Monday, January 9

Tickets for shows and events can be purchased online via themecc.com.au during this time.

Jubilee Community Centre

Closed from 4.30pm, Friday, December 23

Reopening 8.30am, Tuesday, January 3

Aquatic facilities

Mackay ARC

Closed Sunday, December 25

Bluewater Lagoon

Open every day from 9am to 5.45pm

Closed Sunday, December 25

Memorial Swim Centre

Sunday, December 25 - Closed

Monday, December 26 - Closed

Sunday, January 1 - Closed

Mirani Swim Centre

Sunday, December 25 - Closed

Monday, December 26 - Closed

Sunday, January 1 – Closed

Pioneer Swim Centre

Sunday, December 25 - Closed

Monday, December 26 - Closed

Sunday, January 1 - Closed

Sarina Pool

Sunday, December 25 - Closed

Monday, December 26 - Closed

Sunday, January 1 - Closed

Mackay Regional Council Libraries

Closed 5pm, Friday, December 23

All libraries will reopen as normal from Tuesday, January 3.

Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens

Administration and Tropical Shade Garden

Closed from 4pm, Friday, December 23

Reopening 9am, Tuesday, January 3

Botanic Gardens Café and Lagoons Gallery

Closed from 3pm, Sunday, December 18

Reopening 9am, Wednesday, January 11

Museums and Historical Centres

Please note all museums and historical centres are currently closed and will reopen in 2023.

Greenmount Homestead

Reopening Monday, March 20, 2023

Museums and Historical Centres

Mackay Museum: Reopening Tuesday, March 21, 2023

Sarina Museum: Reopening Tuesday, March 21, 2023

Pioneer Valley Museum: Reopening Tuesday, March 21, 2023

Ken Burgess Orchid House

Closed 2pm, Sunday, December 18

Reopening 10am, Sunday, January 8

Sarina Sugar Shed

Open seven days a week, 9am to 4pm.

Closed Saturday, December 25, reopening 9am, Wednesday, December 28

Closed Sunday, January 1, reopening 9am, Tuesday, January 3

Sarina Youth Centre

Closed 2pm, Friday, December 23

Reopening 10am, Tuesday, January 3

Sarina Neighbourhood Centre

Closed 2pm, Friday, December 23

Reopening 10am, Tuesday, January 3

Waste facilities

Council’s waste facilities will only close for Christmas Day, except for Paget Waste Management Centre, which will be open for limited hours on Christmas Day from 6.15am to noon.

Waste collection services will continue to run routine pick-ups during the Christmas holiday period. Residents are reminded to leave their wheelie bins out as normal.

Incredable Ltd (Resource Recovery Facility – drop-off) will be closed from Saturday, December 24 until Thursday, January 5, 2023 (inclusive), reopening Friday, January 6, at 9am.

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Rumours? This ain’t no ‘Second Hand News’. Not someone’s ‘Dreams’. No, you’re hearing that magic, midnight music right: The Airlie Beach Hotel is bringing back one of its biggest shows in an epic New Year’s Eve extravaganza.

Australia’s premium Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks Tribute - which recreates the sound, look, and style of one of the world’s best-selling bands of all time - will bring in 2023 at The Pub in an epic two-and-a-half-hour non-stop event before transforming into their party cover band, Krush.

There might not be any snow-covered hills in Airlie Beach, but there’s bound to be a Landslide of Fleetwood Mac favourites thumping out from the Hotel when the crowd favourite ‘Dreams’ show will have audiences shouting, “Don’t Stop”.

Recapturing the seventies and eighties, bringing one of history’s most legendary bands – and its leading lady, Stevie Nicks – to Airlie Beach, this massive tribute show will stretch from 8.00pm to midnight.

Listen to the wind blow and watch the sun set as this well-oiled and talented group of musicians dedicate the night to the New Year, as well as the memory of Fleetwood Mac member Christine McVie.

Big guitar leads, all the iconic songs, and a perfect revival, Dreams brings the outfits, the moves, harmonies and grooves to the Bar-Top Stage at local’s favourite local, flanked by food and great drinks.

