MEDIA INFORMATION Monday 1 June 09

Community Contribution to Celtic Dance culminates

in QLD Day Award

Mrs Jacqueline Wilson, Principal of Cairns Scottish & Irish Dance Academy receives QLD Day Award from Steve Wettenhall MP yesterday at a ceremony held at Holloways Beach Environment Centre

One of Australia’s most respected Irish and Highland dance teachers and adjudicators, Jacqueline Wilson, has been recognized by peers for her community contribution to Celtic dance with a Queensland Day Award.

Mrs Wilson was honoured yesterday when she was presented with her award at a ceremony attended by family, friends, parents and students of the Cairns Scottish and Irish Dance Academy.

Mrs Wilson was nominated for her award by parents of the dance school following the successful Celtic Roots show she choreographed in conjunction with musician, Kirk Steele and his band, Get Reel.

In presenting the award, Mr Wettenhall said, ”Your services to the community have been recognised by your peers and I am pleased to be able to offer a small award to thank you so very much for your contributions”.

Mrs Wilson said she was very honoured and on receiving it, said “This award belongs to my family and also the students and parents of the dancing school – because without all of you I could not do what I do.

“I do it because I enjoy working with children, love music and dance and want to make a difference in the lives of the children I teach.  It is as simple as that,” said Mrs Wilson.

Jacqueline Wilson founded the Cairns Scottish and Irish Dance Academy in 1983. She has been teaching both Highland and Irish dance forms for the past 26 years and is now assisted by both her daughters, Catherine Wilson and Alison Gaustad, who are also registered teachers. This is the second time Jackie has received recognition for her services to Highland and Irish Dancing in Cairns. In 1999 she was awarded the Cairns City Council Australia Day Senior Cultural Award.

In 2009, the Cairns Scottish and Irish Dance Academy has 35 students enrolled ranging in age from 5 to 25.

Mrs Wilson’s students have performed to both national and international audiences over the years and later this year, two students, Catherine Wilson will perform in Basel in Switzerland with OzScot Australia Highland Dancing Team and will be joined by Belinda Worthy in Edinburgh for the month of August where both girls will perform with OzScot at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

Jacqueline herself will be judging at the Burnham Highland Games in Perthshire in Scotland on 29^th August and will attend the 2010 Championship Steps Lecture hosted by the Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing in Paisley near Glasgow on the 30^th August. As Secretary of the Far North Queensland Regional Committee of Highland Dancing, Jackie will bring back a wealth of knowledge to share with her colleagues here in North Queensland on her return.

This weekend, Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 June, the “City of Cairns” Festival of Highland and Irish Dancing Association together with the AIDA North Queensland Sub Committee will play host to the City of Cairns Festival of Highland Dancing and North Queensland Irish Premierships at St Mary’s Catholic College.

These events (Highland Festival and Irish Ceili on Saturday and Irish Premierships on Sunday) have attracted competitors from around Queensland and will provide a great spectacle throughout the weekend with music, skill and colourful costumes displayed by dance students of all ages.

The weekend of competition begins on Saturday 6 June at 8.30 am at St Mary’s Catholic College. Contact Jacqueline Wilson on mob: 0419 785 817 for further information.

Ends

Issued by: Pip Miller PR mob: 0419 681543

MEDIA RELEASE Monday 13 July 09

CAIRNS DANCERS JUMP FOR JOY AT REPRESENTING HOME CITY ON WORLD STAGE

From left: Cairns Highland Dancers, Catherine Wilson and Belinda Worthy – jumping for joy to represent Cairns on the world stage

Cairns Highland dance teacher, Catherine Wilson left Australia today on a dancing tour of the world. First stop; Dubai – where she will meet up with 23 fellow Australian Dancers, Team Manager and Dance Director of the OzSoct Australia Highland Dancing Team before continuing their journey to Basel in Switzerland to perform at the Basel International Tattoo for an 11 performance season.

Following the Basel Season, some of the OzScot dancers will join the rest of the 45 strong OzScot team that leaves Australia on Thursday 30th July in Edinburgh Scotland for the month of August to perform in the three week season of the Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

In Scotland, Cairns will be represened by Catherine Wilson and Belinda Worthy when the OzScot Australia Team joins the Highland Springs Dancers on the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle.  In addition to performance in the Tattoo for six nights per week for three weeks the OzScot Australian Team will be performing in Edinburgh which will include the Edinburgh Festival Parade, and Mini Tattoos in Glasgow, Linlithgow, Dumfries House Ayrshire and Jedburgh.

Principal of Cairns Scottish and Irish Dance Academy, Mrs Jacqueline Wilson is also going to be involved in the Highland Dancing scene in Scotland in 2009.

Mrs Wilson is a judge qualified to judge for the Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing and will be judging at the Isle of Bute Championships at Rothesay and also the Burnam Highland Games in Perthshire.  As well as judging, Jacqueline and her husband Kevin will be attending the World Highland Dancing Championships at Cowel.

