Moreton Border News - 20th March 2026

Moreton BorderNews

Walloonringside

THE Walloon Hotel’s wild night of wrestling kicked off on Saturday evening, backed by the sounds of body slamming and theatrical roars.

The Venom Pro Wrestling’s Country Clash pulled in the punters who came to see a show, and they left satisfied.

In this photograph Johnny Hardwood delivers a powerful blow to Aktaion’s ego and his body.

Chairs were broken but not spirits, as this photograph by Moreton Border News photograph Lyle Radford can attest.

Backyard bounty

By LARA HART

IF there was ever a better time to be more self-sufficient it is now.

The ongoing war in the Middle East has triggered shortages of fertiliser and diesel, components critical to Australian primary producers’ everyday operations.

The price of fresh fruit and vegetables on supermarket shelves is going up and that combined fuel increases, means shopping has become a costly endeavour.

But, there are ways to lesson some of war’s impact, and that’s to grow your own food.

Anything you buy regularly is worth growing because that’s where you’ll see the savings.

Food that thrives when planted in Ipswich’s outer regions are lettuce, spinach, silver beet, tomatoes, sweet potato, beetroot, broccoli, beans and Asian greens.

For beginners, raised garden beds or large containers are often the easiest entry point.

They require less digging, can be placed almost anywhere, and are easier to manage than traditional plots.

You don’t need a big yard, a few well placed pots can keep you in herbs, tomatoes and leafy greens for months.

Vertical gardening is also gaining popularity.

Using trellises, hanging baskets or stacked planters allows growers to maximise production without sacrificing precious ground space.

When space is limited, choosing the right crops makes all the difference.

Fast growing, high yield vegetables such as lettuce, spinach, cherry tomatoes and spring onions are favourites among backyard gardeners.

Herbs like basil, parsley and coriander are another cost saving staple, often replacing expensive supermarket bunches with a ready-to-pick supply just steps from the kitchen.

Reducing costs doesn’t stop at the harvest.

Many gardeners are cutting expenses further by composting kitchen scraps to create nutrient rich soil and using recycled containers as planters.

Collecting rainwater and mulching garden beds can also significantly reduce water usage, and that’s an important factor as utility costs rise.

Even small changes, like regrowing vegetables from scrap, think spring onions or lettuce bases, are helping stretch the household budget.

ONE of Rosewood’s most significantly historical buildings is being cut in half and moved by specialised engineers. St Brigid’s Catholic Churches presbytery will be relocated in two modules and rejoined once on its new site.

Marburg, Rosewood and the localities surrounding them, are maintained by volunteers with a passion for looking after the land. This year’s Queensland Landcare Awards are open for nomination.

Read about some of the local environmental heroes inside.

With the price of fresh fruit and vegetables going up, we look at the way residents can grow their own fresh produce, even if all you have is a tiny backyard.

Wendy Creighton and photographer Lyle Radford continue their series on the birds of Rosewood.

We also speak to a Harrisville publican who warns that traditional Aussie pubs are at risk of becoming obsolete if consumers don’t start supporting them over large fast food corporations.

And of course, we have a page of Lyle’s great pictures from the Walloon Hotel wrestling festival at the weekend.

Happy reading

- Lara Hart

Shot dogs found on trail, police investigate

By BYRON PESZKO AND JESSE HAMILTON

LOCALS and their paw friends have been on high alert, following the discovery of dogs injured by gunshot pellets along the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail between Wulkuraka and Brassall.

Police have begun an investigation and the Ipswich City Council says it has reports of land owners defending livestock from dog attacks.

On the evening of Friday 20 February, two dogs from a Wulkaraka property escaped their yard.

The dog’s owner said his wife and stepdaughter searched high and low for their missing dogs in the hours that followed.

“They went off in three or four different directions, calling out and couldn’t find them,” the resident said.

The following morning, Luna, their five year old Catahoula X was found just metres from the entrance to the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail at Wulkuraka.

“She couldn’t walk, she was drowning in her own blood from internal injuries,” the dog owner said.

Given her condition, Luna was put to sleep.

The family’s other dog, Charlie, a 14 month old Golden Labrador, limped back to the family’s property later that day

“We rushed him to the vet and they got back to us to say they found fragments of what they thought were bullets.

“Upon surgery, they actually confirmed that they were shotgun pellets.”

Luna would have turned five in April, while Charlie is 14 months old. (Provided)

On 23 February, two other dogs were found injured up the BVRT at Brassall.

The resident said his daughter had been in communication with the owner.

