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Seminar on WorkChoices Agreements February 21, 2007 - Commerce Queensland will be hosting another of their WorkChoices seminars in Kingaroy next month. This information session - aimed at employers - is on agreement making and includes information on mandatory and prohibited content. The seminar will be held at Kingaroy RSL on March 7 from 9am to 11am. It is free but bookings are essential by March 5. For further details contact Gail Clifford on 1300-138-470, by email or download a flyer (147kb PDF)

Kingaroy Airport to Host $60,000 UAV Competition February 20, 2007 - A competition with $60,000 in prizes to design, build and fly unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) will be held in Kingaroy from September 24-27 this year. The Australian Research Centre for Aerospace Automation's inaugural Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Challenge - Outback Rescue competition is the first of its kind in Australia and is open to secondary and university students, as well as hobbyists and film makers. Competitors will design and build a UAV and put it through its paces in a hypothetical course that will involve dropping off emergency medical supplies to people lost in the bush. There are three categories: for high schools, uni students and others; and the best documentary about a team preparing for the Outback Challenge.

Special Women's Business ... February 19, 2007 - The Kingaroy Chamber of Commerce and Industry will be throwing light on some special Women's Business in Kingaroy later this month. Guest speakers from Ladies Initiating Prosperity and Success (LIPS) will be presenting hints on life balance, time management, goal management, planning, decluttering, self-motivation and healthy relationships. Then guest speakers from the National Australia Bank will be talking about financial planning and wealth creation. The all-day women's seminar will be held on Tuesday February 27 at the Kingaroy Hotel-Motel Restaurant in Youngman Street from 8:45am to 3:00pm. Cost is $30 per person, which includes morning tea and lunch. Bookings to the KCCI on (07) 4162-8466 ASAP! Funding for this event was provided by the State Government's Office for Women's 2006 Partnership Grants Program.

Grand Opening of Largest Mitre 10 Store February 16, 2006 - The official "grand opening" of Turner's Mitre 10 Home & Trade store - the largest Mitre 10 Home and Trade store in Queensland - will take place from 8am tomorrow at Rogers Drive, Kingaroy. Turner's Timber and Hardware section relocated into the new complex in November and the hardware area opened a few days before Christmas but an offical opening was held off until the store was fully stocked. The official opening will include presentations by celebrity design presenter Tara Dennis at 10am, 11:30am and 1:15pm, entertainment by Kingaroy State High School band, free face painting and jumping castle, animal nursery, Lions Club sausage sizzle and wine tasting.

KCCI Farewells Project Officer February 15, 2007 - The Kingaroy Chamber of Commerce and Industry is today farewelling Project Officer Lis Buzzo (right). Lis shepherded the KCCI through the 2006 Peanut Festival, Christmas Carnival and the very successful Heritage Business Awards night. She was also the "voice" of the KCCI on Radio KFM and in the Kingaroy Mail for the past nine months and organised the Chamber's popular "Women In Business" group and Meet'n'Greets. Although she finishes officially with the KCCI today, she'll still be working in the background for a while to assist the new Project Officer to settle in to the role. She has resigned to take up a position with John Provan Building. All the best Lis!

Two New Local Websites Listed February 14, 2007 - Two new websites have been listed on SBBiz this week ... for Musician's Oasis and Dimitie's Cottage Restaurant and Tea Gardens. Musician's Oasis, at 20 Alford Street, Kingaroy, sells musical instruments and sheet music as well as offering tuition in drums, guitar, bass, piano, saxaphone, clarinet, flute and trumpet. Brett and Angelina Chaseling can be contacted on (07) 4162-4523. Dimitie's Cottage, at 49 Haly Street, Wondai, serves light lunches as well as hosting functions and regular smorgasbords and pasta nights. The Mitchell family can be contacted on (07) 4168-5744.

Database To Track Rural Training Needs February 13, 2007 - The DPI&F has launched a new online tool to assist government planners identify what training is needed - and where - in rural Queensland. Farmers - and anyone else associated with rural industries - have been invited to log on to the Skills Telegraph website and record their training needs. The online database is part of the DPI&F's Rural, Skills, Training and Labour Strategy aimed to develop a sustainable workforce in rural communities.

