For its tenth year of delivering the nostalgic, the boutique, the rock, and the roll, Airlie Beach Festival of Music (ABFoM) has upped the ante, capitalising on its status as QMA 2022 Festival of the Year to bring an all-star selection of acts to the coastal town it calls home.

In a decade of performances at the festival, there have been few set lists as stacked full of talent. There’s too many to choose from, but these are the must-see performers at the Airlie Beach Festival of Music 2022:

The Animals

Travelling direct from The House Of The Rising Sun, The Animals – the British band and Rock Hall Of Famers who topped the American charts in the ‘60s – are the premier performers at this year’s ABFoM.

Featuring original members John Steel and Mickey Gallagher alongside Danny Handley and Bobby Ruiz, The Animals are set to deliver a performance worthy of a festival celebrating a decade of bringing live music to the heart of the Great Barrier Reef.

Playing their greatest hits including House Of The Rising Sun, We Gotta Get Out Of This Place, and more, they’re the ones to watch at this year’s celebration of music.

Eskimo Joe

Representing Australian rock royalty at ABFoM will be Eskimo Joe, 35-time ARIA nominated band who have only been surpassed in the metric by Silverchair, Powderfinger, John Farnham and Kylie Minogue – they’re in good company.

Eskimo Joe’s juggernaut song Black Fingernails, Red Wine spent a monster 62 weeks in the ARIA Top 50 Chart, and their single, Foreign Land, brought home two APRA Awards for Most Played Rock Song on Australian Radio and Best Rock Song Of 2010.

John Stevens

Musician Jon Stevens – with his new album Starlight, and a brand-new single titled ‘Hold On’ – will bring the rock back to Airlie Beach.

Stevens is recognised as one of the most talented rock musicians to emerge from Australia in recent memory. The once lead singer of major rock acts Noiseworks, INXS, and Dead Daisies has had a career that’s only gone from strength-to-strength.

‍

In the western tradition, forests are an “imagination exerciser” where danger can lurk in every hollow, every shadow.

For his fifth fiction novel ‘The Tilt’, best-selling Australian author Chris Hammer – who recently visited the Whitsundays whilst touring with his novel up the coast - followed in the footsteps of fairy tales, setting his story of familial intrigue, history, and murder in a famed Australian woodland.

In the Barmah Millewa Forest, which stretches across the state line of New South Wales and Victoria, becoming a swamp when the Murray River swells to its fullest, the crime writer plants a multi-layered story where bodies and secrets are unearthed.

“It’s a forest nine months of the year and a wetland for three when the river spills out, running up the myriad creek,” Hammer said.

“The water managers have put little dams on all of the mouths of these, regulating the water. That’s the setting and it’s a good setting for a crime book – in forests they tell you to not go off the path.

“In this book, it’s not just one storyline but three – one in the second world war, another in the ‘70s, and in modern day.”

At three Whitsunday libraries – Cannonvale, Proserpine, and Bowen – Hammer was interviewed on his latest book by local journalists for ‘In Conversation’ events, including Whitsunday Life writer and journalist Declan Durrant.

Locals attended the intimate events to ask their own questions to Hammer, an ex-journalist of 30 years, have their books signed, and listen.

Hammer has established himself as one of the country’s premier writers in the Australian noir genre – which often sees small-town life thrown into disarray when a dark and chilling crime takes place.

“I think I’m very fortunate to be a full-time author, and that’s thanks to all of you,” he said.

Chris Hammer’s novel The Tilt is available at each of the Whitsunday libraries, as well as online for purchase at Booktopia.

‍

Author Chris Hammer and Whitsunday Life journalist Declan Durrant at Cannonvale Library during an ‘In Conversation’ Event hosted by Whitsunday Regional Council

It’s one thing to imitate and another to embody.

Since 2005, Dan Aykroyd, and the John Belushi Estate have been a driving force behind The Official Blues Brothers Revue – a show coming to the Airlie Beach Hotel for free in early November.

Officially sanctioned and endorsed by the family – including the late John Belushi’s wife, Judith – as well as Dan Aykroyd himself, this show direct from the US is as close as it comes to the real deal.

