Vietnam Veterans Day is commemorated on 18 August every year. The day was originally known as Long Tan Day, chosen to commemorate the men of D Company, 6RAR who fought in the battle of Long Tan in 1966. On that day, 108 Australian and New Zealand soldiers fought a pitched battle against over 2,000 North Vietnamese and Viet Cong troops in a rubber plantation not far from the small village of Long Tan. The Australians prevailed, but only after fighting in torrential rain for four hours. They were nearly overrun, but were saved by a timely ammunition resupply, accurate artillery fire from the nearby Australian base, and the arrival of reinforcements by armoured personnel carrier. Eighteen Australians lost their lives and 24 were wounded, the largest number of casualties in one operation since the Australian task force had arrived a few months earlier. After the battle the bodies of 245 enemy soldiers were found, but there was evidence that many more bodies had been carried away.

On the third anniversary of Long Tan, 18 August 1969, a cross was raised on the site of the battle by the men of 6RAR. Veterans from the battle gathered at the cross to commemorate the fallen, and the day was commemorated by them as Long Tan Day from then on. Over time, all Vietnam veterans adopted the day as one to commemorate those who served and died in Vietnam. In 1987, following the very successful Welcome Home parade for Vietnam veterans in Sydney, Prime Minister Bob Hawke announced that Long Tan Day would be known as Vietnam Veterans Day. Since then, it has been commemorated every year as the day on which the service of all those men and women who served in Vietnam is remembered.

Cycle Queensland is Queensland’s largest fully-catered cycle tour. In 2018 the event will take place from Daintree to Cairns via the Atherton Tablelands 2 – 9 September 2018.

More information visit the event’s website.

Mareeba Workers Club’s 18th annual bike show will be held on Saturday 27 August 2018 at 3 Reynolds Street, Mareeba.

North Queensland Miners’ Association Annual Gold Panning Championships will be held on Saturday 11 August at Centenary Park, Mareeba.

Before you hit the road again, join us for a free breakfast barbeque to celebrate Queensland Road Safety Week.

Our local police, transport inspectors and road safety team will be on-site for a relaxed chat and to answer any of your safe travelling questions.

Kuranda Library is hosting a morning tea to celebrate Seniors week on Thursday 23 August. Everyone welcome!

The Seniors Week morning tea aims to celebrate the wonderful contribution older citizens make in the community.

The Mareeba State School will be celebrating 125 years of education on the second weekend of October 2018.

Friday 12 October – Meet and Greet

Saturday 13 October – Centenary Celebration 

• Presentation of time capsule contents
• Roll call
• Cake cutting
• School tours
• Formalities & Presentations
• Food & memorabilia stalls

Sunday 14 October –  Mareeba State School P&C Colour Run

Mareeba Lioness Club is hosting their annual Pink Ribbon Garden Party on Saturday 11 August 2018 at the Mareeba Turf Club.

A NAIDOC celebration will be held in Kuranda on Thursday 12 July at the Kuranda Ampitheatre.

Mareeba Arts in the Park will be held on Saturday 22 September at Centenary Park Mareeba. The celebration of the arts will include free actvities, market stalls, workshops, food and entertainment.

Flexi Choice’s annual Market Day will be held on Friday 31 August.

Join Mareeba Rotary’s Fun Run and Walk on Sunday 26 August at Mareeba’s Bicentennial Lake.

The Mareeba Rodeo Ball will be held on Friday 6 July at the Mareeba RSL. Bookings phone 4092 1396.

P ARTies is hosting a children’s painting workshop at the Mareeba Art Society. Cost is $25.00 per child. Please visit the event’s Facebook page for more information and bookings.

P ARTies is hosting a children’s painting workshop at the Mareeba Art Society. Cost is $25.00 per child. Please visit the event’s Facebook page for more information and bookings.

The Mareeba Golf Club is hosting a traditional German feast with live entertainment on Saturday 4 August at the Club. Bookings are essential, phone 4092 1528.

The Mareeba Gymnastics Club is holding a car wash on Saturday 30 June at Beaurepaires Mareeba.

A two day celebration showcasing arts and crafts, musical talent interspersed with walk up artists, bush poetry, market stalls and more!

There may not be snow at this Christmas in July celebration but there certainly will be warm toasty fires, plenty of camaraderie and hundreds of motorhomes as grey nomads from across Australia and internationally make their annual pilgrimage north for the popular festivities.

The event, which is hosted by the Far North Nomads Chapter of the Campervan and Motorhome Club (CMCA) of Australia and supported by Mareeba Shire Council, is in its 21st year and offers visitors a variety of fun and interesting events.

Tropical Tablelands Tourism chair Michael Trout said Christmas in July had grown to become one of Queensland’s largest motorhome and lifestyle events attracting more than 250 motorhomes, camper vans and caravans over the four days from Thursday, July 26 to Sunday  29 July 2018.

