The Mary Valley Show Society

Sunshine Coast artist Victoria Fitzpatrick loves the Mary Valley Art Festival so much that she became a sponsor of the annual event held in the Imbil Public Hall.

The professional artist from Bli Bli is a winning entrant from previous art festivals held at Imbil, and will have a handful of paintings in this year’s exhibition which kicks off with opening night fanfare on September 3.

Mrs Fitzpatrick is a full-time artist and enters many competitions each year, but she said the Mary Valley festival is a favourite.

“My husband insists I go in this one because we both love it,” she said.

“It’s a real community effort and is always so well organised and really well presented, so we make a point of being a part of it.”

Mrs Fitzpatrick is getting back to painting again after organising a re-print of her self-published book on adoption stories, which was originally launched at the end of 2008.

“I did a series of paintings on the adoption issue, which have been combined with short stories on how people have been affected by being adopted in their lives,” she said.

“That has taken up a lot of my focus until now.”

Mrs Fitzpatrick left a career as a graphic designer, working in illustration and photography, to fulfill her long-term goal of working in the fine arts.

“I wanted to express my own creativity – not just other people’s work – and I need to have that opportunity for personal expression.

“It’s a long road to success though.”

She works predominantly with pastels and acrylics and loves portraiture, although she is well-known for her wildlife art.

Entries for the 2009 Mary Valley Art Festival are well up on last year, and organiser Jan Watt said the committee was on track to deliver another successful exhibition under the banner of the Mary Valley Show Society.

Judging takes place on Tuesday in preparation for the gala launch on Thursday when Member for Gympie David Gibson will host the award presentations.

Sections include the $1000 “Celebrating Mary” theme, and there is a $300 prize for the acquisitive section “On the road – or in the shed”.

In total $5000 will be awarded to artists who enter the prestigious festival.

Cr Watt said the festival had developed an excellent reputation since it started and the Imbil Public Hall is open for viewing from September 4-6, from 10am-3pm each day.

She also reminded people that the festival concluded with an excellent afternoon of complimentary wine and cheese for the People’s Choice Award at 2pm on Sunday, September 6, sponsored by Borumba Deer Park.

“You are invited to come along from 1pm, to applaud the final award winners and celebrate close of the festival,” she said.

Source: MySunshineCoast

A mob of sheep and working dogs looked perfectly at home at the National Music Muster site yesterday.

They were promoting this weekend’s Mary Valley Show, Rodeo and Woodchop, and Mary Valley Show Society president Sue McMah said it should be an “awesome” day at the Imbil Showgrounds this Saturday.

A re-enactment of The Waltzing Matilda story will feature sheep, dogs and horses, with well-known local horseman Warren Backhouse talking to the audience about his horse training skills.

There’ll be four rings of horse events, rodeo, vintage speed cars, woodchop, stud cattle, fashion parades, sideshows, live band, licensed bar and more.

Source: Gympie Times

Max Newton can’t get the thrill of the chase out of his veins, and nor would he want to.

Use all the petrol head clichés you like, and he will agree with every one of them.

Now living in Imbil, Max will share the love of his life – other than wife Jan and their three children – with showgoers at the Mary Valley Show Rodeo and Woodchop on August 22.

That passion is vintage speedcars, and at least five of the nostalgic vehicles from the 1950s and ‘60s will be on display at the Imbil Showgrounds for the annual show.

Max wishes he could start them up and do a lap around the arena, but apart from causing havoc in the ring with the showjumping and pony club events, he wouldn’t have the time for such an interactive demonstration.

You see, these speedcars are built without starter motors! If you managed to catch the display at the Gympie Show this year, you would have seen the ute employed to tow the speedcars until their engines kicked in.

This lack of a starter helps keep the weight of the speedcar to a minimum, ensuring good race times, and Max said drivers had been known to drill holes in their chassis for exactly the same reason.

While the cars will present a static display at Imbil for the show, take the time to talk to Max and other representatives from the Historic Speedway Association of Australia, because they really can bring the glory days of speedcars to life for you.

