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Nominations Open Today For Tourism Awards April 11, 2008 - Nominations open today for the 2008 Fraser Coast South Burnett Tourism Awards. Tourism businesses who wish to take part must return a Nomination Form by Friday, May 9. For more information, visit the FCSBRTB website. A workshop to guide participants will be held in the South Burnett next month and the Awards Ceremony will be held in Hervey Bay on October 25.

Businesses On The Move April 10, 2008 - John Logan and Associates re-opened their Kingaroy office in a new location this week ... at 71 Youngman Street. JLA, who were formerly located in the old Ogden Real Estate building in Kingaroy Street, handle real estate valuations, pre-sale assessments, stamp duty assessments, litigation and compensation matters. Their contact details remain the same. The move follows the decision by Clem Smith to shift his Access Broker Services, SunServices Insurance and Financial Solutions and Mortgages Designed 4U businesses from 71 Youngman Street to refurbished and expanded premises at 196 Haly Street, Kingaroy (the old dental surgery). Clem's contact details also remain the same.

Farewell John ... Hello Polly! April 9, 2008 - The Kingaroy Chamber of Commerce and Industry is bidding a sad farewell today to Manager John Carey who has resigned to take up a position with Tarong Energy. John, the former Community Development Officer at Rosalie Shire Council, has guided the KCCI with skill over the past 12 months and was the moving force behind the successful change in direction - and location - of the Kingaroy Peanut Festival. Peanut Festival Co-Ordinator Polly Birchall, who has been based at the KCCI office, will be assuming the role of Project Officer for the KCCI as well as continuing to guide the planning of the 2008 Peanut Festival.

The Muddles Are Coming April 8, 2008 - Have more fun than a gang of galahs up a gum tree! That's what visitors to the South Burnett for "Christmas in July" are being promised by an enterprising Brisbane travel agency specialising in tours for the Over 50s. The two-day tours take in some of the best that the South Burnett has to offer, including lunch and liqueur tasting at the Belltower Restaurant, a visit to Kingaroy Cheese and a feast at Moffatdale Ridge winery. There'll also be music, comedy, fun and games, bush poetry and bush dancing ... all courtesy of the Muddle Family! So watch out for the Muddles when up to nine coaches descend on the South Burnett in July.

All Major Centres To Host Council Meetings April 7, 2008 - The meeting dates have been announced for the new South Burnett Regional Council - and as promised, the meetings will be distributed throughout the Shire: Kingaroy - Wednesday 9th April 2008, 9:00am Council Chambers, Glendon Street Murgon - Wednesday 23rd April 2008, 9:00am Council Chambers, 42 Stephens Street West Nanango - Tuesday 13th May 2008, 9:00am, Council Chambers, 48 Drayton Street Wondai - Wednesday 28th May 2008, 9:00am, Council Chambers, Mackenzie Street Kingaroy - Wednesday 11th June 2008, 9:00am, Council Chambers, Glendon Street Murgon - Wednesday 25th June 2008, 9:00am, Council Chambers, 42 Stephens Street West

Historic Day For South Burnett April 4, 2008 - Today is an historic day for the South Burnett, with the first official meeting of the new "Super Shire" council. The South Burnett Regional Council consists of Mayor David Carter and councillors Barry Green (Div 1), Debra Palmer (Div 2), Damien Tessman (Div 3), Keith Campbell (Div 4), Kathy Duff (Div 5) and Cheryl Dalton (Div 6). The post-election meeting of the new council began at 1:30pm today in the Council Chambers in Glendon Street, Kingaroy. Future meetings are scheduled to be held throughout the South Burnett. The first order of business was the election of former Kingaroy Shire councillor Keith Campbell as Deputy Mayor. Final Results of 2008 South Burnett Regional Council election can be found on the Queensland Electoral Commission website: Mayor Divisions

New Chairman At PCA April 3, 2008 - Ian Langdon, (right), Chairman of the Dairy Farmers Group, has been appointed Chairman of the Peanut Company of Australia. Ian, who has been a Director on the PCA Board since March 2005, has stepped into the role vacated by Brett Heading late last month. Brett, who is also Chairman of Clovely Estate Limited, Burnett Valley Vineyards, Burnett Valley Olives and Chairman of Partners at McCullough Robertson Lawyers, will remain on the PCA Board as a Director. PCA also announced on it website this week that it will defer listing on the Australian Stock Exchange due to the "current worldwide capital market turmoil".

