Contents
Freeze-drying food facility proposed
Four local hockey players make state selection
Friends of Refugees helps family resettle
River charter business born from fishing passion
Follow Rosemarie’s steps to fight breast cancer
Antiques and Collectables Fair returns to region
What's On in Bundaberg
Take a look back at machinery from yesteryear
Contribute to Message in a Bottle installation
Who's who in the zoo
In Our Group with Bundaberg Vintage Vehicle Club
How to: find a Council Customer Service Centre
Freeze-drying food facility proposed
Ashley Schipper
An existing warehouse could soon become part of a new development for a freeze-drying facility which would be capable of manufacturing more than 200 tonnes of food while providing up to 50 jobs in the region.
Bundaberg Regional Council recently received a Material Change of Use application for the freeze dry facility at 9 Charlie Triggs Crescent, Thabeban by Insite SJC on behalf of SSS Superfoods Pty Ltd.
Currently the site features an existing office and storage area which would be utilised as a warehouse in the new development, if approved.
The proposed development also includes plans for an industrial shed, 69 parking spaces and manoeuvring area.
If approved, the proposed freeze-drying development would process greater than 200 tonnes of food and would include 50 full-time jobs.
According to the application, “the regionally significant project has economic benefits such as stimulating and supporting a diverse regional economy, significantly contributing to employment, value adding to the agricultural sector and reducing in agricultural waste”.
According to the application, the business would operate seven days a week.
Other features of the proposed development include:
• 50 full time equivalent jobs;
• 24-7 operation seven days a week;
• Proposed Process facility—1601sq m;
• Proposed ancillary office—160sq m;
• Reuse of existing warehouse—1896sq m;
• Site coverage—40.1 per cent;
• 9.6m overall building height;
• Mixture of Colourbond and painted fibre cement cladding;
• 69 formalised carparks including one designated disable parking bay;
• 2 sealed commercial driveways;
• Dedicated landscape strips;
• Dedicated waste disposal area screened from frontage;
• External lighting;
• The building would be fit for purpose and functional
Four local hockey players make state selection
Ashley Schipper
Four local players are set to take on some of the best young hockey talent in Australia at the upcoming 2023 Hockey Australia U15 Championships in Darwin.
Bundaberg Hockey Association's Ethan Kenny, Connor Castelli, Tully Dorgan and Ava McCaig were selected for the 2023 U15 Queensland State Teams following the conclusion of trials held in February.
Arrows Athletics player Ethan has been picked for the Maroons team while Waves Cities Connor Castelli and Tully Dorgan and Ava McCaig from Arrows have been chosen as shadows.
Hockey Queensland's Danielle Sturgess said the upcoming championships was the first national event young athletes could experience.
“After the U15 State Championships, State Squads are selected and invited to the trials in February of the following year,” she said.
“The Queensland teams are selected based on their performance at trials by the selection panel.
“(In Darwin) the teams will compete against other states and territories to be crowned National Champions.”
The four local hockey players have a shared passion for the sport and a combined 37 years of experience between them.
Ethan said he was thrilled to make the selection for the Maroons boys side.
“I've been playing hockey for about 10 years,” he said.
“A lot of hard work went into it over the past two years and now I get to go to Darwin, it's great.”
Ava, Connor and Tully will play for the Shadows boys and girls sides and the trio said they were looking forward to the experience.
“I feel good and accomplished about making shadows,” Connor said.
“I have been doing a lot of training for it.
“I love the team work involved,” Ava added.
“It's a great accomplishment,” Tully said.
The Hockey Australia U15 Championships will run from 15 to 21 April 2023 at the MWT Hockey Centre in Darwin.
The event will be livestreamed via LIVEHockey.
Friends of Refugees helps family resettle
Emma Turnbull
A mother and her two children from Iran will be welcomed to the community after Bundaberg Friends of Refugees successfully raised funds to support the family's resettlement.
