WEEKENDER MERRY & BRIGHT CELEBRATION A SUCCESS AT THE BOTANIC GARDENS - BUNDABERG'S AGPRO SOFTWARE READY FOR GLOBAL ROLLOUT - BUNDABERG NOW
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weekender Saturday 19 December 2020
Merry & Bright Bundaberg’s
celebration a AgPro software
ready for global
success at the rollout
Botanic Gardens
New buzz at
Beemart
Bundaberg
Be SharkSmart
at Bundaberg
Region beaches
Aleena in the
mix for Rugby
World Cup
contents
3 Engineering
student learns
on the job
4
Cover story
Merry & Bright
photos
6
What’s on in
the Bundaberg
Region
7
The Beach Dresser
brings arty vibe
to Bargara
8
Bundaberg’s AgPro
software ready
for global rollout
9
New buzz at
Beemart
Bundaberg
10
Be SharkSmart
at Bundaberg
Region beaches
11
Tribe Tropical Photo of the week
launches turtle Photo by @morgan.everett
inspired swimmers
12
Moore Park Beach
garden grows
Christmas spirit
14
Flynn overcomes
tragedy to chase
childhood dream
16
Debut single
Butterfly inspired
by special memories’
17
Aleena in the
mix for Rugby
World Cup
NEWS
CQUniversity engineering student Daniel O’Driscoll discusses plans for a new footpath and footbridge along Bargara Road with Civil Designer Jamie Schokman.
Engineering student learns
on the job
Maria McMahon
When university student Daniel “Council also supports the successful applicants
O’Driscoll first came to Council, he was in gaining RPEQ (Registered Professional
Engineer of Queensland) status which means
the recipient of a BRC engineering I will be able to sign off on other engineers’
scholarship. designs and plant.”
For Daniel this was an excellent opportunity to Head of Undergraduate Engineering for
help towards his university fees and gain practical CQUniversity Dr Benjamin Taylor said this
experience during his 12-week placement. partnership with Council has brought many
Now heading into his fourth year, Daniel is back benefits.
for a six-month placement, learning more within “Our students who have completed a placement
the area of design and civil works. within local government often mention how
“At the moment I’m getting a wide variety of valuable such an experience was to help them
projects to work on including verge sealing, bus comprehend the breadth of challenges faced by
stop and footpath upgrades, traffic management civil engineers,” he said.
plans and upgrades for stormwater infrastructure “The Council scholarships have also allowed us
such as culverts. to secure students of a high calibre straight out
“The foundations I gained in Council’s Autocad of school.
design process in my first-year placement is “In the past we had talented students from
helping me this time around.” regional areas heading on to metropolitan
Born and bred in Bundaberg meant that Daniel centres to gain undergraduate qualifications.
was keen to enrol in university locally and the Co- “This was despite CQUni being ranked as a
op partnership Council has with CQUniversity is national leader for employment outcomes and
something he’s extremely grateful for. starting salaries in engineering.
“I wanted to stay in Bundaberg because my “It then becomes increasingly difficult to recruit
family is here, so the scholarship program has high quality engineers back to the regional areas,
been very good for me. which we must do to ensure our communities
“After I graduate in 2022, I’d like to gain as much prosper.
experience as possible in the industry and am “Also, in the field of engineering, it’s important
interested in applying for Council’s graduate to understand the local context such as land use
program that offers placement of two years in and development opportunities and students
design, two years in civil works and one year in from the regions understand this.”
3
contract supervision.
COMMUNITY
On 12 and 13 December, as part
of Council’s 12 Days of Christmas
celebrations, the Botanic Gardens
was transformed into a magical
wonderland of lights and
entertainment.
4
(top left) Leon, Charlotte, Janelle and Annika Watson.
(top right) Jessie and Victor Newham.
(bottom right) Mitch, Emily and Angie Yarrow.
Enjoying the lights at Merry and Bright.
