Ravenshoe’s Torimba Festival has been a town institution since 1969. Commencing on the first Saturday in October and running for a fortnight, there are community sporting and entertainment events, displays, a street parade and a ball.

The centrepiece since 1972 is the “Festival of the Forests” woodcraft exhibition held in the Festival Hall, across from Win’s Gallery. This is a competitive event with a wide variety of woodcraft; furniture, sculpture, several types of turning, pyrography and a section for paintings. The exhibition is highly regarded and attracts entries from across Queensland and interstate.

Win always has a special exhibition for Torimba. This year her exhibition is called “Rhythms of the Land, paintings old and new”. New paintings include two impressions of Porcupine Gorge. She has included some of her very early work to complement her illustrated autobiography, “The Light of the North”. This large coffee table book, together with her four small format collections of her work, will also be on sale. The Festival runs from October 6 to 20 this year. Both the Gallery and the Hall will be open each day.

For further information on community events check the Torimba website, www.torimbafestival.com.au For entry forms for the “Festival of the Forests”