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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.

Daniel 'n' Aaron Offer PC Service in Nanango March 29, 2005 - Nanango has a new computer sales and service business D'N'A Computer Services run by Daniel Bosel and Aaron Smith. The pair have been operating since February from an office and workshop at 1 Wills Street. "We thought it was about time Nanango had its own computer business. We're out to provide a service for Nanango, not just make a profit," Aaron said. D'N'A have new and used computer systems for sale, do upgrades, provide basic computer tuition, and can sort out your networking woes as well as handle mobile phone car kit installations, connections and handset upgrades.

Opposition To Sunday Trading March 24, 2005 - The KCCI's forum on Sunday trading this week demonstrated strong opposition to the concept by local shopkeepers. Jaye Price from the Queensland Retail Traders and Shopkeepers Association presented the "no" case while Gary Black from the National Retailers Association urged the "yes". Fred Korn, right, from Kingaroy Photo Lab presented a petition against Sunday trading which had 65 signatures he collected in just two afternoons while visiting Kingaroy CBD traders. The State Industrial Relations Commission will decide now whether Sunday trading is extended to the South Burnett region.

New Owners at Hotel Cecil March 23, 2005 - The Hotel Cecil at Wondai has new owners ... Carol Halkett and Greg Nicholas who have moved to the South Burnett from Bargara. The pair have great plans for the grand old pub including a new-look restaurant area, accommodation and a nightclub. Renovations and repairs have already begun! The pub's eatery will provide even more competition for Wondai's other popular dining out venues which include Dimitie's Cottage and Tickled Pink.

Free Seminar On Farm Safety March 22, 2005 - Workplace Health and Safety Queensland is conducting a statewide audit of mobile plant in rural workplaces. Since 1990 more than 115 people have been killed and 104 seriously injured while using mobile machinery on Queensland farms. A random sample of farms will be audited soon. To help South Burnett farmers understand how to meet their legal obligations and prepare for the audit, a free seminar will be held on Thursday April 14 at The Whipbird Chapel, 21 Chaseling Street, Coolabunia from 1:30pm to 4:00pm. To book phone (07) 4121-1714 (the seminar may be cancelled if there are insufficient numbers).