December 22, 2011 - Another pleasant "job" that South Burnett councillors often get called on to perform is to officially draw raffle prizes.

Recently I had the privilege of drawing two major local raffles - one for the SupaIGA Community Chest for October and the other for the Quota International Club of Kingaroy.

Every month SupaIGA in Kingaroy allows community groups to raise funds for their projects by assisting them to host sausage sizzles in the carpark and providing a trolley-load of items to raffle.

The October fund-raising effort was conducted by the South Burnett National Show Society - the people who organise the Kingaroy Show.

The lucky prize winner was Judy Crawford.

The Quota raffle was part of a long fund-raising effort by the local women's service club to raise funds for the AGL Helicopter Rescue Service which conducts medivacs from local hospitals. It would not be an exaggeration to say that hundreds of local lives have been saved by this essential service over the years.

The Quota Club organised a High Tea at Coolabunia and an art union as well as taking on the December fund-raising offer from SupaIGA.

The lucky winner of the Quota art union was Alison Otto of Kingaroy.

TOP RIGHT: The SupaIGA raffle winners. LEFT: Kingaroy Quota International Club president Marie Shaw

[Quota photo courtesy of South Burnett Times]

December 13, 2011 - My wife Marion and I were pleased to catch up with friends and enjoy the hospitality on offer at the annual Ringsfield House Christmas Party in Nanango recently.

Ringsfield is managed by the Nanango Historical Society with support from council, many organisations and generous individuals.

The old Queenslander was built in 1908 by architect Robin Dods as a large home for the Graham family. In 1942, the building was converted into a maternity hospital. More than 3000 babies had been born there when it closed in 1969. Ringsfield then served as a women's refuge before the Historical Society took it over in 1995.

These days the building is a museum and a conference centre. Ringsfield has extensive landscaped gardens and the adjacent precinct contains a number of historically significant buildings which are available for hire.

RIGHT: Marion and Keith Campbell, Laurie and Bernie Pegrem and Kevin and Nina Temperton

[Photo courtesy Clive Lowe Photography]

December 6, 2011 - In the lead-up to International Day of People with a Disability, CTC Disability Support Services challenged South Burnett councillors to spend some time "walking in the shoes" of someone with a disability.

As I told the South Burnett Times later, the afternoon was an eye-opener.

I spent some time with two men who served me afternoon tea and then we enjoyed a game of bowls. They showed me where they live and explained the services that help them.

These two men demonstrated generous hospitality and shared their stories and experiences.

It reinforced to me that people with a disability deserve to live rich and fulfilling lives in today's society.

We've come a long way but I admit that there's more that we all could do.

CTC Disability Support Services hosted a free breakfast in Kingaroy on December 2 to mark International Day of People with a Disability. It was encouraging to see a strong roll-up for this event which was also broadcast live by CROW-FM.

Agencies such as South Burnett CTC are doing an excellent job in providing much-needed services across the local region.

I'm proud to be able to serve on CTC's Board of Governance.

ABOVE RIGHT: Kingaroy resident Beryl Virgo lives a full and active life despite her disability

[Photo courtesy South Burnett Times]

May 31, 2011 - It would be fair to say that AGL's proposed windfarm project between Cooranga North and Boyneside has split the local community.

I have spoken to local residents in favour of the $1.2 billion proposal but there are also many residents who oppose the project on environmental and health grounds.

The 350MW Coopers Gap wind farm would straddle the border between the South Burnett Regional Council and Dalby Regional Council.

Proponents say it would produce enough power for approximately 150,000 average Queensland homes.

To better understand the issues at stake, a group of South Burnett councillors, including myself, and LNP candidate for Nanango Deb Frecklington, met with local landholders in the old 1937 Council Chambers last Friday to hear their concerns.

It was definitely a worthwhile exercise however the final decision on whether the windfarm will go ahead rests with the State Government.

ABOVE: Councillors Damien Tessmann, Keith Campbell and Cheryl Dalton, and LNP Candidate for Nanango Deb Frecklington, meet with Cooranga North, Boyneside and Ironpot landholders.

May 21, 2011 - It was a big night in Nanango last night ... and the fun wasn't only on the Big Screen.

Aussie actress Sigrid Thornton was the guest at the opening night of the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia's three-day "Big Screen Festival".

More than 200 people showed up at the Nanango Cultural Centre to watch 'The Man From Snowy River' and hear Sigrid describe her experiences while filming the classic Australian tale.

My wife Marion and I were won over by Sigrid, who is an impressive actress and an excellent speaker. In fact, it seems Sigrid won over all the guests as the autograph line seemed to snake on forever!