5
EN REE
Y!
R A L I A DAY W
TE AUST
TR
E BRA ITH
THE
F
CEL
Railway Picnic
AT NIELSON PARK, BARGARA
TUESDAY 26 JANUARY 1PM - 5PM
Sink your teeth into some
good old-fashioned Aussie fun!
Presented by In partnership with
19 Dec
SUNDAY 26 JANUARY
My First Kids Activity Trail
1PM TO 6PM | NEILSON PARK
- Let’s Find Shapes
Kids Activity Trail
- Would youBARGARA
like to meet the Brazilian
qld.australiaday.org.au
Silk Floss tree? Discover
australiadayqueensland
the King
australiadayqld
Fern? #greataustralianb
#australiadayqld
Learn about brush turkeys?
Presented by In partnership with
22 Dec Steam and Diesel Train Rides
- Enjoy a steam or diesel train ride
around the Bundaberg Botanic
Gardens.
DPC7075 Australia Day 2020 GAB – Posters v6.indd 1
&
24 Oct -
Be the 7 Feb Digital
interactives
7 Dec - 24 Jan
first to know 31 Oct - 31 Jan
whatsonbundaberg.com.au
Artists from the region
13 Nov - 10 Jan
6
BUSINESS
The Beach
Dresser brings
arty vibe to
Bargara
Craig Ross
Bundaberg fashion designer and artist
Julie Appo is living proof that it’s never
too late to pursue a dream.
Julie has come out of retirement to open her
own boutique women’s fashion store, The Beach Julie Appo is delighted with the reception her new store, The Beach Dresser,
Dresser, at Bargara and has big plans for the has received in Bargara.
little outlet’s future.
Julie said she had already sought professional
The proud Gooreng Gooreng woman is also advice on how to implement a trainee program
working with neighbouring outlet owner, Jassy for young Indigenous workers and looked
Watson of Earth Circle Studios and Gallery forward to being able to offer such opportunities
Café, to create an artistic hub for Bargara with to the community.
plans to host special themed events throughout
2021 and beyond. Many of Julie’s designs are inspired by Burnett
River rock imagery, an interest which stretches
“A lot of people who come here are in the art back to her days in designer college.
movement in Bundaberg so it’s a nice, creative
hub for people to catch up and have a coffee,”
she said. Many of Julie’s designs
“Every three months or so we’ll come up with a
theme and do something different.
are inspired by Burnett
“It’s nice to support each other because we’re River rock imagery . . .
both creative, and both artists, so it’s nice to
bounce ideas off each other.” Julie’s art degree thesis explored the Burnett
Julie said her idea for the store came after River rock imagery, ancient rock engravings
noticing the vacant shopfront as a regular nearby the river that have since been submerged
customer at Earth Circle. following the altering of the river’s course and
“I thought I’ll follow one of my dreams and open flow began in the 1960s.
a little store here and see how it goes, and it’s “For my honours, I decided to research what
been going very well,” she said. happened there and where some (examples)
“Ever since I was very young, I’ve been interested could be,” she said.
in sewing and fashion and I’ve always been “There are some lying around, and I’ve got
artistic as well. photos of that.”
“I think what really got me started in fashion was Julie said her involvement in Native Title
that my mum had a love for fashion and sewing, negotiations, as a Gooreng Gooreng elder, had
so that sort of started me.” also influenced her work, combining with the
Julie said her Indigenous heritage not only Burnett River rock imagery to inform her work.
influenced her designs, it also encouraged her to Julie said she had sought out Australian
use her store to create opportunities for young companies to print her designs wherever
Indigenous residents. possible and was keen to showcase the work of
“I’m just following one of my little dreams, but local artists at The Beach Dresser to help them
one of the reasons I started this was because establish a market for their products.
there’s not many young Indigenous people in Following the success of its initial opening, Julie
fashion or in the retail industry itself. and Jassy are hosting a Christmas event this
“I thought things would’ve changed by now, but Saturday from 10am to 1pm.
