September 26, 2015
The Nanango Tourism and Development Association (NaTDA) looked back on another year of significant progress in and around Nanango when it held its Annual General Meeting on September 17.
Delivering her President’s Report, president Gloria Kirkness noted that in the last year the town had seen its CBD upgrade nearing completion; the launch of a comprehensive database recording the details of all the enlisted personnel from the South Burnett, Yarraman and Cherbourg who served in WWI; and many fundraising activities carried out by the group to support the Nanango New Years Eve Mardi Gras.
2014-15 had also seen the creation of a new NaTDA website to promote the Nanango district; the republication of a district tourist map for ongoing distribution through the Visitor Information Centre and at major local events; and a continuation of the group’s lobbying efforts to see McCauley Weir reopened to the general public.
Over the year NaTDA members had also continued to carry out quarterly “Adopt A Spot” road cleanups on a section of the D’Aguilar Highway, and had held a number of social functions that had proven very successful.
They also actively supported and promoted local events such as the Nanango Show, the Heritage Nanango Music Muster, The Waterhole Rocks, Raising Hell in Maidenwell, the Nanango Art Society’s Medieval Fayre and Nanango Race Club meetings, all of which drew large numbers of visitors to the district.
Mrs Kirkness said the last 12 months had seen Nanango’s streetscaping project make strong advances. She said members were delighted with the project’s progress and looked forward to its completion, which they felt certain would increase Nanango’s tourism potential.
NaTDA’s office bearers for 2015-16 are Gloria Kirkness (President); Danielle Turmaine (Vice President); Mary Green (Treasurer); and Lyndall White (Secretary).
- NaTDA meets on the third Thursday of each month in the Long Hai Room of Nanango RSL at 5:30pm. NaTDA aims to assist, foster, instigate or manage any project that could contribute to the advancement of the communities in and around Nanango, and it represents the interests of Nanango’s community, business and tourism operators. New members are always very welcome – membership is $20 per annum – and you can obtain more details by phoning Gloria on on (07) 4163-2848.
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President’s Report 2014/2015
Good evening and welcome to the Annual General Meeting of the Nanango Tourism and Development Association.
Delivering an annual report is a good time to reflect on the last twelve months of our Association.
NaTDA is an ‘umbrella’ organisation representing a broad range of locals with a common desire to develop our amenities and promote the tourism opportunities of our town.
We are all taking pleasure in seeing the town’s streetscape finishing, and we are delighted with the result – it certainly has increased our tourism potential.
We look forward to the street party which will conclude this project.
NaTDA members have been involved in many activities during the year:
- The Old Butter Factory – a lot of time and meetings were held earlier this year with the idea of exploring the possibility of renting the Factory, this did not eventuate, mainly because of the asbestos it contained. It was subsequently privately sold.
- A map of our town advertising our member’s businesses was developed.
- NaTDA co-hosted the launch at the Nanango RSL of a data base which contained all the details of the enlisted personnel in WW1 who came from The South Burnett, Yarraman and Cherbourg.
- A committee of our members was formed to enter many of our community in the Council’s Australia Day Awards.
- Many of our members are part of the Funfest Committee, which organises and raises funds for the Heritage Nanango Mardi Gras. Some of the fundraisers we took part in were:
- the inaugural Casino Night – it was a great success, with sponsorship from many businesses
- the Cent Auction was another successful fund raiser
- Miss Nanango, which was held on October 1 at the Copper Country Motel and Restaurant
- Waterhole Rocks organised by the Gas Guzzlers continues to be a very successful event, getting bigger and better each year.
- The Nanango Art Society members now organise a Medieval Faire each year, and this popular event attracts many visitors to Nanango.
NaTDA continues its sponsorship at the Nanango Golf Club, and a first-aid course sponsored by Heritage Bank Nanango was attended by some of our members.
A bus chartered to Kumbia Races on Melbourne Cup Day in 2014 also proved very popular.
Our NaTDA web site went live this year, and thanks go to Bendigo Bank for their sponsorship.
We continue with our ‘Adopt-a-Spot’ clean-ups and are still waiting for our promised sign.
NaTDA members have manned the gate at the Nanango Show, and staffed the bar at this year’s Big Screen Film Festival.
In the last year, Cr Barry Green has also developed a ‘Wall of Fame’ which is now attached to the Energy Centre.
This wall highlights all the South Burnett’s successful sportsmen and sportswomen who’ve gone on to compete at national and international levels.
McCauley Weir is still on our agenda, and we will continue to lobby the South Burnett Regional Council to reopen this facility to the public because we believe it would be a wonderful recreational facility for the town.
Our membership currently stands at 30, with some “comings and goings” during the year.
I thank all Association members, past and present, for their support of me and of each other.
I would like to highlight and especially thank South Burnett Online for their continued support and advertising.
I also make a special mention and thank Mary Green, our hardworking Secretary/Treasurer, for her diligence and perseverance.
I believe our efforts will continue to make Nanango the best town in the South Burnett.
