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Lance Friend Joins Peanut Festival Line-Up! July 31, 2009 - Aussie country music star Lance Friend will be providing live entertainment at this year's PCA Kingaroy Peanut Festival which will be held at the Kingaroy Showgrounds on September 12. Lance's songs have been getting airplay since 2004 with well-known titles including "Just Met an Angel", "Don't Ring This Ringer", "Longreach Sky" and t "Condamine", (below). Lance will also performing a heap of other well-known songs on the Ergon Energy stage.

Get Down and Dirty on National Tree Day July 30, 2009 - Today is the last chance to sign up to take part in the National Tree Day activities which will be held at Carroll Nature Reserve, (corner of Fisher and Coral streets, Kingaroy), on Saturday. Volunteers will be removing environmental weeds and mulching the remnant dry vine scrub area from 1:00pm-3:00pm. Tools and drinking water will be provided and there'll be a sausage sizzle for volunteers afterwards. Participants must wear a hat, sunscreen, long-sleeve shirt, long pants, enclosed shoes and gardening gloves. To RSVP, contact Amy King today at Pest & Livestock Services on (07) 4162-6257. The National Tree Day activities in Kingaroy are being supported by Tarong Energy, the South Burnett Regional Council and Ergon Energy.

Short-Run Digital Press Installed in Kingaroy July 29, 2009 - Martin Stern, from Print and Beyond, is now offering short-run full-colour digital printing in Kingaroy following the installation of his new digital Imagepress on Monday. Martin says this is the first real "short run" press in the South Burnett region and it will be suitable for flyers, posters and brochures and other printing jobs which require a short turnaround time without the freight expense. The press is located at 3 Bunya Highway, Kingaroy (the Tenpin Bowling complex which also houses KJD Digital, South Burnett Computer Services and Rd8 Technology). Martin can be contacted on (07) 4168-0273 or 0437-636-484

Bursary To Assist Indigenous Cattle Producers July 28, 2009 - ABC Rural has reported this week that Queensland Rural Woman of the Year (and partner in the Smithfield feedlot near Proston) Barb Madden has used her $10,000 bursary to fund a pilot program to provide training to indigenous cattle producers. The Beef Industry Indigenous Alliance will assist cattle producers from the Indigenous Land Corporation and from Cherbourg. Both groups already have cattle at the Smithfield feedlot. Read the full story here

Guide To State Government Building Projects Released July 27, 2009 - The State Government has released its 2009-2010 Building Projects: Industry Guide which lists all budgeted capital works projects for the financial year. The guide is a great tool for contractors, sub-contractors, suppliers and consultants looking to find work on upcoming government projects. The Queensland Government Building Projects: Industry Guide 2009-10 can be downloaded here (1Mb PDF)

Rural Producers Surveyed Over Skills Needs July 24, 2009 - Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries is conducting an online survey to find out from industry was skills are required in the agricultural sector. "We want to hear from industry itself about what skills and training requirements they have going forward," Primary Industries Minister Tim Mulherin said. Rural producers can fill out the survey by visiting the QPIF website "I encourage all producers, business owners and fishers operating in primary industries to complete the survey to ensure we capture a true picture of the sector's training needs," Mr Mulherin said. "The information will go to the Rural Skills Training and Labour Strategy Industry Advisory Group."

Calling All Community Groups! July 23, 2009 - The Kingaroy Peanut Festival has $500 to give away ... there has to be someone out there who wants it! Well, not quite give away. There's a bit of work involved, but it's not hard and it won't take that long. The 2009 PCA Kingaroy Peanut Festival is looking for a community group who wants to earn $500 for just four hours work at the Kingaroy Showgrounds on September 12-13. "We need some help at the end of the Festival on the Saturday afternoon and on Sunday morning to tidy up the Festival area, pick up papers, move wheelie bins etc," Festival committee president Dafyd Martindale said. "There will be two hours work from 4:30pm to 6:30pm on Saturday and then, if necessary, another two hours on Sunday morning," he said. "This is an opportunity for a community group such as a sporting team, P&C or charity to earn a few dollars as well as helping the Peanut Festival committee to ensure the Showgrounds are left spic and span." If your group is interested in this fund-raising opportunity, contact the Peanut Festival Committee on (07) 4163-6854 or (07) 4162-3899 as soon as possible. UPDATE July 28: The Kingaroy Peanut Festival Committee would like to thank all the community groups that contacted it. The first in was the Go Getta Girls sports group.

