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

Australia Day

Today is Australia Day, a national public holiday. Australia Day marks the date in 1788 when Captain Arthur Phillip and a group of British marines serving on the First Fleet hoisted the Union Flag at Sydney Cove in New South Wales, ushering in the start of European colonisation of the continent and the dispossession of its First Nations people. Australia Day was originally called Anniversary Day or Foundation Day and was largely a Sydney-based event, but it became a national holiday in 1994. And while the day's meaning and significance have evolved over time, it's now the day when our nation traditionally hands out Australia Day Awards to outstanding Australians who've made significant contributions to the nation, and also a day when many immigrants elect to receive their Australian citizenship. This year most South Burnett towns and villages will be holding Australia Day events, and here's where they are:

Australia Day Community Breakfast - Blackbutt

Blackbutt will be marking Australia Day with a free community breakfast at the Blackbutt Tennis Club at 59 Hart Street, Blackbutt from 7:30am onwards. The breakfast is jointly funded by the tennis club, the Blackbutt Benarkin Lions Club and the South Burnett Regional Council and it will be followed with fun-themed tennis games, inflatable basketball and sumo suit wrestling on the club's courts. Everyone is welcome.

Australia Day Party - Yarraman

The Royal Hotel in Toomey Street, Yarraman will be holding an Australia Day Party from 1:00pm onwards today. The get-together will feature fun egg races, sack races, a tug-o-war and yabby races, all with prizes to be won. And after the excitement dies down, they'll be followed with a DJ and karaoke late into the night. The hotel's kitchen will also be open for lunch, dinner and snacks and everyone is welcome. More details? Phone the Royal on (07) 4163-8219.

Australia Day - Nanango

Nanango will be marking Australia Day at the Nanango Showgrounds in Cairns Street, Nanango with a free home-style community breakfast in the undercover area from 7:00am. This will be followed by family entertainment, a dog jumping competition, a tug-o-war, thong and gumboot throwing and a monster truck pull. Today's activities are sponsored by the Nanango AP&M Society, Twisted Whisk Bakehouse, Peries IGA, Aldi, Kylie Chant Accounting, Sunpork, the Nanango Business Alliance and the South Burnett Regional Council and everyone is welcome.

Australia Day Party - Maidenwell

The Maidenwell Hotel will be marking Australia Day with an all day BBQ and family-friendly outdoor games including lawn darts, a tumbling tower, ring tossing, skittles, back yard cricket, a lamington eating competition, thong tossing and a big biscuit bite. The action gets underway around 11:00am and everyone is welcome. More details? Phone the hotel on (07) 4164-6133.

Australia Day - Kingaroy

Kingaroy will be marking Australia Day at the Kingaroy Bunya District Scouts grounds at 2-8 James Street from 7:30am through to around 11:00am this morning. The day will kick off with a free community breakfast cooked by the Kingaroy Lions Club, along with scones and damper from the scouts and Kingaroy QCWA, after which guests can enjoy bush poetry from John Tully and Hans Vermuelen, browse classic cars and emergency services displays, enjoy a bit of thong tossing and a whip cracking display or take part in a coo-ee competition. At 9:00am, Acting Mayor Gavin Jones will compere a citizenship ceremony to welcome 22 new Australian citizens to the region, followed by an affirmation ceremony and the national anthem performed by Amber Goldsmith, and then an Islander dance display and multi-draw raffles. After this, the morning's activities will continue and a BBQ lunch will be available from the Lions. This event is jointly sponsored by the Kingaroy Bunya District Scouts (who'll be celebrating 100 years of scouting in Kingaroy this year), Kingaroy Lions, Kingaroy QCWA and the South Burnett Regional Council, and everyone is welcome.

Australia Day BBQ Dinner - Boondooma Homestead

Historic Boondooma Homestead on the Durong-Mundubbera Road at Boondooma will be celebrating Australia Day with a flag raising ceremony and a $5 per head BBQ dinner at 5:00pm this evening. A free bus will be running from Murgon RSL at 3:00pm with a pick-up at Proston Town Hall in Rodney Street at 4:00pm, returning at 7:00pm, and you can reserve a seat by phoning Pursers Coaches on (07) 4168-1533 or you're welcome to drive there yourself (there's plenty of free parking available). This event is jointly sponsored by Boondooma Homestead and the South Burnett Regional Council.

