Stanthorpe Today - 9th September 2021

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Thursday, 9 September, 2021

0408 457 496 A Star News Group Publication

Multiple award-winning paper

Phone: 07 4661 9800 Trades and Classifieds: 1300 666 808

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Incorporating the Southern Free Times

53 Fitzroy Street, Warwick Qld 4370 www.helenharm.com

St Joseph’s musical a great success

Media giant ‘has abandoned regional areas’

Four flags in row for Redbacks

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SPORT

Tourist boom Duck family unveiled

Despite Queensland’s border restrictions and ongoing Covid-19 lockdowns, the Southern Downs remains a tourist hotspot. According to recent visitor figures tabled at Southern Downs Regional Council’s meeting of 25 August, the Granite Belt is faring particularly well at present. “Accommodation businesses are still extremely busy with above average numbers across the Granite Belt,” the report read. The Stanthorpe Visitor Information Centre recorded 2965 visitors in July this year, compared to 3568 in July last year, and 2519 in July 2019. Last July was the visitor information centre’s biggest month recorded since 2014. Full story – Page 6

Maggie Brockie’s ‘The Duck Family’ Sculpture was unveiled on Thursday 2 September, and can now be admired below the Big Thermometer on Quart Pot Creek in Stanthorpe. The ducks accompanies her already installed scultpure in Weeroona Park. See pictures from the day on Page 10

Group gone Mayor Vic Pennisi has announced he is no longer asking his colleagues to approve his mentoring program. The decision came after several councillors voiced concerns with the group, calling aspects of it “not transparent”. Yesterday, the identities of members of the mayor’s – now abandoned – mentoring group were revealed. Full report – Page 4

Strawberry miss it’ll make the price lower to the point where it might not even be feasible to pick.” A spokesperson for the association of Queensland Strawberry Growers said punnets of strawberries were widely available across the state for less than $2, with Woolworths selling at $1.90, Coles at $1.70, and Aldi at $0.99. “Meaning, farmers are actively losing

around 50 cents for every sale and are unable to cover the most basic of costs if demand doesn’t increase,” the spokesperson said. “If this continues, devastatingly, strawberry farmers may be forced to pick and dump their strawberries or walk away from whole fields with fruit left to rot.” Full story – Page 3

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during periods of shutdown when restaurant, cafe, and dessert shop trade is limited. “If lockdowns don’t ease by the time our season really gets going it will significantly impact us and anyone who grows any produce that really needs visual purchasing,” Nathan said. “If New South Wales doesn’t open up and the demand of strawberries (doesn’t increase)

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With strawberry prices in Queensland at an all-time low, and no end in sight for lockdowns in NSW and Victoria, Granite Belt growers are foreshadowing another difficult summer season. Stanthorpe strawberry and apple grower Nathan Baronio said NSW is a “huge market” for local produce in ordinary times, but less so


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