Contents
Council gives back to Gin Gin SES
Jake to bowl for Australia at Commonwealth Games
Major sport events to bring economic benefits
Donut go past new Kensington bakery
Green Hotel of the Year awarded to Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort
Feast on local flavours at Banquet by the Beach event
What's On Bundaberg
Bundaberg Poultry Fanciers show returns
Boreham Park abuzz for Flourish Family Fun Day
Podcast: festival brings together bell ringers
Got you covered: Paint it REaD’s street library
In Our Garage with Ian Jefferyes' 1937 Chevrolet
How to: Get involved to see One Million Trees planted
Taryn qualifies for third Commonwealth Games
Council gives back to Gin Gin SES
Ashley Schipper
The Gin Gin SES is used to offering the community support but in this year’s Bundaberg Regional Council budget they’ll receive it to redevelop the organisation’s headquarters.
The local emergency services organisation forms an important part of the region's Local Disaster Management Group and plays an integral role in assisting the community during natural disasters and events.
Council's disaster management portfolio spokesperson Cr Greg Barnes said after a recent review it was highlighted that Gin Gin SES headquarters was in need of an upgrade.
“Under Queensland’s disaster management arrangements each Council is required to have capability to respond to disasters in their community,” he said.
“Councils do this with the support of the SES and their dedicated volunteer workforce.
“Bundaberg Regional Council has a Memorandum of Understanding with the SES which includes Council maintaining and upgrading the SES depots in our council area.”
To assist in the maintenance of the current depot, Cr Barnes said a Queensland Fire and Emergency Services SES Support Grant was applied for with $41,751 approved for the building project.
He said Council had put forward the remainder of the funds to complete the work.
“This project will greatly benefit both the Gin Gin SES and the PCYC Emergency Service Cadets as members are currently sharing one bathroom as a unisex system,” Cr Barnes said.
“The work will include the completion of a new amenities area which will provide two separate amenities and toilet and shower cubicles.
“The fit-out will also ensure the areas are disability compliant.”
Cr Barnes said the Gin Gin SES headquarters were an integral location during times of emergency.
“During operational times the Gin Gin SES HQ is utilised as an emergency operations centre,” he said.
Cr Barnes said Gin Gin SES was regularly called on to support various operations including land and search rescues, traffic management, storm damage assistance and more.
“Gin Gin SES members, like all of our wonderful disaster management volunteers, are a vital part of our community,” he said.
“Council is pleased to take this opportunity to return that support.”
Jake to bowl for Australia at Commonwealth Games
Ashley Schipper
Bargara resident and long-time lawn bowls player Jake Fehlberg will be heading to the Commonwealth Games next month to represent Australia in the vision impaired mixed pairs.
Jake will play alongside his team mate Helen Boardman in Birmingham and it's not the first time the local sportsman has taken on the best in the world.
In 2018, he brought home gold at the Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast and hopes his next crack at the number one spot is just as successful.
“The Gold Coast games was my first major event and it was great because I was able to be with my family and have them support me,” he said.
“The fact that I am going to be missing them by doing it overseas this time around and in front of a whole new group of people is a bit daunting but I am really excited about getting abroad.”
Jake has played lawn bowls for the past 16 years and said it began as a hobby that quickly turned into something more.
“My dad was already playing bowls at Burleigh Heads Bowls Club and that's when my brother and I were asked to join a junior squad,” he said.
“Then we became more competitive and I found out about a vision impaired competition and started playing that in 2011.
“Since then I have gone on to represent Australia.”
After moving to the region 12 months ago, Jake said he had enjoyed playing with the Bargara Bowls Club.
The 28 year old said being vision impaired never stopped his dream of moving forward with a sporting career.
“I have an eye disease called Corneal Dystrophies which causes degeneration of the corneas in the back of the eyes,” he said.
“I was born with it but it took on its major effects between the ages of 13 and 16 years old.
“I am lucky that lawn bowls is a very inclusive sport and allows anyone from any age or any disability to compete.”
In vision impaired lawn bowls, Jake said the game ran much the same as any other match except for the addition of directors.
“My director, which happens to be my Dad, stands beside me and tells me how far away the bowls are,” he said.
“It is good to have that support with Dad being my director as well as from family point of view.
“My team mate Helen also has a director.”
Commonwealth Games set to be a challenge for Jake
Jake will travel with Helen, her director and his Dad to the Commonwealth Games in July to prepare for the first match as Team Australia on 1 August.
