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12 community projects backed by Council funding

At last week’s meeting, Council approved $80,154 in funding through Round 2 of the Community Grants Program and the Mayor’s Community Benefit Fund.

“Community groups play a vital role in fostering a vibrant, healthy and active society,” Mayor George

Seymour said.

“Through the Community Grants program and the Mayor’s Community Benefit Fund, Council provides grants from $500 to $15,000 for projects and events that meet community needs, build skills and develop or maintain community infrastructure.”

Communities spokesperson Cr Phil Truscott said Council had four rounds of Community Grants in 2024/25, with applications for the next round opening on 20 January 2025.

“This latest round has funded a fantastic range of projects across the Fraser Coast, and I encourage all community groups to take advantage of the support available,” Cr Truscott said.

“The $80,154 in Council funding will help deliver projects with a total value of $341,895, demonstrating the big difference a little support can make.”

Projects funded in Round Two of the 2024/25 Community Grants program and through the Mayor’s Community Benefit Fund include:

• Bayside Strikers Soccer Club: Coach education course, $2,875;

• Friends of Queensland Parks Inc (Auspice for Friends of Vernon Conservation Park): Fox and yellow crazy ant control program using scent detection dogs;

• Gundiah Memorial Hall Association Inc: Making Gundiah Great II – hall restorations, $10,000;

• Hervey Bay Boat Club Yacht Squadron Inc: Replacement of ageing outdoor motor for start/ finish and support boat, $8,760;

• Hervey Bay Cricket Association Inc: Junior cricket training nets refurbishment, $7,000;

• Hervey Bay Paddle and Outrigger Canoe Club Inc: Safety and access for training, $4,000;

• Hervey Bay Photography Club: State Convention 2025, $5,000;

• Mansong QLD Inc:

Equipment upgrade and sun safe summer uniforms, $3,000;

• Maryborough Anglican Parish: St Paul’s Memorial Hall supper room and kitchen repair and upgrade, $8,869;

• Maryborough Military Aviation Museum Association Inc: 24.5 x 7 metre colourbond building at the Maryborough Airport, $15,000;

• Nanas Animal Rescue Inc: Free desexing program, $6,000;

• Zephyr Street

Performing Arts Community Theatre Inc: Safety handrails in the auditorium, $4,750.

More information about Council’s grants programs is available at https:// www.frasercoast.qld.gov. au/grants

The Maryborough Military Aviation Museum was just one of the recipients in the latest round of Council grants. (Craig Winter)

Markets benefit community

CRAIG WINTER

THE new operators of the Pier Markets recently presented $20,000 to community groups across the Fraser Coast.

The not-for-profit Community Focussed Markets Fraser Coast Association was awarded the operating tender in August, and held the presentation last Saturday.

Nineteen community organisations from across the region benefited from the donation.

“There are so many organisations within the Fraser Coast doing some amazing and worthy work.” said spokesperson Tracey.

“The money is raised from stallholder fees that are generated throughout the year.

“We are proud to shine a little light on, and help bring awareness to these fantastic organisations, the volunteers that run them and the people and animals they serve.” she said.

Community Focussed Markets Fraser Coast

Association (CFMFC) took the opportunity to thank all the stallholders and local musicians who show up week in, week out to create “a vibrant local market for all to enjoy”, and the Fraser Coast Regional Council for their support.

The market is popular with tourists and locals alike, offering artisan products, fresh produce, fashion, hot food and entertainment each week.

The markets are on every Saturday and Wednesday.

Recipients included:

Yoorana - Second Life Project Maryborough

MADCOTA - Christmas Dinner

Maryborough Animal Refuge

Fraser Coast Hospice, MACE Wide Bay

Hope in a Suitcase Hervey Bay

Bayside Transformations

J&T Supporting the Homeless

Legacy Wide Bay Burnett

Community Flights

Red Bikes

Hervey Bay Animal Refuge

Fraser Coast Christmas Hamper Appeal

East Coast Exotic Haven

Women’s Walk and Talk Hervey Bay

Men’s Walk and Talk Hervey Bay

Touching Hearts Animal Rescue

Turtles in Trouble Hervey Bay

FM 107.5 Community Radio

Happy Holidays!

Master the art of conversation

AS THE holiday season kicks off, many Australians are gearing up for a calendar filled with summer BBQs, family dinners, workplace parties, and Christmas events.

However, for many, these events can be a cause of discomfort, whether you need small talk with distant relatives or coworkers you have only greeted once or twice before, or to kill time with anyone you may struggle to find common ground with.

