The river is running in Mitchell

Overnight the mighty Maranoa spilled over the weir wall and went swirling downstream, carrying its load of silt and debris. Walking over the footbridge this morning (with Major) I met and talked to a couple of groups of people from "away". Muddy water flowed swiftly beneath us, less than 1 m from our feet. Overhead, fairy martins swooped as they darted between their bottle-shaped nests built beneath the bridge and the river where they collected beakfuls of mud.
At the old crossing, where the flow was barely a trickle yesterday, water roared over the road. Today our house is most definitely waterfront in position.

Jack Russell Races and Dog Jumping at Mitchell

Fun with dogs was the theme for Saturday afternoon at the Mitchell Showgrounds. Lap dogs, Jack Russell's, kelpies, Border collies, a Great Dane, corgi and dachshund, and an assortment of cross-breds and pig dogs gathered together for races and other competitions. The three hot favourites seemed to be Peanut from the Tully stable, Flying Freddie, and the rat dog Rattler.
Wearing muzzles (some dogs were adorned with ribbons and coats as well) the dogs were persuaded to run towards hand waving, shouting owners eager for a first prize. To liven up the Jack Russell race they didn't let go a box full of mice. In hindsight, perhaps it would have been a good idea if they had!

13°C and rain, yet Mitchell Marimbas Make Music

Sunday saw us immersed in marimbas as the Mitchell Marimba Band played the Fire and Water piece composed by Fatima from Maleny. Jambezi (her seven piece marimba band) travelled to Mitchell with her to perform and play with our band. Wow! What an experience to be part of a much greater musical event.

Dressed in marimba T-shirts and funky gypsy-like accessories (including gumboots and hats!) our band of 16, led by our brilliant teacher Joy Foott, were drawn into the magic rhythmic beat of a professional group until we too performed better than ever before. Thank you Fatima and the Jambezi team. You gave us an experience of a lifetime.

Mitchell's Street Markets, Music and Drama

Everyone was in the main street of Mitchell this morning, rugged up but smiling! Nine street musicians from Dunkeld Primary School (a one teacher school located about 40 minutes south of Mitchell) entertained shoppers outside the cafe with ukuleles, guitars, dance and a medley of songs. Two songs in particular were crowd pleasers and both were created by the children under the guidance of their excellent teacher Joy Foott. A moving anti-whaling song was followed by a song about Queensland, "I think it's great, Mate; Living in the best, State".

Outside the library and gallery, Mitchell State School teacher Karen Wolski and a group of students acted out an original drama "Fire and Water", with two deep booming drums to create atmosphere. With Fire and Water displays in every shop, music and drama, and street markets and stalls selling local art and craft, Mitchell was in festive mode.

No vacant shops in Mitchell

Laura Douglas opened her gallery "The School Hours Gallery" this afternoon. Located in the main street of Mitchell, next door to the cafe, this artspace will serve as a place where Laura can do her graphic design work and hang some of her wonderful art. Described by Laura as a "funky place" the make-over of the shop is an added attraction for Mitchell. With new houses being built and no vacant shops, it's clear that Mitchell is alive and well -- inspite of amalgamation!

Mitchell's Fire and Water Festival opened at 6 p.m. this evening with an Indigenous Fire Dance, followed by a film festival.

Marimbas Make Music in Mitchell

With one more practice to go, our community marimba band (led by Dunkeld State School principal Joy Foott) will perform at Mitchell's Fire and Water Festival this coming weekend.
A workshop on Saturday, led by Sunshine Coast based Jambezi Marimba Band will teach us new skills and spread the word about the joy of playing marimbas. The performance of a special piece of music (created especially for this event) will happen at a concert at the Neil Turner Weir on Sunday -- weather permitting. If it rains, the event will be held at the Mitchell Showgrounds. Our group will wear screen printed marimba T-shirts along with other colourful clothing. The marimba part of the festival promises to be a day full of fun and music.

Mitchell's Fire and Water Festival

Next weekend's Fire and Water Festival in Mitchell promises to be a spectacular event. On the subject of water, Mitchell has already received 30 inches of rain this year, with much of it falling throughout the winter. Consequently, water lies in every hollow, the ground squashes underfoot and grasses and weeds are brilliant green in colour. This is unusual because winter in Mitchell is usually dry, with repeated frosts burning off any new growth. There's plenty of water in the weir and enough water in the Maranoa River for it to be flowing. So, the water part of the festival is very apparent in this arid region of outback Queensland.

School children from Mitchell State School , St Pat's, Mungallala, Dunkeld and Charleville School of Distance Education have been busy creating lanterns, painting T-shirts and making other artistic pieces to use and display at the festival. Every child from every school will participate in the closing ceremony: a Fire Event Spectacular. This festival of river rhythms, film, food and family fun promises to be an event that brings together the whole community in a celebration of fire, water and artistic endeavour.