AUSTRALIAN grown garlic is being hailed as a covid-killer around the world after new medical research led by Melbourne’s Doherty Institute found one particular variety could combat COVID-19 and flu infections, by stopping the virus taking hold in the digestive tract.
There’s been a flurry of interest since the findings were released on Wednesday this week, claiming extracts from one of the twenty garlic varieties tested in the study could kill COVID-19 and flu viruses with “99.9 per cent efficacy”.
Fifth generation St George farmer and commercial garlic grower, Andrew Moon, said he welcomed the buzz.
“Garlic is a hot topic in Australia at the moment and it’s refreshing,” Moon said.
“Any opportunity to promote the health benefits of this super food is good news for the industry.”
Andrew and David Moon from Moonrocks in St George. IMAGE: Supplied
[adrotate group=”7″]
Andrew and his brother David from ‘Moonrocks’ farms in Queensland’s south west have been growing garlic commercially for close to two decades and supply around 40 percent of the Australian garlic market.
However, David Moon told the Caller they were “reluctant to jump on the new bandwagon suggesting that garlic cures active covid,” with with the study commissioned by growers Australian Garlic Producers, yet to be officially published.
Moonrocks garlic grown at St George. IMAGE: Supplied
“They’re massive claims to make,” David Moon said.
“It took scientists almost a couple of years to come up with vaccines that work and to just do one study and say that you’ve got conclusive evidence that garlic wipes out COVID-19 is drawing a pretty long bow.”
Moonrocks worked alongside the University of Queensland on an independent research project in 2017 to evaluate Australian-grown garlic products and determine their nutritional and bioactive potential, especially compared to imported Chinese garlic commonly found on supermarket shelves.
“Do we know that garlic has a significantly positive impact on your immune system? Yes,” David Moon said.
“We have independently researched data to show rich antibacterial and antioxidant materials in Australian grown garlic, supporting its use as an antimicrobial agent to treat infections.”
[adrotate group=”7″]
Moon said suggestions in media reports this week that the antibacterial properties of Australian grown garlic were specific only to certain varieties, was simply not the case.
“Whilst our research with the University of Queensland is based on our own varieties of garlic, we can comfortably say that it extends across the board with Australian grown garlic,” he said.
“Yes, some varieties are naturally stronger than others, but all varieties have antibacterial purposes.”
Andrew Moon said if people can take anything from the viral stories this week, it’s that Australians should simply include more Aussie garlic in their diets.
“Making an active effort to include a serve of garlic daily will do wonders for your health, not to mention the flavour of your meals,” he said.
FOR more than a decade, folk and blues band Busby Marou has been playing around the country and overseas, supporting megastars such as Elton John and Dolly Parton, but they’ll never forget their 2017 gig at little old Chinchilla.
“We played at the Melon Festival Beach Party and it was on the eve of the release of our third album,” frontman Tom Busby told the Caller.
“I couldn’t believe it. The DJ was absolutely pumping and the crowd was flying, and we had to come on after this DJ and I remember thinking ‘this is a bit odd, we gotta come on and sing some folk songs’.
“But we came on and the crowd went ballistic. Our manager was trying to get us to settle down a bit because we were having too much fun and we had the album launch in Rockhampton the next day.
“It was such a good gig.”
WATCH: Busby Marou at Chinchilla Melon Festival 2017.
VIDEO: Chinchilla Club Hotel
Such is Busby Marou’s appreciation for a country crowd that, starting Friday night back in Chinchilla and running through until October, the boys from Rocky will be touring several small towns to promote their soon-to-be-released fifth album.
From the Chinchilla RSL, the Tiny Towns Tour will move on to rural centres including Charleville, Ilfracombe, Bowen and Bileola, followed by a second tour taking them through larger centres such as Townsville, Cairns and Newcastle.
“When Busby Marou was just starting out we were still going back and playing weddings and parties and all these remote places all throughout Queensland and then eventually NSW,” Busby said.
[adrotate group=”7″]
“Busby Marou still wasn’t really kicking off and we still didn’t think it was going to a career. But we knew there were all these people from remote areas who we met along the way, coming to watch us play in the cities.
“And we thought ‘no bands our age really go out to these regional area – why don’t we make some phone calls to see if they want it to happen’ and that’s how Tiny Towns was born. That happened about five or six years ago and we’ve done it twice since.
“They are the best gigs. We just throw it out there – who wants us to come to their tiny town? We want to keep doing this throughout out career, all the way to the end.
“It’s really who we are as people. We love those areas, we grew up in those areas and we have connections in these remote areas.
