WHAT’S been described as the most dire worker shortage in living memory will be at the top of the agenda at the Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise‘s (TSBE) annual Protein Conference in Dalby this week.
The conference, to be held at the Dalby Events Centre on Wednesday and Thursday, is one of the only events in Australia which brings together stakeholders from across the pork, poultry, dairy and beef sectors.
Supply chain problems, product traceability and technological innovation will be among the key talking points, but FIP Group‘s general manager for sales, Adrienne Ritchie, said labour shortage was currently the agricultural sector’s most pressing issue.
From the TSBE Protein Conference in 2021
“I’ve never seen the workforce issue as challenging as it is right now,” Ritchie said.
“We’re all dealing with unprecedented times. I’ve been in recruitment for longer than I care to mention and I’ve never seen it like this before.
“People have never been so busy, but unfortunately they don’t have the workforce to support that demand.”
Ritchie said she estimated the national labour shortage in the rural sector would be roughly 10,000, and that the figure had been made worse by pandemic border restrictions.
[adrotate group=”2″]
“There is no one solution. We’ve got to look at international recruitment. We’ve got to make it a lot easier to access,” she said.
“There’s a really big problem at the moment where a lot of the regional companies have got a very high demand for people but they’re unable to accommodate them – so housing is another big problem.”
The keynote address at the Protein Conference will be delivered by Ian McConnell, director of sustainability – international business for Tyson Foods.
Also in the two-day program is an Innovation Session with guest speakers from AgBot, iTrazo and MarchNet, while Jefo Australia sales and managing director Wayne Bradshaw will speak on the topic ‘Nutrition Today – Efficiency’.
[adrotate group=”2″]
From the TSBE Protein Conference in 2021
TSBE general manager for Food Leaders Australia, Bruce McConnell, said with the wider Darling Downs region comprising 60 percent of Australia’s feedlot cattle and 80 percent of Queensland and NSW pork and chicken production, the 2022 Protein Conference would help the industry work towards industry-wide solutions to issues in across the protein sector.
“We’ll be discussing the industry growth, sustainability, workforce and innovation with some highly regarded expert speakers,” McConnell said.
“These sessions will allow us to further drive investment into the sectors which we know already benefit from our region’s reliable grain production and established infrastructure,” he said.
IT’S taken only one game for Charleville product Kurt Capewell to deliver heroics for his dream NRL club, captaining the Brisbane Broncos to a first round upset against last year’s grand finalists and sealing the deal with a stunning field goal in the dying minutes.
With star recruit and newly appointed captain Adam Reynolds out with illness, it was Capewell who was appointed to lead the Broncos onto Suncorp Stadium last night for the opening fixture against the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
Even Queensland legend and league commentator Cameron Smith wrote Brisbane off before the game, but when asked by the Caller this morning whether he thought his battling Broncos could overcome the dominant Bunnies, Capewell simply laughed.
“Of course I did mate,” he said.
“We put in a lot of work in the off season. You can get a lot of confidence and belief out of your training, and the boys have been on fire at training.
“It’s good to see all our hard work pay off and good to put in a good performance.”
[adrotate group=”2″]
Broncos bible The Courier-Mail gave Capewell the highest ranking for the Brisbane Broncos team alongside half back Albert Kelly, with a score of 8/10 for overall performance last night.
He “tackled himself to a standstill” and “threw a lovely ball for an Oates try”, analyst Greg Davis wrote.
But it was Capewell’s sudden and stunning field goal with four minutes left on the clock, putting the Broncos virtually beyond defeat with a lead of 11 points to 4, which made him last night’s standout player.
WATCH: Kurt Capewell’s stunning field goal; for the Brisbane Broncos
“It was pretty sweet. I don’t think I could have hit it much better,” Capewell told the Caller.
“I’ve watched it back about a thousand times now and I still can’t believe it went through, so I’m very lucky.
“Not too much went through my head. First of all I just had to pick the ball up and not knock it on. I always had ‘kick’ in my brain, whether to cross field kick or go for the field goal, but instincts just told me ‘the field goal’.”
