The Country Caller

OPEN LETTER: We matter and we deserve better

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Supplied | Cloncurry Shire Council

IT is unacceptable that thousands of people across north-western Queensland will now need to drive hundreds of kilometres to access Westpac face-to-face banking, following the recent decision to close the Cloncurry Westpac branch.

Westpac employees who have recently relocated to Cloncurry are now left wanting answers, and jobs, following the shock announcement from Westpac, which reported a bottom-line net profit of $5.7 billion in November 2022.

Westpac has been grooming customers for many years to do their job, moving away from face-to-face banking and to online, faceless interactions; meaning profits are up, but foot traffic is down. But instead of reinvesting staff resources in supporting customers with more personalised banking services and wealth creation options, the bank is shutting its doors. And that’s not right.

Signage on Cloncurry’s Westpac bank notifying customers of the closure. IMAGE: Supplied

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Cloncurry is a community that has worked together to drive economic growth through embracing innovation and overcoming obstacles to support continued investment in our local economy.

For a dynamic region that’s growing in strength with massive expansion and investment from international mining companies and others, it is a slap in the face when a major finance company turns its back – yet expects us to stay on as customers!

What does this say to future investors, residents and travellers in, and to our region, and what will be the impact on general confidence? That we don’t matter?

The town of Cloncurry in Outback Queensland. IMAGE: Supplied

Westpac announced the closure of Cloncurry’s branch by email to Cloncurry Shire Council’s Chief Executive Officer on Friday 3rd December. The announcement comes at a time when Cloncurry is bucking the trends of most regional communities, with a population that is growing rapidly, now totalling an estimated 3,705.

Since 2020, the population has grown by 4.81%, while population growth in regional Queensland was less than 1%. The population growth since 2016 has been estimated at 18.5%. We are booming. We matter.

Our economy is built on a foundation of mining, transport, and agriculture. These local businesses contribute billions of dollars to the Queensland economy. Ours is a region of legacy businesses, businesses that have forged wealth for Queensland and the country. Ours is a region that remains important from a State and Federal revenue perspective, but not from a personal banking perspective.

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It is disgraceful that big business, who our community have supported for decades, has turned its back on us. We are concerned for the many elderly residents, community groups and businesses, that rely on the branch for face-to-face assistance. The role that personal face-to-face banking plays for our region cannot be underestimated – in times of drought, flood, fire and indeed all rural crises, it’s the local Bank Manager who becomes a lifeline, a face and a voice to be relied on. Someone who is always there. Not anymore.

Personal banking is one of the key pillars of a functional society. When pillars are taken away, structures collapse. This is happening.

The limited banking offer proposed via the local post office is an unacceptable level of service for Westpac’s dedicated customer base. If the bank closes, the nearest Westpac Bank is close to a three-hour round trip.

The Cloncurry Shire Council banks with Westpac and will likely reconsider its future banking options should the branch close.

Our greatest fear is that this decision will give other vital services the precedent to withdraw more services from Cloncurry and regional Queensland.

We deserve better.

CALLIDE MP: Remember region for the right reasons

SUPPLIED | BRYSON HEAD MP

AS THE Chinchilla community prepares to host its biennial Melon Festival next weekend, the Queensland MP representing the region is encouraging visitors to come and remember the Western Downs for the right reasons, rather than the “horrendous” events of last December.

Two months on from the police shooting, at Wieambilla south of Chinchilla, the community is gearing up for the 2023 Chinchilla Melon Festival.

Callide MP Bryson Head said he was excited to see the event back on after a four year hiatus.

“Our region was shaken to its core at the end of last year by an event that we wouldn’t wish upon anyone,” he said.

“In true country spirit, we’re not going to let that stop us from celebrating one of the many things that makes our region so great.

Melon madness at the Chinchilla Melon Festival. IMAGE: Supplied

“The pinnacle of our great community will be on display. A Queensland country town with a huge effort from volunteers and a wealth of community spirit.

