January 26, 2014

The South Burnett Community Organisation Of The Year Australia Day Award recognises an outstanding community group or event’s contribution to the region.

In 2014, the Award nominees were:

Community Radio of Wondai – CROW-FM

General manager Chris Corcoran picked up the certificate on behalf of CROW-FM
The team at CROW-FM is widely respected for their extra mile attitude and willingness to volunteer their time to attend, source and stream information about events and happenings across the South Burnett.

Chris (Corky) Corcoran and his team volunteer their time seven days a week to help various organisations raise much-needed funds for the local community.

The South Burnett appreciates the incredible support CROW-FM made to providing around-the-clock information during the 2013 January and March floods, the fantastic results from the Mayor’s Red Earth Foundation on air-auction and the promotion of many events and community fundraisers throughout 2013.

Kingaroy Rotary Club

Think community, think South Burnett events and you will find Kingaroy Rotary Club at the front gate or behind the burger stand raising funds to help!

The club celebrated its 65th anniversary in 2013, and this strong band of volunteers continually strengthens the South Burnett from its fundraising and volunteering.

In the past 12 months, $48,000 has been donated to the South Burnett’s flood-stricken farmers, South Burnett Pantry, CROW-FM, the Salvation Army, the Orana Bus Committee and many more.

The club also partnered with the South Burnett Regional Council by contributed $15,000 to the renovations of the bathrooms at the South Burnett Private Hospital.

They also helped local young people understand the importance of driving safely and responsibly by hosting an annual Rotary Youth Driver Awareness Program. In 2013, more than 380 Year 11 students from across the South Burnett were able to attend.

South Burnett Motors In Motion

Kevin Krosch from the South Burnett Motors In Motion committee
South Burnett Motors in Motion held its third annual event in November, continuing its tradition of providing low-cost family fun for visitors and locals.

Under the leadership of Kevin Krosch, a dedicated group of volunteers hands over 620 volunteer hours to the organisation, setting up and packing down of South Burnett Motors in Motion.

In addition to local service clubs being able to raise funds from their involvement, on average over $20,000 is raised from each event and donated back to community organisations such as the Scouts, Kingaroy State High School Stage Band, SES, CareFlight and Shona Muckert’s walking project.

Birds of a Feather Cancer Support Group

Birds Of A Feather president Joan Northcott collected the certificate on behalf of the group
Providing hope to local women and their families impacted by cancer since 2005, the Birds Of A Feather cancer support group excels in providing social, emotional and practical support to the South Burnett.

The group was initiated by Josie McConville and Linda Thomas and over the past nine years has raised over $50,000 in support of the Queensland Cancer Council’s outstanding work.

The group practically supports locals through holding monthly meetings, allowing women affected with cancer an opportunity to meet and gain direct personal support. They also organise social functions and outings for women affected by cancer.

Their fund-raising efforts channel back to the South Burnett through the Queensland Cancer Council, the Breast and Prostrate Cancer Association and the Breast Cancer Network.

South Burnett Pantry Inc – 2014 Winner

The South Burnett Pantry first opened its doors to the community on June 1, 2012, and has been open every Friday since.

More than 56 volunteers have helped more than 10,000 South Burnett residents access this home-grown initiative that distributes food and supports the well-being of up to 93 families each week who are struggling to make ends meet.

The Pantry’s management team has developed its operations so efficiently that they are able to supply families with groceries with a supermarket value of $100 for just $35, well below cost.

In 2012 the Department of Families recognised the outstanding work of the South Burnett Pantry by awarding them the “Child Safety Recognition Award” because of the importance of regular and nutritious meals in a child’s development.

Throughout the South Burnett there is now a growing network of support and local suppliers of meat, bread and vegetables, Food Bank in Brisbane, generous individual tax deductible donations, service organisations donations such as the Kingaroy Lions Club and Kingaroy Rotary Club, all helping locals minimise the impacts of hard times.

