Moreton BorderNews
Native plant drawcard to Rosewood Showground
by LARA HART
THOUSANDS of potted plants were sold at the ever popular annual Rosewood Native Plant Sale and Enviro Day on Saturday as gardeners sought natives that would thrive in their gardens.
Buying natives gives gardeners a better chance of
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success because they are genetically wired to bloom and not bust in the local soils and climate.
“This year the event was held in a different location in the showgrounds,” the event’s organiser Heather Knowles said.
“This was our 12th sale and the first time we haven’t
been in the chook shed.”
The Rosewood Native Plant Sale and Enviro Day is hosted by the Ipswich Branch of Native Plants Queensland and while the main drawcards had leaves, the event offered so much more to visitors.
There was a wide array of entertainment, interactive
displays and demonstrations designed to capture the interest of more than just the ‘green thumbs’ wandering by.
“We sold 3,475 plants equating to over $33,000,” Heater reported.
“Around 500 people attended and while we didn’t count heads, over 400 people purchased plants.”
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Heather Knowles one of the event organisers gives advice on how to grow the native plants purchased by eager customers. Photos: LYLE RADFORD
Rosewood Community Gardens group Abbey Townsend and her koala buddy (Ella Caldwell) welcomed visitors to the plant sale.
Maddy Mertcer from the Wildcall Wildlife Show talks to the crowd about the olive python in her hands.
Another
Johnston, loaded up with her purchases.
American aspirations for Rosewood bull rider
by LARA HART
WHEN the Moreton Border News spoke with Lucas Taylor he wasn’t happy because a technical detail knocked him out of the Open Section at this year’s Warwick Gold Cup.
“They wouldn’t let me compete in the rodeo’s open [category] so I decided not to go,” the Rosewood teenager said.
“I turned 18 during the event but wasn’t allowed to enter in the open section because I wasn’t 18 when it started.”
The Warwick Rodeo and Gold Cup Campcraft is a prestigious annual event, which was held at the Warwick Showgrounds from October 20 to 26.
Had he competed, he would have been one of the youngest competitors and competing in a category with a rider 60 years his senior.
While the outcome was unfortunate, it was hardly a make or break for the talented bull rider.
Lucas represented Australia at the Yeti Junior World final in Las Vegas, USA in 2023.
He also qualified for the Youth Bull Riders World Final that was held in Texas, USA.
Back then he was a student at Laidley State High School and focused on his agricultural studies.
He now works as a concreter.
Lucas’ introduction to the sport happened through his father who is also an accomplished bull rider.
Kids keen on being part of the bull riding scene compete from as young as five or six years old, riding ‘poddy calves’ or calves that have been hand raised.
“I’ve won under-15 bull rider titles, three junior bull rider titles, a novice bull rider title, an open bull rider title as well as Rookie of the Year,” he explained.
“Those are the ones in South East Queensland and I have been riding in the open section under the National Rodeo Association, since last year.
“You don’t have to be 18 to ride in the open section with the NRA but the Warwick [Gold Cup] is under the Australian Pro Rodeo Association and you have to be 18.”
To perfect his skill, Lucas
practices with his friends Gabe Wood and Tara Warburton at their property.
He said in his first year of competing he gained the fourth place position in the top 12 for the National Rodeo Association.
“I knew that rodeos were my passion from the moment I started bull riding and 2019 was a memorable year for me, because I placed in nearly every rodeo competition that I competed in,” he said.
“An incident at the Calliope annual rodeo resulted in several stiches after I was stood on by a bull … that saw me take some time off because the injury didn’t heal as quickly as I would have liked it too.
“I had to take two months off which was challenging,
but once the injury healed, I was cleared to ride again just in time for the finals.”
Lucas held his spot and finished fourth.
The big dream is to make a career for himself in the United States.
“The difference is also in the quality of bulls and the money,” he said.
“In the states you can bull ride as a job and sustain a lifestyle riding during the week.
“It’s not that way in Australia but regardless, you are still doing a sport that you love.”
Ultimately, he’d like to compete in the Cheyenne Frontier Days which is known as the world’s largest outdoor rodeo. It is held in the USA.
Bucking bulls - Lucas Taylor has a number of wins under his bull riding belt. Inset: Young bull rider Lucas Taylor has his sights set on a career in the USA.
