Top 10 things to do around the region

Published: 23 Jan 2019

There is plenty to do around the region this week, this Friday night join us to celebrate and recognise our local heroes at the Australia Day Awards Gala Dinner, come along to one of 10 council supported Australia Day events across the region and check out your local library for the last week of school holiday activities.

1) Curious Creature Robotics

> Gordon White Library
Wednesday, January 23, 10am – 10.45am (BlueBots)
Wednesday, January 23, 2pm - 2.45pm & 3pm - 3.45pm (Scratch)
> Dudley Denny City Library
Thursday, January 24, 10am - 10.45am (BlueBots)
Thursday, January 24, 11am - 11.45am (Ozobots)
Thursday, January 24, 2pm - 2.45pm (Scratch)
Thursday, January 24, 3pm - 3.45pm (Scratch)
Children aged five to 12 years old, create some curious creatures these school holidays at our craft sessions. Choose from a variety of supplies to create your very own curious creatures. Book online at www.mackay.qld.gov.au/whatson

2) VR & AR Workshops

> Dudley Denny City Library
January 23, 2pm - 4pm
> Gordon White Library
January 24, 2pm - 4pm
Young adults aged 12 to 18! Bend the world to your desire! Use our equipment to experiment with Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality technologies. Where can you go? What can you create? Book online at www.mackay.qld.gov.au/whatson

3) Bedtime Stories

Dudley Denny City Library
Thursday, January 24, 6pm - 7pm

A fun evening for all children and their families. The session features nursery rhymes, finger plays, stories, songs and a craft activity. Don’t forget to wear your PJ’s! Held during the school holidays. No bookings required. https://bit.ly/2DtazXy

4) Movie Night – This Beautiful Fantastic

Gordon White Library
January 25, 6pm - 8.30pm  

Young adults aged 12 - 18 years join us for a screening of This Beautiful Fantastic. Rated: PG Mild coarse language This Beautiful Fantastic is a contemporary fairy tale revolving around the most unlikely of friendships between a reclusive, agoraphobic young woman with dreams of being a childrens' book author and a curmudgeonly old widower, set against the backdrop of a beautiful garden in the heart of London. https://bit.ly/2MqNtng

5) 2019 Australia Day Awards Gala Dinner

MECC Plenary Halls
Friday, January 25, 2019, 6pm

P. Comino and Sons and Mackay Regional Council present the 2019 Australia Day Gala Dinner. Join us and say thanks to those individuals or groups that help make our region great. The Australia Day Awards celebrate and recognise our local heroes. Doors open at 6pm, with the official ceremony starting at 6.30pm.

6) Painting Competition

Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens  
Until January 25  

This is a fantastic opportunity for your children to have their artwork showcased in the February Lagoons Gallery art exhibition and also win a $50 Australian Geographic gift voucher. The competition is open to children aged 10 -17 years old. Use your imagination to create a piece of hand painted canvas art that reflects the theme, “nature”. As part of the exhibition we will ask members of the public to vote on their favoured art work. For more information, please contact the Visitor Services Officer on phone (07) 4952 7300 or email botanic@mackay.qld.gov.au - http://bit.ly/2R1bXZR

7) QAGOMA's APT9 Kids on Tour

Artspace Mackay
Gallery hours until Friday, January 25

The Queensland Art Gallery / Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) brings the interactive project APT9 Kids on Tour to Artspace Mackay! APT9 Kids on Tour includes activities developed by the Children’s Art Centre in collaboration with artists Pauline Kimei Anis (Bougainville), Sadik Kwaish Alfraji (Iraq/The Netherlands), Gary Carsley (Australia/The Netherlands), Nona Garcia (The Philippines), Vincent Namatjira (Australia) and Jakkai Siributr (Thailand). These activities are specially designed for children and families, enabling Queensland communities to enjoy key elements of the original exhibition at their local venue.

8) Australia Day Community Events

Saturday, January 26, 2019  
Grab your stubbies and thongs and celebrate Australia Day at one of 10 council supported events across the Mackay region! From lamington and pie eating competitions to water slides and jumping castles, there’s something for everyone. The Aussie themed events will take place on Australia Day 2019 (Saturday, January 26) at Andergrove, East Mackay, Eimeo, Habana, Mackay Harbour, North Mackay, Pioneer Valley, Sarina, Slade Point and South Mackay.

9) Mackay in Pictures, Through My Eyes by Jeff Jones Foto GraphiX

Lagoons Gallery located in the Botanic Gardens Cafe
Until Sunday, January 27

Local photographer Jeff Jones invites you to come and see his various works from around the Mackay Region. Jeff hopes he will raise people’s awareness about the conservation of our stunning local ecosystems and hopes that he is able to inspire others to get outdoors and appreciate our local region as much as he does. https://bit.ly/2klU2Nc

10) Greater Whitsundays Farmers’ Markets

Bluewater Quay, River Street  
Every Wednesday, 7am – 11am 

The Greater Whitsunday Farmers’ Markets returns for 2019 this Wednesday, January 30. Join the fresh local produce revolution and support our farmers by buying seasonal produce straight from the farmer. https://bit.ly/2FT49m3

Reminders:

2019 Sports Expo & Sign-on Day

Sunday, February 10, 9am – 1pm  
MECC Plenary Halls

Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal presents this one-stop-shop for locals looking to get active and involved with a sport, club or recreational pursuit. There will be over 100 sport and recreation clubs under one roof and residents will have the chance to meet some of their local sporting heroes and grab an autograph. This free event allows residents, both new to sport and experienced, to see what’s on offer in order to make an educated decision when picking a new sport or recreational activity.