Hemp fairy wings

I have a friend in Australia (Nana) who makes these beautiful macrame fairy wings from organic hemp twine.
I hope to load more photos as time allows but for now I just want to get something up for your enjoyment.

If you have any questions or requests for special occasion wings eg: weddings, parties or anything drop a line into the comment box and I will get back ASAP

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Chasing the Lollyman

Chasing the  Lollyman  http://www.abc.net.au/speakingout/stories/s2964658.htm

 

 

 

 Brisbane-based Aboriginal Actor and part time Comic, Mark Sheppard discusses his new play, Chasing the Lollyman …

Chasing The Lollyman is a new one man play from Aboriginal Actor and Comic, Mark Sheppard.

Mark talks about the play and how as a kid, he used to chase a man dressed in a hessian bag with lollies attached to it.

Mark discusses how these life experiences of growning up in Mareeba in Far North Queensland shaped his writing of the play.

He talks about the themes contained in the show like the notion of what would happen if a Black family moved into Ramsey Street in the TV show, Neighbours.

In August, Mark and deBASE Productions take the show on the road to Far North Queensland. For more information on the tour contact: www.debaseproductions.com/

I was lucky enough to catch his show at the Kuranda Amphitheatre on Tuesday night and what a joy it was to watch. As Mark grew up in Mareeba there were quite a few friends and family there, who knew exactly what he was talking about when he referred to the ;Lolly Man’ Only a couple of days later I spoke to a couple of people who remembered the lolly man and those times at the river.

I would see that play again tomorrow, one came away feeling good. mark’s speech as a black prime minister was stirring and an inspirational contrast to the humerous antics of the rest of the show. The sound effects were clever and well executed by tim/// Do your self a favour if you get the chance, see this play. He was greeted by a standing ovation at the end of the play 5 stars from me.

 

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Rainbow Fair at Candlenut Steiner School

Candlenut Rainbow Fair  – August 28th 10am – 4pm

Candlenut Steiner School is throwing open the doors and would love to invite everyone to our annual Rainbow Fair and Open day on Saturday, 28th August from 10am – 4pm. Take the opportunity to come along to the school and see for yourselves the amazing work of the children, speak with the teachers and find out more about the Steiner methods of education, and let your whole family have all the fun of the fair! 

There will be craft stalls, treasure stalls, plants, preschool market stall, general market stalls, books, games, Merry-go-round, Steiner Bookshop, children’s activities, food, drinks and refreshments, Rainbow Cafe, live music, talks and tours, student performances,  and of course, the wonderful classroom displays of the childrens’ work.

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Zennith Boyz: Back from their ‘Nothing To Lose’ National Tour

Showing another Australian Perspective

Zennith are extremely passionate when it comes to cultural heritage. Their passion then becomes their lyrics. They take great pride in performing music in culturally diverse places. The way Zennith slot in to communities is icebreaking, and this ultimately opens doors for more indigenous bands to come on through…

“This band blew me away with their dynamic approach, well crafted set, and their never dull for a moment repertoire. This band of brothers not only brings with it a passionate love for music but also a very tight musicianship which pours onto the stage with ease and humility. This is a band that really has what it takes to bring it home to the finish leading a well crafted charge from their opening and familiar reggae styles all the way through to their explosive finale, a number that made me believe in rock ‘n roll again!”
from Triple J Unearthed http://www.triplejunearthed.com/artists/View.aspx?artistid=33199

Zennith will be performing at http://reggaetown.com.au/ and Kuranda Amphitheatre

 

 
 

 

 

 

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Thankyou for being there in body or spirit!

To everyone who helped, sponsored, attended or assisted in any way with putting on the Enchanted Rainforest event, as part of the Kuranda Spring Fair, a sincere thanks.

This year saw a different approach to the Spring fair, incorporating the 50th anniversary of the Kuranda Honey House : a milestone for any business and unique in Kuranda.  Celebrations were held in and around the Honey House incorporating a cooking competition (using Honey House  honey), a bee treasure hunt and the Honey Bee dance.

Local performance artist, Joelle Baines, lent a touch of magic to the day with her ‘Moving Rainforest’  interactive performance. Greeting people as she circulated around the ‘markets’. Her costume is pretty impressive. See more at http://www.movingrainforest.com

Sunday we enjoyed the most beautifully decorated birthday cake made by our own Lisa Dewey.

Thankyou to the community groups who came and supported the event, we appreciate your efforts and trust next year will bring even greater involvement from the community. Community groups set up in and around the park opposite the markets area and other activities including the Siren’s corset fashion parade, busking competition, the film “The Whale Dreamers”,  Enchanted Rainforest exhibition and drum and fire circle were held in the Original Kuranda Rainforest Markets. The Nevermind Cafe held the Song Writers competition and the Poet’s breakfast was held at the Queen Bee Cafe. Kelly Malone launched her new cd at the Kuranda Resort and Spa on Saturday night.

Thanks to all the buskers who took part in the busking event, you put such an enjoyable show that Jerome decided to split the prize money between the entrants who were there on the last day of the fair. Over the weekend we were lucky enough to be entertained with theatre, magic circus and song.

