Con students help 'schoolies' to choose wisely
Published on 31 October, 2007
Jacqui Rayment has been a busy final-year student of the Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music (CQCM) in Mackay.
Now that final exams are over, Jacqui's focused on the Choices program, bringing important and entertaining messages to current year 12 students about to embark on the infamous ‘schoolies' week.
Choices was originally composed by the Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music (CQCM) in collaboration with Queensland Health and other community groups.
Last year, Jacqui re-wrote the 7-year-old script and this year has again updated the production with the help of fellow student and co-director, Christopher Story. 
The Choices crew are front row, left to right: Jacqui Rayment, Jade Porter; second row: Kelly Bane (Qld Health), Casey Eidintas, Jessica Sweeney and Zoe Wilson; back: Sam Hensen, Acting Sergeant Nigel Dalton (Qld Police) Brett O'Neil, Jason Miller, Tara Hanrahan, Christopher Story (Co-director of Choices), Bryan McMahon (Qld Ambulance), Rhys Dien-Wilson, Karen Wood (Qld Transport).
Jacqui's production emphasises relevant topics for schoolies revellers including drinking laws, drink spiking, effects of alcohol and how to seek help if a situation arises at schoolies.
Characters from popular shows, appealing to the year 12 audiences, include Thank God You're Here, Big Brother and Dr Phil. The characters are played by Jacqui and her colleagues from CQCM.
"It's a relevant and fun way for year 12s to start to think about what decisions and choices they'll make during the week-long festivities and hopefully they'll enjoy the celebrations safely," said Ms Rayment.
The show also brings local police officers and ambulance officers onto the stage, to bring home the message of making the right choices at ‘schoolies'.
The Choices crew have been on the road and touring throughout Mackay district in the last next few weeks, visiting Dysart, Moranbah, Proserpine and Sarina.
In the coming weeks, they will visit high schools based in Mackay and are confident their message will create a better schoolies experience for all in 2007.