January 30, 2021
Australia Day events were held in towns across the South Burnett on Tuesday with the usual mix of bush poetry, brekkies, anthems, flags and snags.
Missing due to COVID-19 were some of the usual favourites, such as lamington eating and pie munching competitions, but there were still cricket matches, dog-jumping, singing and speeches.
In Kingaroy, a crowd turned out at Lyle Vidler Oval to enjoy a display of whipcracking … first from local team the Campfire Crackers, followed by professional whipcracker and five-times Guinness World Record holder Nathan Griggs.
Member for Maranoa, Agriculture Minister David Littleproud was the special guest at the citizenship ceremony during which nine “new” Australians were sworn in from seven countries.
Mayor Brett Otto said the Australia Day activities were an opportunity for all Australians, whether they were citizens by birth or by choice, to join in national events that reflect, respect and celebrate.
“We reflect on our history, its highs and lows; we respect the stories of all our people, and we celebrate our nation, its achievements and most of all, its people,” Mayor Otto said.
When the official events wound down, local junior cricketers from across the South Burnett took to the oval for a T20 game.
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Raw video from Kingaroy:
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Murgon
In Murgon, local residents gathered at the Dairy Museum for the traditional community breakfast and family fun morning.
The barbecue was followed by a ceremony to recognise Murgon’s Australia Day Award winners and live entertainment.
This year’s Murgon Business & Development Award winners were:
- Senior Ambassador – Pastor Chris Downes
- Junior Ambassador – Madison Hall
- Lifetime Achievement Award – Dr Joe Gangemi
- Organisation of the Year – Queensland Dairy & Heritage Museum
- Senior Cultural Award – Pat Van Kempen
- Junior Cultural Award – The Murgon High School Dance Group
- Senior Sportsperson – Leanne Dowdle
- Junior Sportsperson – Pharrell Chapman
- Volunteer of the Year – Cecily Saunders
- Sports Administrator – Cole Cooper
- Outstanding Contribution to Murgon by Citizen or Group – Andrew & Felicity Dascombe
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Nanango
The Nanango Tourism and Development Association, Nanango Show Society and SBRC jointly hosted a free breakfast at the Nanango Showgrounds.
There was bush poetry (of course!), damper and cocky’s joy, a sing-along and the always-popular dog high jumps which have become a Nanango tradition.
Nanango’s local Australia Day award winners were also presented to the crowd and congratulated.
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Blackbutt
Blackbutt – which missed out on many local events due to COVID-19 – went all out for Australia Day with a Top Of The Range Bazaar, avocado games, a community sausage sizzle and live bands in and around the Memorial Hall and the rail trail.
Other odd sports included gumboot throwing and a rolling pin toss.
A number of Blackbutt businesses also got into the Australia Day spirit, hosting events later in the day.
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Wondai
In Wondai, residents gathered in Coronation Park for a free community breakfast prepared by members of the local Lions Club.
Local Army cadets took part in a flag-raising ceremony, the Wondai Town & District Band provided live music and an Australia Day cake was cut.
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Hivesville
Hivesville marked Australia Day with a community barbecue breakfast in Anzac Park, opposite the Hivesville Hotel, hosted by the Hivesville Progress Association.
There was a special congratulations to Hivesville / Proston Local Achiever award winner Kathy Julian, who was presented to the crowd by Cr Kathy Duff.
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Proston
Australia Day is always a big event for the Proston Scouts who host a free afternoon tea at their den in Rodney Street.
There was coffee, tea and cold drinks on hand on Tuesday as well as damper and lamingtons.
A fun and friendly cricket game was also held nearby.
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Boondooma
At historic Boondooma Homestead, Australia Day activities took place in the evening, kicking off with a flag-raising ceremony.
This was followed by a barbecue dinner and walk-up concert.
Many of the visitors were from the Boondooma area but a coach also brought along guests from Murgon, Wondai and Proston.
[UPDATED with correction]