And if you needed any more convincing that this would be the way to bring the New Year in, listen to Dennis Dunstan, former Fleetwood Mac manager from 1981 to 1999: “The ‘Dreams’ Show was a breath of fresh air when it comes to Fleetwood Mac tribute shows. These guys deliver, big time!”

“I was thoroughly impressed from start to finish. Don’t miss this show if you’re a Mac fan!”

Fronted by ex-Las Vegas dancer and performer Nikki Canale, Dreams is host to the British-American band’s full gallery of anthems: Go Your Own way, Gypsy, Edge of Seventeen, Rooms on Fire, Say You Love Me, Everywhere, Sara, The Chain and many, many more.

After two and a half hours, Canale and her band mates will follow their performance up with a costume change, becoming the party cover band Krush from 11.00pm to see in the New Year.

Sisters of the Moon, beckon in the New Year at The Pub. There’s nothing quite like singing along to “Isn’t It Midnight” when the year comes to its close – especially in this exclusive, ticketed event.

At the end of the night, the Airlie Beach foreshore is right across from the Hotel, making it the best view for the annual fireworks display over the bay – you won’t even need to leave your seat.

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What: ‘Dreams’ Fleetwood Mac & Stevie Nicks Tribute

When: Doors open 5.00pm for an 8.00pm start until midnight on Saturday, December 31

Where: The Airlie Beach Hotel

Tickets: Adult only, $120 per person pre-sale at Whitsunday Tickets

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The Airlie Beach Hotel is welcoming back Fleetwood Mac in a tribute show like no other on New Year’s Eve

‘Dreams’ The Fleetwood Mac & Stevie Nicks tribute show is back in town to deliver a midnight sermon to beckon in 2023

The 70s and 80s are back with this incredible show that stretches for four hours at The Pub

Brisbane’s punk band of the moment is making its way down the Bruce Highway, flipping off North Queenslanders by the truckload in performances across the state for their newest album tour for ‘Real Rare Whale’.

Dune Rats arrive in Airlie Beach on December 30 for a Friday night, hearty-party festival at Magnums to keep the loud alive – which they’ve been accomplishing as part of an impressive upward trajectory.

Their new album already landed the No. One spot on the Australian ARIA position, has been nominated for Best Hard Rock/ Metal album, their shows are drawing in huge, sold-out crowds domestically, and they’re heading international soon enough.

Success to success has put the Brisbane trio on a one-way trip down from Cairns back to Brissie, and they’re certainly “Psyched to come back to North Queensland!”

“It’s been years but last time were some of the best shows we’ve played,” Dune Rats’ BC Michaels, the band’s backing vocalist and drummer, said.

The band’s front man couldn’t agree more: “North Queensland has always turned it on for us,” Danny Beus said.

“Last time the barriers were crowd surfed out of the venue so we can’t wait to see what’s in store the time around.”

That affinity for North Queensland might come from the working-class element – which punk has long-tapped into en mass – and it’s no wonder their Airlie Beach show is drawing a stir in the ticket department.

So, how best to describe Dune Rat’s music? Undoubtedly it owes a legacy to Nirvana, taking an absurdly Australian lilt at the American band’s alternative rock and infusing it with a healthy dose of the angrier punk-grime scene of the ‘70s – the Sex Pistols most enthusiastically.

But working-class Oi!-esque anger wasn’t the sole domain of Brits, and Americans didn’t have copyright on disaffected youth – Dune Rats reviles in the Brisbane punk scene, which has its own storied past and vibrant, acrimonious present – most notably in The Saints.

As well, Dune Rats sautés in the milieu of its contemporaries: They are indebted to the indie-trance music mesh of New South Wales bands like Skegss and Hockey Dad.

But, the Brisbane boys take it about three steps to the left – where Hockey Dad is either soft or garage rock, Dune Rats is impolite punk, no-holds-barred, like a harsher, throatier Join The Club. It’s a middle-finger-fusion where “good-natured bad behaviour” is reviled and proliferated to a new MTV Generation.

They’re big, bombastic, and they’re taking off, gathering steam like a punk locomotive – and they’re Australian to the core.

Crowds will head to Magnums Airlie Beach to catch Dune Rats on Friday, December 30.