The South Burnett Regional Council was pleased to be able to bring the Festival to Nanango and Kingaroy for both schoolchildren and the general public to enjoy.

RIGHT: Carolyn and Peter Knudsen, Eleanor Sharpe, Damien Tessmann, Cheryl Dalton, Michael Hunter, Tony and Jenny Hayward, Sigrid Thornton, Keith and Marion Campbell, Kirstie Schumacher and Anna Gundry.

[Photo: Clive Lowe]

May 20, 2011 - CROW-FM and Kingaroy's Shoppingworld Butchery were more than happy to lend a hand recently to fundraising efforts by the Kingaroy Meals on Wheels.

While Toni Ralph from the the Butchery handed out tempting chicken treats from Lenards to passing shoppers, Wayne Kratzmann from CROW-FM enticed them to buy raffle tickets to raise funds for Kingaroy Meals On Wheels' kitchen upgrade.

The raffle prize, donated by CROW-FM, was two tickets to the State of Origin finals.

Toni and Wayne stirred up a lot of interest and more than $400 was raised for Meal on Wheels.

Thank you Toni and Kratzie!


RIGHT: Wayne Kratzmann (CROW-FM), Toni Ralph (Shoppingworld Butchery), Keith Campbell and Kingaroy Meals on Wheels' Amanda Chimes and Heather Barron.

[Photo: Debbie Dennien]

April 6, 2011 - I had the opportunity to catch up with Federal LNP Member for Maranoa Bruce Scott when he visited Kingaroy yesterday.

Bruce came to town to meet the new LNP-endorsed candidate for the State seat of Nanango, Deb Frecklington, as well as chat to local residents, schoolchildren, business owners and members of the Kingaroy RSL sub-branch.

Deb, a Kingaroy solicitor, and her husband Jason, owner of Kingaroy's Gloria Jean's Coffees franchise, hosted a dinner last night which I was invited to attend along with fellow SBRC Councillor and former Queensland Young Nationals president Damien Tessmann.

Deb was raised on a cattle property at Guluguba, near Wandoan, and attended Ipswich Girls Grammar school. Her father, grazier Don Stiller, was mayor of Taroom Shire from 1997 until the council amalgamations occurred in 2008.

She's a partner with Andrew Kelly in Kingaroy law firm Kelly & Frecklington Pty Ltd.

Auction Day ... Amanda Litfin, Cr Damien Tessmann, Mayor David Carter, Michael Hunter, Hannah Carty, Cr Kathy Duff,
Kirstie Schumacher, Cr Keith Campbell, Cr Barry Green
February 15, 2011 - Back in December last year, the South Burnett Regional Council decided to "sell off" its six councillors at a charity auction held in the Kingaroy Town Hall Forecourt.

Local businesses bid for our services and a total of $4814 was raised for Angel Flight, a foundation that organises non-emergency free medical flights for country residents.

I raised $1668 thanks to a number of South Burnett businesses who "hired" me to work for a day at the Salvation Army, St Vinnies and Kingaroy Meals on Wheels.

A big thank you to Ben Callaghan at the Carrollee Hotel, Mark and Amanda Reinbott (Subway), Kingaroy Shoppingworld, Kevin Turner, Michael and Leanne Leatham, Edenvale Enterprises, Barry Lonsdale, John Stanton (Pest Options), Heather Stanton (Spot On Cleaning), Tyrone Saul (Your First Personal Training), John and Claire Jolliffe, Darryl and Gwen Fleischfresser, Michael Carroll, Trevor and Dianne Campbell, Ron Hartley, Woodleigh and Joan Yappa, Greg and Jenny Tessmann, Nina Templeton and Ruth Thamm!

So on the appointed days I rolled up to work ...

At Meals on Wheels, (right), I was rostered on at 5:00am. I spent the morning peeling and cutting up vegetables, stirring the soup and enjoying the company of the cheerful staff. Heather Barron is the chief cook and the other main volunteer on the day was Lyle Dascombe. Lyle is the regular vegetable peeler who gives his time voluntarily each week to prepare the vegies.

At the Salvos, Lieutenant Katie Harlum put me to work sorting and pricing clothes for the Salvation Army Store. I worked with the other volunteers who cheerfully showed me the ropes.

There was more sorting to be done at St Vincent De Paul in Kingaroy - this time from the large bins at the front of store where the public drops off donations.

It's amazing and humbling the amount of charity work that is done for free on the South Burnett. Volunteers work hard to improve our quality of life and keep our towns running smoothly!

Tiffany shows me the ropes at SBCare	With the other volunteers at the Salvos	At St Vinnies in Kingaroy