Deidre Reynolds, Trish Jacobson and Margie Moult, from the Blackbutt/Yarraman QCWA, were stationed out on the verandah to serve up refreshments

April 3, 2019

South Burnett Unpacked 7 was more like South Burnett “soaked” in Blackbutt on Saturday morning but that didn’t stop volunteers from a dozen or so tourist places spruiking their delights.

The four-hour “party”, organised by South Burnett Regional Council, was minus the jumping castle but there was still face-painting, live music and guest appearances by Alvin the Avocado and Bacon Man.

The stalls lining the walls of the Blackbutt Memorial Hall featured South Burnett tourism attractions stretching from Boondooma Homestead to Blackbutt.

The quarterly Unpacked events provide an opportunity for various volunteers from all ends of the region to get together and chat, as well as promote their attractions to visitors.

Volunteers from Wondai’s Visitor Information Centre were promoting the Wondai Heritage Museum, while the Kingaroy Art Gallery’s Arts Team were highlighting the upcoming Winter Craft Festival.

Boondooma Homestead volunteers had information about Scots In The Bush and the Spirit of the Bush Muster, while the Blackbutt and District Tourism and Heritage Association (BDTHA) had information about the annual Googa Bush Picnic, the Roy Emerson Museum and their monthly history mornings.

Then there were the festivals – Baconfest and the Blackbutt Avocado Festival – which provided an opportunity for fans to take selfies with their mascots.

While the volunteers visited each other’s stalls in the hall, out on the verandah refreshments were being served by members of the Blackbutt / Yarraman QCWA and BDTHA volunteers were sizzling sausages.

Unpacked 7 also provided an opportunity for Council to launch its new South Burnett Touring Guide which will be available, along with the latest edition of its Let’s Go magazine, at Visitor Information Centres.

Council began hosting the Unpacked networking events in 2017 after pulling out of the Southern Queensland Country Tourism Association which used to organise quarterly Tourism Advisory Group (TAG) meetings for operators.

Unpacked 7 is the first to have been held on a weekend.

Previous events have been held at Yallakool (Unpacked 1), Bunya Mountains (2), Kingaroy (3), Wondai (4), Nanango (5) and Murgon (6).

Related articles:

Blackbutt Avocado Festival volunteer Dave Eaton with Alvin the Avocado
Blackbutt Avocado Festival president Jeff O’Connor had a table full of avocado-themed souvenirs
Kingaroy Arts Team’s Fran van Vegchel and Catherine Woodham had a pop pom tree to promote the Winter Craft Festival which will be running in June and July at the Kingaroy Art Gallery
Boondooma Homestead volunteers Judy and Keith Brandt were sharing information about events at the historic location with Kingaroy Visitor Information Centre volunteer Jennifer LePatourel
Val McGrath and Cary McAulay from the Blackbutt Art Gallery … Cary was demonstrating his skills
Noel McGrath with some of his pieces that he sells through the Blackbutt Art Gallery
Angela Edmonds, from Clovely Estate Wines, with Karen Ford, from Kingaroy
Dean and Helen, ie Deal’n, were providing the live music on stage
Bob Hawkins and Barry Richardson, from the Blackbutt and District Tourism and Heritage Association, were manning the barbecue
Wondai Visitor Information Centre volunteers Julie Tainton and Lesa Hodges at the Wondai Heritage Museum stand
Brisbane Valley Rail Trail ambassadors Robyn Gray, from Linville, and Bob Howe, from Moore
Erica Wingfield, Jenny Gilliland and Jackie Ross, from the Blackbutt and District Tourism and Heritage Association
The wet weather probably kept numbers down at South Burnett Unpacked 7

* * *

Video from South Burnett Unpacked 1

  , ,

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.