Mary Calvert with NaTDA volunteers Mary Green and Sam Hill who were registering visitors to the reunion
March 23, 2026
The annual “Back To Nanango” reunion – held recently in the grounds of the historic Ringsfield House – was a fabulous day, according to local councillor Jane Erkens.
Cr Erkens said the Nanango Tourism and Development Association (NaTDA), which took over organisation of the event last year, had feared numbers could have been down because of the recent wet weather and fuel fears, but that hadn’t been the case.
“It was a great turnout and a fabulous opportunity for people to catch-up,” she said.
People came from across south-east Queensland – and across the South Burnett – to swap memories with their former Nanango neighbours.
Visitors had the opportunity to watch the “Living History” videos in the old church.
These interviews with older Nanango residents were filmed by local videographer Charlie Spagalli as part of a history project sponsored by Heritage Nanango and Nanango Real Estate.
The volunteers from the Kingaroy QCWA were kept busy serving up scones and sandwiches, while Greg and Joy Patch, from Beauvale Australian Whites, were looking after the barbecue, grilling lamb sausages.
A boutique Handmade Market, also run by NaTDA, was held in the gardens of Ringsfield House to coincide with the reunion.
Visitors were taking the opportunity to browse the many stalls.
Ringsfield House was also open for inspection, with volunteers taking visitors on guided tours.
“NaTDA is a very small committee but it is very active in the community,” Cr Erkens said.
NB. On May 17, the Heritage NaTDA choir will be performing in the old church, in the grounds of Ringsfield, from about 2:00pm.
Cameron Retschlag, from Bullcamp, with Wendy (nee Ballin) and Mike Weekes, from BoonahAlison Wratten and Mary Latona, from Nanango, were checking out the History RoomFormer Nanango farmer Barry Davis, Brisbane, with McNamara family members … Patricia, Toowoomba; Ray, East Nanango; and Les, BrisbaneLen Mangan, from Sunshine Coast, caught up with local councillor Jane ErkensGrace Reinhardt (nee White), from Palmwoods with her daughter Michelle Ewart, Bray Park; and Joan Gowlett (nee White), Caboolture … Grace and Joan have been friends since they were first students at the new Nanango State High School in 1955; they donated some historic photographs to the History Room during the reunionFour keen ex-Nanango footballers were swapping stories … Nev Kassulke, Kingaroy (son of Fred Kassulke after whom the Nanango football ground is named); Des McCallum, Nanango; John McCauley, Brisbane; and Peter McCauley, Kingaroy“Bunny” Laherty, from Nanango, with Malcolm Hood, GoomeriFrom left, at back, Darryl Schilf, Nanango; and Shane Apps, Brisbane; seated, Neil Perrett, Yarraman; Barry Green, Nanango; and Ross Kapernick, NanangoPeter Hall and Lorna Beetham, from KingaroyThe boutique Nanango Handmade Markets, run by NaTDA, were held in the grounds of Ringsfield House to coincide with the Back To Nanango reunionNanango’s Keren Mcsweeney was selling her mosaics and other art pieces at the Handmade MarketsDianne Evans and Jan Jones were selling raffle tickets at the Handmade Market to raise funds for the Nanango Hospital Auxiliary
