October 26, 2020
UPDATE: Because of the predicted weather, a last-minute decision has been made to shift the celebrations to Sunday night (November 1)
Nanango’s Little Drayton Street Halloween celebrations will be on again this Saturday night (October 31) … but in a slightly reduced format.
The Nanango Tourism and Development Association’s (NaTDA) October meeting was told that Queensland Health had given approval for both the annual Halloween and Nanango Christmas Carnival celebrations to go ahead this year, providing COVID Safe restrictions were in place.
For Halloween, which is held outside The Shed in Little Drayton Street, this will mean there will be no sausage sizzle this year.
Instead, children and their guardians will be encouraged to view the “spooky graveyard” near The Shed, then grab a bag of sweets and leave rather than stay in the laneway.
This year’s Nanango Christmas Carnival will also have some limitations.
Children won’t be able to sit on Santa’s knee to pass on their gift wishes – although they’ll still be able to talk to the jolly gentleman in a socially distanced way.
Patrons will also need to supply their contact details at an entry point set up in Pioneer Park, then depart through an exit point when they leave.
Christmas Carnival amusement rides and stalls will operate as usual under their own COVID Safe plans.
Both events are being sponsored by Nanango’s Heritage Bank.
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NaTDA has passed the $25,000 collected by the community for the Butter Factory Park inclusive playground to the South Burnett Regional Council.
A further $60,000 contributed to the project by Nanango’s Heritage Bank has also been given to Council.
The Council will be tipping a further $103,000 of its own funds into the project.
Work on preparing Butter Factory Park is expected to begin soon and the new facility is planned to open in mid to late January, weather permitting.
The $188,000 playground will be the first of its kind in the region, providing safe and accessible play areas for children suffering disabilities.
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NaTDA will lend its support to a “Busk For A Bench” project that hopes to lead to new pedestrian benches being built along Drayton and Henry streets.
At October’s meeting, secretary Jane Erkens said NaTDA had received feedback that some caravanners staying at Tipperary Flat were deterred from walking into the CBD by the lack of benches.
“We have some very long footpaths that connect the CBD to Nanango Showgrounds and the Bowls Club, but there are no benches where people can stop to catch their breath,” Jane said.
“The same applies to Ros Gregor Walk, which is a very long path along the flats with no rest points.”
Jane told the meeting she would like NaTDA to auspice a community fundraising drive to get benches built along these footpaths, and was willing to help raise funds herself through busking.
Members agreed, and the project will be launched at a future Laneway Dinner in Little Drayton Street when pandemic restrictions allow one to be held.
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An Open Garden to help raise funds for the Leukaemia Foundation will be held at 86 Boldery Road, Nanango on Saturday, November 21.
The day will run from 8:30am to 4:00pm under COVID Safe conditions and in addition to the gardens, there’ll be plant and craft stalls in the grounds.
Morning and afternoon teas and lunches will also be available.
The day is being run by Glen and Joy Patch.
Glen had leukaemia in 2007 and Joy said the support the couple received from the Leukaemia Foundation during his treatment was “overwhelming”.
The couple were given four and half months of free accommodation near the Mater Hospital while Greg underwent treatment, and their pair were also supported by a carer’s group.
“I don’t think the Leukaemia Foundation tell enough people about what they do, but they really are a fantastic organisation who deserve the community’s support,” Joy said.
A similar Open Day the pair held last year attracted more than 120 visitors, and this year the couple are hoping for more.
However, large groups who plan to stay for lunch are requested to phone in advance to help plan the catering: (07) 4164-7217.
Update: This event was cancelled on Saturday due to wet weather, and rescheduled to the following day (ie Sunday, November 1).
