barcoo independent ~ 230410

INDEPENDENTTHE BARCOO

Blackall’s own community newspaper

6 - The Barcoo Independent, Friday, April 23 2010

April 23 2010 ISSN 1832-6129 RRP $2.00 Contact: [email protected]

SPORT ON THE BARCOO

By ROWAN HUNNAM

continued on page 3

continued on page 14

Upsets on the Blackall green

SPECIAL EDITION!!Looking back 20 years since the 1990 floods

THERE were a couple of upsets in the bowls singles at the Blackall green last Sunday. By far the biggest was Loretta Dickens beating John Bowyer in her first ever competition game. A very capable bowler, John went down 31-19. Although he gave Loretta 12 to start, that ended up being the winning margin. John managed to get within reach at 19-20 after 23 ends but Loretta kept her head for a great win.

In A singles there was another upset with Ron Robinson beating a very good bowler, John Carter. Ron was leading all the way to take the game 31-22. In handicap singles, Julie Blucher couldn’t give Trevor ‘the Fox’ Brown 5 start to be beaten 31-24.

In the B grade, Rob Doyle never

got hot against an in-form Gumby Chapman, losing 31-9. Woody and Dave Carter had a hard game but Woody was never quite in it, going down 31-21.

With a lot of experience and a lot of luck, Ross Browning proved too strong for Roland Blucher in sets of nines, winning 12-2 and 12-7.

In social bowls, Hazel McHugh was a bit too strong for Judy Evers, winning 23-13 after 24 ends.

There are no competition bowls next Sunday due to Anzac Day activities. Social bowls will be held on Monday with club selected games and prize money for winners and runners up. Be there for a 9.30am start.

– Dally

PLAYERS from Blackall, Longreach, Isisford, Charleville, Morven, Barcaldine, Alpha and Ilfracombe travelled to Tambo on April 18 for the Tambo Little Masters. The team from Blackall consisted of 9 players and the event was played over 27 holes.

The A Grade men competition was won by Matt Miller, who shot six under for the last nine holes, with a gross score of 96. Runner up Clinton Austin of Blackall grossed 103. In B Grade men, Greg Glover from Tambo was successful in beating runner up Eddie Austin from Blackall. B. Gray was the winner of the C Grade men, ahead of runner up Lam Pitt from Blackall.

In A Grade ladies, Mary Sunderland from Tambo won in a playoff against Denise Vale from Alpha. Mary won on the 29th hole. In the final round Mary had a hole-in-one – congratulations to Mary.

Blackall’s Wilma Pitt was the winner of the B Grade ladies. Wilma also won the B Grade nett, the overall ladies nett and the veteran’s. Runner up was Lea Williams from Barcaldine. The C Grade ladies competition was won by Katrina Austin from Blackall with Hazel Rogers from Tambo in second place.

Congratulations to all the winners and thanks to all who took part. It was good to see teams from the Central West participating in this event and supporting a fellow club.

Other golfing news. Golf Qld has been very busy over the past week implementing a new handicapping system into Queensland. This has been a huge task but has resulted in some good news for golfers having their handicap increased. The news has not been so kind with other golfers who have had their handicaps reduced. The changes should make for a fairer outcome for golfers in general.

The Blackall Golf Club also had a visit from professionally golfer Scotty Simmons last week. Scotty visited both schools and held a clinic on Saturday for interested learners. The Central West continues to receive this service and support thanks to Golf Queensland and the Greg Norman Foundation.

This Sunday is ANZAC Day so there will be no golf played but keep an eye on the board as there may be a social game on Monday, April 26.

…PAR POSITIVE…

Tambo Little Masters

FOR the first time in many years the Blackall Junior Rugby League travelled to Winton to contest a round robin competition against the rest of the Central West towns.

The council bus was hired to commute the players, as well as a couple of very dedicated parents who took their cars on the 800 km roundtrip.

The under 10s and 12s both took full teams and competed well. We had one player in the 14s and two played in the under 16 game.

The young under 12s magpies didn’t lose a game; defending stoutly, with only two tries being

scored against them. The entire team performed well. Braeden Carolan, who scored a couple of tries and defended strongly, deserves a special mention.

This weekend we are at home against Barcaldine and these games will be played at the State School due to the campdraft at the showgrounds.

On Saturday, May 1 we will travel to Longreach to play the Thompson Tigers.

The Blackall Magpies will be marching on Anzac Day in full football uniform meeting at IGA at 9.15am.

– Peter Hauff, President

The Blackall Mapgies travelled to Winton for competition

Magpies in Winton for round robin

Wool carted from ‘Isisdowns’ to the rail head near Blackall in the 1920s. See page 4 for story.

Wool carting 1920s

MacKillop Centre, “first of its kind”

AFTER thirty years of much the same, the wether trial at the Tambo Stock Show has been extended to incorporate a production wether section.

The new competition will see sheep stay for an extra year, instead of being sold for their carcase at the end of the third year. At the end of the last 12 months, sheep will be shorn and the wool production for the team as a whole for the 4 years will be calculated. Teams will also be awarded a fat score which will be added to the wool score. This will give teams a total production score at the end of the four years.

Wether competition section head Alison Shaw said that with less people in sheep these days, and wool a valuable resource, they hoped the revamped competition will encourage more people to get involved in the trial.

“This year we are down to 143 sheep, and although 10 more teams have entered (consisting of five lambs), we have always aimed to keep the competition numbers in the 200s.

