Local students help illuminate our streets

Arts and drama students from years nine to 12 from Gympie State High School, James Nash High School, Cooloola Christian College and St Patrick’s College have been working hard these past three months preparing for an exciting new addition to this year’s Gold Rush Festival parade.

The students, along with a group of Skilling for Education and Employment participants, have been working under the guidance of artist Rozina Suliman to construct and decorate large scale sculptural bamboo, cane and paper lanterns.

“It’s been great to be able to share some of my experience with the students who will get the satisfaction of knowing that what they have helped to create will be on display for the whole community to see and enjoy as part of the Gold Rush Festival parade,” said Rozina.

“It’s something that is big and bold and new for the Gympie region, which is a wonderful experience for the young people that I’ve been working with and something they can be very proud of.”

The lanterns will feature in this year’s parade which is being held as part of the Friday evening celebrations from 6:00pm-9:00pm on 18 October 2019 in Mary Street, Gympie. The parade is set to commence at 7:00pm.

The inspiration for the lanterns comes from 19th century machinery used in and around Gympie during the gold rush years.

The large-scale lanterns will be complemented by hundreds of smaller, LED-lit machinery props, such as cogs and wheels, that will be made and paraded by local primary school students.

The new addition of the lanterns and props will complement the much-loved Gympie tradition of floats built and paraded by many community groups, schools, clubs, organisations, individuals and businesses, which means that this year’s parade is expected to be bigger than ever.

To register your business or community float for the parade, visit www.gympie.qld.gov.au/goldrush. Registration is free and close Wednesday 16 October 2019. 

Float entrants are being encouraged to think about the twilight timing of this year’s parade and consider creatively illuminating their floats.

Following the parade, the celebrations will continue in Mary Street with live music, food vans, street performers and kids rides.

The Gympie Gold Rush Festival runs from 18-20 October and includes an evening parade, carnival day, and community picnic. Find out more at www.gympie.qld.gov.au/goldrush.