Articles from Print Media.

He was a rebel! That's so cool! I always admire people who are anti the establishment. My hero *sigh*

Found this on a website today...

SIGNAL NOISE: Industry News with Christie Eliezer
MONDAY, 01 FEBRUARY 2010
Music Biz To Lobby Over Digital Radio Exemption…
A number of major music associations like ARIA, APRA, AIR, the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEEA) and the Music Council are understood to be making formal protests about the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA)’s decision to exempt digital radio stations from having to play Australian music for three years. Despite strong opposition from the music industry, ACMA agreed with radio’s plea that it needed the freedom to experiment with formats to see which worked with their listeners.
ARIA’s chief executive Stephen Peach told us, “ACMA does have to ensure that the (broadcast) codes reflect community expectations. We’ll certainly make representations.” Peach said that it would also take it up with the government “in due course, and put the other side of the case more strongly.” He added, As far as we’re concened there is no compelling case for this exemption. Just because they want to run some smaller radio stations there’s no reason they should assume they should not play Australian music.”
AIR General Manager Nick O’Byrne warned of “serious repercussions for Australian artists and labels”, and “this ruling has the potential to damage the financial viability of the Australian music industry significantly”.
All the associations are in contact with each other about the issue, but it’s not clear if they will lobby for a change individually or collectively.
There are 18 digital stations, with Austereo to launch its Barry comedy station on Jul 16.

…While AMRAP Creates A Protest
Amrap (the Australian Music Radio Airplay Project) this week launched a satirical online radio station Midnight Gaga Radio to protest that Australia’s 18 digital radio stations don’t have to play Australian music. It put together a mash-up of Midnight Oil’s Beds Are Burning and Lady Gaga’s Poker Face to be looped endlessly for this week. To hear the track, fans have to go to Amrap’s Australian music blog Amrap Discovered (www.amrap.org/blog), which has 100 new Australian tracks and videos. Amrap’s manager Chris Johnson said, “Do ACMA and CRA seriously believe that devoting a radio station to advertise a single American pop star is a legitimate and innovative use of Australia’s radio spectrum?”

ArtStart Info Session
The Australia Council is hosting an info session on its ArtStart initiative at the Judith Wright Centre on Tuesday Jul 20, 6pm–7.45pm. ArtStart (www.artstartgrant.com.au) provides financial assistance to recent creative arts graduates who want to become professional artists in the visual arts, hybrid and media arts, performing arts, literature or in community arts and cultural development. RSVP Laura Naimo, ArtStart Program Officer, 02 9215 9129 or at l.naimo@australiacouncil.gov.au.

Press Record Signs One Year Later
Press Record Presents has signed pop rock band One Year Later as the first act to its label, booking and management agency. The band, which formed two years ago with Thomson brothers; Kurt, Dean, Brent and frontman Terry Greisbach, released its debut The Lost At Sea EP in May.

Little Scout Sign To Yee
Brisbane’s Little Scout have signed Adam Yee from Sydney-based Mobile Industries as their booking agent. The act is about to record its debut album co-produced by John Steel Singers member Scott Bromiley.

Things We Hear
Carl Riseley and Ralph Carr Management have parted ways.
Delta Goodrem has bought a house in the Hollywood Hills and Guy Sebastian is also just about to buy one.
Dappled Cities’ single The Price was voted Record Of The Week by listeners of BBC2 Radio, beating other contenders Gorillaz and Surfer Blood.




Looks like the rumor mills been floating around since Feb with Carl and RCM...

Wow, that was from February? Yet when I emailed Danae asking about Carl by around May they still kept it quiet and Danae replied in her usual offhand way to 'check the website for dates'. Big glaring hint that I should have picked up though was that the RCM email signature graphic didn't carry Carl's name, only Vanessa Amorosi, Paris Wells, Kate Ceberano and Richard Wilkins I remember that really riled me at the time.

Interesting industry news website Jodie. Thanks.

This is from a blog over at www.diminishinglucy.com

FRIDAY, 9 JULY 2010

Friday Flowers, and The Stillest Hour
I had a child free day yesterday.

I had to deal with some "stuff" in the morning, but was then free, free as a bird, to just......well, be.

Be by myself for an hour, in peace.

So it was with some calm stillness and bliss that I spent a an hour at home, alone, with nothing more taxing to do than arrange my newly purchased flowers, and listen to some music.




