January 3
• Apple Harvest Festival On Again in 1968
The annual meeting of the Apple Harvest Festival Committee decided unanimously
that the festival be held biannually with the next festival to be in 1968.
January 10
• Still No Air Service
February 21
• Rededication of Parish Hall – Church of England
February 28
• Grenade found in Rubbish Bin (Wallangarra)
• Two Hour Limitation of Parking
Stanthorpe Shire Council to limits parking between 8.30am and 5.30pm Thursday and Fridays and 8.30am to 12.30pm on Saturdays.
• Home For Old People
There is a move to establish a home in Stanthorpe for old people who are in need of care but not sick enough to go to hospital. Steps have also been taken to form an auxiliary of the Blue • • Nursing Service in Stanthorpe.
Branch Formed: Queensland Cancer Fund
• Obituary: Mr. D.J. Lawler
March 28
• Fruit Industry Award: Evidence Heard in Stanthorpe
March 30
• Official Opening C.F. White Memorial Oval
The Works has been financed by Stanthorpe Shire Council through a loan and the cost of $8000 and this will be repaid by the Stanthorpe & District Cricket Association over a period of years.
April 4
• Two Hour Parking Begins on Thursday
April 13
• Great Damage by Flying Foxes
Great damage has been caused by flying foxes to apple crops on the Granite Belt and the estimates of losses caused by the flying pests is high, one going as high as 100,000 bushels.
April 18
• Obituary: Mr. J. Davis
April 25
• Cr. R.J. Harslett Retires from Council
May 9
• Obituary: Mrs. R.F. Lawer
May 25
• Service Clubs Meet – The War In Vietnam
The four service clubs in Stanthorpe, Rotary, Lions, Apex and Junior chamber of Commerce met at the International Club on Monday night. The guest speaker was Major CD Kayler Thomson, who has recently returned from Vietnam.
June 6
• Shire To Participate – National Fitness Scheme
June 8
• Chamber of Commerce Discuss By Pass Road
June 13
• DSGC Support Apple Harvest Festival
June 20
• Minister’s Visit: Mr. J. Bjelke Petersen in Stanthorpe (Minister for Works and Housing)
June 29
• Fruit Ships in Suez Canal
Four refrigerated ships carrying Australian apples consigned to Great Britain and the Continent are held up in the Suez Canal following the blockage caused by the Arab-
Israeli war. Included in the cargo are a percentage of apples from the Granite Belt. 5000 boxes of Queensland Granny Smiths.
August 8
• Civic Farewell: Mr. & Mrs. Len Thomas
• Sunday Pictures: Council to amend by-law
• Stanthorpe Minister’s Fraternal objects
August 24
• Miss Australia Visit
Civic Welcome and Luncheon for Miss Australia, Margaret Rohan
August 29
• Ratepayers Petition: Protest on Sewerage Charges
A petition signed by over 130 ratepayers was presented to Stanthorpe Shire Council, protesting against the method of assessing sewerage charges in the town of Stanthorpe.
August 31
• Swimming Pool Committee: Mr. B. Zanatta, New Chairman.
$4000 had been raised in cash and a further $4000 promised towards the fund. It is proposed to conduct a Queen Competition in conjunction with this season’s Apple Harvest Festival ball, with the winning queen also becoming “Miss Delicious”.
September 7
• Apple Harvest Festival in March, 1968
September 14
• Seek Growers Opinion: Cannery in Stanthorpe
September 26
• Stanthorpe 1968 Show: No Official Opening
“They were hard to hear and no one seemed to take any notice of them.”
September 28
• Stanthorpe Shire Council Joins (Darling Downs & District) Tourist Association
October 3
• 26 New Citizens – Naturalisation Ceremonies
October 5
• Chamber of Commerce Move on By-Pass Road
There is a concern over the probably adverse effect that a by-pass will have on the prosperity of this town. 74 per cent of businesses objected to the by-pass.
October 10
• Receivers Report: Anderson Meat Packing Co
• Miss Darling Downs and Miss Charity Princess
Miss Australia Quest regional judging held at the Stanthorpe Civic Centre
October 10
• Petition on Cannery
Petition signed by 75- orchardists on the Granite Belt asked that reconsideration be given to the case for the establishment of a cannery at Stanthorpe. Petition to Minister for Primary Industries, Mr. Row.
October 26
• Name Changed: Apple and Grape Harvest Festival
At a meeting of the Apple Harvest Festival held in the Civic Centre Supper Room on Tuesday night, October 24, discussion took place on the name of the festival. This followed a notice of motion by Mr. E Reeves that the name be changed to the Fruit Harvest Festival. This brought considerable discussion and it was stressed that because of the emphasis on apples there was resentment among stone fruit and grape growers. Ultimately, on a motion moved by Mr. D. Hansen and seconded by Mr. L. Harvey, it was decided by a large majority that the name be changed to Apple and Grape Harvest Festival. A letter has been received from the Queensland Treasurer and Deputy Premier Mr. Gordon Chalk, agreeing officially open the festival on
Friday March 1, 1968, at a ball to be held that night.
October 31
• Death of Mr. Sam Pierpoint
• The Summit State School Jubilee
November 9
• Works Committee Report: No Works at Devil’s Elbow
November 14
• Pike’s Creek Dam Soon
• Runaway Semi Trailer Wild Career
A runaway loaded semi trailer, the brakes of which failed while the driver was absent
from it, went on a wild career of destruction in the early hours of this morning in High Street, Stanthorpe, damaging the fronts and awnings of several shops and finally coming to rest in the second garden plot at the bend of the road into Maryland Street. Had been pulled up in front of the Hotel Stanthorpe while the driver checked his load.
November 16
• Stanthorpe Holds Record Rodeo
November 23
• Beginning of Stanthorpe Ambulance
November 30
• No further survey – Proposed Stanthorpe Cannery
