Mind, Body & Soul 17

FREE HEALTH CHECKS

For Retired Mine Workers

With over 8000 retired mine workers living in Mackay, the highest per capita in Queensland, there is a large section of our community who may unknowingly be walking around with long-lasting health issues such as black lung, silicosis and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Often laying undetected for years, there is now a pathway for local ex-miners to receive a free, quick and easy medical check-up that could save their lives. In February this year, Heart of Australia launched HEART 5- a first-of-its kind mobile medical imaging clinic, delivering free lung checks to regional retired and former mine and resource workers across the state. A world first, this impressive facility has an onboard X-ray machine, battery-powered CT scanner and a knowledgeable medical team who provide a detailed chest examination in as little as 45 minutes. Its X-ray machines detect black lung and each patient is given a thorough examination that includes basic health metrics, a lung function test and CT scan where required. To be eligible for your free lung health check you simply need to have worked in a mine in Queensland for a minimum of three years at some point in your life and to be currently retired.

This also needs to be your only lung check in the last five years. Ewan Wylie, Head of Operations for Heart of Australia said that it is really important to get checked. “Whether you are experiencing shortness of breath or not, if you have a history of working in mines and quarries we encourage you to please come and get checked,” he said. “Early detection is really important and we are often finding that early stages of other conditions can also be found and identified.” These can include cardiac or chest issues and, by addressing these before they become a bigger problem, patients can often be prescribed a maintenance medicine to mitigate further development. “For a variety of conditions, the best outcomes are when we find them early ,” said Mr Wylie. This mobile medical imaging clinic is the fifth truck in the fleet and Heart of Australia are working in partnership with the Queensland Government and Resources Safety and Health Queensland, who contributed $2 million towards the build and operation of HEART 5. Since 2014, Heart of Australia’s medical specialists have seen more than 14,000 patients and saved more than 600 lives. The fleet has travelled more than 500,000 kilometres servicing towns from Stanthorpe in the south to Weipa in the far north and Winton in the west. It will be in Mackay on October 20 and 21. You can book directly with Mind Dust Health Support Services by calling 1300 445 715 or simply drop-in to the Resource Centre of Excellence between 9am and 4pm on Thursday, October 21 in Crichton’s Rd, Paget.

Inside the mobile medical imaging clinic On the road – Heart 5 travels to regional communities across the state

STAR OF THE AIRWAVES

Johnny is the newest member of the Star 101.9 Mackay team. Photo supplied

Star 101.9 Mackay has welcomed its new announcer and he’s eager to immerse himself in the community. John “Johnny” Wilson started out in the Adelaide nightclub scene as an emcee before getting a taste of radio and finding his calling. “I just loved it, I fell in love,” he said. The excitement and the adrenaline rush of being on-air inspired Johnny to start in community radio in Adelaide, hosting shows for community and commercial radio in both Adelaide and Riverland before getting the gig in Mackay and making the drive up. “It was an epic three-day drive with my old dad, he’s an absolute bloody legend,” Johnny said. “He did the drive with me, so we shared it, and we had a big adventure, it was out of control.”

Johnny started on-air with Star 101.9 Mackay last Wednesday and you’ll be able to hear him between 9:00am and 1:00pm Monday to Friday. “My job here is mainly being on air, being aware of what’s going on around this region and playing some great music for all the lovely locals,” he said. “I think it’s just great for the community to have this station that’s across everything that’s going on here. “It’s also a place that they know they can tune in, they’ll hear some music that they like, and it’ll bring a bit of a smile and brighten up their day a little bit.” Outside of work, Johnny is excited to join his first soccer club, having previously coached and played with Adelaide University Football Club. “I was there for over ten years and involved in every way I could be so I really want to find a club up here that I can do the same for,” he said. “I just want Mackay to know that I’m so keen to get involved here with the community, become a local and get around it. “I’m a friendly guy, so if you see me out and about, please say hello.”

POP CULTURE FANS UNITE!