“This will keep the numbers up and it will be really interesting to see which team

New competition in Tambo Stock Show wether trial

Celebrating with the community at the opening and blessing of the MacKillop Centre at St Joseph’s were Catholic Education Facilities Coordinator Paul Bryant (left), principal building contractor Chris McErlean, Assistant Director of Schools Western Region Ross Jones, Bishop Brian Heenan, principal Tim Franzmann, the Hon Bruce Scott MP, Father Matthew Moloney, Director of Catholic Education Leesa Jeffcoat and St Joseph’s students.

PRINCIPAL Tim Franzmann was pleased this week to officially open the new multipurpose hall at St Joseph’s.

The building is the only one of its kind in Blackall, the first of the Building Education Revolution buildings to be opened in the Rockhampton dioscese, and the first building to be named after Mary MacKillop in the same dioscese.

The MacKillop Centre, as it was named after much deliberation, has been built on the site of the first Sisters of Joseph convent in Blackall.

Costing almost $560,000 and measuring approximately 20 x 30 metres, the hall has been set up for a variety of sports including basketball, tennis, volleyball, netball, indoor cricket and table tennis. It will also feature a data projector, a screen and surround sound for movie nights and State of Origin, as was suggested at the opening.

Chris McErlean was the principal building contractor, working with other subcontractors with heavy local involvement. Work began on October 21, 2009 and according to Chris, despite the weather playing havoc and a few delays with parts arriving, construction of the hall went very smoothly.

“It is a universal beam structure with colour bond corrugated iron walls.”

“It was designed so that the reinforced piers are independent of the concrete slab so they can move up and down… due to the black soil.”

Some of the redeeming features of the building include the natural lighting coming through the roof, automatic roller doors, sporting lights and awnings.

WHATS ON in 2010APRIL21-24 Australian National Campdraft Finals22-23 Cement Workshop with Jennie Scott23 Blackall Combined Schools’ Anzac Service23 DCQ What Next? Forum23 Opening of ‘Speaking Stones’ Installation by Natalie Billing23 Nominations Close Landmark Beef Cattle Show and Sale24 Tambo Stock Show24 Wether Trial Shearing24 Whip Cracking Workshop25 Anzac Day Dawn Service, March and Morning Service26-1 Skill Development Workshops with Christian Griffiths28-29 Naturally Resourceful Course, Tambo29 Landmark Beef Cattle Show and Sale30 Landmark Cattlemen’s Presentation Dinner

MAY1 Dressage and Junior Stockman’s Challenge, Blackall Show

Woolscour Bush Dinner1 Blackall Show2

5 Club Committees Sport and Recreation WorkshopWoolscour Tour and Dinner5

8 Blackall Girl Guides Cent Sale8-9 ‘The Centre within the Course’ Helen Everingham, Tambo9 Blackall Equestrian Group Jump Club11 Black Stump Invitation Sale

Woolscour Tour and Dinner12 12 Biggest Morning Tea14 BCI Ride West15 Murder Mystery Dinner14-17 Hebel Artist Workshop14-28 Heartland Festival Photography Exhibition14-20 Heartland Festival Sean Leahy Cartooning Workshop17-19 Writing Workshop19 Woolscour Tour and Dinner21 Heartland Festival Food & Music Fiesta: Friends of Pedro22 Isisford Sheep and Wool Show22-23 Shockwave Youth Arts Festival22-26 Watercolour Workshop

The Barcoo Independent, Friday, April 23 2010 - Page 15 - The Barcoo Independent, Friday, April 23 2010

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Please direct enquiries, suggestions, stories and letters to the editor to: Rowan Hunnam

[email protected] post or call at Blackall Visitor Information Centre, 108a Shamrock St, Blackall Phone/fax: 07 4657 6966

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GOLF at the Blackall Club has been slow to get started this year due to a long wet season but the club finally got off to a good start in March with two monthly medals.

On April 4, 16 players participated in a 4 Ball Best Ball Stableford. Paul Allen and Peter Fry were the winners on the day with 49 points. Runners up were Lyn MacNamara and Nathan Cameron with 48 points. Lam Pitt and Shane Robinson shared the same points (48) but lost in a countback.

Other scores on the day were A. Fry and M. Gane on 47pts, K. Choyce and G. Fry on 45pts, C. Williams and C. Austin on 45pts, W. Pitt and J. Walker on 43pts and P. Fry and T. Davidson on 37pts.

On April 11, the club played for the Barcoo Butchery Monthly Medal. This was well contested with the winning results a family affair. Lam Pitt won the men’s with a 62 nett and Les Williams was runner up with a 66 nett. Wilma Pitt won the women’s with a 64 nett while Christine Williams was runner up with 72 nett.

Other scores on the day in the men’s competition were W. Waugh on 68, J. Walker on 72, E. Austin on 72, S. Robinson on 72, A. Loveday on 73, F. Simpson on 76 and G. Schluter on 77. In the women’s, K. Austin scored 74, K. Choyce scored 76 and M. Hauff scored 78.

…PAR POSITIVE…

SPORT ON THE BARCOOMonthly medal results a family affair

LAST Sunday the Blackall Gun Club had a very good line up of shooters for the monthly shoot.

Three squads ensured it was a very busy day and made it necessary to have a second operational trap. There was one squad made up completely of beginners, and with a bit of training from the regular shooters they improved their shooting skills substantially. Some of the members are heading off in two weeks to Roma for the State Trap Carnival on May 1 to 3, and then on to Cunnamulla the following weekend for their annual Trap Carnival. With all the new members it promises to be a good year.

