Anzac Day Long Weekend Event Guide for the Douglas Shire

What’s Happening for ANZAC DAY ?

April 25 is a day of national remembrance, one of the most solemn days of the year with commemorative services held across the country. Douglas Shire will remember the fallen at traditional ANZAC Day services on Monday. Representatives from the Royal Australian Navy will attend services in Port Douglas and Mossman.

Mossman
The 107th Anniversary of the Anzacs landing at Gallipoli will start with a dawn service at the Mossman Cenotaph on Front St at 5.15am, with official proceedings from 5.25am. Dignitaries from the Mossman RSL, the clergy, State Member for Cook Cynthia Lui and Douglas Shire Council will be present.

Port Douglas
Commencing from the front of Port Village in Macrossan Street from 10am, the march heads towards the cenotaph at 10:15 am. Official proceedings commence at the cenotaph in ANZAC Park at 10:30 am.

Please note road closures at the corner of Wharf Street and Macrossan Street, and Macrossan Street from Grant Street to Wharf Street will be closed to traffic from 6am-12pm with detours in place.

Cow Bay
Meet at My Pathways car park (1475 Cape Tribulation Road) at 4:35am and march to the Cow Bay Cenotaph, with official proceedings beginning at 5:00am.

Following official proceedings, Port Douglas’ Central Hotel will host the traditional game of two-up, a popular pastime with soldiers during WWI.

What is Two-Up?
Two-up is a traditional Australian game, played in pubs and clubs on Anzac Day each year. The game is illegal on most other days of the year. The game features two pennies, a kip and a designated ‘spinner’, with gamblers betting on the end result.

two persons holding drinking glasses filled with beer

What is the weather doing ?

The Douglas Shire is currently affected by two significant weather warnings, a Flood Watch for Coastal Catchments from Whitsunday Islands to the Daintree, and a Severe Weather Warning for parts of North Tropical Coast and Tablelands

A ridge extends along the east coast. A trough and embedded weak tropical low [1009 hPa] in the northwestern Coral Sea offshore of the Peninsula waters are forecast to move south and approach the northeast coast today, before shifting back north of Cairns later Friday or Saturday.

HEAVY RAINFALL which may lead to FLASH FLOODING is forecast for the northeast tropical coast between the Daintree and Rollingstone from this evening and is likely to continue through Friday. Six-hourly rainfall totals between 150 to 200 mm are likely, reaching up to 250 mm over the coast and ranges.

Localised INTENSE RAINFALL leading to DANGEROUS AND LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODING is also possible during this period with six-hourly totals in excess of 300 mm, particularly about the Cassowary Coast on Friday.

A separate Severe Thunderstorm Warning will be issued if very dangerous thunderstorms with intense rainfall are detected.

Please note that the schedule of weekend events may be subject to weather conditions, and it would be wise to confirm directly with the organisers whether most outdoor events are going ahead.

Friday 22 April 2022

ENTERTAINMENT

MT MOLLOY NATIONAL HOTEL / Live music featuring local fave Shannon Hunter and Jag the Joker sitting on a whopping $2400 with tickets from 5.30pm. Meat tray raffle at 7pm raising funds for the local community Clubs. Enjoy Happy Hour and a transfer bus home (book early!)

COURT HOUSE HOTEL / Seachange from 7.30-11pm

CANE TOAD RACING / Live toady action at Chillis from 6pm

DAINTREE BAR at Sheraton / Live music from 7-9pm

THE TANKS CAIRNS / Sneaky Sound System-slay the dancefloor at this “ delicious feast of world class dance-pop songs” – Sydney’s Daily Telegraph Tickets.

MAREEBA DRIVE-IN / Head for the hills for a night of family entertainment under the stars. Old-school outdoor cinema screening new releases and serving classic burgers and snacks. Showing Moribus (M) & Uncharted (M) Friday and Saturday night (weather dependent). Gates and cafe open @ 5.30pm. First movie starts at 7:00pm. Overnight camping available.

HEALTH, SPORT & WELLNESS

MOSSMAN BOAT & FISHING CLUB / Competition Weekend. Open competition – competitors can fish anywhere except for impoundments. Competition starts 9am Friday 22 April, with weigh-in at the clubhouse at 4pm Monday 25 April. Target Species- Sub-Junior and Junior: catch a Red Bream or Black Bream and go in the draw to win a prize. Open: Heaviest Barra and Coral Trout, mystery weight crab, and any catch and release or spearfish caught will also go in the draw to win a prize.

DAINTREE YOGA / 10am Buffs Hall, Mossman

ACTIVE8 FITNESS / Free Seniors Movement and Parkour at Mossman Gymnastics Club & Kindergym 10.30am

FAMILY, ART & COMMUNITY

MOSSMAN COMMUNITY CENTRE PLAYGROUP / Each Friday for kids 0-5yrs from 9.30-11.30am

Saturday 23 April 2022

ENTERTAINMENT

CANE TOAD RACING / Live toad racing at Chillis from 6pm-stay for dinner!

MARKETS

MOSSMAN / 7am-1pm

YUNGABURRA

SPORT, COMMUNITY & WELLNESS

CAPE KIMBERLEY BEACH CLEAN UP / Hosted by Tangaroa Blue and Reef Clean from 9am-3pm.

Join us for the quarterly ReefClean clean-up in Cape Kimberley on traditional lands of the Eastern Kuku Yalanji people in the beautiful Daintree. Along with other volunteers you can make a practical contribution to the health of the marine and coastal environment of Far North Queensland. Tangaroa Blue Foundation Coordinators will meet you at the Cape Kimberley carpark at 9:00am or contact us if you would like a lift north with us with pick-ups from Cairns or Port Douglas.

We will spend the morning collecting and recording marine debris for inclusion in the Australian Marine Debris Initiative (AMDI) database. This is the national database that is used to identify sources of marine debris and find ways to reduce litter in the environment.

This clean-up will be done in collaboration with Climate Force, a Charity organisation dedicated to Climate action, green technology and World Heritage forest restoration.

The event is part of the ReefClean program, aiming to clean-up reduce the volume of marine debris generated in or entering the Great Barrier Reef and threatening the health of the reef and its inhabitants.

Volunteers need to wear enclosed shoes, bring sun/rain protection, and plenty of drinking water (1 to 2 litres is recommended). We try to ensure that all Tangaroa Blue events are free from single-use plastic, so bring along your reusable water bottle. All equipment and drinking water top-ups will be provided.

We will provide you with a light lunch, so let us know if you have any dietary restrictions. To register or for any questions, please email hannah@tangaroablue.org.

AFL / Port Douglas Crocs v Centrals Trinity Beach. Reserves start 12.30 pm. Crathern Park

YOGA WITH LUCY / 7am Buffs Hall Mossman

DAINTREE YOGA WITH SCHELL / 9am Buffs Hall Mossman

TROPICAL NORTH STEINER SCHOOL / Busy Bee Working Bee. Come and join us for afternoon tea and connections at 3pm. We will then put together our helping hands to maintain and beautify our school site
Please RSVP and bring along a plate to share, your gardening tools or cleaning products.