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.”

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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.

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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

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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

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

The Proserpine Entertainment Centre will transform into the final frontier when local years one to six students make a crash landing on planet Kapzastra.

St. Catherine’s Catholic College Proserpine will beam its Junior Drama Club performers onto the stage tonight for a performance of playwright Patti Veconi’s ‘Catch The Waves’.

The 50-minute performance at Proserpine Entertainment Centre will see kids portray a team of space explorers on a mission to save Earth.

But they break down and are forced into a landing on the planet Kapzastra where they meet the local inhabitants who share their resources and unique skills to help the travellers complete their mission.

With the help of a Greek chorus of Ancients speaking in cryptic verse and the Earthlings Terra and Firma making regular appearances in hologram, every actor in this far out space adventure is a star.

The school’s Junior Drama Club students have been working hard all year on their performance in preparation for tonight’s opening according to St. Catherine’s Catholic College schoolteacher Melissa Stagg.

“The school are very excited to host the event and to give our students the opportunity to shine up on stage,” Ms Stagg said.

“They’ve been working really hard after school learning their lines and we’ve even had students from the Senior College come and help out, so it’s a whole college effort.”

This will be the first time the College has utilised the revamped Proserpine Entertainment Centre for a performance.

“They’re a little nervous because of that, but it’s all very low-key and we’re just cutting our teeth getting back into our primary school performing,” Ms Stagg said.

The Drama Club comprised roughly 50 students, each of whom are coordinating to run the production.

The show doors open from 3.30pm for a 4.00pm start, with tickets costing a gold coin donation.

WHAT: Catch The Waves performed by St Catherine’s Catholic College Junior Drama Club

WHERE: Proserpine Entertainment Centre

WHEN: Tonight, Friday, October 14. Doors open 3.30pm for a 4.00pm start

TICKETS: Gold coin donation

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Eight emerging musical acts from across the country have been selected to play on the main stage at the Airlie Beach Festival of Music this November.

As winners of the country-wide Passport to Airlie competition, these impressive musicians are the best of their home regions and will now be performing in a special show ahead of the main festival weekend.

This year's list of finalists include The Neo (Darwin), Abi Muir (Cairns), Weathered (Mackay), Perry Street Park (Brisbane), Karly Jewell (Melbourne), Dande & The Lion (Newcastle), Sunday Lemonade (Byron Bay) and Owls of Neptune (Sunshine Coast).  

Festival ambassador and celebrity judge The Superjesus front-woman Sarah McLeod said that playing on the main stage of a large venue is very different to playing in bars.

"Playing on a big stage with a big PA is a game changer," she said.

"Most artists are used to hearing very little on stage in pubs - to play on a stage with a big PA and have all the instruments heard and the vocal loud through the wedges is something that’ll blow their minds if they're not used to it!"

Excitement is already building with the winning acts who are thrilled to be on their way to Airlie Beach.

Perry Street Park's front-man Benny said the opportunity to play at Airlie is huge.

“Not only the chance to be in this competition up against acts from all over Australia, but just to be a part of Queensland’s festival of the year,” he said.

“For an up and coming band to be a part of a festival this size is a huge opportunity to get exposure and build the chops for a career in the industry."

Nicholas from Dande & The Lion said his band are beyond excited.

"We are absolutely stoked!” he said.

“It looks like a really good setup that the organisers have worked hard to put in place, and we're looking forward to getting amongst the Airlie Beach vibes, seeing some amazing musicians, and of course playing."

The Passport to Airlie grand finals will be held on the main stage at the Whitsunday Sailing Club and kicks off on 6pm on November 3.

Entry will be free for all 3-day ticket holders for the festival and $10 (on door only) to all other spectators, the event will also be all ages.

The main event starts the following day with headlining acts including Rogue Traders, Ben Lee, The Animals, Eskimo Joe, Mi-Sex, Jon Stevens and many, many more incredible acts.

WHAT: Passport To Airlie Grand Finals

WHERE: Whitsunday Sailing Club, festival main stage

WHEN: Thursday, November 3

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The winning acts from eight different regions across the country

The creative culinary masterminds behind some of Airlie Beach’s biggest and best hospitality experiences are embarking on a new and exciting expansion just in time for Christmas.

Whisper Catering sees the union of two passionate event gurus.

Geoff Small (Smally) from KC’s bar & grill, Whisper Restaurant & Gin bar and Whitsunday Food Garden has just announced a new Executive Chef, Zibby Deca, who created menus for many high-quality restaurants and has extensive experience in high volume catering operations.

