Community Grant supports equipment upgrade

Emma Orford

Members of the Woodgate Men’s Shed (WMS) are enjoying making use of their upgraded club equipment thanks to funding from a Bundaberg Regional Council Community Grant.

The organisation was awarded $3,000 in October last year and used the funds to upgrade a compressor as well as buy a new lawn mower/blower and sandblasting cabinet.

WMS secretary Brian Beckett said the new equipment was not only more environmentally friendly but also meant more members could make use of it.

He said they were now able to undertake a wider range of tasks and repairs which were previously impossible.

“[The] self-propelled battery lawn mower/blower has enabled some of our members who are not as resilient as others to participate in the maintenance of the WMS shed and grounds,” Brian said.

“The compressor upgrade and sandblasting cabinet has provided us with the capability to make the use of tools much easier and the completion of our projects timelier.

“The next step in our plan to have a safer, more productive shed, will be to pipe high pressure air throughout the shed workshop allowing greater flexibility as to where we can use our equipment.”

Helping the community

Bundaberg Regional Council's Community Grants assist local community groups or organisations who make positive contributions to the quality of life in the region.

The WMS aims to create a safe, happy environment where men can meet and pursue hobbies, learn new skills, focus on mental health and wellbeing, contribute to the community and mentor.

Members can participate in a variety of activities such as gardening, woodworking, boiler making and fitting and turning.

The organisation has been running for 11 years and currently has 48 members.

“The Men’s Shed organisation is basically a bunch of like-minded folks with a common goal to help themselves, family, and their community,” said Brian.

“It’s important to note that the WMS is a safe haven for those men who are looking for mateship and camaraderie and whose contribution can be anything from just turning up for a chat at morning tea to joining the committee or taking up a role as a mentor.

“Everyone has something to give no matter how small it may seem.”

The organisation has also focused on fundraising, donating $4,000 to other local community organisations this year.

“Our members are always willing to lend a hand whether it be helping a member repair or construct personal items for their own use or getting together on a project to benefit the local community,” Brian said.

“To become a member, all you need is to be male, over 18 years old and have a sense of humour.”

For more details visit the WMS website or to find a Men's Shed near you visit the Australian Men’s Shed Association.

To find out more about Council’s community grants click here.

Celebrating mums and 50 years of beautiful blooms

Emma Orford and Natasha Harth

COVER

The Bundaberg Orchid Society’s Mother’s Day Show is celebrating its golden jubilee with a record number of plants on show.

Society president Alwyn Heidke said it had become a Bundaberg Region tradition.

“When we started 20 odd years [ago] to have this show here for Mother's Day we wanted to illustrate the beauty of orchids - which are the most beautiful flower you can ever get - for your mother,” Alwyn said.

“We thought ‘well if they come on Mother's Day they can actually get a plant for Mother's Day’.

“And it's really taken off because you come here on Mother's Day and they all want flowering plants to give.

“People actually respond to it because we have record - about 2600 people in - because of this region they identify Orchid Show with Mother's Day.”

He said it was important to mark the day.

“They’re our mums, and they look after us and we love them. So that's why we do it.”

On opening morning, Alwyn said the Mother’s Day Show was going even better than expected.

“It’s really beyond our belief,” he said.

“We were worried because of the weather that we wouldn’t get the amount of flowers that would be out but they have come out and we have a record number of plants in the show.

“The displays are brilliant and we are really rapt on our fiftieth anniversary.”

Visitors were treated to beautiful displays on the opening day as they shopped for Mother’s Day gifts, including Sherrie Gabler and her daughter Penni Sheehan who were visiting the show for the first time.

“We’re a food vendor outside and as soon as I saw someone walk out with some beautiful peace lilies and things I thought I’d better go in before it’s too late!” said Sherrie.

Her daughter Penni agreed that it was a great spot for a bit of Mother’s Day shopping.

“She loves plants, especially orchids and things like that,” said Penni.