“The town’s population will more than triple in size as people come from far and wide to celebrate an industry that was the fabric of the town for many decades.

“After a 4-year hiatus thanks to COVID, I’m thrilled to see this event return and bring a much-needed boost to my hometown.

“There are dozens of novelty events to participate in. Think of almost every event that a melon can be substituted in for, and you’ll find it here; melon skiing, melon bungee, melon ironman, melon bullseye, pip spitting and melon tug of war, just to name a few.

“This is an event for all ages, and one you won’t forget. It’s the event we want Queensland to remember us by.

“So come along, and get your melon on, at the Chinchilla Melon Festival, 2023!”

COMMENT: Night shift is not for the faint hearted

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By CAITLIN CROWLEY

SIX months into parenthood and I have a whole new appreciation for those who start their work day as the sun begins to set.

While I’m very happy to be rostered on my version of “night shift”, I drastically underestimated the impact defying darkness – night after night – would have on my body and mind.

“Nothing good happens after 2am,” was a golden rule in my early 20s. Fast forward a decade and I reckon it’s still accurate, for very different reasons.

3am is easily the hardest time to be awake – it’s the no man’s land of overnight feed times. There’s strong consensus in my mother’s group that time of night is when the jet-lag style heaviness hits hardest.

My sister has worked night shifts at Central Queensland mines for years and my new schedule had me feeling sorry for her in a way I hadn’t before.

Then I remembered the mining industry has fatigue laws.

A dragline after dark in Central Queensland. IMAGE: Supplied

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When my sister knocks off night shift, a day crew is rolling in to relieve her and her colleagues. There’s no such luck around here.

New parents are lucky to get smoko or an outfit change before night shift blurs into another day.

Maybe the National Heavy Vehicle Register could lend new parents the logbook system it has for truckies, because we should probably be stopped from making any kind of significant life decision if we’re running on 45 minutes of broken sleep.

Then there’s the injustice of being awake when everyone around you is asleep. While mine sites or service stations glow with neon light, parents are in stealth mode, navigating in darkness.

Heaven forbid your shin connects with the sharp edge of a bed or table. If it does, it’s critical you suffer in silence.

Our local cafe serving up coffee with a side of encouragement.

I wonder if it’s hard for nurses to patrol dimly lit hospital wards while patients are tucked up in bed.

It’s a similar situation at my place – except here it’s not just the tiny person I’m looking after who’s asleep; my one colleague is always napping on the job.

My husband’s ability to fall asleep in almost any conditions was already legendary, but now it’s how much noise he can snooze through that defies belief.

He can literally be mid-sentence, in a near vertical position and slip into peaceful sleep. It’s unreal.

But no matter how tired I’m feeling, when the pitch black starts fading to grey, the night shift hangover begins to lift.

Sunlight soothes my weary eyes and foggy head, especially when paired with a flat white from my favourite coffee spot down the road.

Whether it’s Blend 43 and energy drinks on a CQ mine site, or a quick cuppa with a mum mate, there’s nothing like that first caffeine hit after another long night.

Now when I see police or paramedics stopping in for a takeaway too, I have a new level of awe and respect – and hope that coffee brightens their day as much as it does mine.

Battle of the buskers returning to Stanthorpe streets

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SUPPLIED | Apple & Grape Harvest Festival

STANTHORPE’S CBD will come alive Saturday March 4 when the South East Queensland finals of the National Australian Busking Championships return to the Granite Belt.

In the past six ‘Busking Stanthorpe’ South-East Queensland finals, the competition has produced five different winners who’ve gone on to win significant national awards including last year’s winner Matt (Shieldsy) Shields, a Stanthorpe police officer.

Matt took out the top prize in Stanthorpe last year and finished second overall at the national finals in Cooma, New South Wales.

Local students participating in the Busking Championships. IMAGE: Supplied

“We have some new judges lined-up this year, along with some special performances at the finals concert and let’s not forget we have a bigger prize pool on offer this year, in excess of $8000”, Apple & Grape Festival President, Russell Wantling said.

