THE Blackall Pistol Club hosted the first of the Keith Hayward Memorial Pairs events on Sunday, March 28 with the Standard and Airpistol matches being contested. Winners of the Standard pairs were Peter Molle and Jack Milroy with a total score of 784, ahead of runners up Bruce McPaul and Jim McCarthy on 724. Not far behind with a score of 718 were father and daughter Len and Julie

Russell, and Bruce McPaul and Doug Lane on 603.

In the Airpistol event a new pairing consisting of Len Russell and Greg ‘Spiro’ Tierney took out the winning medals with a score of 821, ahead of runners up Jack Milroy and Doug Lane on 754. The remainder of the Keith Hayward Memorial pairs events will be held on Sunday, April 11. Events to be shot will be the Centre Fire

and Sports Pistol events commencing at 9am.

INDEPENDENTTHE BARCOO

Blackall’s own community newspaper

Page 12 - The Barcoo Independent, Friday, April 9 2010

April 9 2010 ISSN 1832-6129 RRP $2.00 Contact: barcooindependent@gmail.com

continued on page 6

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“Be Quick!”

By SALLY CRIPPSTHE Blackall-Tambo Regional

Council has agreed to loan $45 000 to the Tambo Stock Show Inc.

It will be used to extend the catering and bar facility at the Tambo Race Course to provide a larger undercover area, which the group says will better cater for show patrons and participants by providing a larger area for displays.

The loan will be interest free and repayable over five years.

When discussing the proposal at its March meeting, Cr Peter Skewes said council had to exercise consistency and reminded those

Stock Show obtains council loanpresent that a loan agreement already existed with the Blackall Golf Club.

Negotiated in 2008, it was obtained to assist the group to raise its clubhouse above flood level.

The Stock Show said it had support from other organisations that use the facility, such as the race club and clay target association, and that it currently had 90 active members.

It added that it raised between $7000 and $10 000 a year from staging its annual show, and was in a sound financial position.

It plans to begin the earthworks needed to extend and raise the

mound in late September, to take a 10 metre x 30 metre skillion on the south western side of the existing building.

It would like to have the project complete by next April for the 2011 show.

Mayor Jan Ross asked the meeting if they thought it was a good addition to the complex.

Cr Graham Jarvis said he wasn’t a member, so if this worked for them, he wouldn’t object.

CEO Ken Timms stressed that the loan would be the full extent of funding able to be obtained from council.

“They can’t come back for more,” he said.

From the Heartland Festival CommitteeThe 2010 Blackall Heartland Festival is on again from

May 14 to 30. Pull up stumps in the Blackall-Tambo region and enjoy two weeks of arts and cultural events.

The 2010 event embodies the heart and soul of the region and promises excitement, enlightenment and enrichment through a series of workshops, exhibitions and concerts styled in black and white to correlate with this year’s theme ‘The Black Stump and Beyond’.

One of the major highlights included in this year’s program is a series of workshops with acclaimed Courier Mail cartoonist Sean Leahy.

Sean draws political cartoons along with his own comic aptly named ‘Beyond the Black Stump’ and promises to leave Blackall with a commemorative mural reflecting the community.

Watch this space for further updates, details of special guests and profiles of planned workshops. Check the Barcoo Independent calendar for event dates.

For all media and event enquiries please contact Karen Brook STUDIOS on (07) 4654 2364.

Mary NealRemedial Massage

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THE Blackall Dance Group is now in full swing with a successful term one just finished. Term 2 begins this coming Monday, on April 12 with lessons at the Blackall Memorial Hall.

This year the group will be performing dances at the town’s annual show and they are looking forward to supporting the Heartland Festival’s Music and Food Fiesta on May 21 with dance entertainment (one dance will be a Russian ballet).

The end of year concert is themed “The Magic Toyshop” and promises to be a wonderful night of make-believe. “Toys” in the toyshop will come alive and perform. New members are always welcome, for enquiries telephone Lavina on 4657 5030 after hours, or Christine Williams at the Coolibah Motel.