The Honey House celebrations were popular with the kids, especially the treasure hunt and dress up activities.  Congratulations Honey House on reaching icon status.Thanks to Sally as well for organising a children’s wand and mask making workshop over the weekend.

Clive put together a magic exhibition of mandala art inspired by connection to nature, with beautiful stories of each piece accompanying them. Alongside the exhibition Nino had his musical tree instrument which he was happy to let people play. (Still waiting on some good photos of both the exhibition and the tree instrument)

Another l feature of the weekend was the photo exhibition put together by the Kuranda Camera Club, thanks for putting that together at short notice. Look forward to seeing more of their photos in the future.

Daniella Jones, a local artist, organised the children’s art exhibition, which was well represented in two categories. Congratulations to the winners. Please check out Daniella’s work at www.daniellajones.com and www.wildarttiles.com

The market program would not have been complete without the drumming and fire circle which started later in the afternoon. As we entered into the evening a good crew of drummers, twirlers and poi performances kept the audience entertained as they relaxed around the fire with hot chai. While over at the Kuranda Resort and Spa, Kelly Malone performed songs from her new cd.

Here are some of the first photos to come through, more to follow as they become available. there are some great photos of the moving rainforest and some of the bigger fairies to come.

firetwirling at the fire and drumming circle

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Kuranda Spring Fair 2009: Enchanted Rainforest

2009 KURANDA SPRING FESTIVAL

in conjunction with

HONEY HOUSE KURANDA’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS

11TH, 12TH AND 13TH SEPTEMBER , 2009

This year’s Spring Festival will be bigger and better than ever with fantastic forest fantasy events and the Honey House 50th celebrations in a jam packed program.

Theme: Enchanted Forest

Friday 11th Sept – the Spring Fair returns to its roots with the opening night hosted by Kuranda Amphitheatre at the Understage. Doors open 6.30pm

AND: Fancy Dress Disco for youth at the CWA hall 6.30pm – 9.30pm

Saturday 12th Sept 10am – 8.30pm

Sunday 13th Sept 10am –3.30pm

CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES

• Face painting
• Dress up as a honeybee – materials supplied OR come dressed as your favourite enchanted forest character
• Treasure Hunt – prizes for all
• Weaving Project – collaborative craft
• Time capsule – be part of history and help bury the 2009 time capsule – to be opened in 2029

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COMPETITIONS

Great Prizes!!!

• Children’s Art competition
  • Entries close Wed 9th September
  • Submit to Daniella at Wildart Kuranda Market Mall
• Busking competition
  • Register by 10th Sept to Jerome 0406204224
• Poet’s breakfast
  • Sunday 9am Queen Bee Café
  • Enter on the day – see David Jones
• Song writing competition
  • Enter on the day at Nevermind Cafe
• Best dressed – adults; children; dogs; bikes
  • Enter on the day with Lisa @Original Markets
  • Remember the theme is: Enchanted Forest OR Honeybees for the Honey House anniversary
• Honey House Cooking Challenge
  • Register now as places are limited
  • See Trish at Honey House

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All day activities

• Money wheel by Kuranda Kindy
• Children’s weaving project
• Street theatre
• Magic tree installation
• Face painting
• Foam play in the park
• Best dressed
• Sausage sizzle
• Enchanted Forest Art Exhibition

Siren Corsets Fashion Show

• Food, food and more food
• Heaps of stalls and displays by local community groups

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HONEY HOUSE 50TH CELEBRATIONS

• Welcome to Country by Gerald Hobbler
• Mayiwamba (honeybee) dance by our local indigenous youth
• Cooking challenge
• Children’s dress up
• Children’s treasure hunt
• Memorabilia board and display
• Equipment display by QBA North Qld Club
• Extra Special offers for all locals on all honey for Spring Fair weekend

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Kuranda Spring Fair: Enchanted Rainforest

Kuranda Spring Fair: Enchanted Rainforest

Wanted Magicians, Towncriers, Spell Weavers and Tree Huggers

This year we are going to celebrate the Kuranda Spring Fair in a different way. Due to an initial lack of community involvement, a group of stall holders from the Kuranda Original Rainforest Markets decided to put something together for the Spring Fair.

At one stage it looked like this would be the only venue and then the Kuranda Amphitheatre (where the first Spring Fairs were hosted) decided they would support the event by holding the opening night at the understage.

Shortly after that the Kuranda School P&C answered notices in the Kuranda paper with offers of contributions from the school. After consulting with Cathy Harvey from the Information Centre, it was decided that perhaps the parks could be used for non-for-profit groups, so that they could promote their talents and do some fundraising on the Saturday, and others wishing to hold private stalls could approach the markets about doing so over that weekend.

We know everyone is busy, including us, and if we all take on some small part, collectively we can put on an impressive and enjoyable weekend.