“She confirmed that a white Husky passed away. The second dog underwent minor surgery.

“But it was confirmed that it sustained injuries from shotgun shots.

The biggest question on the families’ minds was why?

“Luna was 35 kilos and out of shape but a much loved dog.

“Charlie is just full of beans and happiness.

“We know we will probably never find who pulled the trigger.

“There’s hundreds of people a

day on a walk, cycling and taking their dogs down that track.

“We just want to raise awareness,” the resident said.

Dog owner Ruth O’Dowd argued that the shooting of clearly identifiable pets was unacceptable.

“I question why it took nine days for them to actually place a complaint about dogs on their property, hurting their sheep,” she said.

“If our dogs did do that, there is no proof. There’s no evidence of Charlie and Luna being on that property.

“So let me ask, full daylight, the type of gun that was used to shoot our pets was a shotgun, in order for them to cause the damage they had to Luna they would

The location on the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail where Luna was found by walkers at approximately 9 am on Saturday, 21 February. The bare patch to the right of the Wulkuraka Arch Sign marks the spot.

have had to have been reasonably close.

“They were obviously pets, but you decided that you would shoot them.”

An Ipswich City Council spokesperson said Council was aware of two separate incidents.

“These involve dogs attacking livestock on private property (not the Wulkuraka walking trail) in the Karrabin area, and the property owner having taken steps to protect their livestock.

“Council’s involvement is limited to investigating the reported attacks on livestock.

A Queensland Police Service spokesperson confirmed that Police were aware of the reported incidents and were investigating.

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St Brigid’s presbytery move to stable gound

By WENDY CREIGHTON

THE relocation of St Brigid’s presbytery building is understood to be happening this week, weather permitting.

We’re told the former home for the local Catholic priest will be cut in half by engineers before removal.

The two ‘modules’ will then be transported north to a new site within the church grounds at 26 Matthew Street, where the building will be rejoined.

The small garage building standing beside the presbytery is also to be moved to 26 Matthew Street.

The move signals the first major on-site work to relocate the Queensland Heritage Listed, St Brigid’s Catholic Church, which is one of the largest timber Catholic church buildings in the Southern Hemisphere.

Heritage and Ipswich City Council planning approvals were granted to the Brisbane Catholic

St Brigid’s Catholic Church presbytery on its current site in relation to the church (partially shown in the background). (Lyle Radford: 541214)

Archdiocese in late 2023 to move the church 20 metres to the east on what will soon be the former site of the presbytery.

Approval was also granted to move the Parish Hall from its current site next door to the Rosewood Police Station in Railway Street to where the church

Let’s keep it

now stands.

And on March 9, this year, council approved building work permits for the relocation and restoration of the church and the relocation of the parish hall.

The catalyst for the juxtaposition of buildings in the church grounds was the closure of the

church in July 2020, on structural engineering advice due to soil movement and the lean on one side of the building reaching as much as 200mm.

At the time, the building had beenbracedinternallyfor10years.

The reason for the closure was explained in the application to council in 2022: “The overarching problem is the reactive soils of the church site which has caused settlement and movement of the stumps over time, probably for many years.

“The large size, height and construction methods of the church have exacerbated this issue to some degree.

“The major concern is the horizontal displacement of the internal columns which has caused the supporting bearers to twist, with risks of eventual instability and structural failure. “Bolted connections have generally failed and are ineffective.”

Several in-situ solutions had been discussed and considered.

More than 9,500 tonnes of high quality garden organics (GO) were diverted from landfill in the first six months of GO.

BETTER BINS TIP: If your bin is too heavy to be easily wheeled to the kerb, it is too heavy for the truck to lift.

Hotel owners fear watering holes drying up

By LARA HART

OWNERS of the Royal Hotel in Harrisville say financial stress in the hospitality industry is a threat to the survival of traditional Aussie pubs and hotels.

They are also dissatisfied with marketers in the region and say campaigns focus on the same few businesses.

Jayde Moore and her partner Cath Bates bought the Royal Hotel four years ago, with the understanding that despite Harrisville not being a thoroughfare, they’d be able to tap into the Scenic Rim’s robust tourism industry.

Jayde said she paid $900 a year for marketing to Destination Scenic Rim but their campaigns feature the same businesses at the expense of others.

“There is no equity in the way they advertise the Scenic Rim and it’s the same people who get exposure every time,” she said.

“Their social media marketing is outsourced and that’s a huge is-

Jayde Moore (pictured) and her partner Cath Bates, own the Royal Hotel in Harrisville. (Lyle Radford: 529132)

sue because the marketers don’t know where Harrisville, Kalbar or Rathdowney is.”

