Oakey Champion - 30th November 2022

Community support crucial to tackling youth crime on Downs

Car thieves are disengaged with society and seeking notoriety by using social media, police call for public assistance in securing vehicles and identifying stolen cars.

Assistant Commissioner Cheryl Scanlon addressed the media as questions surrounding the nature of youth crime on the Downs were circling in the community.

She provided an update on how the problem was being tackled by the recently assembled Youth Justice Taskforce, a group led by the Queensland Police Service in collaboration with agencies such as the Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs.

The task force, was set up in February 2021 in response to concerns in regional Queensland about youth crime.

In Oakey, abandoned vehicles are frequently seen in and around the district, often stolen from Toowoomba and dumped here by offenders.

Assistant Commissioner Scanlon said, while she has been dealing with vehicle thefts in the region for over four decades, the current batch of offenders are increasingly taking to social media to show off their prizes.

“If you post online, you are providing evidence to Police and we will shut accounts down, with the help of the national e-Safety Commissioner,” she said.

In June, a 13-years-old boy was killed in a crash on the Warrego Highway while

driving a vehicle stolen from Kingsthorpe.

Assistant Commissioner Scanlon said local communities could also play a role by engaging young people in social activities, and also alerting police as soon as stolen vehicles were spotted.

“Our police are doing everything they can.

“It’s also about community cooperation with letting us know about stolen vehicles,” she said.

“It comes back to asking ‘Why are these young people out late at night?’”

“These young people are disengaged with mainstream life.”

The search for stolen vehicles has been a main focus for Oakey Police in recent months, in collaboration with officers in Toowoomba.

Earlier this month, police deployed the dog squad to track four children caught breaking into cars.

The message from local officers was for residents to take personal responsibility for home and vehicle security.

Constable Gabe Lindeman said offenders in Oakey often looked for telltale signs that a home or vehicle was vulnerable.

“Remain vigilant. A lot of people don’t think that it will happen to them,” he said.

“Make sure your keys

are kept secure and on your person. Offenders are getting bolder in our area.”

Assistant Commissioner Scanlon said a key focus of the Taskforce more broadly is a group of about 400 young offenders across the state who police say commit 50 per cent of youth crime.

The majority of the offenders lack family support and are disconnected from

their communities and society in general.

“They remain the focus, not just in policing their activities, opposing bail, holding them in custody where we need to, but also importantly, the work that must occur to change over time that must focus on the root causes of crime – not just the way police respond,” she said.

Assistant Commissioner Cheryl Scanlon addresses the media in Toowoomba last week.

Council seeks advice on Queen memorial

Toowoomba Region Mayor Paul Antonio wants to know how residents in Oakey think Council should honour the late Queen Elizabeth II.

“Aside from the longevity of her service, it was the Queen’s unwavering devotion to duty and her many personal attributes that endeared her to so many people across the spectrum of society that have been fondly recalled in the wake of her death,” Mayor Antonio said.

“She was a constant presence that afforded people a degree of personal familiarity, whether they knew or had met her.

“As such, I think it’s only appropriate for us to consider a fitting way to

recognise the late Queen’s extraordinary service, which spanned more than 70 years.”

Suggestions received so far by TRC include a statue in one of the Toowoomba city parks, a garden named in the Queen’s honour, a statue of the Queen’s corgis, a memorial in Coronation Park, and the planting of English Oak tree.

How do you think the Queen should be honoured in the Toowoomba Regional Council area?

Send us a Letter to the Editor at: editorial@ oakeychampion.com.au

Inland Rail on track in NSW

While the disputes over the location of routes for Inland Rail are ongoing, the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) has opened 83 kilometres of upgraded Inland Rail track between Moree and Narrabri, with the first grain train set to run this week.

It’s a section of existing track which has been upgraded by ARTC which constructed new embankments, bridges and drainage culverts, replaced existing sleepers with concrete sleepers and laid new ballast and steel tracks.

The route is expected to eventually reach Toowoomba via the Downs en-route to Brisbane, however discussions are still ongoing with some land-owners concerned about the impact of a new rail route on their land

Oakey rental prices increase by 30%

The impact of global economic conditions has led to a hike in rental prices in Oakey of 30 per cent.

Real estate group Westgarths said global economic conditions had influenced the median asking rent price in Oakey.

The Everybody’s Home campaign found asking rents across regional Queensland have surged between $30 and $185 per week since November 2021 in the latest SQM Research Weekly Rents Index for units and houses.

Southern Queensland, Western Queensland and the Gold Coast are the regions with the greatest increases.

Everybody’s Home national spokesperson Maiy Azize said this year’s perfect storm of the rising cost of living and

stagnant wages has hit renters hard.

“It’s been a shocking, challenging year for regional Queensland tenants,” she said

“Inflation is yet to peak while wages aren’t keeping up. Landlords have passed the cost of interest rate rises onto renters.

