Tag: Hervey Bay

What women want

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No doubt you have clicked on this post to read about that cheesy Mel Gibson / Helen Hunt movie from back in 2000 – when Mel Gibson was politically and socially acceptable and Ms Hunt* at her post Mad About You peak.

Well, I’m sorry for leading you astray as there’s nary a thought-reading bloke to be found here. As the title suggests however, I am offering up something which could be of interest to the Fraser Coast’s fairer sex.

What Women Want is actually an informal networking group for women of the Fraser Coast. I was fortunate to learn of the group’s existence just after my arrival here and it’s been a wonderful way to meet others.

WWW

The bimonthly gatherings aren’t just for business women or professionals wanting to network – although it is ideal for that purpose. I’ve attended one session where we did share ‘who we are and what we do’ – albeit on a whale watch boat while partaking in nibbles and drinkies.

Since then we’ve met at FitPole, where those insane brave** enough to try it had a pole dancing lesson; and the most recent session was at The Holistic Hub where the dozens in attendance got to briefly try some yoga before sharing in some delicious and healthy food.

And… there’s more excitement to come as the next WWW gathering actually involves a day trip to nearby wineries. Who said business and pleasure don’t mix?!

Anyone is welcome to the WWW networking functions. Well, providing you’re female – which is the whole point I guess. The group is always looking for sponsorship or hosting venues so feel free to contact the coordinators*** via the Facebook page if you have some suggestions.

Speaking of which… I want to learn how to make rice paper / spring rolls, so think I might suggest a cooking class. Well, either that or paddle-boarding.

* What actually happened to Helen Hunt I wonder. One minute she was ‘the one to watch’ and won an Oscar and the next minute. Poof. Gonski.
** I wished I’d been brave enough to try spinning about the pole but decided my inability to lift my body weight could have been problematic!
*** I should mention that the coordinators are volunteers and do a great job.

PS. I actually found out about the group at an informal Hervey Bay business social function – also held bimonthly. There’s also a Maryborough equivalent.

Foiled by Dame Christie’s trickery?

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A couple of months ago I held my breath and ventured to the local theatre only to find myself very impressed with Hervey Bay’s Z-Pac Theatre’s production of The Importance of Being Earnest.

In fact, the show was so remarkable I wonder if it set the bar too high for subsequent productions.

I know it’s kinda tragic but I’m a HUGE Agatha Christie fan – something I’ve confessed to in my Debbish blog. So, it was with great excitement that I went along to Z-Pac’s A Murder is Announced during its current season.

From The Fraser Coast Chronicle

From The Fraser Coast Chronicle

And… I have to admit that I was slightly disappointed.

Most of the cast were great, with Lorraine Lee’s Bunny, Brownwyn Bennett’s Mitzi and the younger cast the standouts.

I met Director Ken Lee at an arts event a month or so before the play and he mentioned the difficulty in translating Christie’s work for the stage. Perhaps that was partially the problem. It all seemed a little clunky to me and my friends and I agreed we were holding our breath on occasions, lest the actors forget their words or fluff their lines.

As I have a memory like a sieve and lack the confidence required to perform for an audience I have nothing but admiration for all of the cast and crew. So, while not having the panache of Z-Pac’s earlier Earnest, A Murder is Announced made for an entertaining evening out and I don’t feel the need to discount the local theatre anytime soon.

Relishing what’s on offer

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A couple of weeks ago my blogging and real-life buddy, KangaRue and I had the good fortune to attend Relish Food and Wine Festival at Portside in Maryborough.

Screen shot 2013-06-23 at 4.03.59 PM

Sadly I didn’t get to any of the other events: The Gourmet Cooking Classes with Villa Cavour B&B; Coast Restaurant’s Wine and Food Degustation Lunch; The Howard Park Degustation dinner at Muddy Waters; or the Banyan Bubbly Breakfast.

We both, however, lapped up everything on offer at the day-long festival itself.

KangaRue and her friends arrived earlier so had already attended some cooking demonstrations;  partaken in some wine tasting; and started the Dan Murphy Food and Wine appreciation session when I caught up with her.