It’s been a long time since the Blues Brothers and their hit 1980s musical, comedy film about a not-quite-real and not-quite-fake musical duo became legendary – and two performers with the blessing of the Blues are carrying on their legacy.

They’ll croon onto the Bar Top Stage at locals’ favourite local on November 5 for more than a tribute show: It’s “the concert version of The Blues Brothers” according to Judith Belushi.

The North American duo of Wayne Catania and Keiron Lafferty as Jake and Elwood Blues will don the official hat and sunglasses to walk in the legendary footsteps of the boys in a rollicking performance at The Pub.

There’s good reason the pair have been given not just the go ahead to perform as Elwood and Jake, but have been officially sanctioned.

They capture the infectious humour and unbridled spirit of the Blues Brothers like no one since John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd themselves would walk the stage. Backed by a hard-hitting, powerhouse band, Jake and Elwood give audiences a show to remember, packed with their classic hits from the Blues Brothers’ catalogue.

From Soul Man to Rubber Biscuit, Sweet Home Chicago to Gimme Some Lovin’, Rawhide, and more. It’s a night of laughter and foot-stompin’ fun that will have Airlie Beach audiences on their feet.

Wayne and Kieron, aka Jake and Elwood, have been on a mission to deliver the most dynamic and authentic Blues Brothers show ever to hit the US – and undoubtedly succeeded.

Now on an Australian tour, they’ll cruise into The Pub to combine the comedy, music and mayhem from the original movie, as well as songs from the five popular albums put out by John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd.

It is a more than faithful recreation of the characters, and a spectacular tribute to Chicago’s rich history of blues, R&B and traditional soul music, played with the same conviction of the original Blues Brothers Band.

The entirely Free Show will go down in history as one of the Airlie Beach Hotel’s highest tier performances, and comprises just one part of The Pub’s miniature festival: The Airlie Beach Hotel’s Music Weekender, which kicks off on Thursday, November 3 and runs all the way through to November 6.

WHAT: The Official Blues Brothers Revue

WHEN: Saturday, November 5 from 2.30pm to 5.00pm

WHERE: The Airlie Beach Hotel

‍

The Official Blues Brothers Revue is coming to the Airlie Beach Hotel in early November as part of a massive line-up across three days of performances

The boys, Wayne Catania and Keiron Lafferty as Jake and Elwood Blues, will sing out the band’s famous hits in a nostalgia filled show

The Revue is officially endorsed by Dan Aykroyd and the John Belushi Estate – they’re almost the real deal

The country’s box office records were broken by a (frankly) absurd candidate in the year 2000 – one that few would have suspected, although looking back it was an absurd time - when ‘The Wog Boy’ became one of the highest-grossing Australian films of all time.

It might not have ever set critics alight, but the film, which starred and was written by Nick Giannopoulos, managed to find itself as part of the pantheon of iconic Australian cinema.

It was in some good company, too - The Castle and The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert among them – and it even spawned a sequel which arrived onscreen in 2010, ‘Wog Boy 2: Kings of Mykonos’.

Now, another decade on, a third instalment, again with Giannopoulos at the helm as a writer and star, has arrived in the form of ‘Wog Boys Forever’.

It still follows Steve ‘The Wog Boy’ Karamitsis (Giannopoulos), who, despite his best efforts, remains single and still works as a taxi driver.  An unexpected guest in his cab sets in motion a chain of events for the character – alongside Vince Colosimo reprising his role as Steve’s best mate Frank - to once again show the world that “Where there’s a Wog, there’s always a Way!”.

It’s been twelve years since we last saw Steve, and things haven’t turned out the way he thought they would. He’s not dancing the Zorba anymore or doing ouzo shots. We find him all alone in an upside-down world.

It’s a rite-of-passage story for Steve, although he might be enduring a mid-life crisis, he’s still trying to find his way.

Let’s see if he can get back “that wog boy mojo he once had.”

Wog Boys Forever (MA) is showing at the Bowen Summergarden Cinema now.