“Floods have had a devastating impact on lives and housing stock, and residential vacancy rates largely remain below one per cent in most regions.

“Living standards are deteriorating. It’s been a year where we’ve heard countless stories of people living in tents and shoddy accommodation across the regions.”

Community Carols, Christmas Cantata

The singing group will be interweaving the carols with sections of a collection of narration and songs called “A Star, A Song, A Son” by Derric Johnson.

This is an opportunity for the people of Oakey and District to participate in singing Christmas Carols, to emphasize the original reason we celebrate and have holidays at this time of the year.

Those who attend will be asked to sing along with the favourite Christmas Carols that many people love to sing at this time of

the year.

There will also be some people who come from other parts of the world who will tell the gathering in Oakey how Christmas is celebrated in their home countries, and they will sing a carol in their own language.

To conclude the afternoon, refreshments will be served, including a Sausage Sizzle.

Attendees are asked to contribute a plate of food to share if possible.

- Daphne Webster OAM, Uniting Church minister

Japan enters mining royalties stoush which could affect New Acland mine

The Japanese ambassador to Australia has entered Queensland’s mining royalties debate, by attending the annual forum of the Queensland Resources Council.

Ambassador Shingo Yamagami warned that Japan could reconsider joint projects in the energy sector unless the coal price hike initiated by the State Government’s tiered mining royalty policy was reversed.

“Alongside coal, Japanese investment and trade in Australian gas is a cornerstone of our partnership based on trust,” he said.

For decades, Australian coal imports, including those from the Jondaryan region, have played a significant role in propping up Japan’s energy market supplying to big companies including Mitsubishi.

Earlier this year the Queensland Government announced it would be introducing a royalty hike on mining profits from 15 per cent to 40 per cent in the maximum bracket, in line with the increased global value of coal because of the war in Ukraine.

The ambassador’s intervention is the latest step in a dramatic escalation of the debate in the last week.

Last Wednesday, Premier Annastascia Palasczuk instructed her ministers not to attend the QRC’s forum at which it launched a large

advertising campaign against the policy saying she was ‘angry’ at the Council for its campaign.

QRC Chief Executive Ian Macfarlane said the Government’s decision to introduce a three-tiered system of coal royalty taxes has blindsided Queensland’s resources sector and thrown the future of coal trading with countries such as Japan into further doubt.

“The survey results show the royalty hike on coal producers is a significant concern for explorers in other commodities too, given the doubt it raises about the stability of investment conditions in Queensland,” he said.

“The impact of the royalty tax hike goes way beyond just affecting the coal industry – it’s affecting the whole of Queensland’s resources sector, which needs consistency in government policy to attract international investment in what is a

very competitive market.”

Climate Advocacy group Lock the Gate Alliance has said that the Government could have been much harsher in its reforms and that the Queensland people owned the land rather than the mining companies.

The Lock the Gate Alliance Queensland coordinator, Ellie Smith, said in The Guardian

last week that mining companies, “including companies based in Japan”, had made “a killing off record high coal prices” and described Queensland’s royalty hike as “modest”.

“These are Queenslandowned resources and neither the mining industry nor any foreign government has the right to dictate how much Queensland charges to access them,” she said.

Queensland Resource Council Chairman Ian Macfarlane launched a marketing campaign against the State Government’s royalty hike last week in Brisbane.

Oakey and District Arts Council Inc, with the singing group ‘Oakey Voices’ and the Oakey and District Christian Leaders’ Network will be hosting Community Christmas Carols in the Oakey Uniting Church on Sunday, 11th December at 4pm.

Another country landscape from local Oakey photographer Russell Thomas.

Last chance to enter Lions’ market raffle

Oakey Lions Club is asking for

Anyone looking to get in on the action for this year’s Oakey Lions Club raffle has until this Friday to buy tickets and cakes from a stall outside Cornett’s IGA

Proceeds from the sales will go towards maintenance of the club which helps local charities run events.

Club President Lois Throne said every ticket sold helps the club to run events and maintain the Lions Den

“It’s going to help us pay the power and water bills,” she said.

“We are currently running Tuesday bingo and Friday morning teas to help people get out of the house and have a bit of fun.”

“We also support Dux of the school.”

Last month, the club supplied $200 worth of food to help support a young man who is seriously ill, to organise a movie night with the Oakey Chamber of Commerce.

Ms Thorpe says the Lions Club is there to assist the community.

“It’s about putting in our bit and helping where we can”, she said.

“If people need help, come and see us and we’ll

see what we can do”

Tickets for the raffle cost $1 and the prize-winners will be announced at the markets this Sunday.

The markets will take place in the Railway Station car park from 8:30-12:30pm.

The Club is also selling cakes including Christmas cakes for $9, and fruit cakes

from $2.