Plea to keep Rosewood Scrub history alive
by LARA HART
‘IT CAN’T end with me’ … that is the impassioned plea of the 25-year-old president of Rosewood Scrub Historical Society.
Alice Sippel is the society’s youngest member and one of its most passionate.
She’s fighting for a section of society that values the past and understands the benefit in preserving it.
“We have a historical society but not enough volunteers to keep it going at a good pace,” she said.
“There were a lot of people helping out after retirement but many are no longer able to continue their volunteerism.
“At the last meeting we had around four people helping to keep it going.
“I volunteer but I also work full time and that makes it is hard because I can’t do it alone.”
Alice is not doing it all, and there are other members doing what they can to help but most are many decades older like the 92-year-old who is always putting up her hand to help.
“Even if people can help out for a couple of hours once a month, that would make the world of difference,” she said.
“And it’s not even open that many times but at the moment it’s one person who is trying to do it all it and it feels very heavy.”
Alice isn’t wanting to quit or call an end to a society that adds so much benefit
to the community.
She is holding on and hoping others will step up to help when they discover how wonderful the society is.
“In the past we’ve been able to produce books and sell those to raise money,” she explained.
“Some of [the books] are older than my age and they’re good sellers, they sell and we reprint them.
“Previous members of the society wrote them and are credited within them.”
However, like the books, members are more weathered than what they once were and new blood is needed to keep the society viable.
“We have a lot of old pho-
tos and information that need organising,” she explained.
“We need help preserving them and volunteers prepared to help out at least twice a month.
“We attend special events like the Marburg and Rosewood Shows and Rosewood school’s 150th anniversary.
“People ask a lot of questions around their own family history and it would be helpful to have more members available to find answers for them.”
If you love history and have time to spare, contact the Rosewood Scrub Historical Society and become a member.
• The Rosewood Scrub Historical Society was formed in 1979 and fittingly is based in an historic building in Marburg (a former shire office which was built in 1913).
• The society’s name also has historic significance. A dense vine scrub, which in the days of early settlement was known as the Rosewood Scrub, once covered today’s localities of Ashwell, Fernvale, Glamorgan Vale, Haigslea, Lowood, Marburg, Minden, Mt Marrow, Prenzlau, Rosewood, Tallegalla, and Tarampa. The ‘Rosewood’ part of the name comes from the trees that once proliferated in the scrub.
Alice Sippel, the President of the Rosewood Scrub Historical Society is on a membership drive to bolster numbers and inspire others to enjoy local history. Photo: LYLE RADFORD
Outdoor sex festival permit for 300 patrons
IPSWICH City Council has given the go-ahead to a Sexfest on a property outside Rosewood.
But limitations to visitor numbers and a relocation of the event on the Calvert property have been attached to the Temporary Entertainment Event Licence granted to the organisers.
The Ipswich Tribune revealed plans for what had been dubbed as ‘Australia’s largest outdoor sex festival’ in August when a long-time, local resident raised issues about the six-day, adults-only, camping event.
Online promotional material about the event boasted of jelly wrestling, dildo-tossing contests, bondage displays, burlesque shows, stripping competitions, fire flogging demonstrations, and all-night parties.
“Rosewood shouldn’t be linked to this. Behind closed doors is one thing, but in an open paddock with our town’s name attached? That’s not
– Brett Davey, Planning GM
the reputation we want,” the resident said, adding that many in the community were upset by the prospect of what she believed was “just one big, gigantic orgy”.
Locals also raised concerns about fire safety, security, alcohol use, and the risk of minors accessing the site.
On Monday, council’s Planning and Regulatory Services General Manager Brett Davey said conditions attached to the approval included a range of limitations and operational requirements to address
concerns raised by the community, as well as the requirements of council’s local laws.
“Events such as Sexfest are regulated under local laws, which include specific requirements for events in the form of permits,” Mr Davey said.
“Decisions on permits can only be made based on the requirements of local laws and cannot consider grounds that are not included in a local law.
“In this case, there was no provision of any local law or in Queensland law, for a refusal to be made because the event may not meet undefined community standards.”
One of the conditions set by council on the approval of the permit was the relocation of the event to the middle of the property.
