Full throttle on Barcy speedway

BARCALDINE may become a petrol head’s heaven as councillor Morgan Gronold initiates plans to host a number of drag racing events at the town’s aerodrome next year.

"We hope to brand Barcaldine the Central West’s home of motor sport," Cr Gronold announced.
"The plan is to offer drag racing events over 200 metres which will be open to anyone willing to race their car, ute, four-wheel drive or motorbike.


"It’s a great opportunity for car lovers to do some legal racing and have some fun with their vehicles in a safe environment."

The secondary runway at the Barcaldine airstrip is the proposed site for the racing and the first event is scheduled for May Day next year.

"The use of the airstrip has already been approved by the council and, while we’re still in the early days of planning, I’m confident we can make the event happen."

According to Cr Gronold, drag racing’s national body, the Australian National Drag Racing Association (ANDRA), has indicated their support.

"ANDRA will fully insure and sanction all of our events so we’ll be completely covered. Drag racing licenses will be offered to participants for the day which will cover them for all public liability.
"The Barcaldine Fire Brigade and Ambulance service will also be in attendance and we’ll have a couple of safety officers on the scene to ensure everything is carried out in a safe manner."

As well as drag racing the event hopes to draw spectators with motor sport celebrities, a ute and car show, burn-out and shine competitions and motoring equipment trade displays.

"If its popularity takes off it may generate quite a lot of economic prosperity for our town."

Cr Gronold said the idea was based on similar events held with great success in towns across Australia.

"A recent racing competition held on Charters Towers airstrip got hundreds of spectators and I imagine we could pull a good crowd from all over the Central West."

Cr Gronold said the benefit of drag racing was that it was a low cost motor sport for both the organisers and the participants.

"We will advertise that you ‘run what you bring’ which means that, as long as the brakes work, then anybody can race.
"It doesn’t matter what vehicle you drive, we want everyone to have fun racing their mates or simply watching the street cars in action."

Cr Gronold said the Barcaldine Motor Sports Association must raise around $20,000 for a concrete burn-out pad, timing lights and other infrastructure to get started.

"We need to ensure that no damage is done to the airstrip," he said.
"We’ll be canvassing the region for prospective sponsors in the coming weeks so hopefully we can raise enough."

ADSL, not wireless, to keep town connected

WHILE Ilfracombe residents have the option of wireless broadband since the launch of Telstra’s Next G network, the council’s CEO Michelle McFayden said it has not resolved the town’s internet woes.

"In terms of speed and cost ADSL broadband still remains the best option for both the council and the community," Ms McFadyen said.

"As yet, it appears that wireless broadband cannot be networked, which means in order for the council to use it each of our computers need new hardware worth several hundreds of dollars.
"On top of that you’ve then got to pay a monthly plan cost for each computer which for unlimited download access is very expensive."

Ms McFadyen acknowledged that wireless broadband will bring benefits to some, but said she did not believe it was the answer.

"I’m in the process of setting up wireless on my laptop because it will be very handy when I travel.
"But it is not a viable option for everyone and our community should have the choice of ADSL.
"We are only 27 kilometres from Longreach and yet we are one of the few shires in the region not to have it."

Ms McFayden said it will cost $120,000 to upgrade Ilfracombe’s telephone exchange and install the required technology for ADSL broadband.

"The council is currently working with Telstra to apply for federal government funding through the Connect Australia plan," Ms McFayden said.

"Last time we applied they only offered us $85,000 so hopefully this round we get the extra $35,000."

The Barcoo Shire Council is similarly hoping their applications for funding through the communications plan will come to fruition.

"We’ve supplied the Communications Minister, Helen Coonan, with a list of our telecommunications needs to help her in the decision-making process," Mayor Bruce Scott said.

"It’s not just about broadband for us.
"We need to expand our terrestrial lines for towns like Birdsville, Bedourie and Windorah and establish mobile phone reception in the shire."

Drought "not unlike a civil war zone" say Salvos

WHEN we think of donating to a charity at Christmas time our thoughts are generally with underprivileged kids doing it tough.

But this year, with seemingly unrelenting drought conditions, the Salvation Army is casting their charity nets wider, hoping to catch some gifts for the parents on the land.

"Quite often the ladies on the properties go without simple toiletries, like hair conditioner, in order to buy their kids a treat or to contribute to the household budget," Neville Radecker from the Longreach Salvation Army said.

"Parents will go without extra food, walk around in rags or invent ways to save on fuel to help their children," Neville’s wife, Lorraine, furthered.

With hundreds of toy donations flooding in from coastal areas -thanks mainly to the national Kmart Wishing Tree charity - the Radecker’s are appealing to local philanthropists to keep mums and dads in mind.

"Even if they don’t believe they need it, spending a few dollars on toiletries or the like and leaving it behind after one of our visits can mean a lot," Neville said.

For the past four years, Mr and Mrs Radecker have toured central and far Western Queensland a month before Christmas, dropping off toys to the children of 17 communities.

Like modern-day Santa Clauses, the Radeckers once again performed their annual ‘troopy pack’ last week, stuffing their vehicle full of donated toys ready for the children of the West.