Australia Day Community Breakfast - Wondai

The Wondai Regional Art Gallery will be hosting a free Australia Day Community Breakfast from 7:00am this morning, along with a flag raising ceremony. There'll also be an art competition running all day, with prizes handed out in the afternoon. This event is jointly sponsored by the Gallery and the South Burnett Regional Council and everyone is welcome. More details? Phone the Gallery on (07) 4168-5926.

Australia Day At The Shooting Range - Wondai

The Wondai Rifle Club will be celebrating Australia Day with a Bushrangers and Colonial shooting event at their headquarters on Rifle Range Road at the end of Bramston Street today (and also tomorrow). Shooters are encouraged to dress to the theme and spectators are very welcome to come watch the fun from the clubhouse. There's no admission to either the competitions or for viewing, and everyone is welcome.

Australia Day Community Breakfast - Hivesville

The Hivesville Progress Association will be celebrating Australia Day with a flag-raising ceremony at Anzac Park across the road from the Hivesville Hotel in Main Street at 7:00am this morning, followed by a free community breakfast. The event is jointly sponsored by Progress Association and the South Burnett Regional Council.

Australia Day Community Markets - Proston

The monthly Proston Community Markets - organised by the Proston Show Society and usually held on the 3rd Saturday of each month - will be running outside the QCWA Rooms at Railway Park in Rodney Street, Proston from 8:00am to around noon this morning to mark Australia Day. Stalls feature everything from craftwork to baked goods and bric-a-brac are are always fun to browse. There'll also be a great BBQ breakfast and Devonshire morning teas available, as well as a large fruit and veggie tray raffle. Stall fees are just $5 if you want to join in the action and everyone is welcome! More details? Phone Val on (07) 4168-9391. Note: Today's markets are a one-off for Australia Day. They will return to their normal 3rd Saturday of the month slot in February.

Australia Day Morning Tea - Murgon

Murgon will mark Australia Day with an acknowledgement of the district's Australia Day award winners, a talk by guest speaker Selwyn Maller from Phat Wag and a free community morning tea at the Queensland Dairy and Heritage Museum in Sommerville Street from 8:00am this morning. This event is jointly sponsored by the Dairy Museum and the South Burnett Regional Council and everyone is welcome!

Bogan Australia Day - Nanango

The Fitzroy Hotel in Fitzroy Street, Nanango will be celebrating Australia Day in a fun bogan way from 11:00am onwards with a pie eating competition, thong throwing competitions and cane toad races for adults, along with a jumping castle and face painting to keep youngsters amused. The event will also be offering prizes for the best dressed male and female bogan and the best bogan mullet, and there'll be a free BBQ operating on site as well. Everyone is welcome! More details? Phone the Fitzroy on (07) 4163-1506.

Australia Day With Amber Goldsmith - Nanango

The Nanango Services Club in George Street, Nanango will be marking Australia Day from 11:00am this morning with live music from Amber Goldsmith and raffles. The club's bistro will also be offering a special Australia Day menu. More details? Phone the club on (07) 4163-1375.

Australia Day Yabby Races With Mr Q - Nanango

The Commercial Hotel in Drayton Street, Nanango will be marking Australia Day from 12:00 noon today with Yabby Races, a pie eating competition, thong tossing competitions and bar games, followed by live music from the South Burnett's favourite pub rock band Mr Q between 2:00pm and 7:00pm. There'll also be an all day Aussie BBQ running for a $20 per head lunch or dinner if you get hungry. More details? Phone the Commercial on (07) 4163-1208.

Australia Day BBQ & Yabby Races - Kingaroy

The South Burnett Thrashers rugby union squad will be hosting an Australia Day BBQ and Yabby races at the Kingaroy Hotel-Motel at the corner of Haly and Youngman Streets, Kingaroy from 12:00 noon today (when the BBQ lights up), followed by the first of the day's Yabby races at 1:00pm. Everyone is welcome. More details? Phone the hotel on (07) 4162-1677.

Australia Day At The Commie - Kingaroy

The Commercial Hotel at the corner of Glendon and Haly Streets in Kingaroy will be holding an Australia Day get-together from 11:30am this morning with prizes, games, a free sausage sizzle (from 1:30pm) and live music from Chris Timms. There's no admission. More details? Phone the hotel on (07) 4162-1380.

Australia Day Party - Kingaroy

The Carrollee Hotel in King Street, Kingaroy will be celebrating Australia Day from 12:00 noon today with live music from Footsteps, pie eating and vegemite eating competitions and free face painting from Karla's Carnival to keep young children amused. The hotel's kitchen will also be open for lunch, dinner and snacks. More details? Phone the Carra on (07) 4162-1055.

