FRASER COAST COMMUNITIES GO ALL OUT TO CELEBRATE QLD’S 150TH

From the re-enactment of a Cobb & Co run to a photographic exhibition, Fraser Coast communities have pulled out all stops to celebrate next year’s Queensland’s 150^th Anniversary, Premier Anna Bligh said today.

“There is outstanding interest for the remaining $2.4 million for the third and final round of the $4 million Q150 Community Funding Program,” she said.

The program, initiated by the Government, helps communities stage their own 2009 celebrations.

“Once again creative events and activities dominate the line-up.

“Twelve community applications from Fraser Coast have successfully applied for $92,639 in the third and final round of Q150 Community Funding.

“They include the Fraser Coast Show Society’s re-enactment of a Cobb and Co coach run from the Kilkivan Post Office to Maryborough Post Office and Maryborough Special School Parents and Citizens Association’s photographic exhibition.

“It’s great to see communities so excited about celebrating our 150^th anniversary of separation from New South Wales.

“We’ve come a long way since 1859 and we have plenty to celebrate.

“Today’s Proclamation Day and 21 sleeps until we start our biggest birthday year yet.

“We’ve added more than 300 successful community commemorative projects to the Q150 groundswell of activity that’s building up for next year.

“Queenslanders now have almost 500 Queensland Government-funded community activities they can enjoy or participate in around the State.

“This is on top of the major touring events like the Q150 steam train, Q150 shed and Q150 Film Festival.

“Queensland turns 150 only once and we’re doing everything we can to make sure celebrations touch as many Queenslanders as possible.

“From Weipa and the Torres Strait Islands in the North to Bedourie in the Far West and the Gold Coast in the South, there’s a Q150 activity for everyone.

“2009 is our year! Get ready to enjoy the events, the commemorations and the many creative ways you’ve come up with to mark this milestone in your own communities.”

Fraser Coast Q150 Community Funding projects in Round 3:

Burrum and District Heritage Society Inc, Howard, $9900. Burrum and Back, a history book of the region since the 1850s.

Fraser Coast Regional Council, Maryborough, $10,000. Port to Prosperity, an event which will celebrate the history and significance of the port of Maryborough in the birth and development of Queensland. The Portside precinct will come alive with lamplight markets, ethnic food barrows, artisans at work, street spruikers and street theatre evoking the arrival of new immigrants with Customs entry, passport stamping, steam trains, town criers, cannons, busking and fireworks.

Fraser Coast Show Society Ltd, Maryborough, $10,000. A re-enactment of a Cobb and Co coach run from the Kilkivan Post Office to the Maryborough Post Office.

Hervey Bay Family History Association Inc, $4394. Digitising the Hervey Bay Rate Book records 1903-1940, which provide an invaluable reference for researchers of early pioneers in the district.

Hervey Bay Historical Society Museum Association Inc, Scarness, $4850. A historical display showing the relationship between carriages, horses and the blacksmith.

Hervey Bay Neighbourhood Centre Inc, Pialba, $10,000. The Fraser Coast Volunteering Director, a self referral tool for volunteers to community organisations with suitable voluntary positions.

Hervey Bay Seafood Festival Association Inc, Urangan, $10,000. A book about the history of professional fishing and seafood industry on the Fraser Coast.

Maryborough Special School Parents and Citizens Association, $2000. A photographic exhibition of 30 images on the local community and its history.

University of Southern Queensland, Fraser Coast Campus, Student Hub, Pialba, $10,000. Official opening of a garden, community forum and a series of yarning circles.

Woocoo Historical Society Inc, Brooweena, $10,000. A celebration of Queensland’s 150^th anniversary during Queensland Week, that centres around the Brooweena Historical Museum and includes demonstrations, displays, local Indigenous history, children’s activities, bush music and a roving musical swaggie and bush poets.

Zonta Club of Hervey Bay Inc, Urangan, $10,000. Continuation of Let’s Learn Butchulla double page weekly newspaper used in 23 schools and distributed to community organisations. The paper shares the history, folklore, myths, beliefs and practices of the Butchulla people whose traditional lands stretch from Fraser Island to Burrum Heads. It aims to improve social relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people on the Fraser Coast.

Q150 program of events is available online at www.q150.qld.gov.au. More events are uploaded weekly. Printed programs will be available in local newspapers week commencing 25 January 2008 with a second printed program planned mid-year.

Media inquiries: 3224 4500

Malcolm Chard, President, Burrum and District Heritage Society Inc, 4129 0996, badhsi@live.com.au

Lisa Stephenson, Executive Manager, Fraser Coast Regional Council, 4190 5812 lisa.stephenson@frasercoast.qld.gov.au

Martine Britton, Secretary, Fraser Coast Show Society Ltd, 4123 5311, info@frasercoastshow.com.au

Donald Ramsay Vice President, Hervey Bay Family History Association Inc, 4124 4686 valmax@bigpond.net.au

Brian Taylor, Publicity Officer, Hervey Bay Historical Society Museum Association Inc, brianne@ultratune.com.au

Angela Kelly, Manager, Hervey Bay Neighbourhood Centre Inc, 4124 3544 admin@hbnc.com.au

Elaine Lewthwaite President, Hervey Bay Seafood Festival Association Inc, 4128 9930 emlewthwaite@bigpond.com

Robyn Irlam, Treasurer, Maryborough Special School Parents and Citizens Association, 4120 8777 rirla1@eq.edu.au

Penelope Richards, Manager, USQ, 4194 3118 richardp@usq.edu.au

Gloria Banting, Grants Officer, Woocoo Historical Society Inc, 0428 373 448, banting@buzzbb.net

Penny Wang, Treasurer, Zonta Club of Hervey Bay Inc, 07 4125 5028, peggyliner@hotmail.com