Whether you are reconnecting with loved ones or mingling with colleagues, Toastmasters has some practical tips to help you navigate awkward conversations and public speaking with ease, helping you to converse more confidently and authentically.

1. Start with G’day. Many of us struggle to initiate conversations, however it can be as easy as saying “G’day”, or “Hi, I’m Jeff, how are you finding the event so far?”. If you have trouble remembering the name of someone you have met before, be open about it, “My memory is terrible with names, we have met

before right?”

2. Spark a conversation. A trap to avoid is small talk after you have already exchanged pleasantries; go bigger than talking about the weather.

Start the conversation with something topical or locally relevant.

3. Be a listener. If you are not a big talker, then the easiest way to maintain a conversation is to have the other person do all of the talking. Maintain eye contact (though don’t overdo it!) and ask follow up questions where you can.

Go beyond the simple why, how, whens, rephrase something that was said into your follow up question. If they are talking about their recent ski trip to Japan, follow up with “Skiing in Japan sounds wonderful! Is there a specific ski resort or area that you would recommend?”

4. Avoid politics and controversies. This is especially important if you do not know too much about the person or people you are talking

with. Many people are often grounded in their views and may shut down or become uncomfortable when discussing certain topics whether it is political leaders, world conflicts, immigration, or even your preference for coriander.

5. Know when to move on. No one likes a lurker, so do not feel obligated to stay around if the conversation has run its course or if you sense the other person may be losing interest. If you are trying to slide out a group conversation it can be as easy as saying “I’d better let you guys carry on, I’m going to grab a drink, it was great meeting you both”.

Joining a Toastmasters club allows you to practice speaking, active listening, and reading social cues with a supportive group of locals who all share the exact same goals as you, to overcome the fear of public speaking and eventually master it.

To find a local Toastmasters club where you can develop or improve your presentation skills, visit www.toastmasters. org/find

Jobs Ready program extended to Maryborough

JOBS Ready program

extended to Maryborough

A free program that helps job seekers get ready for work and supports businesses to find and keep staff has been extended to Maryborough. Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour said the Jobs Ready program, run by Council and funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services, had been successful since it started in Hervey Bay in 2022.

“The program has two elements – the Jobs Pathway program for job seekers and the Business Managers program for business owners and managers,” he said.

“We’ve had great feedback from those involved in the program, and we’re excited to extend it

to Maryborough.

“The Jobs Pathways program helps people build skills for finding and keeping a job. It covers writing resumes and application letters, preparing for interviews, and applying for jobs online and in person.

“The program helps boost confidence and job readiness in a supportive learning environment. Participants also learn more about local industries through site visits and guest speakers.

“Council wants to grow a strong, resilient and diversified local economy, and this program plays an important part in that.”

The Jobs Pathways program is free, open to ages 17 and above, and runs for four weeks, three

days a week (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday) from 9am to 2pm.

Participants are provided with a light breakfast and lunch.

Each course has an information session before it starts and is limited to 20 participants. The first Maryborough course in 2025 starts on 21 January, and the next Hervey Bay course starts on 25 February.

The Business Managers program will also run again in February 2025. It covers tips for hiring and keeping staff, understanding legal obligations and getting the most from your team.

To learn more, visit Council’s website at https://www. frasercoast.qld.gov.au/ jobs-ready-program

Smoke testing

SMOKE tests will be conducted in Maryborough and Hervey Bay early next year to find and fix issues in the sewerage system.

The tests, scheduled from March to May 2025, will help identify leaks and illegal pipe connections that allow stormwater and groundwater to flow into the sewer network.

Council Water and Waste spokesperson Zane O’Keefe said the testing areas were chosen based on comparing wet weather flow data to normal dry weather flows at pump stations.

“Stormwater entering the sewer system increases the amount of wastewater that needs treatment,” he said.

“During heavy rain, the amount of sewage flowing to treatment plants can be more than five times the normal levels. This extra water is costly to treat, can overload the system and may harm

the environment.”

The smoke tests involve pumping safe, non-toxic, odourless coloured smoke into the sewer pipes to check for problems.

“The smoke will escape through cracks in pipes or illegal stormwater drains, showing us where repairs are needed,” Cr O’Keefe said.

“People might see smoke coming from roof gutters, yards, pipes or street drains. It’s also possible for smoke to appear inside homes if drainage

Tour was booked out over 12 months in advance. Don't miss out on this opportunity!

traps are dry. However, the smoke is completely harmless to people, pets and plants.”

Cr O’Keefe said Council’s approach is to work with property owners to address any issues.

“Finding an illegal connection doesn’t automatically mean fines. In most cases, owners are happy to fix problems once they know about them,” he said.

