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Anita Offers Help To Local Tourism Businesses June 1, 2011 - South Burnett tourism operators have been promised assistance from a State Government Tourism Industry Recovery Officer (TIRO) to help the region get back on its feet following this year's floods. The officers will help tourism operators to determine their recovery needs and advise them about assistance programs available. Anita Adams has been appointed as the TIRO for the Darling Downs / Western Downs / South Burnett regions and will work in conjunction with the Queensland Tourism Industry Council to assist local operators. She can be contacted by email or on 0400-020-374.

Farmers Invited To Apply For Study Scholarships May 30, 2011 - South Burnett primary producers have until June 30 to apply for a $29,000 2012 Nuffield Australia Farming Scholarship. The scholarships enable participants to undertake overseas travel and develop a study program which suits their industry. It also provides an opportunity to rub shoulders with other Nuffield scholars and be updated on domestic and international agricultural issues. Nuffield Australia is offering 23 scholarships to practicing farmers or farm managers. Each scholarship offers successful applicants a six-week global focus program after which they will pursue an individual study topic for a further 10 weeks. Applicants should intend to remain involved in primary production and be aged between 28 and 40 (although people outside this age range can also apply). Academic qualifications are not a pre-requisite. Application forms can be downloaded from the Nuffield website . For more information contact Nuffield Australia CEO Jim Geitch on (03) 5480-0755.

Roll On Up To Goomeri on Sunday! May 27, 2011 - The South Burnett's biggest - and wackiest - annual festival, the Goomeri Pumpkin Festival is on again this Sunday with all the fun of the fair ... including the traditional pumpkin roll down Policeman's Hill which literally stops the traffic. As well as the Great Australian Pumpkin Roll, there'll be cooking demonstrations by celebrity chef Matt Golinski (Ready Steady Cook), street markets, antique cars, children's entertainment, delicious pumpkin foods and a huge street parade. For more information, check out the festival's website

Rugby League Stars To Visit South Burnett May 27, 2011 - Wests Tigers firstgraders Todd Payten and Geoff Daniela will arrive in the South Burnett today for a three-day visit to host rugby league skills clinics in the local area. Todd Payten, (right), is probably best-known as the prop-forward who scored a try for Wests Tigers in the last minute of the 2005 Grand Final against the NQ Cowboys. He played his 250th NRL game a few weeks ago. Geoff Daniela, (left), starred in Wests Tigers' defeat of South Sydney in April but unfortunately finished the game with a severe pectoral muscle injury which has ruled him out for the rest of the NRL season. The players will hold a skills clinic at Cherbourg from 4:00pm this afternoon and then back up tomorrow in Kingaroy where they will watch the junior games (U7s, U8s and U10s) between the Kingaroy Red Ants and Cherbourg Hornets before heading to Nanango to watch the Nanango Stags' U12s, U14s and A Grade sides in action. On Sunday they will conduct a junior kids clinic at Nanango from 10:00am. Todd and Geoff's visit is part of the NRL's Adopt-a-Club program for rugby league clubs in areas affected by the January floods.