The National Championships were founded by Allan Spencer in the country NSW town of Cooma back in 2012.

Stanthorpe was the first town outside of Cooma to get involved in hosting a regional finals.

Buskers will return to the streets of Stanthorpe in March. IMAGE: Supplied

“Stanthorpe has discovered more than its fair share of Australian National Champion Buskers,” Spencer said.

“There is literally no limit to the potential for artists who make their start busking. I followed with excitement as ‘Tones and I’ make her break as finalist in the Noosa Busking Championships, which led to an invitation play at the Gympie Music Muster and from there she was picked up by Triple J and on to International success.”

The competition is open to everyone, from primary school-aged performers to seasoned professionals.

Solo singers and musicians, duos, trios and groups of any genre, and non-musical street entertainers will compete for a share of $8000 in prize money over numerous categories including age categories, best band, judges’ awards and People’s Choice.

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Spectators can purchase Busking Tokens for $1 and vote for their favourites to help choose the winner of the People’s Choice Award.

Entertainment can be enjoyed from 9am to 2.30pm at 16 busking stations across Stanthorpe’s CBD, followed by the Finalists Concert from 2.45pm.

The finals concert will be at the Stanthorpe Civic Centre with entry by gold coin donation for charity.

Buskers interested in participating in the 2023 South East Queensland Busking Championships can enter online at www.appleandgrape.org/busking.

AEC hits record Indigenous voting enrolment

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SUPPLIED | AEC

UPDATED AEC estimates show that an additional 21,000 Indigenous Australians have enrolled to vote between the end of June 2022 to the end December 2022, bringing the national estimated Indigenous enrolment rate up to 84.5% (up 2.8%).

Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers said that the rapid rise easily represented the largest increase since estimates were first calculated in this manner by the AEC in 2017.

“It’s brilliant – more people are enrolled and ready to vote, which is an unvarnished good news story for electoral participation in Australia and closing the enrolment gap, but we know more needs to be done” Rogers said.

“We continue to work really hard in getting as many people to enrol as possible, with a particular focus on young Australians and Indigenous Australians who aren’t enrolled at as high a rate as others.”

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“I constantly hear from international counterparts who marvel at Australia’s 97 per cent overall enrolment rate, but I want enrolment to be that high, and higher, for all Australians.”

The AEC’s recent direct enrolment trials are proving successful. Remote engagement work through AEC staff and 80+ community partners is having an impact and recent Indigenous enrolment communication campaigns are helping to achieve the continued enrolment rise as well.

“It’s just so pleasing to see the rise in estimated Indigenous enrolment being recorded in every state and territory consistently, and with more significant increases in the past six months,” Mr Rogers said.

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“What this means is more people are ready to vote when they turn up to a polling place during an election or Referendum, or when an AEC remote voting team comes to visit.”

“The estimated number of ‘unenrolled’ Indigenous Australians has gone under 100,000 for the first time – to just under 87,000 – and that is significant.”

Llama Lunch puts laughs on the menu in Crows Nest

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By CAITLIN CROWLEY

I HAD managed to keep my sister’s Christmas present top secret and as we walked towards a picnic table in Crows Nest’s Centenary Park, there was still no way she could have ever imagined what was coming next.

We were greeted by a beaming Malcolm Maurer-Kennedy, one half of the duo behind local tourism business, MK Tours.

He offered my sister a hint when he joked about working with animals and children, but she was still completely clueless until he pointed across the park and said, “Here they come.”

Crossing the road and making their way towards us, llamas Napoleon and Guinness arrived in style, led by Rod Kennedy, who shared his tips and tricks for handling the quirky creatures.

Bronte Holding meeting llama mates Napoleon and Guinness.

To say my sister was overwhelmed is an understatement. She has always had a thing for llamas and now she was about to spend a leisurely lunch with not one, but two of them.

I didn’t realise it at the time, but Bronte and I were the very first guests to road test the Llama Lunch – a new and hilarious tourism offering for the Darling Downs.

