One Brisbane many culturesEdition 15 – March to May 2018

A message from Lord Mayor Graham QuirkEarlier this year, I was honoured to present my Australia Day Awards to Brisbane’s community heroes who are committed to improving the lives of others. Congratulations to all recipients, each of whom helps make Brisbane a great place to live, work and relax .

This month, the Queen’s Baton Relay makes its way through Brisbane as part of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games. Brisbane is an Event City for the Games, and is proudly hosting Festival 2018 from 4-15 April.

Festival 2018 features 12 days of free arts and cultural events, to celebrate the spirit of the Games and provide residents and visitors with a range of lifestyle and leisure opportunities.

Also in this edition, read about my Multicultural Business Scholarship Program, the Mt Coot-tha precinct and our community halls.

Commonwealth Games and Festival 2018Brisbane is an Event City for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (GC2018)taking place from 4-15 April 2018.

The largest sporting event in Australia this decade, the Games will attract athletes from 70 nations and territories for 12 days of sporting and cultural events, with 45,000 people expected to attend the shooting and track cycling in Brisbane.

Residents and visitors can join the celebration of GC2018 at Festival 2018; a free arts and cultural extravaganza featuring world-class musicians, breathtaking theatre, awe-inspiring talks and striking visual arts.

You can also experience the Queen’s Baton Relay as it makes its way through Brisbane on 30-31 March on its journey to the Opening Ceremony on 4 April.

Find out more about Brisbane Event City highlights at brisbane.qld.gov.au/gc2018

Congratulations Australia Day award winnersThe winners of the 2018 Lord Mayor’s Australia Day Awards have been announced at a special ceremony at City Hall.

The annual awards celebrate Brisbane residents who have significantly improved the lives of individuals and communities, contributing to the vision for a diverse, friendly and strong community, with a total of 23 awards presented by Lord Mayor Graham Quirk.

Margaret Page from Runcorn was named Citizen of the Year, in recognition of more than 25 years of volunteering and fostering vulnerable children.

Forest Lake’s Una Gray took out the Senior Citizen of the Year Award, while Young Citizen of the Year went to Selena Ferguson of Eight Mile Plains. Uncle Nurdon Serico from The Gap was awarded the Australia Day Cultural/Arts Award.

There’s something for everyone at the Mt Coot-tha precinct!

Mt Coot-tha is an iconic landmark for Brisbane, providing a beautiful, natural retreat for relaxation, recreation and learning.

Spend a day at the Mt Coot-tha precinct, starting at the new Visitor Information Centre where you can rediscover forgotten gems. Explore the Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha and Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium, ride the many mountain bike trails, take a walk through the forest to picnic areas or up to the Summit Lookout for an ice cream at the café or meal at the restaurant.

Plans are also taking shape for a new Mt Coot-tha zipline attraction which will feature three unique experiences: a treetop canopy zipline tour, a six-line Megazip and a guided Indigenous experience that will include a 335 metre suspended bridge walk.

To find out more, visit brisbane.qld.gov.au and search ‘Mt Coot-tha precinct’.

Plenty on at the planetariumResidents are invited to join Council in celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium at Mt Coot-tha. There will be plenty of opportunities for residents to participate in celebrations including watching Passport to the Universe narrated by Tom Hanks, and hearing from guest speakers.

The planetarium has been entertaining and educating residents since it opened on 24 May 1978.

Not to be missed during the celebrations is Skylore, showcasing the rich heritage, traditions and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through the lens of astronomy.

Festival 2018 presents Skylore, a Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games legacy project funded by the Queensland Government and proudly delivered by Brisbane City Council.

Apply now for the Multicultural Business Scholarship Program and Mentoring SchemeApplications for the Lord Mayor’s Multicultural Business Scholarship Program and Mentoring Scheme are open until 30 April.

More than 50 placements are available for budding business entrepreneurs, offering part-time courses for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

The 2018 Lord Mayor’s Multicultural Business Awards will be presented at the Lord Mayor’s Multicultural Business Dinner and Awards ceremony on 24 August. Tickets for the event, which raises funds to support the Business Scholarship Program and Mentoring Scheme, go on sale from 10 April.

Events10 March – Multicultural Taste of the World Festival – family fun day out for everyone to enjoy food, music and entertainment, Keong Park, Stafford, 2-8pm, visit brisbanemalayalees.com.au

17 March – St Patrick’s Day Parade – more than 80 floats representing Irish culture create a colourful display in this annual parade, City Botanic Gardens, 10.30am, visit www.brisbaneirishfestival.com

16-18 April – Ocean Film Festival World Tour 2018 – selection of short films documenting the beauty and power of the ocean, Brisbane Powerhouse, 7-10pm, visit brisbanepowerhouse.org

Until 29 April – The Kite Wishes Project – become part of Mao’s Last Dancer Li Cunxin’s story by creating your own kite, adding a wish and flying it with friends, Museum of Brisbane, various dates and times, visit museumofbrisbane.com.au

Until 24 June – Sunday Sessions on the Green – enjoy live music performances, lawn games and chilled-out seating at Brisbane’s spectacular riverfront destination, River Quay Green, every Sunday, 2-5pm, visitbrisbane.com.au

Facilities for hireDid you know you can hire one of our 18 community halls and facilities for activities such as weddings, meetings, business events and musicals? Venues include features such as air conditioning, audio visual equipment, kitchens, stages and car parking.

Brisbane City CouncilGPO Box 1434Brisbane Qld 4001CA18-24878-08-3199© Brisbane City Council 2018

Every effort is made to ensure that information is correct at time of printing.

Brisbane, Australia’s New World City

For more information visit brisbane.qld.gov.au or call 3403 8888.

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