Home Page

Forum To Discuss Trades Skill Crisis April 27, 2005 - A forum to discuss a possible solution to the trade skills crisis in the South Burnett will be held in the Taabinga Room at the Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE's Kingaroy campus (corner Bunya Highway and Geritz Road) tonight from 6:30pm. Representatives from local engineering firms, schools and employment agencies have been invited to hear Peter Walsh and Noel Brownsey, from the Dalby Manufacturers Group, explain how the predicament has been overcome in Dalby. For more information, phone SQIT Marketing Manager Kerry Harrison on (07) 4694-1802.

New B&B and Cellar Door April 26, 2005 - The South Burnett will soon have a new B&B and cellar door with the re-opening this week of the historic Boonara Homestead (right) in Kilkivan Shire. Sandra and Ted Nesbitt have worked for two years to restore the cedar and ironbark homestead, built in 1862, to its former glory. For many years the property belonged to Mr David Jones (of department store fame) so it's truly a grand colonial property. Two bedrooms are available in the homestead and lunches and evening meals will be served to B&B guests. Lunches will also be available at the cellar door and Boonara Homestead can also be booked for functions and weddings.

Lucas Is Hooked On Fishing April 22, 2005 - Lucas Kerkow has had a life-long love of sportsfishing on our great local dams and further afield. He thought it was about time Kingaroy had it own tackle shop ... so he did some about it. Bass to Barra Marine, located in the old Adviser/Earle's Paint building at the entrance to the Youngman Street Industrial Estate, opened about three weeks ago. There's plenty of room out front for cars towing boats to pull up and the shop covers a wide range of freshwater and saltwater fishing requirements, including bait. Charter trips on local dams and from Hervey Bay can also be booked.

Fun Night Festival Fundraiser CANCELLED April 21, 2005 - The Kingaroy Chamber of Commerce and Industry is planning a fun night out on May 7 at Whipbird Chapel, Coolabunia, as a fundraiser for the 2005 Peanut Festival. There'll be free wine-tasting at Stuart Range Wines followed by a bus trip to Whipbird Chapel, dinner and live music from Fat Cow. Cost is just $38.50 per person and there are a very limited number of tickets. To book, phone Lynnelle on (07) 4162-8466 or email her

Happenings at Hivesville April 20, 2005 - Exciting things are happening in the small Wondai shire town of Hivesville. The well-known Hivesville Hotel now boasts a restaurant - the Hideaway, which is open four days a week. There's also new owners at the cafe in town, colourfully called the Road Kill Cafe. An organic fertiliser company Orgro is located in the old peanut factory. Orgro also has a wide range of produce store lines including chemical-free hay and owner Warren Bailey has exciting plans in store for the old Hivesville picture theatre too ... keep tuned!

Secure Your Financial Future April 19, 2005 - Centrelink's Financial Information Service will be holding two free information seminars in Kingaroy about financial security and investment choices. The first seminar, "Retirement Reality and Investment Choices", will be held tomorrow from 6pm in the Tobruk Room at the Kingaroy RSL Club in Kingaroy Street. The second seminar, "Understanding Income Streams", will be held at the same venue from 6pm on Wednesday May 4. Booking are essential; phone 13-63-57 to reserve a place.

Subway Opens In Kingaroy April 18, 2005 - The first Subway restaurant in Australia opened in Perth in 1988 ... there are now more than 700 Subways in Australia - including the Kingaroy store which opened last week. Subway Kingaroy is located at Shop 1, 99-100 Youngman Street (near Supercheap Auto) and as well as counter sales they accept faxed orders from businesses.

South Burnett Internet Network Now Reaches 1.2 Million People A Year April 15, 2005 - The South Burnett Online network (which also includes Southburnett.biz) celebrated its 5th birthday recently by breaking a new traffic record. The network now attracts an audience in excess of 1.2 million visitors each year. This makes it the largest online network of any rural area in Queensland. The network is led by regional portal South Burnett Online. This site drew more than 200,000 unique visitors itself over the last year and seems set to draw more than 250,000 in the year ahead. SBO Project Manager Dafyd Martindale said the network's success was a tribute to the foresight of the South Burnett Local Government Association and the region's councils who first formulated the concept in late 1999. "Instead of being left behind by the Internet our region is right at the forefront of using this technology to benefit residents," he said. "This is something that should make everyone who lives here very proud."

NLIS Business Opportunity April 14, 2005 - Individuals and businesses interested in providing a fee-for-service NLIS device reading and data transfer service to primary producers have been invited to register with the Queensland DPI&F. The National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) is an Australia-wide livestock tracking system using electronic tags which was introduced earlier this year. People interested in registering as fee-for-service providers can do so online at www.dpi.qld.gov.au/NLIS

Swickers Butcher Shop To Close April 13, 2005 - The butcher shop located at Swickers Kingaroy Bacon Factory will close permanently on April 29 however Kingaroy shoppers will still be able to purchase Swickers products locally. Larry Frohloff's Kingaroy Butchery in Haly Street will stock Swickers' range and two well-known Swickers' employees - Wayne Hancock and Wade Sutton - will be on hand to assist their old customers. Swickers decided to close their butcher shop because of safety concerns caused by the large increase in heavy traffic on-site.