I said ‘well, I’ll do this’ and see if I can be a role The Beach Dresser is located at 5 Whalley
model, I suppose, to encourage them to train for Street, Bargara, and its regular trading hours
7
or enter the retail business.” are from 9am to 2pm, Wednesday to Saturday.
BUSINESS
rates, or provide a suite of production related
alerts to users, just making farming more and
more efficient.
“AgPro account holders will be able to monitor
the performance of some of the treatments
that they would have applied to their farms
through the use of live trend lines, mapping and
comparison reports.”
AgPro is a SaaS platform that provides digital
tools and data process flow for growers and
graziers, agronomists, rural retailers, laboratories
and IoT companies to aid and automate the
provision of agronomic inputs.
AgPro is a SaaS platform that
provides digital tools and
data process flow . . . to aid
and automate the provision
of agronomic inputs.
Jack Milbank is taking AgTech solutions to the world with data management system AgPro.
It does this through a process that either
connects analytical data, sensors, controllers
Bundaberg’s and nutrients to deliver exactly what a plant
needs in response to real-time conditions, or
provides tools that support the decision making
AgPro process.
“The global roll out, currently underway,
software
involves lots of work behind the scenes such
as translation to other languages and units of
measure,” Jack said.
ready for “I wish America would just go metric!,” he joked.
“Fluid ounces per gallon is not a unit of measure
global rollout
many agronomists in Australia are familiar with,
but AgPro will enable Agronomists across the
world to choose the units they prefer to work in
making consistent decision making far easier.”
Megan Dean The effort to rewrite the software to suit various
countries was certainly worth it with the platform
expected to be rolled out across about 38,000
AgPro, an innovative software platform farms in Japan, Australia, and USA.
that originated in Bundaberg, is helping “2021 will see the addition of an office and
laboratory in Johannesburg to service Southern
farmers and agronomists across Africa with an anchor client in the rapidly
the world track data and improve growing medicinal cannabis industry, one of
productivity. the largest projects in the world, a 20 hectare
The software is now owned and operated by project across four sites in three countries -
Lexi Tech Singapore for its global roll-out. AgPro will be the platform on which the project
operates.”
CEO of Lexi Tech, Jack Milbank, said a number
of versions of the platform were already widely Discussions are already underway in Chile,
used in Australia, the USA, and Japan. through the assistance of Austrade’s Santiago
office, to establish Lexi Tech’s South American
“The subscription model, which incorporates base in the region.
a host of impressive tools and features for
farm data management, has been under rapid A livestock module has also recently been added
development since March this year in preparation which is being demonstrated to Queensland’s
for launch in 2021,” Jack said, most comprehensive bovine reproduction
centre for refinement in preparation for roll out
“With the integration of sensors and data and adoption in the extensive North Australian,
from partners . . . into a common platform, American and Argentinian Beef industries.
AgPro is going to enhance the ability to refine
autonomous tasks on farms, such as irrigation Lexi Tech will join the Bundaberg Agtech
or choice of foliar nutrition applications and Hub from January as a base for its Australian
8
operations.
BUSINESS
The team at Beemart Enterprises are excited to introduce new products with the same friendly service.
New buzz at Beemart
Bundaberg
Craig Ross
Beemart Enterprises has a new owner “The new owners are very respectful of the
reputation we have built, and it was indeed part
and new products, but their friendly of the reason they decided to purchase the
service remains unchanged. business, retaining our reputation and improving
That’s the message from Beemart administration it remains central to our operations,” he said.
manager Kodi Beeston as the roll-out of He said Beemart was encouraged to see many
new retail and wholesale products continues of its customers’ businesses, including cafes
following the acquisition of the business by and restaurants, returning to regular operations
Brisbane-based company JE Tipper in July. following this year’s COVID-19 disruptions.
