20260701 Qld St Lawrence Festival

20260701 to 5th OMG, what a hoot, we had the best time at the St Lawrence Wet Land Festival, I’ve been to many festivals but this was by far one of the best I’ve been to in years. The bands Friday and Saturday night got the crowd rocking and what a collection of names from Lloyd Saunders, Mango Junction and Naya Smith Friday night, then Saturday night Marshall Hamburger, Heath & Leyon Milner and Jessica Cash to name a few, what a collection and they certainly got the crowd thumping in front of the stage while many locals and visitors danced under the stars with complete strangers who quickly became friends.

After missing the Festival two years ago we volunteered to help but the campground was full, so we were sent to Marg’s Park, a spot by the river with the crocks and a much prettier spot. Des can you get me some water from the river, crocks, what crocks 🐊🐊 The park was named after Margaret Baldwin, a long-time resident known as the "mother to all" who moved to St Lawrence in 1969, she helped plant trees that still shade the park.

We attended the volunteer’s briefing run by Pat and Sabrina the coordinators and on the mentioned of crabs cleaning I quickly dobbed Des in, every last scrap of meat from the shells must be cleaned and there’s one thing Des never leaves behind, it’s crab meat. The look I got could’ve stripped paint—especially when finding out they were mud crabs, luckily they were cleaned on Thursday so he escaping by the skin of his claws. Our roster was Friday and Saturday from 2–5 pm, so pedalled back to our camp by the river.

This is just some of the volunteers that Des and I had the pleasure of working with. Hi Guys and thanks for having us.

20260703 Arriving Friday we wandered through the grounds checking out the market stalls before reporting for duty where we were swiftly put to work buttering hundreds of bread rolls then adding the salads ready for the meat once orders started flying in. In my down time my OCD kicked in so I organised and cleaned the cupboard under the sink, washed dishes and generally tidied up while Des emptied bins and flattened boxes and what ever other duties he was called on to do, Des, more beer and ice as he ran back and forth from the cold room, they sure kept him on his toes. With our roster over we grabbed a beer and joined the growing crowd waiting for the live music. I checked back on the ladies only to find them flat out, so it was straight back into production mode. It’s events like this where the community come together and with more than 1,700 visitors expected over the weekend, they certainly earned every cold drink they could get.

The Porks a crackling and we have a side kick who’s keeping an eye on you.

You can’t go to a festival and not grab a Chocolate Nut Sunday, just delicious.

Pat and Sabrina our awesome coordinators of this event, the funny thing is when we first meet them I actually thought they were married, but Sabrina soon straightened that out with a cheeky comment that made us laugh, and no I’m not telling.😅

I wondered into the craft area and these fellows caught my attention, paper mashe animals, now that needs patience.

The marine area, all so, paper mache.

Chef Matt Golinski's Signature Luncheon and High Tea, my mouth was watering as we passed through his tent.

This I have never seen before, Farrier demonstration with Jared Pate, this shows how a professional takes care of horse's feet by removing the old shoes, clean the hooves, cuts away extra growth, and fits new shoes. This helps the horse walk without pain and stay healthy.

You can’t have a country festival without the good old horses and carriage, especially these beautiful draft horses that in the day were used to perform farming duties like plowing.

The people you meet when you don’t have a gun, I’m kidding, I spotted Costa and ran over for photo and left, thanks Costa. Cheers🍻

Des on the other hand stayed chatting for ages, well they do have their height in common, but apparently Costa did a show with Frank, a friend of ours who owned an organic farm at Birkdale, so they had a bit of catching up to do .

This is Shelby, a crazy spirited young lady who wondered through the festival chatting to whoever passed her way and putting a smile on their faces.

The story goes like this, the power kept on going out so this guy decided to bring out his guitar and the crowed gathered around and when the host asked his name he quickly replied “ Trevor Bogan”, and we all cracked up laughing.

Crab racing on the wetland, you couldn’t get a more appropriate place.

Let The Show Begin

Welcome to the country

Traditional Smoking Ceremony, I can do that😉

Mango Junction a local Mackay band, comprising of 4 members. Usually Play gigs in Molloy's Irish Bar & Kate O'Reilly's, they certainly got us jiving.

I pinched this photo from one of Mango Junction’s collection, love it.

Marshall Hamburger from Doonan on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland and winner of Australian Idol crown in 2025, $100,000 in prize money, and an exclusive recording package with Hive Sound Studios.

Desies first time at whipping cream, make sure it doesn’t turn to butter, how long does it take he said, move the blender around in circle’s said Cheryl, gee that’s gonna make it more interesting.😂

I stole this photo of all the crew working their fingers to the bone, and having a bit of fun.

Cheescake and pavlova for dessert, these guys really know how to put on a feast and it looks like Des in on cream duty again.

Jill & Me (Leonie) after my shift had finished and cheeky Josh photo bombing us.

Jessica Cash, Jill’s daughter, another up and coming solo artist in Mackay and definitely one to look out for, well done young lady you did your home town proud.

Marshall Hamburger, the winner of the 2025 Australian Idol, he was 19 when he

took home the Australian Idol crown, $100,000 in prize money, and an exclusive recording package with Hive Sound Studios.

Heath Milner, a country singer-songwriter from Mackay began his career at 17, auditioning for The Voice Australia, where Boy George rewarded him with an all-expenses-paid songwriting trip to Nashville where he worked with renowned songwriters Ruston Kelly and Jeff Cohen, leading to his selection as a 2018 Toyota Star Maker Grand Finalist.

The good thing about traveling are the fun people you meet at Festivals, let the fun begin.

This girls has jumping beans in her pants, you go girl.

It was almost midnight and yes we had a few under our belt, I meet this lovely lady on the hill dancing Friday night and there she was again, man did we kick up our heels.