Immerse yourself in one of the most unique productions touring the world.

Celtic Illusion, the Irish dance and Grand Illusion sensation that has taken Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Canada and the USA by storm and will tour nationwide in 2023.

Even fans who have seen our previous shows won’t dare miss The Magic Returns tour that is set to raise the bar once again. This exhilarating production has broken barriers by fusing unparalleled art forms and is more spectacular than ever before.

A breathtaking array of experiences, fusing Irish Dance, Magic and influential flavours of Fosse, Michael Jackson, with a Broadway style. Celtic Illusion is a show like no other.

The Reimagined tour features new spellbinding illusions and choreography, alongside a musical score that will either make you cry or send shivers down your spine.

Starring the multi-talented former lead dancer of Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance and Star Illusionist Anthony Street, with Georgia May, a marvel in both dance and Illusion. These impeccable performers lead a cast of champion dancers recruited from renowned productions across the world, such as Lord of the Dance and Riverdance, into a theatrical masterpiece that will have you mesmerised from the moment the curtain is raised.

Celtic Illusion will surpass your expectations and leave you wanting more.

Don’t hesitate, and book now to know the hype of one of the largest and most unique Dance and Illusion shows in the world.

Secure your seats today and experience an evening you will never forget!

What: Celtic Illusion – The Magic Returns

Where: The MECC

When: 20 April, 2023

Tickets: Available from the MECC, starting from $69.90

‍

Harrup Park is heating up the barbecues.

After a huge turnout in 2021, the De Goey Contractors Mackay BBQ and Beer Festival is back again in 2022 this Saturday November 12 from 12pm.

It’s the perfect opportunity to enjoy a day out in the sun with friends listening to live music, eating some great food and drinking your choice from more than 50 Australian and international beers on offer.

In 2021, the Mackay BBQ and Beer Festival worked with the Australasian Barbecue Alliance to bring an official round of the Australian Barbecue Championships to Mackay.

The competition was named ‘The BBQ Battle’ and saw 20 teams travel to Mackay to compete in the lucrative Barbecue Championship Round with $9,500 in prize money.

This year, they’re doing it again, looking to bring back all the big names.

Watch local legends battle it out to win Mackay’s Best Beard and Mullet Competitions.

Entry is free to anyone on the day and there is still plenty of time left to grow a winning mullet or beard.  

It wouldn’t be the Mackay BBQ and Beer Festival without the famous Chilli Eating Contest.

Can you handle the heat?

Applications can be found at Harrup Park’s website.  

The event will feature live entertainment from Kyle LIONHART, French Press, The Wild Sky and more throughout the day.

Harrup Park General Manager Adrian Young said he’s extremely excited to have the event back in 2022.

“It was a great experience to have a sanctioned ABA event in Mackay with teams traveling across Queensland to compete on our grounds,” he said.

“This year we’re also making an effort to get more independent breweries on board to help showcase their beers.”

WHAT: The De Goey Contractors Mackay BBQ and Beer Festival

WHERE: Harrup Park Country Club

WHEN: Saturday, November 12 from 12:00pm to 8:00pm

TICKETS: www.mackaybbqandbeerfestival.com.au

‍

Please, take a seat.

A beautiful young couple, I must say. Quite exquisite. Our pleasure to feed you. Shall we start with a drink? I always recommend the Chianti, the house. Excellent vintage and pairs favourably with the hors d’ouevres; simply makes your mouth water, thinking of it.

Though, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the mains – they always are. The steak is to die for; it melts in your mouth; the marrow accoutrement, too. A prime grade. But, we do things somewhat differently here at Hawthorne Island, so I implore: listen closely to ‘The Menu’.

What has happened to high-end dining? Often, there’s nothing even close to an actual meal served. And that’s the question posited throughout director Mark Mylod’s ‘The Menu’, a black comedy thriller following a couple as they travel to a coastal island to eat at an exclusive restaurant where the chef has prepared a lavish course of meals, with some “shocking surprises.”

