50 years of Bundaberg Junior Cricket at Kendall Flat

Emma Turnbull

For 50 years Kendall Flat has been home to Bundaberg Junior Cricket and in that time thousands of boys and girls have developed a love for Australia’s national game.

Through the dedication of countless volunteers, the area has been transformed into one of Queensland’s best cricket facilities.

Local cricket legend Jim Deem OAM, 87, was there when the pitches were rolled for the first time and now, half a century later, he reflects on what junior cricket at Kendall Flat means to the community.

“It’s one of those things Kendall Flat that has more or less kept the dream alive,” Jim said.

“What we have today is unbelievable; we had good people through the association and also in the community, including retired cane farmers who came in and did the mowing, people came out of the woodwork to help make the grounds what they are now.

“I spent a lot of hours here and I have no regrets, I enjoyed it and would do it again for another 50 years.

“It was teamwork that made it happen and it will be teamwork that keeps it going.”

Jim said in 1968 the junior association was up and running in Bundaberg with more than 250 eager young cricketers in more than 40 teams ready and waiting to hit a few boundaries in the new competition league.

“We (the junior association) formed in 1968, when there were only two others, Toowoomba and Gympie, at the time that I knew of,” he said.

“For the first three years we had nowhere but schools to play and I will always pride myself knowing we left the school grounds in great condition, and we never had one complaint from a principal!”

Jim said three years later the junior association moved to Kendall Flat and it had gone from strength to strength.

“Kendall Flat is a household word around Queensland – we held the first ever state championships here in 1976,” he said.

“That was under-12 through to under-17.

“Kids enjoy themselves and that’s what it is all about.

“There is no better feeling than to drive passed and see the ground full of junior cricket players and their families.”

Last Saturday marked the start of Bundaberg Junior Cricket season with Kendall Flat crowded with eager young cricket players, some stepping out on the green for the first time, and others who return year after year.

Gin Gin State High School student Zach Hamel, 13, has been playing local cricket for six years and he said he was keen to get back into it.

“I play for Norths, and have been playing for six years, it’s really good and I really love it,” Zach said.

For Bundaberg YMCA junior James Baker, it would be his first innings at Kendall Flat after signing on for the first time.

James travelled from Gayndah to take part in a sport he is certain he will love.

Bundaberg junior cricketers have not been the only players to enjoy their sport at Kendall Flat, with the fields also hosting senior cricketers at the top level in country cricket and local Aussie Rules competitions.

As the region continues to move forward plans are progressing to further develop Kendall Flat, to be a premier sporting destination.

The design of stage one and two of the Kendall Flat Enhancement Plan is set to kick off soon, transforming the grounds into a hub for cricket and AFL.

Bundaberg Regional Council has allocated the funds for the design work in its 2021-22 budget.

Create your own healthy flavours with IM Poké

Ashley Schipper

Isaac Baldry and Marvin Dellomos are the creators behind new business IM Poké, providing locals with delicious and fresh poké bowls delivered direct each week.

The duo said they had always loved the health benefits and flavours of poké bowls and wanted to share their passion with the community.

“We wanted to create and share something that we both love to Bundaberg locals,” Marvin said.

“We believe that they will love it as well because our poké bowls are made fresh on the day, they are packed with nutrition, and full of different flavours in one bowl.

“We are very motivated to level out the playing field by providing a healthy option.”

Poké, pronounced poh-keh, is a Hawaiian word meaning to cut or slice.

Poké bowls are filled with portions of produce and meat to create a fresh and healthy lunch or dinner alternative.

Isaac said IM Poké offered the option for customers to create their own bowls through an ordering process, which would then be delivered at announced times each week.

“The type of poké bowls we create depend on our customer’s preference,” he said.

“We offer them a selection of their base – white rice and brown rice, protein – chicken, salmon and tofu, and an assortment of greens our customers can choose from.

“Our order times and delivery dates are announced weekly on our Instagram and Facebook page then, we provide a link to an order form that our customers fill out.”

Isaac and Marvin said while they had only started operating their business as of last week, they were already experiencing plenty of support from locals.

“Our current intention is to figure out if there is a market for poké bowls in Bundaberg but with the overwhelming love and support that we have received from the community, we have concluded that there is a definite love for poké bowls here!” the duo said.

Currently operating out of their newly renovated kitchen space, the team said they had future plans to expand the business if all went well.

“Ultimately we intend to open a shop in Bundaberg Central to provide locals with a healthy option through IM Poké,” Marvin said.

You can find out more by following IM Poké on Instagram or Facebook.

