Celebrate Australia Day in the Western Downs

On Australia Day we come together as a nation to celebrate what is great about Australia and being Australian. Many of us will ‘throw a shrimp on the barbie’, scoff a few lamingtons and chug down a beer. Cities and towns will hold festivals, parties and award ceremonies, which all bring us together to celebrate our great nation.

The Western Downs Regional Council has organised some wonderful events to celebrate our local heroes at the 2017 Australia Day Award Ceremonies and community celebrations on Thursday 26 January 2017.

Chinchilla

7am Free Breakfast

8am Awards Ceremony

Chinchilla Museum, 14 Villiers Street (gold coin entry)

▪   Australia Day Ambassador – Miss Chelsea Higgins

▪   Children’s craft activities

▪   Australia Day puzzles

▪   Musical entertainment

▪   Train rides (gold coin donation)

▪   Instabooth

2pm – 6pm Family Fun Afternoon

Chinchilla Museum, 14 Villiers Street ($5 per family)

▪   Giant inflatables

▪   Water slide (BYO towel)

▪   Children’s craft activities

▪   Australia Day puzzles

▪   Musical entertainment

▪   Cricket Speed Bowling Challenge (entry fee applies – funds raised will support the Chinchilla and District Cricket Club)

▪   Face painting

▪   ‘Flavour It Your Way’ Sausage Sizzle

▪   DIY lamington stand

▪   Damper, tea and coffee (gold coin donation)

▪   Train rides

▪   Instabooth

▪   Bar (charges apply – funds raised will support the Chinchilla and District Cricket Club)

Contact: Terri Keller, Community Development Officer 07 4660 7241 or terri.keller@wdrc.qld.gov.au

Dalby

7am – 9.30am Breakfast

10am Awards Ceremony

From 7am – Family fun activities

Dalby Showgrounds, Nicholson Street

▪   Australia Day Ambassador – Mr Scott Stidston OAM

▪   Inflatable obstacle course

▪   Inflatable bumper balls

▪   Face painting

▪   Children’s craft activities

▪   DIY lamington station

▪   Instabooth

▪   Entertainment and much more

Contact: Fiona Henderson, Community Development Officer 07 4679 4420 or fiona.henderson@wdrc.qld.gov.au

Miles

7.30am Free Breakfast

8.30am Awards Ceremony

Leichhardt Centre, Cnr Marion & Dawson Streets

▪   Children’s craft activities

▪   Musical entertainment

▪   DIY lamington stand

▪   Jumping castle

▪   Face painting

▪   Instabooth

10am – 3pm Pool Party

Miles Aquatic Centre, Marian Street free entry

▪   Pool inflatables

▪   Canteen operating

Contact: Jason Erbacher, Community Development Officer 07 4628 5355 or jason.erbacher@wdrc.qld.gov.au

Tara

11am Awards Ceremony

After awards – Family fun activities and lunch

Tara Showgrounds, Showgrounds Road

▪   Australia Day Ambassador – Miss Chelsea Higgins

▪   Children’s craft activities and entertainment

▪   Cookie decorating

▪   Instabooth

▪   Face painting

Contact: Diane Bradford, Community Development Officer 07 4678 7856 or diane.bradford@wdrc.qld.gov.au

Wandoan

7am Free breakfast

8.30am Awards Ceremony

10am – 12pm Family fun activities

Juandah Heritage Site, Windeyer Road

▪   Australia Day Ambassador Ms Chern’ee Sutton

▪   Children’s craft activities

Contact: Jason Erbacher, Community Development Officer 07 4628 5355 or jason.erbacher@wdrc.qld.gov.au

Kings Park Accommodation is a proud supporter of the Western Downs Regional Council and would like to wish all the entrants in this year’s Australia Day awards the best of luck. 

WESTERN DOWNS INVITES YOU

The Western Downs is getting 2017 off to a flying start with an events program that has something for everyone. From horse racing (and Yabbie Racing) to gourmet food markets, art exhibitions, book readings, cocktail parties and strenuous sporting events – the Western Downs will be a fun place to be.

The highlight of the calendar will be the Chinchilla Melon festival which sees the town attract more than 20,000 visitors over the weekend.  As well as the usual festival fun a Big Bash cricket match has been organized and a movie night for the kids at the school.

So SAVE THE DATES and JOIN US at these fantastic community events!

1 January      

WDOP Dalby Markets – Dalby Railway Station from 9am

12 January    

Tara School Holiday Activity - Indigenous Art workshops from 10am

13 January    

Same Same but Different Exhibition Opening - Lapunyah Art Gallery, Chinchilla from 6pm

15 January     

Chinchilla Country Markets will recommence on 15 January and start at 7am

18 January     

Author Adele Jones will host a Crime Fighting Fiction Writing workshop at the Dalby Library at 10am

26 January    

Celebrate Australia Day with family and friends at the Juandah Heritage Site on Thursday 26 January 2017 from 7am 

4 February    

Family Race Day and 2017 Season Lunch at Dalby from 12:00 pm

Cocktails for a Cure

Cocktails for a Cure is a charity event held at the historic Jimbour House to raise awareness and funds for the Mater supporting Ovarian Cancer research. This event will start at 6pm.

Chinchilla Melon Festival 2017

16 - 19 February 2017

World’s biggest melon festival! Everything watermelon related and more. There will be watermelon games including skiing (slip’n’slide), tossing, seed spitting, and chariot racing! Barbecues, Fashion parades, markets, story telling... the list goes on.

