southburnett.com.au - What's On In The South Burnett

Bloomin' Beautiful Blackbutt Avocado Festival

The first day of the weekend-long Bloomin' Beautiful Blackbutt Avocado Festival will be held in the area stretching from Blackbutt's CBD down to Blackbutt Showgrounds from 9:00am this morning through until late tonight. At the Roy Emerson Museum and Nukku Nook at the end of Hart Street, there'll be one-hour Poetry Recitals by the North Pine Bush Poets from 9:00am to around 4:30pm, broken up by 30-minute guided butterfly walks throughout the day. Or if you prefer live music, "Live & Local" will be running in Les Muller Park from 10:00am to 3:00pm featuring the incredible talents of Mr Q, Amanda Sempf and Ausphonic, along with food and market stalls. At the Blackbutt Memorial Hall, chef Jason Ford will be giving avocado cooking demonstrations from 9:30am to 1:00pm accompanied by the QCWA's Devonshire Teas, followed at 2:00pm with the Festival's official opening and the launch of the town's Bloomin' Beautiful Blackbutt and Benarkin song, along with a concert by composer Josh Arnold. This will be followed at 3:00pm with a Cushion Concert featuring Topology, and then at 6:30pm with Tunes From The Tube featuring the hilarious Kransky Sisters along with Topology (tickets to this concert are $20). Meanwhile - at the Showgrounds - there'll be avocado sports and lots of activities and stalls to browse all day, plus displays of antique machinery, cars and all manner of other things including a Garden Show with guest speakers in the Orchid and Foliage Pavilion; wood carving demonstrations (at 10:00am) in the Woodworkers Shed; and woodchops and chainsawing from 10:00am to 3:00pm. Children can have fun at Kids Central at the top of the Rail Trail between 9:30am and 3:30pm with the Kangagang Outback Show, the Dreamtime Reptile Show and lots of other fun activities running all day; and both adults and children can line up to take part in the Avocado Roll nearby, where they can compete for more than $1600 in prize monies. Heats 1 and 2 will be held between 9:00am and noon, the third heat between 2:00pm and 4:00pm, and the grand final at 4:00pm. And if you love parades, make sure you're in the heart of Blackbutt at 1:00pm today for the jaw-dropping Ken Mills Machinery Street Parade, which is so big they have the close the D'Aguilar Highway for 30 minutes to allow it to pass. Nearly all Avocado Festival activities are completely free and the event is designed to be family-friendly. Everyone is welcome! You can also read a report and see photos of what last year's festival was like on our website.

Moffatdale Ridge Italian Festival - Moffatdale

Moffatdale Ridge Winery on Barambah Road at Moffatdale will be holding their second annual Italian Festival in their grounds and cellar door cafe from 9:30am until dusk today. Popular Italian entertainer Fortunato Isgro will be performing along with sensational Italian Opera singers and a traditional Italian Folk Choir during the course of the day and there'll also be classic Italian car displays in the grounds; bocce games on the lawns; a salami wheel; Italian cooking demonstrations; amazing traditional Italian foods; and dancing and fun for the whole family. The full range of Moffatdale Ridge wines will be available along with premium Italian beers, and admission is just $10 per head (and if you pre-book, you'll go into the draw to win a weekend for two at Hervey Bay's Peppers Pier Resort). More details? Tickets? Phone Moffatdale Ridge on (07) 4168-4797. The Festival is a guaranteed great day out, and you can read more (and see photos) of what last year's Italian Festival was like on our website.

Heritage Nanango Country Music Muster

The 2016 Nanango Country Music Muster will be held at the Nanango Showgrounds in Cairns Street, Nanango from the 8th to the 11th of September this year, and today - the main day - the Muster will get underway at 9:00am with an Invited Artists Concert that will run right through until 11:00pm tonight. You can get in to attend today's concert for $30 (or $15 if you want to attend from 3:00pm onwards); or you can buy a 4-day pass to the entire event for $45 (young people aged 14 to 17 can get tickets for half price, and under-14s accompanied by an adult can get in for free). A bar and canteen will be running all day, and camping will also be available at the Showgrounds for between $7 and $9 per night - but a booking for any camp site is essential because the Muster usually packs the Showgrounds to capacity. You can make one and/or get more details about this year's event on the Nanango Show Society's website or by phoning the Show Society on (07) 4163-1273. You can also see photos and read more about what last year's Muster was like on our website.

