Gayndah Heartland Festival

[Graham Pukallus]

14 Aircraft arrived to the Gayndah Heartland Festival after an open invitation was given at the recent grand opening ceremony for the Gayndah Airport to all aviators by the council and events team.

 

With perfect weather, everyone enjoyed the Markets at the Showgrounds with great food, music and winery presentations throughout the afternoon.

 

The best was yet to come for all who attended the FIRST CLASS HERITAGE RAILWAY DINING EXPERIENCE

 

We started our culinary journey through the North Bunrett, with pre-dinner drinks, from Kingsley Grove Estate on the Gayndah railway platform.

 

Then on to a personal tour of the Queensland Sunlander train carriages.

 

We were guided through the days of Qld train travel as we sat in the dining car , club car, and viewed the sleeping car and guards van ! complete with coffin carriers and dog boxes stationed at the historic Gayndah Railway Station...as if time stood still when the final rail service stopped several years ago.

 

We learned that rail had played an integral role in transporting locally grown citrus, cattle and other agricultural products to market in Brisbane and beyond.

 

It was a comprehensive walk down memory lane of how the carriages were gifted by Qld Rail and the problems the rail enthusiasts endured when transporting them from Bundaberg.

 

It has been a huge renovation project and community achievement which is now major asset to Gayndah.

 

Everyone had a great time enjoying 4 courses with local wines to match, followed by a presentation to the main contributors to the Gayndah Railway project.

 

Rachel Chmabers the Gayndah Mayor and Renee McGilvery the event co-ordinator, also thanked the aviation community for their support for the new Gayndah airport, and attending this event

 

Rachel advised us that she is going to introduce a staff member to be an aviation events co-ordinator within the council, to further support aviation in the region.

 

We were also advised that the aviation community is especially invited to the GAYNDAH ORANGE FESTIVAL on the 29th April - 1st May 2017.

 

Free transport will be provided to and from the airport which will organised by the events manager and Ken Mogg, owner manager of the Golden Orange Motel, call 41611107.

 

Ken will also pick up visiting pilots anytime who want to call in for lunch or stop overnight at Gayndah.

 

Local flyers that attended, Ralph and Deb from Murgon ( Burnett Flyers), Bruce and Carol, Brian and Kay from Pacific Haven, Rod and Lynda from Cooloola Cove and Graham and Liz Hawthorne, from Warwick (Qld Recreational Flying Assoc) and many others from surrounding areas.

 

It is refreshing to see such support from an entire town and shire for anything flying and aviation in general.

 

As usual the photos say it all, with the flyer of the Gayndah Orange Festival 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[cscotthendry]

G:

 

As usual, you just nailed it with the pics. Well done.

 

 

[Doug McCullough]

Great report and pics PUK, and yes being one of the attendees really enjoyed the weekend made all the better by being there with friends.

 

 

[Possum1]

Excellent report and pictures, Graham. I would just like to add that the wine and cheese($15) at the Art Gallery on the Friday night was a great do as well for the six aviators who attended. For those with stamina, the two corner pubs were pumping for afters. We also found Ken at the Golden Orange an excellent host and very helpful.

 

Duncan