Linda Rea and Nicholas Blanch, from the Proston & District Heritage Association, launch the 248-page “Proston – 100 years Down The Track” on Saturday
October 2, 2023
An estimated 1500 to 2000 people turned out in Proston at the weekend to help celebrate the town’s Centenary.
Many returned for the long weekend of activities, which included bus trips around the area, a school display, historic films and a wealth of things to see and do in Railway Park.
Saturday’s highlights included a long parade down Rodney Street which featured cars, trucks, horses, tractors and even scouts on billycarts! (see below)
The official opening of the celebrations, held at The Platform, was an opportunity for small handful of invited guests to reminisce about growing up in Proston, and the changes they have seen.
They all praised the town spirit which had kept Proston going over the years, and which was on display at the Centenary celebrations.
The opening was followed by the launch of “Proston – 100 Years Down The Track”, a compilation of stories, memories, photos and anecdotes about living and working in Proston.
Linda Rea, who pulled together and edited all the submissions from the public, said the book had never been intended to be a “complete” history of Proston, but rather a collection of snapshots from across the years.
On Saturday night, the Centenary Dance at Proston Hall was another opportunity for local residents and returning visitors to swap memories.
Highlights on Sunday included the official opening of the Proston Men’s Shed, Proston Community Shops and Proston Heritage Trail signboards (see below), with visitors also invited to watch the NRL Grand Final on a big screen in Railway Park after a display of fireworks.
Sarah Alexander, Kingaroy, with Denise and Dwayne Daniels, from Beachmere, who returned to Proston for the CentenaryGrame and Ruth (nee Olsen) Howard, from Hervey BayTingoora artist Robyn Dower with Acting Mayor Gavin Jones and Robyn’s “The Weaners” artwork which is installed beside the Proston HallKristy Frahm, who returned to Proston for the celebration, with Cr Kirstie SchumacherThe Wondai Town & District Band led the procession and then settled in Railway Park to entertain the crowdMarion Izatt, third from left, with Proston QCWA members Judith Marek, Margaret Christie and Joan Murray who were serving up the devonshire teaMembers of the South Burnett Antique Motor Club were enjoying a break in the shadeAttendees gathered under marquees in Railway Park to enjoy the live music and watch official ceremoniesProston Scouts raised the Australian flag at the start of the official opening ceremonyWinston Burrows, from the Wondai Town & District Band, led the singing of the National AnthemNicholas Blanch compered the opening ceremony at The PlatformSheona Fuller, from Proston, acknowledged the traditional owners of the Proston area, the Kaiabara and Wakka Wakka peopleGuest speaker Robert Smith, founder of Smithfield Feedlot, acknowledged the boost former Premier Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen provided to the Proston area with the construction of the Boondooma Dam and the associated Boondooma pipelineGuest speaker Jim Dionysius shared anecdotes from his time teaching at Proston, Brovinia Creek and Abbeywood schools … “the spirit of the people of Proston is alive and well”Former principal at Proston P-10 school, Alison Welch, also shared some stories … has anyone seen the school’s safe or ride-on mower?Current Proston K-10 principal Andrew Dobson with school captains Darren Blanch and Kaitlyn Barber … he invited the Centenary crowd to visit the schoolgrounds on Saturday to check out the historic enrolment lists and photographs; the school will be 100 years old next yearCr Kathy Duff shared memories of attending Proston SchoolMembers of the Proston & District Heritage Association, which organised the Centenary celebrations, received a warm welcome from the crowd when they were invited on stage at the openingLive music took over The Platform after the openingOver at the Proston Showgrounds, the pavilion was filled with admirers for the Dressmakers’ Exhibition which featured more than 100 dresses made by Proston and district dressmakers over more than 80 years … Gaynor Ramke, from Mondure, and Tracy Forshaw, from Rockhampton, were volunteering at the gateThe Dressmakers’ Exhibition was put together by Proston dressmaker Merle Johnson (nee Lonsdale) who made some of the dresses on display … all the dresses were made locallyA display of hand-made Proston wedding dresses … dating from 1936, 1937, 1941 and 1959Col Coulson, from Murgon; Darryl and Kay Dove, Kingaroy; and Robert Smith, Proston, were catching up at the showgrounds … dresses by Col’s late mother Beryl were part of the Dressmakers’ ExhibitionJokingly, the Railway Park parkrun organisers were hoping for 100 runners to turn up for their regular Saturday morning event, but they were still pleased with 38 … it was a new record for the group! (Photo: Ros Heit)
* * *
On Sunday
Sunday’s events included the unveiling of the Proston Heritage Trail signs in Blake Street plus the official opening of the seven Proston Community Shops and the Proston Men’s Shed.