CEO Denies Rift With Mayor Sparked Decision To Leave May 26, 2011 - South Burnett Regional CEO Tony Hayward, (right), is moving to Port Macquarie as General Manager of the local council but denies it has anything to do with his relationship with Mayor David Carter. Rumours of a rift have reached SBBiz over the past few weeks with one council source, speaking off the record, saying the Mayor and CEO were not on speaking terms. But Mr Hayward says this isn't so. "I don't have a bad relationship with the mayor. In any relationship, as you know, there are ups and downs ..." he said. Tony has served three years of his four-year contract with the SBRC. He has given five weeks notice and will start with the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council on July 18. He admits Mayor Carter was "certainly surprised" when he gave notice earlier this week, but only as surprised as Tony was when he learned on Monday that his job application had been accepted. When he saw the NSW role advertised, Tony saw it as an opportunity to move closer to his elderly parents and decided "to toss his hat into the ring". He's no stranger to Port Macquarie. Tony completed Year 12 in the town while his father was stationed there as a bank manager. His parents later retired there and built a home. His father is now 88 and his mother 85 and Tony wants to spend more time with them. He believes he's leaving the South Burnett council in better shape after working through many of the problems caused by amalgamation. "There were issues at the Murgon end but things have happened that are positive for the town, for example Yallakool has re-opened. We couldn't resolve all the issues straight away because of finances but we've been chipping away," he said. And although there are still things to be done "the building blocks are place". Tony sees his biggest achievement as helping to get the Council Budget back into the black. The first Budget was $6m in the red and the second was $4m in debt. The current Budget has a $700,000 surplus and Tony expects a surplus to be maintained when the books are closed off on June 30 despite the floods and rain earlier this year. He is confident about the future of the South Burnett. "It's a great place and very under-rated. When Council ran a stand at South Bank, I was surprised at how many Brisbane people still don't know where Kingaroy or Nanango are. Some know where the Bunya Mountains are but don't understand that Kingaroy is close by," he said. "The South Burnett is very much like the hinterland of the Sunshine Coast. It's as good a place as Montville or Maleny ... it's just the way it is marketed, but of course this requires money and we have limited funds. If we can reach these markets somehow ..." He sees benefits from the "Hand Made in Country" project, (see story May 3), perhaps rebadged as a "Hand Made in the South Burnett", if it lives up to its promises. Council will now advertise the fill the CEO's position but Tony does not believe it will have much trouble filling the role. In contrast, his new role as General Manager at the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council will have plenty of challenges. The nine councillors were sacked in 2008 when a public inquiry into the construction of the Glasshouse Entertainment Centre, (left), examined allegations of mismanagement after the budget for the project blew out from about $6m to $42m. The Port Macquarie-Hastings Council is currently run by an administrator until fresh council elections are held in 2012.

Just Look For the Logo For A Good Food Choice May 25, 2011 - Selected meals at nine dining venues in Kingaroy have been designated "good food choices" as part of a community nutrition program to increase the consumption of healthy food outside the home. The Good Food Choices program is being implemented RHealth and the South Burnett Healthy Community Committee. The process involves accrediting dishes which are a Good Food Choice at participating venues. So far, 50 dishes have been accredited in nine Kingaroy venues with three more accreditations pending. Good Food Choices are defined as meals that contain little fat or good fat, are low in sugar, low in salt, a good source of fibre and include at least one serve of vegetables. The nine accredited venues offering Good Food Choice dishes are: Utopia Cafe Kingaroy Seafood & Takeaway Red Pepper Deli Pioneer Lodge Motel Taste South Burnett Lee's Kitchen Burning Beats Captain's Paddock Cafe Accents Restaurant

Ergon Deadline Looming For Solar PV Installations May 24, 2011 - Ergon Energy has been inundated with applications to connect solar photovoltaic systems ahead of reductions in Federal Government incentives. For the best chance of approval and connection before the Federal Government's rebate is reduced on July 1, the Corporation is urging that applications for systems 5kW and greater be submitted by this Friday (May 27). May 27 is also the cut-off date for systems 2kW and greater being connected to a single wire earth return (SWER) section of the network. Applications for systems less than 5kW should be submitted by Friday, June 10. An Ergon Energy spokesman said all efforts would be made to process applications within these timeframes, however due to the large volume it could not guarantee approval would be granted in time for customers to qualify for the greater rebate. Ergon Energy customers can also apply for the Queensland Government Solar Bonus Scheme. After Tuesday, June 7, the scheme will be restricted to systems 5kW and less. Ergon customers wishing to install systems greater than 5kW should submit their connection application to the Corporation by 5pm June 7 in order to qualify for the scheme. It is a legal obligation to gain approval from Ergon Energy before the system is connected to the wider electricity network. * * * Craftspeople interested in registering with the Hand Made In Country project, (see story May 3), are urged complete the following survey by Friday (May 27). The information collected will be used for the development of the project and funding and sponsorship applications. Click here to complete the survey.

Information Sessions For Associations and Consumers May 23, 2011 - The Office of Fair Trading will be conducting free information sessions in Murgon, Cherbourg, Kingaroy and Wondai next month to provide information for members of Incorporated Associations and the general public. At the sessions, Fair Trading officers will provide advice and tips on: The requirements and responsibilities of Incorporated Associations including auditing requirements, annual reports and Annual General Meetings Consumer rights and issues, including refunds, warranties, credit and hire purchase, scams and door-to-door traders. At the end of the presentations, there will be an opportunity to ask questions. The sessions will be held at: Murgon - Tuesday, June 7, at The Australian Hotel. 9:00am-10:00am (general consumer information) and 10:00am-11:00am (Incorporated Associations) Cherbourg - Tuesday, June 7, at The Ration Shed. 2:00pm-3.00pm (general consumer information) Kingaroy - Wednesday, June 8, at Kingaroy RSL Anzac Room, 10:00am-11:00am (general consumer information) and 11:00am-noon (Incorporated Associations) Wondai - Wednesday, June 8, at Dimities Cottage, 2:00pm-3:00pm (general consumer information) Reservations for the information sessions are not required * * * Congratulations to Glen and Judy McKewen, Goomeri, and Ray and Marilyn Sippel, Murgon, who have been named among the top 5 per cent of suppliers at the 2010 Parmalat Excellence in Milk Quality awards held in Toowoomba last week.