“[This will increase] separation from nearby residents and also take advantage of existing vegetation to screen the area from the public,” Mr
Davey said.
“The Temporary Entertainment Event Licence (TEEL) sign off requires organisers to address issues around management of risk to public safety, peace and order, and the environment, including impacts on land and water, noise pollution, waste management, traffic and natural disasters.
“The event has also been limited such that a maximum of 300 patrons can attend.
“Council cannot consider the subject matter of an event in assessing a TEEL application.
“Matters relating to public sexual activity, alcohol consumption or concerns about any potential criminal activity such as drug use are the responsibility of the State Government and Queensland Police to regulate.”
Mr Davey said council had been in contact with government agencies regarding this event.
Hard work and learning drive Phil’s horse journey
by PETER FOLEY
BLESSED with a congenital capacity for hard work, Phil Bobic aims for honesty, continuous learning and humour in everything he does – especially working with horses.
Phil operates Universal Stables in Coleyville, 35km south-west of Ipswich.
He also trains racehorses from stables across the road from Ipswich racetrack.
Universal Stables has spelling, pre-training, sales preparation, and rehabilitation facilities for thoroughbred horses on a 48-hectare property.
Phil is busy riding and training, as well as managing staff so he keeps a flat-out schedule.
“All my family work really hard. My grandparents were Croatian and they were ex-
Phil Bobic loves riding and working with horses at Universal Stables at Coleyville. Photos: HOOFPRINTZ PHOTOGRAPHY
tremely hard workers. They immigrated to Australia 50 years ago to escape the war in Croatia,” he said.
“They started from nothing and ended up with a lot and I think it’s just bred in me to work hard.”
Phil and his partner Adam moved to Coleyville 10 years ago for the property, which was already set up for spelling and pre-training.
about 15 minutes from Kyneton in Victoria, rode quarter horses and went to school in Kyneton.
When he turned 18, he eloped to Italy and trained quarter horses.
“I was going to be a chiropractor and I was deferring uni and sort of hiding overseas; wanting to be a horse boy,” he said.
The work ended but he didn’t want to come home so he went to the UK and secured a job with show horse people.
“I loved how they had a good eye for a horse. They found good horses, broke them in, trained them, and sold them on,” he said.
“It was the first time I thought I could actually make a career out of the industry.
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“It’s a great area and a great community of people and it is a really, really good place to live,” he said. Phil and Adam recently separated but Phil plans to continue running Universal. Phil grew up in Woodend
“My family, they’re all accountants, so they’re always like: You can do it, but make money out of it.
• Continues on Page 11
Saved by a header as storm savages shed
by WENDY CREIGHTON
QUICK thinking and a grain header saved a Mt Walker farmer from injury or worse, during the once-in-a-lifetime severe wind and hail storm that passed through his property on Sunday afternoon.
Norm Kerle was working in his big machinery shed when he noticed the forecast storm was looking as if it would hit the Mt Walker area.
“I got two of the tractors out of the shed so I could bring the header in,” Norm said.
“I was just about to put a tarpaulin over the three tonne of wheat in the grain bin I’d put in the shed earlier in the week, when I noticed the shed walls were starting to rock.”
He dropped the tarpaulin and crawled under the header hoping it would protect him.
As he took shelter, the shed door was blown in, the roof lifted and the walls caved in.
“Part of the roof ended up on top of the header.”
For the next five to 10 minutes, he watched missiles in the form of roofing iron and other debris fly past.
“I’ve never experienced any wind like it. It was fero-
tent, parts of the collapsed walls.”
When the storm passed, he emerged to a scene of chaos.
“You can’t describe the storm like a hurricane or a tornado,” Norm said.
“It never turned, it came from the south west and it was still storming in from the south west when it passed.”
We spoke with Norm on Monday morning and his assessment of the damage couldn’t be made until heavy
bris from the machinery and equipment housed in the shed.
“When I first got out, it was hard to take in what I was seeing.
“There was iron wrapped around one of the tractors I’d moved out of the shed and there was a timber pole jammed up under one of them.
“Three of the grain silos had been rolled across the paddock like bowling balls, the grain bin weighed down by three tonne of wheat had been toppled over inside the
shed and there was debris all up the paddock behind the shed.”