The Heritage Trail consists of 52 marked properties around town.
Brochures to help visitors explore the trail are available at Proston Library, the Community and Information Centre and many Proston businesses.
The seven Proston Community Shops are a legacy of a late Southern Downs Regional councillor, Jamie Mackenzie, a close friend of Cr Kathy Duff.
Cr Mackenzie died in February 2016.
In early 2019, Cr Duff donated funds she had inherited from Cr Mackenzie to a new community group to buy seven shops in Blake Street.
Later that year, Cr Duff was awarded the LGAQ’s Butch Lenton Memorial Bush Council Innovation Award which carried a $10,000 prize. Cr Duff donated this money to the Proston Village Community Group to be put towards the repair and repainting of the shops.
The Proston Men’s Shed was also supported by Cr Duff from Cr Mackenzie’s estate.
“Today is the celebration of Cr Jamie Mackenzie’s life because he was from Killarney and he loved small communities, and Proston is very much like Killarney,” Cr Duff said.
“I knew that it was God’s calling for me to give that money to the Men’s Shed and to the Proston shops so that this town would flourish.”
Members of the Mackenzie family were present at both openings.
Cr Duff also led a minute’s silence in memory of Proston Men’s Shed president Gordon Horne, who died recently.
Proston & District Heritage Association members at the Heritage Trail opening … Lyn Manthey, Kathy Julian, Kathy Crane, Margaret Westerman, Nick Blanch and Linda Rae (Photo: Ros Heit)Melinda Jones, from Red Earth Community Foundation which auspiced the Community Shops Project, with former South Burnett councillor Ros Heit, who nominated Cr Kathy Duff for the Butch Lenton award, and Cr Duff outside one of the seven shops (Photo: Ros Heit)Carmel Parnell, from Proston Village Community, also spoke at the opening of the shops … Cr Duff and relatives of the late Jamie Mackenzie cut a commemorative cake (Photo: Ros Heit)
* * *
Saturday’s Street Parade
The Wondai Town & District Band led the parade down Rodney Street, and then followed …
* * *
Crowds lined the Rodney and Blake streets corner to watch the parade:
Great weekend. Good coverage but you missed a very important part.
The early settlers who established around the Speedwell region more than a decade before the town was established brought with them a strong Christian faith. This Christian faith has always had a strong presence across the region as it developed.
On Sunday morning over 100 gathered at South Burnett Ministries for a time of praise and thanksgiving to God for what He has done. Many direct descendants were there. Pastor Lyle Slinger, himself a direct descendant, led the service and was then actively involved in the opening of the shops and men’s shed.
Great photography! You captured the essence of the weekend. Thanks for the wonderful job you do for our region and thank you for coming to Proston.
Great weekend. Good coverage but you missed a very important part.
The early settlers who established around the Speedwell region more than a decade before the town was established brought with them a strong Christian faith. This Christian faith has always had a strong presence across the region as it developed.
On Sunday morning over 100 gathered at South Burnett Ministries for a time of praise and thanksgiving to God for what He has done. Many direct descendants were there. Pastor Lyle Slinger, himself a direct descendant, led the service and was then actively involved in the opening of the shops and men’s shed.
Faith runs deep in Proston.