55th Wedding Anniversary

Rosewood Couple Celebrate 55th Wedding Anniversary

ROSEWOOD couple Matt and Elaine Dale celebrated their 55^th wedding anniversary on Friday, and according to Mrs Dale the sparks are still flying.

 “At this stage we aren’t sure how we’re going to celebrate, we are thinking of going on a holiday to Caloundra, we love it up there,” she said.

Mrs Dale says she can still remember the day her and her husband met.

“We met at a dance, it took Matt about a month to pluck up the courage ask me to the pictures and we went from there,” she said.

The couple were married at St. Mary’s church in Ipswich on July 5, 1958.

“Matt had been away working for 11 months prior to the wedding and only got back about a week before,” Mrs Dale said.

“We were so happy to be married, and I was very happy to see him again, especially after such a long time apart!”

During their marriage they have each held many jobs, with the couple opening their own business in Rosewood in 1978 called The Plaza Corner and later working together at Cross & Embrey Real Estate.

With their close knit family consisting of five children, fifteen grandchildren and five great grandchildren, Mrs Dale says they are always keeping busy.

She admits the pair has had their share of disagreements over the years, but says the trick to a long and happy marriage is learning to accept the other person for who they truly are. 

“Nobody’s perfect, and we realise that we can’t agree all the time,” she said.

Mrs Dale also believes it is important for a couple to have active interests outside the home, with both Mr and Mrs Dale having had a long standing involvement with the Rosewood Lions Club and St. Brigid’s Church.

The couple have already begun making plans for their diamond anniversary and are busy planning more traveling adventures together.

“I told Matt we can have a big party for our 60^th anniversary, until then we plan on taking more holidays together,” said Mrs Dale.

 “We love travelling. We are taking a cruise to Fiji in October so that’s very exciting.”

We all lead a double life

Double life for barrister and actress

Sally Taylor (middle) performing in the comedy Five Women Wearing the Same Dress.

AFTER a long day in court Sally Taylor hurriedly applies her bright orange lipstick, adjusts the two large flowers in her hair, slides on a pair of bright orange heels and steps on to the stage.

Ms Taylor leads a double life: barrister by day, actress by night.

She was a leading actress in Ipswich Little Theatre's recent production of Five Women Wearing the Same Dress.

Ms Taylor points out that her two seemingly opposing passions have a surprising amount in common.

"I think there is an element of performance in courtroom advocacy and I think there always will be," she said.

"The heroes and the villains in plays are just as complex as defendants or offenders or victims are in real life.

"I think the theatre can also reflect the need in the law to still see people as human."

While perched in the make-up chair, amid the organised chaos of the shared dressing room, Ms Taylor reflects on what draws her to amateur theatre.

"The community involvement appeals to me," she said.

"There are members of this theatre that have been members for 10, 20, 30 years.

"They perform, write, direct, design costumes, make sandwiches and they all come together for a love of live theatre."

The young mother, barrister and actress also understands the need to separate her work and personal lives.

"At the end of the day there are horrific things that occur in the world that maybe your family don't need to know about, and you leave them at work," she said.

"Theatre is a way of having something else in your mind that is light and funny as a distraction."

Co-director Sheryl Roche applauds Ms Taylor's ability to make the effortless transition from one role to another.

"You come to the theatre, you wipe your feet and you get rid of all your problems," she said

NAIDOC

NAIDOC week celebrations special for all

 

THE Purga Elders and Descendants Aboriginal Corporation is set to celebrate NAIDOC week with a day filled with cultural festivities.

The former Purga mission on Ipswich Boonah Rd will hold a day of fun-filled cultural activities, including displays of indigenous dancing, market stalls, live music, raffles and food on Thursday, July 18.

PLAY BALL: Lyreisha Thompson (left), 8, and Nahkari Carr-Smith, 11, at the Purga Elders and Descendants Aboriginal Corp. 

  PEDAC chairman Lilly Davidson said the event was an opportunity for indigenous and non-indigenous Australians to come together and celebrate native Aboriginal culture.

  "It is a real gathering of community, a celebration for the Aboriginal people," she said.