“As the Tiny Towns idea grows, there are more towns that we haven’t heard of that keep getting thrown onto the list. It’s really rewarding.
“Our aim is to take the best show we can, good production, lights, and make people want to stop watching the footy for a moment and watch what we do and then have a few beers with us afterwards.”
[adrotate group=”7″]
Busby Marou’s fifth album, BLOOD RED, is described as the duet’s “most ambitious” released yet, about “hope, optimism and friendship” and will be released on July 21.
Singles ‘Crazy Like That’, ‘Where I Wanna Be’ and ‘Everything is Beautiful’ have been released.
The latest single ‘Conversation’ is a playful jab at social media, with a message to “put down the f**king screens for some good old-fashioned conversation”.
“Everyone’s got a device and it’s about putting the phone down and getting back to those real conversations. If they’re good or bad conversations, who cares, it’s real life,” Busby told the Caller.
“I was lucky enough to grow up when phones weren’t a thing. They kind of came when I was starting to go to uni, and they’re amazing. I’m not being old and cynical about it, but you’ve got to live in the now.
“We’re all trapped in what to show people the moment that we’re in, rather than being in it.”
Busby Marou’s Tiny Towns Tour begins at the Chinchilla RSL tomorrow night (Friday, June 2), and moves on to the Charleville RSL on Saturday, June 3 and the Wellshot Hotel at Ilfracombe onSunday, June 4.
THE 4,447ha Condamine River portfolio in Queensland’s Western Downs region has been sold to 10 local operators by Aberdare Collieries, a wholly owned subsidiary of CS Energy.
Aberdare Collieries owns and operates the Kogan Creek open cut coal mine adjoining CS Energy’s coal-fired power station.
CBRE Agribusiness’s Edward O’Dwyer brokered the sale of the portfolio, involving nine aggregations in the Hopelands, Boonarga and Brigalow districts, via an Expression of Interest campaign.
“CS Energy was determined to sell the portfolio to high calibre local operators with deep connections to the Condamine River and the greater Chinchilla district who will continue as custodians of the land,” O’Dwyer said.
“We had over 110 enquiries in Stage 1 of the EOI campaign, resulting in 25 parties being taken through to Stage 2.
“Our team’s local market knowledge and personalised approach played a crucial role in securing a successful outcome for all parties involved.
“We would like to extend our gratitude to both the seller and the suite of buyers for placing their trust in us throughout this process.
“As a result of our ongoing engagements, we have expanded our opportunities to include both on and off-market listings within the greater Western Downs region.
“Furthermore, we are actively seeking opportunities through a buy-side mandate and invite individuals and entities to connect with us if they possess assets or partial holdings that they are eager to divest in the near to medium term.”
A Queensland-based, third generation family-owned cattle company has partnered with LifeFlight to help build a new helicopter base for the rescue service in Roma.
The facility was officially opened yesterday and will be known as the Lee Family and Australian Country Choice LifeFlight Centre, after the Lee Family Group came onboard as the project’s naming rights sponsor.
Australian Country Choice (ACC) Group is the world’s world’s largest family-owned, vertically integrated cattle and beef supply chain organisation and manages close to 1.75 million hectares of pastoral, grazing and farm land carrying up to 300,000 cattle.
“For people in real need in isolated circumstance – there is no sight better than the vision of a LifeFlight rescue helicopter coming into view during an emergency,” ACC CEO Anthony Lee said.
“Our investment in this new Roma facility is testament to the reliance we place on the LifeFlight service.”
WATCH: The view of the new base coming into land.
[adrotate group=”7″]
Senator Anthony Chisholm, LifeFlight Australia Board Chair Jim Elder, LifeFlight Foundation Board Chair Rob Borbidge and LifeFlight South West Regional Advisory Committee Chair Kate Scott unveiled a plaque at the facility as part of yesterday’s opening.
“It’s really great to be able to see the new base finally come together and it’s easy to see that the multi-million-dollar facility is vital for future-proofing the aeromedical service in the region,” Rob Borbidge said.
The state-of-the-art base, which features a hangar large enough to efficiently house an AW139 aircraft, will be home to the LifeFlight Surat Gas Aeromedical Service (SGAS) chopper and crew.
LifeFlight SGAS Pilot Simon Newman said the new facility will help crew members work more efficiently, with more appropriate space to conduct on-site training, administration, engineering and maintenance activities.
“With the base being purpose-built, it is tailored to the needs of pilots, medical and support staff,” Newman said.
