It's a brand new day!

TAKING every opportunity to learn more about new areas of interest has kept Colleen Hanrick very busy over the years.

As a member of the Arts West collective the textile artist has keenly lapped up every chance to learn that little bit more about her craft and keenly encourages others to take the leap and try something new during Adult Learners week, which begins today.

"We must always be trying new things in life and nothing should be taken for granted. It is important to continue to learn and to practice.
"By taking different courses I can continue to do that."

Through Arts West Mrs Hanrick has completed another creative knitting course at the Longreach Arts and Cultural Centre.

The four-day class was one of five on offer including doll-making, furniture restoration, pastel painting and resin casting for jewellery.

"Knitting used to be something that most people of my generation liked to do. Now it is even coming back into fashion," Mrs Hanrick said.

"The class was very interesting and relaxing; I learnt a lot of new techniques.
"Some people come along expecting the classes to be about painting by numbers but they are more about developing as artists themselves and giving fresh ideas.
"It is always good for people to experiment in their area of art or craft, whatever the medium."

For those with a photography bent, Adult Learners week is offering three free courses in digital photography run by Helen Barrett from Learning Network Queensland.

The Royal Flying Doctors Service’s art therapist Sue Sweeney is coaching peoples' expressive sides with two free art sessions.

There is also an a cappella singing workshop, with talented trio Poms from Oz, being held for those interested in exploring melodic harmonies at a cost of $10 per person.

Further information about Adult Learners Week program can be obtained from the Longreach Shire Council Community Development Office on 4658 4151.

Yellowbelly Classic 2006

RUMOURS circulated along the banks of the Thomson River last Sunday, with one angler claiming to have landed an "absolute monster".

Early on the last day of the Longreach Yellowbelly Classic, competition organiser James Balke received a phone call: "Mate, I’ve got a scorcher, it measures 60-centimetres!"

Mr Balke was astounded by the angler’s claims and promptly instructed him to bring the fish to the fishing comp’s HQ at Apex Park for further inspection.
(At that stage the longest Yellowbelly measured 52.3 centimetres.)

However the epic struggle of the behemoth Yellowbelly and the grand old angler of the Thomson was not to be immortalised, for it seems the wayward fisherman had used a flexible tape measure up-and-over the fish’s fat belly to determine its length.

In reality the fish was an earthly 49 centimetres.

The fisherman was soon heard to yell: "Throw that bloody tape measure away – it’s no good!"

Just over 700 entries were received in the third annual Longreach Yellowbelly Classic, over 200 up on last year.

A special weekend-long visit by ex-footballer- turned-television-star Andrew Ettinghausen kept the anglers happy with many hitting him up for a chat over a cold beverage on both Friday and Saturday nights.

Affectionately known as ET, the avid fisherman hit the water over the weekend with a television crew from the Escape With ET program to film a number of segments about the fishing competition and Longreach’s inland waterhole.

"Our objective was to promote the sport of fishing by holding a family orientated fishing competition over a weekend in Longreach and to encourage tourism in the area – I think we achieved our goal," organiser Helen Balke said.

"The competition grew dramatically this year.
"While cruising along the river, James and I were amazed to see that almost every family had joined up with other families and friends to set up their camps, making for an even more enjoyable weekend."

A total of 210 fish were measured over the weekend, mostly Yellowbelly between 31 centimetres and 53.5cm that were released back into the Thomson River to live another day.

James and Helen Balke thanked all of the Yellowbelly Classic’s sponsors who made this year’s competition a huge success.

And in case you were wondering, the main draw of the weekend - a Stacer 350 Seasprite boating package valued at $6,000 donated by Terry’s Marine Centre from Rockhampton - was won by the very lucky 17-year-old Douglas Webb of Alpha.

