This year's ANZAC Day saw hundreds turn out to remember the efforts of Australia and New Zealand's great service men and women. Veterans, schools, clubs and businesses poured into the streets to march in grand parades, and packed in close to attend services held across the Hinchinbrook Shire. Beautiful wreaths were lain and the bugles mournful tones echoed across respectful silences as flags were lowered to half mast. A gunfire breakfast, coffee and traditional ANZAC biscuits kept everyone going
Read the full storyAllan Colquhoun grew up in Sydney, but his life has taken him far beyond the city limits. In his youth, he worked with a station owner named Bob, whose property combined dairy and sheep farming with a focus on Jersey bulls and cows. One vivid memory that’s stayed with him is of Bob chasing down a bull meant for butchering on his stock horse —a beast that, to Allan’s amazement, climbed over the holding fence one hoof at a time to escape. Allan spent most of his working life as a coastal travelle
Read the full storyHinchinbrook Chamber of Commerce, Industry & Tourism held their monthly Coffee Connect last week, being hosted by local business Wild Local. There was a very strong attendance at this event, with Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter and KAP Senate candidate, Robbie Lyon. Rebecca and Dom Zaghini provided a delicious light snacks and gave the audience an overview of their business journey from inception to their current location, the diverse range of products they provide and some insight into t
Read the full storyOver the weekend, the Ingham Kennel Club hosted six rounds of dog shows, featuring judges from across Australia who rotated to ensure fair and balanced competition. Dogs were entered into one of seven group categories, with the Toy Group attracting the largest number of entries. Sunday's shows saw the Italian Greyhound emerge as a standout, making up 20 of the 170 total entries across the weekend. Unique and rarely seen breeds like the Xoloitzcuintli and Briard added excitement to the event, of
Read the full storyIn just two weeks, Cardwell’s own Nephi Denham will be showcasing his talent at his very first solo exhibition at the Umbrella Studio in Townsville. A journey that started nearly 15 years ago, Nephi's passion for art was sparked when his auntie took him to the Girringun Aboriginal Art Centre back in 2010, and it’s been a creative adventure ever since.
Nephi’s connection to his culture has been a driving force behind his work.
“I’ve always wanted to learn about my culture, to understand and listen to the stories told through art,” he says. For his upcoming exhibition, Nephi will be presenting a diverse collection of paintings, weavings, and ceramics.
“I’ve got 46 pieces ready so far, but I’m aiming for 60 to 70 artworks,” he shares.
Nephi said his favourite art styles are weaving and ceramics, he enjoys that it involves more hands-on work.
“When you're weaving in, I sit there for hours. It takes my mind to another place and relaxes me, I suppose, as a person,” Nephi said.
“With ceramics, you can build a form that's possibly in your mind; you can shape it how you want to shape it, shape the clay, be the boss of the clay, and mould it how you'd like it to come out.”
Nephi is not the first in his family to be given the opportunity to display his artwork, art runs in his family.
“There were four other people before me, my father, auntie, sister, and another auntie from Mission Beach and now they have decided to put me up to display my artwork,” laughed Nephi.
“It’s exciting that it’s my first ever exhibition after so many years of helping other artists prepare for their own.”
Over the years, Nephi has learned the three styles of weaving and how to create ceramics. He uses these skills to teach other enthusiastic artists in workshops.
Nephi travels to Tully twice a week, Tuesday and Thursday.
“I teach a lot of ceramics, and also painting,” he said.
“Most years, we have specific themes; higher up gives that out every year, and we try to focus our work for that specific topic or theme.”