After years of pandemic-induced inaction, the Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre (MECC) is about to wrap up an amazing 2022 which was recently recognised at the Mackay Isaac Tourism Awards, winning Best Business & Event Venue.
On a night celebrating the whole community, MECC Acting Manager Jemma Carey said the award comes off the back of months of hard work from the whole team.
“It’s a really exciting time for the team to be recognised by the award,” she said.
“It’s been a huge effort from everyone right through from the cleaning team to everyone working behind stage and delivering all the productions throughout the year and the huge range of events.
While the region experiences staffing shortages, Jemma says she’s been able to rely on the team at the MECC wholeheartedly.
“We’ve been really lucky to have such great staff that have been able to deliver,” she said.
The MECC has delivered a huge calendar of concerts, conferences, exhibitions and balls this year, and Jemma says each event is important to the MECC as the last.
She cites the Planning Institute of Australia and IPWEAQ (Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia) Conferences as particular highlights.
The venue also welcomed music superstars Goanna, Amy Shark, Ross Noble, Troy Casser-Daly and Ian Moss to the stage as well as a huge variety of local and touring theatre productions.
The MECC is the go-to venue for local organisations to host functions, with the space regularly hosting the Mayor’s Ball and the RACQ CQ Rescue Charity Ball.
“They’re the ones that come through regularly and we love them to bits,” said Jemma.
“They all have a really great turnout, so it shows that there’s a lot of support for the arts in the community.”
The MECC has a line-up of in-house productions to wrap up a massive year including Jane Eyre and Morning Melodies with Darren Coggan, and they’ll also be helping plenty of people celebrate the year that was, hosting Christmas parties, graduation ceremonies and formal dinners.
Jemma says the team was extremely ecstatic to win the award, especially given the calibre of other venues nominated.
“Given that Harrup Park has been doing some amazing things with the WBBL and AFLW, we knew that we had our work cut out for us,” she said.
“I think it’s a positive thing that there are some really strong venues doing really exciting things in the region.”
Jemma says the Mackay Isaac Tourism Awards was a night to celebrate Mackay as a region and the rapid growth of its events, tourism and arts sectors.
“Recognition amongst your colleagues and peers and then the wider network around Queensland as well is hugely important, particularly in an industry that’s still recovering from the Covid impact,” she said.
“It’s a huge achievement for everybody and it shows what’s happening in Mackay.
“When you look around all of those categories, it shows what comes out of this region and that it’s definitely the place to be.
“Everybody’s working together to bring the best out of the region, from the venues like us, all of the accommodation providers and the dining and tourism operators, we are all really coming together.
“From where we were ten years ago, it’s really exciting.
As humble as she is, Jemma says the award is one to be celebrated by all involved in the MECC.
“A huge congratulations to our team,” she said.
“We couldn’t do it without our people so congratulations to all of our people, staff and volunteers.”