New members make for a busy season

THE Blackall Pistol Club hosted the second weekend of the Keith Hayward Memorial Pairs events on Sunday, March 11 with the Centre Fire and Sports Pistol matches being contested.

Many thanks to Glady Hayward and family for providing the memorial to Keith each year and being available to present the trophies to the winners.

Unfortunately a few of the regular shooters were away for the weekend and so numbers were short but a strong competition was still evident. The winners of the Centre Fire event were Len Russell and partner Bruce McPaul with a total score of 814, followed by the runners up Arthur Elmy and Jack Milroy with a combined score of 624.

In the Sports Pistol event, the pairing of Peter Molle and Julie Russell finished with a total score of 885 to take the winning medals from Spencer Astill and Jim McCarthy on 806.

The next official shoot will be the Barcoo Butchery Rapid Fire and Wayne Dendle 25 metre Rifle pairs events.

Strong competition at Keith Hayward Memorial pairs event

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I am writing this letter from Sydney where I am attending the Commsday Summit 2010.

A visit from a Telstra representative has seen a red sticker put on the public telephone on the corner of Bauhinia and Garden Streets in Blackall. The sticker states that the community has 3 months to appeal the decision to remove the public telephone box. This particular telephone has generated $150 over the past year.

In Tambo the telephone box on Arthur Street between Garden and Charles Streets is also under review as the funds generated amounted to $220 per annum. Please take note of the address and telephone numbers on which objections may be lodged.

The General Meeting of Council was held in Tambo on April 14 with a very busy agenda to address. Congratulations to our management staff who won the inaugural CQ Local Government Management Challenge Trophy, with Barcaldine Regional Council staff members, they blitzed the field to come home with the prize.

Council resolved to apply for funding for walking trails in both Blackall and Tambo. This is a part of our Corporate and Community Plan as well as our Sport and Recreation Plan in support of healthy communities.

A complimentary draft copy of the Blackall Tambo phonebook will be available for each household on presentation of the phonebook flyer to our branch offices. This is your opportunity to ensure your details are correct or that your details are actually in the book before we go to final printing.

The RADF Committee welcomed new member for Blackall and youth, David Goodman.

The Department of Transport and Main Roads has advised they will be applying an overlay to the surfaces of Shamrock St in Blackall and Arthur St in Tambo in the near future. This will not include parking areas or intersections. Council will have to bear the cost of this part of the work.

Alterations to the Blackall Airport apron and runway were discussed. Council was informed that work will commence on May 3. This is pleasing news as we are aware of the community concern regarding the restoration of the Wednesday flights back into Blackall and our Council concern of the time frame for the funding.

The Blackall Tambo Regional Council has committed $2,000,000 to the management of all pests in the region for the four years of life of the Pest Management Plan. Of this, approximately $800,000 may be used for Wild Dog control. The Pest Management Plan has to be approved by the Department of the Environment and Resource Management prior to implementation. Jan Ross

Frank and Janet Thygesen of Blackall were pleased to congratulate their granddaughter Shannon Warfield on her marriage to Brendan Zimmerle on March 27 in Coolangatta. Shannon was attended by Jade Miles and her sisters Casey and Tahnee Sheehan. Brendan’s attendees were Adam Kim and his brothers Michael and Jason Zimmerle.


continued from page 1

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Left: President of the Blackall RSL Major Terry Brennan was presented with the Australian flag.Below left: The Hon Bruce Scott MP discusses the commemorative guide with Blackall State School leaders Karla Ward, Bonnie Lawrence and Hamish Heard

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The Blackall RSL has organised for Karl Beier to return to Blackall to play the bagpipes for the Anzac dawn service and Anzac march. He is the son of Victoria Smith, grandson of Maymie Law and the great great grandson of Jackie Howe. He has been playing the bagpipes for 22 years and is part of the Highlanders Band in Brisbane.

LESLEY and Michael Heatley’s daughter Michelle returned to Blackall last week to conduct a group discussion with mothers who are planning, expecting or had a baby.

Michelle and two others have travelled right across the state, conducting the group sessions and collecting information on the needs of mothers, and their suggestions and experiences of maternity care, to improve maternity care for Queensland women and their families.

Michelle was born and raised in Blackall, and attended Blackall State School. She was the recipient of the McLean Brothers’ Bursary in 2001 and went on to study Psychology at the University of Queensland the following year. Michelle completed university in 2005, after conducting honours research in doctor and patient

communication. She moved to the UK for two years in 2007 and then became a research assistant back at the University of Queensland.

Michelle said she enjoys coming back to Blackall, but doesn’t come back as often as her mother would like!

Past student returns to Blackall for research

Karl Beier to play at Anzac Daycomes out

with the best overall production.”This year ‘Westbourne’ was the

winning milk teeth team, followed by ‘Narada’, ‘Narada’ – James Turnbull and ‘Lambert’. The highest valued fleece was awarded to ‘Westbourne’ with a 9.2 kg fleece of 19.1 micron, valued at $70.99. The milk teeth team with the highest comfort factor was ‘Narada’ – James Turnbull.

In the open section, ‘Stirling Downs’ took out the honours, with second and third awarded to two teams from ‘Lambert’ and fourth to ‘Wyanga’. ‘Stirling Downs’ took out the team with the highest comfort factor as well as the highest valued fleece weighing 10.5 kg of 19.3 micron, valued at $84.79.

