Weekender - Bucca boy leads Queensland drone spraying innovations Exciting Boreham Park upgrade starts soon
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weekender Saturday 3 October 2020 Bucca boy leads Queensland drone spraying innovations Exciting Boreham Park upgrade starts soon Flame burns bright on the drag strip Jaimee McLeod Art becomes full time job
contents 3 Exciting Boreham Park upgrade starts soon 4 The Cookie Daze fresh as a daisy 5 End of an era for the Federal Backpackers Hostel 6 What’s on in the Bundaberg Region 7 State road upgrades an advocacy priority 8 Local grower goes nuts for ag tech Cover story 9 Bucca boy leads Queensland drone spraying innovations 10 Aerial imagery identifies Photo of the week @jodimeister crop health 11 Annual Rotary book sale bigger than ever 12 Jaimee McLeod Art becomes full time job 14 Flame burns bright on the drag strip 17 Paul Perry’s Shimmering Gold wins state award 18 Childers garden oozes old-world charm 20 Sports - Surf League
NEWS Adventure style play will be part of the Boreham Park upgrade following community requests. Exciting Boreham Park upgrade starts soon Megan Dean Work starts soon on exciting Boreham “We thank those community members that came Park upgrades which will introduce forward to help form this design, identifying that water and nature-based play was what local new play equipment including an families were looking for. adventure tower, water play and peddle loop path. We thank those The timeline for the project has been revealed and is expected to be ready for families to enjoy community members that by mid-2021. Bundaberg Regional Council’s parks and came forward to help gardens portfolio spokesperson Cr Wayne Honor said the significant project would take form this design. about nine months to complete. “Residents will notice work beginning soon to “Exciting features like the adventure tower with remove some of the older equipment to make rope bridge, large slide and climbing elements way for our new play area,” Cr Honor said. and in ground trampolines combined with zero “This work will be under way until the end of the depth water play and existing equipment will year with construction and installation of the make this park a premier play destination for new play equipment to begin early in the New kids of all ages.” Year. Construction fencing will be erected in mid- “Excluding any unforeseen delays or inclement October with the removal of the monorail, ‘Hip weather we hope to have the entire upgrade Hop’ and small see saw to be completed by completed by June 30.” December. Divisional representative Cr John Learmonth The pump track will not be accessible during the said extensive community consultation had upgrades as it will be fenced off for safety. been undertaken to ensure the Boreham Park Pathway lighting will also be installed along the upgrade catered to the needs of residents. central pathway to improve accessibility for “It’s so rewarding to see this project coming park users. together – it really has been a whole of This project is a joint initiative of the Queensland 3 community effort,” Cr Learmonth said. Government and Bundaberg Regional Council.
BUSINESS The Cookie Daze officially launched in July and orders are now flying out the oven door as Carmen believes she has filled a hole in the local market. The Cookie Daze fresh as a daisy Emma Reid Inspired by the birth of her “Then I also have choc chunk cookies, peanut granddaughter Daisy, Bargara’s Carmen butter brownie cookies, and oatmeal and raisin cookies.” Delorie is baking a new business with Keep an eye out for cookie of the month The Cookie Daze. The grandmother said she would also be Carmen’s background is in computers, where releasing a special edition recipe with a cookie she worked as an IT engineer for 18 years, of the month. but she found after moving to the Bundaberg October is set to be a caramel-filled cookie, Region from Maitland early this year, a change and a rum and raisin cookie is in the works to of lifestyle brought about her new passion in the celebrate the festive season during Christmas kitchen. time in December. The Cookie Daze officially launched in July “Business has really taken off, and I think it’s and orders are now flying out the oven door mostly word of mouth, I sell my cookies via as Carmen believes she has filled a niche in the Facebook and Instagram,” she said. local market. “I’m a bake-at-home business, and I bake every “The reason why I started The Cookie Daze was week on demand. because when my daughter (Alex) gave birth “I bake to sell, I don’t bake to store, so all my to her second child, she was gifted a box of cookies are fresh and best eaten within four cookies, and I thought that was rather special,” days.” Carmen said. Carmen said she can bake a batch of pre-ordered “I made a batch and my daughter said I should cookies in the morning and have them ready in start to sell them, and I decided to name the the post the same day, with overnight delivery business The Cookie Daze, after her daughter to most parts of Queensland, or collected locally Daisy.” that afternoon. Carmen said she currently has four varieties “I never imagined I would be doing anything like of New York styled cookies, with the signature this,” Carmen said. recipe being The Cookie Daze choc chip and “Without the birth of Daisy I definitely wouldn’t macadamia, using local macadamias. be, it never crossed my mind to step away from “I use locally sourced macadamias from IT and turn toward baking, but I really love it.” Marquis Macadamias, and these choc chip and To find out more about The Cookie Daze click 4 macadamia cookies are quite popular,” she said. here.