Kodi said the changes aimed to provide “We are starting to get back the busy normality
customers with a “one-stop shop” experience that we are used to as most of our customers
when they visited Beemart. have reopened and are getting back into their
“We understand the customers want more routines,” he said.
convenience in the increasingly time-poor lives “Coming into the festive season, we are expecting
that we lead, but also appreciate and expect a a few big weeks of orders and business to make
local approach,” Kodi said. up for lost time.
“We feel that with our recent changes, and “Bundy businesses have done it tough this year
the changes we will make in the future, we are and we hope Bundy gets out there and supports
providing what customers want and need in them more than ever this holiday season and,
their fresh produce shopping experience.” more importantly, post-COVID.”
Among the changes happening at Beemart are Kodi said Beemart would continue to adapt the
new retail products including pizzas, organic business to meet the needs and desires of its
foods and sauces, a variety of meats, deli and customers.
cheese items and fresh local flowers. “We are also investing resources into finding
Kodi said that gives Beemart greater marketing more environmentally sound options for our
capabilities to benefit local growers. customers as this is something we share the
Kodi said the changes would not come at community’s concerns about,” he said.
the expense of the reputation that Beemart “Look out for new and improved packaging
Enterprises has built over more than 60 years of options in the New Year as well as an extended
9
service to the public. grocery rang in our retails store.”
LIFESTYLE
The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries has launched a campaign calling on residents and visitors to be SharkSmart.
Be SharkSmart at
Bundaberg Region beaches
Craig Ross
Bundaberg Region residents and 6pm on Saturdays and Sundays until the end of
visitors to the area are being urged February.
to be SharkSmart at the beach this The same hours will operate daily over the
Christmas-New Year period at Kellys Beach and
summer. Nielson Park to cater for increased patronage
Do your part. Be SharkSmart is a Department over the festive season.
of Agriculture and Fisheries campaign calling So far this year, 53 sharks have been caught on
on Queenslanders to take note of six key drumlines in Bundaberg waters, following 59
SharkSmart behaviours when out swimming, captured last year.
surfing, diving, snorkelling, fishing or boating.
Drumlines are located at Oak, Nielson Park,
Research has found that although 73 per cent
Bargara and Kellys beaches.
of Queensland residents considered it their own
responsibility to stay safe in the water, only 60 Agriculture and Fisheries are using the
per cent knew how to behave in order to reduce acronym SHARKS to promote Do Your Part.
the chances of interacting with sharks. Be SharkSmart and the measures residents can
Julie Davis, Lifesaving Services Coordinator for take to reduce the risk of negative encounters
Queensland Surf Life Saving Wide Bay Capricorn with sharks:
Branch, said most visitors to Bundaberg beaches Swim between the flags at patrolled
do the right thing and swim between the flags. beaches and check signage
“It comes back to people being responsible and Have a buddy and look out for each other
swimming at patrolled beaches between the Avoid swimming at dawn or dusk
flags where we continually monitor the water,”
Julie said.
R educe risk, avoid schools of bait fish
or diving birds
“It’s important that people swim between the
red and yellow flags where our beaches will be
K eep fish waste and food scraps out of the
water where people swim
under guard for the next 6-7 weeks.
“We are spoilt for choice about which beach to Swim in clear water and away from fishers.
go to.” For more information about Fisheries
Julie said lifeguard and lifesaving services at Queensland’s Do your part. Be SharkSmart
10
patrolled beaches had been extended to 8am to campaign visit daf.qld.gov.au/sharksmartBUSINESS
Tribe Tropical
launches turtle
inspired
swimmers
Megan Dean
Bargara-based swimwear label
Tribe Tropical is set to launch a new
pattern inspired by loggerhead turtle
Bargara-based swimwear
hatchlings that will raise funds for label Tribe Tropical has launch
ed a new design inspired by
turtles at Mon Repos.
the Mon Repos Turtle Centre.
