OAKEY SENIORS STEP BACK IN TIME AT AN ‘OLD TIME MOVIE NIGHT’

Oakey seniors will step back in time tomorrow night (Sat 21 Feb) to take in Australian movie classics at an Old Time Movie Night organised by the Oakey Historical Museum Society to commemorate Queensland’s 150^th Anniversary year, Attorney General and Member for Toowoomba North Kerry Shine said today.

The movie night starts at 5.30pm at the Greenwood Hall at Oakey Showgrounds.

Mr Shine said many of the members of the community would don period costume to add to the overall ambience of the occasion and enjoy a traditional meal of stew followed by apple pie and custard for desert.

“It’s great to see a community going to this length to celebrate Queensland’s 150^th anniversary of separation from New South Wales,” he said.

“The $2450 Q150 Community Funding as well as support from the Toowoomba Regional Council and local businesses has enabled the Oakey Historical Society to stage the movie night and dinner free-of-charge.

“It’s this kind of generosity and celebration that the Q150 Community Funding program was designed to encourage.

“Queensland’s 150^th anniversary is all about our people, our places and our stories.

“This event is about Queenslanders enjoying times past and what could be more Queensland than sitting down to the Dad and Dave movie of On our Selection.

“It looks like it’s going to be a great night and a great way to mark Queensland’s 150^th anniversary year of separation from New South Wales.”

The Oakey Historical Society has selected movies from the National Film and Sound Archive in Canberra. The evening’s entertainment line-up includes two George Wallace films as well as Seven Little Australians, Bush Christmas and the Breaking of the Drought.

The evening’s traditional meal is cooked by ladies from the Oakey Show Society.

Entertainment is by local band the Blow Hards which specialise in harmonica, button accordion and lager-phone (stick with bottle tops) music.

Edith Kowitz, Secretary of the Oakey Historical Museum Society said more than 180 locals would be in attendance at the movie night and dinner.

“We’ve had such a fantastic response, it’s embarrassing,” Ms Kowitz said.

“The hall will be full.

“Most of the people coming are senior citizens aged between 70 and 85 and their children.

“It’s an opportunity for them to reflect back on the time when they were young and for their children to be amazed at how we all lived in those days.

“We’ll show On our Selection first and than a George Wallace film followed by as many films as people want to stay and see.”

Q150 Community Funding was introduced by the Queensland Government in 2007 to help communities plan and stage their own celebrations. The program offered grants between $2000 and $10,000 for community projects and events. In total $4 million in grants has been allocated over three rounds. There are more than 500 Q150 Community Funding activities and events being held around the State this year.

Visit www.q150.qld.gov.au for a program of Q150 activities around the State as well as a Q150 calendar of events.

Q150 is proudly supported by Bank of Queensland, Santos, The University of Queensland, Warner Bros. Movie World, Qantas, Bundaberg Rum, Clovely Estate, Coca-Cola, Austereo, APN News and Media, Macquarie Southern Cross Media, Network 10, Nova 106.9FM and Quest Community Newspapers.

Media inquiries: Lisa Taylor on 3239 6400 or 0488 741 689.