And you might be thinking: Ah, it’s about food, I get it. A bit of a ‘Most Dangerous Game’ situation, huh? We are actually the meals and all that. I see you, surprises. I know what you are – but no, you really don’t. The Menu sounds like a standard fair where self-inflated rich people get their comeuppance in a horrible, twisted way, and you’re partially right, but it’s not just that. There are several courses to writers Seth Reiss and Will Tracy’s film.

Unlike the meals served up by Ralph Fiennes – who is at his absolute Fienn-est (couldn’t help it) – as Chef Slowik, The Menu has actual substance. Driven by a constant satirising of the unbridled emptiness of fine dining, which has become more about status for decadent aristocrats than it has about actually feeling full, The Menu is a biting film that never disappoints.

You might even come back for seconds.

‘The Menu’ (R) is opening at the Bowen Summergarden Cinema on Friday, November 25.

‍

Ralph Fiennes is brilliant in ‘The Menu’, a dark thriller that takes aim at the vapidity of upper echelon foodie culture

The Airlie Beach Festival of Music brought thousands of people together for one wild weekend of live tunes and awesome beats, from its central main-stage tent at the Whitsunday Sailing Club right through to the 16 venues spread right across the town.

A highlight of this years’ event was the nationally acclaimed Passport to Airlie Competition which saw eight talented representatives from all around Australia compete for the chance to win a spot in next year’s main-stage line-up.

The competition received hundreds of entrants and heats were carried out in Darwin, Mackay, Melbourne, Newcastle, Sunshine Coast, Byron Bay and Cairns – whittling the finalists down to one representative from each region.

The grand final took place last Thursday night and Perry Street Park from Brisbane were announced the overall winners.

The Neo, Abi Muir, Weathered, Karly Jewell, Dande & The Lion, Sunday Lemonade & Owls of Neptune also made the finals.

Perry Street Park said they were stoked to win.

“The talent pool was so deep this year, so we feel absolutely honoured," they 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, and now to be crowned the winners and come back again next year is incredible," added front-man Benny.

The evening saw a huge crowd come to support the artists and the night was topped-off with a stunning acoustic performance by Passport to Airlie competition judge Sarah McLeod from The Superjesus.

“A chance to be heard in a professional environment and to receive advice from established artists - I would’ve jumped at this opportunity when I was young. Feedback from industry professionals goes a long way,” said Sarah.

‍

Brisbane band, Perry Street Park win Passport to Airlie competition

Every Wednesday, every Thursday, every Friday, Saturday, Sunday, settle in at locals’ favourite local for an evening of music in its purest form: The Airlie Beach Hotel’s Acoustic Sessions.

Local musicians will be plucking and strumming at their guitars at ‘The Pub’ throughout November and December – artists like Andy Mammers, Simon Briley, Matt Angell, Pluto Tango, and Lloyd Saunders, just to name a few.

Known for its big, bombastic, larger-than-life shows, The Airlie Beach Hotel is also a home for resident musos in the region, singers who bring out the best of the beachy vibe the coastal town offers.

They’re some of the best acts in town, from Mammers – an experienced stage maestro – to local legend Matt Angel, and relative newcomer Pluto Tango, a one-man looping sensation.

The acoustic boys have been hand-picked by the Airlie Beach Hotel for both their abilities on their instruments, as well as their crowd-pleasing attitudes. Singalongs are commonplace between artists and audience on evenings when the sunglow turns Airlie Bay shades of purple and orange.

On Friday and Saturday nights, Andy Mammers embodies that attitude.

He has become a crowd favourite at The Pub, with an “innate sense of guitar” where every strum sounds “just right.”

It is the casual simplicity that invites audiences in as Mammers changes any venue into a lounge room, making audiences instant friends, and seeing them delight in his ability to emerge from sensitive lyrics to an outrageous Kazoo solo – and making it work to boot.

