Rosemary Balzer, from Kingaroy, and Jan Trace, Coolabunia, were getting into the Australia Day spirit – and keeping cool – on a warm Sunday morning in Kingaroy

January 30, 2025

A ceremony to create 15 new Australian citizens was the highlight of Sunday morning’s Australia Day event in Kingaroy.

South Burnett Mayor Kathy Duff led the applicants through their Pledge of Commitment before each was presented with a copy of the South Burnett history book, “Landscapes Of Change”.

Citizenship ceremonies are held regularly throughout the year at the Kingaroy Council Chambers but some applicants opt to wait until Australia Day to make their pledge.

The Kingaroy Scouts hosted the Australia Day activities again this year, which included a formal flag-raising plus coo-ee and thong-throwing competitions.

Volunteers from the Kingaroy QCWA provided free tea, coffee and scones while the Scouts offered damper and cocky’s joy.

Kingaroy Rotary members made bacon and egg burgers, which were so popular that they ran out!

Members of the South Burnett Antique Motor Club provided a polished display of vehicles for the crowd to inspect.

However, it was 10-year-old whipcracker Josh Lamping who stole the show with his display of single and double-handed whipcracking.

Josh will be competing at the Queensland Championships at Clifton in a few weeks’ time.

South Burnett Mayor Kathy Duff with some of the local residents who became Australian citizens at Kingaroy’s Australia Day event
Kingaroy Scouts hosted Kingaroy’s Australia Day event at their Den in James Street with assistance from Taabinga Lions and other community groups
Kingaroy Rotary Club members were kept busy making egg and bacon burgers
Sharyn Lenkeit, from Kingaroy, was enjoying a scone with jam and cream prepared by the QCWA

Amber Goldsmith was called on to sing the National Anthem … twice!

Natalie Fenton also entertained the crowd on Sunday morning
Coo-ee competition winners with compere Cr Danita Potter … from left, 1st, Amelia Lamping, 12; 2nd, Josh Lamping, 10; and 3rd, Allyra Lenkeit, 13
Josh Lamping put on an expert display of whipcracking … but fellow councillors should watch out as Cr Danita Potter also proved she could crack a whip
Rutland Turner, 12, from Kingaroy, was one of the many entrants in the thong-throwing competition
Cr Danita Potter with thong-throwing winner, Brady Bliesner, 12, from Kingaroy
Taabinga Lions president Tim Minchell, third from left, presented “thank you” certificates to the groups which had helped out on the day … from left, Eric Ford (Kingaroy Men’s Shed), compere Cr Danita Potter, Mark Huston (Kingaroy Rotary), Jenny “Badger” Behm (Kingaroy Scouts), Geoff Aird (South Burnett Antique Motor Club), Col Rogerson (Shannons Insurance) and Kelli Stolzenberg (Kingaroy QCWA); earlier in the morning South Burnett Mayor Kathy Duff also presented certificates to Eric Ford and Tim Minchell to thank their clubs for their help during the recent storm clean-ups

Mayor Kathy Duff takes Ninu Johny, from Kingaroy, through the citizenship Pledge of Commitment

Kingaroy Venturer  Scout Zachary May officially raised the flag during a formal ceremony with fellow Scouts

South Burnett Young Citizen Of The Year Tiarna Petersen-Jiamtsu addressed the crowd

Kumbia Local Achiever Award winners Sandra and Bill Steffensen were introduced to the crowd
Cr Danita Potter, South Burnett Mayor Kathy Duff and Cr Deb Dennien

 

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