Variety Concert for Warwick’s Birthday

Posted on May 14, 2011 by authorjanegrieve

MARCO’S VISION PAINTS OUR STORY … IN A VARIETY CONCERT

A man of vision, and a man of many words, Marco Gliori has laid his words and his passion for his district on the line for a tale-telling with a difference.

Ever one to gather those around of similar ilk – and the Southern Downs having more than its fair share of talented performers – Marco has written the score for a 2 ½ hour VARIETY CONCERT which will be performed twice at the Town Hall – on Friday 20 May and again on Saturday 21 May.

Those of us who know Marco (and that, it would seem, is pretty well everyone) will know that the VARIETY CONCERT will be fantastic, clever, quirky and unique.

A gathering of familiar local talent will combine to tell the tale of Warwick over the past 150 years.

A light hearted look at what has shaped (and continues to shape) Warwick, the VARIETY CONCERT will use many art forms to tell the story. There will be imagery, skits and original works through dance, song, music, comedy and stage-play. It will celebrate our highlights and our lowlights, all part of a community that has flourished under the Aussie sun to the heartbeat of Australia’s longest river.

The VARIETY CONCERT, marking the beginning of Warwick’s birthday celebrations, sets the scene as a Must Do event.

Performers will include Marco Gliori, Norma O’Hara Murphy, Brendon Walmsley, Caitlyn Alley, Erin Hilton, and Melissa Williams.

Friday May 20 & Saturday May 21 , starting at 7:00pm, PRE-BOOKINGS ARE A MUST!      Adults $15, Child (primary school aged) $5

TO BOOK: Call 07 4661 0300 or visit the Southern Downs Regional Council customer service counter at 64 Fitzroy Street, Warwick.

For more information and full event details visit www.warwick150.com

© jane grieve

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Mayor’s Gala Ball Celebrates 150 Years

Posted on May 13, 2011 by authorjanegrieve

PLAY IT AGAIN, PETE
FOR THE MAYOR’S GALA CHARITY DINNER AND BALL

It is a portent of a great occasion indeed when Peter Tanna and his band MANHATTAN agree to come out of hiding and play again.

Nothing other than Warwick’s 150th Birthday celebration enticed them to re-form so that they could trip the light fantastic one last time and for the greatest Occasion of them all – the MAYOR’S GALA CHARITY DINNER & BALL, celebrating Warwick’s 150th Birthday.

Local causes will benefit when Peter, Cedric, Tom, Trevor and Gary take to the stage on the evening of Saturday 28 May for a truly grand event. There will be a charity auction and a history and trivia quiz during a spectacular 3-course dinner.

Harking back to the grand old days of the dinner dance, those who know the music of Manhattan can be sure the entertainment and dancing will be superlative.

It is not often that a 150th birthday is celebrated – but, in Warwick, you can be sure it will be done with style and a whole lot of fun.

The Mayor’s Gala Charity Dinner is to be held on Saturday 28 May 2011 from 6.30pm. Tickets for this black tie event are $90pp and can be purchased by calling 07 4661 0300 or visiting Southern Downs Regional Council Warwick customer service counter at 64 Fitzroy Street, Warwick. Tables of 10, smaller groups, couples or individuals are welcome. All are invited.

For more information and full event details visit www.warwick150.com

© jane grieve

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Mayor Bellingham’s Anecdotes

Posted on May 13, 2011 by authorjanegrieve

Mayor Bellingham tells the story of what it used to mean when the black cockatoos fly upriver in their en masse migration back to the Downs.

It meant rain.

Or is it rain when they fly downriver and drought when they fly up? Whatever. One way or another, the arrival of the black cockatoos, dipping and weaving along the course of the river, screeching loudly to proclaim territorial possession, was always an exciting event for a little boy in short trousers who lived at Elbow Valley and spent his days exploring the bend in the river after which the Valley was named.

But far away from nature and into the hurley-burley of politics, a story from an earlier era captivated our Mayor as he explored a more mature medium, the minutes of Warwick’s council meetings over the years.

Perhaps building on the infamous Egg Throwing Incident on 29th November 1917, when an egg was thrown at the Prime Minister, knocking off his hat and initiating the establishment of the Commonwealth Police, Mr Bellingham found one minute of particular interest.

It described an occasion when a Warwick mayor, overcome with rage and indignation, snatched up an inkwell and hurled it at a fellow councillor.

What tickled our current mayor, however, was that it hit a journalist. Was this perhaps a smattering of justice?