These cakes are clearly marked with a Lions Club logo, and are available for purchase from local businesses until Christmas.

If you win a raffle prize, the Lions Club will contact you by phone if you can’t make it on the day.

The Club says that stalls

cost $10, and that anyone wanting to organise one can get in contact with the Club President Lois Thorne via phone at 0413 548 955.

Residents will be able to buy various items at the markets including bric-abrac, leatherwork, fruit and veg, honey and crocheted tea towels.

Be storm-prepared, says Mayor

With storm season underway, Mayor Paul Antonio says residents need to be preparing now. Preparations for the impending storm and wet weather season across the Toowoomba Region are underway.

Toowoomba Region Mayor and Chair of the Local Disaster Management Group Paul Antonio said Council’s Disaster Management team was well prepared for the upcoming storm and wet weather season.

“Just this week Councillors received a briefing from our Disaster Management team on the climate outlook for summer and the work that’s going on to prepare our region in case of further wet weather and storm activity,” Mayor Antonio said.

“As a region, we’ve taken so many learnings from the flooding disaster of January 2011 and now have an extensive network of flood gauges and cameras in addition to the significant program of flood mitigation works that were undertaken to increase capacity within detention basins.

“Last weekend we saw the first significant storm of the season which impacted

the northern parts of our region with fallen trees, road closures and some property damage.

“We ask residents to consider preparing their own properties in case of severe storms, flooding or isolation.

“That involves cleaning out gutters, securing loose

objects, considering filling your own sandbags at various sand pile locations throughout the region and having enough food and medical supplies on hand for a few days if you happen to live in an area that becomes isolated due to flooding.”

Mayor Antonio said that resilience, self-reliance and

being prepared ahead of time, are the best ways to be ready for an emergency.

“Council is doing its bit to prepare too with the Local Disaster Management Group recently completing a mock exercise bringing together agencies and key Council staff in our Disaster Management Plan,” he said.

School implements toilet crackdown

Some parents are unhappy with a policy designed to clean up Oakey State High School.

The High School has instituted a school policy to clamp down on students misusing bathroom facilities.

Principal Danny Keenan said claims being made on social media were inaccurate.

“No one is being denied the opportunity to go to the toilet,” he said.

Some parents voiced their displeasure with the move, but others said they were happy to let the school deal

with the problem.

Across Queensland school toilets are misused for activities such as vaping and fighting, some of which has been put up on social media in other towns.

The Oakey Champion is aware that in recent times some of this behaviour has made its way to Oakey, and the new policy at the school was made in response to these actions.

Flooded roads are common in and around low-lying areas.

help to support the ongoing maintenance of the Lions Den.

ABOVE: The prized hamper featuring newly-joining club member Julie Ernst, Caroline Engle and President Lois Thorne who will be manning the stall until Friday.

New Bank Building

When the original ANZ bank building in Campbell Street, Oakey was demolished in May 1964, all the bricks were carted to the spare allotment beside Tom Hansen’s workshop in Davidson Street.

(In later years, there were two brick units built on this allotment).

The new smaller bank was constructed by Tom Hansen and is still the present building to this day.

Banking resumed after the building was completed.

On October 1, 1970, in what was then the largest merger in Australian banking history, ANZ Ltd. merged with the E,S & A (English, Scottish & Australian Bank Ltd.) to form Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd - the modern ANZ.

At that time, the Bank undertook a redesign, opting for a visually complex but very progressive logo which replaced its original logo from 1951.

This logo (pictured) remained in use till 1988.

The Oakey ANZ bank was even the target of a bomb scare on September 13, 1973 which caused the evacuation of the bank as well as the immediate area of the street.

Luckily it was only a hoax.

On August 16, 2004, local staff and customers of ANZ celebrated 100 years of service to the Oakey community.

The branch Manager at that time was Warren Patterson.

To be continued

- Valerie Weise-Young

ABOVE: The original ANZ Building on Campbell Street with the old logo attached. A new modern logo was later added in 1988.

No crime this week

Doctors want bulk-bill funding expanded

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners has doubled down on calls for the government to boost investment in general practice care.

It comes following the release of the General Practice Crisis Summit White Paper, which resulted from the Crisis Summit held in Canberra last month.

Reflecting the discussions at the Summit, the White Paper affirmed that decades of significant underfunding and costcutting has left general practice on the brink of collapse, with high up-front costs affecting vulnerable patients’ access to timely care and future doctors discouraged from pursuing a career in general practice, leading to a growing shortage of GPs.

At the Ochre Medical Centres in Oakey and Kingsthorpe, Practice Manager Tammy Dickeson said hard decisions about bulk-billing will have to be made soon to keep both practices running.

Ms Dickeson said the general public was often unaware of the increasing pressure being placed on GPs to continue to offer bulk-billing which is no longer covered by Medicare.

