Mary Valley Country flies high at Scone Off 

Martin (front cover in the checked apron) is a renowned Sunshine Coast foodie who came up with the concept of Sconetime, a networking idea that connects isolated older people with their community through monthly afternoon teas. He also raises awareness and funds for the Sunshine Coast Riding for the Disabled through Scone Off competitions.

The latest Scone Off was held on Sunday 20 June, at Yandina. Foodies in cafes and boutique accommodation, and QCWA ladies from across Country Noosa, Mary Valley Country and Glasshouse Country, vied for the title of best scones across five categories: Classic, Savoury, Fruit, Rogue, and Gluten Free. When the ladies of Imbil QCWA were invited to compete, it wasn’t just veteran scone-makers like Lorna Cook who took on the challenge. Two unlikely contenders also stepped forward: Jennifer Miller and Helen Hooper.

“I had not made scones for well over 25 years,” admits Jennifer. “I said to myself - really, how hard could it be? So I decided to enter Pink Champagne scones in the Rogue category; it was my husband who made the suggestion that I add pink food colouring to them.” “Denise Carlson, our Branch President, called for volunteers and I said yes,” explains Helen. “Then the reality of my foolishness set in. Yikes! All my previous attempts at scones had produced rock cakes!”

But Helen is a determined woman, and, after Googling recipes, she practiced for the whole week. “Monday night: recipe number one. I followed the instructions to the letter. The result? Perfect rock cakes! Tuesday night: recipe number two. After diligently following the instructions, out of the oven emerged perfect missiles.”

By Wednesday, Helen knew it was time to ask for help from fellow QCWA member and renowned cook, Marina Taylor. “Marina gave me really good advice as well as her fail-safe recipe. The rest of the day was spent Googling butter temperature, how to cut out the rounds, and more. Thursday night: back in the kitchen. I was almost too scared to open the oven, but when I did, I let out a squeal of delight. There, in the cake tin, were 12 gorgeous looking scones. Reverently I broke one open and, oh, I started salivating. My husband wasn’t quite so reverent – he promptly stuffed one of the still-hot scones into his mouth. Friday night: this time we had the jam and cream ready as my beautiful, moist fruit scones emerged. I was so relieved that I wasn’t going to be a disgrace to the team.”

With 25 contestants in the Scone Off, competition was fierce. At the end of the afternoon tea, the winners were announced.

Josh, from the Click Clack Café in Amamoor, won the Classic Scone category, and Glasshouse Mountains CWA won the Gluten Free.

The Imbil QCWA ladies, decked out in their signature red hats, were focusing on just enjoying the afternoon, and had no expectations at all of winning. So they were thrilled when Lorna was declared to be the winner of the best Savoury Scone. “Then they announced the Rogue Scone winner… OMG, it was me!” laughs Jennifer. “It was so funny.”

And the winner of the Fruit Scone category? Yes, it was Helen Hooper, former rock-cake queen: “To say I was shocked by the announcement is a massive understatement – flies could have gathered in my open mouth.”

Congratulations to Josh, Lorna, Jennifer and Helen on their welldeserved win and for flying the flag high for Mary Valley Country.

• Imbil QCWA meet the first Thursday of each month at the Imbil Showgrounds Hall, and the Craft Group meets every second and fourth Thursday – new members are welcome to join us.

QCWA Imbil is also pleased to announce a new community event to be held on Saturday, 27 November 2021:The Imbil Christmas Tree Festival and Twilight Markets. For more details, please contact Denise Carlson on 0427 821 180, or Jennifer Miller at hotduckindiva@gmail.com

All photos and cover story, kindly submitted by Lisa Holliday.

I remember my father taking the cream cans down to the cream box on a slide drawn by one of our huge draft horses. These slides seem to be another of our lost pieces of history.

In 1913 this diagram and description was published:

The article was titled “A Mountain Sledge ... sledges precede all other vehicles in the back country where roads are not. It follows close in the track of the pack horse and is often the only means available to the small selector for conveying his cream and other produce from the spot which will ultimately be designated the farm or dairy to the roadside. The sketch shows a sledge as used by dairymen in hilly country in Gippsland and some of the Northern Rivers district in N.S.W.”

