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A New Door Opens ... January 31, 2006 - The Charlwood family has launched a new business venture in Kingaroy catering for the booming construction market. South Burnett Garage and Industrial Door Services is located at 53 William Street. They install all types of domestic and commercial garage doors and security shutters. Rural and acreage property owners will be interested in their remote gate openers, available either as 240 volt or solar-powered. Derek, Steven, Tania and Jo Charlwood can be contacted on (07) 4162-5598 or by email.

We Have It All In the South Burnett! January 30, 2006 - Two recent additions to Southburnett.biz's database demonstrate perfectly the wide variety of businesses we have here in the South Burnett. John Kilpatrick's Safety Advisory Services is based in Kumbia but services the region. John develops safety systems for businesses as well as doing OH&S risk assessments and incident investigations. He can be contacted on 0429-776-882 or by email. Les Niebling's Machinery and Diesel Services, based in Wondai Shire, provides a mobile repair service for the heavy transport industry and rural industry. Les can be contacted on (07) 4168-5984.

South Burnett Prepares For Queens Baton Relay January 27, 2006 - The Queen's Baton Relay (the lead-up to the Melbourne Commonwealth Games) will be weaving through the South Burnett next Thursday (February 2). The baton will pass through Kilkivan, Cherbourg, Murgon and Wondai before arriving in Kingaroy about 5.00pm to be welcomed by decorated shops, a guard of honour of schoolchildren lining Kingaroy Street and an official ceremony in Haly Street. There'll also be free entertainment until 8:30pm. The baton will spend the night in Kingaroy before boarding a plane to fly to Proserpine and travel by convoy to Shute Harbour.

Happy Australia Day! January 26, 2006 - Happy Australia Day to the hundreds of true-blue Aussie businesses based in the South Burnett! We've got everything here from pooch pamperers to gold mines, so the South Burnett is the perfect place to live (or do business). If you're passing through the area today, we invite you to drop into any of our local cellar doors to experience some fair dinkum country hospitality!

Bob Retires After 24 Years January 25, 2006 - Greg Pogson is the new face at Raine and Horne - Nanango, taking over from industry stalwart Bob Head who retired recently after selling real estate in town since 1982. Greg said Raine and Horne, which is located at 11 Henry Street, would continue to specialise in farmlet sales and auctions. Greg can be contacted on (07) 4163-1722 or by email.

New Listings Added From SBEC January 24, 2005 - Two new listings added recently to Southburnett.biz are both located at the South Burnett Enterprise Centre at 6 Cornish Street, Kingaroy. Bill Jackson's South Burnett Counselling is located in Office 3. Bill offers counselling for relationships, grief and trauma as well as day-to-day issues and vocational guidance. He can be contacted on (07) 4162-9000. The Australian Sports Commission's Active After-School Communities program is located in Office 1. Jay Wehlow administers the AASC program which works with primary schools and other groups to provide opportunities for safe and fun physical activities for children. He can be contacted on (07) 4162-9022. Click here for a list of all businesses currently located at the South Burnett Enterprise Centre.

ACCC Provides Advice To Small Business January 23, 2006 - A small business hotline, manned by staff trained in small business and franchising issues, has been set up by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to help businesspeople avoid problems with complying with the Trade Practices Act. Small business operators can contact the hotline on 1300-302-021. The ACCC has also established an easy access point for small business on the homepage of its website

Creative Forum To Be Held On Monday January 20, 2006 - The Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE and the Creative Industries Council will be holding a Regional Planning Forum in Kingaroy on Monday. The half-day forum, which will be held at the Mayovale Gallery (opposite Kingaroy Airport) from 11:30am, is designed to link organisations, business and training providers across the arts and creative industries. Cost is free and includes lunch ... but registration is necessary. Phone Glenn Thomas today on (07) 3356-0650 or send him an email

January Tourism Talk January 19, 2006 - South Burnett Local Government Association Tourism Project Officer Narelle Duggan has released the second edition of South Burnett Tourism Talk, a regular newsletter on tourism happenings around the region. The January edition includes information about the South Burnett Tourism Map (which will be reprinted with a new design soon) and the new South Burnett Heritage Trail. Click here to download Tourism Talk (262kb PDF)

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)