Cr Kathy Duff, centre, with Murgon Rotary members Dennis Wolter and Glenn Kapernick at the Queensland Dairy Museum in Murgon … the museum was one of the events which attracted a strong crowd over the South Burnett & Cherbourg On Show long weekend

South Burnett And Cherbourg On Show

October 18, 2014

The “South Burnett & Cherbourg On Show” long weekend promotion has been hailed a great success.

Originally billed as 40 events over four days, the 2014 weekend – held over October 3-6 – blew out to a massive 65 events.

‘We had good feedback from most places, especially around the Murgon end,” chairman of the organising committee, Cr Kathy Duff, said.

“They were happy at the Dairy Museum, and the turn-out at Bjelke-Petersen Dam was good.

“I was told the Big Sing in Kingaroy was fantastic.”

The committee held a debriefing meeting in the old Murgon Shire Council Chambers this week.

Members pored over the feedback forms they received back from the businesses involved in the promotion.

Obviously some events attracted more visitors than others.

In Nanango, numbers were down at the Races, which prompted some suggestions there may have been just “too much” scheduled in the town on the day.

Likewise, the free bus was used more in the northern part of the South Burnett region than in the Kingaroy area.

The idea of the long weekend promotion is to encourage local residents to stay at home and spend their “holiday dollar” locally, plugging the traditional exodus from the region.

It is also designed to attract visitors from Brisbane, Toowoomba and the Sunshine Coast who could be encouraged to make it an annual pilgrimage.

Cr Duff said one idea being discussed for next year was to aim for more events from the Saturday to move to either Sunday or Monday.

One idea being tossed around already was a music festival on the Sunday.

“We would like to spread it around more as maybe there was too much on Saturday,” she said.

The committee promotes the events but doesn’t organise them. This is done by each of the individual operators.

The idea for South Burnett & Cherbourg On Show originally grew from a concept developed by the South Burnett Wine Industry Association based on “Heathcote On Show” – a regional festival which has become a favourite with Victorians on the June long weekend.

When the State Government created the new October long weekend in Queensland, it was decided the South Burnett should try to “claim” this holiday break as its own.

This is the third time a “South Burnett On Show” weekend has been held, and the second time Cherbourg has been also involved.

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Queensland Dairy Museum (Murgon)

The good crowd at Murgon’s Dairy Museum enjoyed a range of activities including milking and shearing displays, whip-cracking (have you ever heard Waltzing Matilda played by whip cracks?) and cord making.

There was also live music, pony rides, plenty of historical displays, an animal nursery and even an old-fashioned sing-along in the former chapel.

Edna O’Neill, Cynthia Hatchett and Joan Adams, from Murgon, were kept busy on the gate at the Murgon Dairy Museum

Hannah, 7, and Madeline Baldwin, 4, from Brisbane were enjoying the animal nursery 

Dennis “Dingo” Dryden was keeping the crowd entertained with his country music 
What would be a dairy museum without a Jersey cow or two? Alan Ward, from Murgon, with “Rising Sun Garcia Monette”

At Cherbourg

At Cherbourg, there were a series of attractions designed to be attractive to both residents from the local community and visitors eager to learn more about the history of the town.

The Ration Shed

Lesley Orenda and Frank Honey, from Nanango, were among the visitors exploring The Ration Shed Museum

Yidding Artists Studio – Children’s Art Workshop

Artist Vinnie Conlon was one of the adults helping the children at the art workshop

Keli, 9, and Landon, 8, Law-Palm were enjoying the children’s art workshop

Tra’shawn Hopkins, 4, was working on his entry in the colouring-in competition 

Cherbourg Trail Ride

Katrina Nicol and “Bullseye”,
from Blackbutt

Cherbourg Trail Horse Riders Club secretary Dina Haines with Lilliana Button, 14 months

At Murgon

Murgon Markets

The Deadly Wayz had a busy weekend … playing at the launch dinner in Wondai on Friday night, in Murgon’s main street for shoppers on Saturday, and at the Nanango Mardi Gras on Saturday afternoon
Enjoying the live music in Lamb Street, Murgon, were Kaysee Miller, from Cherbourg, with Mackenzie Costello, 1; Miha Costello, 5; and Aquilla Malone, 9

Around The Wineries

Crane Wines

Taking a break at Crane Wines were Karl, Sjenna, Sharon and Tianah Dornmayr, from Brisbane
Guy Davis, who was providing the music at Crane Wines, with host Bernie Cooper