Corrine Cuts A Dash in Toowoomba July 22, 2009 - Corrine Fleischfresser, (right), from Chris Cross Hair Studio in Kingaroy, is a cut above the average apprentice hairdresser and she's proved it by competing in the regional section of the WorldSkills competition in Toowoomba in June. Corrine, a fourth-year TAFE apprentice who is studying at the SQIT campus in Kingaroy, said the contest was fun and well worth entering. "Being from the country we don't always get the opportunity to experience this kind of competition," she said. Corrine competed in the cut, colour and blow dry sections of the competition. Competition judge, current Queensland Hairdresser of the Year Carole Haddad, said the standard of the event was "absolutely amazing".

Celebrate Oaks Day in Kingaroy! July 21, 2009 - Help celebrate the Horses' Birthday on August 1 with Quota International of Kingaroy's very own Oaks Day at the Senior Citizens Centre. Gates open at 1:00pm for an afternoon of novelty horse racing, calcuttas, fashions of the field and raffles. There'll also be a Yesteryear Fashion Parade and a delicious afternoon tea. BYO alcoholic drinks. Admission is just $10 (or $5 for high school students) and tickets will be available at the door. Proceeds will support the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

Official Launch of 2009 Kingaroy Business Awards July 20, 2009 - The 2009 KCCI Heritage Business in Excellence awards will be officially launched at a Meet'n'Greet at the Heritage Building Society branch in Kingaroy Shoppingworld on August 3 from 5:30pm. Winners of the awards, which are open to all businesses in the former Kingaroy Shire, will be announced at a gala dinner at Kingaroy Town Hall on November 21. Nomination forms will be available at the Heritage Branch as well as in the South Burnett Times. KCCI Project Officer Polly Birchall said there were still a couple of awards categories available for sponsorship. For more information, contact Polly on (07) 4162-8466 or by email. UPDATE July 28, 2009: The KCCI announced today that the launch of the Business Awards would now be held on November 16 and the awards ceremony will be held on March 27 next year.

New Wine Website Unveiled For Region July 17, 2009: The South Burnett has been a wine region since the late 1990s and was the first in Queensland to get its own GI (Geographic Indicator). Since the first plantings in 1996 it's also steadily grown to become the second largest wine region in the State - one that's bigger than all other Queensand wine regions combined in terms of tonnage (with the exception of the Granite Belt, though in the early 2000s the South Burnett's wine grape growers beat them too). This week the South Burnett Online network released a new website focussed on the South Burnett's wine industry, and the first version went online yesterday at SouthBurnettWine.com.au. At present the new site carries extensive, up-to-date details about eight of region's wineries and more will be added over the next few months as individual wineries assemble their information. However the new site will also be expanded to include weekly news on the local wine industry and additional information about wine tourism-related services.

Internet Toolbox For Primary Producers July 16, 2009 - Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries has launched a website which contains especially designed support tools for primary producers. The website, at www.agbiz.com.au, features more than 100 web-based tools to assist cropping and livestock producers. The pilot project, which is still under evaluation for future expansion, has been developed in partnership with the University of the Sunshine Coast. Tools cover budgeting and planning, a gross margins calculator, breeding herd analysis and loan calculators.

Try-A-Trade In August July 15, 2009 - The popular South Burnett Careers Market / Try-A-Trade day will be held at Kingaroy State High School from 10:00am-5:00pm on August 6. The careers day is designed to give young people a "hands-on" experience as well an information so they can make informed decisions about their futures. There will be interactive displays, representatives from university and TAFE and information about apprenticeships and further training. For more information about the day, contact Jodi Woodall on (07) 4160-0625.