Norm would later find that the two windmills on the property had also been damaged.
“Those things are built to withstand some pretty severe turbulence, but on both of them the blades had been folded back.
“I found iron from the shed roof and walls about three-quarters of a kilometre up the paddock.
“There were trees down everywhere.
“I don’t think any boundary fence around here has been spared from fallen trees.”
He estimated that about 10 to 15mm of rain fell. The rain gauge on his property, like so many others, had been blown away.
The ‘big marble’ sized hail that “fell in sheets” added to the savagery of the storm.
“It was still piled up three inches deep against things hours after the storm went through,” Norm said.
The storm’s funnel of destruction in that part of the Scenic Rim appears to have been worst around the southern end of Mt Walker and the eastern end of Rosevale.
• Continues on Page 8
Norm Kerle leans on the header under which he sheltered during the storm as the machinery shed collapsed around him. Photos: LYLE RADFORD
The wind damaged St Paul’s Lutheran Church at Rosevale.
Saved by a header as storm savages shed
• Continues from Page 7
A neighbour down the road from the Kerle’s property, reported golf ball sized hail.
“We weren’t home during the storm but when we returned, we found the hail still clogging the gully, our shed roof in the middle of the road, power lines down and trees pushed over everywhere,” said Zac Christensen.
He said his father, Mark, had been working on Neville Christensen’s property at the end of R Christensen Road, when the storm hit.
“Dad said you couldn’t stand out in it … if you did you’d be killed by the debris flying past.
“I don’t think there is a property around here that has escaped damage.
“One property owner had a small shed blown away … the cement floor is still there but the shed or any debris from the shed hasn’t been found.”
On Monday night, after the family had been helping out around the district, Zac said there “were scenes of devastation everywhere”.
“We’ve seen hundreds of acres where almost every tree has had its top blown out and the branches that remain are stripped bare of every leaf and twig.
“One of the landowners who has lived here for over
80 years said she had never experienced a wind like it.”
We asked Zac if he thought the wind velocity had reached the 96 to 100km/h reported in some areas of Brisbane?
“I wouldn’t know. There’s no way to measure it but it would take a big wind to rip big trees out of the ground and there is lots of evidence of that.
“This was no normal
“There’s places where there’s just a pile of hay lying on the ground to show where the hayshed stood.”
Other buildings were damaged too, including the former Rosevale Retreat Hotel where a tree was pushed over onto the roof and the Rosevale Lutheran Church was stripped of more than a third of its roof.
Taking ADF career qualities onto the Miss World runway
LEADING Aircraftwoman
Lily Cooper finds life in the Air Force is anything but ordinary.
As a crew attendant at 33 Squadron, RAAF Base Amberley, her work has taken her across the globe – from international exercises to VIP missions with government leaders.
Now she is stepping on to an entirely different stage, representing Australia as a national finalist in the Miss World competition.
Leading Aircraftwoman Cooper applied for the Air Force while in high school.
“I wanted a career where I could travel, be challenged, have a purpose and most importantly, enjoy it,” she said.
“When I came across the role of crew attendant on the ADF Careers page, it jumped out at me and I applied.”
Leading Aircraftwoman Cooper enlisted in March 2022 and said she found an Air Force career lived up to her expectations.
“There really is no typical day,” she said.
“One day I might be overseas supporting multi-national exercises, the next, planning missions in the office, and the day after on a VIP task with government officials.”
After a few years in the
Air Force, she was ready for a new challenge.
“There has never been an active-serving military woman in the history of the Miss World Organisation and Miss World Australia, and I want to change that,” she said.
“I want young women to see that you don’t have to fit
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into one box – you can serve your country with discipline and courage and at the same time, embrace your femininity and lead with compassion.”
Leading Aircraftwoman Cooper said her RAAF experiences had prepared her well for the competition.
“My role is highly competitive, so determination and perseverance are traits I’m proud to carry with me,” she said.
“I also regularly engage with heads of government and international forces, where presentation, organisation and communication are essential – those same skills translate directly to the Miss World stage.”
Far from seeing Defence and pageantry as opposites, she believes they share a strong connection.
“Both Defence and the Miss World competition empower people to lead with purpose,” she said.
