Christmas Catch-ups Q&A with some of Cairns’ favourite personalities
Christmas Catch-ups
Q&A with some of Cairns’ favourite personalities
Regan Piccone
Regan O’Neill Art
How would you describe your 2022? Eventful, adventurous and filled with wonderful memories with family and friends.
What is the most important lesson you learnt this year? Spend time with the people who love you and make you happy.
What does Christmas Day involve for you? Meeting up with our families and enjoying quality time together.
What is your favourite part about the festive season? Decorating our home and holding Christmas get-togethers.
Are you a last-minute shopper or do you plan ahead? I try my best to plan ahead, if I see something during the year that is perfect for someone I’ll buy it and store it till Christmas.
Do you have a New Year’s resolution for 2023? Paint more.
Where would you like to travel in 2023 and why? Italy— To see where my husband’s family comes from and meet his extended family.
Where is your favourite place to dine in Cairns? It’s a tie between Lemoncello’s, Piccolo Cucina and C’est Bon.
What is your favourite local attraction? Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures and Thala Beach.
What is your ideal staycation destination in FNQ? Port Douglas.
Warren Entsch MP
Federal Member for Leichhardt
How would you describe your 2022? Emerging out of COVID, a federal election campaign and settling into opposition— in a word, it’s been chaotic.
What is the most important lesson you learnt this year? Patience, and a greater appreciation of my staff.
What does Christmas Day involve for you? Getting the opportunity to spend quality time with family and friends.
What is your favourite part about the festive season? Sharing great food, a good bottle of red and catching up with family and friends.
Are you a last-minute shopper or do you plan ahead? I am a notoriously late shopper, shopping for my adult children is generally pretty easy with gift cards, but my wife is almost impossible to buy for.
Do you have a New Year’s resolution for 2023? I never do resolutions for New Year’s, I’ve broken too many of them.
Where would you like to travel in 2023 and why? I would like to go to Dharamshala in India, because I’ve been invited by his Holiness, the Dalai Lama to spend some time with him and I’ve been putting it off for a few years now. But as the chair of the Australia Tibetan group it’s something I would really like to do.
Where is your favourite place to dine in Cairns? I have two restaurants in Cairns that I really enjoy, at both ends of the Esplanade and I love both — but I’ll typically take my wife and my daughter to Lemoncello’s which is also a favourite of my girls and for any of my business lunches I’ll always head to Splash Seafood Restaurant, they own their own boat and catch their own fish and it’s a delightful place to go.
What is your favourite local attraction?
I think it’s fair to say my favourite is Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures, and I frequently go out there and visit my namesake, Warren the Wombat! And back in the city, I do love the Aquarium, it is beautiful.
What is your ideal staycation destination in FNQ? Mount Mulligan Lodge — it’s absolutely stunning and the food is divine.
Krystle Tokunai
Tokunai Hair
How would you describe your 2022?
A rollercoaster!
What is the most important lesson you learnt this year? Admire the little things.
What does Christmas Day involve for you? Family, lots of food and lots of naps!
What is your favourite part about the festive season? The silliness of the season.
Are you a last-minute shopper or do you plan ahead? Always a planner.
Do you have a New Year’s resolution for 2023? Invest in education… to be continued.
Where would you like to travel in 2023 and why? Anywhere on an island— Because why not!
Where is your favourite place to dine in Cairns? Salt House— for the cocktails!
What is your favourite local attraction?
Great Barrier Reef.
What is your ideal staycation destination in FNQ? Port Douglas.
Major Ben Johnson
The Salvation Army
How would you describe your 2022? I would describe my 2022 as joyful but challenging. There have been a lot of projects that have required an extra effort to get going and revitalised post pandemic. I feel like we have a chance to reflect on what is most important to us as a community and refocus our energies accordingly.
What is the most important lesson you learnt this year? Our people are our most valuable asset, and not just the ones we like! Seeing people for who they are and what they can be given the chance to be their best. Making generous assumptions about people is not always
easy, but well worth the effort. People will surprise you!
What does Christmas Day involve for you? As a church minister, I will be leading Church on Christmas morning and then retreat for a family lunch and private celebration. Christmas is a busy time for The Salvation Army and we do our best to make it a special time for those doing it tough. Christmas afternoon is precious family time after giving out personally throughout December, with the support of my family and church of course!
What is your favourite part about the festive season? I love the sense of community and the chance it gives families to reset. I have seen relationships restored and outcasts welcomed back just because Christmas is a special time and people are more forgiving through this season.
Are you a last-minute shopper or do you plan ahead? I am definitely a last minute shopper as I am out and about accepting and distributing donations up to Christmas Day. I always spend more than I intend to as a result… but the people we love are worth it!
Do you have a New Year’s resolution for 2023? I don’t really, just that I want to take more time with people. I am blessed to be around a pretty spectacular bunch and would like to be more demonstrative of the affection I have for them.
Where would you like to travel in 2023 and why? I get to travel around North Qld quite a bit through my work. I look forward to exploring the region in more detail. Again the people up here are a special breed and the sights are inspirational.
Where is your favourite place to dine in Cairns? There are too many to name, there are so many great places to dine in Cairns and such an array of cultural flavours on show.
What is your favourite local attraction? I still love the Esplanade of an evening. I am pretty easily entertained and enjoy the simple pleasures.
What is your ideal staycation destination in FNQ? I love the Daintree and especially Cape Tribulation. It is something special to drive through such beautiful terrain with the roof down on the 4WD, cruising through the winding roads.
Jenni Kingsbury
General Manager, Totally Workwear
How would you describe your 2022? Challenging, but rewarding looking back now.
What is the most important lesson you learnt this year? You can’t please everyone!
What does Christmas Day involve for you? A long lunch with family and swimming.
What is your favourite part about the festive season? Christmas Eve – our tradition is buying new matching Christmas pyjamas for the kids so they can wear them to bed that night. I love their excitement and anticipation for Christmas morning.
Are you a last-minute shopper or do you plan ahead? I aim to plan ahead each year, but every year I seem to end up running around last minute anyway!
Do you have a New Year’s resolution for 2023? Get outdoors and use my stand-up paddleboard more.
Where would you like to travel in 2023 and why? We are heading to Mt Buller for our honeymoon in August. I’m excited for that!
Where is your favourite place to dine in Cairns? Palooka, Stratford
What is your favourite local attraction? Fitzroy Island is a blast! Atherton Tablelands make for a great day out too.
What is your ideal staycation destination in FNQ? With the kids – Sea Temple Port Douglas. Without them – Mt Quincan Crater Retreat!
Cr Bob Manning
Cairns Mayor
How would you describe your 2022? It’s had its challenges, but the signs are very good for Cairns and that’s what matters.
What is the most important lesson you learnt this year? If I get knocked down, I get up again.
What does Christmas Day involve for you? The most important day of the year, where family come first – Claire, Belinda, Mark, Josiah and Faith.
What is your favourite part about the festive season? That you truly put family and friends first – and of course our grandkids.
Are you a last-minute shopper or do you plan ahead? Each year is different for me. Sometimes I get it right, sometimes not!
Do you have a New Year’s resolution for 2023? Yes, and that’s my secret. My batting average is not real flash and not always successful – I’ll work hard at this one!
Where would you like to travel in 2023 and why? My favourite camping spot, which is also a secret.
Where is your favourite place to dine in Cairns? Home with my wife, and nothing comes second.
What is your favourite local attraction? Reef and rainforest – what else is there?
What is your ideal staycation destination in FNQ? Tablelands.