Mulungu Aboriginal Corporation, Mareeba Community Centre, QITE Mareeba and PCYC Mareeba are hosting an interagency Community NAIDOC Event at the Mareeba Turf Club on Wednesday the 11 July from 11am to 2pm. All welcome!

Hudsons Circus is coming to Mareeba! 

13 – 17 June 2018, under the bigtop Doyle St, opp Mareeba Leagues Club. 

More information visit the Hudsons Circus website.

The Tropical Journeys Great Barrier Reef Marathon Festival is rapidly becoming one of the ‘must do’ events on the Australian Running Calendar. Hosted in the tropical oasis of Port Douglas in Tropical North Queensland on Sunday October 28, the Festival offers some thing for everyone – and the icing on the cake is that you get to recover right here in paradise.

Choose your distance …

– 42.195km Steve Moneghetti Adventure Marathon

– 21.095km Sheraton Mirage Resort Half Marathon

– 10km Newsport Daily

– 5km Calypso Fun Run

– 2.3km Junior Challenge – A FREE EVENT

Dubbed ‘the worlds best adventure course’ by Olympic marathon champion Steve Moneghetti, the diverse landscape of Port Douglas offers a combination of beach, road and trail running for all distances – enabling you, the runner to see this amazing area up close and personal.

All distances start on the flat, compact sands of Four Mile Beach – some on sunrise and the colours of the sun rising over the Coral Sea sets the tone for the rest of the run. There are distances ranging from the gruelling 42km Adventure Marathon to a 2.3km Junior Challenge, it’s the perfect opportunity to get a group of mates together or gather the family and come and Race, Stay and Play in Port Douglas.

Discounts are also available online through our accommodation partners, airport transfers, reef and rainforest tours as well as the current Early Bird discount valid until August 31, 2018.

The Marathon course will be going from Port Douglas up the Bump Track to Black Mountain Road. The run will go along Black Mountain Road for 300 meters before turning around and then going back to the Bump track and then returning to Port Douglas.

After several successful european tours in 2017 and 2018 the Chamber Philharmonia Cologne (Germany) is coming back to Australia in winter with a powerful and lovely new programme.

“Classical music the world over” – this is the motto of the Chamber Philharmonia Cologne. It is irrelevant for our musicians whether they are playing in a little village church, in the open air, in Cologne Cathedral or in the Sydney Opera House – their enthusiasm to play music is the same every time.

The objective is simple – we want to inspire as many people as possible across all generations to enjoy classical music. The popularity of our ensemble is reflected in the fact that the Chamber Philharmonia Cologne gives around 300 concerts a year around the globe and listeners throughout the world look forward to a musical encounter with our exceptionally talented musicians.

The Chamber Philharmonia Cologne was founded in the city whose name they bear: Cologne. The city that is famous throughout the world for its University of Music and its musical and instrumental teaching. Generations of musicians have been trained here for many decades who, in terms of their musicality, are unparalleled around the world. Taking advantage of this pool of talent, a stock of outstanding musicians has accrued that in a changing cast of musicians take our motto across the world.

Since November 2009, the Chamber Philharmonia Cologne has a very special partner at their side – the Mercedes-Benz Centre in Cologne. As part of a creative cooperation, this world renowned company, via its branch in Cologne, thrilled by our musical concept provides the Chamber Philharmonia Cologne with a comfortable tour bus. It enables our musicians to travel quickly and comfortably to the many varied concert locations. In return, the Chamber Philharmonia Cologne, in close cooperation with the Mercedes-Benz Center Cologne, organises special concerts for the car company’s special customers. The remarkable construction of the Mercedes-Benz Center is transformed in the process into a really top-class concert palace. This results in the smell of new cars mixing with the sounds of classical music.

The Chamber Philharmonia Cologne is at home all over the world. Our tours regularly take us to New Zealand, Australia, Spain, Great Britain, Ireland and many other countries – and of course to Germany. In this context, the selection of works and soloists takes on a special significance. The multifaceted composition of the ensemble provides every member of the Chamber Philharmonia Cologne with the opportunity to perform as a soloist.
The permanently expanding repertoire of the Chamber Philharmonia Cologne consists primarily of hand-picked pieces. The real appeal of our programme lies in the meeting of popular and unknown works from a wide variety of musical epochs. This sees familiar greats like Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Vivaldi in dialogue with works from people such as Sergei Prokofieff through to the “King of Tango” Astor Piazzolla. This mix promises great diversity of the very highest order, without us having to preach to the audience in the process. After all, music is for entertainment and not for instruction.

To inspire people across the world to enjoy classical music – that’s what we view as our maxim!

Mareeba Library is holding a BOOK SALE on Saturday 16 June to raise money for the Mareeba Animal Refuge.