Jayde and Cath are gold members of the marketing program and said they got little back for their money.

“Visit Scenic Rim never does anything for our business and Destination Scenic Rim does a little bit more, but why keep paying when we get nothing back,” she said.

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“There’s going to be a forum to discuss what members get from Destination Scenic Rim because at the moment it is not enough.”

She said small businesses in the Scenic Rim had a decrease of around 30 to 40 per cent of their normal trade over the past 12 to 16 weeks.

“If people can’t afford to pay their electricity bill, they’re certainly not going out to eat or going on holiday,” she said.

“And if they choose a cheaper option like camping, they’re unlikely to visit the town and eat out, most people buy groceries from the supermarket and bring those with them.

“It’s not just regional pubs and hotels that are struggling, when a pub is busy the town is too.

“When people stop in Harrisville for lunch or dinner, they’re not just supporting us – they’re supporting the farmers and suppliers we buy from as well.”

“Don’t spend money at a multi-national fast food chain, find a small family run business and spend your money there because it benefits the community when you do that,” she said.

Despite the challenges, the pair remain optimistic and say they are committed to keeping the doors of the historic pub open.

“It’s a beautiful old building with a lot of history,” she said.

Combined churches plan for Easter service

IT is with much excitement and enthusiasm that our Committee for the Combined Churches Good Friday Service is again planning this Service On the Hill.

In the near future three large crosses will be erected on the hill where the service will be held on the corner of Eder Bros. Road and Rosewood-Warrill- View road. These crosses will be lit up during Holy Week as in the past.

Our Speaker this year will be Noel Noack. Noel is the Bishop Emeritus (former Bishop) of the Queensland District of the Lutheran Church. Noel is now retired with his wife Meg. in the

Bunya Mountains, but still serves as locum in six parishes (Nundah, Woolloongabba/Alberton, Woolloongabba, Chinchilla, Kingaroy).

Noel has served 54 years in the ministry and has travelled widely in Asia, the Middle East, the Holy Land and Europe with his wife. Noel and Meg were instrumental in setting up and supporting a school in Aceh, Indonesia which not only taught children, but also taught teachers to teach children.

Noel is looking forward to sharing the powerful message of God’s love in Christ our crucified and risen Saviour. The topic for Noel’s address in this service

is “Christ’s Cross” - The Power of God and is based on the Scripture reading from 1 Corinthians 1 verse 18.

Asusualwewillhaveguestartists, the bagpipes playing Amazing Grace and an inspirational children’s address. Following the service people will be invited to share in a free cup of tea, coffee, hot cross buns and or doughnuts with time to catch up with friends and acquaintances.

Service starts at 9-30am under alargemarquee,withprogrammes and chairs provided. Free Will offerings to help with our expenses can be placed in the envelopes

provided and then placed in the barrels outside the tent.

A free bus will be running from Cabanda Home and the Uniting Church, Rosewood delivering people right to the tent.

Wheel chair accessible toilets will be provided for those who are not so agile. In the event of significant rain the alternative venue will be the Aratula Community Sports Centre. The Service on the Hill receives support from Sylvan Funerals and Bendigo Bank.

For further details, contact Noel Smith 0427 648478 or Norm Kerle 0427

Workshops Museum repair still not complete

By BYRON PESZKO

FIVE months since the doors of the Ipswich Rail Workshops Museum shut with damage from a severe hailstorm, Queensland Museum says a timeline on a full re-opening for its indoor spaces is yet to be confirmed.

In December, QBuild was engaged to assess the damage and develop a full restoration and recovery plan.

A spokesperson for Minister for Education and the Arts, JohnPaul Langbroek, said every effort was being taken to get repairs underway as soon as possible.

“The Museum is a heritagelisted site and this adds more complexity to repairing the area,” the spokesperson said.

Renai Grace, Queensland Museum Chief Executive Officer told ITT that remediation planning and repair work remains underway.

“A reopening date is yet to be confirmed,” Ms Grace said.

Queensland Museums Ipswich Rail Workshop interior spaces remain indefinitely closed, following significant damage accrued from a severe hailstorm in October 2025.

The aftermath of the late-October 2025 storm damaged two Queensland Rail-owned buildings leased by the Museum.

But Ms Grace said the facility would open its outdoor spaces this Saturday.

“The museum’s outdoor spaces will come alive for World Science Festival Brisbane in Ipswich,” she said.