Golden Jubilee show a community effort

The Bundaberg Orchid Society’s Mother’s Day Show continues at the Bundaberg Civic Centre from 8 am to 4 pm on Saturday and 8 am to 12 pm on Sunday.

Alwyn thanked the community for its support for the special anniversary event.

“The council has recognised our Mother's Day Orchid Show by helping us out with the rent of the hall they've given to us, and our sponsors have been very generous for a Mother's Day show together with our 50th anniversary.”

Admission is $2 (children under 12 are free) with proceeds supporting local charities.

“We've got a wonderful club that really backs us and works,” Alwyn said.

“This is a club that is orientated around helping people grow orchids but also we are a charitable organisation.

“Last year, we gave $4,000 to charity so that's a part of our constitution that we do that.”

History and passion shared at Long Table Dinner

Emma Turnbull

NEWS

Nestled in between wine barrels at Hill of Promise Winery guests of the favoured Long Table Dinner will be immersed in tales of history, pride and passion, from winemakers Terrance and Mary Byrne.

During the popular Long Table Dinner guests will enjoy a plethora of seasonal food and taste local wines while witnessing Terrance and Mary pour their love and admiration for the Bundaberg Region, along with their respect for tradition, into every glass.

The couple have been heavily involved in the Childers Festival for many years and the celebration during the Long Table Dinner is a meticulous and well-loved occasion.

“It’s not often you get to enjoy local, fresh and seasonal food in a working winery surrounded by barrels,” Mary said.

“We really look forward to this and the build-up to Childers Festival each year.

“Food and history and food and family just go together; this is what we share with our guests.”

Mary said over the years the Childers Festival had been known by many names including the Childers Food and Wine Festival and Childers Multicultural Festival and for them celebrating their heritage and connection to the region was always important.

Terrance’s passion comes from his proud Sicilian heritage, Mary said, as his maternal grandparents Umberto and Maria Gelsomino were migrants to the Isis district from the Catania region of Sicily in 1911.

Food, cooking and the enjoyment of wine as a natural accompaniment to special occasions had been part and parcel of their family tradition.

“The rich, historic background of the district, and Terrance’s Sicilian connections, come to life with the love of food and family,” Mary said.

“I’m always humbled to see what migrants have done and can do.

“I am so in awe when people pull up stakes and move across the other side of the world and make something for themselves.

“There is so much history around the region and we are proud to be involved with this event as we believe it is bringing the world to Childers, while showing to the rest of the region what we can do.”

The Long Table Dinner evening starts with a glass of 3 Marys bubbly and tasty appetisers as guests enjoy the ambience of the working winery.

A two-course meal featuring delicious, seasonal local produce will be paired with their award-winning preservative-free wines.

“We match each course with our wines,” Mary said.

“We really are lucky to live in this region – 25 per cent of all fresh fruit and vegetables in Australia are grown here – we are big believers in eating seasonally, eating locally and fresh.

“We are now working on our menu with our local butchers Buck and Wade from Bucks Butcher Shop, sourcing fruit and vegetables from Alloway Farm Market and Isis River Farms Shed Fruits.”

The popular Childers Festival Long Table Dinner event has limited seating and last year tickets sold out within half an hour of release.

Childers Festival’s Long Table Dinner

When: 6.30 – 9 pm Thursday 27 July
Where: Hill of Promise Winery, 8 Mango Hill Drive, Childers
Tickets on sale: Monday 29 May

Click here to view the full program and ticketing links.

New Hummock Magazine focuses on arts

Emma Turnbull

BUSINESS

New publication Hummock Magazine will soon launch providing a platform for the arts in the Bundaberg Region.

Three local entrepreneurs – Katarina Lottchen, Karen Panagis and Karina Anderson – who have all worked considerably in media and design, collaborated to share their passion of arts and events with the local community.

Named after a prominent Bundaberg Region landmark the women said they were proud to provide a magazine that is quintessentially of the Bundaberg Region.

Contributing editor Karen said creating the new magazine in the Bundaberg Region had been very exciting and Hummock Magazine was not a typical art publication.