“That means it will be a lot easier and far more efficient to do our jobs, so that we are able to cater for the needs of our patients, as well as be ready for the next mission even more quickly.”
The local ambulance service will also have straight-through access to the hangar and apron for patient and medical equipment transfer.
[adrotate group=”7″]
The project cost $3.4 million, with more than $2.3 million raised through local businesses, individual donors, philanthropic and community support.
“This project has been a true partnership which has involved the Federal Government, generous community members, businesses, major donors, the Maranoa Regional Council, our SGAS partners and LifeFlight Australia,” Kate Scott said.
“As we look to the future of LifeFlight in our region, we will continue to support projects which help to deliver vital medical retrieval services.”
The federal government also chipped in just over $1 million for the project.
“The Albanese Government has backed this project so LifeFlight has the facilities it needs to save lives in the future,” Anthony Chisholm said.
“This project highlights our commitment to delivering the services and infrastructure that regional communities need.
“Funding projects such as this ensures our regions remain a great place to live, work and visit.”
Last year the Roma LifeFlight SGAS helicopter crew helped 78 people, with the top five mission categories including motor vehicle incidents (17 missions), animal falls (7 missions) and cardiac/chest pain incidents (7 missions).
THERE couldn’t have been a better suited special guest for Frank Fisher Cup formalities than the relaxed, jovial and unguarded Wayne Bennett who spoke at the Bulldog Park rugby league ground in Chinchilla on Friday night.
By Bennett’s own admission, it helped that his Dolphins had notched up yet another impressive victory at Redcliffe the night before.
“It means that I’ll talk a little bit more,” the notoriously blunt speaking supercoach quipped as he got onstage.
And Bennett’s words in Chinchilla – up the road from where two police officers and a civilian were murdered in a terrorist attack last December – had special meaning.
The Frank Fisher Cup, named after one of Australia’s great Aboriginal rugby league players, is an annual men’s and women’s exhibition match between the Frank Fisher Invitational XIII and the Queensland Police Service XIII.
Frank Fisher Cup women’s teams – QPS and Central Queensland Crows. IMAGE: Country CallerVanessa Fowler from the Alison Baden-Clay Foundation speaking at the Frank Fisher CupEddie Monaei from the QRL speaking at the Frank Fisher Cup
The Cup marks the start of National Reconciliation Week and aims to connect police with the Indigenous community, while raising awareness of domestic violence and promoting domestic violence prevention.
Last year matches were held in the Aboriginal Shire of Cherbourg but this year Chinchilla was chosen as the location, as a way of commemorating Wieambilla shooting victims Constable Rachel McCrow, Constable Matthew Arnold and civilian Alan Dare.
[adrotate group=”7″]
It’s well known that Bennett served in the Queensland police force before embarking on the remarkable rugby league coaching career which has made him, at the age of 73, one of the highest profile Australians.
But very few of the hundreds gathered at Bulldog Park on Friday night realised, or could remember, that for a brief period at the age of 20 Bennett was an officer of the Chinchilla Police Station.
He served as a Toowoomba-based constable for a three-year period in the early 1970s, during which time he also had stints in Oakey and Meandarra.
Wayne Bennett speaking at function ahead of the Frank Fisher Cup. IMAGE: Country Caller A gathering at Bulldog Park in Chinchilla ahead of the Frank Fisher Cup. IMAGE: Country Caller
Bennett entertained the audience of Frank Fisher Cup squads, dignitaries and Chinchilla locals with frank, insightful and often amusing stories of the players, premierships and periods from throughout his famous coaching career.
But Bennett also shared his passion for policing and some fond memories from his time in uniform.
There was an alarming but humorous story of the time he and another young officer locked a local ratbag inside the Chinchilla watch house one evening, only to find out from a service station attendant hours later that the building had caught fire.
“I don’t think you’ve ever seen two police officers move any quicker than we moved then,” Bennett said. We were assured the prisoner survived unscathed.
“It was a great time, in Chinchilla,” he said.
“I did enjoy myself here. There was a great squash court. I played a lot of squash and made some friends. It was a nice place to be.”
Bennett said it was “one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever made in my life” when, after 20 years of policing, he left the force to become a full time football coach.
Wayne Bennett at the heights of rugby league and (INSET) during his years as a Queensland police officer. IMAGES: Supplied
“If I had my time over again I’d be a police officer again. I loved what I did. I loved the job. It was a bit of a game changer for me,” he said.
“I enjoyed how you could help people. I joined the police force because I wanted to help people and I felt I did that, whether it was with domestic violence or a road accident.
