Queenslanders get ready to go maroon

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has encouraged all Queenslanders to show their state pride this Queensland Week by decorating with maroon.

“This year during Queensland Week, an annual celebration that centres around the state’s birthday on 6 June, we’re decorating the state in maroon and we want you to join us,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“On bridges and buildings, shopfronts, schools, offices, statues, homes and gardens, maroon will be everywhere when Queensland Week rolls around from 30 May to 7 June.

“Celebrating Queensland Week can be as big as lighting up landmarks in your town, decorating your home or working with your colleagues to turn your office maroon.”

Ms Palaszczuk said Queensland Week was a celebration of the state’s official separation from New South Wales.

“This week-long celebration centres around the state’s birthday on 6 June and acknowledges the ‘birth’ of Queensland as a separate colony in its own right.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity to reflect on what we cherish most about living in Queensland whether it’s our enviable climate, amazing scenery or the opportunities available to each and every one of us lucky enough to call Queensland home,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“Queensland Week will begin with an impressive start as I proudly announce the 2015 Queensland Greats. Five individuals and one institution will receive this impressive honour at a special ceremony on Saturday 30 May, and to mark the awards’ 15th anniversary, a posthumous category has also been added to this year’s awards.

“Also during Queensland Week, we will see more than 200 candidates from over 60 countries welcomed as new Australian citizens to our state at a citizenship ceremony on Friday 5 June. The ceremony will be followed by Multicultural Development Association’s Luminous Lantern Parade, which will light up South Bank Parklands from 5.30 pm.

“And on Queensland’s actual birthday, Saturday 6 June, select restaurants, cafes and food outlets will be offering special promotions in honour of our state’s big day.”

Regional Queenslanders will see 16 events across the state sponsored by the Queensland Government through the Queensland Week sponsorship program. These include communities from Normanton to the Gold Coast, Ayr to Windorah.

“Our regional Queensland Week events include a competition to find the quintessential Tropical North Queensland dish, a community fun run through a dry riverbed, a music and arts festival, and a food festival celebrating a healthy Queensland lifestyle,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

Queensland Week Ambassador, Dan Merrett from the Brisbane Lions, said he was excited to be associated with this week-long celebration.

“As a proud Queenslander, I’m looking forward to getting involved in Queensland Week and celebrating the many achievements, places and people that make our state so special,” Mr Merrett said.

For more information on Queensland Week and to access free resources to help plan your own celebrations, visit www.qld.gov.au/queenslandweek, like Queensland Week on Facebook or share your photos with @QueenslandWeek on Instagram.

Queensland Week is an initiative of the Queensland Government and is proudly supported by Hit 105, Triple M, 4BC/Magic 882, The Weekend Edition and Di Bella Coffee.

Queensland Week Highlights

All week

• Dishing up Queensland Week, Innisfail (Saturday 30 May to Saturday 6 June)
• Way Out West Queensland Week, Windorah (Saturday 30 May to Sunday 7 June)

Saturday 30 May

• Queensland Greats Awards, Brisbane
• The Queensland Week Cantor, Crows Nest
• Fraser Coast's Queensland Week Music and Arts Fest, Hervey Bay (Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 May)
• Queensland Week Normanton Community Food Festival, Normanton (Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 May)

Sunday 31 May

• Beef to Beach for Queensland Week, Yeppoon

Wednesday 3 June

• Croydon Queensland Week Golden Gate Picnic Day

Friday 5 June

• Queensland Day in the Office, statewide
• Queensland Week Citizenship Ceremony, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre
• Luminous Lantern Parade, South Bank Parklands, Brisbane

Saturday 6 June

• Queensland Day Celebrations, statewide
• Buderim Queensland Week Youth Festival, Glenview
• Celebrating Queensland Week, Dysart
• Gold Coast’s CBD Queensland Week Multicultural Celebration, Gold Coast
• Queensland Week Inauguration of the LCCA Community Garden, Laidley
• Queensland Week Walk Through Time, Boulia
• Sunrise Park Queensland Week Celebration, Emerald

Sunday 7 June

• Queensland Week Family Fun and Fitness Expo, Ayr
• Queensland Week Global Food Village Street Festival, Woodridge
• Queensland Week Richmond River R.A.T Run, Richmond

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