Fraser Coast Scene | October 2023

A GUIDE TO THEATRE • ARTS • HERITAGE • CULTURE

THROUGH A COMPASSIONATE LENS

ARTIST PROFILE: MATTHEW NINNES

It took just sixteen minutes for Matthew Ninnes to tell a story filled with nostalgia, melancholy, love, loss and fierce protection, all with the help of a tiny goldfish named Polly.

The short film “But a Giant Leap for Mr Larkin” starring Australian actor Bud Tingwell, tells the simple tale of the friendship between a man and his goldfish and a very unusual event that rocks the quiet household. The film was so captivating that it found itself shortlisted in the Academy of Short Films and received recognition from Hollywood great Tom Hanks.

It’s his ability to convey emotion in such a way that sets Matthew aside in his field of videography. His heart is attracted to cultural backgrounds with rich history including his own Palawa indigenous heritage. Earlier this year Matthew was the recipient of an opportunity to attend the Dreamtime Storytelling Masterclass 2023 at the Winton Vision Splendid Outback Film Festival where he immersed himself in culture and creativity guided by Wiradjuri writer Sue McPherson and Guwa-Koa Elders. The lifechanging experience allowed him to embrace

COVER IMAGE:

Kasia Hartmann, Brolga Sculpture (1999), stainless steel. Photo: Matthew Ninnes.

Positioned on the corner of Walker and Lennox Streets, the Brolga welcomes visitors to the Brolga Theatre & Convention Centre. www.ourfrasercoast.com.au

/ourfrasercoast

his indigenous identity as he was encouraged to proudly dive deep and share the story of his people, thus embracing his love of his family’s storytelling and yarns from childhood. He emerged from the weeklong experience spiritually richer with a strong vision for a fulfilling future in film.

As part of his cultural storytelling, Matthew’s current projects include creating edgy music videos for Indian brothers, Victor & Bobbi Boota as they revive their late father Boota Mehraj Wala’s Punjabi folk music into pop culture. His commercial digital creations are evocative, punchy and dynamic with a fresh, vibrant feel.

He is an observer of life, gentle in his manner and humble in his nature, and it is these qualities that help Matthew see the world through a compassionate lens. He has dreams of telling the stories of those who have walked this land before him and in his own way, he will continue to be the teller of tales, just as his family did when he was a child, but through the wonders of modern technology, his voice will be heard through his digital pathway.

Fraser Coast Regional Council acknowledges to the east, the Butchulla (Badtjala) and to the west, the Kabi Kabi (Gubbi Gubbi) People, their connection to Country (land, sea and sky) and recognises the many places of cultural, spiritual, social and economic signiﬁcance in the community.

We pay our respects to their Elders – past, present and emerging. The Fraser Coast Regional Council also acknowledges other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who reside in and have connections with the Fraser Coast Region.

Story: April Spadina | Photo: Cody Fox

STAY INSPIRED!

This guide shares a taste of Council’s arts, culture and heritage program and was correct at time of printing. To keep up to date with the latest information visit our website.

We welcome contributions from our creative community. To ﬁnd out more email: ArtsCulture@frasercoast.qld.gov.au

Fraser Coast Scene is distributed free as a marketing and engagement initiative of Fraser Coast Regional Council. It’s about promoting Council’s programs and services by sharing stories of our arts and cultural community and their connection to Council’s spaces.

Contents are subject to copyright and may not be reproduced in whole or part without written permission.

www.ourfrasercoast.com.au

5 Walker Street, Maryborough 4122 6060 Box Oﬀice Open Monday to Friday: 8.30am – 4pm

A Little Life - Screening

Fri 6 Oct | 12.30PM, & Sat 7 Oct | 7PM

James Norton stars as Jude St Francis in London’s ‘theatrical event of 2023’ – Ivo van Hove’s staging of Hanya Yanagihara’s bestselling novel, ﬁlmed live.

Royal Czech BalletSleeping Beauty

Sat 14 Oct | 7.30PM

The Royal Czech Ballet returns to Australia with their presentation of the classic masterpiece, Sleeping Beauty.

Wendy in Neverland - La Danza Studio

Sun 5 Oct | 2PM

Through Hip Hop, Jazz, Tap, Contemporary and Lyrical Dance, join La Danza Studio as they take you on a magical journey into Neverland.