“I wasn’t too big on the other side of it – trying to put someone in jail or whatever. That was part of the job and they deserved to go there, that was fine. But I just wanted to help people.”
[adrotate group=”7″]
Asked by the Caller how he felt, as a former officer, when he heard about the terrible murders unfolding in Wieambilla last December, Bennett said the tragic incident was an extreme example of the inherent dangers of policing.
“It impacts on you as a ex-policeman because you know that could have been you,” he said.
“You feel for the people who it was, and you realise that every time you put the uniform on to go to work you could find yourself in some tough situations.
“I don’t think there’s ever been a policeman that hasn’t found himself in tough situations, and if you don’t want that in your life then don’t be a policeman or a policewoman, because it’s going to come your way.
“Obviously not as tragic as that (Wieambilla) lots of times, but there’ll be situations and circumstances where you’re going to be challenged.”
Wayne Bennett with Queensland Police Service Rugby League president Danny Hess. IMAGE: Country Caller
WATCH: Smoking ceremony before the 2023 Frank Fisher Cup
The Frank Fisher Cup opened with a Welcome to Country and traditional smoking ceremony that was described by Roma & District Rugby League president Peter Flynn as “one of the better ones I’ve seen”.
For five straight minutes Yindinji elder Michael Ambyrum, from Far North Queensland, produced constant didgeridoo hum as dozens of players and officials filed through the smoke of a Eucalypt fire.
Dances were then performed by the “Warriors Descendants” group from Rockhampton before kick off in the Frank Fisher Cup women’s game between the Central Queensland Crows and the Queensland Police Service.
The Central Queensland Crows team was picked from a women’s carnival only three weeks before the Frank Fisher Cup. IMAGE: Country CallerQueensland Rugby League board director Naomi McCarthy with referees (L-R) sisters Bridie and Brenna Prendergast and Dan Larose. IMAGE: Country Caller
The Crows’ ability to shift the ball and structure their attack would be the envy of many men’s teams, as they piled on points to record a comfortable victory over the QPS.
Five-eighth Rosie Parsons from Toowoomba was the clear choice for Player of the Match, while Crows captain Ella-Jay Harris, from Caloundra, said she was immensely proud of the team considering it was assembled only three weeks prior to kick off.
“It was a tough game. We always thought it was going to be tough but we gelled really well together, especially for our first ever game together,” Harris said.
“We’re really proud. Everyone had the same mindset. We just wanted to get out and play some tough footy. It’s really good for everyone to come together and be on board with what this event is all about.”
Player of the Match Rosie ParsonsCrows captain Ella-Jay Harris“It’s really good for everyone to come together and be on board with what this event is all about,” said Crows captain Ella-Jay Harris. IMAGE: Country Caller
Led by Q-Cup player turned police officer Jake Carl, the QPS men’s team put on a disciplined and strategic display in their win over the Frank Fisher Invitational XIII, comprising Indigenous players from across central Queensland.
The QPS’s robust rugby league organisation comprises teams in several police districts and a First XIII was selected from a recent carnival in Mount Isa.
[adrotate group=”7″]
Carl, who was named player of the match, said it was a very tough game.
“They definitely come with intent to win and put a big effort in. Unfortunately they were a couple short in numbers but they definitely put spirited effort in and made us play,” he said.
“We had the fallen officers’ names on our jerseys with a black arm band. The game meant something special and we had them in our thoughts. And not just them and their families but this community, Chinchilla, I know it hit hard as a community and as a police service out here.
“It was awesome to do this for those officers, and Alan Dare as well.”
QPS rugby league captain and player of the match Jake Carl with Member for Callide Bryson Head. IMAGE: Country Caller
Frank Fisher Invitational XIII captain Damon Anderson (pictured) said he was proud of his team for their efforts and grateful to take part in the reconciliation-focused event.
“It was really good, mate. It creates a good bond between the QPS and Indigenous mob, not just in our regions but all across Queensland and all across Australia,” Anderson said.
“There’s been a lot of feud over the years between the police service and our mob, so it’s good to have reconciliation and closing the gap between non-Indigenous people and ourselves.
“Our boys dug deep. We’re not just working hard for this man on our chest, Uncle Frank Fisher, but we’re working hard for our mobs, all our people that have passed, but also the emerging mob, the next generation.
“It was good energy out there and I look forward to next year.”
The Frank Fisher Invitational XIII. IMAGE: Country Caller
CHINCHILLA’S historic rugby league club has assembled a team of All Stars to take on a bunch of relative no-names from the east next month, and the line-up of players should send shivers down the spine of every opponent.