“It's a labour of love, but we are all so passionate about the mag and also the arts scene in the Bundy region,” she said.

“We're not just talking art in the traditional sense of paint on canvas – we're talking about ‘the arts' and the people like authors, musicians, poets, jewellery designers, fashion designers, film and television makers, but also administrators, educators, collectors and venues.

“The three of us already do a lot of collaborating for Her Umbrella Magazine (HUM), but Hummock will be quite different.”

She said the focus of Hummock Magazine would be inclusivity and the Bundaberg Region.

Karen said it was Katarina’s idea, but she and Karina didn’t need much convincing before their hard work and dedication was underway.

“It was the idea of our Editor in Chief Katarina Lottchen.

“She came to Karina and I asking if we'd like to get on board with a regional arts magazine and we didn't hesitate,” she said.

“The three of us are already fans and groupies of the arts in the region and knew that there wasn't really a platform in the region providing that focus on just the arts.

“We've come to realise there's a lot of groups and organisations in the region that if they don't have a strong social media profile, it's hard to find out for those wanting to participate or to watch or to learn.”

Hummock Magazine is the passion project of Her Umbrella Magazine founder Katarina Lottchen, and her co-collaborators Karen Panagis of Phunky Design and Karina Anderson of Karina Mae Photography.

There will be a focus on highlighting local festivals, art prizes, competitions, exhibitions, workshops, emerging artists and students, galleries, venues and arts organisations and clubs in the publication.

It will include an arts calendar on local workshops, exhibitions, competitions, markets, live gigs and more, in both digital and print formats with four issues each year.

To find out when the first edition of Hummock Magazine will be released and for more information click here.

About the Hummock Magazine team

Editor-in-Chief Katarina Lottchen

Katarina is the dynamic force behind various successful brands, including Her Umbrella Media and Publishing, Her Umbrella Magazine, and Don’t Call Me Shirley T-shirts.

Her unwavering passion and dedication towards promoting and nurturing businesses across Australia is truly inspiring.

Katarina has established a robust network of accomplished women entrepreneurs and is always on the lookout for new opportunities to help them achieve their business aspirations.

Although Katarina is not an artist herself, she has a unique talent for bringing people together and showcasing their exceptional work. Her vision is to create a platform that celebrates the talents of artists, curators, creators, and vendors in the Wide Bay region.

Her commitment to the arts community is unwavering, and she believes in providing opportunities for artists to showcase their work and reach a wider audience.

Visual Editor Karina Anderson

Bold, bright, powerful, fun are words often used to describe the body of work created by First Nations photographer Karina Mae Anderson.

Karina uses her artistic eye to capture stunning images that showcase the beauty and resilience of the people around her.

Her work is a celebration of diversity and serves as a reminder of the richness and depth of Indigenous traditions.

Through her lens, Karina creates visual stories that inspire and empower her viewers.

Contributing Editor Karen Panagis

Karen ‘Kazz’ Panagis is the proprietor of Phunky Design and she writes for Her Umbrella Magazine, and has experience writing client media releases, blog posts, tenders, grants, awards nominations, and copywriting for websites.

Karen has an unashamed love of all things colour and she is very aware that she’s no artist.

She considers herself an arts groupie and is passionate about the Bundaberg Region and supporting the wider Bundaberg arts community and its art lovers.

Volunteering is never a dull moment for Cate

Emma Turnbull

COMMUNITY

For a decade Cate Verney has selflessly given her time to assist visitors at the Childers Arts Space and she believes the secret to volunteering is doing something you love.

Cate’s creative side helps her passion for volunteering to flow with ease and her dedication to helping, along with other volunteers within the region, will be honoured by Bundaberg Regional Council as part of National Volunteers Week.

As a visual artist herself, Cate’s knowledge of the arts and the Palace Memorial building make her an exceptional volunteer.

Cate said she started volunteering after moving to the Bundaberg Region and she believed there was a “natural curiosity” when dedicating time to others.