Max was drawn to the sport as a young fellow when he was looking for something to do in his spare time after competitive pushbike racing. He was Queensland champion six times on the velodrome, and worked as a mechanic.

He joined the crew on a speedcar and when the owner wanted to upgrade, he managed to buy and race it for his own. He ended up owning five competitive speedcars in his time.

Wife Jan says the cars were a part of life, and you would always find them at the track on Saturday nights, but sometimes if was Friday night too.

The speedcars no longer race, but they can be seen in action at spirited race demonstrations such as that at the Gympie and Nambour shows, and a demonstration night will be held in Brisbane in September.

While Max still drives, he no longer races, and instead he actively follows his son’s performances on the competitive Formula 500 circuit.

Max recorded consistent placings over his years in the speedcar industry, but never landed a major gong for his efforts.

He still however holds the 50-lap record at the Ekka in the saloon car event, and in 1970 managed to beat seven Offenhausers in Brisbane to top the point score for the year.

At the time, the speedcars would cover the quarter-mile strip in under 17 seconds – that equates to something like 60 miles per hour.

Now Max says the new cars are getting down to an unbelievable 13-14 seconds over the same distance.

“You do not have time to even think about a prang at that speed – it just happens,” Max said.

He reckons he is still a leadfoot on the road these days, but a careful one.

“The difference is that I can handle corners at the same speed as I take the straight, but I know I am in control.

“There’s a big difference between that and plain speeding!”

Catch Max and the vintage speedcars at the Mary Valley Show on August 22 at the Imbil Showgrounds.

Action starts at 8am with equestrian ring events, and the rough riding bull and bronc rodeo events will be held after lunch. Classic rock band the Foggs and fireworks at 7.30pm will round off the evening.

Source: MySunshineCoast.com.au

Gympie Region drivers are headed for big speed limit cuts on 11 major and increasingly busy roads, but council Works and Services Committee chairman Larry Friske says the process has been both practical and democratic.

He says the new speed limits are based on what 85 per cent of drivers are doing anyway.

Council Engineering director Bob Fredman told this week’s Works and Services Committee meeting that the new speed limits had been planned with a view to simplifying the job of drivers, by making speed limits fairly constant through particular areas, with signed exceptions.

The new council decision will impose 80kmh limits on seven of the roads , all of them previously subject to 100kmh limits.

They are Tandur-Traveston Road, Tandur Road, North Deep Creek Road, Tamaree Road, Enterprise Road, Hood Road and Old Goomboorian Road.

The Traveston Road and Sandy Creek Road limits will be cut from 100kmh to 90kmh and maximum speeds on Old Veteran Road and Fisher Road will be cut from 80kmh to 70kmh.

Cr Friske said that the new limits were an important safety measure and were based on detailed scientific testing of speeds already being done by a majority of drivers on the roads.

“It makes sense and shouldn’t make much difference to most drivers,” he said.

The committee recommendations were adopted at the council’s general meeting on Wednesday.

They arose from a Traffic Advisory Committee meeting, at which council was represented by Crs Friske, Ian Petersen and Donna Neilson, council staff members Stuart McLeod and Ross Chapman, with attendance also by Graham Alder of the Queensland Fire and Rescue Authority, Gympie Traffic Branch chief Peter Webster, the Department of Transport and Main Roads officials Luke Kidd, Rowdy Goudens, Samantha Green, Pamela Goodchild and Jackie Smith and bus service operator Mark Polley of the Bus Operators Association.

Council also resolved to write to the Department of Environment and Resource Management about the straying of brumbies onto Tin Can Bay and Rainbow Beach Roads.

Sgt Webster told the advisory committee that up to 50 horses were believed to be straying from Forestry Land, resulting two years ago in the Transport Department erecting warning signs.

Mr Fredman told councillors it would be “very hard to justify not changing speed limits in some areas,” but said progress on making the changes would be “ongoing for another two years or so.”

