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USQ Presents A Tour de Force Of Antipodean Movie Making

BEFORE the Lord of the Rings, there was The Piano.

No elves, hobbits or orcs in this movie, but the first to put New Zealand on the international film-making map, and showcase the country’s stunning beauty and landscape as well as its undeniable talent.

The Piano took away the collective breath of the world when it premiered in 1993, and it went on the win three Academy Awards including Best Actress (Holly Hunter), Best Supporting Actress (Anna Paquin, aged just 11 at the time), and Best Screenplay for Jane Campion, who studied film-making in Australia and also directed the movie.

It is a poignant, beautiful and haunting film set during the mid-19th century in a rainy, muddy frontier backwater on the west coast of New Zealand. It tells the story of a mute woman who has not spoken since the age of six, choosing to express herself instead through playing her piano, and features a score for the piano by Michael Nyman which became a best-selling soundtrack album. Sam Neil and Harvey Keitel also starred in the sensual drama, which enjoyed huge critical and financial success – grossing $40.2 million, against its $7 million budget.
the_piano“Whether you’re seeing it again or for the first time this is a chance to enjoy The Piano on the big screen and to join in after the film for a chat about this, Jane Campion’s masterpiece, the film that everyone still talks about and that Campion built her international reputation upon, ” said Andrew Mason, Lecturer in Arts and Communication at USQ.

“The Piano is showing just in time for mother’s day. So if you’re looking for a truly spectacular way to celebrate and spoil your mum, why not bring her to one of our best Friday Flicks.”

The Piano is the third film in the Artsworx Friday at the Flicks series, which was introduced this year. The series is taking a cinematic journey around the world, with stop-overs in France, Japan, New Zealand, the USA, Australia and Italy. Some of the movies featured in the 2014 bill are classics, others are cult favourites and many are multi-award winning masterpieces. All promise an entertaining night out however, enjoying a great show on a big screen with fellow film fans.

The Piano (rated M, with a running time of 116 minutes) will screen on Friday, May 9 at 6pm in the University of Southern Queensland Allison Dickson Theatre as part of the 2014 Friday at the Flicks series. Tickets cost $15.50, which includes a post-show drink and nibbles, as well as a brief introduction to the film.

Subscribing to the Friday at the Flicks series can save up to 20% on tickets. Contact USQ Artsworx on 4631 1111 for more information or tickets, or visit www.usq.edu.au/artsworx  The Allison Dickson Theatre is located at the University of Southern Queensland, West Street, Toowoomba.

Submitted by:
Willow Hart
Senior Marketing and Engagement Officer
USQ Artsworx | University of Southern Queensland
Ph: +61 7 4631 2412
Email: willow.hart@usq.edu.au

 

Longest Breakfast In Toowoomba For Mothers Day

DownsSteam Tourist Railway & Museum is proud to announce the inaugural Mothers Day Toowoomba’s Longest Breakfast.

DownsSteam will play host to your mum or mother-in-law on Mothers Day, Sunday 11th May.

Following the success of the annual Train Drivers Breakfast and with the completion of undercover dining on the platform, this event is a welcome addition to our social calendar.
DownsSteam Longest-BreakfastSo, give mum a treat, take her to DownsSteam for Toowoomba’s Longest Breakfast.

First sitting is 8.00 am – bookings essential.  Phone 0402 15846 or 4630 2358 to secure your pre paid ticket, or use our Paypal facility on the DownsSteam website (www.downsSteam.com). Ticket price includes tour of our Dreamtime Journey Coach.

DownsSteam tourist railway and Museum is located in Cambooya Street Drayton, look for the Big Orange diesel!

DownsSteamSubmitted by:
Cr Ros ScotneyChair
DownsSteam

 

 

Dalby Entertainers To Perform For Drought Relief

A Drought Relief Variety Concert will be held Saturday night 10th May at 7pm at the Dalby Uniting Church Hall, Condamine Street, Dalby.

This will be a great night’s entertainment by local artists featuring Gary McDonald, Dennis & Kathy Sankey, Dell Mills, Brian McCulkin, Bob Gregory, Eileen & Henry Barrass, Bronte Hayes, Brady Parker and O’Shea Family

Light refreshments will be served and there will be multidraw raffles to be drawn throughout the evening. Entry $10 Single / $15 Family – Tickets at the door!

All proceeds will go to the Queensland Drought Relief Appeal.
Dalby Drought Relief Concert

 

DV Month – Raising Awareness Of Domestic & Family Violence

Every year people are killed or injured by their partner, ex-partner or family member. The month of May has been dedicated to raising community awareness around what constitutes domestic violence, the support available within the community and to also send a clear message that violence and control in relationships is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
Candle-Lighting-Invitation-2014A Candle Lighting Ceremony will be held in the Empire Theatre Courtyard, Neil Street, Toowoomba  at 5.30pm on Wednesday 7th May 2014. The general public, community service workers and family members are invited to be present to remember those who have died as a result of Domestic & Family Violence.

The Candle Lighting Ceremony is a state wide event held across Queensland to commemorate those who have died and those whose lives have been affected by Domestic & Family Violence. This event provides the opportunity for the local community to make a public statement that violence against women and within relationships is not acceptable and will not be tolerated.

This year the guest speaker will be Emma Ziebell. Ms Ziebell is a strong advocate for raising awareness about domestic and family violence. An Oakey resident, personally touched by death as a result of domestic violence, she was recently awarded the Tony Myatt award for her dedication to raising awareness through the Annual Butterfly Ball and other events.

