October 31, 2022
For the third year running, the official Salvation Army Kingaroy Community Christmas Lunch has been cancelled but another group has now stepped up to offer an alternative event on Christmas Day.
In 2020, the community lunch could not be held due to the pandemic, and in 2021, changes to restrictions on public gatherings forced a last-minute cancellation.
In 2022, the volunteers who organise the event realised they faced an acute shortage of helpers.
In August, an appeal went out from the committee – which has been running the community lunch for more than a decade – with little result.
“The current committee cannot do it on their own,” a spokesperson said at the time.
Rhonda Trivett, founder of South Burnett Peace Of Mind, has said her group is now planning to run its own event on Christmas Day to replace the lunch.
She has booked the Kingaroy Town Hall on December 25 and told southburnett.com.au there would be food available at noon.
“Anyone who is lonely is welcome to stay after the lunch as we have the complex booked until 11:00pm,” she said.
“They are welcome to stay behind and do some fun things and karaoke.”
South Burnett Peace Of Mind’s annual White Dove Ball is on this Friday night at Kingaroy Town Hall.
It is aimed at people who may be homeless and/or suffering from a mental illness, as well as those in the community who support them.
The group is also planning to run a karaoke event at Kingaroy Town Hall from 6:00pm to midnight on New Year’s Eve.
