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Some More New Faces In Kingaroy January 18, 2006 - There's new owners at the Burke and Wills Motor Inn in Kingaroy Street, Kingaroy. Shirley Carruthers and her son Leith took over just after Christmas. All contact details for the motel and Explorers Restaurant remain the same. Meanwhile, general practitioner Dr Robyn Ogle has joined Dr Peter Ruscoe at Ruscoe's Family Practice on the corner of Youngman and Alford streets, Kingaroy. Dr Ogle specialises in obstetrics, women's health and paediatrics.

Centre For Clever Kids January 17, 2006 - A branch of the Clever Kids Education Centres will open soon in Kingaroy at 3 Court Lane (at the rear of the Satellite Cinema). The centre, to be run by June Wenzel, offers tutoring from pre-school to Year 12 in all subjects by fully qualified teachers. It caters for all abilities with both one-to-one tutoring and small groups. June can be contacted on 0427-625-073 or by email

Lots of Changes Over Holidays! January 16, 2006 - Happy New Year! Southburnett.biz has lots to report this week with several new businesses opening over the Christmas break. Redland Farm and Garden, a retail store specialising in agricultural machinery suitable for small farms and acreage, has opened at 27 First Avenue, Kingaroy. Owner Phil Park can be contacted on (07) 4162-8211 or by email And some good news and bad news ... The South Burnett Beef Murgon abattoir (which closed temporarily last September) is due to reopen today. ABC Radio has reported 320 people have been hired. However Unimin Australia's Kingaroy kaolin plant was "mothballed" just before Christmas with no word if it will reopen. Unimin's open-cut limestone mine at Moffatdale is still operating.

Merry Christmas! December 16, 2005 - Southburnett.biz will be taking a short break over the holiday period so we would like to take this opportunity to wish all our readers a very safe and happy Christmas! We will return on January 16, 2006. In the meantime, you are invited to continue submitting entries to us via email or by fax to (07) 4163-6856.

Have Your Say On Council Elections December 15, 2005 - The State Government has released a discussion paper and questionnaire aimed at improving local council elections. The papers are examining six issues: The management of council elections; Caretaker periods; A Code of Conduct for council election candidates; Dissolving a council; Penalties for council electoral offences; and Election donations. The discussion paper and questionnaire can be obtained from the Department of Local Government's website or by phoning (07) 3225-8886.

Wonder Homes In Nanango December 14, 2005 - Yarraman businessman John Bennett has opened an office of his Wonder Homes and Garages at Shop 2, 2 Appin Street, Nanango (next door to The Wizard of Secondhand). The business offers plans for new homes and garages, cabins and weekenders and also has a branch at 3a Margaret Street, Yarraman - next door to John's Wonder Land Marketing real estate agency. All three businesses can be contacted on (07) 4163-8600 or by email.

New B&B To Open On Booie Range December 13, 2005 - A new B&B will open on the Booie Range near Kingaroy close to Easter 2006. Redrock on Booie is located at 45 Millers Road, within walking distance of Captain's Paddock vineyard and restaurant. Neil and Jan Archer are building two contemporary design cottages on the site with views over the surrounding bushland. The cottages will feature open decks, spas and fireplaces. For more information phone Jan on 0410-637-072.

Ring Bill Before You Dig December 12, 2005 - A new service starting in Goomeri - but servicing all the South Burnett - should prove useful to anyone who has ever feared severing a telephone cable, waterpipe or worse when they have started digging. Bill Giles, from Bill Giles Plumbing, has launched South Burnett Pipeline and Cable Locations to help solve the digging dilemma. They will locate underground cables, Telstra cables and pipelines on your property before you start your excavation. Bill can be reached on (07) 4168-4365 or mobile 0409-684-365.

Kingaroy Businesses On The Move December 9, 2005 - Kingaroy Clothing Manufacturers, formerly located in River Road, have moved into the old South Burnett Honda building at 13 Markwell Street, Kingaroy. South Burnett Honda has moved across town, joining Kingaroy Yamaha at 2 Sawtell Street. All contact details for both businesses remain the same.

Hotline To Explain Workplace Changes December 8, 2005 - The State Government has set up a free 1300 phone line to assist employers and employees seeking information about the new federal workplace relations changes. The "Fair Go" hotline, 1300-737-841, opened on Tuesday and is manned by staff from the Queensland Department of Industrial Relations. Industrial Relations Minister Tom Barton said other features of the advisory service would be announced over the next few weeks as they were finalised.