“My partner and I moved to Childers about 11 years ago, and because jobs in my field were scant here Centrelink told me about the volunteer program,” she said.

“My partner who was fully retired joined me, as he had been a volunteer for Meals on Wheels in Brisbane and enjoyed that very much.

“We loved the interaction with gallery visitors and staff.

“To be a successful and productive volunteer I think you must want to be where you are.

“You must have a natural curiosity and interest in people and in our case art.”

Cate said her volunteering role provided her with the opportunity to meet new people every day.

“What I enjoy most is the interaction, the art and of course the people!” she said.

“We have grey nomads and lots of interesting people from all walks of life call in to the gallery at Childers on their travels.

“It’s enjoyable being able to talk to them about art and life in general.”

Cate said there was never a dull moment when it came to spending time volunteering at Childers Arts Space and it helped to keep her inspired.

“We live on a 20-acre block on land at Apple Tree Creek, which is both our inspiration and our passion,” she said.

“We’re both artists and have been for many years.

“My partner Ian is president of the Childers Visual Artist Group and I have been studying for a degree in fine arts and visual culture with only two units till I finish – yippee!

“I am a mixed media artist, concerned with nature’s balancing act – the constant cycle of damage, repair and rebalance rippling out in ever-widening cycles in our world.”

Cate is one of many Bundaberg Regional Council volunteers who dedicate their time to assist the community.

These volunteers and many more from throughout the region will be acknowledged as part of a special National Volunteers Week morning tea on May 16 at the Bundaberg Multiplex.

Following through with What Doggies Do

Emma Orford

LIFESTYLE

Award-winning Moore Park Beach author Alan Corbett is back with his second book on animal antics, What Doggies Do.

Alan's first book Chicken Nibbles: Cartoons About Backyard Chickens, won top place in the International Book Impact Awards and finalist position in the International Book Awards, both in the humour section.

As a dog lover and long-term owner of two Ridgebacks, he decided that publishing a book on dogs was the next logical step.

“The cartoons cover what dogs do at home and on walks, their distinct personalities and endearing qualities,” Alan explains.

“They also illustrate our bond with our companion animals and why, for some, a dog may be the best and only friend a person may have.

The book features 31 breeds over 50 colour cartoons, each with their own explanation.

“Most cartoons were motivated by my experiences with my dogs, through observing other dogs or from accounts of what other dogs have done,” said Alan.

“That’s why they are funny and relatable.”

Alan said that the easiest part of the process was coming up with an idea for a cartoon, he would then sketch it out and work with professional cartoonists Mark Lynch and Donatoni to bring his vision to life.

“You’ve got to be patient and tenacious but it’s well worth it if you want to do something for yourself,” he said of the process.

“There are always two components – getting to the publishing stage and then the marketing which is the hardest part because there are millions of books which come on the market each year so you have to let people know that your book is there.

“I will be going for awards again because that gives external credibility as well.”

Sadly Alan lost both his beloved dogs in the last year due to complications from old age and says it’s a bit too soon to know whether he’ll get another one one day.

One thing he does know is that he's unlikely to create another book after this one.

“People have suggested cats and goldfish and ducks but it’s a long and expensive process and at the moment my priorities are elsewhere,” he said.

“It was a bucket list thing and now I’ve done it.”

What Doggies Do is available for purchase on Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing.

Heritage Car, Bike and Machinery Show nears

Emma Turnbull

LIFESTYLE

New additions to this year’s Heritage Car, Truck, Bike and Machinery Show will ensure a fantastic day out for the entire family as organisers add the finishing touches to the annual event.

Some of the oldest vehicles in the region will proudly be on display, but there is no age limit to enter a beloved car, or piece of machinery, in the Heritage Car, Truck, Bike and Machinery Show, which is open to all community members.

If you can push, pull or ride in it there’s a chance it will be on display at the Heritage Car, Truck, Bike and Machinery Show.

Organiser Ian Jefferyes said the popular event continued to grow and he expected to have at least 300 displays fill the Bundaberg Recreational Precinct on Saturday 20 May.