Designer Emily Gradon said the swimsuits would Free local pick-up is available.
take Bundaberg Region imagery to the rest of
the world. Tribe Tropical turtle inspired swimsuits:
“I really did want to do something that was Lady Elliot Swimsuit (girls ages 1-8)
inspired by the region,” Emily said. Bargara Board Shorts (ages 1-10)
“I’m really proud of where we live, I think we live Mon Repos Rash Tops (ages 1-10)
in a magical part of the world.
Mon Repos Swim hats
“I designed the suits and print myself and see it
as a gift to the people of Bundaberg, who have Lady Elliot Swim hats
been so supportive of my brand since I launched
two years ago.”
The design features turtle hatchlings and coral,
and Emily said the ocean-inspired imagery was
a new look for her.
After creating the new Tribe Tropical design she
contacted the Mon Repos Turtle Centre to see
if it was possible to have the swimmers stocked
there.
“I’ve been in touch with their head ranger,” Emily “Sometimes, you have
said.
to swallow your pride
“She’s very keen to place an order this week so
I’m hoping they’ll be there very soon.” a little bit.”
Passionate about raising awareness for the
endangered loggerhead turtles, Emily said 10
per cent of all website sales would be donated
to the Mon Repos Turtle Centre.
Locally the swimsuits are also stocked at the
Windmill and Pharmacy Central in Bargara.
Emily said she had stockists all over Australia
and was hoping to expand across the globe
soon.
“I do ship internationally all over the world.
“This year alone I’ve sent items to places like Bargara mum Emily Gradon won a prestigious Good Design Award accolade in
Qatar, Switzerland, Canada and Malaysia. recognition for the outstanding design and innovation of children’s sun safe swimwear.
“I’m hoping to get some stockists internationally, Her daughters Anelise and Lilia love their mum’s design too.
that’s my plan for in the New Year is to start
really working on that.” All swimwear is UPF50+ and
The designs are set to go live on the Tribe the brand’s focus is on keeping
Tropical website later this week with the ‘the tribe’ safe in the sun.
11
swimsuits arriving just in time for Christmas.LIFESTYLE
Elisabeth Bell in her Moore Park Beach garden.
Moore Park Beach
garden grows
Christmas spirit
Trish Mears
Elisabeth and Ian Bell spend a lot of It was a very different story when they first
time in their garden, but never more so moved in seven years ago, though one thing
hasn’t changed.
than in the lead up to Christmas.
The palm trees were the first things that
In early December their garden at 106 Sylvan Elisabeth and Ian saw when they moved onto
Drive at Moore Park Beach is transformed the three quarters of an acre block.
“I spent the first three months pulling weeds out
by hand,” Elisabeth said.
In early December The couple had a vision of replicating the garden
their garden is they had in Eumundi in the Sunshine Coast
hinterland, but the sandy soil and dry conditions
transformed into a made them re-think the way they do things.
“My husband Ian has become an expert at
Christmas wonderland. mulching and little by little we have built up
the soil and tolerance to the dry conditions,”
Elisabeth said.
into a Christmas wonderland, complete with “Coming from Austria, we like the colourful
lights through the magnificent palm trees and plants of the tropics, which can be difficult to
gardens, a nativity scene and Carols playing. grow.
12“We love bromeliads for their incredible flowers.
Every one is different and has different needs.
“It’s challenging but satisfying to understand
them and what will grow.
“We love hibiscus too but in the current heat
they are in survival mode.”
After working in the garden all year, the workload
has stepped up recently in preparation for their
Christmas Lights display.
Sweet potato
gingerbread
It is certainly a labour of love for both Elisabeth
and Ian.