Source: Gympie Times

The end of the financial year heralded more than just tax time – it also marked the date that key Mary Valley services were supposed to cease.

But due to the hard work of Mary Valley Inc and other community groups, Premier Anna Bligh has given the Valley a small win by funding the Community Futures Taskforce for another six months.

Mary Valley Inc media officer Kaili Parker-Price said not only did the taskforce receive funding for another six months, but community development officer Marie Hensley has funding to work full-time until the end of the year.

Mrs Parker-Price said the taskforce was much needed in the valley at least until a decision on the proposed Traveston Crossing Dam was made. She said she was very happy the time had been extended.

“We need the support of these organisations to help the Valley through. Dates on paper aren’t relevant when this is still going on,” she said.

The decision on the dam has been delayed for months and there are still a lot of emotional, economic and social issues that will go on beyond the announcement.

Mrs Parker-Price said people were still faced with losing their properties and are stressed, wondering if schools will still exist.

She said the community had changed a lot in three years and would never be the same again.

“It’s just like the five stages of grief.”

She said on the eve of every announcement date emotions built up and then, when the decision was postponed, it all started again.

Source: Gympie Times

CARLSON was the name on everyone’s lips at the Mary Valley Show Ball this year when Melissa won the Miss Showgirl title and brother Troy was awarded the gong for “best partner”.

Christy Brandt was announced winner of the Miss Teen quest.

More than 200 people enjoyed music by the Sunshine Swing band and degustation provided by Marina Taylor Catering in the Imbil Public Hall, which was beautifully decked out in a rich purple and gold colour scheme.
MC Jamie Dunn was joined on stage by Michael O’Dwyer of the Mary Valley Show Ball Committee, and Col Huddy who represented the judges of the young entrants.

The entrants had received grooming, elocution and dance training for a month prior to the ball, and presented the judging team with a hard task.

It is the second time the Mary Valley Show Ball has filled the local hall, and the crowd included people from Gympie, Brisbane and even the UK.

Vicky Mullen is a wwoofer – one of the Willing Workers on Organic Farms Australia – who is working her way around the Mary Valley at the moment. She enjoyed the insight into the night life of country Australia.

SPECIAL GUESTS: Looking very different in glamorous evening wear, these young valley residents presented judges with a tough job to select winners in the Miss Showgirl, Miss Teen and “best partner” categories. Pictured from left are Justine Brandt and Sam Hooker, Christy Brandt and Jack Taylor, Emma Carlson and Troy Carlson, Melissa Carlson and Scott Hughes.

GREAT STAFF: Imbil teenagers looked smart and delivered the food hot and delicious to the tables for the annual ball. Pictured from left are Emma Taylor, George Turner, Madeline Price, Sophie Price, Georgia Gibbs and Tiffinnie Fry.

PUTTING ON THE RITZ: The Imbil Public Hall took on a new atmosphere with a lively crowd and brilliant décor for the Mary Valley Show Ball.

Story and pictures by Kaili Parker-Price.

Installation of an innovative project aimed at improving safety on the Bruce Highway between Cooroy and Gympie will start this month (February).

Federal Transport Minister Anthony Albanese and Queensland Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt today announced that Jay-1 Enterprises had been awarded the $1.5 million contract to design, supply and install six new variable message signs (VMS).

Mr Albanese said the project would improve safety on the busy AusLink highway between Cooroy and Gympie using the latest intelligent transport systems (ITS).

“Six VMS will be installed along the Bruce Highway at Black Mountain, Federal, Coles Creek, Tuchekoi, Traveston and Kybong,” Mr Albanese said.

“The VMS can identify different styles of driving and then target motorists who are behaving dangerously.

“This technology will also allow Main Roads to provide advance warning to motorists about congestion, crash sites, wet road conditions and other potential hazards.

“The installation of the six VMS should be finished by mid 2009, weather permitting,” he said.

Mr Pitt said the ITS project would include a research and development component that assessed the influence of automatic messages on driver behaviour and safety.

“In the initial stages, the VMS will be used to display routine driver safety messages while the necessary hardware and software is developed to add intelligence to the system,” Mr Pitt said.