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Dune Rats are another of the big acts coming to Magnums Airlie Beach this year

James Cameron’s Avatar: The Way of Water was, amongst what became a turning tide of popular opinion over the past 13 years, an unwelcome sequel. Audiences would certainly have eaten up a return to Pandora in, maybe, 2011. But after more than a decade, they weren’t begging for a new Avatar - but JC still thought he should deliver.

Has he delivered, though? Maybe. Certainly, he has in a few personal parameters.

What I mean to say is, the indisputable thing with this universe that Cameron has collated is that it’s a passion project where he’s aspiring to perfection not for audiences but for himself. For Cameron, his aspirations for cinema can be expressed in few key metrics: Is it visually stunning, is it pushing the technological envelope, is it splendiferous and winsome, awe-inspiring, and beautiful?

He believes that a simple, solid story surrounded by an exceptional shell of visual acuity and worldbuilding can still create something special. James Cameron is a master of ‘Movie Magic’ – the true blockbuster experience - where the audience’s jaw is plastered to the floor, and they’re saying to themselves: “I don’t know how he did that.” Therein lies the achievement behind his return to the Avatar universe – he has created something breathtaking and immensely enjoyable because of it. There is a beating heart to this world, like our own.

Avatar: Way of Water sees Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) return alongside Ney'tiri (Zoe Saldana), the pair having formed a family, trying to do everything they can to stay together by even moving across Pandora’s regions to a new aquatic land. We have the standard faire of action, but there’s also Avatar’s often heavy-handed message to protect our own natural world – one that Whitsunday audiences will be attuned to in its salience; The Great Barrier Reef may just be an excellent allegory for our own Way of Water.

Avatar: Way of Water arrives at the Bowen Summergarden Cinema today.

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Avatar 2 is a cinematic achievement in its pure spectacle, and may very well capture the hearts of audiences worldwide

Friday 9 December

Christmas Wrapping

9:00am to 4:00pm daily

SCOPE ladies and volunteers will be Christmas Wrapping at Home Co between Thrifties and Spotlight starting November 26 until Christmas Eve daily 9am to 4pm. Gold coin plus extra for over-sized gifts. All proceeds go to local charities including Samaritan House, Chances Op Shop (Australian Street Aid Project) and Mackay Animal Rescue Society.

Home Co between Thrifties and Spotlight

Gift Wrapping For A Great Cause

From December 8 to 24

Get your Christmas gift wrapping sorted and help make a difference through a small donation to the Mackay Hospital Foundation. Our gift-wrapping elves will be located in front of the food court travelators, helping to make Christmas that little bit easier for all. Bookings not required.

Mount Pleasant Centre

Saturday 10 December

Garlands from the Garden

Saturday, December 10 to Friday, December 23

Bring your friends and family to Artspace Mackay during the December school holidays and learn to use different kinds of leaves to make beautiful, natural garlands for a wonderful sustainable Christmas! You can say no to plastic decorations this year - simply snip, fold, stitch and tie mango, eucalypt and coconut leaves together to create special handmade garlands to decorate your room. The possibilities are endless! This is a drop-in style activity with instructions and signage to guide you, parental supervision for children is essential. Stay for a few minutes or a few hours, no bookings necessary. Artspace Mackay opening hours are Tuesday to Friday, 10am to 5pm and Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 3pm (closed Mondays).

Workshop Room, Artspace Mackay

Fame Talent School presents ROYAL

Saturday, 11:00am

FAME Talent School presents its 2022 production of ‘Royal’. Starring Fame Talent School’s homegrown dancers, singers and actors, this production will have you tapping your toes, singing along and planning a trip to London.

MECC Auditorium

Highway No 1 Country Music Associations Christmas Breakup

Saturday, 6:00pm

Phone or text Betty 0434911712 as soon as possible if you will be attending. You do not need to be a Club Member to attend. Music will be supplied by the resident band and club members. Christmas Raffle will be drawn during the evening. There will also be a ½ ham raffle during the evening. Admission is free. We welcome you to join us for our last Country Music night for 2022.  

