New Aquatic Centre to open in April

LADY OF THE MARY STATUE UNVEILED

THE MARY VALLEY RATTLER GETS THE GO AHEAD

COVER STORY: Australia Day Awards OUR REGION OUR FOCUS Your Councillors A message from Mayor

Cr Mick Curran, Mayor Mick Curran

Portfolio: Governance, Finance, Disaster Management Phone: 0417 959 331 Email: mayorcurran@.qld.gov.au

Cr Mark McDonald, Division 1

Portfolio: Planning and Development Phone: 0439 001 170 Email: [email protected]

Cr Glen Hartwig, Division 2 Welcome to the first edition of ‘The Round Up’ for 2017. Portfolio: Economic Development Firstly I hope you and your families have been making the Phone: 0437 722 931 most of all the enjoyment that comes along with summer in Email: [email protected] this wonderful part of Australia. Council is looking forward to bringing many new facilities and services to the Cr Mal Gear, Division 3 in the months to come.

Portfolio: Business Activities A year-long salute has begun as we celebrate 150 years (G150). Phone: 0437 477 245 The year kicked off with our Australia Day celebrations where Email: [email protected] thousands of locals and visitors attended the hot summer day of fun and festivities at Nelson Reserve and we look forward to bringing you many more G150 events throughout the year. We Cr Daryl Dodt, Division 4 also recently unveiled the Lady of the Mary Statue in Mary Street Portfolio: Environmental Sustainability which signifies an important part of Gympie’s flood history. and Special Projects There is something very exciting just around the corner with Phone: 0499 080 164 the opening of the Aquatic Recreation Centre in April. The final Email: [email protected] touches are underway and it is truly going to be an amazing Cr Dan Stewart, Division 5 facility for everyone in the community to enjoy. At Council we will continue to focus on jobs creation and Portfolio: Social Wellbeing Phone: 0499 081 404 economic development with tourism highlighted as a major Email: [email protected] contributor to our region’s future growth. Initiatives such as the Mary Valley Rattler and River to Rail Trail projects are focused towards bringing people to the region. So, in presenting you Cr Hilary Smerdon, Division 6 with this issue of The Round-Up, we celebrate this region and its bright future. Portfolio: Water and Sewerage, Waste Management Mayor Mick Curran Phone: 0499 080 913 Email: [email protected]

Cr Bob Leitch, Deputy Mayor Division 7

Portfolio: Infrastructure Services Phone: 0429 231 516 Email: [email protected]

Cr James Cochrane, Division 8

Portfolio: Tourism, Sport and Recreation Phone: 0499 080 398 Email: [email protected]

PAGE 2 THE ROUNDUP FEBRUARY 2017 Contents Australia Day Awards 01 Your Councillors Citizen of the Year - Marlene Owen 02 A message from Citizen of the Year Mayor Mick Curran HowMarlene do you feelOwen about receiving this 03 Australia Day Awards award? It is a privilege and an honor. I feel very 04 Mary Valley Rattler humbled about this award. I’m certainly 05 Gympie Aquatic Recreation not in it for the recognition; I’m here for Centre my community. 06 River to Rail Trail What do you love about Gympie? 06 Stage 1 - G150 We are in the middle of paradise! Gympie 07 Snapper is such a genuine, sharing community and 08 G150 Celebrations so close to the beautiful beaches. 09 Our region ... our focus If you could describe to a younger 10 Youth precinct and play space Gympie resident, what’s great about 10 Lady of the Mary volunteering? It’s all about giving and receiving. 11 Meet the staff The experience that comes along with Citizen of the Year 12 What’s on volunteering is very rewarding. Marlene Owen THE ROUND-UP

Editorial Nicole Davis / Melissa Boully

Design Jennifer Wohlk

Produced By Gympie Regional Council Town Hall, 2 Caledonian Hill, Gympie Young Citizen of the Year Community Event of the Year 1300 307 800 Mikaela Calvert Little Kids Day Out [email protected]

Our newest citizens Back from left: Deputy Mayor Bob Leitch, Helen Armitage, Flavia Burley, Raphael Man Ka Cheung, Sukhbir Singh Sarjit Singh Dhillon, Claudia Granshaw and Sports Administration Award Youth Sports Award Geoffrey Karley, Mayor Mick Curran. Darren Burns Jarred Brook Front: Maria Sinclair, Corinna Cervone, K Sameer Singh Dhillon, Samuel Cook and Charlotte Pegues.

Youth Cultural Award Cultural Award Eliza Parker Jamie-Lee Griffiths THE ROUNDUP FEBRUARY 2017 PAGE 3 Mary Valley Rattler

Stage One of the Mary Valley Rattler Steam Train revitalisation is set to go head in Gympie’s 150th year with the announcement of a funding commitment from the Queensland Government’s ‘Works for Queensland’ program.