“Something has to change, until the general public takes a bit of notice,” she said.

“People often don’t realise that GPs are independent contractors - they don’t get paid holidays or annual leave.

“ They pay for their own super, insurance, training.

“That’s all their own expense.”

Ms Dickeson said that the lack of financial incentive and an increased demand for doctors in hospitals had seen a downturn in the number of young doctors choosing to become GPs.

“My pool guy, plumbers and labourers get paid more than GPs do,” she said.

“I was talking to a colleague in Kingaroy.

“Not one junior registrar applied for Kingaroy this year.”

Registrar Kate Middleton, who has left the Oakey and Kingsthorpe practices after 12 months said that you had to love the job to persist with it.

“I’m 32, have a 2-year old and a 5-year old and I’ve done nothing but medicine since I was 18,” she said.

“My husband who’s a carpenter earns a similar amount to me.

“I’ve seen four patients in palliative care this year.

“People in their 30s don’t often have to deal with that level of emotional pain.”

Ms Middleton said that the system was forcing GPs across the country to make tough decisions on which patients they could see.

“You carefully select for patients who are less socially disadvantaged, when often they’re the person who needs care the most,” she said.

The Crisis Summit White Paper includes a range of recommendations that were raised by participants.

Some recommendations include an immediate increase to general practice Medicare rebates by at least

20 per cent, a tripling of the bulk-billing incentive, regular indexation of Medicare rebates and other general practice payments by an independent body as well as re-introducing a program of junior doctor placements in general practice.

RACGP President Adjunct Professor Karen Price said the government should act now on reforms to support general practice.

“This White Paper tells us what many GPs have been saying for years –general practice care is on life support and reform is urgently needed,” she said.

Tammy Dickeson says that patient care in general practice constitutes around 8 per cent of federal health care funding, despite the fact that doctors see almost 90 per cent of Australian patients every year.

She said that a lack of funding for general practice could see patients choosing to go directly to hospitals.

“We’re meant to be preventative,” she said.

Health experts across the country widely regard the Medicare Benefits Scheme as being out-of-date.

“In 2022, we have increasing rates of chronic disease, an ageing population, and a much more complex health system, so the funding

system simply isn’t fit for purpose,” Adjunct Professor Price said.

“Medicare rebates have not kept pace with the cost of providing high-quality care and without real reform backed by strong investment, the future of general practice care looks bleak.”

Adjunct Professor Price said that the evidence is clear that general practice is in crisis and this is impacting the health and wellbeing of people in communities across Australia, who are struggling to access and afford the care they need.

“Without genuine change, the future of patient care is in jeopardy,” she said.

“More people will struggle to access a GP and bulk billing will continue to collapse, making it harder for people to get the care they need when they need it.”

Adjunct Professor Price said places like Oakey were most at risk.

“This will be felt most acutely by patients in rural and remote areas, and patients who are financially disadvantaged,” she said.

“We need to ensure equitable access to care, with enough GPs to care for people in every community.”

Bulk-billing likely to be wound back in medical practices at Oakey and Kingsthorpe as a White Paper sheds light on the problems facing our doctors.

The Ochre Medical Centre in Oakey is one of many practices feeling the strain of a funding system that is struggling to keep up with rising costs.

Medication can affect dental treatment

The newly appointed President of the Australian Dental Association has a message for the public: be open as you can with your dentist.

Dr Stephen Liew warned that patients need to be more open about what medications and supplements they’re taking.

“Dentists sometimes treat people without knowing the full range of medication patients are taking as many Australians aren’t aware of the importance of sharing this vital information with their clinician,” he said.

“This can be problematic when we perform a procedure where bleeding needs to be controlled, such as a tooth extraction.

Often, information is not deliberately withheld.

dentist Dr Aileen Wee said most times this happens it’s simply a case of patients not remembering what medication and supplements they are taking.

“Common blood thinners include Warfarin, Aspirin, Xarello and Axipaban,” she said

“Health supplements can also increase the risk of bleeding including fish oil.”

Studies show that certain supplements and herbal remedies like turmeric, ginger, ginseng, and evening primrose oil have also been identified potentially increasing Some prescription medications like antidepressants and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can also increase the risk of bleeding.

Big weekend planned at Wyreema

Bracknell Lodge at Wyreema will host two big days of events this Friday and Saturday, 2 and 3 December as part of Christmas in the Bush.

On Friday night, some of Australia’s top bull-pit bullriders will be taking on some of the toughest rodeo bulls around.

Saturday features a full itinerary of events and activities catering for all ages.

These include live bands, a camp oven cookoff, inflatable water slides for the kids, a ute muster for the cowboys and a bush dance for the whole family to enjoy, capped off with a performance by the renowned The Smashing Bumpkins.

For those looking to enjoy the day to the full,

camping is available on Saturday night.