Other results from weekend were as follows: overall heaviest redclaw Brady O’Connor (Emerald) 526 grams; Juniors – longest Yellowbelly Jason Willersdorf (Longreach) 52.5cm, longest catfish Scott Frazer (Augathella) 50.5cm, longest bream Leroy Brown (Blackall) 31cm, longest Barcoo Grunter James Barwick (Barcaldine) 32 cm, longest Welch Grunter Mackenzie B-Peet (Dysart) 33.5cm, major prize winner Gary Cutting (Longreach); Adults - Lloyd Mercer (Perth) 53.5cm, longest catfish Brett Carlson (Longreach) 50cm, longest bream Shane Heinemann (Quilpie) 31cm, longest Barcoo Grunter Phil Leard (Charleville) 35.5cm, champion adult Yellowbelly angler (most number caught) Louis Turlan (Mackay), major adult prize winner Douglas Webb (Alpha).

Surprise! Peter's in the House!

By Anthea Gleeson
news@longreachleader.com.au

QUEENSLAND’S premier Peter Beattie made a snap-decision last week, packing up the ministerial jet and heading for Barcaldine to evaluate the health of the historic Tree of Knowledge.

Despite being on the ground for only one hour, Mr Beattie, along with his wife Heather, managed to squeeze in a visit to the ailing Tree of Knowledge, chats with two locals and a cup of tea at the Worker’s Heritage Centre.

While the impromptu visit had the attention of an entourage of 11 news journalists flown out to Barcaldine on a specially chartered plane, the premier’s visit failed to capture the interest of local voters, with only Mayor Rob Chandler turning out to welcome Mr Beattie.

Citing the reason for the trip as his "regular election pilgrimage", Mr Beattie’s also used the visit as an opportunity to snip another cutting off the cloned Tree of Knowledge to ensure the historic tree’s continued survival.

"We have made the pilgrimage out to Barcaldine every election, it has been a good omen for the Labor party," Mr Beattie said to the onlooking media.

"The tree looks a bit sick this time round, maybe it is not such a good omen this year."

Queenslanders will face the polls in nine days time, something that Mr Beattie was keenly aware of during his visit.

Local Labor party candidate, Shane Guley, will be up against stiff competition in National Party member and current State Member Vaughan Johnson, who has held the Gregory electorate for the past 16 years.

"Shane is a good guy, but it will be a tough one," Mr Beattie said.

"The National party has really lost its base – while Vaughan Johnson is okay – they have no one to stand up and represent the bush.
"Barcaldine is our best shot, it’s a Labor town, and we will always keep coming back, even if the tree is dead."

Mr Beattie’s tour continued to Mount Isa, where the premier and his wife attended a black tie function.

West receives IT wake-up

MANY Central West residents numbed by slow and shonky internet services may be stirred into action upon learning research now proves that when it comes to technology, the bush is way behind the eight ball.

Furthermore, on an international platform, Australia tails the pack.

Remote Area Planning and Development (RAPAD) board general manager David Arnold said preliminary feedback from the Broadband for the Bush survey revealed serious concerns about price and access, and a general lack of knowledge in the community about the benefits of broadband services.

"Interestingly our research reflects another recent report which says that broadband take–up is low and Australia compares unfavourably against other Western economies," Mr Arnold said.

"While those on broadband identify the benefits to their business or personal life, many are still unaware of what broadband actually is.
"There are also people who want broadband and are frustrated with their present dial-up services but access or price is inhibiting them."

Typifying the experiences of rural internet users to date, Mr Arnold recounted a resident of the Isisford Shire who said her dial-up internet drops out around five times an hour and is agonisingly slow.

Another reported that having broadband had changed how she ran her business and educated her children.

As technology infrastructure in the region improves, many believe the advantages to isolated families will be far reaching.

"Availability of fast broadband services at competitive prices is quite simply a necessity if the Central West is to maintain business and lifestyle equity with the rest of the State, nation and world. Local councils know that these broadband networks are required in order to build knowledge-based communities.

"Good broadband nowadays is a must in promoting our region or town to business and investors, tourists and new home owners."

The simple RAPAD Connect survey can be completed online at http://suncoast-broadband.net.au/rapad/ or in person by calling the RAPAD office on 4658 3301.

