EQUINE ART THERAPY

New Sunshine Coast Equine Art Prize And Exhibition To Support Mental Health

Anew annual visual art prize and exhibition supporting mental health has been launched on the Sunshine Coast and is calling for entries.

Seeing the Soul: Hoofbeats Sanctuary Art Prize and Exhibition will be held at Cooroy Butter Factory Arts Centre from 31 March to 30 April. According to CEO, Barb Blashki, Seeing the Soul is a major fundraising initiative to support and promote Hoofbeats Sanctuary’s work by celebrating and showcasing equine art and raising awareness of mental health.

Cash prizes will be awarded for overall winner, painting/drawing, sculpture/3D and photography categories, as well as people’s choice award.

“Located at Doonan, Hoofbeats Sanctuary is a safe, restorative space that brings people, animals and nature together to improve the emotional well-being of some of the most vulnerable members of our community – those living with mental health challenges resulting from trauma,” Ms Blashki said.

“Our community is currently facing a mental health crisis and demand for program places is growing rapidly. Proceeds from Seeing the Soul will enable us to train more program facilitators and offer more program places. Equine therapy programs are a key part of the sanctuary’s work.

“The Sanctuary is home to a herd of ten horses and ponies, most of which have experienced big life stressors in their own lives, making them the perfect teachers,” she said.

All artworks, which can be either donated or submitted on consignment, are to depict a horse at liberty, free from all forms of tack and saddlery.

In addition to the donated artworks the exhibition will include a number of ceramic horse statues decorated by some of Australia’s most loved celebrities, which will be auctioned at the Closing Night event.

Conditions of entry and online entry form are on the exhibition website, www.seeingthesoul.org.au.

Breastscreen Queensland Mobile Service Coming To Kenilworth

BreastScreen Queensland’s mobile service will be back in Kenilworth from 28 February to 2 March 2023 and this time with a brand new van.

The van, which will be at Kenilworth Showgrounds, is equipped with a state-of-the-art breast screening machine and is a fresh and more spacious version of the previous model.

Chief Radiographer Shane Judd said: “The machine on board is the same as the ones at Nambour Hospital and all our other BreastScreen services, including our Gympie and Noosaville sites. Women having a breast screen can be assured of the same highquality service whether they visit the van or one of our other six locations on the coast.”

The design on the outside of the van has also been updated, but still includes the beautiful artwork by local Aboriginal artist, Yvonne Williams, entitled “Women Gathering”

BreastScreen Queensland provides free breast cancer screening for women 40 years and over. Women 50 – 74 years are strongly encouraged to have a breast screen every two years. There are appointments at the Kenilworth mobile service from 7.30am so women can book an appointment before work. Appointments take less than 30 minutes and no doctors’ referral is needed.

“Women should book ahead to make sure they can get an appointment at a time that best suits them.” Ms Judd said.

Bookings can be made by calling 13 20 50 or visiting breastscreen.qld.gov.au

THE FACTS:

• 75% of women diagnosed with breast cancer are over 50. Younger women do get breast cancer, but the risk of breast cancer increases dramatically after the age of 50.

• 9 out of 10 women diagnosed with breast cancer have NO family history of the disease. While women with a family history of breast cancer are more at risk, most women diagnosed have no family history of the disease at all.

• A breast screen every two years is the best way to detect breast cancer early, well before you or your doctor can feel anything.

MARY VALLEY FILM SOCIETY SCREENS 5PM 19 FEB

The Lady Eve, (G), made in 1941 runs 93 minutes. Program starts at 5pm and movie starts at 5.15pm sharp on Sunday 19th February. Doors open 4.30pm at Kandanga Hall on a fullsize screen.

As repeatedly requested, our next film is a comedyand a brilliant one!

Barbara Stanwyck and Henry Fonda star in what is regarded as a cinematic classic, a hilarious cat and mouse romantic comedy. Stanwyck, one of the period’s greatest actors, is at her peak as the queen of the “build ‘em up, knock ‘em down” strategy.

Director Preston Sturges also wrote the script for the ‘The Lady Eve’ film. Sturges was the first writer ever to win an Oscar for a script and, in his day, earned the highest salary in America. To summarise the amazing plot changes would be called a ‘spoiler’, something our Film Society never does! Trust us, when we say, ‘don’t miss it’.

Rest

Our screenings are FREE, with gold coin admission for tea/coffee and start with a 10 minute talk with Q&A from a Mary Valley organisation.

This month it’s Heinke Butt, President of Mary Valley ArtsLink, which includes Imbil’s new Art On Yabba Gallery.

Unsurprisingly after our successful inaugural screening of Bitter Springs the audience stayed back to chat to each other and about the movie. Some responses:

Anonymous: “I didn’t know much about Australia’s early history. It was a real eyeopener, thanks.”

Rod McPherson (Bella Creek): “Wasn’t going to come, but so many people said to come. Subject matter is pertinent to today.” And wife Cherry added “I heard about it and wanted to come.”

Dean Harvey (Kandanga): “The film was apt and well made and the monthly screenings are a great idea.”