Teys Bros Buys Murgon Meatworks April 2, 2008 - The largest Australian-owned beef processing company in the country, Teys Brothers, has bought the South Burnett meatworks at Murgon. The Courier-Mail newspaper reported today the abattoir had been sold for an undisclosed sum but Teys has not indicated its future plans for the plant. STOP PRESS: ABC News is reporting that Teys Bros does not plan to re-open the plant as a meatworks.

History In The Making at Blackbutt March 17, 2008 - Former Nanango Mayor Reg McCallum carried out his last official function as mayor at the Friends of Cultcha evening in Blackbutt on Friday night. Reg has served on Nanango Council for 40 years, including an amazing 32 years as mayor. An historic photo: Reg McCallum at his last official function ... and Member for Nanango Dorothy Pratt with hair! As part of the World's Greatest Shave to raise funds for the Leukaemia Foundation, Dolly was scheduled to lose her locks on Saturday.

Six Councils Fade Into History March 14, 2008 - Today is an historic day in the South Burnett as we say farewell to Kilkivan, Murgon, Wondai, Kingaroy, Nanango and Rosalie Shire Councils. In their place from tomorrow, four of the old shires will form the South Burnett Regional Council, while Kilkivan is absorbed by Gympie Regional Council and Rosalie will join Toowoomba Regional Council. Southburnett.biz would like to thank all the former South Burnett councils for their assistance over the past few years, and in particular Kingaroy, Nanango and Rosalie who supported the Tarong Business Program from which SBBiz developed.

Official Opening Of New Tourism Office March 13, 2008 - The official opening of the Fraser Coast South Burnett Tourism board's new office will take place later this month in Hervey Bay. The office, which has relocated from Maryborough, will be opened by Tourism Minister Desley Boyle on March 27 at 2:45pm in front of invited guests. The new office is located at 229 Maryborough-Hervey Bay Road.

Whipbird Hits The Web March 12, 2008 - The Whipbird Function Centre at 21 Chaseling Street, Coolabunia, has unveiled a new webpage to promote the business. Whipbird is run by Sheree Strauss, winner of one of the major awards at the 2008 PCA South Burnett Regional Culinary Competition at the weekend (Sheree is pictured at right with contest compere Alison Alexander). The venue, which is conveniently located between Nanango and Kingaroy, offers space for seminars, training sessions and conferences as well as more traditional functions. Sheree, who also looks after all the food requirements at the South Burnett Enterprise Centre in Kingaroy, handles all the catering.

Worried About Health Services? Do Something! March 11, 2008 - If you are passionate about improving the quality and safety of health services in the South Burnett, here's your opportunity to actually do something about it! The South Burnett Health Community Council is calling for expressions of interest from people who are willing to spend some of their time to "participate in the governance" of public health services. The council is an advisory body which monitors the quality and safety of health services and fosters community engagement. There are eight members who are appointed for up to four years, including one GP. Members receive some remuneration. For more information, phone the Health Quality and Complaints Commission on (07) 3120-5990. The deadline for applications is April 11, 2008.

And The Top Chefs Are ... March 10, 2008 - Congratulations to the winners of the 2008 PCA South Burnett Regional Culinary Competition which was held as part of last Saturday's Wine and Food in the Park festival in Kingaroy. Overall Best Dish - Graham Waddell, (right), (Baguette Restaurant, Brisbane), Szechuan Pork Fillet with Crayfish Nam Jim and Peanut Crumble Best Matching of Dish with South Burnett Wine - Sheree Strauss (Whipbird Function Centre, Coolabunia), Pan-Fried Organic Chicken served with Sweet Potato Mash and Peanut and Lime dressing served with Barambah Chardonnay Most Innovative Use of Peanuts in the Cooking Process or Presentation - Brent Shorter (Kingaroy Hotel-Motel), Paupiette of Peanut Dukkah Crusted Pork Fillet and a Cherry Tomato and Sage Compote, served with Dressed Wild Rocket and Sweet Potato and Peanut Gnocchi in a Sage Beurre Noisette All recipes from the competition will be published on the PCA website by the end of this week!

