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Meet Our New Peanut Festival Assistant! August 14, 2006 - Rikki Goatham (right) has started work at the KCCI's Kingaroy office to help guide the preparations for the 2006 PCA Peanut Festival. Rikki, formerly from Noosa, has just moved to Kingaroy and is eager to get to know all there is to know about peanuts. She will working five days a week from now until the Festival is over. And she's going to be busy ... the 2006 PCA Peanut Festival will be held on Saturday September 9 with rides on the Mary Ann steam locomotive, a traditional street parade, amusement rides, vintage cars and bikes, street stalls, camel rides, and a Roulette display. In the evening the Peanut Festival Speedway will be run with a fireworks display. There'll also be a Peanut Festival Showcase of Stars at Kingaroy RSL Club and a free community concert organised by the Salvation Army at the Senior Cits Centre. And on Sunday September 10, there'll be a fly-in at Kingaroy Airport with warbirds and joyflights.

Open Bower Shifts To Highway Location August 11, 2006 - Wondai home decor shop Open Bower has relocated to 19 Scott Street. Chris and Elizabeth Stewart, who stock gifts as well as homewares and decorator items, believe the more prominent position on the Bunya Highway will attract more passing traffic. They can be contacted on (07) 4169-0666 or by email

Wondai Business Changes Name August 10, 2006 - Wondai-based business PC Skills has morphed into Southedge Design with owner Roley Jacobsen now offering other services as well as computer skills training. Roley, who works from 1 Short Street, Wondai, now also has graphic art and web design services and has launched a new website for his business. He can be contacted on 0448-830-451 or by email

Last Chance To Book! August 22, 2006 - "The economist who makes sense" Dr Kim Houghton (right) will be the guest speaker at the next Kingaroy Chamber of Commerce Business Breakfast to be held in Kingaroy on Thursday. Dr Houghton - brought to Kingaroy by the Wide Bay Burnett Area Consultative Committee - will discuss consumer types and ways to position your business to profit from future business trends. The breakfast will be held in the Tobruk Room, Kingaroy RSL Club from 6:45am. Cost is $12 which includes a hot buffet-style breakfast. To book, phone the KCCI on (07) 4162-8466. For more information, download a flyer (704kb PDF)

Wondai Company Opens Kingaroy Branch August 8, 2006 - Wondai Electrical Service has opened a new branch in Kingaroy, located at the old BP-EFI Tuning Centre site at 135 Youngman Street. Jess Blamires can be contacted on (07) 4162-2218 or by email Wondai Electrical offers electrical installation and repairs to domestic, commercial and industrial premises as well as installing air-conditioning, data and communications cabling and TV antennas.

Auctions Held Every Second Month August 7, 2006 - South Burnett Mart Auctions are now held on the third Saturday of every second month at the Old Council Depot, Pound Street, Kingaroy as a fundraiser for Kingaroy High School P&C Committee. The daily mart is open from 9:00am-3:00pm weekdays and 8:00am-1:00pm on Saturdays with goods sold on commission. For more information contact Burke Walters on (07) 4163-6377.

Mission On The Move August 4, 2006 - Job Network provider Mission Australia has relocated from the old bank building in Kingaroy Street to new premises at 101 Youngman Street (behind Subway). Mission Australian also runs Language Literacy & Numeracy and Personal Support (PSP) programs and recently won a contract to be an Australian Apprenticeship Support Services centre. They can be contacted on (07) 4162-7277.

Chandlers Release New Album August 3, 2006 - Ballogie-based country music duo Barry K. and Lin Chandler, just back from a successful tour of western Queensland, have released a new album. "Memories Mailbox" features the title track "My Memories Mailbox" which was a finalist in the professional category at the 2006 Tamworth Songwriting Association's Country Songwriting Competition. The CD can be ordered from M/S 612 Kingaroy, 4610.

Bobcat and Tipper For Hire August 2, 2006 - Wayne Francis Bobcat & Tipper Hire, located at 14399 D'Aguilar Highway, Nanango, services the whole South Burnett and as far west as Chinchilla. Wayne does general earthworks, site clean-ups and house pads with his large bobcat as well as posthole digging (for house stumps not just fence posts!) and quarry material cartage. He has a 5m tipper and a 4-in-1 bucket - and is available weekends. Wayne Francis Bobcat & Tipper Hire can be contacted on 0417-607-399.

2006 Touring Guide Released August 1, 2006 - The latest edition of the South Burnett Times' popular Touring The South Burnett touring guide has been released (right). The guide covers the whole South Burnett region and includes a copy of the new regional map and wine trail map. There's information about each of the towns in the region, accommodation providers, eateries, wineries and other tourist attractions. Copies of the booklet will be distributed through Visitor Information Centres, motels and wineries as well as at the Brisbane Exhibition.