‍

Vince Colosimo and Nick Giannopoulos in Wog Boys Forever (2022)

Grizzly ghouls from every tomb are closing in to seal your doom, uniting for all hallows eve to transform the Whitsunday PCYC into a “House Of Horror.”

In a week’s time, when a gibbous moon creeps in the sky, bathing the Whitsundays in eerie light, the local community centre will change, becoming spook central for kids and parents to enjoy on October 29.

For the first time ever, the PCYC will be celebrating Halloween in special, spectral fashion: opening its doors as a House of Horror for all to enjoy (if they dare).

PCYC Branch Manager and Police Sergeant, as well as chief ghoul wrangler, Billy Li said his team at the PCYC have been hard at work creating a creepy castle atmosphere, transmuting the back rooms of the building into spider-webbed catacombs.

“In the haunted house maze, travel from room to room in PCYC and experience horror,” Sergeant Li, who will be dressed in a surprise costume on the day, said.

There will be two sessions of the Haunted House: the spooky session at 4.00pm to 5.30pm for all ages, and the scream session from 6.30pm to 8.30pm for those who dare.

“The second session will be catered for adolescents to adults where we will level-up our scares. Expect people popping up from strange places and being chased,” Sergeant Li said.

The event will function as a fundraiser for the not-for-profit organisation to upgrade its youth space. Supplies have been donated by Cannonvale Big W, Woolworths Airlie Beach, Bunnings, and Whitsunday Plaza.

Entry is $5 for one-time entry or $10 for three times.

Sergeant Li thanked all his staff for “getting behind the spooky day.”

WHAT: House of Horror

WHEN: October 29, 4.00pm to 8.30pm

WHERE: Whitsunday PCYC

‍

PCYC Whitsundays will turn into a spooktacular Haunted House on October 29

When 14-year-old Shae Robinson appeared as Anne Frank in Kucom Theatre’s 2016 production of The Diary of Anne Frank, she may not have realised she was starting a family trend.

It didn’t happen right away, but in 2018 she somehow persuaded her father, Simon, to audition for a small role with Mackay Musical Company Players in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.

He loved the buzz of being on stage, so he was keen to audition for Kucom in 2021 when Victor Scott directed When the Rain Stops Falling, where his sympathetic portrayal of Joe Ryan left an indelible impression on Kucom audiences.

Now, six years after her Kucom debut, Shae returns to the Kucom stage as heiress Catherine Simms in The Foreigner, a comedy by Larry Shue, directed by Maureen Coleman and Sarah Ralph as part of Kucom’s 75th anniversary celebrations – and for the first time, she is performing on stage alongside her father, Simon, who plays Staff Sergeant ‘Froggy’ LeSueur.

To complete the family picture, mum Jenny is the official photographer for this production, and while she is content to remain behind the camera, she has assembled an impressive portfolio of cast profiles and candid rehearsal shots, including this lovely father-and-daughter shot.

The Foreigner is Shae’s first stage performance since finishing high school, and she is thoroughly enjoying getting back into acting.

Her love of performing goes back to when, aged 7, she started Drama and Musical Theatre classes with Fame Talent School.

Over the years she has been involved in productions with various local theatre companies including Red Giraffe Theatre (13 – The Musical, 2016), Fame Talent School (Shrek JR, 2016), Triple Threat Theatre Company (Jekyll & Hyde – The Musical, 2017), and Mackay Musical Comedy Players (Wicked, 2017; The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, 2018).

Until 2019, she regularly appeared in Fame Talent School Pantomimes and performed in the Mackay Eisteddfod.

While in Year 12, Shae received her Associate of Trinity College London – Diploma of Performing - with Distinction.

The Foreigner opens at Kucom Theatre on Thursday 27 October and will run for six nights from October 27-29 and November 3-5, starting at 7:30pm each night.

Featured cast members include Simon Robinson, Gordon Lowe, Carolyn Roche, Dennis Rozekrans, Shae Robinson, Jim Kelly, Kodi Ryke.

Tickets are available through TryBooking at www.trybooking.com/BZKXZ.