Locally sourced treats with a side of llamas proved the perfect recipe for a whole lot of laughs, especially when we took Napoleon and Guinness on a stroll around the park.

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“It would be fair to say we have created quite the stir in town,” Rod Kennedy said.

“When we take the boys out in town, people flock from everywhere – locals and visitors alike.

“Cars stop and u-turn to come and say hello – iPhones and cameras coming from every angle. We always hear, “I didn’t expect to see and pat a llama today!”

Neither did Bronte.

Napoleon the llama snacking on a dried leaf.

I can also vouch for the pulling power of a couple of curious llamas.

Everyone from kids to their grandparents were lining up, asking if they could meet our fluffy friends. Rod and Malcolm had a picnic basket full of pellets at the ready, happily helping passers-by hand feed the stars of the show.

“Napoleon seems to be attracted to the camera and will often photo bomb when you’re turning to take a picture,” Rod said.

I think the photos we took speak for themselves…

Rod and Malcolm launched MK Tours last year after fulfilling a decades’ long dream to settle in Crows Nest, coming up with the idea after a sunset walking tour at The Llama Farm at Pine Mountain.

“We started to discuss how we could promote the great town of Crows Nest whilst having a hobby to help pay for Guinness and Napoleon’s care,” Rod said.

Rod Kennedy and Malcolm Maurer-Kennedy with their llamas. IMAGE: Supplied

Now they’re offering a variety of experiences including walking tours around the country town and its retail and dining destinations.

“We wanted to be unique and put a smile on everyone’s faces,” Rod said.

Llama Lunch will definitely go down in my family folklore as one of the all time great surprises. The only problem is how I’ll ever be able to top it.

Toowoomba Bypass eastbound lane to reopen

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SUPPLIED | TMR

ONE eastbound lane of the Toowoomba Bypass will be opened to traffic today, Friday February 3, the department of Traffic and Main Roads has said in a statement.

Nexus Infrastructure, Operations and Maintenance team will reopen the single lane by 2pm for all eastbound motorists.

The relief for motorists comes three months after the bypass was closed to repair damage caused by heavy rainfall.

Nexus Infrastructure CEO James Thewlis said works had progressed well and we are all pleased to be opening this lane ahead of schedule.

Damage to the Toowoomba Bypass in October caused by heavy rainfall. IMAGE: Supplied

“With the initial stabilisation works complete, we are now able to confidently reopen an eastbound lane for motorists,” Thewlis said.

“Works will continue on the cutting repair but this closure and stabilisation work will allow us to re-construct the cutting while maintaining traffic flows on the Bypass.

“We thank the community and motorists for their patience during this time while these essential works were carried out, Mr Thewlis said.

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“One lane will remain closed for the duration of the reconstruction works but this is unlikely to impact on travel times.”

“Safety is always at the top of our priority list and we ask motorists to be aware the works and follow the signage as directed for their safety and the safety of others.”

Motorists can expect the lane to be opened from 2pm Friday afternoon with a 40km/hour speed limit when moving through this section of the Bypass.

Containers have been setup in this area as a barrier between ongoing works and motorists and geotechnical monitoring of the cutting will continue.

“The design of the cutting is underway and once completed we will be able to confirm when we expect the work to be completed. Construction updates will continue to be provided to the community as the cutting repair works progress,” the statement said.

For up-to-date information on traffic and road closures, please visit www.qldtraffic.qld.gov.au

Downs study powering state’s hydrogen jobs future

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By CAITLIN CROWLEY

CONSTRUCTION of a renewable hydrogen demonstration plant on the Western Downs will be studied as part of a new project to map the training and skills needed to power the burgeoning industry in Queensland.

The state government has partnered with Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise (TSBE) and CS Energy to use its project at Kogan as a learning opportunity – not just for Queensland, but the wider industry internationally.

“It is such a new industry that in fact, we don’t know what skills are going to be required,” training minister Di Farmer told the Caller.

“We know we can’t have an industry unless we have got the people who have the training and the skills to work in that industry.”

