{"id":160542,"date":"2016-10-12T22:08:58","date_gmt":"2016-10-12T12:08:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=160542"},"modified":"2020-10-02T13:19:56","modified_gmt":"2020-10-02T03:19:56","slug":"guests-celebrate-century-of-change","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2016\/10\/12\/guests-celebrate-century-of-change\/","title":{"rendered":"Guests Celebrate Century Of Change"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Sophia Levy and Bryan Phillips-Petersen from Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service provided information about natural ecosystems<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Greer Shepherd, from PCA, was showing off the company’s new Picky Picky range of peanut products; 3 litre cans of peanut oil are proving very popular with consumers<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

October 13, 2016<\/strong><\/p>\n

More than 150 current and former staff members joined invited guests and local farmers at the Joh Bjelke-Petersen Research Station last week to mark a century of Department involvement in Kingaroy.<\/p>\n

The event celebrated the valuable contribution the Department’s scientists and researchers – working under a number of structures including the Department of Agriculture\u00a0and Stock, the DPI, DAFF and now DAF –\u00a0\u00a0have made to the region over the years.<\/p>\n

The Department’s involvement began in 1916 when it posted an officer to Kingaroy to provide advice to local dairy farmers.<\/p>\n

Since then its footprint has expanded and contracted, but today there are more than 34 staff employed at the Research Station, involved in everything from peanut plant breeding to biosecurity.<\/p>\n

Their work has helped ensure primary production has remained the single biggest industry in the region, and the biggest contributor to the region’s economy.<\/p>\n

On Thursday, guests mingled and chatted with each another and former workmates swapped memories.<\/p>\n

Anyone with an interest in agricultural science had plenty to occupy their time, from guided tours through the Research Station to browsing extensive displays that catalogued the highs (and occasional lows) of mastering farming in the South Burnett over the past 100 years.<\/p>\n

There was also a special centenary birthday cake.<\/p>\n

After the public function was over, former staff joined current staff for a barbecue lunch to reminisce about the many changes the area has seen through the years.<\/p>\n