• Continues on Page 11
Accommodation is available for up to 4 people as well as a range of specialised equipment being available, including recliner chairs, high-back orthopaedic chairs as well as over the toilet and shower aids. Catering and fresh linen can be arranged if required and the latest IT, including Smart TV is also available for training programs or presentations. A commuter bus complete with hoist can also be made available with the booking (POA).
Leading Aircraftwoman Lily Cooper – meshing the role of crew attendant based at Amberley with her selection as a national finalist representing Australia in the Miss World competition.
Gal group finds friendship through conversation
by LARA HART
FIVE years ago, Barbara Quinn formed a group she named ‘Havachat’, with the intention of helping women forge new friendships and alleviate loneliness.
Havachat was a success and this week the group had its first Annual Ladies Day Camp in the Mt Walker Church of Christ Hall.
Barbara was at the hall and midway through craft activities when she took our call.
“The ladies have just finished their hat burning craft and it was a big hit,” she said.
“They’ve moved on to resin work but it’s going to be hard to beat those hats.”
Barbara is committed to the group and said it helped women get outside and socialise.
“When I realised there
were no groups like this in the Mt Walker area, I decided to make one,” she said.
“Some people are lonely and if they don’t have an activity planned, they stay at home alone.
“There are a lot of people like that, and I decided to link them up and help them to forge natural friendships.”
At first the group met once
a month, but members told her that wasn’t enough.
“The ladies looked forward to the meetings and the socialisation that came with them,” she explained.
“I decided Havachat would meet once a week.”
The social group alternates between meeting at the Mt Walker Church of Christ Hall and cafes and coffee shops
mostly in the Scenic Rim and Ipswich areas.
Craft supplies and activities are costly, but Barbara said she had things under control because she applied for grants.
“The Ladies Day Camp itinerary is planned using professionals who bring the tools and supplies needed to make whatever it is they’re showcasing,” she said.
“The hat burning craft cost $90 a person but we’ve charged the ladies $25 for the two days.
“We can do that because I’ve managed to successfully obtain grants that pay for the shortfall.”
Next up were crafts like jewellery making and cooking demonstrations.
If you’d like to be part of the group, look up Havachat online.
Taking ADF career qualities onto the Miss World runway
• Continues from Page 9
“The RAAF is about commitment, service and integrity, and Miss World promotes leadership, empowerment and service through ‘beauty with a purpose’.
“They may look different on the surface, but at their core, they’re very similar.”
Leading Aircraftwoman Cooper’s colleagues have been some of her biggest supporters.
“I’ve had nothing but positive comments and encouragement from my workplace,” she said.
“My chain of command has been incredibly supportive, and my colleagues even
attend my fundraising events – I couldn’t be more grateful.”
As part of her campaign, Leading Aircraftwoman Cooper has raised more than $3,500 for Variety – the Children’s Charity, volunteered in schools, and spoken at community events.
As she prepares for the national finals, her focus remains on the bigger picture.
“I want to empower women to break stereotypes, to have confidence in who they are, and to know they can pursue any dream,” she said.
“My message is simple: you can do both.”
Hard work and learning drive Phil’s horse journey
• Continues from Page 6
“I’m like the black sheep; I’m not that intellectual, but whenever I’m having a dumb moment, my auntie in particular, I ring her and she talks to me from a business point of view and it makes sense.”
Returning from the UK, Phil moved to Pakenham in Victoria and worked with a top show horse producer. A few years later, he went out on his own.
He went to Queensland to be with his partner. They rented on the Gold Coast before they moved to Belcam Stud at Biddaddaba near Beaudesert.
“We were there for four or
five years and outgrew that and wanted to buy our own place,” he said.
Four years ago, Phil started training racehorses for people he’d pre-trained for who had been sending their horses to other trainers.
“It challenged me to learn more and become better. I’ve always been obsessed with learning more,” he said.
Now his burning goal is winning a metropolitan race.
“I’ve won a lot of country races and provincial races, but I’ve got better horses now and I’ve got patient owners,” he said.
“I’m a real honest person and I don’t beat around the bush too much.
“Sometimes it’s lost me work but most of the clients I have, it’s the reason they’re with me.”
Toowoomba’s Tony Sears, who trains with his daughter Maddy, says Universal Stables is a key to their success.