Players in the modern era grew up watching them. Their contemporaries wanted to be just like them. Canteen ladies swooned whenever these titans of the game strapped on a set of inch-long metal tags.
Lee Irwin, Mick Ashurst, Chrissy Davies, both “Cheesy” and “Burger” Iverson – the list of big names goes on.
The forward pack alone is something to behold with Chris Clarke and Steve Keating up front, Anthony Horswood at hooker, Steve Brownhalls and Simmo Colls playing second row and Patty Gleeson locking up the scrum.
Also among the Chinchilla All Stars’ extended 26-man squad are rugby league greats such as Noel O’Leary, Tim Pitt, Tim Keating and “Hurler” O’Dea.
Indeed, the trophies won between each player during their careers would fill an industrial-sized work shed.
[adrotate group=”7″]
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Bulldogs shield winners Noel O’Leary, Mick Ashurst, Chris Davies and Anthony Horswood, club legends Michael “Cheesy” Iverson and Tim Pitt, and Noel O’Leary during the glory days of the 1980s. IMAGES: Supplied
The Chinchilla All Stars will host a so-called Legends of League team at Bulldog Park on Saturday, June 17.
Some readers might have also heard of a few players from the opposition such as Scott Prince, Sam Thaiday, Ben Hannant, John Hopoate, Antonio Winterstein and Kevin Campion.
The Legends of League are a makeshift team of former professional players who tour communities around Australia, taking on past local players in a friendly Over-35s match.
The organisation’s aim is to promote the code and build grassroots footy by also hosting social events, visiting schools and conducting coaching clinics with the youngsters.
Collectable player cards for NRL greats Peter Gill and John Hopoate. IMAGES: Supplied
“It’s also about reconnecting people with their own communities,” said Legends of League coordinator Craig Teevan.
“People use these events as a reunion, an opportunity to come back to town and relive their younger memories.
“It’s a good fundraiser for local, grassroots rugby league because all the money spent on game days goes back into the clubs so they can better their facilities or provide their kids with better equipment,” Teevan said.
“You don’t get to see these sorts of quality players in too many small towns and playing a game against the locals. We sometimes see upwards of 3,000 people come out to watch.
“The guys are very good in the communities. They’ll meet and mingle with the sponsors on the Friday which is always a good social day.
“The games are always tight. Our guys play as hard and as fast as the locals do, but they also like to show off their skills as well. A lot of people walk away from these games saying things like ‘Oh, Scotty Prince could still be playing NRL’.”
[adrotate group=”7″]
Chinchilla Bulldogs president Charlie Redgen and Legends of League coordinator Craig Teevan. IMAGE: Country Caller
But the Legends of League players’ decorated careers in Maroons and Kangaroos jumpers are arguably eclipsed by what members of the Chinchilla All Stars have done on the bush footy paddock.
While Broncos forward Sam Thaiday might have won Dally M Second Rower of the Year for two years running, Chinchilla halfback Mick Ashurst was named Best and Fairest in the 1993 Terry Charles Cup Carnival to kick off a stunning comeback season at the age of 35.
Chrissy Davies and Anthony Horswood led the Chinchilla Bulldogs to south west rugby league premierships in 2014 and 2015, but Ben Hannant and Antonio Winterstein never won back to back grand finals for the Cowboys.
CHINCHILLA ALL STARS V LEGENDS OF LEAGUE, JUNE 17, BULLDOG PARK
“We’ve had a few of the old boys come down to club training and a couple of calves have gone already, but a couple of them are looking fitter than our A-grade players,” said Chinchilla Bulldogs president Charlie Redgen, in a chilling warning to the Legends of League.
“I tell you what – we’ve got some old boys that are keen to play footy. We’ve got 26 there and we probably could have picked a team of 50.
“The idea of putting the jersey back on was popular. I think we asked 26 people and we got 26 people saying ‘yes’. There was no hesitation from any of them.
“It will be a mix of good footy and good fun, then into a good night as it always is out here.”
The Legends of League squad will spend two days visiting schools in the district including at Miles and Jandowae and holding an official team announcement event at the Club Hotel on the evening of Friday, June 16.
A big Saturday at Bulldog Park will begin with junior games, an Under-16s game, a women’s game, and a local Under-25s Vs Over-25s hit out before the main game.
Sponsors of the event include WDC, Max Fitness, Chinchilla Club Hotel, Origin, CS Energy, Qube and Goondir Health Services.