Residents will receive advance notice by mail when the testing will happen in their area.

Year of the Snake means a time to make plans

CHINESE New Year is going to start from January 29, 2025, that marks the start of the Year of the Snake in 2025.

In the Chinese Zodiac, the Snake is linked to metamorphosis, wisdom, and intuition.

The Snake year is characterized by introspection, mystery, and intelligence.

This will be an amazing time to focus on making plans, solving problems, and acting strategically in all areas of life. The Snake year is an excellent time for spiritual and personal growth since it encourages self-discovery.

The 2025 element, wood, lends the Snake’s traits greater versatility, growth, and creativity.

With an emphasis on relationships, personal development, and conquering challenges, this combination suggests a year of consistent progress.

Among all the Chinese zodiac signs, the snake is ranked sixth. ‘Snakes’ are the Chinese term for people born in the year of the snake.

You are most likely a Snake if you were born in 2025, 2013, 2001, 1989, 1977, 1965, 1953, 1941, 1929, or 1917.

The people who belong to wood snake are wellorganized, smart, endowed with a talent for recognizing well-known figures, and possessing sophisticated taste.

all

Let’s see what Chinese astrology predicts for this year:

Rat

Similar to 2024, rats will have a stable year in 2025. Your capacity for rapid thought and multi-perspective analysis will enable you to make informed decisions that will further your professional goals.

You will build healthy relationships with friends, family, and coworkers while achieving success in business and professional development.

Lucky Colour: Yellow Tiger

In order to take advantage of chances and properly manage finances, the Tigers may face difficulties in 2025 that need for diligence and a low-key strategy.

Overcoming challenges will need keeping an optimistic outlook and concentrating on personal

development.

Lucky Colour: Brown Ox

Oxen will start a successful and stable year in 2025 that is marked by accountability and diligence.

Your steady career growth and friendly relationships with superiors and coworkers will ensure your continued success and prosperity.

Lucky Colour: Turquoise Rabbit

In 2025, rabbits’ luck will significantly improve, and everything will come together naturally.

Your diligence will provide a solid basis for future achievement, resulting in stable finances and frugal spending patterns.

Lucky Colour: Orange Dragon 2025 will be a good year for dragons, filled with prosperity, financial security, and a renewed emphasis on family duties. Your efforts will be repaid, and the upcoming year will be peaceful and fruitful.

Lucky Colour: Grey Snakes

In 2025, Snakes may have financial and professional obstacles; to overcome these obstacles and succeed, they will need to be resilient and optimistic.

Navigating the upcoming year will require putting health first and avoiding bad influences.

Lucky Colour: Black Horse

If you’re lucky in your work and relationships, 2025 will be a great year for horses.

Your charm will bring

you love in your personal lives and professional achievement, making the upcoming year rewarding.

Lucky Colour: Green Goat

In 2025, goats will rule the world, gaining fame and fortune with ease and little work.

As you succeed in your professional pursuits, your secure financial situation and thriving job will bring you happiness and success.

Lucky Colour: Violet Monkeys

In 2025, monkeys should anticipate a stable year. Even though you come out as conceited and untrustworthy, you are flexible and driven.

Your intelligence and wit will come through, enabling you to handle obstacles in life and at business with ease. With the support of benefactors, you will create breakthroughs, build new relationships, and succeed financially.

Lucky Colour: Red Roosters

In 2025, roosters might expect a prosperous year.

Your persistence and hard

work will be rewarded with money gains and career achievements.

Awaiting you are unexpected blessings and satisfying connections that will make you feel successful and happy in many facets of your life.

Lucky Colour: Blue Dogs

In 2025, dogs may anticipate a steady and fruitful year filled with ongoing shocks and economic expansion.

Your professionalism and commitment will pay off in your work and relationships, making this year worry-free and lucrative.

Lucky Colour: White Pigs

In 2025, pigs might experience interpersonal difficulties that call for tact and poise to resolve disputes and preserve peaceful relationships.

You may overcome challenges and have a prosperous year if you maintain your composure and concentrate on finding answers.

Lucky Colour: Pink

Happy New Year!

The year that was...2024

Looking forward to a positive and prosperous 2025!

JANUARY

Fraser Coast Regional Council revealed its plans for the green space created by the demolition of the former Maryborough City Council office on Kent Street, including a movie screening and visual display wall.

Town Crier Ken Ashford was named Fraser Coast Citizen of the Year. Carmel Murdoch, who spent 23 years as a Maryborough tourism ambassador often as her alter ego Mary Heritage, received an OAM in the Australia Day Honours.