"This year we received over 60 boxes of toys to supplement what the kids already get," Neville enthused.
"I am always surprised by what’s inside the boxes of donated toys – exotic dolls, complicated computer-type toys – they really are good quality.
"Last year we had a private donation of 40 children’s laptops, which were obviously not a cheap item."

While the devoted couple are able to bring smiles to the face of the small, innocent faces with a token gift, as a counsellor Neville has increasingly noticed the effects of the drought on the more hardened faces of adults.

With countless television stories, newspaper advertisements and radio interviews focused on the ‘worst drought in a 1,000 years’, it is not surprising that Neville and Lorraine have observed a multitude of cracks appear in the most steadfast family units and relationships, especially around Christmas, birthdays or other celebrations.

"This is not unlike a civil war situation," Neville said.

"People are under constant pressure and experience changes in their behaviour and the way they think.
"You get different people saying that they will hang on for just one more season, but it has gone on for so many years now that the conditions are starting to effect relationships.
"What were once minor personality traits come out as strong disorders in some people.
"Spouses feel they don’t know who they are married to anymore – they become strangers and noone wants to live like that."

Lorraine and Neville often provide a distraction for rural families and perhaps a glimmer of hope for those touched by the fingers of drought which can reach well beyond the financial.

"At some stage this drought will end," Neville said.
"It will take a long time and I don’t know if some will ever recover.
"More and more landowners are saying they will walk off the land once it’s over and the land has recovered – they just can’t live with that uncertainty again.
"But overall, people are being quite remarkable and we have taken strength from the community’s tenacity to pull together and get through."

"People can be amazing," Lorraine reflected.
"They still dig deep for a local charity, even when it is quite obvious that they can’t afford it.
"Even though many are facing a desperate situation, there is a great spirit out there with the commitment to get through."

With plenty of toys to be shared among the children of the West – and then some - you can help the Salvos in Longreach by donating gifts aimed at the big kids: mum and dad.

Donations of toiletries, clothes or anything you think may be appreciated, can be either dropped at the Salvation Army at 149 Eagle Street, or dropped off at the Leader office until Friday, December 15.

Where there's a will...

IN what can only be described as a colossal feat, Naomi Burey of Ilfracombe has successfully raised over $21,000 for the Royal Flying Doctor Service, taking out this year’s charity award at the Spirit of Queensland Awards.

Exceeding her own expectations threefold, Ms Burey was presented with the award for raising the most amount of funds at a gala ceremony in Brisbane last Friday evening.

"I said to someone on Friday night that I had no expectations of raising over $21,000, no expectations that I would make it as a finalist in the Spirit of Queensland Awards and no expectations that I would win and take home an award, but look where I ended up," Ms Burey recapped.

Since February, Ms Burey has been relentlessly fundraising, seizing upon dozens of community events to raise some extra cash for the RFDS.

"The biggest donation came from the Yaraka Gymkhana Association which contributed over $6,000, while RM Williams donated $5,000.
"I also staged a number of charity shoots across the district, as well as an Easter raffle and a market day."

Most recently, a clay target shoot was held in Barcaldine on November 11, attracting over 60 seasoned shooters as well as a number of first-timers.

For Naomi, it was a recent accident on an isolated Outback road that once again highlighted the valuable role the flying doctor plays in remote Queensland.

"The accident between Yaraka and Isisford a few months ago really epitomised, for me, what the RFDS is all about.
"It really showed just how much communities out here rely on the RFDS.
"The money raised – nearly half-a-million dollars – from this year’s awards will now go towards helping to improve the services the RFDS can provide to these rural communities – through better equipment, new planes and neonatal equipment."

With her fundraising efforts successfully accomplished, Naomi is now encouraging other people – young and old – to take up the challenge.

"It has been a great experience, which enabled me to improve my public speaking abilities. I have also learnt a lot about self-confidence and what I can and can’t do – basically about my capabilities as a person."

Over $470,000 was raised in this year’s awards, with the main title going to Leanne Pullen of Mackay, the corporate charity award to Lynda Ryan of Mount Isa, outstanding achievement award to Virginia Lambert of Toowoomba and encouragement award to Sherreen Johnston of Georgetown.

Preschool bows out after 33 years

THE memories came flooding back for former students of the Longreach Preschool during the week as they toured their old stomping ground for one last time.

Next year the preschool in Kingfisher Street will become the site of the new Preparatory school year, and past pupils and current preschoolers gathered to bid the 33-year-old institution farewell on Tuesday evening.

Former students and their parents marvelled at the class photographs on the wall, reminiscing on their days in the old preschool.

For Rebecca Fickling – a preschooler in 1990 – she could hardly believe how much the sinks and toilets had shrunk.

"I remember coming back to the preschool when I was in Year 7 and realising just how tiny the bathroom was," Ms Fickling said.
"Just being back in the preschool building after so many years – the memories are starting to come back to me, like how we used to play catch-and-kiss in the yard!"

"I remember ‘the mat’, which was a square piece of lino that you sat on if you were naughty," class of 1989 member Robyn Huddy added.
"As well as those little stickers that you used to match up your cup and towel."

