MAY 2021 Issue 271 Photo by PETER DORÉ ONE OF THE NEIGHBOURS… Visit River Heads Progress Association: https://riverheads.org.au/Page or INSIDE THIS ISSUE President Report 3 Historian Message 12 Anzac Day 2021 4 Wildlife Matters & Talks 13-14 Councillor Division 7 News 5 Activities 19-21 Qld State Member Message 6 May Calendar 22 The Power to Change 8 Contact List 23 RH Fishing Club Report 9 River Heads Property Sales 24 Fraser Coast RV Park News 10-11 DISCLAIMER: The views expressed in articles in the River Heads Review are not necessarily those of the River Heads Progress Association. Membership is $20, and you get all these fantastic benefits, PLUS much more: • Discount member’s meal prices at Rivers Bistro Every Friday night at 7pm if your Member Number is drawn and you • Birthday meal at Rivers Bistro to the value of are there, you win the $15 jackpot! • Automatic entry in membership draw each Friday evening. Members must be financial If the member is not present, then and present at the draw. the prize will jackpot $10 each week. • Reduced rate for Community Hall hire • Reduced rate for advertising in the River You must be present to win Heads Review the draw - don’t miss out! JOIN TODAY! The River Heads Review is proudly sponsored by River Heads Property Sales Page 2 PRESIDENT REPORT - MAY 2021 I was very disappointed that I could not be at our ANZAC service this year but family comes first of course. It goes to show what a great group of people we have when Peter Dore, Keran Smee, Jeanne Wilson, Wendy & Mason Wong, Marilyn Benbow, Tony Franklin, Mark Hensel and Paul Taylor stepped up to the plate and hit a home run ensuring that the event ran smoothly. A huge thank you to all of you. Also to Ted Sorensen and Cr Darren Everard, and to Vicki Avcin for the poetry recital, Suzanne Taylor and Aaron Reid for singing the two national anthems, to Piper Derek Fortune and his son, Simon Paterson for the army truck, the River Heads/Kingfisher and Booral RFS, and the Salvation Army Band. Not to mention Marg Reynolds for purchasing all the food items and making sure all was under control in the kitchen. Our next big event will be RiverFest on Saturday 4 September in the hall grounds. That is, if COVID doesn’t prevent it being held!! Anyone wishing to book a market stall spot should phone 0499 992 442. The fee this year is $10.00 per site. Now, don’t forget the next Open Mic Night will be held at the hall on Saturday, 15 May 2021. It commences at 4.30pm and goes to around about 9.00pm. The bistro and bar in the Hall are open and the music is great. Anyone wishing to register for a gig should phone Suzanne Taylor on [email protected] or mobile 0432 957 001. All comers welcome! Entry is by gold coin donation with the proceeds going to charity. Another date claimer – Saturday, 26 June River Heads Rocks at the RV Park. Again, phone or email Suzanne as above with any enquiries. The Rivers Bistro & Bar survey I mentioned in the last Review has been completed. Many thanks to all those who replied. Overwhelmingly, our patrons are happy with the various aspects of the bistro and bar. There were a few suggestions for items to be added to the menu and this is being worked out currently. I must mention a special thanks to our chefs, Damien and Katie (and our emergency chef Paul), who are doing an excellent job, not to forget our volunteer platers, particularly young Maria who works every Friday night. Let’s not forget our bar, till and door volunteers. We couldn’t do it without you, so thank you! Don’t forget, Fishing Club raffles are held on the 2nd Friday of the month. Great fun and prizes as the old fashioned chocolate wheel clacks around. RHPA raffles are also held every Friday from 5.30pm with prizes of Meat Tray or Breakfast Tray from Urangan Butchers; Dinner for 2; selection of beverages, so come along and enjoy yourselves. Great food, great view and great people!!