Katter’s CHRISTmas in Cairns
December 12, 2024
Yesterday evening, hundreds of people along the Cairns Esplanade were surprised by a live traditional Christmas carols experience as Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter joined in song with Christians from across the far north.
The idea for the gathering started when Mr Katter sat down one evening to watch television and noticed the rampant commercialisation of Christmas without any mention of the reason behind it.
"If you watch the television of a night, all these people are making money out of Christmas and not acknowledging the beautiful story of self-sacrifice. It's not about making money - in fact - it's about the exact opposite message. So, we're telling that story in music," Mr Katter explained.
Mr Katter believes the "Katter's CHRISTmas" event allowed people to pause from the craziness of the season and remember the love, peace and hope it should bring.
"The tremendous success of this night can squarely be attributed to the Hockey family. It's people like them who make this world a better place.
"It was wonderful for this talented family to travel all the way down here to share the gift of music and joy with crowds of people. We have all enjoyed this immensely," Mr Katter said.
Based in Watsonville (Mareeba), Roger Hockey and his family love singing and playing music together. When Mr Katter asked the family to perform, they gladly accepted the chance to share the Christmas spirit with Cairns.
"We're here to sing some Christian Christmas carols to celebrate what Christmas is really about - the King of the universe coming to earth as a baby, born of a virgin, and when he grew up he was crucified on a cross to die for our sins," Mr Hockey explained.
"Mr Katter was saying he wants to announce and proclaim that Christmas is about Jesus, and we want to support and show that there's people in the community that still believe that and want to celebrate it."
Mr Hockey and his family led the choir, some singing and others playing the violin, guitar, and flute.
The setlist included ten songs with classics like Joy to the World, The First Noel and Away in a Manger.
Onlookers were given copies of the lyrics to sing along, and the hope-filled melodies carried up and down the Esplanade.
"Even if you're not a believer," Mr Katter said, "it's a lovely story - a little kid being born out the back of a pub in a stable. Not many kids are born in a shed, but this kid did, and he went on to become the most important person, we believe, in human history and half the population of the world also believes that. So, we're putting Christ back into Christmas."
"Much of the generosity and selflessness has been lost. We've got Woolworths and Coles telling you to "give", so that they can get rich! It's terribly depressing, the commercialisation that has occurred - but commercialisation can't replace the heart of Christmas."
ENDS
Electorate Bob (red tie and jeans) in Ingham’s annual Kindy Quiz Night? or Parli Bob (waistcoat and maroon scarf) in Airlie Beach’s Halloween Party? We love a good Bob pic!
Today the Federal Government has given an extra $10 million to finalise works at Cloncurry Airport following significant flood damage in late 2025 and early 2026. Huge congratulations must go to Mayor Greg Campbell, Cloncurry Council and all those who have fought hard to achieve this outcome. The proposed works will ensure the long-term operation of this vital transport hub to continue to support aeromedical services, business travel, tourism and mining operations.
If all government cars were hybrids. If our sugar and grain was converted to ethanol. If our oil was refined in Australia. WE WOULD BE SELF-SUFFICIENT IN FUEL. This would save EVERY Australian taxpayer $40,000 a year, create hundreds of jobs and resurrect our sugar and grain industries. The answers are there… government just needs to act! To watch the full episode on Spotify, click here .
I couldn’t sleep last night.. praying for my good and long term friend Helen. Helen brings sparkle, enlightenment and joy to the centre of the crossbench. My thoughts are also with your family, friends and staff at this extremely difficult time. May Jesus keep you all in his blessings. Bob Katter
Last weeks parliamentary debate raised some key concerns about the state and direction of the country. Bob’s take is detailed in his latest podcast and includes: Carbon Credits (Integrity and Transparency) Legislation – hidden under the guise of ‘transparency’ and ‘integrity’ this legislation WIDELY EXPANDS Native Title consent requirements, openly acknowledging that it will essentially kill off nearly all small/medium size mining and infrastructure projects with extended project delays and costs. Customs (Illicit Tabacco) Legislation – stronger enforcement and penalties is useless against organized crime unless we also stop demand by narrowing the VAST gap between legal and illegal tobacco products and take away the economic incentives fueling the black market. Backpackers vs Student Visas - meetings at the highest level arguing that backpackers are here for a good time not a long time, they must be from certain countries and under the age of 30, they spend monies earnt and go home. Student visa holders have NO country restrictions and NO age limits, family dependents are also allowed and about 90% stay with the hope of migrating. Protect Aussie produce – continuing the fight to stop fresh food imports from countries with slave labour wages and child labour in the supply chain - a game changer for the banana, pineapple and other tropical fruit industries.
Not so long ago a flight to Tel Aviv experienced an attempted terrorist attack. The heroic actions of those on the plane averted what very nearly was a great tragedy with the almost certain deaths of all 180 occupants in the plane. As the background of the would be terrorist is being investigated serious allegations have been made that he was radicalised IN AUSTRALIA whilst he was an INTERNATIONAL STUDENT!!! Where are the rallies in the street? Where is the outrage in the media? Where are the strong political statements of condemnation ? Where is the swift action against those radicalising people in Australia? ARE WE GOING TO PRETEND THAT THIS WON’T EVER HAPPEN IN AUSTRALIA?
Australian rural industries will keep shutting down if we keep on allowing government to: Import fruit and vegetables; Require our farmers to compete against imports from countries with slave labour wages; and Impose more and more red, green and ‘supermarket imposed’ tape on our produce. We already import nearly all of our pork and seafood… once thriving Australian industries - SHUTDOWN. STOP THIS MADNESS. Protect Australian jobs, consumers and farmers.
Always a great time with Shane Knuth MP and some local legends!
We export our oil for $8,000 million and import it back as petrol for $62,000 million. While overseas refineries get rich from our oil we are getting poorer and poorer as a nation. The impact to our economy is colossal!!! And must be stopped. BRING BACK OUR OIL REFINERIES.
Bob: “Back in my day, we used an automatic gate opener.” Wendi: “I have one. The gate just automatically opened for me.”