FEBRUARY

Ross River virus was detected on the Fraser Coast.

The developer of a proposed 101-unit complex in Maryborough said the project could help alleviate housing demand in the city. Work has since begun on the site on Alice Street.

MARCH Local government

elections saw five new faces on Fraser Coast Regional Council.

Mayor George Seymour was returned, as were councillors Phil Truscott, Daniel Sanderson, Denis Chapman and Zane O’Keefe, with Paul Truscott elected unopposed. Elected to join them were Michelle Byrne, Michelle Govers, Lachlan Cosgrove, John Wieland and Sarah Diana Faraj.

Global luxury hotel brand Sheraton signed an agreement to operate a 21-storey hotel development in Hervey Bay should it be approved and built.

APRIL

Mexican fast food chain Guzman y Gomez opened in Maryborough.

Two truck drivers and a Maryborough man died in a horrific crash and subsequent inferno at the Bruce Highway and Walker Street intersection. Family members of

the victims called for the intersection to be upgraded, and the LNP promised to do that if it won power at October’s election, which it did.

MAY

The Maryborough Sun celebrated a special milestone, celebrating its 100th edition.

Council workers took industrial action and promised more following the breakdown of pay negotiations between the council and union.

JUNE

Jetstar launched the first direct flights between the Fraser Coast and Melbourne, with a full Airbus A320 landing in Hervey Bay to inaugurate its new three-time-a-week service.

The council announced the vast majority of ratepayers would pay between $2.15 and $7.42 extra a week under its 2024-25 budget.

JULY

Maryborough made national headlines following a visit to the Heritage City by One Nation leader Pauline Hanson.

Senator Hanson claimed on Sky News that a council staffer had asked her not to film the segment at the city’s Mary Poppins statue. Deputy Mayor Paul Truscott caught up with her at the markets the following day to offer a personal apology, which she accepted.

AUGUST

The council announced it had decided to renovate flood-damaged Tinana Hall more than four years after it closed, rejecting proposals to relocate, raise or demolish the venue.

SEPTEMBER

An estimated 6000 people attended the annual Wings & Wheels air show at Maryborough Airport.

First reports emerged of mysterious foul-tasting water in Maryborough.

The council began investigating but assured residents the water passed quality guidelines during testing.

OCTOBER

October’s highly anticipated State Election saw Labor lose power after almost a decade in office. LNP leader David Crisafulli led his party into government, while the party’s John Barounis unseated Labor MP Bruce Saunders in Maryborough.

NOVEMBER

The issue of crime came to a head in Maryborough with local businessman and CBD resident Daniel Beattie launching a petition for increased police presence.

Mr Beattie’s petition gained widespread support, leading to a packed public meeting held by new MP John Barounis at City Hall. A police operation launched in its wake led to 30 arrests.

The council announced it would be running a trial of automatic number-plate recognition cameras in a bid to address parking issues at local schools.

DECEMBER

A teenager who caused a crash in which three women died in Maryborough was sentenced to six years of juvenile detention.

The boy was 13 when he crashed a stolen Mercedes into a vehicle, pushing it into a third vehicle heading in the opposite direction in April last year.

The biggest cocaine bust in Australian history unfolded after a boat carrying alleged drug smugglers ran into trouble 18km off K’gari.

Authorities had been tracking the vessel, which was carrying more than two tonnes of the drug, and swooped after it became stranded, arresting 13 people in total.

Pontoon contract awarded

THREE years after being damaged by floods, the Wide Bay Rowing Club pontoon contract has been awarded to to The Marina Specialist Pty Ltd.

The $1.8 million project is being funded through the Australian and State Government’s Disaster Recovery Fund.

Fraser Coast Mayor

George Seymour said Maryborough had a deep connection to the sport of rowing, with the Wide Bay Rowing Club’s history

dating back to 1881.

“The Wide Bay Rowing Club achieved a famous victory 100 years ago, winning the prestigious 1924 King’s Cup, one of Australian rowing’s most historic and competitive events,” he said.

“The club continues to thrive today and maintains strong ties with Maryborough State High School, fostering the next generation of rowers.”

Cr Seymour said that since the 2022 floods,

a temporary pontoon had provided small boat access to the Mary River, while the club also used Tinana Creek for training, including school rowing activities for larger quad boats.

“The process of replacing the pontoon has been thorough due to the complexities of designing a flood-resilient structure within the environmentally sensitive Great Barrier Reef riverine area,” he said.

“We thank the Wide Bay Rowing Club for their patience and valuable input into the design of the new pontoon.”

