Social Life 19

Walkerston Feature 16

Summertime And All That...

Group members in local vocal ensemble Tutti: Top Row: Anne Atkinson, Vanessa Dale, Caroline Galea 2nd Row: Lynn Gallant, Isobel Gillman, Cecilia Hyde, Chantal Kay 3rd Row: Danielle McCully, Lauren Menzies, Jeanette Oberg, Annie Pratt 4th Row: Shona Rosser, Caitlyn Schurmann, Nicole Thomson, Jan Whelan OAM

Local vocal ensemble Tutti is proud to present Summertime and All That... this February at the Conservatorium of Music Mackay. But who is Tutti? Tutti is an all-female vocal ensemble under the direction of Jan Whelan OAM. Jan is known around town not only for her work with the Mackay Choral Society and Mackay Musical Comedy Players but also her accompanying work with soloists, school choirs and music ministries. Jan started the ensemble back in 2002 as a small ensemble and trio and quartets. We were very proud when in 2022 Jan was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in the Australia Day Awards for services to music as an accompanist. Over the years many vocalists have graced the stage all over North Queensland under the name Tutti. The ensemble has competed several times in competitions across Queensland and have been described by several leading adjudicators as “spectacular” and “glamorous”. Current vocalists of the group include some well-known members of the community, performers, teachers and key members of other performing groups. All the members of the group have some knowledge and expertise in different music styles and the delectable combination of these voices is purely stunning. The program is filled with luscious harmonies and different song genres including swing, ballads and folk. Summertime and All That... also includes guest artist Belinda Rooney on flute. There is something for everyone. Tutti is excited and thrilled to present Summertime and All That... to Mackay audiences on February 4 and 5 at the Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music Mackay, Building 21, 151 Boundary Road, Ooralea Qld 4740. Tickets can be purchased through trybooking:

www.trybooking.com/969096

Contributed by Isobel Gillman

ANH DO – THE HAPPIEST REFUGEE LIVE

BY POPULAR DEMAND ANH RETURNS WITH HIS SMASH HIT SHOW

Comedian Anh Do brings his best-selling memoir, The Happiest Refugee, to life in a ground-breaking stand-up show. Performed at The Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre for one night only in February, this moving, inspirational and unforgettable theatre experience combines humour, real life stories, photos and filmed pieces to retell Do’s amazing story. Anh Do travelled to Australia in 1980 on an eight metre fishing boat with 47 other Vietnamese refugees. Sick with dehydration and one person already dead, the journey was the first of many struggles for a young Do, who overcame all manner of difficulties throughout his life to become a lawyer and, in 2008, Australia’s Comedian of the Year. Today he is one of Australia’s most sought after stand-ups, as well as a talented writer, actor, producer and Star of the ABC1 TV’s ‘Anh’s Brush With Fame”. The Happiest Refugee: A Memoir, charts his journey from starving refugee to one of Australia’s best-loved entertainers, and was described by Russell Crowe as “the most surprising and inspiring read I have had in years,”. It has been awarded Book of the Year with sales in excess of 450,000. Do’s struggles as a young refugee – his difficulties with English, divorcing parents, being bullied and broke, are brought to life in this hilarious but moving new stage show, garnering this happy refugee standing ovations across the country. What: Anh Do, The Happiest Refugee – Live!! When: Wednesday, 15 February 7.30pm Where: MECC Auditorium Tickets: www.themecc.com.au

MACKAY’S FLASH MIKAYLA IS REAPING THE TRACK REWARDS

Mikayla Webb is one of the fastest teenagers in Australia. Photo credit: Athletics North Queensland

RUNNING

Claiming a national sporting title or medal is the ultimate accolade for any aspiring athlete. For Mackay sprint sensation Mikayla Webb, anchoring the triumphant Queensland 4 x 100m relay sprint team at last month's National All Schools Track and Field Championships in Adelaide proved an "early Christmas present." The relay gold medal capped a stellar season on the track for the 15 year old St Patrick's College student, who returned home as an Australian champion and with a bronze medal after grabbing third place in the National 100m Girls Final. Quicksilver Mikayla – who competes for Mackay Athletics Club - used her blistering speed to flash home in a time of 12.12 seconds and secure a thrilling podium finish. In the major Adelaide meet she was also pipped for a medal in the 200m National final after finishing fourth in a hot field of promising sprinters. Earlier Mikayla demonstrated her competitive edge by clinching silver medals in the 100m and 200m dash at last year's Queensland Secondary Schools Athletics Championships in Brisbane. Those stand out performances helped the record-breaking Webb earn recognition as one of the fastest young sprinters in the country after being named the Athletics North Queensland Emerging Athlete of the Year. Her impressive results can be attributed to months of hard toil under renowned sprint coaches Tina and Luke Morse from ASSET (All Sports Speed Endurance Training) who have added speed and balance to her running technique. Last year Mikayla smashed two long standing records when she won gold in both the 100m and 200m finals at the Oceania Schools Athletics Championships staged at the Mackay Aquatic and Recreation Centre. She scorched her rivals in the Girls 15yrs 100m event – clocking an impressive 12:12 seconds to eclipse the previous mark of 12:30 seconds in superb style. The sprint queen backed up that golden performance by also clinching the 200m title with a sizzling record time of 25:65 seconds, bettering the previous best of 25:70 seconds. Both sprint records had stood for two decades. By Chris Karas

PIONEER SWIMMING CLUB

HAVE YOU MET OUR COACHES?

Pioneer Swimming Club Coach Igor Demin Assistant Coach Kylie Smith

SWIMMING

So, who are the coaches of the Pioneer Swimming Club? Who turns our fish into Dolphins? Our Club is led by Igor Demin, Russian-born Olympian turned Coach. Undoubtedly, if you have been to the Pioneer Swim Centre, you will have seen Igor and heard his unique whistle blow! He tells us his father joined him up for boxing at the age of 7 and after two months, he instructed his father he was becoming a swimmer. He has swum in many international competitions, swimming in almost all continents around the world – his most memorable moment being medaling at the Universiade in Japan. Before joining the Pioneer Swimming Club in 2020, he was a member in and trained the National Team in Russia and has since coached in New Zealand and then, eventually, Australia. Igor’s qualifications include a Master’s Degree in Coaching and Sports Medicine, but perhaps his best asset is his unique humor and spin on swimming. We are fortunate to have Igor and we hope he never leaves us! Kylie Smith wears many hats in our club – one being President of the Club, another being a competitive swimmer herself, still competing at State level competitions for our Club, and the last, and definitely not the least, Assistant Coach to Igor. Kylie’s journey in swimming started when she was 7 years old – swimming a somewhat crooked resemblance of backstroke down the lane at her first school carnival. She vied to learn to swim straight from that day forth. Her career has taken her to the 2000 Olympic Trials in Sydney and the 2006 Commonwealth Trials in Melbourne – believe or not, she made it for backstroke, although, by now, she had mastered swimming straight! You will see Kylie on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons pacing the pool, assisting our mini-Dolphins with their stroke and focusing on their technique. If you are seeking to sign your child up for a squad, how do you get in touch with us? Email the Club Secretary, Tahnie Malagueno, on secretary@pioneerswimclub.com.au. We look forward to meeting you poolside soon! Contributed by Tahnie Malagueno