Mulungu Health Services is hosting an event to mark World No Tobacco Day on Thursday 31 May 2018.

Mareeba Heritage Museum & Visitor Information Centre is celebrating Queensland Day on Saturday 9 June!

Don’t miss the Athlete and Coach Development workshop series to be held in Atherton and Mareeba during 2018. These workshops will help you perform at your best as an athlete and will also provide great professional development opportunities for coaches. You are welcome to attend as many FREE workshops as you like, however spaces are limited so please book ahead to reserve your seat.

Part 1 – Athlete Management (Pre-Season)

Wednesday 28 February 2018, 6-9pm.
Halloran’s Hill Function Room, Centenary Drive, Atherton QLD 4883.

Part 2 – Athlete Management (In-Season)

Tuesday 8 May 2018, 6-9pm.
Mareeba Leagues Club, Cnr Doyle St & Riordan St, Mareeba QLD 4880.

Part 3 – Athlete Management (Post-Season)

Wednesday 8 August 2018, 6-9pm.
Halloran’s Hill Function Room, Centenary Drive, Atherton QLD 4883.

If you are unable to attend and don’t notify the Program Coordinator on the below contact details, your registration may be hindered for future workshops.

The Mareeba PCYC is hosting a Star Wars themed Blue Light Disco at the hall (136 Walsh St), on Friday 4 May 2018.

The 10th Tablelands Relay for Life will be held on Saturday 10 November at Davies Park Mareeba. For more information, visit the Queensland Cancer Council’s website.

Mareeba Tennis Club is holding an OPEN DAY on Saturday 14 April 2018. All welcome!

Another great community event being put on by Northern Gulf Resources Management Group’s Ecologist and Education Officer, Natalie Waller.

What: Sustainable Soil Day
When: Friday 27 April 2018
Where: Mareeba International Club

A ground-breaking forum designed to give Far North farmers the tools they need to thrive in the 21st century will launch in Mareeba.

Organised in partnership between Northern Gulf Resource Management Group (NGRMG) and the Mareeba District Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (MDFVGA), the inaugural Efficient Farming Forum will bring together some of the best and brightest minds in agriculture, technology, trends and tourism.

FREE EVENT – Booking Essential for catering purposes via Eventbrite.

What: Efficient Farming Forum 2018
When: Friday 27 April 2018
Where: Mareeba International Club

Targa Great Barrier Reef will be the first ever Targa event held in Queensland and the event name joins two iconic brands under the one banner. The new event will be based in one of Australia’s iconic tourism locations, Cairns and will reach out to all of the surrounding regions including Port Douglas and the Atherton Tablelands.

The inaugural event will be held on 31 August and 1 & 2 September 2018 on a course of over 200 competitive kilometres, including the exciting range roads out of Cairns and Port Douglas, which if you have ever been to the region, you will agree are some of the most exciting roads in the country.

Targa Great Barrier Reef will be a Targa event like no other as it passes through landscapes that are truly unique to Tropical North Queensland. Sugar cane and banana plantations will line the various stages and the weather will be anything but cold, being held at an ideal time of the year.

What: Walkamin Country Music Festival
When: Friday 12 October – Sunday 14  October 2018
Where: Kerribee Park, Mareeba

For more information visit the Club’s website.

What: Mareeba Races
When: Saturday 24 March 2018
Where: Mareeba Turf Club

Gates open at 11am

What: Mt Carbine Bull & Bronc Ride
When: Saturday 11 August 2018
Where: Mt Carbine Rodeo Grounds
More information phone 0740948337

What: Mareeba Military Muster
When: Saturday 4 August & Sunday 5 August
Where: Mareeba Turf Club

Mareeba Military Muster is an event planned to showcase military vehicles, displays and a weekend to remember our veterans of all wars and conflict.

You don’t want to miss Mareeba Shire Council’s FREE Easter in the Park event at the Village in the Rainforest on Easter Saturday, when a record breaking 15,000 Easter eggs will rain down on Kuranda.

The village’s annual Easter egg drop for Easter in the Park is a highlight for local and visiting children. The Easter Bunny will drop eggs on the hour from 11am to 2pm in Centenary Park. With each hourly egg drop there will be one GOLDEN Egg that will be thrown out into the crowd. The lucky person who catches the Golden Egg will receive an amazing Kuranda prize package! Included in the free family fun will be three jumping castles with one set aside for the younger kids, kids’ games, street performers, a magic show, four face painters, horse and carriage rides and stalls. We have also organised a separate area for the littlies aged five years and under to meet the Easter Bunny for a photo, and to collect their own little bag of Easter eggs. Dream State Circus duo Sophie and Jacob McGrath will give an action packed performance with diabolos, juggling balls, hula hoops and stilts. The Kuranda Candy Kitchen will give free candy making demonstrations at their Coondoo Street store at 11.30am and 1.30pm.

