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Healthy Honeyant musical a giANT hit! by Julie McAllan 15 August 2013
Y
amba’s Roadshow, the Central Australian healthy living musical starring Yamba the Honeyant and Jacinta Price, has just returned from another hugely successful tour in Queensland. A total of over 2100 children and adults were entertained by the best friends when they performed to audiences in Cairns, remote Torres Strait Island communities of Horn Island, Thursday Island, Hammond Island, Badu Island, Kubin and St Paul’s Villages on Moa Island as well as Bamaga on the far North Western Cape York Peninsula. The largest crowd of around 650 was at Bamaga, and included an allocated area for babies in high chairs. “No one wanted to miss out…”, Producer Julie McAllan said, “…young children from childcare centres and schools, as well as representatives from the health centres, councils and surrounding communities all attended. Hundreds of children chanted Yamba’s name prior to every performance, they couldn’t wait to see the rockstar honeyant!” After each roadshow performance, Yamba and Jacinta give every preschooler a toothbrush as well as resources to teachers, childcare centres, parents and health clinics as part of the followup to the health messages presented. They keep in contact and make sure the resources are being used so that the messages are remembered by the children and adults. Many schools of towns and communities where the show has been presented are
Yamba the Honeyant and best friend Jacinta Price. Image supplied
now using the Roadshow musical CD as part of their health education program. Yamba’s Roadshow is getting ready to go on tour again next week. The Cape York Peninsula communities of Kowanyama, Pormpuraaw, Aurukun, Coen and Lockhart River are all ANTastically excited about their favourite television character visiting. Upon their return to Alice
Springs, Yamba and Jacinta will be off again to Sydney for the 2013 Deadly Awards, where Yamba’s Playtime has been nominated for the Education Award. Yamba’s Playtime has been educating children for 18 years, and with Yamba’s Roadshow being a solid part of many schools’ health education program, Yamba and Jacinta are hoping that this year will be their year.
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