South Burnett Projects Total $35.9 million July 31, 2006 - Only two of the 773 major projects worth $10 million or more outlined in the Queensland Government's "Project 2005-06 Report", released last week, are located in the South Burnett. These are the $25.9m aircraft factory in Kingaroy and the $10m Tarong Northern Land Ash Emplacement Project (a Tarong Energy project to construct an ash storage facility to service the Tarong and Tarong North power stations). In comparison, 14 projects are listed for the Wide Bay region worth a massive $1.7 billion. Download the press release (26kb)

Motel Oasis Changes Hands July 28, 2006 - There's new owners at the Motel Oasis located at 50 Walter Road, Kingaroy. Kim and Jayne Barnes took over recently and have plans to revamp the restaurant area which is now open seven nights from 6pm. One of the names being tossed around for the new restaurant is "Midnight" (at the Oasis!) so watch this space ... Motel Oasis can be contacted on (07) 4162-2399.

Aroobark Belted Galloways July 27, 2006 - Recently added to SBBiz is Aroobark Belted Galloways at 346 Old Yarraman Road, Nanango. Ross and Sandy Towell breed Miniature and Standard Belted Galloway cattle at their "Magpies Rest" property. All cattle are registered with Australian Belted Galloway Association. Aroobark can be contacted on (07) 4171-0753 or by email

Beauty Therapist On The Move July 26, 2006 - Former Murgon businesswoman Christene Nissen has relocated to Kingaroy. Christene Nissen Beauty Therapy and Day Spa offers hot rock massages, manicures, pedicures and personalised waxing as well as a day spa designed for lower lumbar problems. Appointments can be made by phoning Christene on 0417-609-595 or via Context Hair at 175 Kingaroy Street, Kingaroy.

SBBiz On Murgon Council Website July 25, 2006 - Southburnett.biz business directory is now available through the newly redesigned Murgon Shire Council website Murgon Shire has joined Kingaroy, Nanango, Rosalie and Kilkivan councils in using this business database which is maintained by the Kingaroy Chamber of Commerce and Industry. So it is very important that our listings are accurate. If you see anything here that is out of date, closed or just plain wrong, please let us know! You can contact us by email or telephone (07) 4163-6854.

Latest WBBACC Newsletter Available July 24, 2006 - The latest edition of the Wide Bay Burnett Area Consultative Committee's electronic Regional Update is now available online. The electronic newsletter is designed to provide all the latest information on events, activities and grant opportunities distributed by the Federal Government. To join the email mailing list, contact Cameron Bisley at the WBBACC on (07) 4121-7099 or email him

Winemakers Invited To Conference July 21, 2006 - South Burnett wine industry operators have been invited to attend the 2006 Queensland Wine Business Conference which will be held in Toowoomba next week. The conference will be held next Tuesday and Wednesday at the Cathedral Centre, 123 Neil Street, Toowoomba. Topics to be covered include sales and marketing advice, environmental and technical issues and developing a wine tourism destination. Keynote speakers will include Ian Hollick (Hollick Wines, Coonawarra), Robin Shaw (Winemakers' Federation of Australia) and Shane O'Reilly (O'Reilly's Canungra Valley Vineyards).

Short-Term Stays At Wondai July 20, 2006 - The Wondai Kookaburra Village at 15 Old Wondai Road, Wondai is one of the latest listings to be added to SBBiz. The retirement village is currently offering short-term and overnight accommodation in luxury one-bedroom units with cooking facilities and reverse cycle air-conditioning for $55 per night. For more information, contact Peter or Maria Griep on (07) 4169-0971 or by email

Hotline for Small Business July 19, 2006 - The State Government has set up a small business hotline to provide a single government entry point for small business. Small Business Minister Chris Cummins said the hotline would provide support and assistance information, including grants available to business from Queensland and Commonwealth Government agencies. The hotline phone number is 1300-363-711 and it is manned during business hours. Information is also available on the Smart Small Business website

Change After Half A Century July 18, 2006 - Bruce and Cecily Saunders, from Auckland, this week took over Nixon's Butchery at 71 Lamb Street, Murgon. They have purchased the business from the Nixon family who have been serving the Murgon district for more than 50 years. Graham, Gordon and Fay Nixon are now looking forward to enjoying their retirement. The Saunders plan to keep the familiar business name and the shop will be open from 8am-5pm weekdays and 8am-noon on Saturdays.