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Oasis For Musos In Alford Street November 8, 2005 - Brett and Angelina Chaseling from local band Whole Hearted (who performed at the KCCI Business Awards on Saturday night, right) have opened a store with everything for musicians in Kingaroy. Musician's Oasis is located at 20 Alford Street (the old Rendezvous Designs shop) and stocks everything from electric guitars to sheet music. Musical instruments can also be repaired. There is also a mini-studio and tuition can be arranged for drums, guitar, bass, piano, saxaphone, clarinet, flute and trumpet.

KCCI Business Awards Winners November 7, 2005 - The Kingaroy Chamber of Commerce and Industry 2005 Business Awards For Excellence were held at Kingaroy Town Hall on Saturday night: Business of the Year (sponsored by Rio Tinto Coal Australia and South Burnett Times): Peanut Company of Australia Employee of the Year (Rio Tinto Coal Australia and Qld Apprenticeship Services): Gordon Couchman (Kingaroy State High School) Outstanding New Business (Radio K-FM): Aggregate Corporation Outstanding Apprentice (Wide Bay Group Training Scheme): Ross Ingram (PCA) Outstanding Trainee (Wide Bay Group Training Scheme): Billie-Jean Veller (KSHS) Food Services (Wide Bay Burnett Area Consultative Committee): Peanut Company of Australia Manufacturing & Trade Services (Tarong Energy Corporation): Chesterton Quality Constructions Professional Services (Dorothy Pratt, Member for Nanango): Anne Miller Publishing Retail Services (Beaurepaires For Tyres): Retravision Kingaroy Tourist Ambassador (Kingaroy Shire Council): The Peanut Van Tourist & Accommodation (SB Book-Keeping and Argue and Co): Kingaroy Caravan Park and Cabins Transport & Motor Industry (Ergon Energy): Driver Training and Education Congratulations to all the winners and many thanks to all the sponsors!

Rendezvous in Kingaroy Street November 4, 2005 - Rendezvous Designs and Kingaroy Embroidery have moved from Alford Street to 201 Kingaroy Street, Kingaroy (above McLeods Drapers). Rendezvous Designs stocks bridal and formal wear, bridal accessories and jewelley as well as other women's fashion and accessories and children's clothing. The co-located but separate Kingaroy Embroidery embroiders badges, caps, towels, business and club logos, polos and chambray shirts and school shirts. Contact details for both businesses remain the same.

Barbara Covers The Burnett November 3, 2005 - A recent "Health and Welfare" listing added to Southburnett.biz is that of occupational therapist Barbara van der Heyden. Barbara is based in Kilkivan but covers all the Wide Bay region from Bundaberg to Monto and down to Kingaroy. She can be reached on (07) 5484-1302 or by email.

Brooklands Business On The Move November 2, 2005 - Derek Gosselin has been operating a mobile printing business for a number of years but now has also established a base in Brooklands. Home base for Goz-Print is Kingaroy-Cooyar Road, Brooklands, however as business takes Derek as far away as NSW, his mobile phone 0409-965-527 or email is the best way to contact him. Goz-Print does specialist metallic foil printing for business cards and fridge magnets as well as vinyl cut lettering and graphics. Derek also manufactures bumper stickers (including very small runs!) and has a "temporary tattoo" stall which proves popular at fetes and festivals.

Charee is Ready To Clean Up! November 1, 2005 - Charez Auto Detailing opened for business at 11 Kingaroy Street, Kingaroy, yesterday. Charee Andrews offers all forms of automotive detailing (including vacuuming and polishing) for cars, 4WDs, buses and trucks. She can be contacted on (07) 4162-8388 or mobile 0427-883-643.

Bower Opens For Homemakers October 31, 2005 - A new home decoration and gift shop opened recently in Wondai. Open Bower is located at Shop 4, 34 Mackenzie Street. Owner Elizabeth Stewart can be contacted on (07) 4169-0666 or by email. As well as homewares and decor items, Open Bower also features a wide range of gifts.

From Kilkivan to Kingaroy October 28, 2005 - Links to two more local websites were added to SBBiz this week - for businesses at opposite ends of the region. Kilkivan Delites is a farm-based cottage business in Kilkivan Shire that manufactures beef jerky, jams, pickles and relishes. In contrast, Bill Hull Car Centre in Kingaroy is one of the region's major automotive dealerships, selling Mazda and Subaru vehicles.

New Owners At Two Well-Known Businesses October 27, 2005 - New owners have taken over at a couple of well-known South Burnett businesses. Avaril Walker has purchased Wondai Real Estate from long-time Wondai business community stalwart Geoff Hardcastle. In Kingaroy, Craig Hudson has sold "Hudson's Health and Fitness" and "Cardio Central" to Laila Gordon. Laila has combined the two gyms into one (located in the Pound Street industrial estate). The new Cardio Central is open 6:00am-noon and 1:30pm-7:00pm, Monday to Friday.

