October 27, 2014
The Nanango Tourism and Development Association (NaTDA) is organising a bus trip to the Kumbia Races on Melbourne Cup Day.
Anyone who would like to enjoy Cup Day at Kumbia is very welcome to come along, whether they’re NaTDA members or not.
The bus will depart from the Nanango Visitor Information Centre in Henry Street at 10:00am on Tuesday, November 4, and arrive at the race course about 10:45am.
Guests will have special access to shaded seating at the track.
Return bus tickets are $25 and entry fees at the racetrack are $10 for adults and $8 for concessions.
You can find out more details and/or book tickets by contacting Danielle on 0427-736-910, Marilyn on 0427-587-003 or Gloria on (07) 4163-2848.
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The inaugural South Burnett Business Excellence Awards were very successful, NaTDA member Graham Archdall reported to the October meeting of the association last Thursday.
Nanango’s Country Bakehouse won the Nanango business award, and the Burnett Business Centre took out the top award in the Large Business category.
Mr Archdall said one of the main achievements of the awards – apart from recognising outstanding South Burnett businesses – was that entrants who completed the entry form were forced to “think about their business”.
He was certain this would help all businesses who entered this year’s competition, and he was looking forward to even greater participation next year.
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Numbers at this year’s Nanango Mardi Gras were slightly down, the meeting heard.
Organisers attributed this to three things: the event was held during a long weekend; there were many other large events running in Nanango the same day (eg: Nanango Markets and Nanango Races); and there were also many other events happening around the region (eg: South Burnett and Cherbourg On Show long weekend).
However they were very pleased with nominations for the annual Mardi Gras Princess which was held several days before the Festival, and congratulated all entrants for their enthusiasm and commitment to the role.
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The latest edition of NaTDA’s “Meet The Locals” tourist map has now been printed and distributed.
Copies of the map will be available from selected Nanango businesses as well as the Nanango Visitor Information Centre.
The map provides current information on local attractions in Nanango and surrounding areas.
It will be updated and reprinted again once the new stocks are exhausted.
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The group will investigate the possibility of securing a grant to undertake refurbishment and preservation of the town’s historic Butter Factory building in George Street.
The group would like to preserve the building and perhaps make portions of it available for community use.
Possible public uses might include a museum or an art gallery.
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A meeting will be held at Kingaroy RSL on Tuesday, October 28, to look at the future of the Nanango and Wondai cadet units, October’s meeting heard.
At present, the Wondai cadet unit has good equipment but no leadership after the unit’s former leader moved to Toowoomba.
The Nanango unit has little equipment but good leadership.
The meeting will look at whether the two units should be combined or whether other solutions might be possible.
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NaTDA is seeking a Treasurer after this year’s nominee had to resign due to unexpected commitments.
Until a new Treasurer is found, Mary Green will fill the role alongside her current duties as the group’s Secretary.
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This year’s Waterhole Rocks festival was the best so far, NaTDA members heard.
Waterhole Rocks organiser – and NaTDA member – Terry Mackrell told the meeting this year’s attendance numbers were almost double last year’s event.
He attributed this to a new dance floor the festival committee had installed, thanks to a grant from Nanango’s Heritage Community Bank.
He was confident next year’s Festival would be bigger again as word of the dance floor spread amongst rock & roll dancing enthusiasts.
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The association will encourage nominations for the South Burnett’s annual Australia Day Awards in both the Shire-wide and town achiever categories.
The group has formed a sub-committee which will suggest possible nominees for the 2015 Awards.
NaTDA nominees will be individuals, businesses and not-for-profit groups which have made significant contributions to the Nanango community over the previous year.
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Members and non-members have been invited to join a bus trip to Moffatdale Ridge Winery for a Tuscan Feast on Saturday, November 29.
All-inclusive tickets (covering return bus travel and lunch) are $35, but NaTDA members will receive a $10 per head subsidy so their tickets will be $25.
The bus will depart and return to the Nanango Visitor Information Centre in Henry Street.
More details about the Tuscan Feast tour can be obtained by phoning the Centre on (07) 4189-9446.
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A Christmas break-up function will be held in December at a Nanango venue yet to be decided.
The group’s next meeting will be held in the Long Hai Room at Nanango RSL on Thursday, November 20 at 5:30pm.
All interested people are welcome to attend.
NaTDA membership is $25 per annum and is open to anyone who’d like to see Nanango’s community, business and/or tourism industries progress.
Meetings are generally held on the third Thursday of each month, followed by dinner at the RSL afterwards.