As I drive out of Roma, through Winton and onto Cloncurry, the topography starts to transform itself before my very eyes. What has been relatively flat terrain for the past 800 kilometres or so, now changes into mounds, boulders and rocky plateaus impregnated with extensive mineral and ore deposits. As the Cloncurry Shire website says, the land “has copper and gold in its veins”. In fact this place and its surrounds have the biggest copper mines in Australia…and the biggest cattle stations. We are truly passing through the remains of vast land upheavals and ancient beasts. Winton, where The Proposition was filmed, shows off this legacy with pride – every bin in town is moulded into the shape of a dinosaur foot. It’s been known for workers in the Cloncurry mine to happen upon small dinosaur remains.

As I enter Cloncurry I spot the strangest billboard guaranteeing infernal heat without fail during the month of January every year. I ask the locals what that is all about and they inform me that “The Curry” as the place is affectionately called, is supposed to be the hottest place in Australia, reaching temperatures as high as 48 degrees. The highest it ever reached was 53.9 degrees in 1889.

The Curry is an extremely multiracial place. The Mitakoodi, Kalkadoon and Pitta Pitta nations of Aboriginal people have lived and worked here forever. Local community workers tell me that Cloncurry’s cultural diversity is highly regarded, and many people who live here are from elsewhere. Just take a look at the cemeteries for proof of the epic migrations – from the humble graves of battlers and the grand Dame Mary Gilmore, to Afghani and Chinese graves.

The people of Cloncurry have rallied together to make Big Screen their very own. As I pull into town at dusk on 29 August I make my way to the Cloncurry Youth Centre. This venue will serve as our cinema for the next three days as we pack in primary and secondary students, pre-schoolers and even young people who belong to the School of the Air. What needs to be done tonight, however, is to get all the windows and glass doors blackened out, ready for the impending 8.45am session of Hildegarde tomorrow. Why am I so worried? Everyone has pulled up their sleeves hours before and Mark from the Bio Open Air Cinema, Chuck from Job Futures, Ben from the Youth Centre and PCYC and Andrew from the Xstrata Copper Mine are gaffer taping the last of the black-outs. “Too easy!” they tell me. Nothing is ever too much of a problem for this can-do town. It is a catch cry I will be hearing again and again during my five-day stay.

In the supermarket and in the street I am approached by young people wanting details about the Disco Film night on Friday. Big Screen has programmed a double bill of Courier-Mail BIFF Fast Films and One Perfect Day for young people, complete with yummy treats and drinks. The town’s dedicated community workers and Constable John Kendle are (besides getting the word out to as many youth as possible) providing the mighty Simon, DJ extraordinaire, to keep the music pumping before, in between and after the two film sessions. At 6.00pm we glimpse the first signs of cheeky young faces peering over the fence to see who else is already there. And at 11.00pm when the event is all over, a couple in their 60s tells me they’ve had a great time. Yes, while our audience has been predominantly young tonight, it hasn’t stopped older people attending and no one has batted an eyelid over it. Too easy!

A good crowd gathers on Saturday 2 September for the opening night screening of Josh Jarman. The Mayor, Councillor Ed Morrison, tells the audience how important cultural events of this nature are to the region. Andrew Upfill from the Xstrata Ernest Henry Copper Mine proudly presents a locally made film, The Curry, before the main feature. The mine, in partnership with the employment service Job Futures, has provided funds so that the young people of Cloncurry could undertake filmmaking workshops. They intend to support it again next year and get more films produced, screened and enjoyed. After the films many audience members continue conversing, eating and drinking under a perfect starry sky. Lynne from the local TAFE has been taking photos all night for the town’s newspaper. Kristy from radio station 4LM has come all the way from Mt Isa with her partner and young child to catch the show. Councillor Lemmon and Council CEO John Page are in attendance with their partners, and have thoroughly enjoyed the comedy.

The Curry, with its population of 4800, has a high percentage of Aboriginal people, so it is only fitting that the last screening on Sunday night is Ten Canoes. The laughter from the audience can be heard all the way up the road. Many people here are impressed with Big Screen, and when it is all over they stress the importance of coming through again next year…with even more support pledged by the locals. Thank you Cloncurry Shire Council, Ernest Henry Xstrata Copper Mine, PCYC, Job Futures, Cloncurry Youth Centre, Bio Cafe and Cinema, ABC North West Queensland, PFTC – you’ve made it all too easy.

Cinzia Guaraldi – ICD Audience Development Coordinator