– Lavina Anderson

IT was a good day of social bowls last Sunday on the Blackall green with sixteen bowlers and visitors taking part in the fun.

The overall winners were Bradley Masters and Tracey Brown, while the winners of the losers’ consolation prize went to ‘Gumby’ Chapman and Haze McHugh.

Next week at the bowls club in

handicap singles D Carter will play R Browning and in A singles R Black will go against J Carter, as will G Whitfield and Cookie. In B singles R Doyle will play M Chapman and in sets of nine ends J Bowyer will play D Holden.

Social play is available. Games start at 9am.

– Dally Holden

Your local taxation specialistwill be attending their

Blackall Office in Woods Arcadeon Wednesday 14 & Thursday 15 April

For all your Accountancy & Taxation needscontact Prue Button on 7 4657 4144.

Elwyn and Jenny Bethel will be at the Blackall

Community Markets on Saturday, April 10 with cakes, jams and goodies

Blackall dancing in full swing

Social bowls

Cemetery records to be restoredA GRANT totalling $15, 000 has been received by

the Blackall Tambo Regional Council to go towards researching, recording and digitising the records of the Blackall cemetery.

Mayor Jan Ross says the cemetery has significant historical value to the local community and visitors.

“(Cemeteries) are an indication of the history of the district, and so it is important we restore and preserve these as best we can.”

The burial register dates back to the 1870s and documents the areas of the cemetery which are home to religious affiliations and nationalities, as well as a war memorial section.

Council applied to the Queensland Government’s Community Memorials Restoration Program for funding to collate the data from the maps and registers and verify this with the town cemetery.

Cr Ross and Blackall Historical Society President

Christine Campbell said historical enquiries about family graves, gravestones and sites are commonly received by both the council and the historical society.

Cr Ross says the map documenting the earliest section of the cemetery has been misplaced so it has become a priority to remap and rerecord this section.

Council Community Facilitator Officer Alison Shaw said the process of digitally recording

By ROWAN HUNNAMKeith Hayward Memorial shoot

Mayor Jan Ross looks over the burial register book

The Barcoo Independent, Friday, April 9 2010 - Page 11Page 2 - The Barcoo Independent, Friday, April 9 2010

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and $1.25 per extra line

Please direct enquiries, suggestions, stories and letters to the editor to: Rowan Hunnam

barcooindependent@gmail.comor post or call at Blackall Visitor Information Centre, 108a Shamrock St, Blackall Phone/fax: 07 4657 6966

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NOMINATION FORM (Nominations open to grass-fed cattle only) NOMINATIONS CLOSE FRIDAY, 23 APRIL 2010

WHATS ON in 2010APRIL

Community Market Day, Short Street10 Blackall Hospital Auxiliary Meeting / AGM13

17 Blackall Races21-24 Blackall National Campdraft Finals23 Nominations Close Landmark Beef Cattle Show and Sale24 Whip Cracking Workshop25 Anzac Day29 Landmark Beef Cattle Show and Sale30 Landmark Cattlemen’s Presentation Dinner

MAY1 Dressage & Junior Stockman’s Challenge,

Blackall ShowWoolscour Bush Dinner1 Blackall Show2 Woolscour Tour and Dinner5

8 Blackall Girl Guides Cent Sale8-9 “The Centre within the Course”, Tambo9 Blackall Equestrian Group Jump Club

Woolscour Tour and Dinner12 12 Biggest Morning Tea14-17 Hebel Artist Workshop14-30 Heartland Festival Photography Exhibition15-20 Heartland Festival Sean Leahy Cartooning Workshop19 Woolscour Tour and Dinner

Looking around over the past couple of weeks, it seems that every second car has a boat perched atop it or at least has fishing rods sticking out the back.

The water is remarkably clear after recent rain, the weather is consistent enough, the waterholes are full of water, and the Golden Perch, also known as Yellowbelly or Macquaria ambigua, are jumping in their (very large) numbers as they move up the creek systems to spawn.

