Another new look for Australia Day … Kingaroy’s Mick Freeman was the proud winner of the pie-eating competition and part of his prize was this pink wig (we don’t know why, either)
January 30, 2018
Kingaroy rolled out a new-look event on January 26 but no one seemed to be complaining about “changing Australia Day”.
The traditional celebrations on Friday shifted from the Kingaroy Town Hall Forecourt to the Kingaroy Town Common Hall in Oliver Bond Street.
The eucalypts surrounding the venue added a genuine touch of Australia – and some much welcome shade – to proceedings.
As usual, Kingaroy service clubs were to the fore during the activities, including the QCWA, Kingaroy Quota, Taabinga Rotary and Kingaroy Lions.
Kingaroy Scouts and Girl Guides also pitched in.
Entertainment was provided by the South Burnett Chorale and a combined choir of students from Coolabunia and Taabinga State schools.
Opposition Leader and Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington was the guest speaker.
She emphasised that Australia Day was all about communities, people, volunteers …
“We are so very fortunate to live in Queensland; we are so very fortunate to be Australians,” she said.
“We should never forget we are the lucky country.
“We should never forget to be grateful.”
After the speeches finished and the Kingaroy winners from Thursday night’s South Burnett Australia Day awards were introduced to the crowd, the fun began with lamington and pie-eating competitions and the inevitable cane toad races.
Eating skills must run in the Freeman family … Mick’s son Josh, 11, won the Age 10 and Above lamington-eating competition for kidsGeorge Goulter, 9, from Kingaroy, with his proud dad Nigel … George was the happy winner of the Age 9 & Under lamington-eating competitionFor a while we thought George’s sister Elisha, 6, was going to take the cake, but she slowed on the run homeWhat would a Kingaroy Australia Day be without cane toad racing … Cr Danita Potter admitted she had some help rounding up the entrants, who all bore the names of world leadersLamington eating can be thirsty work, especially on a hot summer’s dayCompetition was just as keen in the adults’ pie-eating competition … on your marks, get set, eat!The formal part of the day was kicked off by a flag ceremony carried out flawlessly by the cadets from the 135 ACU based in WondaiSing Australia South Burnett performed the National Anthem and ‘I Still Call Australia Home ‘Not to be outdone, students from Coolabunia and Taabinga State Schools joined together to sing the old Rolf Harris hit ‘ Two Little Boys’ and the Queensland version of ‘Waltzing Matilda’Guest speaker was Opposition Leader and Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington who gave up a trip to Townsville to be in her own electorate on Australia Day … Deb is pictured with Kingaroy residents Malcolm Hoskins and Jim CleggFood kept on coming out of the Town Common Hall kitchen … while the QCWA made damper, Kingaroy Quota members Pam Ott, Sandra Tincknell and Lila Perkins prepared scones and jamTaabinga Rotary Club members put up up the marquees and sold raffle tickets … from left, Mick McAuliffe, Geoff Aird, Val McAuliffe and Kay ClarkKingaroy Scouts were kept busy at the fairy floss machine … from left, Joanne Olsen, Daniel Munt, Jacob Barrow and District Commissioner David JamiesonCompere for the morning was Damien Martoo, whose voice was also heard over the weekend calling races at the Kingaroy SpeedwayCourtney Varidel, from Kingaroy, was celebrating Australia Day with Katie and Penny, who was dressed for the occasion