He said he was expecting the upcoming games to be full of challenges.
“Because the surface over in England is so different to what we have in Australia, it has been difficult to train,” he said.
“They have different grass and because of the cooler temperatures over there, they can only play at certain times of the year.
“It is a lot slower to play on so you have to bowl a lot harder – it's very different preparation.”
When asked what advice he would give to others who wanted to follow their sporting dreams, Jake said to go for gold.
“I would encourage anybody, no matter your ability and no matter the sport, to always pursue their passion,” he said.
Major sport events to bring economic benefits
Ashley Schipper
Sport will continue to boost the region's economy in the next 12 months as Bundaberg Regional Council commits to bringing major events to the region.
This financial year will see the Bundaberg Cup and the NRL Bulldogs v Cowboys game held in Bundaberg with plenty of benefits expected to flow into the community.
Sport and Recreation portfolio spokesperson Cr Vince Haberman said high-calibre events like these games not only attracted local spectators and players, but those travelling into the region to catch all the action.
“Council is committed to continuing our investment in high-level sporting competitions to develop local capacity, skill and participation while boosting the economy,” he said.
“From similar events held in the past, we know that there is huge interest from the local community and visitors to see these types of events continue in Bundaberg and we want to leverage off that sentiment and the benefits it brings.”
Cr Habermann said Council anticipated a huge economic stimulus when the Bulldogs v Cowboys game – the first NRL game for premiership points to be played in the region – is hosted at Salter Oval on Sunday 7 August.
“Council is expecting more than 8000 spectators at the game, which will rival the record attendance at Salter Oval of 8122 for the 2016 pre-season game between the Broncos and Cowboys,” he said.
“Hosting an event as large as a competition round NRL match means Bundaberg will be promoted and broadcast to the whole nation and the world.
“The value of that is priceless.”
Cr Habermann said the Bundaberg Cup, the richest touch football competition in the nation, would also bring with it plenty of benefits.
He said it was last held in the region during February and attracted 777 players to Bundaberg while injecting hundreds of thousands of dollars into the local economy.
“Not only does the Bundaberg Cup entice hundreds of players to Bundaberg, but they also bring family and friends who book into local accommodation, visit local businesses, tourist attractions and more,” Cr Habermann said.
“In February this equated to more than 1300 players and their families travelling to the region and spending more than $430,000.
“This competition is also a fantastic motivator for our own sporting stars and gives local competitors the opportunity to test and develop their skills up against the best in Australia.
“Council is proud to continue its sponsorship support of the Bundaberg Cup and expect the next event to bring with it similar, if not greater, economic benefits.”
Other major sporting events being hosted in the Bundaberg Region thanks to the support of Council include Bowls Queensland Junior State Championships, Rowing Queensland Schools Championship Regatta, the Bulls Masters Cricket Tour and the Netball Queensland Primary Schools Cup.
Donut go past new Kensington bakery
Georgia Neville
Espresso Loca’s Taylor McMahon’s second venture, Sicario’s Bakery, opened its doors at Kensington Shopping Centre today offering a range of pies, sausage rolls and donuts.
Trading from Saturday 2 July the bakery will be open 6 am to 4 pm Monday to Friday and 8 am to noon each weekend.
Taylor McMahon said the team was excited to open and offer delicious treats, both sweet and savoury, to the community.
“We have the coffee shop on Quay Street which is going really well, we bought this place to introduce donuts and sweet treats as well,” Taylor said.
“It is a very different coffee to what we offer at Espresso Loca on Quay Street and pairs better with donuts and sweet treats.
“While Espresso Loca is all takeaway and was built to service people on the go, Sicario’s Bakery will be similar although we hope this will be a slightly slower-paced store for people to enjoy a donut or pie.”
“Down the track a little bit of seating will become available for people to utilise.”
Taylor said the location suited Sicario's Bakery perfectly.
“We had received feedback that there was not a massive market up this end of town for coffee, especially early in the morning so we are hoping to fill that gap,” he said.
“It was also a case of right place, right time.
“I think everyone is very excited for the donuts.”
Endup Cups, which is another venture of Taylors, will also be promoted through the bakery.
“Through Endup Cups we partner with Green Solutions Wide Bay to compost our specially made coffee cups in order to help the environment,” Taylor said.
“Espresso Loca was the flagship store to show people how Endup Cups can be used, not only in a cafe-style setting but also how customers can do their part in the recycling initiative through cup returns.