In the short five months since establishing Bundaberg Friends of Refugees, the group of 13 locals has gained momentum and are proud to announce they will welcome their first refugee family to the region in April.
Bundaberg Friends of Refugees president Tessa Thomson said the group was a mix of “everyday Australians” made up of mums and dads, teachers, retired locals and business owners, who all had the same goal of wanting to make a difference.
Tessa said they were excited to meet the refugee family and amazed at the generosity and compassion of Bundaberg locals.
She said they had been fundraising with a number of activities locally to support the needs of the incoming refugee family.
Holding pizza fundraisers through the local Dominos stores, a dessert evening with a live auction, and multiple other fundraising events has helped the group raise the funds to support the refugees.
Once the refugee family arrives in Bundaberg, the local group will help them to settle in.
“Though we come from many different walks of life, we have come together with the common goal of welcoming a refugee family into our community and we thank you for coming along with us and supporting us on this exciting journey,” Tessa said.
“We know that all of you will give your full support and love to this family of three, including a mother and her son, age 17, and daughter, age 14.
Tessa said they were looking forward to meeting the refugees at the airport and helping them for the first twelve months of their resettlement in the beautiful town of Bundaberg.
CRISP settlement program
Friends of Refugees’ Geoff Brennan said the group had followed the guidelines of the Community Refugee Integration and Settlement Pilot (CRISP), which was announced by the Australian Government in December 2021.
CRISP is a new settlement program and under the program, refugee visa holders receive settlement support directly from trained community groups, called Community Supporter Groups (CSGs).
The aim is achieving optimal settlement outcomes with the help of community members who want to help refugees settle into life in Australia.
CRISP operates as a dedicated settlement pathway for refugees who do not have family links in Australia and are referred to Australia by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for resettlement.
A total of 1500 refugees will be settled through CRISP up until 30 June 2025.
Geoff said the refugee family relocating to Bundaberg would be the 21st family to find a new home in Australia through the program, and the local community should be very pleased to know it made this a possibility.
“I think this is an exciting thing, it will be a challenge, but I know our group will surround them and be up for the task,” Geoff said.
“I want the whole of Bundaberg to be wildly, wildly excited and to welcome them.
“Bundaberg is a very caring community, this will work.
“We should be very proud that Bundy is so early in the CRISP pilot program – this is a multicultural town and a safe community to welcome a refugee family.”
To support Bundaberg Friends of Refugees, Bundaberg Regional Council will hold a movie fundraiser, as part of Harmony Week, at the Moncrieff Entertainment Centre on 25 March with a screening of Rosemary’s Way.
To purchase tickets click here.
River charter business born from fishing passion
Ashley Schipper
Snagging a great catch on the river has just become a whole lot easier with new business Bundaberg River Fishing Charters offering guidance on the water.
Troy Howes is captain and owner of the business and said the idea to offer charters on the region's rivers came about after a trip to the Sunshine Coast.
“After a holiday on the Sunshine Coast and a river charter on the Noosa River, my 19-year-old daughter Lillian and I thought that it would be a great idea to have a river fishing charter business operating in Bundaberg,” he said.
“The location is perfect and nobody was offering river charters.”
With the help of Lillian, Bundaberg River Fishing Charters was born with Troy now ready to amp up the business.
“We provide either four or eight-hour calm-water river fishing charters for up to four people in the Bundaberg area,” he said.
“We depart from the boat ramp of Burnett Heads or the CBD ramp on a 4.9 metre Haines Hunter Drifter – the perfect size for fishing the rivers and estuaries.
“We practice a catch and release sustainable approach on our charters, with 99 per cent of our catch retuned to the water, however, should clients like to keep their catch for a feed, they’re more than welcome to do so.”
Troy said operating a charter business had been a dream come true.
“I have been fishing all my life and it has come to be my main source of therapy and fun,” he said.
“I love being on the water and what better way to do so than to share it with people who also enjoy what fishing can provide.
“I find that it can also be a great day out to bond with family and friends enjoying the fresh air and the scenic environment that the rivers can provide.”
