MINS is the Multicultural Information Network Service based in Gympie. It has encouraged the involvement of different cultural groups in the festival including;

• the Islamic Information Service of Cooloola who will have an information stall about their group,
• The Wide Bay and Gympie Filipino Australian Associations who are running a fabulous Filipino Food stall, with the Wide Bay group also presenting some of their cultural dances.

Also will be an interfaith tent where a ceremony for peace and harmony will be held.

MINS involvement as one of the organisers in the 2008 Celebrating with Mary Festival at Gympie, was a highlight and contributed to a lot of joy and a feeling of harmony among migrants and non-migrants alike. MINS was in charge of hiring top quality ethnic musicians, dancers and singers from Gympie, Brisbane and Maleny to perform on the World Music Stage.

Due to the great success of this festival, MINS has committed itself to continue being a vital part of the this years Mary River Festival.

The date of the Festival is March 21st “Harmony Day” when all of Australia celebrates our multicultural heritage and our diverse society. MINS has organised performers from a variety of backgrounds to present music from a variety of cultures including: Chinese, Afro-Cuban, South American, Filipino, Irish, European, and Japanese.

Gubbi Gubbi Dance is a group of indigenous artists & performers.

Gubbi Gubbi (pronounced gub-bee) is the language spoken by the traditional custodians of the area. Lyndon Davis and Shannon Chilly, direct descendants of the Gubbi people, founded the troupe in 1996. Bringing together family members and local young indigenous people to celebrate the dances of their homelands. They have gained a strong rapport throughout their community taking great pride in their culture and feeling blessed to share their knowledge.

Gubbi Gubbi dance provide an unforgettable cultural experience. Their magical presentation of song and dance leaves the audience spellbound and has built them a reputation of being one of the most well renowned traditional aboriginal dance troupes in Southeast Queensland.

World Music Stage

Zennith Boyz: Main Act for the World Music Stage

Other acts include;

• Walisuma de Los Andes; South American Music
• The Famous Jimmies; Irish Music
• Taiko Dozen with Moto Niwa
• Canta La Tumba
• Master Tom Lo and the Lion Dancers
• Local Choirs
• K Kurumba with Linsey Pollack
• African Drumming
• and much more .......

Bringing the Mary River Communities together to celebrate the wealth and abundance that the river brings to our region through drama, music, art, fun, education and environmental discussions and displays.

The Mary River Festival is Coordinated by Cooloola Community Arts Council, Multicultural Information Network Services Inc., Community Development and Mary River Catchment Coordinating Committee.

Information on Funding & Sponsors