What’s hip this October

What to do for free

STRIP off the jacket, reveal some skin in your shorts and T-shirts and soak up a little sunshine – it’s spring, after all. It costs nothing to walk or cycle neighbourhood paths, stroll among civic garden beds or picnic by the river with family and friends. You don’t need any excuse – just a desire to finally leave winter behind. And spots such as Mt Coot-tha, New Farm Park and Highgate Hill in Brisbane, La Balsa Park/Point Cartwright, Coolum’s Tickle Park, Mary Cairncross Reserve at Maleny and Buderim Forest Park are only too happy to oblige.

What to book

THE Honey Sliders have built a following across Australia by paying homage to some of the world’s favourite artists and enduring, chart-topping albums for our nostalgic enjoyment.
The experienced outfit is a project for three-time ARIA Award nominated singer-songwriter Danny Widdicombe. The rock, soul, country, blues act also features Dan Mansfie (You Am I, The Gin Club), Chris Bosley (Resin Dogs) and Ben Carstens (Mexico City). The lads will be at The Princess Theatre, Woolloongabba, on Friday, October, 17, at 7pm for the Songs from 1975 show (ticketmaster.com.au). And tickets are already selling fast at The Events Centre, Caloundra, for Neil Young’s Harvest on Friday, February 13. at 7.30pm (theeventscentre.com.au).

What to watch

GYMPIE’S much-loved Heart of Gold International Short Film Festival returns in 2025, celebrating this creative art form. From October 9-12, the festival will transform the CBD into an arts precinct over four days. More than 25 curated sessions of short films from around the globe will sit in the program alongside free events, live music, art and opportunities to connect with filmmakers. With humble beginnings in 2006, the internationally recognised event has grown into one of the biggest short film festivals in Australia, taking place in an authentic country destination. Highlights for 2025 include: Go Gold Block Party – October 9, a free community celebration of film and music to kick off the festival; Opening Night Gala – October 10, a glittering evening of film, music and food; a premiere screening of a film about local music duo Those Folk with a special performance in Gympie Cinema – October 11; Awards Ceremony – October 11; and the Comedy Night Special – October 11. Visit heartofgold.com.au/2025-program

What to read

THIS year marks 25 years of author Fiona McIntosh, who has 47 books published and an unmatched literary career spanning historical fiction, crime, fantasy and children’s fiction. Her literary efforts have made her Australia’s seventh-bestselling fiction writer, with well beyond a million copies sold. Her latest historical drama, The Soldier’s Daughter, is a captivating tale of family, bravery and legacy. Fans have eagerly awaited the return of Charlie Nash, whose story was first told in the 2020 bestseller The Champagne War. Set between Champagne in France, Speyside in Scotland, where the finest Scotch whisky makers call home, and Richmond in Tasmania, this sequel promises to delve deeper into Charlie’s journey and that of daughter and talented whisky maker in her own right, Violet. McIntosh will speak at North Lakes Library on Thursday, October 9, at 6.30pm (moretonbay.qld.gov.au/libraries/Events/Meet-Author/Meet-The-Author/BWF-Fiona-McIntosh) and has events at the Brisbane Writers Festival this month (bwf.org.au).

Back in the day…

IT WAS a wholesome musical sitcom for the ages and it brought together some of the entertainment industry’s biggest names. The Partridge Family aired in the US on ABC from September 1970 to March 1974 and was a smash hit with Australian TV audiences, too, for its quirky comedy and pop anthems. Academy Award winner Shirley Jones put her vocal talents to use with real-life stepson David Cassidy for the TV series (the launchpad for his hitmaking singing career and status as a teen heart-throb). The four seasons and 96 episodes centred on a fictional pop band of the same name, born out of the family garage. And it’s still hard to resist singing along when retro-loving radio stations play some of the memorable hits from the series including I Think I Love You and the Come On Get Happy theme song.