International stage for local documentary debut

NICOLE GIBSON

CAIRNS documentary filmmakers Shay Ryan Douglas and Thomas Lowth are set to debut their new documentary film which stars international and national experts alongside local change makers.

The film Earth Heroes: The Regeneration will debut on March 18 at Cairns local Bulma-ja theatre before the pair set off on an East Coast tour to showcase the documentary.

The film stars internationally renowned cell biologist, Dr Bruce Lipton, top American soil regeneration expert, Dr Zach Bush, and Australian science guru Dr Karl Kruszelnicki alongside leading local organisations and experts including Reef Restoration Foundation, Organic Motion, Parley Australia, permaculturist Annaliese Hordern and author Lesley Van Staveren.

Creative Director Mr Douglas said the goal for the film is to waken peoples’ awareness to the number of projects and actions being taken on a daily basis to bring about a better future.

“The film is quite diverse in its topic range,” Mr Douglas said. “Our focus has been to elevate all the different stories of positive, inspiring changemakers and we wanted to cover a number of positive solutions out there.”

Mr Douglas said the pair wanted to give viewers a sense of hope for the future.

“There are lots of practical solutions that anyone can implement that can make the world a better place,” he said.

In a coup for the filmmakers, the documentary’s two biggest stars, Dr Lipton and Dr Bush, will help promote the film via their social platforms forms giving the movie a reach of about a million people.

The duo have also partnered with Australian crowd source screening platform Fan Force to secure local and international cinema screenings.

“Fanforce work closely with cinemas, based on fan support and fan promotion,” Mr Douglas said.

The trailer for the film can be viewed via the Facebook page Earth Heroes or at earthheroestv.com and tickets for the debut can be purchased via Eventbrite.

CAIRNS Entsch To Recontest

IN a shock announcement, Federal member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch announced he would contest the coming Federal Election.

Previously Entsch had announced he would retire at the end of this term to spend more time with his family

The prospect of Entsch’s retirement had opened the door for several locals with federal representation aspirations.

Cairns Regional Councillor Brett Olds and Nicole Tobin were both likely contenders for pre-selection. Entsch’s decision has forced both contenders to shelve their plans.

In a media statement earlier this week, announcing his decision to recontest the election Entsch stated:

“In 2019, on election night, I announced that I would not recontest the next federal election, as I felt the time was right to pursue other interests outside politics.

However, that decision was made well before the global COVID-19 pandemic was even thought of, or before it reached our shores.

Our region was one of the first to be severely impacted by the pandemic and we will be one of the last to recover.

I was recently approached by several tourism, business and community leaders across the region urging me to reconsider my retirement plans.

Their argument was they needed my experience, connections and credibility as a senior government member, as well as the experience of my wonderful staff, to maximise opportunities for the region as we begin the recovery phase.

They are firmly of the view this is certainly not the time for change.

Therefore, after careful consideration I have decided to recontest the next federal election which is due to be held before May 2022.

It is certainly not a decision I made lightly.

There were many sleepless nights and heartfelt discussions with my beautiful wife Yolonde and my family before I finally came to this decision.

Sadly, as I said earlier, our community will continue to face many challenges over the next few years as we begin our recovery from the global pandemic.

It will be a tough road but one we will navigate together.

I feel it is incumbent on me during these uncertain times to continue to support our community and its residents for as long as it takes along this road.

My experience will ensure our community continues to have strong, effective and stable leadership during these unprecedented times.”

Paronella Park a winner with the Grey Nomads

PETER MCCULLAGH

FAR North Queensland tourism attraction Paronella Park was recognised this week in the annual 2020 Grey Nomad Awards.

Paronella Park won the Silver award for Best Grey Nomad Attraction or Tour.

The Grey Nomad Awards is a niche tourism excellence program that shines a light on the best stays, attractions, tours and events on offer for older travellers throughout regional Australia.

The Awards are judged by tourism leaders from across the country who offer valuable insights and detailed feedback to each entrant, ensuring nominees have practical tips to improve their tourism offering for the future benefit of their business, their community, the tourism industry and visitors.

Australians aged over 55 represent one of the biggest opportunities in domestic tourism recovery, possessing 32% of Australia’s disposable income along with the flexibility and motivation to travel.

Despite travel restrictions, 42.4 million nights were spent caravanning or camping in the 12 months up to September 2020, generating $5.7 billion. Of that total, mature-age Australians contributed $2.508 billion – 44 cents in every dollar spent.

Paronella Park owners Mark and Judy Evans attended the award ceremony on the Sunshine Coast.

“The Grey Nomad market is an important part of our business and we have always had a strong connection with this market.

“The Grey Nomads have been a key contributor to our business success and in the past years our recovery during COVID,” he said.

At the awards nine of the 15 awards, including the Best of the Best top gong, went to Queensland tourism and hospitality operators, further reinforcing the importance of grey nomads to the COVID recovery in Queensland.

The Queensland winners were: • Gold Winner Best Grey Nomad Attraction or Tour: Bar-

ramundi Discovery Centre &

Hatchery Karumba (Tropical North Queensland) • Gold Winner Best Grey Nomad Farm or Station Stay:

Charlotte Plains Outback

Magic, Cunnamulla (Outback Queensland) • Gold Winner Best Grey Nomad Pub Stay: The Wellshot Hotel, Ilfracombe (Outback Queensland) • Gold Winner Best Grey Nomad Small Caravan Park:

Mt Larcom Tourist Park

(Gladstone)

• Silver Winner Best Grey Nomad Attraction or Tour:

Paronella Park, Mena Creek

(Tropical North Queensland) • Silver Winner Best Grey Nomad Council Free Stay:

Nindigully Tourist and Vis-

itor Area (Outback Queensland) • Bronze Winner Best Grey Nomad Attraction or Tour:

Mary Valley Rattler, Gympie

(Sunshine Coast) • Bronze Winner Best Grey Nomad Small Caravan Park:

G’day Charters Towers

Tourist Park (Townsville).