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Flash New Website Listed July 5, 2005 - The latest website to be listed in the southburnett.biz directory is Mandala Grove's impressive site at www.mandalagrove.com (complete with mood music and bird calls). Mandala Grove, based at Goombungee in Rosalie Shire, markets avocado, macadamia and olive oils as well as having an extensive olive grove. The Mandala Grove website also includes recipes which can be downloaded and printed out.

Quicktags To Fill NLIS Shortfall July 4, 2005 - A shortage of approved tags under the compulsory National Livestock Identification Scheme, which came into force on July 1, has prompted the DPI&F to set up a temporary scheme to supply "emergency" tags to beef producers. These "Quicktags" should be available from today but to be eligible, a producer must have placed an order for their own NLIS tags at least two weeks prior to their application and have a "genuine need" to sell cattle. Applications can be made via phone to the DPI&F Hotline on 13-25-23.

New Hours for Yarraman Cafe July 1, 2005 - The coming of winter has brought new trading hours for Cafe Rosie Jo's at 65 Barr-Smith Street, Yarraman. The cafe - which offers homemade-style meals and hotbox specials, dine-in and takeaway - is now open from 8:30am to 8:00pm from Tuesday to Saturday and 9:00am to 7:30pm on Sundays. Owners Joanne and Neil "Dancing Barman Karaoke" Rose can be contacted on (07) 4163-8357. PS. Rick's Place Cafe and Gifts, at 24 Toomey Street, Yarraman, has closed

South Burnett Wine Trail Updated June 30, 2005 - Southburnett.biz's long-standing poster page on the South Burnett Wine Trail has been upgraded to include the new South Burnett Wine Industry Association map released recently. The South Burnett Wine Trail page also includes clickable links to the websites of all the cellar doors / wineries featured.

Great Way To Get To Toowoomba June 29, 2005 - The new daily return coach service linking Gympie to Toowoomba via the South Burnett will roar into action next Monday. As we reported on May 31, former Nanango resident Graeme Bliesner, (right), recognised the need for such a service - especially for South Burnett residents with medical appointments in Toowoomba. Greatway Coaches will make pick-ups and set-downs in all major South Burnett towns along the way and will also carry freight. For more information and timetables, contact them on (07) 4633-0355 or by email

Kingaroy, Nanango & Part of Rosalie Shire Join Drought List June 28, 2005 - Despite the recent rain, Kingaroy and Nanango Shires and the eastern part of Rosalie Shire were yesterday added to Queensland's drought-declared list, meaning more than 60 per cent of the State is now officially in drought. "Rainfall over the past 12 months has been inconsistent, with February and April the driest months on record for some areas. This has made it exceedingly difficult for producers," Primary Industries Minister Henry Palaszczuk said. Drought declarations entitle eligible producers to freight subsidies. For further information, farmers should contact the DPI&F Call Centre on 13-25-23.

Poster Pages For Local Businesses June 27, 2005 - Two new South Burnett accommodation providers have been the latest businesses to take advantage of Southburnett.biz's free poster page service. Lee Farmstay is located in Kingaroy Shire close to local cellar doors at the southern end of the South Burnett Wine Trail. Barambah Lodge is situated in the heart of Murgon, an ideal base to explore the northern part of the Wine Trail around Moffatdale and Redgate.

AutoPro Shifts A Few Doors Down June 24, 2005 - There's new owners and soon there'll be a new location for automotive spare parts and accessories business AutoPro Nanango. The sale of its building is forcing the business to shift a few doors down from 49 Drayton Street to 53 Drayton Street. The shift is also coinciding with a new owner, Dave Thompson, taking over. AutoPro Nanango can be contacted on (07) 4163-3222.

B&B Just A Short Stroll From Town June 23, 2005 - Another new B&B has opened in the South Burnett, this time just a short walk from the heart of Kingaroy. The Two Front Rooms B&B (right) is located at 99 Markwell Street on the Nancarrow family's 15ha Zenith Park endurance horse property. Two Front Rooms is just that ... in a lovely old Queenslander. Guests also have their own shower and spa and a sitting room with refrigerator, TV and tea and coffee-making facilities. All meals can be provided. Contact David and Leslie Nancarrow on (07) 4163-6012 or email

New Spare Parts Outlet Opens June 22, 2005 - Peter and Vicki Wainwright, from the Kingaroy Exhaust Centre and Kingaroy Tyre Centre, have added a new business to their automotive one-stop shop on the corner of King Street and the Bunya Highway. Kingaroy Spare Parts can be contacted on (07) 4163-6631 and sells common automotive spare parts such as brake pads etc. Kingaroy Exhaust Centre repairs and installs truck, car and 4WD exhausts as well as doing other mechanical repairs.