“Visitors can enjoy hands-on experiments, live demonstrations and interactive displays that

bring science to life in a safe and engaging environment.

Ms Grace thanked the community for their patience.

“Further updates on repairs and event details will be shared as they become available,” she said.

Research delivers Julia’s history of Fernvale

By JESSE HAMILTON

LOCAL historian Julia Caunce launched her book, Fernvale Histories, on 14 March at Lion’s Hall in Fernvale, marking ten years of research into the development of Fernvale.

The project was supported by a grant from the Lowood Fernvale Community Bank to the Fernvale Community Association.

Julia, who moved to Fernvale from New South Wales in 2009, said her background as a trained historian fueled her curiosity about the area.

“I came to live in Fernvale from New South Wales in 2009, and because I’m a trained historian, I talked around and came aware of eventually that there were conflicting stories about what happened, who came first, who settled where, that kind of thing,” she said.

Her interest deepened when a member of the Somerset Art Group started a history group in 2014.

“I couldn’t resist finding out so about 2014, when Sue White started up a history group, it motivated me to go further.”

As president of the Fernvale Community Association, Julia said she arranged for the book to be produced under a group grant so that proceeds would benefit the community.

“The reason why I did it as a group grant for Fernvale Community Association is because I’m the president there,” she said.

“And the book sales benefit the community association. I don’t get anything from it; it goes to the community association.”

She highlighted the association’s contributions, including the Anzac Memorial, bus shel-

ters, park monitoring, and liaison with the council on development projects.

Among the book’s insights, Julia explained the unusual location of the Lowood police station.

“It’s all because of the 1893 flood. That’s the reason that’s in Lowood,” she said.

The book also explores how Fernvale got its name, the surrounding settlements, growing up in earlier times, local pubs, anecdotes such as “who chased who with a paling,” and the area’s biggest floods.

Julia said her experience with writing family histories helped prepare her for this larger project.

“I’ve had some experience with writing, primarily focusing on family history,” she said.

“Most of my writing has centred around family history, along with a bit of local history concerning the area where my family originated, down around the Central Coast.”

Birds of Rosewood and surrounding districts

By WENDY CREIGHTON

FROM the communes of the Happy Families to the soaring flights of one of the world’s largest eagles, we offer you a quick sketch on some more of our local birds.

WEDGE-TAILED EAGLE

The wedge tail, as it is commonly known, is one of the biggest eagles in the world and Australia’s largest bird of prey – a boast that can easily be believed when it’s seen with wings fully extended. Their nests are easy to spot wedged high in the forks of trees and built from sticks. According to Bush Heritage Australia, a nest can weigh as much as 400kg. Wedge tails mate forlife,shareinthebuildingofthe nests and caring for their young and are aggressively territorial of their hunting grounds.

GREY CROWNED BABBLER

Once seen, hard to forget, these birds gather on the ground to forage, and give the appearance of playing and babbling ‘happy family’groups.Thecombinationofthe white stripes on its head and neck, the curved bill and white tipped tail is distinctive. According to ‘Birds in Backyards’, they live and breed in co-operative territorial groups of two to fifteen birds (usually four to twelve). In the spirit of a good commune, while the group may contain only one or two breeding females, everyone helps in nest building, keeps the brooding females fed while incubating the eggs and helps with parenting.

SPANGLED DRONGO

This the only drongo found in Australia (there are a lot of openings for jokes in that statement). It has glossy black feathers with

iridescent blue green spots (spangles), a long, forked tail and red eyes. White spotting can also be seen on their upper wings. Found in forests and parks on their migratory flight south in late spring and north in early autumn, they feed on insects caught in flight in fascinating aerobatic displays. Nests are built of twigs, vines and grasses held in place by spider webs.

BARN OWL

Like its peers the barn owl is active at night, but if you are lucky enough to see one in or on its roost during the day, they are eas-

ily identified by their heart shaped facial disk. They feed on small mammals and birds. Mice on the menu are a particular favourite, which is a good reason to check whether the mouse bait you are using isn’t harmful to birds. The barn owl hunt in flight and find their prey by sound, not sight. According to the Australian Museum, the slightest sound waves are channelled toward the ears, allowing the owl to pinpoint prey even in complete darkness.

EURASIAN COOT

Coot seems a rather derogatory common name, but it comes from

the old Dutch word for waterfowl. Coots are a stocky looking bird with dark grey feathers and a white beak and forehead shield. They feed on water plants and are most commonly sighted in swamps,damsandlagoons,where they dive underwater to feed on vegetation. They too are aggressively territorial during breeding season and are known to purloin duck or grebe nests, vacant or occupied, to use as their own. Both sexes share parental duties and breed only when conditions are favourable.