Ms Ziebell will be addressing the experiences of families left behind, with the aim of raising community awareness of how domestic and family violence impacts the entire community. The event is free and will run for approximately ½ an hour. Toowoomba Grammarphones and the Women in Harmony choir will be performing.

In Toowoomba, RAQ has a support and counselling program for victims and family members who have experienced domestic and family violence. The venue also delivers a men’s behaviour change program for men who use violence and control in their intimate and family relationships. Information on both these programs can be obtained through the Toowoomba Venue on 07 4639 3605.

People interested in helping further may volunteer to support people going through Domestic Violence Court. Contact 07 4639 3605 for further information.

(STATISTICS – 1 in 3 women over the age of 15 will be exposed to domestic violence. About one third of all homicide victims in Australia are killed by an intimate partner or other family member (Dearden, J., & Jones, W. (2008). Homicide in Australia: 2006-07 National Homicide Monitoring Program annual report. Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology.) In 2013, 18 people in Queensland lost their lives as a result of domestic violence †of these, there were 10 females, 5 males and 3 children. Of these deaths, 11 relationships were intimate personal relationships, and 7 were family. Three of these were murder suicides).

Submitted by:
Sonya Kupfer
Manager
Domestic & Family Violence Prevention Service
07 4639 3605

 

 

A Tonne Of Sausages For Lifeline Drought Appeal

Queensland Choice Meats together with Fitzy’s on Church & Ostwald Bros are donating one tonne of sausages to be sold to the public with all proceeds benefiting the Lifeline Drought Appeal.

Suzie Washington from Lifeline Darling Downs & South West Queensland Ltd, Marilyn and Anita Fitzgibbons from Fitzy’s on Church making the sausages which are now selling at Queensland Choice Meats to help Queensland farmers
Suzie Washington from Lifeline Darling Downs & South West Queensland Ltd, Marilyn and Anita Fitzgibbons from Fitzy’s on Church making the sausages which are now selling at Queensland Choice Meats, 107 Taylor Street, Toowoomba to help Queensland farmers.

The aim is to sell the full tonne of ‘Morning Glory’ Drought Buster BBQ Banger’s in the month of May at a cost of $2.99 per kilo. A quality sausage, The Morning Glory Sausage is a beef snag – the flavours are bacon and tomato with the added flavour and texture of real bacon through the centre of the sausage.

These efforts combined with Fitzy’s Charity Keg running for four weeks on Fridays from 5-6pm and their Women of the Vine event with published author guest speaker Alice Greenup will give a much needed boost to the Lifeline Drought Appeal.

Funds raised will go to farming families to help put food on their table.

Submitted by:
Suzie Washington
Manager Marketing and Fundraising
Lifeline Darling Downs & South West Queensland Ltd
Email swashington@lifelinedarlingdowns.org.au

 

 

 

Call For 20th Deadlys Nominations

Deadlys Logo
Nominations are now open for the Deadly Awards which are celebrating 20 years of highlighting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander achievement and excellence on a national stage in 2014.

The 20th Deadlys will be held on 30th September at the Sydney Opera House and promises not only to be a night of excellence and entertainment, but also a significant celebration for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-Indigenous Australians, across the country.

The Deadlys organisers are planning a show that celebrates Indigenous achievement over 20 years. Past winners and present day contribution will come together in a spectacular that pays tribute to the talent, strength and breakthrough determination of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders across music, sport, the arts and community.

The Deadlys are the largest Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander awards night on the national calendar, showcasing the achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people right across Australia. They began as a first anniversary celebration for the Deadly Sounds radio show at Redfern’s Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Cooperative, and evolved into the national awards night Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians embrace each year.

Archie Roach and Yothu Yindi singer Jodie Cockatoo Creed with members of the Northern Territory band East Journey, at the 2013 Deadlys (Amanda James photo)
Archie Roach and Yothu Yindi singer Jodie Cockatoo Creed with members of the Northern Territory band East Journey, at the 2013 Deadlys (Amanda James photo)

“Today, the Deadlys achieves widespread media coverage, with broadcasts on SBS, Imparja and NITV, as well as a high presence online.  Quite simply, the Deadlys is now the largest national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander event on the calendar. We estimate that it reaches some 500,000 people,” Executive Producer and founder of the Deadlys, Gavin Jones says. “We also directly engage with the Indigenous community through the nomination and voting processes, and last year received a record 95,000 votes.”

Mr Jones says “This year will be an unforgettable celebration, not only of achievements over the past year, but over 20 years.”

Nominations for the 20th Deadlys are open now and close on 30th June 2014. So if you want to be a part of the 20th Deadlys, get those nominations in before 30 June and/or tell us who you think is Deadly in 2014 across music, sport, the arts, health, education, employment, cultural advancement, science and healing.

You can find out more about the Deadlys at www.deadlys.com.au or follow us on facebook https://www.facebook.com/vibeaustralia or Twitter @Deadly_Vibe #deadlys.

Submitted by:
Maryann Weston
Publicist
Vibe Group

 

Bigger And Better Toowoomba CBD Markets Back On Sunday May 4th

Greg Johnson, CEO Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce says “It is now history that the Chamber’s first foray into street markets with City Heart Toowoomba (CHT) was an overwhelming success with an estimated 25,000 people attending and many stallholders selling out after the first hour of trade. Gratifying for the Chamber and CHT was the absolute delight shown by the shopkeepers who opened for the day. And it wasn’t only in Margaret Street where trade was unprecedented, that activity also extended well into Ruthven Street.
Margaret Street Markets - 4 May 2014