Seafood Buffet - Murgon

Sakina's Seafood Buffet - which is held on the 2nd Saturday of each month - will be running at the Murgon Bowls Club in Macalister Street, Murgon at 6:30pm this evening. This BYO buffet offers everything from fresh oysters to Moreton Bay bugs, crabs, prawns and cooked seafoods, but bookings are essential if you want to be sure of a seat: (07) 4168-5701.

Taabinga State School P&C Garage Sale

Taabinga State School will be holding their annual Garage Sale Fundraiser at the Taabinga State School Hall in Rae Street, Kingaroy from 7:00am until around noon today. This garage sale is always massive and there'll be lots and lots of great items at bargain prices, along with a sausage sizzle if you get peckish. Everyone is welcome! More details? Phone Jacqueline on 0402-289-608.

Bowls Club Bingo - Kingaroy

The Kingaroy Bowls Club at 141 Youngman St, Kingaroy will be running bingo matches from 7:30pm this evening with over $1000 in prizes on offer. More details from the club on (07) 4162-1404

St Mary's Catholic College Trivia Night - Kingaroy

St Mary's Catholic College will be holding an Off And Racing Trivia Night at the Maryknoll Centre inside the college's grounds at 10 Kent Street, Kingaroy at 6:30pm this evening (play starts at 7:00pm sharp). Tickets are $80 per table (for teams of 8 players) and light snacks and beverages will be available for purchase. The event is a fundraiser for the Year 12 Valedictory Dinner and the minimum age for all contestants is 18. Tickets can be obtained from Kingaroy Office Central or the College's office. More details? Phone (07) 4160-0900.

Forum With The Archbishop - Murgon

The North Country Deanery will be holding a Forum With The Archbishop at St Joseph's Catholic Church in Angel Avenue, Murgon from 11:00am to about 2:00pm today. Archbishop Mark Coleridge will be speaking about the "Joy of Love" - Pope Francis' post-synodal document on the family - and his talk will be followed by a question time. Lunch will be provided along with a chance to meet the Archbishop, and everyone is welcome.

Bismarck To Maclagan Day - Maclagan

The small town of Maclagan will be commemorating the centenary of the day it changed the town's name - and the name of its former dairy co-operative - from Mt Bismark to Maclagan today. Festivities will kick off at 9:00am with a street parade at 9:30am, followed by cheese-making and cream separating exhibitions, wool spinning, rope-making, corn shelling and grain threshing, as well as photographic and historic displays. The official opening by Toowoomba Mayor Paul Antonio, with Deputy Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington, will take place at 11:00am followed by a barbecue lunch and licensed bar from 12:30pm to 1:30pm. Working displays and a tour of the town will be held after lunch. You can read more about this quirky event on our website.

Cooyar Debutante Ball

Cooyar's annual Debutante Ball will be held at Cooyar Hall at 7:30pm this evening.

Nanango Stamp Club Meeting

The Nanango Stamp Club will be holding its second Saturday monthly meeting at Nanango RSL in Henry Street, Nanango from 10:00am onwards this morning, followed by lunch for those who'd like to stay on for a bite afterwards. The club is the South Burnett's sole affiliated member of the Queensland Philatelic Council and promotes the hobby of stamp collecting in our region. It meets on the second Saturday morning of each month, and anyone interested in stamp collecting is very welcome to come along for a fun morning out with fellow collectors. More details? Phone Doug on (07) 4163-3013.

Proston Men's Shed

The Proston Men's Shed will be meeting at the old railway station building at Railway Park in Rodney Street, Proston for its regular Saturday morning meeting today, kicking off with a cuppa at 9:00am. The meeting will run until around noon, and new members are always welcome. More details? Phone Geoff on 0439-694-000.