Inaugural Tourism Summit At Toowoomba October 26, 2005 - Five south-east Queensland regional tourism organisations, including the Fraser Coast South Burnett Tourism Board, have come together with Tourism Queensland to organise the inaugural South East Queensland Country Conference which will be held on November 10. The all-day conference will be held at Picnic Point, 164 Tourist Road, Toowoomba. Cost for RTO members is $75 ($95 for non-members). The program includes keynote speakers and workshops on topics such as Drive Tourism, Food and Wine Tourism, and Events and Festivals. For details about registration, contact Kerrie Beck on (07) 3535-5470 or by email

Changes At Youngman Street Estate October 25, 2005 - Perfect Pets is the latest new business to open in the Youngman Street Industrial Estate, Kingaroy. Perfect Pets sells fish, birds, guinea pigs, rats, mice and puppies (and will have reptiles in stock for Christmas) as well as pet accessories and pet food. Owner Joanne Trask can be reached on (07) 4162-4886. Tuff-Span carports, sheds and garages has also opened a Kingaroy branch in the Industrial Estate. Tuff-Span sheds are offered in kit form or they can erect them on your property. Phone (07) 4163-6589 or send an email.

Hervey Bay Team Holds Kingaroy Clinics October 24, 2005 - A new listing added to SBBiz last week was Aggregate Corporation, Hervey Bay-based psychologists and counsellors who conduct regular clinics at the Markwell Street medical centre in Kingaroy. James and Elizabeth Stott also can arrange workplace-related counselling (including on-site services) covering human resources issues such as morale-building and conflict resolution Aggregate Corporation can be reached on 1800-118-912 or visit their website for more information.

New Website For Ascot October 21, 2005 - Kingaroy's Ascot Lodge Motor Inn, located next door to Red Rooster in Kingaroy Street, has a new website. The website features information about room and conference facilities as well as tariffs and bookings. The motel, which opened just 12 months ago, can be contacted on 1800-766-376 or by email

Are You Ready for Gen Y? October 20, 2005 - If you have no idea who or what Gen Y is ... this is the seminar for you! The KCCI, the Wide Bay Burnett Area Consultative Committee, and Sustainable Regions are bringing Generation Y expert Peter Sheahan (right) to Kingaroy on November 21 for a breakfast and workshop. Cost is $20 and bookings must be made before November 11 to the WBBACC on (07) 4121-7099. PS. Generation Y are the 4.5 million Australians born between 1978 and 1994 - "lifestyle-centred, impatient and socially aware" says Peter.

Camping Park For You ... And Your Pets! October 19, 2005 - Kilkivan Bush Camping Park, at 577 Rossmore Road, Kilkivan, has new owners and a brand new website. Steve Edwards and Sue Curtis took over earlier this year but their website has only been live for a few weeks. The park features powered and camping sites as well as camping huts for hire. There are also hot showers and a laundry. And as Steve emphasises ... pets are very welcome, including horses! (right) Kilkivan Bush Camping Park can be contacted on (07) 5484-1340 or by email.

Having Trouble Finding Skilled Staff? October 18, 2005 - Did you know that the Burnett Inland Economic Development Organisation (BIEDO) is the regional contact point for the Skilled Migrant Visa Program? BIEDO's new website includes details of migrants willing to work in Australia and their skills. The website also includes a guestbook (currently under development) Employme which allows local businesses to advertise a vacancy or skills shortage to potential workers all over Australia and beyond. For more information on these two initiatives contact Linda Silburn on (07) 5484-1652 or by email STOP PRESS! BIEDO has organised FREE Safe Food Handling Courses to be held in Wondai (Oct 22), Kingaroy (Oct 23), Murgon (Oct 29) and Kilkivan (Oct 30). Phone Monika on (07) 5484-1652 for details.

Retreat Centre Launches Website October 17, 2005 - Southburnett.biz also lists many community groups including the Amitabha Buddhist Retreat Centre at Nanango which has just unveiled a new website. The centre, at 160 Greenwood Creek Road, is open for Sunday meditation and offers retreats, lectures, and a library of Buddhist books and tapes. It can be contacted on (07) 4171-0421 or by email.

NRA Appeals Against Sunday Trading Ban October 14, 2005 - The National Retail Association has appealed against a Qld Industrial Relations Commission decision which rejected Sunday trading for Kingaroy and other regional centres in south-east Queensland. The NRA is seeking to have the decision set aside on the grounds that it was wrong because: It was reached by taking into account irrelevant considerations; Misconstrued the terms of the Trading (Allowable Hours) Act; Drew inferences without evidence to support them; Maintained a view of the facts found which could not reasonably be entertained on the evidence; Ignored relevant material; Relied on irrelevant material; and Applied the wrong standard of proof. No date has been set for the appeal hearing.

New Mapping System Online October 13, 2005 - The State Government has unveiled a new online atlas which provides information about regions, councils, towns and suburbs - right down to individual property lot numbers (right). The atlas provides demographic information and details such as bus stops, schools, TAFE colleges and hospitals. Users can also make "straightline" measurements and there are satellite maps and a trial weather service. The government plans to extend the atlas over the next three years to include information such as population trends and online pay-as-you-go information services.

Olive Producers Added To Listings October 12, 2005 - A rural business recently added to Southburnett.biz is Thom and Jo Kennedy's olive plantation O'Cinneide Grove, located at 457 Ellesmere Road, Haly Creek. The Kennedys produce olive oil under the South Burnett Blue label which is marketed at a few boutique outlets including Ziebarth Wines at Goodger. O'Cinneide Grove can be contacted on (07) 4164-5792.