“It’s definitely going to be bigger and better,” he said.

“We’ve set it up different this year and changed things around at the Precinct.

“We will have tractors, machinery, and everything from hot rods to boats on display.

“All classes of vehicles: vintage, veteran, historic and classic, will proudly be shown also.”

Ian said he was excited with the inclusion of tractor dealers this year which would provide more information to the community.

Car enthusiasts will have the chance to show off their pride and joy, by turning up to the University Drive entry from 6 am on the day to be set up by 8.30 am, with gates opening to the public at 9 am.

It’s $2 entry and the proceeds will be going to local charity Rotary House and allied health services in the Bundaberg Region.

Heritage Car, Truck, Bike and Machinery Show will be held at Bundaberg Recreational Precinct from 9 am to 2 pm on Saturday 20 May.

For trade stand information phone Gary on 0488 030 245 or for general information the event head to the Facebook page.

On by Circa will leave audience in awe

Emma Turnbull

LIFESTYLE

Audiences will be left in awe as they immerse in contemporary circus as On by Circa performs at the Moncrieff Entertainment Centre.

Over the past two decades Circa has forged a reputation as the most artistically audacious circus on the planet.

Now it returns to the Bundaberg Region for the fourth time, on 23 May, to present its newest production, On by Circa.

Associate and Tour Director Kristen Maloney said On by Circa was about chance encounters, new connections and the show displayed what it means to be human.

“The idea stemmed from the desire for physical connection, relationships and touch after Covid lockdowns,” Kristen said.

“In the performance, we explore the lives of eight strangers and how their paths cross in the courtyard of an apartment block.

“We have stripped back the stage elements to the essential ingredients: eight extraordinarily talented acrobats, a score by Melbourne composer Jethro Woodward and a striking lighting design by Paul Jackson.

“By layering bodies, sound and light, we have created complex acrobatic sequences with sharp moments of close-up intimacy.

“At its heart On by Circa is a stripped back circus that is uncompromisingly bold and unashamedly athletic.”

Kristen said the Bundaberg audience would be moved by the performance.

“There is universality about the physicality, the fragility, the strength and artistry of contemporary circus and its ability to create stories that can excite, make us think and entertain,” she said.

“Regardless of how much experience an audience member has of going to the theatre, contemporary circus is open to everyone and we hope On by Circa moves people and makes them think and feel something.”

Kristen said during past visits to the Bundaberg Region, the Circa crew had enjoyed their time and they were looking forward to returning.

“Circa has travelled to Bundaberg in 2011, 2016 and 2017 and we are delighted to be back,” she said.

“The highlight was connecting with new audiences and we are excited to do so again with On by Circa.

“In 2023, On by Circa has so far toured to nineteen regional venues and performed in front of many supportive, kind and delighted audiences.

“We can’t wait for Bundaberg audiences to see stripped back circus that is bold, athletic, stylish and thrilling. Also, visiting the Bundaberg Rum Distillery is always a highlight!”

On by Circa

When: 8 pm Tuesday 23 May
Where: Moncrieff Entertainment Centre
To purchase tickets: Click here

Image credit: Pia Johnson

In Our Group with Bundaberg Players

Emma Turnbull

LIFESTYLE

Bundaberg Players is a group of creative-loving locals who enjoy everything about the arts in the Bundaberg Region. Secretary Trish Mears shares the fascinating history and the on-stage and backstage workings of the local organisation.

The Playhouse Theatre, Bundaberg, is home to the Bundaberg Players Inc.

Bundaberg Players is a group of volunteers dedicated to working together to promote the arts in the Wide Bay region, while learning new skills and making friends as part of a dynamic community organisation.

The Bundaberg Players stage six productions a year across a broad range of genres, including comedies, thrillers, musical, theatre restaurants, rehearsed readings and youth productions.

What significant events do you hold each year?

We have some incredible shows on this year – (which started) with the musical Shrek in March, followed by Glorious, a hilarious true story this month, our Youth Theatre production of The Addams Family in June/July, Theatre Restaurant Rome Sweet Rome in August, classic drama Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf in October and a great comedy The Vicar of Dibley in November/December.

