Dinosaurs add life to museum

THE Museum of Tropical Queensland has had a record 124,980 people visit during the last financial year on the back of the hugely popular Dinosaur Discovery: Lost Creatures of the Cretaceous exhibition.

The exhibition featured 20 animated, life- size dinosaurs and was developed by the Western Australian Museum.

The animated dinosaurs were yesterday being dismantled at MTQ as the museum says goodbye to its most popular exhibition in 30 years.

Premier and Arts Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk said 98,084 people visited the exhibition between December 9, 2016 and July 9, 2017.

“These record crowds show how successful the museum is at engaging with the local community through vibrant events that support cultural tourism as well as through its captivating displays that showcase the cultural and natural heritage of our state’s beautiful north,” she said.

“Through its dynamic programming and the globally significant scientific research it undertakes, the Museum of Tropical Queensland is delivering on my Government’s Advance Queensland initiative which aims to foster innovation and scientific endeavour across our state.”

MTQ is open daily from 9.30am to 5pm. Visit www. mtq. qld. gov. au. THE Nine Network has thrown a lifeline to the 2017 ARIA Awards, reclaiming Australian music’s big night from the beleaguered Channel Ten, which broadcast the event in recent years.

Organisers have booked the awards in Sydney on November 28 and will now try to secure a raft of international guests to walk the red carpet, perform and attract viewers.

The notoriously awards- shy Sia, who won Best Female Artist last year, heads the list as she should be back home ahead of kicking off her two stadium concerts in Australia.