WHAT: The Foreigner

WHERE: Kucom Theatre

WHEN: October 27-29 and November 3-5, 7:30pm

TICKETS: TryBooking

‍

2022 has already been a massive year for Brittany Elise.

She took the crown at the Gympie Music Muster’s NAB Talent Search, was a grand finalist in the prestigious Toyota Star Maker competition and awarded Most Popular New Female Artist of the Year at the ICMA Awards.

The Mackay-born and raised singer-songwriter is still touring the nation off the back of her scorching single, ‘Feel The Fire’ and has just released her latest single ‘Like Me That Way’ ahead of the release of her new album Just Be, out October 21.

‘Like Me That Way’ springs to life with sunny acoustic guitars, while Brittany’s vocal commands centre stage.

She sings an empowered tune of self-love - “I like the way I am / This is who I am / I like me that way”.

Written alongside Lyn Bowtell, the song is Brittany’s take on a breakup anthem.

“(It’s) a reminder to never change who you are as a person especially if others are telling you to,” she said.

“I took influence from two powerful artists and songs - Kasey Chambers ‘Am I Not Pretty Enough’ and Missy Higgins ‘Scar’.”

Brittany collaborated with her producer, Liam Quinn, remotely.

“These vocals were recorded in my Queensland homebuilt studio and the rest produced in Sydney,” she said.

The result is an uplifting blend of country musicality layered with pop hooks – a sound fans have come to love from Brittany Elise.

Brittany’s inspiring messages, set to an equally upbeat soundtrack, have proven to be a much-loved recipe.

With each release, she gains more listeners, drawn to the honesty and relatability of her words.

‘Like Me That Way’ is yet another excellent offering from an artist who is proud to share her story.

Brittany is also about to kick off a tour of Australia, playing in Mackay in February next year.

WHAT: Brittany Elise Feel The Fire Tour

WHERE: Magpies Sporting Club Mackay, Mackay

WHEN: Saturday, February 4, 2023 from 7:00pm

TICKETS: Tickets: $40, on sale end of 2022

‍

Friday 14 October

FridaySUN.sets

Every FridayEvening From 6pm
Knock off drinks, lakeside dinner, good friends, and LIVE MUSIC.

Wake HouseAustralia

Saturday 15 October

Shitbox RallyStart Line

Saturday,7:30am to 9:30am
Shitbox Rally Spring 2022 is commencing on Saturday 15th October fromMACKAY! 250 cars all worth less than $1,500 (hence the name of the Rally) eachin a team of two, will be driving to Darwin via the outback over 7 days,raising money and awareness for Cancer Research and Cancer Council. Bring yourfriends and family and support the legends who have worked so hard to make thestart line!

New MulherinPark, East Point Drive, Mackay

Mack PopCon 2022

Saturday,8:00am to 6:00pm
Mack PopCon 2022 is Mackay’s newest and only Pop Culture convention! Celebrityand special guests, cosplay, exhibitors, entertainment, food and more!

MackayShowgrounds

Beach SoundsMusic Festival

Saturday,1:00pm to 10:00pm
Beach Sounds Music Festival is a single-day outdoor music festival heldat the grounds of the Mackay Surf Lifesaving Club, Mackay Harbour Beach. Bandsperforming include Dallas Crane, The Blackwater Fever, Hugo Stranger & theRattlers, The Double Happiness, The Far Outs, Bella Mackenzie and Matt Tandy. Thefestival will be licenced with indoor and outdoor bars. Local food vans will beonsite in addition to the Surf Club Bar Restaurant.

The MackaySurf Lifesaving Club

WBBL at GreatBarrier Reef Arena

Saturday

AdelaideStrikers v Sydney Sixers 2:40pm

Brisbane Heatv Melbourne Stars 6:05pm
Take the family out to see the Women’s Big Bash League make its returnto The Great Barrier Reef Arena this October!

Harrup Park

PBR MonsterEnergy Tour Mackay Invitational

Saturday,7:00pm
A sport unlike any other. A battle of the greatest. A competition of manvs beast where every second counts. The best in bull riding battle it out in anew Professional Bull Riders season like no other. Buckle up for the toughest 8seconds in sports and find out what it means to be cowboy.