Mammers has been playing Fridays and Saturdays at The Pub for roughly two years, and said the evenings were where the Acoustic Session’s artists “play for the crowd.”

“If it’s a young crowd, we play to them, if it’s an old crowd, we play to them. I spend my night taking requests and when the crowds are into it, it’s what gives us energy, 100 per cent,” he said.

“When they give you energy, you give it back, its reciprocal. The best parts of the night for me are that the bar staff are super interactive as well. A lot of those guys - Cooper, Thiago, Logan - they’ll dance along, singalong and we have a call and response with them, which goes to the crowd too.”

The Acoustic nights at the Airlie Beach Hotel have one goal: for the audience to have fun. “We as acoustic artists, as a venue, try to make it enjoyable; we want you to come back to Airlie Beach if you’re on holiday, we want you to take the enjoyment and want to feel it again,” Mammers said.

Head for The Pub to check out the Acoustic Sessions running every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evening throughout November and December in Airlie Beach – you won’t be disappointed.

WHAT: The Pub Acoustic Sessions

WHEN: Every Wednesday from 6.30pm, and every Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, from 7pm to 10pm

WHERE: The Airlie Beach Hotel

‍

The Pub’s Acoustic Sessions are running across all of November and December, featuring resident artists like Andy Mammers who “plays to the crowd”

Other artists include Simon Briley, a popular performer who brings his own original style to a multitude of pub favourites

And there’s also famed Western Australian singer and guitarist Matt Angell amongst others at The Airlie Beach Hotel

Ben Lee’s catalogue of iconic Australian hits can be heard in Hollywood movies, hit sitcoms and indie surf flicks all over the world. Saturday night at the Airlie Beach Festival of Music brought thousands together to watch Ben’s return to Australian stages and Sam had a chat to him before he took to the big tent.

I want to go right back to your childhood band Noise Addict, how did that come about?

That was just, honestly, I wanted to form a band and I just looked around and saw that guy, ok, his older brother has a drum kit so he can be the drummer. That guy has a Zoom pedal that can make his guitar sound like a bass so he can be the bass player, and I’ll tell them what to play and that’s it, we’ll have a band.

How did that transition into your solo career?

It was really just because I was writing all these songs and I would record them on a boombox just acoustic but I always envisioned they would be songs we would then play with the band, but I gave them to the label. This guy, Steve Pav (Stephen Pavlovic), I would give him these tapes and they were just acoustic, and he was like, ‘I think you should record some of these like that,’ so that was that.

You hear Ben Lee songs on TV shows, on movies, what was that like to get that coverage?

It was good because I love the way songs interact with film. Sometimes it’s used almost as a band aid where a scene isn’t working so they’ll put a cool song in, but that’s the worst case. The best-case scenario is you’ve got a great film and the right song in it and suddenly everything gets heightened; the song gets better, the movie gets better. I had the song ‘How To Survive A Broken Heart’ that the Farrelly brothers used when Cameron Diaz first comes in on roller skates in ‘There’s Something About Mary’, and to me it was like, I love being part of that scene, that’s an iconic Hollywood comedic moment, and I feel like my song is a part of that history, so it’s great.

Is that your favourite scene that a song has been used in?

Yeah, that would be one of them. There was one in ‘How I Met Your Mother’ that was really good. They’re all good. The funny one was I was watching the Tegan and Sara; they have a show called ‘High School’ on Amazon and there’s a scene in it where one of them is going to make a mixtape and she’s like, ‘Get ready, it’s going to be all California punk bands and the dulcet tones of Ben Lee,’ and I was like, ‘Yeah, man, I’m in there.’ It’s just being part of things, it’s cool.

My mind was blown when I saw Radnor and Lee pop up on the internet. How did your relationship with actor Josh Radnor come about?

It just happened through the show. The creators, I chatted to them, and they invited me down to the set after they’d used one of the songs and me and Josh met and just became friends.

What’s the creative back and forth like?