“By creating the Christmas story we can
celebrate with the community,” Elisabeth said. man (and
“Some people aren’t aware than Christmas is
more than the silly season. unicorn) cookies
“It’s lovely to hear people’s comments that they
find peace and the true spirit of Christmas when Ingredients
they walk through our garden lit up with lights 1 cup pureed sweet potato
and see the nativity scene.” 3 cups flour
Elisabeth and Ian’s garden at 106 Sylvan Drive, 4 teaspoons ground ginger
Moore Park Beach will be open from 6.30pm 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
til 9pm every night until Boxing Day, weather 2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
permitting.
1 teaspoon ground clove
1
/2 teaspoon salt
1
/2 teaspoon baking soda
1
/2 cup butter
1
/2 cup sugar
1
/3 cup molasses
1 egg
Method
1. Prick each sweet potato serveral times,
wrap individually in alfoil and bake at
205oC until cooked. Allow to cool.
2. Peel the potatoes and puree using a
food processor. Run the puree through a
cheesecloth to remove any extra bits, you
should have 1 cup.
3. Cook the sweet potato puree down by half
in a frying pan on a medium-low heat for
about 5 minutes. This will remove excess
water from the puree. If you do not do this,
your cookies will be cake-like and limp.
4. Using an electric mixer, beat butter and
sugar until smooth. Beat in the sweet
potato puree, molasses and the egg.
5. Combine the rest of the ingredients in a
bowl. Add gradually to the electric mixer
ingredients on low until a dough forms.
6. Place dough on floured plastic wrap and
wrap well; chill until firm, about an hours.
7. On floured baking paper, roll dough to
4mm thick. Freeze dough on paper for
about 20 mins.
8. Cut to desired shape and bake in a
pre-heated oven at 180oC until firm and
edges just begin to darken.
Approx. 8 mins. Let cool on tray.
9. Decorate cookies with icing.
Jerry James Stone
13SPORT
“Even if it’s just one game, it means a lot.
Not many fathers and sons get to play footy
together, so it will be good.”
Flynn will count on Mick, aged 47, to stay injury
free after the latter’s comeback seasons in 2006
and 2017, following his initial retirement in 2000,
both ended with season-ending injuries.
If the pair’s on-field combination proves as
effective as their ability to work together off
the field, their opponents face a tough time
stopping them.
Flynn’s sister Emerson and mother Leisa were
tragically killed in a car accident, in which Flynn
was also a passenger, a little over two years ago
in South Kolan and he and Mick have been there
for each other since.
If the pair’s on-field
combination proves as
effective as their ability
Flynn Purkis is looking forward to lining up with his dad Mick for Wests Panthers in the
to work together off
2021 Bundaberg Rugby League season. the field, their
opponents face a tough
Flynn overcomes time stopping them.
tragedy to chase “We’re still looking after each other, making sure
we’re all good and just chugging along,” Flynn
childhood dream said.
“We’re just living life to the fullest. You can’t just
talk about the sad times, you’ve got to talk about
the good times as well, because (Emerson and
Craig Ross Leisa) come up in conversation all the time.”
Flynn said his sister and mother were a constant
source of inspiration for him as he chases success
on the rugby league field and his approaching
Flynn Purkis may soon realise his Year 12 studies at Shalom College.
childhood dream of playing rugby
“A lot of the things that I want to do well in are
league alongside his dad after driven by them,” he said. “If I want to do well in
overcoming tragedy, losing his mum school, in an exam or an assignment, I think ‘how
and sister in a car crash. would they react?’.
Regardless of how he fares on the field, next “Especially Mum, because she was big on
season is shaping up to be a memorable one for education, and so’s Dad. And on the footy field,
the Wests Panthers player. I dedicate every game to them.”
Flynn and his father Mick plan to line up alongside Flynn admitted his approach to schoolwork had
each other in the Panthers’ reserve grade outfit changed as his view of the world outside the
for the 2021 Bundaberg Rugby League season rugby league field matures.
and it will mark a career highlight for both if they “When I was younger, I was like ‘footy, footy,
are able to achieve the feat. footy’ and schoolwork came later,” he said.