Chinchilla League Legends sponsors including WDC, Chinchilla Club Hotel, Origin, Max Fitness, Qube, Goondir Health Services and CS Energy. IMAGE: Country Caller
MOMENTUM is building behind a push from Toowoomba’s food and arts community to lure tourists up the range outside of the city’s traditional peak season of spring.
Major new events are seeking funding from Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) to get off the ground, while small businesses are also experimenting with new initiatives to boost visitation through the colder months.
The vision for “Autumn Feast”. IMAGE: Dine Darling Downs
Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce has made a formal application to TRC to be the major sponsor of “Autumn Feast” – a ten-day celebration of local food, music and art planned for next year.
Kristen O’Brien (pictured), who runs popular local food directory and blog Dine Darling Downs said the event would give artists, musicians and hospitality businesses a “ten-day banner” to collaborate under.
“From a tourism perspective this will be fantastic,” O’Brien said.
“We’ve got a captive audience right down the hill – there’s over two million people in Brisbane – it is an opportunity for them to come and spend time in the city and autumn is very different to spring, it’s a spectacular season in Toowoomba.
“It’s going to be regional as well, so from Clifton to Oakey, up to Crows Nest, there’ll be little boutique events, family events, all sorts of different events for people to come and enjoy.
“Unfortunately we’re not ready to say it is definitely going ahead. I really wish that I was. We have submitted an application to Council to come onboard as a major sponsor of the event.
“Once we can get that and if we can get that we are going to be all hands on deck and getting ready to prepare for next year because it will just be a fantastic ten days in our city.”
O’Brien told the Caller that while Toowoomba had an incredible arts, food and music culture, much more could be done to celebrate what the city had to offer.
“I think we are letting our arts community down a little bit,” she said.
“Everything on our program will be local – the food, the musicians, the artists.
“We’re not bringing in any food vendors, we’re not bringing in any famous name artists because we think we’ve got some of the country’s best artists right here in our own city.”
That will be a distinct point of difference from the Festival of Food and Wine during Carnival of Flowers, which focuses on bringing in big-name headlining acts.
“It really is all about the community,” O’Brien said.
“There will be ticketed events but there’s also going to be free events, family-run events and there’s just so much we have to celebrate here in this season.”
[adrotate group=”7″]
Meanwhile the Toowoomba Gallery has launched a new art competition in a bid to lure and secure talent, while promoting the city as a must-see tourism destination all year round.
“The Next Big Thing” art prize has already attracted interest from artists nationwide, with entries open until May 31.
Gallery co-owner Bec Statton said she was looking to help build the hype around the city itself.
“We get a lot of artists coming in and asking if they can be in the gallery, so part of it was a way to consolidate that,” Statton said.
“But we also wanted to use this to just draw attention to the town as well. Our big push is to get people to look at Toowoomba, because we think Toowoomba is really amazing.
The Toowoomba Gallery’s Niki Hall and Bec Statton are looking for the gallery’s “Next Big Thing”. IMAGE: Supplied
“The title, ‘The Next Big Thing’ is about the artist but it’s also about Toowoomba being the next big thing.
“We’re one of the only places in Queensland with actual, four distinct seasons, so I really want to see us play on that.”
Statton said the gallery had been considering how it could “add another layer to the town”, and ideally the art prize would eventually become part of a wider event, such as Autumn Feast.
“We’re so close to the coast and so close to Brisbane – it’s the perfect weekend or perfect day trip,” she said.
“So we want to sell that, but we want to sell the whole town. So it’s not just coming to visit a gallery – it’s coming to do all sorts of things.”
Statton said there was a growing movement of Toowoomba creatives who wanted to try new ideas and events.
“I think everyone is starting to realise that the best thing to do is band together and promote each other, and promote the town.
“Instead of having the same things in the same places all the time – how can we move it around and make it a little bit different.”
Rockhampton Regional Council has given Darling Downs-based cattle company Mort & Co the green light to build a world class feedlot at Gogango, 70kms west of Rockhampton.
The facility will house up to 40,000 head of cattle and will include a cutting-edge fertiliser manufacturing plant, using manure from the feedlot.
Mort & Co CEO Stephen O’Brien said the company’s decision to build its next feedlot in the Beef Capital was the right one.
“The work that we’ve done to get this far has been extreme but we have absolute confidence that the choice of our next feedlot being here in Gogango is the right decision,” O’Brien said.
The development will be on Thirsty Creek Road in Gogango. IMAGE: Mort & Co
“There’s cattle available up here, but also the amount of grain that’s going past. It makes sense.
“We don’t do things half done – we make sure that whatever we do, we do it well.”