He comes from a proud and successful sporting family, much of which is still based in south west Queensland, and said he visited home as recently as last weekend before his Broncos debut.
Murweh Shire Council mayor Shaun Radnedge has even unofficially changed the name of Charleville to Kurtville in celebration of the town’s proudest rugby league export.
“Every Queensland kid grows up watching the Broncos and supporting the Broncos in a way,” Capewell said.
“I played here in Under-20s, so to come back and lace up in the NRL was an amazing opportunity, and to captain them as well was very special.”
FOSTERING sustainable small business in rural towns, and the benefits of supportive male family members, were among the topics enjoyed over a special lunch held in Goondiwindi to celebrate International Women’s Day.
More than 170 women (and two baby boys!) travelled from as far as Bowen in North Queensland and Warren in western New South Wales for the event on Tuesday, hosted by Goondiwindi-based fashion, homewares and furniture business Harry and Kit.
There was a powerful lineup of speakers – Buy from the Bush founder Grace Brennan (from Warren NSW), Suncorp Bank’s head of agribusiness April Cavanagh and Graziher magazine editor Victoria Carey.
The MC was television presenter Sammie O’Brien. The event was held at the Macintyre Boathouse.
Among myriad topics, speakers discussed how some women are growing and sustaining businesses in country areas and gaining traction beyond a small town’s main street or CBD.
[adrotate group=”2″]
April Cavanagh, Victoria Carey, Grace Brennan and Sammie O’Brien. IMAGE: Alisha Reading / The Farmer’s Friend
Harry and Kit founder Lillie Dahl said this idea was part of what motivated her to organise the event itself, and host it through her business.
“In Gundy, most of the main street and retail shops are run by women and I knew there would a lot of support to bring people together and collaborate with different businesses, to create some excitement for our little town,” Dahl said.
“If we create events, people will come and people will spend money and enjoy themselves in Gundy.
“The speakers were fantastic. There was a really nice message throughout the day from all of the speakers about how their husbands, partners or male figures in their lives are really helpful and supportive.
Harry and Kit founder Lillie Dahl. IMAGE: Alisha Reading / The Farmer’s Friend
[adrotate group=”2″]
“It’s amazing what Grace (Brennan, of Buy from the Bush) has done in such a short space of time,” Dahl said.
“She’s such an amazing speaker and such a great advocate for rural areas. She spoke a lot about promoting quality business and sustainability in rural areas.
“April (Cavanagh) is a huge advocate for women and getting women back into the workforce after having children, encouraging businesses to allow women to work from home when their kids are sick or having jobsharer arrangements.
“Victoria Carey spoke about the challenges of media companies traditionally having mostly men in senior roles, but how really supportive men within those companies have really helped women’s causes.
“Overall it was just a great day and we can’t wait to start organising something special again for International Women’s Day 2023.”
THE historic Springvale Station in Western Australia’s Kimberley region will be acquired by Andrew “Twiggy” and Nicola Forrest’s pastoral company Harvest Road, pending approval
The “Springvale Aggregation” consists of a total 604,430 hectares (1,493,560 acres) and comprises four pastoral leases – Springvale, Mable Downs, Alice Downs, and Texas Downs.
The mammoth property is situated in the East Kimberley region, about 70 kilometres north of Halls Creek and 320 kilometres south of Kununurra.
Google Maps image showing location of Springvale Station
The cost of the transaction wasn’t disclosed in a statement released by Harvest Road, but the purchase will return the historic cattle station to Australian hands for the first time in 20 years.
The current owner, global beef producer Yeeda Pastoral Company, has owned Springvale for the past two decades.
Harvest Road’s chief operating officer for pastoral, backgrounding and feeding facility, Ben Dwyer (pictured), said the purchase of Springvale Aggregation would be another long term investment in the future of Western Australia’s beef industry.
“The acquisition of Springvale will continue our commitment to developing a vertically integrated beef supply chain across the State,” he said.
“We will focus on the sustainability of the property by destocking appropriately to leave a well-selected breeding herd and to build a strong genetic base for our supply chain, as well as allow the country a well-deserved rest.”