Metropolitan Hotel

Sunday 11 December

Mackay Country and Western Family Associations Christmas Breakup

Sunday, 10:00am

Please phone the President: - Charlie 0408 776 564 and let him know if you can attend as soon as possible for catering purposes. Everyone welcome.

Senior Citizens Hall

Sunday Live Music – Jax Morton

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

Santa Paws Pet Photos

Sunday, 2:30pm and 5:30pm

Everyone gets their time with Santa this season, including our furry friends! Your pet will get the su-paw-star treatment having their pic taken with Santa, making precious family memories for years to come. Bookings essential. To secure your spot, head to: https://mountpleasantcentre.com.au/whats-on/.

Mount Pleasant Centre

Monday 12 December

Tibbles Word Search

Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm

Tibbles the friendly garden gnome is adventuring through the Tropical Shade Garden during the holidays. Find all the hidden gnomes to discover the secret code. Suitable for kids aged five to 12 years. Additional self-guided activity resources can be found online: mackayregionalbotanicgardens.com.au

Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens Tropical Shade Garden

Tuesday 13 December

Nature Crafts

Tuesday and Wednesday, 9:00am to 10:00am

Create holiday-themed crafts, perfect for gifts or ornaments. Open to all ages, children must be supervised by an adult.

Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens Meeting Room

Holiday Card Creation

Tuesday and Wednesday, 10:30am to 3:00pm

Add a personal touch to gift giving this year with a handmade holiday card. Decorate a native fauna themed card and write a kind message inside. Open to all ages, children must be supervised by an adult.

Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens Meeting Room

Christmas Wreath and Flower Workshops

Tuesday and Wednesday, 11:00am and 2:00pm daily

For little and big kids alike, these Christmas craft workshops will be a real treat. Thanks to Flowers from Lisa’s, join us to create your very own Christmas wreath or table arrangement to take home and leave everyone in awe. Tickets $30 per person. Children and adults both welcome. Bookings essential. To secure your spot, head to: https://mountpleasantcentre.com.au/whats-on/

Mount Pleasant Centre

Wednesday 14 December

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

Cookie Decorating Workshops

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 10:00am, 12:00pm and 1:00pm

The only thing sweeter than being on the nice list, is a ticket to our Christmas cookie decorating workshops! This is a chance to get creative with your festive decorating skills, and create a delicious treat to take home (or eat on the spot!) - thanks to Muffin Break.

Tickets $5 per child. Bookings essential: https://mountpleasantcentre.com.au/whats-on/.

Mount Pleasant Centre

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 club members with regular dances with live bands in attendance and away trips. For further enquiries call 0408 983 911.

58 Macalister St, Mackay

Thursday 15 December

Pot Plant Decorating

Thursday, 10:00am to 11:30am

Decorate a small pot and take home a plant from the Mackay Natural Environment Centre. Bookings required and spaces limited, phone 4952 7300 to book your spot.

Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens Meeting Room

Mackay Riverside Market

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

Come and meet your local growers, bakers and makers, chill on the lawn listening to some beautiful tunes and grab some delicious dinner and desert.

Bluewater Quay

Bedtime Stories

Thursday, 5:00pm to 6:00pm

A fun evening for children from birth to eight years of age and their families. This session features nursery rhymes, stories, songs and a craft activity. Don’t forget to wear your pyjamas!

Gordon White Library and Dudley Denny City Library

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Caption1: Christmas Wrapping

Caption2: Garlands from the Garden

Caption3: Fame Talent School presents ROYAL

Caption4: Nature Crafts

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Image 1: The Mackay & District Pipe Band at the unveiling of of the plaque at Jubilee Park on Remembrance Day 2018

Image 2: Marching along River Street in 1987. Photos supplied

The Mackay & District Pipe Band are one community organisation keeping Mackay’s Scottish heritage alive and are sharing their history in a new book being launched this weekend.

The band are hosting the St Andrews Scottish Music Concert on Saturday, December 10, inviting aged care homes and members of the community to an afternoon of Scottish music.

The book “A Caledonian Heritage: The History of Mackay & District Pipe Band” will be launched at the concert, recounting the band’s 96-year history.

The Mackay Caledonian Association was formed shortly after the township of Mackay was established as a municipality in 1839.

