Lady Bjelke-Petersen Community Hospital chief operating officer Kelly Langdon with South Burnett Community Hospital Foundation Board member Mark Pitt

June 22, 2025

South Burnett Community Hospital Foundation (SBCHF) and South Burnett Online co-hosted the Kingaroy Chamber of Commerce & Industry’s June meet’n’greet last Tuesday night.

The get-together of local business people was held at the Lady Bjelke-Petersen Community Hospital and compered by KCCI vice-president Jason Erbacher.

SBCHF Company Secretary Mark Pitt presented a ceremonial cheque for more than $44,000 to the hospital’s chief operating officer, Kelly Langdon, which represented the total amount the Foundation had donated to the hospital over the past 12 months.

Ms Langdon said she was very grateful to the SBCHF and the community for its support, which had allowed the hospital to buy a new theatre bed.

She said during the past 12 months, 2800 people had undergone surgery at the hospital.

Mr Pitt said the hospital redevelopment project was still progressing slowly with more than half-a-million dollars spent on the planning application alone, which has been approved.

“It is an ambitious and bold project to redevelop this site,” Mr Pitt said,

“Not one dollar of State or Federal money has been put into this project … it just shows what a community can do,” he said.

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The future direction of South Burnett Online was also officially unveiled at the KCCI meet’n’greet.

Editor Anne (Miller) Martindale said a not-for-profit association had been formed, and a management committee put in place, to take over the running of the formerly privately owned business which operates this website as well as associated Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Soundcloud channels.

She invited  community members to become members of the new association (see our Editorial) and urged community members and local businesses to support the new structure.

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South Burnett Support Alliance secretary Marietta Wetzig spoke about the free weekly community meals project, co-ordinated by the Alliance but hosted each Wednesday night at the Salvation Army Hall in Kingaroy by a different local business or community group. 

The community-based project celebrated its first birthday earlier this year.

Ms Wetzig invited more local groups and businesses to get involved.

Anyone interested, can contact the Alliance via their Facebook page or phone 0418-156-547.

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Upcoming Events:

Michelle Hansen (Swickers), former KCCI management committee member Nina Temperton and Grant Arrell (Kewpie  Stockfeed)
South Burnett CTC CEO Jason Erbacher compered the meet’n’greet

Mark Pitt presented Mitch Gray (AMG Electrical) with the Business of the Year (Medium) trophy from the recent South Burnett Training Awards

Darrin Kefford, from Kingaroy Joinery, with South Burnett Mayor Kathy Duff … Mayor Duff said the Community Plan for Kingaroy would be released soon
Daniel Huskisson (SB Pest Control) with Rowena Dionysius (Kingaroy RSL Club)

Tracey Mahara and Kerri McLennan, from Jobmatch

Tom Reilly, Kingaroy; with Cr Deb Dennien

Johan Fourie (Mr Motor) with Eric Ford, Kingaroy Men’s Shed

CROW-FM general manager Rowena Irvine with Moira Reilly, Kingaroy

 

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