The property has been well developed and maintains historic infrastructure including the original homestead, which was built by legendary cattle and horseman Tom Quilty. The aggregation also includes staff quarters, sheds and 10 sets of permanent cattle yards.
Springvale Aggregation boasts many natural water holes and extensive water infrastructure. Some water points have recently been upgraded with new solar pumping systems and a replacement trough program is underway.
Mustering on Springvale Station. IMAGE: Supplied
Once acquired, included in the purchase will be licences, permits and basic infrastructure to operate a “glamping” style tourism business on the road into the world-famous Bungle Bungle National Park, the statement said.
Yeeda Pastoral Company chairman Mervyn Key said the company had been been privileged to be the “custodian” of the Springvale Aggregation for the past 20 years.
“We are very happy to be handing the reins on to Harvest Road to bring the station back to its former position as an iconic breeding property and build on the potential of the Kimberley pastoral industry,” he said.
TWO of Australian’s finest bull riders have been named captains of the Queensland and New South Wales teams for the 2022 PBR Origin series.
Queensland will be captained by four time PBR Australia Champion Aaron Kleier while the 2016 national champ, Cody Heffernan, will take up the position for New South Wales.
Kleier, who steered the maroon team to victory in 2021, said he was determined to lead Queensland to a third straight series win when the tournament begins at Newcastle later this month.
[adrotate group=”2″]
“I am looking forward to riding as a team with the Queensland boys and representing our state with them. Putting on that maroon jersey is truly an honour,” Kleier said.
“With bull riding being such an individual sport, it is good to get the chance to ride together as a team. It just has an exciting and different feel to any other event.”
Queensland BPR Origin captain and four time national champion Aaron Kleier. IMAGE: PBR
The three-rodeo PBR Origin series will begin at Newcastle on March 26, followed by Tamworth on April 23 and Brisbane on May 21.
The series was launched in 2019 and the second event was held in 2021.
Heffernan, who experienced NSW’s demise to the hands of Queensland in both series, said he was hoping the home state advantage in the first round would help give NSW an early series lead in 2022.
“It’s an absolute honour to be selected as captain and lead the charge with the boys,” Heffernan said.
“I am looking forward to the atmosphere the Origin events create. We rarely get to ride in a team format, and there’s no better team competition in Australia than New South Wales vs. Queensland.”
[adrotate group=”2″]
New South Wales PBR Origin captain and 2016 national champ Cody Heffernan
PBR Australia General Manager Glen Young said the series would play a crucial role in determining who will qualify for the Monster Energy PBR Australia Grand Finals occurring in Townsville in November.
The grand final is the richest bull riding event in the southern hemisphere.
“There is up to $30,000 in prize money up for grabs at the first two Origin events and $40,000 on the line in Brisbane,” Young said.
“The best rider of the series gets a $20,000 bonus and this year’s Monster Energy PBR Australian Champion will receive a $50,000 year-end bonus.
“We’re looking forward to the series kicking off in Newcastle in just over two weeks and seeing which team will take out the first event win.”
IN A sporting agreement that will generate a new base of Bulldogs fans in the Darling Downs and offer young rugby league players a pathway to play at the game’s highest level, the Western Clydesdales have officially partnered with Canterbury’s NRL club.
“Today is a really exciting day not just for Toowoomba, but for Toowoomba and the South West and for rugby league,” Clydesdales chairman Tony Coonan told a press conference in Toowoomba today.
“After a long time, a lot of work from a lot of different people, we can announce an NRL affiliation with the Canterbury Bulldogs.”
[adrotate group=”2″]
Under a three year contract beginning next year, the Bulldogs will establish a footballing academy in Toowoomba to foster development of young players and as well coaches and support staff.
Plans are in place to host regular season Bulldogs NRL games at Toowoomba’s Clive Berghofer stadium as early as 2023, while Toowoomba and South West rugby league fans will have better access to Canterbury season memberships.
Clydesdales players and staff will have opportunities to travel to Canterbury’s home ground and training facilities for clinics and coaching, while Bulldogs stars will also travel to Toowoomba to carry out clinics with the Clydesdales.