Some gorgeous pink tulips. (From a my fruit and veggie shop, of all places! They will not last long, but they are beautiful never the less.)

And I listened to some very easy jazz.

I fell head over heals with Carl Risely a few years ago, when he was a performer on Australian Idol.

I have since become a self admitted middle aged groupie, and have seen him live three times. (Be still, my beating heart.)

I have a crush on him, because he is gorgeous. But I also love his trumpet music, I love swing and I really love jazz.

So, Carl hits a very very sweet spot for me.




Tell me, if you had an hour of peace, what would you listen to? Share?




If seeing Carl 3 times make you a groupie...what does that make Me and Amanda hahaha?

definately stalkers then jodes LOL.

Maybe she's like me and lives in WA or some other isolated outpost. Given also the fact that she's a working Mum with limited time, freedom and travel opportunity I'd say three live Carl shows is a fair effort. I think she deserves the title middle aged groupie. Ha but did she meet Carl and throw herself bodily into his arms and try a lip-plant on him I wonder?

Does that make me a middle aged stalker?

I wasn't trying to discount her efforts at all - 3 shows for anybody is a good effort, especially with how little Carl actually tours his own shows, and like you said, unless you're in Sydney or Melbourne, he vary rarely goes elsewhere.

I was more putting the question out there hahaha.


And....tryiing a lip plant makes you an absolute champion hahah!

It's quite likely we've already got this here, but I'll repost anyway if we do, because I got a giggle out of some of the comments.



Peter Wockner's interview with Carl Riseley 2 April 2009

Peter Wockner: You played trumpet on the Gold Coast growing up. Not widely known for it’s live jazz scene, especially for youngsters; what sorts of music were you exposed to as a youngster? What did your father enjoy listening to?
Carl Riseley: It's true, the Gold Coast isn't the most kickn' jazz town around, but if you want it - you'll find it! Most of my friends were older cause we played in the same bands, they introduced me to all the sites and places to see live music. My dad listened to a lot of bands that had horn sections, like - Blood,Sweat and Tears; Earth, Wind and Fire, Chicago and the list goes on!

PW Who are you influences on the trumpet and what have you learnt from them?

CR: My influences consist of a broad range of players such as:
Dizzy Gillespy, Maynard Ferguson, Louis Armstrong, Doc Sevrinson, Chet Baker.
Just listening to these kinds of players will give you everything you need to 'hear' about playing.

PW: Vince Jones became almost a household name in Australia proving that it’s possible to successfully sell jazz commercially in this country. Obviously he had his own sound and his own style. Can you define the Carl Riseley sound or style?

CR: Well, 'smooth popular jazz with a mix of folk' howz zat! Or you can grab a copy of my album and decide for yourself.

PW: Is Carl Riseley first and foremost a vocalist now rather than a trumpeter? Or what occupation do you put on your credit card application?

CR: Musicians applying for credit..........ha! .........goodluck!
I am a singer who can please the crowd with a beautiful trumpet solo, if he so wishes. No, I'm definitely still a trumpet player aswell, I still think like one, and always will.

PW: You played for Australian troops in Iraq during a stint in the Royal Australian Navy band. Emotionally that must have been very moving for you. Can you tell us what that was like and indeed without sounding overly patriotic, did you find yourself playing with a greater sense of pride and passion during these particular performances?

CR: The whole experience was an unbelievable opportunity for us and our troops.
The sole purpose of our visit was to entertain and provide morale support for our troops over a difficult period. It's hard being away from loved ones in any respect over Xmas and New Year, let alone fighting for your country and just trying to live through each day. We played till we could play no more, seeing the smiles on their faces was all the thanks we needed.

PW: When I saw the title of your second album ‘The Stillest Hour’, the first thing that sprang to mind was the tune ‘In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning”. Can you describe the direction you are aiming for with this release and what were the key ingredients you used for the mood you’ve achieved?

CR: Ahh, so your idea of "The Stillest Hour" is in the very early morning. That's what I love about the title, everyone has a different idea about when 'the hour' is.
I guess the biggest change from the first album was scaling down the sound. Once that happened it was pretty simple really, take 4 of the best rhythm section players in the country, record great songs, sing with soul and bake for 50 min!