Assistance animals like Harvey play important role

Emma Turnbull

Assistance animals like Bundaberg’s Harvey the Tamaruke play an important role in the community and undergo training to support people with special needs.

Assistance dogs perform specific tasks related to their owner’s needs, assisting them to develop independence and confidence, and to participate in various areas of personal and public life.

Integrated Disability Support Service (IDSS) client liaison officer Shelly Anderson, who is one of Harvey’s handlers, said there were many situations where animals assisted people living with disability and mental health issues such as anxiety, PTSD and depression. 

Shelley said Harvey the Tamaruke was fully trained and he was even a unique breed of dog specifically used as a therapy or assistance animal because they’re hypoallergenic, well-tempered, intelligent and easily trained.

Harvey joined the team in July last year when he was just 10 weeks old, and he now works at the IDSS hub.

“Harvey is really beneficial to everybody, he can even tell when someone is having a bad day – it’s like he is attuned and can sense it, and he knows something is up even before us as other humans do,” Shelley said.

“Whether it’s a physical disability or a hidden disability such as mental health, Harvey has a way of supporting people.”

He can often be found supporting clients in various roles in the community, including spending time at local business The Deli, supporting employees.

Integrated Disability Support Service participant Leticia Pope enjoys her time working at The Deli, and she said knowing Harvey wasn’t far away made it easier.

Leticia said she enjoyed taking Harvey for walks, and she said he would help her interact with other people.

“To have Harvey in the IDSS hub makes a lot of people happy,” Leticia said.

“He likes to meet new people and he likes to have pats; he can be a little bit cheeky.

“Harvey is one of my best friends.”

Shelley said Harvey had full run of the hub and enjoyed spending time with clients as much as they enjoyed their time with him.

“You know if somebody is quite stressed, they will verbalise it and you’ll hear a loud noise or screaming, he will go out to the hub and find that person and try to sit with them and give them lots of love and kisses, and then he will stay with them for quite a while,” Shelley said.

“The hub has a lot of activities for people with disabilities and mental health activities, he has full run of the hub, and he is in and out with participants – hanging out enjoying the day with them.

Shelley said Harvey greeted clients and mentors each morning and had become part of the IDSS family.

“He greets everybody as we all come in in the morning,” she said.

“Most people, if there is a behaviour happening that they’re anxious and need that calming down, he will sort them, have a bit of a cuddle and you can really see the whole de-escalation happening for them, because they’ve got him.

“He offers kisses up very freely as well; he is very affectionate, and it makes a huge difference easing the anxiety.”

Shelley said Harvey’s role in the community was a little different to a guide dog, as he was able to interact with community members while on the job.

“Being a therapy assistant dog is a little different, you can give him a pat... as he is different to a guide dog that needs to be working the whole time.

“It is important to have him go into a shop comfortably.”

Animal assisted therapy can:

- Teach empathy and appropriate interpersonal skills.

- Help individuals develop social skills.

- Be soothing and the presence of animals can more quickly build rapport between the professional and client.

- Improve individual’s skills to pick up social cues imperative to human relationships. Professionals can process that information and use it to help clients see how their behaviour affects others.

Gardening to mend a heavy heart

Morgan Everett

After losing her husband to lung cancer, Katrina Weismann threw herself back into gardening to create a beautiful oasis.

When moving into the property five years ago, the established gardens did not suit the vision Katrina and her late husband Royce had.

“We tidied up the gardens and removed gardens and palm trees,” Katrina said.

“The gardens were Royce’s area as I worked.”

Katrina said she really dug in last winter as spending time in the garden helped her through the past 18 months.

Both the front and back yards have undergone a huge transformation.

“Hedges, old shrubs, donkey’s ears, agaves, garden edging, pavers and rocks were all taken away,” she said.

“I had a ute and a chainsaw and what I could not manage I then had help with.

“The paved section is now turf.”

Katrina said growing up in a large family made gardening a staple in her younger years, with her garden now a space that her grandchildren could enjoy.

“There are animal statues hidden in the gardens which the grandkids love,” she said.  

“I added a grandpas memory garden and I find this is a nice spot to sit and think about how I am managing.”

With the garden becoming a haven for Katrina, she said it was where she loved to be, often foregoing housework in order to spend more time in the garden.

The outdoor space now features bromeliads and a lily and geranium garden, all providing a splash of colour.

“Where shrubs were removed native shrubs were added and ground cover which is attracting birds and an abundance of bees,” Katrina said.

“There is a spa area, potted garden and undercover shaded plant area.

“This is beautiful at night lit with solar lights.”

Katrina said the gardens are a labour of love, but she had enjoyed giving her outdoor space a new life.