{"id":59751,"date":"2014-03-10T22:59:30","date_gmt":"2014-03-10T12:59:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=59751"},"modified":"2020-12-04T16:11:59","modified_gmt":"2020-12-04T06:11:59","slug":"festival-fun-leaves-a-hangover","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2014\/03\/10\/festival-fun-leaves-a-hangover\/","title":{"rendered":"Festival Fun Leaves A Hangover"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Dayna, Bronwyn, Jacqui, Clare, Zasha and Sam were enjoying the live music inside the festival grounds where security guards and police were keeping the area safe<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Deb Mahony, from Dundowan, won the raffle prize of two nights’ accommodation at the Kingfisher Bay Resort; her lucky ticket was drawn by South Burnett mayor Wayne Kratzmann<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

March 11, 2014<\/strong><\/p>\n

It was looking like a perfect day out … people were having fun, eating, drinking and enjoying live music in Kingaroy’s Memorial Park on Saturday.<\/p>\n

But the aftermath of this year’s Wine and Food in the Park Festival has left both police and organisers with a big hangover.<\/p>\n

“A fabulous event” was ruined by the actions of some local residents “who don’t know when it’s time to go home”.<\/p>\n

After being cancelled last year because of the floods, the 2014 festival had been awaited with much anticipation.<\/p>\n

Within the festival boundaries, the presence of police and security guards ensured people enjoyed themselves in safety, dancing to live music and enjoying local wines and craft beers.<\/p>\n

However, when the event wound down at 8:00pm, the party shifted uptown.<\/p>\n

“There were very few problems at the event itself,” South Burnett mayor Wayne Kratzmann told southburnett.com.au<\/strong><\/p>\n

“But by 8:00pm, a substantial number of people had enough to drink. They should have made the right decision to go home.<\/p>\n

“However, a large number of people left the park and converged on much smaller venues, spilling out onto the road.<\/p>\n

“This has implications for the police and was a disappointing end to a fabulous event.<\/p>\n

“This is something we need to discuss with the hoteliers as well.”<\/p>\n

Officer-in-charge of Kingaroy Police Senior Sergeant Duane Frank said 12 people had been arrested on 14 charges, including drink-driving, obstructing police and public nuisance offences related to alcohol-fuelled behaviour.<\/strong><\/p>\n

As well, 25 tickets were issued for public urination.<\/p>\n

An 18-year-old Blackbutt man and a 30-year-old Brisbane man, both of whom had been at the festival, were charged with drink-driving.<\/p>\n

Alarmingly, eight drivers were also charged with drug driving: a 43-year-old Kingaroy man, a 22-year-old Kingaroy man, a 39-year-old Kingaroy woman, a 35-year-old Kingaroy woman, a 23-year-old Murgon woman, a 21-year-old Kingaroy woman, a 31-year-old Kingaroy woman and an 18-year-old Kingaroy woman.<\/p>\n

Six tested positive to methamphetamine and two tested positive to cannabis.<\/p>\n

“Some of the drivers were adversely affected to the point that they were a danger to other motorists. This is a major concern to local police,” Snr Sgt Frank said. “One woman had young children in the car, showing a total disregard to their safety.”<\/p>\n

Snr Sgt Frank said the behaviour of many young people in the Kingaroy CBD after the event was “embarrassing for the Kingaroy community”.<\/p>\n

“There was a volume of young females intoxicated to the point of vomiting and not being able to walk. It was disgraceful.<\/p>\n

“It would have been great for their parents to have seen them and their behaviour.”<\/p>\n

There was also a spate of vandalism in the CBD – including glass windows and doors smashed, street signs damaged and rubbish strewn about.<\/strong><\/p>\n

A businessman, who didn’t wish to be named, told southburnett.com.au<\/strong> three panes of glass in his store had been kicked in. Two adjacent shops were also damaged.<\/p>\n

He said he didn’t blame the festival, but questioned the trading hours of local hotels.<\/p>\n

Snr Sgt Frank said the Wine and Food in the Park committee had organised a great event but the aftermath was disappointing.<\/p>\n

“A number of issues have arisen,” he said.<\/p>\n

These would have to be discussed between police, Liquor Licensing and the South Burnett Regional Council.<\/p>\n

South Burnett Events committee president Darren Schmidt said 98 per cent of the people who had attended the event just had a good time.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“Within the boundaries of the event, it was all ok – with the exception of some issues in regards to the number of toilets,” he said.<\/p>\n

“We have done everything that has been asked of us to make the event safer, including shorter hours, more security and ending free wine tastings earlier.<\/p>\n

“We can control what happens within the bunting but we can’t be in control of people who have left the venue.<\/p>\n

“However, we are willing, of course, to work with all the authorities to try to find a solution.”<\/p>\n

On a positive note, Darren said the committee was “really, really happy” with how the Dinner Under The Stars went on Friday night.<\/p>\n

This was one of the main innovations at this year’s festival.<\/p>\n

[Photos by Clive Lowe Photography<\/a> and southburnett.com.au]<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Adding a bit of colour … the Monster Blonde entertainers were anything but blonde<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Pete Eaton, from Captain’s Paddock
(Photo: Clive Lowe)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n
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The Memphis Moovers were a hit on stage and off (Photo: Clive Lowe)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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Dinner Under The Stars<\/strong><\/h3>\n

A new attraction at this year’s South Burnett Wine And Food In The Park Festival occurred on Friday night … a gourmet “Dinner Under The Stars” prepared by chef Jimmy Stephen from Accents Catering.<\/p>\n

About 140 diners enjoyed a formal four-course dinner served on the lawn in Memorial Park.<\/p>\n

A highlight of the evening was the auction of a special “at home” three-course dinner for eight, prepared by Jimmy Stephen, which raised $1550.<\/p>\n

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Carmel Davies, from the Sunshine Coast, with Ray Wilton, from Kingaroy, and Accents Catering chef Jimmy Stephen<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Kirstie and Wayne Schumacher with Melissa Fisher, from Kingaroy<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n
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Peter Reed and Trudi Bartlett with Jenny and David Rix, from Kingaroy<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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Memorial Park was transformed into an upmarket open air restaurant for several hours<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Accents Catering staff were working hard behind the scenes<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Kate Zelinski, from Accents Catering, was greeting guests on the red carpet<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n
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Sarah Mathias, from Midnight Groove, kept the diners entertained<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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South Burnett mayor Wayne Kratzmann and his wife Eleanor with Vicki Sparkes and Cr Damien Tessmann<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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More Photos From Wine & Food In The Park<\/strong><\/h3>\n