Flynn, who has made himself available for “Now I do what I need to do at training and then
selection in all three senior grades for the come home and study. School’s been a lot better
Panthers next season, said playing alongside since I’ve started balancing (priorities) out a bit.”
Mick would realise a childhood dream. Flynn will start a school-based cabinet-making
“I always wanted to play footy with him, ever apprenticeship in 2021 and realises he will need
since I was a little kid watching old tapes of him to devote much of his time to that and his other
playing in the old days,” the 17-year-old prop schoolwork, but has not ruled out the possibility
forward said of his father. of finding a start in the world of professional
rugby league.
14“I was hell-bent on (becoming professional) a
couple of years ago but then I realised, as I got
older, that footy shouldn’t be the priority,” he
said.
“I started looking at other pathways. But if
something pops up, I will take the opportunity
with both hands.”
Whatever he achieves in life, Flynn knows that
rugby league will be a large part of it and he
is grateful for the support he and his father
received from the rugby league community in
the aftermath of his family heartbreak.
“They helped out a lot when everything
happened,” Flynn said. “Just the way they got
around us and showed their support, which is
amazing.
Flynn and Mick Purkis fondly remember Emerson and Leisa after they were tragically
killed in a car accident.
“Wests is a very family-oriented club. They’re not
the richest or the biggest but they’re definitely
family-oriented and so are Shalom.
“It was good to have all that support when
everything did happen.”
In addition to lining up alongside Mick in reserve
grade in 2021, another major goal for Flynn is Delivering free
the helping steer the Panthers’ under-18 outfit to
successive BRL premierships. good news
The Panthers took last year’s title with a gripping
22-18 grand final win over Maryborough’s
Wallaroos in Maryborough, and the front-rower
online to the
believes Wests have the necessary talent to
repeat the success in 2021.
Bundaberg
“Most of (this year’s) team is either too old for
the 18s this year or have moved elsewhere, but
Region.
the 16s Grizzlies side won the grand final this
year as well, so we’ve got a lot of grand final
experience coming through,” he said.
“A lot of big game experience and a lot of
Download the
representative players, and they’re all talented. Bundaberg Now app.
“Even the kids that haven’t made rep, they’re
very talented in their positions, so we’re looking
very good for the 18s next year.
“Hopefully, we can go back to back and get two
grand finals in two seasons for the 18s.”
15ARTS
Butterfly shares some of Chelsea’s favourite
memories of her grandad.
“It’s sort of more things that we did together.
“We used to go out and do the weather out at
the Bundaberg Aero Club, so I reference the
weather.”
While COVID presented many challenges, it also
gave Chelsea the chance to return home to work
on the song closer to where those memories
were made.
“Since I was home I actually decided to create
a bit of a recording studio in my grandad’s old
surgery.
“That was kind of special.”
The x-ray room of the Bundaberg west surgery
is now a sound-proofed recording room.
Chelsea said it was Bundaberg’s first veterinary
surgery opened in about 1958, helping to inspire
her during the creative process.
Butterfly, written and produced by Bundaberg singer songwriter Chelsea Stutchbury,
will be released on January 11. Chelsea is pictured at the Sydney Conservatorium of “Being in the surgery made me think about him
Music in a dress designed by Tarese Klemens. Photo: Easton Chang more.”
While at the moment she is focussed on her
studies and graduating from the Sydney
Debut single Conservatorium of Music, in future Chelsea said
she may look to offer singing lessons or record
local artists from the space.
Butterfly In another special tribute, the cover art for
Butterfly is a picture of Chelsea, drawn by her
inspired by
grandad.
“I still have it and its coffee stained and
everything.”
special The song will be released on Spotify, Apple Music,
YouTube and all other streaming platforms from
memories
January 11, 2021.
The date was selected for its significance, being
the anniversary of her grandad’s passing.
Chelsea said securing an RADF grant had helped
Megan Dean to make producing Butterfly possible.
