SPECIAL EVENTS       
  

JANUARY: THE ART OF ARCHITECTURE Joint Founder of Guymer Bailey Architects, and acclaimed author, Ralph Bailey will present a series of special lectures on the principles of the resort's design including energy efficiencies, design and aesthetics. Saturday 24th & Sunday 25th January, Evening Session from 7.30pm Meet in Reception   In 1988 Brisbane-based architect Ralph and business partner Tim Guymer were charged with the task of designing Kingfisher Bay, with a brief to create a unique resort that reflected the natural environment of Fraser Island and one that would become a recognisable and timeless icon destination.

Tim and Ralph recognised the significance of the property – situated in a National Park and on a World Heritage-listed island – and designed an eco-friendly, sustainable, low-impact resort integrating the architecture and landscape in a unique way. All resort buildings are below the tree line and wherever possible designed around major trees. Impact on the dune systems was further minimised by having structures (with the exception of the pools and roads) built up off the ground on poles or stumps. “The final project resulted in greater than 95% Australian sourced goods and services,” he said. Guymer Bailey Architects have won numerous design awards for their work on the property, including the prestigious Royal Australian Institute of Architecture's commercial architecture award.

OCTOBER: FRASER'S FASCINATING FUNGI One of Australia’s leading fungi experts, Dr Tony Young, returns to Kingfisher Bay Resort this month to continue his fascinating lecture series on Fraser's Island unique fungal flora.  This time around Dr Young is joined by the Queensland's Herbarium's Nigel Fechner.  Saturday 18th October, 7.30pm - 8.30pm Meet in Reception, Centre Complex

A fungus from North America might be the world’s largest but according Dr Young, the fungal flora on Fraser are equally as impressive – with some 99% of the island’s plant life existing in a symbiotic relationship with fungi, in order to survive.  Fraser Island is unique and there is no doubt that the fungal flora has specifically adapted for the low nuturient levels of the sand substate.  Nigel Fechner and Dr Young will also give a presentation on collecting and preserving macrofungi for Kingfisher Bay Staff who will assist a team lead by American Researcher Dr Roy Halling early next year.

SEPTEMBER: AN INSIGHT INTO HUMPBACK WHALE BEHAVIOUR Quincy Gibson is the 2007 project leader for PWF's Hervey Bay and Eden, Australia Humpback Whale Project and is passionate about these giants of the deep.  Quincy and her team will visit Kingfisher to share insights on the Humpback whales and whale behaviour in the Great Sandy Straits. Tuesday 30th September, 7.30pm - 8.30pm Meet in Reception, Centre Complex

Working on various research projects for the Pacific Whale Foundation, Quincy has been involved with a variety of marine programs aimed at educating the local, national and international public, from a scientific perspective, about the marine environment and the need for marine conservation.  Quincy received her B.S. degree in both zoology and psychology in 2001 and her Ph.D. in biology in 2007.  Her dissertation research was focused on the development of social patterns in wild bottlenose dolphin calves in Shark Bay, Western Australia. Quincy has also been involved in various marine mammal projects including human and vessel impact studies on spinner dolphins and humpback whales in the Hawaiian Islands and her developmental study of wild dolphins in Western Australia.

AUGUST: A NIGHT IN CONCERT WITH YULY VERBITSKY Russian-born Yuly Verbitsky's life-long love affair with music began at the age of six, when he started receiving instruction at the Stolyarsky Music School in Odessa, and later at the Ukranian State Conservatory. Yuly continued developing his classical piano repertoire, first as a soloist at Yalta Philharmonic, and then as a concert artist at the State Concert Company in St Petersburg.  After moving to America in 1979, Yuly joined the music department of the famous Julliard School in New York City. Saturday 16th August, 9.45am - 10.45am; 1.15pm - 2.15pm; 6.30pm - 7.30pm Sunday 17th August 1.15pm - 2.15pm; 6.30pm - 7.30pm Maheno Lounge, Centre Complex

Public Performances reman a vital part of his musical career and Yuly continues to perform in the New York / New Jersey metropolitan area incuding appearances at the Madison Chase Auditorium, Flemington Renaissance Plaza and Watchung Art Centre Beethoven Festival. Join Yuly for a Musical Evening celebration in the stunning Centre Complex with music from Beethoven's Sonata 'Pathetique', No. 8 in C minor; Schumann's Traumerei; Schubert's Impromptu in G flat major, Op. 90, No 3; and Chopin's Nocturne No.2 in E flat minor.