The new pontoon and gangway system will be designed for greater resilience, with features to withstand moderate flooding and a release

mechanism to limit damage during major flood events.

The scope of works includes:

• Clearing vegetation and removing existing structures to prepare the site;

• Fabricating the pontoon, gangway and headstock;

• Installation of the pontoon, gangway and headstock, including pile installations; and

• Restoring and turfing disturbed areas upon project completion. Work is expected to start in 2025 with the timing dependent on State Government development approvals.

Dog registration inspections

DOG owners are urged to ensure their pets are registered ahead of a region-wide inspection program starting in early 2025.

Cr John Weiland said registering dogs annually was a requirement under Queensland Government laws, and it provided significant benefits for both owners and the broader community.

“Registering your dog makes it easier for Council to reunite lost pets with their owners. The registration fees also support vital services such as dog attack investigations, maintaining off-leash areas and running our animal adoption centre,” he said.

Cr Weiland said Council issued almost 24,000 dog registration renewal notices in early October, but more than 3,000 owners were yet to respond.

“We encourage dog owners to contact Council as soon as possible to register their pets or update their details,” he said.

During the 2024 inspection program, Council officers visited more than 7,000 properties, resulting in:

• An additional 2,302 dogs being registered;

• Updated details for 466 dogs whose ownership had changed or who were no longer alive;

• Almost $150,000 in fines issued for animal-related offences.

At its meeting today (Wednesday 11 December),

Council approved the 2025 dog registration inspection program, which will run from 1 March to the end of August.

Dogs must be registered with Council from twelve weeks of age and within 14 days of their owners moving to the Fraser Coast region.

Free first-time registration is available to encourage responsible pet ownership. Annual renewals cost $40 for desexed dogs. If your dog has not yet been registered or its details have changed, especially if it has passed away, please contact Council at 1300 79 49 29 to update your information.

www.frasercoast.qld.gov. au/animals-and-pets

Swamp

Bushy Tales

Insanity Streak

What’s on in local arts

Maryborough Regional Art Society Gallery

282 Kent Street, Maryborough

JANUARY 6 to 30

Annual Christmas Sale: massive super sale featuring creations by local artists, sculptors and jewellery makers.

Jinx Gallery 92 Ellena Street, Maryborough

A gallery concentrating on repurposing and assemblage.

Tuesday to Friday 9am - 5.30pm and Saturdays 9am - 12pm.

Art classes for adults and teens and paint parties on request.

Contact Nora on 0404 204 361

2024 Waste to Art Competition Exhibition

Until 5 January 2025 | Gatakers Artspace

Mia Boe: Guwinganj

Until 16 February 2025, Hervey Bay Regional Gallery

Picturing the End

Until 16 February 2025, Hervey Bay Regional Gallery

National Interests: Australian Art in the 20th Century

Until 2026, Hervey Bay Regional Gallery

School Holiday Crafts at The Story Bank

Until 5 January 2025, The Story Bank

School Holidays Pocket Park Lawn Games

Until 5 January 2025, The Story Bank

Sensory Friendly Sessions at The Story Bank

Tuesdays, The Story Bank

Wearable Waste: Svenja

Until 5 January 2025, Gatakers Creative Space

Creative Space Print Studio

Wednesdays and Saturdays, Gatakers Creative Space Find out more and get tickets at OurFraserCoast.com.au

FOR Kids BY Kids

Hello Maryborough!

I’m Phoebe Lee and I’m thirteen years old. The For Kids by Kids column discusses topics and activities from kids’ and teenagers’ points of view.

There is a famous piece of wisdom that says “Breakfast was the most important meal of the the day.”

The statement was first coined by John Harvey Kellog and James Caleb Jackson, who wished to sell their new breakfast cereal.

But is this statement actually true?

Despite the fact that there is no conclusive proof that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, it has many health benefits.

According to the BetterHealthChannel Website, “when you wake up from your overnight sleep, you may not have eaten for up to twelve hours.

Breakfast replenishes the stores of energy and nutrients in your body.”

The website states that glucose is the energy source of the body, and breakfast helps you with these energy levels.

The best types of energy sources for breakfast would be meals that include Greek yoghurt, avocado, egg, or whole grains.

Without these nutrients, your health can take a severe impact, with symptoms such as migraines, weight gain and fatigue to name a few.

However, it can be difficult to find the nutrients to jumpstart your day. The Australian Bureau of Statistics states that approximately one in ten kids skipped breakfast this morning.

There could be several reasons for this, whether it be choice, an economic disadvantage, or something else.

If you are struggling at

home, or know someone who is, contact the Kids Helpline at 1800 55 1800.