(L-R) Toowoomba Junior Rugby League chairman Dan Aldons, Clydesdales player Anna Dangley, Clydesdales chairman Tony Coonan, Toowoomba Rugby League chairmain Joe Hannant and Clydesdales player Reily Land
Toowoomba Rugby League chairman Joe Hannant said the new affiliation would give the Western Clydesdales a huge advantage in its bid to enter a senior team in Queensland Rugby League’s top tier Hostplus Cup in 2023.
“This is huge. This is a huge boost to our competition and huge boost to our sport,” Hannant said.
“The Bulldogs coming in and what they’re offering is significant. This will in time entice players back to the senior clubs but it will also open up pathways for our coaches and importantly our players.
BULLDOGS footballer manager Phil Gould’s comment on the Canterbury-Clydesdales partnership
[adrotate group=”2″]
“We want to ensure our sport remains the number one sport but also provides that important pathway.
“It will be a boost for the community and for the region. People love their football. A lot of people travel down to Brisbane to watch NRL football and now we’ve got some NRL games here in our own back yard.”
Speaking at the press conference, current players Rieily Land and Anna Dangley said the Clydesdales squads were thrilled by the announcement.
“It’s a pretty good opportunity to get us down to Sydney. All the boys are excited to play some footy down there. We’ll be able to to better our game,” Land said.
Dangley (pictured), who comes from Papua New Guinea, added: “I think it’s a very important announcement especially for women in sport. It’s exciting to see where this can take the club. I came from a small community and I didn’t expect that women’s sport would be evolving at the rate that it is, but in Toowoomba it opens a lot of opportunities for young girls that want to go that NRL career.”
DECADES of local history will be revived in the outback town of Longreach next month when professional horse sports and rough stock events return for the inaugural Road to Rodeo.
Road to Rodeo is a new concept devised by the team behind the Isa Rodeo, which has launched Road to Rodeo in Longreach as a curtain raiser for the iconic Mount Isa Rodeo in August.
Over the May long weekend from Saturday April 30 to Sunday May 1, the Longreach Rodeo Association will host an official Australian Professional Rodeo Association (APRA) circuit event with all the action and excitement for which the Mount Isa Rodeo is renowned.
Isa Rodeo Limited CEO Natalie Flecker said consulting with the Longreach Rodeo Association had been “vital in the journey” to bring the new event to the central west.
“The Longreach Rodeo Association have been incredibly supportive on this event concept,” Flecker said.
“We’ve been working with the team since last year and in addition to our mutual love of the sport of rodeo, both groups can see the benefits that an event like this can bring to both organisations, the community and the Queensland outback.”
Rodeo to Rodeo organisers: (L-R) Isa Rodeo’s Natalie Flecker, Shane Watts and Kathryn Anderson, Longreach Rodeo Association’s Laura Axentieff, Joe Ryan, Mick Bichsel and Lawrence Monize, and Isa Rodeo’s Darren Brandenberg
Mick Bichsel, secretary of the Longreach Rodeo Association, said “it’s an absolutely terrific opportunity for us and for our small club.
“The concept that the Isa Rodeo team has come up with – to grow the Road to Rodeo and add other events throughout the north west culminating in the major Mount Isa Rodeo – is fantastic.
“Just to be part of that the expertise and professionalism of what they’re doing is great. It’s a big win for us.”
Longreach rodeo arena from the air in 1957. IMAGE: Queensland Country Life
It’s been more than 15 years since Longreach played host to a professional rodeo event on the national APRA circuit.
The local rodeo association has held an annual amateur rodeo later in the year “to give the local blokes a bit more of a go”, Bichsel said, but the return of top notch horse sports and rough stock action has the wider Longreach community abuzz with excitement.
“Rodeos are always well supported around Longreach and normally we get a very good crowd,” he said.
“The town’s only got a smaller population but with our rodeos we seem to drag them in from a few other towns. And this one, from what I can gather, is going to be very popular.
“People are coming from a long, long way away.”
WATCH: Country Caller coverage of the 2021 Mount Isa Rodeo
Among the top Australian rodeo riders who’ll be part of the action next month at Longreach is reigning Mount Isa Rodeo open bull ride winner Troy Wilkinson.
