Twin sisters Joy and Judy Lyell, from Wooroolin, were exploring the displays in the old bank building
September 30, 2019
Murgon’s Queensland Dairy Industry Museum is one of the South Burnett’s hidden gems although it often misses out on the limelight the region’s other features attract.
It is much more than a collection of a old buildings, which visitors to its annual Country Fair on Saturday quickly discovered.
A good crowd turned out to step back to yesteryear for a short time.
Visitors could take a cart ride around the large grounds, watch a horse being shoed and learn about spinning and weaving.
There were also multiple market stalls, many selling home-made treats that harked back to grandma’s culinary skills.
Old farm machinery was sprinkled around the grounds, bringing back memories for many visitors.
The key focus, of course, was “dairy”, which was formerly a major industry in the South Burnett with butter factories located in almost every town.
In the old bank building, visitors were chatting with volunteers as they pored over old photographs and bits’n’pieces from the heyday of the industry.
They could also take a turn at making butter in a hand-churn or enjoy a traditional Devonshire tea.
One of the highlights was a children’s scarecrow competition, judged by South Burnett Deputy Mayor Kathy Duff.
The winning entry was put together by Murgon Child Care.
Cloyna State School’s “Roo” won second prize, while Wheatlands State School was third.
Cr Duff told southburnett.com.au she found the judging very hard as all the entries were so good … in the end, she gave every entry a prize.
The Country Fair is the Dairy Industry Museum’s major fundraiser for the year.
Queensland Dairy Industry Museum president Cynthia Hatchett let Deputy Mayor Kathy Duff have a go at churning cream into butterDairy Museum volunteers Linda and Denise were selling some hand-made treats and dairy-themed craftsVolunteer Darryl Koy, from Murgon, with his grandchildren Willow, 9, and Summer Stead, 12, from Townsville; and South Burnett mayor Keith CampbellThe duo Sin Dee, from Kingaroy, were also harking back to another era with their buskingVolunteer Betty Taylor with visitors Kevin and Shirley Keenan, from Kingaroy … the couple formerly lived in MurgonClint Kenyon, from Hidden Gold Homestead at Moffatdale, re-shod ‘Brin’, also from Hidden Gold, as a crowd watchedJudy N Gray, from Tablelands, and Kaye Dowling, from Kingaroy, were part of a group of women demonstrating spinning … the pair are members of the Booie Spinners and WeaversSandra Taylor, Gloria Bell, Judith Corbet and Liz Williamson, from the Murgon RSL Sub-Branch Citizens Auxiliary, had multiple treats for sale at their stallJan Ferguson and Ashley and Brenda Rewald were offering Devonshire tes at the Murgon Hospital Auxiliary standSpike Butler, from Hivesville, and ‘Smoky’ were taking Carter Bishop, 9, and Keirra Donaldson, 7, from Toowoomba, for a ride in a buggyFirst prize in the Scarecrow competition … Murgon Child CareSecond prize went to ‘Roo’, left, from Cloyna State School … Wooroolin State School’s entry, on the right, was highly commendedAnd this just has to be the scariest scarecrow! Proston Scout Group was highly commended for this entry
After some hours of standing in the sun, the “Scariest Scarecrow” from Proston was seen to collapse face down onto the grass, at which pojnt he completely lost his head. Obviously heat stroke!
The rescue team came over to rescue him. His recovery position was being tied to a fence, up off the ground, to prevent further collapses.
Moral — do not succumb to heat stroke. The latest approved treatment is quite revolutionary!
After some hours of standing in the sun, the “Scariest Scarecrow” from Proston was seen to collapse face down onto the grass, at which pojnt he completely lost his head. Obviously heat stroke!
The rescue team came over to rescue him. His recovery position was being tied to a fence, up off the ground, to prevent further collapses.
Moral — do not succumb to heat stroke. The latest approved treatment is quite revolutionary!