In 1911, it was suggested that the Association form a pipe band, with the Daily Mercury reporting of a concert being held on Wednesday, June 14 of that year.

The Mackay & District Pipe Band was formed as an independent pipe band in 1926.

The band has marched in every Mackay ANZAC Day since 1928 and played at other historical events including the opening of Mackay Harbour in 1939 and the opening of the Forgan Bridge in 2011.

These days, the community band performs at weddings, birthdays and funerals as well as large annual events including ANZAC Day, the Robbie Burns Supper, Bluewater Fling and St Andrews Scottish Music Concert.

“Generally, everything’s followed by a ceilidh, which is a Gaelic word for party,” said band member Bryan Dobbie.

Mr Dobbie has been a member of the band for five years, with his children also getting involved.

“It’s in my blood, I guess,” he said.

“My dad’s played pipes since he was 12 and I didn’t start to learn until I was 40.

“It’s a family thing for us and we enjoy it.”

The band were able to compile the book telling the band’s history with the assistance of the Mackay Regional Council’s Regional Arts Development Fund and local editor Paul Vander Loos.

“There’s a lot of people there, a lot of connections to this region from 100 years of it, generations of it,” said Mr Dobbie.

The band meets and rehearses every Thursday at St Paul’s Uniting Church and welcomes new members of all ages.

Tuition is free and there are pipes and drums available to be borrowed.

The band will be joined by 3RAR Army Band, Kathleen Campbell and Piping MaD this weekend at the St Andrews Scottish Music Concert which will be followed by a ceilidh at Goosies.

WHAT: St Andrews Scottish Music Concert

WHERE: Mackay Christian College Powerhouse Hall on Ambrose Way

WHEN: Saturday, December 10 from 1:30pm

TICKETS: $5 donation

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Image 1: Graduating class of Prep-Ready Kids 2022. BACK ROW L-R Victoria Park State School representatives Kristi Elworthy, Riley Cousen, Katusha Lee, Logan Beale, Courtney Edwards. FRONT ROW L-R Led Francis Contreras, Precious Anderson, Jacob Mateo, Fatima Lopez, Gabriel Zarate, Patrick Buchanan, Isaac Soriano, Aviitausili Howman, Ela Maglente (Program Coordinator)

Image 2: A separate celebration was held for Andra Novri (son) and Indriani Indriani (mum). Photos supplied

Excited Prep-Ready Kids and their families celebrated their graduation last Monday, November 28, having completed the Prep-Ready Kids Program delivered by The Neighbourhood Hub.

Prep-Ready Kids Program is for children aged 3.5 to 5 years old and aims to prepare them for primary school. It allows children to learn some of the basic skills they will build on as they enter primary school including numbers, letters, listening, comprehension, cooperation, socialising, experiments, physical literacy, excursions and more.

Celebrations on the day included a visit from Santa, celebratory games, and watching a photo compilation of the group’s achievements over the year.

Special guest, Kristi Elworthy, Head of Department for Curriculum from Victoria Park State School, gave an inspiring message to the graduating children and their families.

The graduating children received their framed certificates and medals from student representatives from Victoria Park State School.

Ela Maglente, Program Coordinator has worked with the children throughout 2022 and says the group took a completely different approach in the program this year.

“We focused on increasing the children’s independence and focusing more on activities that do not require direct parental engagement,” she said.

“We decided to run the sessions as if they were happening in the Prep classrooms at school.

“The children have excelled in the new setup.

“This new setup also allowed us an opportunity to provide activities which focused on parents such as fitness sessions, information sessions, workshops, and other activities which the parents thoroughly enjoyed and, in the process, found friendship and connections with one another.

Ms Maglente said the end of the year event is a special one that families look forward to.

“This year is a celebration of the children and parents’ hard work and resilience during this unprecedented time,” she said.

“It was wonderful to see the families come together and celebrate what has been a challenging yet fruitful year for the multicultural families.”

The Prep-Ready Kids Program is taking expressions of interest for their class of 2023 and the Neighbourhood Hub encourages anyone who is interested – either of Australian or multicultural background – to email elam@tnhub.org.au.