The revitalised Mary Valley Rattler will this project on track. Stage One of the The Mary Valley be transformed into a professional project will include getting the Mary Rattler will be tourism attraction with the potential to Valley Rattler up and running from generate significant economic benefits Gympie to and vice versa and transformed into for the region. Council will then explore the feasibility of the train continuing to for Stage Departing Gympie’s fully restored a professional Two. heritage station, the Rattler will tourism attraction . carry passengers over the Mary The first steps of the project include: River and through the fertile Mary • Review and replacement of track Valley, traversing the gentle curves sleepers in need of repair and gradients of the line before • Review and remediation of the arriving some 45 minutes later in the existing bridges and crossings picturesque village of Amamoor. • Development of a Rail Food and Shopping precinct at Gympie Station Council has been working closely with • Working with the Amamoor, the Queensland Government and the Monkland and Dagun Communities. Rattler Rail Company Board to get

PAGE 4 THE ROUNDUP FEBRUARY 2017 Gympie Aquatic Recreation Centre

Gympie Regional Council is gearing up for the grand opening of the new Aquatic Recreation Centre (ARC) with a free open day for the community on Saturday 1 April 2017.

Final touches are commencing on the The ARC will include a two tube ARC which is due for opening in April. waterslide, a zero depth splash play The new Council is excited as it prepares to area, 25m eight lane heated indoor Gympie Aquatic launch a state of the art aquatic centre pool, a 50m outdoor pool, fitness in Queensland. centre, cafeteria, grandstand and plenty Recreation Centre of shade. Along with providing an amazing is due to open in recreational centre for locals all year This project has created 270 jobs whilst round, we are excited that Gympie will in construction and will provide up April 2017! now have an Aquatic Recreation Centre to 50 jobs ongoing. Well experienced with all the features needed to host local, Courtney Murphy has been regional competitions and bring a new appointed as the manager and is group of visitors to the Gympie Region. currently recruiting staff from over 300 applications for all positions from café staff to life guards.

THE ROUNDUP FEBRUARY 2017 PAGE 5 River to Rail Trail Planning is underway for a walking trail along the Mary River.

Council has commenced preliminary planning for a walking trail centrally located and surrounding the Mary River.

This scenic link will be a tourism highlight and provide picturesque scenery whilst highlighting the region’s heritage through landmarks such as the historic Rattler Railway Complex and Lady of the Mary Statue. The trail will also incorporate the Mary River, the Gympie Weir and Deep Creek Conservation area.

The trail will create an active recreation and community hub for people of all age groups to explore and create their own connecting memories from the region. Stopping at locations along the trail, visitors and locals will have space for social gatherings and to ‘Meet Mary’.

The landscape concept has now been finalised and detailed trail development planning is now underway.

The announcement of ‘Works for Queensland’ funding sees the first stage of the program happen during the G150 year.

Locally grown

Chef and Gympie Region Food Ambassador Matt Golinski shares on of his favourite recipes using local produce - Tasty Red Emperor

Ingredients Method

4 x 180g fillets of Red Emperor In a pestle and mortar, pound the garlic, 1 tsp Limes Chilli and Kaffir Lime Salt shallot and red chilli to a paste. 200gm cooked and peeled prawns Mix in the fish sauce, lime juice and 1 green paw paw, peeled and shredded sugar, then add the beans and pound 1 punnet cherry tomatoes, halved gently without losing their shape. Add 1 bunch snake beans or small green the papaya, tomatoes, prawns and beans macadamias and mix gently to combine. 2 tbs roasted Mix in half of the coriander leaves. macadamias, roughly chopped Season the Red Emperor fillets with chilli 1 clove of garlic and lime salt and grill in a pan or on a 1 shallot BBQ until just cooked through.

1 red chilli Arrange the salad on 4 plates and top 2 tbs fish sauce each with a coral trout fillet. Pour over 2 tbs lime juice the excess dressing and sprinkle with the 1 tbs palm sugar remaining coriander leaves. ¼ cup coriander leaves

PAGE 6 THE ROUNDUP FEBRUARY 2017 Snapper

Have you been snapped while out and about in the region?

THE ROUNDUP FEBRUARY 2017 PAGE 7 G150 Celebrations

The G150 year will not only celebrate the beginnings of the town but the many achievements of the region and its people over the past 150 years.