NEWS Federal Hotel with Bill Emerick Snr, Proprietor. Photo credit: Picture Bundaberg. End of an era for the Federal Backpackers Hostel Megan Dean Demolition of the Federal Backpackers According to Nev Rackemann, in his compilation Hostel will be finalised in early October titled Bundaberg and District Buildings and Structures with Notes of Historical Significance, marking the end of an era for the the hotel cost just $4800 to construct at the historical CBD building. time. Fire ripped through the hostel earlier this year “This hotel was erected to take advantage of the leaving the building at imminent risk of collapse. northern railway link from Maryborough,” Nev After an assessment by structural engineers wrote. the building was deemed dangerous and initial “Early in the 1900s contractor N C Steffensen demolition was carried out to make the area added a third storey. safe. “When the hotel was placed on the market in August 1986, it was valued at $700,000.” The remainder of the The fire is not the first disaster to strike the Federal Backpackers Hostel. demolition will be carried On April 7, 1921 the Maryborough Chronicle, out in coming days. Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser reported the hotel lost its roof in the “severest cyclonic disturbance in the history of Bundaberg”. The remainder of the demolition will be carried out in coming days, along with the demolition “The rear portion of the Federal Hotel roof was of the Spotted Dog Tavern which was also blown off into Bourbon [sic] Street,” the article impacted by the fire. said. Originally the Federal Hotel, the building has “In front of the Federal Hotel the electric lighting featured prominently in the CBD landscape wires were snapped by portion of the falling 5 since 1889. roof.”
6 Oct Introduction to 3D Printing Bundaberg Library 2:30 PM Tuesday 6th October 29 Aug A Bridge Through Time A Brief History of Bundaberg’s Iconic - 18 Oct Bridges by the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads. 29 Aug FOUND! Studio Dog Exhibition Local artist Adrienne Williams has - 18 Oct curated the works of 40 artists in Gallery One & Vault spaces. 29 Aug Art as an Act of Optimism A retrospective of the #artsbundyathome - 9 Nov initiative and the artworks created during shutdown due to COVID-19. 19 Sept 2020 Hinkler Hometown Holiday Special - 5 Oct Are you a local resident of the Bundaberg Region and looking for some school holiday fun? 4 Oct 2020 Carinbundi Foundation Charity Golf Day The Carinbundi Foundation charity golf day is happening again. 2020 Bullyard Country Markets Great little country market with an array of stall types. Be the 2020 Rum City Hardtop Rumble Show & Shine first to know Are you a car enthusiast? 9 Oct 2020 Gidji Art Community Mosaic Workshop whatsonbundaberg.com.au This event is a tiling mosaic which will be held weekly, every Friday up until project is completed. 6
NEWS Cr Jason Bartels, Mayor Jack Dempsey with long term Moore Park Beach residents Lyndsey Brown and Peter Gillies on Moore Park Road. State road upgrades an advocacy priority Megan Dean State road upgrades should be an “There’s 2600 people that live at the end of that election priority according to local road and there are three sections that have very, very low flood immunity. residents who feel funding hasn’t kept pace with growing communities. “Just a short, sharp storm can close that road very quickly. Four state roads have been highlighted in “That’s not really good enough for a community Bundaberg Regional Council’s 2020 Advocacy the size of Moore Park Beach.” Priorities document including Moore Park, Goodwood, Rosedale and Gin Gin Roads. Resident Lindsay Brown agrees. Bundaberg Regional Council General Manager He’s called Moore Park Beach home for a Infrastructure Services Stuart Randle said the quarter of a century and drives that stretch of state-controlled roads provided vital links for road regularly. smaller communities within the region. “Moore Park Road, for the amount of traffic it “For quite some time we’ve been asking for the carries, it’s just underserviced, it’s in great need State Government to spend a bit more money of upgrading,” Lindsay said. on the key routes that service the Bundaberg “The amount of traffic it’s carrying these days, Region,” Stuart said. I’ve been here for 25 years and the improvements haven’t kept up with the increase in traffic load.” “Goodwood Road, which runs between Bundaberg and Childers as the backup to the He said he would estimate he’s been cut off Isis Highway, has seen a 28 per cent increase in from Bundaberg about 12 times - if he were traffic volume in the last ten years. being conservative. “We think this road should be reclassified as a “Perhaps they should look at their priorities and higher order state road which would increase its upgrade it according to the amount of traffic chances of securing appropriate funding.” that is using it these days.” He said Moore Park Beach Road was also in View the 2020 Advocacy Priorities document, including more information on state road 7 need of upgrading. upgrades, here.
