Ironpot Hall
Three generations of Ironpot history … Allen Seng, his son Peter and daughter-in-law Lyn and granddaughter Mackenzie, 6; Allen’s father Harry Seng built the Ironpot Hall for the grand sum of £26

February 25, 2013

More than 300 guests made the trek to Ironpot Hall on Saturday night for the fifth annual Reef’n’Beef Extravaganza.

Apart from locals, guests came from as far afield as Rockhampton, Gladstone, Hervey Bay, Maryborough, Toowoomba and Brisbane.

The carpark was jam-packed and there were even three coachloads of guests.

The all-you-can-eat affair offered patrons as many prawns, oysters, Moreton Bay bugs, scallops, Red Emperor and pan-fried reef fish fillets as they could fit in, along with prime rib steaks, barbecue rib fillets, salads, vegies and dessert.

Reef’n’Beef is too big for Ironpot Hall these days … it is held in large marquee tents set up in front of the building.

Organisers had been so concerned about the possibility of rain making the area muddy that for several days beforehand they covered the ground in plastic sheeting to make sure it was perfect for the night.

Guests enjoyed live music from singer-guitarist Lloyd Back and magic tricks from a roving magician.

Reef’n’Beef was started in 2009 by Team Ironpot, a community group that came about as the result of the loss of a friend in a motorcycle accident.

Rather than succumb to grief, the group turned their personal loss into the community’s gain by bringing the Reef & Beef concept to the area.

These days Team Ironpot organises and supports several events that have community benefit as their central purpose.

And from the proceeds of each event, they contribute much-needed funds to things such as the Ironpot Hall; rural fire brigades; the Kingaroy Show Society and the South Burnett Motorcycle Club (to name just a few of the causes they’ve supported).

Members of Team Ironpot are also involved in supporting other annual community events held in the Kumbia and Ironpot areas, such as the Kumbia and Burrandowan campdrafts, as well as trail, motocross and enduro rides.

On January 25, Team Ironpot was named Community Organisation Of The Year at the annual South Burnett Australia Day Awards.

Ironpot Hall
Bruce and Meg Forsyth with Mike Barrett, all from Kingaroy 
Ironpot Hall
Jacqui Irwin, Kingaroy; Leanne Sullivan, Gympie; and Jackie Allery, Kingaroy

Ironpot Hall
Kevin and Janelle Henschen, from Kingaroy

Ironpot Hall
Lloyd Back kept the crowd entertained
Ironpot Hall
Margaret Stewart, Kumbia; Melissa Peter, Ellesmere; Michele Barkle, Kingaroy; and Trudi Bartlett, Inverlaw
Ironpot Hall
SBRC CEO Ken McLoughlin, Cr Damien Tessmann, South Burnett Mayor Wayne Kratzmann and Scott Henschen, from Team Ironpot
Ironpot Hall
Ashley Wetherall, Bell, and Troy Gore, Burrandowan, were enjoying a quiet pre-dinner drink
Ironpot Hall
Guests packed several large marquees set up outside the hall for Reef-n-Beef but any worries about rain proved unfounded