"We are looking forward to everyone coming out and enjoying themselves."

 The NAIDOC week cultural events don't stop there for Ipswich, with celebrations continuing this Thursday at Briggs Road Sports Centre.

 The event will feature 50 stallholders, including a wide variety of information, food and arts and craft stalls, live music and dancing displays.

 Live entertainment will include Reggie Little and Black Opal Band, Gerti Benjamin, Gayle Jones, Lance O'Chin and Nunukul Yuggera Dances.

 Councillor Charlie Pisasale said NAIDOC celebrations this year were the result of collaboration between the council, indigenous communities, community organisations and Kambu Medical Centre.

 "I'd especially like to thank our community partners for working with us to stage a great day out for the whole community to celebrate this special day," Cr Pisasale said.

 The theme for this year's NAIDOC week is the Yirrkala bark painting.

Grotto Fest Puts Marburg on Music Map

 Marburg Grotto Fest ignites

GROTTO Fest, the festival that has put Marburg on the music map, has exploded in popularity from being a back yard party – getting bigger and better every year.

According to organisers of Marburg’s original music festival, featuring blues, roots and rock, this year looks to be no exception.

Grotto Fest committee secretary Larissa Cross explained how the boutique festival started as a back yard party in 2008 and has quickly grown in popularity with musicians and supporters alike.

Each year since then, an ever-increasing number of avid music fans have congregated in the natural outdoor amphitheater at Jay-Lee Park, Marburg.

“Once people have experienced the Grotto Fest and understand what we are all about, they absolutely love it and promise to return the next year,” Ms Cross said.

The excitement is already building with loyal festival goers participating in the Grotto Fest promotional video shoot last week with Brisbane band Brother Fox.

The festival itself will take place on Saturday November 2, with the line up being released next month.

Band coordinator, Robbie Burns, is not giving anything away when it comes to the 2013 line-up.

“The full 2013 line-up is a secret for now. Expect the first announcement in early August. What I can tell you is that this year we have a major interstate act headlining,” he said.

“The festival is about providing an opportunity for people in the greater Ipswich region to access an excellent music festival showcasing some of Australia’s finest blues and roots acts at an affordable price.”

Previous acts have included names such as Nicky Bomba, A French Butler Called Smith, Transvaal Diamond Syndicate, Drawn From Bees and Greg McHugh.

Grotto Fest is a non-profit organisation and donates its profits to charities such as the Cancer Foundation and to local families who are experiencing trauma or facing financial difficulties.

Hosting 12 hours of live music ranging from blues and roots to reggae and rock, The Grotto Fest offers fans a full day of local and interstate musical talent.

For more information visit the Grotto Fest facebook page or visit the website at www.grottofest.com.

Movie Move Makes Waves

Movie Move Makes Waves

THE intended development of a new cinema complex in Riverlink Shopping Centre is a prospect that holds many concerns for a number of local business owners in the CBD.  

The Ipswich City Council approved the cinema precinct last year which is set to open before Christmas.

The development has raised several concerns among locals and vendors, with many believing that the current cinemas on the corner of Brisbane and Ellenborough Streets bring more spenders to the area. 

 Lisa Tatton the owner of Urban Pantry is apprehensive about the suggested move with current cinema-goers making up a large part of her customer base. 

“I don’t think it’s good for local little coffee shops because I know Tuesday is a very good day for us, we get a lot of people going to the cinemas,” she says.

A new dining precinct consisting of seven restaurants alongside the river is set to be built within the shopping centre to accompany the cinema complex, as part of a plan by the Ipswich City Council. 

Although the combined cinema and dining options within Riverlink Shopping Centre creates convenience for patrons, Bridget McLean owner of the Coronation Hotel, is concerned. 

“If they are going to move it what are they going to replace it with and what’s the plan?” she asks. 

Ms McLean believes that the current cinema will become redundant, resulting in many potential customers favouring the entertaining and dining options closer to the shopping centre as opposed to local pubs and restaurants in the CBD. 

She also hopes for better communication between local businesses and developers in the future. 

 Ms McLean believes that the Ipswich CBD could thrive once again and that the area still has much potential.

Cinema construction is currently underway.