We had a few years where we were doing a lot. Josh was new to song writing and guitar playing and I have a side of me that really likes being in the support role, I just like helping people bring their vision to fruition, so it was a bit like that.

What’s it like being an Australian singer-songwriter living in America?

It’s good. It’s fun because I’m obviously most successful in Australia and Australia is a really good country to be successful in. If you had to pick one country that you have to go to a lot, it’s fun, you get to play festivals like this, on a beautiful beach. If you get successful in, like, Germany, you’re just touring playing beer festivals all summer. That’s really nice. I do love the creativity. I feel like, in Hollywood, people come with very big dreams, and I really get off on that. They all want to play in the big leagues and see how good they are, and I respect that ambition.

How do you think it’s affected your career trajectory?

I don’t know. For instance, me and my wife do a podcast, and we got offered, from Australian companies, to do it, who would only have Australian advertising, and I was just like, ‘I don’t ever want to make anything just for one place.’ I’ve never been like that. Now the world’s a bit different in that more artists are thinking internationally out of the box, but when I started, that was not that common. If you were an indie band in Sydney, you never thought you were going to get to go to America. For me, my world is big, and I like to keep it that way. Even if Australia’s my biggest fanbase, I like thinking globally.

When you think that way, where are you going?

I’ve always envisioned a career that peaks in my 70s. I really feel like I’m halfway through. I can really see more and more people getting it. It’s funny, I know that’s, in a way, statistically unlikely, but I’ve never been that interested in the normal to do things. I think, we’re actually living in a time where there’s less ageism than ever before and diversity in outlooks in more valued than ever before and I see, when I play, there’s teenagers and kids and older people and people in their 40s who have a babysitter for the night – I can play for everybody. I still view it like that.

What’s it like to be back in Australia and playing at the Airlie Beach Festival of Music?

Honestly, after the pandemic, I reprioritised, like, ‘What do I want out of gigs?’ so the show’s become much more of a spectacle. We’ve got a giant joint and props and the full band. I just realised, firstly, I think everyone got a sense of life is short, societal collapse is possibly on the way, lets try and create a good energy because, as an artist, I am not going to solve any of the problems that we are facing collectively, but I can contribute to creating a good atmosphere where maybe my audience can go and solve those problems.

‍

Photo credit: Cherrie Hughes Photography

For the second year in a row the Whitsunday Regional Council is hosting their Christmas Lights Competition, inviting households from across the region to dress their gardens in festive lights and Christmas cheer.

Packing the kids in the car and cruising the streets to admire neighbourhood Christmas lights is a favourite tradition among many local families and this competition encourages everyone to embrace that festive spirit.

Last year 16 houses participated and Proserpine resident, Ron McCall who lives at 1 Atkinson Street, won the competition with his impressive display.

Ron has been decorating his home for 28 years and spends three weeks preparing his house for the intricate lighting display.

Having worked at the Proserpine Mill for 38 years, Ron has enjoyed bringing the community together at Christmas, hosting a street party each year with over 200 people in attendance.

To enter the Christmas Lights Competition simply head to Your Say Whitsundays and search Christmas Lights.

Here you will find a link to ‘nominate’ your house for the competition and also pin your Christmas Lights display on the interactive map so people can follow the Christmas lights trail.

This year, the lucky winner will receive a night’s accommodation for two adults and two children at Daydream Island Resort and Living Reef, with $500 spending money.

They will also win a family trip to Reefworld, for a Great Barrier Reef Adventure with Cruise Whitsundays.

Last years’ winners Ron McCall and his wife Wendy outside their house on Atkinson Street in Proserpine

The Mackay & District Orchid Society Inc. held its Annual General Meeting at the Sporting Wheelies Hall last month where a new committee was selected.

The incoming committee for 2023 is:

President: Dennis Farlow

Vice President: Roger Clark

Secretary: Ros Farlow

Treasurer: Eve Penningh

Committee Members: Ron Laird; Veanna Joiner; Debbie Clark

A presentation was made to the Club Patron, Mayor of Mackay, Cr. Greg Williamson and his wife Annette.

