Hazel Christie-Small and Noeleen Bird, from the Blackbutt & District Tourism and Heritage Association, helped to organise the Benarkin reunion

July 31, 2017

More than 90  former residents returned to the tiny timber town of Benarkin at the weekend to swap memories, tell tales and catch up on what’s been happening in their old home town.

The Back To Benarkin Bush Picnic was organised by the Blackbutt & District Tourism and Heritage Association (BDTHA), the same group that organised the successful Googa Creek Bush Picnic earlier this year.

Former residents gathered at the Blackbutt Benarkin Lions Club barbecue shelter in First Settlers Park to enjoy a barbecue lunch and listen to talks.

BDTHA members Noeleen Bird and Iris Crumpton related stories the association had dug up, and copies of historic photographs of the town were passed around.

South Burnett councillor Gavin Jones, who grew up in the Blackbutt area, shared memories, and Mayor Keith Campbell also spoke.

Visitors travelled from all over Queensland, and from as far away as Sydney and South Australia, for the day.

The BDTHA is now debating whether to make Bush Picnic a regular event, to be held every two years.

Back row: Chele Martin, Sydney; Gayle (Martin) Della-Zoppa, South Australia; and Iris Crumpton, from the Blackbutt & District Tourism and Heritage Association; front row: Olive Martin, from Woodford; South Burnett mayor Keith Campbell, Barbara Soden and Col Crumpton … Olive’s mother, Maud, was the station mistress at Benarkin while her father, Jim Wilson, was the  ganger
Erica Wingfield, from the Blackbutt & District Tourism and Heritage Association, prepared the photo books which visitors enjoyed browsing through … the old photos covered the local forestry, railway line, hotels and houses, especially Benarkin Homestead
Trevor and Lorraine Smith, from Bribie Island, went to school in Benarkin and lived for about 50 years in the town … they came back especially for the reunion
Ron Turner, from Blackbutt; Cr Gavin Jones, Deb Turner, Blackbutt; Ken Riis, from Goomeri; and South Burnett mayor Keith Campbell … Mr Riis is the son of a former principal at Benarkin School, Harry Riis

 

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