Jazz over four days
14 Sep, 2010 04:00 AM


THE second annual Jazz on the Murray Festival in Barham kicks off this Thursday. Organisers have announced that 'Swing King' Carl Riseley will be the headline act of the festival. The festival runs Thursday through to Sunday and will host an array of jazz bands and performers over three performance venues. Other bands performing at the festival include traditional favourites Moonee Valley Jazz Band and the Maryborough Traditional Jazz ensemble as well as contemporary stand-outs Glen Heath and the Deep Blue Sea and The Charlotte Jane Band. Marketing and Entertainment Manager for Club Barham Matt Hustwaite says it excited about securing Risely as the headline act "scoring Carl is a great coup for Jazz on the Murray" he said. "To have someone the calibre and popularity of Carl to play at our fledgling festival is a win for both the festival itself and more importantly, the music lovers who will get to enjoy this talented and charismatic performer" he said.
Highlight of the festival will include the "Jazz in Prayer" service on Sunday morning featuring Double A. Moonee Valley Jazz Bands famed "Second Line" Parade. For further information about the festival contact Matt Hustwaite on 03 5453 2159.

HomeFeaturesA boy and his horn A boy and his horn 29 April 2009

“Music gives me an unbelievable sensation,” Carl Riseley says. “There’s nothing on earth gives me a sensation like that. Nothing. When I’m playing the trumpet – when I’m in that moment – I receive an abundant sense of strength. I feel I can achieve anything.”

Achievement is something Carl Riseley is deeply committed to, as it turns out. When we meet backstage at Crown Casino, he surprises me when the first thing he does is give me a hug. Warm, funny and endearingly profane, Riseley works hard on stage to get the ovation he so richly deserves. But he also works hard to make sure that he expresses himself accurately.

Born in 1982, Riseley grew up in Robina on the Gold Coast, then a rural exurb, where his father built super-yachts by day and played trumpet by night. “We lived five minutes from the beach surrounded by shitloads of forest,” Riseley says. “So it was a great place to grow up. My father was in lots of brass bands and pub cover bands and I travelled around with him from when I was eight until I was 16. He’d go to competitions in each state, and we’d go there – he and I – for three or four days at a time. It was very difficult without a support network like you have today, but for me, it was just a fun trip away.

“My mother was the perfect mother. My whole personality comes from her. She’s very sweet, polite, patient, caring. I think I’m like that. You know, I was just fortunate to be brought up in a loving environment, and I’m grateful for that.”

Riseley says he always wanted to be a musician. It wasn’t so much following in his father’s footsteps, but rather that the trumpet interested him. He took to it with alacrity.

“I always wanted to play, but I didn’t feel strong vocally. I thought it was ridiculous to chase the dream of playing professionally. I wasn’t good academically either, I wasn’t good at science or maths, and I thought, ‘Well, I can do things on the trumpet which are really hard, but I find them easy.’ So I thought I’d give it a go.

“I would skip classes. I was the class clown, you might say. I just gravitated to the music room. I was there four hours out of a six-hour day, and when I was there it felt right.”

After he left school, Riseley did some labouring work, some boat-building, like his father. But it didn’t take and he was always itching to be at home with his trumpet.

“Anyway, I wanted to find an avenue to do full-time work, and this position came up in the Navy. A friend had joined the Defence Forces and he called me up a year later and said ‘You should audition for the Navy. It’s awesome.’ I ended up joining the Navy to play the trumpet.

“It’s interesting, because I failed my first interview with the Defence Forces. I was shitting myself. The guy asked me why I wanted to join the Navy and I said that I wanted to play the trumpet. He thought I was lazy because I didn’t know the names of any ships, and told me to come back in two weeks’ time to tell him why I really wanted to join. I went home and brushed up on the names of some ships, and I really impressed him the second time with my knowledge. I told him what he wanted to hear, and I got in. Then, it was three months of hardcore boot camp. I lost ten kilos, and I travelled all over Asia and New Zealand. I even went to Iraq.”

I ask him how he got involved with Australian Idol. There is a long pause, and Riseley sucks in his breath. It’s the inevitable question, but it becomes clear that Riseley is profoundly ambivalent about the experience.

“I never really wanted to audition. I didn’t want to be capped with the Australian Idol tag, and I also didn’t think that there was a place in it for a jazz musician. But with the success of Michael Buble and Norah Jones, it was good timing.