Two New Laundromats Open April 12, 2005 - The booming housing market seems to have prompted a mini-boom in laundromats in the South Burnett. Yarraman has a new laundromat (located near the IGA Supermarket) and Blackbutt now has two ... the original laundromat at Maudsley's Blackbutt Store and a new one inside the Blackbutt Internet Lounge (where you can also hire DVDs, videos or PlayStation 2 games!). Here's our full list of laundromats ...

Some More New Faces In King Street April 11, 2005 - Aussie Land and Livestock and related company Aussie Pork Suppliers will be moving into new premises at 8 King Street, Kingaroy, at the end of this month. The companies are fairly new but the principle John Dunstan has more than 40 years' experience in livestock and property marketing. A.P.S. was set up in February last year to provide a marketing outlet for pig producers; A.L.L. was established a few months later to sell cattle through the Coolabunia Saleyards (above). The latter company now also handles real estate marketing and clearing sales.

New Medical Services Director Appointed April 8, 2005 - Dr Ben Bartel has been appointed Director of Medical Services for the South Burnett Health Service District. Qld Health Minister Gordon Nuttall said Dr Bartel would be based at Kingaroy Hospital but would work closely with the Medical Superintendents at Nanango, Wondai, Murgon and Cherbourg. Dr Bartel knows the South Burnett area well as he has formerly worked as a Medical Officer at Kingaroy Hospital. More recently he has been working in the Medical, Obstetric and Emergency areas at Ipswich Hospital.

Workplace Health & Safety Training April 7, 2005 - The Kingaroy Chamber of Commerce and Industry will be holding a Workplace Health & Safety Training seminar on Wednesday April 27 in the function room of the Motel Kingaroy, Knight Street, Kingaroy. The two-hour session will cover the basic concepts of WH&S, obligations in the workplace, risk management, regulations and advisory standards, and offences and penalties. Cost is $99 per person and there will be two sessions available, starting at 9:30am and 1:00pm. To book, contact Lynnelle on (07) 4162-8466.

Community Forum To Discuss Tourism Opportunities April 6, 2005 - The Wide Bay Regional Ministerial Regional Community Forum will be meeting in Wondai next Monday to discuss tourism opportunities for the local area - including greater promotion of freshwater fishing and indigenous tourism. The forum provides a direct link between local residents and State Cabinet and it is expected that both Attorney-General Rod Welford and Tourism Minister Margaret Keech will be in attendance. For more information phone Steve Waddell on (07) 4151-9748.

Video Postcards Released April 5, 2005 - Former Nanango News proprietor Ray Smythe has opened a new business Sunrise AV Productions which is creating 15 minute video "postcards" that tourists can mail back home as souvenirs. Mini-disc postcards of Nanango are already available at Nanango Post Office and the Visitor Information Centre. Ray also has postcards planned for other South Burnett towns including Goomeri and Kilkivan. Sunrise AV also offers other video services including filming, dubbing and editing.

Stumped For A Business Idea? April 4, 2005 - When Ray and Colleen Hobson moved to Murgon recently they wanted to get some tree stumps removed but could not locate a Murgon stumpgrinder. So they bought the equipment, removed their own stumps and now have set up a speciality business to service Murgon and surrounding districts. Hobbo's Stump Grinding (they don't do tree-lopping!) can be reached on mobile 0417-739-850.

Free Seminar For Business April 1, 2005 - A free two-hour Small Business Answers Seminar to be held in Kingaroy this month has been billed as "the 2005 business event of the year". The seminar, organised by the Wide Bay Burnett Area Consultative Committee and sponsored by the South Burnett Times, will be held from 1:45pm on Wednesday April 20 at Kingaroy RSL Club. It will be an opportunity to hear presentations by AusIndustry (the business program division of the Federal Government), Industry TechLink (free access to technology consultants) and the Australian Institute For Commercialisation (a not-for-profit organisation that assists businesses to commercialise R&D). All South Burnett businesses are invited to attend but bookings are essential. RSVP by Friday April 15 to WBBACC on (07) 4121-7099.

Kingaroy's King Street Shuffle March 31, 2005 - There's been changes aplenty in and around King Street Kingaroy in recent months. Kingaroy Brake and Radiator Service recently moved across the road into the old Kingaroy Springworks building. Their old premises at No 36 has become home to Burnett Motorcycle Repairs. Bunya Motors has moved into No 38 (the Dundas building); their old used car yard in Youngman Street has become a carpark for the expanded and relocated Kingaroy Fitness Centre. And last but not least! RSL Home Care has taken up residence in the old vet surgery (Kingaroy Veterinary Surgery relocated to Youngman Street last year). No wonder we need your help to keep SB Biz up to date!

New Diesel Service For South Burnett March 30, 2005 - Brad Trace and Debbie Dennien opened South Burnett Diesel Service in Kingaroy's Pound Street Industrial Estate at the start of March. Brad formerly worked for Kingaroy Machinery Centre for 18 years and has purchased their diesel injection equipment for his new business. South Burnett Diesel Service will repair all diesel pumps and injection systems - from farm machinery to 4WDs.