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

Little Darling - Scottish Washerwoman at Celtic Roots

celtic crew at the clink

Annie and the girls dance to the celtic beat

 

 

MEDIA INFORMATION                                      Wednesday 13 May 09

‘Get Reel’

&

The City of Cairns Highland and Irish Dancers

present

Celtic Roots

- Brothers Leagues Club, 7.30pm, Saturday 23 May 09-

- Clink Theatre, Port Douglas, 6.30pm, Sunday 24 May 09-

On Saturday 23^rd May at Brother’s Leagues Club and on Sunday 24^th May at the Clink Theatre in Port Douglas, theatre goers can look forward to a Celtic feast of contemporary and traditional music, dance and song in one big show entitled, Celtic Roots.

According to show director, Mrs Jacqueline Wilson, Celtic Roots is an evocative blend of lively jigs and reels, instrumental pieces on harp and bagpipes along with contemporary Scottish and Irish dance routines. 

“Celtic Roots has been created from the heart to showcase the tropical north while celebrating all that is Celtic,” she said.

In partnership between the award-winning, City of Cairns Highland and Irish Dancers and Get Reel, Jacqueline Wilson and Kirk Steele have together, produced a genuine, north Queensland show featuring a unique and special blend of contemporary and traditional music and dance interlaced with vocalist Kirk Farquharson singing age old favourites such as “Amazing Grace”, “Highland Cathedral” and “Danny Boy”. 

A “Celtic” Show would not be complete without the inclusion of the harp and the bag pipes and as such, Kate Barry will feature  on Harp and Robin Smith on Bagpipes to complete the line-up.

Ticket Prices and Purchase – Two Nights Only – Cairns and Port Douglas

“Celtic Roots” will be performed at Brother’s Leagues Club auditorium in Cairns on Saturday 23 May at 7.30 p.m.  Book at Brothers on tel: 4053 1053 or visit www.brotherscairns.com.au

Celtic Roots will also be performed the following evening, Sunday 24 May at 6.30pm at The Clink Theatre, Port Douglas. Book at Re:Hab Café, MacCrossan Street, Port Douglas or at the door.

About Get Reel

The members of “Get Reel” Celtic band, Kirk Steele, Gail Betts, Nigel Pegrum, Dave Martin and Steve Wettenhall, bring to the stage a wealth of international musical experience as well as extensive appearances at local venues and events including Yungaburra Folk Festival, The Kuranda Amphitheatre and at various venues throughout Cairns.  *See below for band member profiles.

About The City of Cairns Highland and Irish Dancers

The “City of Cairns” Highland and Irish Dancers are in high demand for their professional and entertaining presentations in and around Cairns.

In the line up of dancers, are Catherine Wilson and Belinda Worthy who will be traveling to Switzerland and Scotland with the OzScot Australia Highland Dancing team to perform in the 2009 Basel Tattoo Switzerland and the 2009 Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

*Get Reel Band Member Profiles:

Kirk Steel                                  Keyboard and Accordian

Extensive experience with top bands throughout Australia including the Graham Connors Band and Kirk also played with Country and Western Great, Slim Dusty

Nigel Pegrum              Drums/Percussion

Is originally from the U.K.  Was a member of British Folk Rock Band “Steeleye Span” and moved to Cairns in 1991.

Nigel is owner of Pegasus Studios the home base for international recording label “Australian Sun Records”. 

Nigel has received many awards over the years including five UK Gold and seven Silver albums, as well as Queensland Recording Association awards for ‘Best Producer’, Best Engineer, ‘Album of the Year’ and ‘Best Indigenous Album of the Year’.

Nigel has extensive experience in playing for Irish Ceili Bands throughout Ireland and the UK.

David Martin                           Born and Bred in Far North Queensland, Dave has performed at many of the Far North’s Folk Festivals and venues around Far North Queensland.  Dave is on Fiddle

Steve Wettenhall                     Steve has recorded with local artists as well as performed at the Yungaburra Folk Festival, the Kuranda Amphitheatre and at various venues in Cairns.  Steve is also on Fiddle.

Gail Betts                                 On Acoustic and Bass Guitar.

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