- all made possible by our fantastic volunteer workforce! More helpers needed! Phone 0499 992 442. Sporting Teams for River Heads: Anyone interested in forming a team should phone 0499 992 442. It is high time River Heads was on the sporting map. We have a wealth of sporting talent in our community plus a fantastic playing field and canteen at the Reserve in Seafarer Avenue, so let’s get mobilised!! A big thank you to all the guys working on the canteen. They are doing a fantastic job – Nev Watson, Mark Hensel, Nick Burgess and anyone else who has helped. MORE VOLUNTEERS DESPERATELY NEEDED FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS PER MONTH – PREPARATION OF FOOD – TILL OPERATION – PLATING OF FOOD – BAR TENDING - PHONE 0499 992 442. We can’t continue to provide services and facilities to our community without our volunteers. That’s all folks! Take care, stay well and enjoy life. Billie Rustin Page 3 ANZAC DAY 2021 - Dawn Service River Heads - Tribute SIMPSON AND HIS DONKEY 1915 By Peter Corlett 1988 John Simpson Kirkpatrick enlisted in the 3rd Australian Field Ambulance as Private Simpson on 25 August 1914. He took part in the landing on Gallipoli on 25 April 1915 and became famous among Australian troops for his bravery and compassion. Under continual shellfire he used a donkey to carry water up Shrapnel Gully, and to bring wounded men down to the beach on Anzac Cove from the firing line on the ridges above. After less than four weeks in action he was fatally wounded on 19 May 1915. Although he was known on Gallipoli by a variety of nicknames, most of the soldiers who witnessed his bravery knew him as the man with the donkey, without ever learning his name. Simpson has come to embody for Australians the spirit of self-sacrifice in war. Page 4 COUNCILLOR Division 7 NEWS May is with us already and I will take this opportunity to wish all mothers in the community a very pleasant Mother’s Day on May 9th. Again, we have a lot going on right across the region and even I am struggling to keep up with what we have going on. In May we are hosting theAustralian Heritage Festival – Fraser Coast. This will see Maryborough’s museums and heritage groups come together to celebrate our heritage as part of the annual National Trust Heritage Festival, an annual program of unique events that showcase all aspects of Australia’s cultural heritage. If you are new to the region please take the time to have a look what Maryborough has to offer. For more information please visit: https://portside.ourfrasercoast.com.au/homepage/8/heritage-festival . River Heads ANZAC Day Dawn Service Was fantastic to see such a great turnout at the River Heads Dawn Service on ANZAC Day, well done to all involved and thank you to those who took the time to have a chat and raise a few matters and pass comment. Brolga Theatre Another reminder about what is coming up at the Brolga and I encourage you to sign up for the newsletter so you do not miss out. You can register for the Brolga Theatre’s eNewsletters, purchase tickets, gift vouchers and Friends of the Brolga memberships online at: https://brolga.ourfrasercoast.com.au/plan-event , or by phoning 4122 6060, or in person at the Box Office between 8.30am and 4pm Monday to Friday. Community Chat My next Community Chat will be Thursday June 1st at the River Heads Hall from 10.30 – 11.30 am. If there are any matters that require attention please let me know. If you can’t make my Community Chat, I am happy to visit you at home. To make an appointment, please contact me on 0448 045 041 or email: [email protected] . Council Information Feel free to like my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/darreneverardfrasercoast/ to stay abreast of updates on what is going on in the region. I do try and update it as information comes to hand. Council Contact Just a reminder that if you have any matters which require urgent Council attention, please contact the Council Call Centre on 1300 79 49 29 and we will do our best to attend to your needs. Darren Page 5 New Police strategies to combat hooning. Drivers taking part in illegal mass hoon gatherings will be further targeted under new anti-hoon powers passed in the Queensland Parliament recently. The legislation will turn the table on hoons and support police enforcement action against those taking part in these gatherings. As a result of these new laws, Police are now equipped with powers which will enable them to serve notices on the owner of a vehicle involved in hooning offences. Police across Queensland are now rolling out a range of strategies to disrupt and prevent hooning activity. With the new legislation, combined with a fleet of high-tech cameras, the community can expect to see even more enforcement action taken against dangerous hoons putting others at risk. Members of the public can report hoon activity in their area by contacting the QPS’ Hoon Hotline on 13HOON or making a report online: Reporting a Traffic Incident | Queensland Police Service Investing in our great Hervey Bay environment. As visitors begin to spend more time in the great outdoors the Palaszczuk Government is taking the opportunity to invest more than $50 million to upgrade our national parks.