Tigers tame Winton's Devils

IF the huge successes on and off the field at last Saturday’s rugby league grand final between Winton’s Diamantina Devils and Longreach’s Thomson Tigers are anything to go by, rugby league in the Central West is back on track.

The festive atmosphere began early with hard fought matches in the age-grade competition. Longreach Under-13s proving to stong for Winton in the curtain raiser taking the game 40-14.
Through out the day favoured team colours were seen parading the streets.

While just about every shop in Longreach decorated their windows, demonstrating more than a little one-eyed support, the visitors from Winton were not to be out done and took every opportunity to rark up the locals before kick-off.

As the sun set on the field, it was the big boys that the 1,500 strong crowd converged upon the showgrounds to see. Thankfully the match didn’t disappoint, with a tight tussle unfolding before excited onlookers.

By half-time many locals were praying their bets were safe as Winton edged to a 16-14 lead.
During the break the Tigers chose to stay on-field, as some of the older heads in the squad laid the future of the match squarely on the line.

Gavin Ballard had the final word telling his team-mates in no uncertain terms the game was theirs "for the taking" as he pounded his water bottle into the turf in frustration.

Rather than slink from the paddock as pussycats, the Tigers found a new lease of life and ran the Devils ragged, despite having lost the cool head of Shaun Walliss to injury.

Quick ball generated two early tries as the Tigers went on a rampage, forcing the possession-starved Devils to stand back and watch. To their credit Winton never gave up, but a late rally was too-little-too-late as the Tigers took the Central West crown for the first time since 1997.

The 36-26 victory sparked celebrations which rolled well into Sunday as the mantra of ‘Go the Tigers!’ was still being shouted down Eagle Street by a hardy few late into the evening.

Longreach 36 Tries: Glenn Forbes 2, Kien Dickson 2, Dave Bielenberg, Marc Fickling and Brad English. Goals: Fickling 4.
Winton 26 Tries: Grant Haddon 2, Brenton Grant, Jason Fogarty and Ernie Ellis. Goals: Fogarty 3.
The 2006 honours board: Player of the Grand-Final Marc Fickling, L'reach.
Referees Player of the Year Jason Fogarty, Winton.
Player of the Year Graham Maloney, Barcaldine.

Posie policy poleaxed

By Liz Brooker
news@longreachleader.com.au

HUNDREDS of plastic flowers and trinkets adorning graves in the Longreach Lawn Cemetery have found reprieve after the shire council retracted their proposal to ban them.

Upon receipt of a number of public submissions on the ‘fresh flowers only’ policy, Longreach councillors, mayor Pat Tanks and chief executive officer Fred de Waard last Friday joined Parks and Gardens staff on tour of the cemetery where they were to consider all options before voting on the proposed legislation in chambers.

On the table had been a complete ban of plastic flowers, ornaments and vases, with the council notifying the public that changes would include issuing one standardised urn to cemetary visitors, to contain fresh flowers only.

The proposal had been proffered to solve safety problems caused by stray trinkets and plastic flowers encountered by cemetery groundskeepers during mowing.

During the field trip to the cemetery, councillors discussed various options such as drilling a hole next to each plaque for flowers and creating a special strip to house vases and graveside objects to negate hazards for staff who tend the lawn.

Once back in council chambers there was little discussion before the issue went to the vote and the fresh flower policy was binned.

Cr Tanks said passionate submissions received from the community helped council make a more informed decision.

"We have accepted that the people have spoken, so we are going to look at other options that will allow people to continue grieving in a manner they want.
"However, we do have to let the grounds staff carry out their job in a safe environment but I’m confident that what we come up with down the track will leave everyone happy."

During the councillors’ visit the safety of the undulating grassed area was also discussed. Cr Tanks said work would soon be undertaken to address any health and safety issues to try to prevent anyone visiting loved ones from falling over while in the grounds.

