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After being cancelled in 2020 due to COVID restrictions, the iconic Gemfest, Festival of Gems is set to return to the Central Highlands.
Event organisers revealed planning was well underway, with this year’s show expected to boost tourism numbers across the region.
President Bruce McFarlane said the festival, known as Australia’s premier gem show, highlighted the appeal and sheer beauty of precious and semiprecious stones that were commonly found in the Gemfields.
The four-day event will host traders and merchants, activities, exhibitions, entertainment, workshops, prizes, demonstrations and more across the mining localities of Sapphire, Rubyvale, Sapphire, Anakie and the Willows.
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Mater Private Hospital Rockhampton patients were treated to some live music this week to get into the spirit of Beef Australia.
Caitlyn Jamieson, with her parents Keith Jamieson and Alisha Smith, performed country music for residents on Wednesday.
Caitlyn, 15, is from Bouldercombe, and has been singing with her parents since she was two years old.
She has toured all over Australia and has just returned from Easter in the Country at Roma and the Way Out West Fest in Winton.
Only young in years, Caitlyn has been fortunate enough to perform with Slim Dusty’s Travelling Country Band several times.
Winton s Way Out West Fest kicks off as big events return to outback Queensland
Patrons are bringing camp chairs along and creating their own socially distanced space.
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Acts have returned to the main stage of Winton s Way Out West Fest, ushering in the start of big events returning to the outback since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Key points:
Winton s Way Out West Fest goes ahead a week after the Bluesfest in Byron Bay was cancelled due to community transmission of COVID-19
Festival organisers reshaped the festival s footprint to provide a COVID-safe experience
Surrounding central-west Queensland towns are benefiting from an influx of tourists in the region
Wintonâs Way Out West Fest
The six-day celebration of country music in the Outback is back with an all Australian line-up.
Lee Kernaghan will headline the Way Out West Fest.Â
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The festival was paused in 2020 as a result of the pandemic but this year it is back with an all Australian line-up of acts including Lee Kernaghan, Sheppard, Daryl Braithwaite, The Wolfe Brothers and Beccy Cole.
The event has been timed to coincide with school holidays and includes child-friendly shows including comedy characters the Crackup Sisters to complement the townâs permanent Australian Age of Dinosaurs museum, Waltzing Matilda Centre and Truck Museum.