I thoroughly enjoy heading out on occasion to catch some of these fish. Each time I have been embarassingly unsuccessful, but last week I caught three decent sized Yellowbelly, one of which I kept and ate for tea that night.

Clearly we are enjoying dangling a line in the water, but talk of hauls of more than 70 Yellowbelly in one go are worrying, excessive and if sustained, potentially damaging to the population.

Yellowbelly are a regulated species, with limits on the size of the fish that can be legally taken and limits on the number that we are allowed to possess.

Caught Yellowbelly are required to be a length of at least 30 centimetres, and the number of fish that one person can legally take and keep on their person or in eskies and refrigerators is 10.

The intention of these limits is to conserve exploited species and those that are susceptible to capture, share the catch equitably among fishermen and encourage ethical and responsible use of a limited natural resource.

Rowan Hunnam

FROM THE EDITOR The recent heavy falls of rain around Winton and Longreach certainly give us plenty to contemplate as we are just getting underway after the last lot of very heavy rain. The opportunity to be organizing fire breaks and restoring roads has been anticipated for some time; let us hope we can continue unimpeded by the weather.

The campdraft statue near the entrance to the Blackall showgrounds is the latest addition to the catalogue of public art in the town precinct. The work of Queensland artist Jennie Scott, the statue commemorates the skill of both the horse and the man as they shoulder the beast around the campdraft course or back into the mob. It is of course a tribute to the accomplished horsemen and women of the district and indeed the competitors in the national campdraft finals which will be held in Blackall over the weekend of April 24. This should prove to be a most interesting and exciting weekend of horse sports.

I would like to acknowledge the funding granted by Arts Queensland and the Blackall Tambo Regional Council, the support of the CICADAS@RAPAD team, the wonderful effort by community volunteers and our Blackall Tambo Regional Council staff and their families in supporting the artist over the stages of this fantastic project.

It is most heartening to see the interest shown by some members of the community in the business of council. It has always been our policy to happily provide accurate information when asked and which we do through our Blackall Tambo Regional Council website, weekly and monthly from the Mayor’s Desk articles in the Barcoo Independent and the Grassland Whisperer and of course the quarterly community newsletter which is delivered free to all rate payers in the region.

The most recent publication of the Grassland Whisperer contained a page headed “Council Briefs” together with Council’s logo. This information was not generated nor endorsed by Council; the information was not supplied by council.

The draft copy of our Blackall Tambo Regional Council Common Plan is at present available for community input. Your considered opinion will be most welcome and you have until the end of April to make comment.

The school holidays has proved to be an admirable time for the Barcoo Pastoral and Show Society to provide an etiquette workshop for the young women of our region. I understand 13 participants have benefitted from the skills and knowledge of presenter Elizabeth Wilson of Beaudesert who spent two days with the course participants. It was sponsored by the Blackall State School, the Blackall Tambo Regional Council and some very generous donations from the public. The chance of a lifetime hopefully will become an annual opportunity for the young members of our communities.

Jan Ross

The Barcoo Independent, Friday, April 9 2010 - Page 3Page 10 - The Barcoo Independent, Friday, April 9 2010

BLACKALL residents of the early 1970s may remember a National Bank officer named Greg Slack and his wife Robyn. They arrived in town as sheep properties were able to refinance through the Rural Reconstruction Board, cattle prices were beginning to boom, a television wasn’t a fixture in Blackall homes, and football ruled.

Like many ‘blow-ins’ to the town, Mr Slack became involved in football (on and off the field), tennis, golf and Apex.

As the Secretary and Treasurer of both the Central Western Rugby League (when Harold Elliott was President) and Blackall Rugby League (‘Mouse’ Richardson as President), Mr Slack lists football and other numerous memories in his 140 page book titled ‘A Slack Look at Blackall 1972/73’.

