September 28, 2020
The Nanango Tourism and Development Association re-elected its president and secretary at the group’s Annual General Meeting last week.
However, two new faces have joined the executive after incumbents stepped down due to other commitments.
Gloria Kirkness was re-elected to the top role, and she will be joined by newcomer Sharon Johnson – the proprietor of Sassy Mama Fashion & Accessories – as vice-president.
Jane Erkens, from Nanango Real Estate, will retain her role as secretary while Sue Neilsen Hunt will assume the treasurer’s role.
In her president’s report, Gloria Kirkness said the previous 12 months had been a year of great accomplishments for the group, despite the pandemic.
Community events organised or sponsored by NaTDA included Nanango’s annual Halloween celebrations and Christmas Carnival; the town’s Australia Day breakfast in January; and February’s Sidewalk Sale which helped raise $8200 for bushfire victims in Cobargo.
NaTDA auspiced fundraising activities for the Butter Factory Park all-inclusive playground project, collecting community donations and helping organise the Eat In The Street fundraising dinner in Little Drayton Street last September that led to more than 160 people coming out to dine under the stars.
NaTDA also organised what turned out to be the only public candidates forum run in the region for the March Council elections, allowing residents to meet the candidates standing for Mayor and hear what they planned to do if elected.
Other forums planned by other community groups for Kingaroy, Murgon and Blackbutt had to be abandoned soon afterwards when COVID-19 restrictions came into force.
NaTDA also played a role in the formation of the Visit South Burnett local tourism organisation and has held discussions with the South Burnett Regional Council about the future of Ringsfield House.
It organised a meeting to gauge interest in forming a community working party to re-establish the Ringsfield complex as a community hub.
Members of the group also undertook “Adopt A Spot” clean-ups of the D’Aguilar Highway, south of town, several times during the year.
At the AGM, members heard community fundraising efforts for the Butter Factory Park project had raised $24,875.
With Nanango Heritage Bank’s co-contribution of $60,000, this totalled $84,875.
Members voted to contribute a further $125 from the group’s funds to bring the total to an even $85,000.
- NaTDA meets monthly at the Nanango RSL and membership is open to anyone who’d like to advance tourism and business interests in Nanango and its districts. Intending members are welcome to email the president for details of the next meeting.
