SOUTH EAST COMMUNITIES GO ALL OUT TO CELEBRATE QLD’S 150TH

From a world music and cuisine market to a tribute to Queensland film pioneer Charles Chauvel, communities in Brisbane’s South East have pulled out all stops to celebrate next year’s Queensland’s 150^th Anniversary, Premier Anna Bligh said today.

“There is outstanding interest for the remaining $2.4 million for the third and final round of the $4 million Q150 Community Funding Program,” she said.

The program, initiated by the Government, helps communities stage their own 2009 celebrations.

“Once again creative events and activities dominate the line-up.

“Nine community applications from Brisbane’s South Eastern suburbs have successfully applied for $85,917 in the third and final round of Q150 Community Funding.

“They include Brisbane Multicultural Arts Centre’s Q150 World by Night Market of world music and world cuisine celebrating the cultural and cuisine benefits that migrants and refugees have brought to Queensland, and Dr Debra Beattie from Griffith University’s tribute to Charles Chauvel.

“Mr Chauvel pioneered Queensland film with the making of the epic tale of the ‘Sons of Matthew’’ which was filmed in South East Queensland in 1947.

“It’s great to see communities so excited about celebrating our 150^th anniversary of separation from New South Wales.

“We’ve come a long way since 1859 and we have plenty to celebrate.

“Today’s Proclamation Day and 21 sleeps until we start our biggest birthday year yet.

“We’ve added more than 300 successful community commemorative projects to the Q150 groundswell of activity that’s building up for next year.

“Queenslanders now have almost 500 Queensland Government-funded community activities they can enjoy or participate in around the State.

“This is on top of the major touring events like the Q150 steam train, Q150 shed and Q150 Film Festival.

“Queensland turns 150 only once and we’re doing everything we can to make sure celebrations touch as many Queenslanders as possible.

“From Weipa and the Torres Strait Islands in the North to Bedourie in the Far West and the Gold Coast in the South, there’s a Q150 activity for everyone.

“2009 is our year! Get ready to enjoy the events, the commemorations and the many creative ways you’ve come up with to mark this milestone in your own communities.”

South East Q150 Community Funding projects in Round 3:

Australian National Choral Association, Holland Park, $10,000. The Queensland Youth and Community Choral Festival will present premier performances of the most exciting and current choral works in venues such as Brisbane City Hall, an icon of Queensland’s history. The aim is to showcase Queensland Community Choirs and the young singers of today. Queensland composers will be commissioned to write choral works specifically to celebrate Queensland’s 150^th anniversary. All works will be premiered at the choral festival.

Dr Debra Beattie, Woolloongabba, $10,000. How they made ‘Sons of Matthew’, a narrated DVD compilation celebrating the contribution of Queensland film pioneer Charles Chauvel to Queensland’s cinema history in the making of the epic tale of ‘Sons of Matthew’. The DVD will narrate the development and production of one of the most difficult but financially successful endeavours of Charles and Elsa Chauvel. In 1947, it was filmed in South East Queensland.

Brisbane Multicultural Arts Centre, Kangaroo Point, $10,000. Q150 World by Night Market of world music and world cuisine celebrating the important cultural and cuisine benefits that migrants and refugees have brought to the Queensland culture in the past 150 years. Dishes sold will be accompanied by information about the ingredients and their origins. The event will also include cooking workshops. The opening will feature an Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony and a blessing of country from a local Indigenous group.

Colonial Forces Study Group (Qld), Camp Hill, $9900. Citizen soldiers in colonial Queensland documents and acknowledges the role and contribution of citizen military forces in Queensland from1859 to the establishment of the Commonwealth Military Forces in 1901. Prior to Federation each Australian colony was responsible for its own defence. When Queensland separated from New South Wales in 1859 there was no army to protect its coastline. A military force composed of local volunteers. Units were formed in more than 40 Queensland towns from Stanthorpe to Thursday Island, Hughenden to Sandgate and an estimated 30,000 citizens undertook some form of military service on behalf of the colony between 1859 and 1901.

Coorparoo Secondary College Parents and Citizens Association, $10,000. The 2009 Coorparoo River Fest which began in 2007 will be dedicated to Q150 in 2009 through celebrations of the history of Norman Creek and its surroundings, including the College. The Fest will promote stewardship of Norman Creek. Students will research the European and Indigenous history of the Coorparoo area and express their creativity through workshops in music, dance, art and sport.

Madeleine Marx-Bentley, Greenslopes, $10,000. Torbreck 50^th Anniversary Photographic Portrait project, based on the 50^th anniversary of the Torbreck Home Units, Queensland’s first multi-storey home units built 1985/59 at Highgate Hill. Architects Job & Froud designed the building with Queensland’s climate in mind. The units were constructed by famous Murgon-born Queenslander, Noel Kratzmann. Torbreck featured innovative space-sharing concepts, a new standard of housing affordability and new construction techniques such as Kratzmann’s ‘lift-slab’ method. Torbreck revolutionised Queensland urban living.

Mandolins in Brisbane Music Club Inc, Kangaroo Point, $10,000. Mandolins Celebrating Q150 is the story of the European exploration of Queensland, the first meeting between Europeans and the Indigenous community, the part played by ethnic European groups, the secession from New South Wales and the growth and development of Queensland to the present day. The project is supported by the club’s Brisbane members, including those with ethnic links to early settlers as well as mandolin players throughout Australasia and overseas. The Mandolins Celebrating Q150 concert will be staged in July at St John’s Cathedral in Brisbane.

Mission Australia, Stones Corner, $10,000. A historical DVD mapping the growth and changes of Mission Australia from its humble beginnings in Brisbane and celebrating the organisation’s 150^th anniversary as well as Queensland’s 150^th anniversary in 2009. Mission Australia began as the Town and Country Mission in Brisbane in 1859 before changing its name to Mission Australia in 2000. Today, the organisation has more than 3000 employees helping more than 300,000 people each year Its aim is to combat homelessness, assist families and children to overcome hardship, support disadvantaged young people, deliver entry-level training and help unemployed people find permanent work.

Wellers Hill State School Parents and Citizens Association, $6017.25. The Wellers Hill State School Q150 Mural will brighten a 100m besser block retaining wall on Toohey Road and 10m wall on Weller Road. At the same time it will highlight and celebrate the award winning art program which has seen students win many art prizes at independent competitions. Artwork on the wall will commemorate the history of Wellers Hill and Tarragindi.

Q150 program of events is available online at www.q150.qld.gov.au. More events are uploaded weekly. Printed programs will be available in local newspapers week commencing 25 January 2008 with a second printed program planned mid-year.

Media inquiries: 3224 4500

Janet Wyvill, Treasurer, Australian National Choral Association,1300 74 224, admin@anca.org.au

Dr Debra Beattie, 0423 798 247 debra.beattie@griffith.edu.au

Bronte Morris, Chief Executive Officer, Brisbane Multicultural Arts Centre, 3391 4433, director@bemac.org.au

Brian Rough, Chair, Colonial Forces Study Group (Qld), 3403 4914, brian.rough@brisbane.qld.gov.au

Ernie Tye, President, Coorparoo Secondary College Parents and Citizens Association,0416 123 913, ernietye@aapt.net.au

Madeleine Marx-Bentley, 0402 212 148, madaleine@marxbentley.com

Willi Green, President, Mandolins in Brisbane Music Club Inc, 3391 0662, mandolinsinbrisbane@bigpond.com

MaryAnne, Morgan Account Executive, 3394 8152, morganmar@missionaustralia.com.au

Leigh Scott, Wellers Hill State School Parents and Citizens Association,3848 0311, lsco6@ed.edu.au