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Welding Works At Widgee October 24, 2006 - Widgee Welding Works is one of the many businesses in the expanding Widgee Industrial Estate at Tooth Drive, Widgee. Widgee Welding Works does all general steel fabrication and mobile welding but specialises in livestock handling equipment. They also retail steel. Owner Lloyd Martin can be contacted on (07) 5484-0250 or by email.

New Name For Old Cafe October 23, 2006 - The old Cosy Dell Cafe at 18 Scott Street, Wondai, is now known as GFC Cafe ("Golden Fried Chicken"). The cafe, which is located on the way to Murgon just past the roundabout, is run by Graz and Girlie Borg. They can be contacted on (07) 4168-5252.

Teenagers Invited to Try a Trade October 20, 2006 - An event to be held in Kingaroy next Wednesday offers a glimmer of hope to local businesses suffering from the shortage of tradespeople. World Skills Australia, in conjunction with Kingaroy TAFE College and local high schools and training organisations, has organised a "Try a Trade" day at Kingaroy State High School's Indoor Sports Centre from 9am on October 25. Year 7-10 students from South Burnett schools will get a hands-on opportunity to try different trades as well as watch demonstrations by current apprentices and trainees. Everything from boilermaking and building to hair-dressing and IT will be covered. For more information, phone Barry Magill at SQIT on (07) 4160-4400.

Heritage Business Awards Tickets On Sale! October 19, 2006 - Tickets are now on sale for the glittering Heritage KCCI Annual Business Awards for Excellence dinner which will be held at Kingaroy Town Hall on October 28. Cost is $45 per head which includes a two-course meal with appetisers, complimentary bottles of wine on each table and entertainment. Dress is semi-formal. Tables are being snapped up quickly and as there is a strictly limited number of seats available, it's a case of "first in, best dressed"! Last year's dinner was booked out very quickly. To book, phone Lis on (07) 4162-8466.

From Blackbutt to Brisbane & Beyond October 18, 2006 - Singer/songwriter "Rocket" Rod McDonough, formerly with Brisbane bands The Cupheads and Kick It Inn - is the latest addition to Southburnett.biz listings. The Blackbutt-based musician (right) has performed at venues such as Jupiters Casino and Broncos Leagues Club but is also available for corporate functions, private parties and weddings. He can be reached on 0422-915-634 or by email. He also has his own website.

Kingaroy Attracts 2007 Caravan Rally October 17, 2006 - Kingaroy has been successful in attracting the Combined Caravan Clubs of Queensland Rally next year. Tourism, Art and Heritage Precinct Manager Carolyn Knudsen announced yesterday that the rally - which will bring more than 350 caravans to town! - will be held in Kingaroy in September/October 2007. “We have been working with the organisers and local community stakeholders in the preliminary planning stages and we are looking forward to hosting the rally next year,” Carolyn said. The rally organising committee with Kingaroy representatives

Bush Christmas In Toowoomba October 16, 2006 - Former KCCI secretary Sally Charlton (Beaurepaires For Tyres - Kingaroy) is one of a number of talented craftspeople who will have items on show at the 2006 Bush Christmas Exhibition in Toowoomba from November 28 to December 7. More than 100 rural and remote exhibitors will be offering fine art and hand-made works for sale at the Masonic Centre at 58 Neil Street (near the Empire Theatre). Sally's works will cover "Paper Making and Beyond".

Last Chance To Book For Masterclass! October 13, 2006 - Today is your last chance to book for the South Burnett Masterclass with celebrity foodie Peter Howard (right) which is being held on Monday at the Bell Tower Restaurant. The Masterclass is designed to allow the tourism community - and the wider community, too! - to discover more about the wonderful food and wine we have here in the South Burnett. It will start at 3pm and conclude at 5:30pm and will be followed at 6:30pm by dinner and live music. Gourmet products supplier Babak Hadi from Black Pearl Epicure in Brisbane will also talk about his experiences with regional food. Tickets are $50 each which includes the Masterclass, pre-dinner drinks, a three-course dinner and wine matched to each course. RSVP by 5pm today to SB Tourism Project Manager Narelle Duggan on (07) 4162-6271.

Tractor Spare Parts At Wooroolin October 12, 2006 - South Burnett Tractor Parts (formerly located at Wilkesdale) has a new owner and a new location ... in the old Wooroolin Wrecking building on the corner of the Bunya Highway and Kate Street at Wooroolin. Cheryl Dalton took over the specialist Fiat / New Holland business recently but none of the business's expertise has been lost with long-standing employees staying on. South Burnett Tractor Parts has a large stock on hand and can supply by mail, courier, freight or by pick-up. They can be contacted on (07) 4164-2000 or by email

Model Planes Take Off In Kumbia! October 11, 2006 - Interested in radio-controlled model planes and cars? Then a new Kumbia business G & T Hobbies may be able to help! G & T Hobbies are located 31 Short Street and owner Geoff O'Brien stocks a wide range including Tamiya cars and Magnum engines. He also has radio control equipment, spare parts and competition kites. He can be contacted on (07) 4164-4505 or by email.

