Entertainment
2 April, 2026
Artist captures iconic bird
THE endangered southern cassowary is in the spotlight at Bingil Bay Café, where art, music and community spirit have combined to create one of Mission Beach’s most colourful fundraisers of the year.
The café’s latest exhibition, ‘Council of all Cassowaries,’ has transformed the venue into a vivid celebration of the region’s most iconic bird and the community’s conservation efforts.
Curated by Bernard Kasey (Jungle Trader), the exhibition showcases 52 bold acrylic works by Japoonvale artist and master weaver Stuart Lloyd, whose pieces explore the deep cultural and ecological threads that bind the Wet Tropics.
“As an archetypal artist, I use painting and weaving to give form to my inner narrative,” Mr Lloyd said.
“Cassowaries set a unique tone connecting all our catchments and our work as artists is to bridge contemporary land use planning with their instruction.”
Adding to the display is a series of cassowary road safety signs designed by Mission Beach State School students and enhanced by local artist Liz Gallie.
These signs, which are on sale for $50 each, with half donated to cassowary conservation aim to deliver clear messages to motorists.
Since 2009, Mission Beach Cassowaries Inc has partnered with Terrain, Mission Beach Tourism and C4 – Community for Coastal and Cassowary Conservation to produce and fund these signs, with Transport and Main Roads granting special permission for their installation during environmental festivals.
The opening night drew a lively crowd who enjoyed food, drinks and live music by local singer songwriter Doc, with 100% of profits donated to Mission Beach Cassowaries Inc. The exhibition will continue through until after the Easter school holidays.
A major raffle is also underway, featuring an original artwork by Stuart Lloyd, handcrafted silver cassowary earrings by Liz Gallie, a cassowary themed gift pack from Everything Eli, a hand painted wine glass by Sandal Hayes and a $100 Bingil Bay Café voucher.
Tickets are on sale every Wednesday from 9am to 12pm outside Woolworths Mission Beach and at the Mission Beach Markets. The raffle will be drawn at the café on 17 April, accompanied by live music from 6pm.
Funds raised from the exhibition will support the completion of critical biodiversity mapping for the Mission Beach region, a project vital to informed planning, habitat protection and the long term survival of the southern cassowary.
Read More: Cassowary Coast