‍

Four years ago, Shed Happens Mackay started to celebrate International Men’s Day with a fundraising breakfast, aiming to lift up the men of Mackay.

The 2022 edition of the breakfast is nearing where the Mackay Man Of The Year will be named from nine proud nominees.

Shed Happens Mackay Convenor Frank Cowell said being nominated is an honour.

“We don’t lift up and celebrate the positive things a bloke does very often,” he said.

“The average bloke in the street who does his very best at being a dad, a husband, a provider, that’s not very often celebrated, and the idea of Man of the Year is for that to be celebrated and for people to nominate blokes who might not make the cut, but it identifies their qualities.”

International Men’s Day is structured around six pillars and Mr Cowell said these pillars are qualities a man can aspire to.

Man of the Year nominees provide a written submission which is compared alongside these pillars before an interview takes place.

“When we do the verbal interview, we cover every aspect of a bloke’s life: family life, what he does in the community, what’s his definition of a man,” Mr Cowell said.

“We ask about his history, any awards he might’ve got, those sorts of things.”

Sponsored by DGH Engineering, all proceeds from the International Men’s Day fundraising breakfast will be donated to local groups on the day, to assist them to carry on the valuable work they do in our community.

As with other years, table discussions will be held within the groups seated together, and the results of the table discussions will be disseminated and discussed with the attendees.

As well as the Mackay Man Of The Year Award announcement, there will be raffles drawn throughout the morning.

Tickets are $60.00 per person including breakfast, or $550 for a table of 10, and are available via the Shed Happens Mackay Facebook page.

WHAT: International Men’s Day Breakfast

WHERE: Ocean International Resort

WHEN: November 18, 2022 from 6:45am to 9:45am

CONTACT: Frank Cowell - 0434 908 968

‍

Friday 4 November

Public Art Walk

Friday, 4:30pm

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

Artspace Mackay

Ninja Hub Teen Shed Event

Friday, 6:00pm

After their first fun filled Teen Shed event, the teens have asked for more. The Teen Shed event will be back on the first Friday of each month. Event runs from 6pm - 8pm ages 12 to 18. Everyone is welcome. Bookings are required. Cost includes 2 hours non-stop Ninja fun, pizza and drink for $25.

The Ninja Hub

Friday SUN.sets

Every Friday Evening From 6pm

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

Wake House Australia

Creedence Clearwater Collective

Friday, 8:00pm

Creedence Clearwater Collective invites you to join in for a celebration of Creedence Clearwater Revival, as they walk through the life and music of one of the world’s most iconic bands – from the songs they wrote, to the songs covered, to the songs they wrote for others.  The Creedence Clearwater Collective brings to the stage a six piece band – with a guest Saxophonist and a vocalist that emulates John Fogerty’s distinct vocals – to capture the unique CCR sound. You do not want to hear through the grapevine that you missed out on this hit-packed production.

MECC

Saturday 5 November

Mackay Woodturners Christmas Expo

Saturday and Sunday, 9:00am to 3:00pm

Featuring demonstrations and sales of woodturning, scroll sawing, intarsia, wood carving and pyrography. This is a great opportunity to purchase unique, locally handcrafted gifts for Christmas such as bowls, clocks, pens and toys. All welcome. Contact Frank on 0417 625 818 for more information.

Snow Wright Court, Beaconsfield

RADfest '22 Junior Roller Derby Bootcamp

Saturday, 12:00pm to 8:00pm and Sunday, 8:00am to 1:00pm

Mackay City Rollers is hosting the first ever RADfest. Why RAD? Well, it’s all about Regional Alliance Derby, providing an opportunity for regional junior skaters to meet, develop and just have a RAD time skating together. Open to Junior Skaters 8 - 17 years of all skill levels. Featuring special guest coaches to be announced on the event page, on and off skates training sessions, short track and WFTDA rules scrimmages, ramp skating demos and a whole lot of fun in the gorgeous tropical Queensland setting of Mackay. $40 weekend pass, go to the Facebook event to register.