Easter in the Park is a fun family event that you won’t want to miss!

When: Saturday 31 March
Time: 10am – 4pm
Where: Centenary Park in Kuranda
How much: Free!

Schedule of events:

10.30am – Magic Show in Centenary Park

11.00am – Easter Egg Drop (with GOLDEN EGG)

11.30am – Pamagirri Aboriginal Dance Performance

11.30am – Kuranda Candy Kitchen – candy making demonstration (21 Coondoo Street)

12.00pm – Easter Egg Drop (with GOLDEN EGG)

12.15pm – Dream State Circus performance

1.00pm – Easter Egg Drop (with GOLDEN EGG)

1.30pm – Kuranda Egg & spoon race and sack races

1.30pm – Kuranda Candy Kitchen – candy making demonstration (21 Coondoo Street)

2.00pm – Easter Egg Drop (with GOLDEN EGG)

The Biboohra P&C Association is hosting the annual Biboohra State School Country Fair on Saturday 20 October.

For more information visit the school’s Facebook page.

Join the Mareeba Lions Club on Sunday 4 March for Clean Up Australia Day!

Mareeba Lioness Club is holding a cake stall to raise money for the Lions Medial Research Foundation.

The Dimbulah  Kindergarten is hosting a Bling and Blue Jeans Dinner Dance to raise money for the local kindy. For more information contact Vibeke  on 4093 1078.

Join Mara and Susie for a great night out and help support their cause.

Reef to Reef is Australia’s newest MTB stage race taking place over four days in the heart of Tropical North Queensland from Thursday 9 to Sunday 12 August 2018.

Starting on the reef fringed Coral Sea coast it quickly heads inland across a network of trails through tablelands, hinterland, farm lands, MTB parks, and tropical rainforest before finishing back at the coast four days and 195 km’s later. Each day’s stage has its own unique terrain and character to keep things interesting with a mix of fast flowing single trail, farm track, groomed downhill trails and fire trails – many through private land that can only be ridden while racing the Reef to Reef.

There’s nothing too technical but enough to get your attention including 4000m of vertical climbing. Achievable for anyone with a reasonable level of fitness and MTB skills.

The Reef to Reef Queensland is a sister event to the Port to Port in N.S.W. and the Cape to Cape in W.A., making up the newly formed triple crown of Australian multi-stage MTB racing.

For more information visit the Reef to Reef website.

Key details and dates:

• Reef to Reef – 9 – 12 August 2018, Solo or Teams options
  • Stage 1 – Smithfield MTB Park. Distance 30km
  • Stage 2 – Davies Creek MTB Park. Distance 50km
  • Stage 3 – Mount Molloy to Wetherby Station. Distance 60km
  • Stage 4 – Mount Molloy to Port Douglas. Distance 55km
• Triple-R 12 August 2018
  • 35km Classic and 70km Endurance ride options

Save the date! The Dimbulah Lions Festival will be held on Saturday 26 May 2018.

The 2018 Mareeba Rodeo Festival commences on 30 June 2018 with the Junior Cowpokes Competition & Ute Muster. The following weekend sees the Mareeba Rodeo Ball on Friday 6 July 2018 kicking off a varied weekend of sports and activities including the Art Show, bocce, tennis, indoor bowls, lawn bowls and golf.

Downtown Parade: Friday  13 July 2018. The parade of queen entrants, floats, horses and trade displays is held on the Friday night of the Rodeo weekend and usually attracts crowds of around 4000 people. The Parade starts at 7:45pm and completes 2 circuits of Byrnes Street. At the conclusion of the parade, the Rodeo Festival Queen is crowned at the main stage.

Mareeba Rodeo: Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 July 2018. Bull Riding, Saddle Bronc, Steer Wrestling, Barrel Race and Breakaway Roping. Local competitions are followed by our bigger and better “Battle of the States: QLD vs NSW” at Keribee Park, Mareeba.

For more information visit the Rodeo Association’s website. 

The Mareeba Netball Association is hosting a fundraiser at the Mutchilba Community Centre on Friday 2 February 2018.

Please contact Jan on 0478055005 or visit the Club’s Facebook Page for more information.

Official grand opening of the Community Pantry!

Library Lovers’ Day will be held again in 2018, as always on 14 February. To celebrate the love of reading, the Kuranda Library will also be hosting a morning tea (10.30am – 11.30am) and the Mareeba Library will be hosting an afternoon tea with craft and other fun activities from 2.00pm.

Mulungu and Deadly Choices Partnership Launch

When: Friday 19 January 2018
Where: Arnold Park, Mareeba
Time: 10.00am

More information: contact Samantha on 4092 6568

The Dimbulah Community Centre is hosting a family fun day to celebrate Australia Day.