Rising road toll is a challenge we must fight

By BYRON PESZKO

WITH four young lives cut tragically short on Ipswich district roads in the last week, police based at Ripley are urging drivers to slow down, be patient and most of all, to drive home the message that road safety is everyone’s business.

Acting Superintendent Ben McKenzie said the latest four killed on our road, include a 16-year-old Redbank Plains boy, two teenagers in Greenbank and a 23-year-old Bracken Ridge woman, declared deceased after a two-vehicle fatal traffic crash at Lake Wivenhoe.

“I watched the footage of the officers’ camera shirts on Sunday and it wasn’t a pleasant scene,” Superintendent McKenzie said.

“Those police officers went to work not expecting to see what they saw.

“It was quite a traumatic and graphic scene they were confronted with.”

The District Officer said Saturday’s incident had an endless ripple effect.

“My first concern is the woman’s family, the immediate people involved there and emergency service workers on site,” he said.

He said anger was the reaction in Esk and Minden.

And for drivers who might

take risks, he had tough questions: ‘Was it really worth doing that? Or was there a risk that could have been mitigated by taking their time from getting from A to B?

“I really encourage that group to have some self reflection over this.

The loss of more and more lives on Ipswich’ smaller highways and rural roads, coupled with immense population growth, begged the quesiton: was enough being done?

“We regularly hold workgroups with Transport and Main Roads and Ipswich City Council to have speed zones reduced, ripple strips added, barriers put on certain corners, things like that,” the superintendent said.

“We are always conscious of it and it’s always spoken about.

Police say the Learner Driver Nights program at Queensland Raceway is a way to advance better driving habits.

“It’s a great chance for us to talk to drivers about being prepared for the unexpected, the fatal five and their behaviors and emotions behind the wheel,” he said.

The program has amassed more than 2000 participants since its inception in December 2022.

In Ipswich, the loss of seven lives so far this year is an increase of five year on year.

Previously our annual total, for 2024 and 2025, was 34 lives lost.

Crosby bridge charges adjourned

By BYRON PESZKO

THE crash in which a truck collided with the Mount Crosby Overpass on the Warrego Highway in May 2025 has had a sequel in the Ipswich Magistrates court.

A man faced Ipswich Magistrates Court on Friday 6 March and the case was adjourned until Thursday 7 May.

He appeared having been issued a notice to appear for contravening a condition of dimension exception and driving without due care and attention.

Meanwhile, the Department of Transport and Main Roads

advises that work on the Mount Crosby overpass will continue until April.

“Locals travelling across the overpass at night will observe TMR crews reinstating the bridge surface, laying asphalt, constructing the footpath, and realigning the traffic lanes,” a TMR spokesperson said.

A 20km/h speed restriction will remain in place while works are completed. The Mount Crosby Road overpass will be reduced to a single lane with traffic control and alternating flow nightly between 8.00pm and 5.00am until April 2.

Asked to pinpoint a main factor in the recent fatalities, Superintendent McKenzie pointed to driver behavior.

“It’s not being prepared for the unexpected. It’s not driving to the conditions, it’s being distracted and choosing a course of conduct that results in consequences of a crash.

“That’s probably the best way to put it, without being unfair or speaking ill-advised for those who have passed away.

With the looming Easter School Holidays soon upon us, he said Ipswich Police will be out in force.

“We’re running an intensive operation as part of Operation Yankee Forge.

“We’ll also have pop ups planned with police beats in the community.”

English words never try to live by the rules

By LARA HART

ENGLISH is a complex language that at times, makes no sense.

For example, adding a comma to a sentence changes its meaning dramatically.

‘Let’s eat, grandma’ is very different with the comma removed, ‘let’s eat grandma’.

I spent 30 years living in the KwaZulu Natal province of South Africa, and while being able to speak Afrikaans was required at a school level, the predominant language was English.

As a native English speaker, some of its intricacies slipped by unnoticed.

When you learn a language spoken since birth, fluidity is accompanied by blind acceptance.

The English language gaslights its own speakers.

Consider the word ‘phonetically’ which means reading a word the way it sounds.

So pah-hone-ically then?

Nope.

If I had control over the Oxford dictionary able to make changes, I’d do this.

Pheasant, why the ‘ph’ and a ‘f’?

It would become ‘fessent’.

Borough, why not ‘burra’.

The word rough sounds like a clearing of the throat when pronounced phonetically, so why not change it to ‘ruff’?