For tickets, camping and corporate tables, visit the Sticky Tickets website, and search for ‘Christmas in the Bush’.

Nationals oppose Voice

Nationals leader David Littleproud says his party will oppose a proposal for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament in the Constitution.

“The Nationals have consulted widely with the ‘yes’ and ‘no’ campaigns in a respectful and genuine way,” Mr Littleproud said.

Mr Littleproud said The Nationals supported immediate front line action to address issues impacting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people but believe that the proposal as it stands will undermine Indigenous voices already in Parliament.

Rural Living On Edge Of Pittsworth

“Billagal”

All funds raised at “Christmas in the Bush” in Wyreema will support Base Services, a charity that employs outreach youth support workers.

Oakey

Newly appointed Australian Dental Association President Dr Stephen Liew.

Many enjoyed the beautiful setting at Bracknell Lodge during a similar event held last year.

Council supports community petitions

Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) has reinforced the importance of community petitions behind the petition had been heard by Council.

When discussing a petition that was submitted in October, Planning and Development Committee Portfolio Lead Cr Bill Cahill said Council encouraged residents to be active participants in the future of the Region.

“It’s heartening to see the interest so many members of our community have in environmental matters like the protection of mature growth trees,” Cr Cahill said.

“This was evident with a submission made on 25 October titled, ‘A Petition to Reform Vegetation Management Laws in the Toowoomba Regional Council Area in particular to Provide Stronger Protection for Mature Growth Trees’ which had more than 6000 names.

“While it’s moving to see how passionate our community is on this matter, unfortunately Council hasn’t been able to accept this petition as it needs to meet certain guidelines. As a result, we have been in touch with the person who submitted the petition to provide further guidance about how they can resubmit this petition at a future meeting of Council.”

While Council was unable to accept the initial petition, TRC Planning and Development Committee Chair Cr Megan O’Hara Sullivan said the sentiment

“Our community is passionate about environmental matters,” she said.

“Council looks forward to receiving a revised petition on this matter and we wish to take the opportunity to encourage all members of our community to go through the petition guidelines on Council’s website when making a submission.”

When making a submission, residents must ensure the petitions are valid and include the signature and address of the principal petitioner, and the signatures of each petitioner which signals their consent to have their name included.

Petitions must also include the facts or reasons for the petition and a request for action by Council.

Petitions provide an important vehicle to brings matters of concern to Council’s attention on any matter that comes under local government jurisdiction.

Council has a dedicated webpage with step-bystep information about the requirements for preparing a petition, and information about how petitions are processed.

This can be found by visiting tr.qld.gov.au/aboutcouncil/contact-us/haveyour-say/12665-presenting-apetition-to-council

Crash at Westbrook

Emergency services were called to Toowoomba-Athol Road on Monday night after a single-vehicle crash.

A Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) spokesperson said QFES was alerted to the crash at the junction of Toowoomba Athol Road and Holbrook Road, to the west of town, just before 9.30pm.

The spokesperson said a single crew arrived to find no injuries and a vehicle with minor damages in a ditch.

The vehicle was towed.

Christmas Wonderland lights up Queens Park

If you are looking for Christmas lights in the region, Queens Park will be hosting a nightly display from 7pm to 10pm, starting on 3rd December until Christmas Eve.

It features entertainment each evening with ice-creams and popcorn plus sausage sizzles and a Lions Christmas raffle. A gold coin donation is appreciated.

Oakey Golf Club Oakey Social Golf

On Wednesday 23rd November, the Ladies played an 18 hole Stableford, the winner being Iris Thompson with 40 points.

Runner-up was Marlene Deans with 35 points.

The front 9 winner was Janice Little with 18 points and the Back 9 was won by Yvonne Lebeter with 16 points.

Today, Wednesday 30th November the Ladies will play an 18 hole Stableford with an 8am hit off.

Congratulations to Daphne Webster on winning the final of the Matchplay.

Daphne defeated Hazel Harvey 4/3.

Winner of the Thursday Sporters for the Thursday 24th November was Brian Milverton with 26 points and the pin shot was won by Don Storey.

Sunday 27th November the Members played an 18 hole Stableford with the Social Club.

Ladies winners were

Marlene Deans with 38 points on a countback whilst the runner-up was Christine Little with 38 points.

Social Club winner was Alison Park with 40 points and the runner-up was Sandra Lucht with 18 points.

Winner for the Men was John Grawich with 39 points and the runner-up was Michael Rietveld with 39 points.

Social Club winner was Sean Petrie with 37 points and the runner-up was Peter Flynn with 36 points.

Pins on Nos. 3 and 5 were won by Aaron Cherry and the pin on No. 12 was won by Gary Nash.

Congratulations to Andrew Palmer on having an Eagle on the 17th.

This Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th December the Members will play an 18 hole Stroke in conjunction with the December Monthly Medal.

- Marlene Deans, Secretary

Oakey Parkrun

Oakey Parkrun is continuing to get good support with a field of 32 participants taking to the five kilometre course on Saturday.

Jack Wilson, in the 15 to 17 years age group, again recorded the fastest time of 18 minutes, 31 seconds.

The second fastest was a visitor from the South Bank Runners, Brian Thaker who registered a time of 20 minutes, 31 seconds.

Oakey regular Bradley McKay - another in the 15 to 17 category, was third in a time of 20:52.

There were four visitors among the participants this week, two from South Bank Runners, one from Brisbane Road Runners, and one from Running Mums Australia.

Females were again well

represented with thirteen starting in this week’s parkrun.

Interestingly there were no personal bests recorded during Saturday’s run.

As always, organisers and participants are very appreciative of the volunteers who help ensure the success of the weekly events.

This week’s volunteers were Vicki Dearling, Belinda Kaiser, Gina Lawrie, Monica Lucht, John O’Keefe, Belinda Wilson and Wayne Wilson.

If you would like to become part of the Oakey Parkrun, just jump on line and call up “Oakey Parkrun”.

You’ll find a very comprehensive coverage of what to expect and how you can be part of it.

On Sunday 27th of November we played a Single Stableford on the front nine with 33 players.

The winner was Sean Petrie on 25 points with the runners-up on a count back to Alison Park was Wayne Wirth on 23 points.

The winners of the pins/ approaches are: 1, P. Flynn; 2, Over 60, P. Flynn; Under 60, M. Krahenbring; 3, A. Cherry; 4, W. Bostoc;, 5, B. Costell; 6, M. Park; 7, Over 60, B. McDonald; Under 60, J. Lipp; 8 and 9, L. Bartley.

Long Drives: A Grade, HL; B Grade, S. Petrie; Over 60, B. Dearling.

Members’ draw was 48, Brian Kuhl who was not present for $30.

Raffles went to S. Gillis and A. Cherry.

This week’s game we will be playing Single Stroke and teeing off at 6.30am.

After the game we will be having our annual general meeting.

There was no change to the leaders board and with one game left to go on our golf program, we could have a three-way tie for the number one position. Good luck to all and see you at the weekend.

- Flynny/Macca

Oakey Men’s Bowls

Saturday November 26: Oakey 90 shots to Holland Park 93 shots.

Competition called for Saturday December 3: “A” Singles: R. Krause vs. G. Usher (marker, D. Dreyer); D. Barfield vs. P. Maker (marker, J. Harrison); M. Hall vs. S. Bradford (marker, B. Lucht)

Sunday December 4: Club Pairs: R. Henry and A. Park vs. G. Nash and M. Hall; S. Gillies and B. Lucht vs. B. Richter and D. Dreyer; J. Byrne and S. Cosgrove vs. M. Park and J. Harrison.

Thursday night winners: Eric and Trevor.

COMING EVENTS Thursday December

1: Night Bowls, names in by 6pm with play from 6.30pm

Thursday December 8: Christmas Party, trophy presentations with mixed bowls and a barbecue, 5.30pm start. Names on the board please.

Sunday December 11: C/S Three Bowl Pairs, two games of fourteen ends; Pre-Christmas ham day, with twelve hams to be won, sponsored by Elva and Len Fanning. It’s a 12.30pm start (mixed). Names on the board please. Members, we have recently had the passing of our Life Member, Beryl Buckley who was a avid club member and a lovely lady.

Shenae Ciesiolka returns to Australia

Former Oakey Bears junior Shenae Cielsolka is back on home soil following a successful World Cup campaign with the Australian Jillaroos in which she scored four tries for her country, and played in the semi-final against the PNG Orchids.

Well done Shenae!

Goombungee Golf

Thursday 24th November, Men’s Single Stableford for a Club Trophy.

Winner, Garry Shea 40 points.

Approaches: Hole 7/16, Errol Hartman; Hole 8/17, Greg Buckley; Hole 9/18, Robbie McKewen.

Ladies’ Single Stableford (String Ball) for the Captain’s Trophy.

Winner, Denise Volz 42 points.

Approaches: Hole 1/10, Rose Edmunds, Helen Scott and Val Hartland; Hole 6/15, Jan Mullins; Hole 8/17, Robyn Drowley.

Sunday 27th November, Two Person Ambrose, Pioneer Arms Hotel Day.

Winners, Dave Humphrey and Greg Schull 59.5 nett.

Rundown Matty and Adam Burgess, Bill Robertson and Karen Lindsay, Dave Scutt and Col Jenkins, Harry Cover and Dave Lowe, Mark and Travis Peters, Gary Buckley

and Shane Hughes.

Men’s pin shots: Hole 3/12, M. Burgess; Hole 4/13, P. Ladewig; Hole 8/17, D. Humphrey.