So far we are organising at the markets

Celebrations for the Honey House 50^th anniversary

Poet’s breakfast for the Sunday; coordinated by David Jones

Busking comp at the markets: organised by Jerome

Best dressed for ‘Enchanted Rainforest’

Film for Saturday night in the market pavillion

Face painting

Children’s weaving project

Best decorated bike

treasure hunt

Time capsule ceremony

Fantasy art exhibition

Art Auction (proceeds to go to Cairns Base Hospital)

Food stalls

Drum and fire circle

Night markets

Magic Tree installation

Fashion Show

Song Writing comp at the Nevermind Cafe

Steet Theatre by Focus Theatre

BUT we need more input from you!

If you have skills in organising and would like to help in some area, or if you have a great idea, or want to get involved in any way, PLEASE let us know soon, so we can pull it all together and get the times into the next Kuranda paper. This is about all of us working together to create something special. Remember the theme is Enchanted Rainforest and the community is YOU!

Dates: Friday September 11 KAS understage

Saturday and Sunday 12 &13 September venues to be confirmed.

Look for details in the next Kuranda paper or on this blog.

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Kuranda: Music in the Village

Kuranda has always been a place that attracts musicians and artists. We are so lucky to have a wealth of talent in such a small region of Australia.

At Earth Connections Kuranda, Rachel Shields, a talented musician and songwriter, has collected a range of musical styles on cds from Kuranda and surrounding areas to showcase independent music from this area. The quality and variety of the music never ceases to amaze me.

No post about music in Kuranda would be complete without a mention of the Kuranda Amphitheatre, a community run venue that has operated with volunteer-only status for the last 25+ years.

Over the years we have been lucky enough to play host to many national and international artists including INXS, Silver Chair, Midnight Oil, Yothu Yindi, Charlie Pride, Jackson Browne,  John Butler Trio, Missy Higgins and countless other performers, as well as both local and touring theatre productions.

This venue is much loved by artists and concert goers alike and it is no wonder as it is such a picturesque setting, with an atmosphere that is only created by people who are passionate  and committed to creating a sense of ‘special place” closely akin to ‘sacred space’ In fact John Butler, from the John Butler Trio, referred to the Kuranda Amphitheatre as “hallowed ground for performers” in a message he sent to congratulate the members on the 25th Anniversary. See www.kurandaamphitheatre.org

A popular event in Kuranda over the last few months has been the drumming circles which happen at the Original Kuranda Rainforest Markets on Sundays.

This is not only popular with the locals, but increasingly with visitors from other parts of Australia and overseas.  The markets have traditionally been a meeting place for locals and visitors. The informality of the markets combined with a space to create and play have proven to be an experience that people want to be part of.  There are many venues in town where music is central to the culture of village life and when this is no longer the case, then it is time to pack up and leave, because as Shakespeare wrote

“If music be the food of love, play on…”

Twelfth Night Act 1, scene 1, 1–3

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Kuranda: ‘Village in the Rainforest”

The picturesque mountain retreat of Kuranda Village is just 25km northwest of Cairns in Far North Queensland, Australia and is surrounded by World Heritage Rainforest.

Visitors to the village are attracted by not only the magnificant natural environment, but, as well, the relaxed and casual atmosphere of the place.

One of the best things about living in Kuranda, aside from this, is the wonderful sense of ‘community’ that is found through the many local organizations and  networks in the village itself, through the coffee shops and community venues such as the Kuranda Amphitheatre.

Xavier Rudd at the Kuranda Amphitheatre

“Dja-bu-guy” is the name of the tribe of Aboriginal people who lived in the Kuranda region. The present Kuranda village was “Ngunbay”, or place of platypus. An important camping area, with good fishing and hunting for locals, this all changed with the opening up of the hinterland for gold and tin mining. The access was along tracks of the “Bama”(rainforest) people, and through their country. “Gadja” (ghost spirit), or white man, had an immediate impact on the Djabugay people. In May 1886 construction of the Cairns to Herberton railway began over one such walking track, which crossed the ranges and went down to the coast. This was not popular with the Djabugay, who stood up to the white invasion by spearing bullocks and the occasional white man. They took worker’s food, as their traditional food gathering and hunting grounds were now either taken over by new settlers, or over hunted by the 1500 workmen living and working on the railway line. An infamous massacre, known as the Speewah massacre, occurred in the mid 1890s. Early settler, John Atherton, sent native troopers to revenge the death of a bullock. Other unconfirmed reports of similar atrocities occurred locally. Before white man, the population of the Bama people in the Cairns area was estimated at between 4000 and 5000, but by the turn of the century their numbers had rapidly declined, overtaken by the Gadja settlers. Coffee, the regions first cash crop, began in 1896. The Bama people were soon utilized as farm labourers on the rapidly expanding plantations around Kuranda, until well into the twentieth century. Many Bama became fringe dwellers on the edge of white settlements, unable to hunt and fish, or move around as they had for thousands of years.  referenced from

http://www.kuranda.org

The land around Kuranda has been home to the Djabugay Aboriginal people for more than 10,000 years and this vibrant indigenous culture continues to thrive today, showcased in traditional artefacts, fine visual arts, tribal dance (corroboree) and more.

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