“My parents really wanted me to audition when it first came out, and I wouldn’t go on it. But I kept thinking ‘Well, how do you get recognised by a record label unless you’ve done ten years on the pub circuit?’ A friend of mine called me up and he insisted that I audition, so I made a bet with him that if he tried out for the Navy Soccer trials and got in, I’d go on Idol. Anyway, on the day we turned up they were low on players, so he got in by default. So, I lost the bet and I had to audition.

Today, with the fame machine of Idol thankfully behind him, Riseley is free to embrace music for its own sake.

“You know, the thing I love about music is that it can change my mood instantly. If I’m in a shitty mood, I only need to listen to music and it can make me the happiest person in the world. I’m scared to say it, but it gives me ecstasy. It’s an insane adrenalin and a rush of love and happiness all at the same time. Why am I scared to say that? I don’t know. I can see that you’re really in tune with your inner self, and I’d like to learn that. I don’t know how to be at one with myself, but when I play music, everything falls into place.”

Carl Riseley’s new album The Stillest Hour is out now.

pretty sure we have this somewhere but i havn't read it for a while.

Yes. I remember reading how he is 'endearingly profane' haha.

not sure if we have this artical anywhere.


Insert your own horn-themed pun here

It might seem initially odd that a man best known for making it to the final three of Australian Idol is featuring as part of the Darling Harbour Jazz & Blues Festival, but Carl Riseley isn't your average Idol hopeful. The trumpet-wielding Navy musician with the old-school voice was hardly a musically-illiterate ingénue when he signed up for the show (reportedly after losing a bet with a mate), and his loss after getting to the final three turned out to be a huge advantage for his career.

"I think it also helped a lot, being an instrumentalist," he shrugs. "I was a trumpet player for years before I started singing so I know what it's like to be behind the singer and just be playing the music, you know? But I think I left all my ties with Idol behind when I left - I'm not managed by the guy who manages all the Australian Idol artists, I'm not with Sony - and they have a big say, obviously, in what kind of artist they want you to be - so I've been very lucky in that. Universal has taken me on as the artist that I am, and I showed Australia what kind of artist I was on the show, and they were happy about that and just let me evolve into whatever I wanted to."

After five years in Sydney Riseley is now based in Melbourne. However, he's looking forward to popping back to his former home to for the Festival. "Yeah, it's very exciting. I haven't actually seen the program, actually? Who's on? Deni Hines, D.I.G, James Morrison? Oh man, that'll be great."

Since he'd not seen the bill, what attracted him to being part of the event?

"I thought it was a great opportunity to get together with the Royal Australian Navy Big Band again. I'm really excited about playing with them, ‘cause obviously I spent five years with those guys. That's gonna be fun."
Clearly his ties with the Navy are still strong - through, presumably, they're less official these days.

"No no, I'm still a reservist," he hastens to clarify, "but I've been so busy lately that I haven't done much with them."

So once a sailor, always a sailor?

"That's correct. They always say to you you're a sailor first, and that's completely true. But being in the reserves it just means that if the world goes to s*** you can get picked to go to war. But you'll be the last ones to be picked, especially the musician branch of the reserves. It's all very part time - you have to do a minimum of 20 days a year just to acknowledge your position as a reservist, but that's about it."

So does that mean that, were a coup to occur during the Jazz & Blues Fest, the Navy Big Band would be in a position to quell it?

"Oh yeah, we certainly will," he dryly replies. "We'll have our weapons ready and armed as well. We've got special compartments within our cases. And stretchers as well - we're really good stretcher bearers."

The 18th Annual Darling Harbour Jazz & Blues Festival runs over the June long weekend (Sat 7 - Mon 9 June)

You've read what we think. Now tell us what you think.

Thanks Amanda. I don't think I've seen that interview before. He wouldn't still be a reservist though would he?

another artical i found that i dont think we have

GenQ Gets The Rise
By Leigh May
Music Editor
Published Apr 20, 2008
Carl Riseley was one of Australian Idol's most popular contestants last year, and the first contestant to be a jazz singer! Carl is releasing his debut album, The Rise, on April 26th, and GenQ Music Editor Leigh May got the chance to chat to Carl about his journey.

