2021 MARY VALLEY VOICE - JUNE 9, Vol.31 #06

Lake Macdonald amphitheatre live music 10am-3pm

FESTIVAL OF WATER TO MAKE A SPLASH

Dive into the Noosa Festival of Water on Sunday 13 June at the Noosa Botanical Gardens, Lake Macdonald Drive, Cooroy, give us your feedback about the Festival, and be in the running to win a two night getaway in an eco-luxe Yurt at the Noosa Eco Retreat, set in the heart of Noosa’s iconic hinterland. The retreat is the perfect place to exchange the concrete of the city for grass beneath your feet! Festival visitors also have a chance to win an eco-hamper from the Noosa Landcare Hinterhub, and a copy of the Queensland Museums’ Wildlife of Greater Brisbane. Organised by the Mary River Catchment Coordinating Committee (MRCCC), the festival features an array of talented Sunshine Coast musicians, incl. Emily Maguire (pictured) and local favourite Andrea Kirwin. Festival crowds will be serenaded from 10am to 3pm in the glorious Amphitheatre, overlooking the serene lake waters.

• Celebrating the diversity of life in and around our waterways, the festival will be full of information and displays from community groups and organisations including Seqwater who will have representatives on hand to provide information about the dam wall reconstruction at Lake Macdonald in 2022.

• Little ones will also be able to enjoy the Creative Kids marquee, face painting by the whimsical Teeny Weeny Faeries, a jumping castle and wildlife displays.

• Identify waterbugs with MRCCC staff in the community groups marquee, or bring your creek, dam or bore water samples to be tested for agricultural and horticultural suitability.

• The Noosa Integrated Catchment Association will be selling botanical books and merchandise and the Freshwater Fish Stocking Association of Queensland will have live native and pest fish displays.

• Noosa & District Landcare will be giving away free trees to Noosa residents who bring along a current rates notice.

• The Friends of the Botanic Gardens will be offering a tour of the gardens in the morning, providing information about their history, species planted, the work that they do to support the Botanic Gardens curator and staff and will also be showcasing the new shade garden. As well as the tour, the Friends will also be busy selling plants from their propagation house at the gardens.

• A selection of food and drink vendors will be there to quench your thirst and satisfy your hunger, including the Tewantin Noosa Lions, Dhoms Kitchen, Whippy Sunshine Coast, Coffee and a Cookie and Woodfire pizza. The Noosa Festival of Water is a free event supported by Noosa Council, Seqwater and by the staff at the Noosa Botanic Gardens, Noosa Landcare and hundreds of volunteers dedicated to caring for our natural environment. For more information, call the MRCCC on 07 5482 4766, email mackenzi.finger@mrccc.org.au and visit us on Facebook for festival updates.

JULY IS FESTIVAL MONTH

THE THREE 'R'S – RESPONSIBLE RIVER RECREATION

The Mary River Festival is on Saturday, 17 July 9am-4pm – new date, new hours – Kandanga Community Reserve. There's a wonderful music lineup – thanks to Tony Hawkyard for organising, along with roving musicians, dancers and activities. This year's theme says Glenda Pickersgill, long-time president of Save The Mary River Coordinating Group, is “The 3R's – Responsible River Recreation... leave no trace! This is one of the friendliest family festivals in the Mary Valley. Live music, cats claw (weed vine) weaving workshop, Geckoes Wildlife, environmental talks, community stalls and much more – even a prize for the best River Guardian costume.”

Please notice, no gate tickets – it's all direct online bookings. Therefore dive to it. Tickets are limited though, better jump in now. Modest entry for a family day out ($25), and adults $10.

• Stall applications are extended to Thursday 10 June. Visit the Facebook page or www.maryriverfestival.org.au

Main stage performers are:- The Hillbilly Goats, Nizami, Kelly Cork, Matt and The Mayor, Done and Dusted, Terry the Great - All Star Fish Entertainment and Mary Valley Circus.

Guest appearances:- Barry Charles, Ian Mackay MC/poet/sciency guy, roving duo Rubatuba, and energising The Bluegrass Guys.

Tickets must be purchased online with limited numbers available due to the festival's COVID-safe plan.

Tix https://events.humanitix.com/mary-river-festival-sr3y9j7w

'SPRING IN THE MARY' PHOTO WINNERS ON DISPLAY ENTRIES ARE ALSO OPEN FOR NOVEMBER 'RIVER' MONTH

The MRCCC's 7th Annual Spring in the Mary photo competition is open now, and closes 5pm Friday 5 November, 2021. Email your entries and details to springinthemary@mrccc.org.au

Send images that best depict Spring in the Mary River catchment and go in the comp to win a cash prize of up to $250. There will be a display of the 2020 Facebook photo winners at the MRCCC stall.

