The Ten Days in the Towers and The Country Music Festival by Maria Caesar

     Over the period during the end of April to early May there is an annual event in Charters Towers known as The10 Days in the Towers. The ten-day celebrations also include two country music festivals: the All Australian Jamboree and the Charters Towers Country Music Festival.

     Jeans, boots and an Akubra hat become commonplace on the streets of Charters Towers as the entire township dress up for the occasion. Store windows feature bales of hay, corrugated iron and various country knickknacks as they compete for the prize of best themed display. Country music can be heard in the town’s many hotel bars and on the streets of the central business district as buskers entertain shoppers and passers-by.

     Locals and visitors can also participate in line dancing, bush poetry and the talent quests during this period or attend the popular markets and various historic tours. Many of the town’s clubs, groups and local businesses host special events such as workshops and dinner shows, so it is an ideal period to explore the many activities and creative opportunities available within the town.

     The Charters Towers Country Music Festival was first held in 1978. The annual event has since grown to become Australia’s largest amateur country music festival.  A parade down the main street made up by numerous floats and hundreds of costumed students representing each local school kick off the three-day country music event. Several hundred contestants make their bid for fame in the talent quest each year. Some of the biggest names in the country music industry are showcased in special cabarets during the first weekend of May. It’s not surprising that thousands of country music fans and performers from throughout Australia and overseas flock to north Queensland to attend each year. 

Many Clubs, One Community by Maria Caesar

     Several years ago my evenings were spent at home watching a DVD and with little interaction other than with the characters on the television screen. Then one day I decided to step outside my comfort zone and meet new people. I enjoyed reading books. Perhaps there was a group of readers in town? I went to the local library and before long I had joined a book club. Afterwards, the book club provided connections to a writers group called the Bush Curlews. Writing stories just so happened to be another hobby of mine.

    From then on I was made aware of various other local clubs and art groups based within the town. There were several painting groups, the Pottery Club, the Towers Players, the Choristers Choir singing group, the Friends of the Theatre and the Don Roderick Gallery group, just to name a few. I soon discovered that Charters Towers has an abundance of clubs. It seems that almost every hobby and interest is catered for.

     If you like to paint, sculpt or photograph, read, write or act in a play, then there is a club that can be joined. If you prefer sports then there are numerous groups that cater for that category as well. From cricket to tennis, rugby to soccer, netball to basketball, swimming clubs, fishing clubs, dancing groups or the pistol club......the list goes on.

     Groups can meet daily, weekly, fortnightly or monthly and new members are always welcome. There is never an excuse to be bored while in Charters Towers; all you need to do is ‘join’.

The Tors Drive-In Cinema by Maria Caesar

     With only a handful of operational drive-ins left in the country, the residents of Charters Towers and surrounding districts have access to a movie experience that most Australians can only dream about.

      Construction of the Tors Drive-in began in 1965 as the result of a bet between Jack Feldt, owner and general manager of Feldt’s Theatres Townsville and Charters Towers, and a fellow exhibitor. Almost everything used in construction had been second hand – bricks, iron, timber and even the cafe counter. A railway line was used to construct the screen tower which is why it hasn’t fallen down despite the battering of the elements and the passage of time.

     The Drive-in was officially opened on St Patrick’s Day, 1966. The opening went well until the Tors was struck by a hail storm during the interval, leaving dents in the roof that are still present today. One by one the local theatres closed down. Eventually the Olympia and Royal Theatre closed their doors, leaving the Regent and the Tors Drive-in as the main theatres servicing the town.  On 25 June, 1983, the Regent held a final farewell screening. Five hundred patrons packed into the theatre to watch “Gone with the Wind”.

      When imagining the hills and troughs of a drive-in cinema, with speaker boxes on rows of white posts and a giant outdoor movie screen, most people immediately think of scenes from movies like Grease or popular television series like Happy Days or That 70’s Show.

      I have many fond memories that came about whilst watching a double feature in the Tors Drive in. Sitting in the front (or back seat) with speakers propped on the open car windows is only one option. Some people like to utilise the seating located outside the cafeteria, but I’ve found the ideal viewing position is from upon an old mattress laid out on the inclined bitumen with a mate or two and a blanket to ward off any chills.

     One weekend, six of us crowded onto the back of a ute. Thankfully we had enough cushions to go around. Though various movies may come and go, I’ve always found that a drive-in experience is a hundred times more pleasantly memorable than a seat in a crowded indoor cinema. 

The World Theatre Complex by Maria Caesar

     After more than sixteen years since the building was opened nowadays it’s hard to imagine Charters Towers without the popular facilities provided by The World Theatre complex. I have lost count of the number of shows I have enjoyed from both local and visiting performers on the stage within the 660-seat performing arts theatre and the list of movies I have watched in either one of the two cinemas is endless.

     The World Theatre complex blends heritage architecture with state of the art technology. It was originally the Australian Bank of Commerce and was built in 1891. In 1992 the property was purchased by the Shire of Dalrymple and developed into a cultural centre complex, opening its doors officially to the public in September 1996. Along with the theatre and two cinemas the building contains a restaurant and a public art gallery.

     Colleges use the venue for their end of year presentations and the local dance schools perform concerts showcasing the many talented youngsters of the town.  I have cheered to visiting pop artists, laughed at hilarious comedians, been enthralled by amazing dance crews and acrobatic teams, and I’ve even wolf-whistled at a few male strippers! The organisers of The World Theatre certainly know how to provide shows that appeal to a wide variety of tastes.

Local Art Galleries by Maria Caesar

     I am astounded by the number of talented artists who dwell within Charters Towers and its surrounding districts. Many of the local cafes support the artists’ efforts by displaying their creations enabling diners an opportunity to admire and perhaps purchase one for their homes. For any art buffs coming to the town there are two more art-based locations worthwhile a visit: The World Theatre Gallery and The Don Roderick Gallery.

     Entry is free to The World Theatre Gallery which is housed inside a multipurpose cultural centre that receives over 20,000 visitors annually. Since opening in 1996 the gallery has presented a broad range of exhibitions that reflect the many facets of this region. The gallery is open daily apart from public holidays. 

      The Don Roderick Gallery is located in the upper level of the historic Stock Exchange Arcade. A winding staircase leads to a gallery run by a group of dedicated volunteers.  A gold coin donation goes towards maintenance of this unique two-room venue. Access between the two sections is via a bridge suspended across the main gateway to the Arcade. During exhibitions the gallery is open 7 days, 10am to 2pm.