Hey Carl, how’s your day been so far?
Yeah, I had a good weekend, I’ve had an easy day so far. Only about 5 interviews today, so that’s not too bad at all …

Sounds easy! Your new album, The Rise, is coming out on April 26th. How does it feel to have your first album being released?
Oh man, I guess it’s a bit overwhelming, I didn’t know what to expect. It’s a bit scary, cos I don’t know how the public’s going to react, whether they’ll take it on or … you know, it’s all a bit exciting, but I’m really happy no matter what, cos of what’s happened, you know?

The Rise is full of cover versions, and one such track is Pure Imagination, which you performed on Idol. That’s from the original Willy Wonka movie. What is it about that song that you love so much?
Oh dude, well, I did that on the show, and it was during the charity evening for the kids, and I really wanted to do something special, and I remember when I was really young, it was my favourite song for years, and it’s probably cos it was during a scene with all the chocolate, but that song, man, it’s just beautiful! So I wanted to do it on the charity night, and just thought we could do a bit of orchestration, and it ended up being really beautiful, and everyone commented on it, and said that was when I started changing in the show and getting better and better, and I really loved it and just wanted to put it on the album. I used to watch Willy Wonka every week when I was about 7 for a couple of months. It’s still in my top 3 movies of all time.

With the album, and on Idol, you worked with John Foreman. What’s he like to work with?
He’s the nicest guy. We’re really close mates, and he said at the end of Idol “if no one else picks you up, we’ll do an album together”, cos he’s originally a jazz pianist. We ended up being really good mates, and he’s an absolute genius. I saw him do some things on that keyboard that I haven’t seen anyone else do. So I’m very fortunate.

Do you still keep in touch with any other Idol contestants?
Yeah, I catch up with Daniel Mifsud, we have a monthly traditional lunch catch-up, I guess. I talk to Matt Corby a fair bit, but Daniel the most. Everyone’s sort of gone their separate ways at the moment, the next few months is a tight period where everyone’s trying to do something before the next Idol series comes out.

What does your family think of the album?
Oh mate, they love it. I think my Mum plays it like 7 or 8 times a day, and I’m sick of it already… nah, haha. She loves it, mate, she’s absolutely over the moon about it. One of the songs, We’ve Only Just Begun, I actually rang her up when I was trying to make a song list, and said “Mum, I’m looking for a really nice ballad to change around and have a play with”, and the first thing she says is “oh, my favourite song is We’ve Only Just Begun by The Carpenters”, and I was just like “oh, that’s fantastic” so I ended up doing that and dedicated it to her. Dad actually got proud, like “Oh, I’m real proud of you son”.

You’ve only been singing a couple of years, haven’t you?
Yeah man, I was in the Navy band as a trumpet player, and the guy who was employed as our singer had to go on a trip for a few months, and they needed someone to fill in for the rock band in Sydney, and my flatmate at the time, he knew I sing around the house and in the shower, and he put my name up, the bastard. It was really embarrassing to start off with, but I just started singing, and just learnt reasonably quickly, and it was all good. I ended up singing with them for about 2 years, then I lost a bet to audition for Idol, and sort of haven’t looked back.

With The Rise, what’s your favourite track?
Um … I think, at the moment, This Guy’s In Love With You, because it’s a really simple melody, and everyone I play it to recognises it, and seems to know it, but not know what it’s called, or whatever, or if they haven’t heard it before, they love it. That’s how I felt when I first heard it, so …

The Navy’s fantastic ... I'd highly recommend it!
Have you had much feedback from fans since Idol?
Not really, they’ve just all been hounding me for an album, haha! That’s also what I really like about this one, even though there’s no originals on it, cos I haven’t been singing that long, I haven’t written any tunes, it never really interested me. I’m a trumpet player, and I love singing other people’s songs. It’s all new to me, but it’s good that it’s all covers for this one, cos that’s what I did on the show, so I think it’s what the fans wanna hear. I’ve changed around a few songs that they’d already know, so it’s what they’d expect of me.

Did you have much input with the orchestrations?
Yeah, I sat down with John and we orchestrated everything together. I probably had the most input on Reminiscing. I wrote out all the chord changes, we did some interesting things to that one.