It is just a wonderful opportunity for Far North Queensland Highland Dancers to gain the experience to dance on an international stage and it is more than likely that Cairns Dancers will join the OzScot Australia Team in Sydney with the Tattoo comes to Australia in February in 2010.

Ends

For information: Pip Miller PR Mob: 0419 681543

MEDIA RELEASE                                        Monday 13 July 09

CAIRNS DANCERS JUMP FOR JOY AT REPRESENTING HOME CITY ON WORLD STAGE

From left: Cairns Highland Dancers, Catherine Wilson and Belinda Worthy – jumping for joy to represent Cairns on the world stage

Cairns Highland dance teacher, Catherine Wilson left Australia today on a dancing tour of the world.  First stop; Dubai – where she will meet up with 23 fellow Australian Dancers, Team Manager and Dance Director of the OzSoct Australia Highland Dancing Team before continuing their journey to Basel in Switzerland to perform at the Basel International Tattoo for an 11 performance season.

Following the Basel Season, some of the OzScot dancers will join the rest of the 45 strong OzScot team that leaves Australia on Thursday 30th July in Edinburgh Scotland for the month of August to perform in the three week season of the Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

In Scotland, Cairns will be represened by Catherine Wilson and Belinda Worthy when the OzScot Australia Team joins the Highland Springs Dancers on the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle.  In addition to performance in the Tattoo for six nights per week for three weeks the OzScot Australian Team will be performing in Edinburgh which will include the Edinburgh Festival Parade, and Mini Tattoos in Glasgow, Linlithgow, Dumfries House Ayrshire and Jedburgh.

Principal of Cairns Scottish and Irish Dance Academy, Mrs Jacqueline Wilson is also going to be involved in the Highland Dancing scene in Scotland in 2009.

Mrs Wilson is a judge qualified to judge for the Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing and will be judging at the Isle of Bute Championships at Rothesay and also the Burnam Highland Games in Perthshire.  As well as judging, Jacqueline and her husband Kevin will be attending the World Highland Dancing Championships at Cowel.

It is just a wonderful opportunity for Far North Queensland Highland Dancers to gain the experience to dance on an international stage and it is more than likely that Cairns Dancers will join the OzScot Australia Team in Sydney with the Tattoo comes to Australia in February in 2010.

Ends

For information: Pip Miller PR   Mob: 0419 681543

29 Dancers on stage for Celtic Roots - the Show

MEDIA INFORMATION                                      Tuesday 26 May 09

CELTIC CELEBRATION CULMINATES IN ENCORE PERFORMANCES AND QLD DAY AWARD

Scenes from Saturday’s Celtic Roots Concert at Brothers Leagues

The Celtic heart of Cairns and Port Douglas was well and truly beating over the weekend when the City of Cairns Highland and Irish Dancers and Get Reel band provided toe-tapping, hand-clapping entertainment for all ages.

Celtic Roots – The Show was performed twice over the weekend, on Saturday night to a sell out audience at Brothers Leagues and again on Sunday at The Clink Theatre in Port Douglas as part of Carnivale celebrations.  On both nights the accopella of hard-shoe dancing and evocative drum beats, together with loud applause – brought the house down and proclaimed this first time event an outstanding success and one that is destined to become a regular fixture in future years.

A collaboration between Jacqueline Wilson from the City of Cairns Highland and Irish Dancers and Kirk Steele from band, Get Reel, Celtic Roots was a two and a half our show created to celebrate Celtic music, song and dance with first-class entertainment comprising a rhythmic blend of traditional favourites and contemporary styles.

According to the principal of The City of Cairns Highland and Irish Dance Association, Mrs Jacqueline Wilson, the performers, spanning 29 dancers (aged between five and 26 years of age), five musicians, one vocalist, the rousing rendition of the bagpipes and the harp showcased amazing ability and dedication to put on an event so spectacular it rivaled those produced with extensive budgets and marketing dollars.

“I would particularly like to recognize our wonderful group of musicians who lifted the show no end.  The entertainment value would not have been the same without their enthusiastic interaction and presentation.  Get Reel are looking forward to the next gig with our dancers.  I am sure that this class act will continue in many forms and shows in the future,” she said.

As a follow up to this exciting weekend Mrs Wilson has just received a letter from Steve Wettenhall MP advising her that she has been nominated to receive a Barron River Electorate Queensland Day Award as a token for her contribution and dedication to the community and its cultural fabric.

Mrs Wilson will receive her award at a small ceremony amongst peers and dance students on Sunday 31 May at 10.30am at the Holloways Beach Environment Centre, 46 Poinsettia Street, Holloways Beach.

ends

For further information:

Mrs Jacqueline Wilson

Celtic Roots Creative Director and principal City of Cairns Highland and Irish Dancers

Mobile: 0419 785 817  Email: cairnsdance@yahoo.com.au

Issued by:

Pip Miller PR

Tel: 4032 4400                           Mobile: 0419 681543

Email: pip@pipmillerpr.com.au

www.pipmillerpr.com.au