2008 Kingaroy Wine & Food in the Park Festival On Tomorrow! March 7th, 2008: The 10th annual Wine & Food In The Park Festival will be held at Memorial Park in Kingaroy tomorrow. The 2008 Festival will feature: A giant wine tent The 2008 PCA South Burnett Regional Cuisine Cooking Competition 10 hours of live main stage entertainment headed by the multi-award-winning Pete Cornelius & The DeVilles Street performers, acrobats and clowns An on-site VIP Festival Restaurant Food court, carnival rides and special entertainment for children. Admission to the 2008 Festival is $10 per head and a crowd in excess of 6000 is expected.

Bligh Hands Over $400,000 Cheque March 6, 2008 - More than $1.1m will be given to the South Burnett region by the State Government to fund various projects designed to mark the Sesquicentenary of Queensland. Premier Anna Bligh handed over a cheque for $400,000 today to Nanango Shire Mayor Reg McCallum and Deputy Mayor Ros Gregor, (above right), for the Nanango Shire Energy Precinct. A museum will be located in the old Tarong Coal Building while the original motors from the Nanango butter factory will be housed in Henry Street. Premier Bligh was at Coolabunia to speak to female Agforce members and to announce the first Rural Women's Symposium which will be held in Roma in August. She was quizzed on funding for hospitals, infrastructure, rural racing and post-council amalgamation financial shortfalls. The Q150 Legacy Infrastructure Program also includes: $70,000 to Kilkivan Shire Council for a statue commemorating the Kilkivan Great Horse Ride $40,000 to Kingaroy Shire Council towards the Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen Memorial Cultural Centre project $75,000 to Rosalie Shire Council for the Muntapa Tunnel Historical Recognition Project

Hylan Seeds now HSR March 5, 2008 - Well-known local rural company Hylan Seeds recently blossomed into HSR Seeds. HSR Seeds are located at 29 Mackenzie Street, Wondai, and can be contacted on (07) 4169-0011 or by email. HSR Seeds breed and market hybrid grain sorghum and forage sorghum, maize, sunflowers and sweet corn.

KCCI Mayoral Forum On Tonight! March 4, 2008 - The Kingaroy Chamber of Commerce and Industry will be hosting a forum tonight to allow the public to meet and hear from the five candidates standing for the position of mayor at the South Burnett Regional Council. The forum will be held in the Kingaroy Town Hall Reception Room from 7pm. Entry is free, tea / coffee will be available and everyone is invited! The chairman for the evening will be KCCI Executive member Bill Jackson. Each of the five candidates will be given two minutes to answer each of the following questions: What is your vision of where the South Burnett will be in five years time? What do you envisage being the main problems standing in the way of achieving this? What are you strengths – and what are your weaknesses? How do you plan to break down the barriers of parochialism? The current shires have different rating systems. How do you propose to spread the financial costs of the new South Burnett Regional Council fairly? Council candidates for Divisions 3, 4 & 6 will also be given the option to speak.

Opportunity to Sell Tourism Message In Brisbane February 28, 2008 - The South Burnett Tourism Association will be taking a stall at the upcoming Sunday Mail Brisbane Escape Holiday and Snow Expo on March 29-30. Narelle Colquhoun, from the SBTA, said more than 10,000 visitors were expected to visit the show over the two days and this would be a great opportunity for South Burnett tourism operators to meet face-to-face with potential customers. Brochure placement costs $50; to attend the show and sell directly will cost $150. For more information, contact Narelle on 0417-566-460.

Voting is Compulsory, Booths are Confusing February 27, 2008 - Voting is compulsory at the March 15 local government elections so it is important that you turn up at the correct polling booth for your Division! There will be polling booths in each Division of the new South Burnett Regional Council however not all Division electors will be able to vote at all booths. For example, at the Kingaroy Town Hall booth, only residents from Division 1, Division 3, Division 4 and Division 6 will be able to cast a vote. Download the official list of Polling Booths (92kb PDF) from the Queensland Electoral Commission so you will know where to go.