Melon Big Bash

16 February

Chinchilla & District Cricket Association present the Melon Big Bash.  Gates open 5.30pm. Come along for a great 20-20 night of cricket featuring the Queensland Bulls Masters players!!

Friday Festival Feast

17 February 2017 9:00 am

Chinchilla Melon Festival Presents Friday Festival FeastFriday from  6pm – 10pm.  Join for a night of relaxation and delicious food with entertainment by singer/songwriter Jane Zerbst.

Kids Movie Night

17 February

Western Downs Regional Council in partnership with the Western Downs Youth Hub Event presents ‘Kids Move Night’ showing two movies from 6pm.

4 March

Come ‘n’ Try Girls’ Rugby League Clinic – Chinchilla

The W.O.L.F Moonie Yabbie Races

A chance to bid on your favourite Yabbie, or enjoy the family entertainment, watch the fashions & spend up at the stalls. Great day out starting at 2pm.

Dalby Triathlon

5 March

Dalby Triathlon

For more information on these events and more log onto the Western Downs website.

For all your accommodation needs in Chinchilla and the surrounding areas, Kings Park Accommodation really is the best place to stay. Our welcoming managers Warwick and Lindi will make sure you have nothing to worry about and you can just go and enjoy these great events. Call us today to book your room. 

Staying cool during a heatwave

Today, the Surat Basin experienced pure heat when temperatures soared to 42 degrees. Birdsville was the hottest town in the state with the thermometer reaching 46.2 around 1.30pm

As temperatures soar across the state it seems there is little or no relief in sight as the Bureau of Meteorology has issued an updated statement saying the heatwave will continue "well into next week."

The worst of it is expected to hit inland areas in central and southern Queensland as well as the New South Wales borderlands. 

So how can we stay cool over the coming days and still have some fun in Chinchilla:

Visit the Chinchilla Weir for a great day out swimming and kayaking. You can even pack your rod and tackle, and if you’re lucky, you can hope to catch yellowbelly and Murray cod. Don’t be afraid to ask the locals for the best spots, either! From Chinchilla, travel 8 km south on the Chinchilla–Tara Rd.

If you have the right equipment, there are certain spots along the Condamine River where you can enjoy a large array of water sports. Head to a nearby Condamine Riverfront, or pack a picnic lunch and go a bit further afield to Archer’s Crossing if you’re keen to make a day of it.

If you don’t have time to head out of town then make your way to the Chinchilla Aquatic and Fitness Centre. They provide fantastic aquatic facilities as well as a gym, all in the one centre!

Then after all that fun in the water, you can retreat back to Kings Park Accommodation for an icy cold drink in our Bistro and then cool down in our spacious air-conditioned rooms and watch a movie on Foxtel.

Christmas in the Bush

The Western Downs is really getting into the festive season this year with an amazing number of community events scheduled over the coming weeks. There is everything from Christmas Street Parties, Christmas Concerts, and special Christmas Markets to make sure everyone can experience a very special Christmas in the bush!

Christmas Markets

Our Lady of the Southern Cross College will be hosting a Christmas Fair, Markets, and Carols on  Sunday 27 November.

Saddle Up Santa

'Saddle Up Santa' Street Parade and Party will be held in Dalby on Wednesday, 30 November in Cunningham Street from 5pm.

Mayoral Christmas Carols

Celebrate the holiday season in Chinchilla! Join the celebrations on Saturday, 3 December from 5pm at the Chinchilla Museum.

Carols in the Park

Hosted by Combined Churches of Dalby and the Mayor of the Western Downs, join the fun from 6pm on Sunday, 11 December at Thomas Jack Park for a night of festivities.

Miles Christmas Street Carnival

The Miles & District Chamber of Commerce Christmas Street Carnival will be held on Thursday 8 December from 5pm in Anzac Park. 

Carols by Candelight Jandowae

Don't miss the beautiful Carols By Candlelight Jandowae on Friday, 9 December. Bring your best voices, picnic rugs & chairs and enjoy the Christmas Festivities.

Chinchilla Street Party

The CCCI Christmas Street Party will be on Thursday 15 December from  5pm – 9pm at Heeney Street, Chinchilla.

For more detailed information about these wonderful Christmas events click here.

If you’re planning a visit from outside the Western Downs, pick somewhere convenient like Chinchilla and use it as an overnight stay point. With plenty of facilities and great accommodation options like Kings Park Accommodation available, you know you’ll get your bush Christmas off to the best start possible. Contact us today to book your stay!

Fusions on the Field

Fusions on the Field will be the first of its kind for the small rural town of Chinchilla.

An entertainment event to rival the capital cities of Australia. Think music under the stars plus the best festival atmosphere in regional Queensland. Modern music, fresh sounds, local music competition and festival foods all coming together in Chinchilla on Friday 4 November.

The local council thought Fusion on the Field would be a fabulous way to kick start the horse racing season and the team at Kings Park Accommodation agree.

Host MC Alex Dyson will introduce the headlining act Kingswood and other great bands such as Clea, Good Boys and Gawurra.  

Tickets are selling fast, so click here to secure yours now. Then make sure you call Kings Park Accommodation or book online   to make for a perfect weekend of music, horses racing and luxury accommodation in the outback.