“Thank you to the Bundaberg Regional Council
for supporting regional arts,” Chelsea said.
“It’s really important and I’m very thankful for
Local singer songwriter Chelsea the great job that they do.
Stutchbury is set to release her debut “It definitely helped support my music.”
single Butterfly, dedicated to her The live debut of the song Butterfly will be
grandfather who was Bundaberg’s performed at the Capricorn Caves, north of
first veterinary surgeon, on streaming Rockhampton, at a special Butterfly in a Cave
event as part of an upcoming film festival.
platforms in January.
“I attended the 2017 Capricorn Film Festival
The song was developed through a recent round where my sister won an award for her
of Bundaberg Regional Council’s Regional Arts environmental short film, and was impressed
Development Fund (RADF). with the quality of the event, and the support
She wrote Butterfly in March as a tribute to her and recognition it gives to creatives,” Chelsea
grandfather Graham Stutchbury who she lost in said.
2014. “I love reverberant spaces and experimenting
“I always I had a very close relationship with with how my vocals can sound within them, so
him,” Chelsea said the acoustics of inside the Caves is something
I am very much looking forward to performing
“I always felt like he was this butterfly watching in.”
over me - like a guardian angel sort of vibe.
RADF is a partnership between the Queensland
“Every time I see a butterfly, I like to imagine it’s Government and Bundaberg Regional Council
his ghost watching over me.” that invests in quality arts and cultural
16
experiences throughout the region.SPORT
Aleena in the
mix for Rugby
World Cup
Vince Habermann
Bundaberg’s Aleena Greenhalgh is in
the mix for the Australian team for the
2021 Women’s Rugby World Cup in
New Zealand.
Aleena was part of the broader Buildcorp
Wallaroos squad which connected for the first
time in 2020 with a six-day national camp
recently at the Australian Institute of Sport in
Canberra.
Head coach Dwayne Nestor named 15 Test
debutantes, including 28-year-old Aleena, in the
squad as Australia continues its preparation for Aleena Greenhalgh from Bundaberg is in line to represent Australia at the Women’s
Rugby World Cup.
the world titles.
Aleena, who completed Year 12 at Shalom
College in 2009, was always an ultra-talented Aleena said the final squad won’t get named
all-rounder, learnt the game of rugby while “until probably August next year” and she
studying in England, playing for Bristol Bears will continue to train hard and strive to keep
in 2019, before moving back to Australia and improving her game to achieve what would be
representing Bond University at the AON Uni her ultimate goal in the sport.
Sevens. “We have a few tests scheduled prior and the
Super W season, but it’s all pretty surreal,” she
said.
This year, she made “I didn’t even think I would make the Queensland
her Queensland Reds Reds squad this year but I ended up debuting
and then getting invited into Wallaroos’ camp
Super Women’s on minimal minutes.
debut.
This year, she made her Queensland Reds Super
Women’s debut, covering positions in both the
There’s a lot of training
second row and back row, bringing valuable and rugby between
versatility to the squad.
Last week, the Wallaroos’ journey at the
now and then
tournament was confirmed, which will see
Australia take on the tournament hosts as well
(final selection)
as Wales and the final qualifier winner in the with many talented
battle of Pool A.
Aleena, whose parents Shelley and Adrian, are
and hardworking girls
Sharon cane farmers and whose sister Laura is
a Bundaberg physiotherapist and grandparents
all vying for a spot.
also live here, said the camp was “great”.
“Expectedly I was a little daunted going in, but the “There’s a lot of training and rugby between now
girls and coaches provided a great, welcoming and then (final selection) with many talented
environment with everyone supporting and and hardworking girls all vying for a spot.
encouraging each other,” she said.
“Obviously, it would be a huge honour but I’m
“The training was tough, I’ve never worked just going to focus on training and the learnings
harder or been pushed more in my life, but I I took away from camp.”
17
learnt a lot very quickly.”You can also read