BB PrintStadium

Sunday 16 October

WBBL at GreatBarrier Reef Arena

Sunday

MelbourneRenegades v Adelaide Strikers 9:15am

Sydney Sixersv Melbourne Stars 12:40pm
Take the family out to see the Women’s Big Bash League make its returnto The Great Barrier Reef Arena this October!

Harrup Park

Nature Connection Walk – Mental HealthWeek
Sunday, 10:30am to 12:30pm
Take some time to connect to nature and quiet the mind while enjoyingthe sights and sounds of our local wetlands and spending the morning withlike-minded people. In acknowledgment of Mental Health Week, we invite you tojoin us for a guided nature and mindfulness walk, led by guest speaker,Christopher David of True Nature Retreats. Together, the group will exploreseveral mindfulness practices that will deepen our sense of connection tonature and reawaken a sense of awe and wonder about our local wetlandecosystems. Following the walk, the day will end with a provided lunch andconversation. Bookings are essential. conservationvolunteers.com.au.

WetlandWalkabout

Sunday LiveMusic
Sunday, 2:00pm to 5:00pm
Music every Sunday from 2pm - 5pm. Head down to the Seabreeze Hotel thisSunday for some fresh tunes, delicious food, and ice-cold brews.
Seabreeze Hotel

Tuesday 18 October

Great BarrierReef Clean-up – Mackay

Tuesday,9:00am
Calling all citizen scientists, schools, community groups, localgovernments, and ocean lovers! Registration for ReefClean’s Great Barrier ReefClean-up is now open. Join the Pioneer Catchment Landcare group in MackayHarbour on Tuesday, the 18th of October. They’ll be going from site to site toclean-up Boulder Creek, Banana Farm, Cattle Creek and Platypus Beach on theday. The clean-up data you collect will help us track litter to its source andprevent it from entering the waste stream and harming our Great Barrier Reef. Toregister and view our other events, please visithttps://www.tangaroablue.org/.../great-barrier-reef-clean-up or email reefclean@tangaroablue.org.

MackayHarbour

BMA Kidspace

Tuesday,10:00am to 2:00pm
BMA Kidspace, Artspace Mackay’s free and ever popular toddler’s program,gives children under five a chance to explore and have fun with art in aclimate of co-operative learning. The program includes free artist-run craftactivities in two sessions, Sess1: Anytime from 10 to 11:30am; Sess2: Anytimefrom 12:15 to 2pm with live musical entertainment 11:30am to 12:15pm. Bringyour children along for a fun day of art-making, singing and dancing.

ArtspaceMackay

WBBL at GreatBarrier Reef Arena

Tuesday

Brisbane Heatv Melbourne Renegades 2:30pm
Take the family out to see the Women’s Big Bash League make its returnto The Great Barrier Reef Arena this October!

Harrup Park

Wednesday 19 October

MackayFarmers’ Market
Every Wednesday, 6:30am to 10:30am

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

BluewaterQuay

CharcoalDrawing Workshop
9:00am to 3:00pm

This workshopis all about how to draw with charcoal on a painted wood panel. Suitable forbeginners to intermediate or anyone wanting to ‘have a go’ over 13 years of age.

ArtistCollective Caneland

Thursday 20 October

GinAppreciation Evening
Thursday, 6:30pm

If gin isyour drink of choice this is one event you don't want to miss! The evening willfeature 5 gin tastings with a 3-course menu designed by THE DISPENSARY headchef, Alex.

TheDispensary Mackay

‍

A new book will be launched at CQUniversity next week explaining the key issues holding back progress in Australian education.

‘Bunyips in the Classroom: The 10 Changes’, by Dr Susan Galletly doesn’t just suggest changes, it also provides logical practical solutions.

As the book states, Australia has too many struggling readers, excessive child and teacher workload, and teaching and learning are inappropriately pressured.

“While many other nations enjoy highly effective education, Australia has ongoing low literacy and academic achievement,” said Dr Galletly.

“We need the 10 changes for transforming Australian education.