When I saw the tracklisting, one song I was looking forward to hearing was The Letter, which is probably the most “rock” track you have on the album.
Yeah, most rock-oriented song … that was mad to record. It was so funny cos that was the last song that we arranged, and we were looking for something different for the last track to record, and it’s one of those songs that, as soon as you press play, you recognise it. We sat down and had a lot of fun … it only took like 10 minutes to arrange, and we just went through it, made a form, and it was just done really quick, it was good! What did you think of it?

I love it! It’s a great arrangement …
It’s pretty funky … and it’s got this sort of Hawaiian hula-hoop bit in the middle of it (scats the music for this part).

Yeah, it’s cool! Onto something different for a second … at the recent Mardi Gras, there was an Armed Forces group marching, and I think it was the first time ever … I could be wrong about that last part.
Really? First time ever? Oh s***, that’s pretty exciting!

You’d have a few gay mates, would you?
Yeah, there’s one guy in the Navy Band.

Does the “don’t ask, don’t tell” thing still apply in the Navy?
I’m not sure … I know it was a while ago, but I couldn’t tell you about now, to be honest. I mean, it mustn’t apply if they were in the Mardi Gras. Did you go?

No, I couldn’t get time off. I really wanted to though, cos Olivia Newton-John performed there and I’ve loved her since I was like 4.
Yeah … I met her the other day …

Oh, I’m so jealous …
Yeah, I’ve got this massive photo of us, and it was so cool. She’s the nicest girl!

Yeah, one thing I’ve always loved about her is that, despite her fame, she’s always seemed really down to earth, and uses her celebrity status for good, to help other people.
Yeah, she definitely is, she just reminded me of my Mum or just someone normal, really cool.

I’m a trumpet player, and I love singing other people’s songs She’s been in the industry for about 40 years now! Can you imagine your music being around that long?
Um, well, I’d like to think so! It’d have to be something original and pretty big in the next few years for that to happen though. I’m hoping that this album stays around for a year or so, that’s all you can really hope for. Maybe hit a couple of international spots, I’d love to go to New Zealand, maybe Asia or Europe …

What countries did you tour when you were in the Armed Forces?
I did quite a few. I toured all of Asia, Solomon Islands, all over New Zealand, Hawaii, and all over Australia of course, I did the Middle East, Iraq and all that …

What was it like to go to all those different places?
It was great … eye opening! I’ve been to Iraq twice with the Navy, that was for Morale support over the Christmas period. We’d just go over and provide a concert and stuff, try to put a smile on their face for an hour or so while we performed.

There’s got to be a gift in that, going to places that are war-stricken, and take their minds off it for a while.
It’s important man, it’s very important. The Navy’s fantastic, I had the chance to go to a number of different places. I’d highly recommend it!

I know it’s still early in terms of your music, considering the album isn’t even out yet, but any thoughts about your next album yet?
We’re definitely going to have originals on it, that’s for sure! I can’t wait to start doing that, I imagine it’s very rewarding. I definitely want to have a theme to the album, like, you know how Human Nature had the Motown albums, something like that with a couple of originals, not Motown, but something.

Well, we’re almost out of time, so I guess I’ll just ask if you’ve got a message for our readers?
Um … I guess, just to keep in mind the men and women in the Royal Australian Navy, and their love of seamen.

To support the release of his new album, The Rise, Carl will embark on a selective run of dates around the country. He will be performing 2 sets, one with a quartet, and the other with a Big Band.

Adelaide - Wednesday 28 May - Governor Hindmarsh Hotel (Tix @ Venue*Tix 8232 8363 or at the venue 8340 0744)

Melbourne - Friday 30 May and Saturday 31 May - Bennetts Lane (Tix @ Moshtix 1300 438 849 or venue 9663 2856)

Brisbane - Wednesday 4 June - The Troubadour (Tix @ venue 3252 2626)

Rooty Hill, Sydney - Friday 6 June - Rooty Hill RSL (Tix @ venue 9625 5500)

Sydney - Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 June - The Basement (Tix @ Moshtix 1300 438 849 or venue 9251 2797)

Carl Riseley - The Rise, is out through Universal Music on April 26th.

Tracklisting:

1.Let's Fall In Love
2.Pure Imagination
3.Lido Shuffle
4.Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is
5.We've Only Just Begun
6.Reminiscing
7.Girl From Ipanema
8.This Guy's In Love With You
9.The Letter
10.Time After Time
11.Smooth Operator
12.Waltzing Matilda
Tags: Carl Riseley

St Catherine's drew a large crowd for its 155th anniversary on the weekend.
St Catherine's class of 1897, courtesy of the school.
more photos
Jennifer Bennett

When Jane Barker chose the site of St Catherine’s School in 1856 - on top of the hill looking down to Bronte beach - she wrote that she wanted her female students to “crown the hill and command the pre-eminence”.

