Weekly News Briefs - 5 November 2026
Li Cunxin Author Talk!
Fans of Mao's Last Dancer won't want to miss this special evening with Li Cunxin as he discusses his new memoir, The Lucky Son.
The long-awaited sequel reveals what happened next in a life that cheated fate, and wrestles with the blessings and responsibility of good fortune.
Li first captivated readers around the world with Mao's Last Dancer, the remarkable story of a poor peasant boy from rural China who was chosen to train at the Beijing Dance Academy before rising to become one of the world's most acclaimed ballet dancers.
Join Li as he shares the next chapter of his extraordinary journey.
WHEN: Thursday 19 November
WHERE: Lockyer Valley Cultural Centre
TIME: Arrive from 5.15pm for light refreshments before the event starts at 6pm
Bookings essential. Buy your tickets at https://tinyurl.com/35rj2pk2 , otherwise you can purchase your ticket at the Gatton Library with cash or card.
Recycling collections increase
Lockyer Valley residents continue to support recycling efforts, with 33,372 recycling bin collections in September 2026, an increase from 32,636 collections in September 2025.
The result reflects ongoing community participation in recycling and waste diversion initiatives across the region, contributing to improved resource recovery outcomes and reduced waste sent to landfill.
Capital project update – Murphys Creek cemetery fence replacement
The replacement of the north-western and north-eastern boundary fences at Murphys Creek Cemetery has now been completed. Works involved the installation of black powder-coated steel corner posts and pickets, along with four strands of black-coloured wire fencing.
The new fence provides a durable, low-maintenance boundary treatment that enhances the appearance of the cemetery while improving the integrity of the site’s perimeter. The project forms part of Council’s ongoing capital works program to maintain and improve community infrastructure.
Submit your nominations for 2027 Australia Day Awards
Lockyer Valley Regional Council is inviting the community to nominate individuals, organisations, and events for the 2027 Lockyer Valley Australia Day Awards.
Award categories include:
- Citizen of the Year
- Young Citizen of the Year (30 years and under)
- Senior Sportsperson of the Year (18 years and above)
- Junior Sportsperson of the Year (17 years and under)
- Event of the Year
- Community Organisation of the Year
To submit a nomination, visit https://lockyervalley.smartygrants.com.au/AusDay27
Nominations close midnight on Friday 4 December.
Maximising Digital Tools Workshop
Are you part of a not-for-profit community group or sporting club?
Join our free Maximising Digital Tools for Community Resilience workshop and discover practical ways artificial intelligence (AI) can help you:
- Reduce administration time
- Prepare stronger grant applications
- Improve reporting and governance
- Support disaster resilience and recovery
- Free up more time to focus on what matters most
You'll learn how to leverage AI safely, unlock new opportunities and leave with practical tools and ideas you can start using straight away.
WHEN: Tuesday, 24 November
WHERE: Gatton Shire Hall
TIME: 5.30pm arrival | 6pm start | 8pm finish
Register now: www.lockyervalley.qld.gov.au/digital-workshop or by calling 1300 005 872
See HER at Art Gallery
The Lockyer Valley Art Gallery’s latest exhibition is 'HER' by Rhiannon Thistlethwaite.
This exhibition is a photographic exploration of the many faces of womanhood—soft, fierce, sensual, nurturing, ambitious, wild, and wise. Through intimate portraiture, the archetypes that live within every woman are revealed.
Captured in local landscapes and featuring women from our community, HER invites you to see yourself—or someone you love—reflected in raw, honest beauty. This exhibition is for every woman who’s ever felt too much, not enough, or anything in between. She is all of it. She is HER.
See HER at the Lockyer Valley Art Gallery, located within the Lockyer Valley Cultural Centre, 34 Lake Apex Drive, Gatton, until 29 November.
