Kissing wall shines spotlight on MS

Bright red lips filled King George Square on Monday morning as Queensland’s first MS Awareness Week kicked off. People passing through the square were encouraged to get their lips painted by Academy of Makeup artists and to pucker up to the “Kiss MS Goodbye” wall to show their support. The vibrant red runway carpet, balloons and brightly-clad volunteers contrasted with the rainy day and served to draw more attention to the disease – attention which MS Australia’s Brisbane... Read More

Glimpses into the life of an artist who died too young

Queensland Art Gallery When painter Amrita Sher-Gil died in 1941 aged 28 she was already recognised as one of India’s most important artists, though she left behind only about 150 canvasses. Born in Hungary to a Jewish opera-singer mother and an Indian Sikh father, her talent was nurtured early and at the age of 16 she trained at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris. She was renowned for her beauty and for her lifestyle – being unconventional and having many lovers –... Read More

Ship of the future glides into Brisbane

A load of “boat people” sailed up the Brisbane River on Sunday. It was a hi-tech solar ship with a crew of Europeans on a mission to prove that an entirely solar-powered ship can sail around the world. As the futuristic, flat topped, bat-winged marine wonder silently and efficiently sliced up the Brisbane river against the current it looked more like a scene from “Star Wars” than “Sea Patrol”. Brisbanites gathered along the river walk stopped and stared in wonder... Read More

‘Sluts’ march in Brisbane to protest sexual assault

Hundreds of women marched through the streets of Brisbane yesterday to protest against victim-blaming and sexual assault at Australia’s first “Slutwalk”. The march followed Candian protests when a policeman told university students not to “dress like sluts” if they wanted to avoid sexual assault. The students created Slutwalk, which has quickly became a global phenomenon. From 2pm hundreds of women holding signs and wearing colourful outfits gathered in Brisbane’s... Read More

Residents fight unit development

Cannon Hill residents are concerned about a proposed unit development in a quaint residential pocket to the south of Wynnum Road. Resident Brett Bennett told this week’s Brisbane City Council meeting he had a petition of 200 signatures from the wider community opposing the development. The Cannon Hill Action Group’s survey found 89 percent of people said they would actively fight to stop blocks of units from being built next to their property and 64 percent said... Read More

Miami beats Bulls 83-80 in NBA thriller

In an amazing fourth-quarter comeback Miami Heat defeated the Chicago Bulls 83-80 last night to advance to the U.S. National Basketball Association finals. Miami returned to Chicago’s United Center holding a three games to one series lead and all the momentum following a tight overtime win back in Miami two days ago. But current most valuable player (MVP) Derrick Rose and the Bulls were looking to force a game six back in Florida. Playing on their home floor, Chicago seemed... Read More

Council welcomes 400th bus

Brisbane City Council has announced the delivery of its 400th bus in a scheme to bring 500 new buses to the Brisbane public transport system. “The ‘can do’ team reached a very important milestone with regards to our commitment of 500 buses this council term by taking delivery of our 400th bus,” public transport chairman Cr Julian Simmonds said at this week’s meeting. The high capacity 14.5 metre bus will carry 90 people and includes anti-shatter... Read More

Maroons down Blues in tight finish

Queensland captain Darren Lockyer led from the front in his record-equalling 34th Origin match in Brisbane last night, getting the Maroons home 16-12 against a tough and persistent Blues pack. Lockyer orchestrated the win in front of 52,144 home fans injecting himself at key moments throughout the game, most notably in the 73rd minute with a brilliant inside ball for Billy Slater to score the match-winning try. It wasn’t a classic Origin game by any means but with two games... Read More

Thousands of building workers march through city

About 3000 building workers held a good-natured but noisy rally in Brisbane today claiming underpayment for government projects. After marching through the city, building workers filled the huge leafy garden terraces at the executive building in George Street where they were addressed by union officials who called through loud speakers for “a peaceful and loud demonstration”. The protestors included members of many trades including builders, plumbers and electricians. They... Read More

Construction worker feared ‘pauper’s grave’

A construction worker who claimed his boss hadn’t paid any money into his superannuation account for two years feared his family would be left destitute if he died. Sunny Manual, who now works as a project manager, said he found out early this year a previous employer hadn’t paid his super since 2009. “If I’d have been killed accidentally on site I would have been buried in a pauper’s grave and my little girl … would have got nothing,”... Read More

Huge Brisbane ballet class enters record books

Brisbane has set a Guinness World Record with a massive 1561 people dancing in the largest-ever ballet class. The 30-minute ballet class took place on all five storeys of the state library on Sunday after bad weather forced officials to change the venue from South Brisbane’s Kurilpa Bridge. Despite the rain, the turn-out was more than enough to beat Germany’s previous record of 1055, set-by leading opera company Staatsoper Hannover last year. This record-breaking... Read More

Fiesta brings the world to Ipswich

In the city’s 151st year, Ipswich showcased its rich multiculturalism in the Global Fiesta at Queens Park on Sunday. The fiesta featured live entertainment from local bands, Australian Idol contestant Ngaiire, youths from an Indigenous Hip hop and RnB crew, other cultural performances, line dancing, food stalls, workshops, displays and amusement rides. Between the two main performance areas, the Global Village and Global Stage, an abundance of food stalls, information booths... Read More

Life and Light – Lloyd Rees at the QAG

More than 100 pieces of Lloyd Rees’s artwork are being shown at the Queensland Art Gallery this month, celebrating the Brisbane-born artist’s long and successful career. The Life and Light exhibition focuses on Rees’ early drawings of Brisbane and showcases his exploration of light in landscapes, street scenes and portraits. One of his most prominent pieces on display, The Sunlit Tower (pictured), is an oil on canvas that Rees painted when he was 91. This piece shows... Read More

Review: Girl of the Golden West

Opera Queensland (Lyric Theatre) A strange mix of poker games, Italian, gun fights and high notes, Puccini’s The Girl of the Golden West combines the cultured world of opera with the 1850s gold rush in California – and somehow does it well. The opera has a Romeo and Juliet feel to it, with Minnie, the beloved bartender’s daughter, falling for the outlaw Dick Johnson. Played by Soprana Zara Barrett and tenor Carlo Barricelli, the characters show that love still has power... Read More

Premiers fly the flag for Origin teams

The countdown to State of Origin began today with the premiers from Queensland and New South Wales raising their states’ colours. Queensland Premier Anna Bligh said the flag raising was a new part to a traditional bet between the premiers, where at the end of the series the losing state must fly the opponent’s flag on their bridge. Queensland rugby league player Corey Parker and ex-origin legend Steve Renouf climbed to the top of the Story Bridge to fly the Maroons’... Read More