What is the history of Bundaberg Players?

We were first established in 1950 and have performed 489 shows since then.

Rehearsals for many years were conducted in the Girl Guide Hall, Austral Hall and a room at the back of the School of Arts building.

Productions were presented in the Parish Hall and the Wintergarden Theatre (most recently Blockbuster Video and Improvements Fitness Centre) corner of Woongarra and Maryborough Streets.

It became increasingly evident that if progress was to be made, a theatre solely for the use of the Players would have to be obtained.

In 1962, land was purchased and in 1964 the first stage of construction by the Amateur Players on the present Steffensen Street site was completed at a cost of almost £2000.

This building provided the society with a practice hall (present clubrooms) and storage area for costumes, paint and props (present kitchen), all under one roof.

The Playhouse as it became known was the first building built by an organisation of this kind in the city.

A “workshop” was then instituted for the provision of aspiring stage performers.

The continual construction and transporting of scenery to other performance venues necessitated the construction of further storage at the Playhouse site, and a shed was built at the back of the block in 1965.

When the Embassy Theatre in Maryborough closed down in 1966, the Bundaberg Amateur Players purchased seats with the intention of installing them in their own theatre when the funds became available to build a stage area onto the existing clubroom.

Bundaberg's own little theatre really came into its own, when on Monday, April 29, 1968, the Bundaberg Amateur Players staged their first performance on the “biggest theatre stage in Bundaberg” which they had constructed onto their existing building at a cost of £7800.

The practice hall became the auditorium and the audience faced west to the stage. The auditorium seated 175.

The Youth Theatre building was built in 1974 and at a very reasonable cost provided much needed workshop space for the large and very active Youth Theatre section of the group.

The next major construction provided the organisation with a tiered auditorium seating 254 patrons.

What was once the back wall of the stage area became the new Proscenium Arch and the audience now faced east.

The official opening of the new auditorium was held on Saturday 20 March 1976. Cost of this was $27, 500.

Expansions and renovations continue

Small scale expansion commenced in 1977 with the pouring of a slab on the car park side of the club rooms which would be a bar and committee room.

However, this was not completed until September 1979.

The steel-framed walls of the new committee room were at one time the walls of the Federal Hotel which had undergone renovations not long before.

The old committee room on the Youth Theatre building then became a storage area for the fast-growing costume department.

The Bundaberg Amateur Players in September 1987 became The Bundaberg Players Incorporated, and with the name change came a new motivation to upgrade the facility.

Plans were conceived, drawn, rethought and drawn again, sent to the government, returned to the organisation for improvement, and sent to the government again.

The government approved the project in principle and agreed to a "dollar for dollar" subsidy, and on 24 April 1990, 49 members of the organisation decided to go ahead with the new foyer at a total cost of $209,000.

The Gordon Dick Memorial Foyer, named in honour of the former president whose dream it was, was officially opened on 22 February 1991 by the Justice and Corrective Services Minister, Glen Milliner.

The entrance begins at the footpath giving patrons overhead cover as they enter the foyer.

A large open area has been provided for additional rehearsal space, with room to mark out a full size stage, which will be of great assistance in the training of youth theatre members.

While the foyer has been named after Gordon Dick, the auditorium itself has been dedicated to Skip and Helen Cattermull, foundation vice-president and director of the original Players organisation.

During the 1990s only small-scale improvements were made around the theatre as committees of the day built up bank account balances and made plans for impending 50th anniversary celebrations which were nearing.

A major change occurred in 2000 when auditorium seating was refurbished and the auditorium painted at a cost of $46,000 ($15,000 in funding was received).

The Tim Kimber ‘Full House Bar’ was also constructed in the upstairs foyer at a cost of $28,000.

Bundaberg Players Incorporated celebrated 50 years of existence on December 2, 2000 with a concert at the Moncrieff Theatre featuring former members invited back to perform alongside current members of the day.