Troy said the Bundaberg Region had some great fishing spots that always provided plenty of fun and adventure.
“I love fishing the Burnett and Elliott Rivers as both hold a number of great fish species and provide plenty of action on the water,” he said.
“They are our local waterways and, at times, are very much underrated.”
Troy said Bundaberg River Fishing Charters offered a great day out on the water with everything supplied including fishing rods, lures, bait, tackle and more.
Gift vouchers are also available to purchase.
“Whether you’re a local or just visiting Bundaberg we offer fishing charters for anyone, no matter how experienced you are,” Troy said.
Find out more here.
Follow Rosemarie’s steps to fight breast cancer
Emma Turnbull
Rosemarie Kirby hopes to inspire the community to follow in her steps and take part in the annual Mother’s Day Classic at Woodgate and raise support for women who fight breast cancer.
For 25 years the Mother's Day Classic has been an inspiring, community-driven tradition where thousands of Australian walk to show support to find a cure for breast cancer.
As a breast cancer survivor Rosemarie said it’s the first time she has stepped up to organise a community event like this and she was proud to hold the Mother’s Day Classic in her hometown.
Rosemarie said after walking in the shoes of a woman diagnosed with breast cancer she hopes others will follow in her steps to help find a cure.
“I was diagnosed in August 2021, at the time I lived in Emerald, Central Queensland, and (I) had a mammogram done on the bus that came to town,” Rosemarie said.
“I had a lumpectomy followed by six rounds of chemotherapy and 20 rounds of radiation.
“Breast cancer research is very important for future generations.”
Every year, thousands of Australians come together on Mother’s Day to get active for breast cancer research.
The mother-of-two said although she finished treatment last year, she continued to take medication to help prevent the return of the cancer.
Over the past 25 years, the Mother's Day Classic community has raised $41.45 million for life-saving breast cancer research.
Locally, Rosemarie said the Mother’s Day Classic this year would involve a 5 km walk at Woodgate, leaving from the front of the community park.
She said it was open to the whole community and the aim was to raise a combined $5000 for the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF).
“Participants will register online as an individual or group, arrive on the day prior to 7.30 am start, walking 2.5 km towards the boat ramp and returning to the starting point to make 5 km,” she said.
“Last year I participated in Mackay and our team raised over $2000.
“I would love to get 100 participants.
“Participants register and raise the money so (I) would love to see at least $5000 raised across the participants.”
To register for the Mother’s Day Classic at Woodgate and help Rosemarie reach the goal of raising $5000 for breast cancer research click here.
According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation
- 1 in 7 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.
- About 1 in 600 men are diagnosed in their lifetime.
- Around 1000 young women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, equivalent to about three young women each day.
Mother’s Day Classic
Where: Woodgate Community Park, Cnr Seventh Avenue and The Esplanade, Woodgate Beach
When: 7.30 am on Sunday 14 May
Antiques and Collectables Fair returns to region
Emma Turnbull
Old-fashioned toys, vintage clothes and a range of keepsakes will be on show as the Antiques and Collectables Fair returns to the Bundaberg Region this month.
For more than a decade the popular event has been offering locals a chance to step back in time and take in the 20,000-plus items from the past.
Antiques and Collectables Fair coordinator Allan Lawson said there would be a range of heritage, Deco and retro items from years gone by for locals to add to their collection, or they could start fresh in the fast-growing hobby of collecting.
“The fair gives people the chance to find that special something or a unique collector item,” Allan said.
“We’ve been coming to Bundaberg for more than 10 years – the fair is always quite popular.
“There will also be plenty of colour and creativity on display from the Bundaberg Quilters who will be showcasing their incredible talent to visitors.”
Along with the opportunity to find little treasures, Allan said there was also the option for local residents to set up a stall, or they could take along an antique to be appraised.
“We have free selling sites to local residents for sale of their private collections,” he said.
