weekenderSaturday 25 July 2020 Anastasi Blooms’ Ruby Passion Sunflowers blossom Outpouring of community support for backpackers Streetscape pivotal to Gin Gin progress Skating at Bargara popularity grows contents Outpouring of community support for 3 backpackers Cover story Anastasi Blooms’ 4 Ruby Passion Sunflowers blossom What’s on in the Bundaberg 6 Region Sea change opportunity with 7 Bargara kiosk Workers back in staged restart at 8 Endeavour Foundation Streetscape pivotal to 9 Gin Gin progress The Grand Hotel makeover and restoration 10 underway Chilli Vodka and new Chocolate Chilli 12 Liqueur hot to go Photo of the week Thank you to Morgan Everett New pickles eggplant hits the 14 shelf at Vintners’s Secret Skating at Bargara 17 popularity grows Everyone is welcome at 18 Alice McLaughlin’s Wonderland 20 In our garden COMMUNITY Federal Backpacker fire. Photo courtesy of Jack Dempsey’s facebook page. Outpouring of community support for backpackers Trish Mears The Bundaberg Region community Community members are also urged to not has once again shown their generosity, donate items directly to hostels, as they are currently at capacity for donated goods. offering help for the Federal A co-ordination centre has been set up at Lifeline Backpackers fire victims. Bundaberg, 8 Queen Street, North Bundaberg. Several local businesses have already helped Those wishing to donate can assist by providing the following items: the displaced backpackers with food, clothing, bedding and toiletries. • Wide-brimmed, straw hats All backpackers have been found alternate • Vouchers/gift cards in lieu of cash donations - accommodation and are being well looked after. to enable the backpackers to purchase items to meet their individual needs. All backpackers have Lifeline Bundaberg and Red Cross Bundaberg are in touch with the Federal Backpacker Hostel been found alternate backpackers directly and will continue to provide accommodation and are ongoing emotional and physical support. being well looked after. At this time the Local Disaster Management Group ask that the community stop donating clothing, shoes, bedding, towels, food, toiletries and medication for the backpackers. 3 Anastasi Blooms’ Tammy Anastasi says the Bundaberg Region is ideal for growing a range of flowers, and with the areas perfect climate it would be easy enough to grow both the Ruby Passion Sunflowers or typical sunflowers year-round, but it was nice to keep it seasonal and special. Anastasi Blooms’ Ruby Passion Sunflowers blossom Emma Reid Ruby Passion Sunflowers have started Ruby Passion Sunflowers have started to to blossom at Anastasi Blooms – as blossom at Anastasi Blooms – as owner Tammy Anastasi’s own passion for flower farming grows. owner Tammy Anastasi’s own passion As a farmer florist Tammy is involved in every for flower farming grows. step of the flower production, from sourcing As a farmer florist Tammy is involved in every and growing seeds, to cutting, bunching and step of the flower production, from sourcing selling the locally grown flowers and foliage. and growing seeds, to cutting, bunching and Tammy said people typically thought of vibrant selling the locally grown flowers and foliage. or deep yellow tones when it came to sunflowers, Tammy said people typically thought of vibrant but she said there was actually a large variety or deep yellow tones when it came to sunflowers, of colours from bright lime greens, to lushest but she said there was actually a large variety reds with chocolate tones, right through to of colours from bright lime greens, to lushest revolutionary white sunflowers, with only a few reds with chocolate tones, right through to varieties were grown here in Australia. revolutionary white sunflowers, with only a few It’s the third year Anastasi Blooms has produced varieties were grown here in Australia. Ruby Passion Sunflowers, and the beautiful, rich It’s the third year Anastasi Blooms has produced and eye-catching reds ensure they are always Ruby Passion Sunflowers, and the beautiful, rich quick to walk out the door. and eye-catching reds ensure they are always “I never thought I would grow sunflowers,” she quick to walk out the door. said. “I never thought I would grow sunflowers,” she “People either love or hate normal sunflowers, said. but with the ruby sunflowers everyone seems to 4 love them.” 5 Growing flowers on her family’s Moore Park Beach sugar cane farm happened by chance, as Tammy said it was after she became a mum to her daughters, Lailah and Hailee, that she decided having a nine-to-five career wasn’t something she wanted anymore. “I said to my husband (Ben) that I didn’t want to return to work, and we looked in to something I could grow on the land we have,” Tammy said. “I went on to study cut-flower