Ladies pins: Hole 4/13, R. Drowley.

All-in approaches: Hole 1/10, H. Cover and D. Lowe; Hole 2/11, M. Burgess and A. Burgess; Hole 5/14, G. Shea and G. Buckley; Hole 6/15, M. Burgess and A. Burgess; Hole 7/16, G. Schull and D. Humphrey; Hole 9/18, T. Peters and M. McLeod.

Members’ Draw No 76, Robert Mansbridge who was not present, so this week, the prize is $40.

THIS WEEK

Thursday 1st December, Mixed 4BBB Stableford, Christmas Hamper Day.

Friday 2nd December, Chook Run from 3pm, all golfers welcome.

Sunday 4th December, Single Stroke, Monthly Medal, Medal of Medalists, Dan Darlington Trophies.

- Murray McLeod

that appear in the Oakey Champion are available for purchase at our office:2a Cherry Street, Oakey

Multifaceted approach to combat snails in grain crops

A new $4.6 million

The four-year project is led by the University of Adelaide in collaboration with the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI), working with University of South Australia, CSIRO, the Western Australian Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) and other research partners.

Exotic snail species established in Australia as early as the 1920s have become major pests of grain crops.

In addition to attacking crops, snails climb crop plants in spring and contaminate harvested grain, resulting in substantial management costs, grain yield and value losses, opportunity costs, and market risks.

Lead researcher from the University of Adelaide SAEDI, Dr Kym Perry, said that snail management has improved over the years but remain a costly and difficult target for farmers..

Crop damage, harvest delays, and grain value downgrades at delivery, are common occurrences in affected areas.

“Mediterranean snails create substantial preand post-farm gate costs for affected growers and reputational risks for Australian grain that can affect international trade,”

Dr Perry said.

“Snails are particularly abundant in some coastal regions but occur in a wide range of cropping environments where they have spread by hitchhiking on vehicles and fodder.”

Conical snails are a focus of the project because their habit of sheltering in cryptic places, small size, and large populations, make them particularly difficult for growers to manage using existing control methods.

Dr Perry said the project would tackle the snail problem from multiple angles.

“Field and laboratory work will investigate the effects of feeding preferences, crop rotations, migration habits, and snail barriers and attractants on snail populations,” Dr Perry said.

“Additionally, we want to know more about where in paddocks snails reside at key times of year and when controls targeting snails above ground level are typically applied, so that we can adjust or design new tactics accordingly”.

“The work will also explore the efficacy and cost-benefit ratio of existing snail control tactics, by looking at how well snail populations can ‘bounce back’ from low numbers”.

Several new prototype

technologies for snail monitoring and control are being developed and tested.

“We hope these technologies will become new tools for monitoring snail activity and densities in near real-time, so that growers can more effectively target their control,” Dr Perry said.

The project will also explore tools to assist with the mechanical destruction of snails in paddocks in summer, and electrostatic separation of snails and grain postharvest.

In the area of biological control, a parasitoid fly will be released in Western Australia for the first time to help suppress conical snails.

The fly Sarcophaga villeneuveana attacks conical and small pointed snails that are greater than five millimetres in size and requires flowering vegetation to flourish.

Researchers will establish a local breeding population of the fly in WA this summer.

Grains Research Development grant application period extended

A program designed to maximise the profitability of grain growers by providing better infrastructure for planned projects, will be extended.

The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) has announced it will extend the application period for its $20 million infrastructure program to December 21.

The corporation said it had made the decision in light of the challenging weather conditions and flooding experienced across much of the eastern states.

GRDC Managing Director Nigel Hart said the infrastructure program was announced in September with applications initially due by the end of November.

“We understand extreme weather events have had a widespread impact on our growers, farming communities and research organisations in eastern Australia. It’s been a really tough season so we’ve been doing what we can to support our sector,” Mr Hart said.

The GRDC has said it aims to help growers across the country develop infrastructure that is up to speed with the latest developments in science from around the graingrowing world.

Mr Hart said the infrastructure grant program was a major national initiative for GRDC that was designed to ensure Australia’s world class researchers and technicians had

the facilities and resources they need to deliver science that improved grain growers’ profitability.

“It’s really important to us, and to the growers we invest on behalf of, that we get high quality applications that are going to make a genuine different to Australia’s research capability,” he said.

To be eligible for GRDC infrastructure grants applicants must provide a minimum co-contribution of 20 per cent for projects up to $1 million and of 30 per cent for projects of $1 million and above.

Grants will be provided to help support the building of new, or existing facilities such as glasshouses, greenhouses,

irrigation works, laboratories or sheds.

The grants can be also used for: sensing and communication equipment, farm and research equipment and sample preparation and analytical equipment.