Ballet would be ‘ballay’.

Chalet would be ‘shallay’.

Fresh off the boat, I saw multiple cinema complexes with the branding Reading Cinemas.

I genuinely thought they were cinemas for the deaf.

Reading, right?

It’s where a person who is hearing impaired watches a movie with subtitles.

How inclusive, I thought, but the bubble was burst when I was told it was ‘redding’ not reading.

Wait, no, I speak English so why is reading pronounced ‘radding’ and not ‘reeding’.

The confusion multiplied

Translating - Danish to English to Greenlandic (457045)

when my little sister got a job in the UK at a pub in Reading and that was also pronounced ‘redding’.

And those are Englishmen bruv, proper English speaking and all innit?

And don’t get me started on the Maroons.

Why is it that the rugby league team Maroons is the only instance where the word is pronounced ‘marones’.

Maroon is a colour and pronounced correctly until you’re talking about the rugby league team.

English is absolutely riddled with letters that just show up and refuse to do any actual work.

They sit there like unpaid interns, making words look fancier while contributing nothing to pronunciation.

The English language is less a system and more a loosely supervised experiment that got out of hand sometime around the 14th century and has been apologising ever since.

like something a toddler would insist on and somehow be correct.

Meanwhile sheep remains stubbornly singular and plural at the same time, as if it simply refuses to participate.

Take spelling.

English spelling is what happens when several countries contribute letters to a word like it’s a group birthday card, but no one talks to each other first.

Pronunciation doesn’t help.

English has rules, certainly— but they are more like polite suggestions.

We’re told “i before e except after c,” which is reassuring until you meet weird, height, their, science, and realise the rule has packed its bags and moved to another language entirely.

Then there’s colonel, which is pronounced “kernel” for reasons that appear to involve historical mischief and a shrug.

Plurals are another adventure.

One goose, two geese.

Lovely. One moose, two moose.

Fine. One house, two hice— no, wait, houses.

One cactus, two cacti, unless you’re feeling casual, in which case it’s cactuses, which sounds

And don’t get me started on homophones, words that sound identical but mean completely different things, just to keep everyone alert.

There’s ‘there, their, and they’re’, a trio responsible for more quiet rage than peak-hour traffic.

Or to, too, and two, which form a sort of grammatical obstacle course designed to trip up even the most confident writer at precisely the wrong moment.

And yet, despite all this, or perhaps because of it, English persists.

It absorbs words from other languages like a magpie with a passport, cheerfully borrowing, bending, and occasionally butchering them into something new.

it is gloriously inconsistent, wildly unpredictable, and somehow still manages to get the job done.

In the end, learning English isn’t about mastering rules, it’s about developing a sense of humour, a tolerance for nonsense, andaquietacceptancethatsometimes queue is spelled with four letters you don’t pronounce, simply because English can.

So much work, worthy of a Landcare Award

By LARA HART

VOLUNTEERS across the district are quietly doing the kind of work that rarely makes headlines, but without them, the landscape would look very different.

Now, those same volunteers are being encouraged to step forward as nominees in 2026 Queensland Landcare Awards.

The awards are designed to recognise the people who roll up their sleeves to protect and restore the region’s natural environment.

People like Col Thompson who worked hard in his capacity as co-ordinator of the arboretum project for the Ipswich branch of Native Plants Queensland and worked on Mason’s Gully.

The late Arnold Rieck, a retired teacher, amateur botanist and naturalist, was the driving force behind the arboretum.

He established it with help from fellow members in 1994, and Col and his wife Bern became involved some years later.

Col recalled how the January 2011 flood caused significant damage to the gully plantings and scoured the banks.

“In the northern gully, channel erosion has been repaired three times,” he said.

“The third and last attempt used a different formula for the repair work and it seems to have stabilised the area.

“The work on stabilising the southern gully offered an even greaterchallengebutittoo,hassuccessfully withstood recent floods.”

Col has long lamented the continuing shrinking of the Rosewood Scrub and said it had been reduced to around 2.5 percent of its original expanse.

Environmental heroes are also found in Council’s overarching Bushcare program.

Donna Lucas has worked with the Banyula Road Reserve in Thagoona.

“Banyula Road Reserve is quite a large bushland area and is home for local wildlife, established trees and native plants,” she said.

“For me its specialness is its beauty of wildness and the dry watercourse.

The group planned three stages for the site to manage the workload, and the first stage involved clearing invasive weeds like asparagus fern.

“Bushcare can help support our goals by providing tools and the support needed to make this area a thriving habitat for wildlife,”she said.

