The Shire of Cue in Western Australia has celebrated recent success in promoting its heritage and encouraging involvement in the arts through Qfest, its annual Outback Festival. The town, which has a population of just 400, was the winner in the Arts and Heritage Category of the 2004 National Awards for Local Government.
Qfest was launched in 2001, and has since become a roaring success, with people travelling from all over the country to attend. The festival boasts many talented acts, particularly the well known female impersonators, the Queens of the Murchison, who have been an important part of the festival since its beginning.
Plans for this year’s festival include art exhibitions, Indigenous storytelling, historical walks celebrating the town’s Gold Rush heritage, as well as workshops in theatre, dance and arts and crafts. There will also be a short film festival, celebrating the work of video students from the Central Metropolitan College of TAFE.
The festival will conclude with its signature event, the extraordinary Big Burn, where several large sculptures, made by sculpture students and teachers from the Central TAFE are set alight during a live music show.
Qfest will be staged from 30 September to 2 October 2005. For more information visit www.qfest.com.au