MARY VALLEY ART FESTIVAL 20 YEARS

ARTIST’S LOVE FOR MARY VALLEY SHINES IN EXHIBITION PROJECT

Gympie artist Shellie Johns sees the connections between people, fauna and flora in the Mary Valley, and that’s what she brings to her artwork. Shellie pictured left and below is one of 20 artists invited to paint a plinth each for display at the Mary Valley Art Festival in July at Imbil. They will feature in the Mary Valley Alive exhibition 22-25 July, celebrating the festival's 20th anniversary, which tells the story of the Mary Valley through its flora, fauna and people. The plinths will reflect the themes, and they will be displayed with artworks from the original Mary Valley Alive exhibit, which is comprised of art from the place, time and events of the Traveston Crossing Dam campaign. Ms Johns loves the opportunities that abound in the Mary Valley. “It’s a great place to raise a family. And I have so many wonderful memories of my time living on Yabba Creek Road,” she said. “It’s picturesque – a photographer’s dream – with an amazing amount of wildlife. We loved watching the platypus and lungfish in Yabba Creek.” The valley’s residents were a friendly bunch as well, Ms Johns said. Many people volunteer to help make events happen, and she said her time in the local community helped to shape her as a person. Ms Johns grew up on a farm in country Victoria and loved art from an early age. She remembers being inspired by her mother’s charcoal drawings, and art and building graphics were her favourite school subjects. She completed an Advanced Certificate of Art and Design, pursuing architect qualifications in Adelaide. Shellie has been a regular entrant, where her distinctive word art style won her first prize in the drawing category. The style is a popular gift that depicts someone’s life in a unique way.

• If you are an artist, there is still time to enter your artwork in the festival – entries close on July 1. The rich prize pool ($8000) draws quality entries from South-East Queensland, with the Bendigo Bank Open Award of $2500, nine categories for adults, and a Youth Award for 12-17-year-olds. You can find entry forms in local galleries and shops or online at http://www.maryvalleyartslink.com.au Inquiries Heinke 0419 024291, info@maryvalleyartfestival.com.au.

• Festival viewing starts on Thursday 22 July to Saturday 10am- 3pm, Sunday 25 July 10am-12 noon at the Imbil Public Hall, Edward Street, Imbil, with the opening night and award presentations on Friday 23 July, $15 entry.

POMONA ART GALLERY JUMPING JUNE

Firstly catch the exhibition 4 June to 1 July in the Carriage Room, by Dominique Woods. Pictured right, 'Along The Banks Of The Murrinbidgee'. Her surroundings, the places she has travelled and the people she adores, all influence local Tewantin artist Domenique Wood. “I truly believe that painting is life’s medicine. It is a rewarding discipline, influencing me both spiritually and physically.”

POMONA'S 'ART MARKET IN THE PADDOCK' 24 JULY

From 9am to 1.00pm, Art Market in the Paddock returns! This is an opportunity to see original art and crafts to purchase directly from the maker. Artists will be presenting their work and craft at reasonable prices. Pick up something special for your home, office, garden or gift. Music, food and fun!

• Stall applications available at www.pomonartgallery.com

Emily Maguire singer-songwriter

UPLIFTING SPRING HINTERLAND MUSIC TOUR

Singer-songwriter Emily Maguire used to make goats cheese in the Obi Obi valley before being plucked from obscurity to perform on the biggest stages in Europe as the opening act for American legends Don McLean and Dr Hook and Eric Bibb. Originally from the UK, Emily first came to Australia for a short holiday in 2003, fell in love with old friend Christian Dunham, a bass player and producer, and made her first two albums in a forest near Conondale. Determined to remain independent of the music business, Emily and Christian set up their own record label Shaktu Records, financing it by taking over the family goats cheese business. Best known for her thought-provoking lyrics and hauntingly beautiful voice, Emily's songs have been widely played on ABC radio stations, with the title track of her second album 'Keep Walking' playlisted on national ABC Radio. With a remarkable, inspiring story to tell, she has also been featured many times in playlists and interviews on UK national radio.

Now with six albums and three books to her name and after 12 years away in the UK, she has returned with Christian to the Obi Obi valley to record her seventh album. Described as “exhilarating and transformational” (RnR Magazine), Emily's songs have the power to uplift, comfort and inspire in equal measure. She is usually defined as a contemporary folk artist, her acoustic style of music influenced both by her classical training as a cellist and pianist and by Christian's background in jazz and blues.

• After completing their recording schedule, Emily and Christian are touring the Sunshine Coast Hinterland in September with renowned string players Sarah and Louise King at Eudlo Hall (11 September), Maleny Community Centre (18 September) and The Majestic Theatre, Pomona (25 September). Tickets for these shows will go on sale in July. For more information, please visit www.emilymaguire.com

• Emily will also play at Noosa Festival of Water (13 June), Crystal Waters Music Club (Sat. night 26 June) and The BUg - Brisbane Unplugged Folk/Acoustic Night, New Farm (Tues. night 29 June).