Utilising the multiple venues, equipment and staff from across Smally’s business venues, the pair are perfectly placed to organise special events for up to 1000 people, offer provisioning for white boats or create an unforgettable experience for smaller groups.

From Christmas parties to wedding receptions, corporate functions to milestone birthdays – Whisper Catering can tailor any style of event including sit-down a la carte, finger-food canapes, gourmet buffets and banquets.

Book your Christmas party at Whisper Gin Bar, book a food van for your backyard session, hire out the showgrounds for a community event or indulge in a private dinner with a small group of your favourite people – the choice is yours!

Whisper Catering can arrange a dining experience at almost any venue, with any type of cuisine, styling and live entertainment to suit your event.

“We have a modern approach to catering, and we are really flexible,” said Zibby.

“There is nothing too small and nothing too big!” said Smally.

Whisper Catering are now taking bookings for Christmas parties and any other event your heart desires.

Tucked away in the quiet tropical garden setting in the centre of Airlie Beach is the unique open air food court that locals love – could you be the next popular vendor to join the team at the ever-growing Whitsunday Food Garden eat street experience?

Did someone say one more Smally Special?!

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Geoff Small (Smally) from KC’s Bar & Grill (right) with his new Executive Chef, Zibby Deca (left). Photo credit: Rachael Smith

We also have the walk for a kinder world event kicking off this month. Funds raised will go towards providing kindness and wellbeing resources to our local schools. WSPN partners with the b kinder foundation (flyhighbillie.org) to deliver wellbeing programs to schools in the Whitsundays.

Walk for a kinder world is about walking with a purpose. You could go for a walk and leave a letter in someone’s letter box, give a compliment to a stranger, help an elderly person go for a walk, walk someone’s dog, or pick up litter along your walk.

“The world could certainly use a little more kindness so the walk for a kinder world is all about connecting, being inclusive and being kind,”  said Danny Mayson-Kinder from the b kinder foundation.

“One small act of kindness could change someone's life so we are encouraging everyone to participate, to think of others and connect with families, friends and their community.”

WHAT: Walk For A Kinder World

WHERE:  You decide where and how far you walk

WHEN: October 13 to November 13

REGISTER: fundraise.flyhighbille.org

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This month Whitsunday Suicide Prevention Network (WSPN) is excited to announce that they will be re-launching their community breathing sessions by partnering with Ashley and Matt Lade from Evoprime Fitness to facilitate the classes.

Matt and Ashley said they are excited to be collaborating with WSPN to facilitate the Breathing Sessions as it is one of the many things they incorporate into their own daily health habits for mental resilience and well-being.

“It is such a powerful and simple strategy that anyone can use anytime and we can’t wait to teach these skills in a way that everyone can enjoy, not only at the sessions but anytime and anywhere,” they said.

“Somewhere along our lives we all experience mental health issues whether ourselves personally, a friend, or family member.

“Having a tough time dealing with daily stressors in life isn’t uncommon.

“Knowing when and how to incorporate breathing patterns for preventative health as well as reducing stress, supporting immune systems, recovering physically and mentally, supporting our nervous systems, sleep, and the list goes on, is priceless.”

WHAT: Free Weekly Breathing Sessions

WHERE: Evoprime Fitness 1A/11 Shute Harbour Road Cannonvale

WHEN: Weekly starting Monday, October 10 from 6pm

COST: FREE (donations welcome)

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To kick off November head to The Pub for a Live Music Weekender with four unique acts performing across six shows in a back-to-back showing for the ages.

The Airlie Beach Hotel is bringing back three fan favourites and a new band to the Bar Top Stage in its November 4 to 6 live music spectacular.

The Live Music Weekender is brimming with fanfare as some of The Pubs’ fan favourite acts return.

Geed Up will put the festivities in gear on Thursday and Friday, followed by the sultry sounds of soulstress Lisa Hunt on Friday and Saturday nights. There’ll be the bombastic Official Blues Brothers Revue for Saturday afternoon, and finally Jeff Duff and The Great Southern Band with the music of Chicago and Blood, Sweat & Tears for the Sunday climax.

Geed Up will set the tone for the Weekender in their Thursday night shows from 7pm to 10pm. They’re an act like no other – they’ve rocked out at the Airlie Beach Hotel to blissful applause time and again – and they’ll be doing it twice this time! On Friday arvo, they’ll get the crowd pumping from 2pm to 5.30pm.

Then it’s all the headliner: Lisa Hunt and her show Forever Soul – a Motown mashup of soul, funk, disco, and R&B in the evening.