Barambah Shed Men Meeting - Murgon

The Barambah Shed Men will be holding their 33rd meeting at Bob Riek’s place at 15806 Bunya Highway, Murgon from 5:00pm to 8:00pm today (just head out of Murgon towards Goomeri on the highway - Bob’s place is 2.5km out on your right). There'll be two guest speakers at the meeting: master panelbeater Bob Riek, who'll talk about his 50 years in the industry and his great collection of immaculately restored veteran and vintage cars; and Glenn Smith, who was formerly a teacher who once taught in Murgon, lived in Canberra, and now works for an international organisation. The cost of the meeting is $15 (which includes a meal, dessert, soft drinks, and tea/coffee), but young blokes under 15 can attend for free. To assist with planning the catering, though, an RSVP by Monday, September 5 would be greatly appreciated. You can make one by phoning Glen on (07) 4168-4134 or by emailing him, or Dave on (07) 4168-5912.

RSVP Deadline For Relay For Life Movie Night

Today is the last day you can book tickets for Chris Cross Hair Studio's Relay For Life movie night next Saturday, September 17 (see entry that day for all details).

RC Club Saturday In The Sun - Murgon

The Murgon RC Club is holding "Saturday In the Sun" race meeting from 3:30pm this afternoon. The RC Club races radio-controlled 1/10 off-road buggies on their purpose-built track at Angelfield in Murgon. (Drive to the end of Macalister Street and keep on going). There'll be four classes of racing for 2WD and 4WD short course trucks. Sausage sizzle and drinks available at interval. Sausages $2, drinks $2. Organisers guarantee you'll have a fun day. More info? Phone Murgon PCYC on(07) 4168-1889.

Wooroolin Community Markets

The Wooroolin Community Markets will be held inside the Wooroolin QCWA Rooms on the Bunya Highway at Wooroolin from 6:00am until around 12:00 noon this morning. The markets offer stalls, a sausage sizzle, fresh produce, plants and crafts and are run on the 2nd Saturday of every month except January. Stall fees are just $5 and new stallholders are always welcome. More details? Phone Janice on 0439-073-160 or send her an email.

Yarraman Markets

The Yarraman Progress Association's Yarraman Markets will be held on the vacant block at the corner of the D'Aguilar and New England Highways in Yarraman from 7:00am until around 12:00 noon today (ie opposite Bendigo Bank). The markets feature trash and treasure stalls, car boot sellers, local produce and hand-made goods, as well as food stalls, and are held on the second Saturday of every month. Everyone is welcome and if you'd like to book a stall yourself - it's only $5! - call Joe on (0459) 638-282

South Burnett Woodcrafters - Kingaroy

The South Burnett Woodcrafters will be holding their regular Saturday morning meeting at their clubhouse, which is located behind the Kingaroy Visitor Information Centre in Haly Street from 8:00am to around mid-day today. The group is for woodworking enthusiasts and new members are always welcome. More details? Phone Lee on (0427) 720-839 or Dick on (0432) 893-050 or visit the website.

Junior Soccer Grand Finals - Kingaroy

The grand finals of the South Burnett junior soccer competition will be played at the Kingaroy Junior Soccer Fields in Oliver Bond Street, Kingaroy this morning. At 10:30am, the South Burnett Window Tinting Redbacks will take on the Conpak Earthmoving Redbacks in the Cadets grand final. And on a different field, the Sports First Redbacks will play the Goldmix Stockfeed Bears in the Grand Final of the local 12/13s competition. Spectators are very welcome!

Charity Car Park Sale - Kingaroy

Seasons of Change at 25 King Street, Kingaroy will be holding a charity car park sale from 9:00am to 1:00pm today. There'll be bargains galore including clothing for $10 per bag, $1 & $2 books, kitchenware at 50% off and more. Come along and grab a bargain to help support people living with a mental illness.