WorkChoices Seminar In Kingaroy October 9, 2006 - Commerce Queensland will be holding another of their Employer Advice seminars on WorkChoices in Kingaroy ... and they're giving local businesses lots of notice!! The seminar, which will cover agreement making, unfair dismissals, industrial disputes and right of entry, will be held at the Kingaroy RSL Club from 3pm-6pm on Tuesday December 5. Cost is free but registration is essential. For further details contact Gail Clifford on 1300-138-470 or download a flyer (72kb PDF)

More Talk About Tourism October 6, 2006 - South Burnett Local Government Association Tourism Project Officer Narelle Duggan has released the latest edition of South Burnett Tourism Talk, her regular newsletter on tourism happenings around the region. This edition includes information about foodie Peter Howard's Masterclass at The Belltower on October 16 and visitor statistics to the local visitor information centres. Click here to download Tourism Talk (136kb PDF).

Carbon Forum In Kingaroy October 5, 2006 - A two-day forum on "Managing the Carbon Cycle" will be held at the Kingaroy Town Hall on October 25-26. The forum will explain carbon trading, credits, accounting and sequestration with a particular emphasis on agriculture. Registration deadline is October 13. For more information and a forum program, visit www.amazingcarbon.com or contact the UNE Conference Company on (02) 6773-2154.

Conveyor Belt May Be Coal Option October 4, 2006 - Tarong Energy is considering building a massive conveyor belt system to transport coal to Tarong Power Station after 2010 (the date when TEC's contract with the nearby Meandu mine expires). This - and rail - are two of the options currently being assessed by the Tarong Transport Alliance (which consists of Tarong Energy, Leighton Contractors and Parsons Brinckerhoff). A decision is expected by mid-2007. Three mines are being considered to supply Tarong's future needs: Tarong Energy's own Glen Wilga coal deposit near Chinchilla, Kunioon (owned by Rio Tinto, near Kingaroy) and New Hope Coal Australia's New Acland Mine in Rosalie Shire. A rail corridor has already been identified between Glen Wilga and Tarong however ABC Radio reported yesterday that a conveyor belt was being considered as the option if the Kunioon or New Acland mines were selected. For more information about the project, the Tarong Transport Alliance can be contacted on 1800-206-722.

Latest WBBACC Newsletter Available October 3, 2006 - The latest edition of the Wide Bay Burnett Area Consultative Committee's electronic Regional Update is now available online. The electronic newsletter is designed to provide all the latest information on events, activities and grant opportunities distributed by the Federal Government. To join the email mailing list, contact Cameron Bisley at the WBBACC on (07) 4121-7099 or email him

New Image For Radio Station October 2, 2006 - Radio 1071 (which many locals fondly recall as 4SB) has a new name ... Heart 1071. Along with the new name comes a renewed commitment to the South Burnett with a decision to resume some broadcasting from the station's Kingaroy studios. Former Dubbo DJ Keith Gray has taken control of the breakfast slot and will be living locally. Heart 1071 is part of the Macquarie Regional Radioworks network.

Burnets Back At VisitOz September 29, 2006 - Busy Booubyjan businesspeople Dan and Joanna Burnett (who won a gong at the recent Tourism Awards for their Spring Gully Olives and are partners in The Grape and The Olive Cafe in Goomeri) - have retaken over the VisitOz training program. VisitOz is based at the Burnett's Springbrook Host Farm at 8921 Burnett Highway, Booubyjan. It offers agricultural training and jobs for young people from overseas on working holiday visas. The Burnets are very serious about VisitOz. They have a London office at Oxford as well as contacts in Canada and Sweden! They can be contacted locally on (07) 4168-6185 or by email

Grant To Assist Volunteers September 28, 2006 - The Kingaroy Information Art and Heritage Precinct has been successful in obtaining a $10,000 grant to assist volunteers at accredited South Burnett visitor information centres to undergo training and learn more about the region they are promoting. The funding is from the Tarong Mine Community Development Fund - the same fund which has assisted Southburnett.biz in the past. Volunteers will be taken on familisation trips within the South Burnett and Fraser Coast regions as well as receiving training in customer service, basic sales skills, on-selling the next Shire/Region product, telephone techniques, cash handling, organising information and handling complaints.

Tourism Conference To Be Held In November September 27, 2006 - South Burnett tourism operators have been invited to attend the 2nd South East Queensland Country Conference which will be held at Kooralbyn Hotel Resort (near Beaudesert) on November 2. The conference is designed to provide training on the key issues identified in the South East Queensland Country Destination Plan. Guest speakers will present "best practice" case studies on food and wine, country-style hospitality, regional collaboration and drive tourism. For more information, contact Kerrie Beck on (07) 3535-5470 or email her

Provan Joins Auzland Team September 26, 2006 - John Provan Building at 133 Youngman Street, Kingaroy, is now the South Burnett franchisee for Auzland Homes. Auzland offers more than 90 floorplans as well as design-your-own homes. It fits in well with John's other agencies, Unique Garages and Aussie Outdoor Patios and Carports John Provan Building can be contacted on (07) 4162-5922 or by email