Home Page

Jobfind Centre Comes To Kingaroy November 15, 2006 - JobNetwork agency SkillCentred at 19 Markwell Street, Kingaroy, is no more ... it's now a branch of Jobfind Centres Australia. Jobfind Centres Australia was established in 1998 and is part of the privately owned Angus Knight Group. They have a string of branches in NSW, the Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia and Tasmania. SkillCentred Queensland began in Gympie almost 30 years ago and grew to have more than 20 offices throughout southern Queensland. Phone contact details for the Kingaroy office remain the same.

South Burnett's First Podcasts? November 14, 2006 - You may have heard ABC Radio spruiking its podcasts (downloadable audio files that you can play on your PC or iPod), but did you know that podcasts have now come to the South Burnett? James Barclay's South Burnett Maidenwell Astronomical Observatory website has begun posting podcasts, including one about the recent Transit of Mercury. The next special event planned at the Observatory is an all-night vigil on the Maidenwell Sports Oval from 11pm on November 18 to dawn (weather permitting) to watch the famous Leonids meteor shower. For more information phone James (above) on (07) 4164-6194 or 0427-961-391. And while you're there, why not check out the new 60-seat Education Centre and Star Theatre which the Observatory recently added to its list of attractions?

Four New Faces on KCCI Executive November 13, 2006 - Four new members were elected to the Executive at the Annual General Meeting of the Kingaroy Chamber of Commerce & Industry last week. The new faces are John Boland, Maria Lynch, Sharon Bale and Peter Ploetz. The executive for 2006-07 is President Rob Patch (The Peanut Van), Vice-President Dave Chadwick (C.Q. Tec-Service), Treasurer Trudy Muller (South Burnett Book-Keeping), Secretary Anne Miller (AM Publishing) and Executive Members Sharon Bale (National Australia Bank), Karyn Bjelke-Petersen (Bethany Cottages), John Boland (Shadylane Farm Vineyard Cottages), Keith Campbell (Kingaroy Shire Council), Maria Lynch (BGA Real Estate), Bruce Partridge (South Burnett Times), Peter Ploetz (Star Tyrepower), Bernadette Upton (Kingaroy Veterinary Surgery) and Jennifer Walters (Argue & Co).

Quota Club Unveils New Website November 10, 2006 - Quota International Club of Kingaroy this week launched their new website with news about the club's activities. Club members meet at 7pm on the second Monday of every month at the "Biscuit Tin", the small building behind St Mary's Church Hall at 15 Albert Street, Kingaroy.

Kingaroy Cheese On Brisbane Menu November 9, 2006 - Chris Ganzer from Kingaroy Cheese is tickled pink that his Stuart River Triple Cream Brie has been chosen to be served at this year's Queensland Tourism Awards in Brisbane on November 17. "And most importantly, it is not a sponsorship (something unusual in this era)," Chris said yesterday. "I have made the assumption that this is due to the hard-working people at Tourism Queensland and the Department of Wine Industry Development." Chris said sales of Kingaroy Cheese have increased about 30 per cent for the financial year so far.

Christmas Markets At Durong November 8, 2006 - The annual Durong Country Christmas Markets will be held on Saturday November 25 from 8am at the Durong Community Hall. This is a great opportunity to buy your Christmas gifts and support local community groups such as Durong South State School P&C, Durong Playgroup and the Big Scrub Art Group. There'll be Devonshire teas, a white elephant stall, wooden furniture and toys, plants, shoes, clothes, beads, cosmetics, organic pork and sausages, crafts, paintings, clocks, picture frames, ducks, geese, kittens, turkeys ... plus lots more. To book a stall, contact Leeann on (07) 4168-0273.

KCCI Annual General Meeting November 7, 2006 - The annual general meeting of the Kingaroy Chamber of Commerce and Industry will be held tomorrow night from 5:30pm in the Chamber office at O'Neill Square, Kingaroy. All KCCI members are urged to attend because a quorum is required for the meeting to proceed! For more information, contact Lis on (07) 4162-8466. For your diaries: The next KCCI Women in Business lunch will be held on Wednesday November 15 at 12:30pm at the Kingaroy Hotel Motel. Guest speaker will be Georgie Somerset from Durong Country Beef. Cost is $10 for KCCI members and $12.50 for non-members.