Ruth & Bunny At Motel Kingaroy June 21, 2005 - Well-known Kiwi entertainer Bunny Walters and his wife, award-winning chef Ruth Walters (right) have taken over the management of the Motel Kingaroy in Knight Street, Kingaroy. The pair, who formerly ran Bunnies Restaurant at Wondai, have transferred their moniker to the old Gazebo Restaurant at the motel, ensuring the Bunnies name and reputation lives on in the South Burnett. As well as a la carte meals, the restaurant boasts live entertainment from Bunny and Kiwioke Col (the "Bobs Yer Uncle" band - phone ahead to see if they're playing). Motel Kingaroy can be reached on (07) 4162-1966 or by email

Loot Homewares Opens in Kingaroy June 20, 2005 - A new furniture store - part of the expanding Loot Homewares franchise - opened its doors for the first time today in the old Sew-N-Circle premises at 25 Alford Street, Kingaroy. Owners are Jo Baulch and her brother Josh Baulch. However the "new faces" behind this venture aren't really that new ... Jo is Kingaroy born and bred but has been away for 18 years ... she's back now and is very pleased that "Kingaroy's going ahead". Josh is a well-known local builder. Loot Homewares has furniture, soft furnishings and homewares, candles and incense, lamps and jewellery. They can be contacted on (07) 4162-8118.

Economic Development Newsletter Online June 17, 2005 - The latest newsletter from Kilkivan Shire's trial of a micro-economic development program is now available online The newsletter details projects supported by Community Gold facilitator Bob Neville over the past three years and includes information about many businesses in the Kilkivan, Goomeri, Widgee, Lower Wonga and Woolooga areas. The Micro-Economic Development Model now has a new sponsor Feijoa Australia.

BizSafe Workshop To Target Shop Crime June 16, 2005 - If you own or operate a business, you and your employees are invited to attend a crime prevention workshop being held by the Queensland Police in Kingaroy next week. The BizSafe workshop will be held at Kingaroy RSL Club on Tuesday June 21 from 6:00pm to 9:00pm. Cost is $5 per head which includes hot finger food, tea and coffee. Topics to be covered include shop stealing, fraud, armed robbery prevention and personal safety. Please RSVP today to Senior Constable Stephanie Vogler by email

Community Bank Launches Share Prospectus June 15, 2005 - The Yarraman Community Bank Project has officially released its prospectus seeking shareholders from the local community. Chairman Wayne Emms said this was a unique opportunity for people to purchase $1 shares in a community company which would directly benefit the Yarraman area. Closing date is June 30. Wayne said the aim was to have the bank up and running at the start of next month in the current Bendigo Bank premises on the corner of Margaret and Toomey Streets, Yarraman. For more information, contact Wayne on (07) 4163-8901 or 0414-594-480.

Have Your Say On Hospital Services June 14, 2005 - The Queensland Health Review team will be holding a Community Forum at the Town Hall Reception Room, Glendon Street, Kingaroy from 7:00pm-8:30pm on Thursday night (June 16). This is an opportunity for all South Burnett residents to have their say about the public health system in the region and is part of a Statewide review organised by the State Government in the wake of the Bundaberg Hospital investigation. No doubt the changes occurring at Wondai Hospital will enter into the discussion at some point!

Workshop To Target Marketing June 10, 2005 - Queensland's Department of State Development and Innovation will be hosting a two-hour workshop on "Smart Marketing" in Kingaroy on Wednesday July 20. The workshop will run from noon to 2:00pm at the South Burnett Enterprise Centre in Cornish Street and is designed to raise awareness of basic marketing principles and practices. Cost is $27.50 and seats are limited. Phone 13-26-50 for more information or download this PDF (91kb).

Focus On Great Bunya Drive June 9, 2005 - The Winter edition of the South East Queensland Country Club flyer - distributed by Tourism Queensland - has a special feature on the new "Great Bunya Drive" touring route through the Darling Downs and South Burnett. The drive is being promoted as the "long way around" south-east Queensland, linking Toowoomba to Gympie via Dalby, Jimbour, the Bunya Mountains, Kingaroy and Murgon. Also featured in the new flyer are the new Boonara Homestead B&B and Moffatdale Ridge cellar door.

New Farmstay Cottage Opens In Kingaroy June 8, 2005 - Husband and wife team Kevin and Gavina Lee have opened a new farmstay cottage with the aim of attracting more international tourists to the South Burnett region. Lee Farmstay is located at 27 Harchs Road, just 15km from Kingaroy in the heart of the Shire's wineland area. The brand new two-bedroom cottage boasts reverse cycle air-conditioning as well as a potbelly stove and two-person spa. The Lees' 64ha farm runs miniature horses, sheep and Scottish Highland cattle as well as featuring a large aviary of native parrots. They can be contacted on (07) 4162-5103 or by email

Clovely Estate Shiraz Makes Top 100 List June 7th, 2005 - Congratulations to Moffatdale winery Clovely Estate! Clovely's 2002 Reserve Shiraz was today named one of Australia's top 100 wines in The Courier-Mail newspaper's Wine Guide 2005. Wine experts Ken Gargett, Andrew Corrigan and Peter Scudamore-Smith said the Clovelly 2002 Shiraz was an example of fine winemaking with blackberry and sweet jam fruit, liquorice notes and some French oak subtlety. Clovely Estate Wines is located on Steinhardts Road at Moffatdale. As well as the vineyard and winery, it boasts a cellar door, cafe and B&B.