Les Divas: An All Male Revue

Fri 27 Oct | 8PM

Australia’s six-foot something songstress Prada Clutch plays the Goddess of Pop; Cher in her new show set on the Las Vegas Strip.

John Williamson - In Concert

Wed 1 Nov | 7.30PM

Perhaps John’s greatest legacy is making Aussies proud of their country and who they are. See him live before he ﬁnally ‘hangs his hat in Qld’.

Morning MelodiesChristmas with Karen Knowles

Thu 7 Dec | 11 AM

Join Karen for a wonderful selection of her hits, standards, new music and your favourite Christmas songs.

Morning MelodiesKing of Swingers

Thu 19 Oct | 11AM

Rhydian Lewis returns with Sinatra Through The Years –the most authentic sounding tribute to the unforgettable music of ‘Old Blues Eyes’.

Brolga Live @ Burrum Heads

Sat 21 Oct | 4PM - 7PM

Join Kelly Cork, Sam Maddison and a live band for an evening of great tunes and atmosphere. Community BBQ, coﬀee van and local emergency services displays.

WHAT’S ON | OCTOBER 2023

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FREE ENTRY Open Tuesday to Friday: 10am - 4pm

Weekends: 10am - 2pm.

EXHIBITIONS: UNTIL SUN 12 NOV

EVENTS

Free Film Screening: Flyways

Wed 4 Oct | 10AM

Follow migratory shorebirds as they travel the ancient ﬂyways of our planet, and meet the scientists, international lawyers and citizen scientists collaborating to save them.

Alan Peebles: Bird Man

Local wildlife enthusiast Alan Peebles painted 103 murals of local bird species on bus shelters throughout the Fraser Coast. Twenty years on from the ﬁrst of these murals, HBRG presents a celebration of the generosity, vision and community spirit of Peebles’ bus shelter project.

Girra: Fraser Coast National Art Prize

Girra: Fraser Coast National Art Prize tells the story of our reciprocal relationship with the natural world. In the ﬁnalists exhibition at HBRG see a diverse range of conceptual and aesthetic approaches to the prize theme of ‘people, place and the environment’.

Seniors Month Exhibition Tours

Thursdays | 10.30AM

Join a free guided tour of our current exhibitionseach Thursday in October.

WORKSHOPS

Material Play with Pamela Bristow

Sat 28 Oct | 10AM - 1PM

Explore the sculptural potential of everyday materials like rope, string and yarn in this hands-on workshop with local artist Pamela Bristow.

Images (top le ): Alan Peebles, More Birds of Hervey Bay (video still), 1998, 55 mins; (bottom le ) Monica Rohan, cut away (detail), 2023, oil on board, 61 x 46cm. Courtesy of the artist, Jan Murphy Gallery and Sophie Gannon Gallery. Old Maryborough Rd, Hervey Bay 4197 4206

311 Kent St, Maryborough 4190 5818

FREE ENTRY Open Tuesday to Friday: 9.30am - 3.30pm

Weekends: 9.30am - 2pm.

CURRENT EXHIBITIONS AT GATAKERS ARTSPACE

UNTIL SUN 5 NOV

An Aerial Perspective

Michel Scutts

Aerial photography of seascapes, landscapes and infrastructure.

Treading Lightly

Helle Cook

Illuminating a deep-felt fascination of being in and caring for nature.

Twenty23

St Mary’s College

Celebrating the creative works of St Mary’s College students.

WORKSHOPS & ACTIVITIES

CreativiTea

Tues 10 Oct | 10AM

Thur 12 Oct | 10AM

To celebrate Seniors Month, enjoy a delightful morning of conversation and creativity.

CREATIVE SPACE EXHIBITIONS

Maryborough Mental Health Week Art Exhibition 2023

FRI 6 OCT - SUN 15 OCT

Creative Generations

North Coast Region High School Students

FRI 6 OCT - SUN 29 OCT

Queens Park Sesquicentennial

FRI 20 OCT - SUN 12NOV

A selection of photographs and artefacts will be on display at Gatakers Creative Space to celebrate Queens Parks 150th Anniversary.

VelvetUnderground, drone photography. Turns of Time, oil on canvas. Detail of My Dystopian Future, Abigail Jorgensen, Creative Generations. Elleaha M (Yr 7) Self-Portrait

in the birthplace of her author PL Travers

Explore the heritagelisted, former bank, and enter a world where fantasy and fact intertwine.