New Blood To Breathe Life Into Kingaroy Peanut Festival May 20, 2011 - A new committee has been elected to guide the future direction of the Kingaroy Peanut Festival. At an Extraordinary General Meeting held last night, Kevin Krosch was elected president of Peanut Festival Inc and Stewart Parfett was elected Secretary. Ray Wilton was re-elected Treasurer. Outgoing President Dafyd Martindale and interim Secretary Anne Miller, who resigned from the Executive Committee earlier this year, were thanked for their service to the association. The first order of business for the new Committee will be organising the inaugural South Burnett Motors in Motion event which will be held at the Kingaroy Airport in October.

Cooking Star To Visit Local Libraries May 19, 2011 - TV cooking star Kim McCosker - of 4 Ingredients fame - will be appearing at Nanango and Wondai libraries next Monday (May 23). The best-selling author, (right), who grew up on a citrus farm in Mundubbera, will be presenting Food Tales which is described as "a narrative feast" - an exploration of the stories behind favourite recipes or memorable food experiences. Kim and her fellow author Rachael Bermingham have enjoyed phenomenal success after publishing their first cookbook in 2007. "4 Ingredients" was the best-selling book in Australia in 2008. Two TV series have followed plus international book deals. Kim will be at Nanango Library from 9:30am-12:30pm and at Wondai Library from 2:30pm-3:30pm. Food Tales in a joint initiative of the Queensland Writers Centre and the State Library of Queensland.

Trudi Shares Her Strategies For Business Success May 18, 2011 - Kingaroy businesswoman Trudi Bartlett is launching her new business consultancy From Headache To Heaven with free workshops in Murgon and Kingaroy this month. Trudi promises that in just a couple of hours she can share with participants seven successful business strategies which can help turn business struggles into success. Her first workshop is on tomorrow (Thursday) from 6:00pm at the Wakka Wakka Centre in Murgon. The Kingaroy workshop will be held at the Kingaroy RSL Club next Monday (May 23) from 6:00pm. For more information, and to book a seat, contact Trudi by email * * * The Burnett Catchment Care Association has released the latest edition of its Burnett Buzz newsletter which contains information about upcoming rural workshops and local events. It can be downloaded here (965kb PDF)

Singer-Songwriters To Pass On Skills At Murgon May 17, 2011 - Four of Australia's leading singer-songwriters will be heading to Murgon in July to conduct a Queensland Music Festival workshop with local budding lyricists. Kev Carmody, Clare Bowditch, Dave Faulkner (Hoodoo Gurus) and Stephen Cummings (The Sports) will conduct a free four-hour song-writing workshop for anyone aged over 16. The workshop will offer tips on composing lyrics and learning how to overcome creative blocks. The workshop is free but pre-registration is essential due to limited spaces. Online registrations opened yesterday and close on July 8. To register online, visit the QMF website The Song Trails project has been organised by the Queensland Music Festival and is sponsored by Tarong Energy, APRA and Queensland Rail. * * * The South Burnett Regional Council is seeking feedback on the recent South Burnett Biz Expo held at the Kingaroy TAFE College last month. If you'd like to fill in the short survey form, click here

Porters Honoured With Life Memberships May 16, 2011- Former Kingaroy residents Col and Marie Porter have been honoured with life memberships of the Livestock Transporters Association of Queensland (LTAQ). The Association celebrated its 30th anniversary in Brisbane recently. Col and Marie, who have retired to Hervey Bay, founded Porters Livestock Transport in Kingaroy and Col was an inaugural member of the LTAQ and a former delegate. Porters was the first livestock carrier in Queensland to operate B Double trailers on livestock. In 2009, it carted 604,955 head of cattle and covered 4,115,000km. The company is now known as Martins Stock Haulage after joining the Martin Group of Companies and operates a fleet of semi-trailers, B Doubles and Road Trains from Oakey, Roma, Kingaroy and Rockhampton. Read more about the LTAQ conference on the Queensland Country Life website

