Thursday was perhaps the highlight of the week for first-year students at Central Queensland University Mackay who have been participating in Orientation Week for the past three days.

By lunchtime, students and staff were kicking back and relaxing with a Mexican-style lunch and an afternoon of Pirate Interfaculty Games. The games involved students and lecturers competing alongside each other as they represented their faculty in the battle to win the treasure.

The 2 exciting teams of 10 players were the ‘Jolly Rodgers’ and the ‘Eveready Educators’, who were the ultimate winners of the competition, with a good belly laugh had by all.

For those too ‘yellow bellied’ to compete, there were still plenty of prizes to be won in the Student Association’s annual UniMart Prize draw, but you had to be there to claim your prize.

“This year there were some amazing prizes donated by local businesses,” said Leeanne Kippen of the Student Association.

“Prizes included gym memberships from City Fitness and Femnasium, free pizzas from Dominos, cakes from the Cheesecake Shop, meals from Pacino’s, Food Space, the Lighthouse Restaurant, KFC and Montezuma’s, prizes from Blacks Beach Tavern, Magpies Sporting Club, Cartridge World, Hatfield’s Supermarket and Gloria Jeans, along with major prizes from Fantasea Cruises and Club Crocodile”.

“Following today’s activities, the students have more fun lined up before they get to the serious business of noses in books,” said Natalie Arthur, Community Relations Officer on campus.

“Friday will be another busy day of information sessions, followed by a number of great activities for students to choose from,” she said. “From 6pm on Friday there is wine and cheese tasting, followed by the movie ‘Brides’ at 7.30pm, presented by the CQU Library Society. There is also a wonderful jazz performance by ‘Blues Point’ from 8pm at the CQCM".

Tickets for Blues Point at the CQCM on Boundary Road, can be purchased at the door or by phoning 4940 7800 before 7.45pm. Tickets for the movie ‘Brides’ can be purchased outside the Cook Theatre before 7.30pm.

Photo above: Student Mentor Riley Molloy helped first-year students get into the swing of things with his good mate, Parrot.

Photo left: Leeanne Kippen, from the CQU Student Association organised the 'Pirate Interfaculty Games' and totally looked the part.