My grandfather (aka Poppie) worked at the Bond Store back in the days it housed barrels of booze, so it seemed apt that James Squire Tales and Ales (beer and food matching) and port and liqueur tastings were on offer there.

A heap of local cafes and food stalls were on hand and a myriad of wineries offering tastings. I was won over by a Crane Wines Sparkling Shiraz – procuring the last two bottles! (I should note that they do deliver, as do many of the other smaller wineries participating in the event.)

I didn’t venture into the XXXX Gold Mini Retreat but it looked to be doing a good business and I loved that you could wander about with your beer or wine from stall to stall or simply sit at a table and lap up the atmosphere and entertainment.

Early rain didn’t deter crowds and I was impressed at the constant throng of people milling about. There was a $10 entry fee (for adults) which also didn’t seem to discourage locals and visitors alike.

With the Mary Ann steam train, kids activities, music and the Relish photo exhibition (and competition) at Gatakers Artspace, there was something for everyone.

relish

As someone who grew up in the borough (as a friend calls it) I love that these kinds of activities are now available. I only wish that – as a teenager growing up in regional Qld in the 1980s – I’d been exposed to similar stuff back then.

Congratulations to all involved. I was very impressed with the activities on offer and the quality of all of the promotional materials and publications. And I will DEFINITELY be making an effort to attend more festival activities next year.

Relish Map_2013_web(1)

Being Bolshoi in the Bay

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I’m excited that tonight’s performance of the Bolshoi Ballet in Brisbane will be shown as a live simulcast at Hervey Bay’s Seafront Oval. And best of all, it’s free!

ballet

Pic from QPAC site

I’ve seen a number of opera and ballet live simulcasts in London before, with picnic and blanket in prime position outside my old office in Canary Wharf. Getting the opportunity to see Russia’s elite perform Le Corsaire along with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra is a great opportunity. The Bolshoi haven’t been to Australia in almost 20 years and Le Corsaire has never been performed in Australia before. Having access to events like these is definitely a SilverLining on my relocation!

I’ll be bringing my Mum (aka Bubba, one of the Grandparentals) to see the Bolshoi’s largest and most expensive ballets, from the comfort of a blanket and chairs, while we sip on some wine and nibble on a picnic. Why not bring your own and come join us?!

Date:  Today, 4th June 2013
Time:  Live coverage from 7:00pm, performance starts at 7:30pm
Venue: Seafront Oval, corner of Main Street and The Esplanade, Pialba
Cost:  FREE!

Cheers, KangaRue 🙂

The pink balloon

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I have an embarrassing confession. Actually I have many I could offer up, but today you’ll only get the one.

A few weeks ago I was on my almost-daily pier walk.
As an aside… I live in Urangan and have long loved the pier (my love affair with the Urangan pier actually deserves its own separate post!). Indeed, I am able to ‘lose myself’ every time I navigate the old timber boards.

large fishAnyhoo, I love that each walk will bring something new… a guy who caught some massive fish, wedding parties and photographers, or (as I saw last week) dolphins frolicking.

However… this tale of completely understandable confusion took place a few weeks ago.

As usual I was out on the pier and lost in my own little world when I saw a pink balloon drifting along the surface of the ocean.

I had to look twice, or perhaps more, to make sure my eyes weren’t deceiving me. I kept expecting it to burst or drift off, but it floated along the water as if being pulled along by something unseen beneath the ocean.

So taken was I with this innocent pink balloon that I stopped a passerby to point it out before it drifted from view. As this had required me to remove my headphones and garner the fellow walker’s attention (ie. involving much effort on my behalf), I was a bit shirty that he merely grimaced uncomfortably – as if he was being harassed by a lunatic – and continued walking.

I pondered on this pink balloon for a day or two.

Where had it come from?
Where did it go?

And then… on my next walk I saw this.

pink balloon

Oh. Dear.

So much for my balloon-from-nowhere-magically-drifting-about-the-ocean theory.

I asked a friend and was told that the balloon-on-fishing line trick is used to keep the hook floating near the surface of the water, ostensibly for a certain type of fish.

Shit.

No wonder the passerby looked at me as if I was a lunatic.

Note to self: Learn more about fishing before next commenting on anything involving the ocean!