The Longreach State Preschool was established around 1972, after the original Community Kindergarten Association helped build the facilities in Falcon Street.

In 1978, current teacher aide Jean Tanks joined the ranks, while teacher Rosemary Winterbotham came in 1982 – forging a 24-year working relationship.

"It’s sad to see preschool come to an end," Mrs Winterbotham said.

"It has been a fantastic era and an exciting journey.
"There have been so many incredible children and stories.
"It has been great walking around looking at the past photographs on display tonight and remembering all the funny things the children have done."

Vandals target Hall of Fame

THE Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame (ASHoF) and Our Lady’s School suffered an onslaught of vandalism last Sunday, stirring police into bumping up patrols in the area.

For three consecutive weekends vandals have used slingshots to kill animals and smash property in the grounds of the Hall of Fame.

Last Sunday the perpetrators waited for the ASHoF groundskeeper to leave before peppering the windows of the cottage with marbles launched from handheld shooters.

Police arrived at the scene a short time after the vandals set off the ASHoF’s alarm, and found 24 panes of glass shattered, wooden venetian blinds broken and all 18 of the coloured bulbs on Dale’s bar smashed.

The globes on the bar had only just been replaced after being targeted two weekends previously, along with a mirror and eight windows in the ladies toilet block.

The following weekend several outdoor lights around the grounds were shattered and ASHoF staff found a dead duck, goanna and kangaroo as well as a gosling which had been backed into a corner and shot with marbles.

Last Sunday Our Lady’s school became another target as they received smashed windows and had a whiteboard damaged from a marble slingshot.

ASHoF CEO Debbie Erswell said she could not understand why anybody would commit such senseless acts.

"It is absolutely disheartening to think that people could do something like this," Ms Erswell said.

"That kind of mindless vandalism and killing of animals is not on.
"The repair of the damage will be very costly. We are a not for profit organisation with limited resources - we can’t afford these kinds of expenses.
"They did this in broad daylight. Someone must have seen or heard something, or someone’s kids must know something. I ask everyone to let the police know."

Acting Senior Sergeant Craig Neuendorf said police have cast a wide net in order to catch the offenders.

"Vandalism will not be tolerated in the community," Snr Srgt Neuendorf said.

"We believe the offenders are quite young. If parents or members of the community see children using slingshots around town then any information would be appreciated and treated with the strictest confidence. People can also call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000."

If you've got it, why not waste it?

THREE thousand bottles of Mount Franklin, one-hundred and sixty seven flushes of a toilet, thirty bathtubs of water or one full rainwater tank – that is how much water each resident in Longreach is currently consuming per day, and the council has had enough.

Water restrictions were introduced last month in an effort to curb skyrocketing consumption levels, to absolutely no avail.

"It seems as soon as we introduce the water restrictions, people have this perception that, because it is their watering day, they are obliged to turn the sprinkler on - regardless of whether the lawn actually needs it," Longreach Shire Mayor Pat Tanks said.

"And as a result our water consumption goes through the roof."

At the November council meeting, council engineering services director Gerry Logan revealed that each resident in Longreach was consuming 1,502.5 litres of water per day, over 500 litres more than what is required to meet target levels.

"You would expect the water consumption to increase coming into summer firstly to keep the yards alive and secondly to keep the residents cool," Mr Logan said.

"But if we don’t receive any flow in the river, we predict that we will run out of water by August next year.
"And we know that the river has dried up previously."

During the 1940s the countryside was in the grip of an all too familiar drought and, unthinkably, the venerable Thomson also suffered from its moisture-sapping effects.

"An area past the old bridge – they call it Picnic Point – well you could walk right the way across the river bed," long-time Longreach resident Joe Stevenson reflected.
"At that time the town wasn’t connected to the river water.
"We all relied on tank water and bathed in hot bore water.
"No one had a garden because we didn’t have the water to spare – the goats would have eaten it anyway.
"Gradually over the years, and with the introduction of the river water connections, the town has sprouted trees and lawns."

The council is hoping to appeal to residents to help in reducing the town’s water consumption to four mega litres per day, rather than the staggering 7.8 mega litres that was recorded on October 8.

"The main thing we ask of people is to turn their sprinklers off during the middle of the day and only sprinkle in the hours that the water restrictions allow, and only if your garden needs it," Mr Logan said.

"We get our water from a waterhole – it’s a finite resource and if we take too much it will run dry.
"We are simply encouraging people to be more civic-minded."

Cr Tanks added that the time for warnings about out-of-hours sprinkling was gone.

"Ratepayers need to be aware that council inspectors from this day on will be monitoring closely their watering activities.

"Warnings and fines will be issued irrespective of who you are.
"I want to make it quite plain, if people don’t abide by the rules and if we can’t get the water consumption down we will move to the next level of water restrictions."

Current water restrictions dictate:
The allowable times for use of sprinklers for residential premises are between 6am and 9am and between 4pm and 8pm on the designated days.
Odd numbered houses are permitted to water on Monday, Thursday and Saturday, while properties with even numbers or no numbers can sprinkle on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday.
Hand-held hoses can be used at any time.