New Computer Enterprise at SBEC February 12, 2007 - Michael Pinwill and James Eckart have just opened a new computer consultancy business based at the South Burnett Enterprise Centre in Kingaroy. Cyonic, located in Shed 11, offers services in computer repairs and networking, hardware and software sales, website design and hosting, software development, system engineering and contingency planning. They can be contacted on (07) 4162-5300 or by email.

Kingaroy Workers In The Running February 9, 2007 - Are you an officeworker putting on a few kilos? Well, there's no excuse now with the formation of a new social running group in Kingaroy with times designed for busy workers. The Kingaroy Running Group has no joining fees and offers running times for both seasoned runners and beginners: Thursday - 5:45am, Memorial Park, Women's Beginners Group Thursday - 6:15pm, Apex Park, Mixed Group Training Session There's also a 9:15am session in Memorial Park on Mondays for Women Beginners and a mixed group run on alternate Saturdays from 5:30pm at changing venues. For more information on any of these groups, contact Colleen on (07) 4162-5146.

Ellis Equipment Showcased In US February 8, 2007 - Kingaroy's own Ellis Equipment will be showcased at the world's largest farm show, World Ag Expo 2007, which is being held in the United States next week. The agricultural machinery manufacturer, who will be highlighting their Hardhitter range of "wear parts with muscle", is one of 30 Aussie agribusinesses to be hosted by Austrade in the Australian Pavilion at the Expo, which is being held in California from February 13-15. The 40th annual World Ag Expo will feature 1600 exhibitors from 60 countries who will be displaying the latest innovations in agricultural equipment, technology, products and services to an audience of more than 100,000 visitors.

CROW On The Move In Murgon February 7, 2007 - CROW-FM has relocated its Murgon shopfront from 80 Gore Street to 114 Lamb Street - the old JJs Sound Centre music store. The new CROW-FM Shop will sell CDs, music and music products as well as being an agency for Goodyear Jewellers. It will also handle advertising sales for CROW-FM. CROW-FM's Murgon representative Brendon Smith can be contacted on (07) 4169-5907.

Grant Writing Workshop In Kingaroy February 6, 2007 - Does your group need money? If so, the Wide Bay Burnett Area Consultative Committee will be presenting a "Guide to Grant Writing Workshop" in Kingaroy next month. The one-day workshop, to be held at the South Burnett Enterprise Centre from 9:30am on Saturday March 3, will cover the following topics: Grant sources Saving time in grant submissions - developing a re-usable template Hints when submitting a grant application Winning/Losing - what to do in each case How to write progress reports/acquitting funding/evaluation outcomes The workshop has been heavily subsidised to keep costs down to $25 per head. Positions are limited, so early bookings are encouraged. For more information, download the flyer or contact Roberta on (07) 4121-7099.

Online Maps Lost in Cyberspace February 5, 2007 - Google today unveiled their new Google Maps Australia online and mobile service which allows you to burrow down to street name level in towns right across Australia. This could prove to be a handy service for anyone looking to find their way around the South Burnett ... but it's by no means perfect. For example, Kingaroy Railway Station is still clearly marked (pity there's no trains) and O'Neill Square doesn't exist (it's still part of Mary Street). Memorial Park (home of Wine and Food in the Park next month) is called "Kingaroy Park", and a non-existent road looping around the Industrial Estate is clearly shown ... and this is just Kingaroy. So be warned!

Tarong Fund Calls For Submissions February 2, 2007 - Rio Tinto Coal Australia's Tarong Mine Community Development Fund is calling for applications for its funding round which closes on February 9. Since 1999, the fund has distributed almost $1.2 million to community-led projects in Kingaroy, Nanango and the northern part of Rosalie Shire. It aims to assist projects that will help local communities meet economic, social and educational challenges. Guidelines are available from Margie Magnussen on (07) 4160-7231. NB. The fund has assisted many worthwhile South Burnett projects get off the ground ... including this website!