The sheep were shorn at the ‘Isoroy’ shearing shed last Saturday after running at ‘Narada’. The winning fleeces will be on display at the Tambo Stock Show on Saturday, April 24. The sheep will go to ‘Westbourne’ for the year ahead.

– Rowan Hunnam

continued from page 1Tambo wether trial

Above: The Hon Bruce Scott MP took the opportunity to officially launch his Anzac Day commemorative guide at the statue of Edgar Towner VC with school leaders Louise Ward, Bonnie Lawrence, Hamish Heard, Kate Baillie and Andrew Davison.

BLACKALL’s new police sergeant Bruce Trickett is urging motorists to drive carefully on the roads over the Anzac weekend.

“With more traffic on the roads, there will be an increase in police targeting traffic flowing through the Longreach district, including Blackall,” Mr Trickett said.

“Our main concern relates to driver fatigue, drink driving, speeding, failure to wear seatbelts and other life endangering offences.”

Anzac commemorative guide launched locally

New sergeant urges safe driving

Mr Franzmann says the building rivals many of the facilities that schools on the coast and in cities have access to.

"I am very happy with it... I think it provides a brilliant opportunity and facilities for the students and community here in Blackall.”

"It is exciting for all our schools in the area to have the money and resources to complete projects like this one."

"For a school of sixty students, we are very lucky to have got that."

Principal pleased with MacKillop centre

- The Barcoo Independent, Friday, April 23 2010 The Barcoo Independent, Friday, April 23 2010 - Page 13

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Local artist Bob Wilson stands with a stock whip over his shoulder in front of the completed mural outside McLean Place on Shamrock Street. Photo by Robert Stockwell.

PAINTED by local artist Bob Wilson, the mural depicts wool being carted in the Blackall area in the 1920s. The mural was based on a scene captured in a photograph (see front page). The wagon, also known as “The Don”, is loaded with 120 bales of wool from Isisdowns and is being carted into Blackall to the rail head at the time by 28 draft horses.

After road vehicles become the more prominent mode of transporting wool, The Don was sold to a property at Quilpie.

The wagon is now going to be restored by a private individual on the Sunshine Coast. Barcoo Retirement Committee Chairman Owen Stockwell said he chose to create a mural from this photograph because it is part of the local history. “It is part of Blackall’s history with the early teamsters… and we have really got to start preserving it.” – Rowan Hunnam

Mural revisits local history

Blackall-Tambo councillors Peter Skewes, Sally Cripps and Grahame Schluter met with Senator Joe Ludwig (left) in Blackall this week

SPECIAL Minister of State, Senator Joe Ludwig spent time with Blackall-Tambo regional councillors this week as part of a tour to follow up with communities affected by flooding earlier this year.

Senator Ludwig said the Rudd government had committed to following through on its natural disaster relief arrangements.

Councillors spoke about the difficulties faced by people unable to get out and earn their living for a number of weeks, and of the need for more information on flood heights. Similar issues had been raised when the Senator visited St George, Cunnamulla and Charleville earlier in the week.

Senator talks to councillorsTHE Blackall Newspaper Group held its annual general

meeting last Saturday, re-electing Terry Kingston as president, Margaret Warren as vice president, Lynette Davison as treasurer and Sally Cripps as secretary. Kirstie Davison joined the ranks as assistant secretary.

The committee welcomed new member Matthew Moloney, who brought some fresh ideas to the table.

The meeting was also an opportunity to launch the new Barcoo Independent website to promote the local newspaper throughout the region, and to give readers the option of viewing archived newspapers online four weeks after publication.

The idea came from requests from readers to access the newspaper online. The site, available at www.barcooindependent.com, also gives people an opportunity to contact the newspaper with story ideas and to give feedback.

The Barcoo Independent is currently available for purchase at the Blackall Newsagency, Bauer’s corner store, Tambo Foodworks, Wandal Newsagency and via a mail subscription.

Local paper goes online

The Barcoo Independent, Friday, April 23 2010 The Barcoo Independent, Friday, April 23 2010 -

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Blackall cattlesale market report

ANZAC DAY Sunday 25th April 2010

DAWN SERVICEMemorial Park

6:00 am Complimentary Breakfast, Tea and Coffee

MORNING MARCH & CEREMONY9:30am - Assemble for March (in front of IGA)9:40am - March Commences 10:00am - Ceremony in Memorial Park

WREATHSAny individual, family or community organisation who would like to order a wreath for the morning ceremony, contact Donny Daly on 0427 400 754.Wreaths available for collection (and payment) from Robyn Adams near IGA corner prior to the March between 8:30 am & 9:15 am.

Additional Anzac Events in Memorial Park– Everyone Welcome

Friday 23rd April 9am Blackall Combined Schools ANZAC Service

Speaking Stones Exhibition by Natalie Billing Open 6pm to 7pm Friday 23rd April & Saturday 24th April

In Remembrance of those who served, members of the Blackall RSL Ladies Auxiliary place a symbolic Cross and Poppy on the grave of every serviceman and woman

interned in the Blackall cemetery. They invite you to view these graves, and honour the memory and service of these individuals in your own personal way and time. The Crosses will be on display from Saturday 24th to Tuesday 27th April 2010.

Additional Information or Assistance – Contact Blackall RSL Sub Branch - President - Terry Brennan on 07 4651 0939 or 0419 179 974 or Secretary / Treasurer - Donny Daly on 0427 400 754

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EMPOWERING rural women is the focus of a workshop being held at the Tambo Town Hall later this month.