It talks of football players (and characters) of the calibre of Tommy Conlon and Mitch Wright; the community-minded Roy Darwen (Chairman of the Shire, owner/editor of the Barcoo Independent and hard-working man); how Blackall boasted some 5 stock houses and 3 banks, shearing and mulesing contractors; the Tatts and the Bushies catering to the thirsts of the area; the railway station as a busy part of town, and the list goes on.

Author Greg Slack says this book of memories is guaranteed to unleash a flood of memories of that period of Blackall history. He will be signing copies of the book at the Heartland Festival on May 21 on Friday night at the Fiesta and looks forward to meeting all the old faces.

The author also hopes that the book will entice more Blackall identities to record their own memories.

A Bank Johnny remembers…

This vintage car made the drive to mark 100 years since the first motorised mail run. Photo by Robert Stockwell

art+placePUBLIC ART PROGRAM REGIONAL

WORKSHOPBlackall Living Arts Centre

Monday 19 April 2010 from 2 - 5pm

This FREE workshop is coordinated by Museum & Gallery Services Qld and is open to those eligible to apply to the Qld public art fund, Qld government departments & agencies, Qld local government councils, not for profit arts & cultural organizations, arts & cultural festivals based in Qld and, private developers undertaking projects in Qld. Also, all those interested in quality public art projects: artists, curators, project managers and teachers are welcome.

Guest speakers include:Eliza Tee, Senior Program Officer, art+place, Arts Queensland Kevin Wilson, Director, Artworkers Alliance Sam Di Mauro, Public Artist and Lecturer, Griffith University

This is also an opportunity to seek advice on what the assessment panel is looking for in a successful application. Be quick to book a limited number of one-on-one interviews with art+place personnel to discuss specific projects and receive feedback on how best to address the funding criteria.

Contact Aimee Board 3215 0844 or aimee.board@magsq.com.au to reserve your seat at this FREE workshop or to book an interview with art+place personnel. Travel Bursaries and financial assistance for those living outside of Blackall available on application – 1800 680 433. This project has received financial assistance through Arts Qld from art+place, the Qld Government Public Art Fund.

Venue provided by:Blackall Cultural Association

ISISFORD and Ilfracombe last weekend marked 100 years of a motorised mail delivery.

The mail run between the two towns on April 1, 1910 was the first of its kind formally undertaken in the Commonwealth.

Keen historian and ex-Blackall jackaroo Bill Baskett said the Post Master General at the time was interested in trialling the idea, but received no interest anywhere in Australia other than from a local man called Sutton, a photographer by trade, who imported a hard-tyred truck from Scotland for the occasion.

Bill Gillespie was the first lorry driver for the mail run, which ran on a trial basis from April until the middle of the year when it was deemed successful.

A vintage model car manufactured in 1899, originally owned by Sutton, and on display in Winton made a re-enactment drive on the weekend to mark the centenary anniversary.

– Rowan Hunnam

100 years since the motorised mail run

Page 4 - The Barcoo Independent, Friday, April 9 2010 The Barcoo Independent, Friday, April 9 2010 - Page 9

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LAND managers attended two field days on the properties ‘Dunblane’ near Barcaldine and ‘Clovelly’ outside Ilfracombe last week to look at increasing ground cover and improving the condition of the land.

Around twenty people attended each field day, and saw the results of successful land management changes on the ground, backed up by speakers who got down to the roots of the practices adopted and benefits to the properties.

Rangeland scientist David Phelps took the motivated groups at both properties through the fundamentals of land condition.

Other topics covered at the field days included erosion remediation, property planning and mapping presented by Simon Jackson from PRW Agribusiness; fire management by Larry Lewis and Carol Wrage from the Qld Rural Fire Service; health checks courtesy of Lauren Chimes from North and West Primary Health Care; and Steve Wilson gave an overview of the new funding round offered to land managers by DCQ.

On a drive around ‘Dunblane’, David Phelps showed the group approaches to practical assessment of country and highlighted

opportunities to improve land condition through management and infrastructure.