Australia Day BBQ - Wondai

The Cecil Hotel in Mackenzie Street, Wondai will be running an Australia Day BBQ today, offering a $15 per head BBQ lunch from 12:00 noon to 2:00pm and a $20 per head BBQ dinner (including dessert) from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. More details? Phone the hotel on (07) 4137-7716.

Australia Day Buffet - Wondai

Dimities Cottage in Haly Street, Wondai (opposite the Art Gallery) will be running a $25 per head all-you-can-eat Australia Day buffet lunch from 12:00 noon today, featuring hot and cold Aussie favourites. Seating is limited, however, so bookings are essential: (07) 4168-5744.

Australia Day Wood Chopping - Blackbutt

The Radnor Hotel in Coulson Street, Blackbutt will be celebrating Australia Day with a Great Aussie BBQ along with men's and ladies woodchops and a hot saw championship in the hotel's beer garden. Members of the Hotel Radnor Woodchopping Team will also be taking part and there'll be live music as well. Everyone is welcome. More details? Phone the Radnor on (07) 4163-0203.

Australia Day Yabby Races - Cooyar

The Cooyar Hotel on the New England Highway at Cooyar will be marking Australia Day with a Sao Eating competition at 2:00pm this afternoon, followed by a Hot Beer & Cold Pie eating competition at 3:00pm; a Yabby calcutta at 4:00pm; Yabby Races at 4:30pm; and then thong tossing, horizontal bungee jumping and a tug-o-war contest at 5:00pm, all in the Outback Bar area. Draught beers and snack foods will be available all day too. And if you want to stay for dinner, there'll be pizzas and fish & chips available as well. More details? Phone the hotel on (07) 4692-6220.

South Burnett Speedway - Kingaroy

The second day of the three-day Kings Royal - the biggest annual event on the South Burnett Speedway Club's calendar - will be held at Kingaroy Showgrounds this afternoon and evening. Today's program will get underway with a Grand Parade at 3:30pm, followed by racing from 4:00pm until late tonight. As well as more heats in the Modifies, there'll be racing in Production Sedans, Street Stocks and Junior Sedans. Admission today is $30 for adults, $20 for students (with ID) and aged or disability pensioners or $85 for a family of two adults and up to two students (children 12 and under are free). Three-day passes are also available at discounted rates and there'll be canteen facilities operating onsite and camping available, too. The full event program can be downloaded here (4.1Mb PDF)

Eleven Dollar Bills - Linville

Popular duo Eleven Dollar Bills will be performing at the Linville Hotel in George Street, Linville from 4:00pm until 8:00pm tonight. The hotel's kitchen will also be operating from 11:00am for lunch, dinner and snacks and there's free camping across the road or paid accommodation at the hotel if you want to stay overnight. More details? Phone the hotel on (07) 5424-7280

Karaoke Superstar - Nanango

The Commercial Hotel in Drayton Street, Nanango will be running its Friday night Karaoke Superstar competition from 7:00pm until late tonight. This 10 week songfest began on January 5 and will conclude with a Grand Final on Friday, March 15, with one grand finalist winner chosen each week. Anyone is welcome to enter and there's no fee to take part. More details? Phone the hotel on (07) 4163-1208.

Friday Social Golf & Dinner - Proston

The Proston Golf Club on Brigooda Road, Proston will be holding a Friday afternoon social golf game today. Names need to be in by 2:00pm for a 2:30pm tee-off, and everyone is welcome. Cold beer and snacks will also be available at the clubhouse from noon, and the club's very popular Friday night dinner will be running after 5:30pm. More details? Phone 0474-741-822.

Proston Men's Shed

The Proston Men's Shed will be meeting at their building at 5-23 Rodney Street, Proston from 9:00am until around 12:00 noon today. The Men's Shed is open every day (except Sundays) and new members are always very welcome! More details? Phone the Men's Shed on 0477-235-429

Alcoholics Anonymous - Murgon

Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other to help solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for A.A. membership. AA isn't allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organisation or institution. AA meets in Murgon every Wednesday and Friday at 12:30pm at the Baptist Church at 94 Macalister Street, and members who can't make it in person can join in the meeting online via Zoom. For more information (or help with a Zoom connection) phone 0427-137-140.