Welcome The Whales: Special Event Tonight

The whole community is invited to formally welcome the whales to our region in a special event hosted by the Traditional Owners of The Whitsundays.

Each year between June and October, thousands of whales – especially Humpbacks – migrate north from the cold waters of Antarctica to breed and give birth within our warm and calm tropical waters. This year, the community is invited to mark the official start of the 2023 season with a family event on the Airlie Beach Foreshore from 5pm this evening.

Children are encouraged to wear blue to the ceremony and Traditional Owners will invite children to be painted in traditional markings.

They will then be guided to put their handprints on a traditional painting of a mother and calf Humpback to signify the community’s bond and connection with the whales.

In keeping with long-established First Nations ritual, a smoking ceremony will then take place, before an ancient whale chant sung by the Traditional Owners.

Representatives of the Ngaro people will then speak about their cultural connection with the whales and the deep-seated cultural significance of the season’s first whales.

Bowen S Summergarden

“THE FLASH” (PG) 100mins. Action/Adventure

During the event there will also be a popup workshop hosted by the Great Barrier Reef Festival and lead by artist Margaret Burgess as part of the Immerse Installation Art Presentation.

A giant whale will make the centrepiece of this activity.

After the formalities and activities, everyone is invited to relax and watch a film by Master Reef Guides about The Whitsundays and the cetaceans that live and visit the area.

This will be followed by Whitsundays Reef Guardian Council’s alfresco screening of The Snail and the Whale movie at 6pm.

Please it is returning this August

The festival is made possible with the support of the Queensland Government through Arts Showcase Program and Whitsunday Regional Council through the Regional Arts Development Fund.

WHAT: Whitsundays Songwriter Festival and Residency

WHEN: August 31 to September 4

WHERE: Yangaro Resort

WHAT: Welcome To The Whales Ceremony

WHERE: Airlie Beach Foreshore

WHEN: Friday, June 16 TIME: From 5pm-6pm

TICKETS: Free to the community

Barry Allen uses his super speed to change the past, but his attempt to save his family creates a world without superheroes, forcing him to race for his life in order to save the future.Stars: Ben Affleck, Sasha Calle, Michael Keaton

“ELEMENTAL” (PG) 93mins. Animation/Adventure/Comedy

Follows Ember and Wade, in a city where fire-, water-, land- and air-residents live together. Stars: Leah Lewis, Mamoudou Athie, Ronnie Del Carmen

“SPIDERMAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE (PG) 136mins. Animation/Action/Adventure

Miles Morales catapults across the Multiverse, where he encounters a team of Spider-People charged with protecting its very existence. When the heroes clash on how to handle a new threat, Miles must redefine what it means to be a hero. Stars: Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Oscar Isaac

“THE LITTLE MERMAID” (PG) 135mins.

A young mermaid makes a deal with a sea witch to trade her beautiful voice for human legs so she can discover the world above water and impress a prince.

Stars: Halle Bailey, Jonah Hauer-King, Melissa McCarthy

“JOHN FARNHAM-FINDING THE VOICE” (M) 96mins True-life Story

See Something special True Story Live Show on the BIG SCREEN! Made in Australia and only $10 THE LIFE AND MUSIC OF AN AUSSIE ICON

Follow John Farnham’s journey from humble beginnings to record-breaking success in his first authorised biopic.

Stars: John Farnham, Jimmy Barnes, Daryl Braithwaite, Paul Dainty

- 12.05pm 5.40pm