Building on Mayor Bellingham’s own special area of interest, the fire brigade, the minutes described a fire exercise in 1914. On that occasion it took a horse-drawn fire truck a total of 8 minutes from go to whoa to make two trips from the fire station with equipment, then get a jet of water over the Town Hall spire using a the first fire brigade steam engine in Warwick.

Not bad.

For more information and full event details visit www.warwick150.com

© jane grieve

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Mayor’s Address: on Our 150th Birthday

Posted on May 13, 2011 by authorjanegrieve

Mayor Ron Bellingham has been the civic leader of the Municipality of Warwick, now part of the Southern Downs region, for 11 of its 150 years. As its 44th Mayor, this is what he has to say to the people of his region:

“150 years is just two lifetimes.

“When I consider that this local Government region has been an entity for that period of time – merely 2 years less than the lifespan of the State of Queensland, and one of the earliest municipalities in the State – I am awed by the achievements of those who have contributed – and continue to contribute – to this unique and vibrant community.

“The Southern Darling Downs was first settled by Patrick Leslie in 1840. Within just 21 years Warwick was declared a municipality. Only 30 years later, our magnificent Town Hall was constructed from local sandstone.

“Our forefathers managed to do things swiftly and efficiently, perhaps more so than is possible today despite the advances in technology.

“Their legacy set the pace for a remarkable community. Throughout the rich and varied history of our nation, in good times and in bad during 150 years, this Shire has played its part with honour and distinction.

“Our history is a living thing – it is being created every day, through the actions and endeavours of all of our citizens.

“As people continue to discover what a desirable place this region is, each of its various centres grounded in such very different cultural identities to make a very rich and united whole, I am very proud of what we have become.

“We have seen significant change, in particular over the last decade; those many people who have come here and made the choice to actively engage have had a remarkably positive effect on the fabric of the community.

“We will continue to see people who are disillusioned with the herd mentality of city life finding something better here – not only the pleasant lifestyle, but also the sense of community, both of which are abundantly accelerating into the future on the basis of the spirit of our people and what our region offers.

“For all these reasons I am excited about our 150th Birthday. I formally invite people to come out and take part in the celebration. It is for all of us. It signifies who we are, what we have achieved, our place in history, and our place in the future.

“I exhort everybody to choose which events during this glorious week from 20th to 29th May, 2011, will be enriched by their participation.”

For more information and full event details visit www.warwick150.com

© jane grieve

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Names That Ring True Around Here

Posted on May 12, 2011 by authorjanegrieve

Names like:  Cunningham, Leslie, Darling,
Condamine, Canning Downs

It always seems somewhat marvellous that the early explorers could see the wood for the trees, down on the ground as they were with forest all about in those days and only the odd glimpse of blue sky to remind them which way was up.

Be that as it may, Allan Cunningham, in 1823 the first recorded white man to set foot on the Darling Downs, went on to discover a gap up the hitherto impenetrable and forest-clad Great Dividing Range, and that gap is now our own familiar Cunningham’s Gap.

Since he was in the area and busy naming things, Cunningham gave the name “Condamine” to the watercourse he found, somewhat optimistically adding the distinction “River” to its title, and not knowing that this was the start of the longest river in Australia. He named it after T.De La Condamine, aide-de-campe to Governor Darling – who, as well we know, already had his own river named after him. Cunningham added the Darling Downs to his honours.

Hearing of the magnificent countryside Cunningham had found, Patrick Leslie hurried hither in 1840, thus bestowing another familiar name on many landmarks in the district including our dam. With his brothers George and Walter he claimed all the land to the head of the Condamine, including its tributaries, and built the first station homestead in Queensland, Canning Downs, the same year.

The following year Patrick Leslie made the journey via Brisbane with a new bride, Catherine. They were the first family to tackle the Great Dividing Range via Cunningham’s Gap – a most intrepid thing to do in 1841, since it was by no means the passable road it is today.

In 1847 the NSW Government asked Leslie to select a site for a town on Canning Downs station. It was to be known as Canningtown; the local Aborigines knew the area as Gooragooby; but the name Warwick was eventually chosen.

Patrick Leslie bought the first allotment of land sold in Warwick, still then part of NSW, in 1848. Queensland was declared a separate state on 6th June 1859, and in on 25th May 1861 Warwick was Queensland’s fourth municipality to be declared outside Brisbane.

And so – we celebrate a birthday. And at the same time, we celebrate our founding fathers and all those who have added so much to our town since.

*much of this information was derived from Wikipedia

For more information and full event details visit www.warwick150.com

© jane grieve

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Overview of Warwick’s 150th Birthday Celebrations

Posted on May 12, 2011 by authorjanegrieve

On May 25th this year, the Warwick community will celebrate its 150th year since being proclaimed a municipality in 1861.

