Are they not the most gorgeously beautiful and courageous ladies you have seen? Taking that step out into the Maraka spotlight are our wonderful Queens and Princesses, each putting themselves out there for the chance to claim the crown. You’ll get to meet them at the Wine and Cheese Night, the Afternoon Tea, Kids Big Day Out, and Aquathon, all before Hinchinbrook comes together for the ultimate display of regional pride at the Maraka Festival Mardi Gras Parade and Crowning. Mark your calendars as October runs Maraka royal green, floats and fireworks are just the tip of the festival iceberg!
Read the full storyAre they not the most gorgeously beautiful and courageous ladies you have seen? Taking that step out into the Maraka spotlight are our wonderful Queens and Princesses, each putting themselves out there for the chance to claim the crown. You’ll get to meet them at the Wine and Cheese Night, the Afternoon Tea, Kids Big Day Out, and Aquathon, all before Hinchinbrook comes together for the ultimate display of regional pride at the Maraka Festival Mardi Gras Parade and Crowning. Mark your calendars as October runs Maraka royal green, floats and fireworks are just the tip of the festival iceberg!
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On Saturday 11 October, the Cardwell Coastguard hosted its annual Tropical Plant Expo, drawing plant lovers from near and far. The event featured an impressive range of plants for both display and sale, with many local sellers showcasing exceptional specimens. Visitors enjoyed browsing the stalls, chatting with growers, and picking up new additions for their gardens. Alongside the plants were home-grown fruit and vegetables, a delightful selection of prize-winning homemade jams, and beautiful artworks by Mandy. No Coastguard event would be complete without the classic BBQ, complemented by coffee and cake. It was a wonderful day enjoyed by all who attended.
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TYTO Regional Art Gallery is currently home to two thought-provoking exhibitions, each exploring the world around and beyond, through entirely different lenses. In the main gallery, Flies and Weevils and Cockroaches by Lorraine Lamothe invites visitors to see beauty where they might least expect it. At 75, Lorraine found herself yearning to reconnect with her creativity after a quiet spell. “I thought, well, that’s it, I’ve got to put myself out there again and see what can happen,” she said. When Tyto confirmed her exhibition, she recalls thinking, “You’re not done yet, girl. You’re not done yet.” That moment reignited her passion for creating work that not only excites but also makes people think. Her collection of sculptural insects and woven displays celebrates the misunderstood creatures most people prefer to avoid. “I chose insects that are really disliked,” Lorraine explained. “People need to understand that they’re not all bad. They break down decaying plant material and help the environment. Let’s not be prejudiced about these insects, let’s find joy in them.” Across the way, in the Niche Gallery, artist Ashleigh Jane takes visitors into the realm of myth and legend with Mythical Beasts. Her intricate illustrations breathe new life into creatures drawn from global folklore, from Egyptian hybrids to celestial goddesses. “I’ve always been fascinated by mythology and folklore,” she said. “I wanted to delve a little deeper and rediscover stories that lurk in the darkness, the ones people might not know.” Ashleigh’s exhibition features works from her upcoming second book. Each piece is both a visual story and a modern reimagining of ancient tales. “My favourite story is about Doddle, a rain goddess who milks her heavenly cows to make it rain,” she shared. “But my favourite drawing is the Ikenty, a bird with a cat’s head found in Egyptian hieroglyphs. No one really knows what it was for, but I loved bringing it to life.” Together, these two exhibitions celebrate the power of curiosity, whether it’s found in the smallest of creatures or the myths that have shaped cultures for centuries. Both artists remind us that inspiration can be rediscovered at any stage of life, and that beauty often hides in the unexpected.
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Ingham Maraka Festival held their ‘Wash-Up Meeting’ on Wednesday 17th December, discussing new plans for the 2025 Maraka Festival and how they wish to improve next years’ event.
President Patrick Lynch said the 2024 Ingham Maraka Festival was a success, with no hiccups but addressed that he would like to see the Cocktail Night event have a larger attendance.
Chantelle Previtera, Maraka Festival Administration Officer, said next year the Festival is going to try to promote the event more.
“Due to the low number of Festival Queens last year, it does give a lower attendance,” she said.
“We're hoping next year that things will be different, and then we will definitely increase those numbers!
“Next year we are going to work on promoting and getting a lot more of the younger ones to take on the Queen Quest.”
Participants in the 2023 and 2024 Ingham Maraka Festival were present at the meeting and spoke about what they liked most about the festival.
Runner-up Queen in 2024 Johanna Buckle said it was a fun experience.
“Mostly I really enjoyed it, I got to make new friends out of it and it was a way to get the community together,” said Johanna.
Miss Personality 2024 Rachel Hallam enjoyed the festival because it was something different.
“You don’t get to do it often and I’m looking forward to it next year,” she said.
Princess winner of 2023 was at the meeting, to ‘hand over the baton’ to this years’ 2024 winner.
“I really liked all of the community events that were hosted by the Council, I went to senior morning tea, the Tasman Turtles Big Day Out, and I went to a Christmas senior afternoon tea,” she said.
“I liked seeing everybody there in town, and there were lots of people enjoying themselves and I really like being a part of it.”
Princess winner of 2024 Hazel Cary said she liked the festival because she was able to make new friends and get out of her shell a bit more.
“I enjoyed that I was able to have new experiences, get out of my shell a little bit and try new things that I've never been able to do, and especially because now that I've won, I get the chance to promote Ingham even more. I just had a really good time,” she said.
The Ingham Maraka Festival 2025 dates are still to be decided.
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