McGrady's office manager steps up for State elections

By Anthea Gleeson
news@longreachleader.com.au
THE announcement of Member for Mount Isa Tony McGrady’s retirement last week sent political tongues wagging: who would replace the venerable Australian Labor Party member and State parliamentary speaker?


Many called Mr McGrady’s Mount Isa office, hoping to get the inside word from his electorate officer, the personable Betty Kiernan.

Little did they know, Mrs Kiernan was trying hard not to spill the beans on her imminent ALP endorsement.

Mrs Kiernan was announced as the newly endorsed Labor candidate days after Mr McGrady’s retirement notice and is now ready to stand for the seat of Mount Isa at the next State election.

"It was quite funny, we had people ringing up the office and I automatically thought they wanted to speak to Tony, when in fact they want to talk to me," Mrs Kiernan said.

Mount Isa has been in the hands of Mr McGrady and the Labor party for the past 34 years, holding the seat with a 60 per cent majority.

While many would tag the Mount Isa electorate – an area that encompasses 367,305 kilometres and 31,848 people – a ‘safe’ Labor seat, Mrs Kiernan does not plan to count her chickens before they hatch.

"At the end of the day it is going to be a hard campaign," Mrs Kiernan said.
"Nearly everyone is saying that it is a safe Labor seat, but nothing is a given in politics.
"I will work hard to make myself worthy of their vote and confidence.
"And to do that I need to get out there and let people know who I am."

Over the years, Mr McGrady has been in the public spotlight, having held the position of Mount Isa mayor and councillor as well as ministerial portfolios including State development, mining and police, and most recently as speaker of the Queensland Parliament.

Unlike her Labor predecessor, Mrs Kiernan has stated she would much prefer to remain on the backbench to further serve her electorate.

"Tony has fought for us in the electorate through his ministerial portfolios, but the reality is I will be a backbencher.
"Through Tony I have learnt a lot about maintaining personal contact with the electorate.
"It’s all about the day-to-day stuff; the reality is that you can’t help every single person and I think you have to be honest about that."

Mrs Kiernan sees the challenges facing her local electorate in the face of the September 9 State election as the ‘big three’ – health, infrastructure and transport.

"But the key issue is the continued development of our communities."

While Mrs Kiernan received calls of congratulations on her endorsement, she also passed on messages of commiserations over the Member for Mount Isa’s retirement announcement.

Mr McGrady was diagnosed with a brain tumour earlier in the year, but with medication he is able to control its affects and is starting to see a reduction in its size.

The only drawback is that the once-a-week dose leaves him extremely drowsy.

"In this job you have to travel a lot and I was finding I was increasingly reminding myself why I had to go," Mr McGrady revealed.
"Once that happens, it is time to move on."

When questioned about career highlights, Mr McGrady reaches across his desk to a photo frame containing three smiling teenagers.

Mr McGrady explained that he was able to secure funding to revamp the Mount Isa private hospital and create a residential college for students living in remote areas, creating for them a home-away-from-home and the chance at a complete education.

These three students – two from Normanton and one from Bedourie – were the product of Mr McGrady’s rallying.

Inscribed on the back on the photograph was, "without you we would not have had an education".
"That’s what politics is about, it not about getting your picture in the paper.
"To me, doing what I could for these kids is what public life is all about."

While Mr McGrady’s days of breaking up political stoushes in the Queensland Parliament are numbered, he is still pondering the word ‘retirement’ and how it will fit into the McGrady lexicon.

"My wife and I have led such an active life for the past 34 years, and when I made my retirement announcement, probably the scariest part of it has been contemplating what to do next.
"I don’t think we are ready to take a complete step away from public service."

Outback Kid goes after glory in Copper City

WHEN Winton cowboy Gary Murphy entered the infamous Bull Pit in Mount Isa last Friday, the last thing he wanted to hear from the commentator was: "that bull has more kickbacks than the Australian Wheat Board".

It was the second round of the Isa’s rodeo feature event – the Bull Pit – attracting 35 competitors, a sell-out crowd of 3,000 and some very fiery bulls to the tiny arena.

