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Film festival fun in focus

Yeppoon is set to come alive for the Capricorn Film Festival from 12-16 January.

There will be something for everyone dotted in and around the popular seaside town according to festival director Luke Graham.

Luke said the festival, like a lot of events is making it’s return in 2022 after a Covid Hiatus.

“It is held at the picturesque Yeppoon which is Central Queensland’s tourist locale,” he explained.

“For people touring the country, holidaying, Yeppoon is where you would go – especially gray nomads when you’re travelling around. So our audience is probably fits into that demographic.”

In 2021 the event was canned four weeks out following a spike in cases at Christmas in NSW so they were requested to cancel by the State Government.

“Last year was the only that we’ve missed since we started but it affected everyone,” Luke said.

“This year we’re excited and moving ahead with it. Activities include feature films, documentaries, Australian and international premieres as well as a short film competition.

“All that is what you’d expect at a film festival like this but we have some pretty cool activities that we’ve expanded into in the past two or three years. We are moving into encompassing other art forms in the festival.

“Yeppoon has a lovely promenade on the beach and we’ve actually got filmthemed glow in the dark painted art exhibitions that will be all along the path.

“So we’ve got some really exciting things for people at night – for families.”

There will be outdoor screening events and indoor art gallery viewing events and activities.

“The intention is to activate key locations around the town,” he said.

“If you want to do something you can go to an art gallery or go to a movie or walk along the beach. You can sit and watch a movie at the amphitheater overlooking the water. We’ve got activities for youth as well – video gaming events. We are trying to encompass things that families can go to. You can take your family or go by yourself to events – we are trying to tick as many boxes as we can so we can entertain and inspire an audience.”

He said it was a great place to take the grand kids if their parents are working.

“It is a little bit hotter up here at Central Queensland than it is in the South East but during those Christmas holiday period we’re that event for the region where people can come and do activities as extended families.”

For tickets and more information head to capricornfilmfestival.org Yeppoon becomes the centre of the Australian film industry for a few days each January.

Screenings, premieres and exhibitions - there’s something for everyone. Get set for the return of the film festival.

Choose Health and Get Active for Healthy Ageing

Noosa Council’s Ageing Well Program for over 65’s encourages individuals to get active so they can stay fit and independent. Free or low-cost activities around Noosa.

Visit ‘Noosa Seniors’ on Council’s website for more details.

Enjoying life

As the days get longer Sunshine Coasters will be getting out and enjoying the great outdoors using the Coastal Pathway and its access to the Sunshine Coast’s coastline.

The Coastal Pathway offers residents a safe, off-road, connected pathway from Bells Creek in the south to Coolum in the north.

Sunshine Coast Council have run ‘pop up’ stalls along the pathway during November and December to showcase pathway features and share tips to ensure everyone enjoys their coastal pathway experience.

Mayor Mark Jamieson said the Coastal Pathway was a terrific recreational asset for locals and visitors and also served a valuable transport function.

“We have some of the most scenic coastline in Queensland right on our doorstep, and the Coastal Pathway provides free and easy access for all,” Mayor Jamieson said.

“With many people using the pathway, it’s vital that we’re considerate of others while we’re out and about.”

Sunshine Coast Council Environment and Liveability Portfolio Councillor Peter Cox said the Coastal Pathway would also be showcased to local, domestic and overseas audiences with the release of a video series on council’s YouTube channel showing the beauty and diversity of the pathway.

“Locals, visitors and potential visitors can take in the scenery, enjoying the view from various locations along the way and planning where they’d like to take their next ride,” Cr Cox said.

The videos feature the full length of the Coastal Pathway in easy to watch segments will be available on council’s website by searching ‘Coastal Pathway’ or on council’s YouTube channel at youtube.com/ playlist?list=PLN6q_1UaRZU5Lu_ wqC_e6vNmZYGox9Y0-.