“This is a conversation Australia has to have.

“Our children, teachers and nation are struggling.

“Our classrooms are full of bunyips.”

Dr Galletly is a Mackay-based literacy-development and learning-difficulties specialist and researcher, who is also a speech-language pathologist and teacher.

She draws strongly from both research and practice in discussions in the book and compares a bunyip in the classroom to ‘the elephant in the room’.

“An elephant in the room is a big embarrassing issue everyone is aware of, which is deliberately not mentioned,” she said.

“A bunyip in the room is a big issue people aren’t aware of, which is extremely obvious and thus embarrassing once highlighted and acknowledged.

“Currently, Australian education is full of bunyips.”

Dr Galletly’s insights are shrewd, insightful, practical and positive, exploring education bunyips, the 10 changes and Australia’s need for them.

The book is an entertaining and easy read for those interested in education, including teachers, parents and academics.

“Bunyips in the Classroom: The 10 Changes” is out now, available for purchase at all major online retailers in both paperback and e-book format.

The book will be officially launched at CQUniversity Ooralea Campus, on Wednesday, October 19 at 4:15pm.

All are welcome to attend the book launch and are invited to RSVP at Dr Susan Galletly’s website www.susangalletly.com.au.

“We need the 10 changes for transforming Australian education,” Dr Galletly said.

“This is a conversation Australia has to have.”

WHAT: ‘Bunyips in the Classroom: The 10 Changes’ Book Launch

WHERE: CQUniversity Ooralea Campus Library

WHEN: Wednesday 19 October 2022, 4:15pm to 6:15pm

RSVP: www.susangalletly.com.au

‍

Star 101.9 Mackay has welcomed its new announcer and he’s eager to immerse himself in the community.

John “Johnny” Wilson started out in the Adelaide nightclub scene as an emcee before getting a taste of radio and finding his calling.

“I just loved it, I fell in love,” he said.

The excitement and the adrenaline rush of being on-air inspired Johnny to start in community radio in Adelaide, hosting shows for community and commercial radio in both Adelaide and Riverland before getting the gig in Mackay and making the drive up.

“It was an epic three-day drive with my old dad, he’s an absolute bloody legend,” Johnny said.

“He did the drive with me, so we shared it, and we had a big adventure, it was out of control.”

Johnny started on-air with Star 101.9 Mackay last Wednesday and you’ll be able to hear him between 9:00am and 1:00pm Monday to Friday.

“My job here is mainly being on air, being aware of what’s going on around this region and playing some great music for all the lovely locals,” he said.

“I think it’s just great for the community to have this station that’s across everything that’s going on here.

“It’s also a place that they know they can tune in, they’ll hear some music that they like, and it’ll bring a bit of a smile and brighten up their day a little bit.”

Outside of work, Johnny is excited to join his first soccer club, having previously coached and played with Adelaide University Football Club.

“I was there for over ten years and involved in every way I could be so I really want to find a club up here that I can do the same for,” he said.

“I just want Mackay to know that I’m so keen to get involved here with the community, become a local and get around it.

“I’m a friendly guy, so if you see me out and about, please say hello.”

‍

This Saturday, an exciting and unique pop culture event is coming to the Mackay Showgrounds with the first-ever Mack PopCon.

Mack PopCon will bring celebrities, special guests, unique collectables and exciting photo opportunities to Mackay for one exciting day.

Celebrity guests include The Matrix and Star Wars actor Matt Doran, graphic novelist Shaun Keenan, cosplayer Pernicious Delusion and fantasy and horror novelist Marc Lindsay.

Other ‘special guests’ coming along include Kitt from Knight Rider and a Dalek from Doctor Who, all of which will provide a perfect photo opportunity.

There will be a range of activities including lightsabre lessons from Sons of Obi-Wan where participants can “become a Jedi for the morning”.

Medieval Viking group Mercenaries of Western Europe will be putting on demonstrations, a cosplay competition will be run throughout the day and there is a huge line-up of artists and authors hosting panel discussions and meet and greets.