BUSINESS Ag tech innovations Drones and data in high tech farming A local macadamia farm is trialing the use of local ag tech innovations to improve tree health and yield. PHOTO: Australian Macadamia Society, Chris Sweetapple Photography. Local grower goes nuts for ag tech Megan Dean From drones to data collection, “This is our second season into the trial. a Bundaberg macadamia farm “The trial last year was successful but we wanted has entered its second year of an to incorporate a little bit more technology this time, so we’re using this as a showcase of the extensive ag tech trial that combines technology.” the expertise of a number of local Paul said there were so many ag tech companies businesses. cropping up throughout Bundaberg that it was Suncoast Gold Macadamias grower services a great opportunity for local growers to take officer Paul Hibbert said the combination of advantage of the opportunity to save time and high-tech products and software had made money. the Hummock Road farm a showcase for other “There’s a lot of guys jumping on board here growers. and a lot of clever people around. “We’re really focusing on technology in this “My idea with this trial is to try and bring it area and we believe that it’s definitely the way together and see if we can all work as a team forward,” Paul said. and get to that end further and quicker. “We’ve seen really good advances in yield and “There’s some great companies here and I think quality by incorporating technology.” it’s going to get even better.” The varied range of gizmos and gadgets Paul said the trial had already seen an measures everything from tree health, soil improvement in tree health compared to the moisture and temperature, sap flow and even control but this early in the trial their goal was pest, weed and disease presence before simply to continue monitoring the data. bringing the data together on an online platform for analysis. He encouraged other growers to consider the benefits of ag tech. “We’re flying over RedEdge cameras with the drones to check various levels in the tree and “I want to just get the industry moving forward health levels. with this. “Then we’ll incorporate all of that together onto “The technology’s been around for quite a while, a software to assess what yield and quality has but it’s now affordable, and it’s more understood than it used to be.”. 8 improved through there.
BUSINESS Ag tech innovations Drones and data in Jamin Fleming can target specific trees or crop areas for treatment with pinpoint accuracy. high tech farming Bucca boy leads Queensland drone spraying innovations Megan Dean Growing up on a Bucca cattle farm “You can fly five drones at once, so cover a lot Jamin Fleming’s no stranger to the more area with that as well.” agriculture industry but he’s bringing He’s already contracted with farms throughout Queensland assisting with crops ranging from innovation to the field with his Oztech corns, sweet potatoes and orchards. Drones spraying technology. His drone has a seeder on board which can even The 26-year-old launched the business last help farmers sow their crops from the air. year and it wasn’t long before it really took off, The drone technology offers time and cost becoming a full-time job. efficiencies, identifying problem areas with “When we started it was just to help out but pinpoint accuracy for specific treatments. now it’s become a real business opportunity,” “It’s all automated, we plan, we map out the Jamin said. area, find where the field is, and all the affected “We do different spray applications in hard to areas that we need to spray. reach areas, wet areas, just areas that they don’t “Then the drone just goes and sprays those want to damage their crop. areas. “Everything’s automated so that it makes it “All we do is just mark it on the on the map that more accurate so that we know exactly how we’ve already taken on the app, and then the much chemical we’re putting on. drone just goes out and sprays that tree. “So we can reduce the chemical rate and also “If it’s you know, 10 hectares or 100 hectares we’re not spreading any chemical where it that we want treated in that area, we can spray doesn’t need to go.” all that.” Oztech Drones is one of the only operators in He said it was also beneficial for the treatment the state offering agricultural drone spraying of diseased areas where ground rigs may spread and Jamin said they’ll soon be one of the first in the disease during treatment. Queensland to launch swarm operations. 9