Chairman Charlie Mort said the company’s overall investment would be close to $200 million, with construction costing around $90 million and another $100 million needed to stock the feedlot.
“We’re going to be producing 2500 head a week – 500 head a day, five days a week – that’s a decent number of cattle for these abattoirs up here,” Mort said.
[adrotate group=”7″]
Stephen O’Brien said one of the exciting things about the project was the expansion of Mort & Co’s fertiliser business.
“Our manure that’s generated through the feedlot, through the cattle, is then converted into granules – a unique granule that we can add additives to, to go into the different soils around Australia,” he said.
The company already has one fertiliser manufacturing facility on the Darling Downs which was an Australian first.
Mayor Tony Williams and CEO Stephen O’Brien with Mort & Co’s granulated fertiliser. IMAGE: Kentos Komms
Rockhampton Mayor Tony Williams said Mort & Co’s development would add to the region’s reputation as Australia’s Beef Capital.
“We want to warmly welcome them to our region – this is a great announcement and one that we feel is going to benefit the local economy through 65 full time jobs,” Williams said.
“This is something that really does dovetail into our Beef Capital tag, with two major processors in the region, a major saleyards, Beef Week next year coming up and this will really build on that reputation.”
Further planning and approvals are still needed for the project, with construction expected to start in the second half of 2024.
Successful tourism hinges on the experience as much as it does the destination and one rural community in Far North Queensland has taken inspiration from its humble beginnings for an event that’s truly one-of-a-kind.
Celebrating its 20th year, The Great Wheelbarrow Race pushed off from Mareeba – 65km west of Cairns on May 12 with teams competing to be the first to get their barrow over the line 140km down the track in Chillagoe – a historical mining town with a population of 250.
The quirky race pays homage to miners of the late 18th century who’d walk the region’s unforgiving terrain in search of work, pushing wooden wheelbarrows filled with their worldly possessions.
Best described as a relay race of wheelbarrows; competitors run, walk, and limp as they jump in and out of team buses, handing over the wheelbarrow baton as they go (pictured below).
Competitors passing the wheelbarrow as part of the relay. IMAGE: Supplied
When pushing their bodies to the limit, the scale of competition is a sliding one for participants with some taking the fitness challenge more seriously than others.
But there’s much more to The Great Wheelbarrow Race which has gained quite the reputation over the years, known as much for its bus shenanigans and painful blisters acquired along the way.
Race Chair and Mareeba Shire Councillor Lachlan Benstead said it’s not until that final horn sounds at the end of each leg of the race that the true spirit of the event comes to life with live music and some good ol’ team fun at the country pubs along the way.
Competitors and supporters hit the road for The Great Wheelbarrow Race. IMAGES: Zoe Maree Media
[adrotate group=”7″]
“On Saturday night, we’re introduced to teams in Almaden where we find out their story and how much money they raise so everyone’s aware of their journey and how much effort has gone in,” Benstead said.
“The motivation is there but the physical strength is drawn from deep, deep inside and there’s a lot of days when your brain is questioning you, it’s telling you to stop and it’s gonna throw questions at you.
“It’s a battle of the mind as well as the physical battle but it was so wonderful to see those teams that crossed the line on day three, because we’ve been on a journey with them.”
Competitors raced from Mareeba to Chillagoe. IMAGES: Zoe Maree Media
[adrotate group=”7″]
By Sunday afternoon when the cavalcade of vehicles has departed, the townships are left with far more than just the memory of a good time.
“It might not look like a tourism driver, but in fact, it’s exactly what it is when you think Almaden Pub probably only sees four to five people at most every day,” Benstead said.
“I mean, the amount of caravans that were pulled up out in the big dirt paddock in front of the pub was incredible.”
And it turns out people are willing to travel from just about anywhere to get their dose of nostalgia.
“We had a team from St Joseph’s Nudgee College (Brisbane) come up, another one from Melbourne has come back up as well,” he said.
“One of the runners also came up from Adelaide.
“This kind of event is done nowhere else in the world.”
More than $190,000 was raised for charity during the 2023 event. For more information visit www.greatwheelbarrowrace.com
THE London headquarters of historic UK fabric designer Liberty is a world away from sun-scorched southern Queensland, but the two now share an unlikely connection thanks to a small business owner’s success on the journey from heartbreak to healing.
Take a look inside a well-dressed country woman’s wardrobe right now and there’s every chance you’ll find a blouse from cult, Roma-based fashion label, Sorority.