Check out the new Coastal Pathway campaign by visiting sunshinecoast. qld.gov.au/Experience-SunshineCoast/Pathways-tracks-and-trails/ Coastal-Pathway

Council reminds everyone to share the path when out and about. All users should have respect for others and slow down, keep left, pass on the right, and don’t block the pathway for others.

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The famous street parade. Demonstations by chefs.

Apple and Grape delights

One of Australia’s most loved footstomping, grape-crushing festivals is expected to ‘crush-it’ again in 2022, with plans underway to deliver the crunchiest ever Stanthorpe Apple and Grape Harvest Festival on 25 February - 6 March 2022.

In the cool high altitude of Queensland’s Granite Belt, Stanthorpe has been literally “crushing-it” since 1966, welcoming 70,000+ visitors from across Australia to celebrate the bounty of the apple harvest and the wine region’s grape crushing.

Known for its messy grape-stomping antics, the 2022 festival program delivers all the favourite harvest events: the fun of grape crushing; a hotly contested apple peeling competition; plus a three-day Queensland Country Bank Food and Wine Fiesta on 4 to 6 March.

The Food and Wine Fiesta brings together the Granite Belt’s gourmet foods, award-winning wines and craft beer all to one location under the shady trees and picnic tables, all to the tunes of non-stop live entertainment.

Festival entertainment and the party-filled atmosphere will spill out into the streets on the big finale weekend 4 - 6 March.

Crowds will gather for the must-see Grand Parade that runs through the very centre of Stanthorpe and once it’s rolled on by, in it’s place the program of free entertainment continues with the highlight grape crushing championships and the Rebel Breeze FM Street Carnival.

A line-up of live bands and an eclectic mix of buskers will fill the air, though the most impressive musical spectacle is the gathering of hundreds of musicians grouped in brass bands, pipe bands and thunderous marching drum bands who hit the streets en-masse immediately after the street parade on Saturday 5 March.

The first weekend of the festival, sees emerging young stars join seasoned buskers as they gather in Stanthorpe for the South East Qld Finals of the Australian National Busking Championships.

Buskers on every street corner Saturday 26 February is reason enough to be in Stanthorpe on the first festival weekend, but crowds come just as much for Sunday’s Banchetto Italiano (Italian Long Lunch) which celebrate’s Stanthorpe’s Italian heritage in such a riot of fun that it is guaranteed to sell out! “Our festival is held every second year, yet the last one feels a lifetime ago, because we were actually the last festival held in Australia before we were all suddenly introduced to Covid-restrictions,” explained Festival President Russell Wantling.

“Thankfully there’s no stopping the stars of our festival - the apples and grapes, and while they are out there busily budding and bursting this spring, we are busy at work pulling together the 10-day festival.”

“We’ve come through drought and fire in recent history and it’s left our little town stronger and prouder than ever,” said Mr Wantling.

“In 2022 Stanthorpe celebrates a huge milestone marking 150 years since Stanthorpe was founded, so you can be sure we’re putting on a festival celebration befitting the occasion!”

Highlights of the festival program include the Grape Crush Championships, Queensland Country Bank Food and Wine Fiesta, the Channel Seven Grand Parade, Rebel FM Street Carnival, the Apple and Grape Gala Ball, Apple Peeling and Apple Pie Competitions, Orchard Tours, Meet the Winemaker Events and much more, filling 10 exciting days.

Stanthorpe Apple and Grape Harvest Festival is supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland and features on the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar.

Stanthorpe is just 2.5 hours’ drive from Brisbane, three hours from the Gold Coast or Byron Bay and two hours from Toowoomba.

For more information and festival updates head to appleandgrape.org

Getting messy. Anyone for pie?

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Time to travel outback. Exploring Australia.

Time to make those plans

It’s time to start making plans travel plans for next year whether it be the southwest Queensland Outback, the rugged beauty and history of Tasmania or heading offshore to Norfolk Island.

CT Travel has released its itineraries for the new year, offering an exciting range of tours, from short getaways to two-week adventures. And the word to the wise, is to start thinking about it now before all the seats are snapped up.

