Gavin Jones was enjoying catching up with his old footy mate, Ron Watson, from Cherbourg, at the Aussie Fun Day on Sunday at the Maidenwell Hotel
January 27, 2026
The Australia Day long weekend was marked around the region with a swathe of events … from cane toad and yabby racing to dog jumping and boat races on dry land.
Then there were displays of vintage and classic cars and motorbikes, dancing, painting and lots and lots of barbecues and sausage sizzles.
Almost every town had something happening, either on Saturday, Sunday or Monday.
The most formal event occurred on Monday morning, when South Burnett Mayor Kathy Duff hosted a citizenship ceremony in Kingaroy’s Memorial Park to welcome 13 “new Australians”.
Each was presented with a copy of the two-volume South Burnett history, “Landscapes Of Change”, written by Tony Mathews.
Yarraman also enjoyed a special Australia Day event, hosting the annual Rosalie Awards (for towns in the old Rosalie Shire – see separate report)
Here’s our wrap-up of some of the main activities around the South Burnett:
* * *
Kingaroy
The Taabinga Lions Club joined with South Burnett Regional Council to host a large Australia Day event in Memorial Park on Monday.
The South Burnett Antique Motor Club and the Ulysses Motorcycle Club supported the event with big displays, while the Kingaroy Scouts and Kingaroy Guides organised a children’s play area.
Cadets from Wondai’s 135ACU conducted a flag parade and the Sing Australia choir sung the National Anthem ahead of the formal citizenship ceremony.
There were thongs thrown and cooees called as well as lamingtons, fairy bread and scones made; whip-cracking and live music.
Kingaroy residents who were nominated for awards at Sunday’s SBRC Australia Day Awards at Proston were also introduced to the crowd and re-presented with their certificates.
Kingaroy Australia Day organising committee president Tim Minchell with fellow Taabinga Lions Club members Fulton Tony and Tony BurgessVolunteers from the South Nanango and Sandy Ridges Rural Fire Brigades had a display of vehiclesAmber Goldsmith was singing some Australian classics in the Rotunda in Memorial ParkThis 1948 Morris 8 was one of the many vehicles on displayThe keen cooks from the Kingaroy QCWA were preparing scones with jam and creamPeter McClennan, from the Burnett branch of the Ulysses social motorcycle club, brought along his 1925 IndianDale Grant, another Ulysses member, with his 1972 Marlin roadster … the UK-built vehicle is probably the only one of its kind in QueenslandMembers of the local branch of Sing Australia sang the National Anthem and some classic Australian songsMayor Kathy Duff, Cr Danita Potter and Cr Deb Dennien headed the Council contingent at the Kingaroy eventCadets from Wondai’s 135ACU conducted a flag parade to the RotundaPeter Moir, from Kingaroy, and Abby were feeling patriotic at the Kingaroy eventMayor Kathy Duff led the Citizenship ceremony at the foot of the RotundaMayor Duff, at right, congratulated new citizens Erin McBride, from Crawford (ex-New Zealand); and Alanna Blanch, from Nanango (ex-Ireland)Nandhakishor Sunindran, from Murgon (ex-India), was another of the new citizens sworn in on MondayThe Kingaroy & District Vintage Machinery Club also had vehicles on displayVolunteer of the Year nominee Alison Murray with Mayor DuffVolunteer of the Year winner Rhonda TrivettThe South Burnett’s Citizen of the Year, Kingaroy Men’s Shed president Eric FordFormer South Burnett Mayor Keith Campbell and his wife Marion … Keith received an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in the 2026 Australia Day Honours List
* * *
Kumbia
Kumbia’s Australia Day activities kicked off on Monday morning with a sausage sizzle, damper, lamingtons and bush poetry at the Memorial Hall.
Local Achiever Award winner Joe Shaw and Back To Kumbia Weekend organisers Bill and Sandra Steffensen were also re-presented with their Australia Day certificates by Deputy Mayor Ros Heit.
There was also a campfire building competition, yabby racing and thong throwing.
Deputy Mayor Ros Heit with Kumbia Local Achiever Award winner Joe Shaw (Photo: Ros Heit)Local bush poet Barry Offer shared some stories with the crowd (Photo: Ros Heit)
* * *
Maidenwell
The Maidenwell Hotel held its holiday weekend activities on Sunday, with an Aussie Fun Day featuring yabby racing, thong throwing and a dryland “boat” race (the Coomba Falls regatta).
Licensee Gavin Jones said the day was a fundraiser for the Maidenwell Music Mix Festival which will be held later this year.
Brett Brandley, from Maidenwell, was checking out the competitors in the yabby racesFred Cobbo, Ron Watson, Gavin Jones and Tom Langton at Maidenwell on SundayDavid Fisher, Maidenwell, Paige Lee, Kumbia; and Amy Porter, Nanango, were checking out the dryland “boat” sponsored by CUB Engineering
* * *
Murgon
The Murgon Business & Development Association held its annual Australia Day awards and morning at the Queensland Dairy & Heritage Museum on Monday morning.