“Customers have the opportunity to take part in our recycling rewards program which gifts them 25 cents off their next coffee every time they bring their Endup Cup back to us to be composted.
“If you collect ten points in the program, that is $2.50 off your next order – there is no limit as to how many cups you can bring back.”
You can find out more about Sicario’s Bakery here.
Green Hotel of the Year awarded to Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort
Ashley Schipper
Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort has recently been named Green Hotel of the Year for its continued sustainability practices that help to protect the environment and planet for future generations.
The Finder Green Awards is focused on initiatives to reduce emissions, provide sustainable finance options and move towards zero waste, which are all key focuses for Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort according to sales executive Stacey Cain.
“We were honoured to win another sustainability award this year after also winning gold for Sustainable Tourism at the Banksia Sustainability Awards in March 2022,” Stacey said.
“We wish to congratulate the other finalists in this category, Holiday Inn Express – Newcastle and Swell Lodge – Christmas Island, who along with Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort are doing their part to protect our planet and ensure future generations can enjoy exploring our beautiful destinations.”
Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort is a world-leading, award-winning ecologically sustainable tourism operator dedicated to protecting and enhancing Lady Elliot Island, the Great Barrier Reef and surrounding environment.
Stacey said, over time, the resort had achieved Advanced Ecotourism Certification, Climate Action Leader Certification and Green Travel Leader status from Ecotourism Australia in recognition of their sustainability programs and low impact resort operations.
“Our sustainability actions focus on reducing carbon emissions, reducing water consumption and waste management,” Stacey said.
“The resort is committed to improving the island's biodiversity and inspiring guests and surrounding community to become eco warriors and join us in our mission to protect the Great Barrier Reef for future generations.”
Green Hotel of the Year award highlights focus of environment at Lady Elliot Island
Lady Elliot Island is a nature lover's haven and offers so much to see regardless of the time of the year.
Currently the island is experiencing peak manta ray and migrating humpback whale season.
Managing director of Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort Peter Gash said it was the abundance of flora, fauna and ocean life that made protecting the island so important.
“All the team at Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort are truly honoured to be named the Green Hotel of the Year for this year’s Green Finder Awards,” he said.
“Our mission is to leave Lady Elliot Island, The Great Barrier Reef, and the planet better than we found it for future generations to enjoy and protect, as we have done our best to do.”
Bundaberg Regional Council is seeking Eco Destination Certification, find out how to take part here.
Feast on local flavours at Banquet by the Beach event
Ashley Schipper
Held beneath Nordic-inpsired tepees, Banquet by the Beach features a sit-down feast of meat and Moreton Bay bugs as part of this year's Taste Bundaberg Festival.
On the shoreline of Bargara attendees will enjoy the sounds of Brad Butcher while savouring a variety of slow cooked food seasoned with unique spice and herb blends from Artisan Barbeque and Bundaberg Lunchbox.
The local businesses bring their own flair of barbecuing to the event by showcasing their passion for meat.
Paul Durston from Bundaberg Lunchbox said he was thrilled to be involved with Banquet on the Beach and said diners could expect some full-on flavour.
“We are doing an entrée of beef skewers and for mains we will have 12-hour slow cooked beef ribs, Moreton Bay bug and corn with lime paprika butter,” he said.
“We are really looking forward to putting on a great spread for everyone!”
Paul said he had been barbecuing for many years, but this was the first time he would be involved in such a large, Council-run event.
“I am so excited to get my name out there and be involved in something so large with Council,” he said.
“I have been barbecuing for a very long time, it really is a passion, not a job.
“I love cooking meat to absolute perfection, to absolute tenderness, so much so that people don't need teeth to chew it!”
Artisan Barbecue's Tom Espinoza said he and his team would also be cooking up a storm for Banquet on the Beach, using big slabs of meat on low and slow with their grills.
“We love cooking primal cuts of meat and bringing out the flavours of the quality produce we use from our local suppliers,” he said.
“We run a really interactive operation so we will have multiple grills with food cooking and all of our staff are trained and equipped to discuss barbecuing so event-goers will be able to learn as they feast.”
Tom said Taste Bundaberg Festival was the perfect opportunity to celebrate the region and come together as a community.
“I think these series of events are important for the community to come together and be able to sit around a table or fire and eat with one another and have good conversations,” he said.
“It is great that each of these Taste events can be done in iconic little sections of our region.
“From our perspective, we are looking forward to serving people delicious food that they most probably have never eaten before.”