“It took me nearly 10 years to get my first win at Mount Isa. It’s the biggest rodeo in the southern hemisphere and such a prestigious rodeo event,” Wilkinson said.
“If you compete in rodeo, you want to win at Mount Isa. Anything that adds excitement to the challenge of winning Mount Isa is a good thing.
“It think the Road to Rodeo event series is a fantastic idea. It creates opportunities and pathways for us competitors, and I can’t wait to see how it grows.”
Reigning Mount Isa Rodeo open bull ride champion Troy Wilkinson
Road to Rodeo is tipped to provide a strong financial boost for Longreach and surrounds.
As well as the local rodeo arena undergoing upgrades in the lead-up to the event, Mick Bichsel (pictured) said the economic impact would be enjoyed by traders throughout the whole region.
“This weekend we’ll be modernising the calf roping and team roping chutes which haven’t been used here for probably 15 years,” he said.
“Before the event we’ll have some dirt taken out of the arena and more sand out down to make it a better surface
“It’s all starting to come together.
“It will be a massive economic boost for the town because the people who come here have all got to buy fuel and food et cetera.
“There’ll be people staying overnight in accommodation and it will be a massive boost, not only for Longreach but all those towns along the way where people travel from.”
THE Toowoomba-based Heritage Bank has announced a major growth milestone as plans progress for its proposed $22 billion merger with another customer-owned financial institution.
Heritage CEO Peter Lock today announced a record volume of lending and total assets hitting $12 billion for the first time in the bank’s half year results, which was up 2 percent on the six months to June 30 last year.
Loan approvals hit a record amount for a half-year period at $1.399 billion, up 22.21% on the same period the previous year, while net loan growth for the period was $113.54 million, up 88% on the corresponding period.
“We’ve enjoyed a solid half-year performance in competitive market conditions,” Mr Lock said.
“Our profit has held up well considering the pressure on key revenue lines evident across the industry.
Heritage Bank CEO Peter Lock speaking at a TSBE networking event at Parliament House
“Our record volume of loan approvals was an outstanding performance in the current environment and growing our total consolidated assets beyond the $12 billion milestone reflects our strength.”
Mr Lock has also revealed that plans for a proposed merger with fellow customer-owned bank People’s Choice Credit Union were forging ahead.
If the merger, first flagged in August, were to proceed, the newly established institution would oversee more than $22 billion in total assets and proceed under a new name and brand.
It would operate a network of more than 90 branches and employ approximately 1,700 people. A Heritage Bank statement has said there would be no branch closures or non-executive redundancies as a result of the merger.
[adrotate group=”2″]
“The bank from Toowoomba – if this goes ahead – becomes the eighth largest bank in Australia, and I think that’s pretty cool when you consider what we came from and what we are aiming for,” Mr Lock told a TSBE networking event at Parliament House.
“There will be a new brand that comes about from this. We don’t have the name of that yet but we are confident that will honour the heritage of both organisations.
He said the company would have two headquarters – one in Adelaide and a newly built, “campus style” building in the Toowoomba CBD.
“We’re in a tender situation at the moment for a new head office and I don’t think that there would be a more concrete way that we can show our commitment to our region than by building a brand new head office in the centre of the city,” Mr Lock said.
“We’re looking at sites at the moment and we hope to have a campus style, iconic building in the centre of town ready for our 150 year anniversary, which is only three years away.
QUEENSLAND’S most senior energy bureaucrat has given new insight into the scope and potential of the Toowoomba and Surat Basin region as a multi-faceted electricity powerhouse with “enormous” future domestic and international export opportunities.
Paul Martyn (pictured) is the director general of the Department of Energy and Public Works and former CEO of the government’s global business agency, Trade and Investment Queensland.
Speaking at a networking event at Parliament House hosted by Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise (TSBE), Mr Martyn said dramatic change in global energy markets posed “a real threat to this country” but also opened key opportunities for the region’s energy sector.
