Peta Clarkson, from Goodstart Early Learning in Kingaroy, joined “Chief”, the LifeFlight Bear, to entertain the children at the Teddy Bears Picnic
August 21, 2018
The second annual LifeFlight Community Fun Day – held in Kingaroy on Saturday – has raised about $17,600 for the rescue helicopter service.
The mover and shaker behind the big day, Cardell Turner, said the event had gone well, but expenses this year had been greater than last year which had cut into profits.
The South Burnett resident launched the Fun Day last year as part of an effort to repay LifeFlight for the care they provided when he suffered an horrific motorbike accident in 2016.
He broke 12 ribs, several vertebrae, punctured his lung and cracked his chest wall – and wasn’t expected to survive.
But the LifeFlight helicopter, with a critical care doctor on board, reached him in time.
Cardell organised the inaugural Fun Day in Memorial Park by himself, but this year had a committee helping him.
The decision was made to shift it to the Kingaroy Showgrounds.
New events were also added, including the Top Gun Challenge which included an obstacle course, tug o’ war and ute pull.
The day kicked off with a Teddy Bears Picnic, a perfect opportunity for “Chief”, the LifeFlight bear, to make an appearance.
There was also live entertainment on stage all day, as well as fun events including celebrity dunking.
Cardell said some changes would be implemented for next year’s event, including a later start at noon.
Pig racing (popular in 2017) will also return, but so will the Top Gun Challenge.
Cardell said the organising committee had formed a not-for-profit incorporated association, Flight Savers Inc, to put on this year’s event.
It was now offering its help to other committees arranging events in the South Burnett.
The association has three jumping castles, a merry-go-round, dunk tank, pop corn machine and fairy floss maker which it can hire out at a reduced cost.
Tyla Goodrich, 8, and Bree Renouf-Dowdle, 8, from Kingaroy, were enjoying the Teddy Bears Picnic … Bree is one of many South Burnett residents who have had a trip to hospital via a LifeFlight helicopterOpposition Leader and Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington, who officially opened the Community Fun Day, with Kingaroy resident Cardell Turner who launched the LifeFlight fundraiser last yearDamien Martoo, from The Martoo Review, was not only the voice of the Community Fun Day he also raised $1550 for the LifeFlight Foundation by volunteering to be dunked (twice, as it turned out) in 1.5 degrees iced water
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Top Gun Challenge
The Top Gun Challenge is one of the attractions that Cardell says will be definitely back in 2019.
Teams of five competed in an obstacle course, ute pull (sponsored by Bill Hull Mazda) and a tug o’ war.
A team of friends from the Kingaroy Fitness gym, dubbed the K-Fit Crew, took the trifecta overcoming the unusually hot weather to clock up the best times.
The K-Fit Crew, all members of the Kingaroy Fitness Centre gym, took the Top Gun Challenge trifecta, winning the tug o’war, ute pull and obstacle courseKingaroy Police officer-in-charge David Tierney with the Top Gun Challenge police team … Rob Firman, Luke Norris, Rhys Everitt, Connor Anderson and, at front, Jemma GrantKingaroy Hospital’s dental unit entered two teams in the Top Gun ChallengeTeam Kingaroy Fitness – the gym’s second team – won their heat in the tug o’warKingaroy Police gave it all they’ve got in the tug o’ warThe hotly contest tug o’war final between rival gym teams … eventual winners K-Fit Crew (Kingaroy Fitness), at left, and Snap Fitness, rightThe mesh net was the first section of the Top Gun Challenge obstacle course …… then there was this …… as well as monkey bars …… and a canvas tunnel – which Chris Arnold seemed to be making short work of …… and a tyre run … there were also a spider maze, hurdles and a couple of walls to clamber overThe obstacle course winners K-Fit Crew with runners-up Underdogs (plus contest organiser Taleah Eckart, front, and Isabelle Kerrou, 7) … the teams had to complete the gruelling obstacle course TWICE in the final
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Dunking Tank
A popular part of the Community Fun Day was the dunking tank where children (and quite a few adults) handed over good money for a chance to dunk some well-known local people.
It may be winter, but the warm weather meant that most of the dunkees didn’t seem to mind too much when they were sunk …
Kingaroy Police officer-in-charge Senior Sergeant David Tierney was taking potshots at the people taking potshots at him!Flight Savers committee member and former police prosecutor Wayne Bushell cooled off in the dunking tankBefore and after … Abigail Andersson was one of the well-known faces who volunteered to be dunkedSouth Burnett councillor Roz Frohloff also enjoyed a compulsory tubbingKSHS maths teacher Gerard Faulkner was a target for students but he ended up in the tank with a bit of help from Senior Sergeant Tierney
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More Fun Day Photos
Cooper, 6, and Saylor Turnbull, 4, from Nanango, were getting to know “Chief”, the LifeFlight bearCharlotte Stewart, 3, from Nanango, enjoyed the face-painting on offer … there was also cupcake decorating for the kiddies to enjoyNewly appointed South Burnett Regional Council CEO Mark Pitt with his wife Nicola and daughter Charlotte, who was visiting from BiggendenRotary members were out in force … Kingaroy, Taabinga and Murgon Rotary members with Taabinga Rotary exchange student Yusuke Takaiwa, from Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture in JapanA lot of community groups had information stalls, including the Kingaroy Men’s Shed … from left, Errol McCullagh, Ken Bradley, Tom Johnson and Warren WeberKingaroy Men’s Shed member Tom Johnson and president Eric Ford … Tom made this “piggy bank” to collect donations for the LifeFlight FoundationStudents from the Kingaroy Dance Academy were part of the live entertainment program …… as were students from the Ally Walker Dance Academy in KingaroyThe youngsters from Karate 4 Kids put on a display of martial arts, including breaking boardsLocal musicians RiSA (Tucker and Chop plus MISfITZ) on stage at the Community Fun Day
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Flight Savers Dinner
On Friday night, a charity dinner was held at the Kingaroy Showgrounds as a curtain-raiser for the LifeFlight Family Fun Day.
Cardell said it had been a huge success, raising $7500 with the auction and raffles raising $2000.
The highest price paid during the auction was $1600 for a steer donated by Dave Freeman and free butchering by Retschlag On Farm Butchering.
The three-course dinner was prepared by Wayne Bushell and Eddie McGregor, and live music was provided by Skin n’ Bone.
Skin n’ Bone rocked the night away at the Kingaroy Showground
Cardell Turner with some of the auction items sold on Friday night
Deb Frecklington with Ray Patroni, a recent beneficiary of a LifeFlight trip to hospital
Ashleigh Lindsay and Sheryl-Lee Barnes were helping to keep the food flowing on Friday nightRotary members looking after the bar … Edna Bastable, Gerard Faulkner, Wayne Bushell and Andrew LippThe show pavilion wasn’t recognisable after it was decorated for the charity dinner