The Bucking Thunder Down Under Series, held in conjunction with the iconic Mount Isa Rodeo, is a new addition to the rodeo festivities held over a weekend in August, with enough prize money to attract cowboys from across the country and overseas.

It was Mr Murphy’s sixth time to the Isa, however his first time as an engaged man and father.

"I left my fiancée and baby at the hotel tonight," Mr Murphy said.

"My fiancée gets worried about me, but who can blame her?"

This year, Mr Murphy drew a bull named ‘Hard Copy’ that was ridden to victory the weekend before in Cloncurry.

"I saw the cowboy ride that bull last weekend and he won.

"But I had a bit of bad night and didn’t make the eight."

Mr Murphy was thrown out of contention, yet still was more than willing to saddle up for the next round the following day.

"There is a lot of camaraderie between the bull riders.
"It doesn’t matter if you come from a different country, we just all jump up and encourage each other to get back in the saddle."

Searching for our Greek history

FOR Macquarie University historian Leonard Janiszewski, regional Australia was not only founded on the sheep’s back, it was fed by an army of Greek Australians.

For the past 24 years Mr Janiszewski, along with his partner Effy Alexakir, has been researching, exhibiting, and publishing the Greek-Australian experience, and most recently has been delving into the uniquely Australian characteristic of country cafés run by Greek migrants.
During the earlier part of the twentieth century, countless cafés serving traditional Aussie fare – think steak and eggs and mixed grills – sprung up across regional and remote Australia and continued with their success right up until the 1960s.

Utilising their knowledge of European and North American cuisine, Mr Janiszewski believes Greek Cafés ‘Americanised’ our palates with soda, milk shakes and chocolate ice-cream.

And the bustling Outback centre of Longreach was no exception.

During its heyday, the Central Café and American Bar run by the Comino Brothers of Kythera was more than just a downtown eatery; it was a social institution for many of the town’s young people.

Gwen Genninges and Marie Forrest of the Longreach Archival and Historical Research Group remember fondly the days of Comino’s Café.

"It was very important to Longreach," Mrs Genninges said.

"When we were young we went to the café after the pictures, you just didn’t go to the pub in those days.
"We would turn up at 11 o’clock at night and have milkshakes.
"I can remember they had the most beautiful white tablecloths.
"The country people would sit on one side, and the town people on the other.
"It was just what you did and no one [gave it a second thought.]"

Mrs Forrest added: "They used to use fresh oranges and lemons for the fruit drinks, you don’t see that these days."

According to The Longreach Story by Angela Moffat, the restaurant and fruit shop owned by Comino brothers opened around 1913, servicing the needs of town and country patrons until 1963 when the family retired to the coast.

Mr Janiszewski is looking to extend his knowledge of regional Greek Cafés, including Comino’s Café in Longreach, and is seeking the memories, photographs and experiences of local people who frequented and worked in these institutions.

Mr Janiszewski is also gathering information about the Kalilis and Pipos families in Blackall, as well as the Kavazos family of Winton and the Kasimatis family of Muttaburra.

"It is incredible to think that Central Queensland has connections with the US and Greece, through it’s food catering history.

"Longreach really blossomed from 1910 to 1962, which is a huge period of time.
"Most regional centres had five to 10 years of prosperity, but Longreach has a long history."

The outcome of Mr Janiszewski and Ms Alexakir’s research will be a book and a touring exhibition.

"It is one thing to get input from the owners of these cafés, but it is also important to get viewpoints from the waitresses and clientele who remember the good old days of Outback café life.

"The exhibition will open in Chicago, Washington and New York, before coming back to Australia to open at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra.
"It will then tour the capitals and regions in 2008."

More information about the Greek-Australians project is available from www.austhistmuseum.mq.edu.au/greek
To share you experiences of Outback Greek Cafés, contact Leonard Janiszewski on (02) 9850 6886 or email greekoz@hmn.mq.edu.au

Keeping an eagle eye on Australia's rarest falcon

BIRD watchers across the Central West are being asked to look to the skies and report any sightings of the elusive grey falcon.

