October 18, 2014
The “South Burnett & Cherbourg On Show” long weekend promotion has been hailed a great success.
Originally billed as 40 events over four days, the 2014 weekend – held over October 3-6 – blew out to a massive 65 events.
‘We had good feedback from most places, especially around the Murgon end,” chairman of the organising committee, Cr Kathy Duff, said.
“They were happy at the Dairy Museum, and the turn-out at Bjelke-Petersen Dam was good.
“I was told the Big Sing in Kingaroy was fantastic.”
The committee held a debriefing meeting in the old Murgon Shire Council Chambers this week.
Members pored over the feedback forms they received back from the businesses involved in the promotion.
Obviously some events attracted more visitors than others.
In Nanango, numbers were down at the Races, which prompted some suggestions there may have been just “too much” scheduled in the town on the day.
Likewise, the free bus was used more in the northern part of the South Burnett region than in the Kingaroy area.
The idea of the long weekend promotion is to encourage local residents to stay at home and spend their “holiday dollar” locally, plugging the traditional exodus from the region.
It is also designed to attract visitors from Brisbane, Toowoomba and the Sunshine Coast who could be encouraged to make it an annual pilgrimage.
Cr Duff said one idea being discussed for next year was to aim for more events from the Saturday to move to either Sunday or Monday.
One idea being tossed around already was a music festival on the Sunday.
“We would like to spread it around more as maybe there was too much on Saturday,” she said.
The committee promotes the events but doesn’t organise them. This is done by each of the individual operators.
The idea for South Burnett & Cherbourg On Show originally grew from a concept developed by the South Burnett Wine Industry Association based on “Heathcote On Show” – a regional festival which has become a favourite with Victorians on the June long weekend.
When the State Government created the new October long weekend in Queensland, it was decided the South Burnett should try to “claim” this holiday break as its own.
This is the third time a “South Burnett On Show” weekend has been held, and the second time Cherbourg has been also involved.
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Queensland Dairy Museum (Murgon)
The good crowd at Murgon’s Dairy Museum enjoyed a range of activities including milking and shearing displays, whip-cracking (have you ever heard Waltzing Matilda played by whip cracks?) and cord making.
There was also live music, pony rides, plenty of historical displays, an animal nursery and even an old-fashioned sing-along in the former chapel.
At Cherbourg
At Cherbourg, there were a series of attractions designed to be attractive to both residents from the local community and visitors eager to learn more about the history of the town.
The Ration Shed
Yidding Artists Studio – Children’s Art Workshop
Cherbourg Trail Ride
At Murgon
Murgon Markets
Around The Wineries
Crane Wines
Moffatdale Ridge
Bridgeman Downs
Kingsley Grove
Tipperary Estate
At The Cafes
Elz Bistro (Bunya Mountains)
Yurri Muntha (Cherbourg)
Dimities (Wondai)
Ringsfield House (Nanango)
Taabinga Homestead
Bronel Natural Foods
At Crownthorpe, food producers Brett and Simone Greer invited their customers to visit their farm (and camp overnight) to learn more about organic farming.
Brett and Simone run Bronel Natural Foods and produce grass-fed beef and lamb, and free-range pork and poultry. Their “Day On The Farm” experience was booked out.
Bunya Red Farm
Caper producers Allan and Mandy Evans, at Bunya Red Farm, also offered an on-farm experience to visitors to the South Burnett. Guests enjoyed morning tea and the opportunity to explore the farm at Inverlaw, and maybe even cuddle an alpaca or two.
Maidenwell Folk Festival
Music lovers gathered at the Maidenwell Hotel over the weekend for the twice-yearly Maidenwell Folk Festival. The verandahs and yards around the pub were turned into impromptu jam sessions, while there was a walk-up concert on Saturday night. Across the road, the Maidenwell Trading Post’s bistro area and nearby Coomba Falls also attracted musicians eager to jam.