“We have some really interesting tours lined up already,” Paul Brockhurst from CT Travel said.

“One not to be missed is a fly / Coach trip exploring southwest Queensland.”

The Southwest Loop will be over 12 days from July 19 next year and is an opportunity to cover the long distances the easy way.

Taking a flight to Longreach and then back from Charleville with Coach travel in between means there will, literally, be no hard yards.

But there will be plenty to see travelling by luxury coach through the heart of the Outback.

After two nights in Longreach and another two in Winton, the trip turns west to Boulia and then south through Bedourie, surrounded by Eyre Creek at the base of a sand dune – population 140 – and on to Birdsville for three nights.

“These are the little spots on the map that have so much to offer and are on many a bucket list but can be a challenge for many of us to get to,” Paul said.

“A spacious, modern air-conditioned coach is the most comfortable and safest way to travel the long distances on our highways and by-ways.”

The three-night stopover in Birdsville includes a day’s flight across the border to Innamincka in South Australia – population 44 – and a river cruise on Cooper Creek, famous for its role in the ill-fated Burke and Wills expedition.

The outback comes to life at sunset in a sea of red and orange and there’s no better place to see it than from Big Red, the first sand dune of the Simpson Desert, that stands at 40m high.

From there it’s through Windorah for a night in Eromanga – population 45 – the furthest town from the sea in Australia.

In another claim to fame, is that Australia’s largest dinosaurs have been unearthed here and visitors can “dine with the dinosaurs”. This area has been touted by scientists as the most exciting and prolific dinosaur site in Australia.

Then it’s on to Charleville via Quilpie, before flying home.

“These are the little Outback places we’ve heard of and now it’s time to find them and the many secrets they hold,” Paul says. “We know all the must-see places of interest, and fuel prices and accommodation aren’t your problem as it’s already sorted as part of the package.”

Also coming up next year is a 15-day tour of Outback New South Wales on the Darling River Run, from 26 April.

It’s a journey across open plains and far horizons, visiting Goondiwindi, Lightning Ridge, Burke, Silverton and Cobar and Broken Hill to name but a few.

Despite its name White Cliffs residents live underground to escape the heat, and that’s where visitors stay too.

Immerse in history, culture and natural beauty at Norfolk Island for eight days from 16 February, or head to Tasmania for 14 days from 7 November.

“There’s a lot planned and something for everyone,” Paul said.

“We’re ready to go.”

Full tours details of upcoming tours are on the CT Travel website.

Visit cttravel.com.au

February 2022

Norfolk (8 Days) March 2022

O’Reillys Rainforest Retreat (4 Days) Carnarvon Gorge & Wallaroo (7 Days) April / May 2022

Fraser Coast - Lady Musgrave Island (4 Days ) May / June 2022

Carnarvon Gorge & Wallaroo (7 Days) O’Reillys - Winter Escape (4 Days) July 2022

Western Qld Loop inc Birdsville (12 Days) August 2022

Lightning Ridge (7 Days) September 2022

Nth Qld Savanah Way (12 Days) Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers (3 Days) November 2022

Sun, sand and a salty tang

By Erle Levey

There was always the thrill and apprehension of running along the narrow path, through the bushland and native grasses of the sand dunes.

What would it be like? Would it be the same as last year? Would the tides have changed the sand bars?

Those were my memories of our beach holidays as kids.

Days were spent from daylight to dark at the beach or watching the fishing boats come in and getting something from their catch to take back to the camp.

There was nothing quite like it.

There were always ice-cream cones to be enjoyed from the corner shop, games of cricket on the sand, a beachfront carnival to wonder at, and the picture theatre of a night.

Coolum Beach is still that sort of place.

For many years it has been regarded as the sleeping tiger of the Sunshine Coast.

It is stirring. New shops, holiday apartments, landscaping of the beachfront Esplanade.

