Indulge in creativity and wine at the inaugural McGregor in the Vines

If an inspiring weekend in the south of France sounds like a romantic but unachievable escape, then USQ may have the perfect alternative.

McGregor in the Vines, to be held for the first time in April, is an expansion of the University’s popular McGregor Schools program and gives participants the opportunity to explore their creativity during the two-day getaway.

Set in the lush vineyards and landscaped grounds of the Queensland College of Wine Tourism in Stanthorpe, the event is a collaborative effort between the College and USQ Artsworx, USQ’s School of Creative Arts, and the University’s School of Humanities and Communication.

McGregor in the Vines coordinator Christine Matthews said the inaugural workshops would be held in April, May and September this year.

'The first is in April and will specialise in Creative Writing; the second is a Choral Workshop in May and the third is an Archaeology lecture in September,' she said. 'All three will be run by talented USQ lecturers who have expertise and experience in their chosen field.

'These workshops will particularly appeal to professionals, couples and retirees who want to enjoy a picturesque weekend away while at the same time expanding their knowledge.'

Each weekend covers a full day on Saturday and a half day on Sunday, with the option to attend a two-hour wine appreciation course at the College at the conclusion of the workshop.

The Creative Writing workshop in April will cover a variety of forms and techniques in creative writing, including writing for poetry, short stories and novels. Participants will be given the opportunity to workshop their ideas, try different styles of writing and develop good techniques. The workshop will be run by Dr Kelly McWilliam, who currently lectures at USQ and has worked as a freelance writer, manuscript assessor and editor.

The College is located at 22 Caves Road, Stanthorpe in the high country of south-east Queensland. About two and a half hours south west of Brisbane and 1015m above sea level, it is blessed with fresh air, cool nights, log fires and sunny days. There are over 50 wineries in the region along with stone fruit, berry and lavender growers.

For more information on McGregor in the Vines and to register for the workshops, visit http://www.usq.edu.au/mcgregor/vines or telephone USQ McGregor Schools on 4631 2755.