While highlighting wind, solar and hydrogen power as the path to capitalising on renewable energy demand, Toowoomba North MP Trevor Watts listed aerospace development, healthcare and the Inland Rail project as opportunities to drive economic prosperity.
Aerial image of X-ELIO’s Blue Grass Solar Farm near Chinchilla
RENEWABLE ENERGY
“The International Energy Agency predicts that international trade of energy will reduce by two thirds, but equally I think it’s an incredible opportunity for us,” Mr Martyn said.
“When we think about some of the global market trends around the ‘greening’ of supply chains – that the people who buy what we produce are going to want to know where the energy came from – this whole picture becomes even more important.
“We’ve gone from 7 percent of our energy produced by renewables to 20 percent and the trajectory is going up. That’s being driven by $10 billion worth of investment.”
Mr Martyn said there were currently 35 large scale renewable projects generating 2,700MW of power, while the department has calculated using national data that another 7,000MW could be developed in the region.
[adrotate group=”2″]
“The importance of battery energy cannot be underestimated,” Mr Martyn said.
“We all know that sometimes the sun doesn’t shine and the wind doesn’t blow. Batteries enable us to store renewable energy and use it at other times when we need it.
“Often the wind blows at night so it compliments solar during that day, and that mix in your region is very powerful.”
The region’s foray into renewable hydrogen is tipped to be another potential game changer for the economy.
Plans are afoot to test hydrogen being developed at Kogan Creek Power Station in the trucking and logistics industry.
Artist impression of the Inland Rail freight terminal planned for the Wellcamp Business Park
INLAND RAIL
The Darling Downs will be a key corridor for the $14 billion, 1,700km Inland Rail project being built to connect Brisbane to Melbourne, promising to complete the “missing link” in our national freight network.
It was announced in December that developer Pacific National had reached an agreement with the Wagner Corporation to build a major freight terminal the Wagners’ Wellcamp Business Park at Wellcamp.
The terminal is expected to occupy some 23 hectares and support up to 400 skilled jobs once operational, including train drivers, terminal staff and warehousing staff.
Inland Rail is expected to the completed by 2026 but reports suggest that ongoing disputes with landholders over the railway route could cause both the construction timeline and cost to blow out.
Toowoomba North MP Trevor Watts also warned at the TSBE enterprise networking event that strained housing and accommodation in the wider region would need to be bolstered to accommodate availability the influx of workers.
“It will put some pressure on our accommodation and our ability to host that workforce, but the logistics and the opportunities of the development of that inland port for Toowoomba’s long term employment is going to be absolutely fantastic,” Mr Watts said.
Fly-through artist impression of the proposed Toowoomba Hospital redevelopment
HEALTHCARE
Mr Watts said the healthcare industry in Toowoomba was “our biggest employer”, making up 13 percent of the city’s workforce, and the proposed redevelopment of the Toowoomba Hospital would see that percentage increase.
The new hospital is planned to be built over 75 hectares at the site of the exisiting Bailey Henderson Hospital. Toowoomba’s current main public hospital has been located on Pechey Street since the late 1800s.
Darling Downs Health provided the Queensland Government with a business case in late 2020 to inform its decision on whether to invest in the project, which has a price tag of $1.8 billion.
TSBE chairman Dr John McVeigh, Energy Department director general Paul Martyn, Heritage Bank CEO Peter Lock, TSBE CEO Ali Davenport and Toowoomba North MP Trevor Watts at Parliament House
In a statement Darling Downs Health has said its intention would be to “move as many services as possible away from the (Toowoomba Hospital) to open up clinical spaces until a new hospital is funded.”
The proposal for the new hospital includes 402 overnight inpatient beds, compared to the 317 currently available at the Toowoomba Hospital.
“It’s a facility that’s desperately needed,” Mr Watts said.
“A lot of people are currently using patient travel subsidy to travel to Brisbane to see specialists and have procedures.”
Wagner Corporation director Dennis Wagner in December unveiled plans to develop and aerospace hub at Wellcamp Airport
DARLING DOWNS AEROSPACE
As the Caller revealed exclusively in December, the Wagner Corporation has set out a bold vision to revolutionise Darling Down industry with the development of a world class aerospace industry centred at the company’s Wellcamp Airport outside Toowoomba.