This will include a celebration of some The weekend will host an inaugural Gala of our great politicians, sports stars, Dinner – themed ‘Yesterday, Today and scientists and entertainers. During this Tomorrow’, school and club reunions wonderful year-long salute, the Gympie and a community concert and food Region will be hosting community- festival. Residents will be encouraged to led festivals, events and concerts, and reach out to family and friends, inspiring exciting exhibitions and activities that them to come back to Gympie that explore our community’s rich heritage weekend to catch up and celebrate. and celebrate the evolution of our As further developments of these great town. wonderful historic celebrations unfold, The events kick off with a huge they will be posted to the Council’s celebration on 26 January at Nelson G150 web page https://www.gympie.qld. Reserve and will culminate in a ‘Get Back gov.au/g150 and our G150 Facebook to Gympie’ event which will take place event page. Please continue to visit on the long weekend 30 September to these sites for up to date information 2 October. This event targets anyone and join us in celebrating and who has ever ‘Lived, Loved and promoting our beautiful region. Laughed’ in Gympie.

PAGE 8 THE ROUNDUP FEBRUARY 2017 Our region ... our focus

Council has set its sights on making rate than the Queensland average*. Fresh produce growers markets are also the region the envy of the state and Council’s Economic Development Unit providing a solid testing ground for start encouraging residents, tourists and works closely with business operators up businesses to trial their products in a business operators to experience the and those looking to move to our region public sphere. diversity of our beautiful region. Our and can provide regional business and You can find information about doing region is being increasingly recognised industry details, statistics and contacts business in the Gympie Region at www. as a vibrant, growing part of regional to help ensure they have access to the gympie.qld.gov.au/business. Subscribe to Queensland and if you live here or visit assistance and services they need. a monthly Business & Industry e-news you can’t help but notice the positive Entrepreneurs and innovators in the update for the region whilst you are changes, and the opportunities they region are set to benefit from an there, and stay up to date by following present. innovative program, StartUP Gympie Gympie Regional Council Economic Confidence is high in our business Region and Gympie is also gearing up Development on Facebook. community which is reflected in our for a GourMAY experience during eat *Source – Lawrence Consulting Gympie Region Economic Brief December 2014. regional economy growing at a greater local month in May 2017.

Feature – new businesses in the region

Kia Ora Lime Farm Rainbow Beach Helicopters From the Gunshop Café in Brisbane to a picturesque lime Glen and Diana recently started Rainbow Beach Helicopters farm at Kia Ora, Jason and Sarah have moved to the area to and offer a new tourism business for the region. Having spent provide an all-round lifestyle for their family. “With the Bruce a lot of time in the area as children, they have moved here Highway upgrade and proposed Noosa to Rainbow Beach from the Kimberly Region of the Northern Territory where they sealed road plans, we believe this area is truly destined to be were operating a similar business. It has been Glen and Diana’s one of the next areas dream to come back for substantial growth,” and share the unique says Jason. They moved beauty this region has to here to get away from offer with the thrill and the hustle and bustle exhilaration a helicopter of city life and wanted flight provides. “Rainbow to find somewhere that Beach and Double Island provided a country Point have always been lifestyle for their family the best kept secret in but still had potential South East Queensland for good growth and and are truly world class investment. destinations” said Diana.

THE ROUNDUP FEBRUARY 2017 PAGE 9 Youth precinct and play space; a precinct for everyone

With considerable growth in youth numbers in Gympie, in particular the age groups 0-4 and 5-9*, Council is considering Stage One of a Youth Precinct and Play Space in the existing memorial pool area which is due for closure in March as the new Aquatic Recreation Centre opens.

Council hopes to create an open air family-friendly youth space that is designed to cater for people of all ages. The proposed concept comprises two main areas, a Youth Precinct and a Regional Play Space and will lend itself towards social events and entertainment.

From skateboarding, scooters and a BMX track to play equipment, an outdoor stage and barbeque areas, this facility will have plenty of shade, parking and amenities.

The Youth Precinct will be right in the heart of the town for everyone to enjoy. Council will be asking the community for feedback through a “Have Your Say” engagement. Concept plan only *Australian Bureau of Statistics 2015

Lady of the Mary

A significant part of Gympie’s history was recognised recently with the unveiling of the Lady of the Mary Statue. Centrally located in Mary Street, this town feature recognises the naming of the Mary River and consequently years later the naming of Mary Street.

The Lady of the Mary artwork is located at an approximate point which recognises memories of Gympie’s highest flood recorded in 1893. The sculpture represents the Mary River.

The sculpture was created by Australian contemporary artists Gille and Marc. Other public artworks by the highly regarded husband and wife team can be found all over the world including major cities such as Shanghai, New York and Sydney.