New Joint Venture Takes Over Murgon Leather May 13, 2011 - Teys Bros - owners of Murgon Leather - have entered into a new joint venture with one of the world's largest agricultural companies, Cargill, to combine assets in Australia. The joint venture between Teys Bros and Cargill Beef Australia - if approved by regulators - will trade as "Teys Australia – A Cargill Joint Venture" and will operate as a 50-50 partnership between the two companies. It will include the assets of both companies' existing beef processing and cattle feeding businesses as well as Teys' Murgon tannery and value-adding facilities, and Teys' share of its wholesale divisions. According to a Cargill Australia media release, the combination of the two beef businesses will consolidate Teys' position as the second largest beef processor and exporter in Australia. The joint venture will have the capacity to process 1.5 million head of cattle per year. Cargill is an international provider of food, agricultural and risk management products and services and has been operating in Australia since 1967. Formed in 1865 in the United States, Cargill now operates in 66 countries. Allan Teys, (right), will be chairman of the new joint venture and Brad Teys will serve as CEO. Geoff Teys will be responsible for cattle procurement. The company's head office will be located in Beenleigh. A company spokesman said it would be "business as usual" at Murgon Leather despite the management changes. Read the Cargill Australia media release

Opening Tonight For Jo At Gallery May 13, 2011 - Kingaroy artist Jo-O'Brien-Welch will have a retrospective of her works on show at the Kingaroy Art gallery this month. Jo is a self-taught artist who began painting in May, 2006. She specialises in "realistic" paintings but recently has begun to experiment with pastels. Her exhibition will be officially opened at 7pm this evening and will run until June 3. For a taste of Jo's works, visit this website * * * The Kingaroy Chamber of Commerce's next Meet'n'Greet will be held on Monday from 5:30pm at the Melco Lanhams Mitre 10 and Trade store in Rodgers Drive, Kingaroy. Guest speaker will be company CEO Darren Jordison and entry is $10. For more information, contact KCCI Project officer Jo Thorp at the Chamber on (07) 4162-8466.

SBRC and TRC to Discuss Yarraman's Future May 12, 2011 - More than 140 people attended a public meeting in Yarraman last night to gauge whether townspeople want to stay with the Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) or ask to move to the South Burnett Regional Council (SBRC) area. The meeting was organised by the Yarraman Town Council. YTC Chairman Wayne Emms said there had been a lot of talk for a while about the future of Yarraman and the group had decided it was time to put the issue to bed "one way or the other". The meeting resolved to ask the two councils to meet to discuss the pros and cons of each position, including differences over rates. All ratepayers in the former Division 4 area of the old Rosalie Shire Council will now receive information in the mail seeking points of interest before another public meeting is called. Representatives from both councils were in attendance. Toowoomba was represented by Cr John McVeigh (the LNP candidate for the State seat of Toowoomba South) and Cr Anne Glasheen. The South Burnett was represented by Mayor David Carter, CEO Tony Hayward and Crs Barry Green, Debra Palmer and Cheryl Dalton.

LNP Says Flashing Signs Will Help Keep Kids Safe May 12, 2011 - LNP candidate for Nanango Deb Frecklington has welcomed her party's promise that if elected, flashing speed limit signs will be rolled out across Queensland to help protect children near schools. Mrs Frecklington, (pictured, right, with Kingaroy "Lollipop Gent" Beau Samuels outside Taabinga State School), said yesterday the State Government had ignored the alarming increase in motorists fined for speeding through school zones. "More than 14,000 motorists were fined for speeding through school zones last financial year, up more than a quarter on 2008/09," she said. "The LNP will spend $10 million over four years to improve the visibility of speed limit signs in school zones." Mrs Frecklington said high-risk school zones such as Taabinga State School would benefit from the flashing speed limit signs which would be an active reminder to motorists to slow down. * * * Cougar Energy's headaches over its failed Coolabunia underground coal gasification site are not over ... now DERM has rejected its Final Land Use and Rehabilitation Plan (FLURP) which was submitted on March 21. In a letter to the Kingaroy Concerned Citizens Group, DERM spokesman Rod Kent said the FLURP did not address the procedures required for decommissioning and restoration of groundwater at the site in accordance with Environmental Authority requirements.