During a week when people can get out and recover from a little too much water over the bridge in recent history, the Warwick community will celebrate much water under the bridge in 150 years of this thriving little metropolis on the banks of the Condamine River.

The celebration will run from 20 to 29 May – and will incorporate a plethora of events, displays and occasions which, it is intended, will do our town proud.

And everyone is invited.

Under the auspices of the Southern Downs Regional Council, local community groups have rallied to the call to create a memorable 10 days.

In a one-off that is typical of our town, the celebrations will open when Marco Gliori and some of our great local talent enact the region’s history through a Variety Concert on 20/21 May – written for this special occasion by our own Marco.

The Sunshine Rotary Club Car Rally will seek out the more adventurous in the community for a treasure hunt and observation rally on Sunday 22 May.

Pringle Cottage volunteers have slaved over a photographic display and commemorative rose garden for 20 months, and will open all week. They will launch their new garden at 10:00am on Sunday 22 May and dress up in historic costume, and they hope you will too.

Likewise the Family History Display will be open in the Warwick Library from 25 to 27 May; if you are quick, you can contribute yours. But in any event, the stories told there will be fascinating.

A Coach Tour of Heritage Buildings (of which Warwick has many and magnificent) will run on Monday 23rd May.

You are all invited to share in a giant birthday cake at the 150th Birthday Morning Tea at the Town Hall at 10.00am on Wednesday 25 May.

The steam train will come to life, belching smoke and blowing its whistle, on Saturday 28 May. Ride from Warwick to Hendon but pre-book, that’s a must. Join the Southern Downs Steam Railway at the precinct in Hamilton St that day for a sausage sizzle and fun afternoon for the kids (perhaps not all so small?) fulfilling their dreams of riding on rail trolleys and wagons.

And that night, a solemn but significant occasion will be the Mayor’s Gala Charity Dinner when Warwick’s most popular performers Manhattan will entertain, Peter Tanna once again strutting his stuff to the absolute delight of the party-goers. Tickets can be purchased at Council.

2pm Sunday 29th will see the Glengallan Homestead Family History Centre launch, and the week’s celebrations will finish off with a frenzy of colour and activity at a 150th Party in the Park in Leslie Park that same day.

A free event, the Party in the Park will feature live entertainment, children’s activities, stalls and tasty food.

Time now to dust off the historic clothes (but only if you want to and have some …… and perhaps letting out the odd seam) and dig for the family history as Warwick prepares to celebrate 150 years of good living on the banks of its recalcitrant river.

For more information and full event details visit www.warwick150.com

© jane grieve

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Family History at the Warwick Library

Posted on May 12, 2011 by authorjanegrieve

It’s a familiar story.

“When I started my family history journey, I was amazed at what I found,” says Jennifer Walker, convenor of the FAMILY HISTORY DISPLAY being held at the WARWICK LIBRARY from Wed 25th to Fri 27th May.

“Even though I only came here in 1979, I found that I have ancestral connections to this area.”

The FAMILY HISTORY DISPLAY will showcase family histories sourced especially for this event. All have been painstakingly gathered together to create a rich tapestry of local history for public display in the Warwick Library during Birthday Week.

To include your family history, simply complete a submission form and lodge it at Council reception by 10th May. The forms are available from the Warwick Library, the Visitor Information Centre and Council reception.

Completed entries in the simple format required must be delivered to Council reception by Tuesday 17th May.

The family story that Jennifer found when she did a little digging is one that weaves itself in and out of connection with the earliest names in the district.

Jennifer’s ancestor Eliza Barrett, an Irish Potato Famine Orphan (that is a story unto itself!) who was sent to Australia in 1848 at the age of 15, married a man who worked for Walter and George Leslie.

“Looking at her story makes me wonder what her life was like. And similarly, her grand-daughter, my great-great-grandmother, who was born at East Talgai in 1870, lost 2 husbands to workplace accidents but still managed to raise 5 children successfully.

“I don’t know how she did it!”

Jennifer’s family story is just one that will feature at the Warwick Library’s FAMILY HISTORY DISPLAY between 25th and 27th May.

For more information contact Jennifer Walker on walkerbj3@bigpond.com

For more information and full event details visit www.warwick150.com

© jane grieve

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Apologies from a very contrite writer…

Posted on May 3, 2011 by authorjanegrieve

It’s really very humbling and kind of makes you wonder
To see in typeface bold and black your very public blunder;
When Peter said “You’re going to dread to see your Pentath Story”
I genuinely thought that I could never spoil their glory!

But then I looked; and there it was, right there in the March edition -
My rendering of that great event despatched me to perdition.
‘Cos while I always strive to tell a tale exactly right,
I hadn’t even told a tale! – by cripes I got a fright!