Prep-Ready Kids is delivered at 43 Shakespeare St, East Mackay every Monday (school term only) from 9:30 am to 11:30 am.

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Image: Mackay educators were welcomed to the MECC with a catered high tea, goodie bags and an exclusive backstage pass. Photo: Supplied

Last Wednesday, the MECC invited more than 50 educators for a sneak preview of the performances in the 2023 lineup.

The annual MECC Educators Launch is an opportunity to assist local primary and secondary school teachers with lesson and excursion planning for the year ahead. The launch also informs educators of funding opportunities to help cover the costs of transport to the theatre, particularly for rural and remote schools.

Acting Manager MECC and Events, Jemma Carey said the Launch gives the opportunity to recognise the impact teachers have on a thriving arts community.

“Students develop a love and appreciation of performing arts early in life, they really are our audiences of the future” she said.

“We are so thankful for the support from our local schools, and of course our major sponsors BMA and Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal (DBCT).” she continued.

“This is our way to recognise their contribution towards the performing arts sector.”

Speaking on the day was Mackay-born singer and songwriter, Karen Jacobsen with an exciting announcement regarding a collaboration between herself, Queensland Symphony Orchestra and the MECC. Together, they will present the Australian premiere of ‘Misogyny Opus’ – an inspiring retelling of the famous misogyny speech by former female Prime Minister, Julia Gillard.

The MECC also showcased other select performances for the 2023 season, providing those in attendance an exclusive first look at what’s to come. Comprising of an array of genres, performances are chosen not only for their appeal, but for their ability to provide capital city experiences to regional areas such as Mackay.

Opera Australia and Queensland Ballet are returning to the MECC stage in 2023 with world-class stage performances, and kids favourites Possum Magic and Wind in the Willows are sure to enrich young minds.

All 2023 MECC season performances will be on sale in early December.

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Image: Bernard Fanning is bringing his sincerely Queensland songs to Mackay for Legends on the Lawn

He fronted the band that soundtracked a state and now Bernard Fanning is bringing his solo show to Mackay as part of next year’s Legends On The Lawn. The festival in Mackay caps off a tour of massive shows for Bernard and company and is the biggest tour the Brisbane icon will embark on since his Powderfinger days. Mackay Life journalist Sam Gillespie had a chat with Bernard about the scene that started it all, the movement it incited and what Mackay can expect next May.

Powderfinger are one of the first bands that come to mind when you think of Brisbane bands, what was Brisbane’s music scene like when you started playing music and first joined Powderfinger?

I think there’d always been a pretty strong scene in Brisbane but in the time when Powderfinger had started to come up, it really emerged a lot more quickly in the ‘90s than it had before. Prior to that, a lot of people left and went to Sydney or Melbourne or London or wherever else which was kind of a product of the Joh Bjelke-Petersen era government and what Queensland was like, how conservative it was and how closed it was to the arts and creativity and whatnot. I went to university the year that changed, I was in first year of uni in the late ‘80s, and the nature of how people thought in Brisbane was a bit different starting with my generation of bands and the idea that you didn’t need to leave, you could stay here and be part of something in Brisbane and then branch out elsewhere was new. It was an amazingly vibrant scene and very varied in terms of styling and the different types of bands that there were around. Powderfinger was a pretty traditional rock band but there was lots of other bands that were playing ska and metal and fusion and later hip hop and rap and dance music, so it all unfolded pretty quickly in the ‘90s.

What venues did you used to play in the early days?

We played at a place called the Orient Hotel, which is still there, actually, and lots of smaller places. The Zoo came along in the ‘90s which is about to have its 30th birthday and Dooleys, at the time, and later places like Metropolis, the Roxy and the Site, as bands got bigger. In the early days, there was lots of little pub-style venues that we used to do gigs at. We used to play at a biker club in the Valley called Club AC’s, when we first started out. We’d play Thursday to Sunday night from midnight 'til 4:00am. It was a pretty different time then but it was good for us as a band, it helped us to work out what we were doing, we got lots of practice.

I’ve noticed a wave of Queensland spirit over the last five years that involved XXXX Gold, the Maroons, the Brisbane River and also Powderfinger, did you notice that and what was that like from your perspective?