Yet there is also the rusty tin and plywood behind the glass and concrete facades of some of the buildings.

The beachfront caravan park takes you back to those childhood days.

Talking with long-time holiday-makers from the park, Coolum is very much what you see is what you get.

It’s the place everyone goes for a traditional beach holiday. One of the few where you can still camp on the foreshore, then pop across the road for a coffee.

It’s a place of fish’n’chips and ice creams, broad beaches and secluded coves.

Thongs and sarongs, singlets and tshirts, board shorts and straw hats.

The Dan Murphy liquor supermarket and the pub are both across the road. The bowls club, just a few hundred metres from the sand dunes.

The surf club was designed by Ken Down, who drew on his sailing experience to keep it open to the elements and benefit from the aspect for natural breezes off the ocean.

The old weatherboard picture theatre has gone … and its canvas seats. It was a place where Jaffas could be rolled down the timber floorboards.

The site is now part of an expanded community centre and parkland linking residential areas with the shops and the beach.

The picture theatre, originally the school of arts hall, has been relocated to the industrial estate for use as a men’s shed.

Then there is the boardwalk that clings to the cliffs and opens the beachfront up to all ... a forerunner of the future perhaps where public access is made for those not as mobile as they would like to be.

You can enjoy the dramatic views.

Part of the Coolum art trail. 254744 Between the flags at Coolum Beach. 254744

Coolum Art Trail: Short cut to the beach. 254744 The beachfront shopping strip at Coolum. 254744

The view from Lows Lookout. 254744 Coolum’s bays are some of the greatest surprises. 254744

Yet there is the beauty of walking on the beach … a golden 16km arc stretching from Noosa Head in the north.

It doesn’t matter whether tide is in or out, there is always beach to walk on, and a place to swim or to surf.

The slope of the sand is gentle - not the deep drop-offs of beaches to the south of Mooloolaba.

Time your walk right and you can get all the way to Peregian for a coffee.

Heading in the other direction, the Coolum Beach Public Art Trail starts just to the north of the caravan park. There are 11 featured works reflecting a diversity of artists, from communityinitiated projects to artworks by internationally renowned artists.

The entire Art Trail is about a 3km round trip, which takes a couple of hours if you are to take it all in, grab some photos, stop to admire the views.

One of the works is by local artist Blair McNamara who is regarded as part of the paint work.

Blair regards Coolum as the best section of coastline on the Sunshine Coast, especially the stretch from Yaroomba to Yandina Rd.

The whole hill is a natural amphitheatre with remnants of littoral forest.

It’s a town caught between two cultures … Noosa with its natural appeal and Maroochy with its economic heart.

Originally the road in from Maroochydore was the David Low Way to Tanah St, then up Centenary Heights Rd.

Somers store was on the corner of Yandina Rd and the Esplanade.

Blair said there were several key facts about Coolum Beach, and none so significant as Mt Coolum, the world’s second largest rock behind Uluru.

The volcanic dome rises 208 metres above its surroundings and is one of the most important square kilometres in Australia with more than 700 types of plant life.

The old Toboggan Hill would run from Lows Lookout straight down to the bays. Today it is regarded as a dress circle of Coolum real estate.

The bays of Coolum and Pt Arkwright give everyone a chance to enjoy nature.

Pt Arkwright is one of best areas to observe the geological changes in the cliffs and to investigate the marine life in the rock pools.

Surrounded by Noosa National Park, Coolum is in the middle of nature.

You can experience amazing sunrises, sunsets and moon rises - there are not many other places like that.

The occasional encounters with wildlife are fewer these days - koalas in the laundry, snakes in the garage.

Even so, they cannot be fathomed by the texting teenager. The main beach from the boardwalk. 254744

Fish’n’chips - always a favourite. 254744 Part of the streetscape. 254744

Esplanade-Yandina Rd corner, site of the old Somers Store. 254744 Looking north to Coolum from the headlands of the bays. 254744 Coolum Beach caravan and camping park, right on the foreshore. 254744 The lifeguard tower at Coolum Beach.

