RURAL AID’S OUR TOWNS MAKEOVER IS COMING TO CUNNAMULLA QLD

Plans finalised and an army of Rural Aid volunteers are on their way to makeover Cunnamulla

With Queensland Mental Health Week kicking starting today, one rural town is set to receive a much needed boost.

Cunnamulla Queensland is ready for their town’s makeover, as Rural Aid Community and Farm volunteers head west tomorrow to assist.

Rural Aid and 33 Community and Farm Volunteers will arrive in town from 11 to 17 October armed with tools, an enthusiastic willingness to help and smiles ready, bringing Cunnamulla projects to fruition while also bringing a welcoming financial injection.

Rural Aid CEO John Warlters said it has been a long road and wait since October last year when Cunnamulla was announced as one of the winners of the Our Towns makeovers.

“These long-term renewal projects have been made possible thanks to the generosity of our volunteers in giving their time and expertise for such a great cause; as well as the remarkable Cunnamulla community. Cunnamulla’s community has worked hard, coming up with ideas and forming those ideas into a plan for their vision of their future.”

Cunnamulla’s vision is “Continuing to be a progressive community in thought and action where all our people and organisations thrive.”

“Our thanks also go out to Ergon Energy Network for adding their generous support to the Our Towns initiative, with Cunnamulla our third town supported, following Gayndah and Monto, all in Queensland.

“Rural Aid Community Builders Series webinar sponsors, Bushells is also sponsoring town community meetings, such as Our Towns, and will be providing much needed cuppas in Cunnamulla.

The Our Towns Makeover initiative is Rural Aid’s way of supporting small rural communities.  

Cunnamulla Community Projects

The Cunnamulla community have identified the projects for the Farm and Community Volunteers to work on over the week to help give the town a much-needed start to their long-term renewal. 

  • Cunnamulla Showgrounds will have a general clean up, painting of multiple buildings, repairs and maintenance to the toilet blocks, replace the main boundary fence, tree planting to create shade areas, paint wrought iron main gates and landscaping around the entrance, water system for trees, install rainwater tanks, and repair and install gutters to capture rainwater for the tanks.
  • Undertake and general tidy up of the Pony Club.
  • Community Op shop – clean and tidy up the shopfront façade and assist with setting up local craft club.
  • Racecourse – clean and repaint amenities and ticket box. Paint and refresh Gun Club buildings, fences, the entrance and amenities as well as a general tidy up.
  • Cunnamulla Railway Theatre Project – building a set as a backdrop inside the new theatre building for their production “Cunnamulla All Aboard’
  • Three farms in the Cunnamulla area will also receive much needed makeovers.

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About Cunnamulla 

Situated on the banks of the Warrego River, Cunnamulla is approximately 780km west of Brisbane and 140km north of the New South Wales border and is the administrative centre of the Paroo Shire Council. Prior to European settlement, Cunnamulla and surrounding area was home to people of the Kunja Aboriginal language group. Cunnamulla was created by Cobb & Co in 1879. Farmers moved into the area and found the area perfect for sheep grazing. It was a lively place during sheep shearing with all the shearers in town. Today – Cunnamulla is known for its natural outback beauty and hospitality. The Warrego River is a great place to swim, fish and kayak as well as picnic on the banks.

Thing to see and do in and around Cunnamulla:¹

  • Cunnamulla Fella Centre, Art Gallery and Museum – is the Visitor Centre and houses the Artesian Time Tunnel, a local art gallery, the museum and the Cultural Theatre. 
  • Artesian Time Tunnel – transports visitors back 100 million years in time to the beginning of the Artesian Basin when dinosaurs roamed the planet. The beginnings of the Artesian Basin preceded opal formation and the Age of Mammals. The first Queensland flow from the Great Artesian Basin was near Cunnamulla in 1887. When you visit Cunnamulla you will be standing on the world’s largest underground river.
  • The Cunnamulla Fella Sculpture – the song, “The Cunnamulla Fella”, was written by Stan Coster and recorded by Slim Dusty. In 2005 a statue which was twice life size was created by sculptor Archie St Clair. The statue sits outside the Paroo Shire Hall in Jane Street and depicts a Cunnamulla Fella – a typical Aussie bushman with a wide-brimmed hat and a mug of tea.
  • Cunnamulla Bushlands – located off the Mitchell Highway, and clearly marked, this is an easy, flat 1.5 km walk which traverses Mulgalands, Gidgee and Wetlands.

About Out Towns initiative 

Over the next five years, each of the Our Towns will receive $100,000 in projects and support to renew their town. This includes $10,000 allocated for the community to workshop with community change and renewal experts on their ideas for their town’s long-term future and sustainability. The $90,000 will be spent, over five years, on materials for maintenance projects identified by the community, that fits within Rural Aid’s scope of work. If available, materials and trade expertise will be sourced locally to support local businesses.  

¹ Information sourced from: www.aussietowns.com.au/town/cunnamulla-qld

Media enquiries: Lyndsey Douglas 0424203935  | media@admin.media.ruralaid.org.au

Media spokespersons: Rural Aid CEO John Warlters – 0409 618 641 

About Rural Aid

Rural Aid is one of Australia’s largest rural charities. Well known for the highly successful ‘Buy a Bale’ campaign, the charity also provides financial assistance, water and counselling to farmers in times of drought, flood or fire. Other initiatives support its vision that farming and rural communities are safeguarded to ensure their sustainability both during and after these natural disasters. Visit www.ruralaid.org.au for further information on these programs and other support for our rural communities.

Visit www.ruralaid.org.au/snapshots for Rural Aid’s latest assistance statistics.

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