It is entirely free to call.

Did you enjoy this article?

If you enjoyed reading, and want to share your article idea for the For Kids by Kids column, please email marysun.phoebelee@ gmail.com.

Holly & Hayley need a home

From the MARYBOROUGH ANIMAL REFUGE

HOLLY

The gorgeous Holly is still waiting for her forever home!

Holly arrived into our care on the 11th October 2024 with her 7 siblings.

Holly was born on the 23/06/2024 and is a Shar Pei cross.

Holly has been a rescue environment since a young age and doesn’t know

anything but the pens, she is a very happy and smiley puppy who loves attention and being with everyone.

Holly walks well on a lead and knows how to sit.

She loves to do zoomies around the yard and go for walks.

Holly has a sweet nature and gets along well with other dogs; she is submissive when it comes to other dogs but still loves to play rough with them.

She is good with men, women and children. Holly is a big sook and loves to cuddle up to you at any given chance

Holly’s adoption fee is $350.00

The following vet work has been completed.

- Desexed

- Microchipped - Flea’d

- Wormed

- Health checked.

- Current C5 vaccination.

- Council registration in

Hayley Hayley is a sweet and affectionate pup who is always up for cuddles and attention.

She was born on the 23/06/2024 and is a Shar Pei cross.

Hayley has been in the care of the refuge since the 11th October 2024. Before she came to us she was at another refuge with her seven siblings and has spent all of her puppy life in a pen.

She loves to do zoomies and play with other dogs but is also like a little shadow, she loves to follow you around and be by your side.

She walks well on a lead and enjoys going for walks

Hayley is good with men, women and children.

Hayley’s adoption fee is $350.00

The following vet work has been completed.

- Desexed

Wizard has recently been

- Microchipped

- Flea’d & Wormed

- Health checked.

- Current C5 vaccination.

- Council registration in Fraser coast region.

The Maryborough Animal Refuge is located at 4 Bright Street, Maryborough, Queensland

They are open Mon-Sat 10am-2pm.

You can follow them on Facebook or email them at maryboroughanimalrefuge @gmail.com

with Phoebe Lee MARYBOROUGH SUN SUPER-CUB REPORTER

How much work is that, hay?

LINDSAY TITMARSH

THIS story, a continuation of one from the last edition, tells how farmers harvested and transported hay from downriver islands to their farms.

A transport vehicle was then required to get the hay out to the punts - it came in the form of a two wheeled trolley with shafts out the front.

This vehicle had a flat deck and metal wheels high enough to negotiate the rigours of overland and tidal area transport.

No working animals were used for the job, it was all done by that Mexican we refer to as ‘Manual Labour’.

The dried grass was loaded on-board the transporter with a pitchfork – that was the first of many times it was handled.

If tides were high enough, the punts could be floated to the forested area adjacent to the worksite.

During neap (smaller) tides, then the loaded transporter had to be dragged across a wet boggy landscape to a deep-water access.

In the case of Bandicoot Island, more than a kilometre of flat tidal saltpan separated it from deep water access at Turkey Creek.

During the second handling, the hay was transferred into the punt for the trip upriver.

If it had a flat bottom, the craft, which was manoeuvred by a

motorised boat, was sometimes referred to as a barge.

Windy conditions with the floating haystacks must have made negotiating the big open river just a little hazardous.

At home, Transfer Number 3 saw the grass deposited onto some form of farm transport – No 4 had it forked up to a second storey loft in a barn.

During the chaffing operation, the desired ratio of lucerne to grass was fed into the cutting machine –No 5. The chaffed product dropped through a vent

in the upstairs loft, to a storage area below. From there it was bagged ready for sale.

A hole cut into the floor of the downstairs level allowed a metal band with retaining hooks to support a bag to be filled.

The product could then be shovelled directly into the bag, allowing the operator to step directly from the floor area into the open bag mouth in order to compress the chaff –Operation No 6.

Loading onto a wagon for delivery to customers saw the product handled for

the seventh time.

Finally, after a minimum of eight transfers, a very acceptable product was delivered, sometimes under very trying conditions.

No doubt seasonal conditions at any given time, dictated what percentage of ‘roo went into the stew’.

When harvesting on Kangaroo Island, one operator built a hut.

In the next edition of ‘The Sun’, we will get a 2013 glimpse of what it contained.

Time to mend fences in the sugarcane industry

From Canegrowers

Chairman OWEN MENKENS

THE simmering frustrations in Queensland’s sugarcane industry boiled over recently, as growers and millers locked horns over an issue that’s been dragging on for years –the difficulty of getting the crop crushed on time.

