WOW Western
Queensland
Charleville
4 & 5 June 2021
Welcome to WOW Western Queensland - Charleville. Our event was held on the 4-5 of June 2021 on the traditional land of the Bidjara peoples.
This event was created in partnership with the women of Charleville, Red Ridge Interior Queensland and Murweh Shire Council. Across the weekend of activities, more than 600 guests attended and enjoyed a range of performances, conversations, workshops and a makers market.
The event kicked off on the Friday evening at the Charleville racecourse with the first fashion performance of the new ready to wear collections by Red Ridge the Label, Diamantina and Georgina, featuring artwork from Two Sisters Talking (Anpanuawa) Joyce Crombie, and (Aulpunda) Jean Barr Crombie, alongside a special collection of one-off gowns featuring the artwork from Walali Wadyana Gumbi - Strong Black Women, and local artist collective Murweh Women.
Saturday featured a full day of WOW events located at Charlotte’s Nest, including a day long market place of women-led businesses and local services, conversations on health and well-being, developing an income from your passion, and hearing from women and girls on their own personal journey, workshops including Styling & Make-up, managing your finances with QSuper, how to be a good bystander with Griffith University’s MATE Program, African Dancing & Yoga, and lead into the evening with the ever-popular WOW Speed mentoring!
The Country Witches Association brought the house down with a hysterically funny and delightfully frank performance. With Mandy Nolan and Áine Tyrrell in the house, there’s not a dry eye in sight.
The WOW Australia team alongside speakers and guests were very pleased to travel to Charleville on a specially decorated coach from Mt Gravatt Coach and Travel. Read an interview with Del Cole, bus-driver, philanthropist, and entrepreneur, and find out why we chose to travel with her company.
Program Highlights
WOW events are a glorious fusion of conversations, workshops, performances and exhibitions. Check out the program highlights from WOW Charleville.
Performances
Friday evening
Red Ridge the Label
Canvas to Catwalk
WOW Charleville will commence on Friday evening at the Charleville Racecourse with the first fashion performance of the new ready to wear collections by Red Ridge the Label, Diamantina and Georgina, featuring artwork from Two Sisters Talking (Anpanuawa) Joyce Crombie, and (Aulpunda) Jean Barr Crombie, alongside a special collection of one-off gowns featuring the artwork from Walali Wadyana Gumbi - Strong Black Women, and local artist collective Murweh Women.
Saturday evening
Country Witches Association
We have a very exciting performance planned for Saturday evening.
The Country Witches Association is what happens when Aussie comedian Mandy Nolan and Irish singer songwriter Áine Tyrrell mix genres and politics to create a diabolically funny, inclusive, politically robust, deeply introspective and wildly outrageous call to arms. The girls bravely weave a new narrative around disruption, have far reaching conversations about feminism and family and identity and ask the audience to join them in an uprising. A movement!
Paying homage to the women of the CWA, the two acknowledge the work and energy of those tireless women, but note that they are girls more likely to cause trouble than bake cakes! The Country Witches call for audience inclusion, allowing them to set the agenda for the conversations. Nolan delivers riotous comedy, Tyrrell takes us deep into our hearts of darkness. No two shows are the same. No one is the same when they leave!
Sue Ray
Sue Ray was coining the Americana genre 15 years ago when she first stepped on stage. Winner of the 2018 QMusic award for best Folk/World song with Junior was his Name, she continues to captivate audiences with her haunting and emotionally charged lyrics, considered compositions and really hits them in the sweet spot with her smoky, molasses-rich voice. Following a ‘gap’ year or two in Nashville where she worked alongside industry greats and connected into the scene, gigging and writing, she is back in Australia releasing her latest album Live at the Junk Bar.
Sue will be performing a special concert for WOW Australia festival goers!
Bec Mac
Move over Thelma and Louise, the WOW Coach is heading out West to Charleville with your hostess Bec Mac for this road trip adventure!
If you can’t make it on the Coach, Bec Mac will take you to the action with a curated series of interviews and live feeds via social media as she explores, 'What does the “F” word mean today?
What impact has the courage of women like Grace Tame and Brittany Higgins had? Has the pandemic affected the popularity of the Brazilian wax?
Bec Mac is creative entrepreneur and Queen of Arts Communication and innovator of game-changing work LOVE TV, POPSART and more recently Chrysalis. @becmactv
With thanks to our partners at Mount Gravatt Coach.
Conversations
The F Word
What does a feminist look like? Can you be a feminist and wear pink? Do you still have to chuck your make-up and burn your bra? And what about men – can they be feminists too? Join a panel of guests and local women to find out why we have so many problems with this word and what is actually means!
Led by Griffith University’s expert in women’s rights and International law Sue Harris Rimmer and including Bidjara Traditional Owner Keelan Mailman, Senior Biosecurity Inspector with Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Bec Brayley and Brisbane creative entrepreneur Bec Mac.