Two-Day Management Training Seminar November 6, 2006 - Murray Harney, from Harney Financial Planning, and Sunshine Coast accountant Barry Johnson will be holding "Income/Outcome Business Simulations" two-day seminars for business owners and managers later this month. The "world's best practice" management training has been organised by the Wide Bay Burnett Area Consultative Committee and will be held at two venues: November 15-16 - Spinnaker Restaurant, Quay Street, Bundaberg November 21-22 - Kondari Resort, Elizabeth Street, Urangan. Cost is $100 which includes morning and afternoon teas, lunches and workshop notes. For more information contact Peter Gregory on (07) 4121-2300 or download a flyer (449kb PDF)

More Tourists Come To Region November 3, 2006 - The Fraser Coast-South Burnett tourism region was one of only two regions in Queensland which showed an increase in visitors in 2005-2006, according to statistics in the regional tourism board's annual report. The region welcomed 1.3 million domestic and international visitors who stayed a total of 5.3 million nights, an average of 3.9 nights (up from 3.7 nights in 2004-05). Takings from accommodation were a massive $33.7 million. At the Fraser Coast South Burnett AGM held on October 24, John Bjelke-Petersen (Bethany Cottages) was elected to the position of General Industry Representative on the Board. He joins other South Burnett-based representatives - Bruce Hurley (The Left Bank), Carolyn Stone (Passchendaele), Wayne Kratzmann (Tingoora Hotel) and Max Lehmann (Rock-al-Roy).

BIEDO Hosts Bio-Fuels Forum November 2, 2006 - The Burnett Inland Economic Development Organisation (BIEDO) will be holding a Bio Fuels Regional Forum in Kingaroy later this month. Companies and councils that use alternative energy and fuels for vehicles and machinery - as well as industry technicians - will be discussing the production, processing and use of bio-fuels. The forum will be held at the Kingaroy TAFE College on November 24 from 8:30am. For more information about the forum - and the Bio Fuels Bash from Monto to Kingaroy which will feature alternatively powered vehicles - download an information pack (117kb) and registration form (88kb)

High School Band Is Hot Stuff! November 1, 2006 - Kingaroy State High School's music program has been honoured by being named the Queensland winner of ABC Classic FM's 2006 Flame Award. The Flame Awards, part of the Music Council of Australia's Music. Play For Life campaign, are open to all primary and high schools. Kingaroy State High will now receive $1000 to spend on musical equipment and are finalists in the national competition "This is a vigorous and diverse music program which over many years has become an integral part of the Kingaroy community," said ABC Classic FM manager John Crawford. "Students and their music are everywhere - civic functions, festivals, community events, nursing homes, weddings and wineries."

Handy Website For Employers October 31, 2006 - The Australian Taxation Office has a handy online guide for businesspeople which lists everything employers (or the self-employed) need to know about superannuation, taxation, GST etc. The Employer Essentials website, which can be found at http://www.ato.gov.au/businesses is just one of the handy pieces of information included in this fortnight's Wide Bay Burnett Area Consultative Committee Regional Update newsletter. The full newsletter can be read on the WBBACC website

The Peanut Van Wins Top Award October 20, 2006 - The Peanut Van, owned by Rob and Chris Patch, was named the Business of the Year at the Heritage Building Society / Kingaroy Chamber of Commerce Business Awards dinner on Saturday night. Independent judges assessed the nominations of nearly 50 local businesses before coming up with winners in a number of categories: Outstanding New Business - Dean Wilson Aviation Retail Services - Retravision Kingaroy Tourism and Accommodation Services - Shadylane Vineyard Cottages Tourism Ambassador - The Peanut Van Mature Age Workplace - Endeavour Business Service Health and Beauty Services - Earthtones Beauty Therapy Food Services - Kingaroy Hotel Motel Manufacturing, Trade and Agriculture - Aussie Land & Livestock Professional Services - Markwell Medicine Transport and Motor - Benecke's Bus Service Whitney Pratt from the Kingaroy Coffee Lounge, was presented with the Customer Service of the Year award (from 19 nominations); Ross Ingram (PCA) was named Outstanding Apprentice and Ngareta Day (RealWay Property Consultants) was named Outstanding Trainee. The Business of the Year was selected from the category winners. Kingaroy mayor Cr Roger Nunn with Business of the Year and Tourism Ambassador winners Chris and Rob Patch from The Peanut Van

ABC Shop Opens in Kingaroy October 27, 2006 - Book City, located at the top of the ramp in Kingaroy Shoppingworld, has opened an ABC Shop at the back of its premises. The ABC section features DVDs of ABC and BBC television shows, music cassettes and popular items such as Bananas in Pyjamas dolls and Triple J T-shirts. Book City can be contacted on (07) 4162-4142 or by email.

QBuild Info For Building Contractors October 26, 2006 - Building contractors and suppliers have been invited to attend information sessions on doing business with the State Government. QBuild's new work allocation systems and contracts will be explained to contractors at two evening sessions to be held from 6pm at the Queensland Rugby Union Club at Ballymore in Brisbane on October 31 and November 2. Interested contractors should contact Geoff Fett at QBuild on (07) 3404-3704.

Curves Comes To Kingaroy October 25, 2006 - Curves women's health and weight loss centre opened on Monday in the Haly Street Arcade, off Haly Street, Kingaroy. Owner Wendy Bermingham said Curves was designed for busy women who want to achieve their fitness goals in 30 minutes, three times a week. Curves can be contacted on (07) 4162-5447.

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.