When a car show is good for health

WHEN is a car show good for your health?

When it’s the ‘Muscle on the Mountain’ event supporting men’s health, set to rev up the Maleny Showgrounds on Sunday July 2.

After a few years’ hiatus, this much loved event and calendar highlight is back!

This year marks the tenth Muscle on the Mountain and once again it is all about raising awareness of men’s health with all proceeds going to support the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.

Of course it is also about great family fun and perhaps a little bit of motoring envy. Expect to see up to 1,000 amazing vehicles including Holden, HSV, Ford, FPV, muscle cars, street machines, hot rods, vintage and classic cars, motorcycles and more! There will be breakfast and lunch available with bacon rolls, barbeques, curries, pies and popsicles just part of the menu along with (don’t worry) no shortage of coffee vans. There will also be trade stalls and competitions a-plenty for the attendees including a peoples choice award so everyone can get involved.

The team of people behind the event recognised from day one that in Australia, prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men. They could see the great work being done by the McGrath Foundation for breast cancer and

Amped for industry success

THE Sunshine Coast is gearing up for a vibrant and connected music industry with the launch of the AMPED Light Industry Music Project. This groundbreaking initiative, supported by Arts Queensland with a $103,500 investment, aims to provide emerging musicians, songwriters, and music workers with the necessary tools to succeed.

The AMPED project, a crucial part of the larger Light Industry program based in the Kunda Park Industrial Precinct, will offer a wide range of opportunities. Mentoring, workshops, rehearsals, performances, and showcases will be organised in collaboration with key state and local organisations, as well as renowned local festivals.

Expressing her delight, Sarah Moynihan, Executive Director of Feral Arts, emphasised the significance of the investment, asserting that the Sunshine Coast is at the forefront of leading the way in arts and culture.

Ant McKenna, the AMPED Project manager, expressed excitement for the emerging musicians on the Sunshine Coast, noting that the project will provide it inspired them to do something focussed on the fellas. So just over a decade ago a small group of car loving Maleny locals got together and started the event. These Community stalwarts are now passing the baton over to the Maleny Apex Club, and the volunteers from Apex can’t wait to see you all on Sunday!

To date the event has raised nearly $80,000 for the Prostate Cancer Foundation and all involved are keen to see that amount continue to grow. Gates open at 7am for set up and a barbeque breakfast.

22 music industry workshops, eight venue showcases, and eight major external showcases and industry events. The program specifically targets early-career artists, equipping them with the necessary skills and connections for success in the music industry.

Admission is $5 (cash only) and under 12 year olds enter free, with all proceeds raised going to a great cause.

About 3,500 Australian men die of prostate cancer each year so why not head along to Muscle on the Mountain and help support this much needed cause.

Maleny Showgrounds are located at 13 Maleny- Stanley River Road.

Recognising the abundance of talent on the Sunshine Coast, Andy Ward (pictured right), Senior Lecturer in Music at the University of the Sunshine Coast, stressed the importance of the Light Industry project. Ward highlighted the region’s need for more grassroots music incubators to ensure that talented musicians reach national and international standards, while also addressing the issue of talent retention. and hands-on experience for aspiring professionals.

Sportsground saga

The Sportsground saga is probably in its 15th year without any sign of abating. Council is proving to be completely inefficient in the handling of a quite simple task, e.g. keep the campsite available for short stays. For years the volunteers of the BSMC gave their time and expertise to a cause that benefited not just the local businesses and the associated clubs but also put Beerwah on the map as a ‘RV friendly town’. As former president of the Glasshouse Country Chamber of Commerce I was involved in obtaining that recognition only to be stopped by beaurocracy and sheer stupidity from some departments in Council. This behaviour is probably normal in a country ruled by despots but is not acceptable in Australia. The people of Beerwah should stand together and urge Council to step back and take a long look at themselves. Maybe we should start a Petition? Just a thought.

Ursula Starkovsky

Critical thinking

My religious journey began when I asked the religious instruction teacher “If Adam and Eve and their sons were the only people in the world, who could they marry to produce the all the humans in the world?”. There was no response. Nevertheless I was enthralled by the huge biblical stories, pity the few women featured always suffered and the exquisite angels always male. I am still fascinated by tales of Greek and Roman gods and goddesses told by a teacher who should have been teaching us geography. Equally absorbing are the stories and beliefs of the various indigenous groups.

Since religious symbolism permeates all cultures in literature, art, music and theatre, and we would be so much poorer without the glorious architecture of cathedrals, mosques and temples, more a tribute to craftsmanship and genius, than a supreme being. It’s worth having a basic understanding at least of some religions. Far more amazing, rational and beautiful is the science of evolution, so wonderfully depicted in programs presented by Sir David Attenborough and the arguments against the existence of a supreme being presented by authors such as Richard Dawkins and the late Christopher Hitchens.

Rather, teaching the basic beliefs of at least the major religions, (they can’t be that different), would perhaps eliminate bigotry and so much catastrophe. Critical thinking should be taught, which would eliminate media trash, BS and the damage done by social media. Ethics would teach respect and financial literacy would mean a fairer distribution of wealth and less chance of being blindsided by the greed of others. In addition a genuine interest in politics would ensure the best of politicians.

Australia is said to be “the lucky country” but that’s only because we are so far from the worst of it. Luck is mostly a fluke; we could be the best if given the skills that really matter. Until then, as has been suggested, we are simply ’harvested’ from an early age to adore and give obeisance (as well as cash) to all that is false. But then Einstein believed that human stupidity was infinite and who could argue with genius?

ARW

Glass House