BUSINESS Ag tech innovations Drones Craig Corpe from Bellamish Aerial Imaging Solutions produces thermal imaging to identify unhealthy trees for local farmers. and data in high tech Aerial imagery identifies farming crop health Megan Dean Craig Corpe can tell farmers how their “So we can find the stress level of trees based crop is performing with the press of a on the chlorophyll output. button, sending his thermal imaging “Pests within the trees will come back with a different intensity, a different light, so that we drone whirring across fields. can see where they are at. Recently launching his business Bellamish Aerial “But generally, crop health is the big thing that Imaging Solutions Craig said he can provide we’re getting using a red edge camera.” farmers with an overview of crop health with relative ease. When combining Bellamish Aerial Imaging Solutions with other smart technology Craig His drone has an imager with five cameras which said it can provide benefits for broadacre crops. records five specific bands of the light spectrum. “Not only can we get crop health, but we can “We upload those images into specific software also feed in a request information based on the and algorithms are run,” Craig said. levels of health. “By selecting a variety of those spectral bands, “And we’ll get a what looks like a topographic we’re able to calculate crop health, and a series map, but it’s a fertiliser map and that then can of crop indices, as they’re called, to tell us where be loaded into their tractors. the crop is at from a health point of view, early stage growth, we can also detect weeds in in “Then they will self-automate how much fertiliser the crops.” is required on the less healthy areas. Craig recently identified a section of stressed “It’ll spread more fertiliser, and as it runs into trees on a local citrus farm allowing the grower a healthier area, it may even choose to put no to revive them before their health declined fertiliser on. beyond repair. “So instead of them saying yeah, I need to “We actually isolated 11 trees that we felt that spread 100 kilos per hectare, some parts might more than likely the watering system wasn’t be higher than that in other parts way less than working, they were very stressed trees. that. “The amount of fertiliser required is put where 10 it’s needed.”
COMMUNITY Dave Baldry with some books that will be available at the annual Rotary Book Sale. Annual Rotary book sale bigger than ever Wayne Heidrich It’s been a longer wait than usual for “We do men’s shelter packs, we do water the annual Rotary book sale but an wells in Cambodia, we do drought relief funds, indigenous camp, youth projects, we sponsor a “Aladdin’s Cave of book treasures” student to the science fair.” awaits in what will be the biggest Entrance to the book sale to be held at the event yet. Recreation Precinct is via University Drive. This year’s book sale, which is a joint initiative between Bundaberg Regional Libraries and Rotary Club of Bundaberg Central will be held at the Recreation Precinct from 9-11 October. We’ve got more Rotary Club of Bundaberg Central president David Baldry said residents could expect a large books and we’ve got a range of books, magazines, puzzles, DVDs and CDs across a wide variety of genres. bigger premises so “We normally have it in July so it’s been three it’ll be huge months longer this time,” David said. “So we’ve got more books and we’ve got a bigger premises so it’ll be huge.” Rotary asks that anyone feeling unwell does not attend this event, with normal COVID restrictions Funds raised from the annual Rotary book sale to apply. are split with 60 per cent going towards Rotary initiatives and 40 per cent assisting with the library’s literacy programs. Cash and Eftpos payment David said the funds were vital for many of will be available. 11 Rotary’s regular projects.