Last time the beautiful and bodacious performer graced the Bar Top Stage, she tore down the roof.

Her undoubted stage presence has lured enormous crowds to the Hotel on numerous occasions – and this time it will be no different. The now Byron Bay-based singer will be returning to treat the seaside town again with her powerful voice born from the great African American tradition of gospel music.

A storied career with countless compilations around the globe, both as singer and songwriter, Hunt has sold more than a million records.

She’s an ‘80s soul sensation who’s kept the music pumping all that time, sharing the stage with music greats like Eric Clapton, James Brown, and even Andrea Bocelli, and now she’s back at the locals’ favourite local, and the crowds are going to be loving it.

She’ll bring down the house on Friday and Saturday nights from 7pm to 10pm, but, before her, the Official Blues Brothers – endorsed by Dan Akroyd himself, as well as the late legend John Belushi’s wife, Judith – will bring the jazz.

The upper echelon show brings the boys to the Airlie Beach Hotel on Saturday, 2pm to 5.30pm before the headlining Hunt’s pitch-perfect performance on Saturday night.

And on Sunday, for the massive weekend’s crescendo, The Music of Chicago and Blood, Sweat & Tears will be played to perfection by musical journeyman Jeff Duff and The Great Southern Band.

One of Australia’s finest vocalists with seven of the hottest vocalists in the land, Jeff Duff brings some of the best of America’s horn-bands alive in this incredible new show – and, adding to the mix, Duff treats audiences to a little of his David Bowie covers to boot.

Don’t miss this massive weekend at the Airlie Beach Hotel.

WHAT: Live Music Weekender

WHEN: Various times across November 4 to 6

WHERE: The Airlie Beach Hotel

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Four separate acts – massive bands, big shows, and loud music – at the Airlie Beach Hotel in November

Songstress Lisa Hunt headlines The Pub’s Live Music Weekender event in a much-anticipated return to Airlie Beach

27 album veteran and Australian tenor Jeff Duff will end the weekend’s festivities with an incredible new show

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North Queensland’s hottest DJ will be blazing out the Balearica vibes this week on the beachfront dancefloor at the Whitsunday Sailing Club.

The expansive front lawn will once again be transformed from a yacht club into a chilled-out music mecca where attentive wait-staff will offer table service beverage and dining to the white sun loungers, chilled table settings and deck chairs.

Enjoy it your way at Balearica - dance on the sand as the sun sets beyond the horizon, get the party started right with your crew or lounge on soft seating and soak up the ambience.

DJ Madison is making a big name for herself right across the state and she will be backed by event founder Jamie Porteous who has just released a new single to great acclaim.

Picked up by Triple J and already snagged by Tuborg beer to feature as a commercial soundtrack, his song ‘Shut-Up Boi’ will play over the weekend.

Also new this time around is the popular Prosecco Archway, an Instagram opportunity with stunning ocean backdrop.

This hand-crafted Greek inspired arch is the picture-perfect way to enter the event along with a glass of Prosecco upon arrival.

Whatever you are doing this weekend, make sure you set aside time to soak up the cool beachside vibes of this Ibiza-inspired music-fuelled weekend.

WHAT: Balearica Beach Club

WHERE: Whitsunday Sailing Club

WHEN: Saturday 15 - Sunday 16 October, 11am-9pm

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Chilled out beach vibes at Balearica

DJ Madison will be playing all weekend

One of Australia’s rising popstar songwriters is working her way down the east coast of Oz, set to arrive in November for a fast-selling gig in Airlie Beach.

Brisbane-born pop-star Grace Shaw, better known by her stage name Mallrat, is touring from Darwin to Hobart with a stop off at Magnums Airlie Beach on November 17.

Shaw has toured extensively both in Australia and internationally, selling out headline shows from London to New York and Sydney, and is now back on home soil for her new album tour.

Butterfly Blue, her latest album, sees the artist put her prized pop song writing talent on show, embodying the spirit of the album’s titular creature – but “without the delicacy that keeps you at a distance.”

Over a dozen clever and open-hearted tracks, Mallrat draws her audience in close and shows you her world through wide, hopeful eyes.

In an Airlie Beach show at Magnums, the intimacy will be dialled up to 11.

The show is another arrow in the quiver for Magnums, who in the last year have shown an extraordinary resilience to bounce back from the Covid pandemic – both in recording increased traffic from backpackers staying in its hostel, and in the live music scene.

It will be the second time a major show has arrived in the coastal town courtesy of the famed pub – the last being international superstars the Australian hip-hop group Bliss N Eso.