David Counsell, owner of ‘Dunblane’, had previously undertaken work with support from Desert Channels Queensland, aimed to improve stock management and the flow on effects of ground cover enhancement.

Mr Counsell gave a presentation formally and in the paddock on his project work and long term goals for improving the sustainability of the property.

Mr Counsell was pleased with the field day and immediate follow-up response.

“The day went really well and I am particularly happy with many aspects of the discussion that was centric to my business.

“I have already had a producer ring me to continue the discussions from the day.”

The field day at ‘Clovelly’ was held in the ‘recovery paddock’ where owner Maureen

Alexander has been spelling for a number of years.

Maureen opened the day with some history of the property and plans her grandfather and aunt had before passing the property on.

Using a whiteboard marker and the side of her vehicle as a ‘whiteboard’ Jenny Milson explained how plant families are named and guided the group on a short walking tour to identify many plants, shrubs and forages.

Land managers left both field days filled with ideas on ways to increase ground cover, improve land condition and boost the sustainability of their properties overall, whilst having a broader network of people to share learnings with as they take the next steps.

Well grounded field days a hit near Barcaldine and Ilfracombe

Showing results in the ground at ‘Dunblane’ field day

Page 8 - The Barcoo Independent, Friday, April 9 2010 The Barcoo Independent, Friday, April 9 2010 - Page 5

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WESTERN Queensland Local Government Association president Rick Britton will look for support from fellow local government organisations from northern and central Queensland to make a joint response to the latest state proposals for Wild Rivers legislation.

Cr Britton, who is also the mayor of the Boulia Shire Council, said the proposed legislation to expand the declaration of Wild Rivers to the Georgina/Diamantina and Cooper Creek systems, would stunt the growth of regional Queensland.

“This is bigger than just us,” he said. “I think we should come together and be a voice to say enough’s enough. Government has got to let us grow.”

Cr Britton’s comments were in response to a consultation paper released by the Department of Environment and Resource Management last week, which in itself was a response to a joint submission by AgForce and the Remote Area Planning and Development Board.

The paper sets out revised proposals for managing activities in Lake Eyre Basin Wild Rivers areas.

Cr Britton said that in his eyes the overall thrust of the legislation would make it harder to operate a viable business and reduce the ability to undertake sustainable activities.

“I’ve got issues with the sand and gravel parts of it,” he said. “We are still developing land and getting material from local creeks.

“If that’s forbidden, we may as well shut up shop. The cost of getting it from somewhere else would make it unviable.”

Under the existing legislation, which the consultation paper proposes to continue, new allocations of quarry material in a Wild River area will not be granted unless the proposed allocation is to be used for specified works, or for residential complexes, in the Wild River area.

Cr Britton said that the proposals for existing weirs to be recognised but for there to be no opportunity to increase the holding capacity if required to secure a town water supply, was another example of stunting growth.

“What they are saying is, you can sustain X amount of people but once you’ve reached that amount, no more.”

He believed that having a seven-year timeframe for accepting existing agricultural activity was too short.

“Seven years is a normal drought at Boulia,” he said. “Fourteen or 15 years would be more realistic in our area.

“People need tools like growing fodder to be sustainable, and the opportunities don’t come along all that often.”

DERM’s senior policy officer, Scott Buchanan told last week’s regional AgForce meeting in Barcaldine, where the consultation paper was released, that the department was keen to receive further feedback on the latest proposals.

The closing date for responses is May 14.The Western Queensland Local Government

Association will hold its annual general meeting at Boulia on May 8 and 9.

– Sally Cripps

WQLGA president calls for regional support on Wild Rivers

THE evergreen issue of drainage for the residents of Blackall was once again discussed by its local council, with a number of letters tabled at the March meeting.

CEO Ken Timms said this had been reinforced by numerous verbal complaints following the downpours at the start of 2010.

Writers cited issues with mosquito breeding, the smell of rotting vegetation, and erosion of roads.

