{"id":131794,"date":"2016-01-18T06:30:39","date_gmt":"2016-01-17T20:30:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=131794"},"modified":"2020-10-29T16:28:31","modified_gmt":"2020-10-29T06:28:31","slug":"more-christmas-lights-prizes-in-2016","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2016\/01\/18\/more-christmas-lights-prizes-in-2016\/","title":{"rendered":"More Christmas Lights Prizes In 2016"},"content":{"rendered":"
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South Burnett Mayor Wayne Kratzmann and Cr Barry Green congratulate Christmas Lights Competition winner Frank Honey, centre, from Nanango<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

January 18, 2016<\/strong><\/p>\n

Following the success of the 2015 South Burnett Christmas Lights Competition – which drew a record number of entries – Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd will be offering big prizes this year as well.<\/p>\n

Mayor Wayne Kratzmann made the announcement at a special presentation ceremony for the 2015 winners held at Kingaroy Town Hall last Wednesday.<\/p>\n

First prize winner Frank Honey, from Nanango, won a $15,000 trip to Singapore for two adults and two children in the competition.<\/p>\n

And second prize winner Christine Collett, from Proston, won a $10,000 trip to Singapore.<\/p>\n

All other urban and rural category winners and runners-up received certificates and cash prizes of between $300 and $500.<\/p>\n

Mayor Kratzmann said Mrs Rinehart’s company had originally offered to sponsor the Christmas Lights competition to help build connections between her company and the community.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Last year Hancock Prospecting purchased a number of South Burnett farming properties as a first step towards building a large dairying project.<\/p>\n

But when a change of market circumstances led the company to defer its dairying proposal, it decided to use the properties to raise Wagyu beef cattle instead.<\/p>\n

The Mayor said Christmas Lights Competition judging had been carried out by independent assessors, but Mrs Hancock had come to the South Burnett to view the Christmas Lights entries herself.<\/p>\n

She was so impressed by what she saw that her company has offered a similar sponsorship for the 2016 competition.<\/p>\n

However, the Mayor warned there was one caveat to the sponsorship, which is that this year’s major prize-winners will be ineligible to win again in 2016.<\/p>\n

The Mayor also paid special tribute to first prize winner Frank Honey.<\/strong><\/p>\n

When a wild storm struck Nanango a few days before last year’s judging, many entrants were left without power and some – including one of Frank’s neighbours – had their displays blown over.<\/p>\n

The Council deferred final judging for a few days to allow power to be restored and displays to be reassembled.<\/p>\n

“One of Frank’s neighbours who also had a great Christmas lights display got really knocked around by the storm,” the Mayor said.<\/p>\n

“Frank was the first to put up his hand and offer to help him get his display back together.<\/p>\n

“I think his community-minded attitude deserves special mention.”<\/p>\n