“When fully functional, the ITS will be able to automatically choose and display an appropriate message to target drivers doing the wrong thing, such as speeding.”

The total cost of the project is $2.7 million, with $1.5 million being federally funded and the remaining $1.2 million being funded by the Queensland Government.

Source: Australia.TO, 10th February 2009.

Two drivers, one of them Gympie Region councillor Julie Walker, were injured in a two-car crash yesterday afternoon about 3.39pm on the Mary Valley Road, just south of Goomong Road.

Mrs Walker was trapped in her vehicle for about 20 minutes, fully conscious, as emergency service crews worked to free her from her mangled Hyundai hatchback which had left the road after it and a Gympie-bound Pajero four wheel drive collided.

It appears the Pajero lost control in the wet conditions and crossed into the path of the Imbil-bound hatchback which collided with the side of the other vehicle before being shunted backward into a boggy gully. The Pajero overturned and ended up on its roof in the middle of the road. Both vehicles were written off.

Mrs Walker was stabilised at the scene before being airlifted to Royal Brisbane Hospital by Energex Rescue helicopter around 4.55pm. The male driver of the Pajero was taken by road to Gympie Hospital.

Gympie Ambulance Officer in charge Wayne Sachs said Mrs Walker had sustained multiple injuries, particularly on her right side. She was being treated for lacerations to the head, dislocated right shoulder, fractured left upper arm, fractured left wrist, internal injuries and a dislocated right hip.

One of the first people at the scene said there had been a massive downpour just prior to the accident.

Imbil police sergeant Terry Kennedy said it was frustrating that drivers were not getting the message and not driving to the road’s condition.

“Someone’s obviously been driving too fast for the road’s condition,” Sergeant Kennedy said. “When are drivers going to take responsibility for their actions and use their common sense. Everybody keeps saying it’s a terrible road, well then slow down and drive to the conditions. If it’s raining – slow down.”

The crash was attended by a Gympie fire unit, an Imbil urban fire unit, two ambulance crews, and police.

Source: Gympie Times, 2nd February 2009.

From humble beginnings growing up in the scenic surrounds of country life in Imbil, Philip Kropp has made a big impact in the sport of bull clowning. In fact, Kropp’s success is nothing short of stunning.

Kropp, 25, is now based in Utah where he is one of the most respected and admired bull clowns on the bull riding circuit. With countless accolades and awards to his name, his resume is the envy of any bull clown.

But the story of Kropp’s journey to fame traces right back to some of Kropp’s earliest childhood memories.

As a young child, raised by parents John and Judy Kropp, he possessed a burning desire to ride bulls.

As an exceptional competitor at school, all early signs indicated that the naturally gifted athlete would ultimately pursue some form of sport to earn his way in life. But working with bulls was Kropp’s first choice. It was a passion ignited from an early age.

As time went by and a young Kropp grew up, moving to Longreach Pastoral College, he found himself able to take his first tentative steps into the sport.

It was at Condamine, directly west of Kingaroy, that Kropp entered a bull clowning competition. With little practical knowledge on how to go about getting into the ring and facing the might of a fired up bull, Kropp was understandably nervous.

Nerves churning through his stomach, a cold sweat beginning to break on his forehead, Kropp tackled his initial hesitations and managed to pass safely through the ordeal.

The experienced prompted Kropp to seek out lessons to learn the fine art of the sport. It was then that the aspiring bull clown sought out the expertise of Graham Borghero who offered instruction through the Australian Professional Rodeo Association.

It was an early entry into bull clowning that in the fullness of time saw Kropp return as a fellow teacher to pass on his skills to a new generation of bull clowns.

Hooked and thriving on the sport, Kropp began to enter Bull Riding Australia competitions as a clown whenever possible, targeting places that offered the most money.

It was a lucrative decision and the wheels of a brilliant career began to turn, gathering in pace with each competition entered. But Kropp began to feel as though he had started to reach the threshold of what he could hope to obtain from the Australian circuit, and decided a move to America was necessary to break into new territory.