Banquet by the Beach event details:
Date: Saturday 13 August
Time: 5 pm to 9 pm
Location: Jayteens Park, Bargara
Cost: $185
Beer, wines and selected local spirits is included in the ticket price.
Purchase your ticket here.
Bundaberg Poultry Fanciers show returns
Emma Turnbull
Community members are invited to flock to this year’s Bundaberg Poultry Fanciers annual show to check out more than 20 different varieties of chickens.
Bundaberg Poultry Fanciers’ Greg Chamberlain said this year the event would be celebrated as a “come back from Covid” and they expected more than 500 individual entries.
Poultry enthusiasts from across Australia travel to the Bundaberg Region for the impressive show, which will have both hard feather and soft feather chickens, along with geese and ducks on display.
“Bundaberg Poultry Fanciers attend three shows each year, and this is our main show,” Greg said.
“It will definitely be bigger this year, local Mal McDougall is well-known in the poultry industry, and he is tipping 500 entries this time.”
Greg said there was still time for poultry fanciers to enter their stock and try their luck at taking home a prized champion, but in the meantime he wanted to spread the word within the community.
“We are really hoping to raise the profile of the show,” Greg said.
“I encourage all the community to come along, it’s a free event and the kids will love it.
“If you want to know anything about chooks – come along there is always something different.”
Greg said he and wife Lyn joined Bundaberg Poultry Fanciers when their interest in chickens started to flourish and they sought more information about the birds.
“We have fancy chickens, gold partridge brahmas, my wife loves this breed,” he said.
“She wanted to know more about them and so we joined the club and got into chicken showing.
“Anyone can take up showing their chickens for less than a couple of hundred dollars.
“Really in the end the chickens pay for themselves with eggs and character.
“It’s a great little hobby and checking out our annual show will be a great place to start. Whether you’re a chicken enthusiast or just want to come along and cuddle a chook!”
Bundaberg Poultry Fanciers annual show will be held at Bundaberg Recreational Precinct on Saturday 16 July.
Boreham Park abuzz for Flourish Family Fun Day
Emma Turnbull
Boreham Park was buzzing with activity on Thursday morning for the annual Flourish Family Fun Day incorporating the popular Welcome Baby Ceremony and Teddy Bears Picnic.
Hundreds of families and friends came together to enjoy the annual event, which this year had a theme of Trash to Treasure focusing on recycling, upcycling and everything pre-loved.
Bundaberg mother-of-three Bree Siccama said she had family visiting from Rockhampton and they took the opportunity to share the special day together.
“We are enjoying a nice day out with family,” Bree said.
“Three years ago, we came with my son Lachlan and had a really great time on that day.
“We got a beautiful plant that is still growing really nicely in the yard.
“We thought it would be a great way to welcome our twins, Thomas and Kora, who were born in Brisbane, so it’s a great way to welcome them to Bundaberg as that’s where we live.”
Bree said Flourish Family Fun Day also provided families with the opportunity to check out a number of local services.
“A shout out to the Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service, they have been personally really helpful to me with breastfeeding twins,” she said.
“BushKids are here too, and I have noticed Wild Gully's here and I think they are a new service.
“I believe some of the daycares are here as well.
“We’ve been really enjoying the picnic so far.”
Bundaberg Regional Council's divisional representative Cr John Learmonth said 2022 Flourish Family Fun Day was aimed to link families with local services and it was fantastic to see the large turnout.
“The aim of Flourish Family Fun Day is to get families together while promoting local services,” he said.
“It’s not only the opportunity to enjoy a day out in the beautiful Boreham Park, but it provides families with information on child and family health.”
Cr Learmonth said the Welcome Baby celebration was an opportunity to formally introduce and welcome new babies as valued members of the Bundaberg Region community.
“The community coming together like this, it is fantastic – to have events like this it gives everyone time to enjoy each other’s company,” he said.
“At Council we really like to see the community together, especially in our open spaces like here today and to really benefit from all the work that has gone into the parks and gardens.”
Podcast: festival brings together bell ringers
Adele Bennett
Welcome to Hidden Histories: CBD Church Spotlight, the eleventh episode of series two of the Bundaberg Now Podcast.
The Bundaberg CBD has some beautiful churches and in this episode we hear about the significance of two to the local community.
Four bell ringers from the Anglican Parish of Bundaberg recently attended the Australia and New Zealand Association of Bell Ringers annual Bell Ringing Festival in Sydney.
Local bell ringer Russell Cobb was in the party and got to experience different bell ringing sequences to what is on offer in Bundaberg.
