This monthly Events E-blast is compiled by the Scenic Rim Regional Council’s tourism department. If there’s an upcoming event you would like listed, or if you want your event added to the Regional Events calendar on www.visitscenicrim.com.au, please send the details to tourism@scenicrim.qld.gov.au

April Events @ a glance:

• He’s Alive! Moogerah Passion Play
• Rathdowney Centenary and Heritage Festival
• Beaudesert Camp Draft
• Rathdowney Campdraft
• Tamborine Rural Fire Brigade Mother’s Day Craft Extravaganza
• My Black Heart
• Graceful Decay
• Artbeats
• Great Aussie Campout
• Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow
• Strangely Familiar
• Morning Melodies wtih John MacNally
• Love Upon the Throne
• Michelle Nicolle Quartet
• Rhythms of Ireland

He’s Alive! Moogerah Passion Play
April 2 and 3 from 5pm at Lake Moogerah

If you’ve never seen the Moogerah Passion Play then put these dates in your diary.
This annual production of the Passion of Christ – his life, death and resurrection – is staged by the local community and involves up to 100 actors, technicians and assistants. Up to 11 denominations are involved in this ecumenical event which is staged in an amazing open-air auditorium on the shores of Lake Moogerah.
It’s a unique outing for the whole family. Food and drink are available during the performance.
For more information call 07 5463 5691 or go to www.moogerahpassionplay.org.au

Rathdowney Heritage Festival
Sunday April 4, 2010, Rathdowney Memorial Ground

Come and celebrate Rathdowney’s 100th birthday and learn about the region’s pioneering history. The centenary and heritage festival is an event for the whole family. There will be country markets, wood-chopping, blacksmithing and wheelwrighting demonstrations, as well as a noon parade featuring horse-drawn vehicles, mounted horses, walking groups and vintage vehicles. Live bands will play a range of music, from Celtic to country. There will be children’s entertainment, billy tea and damper and a barbecue.
Call 55441 222 or go to www.rathdowney.org.au for more information.

Beaudesert Camp Draft
April 9, 10 and 11, Beaudesert Showgrounds, Albert St Beaudesert.

The Beaudesert Camp Draft yards were upgraded last year and are now among the best in Australia. The upgrade has enabled the annual camp draft to attract some of Australia’s best competitors. See these talented men and women, cut and muster cattle. The sport of camp drafting has its origins in the early days of the Australian stockman, and is believed to have begun in rural Queensland in the early 20th century. When drovers needed to select individual cattle from a mob to drive them to a separate holding area, the stockman would ‘cut out’ the beast from the mob. This was achieved through the combined skills of horse and rider.
Over time stockmen developed competitions based around this activity and they have evolved into the sport of camp drafting.
Call Ian Harrison on 5543 1294 for more information on the Beaudesert Camp Draft or go to www.campdraft.com.au

Rathdowney Camp Draft
April 17 and 18, 2010 at the Rathdowney Memorial Grounds

Enjoy this exciting, all-Australian sport, showcasing the skills of expert stockmen and horses.
Go to www.campdraft.com.au for more information

Mother’s Day Craft Extravaganza
April 30, May 1, 2 and 3

This craft extravaganza is now in its seventh year and is collaboration between the Tamborine Mountain Rural Fire Brigade and local residents.
Craft is obviously central to this event but there’s a bigger picture here. The extravaganza is the Fire Brigade’s major fundraiser to cover the annual operating costs, including fuel, repairs, maintenance, and new equipment. The Fire Brigade needs to raise about $30,000 a year to continue operating.
Enter Dorothy Holloway. She rallies craftspeople from the Mountain and surrounding areas to exhibit their work and offer it for sale.
She limits exhibitors to 50 and ensures there is a good cross-section of crafts on offer. This Mother’s Day she has sourced 10 new craft exhibitors, including a jewellery maker, a patchworker, a felter and an 89-year-old Lismore woman who paints china.
The rural fire brigade volunteers run the Crafty Café throughout the four-day event, offering great coffee, sandwiches, scones, cakes and cookies. Don’t miss this vital fundraising event.
Contact Dorothy on 55452822 for information about the craft, or Gail Gray on 5545 0413 regarding the fire brigade and the café.

My Black Heart
March 17, Boonah & District Cultural Centre, High St, Boonah

The Centre, Brisbane St, Beaudesert
Scenic Rim locals and sisters, Cal and Sally MacKinnon are joined by Robyn Stewart for an exhibition titled, My Black Heart.
It features photographs, poetry and fibre works and describes these women’s journey deep into family and place.
My Black Heart continues until April 24.

Graceful Decay
The Boonah Regional Gallery, High St, Boonah

Photographer Kerrie Jessop presents an exhibition of her works entitled, Graceful Decay. It is showing until April 11.

