showgrounds

The Civic Welcome at the Exhibition Ground will be the highlight of the Royal Progress. Thousands of citizens are expected to greet the Royal couple. From 9 a.m. there will be entertainment for the huge crowd waiting at the Exhibition Ground. The program will be provided by the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, the State and Municipal Choir, St. Andrew’s Pipe Band, the Northern Command A.R.A. Band, and the South Brisbane Federal Band. After the Lord Mayor of Brisbane (Alderman F. E. Roberts, M.L.A.) has read the Citizens’ Address of Welcome at the Exhibition Ground and the Queen has replied, Noella Holme, aged 11, a ward of Legacy, will present a bouquet to Her Majesty. The massed choir, accompanied by the orchestra will then sing Long Live Elizabeth, from Edward German’s operetta Merrie England. - SEVEN commentators, drawn from the A.B.C. and commercial stations will describe the ten-mile Royal Progress through Brisbane. Commentators Arthur Wyndham, Ida Elizabeth Jenkins, and Graham Webster will be at the airport at Eagle Farm. Not far from the aerodrome, Reg Goss will be at the Cotton Ginnery, headquarters of the Cotton Marketing Board. lan Neil will then take up the description at the corner of Nudgee Road and Eagle Farm Road, and Terence Lambart, on the Hamilton Reach of the Brisbane River will continue the commentary as the Royal Progress moves along Kingsford Smith Drive. Ted Sheppard, traveling in the broadcasting car in the Royal Progress, then takes over. Meanwhile, Pat de Rochfort Reynolds waits for his cue in Breakfast Creek Road. The Royal Progress will then be close to the historic Valley area, where Frank Stuart and David Wadham will be stationed. When the Progress turns into Brunswick Street Tom McGregor continues the description. Keith Glover will be at another microphone in Brunswick Street. The Royal Progress then stops at the Exhibition Ground. Commentator Denys Beard will be outside the ground, Bruce Webber, and George Hardman within. As the Royal party approaches the city proper, the description will be taken up by Russ Tyson at Barry Parade. At Petrie Bight will be Len Kynvett and Earle Reeve will follow the Progress down Queen Street. The description will then be continued by Don Sanderson and Clive Harburg (who will describe the wreath-placing ceremony). It will then be taken up by Peter Clarke, Henry Cuthbertson, Johnny James, Dick Turner, and Moreton Smith. To bring the commentary to a close, Bill Newnham will be on the grounds of Government House. Source: ABC Weekly; Vol. 16 No.10 (6 March 1954) nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1548343459/view?sectionId=nla.obj-1669...

Making history: New Queen's first visit to Mackay A public holiday was declared so thousands could welcome the newly crowned Queen to Mackay. Don't miss out on the headlines from Mackay. Followed categories will be added to My News. Follow IN 1954 Mackay's streets and buildings were festooned with archways, flags and lights set up to brighten the city for the special occasion of the visit to Mackay of the reigning monarchs, her royal majesty, Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Phillip. The visit attracted approximately 30,000 people to the Mackay showgrounds on March 15, 1954, with many more lining the tour route. Prior to the Mackay visit, the royal couple sailed through the Great Barrier Reef, on board The Gothic, before transferring to the HMAS Anzac. Royal Cruises sent a message to The Gothic to welcome the royal couple while cruising nearby. The message was "Welcome on your visit to Mackay waters”. A reply to Roylen Cruises read "Thank you very much. Sorry it is so short”. The royal couple, on the Anzac, arrived at the Mackay Harbour breast wharf at 10.30 am to a welcome by the chairman of the Pioneer Shire Council, Herbert Woodyard, his fellow councillors and shire clerk along with the chairman of the Mackay Harbour Board, board members and their wives. The couple then went for a tour of Mackay Harbour, North Mackay and Cremorne, heading along Harbour Road and Barnes Creek Road before progressing across the Forgan Bridge into Sydney Street. The royal entourage proceeded along Victoria Street, to the Mackay showgrounds. Many royal admirers stood along the route to see the royal couple. Some 20 cars from Mackay and the surrounding district were used for the 1954 Mackay visit. Cars from the local taxi firm 'Robbies Taxis' were also used for the royal progress which included members of the royal household and Navy personnel. Two cars were flown into Mackay from Cairns for use by Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh. Eight police motorcycles were used as an escort for the special royal visitors. Entertainment was provided at the showgrounds by Mackay Girl Guides, Mackay Junior Choral Society and West Mackay Convent School students. Brownies, Girl Guides and Rangers from Bowen, Proserpine and Sarina also entertained. A reported 7000 students attended the Mackay showgrounds event. Space for those attending was provided in the show ring, around the ring and in the now recently demolished grandstand. A public address system, 26 speakers and 12 special radios tuned into then Mackay radio station Radio 4QA (now ABC Tropical North) were installed at the showgrounds to allow those to listen in to the proceedings. A special royal dais was also constructed at the showgrounds for the visit. Her Royal Highness was presented with a bouquet of Mackay-grown orchids by Daphne Newman, the granddaughter of Jack Binnington. The orchids had been carefully nurtured by the Queen's Park curator, Mr Bell. At 12.05 pm, the royal couple left the showgrounds and headed for the Mackay Airport, then to Casey Avenue, where the Mackay Pipe Band performed. There were 3000-plus people at the farewell to the royal couple, who were leaving for Rockhampton on a TAA Royal Convair. It was the first visit by the couple to Mackay since the crowning of her majesty, Queen Elizabeth II on June 2, 1953. Source: www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/mackay/making-hist...

The Bundaberg Regional Council (‘the Council’) identified the need to relocate the existing Bundaberg Showgrounds facility to save maintenance costs by providing a single multi-purpose facility to replace the existing showgrounds infrastructure that had reached the end of its useful life. The project is set to provide the opportunity to upgrade sporting and recreational infrastructure for the benefit of the Bundaberg community. The Council initiated plans for the redevelopment of the Bundaberg City Showgrounds back in November 2012, to create a multimillion-dollar facility, including parklands and car parking, on the site. Residents of Bundaberg were invited to provide ideas and initiatives regarding just how the former Showgrounds land should be utilized for the benefit of the community and future generations. The site plans include a roofed equestrian facility that will attract significant events from throughout the region and state. Annual events are expected to attract over 3,000 competitors and accompanying friends and family, greatly assisting sporting tourism and the region's overall profile. The new and enhanced community recreational infrastructure will promote greater community participation. Increased activity at the proposed facility will also generate greater interaction amongst different user groups and individuals, fostering superior social inclusions amongst all demographics. Source: www.australiantenders.com.au/news/67/bundaberg-city-showg...