Narelle Talks Tourism December 7, 2005 - South Burnett Local Government Association Tourism Project Officer Narelle Duggan has released her first edition of South Burnett Tourism Talk, a regular newsletter on tourism happenings around the region. The December edition includes Visitor Information Centre visitation statistics - up nearly 50% in Kingaroy! - as well as lots of other interesting information. Do you realise we have 10 different weekend markets - not counting the new Kingaroy Showground markets - currently operating in the region? Click here to download Tourism Talk (253kb PDF)

Crane Wins Gold At Qld Wine Awards December 6, 2005 - Congratulations to all the South Burnett wineries who won medals at the recent Courier-Mail Queensland Wine Awards, especially Gold medal-winning Crane Wines. Bridgeman Downs Cellars - 2004 Verdelho (Bronze) Captains Paddock - 2003 Shiraz (Bronze) Clovely Estate - 2003 Left Field Semillon (Bronze), 2003 Qld Shiraz Merlot Cabernet (Bronze), 2005 Qld Rose (Bronze), 2003 Left Field Cabernet Sauvignon (Bronze) and 2003 Shiraz (Bronze) Crane Wines - 2005 Shiraz (Bronze) and NV Crane Late Harvest Frontignac (Gold) Rangemore Estate - 2005 Verdelho Sauvignon Blanc (Bronze) Rimfire Winery - 2005 Verdelho (Bronze) and 2005 Unwooded Chardonnay (Bronze) Tipperary Estate - 2005 Verdelho Semillon (Bronze)

SBT Publishes Burnett Directory December 5, 2005 - The South Burnett Times has released the first edition of the Burnett Business Directory, (right), a printed booklet listing many businesses in the South, Central and North Burnett regions. The magazine, which has been widely distributed, includes local maps, a street directory and hundreds of advertisements. The SBT hopes to make the Burnett Business Directory a regular publication. For more information, phone them on (07) 4162-9720.

Four Local Restaurants In 2006 Good Life Guide December 2, 2005 - For the first time four South Burnett restaurants have earned the honour of being listed in the Courier-Mail's Good Life Restaurant Guide. Burning Beats (Kingaroy), the Bell Tower Restaurant (Booie Range), Cider Gum (Bunya Mountains) and Copper Country (Nanango) all feature in the 2006 Good Life Guide which was released yesterday. This is the third year running that Burning Beats and the Bell Tower have been listed, which has earned them both a "red star" with their listings. Congratulations guys!

Aid Available For Producers Affected By Vegetation Laws December 1, 2005 - The State Government has appointed a team of regional officers to assist primary producers affected by last year's changes in Vegetation Management legislation. Seminars to explain the compensation package were held yesterday in Yarraman and Murgon and will continue this month in other Queensland towns. The new Vegetation Client Liaison Officers, which can provide one-on-one advice, will be based in Gympie and Dalby. They can assist affected farmers to access funding available under the Vegetation Financial Assistance package. The package also includes "exit assistance" for producers whose farms are no longer viable due to the new laws.

Rob Re-Elected KCCI President November 30, 2005 - Rob Patch from The Peanut Van was re-elected president of the Kingaroy Chamber of Commerce and Industry at the postponed AGM on Monday night. Vice-President is Dave Chadwick, treasurer Trudy Muller and secretary Anne Miller. Committee members are Bruce Partridge, Jenny Walters, Karen Bjelke-Petersen, Sally Charlton, Bernadette Upton and Martin Stern. Keith Campbell is representing Kingaroy Shire Council.

Magical Move For Julie November 29, 2005 - Julie Castro, formerly of Julie's Pre-Loved Furniture in Kingaroy, is now The Wizard of Secondhand in Nanango. "The Wizard" is located at 2-3 Appin Street, the old home of Parry's Hotter Discounts, and can be contacted on (07) 4163-2669. Julie has a wide range of secondhand goods for sale including furniture, knick knacks, exercise equipment and electrical goods.

Chris Features in Country Club November 28, 2005 - Chris Ganzer from Kingaroy Cheese has been featured in the Summer 2005 edition of the South-East Queensland Country Club brochure. Chris answers questions about his cheese as well detailing some of the awards his creations have won. Kingaroy Cheese, located in William Street, Kingaroy, is open for inspection at 10am and 2pm daily. Also featured in the brochure, which is mailed to intending holidaymakers all over Queensland, is John and Marg Boland's Shadylane Farm and Vineyard Cottages, located just south of Kingaroy.

New Faces at Goomeri Motel November 25, 2005 - There are new faces at the Goomeri Motel which is conveniently located just near the crossroads in the heart of town. Ted and Jan Bunch, who took over this month, can be contacted on (07) 4168-4141. The motel boasts nine motel units and one self-contained two-bedroom unit as well as undercover parking

Networking Opportunity In Kingaroy November 24, 2005 - The Department of State Development will be holding another one of their popular "Networking for Success" workshops in Kingaroy next month. The workshop will be held at the South Burnett Enterprise Centre, 6 Cornish Street, Kingaroy, on Tuesday December 13 from noon to 2pm. Cost is $27.50. It will focus on identifying the benefits of networking, methods to overcome barriers, developing an effective personal introduction and assessing business cards for their effectiveness. For more information or to book phone Deborah Stevens on (07) 4125-9270 or download a registration form (112kb PDF)