This Saturday, an exciting and unique pop culture event is coming to the Mackay Showgrounds with the first-ever Mack PopCon. Mack PopCon will bring celebrities, special guests, unique collectables and exciting photo opportunities to Mackay for one exciting day. Celebrity guests include The Matrix and Star Wars actor Matt Doran, graphic novelist Shaun Keenan, cosplayer Pernicious Delusion and fantasy and horror novelist Marc Lindsay. Other ‘special guests’ coming along include Kitt from Knight Rider and a Dalek from Doctor Who, all of which will provide a perfect photo opportunity. There will be a range of activities including lightsabre lessons from Sons of Obi-Wan where participants can “become a Jedi for the morning”. Medieval Viking group Mercenaries of Western Europe will be putting on demonstrations, a cosplay competition will be run throughout the day and there is a huge line-up of artists and authors hosting panel discussions and meet and greets. Niche market stalls will also be selling books, shirts, posters and other memorabilia and food vendors will keep everyone fed for their big day of pop culture fun. Mack PopCon will be the first Popular Culture convention in Mackay since before the pandemic. “We are hoping this event will also bring out all of the local pop culture and geeky groups to find out about each other and form some lasting friendships that continue on after the event,” organisers said. With tickets priced at just $5, it will be an affordable and accessible day of family fun. “The team have been working extremely hard to bring this event to Mackay and we all hope everyone has a great time.” Doors open at 8:00am for an hour of sensory disability accessibility before the general public are admitted from 9:00am.

WHAT: Mack PopCon WHERE: Mackay Showgrounds WHEN: Saturday, October 15 from 8:00am TICKETS: $5 from Eventbrite or on the door

DOG GROOMER WINS BIG

AMackay dog groomer and business owner found long-soughtafter 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.”

Meagan Lidbetter of Pamper Paws won third and first place ribbons at the Melbourne Royal Grooming Competition earlier this month. Photo supplied: Meagan Lidbetter

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.

Denis Kay has been busking for the last 18 years. Photo credit: Sam Gillespie

“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.

Countdown Begins For Airlie Beach Festival Of Music

The Airlie Beach Festival of Music main-stage tent with stunning sea views Mackay band, Weathered, won a Passport to Airlie

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. 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 warmup 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

All In The Family

When 14-year-old Shae Robinson appeared as Anne Frank in Kucom Theatre’s 2016 production of The Diary of Anne Frank, she may not have realised she was starting a family trend.

It didn’t happen right away, but in 2018 she somehow persuaded her father, Simon, to audition for a small role with Mackay Musical Company Players in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.

He loved the buzz of being on stage, so he was keen to audition for Kucom in 2021 when Victor Scott directed When the Rain Stops Falling, where his sympathetic portrayal of Joe Ryan left an indelible impression on Kucom audiences.

Now, six years after her Kucom debut, Shae returns to the Kucom stage as heiress Catherine Simms in The Foreigner, a comedy by Larry Shue, directed by Maureen Coleman and Sarah Ralph as part of Kucom’s 75th anniversary celebrations – and for the first time, she is performing on stage alongside her father, Simon, who plays Staff Sergeant ‘Froggy’ LeSueur. To complete the family picture, mum Jenny is the official photographer for this production, and while she is content to remain behind the camera, she has assembled an impressive portfolio of cast profiles and candid rehearsal shots, including this lovely father-and-daughter shot. The Foreigner is Shae’s first stage performance since finishing high school, and she is thoroughly enjoying getting back into acting. Her love of performing goes back to when, aged 7, she started Drama and Musical Theatre classes with Fame Talent School.

Over the years she has been involved in productions with various local theatre companies including Red Giraffe Theatre (13 – The Musical, 2016), Fame Talent School (Shrek JR, 2016), Triple Threat Theatre Company (Jekyll & Hyde – The Musical, 2017), and Mackay Musical Comedy Players (Wicked, 2017; The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, 2018). Until 2019, she regularly appeared in Fame Talent School Pantomimes and performed in the Mackay Eisteddfod. While in Year 12, Shae received her Associate of Trinity College London – Diploma of Performing - with Distinction. The Foreigner opens at Kucom Theatre on Thursday 27 October and will run for six nights from October 27-29 and November 3-5, starting at 7:30pm each night. Featured cast members include Simon Robinson, Gordon Lowe, Carolyn Roche, Dennis Rozekrans, Shae Robinson, Jim Kelly, Kodi Ryke. Tickets are available through TryBooking at www.trybooking.com/BZKXZ.