The Queensland Landcare Awards recognise individuals, groups and organisations involved in landcare, who are making outstanding contributions to caring for the environment in their local communities for the benefit of all Australians today, and for generations to come.

“Last year Queensland Water and Land Carers celebrated over 21 years of supporting Landcare Awards in Queensland,” Michael Bond, QWaLC chairperson said.

“We were so proud that two of our leading rural landholders went on from these awards to win at the National Landcare Awards, showcasing some of our best practices to the rest of the nation.

“We encourage individuals and groups to participate again this year.

“Nominating someone is a

meaningful way to acknowledge their contribution, celebrate their impact at the state level, raise awareness of their work, while

supporting its continuation and growth.”

Nominations close on Friday, July 31, 2026.

Goetsch & Sons Auctioneers

Clearing Sale A/C M Hayes

This SATURDAY 21st March at 9am

221 Mulgowie Road, Thornton

Kubota buggy, Fiat tractor, Daedong tractor, tractor with forks & bucket, slashers, carryall, field mower, zero turn mowers, grain bin, excavator attachments, tandem trailer, hay spears, MF disc plough, Trailco T100 irrigator, Yale forklift, engine crane, portable panels, mesh gates, assort tools, generators, cattle gear, poly troughs, gardening equip, farming items, coppers logs, collectables & much much more

Full list & photo’s on website

Open to select outside vendors

Square Meaters Showcase

Led Steer & Heifer Sale

THURSDAY 26th March

Toowoomba Showgrounds

Farmcraft Sponsored

21st Annual Kalbar Weaner

Show & Sale & Cattle Sale

SATURDAY 28th March

Classes & details on website

Local land values up by 50 per cent or more

By WENDY CREIGHTON

THE unimproved value of properties across the Moreton Border News circulation area soared in thethreeyearsfrom2022to2025.

The latest valuations issued by Valuer General, Laura Dietrich, showed Ipswich region unimproved land values had increased by an average 51% across all property types between October 2022 and October 2025.

The revaluation of the Ipswich local authority area by the Valuer General’s department was undertaken in October 2025 and will take effect from July 1, this year.

The leap in land values in dollar terms means that the value of all the land within the city boundaries has risen from $30.4 billion October 2022 to $48.6 billion in October 2025.

And almost all local land types have kept pace.

Unimproved land

Unimproved land values in the Rosewood-Thagoona area have risen by more than 56 percent in the latest report issued by the Valuer General. Residential land such as properties in new estates like Rosewood Green (pictured) is the strongest performing local category. (Lyle Radford: 540799)

Rosewood - Thagoona median value is up 56.6 per cent from $207,500 in 2022 to $325,000 in 2025

Marburg median value is up 50 per cent from $245,000 in 2022 to $367,500 in 2025

Walloon median value is up 50 per cent from $220,000 in 2022 to $330,000 in 2025

Primary production land in the Ipswich local government area is up 59 per cent from $339,529 in 2022 to $525,942 in 2025

According to the Valuer General’s report, the number of primary production properties has

remained static at 416, since the last revaluation.

Most of those properties are located in the Rosewood, Walloon, Tallegalla, Marburg and Mount Marrow area. Lesser numbers are found in Ebenezer, Willowbank, Purga and Peak Crossing.

While all types of land across the Ipswich local government area have shown a significant increase in unimproved land value, there is a noticeable lag in commercial land (23% increase) and multi-unit residential

land (33.5% increase).

The most significant increase was experienced in the Industrial land category which rose in value by 80.5 per cent from $2 million in 2022 to $3.6 million in 2025.

Of the 15 local government areas revalued by the Valuer General in October 2025, the most significant average increases were found in North Burnett shire north west of Gympie - 85 per cent and Etheridge shire, Far North Queensland 79 per cent.

Space outdoors and multiple living zones

A home in Rosewood’s Roblyn Street sold for $780,000, last month.

The single level layout offers multiple living zones, three bedrooms and excellent outdoor usability, giving the home buyer lots of versatility.

The central living area leads into the adjoining dining space and kitchen. The kitchen is positioned to overlook the living areas and offers a practical amount of bench space, storage and direct connection to the dining zone. Sleeping accommodation is well separated, with the three bedrooms positioned along the hallway.

The bathroom is centrally located and there’s a separate toilet.

Outdoors is an undercover alfresco area and the placement of the home on the 700sqm block means there’s yard room for kids and pets to play.

Secure off-street parking is

provided via the single car accommodation, with additional roomfortrailersorextravehicles.