Niche market stalls will also be selling books, shirts, posters and other memorabilia and food vendors will keep everyone fed for their big day of pop culture fun.

Mack PopCon will be the first Popular Culture convention in Mackay since before the pandemic.

“We are hoping this event will also bring out all of the local pop culture and geeky groups to find out about each other and form some lasting friendships that continue on after the event,” organisers said.

With tickets priced at just $5, it will be an affordable and accessible day of family fun.

“The team have been working extremely hard to bring this event to Mackay and we all hope everyone has a great time.”

Doors open at 8:00am for an hour of sensory disability accessibility before the general public are admitted from 9:00am.

WHAT: Mack PopCon

WHERE: Mackay Showgrounds

WHEN: Saturday, October 15 from 8:00am

TICKETS: $5 from Eventbrite or on the door

A Mackay dog groomer and business owner found long-sought-after success at the Melbourne Royal Grooming Competition earlier this month.

Meagan Lidbetter, who owns dog grooming salon Pamper Paws, walked away with third and first place ribbons, saying she was absolutely ecstatic.

“It’s been a goal that I’ve set myself, to actually get first place in Poodle, it’s something I’ve been working towards for nearly five years now,” Meagan said.

Meagan’s career started as a veterinary nurse in Sydney in the early 2000s.

“I just stumbled into dog grooming by accident, actually,” she said.

That was 18 years ago and six years ago she started Pamper Paws in the regional New South Wales town of Blayney.

In 2020, she and her partner moved to Mackay to be closer to her partner’s children, bringing the business with them.

“I am actually loving Mackay,” she said.

“It is such a beautiful town.”

Meagan has been competing in dog grooming competitions for over five years, using them as an opportunity to hone her craft.

“Because I don’t live in a capital city, training opportunities are really slim,” she said.

“Competitions are my outlet to be able to learn and grow as a groomer.

“When you’re in competitions, you’re doing it in front of judges, really highly acclaimed people within the industry.

“It’s really good to get that feedback – what you’re doing right, what you’re doing wrong – so it really helps me to grow as a groomer.”

There are a variety of different judged categories in dog grooming competitions including traditional, breed-specific classes as well as salon freestyle, an opportunity for all groomers to get creative.

The competition is judged on dog preparation, handling and groom execution.

Meagan placed third in her Salon Freestyle class and first in the Poodle class.

She now turns her focus and preparation towards a competition in Brisbane in two weeks’ time and is looking forward to north Queensland’s first ever competition in Cairns early next year.

“Hopefully we’ll get a few more locals to the Cairns competition,” Meagan said.

“It’s the first ever competition that’s going to be in north Queensland so that’ll be good for the area.”

‍

Mackay Regional Council’s Mackay City and Waterfront team has put the call out for buskers to inject life and entertainment into the streets of Mackay.  

Denis Kay is one musician who has performed for the people of Mackay and has done so for the last 18 years.

While employment circumstances forced Denis into busking, he says he does it for the satisfaction of seeing people happy.

“I love busking,” he said.

“Music is a universal language.”

Denis has lived and busked all over the country, but Queensland is his home.

His main avenue of live performance is busking acoustically, but he also performs at pubs, weddings and parties.

He says it’s hard to define his style of music.

“People call me raw,” he laughed.

“I’ve got a raw talent.

“I write about life, floods, cyclones, bushfires, all that sort of stuff.

“Mainly about life events, people can understand that.”

Denis released his first album, ‘The Ballad of Ned Kelly’, last year which has since sold in places like France, America and Russia.

For every CD he sold, he donated $5 to RACQ CQ Rescue and he hopes to do the same upon releasing his second album, ‘Smile’.

Denis is in the process of forming a band to record ‘Smile’ and hopes to launch the album once it’s finished with a full live performance.

“We’re actually looking for a bass player to come on board and help with the new album,” he said.

You might’ve seen Denis performing at Marian Woolworths and Sarina IGA, his two regular spots.

“You see all sorts of life coming to shopping centres or wherever you’re playing,” he said.

“When they come into contact with the music, it changes their whole persona.

“For even only a minute of that morning or afternoon, it has change in their hearts.

