Hospital opens in 1956

Salvatore Leonardi (Sam) and his mother-in-law Maria Leonardi in their orchard. Photo courtesy of the Apple & Grape Harvest Festival.

February 23

• Texas flood victims in urgent need of fruit

February 28

• Plane bogged at Aerodrome

March 13

• Six sidings to be omitted from fruit train run

Bald Mountain, Fletcher, Passmore, Bullecort, Merssines, and Passchendaele

March 20

• Sewerage for Stanthorpe to cost 428,000 pounds (50 per cent subsidy)

March 27

• Corporal John French VC soldiers club opened

March 29

• Obituary: Mrs Theresa Kelly

April 5

• Future of the Rex Hall

April 10

• Woman killed, six hurt in bus crash (Ballandean)

April 12

• 20,000 case cold store in operation at Cottonvale

May 1

• Premier opens 95,000 pound maternity hospital

The new maternity hospital in Stanthorpe was opened by the Premier of Queensland (Mr. VC Gair). The building was stated to be the most modern in Australia at the time with 22 beds.

May 22

• Mr. Hilton re-elected in Carnarvon (member for 21 years)

May 29

• Fifty years a bowler- Mr. Bill McGaw looks back

June 5

• Obituary: Stewart Anderson

June 12

• Tennis Association clubhouse opened

July 12

• Ballandean Presbyterian Church Jubilee

July 23

• Obituary: Mary Ellen Sellars

July 31

• John Halloran

August 3

• Move to establish tomato pulp factory in Stanthorpe

The DSGC moved to establish a factory for processing tomato pulp after the Federal Government bans imports of tomato pulp. motion carried to ask COD to investigate costs.

August 21

• New automatic telephone exchange at The Summit

August 28

• Salk Polio Vaccination Campaign

2360 children to be vaccinated in the Shire

September 4

• Summit Farwells Mr and Mrs E Binnington (teacher for 24 years)

• New COD building in Stanthorpe

September 18

• 1300 rockets to fight hail storms

September 27

• Apple Blossom Festival Week

October 9

• Record crowd at Apple Blossom Ball

• Miss Rae Mann chosen as Queen

October 11

• Salk Vaccination Campaign

October 16

• Stanthorpe to Sydney air service to cease

October 18

• St. Paul’s 51st anniversary

October 23

• Council acts to retain air service to Sydney

October 25

• Golden wedding: Mr and Mrs Jack Meharg

November 1

• Council takes over sanitary and garbage service

November 8

• Second injection of salk vaccine (for poliomyelitis, Stanthorpe Rural and High School)

November 13

• Chief Fire Officer appointed (Mr Turrell)

November 20

• Pioneer orchardist passes (death of Mr James Smith)

November 22

• “Miss Speckle“ recovered from Storm King Dam

November 27

• Official moves for air service to Sydney

Stanthorpe Shire Council to continue to fight to have air service between this district and Sydney returned (discontinued from October 27- Queensland Airlines) – Aerodrome unsuitable for Viscount aeroplanes

November 29

• Stanthorpe Sewerage Scheme approved for 150,000 pounds

• Beautiful sparkling water- filtration system working

• Obituary: A.H. Hocking

December 11

• Public company- Iona Enterprises to be floated

• Obituary: Mrs L.M. Hollit

• Olympic games triumph

December 13

• Cold store for Pozieres

December 20

• Stanthorpe Border Post sold to local partnership by E.M. Barlow

December 27

• New fire station officially opened