KCCG Public Meeting Targets Bauxite Mining May 10, 2011 - The Kingaroy Concerned Citizens Group is reminding South Burnett residents that they will be holding a public meeting tomorrow night to discuss proposed bauxite mining in the region. Secretary John Dalton, (pictured, right, holding the "Shut The Gate" sign with other members of the KCCG), said local people need to be informed about matters which affect fertile farmlands "and the manner in which our government is issuing mining tenements" and why the State Government's "Strategic Cropping Land (SCL) criteria doesn't protect our farmland". The meeting will be held in the Tobruk Room at the Kingaroy RSL Club from 7:00pm. Mr Dalton said maps would be available to peruse. UPDATE May 12: Local residents at last night's meeting resolved to "lock the gate" and not co-operate with Queensland Bauxite until fundamental issues are resolved with the State Government Download the KCCG media release * * * A planned power supply interruption for Ergon Energy customers south of Murgon on Thursday has been postponed due to the recent wet weather. The outage, in Barambah, Elgin Vale, Gallangowan, Johnstown, Manumbar, Moffatdale and Redgate, is required to enable crews to safely carry out work on the Redgate feeder line. Ergon Energy will advise affected customers by mail when a new time is scheduled.

Commission To Review Divisional Boundaries May 9, 2011 - Queensland's independent Local Government Change Commission may re-draw the South Burnett Regional Council's internal divisional boundaries after an increase in electors in Division 4 - currently held by Deputy Mayor Keith Campbell. Deputy Premier and Minister for Local Government Paul Lucas has asked for the review ahead of next year's local government elections. "Since 2007, the population of South Burnett Regional Council has grown by more than 1700 people, which is an increase of more than 5 per cent," Mr Lucas said. "The Council has advised Division 4 – which includes part of Booie, Corndale, Crawford, Kingaroy and Memerambi – may be outside quota before the next election." The Change Commission has invited submissions from the public over the proposed changes. A public meeting will be held this Friday (May 13) from 12:45pm in the Reception Room at Kingaroy Town Hall. Whether Gympie Regional Council should stay "whole of shire" or form divisions has also been referred to the Local Government Change Commission. Mr Lucas said Gympie Council recently undertook some community engagement to determine the public's support for a move to divisions. "Overall there was a significant majority of people (61 per cent) who were in favour of divisions," Mr Lucas said. "However only 2 per cent of electors responded to the survey." "In recent weeks a number of residents have spoken to me outlining their concerns that the Council has decided not to acknowledge the results of the survey supporting divisions. In light of this I have decided to refer this matter to the Change Commission for independent review and assessment." Further information about the review process can be found on the Electoral Commission of Queensland website

June Will Be Jumping With Art Opportunities May 5, 2011 - Local community arts group Jumping Ant Arts Inc is gearing up for a big month in June with a series of workshops and a large exhibition planned for Kingaroy. Workshops, which will be held at the Kingaroy Heritage Museum. are: Hands on Clay @ the Museum - June 22, 10:00am-3:00pm - Tutor Fay Stumm will teach participants how to create an abstract animal. Learn basic clay and slab construction techniques. The pieces created will be bisque fired. Cost is $40 which covers clay, firing costs and the use of all tools for the workshop. Suitable for beginners. Printmaking @ the Museum - June 29, 10:00am-3:30pm - Tutor Sue Goddard will be holding a monoprinting workshop using a Uber Uno mobile press. Cost is $40 which includes use of inks, plastic dry point plate and two sheets of Stonehenge printmaking paper. Participants will need to bring an apron, a hard roller (any size), old paintbrushes and a lead pencil. Suitable for beginners. Pastels @ the Museum - June 8, 10:00am-3:00pm - Master pastellist Karol Oakley will lead a day of pastel painting with one-on-one tuition. Cost is $20 but students should bring their own materials (a list is available from Jumping Arts Inc). No previous experience is needed. Textiles @ the Museum - June 15, 10:00am-3:00pm - Tutor Judy Gray will teach the use of weave-it looms. Participants will need to bring along yarn, a wool needle and scissors. Four inch looms will be supplied for use on the day. Cost is $20 and no prior experience is necessary. Members of Jumping Ant Arts will have their works on display at the Antfest 2011 exhibition during June at the Kingaroy Art Galley (June 4-29). The group will have a stall in Kingaroy Shoppingworld on Monday, May 18, with more information about its month of activities. For more information - or to book for any of the workshops - contact Fay on (07) 4168-1925. NB. There is a maximum of just 10 participants for each workshop, so book early!