Murgon finalists and recipients in the South Burnett Regional Council’s Australia Day awards were honoured with local MBDA awards.
Two other young people also received special MBDA awards: Madison Holding and Milla Brown both received Young Citizen of the Year awards. Madison was the School Captain for 2025 at Murgon State High School and has excelled in sports, in particular rugby league.
Milla has done very well in equestrian events.
Guest speaker was Murgon State High School Deputy Principal Morgan Suchoronczak, who won the Murgon Local Achiever Award at the Council ceremony on Sunday.
Volunteer Community Organisation Award … Murgon Dairy Museum volunteers (Photo: Murgon Moments)Junior Cultural Award … Ian Saltner (Photo: Murgon Moments)Senior Cultural Award … Morag Muckert receives her award from Cr Heath Sander (Photo: Murgon Moments)Volunteer of the Year … Corey Smith (Photo: Murgon Moments)Junior Sportsperson … Jacob Rattey (Photo: Murgon Moments)
Young Citizen Of The Year … Josh Steinhardt (Photo: Murgon Moments)
Senior Sportsperson … Sam Dennien (Photo: Murgon Moments)
South Burnett Lifetime Achievement Award winner Betty Taylor also received an MBDA plaqueMurgon State High School Deputy Principal Morgan Suchoronczak was the guest speakerMBDA Young Citizen Of The Year … Madison Holding (Photo: Murgon Moments)Queensland Dairy & Heritage Museum volunteer Joy Fennell welcomed guests and compered the morning (Photo: MBDA)Some of the impressive array of vehicles brought along by the Goomeri Chrome Bumpers for Australia Day at the Dairy Museum (Photo: MBDA)
* * *
Nanango
The Nanango Business Alliance hosted the annual Australia Day activities at Nanango Showgrounds.
There was music, a free breakfast, bush poetry as well as the now-traditional dog high-jumping competition as well as thong and gumboot throwing.
The South Burnett’s Australia Day award finalists and winners were also acknowledged by Cr Jane Erkens.
“One of the challenges with awards like these is that they rely on nominations,” Cr Erkens told the large crowd.
“That means many incredible contributors are never formally acknowledged, not because they are undeserving but because no one has taken the time to tell their story.
“So today, alongside celebrating our recipients, I want to issue a simple challenge to all of us.
“When you see someone making a difference, consistently, selflessly and with heart, take the next step. Nominate them!”
Another Nanango group which held events on Monday was the South Burnett Western Performance Club which organised a day of fun activities at their grounds on Racecourse Road.
“Ivy” takes a look at the target in the dog high-jumping competitionJake Downie, from Nanango, with the dog high-jumping champion for the third year in a row … “Cowboy” jumped 6’10”Bev Gardner and Sharon Johnson from Australia Day organisers, the Nanango Business AllianceFlying the flag in more ways than one on Australia Day at Nanango!Cr Jane Erkens, Mayor Kathy Duff and Midge Thompson, who called the dog jumping contestAmy Matthews and “swaggie” Allan Murray with Cr Jane Erkens at the South Burnett Western Performance Club’s fun day on Monday (Photo: Jane Erkens)Cr Linda Little and Mayor Kathy Duff relax in the shade with Judy Campbell, from Blackbutt, at the Western Performance Club’s fun day of horse activities and novelty events (Photo: Jane Erkens)
* * *
Wondai
Wondai Regional Art Gallery’s now-traditional Australia Day mix of music, dancing and art ensured a fun day for all around the gallery precinct in Coronation Park.
The crowd enjoyed a free breakfast before an enthusiastic performance by the young stars from the Wirri Wakka Dancers.
The Wondai Town & District Band also played on the new verandah extension of the gallery.
Inside The Studio, artists-in-residence Natasha Duncan and Sue Warry were encouraging artists young and old, experienced and amateur to be creative with paint (and even emu feathers!).
The artworks were judged and $1600 in vouchers from local businesses were distributed to the winners.
The day finished with free pizzas and live music by Eddie Conlon.
The Wirri Wakka Dancers were a key part of Wondai’s holiday activities (Photo: Nadine Gray)Wondai Lions Club was kept busy serving up brekkie (Photo: Ros Heit)Margaret and Winston Burrows were getting into the Australia Day spirit (Photo: Ros Heit)Queueing up for the free breakfast outside the Wondai Regional Art Gallery (Photo: Ros Heit)The Wirri Wakka Dancers pose for a group photograph (Photo: Nadine Gray)Deputy Mayor Ros Heit was awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in the 2026 Australia Day Honours listThe girls from the Wirri Wakka Dancers were sharing culture … (Photo: Nadine Gray)… and the young boys were also dancing with great enthusiasm (Photo: Nadine Gray)Artist-in-residence Natasha Duncan was showing visitors how to add emu feathers to necklacesMurgon artist Maureen Irving was dreaming of a cooler day out on the waterFellow Murgon artist Sandy Hoffmann was also having fun at The StudioArtist-in-residence Sue Warry with Kay Woodall who was experimenting with decorating clapping sticks