production, and at the time I didn’t think I would be where I am now; I am not a trained florist, but I guess when it comes to arranging flowers it’s like art – you can either draw or you can’t draw. “I originally thought I would grow and cut flowers for florist, but with the help of my best friend Trina and my husband’s aunt Rose we are able to produce mixed bouquets, small and large vase arrangements and bunches, that are now available at three stockists: Leaf and Bean Café, Friendlies Hospital and Moore Park Beach Service Station, and all three locations sell out!” Construction of the new Mon Repos Turtle Centre. Photo: Murchie Constructions. Bundaberg Region ideal for growing flowers Tammy said the Bundaberg Region was ideal for growing a range of flowers, and with the area’s perfect climate it would be easy enough to grow both the Ruby Passion Sunflowers or typical sunflowers year-round, but it was nice to keep it seasonal and special. Anastasi Blooms’ Tammy Anastasi with a bunch of Ruby Passion Sunflowers. “Doing this (growing a range of flowers) is definitely not effortless, but where we live definitely helps,” she said. “I know that I love it, flowers are so amazing” Tammy said. “We have the perfect climate to grow a large range of flowers and foliage. “People love flowers, you just have to look at a sunflower and you smile, and I guess it’s an added bonus for me knowing that I’ve grown “I never thought I would the flowers and been there from the start – it makes it all worth it for me.” grow sunflowers,” “In Bundaberg we are really lucky, as the biggest concern we have is frost and we don’t get much Handy hint to of that. keep your flowers “Everything you see in our arrangements is 100 per cent grown locally; we cut the flowers on blooming longer Monday ready for sale or delivery on Tuesday, and then again on Thursday ready for Friday. Tammy said it was easy to place the flower vase aside and forget “It’s probably the biggest thing I am proud of – knowing my flowers are fresh, and I hear it about it, but to ensure longer life constantly, people saying the flowers just seem in the flowers, a handy hint would to last and last; I think it’s what people deserve.” be to change the water at least Tammy said she wasn’t sure how many individual every second day, if not daily, and flowers were cultivated for Anastasi Blooms, but to trim a small part of the stem there was between 50-60 bouquets, 30-35 vase off by cutting at an angle to make arrangements and 20-30 special orders made sure the flowers could still drink the up each week. fresh water. The mother-of-two said she never expected For more information about pursuing a career in growing flowers would lead Anastasi Blooms click here. to happiness in herself but also sharing it with others in the community. 5 Gin Gin G ra ng nd Openi Saturday 1 August 2020 Drive-in Movies 28 - 29 Bundaberg Recreational Precinct Drive-in movies are back and Aug ready to entertain you. 1 - 31 2020 Pedal Queensland A cycle challenge event for all Queenslanders throughout your Aug local regions. 1 André Rieu: Happy Together Aug THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED 2 2020 Bullyard Country Markets Great little country market with Aug an array of stall types. Be the 3 Lifeline Telephone Crisis first to know Support Training - Info Night Aug Information night for Telephone whatsonbundaberg.com.au Crisis Supporter Training Course - Lifeline 13 11 14 Crisis Line. 6 BUSINESS The popular kiosk at Bundaberg Surf Life Saving Club is up for lease. Photo: Dave Walters. Sea change opportunity with Bargara kiosk Derek Schlennstedt The popular kiosk at Bundaberg “We are seeking Surf Life Saving Club is up for lease, providing a rare opportunity for a expressions of interest genuine sea change. from experienced The current operators of the venue with a great view are finishing up on 29 July. people who would like President of Bundaberg Surf Life Saving Club, to lease this space as John McGregor, said the coffee kiosk is available for lease after construction work, which will be a coffee shop.” taking place until mid-August. John recognised the contribution the previous “These improvements are expected to be operators made in creating a successful, relaxed completed by mid-August, so we anticipate a and busy cafe. start date for coffee shop trading to be early September. He hoped that the new lease holders of the space would continue that tradition. Anyone interested in being the next business “We are seeking expressions of interest operator of the Bargara kiosk should send their from experienced people who would full name, contact details, relevant experience, like to lease this space as a coffee shop.” and proposed plans for the coffee shop to John said [email protected].