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A Cheap Shot Angers Proud Wondai Residents January 29, 2012 - Stand-up comedian Mandy Nolan came back home to Wondai recently to visit her gran ... but no one is laughing. She published a column, (right), about her trip in a NSW newspaper last week, describing Wondai as a "dry and desolate ghost town" with only an emu wandering the streets. Well, Mandy may be surprised but Wondai isn't as backward as she implies. Her column - which was published on Page 21 of an obscure weekly newspaper in far-off NSW - was being passed around on smartphones just a day later at Wondai's Australia Day barbecue. The reaction from locals was swift and predictable. Mandy noticed that people don't wander Wondai streets on a hot day. No, these days they're sitting inside, in the cool, at their computers, writing letters to the editor and using social media to express their anger. Amongst the letter writers has been Jane Iszlaub, daughter of former Wondai Shire mayor Percy: I am proud to be a resident of the beautiful township of Wondai, located in the centre of some of the most scenic and productive farming land in Queensland. Wondai is home to many young families, professionals, business owners and retirees and is the home base for a significant number of "Grey Nomads" who find its central location appealing. Wondai is well-endowed with facilities including a hospital, a P-9 state school and several nearby rural schools, a beautifully-maintained heritage post office, a 25 metre swimming pool, cafes (with excellent coffee), an RSL, three pubs, a C&K Kindergarten, a daycare centre, a well-stocked library with children's section, an equally well-stocked IGA, a quality motel, a B'n'B, skate park, acreage developments, tennis courts and, of course, much, much more. Another former Wondai mayor, current South Burnett Regional Council Mayor David Carter also put pen to paper and expressed his outrage in a letter to the newspaper, on Facebook and on his website. Local resident Renita Olsen created a Facebook page "I Am Proud Of Wondai" where proud locals are posting all the reasons why they love the town. The slogan of the newspaper in question is "cheap to those who can afford it". This says it all really ... it was a "cheap shot" and Wondai residents are not happy.

ALP Names Candidate For Nanango January 27, 2012 - The ALP this afternoon announced the name of the candidate who will be contesting the seat of Nanango at the upcoming State elections. Virginia Clarke lives at Woolloongabba in Brisbane but is a foundation member of the Wivenhoe branch of the Labor Party. The former Ipswich resident is also familiar with campaigning in the region as she stood for the seat of Blair at the 1998 Federal Election. At this poll, she actually came in second on the primary vote, behind Pauline Hanson but ahead of the eventual winner Cameron Thompson. Thompson won after the distribution of preferences. This is one of the rare occasions in Federal elections when a candidate who did not finish first or second actually went on to take the seat. Ms Clarke sees the 2012 State election as an opportunity to "have a conversation" in public about the issues that concern her. She has a grown family and is a volunteer at UnitingCare. She is a former member of the Federal Labor Women's Committee and the State Labor Women's Committee, anti-racism groups and ecumenical social justice groups.

$6000 Helps Endeavour Clean Up January 27, 2012 - The Kingaroy Lions Club and the Kingaroy Masonic Lodge have joined together to lend a hand to the Endeavour Kitchen. The two groups have donated $3000 each to help Endeavour purchase some new industrial cleaning equipment for their premises in Kingaroy Street. The groups presented a cheque for $6000 to Endeavour recently. Lions Club treasurer Neil Edmunds said the club had donated profits from the 2011 Lions Rodeo. "We received lots of support from local businesses for the rodeo. This is an opportunity to let them know what happens to the money they helped to raise," he said. RIGHT: Endeavour Kitchen supervisor Jeffrey O'Shannessy and client staff member Rodney Millard with some of the new equipment purchased with the help of the Lions Club and Kingaroy Masonic Lodge. * * * The Peanut Company of Australia told ABC Radio today that the recent rain in the South Burnett should restore confidence amongst peanut growers. PCA chief operating officer John Howard said it was still a long time to harvest but it was "looking good". "If we can get a good crop coming through from a yield perspective, well it's a year where prices are going to be good as well, so hopefully it'll be a double whammy for the growers," he told the ABC. * * * Lady Bjelke-Petersen will officially open the new home of the South Burnett Toy Library next Thursday (February 2). The library, which was formerly run as co-operative, was located at the South Burnett Enterprise Centre. It has now been re-located to the South Burnett Family Day Care centre at 9b Toomey Street, Kingaroy. The official opening will occur at 10:00am and anyone interested is invited to attend. * * * Local landholders interested in forestry management practices have been invited to attend a "chopper roller" field day at BJ Gentry's eastern property off Manumbar Road, Nanango, next Friday (February 3). The free field day, from 9:00am-3:00pm, will demonstrate cost-effective ways to thin overstocked spotted gum regrowth forest. For more information and to RSVP, contact Private Forestry Service Queensland on (07) 5483-6435 or by email

