Top 10 things to do around the region

Published: 26 Jul 2021

Explore four new exhibitions at Artspace Mackay, cheer on Aussie athletes at the Olympics Live event or experience science at its best with a free community event at the MECC.

1) Four new exhibitions at Artspace Mackay

Void

24 July to 17 October  
Main Gallery, Artspace Mackay
Bringing together rich and diverse artworks from many of this country’s most exciting Indigenous artists, Void articulates the unknown as space, time and landscape. This exhibition is curated by Emily McDaniel.

Rosella Namok and Fiona Omeenyo: Sandbeach People

30 July to 17 October
Foyer Gallery, Artspace Mackay

Rosella Namok and Fiona Omeenyo are leading figures in Cape York Peninsula’s Lockhart River, the site of one of Queensland’s most important contemporary art movements. The term ‘sandbeach people’ groups together five language and kinship groups of the region who came together in the 1990s to collaborate in their expressions of country through art.

Focus on the Collection: Collaged

30 July to 17 October
Foyer Gallery, Artspace Mackay
Drawing from the Mackay Regional Council Art Collection, Collaged explores works from the pop art printed collages of Eduardo Paolozzi,to recent acquisition Flourish 9 by Jemima Wyman (Pairabeenee people), who has used photomontage to capture protest movements of her time.

Tracey Robb: The Lichen Garden

30 July to 31 October
Foundation Gallery, Artspace Mackay
Using custom tools and jigs, Mackay-based artist Tracey Robb’s crochet practice centres on the fauna and flora of tropical Queensland. For this exhibition, Robb has applied her skills and experimentation in free-form crochet to the world of lichen.

2) Paint and Glass Exhibition

July 27 to August 29
Lagoons Gallery, Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens Cafe
Husband and wife duo, Doug and Brownwen Le Boutillier share their love of nature through a variety of artworks, from paintings to lead lighting. A range of flora and fauna has inspired this exhibition and includes birdlife and sea creatures. The café is open Tuesday from 9am to 1pm, Wednesday to Friday from 9am to 2pm, and weekends from 8am to 2pm.

3) Free artist talk – Tracey Robb

Foundation Gallery, Artspace Mackay
Tuesday, August 3 at 6pm
Join Tracey Robb as she talks about her latest exhibition, In the Lichen Garden. Enjoy a first-hand discussion on the techniques and tools she used to develop this creative exhibition. Book your tickets here https://bit.ly/3BuFBdu

4) Free guided walks

Friday, July 30 at 10am  
Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens
Join our volunteer guides for a free guided walk in the Botanic Gardens. Walks go at a leisurely pace for about an hour wandering the pathways of the gardens. Attend a guided walk throughout July and August and go into the draw to win a voucher from the Lagoons Café. Phone 4952 7300 or email botanic@mackay.qld.gov.au

5) Multicultural Women’s Club

Friday, July 30, from 10am to 12pm
Mackay Women’s Centre, 418 Shakespeare Street
Women from multicultural backgrounds are invited to join the Multicultural Women's Club. The club is a sustainable, socially-oriented community, where all women can interact, integrate, and empower each other. New participants are welcome. For more information, please contact Val via email on vale@tnhub.org.au or phone 4957 2626.

6) Mackay Regional Council Libraries at Sarina Show and Rodeo

Saturday, July 31, from 9am to 3pm
Sarina Showgrounds
Drop in and say hello to the Mackay Regional Council library staff for an insight into the programs and activities available to library members. The 56th annual Sarina Show runs on both Saturday, July 31 and Sunday, August 1 with displays, exhibitions, stud cattle, prime cattle and ring events, rides and sideshow alley. Fireworks and rodeo will be held on Saturday night with music and entertainment.

7) Unearthed

Sunday, August 1, from 9am to 3pm
The MECC
Unearthed brings an action-packed program of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Maths) inspired activities, demonstrations and performances for the whole family. From Minecraft and interactive digital technologies to creative spaces, Unearthed is back with new experiences to suit all ages from the young to the young at heart. More information via https://bit.ly/3xTamGS

8) Olympics Live

Sunday, August 1, from 10am to 4pm
The Mackay Aquatic Recreation Complex (ARC)

Enjoy a free Olympic Games community event, hosted by Brooke Hanson OAM, Olympic gold and silver medallist (swimming, Athens 2004). Come along and cheer on the Aussie teams in Tokyo and meet Australian Olympians. Bring your own blanket or chair and your Aussie spirit. Find out more at olympicslive.com.au

9) Computer Essentials - Emails

Wednesday, August 4, from 10am to 11.30am
Gordon White Library
As more things in life move online it is increasingly important to feel confident in using email. The program provides older adults an opportunity to participate in fun, free learning sessions that will increase your confidence, skills and knowledge in the use of web-based email.

10) STEAM Club

Wednesday, August 4 from 3.30pm to 4.30pm
Gordon White Library
Imagine, invent, discover and create with challenging and entertaining hands-on activities. Sessions range from LEGO play to coding, science experiments to creative arts and much more. STEAM club is specifically designed for children in year three to year six.

Reminders:

Arj Barker – Comes clean

Saturday, August 7, at 8pm
The MECC
Australia’s adopted son of comedy returns with his brand-new hour of riotous comedy. Be prepared for some home truths, some vague truths and some information none of us are ready to hear, but won’t be able to forget any time soon, because Arj brings the hilarity and lots of it.  Age recommendation is 15 years and above. The duration is 90 minutes with no interval. Book tickets via themecc.com.au

Pete the Sheep – DBCT Kids’ Theatre Season

Tuesday, August 10 at 9.30am and 12.30pm
The MECC Auditorium
Pete the Sheep is a lively and mischievous award-winning musical for young audiences and their adults. Shaun isn’t like the other shearers in Shaggy Gully. He’d rather be styling than shearing and instead of ‘sheep-dog’, he has a ‘sheep-sheep’ named Pete. After being rejected by the shearers and their dogs, Shaun and Pete set up their own Shearing Salon in town and before long word is out and they are inundated with woolly clients! Book tickets via themecc.com.au