In discussion with Manager of Works Paul Martin, it was decided to investigate ways of improving drainage and report back to council.

Cr Peter Skewes said that it always happened when there was lots of rain and that it was caused by people building their lots up.

Mr Timms said council needed to do something to help the community.

“Technically the ponding is on private land but if our drains aren’t working, there’s a problem,” he added.

He suggested more kerbing as one means of getting water to drain better.

Cr Grahame Schluter questioned whether it was up to council, if people were doing things on their own land to dam the water, and said in these cases they should be pumping it away.

Mayor Jan Ross believed a strategy for building up land and having kerbing would be desirable.

“It doesn’t bother us often but it’s a problem now,” she said.

Cr Skewes noted that any solution would be very expensive, but Cr Sally Cripps said council had to start somewhere.

“At the moment we have no idea of costs or what it would take to do,” she said.

Cr Ross said council would also need to consider how often large rain events happened.

Mr Martin is already preparing a master drainage plan for the town and he said he would obtain costs for council to consider.

– Sally Cripps

Drainage to be looked into in Blackall

OVER 1000 nominations have been received and more keep coming for the Black Toyota Australian Campdraft Association National Finals in Blackall later this month.

The Blackall Campdraft Association has been in full swing preparing for the event where 350 to 400 competitors are expected. Nominations have been received from around Australia in the Northern Territory, Victoria, and Queensland.

Association President Dale Davison says the club is a small one but everyone has chipped in.

“We have a final working bee this weekend… but we are on top of everything, and ready to go,” he said.

The local association has gradually been upgrading the facilities at the showgrounds in preparation.

A new steel cut out yard has been built, taking the place of the old timber and cable yard, costing the association almost $15, 000.

Stock water troughs have been installed, as well

as four new large permanent arena lights which will run off a generator for the event.

More work is still to be done including the installation of watering points in camping areas, loam to cover the black soil at the showgrounds and plumbing.

With a total prize money pool of $47,500, the association hope to get as many nominations as possible for the event. There will be a dinner, bar and music on Thursday and Friday evenings, and an awards dinner on Saturday night where results and the champions will be announced. There will also be a shoot out for the top 30 ACA Open Riders, worth $6000.

The national finals are a hotly contested campdrafting event as competitors can earn double points.

Dale has been involved in the campdraft association since it began, starting out as Vice-President and taking over as President from Roger Ellison at the end of 2009. He first participated in a campdraft as a child in Hughenden. He won an open draft at Augathella, a maiden draft in Boulia and will be joining other local riders at the finals, competing in the open draft on his horse ‘Breeze’.

There will also be a free whip cracking workshop for keen children on Saturday, April 24 at 10am behind the main grandstand at showgrounds. Funded by RADF, the workshop will be held by the CrackUp Sisters who are also performing at the awards dinner.

– Rowan Hunnam

Campdraft grounds revamped for big event

Up to $30,000 available to land managers and community

groups for natural resource management projects

If you’re a land-manager or community group, you may be eligible for grants under DCQ’s ‘Protecting our Future’ initiative.

Desert Channels Queensland provides project funding to land-managers and community groups to assist them in keeping the country in good shape for future generations.

We are now calling for applications from land managers for projects that focus on the following:

Applications close 16 April 2010

For more information, please contact Steve Wilson on 07 4652 7820 or 0427 427 966 or Craig Neuendorf on 07 4652 7814 or 0417 427 333 to discuss your project ideas and to request an application kit.

Small community grants up to $5000 are also available for improving ground cover, capacity building, biodiversity enhancement, strategic weed control (in-side containment lines) and on-ground works that benefi t endangered regional ecosystems.

DCQ is supported by the Australian Government’s Caring for our Countryand the Queensland Government.

• improving ground cover• endangered regional ecosystems (EPBC listed brigalow, weeping myall,

and GAB mound spring systems)

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Page 6 - The Barcoo Independent, Friday, April 9 2010 The Barcoo Independent, Friday, April 9 2010 - Page 7

Calling all Mums and Mums-to-be...