DCQ Industry Liaison Officer and workshop organiser Colleen James said, “We want to give rural women the opportunity to build networks and access information and training that is often difficult to receive in remote areas.”

“We will focus on issues including communication, succession planning, rural business analysis, biodiversity, grant writing and funding opportunities, arts, mental and physical health and well being.”

The workshops have been previously held in other remote areas including Eromanga, Boulia, Winton and Longreach with great support from local women.

An attendee from the Eromanga workshop said that it was “…well worth making the time to attend. The course has a large number of relevant topics and issues that women living in rural and isolated areas face on a regular basis with lots of contacts for further information provided.”

By delivering Naturally Resourceful women’s workshops, DCQ aims to provide local women with the networks and tools to build on their resourceful nature, enhance their involvement in communities and develop their skills, knowledge and understanding about natural resource management and personal development.

The two days are specifically designed for rural and remote women and will be held in Tambo on Wednesday, April 28 and Thursday, April 29.

Empowering rural women

THIS year the Blackall Heartland Festival is proud to support the Blackall Kindergarten as they host an evening of intrigue and suspicion.

After a similar and hugely successful 2008 event, organiser Kirstie Davison is hoping for a stellar crowd on May 15, when the Blackall Cultural Centre becomes the scene of a mysterious and dramatic murder.

Keeping to the festival theme, ‘The Black Stump and Beyond’, guests attending the murder mystery dinner will dress as characters from black and white television shows.

A “murder” will occur during the evening and the celebrity guests will be called upon to solve the mystery. Guests can expect to mix and mingle and enjoy a bite to eat with the likes of Mortisha Adams and Charlie Chaplin.

Kirstie said, “All who attended the function in 2008 put a great deal of time and effort into their characters and came dressed in full costume”.

For $40 (single) and $70 (double) you receive a two-course meal, a dash of drama and a complementary glass of wine. The bar will be operating throughout the evening.

The Blackall Heartland committees have been hard at work over the past few months securing funding, event managing and marketing the 2010 festival. To download the most up to date calendar of events or to find more information on this event or workshops of your choice, please visit www.blackallheartlandfestival.com.au.

‘Murder Mystery’ at the Cultural Centre

BLACKALL Combined Agents yarded 2700 head at their weekly fat and store sale last week.

A local vendor sold Charolais #8 bullocks weighing 717 kg to a top of 164 c/kg. Their cows also topped at 148 c/kg and weighed 669 kg.

Tim and Kylie Box ‘Lancevale’ Blackall sold quality Santa cross heifers to reach 190.2 c/kg for 197 kg. Adams and Son ‘Darracourt’ topped the heifer market with their heifers weighing 640 kg and fetching

164 c/kg.Peter Adams ‘Anthony’ Blackall

sold Brahman cows to a top of 144.2 c/kg or $757 per head. Peel Northampton Downs ‘Northampton Downs’ Blackall sold Santa cows to a top of 159.2 c, weighing 604 kg and $841 per head.

Opal Creek Feeders ‘Elsinore’ Blackall sold heavy Angus bulls weighing 860 kg and reaching 133 c/kg.

5900 head were booked at this week’s special weaner and store sale.

Clockwise: Around 100 guests joined St Joseph’s principal Tim Franzmann as he officially opened the new multipurpose hall at the school, Bishop Brian Heenan blessed the building at the opening, school captains Andrew Davison and Kate Baillie plant the Mary MacKillop bottlebrush with help from the prep students, principal Tim Franzmann, Bishop Brian Heenan and the Hon Bruce Scott MP.


Kerry Walker and Monica Bailey shared a laugh at the Blackall race meet on SaturdayAngela Strohmayr and Katrina Austin

Iain Adams, Lachlan Krieg, Hugh Macdonald and his cousin John Rice, who is mustering at ‘Prairie Vale’

Ginger Morgan and Michelle Elmy with 5 month old Cooper

Bride-to-be Kerry Lipsett (front) shared a marquee at her hens gathering at the races with Leah Baillie, Joanne Bird, Christine Bird, Joleen Dendle, Kathryn Lipsett, Karen Bullion, Mandy Lucas, Beth Harlow, Priscilla Dendle, Missy Dehennin, Lisa Fry, Christy Olive, Lyn Harlow and Rebecca Walker.

Sisters Meghan and Alise Murie dressed up for the day at the races

Peter Evans, Mark Duthie & Jack Banks after the day of racing

Fashions of the field winners Alisa Remeikis (left) and Leah Gilmore from Charleville (centre) with Karen Brook

Blackall Races April 2010

Speaking Stones An Anzac Exhibition by Natalie Billing

Friday 23rd April 2010

Official Exhibition OpeningWhere – Memorial Park When – 6 pm to 7 pm

Complimentary Refreshments Everyone Welcome

Natalie Billing a nationally recognised Brisbane based sculptor originally from Blackall has generously brought her installation art work

‘Speaking Stones’ to Blackall for the Anzac week-end.

The exhibition made its debut last year as the first art exhibition ever held within the Shrine of Memories in Anzac Square in Brisbane. ‘Speaking Stones’ is a combination of tactile stones, recorded voices and filmed images including the recollections of veterans and their families from Blackall.

The exhibition was inspired by the late Dooley Foster, Natalie’s grandfather who served in New Guinea during World War Two. Natalie believes that the ‘Speaking Stones’ exhibition provides the opportunity for veterans and families to speak their stories and let old become new again. The installation has 7000 handcrafted clay stones, some inscribed with the words ‘We Remember Them’.