The property last sold in 2019 for $285,000.

Crazy wrestlers run amuck at Walloon Hotel

FANS packed the Walloon Hotel on Saturday night, 14 March, for Venom Pro Wrestling’s Country Clash, witnessing a high-octane evening of action, shocks, and unforgettable matches.

B-Lars kicked off the night with a big win over Manu, earning momentum ahead of the upcoming Brass Ring Ladder Match. Australian Wolf then overcame Flashman in a match that had fans on edge, especially after Flashman’s delayed entrance left many wondering if he would appear at all.

The Hockleys successfully defended their Tag Team Championships against Kobra and Ashen Reign. Despite their challengers’ strong start, a small error allowed The Hockleys to hit their signature Double Underhock DDT, securing the pinfall. Johnny Hardwood also emerged victorious over Aktaion following a tough back-and-forth contest.

In one of the night’s most dramatic moments, Moko defeated EC after a brutal kick to claim the self-proclaimed title of King of Queensland Wrestling. Making an impressive debut, D/S/D forced Chris Dink to submit, marking a standout first appearance. Don O’Reilly claimed the Rebel Championship with a decisive victory over Luke Silver.

The event closed with a brutal Last Man Standing Match, where David Sheather defeated Damien Thorne after Butcher intervened, smashing a chair across Thorne’s face and allowing Sheather to rise before the ten-count.

Organisers thanked fans for packing the venue and making Country Clash an unforgettable night. Venom Pro Wrestling’s next show, Ascension 7, is set for 28 March at The Showmen’s Club in Yatala.

Bella’s winning way on our local racetracks

By PETER FOLEY

BELLA Youngberry argues she isn’t a spoiled brat, but she does admit to being spoiled. In a good way, mind you.

She recognises the advantages she’s been given and is backing them up with hard work, determined to pay back her parents and supporters for their sacrifice.

Here’s how this played out in our interview: I hear you are obsessed with horses. Can you remember the first time you saw a horse?

“I think it went a little bit like Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory: ‘Daddy, I want a pony please’,” Bella said lightly.

Wait a minute, don’t take this the wrong way, but you sound like a spoiled brat.

“No, I’m not a spoiled brat,” she said, calmly, “I think I’m very spoiled. But brat? No.”

Bella Youngberry has quickly risen through the ranks of apprentice jockeys in Queensland and is second in the provincial title with 24 winners, just behind Leah Martyn.

Bella graduated from pony club and show jumping to working at a stable and riding trackwork.

Trainer and former jockey Allan Chau has been a key influence, along with senior riders Boris Thornton and Sam Collett and ex-jockey Robbie Fradd.

Bella was apprenticed to Allan Chau at the Gold Coast when she started in 2024. She eventually found her way to Adam Campton’s barn at the Gold Coast.

Recognising their daughter’s love of horses was permanent, Bella and her dad and mum had moved to a property big enough for her dream to flourish.

“My family are obviously my biggest supporters,” she said. “We were a beachy and boating family so for dad to move out to a property for me, that makes me very spoiled, yes,” she said.

“It’s going to make me always grateful for the opportunities I’ve had; I always sit down with mum and dad and go, ‘Oh, my God, in

the last few years, look how far I’ve come.’

“I mean, it was only a few years ago I was learning to ride trackwork, and a few years before that, I was learning to ride show jumpers.”

Bella’s dad Garry Youngberry is the Channel 9 Queensland weather presenter. He has cheerfully had to learn some humility as his daughter’s star has risen.

“I’m not Gary the weatherman anymore, I’m Bella’s dad and I love that. Everywhere I go, people want to talk to her,” said Garry, who manages Bella with Adam Campton.

Bella is glad the tables have turned.

“I remember being a bit younger, and everyone was saying to me, ‘Is your dad the weatherman?’ and I would always say: ‘When is it my turn?’” she said.

“But now people go to him. ‘Are you Bella’s dad? and it’s his turn. He says, ‘All they want to do is talk about you.’ So, it’s funny to get a bit of payback.”

Horse racing has a lot of fluctuating fortunes and Bella says family, friends and supporters have also helped her manage that harsh reality.

and

“Racing is definitely a big roller coaster,” she said. “I have gone through my ups and downs – injuries and things like that - and the lows feel pretty low, but the highs make it worth it.

“Having that family - I’m so

grateful - they pick me up, they sacrifice so much time to be with me and to support me,” she said.

Last Saturday at Ipswich, with Dad trackside, Bella won on Naughty Neil, trained by Chris Munce and his son Corey.