What was it? Euphoric Queensland Memes was where it started, right? It’s hilarious. It’s really funny. I think those guys tapped into something that was probably always there, but it was always taken too seriously, whereas those guys took the piss out of it and it made it much more fun. Then there were bands who were right in the middle of their big rise like Violent Soho and bands like that that tapped into it, wearing Broncos shorts on stage and all that kind of stuff as well which is awesome. It was great because Queensland and Brisbane had always been patronised for that stuff by, what will we say, the ‘southerners’, and that was just taking it right back to them. What I was saying before about not leaving Brisbane as a band, that was part of the beginning of that sentiment, just saying, ‘We grew up here, this place is actually awesome, so why would we leave?’ We’d been to Sydney and Melbourne plenty of times and we were like, ‘Why would you want to live here? This place sucks.’ I loved all of that Euphoric Queensland Memes stuff and obviously Betoota (Advocate) has exploded into something else. It’s been a phenomenon all of its own.

While your voice is quite iconic, your Powderfinger material and your solo material are quite different sonically – do you enter a different headspace or draw on different inspirations when adjusting to different projects?

Yeah, for sure. Powderfinger leaned more towards being a songwriting collective, so even if one of us came in with a song, it would be worked on by everybody and everyone had little bits of input whereas when I do my own stuff it’s really just me bossing everyone else around telling them what to do. So there’s that limitation, that it’s one set of ideas as opposed to four or five. Part of the reason that I wanted to make my own records was because I wanted to do other things, I wanted to make music that was a little bit gentler than what Powderfinger had been doing. I’d always written songs on acoustic guitar and pianos anyway, so that was just and extension of that really.

How excited are you for this massive tour finishing in Mackay for Legends on the Lawn?

Yeah, it’s massive, isn’t it? I’m really excited. The closer it gets, the more anxious I’ll probably become about the amount of shows there are and how much travel there is but it’s just so great to be able to go back on the road and do a really extensive tour. I haven’t done a tour like this since Powderfinger was around so it’s going to be great. And we’re going everywhere or within driving distance of almost everywhere, so it’s going to be really fun. I’ve never done a tour like this where none of the big six cities are on the itinerary so it’s going to be pretty different. The line-up’s phenomenal. It’s a pretty “iconic” line-up I guess you would say, having Paul (Kelly) at the top of it, especially. It’s really exciting, I’m really pumped about it.

And what can the Mackay crowd expect from your Legends on the Lawn set?

A bit of everything. A little bit of older material, some more recent stuff, possibly a new song or two. We won’t finalise exactly what we’re doing yet, we’ve got some rehearsals to do in January but we’ve got a fair idea. People can generally expect to hear what they’d like to hear. Not a huge amount of surprises but there’ll be some. A big part of that is trying to put on a show. After people have seen songwriters of that quality all day, you have to do something special to make it good.

WHAT: Legends On The Lawn 2023

WHERE: Harrup Park

WHEN: Saturday, May 20, 2023

TICKETS: On sale now via Ticketmaster

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The jolly man in red was popular indeed at last weekend’s Breakfast with Santa, held by Mount Pleasant Centre.

Up until Christmas Eve, the centre is set to host a series of events and activities that give back to the local community, making the holiday season that little bit merrier for all.

The Centre welcomed Santa last Saturday when he touched down from the North Pole for the special breakfast event. There was also a festive performance from Dance Express Mackay, and face painting to delight kids of all ages.

Proceeds will be donated to the Mackay Hospital Foundation.

Mount Pleasant Centre’s Centre Manager, Cathy Sullivan, said, “We know it’s been a tough year for so many, so it was important for us to give back this Christmas.

“We’re excited to be able to offer some free Santa photos to bring some extra joy to families, and our Santa’s Breakfast and charity gift wrapping will assist with raising much-needed funds for the Mackay Hospital Foundation – a critical resource for so many in our local community.

“Naughty, nice, or a work-in-progress – everybody is welcome to join in the festivities at Mount Pleasant Centre these holidays!”

Bookings are essential to most events, and they’ll book out faster than flying reindeers, so it’s recommended to head to mountpleasantcentre.com.au/whats-on/ early to secure your spot.

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