Grower representatives have vented their anger publicly, pointing to the repeated mill breakdowns and stoppages that have turned what should be a manageable season into a marathon stretching into January in some districts.

While to the lay-person, a six or seven-week delay might not seem like a big deal, it has serious consequences for growers.

As the rainy season sets in, unharvested cane deteriorates, losing sugar content and becoming more difficult and expensive to cut and crush.

Harvesting in wet conditions also impacts soil health and requires expensive remediation.

In some cases, the cane can’t be harvested at all and is left in the paddock for the following year.

Worse still, these delays have a knock-on impact on the next crop, disrupting planting and fertilising schedules and further eroding profitability.

Growers feel this frustration acutely, day in and day out.

We are just not meant to be harvesting at this time of year and that is why grower representatives are expressing the outrage they see in the shared pain across much of

the industry.

But this shouting match, echoed in headlines and news bulletins, doesn’t get us any closer to solving the problem.

The reality is our mills are old – some might say ancient –and desperately need massive investment to meet modern standards.

Workforce shortages add to the strain, with mill workers, harvester operators, and truck drivers in short supply, and those that are working are exhausted.

But it’s not just sugarcane feeling the effect – workforce challenges ripple across all agricultural sectors, increasing the urgency for action.

So, where do we go from here?

What’s needed is collaboration, not confrontation.

Fixing these systemic issues will require a whole-of-industry approach, with growers, millers, and government working in unison.

Confidence that encourages new capital investment, shared strategic planning, and a focus on upskilling the workforce are essential pieces of the puzzle.

Yes, there’s history – and no shortage of bruised egos – between growers and millers.

But the industry’s future depends on rebuilding trust and pulling in the same direction.

With cooperation, we can bring our seasons back on track and seize the opportunities ahead.

It’s time to stop shouting and start solving – together.

Don Schmidt, a descendant of farmer Carl Schmidt, is pictured with the chaffcutter used by his grandfather to chop Mary River hay.

Jaguar wins E-Prix

MITCH Evans wins the 2024 São Paulo E-Prix after starting from the back of the grid, sealing a remarkable comeback for Jaguar TCS Racing, as the 2024/25 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship got underway in thrilling style.

The New Zealander, taking his thirteenth Formula E victory with the team, becomes the first driver in the championship’s history to win a race having started from the last position on the grid. Mitch also now equals Lucas di Grassi and Sébastien Buemi as the drivers with the most wins since Formula E began in 2014.

The incredibly dramatic race followed a difficult first Qualifying session of the season in which Nick narrowly missed out on the Duels by a tenth of a second – meaning he started the race in tenth. Separately, a technical problem for Mitch prevented him from setting a lap time at all in Group B and, consequently, a race starting position all the way down in P22. At lights-out, the new

All-Wheel-Drive launch saw both drivers deliver a positive first lap with Nick moving up one place and Mitch progressing to P15 with an incredible five-car overtake in turn four. Despite a brief period under the Safety Car on Lap 3, both drivers continued to make strong progress through the field. Executing Attack Mode early to climb up the order, Nick managed to take the lead of the race on Lap 8 and Mitch ran as high as third by the halfway point.

A red flag on Lap 21 brought all drivers back into the pit lane, pausing the race. Upon restarting, Nick was in P6 and Mitch in P10, both with a second

Attack Mode still to take. After taking his, Nick quickly moved up the order and closed in on the race lead, taking back first place on Lap 28 once Nissan’s Oliver Rowland pitted to serve a drivethrough penalty. Mitch had jumped up to second by this stage making it a Jaguar TCS Racing onetwo, and with some of his Attack Mode remaining he overtook Nick to take first place.

Upfront, having taken the restart in the lead, Mitch defended his position in an incredibly intense final four laps, securing the Jaguar TCS Racing #9 driver his second victory in São Paulo.

MARYBOROUGH SUN CLASSIFIED INFORMATION

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Community & Sports Notices

CLASSES

KissMyBoots Line Dancing

All Welcome

$10 each per class

Wednesday 8.30 – 12.30pm

Saturday 8.30 – 12.30pm

Maryborough: CWA Hall, Wharf St

Friday 8.30 – 12.30pm

Howard: CWA Hall, 74 Steley Street

Contact Leah Matthews 0409 575 472

kissmybootslinedancing@gmail.com CHRISTMAS SEAFOOD SPECIALS

CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR’S SEAFOOD SPECIALS

Large Range of Whole Fish & Fish Fillets

Call and see us

Monday to Saturday 9:00am – 3:00pm

Open Christmas Eve (Tuesday)