As soon as the emerging bull clown settled into America, Kropp wasted little time in entering full time rodeo work, often doing three or four nights a week.

Kropp made an instant impact on the American rodeo scene, gaining the affectionate nickname of “Kroppy”. Based mainly in Idaho and Utah, the work also involved travel throughout the vast interior of western USA.

The level of experience to be gained from the American circuit built upon Kropp’s early foundations built in Australia, and the young star soon began to feel as though he was beginning to reach his goal when invited in 2008 to compete in the finals of the very selective Wilderness Circuit – a pinnacle event in America.

Bull riding competitors in the event were required to vote for a team of bull clowns to act as official clowns during competition. A list of 50 men rounded out the eligible clowns seeking nomination.

Kropp was honoured to have been short listed in this exclusive group of three bull clowns, as this was yet another milestone in his career. The role involved working in partnership to protect the bull fighters.

While one bull clown played the role of the “clown”, working with a barrel and providing comedy, the other two were charged with the responsibility of protecting the rider from the ferocity of the bull.

American rodeos last roughly two hours with 10 to 17 bulls introduced into the arena, staying for a total of around 30 seconds.

Bullfighting is widely regarded as the most dangerous sport in the world by those involved in the circuit. Bull riders and clowns often endure agonising injuries, while, at worst, deaths are a reality – although rarely publicised.

In total, there are fewer than 10 Australians working the circuits in America and Kropp is determined to advertise his Australian heritage. During his time in the ring, the bull clown can be seen jumping around with a toy Kangaroo on his back.

It seems only natural that the crowd cheers their approval as this young Aussie with a keen sense of adventure struts his stuff.

Source: Gympie Times, 23rd January 2009.

Fluoridated water is coming and the state government has given Gympie Regional Council until December 31, 2010 to fluoridate Gympie, Rainbow Beach, Tin Can Bay and Cooloola Cove.

Some local councillors are against the move that Premier Anna Bligh says will save the state $1 billion in 30 years for dental costs.

At a Community and Economic Development Committee Meeting on Wednesday councillors voted to write asking the state and Premier Bligh to reconsider the fluoridation of town water supplies.

The motion went on to say instead of fluoridating water the government should ensure there are available supplies of fluoride tablets for those who “wish to be medicated”.

The motion was sparked by correspondence from the Friendly Society Pharmacy who said some manufacturing companies had now discontinued the production of fluoride tablets and they would no longer be selling them.

Deputy Mayor and Community and Economic Development Committee chairman Cr Tony Perrett said it seemed odd companies were no longer making the tablets, as people without town water may need them.

Cr Ian Petersen, who moved the motion, said he would prefer to have a choice of drinking fluoridated water.

“I think its wrong, it’s compulsory medication,” he said.

Cr Petersen said the cost of putting fluoride in drinking water wasn’t proportionate to the benefits people would experience.

He said in regards to water usage, the amount of water people drink is only small and a large amount of fluoridated water would be flushed down the toilet or used in the garden.

“What are they going to put in next? I’d be happy to go along with it if we had a referendum,” he said.

Cr Jan Watt seconded the motion, saying in the past people in this region had expressed they didn’t want fluoride in drinking water.

“I am personally opposed to fluoridation. We do provide tablets to those who want it. The health benefits and disadvantages are highly debated,” she said.

Cr Watt said the government offered to subsidise smaller towns like Imbil being fluoridated, but councillors were not going to take the government up on the offer.

“As a councillor I have to comply with the state government. But there is enough cause for concern that fluoride should warrant a serious investigation. I’ve got huge concerns about health claims.”

Cr Watt also said people would be absorbing fluoride when showering, which was worrying.

Queensland Health Chief Executive Officer Dr Jeannette Young said fluoridated water was more effective then tablets as it was more beneficial when applied topically.

Council is planning to fluoridate town water supplies in the later half of 2010.

Source: Gympie Times, 12th December 2008.