In presenting her concept to the Queensland RSL this is part of what Natalie explained: My Grandfather CJ ‘Dooley’ Foster, was a Returned Soldier and a staunch member of the Blackall RSL. It was one of his greatest joys to return home each year for Anzac Day and to lay a wreath for his fallen comrades. Spending (his last) Anzac Day with him is one of my most cherished memories. Seeing how he and the people of the Blackall community embraced the local war memorial as part of their lives, and used it to honour memory and keep the stories alive is truly inspirational, and I want to honour that. This is how a War Memorial should function, as part of an active remembering process.

The Blackall Memorial Park Cenotaph will be the focus of the exhibition with the memory stones laid around the obelisk.

Those who wish will have the opportunity to lay a memory stone.

‘Speaking Stones’ installation will be open to the public6pm to 7 pm Friday 23 rd April and Saturday 24th April

Additional Information or Assistance – Contact Blackall RSL Sub Branch - President - Terry Brennan on 07 4651 0939 or 0419 179 974 or Robyn Adams 07 4651 0939 or 0447 179 974

Generously supported by ‘Outback Sound’.

Tim Politch and Adrian Austin


Far right: Newlyweds Andrew and Vynka Russell put some bets on at the races on the weekend after honeymooning in Tasmania

Aimee Donohoe, Megan Richardson and Jess Johnson dressed up for the races

Right: Jess Doyle (left) with Leanne and Josh Griffiths

Blackall welcomed Sergeant Bruce Trickett to the races, here with Constable Luke Johnson

Scottish backpacker Neil Young (left), currently working on ‘Bayrick’, at the Blackall races with Peta Batts, Anna Nevell and Mick Doyle

Middle: Rachel Noble and Sally Cripps

The Banks and McKay families were the excited winners of the Grant Daniel & Long QTIS class three handicap and collected the trophy along with trainer Charlie Prow, strapper Rosie Kerr and GDL branch manager Jeremy Barron

Jim Taylor and Bill Cripps relaxing after a day’s racing at Blackall

Lorraine Irwin from Ilfracombe and Kylie Hauff at the Blackall races

It rained for a month and the river kept rising, remembers Greg Tierney, who was a SES and Fire Brigade volunteer at the time. It was common knowledge the river was going to flood the town and inundate many homes and businesses. Everyone pitched in and helped with sand bagging shop fronts and evacuating people from their homes, before the river peaked in the middle of the night. Greg remembers how everyone needed help, but at the back of your mind you were worried about your own home and family. The SES set up an evacuation call centre at the fire station but had to move to the CREB power station, which is now the council depot because the station also got flooded. Greg remembers the fire truck getting bogged on the move. During those turbulence times there were also some lighter moments to make people laugh. Greg tells of how Spratty Blacker who lived in Aqua Street decided to open both doors on his Toyota ute so the water could flow through and his ute wouldn’t float away. At the time it seemed like a good idea. Spratty returned after the water had gone down and found a large king brown snake sheltering in the cabin of his ute. Another lighter moment which would have been viewed as serious at the time, involved the food drops to the flooded properties. At the time only essentials were allowed – no alcohol or cigarettes. It is believed someone hollowed out a loaf of bread and hid a bottle of rum in the bread for a much-needed drink at an isolated property. Unfortunately the rum never made it to its designated location. What Greg remembers the most and many people will agree with him, is how a small town worked together to overcome a huge disaster because everybody got in and got involved.

“...sand bagging shop fronts and evacuating people from their homes...” Greg Tierney

“During the 1990 floods, I was stranded here. The only way out would have been by helicopter. I kept in touch with our Shire Clerk, Gerrard Kennet, regarding the flood situation. On the day when the flood waters reached their peak, I spoke to Gerrard in the morning, and he told me that the river water had reached the sewerage pumping station. That afternoon I spoke to him again and found that the river had risen substantially, and that the SES boat was moored outside of the ambulance centre (you can see the flood marked/r there). The SES, under the leadership of Don Wheeler, did a magnificent job; shifting people and belongings by boat. Without their services, the outcome could have been very different. The aftermath of the flood created an extremely serious situation. People in the flooded areas had lost everything in their homes. Council set up a committee with the task of providing help to those who needed it. The state government made cash available to be distributed to both businesses and homeowners and residents. This task was handled by the flood committee, as were many other tasks. This committee played a vital part in distributing food clothing and cash, to those who needed it. Following the floods, and the cleanup, council decided to shift homes out of the flooded areas, at its cost. This was a voluntary scheme, and most people took advantage of it.”

“The only way out would have been by helicopter.” Fred Rich, Council Chairman 1989 - 1996 Looking back at the

1990 floods

Chris MaCrae, John Geiger and Peter Hauff looked out at 16 Aqua Street as the flood waters rose around Spratty Blacker’s house and ute. Anne Hauff said that the speed of the water rising is what she remembers most about the 1990 floods. “No-one had seen a flood like it at the time and everyone was speculating on how high the water would rise, but nobody really knew. You just had to sit and wait to see what would happen.”

Ronny Kent, Kent’s Food ‘n Fashion 1990“The biggest thing that stands out in my mind is how many people came forward to help clean up. We had to close down for a while due to the mess but people offered to take clothes home and wash and ironed them for us. Some helped sweep out the mud from the store, even people we hardly knew. It was just outstanding the amount of people who offered to help.”