Farmer said as the demonstration plant was built and operated, a dedicated skills officer would assess the training and skills needed and connect local suppliers with hydrogen manufacturing opportunities.

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Artist’s impression of the Kogan Renewable Hydrogen Demonstration Plant

“We need to, step by step, work through a real life project to be able to describe what is required,” she said.

“It means we’ll know whether we can work with existing skills or whether we need to develop whole new training qualifications. These are the things that people around the world are still trying to discover, which is why it is so exciting.”

CS Energy expects to start building the hydrogen demonstration plant in March and is aiming to finish by the end of this year.

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Queensland’s hydrogen industry is forecast to grow by $19 billion by 2040, creating 10,000 new jobs.

With the Palaszczuk Government pledging to end Queensland’s reliance on coal-fired power by 2035, TSBE’s CEO Ali Davenport said hydrogen was a key industry for coal workers to transition into.

“We’re very excited about the opportunities for existing energy producers to work in the hydrogen space,” Davenport said.

“We’re already finding that there are a lot of synergies between those workers who are working in that space, to hydrogen as well.”

The TSBE project is a $161,000 investment from the state government’s Emerging Industries’ Hydrogen Skills Fund.

James Blundell to headline Chinchilla Melon Festival

By HARRY CLARKE | SPONSORED

AN ICON of Australian country music, James Blundell, will be performing at the Chinchilla Melon Festival at the FREE family concert on Saturday, February 18. The Caller caught up with James about his return to the iconic event.

Coverage sponsored by Official Chinchilla Melon Festival and Chinchilla RSL Memorial Club.

Firies furious as arson destroys thousands of hectares

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By HARRY CLARKE

POLICE are hunting arsonists responsible for torching thousands of hectares of land across Queensland’s Western Downs, as deliberately lit fires continue to threaten properties over a vast area between Chinchilla, Kogan and Tara.

Fifty personnel, four water bombing planes and two helicopters have been involved in containing the blaze throughout the Wieambilla forrest area, which began between 10pm Sunday and 3am Monday.

No injuries have occurred and no buildings have been damaged thanks to the work of local volunteer and auxiliary fire fighters, as well as several deployed from the wider region and from South East Queensland.

South West Queensland Fire and Emergency Service (QFES) Superintendent Wayne Waltisbuhl said he had no doubt arsonists were responsible for the blaze, as police search for firebugs believed to have been operating on Chinchilla-Kogan Road, Mary’s Road and Old Tara Road on Sunday night.

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“They were deliberately lit. We can confirm that,” Waltisbuhl told the Caller.

“It’s pretty obvious. No accidents like that happen, the way they were lit on all separate roads.

“Some of the responding crews saw some other vehicles around the place so police are following up on whether they’re suspicious or not.

“They’re deliberately lit, the way they were sequenced and where they were. Fires don’t occur that far in from the road from a loose wheel bearing on a truck or something like that.”

Map showing the fire zone in the Wieambilla area of the Western Downs. IMAGE: Bushfire.io

Up to 10mm of rain which fell over the parts of the area last night has help firefighting officers significantly but a QFES have issued an extremely high fire danger warning for parts of the Darling Downs today.

Waltisbuhl said the region’s fire crews had been busy since bushfires began at Millmerran earlier this month, and that the Western Downs and Goondiwindi council areas remained their biggest concern for the remainder of the fire season.

“Conditions dried out dramatically after Christmas. We noticed a sudden change in the whole countryside. It just dried out badly.

“We’re been operating in this environment since the 9th of January. The Milmerran fire was the first one that had us establishing this command centre here, and we haven’t stopped.”

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“Conditions are really hot and tough out there at the moment.

“People need to be really mindful of their environment at the moment, whether they’re operating machinery or equipment in those dry areas. Please be careful and have some sort of extinguishing method.

“There might be other fires popping up as we speak. Don’t assume that that a firefighter is going to be at all of those.

“We’d rather get a Triple-0 call that ends up being a fire we’re already at than not know about it at all.”