Rob and Lorraine Goodchild … planning a huge 150th celebration

Boonara Homestead is just north of Goomeri on the Burnett Highway


May 24, 2012

The huge 150th celebration happening at Boonara Homestead on Saturday has grown even bigger with more music, more heritage events and a charity auction now planned to join the already exciting line-up of events.

Well-known Murgon saxophonist Tom McKenzie and Kingaroy blues singer Valerie Matthews have joined the entertainment line-up alongside well-known soprano Ana Marina, who starred with Anthony Warlow in Phantom of the Opera. MC for the day will be Mike Webb, who will also share some bush poetry.

Rohan the bullocky, from the Gleneden Bullock Team, will be putting on a display of bush skills including how to make yokes using adzes and rasps, and how to fashion a green-hide leather whip.

There’ll also be Irish dancing, a Celtic pipe band, jazz dancing, a vintage fashion parade, whip cracking, and a range of market stalls.

Gates open at 9:00am and there’ll be three different food stations available, including a barbecue by Murgon State School P&C.

Boonara Homestead was built in 1862 for David Jones (of department store fame). The European history of the property dates back even further, to the 1840s, so it’s natural that the program of events for the sesquicentenary celebration has a strong taste of history.

A major highlight will be an opportunity to have family treasures and collectibles appraised by Gordon Brown from the ABC-TV show “Collectors”.  There’ll  be a small fee for this ($5 per valuation) with a maximum of three lots per person.

At 11:00am, the Nanango Theatre Company will be performing a skit about “The Wild Scotsman”, bushranger James McPherson who harried local travellers during the 1860s.

However, the focus is not only on the past.  At 1:30pm, Nev Holden from Goomeri BGA, will be auctioning donated items to raise funds for the AGL Action Rescue Helicopter Service.

Organiser Lorraine Goodchild said a number of businesses have donated lots to be sold but she was still looking for more … so if you can help, contact her on (07) 4168-7179 or 0427-231-852.

[Photo: James Barclay]