Robitic manufacturing plants, research and development laboratories and the construction of cutting edge military aircraft will be spearheaded by Boeing, which has chosen Wellcamp as the location to build its state-of-the-art “Loyal Wingman” Aircraft Teaming System.
The unmanned aircraft will be the first military combat aircraft designed, developed and manufactured outside the US in half a century, and are planned to begin flying off the Wellcamp runway in 2025.
[adrotate group=”2″]
Expected to create 300 jobs during construction and generate $1 billion for the Queensland economy over ten years, the Boeing project will involve building, patenting and testing the Aircraft Teaming System, before supplying it in numbers to the Royal Australian Airforce and allied airforces around the globe.
Wagner Corporation director Dennis Wagner said the company’s vision was for Wellcamp Airport to play host to a world-leading hub for defence and aerospace research, innovation, development and manufacturing.
“We have commenced meaningful discussions with an additional 22 potential organisations interested in establishing a base here in Toowoomba,” Mr Wagner said.
“The companies include advanced manufacturers, suppliers to the aviation and defence industries, research and education organisations, aviation maintenance and freight operations.”
Boeing Australia’s “Loyal Wingman”, similar to the Aircraft Teaming System aircraft to be manufactured at Toowoomba. IMAGE: Supplied
IT WAS clear from the outset that Jandowae was there to win, and sure enough the mighty Fishhooks overcame south west Queensland’s reigning premiership winners to take home the coveted Lindsay Williams Shield for 2022.
The makeshift Jandowae team, which each year only plays in the Lindsay Williams tournament and a trial game against Dalby, beat Roma Cities in the final with a score of 28-12.
Jandowae Fishhooks win the 2022 Lindsay Williams Shield
It was a joyous occasion for Jandowae but one that was also marked with sadness. Only hours before the carnival kicked off the team learned that proud and devoted Fishhooks supporter George Hoath had passed away.
Fishhooks dummy half and club spokesman Danny Wassell said the sudden loss of Mr Hoath inspired players to “dig deep” and bring home the shield in his honour.
“The boys were pretty emotional when we went out to play so it meant a lot to us this year,” Wassell said.
“George was one of those fellas who would do anything for anyone, and he’d do anything for the club. If you asked him to mow the lawn, he’d mow the lawn. If you asked him to dig up prickles, he’d dig up prickles.
[adrotate group=”2″]
Tara Panthers and Jandowae Fishhooks observed a minute’s silence in honour of George Hoath
“There was only about three blokes in the team who didn’t know George personally and they could see what he meant to everyone, so everyone was out there to dig deep.”
Wassell said defence was a big factor in the Fishhooks’ success. Tackling has been a focus at training and hard work seemingly paid off when Jandowae beat Tara by 34-nil in the first game.
Debutant Brayden Favley dominated during broken play at fullback, while prop Willie Cambourn led up front with relentless, storming hit ups.
Taroom-Wandoan Battlers halfback spreads the ball against Roma Cities
The annual carnival at Wandoan brings together four teams from the wider district for a knockout tournament named in honour of local Lindsay Williams, who became a professional rugby league player in Brisbane before his untimely passing 15 years ago.
Last year the Taroom-Wandoan Battlers claimed the trophy but on Saturday the hosts were knocked out in the first game by Roma Cities, who won the 2021 Roma & District A-Grade competition.
It was the Battlers’ first defeat since 2019. There was no football in 2020 and last year the team was unbeaten in the Roma Reserve-grade competition.
Roma Cities centre Tom Barron returns the ball from a kickoff against the Taroom-Wandoan Battlers
All four teams appeared evenly matched in size, skill and speed but the usual preseason fitness factor played a role. Most of the points which racked up on the scoreboard came during the second halves.
“The Lindsay Williams is a great little carnival and its just good to have people come to country towns for footy.
“Football is football, but everyone comes in and has a beer, catches up with old mates, and you make friends from football. That’s the main thing I think.”
SLIDESHOW – please tag Country Caller when sharing photos