No Decision Yet On Mine: Tarong Energy February 1, 2007 - Tarong Energy yesterday scotched widespread rumours that a decision to go ahead with the Kunioon Mine, near Kingaroy, had already been made. Group Manager for Coal Mining Mark Turner, pictured at right with KCCI President Rob Patch and Jenny Todd (TEC), emphasised at a KCCI Breakfast Meeting that no decision had yet been made between the three options - New Acland, Glen Wilga or Kunioon. He said it was a "very complex" decision which had to balance quality and quantity of the coal, geography, transport and mining costs, combustion and engineering issues as well as community and environmental impacts. A team of more than 100 people were still evaluating these issues. The KCCI is concerned that if Kunioon does not go ahead, the impact on the Kingaroy economy will be enormous. "As a community we have everything to lose in this, while the other communities have everything to gain, " Kingaroy mayor Cr Roger Nunn noted. "But council is in a bit of a dilemma about how far we should go with talking to the shareholders of the power station and the Board. Do you feel we should lobby in any way to try to get the Kunioon message across?" Mr Turner said Tarong Energy valued what the community had to say. Although community impact was already factored into the decision-making process, lobbying "would clearly send a signal" and he would encourage it. Have your say on Kunioon! Write to the South Burnett Times or any of the people listed on the KCCI website

Everyone Has A Story ... January 31, 2007 - Do you have memories (or photographs) about life in earlier times in Kingaroy? Then Kingaroy Memoirs wants to hear from you! This project, which is being co-ordinated by Steve Lancaster at the South Burnett Enterprise Centre, has volunteers collecting, scanning and repairing photographs, residents being interviewed, and videotapes and films being collected and collated. The finished DVD will be given to local organisations to distribute. Steve can be contacted on (07) 4162-9051 if you have memories to share (or if you'd like to volunteer to help with this project)

Country Star Heads Festival Line-Up January 30, 2007 - Leading Australian singer/songwriter Graeme Connors, (right), will be heading the entertainment line-up at this year's Tarong Mine Wine and Food in the Park Festival on March 10 in Kingaroy. Connors has recorded 13 top-selling albums (including the Platinum album "North"), won 11 Golden Guitar awards and penned songs for artists as diverse as John Denver, Jon English and Slim Dusty. The Wine and Food Festival will also feature the fifth annual PCA South Burnett Regional Culinary Competition which will again feature local chefs demonstrating their skills on stage and competing for great prizes.

Show Society Launches Website January 29, 2007 - The Nanango AP & M Society Inc (better known as the Nanango Show Society) has unveiled its new website. The society not only organises the annual Nanango Show in April and the immensely popular monthly Nanango markets, it also looks after the Nanango Campdraft and the Nanango Country Music Muster. The website includes details about all these events and more! Sandra Shearn from the Nanango AP & M can be contacted on (07) 4163-1273 or by email

Tarong Energy To Address KCCI Members January 26, 2007 - The Kingaroy Chamber of Commerce and Industry's next breakfast meeting will feature a presentation by Tarong Energy personnel about the Kunioon Mine and other topics. The Breakfast Meeting will be held in the main dining area of the Kingaroy RSL Club from 7am on Wednesday January 31. Cost is $12.50 for a hot breakfast. Bookings please to Lis on (07) 4162-8466 by January 29 for catering purposes.

Testimonial Dinner For Long-Serving CEO January 25, 2007 - A testimonial dinner will be held next week for Wondai Shire Council Chief Executive Officer Alan Keates OAM who is retiring after 42 years of dedicated service to the council. Mr Keates, who has served 32 years as Shire Clerk / Chief Executive Officer, will be guest of honour at the dinner which will be held from 6:30pm on Saturday February 3, 2007 at Wondai Memorial Hall. Cost is $20.00 for a three-course meal and entertainment by Tom McCahon. Limited tickets are available and bookings should be made to Wondai Shire Council on (07) 4169-2555.