Are you planning, expecting

or recently had a baby?

If so, we’d love to talk with you!

Staff from the Queensland Centre for Mothers and Babies will be in Blackall and invite women who are planning, expecting or had a baby in Queensland to share their needs, suggestions and experiences of maternity care. This will better inform our work of improving maternity care for Queensland women and their families.

Group discussions will be informal and child friendly (so please bring along little ones!) and light refreshments will be served.

If you would like more information, please contact us on 0457 065 038 or email Michelle m.heatley@uq.edu.au.

The Queensland Centre for Mothers and Babies is an independent centre based at The University of Queensland and funded by Queensland Health. We believe the best maternity care

requires listening to women, sharing information and working together.

Date: Friday 16 April 2010

Time: 9.30-11.00am

Place: Blackall Memorial and Sports Club

9 Coronation Drive, Blackall

Doreen Hannan cut into the cake as she celebrated her 80th birthday in Yeppoon with friends and family

Blackall Anzac Day CeremoniesSunday 25th April 2010

Dawn Service – 6:00 am – Memorial Park March – 9:40 am – Assemble near IGA from 9.00amMorning Service – 10:00 am – Memorial Park

Anzac Day WreathsAny individual, family or community organisation who would like to order a wreath to lay at the cenotaph at the end of the morning ceremonyPlease Contact Donny Daly on 0427 400 754 ASAP. Cost: $30.00

Collection: Wreaths will be available for collection near IGA from 8:30 am to 9:15 am prior to the Anzac Day March, or earlier by arrangement.

Doreen Hannan with her son Darryl Hannan (second from left) and his wife Barbara, and her daughter Susan Micalizza (second from right) and her husband Tony

the early section will enable those pegs that have been removed over time due to a serious vandalism episode and ongoing maintenance work to be restored to the graves without headstones.

“Most importantly respect for the people who have been buried in the old section of the Blackall Cemetery will be restored by this project,” Alison said.

Ultimately the council plans to upload the completed cemetery records onto the website to provide the community with an easily accessible public record.

Under the same round of funding, over $20, 000 was received to relocate, refurbish and redesign the Tambo War Memorial plinth.

It will be enhanced by the creation of a central cenotaph and memorial precinct suitable for commemorative services.

continued from page 1FORMER Blackall resident Mrs

Doreen Hannan celebrated her 80th birthday recently in Yeppoon. Although Cyclone Uluii prevented

80th birthday celebratedsome of the guests attending, around 65 relatives and friends were able to celebrate with Doreen at a luncheon party held at Kracker’s Restaurant.

Her granddaughter Melissa, who is working in London, came home for the big occasion and guests travelled from Mackay, Bribie Island, Maroochydore, Brisbane, Sunshine Beach and Blackall.

Some former Blackallites at the lunch were Merv and Gwen Somerville, Maxine Roberts, Pops and Jan Snee, Betty Dern and Joan Medlin, Wigs and Shirley Austin and Glen and Robin Austin. Maureen and Dinny Gill could not attend due to ill health.

– Gwynne Stockwell

Funding for the Tambo War Memorial plinth

Right: The old war memorial in Tambo. The Blackall Tambo Regional Council leads the commemorative celebrations in Tambo and works in close partnership with the community, state school, senior citizens and the local Country Women’s Association to facilitate the annual Anzac Day celebrations. The Tambo War Memorial is a stone memorial with a commemorative plaque located at the Shire Hall. According to CFO Alison Shaw, the memorial is in a poor state and a complete revamp and restoration is required to ensure the memorial has the recognition and reverence it deserves. The project was originally identified in 2005 when the Tambo Urban Design Strategy was undertaken by the Tambo Shire Council. The Blackall-Tambo Regional Council is supporting the strategy to create a memorial park to enhance the main street and wants to expand it further to create a significant cenotaph for the community of Tambo.