Jetty Road, Urangan ~ Now Local Ice Works or phone 4125 1261

(Look for the Big Prawn on the Roof)

PUBLIC NOTICES

SIGN ON DAYS FOR 2025

FRIDAY 10 JANUARY 2025 from 9.00.AM TO 12 NOON and WEDNESDAY 15 JANUARY FROM 12 NOON TO 3.00PM. MADCOTA COMMUNITY HUB, 333 ALICE STREET, MARYBOROUGH

Everyone welcome. Learn New Things. Be Active. Make Friends. Have Fun. CLASSES AVAILABLE:

Pickleball, Exercise Fitness, Bush Walking, Beginners & Advanced Tai Chi, Creative Writers’ Group, Yoga, Qigong, Partner Dancing (with or without partner), Mahjong, Ukulele, Cards 500, Cards Hand & Foot Canasta, Line Dancing, Scottish Country Dancing, Philosophy, Sing-along, Chess and Art for Fun.

FEES:

Registration Yearly Fee $35.00 and $25.00 yearly fee per class for most classes. (Some classes may incur a weekly or half yearly term fee). Philosophy will incur a yearly fee of $15 to cover paper and ink cartridges.

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST:

In 2025 we are hoping to encourage more members and/or non-members to become Voluntary U3A Tutors (1 or 2 hours a week during school terms only). Maybe you would like to run a class or step up to help a Tutor. We are looking for exercise Tutors in particular. Please let us know if you would like to have a go at leading a class or if you know someone from another social group or gym that might like to take on a voluntary Tutor’s role, or even someone in your family. The Committee members are always available to help Tutors. Possibilities are endless.

0412

or Judy 0408 999 363 Or website: www.u3amaryborough.org

December 26,

BOTTLEBRUSH

FRIENDSHIP GROUP

TOMBOLA

Uniting

Maryborough Basketball exciting end of season grand finals

GLEN PORTEOUS

SPORTS: Maryborough Basketball had an exciting wrap up of it’s grand finals recently with games packed with exciting plays and tight results.

The junior and senior competitions provided thrilling games for spectators to enjoy.

The A-grade Men’s final was a tough encounter for both sides with ICE

starting the game with only five players and play three of the four quarters with substitutes.

Opposition team Tribe had a full-strength roster with eight players.

Despite being short in numbers, ICE put in a great performance for the Grand Final. Jarrod Sheppard took out the MVP award for this game.

The women’s game was not

contested due to a forfeited game this season.

Reapers were the minor premiers for the season and took out overall champions for 2024.

The Sunbury Panthers and Wolves contested the Mens B final with a nail biter of a finish.

With only a couple of points difference at each quarter, the game kept the crowd on the edge of

their seats.

The Sunbury Panthers were the eventual winners, 76-74. Jackson Gouge’s efforts were rewarded with MVP for this game.

Prior to the commencement of the Men’s B grade grand final, a Life Membership presentation was awarded to Mr John Austin, who had contributed 30 years of service to the Maryborough Basketball Association.

It was an exciting U13 game between Thunder and Celtics with Thunder winning in a tight contest, 28-24. Coen Looker took out the MVP award.

There was a deserved MVP performance by Atunaisa Seru in the U16 grand final who dominated with 50pts of the 94pts with his team Mavericks.

Celtics players Liam Rose and Cooper Edards worked hard to rack up 31pts and

18pts themselves, however it wasn’t enough to win the day.

18 years and under game between Wolves and Lob City was well contested for the first quarter, Wolves hit their stride and came out hunting for the win from the second quarter.

Josh Braund worked hard defensively and also contributed to Lob City total points by dropping 32pts and taking out MVP.

GRAND FINALS: Maryborough Basketball has wrapped up its season with another day of exciting finals. Pics: Submitted.

Pictures of the year

DOON VILLA Championship Mixed Pairs : C.Laughton, K.Pieper d S.Jensen, W.Raguse 23-15. Jackpot Pairs 12-12-2024. Winners - N.Weinheimer, I.Axelsen d N.Gambie, G.Gambie 32-11. Runner up - R.Dunn G.Whittle, J.McCoombe d L.Laughton,L.Hannaford, K.Andarsen 36-11. T.Chilton, B.Spilsbury, d Deb, Kev 24-13. C>White, R.Whittaker d G.Kemp, T.Buckley 27-16. M.Jackson, B.Jackson d B.Turnbull, K. Turnbull 2418. R.Andarsen, A.Scholl d P.Clarke, T.Jackson 20-15. -C.White, scribe