“Once a year, bell ringers from all across Australia come to a particular bell tower, or several bell towers, to have a wonderful ringing festival,” Russell said.
The six bells in the Christ Church Anglican Church War Memorial Bell tower are change ringers, with bells rotating in a full circle to produce sounds, according to Russell.
“The wonderful thing about Bundaberg is that we have two bell towers, Saint Andrew’s has been in existence for a very long time, and that is a carillon,” he said.
“It’s a different style of ringing than what we have here at Christ Church.
“So, Bundaberg is blessed with two quite different approaches to bell ringing, and that’s a good thing, I think.”
The Holy Rosary Church is another majestic building in Bundaberg, featuring colourful stained glass windows filled with meaningful stories.
Archive coordinator Kathryn King said there were 25 windows that encompassed the bright white building.
“The three stained-glass windows at the back is the Saint Patrick, the Sacred Heart and Saint Brigid,” she said.
Listen to the full podcast episode to hear more about the Peace Bells and other aspects of the Christ Church Anglican Church that make is such a significant building in the region.
In Our Garage with Ian Jefferyes' 1937 Chevrolet
Ian Jefferyes has been working on his 1937 Chevrolet Standard Sedan, which is a family heirloom, for close to ten years.
Tell us about your car?
The vehicle is a 1937 Chevrolet Standard Sedan.
I have had it now close on ten years.
It was a family heirloom, my cousin had it for the previous 30 odd, didn't have any interest in doing anything with it and said "if you're interested in that sort of thing, you might as well have it and restore it."
So, we put it all back together.
What modifications have you made?
It was in surprisingly good condition.
It had been dry stored in a shed for some years. So the bodywork was good, no rust.
Some rats had been living in it, but they hadn't chewed the upholstery because it had been redone in the seventies in vinyl.
But they made a mess of the carpets and the hood linings, so that had to be replaced.
We rebuilt the engine. It needed that obviously it had been sitting out at some stage and got some water in it.
So we stripped it all down and and the gearbox, the differential was fine. Did all the brakes stripped that all down new brake lines.
Because the rats had damaged that and the new wiring loom as well because they'd had a good chew on that.
It took us about three and a half years from go to woe until we got it going.
What makes her so unique?
It's a car you have to actually drive. There's no power assistance on anything.
It's a six cylinder, but three speed on the floor, drum brakes all around it at least they're hydraulic, not mechanical, which is a bit of a help.
But no power steering, no power brakes, no radio, no air conditioning.
You know, to get some fresh air, you just open the vent behind in front of the windscreen and it's either full blast or nothing.
You appreciate what the modern car is when you drive one of these because you have to drive it all the way.
What do you love about your car?
Whilst it's hard work, it is a pleasure to drive the thing and it attracts attention like you wouldn't believe.
I've had young ladies blowing kisses at me and all sorts of things which you don't normally get in a normal car.
I think it's the car, not me. I'm sure it is.
But yes, it's really an adventure.
To have your vehicle featured in In Our Garage email us at news@bundabergnow.com
Taryn qualifies for third Commonwealth Games
Georgia Neville
Local athlete Taryn Gollshewsky has qualified to represent Australia in discus at her third Commonwealth Games, heading off to Birmingham next month to compete against the best of the best.
Facing a number of setbacks through major injury recently, Taryn has proven nothing is impossible, fighting to return to competing at a high level.
Taryn said it had been in a race against time to return to her best, only getting back to competing competitively in February.
“I am still on the road to recovery,” she said.
“I was very fortunate because I competed well at Oceania’s in June, the final competition before the qualification period closed.
“Athletes were able to try to qualify for Commonwealth Games over the past 12 months.
“I was only able to start competing in February due to my injury.”
Taryn said despite it being her third games, the excitement of representing Australia never wore off.
“I am very excited, and it is an absolute honour to be able to say that I am a three-time Commonwealth Games representative,” she said.
“It is great to travel and compete internationally again as it has been four years since I’ve been able to compete in Europe.”
Taryn's Commonwealth Games goal
While she had goals to improve on her results from the recent Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in 2018, Taryn said she was also just happy to be back in the competition.
“I hope to improve on my result from the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in 2018, where I came fifth,” she said.
“Considering I am still returning to my peak, I am just fortunate to be going and I am looking forward to wearing the Green and Gold.
“I am really looking forward to representing my country again and competing against some of the best athletes in the world.”
The Commonwealth Games start on Thursday, 28 July in Birmingham.
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