Simon and Shae Robinson. Photo credit: Jenny Robinson

WHAT: The Foreigner WHERE: Kucom Theatre WHEN: October 27-29 and November 3-5, 7:30pm TICKETS: TryBooking

New Book Reveals Key Issues For Education Reform

‘Bunyips in the Classroom’ calls for 10 changes to Australian education. Photos supplied

Anew book will be launched at CQUniversity next week explaining the key issues holding back progress in Australian education. ‘Bunyips in the Classroom: The 10 Changes’, by Dr Susan Galletly doesn’t just suggest changes, it also provides logical practical solutions. As the book states, Australia has too many struggling readers, excessive child and teacher workload, and teaching and learning are inappropriately pressured. “While many other nations enjoy highly effective education, Australia has ongoing low literacy and academic achievement,” said Dr Galletly. “We need the 10 changes for transforming Australian education. “This is a conversation Australia has to have. “Our children, teachers and nation are struggling. “Our classrooms are full of bunyips.” Dr Galletly is a Mackay-based literacy-development and learning-difficulties specialist and researcher, who is also a speech-language pathologist and teacher. She draws strongly from both research and practice in discussions in the book and compares a bunyip in the classroom to ‘the elephant in the room’. “An elephant in the room is a big embarrassing issue everyone is aware of, which is deliberately not mentioned,” she said. “A bunyip in the room is a big issue people aren’t aware of, which is extremely obvious and thus embarrassing once highlighted and acknowledged.

“Currently, Australian education is full of bunyips.” Dr Galletly’s insights are shrewd, insightful, practical and positive, exploring education bunyips, the 10 changes and Australia’s need for them. The book is an entertaining and easy read for those interested in education, including teachers, parents and academics. “Bunyips in the Classroom: The 10 Changes” is out now, available for purchase at all major online retailers in both paperback and e-book format. The book will be officially launched at CQUniversity Ooralea Campus, on Wednesday, October 19 at 4:15pm. All are welcome to attend the book launch and are invited to RSVP at Dr Susan Galletly’s website www.susangalletly.com.au. “We need the 10 changes for transforming Australian education,” Dr Galletly said. “This is a conversation Australia has to have.”

WHAT: ‘Bunyips in the Classroom: The 10 Changes’ Book Launch WHERE: CQUniversity Ooralea Campus Library WHEN: Wednesday 19 October 2022, 4:15pm to 6:15pm RSVP: www.susangalletly.com.au

A BIG YEAR FOR BRITTANY

Brittany Elise will release her new album Just Be on October 21. Photo supplied

2022 has already been a massive year for Brittany Elise. She took the crown at the Gympie Brittany collaborated with her producer, Liam Quinn, remotely. “These vocals were recorded in my Music Muster’s NAB Talent Search, was a grand finalist in the prestigious Toyota Star Maker competition and awarded Most Popular New Female Artist of the Year at the ICMA Awards. The Mackay-born and raised singer-songwriter is still touring the nation off the back of her scorching single, ‘Feel The Fire’ and has just released her latest single ‘Like Me That Way’ ahead of the release of her new album Just Be, out October 21. ‘Like Me That Way’ springs to life with sunny acoustic guitars, while Brittany’s vocal commands centre stage. She sings an empowered tune of self-love - “I like the way I am / This is who I am / I like me that way”. Written alongside Lyn Bowtell, the song is Brittany’s take on a breakup anthem. “(It’s) a reminder to never change who you are as a person especially if others are telling you to,” she said. “I took influence from two powerful artists and songs - Kasey Chambers ‘Am I Not Pretty Enough’ and Missy Higgins ‘Scar’.” Queensland homebuilt studio and the rest produced in Sydney,” she said. The result is an uplifting blend of country musicality layered with pop hooks – a sound fans have come to love from Brittany Elise. Brittany’s inspiring messages, set to an equally upbeat soundtrack, have proven to be a much-loved recipe. With each release, she gains more listeners, drawn to the honesty and relatability of her words. ‘Like Me That Way’ is yet another excellent offering from an artist who is proud to share her story. Brittany is also about to kick off a tour of Australia, playing in Mackay in February next year. WHAT: Brittany Elise Feel The Fire Tour WHERE: Magpies Sporting Club Mackay, Mackay WHEN: Saturday, February 4, 2023 from 7:00pm TICKETS: Tickets: $40, on sale end of 2022