In the Australasian Coachbuilder and Wheelwright trade journal the following dimensions were given:from 1.2 to 1.6 metres long by 0.9 to 1.2 metres wide (a bale of hay makes a good width for a slide), runner height is usually 20-28 cm.

One of the few descriptions of local use of a slide is from the Picture Sunshine Coast, Sunshine Coast Council:- Selwyn Carbery is pictured using a slide to move some firewood. In the hinterland rural areas, slides were the main carrying mode for the transportation of materials around the farm. Wood, cream cans and other heavy items were easily moved using a slide pulled by a horse. Slides could be used on steep slopes and taken into hilly grounds where the conventional wheeled transport could not travel.

At the 1923 Maleny Show there was a prize given for “The most useful farmer’s horse or mare to be ridden or driven in slide” – 1st 10 shillings 2nd two shillings and six pence (Nambour Chronicle & North Coast Advertiser, 2 February, 1923, page 3).

As with any transport vehicle – slides were subject to accidents as reported in these newspapers:- Mr J. Lefoe met with an accident on Monday when he was working a slide and was standing on it when a board slipped away from under him and his foot caught under the slide. He sprained the sinews of his leg, necessitating a few days rest. (Nambour Chronicle, 27 April, 1923, page 3), and Mr A. Webster while driving in a slide loaded with a pair of harrows, met with a serious accident. The swingle bar gave way and Mr Webster fell on the tooth of the harrow. (Nambour Chronicle, 7 Sept., 1923, page 6).

Note: Swingle bar = In a plough, horse-drawn cart, etc.: a crossbar pivoted in the middle to which the traces are attached.

• Come along to the Kenilworth Museum in Alexander St, any Sunday 10am – 2pm to learn more of the local history. L

Lenore Meldrum, President, Kenilworth & Dist. Historical Assn Inc.

Dateclaimer for Kenilworth Historical Association and Kenilworth Quilt & Craft Group CENT SALE  FRIDAY 29 OCTOBER  Commencing 7pm at Kenilworth Hall.

Our committee meeting 4:30pm is this 14 July. Members are welcome and/or join us for a light supper afterwards. Work is starting on our long awaited kitchen renovation. We’ll celebrate when it is finished! Access to the KAC building will be restricted while the work is in progress.

Our Friday Singalong! now in St Luke’s Shed in Philip Street as will KAC meetings. What a very pleasant afternoon we all had at Isaac Moore Park on Wednesday 16 June when the Ukes on Fire group entertained us with their specially composed song “Canistrum” about our designer dunny. It was lovely to welcome Michael Lennie, the designer, to the function. The Ukes will be entertaining us at the Poets’ Brunch in the Kenilworth Hall Dining Room at 10am, Saturday 2 October, adding a dash of music!

• Once again KAC joined with AAA from Caloundra to present a visually pleasing art exhibition in the Hall. The art works on show were very much appreciated by the viewers as thirty works were sold. The Gala Night attendance numbers were a bit disappointing but the cold, rainy weather kept a lot of people away. However, those who came were treated to Cr Joe Natoli’s fascinating story of his original Tom Roberts painting. He told of his anxious time on the TV show “Fake or Fortune” where after rigorous investigation, the painting was finally declared a genuine Tom Roberts work. Nina Shadforth also treated us to a very interesting talk on aspects of the art world.

• “Art at the Movies” continues to entertain and educate at Cinemaworks, 2pm on 31 July, 28 Aug., 30 Oct. and 27 November.

• KAC is raffling a beautiful watercolour by noted artist, Barry Green, as first prize, a quality Egyptian bath towel set for second and a Big Boss Chocolates voucher, third prize. The raffle will be drawn on Monday 4 October at ArtsFest. We are calling for helpers to sell raffle tickets in town on Saturday mornings and we are appealing for folk to help for an hour or two between 8am -12 noon. Please contact kac@kenilwortharts.org.au if you can help. Your assistance will be very much appreciated.