Moffatdale Ridge

Naomi, left, and Kylie, were helping Tom McKenzie behind the bar at the Moffatdale Ridge cellar door 
Stacie Heaton, from the Gold Coast, and Melissa Martin, Murgon, decided to pay a visit to Moffatdale Ridge

Bridgeman Downs

Celebrating a 65th birthday at Bridgeman Downs were Kathie Sayed, Murgon; Lesley Cave, Brisbane; Kevin Garside, Murgon; and Rose Heath, Murgon

Kingsley Grove

Pat Berry was looking after the cellar door at Kingsley Grove

Tipperary Estate

Craig Gillett introduced a new tasting idea, a “Tasting Paddle”, over the long weekend at Tipperary Estate … for $10 a group received four well-filled tasting glasses to sip and share  

At The Cafes

Elz Bistro (Bunya Mountains)

Josephine Struboll, from Germany, and Glen Price, from Kingaroy, were enjoying a visit to the Bunyas 
Kingaroy singer Liam Parsons was providing the “music on the mountains” at Elz 
Sara Perry, Muswellbrook, with Paige, five months; and Kerry Green, from Dalby, were lapping up the atmosphere at the Bunya Mountains on Sunday afternoon

Yurri Muntha (Cherbourg)

 Zona Hussey-Smith and Liz and Sean Nicholson were enjoying a quick break at Yurri Muntha on Saturday morning

Dimities (Wondai)

Relaxing on the verandah at Dimities were Althea Drew, Avis Klinck and Sue Vercoe, all from Nanango

Ringsfield House (Nanango)

Exploring the grounds at the open day were Alannah and Karen Quinn, from Brisbane, and Margaret and George Orr, from Nanango … they are pictured with the hardworking Len Bochmann, from Ringsfield 

Taabinga Homestead

Sue and Paul Grehan, from Brisbane, met up with Peter and Angela Waugh, from Gympie, to explore the South Burnett over the long weekend … they had visited Crane Wines and were now at Taabinga Homestead

Bronel Natural Foods

At Crownthorpe, food producers Brett and Simone Greer invited their customers to visit their farm (and camp overnight) to learn more about organic farming.

Brett and Simone run Bronel Natural Foods and produce grass-fed beef and lamb, and free-range pork and poultry.  Their “Day On The Farm” experience was booked out.

Brian and Carolyn Bowden, from Upper Caboolture, were learning all about natural foods
Luke, 6, with mum and dad Simone and Brett Greer … the family invited their customers to visit their farm

Bunya Red Farm

Caper producers Allan and Mandy Evans, at Bunya Red Farm, also offered an on-farm experience to visitors to the South Burnett.  Guests enjoyed morning tea and the opportunity to explore the farm at Inverlaw, and maybe even cuddle an alpaca or two.

Enjoying morning tea were Rob and Kathryn Thomas, from Hobart, and Jeremy and Jeanette Hales, from Kingaroy

Maidenwell Folk Festival

Music lovers gathered at the Maidenwell Hotel over the weekend for the twice-yearly Maidenwell Folk Festival. The verandahs and yards around the pub were turned into impromptu jam sessions, while there was a walk-up concert on Saturday night. Across the road, the Maidenwell Trading Post’s bistro area and nearby Coomba Falls also attracted musicians eager to jam.

Bree Wells and musician Ben Sellick, from Dalby, were taking a break from the music on Sunday 

Joanna Riddle, from the Sunshine Coast, and Pamela Fay, from Dalby … jamming at the pub

Jamming around a coffee at the Trading Post (Photo: Jane Erkens)

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And The Winners Are …

Cr Damien Tessmann, Cr Kathy Duff and Trudi Bartlett pick the winner of the South Burnett & Cherbourg On Show lucky draw, and the winner is … Helen Warren, from Sydney; Helen won two nights cabin accommodation at Yallakool at Bjelke-Petersen Dam (entry forms were at all the SB&C On Show venues)
The winner of the $50 Toyworld voucher for the colouring-in competition was Maddison McLean, 12, from Wondai (entry forms were at all SB&C On Show venues)

 

One Response to "Big Weekend Was A Huge Success"

  1. Thanks for the incredible coverage of this event. Unfortunately we had to be out of town, however we have enjoyed reading & seeing all that happened in this great region. What a busy weekend for all concerned – congratulations to the organisers and those who supported events.

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