Anne Hauff

The Head Steward of the Memorial Club in 1990 was Jim McEnlly. He remembers when the water hit the 1963 level at 4.45pm outside the club. He recalls telling Pam Carolan, “well it won’t rise anymore”. By 6.30pm it had risen another 3 feet (90cm). He was surprised at how quickly the water rose. Council workers did their best to help by sandbagging the front entrance, but there was no way of stopping the water. While the front entrance was being sandbagged, Mr McEnlly remembers Pam running to tell them that the water was now coming in the back door. “There was just no way of stopping the rising water.” The water rose as high as the foot rail around the bottom of the bar, all the carpets were ruined from the water and the sand from the failed sandbags. There was a hell of a cleanup afterwards. Mr McEnlly said that Kerry Spinks came in with a small loader and ripped up the carpets; there was no way of salvaging them as they were beyond repair. The council blokes were fantastic with the clean up, recalls Mr McEnlly, and nothing was a problem, they took all the ruined carpet and rubbish to the dump free of charge.

“There was no way of stopping the rising water...” Jim McEnlly, Blackall Sports and Memorial Club Head Steward 1990

Barry Muir, Muir’s Garage 1990 "The flood in 1963 was by far the biggest in the history of (Muir's) garage. So in 1990 we shifted all the stock in the garage up to above the 1963 flood mark. In 1990, the water level rose to more than a metre above that of 1963. It had devastating effects for us. Dad had to put off one of our employees. On the day that the water was rising, I woke up and could hear water roaring around the pensioner huts. Because the main river channel was blocked up with tea trees and undergrowth shrubs, the river poured down Aqua Street and right through town. It tore up the bitumen – that was the force of the current.”

Brendan Ward scooped the pool in the best dressed junior category

“I was down at a Country Music Festival and I couldn’t get back. Reg Stewart, Lyle Stewart and Rob Johnstone went into my house (on the corner of Garden and Short Street) to get my gear out and they had to swim out – it came up that quickly. After the water went down, they went back and cleaned it all out. I must have killed about 13 snakes around the house after that. I remember Reg said that he was looking up at the curtain and there was a snake there. I had a couple of pack saddles and when I rolled it over, there was one there too. I would have had about 9 foot of water through the house. It is only in the last few years that I have restored all of my antique furniture that was in the house then. It did a lot of damage to everyone.”


“After a few days of being caught in Blackall by the rain, we needed to return to Westhill. The only means of travelling at that time was by the ‘rattler’ as all dirt roads were closed due to the continuous rain. Shortie, Chris, Ben and I packed food and clothes in preparation to travel to Glenusk siding. From the siding we would either walk or tractor to the homestead. We were greeted with a surprise at the railway station; Kent, a football mate of Chris and Ben, awaited us. Unbeknown to any of us, Kent had decided he was coming too, as a few days in the bush would be a great way to spend the holidays. After confirming that, yes, Kent’s relatives were aware of his plans, even if we were in the dark, we all boarded the rattler for the 16 mile journey to Glenusk siding. After the excitement of the train trip, on arrival at Glenusk we divvied up our gear and either walked or rode on the tractor the short distance to the homestead. As the rain continued to fall intermittently, on Thursday night we had a downpour that caused a whole new vista to appear with the dawn light. There were water views in most directions; a sight we had not seen before. Days later we realised that we had been very fortunate indeed as our dam wall had collapsed and sent down a wall of water. Any more rain and the bywash would most probably have caused the homestead to be inundated and we would have been awoken by floodwaters gushing through the house. All in all memories of the 1990 floods remain strongly in our minds for many reasons, not the least our unexpected water views.”

“...water views in most directions.” Kim Avery

Bob Wilson

“A lot of water has flowed over the Melrose Crossing since 1990, and three more big floods, so I had to check the rainfall chart and diary to refresh my memory. It had been raining for a month (12 inches from March 23 to April 10) and properties such as Malvern Hills had lost irrigation dams. We had only been at Melrose for five years, most of them very dry, so when the river came out of its banks at the bottom of the hill at our place on April 13, it was something that all the neighbours came over to see, and a good excuse for a couple of beers. The next week we went about getting ready to shear what sheep we could muster on the western side of the place, greasing our overhead gear and so on. Because the river was so full already, when the heavens opened on the night of April 17, there was nowhere for the water to go but outwards. “Biggest river ever seen at Swan Hill” was one of our diary entries, “Water 18 inches over bridge at Northampton” another. People on properties along our stretch of the river, at Moonbria and Birkdale, made decisions to evacuate. There was no history of the Melrose homestead flooding so we felt fairly secure, but as the reports of the disaster unfolding in Blackall on April 20 made their way to us – “One foot of water inside bar of Club, water in Clayton Scarce’s building, two foot six away from entering the hospital, 700 feet of runway left on the airstrip” – we were getting pretty darn nervous. We were very thankful that our telephone system had been converted from a party line to digital radio concentrators just a month earlier – on April 21 the floodwaters covered the old telephone line. Because it was still attached to the house we were startled by the occasional loud twang as logs being carried downstream crashed into it. We were keeping in touch with the Fallons next door at Avington, who had a full house of tourists, as the water rose throughout the day. Apart from climbing our high tank with binoculars and getting glimpses of water covering the paddocks on the eastern side, we were getting reports from all the choppers and planes flying overhead. “One sheet of water from the house to the sand ridge on eastern boundary (about 6 kilometres wide),” Jim Taylor phoned to tell us after a helicopter evacuated him from Coolagh. Bill was battling a wisdom tooth that wanted to erupt during all this, and we had no strong pain relief medication in the house. After dosing himself with some stiff rums he went to bed at about 9pm and I was left with the torch to peer out into the rushing torrent during the night. The noise always seems louder in the dark too. Sometime between 1am and 2am on April 22, I was so relieved to find that the water had stopped rising. It peaked about a metre away from the garden fence. After that, the water went down fairly steadily and Bill was able to catch a horse and check that the stock on our side of the river were all walking around OK. The army dropped us a food parcel too. On Anzac Day, April 25 when the river was finally back in its banks and the silt dried out, we were able to row our tinny across to the other side. Normally we kept a motorbike over there but the river had been up for so long that year, we hadn’t had a chance to leave it, which was just as well – it would have been covered by water. As we walked across the flat towards the Ponds, things didn’t look too bad, then we found a dam that had all its walls washed away. All that was left of the 50 head of cattle there were tracks where they had milled around on the highest ground before being swept away. In the days that followed, Bill was able to cross the river downstream at Avington with the help of the tourist barge, and borrow a vehicle at Moonbria to look around our eastern side more extensively. He found an empty cement cup and saucer tank that was only prevented from washing right away because of the poly pipe it was attached to – it had been moved a fair way through the paddock in any case. We also joined the network of people faxing (pre-internet days) brands and earmarks to each other, and we ended up getting most of our cattle back. They were better swimmers than the sheep in those paddocks. With most of the fences that were down, we were able to stand them back up and knock them back into the dirt with the bucket of the tractor because the ground