“That’s my enjoyment out of doing busking, is to see that,”

Denis recently performed at City Heart Fridays, a council initiative bringing life back to Friday nights in the city.

“(Council are) wanting to get music happening, entertainment happening in the streets of Mackay,” Denis said.

“It was really good; people just need to be aware that it is happening once a month on a Friday.”

Mackay Regional Council Mayor Greg Williamson said council has put the call out for buskers to partake in the monthly events.

“Council have done a lot of work around placemaking, especially in the City Centre, and nothing activates an area quite like music,” Mr Williamson said.

“We are including busking with our City Heart Fridays activations, where City Centre traders are coming together to run mini events with the help of the Activate My Place Grants program.

“Buskers in the City Centre are a win-win for everyone – they offer small pop-up concerts that create atmosphere while also giving our amateur musicians a chance to perform and create social interaction on the streets.”

Permits to busk in the City Centre are free and are available from the council website under ‘Forms and Applications’.

For more information, head to the Mackay City and Waterfront Facebook page.

‍

With less than a month to go before the 10th annual Airlie Beach Festival of Music, excitement is building within the region and organisers are personally inviting everyone in Mackay to drive up the coast for a weekend of fabulous music.

Recently awarded Queensland’s Festival of the Year at the Queensland Music Awards, this years’ event is anticipated to be the best one yet.

With its idyllic waterfront setting in the grounds of the Whitsunday Sailing Club, a few minutes walk from the bustling town of Airlie Beach, there is no other music festival in Australia (or globally) quite like the Airlie Beach Festival of Music.  

This year’s main acts include Rogue Traders, Ben Lee, The Animals, Eskimo Joe, Mi-Sex, Jon Stevens and many more who will all be playing on the main stage.

The music also flows over into the township with many bars, pubs and clubs taking part in the event and hosting some live music acts.

Kicking off with the Passport to Airlie Grand Final on Thursday, November 3 – this main-stage performance and warm-up event will feature eight acts from eight different regions across Australia.

Each act has won their own regional final to receive a ticket to perform at the Airlie Beach Festival of Music.

Mackay band, Weathered, will represent our local region having won the competition round held at Harrup Park in August.

WHAT: Airlie Beach Festival Of Music

WHERE: Whitsunday Sailing Club

WHEN: 4-6 November

‍

For the first time in 12 years, Proserpine State School students will take to the stage for the first of two drama performances tonight.

Over 55 local students from grades four, five, and six have starring roles in ‘A Tale Of Two Kitties A Catty Musical’ – an original production written by Proserpine State High School teachers 15 years ago.

The story is a classic set-up: A country cat with big dreams heads to the big city to become a popstar, entering a talent show called ‘The Meow’ – a singing competition like The Voice.

There, she meets the evil city cat who becomes a fierce rival and the two kitties face off in a chase for their dreams of fame and fortune with an ensemble cast to back them up.

Proserpine State School teacher Karen Jordan said they pulled the old script out of the drawer and revamped it for their first musical in over a decade.

“We hadn’t done a production in so long that a group of us teachers came together and reworked this older one, adding modern songs and a few extra things,” she said.

“We had a new music teacher come into the school and the time just seemed right, so we said: ‘Let’s bring back the musical!’”

Ms Jordan said the students had impressed in auditions with their singing capabilities, especially the youngster who will take on the role of ‘Catty Purry’ – a pun on the name of American singer-songwriter Katy Perry.

The production has been in the works for almost a year, and Ms Jordan said the nerves were high for the performance which takes place at Proserpine State High School’s Performing Arts Complex.

“I told them though that there’s nothing like the feeling of being a part of a musical on opening night,” she said.

Tickets can only be purchased online at the link below.

WHAT: A Tale Of Two Kitties A Catty Musical

WHEN: Friday, October 14 and Saturday, October 15 starting 6.30pm

WHERE: Proserpine State High School Performing Arts Complex

TICKETS: https://bit.ly/3ClAqhh

‍

Proserpine State School students will perform A Tale Of Two Kitties A Catty Musical tonight and Saturday night