Natalee Young, from Ellesmere, and Nicole Armstrong, from Wondai, were two of the Kumbia Disco Ducks … the team won the award for best costumesEmily Kinsella, from Murgon, sang an a cappella “Amazing Grace” and a moving version of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” during the Candlelight Ceremony
October 11, 2017
No one in the South Burnett could have complained about Saturday’s rain, but it did force a sudden change of plans for the 2017 Relay For Life.
The South Burnett’s annual fundraiser for the Cancer Council of Queensland was shifted at the last moment from the Kingaroy Showgrounds to the Indoor Sports Auditorium at Kingaroy State High School.
Organising committee chair Rowena Dionysius said all 46 teams turned up at the new venue.
“None of them pulled out,” she said.
Compere Simon Neal summed up the reason for the event: “Why do we Relay? We Relay so that one day we don’t have to Relay any more.”
The Relay usually runs all night on the Saturday and winds down on Sunday morning; however, the re-located event was also shortened, winding up well before midnight on Saturday.
The theme for this year’s event was “Disco” which meant quite a few psychedelic wigs were on display as well as disco balls.
All the usual Relay For Live events happened, including the Survivors’ Walk and the Candlelight Ceremony. This year, though, the candles were replaced with glowsticks and mobile phone lights because of the indoor venue.
Rowena told southburnett.com.au that the 2017 South Burnett Relay had raised about $117,000 – including the profits from the Captains’ Dinner – but the onsite fundraising from Saturday was still to be added, so this figure would increase.
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2017 Relay For Life Awards
Highest Fundraising Team – “Ride For Relay”, just ahead of “Birds Of A Feather”
Best Costumes – “Disco Ducks”
Team Baton – “Birds Of A Feather”
Campsite – “Ellerslie Ghosts”
Best Letterbox – Fiedler Bros Plumbing
Best Onsite Fundraiser – “Pirates Of The South Burnett”
Highest Fundraising School – “Taabinga Super Seniors”
Spirit Of Relay – South Burnett CTC CROSB
The “Ride For Relay” team arrived mud-splattered and rain upon after their 330km ride … from left, Chris O’Rourke, Kingaroy; Annette Kruger, Kingaroy; Lindsay Nott, Proston; Heather Rowberry, Proston; Jeff Hall, Cabarlah; and Jason Wyeth, TingooraDoubling up on their car karaoke effort for Relay For Life (“na-na-na-na Batman!”), Deputy Mayor Kathy Duff, left, and Cr Ros Heit, right, reprised their roles as Robin and Batman … with a slightly bemused Cr Danita Potter, centreCompere for the evening, Simon Neal, with Member for Nanango Deb FrecklingtonJill Huth, fund-raising co-ordinator for Cancer Council Qld in south-west Queensland, with South Burnett Relay For Life chair Rowena Dionysius2016 Face of Relay Alan Bassett; Frances Wyeth, from Tingoora; 2017 Face of Relay John Bjelke-Petersen, and Trevor Heslop, from Kingaroy, get ready for the start of the RelayThree “Pink Lifesavers” from the South Burnett Regional Council, from left, Donna Brown, Angela Hayes and Lainey Gleeson KSHS students Claire Whiteford and Tori Almond, from the “Razzle Dazzles”The Kingaroy State High School team was ready to Relay!John Bjelke-Petersen cuts the ribbon to officially start the 2017 Relay For LifePiper Wayne Carr led off the Survivors’ and Carers’ Walk … the first lap of the RelayThe 2017 theme was “disco” which led to some 1970s-themed costumes and signsMurgon State High School students conducted the Candlelight CeremonyThe Indoor Sports Auditorium was abuzz with camps (minus tents), stalls and hundreds of relayersThe traditional Candlelight Ceremony was was held with glow sticks, torches and mobile phones