was so soft, for a change. They didn’t survive the 1997 flood so well, but that’s another story.My strongest memory of the 1990 record flood is of the sense of community we had. We all pulled together along the river to help each other out and people freely shared their information and ideas. We didn’t need jetting plants to hose anything out and most of our flood damage was fixable over time, but it was good to have people to talk to and share the experience with.”

“The cattle were better swimmers than the sheep” Sally Cripps

“The 1990 flood was one of the highest Joe and I experienced during our 37 years as proprietors of Westpoint Service Station (now the Blackall Tyre Service). The water reached 5 foot 8 which we marked on our tube wall. We were always very fortunate as we could always count on local men, such as Doug Birse, Wes Wisley, and Eric Osborn, to help us move our valuable items out. They would back their trucks up to the back entrance of the garage and our mechanics and friends would help them load up and drive them to higher ground. Other tools and equipment were raised to higher levels inside the building. The office was also cleared of important papers and machines in the same way. After the water went down, we had the local fire brigade bring their hose across the road and they gave the whole building a good clean up. We really never lost too much apart from having no work for several days.”

“...the water reached 5 foot 8 which we marked on our tube wall.” Joyce Carter

“It was during these floods that Blackall proved the old saying that times of adversity bring out the best in people. The entire town helped in some way by providing food for those affected and during the huge cleanup period that followed. I remember that the schools had to be closed, much to the delight of the children, who had a great time paddling and swimming in the flooded water. The closure of the schools was due partially to the boggy roads, and to the number of teachers, including the principal, who were caught up in the floods on their way back from holidays. Returned solders were still remembered with an Anzac march, although the numbers of marchers were depleted, and the route was shorter. Perhaps that was Blackall's way of saying that we too showed the Anzac spirit, and could do our bit for our town and country.”

Marie Messer

“The director of State Emergency Services at the time offered us 400 army personnel who were at their service. They had been helping with the recovery effort in Alpha. I said that it wouldn’t be necessary, that we had everything under control. We knew (the flood) was coming. There was 6 and a half inches at Duneira the night before, following a period of rain like the one we have just had. People said they appreciated having (the SES) driving around at 2 and 3am on the night the water was rising. They said they didn’t feel alone, knowing that we were doing that.”

Data taken from a fax sent from Blackall SES Controller Don Wheeler to the Longreach Area Director Dan Glendon:Record: Major flood. Peaked 7.3 metres at 9.20pm. 7 business houses evacuated. 29 homes evacuated 120 persons evacuated from homes. 4 food drops carried out by fixed wing planes, 27 food drops carried out by Army chopper 766. 20 persons evacuated by Army chopper. 10 persons evacuated by SES boat. 56 persons carried over Barcoo River by SES boat. 2 loads of milk on government plane. Fuel used by Army Chopper 766 was 7,200 litres in Blackall area. 20 business houses, fire brigade, ambulance and courthouse evacuated.

“We knew it was coming.” Don Wheeler, Blackall SES Controller 1975 -

On the four-wheeler with dogs Tiny, Tess and Jet, looking out at the damage. “There was that much water that the southern dam wall burst,” remembered Robert Stockwell.

Robert Stockwell

Standing knee-deep in flood waters, with drinks in hand and smiles on their faces, at the Bushman’s Hotel on Friday, April 20, 1990 were Frank Ptylick, publican Basil Thwaits, Mable Marks, Frank Marks and Tina Holden. From a collection belonging to Cecilia Neville.

Glenda Tierney“What I remember most is lying in bed and hearing the roar of the flood waters and how the sound reminded me of waves breaking at the beach, but not gentle waves more like rough stormy waves.”

From far left: The Blackall bowling green (Veronica Law), Kerry Spinks and team begin the clean up, water inundates the main street (Dot Tremmel), water approaches the Blackall hospital after swallowing the golf clubhouse (Sally Cripps)

“How high was the water, Blackall?”What do you remember about the

1990 floods?

barcoo independent ~ 230410

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