Artbeats
The Boonah Regional Gallery, High St, Boonah
April 16 – May 23

This exhibition will feature the work of year 11 and 12 Boonah High School students. Come along and witness the work of tomorrow’s artists.
For more information on any of these exhibitions visit The Centre website, www.liveatthecentre.com.au

The Great Aussie Campout
17 April, Mt Barney Lodge

Mt Barney Lodge is hosting this day set to release your inner adventurer. Come and try the activities, many of which are being offered free of charge.
There will be kids’ activities led by outdoor leaders, a creek eco boat race, backyard cricket in a yard like one you’ve never seen before, bird twitch (that’s speed bird spotting in case you’re wondering), permaculture planting and lots more.
For more details call Tracey Larkin on 07 55443233, or go to the website www.mtbarneylodge.com.au

Melbourne International Comedy Festival
Boonah District Cultural Centre, High St Boonah
April 21 from 8pm.

It’s a night no comedy fan should miss. This popular feature on the Scenic Rim live entertainment calendar never fails to disappoint.
Bolstered by roars of laughter and unbridled adoration of audiences during their Melbourne season, a bunch of international and local comedians will cram healthy egos into tiny suitcases and hit the highways of Australia.
Their journey brings them to the Boonah District Cultural Centre each year for a memorable evening.
Food and drinks are available from 7pm, and tickets start at $22 for students. Be warned, the show may contain coarse language and sexual references and is not recommended for people under the age of 15.
Tickets are available from the Boonah Cultural Centre or online www.liveatthecentre.com.au

Bell Tower presents Chelsea McGuffin’s Strangely Familiar
22 April, The Centre, Brisbane St Beaudsert

The Ausdance Queensland Bell Tower IV regional touring program provides Queensland’s dancers with an opportunity to explore the creation of new choreographic work through a choreographic residency program. This program culminates in a roadshow to regional centres with their work-in-development.
And that’s how Chelsea McGuffin comes to be performing in Beaudesert.
Chelsea has performed for more than 15 years within the physical theatre and circus industries, and she was worked with Brisbane circus company CIRCA since 2001. Strangely Familiar is a creative development work in progress investigating boundaries using twisted humour, pedestrian moves, trapeze, smiles and spinning hoops. There’s a workshop between 11.30am and 12.30am before the evening performance from 6pm. Entry is free.
For more information call 55405050.

Morning Melodies: John MacNally presents Melodies of Love
23 April, Boonah Cultural Centre, High St Boonah

John MacNally will perform songs from his most recent CD, also titled Melodies of Love. You’ll hear romance songs, Irish songs and songs of inspiration, as well as some country classics.
John’s dynamic stage personality and glorious voice are reflected in his more than 40 phenomenally successful albums, his top rated television specials for the TNN Network and his many appearances both on stage and on television through America, Canada, Australia and Ireland.
Tickets cost $16 for adults and the show starts at 11am.
Tickets are available from The Cultural Centre, or online at www.liveatthecentre.com.au

Love Upon the Throne
9 April, The Centre, Brisbane St Beaudesert

Due to a massive outpouring of public demand The National Theatre of Brent′s "Love Upon the Throne" comes to Beaudesert! This is ′satirical theatre′ at its best! Thanks to the comic genius of playwright Patrick Barlow (Thirty-nine Steps). It tells probably one of the most intriguing romantic stories of all time... the full romance, courtship and marital affairs of His Royal Highness Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer. All this tastefully crammed into an unforgettable, very entertaining night of theatre.
Show starts at 8pm and tickets cost $22 for adults.
Buy your tickets at The Centre, or online at www.liveatthecentre.com.au

Michelle Nicolle Quartet in Cabaret @ Boonah Cultural Centre
24 April, Boonah Cultural Centre, High St Boonah

Michelle Nicolle is a jazz musician and her instrument is her voice. Michelle and the Michelle Nicolle Quartet will bring to life the music of jazz greats – Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald and Chet Baker.
Tickets cost $46 and include a two-course meal.
Dinner is served at 7pm and the show starts at 8pm.
Buy your ticket from the Cultural Centre or online at www.liveatthecentre.com.au

Direct from Dublin
April 29, The Centre, Brisbane St Beaudesert

This energy-packed dance show has returned to the Scenic Rim. It’s a night of colour and dance which will leave you awestruck. The Rhythms of Ireland has been seen by more than two-million people worldwide and has been applauded for its ‘stunningly executed performance’.
Anthony Street is the star of the show, with a recorded tapping speed of 34 taps/second.
Choreographer Michael Donnellan needs no introduction. He is 2-times World Irish Dance Champion, the ex-lead male dancer of Riverdance and Lord of the Dance.
The bar is open from 7pm and tickets start at $44.90 for children and $54.90 for groups of 10.
Tickets are available from The Centre, or online at www.liveatthecentre.com.au

Phone 1300 881 164 for a copy of the new Scenic Rim tourism brochure