I saw at once that there had been a horrible mistake
Instead of a polished piece I’d sent the crappy notes I make!
I hoped the Pentath people wouldn’t know who’d caused this shame
But when I looked again I saw the footnote with my name!

What can I say? I can’t let such a gaff be too consumin’
But all the same it’s rather grim to find you’re only human!
Perhaps a fitting consequence for putting them in the gun
Would be to tog me up and make me do the Pentath Run!

© jane grieve

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Warwick Pentath Run

Posted on May 2, 2011 by authorjanegrieve

Get your running shoes on for the Warwick Pentath Run.

Pat Sinnott, the spokesman for the organisers of this year’s WARWICK PENTATH RUN on 21-22 May, is a committed marathon runner.

Running has been a lifetime’s passion which began when Pat was a child in Ireland. There, the cooler climate lends itself to year-round running events and the clubs with which he was involved from the age of 12 organised track & field events in the Irish summer, and cross-country in winter. So, Pat had had plenty of experience and plenty of ideas when a group of enthusiasts in Warwick decided to create a major race of some kind in Warwick.

In 2002 the first Warwick Pentath-run was conducted. In a unique format which is logistically impossible to organise in a metropolitan area, the Warwick Pentath-run is a marathon (42.2km) divided into 5 legs over 2 days, each leg a different kind of race so that its appeal is extremely broad.

Contestants can enter one, some or all of the legs.

Saturday’s 3 races are WIRAC-Yangan, a half-marathon on an undulating course, showcasing our Shire; followed by a 4.6km cross-country at Morgan Park; and a 5km flat sprint at Sandy Creek. Then there is a presentation dinner at WIRAC that night.

Sunday completes the test with the gruelling, and very visually spectacular 10km uphill run from Killarney to Queen Mary Falls; and the final leg is the very popular 1500m run up and down Palmerin Street, finishing at the Band Rotunda.

With about 75% of the 400 or so contestants coming from Brisbane and environs, the Warwick Pentath-run brings substantial revenue into the district, an estimated $100,000 spread across a range of businesses. It’s a magnificent effort from a group of enthusiasts, who invite and welcome local participation in what has become a great annual event for the Warwick district. And a local charity is always the beneficiary of all their effort.

© jane grieve

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ANZAC Day Tribute

Posted on April 22, 2011 by authorjanegrieve

There aren’t so many left these days, but those there are, are more precious than gold dust. There are two old blokes in particular who get together now and then in Warwick to share reminiscences about a story none of the rest of us can possibly comprehend in its enormity.

David Watt and Kingsley Locke have been mates for 73 years. They were born a couple of weeks apart in Warwick – were in the same class at the Warwick High School – and were together on a very wet Sunday night on 24th May, 1942, when a train disgorged them and a dozen other Warwick boys, all 18 and trembling in their boots, at the 29th Infantry Training camp at Goondiwindi.

“We were scared,” says David. “We had no idea what the future held for us.”

Transferred to Canungra Jungle Warfare School for a gruelling month’s intensive day-and-night training, David and Kingsley ended up a couple of years later in Bougainville as signallers in the 26th Infantry Battalion AIF. They remember one night being on a beach, frantically digging with their steel helmets in an instinctive, but possibly useless in the circumstances, attempt to create cover.

Along with the rest of their platoon, they were supposed to be having some well-deserved R&R away from the action. But the Japs had worked out they were there, and were firing 20-pounders at their position.

What good would a small hole in the ground be if one hit you? Not much – but it made them feel better digging those holes!

One of these monster shells landed within a couple of feet of Kingsley – and did not explode. “God must have been saving me for the work I have since done playing the piano for The Happy Wanderers Band in Warwick for 35 years,” chuckles Kingsley. But the horror of that moment, and many others during that time, is firmly etched behind his smiling eyes.

David  wasn’t so lucky at 3am on Tuesday, 9th January 1945, when a bullet hit him in the chest while he was ‘in our perimeter’, anxiously watching for night sleuths bearing death. “Didn’t see it coming,” quips David. Indeed. He might have seen that it was more than likely to come, sooner or later.

So, here they are today, these old fellers, cobbers to the end; they have lived the good lives so many of their mates were denied, David and his wife Marjorie enjoying life at Regency Park Retirement Village, while Kingsley, now aged 87, still enjoys his well-maintained yard in Warwick.

What were you doing when you were 18, or 19, or 20? I’ll tell you what I wasn’t doing, and it’s thanks to Veterans like David Watt and Kingsley Locke that I wasn’t.

© jane grieve

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