Mallrat has received over 300 million streams online for her music, with a regular 1.8m monthly listeners on Spotify, as well as a lucrative touring career at only the age of 24.

WHAT: Mallrat

WHEN: Thursday, November 17 at 7.00pm

WHERE: Magnums Airlie Beach

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Pop star and singer-songwriter Mallrat will play at Magnums Airlie Beach in November

Image: Supplied

If nothing else, director David O. Russell has assembled an ensemble cast for the ages in Amsterdam, his 1933, New York set film that mashes genres together like a fruit salad comprised of satire, comedy, romance, crime, and politics.

The epic film is absurdly stacked: a single scene has the potential (and it literally does at one point) to contain a who’s who of modern megastars.

Its troupe of secondary actors includes Remi Malek, Anya Taylor-Joy, Robert De Niro, Chris Rock, Mike Myers, Michael Shannon, Matthias Schoenaerts, Timothy Olyphant, Zoe Saldaña, Alessandro Nivola, and more.

But, we mostly follow our main trio: long-time regiment buddies Burt (Christian Bale) and Harold (John David Washington) who become drawn into a murder investigation of their former commanding officers and now US Senator, Bill Meekins. Their sleuthing brings them back into the orbit of Valerie (Margot Robbie), a nurse who helped them back to health during WWI – a classic two-guys-and-a-girl setup.

At times freewheeling, Amsterdam’s idealistic outlook can become bogged down in the murderous plot that blows up to something bigger – an elaborate political coup - come the films second act. At times farcical, it’s the performers that can bring much of the joy to a story that loses itself in the surfeit threads of the messy tapestry it tries to weave.

Production, too, is what brings the film to life; a perfect recreation of ‘30s New York – in part thanks to costuming and cinematography – help to make the film feel ‘lived-in’ and worth the trip.

Amsterdam (MA15+) is showing now at the Bowen Summergarden Cinema.

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David O. Russell’s Amsterdam features a star-studded cast including Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, and John David Washington

Local culture queen, Karen Jocobsen has once again risen to the top and this time she casts her eye on equality, looking to change the narrative of exclusion by promoting inclusion across gender, race and ability.

Using Julia Gillard’s impassioned ‘Misogyny Speech’ from 2012, Karen delivers a politically-charged, heart-filled opus that brings together 70 inspiring individuals from right around the world to mime lyrics alongside her own beautiful voice.

Three of those inspiring people are local faces; Councillor Jan Clifford, Photographer Debbie Savvy and founder of the Just Saying Project, Fallon Drewett.

Karen recounts the moment she first thought of the idea when watching a show on the ABC entitled Ms Represented which discusses the history of women in Australian politics and was narrated by Annabel Crabb.

“I ran straight to my computer and searched for the transcript of the speech,” she said.

“I took it to my piano and started to compose – I was so compelled – I spent four hours on that occasion before bringing my head up for air!”

As soon as she did rise for air, Karen realised that this project was much bigger than she first thought.

She asked a few fellow creatives about copyright laws and eventually went directly to Julia Gillard’s media team who gave her the go-ahead to use the words as lyrics.

This gave permission for Karen to embark on a project that would take her over a year, pulling together 70 hand-selected individuals from all across the world, dividing the script into 14 and allocating each participant with their set words.

The result is a masterpiece of meaningful and spirited compassion that demands attention in a soft and invigorating way.

“It was important to have a representative and inclusive music video,” said Karen.

“There are different cultures, ages and levels of ability – it’s a really diverse mix.”

From Hollywood producer Lucy Arnaz to Channel Seven news reader Kim McGrath and Queensland’s first quadriplegic medical doctor Dinesh Palipana, the video features many celebrities and influential people from around the globe.

“My intention is to spark a conversation and empower all of us to act and talk in a way that is in line with humanity and equality,” said Karen.

“So many of our devastating societal issues are the result of one group thinking they are superior than the other – it’s so denigrating.”

“On a personal note, being female, I have been on the receiving end of it my whole life.

“It is in the micro-agendas, in the language and in the systems – so much can be done to stop it by bringing awareness.”

Karen’s song ‘Better Standard Than This’ was released last week and has so far been watched by over 20,000 people on YouTube.

The Misogyny Opus full pop-orchestral work will be performed live with Karen at the MECC this February.

Break out quote

"Misogyny Opus that marks a decade of the speech that rocked the world"

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International songwriter and professional speaker Karen Jacobsen uses famous speech for Misogyny Opus. Photo supplied