New Marketing Manager For Tourism Body July 14, 2009 - Fraser Coast South Burnett Regional Tourism has a new marketing manager, Nick Marks, who has joined the organisation fresh from the Southern Cross Ten TV network at Toowoomba. Mr Marks told the Fraser Coast Chronicle newspaper last week that his background would help him to successfully promote the Fraser Coast. Before joining Southern Cross Ten, Mr Marks was employed by a water sports company on the Gold Coast where he also owned a restaurant and catering company. Tourism Manager In For A Whale Of A Time

Fine Food Cafe To Open At Windera July 13, 2009 - Speciality fruit and vegetable supplier Windera Hydroponics is capitalising on its reputation for fine food by deciding to open a cafe on their farm about 30km north-west of Murgon. Owner Sarah Franciosa said the cafe would be opening on August 1 at 10 Morgans Road, Windera. Opening hours would be 8:00am-5:00pm on Mondays and Wednesdays to Saturdays. Windera Hydroponics' salad lines, fruit and vegetables, fresh and dry herbs, and spices are also available at the farm or from the IGA supermarket in Wondai. Sarah can also arrange delivery to restaurants or other businesses available Windera Hydroponics can be contacted on (07) 4168-6098.

Sign To Boost Traffic For Great Bunya Drive July 10, 2009 - Fraser Coast South Burnett Tourism have re-skinned the old South Burnett tourism sign on the Bruce Highway, north of Gympie, to promote the Great Bunya Drive, Kilkivan and Goomeri, (above). The sign highlights the turn-off which tourists travelling from northwards from Brisbane or from the whale-watching areas on the coast must take to visit the South Burnett. The Great Bunya Drive passes through Murgon, Kingaroy, Nanango and Maidenwell to the Bunya Mountains and on to Dalby.

LNQ Moves Into The SBEC July 8, 2009 - Learning Network Queensland - which was formerly located in the old Glendon Street Bus Terminal and at the TAFE College - now operates from the IT Centre (Shed 1) at the South Burnett Enterprise Centre, 6 Cornish Street, Kingaroy. LNQ assists students of all ages with a range of accredited and non-accredited courses and provides support for distance education students as well as providing community access to computers and the Internet. Co-ordinator Donna Welch can be contacted on (07) 4162-4455.

Artwork So Good You Could Bottle It July 7, 2009 - Kingaroy artist and sculptor Mark Shellshear and Nanango winemaker James Taylor from Arabesque Wines have developed a creative partnership which should appeal to local residents and tourists looking for special gifts. Mark, (right), has hand-decorated a series of Arabesque wines with unique designs. Each bottle is filled with 2007 Arabesque Merlots or Chardonnays and is a striking piece of South Burnett art. The bottles are only available at the Arabesque Wines Cellar Door which is located at 28 Kimlin Street, Nanango (just behind the Nanango Showground). The cellar door is open at weekends or at other times by arrangement. Arabesque Wines can be contacted on (07) 4171-0365.

Field Day On Next Saturday! July 6, 2009 - The popular annual Nanango Small Farms Field Day will be held at the Nanango Racecourse from 9:00am next Saturday. The field day focuses on niche crops and animals that can be profitably farmed on small blocks as well as providing trade displays and heaps of live entertainment. This year's field day will include the Gumboot Challenge at 1:00pm, cheese tastings, a whip-cracking competition and dancing by the junior Wakka Wakka dancers. There'll also be an aerial display by the Australian Tandem Skydivers and country music from Graeme Jensen. Entry is just $3.00 and primary school children are free. For more information, contact John on (07) 4171-0469.

Some Recent Changes ... July 3, 2009 - Some recent Kingaroy business changes tracked on SBBiz: There are new owners at Wards Electrical in Kingaroy. Alan Rowen can be contacted on (07) 4162-1458. The award-winning Driver Training and Education has relocated into the former Radunz's Electrical premises at 4 Jarrah Street, Kingaroy. Steve and Karen Walters can be contacted on (07) 4163-6505 Grant and Lisa Brydon have taken over Kingie's Landscape and Nursery Supplies at 20 Somerset Street, Kingaroy. They can be contacted on (07) 4162-7299. If your business is moving ... or you notice a business in this directory which has either closed down or relocated, please drop us a quick email so we can amend the listing!