ARTS Jaimee McLeod is currently painting a large native flower mural for Three Pines Honey, and then she will move on to a mural for the new local gym FitStop. Jaimee McLeod Art becomes full time job Emma Reid Softly spoken Jaimee McLeod is Business is booming for Jaimee McLeod Art ambitious, at 21 she has the world at “It was the end of the financial year, during June feet, a strong head on her shoulders, this year, I posted a sale on my social media and paint brush in hand. when I realised I could paint for a living,” Jaimee said. Last week Jaimee left her job of eight years at “From the sale I ended up having to hand Rise the Bakehouse to become a full-time artist. paint 70 orders – I was just blown away by the Launching Jaimee McLeod Art the future is response. already bright for the self-taught painter, who is elbow-deep in commissioned work. “Things have all changed dramatically for me, I’m redoing my art space at the moment, painting a Last week Jaimee large mural and my pet portraits,” she said. left her job of eight years “I actually never thought I would become a full- time artist, it just happened. at Rise the Bakehouse “I was criticised a lot for my art during school – to become a but I guess this just made me more determined. “I guess now, it was that push I needed to follow full-time artist. through with my art.” Jaimee began painting as a young girl. “My pet portrait earring are my best sellers, I She started her business Jaimee McLeod Art in brought them out in June and they have really May 2019, and now it’s booming with a creative taken off. range of works, including earrings, pet portraits “People loves their pets, not only in Bundaberg, and she’s even illustrated a local children’s book. but I have shipped work to America and 12
Singapore – I don’t even know how some of the customers found out about me!” Along with small commissioned artwork Jaimee is currently painting a large native flower mural for Three Pines Honey, and then she will move on to a mural for the new local gym FitStop. “At the end of last month, I finished illustrating Matt Barker’s second book, which was a first for me and really fun,” she said. Apple Tree Creek Honey’s Gillian Enslin is taking advantage of owning 45 beehives as she whips up meals using her pure honey, including this succulent honey and lemon chicken recipe. Succulent honey and Customer made Christmas pet portrait earrings made by Jaimee McLeod Art. lemon chicken “At the end of Ingredients 3 juicy lemons last month, I finished 50g butter illustrating Matt Barker’s 3 tbsp clear honey leaves from 4 rosemary sprigs second book . . .” 1 garlic clove, finely chopped 8 chicken pieces, such as thighs and “I’ve had lots of reoccurring customers especially drumsticks, with skin from people in Bundaberg who love their pets. 750g potatoes, peeled and cut into “Doing the pet portraits, I’ve actually learnt smallish chunks more about particular breeds of dogs and cats – Green salad, to serve I never thought I would and I really love it.” Method STEP 1 Preheat the oven to 2000C/Gas 6/fan 1800C. Squeeze the juice from two lemons into a small pan and heat with the butter, honey, rosemary, garlic and salt and pepper, until the butter melts and it smells fragrant. STEP 2 Lay the chicken in a roasting tin – don’t pile it up or it won’t cook so well. Add the potatoes and drizzle with lemon butter to coat evenly. Cut the third lemon into eight wedges and tuck them in. STEP 3 Roast for 50 minutes to 1 hour, until the chicken is cooked, and the potatoes are crisp and golden. To find out more about Succulent honey and lemon chicken is Jaimee McLeod Art delicious and goes well with a serve of green salad. CLICK HERE 13
LIFESTYLE Flame Howard on her Harley headed for another slick time at Benaraby Dragway. Flame burns bright on the drag strip Wayne Heidrich Childers dynamo Flame Howard “People ask me if I’m scared going that fast. I scorches down the dragstrip and say, only for 11 seconds,” she said. makes a striking impression with her Being a woman and being older have never been barriers for Flame. bright personality wherever she goes. “I only started drag racing six years ago at age Sitting on a Harley Davidson and tearing along 50,” she said. at 200kmh is just part of the ride which life has given the aptly named Flame. Flame Howard, who is instantly recognisable wherever she goes due to her vibrant hair colour, . . . tearing along at has more facets and sparkle to her personality than a newly cut diamond. 200kmh is just part Bike devotee, drag racer, rock and roll singer/ of the ride which life musician, Andalusian horse trainer, guard dog trainer, partner and mother are some of the has given. pathways that have shaped Flame’s passion for life and her highly infectious can-do attitude. “Someone said to me ‘Don’t know about you Currently number one on the competition ladder doing that old girl – you could make a fool of following five rounds in the Central Queensland yourself’. Drag Racing Championships, Flame Howard “That sort of negativity inspires me. Anyone and recently achieved a personal best by producing everyone, I don’t care who you are, is capable of a run of 11.2 seconds, clocking an eye-popping achieving anything. You just have to have a go. 122mph (196.34kph). “I have learned a lot about myself through this 14 sport. I believe my reflexes for racing are good