Despite the COVID restrictions, Kenilworth church services were held as usual with all the necessary rules being observed. St Luke’s continues to look beautiful with the magnificent flowers supplied by our friend, Peter, whose camellias are just exquisite! St Luke’s thanks our other Peter for keeping the technology performing so well. Our services are enhanced by the beautiful music which Peter adds before and after the actual service.

• Even with the COVID restrictions, friends from St Luke’s, St John Bosco’s and the KCTS drivers enjoyed a very happy morning tea on 4 July in St Luke’s shed in honour of our friend, Buddy to help him celebrate his 80th birthday. The shed was suitably decorated for the occasion and a delicious birthday cake was supplied by Irene. It was a very enjoyable morning tea and we all wish Buddy good health, safe travel and much happiness as he heads off in his new catamaran to Barrier Reef waters. St John Bosco’s and St Luke’s thank Buddy most sincerely for his much appreciated help to both our churches.

St Luke’s Anglican – Morning Prayer 1st and 3rd Sundays 9:15am. Holy Communion 2nd and 4th Sundays at 9:15am. Morning Prayer Thursdays at 9am. Meditation at 9:30am.

St John Bosco Catholic – 1st, 2nd and 4th Sundays at 9am. Mass on 3rd Sunday at 10am.

Call:- Anglican Shirley 0427 723 848; Catholic Sue 0439 130 158; Meditation Maureen 0457 296 699.

Access to the latest devices. Hearing Australia's custom equipped bus will be outside Kenilworth Library, 4A Elizabeth St on Friday, 30 July, 9.30am to 1.30pm. No appointment necessary.

The ever-present threat of lockdowns, seem to cause more anxiety than the presence of potentially deadly virus. The unpredictable nature of when a lockdown might hit and how hard, has disrupted all of us over the last year. For some of us, we relish the chance of hunkering down in our home – for others, however, it can create surprising stress and frustration. Having our freedoms removed, (having our lives controlled by ‘government’) is annoying, but for people who have experienced trauma in their life – lockdowns can trigger a trauma or stress response that make them particularly vulnerable.

If someone you know says a throwaway comment about the impact of lockdown on them, pay attention to the story behind their words. It may be an opportunity to offer real support and to have a deeper conversation about the experience of losing control, of fear and loss etc. We all have a part to play in suicide prevention, and sometimes seemingly small events can cause much harm, but it’s easy to miss the cues we give. Pay close attention and lets stick together through this COVID madness.

Relationships Australia 1300 364 277; 1800 RESPECT National Helpline 1800 737 732; Mensline Australia 1300 789 978 mensline.org.au; DV Connect Women’s Line 1800 811 811 dvconnect.org/womensline/; Kids Helpline 1800 551 800 kidshelpline.com.au

Remember, connection is protection.

Ben Burns (ben@calcomm.org.au) Community Development Worker, Suicide Prevention in Local Communities

First Wednesday of the month 9.30am-11.30am (free)

Melissa 0490 215 632 WEEKLY YOGA with Chloe every Tuesday 5pm-6.30pm. 0405 347 032

ARTSFEST ENTRIES OPEN NOW – www.kenilwortharts.org.au

Saturday 31 July, 2pm – Art at the Movies at Cinemaworks‚

Friday 7 August, 6pm – Dinner and comedy playreading at St Luke’s Shed.

Sat/Sun 25/26 September – Chinese Brushstrokes workshop at Kenilworth Museum.

Sun 26 Sept, 2pm – Sunshine Coast Symphony Orchestra and High Tea Kenilworth Hall.

Fri 1 Oct, 6pm – ArtsFest Presentation Night.

Fri 1 Oct – Mon 4 Oct, 10am -4pm Kenilworth Artsfest Art Exhibition Kenilworth Hall.

Sat 2 Oct, 10am – Poets’ Brunch with a Dash of Music at Kenilworth Hall Dining Room.

Sun 24 Oct, 2pm – Kim Kirkman’s Choir presents The Messiah at Kenilworth Hall.

Every Friday 10am to 12 – Singalong! at St Lukes as the kitchen ‘renov’ is in progress.

THE MARY VALLEY VOICE © 2021 July 15, 2015 14 JULY 2021 | 3, 4, 5