“The free admission for children under 14 years will offer an opportunity to learn more about Australia's early pioneering days.
“There truly will be everything for sale from old toys and China to rare bottles, coins, books, jewellery plus many quirky collectables which will provide a window into our past.
“The Antiques and Collectables Fair will see the Bundaberg Recreational Precinct Showgrounds Pavilion turned into an old-style department store with thousands of antique and collectable items for sale with sellers from throughout Queensland and New South Wales.”
The Antiques and Collectables Fair
When: Saturday 11 March from 10 am to 4 pm and Sunday 12 March from 10 am to 2 pm
Where: Bundaberg Recreational Precinct
Cost: $10 adults, and $8 pensioners, children under 14 free
For more information: Allan 0488 197 167 or click here
Take a look back at machinery from yesteryear
Emma Turnbull
Step back in time and absorb the workings of machines from days gone by at this year’s Bundaberg Yesteryear Machinery Rally.
Historic machinery including steam engines, bomber plane parts, lawn mowers and chainsaws will all be on display at Tegege Hall for the two-day event.
Bundaberg Yesteryear Machinery Society Inc secretary Desiree Heale is encouraging people with timeworn machinery and equipment to think outside the box and consider taking part in the annual show.
“Something new we have this year is that we are handing out awards for the oldest piece of machinery in five different categories,” she said.
“This includes the oldest tractor, the oldest car, the oldest motorbike and the oldest motor.
“We are really looking forward to this.”
Desiree has been involved with Bundaberg Yesteryear Machinery Rally for a number of years and she said it was always a lot of fun for the whole family.
“It’s always great to see all the families come out for the event,” she said.
“Young children love to come out and see all the old machines running.
“We all love our old machinery because we know with the old machinery, we know how to fix it – compared to machinery you buy today, we live in a throw-away society now, so this is a chance to see how people lived in the past.”
On Saturday night Desiree said there would the annual bushman’s dinner for everyone to enjoy, along with all of the other traditional events including a tractor pull, whip cracking competition and butter making display.
Anyone interested in being involved in this year’s Bundaberg Yesteryear Machinery Rally can contact Desiree on 0438 577 319 or message through the Facebook page.
Bundaberg Yesteryear Machinery Rally
When: 1-2 April from 9 am
Where: Tegege Hall, entry via corner of Rosedale and Flagstone Road, Avondale
Contribute to Message in a Bottle installation
Ashley Schipper
Hundreds of bottles featuring anonymous letters, poems, love notes and more will soon adorn the ImaginArts space of the Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery as part of a community project called Message in a Bottle.
Long before emails, text messages and phone calls became a way of life, people had different and unusual ways to communicate.
One unique method of sending a message was inside a corked bottle tossed into the ocean waves.
Naturally, the intended recipient was unknown as there was no guarantee that the glass vessel, or message contained inside, would survive the journey.
Notably this technique has been used to send distress messages, in crowdsourced scientific studies of ocean currents, as memorial tributes, to send deceased loved ones' ashes on a final journey, to convey expedition reports and to carry letters or reports from those believing themselves to be doomed.
As a nod to the tradition of sending a message in a bottle out to sea in traumatic times, with the hope of someone finding your SOS, Bundaberg Regional Art Galleries' staff are asking the community to get involved and contribute to the project.
The glass bottles, being collected from community and local organisations, will be used as containers for people to tell their stories anonymously.
It is hoped that the project is to be able to provide a safe space where people can be vulnerable, bringing into focus that “you are not alone in feeling alone”.
From 31 March to 27 August 2023 residents and visitors alike are invited to add their own message to a bottle.
Bundaberg Regional Council’s Arts, Culture and Events portfolio spokesperson Cr John Learmonth said each message would be placed in a bottle by the author, never to be read again.
“During the Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery large-scale installation, you are invited to contribute and engage with the work by creating a message in a bottle,” he said.
“Participants can express everything from fears, concerns, feelings, notes to self, messages to loved ones and more.