Little is known about the grey falcon, which has prompted self-funded bird watcher, researcher and project leader Jonny Schoenjahn along with the organisation, Birds Australia, to find out more.

Over the past two years, Mr Schoenjahn has travelled thousands of kilometres across Australia looking for and investigating possible sightings of this raptor.

"The problem is that the bird is nomadic with no specific breeding area," Mr Schoenjahn said while he was in Longreach last week, checking out regional National Parks.

"One year the conditions might be right for the bird to breed, then the next year they move on.
"Nothing is really known about this bird, so this study is really the first of its kind."

Mr Schoenjahn is yet to locate an active grey falcon nest and admits he needs all the help he can get from locals in order to piece together the mystery of one of Australia’s rarest birds of prey.

"I have been basically everywhere west of the Great Dividing Range.

"I am driven by a mix of passion for birds and the need to gather knowledge about this species.
"Almost any question there is about this bird we don’t know the answer to – we don’t know local populations, whether it is endangered or whether its numbers are increasing."

Mr Schoenjahn describes the grey falcon as being almost the same size as a peregrine falcon, but slightly stockier with broader wings.

"It is very pale underneath, almost white, with a grey upper side.
"The grey falcon has very bright yellow feet, bill and nostril area.
"It’s predominate prey are birds; they love budgerigars, doves and pigeons.
"A good place to look would be waterholes, rivers – anywhere birds will go to have a drink."

For more information about the grey falcon or to report a sighting, contact Jonny Schoenjahn on (08) 9385 9939 or the Longreach Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service’s senior wildlife ranger Jenny Bowles on 4652 7312.

Happy days for Pioneers

THE sound of construction workers hammers were replaced with the more amiable murmur of residents chatting at the official opening of the $7.5 million refurbishment of RSL Care’s Pioneers Retirement Community.

While it was a happy day for many, there was also a tinge of sadness for the few remaining Longreach and District Aged People society members who will disband over the next few months.

During Tuesday’s official ceremony society chairman David Dawes paid tribute to the many members of the organisation which came up with a simple idea for a few cottages on land on the edge of Longreach in 1959, which ultimately lead to the state-of-the-art infrastructure today.

"On behalf of the board I’d like to commend RSL Care on what they’ve done – I think the new facilities are tremendous."

Members of the society joined invited guests and RSL representatives for a tour around the refurbished facility, heralded by RSL Care chairman Ray De Vere as "second to none seen on the coast or in Brisbane".

"Since we were asked to take over it has always been somewhat of a challenge.

"We guaranteed the spending of millions of dollars, and now there is a new dementia wing and a high-care unit.
"We were very conscious [of the fact that] Pioneers is the largest aged care complex in Central Western Queensland and provides an incredibly important service for elderly people in the area.
"Members of the Longreach and District Aged People society, who originally established Pioneers, worked so hard to fundraise and lobby for services – they can be very proud of the long-lasting contribution they’ve made to the community."

AEC makes a special trip to irate CWQ

CARING enough to lodge over 90 objections to the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC), the people of Aramac, Barcaldine, Blackall, Isisford, Ilfracombe, Longreach, Tambo and Winton have won themselves the right to present their arguments over the proposed new electorate of Wright face-to-face.

Written submissions closed on July 21 and, following a period of comment, the AEC have decided to hold an inquiry on the new seat by sending a representative panel to Longreach, to field public comments, in 10-days time.

Rosemary Champion believes while the AEC has obviously been mulling over the discontent from the bush, it will still take a large turnout at the August 21 forum to convince the federal Government to leave the electorate of Maranoa intact.

"The large number of written objections received by the commission has resulted in getting a meeting out here, but the fight is not over yet.

"Eighty-nine of [the written objections] were from people from the Central Western shires who will be lumped in with Gladstone, a coastal town we have no shared interest with at all.
"We have a chance to tell the commission in person why this decision is so ridiculous.
"Winton has been in four different electorates over the last 10 years and without people coming to the meeting this is just going to continue."