Australia Day 2012 Round-Up January 27, 2012 - Here's the full list of all South Burnett Regional Council Australia Day award winners announced at Murgon on Wednesday night: South Burnett Citizen of the Year - Maree Hammond, (see story below) South Burnett Young Citizen of the Year - Georgia Payne South Burnett Cultural Award - South Burnett Filipino Australian Caring Group South Burnett Community Event of the Year - Nanango Country Music Muster South Burnett Small Communities Award - Rose Park's Charity Fair for Proston Angels Relay for Life Team Murgon Citizen of the Year - Prue Collard Murgon Young Citizen of the Year - Amanda Anderson Wondai Citizen of the Year - Winston Burrows Wondai Young Citizen of the Year - Anita Welch Kingaroy Citizen of the Year - Davic Crawford and Denny Etherinton (joint winners) Kingaroy Young Citizen of the Year - Jarred Gunn Nanango Citizen of the Year - Robin Ashby Nanango Young Citizen of the Year - Sarah Coughlan South Burnett Senior Sports Person of the Year - Felicity Reinke South Burnett Junior Sportsperson of the Year and recipient of the $1000 Matthew Hayden Bursary sponsored by the South Burnett Regional Council - Mikeely Roberts Two Special Australia Day Certificates were presented to the Barambah State Emergency Service and Doreen Campos for their exceptional work within the community, especially during and after the heavy rains and flooding last year. * * * Yarraman’s Australia Day celebrations were held at the Memorial Hall in Browne Street. Local awards were presented to: Citizen of the Year Award – Jeffrey Thomson. Jeff is a member of the Yarraman Community Council and was instrumental in helping to make the "Colours of Yarraman" a success. Young Citizen of the Year Award – Eden Farrar Sports Award – Lorraine Holmes Cultural Award – Yarraman Community Council Inc (Colours of Yarraman) Community Group/Event Award – Yarraman Bowls Club Inc (Rosalie Fours Bowls Carnival) * * * At the Gympie Regional Council's Australia Day awards, Kilkivan's Donna Atthow was presented with the Sports Administrator of the Year Award for her work for many years as secretary of the Kilkivan Show and Campdraft Association. Last year was a particularly tough year for the association after floodwaters destroyed much infrastructure at the showgrounds. Donna helped secure a $40,000 grant from Freemasons Queensland to rebuild the announcer's box and storage facilities. TOP: South Burnett Mayor David Carter with new Australian citizen Leonard Kake at the Australia Day celebrations in Kingaroy yesterday. Leonard has been in Australia for 38 years, including the past 10 in Nanango. ABOVE: The canetoad races - with toads named after local celebrities - proved popular in Kingaroy. First home was "Fireworks Frecklington" (Deb Frecklington), followed by "Kamikaze Kratzie" (Wayne Kratzmann). SBRC CEO Ken McLoughlin's toad came in third

Congratulations Maree ... a South Burnett Woman Of Note! January 26, 2012 - Congratulations to Maree Hammond, (right), from Blackbutt, who was named the South Burnett Citizen of the Year at last night's Australia Day awards ceremony at Murgon. Maree and her husband Ned moved to Blackbutt in 1991 and she immediately became an active part of the local community. She joined the QCWA, became a steward at the Blackbutt Show and hosted Cancer Fund morning teas in her garden. She also became active in the local Catholic community (her husband Ned started the St Vinnies shop at Yarraman). However Maree is best known for founding the Blackbutt Singers. When the group kicked off in 1991 there were just six members; now there are 20 regulars. The singers - technically not a choir, because there is no conductor - have performed all over the South Burnett as well as at Maryborough, Caboolture, Haden, Brisbane and at the Toowoomba Heritage Show. Members have also joined the Esk Choir on international and interstate performances. In 2006, three members toured Germany, Austria and Hungary. In 2008, four performed in Prague and in 2010 they joined the Esk Choir at the Sydney Opera House. "Last year four members went to Italy and performed up and down the country, singing in the most amazing places," Maree said. The Blackbutt Singers celebrated their 20th birthday on December 13 at the Maidenwell Hotel. Maree thought it was just their regular Christmas break-up but the group sprang a surprise. They organised a "Maree Hammond - This Is Your Life" tribute with former members travelling long distances to attend. Maree received another huge surprise when her name was read out last night at the South Burnett Regional Council Australia Day awards ceremony. "I was frozen in my chair. It was a great surprise," she said. Maree is always keen to welcome new singers to the group. "Everyone is welcome who can hold a tune," she said. "We are a very happy group and we all become friends with each other. It's a good way for people new to the area to meet people and make friends." The Blackbutt Singers' next practice session will be held on Tuesday, January 31, from 9:30am at the Memorial Hall in Browne Street, Yarraman. ABOVE: Maree Hammond with Jeff Connor at the Blackbutt Australia Day Breakfast this morning

Council Elections Delayed To April 28 January 25, 2012 - Local Government Minister Paul Lucas announced this afternoon that the Council elections will now be held on April 28. He said both the State Government and the Local Government Association of Queensland were keen to have the earliest possible date that did not clash with the State elections or with school holidays. "On the other hand, we were both aware of the need to ensure that an extension to the election date allows sufficient flexibility for councils in framing their budgets," he said. Mr Lucas said the new date was a 28-day extension on the previous date and was a date requested by the LGAQ. "The government has agreed with the LGAQ that we will extend the deadline for the adoption of budgets from September 1, as is currently the case, by an additional 28 days to September 29. "The Electoral Commission Queensland has been consulted in relation to the machinery aspects of the later date and has advised that it can accommodate the new date within its administrative processes. "Essentially the ECQ will add 28 days onto existing timeframes so as to minimise any inconvenience. "This means that the official calling of nominations for the council elections will take place on March 10 with councils to go into caretaker period on the same day. "This new date allows for five weeks between the State and Local Government elections." However electoral rolls for Local Government Elections would still close on January 31. "If you've moved house, or will be 18 by April 28, it's important to ensure you are on the rolls so you are eligible to exercise your democratic right to vote," Mr Lucas said. "Also, with council elections, you are only able to vote on the day if you are in your Local Government Area. If you are away, you need to organise in advance for a postal or pre-poll vote."