Phil prides himself on his horses being well educated but an experience last month in Toowoomba showed even the nicest horse can surprise you.
Jockey Michael Hellyer made headlines – and TikTok fame – after Southoftheborder tossed his head as Hellyer was getting on and accidentally headbutted him.
“So ironic because everyone’s always carrying on
about how nice they are to ride and then it just clocked a jockey in the head,” Phil said.
“We took him back to Toowoomba and he won his maiden the next start and Michael rode him.”
Phil also re-trains and rehomes ex-racehorses. One for the future is Sonic Arrow, who raced at Ipswich on Monday.
“I’ve done quite a bit of educating her already, so we’ll be able to find a really good home for her pretty quickly,” he said.
“She’ll have a good life as a show horse because she’s quite a beautiful mare. And she’s quiet.”
Participants of Havachat’s first Annual Ladies Day Camp had a wonderful time making hats with personal embellishments burned onto the material.
PROPERTY
FARRELL DRIVE
• 5 bedrooms
• 2 bathrooms
• 1,409sqm block
• Sold for $990,000
The master suite is a luxury retreat, bedrooms 2 and 3 are equally well appointed and the living zones include a sunken lounge in this home, which has a long list of extras.
The large open plan living area is both functional and inviting, with ceiling fans, air conditioning, and direct sliding door access to the double carport. The oversized kitchen is a standout feature and has a servery window to the formal dining room.
The property last sold in 2013 for $395,000.
SAVERIN LANE
• 3 bedrooms
• 1 bathroom
• 20.18ha block
• Sold for $1,450,000
A property offering privacy, fertile soils and uninterrupted panoramic views. The home has been restumped and is in original condition. The property has a bore, two dams and tanks.
There is no available sale history.
WALLOON
TALLEGALLA
HUTH ROAD
• 3 bedrooms
• 1 bathroom
• 9.91ha block
• Sold for $1,400,000
A property with a comfortable family home, a flexible studio with three multipurpose rooms, professionalgrade equestrian facilities, and highly productive usable land.
There are stables and arenas, several sheds, a thriving orchard and reliable water security.
The home has a galley kitchen with timber bench tops, the bedrooms have built in robes and there’s an open plan living and dining area.
There is no available sale history - built 1998.
RAMBLINGS
Birds eye view from Magnum PI
by LARA HART
“YOUR black and white boyfriend is at the door,” my husband calls out to me and at the sliding door is a magpie named Magnum PI.
Magnum and I have been working on our friendship, it’s a give and take, I do most of the give while he does most of the take.
He’s a wild bird with a beautiful song he uses to enchant me.
We have crows too, but none of those have bothered to check in on me and say ‘gidday’ like my Mr Magnum.
Our friendship developed slowly and began when I started throwing crusts of bread onto the lawn rather than into the bin.
Birds of all species noticed and came down to eat.
It was lovely to watch but when I realised bread was bad for them, I stopped.
Around July this year I noticed a lone magpie kept seeking me out.
My desk is alongside a sliding door, and I’d hear ‘tap tap tap’ and look to see beady eyes staring me down through the glass.
I left the door open and soon enough he was eating out of my hand.
I did the right thing and I bought dried worms and fed him that and little pieces of meat.
One day while working I heard a beautiful song ring out close to me.
I turned to see Magnum inside the house and standing on one leg while looking at me with expectation.
‘What does it mean when magpies sing to you while standing on one leg” I entered as a Google search.
Well now, it seems he’s comfortable with me and sees me as a friend.
Awesome.
As a child I read stories about magpies that collected
shiny things and kept them in their nest in the boughs of trees.
In the stories, children climbed a tree to recover a ring or watch for a parent.
I looked at trees and wondered if my life’s fortune lay somewhere up there waiting for me to collect it.
Turns out that is simply magpie folklore and untrue.
Magpies are intelligent and curious but more likely to be fearful of new and shiny objects than be attracted to them.
While there’s no shiny fortune in my future, I learned something during my up close and personal experiences with my magpie friend.
I’d seen Magnum break up food with his beak and eat it, then when he’d had enough, he’d gathered as much possible then waddle off.
There was a pattern and I figured he was taking the food to a safe space to continue eating.