and I have a good ability to focus which is Her group, Flame Classic Rock, is still playing the important in drag racing.” odd function but she really misses the regular Flame says she likes to encourage young people gigs performed pre-virus. in particular to head to speedways if they want “I started off playing country music and have to hoon. performed with the likes of Slim Dusty. Getting “It’s a safe and controlled environment,” she into rock ’n roll I had some great times with said. bands like the Angels and Ted Mulry. I performed quite a bit with the late Phil Emmanuel.” “They can do burnouts and speed to their heart’s content without risking their lives, upsetting the Training Andalusian or Pure Spanish Horses is community, or drawing the attention of police. something Blaze has occasionally engaged with and is currently working with a couple of horses. “I was raised on a property near Broken Hill and living remotely you had to learn to do everything “Years ago I trained them for use in movies and for yourself. the circus.” With a couple of rounds remaining in the CQ Drag Racing Championships Flame is confident “I started riding bikes her racing bike, a street registered Harley Davidson Street Bob, will maintain its near- at seven years of age perfect mechanical condition. and when it broke you “It’s a sweet machine running on quality S&S parts and over the past six years only the clutch had to know how has required replacing.” The bike is a 385kg beast. How does a slightly to fix it.” built woman like Flame handle something of that weight? “I started riding bikes at seven years of age and “The trick is not to drop the bloody thing,” she when it broke you had to know how to fix it. confided. Entertainment was not an option, so we had to “I have a couple more competition rounds entertain ourselves. at Benaraby Dragway and also an October “Everyone in the family was musical and we had meeting at Willowbank in Brisbane so, although some terrific jam sessions as a family.” I currently head the leader board, there’s still Music is still a big part of her life although work to be done.” COVID-19 has put a wrecking ball through the If a positive attitude is any measure of success live music industry. then Flame Howard is already a winner. 15 Horses have always been a passion for Flame who was raised on her family’s property near Broken Hill.
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ARTS Bargara Artist, Paul Perry with his art work Shimmering Gold that was received this year’s People’s Choice Award in the Queensland Regional Art Awards. Paul Perry’s Shimmering Gold wins state award Derek Schlennstedt Using a range of glittering and glistening tiles to create the sea and the goldfish, Paul transformed Bargara Artist Paul Perry has been the brown paper bag into a decadent mosaic recognised for his ‘Shimmering Gold’ artwork that puts the gold in goldfish. art work which has been awarded the “The theme was decadence, so the decadence People’s Choice Award in this year’s was gold. Gold transformed into goldfish and then shimmering, fancy pearl eyes, glass and Queensland Regional Art Awards. mirrors,” Paul said. The aptly called ‘Shimmering Gold’ artwork “It’s a façade though. On the outside it all looks displays a resplendent goldfish that has been good, but on the inside it’s hollow and may just intricately plastered onto the side of a brown be life inside of a paper bag.” paper bag. “There’s a deeper meaning to the piece and it’s The goldfish is glistening, glittering, and even about asking us to think about, well, what does glowing from the small pieces of cracked tiles it feel like to be inside that cooped up space. Is that it’s made up of, but as Paul describes at the it just that we’re putting on a good façade?” core it’s still just life in a paper bag. The artwork which not only received the “The COVID restrictions had a lot of psychological people’s choice award at Cross Gallery but also impacts on people and a lot of artists I knew the Queensland Regional Art People’s Choice became quite uncreative as they got into a Award took about 80 hours to complete. mental block with artistic creation,” Paul said. Much of Paul’s colourful mosaic artwork already “I got this sense that a goldfish in a paper bag features across the Bargara foreshore and Paul was very much how many people were feeling said he was honoured to be awarded the People’s this year.” choice award, and that hopefully it would further The theme for the Queensland awards was cement the work of regional artists. decadence, and Paul had also used the artwork “The award is a Regional Queensland Award for an earlier exhibition at the Cross Gallery and its really about showcasing the local which required a paper bag. creativity from artists in regional areas and from He combined the two exhibition themes that perspective it was for me an honour to be together merging his love of mosaic with the awarded this, because I really felt that this was Cross-Gallery’s paper bag requirement to create a way of putting Bargara and Bundaberg on the 17 Shimmering Gold. art map.”
