April 8, 2015
South Burnett residents who love to learn more about history – particularly local history – are in for a treat over the coming month.
Five South Burnett events have been included in the National Trust’s 2015 Heritage Festival, which will run state-wide between April 18 and May 18.
The annual Festival celebrates the State’s history and achievements, while at the same time trying to provide insights into many aspects of ordinary daily life that our grandparents and great grandparents knew well, many of which have almost disappeared today.
The theme of this year’s Festival is “Conflict And Compassion”, and many of the Festival’s events commemorate the Centenary of Gallipoli and the Anzac tradition.
But others share stories about the early history of the State; commemorate 150 years of rail travel in Queensland; or look at other aspects of our culture.
The five South Burnett events selected for the 2015 Heritage Festival are:
- The 2015 South Burnett Acquisitive Art Competition: “The Australian Light Horseman” – This art exhibition at the Kingaroy Art Gallery in Haly Street is running throughout April, and focuses on works in any media that commemorate some aspect of the Australian Light Horse brigades. The exhibition is open daily from 9:00am to 4:30pm Monday to Friday and 10:00am to 4:00pm on weekends. It will be officially opened at 10:30am on Saturday (April 11) when the winner of the Acquisitive will be announced, along with winners of the People’s Choice and Youth Awards. Admission is free.
- World War I Display: The Kingaroy Heritage Museum in Haly Street (two doors from the Kingaroy Art Gallery) has mounted a display of WWI artefacts including photos, medals, weapons and uniforms, along with lists of soldiers from the South Burnett who enlisted to take part in the Great War. The display opened in March and will remain open until the end of June. It can be viewed from 9:00am to 4:30pm Monday to Friday and 10:00am to 2:00pm on weekends. Admission is free.
- Every Man Remembered – South Burnett Heroes: The South Burnett Regional Council will be launching a database compiled by volunteers which contains records of South Burnett and Cherbourg residents who served in any of the armed forces in any conflict the nation has been involved in. The new database will be officially launched at a special service at Nanango RSL’s Taras Hall on Friday, April 24, at 6:00pm. Space will be available at the venue for anyone wishing to set up a display and school children will place message crosses at the nearby Cenotaph. A poppy has also been created for each name and will be on display, too. Historian Liz Caffery will make a presentation and pay tribute to our region’s servicemen and women. Admission is free and more details can be obtained by phoning (07) 4163-2848.
- 75th Anniversary Of Sacred Heart Convent and Opening Of Military Display – The Yarraman and District Historical Society will be celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Sacred Heart Convent in Millar Street, Yarraman (now Heritage House) and officially open their new Military Display with a gold coin donation open day on Saturday, May 2, between 10:00am and 2:00pm. The Military Display features many items from WWI, WW2 and the Vietnam War, many passed on to the Society by the former Burnett War Museum.
- Squatters In The South Burnett – Their Lives And Times – Brisbane Valley Rail Trails will be hosting a gold coin donation wine and cheese evening at Ringsfield House at 45 Alfred Street in Nanango on Friday, May 15, at 6:30pm to launch a book by local historian Dr Judith Grimes. Her latest work covers the early days of Queensland from the arrival of the first land proprietors in 1841 to the early 1860s. The book is the second in a series, and follows the 2013 launch of “Jacob Goode And His Burnett Inn”‘
A catalogue of this year’s Heritage Festival can be obtained from South Burnett Visitor Information Centres, or through the National Trust Of Australia’s website