“I think she’d be very proud because she was establishing a school to prepare girls to take their place in an Australia where they couldn’t even vote, and now we educate girls to take their place on a global stage,” headmistress Dr Julie Townsend said after the school celebrated its 155th anniversary on the weekend with a huge party.

Six hundred guests - students, families, friends - enjoyed performances from the school’s senior stage band, circus artists and singer Carl Riseley and the Jacki Cooper Quartet, all compered by H.G. Nelson. The celebrations finished with fireworks.

Dr Townsend said the school had stayed true to its Christian roots and improved upon its origins.

“We opened to educate girls from the Anglican clergy and today we educate girls of all faiths, cultures and backgrounds, but at the same time we’re still true to our Anglican foundations,” she said.

In its century and a half, the school has taken on boarders from around the world, was the first private school to offer indigenous scholarships, and now has thriving language and exchange programs.

“All unheard of in Jane’s day’,” Dr Townsend said. “I think young women have come so far and I think in the next 155 years we’ll see absolute equality across the board for women.”

NORTH LAKES, May 14: Myer North Lakes opened with a bang last weekend.

Thousands of Pine Rivers residents made their way to North Lakes on Saturday to see celebrities Marcia Hines, Australian Idol’s Carl Riseley and B105’s Camilla Severi and Mike Goldman.

Moreton Bay Regional Council Mayor Allan Sutherland and Member for Longman Jon Sullivan joined Myer CEO Bernie Brookes for the ribbon cutting ceremony.

Store manager Gail Palmer said the Myer team was looking forward to serving the local community.

“We’ve recruited a fantastic and experienced team of 150 retail professionals, all of who are looking forward to bringing Myer to the local North Lakes community,” she said.

North Lakes developer Stockland welcomed the new Myer store.

State Marketing Manager Ben Allen said the Myer opening reflected the region’s rapid growth.

Fine weather for festival finale
Kelli Downey | 24th April 2011
AFTER getting off to a damp start the 49th Gladstone Harbour Festival has basked in four days of glorious sunshine to record a scorching finale to the big event.
Bechtel’s Festivale Finale Sizzling Saturday Night proved to be a real crowd pleaser with thousands converging on the Gladstone Marina for their final taste of the week-long festivities.
It was standing room only around the marina main stage as tribute band The Beatnix captivated the crowd with all the excitement and atmosphere of The Beatles biggest hits throughout the years while the Gladstone skies lit up with the fourth and final festival fireworks display, this time presented by Cement Australia.
Capping it all off tonight (Sunday, April 24) is QAL’s Jazz’n Shiraz starring Kate Ceberano, Carl Riseley and local jazz band JAG.
Gladstone Festival and Events events co-ordinator Ashleigh Smith said she was amazed at how many people battled the elements and still came down to the festival – rain, hail or shine.
Ms Smith said the want from the community was amazing.
She said considering the inclement weather conditions at the start of the festival the past four days have been glorious.
“Monday night was cancelled from the rain and Wednesday was drizzly but the people still came down,” Ms Smith said.
“We had thousands down here embracing the sunshine during the weekend.”

Festival ends on a high
Kelli Downey | 25th April 2011
AFTER getting off to a damp start the 49th Gladstone Harbour Festival has basked in four days of glorious sunshine to record a scorching finale to the big event.

Bechtel’s Festivale Finale Sizzling Saturday Night proved to be a real crowd-pleaser with thousands converging on the Gladstone Marina. It was standing room only around the marina main stage as tribute band The Beatnix captivated the crowd with all the excitement and atmosphere of The Beatles biggest hits while the Gladstone skies lit up with the fourth and final festival fireworks display, this time presented by Cement Australia.

Capping it all off last night was QAL’s Jazz ’n’ Shiraz starring Kate Ceberano, Carl Riseley and local jazz band JAG.

Gladstone Festival and Events events co-ordinator Ashleigh Smith said she was amazed at how many people battled the elements and still came down to the festival – rain, hail or shine.