Mackay PCYC

Last Latin Night for the Year

Saturday, 7:30am

Latin dance fusion with Indigenous dance. Maria Eugenia Alvarez with special guest Patrick Thaiday will perform together for the first time in Mackay for this special night. An incredible night for all to be part of this experience.

Palace Hotel

Chess the Musical

Saturday, 8:00am to 10:00pm and Sunday, 2:00pm to 4:00pm

As another chess drama plays out in the real world, join Mackay Choral Society as they present the exciting Chess the Musical at the wonderful Conservatorium Theatre.

Central Queensland Conservatorium Of Music

Sunday 6 November

Sunday Live Music – Leyon Milner & Zoey Mills

Every 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

Monday 7 November

National Recycling Week recycling facility tours

Monday to Friday, 12:30pm to 1:30pm

Would you like to learn what happens to your recyclables when they reach council’s Materials Recovery Facility? Book a tour any day during National Recycling Week (November 7 to 11) from 12.30pm to 1.30pm.

Materials Recovery Facility, Paget

Founders Allegiance

Monday, 5:30pm to 7:00pm

Free business start-up support and assistance. If you are a budding entrepreneur, monthly check-ins are a fantastic way to keep up to date with business trends and create business opportunities and relationships. You will have honest conversations about your business dreams, strategies and goals. Split Spaces wants your business to succeed and has the networks to help get you there. This is a monthly check-in designed to help you maintain your goals and stay on track. This group will help you troubleshoot your hurdles and connect you with industry members and opportunities to connect with fellow entrepreneurs.

Split Spaces

Tuesday 8 November

Be Storm Ready - a workshop for the Mackay Multicultural community

Tuesday, 10:30am

Are you from the Mackay Multicultural community and have you lived through a storm season, cyclone or natural disaster in Mackay? Would you like to know more about what the recently announced La Nina weather event will mean for the Mackay region this spring/summer season? Do you want to be able to work through a plan for your own family with resources to take home and use to prepare for storm, flood, cyclone and other natural disasters? You’re invited to attend this session which will be run by the Mackay Regional Council Disaster Preparedness team along with the State Emergency Service (SES). You will have a chance to talk to you about your own experiences, ask questions and what it means to prepare fully for a storm season in North Queensland. Lunch will be provided. Children welcome. RSVP: clairec@tnhub.org.au by Friday November 4 for catering purposes.

The Neighbourhood Hub

Wednesday 9 November

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

Healthier Parents Program – Activate Mackay Region

Every Wednesday, from 9:30am

Following the success of the recent pilot program and overwhelming interest, the Healthier Parents program has become part of Activate Mackay Region and will continue to be conducted at the Andergrove Hall by Lauren Neill of Women’s Health Physio Mackay. The subsidised class is part of Activate Mackay Region at a cost of $5 paid directly to the service provider. To find out more about these classes, visit council’s website.

Andergrove Hall

Soul Jam Wednesdays at The Kooyong Hotel

Every Wednesday, 6:00pm to 9:00pm

Soul Jam has an intimate room where they will be hosting another friendly space to share your originals, jam with others and experiment with music. Supplied is a drum kit and bass guitar. All artists welcome including slam poets and comedians.

The Kooyong Hotel

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

Call for singers: Christmas at St Paul’s

Register today for the choir for Christmas at St Paul’s. Have fun, make friends, and help lead worship at Christmas time in the beautiful acoustics of St Paul’s Uniting Church. It doesn’t matter if your voice is a bit squeaky! Join the St Paul’s Singers by contacting the church today on 4957 3557 or ucamackay@optusnet.com.au.

St Paul’s Uniting Church, Macalister Street

‍

A Mackay-based filmmaker has entered her short film into an international competition, asking for local support to put Mackay on the filmmaking map.