Just over two years since the release of its first collection, the brand’s popularity continues to thrill and surprise its creator, Cara Spreadborough, whose signature ‘wear-anywhere’ Liberty print blouses have amassed a loyal following.
“I’ve connected with so many amazing people along the way,” Cara said.
“I’ve heard amazing stories about their experience with Liberty – when they went to boarding school or what their Nana made them when they were younger.
“Eighteen to 85 year olds wear the blouses – I wanted good quality, timeless and that would suit any age, shape and style.”
Sorority’s signature Liberty print blouses. IMAGES: Sorority
[adrotate group=”7″]
But there’s more to Spreadborough’s success than iconic prints and quality cotton.
“I haven’t ever told the story of why I’ve done it because I’ve found, up until now, it’s been quite a personal story,” Cara told the Caller.
“But now I feel like it does help other people.”
Cara founded Sorority in the aftermath of an unfathomable loss – the tragic and sudden death of her twin sister Lee.
Lee passed away after a rare illness in 2017, leaving behind three little boys, the youngest just three months old at the time.
“The grief and loss was horrendous, and I needed to channel it some way,” Cara said.
“I needed something to focus on and I feel like that was the drive.”
Sorority owner Cara Spreadborough in one of her Liberty blouses. IMAGE: Supplied
It was Cara’s search for an elusive wardrobe staple – a perfectly-cut, floral blouse – that saw the self-confessed fashion-lover consider founding her own label.
“I’ve always loved floral prints and I was looking for a floral print blouse, and then I found one I particularly loved but it was US-based,” she said.
“I couldn’t find that particular style, or kind of print or anything similar online so I ended up ordering it from the US but it cost an exorbitant amount to get it here.
“And I was thinking, why am I paying this much from an overseas brand when I could try and do it here?
“That kind of spurred me on.”
[adrotate group=”7″]
When it came to choosing fabrics, Cara said it was Liberty “or nothing,” with the brand also honouring a treasured chapter in her life – living in London with Lee (pictured with her in London below) in their early twenties.
You can hear the delight in Cara’s voice when she describes what those formative years with her sister abroad were like.
“We just loved it, it was an amazing time in our life,” Cara said.
“I think anything to do with London I loved and Lee loved.”
Cara said she can remember being in awe of Liberty’s Regent Street department store, and thinking how amazing it was.
“It’s the most iconic building and it’s unbelievable,” she said.
Fast forward to Sorority’s early days and an online wholesale application from Cara to Liberty prompted a call from its head of sales, who was keen to find out more about her proposal.
“It felt very kind of easy and natural. I think I’ve always been someone who kind of takes a risk,” Cara said.
“I’ve always felt like she’s been a part of it the whole time and she’s helped me through it because it’s been so easy and been something I’ve loved.
“You want to carry on a legacy – it’s a way of me remembering.”
When Cara’s first batch of blouses was released in April 2021, it was clear she was onto something.
“Before I even launched the website – I put it on Instagram and I’d sold 65 blouses. It got busy very quickly,” she said.
“I was in my little office upstairs on our property 45 minutes from Roma and I was doing trips into town for posting and packing all the orders myself and then the little boutique came up for sale.”
[adrotate group=”7″]
Now that Roma boutique, Inky and Moss, is Sorority’s physical headquarters, but social media is where Cara continues to build her mostly-rural customer base, seeking feedback on new designs and sharing updates and styling tips.
“Covid was almost an advantage because people learned to online shop more, they needed that connection through Instagram and Facebook,” she said.
“I think they love the connection and I think people are getting over the big brands and the mass produced products.
“They like the connection – even if you get on (Instagram) and you’ve got no makeup on, and you’re talking – those are they days I sell most!”
Sorority designs featuring iconic Liberty prints. IMAGES: Sorority
[adrotate group=”7″]
For those thinking about taking the plunge and starting their own venture, Cara said the quote she lived by was “start before you’re ready”.
“My first batch of blouses were too short, I didn’t necessarily love the prints that I chose. They needed tweaking – but I just started,” she said.
She said knowing your “why” and what problem you’re solving are important too.
“I’ve always loved making people feel lovely,” she said.
“I think it’s so important for women to feel good and feel good about themselves, whether they be a size 8 or an 18.”
Cara has been asked to present at Bloom Inc, a conference for female entrepreneurs, this weekend – where she will be sharing her story to encourage and empower others.
“When you go through adversity, sometimes something good can come out it, but you have to make that choice,” she said.
“It really does help you through grief and loss.
“You can do hard things and you can get through things and it’s just what you do with it and the choices you make.”