PAGE 10 THE ROUNDUP FEBRUARY 2017 Meet the staff

Aleisha – Customer Service Why Gympie Region? Everything I love is here and I feel so lucky this is my home town! I love the beach and the fresh produce markets, and the town has such a great selection of shops and eateries. It’s also great that Gympie still feels like a country town and yet we are so close to Brisbane and Noosa.

About your job Busy, busy! I’m in the Customer Contact Centre and the team takes an individual average of sixty phone calls each per day, providing counter support to residents, monitoring and managing incoming email enquiries, and directing them towards the correct departments. We help people with enquiries about dog registrations, parks, rates, road maintenance, waste services, water and sewerage issues, and Council-based events or celebrations around town.

What is your favourite place to grab a sandwich for lunch? My favourite is the City Café (Mary Street), as the owner cooks everything from scratch, is a very talented chef, and uses produce from the surrounding areas.

Bree – Officer - Lands Protection Why Gympie Region? I was travelling around Australia a few years ago and saw this job advertised as I travelled through this region. It felt right. Instantly I could see myself living here! I love the scenery, the mountains, reserves and parks; and the proximity to the beach is great.

About your job I am one of a team of Lands Protection Officers and we focus on sustainable management through pest animal and weed management. We help people become aware that invasive pests can have an effect on everyone. Controlling pests is vital to both the sustainability of our region’s economy and environmental values. We collaborate with many stakeholders and implement strategies to help landholders maximise their production while maintaining the beauty of our region.

What is your favourite place to grab a sandwich for lunch? Currently I’m enjoying the new Café on Lady Mary Terrace “Cosmic Café” – not for a sandwich though, I like it for its great local raw produce, mostly organic and gluten free, with a nice strong coffee, a small tasty menu and homely atmosphere.

Christine – Roads Maintenance Why Gympie Region? I moved to Gympie in the late 80’s from rural NSW when my Dad was moved here for work and I’ve stayed ever since. It’s so central to everything, the beach and the bush.

About your job We work hard and the crew is great, they really are a great bunch of people to work with. I’m a grader operator and we spend most of the year grading and maintaining rural roads everywhere in the area as well as maintaining the shoulders of sealed roads. Our crew is one of many that is called on with disasters such as floods.

What is your favourite place to grab a sandwich for lunch? I enjoy eating my home-made lunch overlooking Gympie up in the mountains of Wolvi or down by the creeks of Amamoor. I sometimes even have lunch with the goannas at the Mothar Mountain Rock Pools!

THE ROUNDUP FEBRUARY 2017 PAGE 11 What's 1867 ~ 2017 Celebrating 150 years of Gympie on

BUSINESS 4 BREAKFAST - EXPORT 101 Thursday 23 March, 7am - 8am Gunabul Homestead, Power Road, Gympie [email protected] 1300 307 800

GOOMERI SHOW Friday 24 - Sunday 26 March, Goomeri Showgrounds, Cnr Burnett Highway and Laird Street, Goomeri goomerishow.com.au

EASTER ON MARY Wednesday 12 April, 5pm. Mary Street, Gympie www.gympie.qld.gov.au

124TH QUEENSLAND EISTEDDFOD Friday 14 - Sunday 16 April Gympie Civic Centre, 32 Mellor Street, Gympie qld.gympieeisteddfod.com.au

WIDGEE COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL Friday 21 - Sunday 23 April Widgee Bushmans Bar, Upper Widgee Road, Widgee www.facebook.com/WidgeeCountryMusicClubInc

EAT LOCAL MONTH - GourMAY 1 - 31 May, Gympie Region www.gympie.qld.gov.au

GYMPIE GARDEN EXPO Saturday 6 - Sunday 7 May, 8am - 4pm Gympie Showgrounds, Exhibition Road, Gympie gympiegardenexpo.com.au

GYMPIE DISTRICT SHOW Thursday 18 - Saturday 20 May, 9am - 10pm Gympie Showgrounds, Exhibition Road, Gympie gympieshow.com.au

GYMPIE REGIONAL CAREERS EXPO Thursday 25 May, 10am - 2pm The Pavilion, Exhibition Road, Gympie www.gympie.qld.gov.au

GOOMERI PUMPKIN FESTIVAL Sunday 28 May, from 6am. Goomeri www.goomeripumpkinfestival.com.au To find out more about these articles or Council activities: GROWERS MARKETS gympie.qld.gov.au

1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month, Memorial Park, Gympie 1300 307 800 www.gympie.qld.gov.au facebook.com/GympieRegionalCouncil twitter.com/GympieRegion instagram.com/GYMPIEREGIONALCOUNCIL

PAGE 12 THE ROUNDUP FEBRUARY 2017