Kingaroy SHS & Kingaroy Rugby League Club

The planning committee of the Queensland Secondary Schools Rugby League 18yrs State Championship worked hard for over 12 months to stage this very successful event in Kingaroy in May 2013.

Kingaroy SHS and the Kingaroy Rugby League Club joined together to form a community organising committee that consisted of over 20 people including students, staff members, parents and community members.

Organising a major State event such as this increased the South Burnett’s social, economic and cultural well-being.

Much of the value is unseen to the passerby but co-ordinating a huge number of community resources such as accommodation, playing venues, billeting, equipment, referees, sponsorship, catering and traffic flow, should not go unrecognised.

The hosting of this State Championship exposed referees, coaches and players to the best of the best, and enabled local young people to progress their sporting expertise and goals, with some going on to Sydney-based teams.

Queensland Dairy & Heritage Museum

Murgon’s Queensland Dairy & Heritage Museum has been in service for the past 25 years and is operated by 26 unpaid volunteers. Along with their regular visitors of school groups, buses and caravanners, during 2013 the museum hosted and catered a lunch for 800 American students.

Boondooma Museum & Heritage Association Inc

Buddy Thomson from the Boondooma Museum & Heritage Association Inc
The Boondooma Homestead Restoration Committee was formed in 1981 with members working in a voluntary capacity since then on the complex task of restoring this picturesque tourist destination.

The Boondooma Museum & Heritage Association members, along with the help of outside volunteers, hold two major fundraising events each year.

In April, along with Anzac services and other activities, the “Spirit of the Bush Balladeers & Heritage Muster” provides a second home for seven days for bush balladeers and poets.

And in August, in a celebration of the Scottish ancestry of the original selectors of the Boondooma Homestead property in 1842, the “Scots in the Bush” festival is filled with the sounds of Scottish and celtic music, dancing and games for the whole family.

Funds from these events are reinvested back into improvements and maintenance to make the facilities more user friendly for the visitors. The Boondooma Museum also plays host throughout the year to a large number of tourists visiting or passing through the South Burnett.

Proston Car Rally Club Inc

Gwen and Terry Litfin from the Proston Car Rally Club
The love of rally driving has ensured the Proston Car Rally Club has functioned continuously for the last 21 years.

Supported by a junior learner driver program, a quarter of the rally’s participants are under 18 years of age.

Visitors come from as far afield as Brisbane and Bundaberg to the quarterly rallies.

The objective of the Club is to provide a safe venue for young people – and the not so young – to hone their driving skills through rally style driving.

Go Getta Girls Inc

The Go Getta Girls are celebrating seven years of helping women lead a more active life through regular running sessions.

They are also part of the South Burnett’s volunteer army of fundraisers for cancer, working in partnership with the local business community, emergency and service groups and Council to host the annual Mother’s Day Classic Fun Run/ Walk in Kingaroy.

More than $7000 was raised from the 2013 event, and this helped towards the $5 million raised nationally from communities participating in the Mother’s Day Classic.

Nanango A P & M Society Inc ‘The Waterhole Rocks’

Rhonda and Terry Mackrell with Glenn and Karin Bryan from the Waterhole Rocks committee
A group of people set out more than five years ago to bring to Nanango the never-ending love affair that Australians have with rock-n-roll and hot rods.

Not content with their monthly markets or annual show, the Nanango AP & M Society’s volunteers now transform their facilities into a home for one of the South Burnett’s newest events every year, “The Waterhole Rocks”.

It’s more than gasoline, guitars and dancing shoes, it’s a three-day feast showcasing local and out-of-town music talent, hot rods, vintage caravans and more.

Under the leadership of last year’s South Burnett Citizen of the Year recipient Les Schloss and the host of passionate volunteers who form the Nanango AP & M Society, “The Waterhole Rocks” weekend now complements the successful Heritage Nanango Country Muster.

Funds raised from these events are returned to improve their community for future generations.