254744

Lonely Planet goes Scenic

By Tania Phillips

It has been named one of the hottest destinations in the world by Lonely Planet as part of their Best in Travel 2022 and we don’t even have to leave the state to get there.

It’s the Scenic Rim area in South East Queensland and it’s been a hundreds of millions of years in the making and it’s bouncing back after weathering the ravaging bushfires that made headlines globally.

Thanks to global travel authority Lonely Planet it’s a hotspot again and back in the global headlines but unlike last time it’s in a good way with the region becoming the only Australian destination to be named as one of the top 10 countries, cities and regions to visit in 2020.

This edition places particular emphasis on best sustainable travel experiences and named the Scenic Rim eight in the Top 10 Regions. Just an hour from Brisbane and 30 minutes from the heart of the Gold Coast, the Scenic Rim stretches from Canungra to The Lost World, Beaudesert to Boonah, Tamborine Mountain to Kalbar and is home to the ancient World Heritage-listed Gondwana Rainforests, historic national parks, charming towns and villages, adventure parks, farm stays, craft breweries, boutique wineries, ecolodges, tantalising gourmet experiences, world class camping and glamping and breathtaking spaces in between. “After bouncing back from the 2019 Black Summer bushfires with a raft of new attractions and a renewed focus on sustainability, the Scenic Rim in Queensland is primed to become of Australia’s low impact tourism power players,” said Lonely Planet’s Chris Zeiher.

“It’s such an untouched and diverse eco-based Australian destination. From the amazing food and wine to the incredible rainforest and bush walks and memorable places to stay, this is an unexpected pocket of Australia that has it all.”

“The thing that has struck me about the Scenic Rim are its people. The hospitality you’ll experience is off-thescale... the community will invite you in and make you feel like a part of the family. It’s a region that’s a shining example of a connected community that’s been forced to innovate in the face of serious adversity such as drought, fire and more recently Covid travel restrictions.”

Highlights of the region noted by Lonely Planet include Binna Burra Mountain Lodge and O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat, Australia’s newest Great Walk in The Scenic Rim Trail by Spicers, ecolodges Nightfall Wilderness Camp and Mt Barney Lodge as well as the six national parks. Summer Land Camels, the Scenic Rim Farm Box and Kooroomba Vineyard and Lavender Farm were spotlighted for showcasing local produce, while boutique wineries and craft breweries, farm stays and characters of the region were all championed.

Scenic Rim Regional Council Mayor Greg Christensen said being named in the Top 10 Regions in the world for 2022 was a major coup, but not undeserved.

“This is a region of plenty, of rugged ranges, valleys, winding roads and the most welcoming people in the world,” he said.

It’s the region of flavour makers, growers, farmers, foodies and tastechasers, of path-makers and of forward thinking people who have worked to create visitor experiences that are unique, authentic, educational and sustainable, and have persisted during even the most tumultuous and challenging times.”

Inclusion in Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2022 Top 10 Regions sees the Scenic Rim surrounded by outstanding company. The number one region for 2022 is the Westfjords in Iceland, followed by West Virginia, USA, Xishuangbanna in China, Kent’s Heritage Coast in the UK, Puerto Rico, Shikoku, Japan, Atacama Desert, Chile, Vancouver Island, Canada and Burgundy in France. For more information visitscenicrim. com.au/10-best-locations-to-throwout-the-picnic-rug-in-the-scenic-rim/

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Enric the Alpaca and Georgia Stekhoven of Mountain View Alpaca farm celebrates the Lonely Planet award. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

Elvis’ is in the building

The King may have left the building for a short while, but things are revving up in Central West NSW with borders opening and ever-popular Parkes Elvis Festival set to return 20 to 24 April.

The King-sized program is filled with more than 200 Elvis and speedway inspired events, including muchloved festival favourites Northparkes Mines Street Parade, Renewal of Vows Ceremony, Goodsell Machinery Miss Priscilla Dinner, free Cooke Park Main Stage Entertainment and Elvis Gospel Service.