Mrs Champion said now is not the time for lethargy as the meeting will be the one and only chance for residents and business owners alike to prove how passionately they care for the region.

"If we have any chance of holding onto Maranoa in its current form we need people power to tell the commission we are against this.

"We really need to fill that room to capacity with people from all walks of life. You don’t have to speak, you can come to support those who are taking to the stage."

The meeting is due to start at 8.30am in the Fairmount Room at the Civic Centre in Longreach on August 21.

Both individual residents and organisations affected by the rezoning need to register their interest to speak by contacting the Queensland Redistribution Secretariat in writing at GPO Box 2590, Brisbane QLD 4001 or via email on qld.redistribution@aec.gov.au by August 15.

Variety's 800 bikes for bush kids

THE generosity of Variety Queensland will see a staggering 800 BMX bikes given away to primary school children in the Central West, but organisers have hit a snag: where do you find 800 kids?

Head of the cycle construction team John Palmer has been scouring the countryside for children to ride the 16- and 20-inch bikes.

"The guy who rang from Variety was from Cairns I think, and I told him we don’t have 800 kids in Longreach but I would see what I could do.

"Each of the schools are going to run a little competition and then what we are going to do is give away around 250/300 to the kids in Longreach and, hopefully, the visiting Variety bashers will be able to deliver them to outlying towns like Ilfracombe, Stonehenge and Jundah."

Mr Palmer said despite the initial difficulty of find ing enough children he can really only see one problem with the generous giveway: the bikes only come in two colours.

"The kids are going to have to get a bit of spray paint out to avoid the confusion of whose-is-whose, but I don’t think you will hear any complaints.

"It is great Variety can do this for kids in the Outback and while they are not a top level bike, they are more than good enough to cruise around on and have a bit of fun."

The big bike giveaway has also posed a third unusual problem: assemblage.

After being delivered in hundreds-of-thousands of pieces, the Longreach Scout Group has taken on the mammoth task of putting the two-wheelers together.

In a stroke of luck, six of the Scout’s venturers had already started campaigning to raise money for their planned trip to next year’s World jamboree in England.

Venturer leader Gary Muhling said his group has been burning the midnight oil assembling, with his group delighted to find the bike construction industry more lucrative than sausage sizzling.

The big bike giveaway on August 27 will coincide with the arrival of over 200 cars and 500 bashers in Variety Queensland’s 2006 XXXX Gold Reef to Races Outback traverse which starts in Cairns and finishes in Birdsville.

Martha Nobody finds a quiet place to stop

THE only person not smiling at Sunday’s unveiling of a stunning $70,000 bronze sculpture was the star of the show herself.

Affectionately known to her sculptor, Damien Lucas, as Martha Nobody, the work-of-art of the everyday pioneer woman was donated by the NSW Branch of the Stockman’s Hall of Fame to be installed in the garden outside the RM Williams cottage.

Weighing 350 kilograms the group’s tribute to women of the Outback is now sitting peacefully on a rock in the newly developed ‘quiet space’ which is to include a picnic table and chairs for visitors.

Also planned is the etching of Wilbur G. Howcroft’s poem Pioneer Woman onto rock - to match writings already on view at the Hall - and placed near Martha.

New South Wales branch founding committee member Jennie Newman travelled to Longreach for the unveiling unable to believe her organisation’s "labour-of-love" was now finally in her rightful place.

"We started making plans in 1989.
"We had a very active committee during the 80s and 90s and worked hard to find a way to complement the efforts of our early settlers, particularly the women.
"As the committee worked to raise money it was finally decided we would have a quiet place at the Hall of Fame where visitors could spend a moment or two relaxing with a tribute to all those incredible women who followed their men into the unknown.
"It’s hard to believe that this project, which has been in the making for so long, is finally a reality."

Along with the official unveiling by Longreach’s own pioneer woman Ann Barrett, native grevilleas were planted around Martha to welcome her to her new home.

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