Writer, director and producer (among many other duties and talents) Alle Segretti has been making films for over 20 years, her films winning awards and screening at festivals all over the world.

‘Golden Hour’ is currently running in the Zhiyun Annual Short Video Contest and stars Damien Thomas and Laura Galley as a couple throwing items at the sun, attempting to induce a sunset.

Filmed on a property south of Mackay in August, ‘Golden Hour’ was made for the Sydney Underground Film Festival’s 48-hour film competition TAKE48, tasking filmmakers with incorporating a particular object, honey, and a line of dialogue, “This is your last chance,” into their films.

“We’d been having these really amazing sunsets, which were caused by the Tongan volcano,” said Alle.

“I thought, ‘Sunsets, golden hour, honey, it all makes sense. Why don’t we just have someone throwing something at the sun trying to turn it into a sunset?’”

Shooting wasn’t without drama, with solar mass ejections causing equipment faults.

“At the particular time of day that we were shooting to get the sun at the right angle, we actually had equipment fails,” said Alle.

“The drone went off in its own direction, the camera stopped working, radio mics stopped recording.

“All of this was happening at exactly the same time on both days.”

‘Golden Hour’ has been entered in the Narrative category of the Zhiyun Annual Short Video Contest, with five judges of varying professional backgrounds to announce the winners on November 20.

“If we could get a good range of people watching that film and hitting that like button, then that’s going to influence those judges to say, ‘Hey, we need to look at this and give it a bit more attention,’” said Alle.

Alle said she often experiences cast and crew shortages when making films in Mackay, with ‘Golden Hour’ stars Damien being a local friend and Laura coming from Rockhampton.

“He (Damien) actually says that acting is harder than working in the mines on a 12-hour shift and I had to bring Laura up from Rockhampton because I couldn’t find anyone locally,” she said.

Alle said she is addressing these shortages by taking interested filmmakers on board for projects.

“I am very willing for people to come out and work on what I call ‘gateway projects,’” she said.

“Over two or three projects, not only do you get a bit of training, but we get to find out where your talent lies and give you access to the equipment and resources necessary to actually make a film.”

Those interested are asked to email mackay@venimentus.com and to view ‘Golden Hour’, visit youtu.be/vQ3dHqmGQM8.

‍

Each Year on World Scout Day, (August 1), Scouting Leadership Awards are announced. The Awards are presented at Government House. If recipients aren’t able to go to Brisbane to receive their award, they have the option of it being presented at a suitable function in their own District.

The Hibiscus Coast District (HCD) awards were presented at a special parade which was held on Saturday 15th October at the JOTA JOTI weekend at Rowallan Park when there were many youth members and leaders present to join in celebrations.

It was announced that former Banksia Venturer Scout Leader Mrs Joann Brzozowski would be presented with the Silver Emu Award for contributing significantly to the Wellbeing of Scouting. Joann has been instrumental in having a large number of Venturer Scouts achieve their peak award which is the Queen’s Scout Award.  Joann will be presented with her award at a suitable time. Joann is now a Qld Branch Advisor to the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme with Scouting.

The Silver Koala Award for a high level of distinguished service were presented to Greg Milne and Dougal McWhinney. Central Coast Region Commissioner Dougal McWhinney received his award prior to the presentation at Rowallan Park, however Greg Milne, Group Leader of Mackay City Central Scout Group received his award at the special parade at Rowallan Park.

Silver Wattle Awards for 10 to 12 years performing at a consistently high standard, were presented to Rowan Cahill, District Scout Leader HCD and District Commissioner HCD Katrina Hoare. Assistant Region Commissioner Jason Hazell was absent from the District when the awards were presented so a suitable time for his presentation will happen in the near future.

Special Service Awards for Noteworthy contribution to supporting, developing and management to the Scouting Movement were presented to three Rover Scouts who regularly support leaders at group and at District Events as well as planning and carrying out the activities. They were Kaitlin Allen, Jim McIntyre and Tristan Archibald.