The Festival will host new events, including a Speedway Exhibit of rare and classic race cars, meet-and-greet racing stars and virtual reality simulators. A Pin-Up Pageant will be hosted over three days of the Festival for rockabilly and vintage fashion lovers. For the theatrical, Sons of Sun is a wild rock and roll play about Sun Records, Memphis, featuring songs from Elvis, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Roy Orbison. For the first time, fans will enjoy four days of free entertainment from the impressive new performance stage at Cooke Park.

Starting as a small get together between like-minded Elvis fans in 1993, the Festival has grown today into an internationally renowned phenomenon, recognised as one of the top events in Australia and attracting 24,000 fans.

According to Festival Director Cathy Treasure this year’s Festival theme is Speedway, dedicated to Elvis’ 1968 musical hit about a race car driver with a heart of gold. Festival attendees are encouraged to dress in theme. Think gogo dancing girls, overalls, racing suits and red, white and blue. Top Australian tribute artist Mark Anthony will also stage a one-off special Speedway Show to celebrate the Festival theme.

“The Festival is so excited to return next year, bigger and better than ever with a huge program of activities,” Cathy said.

“Although we can’t celebrate on Elvis’ birthday like we normally do, we’re planning a big party regardless and look forward to sharing this iconic festival experience with locals and visitors coming to Parkes.”

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said the NSW Regional Events Acceleration Fund will help next year’s Parkes Elvis Festival deliver a bigger program of events.

“The multi-award-winning Parkes Elvis Festival will attract huge crowds of locals and visitors across five fabulous fun-filled days,” Mr Toole said.

“The Parkes Elvis Festival is considered one of Australia’s most iconic events and with a global media reach of more than 400 million people, this all helps to put a big spotlight on the region and bring welcome tourism dollars to local businesses

Tickets to all events are on sale now, including the Feature Concert Series which will see the USA’s 2019 Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Champion, Taylor Rodriguez, make his Australian debut with four shows performed across the Festival, backed by the dynamic ninepiece TIC band. Jeff Lewis host of the famous ‘Memphis After-Party’ at Graceland’s Elvis Week will MC.

The Festival will welcome a host of other top American talent with links to Elvis and the Speedway movie, including a virtual Q&A appearance by Speedway child star Victoria Paige Meyerink, and a chance to meet in person Charles Stone, tour producer for the Elvis Presley Tours in the 1970s.

Australian music legend, and Platinum artist Brian Cadd will be inducted to the Wall of Fame. The singer, songwriter, keyboard player and producer will be honoured as not only Australian music industry icon for over 50 years, but a continued force that is sure to set next year’s Festival off to a rockin’ start.

Adam Harvey joins the Festival lineup for Elvis Country Special, performing a tribute to Elvis’ many country music hits. The Festival isn’t just about all things Elvis, Australia’s colourful rockabilly and vintage communities are also celebrated.

There will be a host of workshops held where fans can discover vintage styling, revel in burlesque performance and even take a masterclass in drawing The King himself.

The preliminary round of the international Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest also returns in 2022, with leading Elvis tribute artists from Australia and abroad battling it out at Parkes Leagues Club. Officially endorsed by Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc, the winner will represent Parkes in the Semi-Final round of the 2022 Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest in Memphis, USA, during Elvis Week in August.

Tickets to all Parkes Elvis Festival shows, across the many venues in the city, will be available to purchase online, making booking your entire fiveday Elvis extravaganza a breeze.

Accommodation options are available, including camping and caravanning, in Parkes and surrounding towns.

For all programming and ticketing information, visit parkeselvisfestival. com.au · EVENT: Parkes Elvis Festival · DATES: 20-24 April, 2022 · THEME: Speedway · WEBSITE: parkeselvisfestival.com.au · LOCATION: Parkes, NSW, Australia