LIFESTYLE Welcome to 59 Station Road, Horton where you’ll find a garden oozing charm. Inset: Helen White is fascinated by roses with many growing in her garden beds handed down through the generations. Childers garden oozes old-world charm Wayne Heidrich There’s more than a touch of old-world “Our first job when we moved in was to clear charm embedded in the beautiful several large fig trees from close proximity to the house. They were causing damage as well as gardens created by Helen and Alan harbouring a colony of flying foxes,” Helen said. White on their spacious Station Road “We wanted open lawn and with the trees gone property at Horton near Childers. there was still the problem of the exposed tree Roses, currently at a luscious full bloom, have roots which is common with Moreton Bay Figs. regal names like Lady Diana, Princess of Wales “The solution was pretty simple, we just built and Queen Elizabeth while the garden furniture gardens around and over them.” is of the rustic type the envy of many gardeners. Station Road is a quiet country road adjacent to the Isis Golf Course and the property at number 59 has been in the White family for generations. Their home, an old Alan and Helen have been at the property for around six years and those 72 months have Queenslander, comes delivered beautiful gardens which border and with its own slice of dot the lawns and attest to a Helen’s creative abilities. rich history. Alan does the heavy lifting. Helen does the gardening and the artistic elements. The results are sensational with Helen’s Their home, an old Queenslander, comes with gardening skills and the judicious placement of its own slice of rich history. It was the original rustic yesteryear furniture providing a beautiful Childers State School head teacher’s residence balance of garden loveliness and historic prior to being re-sited at Horton. storytelling. 18
Celebrating Australian Wildlife Week There’s a bed with Grandma White’s favourite roses and geraniums in full bloom. In another bed is a bicycle, once the conveyance of Alan’s grandfather who delivered mail for what is now Australia Post. Old farming equipment, spoked wheels, a windmill, garden ornaments and bird feeders all play a role in creating a stunning story about the past. The beds of annuals, bromeliads and orchids nestle beautifully around the base of many remaining fig trees while multiple rose blooms take centre stage in many of the garden beds. Mindful of the ravages of dry weather Helen has sourced bales of local cane trash to mulch her garden beds. At $5 a bale it is significantly cheaper than commercial mulch and does a similar job. Gardening is Helen’s passion. “I’d much rather be out here than looking after housework,” she laughed. The couple’s efforts have created a space that provides open grassed areas that show off the charm of their home while the gardens add interest, vibrancy, and a place where the beauty of Nature is showcased. Book here for activities in Alexandra Park 3.30pm on 9 October Bookings essential 19
SPORT Bundaberg Christian College competitors Libby Jordan, Keeley Dunn, Amelia D’Amico and Megan Terry at the Surf League. Photos by Vince Habermann. Sports - Surf League Vince Habermann Students took to the sand and surf recently for St Luke’s Anglican School came in at second the Surf Life Saving Queensland School Surf on 172, followed by Kepnock State High 95, League (Wide Bay). Shalom College continued Bundaberg Christian College 39, Bundaberg its total domination of the annual event by again State High 37, Bundaberg North State High 32.5, claiming big wins, amassing 462.5 points and Fraser Coast Anglican 22 and Urangan State being named Champion School. High 8. Shalom’s Tom Morcom (right) claims the Under-15 Male Beach Flags from Scott Black Riley Dingle (left) edges out Shalom team-mate Kharla Hills in the 16+ Years Female (Bundaberg Christian College) in the Wide Bay Schools Surf League at Bargara. Flags. 20
FREE Action was fast and furious in the Beach Sprints. 3D Introduction to printing Bundaberg Library 49 Woondooma Street, Bundaberg St Luke’s students (back) Angus Hill, Joey Vella, Lily Vella, Chris Rudd and (front) Matthew Thomas at the Surf League. 6 October 9.30am - 10.30am Booking essential BOOK HERE 21 Bill Maule (Kepnock) (right) grabs the 16+years Male Beach Flags in advance of Shalom’s Jakob Wardlaw.
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