Entertainment
18 July, 2025
Music and koala raise spirits
FOR the second time this year, two Douglas Shire residents will appear in a Cairns Choral Society (CCS) production.
Stephen Bigby and Craig Eggins will be sharing the role of Gomez in the upcoming ‘The Addams Family’ comedy musical, to be performed at the Cairns Choral Society’s own hall at Edge Hill.
This is Stephen Bigby’s second production with the choral society, his first being ‘Come from Away’ at CPAC earlier this year.
He has enjoyed principal and ensemble roles at The Clink in musicals and plays which include ‘South Pacific’, ‘Priscilla: Queen of the Desert’, ‘Cruise Control’, ‘Money and Friends’ and ‘My Fair Lady’.
Craig Eggins is also thrilled to reprise the role of Gomez Addams in the choral society’s production following a previous performance with the Douglas Theatre Arts Group.
Grateful for the opportunity to revisit this wonderfully eccentric character, Craig is no stranger to the stage, having played Emile De Becque (‘South Pacific’), Henry Higgins (‘My Fair Lady’) and Dr. Hubert Bonney (‘It Runs In The Family’).
Performances run from Friday, July 25 to Sunday, August 3 at the Cairns Choral Hall, 31-33 Greenslopes Street, Edge Hill. Tickets are available through Last Call Ticketing.
Keeping on a musical note, Reuben Dwyer is well known in the Douglas Shire for his inspiring work within the community and more recently has established himself as accomplished musician.
Putting both these skills together Reuben is now running therapeutic and fun music sessions every Friday morning at Mossman Elders Justice Group in Mossman.
People have been welcomed to join him to experience a range of music related activities including simply learning to play an instrument, plus using music to help calm and connect, with a more positive frame of mind.
His skills actually go beyond those already mentioned and have taken him on a journey since his arrival in the Douglas Shire.
He eventually started working at Elders Justice Group Mossman.
“I just loved working with the Aboriginal community and helping put together events and projects with help from (the) council that highlighted the incredible talent in Mossman and surrounding areas” he said.
Last year Reuben and others within the group successfully acquired a grant to buy a bus, hire a grief counsellor and start up a music program to assist in learning an instrument, building confidence and skills, plus bringing people together to feel good about themselves through music.
On a different but equally interesting note, Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas, marked the success of its inaugural Wildlife Habitat Day, on Thursday, July 10, officially announcing Jarrah as the name of the park’s newest koala joey.
Born to mum Lulu and dad Pirate, Jarrah’s arrival is a significant addition to the regional koala breeding program. Lulu was born at Cairns ZOOM and Wildlife Dome in 2020, while Pirate has a remarkable story of his own.
Pirate, an 11-year-old rescued wild koala, was brought to Wildlife Habitat in 2020 after losing an eye in a car accident. Now part of a Zoo and Aquarium Association (ZAA) breeding program, he’s fathered four joeys and plays a key role in strengthening the genetic diversity of koalas in Far North Queensland.
The name ‘Jarrah’ was selected through a public naming campaign in the lead-up to Wildlife Habitat Day.
I’m off for a guitar lesson and to work on my Koala handling skills, so for now it’s Gazza signing out.
Send your stories to gazza@cairnslocalnews.com.au