“Anything you want to share, get off your chest or words you simply want to play with are all welcome.”
Cr Learmonth said Message in a Bottle was as much of a therapeutic process as it was an art project.
“The scale of the messages and bottles will help visitors feel a sense of connectedness and understanding that there are plenty of people out there who have their own personal stories to share,” he said.
“Today, we need these powerful reminders that we all have more in common than we think.
“The power of this project is that it captures our thoughts, feeling and emotions and adds them to a bottle to become their very own time capsules.”
How to get involved:
The Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery will be collecting large clear glass bottles (approximately 750ml) until the end of March, call 07 4130 4750 for more information.
Message in a Bottle will be a working, collaborative community project held from 31 March to 27 August.
The community can add a message to a bottle during this time by visiting the installation at the gallery in Bundaberg at 1 Barolin Street.
In Our Group with Bundaberg Vintage Vehicle Club
Emma Turnbull
Formed in 1976, the Bundaberg Vintage Vehicle Club had an initial membership of six people and has now grown to 190 members who share a passion for vintage cars.
President Ian Jefferyes shares its history.
What are some of the major projects the club has completed?
The most significant thing the club has done is the restoration of the 1927 Armstrong Siddeley Tourer that was made available to Bert Hinkler in 1928 for the parade down Queen Street in Brisbane to celebrate his achievement of flying solo from England to Australia.
This was received in dismantled condition on three car trailers in January 2015.
Over a three-and-a-half-year period it was returned to “show room condition or better” as requested by the Hinkler Hall of Aviation Trust.
The club members contributed over 6500 hours of volunteer labour to complete the task.
The car is now on display in the Hinkler Hall of Aviation.
The club still maintains the car on a monthly basis and starts it up every third month.
The club is very active, managing to do at least two runs per month in addition to other activities.
This year in August we are hosting the NVMR Veteran Motor Cycle National Rally for one week from 20 August.
More than 100 motorcycles are expected from around Australia and the world all are pre 1919, and in 2024 commencing with our car show the Riley Car Club are going to hold their National Rally, they anticipate 150 vehicles over a week of activities using our clubhouse as their starting point each day.
What significant events do you hold during the year?
On or about mid-May each year as close as possible to National Motoring Heritage Day the club holds the Heritage Car, Bike, Truck and Machinery show.
This year it will be held on Saturday 20 May 2023.
The show includes veteran, vintage and classic cars and motorcycles, historic farm machinery and this year modern equivalents.
The gate proceeds are donated to Bundaberg Rotary House as part of our contribution to the community.
The Bundaberg Vintage Vehicle Club has always been involved in community activities over its 46-year history.
We have participated in the Harvest Festival, Bundy in Bloom and the Pageant of Lights Parade.
We regularly take our cars to various aged care facilities on request as well as appearing at local school significant dates i.e. centenary celebrations.
We also have assisted other clubs who have chosen Bundaberg to hold their rallies.
In 2019 we hosted the Veteran Car Club over a week which included a gas light parade down Bourbong Street at night.
There were 155 Cars and Bikes all pre 1919.
What are the differences between vehicles?
Veteran cars are those made before 31 December 1919; Vintage are those made between 1 January 1920 and 31 December 1930, the rest are classed as historic or classic.
The oldest vehicle in our club was made in 1901.
How can the community be involved?
The club’s objective is to promote the restoration of vehicles to original condition and also the use and exhibition of veteran, vintage and historic vehicles by members in competition and social activities.
Social activities are held every week and club runs each fortnight.
The Bundaberg Vintage Vehicle Club general meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month in the clubhouse situated in the grounds of the Recreational Precinct.
Meetings start at 7.30 pm with tea and coffee available after the meeting and visitors are welcome.
To qualify as a classic vehicle, it must be over 30 years old, which means anything older than 1993 as it is a moving 30 years.
Anyone with such a vehicle is welcome to join and even if you just have an interest in such cars, you are still welcome.
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