In order to apply growers will have to make sure their project is fully planned and approved before they are submitted to the GRDC.

Applications are targeted at planned projects, which have all relevant approvals in place at the date of the application or in sufficient time, to enable construction to start by no later than 30 June 2023.

GRDC Managing Director Nigel Hart. Photo, GRDC

national research project is set to provide Australian grain growers with new tools and management techniques to combat snails, aiming to minimise losses and improve market opportunities for affected crops.

The humble crop snail.

GARRISON CATCHUP

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CDCA makes half a century

The current cricket season marks a half century

to find as many of those players who

invention we know today as cricket

In August 1973, Association officials resolved to re-brand Oakey District Cricket Association as Central Downs Cricket Association.

The 1973/74 season saw clubs in the district played for a new shield, and wives, girlfriends (WAGS) and mothers were invited to attend an Annual Presentation of Trophies.

Around this time, several changes were introduced to the operations of the association which has covered an area stretching from Goombungee to Bowenville, and Millmerran to Nobby at various times.

Following the name change and a new premiership shield, annual trophy presentations moved from tea, sandwiches and the customary keg of beer in the RSL supper room in Oakey, to a sit down dinner at Oakey Golf Clubhouse by 1975.

Central Downs Cricketers are now preparing to mark this milestone at a reunion function to be held on Saturday 28th January 2023 and are seeking to reconnect with past players and office bearers.

In CDCA’s first year of competition, nine cricket teams vied for premiership honours and the inaugural Maurice Darr & Jack Garthe Shield.

Jondaryan Cricket Club was victorious and Millmerran cricketers were runners-up.

Other teams in the competition were Army, Bowenville, Brymaroo, Brookstead, Mt Tyson, Oakey and Pittsworth.

Perhaps the change of name was also a catalyst for a number of women to spread their keen support of their local cricket clubs to the association as a whole.

Mesdames Myrtle Borger, Daphne Waite, Val Fiechtner, Michelle Kittel, Joyce Darr, and Marion Garthe were some of the enthusiastic cricket supporters who actively contributed to the association.

As CDCA officials dig deeper into their story of country cricket administration within the Central Downs area they have discovered other achievements worthy of celebration which will be revealed at the January reunion.

Past and contemporary players and office

bearers are invited to the celebrations and can contact Lindsay Evans on 4692 2226 (at night) or Denis O’Shea on 0458 094 767 (night time) for more details of the reunion, and to make a booking.

Unfortunately no tickets will be available at the door due to catering requirements.

Stories are expected to flow as players reflect on paraphernalia including caps, blazers and team photos, while an impressive line up of shields and cups from bygone eras will undoubtedly trigger a plethora of memories.

Reunion organiser, Lindsay Evans, is seeking information in relation to some old trophies and shields from Oakey District Cricket days to add to the display.

“Although the focus for the reunion will be on the past fifty seasons, organisers are keen to discover as much of the Oakey/Central Downs cricketing story as we can,” Mr Evans said.

“We believe that the W. Kent Shield was the coveted trophy between 1926 and 1936, and is one of few shields we have yet to locate.

“The Andrews Cup was a prized trophy prior to 1926 and it’s whereabouts are equally as mysterious.

“The Frank Borger Memorial Shield from the Junior Cricket era throughout the 1970s, was held at Mt Tyson for many years, but it’s location has so far proved elusive.

“Any information about these items would be welcomed for they contain an historical record of successful cricketing campaigns in our area.

“Our celebrations in January 2023 will provide an opportunity to bring together as many players, memorabilia, and anecdotal material as we can locate.

“Our Association history is significant and we intend to create a display of as many artefacts as possible, and encourage our past players with various treasures and team photographs, which have been safely stored away, to bring them for display on the day,” Mr Evans said.

Notable players who have played in the district include Queensland wicketkeeper John Bell who played for Jondaryan in the 1970s and went on to coach Holland,

batsman Greg Sprott, who represented Southern Queensland, Bowenville all-rounder Leonie Shields who represented Queensland Country and was named in the Australia Under-17 schoolgirls merit team, wicketkeeper Lindsay Mason from Mount Tyson who played A-grade cricket, Queensland Country quick

Robbie Peters who hailed from Brymaroo Cricket Club, Mount Tyson allrounder Chris O’Mara who played for Southbrook in the Toowoomba A-grade competition.

- Lindsay Evans

If you know a person from Oakey and surrounds who played representative cricket, get in touch with Lindsay Evans or us at the Champion.

Above: Brymaroo cricket club in the 80s. Photo, P. Wicks

Above: Henry Lorrimer, patron of cricket in the district until his death 1973.

Above: Victorious Oakey cricket team in mid 1920s pictured with shield at feet of captain Henry Lorrimer.

for Central Downs Cricket Association (CDCA) and the search is on

contributed to the association through their shared passion of this 16th Century