Two Venturer Scouts, Ethan Cahill and Emily McVeigh, who received their Queen’s Scout Awards late last year were presented with their certificates which are usually presented at Government House.

Congratulations to all leaders and Rover Scouts in particular the ones who have performed above and beyond what is expected of them. Scouting is in Good Hands with the standard and qualifications that is required of the Scouting Leaders of today.

Contributed by Mary Wallace

‍

Don’t miss the opportunity to see Mackay Musical Comedy Players’ final production of the year!

With a haunting contemporary score, NEXT TO NORMAL is an emotional powerhouse of a musical about a family trying to take care of themselves and each other.

This deeply moving piece of theatre addresses such issues as grieving loss, ethics in modern psychiatry and suburban life.

NEXT TO NORMAL's themes of mental health and our human need for connection are still relevant in 2022. Despite some of the emotional darkness, the musical offers hope and light – two things we need more than ever today.

‍

Mackay Regional Council’s Australia Day event grants are now open and local community groups are encouraged to apply.

Mayor Greg Williamson said council was excited to offer the Australia Day event grant funding once again for 2023, especially considering the COVID-19 event blues of 2022.

“We had a number of events postponed earlier this year, due to COVID-19 event restrictions, so we are looking forward to a full lineup of exciting Aussie Day events in 2023,” Mayor Williamson said.

“Not-for-profit community groups can apply for up to $1000 to support their Australia Day event and celebrate what they love about our region,” he said.

“From beach games and park barbecues to awards ceremonies and morning teas, the events are a great way to lift community spirit.

“The events are held at various times throughout the day and are a celebration of the amazing region we live in.”

To be eligible for funding, events need to be held on Australia Day 2023 (Thursday, January 26), be free for all to attend and held within the Mackay Regional Council area.

Organisers also need to be a registered not-for-profit group or have a letter of support from a registered group.

Applications are now open via the council website and will close midnight Sunday, November 20.

Australia Day event grant application forms and guidelines can be found on the council website at mackay.qld.gov.au/ausdaygrants.

‍

Bradley Short, owner and gallerist at Milton House Gallery, has a love for plein air painting, the practice of experiencing painting and drawing in the landscape, which he shares with fellow artists; Tim Allen, Rhett Brewer, Chris Langlois, Steve Lopes and Ron McBurnie.

Having painted with these artists around Australia for the last 12 years, Mr Short welcomed them, most from Sydney, to the Mackay region last year.

“I get to travel all around Australia and I thought I’d bring them to our country up here to give them a taste of our area, a very different landscape to what we’ve painted down south,” Mr Short said.

The group travelled to Seaforth from which they spent four days exploring the islands by boat in resplendent north Queensland sunshine.

“We just travelled around, finding spots and just dropping the guys off to paint and they would just spend the day making art on location,” Mr Short said.

Mr Short said the artists were blown away, walking away with a whole new respect for the area.

“As artists, we just spend the whole day looking,” he said.

“You just sit and look and appreciate and study what you’ve got in front of you as a plein air painter.

“I think they just thought it was amazing, they’ve absolutely raved over it.”

The result of the trip is ‘A Bit Further North’, on show until mid-November at Milton House Gallery.

The exhibition’s opening night saw a large crowd of excited art lovers and creatives from all corners of Queensland make their way to Mackay.

The exhibition was officially opened by Member for Whitsunday Amanda Camm and with a live performance by local country music legend Graeme Connors, who was also a part of the travelling group of artists.

The artists were all in attendance, sharing tales from their trip and the inspiration behind their work.

“The really important part is bringing artists into our area,” Mr Short said.

“It’s great to have fresh art coming into our area and presenting fresh art to Mackay artists, too, and seeing other people’s takes on our area.”

The exhibition is open to view until November 16 at Milton House Gallery, Milton Street Mackay and online at miltonhouse.gallery.

‍