July 25, 2025
South Burnett councillors narrowly voted in favour of supporting Laughter Clinics and a Winter Warmers comedy night to be hosted next month by the South Burnett Suicide Prevention Working Group.
Councillors voted 4-3 at their July meeting to provide $3000 and hall hire for the event.
The motion was moved by Cr Danita Potter and seconded by Cr Linda Little.
Cr Potter said the opportunity to hold the events had come about “quite quickly”.
“We have the chance to get Mark McConville up who does laughter clinics and comedy roadshows,” Cr Potter said.
“I think this is something that would be really beneficial to our community.”
The money would come out of this year’s Council’s Community Grants Program.
Cr Potter said Laughter Clinics, for about 20 people, would be held at Murgon, Proston, Nanango and two in Kingaroy (one for the community and one for professionals in the sector).
There would also be a big Winter Warmers Comedy Night show at the Kingaroy Town Hall on August 13.
Cr Heit said she could not support the motion because it was paying for a professional comedian and keynote speaker from the Gold Coast to visit the area.
She said Council’s Community Grants program was for local community groups and it was highly competitive, with many applicants in Rounds 1 & 2 last year either disallowed or only partially funded.
Cr Heit suggested the South Burnett Suicide Prevention Working Group apply for a Community Grant in the next round and reschedule the dates. The full application could then be assessed on its merits against other applications.
“I have to say I tend to be more supportive of supporting our local community groups rather than supporting a visiting professional for $3000 for two days,” Cr Heit said.
“I can’t support this application in good conscience when we have knocked back so many of our own local community groups. I believe a full application should go through the right channels and be assessed against every other community grant application.”
Mayor Kathy Duff supported the event, saying she had attended a very “impactful” comedy session at Murgon Town Hall in the past which had packed the hall.
And Cr Linda Little said humour was the only thing which had helped her family get through a very difficult time.
Mayor Duff, Cr Little, Cr Potter and Cr Deb Dennien voted in favour of the motion.
Deputy Mayor Jane Erkens, Cr Heath Sander and Cr Heit voted against it.