One day, I decided to follow him to see where he was going.
He had his fill and collected the leftovers in his beak.
Tap, tap, tap ... he picked up as much as he could hold, waddled down the deck and hopped up onto an outside
On the table, a second magpie stood squawking at him and opening its beak.
Magnum fed it and I loved that because to me, it seemed he was doing something thoughtful.
He’s in my house every day now, he walks through the sliding door because I leave it open for him.
Sometimes Magnum explores the kitchen looking for crumbs.
I leave the door open so I can better hear his song.
Lately he’s been doing more than just the magpie warble, he has a repertoire of chants and warbles.
The other day he was inside but near the door when I heard a different magpie call out and Magnum answered.
I wish I understood bird language but from my observation it seemed to be asking him to bring it food.
Magpies are smart and form long term relationships with people who show them kindness, according to the experts.
Many go on to recognise human faces for years.
More than that, they pass on the message that you’re a ‘good one’ to their family and friends, and this can continue for generations.
While there’s no shiny gems in nests, magpies are known to bring their human friends a present.
Magnum PI has started doing this for me but I don’t think he understands what a human likes because frog droppings are not on my wish list.
What he brings to the table is joy and being able to call out his name and have him fly to me is the best feeling ever.
Magnum PI is a frequent visitor to the Hart household.
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Karen shares ‘big ideas’ to keep club bowling
by DAVID LEMS
LONG-serving Rosewood Bowls Club player and committee member Karen Kington enjoys modern line dancing when not helping out at the Mill Street venue.
She dances four times a week at North Ipswich, along with regular bowls outings at Rosewood and with the Taxi Bowls Club that plays around the region.
For many years, the “home cook” has been a valuable contributor in the kitchen at RBC.
However, after 28 years serving the club “on and off”, recently appointed vice-president Karen is excited about future expansion plans.
She is working with latest club president Kevin Hayden, treasurer David Aspden and secretary Joanne Marshall on a committee eager to take the 70-year-old club forward.
“We have got a whole new committee and it looks like we’ve got a lot of big ideas,”
That includes bringing in a “professional” caterer, which allows Karen more time to devote to other club projects.
“We seem to have a really good committee now working together to try and open
bowlers to stories of past club events and successes.
However, rebuilding junior numbers remained a challenge.
“There’s some work to be done there, encouraging families to bring their children,” Karen said.
“There is a bit of a stigma about bowls being an old person’s game.
“It’s great for kids and they can make a career out of it.”
With a growing population around the Rosewood area, Karen was optimistic more people would discover what bowls offered.
“It’s good socially, you meet a lot of people,” she said, also enjoying opportunities to represent Rosewood at other clubs.
“It’s a good fun game.”
The two-time singles club champion has lived in Rosewood since 1995.
She was born in Radcifffe, Manchester, where she spent 12 years before moving to Whyalla in South Australia.
She later came to Brisbane, Redbank and to Rosewood where she continues to live.
Asked why she relocated to Australia, Karen smiled and replied: “The weather”.
Karen said the Rosewood sporting club provided social
“There is a bit of a stigma about bowls being an old person’s game. It’s great for kids and they can make a career out of it”
– Karen Kington
and health benefits with “a good atmosphere”.
“It’s good for the mind,” she said.
“It’s good people … a little bit of exercise. I think that’s all healthy.”
When she moved to Rosewood, Karen joined the club where her mother June Hesketh and her sister Janet Franklin, were regular bowlers.
Karen became Rosewood Ladies Club president from 2003-2005 before the women’s and men’s sections amalgamated.
She continued assisting the club in various roles, including as a selector for pennants and Sevens’ competitions, before being appointed vice-president earlier this year.
Karen revived her family connection by restoring the Hesketh Memorial Shield which was contested in junior competition, last year.
Her mum June and father Fred were active in encouraging junior bowlers.
As a dancer for 30 years, Karen hopes to build on that, eager to see more young bowlers share in the sporting experience.
“We want to attract more bowlers, more juniors and the families down here enjoying it.”
Rosewood Bowls Club vice-president Karen Kington enjoys playing and selecting ‘Cobbers’ teams at every opportunity. Photo: DAVID LEMS
Karen Kington with the junior shield named in her family’s honour.