Take a look back at the stories that mattered in 2023 with Stanthorpe Today’s year in review.
JANUARY
Stanthorpe’s historical significance for the creation of the state of Queensland is set to be put on display through the restoration of 160-year-old marking carved into a recently discovered historic tree near the Sugarloaf Forest.
Dalveen Film Society was one of only two places in the world chosen to host the Orion International Film Festivals.
Local pop folk band Nine Year Sister won top artist for 2022 with international radio station TFSC in a massive countdown that took seven days to compete.
Stanthorpe man Andrew Kendall has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the 2023 Australia Day Honours announced by the Governor General of Australia, David Hurley. He was the only Southern Downs person to receive the honour this year.
After a devastating tractor accident left Ballandean seamstress Claire McKenzie lying in her paddock near death, Claire has showed extraordinary courage by talking exclusively to Stanthorpe Today about the strength and purpose she had found and an overwhelming sense of love and support from her family and community.
Local champion Morwenna Harslett was awarded Citizen of the year 2023 for the Southern Region of the Southern Downs along with Kath Ives, Mick Mahoney, Fitzroy Pascoe and Thomas Petrie.
FEBRUARY
The 2023 Bendigo Bank Stanthorpe Show was hailed a massive success. Although not being able to boast a record crowd, Stanthorpe Agricultural Society president Brett Boatfield stated it was the happiest crowd he’d seen for a long time.
Stanthorpe was named on of the 10 bucket-list worthy places to visit in Queensland in 2023 on the Tourism and Events Queensland’s website.
After 43 years of deliberation, the beleaguered Emu Swamp Dam is still the Southern Downs Regional Council’s ‘preferred solution’ to providing water for the Stanthorpe region.
17-year-old Jack Spencer was part of the team that won the Boy’s Doubles at the 2023 Junior Darts Championships in Brisbane. He also finished runner up in the Boy’s singles. He was named the number on Junior Boy’s player in Australia for his overall performance during the weeklong competition.
It was the worst Valentine’s Day ever, with a vicious storm ripping through parts of the Granite Belt. The storm was expected to have a damages bill of millions of dollars.
MARCH
Five World War 1 veterans were honoured with symbols of respect when monumental plaques bearing their names were dedicated at their grave sites.
The Mt Marlay access road in now doing double duty. As well as its usual service as a sealed road that takes people to the viewing area above the town, it is now the keeper of an antique name that has a fundamental place in the history of Stanthorpe, Stannum Drive.
Twenty-seven buskers lined the streets for the annual Southeast Queensland Regional Finals of the Australian National Busking Championship.
A small, but passionate committee have taken on the task of saving the old QFS building at the railway precinct and bringing it back to its former glory.
30th After 24 years at the helm of the Stanthorpe Swimming Pool, Michael Gail Smail announced their retirement. Whilst described as the greatest and most rewarding experience, both Gail and Michael were looking forward to spending more time with their children and grandchildren.
APRIL
The Lions Club of Stanthorpe closed the Community Service Club’s Time Vault to be opened in another 25 years.
Stanthorpe man Gary Fawcett set out on a missing to raise much needed money for domestic violence victims on the Granite Belt by riding a postie bike from Stanthorpe to Toowoomba
Granite Belt Music Council is hoping that a special entertainment precinct will be put back on the agenda for Warwick and Stanthorpe despite a previously unsuccessful attempt to have the precincts included in the Southern Downs Regional Council’s Town Plan.
The Southern Downs is one of the 21 Queensland Local Government areas that will share in the $2.5 million disaster recovery funding.
Local boy and swimming sensation Ben Armbruster announced himself on the Australian Swimming stage with an Australian All Comers record in the 50 metre Butterfly final.
Australia’s viewing public of the TV show Farmers Wants a wife, now know all about the Granite Belt with apple farmer, David McMahon, with region being showcased during Dave’s home visit.
The Stanthorpe CBD streetscape project is back on the agenda with Council working with a contractor to finetune stage 1 and make sure the updated concept reflects the community’s vision for a town centre that manages the needs of shoppers, businesses, tourist, cars, and pedestrians, while maintaining that special Stanthorpe feel.
Stanthorpe athlete Jacob Kent has captured a silver in the Australian Junior Track and Field Championship in Brisbane with a throw of 51 metres in the javelin event.
After five months, Ballandean woman Claire McKenzie, whose horrific tractor accident story touched the country, returned to her home to begin a new life.
Over 500 people gathered for the Anzac Day service and around 2000 people like the streets to watch the parade in what was arguably the biggest Anzac turnout that Stanthorpe has ever seen.
MAY
The Southern Down Regional Council is in an employment slump, with more than one-fifth of all jobs vacant – and there seems little hope of turning it around with CEO Dave Burges saying he expected consultants and contractors would keep poaching their staff.
Dalveen residents have pleaded with Southern Downs Regional Council for the town plan for Dalveen to be expanded, meaning allowing for subdivision of land close to the village.
Councillor Cynthia McDonald was determined to have her say at all costs at the Southern Downs Regional Council meeting and it led to her ejection from the meeting by Mayor Vic Pennisi. It was a did-she-jump-or-was-she-pushed type scenario because by the time the situation came to a head she was just as determined to go as the mayor was ordering her to leave.
The days of having to keep their relationship somewhat under wraps finally finished for Farmer Wants a Wife’s David McMahon and his chosen lady, Emily Gordon after the episode aired when David has to choose between the final two ladies.
Funding for Emu Swamp Dam that was quarantined at the Federal Government’s first Budge, was dropped completely in last week’s Budget. Maranoa MP David Littleproud described the decision as a kick in the guts for not only residents of the Granite Belts but also the region’s agricultural sector.
A highly successful project by the Stanthorpe Shire Improvement Trust is nearing completion at Quart Pot Creek west of the bypass on the Granite Belt
In the same week that the Federal Government dropped the previously promised $126.5 million funding for the Emu Swamp Dam, the project has been named the highest scorer in a State Government water assessment program. Now known as the Granite Belt Irrigation Project, it has been identified as the favoured project of a shortlist within the Regional Water Assessment program, according to a paragraph within a report in the Southern Downs Regional Council agenda
The Short Circuit Motor Sport Association officially took over the lease and operation of Carnell Raceway.
