Alvin The Avocado with Amanda Wilcox, from Kate’s Avocados … Alvin was keeping a close eye on the avocado rolling competition

September 13, 2016

Blackbutt and Benarkin residents have a new town song – and a new sport to practise for next year – following the 7th annual Bloomin’ Beautiful festival at the weekend.

This year the word “avocado” was tacked on to the festival title for the first time to reflect the fruit’s growing importance to the local region.

There were avocado-themed cooking demonstrations, avocado plants for sale and most, importantly, an avocado rolling competition with cash prizes.

After a series of heats, the 24 closest-to-the-pin finalists in the junior and senior avocado rolling competitions competed for the big dollars, with plenty of calls of “no pressure” from the crowd.

The winning roll in the senior competition was by Kerri Gierke, from Googa, whose avocado finished within centimetres of the pin, taking out the $1000 top prize.

Other popular highlights of this year’s festival included a street parade, which attracted a long line of entries as well as a good crowd lining the highway, and the string of market stalls at the rail head.

Also popular this year was the headline concert by the famous Kransky Sisters who brought their unique blend of humour and music to the Blackbutt Memorial Hall on Saturday night.

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On Saturday afternoon, families gathered in Memorial Hall for the official launch of country singer Josh Arnold’s latest “town” song, “It’s Bloomin’ Beautiful”, (see below).

This video music project features students from Blackbutt and Benarkin State schools as well as cameos by local residents.

The students performed the song live, as well as several other of Josh’s compositions in a mini-concert.

Josh launched his Small Town Culture program in 2007 and since then has been collaborating with school students all over Queensland to create original music from their ideas.

In the South Burnett, Josh has now made videos and songs for Yarraman, Kilkivan, the Barambah cluster of schools, and Wondai.

The famous Kransky Sisters, from Esk (!), hitched a ride on a fire engine in the parade before they took to the stage in Memorial Hall
Kerri Gierke, from Googa, won the $1000 senior avocado roll first prize; Evelyn Green, from the Bunya Nut Cafe in Blackbutt, was runner-up
Seth Williams, 5, from Brisbane, won the $150 junior avocado roll first prize; Kayla Whitford, 12, from Benarkin was runner-up
Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington, with South Burnett Mayor Keith Campbell … Mrs Frecklington officially opened the festival
Kingaroy chef Jason Ford shared avocado-themed recipes in Memorial Hall
Josh Arnold, from “Small Town Culture” unveiled the new Blackbutt and Benarkin song
David Eaton, from the BBBF committee, shows the correct way to roll an avocado
Sandra Ehrlich and Trish Jacobson, from Blackbutt-Yarraman QCWA
“Mr Q” (Gavin and Tony Cisneros) were keeping the music going in Les Muller Park despite a shower or two early in the day
“Wonder Woman” Summer Murphy, from Cooyar, with Shannon Murphy, 10 (Superman), Jesse Jones, 13, from Blackbutt (Spiderman) and Aidan Murphy, 12, (Batman)
Connie Mustapic and Amelia, 4, shared an umbrella when rain tumbled down
L’il Squirt, the mini fire engine, was taking children for rides around the festival grounds
Debra Neilsen and Cassandra Fleming, from Nukku, and Shirley Turner and Linda Reid, from Mitchelton, picked a good spot in the middle of the street to watch the Ken Mills Toyota street parade
Chris Roberts, from Blackbutt, with his daughter’s 1951 A90 Austin
Trudi and Michael Jenkins, from Taromeo Rural Fire Brigade, were enjoying browsing the stalls
New Blackbutt residents Sharon and Douglas Grant, with “Havana”, were watching the parade

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Josh Arnold & the pupils from Blackbutt & Benarkin State Schools

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Bloomin’ Beautiful Parade

[Click on photos to expand]

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One Response to "Did You Ava Good Time?"

  1. Thank you first off for the great photo and welcoming us to Blackbutt. Purchasing in the South Burnett District, namely Blackbutt, was not done without the necessary due diligence. The area has a little bit of everything, and nothing of what we didn’t want anymore. The friendliness and Vibe of this beautiful town did not go un-noticed by us and many others I’m sure. Sharon and I are looking forward to many happy and serene years ahead of us.

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