April 24, 2025
Wondai Sportsground was buzzing on Thursday with volunteers setting up for the big “Weekend At Wondai” cycling event which starts on Anzac Day.
A total of 166 riders who have booked into a series of different rides scheduled across Friday to Sunday.
Many started rolling into Wondai Sportsground on Thursday to set up camp.
The “Weekend At Wondai” has been organised by the South Burnett Rail Trail Users Association (SBRTUA) in conjunction with Bicycle Queensland.
SBRTUA secretary Jason Wyeth has enlisted 35 volunteers to help the weekend go smoothly.
All the rides will be accompanied by volunteers and safety cars.
The riders’ entry fee also covers camping and meals, including breakfasts at the sportsground, lunches by Soul Moon Energies Café and dinners by The Phat Wag.
Unfortunately, the rain on Thursday night forced the cancellation of the planned free 18km Rail Trail Night Rides which had been pencilled in for the early arrivals.
However, the main activities are scheduled to start on Friday, with riders invited to attend the Anzac Day Dawn Service in Wondai and a choice of commemorations later in the morning in either Wondai, Murgon or Wooroolin.
Each rider will be presented with a hand-made red poppy, crafted by 93-year-old Dorothy Niebling in Kingaroy, to help make the occasion memorable.
In the afternoon, riders have booked into either the 49km East/West Tingoora Loop Ride, the 44km East Wooroolin Loop Ride, the 45km Old Wondai Road Gravel Loop Ride, or will simply be enjoying a day at the races!
On Saturday morning, non-riders have been invited to take part in the weekly Wondai parkrun and browse the Wondai Markets.
Riders have booked into either the 57km Memerambi Springs/ Gordonbrook Dam via Hoggs Rd return ride; 32km Ration Shed Ride Loop (this includes a tour of the Ration Shed); 46km Gravel Loop ride; or the 65km Kingaroy Rail Trail return.
After lunch, there will be a mountain bike skills workshop on the McEuen State Forest Trails (with the South Burnett Mountain Bike Club); learning about Bike Maintenance (Bicycle Queensland); a 34km Gravel Loop ride; Moffatdale winery tour; or a 25km 55 Million Years Ago Murgon Museum ride.
On Sunday morning, there’s more rides planned: 57km Memerambi Springs/ Gordonbrook Dam via Hoggs Rd return; 65km Kingaroy Rail Trail return; 25km 55 Million Year Ago Murgon Museum ride; or the 44km East Wooroolin Loop ride.
There will be entertainment at Wondai Sportsground on both Friday and Saturday evenings.
The SBRTUA would like to thank the following sponsors who have assisted with the weekend, including South Burnett Regional Council, Stanwell, SunPork, Bendigo Bank, Plenty Foods, Fiedler Brothers Plumbing, Kingaroy Joinery, Deb Frecklington MP, Salus Group, Hansen Kitchens, Ken Mills Toyota, Hobbs & Associates, Woolworths Kingaroy, Ryan’s Butchery, Wondai Colonial Motel and Peries IGA as well as the many volunteers who have put up their hands.
- Related article: Dorothy’s Anzac Day Surprise