In 2003, the storage shed constructed in 1965 was demolished to make way for a much larger, modern block with showers and amenities, and a much larger area for the construction and storage of scenery.

A shade-sail was installed in 2014 joining the storage shed to the rear of the main building creating a shaded courtyard area for members to enjoy.

Funding to the value of $26,950 was received in 2009 for the encapsulation of the main auditorium and foyer rooves, and a new ticketing system Seat Advisor was installed and ticketing went electronic for the first time, allowing patrons to book and pay for tickets online.

In 2010, funding totalling $27,000 was received from the Jupiter’s Community Benefit Fund for the purchase of chairs, music stands, instruments and sundry items for the orchestra pit.

A major re-configuring of the orchestra pit was then undertaken in 2011 – it was deepened and made longer and wider, so that more scope was created for live orchestras to play more comfortably.

This project cost $46,000 and was paid for solely by theatre funds.

In 2012, a major upgrade to the electrical backbone of the theatre was made possible with the infusion of $34,960 from the Gambling Community Benefit Fund.

An access ramp alongside the northern wall of the auditorium was constructed at a cost of $26,500 – $10,000 was donated by Subscriber Peter Collins in memory of his wife Dawn.

Although funding was sought on a number of occasions, it was not until 2018, that funding totalling $35,000 was received to renovate and upgrade the aging toilet facilities in the Gordon Dick Memorial Foyer.

At a total cost of $86,000, the project increased the number of toilets available to patrons and also created an easily accessible disabled toilet.

At the same time, the foyer interior was repainted and new carpet installed to the stairwell and the upstairs foyer $8000.

The driveway and rear courtyard were re-surfaced with hot mix in 2018, and guttering was replaced to the front section of the building at a cost of $7500.

The next year, 2019 was also a year of high expenditure on capital improvements.

The auditorium was air-conditioned with six units at a cost of $25,000, installation was done free of charge by a theatre supporter.

A new fridge was purchased for the foyer kitchen $2500, and a further $23,700 was spent on a starcloth, three backdrops, two data projectors, two scrims, and other staging items, including the installation of a steel girder above the stage area specifically for the purpose of ‘flying’ the character of Mary Poppins.

Another $27,000 was spent in 2020 for the purchase of nine Acme Moving Lights. New speakers and a Digital Sound desk were also installed.

External painting of the main building occurred in 2021 at a cost of $33,000 after funding was received.

The committee room was airconditioned at a cost of $2,000 and planter pots and pebbles were also added alongside the access ramp to improve the theatre’s aesthetic upon arrival.

As part of our aim of continual improvement, some ambitious plans are underway to improve facilities.

Why is the group important to the Bundaberg Region?

Performing arts are so important, not only for the enjoyment of our patrons, but also for the growth and development of our members.

Literally thousands of people have increased their theatre skills, made lifelong friends and given enjoyment to patrons during our 73 years.

How can the community become involved?

We welcome new members at any time during the year.

You don't have to have any theatrical experience to join, if you can hold a paint brush or a broom you can help, if can't don't worry we can teach you.

Members are asked to volunteer their time and participate, in whatever capacity they can, in the maintenance and operation of the theatre facilities.

Running an amateur theatre company involves many departments, here are a few areas in which members can participate and assist: acting, singing, dancing, directing, backstage, clerical, décor, front of house, kitchen, lighting, makeup, newsletter, prompting, props, publicity, set construction, social committee, ticket sales and wardrobe.

For a small annual fee you receive great benefits over non-members.

When and where do you meet?

The Playhouse Theatre is at 2B Steffensen Street Bundaberg.

We have working bees most Sunday mornings from 9 am-noon and people interested in becoming members are welcome to pop in and join us for morning tea at 10.30 am.

Before each production we have an information night a few weeks before auditions and everyone is welcome to come along and find out what is involved in each production.

The Playhouse Theatre’s latest play – the hilarious Glorious – the true story of Florence Foster Jenkins – is on now.

Book online here or at the box office one hour before performance time.