Passion Purpose Profit
Femeconomy (Alanna Bastin-Byrne and Jade Collins) connects, amplifies and supports women owned businesses and is currently delivering the Economic Security4Women Connection Program in very remote, drought affected Queensland to 10 female business owners.
Join them for a conversation with local business women including General Manager of Red Ridge Louise Campbell, Aunty Joyce Crombie and Aunty Jean Barr-Crombie - Two Sisters Talking, Charleville photographer Katrina Lehman, and owner of Charlottes Nest and WOW host Courtney Bylett.
Same, same, but different
Call them tribes, identities, cultures: we are all looking to find "our people". And the world is quick to label and categorize us according to our differences, and to make media and politics out of them.
But ditch the labels and the stereotypes, scratch the surface, and what is it we human beings are really looking for? A panel of local women and city dwellers are here to tackle this question, and perhaps dispel some myths: now's your chance to ask the questions you've always wanted to ask, but never had the chance to…
CEO Assistant/RADF Liaison Officer from Murweh Shire Council Jill Usher and Nurse Practitioner Nicky McKellar will join Brisbane community leader Faiza el Higzi in a conversation facilitated by Elise Stephenson from Griffith University’s Policy Innovation Hub.
The Future is Ours
The future – with all its challenges and opportunities - is in the hands of the next generation. We invite the heroes of tomorrow to share their hopes and fears – what the problems are for them and what changes they would like to see, including contributions from university student Rosabelle Tully, Red Ridge the Label model Tearnee Lewington and representatives from Charleville State High School!
Who Cares?
When we’re sick in body, mind or spirit, facing big life challenges, or indeed, just small and fragile, or old and frail, who takes on the responsibilities of caring? And when our communities are struggling, who are the people who hold it all together? We talk with women who are playing these vital caring roles, about what keeps them going, how they care for themselves, and the support they need to make their huge contribution to our well-being.
This conversation will be facilitated by Karen Sherlock - Senior Mental Health Clinician, Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS), and include Charleville fitness instructor Angela Stirton, retired social worker Irene Frances, RFDS Health Promotion Officer, nurse and midwife Timna Wright.
Workshops
How to be more than a Bystander
Join Michael Jeh from the MATE Program at Griffith University for a conversation about the role of the bystander in preventing violence before it occurs and/or calling out behaviour that is problematic, in safe and respectful ways.
Lets Chat Hard!
Don’t you hate having those difficult conversations? It could be at work when you are having problems with an employee or a colleague, the concerns you have with your teenager, a falling out with a friend or a dispute within the family! Join us to find out how not to be afraid and get results without destroying relationships.
African Dance
Experience a little taste of East African culture with this vibrant, fun and energetic dance workshop suited for all levels. The Imanzi Cultural Performers will guide you through a tour of renowned styles from Rwanda to South Africa, sharing the stories, dress and songs of this region, accompanied by live drumming.
Styling Up
Laura Churchill is a pre-eminent fashion stylist with many years’ experience in personal styling as well as event production and fashion business more broadly. Laura is passionate about working with women to feel confident and comfortable in their wardrobes and believes style is for every body.
As creative director of Red Ridge the Label, Laura is also involved with this Blackall-based fashion project that gives back to the regional Queensland community through arts and employment opportunities. Laura will showcase Red Ridge the Label with the context of dressing for your body shape and lifestyle. Laura will also delve into hair and makeup tips that are practical and easy to follow.
Get HEaRd
HER stories, HER voice
Radio 4EB will teach you how to develop your story idea, hone your interview techniques and create your own podcast in a targeted 'masterclass' at the event. Interested participants can also engage in a series of on-line workshops pre-Festival and then attend the 'masterclass' at the event. A small team from Radio 4EB will be in attendance with their Outside Broadcast Van and participants will have the additional opportunity to interview speakers and performers and broadcast live on digital radio.
Your Finances - Your Questions Answered
Join the team from QSuper to point you in direction of managing your money towards financial independence, understanding how much you really need to save for retirement; what to do when things don’t go to plan (separation; loss of partner; loss of job) and in partnership with DV Connect understanding financial abuse, the danger signs and resources to help.
Throughout the day QSuper representatives will also be available for one on one sessions – open to all, not just QSuper members!
Monetize Your Passion – Deep Dive
Following on from the panel session – Femeconomy will run a more detailed workshop with local business owners – looking at the key issues that businesses face and how these women have overcome their challenges. This will include information on the resources and tools available to women.
Explore Charleville
Let the stars guide your travels. This town in the south-west is the ideal base to explore Outback Queensland’s rugged landscape. Charleville makes the most of the clear outback skies with a Cosmos Centre that connects the heavens with earth through the lens of powerful Meade telescopes.
Each night Charleville’s Cosmos Centre and Observatory rolls open its roof, revealing binary stars, clusters and planets. But while the stars are easy to spot, not all of Charleville’s best assets are so visible.
Charleville offers a selection of accommodation options, as well as plenty of activities, dining and shopping. Why not extend your visit, and take in the sights and sounds of this beautiful region.
